03-13-2018

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Wednesday, March 13 - Tuesday, March 19, 2019 Weekly Print Edition

Vol. 105, Issue 26 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

Dangerous fumes force PSFA building to close temporarily by Bella Ross and Lauren J.

Mapp

The Professional Studies and Fine Arts building will temporarily close for classes beginning Wednesday, March 13, after disruptive fumes led to reports of illnesses among faculty members, according to a March 11 campuswide email. Some faculty members had

relocated from the building as early as March 4, according to an email sent to journalism faculty by Interim Director for the School of Journalism and Media Studies Noah Arceneaux. But classes continued in the building up until Wednesday. University spokeswoman La Monica Everett-Haynes said the delay in moving classes came as testing revealed the fumes were not at a level that could be

considered toxic. She said testing by the Environmental Health and Safety Team revealed it was the odor of the construction vapor that was causing faculty members to fall ill, not toxicity. “Now the university is being quite a bit more proactive because we do have these reports of the odors,” Everett-Haynes said. “Even though they’re not toxic, they are disruptive and the university is now choosing to

close down the building during this construction project.” The university has yet to say when the building will reopen. The higher temperatures projected for later in the week were cited as another reason for the closure. “Dry and hot weather conditions tend to make the SEE PSFA, PAGE 3

Aztecs head to Vegas for MWC tournament

Photo by Sam Mayo

Senior guard Jeremy Hemsley drives past his defender during the Aztecs’ 94-77 victory over UNLV on Jan. 26 at Viejas Arena.

by Aaron Tolentino ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

San Diego State men’s basketball came into last year’s Mountain West Championship Tournament as the five-seed.

SDSU had a six-game winning streak and a 19-10 regular-season record before facing Fresno State in the quarterfinal. This year, the Aztecs (1912, 11-7 MW) head into the conference tournament as a four-

seed with the same number of wins heading into the tournament when they face UNLV (17-13, 11-7 MW) at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. The difference?

SDSU has lost its last two games, including a 28-point beatdown at Nevada to finish the regular season. Senior guard Jeremy Hemsley said while the two circumstances are unique, they both are filled with elimination-game pressure. “It’s two different things,” Hemsley said. “At the same time, our backs are against the wall like it was last year. It’s win or go home, and I’m not ready to go home yet, so if you compare to last year’s team, it was the same situation.” While the Aztecs were gunning for the three-seed against Fresno State last Wednesday, the loss may have actually helped them in the long run. Head coach Brian Dutcher said as the four-seed, SDSU will have a favorable schedule that will give its players more rest between games. “Your legs are a little fresher,” Dutcher said. “The thing I like about the four-five game is it’s at SEE TOURNAMENT, PAGE 8

CSU system issues ban on single use plastic bags, straws by Lauren J. Mapp SENIOR STAFF WRITER

A retroactively-instated decision by the California State University system has placed a ban on all single-use plastic bags and straws as of Jan. 1 on the 18 campuses throughout the state. “Plastic straws can end up in waterways (and) it can affect them,” said Tom Abram, assistant director of sustainability. “By moving away from that, we can protect the environment and also reduce the amount of petroleum that we’re consuming.” The rolling elimination of single-use plastics further enhances the CSU Board of Trustees’ Sustainability Policy, according to a CSU press release. Previous to the implementation of this new policy, some colleges have already begun to phase out plastic products. Humboldt State University stopped selling plastic water bottles during the 2011-2012 academic year. San Diego State Dining Services Director Paul Melchior said SDSU implemented limitations on plastic bags on campus a year ago. The systemwide ban of plastic straws and bags on campuses is just one step toward the CSU system eliminating the use of all single-use plastics. Single-use plastic water bottles will no longer be allowed on campuses as of Jan. 1, 2023 and polystyrene, Styrofoam, will be phased out by Jan. 1, 2021, according to the CSU Policy Manual for Contracting and Procurement. The policy states SEE PLASTIC BAGS, PAGE 3

Campus flower stand celebrates first month of new ownership by Aretha Matsushima SENIOR STAFF WRITER

SDSU Flowers is the newest owner of the campus flower shop next to the San Diego State Bookstore and is hoping to make some changes around the stand. The former campus flower shop, known as Flowers by Sandy Alvarado, closed due to the owner’s retirement. SDSU Flowers recently opened in its place under the partnership between owners Efrain Chavez and Elissa Vela.

“We opened up about a month ago, we’ve upgraded the logo and are adding a new canopy,” Vela said. “We’ve also added a new countertop and all new graphics on everything.” Vela said in celebration of the opening of SDSU Flowers, they will be hosting a grand opening at the stand where students can get free flowers. “We’re planning on having a grand opening, but we’re not sure of the date yet,” Vela said. “We are giving away free sunflowers to all students on that day.”

Vela said the stand primarily sells and delivers flowers to students and faculty on campus, as well as providing arrangements for events. They also are associated with S&E Wholesale Flowers that operates throughout Southern California. Vela said the stand provides a variety of flowers that have been popular among students with a relatively cheap price. “We’ve been selling lots of little succulents for $3 and bouquets SEE SDSU FLOWERS, PAGE 3

Photos by Bella Ross

The campus flower stand transitioned leadership last month to become SDSU Flowers.


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