11-13-2019

Wednesday, Nov. 13 - Tuesday, Nov. 19 2019 Weekly Print Edition

Vol. 106, Issue 14 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

Student dies after allegedly attending fraternity event; 14 chapters suspended

Left: File photo, Middle and right photos: Alexa Oslowski

by Michael Cline Kaitlyn Little

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A San Diego State freshman died on Nov. 8 after allegedly attending a fraternity event, resulting in the suspension of all 14 Interfraternity Councilaffiliated chapters.

SDSU President Adela de la Torre confirmed the death of 19-year-old Dylan Hernandez of Jacksonville, Florida, in an email to the university community Monday afternoon.

“It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to say that Dylan Hernandez, the student who was hospitalized last week, has passed away,” de la Torre said.

“His family gave their goodbyes late Sunday night.”

SDSU Police has launched an investigation into the events surrounding Hernandez’s death after a 911 call was made from

his residence call on the morning of Nov. 7.

WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND A press release from the county medical examiner’s office said Hernandez “was found pulseless and apneic by his roommate in their dorm room” in the early hours of Nov. 7.

The report said he was then transported to Alvarado Hospital for treatment. He was pronounced dead on Friday, Nov. 8.

Hernandez died of “blunt force injuries (to the) head,” according to a Nov. 12 update to the medical examiner’s report.

His death was ruled an accident.

There is no confirmation that alcohol played a role in his death.

Hernandez, who lived on the sixth floor of the Tenochca residence hall, was a freshman pledge in the Phi Gamma Delta

fraternity, or FIJI, said someone who lived on the same floor and spoke on the condition on anonymity.

In the wake of the investigation, de la Torre announced the suspension of all 14 IFC-related fraternity chapters in a statement released on Nov. 8.

The list of IFC chapters suspended from campus includes: Alpha Epsilon Pi, Delta Sigma Phi, Delta Upsilon, Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Psi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Theta Chi and Zeta Beta Tau. The National Pan-Hellenic Council, the College Panhellenic Association and the United Sorority and Fraternity Council, or chapters affiliated with those organizations, are not affected by the suspension.

Bird’s bad day causes power outage across university, city

by Kaitlyn Little NEWS EDITOR

San Diego State and various areas of San Diego lost power around noon on Nov. 12.

According to the SDG&E outage map, Kensington, Talmadge, West State College, City Heights, Chollas Creek, Oak Park, Rolando, East State College and La Mesa were affected by the outage.

24,000 customers were without power, according to SDG&E Spokesperson Sara Prince. The outage was caused by a bird coming into contact with a substation, she said.

“The bird ceases to exist,” Prince said.

The outage also affected water

supply on campus. Various emergency portable restrooms were set up around campus due to buildings and floors experiencing low water pressure. An SDSU spokesperson said they had received reports that toilets aren’t flushing due to low water pressure.

University Towers Kitchen, Huaxyacac and Chapultepec food trucks, the Aztec Markets at Huaxyacac, Cuicacalli, East Commons and Aztec Student Union remained open during the outage and accepted meal plans.

By 2 p.m., power had been restored to some areas of campus, including the Education and Business Administration building on the east side of campus. But the university cancelled all classes

through Nov. 12 due to the outage, according to SDSU urgent alerts.

By 5:53 p.m., power had been returned to most on-campus residential communities except South Campus Plaza North and South, Huaxyacac and Chapultepec, according to a campus-wide email from the Office of Housing Administration.

SDG&E said it is still working to restore power to about 13,000 customers out of the 24,000 who lost power earlier this afternoon.

Full power was expected to be restored by 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night. Classes are delayed to 10 a.m. on Nov. 13.

For more updates surrounding SDSU’s outage, visit urgent.sdsu. edu.

HOW WE GOT HERE This week’s fraternity suspensions are far from the IFC’s first brush with disciplinary action from the university.

In September, three IFCaffiliated fraternities — Delta Upsilon, Phi Kappa Psi and Sigma Phi Epsilon — landed on interim suspension for alcohol-related incidents at fraternity events that led to hospitalizations. Three additional IFC chapters joined them on interim suspension in October, with Kappa Sigma and Sigma Alpha Epsilon disciplined for alcohol and health and safety violations. Theta Chi was disciplined for violating alcohol, health and safety and hazing policies, with violations of dishonesty and harassment and abusive behavior.

At the time of Hernandez’s death, four other chapters were subject to university investigations, bringing the

total number of IFC-affiliated fraternities under some level of elevated judicial status to 10 out of 14.

The interim suspensions came but a year after the IFC ended its self-imposed social moratorium, or party ban, in October 2018.

The social moratorium had been implemented in March of the same year amid administrative investigations that brought six fraternities to an elevated judicial status. The social moratorium prohibited any chapter events involving alcohol and required fraternity members to attend educational events aimed at creating a “culture change” within the organization.

The council, in announcing the end to social moratorium, also imposed a hard alcohol ban at all fraternity events.

SEE FRATERNITIES, PAGE 2

President Adela de la Torre creates two task forces in repsonse to student death

by Kaitlyn Little NEWS EDITOR

After the death of 19-year-old Dylan Hernandez, President Adela de la Torre called for the creation of two Presidential Task Force groups in a Nov. 12 campus-wide email.

The Presidential Task Force on Student Activities and Safety and the Presidential Task Force of Alcohol and Substance Misuse have been created to address issues occurring at San Diego State, according to the email from de la Torre.

“This is part of a larger issue facing college and university

campuses nationwide and we want to ensure SDSU is leading the conversation regarding student safety and well-being,” the statement said. “To do that, we are launching this process to identify and adopt best practices for the benefit of all of us.”

The university is currently identifying chairs and members for each task force and intends to have their first meetings this month. Members of the SDSU community are encouraged to provide input on these decisions.

SEE TASK FORCE, PAGE 2

2

The Daily Aztec

News

Nov. 13 - 19, 2019 EDITOR: Kaitlyn Little • news@thedailyaztec.com

SDSU study abroad programs affected by mass anti-government protests in Chile

by Michael Cline ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Some San Diego State students studying abroad in Santiago, Chile, saw their international experience end prematurely after a wave of anti-government protests in the Chilean capital turned violent and deadly.

Unrest across the Chilean capital began early last month after the government imposed an increase to metro fares on Oct. 6, according to The New York Times.

When Chilean students protested the fees by jumping turnstiles, a government crackdown spurred unrest throughout Santiago.

The report also cited rising income inequality — low wages and meager pensions — as reasons for the mass demonstrations, arson and violence among those calling for the Chilean president’s resignation.

And in the wake of protests across the city, seven SDSU international business students who were studying at the Universidad Del Desarrollo – Santiago Campus returned home to complete their courses online.

Associate Director of Study Abroad Inemesit Williams said the office uses the U.S. Department of State, overseas security sites and local newspapers to assess any developing situation where

Fraternities:

continued from page 1 THE UNIVERSITY’S RESPONSE De la Torre also announced the creation of two Presidential Task Forces in a Nov. 12 campus-wide email.

The Presidential Task Force on Student Activities and Safety and the Presidential Task Force of Alcohol and Substance Misuse have been created to address issues occurring at San Diego State, according to the email from de la Torre.

“This is part of a larger issue facing college and university campuses nationwide and we want to ensure SDSU is leading the conversation regarding student safety and well-being,” the statement said. “To do that, we are launching this process to identify and adopt best practices for the benefit of all of us.”

The university is currently identifying chairs and members for each task force and intends to have its first meetings this month. Members of the SDSU community are encouraged to provide input on these decisions.

The Presidential Task Force on Student Activities and Safety will have an emphasis on reviewing Greek life, student organizations and Associated Students, while the Presidential Task Force of Alcohol and Substance Misuse is dedicated to behaviors, trends, policies, prevention and responses to alcohol and drug use at the university, the statement said.

Task Force:

continued from page 1 PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND SAFETY The Presidential Task Force on Student Activities and Safety will have an emphasis on reviewing Greek life, student organizations and Associated Students. This task force is dedicated

SDSU students may be impacted.

Study Abroad also communicates with on-site staff at local partner universities in host countries to gather facts and ensure student safety.

“We have alerts set up to help us identify something going on in the world,” she said.

But Williams said outreach to SDSU students is always the first step.

“As soon as we find out anything is going on, we do a quick (rundown) of what’s happening and tell the students,” she said. “The biggest piece is are students safe, but also do (they) feel safe?”

International business senior Alexis Juarez is one of the seven students who returned to the U.S. amid the violent protests. She said she first heard about the protests through first-hand experience — upon riding the metro on the Friday protests began — and before the U.S. embassy alerted students.

“When I got off my metro stop, I saw a bunch of people running,” Juarez said. “I saw a bunch of cops swarming the metro towards students protesting, and that’s when they let off the tear gas.”

She also said protesters later torched the metro station she used to commute to classes at her host university.

The Universidad Del Desarrollo canceled all classes the following week amid disrupted metro service and

STUDENT REACTIONS Second-year economics graduate student Joey Erece said he was saddened to hear of Hernandez’s passing. He also said despite not being a member of Greek life, he wasn’t shocked given what he had heard about fraternities on campus in his six years at SDSU. “I think based on what I heard, based on what I’ve seen with my friends being in Greek life, it’s not super unexpected, but definitely really sad and tragic,” Erece said.

Psychology sophomore Evan Bosshart said he trusted de la Torre’s actions in the wake of Hernandez’s death.

“I don’t know what she should do per say because I don’t really know the whole details on everything, but I trust her and I feel she’s like taking the right steps,” Bosshart said.

Computer science sophomore Vikram Handa said de la Torre’s first steps were necessary, but further reflection is needed during the investigation.

“I think she did the right thing by starting with suspension, because I think everyone just needs to take a step back,” Handa said.

“After this, I don’t know … I think it’s really easy to pin it on (the fraternity).”

Finance freshman Ashleigh Huntington said the issue surrounds personal alcohol use.

“As much as people want to go automatically to blame the frats, I think a lot of it has to acknowledge that kids need to be responsible for their own actions sometimes,” Huntington said. “They need to know their limits with alcohol.”

Huntington also said the fraternity is not fully to blame.

“At the end of the day, it’s not like he

to evaluating behaviors, policies, processes, procedures and education of organizations on campus.

This group will be composed of students, faculty, staff, alumni and administrators. They will gather a report of findings and suggestions through the 2019-2020 academic year and submit them by April 2020.

PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE OF ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE

mandatory curfews set by the government, Juarez said. She returned to the U.S. following the first week of protests.

“Even if I were to stay, I probably wouldn’t be going to classes,” she said.

“My metro stop was set on fire again a few days ago.”

Williams said the study abroad department received no word from the U.S. State Department that it was no longer safe for students to remain in Santiago. The university thus did not cancel the study abroad programs, but the Study Abroad office did encourage students to make educated decisions about whether or not to return home or stay at their host universities during the protests.

Academic progress and the costs associated with studying abroad are some factors that could affect a student’s decision to remain or return home.

Juarez, who is back home in the U.S., said her host university accommodated her decision to return by providing online courses to ensure she completed her study abroad requirement. The International Business department at SDSU also agreed to the arrangement.

She also said she had mixed feelings about leaving Santiago and her international experience behind.

“Part of me wants my study abroad experience to continue, but the other part

realizes their problems aren’t things you’re going through,” Juarez said. “So you can’t say, ‘(These protests) should end.’”

Williams said students studying abroad have access to an insurance policy to help with temporary relocation in their host country, should the student need shortterm assistance. But she also added others may decide a permanent relocation is best.

“Not everybody wants a temporary situation,” Williams said. “Sometimes people say ‘I just want to go home.’ You gotta make sure people have options.”

The study abroad department did direct students to remain at their residences and away from the protests.

Although all seven international business students from Universidad Del Desarrollo decided to return home, three other students participating in the International Business Exchange remain at another school, Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, located in the capital city, Juarez said.

Williams said students might have varying comfort levels when studying in a different country.

“Everyone has different levels of comfort with things that are new experiences, whether it’s a new experience with something mundane like, ‘Oh, a new food,’ versus, ‘Oh, wow a protest,’” she said.

Photo by Alexa Oslowski

All 14 IFC-affiliated chapters were suspended following the death of a fraternity pledge this weekend.

died in the frat house,” she said. “So while it’s something really tragic and there was definitely fault with the fraternities because he was underage, at some point it’s not necessarily their fault.”

The university has set up a webpage to provide updates regarding the investigation and services available to students.

Friends of the Hernandez family have also established a GoFundMe page to accept donations.

Editor-in-Chief Bella Ross contributed to this story.

The Presidential Task Force of Alcohol and Substance Misuse is dedicated to behaviors, trends, policies, prevention and responses to alcohol and drug use at the university. This group will be composed of students, faculty, parents, staff, administrators, experts and researchers within the campus.

They will gather a report through summer 2020 and report findings by July 1, 2020.

Associated Students (A.S.) is currently accepting applications for the following volunteer leadership position:

ELECTIONS COORDINATOR Applications can be picked up in the Associated Students Office, located on the third floor of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.

DEADLINE: THUR, NOV. 14, 2019 @ 4:00PM

619-594-6555 as.sdsu.edu

News

Nov. 13 - 19, 2019 EDITOR: Kaitlyn Little • news@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

3

Free, anonymous testing for HIV offered at Pride Center

by Ashley Na STAFF WRITER

The San Ysidro Health Clinic mobile unit was parked outside of the Pride Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 7 to provide free testing and information about HIV. The testing for HIVs through CHIP at SDSU is anonymous, San Diego State University’s Pride Center Wesley Palau said. Results are available in just minutes, and if the results come back as positive, educators provide their patients with information and resources, and connect them with the next steps.

Program Supervisor in the Research and Health Promotion Department at the San Ysidro Health Clinic Rebecca Zipfel said through the presentation of the mobile unit, Comprehensive High Impact Prevention, or CHIP, wanted to make sure that people from all ages, all backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations and identities can associate with them.

Under the health clinic, CHIP focuses on underserved communities, such as young, African American and Latino men around the ages of 16 to 29 who identify as gay or bisexual people.

Coordinator of the SDSU Pride Center Wesley Palau first reached out to CHIP through an email during the spring of 2018 for the Trans Week of Empowerment.

“I spoke to (Wesley), and we agreed to get the CHIP mobile unit up at the Pride Center on a regular basis,” Zipfel said.

“So we set up a twice-a-month schedule for the CHIP program to come up to the

Photo by Ashley Na

The San Ysidro Health Clinic mobile unit is working to destigmatize misconceptions around testing.

Pride Center and offer outreach about HIV prevention (and) treatment. We offer escort services and provide free HIV testing.”

Palau said HIV tests can be costly and that there are barriers to getting tested. These barriers includes getting transportation to places such as Hillcrest

or Downtown. Palau also said these locations can often have limited testing options.

This was the reason they wanted to offer testing to both the LGBTQIA+ community on campus and the greater community.

“I think it was a mutually created

collaboration and I think it’s increased the amount of testing options available on campus,” Palau said.

The Pride Center’s work with the CHIP mobile unit also works to educate students on HIV. “At the same time (the collaboration is) helping to destigmatize some misconceptions around testing, particularly because the people doing the testing are very educated around what kind of test they offer and what (the) tests are for,” Palau said.

CHIP was able to test around 13 individuals on Nov. 7, Zipfel said.

San Ysidro Health educator Darvin Jennings said the main reasons for low youth turnout is the stigma around getting tested.

Stigmas from HIV stem from the media and how HIV positive people are portrayed, or miscommunication of how the virus is transmitted, according to Jennings.

Additionally, Jennings said their job is to establish a connection with the community so people feel welcome to reach out to them and ask questions.

“I think we’ve really benefited from being here (at SDSU) more frequently, because we are starting to become a lot more recognized on campus,” Jennings said. “So a lot more students who’ve had the experience of testing with one of our health educators are referring their friends to come back and so it’s a waiting game.”

The next HIV testing provided by CHIP is on Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Pride Center.

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY ALTERNATIVE CONSULTATION OPEN FORUM SCHEDULE REGARDING PROPOSED FEE INCREASES STUDENTS MUST BRING VALID RED ID CARDS TO FORUMS! Date

Time

Location

Host

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

12:00 PM

Tula Community Center

Education Without Borders

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

3:00 PM

Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, Pride Suite

Afrikan Student Union

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

4:30 PM

Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, Pride Suite

The Black Student Science Organization

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

7:30 PM

Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, State Suite

Alpha Pi Sigma Sorority

Thursday, November 14, 2019

1:00 PM

Calpulli Center, 4th Floor Conference Rooms

Active Minds

Thursday, November 14, 2019

4:00 PM

North Education Building, Room 60

Fraternity & Sorority Community

Thursday, November 14, 2019

6:00 PM

Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, Council Chambers

Graduate Student Association

Thursday, November 14, 2019

7:00 PM

Student Services West, Room 1500

Aztecs for Education and Student California Teachers Association

Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, Theatre

Arts & Letters, Education & Undeclared College Councils

Friday, November 15, 2019

11:00 AM

Friday, November 15, 2019

1:00 PM

Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, Park Boulevard Room

Andres Bonifacio Samahan

Friday, November 15, 2019

3:00 PM

Storm Hall West, Room 11

Goodwin Scholars

Please check the CFAC website at sdsu.edu/alternativeconsult for more information.

Students who are unable to attend a scheduled open forum may come to SDSU’s Testing Services through Friday, Nov. 15 to watch the full presentation and to complete your feedback form. Students can drop in between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Please bring your RedID Card and plan on being there for 45 minutes.

Please note: If you require an accommodation for your participation in a scheduled open forum, please contact the Student Ability Success Center at 619-594-6473 or sascinfo@sdsu.edu.

If you are interested in hosting a forum, please contact CFAC at cfac@sdsu.edu.

4

Opinion

The Daily Aztec

Nov. 13 - 19, 2019 EDITOR: Catherine Van Weele • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

This week’s student death shows fraternities are no longer safe

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

Graphic by Emily Burgess

The issue: On Friday, Nov. 7, freshman Dylan Hernandez died after reportedly attending a fraternity event. President Adela de la Torre promptly suspended all Interfraternity Council chapters.

Our take: Students should always come first, and this latest incident shows us these organizations are no longer safe. We support any decision that will keep this from happening again.

STAFF WRITERS Roxana Becerril Jason Freund Breven Honda Lucelis Martinez Ashley Na Shalika Oza Amber Salas Noe Sandoval Charlie Vargas CONTRIBUTORS Ryan Hardison Annie Lancaster

The Editorial Board

T

here is nothing that saddens us more in the newsroom than having to report on the death of one of our own. In our time at San Diego State, we practice journalism, but we are all students first. The recent death of freshman Dylan Hernandez is nothing short of a tragedy.

Although we are still lacking confirmation of vital details surrounding his passing, it is clear the situation was tied to one of the university’s 14 Interfraternity Council chapters. An official medical examiner report released Nov. 11 details how Hernandez had reportedly been at a fraternity party prior to the incident that led to his death. President Adela de la Torre promptly suspended all IFC-affiliated chapters after word of his condition was released this Friday.

The medical examiner report presents an image that’s hard to forget, citing how Hernandez “was found pulseless and apneic by his roommate in their dorm room.”

He only survived 75 days at

SDSU, barely half a semester.

This should never happen.

At this point, the safety of our school and community has been compromised. Campus communications have said the IFC suspension will remain in place while the university considers “next steps.” To say something needs to change would be an understatement.

The question ultimately boils down to whether IFCaffiliated fraternities should be allowed to remain on campus.

While the prospect of an SDSU without this portion of Greek life may seem unfathomable to many, we find this potential response to be within reason.

This is not the first fraternityrelated death to happen on a college campus and it won’t be the last unless real change happens.

We are not ignorant to the vast benefits of Greek life, but our priorities lie elsewhere.

Dylan Hernandez – at only 19 years old – is no longer with us, and any method for preventing another tragedy of this magnitude demands consideration.

On that note, this is not to say we wouldn’t be in support of other options. If the

university could find a way to make Greek life safe while maintaining its existence, we’re all on board.

But there are a few things we would like to remain in consideration as this process continues.

For one, students should recognize Hernandez’s death is one of very few fraternity incidents that’s actually been confirmed and reported to the public. This is true despite the fact that, before Friday, 10 out of the 14 IFCaffiliated fraternities were already subject to some kind of suspension or investigation.

The details of the incidents behind these cases hardly meet the public eye.

When fraternity cases do see the light of day – normally following a long-awaited public records request – the details can be disturbing.

Public documents obtained

by The Daily Aztec in 2018 showed how a freshman had to receive medical aid after being found “highly intoxicated” in a dorm restroom. He had just returned from a Phi Kappa Theta party.

That fraternity was officially removed from campus for

________________________________

a minimum of seven years in 2017. But it was a long demise, as the incident marked the ninth time in seven years that the same chapter was in hot water over alcohol violations. At least five of those cases involved disciplinary action.

Sometimes suspensions are just not enough.

On top of this, it is impossible not to consider the number of cases that go unreported or undiscovered throughout SDSU’s fraternity system. The level of secrecy surrounding SDSU’s Greek community is, frankly, concerning.

The reality is, this is a worst case scenario and it must be treated as such. We would love to see Greek life survive and prosper long into the future, but we hope the same for our students. People, not organizations, come first and foremost.

When a student leaves their family to join ours at SDSU, they should be protected.

No student should have to worry about not surviving through their graduation date.

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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Nov. 13 - 19, 2019 EDITOR: Catherine Van Weele • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

Opinion

The Daily Aztec

5

Group projects are hard for busy students

By Charlie Vargas STAFF WRITER

With the semester nearing its end, group work tends to dominate the last couple of weeks. Time management as a student is already stressful enough with having to balance a full-time class schedule on an individual basis.

When combined with other factors like extracurricular activities, internships and jobs, the mix gets heavier. It is a major reason why dealing with group work outside of the classroom fuels frustration among students.

Group projects would be a different situation if students could focus solely on attending school and their coursework, and making the most of their time in that capacity.

Unfortunately, the fact is most college students need to work while attending college. This is the reality students face if they want to sustain a steady path to a secure financial future after graduation.

According to a study conducted

by Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, “Learning While Earning: The New Normal,” more than 60% of students work for pay, and of that percentage of students, 40% of them work 20 or more hours a week. The National Postsecondary Student Aid Study also found more than half of the students could not

afford to go to college without working. Imagine having that high percentage of students in a college classroom trying to work around each other’s school and work schedules.

Sure, the internet has transformed how students can work remotely in groups, and that may decrease the pressure of meeting in person, but that doesn’t solve everything. It’s typically a frazzled mess that eventually gets done, but not without consequence.

Some students outside of the classroom can find themselves having to do the majority of the work. Or if everyone in the group is too busy, the result could be a mediocre quality of work reflected in a mediocre grade.

Professors can sometimes prevent that from affecting a student’s grade who was not at fault by providing everyone who worked in a group to an opportunity to give feedback about which person did what, then assigning grades accordingly.

Another usual method is making the group assignment fewer points than individual assignments. For professors, especially those of which teach large classes, group work may be the easiest way to get grading done for the entire class if they consolidate the work.

Although group work may be tedious, it should not be discounted altogether because

there are many benefits, such as collaboration.

Working in groups can help people listen to ideas that they may not have thought of, think more creatively and solve complex problems as a team.

Collaboration is also something that employers seek to encompass in their workplaces.

A Forbes article cited a joint study between the Institute for Corporate Productivity and Rob Cross, Edward A. Madden Professor of Global Business at Babson College that suggests the effectiveness of collaboration.

The study found that “companies that promoted collaborative working were five times as likely to be high performing.” The study also found that “Whilst many aspired to be collaborative however, a relative minority managed to achieve good results, with the authors suggesting that the key to productive collaboration is purpose.”

The “purpose” that the study elaborates on is an interesting one, primarily when it is related to college students. If the purpose of performing well in group work is associated with achieving a good grade on the assignment and in the class, then those group members will have a stronger focus.

However, if there are people in the group who are balancing other things like another class or work,

Photo by Catherine Van Weele

Students working on a project together.

they might likely be working towards a different purpose or priority. This may cause their participation to falter and affect the group’s overall performance.

Disengagement in group work may apply beyond the college setting, but in an atmosphere where students are working or attempting to fulfill other social and economical duties, it may be a more likely result.

Group work outside the classroom can be reformed to serve its purpose of exercising learning objectives in classes, and equipping students with the collaborative quality of group work.

A solution to this would

be to keep group work in the classroom. By doing so, there is a higher possibility of students being held accountable for their work, while alleviating the stress of having to find a place in everyone’s busy schedules that works best.

It would ultimately be a collaboration of compromise between students and professors.

The professors still manage to grade less work, and students can have an opportunity at a lighter schedule. Now that’s collaboration.

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

Money is not a reflection of how successful someone is

By Shalika Oza STAFF WRITER

What is success?

To some, it is rising up the ranks in their career and making a boatload of money. To others, it is finding a purpose for their lives.

Some even argue success is only ascertained through happiness.

In this day and age, many college students and 20-something-yearolds heavily associate success with the concept of money and being able to live an affordable lifestyle. Something achieved through going to college, finding internships and running the rat race that has become life.

Many of us are only doing so because throughout school we’ve been told we need to work to be successful. We’ve been told that going to college, finding internships and building up resumes is the only way to be successful.

The milestones of success are not even clearly defined. When are you successful? Is it when you can buy your own car? Or when you have a $1 million salary?

How are you able to know when you’re truly successful?

The ever-growing competitiveness of society is only adding to the pressures students face to become “successful.”

The rise of social media influencers has extended these pressures furthermore. Now, college kids are barraged with social media posts of people who

Graphic by Tobias Graves-Morris

have become insanely successful at young ages.

These people are our role models. They’re examples we use in our daily lives, and we want to achieve what they have at the ages they did.

Even more so is the ideal life our parents and earlier generations have been able to achieve. But back then there were fewer pressures on society as a whole, competition was more rare and the general idea of success was

just more attainable.

But all these things have changed – success is not as easily attainable, yet our goals are still aligned with those from 50 years ago.

We feel as if we have failed, if our lives are not put together by the age of 25.

These pressures have derailed mental health and have become such a focal point of our generation that not many people talk about it.

To us, going to college, stretching ourselves thin and constantly working is normal. We are working so hard and so much to the point where mental health is becoming increasingly affected.

Is that what society should want out of our generation and generations to come? Where constantly working to achieve a goal, that isn’t even clearly defined, goes hand-in-hand with mental health issues?

Success should be on our own

terms, but as young adults we are constantly pigeonholed into a path that nobody has time to figure out what success means to them.

And that’s just it. Success means something different to everyone, so how is it that almost all of us are trying to go down the same path?

In college you have to choose a major by your second year at the very least, but how is it that someone who isn’t even old enough to drink yet has life so figured out they know exactly what they want to do?

I thought I wanted to be a doctor for most of high school, but it wasn’t until my senior year that I realized I would probably be miserable.

When I applied I was undecided, and right now I am declared as a journalism major.

But, honestly it does not have much to do with the career I have in mind. And when I graduate, who knows what I’ll be thinking.

As much as us college students like to think they are adults, we’re still kids. Kids who change their minds about everything all the time.

And if we are constantly thinking differently, why are our definitions of success all on the same warped path?

Success should be on our own terms not an antiquated goal with no clear cap.

Shalika Oza is a sophomore studying journalism.

6

Sports

The Daily Aztec

Nov. 13 - 19, 2019 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Aztecs notch first win at BYU since 2005

by Aaron Tolentino SPORTS EDITOR

Apparently Klay Thompson came back early from his ACL tear and made his way to Provo, Utah.

Oh wait, that was just San Diego State’s Jordan Schakel.

Schakel, after only scoring two first half points, caught fire in the second half to finish with a total of a career-high 19 points on 7-for-9 field goals attempts (6-for-6 in the second half) and 5-for-7 from 3-point range (5-for-5 in the second half).

The junior guard’s hot shooting propelled the Aztecs in front of 12,567 at the Marriott Center last Saturday to win 76-71 for its first road victory at BYU since 2005.

Schakel said it was an accomplishment to do something SDSU has not done in a while.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” he said. “We know the history that game had for us. We knew what happened the last time San Diego State went in there.

We just really prepared hard and trusted each other and was able to come out with the win.”

SDSU needed every bit of Schakel’s points.

“His confidence keeps going up,” Aztecs head coach Brian Dutcher said of Schakel.

“It’s all confidence and swagger. He shot the ball last year for us. I think he shot 40% from three. It’ll be tough to improve on that.”

The team endured 16 unanswered points from the Cougars from about the 18-minute mark to the 15-minute mark, having a ninepoint evaporate into a seven-point deficit.

Photo courtesy of Nate Edwards, BYU Photo

San Diego State junior guard Jordan Schakel (left) attempts to stop the BYU player from scoring during the Aztecs’ 76-71 win over BYU on Nov. 9 at the Marriot Center in Provo, Utah.

Then came clutch shooting led by Schakel, who topped his previous career highs of 16 points and four 3-pointers made.

In those last 15 minutes, Schakel hit all five of his 3-pointers with his last make coming with 2:07 left. Two free throws by junior forward Matt Mitchell gave the Aztecs their first lead since the 17:12 mark in the second half.

The Aztecs took the 70-69 lead with 1:26 left.

Senior guard KJ Feagin nailed a 3-pointer with 51 seconds left, proving to be the dagger that silenced the crowd who watched BYU go on its way to lose to the Scarlet and Black.

“It just felt like a dream come true,” Feagin said of winning in the hostile environment.

“I knew they were going to go on a run, and

I knew that they were going to have a time in the game where it felt like we couldn’t come back. Just like I said, it was our first test as a team, and I felt like we passed it.”

Breven Honda contributed reporting to this story.

Aaron Tolentino is a senior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @atolent2.

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Nov. 13 - 19, 2019 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Sports

The Daily Aztec

7

Three takeaways: SDSU’s offense struggles in loss to Nevada

by Kyle Betz ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

necessarily the play calling on the last drive that ended the Aztecs’ chances.

Agnew said it himself.

“Just terrible by me. I missed a couple open guys,” Agnew said. “I was wrong with my timing. I’ve got to make better, accurate throws. It was good play calls. I just need to execute better.”

It shouldn’t have come down to that final drive to begin with, but in this case, every aspect of the offense should be considered.

San Diego State football suffered its first loss in over a monthand-a-half after its comeback attempt versus Nevada fell short on Nov. 9. While the Aztecs finished with 309 yards of total offense (83 more than the Wolf Pack), they struggled to put points on the board in the 17-13 loss. Here are three takeaways from the game.

TOO MANY COSTLY PENALTIES Usually, when a football team commits more penalties than its opponent, it loses the game.

That was very much the case for the Aztecs on Saturday night.

The Scarlet and Black recorded nine penalties for 79 yards, while the Wolf Pack only committed four penalties for 28 yards.

“It seems like we make crucial mistakes at crucial times, and then we’re just not good enough then to overcome some of those crucial mistakes,” offensive coordinator Jeff Horton said. “I would say the majority of them are self-inflicted.”

Among those penalties were two unsportsmanlike conduct calls, including targeting against junior defensive back Trenton Thompson, false start, intentional grounding, illegal formation, pass interference, offside and two holding calls.

Although there were infractions on both sides of the ball, most penalties affected the offense.

On fourth-and-one from SDSU’s own 17-yard line, SDSU junior running back Chase Jasmin dashed for seven yards and a first down – only to be called back by a holding penalty, forcing a punt by senior Brandon Heicklen.

Senior quarterback Ryan Agnew scrambled for four yards on second-and-10 during the Aztecs’ final drive of the game, but another holding penalty was called – moving SDSU farther from that coveted goahead touchdown.

Photo by Kareem Jones

Senior linebacker Kyahva Tezino and junior defensive back Dwayne Johnson Jr. combine on a tackle in the Aztecs’ 17-13 loss to Nevada on Nov. 9 at SDCCU Stadium.

Offensive coordinator Jeff Horton said the coaching staff needs to reinforce the concept of discipline to the team in order to avoid penalties.

“Keep conveying how important it is not to get behind the chains, set yourself back, make a tough game even tougher,” Horton said.

“As a staff, we’ve got to just communicate and be better and just enforcing what we need to get done so that we can become a consistent football team.”

OFFENSIVE WOES CONTINUE The Aztecs implemented the spread offense at the beginning of the season, but according to Horton, the Aztecs have not been able to completely adapt to the new system.

“Biggest thing is, I don’t think we’ve found our identity yet.

Our identity used to be, ‘We’re going to run the ball down

your throat,’” Horton said. “We haven’t, all year, consistently been able to put drives together, for the most part.”

The Wolf Pack forced the five SDSU three-and-outs, though the Aztecs led in time of possession (32:19).

Part of this reason might be because of the Aztecs’ commitment to the run even though the Aztecs trailed most of the game (39 rushes versus to 35 passes).

On those rushing attempts, SDSU only averaged 2.9 yards per carry while only recording 5.6 yards per completion.

It’s hard for an offense who scores just 13 points to find an excuse against a team who entered the matchup allowing nearly 35 points a game.

It also might be easy for one to point the finger at Horton for SDSU’s lack of production, but it definitely does not completely

fall on his shoulders.

The Aztecs put together an efficient 12-play, 63-yard drive right before halftime until Agnew threw an interception in the red zone.

On fourth-and-six and 3:46 left in the game, the coaching staff elected to kick a 44-yard field goal rather than going for it.

This decision – although risky – proved to be the right choice, as the Aztecs’ defense forced a Nevada three-and-out on the next series.

The Aztecs had 2:35 to cover 66 yards and score a potential game-winning touchdown.

SDSU had trouble moving the ball on Saturday, but Agnew has shown his leadership in late games before.

Remember the Wyoming game?

This time, it didn’t work out that way, but it wasn’t

NO NEED TO PRESS THE “PANIC BUTTON” The Aztecs always have one preseason goal: win conference.

Despite two conference losses, the team still has a chance to reach the Mountain West Conference championship game.

SDSU is first in the MWC West Division with a 4-2 conference record.

In order to win their 22nd conference championship, the Aztecs must win their next two games against Fresno State and Hawai’i in order to automatically secure a position in the championship game.

Both teams linger behind SDSU with 2-3 and 3-3 conference records, respectively.

Ultimately, SDSU’s final regular season game against Brigham Young (an independent school) wouldn’t matter unless the Aztecs are caught in a tiebreaker for first with another West Division team.

Although the dream of playing in a New Year’s Six bowl game is presumably out of the equation, SDSU is still in a good position to potentially play in the championship on Dec. 7.

The Aztecs, who were ranked No. 24 in last week’s AP Top 25 Poll, will probably not be in that position again unless they win out. Still, rankings don’t matter to this team.

From here on out, it’s one week at a time.

Kyle Betz is a junior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @KyleBBetz.

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8

Sports

The Daily Aztec

Nov. 13 - 19, 2019 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Women’s tennis clinches five victories

by Jason Freund STAFF WRITER

San Diego State women’s tennis continued to find success in the Fall Classic II as three pairs of Aztecs won their semi-final matches while only two players won in singles play on Nov. 9 at the Aztec Tennis Center.

Head coach Peter Mattera was impressed by how his team raised the bar from an already impressive start to the Fall Classic.

“San Diego State raised their level today,” Mattera said. “We picked our offensive moments better today… the level of tennis on all of our courts was higher than it was yesterday.”

In doubles, the Scarlet and Black placed three doubles pairs into championship matches.

The Red draw saw the duo of junior Nnena Nadozie and sophomore Alicia Melosch defeat Denver sophomores Tatum Burger and Toni Nelson 6-2 in their semi-final match.

Representing SDSU in the Black draw was sophomore Agustina Rimoldi Godoy and freshman Cécile Morin, who beat out UC Irvine senior Stephanie Nguyen and sophomore Alyssia Fossorier by a score of 6-1.

The White draw saw junior Tamara Arnold and freshman Julia Jordan advance to the

championship after defeating Montana junior Bianca Bostrom and freshman Maria Goheen 6-4.

After the match, Arnold said she and Jordan made adjustments halfway through the set.

“We were trying a little too much,” Arnold said. “It took us like five to ten minutes to find our gameplan, but then we stuck to it.”

However, senior Mia Smith and junior Abbie Mulbarger couldn’t make it past the team of Denver juniors Camille VerdenAnderson and Anna Riedmiller as they were defeated 4-6.

Singles play saw multiple matches changed in order to keep teammates from playing against each other, but it didn’t stop the flow of the matches.

Two SDSU players picked up wins in the White draw while Rimoldi Godoy secured a spot in the Black draw consolation championship match with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Drake University junior Maria Tatarnikova Freshman Cecile Morin came out on top against Montana junior Julia Ronney with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 victory.

Nadozie collected another victory as she defeated Stanford sophomore Sarah Choy 7-6, 7-5. It was another big win as, according to the Intercollegiate

Tennis Associate, Choy is the 87th ranked women’s singles player in the nation.

Mattera said he expected to have three teams play a championship match in doubles but was also happy to see them go so far.

“I think we have known all

along that we have eight really good players,” Mattera said. “I think we raised our level and we did more of the things we worked on in practice.”

The three-day Fall Classic II will officially conclude on Nov. 10. Doubles play begins at 9 a.m., highlighted by the team

of Nadozie/Melosch squaring off with Denver junior Hada Chang and sophomore Taylor Melville for the Black draw championship.

Jason Freund is a junior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @jason _frings.

Photo courtesy of Derrick Tuskan, SDSU Athletics

Freshman Cécile Morin prepares to swing her racket during the SDSU Fall Classic I from Sept. 27-29 at the Aztec Tennis Center.

Aztecs end fall season with five wins in singles play

by Jason Freund STAFF WRITER

The SDSU Fall Classic II came to a close on Nov. 10 at the Aztec Tennis Center, as the Aztecs wrapped up the competition with a strong showing in the singles portion.

Head coach Peter Mattera said he was proud of his team’s efforts and said the lessons learned throughout

the tournament are important for the future.

“I think this tournament has been good for us to see the things that we can continue to work on,” Mattera said. “Overall, it reaffirms my strong belief that we have the makings of a good team.”

Despite putting up a strong fight, junior Nnena Nadozie and sophomore Alicia Melosch fell in the Red draw championship

to Stanford sophomore Niluka Madurawe and freshman Nicole Mossmer by a score of 2-6.

The Black draw championship saw sophomore Agustina Rimoldi Godoy and freshman Cécile Morin fall to Denver junior Hada Chang and sophomore Taylor Melville 1-6.

In the White draw, Denver juniors Anna Riedmiller and Camille Verde-Anderson toppled the SDSU duo of junior Tamara

Arnold and freshman Julia Jordan by a 3-6 score.

However, the Scarlet and Black rebounded in their singles matches, winning five out of eight games played.

In the White draw, Nadozie rebounded from her loss in doubles to win her lone singles match against Riedmiller with a 6-2, 6-1 win. The same draw saw Morin grind out a 5-7, 6-0, 10-7 victory

Photo courtesy of Derrick Tuskan, SDSU Athletics

Junior Nnena Nadozie finishes her swing during the SDSU Fall Classic I from Sept. 27-29 at the Aztec Tennis Center.

against Melville.

Closing out the White draw was Arnold, who defeated Madurawe 6-4, 7-6 to win her match while senior Mia Smith secured the sweep with a 6-3, 4-6, 11-9 of East Washington’s Zoey Nelson.

Despite losing in her doubles match, Nadozie put it behind her when it came time to transition to her singles match.

“It’s a pretty simple transition if you really focus on… seeing what you did right, seeing what you did wrong,” Nadozie said. “That’s what I did, I just put that behind me and focused on my singles.”

The other SDSU singles victory come courtesy of Rimoldi Godoy in the Black draw, who downed UC Irvine junior Flora Amiri 1-6, 6-0, 10-3.

The Fall Classic saw strong performances from freshmen Arnold and Morin, who are playing in their first season at SDSU. Morin, a native of Bouce-Bel-Air, France, said her teammates have helped her adapt.

“It is very different,” Morin said on how tennis plays in the United States versus Europe. “My teammates are so good and they help me with the language.”

SDSU will now go on a twomonth hiatus until its next competition. In the winter, the Aztecs will compete with other schools in school-vs-school play, starting with UC Riverside on Jan 25.

Jason Freund is a junior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @ jason _frings.

Sports 9 SDSU’s comeback falls short in loss to Arizona State

Nov. 13 - 19, 2019 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

by Amber Salas STAFF WRITER

San Diego State hockey was looking to secure a clean sweep over the weekend against PAC-8 teams but was unsuccessful due to a 4-3 loss to Arizona State on Sunday, Nov. 10 at the Joan Kroc Center.

The Aztecs started the weekend off strong with two wins over San José State University in their Friday and Saturday games by final score of 6-1 and 6-3.

However, the Sun Devils came out with a defensive force that the Aztecs ultimately weren’t able to combat.

Both teams came into this game with fatigued legs after playing two games in two days.

The Sun Devils were coming off of two games against UCLA. ASU demonstrated fatigue would not be an issue as forward Jacob Dobrenz speeded up to the net taking a shot to score the Sun Devils’ first goal of the match.

Two minutes later, ASU striked again with a goal from sophomore defender Cameron Ward.

“We came up to a real slow start and gave them a 2-0 lead.

That was it at the end of the day,” SDSU head coach Phil Bateman said. “They are a real good team

The Daily Aztec

with a lot of bodies you can’t squat a good team like that.”

With 1:20 left in the first period, ASU took a penalty to give the Aztecs a five-on-four advantage. The Aztecs were able to convert on the power-play to put their first point up on the board with a goal from freshman forward Ian Stentz making the score 2-1.

“That was nice good shift of momentum before the first period ended,” Stentz said of the goal.

The Aztecs (14-3-1, PAC8 Conference) came into the second period with momentum after their goal.

However, the momentum ended when the Aztecs took a penalty.

The Sun Devils took their one-man advantage and scored a power-play goal by defender Cameron Ward to give ASU another two-goal lead.

The Aztecs kept looking to find the back of the net for the remainder of the period

but ultimately were unable to maneuver around the defense and goaltending from ASU. “I think part of what we tend to do is that our guys try and do too much,” Bateman said. “We preach hard work in our zone and creativity. That creativity can’t be selfish creativity.”

That “selfish creativity” led to the Aztecs taking multiple penalties to give the Sun Devils a one-man advantage. ASU was able to score two power-play goals as a result of the Aztecs

Photo by Luis Lopez

Junior Reece Breuckman (left) skates next to senior Adrien Wisch (right) during a stoppage of play in the Aztecs’ 6-1 win over Washington on Nov. 1 at Joan Kroc Center.

being one man short.

“We’ve got to get pucks a little deeper, chase them down, or just be smarter with our zone entry,” Bateman said of the Aztecs’ offensive attack.

After an ASU goal by forward Levi Hulston 10 minutes into the third period, the Aztecs were down 4-1 but continued to fight.

Aztecs forward Artem Klein was able to maneuver around ASU defenders to score a goal with 4 minutes remaining in the game.

With 51 seconds remaining in the game and a one-man advantage for the Aztecs, forward Blake Reed took a backhand shot to score a power-play goal making the score 4-3.

Stentz said the coach’s message on the bench motivated the team to attempt a comeback.

“He just said don’t stop skating hard,” Stentz said. “Keep playing like you usually play and don’t give up.”

The Aztecs drove the puck into ASU’s zone fighting hard to tie the game but were unable to do so – resulting in a final score of 4-3.

The Aztecs will begin a road trip to take on their next games against the University of Denver and Wyoming.

Amber Salas is a junior studying journalism. Follow her on Twitter @ambersalass.

Sophomore middle blocker takes knowledge to ascend into starting role

by Breven Honda STAFF WRITER

San Diego State volleyball sophomore middle blocker Andrea Walker has had the chance to learn from two good, if not great, middle blockers.

However, as she was learning the past couple of seasons, Walker had to find herself in order to be the player she is today.

“Last year, she got to be behind some phenomenal middle (blockers),” head coach Deitre Collins-Parker said. “I’m sure she learned and watched, but she really developed who she is and I think that’s what’s key for her: who is she and what can she bring.”

Last season, Walker had the chance to gain knowledge from the program’s all-time block assists leader, Deja Harris.

This season, she is learning from senior middle blocker Tamia Reeves, who currently leads the Mountain West Conference with a .407 attack percentage.

While watching both Reeves and Harris the past couple of seasons, Walker said she noticed both of their techniques.

Walker also realizes playing college volleyball is a lot different than high school or club, so she has been adjusting to the pace of the game.

“Before you come to come to college, nothing is as fast, so my big thing was speeding up

my game and it really helped a lot to watch the players in front of me and how they play fast,” Walker said.

Every year, SDSU has had a duo of middle blockers that has performed.

Last season, it was Harris and Reeves. This season, it has become Reeves and Walker.

Walker said she has relished every moment so far this season playing with the 6-foot2 Texas native.

“She really developed who she is and I think that’s what’s key for her.”

– Deitre Collins-Parker, head coach

“It’s so exciting,” Walker said.

“I love it. There’s nothing more to say. It feels natural. I respect everyone who has played in front of me, everyone behind me, we’re all really good.”

As Walker continues to gain playing time, people tend to take notice.

Collins-Parker said Walker’s improvement, along with the consistency of Reeves, gives the team depth and high performances to show the other MWC teams.

“Offensively, (Walker) has done some good things for us,” Collins-Parker said. “Our middle (blockers) are ranked

in the top 10 in conference.

(Walker’s) moving up into that and it is important for us to score from there.”

Since Walker’s first start against UNLV on Oct. 3, she has posted 89 kills for a .332 attack percentage.

Overall this season, she owns a .310 attack percentage, which currently ranks ninth in the MWC. Collins-Parker said as she gets more experience, she will find a way to adjust quicker. “(Walker) got a slow start and has picked it up,” CollinsParker said. “She starts out feeling things, but then she turns on a new motor and once she realizes she can do it, she goes.”

The 6-foot native from Fairfield, California is one of many players that are part of the long term.

“Our young players are growing every match,” Collins-Parker said. “(The underclassmen) are people that are all coming back that continue to elevate their game.

We’ve got a lot to look forward to with the group that we have.”

The Aztecs finish their home schedule against Air Force on Nov. 14.

Editor’s note: SDSU defeated Fresno State on Nov. 12 in three sets.

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

Photo by Sam Mayo

Sophomore middle blocker Andrea Walker prepares for the next play during the Aztecs’ 3-1 loss to UNLV on Oct. 3.

10

Mundo Azteca

The Daily Aztec

Nov. 13 - 19, 2019 EDITOR: Alejandra Luna • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Cursos de lenguas indígenas mexicanas traen nueva perspectivas a estudiantes por Noé ESCRITOR

Sandoval

Aprender un nuevo idioma puede beneficiar a estudiantes en su profesión e intelecto.

Como requisitos muchos estudiantes de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego deben tomar un idioma extranjero.

El Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos ofrece cursos de tres lenguajes indígenas de México: Mixteco, Zapoteco y Náhuatl. Estas clases están disponible para cualquier estudiante sin importar su enfoque académico.

Las clases son dadas en español o inglés para facilitar el aprendizaje del idioma al estudiante.

Los cursos de Mixteco y Zapoteco se han dado en la universidad desde 2004, y el Náhuatl comenzó hace dos años. La cantidad de estudiantes en cada clase es pequeña para asegurar que estén aprendiendo y entendiendo el lenguaje.

“Queremos que estudiantes aprendan no sólo el idioma y su gramática, pero también sus perspectivas y contexto histórico”, dijo la directora del Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos, Dra. Ramona Pérez.

Aunque las clases ayudan al universitario a adquirir un nuevo idioma, lo cual van más allá de aprender cómo comunicarse en otro idioma.

Estudiantes están expuestos a diferentes formas de percibir el mundo.

Un ejemplo de estas

perspectivas es cómo se usa las matemáticas y la ciencia a través del idioma indígena.

Estas culturas indígenas usan ejemplos de la naturaleza, como el sol y la luna para explicar materias académicas.

Estudiante de último año, especializando en lingüística, Aramiz Jacobo, está tomando la clase de Náhuatl, y dijo que ha aprendido mucho sobre la comunidad indígena con la ayuda de este curso.

Para Jacobo el tomar una clase con pocos estudiantes, le ha facilitado el aprendizaje del curso.

Aparte de las clases aquí en la universidad, también hay programas de estudio en el extranjero como Oaxaca, México.

Los programas están disponible para el verano, y están hechas para que estudiantes puedan involucrarse en las comunidades indígenas de México mientras aprenden un nuevo idioma.

El programa international se lleva a cabo durante los meses de junio y julio por seis semanas. Estos cursos pueden cumplir el requisito como idioma extranjero.

Además, sirven para comprender las culturas indígenas mexicanas y saber sobre la importancia de conservarlas.

El programa no sólo atrae a estudiantes de SDSU, sino que también de otras universidad de EEUU. Según su sitio web, estudiantes de otras

Cortesía de Ramona Pérez

Universitarios conocen más sobre la cultura mexicana.

Cortesía de Ramona Pérez

Estudiantes trabajan en el campo de cultivo.

universidades han mostrado interés y han podido participar en esta experiencia.

Se ha debatido la razón por qué estudiantes deberían tomar estas clases, ya que no se usa el idioma

tanto como el inglés o el español.

Sin embargo, la población indígena de México ha sido de 1.7 millones de indígenas.

Es por eso que aprender el idioma es un paso para

comprender la cultura indígena, ya que forma una gran parte de la población mexicana.

La profesora Velma Calvario enseña las clases de Náhuatl y está contenta que sus estudiantes muestran interés en sus cursos y en el idioma.

Calvario viene de la comunidad indígena y ha podido enseñar su cultura e importancia de preservarla entre sus alumnos. “[Con estas clases] Podemos expresar como hemos evolucionado”, dijo Calvario.

“Estamos reconociendo la historia de nuestra cultura”.

El Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos espera que estas clases tengan más reconocimiento para que más estudiantes puedan inscribirse y aprender más de la cultura indígena.

En el futuro, el centro también espera crear clases que son dadas en lenguas indígenas de diferentes materias como matemática o historia.

El centro invita a todo estudiante que esté interesado a tomar las clases, ya que no hay mucho requisitos para inscribirse.

Poeta chicano recita su trabajo a estudiantes de SDSU

Foto por Lucelis Martínez

Juan Felipe Herrera muestra su libro de poesías a presentes en SDSU.

por Lucelis ESCRITORA

Martínez

El 6 de noviembre, el Departamento de Estudios Chicanos y Chicanas de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego organizó una presentación, donde voces conocidas y sobresalientes de la comunidad

hispana estuvieron presentes.

Muchos de estudiantes se reunieron para escuchar las palabras de poeta laureado, Juan Felipe Herrera, quien también es el primer hispano en haber servido en esa posición.

“Todo me inspira... este edificio, estudiantes, todos ustedes”, dijo Herrera. “El cielo es inspirador, el día inspira, todas

nuestras vidas inspiran, tu voz me inspira. Todo es inspiración”.

A parte de leerle a la audiencia breves reseñas de sus libros, lo cual cuenta con 21 en total.

Herrera también tomó tiempo para reconocer a algunos de los miembros distinguidos de la audiencia, tales como Dr. Ibarra, líder del Departamento de Chicanos y Chicanas y la presidente de la universidad, Adela de la Torre.

Además, estuvieron presentes personalidades como Roberto Torres “Queso”, uno de los muralistas más reconocidos por sus contribuciones al arte, que creó durante el movimiento chicano, entre otros muralistas importantes.

“El movimiento chicano no es un movimiento tan removido en este periodo”, señaló Roberto Hernández, profesor de SDSU y tesorero en el Centro Cultural de la Raza. “Muchas veces, los estudiantes en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego en general, no se dan cuenta de las conexiones históricas que existen entre el campus, en nuestro departamento en particular, y el movimiento Chicano en su enteridad”.

Hernández reconoció a David

Abalos, Juan Felipe Herrera y Verónica Enrique, ya que todos fueron directores en el Centro Cultural de la Raza ubicado en el Parque Balboa.

A su vez, el profesor reconoció que el Centro Cultural de la Raza es una de las herramientas disponibles para estudiantes, porque puede enseñar más sobre la lucha que los chicanos han tenido que enfrentar como comunidad.

Asimismo, para los profesores de estudios chicanos es crucial que los estudiantes se abran oportunidades únicas, tales como escuchar las palabras de Juan Felipe Herrera, quien es un símbolo de prosperidad e inspiración.

“Yo llegué a entender una nueva visión mientras lo escuchaba recitar sus poemas”, comentó Cinthia Palomera, de primer año.

“Abrió muchas puertas para mi, especialmente su último poema donde él discute los niños de la frontera. Honestamente, el poema me hizo llorar”.

Palomero tiene interés en estudiar leyes y así ayudar a personas con su estado legal.

Herrera leyó en su presentación uno de los poemas favoritos de Palomera.

“Bebés con pampers. Bebés sin pampers. Niños tristes, niñas tristes, moviendo sus pies, yendo a ningún lado”, recitó Herrera.

Este poema fue basado al proceso de deportación y la separación entre un niño y su madre.

Herrera alentó a los presentes a que participaran con él mientras recitaba su poema. El poema está escrito como una receta y la audiencia repetía los ingredientes que esculpen a un mexicano.

Otra estudiante quien asistió al evento, se sintió impactada por las palabras de Herrera.

“Siendo una mujer hispana y biracial, fue como que parte de mi identidad se despertó mientras participaba en la lectura de poetria”, dijo Rachel Hillinger, estudiante de inglés. “Aunque amo lo que aprendo en mi clase de inglés, tal vez fue la primera vez que realmente me sentí conectada con otra persona, mediante el lenguaje y literatura”.

El Departamento de Estudios Chicanos y Chicanas se encuentran celebrando 50 años desde el día de su origen. Sin embargo, Herrera demostró que el movimiento chicano es parte de una cultura escrita en la historia.

Arts & Culture 11 Autism Art colors the walls with five artists’ pieces

Nov. 13 - 19, 2019 EDITOR: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

by Annie Lancaster CONTRIBUTOR

White walls were covered in an array of color: paintings, digital art, weavings, drawings and even Christmas ornaments on Nov. 8 at the“Autumn Autism and Art Soiree.”

The artists had the opportunity to display and sell their art, and visitors enjoyed wine and cheese as they viewed the work of five artists who are on the Autism spectrum.

The San Diego State Center for Autism collaborated with The Art of Autism to co-host the event at the SDSU Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders.

The featured artists included Alex Nichols, Austin Jones, Jeremy SicileKira, Joel Anderson and Kevin Hosseini.

Each artist was given their own space to hang or arrange their art, accompanied by individual biographies.

Vinton Omaleki, outreach coordinator for the Center for Autism, said this event falls under the center’s mission for community engagement.

He also said showcases like this fill a social gap and provide an outlet for participants’ voices to be heard.

Some of the artists have been making work since childhood.

Austin Jones, a graduate from ArtCenter College of Design, said he

The Daily Aztec

knew he was creatively inclined at a young age.

“I told my mom and dad at five years old at the dinner table, ‘Mom, Dad, I want to be an artist’,” Jones said.

Others decided to create later in their lives.

Jeremy Sicile-Kira was inspired by dreams he had of being in an art show, according to his biography.

Sicile-Kira has synesthesia, which he defines as having senses that are mixed.

He sees the emotions of people as colors and hears music as emotions which are then translated into colors.

Painting around these senses, his work is layered with vibrant hues.

Alex Nichols started weaving a few years ago and now sells his woven wall art, scarves, bowls and ornaments.

He offers custom works called “Memory Weavings,” dedicated to loved ones.

Debra Hosseini was a co-founder of The Art of Autism, and is the mother of artist Kevin Hosseini.

“The thing that I think is really misunderstood about autism is that because (people on the spectrum) don’t perceive things like you or me – neurotypical people – that they don’t have other skills or other ways of perceiving the world,” Hosseini said.

There are many opportunities for

Photo by Annie Lancaster

Alex Nichols, one of the featured artists, makes woven wall art (above) along with scarves, bowls and ornaments.

people to get involved with the Center for Autism and events like these.

Dr. Inna Fishman, founding director of the Center, said they always welcome volunteers who both have experience with special needs or are interested in learning.

Events and activities include hiking groups, play groups, movie nights, game night and yoga in the park.

Annie Lancaster is a senior studying journalism.

Photo by Annie Lancaster

Other artists’ work was displayed and sold at the event.

Chicano poet inspires young writers to experiment in their environment

by Ryan Hardison CONTRIBUTOR

Students, faculty and artists alike gathered to hear renowned Chicano poet Juan Felipe Herrera recite his poetry.

San Diego State’s Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies hosted Herrera at the Aztec Student Union theater on Wednesday, Nov. 6. This event was a part of the department’s 50th anniversary celebration, focusing on prominent Chicano artists in San Diego. Even before the event began, the seats in the theater were packed and the crowd mingled as they awaited his presentation. Prior to Herrera’s appearance, psychology freshman Cienna Corpuz said she was enthusiastic about hearing Herrera speak, despite having little-to-no interest in poetry.

“I’m definitely excited to learn a little bit about the culture,” Corpuz said.

After introductions from Department Chair Maria Ibarra and Campus President

Adela De La Torre, Herrera took the stage.

He began by reading an excerpt from his book “187 Reasons Why Mexicanos Can’t Cross the Border” and instructing the audience to yell “because” whenever he pointed towards them. For five consecutive minutes, Herrera would list humorous reasons preventing Mexicans from crossing the border such as “a quinceanera will ruin the concept of American virginity” and “there’s not enough room for impalas on the freeway.”

He then recited his poem “How To Make World Unity Salsa” and began naming various ingredients such as “jalapeños” and chanting “mash the pulp,” causing uproarious laughter from the audience. Herrera’s poetry readings were interspersed with stories from his own life, including his time attending San Diego High School and his tenure as the first Chicano U.S. Poet Laureate from 2015 to 2017. Herrera also previewed his upcoming book “Everyday We Get More

Illegal,” and read an excerpt from one of the book’s poems about hispanic children living in U.S. border camps.

Following Herrera’s poetry readings, he held a short question and answer session with the audience. During the Q&A, one student asked Herrera what Chicanos could do to continue gaining recognition for their art. He responded by saying Chicanos must figure out their collective goal first before taking further steps.

“First we need to say to each other what do we want to build? What’s the new idea?

How can we keep the movement alive?”

Herrera said.

After the event’s conclusion, many of Herrera’s books were being sold outside the theater, and he held an impromptu book signing session. Chicano studies junior Daniela Luna and marketing senior Tricia Rivera were among many students who bought one of Herrera’s books and waited in line for his autograph. Luna said she was inspired by Herrera’s poetry

and wants to continue pursuing her own writing dreams.

“He’s like a time machine, and hearing about his experience gives me inspiration to write about my own life,” Luna said.

Rivera said she enjoys attending Chicano studies events and advises other students to attend these events as well.

“More people should take advantage of these events because they really open your eyes to what’s happening in the Chicano community,” Rivera said.

Herrera’s final word of advice for aspiring writers was that they should keep writing and experimenting while using everything around them as inspiration. In addition, he said the future was bright for ambitious Chicano poets.

“In this group, there is going to be a second U.S. Chicano Poet Laureate,” Herrera said.

Ryan Hardison is a sophomore studying journalism.

12

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The Back Page

Nov. 13 - 19, 2019 Editor: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Vinyl creates experiences that never die

Photo by Ceighlee Fennel

by Brenden Tuccinardi ENGAGEMENT EDITOR

On Adams Avenue, nestled between a gelato shop and a cafe, you’ll find Ruthie Bible sitting on a stool behind a cash register in a skinny storefront shop, watching over hundreds of vinyl records. She’s been at this post for 35 years, observing and listening, as customers come and go.

Bible, who is in her seventies, is the coowner of Nickelodeon Records, a Normal Heights establishment that has become a San Diego institution. The small record store opened in 1984 but has since been garnering attention from younger generations looking to visit and snap a few pics among the rows of records and with the backdrop of decades of music history behind them.

“Their behavior is totally different,” Bible said about the record store’s younger visitors. “They really like (the shop) and it’s cool and everything, but it’s like a little museum to them. They like to come and take pictures and leave.”

This is something Bible along with the other thousands of record shop owners, and the recording industry at large, have noticed as collecting and listening to vinyl records regains popularity among consumers.

In 2018, more than 16 million vinyl records were sold in the U.S., up nearly 14.6% from the year before, according to Neilsen.

For many collectors, young and old,

holding a physical copy of their favorite record, or owning an entire artist’s discography on vinyl, is a feeling that cannot be replaced.

To them, vinyl records are not solely about the music, it is also about the experience.

“I feel myself much more invested in the music and connected to owning an entire album (on vinyl),” finance junior Joe Schaff said. “That (feeling) is kind of lost in today’s age of streaming music.”

Schaff was first introduced to records by his grandma, who would play her old vinyl records when he would visit around the holidays.

“I fell in love with the warm crackling sound,” Schaff said. “Eventually, I found myself with the opportunity to own a nice record player and my collection began.”

He remembered two of the first albums he got were Minnie Riperton’s “Perfect Angel,” and Jim Croce’s “Greatest Hits.”

Both were gifts from his grandparents.

“The best thing about records is they all come with stories and history behind

them,” Schaff said. “When my grandma gave me Minnie’s record she shared with me one of the best voices I’ve ever heard. On the track ‘Lovin You’ (Minnie Riperton) hits notes that I never thought were humanly possible.”

Schaff collects mostly classic rock records, though has recently picked up albums from artists like Eminem, Kanye West and Arctic Monkeys. Regardless of the year the record was recorded, he said his process does not change.

“My collecting process begins with learning about the band and the history and then I try to go find specific albums on vinyl,” Schaff said.

However, Schaff said what keeps him coming back to collecting records is not necessarily their unique sound, but rather their ability to start conversations.

“Going from store to store and talking to people that share the same passion is what makes it worth it,” Schaff said. “I absolutely love the conversation aspect.”

As someone who also collects

records, I have to agree. Talking to Bible about her collection and comparing notes was a whole other experience, completely separate from the act of listening to the records themselves. Yet, there is something to be said about the artistry involved in producing a record beyond the music.

For example, I have Hippo Campus’ album “Bambi” on vinyl and by far it is my favorite because the amber, black and gold marbled disc is so unique and is just as artistic as the music itself.

For me, a record can be so much more than just another way to listen to music, it really makes the entire experience multidimensional.

Bible echoed this sentiment. “(Records) are like a cereal box with the cover and the liner notes,” she said. “It’s kind of you know, art.”

If current trends continue, vinyl records won’t be going anywhere. It’s ironic that only a couple of years ago people were yelling at Bible from outside Nickelodeon records that vinyl was dead.

“God, it was just like being persecuted,” she said.

But throughout it all Bible said she wouldn’t choose to do anything different.

“It’s still fun after all these years,” she said. “I mean it’s really exciting. I learn something new everyday and it keeps me young.”

Brenden Tuccinardi is a junior studying journalism.

Women’s Resource Center encourages healing with crafts

by Roxana Becerril STAFF WRITER

San Diego State’s Women’s Resource Center opened its doors for its “Healing Through Crafts” event on Thursday, Oct. 7 to encourage students to find peace with their creativity.

Sorority sisters, WRC affiliates and students of all majors turned to glitter, drawing supplies and coloring sheets to de-stress and channel their inner artist in the center’s lobby.

Mindful of the tranquility crafting brings to her, interdisciplinary studies junior Emma Bray is a feminist peer educator and volunteer event coordinator who played a part in organizing the gathering to share calmness with others.

“Healing Through Crafts” was also intended to double as a forum for guests to engage in dialogue about topics related to social injustices and other themes.

“The crafts are usually a tactile distraction for greater conversations,” Bray said. “We wanted to encourage folks to come to the space and meet other people who they could connect with (and) express how they’re feeling.”

Dialogue between attendees flowed throughout the afternoon. At moments, people would exchange thoughts on everything from poets and musicians

to social anxieties and internship opportunities.

Conversation in place or not, the WRC team aims to create a space with a sense of safety and comfort.

When women’s studies grad student Lori Loftin oversees the center’s program content, she makes sure everything is inclusive and that everyone feels supported.

She said people on campus are always welcome to take a quick visit to the center whenever they need a minute to recharge, herself included.

“It’s really nice to know this event is here for me to de-stress and not have to leave work … I’m kind of an introvert so it’s nice to be around people doing something,” Loftin said.

Marketing junior Vania Roman has been to a few WRC gatherings, and she said she was very fond of the relatability of the content and the socializing aspect of the events.

“I like being able to talk to different people,” Roman said. “Sometimes you don’t feel comfortable (talking) because there are other people around, so being able to talk about certain things here and not having to go to counseling makes it easy.”

The WRC at SDSU strives to provide a vibrant, brave and inclusive space that educates, empowers and advocates for

women’s rights, according to the center’s mission statement.

The WRC also has a library, lactation room, kitchen and lounge areas that are

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open to visitors.

Roxana Becerril is a senior studying journalism.

CREDIT CLASSES Spring 2020

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