The Daily Aztec 3/23/22

Wed., March 23 - Tues., April 5, 2022 Weekly Print Edition

Vol. 108, Issue 22 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

2

The Daily Aztec

News

March 23. 2022 - April 5, 2022 EDITOR: Katelynn Robinson • news@thedailyaztec.com

Associated Students Debates: One

full slate, many uncontested positions

by Catlan Nguyen EDITOR IN CHIEF

Some candidates running for Associated Students positions for the 2022-2023 year debated and answered student audience questions Tuesday and Thursday of last week in the student union.

Majority of the major A.S. positions are running unopposed this year, including the A.S. president — a phenomenon we haven’t seen at San Diego State since 2018.

Our SDSU is the only full slate running in the 2022 A.S. elections.

Many veteran A.S. employees attribute this to the return to in-person instruction last fall after the virtual year. This return during the third leg of the pandemic led to a widespread feeling of burnout our campus community has never experienced before. Many organizations and clubs on campus have seen this burnout in action while looking for replacements for their major leadership roles.

Our SDSU candidate running for Vice President of University Affairs Sandy Mekany debated with independent candidate Alicia Morales, the first openly transgender A.S. candidate, on March 15.

Major issues covered included the recent debate over the Kumeyaay land acknowledgement, the technology and sustainability fee, changing mask mandates and COVID-19 regulations on campus, mental health initiatives and more.

“Having to pay all of my living expenses and tuition directly out of pocket, I know what it means to not have

my voice heard,” Morales said. “So, these extra fees don’t help what I’m trying to pay off what I can. We have the resources as a university to make sure students are involved (with new proposed fees).”

Mekany also spoke about Greek life in relation to other organizations and communities on campus.

“We do have that disconnection between Greek life, our cultural organizations, our resource centers, so instead of making them against each other, I think we should all work together to ensure all of our students have a place at the school,” Mekany said.

Morales said she believes that disconnect is growing on campus.

“As someone who is not an active person in Greek life, I do believe that disconnect is very visible on campus and it also is something that is really growing, that gap is widening,” Morales said. “It is on us as student leaders on campus to represent all voices and be the ones to bridge the gap. Ultimately, we are what connects everyone.”

Morales said her top three priorities if elected to V.P. of University Affairs are inclusion, organization and outreach.

Mekany said her’s would be to make class enrollment more efficient and convenient for students, to collaborate with university administration to show them the correlation between academic performance and mental health, and to provide platforms to amplify student voices.

The two candidates for V.P. of University Affairs also spoke on whether or not they agreed with how the university handled the return to in-person instruction.

“It was a very difficult situation figuring out what was best practices, but I want to acknowledge that our

Our SDSU is the only full slate campaigning in the 2022 Associated Students election.

students come first, and there was a lot of distrust between our students and lack of honest conversations,” Mekany said. “If students aren’t aware of what is going on on-campus, that will affect them in terms of mental health, their finances, their housing security… It could’ve been handled better and, while I acknowledge how hard it was, I still stick with the students when I say we need more transparent conversations.”

Morales agreed, saying the switch back in person brought unprecedented problems the university hasn’t ever had to deal with.

“I’ve seen or heard recently, and I’m not sure of the exact validity of

Photo courtesy of Our SDSU Slate

the statement, that there is concern for removing some online courses for the following semester,” Morales said.

“I think that’s a huge mistake on the university’s part because I think a lot of students are still concerned with the effects of the pandemic. We need to be accessible to students no matter where they are.”

Both candidates agreed that there needed to be consistent rules on where students can wear masks on campus.

Mekany spoke about the university setting unclear standards and makes it difficult for students to know where mask practices are in place.

Three write-in candidates to choose for A.S. President

by Catlan Nguyen, Katelynn Robinson EDITOR IN CHIEF, NEWS EDITOR

Three write-in presidential candidates have appeared on the scene of the Associated Students elections.

Interfraternity Council President RJ Hullum, Tiber “Tito” Hernandez and Orlando Ochoa launched their campaigns over the last week.

Hullum filed an elections violation complaint against Jacinda Molina for allegedly having a conflict of interest and violating elections codes. The JAC ruled there was no violation after a meeting on Monday morning.

“It’s not just for my little brother, it’s for everybody’s little brother,” Hullum said, about why he decided to run last minute. “I feel like writein candidates are not set up for success.”

Hernandez, who is the College of Engineering president, is endorsed

by The Show and by the popular Instagram account, @Aztecmemes.

Aztecmemes operator Sean Stouffer hosted a Q&A session with Hernandez on Monday night.

“Be wary of politicians,” Hernandez said. “That is the complete opposite

of what I am. I am not a politician… the whole suit and tie aspect, I don’t like. It really feels disingenuous and I wanted to run a campaign that was who I was.”

Hernandez’s main goals if elected are to increase transparency in A.S. and create more post-graduation career preparation opportunities for students.

Ochoa is a Residential Advisor, Ambassador and the current Recreation and Wellness Commissioner of A.S. He discussed having better representation for identity organizations and other groups on campus.

“I feel like there really is a disconnect with those identity resource centers,” Ocha said. “I understand that feeling of…not getting the recognition that A.S. gets.”

Our SDSU residential candidate Shawki Moore declined to comment on his competitors’ last minute campaign.

Voting opened on Monday March 21 and will close this Thursday March 24.

Election results will be announced on the last day of voting at approximately 9 p.m.

Photo courtesy of RJ Hullum

Photo Tiber “Tito” Hernandez

Photo courtesy of Orlando Ochoa

March 23. 2022 - April 5, 2022 EDITOR: Katelynn Robinson . news@thedailyaztec.com

News

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Students and faculty advocate for Asian American Studies department at SDSU

by Brittany STAFF WRITER

The Daily Aztec

Cruz-Ferejan

Throughout nearly half a decade, Asian American Studies remained a glaring gap in the inclusiveness of ethnic studies, according to Associate Professor and Department Chair of Sociology, Minjeong Kim. Finally, the process of filling this educational void at San Diego State is in motion.

SDSU, along with other CSU’s, received funding to bolster their ethnic studies curriculum. The faculty searches include two professors for Chicana/Chicano studies, one each for American Indian studies and Africana studies, and two professors who will be in charge of building SDSU’s first Asian American Studies department.

Minjeong Kim, also chair of the search committee said when it comes to creating this department, SDSU needs to play catch up.

“I don’t think two (faculty members) is enough,” she said. “But two is better than one, and I’m very happy and privileged to be a part of this process.”

As of right now in 2022, SDSU has, on average, only three Asian American courses to serve its Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) population of 13%.

That is a small number, according to Dr. Kim, and proposing new courses will be crucial to building the department.

Dr. Monica Casper, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters, described this gap in the ethnic studies curricula as a fourlegged chair missing a leg.

She said the opportunity to build a new department is extraordinary, but will remain a supportive role during its creation.

The Asian American Studies department would offer majors and new curricula covering more than an intro to Asian American history.

Out of 140 applicants, the search is narrowed down to three associate

Photo by Brittany Cruz-Ferejan

Students and faculty are advocating for an Asian American Studies department which would include a new major.

professor candidates, four assistant professor candidates and only one for each position will be hired.

An associate professor usually has more experience and is tenured at their institution. Assistant professors tend to be newer to the field, just out of graduate school, and are the usual hires for SDSU. The move to recruit an associate professor is a big one and essential to the development of the department because of their experience.

The assistant professor will also have a leadership role in the department.

As part of the hiring process, Casper asked the APIDA Center to host meet and greets with the final seven candidates.

Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan, director of the center and search committee member, actively invites students who utilize the center to join in the conversation.

“You have an opportunity to participate in a momentous occasion,” Loh-Hagan announced to the students in the APIDA center on Monday, March 14 during a meet and greet with a candidate.

She emphasized the importance for student participation because these candidates will be representing the students themselves.

Other search committee members

include Dr. Sandra Wawrytko, Dr. Sureshi Jayawardene, and Dr. Michael Dominguez.

Business entrepreneur fourth year Mirei Kubota took the call and has been to three out of five of the meet and greets hosted at the center.

“If they hire someone we don’t like then it’s kind of our fault for not attending these meetings and voicing our opinions,” Kubota said. “I like to attend and get to know the person before considering them to be our representative.”

Casper said students do not have a vote in who is hired but highly encourages students to voice their opinions to committee members to help them with the decision.

Associate Professor in the School of Theater, Television, and Film Dr. Brian Hu, joined in on the meet and greet simply because he was excited to meet his future colleagues. When the new faculty are hired, he wants to help.

“It’s a glaring absence in the curriculum right now as it stands,” he said. He emphasized without individual departments there is a danger of these courses feeling like electives.

“That is a continued marginalization of this knowledge,” he said. Despite the

absence of an Asian American Studies department, Hu has only seen progress since his hiring in 2018.

“It wasn’t shocking that SDSU didn’t have [a department]. It has to be fought for. Since being here, I found that there’s a lot of demand for it and this was a happy surprise,” he said.

For students like Kubota, she said she thought it was normal not to have a center that prioritized her cultural identity. It was not until she joined the Asian American Pacific Islander Alliance and the opening of the APIDA center that her mindset shifted.

“I actually became active and I was the one leading people,” she said. “It gave me a whole new perspective on how it feels to be represented.”

Only in her fourth year at SDSU did she learn the value of representation, but now she’s graduating. Kubota said she wished she knew sooner how good it would feel to embrace one’s cultural identity.

Loh-Hagan said throughout her SDSU career, she has noticed this absence, but was also not activated about it until the APIDA Center was established.

“I think this is the power of having a resource center here,” she said. “The minute we started thinking about having an APIDA Center, it immediately framed my mind to be thinking about the resources and programs for our students.”

Loh-Hagan said she is confident the new Asian American Studies department will carry the same sentiment in supporting students.

“I’m hoping that all our students will have the opportunity to really dig deep into knowing APIDA history,” she said.

“I think that’s important because I think that ignorance is one of the root causes of anti-Asian hate. The more visibility and more understanding we have of people, the less likely we are going to suffer from discrimination and hate.”

It’s time for Californians to lock their clocks

by Emily CSU WIRE

Roger

The gratefully anticipated daylight savings began on March 13. Daylight Savings Time (DST) occurs on the second Sunday of March, requiring Californians to set their clocks forward an hour.

It marks the beginning of long evenings accompanied by summer and it provides us with more sunshine.

I’m sure the majority of Gen Z has been overwhelmed by the amount of TikTok videos and memes on Instagram enthusiastic about the long, warm summer nights. We wait patiently for this time of year during the winter, so why not make it year-round?

Californians have attempted to have this done by passing Proposition 7.

Proposition 7, a ballot measure to establish permanent DST or year-round standard time, was passed in 2018 by 59.75% of California voters.

But these permanent changes have not occurred in California because of the federal Uniform Time Act. This federal act only permits states to adopt DST during March (spring forward) and in November (fall back), or the establishment of standard time.

It does not allow states to establish permanent DST for long periods of sunlight in the evenings year-round.

That is unless Congress passes a bill allowing for this change to occur with the required two-thirds vote.

So, let’s push our legislature to make this happen.

It’s a nuisance to continue with the time change. Standard job hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. which leaves no time for Californians to spend time in the sunshine after a hard day’s work during the winters when we fall back.

Has Congress ever heard of SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is experienced by nearly every college student I know. When people don’t receive enough sunlight, it causes a biochemical imbalance in their brain leading to feelings of depression, according to John Hopkins Medicine.

Maybe these “winter blues” would be lessened if Californians actually got to experience daylight during the winter months.

Senator Marco Rubio (R-F), crafted the Sunshine Protection Act of 2021 to establish permanent DST, arguing that Americans should not have hassle with changing the clock, suffering from sleep loss and seasonal depression.

He and other senators, like Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), have stated that getting rid of 5 p.m. sunsets and establishing brighter afternoons all year round would make people more productive, well-rested, and happier.

The Senate voted to keep Daylight Savings Time permanent.

Research shows that people exercise more, experience fewer car accidents and robberies during DST. Having a consistent sleeping schedule, without the time changes, could reduce heart problems and stroke.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 18 states have passed legislation to permanently make the switch to DST. The latest are Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Montana; which all enacted legislature in 2021.

As of March 15, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act sponsored by Sen. Rubio, making DST permanent across the United States. But the bill must pass through the U.S. House of Representatives in order to become permanent.

There are plenty of opponents that

Courtesy of CSU Wire

argue that established standard time year-round would better align with our natural circadian rhythm, but these claims are sometimes contradictory.

Most of the younger generation wakes up later and goes to bed later than previous generations. Preferring more light in the morning during the winter months does not suit us anymore.

Also, this is not the 1900s and most of us are not farmers who need more morning light hours.

Another argument opponents state is that establishing DST will harm children by losing critical morning light, where it could become dangerous for children to walk or bike to school.

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Opinion

The Daily Aztec

March 23, 2022 - April 5, 2022 EDITOR: Aaliyah Alexander • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

‘Turning Red’ shouldn’t have you turning red, it’s normal

OPINION EDITOR Aaliyah Alexander

STAFF WRITER

MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Noé Sandoval ASST. MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Karina Bazarte ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Ryan Hardison ASST. ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Cristina Lombardo SPORTS EDITOR Jason Freund

Graphic by Aaliyah Alexander

Having conversations surrounding women and their menstruation cycles has always been taboo, but now is the time to normalize it.

school.

Now mind you, the year before in fifth grade, the school had a day where a nurse gave a tutorial to girls and boys about puberty.

My parents did not allow me to go to school that day. They thought they were “protecting my innocence.” Granted my South Asian parents had the best intentions when raising me, but if I had gone to school that day, I would not have thought that I was dying at 11 years old.

My parents were awakened from this experience, so when my little sister’s second grade class had their health lessons, my parents did not take her out of it. Ironically enough, her “turning red” moment happened when she was 9 years old, which shocked my mom because of how young she was. A girl can get her period as early as 8 years old . As grown women, we know the mental and physical toll menstruation can take. Imagine trying to understand that, at that early age.

However, some of us still do

not understand that as adults.

There are women who still feel embarrassed to talk about periods or feel that they should not talk about it at all. A year or so ago, I watched a documentary on Netflix called “Period. End of Sentence” where the beginning scene started by showing a girl who was so hesitant to say the word “period” that you would think someone was holding her hostage. Watching that documentary strained my mind as to why the topic was so taboo.

The lack of menstrual products in India is due to the lack of knowledge in understanding the truth of the female body.

This is not only true in India, but here in the United States as well. According to a study done by Diva International Inc., 55% of American women were unprepared for the first time their period showed up, 43% were scared from the experience, while others felt “sheer embarrassment” by it.

Why should we continue letting girls go through it like this? Why

is it so awkward to talk about?

Because there is juice flowing out of the forbidden fruit? Because it is hard to fathom that one can bleed so much and not die?

All puns aside, it is important to be educated. Not just for young girls, but boys too, so they can be raised to be gentlemen and not poke fun at something they were never taught by their parents.

The idea of shielding kids from learning about their biology baffles me. I can assure that periods would be a less distressing experience for many if society normalized talking about it. I think Disney knocked it out of the park with “Turning Red.” This movie not only introduces adolescence, but it also teaches that having a period is normal, and it is normal to grow up. It is a part of life.

There is no need to turn red about “turning red.”

Sumaia Wegner is a junior studying journalism and communication.

Celebrating women should be everyday effort Graphic by Emily Forschen

Women continue to make impact in society.

By Samantha Festin CONTRIBUTOR

San Diego State has celebrated Women’s History Month every March since it first started in 1987, according to the university library.

This year, the Women’s Resource Center at SDSU kicked off the celebration with a meeting for the Women of Color Empowerment Group, held on Zoom, co-hosted

by Counseling and Psychological Services and the SDSU Center for Intercultural Relations. The next event on Zoom was an opening keynote webinar featuring Roxane Gay, an author, editor and professor.

Women’s History Month celebrates contributions women have made to culture, history and society. Women should be appreciated every day for their

MANAGING EDITOR Trinity Bland NEWS EDITOR Katelynn Robinson

By Sumaia Wegner As I lay in bed scrolling aimlessly through Facebook, I came across a post about a newly released Disney movie: “Turning Red.” I enjoy reading comments from people on social media because the opinions on there range from “hmm, I never really thought about it like that” to “do we really coexist with people who think like that?” So, when I landed on a comment that read, “this movie is too inappropriate for my child,” I had to figure out why.

When I first glanced over the trailer of this movie, it took me a moment to realize that “turning red” was a metaphor for puberty. If it took me some time to understand that, then how is a 5-year-old supposed to pick up on it? These overprotective moms commenting on Facebook had me stunned. Evidently, Disney found it appropriate to be released as a kid’s movie because Disney doesn’t think talking about periods should be taboo.

In the movie, Mei Lee asks her mom why she didn’t warn her about “turning red”. Her mom told her that she did not think it would happen to her yet and that she was “watching her so closely to pick up on the signs when it would.” Well, Mei Lee’s mom had the same mindset as my own mom. My “turning red” moment was when I was 11 years old. I woke up to get ready for school one day and my parents woke up to me screaming, “ahhh mom, my organs are falling out of me!” followed by an hour worth of heavy tears, confusion and three days of staying home from

EDITOR IN CHIEF Catlan Nguyen

accomplishments, and every month should be considered a time to value women and their roles in the workplace, at home and anywhere they make their mark. Understanding the importance of gender equality and equity helps prevent social disadvantages from causing unfair treatment toward all genders.

Nowadays, there are months dedicated to a variety of appreciations, from Pride Month and heritage months to Military Appreciation Month and Disability Awareness Month.

March should not be the only month when people recognize the abilities and achievements of women but, of course, Women’s History Month should not be held every month. People just need to respect, cherish and thank women for their efforts as much as they can every day of the year. Everyone deserves praise for endeavoring to accomplish great things.

During the webinar, when asked what male members of the queer, Black or other marginalized communities can do to help better support women and nonbinary

individuals, Gay gave words of advice for these communities.

“Be decent, which I would actually say is advice for everyone, regardless of gender, but men can make sure that they are not speaking over women, that they are creating opportunities for women to speak and then listening,” Gay said. “I mean, it shouldn’t have to be said, like, if you want to be a feminist, then be a feminist. Support women in whatever ways they need support to have equal space and equal say in the communities that you’re a part of.”

Gay talked about what Women’s History Month means to her during the webinar.

“I’m ambivalent about Women’s History Month in the same way that I’m ambivalent about Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month,” Gay said. “I think that they are necessary correctives to a stark imbalance in terms of historical representation and acknowledging the contributions that marginalized people have made to world history. I think it’s important, and I love any time that we acknowledge women’s

contributions to history and to our present. I just wish that we did it year-round.”

The National Women’s History Alliance declared the theme of Women’s History Month this year as “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” which is “both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.” Women have changed the world in their own ways, continue to inspire others and create brighter days.

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Finley SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Sara Rott PHOTO EDITOR Noelani Sapla MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Mackenzie Stafford ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jayne Yutig GRAPHICS EDITOR Emily Forschen

STAFF WRITERS Nicholas Neikon Ebadat Eugenie Budnik Sumaia Wegner Brittany Cruz-Fejeran Adriana Horne Adam Correa SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Flower Smith CONTRIBUTORS Christian Houser Destiny Esparza Ariana Mardani Samantha Festin RJ Hullum ________________________________

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Brian Arnold ________________________________

GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Luis Valenzuela EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING 619.594.7807 advertising@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 3,000 copies of its weekly print edition every Wednesday throughout the semester WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com QUESTIONS/COMMENTS letters@thedailyaztec.com The views and opinions expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.

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March 23. 2022 - April 5, 2022 EDITOR: Aaliyah Alexander • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

Opinion

The Daily Aztec

5

Disney princesses Open letter: My experience with racist acts on campus can provide women a whole new world

By RJ Hullum CONTRIBUTOR

Graphic by Emily Forschen

Disney princesses can serve not only as inspiration for children, but they can also serve as inspiration for adults.

By Trinity Bland MANAGING EDITOR

As a new 22-year-old, I’ve discovered fresh and exciting ways to embrace my womanhood.

From exploring what deep intimacy is like with someone for the first time to being presented with a whole new world that is post-graduate life soon, becoming acquainted with who I am at my core is a lifelong journey.

I’ve had a few of those moments at the most unexpected times and spaces, but one of them was reclaiming my favorite Disney Princess.

When I was younger, my favorite Disney Princess was Princess Ariel. It could’ve been the arrival of “The Little Mermaid” in my favorite decade, the vibrant soundtrack, her long red hair, her special friendships with sea creatures or how her silly and jumpy personality correlated with mine as a child.

Once I turned 21, I slowly came to terms with realizing how I wasn’t as juvenile as Ariel anymore. Growing pains are uncomfortable and almost embarrassingly, admitting my favorite Disney Princess was not Ariel for the first time in my over two decades of life was extremely difficult for me.

The hardest part of that revelation was recognizing Ariel’s place in my life, and it was childhood. At the same time, Princess Jasmine from the 1992 film “Aladdin” was looking more like a mirror to me in more ways than not, and I found our commonalities fascinating.

With luscious dark hair, large enchanting eyes and a distinct hourglass figure, to say Jasmine is desirable is a disparaging understatement. Her royal aura sparkles throughout the film and recognizing I had grown into a woman with similar physical features helped me identify with her more than ever before.

Jasmine’s fashion sense resembles her personality to a tee and it distinguishes her from not only the other characters in the film but other Disney Princesses overall. She isn’t afraid to show skin in her color-coordinated outfits that flatter

her body, and her two large gold earrings and matching necklace are reflective of her culture. In my natural quintessence, the clothing I feel most comfortable in allows me to show skin and accessorize perfectly to complement my figure and feminine finesse.

On the inside, Jasmine sees both the good and bad in people, and loves them equally. In the film, she famously mentions that when she marries, she wants it to be for love despite the tradition to marry for royalty or familial reasons. It’s why she took a chance on romantic interest and “hoodlum” Aladdin. In the same way, it identically supports my personal conviction for why I don’t date aimlessly, even though societal norms suggest otherwise.

There’s no way to discuss Jasmine without mentioning her sultry confidence that enriches any scene featuring the princess herself. She is opinionated and self assured, willingly to engage in sarcastic banter or use her sex appeal to get the better of her foes, something I certify as an efficient tactic in the right time and space.

Disney made sure Jasmine embodied a well-defined and multilayered character who was not solely reliant upon a prince, which is why she rejects her father’s prospects and independently explores beyond the kingdom, despite the risks of doing so.

Jasmine is far from perfect but she learns to accept this hard truth over the course of the movie. This was something I learned to swallow in my transition from girl to woman, adding to my own royal character development. As I mature and dive deeper into my womanhood, Jasmine is a character I hope to emulate and channel in many areas of my life.

Thirty years ago, my favorite Disney princess was born and I want to celebrate both her and myself. To finally feel so secure in that statement after overcoming the hardships of letting go of childhood and resting confident in who I am makes my heart feel like it’s on a magic carpet ride.

Trinity Bland is a senior studying television, film, media and Spanish. Follow her on Twitter @trinityaliciaa.

I am writing this letter to express my feelings surrounding current circumstances that I wish to not internalize any further than need be.

I am hurting, and I’d no longer like to.

I cannot truly describe the events as they happened minute-by-minute, so I ask that you understand it the best you can given the limited details.

As I was with some of my closest friends, a racial slur was hurled at me.I hadn’t noticed it until I had shown a video to my little brother, who pointed out that someone shouted it.

“N****r.”

At the time of the incident, I hadn’t even noticed it.

However, upon closer inspection and peer review, someone did indeed hurl this racial slur at me.

As such, I am unsettled. I have sat with this for many days and many hours and many minutes, pondering a way to express my feelings with the situation while not casting blame nor judgment.

How to heal from a situation without internalizing it?

How to think of a situation without disassociating from it?

How to make clear a foggy head, and heal a bruised heart?

All these questions and more I asked myself, searching for truth and meaning to define who I am and what I do. So, I looked upon my past experiences.

I reflected on my first encounter with

Courtesy of RJ Hullum

Hullum, San Diego State student, posing for a photo.

a police officer who asked if I had stolen the car I was sitting inside, the one I paid for with my hard earned money, during their interrogation. Then I reflected on another encounter with a police officer, who aggressively pursued me from my parking lot to inside my house, because I had asked if he had rights to park within a private space to investigate.

Both instances scared me, surely.

Many thoughts passed through my mind as to whether or not I’d become the next George Floyd. Or Armaud Arbury. Or Treyvon Martin.

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MARCH 21-24 VOTE TODAY IN THE A.S. ELECTIONS ON SDSU WEBPORTAL! Voting ends 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24 as.sdsu.edu/elections Contact aselections@sdsu.edu for any questions.

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The Daily Aztec

Arts & Culture

March 23, 2022 - April 5, 2022 EDITOR: Ryan Hardison • arts@thedailyaztec.com

SDSU Girl Gains empowers women to lift and work out with more confidence

By Cristina Lombardo ASST. ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

San Diego State has a brand new gym and clubs like SDSU Girl Gains are taking advantage of it.

SDSU Girl Gains is a group that emphasizes weight lifting among women and empowering them to feel more comfortable while working out. SDSU Girl Gains was the first ‘girl gains’ chapters at a university.

When it started in December 2020, it was still considered an unofficial club.

They became official in spring 2021 and had to deal with the hurdles of Zoom.

Now, being back in person opens up a lot more possibilities for the group to expand their horizons, says SDSU Girl Gains President Karina Glaze.

“Fall was our first semester in person.

So, it’s a really nice transition. I really like being in person, it’s so much better,” Glaze said. “You get to communicate with your members more and connect with them on a personal level.”

Since the group started, they currently have over 100 members. The group is meant to be accessible to those who would like to work out without any financial barriers as they don’t require fees or dues.

There are plenty of events Girl Gains hosts for members all throughout the semester which can be found on their Instagram page @sdsugirlgains.

Even though Girl Gains focuses on weight lifting, they offer a variety of events that express other areas of fitness like kickboxing, yoga and hiking.

With all the events Girl Gains holds

during the semester, second year biology major Liliana Torres said it makes her feel more connected to SDSU. “My favorite thing about Girl Gains is having the opportunity to go and do these random activities and cool and fun active events and meet random girls each time…” Torres said. “Now, I see them on campus, we’re all trying to go to the gym together and now it’s made campus feel smaller because, you know, so many different girls involved in so many different things.”

Many members at SDSU consider Girl Gains a safe community to interact with one another all while being empowered.

Third year international business major Lianne-June So said even though this semester is her first semester getting involved, she saw many people post about it in the past.

“There are a lot of sport teams, and clubs but there hasn’t been anything like that [SDSU Girl Gains]. Like, female weight lifting organizations. So, it’s really cool.” So said.

Girl Gains opened up many opportunities for women to feel more comfortable in the gym, So explained.

She also said if you looked back five to 10 years ago, all you would see in terms of fitness were “macho” men dominating the fitness scene. Now, more and more women are integrating into the scene.

“Because of that history, and in terms of the fitness world, it takes more for women to get comfortable being in that environment. It’s a huge barrier of intimidation in the beginning,” So said.

“Maybe it’s not the same for everybody but especially for me I was like shaking

Photo courtesy of SDSU Girl Gains

With the help of SDSU Girl Gains, many women on campus have found safety and a community at the Aztec Recreation Center (ARC), growing the club's membership to over 100 members who weightlift regularly.

my legs going into the arc for the first time.”

Girl Gains wants women to feel confident when working out by addressing their struggles in the gym and by giving a supporting hand. Glaze said it is different from other lifting groups on campus because it provides a safe space for girls to communicate with one another.

They even hold meetings where members can submit anonymous testimonials about their mental health.

Plenty of members discussed anxiety, depression and how girl gains have helped

them through difficult times.

“I feel strong, I feel great. It did take a lot of practice. It’s really not in terms of being comfortable in the gym, it’s not really about how you look or strength. It really is a mental thing most importantly once you get more confident and become stronger in terms of your mentality, everything after that becomes so much easier,...” So said. “I’ve just been seeing things in a better light, just because it affects me and my mind and body. So, I’m really thankful that I was able to go through that with Girl Gains.”

Column: 'The Queen of Funk' Betty Davis was a larger than life icon––yet her genius was rarely recognized

By Ryan Hardison ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Before the likes of Megan thee Stallion and Cardi B took to the mainstream with displays of confident sensuality, Betty Davis, aka “the queen of funk,” made adoring men faint, radio disc jockeys feverish and Bible-thumping mothers gasp at her enthralling sex appeal.

Like many Black artists who pushed the boundaries of musical possibilities in the ‘60s and ’70s, Davis never received the acclaim and adoration she deserved. Plain and simple. Racism and misogyny played a significant part, with her voice being silenced by those who never attempted to understand her.

Born Betty Mabry, Davis’ musical journey began at the age of 16 when she moved to New York with ambitions of a modeling career. She soon became an important figure in the ‘60s Greenwich Village counterculture scene and began recording music under her birth name while appearing in “Seventeen,” “Ebony” and “Glamour” photospreads.

While living in New York, Davis became acquainted with several rising artists, including the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone, and began making her name as a songwriter, penning songs like the Chambers Brothers’ “Uptown (To Harlem),'' an underrated classic that finally received proper due in Questlove’s “Summer of Soul” documentary. She was a perfectly symbolic character of this artistic “changing of the times” period.

Graphic by Emily Forschen

Betty Davis made a name for herself through her bold and erotic performances, which ultimately led to her U.S. performances being censored, but her true value as a musical trailblazer was never recognized during her lifetime.

But everything changed in 1968 when Davis (then still going by Betty Mabry) entered a relationship with jazz pioneer Miles Davis. Over the course of their brief and chaotic one-year marriage, Davis introduced him to modern fashion as well as the psychedelic pioneers Hendrix and Stone, sparking Miles Davis’ jazz fusion epiphany as he started incorporating electric guitars and synthesizers into his repertoire.

Davis also served as his creative and aesthetic muse, appearing on the cover for his 1968 album “Filles de Kilimanjaro” and inspiring the title of

Miles Davis’ most seminal album “Bitches Brew.” Davis’ inspiration on her husband was monumental and shifted the entire landscape of the jazz genre. However, the musical triumphs of their marriage were undermined by Miles Davis’s volatile nature, highlighted by constant jealousy, paranoia and abuse, which ended things quickly.

Up to this point, all the loose singles and unreleased tracks Davis had recorded over the years were either tossed aside or shoved in a vault, only seeing the light of day in the 21st century. Davis then moved to London for modeling work,

before finding a home in San Francisco after writing songs and planning musical projects abroad.

Davis intended on recording a project with San Francisco rock band Santana but after her plans stalled, she recorded her debut solo album with her backing band Funkhouse. Her self-titled debut “Betty Davis” was released in 1973 and provided to be a daring introduction to her erotic raunchiness, as well as the deep, howling voice she used to sing.

However, things really came together on her second album “They Say I’m Different” which can be described as a wild, funk-filled odyssey that’s raw, exciting and truly “different.” Songs like “He Was a Big Freak” and “Don’t Call Her No Tramp” were provocatively funky and showed women could be just as nasty as men when it came to music.

Between the release of “Betty Davis” and “They Say I’m Different,” Davis began gaining a reputation as an explosive live act.

When she graced the stage, Davis brandished a luscious afro, often paired with fishnet stockings, knee-high boots, and shiny bikini tops. She screeched and yelped into the microphone while gyrating and leaving a lingering inflection on the nastiest parts of her lyrics. (Before Jill Scott was simulating fellatio on a mic, Davis was using hers as a prop penis.) Davis was a palette of unhinged sex appeal, something many audiences weren’t ready for or just didn’t appreciate for its vulgarity.

SEE ONLINE

March 23, 2022 - April 5, 2022 EDITOR: Ryan Hardison • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Arts & Culture

Gaming club levels the playing field

By Eugènie Budnik STAFF WRITER

Society has painted a picture of the gamer archetype as white men, often with a penchant for junk food and energy drinks. This stereotype is pushed further by characters such as Jenkins from “South Park” or Philip J. Fry from “Futurama.”

However, these portrayals leave out a large portion of the gaming community who are not white men. Forbes Magazine reports 45% of gamers around the world identify as female, and this number is on the rise.

This Women’s History Month, three female gamers at San Diego State share their love for the hobby as well as their experiences within the gaming community.

Alyssa Garcia is a computer science third year who hopes to go into game development post-graduation.

Garcia is also the co-president of Aztec Gaming Lab, a student-run organization on campus that develops and produces a video game each semester.

“In middle school, when ‘Minecraft’ came out a lot of the friends in my class that were playing were guys. I didn’t know any girls that were playing ‘Minecraft’ at the time,” Garcia said.

Garcia plays a variety of games, but says she appreciates immersive storytelling and simulator games.

When playing online co-op games such as “Valorant,” Garcia has faced sexist remarks from fellow players.

“I have even gotten stuff like ‘oh, go back to the kitchen.’ Someone said that to me one day, and I was like ‘are you kidding me?’ We’re in 2022, this is unnecessary,” Garcia said.

Through Aztec Game Lab and by encouraging her younger sisters into the world of gaming, Garcia hopes to inspire the next generation of female gamers.

“It’s [video games] something that everyone can do and it’s something that unites us. I feel like as human beings, video games shouldn’t solely be a male thing. Everyone can agree that video games are fun, and so we should all just enjoy it together,” Garcia said.

Emely Cristales-Linares is a first year psychology major, and a captain of one of Aztec Gaming Club’s “Valorant” teams.

“I loved the interactive worlds you can

do, and that is what brought me into the gaming life. Later on, I got my own PC and started getting into more games,” Cristales-Linares said.

Cristales-Linares talked about the oversexualization of female gamers amidst the increasing popularity of selfdeclared “gamer girl” YouTubers such as Belle Delphine, who’s popularity spiked after she began posting photos and videos making suggestive faces often found within erotic manga.

“It makes me feel really uncomfortable, and I think it’s a conversation that needs to be had,” Cristales-Linares said. “You don’t know who is on the other side of the screen, you don’t know who you are talking to, or their experiences. It is really inappropriate to just sexualize them immediately.”

The way in which female video game characters are often designed or costumed also adds to the uncomfortable feeling Cristales-Linares has.

“I feel like female models in games, they’re always turned to being more sexual and sexy. When like, that shouldn’t be the case because they’re just going to be shooting some alien or robot or something. It is really unnecessary,” Cristales-Linares said.

Within her leadership role in Aztec Gaming, Cristales-Linares has found support from her peers.

“It opens up the conversation of having a woman in power for this gaming team.

I really like that,” Cristales-Linares said.

India Wishart is a graphic design transfer student. Wishart became interested in video games after playing with her mom and stepdad.

“My mom played MMOs [massively multiplayer online games], like she played ‘Meridian 59.’ I also played “Civilization” with my dad and uncle,” Wishart said.

Wishart said she holds a more optimistic view of representation of women within the video game industry.

“When I was younger, there were a lot less women developing games and they were sort of an underrepresented target market. Because there was an assumption that boys were more likely to like games, so they would target boys more,” Wishart said. “I think nowadays, people realize that women are a huge part of their market. There’s a lot more women who grew up playing games and are making games now.”

The Daily Aztec

7

Review: Pixar's 'Turning Red' celebrates Chinese culture and teenage insecurities

Graphic by Emily Forschen

"Turning Red" explores the concept of trying to find yourself as a teenager, all while trying to satisfy those around.

By Destiny Esparza CONTRIBUTOR

Pixar’s new movie “Turning Red” is described by director Domee Shi as an “Asian tween fever dream” and the film is exactly that, but in a good way. *SPOILERS AHEAD* The movie follows main character Meilin Lee (voiced by Rosalie Chiang) who is a 13-year-old Chinese Canadian teenager who faces the challenge of trying to please her overprotective mother, Ming Lee (voiced by Sandra Oh) and finds herself hiding certain parts of herself from her. This all changes when Meilin discovers she can turn into a big red panda whenever she feels strong emotions.

The film does an excellent job capturing the many underlying messages of what a teen girl goes through with puberty, trying to find/express themselves, and seeking independence while also capturing how a parent/daughter relationship changes as they go through their adolescent years.

This film will have you laughing and crying because Meilin and her teen experience are extremely relatable.

Besides the story of the film, the cinematography in the movie is phenomenal. “Turning Red” is animated in a different style than their traditional movies, but it still has a Pixar feel.

This different style includes having more of an anime inspiration with the characters having “kawaii” eyes whenever something is too cute, the intense sweating scenes of Meilin, and the introductory scenes with her friends.

“Kawaii” is the culture of cuteness in Japan and can refer to humans or nonhumans.

The movie also does a great job highlighting the truthfulness behind being in a Chinese family and, because of this, “Turning Red” captures the culture very well.

In the movie, Meilin’s overprotective mother has high expectations for her daughter.

“I do make my own moves, it’s just that some of my moves are also hers,” Meilin said, referring to her mother.

Her overprotective mother pressures Meilin to be a straight-A, overachieving student and a respectful daughter to her parents at all times. This catches the essence of being in an overbearing Chinese family that many people can relate to regardless of their culture.

The film also accurately represented Chinese culture with the portrayal of Chinatown, the Lee family’s temple, and the Chinese cuisine animations which included dumplings, porridge and other main dishes. The movie also does a good job focusing on little details in Chinese culture with the wooden beaded seat comforter Meilin’s mother has in her car, Meilin’s Tamagotchi, an elderly individual doing tai chi and playing chess at her family’s temple, and the outfits both her dad and mother wore.

Overall, this movie is a must-watch that many teen girls and parents can learn and relate to. It shares the importance of entering adulthood and the struggles that come with it.

10

Photo courtesy of Alyssa Garcia

Having aproper gamer setup is an essential part of playing at the highest level, and computer science major Alyssa Garcia, who is the co-president of Aztec Gaming Lab, has an elaborate setup, complete with a SecretLab gamer chair.

8

Mundo Azteca

The Daily Aztec

March 23, 2022 - April 5, 2022 EDITOR: Noé Sandoval • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Columna: El feriado de carnival en único en sus costumbres y festivades

Gráfico por Noe Sandoval

Carnaval es una festividad lllena de alegria, baile y música donde el mundo celebra unos dias de gozo antes de la Cuaresma, el Carnaval es mas predominante en Brasil.

por Noé Sandoval EDITOR DE MUNDO AZTECA

Con el mes de marzo acabando, los feriados y celebraciones del mes son muy variables.

El carnaval es un feriado que se lleva acabo el dia antes de la Cuaresma históricamente. Sus orígenes vienen de los paganos pero fue adoptada por la iglesia católica. La tradición se expandió por el mundo a través de las formaciones de otros países Lo interesante de esta tradición es que com se transformo en la cultura de muchos países. Aqui en los Estados Unidos es conocido como Mardi Gras, o Martes Gordo y es celebrado en la mayoría en el estado de Louisana.

Brasil es otro país que la celebración es considerado como el patrimonio del país.

Esta celebración es un feriado nacional

donde hay descanso de trabajo, escuela y oficio. Las calles se llenan de gente vestidas en disfraz para celebrar unos días de baile y diversión.

Esta tradicion se ha evolucionado tanto en el país de Brasil. Yo tuve la oportunidad de experimentar como es el Carnaval de Brasil en 2020. Ese año decidí hacer un intercambio para São Paulo, Brasil.

Durante mi viaje y experencia nunca había sabido del Carnaval, solo había leído en articulos noticiero o visto en algunos documentarios en la televisión.

El Carnaval de Brasil hoy en dia es muy actual y destaca la musica y cultura de Brasil que hay hoy.

La música de Carnaval es la cotidiana que muchas personas oyen hoy, y es la musica que se escucha de artistas actuales en brasil.

Pude aprender y conocer otros tipos de música regionales de Brasil. Estilos como el funk brasileño o el sertanejo

son musicas que resaltaban durante el Carnaval.

Algo popular en la temporada de Carnaval es los blocos. Blocos son fiestas comunitarios donde las calles son cerradas y la gente se reúnen con una carusela que se queda tocando musica o hay un/a artista bailando y cantando encima mientras el público también festeja con baile y bebida.

Aunque se puede ver un Carnaval mas adaptado a los siglo 21., aún hay las mismas tradiciones que se celebran muchos años atrás.

El Sambódromo es un desfile de escuelas de samba que organizan una

competencia para Carnaval. En todas partes de Brazil hay desfiles pero es más predominantemente en lugares como Rio de Janeiro y Salvador da Bahia.

La samba es un baile y música que representa el pueblo brasileño por su cultura diversa de indigenas y africanos que forman parte del país también. Hoy en día, el Carnaval aún sigue ser una gran festividad para el país, y aunque han habido desafíos por la pandemia el pueblo brasileño no ha dejado sus tradicion.

En Rio de Janeiro, los festividades de Carnaval se llevarán acabo en Brasil para esperar la propagación de COVID-19.

Foto por Noe Sandoval

Brasileños durante la temporada de Carnaval en la cuidad de São Paulo, Brasil.

Foto por Noe Sandoval

Yo en un bloco en Marzo 2020 comemorando el Carnaval en São Paulo, Brasil.

March 23, 2022 - April 5, 2022 EDITOR: Noé Sandoval • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Mundo Azteca

The Daily Aztec

9

La universidad cumple sus 125 años por Adriana ESCRITORA

Horne

La Universidad Estatal de San Diego celebró su 125 aniversario el 14 de marzo hasta el 16 de marzo.

Los eventos se llevaron a cabo en Montezuma Hall en la Unión de Estudiantes de Conrad Prebys, donde podrán asistir los estudiantes, el personal, la facultad y el público en general.

“Es increíble la energía que hay aquí y la pasión. Todos aquí miran el futuro con ojos tan llenos de estrellas porque hay mucho que podemos hacer en este momento”, dijo la presidenta Adela de la Torre.

Además de esto, SDSU anunció un cambio de logo y color. El nuevo logotipo se trasladará del edificio de Hepnar Hall a SDSU. El color verde azulado se agregará a nuestros colores rojo y negro.

La universidad afirma que esto es parte de un plan estratégico para ser inclusivo hacia Imperial Valley y Mission Valley.

La presidenta de Associated Students, Ashley Tejada, dijo: “En este momento hemos progresado mucho, también siento esto con nuestro nuevo lema, transforma tu mañana”.

SDSU fue fundada en 1897 como una escuela normal de San Diego, una institución de enseñanza para maestros.

En 1971, la universidad se conoció oficialmente como la Universidad Estatal de San Diego, que actualmente atiende a más de 36,000 estudiantes.

El profesor de antropología y curador de historia de SDSU, Seth Mallios, dijo:

“Se cancelaron y pospusieron tantas cosas, por lo que hacer que esto se una de una manera en la que podamos ser públicos y celebrar es especial”.

Según US News and World Report, SDSU está clasificada como una de las mejores universidades estatales de California en apoyo a la investigación federal y como una de las mejores universidades públicas de investigación en California.

“La Casa Abierta de la Comunidad destacará SDSU Over the Decades y contará con viñetas inmersivas que mostrarán artefactos raros de SDSU y multimedia organizados por década”, dice el director de relaciones con los medios.

Algunos de estos incluyen oradores notables, el presidente John F. Kennedy y Martin Luther King Jr, dijo la universidad en un comunicado.

Los actores que actúan en el campus son estudiantes de SDSU que usarán disfraces personalizados por la clase de graduados de vestuario y diseño de SDSU. “Los invitados también tendrán la oportunidad de interactuar con una exploración espacial del Laboratorio de Propulsión a Chorro de la NASA y una experiencia de realidad virtual con ex alumnos de ingeniería de SDSU”, dijo la universidad en un comunicado.

Seth Mallios afirma que es la máxima satisfacción ver a personas de todas las generaciones y cerrar esa brecha en un momento en el que hay tantos malentendidos.

Para obtener más información sobre el evento, visite 125.sdsu.edu

Foto por Joseph Barr

La universidad cumple 125 años y cambia mucho de sus de su lema y logo.

Profesor de filosofía despedido por su currículo ofenso por Katelynn Robinson EDITORA DE NOTÍCIAS

El profesor J. Angelo Corlett fue reasignado de dos cursos después de usar insultos raciales y etiquetas/apodos racistas en sus conferencias. Corlett sigue impartiendo un curso de filosofía en San Diego State y es titular.

Su retiro de dos cursos selectos se produce después de que un estudiante confrontara sus controvertidas tácticas de enseñanza el 1 de marzo. Sin embargo, esta no fue la primera vez que los estudiantes se quejaron.

Amanda Malawski, estudiante de tercer año en justicia penal, se inscribió en el curso de moralidad y derecho de Corlett en el semestre de otoño de 2020. El curso se impartió utilizando Google Spaces, una aplicación móvil para debates grupales y mensajería desarrollada por Google.

“Lo denuncié el otoño pasado por el idioma y esas cosas, y no se hizo nada”, dijo Malawski.

La aspirante a abogada pensó que la clase tocaría temas relevantes para sus objetivos profesionales. Sin embargo, la conferencia de “ofensifobia” se dio después de la fecha límite para agregar/ retirar, y desde ese momento en adelante dijo que odiaba asistir a la clase. “Él siempre dijo que porque experimenta el racismo, entiende… Entiendo que experimenta el racismo, pero no justifica el uso de la palabra n”, dijo Malawski.

Corlett justificó repetidamente su lenguaje con una variedad de argumentos. “Él justificaría que si una persona blanca se ofende porque él dice la palabra n como por qué estás ofendido, no eres una persona negra, y él diría ‘las únicas personas que deberían ofenderse son las personas negras’. —dijo Corlett—. “Pero cuando la gente decía que no debería decir eso, volvía a su discurso de mierda sobre la ‘ofensifobia’”.

Cuando los estudiantes participaron en la clase pero se negaron a vocalizar los insultos raciales, los estudiantes dijeron que él los haría sentir culpables, alegando

Cortesía por SDSU Filosofia

Profesor J. Angelo Corlett todavía está dando clase en la universidad.

que censurar los insultos estaba en contradicción directa con lo que enseñó, según Malawski.

La Unión de Estudiantes de Afrikan emitió un comunicado en Instagram el 6 de marzo, en el que expresó su apoyo a la decisión de la universidad de eliminar a Corlett de los dos cursos.

“En nombre del Afrikan Student Union, apoyamos al 100% la decisión de la

Universidad de sacar al profesor Corlett del salón de clases. Apoyamos a TODOS los estudiantes negros en este asunto.

Esta situación es solo uno de los muchos incidentes de anti-negritud y racismo, no solo dentro de su salón de clases sino en el campus en general”.

Associated Students emitió una declaración similar el 8 de marzo y dijo que están “horrorizados” por su

comportamiento.

“Los estudiantes en el salón de clases informaron que la palabra n con una ‘r dura’ al final se dijo más de 60 veces, las palabras ‘est*pro’ y ‘est*pro de pandilla’ se usaron repetidamente al hacer referencia a la violencia sexual, y él señaló que solo sería despedido si violaba o mataba a un estudiante”, dijo el comunicado de AS. FIRE publicó un artículo que salió en defensa de Corlett alegando que tiene derecho a usar este tipo de discurso bajo los derechos de la Primera Enmienda.

“Tenemos el máximo respeto por la libertad académica y la libertad de expresión en este campus, pero es imposible comprender cómo el abuso repetido de epítetos raciales, términos despectivos y lenguaje inquietante y dañino que causa trauma y crea un ambiente de aprendizaje hostil es beneficioso para el experiencia académica de los estudiantes”, dice el comunicado de AS. Ante la solicitud de definir los parámetros de la “reasignación” de Corlett, la universidad dijo que no podía discutir más los detalles ya que se trata de un problema de personal.

Sin embargo, la universidad emitió esta declaración: “Es importante destacar que la información compartida en la cobertura de los medios no es un reflejo completo de lo que ha ocurrido. La universidad tiene en la más alta consideración todas las protecciones de la libertad académica.

La universidad, sin embargo, está limitada en lo que puede compartir sobre el tema, ya que se trata de un tema de personal.

Después de revisar múltiples quejas de los estudiantes, la universidad consideró la gravedad de la situación y el apoyo que necesitaban nuestros estudiantes, y reasignó al profesor. Una vez más, como se trata de un asunto de personal, la universidad no puede proporcionar más información en este momento. Corlett no pudo ser contactado para hacer comentarios.

10

The Daily Aztec

Sports

March 23, 2022 - April 5, 2022 EDITOR: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com

March Madness turns to March

Sadness for Aztecs basketball

By Jason Freund SPORTS EDITOR

At the beginning of the NCAA Tournament, there were four Mountain West teams.

After just one round, all four of them have been eliminated from the tournament.

For a good portion of their match, it seemed like San Diego State (23-10) was going to be the lone Mountain West team to advance to the second round over the Creighton Bluejays (24-11).

At one point, SDSU even held a 14-point lead in the first half after a wild shooting spree from sophomore ChadBaker Mazara and a layup from senior Tahirou Diabate put the Aztecs up 35-21.

The defense, led by senior Nathan Mensah, was doing its part in limiting Creighton’s inside scoring while tying up Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner.

Everything was going swimmingly for the Aztecs.

Until the mistakes started piling up.

A missed shot here, a turnover there, a missed free throw over here, more turnovers, a nine-point lead blown with two-and-a-half minutes to spare, Mensah fouling out and more missed free throws led to the Aztecs crumbling in the final minutes to the Bluejays and stumbling back to San Diego after a 72-69 defeat.

It was a game of deja vu for SDSU.

Photo by Noelani Sapla

Matt Bradley’s 16 points led the Aztecs, but wasn’t enough to overcome the Creighton Bluejays.

Earlier this season against Nevada, the team blew an 18-point lead in the second half and needed two last-second blocks to sneak away with a one-point victory.

The collapse began in the second half but warning signs started to show in the first half after SDSU scored just one bucket — a layup by senior Aguek Arop

— in the span of four-and-a-half minutes.

But despite nudging themselves closer and closer to the edge of a proverbial cliff, the Scarlet and Black were still matching the Bluejays shot-for-shot.

Still, Creighton was lurking in the distance. What once seemed like a surefire SDSU victory didn’t seem so certain as the minutes slowly ticked by in the second half.

A heavily contested 3-pointer from Trey Pulliam gave the Aztecs a 62-53 lead with just four minutes to go in the second half.

For the moment, it appeared to be the shot that put the lead out of reach.

Minutes ticked by again and the score didn’t change. The Aztecs seemingly had the game on cruise control… until Mensah picked the worst possible moment to pick up his fifth foul.

Mensah, who leads SDSU this season in personal fouls, is no stranger to foul trouble as he has picked up multiple fouls in all but five games this season.

But Mensah was sitting on four fouls with two minutes to spare and was the pivotal glue holding the SDSU defense together. After senior Alex O’Connell drew the foul, Mensah was out of the game and forced to watch the rest of the game from the bench.

O’Connell naturally sank both of his free throws and something awoke within Creighton’s offense. A combination of hot shooting and poorly timed turnovers tied

the game up at 62 points each.

The Aztecs finally got lucky in the end as senior Matt Bradley was fouled with seven seconds remaining in the game to head to the charity stripe for a one-andone. In their final regular season matchup against Boise State, Bradley had the opportunity to ice the game by making two free throws. Both free throws missed their mark and the Broncos rushed down the court to score the game-winning shot.

After that match, Bradley discussed how things would be different if he was given another chance in a similar situation.

Now, here he was in a similar situation.

So, how did his free throw attempt go?

Clank. Deja vu, thy name is Matt Bradley.

The game was to be decided in overtime. After a short duel — that saw Arop miss the front end of a one-and-one while Bradley missed one of his two free throws — freshman Trey Alexander hit a jump shot, got fouled and converted his shot from the charity stripe to put Creighton up by three.

An inbound play was drawn up for Arop to hand the ball off to Bradley and set up a screen to create space for Bradley.

A Creighton defender was able to slip past Arop and disrupt Bradley enough for him to fumble the ball away.

Thus, the final Mountain West team made their exit from the tournament in heartbreaking fashion.

Softball sweeps Colorado State in conference opener

Photo by Andrew Finley

Mac Barbara went off against Colorado State, reaching safely in all ten of her at-bats in the three-game series, earning her Mountain West Player of the week. She recorded with one of each type of hit including a pair of home runs while driving in eight RBIs.

By Andrew Finley ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

After taking three of four games in the Torero Classic at the University of San Diego, San Diego State softball (19-10, 3-0 Mountain West Conference) came back to The Mesa to open up MWC play against the Colorado State Rams (8-16, 0-3 MWC).

The Aztecs were victorious, securing the sweep while outscoring the Rams 21-2 in the three-game series. Here’s how each game went down: Game one: SDSU 6, CSU 2 Dominant performances at the plate from sophomore Mac Barbara and freshman Bella Espinoza, and a two run home-run by freshman AJ Murphy was all of the thump the Aztecs would need behind stellar pitching from senior Maggie Balint and freshman Dee Dee Hernandez.

Barbara and Espinoza would get seven combined at-bats and hit safely in every one of them. Espinoza filled the role of

leadoff batter as good as anyone could have, collecting four singles and scoring twice. The same can be said for Barbara who batted clean-up for the Scarlet and Black, going 3-3 while collecting four RBIs and falling a triple short of the cycle.

Balint got the nod for game one of the series and was once again dominant, pitching three perfect frames while striking out four Rams. Dee Dee would come in the fourth inning and keep CSU at bay, holding them to two runs on two hits (a fifth inning home run and a triple in the seventh) while striking out three and closing the game.

Game two: SDSU 2, CSU 0 Action continued after game one with game-two of a double header with Maggie Balint being the hero of the game after Aztec bats were only able to collect two hits.

Murphy got SDSU on the board early with an RBI single and — though they scored a run on an error in the next inning — that’s all Balint would need to work with, pitching a complete-game shutout,

allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out seven Rams.

Though the bats were quiet for SDSU, Aztec batters were patient in the box, walking seven times in game two of the double header.

Game three: SDSU 13, CSU 0 (Five innings) The Aztecs showed no mercy to the Rams in the final game of the series with aggressive at bats and nearly perfect pitching.

Before CSU could record an out, Barbara got the party started with a first inning grand-slam that gave SDSU the early 4-0 lead. Barbara would finish the series without recording an out, going 5-5 with a single, a double, a triple and two home runs, drawing four walks while scoring three times and driving in eight RBIs. The Scarlet and Black erupted for seven more runs the following inning, including

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a steal of home plate by senior Alexa Schultz, an RBI walk by senior Nicole Seiss, a two RBI single by sophomore Makena Brocki and a three-run dinger by senior Taylor Adams to cap off the scoring for the Aztecs, and give them an 11-0 lead at the end of two.

The final two runs of the game would be scored in the fourth inning off of an RBI single from Brocki and a sacrifice-fly

by Adams.

The Rams had no answer for SDSU pitching. Sophomore Allie Light and Hernandez combined for five innings of near perfection, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out six.

Up next The Scarlet and Black look to stay hot as they continue conference play in Fresno as they take on the Fresno State Bulldogs (5-21, 0-3 MWC). The three-game series starts on Friday, March 25 and concludes on Sunday, March 27.

March 23, 2022 - April 5, 2022 EDITOR: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Sports

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Women’s rowing files Title IX lawsuit

By Jason Freund SPORTS EDITOR

In November 2020, San Diego State announced it would be cutting its women’s rowing team, citing financial difficulties brought along by the COVID-19 pandemic along with gender equity compliance.

Now, many athletes affected by this decision are striking back with a class action federal lawsuit.

On Feb. 7, seventeen current and former athletes at SDSU filed a federal class action lawsuit against the university claiming SDSU violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 by depriving women of equal federal financial aid. Eleven of the 17 plaintiffs were former members of the rowing team while six are current members of the track and field team.

The lawsuit is seeking SDSU to compensate the athletes for lost financial aid, comply with future Title IX requirements and end discrimination against female athletes.

They are being represented by Bailey and Glasser, LLP alongside Haeggquist & Eck, LLP and CaseyGerry.

Arthur Bryant, a partner of the Bailey and Glasser law firm and a lawyer representing the athletes, said SDSU has not been giving their women athletes a fair amount of financial aid for a long time.

“So, basically it’s ‘look, the school has been and is cheating its women’s athletes out of equal athletic financial aid in

violation of Title IX to the tune of over half a million dollars a year,’” Bryant said. “That has to stop… it [the university] needs to pay the women back the value of the financial aid it should’ve given them. That’s what this financial aid case is about.”

Regarding the lawsuit, SDSU released a statement noting their high number of scholarships awarded to both men’s and women’s athletes while stating their disappointment in the “incomplete picture presented by the plaintiffs’ lawyers about the support for and successes of SDSU’s female student-athletes.”

Title IX is a civil rights law that requires schools to grant an equal amount of athletic financial aid to male and female athletes in proportion to their participation rates.

For example, if women make up 60% of all athletes at a school, said school is required to award as close to 60% of the athletic financial aid as possible.

In the 2019 to 2020 season, the 315 female student-athletes accounted for 58.12% of all athletes at SDSU. In that same season, SDSU awarded a total of $9,198,841 in athletic financial aid, according to the Equity in Athletics Data Analysis.

What percentage of money went to the female athletes; 50.57%, a total loss of $694,267.88.

This proves that SDSU is in clear violation of Title IX, according to Bryant.

“It’s clear under the law there is a strong presumption, that there is discrimination under the basis of sex,” Bryant said.

File Photo

SDSU Rowing and other athletes have gone to court, saying the school violated Title IX of the Education amendments of 1972 by depriving women of equal federal finacial aid.

The losses continued as recently as last year. In 2020 to 2021, the 305 female athletes donning an Aztecs uniform represented 57.22% of all student-athletes.

Only 50.64% of the $8,679,501.00 in awarded athletic financial aid went to women.

The complaint also discloses the amount of financial aid each athlete received during their time as an athlete in comparison to the average cost of attendance at SDSU. The total price for in-state residents

was $28,142 while non-residents was a whopping $39,320.

The case states that all listed athletes were eligible for a full-ride scholarship at dates “relevant to this case.” Under a full-ride scholarship, the entire cost of attendance would have been covered.

Instead, athletes received only a partial amount of money. Some even received as little as $800 for their books while others didn’t receive any athletic financial aid at all during certain years.

Lacrosse athletes express what it means to be women athletes at San Diego State University

By Adam Correa STAFF WRITER

March is Women’s History Month, and at San Diego State, we celebrate the impact that women have had and still have on this world every single day.

SDSU has several kick-ass womens sports programs, whose success has been recognized across the country. Amoung the several women sports that represent

the Scarlet and Black is the SDSU lacrosse team.

We caught up with the lacrosse team earlier this month and asked some of the athletes, “What does it mean to be a women athlete at San Diego State University?”: “Of course this is the question that stumps me. It’s just been such a great experience being a female in sports for however long I’ve been playing and being

surrounded by so many amazing women that have inspired me to be a better person as well as a player,” senior Lacrosse Attacker Deanna Balsama said.

“I think women in sports has come a long way, especially in our sport (lacrosse), where we’re allowed to be physical. Where being strong is something people strive to be, it’s really trying to show that being a strong person; lifting, having muscles, that’s beautiful. I feel like women are

taking their collegiate sports very serious and want to be treated as professionals and this is important,” head coach of SDSU Lacrosse Kylee White said.

“To be a woman in sports is amazing.

There’s a lot going on with women in sports right now with the passing of Katie Meyer (Stanford soccer goalie) which is very sad and has affected many people but to sit back and see that she was in this community that I’m a part of, has been really hard and it’s gonna be a great opportunity for us (SDSU lacrosse team) to bring more awareness to mental health. I love that I have female coaches and we all really stick together and have each other’s backs,” junior Lacrosse Attacker, Camdyn O’Donnell said.

Courtesy of SDSU Athletics Courtesy of SDSU Athletics

SDSU head lacrosse coach Kylee White says that women in sports have come a long way, and that they’re taking their collegiate sports very seriously. Kylee believes that’s an important trait for these women to have.

Senior Deanna Balsama says the women that surround her have inspired her to be her to be better on and off the field.

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Artsy senior Alexandra Davis dares ‘to do the unimaginable’

By Ryan Hardison ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Alexandra Davis is a senior majoring in journalism and media studies at San Diego State with a zealous interest in modeling, photography and music. She has an enchantingly animated view of the world.

Davis grew up in a comforting, diverse environment in Gardena, CA, where she learned to live among various cultures and communities and grew to love several types of music, with tunes from her parents’ music selections still remaining a source of comfort to this day. This includes hearing India.Arie, Adele and U2 from among her mom’s personal favorite artists throughout her childhood, and listening to Prince, Michael Jackson and Kool & the Gang with her dad during car rides to school.

These musical moments planted the seed, and Davis began pursuing her interest in the arts during high school, where she became (and still remains) a self-proclaimed dork for musicals. Similar to media like “High School Musical” and “Victorious” where characters burst into song, Davis embraces the idea of fantasizing about life romantically through daydreams with a soundtrack attached.

When first attending SDSU, Davis dove in head first by performing at several open mics in her freshman year and GreenFest’s The Rooted Festival but felt scared because of an inescapable need to prove herself. Presenting herself as an artist invited people to put her on a pedestal, and in turn, become naturally judgemental. Plus, attempting to sound unique and stand out from the crowd presented its own world of challenges, which forced Davis to mature by the time

her sophomore year came around.

“I feel like in the beginning I would never really define myself as an artist because I was scared to be at SDSU and to say I’m a singer,” Davis said.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic ended her sophomore year abruptly, Davis took all the chaotic change in stride. She took a huge leap in her creative journey by pushing herself to carry out more creative ventures, which evolved into planning photoshoots with her close friend and frequent collaborator Shannon Williams, ultimately helping to present herself more confidently. She began expressing her feelings and intentions through her wardrobe, whether it meant dressing cute or in rockstar apparel. By stepping out of her comfort zone and branding herself through social media, Davis became more serious about her craft.

“I changed a lot of myself, I was able to get into fashion – put myself out there even in situations where it wasn’t that great of an experience, I was like ‘I did it,’” Davis said.

This artistic rejuvenation period also applied to Davis’ musical aspirations as well.

On May 15, 2021, Davis’ 21st birthday, she released her debut single (as “alexandra!”) called “birthday (I’ll be alright).” The song was born from Davis’ personal birthday experiences, which have ranged from disappointing to disastrous over the past several years.

The songwriting process had been ongoing since November 2020, and even with a satisfying final product, that day didn’t go perfectly either. The song’s lyrics reflect all the uncertainty, the stressful planning stages, and the high expectations of birthdays that failed...

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March 23, 2022 - April 5, 2022 Editor: Ryan Hardison • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Column: 'Love Jones' is a true love film made for soulmates

By Trinity Bland MANAGING EDITOR

Photos courtesy of Shannon Williams

Davis’ artistry has evolved from music to incorporate photoshoots and she has worked to elevate her confidence through modeling.

Love, sex and magic make up one of life’s most mind-blowing combinations and few films have taken their time to explore that reality as thoroughly as “Love Jones,” even 25 years later after its release.

Theodore Witcher's 1997 feature film debut, starring an all-star Black cast with Nia Long and Larenz Tate as lovers, remains his directorial masterpiece more than two decades later. Clearly influenced

by Spike Lee's political awareness in cinematography, Witcher tells a story strikingly resemblant of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance through a modern lens.

Set in Chicago, viewers follow Gordon Parks-influenced photographer Nina Mosley as she embarks on a journey of singleness when she meets enchanting writer Darius Lovehall at a nightclub before he shoots his shot by performing his seductive ode “A Blues for Nina.”

The two unexpectedly begin a “Blackand-proud” romance where they sophisticatedly spend time “just kickin’ it” versus pursuing something serious with the “help” of their friends. Their friends include Bill Bellamy, Lisa Nicole Carson and a pre-“Grey’s Anatomy” Isaiah Washington, who balance being both urban and civilized – showing Black friendships play a large part in Black love culture and its success.

The dialogue is thoroughly poetic – and it should be, given Nina’s occupation as a photographer and Darius’ writer status, as their articulation of language and feelings are conveyed in a unique way – that it’s not only erotic but widely understood among viewers.

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Student emphasizes modeling with an ethical purpose

By Flower Smith SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Rain, rain go away, that’s what all her haters say.

Rain Garcia, a public relations sophomore, enjoys photoshoots, authenticity, and finding new and innovatives ways to avoid creative burnout while pursuing a career in the social media realm.

Garcia’s fascination and involvement with social media began in middle school, when she began having photoshoots with friends to post on social media. Little did she know, her social media status would rise to a micro-influencer level.

Her social media following rocketed during her junior year of high school, with her TikTok account.

“I started making videos where I would just show what I would wear to school because I’ve always really been into fashion and I never really was one of those people that cared what other people thought,” Garcia said. “I would wear fullout outfits at eight in the morning and people on the internet seemed to resonate with that and like it.”

When it comes to being a young woman in the fashion and modeling world, it can be challenging because of the present stigmas. Garcia said it’s important to look at the modeling industry and realize where it needs to be changed.

Creating an authentic platform discussing the importance of transparency within the modeling community is

Photo courtesy of Rain Garcia

Garcia aims to live a healthy lifestyle free of judgement.

Photo courtesy of Rain Garcia

Rain Garcia uses social media to expand her reach.

something Garcia said she is passionate about, along with breaking barriers and stereotypes in the modeling community.

Knowing her self-worth and not agreeing to unrealistic expectations when it comes to physical appearance is crucial to her because living a healthy lifestyle is important for both the mind and body.

Garcia is an advocate online for body positivity and inclusivity for the modeling industry because of social pressures to look a certain way and she says the stereotypical beauty standards can

jeopardize anyone’s mental health.

“Genetically, I will just never look like Kendall Jenner, no matter how hard I work and what I eat, and I think being really open about that online and having a platform and using your voice is so important,” Garcia said.

This mindset has transformed the way in which Garcia interacts with others on social media because representation is important to her.

The knowledge Garcia has gained over the years with her experience of modeling, social media and her schooling has led her to think about her future while continuing to be active in something she loves and is passionate about.

“I’m not going to be a model or an

Photo courtesy of Rain Garcia

Through modeling, Garcia has found an exciting niche.

influencer forever and I can take what I’m learning from that and apply it to PR in the future, which is what I want to do,” Garcia said. “Even being like a talent manager and managing someone like me and showing them how to do that, is something I definitely wanna do.”

When trying to gain a social media following, working hard is an understatement and can be overwhelming.

However, Garcia says being yourself and finding your niche is what works the best in social media and creating authenticity on the internet.