1/29/2020

Wednesday, Jan. 29 - Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020 Weekly Print Edition

Vol. 106, Issue 20 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

Men’s basketball looks to build on historic start in Albuquerque

Theta Chi ousted from mansion after hazing violations

by Jack Molmud LIVE EDITOR

71 67 Photo courtesy of Andy Grossman/UNLV Athletics

Junior guard Malachi Flynn drives to the basket against UNLV on Jan. 26 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

by Kyle Betz ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

No. 4 San Diego State men’s basketball touched the hardwood and began its warmup at Thomas & Mack Center about an hour before tip-off against UNLV. Just moments later, word of the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant had spread.

Talk about bad timing.

“I think everybody’s reaction was just to be shocked at first,” junior forward Matt Mitchell

said. “Me personally, I didn’t believe it. I just kept shooting, I was like, ‘There’s no way.’ It had to be a hoax or something like that.”

The Aztecs woke up with ambitions to improve to a school-record 21-0 start, but now, thoughts and memories of the Lakers legend flooded their minds.

Head coach Brian Dutcher was unprepared for the circumstances, but he told his players to enjoy every moment.

“I’ve been coaching for a long

time, I’m 60 years old,” Dutcher said. “But that was a situation you’re never prepared for. You have your speech you’re leading into the game that you want to talk about and get the team ready to play. Then something like that happens, and they’re looking to you.”

The Aztecs (21-0, 10-0 Mountain West Conference) did just enough to defeat the Rebels (11-11, 6-3 MWC) by a score of 71-67, overcoming UNLV sophomore guard Bryce Hamilton’s 29 points scored in

as many minutes.

Junior guard Malachi Flynn’s 21 points led the Aztecs in scoring while Trey Pulliam’s 18 was on fire off the bench – shooting 6-for-6 from the field.

After the game, Dutcher said he briefly congratulated the Aztecs in the locker room on the win, then held a moment of silence while locking arms with his players.

“Kobe was their generational SEE BASKETBALL, PAGE 8

Leonard to return to SDSU for jersey retirement

by Michael Cline ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Kawhi Leonard, the forward who led San Diego State to its first Sweet Sixteen appearance in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, will become the first Aztec men’s basketball player to have his jersey retired by the program.

Leonard will return to campus Feb. 1 when SDSU hosts Mountain West foe Utah State.

The ceremony will be held at halftime.

In his two seasons with the program, Leonard helped the Aztecs break a four-year NCAA Tournament drought — with appearances in 2010 and 2011

— after winning consecutive Mountain West tournaments.

His second year on the Mesa proved most productive for the small forward from Riverside, California. In his 2010-11 season, Leonard ranked first in rebounding, fourth in scoring and steals and sixth in free-throw percentage in the Mountain West.

Leonard was among the most productive players nationally, ranking fourth in double-doubles and ninth in rebounding.

His production on both ends of the floor landed him on the All-MWC first team and Wooden Award All-American

team and was one of 10 players nominated for the Naismith Award and 20 for the Wooden Award, both of which recognize the most valuable player in the country.

After leading SDSU to the Sweet Sixteen in 2011 — a narrow 74-67 defeat to the eventual NCAA champions UConn Huskies — Leonard decided to go pro and declare for the NBA Draft. Leonard was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 15th overall pick before being traded to the San Antonio Spurs.

Now a member of the Los Angeles Clippers, Leonard would go on to enjoy success

with both the Spurs and Toronto Raptors, having won Finals MVP for each team in 2014 and 2019, respectively.

In his nine years since going pro, Leonard has notched four NBA All-Star appearances and is a two-time All-NBA First Team player. His defense has been recognized with two defensive player of the year awards and three first team NBA defense accolades.

Professionally, collegiately, Leonard’s legacy is set in stone.

Honoring Leonard in 2020 seems fitting for an Aztec SEE LEONARD, PAGE 8

The San Diego State chapter of Theta Chi was removed by the national organization after an investigation found the fraternity partook in hazing during the fall 2019 semester.

The fraternity’s house, a large facility located on campus along Lindo Paseo, was shut down by the Theta Chi House Corporation Board in December — and members responded by vandalizing the property, according to the national chapter.

Members who lived in the mansion were instructed to find housing elsewhere.

Fraternity members were given the option to move into campus housing.

The investigation that led to the chapter’s removal was conducted by the board along with the university.

The national chapter did not provide any further details on the nature of the hazing incident.

The national organization will retain ownership of the mansion on Lindo Paseo while the board and SDSU decide the parameters of the local chapter’s suspension.

Alumni from the SDSU chapter said the destruction of property was upsetting. “(Theta Chi) alumni are disheartened at the destruction caused by suspended members as the chapter house was vacated and will pursue appropriate action where necessary,” according to a statement from the national chapter.

The national chapter also did not comment on the specifics of the vandalism. The mansion’s windows, however, are covered with plywood and there are visible stains on the exterior paint near the windows.

Broken plastic objects, beer bottles and kitchen appliances are also littered around the property.

Statements from SDSU and Student Life and Leadership said the parameters of the suspension were not to exceed six months, but the final judgement is still in the works by both the university and the national Theta Chi organization.

No active members of SDSU Theta Chi were available for SEE THETA CHI, PAGE 2

News SDSU approves new Greek life policies, bans five IFC fraternities from participating in spring rush

2

Jan. 29 - Feb. 4, 2020 EDITOR: Kaitlyn Little • news@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

by Michael Cline ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Members of the Presidential Task Force on Student Activities and Safety, convened in the wake of the death of a San Diego State freshman in the fall, have recommended three student organization policy changes focusing on student health and university transparency, according to a campuswide email.

The three policies have been approved and adopted by university administration and will take immediate effect.

The Friday email clarified that only recognized fraternities and sororities are able to participate in spring semester recruitment, which will take place from Feb. 2 to 11.

Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Phi

Gamma Delta, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Theta Chi have been deemed ineligible for spring 2020 recruitment following a Student Life and Leadership review of the status of all 14 Interfraternity Council-affiliated chapters.

The suspension statuses of all IFC chapters are listed on the Student Life and Leadership website.

In November, the university suspended all 14 chapters following the death of 19-year-old freshman Dylan Hernandez, a Phi Gamma Delta pledge.

All IFC chapter-hosted recruitment and educational events for new members are required to take place between 9 a.m and 9 p.m., a policy that will take effect for all councils in fall 2020, according to the SDSU Greek life website. The new policies also stipulate no such events take place as satellite houses, and that an organization advisor — either a faculty and staff

member or alumnus — must be present during all events and meetings for new members.

The announcement also said the university will now require records for new member recruitment and chapter plans to abide by all new policies, according to the president’s website.

The university also adopted a Good Samaritan Policy, which removes conduct penalties for certain alcohol and drug violations when recognized student organizations seek timely assistance for medical or emergency personnel. The policy intends to make student health and safety a priority, according to the email.

“The Good Samaritan Policy strives to make clear the responsibility of students in the event of an emergency; encourage students to take appropriate action; and ensure that organizations that do take appropriate action are

supported and not met with formal disciplinary sanctions for reporting the issue or incident,” the email said.

In a bid to increase transparency, the university also announced the Student Life and Leadership office will update the community regarding the judicial status of recognized student organizations, with information detailing an overview of allegations, findings and sanctions against organizations, a report of known misconduct and a list of all organizations under interim suspension.

“The site will be regularly updated with publicly accessible information about the judicial status of organizations at SDSU,” the email said.

Members from the two task force groups will meet through the spring semester to review and recommend additional policies and protocol to the president’s office.

New bus-only lane on El Cajon helps transit commuters Katelynn Robinson & Michael Cline by

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System has unveiled a bus-only lane along three miles of El Cajon Boulevard in an effort to improve traffic conditions and provide a quicker route to various travel destinations according to the San Diego MTS website, sdmts.com.

The Boulevard Bus Way, unveiled in early January, allows the Rapid 215 and MTS Routes 1 and 6 to avoid vehicle traffic through the neighborhoods of North Park, Normal Heights and City Heights.

The route was first proposed by two city council members in a memo authored last year. Council President Georgette Gómez and Councilman Chris Ward announced a pilot program in January 2019 to test the efficiency of bus-only lanes in hopes they would reduce delays and make public transit a more efficient transportation option in San Diego.

The memo called bus-only lanes “a key component” in increasing travel speeds and reducing congestion and delays caused when buses travel with vehicular traffic, and recognized extending the lanes to SDSU as a long-term goal.

In a statement to The Daily Aztec, Gómez said the bus way would increase transit options, specifically for the university’s

A map of the Rapid 215 that connects SDSU to downtown San Diego.

commuter population.

“The El Cajon Boulevard bus-only lane is an important public transit expansion that will give more San Diegans a real choice in how to get around town,” Gómez said.

“Many San Diegans, including a growing student population at SDSU, rely on transit.

I’m very glad to have been able to bring this pilot to our communities.”

Gómez also said the project is only the beginning of providing more public transit options throughout the city.

“This paves the way for future action to reduce commute times, improve quality of life and address climate change throughout

Graphic by Emily Burgess

the region,” she said.

Rapid 215, a bus rapid transit line that offers riders higher frequency trips with fewer stops, currently connects SDSU and downtown using El Cajon Boulevard.

Rapid 215 first began operation in 2009 as the first bus rapid transit line in the San Diego region. MTS also operates Route 1 — which travels along El Cajon Boulevard and connects La Mesa and Fashion Valley — and Route 6 that connects Fashion Valley to North Park.

City Planning senior and commuter student Wesley Cooksy said the new lane would connect much of the SDSU

population to locations across the city.

“I looked at this and I thought, the Rapid 215 goes to SDSU, and I thought that’s a big route that connects us as students to downtown San Diego, Balboa Park and a lot of other places,” Cooksy said.

Cooksy, a Green Love member, said he advocates for public transit because it is better for the environment.

Television, Film and New Media freshman Mark Borja said the incorporation of a new bus lane is great .

“Well I think it’s an awesome addition to the bus routes and the rapid buses,” Borja said.

Borja said he finds the rapid buses can cut his commute from his hometown to downtown San Diego by 5 or 10 minutes.

“So I live in South Bay, and downtown San Diego to South Bay (takes) pretty much 20 minutes,” Borja said. “The rapid buses cut that by like five minutes or ten minutes, and just having another bus route makes it easier for everyone’s commute to work or school, like going to SDSU and other places in San Diego.”

The Rapid 215 runs from about 4:30 a.m. to 12: 50 a.m. on weekdays when starting from SDSU. On weekends the bus runs from about 4:50 a.m. to 12:20 a.m. A one way fee on the Rapid 215 costs $2.50 to ride unless you are a senior citizen, disabled, or have Medicare in which it would cost $1.25.

Career Services unveils new platform to find jobs, connect with peers

by Jadyn Brandt STAFF WRITER

Career Services has introduced a new job-search platform for San Diego State students that modernizes the job search and enables peer communication.

The new platform, Handshake, has replaced the previous platform, Aztec Career Connection, offering students a vast list of new features.

Associate Director of Employer Services Chris Turntine said the new platform would enable peer mentorship for students with similar career interests.

“It allows students to connect with other students and have a conversation with them about their career goals or how they got a certain internship,” Turntine said. “It allows (students) to create a public profile which then allows employers to reach out

directly to students.”

Turntine said Handshake is a modern version of the old platform.

“We were looking for something that had more modern technology,” Turntine said. “(Handshake) was really something that a lot of universities are moving towards because it was a better product, particularly in the way it discovers a lot about the interests of our students in terms of their career goals and really creates a customized experience.”

Turntine said Career Services created premade profiles for students through the new platform with basic education information, including major, GPA and academic year.

“So when students go in, the only thing they need to do is create a profile that is more related to their career interests,” he said.

Handshake also differs from the

previously used platform because of a feature that allows students to make appointments in the Career Center directly from their phone or computer. “(Students) can register for career fairs, they can register for workshops, they can schedule one-on-one appointments with our career counselors,” Marketing and Event Coordinator Becca Stinn said. “We hope students are taking advantage of all the opportunities that it brings.”

Turntine said many Fortune 500 companies have already moved to the new platform. According to SDSU NewsCenter, Handshake is a host to major employers like Enterprise, GEICO and Berkshire Hathaway.

Talent Acquisition Manager for Enterprise Holdings Chrissy Conde said in a NewsCenter article that the company often uses Handshake to recruit students from SDSU.

“Not only can students learn more about our company, it helps us recruit top talent by capturing information about students and alumni with a variety of backgrounds and experiences — giving us a diverse candidate pool,” Conde said in the NewsCenter article.

For SDSU students, and those looking to hire them, the university’s transition to Handshake has been anticipated for quite some time.

“Employers are so excited that we’re finally on it,” Turntine said. “Amazingly, students were hearing about it before we launched it. We already had students emailing me and asking when we were getting Handshake because they had heard about it from their friends.”

Stinn said Handshake has improved student access to the campus Career Center and student’s ability to connect with one-another.

Jan. 29 - Feb. 4, 2020 EDITOR: Kaitlyn Little • news@thedailyaztec.com

News

The Daily Aztec

3

Medical examiner releases Hernandez’s autopsy report The report states there was both alcohol and cannabinoids in the 19-year-old’s system at the time of death

by Kaitlyn Little NEWS EDITOR

An official county medical examiner’s report released Thursday afternoon confirmed the presence of alcohol and THC in the system of the 19-year-old San Diego State freshman who died last semester.

The autopsy was completed Nov. 11, three days after the date of Dylan Hernandez’s death on Nov. 8. He fell from his bunk bed after attending a Phi Gamma Delta fraternity event.

The report reads, “toxicological

testing detected elevated alcohol (0.06% w/v) and cannabinoids.”

In the opinion portion of the autopsy report, it was revealed the 19-year-old had a blood ethanol value of 74 mg/dL. The legal limit of intoxication is 80 mg/dL, according to Mayo Clinic Laboratories. He was also found with 1.6 ng/ mL of Delta 9-Carboxy THC, resulting positive in the use of cannabinoids, according to the toxicology report.

Hernandez’s neurological exam also confirmed he was brain dead on Nov. 8, a day after he was found in his dorm

on Nov. 7.

It was reported that there was a “large epidural hemorrhage underlying the nondisplaced fracture of the left temporal bone and surrounding the posterior left cerebral hemisphere,” according to the medical examiner. However, the neck was found without injury. Other injuries noted in the report included a 9-inch abrasion on the anterior right thigh.

University police are currently evaluating the findings of the report, according to a statement. They have identified

witnesses and are continuing their investigation.

A preliminary police report surrounding the investigation that was given to the family was shared with The San Diego Union-Tribune last week. The report said UPD didn’t interview anybody from Phi Gamma Delta or obtain search warrants to review member’s cell phones and social media accounts.

UPD said that certain government codes allow for them to release information regarding investigations depending on the inquiring party. Members of the public

have far less access than those immediately involved.

“The preliminary, incomplete police report was provided to a representative of the Hernandez family in an effort to be as supportive and transparent with the family as possible during a difficult time for them as they are mourning the tragic loss of their loved one,” the statement said. “Details of the incomplete report, released late last year, was not meant to be shared with the public as it compromises our ongoing investigation and can hinder witnesses from sharing information.”

Theta Chi:

continued from page 1 comment, but an Instagram post from Dec. 17 shows members posed outside the mansion — without obvious signs of vandalism — to say goodbye.

“Your cold, frail, empty, smelly, and expensive — but lord we will miss you 5505,” the post said.

A more sweeping dialogue is unraveling regarding the status of the Interfraternity Council as a whole. Theta Chi is one of many IFC fraternities under investigation for violations spanning throughout last semester.

There was also an official suspension handed down by university President Adela de la Torre to all 14 IFC chapters after freshman Dylan Hernandez, a pledge for FIJI, died after attending a big-little reveal event.

A university police investigation first reported on by The San Diego UnionTribune showed Hernandez had a blood alcohol content of approximately .23% — three times the legal driving limit.

He was walked back to his Tenochca dorm where he fell off his bed, sustaining fatal injuries to his head.

Photo by Alexa Oslowski

Windows have been boarded at Theta Chi’s former residence at 5505 Lindo Paseo after alleged vandalism by fraternity members.

In light of Hernandez’s death, SDSU President Adele de la Torre convened two task forces to study student safety and university policies. One task force has already recommended

three policy changes that took effect last week. Among the changes includes new regulations surrounding new member recruitment and fraternity events.

Student Life and Leadership also reviewed the status of all 14 IFC fraternities.

Theta Chi is currently one of five IFC-affiliated fraternities that will not be allowed to recruit

new members for the spring 2020 rush. Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta and Sigma Phi Epsilon are the other IFC fraternities currency barred from recruitment.

4

Opinion

The Daily Aztec

Jan. 29 - Feb. 4, 2020 EDITOR: Catherine Van Weele • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

It’s okay to let go of old friendships

by Trinity Bland STAFF WRITER

Now that it is the start of a new year and a new decade, in the words of recording artist, Ariana Grande, it is time to say “thank you, next,” to friends who no longer serve a purpose in our lives. My mom once told me we have friends for certain seasons in our lives and as I grow older, I realize this truth more every day.

I recently unfollowed and blocked a number of people from high school and other friends who I don’t talk to as much anymore. There wasn’t any terrible reason behind it besides the fact that I am evolving as a woman and I felt those people no longer needed to be closely involved in my life.

My decision to stop watering these dead plants felt extremely liberating. I am learning that when my uncle told me only 2% of my friends would be in my life until the very end, he wasn’t lying.

I know it can feel selfish to cut people out of your life, but not doing so can hold us back from being our best selves and living the quality of life we deserve.

It isn’t easy to let go of friends and accept it, but it is more than okay for you to do your thing without them and thrive while

doing it.

As you learn life lessons, you also learn who deserves a place in your life. Every person you’ve called a friend up to this point couldn’t possibly understand the value of having access to such an evolving individual like yourself. Why continue to let them in on your journey?

As you become more successful, the people around you may begin to act differently and could very well switch up on you. Remember, you deserve

have to keep them in your life because they may only drag you down. Instead, let them go and give other like-minded people a chance to know you.

When you begin to adjust your priorities, investing in certain friendships may not be at the top of the list. Instead, you may want to chase after your career more than you want to grab dinner with friends. You might want to focus on studying for an exam as opposed to going to a sporting event on a Saturday

“Friendships are rewarding and beautiful, but when they aren’t right anymore, save yourself the stress and let them go.” consistency in the individuals you hold close to you.

Understanding the difference between a lifelong friendship and a right-now friendship is important. Certain people aren’t meant to be in your life forever and there is nothing wrong with that.

Who you were in high school is not who you are in college and who you are in college is different from the person you will become throughout the rest of your life. Growing and changing is a vital part of life. If your friend is stuck in the past and refuses to grow, you don’t

night to ensure you graduate on time. It is likely that socializing can come after the things you deem most important such as your education or career.

Discovering new interests as you age is healthy and 100% normal. You might slowly drift away from a friend who doesn’t share those same interests. You might want a career that keeps you in one place while your friend might want to travel the world. Wanting different things in life is okay, so don’t be afraid of that — embrace it.

Some friendships simply are not worth the effort anymore. If

you are always the first one to reach out or to initiate a hangout, it’s not worth maintaining the friendship. It simply isn’t fair to you or your time. You deserve to be friends with people who will put in as much effort as you to make the connection stronger.

True friends will always have your back. They will love, support and respect you. This will make you a better person.

True friendships only come around a few times during your lifetime. Put your effort into friendships with those people.

Don’t waste your time on those who aren’t worthy of your time.

Friendships are rewarding and beautiful, but when they aren’t right anymore, save yourself the stress and let them go. Even though bidding a friend farewell can be painful, everything happens for a reason. People come into our lives to either teach us a lesson or to become a lifelong friend.

Make sure to know the difference and always stay true to yourself. Your real friends will never leave your side because people who are meant to be in your life will undoubtedly always have a place there.

Trinity Bland is a sophomore studying journalism. Follow her on Twitter @trinityaliciaa.

Don’t wait to stop your habit of procrastination

by Catherine OPINION EDITOR

Van Weele

As college students, I think we can all agree that each and every one of us has procrastinated at some point in our academic careers—and I’m fairly certain many of us still do.

Procrastinators are well aware that it is in their best interest to get the assignment finished in a timely fashion, and yet they will still put it off for the last minute regardless.

Procrastination is nothing new.

People have been procrastinating since the beginning of time, but today’s technology readily enables us to procrastinate with the constant stream of distractions from the internet.

While procrastination is not something inherently bad, as students that procrastinate usually are able to get their assignments in on time and perform at a satisfactory level, it certainly is a bad habit— one that many students try to break repeatedly.

In order to break this habit, we have to examine why one is procrastinating. And there is a number of possible explanations for why someone may do this.

One of the most common reasons is that students often perceive the assignment as unimportant. It can be difficult to prioritize homework when there are so many other responsibilities we have. By having to balance between attending classes, maintaining

a social life, going to work and doing the chores, homework can easily slip into the back of your mind. It is no longer the main concern and we use our time for other tasks.

Even when there is ample time available to complete assignments outside of the time in the classroom, procrastinators don’t always use the opportunity.

Students may be procrastinating because they do not find the curriculum interesting. When people are not engaged with what they are learning, they struggle to find the motivation to complete simple assignments.

This is particularly true in general education classes that are usually not related to the student’s major, making it easy for students to disengage from the material. With a lack of interest, procrastinators get distracted. 5 minute study breaks can turn into hours wasted on social media. Procrastinators opt for instant gratification instead of muscling their way through completing the assignment.

Students may procrastinate because of their fear of failure.

They are scared that the work they put into the assignment will not be good enough. To avoid the feelings of shame and ineptitude, students procrastinate and submit work that is inferior to their true abilities.

So how can we break this habit?

First, you have to stop procrastinating on trying to stop procrastinating. As the saying

EDITOR IN CHIEF Bella Ross MANAGING EDITOR Dana Tsuri-Etzioni NEWS EDITOR Kaitlyn Little ASST. NEWS EDITOR Michael Cline OPINION EDITOR Catherine Van Weele MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Alejandra Luna ASST. MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Diane Lopez ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Ceighlee Fennel SPORTS EDITOR Aaron Tolentino ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Kyle Betz ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Roxanna Becerril PHOTO EDITOR Alexa Oslowski MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Amal Younis ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jack Molmud GRAPHIC DESIGNER Emily Burgess VOLUNTEER COPYEDITOR Noah Goldbloom

STAFF WRITERS Aaliyah Alexander Cristian Alvarez Trinity Bland Jaydn Brandt Brandon Freed Breven Honda Sofia Longo Dylan Meisner Catlan Nguyen Juniper Perkins Noé Sandoval Aidan Skillingstad Katelynn Robinson SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Johann Derek Oribello ________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bryan Diamond ________________________________ GENERAL MANAGER/ADVISER Jay Harn GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Luis Valenzuela ________________________________

EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com Graphic by Tobias Graves-Morris

goes, there is no better time like the present. Start by creating tangible goals and following a daily schedule.

Schedule blocks of time throughout the week just dedicated to homework and studying. Prior to the study session, write out a todo list of all the things you want to accomplish that day.

Prioritize the most important assignments and break down bigger assignments into smaller tasks. This way the time is used constructively and no time will be wasted thinking about what needs to be done.

There are a few ways to ensure this time is used productively.

It is essential that you eliminate anything that could distract you later during your study time. Put your phone on the Do Not Disturb mode. Eat beforehand or have snacks ready if you get hungry. Declutter your workspace so there is

ample room for your computer, textbooks, notebooks and any other studying materials.

Set up a reward system to create incentives. By having something to look forward to, it will keep you motivated during your work time. Once you complete everything that was on your to-do list, have a mini celebration for yourself whether it be treating yourself to ice cream or hitting the town with your friends.

Overcoming procrastination is something we can all work on and something we can all achieve. The process will be difficult, but well worth the work in the end. By not giving in to our tendency to procrastinate, we allow ourselves to be less stressed and more productive beings.

Catherine Van Weele is a sophomore studying political science. Follow her on Twitter at @catievanweele.

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Jan. 29 - Feb. 4, 2020 EDITOR: Catherine Van Weele • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

Opinion

The Daily Aztec

5

Democrats shouldn’t be afraid to support open borders

by Dylan Meisner STAFF WRITER

One constant refrain heard from Republicans as the Democratic presidential candidates debate amongst themselves in the runup to the primary elections is that Democrats are for “open borders.”

That charge is not true, but a comprehensive understanding of its potential benefits makes one wish it were.

First off, it is necessary to define what one means by “open borders.” For the purposes of this article, it would mean: an abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the removal of all quotas on immigration from any given country and the nullification of President Trump’s so-called “Travel Ban” levied exclusively on Muslim-majority countries.

It would not mean the abolition of American borders, as allies of the Trump vision of immigration might scaremonger people into thinking.

There are many benefits to an open borders immigration policy.

In terms of the economic upside, it would serve as an unmitigated boon to industry.

The economic data on this is clear, as some economists have pegged the potential of a doubled world GDP, or add approximately $78 trillion to the world economy.

Graphic by Emily Burgess

Domestically, it would be a win, as immigrants are, for all intents and purposes, better workers than their domestic counterparts. In 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor found that, statistically, the labor force participation rate of adults not born in America was 65.7%, as compared to 62.3% of Americanborn workers.

Open borders would also enrich America’s already multicultural social fabric. No country even comes close to America in terms of religious

and ethnic diversity, and this is a strength we owe wholly to open immigration practices in the past. Only about 5 million of the 330-million strong citizenry are not descendants of immigrants — so it is extremely hypocritical for the direct beneficiaries of immigration (the other 98.5% of Americans) to oppose the arrival of people who, for all intents and purposes, are in situations akin to their own ancestors.

Lastly, open borders would eliminate the question of how to handle the conundrum of

Americans whose legal status as citizens is in question. Images of immigrant families imprisoned at our border have been some of the most disgraceful symbols of the Trump presidency.

Simply put, the full-scale recognition of freedom of movement as a fundamental human right would mean the legalization of undocumented people. Restricting freedom of movement for reasons other than direct threats to national security is a hallmark of communist and fascist regimes — and it is a given that America should not aspire to be like either of those two options.

The unfortunately underdiscussed tragedy by purported progressive champion President Roosevelt to send the S.S. St. Louis and its 937 Jewish refugees back to Europe at the height of World War II, where many of those refugees experienced the wrath of Hitler’s ovens, is an example of U.S. responsibility to be the eternal home for refugees.

Not only are refugees good for the American fabric, it is incumbent upon us to not repeat the unspeakable mistake of the St. Louis to any other refugees, be they of the Arab world, be they of Africa or be they of Latin America.

Instead of granting the Trumpian premise on immigration in which immigration is something that should be controlled, Democrats

should instead opt for a return to the Ellis Island system for immigration policy. This would mean prospective immigrants show up to a point of entry, and are granted entry to America upon their passage of both a medical examination and a background check for purposes of national security. One of the reasons why we see so many illegal border crossings today is because of the lengthy process one must go through to become an American.

Being an American is unique to any other nationality.

Former President Reagan, a noted conservative, put it best when he said, “You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Turkey or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk or a Japanese. But anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American.”

In other words, given that being an American is not to be a certain ethnicity, but rather to aspire to a certain creed, there are presumably millions of Americans abroad who we should open our arms (and borders) to.

Dylan Meisner is a sophomore studying political science and international security and conflict resolutions. Follow him on Twitter @DylMeisner.

Newly graduated college students face a ruthless job market

by Aidan Skillingstad STAFF WRITER

As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, current and freshly college graduated students are experiencing struggles finding work.

But this is not to suggest that the job market is struggling. In fact, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate was at approximately 3.5% at the end of 2019.

So what is this socioeconomic strain that seems to be affecting so many people today?

Young people are facing a workforce more cutthroat and demanding than ever before.

There are many possible factors contributing to why millennials and those from Gen Z alike are having more trouble than past generations.

As technology progresses, there are many fields that have been fully or partially taken over by automation. In economics alone, financial analysts as well as other types of data interpreters on Wall Street have almost been completely ousted by the effects of artificial intelligence.

The typical timeline of the school-to-workforce transition for young adults is also not what it was 20 years ago. For our parents, a college degree

could guarantee a stable job right after graduation. Not to mention they were able to obtain said degree and often finish school debt-free if they took home a part-time salary.

We can see how the success of previous generations has created a domino effect with the younger generations. Our parents and mentors insisted the only foreseeable plan after high school was to go to college, get a degree and get a high-paying job.

This push to pursue higher education is highlighted by the Census Bureau, which reports that in 1940, only 4.6% of the population claimed they possessed a four-year degree.

In 2017, 21% of Americans were able to graduate with a four-year degree.

Due to the increase in the number of college graduates, it should seem that a higher percentage of young adults and teens are being hired, but this is not the case. With an abundance of college degrees out there just waiting to be plucked from the application pool, the job market has gotten increasingly competitive.

Employers are looking for more experienced candidates over ones who are merely well educated.

A study conducted by Northeastern University gives helpful insight into what employers in today’s job market are really looking for.

The report states, “while 65% of jobs require postsecondary education, managers still consider internships, employment during college, and volunteer experience more important than GPA or relevant coursework.”

An impressive academic career and tangible experiences are considered necessary to just get your foot in the door with an employer, even for entry level jobs and current college students seeking real world experience.

Just this past semester, I myself attempted to get a job to help out with the costs of college while building my resume. Even though I worked numerous jobs throughout high school, all of them were considered “under the table” and would not be considered as true experience by a future employer.

This whole process was so ridiculous to me. I felt very frustrated. I was willing to put in the hard work, but the opportunities are simply not what they were.

Internships are a possible solution, but there is a downside.

Unpaid internships are opportunities that offer useful real world experience that directly applies to your field.

Internships allow you to build connections and network with professionals.

Regardless of the advantages,

unpaid work experience provides young adults, these positions are often exploitative and unrealistic in tandem with the skyrocketing costs of a college degree.

Under the guise of providing skill development in a field of your choice, employers gain tons of free labor. These internships, while advertised as a useful tool in climbing the corporate ladder, actually further the class divide. There’s no way I would have been able to accept an unpaid internship, whilst supporting myself through college. The same is true for many other students.

Even though statistics report

our unemployment rate is sustaining record lows, the job market is actually becoming increasingly selective of who is hired and who is not. As automation continues to develop and education becomes a necessary checkmark on a resume, it is important that we reevaluate how this is affecting young adults and teens with little to no experience.

We need to transform the workplace to make it conducive to the economic issues facing today’s young workers.

Aidan Skillingstad is a freshman studying English. Follow him on Twitter @skillingajs.

Graphic by Emily Burgess

6

The Daily Aztec

Mundo Azteca

Jan. 29 - Feb. 4, 2020 EDITOR: Alejandra Luna • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

La vida salvadoreña que llegué a soñar por Noé ESCRITOR

Sandoval

Ahora que ha comenzado la nueva década, he cumplido una resolución que siempre he querido. Por primer vez visité El Salvador de donde son mis padres.

Por muchos años este ha sido uno de mis deseos y este mes pude viajar por dos semanas y media a El Salvador.

Soy primera generación de padres inmigrantes, como muchos que han nacido y crecido en EE.UU. Durante mi desarrollo tuve una mezcla de dos culturas con diferentes tradiciones y costumbres, la salvadoreña y la estadounidense.

Siempre he tenido una batalla interna entre a qué nacionalidad pertenezco, si a la estadounidense o salvadoreña.

Mis padres llegaron a EE.UU. hace 30 años debido al clima político del país y el acontecimiento de la guerra civil de El Salvador.

Ellos se refugiaron en este país para tener una mejor vida y más oportunidades.

Desde mi infancia sólo conocía El Salvador a través de historias de mis padres y mi familia.

Afortunadamente, siguieron sus tradiciones, como la comida típica, el idioma y nos lo han inculcado a mis hermanos y a mi.

Cuando llegué aquí, sentí el calor tropical y escuché a la gente a hablar en el caliche salvadoreño o en la jerga del país.

Cortesía de Noé Sandoval

Noé con su famila en El Salvador disfrutando de sus vacaciones.

Llegué al país que había soñado y ahora era realidad.

Me atreví a viajar solito para conocer más de mi cultura.

Durante este tiempo, he visitado a mi familia paterna y materna.

Pude ver a mi abuelita, mis tíos, tías y primos que no había visto hace muchos años y a otros los conocí por primera vez.

Recorrí los pasos y experimenté la vida que mis padres llevaron en su tierra natal y recordé las historias que me contaban.

Además, pude fortalecer las relaciones con mi familia y aprendí mucho de mis ancestros con sus pláticas.

Había llegado a un lugar en donde me sentí aceptado aun siendo extranjero.

Como en cualquier país El Salvador aún tiene sus problemas, pero ha logrado ser un país tranquilo, lleno de gente amable y trabajadora.

Mientras disfrutaba pude presenciar los diferentes estilos de vida que los salvadoreños llevan en el campo y en la

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ciudad.

En la ciudad, despertaba con el cantar de los pájaros, gente vendiendo mercancía y vehículos corriendo en la calles.

En el campo, los gallos eran las alarmas para las personas y las vacas mugían en espera de ser ordeñadas.

Viendo como viven, me hizo cuestionar lo que es realmente ser rico o pobre.

Me di cuenta que el tener dinero no garantiza una vida con muchos lujos.

Muchos salvadoreños trabajan por lo poco, pero siguen sus vidas con su familia y se ve una riqueza en una comunidad ayudándose el uno al otro.

El país también tiene lugares turísticos.

Yo hice pocas excursiones para visitar estos sitios, porque quería presenciar la vida cotidiana de los salvadoreños.

Asistí a festivales y fiestas tradicionales de los pueblos, también tuve la oportunidad de visitar la escuela del pueblo de mi papá y ayudé a preparar las aulas para las clases.

En mis últimos días, estoy reflexionando lo que aprendí en este país y como lo aplicaré en mi vida futura.

Me siento más orgulloso de ser hijo de salvadoreños y formar parte de una cultura que viene de mi pasado.

Ahora estoy más agradecido por todo lo que mis padres han hecho por darme un vida mejor, pero también por enseñarme de la importancia de saber de dónde yo vengo.

Espero regresar pronto y aprender más.

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to Dallas & Shreveport

Jan 29 - Feb. 4, 2020 EDITOR: Alejandra Luna • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Mundo Azteca

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7

Estudiante busca mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas

Cortesía de Maricruz Carrillo

Maricruz disfruta estar conectada con la naturaleza y ayudar a otros.

por Alejandra EDITORA

Luna

jóvenes.

Carrillo es egresada de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego, y actualmente se encuentra en un programa de ingeniería mecánica para terminar su doctorado.

A la edad de 10 años, Carrillo

El interés por cuidar el medio ambiente y la preocupación por su comunidad ha hecho que Maricruz Carrillo logré ser vista como una líder para los más

y su familia llegaron a EE.UU. debido a la gran inseguridad que existía en Rosarito, Baja California. Al principio fue difícil adaptarse al nuevo idioma y las nuevas costumbres.

Fue hasta que tomó clases de inglés, (ESL, por sus siglas en

inglés), como segunda lengua y conoció a más compañeros que estaban pasando por lo mismo.

Según Maricruz Carrillo, su familia y ella tuvieron que regresar a Rosarito por los elevados costos de la vivienda en este país y su vida dio otro giro inesperado, adaptarse a cruzar todos los días para ir a la escuela.

“Estuvo muy duro porque nos levantábamos a las 3 a.m., de Rosarito íbamos hasta Jamul”, dijo Carrillo. “En la tarde regresábamos a Rosarito solo llegábamos a comer, hacer tarea y a dormir”.

La joven estudiante recuerda que decidió su carrera universitaria en su último año de preparatoria cuando su maestro de ingeniería la impulsó para cambiar su carrera a ingeniería mecánica.

Durante su trayecto como universitaria descubrió que necesitaba unirse a una organización, donde se sintiera acogida por los demás y encontró la asociación de Chicana Activista, (A.Ch.A).

“Siempre he estado buscando un lugar aquí en SDSU, que me sienta identificada y lo encontré en A.Ch.A”, dijo Carrillo.

Los sueños de Carrillo no han terminado aquí, en el año 2019 sus dos mejores amigas

y ella crearon una cuenta en Instagram, Trium Vibrando, lo cual va dirigida a todas las personas que buscan cuidar al medio ambiente y balancear el cuerpo, espíritu y la tierra.

“Siento que en la comunidad latina estamos separados de lo que hacían nuestros abuelitos que ellos vivían más natural que nosotros”, expresó Carrillo.

El objetivo de su página es compartir consejos en inglés y español para aprender a querer tu cuerpo, recetas saludables y productos naturales que pueden hacer en casa a un menor costo.

“Queríamos que sea accesible a todos, no importa de donde vienes y como te identificas”, dijo Carrillo.

Aun cuando tienen unos meses de haber formado esta cuenta, Carrillo y sus amigas planean dar talleres para todas las personas interesadas.

La joven espera que cuando termine su doctorado pueda ser maestra de universidad y representar a su comunidad, buscando crear un impacto en los estudiantes en su futuro.

Maricruz aconseja que no tengan miedo a reconocer el poder que tienen.

“Es muy importante estar presente con uno mismo”, dijo Carrillo.

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Sports

The Daily Aztec

Jan. 29 - Feb. 4, 2020 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

SDSU takes down UNLV in low-scoring affair

by Cristian STAFF WRITER

Alvarez

San Diego State women’s basketball defeated UNLV 48-39 on Jan. 25 at Viejas Arena.

The Aztecs (9-13, 4-6 Mountain West Conference) snapped a four-game losing streak against the Rebels (1010, 6-3) who were fourth in the conference standings heading into Saturday.

Here are three observations from the game.

1. SOUND DEFENSIVE EFFORT FROM THE AZTECS From the opening tip, the Aztecs’ defense created problems.

The Rebels made three of 15 attempts and turned the ball over five times in the first quarter alone.

That trend would continue.

By halftime, the Rebels had 12 points on 5-of-30 shooting.

UNLV was held to single digits in the first two quarters.

The Rebels’ 12 points are the fewest for an opponent against the Aztecs in a half this season.

UNLV had a grand total of 17 turnovers, shot 24% (1562) from the floor and scored a season-low 39 points.

Aztecs head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson said she was

Basketball:

continued from page 1 player,” Dutcher said of Bryant’s death. “He was someone they all looked up to, who impacted all of their lives. So I was sensitive of that moment, and obviously our thoughts and prayers for all the people that passed in such a tragic accident.”

Senior guard KJ Feagin said he wants to continue the Aztecs’ winning streak the same way Kobe Bryant would.

“I want to be perfect, and (Bryant) chased perfection in his craft,” Feagin said. “He’s relentless in his pursuit. I kind of see that in myself when I come on the court.”

Now, the Aztecs continue their pursuit of perfection Wednesday at New Mexico.

Leonard:

continued from page 1 program that surpassed the 2010-11 record of 20 straight wins to start the year.

The retirement ceremony has men’s basketball players thinking of life and their university legacy.

“Seeing Kawhi coming back and seeing his jersey hung up and retired, that’s a great thing for the university to be able to do that,” junior forward Matt Mitchell said. “You definitely think of that and future terms and being a face of the program.”

Mitchell said he grew up not too far from Leonard. Both forwards hail from the Inland Empire, a region Mitchell said

happy with her team’s grit on the floor.

“I was really proud of our effort on the defensive end,” Terry-Hutson said. “We just beat a really good team that was in the top of the conference, and I thought we really tried to take away at what they are good at.”

The Aztecs also protected the rim by swatting away easy opportunities near the glass.

SDSU had six blocks against the Rebels, and three of them came from senior center Zayn Dornstauder.

SDSU ranks third in the conference in blocked shots.

Freshman guard/forward Isabela Hernandez said the Aztecs must maintain the defensive intensity moving forward.

“We just need to keep that same energy for the rest of the season,” Hernandez said. “We have to take this momentum and use it.”

The 6-foot-1 forward from Auburn, California would not end up returning to the game.

Terry-Hutson said after the game Vanderdoes’ status moving forward is questionable. She is expected to have some X-rays this week.

The Aztecs are already dealing with the injury bug. Sophomore forward Mallory Adams suffered a knee injury that ended her season.

However, Terry-Hutson said injuries created opportunities for other players to step up.

While Vanderdoes’ return is unknown, players such as juniors Kiara Edwards and Naomi Ekwedike will have to fill in.

“We talk a lot about staying ready for your opportunity,” Terry-Hutson said. “Now Kiara and Naomi are going to have some more opportunities to step in and get more minutes.

I’m anxious to see if they’ll stay ready and step up to the challenge.”

2.INJURY STRIKES BEFORE HALFTIME Less than two minutes into the second quarter, senior forward Baylee Vanderdoes fell down awkwardly holding her right leg.

Dornstauder replaced Vanderdoes as she had to be carried off the floor.

3. BALL MOVEMENT LED BY SOPHIA RAMOS’ CAREER-HIGH NINE ASSISTS The Aztecs were consistent distributing the ball and finding the open player.

As a team, the Scarlet and Black accumulated 13 assists compared to the Rebels’ five.

New Mexico is third in the country in free throw attempts and second in free throw makes.

Dutcher said the Aztecs will need to play disciplined defense.

“They attack the basket both off the drive and off the offensive glass, and they draw a lot of fouls,” Dutcher said. “We’re going to have to defend and try to avoid foul trouble.”

Leading the way for New Mexico is Ohio State transfer senior guard JaQuan Lyle, who is averaging 17.7 points and nearly five rebounds per game.

Last season, the Lobos didn’t have a goalscorer averaging more than 14.4 points per game, so the emergence of Lyle has been significant in terms of New Mexico’s offensive success (scoring 80 points per game).

Another threat to the Aztecs is senior forward Carlton Bragg Jr., who is averaging a double-

double at 12.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest.

Dutcher said guys like Lyle and Bragg Jr. might give the Lobos a size advantage over the Aztecs.

“They’re really talented,” Dutcher said. “They’re long, they’re athletic. They’re going to be bigger than us at almost every position.”

That isn’t the most encouraging scouting report to hear, especially with 6-foot10 starting sophomore center Nathan Mensah and 6-foot-6 versatile defender sophomore forward Aguek Arop likely out.

The Lobos also hold an intangible advantage on their home court, known as “The Pit.” New Mexico’s only home loss of the season came against then-No. 18 Auburn on Nov. 25, 2019. The Tigers were the second-to-last undefeated team

doesn’t produce too much basketball talent.

Kawhi? Mitchell? Not too shabby for Inland Empire kids.

Both have left their mark on SDSU athletics in one way or another.

Coach Brian Dutcher served as an assistant under thenhead coach Steve Fisher when Leonard was at SDSU. He said he is excited for Leonard to make program history.

“To be the first one to have your jersey hang in the rafters of Viejas is a heck of an honor and well deserved,” he said.

Dutcher said the program’s decision to retire his jersey was for the long list of accomplishments he had while on the Mesa, and not just for his professional career.

“We’re hanging it because of what he’s done at San Diego State,” he said. “To come in and hang two (Mountain West tournament champion) banners here, to take us to our first Sweet Sixteen and to be the ultimate team player and selfless — that’s why the jersey is going up.”

SDSU will face Utah State in front of a sold-out crowd Saturday afternoon.

The Aztecs defeated the Aggies 77-68 on Jan. 4 on the road in Logan, Utah.

The San Diego city clerk has officially named Feb. 1, 2020, to be “Kawhi Leonard Day.” Michael Cline is a second-year graduate student in the Rhetoric and Writing Studies department.

Follow him @michcline.

Nine of SDSU’s assists came from sophomore guard Sophia Ramos, setting a new careerhigh.

“It’s great to see that number be high because it shows that the people who are putting in the work are getting a result out of it,” Ramos said. “Whether I get nine assists or none, everyone

is shooting, everyone is scoring.

It helps build confidence for everyone.”

Next for the Aztecs SDSU will host New Mexico on Wednesday at Viejas Arena.

Cristian Alvarez is a senior studying interdisciplinary studies.

Follow him at @AlvarezTheViper.

Photo by Luis Lopez

Senior guard Taylor Kalmer looks to complete at one-handed pass down the baseline during the Aztecs’ 48-39 victory over UNLV on Jan. 25 at Viejas Arena.

in the nation behind SDSU. The Lobos’ (16-6, 5-4 MWC) 10-game home winning streak may not be as significant as the Aztecs’ 21-game winning streak, but both are on the line.

New Mexico’s success at home could be partially credited to its home crowd that can reach over 15,000 in capacity.

“I’ve been in there enough to know that I can’t talk to my team during the game, it’s so loud in there,” Dutcher said.

The Aztecs then return home on Saturday, Feb. 1 against Utah State when SDSU will retire Kawhi Leonard’s jersey during halftime.

8. SJSU (7-14, 3-6)

Aaron Tolentino and Cristian Alvarez contributed to this story.

10. Fresno St. (7-14, 3-7)

Kyle Betz is a junior majoring in journalism. Follow him @KyleBBetz.

MOUNTAIN WEST STANDINGS*

1. SDSU (21-0, 10-0) 2. Nevada (13-8, 6-3) 3. UNLV (11-11, 6-3) 4. Utah St. (17-6, 6-4) 5. UNM (16-6, 5-4) 6. CSU (14-8, 5-4) 7. Boise St. (13-8, 5-4) 9. Air Force (9-13, 3-7) 11. Wyoming (5-17, 0-10) *Standings as of Jan. 28

File photo

Leonard played at SDSU from 2009-11.

Sports 9 Column: Generation mourns death of Kobe Bryant

Jan. 29 - Feb. 4, 2020 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

by Aaron Tolentino SPORTS EDITOR

It was about 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26, and I was getting dressed for church.

My roommate announced across the hallway: “Kobe died.”

Halfway dressed, I ran up to him and refused to believe him, declaring that the news was fake.

It was not.

No, this can’t be.

The Kobe Bryant can’t die.

He is “Mamba Mentality” — the coldest assassin in NBA history. He had the ultimate killer will and refused to lose no matter what, which very few in the history of humanity have displayed.

But then reality hits: Kobe is human just like all of us – a human who experiences life and death, except the death part came way too soon.

At 41, we’ve rarely ever seen such an icon die so young, especially given the circumstances: a freak accident leading to a helicopter crash.

Eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, lost their lives that Sunday morning.

This one hit me differently.

This is the closest I’ve ever felt to a celebrity death.

I felt like I knew Kobe, which of course, none of us actually

did.

As a member of the sports community at San Diego State, I recall the encounters I’ve had with the student-athletes I cover on campus.

None of them knew Kobe personally, but it felt like they all had a relationship with the Black Mamba. We all shared the fact – given our age group – that Kobe was our generation’s sports icon.

All of us felt like we had a personal connection with Kobe because we’ve seen him grow from an 18-year-old kid to a grown man and father of four daughters – a #girldad, as ESPN’s Elle Duncan described in her heartwarming anecdote.

He’s the reason I’m an aspiring sports journalist. He’s the reason many Aztec student-athletes are competing at the Division I level.

I got a chance to chat with some players on the men’s basketball team such as KJ Feagin and Caleb Giordano before their practice Monday.

Before speaking to them, I gave both a hug. That’s something I don’t usually do because as a student journalist, I attempt to maintain a sense of “professionalism” along with the older media members when we are invited to practice.

But Monday was just a different day.

No words were needed to

The Daily Aztec

explain why I gave a warmer greeting to the student-athletes I cover on a regular basis.

We all knew how the past 24 hours had been for us. We lost a childhood icon.

Giordano described memories of watching those NBA Finals games back in 2008 and 2010, when Kobe’s Lakers faced the Celtics. Kobe was the reason Giordano picked up a basketball.

Feagin, a native of Carson, California -- less than 20 miles from Staples Center -- tweeted right after his team won at UNLV: “Devastated.”

I asked if he plans on having a tribute for Kobe.

“Keep winning,” Feagin said.

That’s the answer the fivetime NBA champion would’ve wanted to hear.

I sent a few text messages to football players such as Kyahva Tezino and Darren Hall on Monday, both Los Angeles natives. Though playing a different sport, Kobe was their sports hero, and his passing deeply hurt them both.

I ran into Hall a day later.

We gave each other a hug then shared a moment together.

I told Hall when I rewatched Kobe’s Oscar-winning short film “Dear Basketball” a few hours after his death, that’s when I let all my tears go.

The way Kobe showed his six-

Photo courtesy of Bagumba, Wikimedia Commons

Kobe Bryant (1978-2020) spent his entire NBA career as a Los Angeles Laker from 19962016. He won five NBA titles, along with winning an Oscar for his short film “Dear Basketball.’’

year-old self how basketball was his first love reminded me of myself when I was a kid.

Basketball was the first sport I played since I was a little boy too.

Folding socks was my favorite

household chore because I could pretend to shoot the rolled up ball of socks like a basketball into a laundry basket.

“Kobe!”

Swim & Dive takes down crosstown opponent USD on Senior Day

File photo

An Aztec swimmer competes during the first home meet of the season against Pepperdine and Boise State on Oct. 18 at the Aztec Aquaplex.

by Breven Honda and Brandon Freed

San Diego State Swimming and Diving defeated its cross- town foe, University of San Diego, on Jan. 24 for Senior Day at the Aztec Aquaplex.

Here are three observations from the meet.

1. SWIM OVERCOMES ILLNESS TO GIVE IT THEIR ALL The Aztecs were able to beat the Toreros for the second time this season, 153-128.

Head coach Mike Shrader said the team takes pride in giving its best effort.

“Going into our meet, we had the mindset of giving our best effort and maintaining a positive attitude and those were off the

charts,” Shrader said.

Seniors Kassidy Henson and Courtney Vincent won their respective races, despite being ill. Henson won the 500-meter freestyle with a time of 5:07.86 and Vincent won the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 53.31.

Shrader said he was impressed by both of their performances.

“Those were two big time highlights and many others, but those two stood out since they were under the weather,” Shrader said.

Shrader, who has been at SDSU for 13 seasons, said he has been proud of the team all year long.

“We’ve been working really hard,” Shrader said. “The girls are sore, they’re tired and we’ve had some really nice

performances. The good Lord has blessed me with just some outstanding young ladies.”

Senior captain, McKenna Meyer, was one of many SDSU swimmers that came victorious today by winning the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:52.25.

2. GONZALES SETS RECORD, ENTIRE TEAM ADVANCES The Aztec divers were just as successful as the swimmers.

All seven SDSU divers qualified for the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives.

Aztecs’ diving coach Roland McDonald said the results of the meet were a significant accomplishment.

“Today was a real good day for us,” McDonald said. “All seven

of our divers made a qualifying score for the NCAA Zone Championships and that’s our means of getting to the NCAA Championships.”

McDonald said having all seven divers advance to Seattle for the Zone Championships is great for the program because the entire team will have the chance to compete at a higher level.

“It’s huge,” McDonald said.

“There’s not going to be too many schools that have that many or more (competitors).

We’ll probably have the largest team there.”

Shrader said it is a once-in-alifetime moment for the diving program to have every member compete at the next level.

“It’s always special when you have an opportunity to go to a national level meet and when your entire program makes it, I don’t know that you can say any more than that,” Shrader said. “Roland has done an outstanding job as our diving coach. He’s as good as anyone in the country.”

In addition, sophomore Ximena Lechuga Gonzalez set a new school and pool record in the 3-meter dive, posting 383.03 points.

Shrader said Gonzalez’s record is a result of her coach and her qualities she brings to the program. “(Gonzalez) is very humble, is a hard-worker, is not afraid to try new things and she does a great job listening to Roland,” Shrader said. “She gets up there and she’s a special young lady.

We’re very proud of her.”

3. SENIORS ENJOY FINAL DAY AT AQUAPLEX The team recognized nine seniors (seven swimmers, two divers) who participated in their final meet at the Aztec Aquaplex.

For the final event, Shrader built a senior team for the 400yard freestyle relay composed of Vincent, Meyer, Alma Thormalm and Peyton Wilson.

The team won the relay with a time of 3:26.64.

Shrader said it is a testament to the hard work the seniors put in to embrace the final moments they have in their final moments as an Aztec.

“It’s always special,” Shrader said. “We always got to put a senior relay at the end to give them an opportunity and it was a really fast time. We were really happy and impressed.”

Senior day festivities continued near the diving board as they honored Marie Yacopino and Delaney Gallagher who finished second and third in the 1-meter springboard event.

Gallagher said her relationship with Yacopino has been fun.

“Marie and I have been together since freshman year and she’s been my ride-or-die,” Gallagher said. “It was really nice to finish out at a good meet.”

Up next, the Aztec diving team heads to Flagstaff, Arizona for the Northern Arizona Diving Invitational #2 from Jan. 31 to Feb.1 before both the swimmers and divers head to Minneapolis for the Mountain West Championships from Feb. 19 to 22.

Breven Honda and Brandon Freed are both juniors studying journalism.

10

The Daily Aztec

Arts & Culture

Jan. 29 - Feb. 4, 2020 EDITOR: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Mac Miller’s album takes fans full circle

by Johann Derek Oribello SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The new decade started with a bang for the music bubble as major recording artists such as Eminem, Selena Gomez and Halsey released new albums for hardcore and casual supporters to enjoy. Amidst the media frenzy surrounding such high profile album releases, fans around the globe patiently waited for one special album to drop. That highly anticipated album is “Circles” by beloved late rapper Malcolm McCormick, better known and adored by fans as Mac Miller. The surprising and tragic death of Mac Miller two years ago

left the world shocked.

Miller, who has extensively documented his struggles with depression and drugs throughout his career, seemed to be on the upswing on his battle against mental illness and substance abuse. His previous project, “Swimming,” centralizes on this growth from his demons and opened up limitless potential for his artistry.

“Circles,” thematically expands on this exploration of Miller’s progression as a follow up to “Swimming,” and serves as a bittersweet farewell to fans and family.

Established producer and film score composer Jon Brion, who worked closely with the rapper in “Swimming,” took the helm to complete the album and fully realize Miller’s vision.

With 12 songs, Miller invites listeners to follow his journey toward solace as the album runs for nearly 50 minutes.

Sonically the tone, lyrics and production throughout this album indicate a drastic transformation and departure from his previous bodies of work. It was as if Miller was a caterpillar undergoing metamorphosis in his cocoon until his life was shockingly cut short.

The titular first track showcases the direction Miller was heading artistically as the song opens up with soft guitar strings. Being no stranger to experimentation, the instrumental is a large departure from the frat-bro rap sound that ushered him into fame and stardom.

The first words rapped by the late artist are bonechilling considering the context behind the album before his untimely death.

He raps, “Well, this is what it looks like right before you fall,” as if he knew his time was up.

Onwards, Miller glides effortlessly toward the rest of the tracklist as he unfolds and comes to terms with his mental health struggles. With the only feature being singer Baro Sura on the song, “Hand Me Downs,” it’s clear to see Miller was on the way to fully realizing his artistic potential as he favors more melodic singing over his sharp lyrical pen.

The song “Blue World,” immediately grabs listeners’ ears with its trippy sample flip of a 1950s band, The Four Freshman’s

song “It’s a Blue World.” The glitchy electronic instrumental paired with chopped up vocals create a mesmerizing beat as Miller raps with his signature charisma, “Yeah, well, this a mad world made me crazy / Might just turn around, do one-eighty.”

As the most hip-hop oriented song on the album, Miller showcases his brilliant ability to effortlessly flow on any beat.

“Blue Worlds” is a standout track that perfectly encapsulates the rapper’s artistry in “Circles” is a lesson in acceptance.

Those familiar with the rapper know he has struggled with his mental health and seemed to accept it later in his career.

“Good News” is another standout track that perfectly exemplifies this notion of acceptance.

“Good News” was released as the lead single of the album, shortly following the announcement of the album’s release date.

Lyrics such as “Maybe I’ll lay down for a little / Instead of always trying to figure things out,” and “I’ll finally discover / That it ain’t that bad,” point towards a positive change in Miller’s mindset contrasting past negative emotions.

Accompanied by a comforting, gentle groove, Miller’s endearing lyrics of introspection suggest a sense of optimism that would have led him out of the darkness, making this song all the more heartbreaking to listen to.

“Hand Me Downs” is another highlight of the album demonstrating Miller’s willingness to be bare with his emotions for the world to listen to. In it, he further displays his mental progression, rapping, “I’m just being honest my conscience ain’t doin’ bad / Because I try to minus the problems that I attract.”

With the instrumental featuring sparse drums and gloomy guitar strings, Miller utilizes the soothing sounds to reflect on what he found most important -- his mental health, family, friends and happiness. Baro on the chorus captures the somberness of the track making it a poignant and significant track of the album. In an interview with popular radio host, Zane Lowe, Brion said the rapper intended to release a trilogy of

albums before his untimely death.

“There were supposed to be three albums: the first was sort of the hybridization of going between hip-hop and song form,” he said. “The second would be song-based. And I believe the third one would have been just a pure hip-hop record.”

“Circles” in its entirety is not only a final sendoff for the late rapper who captured the hearts of many all over the world, but it also serves as a fitting culmination of Mac Miller’s career. While his previous work aimed to deal with his depression, this album signaled a transformative change not only in his career but also his life.

Studio Ghibli will release its classic films on HBO Max this spring

by Juniper Perkins STAFF WRITER

“Spirited Away,” “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Howl’s Moving Castle” — what do these films have in common? They all come from the critically acclaimed Japanese animated film studio, Studio Ghibli. Netflix Australia and New Zealand announced in a tweet on Jan. 19 that all 21 of Studio Ghibli’s feature films will be available internationally come February.

This news was music to the ears of fans across the world. But there’s a catch, the films won’t be available in the U.S. nor in Japan. On the bright side, Studio Ghibli has released its films to other companies.

In October 2019, HBO struck a deal with Studio Ghibli’s North American distributor, GKIDS. The deal granted all 21 feature films to stream on HBO’s new service, HBO Max, this spring, according to a press release from GKIDS. This marked the first time the Japanese studio has ever licensed its films to a streaming platform, according to the press release.

And that’s not all in store for Studio Ghibli’s future. According to an article from IGN, the studio has confirmed the

production of two new films set to be released within the next two years. In the meantime, let’s reminisce about some of Studio Ghibli’s most beloved films.

“SPIRITED AWAY” When 10-year-old Chihiro is forced to leave her old life behind, she inadvertently embarks on a transformative journey that teaches her strength and courage. She and her parents stumble upon an abandoned amusement park, teeming with magic.

After finding herself in the park after dark, Chihiro loses her parents and is transported to a spirit world.

The setting, a bathhouse, is whimsical and full of fantasy. The characters, ranging from humans to magical creatures and spirits, are dynamic and realistic. Even the food looks good enough to eat and the soot sprites cute enough to cuddle.

Chihiro faces trials and tribulations that average 10-year-olds probably find in their nightmares or role play at recess, but the film’s hand-drawn scenes totally immerse the viewer.

“MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO” Set in 1958 Japan, a university professor and his two daughters, Satsuki and Mei,

move into an old, seemingly magical house. The house is adjacent to a large forest that Mei explores while Satsuki is at school. Their rapport is both adorable and relatable to almost anyone with a sibling.

One day, Mei’s curiosity brings her to the heart of the forest where she meets the forest spirit Totoro. Totoro’s physique can best be described as soft, round and huggable. His forest is mysterious with light shining through the treetops to give a magical setting.

The film tells a beautiful story about familial love and overcoming our fears.

Not everyone has a real, powerful forest spirit watching over them, but store bought is fine. Studio Ghibli’s stuffed Totoros are soft and squishy companions.

“HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE” Protagonist Sophie is a young hatmaker whose life seems dull and neverchanging until she encounters a difficult customer while closing up her shop one night. The customer reveals herself as a witch and curses Sophie with old age.

In hopes of breaking the curse, Sophie leaves for the countryside where she encounters yet another magical being. She then embarks on a life-changing journey

full of love and war.

The film’s heavy anti-war message is highlighted through elaborate worldbuilding and absurd-yet-realistic characters.

These films only scratch the surface of Studio Ghibli’s expansive library. Until they’re available on Netflix and HBO Max, most of the films are available for individual purchase on multiple major platforms.

But we won’t tell if you prefer to stream on 123movie or KissAnime.

Graphic by Ceighlee Fennel

Arts & Culture 11 Drag queens dig deep for Superstar Drag Queen crown

Jan. 29 - Feb. 4, 2020 EDITOR: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Photo Courtesy of Noah Leach

Noah Leach, LUXE, pictured as a child.

by Aaliyah Alexander STAFF WRITER

A diverse group of talented drag queens competed for San Diego State’s first ever Superstar Drag Queen crown on the evening of Jan. 25 at Montezuma Hall. The thought of strutting and dancing in eightinch heels for a crowd of more than 1,000 people may be daunting to the average person, but these veteran queens have experience under their belts.

Contestants Melanie Blue, Silverella,

The Daily Aztec

LAUXE, Stella Vanilla, Imani Zella and Lady Blanca shared some insights into their lives, before all the glitz and glamour, and their inspiration behind becoming queens.

Psychology sophomore Juan Barcenas, also known as Lady Blanca, was introduced to drag culture through RuPaul’s Drag Race at the age of 14. Barcenas’ mom encouraged and inspired Barcenas to pursue drag.

“She’s always been my inspiration,” Barcenas said. “Ever since my dad passed away when I was 5 years old, I’ve always looked up to my mom.”

Acting and musical theatre performance junior and winner of Saturday night’s drag pageantry Noah Leach, also known as LUXE, discovered drag at 19 after seeing guest performer Shangela at a drag event at SDSU. Leach believes drag has changed Leah as a person, and Leach wants to inspire others.

“Myself, Noah, has evolved so much from the presence of LUXE that I don’t know if I’d be at the same point in my life had I not found LUXE,” Leach said. “And just being that beacon for other people to want to liberate themselves or find their true self.”

Before being crowned SDSU’s first superstar queen, Leach said it would mean the world to Leach to win.

“I would feel validated,” Leach said.

“It would be a validation of what I’m pursuing and to know that the way I look and what I do and what I’m here to do

means something here at SDSU.” Baby Bheos Hood, also known as Stella Vanilla, began drag at the age of 19 when a friend pressured Hood into doing a show at the University of San Diego.

Ever since then, Hood’s been performing and appearing in various shows. One of Hood’s favorite moments was when he successfully landed a complicated stunt on stage.

“I did this ballroom stunt essentially and I was laying upside down in the air,” Hood said. “And the audience gagged. I was like we did it … I didn’t fall on my face.”

For queen George Andrade, also known as Melanie Blue, drag came into Andrade’s life at the age of 18. When Andrade’s favorite Youtuber landed a spot on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Andrade was motivated to use drag as an outlet, but Andrade wasn’t eager to change certain aspects of Andrade in order to fit in with the other drag queens displayed on television.

“At first I was hesitant because I didn’t want to shave my beard,” Andrade said. “I was like, ‘Do I have to do this?’”

After Moore’s first encounter with the “extra non-ordinary” looks displayed by queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Naomi Moore, also known as Silverella, was 12 when Moore realized Moore wanted to be a drag queen. Moore feels it’s important for diversity to be a part of drag culture.

“I’m here representing not only all the queens of color, but all the trans queens and if you watch the show then maybe

Photo Courtesy of Noah Leach

LUXE, Noah Leach, secured the crown Saturday 2020.

even little beard queens,” Moore said.

Single-subject teaching junior Christion Covington, also known as Imani Zella, was 18 when she got her start in the world of drag. After being encouraged by drag queen Amber St. James to compete in her first event, Covington was eager to immerse herself in the community and culture.

“Once I started getting into the drag stuff, I started watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, looking up queens online, learning from Amber … It was just drag everything after that pretty much,” Covington said.

Incarcerated get second chance to express themselves through art

by Catlan Nguyen STAFF WRITER

No matter what walk of life you come from, art can heal and help many express themselves at their worst and at their best. The Prison Arts Collective program believes art is a human right and everyone should have access to it.

The Prison Arts Collective headquarters moved to San Diego State in August 2019 when its founding director, Annie Buckley, became the director of the School of Art and Design at SDSU. The Prison Arts Collective is a program where teachers, students and volunteers from the community can help offer art classes to those who are incarcerated. The collective is now housed under the SDSU Research Foundation.

PAC provides weekly multidisciplinary art classes and facilitator training courses at 11 institutions including Avenal State Prison, Central California Women’s Facility, Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and more, program assistant Sydney Burke said.

Core classes taught at the institutions

include drawing, painting, art and mindfulness, art in yoga and art history.

“Each facility has different interests and passions,” Burke said. “So (the collective) receives feedback directly from the participants about past classes and potential future courses. Classes are modeled after what you might experience in a university-level art class.”

Each class integrates art history and theory, art creation and reflection exercises.

Burke said the main goal of the collective is to allow instructors to collaborate with participants to create a safe space for creativity and expression.

Students from all disciplines at SDSU can get involved with the collective. The program is accepting applications for credit-based or paid internships. Student interns help with marketing efforts, research and supporting the teaching team.

“I think that the Prison Arts Collective is a great learning opportunity, not just for those in the prison system, but also for those who are teaching art,” film and advertising sophomore Samantha Johnson said. “The incarcerated have a healthy outlet through which to express themselves and it helps minimize the stigma around

people who have been through the system.

I wholeheartedly agree that art is a human right and I hope that the program is beneficial to everyone involved.”

Previously, PAC headquarters was located at CSU San Bernardino when it began in 2013. Then, it opened a chapter at CSU Fresno in fall 2017.

Buckley said students at both Fresno State and San Bernardino State are regularly involved in the program as interns and teaching assistants The collective is funded by Arts in Corrections which is a partnership between the California Arts Council and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations. The collective’s outreach program, Project Alice, is volunteer-led.

Buckley’s duties as director of the collective include collaborating with their team and participants to set a clear vision for the program and ensuring everyone is included in the discussion. She also works with their advisory board, a volunteer group of professionals and the collective’s founders to ensure the sustainability of the program.

“I have witnessed a profound impact on our incarcerated participants and on

our team, including teaching artists, as well as university students and faculty,” Buckley said. “Each time I visit the correctional institutions, I’m reminded of why we do what we do. We see that the arts programming helps our participants to find an identity in the arts, beyond their situation, to connect with family and community on the outside and to express themselves.”

The collective is constantly looking to expand to other locations.

It also has an exhibition program with art shows highlighting work made by participants from inside correctional institutions.

One of their art shows, “Beyond the Blue,” will be held from Feb. 12 through March 5 at Los Angeles Valley College.

The exhibition features artwork that aims to shift society’s stereotypical image of an “inmate” by sharing personal experiences, goals and more.

The opening reception will have a discussion panel with the collective’s former participants and teaching artists about the exhibition and critical topics related to restorative justice from 1 to 2 p.m.

Photo Courtesy of Peter Merts

The Prison Arts Collective program teaches art classes at different institutions to those who are incarcerated. SDSU’s director of the school of art and design is also the founding director of this program to give people access to the arts.

The Back Page Club baseball competes for another national title 12

Jan. 29 - Feb. 4, 2020 Editor: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

by Sofia Longo STAFF WRITER

San Diego State’s club baseball team is preparing for a successful season and potentially another national championship as a talented group of student-athletes take on the field in February.

The club is a relatively new program established in 2016.

The team plays at the Division I level of the National Club Baseball Association, which is comprised of more than 300 teams and 7,500 student-athletes.

The club team offers the chance for students to continue playing baseball at a competitive collegiate level, but without the rigorous time commitment that a National Collegiate Athletic Association team may have.

There are 30 students on the team with three freshman players who are ready to make their mark on the field. They want to put their years of experience to work and fight for a championship.

Civil engineering freshman Jeffrey Suter is a pitcher who has been playing the sport for more than14 years.

“I joined to continue to play baseball and meet new people,” Suter said.

“It has been a great way to transition from high school to college, as well as accustoming myself to college life.”

Baseball brings balance in Suter’s life with everything that he does. His goals

for the season include improving his pitching ability and making a run for the coveted championship.

SDSU club baseball was the 2018 National Club Baseball Association national champions, and two years later, players are hungry for another trophy to compliment their previous national title.

Journalism freshman Philip Diana, with 15 years of baseball experience under his belt, believes there is no challenge too big for the team. A utility player who primarily plays second and third base, Diana raved about the team chemistry and how the upperclassmen have really worked to bond the team.

“Everyone’s going to have to contribute,” Diana said. “You can’t just rely on one person. Pitchers got to be on top of it, fielders got to be on top of it, and hitting, we have to do everything right … we just have to execute on our end.”

Journalism freshman Alex Sheron talked about how Grand Canyon University is looking to be the toughest team to beat this season.

“Our biggest competitor in our conference and in general is GCU,” Sheron said. “They made the club world series last year. They will definitely put up a fight.”

Sheron, also a pitcher, talked about different goals the team has, such as winning the conference and having an enjoyable season all around.

The club team has given all three

Kick the Semester into High Gear

freshman stability while transitioning into college. It has also provided them the opportunity to continue playing the sport they love, which they don’t take for granted.

“A lot of people on our team were actually recruited by … smaller schools in the midwest and east coast,” Diana said. “But, most of them didn’t choose to go there because the school didn’t have their major or they couldn’t

financially afford it. They can still keep their baseball skills sharp (with club baseball) and they could maybe eventually, if they do well, transition into their dream college and play baseball (there).”

Club baseball begins the season facing the University of California San Diego on Feb. 8 at Ted Williams Field at 10 a.m.

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