Weds. April 13 - Tues. April 19, 2022 Weekly Print Edition
Vol. 108, Issue 24 www.thedailyaztec.com
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
Alumna demands better accessibility on campus WATCH OUR LIVE BROADCAST ON WEDS. @ 12:30 PM
by Nicholas Ebadat STAFF WRITER
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
President Adela de la Torre was sent an open letter on April 4, pleading for a campus that lifts people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Disabled with the opportunity to meet the standards of their peers with goals that include: removing barriers, providing communication alternatives and including Deaf/Disabled advocates with deliberative processes. The 12-page letter came from Donna Duarte, a longtime SDSU Alumna, educator, contributor and advocate for Deaf and Disability Rights who began her time as a student at campus as a non-disabled hearing person and is now a person who is Deaf and has disabilities. Duarte calls for SDSU to “eliminate the communication deprivation” she said is prevalent in most events, meetings and even emergency services. Interpreters at sporting
OPINION Having an unpaid internship is not a feasible option for students of color. PAGE 3
ARTS & CULTURE SDSU alumnus Ed Marx creates an interactive surfing game that reflects his love for surfing.
Neikon
SDSU budget
allocation called into question by Catlan Nguyen EDITOR IN CHIEF
Photo by Katelynn Robinson
In a 12-page letter, Duarte explained the many inaccessible aspects of SDSU’s campus.
events are not placed next to the speaker segregating Deaf people from others, automated captions are hard to understand or nonexistent unless asked for, emergency towers around campus are made for two-way communication and SDSU Police Department denied her request for 911 texting, according to the letter. “That day I learned SDSU does not value my life and would not do the right thing
to ensure I had an accessible way to reach SDSU PD in case of emergency,” she said in the letter. With the unveiling of the new Snapdragon stadium coming soon, Duarte has submitted a binder with signatures for accessible open captions at both the new stadium and Viejas Arena.
“It’s putting lipstick on a pig is what it is,” Biology Professor and Chair Scott Kelley said, regarding his opinions on San Diego State spending in the last academic year. Debates over university budget allocation, changing COVID-19 mandates and more were discussed at the university senate meeting on April 5. During the last fiscal year, SDSU was budgeted to collect an additional $180.7 million from net student tuition and fees and $67.7 million from revenue-based fees (including the Student Success fee) during the last fiscal year, according to the university’s 2019-2020 Budget Book. Net student tuition and revenue-based fees
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Mental health basketball event unites campus communities Photo by Catlan Nguyen
MUNDO AZTECA Candidato Shawki Moore es elegido com el nuevo presidente estudiantil para el nuevo año. PAGE 6
SPORTS Photo courtesy of Freepik
Matt Bradley said basketball saved his life. PAGE 8
INDEX News............................... 1-2 Opinion..............................3 Art..................................4-5 Mundo .............................. 6 The Back Page, Sports..... 7-8
The first annual Noah Hytken Memorial Basketball Tournament will take place on April 18.
by Sumaia Wegner STAFF WRITER
Viejas Arena will host the first annual Noah Hytken Memorial Basketball Tournament on Monday, April 18. Last semester, seniors Ofek Suchard, Chris Abbott, junior Philip Bury and sophomore Samantha Ruderman started the Noah Hytken Memorial Fund to honor and cherish the legacy of their late friend Noah
Hytken who passed away on October 14, 2020. Hytken was a student at San Diego State studying Business Finance and Political Science. He was an active member of SDSU as he was a part of the club lacrosse team, a brother of Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, TAMID, and a leader in the San Diego Jewish community. The NHMF was created to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention
and to give back to the community that Hytken so dearly loved. This organization has provided SDSU students with resources and handouts on where they can get help if they need it. They have held seminars as well as yoga sessions to help reduce stress and anxiety before finals. Since then, they have grown to a group of 22 directors alongside an executive board. A two-day basketball tournament will take place on April 17 in Sol City and April 18 at SDSU’s Viejas Arena. The tournament will include 16 teams composed of various fraternities, clubs, and other organizations on campus, as well as SDSU alumni. The goal of the tournament is to bring the SDSU community together in support of mental health awareness and in memory of Noah. There will be tabling from different mental health organizations at this tournament, as well as raffling baskets. SEE ONLINE
Part of SDSU’s budget was allocated to the newly designed logo.
made up more than half of the university’s total Operational Fund budget of $475.3 million during the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Kelley chimed in with this metaphor after Academic Coordinator Amanda Fuller gave an update on the university senate budget request of an additional $42,000 to support the operational budget needs of the University Senate. The University Senate is expected to have closer to $60,000 in unspent funds from the current fiscal year 20212022. So, it was discussed that these carry-forward savings can instead be used to cover the $42,000 requested for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, according to SDSU. “I would like to clarify that as the Senate has enough carry forward savings from the last two years of low COVID spending (e.g. no in-person meetings, no travel), we ... SEE ONLINE
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News
The Daily Aztec
April 13 - 19, 2022 EDITOR: Katelynn Robinson • news@thedailyaztec.com
Jewelry Loft in La Mesa donates proceeds to families in Ukraine by John Paul CONTRIBUTOR
Cavada
Jewelry Loft, owned by San Diego State Alumna Yuliya Ulman, is donating a sum of their proceeds and other basic necessities towards the families in Ukraine that have been impacted by the humanitarian crisis. Jewelry Loft is selling specially crafted silver and gold rings that depict the colors of the Ukrainian flag which are blue and yellow. The proceeds from the sale of the rings will be donated. “The blue is for the sky and the yellow is for the wheat that Ukraine is rich in,” Ulman said. The gold rings cost $595 and the silver rings cost $150. These rings can be purchased within the store or on their website. Jewelry Loft is located at Grossmont Center in La Mesa. “One-hundred percent of the proceeds go towards those people that are in need the most. Who have no food, who have no water, and have no electricity…most of those people are the elderly or young kids,” she said. Jewelry Loft began donating their proceeds after Feb. 24, when Ukraine was first attacked. Jewelry Loft has sold more than 70 rings, according to Ulman. The motivation for these donations was to help the families in Ukraine and spread awareness. “Right away when the war started, I thought I had to do something…I think people also really enjoy wearing
Photo by John Paul Cavada
SDSU alumna Yuliya Ulman created some specialty jewlry items which reflect the Ukrainian flag.
something that reminds them of what’s going on…A good reminder that people are still hurting, people are still at war, people are still starving,” Ulman said. Jewelry Loft has also sold custombuilt jewelry for special requests that contribute to the families in Ukraine. These would include earrings or hoops with the colors of the Ukrainian flag. “Anything that we’re making that’s gonna be Ukrainian flag-related, we’re donating just as much of the proceeds, 100% of the proceeds of anything that’s custom. Our store specializes in custom work so we’re able to customize any
Basic Needs Center to open in Capulli Center by Christian STAFF WRITER
Houser
San Diego State is developing a Basic Needs Center located on the third floor of the Calpulli Center, opening in the fall of this year. This space, operated by the Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT), will help students in need of financial assistance, housing support, food resources, employment resources, technology support, mental health support and transportation support. Associate Director of ECRT Chelsea Payne, said this space will now allow students to have a place to go where
Photo by Katelynn Robinson
The Basic Needs Center will be located on the third floor of the Capulli Center on campus.
they can feel comfortable asking for help. “They are going to know that there is a space where they can talk about basic needs, get support with their basic needs, attend workshops around finances about basic needs and know there is no stigma that exists in that space,” Payne said. The ECRT aims to bridge the gap in resources for students in need. This process starts by submitting a request on the ECRT website. Payne encourages students to reach out and seek help to fight the stigma against asking for basic need support. “Once they are in with us, they get it. We’re not stigmatizing, we’re accepting and open and non-judgemental and we are curious about their situation only so that we can help. So many students end up saying something like, ‘I wish I knew about this sooner,’” Payne said. Dance junior Wendy Ceja, a student who has received transportation support and mental health support from the ECRT, said many people need support, and reducing the stigma surrounding basic needs is important. “Those resources are there for us,” Ceja said.“It’s 100% okay to ask for help; everybody needs that help sometimes.” Kinesiology junior Vincent Chen, said eliminating the stigma surrounding basic needs would help students be more willing to ask for the resources the ECRT provides. SEE ONLINE
piece of jewelry as well,” she said. The duration of this humanitarian aid seems to be indefinite under the current circumstances. “Even if miraculously the war ends today, there’s gonna be so many people that are gonna be in need…They need time to rebuild. They need time to regather their food, just items they need to live. So, I think we’re gonna do this for a while,” she said. Jewelry Loft is directly collaborating with the volunteer groups in Ukraine. These volunteer groups are mainly Ukrainian women and children because
all men had to be drafted, according to Ulman. The proceeds are directly sent to the families in Ukraine via wire transfer which are processed immediately. Jewelry Loft has donated boxes of blankets, diapers, and baby formula to the families in Ukraine. “Most of them are abandoned. Either the abandoned elderly or mothers with kids, because the men have to leave…It’s just basic human needs that they are needing right now,” she said. Jewelry Loft and volunteers in Ukraine have been working to gain more exposure and involvement with other organizations. “We’ve been featured on the news: KUSI, ABC10, CBS…people have been kind enough where they want to expose our story so that they can help…Because the sensation dies out after a week or two of a war, then we want to keep that going, that awareness that there is still a war,” she said. Ulman and her company express their gratitude towards the individuals who have purchased a ring and helped spread awareness. “We’re very grateful for everybody because we’ve had such a positive feedback from this that people are really wanting to help and we’re just doing the best we can. We want to help as many people as we can too,” she said.
Department of Education extends pause on student loan collections by Eugénie Budnik SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Last week the United States Department of Education announced an extension of the pause on student loan repayments, interest and collections through Aug. 31 of this year. The extension of the pause on repayments will allow borrowers additional time to plan for the continuation of payments after Aug. 31. This additional time will allow the Biden administration to reassess the financial situation of the American economy and how students are being impacted by rising prices and inflation. The newest extension will be the seventh time the pause on student loan repayments has been extended since March 2020. Student loan repayments and interest payments were initially paused in March 2020 with the passing of the CARES Act to alleviate economic struggles brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. “As I recognized in extending the COVID-19 national emergency, we are still recovering from the pandemic and the unprecedented economic disruption it caused,” President Biden said, in a statement released by the White House on April 6. “If loan payments were to resume on schedule in May, analysis of recent data from the Federal Reserve suggests that millions of student loan borrowers would face significant economic hardship.” The date in which student loan repayments will restart after Aug. 31
Photo courtesy of Freepik
The United States Department of Education has extended student loan repayments through Aug. 31.
varies across financial institutions. Sallie Mae, a company which specializes in private student loans and financial planning, has stated the first date of repayment once the pause ends will vary from customer to customer for their institution. Sallie Mae also advises customers not to ignore repayment notices once the pause ends, as doing so could lead to serious legal action including being reported to the credit bureaus, the entire unpaid balance being due at one time, and the withholding of the wages which will be sent to the loan provider. SEE ONLINE
April 13 - 19, 2022 EDITOR: Aaliyah Alexander • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
Opinion
The Daily Aztec
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It’s my money and I need it now! We need to abolish unpaid internships
Graphic by Emily Forschen
Generation Z is slowly changing the script when it comes to unpaid labor, and it’s time for the systems currently in place to catch up with the changing of times.
By Athena Jreji CONTRIBUTOR
The U.S. job market has never been more competitive, according to a Forbes report in 2021. As graduates enter the workforce, 90% of employers expect students to have internship experience, which serves as a method of talent acquisition and networking. According to the American Prospect, this skill enhanced resumes by 60%. The ability to work as an intern, let alone a paid one, is of rarity and privilege. The scarce market for internships highlights this with only a third of graduates having participated in one, according to Forbes. When we examine the effect internship acquisition has on post-graduate success, the ethicality of unpaid internships must
be reexamined as one that perpetuates classism, sexism and racism. The rarity of unpaid internships eventually leads to a workplace that is non-inclusive. For many students, working an unpaid internship is a privilege of wealth and race. To students that already struggle with loans, rent and tuition fees, it is a burden. Most lower and middle class students cannot leave their minimum wage job to work for free. This obstacle becomes apparent when we consider how household income is linked to racial inequities, and how unpaid internships may affect students of color. According to the 2019 U.S. census, Black and Hispanic communities were overrepresented in national poverty rates. Students within these demographics are shown to face economic and racial obstacles in acquiring internships with pay, if any at all. A 2019 study by the National Association
of College and Employers (NACE) found Hispanic and multi-racial students had higher chances of never working an internship. White students were more likely to work as paid interns while African American students often worked unpaid internships. NACE also found that nearly 80% of interns received job offers following the internship. Statistics like these demonstrate racial and economic barriers to internship acquisition affect post graduate career success. San Diego State undergraduate Ashley George faced hardships in searching for a paid internship. She echoed the concerns of many students who rely on financial aid for survival. “As someone that lives off student loans, I can’t afford to quit my job and work an unpaid internship,” George said. “But at the same time, I feel like my resume and career path are suffering because of my
matter what culture you are or what your age is, the film is definitely relatable. All of our experiences are different from one another’s so to expect it to speak to one audience is a little tone deaf. In an interview with CBC.com Rosalie Chaing, who plays Mei Mei Lee, addresses the criticism, saying the film was specifically made for the director Domee Shi’s friends. “This is a coming-of-age film, everyone goes through this change,” Chaing said. “I think different people of different cultures are going to go through it differently but at the end of the day the core messiness and change is something everyone can relate to.” Chaing couldn’t have said it better. This movie is about the struggles of trying to find yourself in your teenage years (and that theme can be seen in young adulthood, too). We see this constantly throughout the movie as the main character, Mei Mei, has inner conflict by trying to make her parents happy while simultaneously trying to make herself happy. Editor’s note: this next section contains spoilers. At the beginning of the movie, there is a perfect example of this: Mei Mei illustrates multiple pictures of the guy she likes in her journal. Some are a little more PG-13 than others. When her mother Ming, who is voiced by Sandra Oh, walks in to talk to
By Aaliyah Alexander
financial standing.” Proponents of unpaid internships argue that the experience and mentorship offered substitute for formal education. While mentorship does hold value, these experiences do not suffice for the financial stability of a paying job. Furthermore, students of varying economic, racial and ethnic backgrounds offer new and diverse ideas. Their lack of opportunity represents a broader scope of insufficient representation in professional workforces. Unpaid internships do not mutually benefit students and ultimately discriminate against those that do not have an affluent white background. Unpaid internships also have a long term economic consequence as they reinforce the racial wealth and gender pay gap. A 2016 NACE study found that unpaid internships targeted racially diverse and female dominated majors like journalism, fashion merchandising and human development. Whereas fields dominated by white male students like computer science, business and engineering often had paid internships. This discrepancy can be combated by banning unpaid jobs, which foster environments for classism, sexism and racism. Despite their legality, unpaid internships are a form of labor exploitation today. Their existence and encouragement in higher education only promote structures of discrimination which eventually creep into professional workforces. Through legislation and class consciousness, corporations and universities must work to ban unpaid internships and offer paid internship resources to disadvantaged students. Athena Jreji is a third year studying journalism.
‘Turning Red’ is relatable but if It’s hard to be a f*cking the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it vegan at San Diego State By Cristina Lomardo ASSISTANT ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Disney’s “Turning Red’’ has made headlines this past week and for good reasons. This cute, coming-of-age story about a young girl trying to figure out who she is, all while turning into a red panda is a unique story, showcasing the struggles of trying to live up to a perfect preconceived notion set up by her mother. This movie was made for a good cry in the middle of the night. I definitely did at 3 a.m. while trying really hard not to wake up my roommate. The film specifically focuses on an Asian Canadian family with specific themes people can relate to. Some reviews and critics felt it didn’t speak directly to them, however. In a recent review posted by Cinema Outlet’s (which is now deleted), managing editor Sean O’Connell stated “some Pixar films are made for universal audiences. ‘Turning Red’ is not. The target audience for this one feels very specific and very narrow. If you are in it, this might work very well for you. I am not in it. This was exhausting.” Well, I hate to break it to you, Sean, but I think you missed the whole point of the movie. O’Connell’s review was taken down from Cinema Outlet for being perceived as sexist and racist after being pressed by multiple different outlets, according to IndieWire. Sure, maybe it wasn’t made to primarily appease a 30 plus white audience but, no
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OPINION EDITOR
How does that notorious quote go? “Too much of a good thing…” is something. I can’t recall the rest of the quote, but I know the essence of it is that too much of a good thing can sometimes turn into a bad thing. Well, my “good thing” is San Diego State’s vegan fast food restaurant Plant Power. Being a vegan and all, it’s a given that I’ll be there often. One of the reasons SDSU was on my radar for a university to attend is because of the different vegan spots I could effortlessly go to (something unimaginable in my home state, Mississippi). There’s The Garden, Everbowl, ShakeSmart, Oggi’s, Broken Yolk, The Habit and Plant Power, all of which have vegan-friendly options that accept meal plans. With meal plans at hand and no car, one would be right in the assumption that those options will eventually get tiring especially with COVID-19 restrictions closing down The Garden which offered something as close to a home-cooked meal every night for me. Even now that The Garden is reopened, the vegan options are minimal. Being restricted to Plant Power for lunch and dinner — with the exception of some microwavable vegan meals in the market — my love for Plant Power soon diminished. The more my love diminished for Plant Power, the more upset I became for letting SDSU convince me their campus
Photo by Aaliyah Alexander
Plant Power’s, SDSU location, slogan displayed in restaurant.
was the holy land for college vegans. Do I occasionally switch it up and go to The Habit or turn to microwavables? Of course. But Plant Power is the only place that is completely vegan, thus having the most vegan options. “There’s Chipotle,” one may say. “But it’s not on the meal plan,” I would respond. “Why not cook?” one may inquire. “Because I’m lazy just like you,” I would reply. I’m sure the vegan community and SDSU can reach some compromise in this whole situation. Why not make Chipotle available on the meal plan since The Garden is temporarily altered from buffet to fixed menu? Or maybe we can get rid of Subway and turn it into another all-vegan joint? In my mind, it’s better to have more vegan places than non-vegan places for obvious reasons. SEE ONLINE
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The Daily Aztec
Arts & Culture
April 13 - 19, 2022 EDITOR: Ryan Hardison • arts@thedailyaztec.com
‘Pushin P’ and going green? Gunna dominates GreenFest By Ryan Hardison ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
To cap off an exciting week of eco-themed arts and wellness activities aimed at promoting sustainable learning, GreenFest hosted a free concert for students featuring rapper Gunna at the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre on Friday, April 8. Usually an annual spring tradition at San Diego State, this was the first GreenFest Concert held since Daniel Caesar performed in Spring 2019. Alternative rock band Young the Giant was slated to perform at 2020’s GreenFest Concert before it was cancelled, due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. That being said, students were eager and ready for the night’s big show. Before the concert began, GreenFest held a concert kickoff event in the Aztec Student Union where student musicians set the tone for the rest of the evening. Starting off the festivities, a trio of SDSU student artists: alexandra!, Caleb Hampton and GONE performed at the kickoff. Before the artists graced the stage, students in the union spent their time playing air hockey, foosball and ping pong in the union while snacking on free Ike’s sandwiches and complimentary shaved ice and ice cream. Going first, alexandra! performed a dreamy cover of Stevie Wonder’s “My Cherie
Amour” along with her song “birthday! (I’ll be alright)” and two unreleased tracks, including “mystery machine,” which references the super corny scooby-doo quip delivered by Dr. Strange in “Spiderman: No Way Home” (you know the one). Her brief set was lovely and set the tone for the great live music to come. Hampton followed alexandra! with a performance of a few songs from his debut project “Atuk,” including “Wiseguy” and “Chains” along with several unreleased tracks, two of which he’d finished within 24 hours of his performance. He brought great intensity and passion to the stage, with his song “Pettigrew” being an instant highlight. Hampton steadily rapped his verse along with the guest verse from his friend Dre the Monarch, moving closer to the crowd and cementing himself as an engaging performer. Finishing off the three sets, GONE sang several songs from his new EP “444,” which was released on March 8. He also performed his single “Bang My Line” which is about being in pursuit of someone who he promises to treat right. GONE’s alternative R&B sound provided a soothing, laid-back atmosphere for students to sway and groove as the sun went down over the union roof. Following the performances in the union, the doors opened at
OPINION EDITOR Aaliyah Alexander 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 ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Finley SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Sara Rott PHOTO EDITOR Noelani Sapla MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Mackenzie Stafford ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jayne Yutig GRAPHIC DESIGNER Emily Forschen
Photo by Ryan Hardison
Rap superstar Gunna performs “Poochie Gown” as fans frantically pull out their phones to take a video of his entrance at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre on Friday, April 8.
the Cal Coast for the night’s main event. Beginning at 8 p.m., the concert began with opener Outside the Frame, an SDSU punk rock band and winners of GreenFest’s Battle of the Bands competition last November. The group performed a mix of original
material as well as popular covers like “Somebody Told Me” by The Killers and Kings of Leon’s “Sex on Fire” which got a lot of the crowd on their feet and singing along. Their set brought a lot of spirit and energy that got people hyped for the concert’s headliner. SEE ONLINE
By Maritza Camacho STAFF WRITER
Photo by Maritza Camacho
Partnering with GreenFest, the club F*** Fast Fashion helped spread awareness about the dangers of fast fashion at GreenFest’s Swap Shop in Montezuma Hall on Thursday, April 7.
To control the amount of clothes collected at the end of the night, students were instructed to take back all their original clothes that other attendees did not pick up. When it came to the amount of good finds allowed to take home, students were given the honor system to only take home the same amount of clothes they brought in to donate. The GreenFest committee partnered with the “F*** Fast Fashion” club on campus to spread awareness of the damaging effects in fast fashion. Large signs with facts on fast fashion lined up the back wall of Montezuma Hall, informing the public on
MANAGING EDITOR Trinity Bland NEWS EDITOR Katelynn Robinson
Students swap and shop to fight fast fashion Thrifting is like a treasure hunt, looking for that one rare piece of clothing at an affordable price. San Diego State brought that treasure hunt to campus with the third annual Swap Shop, an event presented by GreenFest. GreenFest is a sub-committee of the Aztec Student Union Board. Every year since 2008, GreenFest has put together a special week of programs and events that promote sustainability, diversity and SDSU Pride, ending with a carnival and a special free concert at the Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheater. On April 7, SDSU students were invited to bring five gently used clothing items in exchange for five items they found at the Swap Shop in Montezuma Hall, all to promote slow fashion and reduce our environmental footprint. All kinds of clothes were available to attendees, with no restrictions on what students could bring in. This event was created after a donor requested for SDSU to begin an on-campus thrift store, with prices on items all under $5. Swap Shop then came to be, but after a large influx in donations leftover, the event became strictly donation-based.
EDITOR IN CHIEF Catlan Nguyen
how fast fashion is detrimental to the environment. Fast fashion has become one of the highest polluting industries, with the mass production of the latest styles made of cheap fabric that spread toxins into soils and waterways. But there are ways to avoid the fast fashion industry, like H&M and Zara, without breaking your bank account. Skylar Adair, an SDSU film studies junior and Aztec Student Union Board (ASUB) programming assistant, is not a fan of fast fashion and she shared the ways she combats the industry. “I really like thrift shops and
supporting resale businesses, like my aunt has a vintage resale business that I like to go to,” Adair said. For some students, fast fashion is more accessible and affordable than slow fashion. Annie Swierczek, an SDSU meetings and events senior and ASUB programming assistant, faces these conflicting thoughts and explained why she still participates in purchasing from fast fashion stores, despite her not agreeing with how they create their clothing. “It’s tough because I don’t want to engage in fast fashion, but it’s so much more affordable than the slow way. Making this event free for the students is a way to help that. We can make slow fashion more accessible and not having to go on Depop and waiting two weeks for it to come in,” Swierczek said. Thrifting and other pathways of slow fashion are not only more affordable at times than the original price, but also a chance to experiment with fashion and elevate your own style. The Swap Shop shows students the thrill behind thrifting and finding a unique piece to add to their closets. SDSU’s Associated Students and the GreenFest committee hope to continue the Swap Shop for future GreenFests to come.
STAFF WRITERS Christian Houser Sumaia Wegner Owen Pratt Maritza Camacho Nicholas Neikon Ebadat Adam Correa SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Eugènie Budnik CONTRIBUTORS John Paul Cavada Athena Jreji ________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Brian Arnold GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Luis Valenzuela EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING 619.594.6977 advertising@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition every Wednesday throughout the semester WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com QUESTIONS/COMMENTS letters@thedailyaztec.com The views and opinions expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.
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April 13 - 19, 2022 EDITOR: Ryan Hardison • arts@thedailyaztec.com
Arts & Culture
Column: The ‘Lilo & Stitch’ soundtrack has too much Elvis
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‘Cowabunga’: Catch a wave with ‘The Endless Summer’
By Trinity Bland
Presley did not identify as Hawaiian, so the addition of his songs to the soundtrack truthfully fuels the white American entertainment experience, which Disney Before fans met Pacific Islander princess has historically done long before realizing Moana in 2016, Disney’s presentation of a within the last 20 years they needed to Hawaiian cultural revolution came in 2002 broaden their horizons in terms of the with “Lilo & Stitch.” characters they created and stories they This year marks 20 years of viewers told. getting a front-row seat to the life of beloved In terms of viewer impact, it may sway Stitch, frazzled Nani and independent Lilo. people toward or away from listening to It was the first time younger audiences more of Presley’s discography. This may learned Hawaiian colloquialisms, Elvis be the first time children are hearing these Presley songs and how extraterrestrials songs and it is an excellent introduction to deserve love too. some of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s greatest However, the film’s soundtrack really has hits, but his songs accounting for nearly a mind of its own. Sometimes, this results 60% of the soundtrack detracts from its in something outstanding, but in this case, ability to support the film’s strong cultural outstanding isn’t the word to use. elements. If time W y o n n a ’s travel existed “Burning and legendary Love” cover composer adds a Alan Silvestri powerful could produce rock ‘n’ roll sensational femininity scores for that can films like the parallel with “Back to the Nani, and her Future” series, perseverant “Forrest b a l a n c e Gump” and b e t w e e n “The Polar sister and Express,” guardian (or he should lack thereof) take the throughout opportunity the film. to pursue a C o n v e r s e l y, redo for “Lilo A * Te e n ’s and Stitch.” “Can’t Help This may be Falling In a bold take Love” cover but the overall reflected soundtrack the early doesn’t match 2000s digital the essence of signature, but the film and it should not raises more have made questions final Graphic by Ryan Hardison the than anything. “Lilo and Stitch” is one of Disney’s most celebrated animated films, cut – for the The fun, and many of the songs and characters have lived on. However, the soundtrack is overshadowed by several Elvis Presley songs that would c e l e b r a t o r y soundtrack have been better suited for songs that better represent Hawaiian culture. and certainly and colorful not for public “Hawaiian release. Rollercoaster Ride” featuring the The remainder of the soundtrack Kamehameha School Children’s Choir led consists of more appropriate musical by Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu opens the story selections. Silvestri’s original compositions of “Lilo & Stitch,” leading viewers to believe give life to the film’s cynical moments (“I’m the rest of the film’s musical voyage would Lost”) and action-packed scenes (“Stitch to be aligned with this rich Hawaiian dialogue the Rescue”), possessing a deep woodwind and pride. Folks are sadly mistaken as they presence and striking a nostalgic only hear from Ho’omalu and the choir intersection with the majestic strings (“You again in the lush, modern “He Mele No Can Never Belong”). Lilo.” There’s no doubt Silvestri knows how to Perhaps the most obvious and arguably make music that creates a craving for more, perplexing aspect of the 12-song soundtrack so where is more? The soundtrack clocks in are the five Presley songs (seven including at around 40 minutes, which is unusual for two additional songs performed by other a Disney film as iconic as “Lilo and Stitch.” artists) playing throughout the film. There was room for additional original While Lilo has a humorous infatuation compositions, so what happened? Did he with the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, calling him think Presley’s voice for more than half of the “face of romance” and domesticating the soundtrack would suffice? Obviously. Stitch to perform just like Presley to turn Was it the most brilliant idea in the book? his chaos into charm, it has nothing to do Not in the slightest. with the film’s premise. The soundtrack doesn’t make the film Presley classics like “Hound Dog,” “Stuck bad, but it also doesn’t make it great. As an On You,” “Suspicious Minds,” “Heartbreak overall collection, it’s nothing special. Hotel” and “Devil In Disguise” need no One could argue its special factor is introduction and never hurt anyone, nor having a bigger Presley presence than any are they songs arguably bound to the “Lilo other Disney film soundtrack, and maybe and Stitch” brand, as they were popular that’s a good thing, maybe it’s not. tracks decades prior to the film’s release. Or maybe someone should work on Yet, they take up unnecessary space that making a time travel machine specifically completely overshadows the Hawaiian for Silvestri to reevaluate some of his cultural masterpiece this soundtrack could musical choices to provide the film with a be. worthy soundtrack. MANAGING EDITOR
Graphic courtesy of Ed Marx
“The Endless Summer: Search for Surf” culminates a lifetime love of surfing for SDSU alumnus Ed Marx and offers many avenues for players to live out their surfing fantasies and have an “endless summer.”
By Owen Pratt STAFF WRITER
For many San Diego residents, surfing is seen as an incredible pastime. Surfers spend all day under the sun, gliding across the ocean on towering, foamy waves. But now, thanks to San Diego State alumnus Ed Marx, they can nose dive into surfing without risking sunburn with “The Endless Summer: Search for Surf,” an interactive surfing game. Marx graduated from SDSU in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering. After graduating, he joined the Peace Corps in Kenya. He then worked for an orthopedic business in Santa Paula, California, where he worked on coding for databases and creating 3D models. After attempting to create a languagebased game for mobile phones, Marx decided to stick to what he knew best and began conceptualizing an open world game based on surfing. “It took me a long time to totally commit to it, because I was doing it part time most of the time,” the developer said. “It got to a point where people started to like it and said this could be pretty good if I put more time into it, so I started doing it more.” He eventually released “The Endless Summer: Search for Surf” on Steam for PC and Mac on Sept. 3, 2021. Before stepping into gaming, Marx was an avid surfer, and he describes surfing as a “lifestyle.” He spent many days surfing while at SDSU, and even traveled to Africa and Southeast Asia after college to surf at different beaches. Developed using the Unity engine, “The
Endless Summer” allows players to surf on the coast of a tropical island. Players can ride waves, walk around the island and talk to surfers. There are also various surfing challenges players can engage with. The game even offers a multiplayer mode, allowing players to join each other using split screen or online. Though the game offers many possibilities for players, Marx said making a surfing game comes with problems, including development hurdles and a niche market. “There are not that many surfing games, and there are some problems with making surfing games and that’s why there aren’t very many,” Marx said. “One of the things is that it’s very limited to surfers. Video games and surfing don’t mix very well…The other problem is that they’re really hard to make because you have a moving wave… and the player is moving also. If you have a skateboarding game or a snowboarding game, the player moves but the surface stays still, so it’s much more simple.” The developer explained that big studios are hesitant to invest in surfing games due to expensive development costs. The game eventually caught the attention of production company Bruce Brown Films. Bruce Brown was best known for directing the landmark surfing documentary “The Endless Summer.” The 1964 film followed three surfers who travel around the world, a story similar to Marx’s. The documentary contributed to the development of surfing culture in the United States and encouraged surfers to travel the world for the sport in pursuit of an “endless summer.” SEE ONLINE
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The Daily Aztec
Mundo Azteca
April 13 - 19, 2022 EDITOR: Noé Sandoval • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com
Shawki Moore es elegido el presidente estudiantil para el próximo año escolar por Sumaia ESCRITORA
Wegner
Los resultados están listos y Shawki Moore será el presidente estudiantil de San Diego State 2022-2023. El exvicepresidente de relaciones externas de Associated Students, Shawki Moore, ganó las elecciones presidenciales de AS con un total de 1379 votos el jueves 24 de marzo. Si bien Moore fue el único candidato oficial en la boleta electoral, fue desafiado por tres candidatos por escrito para este cargo de última hora: el presidente de la Facultad de Ingeniería, Tito Hernández, el presidente del Consejo Inter Fraternidad, RJ Hullum, y el comisionado de Recreación y Bienestar de AS, Orlando Ochoa. De todos los votos por escrito, Hernández obtuvo la mayor cantidad de votos con 867. Algunos estudiantes dijeron que los números podrían haber sido más cercanos a los de Moore si Hernández se hubiera postulado oficialmente, hubiera tenido más tiempo para hacer campaña y hubiera tenido su nombre en la boleta electoral. “Tener tanto apoyo por escrito se siente increíble”, dijo Hernández. “Mi experiencia con esta elección fue fantástica. Pude conocer a tanta gente, escuchar tantas voces y poder marcar al menos una pequeña diferencia en la vida de las personas. Hullum, que obtuvo 216 votos, y Ochoa, que obtuvo 41 votos, quedaron en segundo lugar. “Entré en esta elección sin ganar ni perder, pero para mejorar después de eso, lo que definitivamente experimenté”, dijo Hullum. “Contar con el apoyo de mis
Foto de los Arquivos
Retrato de Shawki Moore, el nuevo presidente estudiantil elegido en las elecciones de estudiantes asociados.
compañeros significó mucho para mí. Sentir que se creía y confiaba en mí, fue maravilloso”. Ochoa, quien ha estado involucrada en el gobierno estudiantil desde la secundaria, dijo que ser un candidato por escrito puede marcar la diferencia. “Como todos pudieron ver, los tres candidatos por escrito tenían un enfoque diferente para su campaña”, dijo Ochoa. “Sin embargo, siento que todos estábamos tratando de mostrarle al alumnado que no tenga miedo de ser un candidato por escrito”. Los tres candidatos se graduarán el próximo año, pero tienen planes para desarrollar sus ambiciones en sus proyectos futuros. Un consejo de Hernández para futuros
estudiantes si consideran postularse para AS: “Sé genuino, sé diferente, sé tú. Obtuve el porcentaje más alto porque la gente vio mi verdadero yo y lo anuncié dos días antes de que comenzaran las elecciones. Realicé la campaña yo mismo, después de solo un día y medio de marca. Mientras tengas una visión y un plan, puedes tener éxito”. Moore se prepara para prestar juramento el 4 de mayo a partir de su primer mandato para funciones presidenciales oficiales. Esto es lo que Moore dijo cuando se le preguntó sobre su elección: ¿Cómo se siente al ganar? “Estoy absolutamente extasiado por haber ganado esta elección. Ha sido un sueño desde mi primer año, así que
poder lograrlo junto a mi equipo es un verdadero honor. Que el alumnado me elija para este cargo es enorme porque significa que tienen la confianza de que puedo representarlos al más alto nivel, y tengo la intención de asegurarme de que así sea”. ¿Qué quiere que sus compañeros de estudios sepan sobre su papel como su nuevo presidente de AS? “Los estudiantes deben saber que mi deber principal como presidente de AS es apoyarlos y defenderlos. Para hacerlo correctamente, debo crear relaciones con todos los grupos de estudiantes en todo el campus para comprender el pulso de cada comunidad y comprender realmente lo que necesita cada comunidad estudiantil. Es esencial que cree un ambiente acogedor para que los estudiantes quieran hablar conmigo sobre el problema o las posibles ideas que mejorarán el alumnado”. ¿Cuáles son algunas de sus visiones para el futuro de SDSU? “Mi visión para el futuro de SDSU es unir a las comunidades para crear una experiencia integral fantástica para cada estudiante en el campus. Al salir de la pandemia, es vital restaurar la vitalidad del campus asegurándonos de que podamos conectar a los estudiantes para ganar amigos para toda la vida y divertirse”. Junior Meena Alexander se desempeñará aparte de Moore como vicepresidente ejecutivo. Junior Robson Winter asumirá el cargo anterior de Moore como vicepresidente de relaciones externas de AS. La junior Sophia Koch será la VP de Asuntos Financieros y la junior Sandy Mekany será la VP de Asuntos Universitarios.
La universidad desarolla un centro para recursos de necesidades básicas disponible para los estudiantes por Christian ESCRITOR
Houser
SDSU está desarrollando un Centro de Necesidades Básicas ubicado en el tercer piso del Centro Calpulli, que abrirá en el otoño de este año. Este espacio, operado por el Equipo de Respuesta a Crisis Económicas (ECRT), ayudará a los estudiantes que necesitan asistencia financiera, apoyo de vivienda, recursos alimentarios, recursos de empleo, apoyo tecnológico, apoyo de salud mental y apoyo de transporte. La directora asociada de ECRT, Chelsea Payne, dijo que este espacio ahora permitirá a los estudiantes tener un lugar donde ir donde puedan sentirse cómodos para pedir ayuda. “Sabrán que hay un espacio donde pueden hablar sobre necesidades básicas, obtener apoyo con sus necesidades básicas, asistir a talleres sobre finanzas sobre necesidades básicas y saber que no existe ningún estigma en ese espacio”, dijo Payne. El Equipo de Respuesta a la Crisis Económica de SDSU tiene como objetivo cerrar la brecha en los recursos para los estudiantes necesitados. Este proceso comienza con la presentación de una solicitud en el sitio web de la ECRT. Payne alienta a los estudiantes a comunicarse y buscar ayuda para luchar contra el estigma de pedir apoyo para necesidades básicas. “Una vez que están con nosotros, lo entienden. No estamos estigmatizando, estamos aceptando y abiertos y sin juzgar, y tenemos curiosidad sobre su situación solo para poder ayudar. Muchos
estudiantes terminan diciendo algo como, ojalá supiera esto antes”, dijo Payne. La joven de danza Wendy Ceja, una estudiante que recibió apoyo de transporte y apoyo de salud mental de ECRT, dijo que muchas personas necesitan apoyo y que es importante reducir el estigma que rodea las necesidades básicas. “Esos recursos están ahí para nosotros”, dijo Ceja. “Está 100 por ciento bien pedir ayuda; todos necesitan esa ayuda a veces”. El estudiante de Kinesiología Vincent Chen dijo que eliminar el estigma que
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rodea las necesidades básicas ayudaría a los estudiantes a estar más dispuestos a solicitar los recursos que proporciona ECRT. “Sin el estigma, las personas estarían más abiertas a recibir ayuda en lugar de tener miedo de que los demás piensen menos de ellos”, dijo Chen. La investigación ha demostrado que la vivienda y la inseguridad financiera afectan negativamente el éxito de un estudiante. Payne dijo que el éxito de los estudiantes en SDSU depende de una variedad de factores, y es por eso que
ECRT adopta un enfoque holístico. “Recuerdo tan rápidamente que los estudiantes no son solo estudiantes. No soy solo una persona que trabaja. Tenemos tantas partes para todos nosotros, y creo que lo que sienten los estudiantes es que cuando trabajan con nosotros, realmente nos preocupamos por todas esas otras partes también”, dijo Payne. “Ese es realmente el marco holístico que brindamos a los estudiantes. ” Para solicitar asistencia financiera, apoyo de vivienda, recursos alimentarios, recursos de empleo, apoyo tecnológico, apoyo de salud mental o apoyo de transporte, visite el sitio web de ECRT.
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The Daily Aztec
The Back Page
April 13 - 19, 2022 Editor: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com
For Matt Bradley, basketball ‘saved his life’ By Adam Correa STAFF WRITER
Twenty-two-year-old returning senior point guard Matt Bradley talked about his love for basketball and why he decided to return to San Diego State basketball in 2022. Bradley was born in San Bernardino, Calif. and said his older brother was a huge influence on him playing basketball, but it ultimately got him out of bad situations growing up. “Being from the neighborhood I’m from, there is not much offered other than getting involved in the wrong things,” Bradley said. “I had a lot of friends that I grew up with and if basketball didn’t pull me out of those groups, I would have ended up in jail or getting killed.” He said he started taking basketball seriously around the age of 13 and he surrounded himself with new people and saw how much potential he had for the sport. “It wasn’t until I was a junior in high school that I could do this in college,” he said. “It (basketball) saved my life to a certain extent.”
Bradley went to three different high schools: Rancho Cucamonga High School, San Bernardino High School and Wasatch Academy in Utah. He started at Rancho Cucamonga for two years mainly to play football where he played with former Aztec and current Atlanta Falcons cornerback, Darren Hall. After Bradley got over playing football, he transferred to San Bernardino because it was a school he could focus on basketball more. For his senior year of high school, he went to Wasatch Academy in Utah which helped him put more focus on his basketball career. From there, he went on to play for the University of California, Berkeley. “It (Wasatch Academy) was an opportunity for me to develop as a person and a player for college,” Bradley said. “I’m glad I made all those decisions.” Bradley’s decision to go to Cal Berkeley was for academic opportunities and playing high-level basketball in the Pac12 conference. He ended up at Cal Berkeley for three years before transferring to SDSU — a decision he made because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Transfering to
Photo by Noelani Sapla
Bradley prepares to inbound a pass while a defender gets in front of him to try and block the pass.
Photo by Noelani Sapla
Sporting the black jerseys with red trim, Bradley prepares himself for another play as he gets back on defense during a match at Viejas Arena.
SDSU also allowed him to be closer to his family. “For the past year and a half dealing with COVID, I made a decision to come closer to home and also be in an environment that is more conducive to winning,” he said. “Those were the outcomes and I’m happy with my situation.” Bradley — who averaged 16.9 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game in his first season at SDSU — talked about if the Mountain West Conference is more competitive than the Pac-12. “The Mountain West, when it comes to level of play amongst all teams, is pretty balanced and in the Pac-12, you have really dominant teams and when you go to the lower table of the conference, you know it is going to be an unbalanced game,” he said. “Overall, the competitive level amongst all teams in the Mountain West is probably better.” Before the 2021-22 SDSU basketball season ended, Bradley made a decision to return for the 2022 season to get his degree in criminal justice and to play in front of the SDSU fans again. “I’ve spent four years in college and to go without a degree I feel like would be a disappointment,” he said. “Then for the
opportunity to compete again with my brothers, I love San Diego: the fans here are great, the environment here is great. I’ve made some great friends and I’m just thankful for the opportunity that I could come back again.” Bradley considered playing in the NBA but doesn’t want to put that pressure on himself right now. “I don’t know where my basketball career lies after college,” he said. “I’m living in the now dealing with COVID and realizing nothing is guaranteed so I’m taking advantage of the opportunities I have now and if I stress myself about going pro it takes me away from the moment.” With Bradley — being a Black male — growing up in unsafe environments and finding basketball as a way out of those environments, gave a word of advice for young African Americans that are looking to pursue a career. “Go where you’re needed, not where you’re wanted,” Bradley said. “If you go where you’re needed, they will use you to the best of your ability but if they feel they can dispose of you, then you will not be used to your fullest potential.”
