The Daily Aztec 5/3/23

THE DAILY AZTEC

Photo by Brittany Cruz-Fejeran

Editorial Board

2022-2023

Letter from the editor

“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.”

Proverbs 18:15

If you are here at San Diego State University, you are chasing after something. Whether it’s a degree, a community, a college experience or your purpose in this world. Whatever it is, you have taken the first step in a journey that was placed on your heart. I encourage you to keep seeking knowledge.

As an organization, The Daily Aztec is working to understand how to beat cover our SDSU community while providing a space for creators who love to tell stories. El año del cambio (the year of change) was the theme for 2022-2023 school year. We shifted from weekly print to monthly allowing time to focus on digital presence, meeting our audience where they are (on social media), creating Basement Beats to highlight our music community and producing our first mini-documentary in hopes of more video storytelling.

We have published eight print issues and 23 live broadcasts, produced online content with a range of news stories

affecting the SDSU campus, highlighted Aztec sports who made history this year, pieced together thought-provoking opinions, depicted the lively art and culture scene on campus, and captured moments throughout the two semesters with photos. This team worked hard to cover the SDSU community while keeping up with their classes. I couldn’t have asked for a better staff. In addition, we have began to plan a collaborative project with other media groups on campus to foster a more significant opportunity to create.

I am excited to see where the next leadership will take the organization, and I have complete faith that it will keep seeking the best way to serve our communities.

The Daily Aztec consists of passionate students who want to share the stories of the different individuals on campus. So if that is you, this can be your home.

Thank you to our readers for the continuous support.

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Mackenzie Stafford

LIVE PRODUCER Flower Smith

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Gabriel Schneider

MANAGING EDITOR

Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo

NEWS EDITOR Christian Houser

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Sumaia Wegner

SPORTS EDITOR Justin Cox

OPINION EDITOR

Noah Lyons

PHOTO EDITOR Brittany Cruz-Fejeran GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR Alexandra Dunlop

SPORTS EDITOR Morgan Prickett

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Daesha Gear

MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR

Fatima López López

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Melody Bathaee

Photo by Mariadelcarmen Zuniga

Photos by Michael Hayes

Campus Grown program brings fresh produce to SDSU through an innovative approach

nutrient and pH mixtures, maintaining the towers, harvesting crops and processing produce for use by SDSU chefs.

system allows for excess food to be separated and composted instead of being trashed.

Tucked under the pergola on the second floor of Cuicacalli Suites are aeroponic towers that provide campus grown produce for the Garden and other San Diego State University Dining chefs across campus.

These aeroponic towers aid the SDSU Campus Grown program’s commitment “to providing the campus community with menu options that are responsible and sustainable.”

The towers and soil beds on The Garden patio and the Hello Walkway can produce lettuce, kale, arugula, basil, parsley, cilantro, thyme and rosemary. The aeroponic towers can grow any type of produce except root vegetables.

The Campus Grown initiative began in 2016 after representatives from SDSU dining were introduced to aeroponics at a National Association of College University Food Service (NACUFS) conference.

Paul Melchior, the current director of SDSU dining, was a part of the group that spearheaded the Campus Grown initiative. As the former executive chef, Melchior knows the benefit of fresh produce.

“I like to grow items in my home and there’s no comparison to picking a cucumber from your garden and eating it that day than buying it in a store,” Melchior said. “It’s crisper, it’s fresher, it’s the ultimate nutrition.”

After purchasing the first five towers, SDSU dining secured backing from the PepsiCo sustainability fund to support the procurement of the remaining 50 towers in their current portfolio.

During COVID-19, the aeroponic gardens were shut down for almost a year.

Naomi Rabino, a sophomore majoring in business administration finance, began working as a gardener when the aeroponic gardens restarted in the spring of 2021.

“I used to volunteer at a botanical garden back in my hometown. And so once I saw the job opening I was kind of still interested in gardening as a hobby,” Rabino said.

Rabino works with Ted Poirier, the lead gardener of Campus Grown, who started in september 2022. Poirier manages the intricate process of balancing

The process begins in a seedling table of 50 rockwool cubes that hold seeds. Water that includes a small amount of the mixture used to feed the plants in the towers is pumped and drained into the bed of cubes twice daily.

Once the seeds germinate, the absorbent cubes containing the sprouts are separated and transferred to the aeroponic towers. Instead of growing in soil, the plants continue their growth aided by a water mixture that mimics nutrients in soil. A dosatron pump allocates minerals and nutrients into a gravity tank holding the mixture. From there, the mixture is distributed to inlets that pump the individual towers. The towers hold the rockwool cubes vertically where the nutrient mixture showers from inside the top of each tower as the roots grow in air.

“The advantage to (aeroponic towers) over growing in soil is you’re using a lot less water because you’re recycling the water,” Poirier said. “The problem is you’re completely electricity dependent.”

While the nutrient mixture is stored in a gravity tank filled using water pressure, each tower relies on an electric pump to transport the water mixture to the top of the tower. Poirier said that rain often disrupts the pump’s power, which cuts off the water to the plants.

“In my opinion, it requires a human being checking on (the towers) at least every 24 hours,” Poirier said. “Otherwise, you could lose a lot of your crops.”

Working with the demand of ingredients needed by chefs does create challenges for distribution, especially due to the limited shelf life of fresh produce.

“It’s a fine balance because you know the way that kitchens work, (for example) when (chefs) need something, they need it now,” Poirier said. “What we try to do is let them know what we have every week the day before they order produce.”

The Garden has a compost program that is hidden behind the “please bus yourself” placards scattered around the dining hall. The Garden asks students to place their dirty dishes “as is” on trays to be processed by dishwashers. The “please bus yourself”

In combination with the compost collected from University Towers Kitchen, the Faculty Staff Club and from leased restaurants, Aztec Shops diverts approximately 300 tons of waste annually. The compost collected is sent to the Miramar landfill where it is processed and available for any San Diego resident to pick up free of charge.

In comparison to ordering from a supplier, there is significantly less waste with the aeroponic garden.

“If you’re getting a case of romaine from a produce company, it’s wrapped in plastic, then it’s wrapped in a cardboard box and then it’s carried in on a pallet,” said Andre Alto, the general manager of The Garden. “The pallet, sure, can be recycled. The cardboard gets recycled, but it’s all waste. You know when we can literally go out there with a pair of scissors.”

Despite this, the aeroponic towers are not necessarily more cost effective for the university than ordering from a supplier.

“It’s expensive, but sometimes you have to pay that expense because of the product that you’re getting out of it,” Alto said. “That’s what we believe here is providing a better, healthier product for the students on campus.”

When produce is ready, the crops can be harvested and washed on site for use in the salad bar or by other SDSU chefs. Alto said that a full harvest of lettuce from the aeroponic towers located at The Garden and the Faculty Staff Club can feed 1,000 students. The produce grown from the towers are free of fertilizers and pesticides, but cannot be considered organic because the crops are not grown in soil.

The aeroponic towers do not grow the amount of produce that is advertised to prospective students on SDSU’s famous red-polo tours.

“I’ve heard (campus tours) saying we grow 3,000 heads of lettuce a week. I’m like, ‘hey, no, no.’ A year maybe,” Poirier said. “I think over time the myth has kind of grown. We definitely can grow two to 400 heads a week at peak production.”

Students who are interested in working as gardeners to aid the Campus Grown initiative can visit the Aztec Shops website for more information.

Michael Hayes STAFF WRITER

College students have a lot on their plate. For decades, people have bonded over the many obstacles that come with being a college student. In addition, attending lectures, working part-time jobs and managing hefty expenses can dominate a student’s schedule.

Finding a proper balance can be tough, and in the midst of homework, exams and work, San Diego State University students have found that getting a meal is not always a piece of cake.

For first-year Nolan Christensen, early closing hours make it hard to find food after studying.

“Usually, I’ll be studying and a lot of places are closed. Usually, all of East Commons and University Towers Kitchen is closed by the time I’m done studying or doing other activities,” Christensen said. “It can be quite difficult.”

According to SDSU Dining, there are over 34 places to eat on campus. Notable spots include Chipotle, Subway, Panda Express, Starbucks and the Aztec Market. Most are either located at the Student Union or down College Avenue. Beyond that, a fiveminute drive will take you to a shopping center on El Cajon where more choices open up.

Many external factors can make on-campus dining a student’s only option. Packed schedules and SDSU’s 10-minute class breaks offer a limited time to find something, making the campus the most convenient place to grab a bite. With adding long lines to the mix, a simple task like grabbing a burrito from Chipotle becomes a fight against the clock. Without a

Students spill the beans on campus food prices

car, the choices shrink even more.

Christensen is one of many students that does not have a car on campus. For food, he primarily relies on campus dining.

“I can’t really get off campus to find food unless I want to go find the trolley, which would probably take around 30 minutes to an hour, which I don’t think is really worth it,” Christensen said.

Christensen’s circumstances align with many other students, forcing them to pay higher prices than they would off campus.

At the Aztec Market, a box of Cocoa Krispies cost $7.79. But at Vons, it’s marked at $6.49. A 12 ounce Celsius drink is $3.99, and Yerba Mates are $3.99. However, at the Vons on El Cajon, prices go for $2.99 and $3.49, respectively.

If you’re a student looking for something with protein — carbohydrates and veggies — chances are you’ll be paying over $10. From Chipotle, a burrito with a medium fountain drink will cost roughly $11.80. A chicken sandwich with fries and a drink from The Habit will cost around $15.29. Panda Express charges $9.40 for a plate, which consists of two entrees and two sides.

For a student who eats lunch and dinner on campus three days a week, they could be paying anywhere from $40 to over $100, depending on where they go.

With drinks, SDSU has a large selection of options. Not including traditional restaurants, SDSU has seven BCB cafés, seven Aztec Markets, three Starbucks and one 7-Eleven.

The Aztec Markets and 7-Eleven offer a traditionally diverse selection of energy drinks, sodas, seltzers and juices that one can expect from any college campus.

Students could get something cheap, such as a 20 ounce Pepsi for $1.99 from the Aztec Market. For something expensive, students could go for a 24 ounce java mocha smoothie from BCB.

Graduate student Alexandra Spare rarely eats on campus, citing cost as the primary reason. Spare said if more food cost $10 or less, then she would feel more comfortable dining on campus.

“I don’t really eat on campus except for Starbucks,” Spare said. “I have an off-campus apartment so I normally just cook.”

Sam Jackowski, a first-year student, has the Flex 5 meal plan. Flex 5 is one of five available meal plans students can buy for the school year. Under Flex 5, Jackowski can spend up to $29.65 on campus food from Monday through Friday. Some plans like Meals Plus and the 2nd-Year Plan give students one balance per week. Flex 7 provides students money for Saturday and Sunday.

Jackowski eats on campus often and said that prices are expensive.

“At Rubios, it’s like $3.50 for a drink. The food itself is fine, but together with the drink it makes it a lot more,” he said.

On some days, Jackowski finds himself running out of money on his meal plan, forcing him to pay out of pocket.

“I have food allergies, so (there’s) not a lot of places I can actually eat,” Jackowski said. “More options would be nice because I can only eat at a third of the actual restaurants here.”

If you find yourself struggling with food insecurity you can get free food with the Associated Students Food Pantry, located on the second floor of the Student Union.

Owen Pratt SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Artwork by Alexandra Dunlop

Crime report:

Arrest data from January 2021 to November 2022 at SDSU

Location

The Daily Aztec has received the arrest logs at San Diego State University provided by the campus police. This data report is published to inform individuals of past criminal activity on campus.

Below are the arrest logs reported from January 2021 to November 2022:

Arrests

The highest reported arrests from January 2021 to November 2022 surround being drunk in public, with 85 arrests made.

The second leading crime arrest at the university is driving under the influence, with 74 arrests. Being under the influence — whether it is alcohol or drugs — is a common charge at the university, standing at 192 arrests.

These arrests include: being under the influence of a controlled substance (12), underage DUI (2), underage alcohol possession (3), DUI drugs and alcohol combined (7) and DUI with only drugs (9).

SDSU’s Alcohol and Drug Laws and Campus Policy condemns the unlawful possession and distribution of drugs and alcohol. Students who violate these conditions on university property or through extracurricular activities hosted by SDSU are subjected to consequences.

“Any university student may be expelled, suspended or placed on probation for violating university regulations regarding alcohol or drugs,” SDSU wrote regarding its drug and alcohol policy on its website. “Additionally, using alcohol or drugs negatively affects (students) academic performance.”

The third common crime is driving without a license, standing at 71 arrests.

Two of the three most frequent arrests at the university surround dangerous driving, in total with 145 arrests combined. In addition to DUI arrests involving drugs, alcohol or other factors, the number of arrests relating to unsafe driving increases.

Demographics

The majority of 2021-2022 arrests were individuals born in the ‘90s (221), ranging from 2433 year-olds.

The age group arrested the least were individuals born in the ‘50s (15), ranging from 64-73 year-olds.

Arrests made at SDSU distinguished by race include:

White (237), Hispanic (200), African American (195), Other (18), Asian (10) and Native American (2).

SDSU is a Hispanic-serving institution consisting of 11,809 identifying Hispanic and Latino students enrolled at the university for the fall 2022 semester, according to SDSU’s Analytic Studies and Institutional Research at the San Diego campus.

Data enrollment — including undergraduate and graduates — for the fall 2022 semester provided by SDSU’s Analytic Studies and Institutional Research at the San Diego campus includes:

White: 12,397 (34.7%)

Hispanic, Latino: 11,809 (33.1%)

Asian: 2,824 (7.9%)

African American: 1,438 (4%)

Native American: 79 (0.2%)

Arrests distinguished by gender include:

Men (556), Women (115) and (2) identifying as transgender.

According to Univstats, a college statistics website, reports that SDSU’s 2022 gender distribution consists of “42.07% male (15,350 students) and 57.93% female (21,134 students).” This 2022 report, however, does not include other genders outside of male and female.

According to the log provided by university police regarding arrests from January 2021 to November 2022, the areas with the most reports of apprehensions include:

5975 Aztec Circle Drive, with 63 arrests. Common charges reported in that area were theft, robbery and resisting arrest.

6075 Aztec Circle Drive, with 32 arrests. Charges reported in that area were being drunk in public, trespassing, being under the influence of a controlled substance, robbery and vandalism.

5260 Campanile Drive, with 26 arrests. Charges reported in that area were possession of drug paraphernalia, battery and being drunk in public.

5355 College Ave., with 20 arrests. Charges reported in that area were being drunk in public, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

5140 College Ave., with 19 arrests. Charges reported in that area were being drunk in public, brandishing a weapon and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

A common trend of arrests found in these five areas involves public intoxication, whether it is under alcohol or drugs.

The university has an SDSU Safe App, in which individuals can report any suspicious activity. University police can also be reached at (619) 5941991 or police@sdsu.edu regarding safety concerns.

For those experiencing an urgent emergency, please call 911.

Daesha Gear ASSISTANT EDITOR

Photo by Petrina Tran Artwork by Alexandra Dunlop

The motionofKocean

San Diego State University has earned the nickname “rage state” for its lively party scene. The abundant nightlife means that forming a band and playing at house shows is a feasible reality for SDSU students. Katie Thomas, a music business and criminal justice major at SDSU, has proven that forming a band is not only feasible, but it can be a very meaningful part of the college experience.

Thomas has been a musician for most of her life, starting with learning piano as a child and later learning how to play the guitar and sing. She formed her punk band, Kocean, in April 2021 in order to release her original song entitled “Should’ve Known.”

“When we were trying to release the song, we were like, ‘What (name) do we release it under?’” Thomas said. “I actually had an uncle who had passed away recently whose name was Kocean, and I always loved that last name and I said, ‘You know what, I’m going to make it into a band name.’”

Each member of Kocean joined at a different stage of the band’s career. Thomas met Nick Kusior while asking around for a drummer at a party, and he has played with Kocean since then. Isaiah Hand joined Kocean as a guitarist after watching them rock a house show. In September 2022, Zen Yokel joined Kocean as a bass guitarist.

Yokel is the president of Aztec Music Group and Thomas is the vice president, so the pair already worked together closely. Yokel views the club as an integral part of

his experience at SDSU rather than as a secondary interest.

“I consider AMG a part of my academics,” Yokel said. “I definitely prioritize it. I don’t let my grades slip, I’m not really sacrificing (so) much, SDSU really fosters the community.”

Thanks in part to AMG, Kocean has been growing in popularity and they are quickly becoming a staple at house shows around SDSU.

“People see (us) post and they’re like, ‘Oh, Kocean’s playing? That’s what I’m gonna do Friday night,’” Thomas said. “That’s so cute and it literally makes me so happy. I get little butterflies thinking about it.”

Kocean brings high energy to every show they play, and their unruly stage presence is reminiscent of Green Day’s shows during the 90s. Thomas always commands the stage– whether she is standing on a bass drum, shredding her guitar on the ground or getting Kusior to take his shirt off, she always encourages the audience to let loose and embrace a little chaos.

“A lot of people aren’t very well versed in harder, moshier, thrashier stuff,” Kusior said. “So a lot of people have to be pushed out of their shell to dance and mosh with everyone.”

Besides their infectious stage presence, the thing that really keeps people coming back is their music. Their sound is largely inspired by girl punk bands such as Destroy Boys, Hole and even Paramore. However, Kocean’s music is also pop-oriented, which results in a sound that is known around SDSU as dirt pop.

“We’ve got the pop, we’ve got the punk, and we’ve got some pretty hard riffs,” Hand said. “We’ve got a good groove. The music’s definitely danceable.”

Kusior commented that every Kocean performance is a party. Although he would love to see the band grow in the future, he is more focused on embracing the present.

“Our goals in Kocean are just to play our music, play as much as we can, and have as much fun as we can,” Kusior said. “If it can lead to more, if it’s a job, that’s the dream. But if it doesn’t, you know, it happens.”

Before any fun can be had, a lot of legwork must be done behind the scenes. Coordinating practices always proves to be a challenge. For one thing, everyone has a full schedule, and it can be difficult to

Photos by Sam Hockaday Kocean band members (top-bottom) Isaiah Hand, Zen Yokel, Nick Kusior and Katie Thomas pose at San Diego State University's Love Library on March 12.

Sam Hockaday STAFF WRITER

balance school work, AMG business and personal matters. Once everyone’s schedule aligns, an even bigger challenge arises, finding a place to rehearse. The band often resorts to rehearsing in Parking Structure 12. Kocean is one of many bands who can be heard rehearsing in P12, especially during the night time when the lot is empty. While the space is sufficient, it is not ideal.

“It is a legitimate drag to have to coordinate (rehearsing in P12) and not being able to be anywhere else,” Kusior said. “Especially given the elements and the weather…then every house you try to go to for a show (gets) noise complaints.”

As an SDSU-affiliated band, Kocean wishes they had access to a reliable rehearsal space through the school. Backdoor Studio is a great option for students to access a free studio, but it is usually booked. Although the music building does contain its own practice rooms, Thomas explained that the music department is underfunded and has limited space.

“We need to have more space,” Thomas said. “We need to have more love from the school…because then we as bands and artists can have more opportunities to do things. We could rely on our school for stuff. But we can’t right now.”

Despite its limited accommodations for musicians outside of the music department, SDSU remains a prime location for starting a band. Kusior commented on the expanded opportunities, which SDSU can offer musicians.

“It’s nice that SDSU is so big,” Kusior said. “A lot of my friends go to these small liberal arts schools in Pennsylvania. There are 2,000 kids there and like four people play guitar on campus. Here, you could go anywhere and probably meet someone who plays guitar or has a band.”

Kocean proves that starting a killer band is absolutely a possibility for students who are really committed to it. Hand, the guitarist, nicely summed up his experience with merging the two worlds together.

“I feel like I find time to balance music and do (school work) as well,” Hand said. “Music is (at the) top of my mind outside of school. That’s really what I want to be doing and it’s awesome for me. I’m just really glad I’ve been able to find time to do both things.”

Hand alluded to the success of Van Halen, a band whose influence spread by playing house party after house party. Parties are always in abundance at rage state, and there is a very real potential for bands to gain significant attention. Kocean hopes to ring in a new era for SDSU by shining a spotlight on the thriving music scene which has gone largely unnoticed, and they are paving the way for any student who shares in that passion.

Kocean’s music is available to stream on Spotify, and they can be followed at @koceanlive on Instagram.

From SDSU to the Oscars: alumna Lesley Paterson puts the ‘p’ in perseverance

Jodie Griffiths-Hagan STAFF WRITER

On March 12 San Diego State University watched proudly as alumna Lesley Paterson walked the red carpet of The Academy Awards and was featured among the Best Adapted Screenplay nominees for her co-writing on Netflix hit, “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

Attending the Oscars ceremony was yet another momentous accomplishment for Paterson, who had already won a prestigious British BAFTA award. Although she narrowly missed out on winning the screenplay Oscar this time, she saw her brainchild “All Quiet” win four other Oscars.

Paterson, who completed her master’s degree at SDSU’s School of Theatre, Television and Film in 2005, returned to campus on March 20 to share her success story with students and the general public.

Paterson has always had a fiery determination. Growing up in Scotland, she was an avid triathlete, and her original goal was not the bright lights of Hollywood, but instead The Olympic Games.

After her dreams of a gold medal fell through, she was completely lost. When her husband, Simon Marshall, also a contributor to the screenplay was offered a job as professor at SDSU, she was eager to start afresh.

“I felt like a big old failure,” Paterson said. “Moving out here to California was like shedding a skin because I was always known as an athlete before.”

Underneath the Lycra, Paterson knew she had a creative soul, and she credits her time as a student at SDSU for bringing this artistic side out and reigniting her drive and tenacity.

“I’ve always believed that studying is a way to regain a passion,” Paterson said. “I wanted to rekindle my passion for life because I had lost it, and it was Randy Reinholz’s (Acting for Camera) class that did that. It really sparked me to realize that film was where I was meant to be.”

Professor Randy Reinholz, a theater teacher at SDSU, is touched by Paterson’s gratitude.

“As a professor, I think you just hope you make a difference in anybody’s life and that they care,” Reinholz said. “When you’re young you hope to be at the center of things, but as you get further along in your career you hope to give access to someone else.”

As a triathlete, Paterson’s cycling skills are

impeccable, but the road from the halls of SDSU to Hollywood was no easy ride.

After struggling to make it as an actress, Paterson realized that her talents lay behind the camera. When the rights to “All Quiet on the Western Front,” a book she adored studying at school, were up for option she grabbed the opportunity to write the screenplay.

Unbeknown to her, this quest to tell an anti-war story from a German viewpoint would turn into a 16-year-long battle to get the film made, with multiple rejections and barriers along the way.

One of the most challenging hurdles was the yearly $10,000 fee to re-option the book rights. Fortunately for Paterson, she had fallen back in love with triathlon and used her competition winnings to keep the money flowing, even racing on a broken shoulder at the 2015 Costa Rica XTERRA triathlon to re-secure the rights.

“I love to feel emotion and that fueled me to keep going, whether it was watching a film or reading another trench diary to remember why this story is important to tell,” Paterson said.

Now a five-time world champion triathlete and an acclaimed Hollywood screenwriter, her toil has paid off. With anecdotes such as flirting with Austin Butler, accidentally blocking Daniel Radcliffe’s toilet and getting bear-hugged by Kate Winslet at the Oscars, she has now entered the promised land of Hollywood.

For Tom Stiel, a third-year film production major, Paterson’s story provides him hope for his future career.

“I thought it was inspiring how they worked on the film for 16 years and persevered even though there were times it didn’t look like it was going to get made. As a film student, sometimes you feel like your work isn’t really taking you anywhere and it’s a reminder that it can work out,” Stiel said.

Abigail Segal, also a third-year film production major, shared a similar sentiment.

“It’s given me a lot of hope and inspiration. I have a lot of stories that I would like to tell, and I just hope that I’ll be able to tell them one day. I’m so glad that she was able to do that first,” Segal said.

When giving advice to those trying to break into the industry, Paterson adopts the same go-getter attitude that got her where she is today.

“You have to do something because doing nothing is gonna get you nowhere,” Paterson said. “Doing something is going to get you somewhere, you’re not quite sure where but it’s going to take that first step.”

Photo courtesy of Netflix

Katie Thomas and Zen Yokel pose at San Diego State University's Love Library.

Chaldean Americans revive their endangered language through cultural advocacy

Emerging from the cradle of civilization, Chaldeans thrived and built prosperous societies that have existed for over 5,000 years. This area is known as present-day northern Iraq. Chaldeans are an ethnic group of eastern-rite Catholics who speak Aramaic — a language known as the native tongue of Jesus.

Due to ongoing war and violence in Iraq, many Chaldeans fled primarily to America, but some dispersed to Australia and certain parts of Europe.

According to The San Diego Union Tribune, El Cajon contains the second-largest population of Chaldeans outside of Iraq, amounting to 15,000 individuals. Detroit is the largest, with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer reporting over 150,000 Chaldeans in 2022.

Lilian Bakayou, senior operations manager of San Diego State University Math and Stats Learning Center, recalled how the Chaldean community changed after she immigrated to America in the 1980s from Baghdad.

“Just in the last 10 years, it has definitely increased in population because of all of the issues that have happened over there,” Bakayou said.

Human Rights Watch reported a mass exodus of Chaldeans that came to America and left almost half of the population in Iraq. The influx of Chaldean business owners changed the economic landscape of El Cajon, creating what locals call “Little Baghdad.”

Working together harmoniously, Middle Eastern nationalities who settled in San Diego have supported each other over the years. For instance, one can spot

Middle Eastern-owned restaurants, bakeries and doctor’s offices on Main Street.

Bakayou explained how Detroit is years ahead of El Cajon regarding its Chaldean representation and establishment. She referenced a quote from Michael Serban, Cajon Valley Union School District administrator.

“He went to Michigan, and in that article, he stated, ‘Michigan is the future of San Diego,’” Bakayou said. “And I think it’s a very accurate representation because we are a mini Michigan.”

The community has found niches in San Diego schools as well. SDSU’s Cajon Valley Cohort has helped Chaldean students get their teaching credentials. This program has allowed for increased teacher diversity and Chaldean representation in education.

The Chaldean culture’s love of family and enthusiasm for their work inspires many to give back to their community.

Selvana Aleesha, a speech, language and hearing science major, came to America with her family when she was eight years old. Early experiences in America formed the way she wished to represent her community.

Aleesha remembered when she walked into her fourth grade class and asked a Middle Eastern girl if she spoke Aramaic. When the girl responded in Arabic — a language in the same family as Aramaic —Aleesha was delighted to recognize it and felt she belonged.

This experience became foundational for the work she has done during her time at SDSU.

After noticing that Aramaic-speaking Chaldeans were disadvantaged, Aleesha felt inclined to join the SDSU National Student Speech, Language and

Hearing Association. She now serves as the nonprofit organization’s treasurer.

“I took this position because I was like, ‘I want to be that person to kind of represent our community and be there for those who speak the Chaldean language,’” Aleesha said.

British linguist Geoffrey Allan Khan wrote about how Aramaic is an endangered language due to the cultural assimilation of immigrants in Western nations, consequently causing the Chaldean tradition to fade away. However, the language is still the native tongue of Chaldeans born in Iraq.

Chaldeans, though, have persevered and encouraged people to join in their cultural traditions.

SDSU alumna Valerie Kassab supports anyone’s endeavor to learn the Chaldean language. She explained how learning the language can allow nonChaldeans to participate in cultural traditions, like the Chaldean mass.

“They can take courses at a local community college that teaches how to read and write Arabic,” Kassab said.

For many years the Chaldean community has grown and flourished throughout San Diego. Lively celebration and unwavering dedication to family define the culture. Although, CalMatters reports that there is still progress to be made to get equal political representation on the West Coast.

Many outside the community aren’t familiar with the culture or are aware of its existence, but the Chaldean lifestyle contains unique practices, cuisine and experiences.

Learning about and celebrating the Chaldean culture can broaden perspectives about an ethnic group often overlooked and misunderstood.

Kaitlyn Donivan STAFF WRITER

Selvana Aleesha poses for a portrait in the Student Union. Photo by Kaitlyn Donivan

Melody of Mother Nature

Nature arises from her frigid slumber

Flowers laid with just a dream

But a barren earth began to bloom

Sunlight parts the shroud of gray

Butterflies flutter, a delicate dance

A fragrance spreads, so sweet and rare

The wind whispers, such gentle caress

A symphony of sounds, a vivacious roar

Earth burst forth, such beauty unbound

Sunlight stretches the emerald hills

Bask in the warmth, a riot of beauty

Meadows carpeted with a vibrant hue

Petals rid of their icy chains

Wispy clouds upon a canvas of blue

April showers cleanse the soul

Ecstasy washes away our despair

Rejoice in the radiant glow

I breathed my life Into a paper thing Tethered

Heart beating loudly like a beating drum.

It’s getting louder, I take a breath.

Breathing air into new ideas.

Ideas that turn into dreams.

Dreams written on paper napkins filled with doubt.

Doubt that drives me to explore.

Exploration of who I am and who I should become.

Become strong minded and have the will to get up

Fight to see another day.

Days filled with laughter and friends.

Friends who gather by the fire telling stories of the

The past are memories of goals we once had.

Goals that evolve into what can be.

Be brave and bold.

Bold is the one who dares to dream.

Gabriel Scodeller STAFF WRITER

Flying A Kite

Sam Hockaday STAFF WRITER

Denisse Figueroa STAFF WRITER

Artwork by Gabriel Scodeller

Artwork by Alexandra Dunlop

‘Drag is unapologetic

always about having that connection,” St. James said. “I really wanted (my drag family) to be a support and a community, not just ‘Oh, we’re just a bunch of drag queens.’ We’re really a chosen family.”

The sense of togetherness and support can be seen and felt. Drag queens express support while their peers perform and behind the scenes help with each other’s makeup. It’s lively and fun, but also an authentic place to grow, according to Lady Blanca.

“Over the last two years that I’ve been part of the St. James family, just seeing them in their element has been really inspiring to me and my art,” Lady Blanca said. “Unknowingly, I’ve taken pieces of their material and made it my own.”

San Diego State students come to college not only to learn but to find out who they are. For some, they happen to discover that they’re drag queens.

“Once the song started playing, something in me just clicked,” said Juan Barcenas, a senior also known as “Lady Blanca.” “I lost my fear and just went into performer mode. Suddenly, I was like, is the song already over? It was so easy. Drag came to me in the moment.”

SDSU’s thriving drag community has a host of new and experienced drag queens, many of whom started their career in drag right on campus.

“One of the first drag shows that I ever saw was here at SDSU. I remember seeing them and feeling so happy. I was happy to be seeing the queer culture and experiencing queer culture in a way I never had before," Lady Blanca said. "Once I saw Amber St. James and the other drag queens perform, I felt inspired."

That first moment resonates with many in the drag community. Whether it is the first step onstage, the swipe of lipstick or the first time they saw themselves in the mirror in full “beat” makeup, drag represents unapologetic self-expression.

“It wasn’t until probably 2020 that I started considering drag,” said Soluna Wells, a senior also known as “Chikavara." “I was learning a lot about queer history, and the way that drag has always been subversive to mainstream culture. I really wanted a way to express myself.”

Amber St. James, a graduate student, is one of the leading drag queens on campus. St. James is known for their advocacy for change through activism and expressive performances.

“My philosophy is to be authentic and true to who I am and let that shine through in my drag,” St. James said.

Drag performers form bonds with their peers, uniting in a form of chosen family they call a “haus.” Drag mothers and daughters of a haus do much more than hair and makeup — each is a family that expresses their creativity in unique styles. St. James is the founder and drag mother of her own house, the “Haus of St James.” St. James’ eyes lit up when discussing her drag family and the community that comes from leading a haus.

“For me, as the mother of a drag family, it was

Drag has a national reputation for its dramatic performances, but for SDSU’s student performers, it’s much more than entertainment.

“Society sees (drag) as ‘It’s a bunch of men in dresses.’ Girl, it’s never been that,” St. James said. “When you look at the history, drag has always been intertwined with activism. (For example) look at the Stonewall Riots and Marsha P. Johnson, that’s something I always found so much beauty and pride in. I want to shine a light on that.”

Drag, according to these queens, goes beyond makeup and humor. No drag performer is the same — drag is a way for individuals to express their identity, art and social activism.

“Drag allows creativity in the sense that it is a personal art form. Everyone approaches drag differently,” Chikavara said. “That’s what I love about it. For me, drag allows me to be myself because growing up, I wasn’t really able to experiment.”

As Chikavara expressed, drag is a way to show pride as individuals are establishing their role in the community.

At SDSU, shows can expose drag to students who may have never seen a drag show in their lives.

In light of recent legislation across the country aiming to ban drag. Drag queens at SDSU, however, are advocating more than ever to show the positive and essential aspects of their art.

“Drag will continue to evolve and change and be this politically beautiful art where folks are able to not only say something about their lives, but make statements about the oppression that there is in this world,” St. James said. “Despite people trying to push drag down, drag will continue to be this space of joy and liberation of finding who we are.”

Katerina Portela STAFF WRITER

Photo by Brittany Cruz-Fejeran Lady Blanca performs at the March of the Qweenz fundraiser at the Diversionary Theater on March 24.

Black designers,

Black runway, Black

excellence

Photos courtesy of Akil Adisa

Manning the runway in high heels and a bright pink outfit is not easy, but Keiana Foster, a second-year psychology major, made it possible by organizing the first San Diego State University Black Fashion Week Show.

The doors to Montezuma Hall opened March 17, starting two and a half hours of runway looks from SDSU students and former alums. Foster, the event’s founder, spent months working on a show that uplifts black voices and shows how versatile the black body could be through fashion.

Some fashion themes included African cultural clothing, 90s aesthetics and freestyle for every model to dress how they liked. Six designers’ personalities shined through their spiky earmuffs or iconic streetwear. The looks were carefully curated for each model

ARTS & CULTURE

and highlighted every single person to show off their natural beauty.

Jordan Washington, a second-year English major, was ecstatic to attend the show.

“I really admire the fashion looks I’ve seen from backstage,” Washington said. “Keiana (Foster) has been very driven to make this entire event work.”

Foster spoke highly about how proud she was of everyone participating and the support she had received from the SDSU community. She had put much thought into her dream by pooling finances and saving up funds, allowing her the freedom to create a runway, invite a guest speaker and create a high-end atmosphere.

Guest speaker and producer DeMira Pierre, a YouTube creator with over 7 million combined views on her series “Supreme Models,” spoke after the audience viewed a ten-minute clip of her work. Pierre has a vast knowledge of the fashion industry and promotes diverse beauty through her art. She ended her speech with the message: “create fearlessly, create passionately.”

Foster eased the audience into the program, and many agreed the show was more than an event, but a true production, something Foster quoted in her introduction speech.

Madison Reaves, a first-year speech, language and hearing sciences major, said she recognized many models in the show and would return for future shows.

“I also love fashion, so I was pretty excited,” Reaves said.

Some of the more popular looks among attendees were the experimental and freestyle themes. Each designer had their own mark on making the style uniquely theirs, from legwarmers to altering shirts to showcase different ensembles. The freestyle theme received much applause, as each model was paired with another and given the opportunity to represent themselves through chosen outfits and music. The unique touch gave a sense of personality to the entire show.

Praise was heard through the spacious hall and many couldn’t keep their eyes off the models. Attendees brought flowers for those who participated, which brought a lighthearted vibe that put the fashion show in a good light.

Lecya Santiago STAFF WRITER

San Diego natives Almost Monday deliver fresh new sounds on ‘only wanna dance’

Almost Monday is ready to hit the road and play some new tracks along the way, following an electrifying hometown show in San Diego.

The group — consisting of vocalist Dawson Daughtery, bassist Luke Fabry and guitarist Cole Clisby — was initially formed in their college years. Daughtery and Fabry went to Point Loma Nazarene University while Clisby attended University of California, San Diego. The trio also grew up in San Diego county, playing at local surf shops and jamming out in garages.

They released their first EP, “don’t say you’re ordinary” in 2020, followed by 2021’s “till the end of time.” Along the way, their single “sunburn” has racked up over 19 million streams. Now, the band has their eyes set on a third project.

The most recent piece of that project is their single “only wanna dance” – an irresistibly groovy and upbeat track which, as the title suggests, is sure to get you dancing.

The process of writing their latest single began over a year ago, as they put some initial ideas to tape and let it sit for a while. After revisiting their collection of demo tapes, they decided to bring those ideas on stage and perform it on tour.

Their goal with the track was to energize a crowd with a faster tempo and an emphasis on the drums and guitar.

“It’s nice to be able to test a lot of our unreleased songs and be able to play them live,” Clisby said. “That’s usually a pretty good gauge on how we think people will like it and how we like it.”

Audiences responded well, and the track was on its way to being produced.

The accompanying music video for “only wanna dance” is just as fun and frenetic as the song itself. Despite having a runtime of just 153 seconds, this video has it all: retro bowling alleys, horses, alien costumes, cowboy hats and medieval outfits. The band looked back at the filming process fondly.

“There wasn’t any crazy underlying theme to all of it,” Fabry said. “We just wanted to make a fun video with our friends and it kind of turned out to be this chaotic thing that we put together to be the video.”

When creating accompanying music videos, the trio likes to keep things loose and draw on their inspirations. Such is the case for their “till the end of time” music video, in which Daughtery and the rest of the band go on a journey to drop off a box of pizza.

Their primary inspiration for that video: The “Pizza Delivery” episode of Nickelodeon’s hit TV show, “Spongebob.”

“Sometimes, we go around and have spur-of-the moment ideas and shoot,” Clisby said. “That’s the way we like to do things – a lot of spur-of-the-moment, run and gun style turns out with good energy.”

Recently, much of that energy has been devoted to captivating live shows. In the last two years, the band made stops at high-profile music festivals including Lollapalooza, Wonder Bus, Wonderfront

and Governor’s Ball. They even went overseas, performing in London, Paris, Korea and Japan in 2022.

Still, their hometown of San Diego is deeply ingrained in the DNA of Almost Monday – even if it’s at a subconscious level.

“It’s one of those things where you don’t intentionally get into a session and you’re like, ‘okay, how do we give the people some San Diego,’” Daughtery said. “It’s never an intentional thought, but unintentionally, it makes its way into the music. I think that’s because it’s where we grew up and what inspires us.”

A lot of their inspiration, the band said, is tied into beach culture and surfing. But, there is one piece of subject matter the band may try to avoid, following the consecutive releases of “sunburn” and “sun keeps on shining.”

“It’s become kind of a meme within our band (that) we just can’t have another sun song, at least in the title,” Daughtery said.

With a new project in the works, Almost Monday fans can expect more fresh singles, music videos and teasers.

In the meantime, the band is continuing to bring their sunny indie rock sound to shows across the United States – and the globe.

“Playing shows is probably my favorite thing in the world so I’m really stoked to play at new places and have fun,” Daughtery said. “You make so many memories on the road – it’s such a chaotic, crazy whirlwind of a thing.”

Noah Lyons

OPINION EDITOR

Photo courtesy of Shane McCauley

Just as the sun hits its peak, the Ocean Beach Farmers Market comes alive. It’s a sensory dream with glimpses of art pieces in every direction, piles of strawberries and sunflowers to smell, custom turquoise stone rings to try on, cheese spreads to taste and acoustic performers to hear.

The Ocean Beach Farmers Market will make Wednesday your favorite day of the week.

Located in the heart of the beachside neighborhood in San Diego, the OB Farmers Market is held every Wednesday evening from 4-8 p.m., rain or shine. Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach quickly turns into a bustling marketplace that features everything from local farmers, artisans, food vendors selling fresh produce,delicious snacks, handmade crafts and vintage clothing.

The avenue radiates an infectious energy with contagious smiles that make it impossible to not join in. The OB Farmers Market is as fun as it gets.

With over 100 vendors, the open-air market makes deciding what to eat a near impossible task. The fear of missing out quickly sets in, but a full lap of the market tasting and trying samples tends to do the trick.

It is the diversity of the vendors and trucks that makes the OB farmers market so special. There are fresh bao buns at House of Bao next to Island Life Food, which sits across the street from FatBoyz Pizza with a savory woody aroma that smells like comfort and happiness. Through the crowd of people, you can hear the sizzle of grilled cheese sandwiches being cooked parallel to vegan Thai food and enormous philly cheesesteaks. The scent alone is enough to rekindle the familiarity that comes along with family barbecues. The market's range of cuisine perfectly encapsulates the multicultural community of San Diego.

Vanessa Melhem, a junior and interior architecture major at San Diego State University, missed her Wednesday class to be at the market. Her favorite food vendor is Flavors of East Africa.

“I feel like (the OB Farmers Market) has a

Ocean Beach Farmers Market: A local treasure

different atmosphere,” Melhem said. “The food is delicious and you can tell everyone is enjoying themselves. The vibes are so good.”

With multiple cooks at The Flavors of East Africa booth freshly grilling meat with their signature turmeric spices and coconut curry sauces, the food looked and smelled heavenly. Flavors of East Africa is just one of the many food options, which also has a location at SDSU.

With a lively spot at the farmers market, as well as a location in West Commons on campus, Olive Oil Cafe is a family-owned business that specializes in gluten-free gourmet sandwiches and original pastries. If students have been to Olive Oil on campus, then they will definitely recognize Adam Elhag, the vendor who is often the face of the family business.

“I love it here,” Elhag said. “It’s a relaxed party on the beach. You can get a dessert here, then go enjoy it while watching a drum circle by the water.”

The OB Farmers Market gladly accepts live music and entertainment. Local musicians will often be on the sidewalks singing popular covers of songs and passing out their mixtapes. You might even come across Joe Dreamz who encourages the market-goers to rap along with him. Whether the performances are eccentric or more serene, they add to the unique festival-like atmosphere that makes up Ocean Beach.

In the midst of the flowers and fresh produce, SDSU’s very own funk-rap band, The White Collars, who also performed in the Daily Aztec’s Basement Beats, attended the market. The White Collars members, Cameron Power and Niel Kuhn, are originally from Ocean Beach and are well versed on all things OB Farmers Market related.

The two musicians explained how they were out promoting a show for an internship they managed to get through Aztec Music Group.

“The best kind of people are here, that’s why we are standing in the middle,” Power said, smiling. “All jokes aside, people need to come to Ocean Beach, especially the market.”

The true individualism and creativity of the market is unleashed in an area to the side of the main avenue. Under a new mural celebrating San Diego Padres baseball superstar, Fernando Tatís Jr

(nicknamed “El Niño”), the space is dedicated to all things clothing, jewelry and art related. It’s the ideal place to discover character pieces and rare goods.

Between vintage race car jackets, beautiful handcrafted earrings and sunglasses that are the definition of a statement piece, pulling out a wallet is inevitable. The market also showcases funky canvases, rare records and even custom decor that spells out Ocean Beach with letters from different license plates.

The people who shop at the OB Farmers Market ooze coolness. The style on the avenue covers everything from comfy chic to cottagecore to true vintage clothing, which is reflective of the openmindness amongst the crowd.

There truly are no barriers in Ocean Beach. Whether that entails people bringing their many dogs or shoving their face with street food in the middle of a crowd rush, everyone is unapologetically themselves. It feels like a safe place for anyone to be whomever they want to be.

Orion McAllister, often referred to as “OB Jesus” or the “OB Hippie” because of his appearance, attends the market every Wednesday, not missing a single week for a year, with a new sign and a mission of spreading love. McAllister, with his shoulderlength hair, long beard and mustache, heart shaped glasses, and robe with bohemian style prints, carried a sign revealing the message “Week 52. Be kind to your mind” with peace signs filling the empty space.

“I’m here embodying love and spreading affirmations to remind people of their own worth.” McAllister said.

This market is an experience that allows for connecting with so many different lifestyles. In a sense, it is the best of what the free-spirited beach town has to offer. From a visitor to a local, Ocean Beach provides a warm-hearted welcome to its supporters as they immerse themselves into the culture that makes up the farmers market.

The Ocean Beach Farmers Market is made for self expression, and as “OB Jesus” once said, “Expressing yourself is loving yourself.”

OB icon Orion McAllister presents hisl signage promoting love for the 52nd week in a row at the Ocean Beach Farmers Market.

Photo by Petrina Tran

Isabella Dallas SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo

Managing Editor

I can’t believe the time has finally come. I’m writing my senior farewell while I sit in my cubicle that I will soon be leaving and passing on to a fellow brilliant San Diego State University journalist.

Indelibly burned into my memory are those elementary school field trips to SDSU where I, as a 10-year-old girl, thought, “I hope I come to this school one day.” Flash-forward 11 years later and now I’m graduating from it. What!?

College, like everything else in life, has been a rollercoaster with ups and downs. And, without a doubt, being the managing editor of The Daily Aztec has been the peak of this journey. It’s the moment of the ride when you could feel excitement overtaking your body, knowing that the path ahead would be nothing but chaos and enjoyment. Now, I’m overwhelmed with emotion knowing that this roller coaster is coming to an end. I wish I could form the line again, but I know that other rides are waiting for me.

A new chapter in my life is about to begin, but before it does, I want to take a stroll down memory lane and share my appreciation for my time at SDSU. When I transferred to San Diego State University in the fall semester of 2021, it was inevitable for me to try to find my place in the school and look for friends and groups that shared my interests. During the first week of the semester, I came in contact with the SDSU Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). Little did I know NAHJ would have such an enormous impact on my personal growth and career development.

I am eternally thankful for having the unique opportunity to grow within our student chapter, where I started as a member before being elected to lead the group as its president for the current academic year. In my professional life, NAHJ has opened a plethora of doors. By growing my network and getting to know so many accomplished journalists, I’ve been granted some incredible opportunities.

Through NAHJ SDSU, I covered Formula 1 news for Jeawok Media, wrote an opinion piece for the San Diego Union-Tribune, produced an article for CALÓ News, won a NAHJ San Diego-Tijuana scholarship, attended the 2022 NAHJ-NABJ Las Vegas summer convention and was offered an editorial internship with a Spanish-language automotive news site, Autoproyecto.

Balancing multiple responsibilities while simultaneously taking five to six classes was not a simple task, but I looked forward to every break I had in between classes to go to the DA office and hang out with my friends. You all had the ability to turn a bad day into a good one.

I also want to emphasize the phenomenal experience it has been to be a student at the Weber Honors College and the School of Communication. As someone who is constantly seeking to learn, I am grateful to the professors who have broadened my knowledge and perspective on a variety of subjects.

To my family — los amo y les agradezco todo el apoyo que me han dado durante estos años tan importantes de mi vida. Mami y Tato, especialmente a ustedes, gracias por siempre estar a mi lado y por animarme cuando me daban momentos de frustración y ansiedad debido a la escuela o el trabajo. Y a ti Malupita, gracias por siempre ser mi inspiración. Sin ustedes, realmente no me encontraría en donde estoy ahora.

Thank you Dr. Max Branscomb, my former Southwestern College journalism professor and everlasting mentor, for your encouragement and support throughout the course of my educational journey. Sunista for life!

Working with this year’s Daily Aztec staff has been an absolute pleasure. I have built amazing friendships and learned so much from these incredible people. I have truly cherished every single minute with them, from early morning meetings to 1 a.m. production nights in the newsroom.

So what’s next for me? I am pleased to share that I have been selected to be a part of the 2023 NAHJ Student Project team. This summer, I will travel to Miami, Florida for the NAHJ International Training Convention & Expo. Under the guidance of professional mentors, I will write, report, shoot and edit video, take photos and cover events. I am beyond thankful and excited for this opportunity as the Student Project experience has helped past students obtain work in some of the top media outlets in the country.

After that we’ll see what happens, but for now, DA Fam, I love you all! I will be forever proud of the work we accomplished together, but most importantly, grateful for the beautiful moments we shared.

In the words of Daniel Ricciardo, “No regrets, just memories.”

Photo courtesy of Aleyda Gerardo

Mackenzie Stafford

Multimedia Editor

Fatima López López

Mundo Azteca Editor

Al llegar al final de mis cuatro años en SDSU me siento muy agradecida por todas las oportunidades que esta institución me ha brindado. Es un momento tan surrealista para mi familia y yo ya que poder sobresalir en un país que no es nuestro ha sido el sueño americano.

Podría decir que todo lo he logrado por mi misma pero sería una mentira, tengo el privilegio de tener a mis padres que siempre lucharon junto a mi y nunca me dejaron sola. Les quiero agradecer por tomar la fuerte decisión de dejar nuestras tierras mexicanas y traernos a este país lleno de oportunidades. Espero que ustedes estén tan orgullosos de mí como yo lo estoy de ustedes. Gracias a sus esfuerzos de querer sacar adelante a mis hermanos y a mí, me enseñaron que yo también podría lograr todo lo que me propusiera. Recuerdo que llegamos a este país con el sueño de poder cambiar nuestras vidas y solo quiero que sepan que lograron que sus hijos pudieran vivir una vida diferente a la que nos esperaba en Mexico. Les agradezco mucho por sus consejos, sus sacrificios y en especial su apoyo. Gracias a sus consejos y las experiencias que hemos vivido, puedo decir que la humildad, mis modales, el respeto y las ganas de sobresalir las he aprendido de ustedes. Ustedes saben que desde chiquita nunca se tuvieron que preocupar por como iba en la escuela y me dejaron crecer individualmente y aunque he sido muy madura desde entonces, cuando me caía siempre estaban para levantarme. Gracias papi por salir todos los días a trabajar para darnos una vida mejor y aunque ya este grande nunca me has dejado de ver como tu niña, te quiero y aprecio todo lo que nos has podido brindar en cada momento. Gracias mami por estar en casa y ser nuestra psicóloga, doctora, maestra y todo lo que has podido ser, no te lo decimos mucho pero te queremos y agradecemos todo. Gracias Dios por darme unos papás inigualables, espero que estén orgullosos de mí.

For my first visit to San Diego State University after being accepted, I went to a Q&A session to learn more about the journalism program. I approached a member of the JMS department and explained my interest in broadcast journalism. It had been my dream since middle school.

“Oh, you want to do broadcasting here? You should transfer,” they replied.

Hearing those words made my heart sink. My dreams were obliterated.

My mom and I shed a few tears at the news. In a way, it became the fuel to my fire. I’ve always loved journalism and I wasn’t going to let their discouraging advice deter me.

After my first semester had kicked off and I was settled in, I was ready for an internship. Little did I know, I was lucky to already have a few under my belt. In college, soon-to-be grads are preferred applicants, which makes sense. I was constantly visiting our internship coordinator’s office. When there were no internships available for freshmen, she directed me to The Daily Aztec. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be writing this right now.

I dove into the Multimedia section. I couldn’t get enough of it. Thank you to Jack Molmud and Amal Younis for your guidance and for welcoming me in. Jack started giving me special assignments and responsibilities. Before I knew it, I was at the live broadcast every week, editing the weekly Instagram series and crafting packages for the show.

Then, the pandemic struck. Out of precaution, we were uprooted and relocated, but amidst the chaos, an opportunity blossomed. I created my own video series inspired by “Ned’s Declassified,” entitled “The Freshman Guide to Surviving the Coronavirus,” about how to return your textbooks, attend class virtually and more.

I took a chance and applied for the Editorial Board, and even though I was a sophomore, I got the job! I am grateful to Angela Kurysh, who partnered with me as we built the show from scratch. She provided her backyard as a safe, open-air location for filming and offered guidance throughout the process. Working together, we covered the Mountain West Conference Championship — an amazing opportunity.

In my junior year, I was promoted to multimedia editor and was fortunate enough to work alongside Jayne Yutig. Her hard work, positivity and innovation helped transform our broadcast. I cannot thank her

A mis hermanos, muchas gracias por ser mi motor cada dia. Yo se que ambos esperan mucho de mi y quiero que sepan que todo lo hago para motivarlos a ser mejor cada dia. A mi hermano, muchas gracias por estar y ser quien eres. Le doy gracias a Dios y a mis papas por criarnos tan unidos, eres mi mejor amigo y las experiencias que hemos vivido las guardo en mi corazón. Estoy orgullosa de ti y de la persona en la que te has convertido, tus ganas de sobresalir han sido un gran ejemplo para mi. Te quiero mucho.

A mi hermanita, como tu hermana mayor he trabajado tanto para poder ser un ejemplo para ti, quiero que algún día crezcas y seas aun mejor que yo. En ningún momento pensé que algún día tendría que ser una hermana mayor, y llegaste tu. Aún eres muy pequeña pero me alegro que cada dia nos unimos mas y mas, y me ha encantado verte crecer en la niña que eres ahora. Nunca dejes que nadie, ni nada apague tu brillo y espero seguir viéndote brillar igual en el futuro. Te quiero mucho mi chiquilla.

A mis amigas, familia y personas que estuvieron conmigo en este proceso y que ahora ya no están, les quiero agradecer el apoyo. Gracias a mis amigas por apoyarme y siempre estar en los momentos más necesitados. A mi familia, gracias por apoyarme de lejitos, espero ser un orgullo para ustedes. Tantos años lejos han valido la pena, espero algún día regresar y poder celebrar este logro con ustedes. Para los que ya no están conmigo, se les agradece de todo corazón el amor y el apoyo que me pudieran brindar en su momento. Yo soy muy creyente que las cosas pasan por alguna razón, y aunque ahora no están, les agradezco los momentos y el tiempo juntos. Aunque todo ha llegado a su fin, se que el apoyo sigue siendo mutuo. Muchas gracias.

Finalmente, me quiero agradecer a mi misma. Han sido cuatro años de felicidad, tristeza, estrés y entre otras cosas. A pesar de todo, aprendí mucho y crecí mentalmente y emocionalmente. El poder asistir a esta institución y ser una estudiante de primera generación ha sido un gran privilegio para mi. Recordar a la niña de cinco años que llegó a los Estados Unidos y ver en la mujer que me convertí ha sido un gran orgullo para mi. Espero que esa niña que no sabía inglés y se sentía perdida, algún día sepa que todos sus esfuerzos valieron la pena. Ahora que entraré a la vida profesional espero poder crear y comunicar historias que sean de valor para la comunidad hispana e inmigrante. Por más alto

enough for her contributions and leadership. Thank you, Jayne, for being an amazing role model and friend.

I started to feel pretty burnt out at the end of the year. It can be a common symptom of the journalism industry, but it faded as I started my senior year. The editorial board had a new mentor, Jerry McCormick. He created a class to guide us through the process of running a student newspaper and how we can elevate our work.

Receiving feedback and guidance on our work from an experienced professional inspired me to push through and make the best multimedia section I could. I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow in that class. Thank you, Jerry.

In my second year as multimedia editor, Flower Smith became the live producer. I’m so thankful to have her by my side. I’ve seen her flourish in this position and am so proud of how she’s stepped up and gone above and beyond what was asked of her. I’m so glad we’ve been able to work together and finish our last year at The Daily Aztec strong. I couldn’t do it without you.

This year we stayed ahead of the curve. We’ve successfully created reels, increased subscribers on our YouTube channel and made a killer broadcast week in and week out. My goal coming into The Daily Aztec was to contribute everything I could to the Multimedia section. Now that I’m graduating, above all, I’m grateful for the friends and relationships I’ve made along the way.

Thank you to everyone I’ve worked with. I’m astounded by the amazing journalists that The Daily Aztec has helped mold and prepare for life outside of school. Thank you to Jack Molmud, Amal Younis, Devin Whatley, Roxy Becerril, Angela Kurysh, Kyle Betz, Luis Lopez, Noe Sandoval, Karina Bazarte, Brenden Tuccinardi, Catlan Nguyen, Trinity Bland, Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo, Flower Smith, Owen Pratt, Huy Huynh, Alex Lai and Gabriel Schneider. I couldn’t have done it without all of you. And to Amber Salas — I still owe you my life.

Whoever takes over the multimedia section next year is going to do a stellar job. I’m excited to see what the future of The Daily Aztec’s broadcast looks like, and I’ll be tuning in.

We built our own remarkable broadcast from the ground up. I’ve grown immensely as a broadcast journalist. And I’ve met the most incredible, talented people here. Now, I’m glad I didn’t transfer.

que vuele, nunca olvidaré dónde está mi tierra. Con orgullo y mucha emoción me despido y agradezco mucho las oportunidades que me han ofrecido San Diego State University y el Daily Aztec.

Photo courtesy of Jayne Yutig

Photo courtesy of Maria López

So Long, Goodbye SDSU Memes

My name is Sean Stouffer. But readers might recognize my Instagram handle more than my name. For the 12,000-ish people who know me as @SDSUAztecmemes, I thank you all. I wanted to say goodbye — and answer a few questions — before I end my four-year journey here with all of you. Each follower, from the day ones to the people who followed me as recently as last week, made my college experience significantly better.

My time at SDSU could have been painful, but serving you all gave me an overwhelming amount of joy and happiness.

A lot of people have asked me if @ SDSUAztecmemes will live on. In short: no. But I also don’t have the heart to delete it. I mostly won’t post — unless something so spicy happens that I can’t ignore it.

Other college meme pages have passed it down to successors. I haven’t found anyone I believe could carry the mantle, nor do I think I could ever give over my baby to someone like that.

I hope in the future another meme page will rise from the ashes. But until now, this is it.

To be honest, it’s somewhat hard to write this. Thinking back on my experience brings a rush of emotions. Some fun, some wild — but all memorable. I’m here to give you a little summary of it all.

People also ask me why I even started this account. Some are surprised when they find out this isn’t my first. There was once a little high schooler named Sean who was interesting. He was the kid in the back of the class who would snort powdered Smarties candy that he recently crushed up with a golf ball, but also the one who would explain to you the intricacies of U.S. foreign policy right before the APUSH exam. He decided to channel his energy into something fun and enjoyable for his classmates halfway through his senior year.

Thus, @MMHSmeme was born (Mira Mesa High, for the San Diego natives).

It started out innocent enough. Garnering 300 likes on a good day, I was catering mainly to the few people that followed me from high school in addition to some new stragglers. Slowly I grew, made some friends, a few enemies funny enough and maybe even a handful of frenemies.

But by graduation, I aired out my share of school drama, may have been part of the reason a teacher got transferred and received a compliment from my vice principal in one of the weirdest exchanges of my life.

Realistically, @SDSUAztecmemes was just the next step in my meme career. But it wasn’t without work — or competition.

I found my competition shortly after I stepped into the SDSU meme market. Ethan, aka @ragestate, was my edgier competition. He gave me a damn good run for my money, too, until he graduated. But he did motivate me to get the memes out fast and frequent. I respected him as a meme page, reviled him as a person.

With Ethan gone, I mostly had the market to myself. I can’t say there was one single post that brought in thousands of followers overnight, although my Adela slander was definitely a solid booster occasionally.

And, of course, there’s always drama on the mesa.

One of the most common lines of questioning for someone talking to me is, ‘how do you come up with these?’ ‘Where do you get all this information?’ ‘Do you have a life?’ While I won’t answer that last one, the first two are some of my favorites to answer.

What I can say with a bit of pride (and guilt) is that I’ve put an obscene amount of time and effort into this page. I’ve been collecting assets since I bought my first iPhone back in 2017, and definitely have some that would get me canceled. On a regular basis, I’m working with roughly 700 meme format templates, and roughly 3,000 reaction images. I save assets I like and wait for the right time to use them.

Some days are easy. For example, when we beat FAU during March Madness, all I had to do was search

“hunting a bird” and boom, easy. It’s not always like that, though. Some days there is no chisme, but other times, I get a flood of DMs from fellow students. It’s hard to not find out that TikTok star Bryce Hall got roughed up at a Sigma Alpha Epsilon party in 2021 when you all message me about it.

In my down time, I would sometimes spend copious amounts of time scrounging through students org’s Instagrams or even googling “SDSU news” for a quick piece of info.

The downside is I now have a ridiculously large — and mostly useless — bank of knowledge about SDSU. A bank of knowledge that will now be tucked away deep in the recesses of my mind.

What I won’t forget is the friends I made along the way. I want to thank you all for everything you’ve done for me over the last four years. I especially want to thank my fellow college meme pages for the years of camaraderie, as well as my group of friends giving me advice and support. Also, I would like to thank my mom for birthing me, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. Last but not least, shoutout to my lovely partner, who I met through the page. They are hands down the best thing to come of this experience.

What seems like a good song for this moment for me right now is Bo Burnham’s “Goodbye” and more specifically the first stanza:

So long, goodbye

I’ll see you when I see you

You can pick the street

I’ll meet you on the other side

Sayonara, San Diego State.

P.S. I do still have to get a Masters Degree at some point.

Photo courtesy of Charlie Stelzmiller

Justin Cox

I still vividly remember the first day I joined The Daily Aztec. Early in my junior year, I was searching for a way to become more connected and present on campus. After COVID-19 cut my freshman year short and I spent the next year attending school through a computer screen, I knew I had to change something if I wanted to have a good college experience.

Since I was an avid sports fan and enjoyed writing, I headed down to The Daily Aztec office and asked around to see how I could join the sports section. Both Jason Freund and Andrew Finley, the two sports editors at the time, took me in with open arms. Just like that I was invited to the next meeting.

What a ride it has been since.

In what seems like a blur, I have covered nearly every sport we have on campus, sharpened my skills as a writer and editor and even had the privilege of covering a Final Four and National Championship game.

A FINAL FREAKING FOUR.

When I stepped foot onto campus as a nervous freshman back in the fall of 2019, I couldn’t have dreamed of all the experiences I’ve had but I could not be any more grateful. I have built friendships that will last a lifetime, spoken to some of the greatest sports journalists in the nation and covered the greatest Aztec basketball team of all time — all thanks to The Daily Aztec.

It definitely wasn’t easy. Learning to move out of my comfort zone and putting myself and my work out into the world was difficult at first. But, over time I have grown more comfortable with interviewing, reporting on camera and publishing my work for the world

Maritza Camacho

to see. Now I feel ready to take on the professional world as I graduate this May. Having readers walk up to me on campus and say they enjoyed reading my work encouraged me to continue reporting.

With that, I would like to thank everyone who has helped me get to the point I am now.

Thank you to both Jason and Andrew. You both were amazing editors and helped me tremendously by showing me the ropes of covering college sports and encouraging me to apply for the sports editor position.

Thank you to everyone on the Editorial Board for all the hard work you put into the paper this year and for helping make these experiences I have had possible.

Thank you to all my teachers and professors for pushing me to be the best writer and journalist I can be.

Thank you to my fellow sports editor, Morgan Prickett. I have no idea how I would’ve gotten through this semester without all the work you put in, whether it be contacting sources, editing or posting stories. I’m so grateful to have been able to share this last year with you.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed in some way to the sports section this year — you all are extremely talented and I appreciate all the stories, packages and social media posts you worked so hard on. I can’t wait to see what you all do in the future.

Finally, thank you to all my family and friends for all your love and support throughout both my four years in college and the previous 18 years of my life. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without you.

As I entered college I remembered being told how quickly it goes by. While I believed it to some extent, I truly can’t believe it is already over. I do not know what my future holds, but I know for sure that I will always look back on my time at The Daily Aztec as one of the most influential of my life.

I always knew San Diego State was going to be my second home. When I first walked down Campanile drive at 18 years old, I had that fluttering feeling in my stomach that I knew it was the place I belonged. No other college campus I visited at the time gave me that feeling. At 22 years old, it warms my heart to say I still have that feeling walking on campus.

Journalism was not my first choice as a career. I was never the type of student who knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. All I knew was that I wanted to make a positive impact on the world. I wanted to be a storyteller and have my work feel rewarding. That led to me choosing business as my first major. You can already expect how terrible that was for me.

After feeling lost about what the future looked like, I let a career aptitude test determine the career I was best fit for. The result was public relations but since that wasn’t offered at Santa Rosa Junior College, my transfer counselor told me to start off in journalism for the meantime.

Journalism was a placeholder for public relations. However, after taking my first journalism class, journalism became more than just a placeholder. It became my art.

I learned about the importance of “giving a voice to the voiceless,” and it’s something I live by now with everything I do and plan to do in my career.

Journalism allowed me to take risks and provide the opportunity to learn something new every day.

In the fall of 2020, I released my first podcast about the Bachelor Franchise. Podcasting became an outlet for me to escape when it seemed the world around me was falling apart.

The following year, a group of student journalists and I developed a four-episode podcast called “Chronic Catastrophe,” where we talked about how the natural disasters my hometown was experiencing would affect our minds, bodies and spirits. After eight months of late night recording, editing and collaborative hard work, our podcast became NPRsyndicated.

It was one of the most rewarding feelings in my life, especially because I realized how deeply I loved the process of creating a podcast.

I want to thank Lauren Spates, Nick Vides and Rebecca Bell for having patience with myself and each other when we thought we wouldn’t be able to pull it off. I have the utmost gratitude for Anne Belden and Lauren Spates because they saw the potential in me that I couldn’t see in myself. Any time I ever felt like an imposter in the journalism industry, they not only pushed me out of that mindset, but also continued to challenge me even more.

I want to thank my mom for convincing me to listen to my crazy professor who wanted me to do this fellowship. It changed my life. I also want to thank

my parents for being my biggest cheerleaders, even when they still question what my career path is.

As I arrived at SDSU, the student chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists continuously made me feel empowered and seen as a Latina journalist. I’m glad to have joined and been given the chance to meet the most badass future journalists at SDSU.

I’m thankful for Natalie Dudas-Thomas at KPBS taking a chance on someone with little experience in social media management to run KPBS’s social media platforms. I’m grateful for the creative liberty she gave me and the valuable guidance on how to be a social media manager. I’m forever grateful for this internship because it allowed me to find a newfound passion for social media and drive to continue down the path of social media management.

Lastly, I want to thank The Daily Aztec for giving me a platform to continue honing my writing skills. Although many times I was too busy to write as many stories as I would like, whenever I had a story idea everyone was all ears. Most importantly, The Daily Aztec continued to challenge and encourage me to step out of my comfort zone.

I was a big advocate that I never wanted to try out broadcast news because I convinced myself I was never going to be good at it. I want to thank Fatima López López for encouraging me to take that leap of faith and try it out at least once. She pushed me out of my comfort zone even more by telling me I was going to do the Spanish live show. I’ve always been somewhat self-conscious about my accent but the encouragement from the live show team every Wednesday allowed me to build confidence with speaking Spanish and growing my on-air presence.

In college I made mistakes, but I don’t have any regrets. The best thing I did was say “yes.” I tried all kinds of career paths within journalism. I had successes and I had failures. I want to advise the current students that there is no one size that fits all.

There will be many days of uncertainty and lows. There will be days you see your byline for the first time and you’re on cloud nine. You’ll climb the hills faster if you take risks. Say “yes” to any opportunity, but know your self-worth. Don’t work for someone who repeatedly calls you “Martinez” during an interview when your name is clearly Maritza.

In the fourth grade, I was a writer for my elementary school’s newspaper, writing about student elections and contributing to an advice column. If I could see little Maritza now, I would reassure her that everything will be ok. To all the graduates who don’t know what they’re doing, everything will be OK.

My high school graduation cap said, “And my story continues.” Hold on tight, folks, because my story is just getting started.

Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Aylin Michelle

Photo courtesy of Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo

Summer session begins June 12

Earn fully transferable credits just 10 minutes away. General education classes available online and in-person. All classes are $46 per unit. Financial aid available.

grossmont.edu

There’s a lack of representation and respect for women in sports, and society needs to recognize it

Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo MANAGING EDITOR

Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I faced a lot of gender discrimination and online sexism as a female athlete in male dominated sports.

One day in elementary school when I was excited to try out for the school’s basketball team, I was turned down and told that the team was for “boys only.”

Life after primary school didn’t get any easier as I continued to pursue my passion for sports and started competitive scootering in my freshman year of high school.

On March 18, 2016, my life changed. I suffered a serious accident at Clairemont Skatepark. I face planted on street asphalt, was knocked out and

peeled several layers of flesh from my face, hands and body. Due to the fact that I was wearing an uncertified helmet, my head was not fully protected, resulting in a severe concussion.

To this day, I have no memories from that day. I only have what my family and friends witnessed, as well as a video of me in shock minutes after my accident.

During my recovery, I was receiving messages from boys telling me that I deserved to fall because girls aren’t supposed to scooter, as well as messages telling me to quit and do “girly” activities instead.

I tried my best to disregard these messages and not let them affect me, but as a teenage girl, there were moments when they did make me question my place in the sport. This cyberbullying continued throughout my scootering years, intensifying over time. The messages telling me that I “sucked”

persisted but then worsened to others telling me that I should kill myself.

My family’s support, however, overcame all of this unnecessary negativity and helped me create a stronger mentality, which is when I discovered that I’m naturally drawn to challenges. Hence the nickname given to me by friends – “daredevil.”

My accident led to me homeschooling and graduating high school at 16 years old. I was eager to kickstart my college journey and enrolled in my local community college right away.

I’ve always known that I want to work in an adrenaline-fueled field as it’s something I prioritize having in my life. Quickly after starting my higher education, I put two and two together – that combining my passions for journalism and motorsports was the ideal path for me. My maternal grandfather owned auto parts shops in Tijuana. Therefore, I was exposed to the automotive and motorsports world early on.

My younger self, however, couldn’t help but feel underrepresented as Latinas have been marginalized in sports media. I wish Papo was still with us today to witness me overcoming that barrier and pursuing a passion he influenced.

In 2021, when I was the sports editor of my college newspaper, I was informed by my professor that I was the only female college sports editor in all of California.

According to The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES), 14.4% of sports reporters are women. Of that 14.4%, around 28% are women of color. Given that women of color make up 50.8% of the female population in the United States, it’s clear that they are underrepresented in this field.

Why is there a lack of female sports journalists? Because there isn’t enough respect or representation for women in sports media.

Since I began covering sports, particularly Formula 1, I’ve had numerous encounters in which men ask me a series of trivia questions, demonstrating that they underestimate me and my knowledge of the sport. This is one of the most common challenges that many women in sports face – having to prove themselves regularly.

An ESPN survey conducted in 2021 revealed the lack of female employment within Formula 1. Although 38% of Formula 1 Management’s 569 employees are female, data from independent teams is substantially lower. Haas, who are the smallest team on the grid, employ 167 people, 15 of whom are women (9%).

San Diego State University has more than 300 different student organizations, including SDSU Women in Sports, which focuses on women entering the sports industry and breaking glass ceilings.

Nicola Recker, fourth-year business management major and president of SDSU Women in Sports, said the sports industry is very competitive so having clubs like these on campus is significant.

“Hearing such low numbers of representation of women in sports is very encouraging and is the reason why we have this club,” said Recker. “It’s the reason why we put on events and are doing this networking – because we want to raise those numbers.”

The SDSU Women in Sports club hosts meetings in which they have professional guest speakers, LinkedIn workshops and resume revamps. The club is open to any student who has a passion for wanting women to succeed within the sports industry, regardless of their gender.

“There’s challenges that women trying to work in sports face compared to men just because we are significantly less in numbers,” Recker said. “But women in sports are on the come up.”

Isabella Kunde, third-year communication major and vice president of Communications at the SDSU Women In Sports organization, said that the club seeks to improve representation in the industry and members are ready to reach their goals with hard work.

“We, SDSU Women in Sports, are here and we are ready to make the change because we are women who have big dreams,” Kunde said. “Everybody in this club has big goals. They know what they want to do and they are not afraid to go out and work to achieve them.”

I admire the aspiring women journalists and professionals who, just like me, share the same goal of breaking into the complex world of sports.

My immigrant parents made numerous sacrifices for my brother and I so that we could live a better life as we grew up. I’ve made it my life’s mission to not take that for granted and to seek out opportunities to inspire others as I go.

I was recently honored with a certificate from San Diego County, which stated, “Young people deserve to see representation and inclusion through exemplary work to elevate our communities.” As I move forward in my career and work hard to achieve my goals, I am determined to empower individuals, especially young Latinas, to feel that their dreams can come true.

Photo courtesy of Aleyda Gerardo

Aztec junior swimmer Alex Roberts is leaving a legacy at SDSU with two years still to go

San Diego State University junior swimmer Alex Roberts was part of the SDSU swim and dive team’s 50th-straight dual meet win back in late January, back-to-back Mountain West Championships in mid-February and two meets in the NCAA Championship.

Before she had a successful 2022-23 season at SDSU, she played water polo until she took on swimming her junior year at Redwood High School.

“I was kind of a late bloomer when it came to swimming,” Roberts said.

Even though her passion and determination to pursue swimming came later, Roberts had a lot of love for the sport and it ran through the family blood line as her dad was a non-collegiate swimmer, her uncle was a swim coach and her cousins also swam.

When head coach Mike Shrader, who was named Mountain West swim coach of the year for the second year in a row, first watched Roberts compete in high school, before she was recruited to SDSU, he got to meet the Visalia, California native’s parents and immediately “fell in love with the family.”

“They are just awesome people, I love her parents and you can see why she turned out so well,” Shrader said. “Just getting to know them and just in their home and spending a little bit of time with them, I said, ‘man, we gotta get this girl on our team.’”

Shrader saw all of what Roberts was capable of being a “hard worker” with a “winning attitude.”

She arrived at SDSU in 2020 when the world was navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, which was tough on her mental health. Even with her success swimming in high school, she realized swimming in college is much different.

“I was pretty good for high school level, but

once I got to college, I realized I was just bottom of the barrel,” Roberts said. “I really had to rely on my love for swimming, not really think about the competitiveness and work on myself. I could only rely on myself and learn to love myself inside the water, outside the water and just having fun with it.”

In her first season with the team, she experienced Mountain West Championship competition and finished the 100-yard backstroke in sixth place during the finals. Her placement was a collegiate-best time of 55.60, earning her all-MW (Mountain West) honors.

Then, she took her sophomore year to another level, setting eight career-best times during the season. In the 2022 Mountain West Championships, which the team won, her 100-yard butterfly time of 53.68 was the fifth fastest in program history. Her 200-yard backstroke time was the third quickest ever swam by an Aztec.

Roberts went on to compete in the 2022 Phillips 66 Summer Nationals and finished in 24th place in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:03.06.

In the 2022-23 season, one of her main goals was to compete harder in the 2023 Mountain West Championships so she can swim in the NCAA Championships since she barely missed out the previous season.

“I knew at our conference championships, I really wanted to lock it in,” she said. “I swam (the 200-yard backstroke) three times at our conference meet to try and get as fast enough time as I could to try and qualify. Then at the finals at conference, I got my fastest time and that is when I knew that has to get me in.”

Her school and conference record in the 200yard backstroke with a time of 1:52.89, Roberts said, placed her higher than she expected and added to her excitement. Her time was 23rd in the nation and gave her the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Championships in Knoxville, Tenn.

She originally was going to compete in three meets; the 100-yard backstroke and butterfly and the 200-yard backstroke. Since both the 100-yard

backstroke and butterfly were on the same day, she decided not to do the 100-yard butterfly and focus on her backstroke.

When it came to the NCAA Championships, Shrader did not set high expectations for Roberts and the other swimmers competing.

“We came with an intention of winning, but here, we are just here to have fun,” she said. “We are not expected to win, we already did so well at (the Mountain West Championships).”

Roberts finished in 40th place in the 100-yard backstroke then tied for 20th place in the 200-yard backstroke. Her 200-yard backstroke time was .46 seconds off from getting her into the finals.

Roberts capped off her third season with the team with a swimmers only long course meet (50 meter pool) at the Aztec Aquaplex against the University of San Diego Toreros, her first competition since mid-March.

She competed in 11 heats and her most impressive heats were the 100 meter backstroke and the 50 meter backstroke. She finished the 100 meter backstroke in first place with a time of 1:08:90 and the 50 meter backstroke in second place with a time of 32.21.

Both the 100 and 200 yard backstroke are her specialities, but with summer approaching, she is now getting into the long course season. The long course pool is the length used to compete at the USA Olympic Trial level.

“I’ll be focusing more on that (100 meter backstroke) but also trying to get my 200 backstroke at the same level as my 100 back long course,” Roberts said after the USD meet. “Also my 100 fly is pretty competitive also so (I will) be focusing on those three for the summer.”

Shrader said one of Roberts’ goals is to make it to the Olympic trials and with much more improvement, she can turn that goal into reality.

“I think she is really just getting started, as crazy as that sounds,” Shrader said. “She is a phenomenal young lady and the good lords really blessed me to coach Alex Roberts.”

Adam Correa SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Alex Roberts poses in the water. Photo by Charlie Stelzmiller

Sugar Ray, a pillar in the boxing community

progress of his students every day and cheering them on to get better.

Ray, otherwise known as “Sugar Ray,” is a pillar in the San Diego State boxing studio and the San Diego boxing community. As a boxing trainer, Ray believes that he is a ring technician, counselor, life coach and motivator.

Ray is a ball of energy. In the mat studio, he is always blasting music and keeping the energy high and positive. He always talks about mental awareness, and how boxing is not just a physical challenge, it is also a mental challenge.

A couple years ago, Ray was diagnosed with cancer and he thought he was ready to give boxing up. But with the support of his students and social media all around the world, he said “cancer gave me the chance to soul search, to find my inner peace,” which is now his motto.

“After three years of battling cancer, I won, and I found the new me and I'm back in full swing,” Ray said.

Ray was not always a coach though. Earlier in his career he was badly injured, which stopped him from boxing for some time. In this time he helped out on the side of his team with coaching and fell in love with it. Since then. Ray has had hundreds of students in many different classes of all ages.

His favorite part about being back is watching the

Ray also believes that timing is most important. He lives by the quote, “If you do what you love ,everything else will fall into place,” and if it wasn’t for his injury, he never would have become a coach and fallen in love with it. He loves constantly learning from his students, no matter what it is, and he tells all of his students to “do you, and timing is key. You will find yourself with time.”

Ray started boxing when he was around 8 years old. He played as many sports as he could, but boxing was the one he was always best at. Yet, he was never a physical child, and never got into any fights. Ray said he loved the mental aspect of boxing and watching old VHS tapes of his biggest inspiration at the time, Sugar Ray Leonard.

“At that time in my life I learned the sweet science of boxing and fell in love with it,” Ray said.

Ray has over 28 years of experience as a USAcertified boxing coach. Through his years of coaching, he has trained many different athletes including UFC fighters, pro and amateur boxers, actors, children of all ages and seniors. Not only that, but Ray loves to teach progressive boxing techniques and different strategies. Ray also represents San Diego as a boxing referee for many matches.

To tribute Ray in the way he finishes off every class – “WooWee!”

Madison Cadena STAFF WRITER

Artwork by Alexandra Dunlop

Sugar Ray poses inside the SDSU ARC. Photo by Corinne Davidson

NIL opportunities growing with prominence of SDSU athletics

Eric Evelhoch SENIOR STAFF WRITER

It is said you never forget your firsts: your first kiss, your first concert, your first trip to the Final Four...

2022-23 has been a year filled with them for San Diego State athletics, highlighted by the men's basketball team's appearance in the National Championship game, as well as the opening of Snapdragon Stadium. Perhaps one of the biggest for student athletes across the department has been the rollout of platforms allowing them to capitalize on their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL).

For decades, NCAA student athletes were restricted from receiving benefits both related and unrelated to education. This was recently undone as California took the lead by passing SB 206 in 2019, and the 2021 NCAA v. Alston Supreme Court case which effectively enabled removing most of these restrictions. Shortly afterwards, the NCAA issued an interim policy governing NIL.

“We wanted to embrace NIL as much as we could with the understanding that there were so many unknowns that we were going into,” said Tim Lankski, SDSU Senior Assosciate Athletic Director. “Our number one approach to this from an intentional standpoint was 'let's get some education, let's get some programming.'”

San Diego State became the first Group of Five school to fill an NIL coordinator position when it hired Michelle Meyer in November 2021. The Aztec Advantage program launched under her direction with the goals of educating, empowering and protecting student athletes as they seek out NIL opportunities.

“It really almost turned into a business consulting role with the student athletes,” said Meyer, who currently works at NIL Network, which she founded

in 2020. “We would sit down, look at their platforms, (see) how they wanted to take advantage of these opportunities and build that strategy.”

Aztec Advantage provides NIL-specific education as part of a personal development program that student athletes participate in called Aztecs Going Pro. The four-year course focuses on personal growth, career development and civic engagement.

“We spent a year and a half developing curriculum where they're getting education every semester on NIL that we've spent a year and a half developing on how to build your brand,” Lanski said.

For some, brand development came as easy as capitalizing on their personality and a particularly impactful play on the field. Outgoing senior linebacker Caden McDonald knocked one of his front teeth out while tackling a quarterback during his junior year. Not long after, the “Toothless Cowboy” was born.

“I'd made a TikTok that went viral and that catapulted the whole thing,” McDonald said. “The timing of everything was God sent, too. It hit right after the season, and I had a whole year to be able to build my profiles up.”

Now, Toothless Cowboy is an apparel line that sells everything from hats and clothing to koozies and stickers online. While some initially had a laugh about his fearlessly fun-loving online persona, McDonald said that he was able to lend his hand to teammates and his brother Cooper about how to make money as a personal brand.

Beyond individually owned brands, this season the athletic department expanded their partnerships with the launch of the SDSU NIL Store and the SDSU NIL Marketplace.

On the NIL Store, student athletes partner with Campus Ink to sell officially licensed apparel with their names on it. The SDSU NIL Marketplace is operated by OpenDorse and enables student athletes to connect with fans and companies to be compensated for everything from social media posts

and videos to autographs and event bookings.

“Those are the two where we put emphasis in terms of platforms for our student athletes to take advantage of because it's open to everybody,” Lanski said. “It's equitable, whoever wants to do it can do it and can be successful.”

Senior cross country and track team runner Jessica Kain has been able to leverage her followings on Instagram and Snapchat via OpenDorse. It enabled her to both partner with brands and products she supports, while also serving as a role model within the running community.

“I would say 50-50 for the ones that I apply for and I actually get all are paid, which is really nice and that's paid right through the app,” Kain said.

“I show everyone a day in the life…For the running community and for younger girls who are in high school or elementary school who maybe see that, I can show them what it's like to be a college athlete.”

Lanski sees these examples of students working as entrepreneurs, selling themselves as a spokesperson or helping impart how to develop athletic skills in coaching roles at sports camps or clinics as “the real purpose of why people have been craving NIL.”

It also helps to lessen financial concerns for the student athletes.

“Being an athlete, we don't have time for a job,” McDonald said. “To work with another company is a blessing, it makes you feel great knowing that they trust you and want to invest in you on and off the field.”

Another avenue has been signing deals to appear on apparel created and sold by outside companies. The Sons of Montezuma blog touts themselves as the first San Diego-based business to support student athletes by licensing their NIL for use on shirts with player-specific slogans and images.

“I had plans and was already designing and laying out the website and our online store,” said Matt Ortiz, Sons of Montezuma Founder and Content Director. “As soon as that ruling came down, it was within hours that I saw Greg Bell's tweet and I connected with him on social media.”

Bell, a senior running back and the leading rusher on the 2021 football team that went 12-2 and won the Frisco Bowl, was a perfect fit for a student athlete that Ortiz wanted to support. Not only was Bell a top performer, but as a born-San Diegan who attended Bonita Vista High, he had the hometown ties that Ortiz wanted to highlight.

“If you make an investment in these student athletes, you really are making an investment in San Diego…It really is an investment in the community because of the visibility, the personalities and the character of these young people,” Ortiz said. “There aren't many people in San Diego that aren't touched or affected by SDSU in some way.”

Beyond selling apparel, community members have created organizations that engage with certain teams. The non-profit MESA Foundation is an example of this, which compensates members of the basketball programs to partner with causes and charities in the San Diego area.

As the prominence of the Aztecs athletics program continues to rise, the athletic department has aimed to have an NIL program that is scalable with that growth. Beyond the expected announcement of a new NIL coordinator within the coming weeks, Lanski said that there is focus on getting more involvement with the local business community.

The run to the Men's Basketball National Championship game also showed the program's reach in a local sports market where the San Diego Padres are the largest presence.

“There are 85,000 local businesses here in San Diego without a lot of competition for sports sponsorship dollars, so I think the opportunity is really big,” Meyer said. “It's just gonna take time for them to understand all of the pieces and why they would engage in this space.”

Beyond supporting the athletics program as a whole, it makes a major difference for student athletes in every sport.

“If you're not on a full ride or anything, you're still paying for rent and you're still paying for school. It's extremely expensive,” Kain said. “It's really cool because I can create this brand image of myself and kind of give back to the running community, give back to people who haven't hit college yet or haven't gone into this whole crazy competitive sport.”

The 2022-23 San Diego State sports year has been memorable for many reasons, and as opportunities continue to grow for student athletes and the athletics department, there is plenty of anticipation for more firsts.

“We're excited for what the future holds for us, we're confident that San Diego is going to rally around and continue to support and lift San Diego State to be the best,” Lanski said.

Campus Ink's shirt commemorating the game-winning shot by Lamont Butler in the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball National Semifinals is the first NIL item to be offered in the SDSU Bookstore. Photo by Eric Evelhoch

History in the making.

San Diego State University’s historic run to the National Championship brought Aztec fans from all over the country together. Seeing their team perform at an elevated level on the biggest stage, the pinnacle of college basketball, is a moment Aztec fans will remember for the rest of their lives.

Photo by Noelani Sapla

San Diegan band Almost Monday plays for an electric crowd at The Music Box on February 23, 2023.

Photo by Ethan Karlin