Weds., August 10 - Tues., Sept. 13, 2022 Monthly Print Edition
Vol. 109, Issue 1 www.thedailyaztec.com
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The Daily Aztec
News
August 10 - September 13, 2022 EDITOR: Christian Houser• news@thedailyaztec.com
SDSU changes benefits for Teaching Associates causing backlash
Annual contracts have yet to be signed as the fall semester is approaching by Christian Houser & Gabriel Schneider
NEWS EDITOR & EDITOR IN CHIEF
San Diego State University Teaching Associates will have benefits changed after the university approved a new plan for the academic year causing many instructional appointments for TA’s to be moved from .5 appointments (20 hours) to .4 appointments (16 hours) or lower. The 20 hours apply as a minimum benchmark for various programs and benefits that TA’s use. “I transfered to SDSU with the understanding that I would have guaranteed health benefits throughout my studies until graduation,” said Briana Tatum, Biology TA and Ph.D. student. “I am absolutely appalled and disheartened by the prospect of losing my health benefits while I’ve dedicated the past three years of my life to SDSU in good faith as a graduate student.” Teaching Associates provide direct instruction to undergraduate students under the supervision of senior faculty while working on their graduate degree. The association consists of graduate assistants, instructional student assistants, instructional teaching assistant’s and research assistants. After the email was sent about the changes, members of Union Academic Workers 4123 delivered an open letter to the university on June 23 stating how the changing of appointments “not only reduces income for hundreds of graduate student workers during a time of rapid inflation and housing insecurity, but also eliminates the health and welfare benefits that many of us have depended on for years.” There have yet to be any agreements in writing with the university, which has resulted in unsigned annual contracts as the fall semester approaches, according to UAW representatives. In coordination with the UAW, several TA’s held a rally at San Diego State University on June 29.
UAW workers and Teaching Associates gather at Fowler College of Business Administration to share how the change of benefits will affect them individually.
In a statement sent during the protest, the university said that it was true that the plan will result in changes but “it is not accurate to say that TA hours are merely being cut; any change in hours will be made to ensure that TA appointments align directly with teaching loads and expected instructional effort.” According to the statement, the plan is designed to define clear and predictable workload expectations, align graduate student compensation with workload and teaching expectations, improve
the level of compensation offered and ensure students are able to make good progress towards degree completion. During the rally, protesters mentioned that they chose to pursue their education at SDSU with the perception that they would have guaranteed benefits. “I want SDSU to really consider the impact they are having on undergraduate education with these types of decisions,” said Briana Tatum, Biology TA and Ph.D. student. “Because we are undergraduate education as
Protesters at the rally for Teaching Associates benefits walked by Manchester Hall as they expressed frustrations with the changes to their benefits.
Photo by Gabriel Schneider
Photo by Gabriel Schneider
TA’s.” Students can choose from Anthem student advantage plan or can explore coverage outside of school, according to the university. For more information on the Graduate Student Health Insurance Program go to the university’s website. Garland Gerber, social work Ph.D.student and TA, shared she has a dependent who relies on the health benefits previously offered by the university under the CALPERS plan. “I left my career making good money and full benefits,”Gerber said. “I took that leap as head of household because I knew that I would have certain benefits and security promised to me in contract from the graduate program for myself and my son.” There was also confusion about the university’s statement on tuition assistance and unclear distribution of $1.5 million for graduate students. Lark Winner, UAW 4123 president, said the university was unable to answer how many of the TA’s already get assistance for tuition. “It’s very difficult for graduate student workers to be told what’s best for them when the university has not even done the math themselves to know how many (students) are going to benefit from this,” Winner said. It is only known that the tuition assistance would be for graduate students at an appointment level of .2 or above. The dispersion of the 1.5 million for graduate students was also never explained, according to UAW representatives. “They had nothing prepared, they said they will have to get back to us on it, when pressured they threw out a couple of numbers that didn’t really have context to them,” Winner said. Another meeting was held on July 20 between UAW and the university. There was nothing agreed in writing, according to an email from UAW representatives.
3 News Timeline: Alleged SDSU SDSU Reimplements Facial Covering Requirement rape of underaged girl
August 10 - September 13, 2022 EDITOR: Christian Houser . news@thedailyaztec.com
by Christian Houser & Gabriel Schneider NEWS EDITOR & EDITOR IN CHIEF
The Daily Aztec
Facial coverings are required in instructional settings beginning August 15
Student health services at Calpulli Center.
by Christian NEWS EDITOR
Houser
In a campus-wide email sent on August 4, the office of San Diego State President Adela de la Torre announced the reimplementation of facial coverings beginning August 15. The reason for this change stems from the “recent increased COVID-19 transmission and case counts in San Diego County,” according to the campuswide email. All faculty, staff and students will be required to wear a facial covering in instructional settings regardless of vaccination status.This includes in classrooms, instructional labs, the library, and other spaces being actively used in an instructional capacity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , San Diego County is at a high-risk level for COVID-19. A region’s risk level can be low, medium or high and is determined by hospital bed capacity, hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in the area. Mauro Tambasco, Associate Professor and Medical Physicist, said he believes the decision to require masks for the beginning of the semester could be beneficial for the future. “I’m okay with it,” Tambasco said. “If it is based on the fact that the case rates went up then I think maybe it’s the prudent thing to do for the first couple of weeks.” Teaching assistants, instructional faculty and interpreters will be allowed to remove their facial coverings when teaching as long as they are up to date on vaccinations and students are masked in the classroom.
New confirmed COVID-19 cases in San Diego County per day.
Photo by Christian Houser
Facial coverings will also continue to be required for all individuals in limited environments that have licensing or other requirements, this includes the Children’s Center and Student Health Services. The email also noted that “Facial coverings are recommended indoors when gathering for events, meetings and other functions with others, to include non-instructional settings, such as offices.” California State University system’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements are unchanged and require all students, faculty and staff to have a COVID-19 vaccination and booster on file to have access to campus facilities and programs. According to San Diego County, there have been just under 8,000 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last week. New confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been on the rise since the start of summer break. The recent change to this decision has caused differing opinions on the matter across campus. Ricardo Quinta, a senior and Civil Engineering major, is not pleased with the decision to require masks on campus. “I’m not too happy about it,” Quinta said. “Personally I don’t understand the need to go back for face coverings if we are all vaccinated. If this is the new normal of COVID and it’s gonna be around then we as individuals need to take steps for our own safety and safety of others. But I think it’s up to our own individual to do that.” The campus-wide email noted that the policy will be in place until September 15 and the university will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation.
Courtesy of San Diego County
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The Daily Aztec
Editorial
August 10 - September 13, 2022 EDITOR: Gabriel Schneider • editor@thedailyaztec.com
Editors of The Daily Aztec share their plans and aspirations for the new year By Gabriel Schneider and Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo Hello, Aztecs! As the 2022-2023 academic school year starts we want to thank you all for your continuous support. Firstly, we offer a warm welcome to all freshmen and transfer students to San Diego State University. And to those returning Aztecs: welcome back! We are beyond excited to share with you our incoming plans as leaders of The Daily Aztec this year. Change is coming. Our goal is to be the eyes, ears and voice of the community - and to bring in a few new audience members along the way. Each issue we will work to enhance our reliability and inclusivity while keeping content fresh and accessible for all. We hope you will help us by speaking out on issues that impact you, and also trusting us to tell your story with professionalism and care. We believe that The Daily Aztec is more than just a piece of paper, we see The DA as an organization that can be an outlet within arm’s reach of our community. Times are changing and so are we. In this age of media, we digest information on a variety of different platforms and our aspiration is to meet you on each one of those. The Daily Aztec’s aim is to bring quality over quantity. This means we will transition to a new monthly print model in lieu of our previous weekly issues. Production changes will bring more in-depth coverage to the issues
(cont.) impacting the community and allow us to engage with folks like you across our various platforms. Multimedia is one of our main hubs for this year. You will find consistent content posted on our website and our social media platforms. Alongside our monthly newspaper issues, this year we will publish two magazines: one at the end of each semester.
The Orientation Issue EDITOR IN CHIEF Gabriel Schneider MANAGING EDITOR Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo NEWS EDITOR Christian Houser OPINION EDITOR Katy Stegall MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Sumaia Wegner SPORTS EDITORS Justin Cox Morgan Prickett SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Melody Bathaee PHOTO EDITOR Brittany Cruz-Fejeran MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Mackenzie Stafford LIVE PRODUCER Flower Smith GRAPHICS EDITOR Emily Forschen
STAFF WRITERS Marian Cuevas Maitland Klingberg Ariana Mardani Daniela Ramirez Juan Zubia CONTRIBUTORS Owen Ekstrom ________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Joshua Gong ________________________________
Our plans call for more engagement from our own journalism community as well as other groups. We encourage designers, photographers, illustrators, creative writers, poets, artists, musicians and all other creatives to share their voice or art at The DA. We are here for you as we hope to diversify our types of content and amplify your voices. This year, we encourage you to stay posted with The DA as we will be a space where you can come for news, entertainment, motivation, resources, and more. Finalmente, para nuestra comunidad latinx, queremos invitarles a que estén al tanto de nuestro noticiero. Viviendo en una ciudad como San Diego que está llena de gente latinx, el Daily Aztec también ofrece contenido en español. Nuestra sección llamada Mundo Azteca, está dedicada a producir artículos y videos para la comunidad. Al igual que están bienvenides a ser parte de esta sección y compartir su arte, escritura y talento. Siganos en redes sociales y no olviden agarrar su periodico fisicamente cada mes en campus.
GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Quentin Skaggs EDITORIAL editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING 619.594.7807 advertising@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 2,000 copies of its monthly print edition Wednesdays throughout the semester WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com QUESTIONS/COMMENTS letters@thedailyaztec.com The views and opinions expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.
FOLLOW US /dailyaztec @TheDailyAztec @thedailyaztec /DailyAztecVideo
Opinion
August 10 - September 13, 2022 EDITOR: Katy Stegall • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
The Daily Aztec
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Sexual assault occurs more often than you might think. We talked to Nicole Jones, program director for Safe Family Services in the San Diego Youth Services, about what students need to be aware of.
By Daniela Ramirez and Katy Stegall
13% 18-24 4.1% The age when most sexual assaults occur in young adults
of students report experiencing sexual assault on campus
>6%
The amount of men who experience attempted or completed sexual assault in college
Silence does not mean yes.
Only yes means yes.
of undergraduate students report experiencing rape
Many stats about sexual assaults The amount of women who experience are likely lower completed sexual assault in college than the reality since these are predicted to be underreported. Sexual assault is
10.3%
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The amount of rapes out of 10 in which the perpetrator was someone known to the victim
NOT a gender-
specific issue!
If you are sexually assaulted, it is important to get help as soon as you can. In order to get the best and fastest help, do not change clothes or shower until after a forensic exam.
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) Hotline 1-800-656-4673
Stats provided by the CDC and RAINN
Opinion San Diego has been surveilling people without consent. Here’s how you can prevent it. 6
August 10 - September 13, 2022 EDITOR: Katy Stegall • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
The Daily Aztec
by Katy Stegall OPINION EDITOR
The San Diego City Council approved a technology called “Smart Streetlights” in 2016 to collect environmental and traffic data. They were unaware of its surveillance capabilities. San Diego police learned in August 2018 the Smart Streetlights were equipped with technology to record video and audio and started to quietly use the footage to solve crimes in the area. This moment was the catalyst for a city-wide transparency movement that would come to shape policy within the community. A surveillance oversight coalition of over 30 organizations swiftly came together in 2019 and created two ordinances for city council after the public found out about the police’s new tool. They call themselves TRUST SD. As university students too began to join the movement outside of TRUST SD, their efforts were shunned. Some community members critical of the ordinances said of former UCSD student Alisha Saxena that she wasn’t a “real” resident and college student voices should not influence public policy. She continued to push forward and organize students to advocate for oversight over surveillance technologies used by law enforcement. And San Diego State students should do the same. Saxena was the chief of staff for local affairs for the Associated Students. She said after The San Diego Union-Tribune referenced her in a story, where she spoke against surveillance practices at a city council meeting, some critics within the community said her voice should not count since she’s an out-ofstate student. But Saxena didn’t listen to critics. Co-author of the ordinances and UCSD Professor Dr. Lilly Irani said TRUST SD had no part in the students Saxena organized — but added that the coalition members “loved” to hear student voices. She encourages them to continue. “Students are really important members of the community,” Irani said. “They’re often overlooked as people who can push back and make a difference where they work, go to school, and where they live.” Saxena agrees. “I think they forget that we lived there for four years,” Saxena said. “Students have just as much of a right to speak up about what’s going on in your community. These issues will affect you while you’re staying there, so you may as well speak up about it and have your voice heard.”
Students have organized against mass surveillance, citing particular discomfort with on-campus monitoring. Students Against Surveillance wrote about NSA surveillance and SDSU in May 2014. Illustration/Emily Forschen
There’s a reason the San Diego region is a prime location for surveillance tech — three actually. San Diego has the highest concentration of military personnel in the nation. We’re also a major urban city close to the Pacific Ocean and the Mexican border. But this unique political climate also impacts SDSU. This means the same risks San Diegans face by law enforcement’s hands also trickles down to folks on campus – which is why it’s imperative students speak out and not dismiss the power of their voices. It doesn’t always come without risk. The First Amendment protects free speech, but it does not protect from law enforcement. In fact, in the summer of 2020, the Smart Streetlights were used on Black Lives Matter protesters in San Diego. “Over a five-day period, investigators accessed the city’s network of streetlight cameras at least 35 times in search of evidence for criminal cases,” Voice of San Diego’s Jesse Marx reported. This is… Disturbing given that San Diego also has a long history of disproportionately targeting Black and Brown members of the community. According to KPBS, minorities are more likely to have a gun used on them than white people in San Diego. San Diego law enforcement agencies are also more likely to stop and search Black and Native American people, according to The San Diego UnionTribune. However, Dr. Khalid Alexander, founder and president of non-profit Pillars of the Community, said this issue expands beyond Black and Brown
communities. “Yes, it is directly geared towards black and brown people,” he said. “But it’s also geared towards anybody whose thoughts, actions, beliefs, are deemed as illegal or deemed as outside of the norm.” “Surveillance technology, essentially, is about identifying problems. And unfortunately, law enforcement consistently uses that to identify human beings as problems. So what happens if you, yourself, are the problem?” In 2020, BLM protesters were the problem. In 2022, it’s seeking abortions. The recent overturn of Roe v. Wade has left people in at least 21 states at risk for losing access to abortions, according to NPR. While California is not among those, SDSU’s out-of-state students have cause for fear. According to NPR, privacy advocates are worried about how data collection from period-tracking apps could lead to potential criminal charges for people seeking abortions. It’s also not a far stretch to assume that, if Smart Streetlight data can be collected to use against BLM activists, it could also be used by federal agencies to track and monitor places such as Planned Parenthood. UCSD Professor Irani said data can be collected, shared and saved — which could leave abortion seekers vulnerable. “Just look at how abortion, access to contraception, and gender affirming care have become illegal in some states in a blink of an eye,” Irani said. “Something you think is totally fair may also one day become a crime.” Some supporters of surveillance argue that if they aren’t committing crimes
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then surveillance doesn’t impact them. But Irani said that frame of mind doesn’t encompass the entire picture. “Surveillance isn’t about crimes,” she said. “It is about control. You may find that one day somebody you love is doing something that those in power don’t believe should be done.” One group at risk both locally and nationally are undocumented people. With approximately 169,000 undocumented people in San Diego County alone, according to the National Migration Institute, chances are residents know and care about someone who’s undocumented — even if the resident doesn’t know their loved one is undocumented. Undocumented students can have difficulties joining political movements that impact them specifically because publicly advocating for a cause can leave them exposed to law enforcement or people who do believe in strict borders. Former UCSD student Saxena said she helped encourage undocumented students to speak out on similar political issues by collecting testimonies to read on behalf of them. “I say I’m reading these perspectives from undocumented students who wanted to remain anonymous, but who felt that their perspectives were necessary and wanted to have their voices heard,” she said. “I know I’m safe given that I’m a citizen.” SDSU students in the past have tried to organize around privacy issues, but it didn’t get much traction. Today’s students can change that. You can be a voice for others — even if you aren’t from San Diego. The decisions made by local lawmakers still impact SDSU, even if you don’t intend to be a permanent resident. There are steps you can take to get involved. First, find folks already organizing around issues you care about. A few possibilities are the organizations a part of TRUST SD including Showing Up For Racial Justice, or the Tech Workers Coalition. There are also hundreds of SDSU clubs each year and some focus on organizing around political, social and economic issues in the region. Students can also apply to be on the board of an issue they care about at the city level. San Diego City Council is accepting applications on 46 various boards who seek to help make San Diego better in some fashion. If surveillance is your thing, consider submitting an application for the Privacy Advisory Board. It might just protect San Diegans from another Smart Streetlight blunder.
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$ 99*
August 10 - September 13, 2022 EDITOR: Katy Stegall • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
Hey y’all, I’m Sean, otherwise known as @sdsuaztecmemes. I’d like to welcome you to SDSU in the only way I know how, with memes. On this page, I’ve assembled a collection of memes that you may relate to now or may relate to in the future being here at State, I hope they bring you some joy. I started making memes for State back in the fall of 2019 as an incoming freshman. After three years and even a pandemic, I’m still here making memes for you, the students. Memes have gotten me through a lot, especially in college. If you enjoy anything you see here or even just occasionally need some advice on
Opinion
The Daily Aztec
how to navigate this new landscape, I would hope for you to give me a follow. If not, that’s ok too, I’m still vibin either way. I wish you the best of luck at San Diego State University, arguably one of the most enjoyable places in higher education, even though it’s also arguably one of the biggest shit-shows. Anyways, I never know how to end things like this so I’m going to leave you with some words of wisdom that may just help you get through your college years with a little less stress. “It izzzzz what it izzzz”
ideas expressed by the creator do not necessarily reflect those of the daily aztec
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The Daily Aztec
Arts & Culture
Aries, March 21 - April 19
You are known for having a competitive side and large ego, but this year, put that away. Coming into a big school with a bigger ego will only hurt you. At first, you might not feel like you belong, a freshman with the mindset of a senior, but be patient. Time can only tell… spoiler, you will definitely find your place here.
August 10 - September 13, 2022 EDITOR: Sumaia Wegner • arts@thedailyaztec.com
Libra, September 23 - October 22
You enjoy balance, when everything seems to coordinate perfectly. In some ways, this will help you, in others it won’t. Striving for something unattainable is going to make you go crazy, whether it is in school, or just everyday activities, things won’t always equate to one another. However, keeping a balance in academics and your social life is such an important key to keeping you sane. You need that satisfaction only given through social interactions, so having that outlet will help you in so many Being an Earth sign, you love your relaxation. Whether it be a ways. With that, having a balanced amount of studious hours will nice long shower, a nap wrapped in warm blankets, or even just carry your educational career, while not drowning you in work. a sit in peace and quiet. Safe to say, you will not have such things when entering the world of college. Loud roommates, neighbors, and construction will fill in the silence during the You know a whole lot about the people who surround you, yet times you are not stuck in the library studying. Be sure to take they do not know too much about you. Try not to stay this way time to find things you enjoy by yourself, but also make sure to through college. It is okay to let your guard down every once in come in more open-minded, because trust me, you will learn a while, and yes, of course it is scary and you do not want to to miss the moments with your freshman year roommates and admit the fact that it terrifies you showing your vulnerable side, friends more than you think. but trust me, sometimes it can help more than hurt.
Taurus, April 20 - May 20
Scorpio, October 23 - November 21
Gemini, May 21 - June 20
Everyone is so quick to assume you are this two-faced evil villain, but in reality, you are truly misunderstood. You have two sides to you, one that loves the social aspects of life, and the other, well… not so much. You need your peace and quiet, your time away from people where you can reflect on everything and just take a moment to breathe by yourself. This might be hard at first, getting those moments alone, you might see your social battery dying faster than in high school, just know it is normal to feel that at first, but eventually, you will pick back up where you started. You are going to be okay.
Cancer, June 21 - July 22
Everyone knows you for your sensitive side, and in this case, they are right for generalizing you. This transition will be difficult, having distance from your family and friends, no matter the amount. Just know, coming here will grow your emotional connections, so making new individual relationships will help you deal with the space between your past ones. At the end of the day, you have enough love for everyone… make sure you take advantage of that.
Leo, July 23 - August 22
You are passionate and show your fun personality through enthusiastic adventures… just do not get too caught up in those adventures. Take time to focus on your studies, because you will have difficulties when the time calls for it. It is good you like to live in the moment and enjoy every second with those who make you feel like your true self. But it is also important to remember you came here to grow in every possible way, including mentally. Put time away for your education. And no, your loved ones did not make me write this one.
Sagittarius, November 22 - December 21
You are a passionate person, eager to begin on whatever the next adventure may be, and that is awesome. Let that passionate side push you to try new things, study crazy concepts, and meet people who might stick by your side for the rest of time. Be fearless in whatever way you can. Go out to that party you were nervous about, who knows, it might be the best night of your life. Try taking that class you were curious about, what if it changes your career path? Do not let your past reflect what if’s, answer those questions in the present.
Capricorn, December 22 - January 19
You are respected for your patience, which is so important in college. We are not going to be here forever, so really take your time making sure you do it right. Complete your classes, form relationships, enjoy every second of the San Diego sun, and leave here proud, knowing you did everything to the best of your ability. Allow your patience to keep you from worrying about graduating in four years, because honestly, you might not. You might take an extra semester or two, and that is okay, stay yourself and stay patient. You will get where you need to be.
Aquarius, January 20 - February 18
You want what is best for those around you, and that is such an admirable trait to have, but sometimes you do it at the cost of yourself. While being selfless is considerate, consider yourself. Spend a little extra time on yourself this upcoming year, lots of changes are going to happen, and no matter how much you want to nurture those you love, you must acknowledge the signs you might show of needing someone. That someone being yourself. Give the time and energy you provide your people with to yourself.
2026
Virgo, August 23 - September 22
Routines are not everything, carry this with you throughout your college career. If you choose to stick to your ways of perfection, you won’t get far at all. There will be days when things do not go according to plan, and sometimes, those days end up being the most fun. So let loose and live a little, and do not focus on what could have happened, instead appreciate what did. So what you did not study the amount you planned on, you got to spend it in the company of those you loved! Who cares that you didn’t get an A on that paper, it just means there is room for improvement. Try thinking more optimistically when plans go south, that is what will get you through.
Pisces, February 19 - March 20
You feel every emotion, and that can be a setback for you. Feeling every emotion comes with feeling fear, anxiety, and all the rest that showcase themselves during big environmental changes, like moving out into a new part of the world. Take deep breaths and know that you are here for a reason, you will find what was meant for you.
Arts & Culture
August 10 - September 13, 2022 EDITOR: Sumaia Wegner • arts@thedailyaztec.com
The Daily Aztec
Your Quick, Welcome-to-SDSU Campus Guide by Sumaia Wegner, design by Emily Forschen Whether you’re a local, transfer or out-of-state, SDSU has many resources to help guide you to a successful first year. Starting college can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it does not have to be. First things first, take a moment to pat yourself on the back, because you made it here! You did it! With countless opportunities to grow as a student, here are some (of numerous) suggestions to get you going.
Health & Wellness
Student Health Services
Counseling & Psych. Services
Aztec Recreation Center (ARC)
Student Clubs and Organizations
Homework Help
Math & Stats Center (3rd floor)
STAR Centers:
Writing Center (1st floor)
Located in the library, these centers offer tutoring and additional academic support. If you’re looking for one-on-one mentorship, you can participate in a Commuter Life Mentoring Program.
Leadership Opportunities Aztec Nights Events
Through SHS, you can see a medical professional on campus for most health concerns at no or low cost. Counseling & Psychological Services offer therapy and mental wellness options. Sign up for the recently opened ARC for free for access to the pool, tennis and basketball courts, a full gym and rock climbing/bouldering. Stay social and make new friends by getting involved in one of SDSU’s over 300 campus organizations! Aztec Nights also offers fun, unique event experiences, which are great for meeting friends and hanging out with ones you’ve already made!
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The Daily Aztec
Arts & Culture
August 10 - September 13, 2022 EDITOR: Sumaia Wegner • arts@thedailyaztec.com
Comics make way into SDSU curriculum The Center for Comic Studies is setting a course for comics as the future of education
SDSU 4th criminal justice major, Erubey Robles and Elena Torres cosplay as Star Wars Jedi at San Diego Comic-Con
by Brittany PHOTO EDITOR
Cruz-Fejeran
Across the curriculum of San Diego State’s course catalog, comic-driven classes are being offered. These hidden gem classes will showcase unique perspectives in history, representation and social justice issues through analyzing comics. Professor Elizabeth Pollard and pop-culture librarian Pamela Jackson (co-directors of the Center for Comic Studies) encourage students to explore their scholarship through the lens of comics. “Our world around us is so visual and so heavily entrenched in that,” Jackson said. “Even if you don’t care about
Photo By Brittany Cruz-Fejeran
comics, learning those skills of that close reading and close analysis of visual formats [will be] an invaluable skill in the modern world that surrounds us.” Previously known as Comics@SDSU, the center explores the power of comics through an analytical and researchoriented approach. They shared how comics can transform humanity during one of their Comic-Con panels. That is why they helped curate over 100,000 comics in the library’s special collection archive. SDSU offers five comic-driven courses with 10 more in development within the next two years, thanks to the two-year
grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The grant will support the center to build a comics and social justice curriculum which will eventually expand. According to Pollard, this is only the beginning. A Comic Studies Certificate will be proposed to the university by 2023, predicting it will be approved for the 2024 school year. Certificates are similar to minors but require fewer credits. For now they said they are really excited for the range of courses that will be available this all. Professor Gregory Daddis will teach his first comic driven course called, “Comics and Cold War America.” In this course, he said he wants to show his students how comics showed the fears and values that Americans had during this era. His lectures will discuss the containment of the communist threat, science fiction as an allegory of the cold war, issues of juvenile delinquency, social justice and more. Illustrations intertwined with the written word become very powerful, said Daddis. “These aren’t just throw-away cultural products for kids,” he said. “I think they’re very reflective of where America was during the Cold War and what many Americans were thinking in the post World War II era.” Africana Studies Professor Ajani Brown, a fan of comics since he was eight, has been teaching his Afrofuturism course since 2014 and has another course called “Super Black” in the works. The course will discuss the politics of representation in comics. His motivation to create these courses is to fill in the gaps of what he wished he could have taken while he attended SDSU. “It’s a dream class. Students are gonna love it,” he said. “It’s important for everybody to get that wide breadth of humanities from the comic books perspective because that’s never happened before.” Other current courses include
Comics and History, Native Americans in Comics and Graphic Arts, Graphic History, The Visual Odyssey in Sequential Media, and Illustration Jackson and Pollard said they are aiming high with the hopes of also creating a comics minor and a major, but the timeline of these goals are dependent on student interest. “If the students take these courses and show that there’s a demand, that is going to be the most compelling argument to make the certificate into a minor and then more,” Pollard said. Fawaz Qashat, a third year biology major said Comics@SDSU was the particle accelerator to his knowledge of comics, referencing CW’s The Flash series. “Comics started off as a hobby, but (Comics@SDSU) showed me there’s so much more to comics that helps us learn about the status quo,” Qashat said. Qashat was taught to find deeper meaning in what comics try to tell its readers. One of those messages was in a comic about Marvel’s Wanda and Vision where he saw themes of the immigrant experience through Wanda and discrimination of their relationship in predominantly white neighborhoods. “I, as an immigrant, not only love this character for her, but also can relate to her, because I was also seen as an outsider when I came here,” Qashat said. “I also didn’t speak English very well when I first started school.” Qashat, who hopes to be a physician one day, said he wants to use his newfound perspective of comics by creating accessible information similar to graphic medicine, which are comic style infoguides on medicine uses. For the nerds at heart, hesitant to embrace what they love, Qashat said to stop hiding. “I’m here as the person telling [them] that, no, you can still do what you love and incorporate it into your major,” he said. “Express your fandom because we’re all here to cheer you on.”
Comics@SDSU holds a panel at Comic-Con called The Transformational Power of a Comics and Social Justice Curriculum with (l-r) professor Elizabeth Pollard, professor Gregory Daddis, Professor Jess Whatcott, and pop-culture librarian Pamela Jackson.
Photo by Brittany Cruz-Fejeran
August 10 - September 13, 2022 EDITOR: Sumaia Wegner • arts@thedailyaztec.com
Arts & Culture
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The first time one of my friends visited my first (and only) dorm room, she said that everything on my side of the room made it feel very welcoming and cozy. “It feels like a home,” she said. I hadn’t thought about any of that when I decorated, but I saw that she was right. I had taken my half of that double room and turned it into a small sanctuary for myself—a place to meditate, to rest, and to learn. When I moved into my freshman dorm, my parents and a close friend helped me put everything in place and decorate. I put some fake flowers on a vase on top of the bookshelf, draped a handmade Mexican duvet on my bed, and put
up the flower painting one of my best friends got me as a going away gift. I used a hair tie to attach a small Mexican flag to one of the arms of the wooden cactus my mom gave me and put it next to my books. A ceramic cactus-shaped night light stood in front of those. We taped the string of flower lights to the bottom of the bookshelf that loomed over my bed, which was decorated with two IKEA pillows and a small stuffed bee that my mom got me. I slept with my head towards the window. With the room’s layout, I could pick between that or having my feet to the window—but I always liked the natural light seeping in through the window in the morning, right at the bottom where the broken roller shade wouldn’t reach. If I woke up early enough to catch the early rising sun, I could see its warm light shining against the yellow and orange buildings across the street. I lived on the sixth floor, which gave me a nice look over the colorful fourstory buildings. Walking to school early, I was met with morning dew and crows hopping along the street. The SoCal breeze on my skin, early enough to find quiet along our main streets as I headed over to school. Those quiet strolls in the morning gave me a lot of time to think. In busier weeks, I would think about my assignments, and all of the deadlines coming up–but during the calmer weeks, when I felt like I had things under control, I had time to think about my new life and what it meant for me. I would walk home every night just after the sun had set and look at the moon and stars. Even in the middle of winter, the night sky made me feel warm—they made the habitual walk back feel like a home in itself. I had never paid much attention to any of that until I moved away from home for university. I realized that whichever place you move into becomes your home, even if just for a season. My surroundings became more vivid. The space I found upon opening my eyes each morning, the morning path to school, and the room I came home to after a long day out all appeared to breathe a life of their own. Home was everywhere and nowhere, as anywhere I looked was void of memories and full of potential, every person I met a stranger and a friend in one. Only time would tell whether any of these spaces would become a lasting home, or whether any of those hearts would foster a lasting friendship. More often than not, the spaces were only temporary sanctuaries, and I would fall out of touch with those friendships by the end of the term. That didn’t make it any less worthwhile—I came to truly understand how time changes everything, including ourselves. As uncomfortable as times of change can be, I had to find a way to love the constant change and the impermanence of my new life. The constant newness of everything as I moved to a different building once again and created bonds with different faces also made me wonder about our own resistance to the changes of time—I learned that it hurts a lot more when time comes to change you than when you learn to change in and with time. It’s the difference between being shoved ahead by the waves of time and finding a way to ride along. For me, the way to ride along had to do with making a temporary home of wherever I went, and with learning to spend time on myself—because if there is one thing alone that I have learned is that the time you spend on yourself is the time you will remember most, and in your life you will spend more time with yourself than with anybody else. I suppose changing in and with time is really just the journey of learning to enjoy your own company, and learning how to adapt to a changing world around you. In the end, whether it was that freshman dorm, the two apartments I lived in during my sophomore year, or the apartment I found and kept as I went through the last few years at school, what mattered most was making myself a home where I could learn to enjoy my own company. Sometimes that looked like my warmly decorated half of the room, and sometimes it looked like an apartment full of trinkets and memories. Sometimes the people I had welcomed into my home would not be around to see the next space I called a home—but, soon enough, that impermanence became the beauty of it, as the continuously changing spaces that we find ourselves calling home teach us that, ultimately, home can be almost wherever you want it to be.
spaces by Marian Cuevas
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Mundo Azteca
August 10, 2022 - September 13, 2022 EDITORS: Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo • mundo@thedailyaztec.com
El Latinx Resource Center está siendo renovado y dará la gran bienvenida pronto El nuevo espacio en campus espera apoyar y celebrar a estudiantes latinx durante sus años universitarios por
Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo
GERENTE EDITORIAL & EDITORA DE MUNDO AZTECA
El Latinx Resource Center (LRC) localizado en la planta baja de la biblioteca en San Diego State University está en las últimas etapas de remodelación e invita a estudiantes a que se sientan en casa en este nuevo espacio que estará lleno de inclusividad y apoyo. La construcción y remodelación se inició el año pasado con el plan de terminar en Febrero del 2022, pero hubo retrasos debido a la pandemia, causando que la gran inauguración se lleve acabo entrando el nuevo año escolar. Le Asistente de Director del LRC, Erik Esqueda Sánchez, compartió que el objetivo principal del nuevo espacio es garantizar que les estudiantes latinx en SDSU se sientan cómodes durante sus años universitarios. “Aunque representamos un tercio del total la población estudiantil, les estudiantes latinx todavía sienten que la institución está predominantemente llena de estudiantes americanos,” dijo Esqueda Sánchez. “Creemos que no depende en el estudiante el cómo navegar por la universidad, entonces es por eso que creando este espacio lleno de buenas intenciones, pueden conectarse a muchos otros recursos en el campus.” Les estudiantes podrán disfrutar de áreas de estudio, zonas de descanso, espacios para guardar y calentar almuerzos, impresión gratis, salas de conferencias, murales coloridos y otros recursos
El Latinx Resource Center que se encuentra en la planta baja de la biblioteca en SDSU esta en proceso de remodelación.
gratuitos y experiencias inolvidables. Elisa Mendez-Pintado, Asistente de posgrado de la Comunidad Estudiantil, explicó las diferentes formas en cual les estudiantes podrán aprovechar de este nuevo espacio en campus. Tal como apoyo físico del espacio, al igual que apoyo moral de los trabajadores y miembros del LRC. “Además de ser un centro de recursos físicos, el LRC es mucho más que eso y
Foto por Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo
queremos que en este lugar les estudiantes se sientan cómodes y que no sientan la necesidad de pretender ser alguien que no son.” dijo Mendez-Pintado. “Por ejemplo pueden venir y hablar español sin que les echen miradas incómodas; simplemente un lugar libre de juicio.” La Directora del LRC, Yesenia Sánchez, agregó que otro impacto principal es que les estudiantes sean promovides y tengan
asegurades que el espacio sea uno que les fortalezca. “Que puedan entrar y se sientan orgulloses de quien son, que se sientan validades, que recuerden que merecen estar aquí,” dijo Sánchez. “Mucho de nuestro trabajo está centrado en asegurar que nuestros servicios y programas sean en respuesta de lo que escuchamos de nuestres estudiantes y de los retos que están enfrentando porque desgraciadamente escuchamos constantemente como estudiantes aún se sienten perdides y limitades a ser auténticamente elles.” Esqueda Sánchez dijo que elle desea que les estudiantes siempre aprendan y experimenten algo diferente al visitar el LRC. “Quisiera ver que les estudiantes estén mirando las paredes y encontrando obras de arte que les hablen, que estén haciendo nuevas conexiones con otras personas que son de diferentes disciplinas” dijo Esqueda Sánchez. “Quisiera que esto sea un centro lleno de alegría radical y también un lugar que realmente se basa en apoyar a les estudiantes que están a la vanguardia, pero también a la comunidad en grande.” Los murales que estarán en el LRC tomarán en cuenta varias identidades interseccionales para que les estudiantes se sientan representades. El LRC se abrirá con la esperanza de ser un espacio en donde les estudiantes puedan sentirse conectades con sus raíces y orgulloses de su cultura a la vez de estar floreciendo una comunidad especial entre elles.
Opinión: La diferencia significativa entre el nombre de Moctezuma y Montezuma El nombre de Moctezuma merece honor y justicia cultural
por Juan Zubia CONTRIBUYENTE
¿Qué importancia tiene un nombre? En la mayoría de los casos, usar un nombre equivocado puede tener consecuencias catastróficas. Si pidiéramos direcciones y nos dieran el nombre de la calle equivocada, podríamos terminar perdidos o incluso dar una vuelta mal y chocar. ¿Si los nombres de héroes de guerra y personas que entregaron sus vidas a su patria fueran grabados en mármol incorrectamente, acaso no sería lo mismo que deshonrar su memoria y su sacrificio? Tal es el caso como San Diego State University ha usado incorrectamente el nombre de Moctezuma II, último líder del Imperio Azteca antes de la destrucción de Tenochtitlan en el Siglo XVI, y claramente la figura histórica más prominente en nuestro campus. Moctezuma es en sí una corrupción hispana del nombre original en náhuatl, Motecuhzoma, la cual ha sido finalmente transformada en un anglicismo a Montezuma. No cabe duda de que a través de los años, y desde su adopción en 1925, el tema de Azteca en SDSU ha estado rodeado de polémica y ha sido causa continua de discusión en la comunidad mexicana y latinoamericana en general. A pesar de las recomendaciones y peticiones por parte de la Alianza Estudiantil de Nativos Americanos, al igual que las opiniones de varios
profesores, académicos y líderes chicanos, el tema de Azteca continúa siendo usado. A estas alturas de la historia de SDSU es menos probable que deje de ser usada, ya sea debido al legado que ha establecido en exalumnos y la comunidad de San Diego por casi cien años, o simplemente por la costosa campaña que sería necesaria para cambiar la marca y el tema de Azteca, especialmente por los muchos ámbitos y contratos en los cuales un Azteca es la mascota de SDSU. Desde 1941, cuando la mascota de “Monty” fue presentada por primera vez en un juego de fútbol americano, las imágenes y representaciones de los Aztecas han sido mayormente incorrectas y muy seguido han mostrado tradiciones, vestimenta y ceremonias equivocadas, ya sea porque eran originarias de otras tribus nativas y civilizaciones prehispánicas, o porque eran simplemente ficticias. La famosa escultura creada por Donal Hord, que ahora se encuentra en el Centro de Futuros Estudiantes en SDSU, fue denominada por el artista como “Azteca” en 1937, pero la base que fue donada a la escuela ese año ya incluía una placa inscrita con “Montezuma”, lo cual solo ayudó a fortalecer el uso del nombre equivocado. En la última década, SDSU se ha dedicado a corregir muchos de estos errores culturales, de tal forma siendo leal al tema de los Aztecas y usando nombres correctamente como Calpulli, Chapultepec, Cuicacalli, Tacuba, entre
Calle a las afueras del campus de SDSU en honor de Moctezuma.
otros, al igual que creando un Grupo Especial de Identidad Azteca, quienes se han encargado de monitorear el uso de la identidad Azteca con reverencia y respeto al majestuoso Imperio mesoamericano. El uso incorrecto del nombre Montezuma, acoplado al hecho que este ha sido proliferado a través del tema y la historia de SDSU, significa que tenemos que alzar nuestras voces y expresar
Foto por Owen Ekstrom
nuestras preocupaciones para poder honrar y brindar justicia cultural al espíritu líder de nuestra alma mater. Si no somos nosotros los estudiantes quienes buscamos mejorar nuestra comunidad, la historia se continuará escribiendo incorrectamente, mientras los nombres equivocados son aquellos celebrados y cuyo legado pasa a la posteridad.
August 10 - September 13, 2022 EDITORS: Justin Cox and Morgan Prickett- sports@thedailyaztec.com
Sports
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Aztec summer sports roundup: Pac-12 changes may open doors for a conference move Men’s basketball loses a key contributor and SDSU swimmers head to Nationals.
Chad Baker-Mazara pulls up for a jumper in a game against the University of New Mexico, Jan. 31, 2022. BakerMazara will no longer be part of the SDSU program after failing to meet academic requirements.
by Justin Cox SPORTS EDITOR
While most San Diego State University athletes are preparing for next season, there has not been any shortage of sports news for the Aztecs. Here are a couple important news items Aztec fans should pay attention to. USC and UCLA’s Big 10 move gives SDSU a chance to level up. The University of Southern California and UC Los Angeles sent shockwaves through the college football landscape this month, announcing they will be moving to the Big 10 in 2024. This is just the latest college football conference change as the two Southern California powerhouses follow other prestigious universities such as the University of Oklahoma and University of Texas who announced their decision to eventually move to the Southeastern Conference last year. This departure of two of the most
Photo/Owen Ekstrom
recognizable West Coast college football programs leaves a massive void in the Pac-12, one of the “power five” conferences. SDSU may be poised to fill this hole given its athletic strength and being in the Southern California market. The same day the UCLA and USC move was announced, SDSU Athletic Director John David Wicker discussed the possibility of the Aztecs moving into a power five conference. “We’re always out there looking to figure out what’s going to be best,” Wicker said. “Obviously this opens up a hole in Southern California and San Diego State is the one institution sitting here in Southern California and we will continue working to put our student athletes, institution, fans and alumni in the best possible situation.” SDSU has proved it can compete with
the Pac-12 on the field as Aztec football is 7-2 since 2016 against Pac-12 opponents including wins over UCLA, the University of Utah and Arizona State. The Aztecs also hold the secondbest combined collegiate football and men’s basketball record since 2010. The larger hurdle is whether the Pac-12 presidents are willing to add a California State University, something they have been hesitant to do in the past due to the conference’s academic standards. However, these are unprecedented times as both the Pac-12 and Big 12 conferences appear to be falling behind their SEC and Big 10 counterparts in the rapidly changing college football hierarchy. Men’s basketball loses a key contributor in Chad Baker-Mazara. One team that is expected to compete at the top collegiate level regardless of their conference is next years’ Aztec men’s basketball team. SDSU returns many of its top contributors from last years’ 23-9 team and is expected to be one of the nation’s best with its added depth and young talent. However, one familiar face who won’t be returning is junior Chad BakerMazara after he “failed to live up to his academic responsibilities,” according to Head Coach Brian Dutcher. Baker-Mazara averaged 6.4 points per game last season and was named Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year by Mountain West coaches. “Chad is a wonderful basketball player, but it’s more than basketball,” Dutcher said to the San Diego UnionTribune. “It’s about living up to responsibilities. I can’t just make it about basketball. It’s about academics and preparing you for life, and those
are things we live by in this program.” SDSU Swimmer Alex Roberts becomes third Aztec to qualify for 2022 USA Swimming National Championships. Despite summer break, SDSU swimmers continue to showcase their talent in the pool. SDSU junior Alex Roberts will join teammates senior Kristina Murphy and sophomore Meredith Smithbaker at the 2022 USA Swimming National Championships after Roberts qualified for the 100m backstroke, after her performance at the 2022 Speedo Grand Challenge in Irvine. With three qualifiers for Nationals, SDSU ties a program high for number of participants in the last decade. “We are incredibly proud of Alex for her first National Championships qualifying time,” Aztec Associate Coach Stephen Allnutt said in a SDSU Athletics press release. “She set a goal at the start of the summer season and, with tremendous confidence and focus, accomplished it at her first opportunity.” Roberts swam a personal-best time of 1:02.68 just 23 hundredths of a second under the qualifying time of 1:02.89, according to the press release. “We are so thrilled about our swimmers that are going to the USA Swimming’s national championships meet,” Aztecs head coach Mike Shrader said in the press release. “Alex, our latest qualifier, made her cut winning the event over some of the best swimmers in the country. Meredith, the Freshman of the Meet at the Mountain West Championships, qualified in the 100 breaststroke, and Kristina, who made her cut at the U.S. Olympic Trials, where she finished third in Wave One.”
SDSU Football hosts a 7-on-7 high school passing camp for the first time in two years Former Daily Aztec sports editor goes full-circle as a coach at the Aztec practice fields by Morgan Prickett SPORTS EDITOR
San Diego State University has returned to host a pair of 7-on-7 passing camps after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The camp ran over the weekends of June 11-18 and saw around 36 high school football teams arrive on the Aztec practice fields each weekend. The teams competed in a double-elimination competition with each side guaranteed at least five games. “It means a lot because a lot of great athletes come through this school so just playing or being on the same field as them is an honor to be like them,” Ramona senior Azlan Enriquez said in regards to the opportunity of playing and being scouted on the Aztec Practice Fields. “Same with me, it means a lot,” Ramona senior Diego Ramos added. “I know a lot of people that went to the next level that came from here. Over the course of the two weekends, plenty of new faces arrived on the Mesa to showcase their talent. But one familiar face stood out over the rest. Former Daily Aztec Sports Editor
Andrew Finley made his return to campus after graduating in May, but not to cover any sports, this time, he was coaching one. Following his graduation, Finley began his role as freshman head coach of the Ramona High School Football Team. During the camp, Finley expressed his gratitude for being able to coach on the campus where he once went to school. “It’s super cool, even cooler now that I’ve graduated from here,” Finley said. “I remember playing in this when I was in high school and this is one of my favorite tournaments of the year, we have a few of them that we do every year.” “I parked across campus and walked through the middle just because I love this campus,” Finley said as he shared his love for the university. During the camp, Finley’s football team faced off with Nevada’s Boulder City High School and Oceanside’s El Camino High School, as well as others, as they prepared for their upcoming seasons. Some of the individual players prepared for their future after high school. Over the course of the two weekends, the teams battled it out until one was crowned champion each weekend. During the weekend of June 11, James Madison took home the championship by defeating Lincoln 15-12. The following weekend, Rancho Cucamonga defeated Mater Dei 26-16. But the real champion was the beautiful sport of football as large crowds gathered to witness the great spectacle that had been dearly missed
Two high school football teams set up their plays as they prepare to begin another possession on the San Diego State University Football practice field, June 12, 2022. Both teams competed during the 7-on-7 passing camp in which SDSU resumed hosting after a 2-year hiatus.
Photo/Morgan Prickett
for two years. “The purpose of bringing tons of student-athletes to campus is to evaluate, coach, and give them a great experience at San Diego State University,” Ruben Pena, SDSU’s Director of Football Operation, told East Village Times in an exclusive interview. “It gives the coaches a good glimpse at these players that come on campus and are able to talk face to face and really get to see their character and really get a sense on how they are doing academically.”
Over 10 D1 to D3 schools were in attendance with scouts from schools such as Cal-Berkeley and Arizona State University. Aztecs’ head coach Brady Hoke and other members of the football team watched closely. The camp provided a real opportunity for teams, players and coaches to get the recognition that they might have never received, and most hope that SDSU’s football camp returns to the Mesa this following summer.
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Sports
SDSU football vs Arizona Wildcats Saturday, Sept. 3, 12:30pm
SDSU football vs Idaho State Bengals Saturday, Sept. 10, TBA
The Aztecs will face the Wildcats to mark Snapdragon Stadium’s first-ever sporting event. After a year of having to make the trip to Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, the Aztecs can finally call this stadium their home. The highly anticipated matchup is the second between the two schools in the last 20 years. The most recent meeting between the schools occurred in Tucson, Arizona last season where the Aztecs routed the Wildcats 38-14. The previous matchup took place all the way back in 2001 when the Wildcats claimed a 23-10 win. The Aztecs are 6-10 against the Wildcats since 1931.
The Aztecs’ second-ever game at Snapdragon Stadium, will also be their second-ever game against the Bengals. The previous matchup between the schools took place back in 2004 when the Aztecs were victorious 3821. During that matchup, the Aztecs went rampant and scored 24 points on their first three possessions in the first quarter. If the Aztecs want to replicate last season’s AP Top 25 College Football Poll finish, they may need to channel some of the offensive energy that they showed against the Bengals back in 2004.
SDSU Mens Soccer vs Washington Huskies Thursday, Sept. 29, 7:00pm The Aztecs will meet their Pac-12 foes, the Huskies, on Sept. 29 for the program’s first and only match at Snapdragon Stadium this season. The two schools met four times in just the year 2021 where the Aztecs went 1-3. Since the first matchup between the two schools in 1983, the Aztecs have a 7-8-24 all-time record against the Huskies. So it looks like the Aztecs will be heading into Snapdragon as the underdogs in their own town. But it would set up quite the spectacle if the Aztecs could pull off a win on one of the brightest stages they’ll play on all season.
SDSU Football vs UNLV Rebels Saturday, Nov. 5, 7:30pm The Aztecs have proved to be the more dominant team in their matchups with the Rebels. The alltime record between the schools tilts in favor of the Aztecs at 21-10. The Aztecs will also have the opportunity to make some history. With the Aztecs’ current longest-winning streak against the Rebels sitting at four, they will have the opportunity to tie that record with a win against the Rebels on Nov. 5. When playing the Rebels at their home stadium, the Aztecs have an even better record. They have dominated the Rebels 12-4 at home, so the odds are in the Aztecs’ favor to put on a show for the Snapdragon crowd.
SDSU Womens Soccer vs San Jose State Spartans Thursday, Oct. 6, 7:00pm
August 10 - September 13, 2022 EDITORS: Justin Cox and Morgan Prickett- sports@thedailyaztec.com
SDSU football vs Toledo Rockets Saturday, Sept. 24, TBA Sept. 24, 2022 will mark the first-ever meeting between the Aztecs and the Rockets. Last season, the Rockets went 7-6 while the Aztecs went 12-2. The Aztecs lead the Rockets in almost every statistic for the teams’ all-time performances. But Toledo does have an edge in two interesting statistics; they lead the Aztecs in bowl games played by four and have a positive record in bowl games while the Aztecs are negative. The Rockets have also spent more weeks on the AP Top 25 College Football Poll.
SDSU Football vs Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:30pm
San Jose State will make the trip down to Snapdragon Stadium as the Aztecs look to secure victory during their one and only match at Snapdragon Stadium this season. Last season this was one of the Aztecs’ most even battles as they tied 0-0 even after requiring double overtime. Interestingly enough, that was only one of three times the Aztecs found themselves in double overtime last season. The previous meeting, before the tie, resulted in a dominant 6-1 win for the Aztecs. The Snapdragon crowd will be looking for a replica of that dominant win two matches ago and who knows, maybe we will see the women’s soccer team get some more playing time at Snapdragon as well.
During the last 10 meetings between the schools, dating back to 2012, the Aztecs have won in eight of their meetings. Although in the last four years, the Rainbow Warriors have proved to be more of a challenge, winning two of the last four meetings. Both sitting in the West Division of the Mountain-West Conference, this game is bound to be a battle between these west coast schools. Despite the elimination of divisions in the Mountain West next season, these teams are still scheduled to play each other three times over the next three seasons.
SDSU Football vs San Jose State Spartans Saturday, Nov. 12, TBA
SDSU Football vs Air Force Falcons Saturday, Nov. 26, 6:00pm
The Aztecs’ game against San Jose State will be their most recent game against a Mountain West Conference Champion. The Spartans were crowned after defeating Boise State with an empty stadium in Nevada in 2020. After getting blown out in last year’s Conference Championship to the Utah State Aggies, the Aztecs may look to channel their revenge towards the Spartans as they also have the crown which the Aztecs desire. The last meeting between the two schools was a defensive battle up in San Jose. The game went to double overtime and neither team managed to score a touchdown until the Aztecs scored in the first overtime. The Aztecs were the ones to come out victorious 19-13.
The history between these two schools tells two completely different stories. On one hand you could believe that these schools have been very even over the years, with the Falcons winning more games than the Aztecs all-time. But then if you look at the more recent history, you would think the complete opposite. Since 2010, the Aztecs have not lost a game to the Falcons. The Aztecs are currently sitting on a nine-game winning streak with the chance of bumping it up to 10 at their last regular-season game at Snapdragon Stadium. It might not be the last though, as a Mountain West Conference Championship game at Snapdragon could be in the Aztecs’ future. Design by Emily Forschen
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August 10, 2022 - September 13, 2022
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