The Daily Aztec 8/25/2021 by The Daily Aztec

Weds., Aug. 25 - Tues., Aug. 31, 2021 Weekly Print Edition

Vol. 108, Issue 2 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

Trial date for lawsuit set regarding freshman death

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

SPORTS SDSU football plays a game for the first in eight months. PAGE 4

ARTS & CULTURE Aztec Nights are back and inperson. PAGE 5 Photo by Catlan Nguyen

Hall of Justice building located in downtown San Diego where civil lawsuit documents are available to be viewed by the public.

by Catlan Nguyen & Jayne Yutig

EDITOR IN CHIEF, ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

OPINION Advice for students battling homesickness inside! PAGE 4

MUNDO Ocupas trabajo? Lee mas sobre oportunidades en las instalaciones de SDSU. PAGE 5

INDEX News............................... 2-3 Opinion.............................4 Mundo............................... 5 Arts & Culture ............... 6-7 Sports............................ 8-11 The Back Page.................. 12

On Aug. 6, the San Diego County Superior Court set a trial date for the wrongful death lawsuit of a 19-year-old San Diego State freshman who died in 2019. Initially filed by the father of the freshman, Dylan Hernandez, the 14-day jury trial for the suit is set to begin on Aug. 5, 2022. The judge presiding over the hearing set pre-trial proceedings to begin on May 6, 2022. The 14-day jury trial was

agreed upon by the attorneys representing the Hernandez family and attorneys for the defendants before it was approved by the superior court judge. Hernandez’s death back in Nov. 2019 came as a tipping point for leaders in the SDSU community to examine ongoing issues within Greek life at the university. After the university’s investigation into Hernandez’s death, two presidential task forces were created by the university to implement measures to prevent hazing and substance abuse within fraternities.

The recommendations in the report included hazing prevention measures as well as a system for members to anonymously report incidents, though the university is yet to fully implement all of the recommendations. While some fraternities were already suspended at the time, all quickly became suspended and faced further punishment even before Hernandez’s death was confirmed to the public. The suit alleges negligence against nearly 20 known defendants including California State University, SDSU, President Adela de la Torre,

Aztec Shops, the manufacturer of the dorm bunk beds and more. “The university does not comment on situations involving active litigation or investigation,” SDSU said in a statement. Among the defendants are also multiple members of Phi Gamma Delta, Hernandez’s former fraternity. During the case management conference earlier this month, an attorney representing the Hernandez family disclosed to SEE TRIAL DATE PAGE 2

Teen shot near SDSU campus after weekend parties, SDPD to launch investigation by Katelynn NEWS EDITOR

Robinson

A fight in the College West area resulted in a 16-year-old being shot in the face on Saturday Aug. 21 around 11:50 p.m. Two shots were fired during the fight that included a group of 20 to 30 people, and two 16-year-olds, according to a statement released by the San Diego Police Department. The teen’s face was struck by fragments of the bullet and he suffered lacerations as well as damage to the left orbital. According to SD police’s statement, two teens were approached by a group of approximately 30 men who accused the teens of throwing a bottle at their group. The group of men chased the teens and proceeded to punch the victim

multiple times before the gun was fired. The current charge against the suspect who fired the gun will be assault with a deadly weapon, the police press release said. The victim was taken to the hospital and was treated for his injuries. His mother told CBS 8 he has a long, difficult recovery ahead of him. SDSU responded to the incident and parties that took place over the weekend with a university-wide email and a curfew advisory of midnight on the Sunday prior to the first day of classes. “Although not all social behavior reported and observed involved SDSU students, and not all SDSU students were

File Photo

Police car located on campus near SDSU library.

SEE TEEN SHOT PAGE 2

The Daily Aztec

News

Aug. 25 - 31, 2021 EDITOR: Katelynn Robinson • news@thedailyaztec.com

SDSU implements new mail system

Photo by George Liao

Two new UPS stores open on campus for SDSU residents to send and recieve mail.

by George Liao CONTRIBUTOR

The UPS Stores, located on Hardy Ave. and on College Ave., will start servicing all mail and packages for all San Diego State residence hall residents starting in the Fall 2021 semester. In a statement on the Housing and Residential Education website, the university detailed this change. “We are excited to share that two new The UPS Stores are opening on campus this fall for all residential mail services,” the statement said. “Starting in Fall 2021, mail and packages may no longer be sent directly to the on-campus residential communities. Instead, all mail must be directed to The UPS Stores

on campus.” The university adds, “Please do not send any mail or packages to The UPS Stores until after move-in.” To ensure mail and packages are correctly routed, housing asked for mail to be sent with the resident’s first and last name, the residence hall name and room number along with the address of the assigned UPS Store. e residence hall residents starting in the Fall 2021 semester. In a statement on the Housing and Residential Education website, the university detailed this change. “We are excited to share that two new The UPS Stores are opening on campus this fall for all residential mail services,” the statement said. “Starting in Fall 2021, mail and packages may no longer

be sent directly to the on-campus residential communities. Instead, all mail must be directed to The UPS Stores on campus.” The university adds, “Please do not send any mail or packages to The UPS Stores until after move-in.” To ensure mail and packages are correctly routed, housing asked for mail to be sent with the resident’s first and last name, the residence hall name and room number along with the address of the assigned UPS Store. Residents from Aztec Corner, Granada, Huaxyacac, Chapultepec, Piedra del Sol, University Towers and Zapotec residence halls will have mail and packages delivered to the UPS Store on west campus at 5505 Hardy Avenue. The east campus UPS Store located on

SDSU lifts electric scooter, bike and skateboard ban by Katelynn NEWS EDITOR

Robinson

After about two years San Diego State has updated their ban on micromobility on campus in a University Senate meeting on May 6. Bird scooters and other micro-mobility devices will be allowed on campus in designated areas including bike paths and designated docking areas. “The decision to return micro-mobility devices to campus was made following a noted change in the micro-mobility rental landscape and technology, and a California State University system requirement to review transportation demand and accessibility on campus,” a statement from the university said. Riders must acknowledge the speed limits, designated parking areas and usage paths. The university will also offer incentives such as reduced prices for those who properly park their Bird scooters and moving found scooters to approved spaces to avoid clutter on campus.

College Avenue will receive mail and packages for the Maya and Olmeca complex, Tepeyac and Tacuba complex, South Campus Plaza, Tenochca, Villa Alvarado and Zura. Housing also announced M@College will be the exception when it comes to mail delivery. Residents at M@College, a SDSU-affiliated housing complex. will need to have mail sent directly to the apartment complex. Addressees for M@College will need to be sent in this format — the resident’s first and last name, M@College and the apartment number along with the M@ College mailing address of 5030 College Ave, San Diego, CA. Gavin Horton, operations manager for the UPS Store, explained the reasons for the mail delivery changes. “The SDSU residence halls have been wanting to not handle mail and packages at the residence halls,” Horton said. “We are [...] taking over all mail and packages for all the dorms [and apartments] on campus.” He goes on to mention in addition to mail and packages, the UPS Store offers other services such as packing, shipping, photo-copying, printing and making banners. He also gave insight on how the packages will be handled at the UPS Stores. “As soon as we get packages, they get logged in, students get notified and they come pick them up and off they go,” Horton said. To prepare for the extra load this fall, Horton explained the management process that took place. “We have a very unique system that only university UPS locations use to do package management,” Horton said. “It’s through a company called Luxor, who is also known for doing high-rise apartments and things like that. It just keeps everything nice and organized.” The new UPS store locations are located on the west and east parts of campus. The west campus location is 5505 Hardy Ave.San Diego, CA 92115. The east campus location is 5187 College Ave. San Diego, CA 92115 where the old CalCopy store was located. For more information regarding this change, contact Housing and Residential Education at oha@sdsu.edu or visit their virtual desk, open from Mon. to Fri. from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Moving forward, Bird will be responsible for regular redistribution of micro-mobility devices to reduce clutter, infrastructure for designated parking/docking of the micro-mobility devices and geofencing to control regions of access, and micro-mobility device speeds,” the statement said. The scooters were banned originally due to reckless use, accidents and the amount of abandoned scooters left on campus daily. During the initial scooter ban, Bird Scooters would not operate within the boundaries of SDSU’s campus and students who did not dismount from the scooters were subject to fees as well as additional charges for riding in a “no ride zone.” In order to end a charge on the scooter, students would have to ride it back off campus where they were operational. Photo by Catlan Nguyen

Electric scooter located on campus near Hepner Hall.

Aug. 25 - 31, 2021 EDITOR: Katelynn Robinson news@thedailyaztec.com,

News

The Daily Aztec

SDSU hosts in-person convocation since 2019 by Adam Correa CONTRIBUTOR

At 5:30 p.m, Friday, Aug. 20 the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre filled with incoming students from the Professional Studies and Fine Arts and College of Sciences departments. Randal Timm, Dean of Students, made an introductory speech and welcomed SDSU Ambassador Natalie Soriano to the stage to sing the national anthem. Timm then introduced James Alvarado Waipuk, Chair of Tribal Relations, to present a speech on Kumeyaay Land Acknowledgement. “We stand upon a land that carries the footsteps of millenia of Kumeyaay people,” Waipuk said. He explained the importance of the Kumeyaay and how wearing black and red is a part of the Kumeyaay legacy. Dr. Adela de la Torre, the SDSU President, gave a welcoming presidential address to the new incoming students. “Family celebrations and community building have always been an important part of my life,” de la Torre said. De la Torre said that the SDSU campus is going to be a healthier and safer environment for students to return to in-person learning. “More than 94 percent of our students are vaccinated against COVID-19 and the vast majority of our faculty and staff are also vaccinated,” de la Torre said. The students that aren’t vaccinated due to medical reasons or religious reasons will be regularly tested. De la Torre finished up her presidential address by talking about the past alumni students and some of their greatest accomplishments and she told the new students they can be as great as our past alumni. Provost and Senior Vice President Salvador Hector Ochoa spoke about how as new students, we shouldn’t rely on our parents or professors, we need to rely on ourselves. “Strive for excelence and extinguish yourself as a scholar, leader and global citizen,” Ochoa said. Associated Students President, Ashley Tejada, opened her speech by saying how she wasn’t any different from the new incoming students. “Today however I would rather you

Photo by Adam Correa

Students and families gather at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre for in-person convocation.

think of me as a fellow SDSU student, this is because my SDSU journey that got me where I’m today, started in the same place you are at this very moment,” Tejada said. Tejada said she came to SDSU as an undeclared freshman, lacking direction but had a lot of love and support around her that she had easy access to. She thanked her parents and brother for always being there for her. Tejeda acknowledged her fellow executive officers as part of Associated Students because they have helped advocate and preserve the student voice. Students were asked by Tejada to stand

and read the Aztec Declaration by New Students. The Declaration shows the importance of the phrase “Mexica Tiahui”, which means “Always Moving Forward.” Dr. J. Luke Wood, Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity, talked about the importance of reaching out to faculty for help and guidance. Lisa and Chris Manzuk, Aztec Parents Advisory Board Members, said that over time as Aztec parents, they have seen a huge amount of family and community support. They had the students stand up and put the Aztec pin apart from

Trial date set:

Teen shot:

continued from page 1 to the judge that private investigators were having difficulty serving two additional unknown defendants with notice of the lawsuit. The attorney for the Hernandez family said he hoped to have the lawsuits served to the two additional individuals within 60 days. SDSU President Adela de la Torre, Aztec Shops and an ombudsman from the university filed demurrers earlier this summer in response to the initial lawsuit, claiming the Hernandez’s family had no grounds to sue them for the reasons stated in the initial suit filed in Nov. 2020. “The complaints’ failure to differentiate between the numerous defendants and assign conduct to each defendant renders complaint subject to demurrer,” the demurrer file said. Almost every defendant has also filed for a motion to strike, which means their names would be removed from the record. Lawyers for the Hernandez family responded to a demurrer filed by the CSU.

the tassel, on the left side of the family member’s shoulder signifying them as an Aztec parent. Colin Taquino, a Recording Technology and Sound Design Student at SDSU, was glad to be back at in-person events. Taquino was asked what he was most looking forward to this school year. “Just meeting the sea of people that are coming to school with me and meeting all these new faces and having all these new experiences that are waiting for me here at college,” Taquino said. James Ardilla, a Computer Science major at SDSU, said that he is very excited to be back in-person and see people again.

continued from page 1

Courtesy of SDSU

Dylan Hernandez, a freshman at SDSU, died on Nov. 8 after falling off his bunk bed in his dorm room. He had attended a fraternity party before the incident.

“Despite its promises and duties, Defendant and it’s agents, Adela de la Torre, Darrell Hess, etc. … knew that over ten other people had previously reported being injured by Defendant’s dangerous products (the Foliot bunk beds in particular) and knew that ongoing crimes had been committed at properties under Defendant’s control (e.g. 5804 Montezuma Road),” according to SD County Superior Court records.

Aztec Shops is listed as a defendant because they are property owners of The Fraternity Row apartments on campus, which is where the incident happened, along with other allegedly illegal acts. According to court records, lawyers for the Hernandez family allege Aztec Shops was knowledgeable about how their properties posed a threat to the public and failed to report illegal activities to authorities per lease agreements.

were involved, we are committed to holding students accountable for their participation in last night’s events as they are identified,” the email said. “The behavior of some SDSU students last night is inconsistent with our community values and is unacceptable.” The email, that was sent to SDSU students and parents, stated the following Aztec night events including the screening of The Breakfast Club and available food trucks would conclude at midnight instead of 2 a.m. this past Sunday night. In response to the increase in parties, Associated Students organized a community clean up in collaboration with Greek Life on campus. About 100 volunteers from fraternities and sororities participated in the clean up, according to the email. The SDPD said they launched an investigation about the events that took place over the weekend. A reward of up to $1,000 has been posted. Anyone with more information is asked to contact the SDPD Eastern Division at 858-495-7940 as soon as possible.

Opinion Embrace pandemic college experience 4

Aug. 25 - 31, 2021 EDITOR: Aaliyah Alexander • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

by Sierra Stallworth CONTRIBUTOR

Going back to school brings out a lot of emotions. For incoming freshmen, worries about being on your own for the first time and making new friends emerges. For sophomores, who faced their first year of college online, are also stepping onto a campus they’ve probably never visited before — embarking on their first in-person college experience. While we all know both freshmen and sophomores will be going through a “real” freshman experience for the first time, so many upperclassmen will also be having a similar feeling of being a freshman again. In March 2020, I and many of my peers quickly evacuated campus with the threat of COVID-19 on our minds. We packed our bags and went home with no idea of when we could return. Despite the few who were able to return in the fall of 2020, most of us left campus as underclassmen and will return as upperclassmen. When most people think of freshman year, freshlyturned 18-year-olds who are embarking on a new path come to mind. Freshmen are learning how to live on their own, how to take classes as college students and how to find their calling in life. It’s the ideal time to make mistakes because no one expects 18-year-olds to get it right on the first try. Freshman year is a

Students prepare to return to new normal after COVID-19.

transitional period for our youth and a pivotal experience in their life but due to the pandemic, the freshman experience was abruptly halted for the class of 2023. They went from “newbies” who were just starting to find their own way and get accustomed to campus to juniors who are supposed to have it all together. Dorm life quickly changed to adulthood for many upperclassmen as they began living on their own in apartments off campus. No one expects them to be excited by the events on campus or by the first football game because they

Photo by Aaliyah Alexander

were supposed to have already experienced all of their “firsts,” but unfortunately, that’s not the case. Many students never got to experience what it felt like to finish a full year of classes in person. We never got to feel the fresh air and the warm sand of springy San Diego or to feel how it is to say goodbye to campus in May with the promise of returning in the fall. Although the university tried to keep us on track with online instruction, we have bypassed many once-in-a-lifetime college experiences and missed key learning benchmarks.

Online classes are tough and many students have suffered trying to stay on top of their work. While some have taken advantage of online instruction, others have been negatively affected. The skill level and success that is associated with upperclassmen might not be up to par with what our professors want from us. COVID-19 has brought immense changes to the lives of students but with in-person classes beginning in the fall, many students are making an effort to get the college experience COVID-19 took away. An “after-pandemic” college experience might not be the dream many students dreamt of but it is a chance to return to a somewhat normal college environment. Although upperclassmen have to start all over again, I believe this “freshman feeling” will help us never take school for granted again, prompting us to go to those sporting events even if the teams have bad track records or to that club meeting we’re not sure we would like. Embrace doing things for the first time even if we don’t have the title of “freshman.” We are all embarking on a new adventure that can be scary and sometimes troublesome, but instead of straying away from these fears, embrace them and dive into growth for the new semester. Sierra Stallworth is a junior studying journalism.

“Leaving the nest” is a big deal in our society. In a way, it’s a rite of passage — a time where parents or guardians get to see the little child they cared for spread their wings and venture into the unknown. Not only is leaving home for the first time difficult for our loved ones, it can take a toll on us because many of us have never been away from home for more than two weeks. As someone who left her hometown in Mississippi at the ripe age of 18 and moved to California to attend college, I know how it feels to be away from the only sense of security you’ve had growing up. I don’t have the luxury of going home on the weekends to a home-cooked meal or seeing buddies from high school in my college classes for a sense of familiarity. Instead, I had to start from scratch and create a new home while growing into my independence. After two years away from home, I can safely say I’ve learned a lot about overcoming the urge to catch a flight back home at the first sign of trouble.

If you’re anything like me, change is your best ally, so if you’re having a difficult time with overcoming homesickness, try implementing these few things: Surround yourself with pictures. Pictures of loved ones to hang around your dorm room is a great way to be reminded of them while you’re away at college. Take the time to develop some photos to frame or order a polaroid printer to make a polaroid wall. Whatever you do, don’t hold back because I promise the more the merrier. Cry (no, seriously. Let it all out). In an interview, ConsciousLiving influencer Radhi Devlukia Shetty shared her experience with leaving her family in England after marrying former monk, author and speaker Jay Shetty. One thing she said helped get her through the transition of moving to New York City was crying. “I miss my mom… let me just cry about it… I don’t want to wallow in it, but I definitely think releasing emotion in whatever your body needs to…is so healthy,” Shetty said.

“And when you cry, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re really sad, it just means you have an emotion you want to release out of your body.” How many times have you felt great after a good cry? If you’re feeling the need to let it out, then by all means let it out! Spend time with your new college buddies. Doing something fun with new acquaintances you’ve made helps take your mind off home. Especially if you’re an outof-state student, exploring your new home gives you the opportunity to find spots to make your own — slowly creating your new reality and that “home-away-from-home” feeling. FaceTime your family. We live in a wonderful time where seeing family is just a click away. Just a few years ago, students had to go to college without the luxury of a smartphone capable of reaching loved ones, so take advantage of this amazing tool and FaceTime your family. Create a routine. Since classes are in session, this step is easier — classes, work and other activities will inevitably take up most of your day. When you have places to be

MANAGING EDITOR Trinity Bland NEWS EDITOR Katelynn Robinson OPINION EDITOR Aaliyah Alexander MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Noé Sandoval ASST. MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Karina Bazarte ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Ryan Hardison SPORTS EDITOR Jason Freund ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Finley SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Amanda Orozco PHOTO EDITOR Noelani Sapla MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Mackenzie Stafford ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jayne Yutig GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hemen Hesfin

STAFF WRITERS SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Juan Daniel Avilla Jessican Octavio CONTRIBUTORS George Liao Adam Correa Madison Miles Marian Cuevas Sierra Stallworth Xiomara Villarreal-Gerardo ________________________________

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Brian Arnold

Ways to overcome homesickness easily by Aaliyah Alexander OPINION EDITOR

EDITOR IN CHIEF Catlan Nguyen

________________________________

and people to see, the thought of missing home rarely comes up because you’re too busy living your life. Going off to college and having our coming-of-age “main character” moment is something many of us have been dreaming of since we can remember, so don’t let homesickness take up too much of your mental space. Welcome all the feelings that come with leaving home, keeping in mind that it’ll soon pass. Author John Green said it best in his book “Paper Towns,” “It is so hard to leave — until you leave. And then it is the easiest goddamned thing in the world.” Aaliyah Alexander is a junior studying journalism and media studies. Follow her on Twitter @ aaliyahdanyell.

GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Luis Valenzuela EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING 619.594.7807 advertising@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition every Wednesday throughout the semester WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com QUESTIONS/COMMENTS letters@thedailyaztec.com The views and opinions expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.

Outside the window during my trip.

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Aug. 25 - 31, 2021 EDITOR: Noe Sandoval • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Mundo Azteca

The Daily Aztec

Oportunidades de trabajo para los estudiantes en el campus de SDSU

Xiomara Villarreal- Gerardo ESCRTIORA

Durante las horas libres en que los estudiantes no tienen clases, pueden invertir su tiempo en ganar dinero y aprovechar de los grandes beneficios que obtienen al trabajar en el campus de La Universidad Estatal de San Diego . Hay varias ubicaciones donde los estudiantes pueden escoger su empleo ideal. Tales como la biblioteca de SDSU (SDSU Library), el Aztec Recreation Center (ARC), Viejas Arena, la librería de SDSU (SDSU Bookstore), KPBS, la policia universitaria (SDSU University Police) y en diferentes comedores en el campus. El año pasado SDSU develó una nueva plataforma llamada Handshake, donde estudiantes pueden fácilmente buscar trabajos e interactuar con otros estudiantes para intercambiar las diferentes metas que tienen acerca de su futuro profesional. Las razones son varias, empezando con el hecho de que estudiantes pueden aprovechar la oportunidad de tener sus estudios y trabajo a solo unos pies de dis-

Foto por Xiomara Villareal-Gerardo

El comedor de East Commons en SDSU es un de muchos está ofreciendo empleo para estudiantes.

tancia. Es decir que no tiene que dejar el campus para ir a trabajar. La experiencia que obtienen en esos trabajos les dan una gran ayuda para su futuro profesional, ya que formará parte de su curriculum vitae. Las compañías que se encuentran dentro del campus le dan prioridad a la vida estudiantil, ofreciendo flexibilidad de

horario y a la vez un ambiente divertido y prometedor donde encontrarán nuevas amistades. Hay oportunidad de obtener becas especiales y también algunos trabajos dan descuentos en libros y mercancía. Aparte de todos esos beneficios, los estudiantes también tendrán la oportunidad de desarrollar su persona a nivel

profesional en el área de trabajo. Aprenderán a ordenar sus prioridades y ser más eficientes ya que tendrán que combinar horarios de estudios y trabajo. Los estudiantes tendrán la seguridad de encontrar el tipo de trabajo que les ajuste a ellos ya que las posiciones laborales en estos lugares varían. Durante el tiempo que las clases están en sesión, pueden trabajar hasta 20 horas a la semana. Y durante el período vacacional se les permite trabajar hasta 40 horas semanales. Por medio de esta plataforma se les ofrece a los estudiantes crear un perfil público donde las compañías pueden comunicarse directamente con ellos. Con eso, los estudiantes pueden expandir sus contactos profesionales que en un futuro cercano les podría favorecer en encontrar otros trabajos. Las mismas oportunidades de trabajo se les ofrecen a los estudiantes Internacionales que cuenten con la documentación adecuada.

VER EN

LÍNEA

SDSU aztecas golean 4-0 contra Point Loma en un partido amistoso de futbol de exibición

El equipo de futbol, los Aztecas de SDSU luchan por su victoria de 4-0 en la segund mitad del partido contra el equipo de Point Loma.

Juan Daniel Avila ESCRITOR

El equipo de fútbol masculino de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego venció a Los Leones Marinos de Point Loma 4-0 en un partido amistoso, el 20 de agosto en el SDSU Sports Deck. Durante la segunda mitad del partido el estudiante de primer año, Alex Hjaelmof y el junior Blake Bowen metieron los dos goles cada uno llevando a SDSU a la victoria. Los Aztecas superaron a los Leones Marinos 20-2, con tan solo dos tiros, con

Point Loma tirando dos goles el último minuto del tiempo reglamentario. El entrenador Ryan Hopkins enfatizó lo afortunado que fue de ver finalmente a los fanáticos en las gradas del SDSU Sports Deck. “No sabía qué hacer. Era mi primer juego con los fanáticos, así que fue genial. Fue increíble tener estudiantes aquí y también fue genial tener un derbi local, así que pudimos tener algunos de sus fanáticos también”, dijo Hopkins después del partido. “Ojalá tengamos una buena actuación, para que quieran volver y eso es todo lo que pueden pedir”.

Foto por Derrick Tuskan

A pesar de estar empatados 0-0 al final de la primera mitad, los aztecas lideraron con 10 tiros a puerta y cero tiros para los oponentes. Los aztecas dominaron en posesión pero el primer gol del partido no llegó hasta el minuto 57. Proveniente de Rugsted, Dinamarca, Hjaelmof anotó su primer gol como azteca tras un error defensivo de los Sea Lions. El segundo gol de la noche de Hjaelmof llegó un minuto después de su primer gol, luego de tirar un penalti para los aztecas para poner el marcador 2-0. El tercer gol de la noche llegó al minuto 67. Bowen anotó su primer gol con

un disparo de pie izquierdo desde la parte superior del área de 18 yardas que se curvó dentro del poste cercano para poner el 3-0. Bowen volvió a anotar 10 minutos después gracias a una asistencia del mediocampista de segundo año, Íñigo Villaldea, que sacó al portero de Sea Lion fuera de posición para poner el marcador final de 4-0. Los porteros de segundo y tercer año Jacob Castro y Tetsuya Kadono lograron mantener la portería a cero en cada mitad para dejar fuera a los Leones Marinos sin oportunidad de anotar. “Fue un gran primer partido”, dijo Hopkins. “Nos tomó un tiempo ponernos en marcha, pero una vez que lo descubrimos, marcamos algunos goles realmente buenos. En general, fue una gran noche para nosotros.” Los escarlatas y negros regresan al Sports Deck la próxima semana para abrir su campaña 2021 el jueves 20 de agosto cuando reciban a los Northridge Matadors de la Universidad Estatal de California a las 7 p.m. Según el sitio de Go Aztecs, los primeros 200 fanáticos recibirán sandalias gratis y los primeros 100 estudiantes reciben pizza gratis en SDSU Sports Deck.

Aqui están los proximos partidos progrmados de futbol SDSU

Equipo CSUN LMU Cal Poly UC Davis

Fecha Ago. 26 Ago. 30 Sept. 3 Sept. 10

Hora Lugar 7:00pm Casa 7:00pm Visitante 7:00pm Visitante 7:00pm Casa

The Daily Aztec

Arts & Culture

Aug. 25 - 31, 2021 EDITOR: Ryan Hardison • arts@thedailyaztec.com

How SDSU music majors navigated through the COVID-19 pandemic

(Left) SDSU orchestra playing Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations” in March 2020. (Right) Michael Gerdes composing the orchestra.

By Marian Cuevas CONTRIBUTOR

The pandemic affected students in many ways. With campus shutting down and moving, music majors were particularly gloomy. Around the corner of each hallway, many mourned their cancelled performances and recitals. In a Hail Mary, performances were rescheduled to an earlier date before they were all canceled. Graduating seniors worked towards their entire degree in preparation for their senior recital and were crushed to learn it was indefinitely postponed. The world around musicians became brighter once rehearsals were back in person and performances were allowed in the halls. Even without a live audience, it was a small win, and the music building started to feel alive again. The start of the semester is an exciting experience, especially for incoming freshmen. This last week, the area around SDSU has started to buzz with energy. All things considered, many music majors that have been around for the pandemic are concerned that this eagerness could still bear negative consequences for their educational and professional opportunities because of COVID regulations. During the peak of the pandemic, some music majors struggled more than others. Alex Soto, a junior-level percussion education major, expressed his eagerness for the coming semester. “I, for one, am really excited to

go back to in-person classes because, as a music major, and specifically as a percussionist, I need all of the equipment [available] in the music building,” Soto said. “With the lockdown, it was hard for me to get in the practice that I deserve; whereas wind, string, and piano players most likely have their instrument at home.” For nearly three full semesters, music majors were denied the opportunity to perform with large-ensembles, a crucial experience for those pursuing a career in music. With SDSU returning to primarily in-person instruction, on-campus performances are being scheduled again. That encompasses the greater portion of the music major experience: listening, learning and performing. Sade Rains, a junior in the piano education program, voiced similar excitement accompanied with an emphasis on the difficulties of online music learning. “I’m really looking forward to going back in person. There were so many things that professors and students couldn’t pick up from each other with online private lessons,” Rains said. “It was especially hard going to online music school knowing how fragile the music industry is right now. There was minimal work for a lot of musicians but people still managed to get things done. I think with… we’re going to make the most out of our time finally back in person.” All things considered, music majors are approaching the semester with cautious optimism. Amidst

the excitement, Rains voiced some uneasiness. “My only concern is having to go back in lockdown and trying to figure out how we’ll play music together again,” she said. She is certainly not alone in this sentiment. Other musicians like Chris Chapman, a junior in the piano performance program, voiced similar hesitation. “Until I’m actually doing a performance, I am keeping my hopes down,” expressed Chapman. “We could shut down again.” Soto’s excitement is similarly laced with a thread of concern. “I am worried that the rest of the school, and specifically Greek life, [will] get free passes to keep congregating without masks or social distancing, and continue to put the rest of the school population in danger… We see and hear all these people going to parties with-

Photos by SDSU Music Major Group

out masks… Recently, band camp got pushed back almost two full weeks because of COVID regulations and… putting students’ safety first. I find it a little unfair that the school doesn’t crack down on Greek life hard enough to give the rest of school activities the chance to take part in school life… Frankly, Greek life is not [and should not] be the center of what SDSU is about.” Caution is paired with hope so that everything that has been regained isn’t taken away as swiftly as it was last March. Even before school is in session, the music building has become alive with music again. Still, all music majors can do is hope that this experience isn’t short-lived, and that they can return to the most engaged form of their craft that they already know they love.

June 23 - 29, 2021 EDITOR: Ryan Hardison • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Arts & Culture

The Daily Aztec

Aztec Nights are back and in-person

SDSU students gathering to dance under a light show in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.

BY Ryan Hardison ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Aztec Nights are officially back! Yes, you read that correctly. Event policies for Aztec Nights required attendees to mask up. However, students enjoyed the evening’s activities with and without masks. The long-standing San Diego State tradition is about as good of an opportunity as any for incoming freshmen and transfer students to become acquainted with campus and make lifelong friends. As for sophomores (who let’s face it, are pretty much just freshmen 2.0 at this point) and other returning students, it’s never too late to reconnect to campus life. Aztec Nights began with SDSU’s inaugural First Night Fest, which

offered students the chance to mingle, grab free cookies, stickers, water bottles, play inflatable games and dance under a light show in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union. The SDSU cheer team also performed and led the crowd in a spirited recital of the “I Believe That We Will Win” chant. For students like elementary education sophomore and Gamma Phi Beta member Emily Mixon, Aztec Nights provided students a chance to party together before school starts. “So far my favorite part of Aztec Nights has definitely been being able to come here with my chapter and getting to dance, the music is really awesome,” Mixon said. “It’s a really lively environment, it’s really fun.” Mixon is also ready for the

(Left) Students lining up for First Night Fest. (Right) SDSU cheerleaders performing the “I believe that we will win” chant.

Photo by Jayne Yutig

chance to attend classes in-person for the first time at SDSU. “This school year I’m excited to go back to in-person classes. I’m a sophomore so this will be my first time on campus and I’m just really excited to see everyone’s faces again,” Mixon said. Along with the other festivities, over thirty recognized student organizations tabled at the event. One of the organizations at the event was Andrés Bonifacio Samahan - a Filipinx cultural organization at SDSU - and the club’s treasurer, chemistry junior Kayla Vale-Cruz, said her favorite part of the event was the amount of people who showed up. “Honestly, it’s quite crazy because I haven’t seen so many people in so long and it’s kind of nice to see everyone back on campus, especial-

ly new people who have never set foot on campus before because of our current situation,” Vale-Cruz said. “So, I’m honestly very excited to see how the school year starts.” With so many new students starting their collegiate path at SDSU, many of them are expected to get involved with clubs on campus, something which Vale-Cruz is especially ecstatic about. “I’m honestly really excited for people to join new organizations, I’m excited to see people get involved with A.S., people involved with cultural organizations and find their own community within SDSU,” Vale-Cruz said. Night two of Aztec Nights was the Moonlight Maskerade Welcome Back Dance. Besides getting the chance to dance the night away in front of Hepner Hall, students had their caricatures drawn, did decorative arts & crafts and had their pictures taken in a photo booth using a table full of accessories. Last but not least, a rock wall was brought out for students to climb up and ring a horn. Cellular and molecular biology junior Sakshi Pradhan enjoyed the photo booth the most. She’s also anticipating the start of the semester on Monday. “So I’m very excited for the photo booth here at Aztec Nights, that’s one of my favorite things to do here and I just did it so I’m very happy about that and this is my first time on campus so I’m very excited for the new year,” Pradhan said. Aztec Nights are off to a rockin’ start and they’re not quite over yet. The next Aztec Nights event is the Barnyard Bash on Thursday Aug. 26, which promises line dancing, BBQ and a country-filled evening.

Photos by Jayne Yutig

Sports

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Aug. 25 - 31, 2021 EDITOR: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Men’s Soccer shuts out Point Loma

By Juan Daniel Avilla SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The San Diego State Aztecs men’s soccer team beat the Point Loma Sea Lions 4-0 in a friendly match on Aug. 20 at the SDSU Sports Deck. SDSU’s goals came in the second half with freshman forward Alex Hjaelmof and junior midfielder Blake Bowen both scoring twice. The Aztecs outshot the Sea Lions 20-2, with Point Loma’s only two shots of the game coming in the last minute of regulation. Head Coach Ryan Hopkins emphasized

how fortunate he was to finally see fans in the stands at the SDSU Sports Deck. “I didn’t know what to do. It was my first game with fans so it was cool. It was awesome to have students here and it was also cool to have a local derby so we were able to have some of their fans too,” Hopkins said after the match. “Hopefully we put up a good performance that they want to come back and that’s all they can ask for.” Despite being tied 0-0 at the end of first half, the Aztecs led with 10 shots on goal and zero shots for the opponents. The Aztecs dominated in possession but the first goal of the game didn’t come until minute 57. Hailing from Rugsted, Den-

mark, Hjaelmof scored his first goal as an Aztec off a Sea Lions defensive mistake. Hjaelmof’s second goal of the night came one minute later, after taking a penalty kick for the Aztecs to make it 2-0. The third goal of the night came in minute 67. Bowen scored his first goal with a left foot shot from the top of the 18-yard box that curled inside the near post to make it 3-0. Bowen scored again 10 minutes later off an assist from sophomore midfielder Inigo Villaldea, catching the Sea Lion goalkeeper out of position to make it 4-0. Sophomore and junior goalkeepers Jacob Castro and Tetsuya Kadono managed

So Nishikawa (13) celebrates with his teammates after a goal (left). Tetsuya Kadono dives and defends the goal agsinst PLNU (right).

to keep a clean sheet each half to shut out the Sea Lions. “It was a great first match,” Hopkins said. “It took some time for us to get going, but once we figured it out, we scored some really nice goals. All around, it was a great night for us.” The Scarlet and Black are back at the Sports Deck next week to open up their 2021 campaign on Thursday, Aug. 26 when they host the California State University Northridge Matadors at 7 p.m. According to Go Aztecs, the first 200 fans get free sandals, and the first 100 students get free pizza.

Photos by Derrick Tuskan

Women’s soccer wins one, loses one

Aztec women’s soccer teammates meet up in the huddle to hype each other up.

By Jason Freund SPORTS EDITOR

San Diego State women’s soccer began their season last Thursday, Aug. 19 and saw action in two games at the SDSU Sports Deck. After winning their home opener against Army West Point, SDSU couldn’t replicate their success against Pepperdine and have begun the season 1-1-0. Opener Against Army West Point Coming into their season home opener against the Army West Point Black Knights, SDSU was 14-6-1 when beginning their

season at home. After Thursday’s 1-0 victory, SDSU started their season off on the right foot and improved their overall home record to 156-1. The first half utilized more defensive strategies as the Aztecs and Black Knights waited for the other team to make a mistake. Despite getting opportunities to break the tie, SDSU was unable to capitalize on the few mistakes Army made but did outshoot the Black Knights 5-4 in the first half. Head coach Mike Friesen noticed that

while the Aztecs came into the game prepared for anything, the Black Knights stuck to their organized game plan. “We knew Army was going to be very organized, have a plan, stick to that plan,” said Friesen. “We were prepared for a lot of what they did in the first half, but we just didn’t follow through on our game plan.” The secPhoto by: Derrick Tuskan ond half consisted of tight defense and good keeping, holding the score locked at zero points apiece. It wasn’t until minute 57 that SDSU found the back of the net. Senior defender Lauren Dicus got a pass from fellow senior Malia Kaleiohi and attempted a shot from inside the box. However, a Black Knight defender threw herself in front of the shot but took the ball off her right arm, drawing a foul. Taking the penalty kick was senior midfielder Laura Fuentes, who shot the ball into the corner of the net for what was the game-winner.

Sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Madueno kept SDSU in the game, making three saves in the final ten minutes of the game and four total saves for the match. Second match against Pepperdine Unlike the match against Army, the first goal between SDSU and the Pepperdine Waves came within the first minute and was scored by an Aztec. Unfortunately, it was an own goal after Madueno couldn’t corral a shot by Waves senior forward Leyla McFarland, letting the ball trickle across the line for a goal. While the Scarlet and Black kept the Waves off the scoreboard for the remainder of the first half, Pepperdine added two more insurance goals in the second half to hand the Aztecs a 3-0 loss. Pepperdine capitalized on a blocked shot by Madueono in the 53rd minute, with McFarland putting the blocked ball past Madueno for the second goal. A penalty kick in the 60th minute all but secured Pepperdine’s second win of the season. For SDSU, it was their first loss at the SDSU Sports Deck since Sept. 2019, when they lost to the University of San Diego 1-0. Despite the mistakes, Friesen believed his team played a good match against the experienced Pepperdine squad. “I thought we played a really good game,” Friesen said. “(Pepperdine) is a very experienced team and that’s why we played this game, so that we know what it takes to play at that level.” Pepperdine outshot SDSU 8-4 in the first half and ended the game, outshooting the home team 19-6. SDSU played nine newcomers in 90 minutes, seven of whom were freshmen. The Aztecs will be on the road for the first time this season as they go up against Saint Mary’s (2-0-0) on Aug. 26.

Aug. 25 - 31, 2021 EDITOR: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Sports

The Daily Aztec

Men’s Soccer recieves three votes in United States Coaches’ Preseason Poll

By Juan Daniel Avilla SENIOR STAFF WRITER

San Diego State men's soccer team received votes in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll on Aug. 9. The Aztecs return to the regular season with three All-Pac-12 honorees including sophomore midfielders Andre Ochoa and Iñigo Villaldea along with junior forward Blake Bowen. The three All-Pac-12 Aztecs contributed

to a total of seven goals and six assists for the team. Bowen contributed with three goals and two assists, Villaldea had two goals and two assists and Ochoa had two goals and two assists in the 2020-21 season. The three honorees accounted for more than half of the Aztecs’ total of 11 goals and eight assists in the season alone. Head coach Ryan Hopkins enters his second season with the Aztecs with an eightman recruiting class. Among returning players, freshman defender Rik Regeling

Photo Credit: Derrick Tuskan

The Aztecs celebrate after scoring a goal against PLNU.

from the Netherlands was named as one of the Top Drawer Soccer’s top ten international players to watch. Three Pac-12 teams were also ranked in the top 16 with Stanford (No.8), Washington (No. 9) and Oregon State (No. 16) being ranked in the preseason poll. The Aztecs managed to beat Washington 2-0 last spring, which resulted in the teams first and only win of the season. The Aztecs expect to play four of their first six non-conference games at the SDSU Sports Deck. All six teams are withing close

proximity of the Aztecs as they all reside within Southern California. The two teams have played each other in eight different matches since 1992, with SDSU winning the first contest 4-0 at home. The last time these teams faced each other was in the fall of 2014 at the SDSU Sports Deck, a game which the Aztecs also won 1-0 over the Sea Lions. This year's match kicks off this Friday at 7 p.m. at the SDSU Sports Deck. Students and spectators can attend this contest with no admission fee.

Coach Ryan Hopkins speeds down the sideline to coach his Aztecs.

Photo by Derrick Tuskan

Sports

The Daily Aztec

Aug. 25 - 31, 2021 EDITOR: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Women’s basketball drops schedule By Andrew Finley ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The San Diego State women’s basketball team released its upcoming schedule for the 2021-22 season. After an injury-filled 2020, the Aztecs look to improve upon their seven-win season a year ago, with returning senior starting guards Sophia Ramos and Alex Crain along with junior guard/forward Mallory Adams leading the charge.

Non Confernce Opponents

The Scarlet and Black begin their 2021 season with an exhibition game against Biola University on Oct. 28, tipping off their season a month sooner than they did a year ago, followed by their home opener against Cal State Los Angeles on Nov. 9. The Aztecs take road trips up Interstate 5 to take on UC Irvine — who beat the Aztecs 66-55 last season — and Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 14 and 16 respectively before heading back to the Mesa to face Georgia Southern and University Alabama Birmingham at the Viejas Arena on Nov. 20 and 22. The Aztecs then hit the road to Berkley to participate in the Cal Classic, where they’ll face Ole Miss and Furman before coming home on Dec. 1 to take on familiar foes USD and Cal Baptist a week later on Dec. 8 in Riverside, CA. The Aztecs faced both of these teams in 2020, defeating the cross-town Toreros 64-56 and falling to CBU 75-71. The Scarlet and Black finish non-conference play at home, facing UCSD Dec. 16, and Ohio State on Dec. 21. The Buckeyes finished their season with a 13-7 overall record, and finished the season ranked 22nd in the NCAA,

Isabell Hernandez drives to the net against Air Force.

according to AP Top 25. OSU is the only Power-Five conference opponent on the Aztecs’ schedule in 2021 besides the Southeastern Conference’s Ole Miss. After the Aztecs take on the Buckeyes, it’s all Mountain West Conference play from then on. The Scarlet and Black will play each of their conference opponents twice, once on their court, and the other at Viejas Arena, except for UNLV and San Jose State — whom they play once on Feb. 12 and 16 respectively. Every MWC opponent was a team the Aztecs faced last season.

Conference Opponents

The Scarlet and Black start their conference play with a home game against Wyoming on Dec. 28, and will travel to Laramie, Wyoming to face them again on Feb. 26. The Aztecs lost both of their games against the Cowboys last season by a combined score of 116-77. The Aztecs then travel to Fresno State for their first away game in conference play on Dec. 31, and play them again on Feb. 19. SDSU won their first contest against the Bulldogs last season in a 79-77 nail biter but failed to secure the second game, falling 82-61. After the one game road trip, the Aztecs come home to take on the Colorado State Rams and travel to Fort Collins to face them again on Feb. 24. CSU was the first MWC opponent the Aztecs faced last season — scoring 77 points per game against the Rams. Despite the strong offensive showing in both games, the Rams would prevail, scoring a combined 170 points in their two games against the Scarlet and Black. SDSU plays the New Mexico State Lobos twice in January: first on the ninth in Albuquerque and the second on the

Phito by Derrick Tuskan

Aztec basketball players standing for the national anthem.

29th on the Mesa. The Aztecs could only muster 48 points against the Lobos last season, losing both contests by a combined score of 149-94. The Scarlet and Black come home from New Mexico to take on the Utah State Aggies on Jan. 13, and travel to Logan, UT on Feb. 2. In their lone game last season, the Aztecs defeated the Aggies 68-60. The Boise State Broncos come into town two days after Utah State on Jan. 15 to take on the Aztecs, who will travel to Boise on Feb. 5. In an exciting finish to the regular season, SDSU split the twogame series against Boise State winning the first game 74-72, and falling 85-44

Photo by: Derrick Tuskan

that same weekend. The Aztecs hit the road to Reno to take on the Nevada Wolfpack on Jan. 19 before they meet back up on Feb. 9 at the Viejas Arena. In a close series, the Aztecs scored 59 points in each game versus the Wolfpack in 2020, but were only able to take the first of the two games. The Scarlet and Black return to Viejas a week later on Jan. 27 to face Air Force, whom they also finish their season against on March 2. The matchup between these two teams couldn’t have been any tighter in 2021 as each team took one of the two games. The Aztecs outscored the Falcons by the slimmest of margins 113-112.

Aug. 25 - 31, 2021 EDITOR: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Sports

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Three takeaways from football’s intersquad scrimmage in Carson By Jason Freund SPORTS EDITOR

For the first time in eight months, San Diego State football played at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. The Aztecs ran a total of 75 plays during the 87-minute closed inter-squad scrimmage as they made some final adjustments before the season opener against New Mexico State. Senior linebacker Caden McDonald saw the value of getting out the nerves of playing in Carson before the beginning of the season. “It’s good to go through the routine of pregame stuff and being in the atmosphere of the stadium… getting those jitters out to get comfortable to the stadium and get used to traveling up here,” McDonald said. “I think it’s really important that we get to do that and get that under our belt before we get underway with the season.” Here are three takeaways from the scrimmage. Quarterback competition Head coach Brady Hoke may have tipped his hand just slightly in regards to SDSU’s quarterback competition. Seniors Jordon Brookshire and Lucas Johnson, along with sophomore Jalen Mayden, continued to make their case for

who out of the three should be the Aztecs starting quarterback. In regards to his quarter-backs, Hoke saw positives and negatives but overall felt Brookshire had the better day. “I felt Brookshire a little bit. I felt like there was some things that he did very well,” Hoke said. “They all competed, but I think Brookshire may have played better than the rest of them.” Brookshire played 22 snaps over three series and went 7-12 with 109 yards passing. He began his tryout well, completing the first five passes he threw while showcasing his mobility by scrambling out of the pocket and connecting with senior BJ Busbee for a 45-yard completion. Johnson and Mayden took part in 14 and 17 snaps, respectively, and both completed limited passes while Mayden had a fiveyard scramble for a first down. More runningbacks, more talent The Scarlet and Black have always been feared for their aggressive running. Names like Rashaad Penny and Donnel Pumphrey are just two running backs to have dominated the rushing game during their time on the Mesa. While SDSU may not have a quality back like Pumphrey or Penny, they make up for it in quantity.

“I think (offensive coordinator) Jeff Horton is stealing,” Hoke said. “He’s got so many good backs in that room… just the way some of those guys get out there and play.” Hoke was quick to mention the older running backs serving as mentors to the younger players such as freshman Jaylon Armstead and Cam Davis. It was the freshmen who stole the show during the scrimmage. Armstead finished with six carries for 78 yards and a touchdown while Davis had a similar number of carries for 39 yards. That doesn’t mean the upperclassmen stayed on the sidelines. Senior Greg Bell, the presumed starter, carried the ball four times while grabbing a screen pass before being pulled to avoid injury risk. After facing them throughout the scrimmage, McDonald admitted that the SDSU running backs had starting potential. “We got a whole stable of running backs,” McDonald said. “Every one of them can be a starter. They are all legit dudes. It’s good to have them on our team.” Defense still looks strong Of course, to be a successful football program, one needs to have a balance of offense and defense. For SDSU, their defense is still one of the

best in the Mountain West. Last season, the Scarlet and Black allowed a total of 142 points and averaged 17.8 per game. Expect those numbers to stay relatively the same as SDSU is returning a number of key starters to their defensive front. When asked who, in particular, stood out to him, Hoke singled out the performance of his defensive lineman, but also noted the battles occurring at the corner position. Senior linemen Keyshawn Banks and Jonah Tavai, along with junior Cameron Thomas, were players who stood out in Hoke’s eyes while sophomore Noah Tumblin and freshman Noah Avinger were two defensive backs who were mentioned as potential starters. As a unit, the defense totaled nine tackles for loss, including three sacks, with four pass breakups. To McDonald, the starting defense was in sync and the live scrimmage was as close as they could to playing a real game. The senior linebacker did acknowledge the main point the Aztecs wanted to continue to improve on throughout the season. “Just fly around to the ball more,” McDonald said. “And play Aztec defense.”

Photo by Paul Garrison/EVT

Players take a knee during their warmup before Sunday’s inter-squad scrimmage at Dignity Health Park.

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Aug. 25 - 31, 2021 Editor: Ryan Hardison • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Review: “The Suicide Squad” is miles better than its uneven predecessor Jason Freund SPORTS EDITOR

When DC released their live-action adaptation of the anti-hero group “Suicide Squad,” it was met with less than favorable reviews. David Ayer’s film was criticized for its plot, direction and overall tone while post-production issues plagued the film. Five years later, DC soft-rebooted the film with James Gunn, director of the acclaimed “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy, manning the helm instead of Ayer. What a difference a change in direction makes. SPOILERS AHEAD! Ayer’s “Suicide Squad” tried too hard to be over the top and violent, but also played it very safe. Some characters are introduced in wild title cards while others are welcomed with just a single line of dialogue. Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” is exactly what the 2016 “Suicide Squad” should’ve been: destructive, comedic, gory. It is nowhere near perfect, as some moments tend to drag while the film jumps from place to place almost too quickly. Still, this isn’t enough to deter the film from being a bona fide hit. Let this be clear: this movie is not like its PG-13 predecessor. “The Suicide Squad” has the blood and violence of “Deadpool” with a noticeable “Guardians” flair. Baddies and heroes alike get regularly butchered with extreme

HBO MAX

The Sucicide Squad steps on land in Corto Maltese (@Warner Bros Pictures).

prejudice, usually in excruciatingly creative ways. (Death by rat swarm, anyone?) The writing and dialogue have also been revamped so the jokes mostly land. The comedic relief feels much more natural and comes in different ways, whether it is a slapstick death or a one-liner dropped by one of the main characters. However, the movie does have its minor flaws. New characters are rapidly thrown onto the screen while some scenes towards the middle of the film can take a little too long. The humor can also be a turn-off to some who may find it to be a little too juvenile. Speaking of characters, there are some new members who have

been invited into the squad against their will. Deadshot, portrayed in 2016 by Will Smith, is replaced by Idris Elba’s Bloodsport, who is forced into the Squad by Amanda Waller, chillingly played by Viola Davis. Elba is joined by some faces from 2016, like Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Joel Kinnaman’s Colonel Rick Flagg. Robbie’s portrayal of the crazed harlequin is excellent as always, but Kinnaman’s Flagg gets a much-needed facelift, as he is sillier and much less jaded this time around. The new members of the squad steal the show in their own way. John Cena’s Peacemaker is a violent extremist who

directly parallels Bloodsport in barbs and bullets with a mindset that reflects his prowrestling resumé. David Dastmalchian plays the awkward Polka-Dot Man, a man who can shoot polka dots out of his hands but is primarily used for sporadic comic relief. King Shark/Nanaue, physically portrayed by Steve Agee yet voiced by Sylvester Stallone, has the terrifying power of a great white shark with the mindset of a child. Undeniably, the heart of the movie is Ratcatcher 2, portrayed by Portuguese actress Daniela Melchior. More importantly, it’s her kind attitude and friendly aura that binds the band of misfits together, with Gunn’s direction and Melchior’s acting selling Ratcatcher as a character who truly cares about her new compatriots. As for antagonists, Waller is still as cold-blooded as she was in the first movie, commanding the Suicide Squad with ruthless tenacity. While the twist antagonist comes as a bit of a surprise, the final boss of the movie leads to a ludicrous and zany ending that can only come from the mind of James Gunn. This year’s version of “The Suicide Squad” is a vast improvement over its predecessor with a consistent vision, dominant cast and wild combat that earns it a 9/10. The film is is currently playing in theaters and available on HBO MAX for one month.

Seven songs to spice up your back-to-school playlist madison miles CONTRIBUTOR

As we jump back into school in-person, we know you need some new jams to get yourself through the semester. Whether you’re dreading going back to school or ready to dive into the books, this is the perfect playlist for your back-to-school mood. Here are seven songs to get you ready for the new school year: “Everyday” - Lecrae, Jidenna, and Limoblaze Summer is coming to an end but that doesn’t mean the summer vibes need to end too. Uplift your mood with this island sound. The three artists collaborate to make a hit that gives great advice for the upcoming year. Be stress-free, don’t hate, and don’t get distracted! Get that work done! “Industry Baby” - Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow If you’re up to date with all the music topping the charts, you’ll know Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow have been killing it this year. This is the perfect feel-good song with its energetic beat, which is something you may need during the transition back into school. This hit track highlights going against the odds and proving yourself — a message of motivation for the new year. “Long Way 2 Go” - Cassie School just began so we have a long way to go, but don’t let that discourage you. This song is a classic and who doesn’t love a good throwback? Early 2000s vibes are the best; there’s no denying that. “NEON PEACH” - Snoh Aalegra ft. Tyler, the Creator This fun record gives you everything that you need: R&B, hip-hop, and a little funky ‘80s vibe. Snoh Aalegra and Tyler, the Creator collaborate twice on Snoh’s

Music photo created by rawpixel.com - www.freepick.com</a>

Person accessing music on their handheld device.

new album and their musical styles mesh together perfectly. This is the PERFECT song if you want to dance away all the stress the school year will inevitably bring. “Rumors” - Lizzo ft. Cardi B Lizzo does it every time for the ladies, gays and our gender fluid music lovers. This record dismisses all the haters and rumors. This is the song for people who need a little bit of confidence as they enter this semester. Own yourself as you enter the school year and have a good time! “Skate” - Silk Sonic, Bruno Mars,

Anderson .Paak The groovy ‘70s feeling and style of music is making a resurgence and what better way to enjoy a modern version than through this song? We first heard the duo with their hit “Leave the Door Open,” which topped the charts. Now, they’ve done it again. Doesn’t it make you want to put on your roller skates and cruise to class? “Transparent Soul” - WILLOW ft. Travis Barker Willow Smith has returned to the music

scene with an amazing pop-rock album that is simply nostalgic. Many may know her from when she was whipping her hair back and forth in 2010, but, since then, her sound has changed tremendously. The crazy drums and insane guitar riffs are guaranteed to get you hype for any occasion. No matter what your back-to-school attitude is, this playlist is guaranteed to get you motivated and excited for the new year!

The Daily Aztec 8/25/2021

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