10-02-2019

Wednesday, Oct. 2 - Tuesday, Oct. 8 2019 Weekly Print Edition

Vol. 106, Issue 8 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

How my past turned me into a proud Latina

by Roxana Becerril CONTRIBUTOR

In honor of this week marking the halfway point of National Heritage Month, I would like to share a few ways we, Latinxs, bring the sugar and spice to this multi-flavored nation.

The period from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 is the month where people recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to this country’s history, heritage and culture. U.S. residents — Hispanic or not — use this time to organize festivals, art shows and community gatherings as a means of paying tribute to the largest minority in the nation.

As a Mexican-American who has lived in Tijuana, I see this as the perfect opportunity to touch on a few characteristics of the Mexican culture that bring a smile to my face.

Every New Year’s eve, my

family goes to my tia’s house, eats 12 grapes, makes 12 wishes, lights sparklers and concludes the countdown with an interesting trip around the neighborhood. To most people, running around a cul de sac with blow horns in our mouths and empty suitcases in hand at midnight might classify as a sign of lunacy. To us, it’s how we ask the new year for travel opportunities.

Another peculiar detail about my culture is that Mexicans like to use empty-branded food containers to store leftovers instead of always using Tupperware. I’ll leave you to imagine the confusion I faced upon finding spaghetti in a Yoplait container labeled “vanilla yogurt” last week.

While the aforementioned characteristics are what have shaped a part of my cultural identity, they aren’t the same attributes that other members of the Hispanic community may identify with.

For elementary education senior Jessica Blas, growing up in a MexicanPanamanian household meant being surrounded by hacienda-themed decorations and the aroma of

Graphics by Emily Burgess

her Panamanian grandmother Lolo’s yucca fries, arroz con pollo and beef stew rice. It also meant having to correct people who failed to acknowledge her Latin American roots.

“People always assume that if I’m Hispanic or look a certain way that I’m (just) Mexican because they aren’t aware of Latin America,” Blas said.

In 2008, Blas visited the Panamanian city of Colón and the island of San Blas where she was able to experience her Hispanic culture first hand. The warm hospitality and folklore dances performed by people in polleras or embroidered, multicolored attire are a few things to credit for Blas’ cultural pride.

“I have always been proud of who I am and my ethnicity,” Blas said. “I have taken a lot of Chicano/Chicana studies classes and it’s important to share your culture with other people and just being proud of where you come from.”

Cultural identity isn’t always established through traditional cooking or trips to a Hispanic country. English senior Victoria Martinez said her genealogy is what makes her Mexican.

“What makes me Mexican

is the fact that I am Mexican, that my skin is brown and that Spanish is my first language and (that I) grew up in Mexico and spoke Spanish at home,” Martinez said, after expressing the difficulty of having to state the specific qualities that contribute to her ethnic being.

Openly identifying as Mexican is something fairly new to Martinez. She said she didnt start adopting the label until she saw the discrimination targeted at her background and where she came from. When she did begin identifying with her Mexican heritage, she said it felt rebellious.

“When I was young I was ashamed to be Mexican … people thought I was dumb because I didn’t know English,” Martinez said. “Learning to think I’m beautiful was a whole process and as I get older, I’m starting to love my origins more and more.”

In contrast, public relations senior Sabrina Basurto said growing up in San Diego’s Hispanic-populated South Bay region made it easy for her to accept her ethnicity early on.

“I never wanted to be any other culture but Mexican,” she said. “I always try to see

something Mexican in everyone, even if they’re not Mexican.”

Basurto strongly identifies with the Mexican family values her parents instilled in her. She’s especially fond of her family’s loyalty to each other and how they show support for one another unconditionally. The Basurto family members always make sure to eat dinner with whoever is home during the week and gather around the table every Sunday morning to eat breakfast together.

Basurto’s favorite thing about being Mexican, with the exception of the cuisine and her ability to speak two languages, is being a part of such a unified family. She also appreciates the benefit of connecting with other minorities.

“Because I’m Mexican, I can relate to a lot of people. I’m also a minority and understand a lot of the problems people go through because I have experienced them,” Basurto said. “(As a) minority in the United States, I feel like I can interact with a lot of Mexicans but also a lot of African Americans (and) Asian Americans as well.”

Roxana Becerril is a senior studying journalism.

WHAT’S INSIDE

VACCINATION DEADLINE

OPINION: VAPE CONCERNS

AZTECS DOWN FALCONS

PROFESOR Y MINORIAS

BREAKING BARRIERS

SDSU has extended the deadline for students to submit their immunization records.

The effects of vaping are unclear, but the concerns are extreme.

Football rallies late, overcomes weather in 21-17 victory over Air Force.

Profesor Nate apoya a la comunidad latina y LGBTQ.

Angelica Espinoza was elected to Vice President of External Relations.

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The Daily Aztec

News

Oct. 2 - 8, 2019 EDITOR: Kaitlyn Little • news@thedailyaztec.com

Vaping-related casualties raise alarms

by Brenden Tuccinardi ENGAGEMENT EDITOR

The news of 12 vaping-related casualties coming out of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has many people worried about their use of e-cigarettes, or vapes, SDSU students included.

According to the most recent CDC data, 805 lung injury cases have been reported from 46 states and one U.S. territory. This is along with 12 vaping-related deaths in 10 states that have been confirmed.

Of the confirmed cases, 22 lung injuries occurred in San Diego County and two of the deaths happened in California.

Concerns surrounding e-cigarette and vape use have seen a sudden rise in the past several weeks as more information from the CDC is released and the possibility of a federal ban on flavored nicotine products is discussed in Washington. However, several cities and counties are moving to enact bans of their own.

Most recently, San Diego County Supervisors Dianne Jacob and Nathan Fletcher proposed a temporary ban on vaping devices and flavored tobacco products, citing the mysterious nature of the current outbreak and the ongoing CDC investigations.

To combat nicotine addiction and tobacco use, San Diego State enacted a

smoke and tobacco-free campus policy in 2014, though many faculty and staff can remember a time when cigarette and vape smoke was prominent on campus.

The 2014 policy drastically changed campus for the better, according to WellBeing & Health Promotion’s Director of Alcohol and Other Drugs Initiatives Dr. James Lange.

“It’s hard to imagine now because it’s been a couple of years, but there used to be quite a bit of smoking on campus,” Lange said. “Today, you’ll see occasional smokers, but it’s nothing like what we were seeing before.”

According to data from the California Department of Public Health, 14.6%, or approximately four million California adults reported some use of tobacco. Of those, 10.1% smoked cigarettes and 3.1% used electronic smoking devices.

Counseling & Psychological Services Director Dr. Jennifer Rikard pointed out that Southern California has continually seen a decrease in the number of people using tobacco, though she shared concerns about how the rise of vaping and e-cigarettes could change that.

“Southern California has had quite low rates of smoking for so long and vaping has come in, and I think, changed people’s perceptions around it being really bad,” Rikard said.

One of the things Lange and Well-Being

Photo by Alexa Oslowski

Concerns surrounding e-cigarette and vape use has risen in the wake of 12 vaping-related casualties.

& Health Promotion have been addressing is the role high school tobacco use plays into continued use in college.

According to the same public health data, in 2018, one in eight California high school students reported using a tobacco product. The majority of them, 84.3%, use electronic smoking devices and 86.4% reported using flavored tobacco products.

There are several resources available to SDSU students to quit smoking. The most commonly used one is the Tobacco eCHECKUP TO GO Program, a computerbased survey that helps users evaluate their tobacco use habits and make changes.

According to Rikard, Counseling

& Psychological Services also offers individual smoking cessation programs and is active in promoting healthy habits through on-campus outreach and presentations.

“We do so much work around helping students become empowered to make a healthy change in their life,” Rikard said. “Most students are moving towards health. Many people will stop smoking on their own but we can sort of assist in that.”

Students with any concerns about their health are encouraged to visit Student Health Services, and call 911 if it is an emergency.

Journalism department lowers GSP passing score

by Johann Derek Oribello SENIOR STAFF WRITER

San Diego State’s Journalism and Media Studies department announced they are lowering the score required to pass the Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation test, according to an email from the department.

JMS pre-majors must take and pass the test before they are officially in the major.

Previously, students were required to finish with a score of 80% to pass the exam. This number was lowered to 77%, according to the department email.

JMS faculty and staff members took much consideration before deciding to reduce the score of the test — which is a popular point of criticism from students who are sometimes forced to change their majors after failing the exam.

JMS undergraduate advising coordinator Alexa Mokalis said the decision to lower the

passing score was to make it less difficult for students to be accepted into the major.

“There’s a lot of different factors that went into that, but at the heart of it, it was to try to eliminate barriers towards entrance to the major,” Mokalis said. “We noted that there was a certain GSP pass rate and we wanted to begin the process of working to boost that pass rate.”

Last year, only 12% of students who took the exam passed it, according to SDSU Testing Services. In recent years, the highest this number has gotten was 19% during the 2014-15 school year.

Failing the exam, which is normally taken during students’ sophomore or junior years, does not necessarily exempt a student from entering the major. There is a petitioning process available to students who do not meet the entry criteria for the major, but this process yields scattered results. Many students end up having to change majors or are only accepted into the journalism major

under a certain emphasis.

The email from the department also introduced a new online resource students can utilize to prepare for the test.

“This new study tool is called EGUUMP, an interactive online platform for learning grammar, usage, punctuation, and writing mechanics,” the email states. “We are piloting it this fall 2019 semester. It’s a free online tool for all our students to use this fall semester.”

Mokalis said the online resource can be helpful to students who seek assistance in studying for the test.

“It’s a challenging course,” Mokalis said.

You have to be committed to actually finish all four modules of EGUUMP, but it’s extremely useful to students who are struggling with the grammar and punctuation mechanics.”

Mokalis also said the module is offered free of charge for an entire semester and can help provide fair assistance to all students

regardless of financial status.

“We had multiple phone calls back and forth with EGUUMP,” Mokalis said. “They agreed to give us a free semester-long pilot to offer to our students…which is really awesome because talk about equity and lessening the equity gap, this is one way we can do it.”

Public relations junior Jennifer Ho said the lowered passing score is a step in the right direction.

“I think the decision to lower the score is a good move,” Ho said. “ I wish they did it a little earlier honestly. When I took the test, it took me two tries, and my last score before passing I got a 78.”

Journalism sophomore Joseph Santos said he heard how difficult the test can be and is relieved the score was lowered.

“I have friends who took the test before and they all said it’s really hard,” Santos said. “Some of them even had to petition to get into the major, so this should help.”

University extends deadline to submit immunization records

by Jeanette STAFF WRITER

Giovanniello

After establishing multiple new vaccination requirements for all incoming students, San Diego State extended the deadline to submit immunization records to the end of the semester.

In May, SDSU announced new immunization requirements would be implemented for all incoming students for the Fall 2019 semester. The original deadline to provide proof of immunization was Sept. 9. Student Health Services extended that date to Dec. 2.

“By making this adjustment, we believe that we are keeping student success and academic progress the forefront of our work, while continuing to pursue completion of these requirements far ahead of the timeframe required by the Executive Order,” Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Andrea Dooley said.

The university’s new deadline still puts SDSU a year ahead of the date of completion specified in California State University Executive Order 803.

CSU Executive Order 803 requires incoming students to have the vaccinations for varicella (chickenpox), tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap), meningococcal disease (serogroups A, C, Y, W-135) and tuberculosis screening (TB) completed by Fall 2020.

Although CSU immunization policies have only recommended students receive the MenB vaccine, SDSU has made it a requirement due to the outbreak of meningococcal meningitis that surfaced on campus at the start of last school year. There were three confirmed cases of students who contracted the illness.

These new requirements are not applicable to returning students, as the change in policy affects only new, incoming students to the university, including freshmen, transfer and graduate

students, according to Director of Student Health Services Libby Skiles.

Prior to the new requirements, SDSU only required two immunizations -- the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and hepatitis B (HepB) vaccines. Now, there are 10 vaccinations to be completed prior to attending.

Students who fail to show proof of their immunizations by the new deadline will have their accounts put on hold, keeping them from registering for the next semester.

Several students stated they were not aware of the requirements and, therefore, found the deadline extension to be helpful.

Kinesiology freshman Enrique Alvarado said he was unaware of which vaccines were needed.

“A lot of people did not know about it until they got here,” Alvarado said. “The school was not really detailed in telling you what you are missing, so you have to find it yourself and that can take a while.”

Biology freshman Lauren O’Hern said she also favored the deadline extension because she ran into difficulties while trying to get vaccinated.

“When I tried to get my vaccinations on campus they could not accept my insurance,” O’Hern said. “I had to figure out somewhere to go and how to get there, just to meet the requirements. You also need multiple parts for some vaccinations so for me, the deadline extension was necessary.”

Although SDSU is only requiring incoming students to get the MenB vaccine, it is still encouraged that all students under the age of 23 receive the two-part vaccination. According to an email sent to all students, last year’s meningitis outbreak is technically ongoing..

Students are able to schedule appointments to get the vaccines at Student Health Services by calling (619) 594-4325 or via HealtheConnect, the online health portal.

Oct. 2 - 8, 2019 EDITOR: Kaitlyn Little • news@thedailyaztec.com

News

The Daily Aztec

3

Faculty, staff unions concerned about new parking permits

by Brenden Tuccinardi ENGAGEMENT EDITOR

Nearly two months after Parking & Transportation Services announced parking enforcement would transition to a virtual system, faculty and staff permit still hang in the balance and from rearview mirrors.

Representatives from the two faculty and staff unions on campus are currently in the middle of the meet and confer process in order to address members’ concerns about privacy and disciplinary action.

In early August, Parking & Transportation Services announced San Diego State would be transitioning to a virtual parking enforcement system, joining several other California State Universities.

The change did not come as a surprise, though many students, faculty and staff were left confused as to how the new system, which plans to enforce parking rules with license plate readers, would work.

While it did not take long for students to grow accustomed to the new system, many faculty and staff have yet to give in. Due to ongoing negotiations between their unions, most faculty and staff are still required to display a physical parking permit.

Both the California Faculty Association and the California State University Employees Union are currently in the middle of the meet and confer process with the university, though each union is in discussions regarding different issues.

SDSU’s chapter of CSUEU is concerned about the disciplinary implications of the new system, while CFA is trying to work with the university to ensure lecturers who teach at multiple CSU campuses only need to purchase one permit.

According to the CSUEU’s website, the union is concerned virtual parking systems will be “used to track employees’ attendance or for employee discipline.”

Robert Yslas, CSUEU Chapter 318 president and SDSU faculty member, echoed these concerns. He said the university included language in their proposed agreement that concerns CSUEU members. “(The university) is lifting language from the surveillance policy already in place and trying to cookie-cutter it for this situation,” Yslas said.

The problem, he explained, is that the surveillance policy the university is pulling the language from is too broad in its qualifications for disciplinary action and fails to define “egregious” behavior clearly.

“If we have a faculty member who is not obeying the California Vehicle Code, Education Code or university policy in regards to parking on campus and the use of a parking permit, they are subject to citation, and it’s up to the parking officer and university police to make that decision,” Yslas said. “We don’t believe that there should be a disciplinary issue assigned as far as human resources or employee relations needs to be involved.”

The use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) poses serious security and privacy concerns which the university has yet to address publicly.

Under a California state law that went into effect in 2016, any person or entity, including public agencies, that uses ALPR or collected ALPR data must post a privacy and usage policy online.

The only reference to the new virtual system on the Parking & Transportation Services website is the original announcement of the policy change. Also, parking permit information and the frequently asked questions section still references the old system.

Yslas did say the university has agreed to not share the ALPR data as well as keep it anonymized.

Dr. Doreen Mattingly, chair of the Women’s Studies department and SDSU CFA chapter president said the faculty union is working to maintain the rights CFA members currently have.

She said it is not unusual for lecturers to work at SDSU and California State University San Marcos. Under the previous system, parking permits were honored at both universities, but the virtual system makes this impossible without sharing license plate data.

“We want to make sure our members don’t end up paying more for parking because of this system,” Mattingly said.

When asked to comment on the CSUEU and CFA’s concerns, Parking & Transportation Services Director Deborah Richeson declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations.

Ultimately, both Mattingly and Yslas expressed a desire to work with the university to come to an understanding quickly.

“We’re eager to move forward,” Yslas said.

“We know the university has invested money into the new system, so we don’t want to hinder the process, but we also want to make sure that our members are protected, that all employees are protected and not disciplined for something as simple as a parking ticket.”

Students discuss campus safety initiatives after recent robberies

by Katelynn STAFF WRITER

Robinson

In light of the recent robberies near San Diego State, some students have started to miss the university’s discontinued safety escort program where students were able to request to be walked home by an officer.

The decision to discontinue the safety escorts was made in the Fall of 2017 in light of complaints at were sent to university police, according to the department’s spokeswoman Raquel Herriott.

“We had quite a few complaints regarding the safety escort system,” Herriott said.

“Those concerns were that it was not efficient, that the escort system wouldn’t allow our community service officers or police officers to take them outside of university jurisdiction and that it was really just not a type of service that some students wanted to use, given they wanted transportation not necessarily a walking escort.”

A task force assembled in Fall 2017 found a new way to provide safe travel for students around campus. This included expanding the Red and Black shuttle service, thus eliminating the need for safety escorts.

Despite the benefits of the Red and Black

Shuttle program, some new residents living in University Towers said they wish the safety escort program was still available because of the locations of the recent robberies, the limited operation hours of the shuttle and a general lack of awareness of how the program works.

Public health freshman Ashley Pettit said she was surprised to learn the details of the robberies. Afterwards, she tried to arrange a safety escort when she felt nervous walking at night. That is, until she discovered the safety escort program had been scrapped altogether..

“At first, I was surprised because I found out (the robberies) happened during broad daylight, which is scary,” Pettit said. “Then after that, I got really freaked out, so I texted my mom and I told her to send me pepper spray and a rape whistle in the mail because I was scared.”

Pettit said she tried to request a safety escort to walk her back to her dorm, but discovered she was unable to do so.

“I was scared to walk back one time and I was like I wonder if I could use an escort,” Pettit said. “So I looked into it and found out they didn’t have it anymore.”

Sociology freshman Cate Oveson said

A recent rise in robberies surrounding SDSU has sparked concerns about student safety programs.

she thinks that the Red and Black Shuttle is not very publicized, so most students aren’t aware of the resource.Oveson said she personally does not know anyone who uses it.

“I don’t know why, but I feel like no one ever really knows how (the Red and Black Shuttle) works because they don’t really publicize it that much,” Oveson said. “It feels like no one really knows what it is.”

Interdisciplinary Studies senior Katie Patterson said she started using the Red and Black Shuttle service after she moved from the east side of campus to University Towers this year.

File photo

“I always knew the Red and Black Shuttle existed, but I never really had a need for them,” Patterson said. “But now that I live in University Towers, I think it’s pretty cool to have it for convenience.”

However, she also wishes the campus escorts were still available.

“I think that there are unfortunately some places on campus that the Red and Black Shuttle can’t really serve because of the way the roads work on campus,” Patterson said.

“I think trying to bring back the safety escort would be really beneficial, especially with all the scary and suspicious things are kind of been going on lately.”

4 Opinion Politicians need to stop ‘hispandering,’ must start showing genuine interest in Latinx voters

Oct. 2 - 8, 2019 EDITOR: Catherine Van Weele • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

by Trinity Bland STAFF WRITER

The Latinx community in the United States deserves a greater deal of respect and regard than they’ve received from politicians over the course of time.

Historically, it has been said that politicians have struggled to reach this community because of their ineligibility to vote, differences in household income and education, as well as the most obvious — the language barrier.

But now, more than ever, candidates are trying their best to tap into the Latinx vote. With a Democratic presidential primary panel consisting of candidates who — with the exception of one — do not identify as Latinx, listening to them trying to speak Spanish to reach a particular demographic was somewhat admirable until it was terribly cringeworthy.

Candidates had intentions of trying to make a power move and make themselves appear as the best candidate on the panel.

Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke

tried his best to deliver an answer in Spanish in hopes of appealing to the Latinx community. Then, Senator Cory Booker proceeded to talk about how dissatisfied he was with President Trump’s policies in Spanish, also with hopes of gaining votes from the Latinx community.

Latinx voters who are politically engaged may view the attempts of the Democratic

what some of the candidates are attempting to do — fulfill the members of this community by speaking elementary Spanish and making a sad attempt to appeal to them.

I grew up in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood and set a goal early in my childhood to become fluent in Spanish.

Since then, I have made a ton of progress in learning a good

“We need people in positions of power who care about the people they are leading ... instead of leading them on with empty promises.” candidates to speak Spanish in campaign scenarios such as the debates as offensive, insulting and pandering — just as the word “Hispandering” implies.

“Hispandering” is a mixture of two words: “Hispanic” and “pandering”— “Hispanic” referring to the minority group and “pandering” as in “satisfying.” The term basically translates to the act of “satisfying the Hispanics,” which is exactly

amount of the language and I can confidently say that I am proficient in reading, writing, speaking and understanding the language. Obviously, there is a lot more to learn, but I am proud of what I know.

I don’t identify as a member of the Latinx community, but I felt offended as a person of color and an American citizen who is proficient in Spanish. The candidates should be ashamed of

themselves for trying to use the language at its bare minimum as a tactic to reel their Latinx voters into them.

We need better people in positions of power — specifically individuals who care about the people they are leading and care to work on their behalf, instead of leading them on with empty promises to ensure that they have the most votes and win the election.

At large, the Democratic candidates cannot win over Latinx voters solely by speaking broken Spanish. Latinx voters are focused on what the 2020 candidates will do to benefit them and their community. They don’t care if the candidates are able to speak a few words in their language. They care about whether the candidates can address their pressing needs and concerns.

Above all, hey want to know if the candidates will be able to keep their promises once they are elected.

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

The effects of vaping remain unclear, but it doesn’t warrant such high levels of concern

by Patrick Doyle STAFF WRITER

Whether you call them vapes or e-cigarettes, these electronic smoking devices have become incredibly common over the last few years. I’ve noticed about half the people on my dorm floor have one of these and will smoke regularly. It has become almost the norm to smell a puff of flavored smoke each night as I go out for dinner.

I won’t be “that guy” who has never tried vaping yet still tells people it’s deadly. But I do know one thing: Vaping is a lot more complicated than you may think.

In case you’re not aware, e-cigarettes are electronic smoking products that typically don’t contain tobacco, which is one of the main ingredients in traditional cigarettes.

Depending on the type, they may or may not contain nicotine, the addictive chemical used in cigarettes.

Juul is one of the most prominent e-cigarette companies, generating over a billion dollars of revenue in 2018 alone. They advertise their product as a method for traditional cigarette smokers to switch to a similar device that does contain nicotine, but doesn’t contain tobacco, therefore making it marginally safer. While there are other safer alternatives for those looking to kick a nicotine addiction, based on the facts of their products, Juul is not chemically any worse than cigarettes.

So if society has deemed

cigarettes acceptable (at least due to the overwhelming influence of tobacco companies), why are people so afraid of these alternative devices?

The simple answer: Children.

Many Juul pods and other vaping devices come in flavors ranging from mango

walk into a smoke shop and buy one of these devices.

This is why there is some validity behind the Trump administration’s recent call to ban flavored vaping products nationwide. Children becoming sick evokes more empathy than adults becoming sick — that is

Graphic by Emily Burgess

to cucumber. It’s worth mentioning the term “flavored” has essentially become a trigger word to frighten adults into thinking all kids will want to try vaping. However, while all kids don’t suddenly have an interest in smoking, it is certainly true and verifiable that flavors in e-cigarettes have increased smoking percentages in youth.

This absolutely does warrant concern. It has become too easy for young students to simply

simply human nature. We feel for our youth, and the thought of them getting hooked on nicotine is frightening.

But here’s where the problem comes in. Many flavored vapes do not contain nicotine, and data shows that the amount of vaping-related illnesses and deaths are surprisingly low, especially compared to traditional cigarettes. So far in the United States, 580 vaperelated illnesses and eight deaths

have been reported. This may sound frightening, but compare this to the 480,000 cigaretterelated deaths annually, and you can understand why the e-cigarette figures are relatively miniscule.

It seems to me, simply based on the facts we have, that the vaping “epidemic” is not actually an epidemic. I’m not saying that once more time passes and more research is done on electronic, tobaccoless smoking, there won’t be a strong link to harmful effects — that would be ignorant. Clearly they are harmful. The vapor being inhaled alone damages the lungs over time.

But I think we need to look at the numbers in front of us and understand that the real issue derives from tobacco companies essentially being above the law due to their monetary influence over the world. Traditional tobacco smoking kills far more people than flavored or unflavored vaping, and the people it kills were at one point children as well.

So before we think about blaming vaping for killing youth, we should target where the facts lead us. It is true that the chemicals from smoking are harmful, no matter the medium.

But it simply is not pragmatic to attempt to shut down flavored e-cigarette manufacturers before we’ve gotten rid of the cigarettes that actually kill people in mass.

Patrick Doyle is a freshman studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickDoyle100.

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 Brenden Tuccinardi PHOTO EDITOR Alexa Oslowski MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Amal Younis ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jack Molmud GRAPHIC DESIGNER Emily Burgess VOLUNTEER COPYEDITOR Noah Goldbloom

STAFF WRITERS Trinity Bland Patrick Doyle Daniel Farr Jeanette Giovanniello Juniper Perkins Katelynn Robinson Noé Sandoval Charlie Vargas Devin Whatley SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Sydney Faulkner Johann Derek Oribello CONTRIBUTORS Roxana Becerril Anna Fiorino Ellyzuh Lemus Reese Savoie ________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bryan Diamond ________________________________ GENERAL MANAGER/ADVISER Jay Harn GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Luis Valenzuela ________________________________ EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING 619.594.6977 advertising@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition every Wednesday throughout the semester WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com QUESTIONS/COMMENTS letters@thedailyaztec.com The views and opinions expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.

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Oct. 2 - 8, 2019 EDITOR: Catherine Van Weele • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

Opinion

The Daily Aztec

5

The GSP is a barrier for Latinx students

by Charlie Vargas STAFF WRITER

The Daily Aztec has published various stories on the barriers upheld by the Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation test. Each evaluation brings a valid point to a conversation worth having, but one that is lacking is the obstacle it produces for Latinx students seeking to become journalists.

For those unfamiliar with the GSP, it is a test that used to require a score of 80% for admission into the School of Journalism and Media Studies. Grammar and punctuation rules in the Spanish language are very different from that in the English language. It makes the test more difficult for students whose primary or first language is not English. That passing score was reduced to 77% on Sept. 23, according to notifications sent to students by the journalism department.

Why did the department decrease the score needed to pass the test? Because only 12% of students who took the exam in the 2018-19 school year passed it. The highest pass rate seen in recent years was during the 201415 school year, when 19% of students passed.

Prospective journalism students get three chances to take the exam, but many end up ultimately having to petition to get into the major. Of the students who have to petition, it is not uncommon to end up having to change major programs completely.

The GSP requirement fails to assess the complexity of Latinx students looking to get into the JMS programs. Some students are first-generation, others are DACA recipients and for many, English is their second language. English being a student’s second language can be a major barrier when it comes to test-taking.

In an academic journal by George C. Bunch titled, “Latinos, Language Minority Students, and the Construction of ESL: Language Testing and Placement From High School to Community College,” Bunch seeks to explain the different obstacles Latinx students face within test-taking.

Bunch writes, “Although a wide variety of factors influence students’ progression from high school into 2- and 4-year institutions, English proficiency is often considered to be one of the primary challenges for immigrant students and

The Koala is a necessary outlet for student voices

by Anna Fiorino CONTRIBUTOR

I like The New York Times. I read The Paris Review on occasion. I own my fair share of Steinbeck and Fitzgerald.

And every time, without fail, I find myself instinctively reaching for a copy of The Koala -- San Diego State’s raunchy, satirical newspaper -- as some random kid tries to hand me one as I pass by Hepner Hall.

I’m not alone. When I walk into my poetry class on Thursday, half of my class of English majors will have one in hand.

The cover of this semester’s first issue, in case you haven’t seen it, is a truly captivating collage: a Greek-inspired, classic Koala orgy of nudity, substance abuse and violence. The rest of the pages are more of the same juvenile, crude, explicit content — frankly, content we’ve come to expect.

Yet, there is an element of rawness that is appealing.

Maybe it’s because it looks like someone threw it together in ten minutes. It thrives off our instinctual craving for controversy, and Koala-approved topics are rooted in just that. At the end of the day, The Koala is just another reminder that sex and gossip always sells.

It’s been featured by the New York Times for being a controversial student newspaper.

But like it or not, The Koala is an outlet for feelings, perspectives and ideas that would otherwise be ignored by the mainstream media.

Think of it as a free print edition of Twitter or Yik Yak. One, big, group chat for SDSU students.

Reader-contributed content is published as-is. No mechanical edits, no filtering, no rephrasing.

This stripped-down version of what it is to be a young adult at SDSU is shocking, comforting and addicting all the same.

There is one thing we can count on when it comes to The Koala: they will usually take it too far. It’s awkward navigating the sentiment behind the content and at times, easy to dismiss as profane, racist or misogynistic. But the fact that there is room for “too farness” is undoubtedly what makes The Koala what it is. It’s a safe space for experimenting with humor and exploring controversial topics in very controversial ways. It is, at the very least, poorly executed comedic relief in a time dominated by political tension.

People don’t write to be bad guys. The strategy behind The Koala’s content is probably more or less similar to any other publication. It is something people will read, something people will laugh at, and relate to. People write to share and connect with other people. And the truth is that you don’t have to be a serious, highbrow, politically correct writer to create something that resonates with people.

Who are any of us to decide what is too far? Or what is funny and what isn’t? What is crossing the line and what stops just before?

There is an unexpected sense of community in the pages of The Koala. Perhaps it’s reassurance that, at their core, everyone else is just as sick as we are.

Anna Fiorino is a senior studying journalism. Follow her on Twitter @ annafi0.

the children of immigrants.

Because of unequal educational opportunities in K-12 schools, as well as the length of time it takes to develop the English language proficiency necessary to succeed in mainstream academic settings, the language demands of collegelevel work often present daunting challenges for language minority students.”

NewsCenter, a campus news source operated by the university, recently wrote about San Diego State’s recognition for their commitment to diversity.

Although SDSU reached this achievement on paper, there is plenty more room for improvement, and the JMS department is in dire need of diversity— and not just in Latinx representation.

If there were more more Latinx faculty in theJMS department, the GSP might have been a more obvious concern. Diversity matters within institutions because it affects students who lack a voice of representation at the decision-making table.

The GSP requirement by the school of JMS is complicit in providing a tremendous disservice to its Latinx JMS students and the newsrooms of

San Diego and beyond. In 2018, the American Society of News Editors annual survey found that 17% of journalists for Voice of San Diego were Latinx as opposed to the 75 percent being white. The census data showed that whites only make up 43 percent of San Diego while Latinx people only make up 30 percent of the reported census. Voice of San Diego is a smaller newsroom but unfortunately for the survey, no other San Diego media outlet participated in the study.

San Diego is a border city, and the JMS department should have more than a couple of classes and faculty that invest in assembling students who are equipped to report on the communities that are familiar to them.

If Latinx JMS students are also bilingual, they could be part of a news culture that cross-produces in two different languages. They could interview sources who may only speak one language, and the journalists would have the capabilities to translate into another. Latinx JMS students upon acceptance into the major would have the capacity of integrating into both American and Latinx media and would vastly offer an increase in Latinx

representation. The GSP may not even be relevant to students from Spanish-speaking countries if their intent is to solely report in Spanish. Yet, this isn’t taken into account when admitting the next generation of journalists into the school of JMS. Newsroom diversity should be addressed, but the systemic role of educational institutions should also be a focus. As newsrooms across the country aim to diversify their newsrooms with limited results, it begs the question of where SDSU’s School of JMS stands. Will SDSU’s JMS program produce more diverse journalism students who might make it into other newsrooms facing a shortage of diversity around the country? Or will that door remain shut for its Latinx students?

There may be other Latinx journalists filling these roles, perhaps through alternative routes, but in retrospect, SDSU’s JMS department is on a path that is ineffective in assuring that its education provides a pipeline of opportunity for Latinx students to achieve success.

Charlie Vargas is a senior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @CharlieVargas19.

The drag queen library reading is a major step in the right direction

by Ellyzuh Lemus CONTRIBUTOR

On Sept. 10 the Chula Vista library held a book reading event for kids with an unlikely group of storytellers: drag queens.

I first heard the news from my mother. I was shocked of course, mainly surprised that such an event could ever exist. I’ll admit I had my concerns for about two seconds, but afterwards, I was amazed that a public library could host something so bold. It even made me want to walk over to the library and applaud each and every staff member who made it happen.

But, as always, the beauty of publicity swept the news by storm. It was all over the morning channels. There were nods of approval from supporters who believed this event will encourage children to be themselves, and to not be ashamed of who or what they want to be. Others opposed the drag queen’s involvement, some to the extent of protesting outside the library demanding the cancellation of the event. To them, the idea of having drag queens read to children is inappropriate, given these are historically controversial adult entertainers reading to children in a public setting.

The reality is, it’s just drag queens who are reading books to kids. It’s not that these drag queens are trying to convince children to be drag queens themselves. Rather, it is a direct message of acceptance to all groups of people. At the end of the day, it is the parents decision what they want their children to be exposed to. If a parent wants to have their children be read to

drag queens, then that will be their decision to make for them. If a parent is upset about the event taking place, all they need to do is not allow their children to go.

A protest seems unnecessary to begin with, given they are not trying to convince the community not to participate, they are simply making their statement on what they believe is right and wrong.

It marvels me on how much we have come so far, but I understand we still have a long way to go. I didn’t think that an event like this would have been possible years ago. Because of this, I feel proud to be a witness of such change. We are living in a world where things may very well be possible for any group. Of course, change does take time. Not everyone will agree, and they probably never will.

I am aware there are families

who feel it is their responsibility to protect their children from what they would consider obscene or inappropriate. But if I were to have children of my own and there were other parents telling their children that certain characteristics are a disgrace to society, what would my child feel about that? How am I to explain to them that there are people who either hate, don’t understand or accept how different we all are?

In the future, I hope that when that time comes I wouldn’t have to explain. Which is why it is up to us to look beyond what society depict any group of people. And what I know now is that there is more to drag queens than just nightclub performances.

Ellyzuh Lemus is a senior studying English.

Graphics by Emily Burgess

Sports SDSU shuts out Colorado State for first MWC win

6

Sept. 25 - Oct. 1, 2019 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

by Reese Savoie CONTRIBUTOR

San Diego State women’s soccer won its first Mountain West Conference match of the season against Colorado State, pulling through with a 2-0 shutout Sunday at the SDSU Sports Deck.

This game comes just two days after a 3-2 conference loss to Wyoming on Friday.

However, that game saw two late goals by senior forward Darcy Weiser and sophomore forward Taylor Moorehead, which generated positive momentum to carry the women into Sunday’s victory.

Head coach Mike Friesen’s primary focus is on continuous team development, and he said Friday’s goals were huge for the Aztecs’ continued success on the field. “[Friday’s goals] really triggered like, ‘Oh, that does happen when we do these things,’” Friesen said. “The hard work they’ve put in is paying off, and they’re seeing those results and benefits.”

“I think this is a great building block for what’s coming,” he added.

SDSU junior midfielder Chloe Frisch got the offense started with a goal near the

end of the first half, firing the ball into the back of the net in the 41st minute. Frisch followed that up with an assist to freshman forward Rachelle Elve, yielding the match’s second and final goal in the 52nd minute.

The Aztecs now sit 2-6-1, but Frisch said these past two matches can potentially be a turnaround for the rest of the season.

“I think that the end of that Wyoming game, when we started scoring goals, things just started clicking for us,” Frisch said. “From this entire game, things have clicked, and that was a turning point for us.”

However, despite the Aztecs’ win, the Rams had several scoring opportunities.

Colorado State produced a total of 10 shots (three on goal), eight of which took place in the first half.

SDSU senior goalkeeper Brooke Lisowksi was able to snag all the balls that came her way, tallying up a total of three major saves.

Lisowski said a major factor in her team’s ability to win was its positive mentality going into Sunday’s match.

“Attitude was pretty much everything that kept us forward,” Lisowski said. “I try

Photo by Kareem Jones

SDSU freshman forward Rachelle Elve (28) celebrates with her teammates after scoring a goal during the Aztecs’ win over Colorado State on Sept.

29 at the SDSU Sports Deck.

not to think about the past (losses) too much, because if we did, we’re gonna come into the game with a negative attitude.”

Freisen seconded Lisowski’s comments.

“It’s massive,” he said of the team’s positive attitude.

Aside from upholding a

positive mindset, Freisen also hopes to develop within his players a fierce mentality when it comes to playing at home.

The Aztecs’ next game will be this Friday, Oct. 4 against UNLV at the SDSU Sports Deck.

With two back-to-back upcoming matches on the Aztecs’ home turf, Freisen said

he is excited for what’s to come.

“This place will be a place where we win games and we’ll be very difficult to beat,” he said. “I can’t wait for next weekend.”

Reese Savoie is a junior studying media studies. Follow her on Twitter @reesesavoie.

ATTENTION SDSU STUDENTS

S P R I N G 2019 A LT E R N AT I V E CO N S U LTAT I O N P R O C E S S : P R O P O S E D F E E I N C R E A S E S

An alternative consultation process will take place this semester (fall) to solicit student input on the following proposed fee increases to campus mandatory student fees: PROPOSED INCREASE TO THE STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS FEE (CURRENTLY REFERRED TO AS THE HEALTH SERVICES FEE)

PROPOSED INCREASE TO THE INSTRUCTIONALLY RELATED ACTIVITY FEE

A proposed Student Health and Wellness Fee increase (currently referred to as the Health Services Fee) shall be determined through a series of public forums and consultations with interested, regularly enrolled students at San Diego State University, except those exclusively attending Imperial Valley Campus. The Student Health and Wellness Fee increase amounts for consideration are $55, $61 or $73 per semester (during fall and spring) and $20, $22 or $27 for the summer term, beginning fall 2020. Moreover, it is proposed that the total Student Health and Wellness Fee be adjusted annually by the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI), beginning fall 2021. Revenue generated from this proposed increase will sustain existing, and allow the hiring of additional, counseling faculty and staff to meet the mental health needs of SDSU students.

A proposed $40 fee increase to the Instructionally Related Activity Fee, effective fall 2020, shall be determined through a series of public forums and consultations with interested, regularly enrolled students at San Diego State University, except those exclusively attending Imperial Valley Campus. Revenue generated from this proposed increase will help to fund academic success initiatives in the Asian American Pacific Islander Lounge, Black Resource Center, Center for Intercultural Relations, Latinx Resource Center, Native Resource Center, Pride Center and Women’s Resource Center to close equity gaps on campus.

sdsu.edu/alternativeconsult

Any student interested in submitting a pro or con statement for the proposed increase in the Student Health and Wellness Fee or the Instructionally Related Activity Fee for publication in the voter pamphlet for alternative consultation should review additional information and instructions at sdsu.edu/alternativeconsult.

Pro and con arguments must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. Monday October 7, 2019.

Oct. 2 - 8, 2019 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Sports

The Daily Aztec

7

Aztecs look to rebound against conference foe Colorado State

by Kyle Betz ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

San Diego State football will attempt to avenge its sole loss of the season as it travels to face Mountain West Conference foe Colorado State on Oct. 5.

The Rams (1-4, 0-1 MWC) have been able to put up explosive numbers on offense despite losing their starting quarterback, junior Collin Hill, to an ACL injury on Sept. 14.

Junior backup quarterback Patrick O’Brien has completed 58.1% of his passes for 757 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in relief.

O’Brien now leads an offense that ranks 16th in total yards on offense per game (501) and 14th in passing yards per game (319.4).

Aztecs (3-1, 0-1 MWC) head coach Rocky Long said Colorado State’s “explosive” offense resembles that of Utah State.

“They’re exactly the same athletically,” Long said. “Explosive. They can run it, they can throw it, all those kind of things.

They’re scoring a lot of points and gaining a lot of yards. It’s going to be a very tough football game.”

Two Colorado State wide receivers have continued to put up consistent numbers even with the loss of their starting quarterback.

Leading the receiving corps is freshman Dante Wright, who has 26 catches for 407 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Warren Jackson has tallied 31 receptions for 327 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior cornerback Luq Barcoo said the

Photo by Kareem Jones

Sophomore running back Jordan Byrd looks to run past the Aggie defenders during the Aztecs’ 23-17 loss to Utah State on Sept. 21 at SDCCU Stadium.

Aztecs defense needs to take advantage of the Rams’ passing game in order to force turnovers.

“They’re a very similar team to Utah State, an offense that’s putting up a lot of points,” Barcoo said. “They have a new quarterback … there are definitely going to be some opportunities for turnovers, so we’ve just got to take advantage.”

Speaking of turnovers, Colorado State is tied with Nebraska to lead the FBS in fumbles lost (nine).

Three of the nine fumbles have come from Rams senior running back Marvin

Kinsey, Jr., who has 626 rushing yards on 90 attempts with four touchdowns.

Kinsey, Jr. will face the second-ranked rushing defense in the country in the Aztecs (3-1, 0-1 MW), who have allowed a mere 52.3 rushing yards per contest.

Long said he hopes the Aztecs can exploit the Rams in the turnover battle.

“I think turnovers (are) the biggest factor in winning and losing, especially when it’s a close game,” Long said. “And I think they come in bunches. That doesn’t mean they’re going to continue that way.”

After the 23-17 loss to Utah State on Sept.

21, SDSU had its first of two bye weeks.

Long said his players would have preferred to have played another game following their first loss of the season.

“Our players would rather have played last week,” Long said. “I don’t think players at this time of year like to practice without the opportunity to play a game. But we got some things done, I think, and they were pretty enthusiastic to be back out there (during Monday’s practice).”

Throughout the bye week, the Aztecs focused on technique during practice.

Senior tight end Parker Houston said the off week allowed him and his teammates to perfect technical aspects of their game.

“It allows us to work more on things we during camp, like our fundamentals,” Houston said. “We get back to executing footwork, blocking techniques, route running. We get to do the little things right again.”

The Scarlet and Black enters its second game of conference play not knowing whether senior running back Juwan Washington will be able to play.

Washington hasn’t seen action since the Aztecs’ 23-14 win over UCLA on Sept. 7, when he suffered an ankle injury.

Long said Washington still isn’t fully healthy entering Saturday’s game. “(Washington) ran around pretty good, but he didn’t look 100%, so I guess he’s the only one that knows how close he is to 100%,” Long said. “Hopefully he’ll be fine

by Saturday and can play.”

Kyle Betz is a junior studying journalism.

Follow him on Twitter @KyleBBetz.

COLUMN

O’Sullivan and Turnlund provide steadiness for Aztecs

by Breven Honda STAFF WRITER

Two players on San Diego State’s volleyball team have these statistics through 13 games.

Player A: 51 sets played, 12 matches started, 184.0 points, 3.77 points/set, 177 kills and 3.47 kills/set.

Player B: 51 sets played, 12 matches started, 195.5 points, 3.83 points/set, 181 kills and 3.55 kills/set.

Who would you pick?

Furthermore, both of these players rank third and fourth in the Mountain West Conference in kills and fifth and sixth in average kills/set.

Player A is senior outside hitter Hannah Turnlund and Player B is sophomore outside hitter Victoria O’Sullivan.

Turnlund and O’Sullivan have become a consistent force for the Aztecs on offense, but head coach Deitre Collins-Parker said they do not even play at the same time.

“They are on opposite times, so we need them both to be good,” CollinsParker said.

These two Aztecs have kept the team steady throughout the season.

In 10 out of SDSU’s 13 games, Turnlund and O’Sullivan have recorded at least 10 kills, including Turnlund’s career high (24) against Florida Gulf Coast and O’Sullivan’s career high (22) against West Virginia – both in five-set matches.

SDSU’s record in those 10 games: 8-2.

The importance of their performances remains big as they rank third and sixth in the MWC in points and seventh and eighth in average points per set.

O’Sullivan said the combination of her and Turnlund gives the team confidence, even when they are not on the court at the same time.

“It’s good to have both of us being able to do our job,” she said. “(You) can’t have

one person get all the points, so it’s really good to have Hannah. We rely on her a lot. It’s comforting to have her on the court when I’m not on.”

When SDSU (8-5, 1-1 MWC) played San José State on Sept. 26, O’Sullivan had 20 kills – her second 20-plus kill game of the season – and Turnlund recorded 19 kills of her own.

In addition to Turnlund and O’Sullivan, the team has gained depth at the outside hitter position from junior Erin Gilchrist, who returned to action from injury against Grand Canyon on Sept. 14.

Collins-Parker said the return of Gilchrist gives the team more opportunities.

“Erin is super important,” CollinsParker said. “She’s swinging at a high point and doing some things. She has to improve her blocking and be more of a presence (on the court).”

Gilchrist, who stands at 6-foot-1, recorded one block assist against the Spartans (5-8, 0-2 MW). Two days later against Nevada (11-3, 1-1 MW), she upped that number to six block assists.

Collins-Parker added Gilchrist gives the team extra depth and opportunities.

“Having someone that size at the net is so important for us to have options,” Collins-Parker said. “Knowing that we have (sophomore outside hitter) Maddie (Lenn) and a few other options off the bench that can do some things for us (it shows that) depth is so important.”

After a four-set loss to Nevada, SDSU returns home to Peterson Gym to face UNLV (4-9, 0-2 MW) at 6 p.m. on Oct. 3. and New Mexico (5-9, 0-2 MW) on Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. before playing four straight games on the road.

Breven Honda is a junior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @BrevenHonda.

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The Daily Aztec

Mundo Azteca

Oct. 2 - 8, 2019 EDITOR: Alejandra Luna • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Profesor brinda apoyo a minorias en SDSU por Noé ESCRITOR

Sandoval

Las relaciones entre universitarios y profesores en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego es importante para desarrollar las aptitudes para un carrera.

Nathian Shae Rodríguez, profesor de media digital en la escuela de periodismo, es un ejemplo de un buen recurso para los alumnos. Hace tres años que él llegó a esta universidad desde Texas para dar cursos en diferentes teorías de periodismo.

El estudio de Profesor Rodríguez se especializa en la representación de minorías, como la comunidades latinx y LGBTQ, en los medios de comunicación. Él forma parte de estas comunidades siendo un profesor de color y queer. Su clases se enfocan en los asuntos de la sexualidad en los medios de comunicación y sus efectos en la sociedad.

Rodríguez tiene 13 años de experiencia en trabajando en la radio antes de ser profesor.

Durante esos años, se apasionó por enseñar a pasantes de prácticas profesionales en la radio y se dió cuenta de la necesidad de preparar a estudiantes de periodismo para sus carreras, especialmente minoritarios.

“Muchos (pasante de prácticas profesionales) no sabían qué hacer cuando empezaban”, mencionó Rodríguez.

“Teníamos que enseñarles desde el principio”.

Rodríguez dejó su trabajo de la radio y decidió sacar su doctorado

para ser profesor. Mientras se preparaba, se interesó en la representación de minorías en la media, como la televisión y las redes sociales.

El profesor llegó a San Diego porque estaba interesado en trabajar con la población estudiantil de SDSU. Con sus estudios, él está interesado en investigar los asuntos de inmigración especializándose en los refugiados de la frontera entre San Diego y Tijuana.

Además, Rodríguez ha podido contribuir en el apoyo de la comunidad latinx y LGBTQ en el campus y tambíen es el consejero de la Asociación Nacional de Periodistas Hispanos, NAHJ, por sus siglas en inglés.

La asociación ha construido una red para estudiantes que están interesados en la carrera de medios, organizando eventos donde periodistas platican sobre sus experiencias profesionales.

El profesor tiene muchos planes para los jóvenes de esta universidad.

Rodríguez trabajó e presentó una nueva clase para los universitarios. La clase hablará sobre la relación entre la comunidad latina y su representación en los medios, usando a la desaparecida cantante Selena Quintanilla como enfoque.

Rodríguez no solo es maestro, sino también trabaja en el Centro de Humanidades Digitales, localizado en la biblioteca universitaria, quien ayuda a estudiantes con estudios de ciencias a través tecnologias digitales.

Cortesía de Dr. Nate

Profesor desea que haya más diversidad en SDSU.

"Quiero ser una voz, no solo para las personas que me rodean, sino para las personas que leen estudios", expresó Rodríguez.

Rodríguez ha sido un gran recurso para estudiantes debido a sus trabajos realizados y a su identidad. En sus tres años en SDSU, ha podido educar a

universitarios sobre la vida de la comunidades latinx y LGBT. El profesor Nate, como es conocido por sus alumnos, se relaciona con jóvenes porque sus estudios hablan sobre los intereses que ellos tienen. Él aconseja que exploren nueva culturas, tomando varias clase en

diferentes departmento dentro la universidad.

“Todos somos diferentes, pero todos podemos compartir nuestras experiencias”, señaló Rodríguez. “Me gusta aprender sobre las experiencias vividas del individuo y cómo contribuyen a nuestras vida”.

Estudiante latina como primera vicepresidenta de A.S. por Daniel ESCRITOR

Farr

La asociación estudiantil de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego no ha tenido una dirigente latina en los últimos 15 años.

Sin embargo, esa racha finalmente ha terminado.

El pasado semestre de primavera, una estudiante de último año de estudios internacionales y la resolución de conflictos, Angélica Espinoza, latina y nativa de San Ysidro, se postuló para vicepresidenta de relaciones exteriores y ganó.

Ahora, Espinoza se desempeña como vicepresidenta de relaciones de exteriores y Directora de Comunicaciones.

“Es un honor tremendo”, dijo Espinoza. “Pero también es un increíble recordatorio de lo que hay que hacer todavía para las comunidades marginadas, específicamente para las mujeres de color en el campus.

Quince años, rompimos el ciclo, pero ¿Por qué es que tuvimos una brecha tan larga?"

Espinoza mencionó que está orgullosa de estar representando a su comunidad y trayendo ese asiento a la mesa.

Asimismo, notó que esto es un paso correcto para universidad.

“Creo que es un logro para la

Cortesía de Angélica Espinoza

Espinoza fue escogida como dirigente latina después de 15 años.

escuela porque muestra cómo los tiempos están cambiando", señaló Espinoza.

"Ahora estamos permitiendo que las personas históricas, no se han parecido a las que están en el poder y comienzan a reflejar el cuerpo estudiantil".

Durante el año, Espinoza corrió por su posición y ganó.

La universidad también hizo

un cambio en la administración donde por primera vez, Adela de la Torre, mujer latina toma el poder como presidenta.

Espinoza dijo que tiene una gran relación laboral en su círculo de A.S. y es tratada por igual como sus compañeros.

Además, dijo que hay trabajo que hacer con respecto a la representación en liderazgo.

“Todavía soy la primer dirigente latina en 15 años, entonces todavía hay modificaciones que hacer en ese aspecto”, aseguró Espinoza.

Espinoza es hija de padres inmigrantes, quien ha vivido en San Diego toda su vida y se crió en la región de la frontera de San Ysidro.

Como estudiante de primera

generación, Espinoza recalcó que ser bicultural y tener fuertes raíces en San Diego la ayudó a decidir quedarse en casa para asistir a la universidad que ella eligió. Para más tarde unirse a A.S. como estudiante que buscaba participar en el campus.

“Yo no tenía amigos (en SDSU) y también era el tipo de estudiante de cercanías que simplemente iría a clase y de inmediato se iba a casa", comentó Espinoza. "A veces entrar en nuevos lugares es un poco aterrador, a veces la gente no se parece a ti y no es lo que inicialmente piensas".

Espinoza siguió buscando maneras de involucrarse en la comunidad de la universidad.

"Un día me sentí muy audaz y entré en la oficina de A.S.", afirmó Espinoza. "Mi tiempo comenzó con el comité electoral en mi segundo año. Poco a poco me involucré con el consejo de asuntos judiciales, luego me convertí en juez principal de ese consejo en mi primer año y ahora soy vicepresidente de relaciones exteriores en mi último año".

Lo que atrajo a Espinoza al puesto fue que se centró en el compromiso cívico y la legislación que afecta al cuerpo estudiantil.

Traducida por Diane López.

Mundo Azteca 9 Forman organización para centroamericanos en SDSU Oct. 2 - 8, 2019 EDITOR: Alejandra Luna • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

por Daniel ESCRITOR

Guerrero

Cuando Natalie Martínez llegó a la Universidad Estatal de San Diego, buscó un lugar donde pudiera conectarse con personas como ella.

Martínez, quien es de ascendencia guatemalteca y mestiza, dijo que se involucró con diferentes organizaciones latinx pero no pareció encontrar la correcta.

“Anteriormente estuve involucrada con otras organizaciones latinx y todas ellas estaban dirigidas principalmente a los mexicanos”, dijo Martínez.

La falta de una comunidad para que Martínez se conectará con otros estudiantes centroamericanos y su conocimiento de espacios similares como el que tenía en mente estaban comenzando en otras universidades, ayudó a inspirarla a comenzar uno en SDSU. Centroamericanos Por Empoderamiento (C.A.F.E.), organización nacional que comenzó su capítulo de SDSU en la primavera de 2018.

El grupo se reúne cada dos semanas y tiene el objetivo de arrojar luz sobre diferentes temas que son relevantes dentro de la comunidad centroamericana en SDSU.

Martínez dijo que C.A.F.E. ayudó a crear un sentido de comunidad para otros estudiantes centroamericanos como ella.

“No hay muchos espacios para que la gente aprenda sobre América Central”, expresó Martínez. “Esencialmente lo que C.A.F.E. intenta hacer es construir una comunidad para los centroamericanos aquí en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego”.

Amaris Tenorio, de ascendencia salvadoreña y mexicana, es uno de los miembros fundadores de C.A.F.E en SDSU junto con Martínez.

Tenorio dijo que la idea de Martínez de comenzar C.A.F.E. en SDSU fue inspirada en la creencia de que devolvería a la comunidad centroamericana del campus.

“A Natalie se le ocurrió la idea de comenzar la primera organización centroamericana”, mencionó Tenorio. “ Pensé que era una gran idea y el énfasis era que queríamos que le devolviera a la comunidad centroamericana que a veces es invisible y marginada”.

Angela Palencia, estudiante en su último año de hospitalidad y turismo, escuchó por primera vez sobre C.A.F.E. mientras

The Daily Aztec

estaba en Twitter, después de que una universitaria de SDSU retuiteó que la organización acababa de comenzar un nuevo capítulo en la universidad.

Ahora como directora de alcance de la organización, Palencia trabaja para llegar a los miembros potenciales que en puedan estar interesados ​​ unirse a C.A.F.E. Palencia, quien es de ascendencia guatemalteca, dijo que encontrar estudiantes que comparten antecedentes culturales similares y ha creado una mejor atmósfera para ella en el campus y le ayuda conectar con otros estudiantes similares en SDSU. “Hablamos de frases que usan nuestras familias y sabemos exactamente de qué estamos hablando”, comentó Palencia.

Los problemas que afectan a la comunidad centroamericana como la migración son los que Palencia espera que C.A.F.E. pueda ayudar educar a los estudiantes.

“Cuestiones como esa son temas realmente candentes”, expresó Palancia.

“Hay muchos problemas más pequeños que están siendo causados ​​por estos problemas

Cortesía de Natalie Martínez

Miembros de la organización C.A.F.E buscan reclutar más estudiantes.`

generales”.

C.A.F.E. solo ha tenido alrededor de 10 miembros desde que se creó un capítulo local en SDSU. A pesar que solo hay pocos miembros en la asociación, Tenorio cree que el grupo puede tener un gran impacto en los estudiantes con los que se conectan.

“Aunque hemos tenido pequeños eventos y no han sido tan grandes como ellos quieren que sean, sigo pensando que es mejor impactar a un pequeño grupo

de estudiantes en vez de ninguno”, señaló Tenorio.

Martínez comparte el mismo sentimiento sobre la presencia de C.A.F.E. en campus y dijo que tener gente en SDSU que sabe sobre su organización, le asegura la importancia de C.A.F.E. “Aunque somos pequeños y no tenemos mucha gente, sé que nuestra presencia aquí sigue siendo importante, incluso si la gente solo nos conoce, siento que eso es un consuelo”, dijo Martínez.

Una mezcla divina: El relato de una joven estudiante de SDSU mexicoamericana que creció dentro de dos culturas distintas por Roxana ESCRITORA

Becerril

Casi siempre se me olvida lo afortunada que soy de haber nacido en San Diego, haber vivido en México y formar parte de dos culturas extraordinarias.

A principios del año de 1998, mi madre vino a San Diego a dar luz a su única hija para asegurarse que tuviera los papeles legales para llevar una vida llena de oportunidades en EEUU. Días después del día de mi nacimiento, mis papás y yo nos regresamos a Tijuana, en donde fue que desarrollé la primer parte de mi identidad cultural.

El tiempo que viví en México, aprendí el sabor de la comida auténtica mexicana y de lo que tratan muchos festejos mexicanos.

Cuando cumplí ocho o nueve años, mi familia y yo nos mudamos a EEUU con todo y costumbres mexicanas.

Durante los diez años que hemos estado aquí, mi familia siempre se ha reunido en época navideña en casa de mi tía para comer tamales, abrir regalos y recibir al niño Jesús en Nochebuena.

En mi casa nunca hacen falta las tortillas y limones verdes, y cada que alguien

Cortesía de Roxana Becerril

Roxana aprendió más sobre la cultura mexicana en San Miguel de Allende.

de la familia va a la ciudad de México, le encargamos pan dulce y galletas para seguir con la dieta mexicana.

Aunque empecé a hablar inglés diariamente, nunca deje de comunicarme con mi familia y amigos en español.

Como mucha de la gente en esta ciudad es hispana o latina, me tomó tiempo darme cuenta que no todos los que viven en EEUU practican las mismas costumbres o comen la misma comida que yo.

Esto se hizo cada vez más evidente cuando empecé a formar amistades con mis compañeros americanos de la secundaria.

Muchos me decían que les gustaba la comida mexicana, pero cuando les preguntaba cuál era su restaurante mexicano favorito, me decían que les encanta el Taco Bell.

Recuerdo el día que tuve a una amiga blanca de Visita y se burló de la salsa mole que tenía en la cocina. Pensó que era chocolate.

La mayoría de mis amistades americanas nunca habían ido a México aunque vivían veinte minutos de la frontera.

Me decían que tenían miedo de ir a ese país. Estos comentarios no me hacían sentir orgullosa de mi cultura y por mucho tiempo trate de ocultar esa gran parte de mi vida.

Cuando empecé la universidad, fui expuesta a ideas que contradicen muchas de las creencias conservativas de México.

Pensaba en la gente mexicana, en mi vida y no me agradaba que eran racistas ya que estaban en contra del aborto y los derechos de la gente homosexual porque en ese entonces estaba conociendo a estudiantes americanos

que tenían puntos de vista más liberales.

Fue así que me di cuenta que apoyo muchas de las creencias liberales de la gente americana de mi generación.

Esto se me hizo difícil al principio porque a veces sentía que no correspondía a ninguna de las dos culturas.

Todavía se me hace difícil mantener mi lealtad a las dos culturas con todo el tiempo que paso en EEUU, ya sea hablando inglés o conviviendo con gente americana.

A veces me siento como un fraude cuando regreso a Tijuana por no saberme todas las calles, la historia del país y por no hablar español perfectamente.

Mientras que en otras ocasiones, cuando estoy en San Diego me enfado por no conocer a gente con los mismos valores o costumbres mexicanas.

A pesar de los desafíos que enfrento por pertenecer a dos grupos étnicos, trato de ver los beneficios de vivir en una ciudad fronteriza que me permite disfrutar de las costumbres mexicanas y poder formar amistades con gente que cree en lo mismo que yo.

Ser miembro de dos culturas es un regalo en sí y es muy importante que yo y la gente que forma parte de esta comunidad no lo olvide.

10

The Daily Aztec

Arts & Culture

Oct. 2 - 8, 2019 EDITOR: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Campus art walk highlights student works

by Devin Whatley STAFF WRITER

On Wednesday, Sept. 25, the Aztec Student Union Board and Associated Students hosted an art walk in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, showcasing different pieces made by San Diego State students.

Students who attended the event viewed 12 art pieces and voted for their favorite. The art pieces included a wide variety of subjects such as portraits of Kehlani and Erykah Badu beside a piece of underwear with the words “Abolish ICE” stamped in red paint.

Aerospace engineering sophomore Monique Beck attended the event and said she liked the sunflower piece because sunflowers are her favorite type of flower.

“An art piece that stood out to me was a sunflower that someone painted which turned out really nice and I really like sunflowers,” she said.

Communication sophomore Desiree Rearte, the Aztec Student Union Board Union Nights’ chair, did not have one favorite in particular. She found all of the pieces to be eye-catching.

“It’s crazy to see the talent,” she

Photo by Devin Whatley

Students displayed their art on Wednesday, Sept. 25 in the Aztec Student Union. There was a variety of portraits and absrtacts on the tables.

said. “I was in awe, for the most part, inspired by some and also a little disillusioned because I wish I could do something like that.”

The art walk was started by criminal justice senior Kapri Walker, the Aztec Student Union Board’s culture, arts and film chair.

She collaborated with international security and conflict resolution senior Angelica Espinoza, A.S. vice president of external relations.

Espinoza organized Rock The

Vote, which was held at the same time as the art walk to encourage students to get politically involved.

For both Walker and Espinoza, this event involved months of planning and a lot of outreach.

“It was a little challenging,” Walker said. “I reached out to many different organizations, classes and the art department on campus to find student-based art. This morning was when I got the most amount of pieces turned in and

Chicana, Chicano Studies helps students for more than 50 years

by Juniper Perkins STAFF WRITER

San Diego State’s Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies is celebrating its 50th anniversary this school year with several cultural events on campus.

The department was founded in 1969 after groups of Chicanx students, faculty and community members participated in drafting and signing the Plan de Santa Bárbara, which created blueprints for the inclusion of Chicanx history in higher education. In the fall of 1969, the department’s first class was scheduled, making history as the first of its kind.

“We’re an example of visionary youth who had a dream and they did it,” Associate Professor Victoria González-Rivera said.

“Young people really are at the forefront of what we do.”

Today, the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies focuses on teaching the history, culture and contributions of Mexican Americans as well as other Latinx groups. The department offers a major, two minors and a certificate in U.S.Mexico border studies. It has also maintained a Chicana and Chicano History Archive on activism since 2007 as well as a Chicano Collection that has accumulated over 3,000 books since the 1970s.

“I’m very proud that my department has persisted, has thrived and has been working on this campus for 50 years,” Associate Professor, Undergraduate Advisor and Department Chair María Ibarra said. “We do so many important

things with our students. We engage in a whole range of research and also work with our various communities for programming and collaborations.”

Ibarra was elected chair this year, but she’s taught at SDSU for 23 years. Her colleague GonzálezRivera has taught at SDSU since 2005.

“We’re different from other departments in that we are very connected to the surrounding communities and we respond to them,” González-Rivera said. “It’s very fashionable to speak about student-centered teaching, but in many ways our departments are

“Some people might think we focus on a very narrow subject as a department, but I like to tell my students that the history of Chicano students is the history of everyone.”

– Victoria González-Rivera, Associate Professor

the model of that.”

To commemorate its history and accomplishments, the department organized numerous entertaining, educational events throughout the school year.

The events started on Sept.

27 with the first showing of the play “Just Like Us,” a show that details the lives of four Latina teenagers from their senior year of high school to their first year

of college. The last showing will be on Oct. 6.

More events are set to take place during the remainder of the semester.

There will be an International Academic Conference on 50 Years of Chicana/o Studies held from Oct. 10 to 12 in Tijuana.

Performance troupe Culture Clash will present a satirical set on Oct. 15 in the Aztec Student Union Theatre.

Multiple research projects conducted by students and faculty alike will also be displayed on various dates.A Day of the Dead altar will be on display from Nov. 1 to 15 with a special program on opening day about the meaning of the holiday and to honor the individuals pictured at the altar.

Ibarra said it’s been a privilege to be a part of this department and to have met its founding members.

“It’s that sharing and that joy of having created something or in having taken something that was very useful,” she said. “It’s also a very good moment in looking towards the future.”

Ibarra said she hopes to better serve students by investing in areas such as education and art.

She also wants the department to continue adding to their collection. González-Rivera wants to continue educating students about Chicanx history and issues affecting them today.

“Some people might think we focus on a very narrow subject as a department” GonzálezRivera said. “But I like to tell my students that the history of Chicano students is the history of everyone.”

Juniper Perkins (they/them/their) is a sophomore studying journalism.

so it was challenging. But overall, it was an enjoyable experience to plan this.”

It is also challenging for Espinoza to get students involved in politics at A.S., while keeping it lighthearted. Last summer, she reached out to Walker and found exactly what she was looking for.

“Working with Kapri is good because she is really creative, whereas I’m more focused on the logistical aspects of it,” Espinoza

said. “The motive was to try and make politics more appealing to students, and so we added painting to go with the art walk to make it therapeutic, fun and light-hearted.”

Overall, students like Beck found the event to be a great way to escape from the stresses of school.

“I enjoyed the event because I was able to talk and meet with other students which was nice,” Beck said. “It was an opportunity to take time from studying to wind down and have fun to paint something instead of focusing and stressing about midterms.”

At the end of the day, Walker found the art walk to be a success.

“I’m a new member of the Student Union Board, so since this was my first event that I planned and proposed, it was rewarding to see it through and encourage civic engagement on campus in a fun way,” Walker said.

Espinoza hopes this event puts a smile on students’ faces.

“I saw students laughing and taking polaroids of their art and voter forms, and so for me seeing smiles on peoples faces is a victory because students enjoyed them,” Espinoza said.

Devin Whatley is a sophomore studying journalism.

Pitbull drops new album with club beats and a wide variety of features

by Johann Derek Oribello SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Award-winning music artist Pitbull returns to the scene with his newest album, “Libertad 548” which was released on Sept. 26.

The album marks his 11th studio album featuring a global cast of artists such as Blake Shelton, Daddy Yankee and Ne-Yo. Pitbull, a.k.a. Mr. Worldwide, said in a tweet that the album title was inspired by his father, who assisted Cuban refugees in immigrating to the U.S. during the Mariel Boatlift of the 1980.

“Libertad 548 represents the amount of people my father, Armando Sr., led to freedom in the 1980 Mariel Boatlift,” Pitbull said.

“The cover is a photo of him at this time; I was born months later. The best gift he & my mother ever gave me was freedom.”

In the second track, “No Lo Trates,” he enlists the help of global reggaeton phenomenon, Daddy Yankee, and successfully created a bouncy club banger. The track also features reggaeton artist Natti Natasha who sang a hypnotic hook. The production in this song brings an infectious energy and catchy tune that would play perfectly in the club.

Another standout track of the album, “Me Quedaré Contigo,” features R&B icon Ne-Yo and reggaeton artists Lenier and El Micha. Ne-yo starts the track serenading to his lover over guitar strings, “If I get to choose who I’m going to give this good life to / Who I’m gon’ ride with win or lose / No hesitation, I choose you.”

After his verse ends, he sings the

chorus in Spanish, “Me quedaré contigo / Voy a robarle todas las flechas a cupido / Y te daré mi corazón con un motivo.”

This marks the first time Ne-Yo sings in Spanish. The first time Pitbull and Ne-Yo collaborated on a track was the club banger, “Give Me Everything,” released in 2011.

Finally, the song “Tell Me Again” was a nice surprise with its features of reggaeton artist Prince Royce and rapper-turned-actor Ludacris.

The instrumental includes a spedup sample of the popular 2004 hit song,“Lovers and Friends,” by R&B singer Usher that also featured Ludacris. This reggaeton rendition of the classic R&B club hit from the early 2000s is a great addition to the album.

Prince Royce starts the song off with a refrain from the classic song, “Tell me again (tell me again) / That we’ll be lovers and friends.” This is a nice nod to Ludacris’ ability and talent to make club hits.

Pitbull’s flow in this song was smoother than ever and Ludacris came through in his verse as well letting the listeners know that his pen is still as sharp as before, “Listen / I’m back and I’m better / They want me more than ever / I told them I came to save the day.”

Overall, this project flexes Pitbull’s hit-making talent and demonstrates his ability to continuously churn out club bangers. Featuring a strong cast of music artists from a wide array of genres, Pitbull’s ability to successfully collaborate with them truly shows his fans that he is Mr. Worldwide.

Johann Derek Oribello is a senior studying journalism.

Oct. 2 - 8, 2019 EDITOR: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Arts & Culture

The Daily Aztec

11

Student made Mundo Azteca to fill void of Latinx coverage

by Diane Lopez ASSISTANT MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR

Mundo Azteca, The Daily Aztec’s Spanish section, published its first pages six years ago on Sept. 2, 2013.

Arturo Garcia, founder of Mundo Azteca, wrote for The Daily Aztec for three-and-a-half years in English, but realized he was losing his Spanish because he wasn’t practicing it enough. This realization encouraged him to start a Spanish section. “(In school) I was learning new things, new words, new vocabulary, but I wasn’t getting that education in Spanish,� Garcia said. “I wanted to pursue that and keep that part of myself alive with dignity.�

With the help of professors, students and outside recourses, Garcia made it possible for The Daily Aztec to have a section in Spanish to represent San Diego State’s Latinx community with stories about immigration, education and undocumented students. “I saw the spark, I saw it was something that was needed and I see it today,� said Garcia said. “It’s a very political statement and I think that’s why (Mundo Azteca) is still alive today.�

It was important for Garcia to have the Latinx community represented at the university because, at the time, three out of 10 students at SDSU were Latinx.

Garcia found support by going classroom to classroom, recruiting students who also wanted to write in Spanish. Although his team consisted of only five students, each writer was passionate in their desire to represent the Latinx community at SDSU. “It’s impressive for me because I honestly didn’t think it was going to last beyond my graduation because people told me

that my project would die,� Garcia said.

Amy Schmitz Weiss, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Media Studies, was one of Garcia’s main support systems. She encouraged Garcia to meet with students and faculty members to build his network. “I thought it was fantastic when he brought up the idea because I think it really represents what SDSU is in terms of the student population and the communities surrounding San Diego State, so it seemed like a natural progression for The Daily Aztec to have,� Schmitz Weiss said.

Ramona Perez, director of Latin American Studies, also a major support er of Arturo’s project, felt it was about time that The Daily Aztec had a Spanish section. This is not just because SDSU is a Hispanic-serving institution, but because there is a significant amount of students who are bilingual on campus. “Arturo was one of those students who had this vision, this passion, he just needed somebody to look at him and say ‘You are absolutely right go run with it and let me know what you need,’� Perez said. “He did it all, it was his vision, it was his hard work and it was his dedication.�

Throughout his journey after graduation, Garcia began to seek justice in the community, slowly realizing he was transitioning from being a journalist to an advocate. Right after college, he began working for public relations firms that work for nonprofits and social justice organizations.

It was important for Garcia to find “his people� because he wants to be connected with the organization he is working with.

Garcia found this connection with his current job at the Museum of Photographic Arts.

Courtesy Photo provided by Arturo Garcia

Garcia founded the Daily Aztec section Mundo Azteca six years ago as a student. He still believes in his section today.

He felt closest to Mundo Azteca when he worked at a public relations agency, Mixte, that works with nonprofits and social justice organizations. He felt the two were similar because he realized there was a language barrier in the company. “I was using my Spanish a lot calling up reporters or writing pitches,� Garcia said. “(I) realized there was a gap in the industry because not all the info was being shared if it wasn’t in the accessible language. Out of the seven of us, I was the only one pitching and writing in Spanish.�

His time at Mixte gave him an

opportunity to understand how he could use his identity to be more of an educator and how to be more solution-oriented.

Garcia advises students who have personal goals, to just do it and to start anywhere you can, even if it’s something small. “Find your community by first finding yourself and identifying the causes that make you passionate,� Garcia said. “(Find those that) have the same passion or are bothered by the same thing. Don’t be scared in voicing (your passion) out.�

Diane Lopez is a senior studying journalism.

First Latina elected as A.S. executive after 15 years

by Daniel Farr STAFF WRITER

Associated Students had not had a Latina executive for 15 years.

But that streak has been broken. Last spring, international studies and conflict resolution senior Angelica Espinoza, a Latina and San Ysidro native, ran for vice president of external relations and won. “It’s a tremendous honor,� she said. “But it’s also an incredible reminder of what work needs to be done still for marginalized communities, specifically for women of color on campus. 15 years, we broke the cycle, but why is it we had such a long gap?�

Espinoza said she is proud to be representing her community and bringing that seat to the table. She also noted how

this is a step in the right direction for the university. “I think it is an accomplishment for the school because it shows how times are changing,� Espinoza said. “Now we’re allowing people who historically haven’t looked like those in power to finally start reflecting the student body.�

During the year Espinoza ran for her position and won, the university was also in its first year of being headed by President Adela de la Torre, the first Latina to hold the position.

Espinoza said she has a great working relationships in her A.S. circle and is treated equally as her peers. But she also said there’s work to be done regarding representation in leadership. “I’m still the first Latina executive in 15 years, so there’s still improvements to be made in that aspect,� she said.

Courtesy Photo provided by Angelica Espinoza

Espinoza is a first generation college student who ran for A.S. executive office and won. She strives to be an example.

Espinoza is the child of two Mexican immigrants. She has lived in San Diego her entire life and grew up in the border region of San Ysidro.

As a first generation college student, she said being bicultural and having strong roots in San Diego helped her decide staying home for college was the choice for her.

She joined A.S. as a commuter student seeking involvement on campus. “I didn’t have any friends (at SDSU) and I was also the type of commuter student that would just go to class, and just immediately go home,� she said. �Sometimes entering new spaces is a little scary, sometimes people don’t look like you and it’s not what you initially think.�

Espinoza kept looking for ways to get involved with the school’s community “I felt really audacious one day and I walked into the A.S. office,� she said “My time began with the elections committee my sophomore year. I slowly got involved with judicial affairs council, then I became chief justice of that council my junior year and now I am vice president of external relations my senior year.�

What drew Espinoza to the position was its focus on civic engagement and legislation that would affect the student body.

She said the intersectionalities of her own life impact her through politics.

She lives by the border, is a woman, is a person of color, and her father was undocumented and deported.

Espinoza also said she strives to be the image of a role model she lacked growing up. “Growing up, I never had role models that looked like me,� she said. “I think what really drives me is that for people to finally have a role model and see

themselves in positions they didn’t think were possible. I know I had that problem throughout college, not having someone to go to and ask for help, questions or advice because no one had a journey like mine.�

She said there is significance about being the first Latina executive in 15 years, but it will not make her complacent in any way, shape or form. “To sit in this moment and reflect on past experiences and see how far you’ve come only motivates you to keep pushing forward,� she said.

Daniel Farr is a senior studying journalism.

12

The Back Page

The Daily Aztec

Oct. 2 - 8, 2019 Editor: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Family restaurant based in hispanic roots

Rincon Azteca is in Logan Heights and serves homesetyle Mexican food.

by Sydney Faulkner SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Nestled in the culturally rich neighborhood of Logan Heights, a local family works side by side to serve the community with one-of-a-kind, homestyle Mexican food.

The matriarch of the family, Alicia Lorenzo, took over Azteca Rincon in 2008. However, the family restaurant has gone through a few name changes.

Originally the restaurant was named Tacos El Compita, but changed to Mama’s Kitchen in 2010. Then, due to a recurring confusion with a local nonprofit, Rincon Azteca became the new name earlier this year.

Lorenzo originally worked for the owner of Rincon Azteca and was given the opportunity to take over the restaurant.

She knew right away she would make the opportunity into a family affair.

Lorenzo creates each dish herself, using recipes she has crafted and perfected on her own throughout the years.

She contributes much of her inspiration as a chef to her mother and grandmother.

Bri Alvarez is the daughter of Lorenzo and loves being part of the family

Photo by Sydney Faulkner

business.

“My grandmother, along with many other members of my family, have the business mindset,” Bri said. “We love to work for ourselves and for each other.”

Ely Alvarez, granddaughter of Lorenzo, is a political science sophomore at San Diego State. She enjoys being part of the family business as well.

Her parents took their business further and created another leg of Rincon Azteca, a food stand located on the street adjacent called Tamales los Unicos.

Although they’re most famous for their delicious tamales, they also serve elote, Mexican street corn. All of the recipes used at the food stand are crafted by her grandmother, as usual.

Rincon Azteca’s most famous dishes are their huaraches, pambazos, sopes and gorditas.

They also serve Mexican Coca Cola in the classic glass bottle. Alvarez confessed that when she visits other restaurants, she will take her grandmother’s salsa.

“I don’t eat at a lot of other mexican style restaurants because I know I can get the best mexican food right from my grandma,” Alvarez said.

As if the authentically crafted food was not enough to bring people from all over California, the exterior of Rincon Azteca catches many eyes.

In March of this year, Rincon Azteca

went under an art renovation. The family chose two local Logan Heights artists to design and paint the outside of the restaurant.

The family wanted something bright to grab attention, but to also showcase the rich culture that lived inside the restaurant and in the community.

The art renovation was completed by El Waster One and Sholove. The two took a few weeks to transform the exterior of Rincon Azteca into a beautiful, complete mural that celebrated their Otomi heritage.

Inside Rincon Azteca, the walls are painted yellow, red and orange.

The Alvarez women said the family strived to make the restaurant feel like home for everyone who visits.

In many Mexican kitchens, including their own grandma’s, they said the walls are brightly colored and very inviting, which brings a sense of nostalgia to all who visit.

Look no further than Rincon Azteca for homestyle Mexican comfort food to make you feel right at home.

Rincon Azteca is located at 2172 Ocean View Blvd., San Diego, CA. They are open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, but hours vary on the weekends. Visit them on Instagram @rincon_aztecasd.

Sydney Faulkner is a senior studying journalism.

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