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The Daily Aztec
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Feb. 5 - 11, 2020 EDITOR: Kaitlyn Little • news@thedailyaztec.com
CSU board approves SDSU Mission Valley financing plan and environmental analysis by Jeanette STAFF WRITER
Giovanniello
San Diego State’s plan for a Mission Valley expansion project progressed again Wednesday after the California State University Board of Trustees unanimously approved the university’s financing plan and environmental analysis. The vote allows SDSU to move forward with its 135-acre university expansion project once it clears a final hurdle with city leaders — a finalized purchase and sale agreement.
Rendering of the SDSU Innovation District in Mission Valley.
“This day is the culmination of extensive work by SDSU and CSU staff, the City of San Diego and the many supporters of SDSU Mission Valley who recognized this as an invaluable opportunity for SDSU to expand and better serve its academic mission and the community,” SDSU President Adela de la Torre said. The approved financing plan includes the cost of the property acquisition and the construction of the site’s infrastructure. At a total cost of $3 billion, the school’s initial investment towards the project is $300 million. These costs will be paid by short-term
Photo courtesy of SDSU
University affirms support for those impacted by Trump administration travel ban by Jadyn Brandt STAFF WRITER
On Jan. 31, San Diego State sent a campuswide email detailing President Donald Trump’s extension of the travel ban and its relation to the university. The extended travel ban now includes Myanmar, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania. Beginning on Feb. 22, the administration will suspend the issuing of overseas visas, and individuals from the included countries will no longer be allowed to enter the United States. The email, sent by Chief Diversity Officer J. Luke Wood and Interim Associate Vice President for Global Affairs Cristina Alfaro, said San Diego State was in full support of all students, faculty and staff at the university. “In the collective, we at SDSU are a diverse, global community, with many from differing backgrounds and countries of origin,” the email said. “Further, our community includes individuals of differing immigration statuses, including those who are undocumented and from mixed-status
family backgrounds. Our diversity is our strength and one of the important marks of our success. Our diversity is also what invigorates our creative, intellectual and innovative work.” The email also reminded students and staff of the university’s obligations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. “FERPA protects the privacy of a student’s immigration status and educational records,” the email said. “All members of the campus community should respect the privacy and sensitivity of these matters.” The email urged students to visit SDSU’s Student Privacy/FERPA page for more information. According to the email, university officials will continue to monitor the status of the travel ban and support members of the SDSU community who may be affected. The email also said students in need of support can contact the Office of the Dean of Students or the International Student Center. Faculty who have concerns about impacts to visa status or travel may contact the Office of Faculty Advancement.
Graphic by Emily Burgess
financing and revenue bonds issued by the CSU, which would then be repaid by university revenues through publicprivate partnerships at the Mission Valley site. The university says the finances will not rely on taxpayer dollars or student tuition fees. To finalize the purchase and sale agreement, CSU Chancellor Timothy White is set to negotiate a deal with the city of San Diego. The university submitted an increased offer for the SDCCU Stadium site of $87.7 million at a council meeting in November. City leaders must vote to finalize the agreement before the sale and transfer of the land to the university can proceed. The board also approved the university’s final Environmental Impact Report that was released earlier this month. The document reviews the development’s short- and long-term effect on air quality, wildlife and other ecological elements, as well as the use of hazardous materials and emissions. The university’s final EIR calls for sustainable development — with limits placed on the use of natural gas while electrifying buildings and vehicles. The project will include new protected bike lanes on Rio San Diego Drive and additional bike lanes to ensure a continuous bike path exists between the two university campuses.
The report also includes possible traffic solutions around the new development, proposing to reconstruct intersections that surround the site area and upgrade traffic signs and cameras. The university also agreed to build a Fenton Parkway Bridge to increase traffic flow in the surrounding area. Aside from campus facilities that will support up to 20,000 new students, the Mission Valley site will include student housing, a hotel, a 35,000 seat multiuse stadium and 80 acres of parks and open space. Inside this space will be an expansive 34-acre River Park built by SDSU — to be owned by the city. “I am confident that the Mission Valley project will prove transformative for SDSU and its students, and I believe the Board’s unanimity reflects the fact that the goals of the project so closely track the broader mission and ideals of the CSU,” the Chair of the Board of Trustees Adam Day said. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer was also present at the meeting and voiced his support for the university’s expansion plans. “We are within grasp of a modern multiuse stadium, a world-class river park for all San Diegans to enjoy and a world-class education and research hub to ensure the SDSU legacy lives on for generations to come,” Faulconer said. “Today we take another step toward bringing that vision to life.”
Feb. 5 - 11, 2020 EDITOR: Kaitlyn Little • news@thedailyaztec.com
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UTK dining system makes changes to notifying customers by Katelynn STAFF WRITER
Robinson
New technology updates at University Towers Kitchen have eliminated the need for physical buzzers. Instead of using pagers to alert students that their food is ready — as done in previous semesters — UTK unveiled TV screens that display individual order numbers where students can track the progress of their order. With the new register system, called “Symphony,” the TV screens display the number that corresponds with your receipt. When the bar underneath your number is red, your order is in progress. When the bar turns green, your food is ready to eat. The updated system also allows customers to use Apple and Google pay. Director of SDSU Dining Paul
Melchior said the new platform at UTK is more efficient for employees and is technologically advanced. “For us it is seamless, it moves more electronically than physically,” Melchior said. Because students were unfamiliar with the new process, the first night was rocky according to Melchior. However, as time passes, the system is becoming more normalized. Melchior said the students’ understanding of the new system is just as important as the employees’ understanding. “This like anything else is customer training as much as it is employee training,” Melchior said. Melchior also said this new system would not have been implemented if SDSU Dining did not have confidence in the students ability to adapt to the change. “I think what allows us to make this jump to this technology is the aptitude of the students,” Melchior said. “Knowing that they will
understand the system and know how to use it and know how to make it work for them. If we didn’t have confidence in the aptitude of the students we wouldn’t be able to do this.” Eliminating physical buzzers saves time for UTK employees, who no longer have to retrieve pagers from the expedite counter back to registers. Melchior also said sustainability played a factor in the decision to drop the buzzer system. “We use a lot less electricity without the pagers,” Melchior said. Robert Isner, assistant director of SDSU Dining, said student health was another factor in eliminating the buzzer system. Because pagers are shared among many students, sanitary issues could arise. Pagers were wiped down every day, but after every daily use. “And the other thing you don’t really want to talk about or think about is that pager doesn’t get
wiped down,” Isner said. When asked about potential concerns for individuals who may have trouble seeing the screen, Melchior said the screen should be no harder to see than other things in regular life. “My response to that would be it’s no more of an impairment for nearsighted than regular life. So if you are nearsighted and you can’t see that screen then you should be getting glasses for regular life,” Melchior said. Isner also said the screens meet ADAl accessibility requirements for individuals who are color blind, Once the number on the screen turns green, it stays up there for an additional five minutes. Isner said food will sometimes have to be remade if customers do not pick it up in time, because the food sitting in the window is no longer fresh. “If your order goes away (off the screen) we will probably remake
your food,” Isner said. “When the number bumps off we go out and look for the person but sometimes they remake the food.” Both Melchior and Isner said UTK customers should go check on their food if it has been about ten minutes since ordering. They said that the wait time for food is usually between 5 and 7 minutes. Biochemistry freshman Benjamin Blocher said despite some problems he had experienced with the pager system, he still prefers buzzersover the new system. “Personally, I liked it better with the last system, but at the same time it did have a lot of problems with each of the little systems breaking and stuff, so I understand the reason why they changed it,” Blocher said. “At the same time, sometimes my number doesn’t show up there and I have to wait and you can see there is a bunch of backed up numbers on there so I feel like it’s not sufficient for them.”
Multiple fees approved to be implemented for fall 2020 by Catlan Nguyen STAFF WRITER
San Diego State students will soon see an increase in their fees beginning in the fall 2020 semester. President Adela de la Torre approved both the Health and Wellness Fee and the Instructionally Related Fee on Dec. 12 after receiving final recommendations from the Campus Fee Advisory Committee. Tuition fees will increase by $55 per semester for the Health and Wellness Fee and by $40 per semester for the IRA fee, marking a $95 per semester total increase. The fees will go toward increasing mental health resources and funding three new identity centers on campus. The university’s fee committee held its final meeting on Nov. 22 after completing the 41 scheduled student forums and compiling feedback. The committee recommended approval of both fee increases to President de la Torre. More counselors will be available to students on campus in accordance with the one therapist per 1,500
students national standard. The counseling department will also hire additional case managers and establish an after-hours phone line. “There was a genuine need for mental health support from the students,” Associate Vice President of the Division of Student Affairs Andrea Dooley said. “We’re working very hard to make this happen for fall 2020. We got some strong feedback with the need for mental health and we’re excited to deliver for students and help the SDSU community.” About 10% of the SDSU student population uses the mental health resources offered on campus, which is high compared to other universities, SDSU Director of Counseling and Psychological Resources Jennifer Rikard said. The planned identity centers – including the Native Resource Center, the Latinx Center and the Asian American Pacific Islander/ Desi Center – will be built and fully open by the fall 2020 semester, Assistant Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Identity Centers Agustín “Augie” Garibay said. The funds from the IRA fee will
not go towards the construction of the centers but rather their staffing and programming, Garibay said. The Latinx Resource Center will be located on the first floor of the Love Library near the Chicano/ Chicana collections and the Native Resource Center will be located in room 202 of the College of Arts and Letters building. Both will have soft openings in February and March with the campus president and members involved in the community. The division is still searching for a location for the Asian American Pacific Islander/Desi American lounge, Garibay said. Although Dooley said much of the student feedback from forums was in favor of increased resources for mental health counselors, students were concerned about the prospect of additional fees. Anonymous student feedback from the forums, which is publicly posted on the university’s Business and Financial Affairs website, raised concerns over the added costs the two fees would place on students in the future. “Why propose the ARC fee and
Mission Valley last year before mental health?” one student wrote. “The university — if it really cared — would shoulder the fee increases instead of pushing it off onto students.” Other students were in agreement with this kind of feedback, even after the approval. “While I’m glad our mental health facilities and resource centers can finally receive desperately-needed funds, it is disappointing that an inauguration, a revamped gym and a forced sophomore housing program were prioritized before such,” political science sophomore Casey Ehrlich said. “I feel like struggling resources for students should have been prioritized before.” Public relations junior Rodizza Baytan said her community college advertised the availability of mental health counselors more so than SDSU. “At my community college, they had a lot of counselors that would come in during class, randomly just to let them know that they’re there for students,” Baytan said. “I felt good knowing that they were there and available to students. I haven’t
experienced that here, which I was surprised about.” Although much of the negative feedback from the student forums focused on financial burdens, Rikard emphasized how each forum’s presentation pointed students toward other financial tools and resources. “It was an opportunity to tell students how funds get allocated and through what processes,” Rikard said. “We knew an increase in fees could be a burden, and so we made sure to include information about financial aid and scholarship tools.” The Return to Aid plan was created in anticipation of student financial concerns. The plan, influenced by similar programs in the University of California system, would allow students to have access to money without having to be eligible for financial aid through FAFSA. Although specific details regarding the system are yet to be determined, Dooley said the program would give out 2,000 awards per academic year. International students would also be eligible.
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Opinion
The Daily Aztec
Feb. 5 - 11, 2020 EDITOR: Catherine Van Weele • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
Grieving celebrity deaths is valid by Trinity Bland STAFF WRITER
The death of a celebrity can be historically monumental for many people. Whether the person is a singer, politician, athlete or actor, the world mourns at the news of losing an icon. We must validate these feelings. One minimizing thing people say when a famed artist, writer or musician dies is, “at least the world still has all its work.” Although this is true, these works are often what has touched us about these celebrities and having their current works easily accessible to us does not mean there isn’t a deep sense of loss and sadness that they will never make something new. There are some instances where unreleased music and literature are made public, but it is never the same as having an artist, actor or writer defend and showcase themselves and their art when it is made available. We can be grateful for these talented individuals and the work they have done over the course of their lifetime. Their legacy cannot be erased. It’s normal for fans to feel sad and grieve over the loss of someone in the public eye. These icons have often been a regular part of our lives in shows and movies that we love, created music that defines moments in our lives or broke unforgettable records in the sports world. They did all this while creating a legacy that generations to come
will have the opportunity to experience. These connections are not just about how much we love and respect these people, but also about the personal influence they have on our lives and culture. Many times, we can see ourselves represented on a bigger scale by the way these celebrities carry themselves and use their platform to spread their talents and do their part to make the world a better place. There’s also the chance that a celebrity was always there to comfort us, no matter the medium they use to showcase their talents. Maybe it was watching Jessie on Disney Channel for innocent entertainment after school. If that was the case, hearing about the sudden death of actor Cameron Boyce was absolutely heartbreaking for you. Or perhaps it was watching comedies starring Robin Williams, then being crushed to learn the news that the world lost a great entertainer. Whatever and whoever it was, when a celebrity dies who brought us comfort in our difficult times, it can be especially painful to comprehend that they are no longer with us. We see news and information about a celebrity’s death when it occurs literally everywhere. You turn on the TV, listen to the radio, sign onto social media, look at news sites — you simply can’t avoid it. This constant exposure can be overwhelming and it can make it hard to get a break from the tough emotions.
I was nine years old when Michael Jackson died in June 2009. The day after the world learned of this tragic news, his name dominated the headlines on newspaper stands. I didn’t understand the impact of his death on the world. I thought it would be just a news story and it would be over after that night. But it was what everyone talked about for practically the rest of the year and even beyond that. I became a fan of his later on in life and even today, I am still trying to grasp how influential he was to not only entertainment, but to the world. When Kobe and Gianna Bryant were killed in a helicopter crash at the end of January, I couldn’t escape hearing, reading, seeing any type of news relating to the tragedy. It made me sick to my stomach to continuously see things about them, so I signed off of every social media platform I actively used at the time. It was too much to take in and, yes, I was in grief, but I was also in utter shock. Seeing it more and more made it too real and, although that may sound foolish to say, I think it was a part of my grieving process. When people don’t affirm our emotions, it just makes us feel worse. It could also feel like we’re not being supported and that we can’t be honest about how we feel. If someone has ever disregarded your grief over the death of a celebrity and possibly considered your feelings to be either irrational or crazy, you may have found yourself hesitant to talk about
how you feel to others. I remember on Christmas Day in 2016, looking at my phone and seeing the news about music legend George Michael passing away. I was genuinely sad because not only did I become a big fan of him and his music not too long before that, I was also talking the day before about how I would want to see him on tour someday. When I alerted my family of the sad news, they briefly recognized his death, but resumed their festivities. For weeks after that, I mourned intensely because it seemed like my family didn’t take time to recognize my feelings about George Michael’s passing. I’ll never forget that. There’s no clear, step-by-step strategy for coping or dealing with something as tragic as death, whether it’s someone you know personally or not. Allow yourself to grieve, however you please. It is disrespectful and insensitive to try and control somebody’s emotions during a stressful time like this. Celebrity deaths have a global impact on people and their loss is absolutely valid. Speak to a trustworthy adult or counselor. Write about your feelings and put them down on paper. Immerse yourself in the work of that particular celebrity, if it helps. Be gentle with yourself and your healing process. Validate your grieving journey. It’s normal. Trinity Bland is a sophomore studying journalism. Follow her on Twitter @trinityaliciaa.
Our education system is failing its students by Ellyse Logan STAFF WRITER
Our desire to learn isn’t enough for American universities. We have to prove ourselves through grades and standardized testing starting from the moment our brains become capable of questioning the world around us. Our economy has found a way to capitalize off of our desire to learn rather than nurturing our curiosity about the world around us. It has gotten so intense that menial tasks such as printing and parking are an additional charge to the thousands of dollars we are paying in housing and tuition fees. Then as we are being molded by our high schools, we are conditioned to think that attending a community college or choosing to immediately enter the workforce are somehow considered to be options that won’t get us to where we need or want to be. However, in four years time, the people that chose these different pathways won’t be on average $20,000 in debt. So often four-year institutions are flaunted and flashed around, but it isn’t for our benefit— it is for the university as a business.
EDITOR IN CHIEF Bella Ross MANAGING EDITOR Dana Tsuri-Etzioni NEWS EDITOR Kaitlyn Little ASST. NEWS EDITOR Michael Cline OPINION EDITOR Catherine Van Weele MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Alejandra Luna ASST. MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Diane Lopez ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Ceighlee Fennel SPORTS EDITOR Aaron Tolentino ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Kyle Betz ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Roxanna Becerril PHOTO EDITOR Alexa Oslowski MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Amal Younis ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jack Molmud GRAPHIC DESIGNER Emily Burgess VOLUNTEER COPYEDITOR Noah Goldbloom
STAFF WRITERS Trinity Bland Jaydn Brandt Jason Freund Jeanette Giovanniello Breven Honda Ellyse Logan Lucelis Martínez Catlan Nguyen Amber Salas Katelynn Robinson SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Cristian Alvarez Daniel Guerrero Kelly Kerrigan Johann Derek Oribello CONTRIBUTORS Sofia Gomez Danika Schmitz ________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bryan Diamond
Today there are many people that struggle with graduating in four years with a bachelor’s degree, it usually takes students five years which only adds to the amount of money that the university will get from us. But this isn’t always enough. Many jobs out of college are looking for people with a master’s degree. So that’s four to five years of undergrad with an additional two years postgrad.
more from them. It is our money we are going to have to spend the next 10 to 20 years paying off that makes San Diego State and other universities the iconic institutions they are. We should not have students who are homeless or struggling to provide food or other basic necessities for themselves while the people in charge sit in fancy offices and take home six-figure salaries.
“Our economy has found a way to capitalize off of our desire to learn rather than nurturing our curiousity about the world around us.” Finally, in the way our current job market is it is difficult to get a job without prior experience in the field. How do you get experience if no one will hire you? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy learning and working towards getting a degree, but I think we are giving up a lot more than what we bargained for. The university system uses our education to their benefit and I think we should be demanding
Education should be a human right, but not everyone is allowed the same chances to succeed in their learning environments. Education is something our government has chosen to capitalize on at the expense of the student. Often times, we are stuck in classes that aren’t serving us or what we want to do. Or we are forcing ourselves into career paths that we aren’t necessarily passionate about, hoping to make enough money
to pay off the copious amounts of debt we’ve incurred. During college you learn many things about yourself and what you are passionate about, but changing your major or career path can come with a huge waste of time and money. Education is political when you think about it. The government provides money for public schools so whatever the government wants you to know will be taught and what they don’t want you to know won’t be. The same goes for private schools despite differences in curriculum. By law, we are supposed to know the basic subjects like math, history, science and English. We should be asking a lot more from these institutions that are fueled by our time and money. We have been told too often that being educated is a privilege and not a right. It should be our human right to be educated about the world around us as truthfully as possible. As students, we are pawns in a game we always lose, and it’s about time we get a say in our learning. Ellyse Logan is a sophomore studying international business. Follow her on Twitter @ellyselogan.
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Opinion 5 Let’s bring back camping for student basketball tickets
Feb. 5 - 11, 2020 EDITOR: Catherine Van Weele • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
by Jason Freund STAFF WRITER
Before October of 2017, the lines in front of Viejas Arena to get student basketball tickets were long enough to make Black Friday blush. Students used to stake out for hours in front of Montezuma Mesa with the hopes of snagging that precious ticket that would grant them an entrance to one of the loudest venues in college basketball. On the days leading up to tickets being released, rabid members of “The Show,” San Diego State’s infamous student section, packed the venue in front of Fraternity Row with sleeping bags, food and other necessities to set up camp at the box office. By “set up camp,” I don’t mean going out into the woods and living off the land. I mean show up three or four hours early to Viejas Arena, pray that you get a good spot in line, sit down on the cold concrete and set up your stuff in an orderly fashion. Then? Let the waiting begin. Others will soon join you and that line will begin to wrap its way around the concourse until it pushes up against the edge of 5th Street. Friends were made, marshmallows were shared and chants were shouted. It wasn’t uncommon for somebody to bring out an old copy of “Super Smash Brothers Melee” for Gamecube. So, when it was announced on Oct. 23, 2017 that students would be able to claim their tickets online through SDSUStudentTix.com, the need for camping was over. No more waiting in lines in front of the box office. Just tap a
few buttons and boom, you have one free ticket to the game. That’s exactly how the system should work. No flaws, no notices saying a ticket was delayed, no spinning hourglass shutting out students who want to see the game. But just that happened to dozens of students when trying to acquire a ticket for the men’s basketball game on Feb. 1. As soon as the virtual gates opened at 9 a.m, students from Adams Humanities to the GMCS building flocked to snap up one of 2,500 free tickets allotted to students. What were they greeted with instead? Well, there were the loading screens for starters. Then the website crashed, showing only an (admittedly cute) virtual dog that said the website was “encountering heavier than normal traffic.” Wait. Heavier than normal traffic? Shouldn’t the athletics department have known students would be chomping at the bit to watch the team that is currently ranked fourth in the nation, is the only undefeated team in college basketball and can sink a bucket from anywhere on the court? If that wasn’t enough enticement to go, there is also this guy named Kawhi Leonard who’s going to be having his jersey retired at a halftime ceremony. You may have heard of him. He is the player who recently led the Aztecs to their first Sweet 16 in school history and then went on to win the NBA Finals MVP award twice with two different teams. So, after wrestling with the website for hours, students began to think to themselves, “Why should I bother with this when I can just get a physical
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ticket at the box office?” Yeah, about that. Physical copies were not being sold at Viejas Arena. The only option is through SDSUStudentTix.com, which hadn’t been functioning properly for hours. The question that needs answering is this: when will it happen again? At this rate, the team will only get better as the season goes on, which means tickets will fly off the shelves like hotcakes. That, in turn, will lead to more crashes and more frustration. My proposition? Simple. Get rid of this online system and bring back physical tickets. Bring back camping out for tickets. Yes, getting tickets on the app might be the more simple option, but it just feels … soulless. Easy, yes, but it just isn’t the same. People don’t get to see who they were sitting with. Should physical tickets be
reintroduced and the sleeping bags get rolled out again, it would immediately equate to a student section that could bring even more noise to a game. A sense of kinship amongst students would be made as they bond while sitting on that cold concrete. Bandwagon fans looking to turn a profit by selling their ticket will be weeded out from the die-hards, who will wait as long as they have to in order to see a Malachi Flynn three or a Yanni Wetzell dunk. When asked about camping, freshman Chase Osborn said he preferred camping because “it allows people to meet people who are going to be at the game and build chemistry with The Show.” That. That right there is what it’s all about. It’s about chemistry. Just as a basketball team needs chemistry on the court, so do students when orchestrating
chants and Big Heads in The Show. What better way to build chemistry than by sitting around with your fellow students and making memories? It was part of the college experience. It was even celebrated at some points. Now, it’s no more. It has been replaced by a computer system. The experiences that fans had in that magical 34-3 season will never be felt by today’s students unless the right thing is done and SDSUStudentTix.com is done away with. Bring back the age of the physical tickets and the campers. Sure, the lines will last for a while. But the memories will last forever in the minds of college basketball fans. Jason Freund is a junior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @jason_frings.
Photo by Alexa Oslowski
Student outside of Viejas Ticket Office.
Online classes are not very effective in educating students by Catherine OPINION EDITOR
Van Weele
Online classes began to be popularized just a few decades ago. They are advertised as a way for adults to finish their education and students to learn the material at their own pace — it is far more compatible for people with busy schedules. But after being enrolled in an online course last fall semester, I have come to realize firsthand that online classes are not the promising educational opportunities they are made out be. For many students at San Diego State, online classes are merely a means to fulfill course and unit requirements. There is a lack of willingness and desire to learn. Students are simply not motivated in online classes. They are usually easy A’s and are time efficient, but student learning outcomes tend to be lackluster. Students simply complete their assignments to receive credit for a passing grade, rather than genuinely engaging with the course material.
Graphic by Emily Burgess
Because online courses tend to have more than 100 students, most of the assignments are short and simple. Assignments are designed to be graded easily to accommodate such a large number of students instead of being assignments where students can interact with the material more in depth. Because there are no scheduled
meeting times for class, students must rely on self-discipline to get through the material on their own. Many students, especially procrastinators, may find themselves cramming for assignment deadlines and exams because they did not plan out study session times throughout the semester. This is not an effective way to learn.
Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of taking an online class is the absence of face-toface interaction between the teacher and their students. Live sessions are infrequent and often are scheduled during the middle of the day when students have to attend other classes or work. The office hours of the professor may also be during inconvenient times for many students as well. Most interaction with the professor has to be through email which is often direct and impersonal. It is nearly impossible for students to build a relationship with their professor. Students cannot raise their hands to ask questions during a lecture to clarify information or to share their own ideas with the class. This makes it more difficult for students to understand the material and build new connections in their brain. There is also little interaction amongst students. It can be harder to create study groups and form relationships with their peers. Students do not have the
same opportunities to make new friends or network with people in their field. Most communications are through emails, discussion chains or group chats. Face-toface interaction is minimal if it is even there at all. Online classes also require either a computer or laptop and a reliable internet connection. Not all students have access to these types of resources, whether it be for financial or other reasons, and it can put them at a disadvantage to their other classmates. Offering online classes certainly helps students who would otherwise not be able to attend in-room class sessions. However, they fail to provide a genuine education with an emphasis on convenience rather than critical thinking. We need online classes to restructure themselves so students can have a learning experience that will actually provide quality education. Catherine Van Weele is a sophomore studying political science. Follow her on Twitter @catievanweele.
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The Daily Aztec
Sports
Feb. 5 - 11, 2020 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com
Martinez: Rudick is a ‘Tony Gwynn-type hitter’
FREQUENT
TRIPS TO THE RESTROOM? File photo
Then-sophomore outfielder Matt Rudick takes batting practice during the 2019 season at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
by Daniel Guerrero SENIOR STAFF WRITER
One of the things synonymous with San Diego State is baseball legend Tony Gwynn. The former Aztecs player and head coach is revered as one of the greatest hitters to ever step on to a baseball diamond while donning the Scarlet and Black. As a player, Gwynn had back-to-back seasons with a batting average above .400 in 1980 and 1981. When looking at this year’s Aztecs team, there is one player who comes to mind for head coach Mark Martinez when comparing an approach in the batter’s box similar to Gwynn’s. The player who draws those comparisons is junior outfielder Matt Rudick. Martinez said Rudick is the closest player he’s seen who can replicate Gwynn’s style at the plate at this stage in his collegiate career. “I did a coach’s clinic last week and (Rudick) was a big part of my talk,” Martinez said. “(This is) probably the greatest compliment you can give somebody, and he’s as close to the model of a Tony Gwynn-type hitter as you can see.” In two years at SDSU, Rudick has been able to provide consistency in the Aztecs’ batting order. The 5-foot-9 left-handed hitter posted back-to-back seasons of hitting .300 – averaging .319 in 2018 and .320 in 2019. Rudick’s 2019 season also included 18 multi-hit games and a 21-game hitting streak – good for the longest streak by an Aztec since 2010. The Scripps Ranch High School graduate was recognized with 2019 All-Mountain West First Team honors in the process. The San Diego native said he aims to provide opportunities for the Aztecs offense, as someone who sets the tone at the top of the batting order. “I’m a base hit guy (at) the top of the order,” Rudick said. “I’m just going to try and get on base and try to get the other guys behind me to get me in.” Rudick’s ability at the plate has also garnered praise from some of his teammates. Senior outifield Mike Jarvis said
Rudick has the ability to create runs in a number of different ways. “He’s our best pure hitter and he’s quick on the bases, so if he isn’t hitting doubles, he can steal second and score in a lot of ways,” Jarvis told The Daily Aztec. “Definitely one of the best hitters I’ve ever played with.” Rudick’s offensive production went beyond hitting leadoff for the Aztecs last season. In situations with runners on base, Rudick was second on the Aztecs with a .352 batting average. Martinez said Rudick’s progression as a hitter is something he is looking forward to heading into the 2020 season. “(Rudick) does unbelievable things with his bat,” Martinez said. “He does magic things with the bat, so I’m excited to again see his process to continue to grow.” Although Martinez calls Rudick’s ability with the bat magical, Rudick said his approach at the plate has been about simplicity. “I don’t try to do too much,” Rudick said. “I just try to think fastball and try to keep it a simple plan.” Rudick led the Aztecs in multiple offensive statistical categories in 2019: batting average (.320), hits (77), total bases (95) and runs scored (48). He was also the conference’s toughest batter to strikeout, averaging 12.1 plate appearances for every strikeout. The effect Rudick has on the Aztecs is felt off the field as well. Jarvis said Rudick knows how to get the team focused, but create an enjoyable work environment as well. “(Rudick’s) a great teammate,” Jarvis told The Daily Aztec. “(He) knows how to have fun while pushing the guy next to him to work harder.” While getting ready for his third season donning the Scarlet and Black, Rudick said his goal is to keep his same mentality that he’s had in his first two seasons. “I’m just going to keep on doing what I’ve been doing for the past two years,” Rudick said of his approach at the plate in 2020. “I’m not going to try (to get ahead of) myself.” Daniel is a senior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @TheDanGuerrero.
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Sports 7 Oregon transfer set to star in Aztecs’ pitching staff
Feb. 5 - 11, 2020 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com
The Daily Aztec
by Amber Salas STAFF WRITER
Former Oregon standout pitcher Maggie Balint is ready to step on the circle with San Diego State softball for the 2020 season. Balint put her name in the transfer portal, and it was associate head coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz who found Balint. Deniz emailed Balint, and the rest is history. Balint is now an Aztec. Back in May, Balint announced on Instagram that she will be transferring to SDSU to finish her remaining two years of eligibility. She is eligible to play immediately for the Aztecs. “Happy to announce I will be spending the next 2 years at San Diego State finishing up my academic and athletic career!,” Balint announced on Instagram. “Thank you to everyone that has supported me through the last couple of months.” Balint said the academic part of her decision played a role in transferring to SDSU. She saw San Diego as a city with opportunity for life after softball. “I was looking for more of an opportunity to get an internship,” Balint said. “Having more of the job aspect (down) after college.” With the softball season
Courtesy of Oregon Athletics
In two seasons at Oregon, pitcher Maggie Balint went 28-4 with a 1.81 ERA and 214 strikeouts against 53 walks in 185 innings.
quickly approaching, Balint is ready to make her SDSU debut on the mound. The Aztecs will open their season on Feb. 6 with the River City Leadoff Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida. Head coach Kathy Van Wyk said Balint is likely to start the second game of the tournament on Feb. 7 against Villanova.
Balint brings a decorated history with her. She was a finalist for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Freshman of the Year, a 2017 First-Place NFCA All-Pacific Region selection and a first-team all-Pac-12 pick. Additionally, she was the only freshman of 34 finalists for the USA Softball Player of the Year award.
“What impresses me the most about Maggie is how independent she is, and how hard a worker she is,” Van Wyk said. “Along with that, she’s extremely competitive. “Our kids would be her sometimes, and you can just see her just turning it up a notch to the next level.” Over her past two seasons at Oregon, Balint went 28-4 in the
circle with a 1.51 ERA, finishing a total of 13 complete games. She had a total of five shutouts, three saves and 214 strikeouts against only 53 walks in 185 innings. As a freshman, Balint helped lead her team to the Women’s College World Series. The team finished with a 54-8 record. “I’ve had a lot of experience. I’ve played in (Oklahoma City) in the World Series. I’ve played in Super Regionals in front of 3,000 fans.” Balint said of the winning experience she brings to the Mesa. “I bring an attitude of ‘we’re here to win.” This upcoming season looks promising for Balint and the Aztecs as they were picked second in the Mountain West preseason poll voted on by the league’s nine head coaches. The Aztecs had 50 votes finishing second to San José State’s 53 votes. SDSU has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2015. “We’re going to impress a lot of teams,” Balint said. “We’ve totally transpired from what San Diego State was before to what we are now... I believe we will be making postseason this year.” Aaron Tolentino contributed to the reporting of this article. Amber Salas is a junior studying journalism. Follow her on Twitter @ambersalass.
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Feb. 5 - 11, 2020 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com
Lacrosse guns for three-peat in 2020 by Cristian Alvarez SENIOR STAFF WRITER
San Diego State lacrosse is prepared to make another run in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, but this time as the reigning, defending, back-to-back champions from the past two seasons. The Aztecs have an opportunity for a three-peat this season. “I think it’s really cool,” senior midfielder Taylor Sullivan said of a potentially another championship. “It also makes us at San Diego State more known across the country.” Over nine months have passed since SDSU captured its most recent and second consecutive MPSF title after defeating UC Davis in the final of the conference championships back on April 28, 2019. The Aztecs also finished last season with 11 wins, tying the most in program history. “We learned from last season, but we’re a completely different team with new people and have a lot more to bring,” Sullivan said. “We learned, but also had to put that in the past because we have a new job to do and are working hard to do even better this year.” The Aztecs have had a busy offseason with plenty of change.
Six seniors graduated with 12 new freshmen and one transfer coming on. “The freshmen this year are a really great group,” sophomore midfielder Cailin Young said. “They all work really hard and want to be here. All the upperclassmen have been helpful in getting the younger players adjusted.” In addition to new players, head coach Kylee White added former Syracuse midfielder Taylor Gait to the coaching staff as an assistant. Having a coach with playing experience helps relate to players during games. “She’s still pretty young, so she knows exactly what we’re going through,” Young said. Players in the summertime had individual training regimes and met with teammates to keep themselves fit. In the fall semester, players reported back for practice, lifting and conditioning sessions under the team’s coaching staff. Following the holiday break, January hosted preseason matches so players could turn their focus on the new season. Despite losing six starters last year, the team is eager to get back onto the field. “We were nervous losing such a dominant senior class last year, but this team bonded in a different way and really connected more
than we thought was possible,” White said. “This team bought into new systems and came back fit, ready to go.” Before the regular season begins on Feb. 16, the Aztecs host two exhibition games. The first match happened back on Feb. 1, where the Aztecs fell 18-7 against UC Davis. One week later on Feb. 8, SDSU faces Claremont Mudd-Scripps. The team officially announced this season’s schedule on Dec. 17 with a variety of new matchups lined up for the Aztecs, especially on the road. The Aztecs start regular season play in Palo Alto against Stanford, who was ranked as No. 20 in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association preseason poll. On Feb. 23, the Aztecs travel to Los Angeles to meet No. 16 USC. During the months of March and April, SDSU has three matches against top-10 teams in the polls. No. 9 Michigan, No. 10 Denver and No. 1 Maryland, the 14-time NCAA champions and national champions last season, are all listed as opponents for the Aztecs. “That’s the challenge I want,” White said. “If you want to be the best, you got to play the best. Having teams like Maryland, Michigan, Denver and USC on your schedule, you’re going to
push yourself and know you have to prepare against those great teams.” SDSU’s home opener is on Feb. 20 against Arizona State.
Cristian Alvarez is a senior studying interdisciplinary studies. Follow him on Twitter @AlvarezTheViper.
File photo
Junior attacker Julia Sheehan faces off against UC Davis during her freshman year in 2018.
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Sports 9 Kawhi Leonard’s jersey stands alone in Viejas rafters
Feb. 5 - 11, 2020 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com
by Aaron Tolentino SPORTS EDITOR
At about the 10-minute mark in San Diego State men’s basketball game against Utah State, Kawhi Leonard entered the tunnel on the side of the visitor’s bench. Leonard entered a Viejas Arena tunnel 31 times on gameday when he was a student-athlete at SDSU from 2009 to 2011. But the walk on Feb. 1 onto Steve Fisher Court was a much different one. There were security guards surrounding him and cameramen following him to get a shot as he makes his return into a sold-out Viejas crowd. Not to mention, the current
Photo by Kareem Jones
Clippers forward stood aside his girlfriend Kishele and his 3-yearold daughter Kaliyah. Were the Aztecs distracted on the court – maybe that attributed to the eight-point deficit and only the third time the team trailed at halftime all season? SDSU head coach Brian Dutcher said he liked how his players didn’t let the spectacle of Leonard’s presence distract them. “The mental toughness was not about the opponent, but not getting caught up in this atmosphere and having the ability to focus on the task at hand,” Dutcher said. While the Aztecs were in the locker room at halftime, the ceremony on the court for Leonard was the center of attention – honoring all his accomplishments both at SDSU and in the NBA. “It’s a dream come true,” Leonard said in his speech. “Just coming here, I wanted to make a name for myself. I wanted to put San Diego State on the map.” Indeed, he did. A lot has changed in Leonard’s life on and off the court since his days on the Mesa. On the court, Leonard has notched the following accolades: -Two-time NBA Champion -Two-time NBA Finals MVP -Two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year
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-Two-time All-NBA First Team -Four-time NBA All-Star You can debate if LeBron James, Anthony Davis or a healthy Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry is better. However, as the reigning Finals MVP, it’s undeniable Leonard is one of the top players in the world today. Leonard is a winner who has proved it on the collegiate and NBA level. All he wants to do is win. Since the Aztecs were in the midst of trying to win a game, Dutcher had only a brief exchange with his former star player. “Hey, just win,” was all Leonard said to his former coach. Fitting. The support on Saturday night proved Leonard is a superstar in this game and a face of a city. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer officially declared Feb. 1 Kawhi Leonard Day. “Excited to watch SDSU take on Utah State and see an all-time great have his jersey retired,” Faulconer tweeted. “San Diego is so proud of all you’ve accomplished, Kawhi Leonard. Congrats #GoAztecs!’’ Dutcher said Leonard is “gem of our city.” “In the offseason, he’s here in San Diego because he loves the city,” Dutcher added. “It’s great to see the city embrace him.”
Photo by Kareem Jones
Kawhi Leonard celebrated his jersey retirement with former SDSU coach Steve Fisher and other members from the Clippers organization.
There were appearances from members of the Clippers organization – including coach Doc Rivers, owner Steve Balmer, teammates Paul George, Ivica Zubac and Landry Shamet. Leonard, a native of the Inland Empire, served as inspiration for Aztecs junior forward Matt Mitchell. Mitchell had a game-high 28 points – shot 9-of-14 from the field, 4-of-6 from 3-point range and 24 of his points came in the
second half. “There’s a definitely a significance there – me having a big night on Kawhi’s night. That’s definitely very special,” said Mitchell who is also an Inland Empire native. “I’m happy that I was able to show out tonight.” Number 15 now sits alone atop the Viejas Arena rafters. Aaron Tolentino is a senior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @atolent2.
Water polo splits opening weekend series, what to expect in 2020 A two-week break before their next matchup in the Triton Invitational, Feb. 8-9 in La Jolla gives the players a moment to rest before they make a trip across the city. Here are three storylines to pay attention to heading into the 2020 season.
Photo by Aaron Tolentino
Then-junior defender Casia Morrison looks push the offense during the Aztecs’ 4-1 win over Santa Clara on March 28, 2019 at the Aztec Aquaplex.
by Breven Honda STAFF WRITER
No. 22 San Diego State water polo started their season on Jan. 25 when they split a doubleheader at the Beach Invitational inside the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center in Long Beach, California. SDSU narrowly missed a win
against No. 15 Long Beach State, falling 10-9. The Aztecs scored six goals in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 9-9. But with 41 seconds left, a penalty against the Aztecs allowed Long Beach to score the winning goal. Senior defender Casia Morrison, junior driver Karli Canale and junior utility player Emily Bennett were the three
Aztecs to score twice against the 49ers. In the second game, the Aztecs came back stronger by defeating Division III La Verne 18-5. The Scarlet and Black scored 16 times before halftime and it was enough to cruise through the third and fourth quarters. Senior driver Maddy Parenteau was one of nine players that scored twice.
1. GOALKEEPER POSITION BATTLE TO BE UP FOR GRABS The biggest offseason adjustment in the pool for head coach Carin Crawford, who enters her 21st season at SDSU, is at goalkeeper. With the graduation of Maura Cantoni last season, a few goalkeepers are trying to take the starting role for the 2020 season. During the doubleheader split in Long Beach, redshirt freshman Grace Halliday and junior Jordann Heimback split time against La Verne. Heimback posted five saves and Halliday had three. Against the nationally-ranked 49ers, however, sophomore Zoe Morgan played the entire game and recorded four saves. The one goalie that did not play in Long Beach was junior transfer Hannah McCarley who came from Riverside City College. McCarley was named Orange Coast Empire MVP in 2019. In addition, she was a twotime first-team selection in the conference, region and state. 2. SENIORS TO SHOW GUIDANCE Every college team needs leadership, and that usually comes from the veteran players on the squad.
In 2020, SDSU has four seniors and a fourth-year junior in Heimback. The four seniors – defender Casia Morrison, driver Maddy Parenteau, utility Isabelle Hastings, and utility players Shelby Kraft – hope to give the insight through experiences from their first three years playing collegiate water polo. These four seniors would love to continue the program’s history to be consistently ranked and go after a Golden Coast Conference Championship. 3. AZTECS FACE LONG ROAD STRETCH TO START THE SEASON The 2020 schedule features the first 15 games away from the Aztec Aquaplex. The first 15 road games include the Scarlet and Black’s first three GCC games at Concordia (Feb. 28), Santa Clara (March 6) and Pacific (March 7). SDSU’s first home game is slated for March 13 at 10 a.m. against Bucknell, part of the Steve Bartel Invitational, which was named after the longtime equipment manager’s death last year. The game against Bucknell begins an eight-game homestand, ending on April 1 against California Baptist. Crawford and the seniors will have to lead and keep the players motivated for a length slate of road games to begin the season. Breven Honda is a junior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @BrevenHonda.
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The Daily Aztec
Mundo Azteca
Feb. 5 - 11, 2020 EDITOR: Alejandra Luna • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com
Profesora habla sobre estudios étnicos por Lucelis ESCRITORA
Martínez
Victoria González Rivera, profesora de Estudios Chicano y Chicana en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego, se dedicada a mostrar el mundo chicano y lo que se ha heredado de él. Además de su experiencia extensa sobre la historia americana, latina, entre otras, también es una pionera en la historia de las mujeres y el feminismo de Nicaragua.
“La gente normalmente asume que el feminismo es algo que afuera y que viene del imperio”. – González Rivera, Profesora de Estudios Chicano y Chicana Rivera es la autora del libro, Antes de la revolución: Los derechos de las mujeres y políticas de la ala derecha en Nicaragua 1821- 1979, el cual tiene una perspectiva interesante sobre lo que significa ser una mujer latina en tiempos modernos. “En mis publicaciones me he enfocado en Nicaragua”, dijo Rivera. “Yo me crie en Nicaragua y vi la necesidad de publicar un libro como éste”. “La gente normalmente asume que el feminismo es algo que viene de afuera y que viene del imperio, que es algo que no tiene mucha relevancia aunque es todo lo contrario”, comentó. En sus clases, la profesora trata de
La profesora de SDSU ha escrito un libro que se basa en los derechos de las mujeres.
educar a los estudiantes sobre qué es ser un feminista y la opresión que va junto con él. “Cuando hay opresión, hay resistencia
Cortesía de González Rivera
El feminismo es tan nicaragüense, francés como lo es estadounidense y esmexicano”. Asimismo, es importante entender
“Cuando hay opresión, hay resistencia y el feminismo es resistencia a la opresión”. – González Rivera, Profesora de Estudios Chicano y Chicana y el feminismo es resistencia a la opresión”, mencionó Rivera.“Es lógico que el feminismo surge en todos lados.
por que ha surgido un movimiento así en donde que los estudiantes traten de tomar clases sobre otras culturas para aprender
más de ellas. En SDSU hay más facultades que quieren empujar este movimiento entre los universitarios. “Yo no soy de origen mexicano”, explicó Rivera. “Mi papá es nicaragüense, mi mamá es estadounidense anglosajona. Yo me crie en Nicaragua y ahora he vivido muchos años en EE.UU.”, dijo Rivera. “Entonces pienso que leer, aprender sobre otros grupos con los cuales no necesariamente nos identificamos nosotros es importante por un sinnúmero de razones”. Durante los años que Rivera ha dado clases en SDSU, ha recibido buenos comentarios de sus estudiantes, quienes se han interesado en aprender más sobre una cultura diferente a la suya. “Mi enfoque en México colonial es uno de los cursos que más me gusta dar”, dijo Rivera.“No importa el origen de la persona, ni como se identifican, ni de donde vengan. Estudiar México colonial te da las respuestas a muchas de las preguntas más importantes de nuestra era”. Para Rivera, la historia de México colonial es muy importante. “Esos trescientos años son importantes porque lo que vemos en México es que se juntan todo el mundo”, acertó Rivera “Entonces tenemos los esclavos africanos que traen los españoles. Algunos de ellos son de origen musulmán, luego tenemos los españoles que también son de origen musulmán y de origen judío”. Esta clase se puede encontrar como estudios chicanos 350A en el campus. “Son procesos de aprendizaje, pero también donde la gente comparte, nos enriquecemos mutuamente”, aseguró Rivera.
Columna: Experiencias de una universitaria hispana
Reunión de NAHJ con estudiantes de SDSU.
por Diane López ASIST. DE EDITORA
¡Estoy a punto de graduarme! En mayo del 2020 seré la primera de mi familia en recibir una licenciatura. Como estudiante de primera generación fue difícil este proceso. Para empezar, no tuve los recursos o la preparación necesaria para facilitar mi experiencia y aprendizaje. Sin embargo, tuve desafíos financieros y falta de autoestima pero no me detuvieron. Tenía miedo de empezar esta etapa de mi vida pero, a su vez, estaba emocionada de tomar el primer paso para mi carrera. Con el apoyo de mi familia, puedo decir que me voy a recibir con varios logros, algo que nunca pensé que sucedería. Así como muchos de los estudiantes de universidad, mi experiencia no fue nada fácil. Agradezco a Educational Opportunity Program, (EOP por sus siglas en inglés) porque durante mis cinco años en la
Cortesía de Diane López
Universidad Estatal de San Diego, tutores y consejeros me apoyaron. Les aconsejo que los visiten aunque sea un par de veces cada semestre para saber si están en el camino correcto. Si se sienten que no tienen el apoyo que necesitan, SDSU ofrece varios consejeros que están aquí para ustedes. Como hija de inmigrantes, crecí en dos culturas con dos idiomas completamente diferentes. En mi primer semestre, noté que si hay un poco de diversidad en la universidad, lo cual me hizo sentir fuera de lugar cuando entraba a mis clases y casi nadie era latino. Es común sentirnos fuera de lugar y más si estás ocupado todo el día con la escuela y el trabajo. Fue difícil para mí encontrar amigos u organizaciones que me hicieran sentir parte de la universidad. Creo que una de las cosas más importantes de ser universitario es buscar ayuda para encontrar motivación y no darte por vencido. SDSU tiene más que 300 organizaciones
y clubes que los apoyan y los hacen sentir que no están solo. Si es tu primer año, busca actividades en el campus para salir de la rutina y puedas disfrutar de los próximos cuatro años. Sé que cuatro años suena eterno pero se pasan rapidísimo. Durante estos cinco años he tenido varios profesores, pero son pocos los que recuerdo que fueron más allá de su escritorio y tareas. Es importante conectarse con maestros porque ellos ya han estado en nuestros zapatos y muchos están dispuestos en ayudarnos, no sólo con el trabajo de la clase pero con nuestras carreras. Es posible que muchas puertas se te vayan a cerrar, pero si algo he aprendido en estos últimos años es que no estoy sola. Varias veces quise rendirme pero recordé el motivo de estar aquí.
Mi mamá ha luchado por mi educación, y rendime se sentía como una traición. Sobre todo, quería aprovechar que tenía la oportunidad de estudiar. Mi motivación siempre ha sido mi familia y poder compartir estos logros con ellos es mi razón para seguir mejorando. Mi último consejo es que disfruten lo más que puedan como estudiantes porque cuando menos los esperes estarás trabajando y tal vez extrañes tu salón de clases. Según estadísticas, esta última decada fueron más los latinos que se titularon comparado a cualquier otro generación.
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Arts & Culture 11 SuperM brings K-Pop to campus for the first time
Feb. 5 - 11, 2020 EDITOR: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com
by Sofia Gomez CONTRIBUTOR
The K-Pop group, SuperM, made its mark in San Diego for the We Are The Future Tour at Viejas Arena on Thursday night. The all-male group is comprised of seven members from EXOPLANET, SHINEE and Neo Culture Technology. They are the first K-Pop group to perform at San Diego State. SuperM performed a variety of songs like, “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” “Super Car” and “2Fast.” SuperM also performed two of their unreleased singles, “Dangerous Woman” and “With You,” during the concert. Besides performing songs off their 2019 EP, each member performed their own solo on stage. During the show, SuperM addressed their fans about their first time in the city. “It’s so hot, wow,” Taemin, member of SuperM and SHINEE, said. With the majority of the members being from Korea, SuperM did their best to talk to the audience in English. One of the members, Mark Lee, is from Toronto, Canada, making him the only member who knew English prior to his career. SuperM shared a moment with those sitting in the floor section by handing out frisbees and other items to lucky fans. With the concert coming to an end, SuperM finished their show with their famous single “Jopping.” Hundreds of fans waited outside the arena hours before doors opened,
The Daily Aztec
many of them dancing along to a variety of K-Pop songs with other concert attendees. Before the concert began, fans were taking photos to commemorate their night before sitting in their seats. Many of the fans were a part of the K-Pop fandom, but not everyone. There were also fans who were attending their first K-Pop concert. Public relations junior Gemelee Memije said she waited years to attend one of these concerts. “It’s been 11 years since I’ve been wanting to go to a K-Pop concert, which is crazy,” Memije said. Memije mentioned she wanted to see one particular member of SuperM the most. “I love all of them, but I am really excited to see Baekhyun,” Memije said. “Baekhyun is my favorite member from the group, EXO, so I’m glad I have this chance to see him.” For K-Pop concerts, fans can bring a lightstick which syncs up with the music. This can help fans feel like a part of the concert and fandom. There were also a variety of paper banners made by the fans to support all or one specific member of SuperM. Typically, K-Pop artists perform in Los Angeles or Anaheim, which makes SuperM one of few K-Pop groups to perform in San Diego. Community member Jocelyn Duenas said she was glad she could attend the concert so close to home. “I’m happy that we get to finally have a K-Pop concert in San Diego,” Duenas
Photo Courtesy of SM Entertainment
The K-Pop group SuperM performed at Viejas Arena last Thursday night. They are continuing to Los Angles for the tour.
said. “I mean, even if it was in Los Angeles, it still would have been worth it.” Duenas attended the concert with her younger sister who was a fan of the Neo Culture Technology members. Duenas was happy to see them all. “I really liked seeing Taemin and Lucas the most,” Duenas said. “It’s because I like their voices and style.” After the show, many fans shared their favorite moments and rewatched the videos they took throughout the night. “I really enjoyed Baekhyun’s solo
performance and ‘I Can’t Stand the Rain,’” Memije said. “I can’t decide which one is my favorite.” Fans like interior design senior Nicole Kartwongsin were happy to have attended the concert. “When the song, ‘Baby Don’t Stop’ came on, I was trying to get my phone out as quickly as possible,” Kartwongsin said. “It was such a great surprise.” SuperM will continue the rest of their U.S. tour with their next show happening on Tuesday, Feb. 4 in Washington and Thursday, Feb. 6 in Canada.
Frisbee-throwing Gnomes create strong team bond with hard work by Danika Schmitz CONTRIBUTOR
Gnomes can normally be found as lawn ornaments or garden protectors, but there is a group of gnomes on campus who are mixing it up. The Gnomes, San Diego State’s Women’s Frisbee club, is a club of about 20 women who come from different backgrounds and majors, but share a camaraderie similar to that of a fraternity or sorority. There is a variety of leadership opportunities available to the women involved with the team as an opportunity to develop professional skills. The club’s president, social work major and senior Isabel Medina said the club was an essential step in her college career. “The welcoming environment and friendships I gained through this club is what encouraged me to become a leader,” Medina said. With about seven members in each grade level, the girls on the team are extremely close. Accounting freshman Jamie Kalaau-Sunia initially joined as a way to stay active and fight off the “freshman 15,” but she gained more than she anticipated. Kalaau-Sunia said her favorite part of being a member of the club is the social aspect. “Having older mentors to fall back on, and having a family feel is probably the most valuable thing I have gained,” she said. As long time members, Medina and vicepresident, kinesiology senior Samantha Gonzalez have acted as a support system to younger members for four years. Having a tight knit environment taught them social and leadership skills, ultimately encouraging them to pursue roles as leaders of the club. “The welcoming environment and
friendships I gained through this club kept me involved and led to me gaining a leadership position,” Medina said. Medina and Gonzales agreed holding leadership positions helped their communication, networking and professional abilities immensely. “Being president has taught me leadership skills and how to confidently public speak,” Medina said. Even though the frisbee club has various aspects, the girls agree their favorite and most impactful is the relationships they have made with those on the team. The girls agree that while the club has a social side, it entails a lot of hard work. Ultimate frisbee may not be the bestknown club on campus, but it can be fun and challenging. The sport is also a difficult sport to play. Medina has a background playing other sports such as field hockey, and believes many are not aware of how difficult the sport really is. “Out of all the sports I have ever played in the past, frisbee is definitely the hardest,” Medina said. The sport is similar to soccer or basketball because ultimate frisbee is played on a large field which requires lots of running and stamina. There are also passing, scoring and formation similarities. Tournaments usually last two days and have six to eight games per day. The new season started this semester, and the girls scored third place in their most recent tournament. The frisbee club stands out from others on campus because, as the Gnomes, it is the only sports club that has a different mascot than SDSU’s Aztec. With a low membership fee of around $180 a semester, it has the cheapest dues out of any club on campus. The club’s finances give the members another professional experience.
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12
The Daily Aztec
The Back Page
Feb. 5 - 11 , 2020 Editor: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com
New influencers on the block: eTeens
Photos by Kelly Kerrigan
by Kelly Kerrigan SENIOR STAFF WRITER
A year ago, if you asked me or anyone my age what Tik Tok was, we would have had no idea what you were talking about. Now, Tik Tok has lured us in with its abnormal yet unique culture that has begun to shape current trends we see every day. From choreographed dances to viral challenges, we are seeing users let their creativity flourish creating the Tik Tok universe. For those who do not know what Tik Tok is, this may seem very foreign, but after downloading and spending a few minutes on the app, you may get obsessed. The Chinese-owned application allows users to create 3 to 15 second long videos using effects, music and text. Users can also scroll through a page called “For You” that curates content for a specific user, leading to extremely high engagement. On Tik Tok you can find a little bit of everything: short choreographed dances to hit songs using simple hand gestures, tips and lifestyle tricks, cute animals, cooking and recipes, style trends and lots more. Celebrities such as Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon and The Jonas Brothers can all be found using the app, and brands have turned to creating content for the app in hopes of promotion. Many compare it to the infamous “Vine” app which was shut down in late 2016. Since then, people have mourned over the loss of the app for years on Twitter, praying for a return and expressing the nostalgia of a time when they could once scroll endlessly through 6-second clips. Well, thanks to Tik Tok our prayers have been answered … I think? It has evolved into an empire with more than1 billion users, according to CNN. Similarly to Youtube and Instagram, the app has created its own army of influencers who, at the moment, seem to hold more power than the Kardashians. One group in particular, “The Hype House,” is a group of 20 teenagers who found their fame on Tik Tok making dance videos and other bits. The group moved into a mansion in L.A. where they hang out and create content.
The house account has more than 7 million followers. The hype queen, 15-year-old Charli D’Amelio, has 21 million followers. Tik Tok users’ style and clothing trends are being labeled as “eBoy and eGirl .” What do these styles and slangs mean? To be an eBoy or an eGirl means the person has a persona on the internet, more specifically, Tik Tok. This persona is filled with aesthetically pleasing bedrooms, golden-hour lighting and trendy clothing. The beauty that makes the “e” lifestyle so desirable is that absolutely anyone can be one. Unlike Instagram and Youtube, users no longer need to travel the world to take lots of photos or do David Dobrikesque pranks in vlogs in hopes of becoming an influencer. All one needs is a trip to Goodwill, a little bit of practice and an iPhone. The style is quite simple - chained necklaces, beanies, striped undershirts, band T’s, pastel hair clips, mom jeans, denim jackets, white gym shoes … or essentially anything you can find at Brandy Melville. The more vintage-looking your outfit is, the better off you are. As for makeup and hair, there are multiple directions one can go when following the trend. One is the natural look -- light makeup,
plain clothes, natural hairstyles, hipster glasses, lightly tinted chapstick and pink blush. The other is winged eyeliner, colorful shadow, septum piercings, facial stamps, colorfully dyed hair and pouty faces.
This fashion trend is the perfect mix between 21st century punk goth and an adolescent take on any era of fashion before the 2000s. These trends have surfaced throughout college campuses and in clothing stores across the world, showing the influence that lies behind the eTeens. In today’s current state, what is there to say about the empire of Tik Tok? We live in a world where Amazon delivers the same day, the impeachment hearing is almost as regular as the weather forecast, 18-year-old Billie Eilish swept the Grammys and fame happens over night. Tik Tok influencers have more followers combined than the president alone. In a society that craves entertainment and where teenagers have built up more influence than adults - is it surprising this app and its culture has blown up? Absolutely not. Tik Tok embodies the teenager of today through its vast array of content. The eBoy and the eGirl are trying their best to navigate through life on social media. This platform allows them to basque in their adolescence while unintentionally influencing life around them. Tik Tok may only be an app, but for the younger generation, it is a form of expression.
INTRAMURAL SPORTS LEAGUES SPRING 2020 An ARC Member Benefit Outdoor Soccer Flag Football Basketball Ultimate Frisbee Indoor Volleyball Kickball Tennis
Leagues begin on or after Sat, Feb 22
arc.sdsu.edu/intramurals