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.
2 / The Daily Aztec
March 13-19, 2019
News
March 13-19, 2019 EDITOR: Bella Ross, news@thedailyaztec.com
PSFA:
continued from page 1 odors stronger and, while not known to be toxic, the odors are disruptive,” the campus-wide email, from by Interim Provost and Senior Vice President Joseph F. Johnson, Jr., said. “With an abundance of caution for the health, wellness and safety of all occupants, we are preparing to move all students, faculty and staff before the higher temperatures projected for later this week.” Coordinator for the Hospitality and Tourism Management Masters Program Kim Stull said for her and her coworkers, the physical reactions to this odor came in the form of sore throats, itchy eyes, nausea and headaches. “When we started smelling the fumes and complaining, nothing was done about it,” Stull said. “They put in some fans but it definitely didn’t feel like they were taking it seriously. Before they did that work and opened that roof up, they should have removed us all from that building.” She said most of the people she worked with started to notice the effects of the fumes as early as late January. This came as a surprise as her and other faculty members were initially told the construction would be done over the holiday break. Once the odors started to become a bigger issue, Stull said not everybody was able to escape. “When we started complaining about it we were told we could leave and go work from home if possible,” Stull said. “In my job, that’s possible. For others of my coworkers, that’s not possible.” While faculty members received some communications from the university regarding the nature and existence of the fumes, multiple students in the building said they were still unaware of the issue as recently as the afternoon of Monday, March 11. Everett-Haynes
confirmed the first campus-wide correspondence relating to the fumes came in the email sent on the evening of March 11. Spanish junior Mia Deptolla, who had a class in the PSFA building on Monday, said she was not told about the constructionrelated fumes at all. Hospitality and tourism management freshman Madeleine Leones said she had also not been informed of the issue other than being told her department’s office had relocated to Adams Humanities. “I only have one class in (PSFA), and they haven’t talked about whether we’re relocating or not,” Leones said in a March 11 interview. She said her class has about 30 students who have been meeting in the building three times a week. Tomasa Mauricio, director of summer residential programs for Upward Bound, works on the first floor of PSFA and said the issue required much more communication than faculty and students received. With the fumes having been present for at least a month, she said this week’s response was greatly delayed. “I think there definitely needed to be more communication ahead of time, as opposed to trying to deal with it after the fact,” Mauricio said. “I think there was a lot of that. I think they could have avoided a lot of frustration and a lot of fear.” Mauricio and administrative support assistant Jessica Sandoval, who both work in the same office on the first floor, said the construction-related issues did not end at the fumes. They both said their department experienced random blackouts relating to the project before even being warned the construction was happening. “It would have been nice if they were to tell us when the construction started (and that it) would be interfering with our work, and to give us an option (to relocate) back then,” Sandoval said. In a statement issued by SDSU on Tuesday night, the university
Photo by David Pradel
The CSU system implemented a system-wide ban on plastic bags and straws in order to promote sustainability.
Plastic Bags:
continued from page 1 all single-use plastics will be replaced by locally compostable, recyclable or reusable items. An exception to the policy includes items that are necessary to adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Currently deciding between
the options of compostable or paper straws versus a complete ban on the drinking utensil, Melchior said the stock of previously purchased plastic straws will continue to be used until they are phased out. In the past, SDSU has been used as a pilot space for companies to use alternative serving materials. This was the case with Panda Express and Rubio’s when SDSU banned
The Daily Aztec
3
Photos by Bella Ross
(Top) The PSFA building will be closed to entry begining March 14 after construction fumes caused some faculty members to fall ill. (Bottom) Fans like this one were placed throughout the building in an effect to reduce the odor.
described the situation with the fumes as “atypical” and that the odor was “the result of a resin used to adhere old roofing materials to new roofing materials.” “While construction work is typically expected to produce strong odors that decrease over time, the situation at PSFA has been atypical,” the statement said. “The project team has implemented numerous methods to prevent these odors
from entering the building from outside air intake vents located on the roof. None of these mitigation efforts have been successful so far.” The statement also said the university does not anticipate any impacts from the construction to effect nearby buildings and that it is currently working to better monitor the building’s indoor air quality. “SDSU has also contracted with an environmental consultant
to perform air monitoring to occur during the roof work,” the statement said. “Monitoring will take place at the roof level and throughout the PSFA Building to measure the effects of the roof work on indoor air quality.” The building will remain open through 4:30 p.m. on March 13 for faculty and students to retrieve their belongings then will be officially closed to all entry beginning Thursday, March 14.
Styrofoam on campus 10 years ago, Melchior said. “They actually used our location for Rubio’s as their test pilot, and now Rubio’s doesn’t serve any Styrofoam across their whole chain,” Melchoir said. As a way to incentivize sustainability-minded behavior on campus, reusable utensil kits have been purchased through the Pepsi Sustainability Fund and will be given to students who are “caught green handed,” Abram said. These kits include a metal fork, spoon, knife, straw and straw-cleaning brush in a carrying pouch. Business management senior Bobbie Gutierrez said she supports the CSU decision to ban single-use plastic products on the campuses. “I think sustainability is important,” Gutierrez said. “If I were to run a business, I would implement that into my business model to be as green and as energy-efficient as possible. You see videos of the plastic islands in the ocean and that’s affecting the planet, so (it’s important) in order to sustain it for future generations.”
SDSU Flowers:
said. Sue Pantoja said she recently purchased an arrangement through SDSU Flowers for her daughter who attends SDSU and was happy with her experience. “Elissa made a beautiful arrangement that my daughter was very pleased with and enjoyed,” Pantoja said. “She was very attentive and made one within my budget.” When it comes to pricing the flowers, Vela said she tries to keep student’s tight budgets in mind. “We try to keep our prices reasonable because we know they’re students and they’re paying for school, so we want to make sure we can work with any budget,” Vela said. Vela said their hours of operation are on Mondays to Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are open on Fridays by appointment or order only. “If someone needs something delivered on a Friday, then we’ll open up,” Vela said. “When ordering at least two or three days in advance is sufficient for preparation.”
continued from page 1
and available for pick up for $10,” Vela said. “Sunflowers have also been really popular for students, we sell five stems for $5.” Mechanical engineering sophomore Alex Smith, who purchased flowers from SDSU Flowers on Valentine’s day, said he was overall pleased with the bouquet he bought and that it appeared the stand was a popular stop on the romantic holiday. “The flowers were nice and the selection was good, but it was probably better before I got there because there were a lot of empty bouquet buckets,” Smith said. Vela said ordering floral arrangements can be done in person at the stand or through the SDSU Flower Kiosk website that is currently being developed. “We hope to have that up and running soon so parents that are far away can send their kids an arrangement through us,” Vela
Opinion We shouldn’t assume gender neutrality 4
March 13-19, 2019 EDITOR: Kemi Giwa • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
The Daily Aztec
by Hannah Goldstone STAFF WRITER
I want to make it clear that I am coming from a middle-class background, I am a heterosexual cis-gendered female, and this is my outsider opinion: I respect gender neutrality. I respect using the preferred pronouns that align with one’s identity. I respect all people because we are all human beings who deserve dignity. However, I will not assume gender neutrality and will continue to utilize he/him/she/ her until I know otherwise. As of 2019, many aspects of society have become more accepting and acknowledging of gender neutrality by using they/them pronouns. There are many more public gender-neutral restrooms and fewer gender-norm objects when it comes to toys or clothes. I am very happy to see society moving forward. However, it may be my unpopular opinion when I say that I don't believe we should assume gender fluidity or neutrality when addressing people. In class, we are reading Freud and he refers to the human race
as "he" and "his." My professor makes us say "they" and "them" when we are reading the text out loud. I understand that he means to be including and correctly refer to us a race and not all "men," but I don't think that people should get so offended by that. I don't mind that Freud says "he" and "his" because I know that that is just a trivial detail that made sense given the historical context. It shouldn't have that much meaning to people. Likewise, I will not stop saying "you guys" or "hey guys" because it is burned into my vocabulary and people shouldn't be so sensitive about that. I don't think I know a single person who personally gets offended by the phrase "you guys," but that doesn't stop them from posting about ending that practice on social media. Some professors have even addressed their attempts to stop using phrases that assume an individual's gender identity. Meanwhile, I'm over here thinking, how many people are really getting bothered by that? It can't be that many. I don't mean to say that the
minority's feelings should be ignored because they are the minority. I am saying that most people do identify with the pronouns that you would assume they do based on physical looks. I know you can't always judge a book by its cover, but I would be bothered if someone were to assume that I do not identify as female. I don't want to be referred to as "they/them" just because you want to be politically correct. At the end of the day, I believe that it is right to ask people what their pronoun preferences are but that you also shouldn't be so offended if people assume based on physical appearance. Human beings are evolutionarily programmed to judge based on physical appearance. Social changes like this take people time to adapt to. People get so offended and hurt when others make mistakes whether that be in regards to racial, sexual or gender identity. Just think back in history when it was so difficult to be accepted as gay. Being homosexual was thought of as a mental disease. Those people couldn't just correct others when they
mistakenly labeled them, instead, they would be sent to jail or an asylum. The LGBTQ community knew that it would take time and hard work for society to get accustomed to such a change in thought. In no way do I intend to invalidate people's feelings. I understand that those feelings and opinions are real and worth something, I just think that you should reevaluate them. If I accidentally use the wrong pronoun before I get the chance to ask or explain, then they should just politely correct me and move on. I will then be happy to use their preferred pronoun. But I will not assume that they want to be referred to as "they/them" and neither should you. In my opinion, that's just as bad as using the wrong pronoun altogether. At the end of the day, you should assume that people will assume. Change takes time. People learn by making mistakes. Hannah Goldstone is a junior studying sociology.
No, ‘toxic masculinity’ does not exist by Jermelle STAFF WRITER
Macleod
You read the headline correctly. Toxic masculinity doesn’t exist. Traits that one person considers toxic, may not be to another person; the entire phrase is based on a subjective scale with absolutely no objective ground and is used as a shaming tactic for “modern feminists” and anybody else buying into their horrible rhetoric. For example, one person may like the typical “alpha male.” Confident, loud, powerful, buff, etc. But another person may find those traits unlikeable, and so they’ll brand that male as “toxic” because “toxic masculinity” is a catch-all term for any traits a man has that are considered unlikeable or “overly masculine.” That’s all it is. Any trait that a person or society deems unnecessary, unlikeable or “overly masculine” in a man. The problem is, by shaming men on a completely subjective scale, you intimidate, which is exactly what the left and most “feminists” want, they want to intimidate the men that go against the grain and reject the weak and feminized version of men you see portrayed everywhere. I believe there are toxic people,
but to make an entire term for men and to keep cramming it down the throats of men is biased, bigoted and a result of brainwashing. A toxic person can be defined as somebody that is poisonous to you or society. Toxic people can be any gender, male, female or nonbinary. So why do we have an entire term for men? The answer is simple: a misunderstanding of feminism and man’s place in society. Feminism is not shaming men, despite what so many women’s studies majors are doing, the original definition of feminism is, according to Merriam Webster’s dictionary, “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.” Of course, that’s not what it is today. Today, feminism is an absolute joke that steps on men and uses the original definition as justification. This misunderstanding of feminism is so ingrained into society that so few people are bold enough to question it and the foundations of today’s skewered definition. And to illustrate this point, here’s something to think about. We have so many people talking about toxic masculinity, but so few talking about toxic femininity. The instant you flip the script
and apply the same broken terms that define men and apply it to women is the moment you’ll have people calling you “sexist.” I bring this up not to shame women. I don’t believe in that. However, I bring it up in order to illustrate the constant pressure men are under and expose how programmed a majority of people
“The problem is, by shaming men on a completely subjective scale, you intimidate, which is exactly what the left and most ‘feminists’ want, they intimidate the men that go against the grain...” are into shaming anybody that dares to go against the grain. If you speak up, you’re “toxic” and “sexist” but if you conform to societal pressures, you’re not yourself and wasted your life. I don’t believe in toxic masculinity or toxic femininity; but if you’re going to apply the “toxic” label to men, why can’t I apply it to women? The double standard is disgusting and it needs to end.
If a man wants to be stoic and keep his emotions inside, who are you to call them toxic or weak? If a man wants to be strong and courageous instead of weak and cowardly, who are you to call him toxic? If I were to call a woman that wants to go out and make money “toxic” instead of “independent,” my entire career would be ruined. When do we draw the line? Men somehow have to be just sensitive and kind enough not to be toxic, which is entirely subjective, and somehow just “masculine” enough not to be a doormat and used, which is once again subjective. Stop using the term “toxic masculinity.” It doesn’t have any meaning, it’s entirely subjective, and damaging to men. The more we push an agenda down men’s throats is the more we push the opportunity to define ourselves away from men and make them ashamed for wanting to define themselves. Stop buying into the rhetoric being crammed down your throats through pathological appeal and constant repetition If you don’t question what you’re told, you’re a part of the problem. Jermelle Macleod is a freshman studying journalism. You can follow him on Twitter @jermelle_m.
EDITOR IN CHIEF Will Fritz MANAGING EDITOR Jocelyn Moran NEWS EDITOR Bella Ross ASST. NEWS EDITOR David Santillan OPINION EDITOR Kemi Giwa MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Alejandra Luna ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Julianna Ress ASST. ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Lexington Howe SPORTS EDITOR Abraham Jewett ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Aaron Tolentino ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Dana Tsuri-Etzioni PHOTO EDITOR Michael Abshear MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Amal Younis ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Mirella Lopez GRAPHIC DESIGNER Katherine Cooke
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News 5 How to navigate the world of off-campus housing March 13-19, 2019 EDITOR: Bella Ross • news@thedailyaztec.com
The Daily Aztec
Photo by Bella Ross
College View Estates is one of many neighborhoods surrounding San Diego State where students tend to tease single-family homes to live in with multiple roommates.
by Daniel Guerrero STAFF WRITER
As San Diego State students gear up to find housing for the next school year, there might be a few things they’ll want to know if those places are off campus. As students who might look to save on the cost of attending school by opting to find housing off-campus, understanding your lease and knowing who you are renting from may be beneficial advice to avoid complications. History and religious studies senior Mathew Ross lives off campus and said he’s faced his fair share of difficulties, mainly
with a previous landlord who withheld his security deposit. “You’ve got to be real careful,” Ross said. “I got no refund for one place I lived at for a whole year. The landlord gave me threats of court for damages.” Ross said the search for off-campus housing can be difficult, but living on campus hasn’t been an option because of the cost. “(There’s) no real clean method to find housing and a lot of people turn to Craigslist,” Ross said. “It’s very expensive to go to school and it leads students to take out student loans. It’d be nice if student housing on campus was much more affordable.” Real estate lecturer Dana Kuhn said
San Diego State alumnus signs deal with Netflix as film developer, producer by Daniel Guerrero STAFF WRITER
Golden Globe and Academy Awarding winning San Diego State alumna Darla Anderson has signed a multi-year deal contract with Netflix where she will work as a developer and producer. Anderson, who graduated from SDSU in 1982, worked at Pixar Animation Studios for 25 years before leaving in March 2018. During her time at the studio Anderson helped produce films like “Coco,” “Toy Story 3,” “Cars” and numerous other Pixar films. Anderson said fans will see of the same type of inclusive work in her new role at Netflix that they saw during her time at Pixar. “More of the same,” Anderson said. “My whole career has been about inclusivity. I can’t wait.” Anderson majored in art and minored in spanish during her time at SDSU. While here, she said she enjoyed the school’s policies and freedom that allowed her to be creative. “My time at SDSU was wonderful,” Anderson said. “SDSU has this kind of wide open policy and creativity. I worked really hard and they offered me that flexibility.” Though Anderson has worked on many notable films such as “Monsters Inc.” and “A Bug’s Life,” she said “Coco” was something that brought together everything she’s excited about. “All of the films and commercials that I’ve done, I’ve truly loved all of them,” she said. “Coco kind of encapsulates everything I am excited about. It’s a film
that celebrates family and culture. I loved working on it and seeing that.” Anderson’s “Coco” won the 2018 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and the 2018 Golden Globe for best animated motion picture. Anderson had previously won the 2011 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for “Toy Story 3.” “It feels extraordinarily rewarding, “Anderson said. “The films that we made are enjoyed by everybody. You work so hard on a movie and to see them having lifelong impacts. For people to still be in love with them many years later and shared with their families. I feel lucky and grateful.” Anderson said when she won the awards, she had her family and teammates in mind, but the Academy Award for “Coco” went beyond personal recognition because who it was representing. “In Coco’s case I really wanted it for the whole community and for the country of Mexico,” Anderson said. “When you’re getting these awards, you’re representing these communities.” Many of the films Anderson has worked on have made a leap from the big screen into Disney theme parks, to toy shelves and even Broadway musicals. Anderson said to see her work have such an impact is rewarding after the time she’s spent toiling away at it. “When you’re working on these movies it’s like all of these characters are alive for you,” Anderson said. “So then, when they get transported into the (theme) parks and Broadway shows, toys and games, it’s so rewarding to see people enjoy these characters that are alive to you. It’s rewarding to see that hard work pay off.”
students who choose to turn to offcampus housing can benefit from doing some research beforehand. She said students should do online research on the prospective rental properties, the rental companies companies that own them and the landlords who manage them. “You can learn about an apartment complex and its management practices online,” Kuhn said in an email response. “Bad operators can’t hide in the digital age.” Kuhn said rentals not run by leasing companies may be different, but students can still find information on the landlords through online searches. “How can you find out what Mr. Peck is like as a landlord? Ask him for a tenant
reference,” Kuhn said in an email response. Real estate lecturer Mark Goldman said students should be aware of the many responsibilities that come with the lease. “One thing is, if they’re going to sign a lease, that’s a contract,” Goldman said. “They’re expected to comply with the lease. Read the lease.” Goldman also said the same should be known for students who share a lease with other people. “If one of the student fails to pay the rent, what are obligations of the remaining tenants?” Goldman asked. Kuhn said knowing the ins and out of the lease can be another benefit for students so they know what they’re getting into before signing. ”Leases are written to protect owners, not tenants,” Kuhn said in an email response. “Ask for a blank copy of a lease so you can study it overnight.” Kuhn also said students should make sure what is promised to them by landlords is included in the lease. “Read about renter’s insurance, about subleasing, about repairs, about whether each signer is responsible for the entire rent,” Kuhn said in an email response. “Are the leasing agent’s representations about parking or other rights actually in the lease? If it’s just verbal, it’s just marketing.” Goldman also said if students decide to leave for an extended time during the duration of their lease, they are still expected to comply with its terms. “If the lease is enforced, you owe rents for all months,” Goldman said.
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Sports
The Daily Aztec
March 13-19, 2019 EDITOR: Abraham Jewett • sports@thedailyaztec.com
Aztecs’ upset leads team to semifinals by Tristi Rodriguez STAFF WRITER
With the season on the line and four seconds left, freshman guard Sophia Ramos drove to the basket and made a shot to send the San Diego State women’s basketball team to overtime on Monday night at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The No. 7 Aztecs momentum continued with them into the extra period, where they outscored the No. 2 Lobos 11-2, resulting in a 70-61 victory and a date with No. 3 Wyoming in the Mountain West Tournament semifinals on Tuesday. A strong defensive effort by SDSU forced the Lobos to shoot for 30 percent from the field and 10 percent from the 3-point line. Sophomore guard Najé Murray wasted no time in setting the pace for the Aztecs, finishing with 16 of the Aztecs’ 26 first half points after shooting 6-9 from the field and 4-6 from the 3-point line. Despite Murray’s effort, New Mexico outscored SDSU in the first three quarters. Lobos senior center Jaisa Nunn, who was recently named MW Player of the Year, proved the accolade correct by finishing with 24 points and 19 rebounds. Head coach Stacie Terry told the Mountain West Network that she is pleased with the way her team handled Nunn and New Mexico’s post players.
Photo by Raymond Gorospe
Sophomore guard Najé Murray runs back on defense during the Aztecs 64-61 victory over Nevada on March 7 at Viejas Arena.
“We did our best to make sure (Nunn) didn’t get anything easy,” Terry said. “Really proud of (junior forward Baylee Vanderdoes) and (freshman guard Mallory Adams) who did a good job containing their players.” Even with Nunn’s numbers, SDSU
Prepare for the business of
still won the rebound war by outrebounding the Lobos 59 to 44. Adams and Vanderdoes combined for 30 rebounds total, finishing with 16 and 14, respectively. Vanderdoes told the Mountain West Network that the victory was special.
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“It felt great,” she said. “The past two years that we’ve been here we didn’t get past the first round. So this meant a lot to me and a lot of the upperclassmen.” SDSU had six of its players collect at least five rebounds, finishing with a season-high 59 rebounds. Terry said the effort on both sides of the court led to the team’s success. “My pregame speech was talking about how special things happen in March,” she said. “And what it was going to take was commitment on both sides of the ball. And I thought we were committed to rebounding tonight more than we ever have.” Murray had an eventful night, setting the new school record for made threepointers in a season with 79, while leading the Aztecs with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists. Murray was helped out on offense by Ramos and sophomore guard Téa Adams, with the trio combining for 60 points. Ramos told the Mountain West Network that she is still taking it all in. “It doesn’t feel real yet,” she said. “I think a lot of us thought we could do it. I just think a lot of our hard work has finally paid off.” Editors note: The Aztecs fell to No. 3 Wyoming on March 12 in the tournament semifinals by a final score of 75-70 in overtime.
March 13-19, 2019 EDITOR: Abraham Jewett • sports@thedailyaztec.com
Sports
The Daily Aztec
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Aztecs honor passing of Steve Bartel by Breven Honda STAFF WRITER
When someone is asked, ‘‘Who is an Aztec for Life,’’ names like Tony Gwynn, Steve Fisher, Marshall Faulk and Donnel Pumphrey would first come to mind. But for Steve Bartel, an event and equipment manager for San Diego State water polo and other athletic departments for over 30 years, he made an impact that will be forever remembered. Before SDSU water polo’s match to begin the second day of the Aztec Invitational, the home team honored Bartel, who passed away last November. In memoriam, the Aztec Invitational will be renamed in his honor. Head coach Carin Crawford, who has known Bartel since she came to the Mesa in 1999, said he has meant a lot to this program. “We really miss Steve Bartel,” Crawford said. “He really embraced water polo as one of the sports that we felt as if we were one of his favorites.” Bartel was with the team during the good and the bad. “It really felt like he suffered through the losses and celebrated the wins with us,” Crawford said. “He was very encouraging when I was feeling down and low about a loss; he was always cheering me up.” Crawford remembers how Bartel would relish each moment by keepsaking many events. “He would do things like make sure we won the conference championship here
in our pool in 2016 and made sure it was on our golden goal,” Crawford said. “He collected the ball and made sure we had the actual ball that won the game for us.” Whether it was the Aztec Invitational or the first game on the schedule, Bartel was always in attendance supporting the team. “He was very thoughtful and helped us in so many ways just with his actual running the events and the support and it was very nice,” Crawford said. “In our first season without him, we felt it was appropriate to honor and remember him.” Even senior captain Hannah Carrillo remembers Bartel as someone who would show up everyday and cheer for the Scarlet and Black selflessly. “A lot of the girls saw him every day and took him for granted for because he was helping us out all of the time,” Carrillo said. “It’s really cool that now our tournament is named after him, and he gets the recognition he deserves.” The other senior captain, Maura Cantoni, said how much of an impact Bartel made to the water polo program. “We didn’t realize how great he was for our team until he was gone, which is unfortunate,” Cantoni said. “He was huge part in making sure this tournament runs smoothly. He did so much for us and we’re really going to miss him. I’m really excited that we can honor him in the next tournament.” For the remainder of the season, the water polo players will have his initials, SB, on their uniforms to remember him. Now, that is an Aztec for Life.
Courtesy of Todd Greenbaum
Steve Bartel working the scoreboard during an Aztec water polo match against Fresno State.
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Sports
The Daily Aztec
March 13-19, 2019 EDITOR: Abraham Jewett • sports@thedailyaztec.com
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Aztecs’ swagger dried up heading into tournament by Abraham Jewett SPORTS EDITOR
San Diego State men’s basketball head coach Brian Dutcher talks about his team having “swag.” Or, more specifically, how he doesn’t want them to lose it. He most recently spoke of swag after his team blew a six-point lead with just over one minute to play against Fresno State on March 6 - a win would have locked them into a No. 3 seed in the upcoming Mountain West Tournament. “What we have to do is not let the last minute and 15 seconds of that game take our swagger away, take our belief away that we’re good enough to win the conference tournament,” Dutcher said, from a gloomy postgame podium. The Aztecs had, in fact, built up some late-season “swagger” following a stretch where the team won eightof-nine games, which improved their record from 10-8 to 18-9. That “swag” took a hit following a 16-point loss at Utah State on Feb. 26 and then appeared to be hanging on for dear life following the team’s implosion against Fresno. A 28-point loss at No. 14 Nevada three days later left no more doubt: swagger gone. The harsh reality is that this team has been missing that extra-littlesomething for pretty much the entire season - with the team already virtually eliminated from at-large postseason play before the start of conference play. The Aztecs took ding after ding, losing on the road against California (8-22), at home by 21 points against Brown and then narrowly defeating CS Northridge at home by five points on New Year’s Day. Northridge and Brown hail from the Big West and Ivy League conference, respectively. And, lest it be forgotten, the Aztecs lost, at Viejas Arena, to “little brother” University of San Diego by 12 points.
The team’s sophomore standout Jalen McDaniels faced legal drama and put together double-double after doubledouble against mid-tier opponents, yet failed time-and-again to show up in games against tough opponents. McDaniels’ latest big-game dud came in the 28-point shellacking from Nevada, as he finished with five points on 2-of-10 shooting. The sophomore NBA hopeful addressed his importance to the team on March 12 in the lead-up to the tournament. “I feel like when I’m on my best game, we have the best chance of winning,” McDaniels said. “I’ve got to step it up.”
“I feel like when I’m on my best game, we have the best chance of winning. I’ve got to step it up.” – Jalen McDaniels, Sophomore forward
The whole team will have to step up - now potentially more than before since the loss to Fresno dropped them to the No. 4 seed in the tournament and a date with UNLV - the tournament’s de facto home team at the Thomas and Mack Center. The Aztecs have had a string of success against UNLV in recent years and won both meetings against the Runnin’ Rebels this season, but home cooking is always a concern. “Obviously, I wish we were on a neutral court, but that’s not an excuse,” Dutcher said on March 12. “Somebody every year is going to draw UNLV on their home court. This year it’s us and hopefully we’ll be up for the task.” There will be more than just the Aztecs’ “swagger” on the line.
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continued from page 1 2:30 in the afternoon. So if you can win it, you have a recovery time, you have prep time as opposed to the three-seed which we wanted.” Dutcher added the three-seed would have been a tougher path to the championship game. “It’s a harder road in my opinion because you’re playing at 8:30 at night,” he said. “You’re not out of there until 11, and it’s a tougher road.” SDSU has defeated UNLV twice already this season, at home on Jan. 26 by 17 points and in Las Vegas on Feb. 23 by one point. Sophomore forward Jalen McDaniels, who posted a career-high 30 points against the Runnin’ Rebels in the first matchup, is coming off a game in Nevada where he scored five points on 2-of-10 shooting. The 6-foot-10 star has shot 30 percent from the field in the last two games, averaging 10.5 points compared to his season average of 16 on 47 percent shooting. McDaniels said he embraces the responsibility of leading his team to victory. “I accept that 100 percent,” McDaniels said. “I feel like when I’m on my best game, we have the best chance of winning. I got to step it up.” Along with McDaniels, freshman forward Nathan Mensah will be a key to SDSU’s success in Las Vegas. Mensah did not practice on Tuesday
(lower back) but is scheduled to play Thursday. Dutcher said Mensah’s play, especially away from Viejas Arena, will determine how far the Aztecs will go in March. Mensah has averaged 12.5 points in his last two home games, while averaging a mere three points per game on the road. “Nathan comes to mind – the difference when it comes to home and road success,” Dutcher said. “We have to have Nathan playing well for us to have a run in this thing.” Despite a two-game skid, the Aztecs head into postseason play with their heads held high. “We’re all just confident,” McDaniels said. “It doesn’t matter about the momentum. We just feel like we’re the best team. That’s what we got to go out there and prove.” As the four-seed, Hemsley embraces being the underdog in the tournament. “I like being the underdog in the tournament,” Hemsley said. “All we have to do is win three in a row, and I really think we can do that.” Hemsley is headed to Las Vegas for his fourth and final trip to the Mountain West Conference Tournament. The senior will be more excited because this will be the first time his parents will come watch him play in this event. “My parents are going on this trip, and this is the first time they are going to Vegas, Hemsley said. “I’m more excited than I was my first year for sure.”
March 13-19, 2019 EDITOR: Alejandra Luna • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com
Mundo Azteca
The Daily Aztec
9
Universitarios de San Diego y Tijuana se unen en la primera conferencia binacional por Alejandra Diane López
Luna y
El 8 de marzo, tres grupos presentaron la Primer Conferencia Binacional Multidisciplinaria en el Centro Jacob para la Innovación Comunitaria en San Diego. Los tres grupos incluían la Asociación de Trabajo Social para Estudiantes Latinos en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego, el Instituto contra la Violencia, Abuso y Trauma (IVAT) y la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California en Tijuana (UABC). Un total de 300 personas asistieron a los tres diferentes grupos de exposiciones ofrecidas en inglés y español. La conferencia contó con la participación de 20 presentadores quienes hablaron acerca de la salud, la política y el tráfico de personas, las cuales perjudican a la frontera de San Diego y Tijuana. Estos grupos de presentaciones fueron realizados por María Zúñiga, co director del Programa de Doctorado Conjunto en Investigación Interdisciplinaria sobre Uso de Sustancias en SDSU. Zúñiga fue quien tuvo la idea de colaborar con la organización internacional del Instituto de Violencia, Abuso y Trauma para enseñar a los estudiantes a trabajar en áreas de migración. “Esta conferencia brindará a los estudiantes conocimientos sobre la trata de personas, y también prestará atención a los estudiantes que están realizando activismo de
Foto por Alejandra Luna
Víctor Clark-Alfaro comparte su experiencia sobre su investigación de los “coyotes en Tijuana.
migración”, dijo Ivan Daniel Noriega, presidente de Asociación de Estudiantes Trabajadores Sociales Latino en SDSU. “Realmente no pensamos en los efectos traumáticos ni en los niños que están separados en el frontera”. A las 8:30 a.m., Tracy Prior, fiscal del Distrito de San Diego y Javier Castañeda Pomposo, diputado federal por el Partido Encuentro Social (PES) dieron la bienvenida a la audiencia agradeciendo su asistencia. Después de sus palabras, comenzaron las primeras dos presentaciones del día por Brenda Punsky y Robert Geffner quienes fueron
los encargados de abrir este encuentro. La primera sesión del grupo se llevó acabo a las 10:45 a.m. por Víctor Clark-Alfaro, profesor en el Departamento de Estudios Latinoamericanos en SDSU, quien habló de tráfico de personas e indocumentados. “En el verano de 1987 fui a buscar a los expertos, que si bien es cierto, no tienen conocimiento científicos ni métodos para el proceso migratorio”, dijo Clark-Alfaro. “En ese verano fui a la calle principal, lo que en Tijuana conocemos como la Zona Norte, la Coahuila, la zona roja, la zona de prostitución
para buscar a esos expertos”. En su discurso, Clark-Alfaro compartió su experiencia durante su proceso de investigación de traficantes de personas también conocidos como ‘coyotes’ o ‘polleros’. “A los coyotes, yo les llamo agencias de viajes porque ofrecen un paquete igual al de una agencia de viajes”, dijo Clark. “Un paquete que incluye hospedajes, transporte, alimentación y no solo eso”. De acuerdo a Clark-Alfaro, este grupo pone dinero de su bolsillo para darle hospedaje, transporte y comida a los inmigrantes que quieren cruzar a EEUU mientras se
encuentran en la ciudad de Tijuana. Cuando la persona logra cruzar a sus clientes a EEUU, los familiares quienes están del otro lado de la frontera tienen que pagar la cantidad acordada. Sin embargo, si son detenidos por los agentes fronterizos no se les cobra nada. “Los coyotes no se ven así mismo como delincuentes, se ven como alguien que está dando un servicio a los demás”, dijo Clark-Alfaro. Resaltó que más del 90% de los migrantes que cruzan a EEUU contratan a coyotes. Por otra parte, Dominic Hale dijo que estos temas son relevantes para discutir debido a las situaciones que están pasando algunos inmigrantes con la separación de familias en la frontera. “Para abogar por un cambio, debemos comprender cómo planificar ese cambio y qué defender”, dijo Hale, estudiante voluntario en el comité de planificación. “Estamos unidos por una frontera, pero estamos unidos por las familias a las que servimos y por la justicia que buscamos”. Noriega mencionó que quiere lograr crear conciencia de los problemas que existen actualmente en la migración de personas. “Al estar en una zona geográfica como San Diego, es fundamental que nos pongamos de pie no sólo para este movimiento, sino también para todos los movimientos de migración en todo el mundo”, dijo Noriega.
El ‘Festival del Mariachi’ ofrece talleres músicales por Antonio ESCRITOR
Márquez
Por séptima vez, se realizó el Festival de Mariachi en el parque Bayside de Chula Vista el 10 de marzo donde las familias sandieguinas pudieron disfrutar de la música en vivo, los bailables y la cultura mexicana. Uno de los involucrados de este evento fue Serafin Paredes, maestro de mariachi del distrito escolar de San Diego y de la Universidad de San Diego. Además, es egresado de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego “Hace 12 años, yo empecé hacer unos talleres de música de mariachi donde invité a músicos profesionales que vinieran y les enseñaran a los estudiantes cómo tocar o cómo expresar la música”, dijo Paredes. “Era algo pequeñito y ha crecido con el tiempo”. El programa de mariachi apoya a los jóvenes de hoy en su desarrollo artístico, individual y educativo. Antes del festival, se les brinda una conferencia de música de dos días en USD donde más de 300 estudiantes de EEUU participan. Hace alrededor de seis años,
Paredes se unió con la cámara de Comercio de National City para poder darle una oportunidad de presentarse en el escenario y concursar a todos los estudiantes que participan en los talleres del maestro. Paredes señaló que sólo busca una cosa para el futuro del festival y los jóvenes. “Pues que siga creciendo y que tengamos un número más grande de estudiantes”, dijo Paredes. “Que sigamos trayendo más mariachis profesionales, para que los estudiantes y las familias vean todo lo que es posible con la música”. Mario Torres, ex alumno de Paredes, empezó su carrera de mariachi en la preparatoria de San Ysidro. Ahora, Torres busca inculcar a sus hijos los mismos principios que él tuvo y enseñarles lo que es ser un mariachi. “Creo que es algo muy importante de nuestra experiencia cultural”, dijo Torres. “Quiero que tengan algo que los una a sus raíces”. Marco Pardo, quien es estudiante de la preparatoria San Ysidro High School comentó
Foto por Antonio Márquez
Ballet folklorica Sandre Mestiza participa en el Festival del Mariachi el 10 de marzo.
cómo le ayuda a ser un buen músico en la escuela. “Te concentras más y tienes algo que te emociona para seguir yendo a la escuela” dijo Pardo. “Sigues practicando para aprender y seguir escuchando esta música tan bonita”. En el sur de San Diego, se ofrecen clases de música de mariachi, como también el colegio
comunitario de Southwestern cuenta con un asociado en este mismo ámbito musical. Wendy Charines, maestra y directora musical de la preparatoria de San Ysidro, quien se llevó el segundo lugar en la competencia. “Las competencias son importantes porque impulsan a los muchachos que hagan
su mejor esfuerzo, que se esfuercen por ser los mejores”, dijo Charines. “Aprenden a tener confianza en sí mismos, en desarrollarse como personas y como seres humanos”. Charines aconseja a los jóvenes que quieren ser músicos a seguir su pasión sin olvidar que la educación debe de ser su prioridad.
Arts & Culture Student DJ develops craft through Aztec Music Group
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March 13-19, 2019 EDITOR: Julianna Ress • arts@thedailyaztec.com
The Daily Aztec
by Lexington Howe ASSISTANT A&C EDITOR
Public administration senior Matthew Nungarai DJs not just to entertain, but to influence. “He was a participant at the DJ battle we were putting on, and I was a judge,� Aleksey Zeltser, a San Diego State alumnus who helped create the Aztec Music Group that put on the competition, said. “I really liked his mix. He didn’t win that competition. After some time passed though, he hit me up on social, and asked for pointers.� Zeltser said Nungarai showed him some of his work, and that they’ve been friends since. Nungarai is influenced by a variety of genres, ranging from rhythm and blues, to ‘90s and early 2000s hip-hop. Originally from Los Angeles, Nungarai came to SDSU as a freshman, and while he admits his public administration major is a backup plan, his main passion is DJing and producing music. “I didn’t know anyone from the competition,� Nungarai said of the DJ battle. Zeltser has been in the music production business for 12 years now. He said he was a shy student himself when he attended SDSU, and Tita Gray, Assistant Dean for the College of Business Administration during the time the group had been founded in
2015, had been working with Zeltser to create the Aztec Music Group organization on campus. “I saw how hungry he was,� Zeltser said of Nungarai. “He inspires me. He’s always looking to improve himself, and he’s always looking into new ways of being creative, and to be the best possible version of himself.� Nungarai credits the Aztec Music Group for helping him understand both the creative and business sides of music. “For people who are trying to get into the music industry, they really try to provide a place where artists can collaborate,� Nungarai said. He also said he has met some influential people along the way who have helped him learn a thing or two about music. “It all depends on the crowd,� Nungarai said of DJing. “I personally like playing songs I haven’t heard in years.� For the most part, he admits he keeps DJing mostly under the radar, so that he can continue to learn. “I’m still working on my craft,� Nungarai said. He said his creative background has often led him to perform for people, and music is another outlet to reach others. “I was originally a dancer, and then I transitioned more into music,� he said. “I just want to reach out to people, to inspire
people to try new things, and to have my sound heard.� Nungarai has a YouTube channel under the name Whoknows, and his Instagram handle is @97shindig, both
Courtesy of Matthew Nungarai
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“He doesn’t really have an ego, and that’s rare to find in an artist,� Zeltser said. “He just wants to progress, collaborating with others, and I really admire that about him.�
Public administration senior Matthew Nungarai DJing at the SDSU Aztec Night carnival in 2017.
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of which he uses to update followers about his music In the years Zeltser has been in the music business, he’s found a lot of artists have egos, but not Nungarai.
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March 13-19, 2019 EDITOR: Julianna Ress • arts@thedailyaztec.com
Arts & Culture
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Women’s education activist visits campus by Nakia Richardson STAFF WRITER
Shiza Shahid, a women’s right activist, CEO and co-founder of the Malala Fund, encouraged San Diego State students to create their own path and advocate for a cause they cared about through their own jobs, when she spoke in the Aztec Student Union Theatre on March 7. “I think we’re alive in a really interesting time where the old industries are changing. Some are collapsing and some are evolving.” Shahid said. “So as young people think about their careers, to think about it in nontraditional ways to realize that if they want to have an impact, they don’t have to choose between having an impact working at a nonprofit.” Shahid, a Pakistani native, said she was accepted to Stanford University and left her home country in order to pursue her education. However, after hearing about the Taliban’s ban in 2009 against women’s education, she said she decided to go back the summer of her sophomore year and create a girl’s education camp, composing of 26 girls. One of the girls was 10-yearold Malala Yousafzai, who, unknown to her, would be the youngest person to ever receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Three years after the camp, Shahid said she was notified of Yousafzai’s shooting while on a trip to Egypt, and immediately flew to Birmingham, UK to visit her and stay with her family through the recovery process. Shahid said this was the turning point
for her in her career life. She said she had to make a decision to either go back to working on her five year plan or travel around the world with Malala to help spread the message of education, and she chose the latter. Iulia Earl, a third-year nursing student said she believes bringing Shahid on SDSU’s campus was undoubtedly a worthwhile decision. “It’s good that she’s here to spread the word and inspire young women” Earl said. “I think her message of sustainability is really important in this day and age.” Shahid said once making the choice to share Yousafzai’s story with the world was the best career decision she made. She said in addition to her decision and several other people’s encouragement, it prompted her to create the Malala Fund, which according to its website, is set to help over 130 million girls worldwide obtain an education. Shahid said the SDSU population did not have to do what she did, but what is important is allowing students to find a mission they are passionate about and follow it. For the SDSU community, Shiza said the important key was to be ready for change and exploration. “We have no idea what jobs are going to look like by the time they (students) graduate. So they have to constantly be reinventing themselves, be curious, and be entrepreneurial,” Shahid said. “Don’t go into a career path expecting the deep amount of stability. Be willing and ready to change and evolve yourself and change and evolve industries.”
Photo by Nakia Richardson
Activist Shiza Shahid spoke on campus on March 7.
CRSSD Festival returns to Downtown’s Waterfront Park by Spencer White STAFF WRITER
Since its first iteration in 2015, CRSSD Festival has provided the city of San Diego with some of the best of the best in electronic music. The festival spans across three stages varying in styles and types of performances. This year, everything from a classic DJ set from world-renowned Armand Van Helden, to a completely live performance by Stephan Bodzin is available at Downtown San Diego’s Waterfront Park during this festival, which took place March 2 and 3. Economics senior Zak Engdahl regularly attends the festival and the events FNGRS
CRSSD promotes around San Diego. He said despite the stormy weather, he was pleased to see dance music fans come out in droves to attend the festival this year. “It was super dope to see all of the people that came Saturday weren’t scared of the rain, which barely even came, and were there because they really loved the music,” he said. Justin Martin and Lane 8 both played at the Palms stage Saturday night, with British artists Rory Philips, United States festival debutant Mella Dee, and The 2 Bears warming up the stage nicely for the acts to follow. A highlight of the The 2 Bears set, who usually play live as the band Hot Chip, was when the group played the new Chemical
Brothers single “Keep On,” which samples the famous monologue from “Blade Runner.” “And the rain comes down like tears,” the sample echoed, perfectly setting the mood for a rainy and cloudy day. Another peak moment of the festival was a performance by DJ Rebekah, who is lauded for her high energy techno music all across the world. One of the acts that performed at the City Steps stage after Rebekah invigorated the crowd was Maetrik, an alias of the artist Maceoplex when he performs live sets. Stephan Bodzin, who closed the festival on Saturday night in an absolutely cinematic fashion, with analog synths at his disposal to please the crowd in attendance. Sunday had much better weather, with
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the sun peaking out early for DJs like Fort Romeau, Waze and Odyssey and DJ Seinfeld, who all brought great energy and high-powered performances. The clouds came back when Terminal M label boss Monika Kruse got the crowd going, setting the tone for standout performances from Drumcode regular Enrico Sangiuliano, and Berlin-based Pan Pot. However, the perfect way to end the weekend was the thrilling closing set from the Martinez Brothers, who wanted to keep going past the 10 p.m. curfew. The group closed its set with a rendition of the Bee Gees’s “You Should Be Dancing.” Even though that song was recorded in 1976, it fit right into the dance music scene in 2019.
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The Back Page
The Daily Aztec
March 13-19, 2019 Editor: Julianna Ress • arts@thedailyaztec.com
Ten great songs already released this year combined songwriting chops. On an album full of exemplary songwriting, “Dylan Thomas” is most indicative of Bridgers and Oberst as kindred spirits, delivering lines about conspiracy and brainwashing with a tongue-in-cheek wink. Spencer’s Picks “Only Human” Four Tet/KH
Photo by Julianna Ress
Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst performing in San Diego on March 10.
by Julianna Ress and Spencer White
In its third month, the music of 2019 is already a scattershot. New voices are finding their footing, old favorites are making admirable returns to form and collaborations across genre — and generation — are flourishing. From heartbreak to flexes and from apathy to exuberance, the last year of the decade has already cultivated influence from the rest of the 2010s and looked forward to what’s to come. Here are 10 great songs released so far this year, selected by Arts and Culture Editor Julianna Ress and Staff Writer Spencer White. Julianna’s Picks “Only Child,” Tierra Whack Coming off the critical success of her excellent 2018 record “Whack World,” a 15-track collection of one-minute songs paired with a surreal, brightly-colored album visual, Tierra Whack’s momentum hasn’t let up. Her recent single “Only Child” is one of the most simultaneously poignant and clever rap songs in some time. “You must be the only child / Because you’re so stingy,” she psychoanalyzes an ex, grasping for an explanation for his actions. Then later, with a raised but trembling voice, she prays for him to change: “Darling, I’ve been calling on God for you.” Her voice pierces and warbles, shifting with the sprawling emotions in the wake of a breakup. At times a kiss-off anthem, at others a descent into heartbreak, “Only Child” is as compelling and intricate as Whack’s vision of rap.
knows she’s been here before — late night, a few drinks deep, wondering where a relationship went wrong — and wonders why she still has the impulse after she’s been shown how these decisions end up. “On some nights like this, I just wanna text you, but for what?” she asks. “You gon’ say you want me, then go switch it up.” “Nights Like This” is reminiscent of Drake’s “Marvin’s Room,” with a little more wisdom and restraint. “Juice,” Lizzo Minneapolis rapper Lizzo is one of the most infectiously joyous artists of the moment. Her single “Juice,” off her upcoming record “Cuz I Love You,” combines retro funk with her trademark flair for self love. The gleeful, faux indignation with which she boasts, “Heard you say I’m not the baddest b---h, you lie,” is one of the song’s peak moments of jubilance, and Lizzo’s charisma is electric. In a perfect world, “Juice” would be on every radio station, where it belongs.
Indie staples of past and present, Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst’s collaborative effort “Better Oblivion Community Center” is one of the best albums of the year so far. Single “Dylan Thomas” is full of quips like “So sick of being honest / I’ll die like Dylan Thomas / A seizure on the barroom floor,” exhibiting the succinct excellence of their
The Chemical Brothers making their return this year is already good enough, but when the band came out with this song, it brought a little bit more optimism in a rather dreary and rainy 2019. It has bright chimes and a thumping bassline to keep anyone smiling on the dance floor, and sampling the famous monologue from “Blade Runner,” especially in the year the movie was based, is a total
It’s been six years since Vampire Weekend has had new music. Since then, the band has lost an important member in Rostam Batmanglij, but gained several new ones. A few of the singles from its upcoming double album “Father of The Bride” are incredibly short in length, but if Vampire Weekend become the jam band they are destined to be, especially after seeing the band improvise the way it did over the summer, “2021” and others on the album could become songs that have no defined length in a live setting. “Where’s the Catch?,” James Blake featuring Andre 3000 In a star-studded album full of amazing features, no one steals the spotlight from the immensely talented James Blake quite like the Outkast mastermind does on this song. Andre 3000 always delivers, even nowadays when his output is not nearly as prolific as it used to be, and no one can nail the dark moody tone of this track as effortlessly as these two do. “Inside My Head,” Audiojack This song’s hook, “There’s something going ‘round inside my head,” is extremely infectious — it’s an earworm of huge proportions. DJs have already adopted the song into their repertoire, and considering the way it sweeps the floor, it’s clear it’s a special track from the Ibiza-based duo.
Courtesy of Atlantic Records Press
Rapper Lizzo’s upcoming album, “Cuz I Love You,” is set for release on April 19.
FITNESS FRIDAY
Indie icon Jenny Lewis’s first solo album since 2014, “On the Line,” is set for release later this month, and “Heads Gonna Roll,” one of the first singles from the record, finds the singer returning to her common motifs crafted with her experiences of real-life loss in the past five years. After the five-minute track follows Lewis’s search for meaning among scattered memories, the song’s best moment comes at the very end, when she reckons with a coping mechanism: “We’re gonna drink until they close / and maybe / a little bit of hooking up is good for the soul.”
Few can articulate digital age heartache like R&B singer Kehlani. On “Nights Like This,” a cut from her latest mixtape “While We Wait,” she’s contemplating hitting up an ex. She stops herself, because she
“Got to Keep on,” The Chemical Brothers
“2021,” Vampire Weekend
“Dylan Thomas,” Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst
“Heads Gonna Roll,” Jenny Lewis
“Nights Like This,” Kehlani (featuring Ty Dolla Sign)
When Four Tet started playing this song in his DJ sets, and other DJs from all over the world started playing it as well, it quickly became the song of last summer that no one knew about. Fast forward to 2019, and the Nelly Furtado sample that the song is based around finally clears. This song could destroy any dance floor, and when Four Tet recently headlined the Hollywood Palladium, he played the song twice, speaking volumes to the impact it’s already had. With the help of Furtado’s words from 2006, Four Tet reminds everyone that being a human being is just fine.
achievement in itself.
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