Weds. April 20 - Tues. April 26, 2022 Special Digital Edition
Vol. 108, Issue 25 www.thedailyaztec.com
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
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The Daily Aztec
News
April 20 - 26, 2022 EDITOR: Katelynn Robinson • news@thedailyaztec.com
Students are disappointed in lack of climate action taken following protest by Catlan Nguyen EDITOR IN CHIEF
San Diego State’s second student-led climate protest last fall of 2021 was sparked by the university’s stagnant progress on student demands from the first protest in August 2019. Eight months after the second protest, what progress has the university made on the Climate Justice Strike Organization’s demands? Major demands the student-led organization advocated for initially included reaching carbon neutrality by 2030 for all of SDSU, creating a Chief Sustainability Officer position in President Adela de la Torre’s office and ensuring the SDSU Mission Valley campus will be carbon neutral. A former full-time SDSU employee (who wishes to remain anonymous to keep his current job) said he quit after six years because of harassment and bullying from the administration as he continued to advocate for sustainability changes. He said those with the power to enact substantial change at SDSU continually gave him excuses about the department’s inadequate funding. The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to progress being stalled, but that is not the only reason, Associated Students Board of Directors member Simran Jain said. “We just feel like there’s a lack of pressure because the university doesn’t really respect what student voice is,” the former A.S. Green Love Commissioner Jain said. “For at least the last five years, for sure, we have been making the exact same demands and there’s just been a lack of accountability.” Co-chair of the A.S. Green Love
Photo by Brittany Cruz-Ferejan
The Climate Strike protest in the fall 2021 semester brought many students together who demanded change from the university. So far, they have been disappointed in the university’s efforts.
Gardening Committee Eva Huber said the university also says lack of funding is a huge reason for the stagnant progress, but she along with other students refuse to accept that answer. “If SDSU actually does care about sustainability in the future, then they don’t have a choice but to invest in it,” Huber said. “It can’t be a conversation of ‘oh, we don’t have the money.’ It needs to be a conversation of ‘where are we getting this money?’ because these
changes need to happen.” Jain also said how only those in Green Love and other sustainability organizations on campus are aware of the university’s lack of progress. Climate Justice Strike Organization leader Gener Abdon said President Adela de la Torre’s email letter response to the organization after the September 2021 strike was unsatisfactory for students. “The way they sent the letter to us
was so patronizing,” the former senate sustainability co-chair Abdon said. “They act as if we didn’t know what we were talking about.” The university said, in regards to the first demand, that consultants who could provide cost estimates and plans for the 2030 deadline were selected late last fall. Their work began this past February, and they presented their findings yesterday, April 19 to get community feedback. Regarding the second demand, the new Office of Energy & Sustainability was established on Oct. 1, 2021, with Glen Brandenburg and Dave Weil serving as interim co-directors. The university said they’re actively identifying candidates for consideration and they plan to have an OE&S director on board within the next six to eight weeks. A Carbon Neutrality Feasibility Study – which started in summer of 2021 – encompasses CJSO’s demands one and three by researching and recommending ways to make the main campus and Mission Valley campus completely carbon neutral, according to the university. “It’s always about ‘studies, studies’ but there’s no action to actually help improve on these climate issues,” Abdon said. Many students in A.S., CJSO and the sustainability department said the university’s efforts are for display. “They’re just taught the buzzwords like ‘LEED certification’ and ‘composting,’” Jain said. “I do think
SEE SUSTAINABILITY, PAGE 3
Students, faculty petition against sustainability, technology fee, ‘It is the student’s money’ by Eugénie Budnik SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Following the forums for the proposed sustainability and technology fee, San Diego State professors and students have created a petition against new student fees’ implementation. “We are meant to be a university for education meant for future livelihood. Yet, we are funding things that are so insignificant,” A.S. Green Love Commissioner Olivia Humphrey said. “And now they’re asking students for that money – some of the lowest income adults are college students.” The petition was created by biology professor Scott Kelley and anthropology professor Savanna Schuermann with the help of several students. The petition cites several different financial resources SDSU and the California State University system holds including over $28 million in surplus parking fees and fines at the end of 2018, $45 million dollars for the naming rights for the new Mission Valley stadium, and $300,000 for a rebranding plan. San Diego State has not yet commented on the petition. In 2019, an audit found the CSU system had a $1.5 billion surplus
partially from student tuition put away as part of the system’s reserves. “When the state asked them why they needed this money they [the CSU] said that it was a part of their ‘reserves.’ It is not their money. It is the student’s money. It is the parent’s money, and it’s the taxpayers money,” Kelley said. The technology and sustainability fee proposal is not the first time that the university has demanded student fees against the wishes and needs of students. When the student health fee was increased from $85 to $150 per student in 2010, the Calpulli Center had to close its urgent care area due to staffing shortages even amidst the increase. Instead, the funding was used towards hiring more management positions. “We are tired of all these fees and fees, and also these alternative consultations which happen almost every single year,” A.S. Imperial Valley president Carlos Fitch said. Fitch said he is tired of the proposal of new student fees, and he is tired of the lack of communication and effort for SEE PETITION, PAGE 3
Photo by Brittany Cruz-Ferejan
Students and faculty have opposed the implementation of the sustainability and technology fee, which would be 66% allocated towards technology and 34% allocated towards sustainability.
News
April 20 - 26, 2022 EDITOR: Katelynn Robinson • news@thedailyaztec.com
McDonalds replaced with new Topaz apartments by Christian STAFF WRITER
Houser
A new apartment building named Topaz is under construction between Epic Wings and the Alpha Chi Omega house on Montezuma road. Topaz will be opening to students in fall of 2023 and will consist of 169 student housing beds in 53 units. The budget for the Topaz is $48 million, and it will also feature ground-level retail similar to South Campus Plaza. “The building will house approximately 11,000 square feet of retail space, including relocation of the original McDonald’s restaurant which has secured a 35-year lease,” according to a press release from Berkman Strategic Communications. Mcdonald’s will be returning back to its original spot on an end cap next to the Alpha Chi Omega house, while the other three retail tenants have yet to be announced. Pierce Education Properties will be managing Topaz. Fred Pierce, President and CEO and former President of SDSU Alumni said it will be a unique housing option for students. “Topaz will have cutting-edge architecture, it’s walking distance to campus and it has all the amenities you could want to have,” Pierce said. Topaz is set to be around the same height as the buildings at South Campus Plaza and pre-leasing is set to open in September of this year. Many students at San Diego State were sad to see Banh Mi Babe, McDonald’s, a vintage store and a sushi place being torn down as some had been staples of campus for decades. Marketing senior Nick Cullen said he is excited to see new retail businesses near campus, but McDonald’s taking a leave of absence from SDSU was something he was not in favor of. “Taking away the Mcdonald’s was a low blow, but hearing that an alumnus is leading the charge is promising,” Cullen said. Pierce’s motivations to build student
Photos by David McCullough, McCullough Landscape Architecture
The construction taking place where the McDonalds previously resided is for a new set of college apartments called Topaz. The apartments will have a McDonalds attached to the structure.
housing at SDSU come from his past as a student. “It really is that San Diego State changed my life, the people I met and the experience I had and the gateways it opened up changed my life,” Pierce said. “What I want to do, I want to open this gateway to as many people as I possibly can. I want as many people to go to San Diego State as possible.” The family that has owned the land
McDonald’s resided on for more than 50 years is also a part of the agreement with Pierce Education Properties. The family will share revenues with Pierce Education Properties for Topaz. “I feel like I have a duty to give back and give forward,” Pierce said. “The mission of my company is to have stateof-the-art housing, the nicest housing we can have, but at rates that are affordable to students.”
Lack of action: continued from page 2
Photo by Brittany Cruz-Ferejan
Students described the advertising of the fee to be performative, confusing and inconsistent.
it’s very performative and when you’re in the sustainability movement at San Diego State, it’s frustrating.” Jain also referenced how the university tried to use sustainability as a way to get a student-funded technology fee passed last semester when, in reality, the fee proposal was about 66% for new technology while only 34% focused on sustainability. Forums for the technology and sustainability fee were inconsistent and confusing for the students who attended. Jain said the university used students’ passionate investment in climate crisis solutions to try and get a technology fee passed. “Even with the tech. and sustainability fee, it wasn’t a complete solution (to our climate demands),” Jain said. “We were really mad that they put our climate strike into the presentation for the sustainability and tech fee because we wanted those demands to be funded by the university and not put it on students.”
The Daily Aztec
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Petition:
continued from page 2 accessibility between administration and students regarding the fees especially when it comes to the I.V. campus. Fitch, who is a student member of the Campus Fee Advisory Committee (CFAC), asked for the presentation materials to be translated into Spanish, but said his requests ultimately were not carried out. “At the Imperial Valley campus, around 93% of the students come from a Spanish background. There are some words we may not understand in English. It seems to me that the bare minimum would be to give our students the accessibility in their language to understand how their dollars will be used,” Fitch said. The CFAC also used and modified a letter of sustainable demands written by SDSU Climate Strike, an sustainability student organization, without the SDSU Climate Strike’s permission within their presentations. “They [CFAC] basically twisted the words of what our entire approach was. Which basically was that the university needs to pay for these sustainability initiatives, not students. But they bounced it back onto the students,” Humphrey said. “I, along with multiple other people, brought that to their attention and asked them to remove it. They still didn’t. They kept it there.” International Security and Conflict Resolution fourth year Gener Abon is a member of the SDSU strategic planning team for activities 15 through 17. Strategic planning activities 15 through 17 all deal with the campus’s sustainable initiatives. Abon said when it comes to both sustainability and fees, university administration does not listen to student voices. “Most staff told us that we don’t have the money to fund staff positions relating to sustainability. When it came to sources of funding, I remember telling the staff exactly that we do not want student fees to fund sustainability initiatives. That has to come from higher administration,” Abon said. The group of professors and students who created the petition hope to spread the message and make real change regarding funding within the university. “All of this money could have been spent better. The students deserve better. They deserve a university that decides to stand up for them, and they’re just not getting that,” Humphrey said.
During its regular meeting April 25, 2022 the Associated Students Board of Directors will vote on some important
BYLAW AMENDMENTS Copies of proposed changes are available to interested individuals upon request from the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union's Information Comments regarding the proposed changes are welcomed in advance.
619-594-6555 as.sdsu.edu
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Opinion
The Daily Aztec
April 20 - 26, 2022 EDITOR: Aaliyah Alexander • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
Zero-waste living isn’t Adopting veganism could realistic for everyone save us from climate crisis EDITOR IN CHIEF Catlan Nguyen
By Aaliyah Alexander OPINION EDITOR
Photo by Eugènie Budnik
“Welcome” sign to Salton Sea Beach, a once popular attraction now subject to climate destruction.
By Eugènie Budnik SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Ever since Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg led a climate strike in Stockholm in August of 2018, sustainability has become a buzzword of a lifestyle we all must follow or else our planet will face certain doom. Businesses such as Patagonia, Microsoft, Reformation and many more pride themselves on their sustainable business practices and efforts. More specifically, the sustainability movement has made tremendous efforts to make more sustainable fashion and food choices, both of which have undeniably contributed to climate change. The global food system contributes 21-37% of total greenhouse emissions, and the fashion industry follows behind with a contribution of 10% of total carbon emissions. Sustainable influencers can be seen on Instagram encouraging their followers to stop purchasing fast fashion items, become vegan or purchase other perceivably sustainable products. The truth is sustainability is a privilege not many can afford, and shunning the average consumer for not making sustainable decisions is not the answer to our environmental crises. The ability to consciously make decisions about what is sustainable and what is not is something that not everyone has the time or money to make. For those whose basic needs are already being met, taking extra steps to ensure the food one is consuming or purchasing is sustainable isn’t a matter of survival, making sustainability practices a luxury. But, for those who worry about what they’re going to put on the table tonight, or those who worry about having the proper attire for employment, or those who don’t have the autonomy to make decisions, sustainability is often out of reach. How can you expect someone to worry about the greenhouse gas emissions that have been produced by the food that they’re eating when they aren’t even sure where their next meal is coming
from? How can you expect someone not to buy $20 work pants from Target or Walmart when the sustainable substitute is two or three times their entire paycheck? The answer is that you can’t, and you shouldn’t. Instead of being angry at your neighbor for the issue of climate change, the real people you should be seeking change from are the large scale corporations and businesses which are the biggest contributors to climate change and other environmental problems. Or you could focus your energy on environmental justice, or the idea that environmental issues and social justice issues go hand-in-hand. Research has shown that there is a direct link between the environment and social justice issues, highlighting that minority and low-income communities being statistically more likely to live in neighborhoods exposed to landfills, toxic waste, air pollution and other environmental hazards. The San Diego neighborhood of Barrio Logan, which has a huge Latinx population, has been constantly exposed to air pollution and toxic waste from the nearby military facilities since the 1940s. In the Anza-Borrego Desert Community, which was once a bustling resort spot in the 1950s frequented by celebrities, the Salton Sea is drying up. As the Salton Sea is drying up, it is causing toxic dust to particulate in the air, which has led to residents having some of the highest levels of respiratory problems in the entire state of California. Environmental justice recognizes that environmental issues cannot be solved by ignoring the systematic issues of poverty, racism and classism. While buying that $200 sustainable dress from Reformation or becoming a vegan might be the best sustainable actions for you, it is a luxury that many cannot afford. There is more that can be done right in your community to make a sustainable difference for everyone to enjoy. Eugènie Budnik is a sophomore studying journalism and advertising.
There are various sustainability practices displayed on the internet nowadays. Carrying around a Hydro Flask, purchasing a cute bamboo utensil kit, thrift shopping, using tote bags when visiting Trader Joe’s — just to name a few. However, there’s one practice many people overlook that could make a seemingly insignificant but important impact in the fight for a more sustainable society: going plantbased. This article isn’t to come off as a critique on lifestyles that don’t incorporate plant-based consciousness. Instead, I want to offer a little food for thought. As of now, the meat industry contributes to nearly 60% of greenhouse gas emission, according to The Guardian. In comparison to plant-based alternatives production, meat production accounts for double the pollution. The Guardian highlighted that scientists “have consistently stressed that if dangerous global heating is to be avoided, a major rethink of eating habits and farming practices is required.” Not only does food production contribute to deforestation, water shortages and vast ocean dead zones, it’s also affecting climate change. Our climate crisis doesn’t solely rely on individual habits and lifestyles to magically fix the problem. The major culprits are the greedy corporations that continue to selfishly deplete our natural resources and produce the majority of unnecessary toxins in our environment. This could mean turning to government involvement to actually make strides toward change. However, small habits made by the majority of the population could tip the scale in the direction of a healthier planet. Many individuals are hesitant to adopt a plant-based lifestyle whether it be some form of vegetarianism or veganism, but it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing lifestyle change. Incorporating “Meatless Mondays” every week can add up over time compared to a household who doesn’t practice “Meatless Mondays.” Now that the plant-based industry is creating more alternatives, the transition to a more plant-based diet is feasible
MANAGING EDITOR Trinity Bland NEWS EDITOR Katelynn Robinson OPINION EDITOR Aaliyah Alexander MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Noé Sandoval Photo by Aaliyah Alexander
Acai bowl from Goofy Cafe in Honolulu, HI.
to the average consumer. Since I adopted the lifestyle in 2014 before veganism was somewhat trendy, I’ve seen the evolution of grocery store options and fastfood chain menu options. I’m jealous of the people who decide to go plant-based in the year 2022 because the transition is effortless. Is it financially and economically possible for every single household to go plantbased? No. But can we cut back on meat and animal by-products as a whole. Yes. “We’re not telling people to stop eating meat,” environmental scientist Pete Smith said, to BBC News. “In some places, people have no other choice. But it’s obvious that in the West we’re eating far too much.” With the current state of the world, we should be open to trying any and everything to reverse the direction in which our environment is going. Alongside petitioning and demanding for drastic changes in the unsustainable practices embedded in large-scale organizations, we could slowly make changes in our households, whether that be purchasing a Hydro Flask, reusable grocery bags or going full-fledged vegan. Whether you decide to ditch meat or not remember: No small effort is a wasted effort in the fight for a cleaner, greener and healthier earth.
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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
STAFF WRITERS Christian Houser Morgan Ray Destiny Esparza Jazlyn Dieguez Madison Geering SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Eugènie Budnik Jenna Meyer CONTRIBUTORS Isabella Kunde ________________________________ 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 20 - 26, 2022 EDITOR: Noé Sandoval • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com
Mundo Azteca
The Daily Aztec
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Oportunidades internacionales aún existen para estudiantes interesados por Noé Sandoval EDITOR DE MUNDO AZTECA
La Universidad Estatal de San Diego continúa brindando oportunidades para que los estudiantes estudien en el extranjero a pesar del riesgo continuo de la pandemia, y ha pasado por algunos cambios nuevos debido a este impacto mundial. Hace dos años, SDSU Study Abroad tuvo que actuar rápidamente para ayudar a los estudiantes que estaban en el extranjero en medio de la pandemia. La comunicación entre los estudiantes y la universidad fue importante para que los estudiantes conocieran las opciones disponibles. En la primavera de 2020, muchos estudiantes tuvieron la opción de regresar a casa antes de tiempo o quedarse en su país de acogida. Todo dependía de la situación de cada estudiante y de cómo se veía afectado cada país anfitrión. La preocupación importante para la universidad era garantizar que los estudiantes estuvieran seguros. Ahora, la Oficina de Estudios en el Extranjero de SDSU se llama recientemente Oficina de Educación Global de SDSU desde el otoño de 2021 y brinda servicios a los estudiantes interesados en globalizar su educación. Chris Kjonaas es la subdirectora de la Oficina de Educación Global de SDSU y explicó cómo el departamento todavía encuentra formas de ayudar a los estudiantes durante un entorno escolar virtual. “Estudiar en el extranjero todavía estaba en curso, pero se redujo en tamaño
Foto de Arquivos
La oficina de intercambios fue renombrada com la oficina de educacion global recientenmente.
durante la pandemia”, dijo Kjonaas. “Hoy, la mayoría de nuestros programas han regresado en persona, pero la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes es nuestra prioridad” Este semestre, la cantidad de estudiantes que estudian en el extranjero es de 175 en comparación con los 461 de la primavera de 2020, según Kjonaas. La mayoría de los programas de estudios en el extranjero se detuvieron durante el pico de la pandemia durante la primavera y el otoño de 2020. En 2021, los programas comenzaron nuevamente a medida que las regulaciones comenzaron a relajarse. Hoy, los estudiantes que estudian en el extranjero deben seguir las pautas de salud de SDSU en términos de vacunas y pruebas de COVID. La necesidad de requisitos
adicionales varía según el programa, pero los requisitos mínimos son cumplir con las pautas de la universidad de origen. Los programas virtuales adicionales siguen siendo una opción para los estudiantes de hoy. Hay más flexibilidad y comprensión para los estudiantes que puedan tener inquietudes acerca de estudiar en el extranjero. Con el riesgo de salud como prioridad para los programas de estudio en el extranjero, SDSU desarrolló nuevas pólizas de seguro y contrató nuevos puestos específicamente para garantizar la seguridad de los estudiantes en el extranjero. La Oficina de Educación Global de SDSU ahora se enfoca en las especializaciones de
los estudiantes al encontrar un programa adecuado para ellos. Anteriormente, los asesores de estudios en el extranjero dividían sus tareas en función de las regiones del mundo para los programas de estudios en el extranjero, pero ahora los asesores de estudios en el extranjero analizan el trabajo del curso del estudiante y su especialización para garantizar el éxito académico mientras estudian en el extranjero. Esto también significa que la oficina trabaja en estrecha colaboración con los colegios dentro de la universidad para comprender qué requisitos académicos se deben cumplir. La estudiante de relaciones públicas de cuarto año Shay Hempek participó en un internado de verano en el extranjero en Londres para el verano de 2021. Ella explica su experiencia en el extranjero y el proceso de solicitud. “Siempre andaba con mascarilla y me vacuné antes de viajar”, dijo Hempeck. “Afortunadamente, todo estuvo bien porque pude vacunarme antes de viajar. Lo estresante fue asegurar una visa de trabajo ya que todos los oficios de gobiernos estaban demorando por la pandemia” Hempeck hizo su programa a través de la compañía independiente, Programas Académicos Internacionales, o API por sus siglas en inglés. Lo importante para la Oficina de Educacion Global es que lo estudiantes sepan que pueden explorar la opcion de globalizar su educauion sin nignun compromiso al solo investigar para los que están interesados.
Estudiantes todavia exigen mejores políticas del ambiente desde la huelga de cambio climático del semestre pasado respeta la voz de los estudiantes”, dijo el ex comisionado de AS Green Love, Jain. “Durante al menos los últimos cinco años, seguro, hemos estado haciendo exactamente las mismas demandas y simplemente ha habido una falta de responsabilidad”. La copresidenta del Comité de Jardinería AS Green Love, Eva Huber, dijo que la universidad también dice que la falta de fondos es una gran razón para el estancamiento del progreso, pero ella junto con otros estudiantes se niegan a aceptar esa respuesta. “Si SDSU realmente se preocupa por la sustentabilidad en el futuro, entonces no tienen otra opción que invertir en ella”, dijo
La universidad aún no ha cumplido las demandas de los estudiantes para el ambiente.
por Catlan Nguyen EDITORA EN JEFE
Desde el otoño pasado, la segunda protesta climática dirigida por estudiantes de 2021 fue provocada por el estancamiento del progreso de la universidad en las demandas de los estudiantes de la primera protesta en agosto de 2019. Ocho meses después de la segunda protesta, ¿qué progreso ha logrado la universidad en la organización de huelga de justicia climática? ¿demandas? Las principales demandas por las que abogó la organización dirigida por estudiantes incluyeron inicialmente alcanzar la neutralidad de carbono para 2030 para todo SDSU, crear un puesto de Director de Sustentabilidad en la oficina de la presidenta Adela de la Torre y garantizar
Foto por Britney Cruz-Fejeran
que el campus de SDSU Mission Valley sea neutral en carbono. Un ex empleado de tiempo completo deSDE (que desea permanecer anónimo para mantener su trabajo actual) dijo que renunció después de seis años debido al acoso y la intimidación de la administración mientras continuaba abogando por cambios de sostenibilidad. Dijo que aquellos con el poder de promulgar cambios sustanciales en SDSU continuamente le daban excusas sobre la financiación inadecuada del departamento. La pandemia de COVID-19 ha contribuido al estancamiento del progreso, pero esa no es la única razón, dijo Simran Jain, miembro de la Junta Directiva de Estudiantes Asociados. “Sentimos que hay una falta de presión porque la universidad realmente no
Huber. “No puede ser una conversación de ‘oh, no tenemos el dinero’. Tiene que ser una conversación de ‘¿de dónde vamos a sacar este dinero?’ porque estos cambios tienen que suceder”. Jain también dijo que solo aquellos en Green Love y otras organizaciones de sostenibilidad en el campus son conscientes de la falta de progreso de la universidad. El líder de la Organización de Huelga por la Justicia Climática, Gener de la presidenta Adela de la Torre correo electrónico a la organización después de la huelga de septiembre de 2021 no fue satisfactoria para los estudiantes. VER EN LÍNEA
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The Daily Aztec
Sports
April 20 - 26, 2022 EDITOR: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com
No. 23 softball takes two against Boise By Isabella Kunde CONTRIBUTOR
Game one: SDSU 2, Boise State 6 The San Diego State Aztecs (29-12, 13-2 Mountain West Conference) fell short in the series opener against the Boise State Broncos (28-10, 7-5 MWC), losing 6-2 this past Thursday night at home. The Broncos came out swinging in the first inning with junior Kelsey Hall and senior Eliyah Flores getting back-to-back doubles. Aztec senior pitcher Maggie Balint was able to get out of the inning by striking out two batters and got a little help from her defense with an infield play for the final out of the inning. SDSU answered the call in the bottom of the first as sophomore Jillian Celis and senior Alexa Schultz got on base. Senior Danielle Romanello brought Celis home on an RBI single for the first SDSU run. The second and third innings were quiet for SDSU offensively, while Boise State scored two more runs to advance their lead. Senior Taylor Adams hit her fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning, cutting the Broncos lead in half. The Aztecs got momentum in the sixth inning, loading the bases with no outs and getting contributions from Romanello, Murphy and Brocki. Despite their promising advantage, Boise State’s defense kept the Scarlet and Black at bay, denying them any opportunity to score. Boise State brought in their final run of the game off a home run from Lalor.
The Aztecs had a hard time bringing runners home this match, leaving eight runners stranded. They finished 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and were 0-for-2 with bases loaded. Game two: SDSU 3, Boise State 2 It was a battle of the pitchers in an intense thirteen inning showdown between the Aztecs and the Broncos. Balint collected twelve strikeouts while allowing only two runs on four hits, a walk and a hit batter. This was Balint’s eleventh double-digit strikeout game of the season, reaching two-hundred and nine strikeouts on the season. Reliever Dee Dee Hernandez had her fair share of action in this match, allowing only three hits, a walk and collecting three strikeouts in five scoreless innings. Both teams were offensively dormant in the first two innings, keeping the score tied at zero. The Aztecs finally scored in the third as sophomore Macey Keester got on base and sophomore Mac Barbra sent a long double off the wall to bring Keester home. Celis also collected an RBI single, making the score 2-0. Balint’s stellar pitching caused two easy outs in the bottom of the sixth, but Bronco sophomore Kelsey Lalor turned things around with a two-run homer to tie the game. Neither team was an offensive threat again until the twelfth inning, when freshman Bella Espinoza singled for the Aztecs and made it to second on a stolen base. SDSU, however, was unable to capitalize The Aztecs’ game winning run came in
Photo by Derrick Tuskan, courtesy of SDSU Athletics
Freshman infielder AJ Murphy gets hyped after the Aztecs made a play in the field. Her and the Aztecs are also hyped to have moved up in the national rankings for the third week in a row, sitting at No.23 in the country.
the thirteenth inning. Schultz singled up the middle and advanced to second on a stolen base. Adams singled to right and brought Schultz home to win the game for the Aztecs. Game three: SDSU 3, Boise State 2 Four pitchers and one offensive inning is what it took for the Aztecs to win the final game and capture the series. SDSU loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning but left the runners stranded. However, their offensive momentum carried into the fourth inning, where the Scarlet and Black scored three times. The Scarlet and Black loaded the bases again in the fourth to set up the power hitting Barbra. Barbra ripped one in the infield gap, bringing two runners in.
Senior Jessica Cordola hit a single up the middle bringing home the third run for the Aztecs. The Broncos answered in the fifth inning and scored again in the sixth — taking advantage of two infield errors by SDSU. Balint walked a batter with the bases loaded, bringing in a run for the Broncos to make the score 3-2. Balint was able to close out the inning with two pop flies. Junior Dani Martinez was the starting pitcher for the Aztecs and was perfect for two innings. Allie Light came in relief and struck out three batters. Hernandez joined the game in the fifth inning, giving up two runs and three hits. Balint collected two strikeouts, one hit and one walk to record her fifth save of the season.
Sweep Mercy! Aztecs secure sweep against New Mexico
Photo courtesy of SDSU Athletics
Poncho Ruiz and the Aztecs got their first Mountain West Conference series win in 2022 with a sweep in New Mexico.
By Jenna Meyer SENIOR STAFF WRITER
After the Aztecs dropped their midweek matchup to USD 8-3, they geared up and hit the road to take on New Mexico in Albuquerque for a weekend conference series picking up their first series win in a sweep against the Lobos — their first sweep in Albuquerque since 1990. Game one Junior right-handed pitcher Junior Troy Melton took the mound for the first of three in the clash with conference opponent New Mexico and did so successfully, leading the Aztecs to a 10-3 victory. Junior Brian Leonhardt and sophomore Johnny Giannola started the series with a statement of back-to-back solo home runs, establishing an early 2-0 lead. The Aztecs continued their scoring into the third, plating two more runs and increasing their lead to 4-0. The Aztecs gave themselves some insurance in the fourth after redshirtfreshman Shaun Montoya’s single plated pinch runner sophomore Max Foxcroft. Sophomore Caden Miller then made it home on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Cole Carrigg, taking the score to 6-1. A leadoff double from redshirt-freshman
Tino Bethancourt — who later scored on a single from Montoya — and a tworun homer by sophomore Poncho Ruiz widened the gap against the Lobos in the sixth. Both the Aztecs and Lobos added one additional run in the eighth and ninth respectively, but SDSU’s early lead was too much for the Lobos to come back from. Game two Similar to game one of the series, the Scarlet and Black started their scoring early with four runs in the first inning after a double from Leonhardt and RBI singles from both Carrigg and freshman Irvin Weems. The Lobos then responded with a solo home run in the bottom of the first. Both the Aztecs and Lobos tacked on an additional run in the second, taking the score to 5-2. The Aztecs added on another two runs in the third while the Lobos plated three. SDSU continued their scoring efforts in the fourth with a sacrifice fly from Leonhardt. The Lobos were not quick to give up the fight, adding another three in the fourth after a sac fly and a two-run homer. SDSU tacked on one in the sixth after Ruiz scored on a single from Carrigg, taking back their lead at 9-8.
The Aztec bats erupted in the seventh with five runs following a single from Deron Johnson who was then advanced to second on a fielding error by New Mexico, putting Bethancourt on first base. Montoya then brought Johnson home after a single and Carrigg singled to plate Bethancourt and Montoya. A throwing error brought Carrigg and Ruiz home following a single from freshman Irvin Weems. New Mexico responded with two runs in the seventh and eighth and one in the ninth, coming up just short of the Aztecs in the 14-13 nail-biter. Game three After securing the series win, the Aztecs headed into Saturday’s matchup looking for a sweep with freshman RHP Chris Canada getting the Saturday morning start. The Aztecs came out hot scoring four runs in the top of the first and took an early lead over the Lobos.
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New Mexico wouldn’t respond until the bottom of the second with a solo home run, shifting the score to 4-1. SDSU’s offense exploded in the top of the third after sending nine players to the plate to produce five runs after back-toback doubles from freshman Evan Sipe and redshirt-freshman Alex Rodriguez. The Lobos were relentless in their pursuit of catching the Aztecs, adding three runs in the fifth, two solo home runs in the sixth, and two runs in the seventh. The Lobos brought the score to 9-8, erasing the large deficit the Aztecs had created. The Aztecs knocked in two more runs in the top of the eighth to secure their 11-8 victory and secure the sweep over the Lobos of New Mexico. New Mexico wouldn’t have a chance to add runs due to the game being called in the eighth due to time constraints for the Aztecs traveling back to San Diego.
April 20 - 26, 2022
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April 20 - 26, 2022 Editor: Ryan Hardison • arts@thedailyaztec.com
Lettuce celebrate: Here are five ways to maintain an eco-friendly kitchen By Trinity Bland MANAGING EDITOR
When thinking of ways to become more sustainable, implementing more ecofriendly choices into your daily lifestyle should be at the forefront of the plan. The kitchen is one of the most impactful places to make small changes for a better environment. This can include eating meat more responsibly, plant-based swaps and saving energy from the food you buy to the way it’s cooked or stored. Here are five practical ways to go “green” in your kitchen: 1. Strive for leftovers. The saying, “cook once, eat twice” was created with leftovers in mind. Intentionally cooking more food so you can eat later reduces your prep time and energy consumption. It also ensures you buy less ingredients, run your oven less frequently and stretch meals further. Pasta dishes like lasagna and salads are easy to make in large quantities and store away in smaller portions to enjoy later. The possibilities are endless, just don’t forget that you have some in your fridge or else your food and your sustainability efforts will both spoil. 2. Support local produce. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, buying locally has never been safer. Since local products do not have to be transported long distances, buying food and floral products produced, grown, or raised as close to home as possible helps both the economy and environment by conserving fuel and economy in addition to reducing global carbon footprint. The best way to shop for organic products locally is through neighborhood farmers’ markets. San Diego Certified Farmers’ Markets are certified by the
County Agricultural Commissioner, ensuring that the produce is being sold by the farmer, is grown in California and meets all California quality standards. As part of their efforts to promote and protect local farms, the San Diego Farm Bureau maintains a list of farmer’s markets in most major San Diego neighborhoods for each day of the week. 3. Cook seasonal foods. It’s easy to fall into the habit of purchasing the same grocery items over and over again, especially when on a college student budget. However, buying food doesn’t have to become redundant! Buying seasonal produce when it is most available means its economic demand is lower, so it conserves costs and expands your recipe creativity. Eating more root vegetables in the fall and winter can reflect the autumn aesthetic while a wider array of colors can be fun to experiment with in the spring and summer. This vegetable variety will ensure your palette stays in sync with nature’s cycle. One of the distinguishable things about San Diego State is having a Trader Joe’s located on campus, which can be exciting and equally overwhelming to navigate when trying to be sustainable. Calpulli Health Center’s wellbeing and health promotion department provides students with an exclusive list of affordable seasonal products as well as a grocery list for those who don’t know the first thing about shopping without their parents being right by their side. 4. Make a meal plan. This isn’t just for specific diets – planning menus and brainstorming things you want to make can be fun! This can also prevent you from making impulse purchases while grocery shopping, and
Graphic by Ryan Hardison
To keep your health in tip-top shape, there are several ways to build a sustainable kitchen and a healthy diet.
taking unnecessary trips to the store as well as placing takeout and delivery orders. Between meetings, classes, practices and other obligations, planning ahead with meal preparation can make any college student’s life easier. If you have trouble with how to create a meal plan personalized to you, there are health specialists and educators within the wellbeing and health promotion department who are available to help in one-on-one sessions in addition to informative group presentations held throughout the academic year. 5. Purify the air with natural ingredients. Chemical air fresheners can expose people to a number of toxins and allergens. To make your kitchen smell
nice and fresh, use some of the favorite ingredients you already have on hand! If you enjoy vanilla and cinnamon scents, boil some vanilla extract and cinnamon sticks (or just the spice itself) and let it simmer for an hour or two while watching lectures or during your study time. For a more citrus aroma, cut a lemon, lime or orange into a wedge and place it in your garbage disposal. In 2022, being conscious of the environment is quickly becoming the new normal, so don’t get left behind – make the effort to become a more sustainable student starting with your kitchen. Students can visit the wellbeing and health promotion’s virtual front desk or call them at (619) 594-4133 Monday through Friday 8:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
F*** Fast Fashion teaches students to shop and style sustainably with creativity
Column: Fashion going green should cost a little less green
By Jazlyn Dieguez
As more people realize the dangers of fast fashion, people are in search of clothing brands that are more sustainable. To some, that may sound easy, but finding accessible and affordable sustainable brands can be a challenge. If you are looking for a sustainable clothing store in any shopping area, you won’t have much luck finding one unless you go to a thrift store and even that can be limiting because of high demand. People often turn to online shopping as the primary option for finding sustainable clothing brands. Shopping online might not seem like a big deal, but the average consumer typically searches online for well known brands and those are the fast fashion ones such as Zara, H&M, Shein and Forever 21 to name a few. It can be quite overwhelming when searching for sustainable clothing because shoppers don’t know where to start or what brands to choose. This can be time consuming and people are not looking to spend an extensive amount of time searching for the right brand. Even after finding a sustainable clothing brand, shoppers quickly discover the prices on clothes range from $35 to $90. That might not seem expensive to some, but compared to fast fashion brands that sell clothes from an average of $4 to $35,
STAFF WRITER
Fashion plays a crucial role in people’s lives. It allows individuals to freely express themselves and their creativity. But at what cost will one’s fashion choices have a long-term environmental impact? Major companies that contribute to the unsustainable methods of fast fashion, or the mass production of clothing, include Shein, Princess Polly, Forever 21 and H&M. These businesses profit from their insufficient efforts to produce ecologically friendly clothing. At San Diego State, F*** Fast Fashion has actively participated in raising awareness surrounding sustainable fashion and conscious-consumption. FFF’s mission is advocated by Rachel Jung, the club’s president who is a fourth-year integrated marketing communications student. “We want to build a community where we are not shaming people for buying fast fashion because in the end, it’s not the consumers’ fault. But what we can do is increase more awareness in getting people to know that there are an endless amount of options in secondhand clothes that you can do so much with,” Jung said. Jung joined FFF in the spring of 2021,
when the club’s communication was moved online due to COVID-19. Her interest in the fashion industry prompted her to join, especially once she discovered how much the fashion industry has affected Generation Z. “Just seeing how that market really influenced an entire generation on how to consume clothes, it was kinda disappointing to see that my mindset was like that too,” Jung said. “And I didn’t like it because it seemed as if we were treating clothes as such a temporary thing when clothes should be something that are intertwined with us and throughout our growth.” SDSU students who share Jung’s perspective on fast fashion have discovered this club as a way to express creativity through sustainable fashion. The club engages with their members through online conversations by discussing sustainable consumption and encouraging members to submit photos of their best thrifted outfits. Members of the club also share their personal tips and tricks to thrifting. FFF is most known for its pop-up clothing exchanges, where students can get two to three clothing items for free. SEE ONLINE
By Destiny Esparza CONTRIBUTOR
it makes fast fashion brands seem even more tempting and convenient. In all fairness, sustainable clothing brands are more expensive because of the cost of ethical and eco-friendly materials, cost of labor such as ethical working conditions and sustainable brands still being in a niche market. Whereas fast fashion brands can market their products at low prices because they don’t have high costs of materials and labor and shoppers are already familiar with their brand. SEE ONLINE
Graphic by Ryan Hardison
Finding affordable, sustainable options is difficult when competing with brands like Forever 21.
