The Daily Aztec 10/6/2021

Weds., Oct. 6 - Tues., Oct 12, 2021 Weekly Print Edition

Vol. 108, Issue 8 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

Restaurant and Bar Guide Empanadas, Spring rolls and most importantly ... beer

RESTAURANT WORKERS’ EXPERIENCE

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE MAIN CHARACTER?

Restaurant workers have been presented with new pandemic-related challenges.

With the entertainment industry lacking in representation, everyone should have their chance to be a main character.

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LOS DERECHOS DE LOS BRASILEÑOS El centro de estudios brasileños organiza conferencias para hablar sobre los derechos terrestres de los indigenas amazónicas en Brasil.

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FIRST LOSSES FOR MEN’S SOCCER Men’s soccer recieved its first and second loss over the tough weekend away.

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The Daily Aztec

News

Oct. 6 - 12, 2021 EDITOR: Katelynn Robinson • news@thedailyaztec.com

Inside look into new challenges

for on-campus restaurant workers

by Catlan Nguyen EDITOR IN CHIEF

As San Diego State returned to in-person instruction this semester, workers at various East Commons dining locations said challenges during this transition have included fear of exposure to COVID-19, staffing shortages and more.

Vinnie’s Pizza crew lead and biology third year Celestin Albaran said wearing masks is one of the biggest and newest challenges for restaurant workers on campus.

“I know it’s an issue that goes backand-forth, enforcing mask-wearing.”

Albaran said. “I think for me the biggest issue was I knew that at my register, the mask policy wouldn’t be as enforced the same way as when a student would be walking around anywhere else on campus.”

Albaran also said wearing masks is a sign of mutual respect because while she wants everybody to have the freedom to make their own choices, she needs to ensure she runs her units at Vinnie’s in a safe way.

Another fear for some on-campus restaurant workers include their potential exposure to COVID-19 while serving the increased number of students, faculty and staff this semester.

“I know that most of us are vaccinated, if not all of us, (but) I still felt concerned a little bit,” Albaran said. “ It sucks to be like ‘wow, this one person who has their mask underneath their nose could give me COVID right now.’”

For another crew lead at Vinnie’s, it’s not as pressing of a concern.

“I’m vaccinated. I’m not in a highrisk category, so I’m not concerned on

by Lucelis Martínez STAFF WRITER

year’s operation during 2020 and to now in 2021, as the campus has about 80% of classes in person.

She also added how they went from having a max of three people per unit working to 12 people working at a time at Vinnie’s to accommodate the higher number of customers they now see regularly.

“Salad Bistro in East Commons, they

According to the official page, the Food Pantry is located in the NorthEast landing on the second floor of the Aztec Student Union and is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at varying times.

To access the pantry, students must have a working Red ID and must follow the SDSU COVID-19 facial covering policy.

“The Associated Students Food Pantry provides nutritious food and food program referral services for SDSU experiencing food insecurity,” the official website said.

Food Pantry started in the fall of 2016 by the A. S. Student Support Commission.

The service exists to provide students with free food, in order to fight food insecurities and operates under the basis of privacy, according to A.S. vice president of finance Austin Barber.

Barber said the Food Pantry is especially important in San Diego because of the increase in food insecurity. He said he is 100% proud of the work A. S. has been able to do for the Food Pantry, and the amount of food distributed throughout the years.

Barber also mentioned the Aztecs Rock Hunger campaign and the pantry’s involvement with the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

SDSU has participated in the global Aztecs Rock Hunger campaign since 2015.

“Aztecs Rock Hunger is a campaign that raises money for food for the Jacobs

SEE RESTAURANT WORKERS PAGE 3

SEE FOOD PANTRY PAGE 3

Photo by Sara Rott

Many of SDSU’s dining locations are mostly employed by students. Students working in the food industry have faced a unqiue array of struggles while operating during a pandemic.

that front,” computer science third year Ethan Rosenberg said. “SDSU Dining’s protocols are pretty good. Obviously, you can’t enforce masks inside East Commons because people are eating but all transactions have to have a mask on and all employees have to wear a mask.”

This is Rosenberg’s first job and he started at Vinnie’s earlier this summer.

Albaran has worked at Vinnie’s since 2019 and has seen it transition from pre-pandemic operation to the virtual

FOOD PANTRY COMBATS HUNGER

Students honor Native lives lost in residential schools,

‘There are still more children that need to be found’

by Eugènie Budnik CONTRIBUTOR

On Thursday Sept. 30, students on campus might have seen an unusual amount of their peers wearing the color orange. This color was no coincidence, as Sept. 30 was Orange Shirt Day. Orange Shirt Day was established in 2013 to honor the legacy of Native students who were forced to attend Saint Joseph’s Mission Residential School in Williams Lake, British Columbia between the period of 1891 to 1981.

Since 2013, Orange Shirt Day has transformed into a global day of remembrance and grievance for all Native children abused at residential schools in both Canada and the United States.

The Native Resource Center at San Diego State held an event in honor of this year’s day of remembrance.

“Orange Shirt Day is a day of remembrance for the children taken from their homes, from their families and put into boarding schools,” Director of the Native Resource Center Chris Medellin said. “This year it’s been increasingly more important to recognize this day because of the unmarked graves found at boarding schools of thousands of children.”

In July 2021, news of over 160

Photo by Eugénie Budnik

The Native Resource Center at SDSU opened virtually last school year. This year they are operating in person, spreading awareness and providing support.

unmarked graves found at a residential school on the west coast of Canada went viral.

“There are still more children that need to be found,” Medellin said.

The Native Resource Center banded together with other campus cultural centers such as the Latinx Resource Center and the Black Resource Center to promote awareness of the tragedies faced by Native children through social

media.

“We are showcasing different documentaries about survivors from throughout the nation and in Canada.”

Native Resource Center program director Amanda Flores said.

The documentaries shown by the Native Resource Center at the event highlighted the struggles and abuses endured by residential school survivors.

The resource center also offered

visitors a magnolia leaf to paint and attach to a paper tree in the center.

“The origins of Orange Shirt Day are very troubling and difficult, as a lot of the information is very heavy,” faculty scholar Gabriela Kovats Sanchèz said.

“The intention behind this [the tree] was to process a lot of it through the...

SEE ONLINE

News

Oct. 6 - 12, 2021 EDITOR: Katelynn Robinson . news@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

3

Conrad Prebys Second Stage Theatre

to have state-of-the-art technology

Photo by Sara Rott

The Conrad Prebys Second Stage Theatre constrution is underway and is scheduled for completion in 2023.

by Christian CONTRIBUTOR

Houser

The construction of the Conrad Prebys Second Stage Theatre aims to build better facilities for students interested in music, dance, theatre, television and film according to a News Center article. This project will renovate the performing arts district of San Diego State.

Construction began in June of this year and is expected to be completed in early 2023. The budget for this project

is $44 million and the name of the stage is dedicated to Conrad Prebys as his foundation granted $6 million to the project. The grant aims to enhance the performing arts district and potentially inspire SDSU students to join or participate in the arts.

‘Niyi Coker Jr., Professor and Director at The School of Theatre, Television and Film said this renovation will offer new opportunities to students since the Prebys Stage will have two separate spaces for students.

Student launches ‘Helping

Hands for Afghanistan’

by Jayne Yutig ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Photo courtesy of Behzad Hashemi

Phi Kappa Psi supports Hashemi and his GoFundMe launch which provides aid to Afghan families.

The United States withdrawal in Afghanistan is complete and with refugee families resettling in San Diego, Phi Kappa Psi fraternity members are donating time and money to help Afghans begin their new lives.

Business and real estate junior and Phi Kappa Psi member, Behzad Hashemi is asking San Diego State students to help local families that have relocated after evacuating Afghanistan. Hashemi and his fraternity launched a GoFundMe, Helping Hands for Afghans and have raised over $5,000 for families transitioning into new homes.

Just a few weeks after Hashemi came up with the idea for the fundraiser

after a conversation with his father, the fraternity has already moved families in.

“They’re our neighborhood community members. They’re right around the corner. It’s something that you can go see what you’re making a difference with,” Hashemi said.

Afghan families that are resettled in San Diego begin a new journey. They are quickly brought into a country with a new culture and language to learn.

Families are separated from their home country that they fled amid the crisis.

Hashemi said the fundraising efforts will directly help local families with their next chapter. Some families who are being resettled only have the clothes they were wearing during the evaluation.

“This is a tangible difference that I think people can get together and see the difference you’re making,” Hashemi said. “These are people who helped the U.S., they are supportive of our efforts and I think it’s our job to have their backs.”

On Sept. 23, Hashemi and fraternity members moved a family of six with four young children into an apartment five minutes away from SDSU. The fraternity has been working closely with Helping El Cajon Refugees, a resettlement agency that helps refugees. Hashemi said the agencies have families lined up weekly that Phi Kappa Psi will assist with moving in.

“For the refugees, San Diego is considered a preferred destination and it’s because of the vibrant Afghan community here,” Hashemi said.

Phi Kappa Psi President and aerospace engineering junior Jack Egan...

SEE ONLINE

“The new stage will be indoors and outdoors, so this will be great for inside performances for dance and theatre, and the outdoor venue will take advantage of San Diego weather to project movies and hold film festivals,” Coker said. “The student organizations will have more spaces to do productions.”

This new venue adds two new stages totaling four stages on campus as of 2023.

Stephen Zagrodny, a senior studying general theatre at SDSU, said he is excited about the new stage and its benefits even while he will not be able to experience it himself.

“The second stage will be really cool, I think the whole box office and the plans for the interior will be really nice,” Zagrodny said.

This renovation is not only adding space for production but adding new technology as well.

“Theatre, dance and film rely heavily on technology, this will enhance the work we do,” Coker said. “We finally have state-of-the-art complexes, with up-to-date technology.”

These upgrades will allow students to have more experience working with equipment that is used post-university and enhance the program’s ability to teach SDSU students. This comes at a cost, however, as the construction is quite loud and takes up some of the

space of the performing arts district on campus.

“This is the point where we are sacrificing,” Coker said. “With the fact that construction is going on which means we have two smaller stages; The Don Powell Theatre is just using the stage and with the Experimental stage, we are just using half the space.”

Students and faculty have made many sacrifices throughout this construction process. Gonzalo Ochoa, a freshman studying vocal performance, has experienced the inconvenience of the construction but is excited about the future.

“In some classes, the construction noise interferes,” Ochoa said in regards to his vocal performance classes.

Ochoa said while the construction interferes now, it will help stop restrictions later.

“We won’t have to restrict ourselves as sometimes the spaces are occupied but I imagine the renovation will help with that,” Ochoa said.

“When you have facilities that are state-of-the-art and are comparable with the best theatres across the country, that is certainly a draw,” Coker said.

“The advantage of doing it (theatre) in a contemporary space by far outweighs doing it in a space that is 30 or 40 years old where the technology is not current.”

Food pantry:

continued from page 2 and Cushman San Diego Food Bank,” the Daily Aztec article said. “SDSU has raised over 2.7 million pounds of food since 2015.”

Barber said the Aztecs Rock Hunger campaign will be held from Oct. 22 to Nov. 14 this year.

SDSU has an Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT), which is involved with the Food Pantry, according to their official website.

“The Economic Crisis Response Team can help any SDSU student connect with resources, both on and off campus, to help you get through your immediate food, housing, or financial crisis,” the website said.

These efforts to fight food insecurity come right around Hunger Awareness Month.

Restaurant workers: continued from page 2

were seeing during that Covid year about 12 people a day versus now, it’s like 12 people in the span of about 20 minutes, maybe,” Albaran said.

Director of SDSU Dining Paul Melchior who oversees all dining on campus, said one of the biggest challenges coming back to a majority in-person semester was the labor shortage and the lack of returning employees for both full-time and part-time positions.

“This is my 21st fall semester (working in dining) and they’re always dynamic and challenging, but fun,” Melchior said. “This has been the hardest (year) in 21 years.”

In 2019, Melchior said each restaurant would serve between 300 and 1,000 customers per day, and in 2020, around

Photo courtesy of Associated Students

The Food Pantry is available to students and community members on the second floor of the student union.

60 to 100 customers per day. During this semester, each restaurant averages anywhere from 200 to 500 customers per day depending on the restaurant and day.

Melchior said after the campus closed in March 2020 at the height of the pandemic, SDSU Dining donated most of their food to Feeding America, San Diego Foodbank, local fire stations and local hospitals to support pandemic workers working around the clock.

He also said student employees were kept on staff and paid throughout the entire spring 2020 semester even though they couldn’t work.

“Higher-ups have been making the effort to show us that we are appreciated,” Albaran said. “It definitely helps even though you’re feeling uncertain about ‘is this safe?’ There are people who are higher up who are making the rules that genuinely do care.”

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Opinion

The Daily Aztec

Oct. 6 - 12, 2021 EDITOR: Aaliyah Alexander • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

Everyone should have chance to be seen as main character

By Aaliyah Alexander OPINION EDITOR

No matter how evolved the entertainment industry seems, it still lacks a crucial component for its viewers: representation.

I thought I was the only Black female who felt as if there was a lack of people who look like me in mainstream entertainment until TikTok user Kyla Diane posted a video that perfectly put into words my thought process.

For people like me who love fantasy, rom-coms and comingof-age movies and shows, there comes a day when you realize there’s a limited amount of films that depict Black individuals as the main characters who are the love interest, hero or quirky teen entering adulthood.

All we have are films centered around slavery, police brutality and Black trauma.

Although talking about those topics are important, I am not the first — and surely not the last — Black person that will say this: our existence is way more than trauma and we deserve to be accurately depicted in entertainment.

Black television shows such as “Family Matters,” “Living Single,” “Moesha,” “Sister, Sister” and more recently “Insecure” are great examples of television shows depicting the “Black experience”

without making our struggles the main plot. Movies like “Love and Basketball,” “Dope,” and “Selah and the Spades” effectively balance the reality for Black people with Black joy.

Former monk, author and speaker Jay Shetty once said in an interview, “You can’t be what you can’t see. If I never saw a monk, I would have never wanted to be a monk. If I never meet a billionaire, I wouldn’t want to be one.”

This truth highlights one of the main reasons why representation in entertainment is so important.

Non-people of color have the luxury to imitate and relate to a plethora of main characters in films while people of color have to go through the trenches just to find one decent film that depicts someone like them in a pure and accurate light.

The lack of main characters that look like me can cause a feeling of exclusion. When all you have to watch as a Black kid growing up are films where you’re either the supporting character or victim, it sends the message that those are the only roles you can live up to.

It shouldn’t be that hard to find a television show or movie with someone who looks like me or my two brothers as the main characters in 2021.

If you can recall when the films “Princess and the Frog” and “Black Panther” were released,

you’ll remember the excitement of the Black community because we finally got modern mainstream films that were light-hearted and depicted us as normal human beings.

This isn’t to say I can’t enjoy my favorite coming-of-age films or television shows with white main characters, it’s to say we need to let everyone have a chance in the spotlight.

We would be lying to ourselves as a society if we believed the quirky, joyful and lighthearted stories of Black and other people of color aren’t worthy to be told because they most definitely are.

In the near future, I hope to see more main characters like me.

Aaliyah Alexander is a junior studying journalism and international studies.

Ethnic studies cultivates inclusiity and understanding in a society that lacks both.

By Sierra Stallworth CONTRIBUTOR

There’s a saying, “Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.”

This quote is very popular and has been repeated in speeches, classrooms, movies and even songs. But the true idiom comes from a Mary T. Lathrop poem that states, “Just walk a mile in his moccasins / Before you abuse, criticize, and accuse.”

In a world divided by hate, there is no better time to start learning the history of others which is why having more ethnic study courses is a good place to

start.

Growing up in America, we learn one history from a specific point of view: We learn how Christoper Columbus “discovered” America and helped the Native Americans who enjoyed feasting on Thanksgiving. We learn about our freedom from the British and how we fought the civil war to “free slaves.”

However, what the history books fail to mention is life before the colonizers. They don’t teach us about how smart and intuitive the Native Americans were or about the civilizations in Africa before those Africans were

MANAGING EDITOR Trinity Bland NEWS EDITOR Katelynn Robinson OPINION EDITOR Aaliyah Alexander MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Noé Sandoval ASST. MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Karina Bazarte ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Ryan Hardison ASST. ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Cristina Lombardo SPORTS EDITOR Jason Freund ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Finley SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Amanda Orozco PHOTO EDITOR Noelani Sapla MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Mackenzie Stafford ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jayne Yutig GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hemen Mesfin

STAFF WRITERS Lucelis Martinez Megan Oytas Jayden Hanzy Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo Morgan Prickett Justin Cox Jessica Octavio SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Juan Daniel Avila Graphic by Hemen Mesfin

With a diverse culture, entertainment needs to represent all backgrounds in all roles.

Ethnic studies key for societal progress

Graphic by Shalika Oza

EDITOR IN CHIEF Catlan Nguyen

stolen and taken to America.

All we learn is the white history.

Ethnic studies teaches us all these forgotten histories. They teach us beautiful, painful and impactful stories of other cultures and countries that our nation chose to omit.

In 2020, Governor Gavin Newson signed a bill that requires all California State University students who enter as freshmen in the 2021-2022 school year to take an ethnic studies course focused on one of four ethnic groups in order to graduate. This bill was proposed by Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley Weber, who is a former San Diego State professor and a huge advocate for ethnic studies.

This requirement serves as a big step in the right direction because ethnic studies classes are necessary to not only learn your own history, but the history of those around you.

As a Black woman in America, I’ve learned more in my three years of Africana Studies classes about Black history than from my 12 years of education. These are things that should be taught to people of all ages and not just those in higher education.

By learning about the history of others, we can begin to understand why they think, act and speak in certain ways.

Ethnic studies allows people to develop empathy and compassion for situations they might not understand otherwise. It opens

the door for more conversations and more progress because if you do not know the past, you cannot fix the future.

Many people discredit those who pursue a path in ethnic studies, mocking that they won’t find a job after college. What they don’t realize is that these individuals are the movers and shakers of this generation. These people are learning the history and insights of cultures that so many don’t know. They are informing themselves so they can do better and, thus, make a change by being advocates.

As a generation we are becoming more outspoken and willing to stand with our peers.

The turnout for the Black Lives Matter marches last fall is proof that with more understanding and hearing others perspectives, we can make a difference. Even if our passion for activism is dismissed by the older generations and characterizes us as being “too soft” or “too emotional,” we should push forward because if we don’t, who will?

Ethnic studies helps to fuel change in the minds of this generation, and I believe the world would be a worse place without it.

No matter what your major is, start taking ethnic studies classes to learn more about yourself and others.

Sierra Stallworth is a junior studying journalism.

CONTRIBUTORS Eugenie Budnik Christian Houser James Salazar Davis Ramage Aaron Velasquez Eva Handojo Sierra Stallworth ________________________________

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Brian Arnold ________________________________

GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Luis Valenzuela EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING 619.594.7807 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. 6 - 12, 2021 EDITOR: Aaliyah Alexander • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

Opinion

The Daily Aztec

5

Biotech industry out of control, needs ethical reinforcement soon

By Jessica Octavio STAFF WRITER

In 2003, Elizabeth Holmes rocked Silicon Valley with a startup that claimed to offer faster, cheaper blood tests that could perform a variety of assessments with just a prick of the finger. Her company, Theranos, was valued at over $9 billion.

Now, Holmes is a household name for all the wrong reasons. For the past month, she has been on trial for 12 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Faulty tests mistakenly told patients they were diagnosed with cancer or suffering from a miscarriage. Tests that were touted to take two hours actually took over two days to yield results. Holmes also raised money by lying to investors about contracts with Pfizer and the U.S. military.

A dozen felonies and hundreds of millions of dollars lost later, we’re left wondering: what can the Theranos case teach us about how we can improve the biotech industry?

For many tech companies, constantly reinventing your brand to achieve rapid growth and reach unimaginable heights is a part of the culture. Founders are supposed to build themselves up as the sole key holder to a solution the world has been waiting for.

However, when technology and software begins to intersect with critical industries

like healthcare, companies can’t afford to fail when people’s lives are at stake.

Biotech innovations must undergo years of well documented, FDA-regulated trials before entering the market. The hype that powers tech companies just doesn’t go as far for biotech companies.

Despite Holmes’ success in raising money and gaining notoriety for Theranos in biology, the value of an innovation is proven in the data.

One way to make room for biotech startups is to encourage the pipeline from STEM academia to the entrepreneurial ecosystem as founders and venture capitalists.

Entrepreneurs who are scientists first and business leaders second have a better technical foundation to invent intellectual property that is inherently valuable. When a company’s technology is solid, there is little need to embellish it for fundraising purposes.

Researchers are often overworked and underpaid with failure being a common and expected part of the job. Academics are no strangers to contextualizing novel ideas to ask for funding, but the only thing missing is a design-thinking focus that centers innovation around addressing user pain points.

As a microbiology major involved in San Diego State’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, I know firsthand how our school is teaching students like me to contribute to early stage companies and their growth.

At last week’s VentureStart competition,

students from the Entrepreneur Society and CyberDefense Team worked together to develop and pitch solutions around software and security in just a few hours.

However, the roughly three-to-one ratio of entrepreneurs to computer science experts outlined an unmet need in entrepreneurship: technical experts.

ZIP Launchpad is addressing this in part with focused initiatives that encourage developing ideas made by women in STEM as well as ideas that improve the lives of the elderly. With targeted events, themed hackathons (design sprints to quickly come up with solutions to pressing issues) and special incentives, our on-campus incubator is helping our students rise to find solutions to unaddressed societal problems that require expertise in science and health.

STEM-oriented venture capitalists would benefit the industry by powering high potential startups with the industryspecific knowledge needed to assess risk and spot trends.

On SDSU’s Venture Capital Investment Competition Team, led by alumni Robert Schulte and Paige Doherty, I’ve been learning about what turns a business idea into an opportunity and how to apply that knowledge within venture capital investment. I am one of two students studying STEM on our undergraduate team of over a dozen people and our coach, Paige Doherty, is a SDSU computer science alumna.

One reason I fell in love with

Graphic by Shalika Oza

Holmes scandal poorly represents biotech industry.

entrepreneurship was the excitement and fulfillment that comes with developing something end-to-end that other people will use and benefit from.

Whether you’re a STEM major or a business major, SDSU can help make the next big idea a reality, but sometimes the most valuable resource is what you can learn from the people around you.

Let’s ensure we don’t create any other Elizabeth Holmes in the future.

Jessica Octavio is a senior studying microbiology. Follow her on Twitter @ jessicaoctavio_.

6

Arts & Culture

The Daily Aztec

Oct. 6 - 12, 2021 EDITOR: Ryan Hardison • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Hidden food spots to explore in San Diego Gameday and goodies at Pretzels & Pints

By Eva Handojo CONTRIBUTOR

Photos by Eva Handojo

(Top) The Cali Club Sandwhich is served with a side of chips and a pickle, (Middle) Pretzel & Pints has an outdoor patio for dining, (Bottom) Their fluffy pretzels are paired with a beer cheese dip.

There is nothing like the sights and smells you inhale on game day. The sweet celebration of drinking beer and taking a bite of a salty, soft pretzel in the depths of a roaring crowd is what takes watching a live game to a whole new level.

Pretzels & Pints, a local American sports bar and restaurant located in the very heart of North Park, is a familyfriendly venue that provides a game day experience to all its valued customers.

They are known for their variety of soft pretzels inspired by the great traditions of New York, Philadelphia, and Munich, Germany as well as their game day snacks and pretzel-related concoctions. Their pretzels are supplied by a San Diego pretzel company but their top seller, the Philadelphia Soft Pretzel, is exclusively made for their restaurant.

The mouth-watering pretzels are definitely something to try in honor of football season.

As soon as you walk in, there is an instant vibe of people casually hanging out and having a good time. You are greeted with friendly staff and the rustic ambiance of twinkling lights and wooden park benches. The outdoor patio is a kid-friendly place to hang out, watch the game and enjoy the company of friends

and family.

For all you football loving fans right now, you will be happy to know that Sundays are dedicated to all your favorite teams. “Oh yeah... Sundays get really packed and rowdy. It’s a lot of fun,” Vivian, an employee at Pretzels & Pints said.

The six sets of TV’s are turned on for your entertainment with a choice to sit directly at the barstools or out back on the patio. They have game day specials to fill all your needs, and the restaurant and bar transforms into an enjoyable hang out for one large community all year round! You are able to sit back and watch your favorite sports teams while enjoying a delicious meal and beer in hand.

The ordering process is very COVID-19 safe, as you are able to view the menu on your phone through a scan of a QR code. All the possible intriguing options can leave one feeling absolutely stumped!

The various pretzels are the perfect appetizer to snack during a game or fill your hunger just enough.

If you’re looking for a light, tasty snack then the pretzel puffs are the way to go.

They are lightly salted pretzel dough balls but for all the sweet tooths out there, make sure to ask for the special twist! It is topped with a spritz of cinnamon sugar

and honey!

A fan favorite, the famous Philadelphia pretzel, inspired by Philadelphia’s popular tradition, is a figure eight shaped pretzel with a thicker, doughier consistency. It is served with a side of beer cheese and the options of honey, dijon, and spicy mustard.

If you are looking for something to fill your belly up, The Cali Club sandwich is another classic at Pretzels & Pints. The sandwich is served on a toasted pretzel roll consisting of turkey, pepper jack cheese, crispy bacon and avocado spread. To top it all off, it is served with a pickle and a bag of potato chips.

If you like your pretzels fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the outside like I do, Pretzels & Pints delivered! Both pretzel dishes added a kick of Photo by Eva Handojo flavor with their special beer cheese dip taking you back into that game day nostalgia. The Cali Club was my personal favorite with a kick of lime in the avocado spread, adding to the perfect salty balance of the pretzel roll.

Whether you are looking for a funloving community to enjoy the game or a chill place to pig out with your friends and family, Pretzels & Pints is a great place to have a great time!

Empanadas baked to airy delight Alforon is authentic Mediterranean

By Cristina Lombardo

By Aaron Velasquez

ASST. ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

CONTRIBUTOR

Empanada Kitchen is a small, dainty place smacked in between University Heights and North Park.

When people think of empanadas, what do they think of? Pastries with some type of meat in them, right? Do people know what an empanada is?

According to Empanada Guy, an empanada is a fried or baked turnover in the shape of a half-moon either made with flour or corn dough that can be stuffed with a lot of different items.

Want a chicken empanada, by any chance? How about one with beef inside?

Well, Empanada Kitchen has got you covered.

When you walk into Empanada Kitchen and approach the cashier, there’s a menu on the counter with all of the different types of empanadas they have to offer. The menu includes over nine different kinds of empanadas with affordable pricing.

For one empanada, it’s $3.95 (not including taxes), a steal considering it’s freshly baked. If you want more, there’s always an option to get an office/party pack that consists of 24 empanadas for a nice price of $84 before taxes.

Since the empanadas at Empanada Kitchen are baked, it has a different consistency than fried empanadas.

Customers can tell it was baked since most of the empanadas had a nice glossy, brown sear. One can even say that baked empanadas are probably much healthier.

With baked empanadas, there is a lot less grease. This means you can have an easier time eating since all the filling inside won’t be falling out every two minutes. That’s of course if you’re eating from side to side, rather from the middle.

These empanadas have a buttery dough, so when you bite into it along with the filling there’s still enough presence of the butter which gives it an airy feeling.

Alforon Mediterranean is College Area’s own award-winning restaurant that delivers authentic cuisine from Lebanon.

Located at 5965 El Cajon Blvd, this restaurant is a short six-minute drive from campus. They are open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Alforon Mediterranean is a family-run business led by George Salameh. Opened in 2009, the restaurant was Salameh’s third try at professional work after his previous jobs as an airline pilot and in the auto industry.

Following in his father’s footsteps, who is a chef in Salameh’s born country of Lebanon, he opened a restaurant that serves traditional Lebanese comfort food.

The restaurant was designed and curated

by Salameh. Upon entering the place, you feel like you are transported to the middle east.

“We are your local award-winning Mediterranean restaurant,” Salameh said.

“If you want an experience, come to give us a try.”

This experience is what makes the restaurant unique as customers dine in a setting similar to that of an Arab palace; Arabic music plays in the background as the aromas of spices overwhelm your senses.

At some point during your visit, Salameh and his wife will leave their post in the kitchen to personally greet you and welcome you to their restaurant, an act that customers say makes them feel right at home.

Their menu consists of traditional Lebanese comfort food such as Kibbie, Kafta and a variety of delicious flatbreads Salameh specializes in. His flatbreads come in over 30 different styles and contain ingredients Salameh sources from all over the world like soujouk, a type of spiced meat used on flatbreads and other

Photo by Cristina Lombardo

Chicken and beef empanadas from Empanada Kitchen.

The chicken empanada had a nice flavor profile of chicken and a sofrito that’s sauteed together. A sofrito is a Caribbean and Latin mix of onions, peppers, garlic and herbs. The flavor of the chicken with the sofrito is a good mixture for a nice, juicy presence.

The beef empanada was surprisingly not as heavy as one may have thought.

Their empanadas are consistently light and airy. This specific empanada had a dull flavor and lacked seasonings but was still delicious.

Surprisingly, the chimichurri was the item that stole the show for me.

Chimichurri is a sauce made from chopped parsley, oregano, garlic, chili flakes, in a base of red wine vinegar and olive oil. Empanada Kitchen’s chimichurri has a sweet yet tangy flavor, with a little spice that is even bearable for those with a small spice tolerance.

If you want a good empanada in San Diego, perhaps Empanada Kitchen is the option for you. Find more information about them on their instagram @ empanadakitchensd and DON’T forget the chimichurri.

dishes, and za’atar, an earthy, black spice mix that tastes delicious on a flatbread.

The restaurant has also been awarded numerous accolades since it’s been open.

In 2014, it was named the 25th restaurant in Yelp.com’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the US list.

Salameh’s own twist on traditional Lebanese dessert Aaysh Essaraya was featured in San Diego Magazine as the restaurant was awarded two critics’ choice awards from the magazine.

The dessert is pistachio topped, cloud-like syrupy cake which tastes like something out of some Greek fantasy. The syrup has a sweet taste of lavender and rose water that infuses deeply with the fluffy yet crunchy cake that will leave you asking for seconds.

Some of the must-have dishes at Alforon are their two chef specials, the Ouzi Lamb and Fisherman’s rice dishes, as well as their freshly made-to-order flatbreads.

Depending on what you order, expect to spend from $10 to $25 on their dishes but, as Salameh said, “these aren’t dishes that take 15 to 20 minutes to make.” The food served at Alforon will be hearty, delicious and contain the special ingredient of love for every visit. Learn more about Alforon at their website www.alforon.com and follow them on Instagram @alfaron_sd.

Photo by Aaron Velasquez

Salemh’s renowned Aaysh Essaraya dessert topped with pistachios and soaked in homeade syrup.

Oct. 6 - 12, 2021 EDITOR: Ryan Hardison • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Arts & Culture

The Daily Aztec

7

Bánh Mì Babe offers exciting sandwiches

By Lucelis Martinez

Vietnamese and French cuisine and that it is a healthy alternative to a lot of the food on campus.

Bánh Mì Babe’s official instagram shows Bánh Mì Babe is a local Vietnamese the restaurant’s journey. restaurant, near San Diego State that The first post was put up in Feb. 2020, opened in 2020 during the pandemic. and says “Coming soon to your SDSU Inside the restaurant, sits a white Vespa neighborhood.” in front of the restaurant’s official logo.

The next post, put up in May 2020 (in Customers come in and out of the plaza the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic), dwelling establishment with foldable shares the fact the restaurant had been cardboard boxes full of food. opened for takeout orders.

According to the restaurant’s website, As of now, the restaurant is also open for the owners recount how when they were inside dining, although the sandwiches little girls who emigrated from Vietnam as themselves are packaged to be able to be refugees to America. They held the dream taken out of the restaurant, true to the of serving up bánh mìs (Vietnamese original bánh mì’s purpose. sandwiches) at a modern restaurant.

The menu includes appetizers, bánh According to an article published mì’s, family platters, ramen noodles and by theculturetrip.com, bánh mí’s were specialized drinks. created in Saigon in the late 1950s, from From the appetizers section, one the hands of a married couple can expect items such as known as Mr. and Mrs. Le. Vietnamese egg rolls, pork “They were the first people and shrimp spring rolls, rocket to put the ingredients inside shrimp roll and more. Each the bread so customers could appetizer ranges from the price take it with them,” the article of around six to eight dollars. says, “This was long before There are seven bánh mì’s to plastic and styrofoam made choose from. The best seller everything portable.” is the Bánh Mì Babe which The article also mentions is filled with “pork belly, Taro milk that the Bánh Mì came to San tea with chicken, Vietnamese ham, Diego in 1975, to already boba. topped with lettuce, jalapeño, established Vietnamese Photo by Catlan Nguyen cilantro, cucumber, pickled communities. carrot, daikon, butter garlic spread and According to Ken Barber, an SDSU pate,” according to the menu. It can be sophomore studying civil engineering purchased for around $10. and an employee at Bánh Mì Babe, the Luis Leos is a San Diego local who came restaurant came to the SDSU community across the restaurant with his mom in July. fairly recently, as did Bánh Mì Babe’s sister “I had the filet mignon sandwich and restaurant, Boba Babe. Barber claims it was pretty good,” Leos said, “It had a that the sandwich is a fusion between sweet after taste and cucumber which was STAFF WRITER

Photo by Lucelis Martinez

Bánh Mì Babe opened their doors during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

pretty crunchy.”

Barber said the shop offers something unique to SDSU. “Not to hate on other businesses but I feel like there’s a lot more fast food business model where it’s just kind of frozen foods and get them out the door,” Barber said.

He said the food at Bánh Mì Babe is made per order.

Bánh Mì Babe’s menu also offers two family platter options named “Aztec Platter” and “SDSU Platter” for around $50. The “SDSU Platter” includes your Choice of any three chicken or grilled pork (nem nuong) spring rolls in addition to three pork or shrimp classic spring rolls , four egg rolls, one Bánh Mì Babe Deluxe and one Chicken Bánh Mì, a peanut sauce, and a fish sauce.

A look at the restaurant’s Yelp shows a

trend of people pointing out the prices on the menu and leaving overwhelmingly positive feedback. Back in 2020, a Yelper named Emmett T. pointed out that, “The Vietnamese sandwich shop had earned a five-star average rating from over 150+ reviews.”

The restaurant can be found on 5854 Montezuma Rd.

Photo by Lucelis Martinez

Chicken spring rolls and shrimp bánh mì.

Food Studies minor added to fall 2021 curriculum

by Eugènie Budnik CONTRIBUTOR

When students hear that San Diego State has a food studies minor, they may think “What does one even study there...how to bake a soufflé?”

However, this newly added course of study is much more complex and dimensional than one might guess. The food studies minor allows students of all majors to study the interconnectedness of social justice, politics, culture and environment that plays into the foods we eat and how we eat them.

Dr. Pascale Joassart-Marcelli is the food studies program director and a geography professor at SDSU. Joassart-Marcelli has written several books about food and its relationship with culture and social justice.

“Our goal is to create a program that complements majors,” Joassart-Marcelli said. “There has been a lot of interest in food in recent years for a variety of reasons.

But, most of it is people being concerned with the effects of our food system on individual health and wellbeing, the environment, animal welfare, food insecurity and labor issues. There are just so many concerns and anxieties within our food system and students want to learn more about what is causing these problems and how we can change our relationships to food to make them more sustainable and equitable.”

The minor requires that students take a variety of courses across disciplines, making this minor a cross-department effort.

“For example, a student majoring in economics who is interested in economic development and food security, could take food related classes in geography, anthropology, environmental science,

Photo by Dr. Pascale Joassart-Marcelli

Food Studies class on a field trip to Mount Hope Community Garden in Southeast San Diego.

Food Studies program brochure

The Food Studies program brochure describes what the major is and encourages students to join.

philosophy, or other disciplines in order to get a broader understanding of food in its broad social, political, cultural, and economical context of society,” JoassartMarcelli said.

One of the minor’s core classes is Food Justice, which is cross-listed as both a geography and political science class. This course takes a look at food justice from the perspectives of theory, institutions, markets, law, ethics, social mobilization, politics and ecology. Another course offered as part of the minor is Cultural Aspects of Food and Nutrition, which takes a look at food habits and health beliefs in different cultures.

The food studies minor has only recently been established, with the pioneering students starting this semester. JoassartMarcelli hopes to spread the word and bring more students into the program.

“The food studies minor is brand new and still unknown to many students. We are planning to do some outreach and organize events in the community in the coming months to draw attention to the minor and recruit students interested in food issues,” Joassart-Marcelli explained.

Students can refer to the food studies minor twitter account @FoodSDSU for updates on events and food studies related news.

Joassart-Marcelli stressed the importance of food and the benefits for students to taking part in food studies.

“Food in a way, is kind of like literature or art, as it reveals so much about who we are as a society. It carries so much meaning as a cultural symbol and a marker of -and maker- of identity,” Joassart-Marcelli said.

Students who are interested in the minor can check out the program webpage.

Prospective food studies students can also reach out to Dr. Joassart-Marcelli through email at pmarcell@sdsu.edu or over the phone at (619) 564-0906.

8

The Daily Aztec

Mundo Azteca

Oct. 6 - 12, 2021 EDITOR: Noé Sandoval • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Despensa de comida estudantil provee los alimentos para quienes los necesitan por Lucelis ESCRITORA

Martinez

La Universidad Estatal de San Diego (SDSU) tiene una despensa de comida gratis para estudiantes, llamada AS Food Pantry en inglés.

De acuerdo con su página oficial, la despensa se puede encontrar en el descansillo noroeste del segundo piso de la Unión Azteca Estudiantil y está abierta los miércoles, jueves y viernes a diferentes horas.

Para acceder a la despensa, los estudiantes deben tener una identificación estudiantil. o RedID en inglés en función y deben seguir las pólizas oficiales sobre mascarillas implementadas por SDSu desde el comienzo de la pandemia del COVID-19.

“La Despensa de Estudiantes Asociados provee comida nutritiva y referencias para programas de comida a estudiantes experienciando inseguridad alimentaria,” dice la página oficial.

La despensa de comida comenzó el otoño del 2016 por la Comisión de Apoyo Estudiantil de Estudiantes Asociados, AS por sus siglas en inglés.

El servicio existe para proveer a estudiantes con comida gratis, para así pelear en contra de las inseguridades alimentarias y opera bajo el fundamento de la privacidad,de acuerdo con Austin Barber, vicepresidente de finanzas de AS Barber dijo que la despensa de comida es especialmente importante en San Diego por el incremento en inseguridades alimentarias. E; dijo que está 100% orgulloso del trabajo que AS ha podido hacer para la despensa, y la cantidad de comida dis-

tribuida durante los años.

Barber también mencionó la campaña Aztecas Combaten el Hambre (Aztecs Rock Hunger en inglés) y el involucro de la despensa con el Banco de Alimentos Jacobs y Cushman San Diego.

SDSU ha participado en la campaña global “Aztecs Rock Hunger” desde el 2015.

“Aztecas Sacuden el Hambre es una campaña que recauda dinero para comida para el Banco de Alimentos Jacobs y Cushman San Diego,” dice el artículo del Azteca Diario. “SDSU ha recaudado más de 2.7 millones de libras de comida desde el 2015.”

Barber dijo que la campaña Aztecas Sacuden el Hambre se tendrá desde el 22 de octubre hasta 14 de noviembre este año.

SDSU tiene una organización, el Equipo Respuestas Para Crisis Económica (ECRT), quienes están involucrados con la Despensa de Comida, de acuerdo con su página oficial.

“El Equipo de Respuestas Para Crisis Económica puede ayudar a cualquier estudiante de SDSU conectarse con recursos, en campus y fuera de campus, para ayudarte durante tus problemas inmediatos con comida, alojamiento, o crisis económica,” dijo su página oficial.

Para ponerte en contacto con el ECRT, los estudiantes pueden mandar un correo electrónico a ecrt@sdsu.edu.

Estos esfuerzos para pelear en contra de la Inseguridad Alimentaria viene justo alrededor del Mes de Conciencia Sobre El Hambre.

El Instagram oficial del condado de San Diego hizo una publicación el 27 de septi-

embre con un mensaje que lee “El Centro Administrativo del Condado está iluminado esta noche para conmemorar el Mes de Conciencia Sobre el Hambre.”

Esteban Vazquez estuvo en la Despensa de Comida el jueves.

“Yo recuerdo cuando [la Despensa de Comida] formaba parte del mercado de granjeros,” Vazquez dijo.

Vazquez también dijo que él piensa que es un buen servicio para estudiantes.

“Digo se sabe que tenemos una población de personas sin hogar en campus y yo se que hay personas con inseguridades alimenticias en campus,” Vazquez dijo. “Al fin es un servicio absolutamente necesario del cual todos podemos sacar ventaja.”

Foto por Asscoiated Students

Los estudiantes de SDSU tiene aceso ha una despensa de comida gratis los miercoles, jueves y viernes.

Centro de estudios brasileños tiene una plática sobre los derechos humanos de la comunindad indigena en Brasil por Noé Sandoval EDITOR DE MUNDO AZTECA

El lunes 4 de octubre, el Centro de Estudios Brasileños Behner Steifel de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego organizo una conferencia virtual llamada “Land Rights in the Brazilian Amazon: The Struggle for Indigenous Land Demarcation” en inglés.

La conferencia se trató de las derechos humanos de la población indigena de Brasil en las Amazonas, y los conflictos territoriales entre la tierra indigena y compañías mineras Este es el primer panel de discusión de la serie de tres partes. “Land Rights in the Brazilian Amazon: The Struggle for Indigenous Land Demarcation”se centra en el contexto histórico y la acción reciente en la lucha por garantizar los derechos indígenas a la tierra en Brasil.

La serie fue patrocinada por el Centro Behner Stiefel de Estudios Brasileños, Nature and Culture International, Projeto Bem Viver y el Departamento de Estudios Indígenas Americanos de SDSU. El evento tuvo a dos abogados invitados para hablar sobre las injusticias que la gente indigena en las Amazonas esta enfrentado actualmente.

Ana Paula Souto Maior es una abogada brasileña que ha trabajado con los derechos de los pueblos indígenas desde 1986.

Tiene experiencia con organizaciones gubernamentales, no gubernamentales y de pueblos indígenas.

Souto es Rômulo Gallego Fellow de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de la OEA y tiene una Maestría en Estudios Jurídicos Internacionales de American University. Trabaja en el Congreso Nacional en el gabinete de la Diputada Federal Joênia Wapixana.

“Todo esta gente tiene algo a proteger”,

Foto po Asscoiated Students

El abogado Ivo Cipio Aureliano habla sobre su trabajo siendo un propnente de los derechos humanos y terrestiales de los indidenas en las Amazonas en Brasil.

dijo Maior. “La población tiene el derecho a una consulta cuando hay una excavación para alguna mina.”

En su presentación, Souto hablo sobre como muchos mineros de oro han amenazado y atacado a la comunidad indigena en el estado de Roraima de Brasil. Esta evasión ha causado muchos problemas para que la comunidad se sienta segura en su propia tierra. En Brasil, los indigenas son un poco menos de un millón de la población de Brasil. Hay 305 diferente tribus de indigenas en Brasil, quienes hablan 274 diferente lenguas.

Ivo Cípio Aureliano (Macuxi) es uno de

los cuatro abogados indígenas que defendieron los derechos de los pueblos indígenas el 1 de septiembre de 2021 en la Corte Suprema de Brasil (STF).

“El derecho de la autodeterminación es un derecho importante para la gente indigena”, dijo Aureliano.

Aureliano es licenciado en derecho público, con énfasis en derecho constitucional. Se ha desempeñado como abogado y asesor legal en el Consejo Indígena de Roraima (CIR) desde 2018 con experiencia en derechos de los pueblos indígenas, derecho ambiental, derecho constitucional, derecho internacional y derechos humanos.

Aureliano habló sobre su trabajo como abogado ayudando a la comunidad indigena de Brasil, siendo una persona indigena él mismo también.

En el evento, los abogados dieron información de como la legislación todavía necesita ser actualizada para proteger a la comunidad. En 1988, la Corte Suprema de Brasil creó una constitución para proteger la tierra indigena de Brazil.

El centro continuará sus presentaciones mas sobre este asunto e su importancia para la efectuar un cambio para la comunidad amazónica en Brasil, con la próxima siendo el 11 de octubre.

Oct. 6 - 12, 2021 EDITOR: Noé Sandoval • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Mundo Azteca

The Daily Aztec

9

Jugada controversial temina la racha

ganadora del equipo de fútbol masculino por Juan ESCRITOR

Daniel Avila

La racha invicta del fútbol masculino del estado de San Diego terminó el jueves por la noche después de que una jugada controversial no fuera marcada en contra del joven de La Universidad de Washington Dyland Teves, quien anotó el gol de oro en la primera mitad del tiempo extra en Seattle.

Los Aztecas No. 13 (6-1-2) llevaron al No. 2 Washington Huskies (8-0-0) a la prórroga después de un intenso enfrentamiento de ida y vuelta entre los equipos mejor clasificados en el Pac-12.

“Un resultado difícil contra un oponente fenomenal en Washington “, dijo el director técnio Ryan Hopkins en una entrevista posterior al partido. “Jugar con el equipo número dos del país básicamente pararse en su campo de juego muestra el crecimiento de nuestro programa y los tiempos emocionantes que se avecinan. En estos juegos tipo torneo de la NCAA, los márgenes son extremadamente delgados y el crédito para Washington por ejecutar uno más juego que nosotros “.

Los Huskies marcarían en una polémica jugada en el minuto 94 de la prórroga con un disparo de pierna derecha del delantero de Washington, Tevez.

La jugada arrancó con un centro que fue cabeceado por un jugador Husky que pareció haber golpeado la mano izquierda de Tevez. El árbitro principal Younes Marrakchi tomó la decisión de no declarar la jugada como una mano y en su lugar hizo

sonar el silbato de la victoria para los Huskies.

SDSU, que entró en la noche liderando a la nación en promedio de goles permitidos por equipos, permitió solo dos tiros a puerta y mantuvo a los Huskies por debajo de solo dos goles anotados por primera vez esta temporada.

Esta es la primera derrota de la temporada para los aztecas y el primer gol que han renunciado desde el 3 de septiembre contra Cal Poly. Esta es también la primera vez que el eqipo ha estado a la zaga en toda la temporada.

La primera oportunidad de los Aztecas del juego llegó a mitad de la primera mitad cuando el estudiante de segundo año Iñigo Villaldea encontró al capitán de segundo año Andrea Ochoa en el medio del área. Ochoa tomó un toque y terminó para golpear, pero el balón fue empujado por un defensa de Husky.

Un punto culminante del partido se produjo unos minutos después, de que se apagaran las luces en el estadio de fútbol Los Huskies provocó un retraso de 20 minutos mientras se restablecía la energía en el estadio.

Washington superó a SDSU en la primera mitad 7-3, pero los Aztecas crearon más oportunidades en la segunda mitad y superaron a los Huskies 5-4.

La oportunidad más notable para Scarlet y Black llegó en el minuto 87 cuando el mediocampista junior Henry Smith-Hastie recibió un pase de Ochoa y envió un cohete con la pierna derecha desde 20 metros que rebotó en el travesaño, salvando al portero de segundo año de los Huskies, Sam Fowl-

Gráfico por Noé Sandoval

Los aztecas perdieron el partido contra la Universidad Washington en Seatlle en el estado de Washington.

er. siendo anotado. Aunque los aztecas no pudieron mantener la portería a cero contra los Huskies, el portero de segundo año Jacob Castro, quien fue nombrado jugador de la semana de Pac-12, tuvo otra noche fenomenal para los aztecas y permitió su

segundo gol de la temporada.

“Pasamos a otro gran juego y solo tenemos que seguir llamando a la puerta de la oportunidad y eventualmente se abrirá”.

Hopkins dijo.

‘En Confianza’, centro de recursos para estudiantes latinx/hispanos ofrece ayuda para la salud mental por Lucelis ESCRITORA

Martinez

La Universidad Estatal de San Diego (SDSU) tiene en el campus un grupo de apoyo para los estudiantes latinx.

“En Confianza” es un grupo enfocado en ofrecer un espacio seguro para los estudiantes que se identifican como latina/e/o/x, chicana/o/x y hispano/x, de acuerdo con la universidad.

La página oficial también menciona que los estudiantes refuerzan la comunidad, discuten sus problemas y se apoyan. El grupo se reúne los Jueves por zoom desde las 3 hasta las 4:15 p.m., dice un volante electrónico en la pagina de Instagram oficial del Centro de Recursos Latinx (LRC).

El grupo incentiva que vengan personas que hablan el inglés, español o una mezcla de las dos cosas.

El grupo se reunió el 23 de septiembre para su reunión virtual semanal el jueves.

Maria Elena Garibay funcionó como moderadora del grupo. Garibay está licenciada como una terapista clínica, de acuerdo con la universidad. Garibay se graduó en SDSU y tiene experiencia trabajando en terapias para individuales y parejas, de acuerdo con la universidad.

“El grupo ha existido por un año”, dijo Garibay.

Garibay explicó que el nombre del grupo salió de varias conversaciones acerca de que representaba el grupo.Garibay dijo que el grupo se enfoca en la cultura y en reunir a estudiantes para que se divertieran, y para que pudieran compartir sus experiencias entre ellos, aunque el grupo no se

gramas, especialmente porque la Universidad se distingue como una Institución que Sirve a Hispanos.

De acuerdo con un artículo publicado en el 2012, “Una escuela tiene que tener una población hispana de por lo menos 25 por ciento para cualificar con la designación”.

Nadamas para el año escolar 2019-2020, SDSU tenía una población de 11,140 estudiantes Hispanos, de acorde con un informe.

De acuerdo con el mismo reporte, los estudiantes hispanos componen el segundo grupo más grande de razas inscritas para ese año escolar en SDSU.

Grafico por Freepik

‘En Confianza’ es un grupo de apoyo donde los estudiantes que se identifican como latinx/hispanx pueden recibir ayuda para mejaror la salud mental.

creo para terapia.

Jeremy Garcia es un miembro de En Confianza y estudiante de último año en SDSU, estudiando para ser un terapista.

Garcia dijo que él está feliz de ser parte de En Confianza, ya que está buscando oportunidades para conectarse con estudiantes que no se han graduado.

“Amo el desarrollo tratando con diferentes identidades y tratando de aferrarnos a las que ya tenemos”, dijo Garcia.

Raul Caleb Perez es un miembro de En Confianza también. Perez se graduó de SDSU en el año 2020, después de estudi-

ar desarrollo infantil. Perez es ahora un maestro de preescolar, de acuerdo con su Linkedin.

“Escuchando a los demás, aprendes más de ellos”, dice Perez.

Perez comentó que extrañaba la socialización.Además compartió que nunca había estado en un grupo latino pero que estaba feliz porque el grupo provee una oportunidad para compartir con mexicanos con raíces en diferentes partes de México.

Para muchos estudiantes, es importante que SDSU ofrezca estos tipos de pro-

10

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Sports

Oct. 6 - 12, 2021 EDITOR: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Men’s soccer suffers first losses of 2021

By Juan Daniel Avila and Justin Cox SENIOR STAFF WRITER, STAFF WRITER

The undefeated streak for San Diego State men’s soccer ended on Thursday night after a controversial non-call handball hit Washington junior Dyland Teves, who scored the golden goal in the first half of overtime in Seattle.

The No. 13 Aztecs (6-1-1, 2-0-0 Pac12) took No. 2 Washington Huskies (9-00, 2-0 Pac-12) to overtime after an intense back and forth matchup between the top ranked teams in the Pac-12.

“A tough result against a phenomenal opponent in Washington,” head coach Ryan Hopkins said in a post match interview. “To play the number two team in the country to basically a standstill on their home field shows the growth of our program and exciting times ahead. In these NCAA tournament-type games, the margins are extremely thin and credit to Washington for executing one more play than us.”

The Huskies would score on a controversial play in the 94th minute of extra time by a right-footed shot from Washington’s forward Tevez.

The play started off on a cross that was headed by a Huskie player and appeared to have hit Tevez’s left hand. Main referee Younes Marrakchi made the decision to not call the play a hand ball and instead blew the game winning whistle for the Huskies.

SDSU —who entered the night leading the nation in team goals allowed average — passed up just two shots on goal and kept the Huskies under only two goals

Courtesy of San Diego State Athletics

Senior forward Tevenn Roux and the Aztecs lost two tough matches agsinst conference opponents over the weekend.

scored for the first time this season.

This is the first loss of the season for the Aztecs and the first goal they have given up since Sept. 3 against Cal Poly. This is also the first time the Scarlet and Black has trailed all season.

The Aztecs’ first opportunity of the game came midway through the first half when sophomore Iñigo Villaldea found sophomore captain Andrea Ochoa in the middle of the box. Ochoa took a touch and wound it up to strike but the ball was poked away by a Husky defender.

A highlight of the match came a few minutes later after the lights in Husky Soccer Stadium went out, causing a 20-minute delay while power was restored.

Washington outshot SDSU in the first half 7-3 but the Aztecs created more opportunities in the second half and outshot the Huskies 5-4.

The most notable opportunity for the Scarlet and Black came in the 87th minute when junior midfielder Henry Smith-Hastie received a pass from Ochoa and sent a right-footed rocket from 20 yards out that ricocheted off the crossbar, saving Huskies sophomore goalkeeper Sam Fowler from being scored on.

Hopkins said he’s focused on what’s ahead.

“On to another big game and we just have to keep knocking at the door of opportunity and it will eventually open.”

Hopkins said in regards to their thenupcoming match against Oregon State.

Versus Oregon State After a controversial and gut-wrenching loss to Washington, the Aztecs dropped their second consecutive game, losing 2-0 to the Oregon State Beavers (6-1-1, 2-0-0 Pac-12) in Corvallis on Sunday, Oct. 3.

Oregon State did their damage early,

scoring in the 19th minute as graduate Adrian Molina-Diaz found the back of the net after a setup from sophomore Javier Armas and freshman Joran Gerbert.

The Beavers would add another just six minutes later as sophomore Carlos Moliner slipped another shot past sophomore goalkeeper Jacob Castro. The two goals ended up being the first firsthalf goals allowed by Castro this season and the first time the Aztecs had trailed in regulation this season.

The Aztecs struggled to get their offense going as they were outshot 19-4 and 8-2 in shots on goal, totaling only two shots in each half. Sophomore Iñigo Villaldea led the Aztecs with two shots.

Despite the disappointing finish, head coach Ryan Hopkins was pleased with the Aztecs’ resiliency.

“I’m not a believer in moral victories,” Hopkins told SDSU athletics. “But [I] was really proud of the way we kept fighting and believing even in toughest moments.

Those lessons are not only valuable for soccer but also life.”

After suffering their first two losses on Thursday and Sunday, the Aztecs will look to rebound against a tough UCLA squad Friday evening in Westwood. The 23rd ranked Bruins are currently 6-4 and 2-2 in Pac-12 play. Both teams will be looking to break a two-game losing streak as the Bruins similarly lost to both Oregon State and Washington this weekend.

“The true test of a coach and a team is how they respond to hard times, so I’m excited to see our response against a talented UCLA team,” Hopkins told SDSU athletics.

Last season, the Aztecs took the Bruins to a double overtime match in a 1-1 tie.

Volleyball with mixed results during current homestand

By Megan Oytas and Jayden Hanzy STAFF WRITERS

San Diego State opened its homestand versus New Mexico at Peterson Gym on Sept. 30, displaying a new offensive setup and lineup. Despite keeping it close with the Lobos (12-2, 3-0 MWC), the Aztecs (5-11, 2-2 MWC) fell in four sets (25-20, 25-20, 16-25, 25-21) in a 3-1 game.

SDSU started the game with a 5-1 offensive system, which they had never run before.

“Our back row attack was not effective last night and that was to be expected,” head coach Brent Hilliard said. “That was the first time running that system all year and we just weren’t ready for it.”

The Aztecs dropped the first, second and fourth sets after New Mexico was able to break away and take the lead, including a 6-2 run in the first set to take a 18-12 lead.

One highlight in the second set was sophomore outside hitter Heipua Tautua’a, who recorded three kills after getting none in the first set. Tautua’a ended the game with nine kills, tying with senior outside hitter Victoria O’Sullivan for team lead.

“She had a nice offensive night after the first game, the first game she struggled but after that she found her happy place and really started to make some good swings,” Hilliard said. “We need that from (Tautua’a), she’s someone we’re waiting for more streaks than we’ve had so that’s a good sign of things to come.”

The Aztecs were able to respond in the third set, taking a narrow lead over the Lobos. After a 5-0 run off of kills from freshman opposite hitter Jordyn Goldsmith and freshman outside hitter

Photo by Tania Gallardo Avalos

Freshman Jordyn Goldsmith spikes the ball over the net versus Air Force at Peterson Gym.

Mikela Labno, SDSU widened its lead and took the set 25-16.

The shift in momentum came from falling back to the 6-2 offensive system when the 5-1 system did not produce the results they wanted.

“A 6-2 just puts a little bit of a bigger block on the right side for us and another attacker, so it added a third attacker in three of the rotations where we only had two attackers,” Hilliard said.

The freshmen were given the opportunity to show their skills on the court, with Goldsmith getting the start and Labno and opposite hitter Kalani Ruri being rotated in. Goldsmith posted six kills and Labno had the second-most kills with eight.

Hilliard said the more experience they get, the better it is for the future of the program.

“All of those first-time experiences will be gone later in the season and moving forward into next year and that’s what you want,” Hilliard said. “You can’t get that experience until you’re a sophomore or junior and they’re getting it right now and it’s only going to benefit them in the long

run.”

Moving forward, Hilliard said keeping the energy up is critical.

“It’s still really early in the conference, and they need to continue to try and put in that effort and energy on a day in and day out basis,” Hilliard said. “What I don’t want to happen is for them to lose energy and to lose focus and have to put stuff behind them. And the quicker they can do that, the more they can go forward and improve.”

Versus Air Force After back-to-back losses, the Scarlet and Black swept the Air Force Falcons (5-10, 1-3 MWC) 3-0 (26-24, 27-25, 2521). In a game with 12 lead changes, the Aztecs were able to gain their third win at Peterson Gym of this season.

The Scarlet and Black have not lived up to their full potential this year, but made major strides with their win against Air Force. Head coach Brent Hilliard said he was pleased with his team’s prominent win against the Falcons.

“I made a conservative effort to dial back on my critiques on plays,” Hilliard said. “They have been grinding pretty

hard and I think they just needed a couple of days to relax and enjoy playing and let them do what they do.”

The Aztecs received a major contribution from O’Sullivan, who led the team with 13 kills, three aces and three blocks.

Tautua’a and Labno provided support to O’Sullivan. Tautua finished the game with eight kills, two blocks and one ace.

Labno finished the game with 10 kills and one block.

“Just the fact that they handled a lot of adversity to this point in the season,” Hilliard said when asked about the team’s resilience. “Including with a loss in the last match against New Mexico. So, it’s great that they were able to respond that shows a lot of character and we preach that.”

The Aztecs are currently eighth in the Mountain West Conference and are 2-2 against the teams they have played so far.

With 14 games left, they still have time to make it to the top of the conference. The Scarlet and Black are set to take on the UNLV Rebels — the second best team in the MWC — on the Mesa on Oct. 5.

The matchup against UNLV will be their first match against each other of the year. Last year, the Aztecs lost both games against the Rebels.

Coming off a good performance against Air Force, the Scarlet and Black still have plenty to improve upon.

“We got UNLV, which was our conference champion,” Hilliard said. “We don’t need motivation, that’s always good when we play somebody who is elite. We have had a few opponents here in UCLA and USD that should prepare us for really good teams to come in and hopefully we continue to work with this lineup that is pretty new and if they can continue to grasp the concepts they will be great.”

Sports

Oct. 6 - 12, 2021 EDITOR: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec /

11

Women’s soccer feast on Mountain West opponents on the Sports Deck

Photo by Tania Gallardo Avalos

Senior defender Malia Kaliohi drives to the ball against Boise State.

By Davis Ramage and Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo CONTRIBUTOR, STAFF WRITER

The San Diego State Aztecs (5-7-0, 3-10 Mountain West Conference) upset the Boise State Broncos (7-4-1, 1-2-1 MWC) 2-0 behind an amazing performance from freshman forward Denise Castro, who scored one goal and assisted on a second goal scored by junior forward Rachelle Elve.

The Aztecs got off to a hot start and were aggressive early. The aggressiveness paid off in the 19th minute after a flurry of opportunities ended with Elve finally putting a goal in the back of the net off a dazzling behind-the-back assist from Castro. 11 minutes later, Castro stayed hot with a great move to create space from the defender and used her left foot to put the Aztecs up 2-0 after 30 minutes.

“I feel like a personal goal for me is just winning games and everyone getting to do their best,” Castro said. “Scoring always feels good, and (getting teammates involved) is a personal goal as well.”

With her outstanding performance tonight, Castro improves her season stat line to six goals and one assist. This performance puts her second in the MWC in goals (six) and fifth in total points (13).

Whenever there was an opportunity

developing for the Aztecs, Castro was in on the action. When being asked what her presence means to the team, head coach Mike Friesen said “One of the things she does for our team is she gives us the ability to get forward because she is able to hold the ball, get people off balance, and create out of that position as well.”

Physicality became a theme of the game with a combined total of 27 fouls — 12 by the Broncos and 15 by the Aztecs.

Friesen noted that his team typically isn’t so aggressive and a physical play style does not favor them.

“Typically against this team no, they’re a little bit bigger than we are,” Friesen said.

Coming out of halftime with a 2-0 lead and after having a majority of the possession in the first half, the Aztecs shifted into a more conservative playstyle in an attempt to preserve their lead. After 10 shots in the first half by the Scarlet and Black, they only managed to get off four in the second half.

All of the Aztecs’ wins this year have been shutouts, mostly due to sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Madueno — the MWC saves leader. She only had to make three saves against the Broncos thanks in large part to the Aztec back line.

“I think my back line stepped up and did honestly the best they could, and I think that’s the best I’ve ever seen them play,” Madueno said.

The shutout was threatened in the 82nd

Photo by Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo

Freshman midfielder Denise Castro (11) celbrates with sophomore forward Emma Gaines-Ramos after scoring a goal against Utah State.

minute when a Bronco header appeared to be heading into the back of the net, but Madueno fully extended to her right to preserve the zero-goal night for the Broncos on her third save of the game.

When being asked how this incredible save felt, Madueno said “I didn’t really have a feeling, I just took off and dove. I practice that all the time at practice - and I just dove ‘cause I didn’t want to get scored on.”

The Aztecs look to win two in a row for the first time this year as they take on Utah State in another MWC clash on Sunday, October 3rd, at the SDSU Sports Deck.

Versus Utah State The Aztecs shutout the Utah State Aggies (9-3-1, 2-2-0) Mountain West Conference) 2-0 on Sunday, Oct. 3 at the SDSU Sports Deck. The Aztecs had backto-back victories this weekend, the prior one being a 2-0 defeat against Boise State on Friday, Oct. 1.

The first half was played out evenly under sunny 90 degrees Fahrenheit weather. Castro was the closest to making the crowd scream with excitement in minute 37 when her teammate, freshman forward Sarah Funk, passed her the ball and Castro shot the ball from five yards out. Unfortunately, the Aggies’ goalkeeper Diera Walton caught it and the Aztecs and

Aggies (9-3-1, 2-2-0 MW) were tied 0-0 by halftime.

Sophomore forward Emma GainesRamos intensified her game both offensively and defensively coming into the second half. Thirteen minutes in, Gaines-Ramos sprinted down the left side of the field, beat the goalie to the ball, and scored the first goal of the game as well as her first collegiate goal.

Gaines-Ramos said she finds it enjoyable to play with her teammates now that she sees they are getting stronger chemistry as the season moves forward.

“It is a lot of fun to play off each other and we are getting a lot more comfortable and a lot more chemistry with each other,” she said. “I feel like the more that we go in the season, the more dangerous we are going to be as a trio up top so I am really excited to see what we have in the future.”

Fifteen minutes passed after the first goal, the Aztecs continued to give their all.

On minute 72, another big cheer resonated the SDSU Sports Deck as senior forward Anna Toohey scored the second goal of the game and her first one of the season.

Toohey’s scoring goal was set up flawlessly. Senior defender Malia Kaleiohi took a long shot pass into the box where sophomore midfielder/forward Olivia Sekimoto took the chance to tip the ball for Toohey to score.

Head coach Mike Friesen said that Gaines-Ramos and Toohey have done a very good job at helping other teammates get goals throughout the season, but he is very happy to see both of them score goals themselves this time.

“Having Gaines-Ramos and Toohey score this year, it is a huge relief I think for them personally,” he said. “They have played really well, they have created chances for other people, they have created goals for other people, but for them, both to get goals today is massive for us going forward just that they kind of have that confidence and a sense of relief that they can go do what they do.”

Friesen said it was a huge weekend for the Aztecs getting a pair of victories against two really good teams.

“It has been a bit of a struggle in terms of some of the results (this season),” Friesen said. “Although we have played really well at times, to have those things kind of come together this weekend is fantastic so I think it is just the momentum builder moving forward in the conference.”

The Aztecs will be playing their next Mountain West game against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8 in Las Vegas.

12

The Daily Aztec

The Back Page

Oct. 6 - 12, 2021 Editor: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Football kicks off conference play

against Rocky Long and New Mexico

By James Salazar CONTRIBUTOR

Coming out of the bye week, the San Diego State Aztecs (4-0, 0-0 Mountain West Conference) look to remain undefeated as they welcome the University of New Mexico Lobos (2-3, 0-1 MWC) in their conference opener on Saturday, Oct. 9.

The Aztecs started their season 4-0 for only the second time in 40 years, but getting to 5-0 isn’t the only streak they are looking to extend. SDSU has emerged victorious in their last seven meetings with UNM dating back to 2009.

The Aztecs will welcome back a familiar face in Rocky Long — former SDSU head coach and current Lobos defensive coordinator — who, in his second year, has helped UNM transform their conference worst-ranked defense in 2019 to sixth in the Mountain West this year.

Under their first full year of the new coaching regime — headed by former SDSU assistant coach Danny Gonzales — the Lobos have already matched their last year’s win total, opening their season with two home wins against the Houston Baptist Huskies, 27-17, and the New Mexico State Aggies, 34-25. But, after three straight losses, the Lobos are looking to break two losing streaks this weekend.

Offense The Lobos feature a balanced offensive attack with a 52% to 48% run-to-pass ratio. The unit is led by quarterback senior Terry Wilson Jr., a transfer from Kentucky who led the Wildcats to two bowl wins within three years. Wilson has spread the ball well, targeting a different receiver on all seven of his touchdown passes.

The rushing attack is also generated by committee, with running backs freshman Aaron Dumas, senior Bobby Cole, and Wilson himself accounting for 26%, 31%, and 23% of the team’s runs respectively.

Photos by Andrew Finley

(Top) The Aztecs running out of the tunnel before facing Utah. (Bottom-left) Matt Arriza boots a punt versus Utah.

(Bottom-right) Jordan Byrd celebrates his 100-yard kickoff return score with his teammates.

However, a balanced offense isn’t always indicative of an effective offense and the Lobos don’t have much offense to speak of. Their air and ground game rank ninth and eighth respectively in the MWC, good for the second-worst and worst total offense in the conference in

both yards and points.

Defense Through their first five games — in his first non-COVID racked year — Long has the Lobos allowing 26.8 points per game, which, in spite of being their best start since 2017, only ranks ninth in the

conference.

Despite a mediocre-at-best scoring defense, they have shown sparks that they can be a disruptive unit in the passing game, running the same 3-3-5 defense Long perfected at SDSU. The flexibility of this defense allows the Lobos to be balanced in their fronts, stunts, and blitzes without having to change their personnel.

They also employ a three-high safety look, which allows the defense to give the appearance of complexity while allowing UNM to simplify their coverage.

The scheme is especially effective against the passing game — which has been on display throughout this year. The Lobos rank fourth in the MWC in total pass defense and second in interceptions.

They frustrate opposing quarterbacks who average only a 51.3% completion percentage — a MWC-best.

One weakness of this defense is its inability to effectively slow down the run game — particularly between the tackles — against tight formations and heavier personnel. This was made obvious last week as Air Force blew them out 38-10 while playing smash-mouth football, running the ball 72 times for 441 yards with a Wishbone offense.

Consensus While the Lobos seem to be on the upswing, they still have a lot of rebuilding to do. They are a team that is very limited offensively, lacks an offensive identity, and struggles to get into a rhythm. As long as the Scarlet and Black don’t sleep on the Lobos and stay disciplined in their assignments and preparation, SDSU’s number two ranked defense should fare well against a less than stellar New Mexico offense. On the other side of the ball, coaches Gonzales and Long will have to get their niceties out early because if SDSU stays true to form in the run game, it won’t be a happy homecoming for them or their defense.

Aztec women’s tennis hosts first home event of the year

By Morgan Prickett STAFF WRITER

The San Diego State women’s tennis team hosted their first home event of the year, welcoming six schools for the Fall Classic I that ran from Friday, Oct.1 to Sunday, Oct. 3 Student-athletes from Grand Canyon, Long Beach State, Cal State Northridge, University of Texas, El Paso, and San José State all arrived at the Aztec Tennis Center last Friday morning to compete. The Aztecs have hosted a version of this event every season dating back to the 2003 to 2004 campaign.

The Aztecs capped off the Fall Classic I with two fourth place finishes by seniors Alicia Melosch and Agustina Rimoldi Godoy, two seventh place finishes by sophomore Alexandria Von Tersch Pohrer and junior Cécile Morin, and a sixth place finish by Morin and Von Tersch Pohrer in doubles.

Friday’s action commenced with doubles losses for Morin and Von Tersch Pohrer as well as Melosch and junior Julia Jordan.

Despite the rough start, Melosch and Rimoldi Godoy would go on to win their singles matchups later in the day.

Melosch defeated UTEP senior ​​Kathleen Percegona in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 while Rimoldi Godoy bested UTEP sophomore Elena Dibattista in a hard fought three set

Courtesy of San Diego State Athletics

Senior Tamara Arnold getting ready to serve. Arnold is currently in her third season with SDSU tennis.

match, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

The remaining Aztecs Von Tersch Pohrer, Morin, and Jordan were eliminated from championship contention in their singles matchups and would go on to contend for fifth place on Saturday.

On Saturday Melosch and Jordan would fall against the UTEP duo of junior Thassane Abrahim and sophomore Veronika Lebisova, 6-4, while the Aztec duo of Morin and Rimoldi Godoy went on to win their matchup against GCU’s fifth year Autum Prudhomme and freshman Valentina Del Marco, 6-4.

Singles play continued after with

Rimoldi Goddoy becoming the first of the two remaining Aztecs to be eliminated after her loss to LBSU redshirt freshman Nikola Homolkova, 6-0, 6-1.

Melosh then fell to SJSU junior Oleksandra Andrieieva in a hard fought match, 6-2, 6-3.

Although the score may say otherwise, the matches were close from start to finish.

“It (being in close games) has never been more important than it is right now,” head coach Peter Mattera said. “We left our players at home last fall because of the (COVID-19) restrictions and our spring season was very limited because of

COVID-19 as well. Many of our players are way behind in terms of competitive experience so this was very important.”

Morin and Von Tersch Pohrer continued their doubles play on Sunday, but we’re defeated by CSUN redshirt seniors Jenna Dorian and Ekatarina Repina, 6-2.

Singles play began on Sunday with wins for Morin against UTEP’s Dibattista, 6-3, 6-3 and Von Tersch Pohrer against UTEP’s Abrahim, 7-6 (1), 6-1 to finish seventh in their respective tournaments.

Unfortunately Rimoldi Godoy would be forced to retire from her third place matchup against LBSU red shirt freshman Arina Babkova due to injury.

As time at the Fall Classic I dwindled, the final singles matchup of the weekend for the Azetcs began.

Melosch competed against GCU junior Natashe Pueshe in another close fought match, but ended up falling to Pueshe in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 7-5 leaving Melosch in fourth.

“We’re going to continue to work really hard on our strength and conditioning,” Mattera said.

“This tournament highlighted that you’ve got to be stronger and fitter than the person on the other side of the net. .”

The next team competition for the Aztecs will be the ITA Southwest Regional Championships at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego from Oct. 21 to Oct. 25.