Wednesday, May 1 - Tuesday, May 7, 2019 Weekly Print Edition
Vol. 105, Issue 32 www.thedailyaztec.com
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
SDSU responds to racist Snapchat sent to student
BEST BUDDIES Organization starts a pop-up coffee stand to teach students with disabilities job skills. PAGE 2
EDITORIAL Racism and hate have once again appeared in San Diego, and we once again condemn it.
Incident marks the third time in two months university has responded to issue of racial intolerance on campus by David Santillan ASST. NEWS EDITOR
San Diego State found itself addressing racism this week for the third time in two months. In series of Snapchat videos that were screen captured on Sunday and posted to Twitter, an unidentified man can be heard making racist threats to interdisciplinary studies senior CJ Simmons, who is black.
Simmons posted screen captures of the Snapchats to his Twitter account and tagged the university’s account. SDSU was quick to condemn the videos in a series of tweets, saying the threats made are not reflective of SDSU or the campus culture. In one video, the man can be heard calling Simmons a “monkey” and threating to hang him like an “ornament” off a
tree. According to Simmons, the threats were made after another acquaintance of his asked for Simmons’ opinion on a freestyle verse he’d created. Simmons said the acquaintance addressed him using the n-word, and things escalated when Simmons did SEE SNAPCHAT, PAGE 2
PAGE 4
Lacrosse defeats UC Davis to win second straight MPSF title. PAGE 7
Photo by Bella Ross
SDSU community members join hands during an April 18 rally in resonse to racial intolerance on campus.
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INDEX News............................... 2-3 Sports.............................. 4-5 Opinion.......................... 6-7 Arts & Culture................ 8-9 Classifieds........................ 11 The Back Page.................. 12
Kahale Warring
by Bella Ross NEWS EDITOR
President Adela de la Torre acknowledged what she described as the failure of San Diego State’s communications department in a campus-wide email Tuesday, citing the closure of the Professional Studies and Fine Arts building due to noxious odors as one of many examples of this issue. “I doubt that even the most optimistic individuals on this campus have failed to notice the cries of frustration related to the uncertainty surrounding the PSFA Building,” de la Torre said in the email.
“I want to acknowledge that the current state of communication reflects a culture that we are trying to change.” De la Torre said moving forward, the university will take the approach of always communicating what they do and don’t know about a situation. This includes weekly updates of a webpage dedicated to the PSFA closure. The Strategic Communications and Public Affairs department will also become the centralized source for “high stakes and time-sensitive communication,” avoiding a situation where some departments have
Tyler Roemer
information that others don’t. The department will also move to communicate time-sensitive information through a variety of means. The email comes about three weeks after university officials referred to their communications about the closure of the PSFA building as a “failure” in an open forum. An additional campuswide email sent by Strategic Communications and Public Affairs said the university is working with a third-party firm to address concerns voiced by SEE PSFA, PAGE 2
SEE NFL DRAFT, PAGE 6
PSFA debacle prompts de la Torre to improve university communications
/dailyaztec @TheDailyAztec
San Diego State football had six of its former players sign to NFL teams during and after last week’s NFL Draft.
Heading into the draft, offensive lineman Tyler Roemer was faced with many questions for transgressions away from the football field. He was dismissed from the team last season with three games remaining due to “internal differences,” according to a Daily Aztec source. Roemer was also recently accused of physical and emotional abuse by ex-girlfriend Carly Heppler. Scouts have also called Roemer “extremely immature.” Despite all those off the field question marks, the 6-foot-6, 312-pound Roemer was too good of a talent for NFL teams to pass up. The Oakland Raiders gave Roemer an opportunity by signing him as an undrafted free agent. “Its a once in a lifetime opportunity that must be taken in full stride A new beginning
La organización MEChA celebra su 50 aniversario en SDSU. PAGE 9
by Aaron Tolentino ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Tight end Kahale Warring was taken 86th overall by the Houston Texans in the third round, but ended up being the only Aztec selected. Warring was the highest graded Aztec (5.81 prospect grade) coming into the draft. Texans general manager Brian Gaine told reporters last Friday night after the conclusion of day two of the draft that Warring was the “best available” player. Gaine added Warring’s stature at 6-foot-5 and 252 pounds gives him the potential to be successful in the NFL. “He meets our prototypical standards, everything we look for from the physical standpoint and equally from the football character skills set but a ton of upside here,” Gaine said in a press conference Friday.
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Warring drafted in third round; Roemer, others signed as free agents
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News
The Daily Aztec
May 1-7, 2019 EDITOR: Bella Ross • news@thedailyaztec.com
Crews close Aztec Circle Drive to repair pipe that caused sinkhole by Kaitlyn Little SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The sinkhole that appeared on campus Tuesday night has been attributed to a storm drain collapse along Aztec Circle Drive, according to an April 24 campus-wide email from San Diego State Facilities Services and Parking and Transportation Services. The road was temporarily shut down and reopened after steel plates were installed to cover the hole. However, the email said the road will close again beginning at 6 a.m. on April 26 for additional repairs. The additional closure is to ensure campus safety
Snapchat:
continued from page 1 not respond favorably to the freestyle. That’s when Simmons said the second man added him on Snapchat and started sending him threatening videos. It is not immediately clear if the other two men involved in the incident are students at SDSU.
and repair an emergency stormwater pipe. The email said the road will be closed for an indefinite amount of time, but the repair is expected to be completed by next week. Alternate routes will be available during the closure. Pedestrian access will be rerouted through Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences Complex parking lot and skateboard and scooter users are encouraged to use the same path. All parking areas around the closure will remain accessible and open. General questions can be directed to Facilities Services at (619) 594-4754.
This is the third racist incident aimed toward SDSU’s black community that the university has addressed in the last two months. In a statement, SDSU reiterated the unacceptable nature of the video. “We are aware of a Snapchat video in which an individual appears to make a threatening and disparaging remarks directed at a member of SDSU’s Black community,” the statement said. “The remark
Photo by Kaitlyn Little
A sinkhole that appeared on the night of April 23 has prompted the closure of Aztec Circle Drive.
employs imagery historically used to threaten Black individuals and communities. This is completely unacceptable and not reflective of SDSU, our campus culture or the values we uphold.” In March a viral video showed a woman sitting in her car outside of the Black Resource Center when a group of passersby shouted the n-word from their car. Then, earlier this month, the Black Resource Center was
vandalized, resulting in $400 worth of property damage. No one was inside of the center when the vandalism occurred. “I’m not necessarily scared,” Simmons said. “I’m just more cautious (now).” On April 18, members of the black community and allies held a rally on campus to demonstrate their discontent with racism at SDSU. During the rally, Associated Students President-elect Christian Onwuka read a list
of demands the students had for the school which included new security measures to the BRC. The university has yet to respond to the demands, which Onwuka called on SDSU to fulfill by Aug. 30. Those with knowledge of recent events on campus relating to the black community were encouraged to submit information to PoliceInvestigations@SDSU. edu.
*if not hanlded correctly, as of 201 these now come with a 1-yr drivers license suspension. Fake ID conviction involves false Government Documents
Every Second Counts. If you or a friend have been charged/cited, there are possible defenses, negotiations tactics, diversion programs, and experience that can be utilized on your case.
Call today for a FREE consult My office has extensive experience handling these for SDSU students. Chances are I have likely handled one of these types of cases for someone you know here on campus
May 1-7, 2019 EDITOR: Bella Ross, news@thedailyaztec.com
News
The Daily Aztec
3
SDSU researchers discover new planet by Aretha Matsushima STAFF WRITER
A group of San Diego State astronomers located a third planet within the Kepler 47 system with findings unique to other circumbinary planet discoveries. Kepler 47b, a circumbinary planet – meaning one that orbits two stars instead of one – was found to orbit between the two other planets in the Kepler system, according to astronomy professor and study co-leader William Welsh. “What makes this special is there’s no system like this; three planets orbiting around two stars,” Welsh said. “The surprise is that the new planet orbits in between the other two.” Welsh also said Kepler 47b is the largest of the three planets, 3,340 light years away and is much larger in comparison to Earth. “The new one’s about seven times larger than the Earth in size which makes it similar to the size of Neptune and Saturn,” Welsh said. Welsh said the Kepler 47 system was discovered with two planets back in 2012 as part of the NASA Kepler mission and the recent Kepler 47b planet discovery has made this project remarkable. “(The mission) has been successful in (how) it has found thousands of exotic planets, but there is none like Kepler
PSFA:
continued from page 1 SDSU community members at two open forums at in early April. In addition to air monitoring, testing is being performed on “mold, asbestos, fiberglass, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, humidity and overall building comfort.” The email offered impacted faculty and staff with three options for relocation, one permitting them to move back into PSFA after testing has been completed and another allowing them to remain relocated. Temporary workspaces are being established for some PSFA faculty and staff, freeing up offices in Adams Humanities for those in need of one. Since the odors began, 223 people have filed complaints with the university about health problems possibly related to the noxious fumes from the roof project — 22 from faculty and staff and one from a student. “Our students, faculty, and staff have suffered pain due to a lack of nimble and transparent responses and organizational structures that challenge our ability to provide timely and needed information,” de la Torre said in the email. A webpage about the closure said air monitoring has continued and that the university is preparing for the release of their final report on the odors.
Photo courtesy of NASA/JPL Caltech/T. Pyle
SDSU researchers discovered a new planet, Kepler 47b, a circumbinary planet.
47,” Welsh said. “All the other systems of these types of stars only have one planet around them.” The study’s leader and astronomy professor Jerome Orosz said the NASA Kepler team is an international collaboration he and Welsh joined nine years ago. “When professor Welsh and I had the opportunity to join the Kepler team, it was a nobrainer,” Orosz said. “We had advanced access to the data, worked with lots of other people involved in the mission and it was all a very big opportunity.” Kepler 47b should have been discovered alongside the other planets in 2012, but the tilt in the orbit of the system during
that time did not allow the researchers to fully see sufficient evidence of another planet, Welsh said. “Back in 2012, we should have seen this,” Welsh said. “There was evidence, but it took a couple more years of data and a lot of analysis to figure out what was going on with this planet.” Welsh said by using online data via the Kepler telescope in space, astronomers were able to use their computer programs and see the planet, on campus. “The Kepler telescope is in orbit around the sun, the data is collected and sent in to various radiocommunications on Earth,” Welsh said. “Then, supercomputers calibrate the
data and becomes publicly available to the internet.” Orosz said after the data was processed and uploaded to the archive, the planets were able to be seen by him and team members. “I was the first to actually see these indications that they were planets, thus those discoveries were made by me and members of this team,” Orosz said. “It took a huge team effort to get the data.” Welsh said there is a possibility of there being more planets within the Kepler system but they are currently unseeable. Astronomy department chair Eric Sandquist said the unique discovery of Kepler 47b reflects
well upon the SDSU astronomy department. “We’ve had some pretty strong people working in the department for years, but it’s nice to have the added notification and attention of the discovery of new things,” Sandquist said. Welsh said he believes that in the field of circumbinary planets, SDSU has the world’s best department. “The astronomy department at SDSU is the world’s best in this research area,” Welsh said. “Of the 12 planets that have been found, we’ve been involved in the discoveries and have done most of the analyses.”
Best Buddies Brews coffee stand teaches job skills to disabled students by Olivia Li STAFF WRITER
Best Buddies at San Diego State has started a new initiative, Best Buddies Brews, a pop-up coffee stand that focuses on giving those with disabilities the chance to learn valuable job skills and prove that they can overcome their disabilities. According to Best Buddies website, Best Buddies is “the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” SDSU’s Best Buddies Brews was inspired by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s chapter who started the pop-up coffee stand in 2018. “University of North Carolina has a really successful Best
Buddies chapter and I just saw one day on Facebook that they had started this initiative called Best Buddies Brews,” President of Best Buddies Julia Moluf said. “I reached out to their program coordinator, Jacklyn, and I got in contact with her and she was so willing to help me get one started at SDSU.” The planning process for SDSU’s Best Buddies Brews began in October, with a GoFundMe raising over $2,700 to purchase supplies. After months of work, the first Best Buddies Brews took place at SDSU in late March. The pop-up coffee stand serves drip, pour over and french press coffee from Haerfest Coffee in North Carolina with an exclusive Best Buddies blend. All the coffee is made and served by the buddies who are trying to learn valuable work skills to prove to people that they are deserving of a job, despite the low employment rate
for people with disabilities. “I think people take for granted how fulfilling it is to have a paying job, to get a paycheck and to feel like you are valued,” Moluf said. “We teach our buddies skills and hopefully they can utilize them and show people in society that they could hire people with a disability, not because it is the nice thing to do, but because these people are so capable and so deserving.” So far, the stand has served over 100 cups of coffee to the SDSU community. “I just love to make coffee for everyone,” Best Buddies barista Christina Merwin said. With the stand, members of Best Buddies hope that steps towards inclusion will be made with each cup of coffee served. “Everyone seems to be really happy and everyone loves interacting with the buddies,” Best Buddies Event Coordinator Ella
Holton-McCoy said. “Surprisingly, people don’t seem to mind waiting a little bit longer for their coffee which is really nice.” The coffee has received high praise among the SDSU community who are willing to forgo their normal cup of Starbucks coffee to support the stand. “The coffee from Best Buddies Brews is better than Starbucks for sure,” speech, language and hearing sciences junior Celine Minasian said. With two successful pop-up coffee stands, Moluf hopes that Best Buddies Brews will become an important part of SDSU’s community. “I would love for Best Buddies Brews to eventually just become an integrated part of campus,” Moluf said. “We could really change the climate of what it means to hire someone with a disability.”
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Opinion
The Daily Aztec
May 1-7, 2019 EDITOR: Kemi Giwa • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
Evil finds its way to San Diego EDITOR IN CHIEF Will Fritz
The Editorial Board
MANAGING EDITOR Jocelyn Moran
Once again, hate has found its way into our backyard. where the threat of an armed shooter hasn’t been an Just before 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, while ever-present danger. many San Diego State students were studying, or It’s also an unwelcome reminder of something else: working, or hanging out with friends, or perhaps still nearly eight decades after the beginning of the Holocaust, sleeping, a gunman walked into a Poway synagogue and anti-Semitism is once again alive and well. shot four people. And if to punctuate the awful weekend of updates His actions left 60-year-old Lori Kaye Gilbert dead about the shooting, racism directed at another group and injured three others, including an 8-year-old girl, showed up again on San Diego State’s campus when an Israeli military veteran and the synagogue’s rabbi. interdisciplinary senior CJ Simmons, who is black, It’s by mere coincidence that the death toll wasn’t tweeted images of racist messages sent to him. In videos higher — the killer’s gun happened to jam and he ran shared with The Daily Aztec, a man can be heard calling off, perhaps saving the lives of hundreds of congregants. Simmons a “monkey” and threatening to hang him like In a terrifyingly racist “open letter,” the suspected an “ornament” off a tree. This just weeks after SDSU’s shooter — who we Black Resource will not name; he Center was has already gained broken into, and “So to the racists of the world, we will say this: more notoriety nearly two months the contempt you hold for your fellow brothers than he deserves after a video was — describes his recorded in which and sisters belies your true weakness, for none hatred for Jewish men can be heard but cowards have ever felt the need to falsely people. He walked driving past the into Chabad of center shouting assert their superiority.” Poway with the the n-word. intention of killing Every time this worshippers for no reason other than that they are editorial board has to condemn another form of racism Jewish. or discrimination, it’s disheartening. We stand with Concerned as some are about the threats immigrants Jewish people in San Diego and all over the world, and and outsiders supposedly pose to our country, the we will never accept hate directed against them. And suspected shooter is fully homegrown. The 19-year-old we will continue to stand with the black community, as attended high school just 20 minutes up the road from we said a very short while ago when the Black Resource SDSU. There are likely at least a few SDSU students who Center was first targeted. shared classes and projects with him. We wonder why these things still exist in our modern In the end, the only real monsters are humans. era. But we will not back down. Saturday’s shooting was an unwelcome reminder of We know words are cheap. But as a student something we’ve gradually come to learn in this strange newspaper, they’re all we have. So to the racists of the era that began with the Columbine shooting in 1999 world, we will say this: the contempt you hold for your — shootings can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone. fellow brothers and sisters belies your true weakness, But it’s not something we even needed a reminder of; for none but cowards have ever felt the need to falsely most college students today have never known a world assert their superiority.
Women, let’s be kinder to one another by Shayne Jones STAFF WRITER
“Oh my god. “What is she wearing?” “I would never throw myself at him like she is.” “Why is he talking to her? I’m way prettier than she is.” Ladies, if one of these thoughts has not tiptoed through your brain at least once in your young adult life, I know you’re lying. By the time our moms buy us our first push-up bra, we females are primed and ready for a seemingly cut-throat dating world in which men are the prize and we must be the best in show. We primp, we powder and we flat-iron out all of the imperfections in hopes that he will notice us amongst the sea of other primped and powdered beauties and (if) he doesn’t–, of course it’s not him, it’s that one girl who sits next to him in Biology. That slut. Here is the problem: and give me a moment while I channel my inner Carrie Bradshaw – in a world where men perpetually come out on top, why are we so content with shoving other women to the bottom? I have been conditioned to, when I see other women in public, immediately pinpoint the
baby hairs that make her look younger than me or to notice the lopsided eyeliner wings that turn her eyeballs into oblong black smudges. Because picking out her flaws is going to make me feel better about myself, right? Sure, maybe for a split second. But by the time the next
There is a political science student who’s interning at the governor’s office this summer and who has the chicest fashion sense. And there is you: a courageous, resilient, effervescent woman who happens to be rooming with the political science student next year because you approached
for constructing a misogynistic hierarchy that places beauty queens above professionals and taunts us with a glass ceiling so high even Snoop Dogg can’t reach it. Or, we can acknowledge that “the patriarchy” is bullsh*t and glass is designed to shatter. Take a pledge today to build
“Women already face enough criticism, judgement and scrutiny in this world. Every turn is riddled with doubt and fear that we won’t be enough; that we won’t be accepted. So why add flame to the fire? We can blame ‘the patriarchy for constructing a misogynistic hierarchy that places beauty queens and professionals and taunts us with a glass ceiling so high even Snoop Dogg can’t reach. Or we can acknowledge that ‘the patriarchy is bullsh*t and glass is designed to shatter.”
second rolls around I feel like a jerk who just mentally bullied a beautiful girl This is because I’ve grown up thinking that is the only way to rise above “the competition.” Well ladies, get this: our other ladies are not the competition. There is no competition. There is a biology major who is graduating summa cum laude this spring and has gorgeous freckles that frame her emerald irises.
her in Starbucks one day and told her you really liked her Steve Madden boots, instead of secretly wishing she would fall over in them. Women already face enough criticism, judgment and scrutiny in this world. Every turn is riddled with doubt and fear that we won’t be enough; that we won’t be accepted. So why add flame to the fire? We can blame “the patriarchy”
up the women you see around you, don’t tear them down. Men are not the prize, we are not competitors. We are scholars, singers, athletes, peace leaders and politicians. And hey–if one of us may happen to be a little better at makeup than another...help a sister out?
Shayne Jones is a junior studying journalism.
NEWS EDITOR Bella Ross ASST. NEWS EDITOR David Santillan OPINION EDITOR Kemi Giwa MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Alejandra Luna ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Julianna Ress ASST. ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Lexington Howe SPORTS EDITOR Abraham Jewett ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Aaron Tolentino ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Dana Tsuri-Etzioni PHOTO EDITOR Michael Abshear MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Amal Younis ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Mirella Lopez GRAPHIC DESIGNER Katherine Cooke
SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Kyle Betz Michael Cline Kaitlyn Little Lauren J. Mapp Jack Molmud Tristi Rodriguez STAFF WRITERS Cristian Alvarez Stephan Early Sydney Faulkner Daniel Guerrero Breven Honda Shayne Jones Olivia Li Kaitlyn Little Antonio Márquez Aretha Matsushima Nakia Richardson Brendan Tuccinardi Catherine Van Weele _________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Josh Diaz SALES MANAGER Valerie Barrientos ACCOUNTING & CONTRACTS Samir Sandhu Meah Mapp SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Kaden Cowles ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Evan Baumbach Bryan Diamond Simon Tran _________________________________ GENERAL MANAGER/ADVISER Jay Harn 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.
May 1-7, 2019 EDITOR: Kemi Giwa • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
Opinion
The Daily Aztec
5
It’s OK not to know what your next chapter is by Jocelyn Moran MANAGING EDITOR
Sleepless nights. Lack of appetite. Minutes spent staring at a blank wall thinking about what happens after the next two weeks and four days. That’s what I’ve spent doing the last couple of weeks, and it sure has been draining. Two weeks and four days. That’s how much I got until I graduate, and I still can’t figure out how that’s even possible. For the last month, the happiness and excitement I should be feeling to graduate after four years in college hasn’t made the list of emotions I’ve experienced. Instead, it’s anxiety about what happens next. And I think it’s because that’s how it’s been since I can remember. You’re supposed to follow the steps you were taught. You graduate high school, you go to college. You graduate college, you go to grad school or you get a job. The feeling of having a sinkhole in my stomach sure hasn’t been fun. It’s filled with doubt and fear, and that can sometimes cloud the confidence I had a couple of months ago. On top of that, I’ve also been trying to avoid the thought of maybe not knowing
what I want to do after college. And I’m graduating, so aren’t I supposed to know already? I sure thought I would. I love journalism, and I don’t regret picking it as my major. I chose it because it has the power to make a difference. But it’s very possible that I may not get the most ideal job right after I graduate, and I realize that’s okay. Not knowing exactly what you want to do or where you will end up is alright. The thought of not being in a classroom learning anymore is kind of scary to me. But hey, I’ve thought about law school, and that sure is still on my list of possibilities. Traveling is also there, if I can conquer my fear of planes. Spending time in Guatemala to better my Spanish-speaking skills is also there. There are a lot of things I want to do, but I’ve been a planner. I’ve always had the next step mapped out and ready to go. And in the meantime, I’ve forgotten about the other things I’ve wanted to do outside of my career. Maybe it’s time to do one of those things on my bucket list? Or maybe I will land a job? A couple of days ago, thinking like this would have given me so much anxiety. But now, I
think not knowing about your future is okay. The pressure I have been putting on myself isn’t working out anymore. So I’ve decided to stop worrying about the things that are not in my control. I took my graduation photos this past weekend because I have to get those invitations out, and seeing those photos sure gave me the confidence I needed to be reminded of. Graduation is supposed to be exciting. You’re supposed to look forward to having your family celebrate your accomplishments with you, and spending time worrying about the unknown is taking away from that. The sleepless nights I spent studying, the countless hours I spent working on stories and the challenges I had to overcome were not for nothing. They got me here, and that counts for something. So, instead of being obsessed with knowing what the next chapter in my book is, I’ve decided to enjoy not knowing. And this could totally change tomorrow — I could be freaking out again, which is one of the reasons I’m writing this: I need to be reminded about what I’m writing right now. You could definitely be one of the people who knows exactly what they want to do after the
next two weeks. But if you’re someone freaking out about what your next chapter is, take the time to enjoy right now. Take the time to appreciate your accomplishments and to enjoy them with your loved ones. You won’t get the next
two weeks back. A lot of people are still trying to figure it out, I’m still trying to figure it out. And I think that’s okay. I’m still trying to figure out how I’m going to fix my grad cap after decorating it upside down...
Photo by Kelly Smiley
College admissions favor wealthier applicants by Catherine STAFF WRITER
Van Weele
The recent college admissions scandal in which parents of elite families bribed school officials at prestigious colleges to get their children admitted has caught the attention of the country. Many were surprised and outraged these wealthy parents would go to such lengths of bribery, money laundering and fraud to get their children into college. But college admissions have always been constructed to favor the children of the wealthy. The cost of college applications alone can be quite costly. The UC application charges $70 for each school you apply to, CSUs charge $55 per school and private schools can be even more expensive. This is a costly fee for all applicants knowing that most of them will end up getting rejected. A report by LendEdu found UCLA made the most revenue for application fees acquiring over $5 million from declined applications. While this money does get used for school funds, this is an exorbitant amount of money going toward a school these prospective students will not
even attend. Standardized testing is another major cost of the application process. Most colleges require students to take either the SAT or ACT which can cost anywhere between $46-$64.50 depending on if you test with the essay
are able to offer more AP courses which look good on students’ transcripts and can boost their GPA. Well-funded schools also tend to have stronger athletic and art programs to offer. Extracurriculars have become essential to college applications.
Receiving personalized guidance is difficult to obtain for free. Many colleges look for demonstrated interest by students applying to their school. They like to see students go on campus tours or go to their
“But college admissions have always been constructed to favor the children of the wealthy. The cost of college applications alone can be quite costly. The UC applicaton charges $70 for each school you apply to, CSUs charge $55 per school and private schools can be even more expensive. This is a costly fee for all applicants knowing that most of them will end up getting rejected. A report by LendEdu found UCLA made the most revenue for application fees acquiring over $5 million from declined applications.” portion which may be obligatory for some school. Free or cheap prep courses that are helpful for these tests can be hard to come by. Prep courses that give students the biggest boost in their scores are the most expensive. Tutors can cost hundreds of dollars an hour. This gives kids with the money to pay for these types of resources an advantage over students who did not have access to them. Schools with better funding
Students are expected to show strong participation in athletics, arts and community service on top of maintaining high grades. Students of wealthier families can afford to hire a private admissions counselor to guide them through the application process and assist with essay writing. For other students, they only have the advice of their high school counselors who are busy helping dozens of other students apply to college.
booth at a college fair. Visiting a college can be time consuming and transportation can be costly. Parents and students often don’t have the luxury to take time off work to go to a college that is far away. Especially when it is out of state. Early decision applications give students a higher chance of getting into the school of their dreams. However, this application
requires applying months before regular applications are due; students from families that are familiar with the application process will be more prepared for applying early. Additionally, early decision is binding, so students who plan on using financial aid to pay for college have little incentive to apply because of the uncertainty they will be afforded to attend the school. All students should have an equitable opportunity when applying for colleges. Application fees should be lowered. The emphasis on standardized testing scores should be reduced. Students should be able to express interest for a school through an essay rather than basing demonstrated interest off-campus visits. Essay-based applications will allow students to share their personal stories, their reasons for applying to college and what they hope to get out of their college experience. Colleges need to adjust their admission process to stop heavily favoring wealthier applicants and give all students a fair chance.
Catherine Van Weele is a freshman studying political science.
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Sports
The Daily Aztec
NFL DRAFT:
continued from page 1 to start never looking back Thank you to everyone whos stood by my side throughout the ups and the downs This is a truly life changing event and it will be taken in full advantage,” Roemer wrote in a tweet. Ryan Pope Another Aztec offensive lineman got his opportunity as an undrafted free agent. The news first broke when Ryan Pope tweeted last Saturday night on April 27 “#DetriotLions.” Pope will be headed to Detroit as one of the newest members of the Lions. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported the details of Pope’s deal shortly after he made the announcement. The Long Beach native received a $145,000 base guaranteed salary, along with a $20,000 signing bonus. Rapoport called the contract “one of the highest guaranteed deals of the year.” SDSU offensive coordinator Jeff Horton showed his support for his former offensive tackle on social media. “Congrats Ryan, excited for you & your family! I know you will give all you got – we are pulling for you! Take care,” Horton tweeted.
May 1-7, 2019 EDITOR: Abraham Jewett • sports@thedailyaztec.com
John Baron II One of the most accomplished kickers in SDSU history, John Baron II finished second with 50 career field goals and is the program leader with six 50-yard field goals. After an illustrious fouryear career as an Aztec, Baron II announced on Twitter on Saturday April 27 that he will become a Chicago Bear as an undrafted free agent. Including Baron II, the Bears will have signed four kickers following the release of Cody Parkey (who missed a 43-yard field that would have sent the Bears to the NFC Divisional Round). Bears general manager Ryan Pace was adamant about finding the right kicker for next season and beyond. “Maybe it’s a little unorthodox to have four kickers out there,” Pace said in a press conference after the draft. “We don’t care. Let’s increase the competition and let the whole thing battle out.’’ Fred Trevillion Fred Trevillion was sitting at home with his family back in his home state of Mississippi last Saturday in day three of the NFL Draft. Then came a call from the Green Bay Packers who invited him to the team’s rookie minicamp. However, the Packers were not the only team to inquire
Then-junior tight end Kahale Warring stiff arms a defender against San José State on Oct. 20 at SDCCU Stadium.
about Trevillion’s talents. The Patriots, Falcons, Chargers and Raiders also contacted him. The former Aztecs wideout will fly to Wisconsin this Thursday then return the following Monday. The Packers will then decide if they want Trevillion back for the entire team’s minicamp and training camp in the summer. The Packers’s front office liked what they saw from him in film, and if they like what they see in person, Trevillion should be walking away with a contract. Trevillion said the thought
of potentially catching passes from Aaron Rodgers is what’s propelling him to do well in front of the Packers coaching staff this weekend. “That’s all I’ve been thinking about,” Trevillion told The Daily Aztec. “This is really where I wanted to go, so I’m excited.” Parker Baldwin Former SDSU defensive back Parker Baldwin announced to Twitter on Saturday April 27 he will be joining the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free
Photo by Abraham Jewett
agent. “Grateful to sign with the Atlanta Falcons, I can’t wait to take advantage of the opportunity,” Baldwin tweeted. Scouts were likely impressed by Baldwin’s durability. Since his freshman year in 2015, Baldwin did not miss a single game – playing in 54 straight games. Baldwin will join former Aztec teammate Damontae Kazee on the Atlanta Falcons. Kazee tweeted back at Baldwin “Seee you soon Nephew.”
COLUMN
No gloves, no glory: Aztecs need to improve on defense by Daniel Guerrero STAFF WRITER
In certain sports like football, it is said good defense wins championships. In baseball, a team’s ability to play great defense may not necessarily propel them to a championship, but it certainly can keep them from one. Defense has been a problem for San Diego State baseball this season. The Aztecs (26-19, 11-6 MW) .962 fielding percentage is the lowest in the Mountain West Conference, and they lead the conference in both errors (65) and passed balls (20). SDSU has committed errors in 32 out of 45 games this year and have committed more than three errors or more in eight games. Among NCAA Division I teams, the Aztecs rank below 200 in the standings among 297 teams in fielding percentage. Despite having a .550 winning percentage and sitting within reaching distance of Fresno State for first place in the MW, the Aztecs need to improve on the fundamentals of fielding if they want to capture this year’s conference title. Poor fielding was in large
part the cause for the Aztecs’ 5-1 loss to UNLV on April 28. Errors by senior shortstop Angelo Armenta and junior second baseman Mike Jarvis cost the Aztecs four runs. The Aztecs committed a total of 10 errors in a threegame series against Seattle University, committing four errors each in wins over the Redhawks on March 15-16. Head coach Mark Martinez said defense was one of the things the Aztecs needed to improve on following the series sweeping win against Seattle on March 17. “We’ve got to continue to get better,” Martinez said. “We all have areas we’ve got to improve in. We’re still making a lot of errors, and that’s due to our inexperience.” Another poor defensive outing for the Aztecs came in an 11-6 win against MWleading Fresno State on April 1. The Aztecs committed five errors, the second time they have so this season – resulting in two unearned runs. The poorest stretch of defense came during a 12game period that began with a loss against San Diego on Feb. 26 and ended with a win against Seattle on March 16. SDSU was responsible for 27 errors -- including an error in every game -- during that stretch.
The Aztecs had a second stretch of nine games, starting with a home game against Loyola Marymount University on April 9 and a home game against Air Force on April 20, where the Aztecs committed nine errors in eight games, including three in one game against LMU. Improving on their defensive play can help the Aztecs limit extended innings and preserve arms in an injury-depleted pitching staff. Martinez said the blame for the high number of errors falls on the coaches after the Aztecs committed five errors in a win against Fresno State on April 1. “We were extending innings based on our poor defensive play and giving up four and five outs an inning because we can’t concentrate and focus,” he said. “That’s 100% the coaching staff’s fault.” Ironically, the Aztecs lead the nation in most double plays turned with 50 and are almost guaranteed to “turn two” in every game, averaging 1.19 double plays per game, which ranks second in the NCAA. When it comes to doubling up their opponents, the Aztecs are a sure fire bet to do so. However, anything beyond that, not so much.
Photo by Raymond Gorospe Sophomore third baseman Casey Schmitt makes a barehanded throw to first base for the out during the Aztecs’ 5-4 victory over Air Force on April 20 at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
May 1-7, 2019 EDITOR: Abraham Jewett • sports@thedailyaztec.com
Sports
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Courtesy of Mark Honbo/UC Davis Athletics
San Diego State lacrosse celebrates its second straight MPSF title following a 15-7 victory over UC Davis on April 28 at Aggie Stadium.
Lacrosse defeats UC Davis in MPSF final Aztecs clinch second straight MPSF championship. by Cristian STAFF WRITER
Alvarez
San Diego State lacrosse (117) secured its second straight Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title after defeating UC Davis (9-8), 15-7, on April 28 at Aggie Stadium. “It feels amazing. We had prepared well,” head coach Kylee White said. “We knew the game plan and more importantly we knew that if we played a good game together that we would win.” Senior midfielder Harlowe Steele led the way for the Scarlet and Black by recording a hattrick, four ground balls, three forced turnovers and four draw controls.
Steele was named most valuable player of the MPSF tournament after tallying up a total of eight goals, six draw controls, four ground balls and forced three turnovers over the weekend. Junior goalkeeper Katy Sharretts had 19 saves, which marks both a new personal and school record for most saves in a match. In addition to Sharretts’ milestone, this is the eighth game this season in which she has double-digit saves. “Katy was unreal,” White said. “She was just composed and took the calculated risks that we needed her to take.” The opening 15 minutes of the first period turned into a back-and-forth exchange of goals with the score tied at three
points before Steele, senior attacker Kirstie Greenlaw and redshirt sophomore Lexi Tan quickly fired three goals into the back of the net to give the Aztecs a 6-3 lead heading into halftime. Coming out of the break, the Aztecs’ offense swung into full gear by delivering 14 shots and ending the match on a 7-1 run. The Aggies were unable to spark a comeback in large part due to SDSU senior midfielder Jenny Buckland defensively limiting Aggies senior midfielder Taylor Cuenin, who scored 47 goals in the regular season and was MPSF Player of the Year, to just one goal in the match. SDSU evened the all-time head-to-head matchups against UC Davis (5-5) while also
avenging their 16-12 loss earlier this season. The Aztecs have tied a program record of 11 wins in a season for the second year in a row.
“It just shows that when you have a team that’s as close as they are that they can overcome those ups and downs.” – Kylee White, SDSU head coach “They are a hardworking, committed group,” White said. “It just shows that when you
COMPLETE YOUR M.S. IN ATHLETIC TRAINING WITHOUT LEAVING SAN DIEGO. Find out more at pointloma.edu/MSAT
have a team that’s as close as they are that they can overcome those ups and downs of a season.” The Aztecs will not be competing for the national championship in May. White said winning the conference does not automatically qualify the Aztecs for the NCAA tournament due to only three teams participating in the MPSF. Finishing the season on a high note at the end of the day is what mattered most for the Aztecs. “Win or lose we would’ve been united because this group of girls is amazing,” White said. “They love each other so much. It was 100% a team effort today. It just makes me so happy because they are an incredible group.”
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May 1-7, 2019 EDITOR: Abraham Jewett • sports@thedailyaztec.com
Women’s tennis falls to UNLV in MW final by Kyle Betz SENIOR STAFF WRITER
No. 3 seed San Diego State women’s tennis fell to No. 1 seed UNLV by a final score of 4-0 in the Mountain West Championship final on April 27 at the Aztec Tennis Center. The Aztecs (15-10, 3-1) were shut out in singles after dropping two matches in doubles play to the Rebels (17-6, 8-0). UNLV freshman Connie Li and junior Samantha Li defeated SDSU senior Jenny Moinard and junior Mia Smith, 6-3, to open doubles play. The Rebels’ No. 74 ranked duo, consisting of senior Aiwen Zhu and junior En-Pei Huang, secured the doubles point by defeating SDSU sophomore Nnena Nadozie and freshman Alicia Melosch, 6-3. SDSU senior Magda Aubets and sophomore Abbie Mulbarger were winning their doubles set 5-3 before play went unfinished. Head coach Peter Mattera said the doubles point was just within the Aztecs’ reach. “The doubles was very close,” Mattera said. “That point we thought was going to be critical, but we didn’t get it.” In singles play, the Rebels had little trouble closing out the
competition. Huang shut out Moinard in the first set, 6-0, before winning the second set, 6-1. UNLV senior Jovana Kenic also took down Aubets in two sets by final scores of 6-2 and 6-1. Zhu won the fourth point by defeating SDSU freshman Shakhnoza Khatamova – 6-3 and 6-2 – to win UNLV its sixth Mountain West Championship. Mattera said the Aztecs’ desire to win might have been too strong, causing nerves to affect their play. “They really wanted to win, and perhaps they wanted to win almost too much,” Mattera said. “Sometimes, if you want it so bad, you kind of freeze up a little bit in those big moments, and we might have had a little bit of that today.” Smith, Nadozie and Mulbarger’s singles matches all went unfinished. The Aztecs crashed out of the final without a victory after winning both the quarterfinal against No. 6 seed Colorado State and semifinal against No. 2 Air Force each by a final score of 4-2.Nadozie expressed her displeasure with the loss but said she was glad the Aztecs reached the final. “It’s definitely disappointing to lose as a team,” Nadozie
Senior Jenny Moinard competes during the Aztecs 4-0 win over Cal Poly on Feb. 10 at the Aztec Tennis Center.
said. “In the end, we had a good season. We played so well, and to make it this far, I’m still happy that we made it this far with this team.”SDSU seniors Aubets and Moinard will not return next season. Regardless of their departure, Mattera said he’s hopeful for next season as well as the Aztecs’ newcomers.“We have a really good returning group coming back next year,”
Mattera said. “There’s always hope on the other side. Today is probably not the right day to be looking forward, but soon, we’ll start to look forward. We’ve got a couple of really wonderful recruits coming in.”Despite the Scarlet and Black finishing second in the conference tournament, the Aztecs will not receive an at-large bid to play in the NCAA Tournament.
Photo by Bella Ross
UNLV, on the other hand, will play No. 2 seed Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.Although SDSU’s season is over, Mattera said he is appreciative of the Aztecs’ effort throughout the year.“I (am) very proud of my team,” Mattera said. “They’ve had a wonderful season, and they’ve represented this university at a very, very high level.”
Aztecs sink in Golden Coast Conference Tournament by Breven Honda STAFF WRITER
San Diego State water polo was the No. 2 seed in the Golden Coast Conference Tournament on April 26-28 at Fresno State and finished in fourth place. SDSU head coach Carin Crawford said the team wanted to have a better showing. “It was not the tournament that we had wanted and there was disappointment shared all around the team,” she said. SDSU vs. Fresno State - 3rd Place Game The Aztecs, lost the third place game to No. 4 Fresno State, 15-10. Sophomore Karli Canale scored four times, but the Aztecs, as a team, took 38 attempts throughout the entire game and only scored ten times. SDSU gave up six goals in the first quarter, which put them in an early hole. “We had a very challenging game versus Fresno, who were also looking to get revenge on us from beating them at their place,” Crawford said. “We battled back, but it was a similar situation. Giving up six goals in a quarter is not part of the winning formula, so we were all very disappointed.” SDSU vs. Loyola Marymount - Semifinals In the middle game of the tournament, the Aztecs lost
Photo courtesy of SDSU Athletics
Junior utility Shelby Kraft takes a shot during the Aztecs’ 10-5 loss to Loyola Marymount on April 27 in Fresno, California.
their chance to claim another conference title and first since 2016 after losing 10-5 to No. 3 Loyola Marymount. Junior utility Shelby Kraft scored twice and senior driver Mary Myers finished with two assists, but it was not enough for the Aztecs to move on to the championship game. “LMU was back to full strength (since they last played SDSU) and we knew they wanted revenge for beating them at their place,” Crawford said. “It came down to one bad quarter where we gave up six goals and that was the story of the game.”
SDSU vs. Santa Quarterfinals
Clara
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In the quarterfinal match, SDSU got off to a good start, winning 10-7. Senior driver Hannah Carrillo and sophomore utility Emily Bennett scored three goals apiece as the Aztecs had their highest shooting percentage of the season (56%). Defensively, senior goalkeeper Maura Cantoni stopped the Broncos from scoring 16 times. “I was pretty certain both teams were going to score more
than last time earlier in the season,” Crawford said. “We scored four goals within the first half of the (first) quarter, so it couldn’t have been a better start. Everyone played and we rested some starters (heading into the next game).” The last time the Aztecs faced the Broncos was on March 28, when the final score was 4-1 in favor of SDSU. A bright note to the weekend was Kraft making the AllTournament team, after scoring six goals on 16 shots (38%), adding three assists and two steals throughout the
tournament. “She continued her hot shooting throughout all three games,” Crawford said. The Aztecs finished the season with a 16-16 record. Crawford said the team wanted to give Carrillo, Cantoni and Myers a win to end their collegiate careers. “That’s the hardest thing; we wanted to send our seniors out with a win,” Crawford said. “It’s especially difficult to lose under those circumstances and not accomplish that.” Looking back on the season, playing 20 ranked opponents was one of the highlights. Crawford said it helped the team grow and increased their intensity as the season went on. “We really pulled it together in that conference stretch when we won seven out of eight,” Crawford said. “That is directly correlated to how tough our schedule is leading up to those games.” Heading into this offseason, Crawford said that the team will need to get better for next year. “We really do need to improve in the offseason,” Crawford said. “We have some good recruits coming in, but we’ll have a brand new goalie. There is going to be a lot of positions that are going to be filled. One of the things to keep in perspective, is that we were a pretty young team, but that includes starting one freshman and three sophomores. We have a lot of upside with the players that we know will be returning.”
May 1-7, 2019 EDITOR: Alejandra Luna • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com
Mundo Azteca
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MEChA festeja sus 50 años en SDSU por Antonio ESCRITOR
Mårquez
Música , cultura y generaciones de MECHistas se unieron este fin de seman a celebrar el 50 aniversario de MEChA de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego. El teatro Izcalli fue uno de los primeros presentadores para entretener a los invitados para la celebración. Uno de los oradores principales fue el profesor Isidro D. Ortíz, profesor de Estudios Chicanos en SDSU y asesor de MEChA. "Ya no es tan fuerte como solía ser, pero todavía hay entusiasmo por MEChA, la razón por la que no es tan fuerte es porque los tiempos han cambiado”, dijo Ortíz. “Aún tenemos estudiantes comprometidos con la comunidad, con el activismo y siguen aquí 50 años después”. Al mismo tiempo, Ortiz ha sido parte de MEChA año tras año y sólo es por un motivo. "Como persona me ha brindado inspiración y me ha permitido como asesor poner en práctica los valores del movimiento chicano en el que participé”, dijo Ortíz. “Como profesor me ha brindado acceso a los estudiantes más destacados de este campus”. Igualmente, explicó que ser estudiante activista es difícil, sin embargo, ha encontrado el balance para superar todo los obstáculos. En el 2018, Ortíz ingresó al salón de la fama multicultural en la Universidad de
Foto por Antonio Márquez.
Graduados de SDSU y estudiantes celebraron los 50 años de MEChA.
Stanford. Además, la asociación ha visto crecer a sus miembros desde una temprana edad como a Ricardo Lara, quien dijo que se preguntaba a dónde quería llegar en su carrera. Añadió que fue hasta que se unió a MEChA que pudo conseguir la plataforma y orientación debida para fincar su carrera como comisionado de seguros de California. "La identidad política chicana trasciende de la etnicidad, las culturas y realmente es un despertar político del empoderamiento que se lleva a todas partes", dijo Ricardo
Lara, egresado de SDSU. Lara anunció que fundaría una beca para estudiantes de la organización para apoyar a los estudiantes MEChistas por su trabajo hacia la organización, pero también para animarlos a que tengan éxito académico. MEChA ha estado al frente de los cambios políticos incluyendo esos de los noventas como la proposición 187 y 209 que afectaron a todas las comunidades. Guillermo Mayer fue presidente de la organización hace muchos años. Mayer dice recordar esos días cuando era presidente y
quien en la actualidad es jefe de un bufete de abogados de derechos civiles sin fines de lucro en San Francisco como defensor público. "Cada paso en mi carrera ha sido en gran medida influenciado por MEChA en términos del deseo subyacente de servir a mi comunidad”, dijo Mayer. “Quiero asegúrarme que los chicanos tengan oportunidades para triunfar, ya sea en la educación, en las artes, en todos los aspectos de la vida". Mayer señaló que los mismos problemas políticos siguen afectando a la sociedad, pero se ven diferentes, y explicó cómo los estudiantes pueden salir adelante con la ayuda de MEChA. Una de las grandes invitadas a la celebración fue Celinda Vázquez, quien cursó su primer año en SDSU en 1994; fue la primera presidenta latina y chicana del gobierno estudiantil en la universidad. “Hubo muchos estudiantes como yo que eran de primera generación, latinos, mexicanos, chicanos que querían hacer una diferencia en nuestras comunidades y en nuestro mundo”, dijo Vázquez, vicepresidenta de asuntos públicos en Los Ángeles con Planned Parenthood. Vázquez compartió un consejo para todos los universitarios que buscan sobresalir en la comunidad. “Mantente concentrado, invierte en ti misma, hazte independiente económicamente y solo sigue tus sueños”, dijo Vázquez. La noche concluyó con rifas, fotos en grupo y Ballet Folklorico Xochipilli de SDSU.
Graduado de SDSU logra sobresalir como periodista buscó se siente afortunado de saber que tiene algo más estable que ofrecerle a su familia.
podido salvarse de una tragedia. Tras cada subida, bajada y a veces un largo camino la carrera de Bowler lo ha
“Siempre fui ese niño que quería hacer ciclismo aunque no fuera bueno en eso y lo hice”. – Matt Bowler, Graduado de SDSU y periodista.
Cortesía de Matt Bowler
Bowler participa en la carrera ciiclista de Tecate a Ensenada, México.
por Antonio ESCRITOR
Mårquez
Bowler nació en Nuevo México pero ha vivido gran parte de su vida en San Diego, ciudad natal de su padre y en donde Bowler comenzó a formar su propia familia. Añadió que él y su esposa se transfirieron del colegio comunitario de San Diego a SDSU para después graduarse a finales de los noventas. Bowler dijo que su abuelo y su padre se graduaron de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego; es por eso que él también se graduó de la misma universidad adquiriendo una carrera en arte con énfasis en pintura y grabación. Gracias a su esfuerzo y dedicación al arte pudo presentarse en varios recintos. Sin embargo, durante su infancia soñaba con ser fotoperiodista.
“Siempre fue lo que quería hacer, sabía lo que quería hacer”, dijo Bowler. Después de graduarse de la universidad, Bowler comenzó a trabajar como periodista independiente con compañías como Getty; también colaboró con fotógrafos de páginas para la sociedad. No obstante, decidió regresar al colegio comunitario para iniciar su carrera como periodista. Durante el tiempo que estuvo en busca por la carrera de periodismo, Matt logró tener entrevistas con el jefe fotográfico de KUSI, estación de noticias locales, quien le dio la oportunidad de adquirir la experiencia necesaria para después ser nombrado editor de tareas en la estación de KSWB y hoy en día es fotógrafo de KPBS. Bowler añadió que cuando fue artista pensaba de una manera diferente, pero ahora que obtuvo el trabajo que siempre
“La noticia es un trabajo pero el arte lo haces porque te encanta”, dijo Bowler. Bowler dice saber que el periodismo está cambiando y disminuyendo rápidamente pero ha encontrado un trabajo que le ofrece el balance de tener un empleo y ser padre a la vez. Del mismo modo, no sólo es fotógrafo y artista sino también es ciclista en sus tiempos libres. Desde muy temprana edad Matt comenzó a usar la bicicleta y hoy en día ha realizado carreras en la frontera. “Siempre fui ese niño que quería hacer ciclismo aunque no fuera bueno en eso y lo hice”, dijo Bowler. Agregó que su abuelo hizo una carrera ciclista de Tecate a Ensenada en los 70’s, la misma carrera que Bowler hizo este año. Ahora está en busca por el nombre de ‘Baja Bike Race’ donde los competidores tienen que subir más de tres mil pies de altura para llegar a la meta. Otro de los motivos por las cuales decidió utilizar la bicicleta y ejercitarse es para poder tener buena salud para pasar más tiempo con sus seres queridos. “Cuando envejeces quieres estar en forma para vivir lo suficiente para ver que tu hijo se gradúe de la preparatoria", dijo Bowler. Bowler ha sufrido dos accidentes en la bicicleta pero gracias a que siempre utiliza los accesorios necesarios ha
llevado a muchos lugares y aventuras como artista para finalmente lograr su meta como periodista y trabajar en proyectos grandes como fotógrafo.
TAX FILINGS AVAILABLE Copies of the tax filings for the
ASSOCIATED STUDENTS SDSU
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 are now available at the Associated Students Office, Room 320, Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union or on our website at as.sdsu.edu
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Arts & Culture
May 1-7, 2019 EDITOR: Julianna Ress • arts@thedailyaztec.com
SDSU theatre tackles a Roald Dahl classic by Sydney Faulkner STAFF WRITER
San Diego State theater students will take on Roald Dahl’s classic book “James and the Giant Peach” in their latest production, showing in the Don Powell Theatre this week. “James and the Giant Peach” is directed and choreographed by Stephen Brotebeck, associate professor of musical theatre in the master of fine arts musical theatre program. Robert Meffe, head of San Diego State’s MFA musical theatre program, was the musical director for “James and the Giant Peach.” The production also features a full musical theatre cast and a full
orchestra. “James and the Giant Peach” is a tale of a young, orphaned boy, James, who is sent to live with two evil aunts. One day when doing chores, James has an interaction with a mysterious figure, who teaches him of spells and magic. Soon, James sees the magic come to life when an old, unfruitful tree grows a giant peach. However, James soon finds himself on the journey of a lifetime when he takes a ride inside the giant peach with five unexpected friends. “James and the Giant Peach” teaches a true lesson on the meaning of family. Emma Chassey, the acting and musical theatre senior who plays James, said the Courtesy of Arts Alive SDSU
James (Emma Chassey) shares a moment with Ladybug (Eden Hildebrand) and Grasshopper (Devon Hunt).
Courtesy of Arts Alive SDSU
James (Emma Chassey) meets aunts Spiker (Lauren Haughton) and Sponge (Trist Fishman).
production reminds people of their youth. “I hope the audience remembers the wonder and magic that the world brings to you when you are a child,” she said. “I also hope they have tons of fun and take home the message that family is more than just blood, it is love and sacrifice.” Chassey said James is a challenging role. “He is such a sweet and incredibly sensitive little boy who has had a hard start to his short life, and I truly enjoyed diving into his story,” she said. “James and the Giant Peach” featured many different storytelling elements — including puppets. “My favorite part of the whole process was getting to work with the puppets,” Emmy Farese, acting and musical theatre junior, said. “They are
an amazing element that are crucial to the show.” Each character in “James and the Giant Peach” has an important role and something valuable to bring to James and the audience. The show features five insect friends: Grasshopper, Spider, Ladybug, Earthworm and Centipede. Farese, who plays Spider, said one of the most important things she learned is that every single person is important to bringing a story to life. “Without even one person, the story would not be what it is,” Farese said. “James and the Giant Peach” additionally featured two evil, larger than life aunts. By the name of Spiker and Sponge, these two aunts were obnoxious and majorly animated. Sponge, with hot pink hair and flashy makeup, featured many comical
mannerisms. Trist Fishman, in her first year pursuing an MFA in musical theatre, took on the large role of Sponge. “Sponge is such a character role, so it has been a blast coming up with all the beats, jokes and gags that have made their way into the show,” he said. Fishman said taking on such a unique role allowed him to let loose and be silly. “I learned how much of a goofball I really am,” he said. “Our director, Stephen Brotebeck, let me play around with different ideas and comedic bits. I have never thought of myself as a funny person, but this show has taught me how far I can stretch those comedy acting chops.” “James and the Giant Peach” will be performed May 1 to May 3 at the Don Powell Theatre at 7:30 p.m.
Student musician showcases collaboration at Nooner show by Stephan STAFF WRITER
Early
Student musician and interdisciplinary studies senior Goz performed in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union on April 26 to bring students a show full of infectious beats, lyrics and dance moves. Goz, born Nnagozie Odeluga, is an active student who can be found networking in a wide variety of SDSU circles — outside of music, he also works at the Black Resource Center. During his student union performance, part of San Diego State’s Nooner music series, he performed an hour’s worth of songs, stories and dances to entertain students and faculty. “It’s a blending of the old school and the new school,” Goz said of his music. “You can still have hype beats and say something real.” The show was a prime opportunity to highlight what the artist has been up to since his performance last year. Goz performed songs from his album “SZN1: Gameday,” the
follow up to last year’s “Preszn.” From the rapid-fire delivery of songs such as “Heating Up” and “No Talk” to upbeat tracks like “Whoa” and “Ali,” the set was full of big bass and energy. “We’re stepping up and people are realizing that it’s serious,” Goz said. “The stuff that I foreshadowed in ‘Preszn’ is here now with ‘SZN1’ and it’s these types of joints that I can take anywhere for people to enjoy.” Goz was not alone as he pushed to “wake people up to his music.” Guest performances by other SDSU artists such as Hakeem Saleem and Sister Eunice helped move the show forward with stories about the songs and team members. “We just try to stay humble and aware of the blessings that are yet to come,” interdisciplinary studies student Alexis Groves, who performs as Sister Eunice, said. His supporters cheered with loud yells and applause. Students walking by or getting a bite to eat were also able to sample the rapper and producer’s flavor of hip-hop music. “It’s really cool to see him doing
what he loves and showing up for our community,” kinesiology freshman Yasmine Shead said. “The highlight of the show was definitely the G-step, where we just come together and have a good time.” Shead also said she is excited to see Goz grow his creative brand. Performers who took the stage with Goz, including the DJ spinning the tracks, all contributed their unique energy and delivered passionate performances. There was a visible spirit of community and camaraderie that was apparent as each person came to perform their collaboration with Goz. “I appreciate this guy for giving us this opportunity to really throw out our art,” Saleem, a computer science senior, said. Goz is working many other projects like the Creator’s Circle, a group where creatives in the arts from campus have a chance to meet and collaborate. Goz’s music is available on iTunes and Spotify, and he’s also featured on the Aztec Music Group’s new release.
Photo by Pette Villanueva
Interdisciplinary studies senior and musician Goz performed on campus on April 26.
May 1-7, 2019 EDITOR: Julianna Ress • arts@thedailyaztec.com
Arts & Culture
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Aztec Music Group releases eclectic album by Brenden STAFF WRITER
Tuccinardi
Aztec Music Group has a knack for bringing people together. Nowhere else at San Diego State allows space for such an eclectic collection of musicians and artists coming together to work on a single album. Aztec Music Group’s diversity and commitment to fostering creativity among its members shine through in group’s most recent album release, “The Backdoor, Vol. 3: Unlocked.” The album aims to excite and takes listeners on an emotional journey spanning genres such as lo-fi EDM, acoustic and rap, featuring over 14 artists across 12 tracks. For the past three years, Aztec Music Group has released an album in the spring, giving members a taste of what they might experience later on in their careers. “The goal of the album is to give artists real-world experience releasing music,” business junior and Aztec Music Group Executive Vice President Delfina Glover said. “We are trying to move AMG towards more of a record label feel.” For business sophomore Zach Brosi, the album was an excellent opportunity for him to dive deep into the resources Aztec Music Group provides its members after joining this
semester, as well as explore his sound, he said. Brosi’s song, “Freefall,” is the first track featured on the album and greets listeners with Jack Johnson-like acoustic melodies, and his breathy vocals compliment the beachy electric guitar that features prominently in the song. “When I was choosing the song I wanted to submit, I asked myself how I wanted to be represented on this project,” Brosi said. “There are a lot of different artists, and they all have their unique sound. So I figured, it would be cool for me to have an acoustic guitar in there because it would make me a little more different.” The song is the product of collaboration with his friends from back home in Chicago, who worked on it over winter break, bringing together a saxophonist, trombonist, drummer and bass player, and the lyrics were inspired by sunny San Diego and being back at SDSU, Brosi said. The second song on the album is a moody, lo-fi EDM ballad produced by junior music major Ben Watson and his sister Sarah Watson who attends UC Santa Barbara. “Can Only” is atypical from Watson’s usual sound, which is more uptempo, and is a longawaited collaboration with his sister, who provided the lyrics and vocals for the track.
Courtesy of Zach Brosi
Business sophomore Zach Brosi is featured on the Aztec Music Group album, contributing an acoustic song.
“This is my first time working with a more chill, slower type of like future bass,” Watson said. “I’m a future bass producer, and a lot of my mixes don’t sound like (“Can Only”) at all. They’re very uptempo, very big and in your face.” This departure was in part the result of the involvement of Watson’s sister, whose own
musical style aligns with that of “Can Only.” However, Watson said the collaboration was not forced, despite his sister not having experience with creating an EDM track. “Her music is mostly acoustic guitar, kind of like alternative. So she was kind of out of her comfort zone,” Watson said of his sister. “Her voice sounds
amazing, and I couldn’t imagine anyone else doing it.” “The Backdoor, Vol. 3: Unlocked” is available on Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon and can be purchased on iTunes as well. All proceeds earned from royalties will be donated to the nonprofit MusiCares, which assists musicians in need.
UCLA professor lectures on Asian Pacific Islander research by Nakia Richardson STAFF WRITER
In celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage month, Robert Teranishi, professor of social science and comparative
education at UCLA lectured on research findings of Asian American and Pacific Islander students in higher education. The lecture took place in at the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union theater on April 25.
“A lot of times (colleges) say ‘oh look at all the minority students we have on campus; we are so diverse,’” Dr. Teranishi said. “But, there’s a difference between enrolling students and them actually being able to serve them.”
Photo by Nakia Richardson
UCLA professor Robert Teranishi lectured in the student union theater on April 25.
Dr. Teranishi said his research sought to gather data on API students in a college setting. He said the purpose of his current experiments are to find the problems that API students face, which are unique to their race and cultural background. After publishing his findings, he said he wants to then be able to take the data and use it to contend for changes in school and UC system policy to allow APIs to overcome obstacles they might face in their educational career. Although API Heritage month is in May, coordinators of the planned events said they decided to celebrate early due to SDSU’s semester ending May 16. Dr. Koko Nishi, a psychologist at SDSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services, whose interest lies in mental health, said she talked to multiple students in undergraduate-led API campus organizations. She said they have been expressing a need for a center where they can freely express their identities and find resources which help them with challenges API students face. “This is all student-led and student interest: undergrads, graduates, staff that have been interested,” Dr. Nishi said. “I feel like we’ve all been separated on campus and it’s hard to come together in community, and I felt like that was missing.” Dr. Nishi said she noticed
when other events on campus had marches or events to support marginalized communities, API students were often absent. She said she believes this is due to the fact that the API students on campus don’t come together and explore the issues they face as a community as much as they should. She said she believes a big part of the uncertainty comes from not being in an environment which addresses the issues — something she said is a big problem. Dr. Teranishi said, based on his research, some of the hardships API students face include feeling marginalized as an API identified student. Other findings, he said, suggest API students are not properly grouped and are generalized — which in turn, does not make it effective for the people in API communities to fully address the obstacles they run into. Psychology senior Hannah Regal said she is glad Dr. Teranishi took the time to come to SDSU and advocate for API students. She said she believes the issue is a problem which will be solved by the campus community itself. “I think it’s cool and a relevant issue to talk about,” Regal said. “Hopefully it will bring more awareness to the issue and encourage students and faculty to take more action.”
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May 1-7, 2019 Editor: Julianna Ress • arts@thedailyaztec.com
How music has evolved over my college career by Lauren J. Mapp SENIOR STAFF WRITER
To say I have taken the long route to completing my bachelor’s degree would certainly be an understatement. I started college back in 2003 as a theater major in Massachusetts, but after two years of school and having to endure too many Red Sox riots on campus during the 2004 World Series, I decided to move to San Diego. The past 16 years has been an extremely transformative period for both me and the music scene. I took a break from school, returned to earn three associate’s degrees, then transferred to San Diego State to finish my bachelor’s in journalism. Music, on the other hand, has become increasingly customizable and more widely available during that time. The newly-launched iTunes was all the rage when I was living in the dorm during my freshman year in 2003. Everyone in the building would download music from BearShare and LimeWire, then upload it to their iTunes accounts. We all shared our music with one another through the university’s ethernet, and for the first time, it felt like I had an endless supply of music that I could listen to. I will be the first to admit that 18-year-old Lauren was very much an emo, pseudo punk kid rocking studded belts, band tees and Doc Martens. I often painted canvases in my dorm room while listening to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Garbage, Dashboard Confessional, Bright Eyes and Fall Out Boy. When I was feeling less angsty, I would turn to the musical stylings of Jack Johnson and dream of moving to San Diego and learning to surf. Now, you can cherry pick songs from an album by purchasing them individually online, or by simply creating free playlists on YouTube or Spotify. The rise of Auto-Tune has made stars out of people who wouldn’t have risen to fame otherwise As I inch closer to my graduation ceremony this month, I’d like to compare popular music from the year I started
college to hit songs today. Hip-Hop: “In Da Club” versus “Old Town Road” During my freshman year of college, there was never a house party, frat event or night of dancing where 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” wasn’t played. Sometimes, it was played multiple times at a single event, and if you were party hopping, you were all but guaranteed to hear it more than once. The repetitive background music, vapid lyrics and references to Bacardi made it feel like it truly was your birthday every time it played. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention Outkast’s “Hey Ya!” as one of the best hip-hop songs from the era. Currently, the hip-hop song topping the charts is “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, according to the Billboard Hot 100 for April 27. It starts off as a slow, uninteresting country song and leads into a slow, uninteresting hip-hop song about riding a horse and a tractor, and somehow a Porsche is involved? Not sure what this song is supposed to be about, and there are no redeeming qualities that make me want to care. Pop: “Don’t Know Why” versus “7 Rings” Norah Jones won a best female pop vocal performance Grammy award for “Don’t Know Why” at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards in 2003. The soulful and jazzy cover of the song, written by Jessie Harris, launched Jones’ career and gave fans the perfect song to relax to on a Sunday afternoon. Fans of “The Sound of Music” will notice an homage to one of the score’s most recognizable songs in “7 Rings” by Ariana Grande. The song that glorifies capitalism adds Grande to the likes of Outkast, Gwen Stefani and Christina Aguilera, paired with the Barbie Dreamhouse version of a music video. Rock: “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” versus “Movement” The Darkness’ campy homage to ‘80s
Photos by Alex Const and Chuff Media
Pictured above: 50 Cent, one of 2003’s biggest rappers. Pictured below: J. Cole, a recent star in hip-hop.
hair metal music got me hooked from the first time I listened to its 2003 hit “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” With musical stylings and costume designs reminiscent of Queen, the video for this song is a bizarre storyline takes place on a spaceship when lead singer Justin Hawkins emerges from a heartshaped womb. By comparison, Hozier takes a more subdued detour from his first album’s rock anthem “Take Me to Church” in “Movement” from his latest album. His voice effortlessly glides over the background music, which is an oddlyperfect combination of gospel, rock and hip-hop music. Rap: “Get Low” versus “Middle Child” Though “Get Low” by Lil Jon & the
East Side Boyz came out a year before I started college, it was still one of the most played rap songs during my first two years at school. Referring to windows and walls has not been the same since this unapologetically raunchy song started gracing the airwaves. I can’t help but imagine hearing this song playing in the future retirement homes that older millennials will live in. J. Cole’s “Middle Child” about being the link between two generations of rappers is currently the top rap song right now on Ranker. The lyrics take several listens to fully understand how deep Cole’s message is. It is packed with a steady stream of lyrics that somehow weaves together references to drugs, violence, intergenerational trauma, Santa Claus and contaminated water in Flint, Michigan.
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Pictured above: Rock band The Darkness, popular in the early ‘00s. Pictured below: Hozier, one of today’s rock stars.
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