09-04-2019

Wednesday, Sept. 4 - Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019 Weekly Print Edition

Vol. 106, Issue 4 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

Graphic by Emily Burgess Photo by Kareem Jones

Aztecs win defensive battle in season opener

by Kyle Betz ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

On the first play of the fourth quarter, San Diego State senior quarterback Ryan Agnew escaped two defenders and threw across his body – while running towards his own sideline – for a 12-yard completion to sophomore tight end Daniel Bellinger.

The third down conversion led to redshirt freshman kicker Matt Araiza drilling his second field

goal of the game to give SDSU a 6-0 lead with 10:51 remaining.

Agnew said although the play was a success, he will probably be advised to avoid that situation again.

“I think we’re going to look back at it on film and it’s going to be like ‘don’t do that again,’” Agnew said. “It’s cool when it happens, and it works out for you. If it doesn’t, it’s a lot worse.”

Six points were all the Aztecs (1-0) could muster, but it was enough to seal a 6-0 season-

opening win over Weber State on Aug. 31 at SDCCU Stadium, which was the lowest scoring game in the school’s Division I history (since 1969) .

SDSU head coach Rocky Long said the offense looked as ineffective as he’s seen in a while but that he is satisfied with the win.

“That was about as ugly an offensive performance as I’ve been around for a long time,” Long said. “But the objective is to win the game, and we found a

way to win the game.”

The good news?

Defense.

The performance was SDSU’s first shutout since Nov. 11, 2016 when the Aztecs defeated Hawaii 55-0. The Aztecs only allowed one Wildcats’ play in their own territory, which was from the 43yard line.

With three minutes left and down by six points, Weber State had a chance to score a go-ahead touchdown from its own 35-yard line. Aztecs junior defensive back

Tariq Thompson intercepted Weber State junior quarterback Jake Constantine on the drive’s first play.

The interception was Thompson’s only one of the night but said he should have had another one after getting his hands on a couple passes earlier.

“It felt great getting one,” Thompson said. “But I’ve got to capitalize on the other SEE SEASON OPENER PAGE 9

University opens annex to accomodate former PSFA occupants

by Johann Derek STAFF WRITER

Oribello

San Diego State has begun using five new Professional Studies and Fine Arts annex buildings, labeled PSFX, behind the Music building in light of the main building’s closure last semester.

The addition of the annex serves to accommodate faculty and staff who were forced to vacate the PSFA building and relocate to other spaces on campus such as Adams Humanities, associate vice president of business operations Eric Hansen said. A total of

four campus departments had to find new homes on campus after last semester’s closure. “(The annexes were opened) to meet the needs of space for the folks who have vacated PSFA during the construction,” Hansen said. “There were two areas in Adams Humanities that were used as classrooms last year that are now being used by the PSFA faculty and staff.”

The relocation of departments out of the main PSFA building started last SEE ANNEX PAGE 2

Photo by Michael Cline

The PSFX annex made its debut at the start of the fall semester on the west side of campus.

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News

The Daily Aztec

Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 EDITOR: Kaitlyn Little • news@thedailyaztec.com

Annex:

continued from page 1 spring after materials used in a roofing project produced dangerous chemical odors in the building. These odors led to over two dozen reports of symptoms such as headaches, nausea and nosebleeds.

An informational webpage about the closure said the building is currently undergoing renovations and that it could be up to two years before the space is back to normal.

The closure also resulted in the relocation of over 200 classes. Hansen said two of the spaces in the annex are currently being utilized as classrooms because some class space in Adams Humanities was lost following the office relocations.

“Those two classrooms needed to be replaced,” Hansen said. “So, two of the modulars are for basically replacement of those classrooms.”

Students who have classes in the annex have mixed opinions of the classroom layout.

Environmental science senior Shandi Gordon said the long shape of the modulars can make it difficult to follow lectures.

“It’s alright, but it’s still an inconvenience,” Gordon said. “The screen’s really far away if you sit in the middle or even in the back (of the classroom).”

Environmental science sophomore Danielle Stroh, who’s had classes in the original PSFA building, said the structure of the annex makes the classroom tighter and less comfortable compared to the classrooms in PSFA. “It’s a little awkward because (the classroom is) super skinny and long,” Stroh said. “I would say there’s more space in the other (PSFA classroom), and it’s more

Photo by Michael Cline

Campus officials predict the PSFX annex may be needed through the Fall of 2020.

comfortable, less crowded and less tight.”

Africana studies lecturer Delores Fisher, who is currently teaching a communications course in the annex, said the ramps leading to the classrooms may present some difficulties for individuals with walking disabilities.

“The only thing I would consider is the length of the ramps,” Fisher said. “It seems to be long for someone who has to use a manual wheelchair as opposed to an

automatic wheelchair. I force myself up the stairs with my disability.”

Hansen said the annex will remain on campus while PSFA is completing construction and will be removed after a year.

“We believe they will be through as maybe as long as next fall,” Hansen said.

“So by December of 2020 they should be done.”

For some students, the annex represents

a stain on the university’s history.

Journalism and psychology fifth-year Brandon Lim said the annexes could’ve been avoided if the university had properly handled PSFA’s maintenance and repair issues in the first place.

“I think my only main complaint is that we need the annex in the first place,” Lim said. “If our existing buildings were properly maintained and regulated, we would not have to be in the annex.”

SDSU football season ticket sales drop 15% from 2018 11,658 season tickets have been sold during the 2019 season, down from 13,648 season tickets sold in 2018

File photo

SDSU football has seen a decline in season ticket sales for the 2019 season.

By Kaitlyn Little NEWS EDITOR

2019 season ticket sales have dropped about 15% from last year’s season ticket sales for San Diego State football.

To date, 11,658 season tickets have been sold so far this year. That’s down from 13,648 season tickets from the 2018 season, about a 2,000 ticket difference.

However, people are still able to

purchase season tickets through October, so there is a chance this year’s sales could pick up.

It is not unusual for season ticket sales to fluctuate from year to year, Executive Associate Athletic Director for External Relations Steve Schnall said. He said 15% is a daunting number that can be made up with individual game sales.

“This year we’re down a little bit,” he said. “I’m sure there are several factors.”

One of those factors could be the opponents SDSU football is playing at home this season.

“It’s always about who we play and obviously, people get to decide whether they want to get seasons or just basically cherry-pick individual games,” Schnall said.

Schnall said another potential reason for the decline is because six games will be played at SDCCU Stadium this year — one less game from 2018.

SDSU football head coach Rocky Long said in a press conference he isn’t worried about ticket sales. He said he was surprised that many tickets were even sold given SDCCU stadium’s age and size.

“Right now you can show up five minutes before the game and get the best seat in the house,” Long said. “So why would you buy a season ticket? I wouldn’t even buy a season ticket.”

Consecutive season ticket owners, current season ticket owners and those who donate to the athletic department will have greater access to seats in the new stadium. Schnall said more information about that access and what this entails will be revealed in November.

“We’re basing the ability to get tickets at the new stadium, which will open in 2022, based on being a season ticket holder this year moving forward,” Schnall said. “So, the more consecutive years you have season tickets, the better your standing to purchase tickets at the new stadium.”

SDSU anticipates their new stadium to hold 35,000 fans, according to a university press release. That’s about half of the current capacity at SDCCU Stadium. At SDSU football’s Fan Fest last month, Director of Athletics J.D. Wicker said 5,000 of those seats would be reserved for SDSU students.

James Spitzer is a father to a current SDSU student, the husband of an SDSU alumnus and has been a season ticket owner since 1992. Spitzer said there isn’t much offered in regards to home SEE FOOTBALL TICKET SALES, PAGE 3

Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 EDITOR: Kaitlyn Little • news@thedailyaztec.com

News

The Daily Aztec

3

SDSU welcomes new provost Dr. Ochoa

by Olivia Li STAFF WRITER

The San Diego State community welcomed recently appointed Provost and Senior Vice President Dr. Salvador Hector Ochoa in an all-university ice cream reception on Aug. 29 in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.

Dr. Ochoa was announced as SDSU’s new provost and senior vice president in a campus-wide email sent by President Adela de la Torre on April 8. He began his tenure at SDSU on July 2.

Dr. Ochoa told the crowd about his vision for SDSU. “My vision is that we become a student-centered research institution that transforms the lives of students and the communities that we serve,” Dr. Ochoa said. “But I use the words ‘studentcentered’ first because we are here to serve students first, to transform their lives so that our communities can be the beneficiaries of the hard work that we do.”

Associated Students President Christian Onwuka, Chair of the University Senate Mark Wheeler and de la Torre made remarks to the crowd about Dr. Ochoa’s appointment.

“In many ways, I know that (Dr. Ochoa) will also, because of his own unique background, provide an important perspective of where we are situated as a campus that spans the border of California-from the Imperial Valley to our county,” de la Torre said. “This is really a significant time for us to really have the kind of leadership to fully appreciate our

position as (California State University’s) and California’s leading university on the U.S.-Mexico border.”

As members of the SDSU community arrived at the reception, they were greeted with ice cream and drinks.

“I’ve heard a lot of great things about the provost and I know he plays a really important role as our chief academic officer, so I wanted to be here to support him as one of the Board of Directors,” A.S. Board of Directors member Cassie Weinberg said. “I think it’s really important to meet the people at the top so we can form better connections with them.”

Before coming to SDSU as provost and senior vice president, Dr. Ochoa served as a professor and dean of the College of Education at the University of New Mexico. He also served as the dean of the College of Education at The University of Texas-Pan American.

“Bringing over 20 years of experience to this campus is going to be great,” said Onwuka. “Us being a Hispanic-serving institution and his upbringing, as well as his understanding and knowledge of the demographics, he is going to be extremely effective. He is open to change, open to criticism and open to hearing students.”

The reception concluded with Dr. Ochoa looking towards the future of SDSU. “I’m truly very excited and optimistic about our future,” Dr. Ochoa said. “I really genuinely believe that through our collective efforts, that SDSU can be the premier institution along the border.”

Photo by Alexa Oslowski

Pictured left to right: A.S. President Christian Onwuka, Provost and Senior Vice President Dr. Salvador Hector Ochoa, SDSU President Adela de la Torre and Chair of the University Senate Mark Wheeler.

Football ticket sales: continued from page 1

Photo courtesy of SDSU

An aerial rendering of SDSU’s proposed multi-use stadium.

games, a situation that’s made worse given the condition of the stadium.

“The TVs in front of our seats doesn’t work, [there are] broken cup holders,” Spritzer said. “I mean, the stadium is falling apart. You can tell that nobody is putting any money into it.”

He said he has requested multiple times for the cup holder to be fixed over the years, but the issue persists.

“Why would you put money into a stadium that right now you’re the only tenant at?” Spitzer said.

SDSU alumnus Nick Hernandez had

season tickets for two years but said he decided not to renew this year because of the home slate. Hernandez said the product they’ve been getting hasn’t been very good and that ticket sales fluctuate with performance.

“If you’re going to be the only ticket in town, you have to at least draw people to the ticket,” Hernandez said. “You can’t live solely based on ‘we’re the only team in town.’”

Despite the decrease in sales, Long said current season ticket sales indicate great fan support.

“You can talk about going down 15% or not, I’m shocked that we sell that many tickets with the stadium situation,” Long said. “And I’m damn happy that we sell that many season tickets with the stadium situation.”

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Opinion

The Daily Aztec

Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 EDITOR: Catherine Van Weele • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

We must listen to one another to heal our widening political divide

by Shayne Jones STAFF WRITER

It’s never just an opinion. It is a flat out, iron-fisted, fight-to-the death decree of stubbornness by the infallible orders of the left and the right. Politics are a circus and our “democracy” is in rough shape.

Let’s think back for a minute to when we were kids in the sandbox. If Jimmy stole your Yasmin Bratz doll, well, first you punched Jimmy in the face. But, then you diplomatically told him how you understood why he wanted to play with Yasmin, but you felt theft was not the answer — he could use his words instead. All was resolved, and today you and Jimmy are happily married with two kids and one on the way.

reserved for when you really want to rile some feathers.

Bipartisanship has gone too far in both directions and it’s halting political progress. If one’s political convictions are too incendiary a topic to broach in casual conversation, how is a government expected to productively broach those very topics in a truly democratic way?

Political parties are so starkly opposed in social and economic standing, and so unwilling to budge in regards to both that it’s ludicrous to believe, at this point, in any form of an effective democratic process.

The entire goal of a democracy is to create a government for the people by the people.

Keep in mind that the word “people” is in the plural form — a democracy does not bow to one person’s wants and needs.

“...sometimes it is best to remove ourselves from our emotions and opinions before we actually we hear what someone else is saying.”

Sandbox politics are not fail proof, but our g overnment could probably learn a thing or two from this example.

The topic of politics is no longer a discussion over a ribeye and a glass of Cabernet.

Conversation of politics is

A thriving democracy relies on compromise, open forum discussion and the willingness to embrace change.

A failing democracy is exhibited by our current state of affairs.

Growing up, summer vacation was always something to look forward to.

I enjoyed the hot days by the beach and the lazy days stuck in the house. I was always stress free, even with the prospect of a few summer homework assignments.

This summer was just as great and I was genuinely excited to get back to school. I couldn’t wait to live with my friends again and enjoy the new-found independence that I had gotten a taste of during my freshman year.

But as this year begins, everything seems a bit different. I feel overwhelmed by the amount of things I’m supposed to be doing or looking into. Attending study abroad meetings, taking the WPA exam and looking for internship opportunities are just a few of the things I have on my plate.

It feels silly to be so overwhelmed by things that take continuous time and attention, but I can’t help it. I know these things are not something I can just check off my to-do list in one day, and I feel strangely comforted by the fact that my peers feel this

way too.

Maybe it’s just the nervousness that comes with the beginning of school, but as I’ve thought about this for the last few weeks, I think it’s more than that.

This is the first time that I have had to take complete care of myself with little to no help from parents, and it’s a bit nerve-wracking. And the college workload isn’t helping.

The anxiety of not having everything figured out lingers over me while the weight of everybody’s expectations pulls me down.

I’ve always been the kind of independent person and who’s eager for the next thing, but maybe I should have stopped and smelled the roses for a little bit longer while I could have. I’m not saying everything will combust if I don’t figure out my life in this very instant, but it feels like I will miss so many opportunities if I am not ahead.

But the truth is, it’s nearly impossible to do that and it’s okay to make mistakes.

I have learned that independence is more of a journey rather than a destination. Being independent and able to take care of myself was always something I had dreamed of growing up, but I

MANAGING EDITOR Dana Tsuri-Etzioni NEWS EDITOR Kaitlyn Little ASST. NEWS EDITOR Michael Cline OPINION EDITOR Catherine Van Weele MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Alejandra Luna ASST. MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Diane Lopez ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Ceighlee Fennel SPORTS EDITOR Aaron Tolentino ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Kyle Betz ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Brenden Tuccinardi

Graphic by Emily Burgess

I believe in the positive power of politics. I believe that the United States is and can be a force to be reckoned with. But positive change is not going to happen if we keep acting like Jimmy in the sand box.

Narrow-mindedness and onetrack ambitions have no place in politics.

Having an opinion is okay — this is mine — but having the emotional and mental maturity broad enough to accept only that opinion is entirely counterproductive.

Yes, opinions are personal and often deeply rooted from years of experiences, but opinions are also emotional and and can be

subject to clouded judgements.

This is not to say our opinions are invalid or not worth contemplating. However, sometimes it is best to remove ourselves from our emotions and opinions before we actually hear what somebody else is saying.

Let’s try listening to each other. Welcome a conversation with an opposite-minded individual, engage in a friendly and educated debate.

Talk. Learn. Be a democracy.

We could really use that right now.

Shayne Jones is a senior studying journalism. Follow her on Twitter @shaynejones.

Don’t worry about planning out your entire life. Instead take life step-by-step

by Ellyse Logan STAFF WRITER

EDITOR IN CHIEF Bella Ross

never realized how taxing it would actually be.

Being surrounded by so many intelligent students and people who seem to have it all together doesn’t help either. It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparison when you don’t feel like you’re doing the best you can. At this point, the best thing you can do is focus on yourself and what you can be

“Independence is more of a journey rather than a destination.” doing better for you.

When it comes to providing life-changing advice, just know you’re reading the words of somebody who is probably just as confused as yourself. But all we can do is learn from one another’s experiences.

The stress of school can often leave us unable to deal with all the other thoughts that bombard our minds. It’s easy to simply write our personal lives off when we have school to worry about but I would encourage you to get into the habit of writing down things

you are stressed about or talking to someone about it. That person could be a trusted friend, a family member, a therapist or anyone else you trust and who you think may help.

Once we have our problems outside of our minds, it’s easier to conquer them because they don’t seem as daunting. In my experience, it’s most beneficial to talk to friends who are in school because we are often experiencing the same things.

Independence is about taking care of yourself as a whole. Not just physically or in school. It’s easy to fall into the trap of caring a lot about a few aspects of your life rather than to nurture yourself fully. Many of our problems stem from neglecting ourselves and listening to what others want for us. Begin to break this cycle and see what else is out there for you.

Overall, I know I don’t have to figure out my life at this moment.

I have realized that we can only take one step at a time. Even in failure, all we can do is pick ourselves up and keep heading in the right direction.

Ellyse Logan is a sophomore studying international business.

Follow her on Twitter @ellyselogan.

PHOTO EDITOR Alexa Oslowski MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Amal Younis ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jack Molmud GRAPHIC DESIGNER Emily Burgess

STAFF WRITERS Christian Alvarez Shayne Jones Kelly Kerrigan Olivia Li Luiz Lopez Ellyse Logan Johann Derek Oribello Juniper Perkins Karlene Sanchez CONTRIBUTORS Patrick Doyle ________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Evan Baumbach SALES MANAGER Bryan Diamond ________________________________ GENERAL MANAGER/ADVISER Jay Harn GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Luis Valenzuela ________________________________ EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING 619.594.6977 advertising@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition every Wednesday throughout the semester WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com QUESTIONS/COMMENTS letters@thedailyaztec.com The views and opinions expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.

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Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 EDITOR: Catherine Van Weele • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

Opinion

The Daily Aztec

5

Money shouldn’t hold students back from studying abroad

by Karlene STAFF WRITER

Sanchez

Studying abroad is a beautiful way to broaden your horizons.

Experiencing the cultures and traditions practiced in another country, whether the people share your native tongue or not, is worth the adventure of going abroad.

Since I became a student at San Diego State I knew I wanted to study abroad, even though my journalism major with an emphasis in public relations does not require students to do so.

History and traveling internationally was something foreign to me, but something I wanted to explore further.

During the summer of 2019, I participated in the faculty-led study abroad program, “Journey to Medieval Spain Through Culture and History,” in Seville, Spain.

Throughout the three-week program, I completed GENS 450: History and Culture of Medieval Spain, a 3-unit course that fulfilled the upper division GE Explorations area C of the Humanities requirement.

Not receiving financial aid and being unaware of scholarship opportunities prior to my departure date made my process extremely difficult.

All throughout college we are assured there are scholarships available to students studying abroad. You hear that financial struggles shouldn’t hold you back from these kinds of experiences.

My question is, how are we supposed to study abroad when there’s no money available?

The faculty and staff at SDSU assert scholarship availability to prospective study abroad students. Students are also consistently told not to allow finances to hold them back from

educational opportunities. These statements gave me confidence in my application and scholarship process.

I made many visits to the study abroad advisors, financial aid and scholarship advisors and tutors at the writing center to get guidance on my scholarship applications. I additionally reached out to some of my professors for letters of recommendation.

With this confidence, I applied to Associated Students Study Abroad Scholarship, an Independent Scholarship offered by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, HI USA Travel Scholarship and the LAGRANT Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship.

I remember feeling my heart drop when I received a letter of denial from the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship.

I was almost certain I would receive the Gilman scholarship that would fund most, if not, the entirety of my summer study abroad program. As the days went by, I received more letters of denial or simply no notice at all.

I felt discouraged by scholarships and decided I needed to find a backup plan.

I opened a Go Fund Me page and was unsuccessful, even after I promoted it publicly.

I considered taking out a loan, but I didn’t want to deal with the pressure of more debt.

When the fee deadline got closer, I was eventually forced to pull from my savings account and solicit the help of family and friends. I’m fortunate to have had the cooperation of my family and close friends during this time. If I didn’t have that support, I’m not sure I would have studied abroad.

I don’t think scholarship programs realize that students have deadlines to pay study

abroad fees as well.

And if they do realize it, then why aren’t they changing the system?

A fee of $3,360 may not seem like a lot for a summer study abroad program, but when you add deadlines, airfare —which range anywhere from $500$1,500— passports,visas and spending money, it adds up.

I remember finding out I had received the SDSU Associated Students Study Abroad Scholarship while I was abroad and sitting in my homestay bed.

My award letter stated I would receive the scholarship a month after I returned from my program in mid-July.

Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful for this award, but really?

What is the point in receiving the scholarship after you’ve returned?

The fees had already been paid.

The reason we apply for these scholarships is because we need to pay the fees included in our program.

Scholarship programs should take this aspect into consideration and make a change for future students who are wanting to study abroad.

On a brighter note, the beauty of this program is that it was worth it.

Out of pocket payments are minimal while you’re abroad since housing, meals, laundry, excursions and activities are included.

The homestay aspect is beautiful.

You receive three homecooked meals a day, laundry service once a week, a student roommate from your program, a private bedroom, a shared living space and bathroom and an opportunity to make connections with your Spanish families and locals.

Graphic by Emily Burgess

Excursion to medieval sites throughout the cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada were the biggest highlight of my trip.

Visiting the Alhambra in Granada, while appreciating its medieval architecture and getting a view of the Sierra Nevada mountains from a distance was a scene unlike any other.

Studying abroad in Spain exposes you to delicious Mediterranean dishes, a warm climate, flamenco dances and different cultures. The cities are rich in history dating back to the Middle Ages and beyond, which helps you observe the world with a new perspective.

If you’re a student looking to study abroad, do not feel discouraged.

By doing some research on different programs, you can choose a program that fits best for you.

Once you decide on a program, I would recommend planning ahead and having an alternative plan in case you don’t receive a scholarship by the time your fees are due.

Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or need assistance in your study abroad process.

You can reach me by email at skarlene18@gmail.com, or on Instagram @karlenejazmin.

Karlene Sanchez is a senior studying public relations and health science. Follow her on Twitter @ KarleneSanchez.

What college life is like without a social media presence

by Patrick Doyle CONTRIBUTOR

Major social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit, along with many others, are avidly used among a large percentage of Americans born in the last few decades. Before entering college, I was aware of these platforms, but not particularly interested in any of their services. Like many, I had seen the warnings on television or by teachers to avoid using social media excessively. They’d often point to studies showing depression in teenagers and young adults who use social media extensively and on a regular basis.

I suppose I agreed with these assessments, as I could imagine getting sucked into that world and obsessing over what people thought about me at every moment.

So I made a decision not to put myself through that potential hardship and went through high school without an online

presence — which at the time wasn’t all too strange. We were a small enough group of students where we saw each other daily anyway.

But then I started here at San Diego State, and I began to really see the grip social media has on so many people, and why it has become quite important to many individuals in my age group.

Snapchat is the biggest platform I’ve observed so far.

Instead of exchanging numbers with new friends people make, they often exchange snapcodes.

I’ve been in many conversations where someone has pulled up their snapcode for me to scan, only for me to awkwardly inform them I’m not on social media. I can see the appeal in this, however; after just a week, I feel compelled to download Snapchat myself so I don’t miss out on communication between my friends.

I don’t have anything against anyone who has a large social media presence — in fact, I envy the people who are able

to balance their normal lives with the need to keep posting interesting content online.

That’s probably the main reason I’ve stayed away from these platforms, as I simply don’t feel my life is interesting enough to warrant consistent posting. Who wants to see a picture of my coffee at eight in the morning?

However, I have been given a unique opportunity this semester in my RWS 200 class with Mr. Jacob Hubbard. We are required to create a Twitter

“...I started here at San Diego State and began to see the grip social media has on people.” account and consistently post our thoughts on class material.

This is a new experience for me, one that I hope gives me a fresh perspective on the

world of social media. Despite my hesitations, I’m always interested to try out something new, and perhaps this will flip my perspective on this world I

“I feel compelled to download Snapchat myself so I don’t miss out on communication between my friends.” have yet to personally explore.

While I still am not a fan of how addictive these platforms can become, I can see their appeal, and I’ve noticed quite a few distinct differences between the way individuals with and without social media handle social events. When I

take pictures, I take them just for the memories. Hopefully I can look through my photo album a few years down the road and remember some of the random and fun things I did as a freshman. When someone with Instagram, for example, takes a photo, it’s often mainly to update their profile with whatever interesting event they’re attending.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, but sometimes, even subliminally, it affects the way people think about a social outing they are participating in, adopting a lens of how to post about things rather than how to simply have fun.

I can see myself being convinced in the future to join more social media platforms they are meant to draw in new users, after all. But for now, I just hope the best for anyone who feels they are overly attached to their profile.

Patrick Doyle is a freshman studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickDoyle100.

6

News

The Daily Aztec

Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 EDITOR: Kaitlyn Little • news@thedailyaztec.com

Lyft partnership provides late-night rides

By Daniel Farr STAFF WRITER

A recent Lyft partnership with San Diego State — the LateNight Ride program — now provides another resource for getting around campus with an emphasis on student safety.

SDSU Parking & Transportation Services first partnered with Lyft in 2017 to implement more safety on campus for students. In Oct. 1, 2018, the partnership expanded to include the Late-Night Ride, according to a campus-wide email from SDSU Parking & Transportation.

Through Lyft, students are able to request a ride from any campus building, excluding residence halls, within the university’s geofence. The LateNight Ride program has been designed to safely transport students from a location on campus to either their vehicle or local residence. This service is available Sunday through Thursday between midnight and 4 a.m., according to the email.

“We started the late-night program as we knew that some students may be on campus later than the Red & Black shuttle operates and wanted to provide resources for them,” Debbie Richeson, director of Parking & Transportation Services, said in an email response.

Students must create a business

profile in the Lyft app with their SDSUid in order to receive the discount. Once students signup and verify their university email address, the discounted ride will be available by entering a promo code. Promos are regenerated each month, with the code beginning with Aztec and ending with the first three letters of the month, according to the Parking & Transportation Services website.

“The university subsidizes two rides a month up to $5 for this service,” Richeson said. “If traveling further, your account will be charged the remaining balance.”

The SDSU Police Department made a statement on the program.

“The University Police Department supports any collective decisions that help support the safety and well-being of our campus community,” University police spokesperson Raquel Herriot said in an email.

Students who have used the program said it offers a safer alternative to other late-night modes of transportation.

“I think it’s very beneficial for students because it keeps them out of bad situations, such as drinking and driving, going to a party and having to find your way home, and walking home and getting lost or anything like that,” English senior Madeline Teravers said.

File photo

San Diego State’s new partnership with Lyft provides discounted rides for students between midnight and 4 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.

In an effort to spread the word about the program, Richeson said Lyft is trying a new marketing technique. This year, Lyft provided informational packets in freshman residence

halls as part of its educational campaign on campus.

This comes after the response to the program’s implementation was lackluster, Richeson said.

“The education campaign

for the program did not get the response we anticipated,” Richeson said. “This year we have strategized with partners on campus to strengthen our outreach.”

SDSU associate director recognized by CSU system

By Kaitlyn Little NEWS EDITOR

Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord, associate director for Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, was one of 19 California State University faculty members honored with the Faculty Innovation and Leadership Award.

The award recognizes faculty members for their innovative practices and dedication to improving student outcomes.

Pruitt-Lord was the only faculty member chosen from San Diego State.

The award features $5,000 for the awardee and $10,000 for their specific department and is “in support of ongoing innovation and leadership to advance student success at the CSU,” according to a press release from the CSU Office of the Chancellor.

Pruitt-Lord said she is going to use the money to further her projects.

“One of the things that I’m going to use part of the money for is to send students to research conferences to be able to present some of the research that we’ve done within the lab and other types of projects to support student leadership development,” Pruitt-Lord said.

She is behind various programs that have been implemented recently in the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences department.

Photo courtesy of The California State University

THIS PHOTO NEEDS A CAPTION.

Photo courtesy of The California State University

Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord of San Diego State was one of 19 CSU faculty honored with the Faculty Innovation and Leadership Award.

Pruitt-Lord created a prerequisite class, SLHS 106, for incoming transfer students. This online class, taught during summer, provides an introduction to the SLHS program for transfer students before diving into the major. This summer marks the second time she has taught the class.

“None of the community colleges around here offer

speech, language and hearing intro courses,” Pruitt-Lord said.

“So our transfer students were overburdened by having to take an intro course on top of what we call our junior-block classes.”

She also received two nationally funded grants, not in relation to the FILA award, from the Office of Special Education Programs.

Using these funds, she created a graduate program dedicated

to increasing the number of bilingual SLHS faculty members in schools. The students have their entire graduate program funded by agreeing to support students from diverse schools.

“They take classes together, they have joint practicums together and they’re bilingual students,” Pruitt-Lord said.

“And then they’re going to go out to work in schools and

serve bilingual kids as well.

So, less than 3% of nationwide speech language pathologists and audiologists are bilingual.

So we’re trying to increase the number of people that are in the workforce that can support children and their communities.”

She also created a peermentoring network that is intended for students — undergraduate students, graduate students and alumni — to help each other through the program, although she doesn’t take credit for the idea.

“I don’t get to take the credit for coming up with the idea; students always have better ideas than me,” Pruitt-Lord said.

“So actually a lot of these things that I have talked about, they were students’ ideas first. I just kind of help them make them happen.”

CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White also released a statement in the CSU press release in regards to the faculty recognized.

“These outstanding faculty consistently engage students with innovative practices and foster stimulating and equitable learning environments that support these students on their path to graduation,” White said.

“Their commitment to deepen and enrich learning by putting students at the center of all they do is fundamental to the mission of the CSU, and is helping to transform higher education nationwide.”

Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 EDITOR: Alejandra Luna • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Mundo Azteca

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7

Promueven exposición de arte brasileña por Diane lópez ASIST. DE MUNDO AZTECA

El Centro Behner Stiefel de Estudios Brasileños de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego presentará una exposición de arte, “Bandidos y Héroes, Poetas y Santos: Arte Popular del Noreste de Brasil” al público desde el 9 de septiembre hasta el 17 de octubre del 2019 en la galería de arte universitaria.

El Centro Behner Stiefel de Estudios Brasileños fue creado en el 2014 y se centra en el examen interdisciplinario de temas relevantes en Brasil con énfasis en la justicia social y ambiental.

A partir de las 11 a.m. a 3 p.m., la comunidad tendrá la oportunidad de explorar el arte colorido de varios artistas brasileños.

Las piezas de arte fueron traídas desde Brasil y han estado viajando a nivel mundial y ahora serán mostradas en SDSU. Las esculturas, pinturas, juguetes, objetos religiosos y folletos que se exhibirán en la exposición explorará cómo las antiguas culturas de África se mezclaron con tradiciones portuguesas indígenas y coloniales para formar el mosaico cultural vibrante y complejo de Brasil, especialmente en la región noreste de Brasil .

Erika Robb Larkins, directora

Foto por Diane López

Directora y Coordinadora de Estudios Brasileños en la galeria de la SDSU.

del Centro de Estudios Brasileños y Cassia De Abreu, coordinadora del Centro de Estudios Brasileños son las encargadas de este evento y están entusiasmadas que la comunidad de SDSU y el público en general puedan aprender más sobre el noreste de Brasil a través del arte.

“La idea de traer esto aquí era tener la oportunidad de

promover la cultura brasileña y compartirla con los estudiantes”, dijo Robb. “El arte y música de Brasil es increíble, la cantidad de expresión y producción cultural en Brasil es fenomenal. Es algo que siempre trae a la gente y por eso estamos emocionadas de tener la oportunidad de compartir”.

El noreste de Brasil es una de las partes más ricas

culturalmente, también es la parte que es más africana y gran parte de la exposición se trata de la cultura afrobrasileña.

Dentro de la propia exposición habrá información y perfiles acerca de los artistas y sus piezas para que la comunidad no solo disfrute del arte, pero también se informen de dónde viene el arte de esta exhibición.

“Es nuestra misión educar a

todos dentro de la universidad sobre la diversidad en Brasil y las diferentes culturas que están incrustadas en Brasil”, dijo De Abreu. “Se divide en tres segmentos, la primera sección hablará sobre la tierra y el pueblo, otra sección habla de expresiones de fe del noreste y la tercera sección será poesía y música”.

Abreu y Robb añadieron que quieren mostrar más de Brasil a SDSU y la comunidad; los estudios brasileños es algo que está creciendo y es nuevo en la universidad. “Ésta es una oportunidad para que la universidad y la comunidad aprendan más sobre el Behner Stiefel de Estudios Brasileños porque no mucha gente sabe que estamos aquí y tenemos un montón de cosas que nos gustaría compartir con la comunidad estudiantil”, dijo Abreu.

“Por favor, vengan y disfruten”, dijo Robb. “Parte de la motivación de poner la exhibición en el campus, es integrase a las clases y que los estudiantes tengan la oportunidad de venir”.

Esta exposición será completamente gratuita.

Diane López es estudiante de último año de comunicación.

Síguela en Twitter @ dianelopezolea.

PSFA es remplazado con nuevo edificio temporal por Johann Oribello ESCRITOR

Derek

Esta historia fue traducida por Noé Sandoval.

La Universidad Estatal de San Diego ha comenzado a utilizar cinco nuevos edificios anexos localizados detrás del edificio de Música llamados PSFX, por sus siglas en inglés, el cual fue construido debido al cierre del edificio de Estudios Profesionales y Bellas Artes o PSFA del semestre pasado.

“El anexo sirve para compensar a la facultad y al personal que se vieron obligados a desalojar el edificio de PSFA y trasladarse a otros espacios del campus, como al edificio Adams Humanities”, dijo Eric Hansen, vicepresidente asociado de operaciones comerciales. “Un total de cuatro departamentos del campus tuvieron que encontrar nuevos espacios en el campus después del cierre del semestre pasado”. "[Los anexos se abrieron] para satisfacer las necesidades de espacio para las personas que han abandonado PSFA durante la construcción", dijo Hansen.

"Hubo dos áreas en Adams Humanities que se utilizaron como aulas el año pasado que ahora están siendo utilizadas por la facultad y el personal de PSFA".

La reubicación de departamentos fuera del edificio principal de PSFA comenzó el semestre pasado del año 2019 después de que los materiales

utilizados en un proyecto de techado produjeran olores peligrosos de químicos en el edificio. Estos olores provocaron más de dos docenas de informes de síntomas como dolores de cabeza, náuseas y hemorragias nasales.

Una página web informativa sobre el cierre dijo que el edificio está actualmente en proceso de renovación y que podrían pasar hasta dos años para que el edificio vuelva a la normalidad.

El cierre también resultó en la reubicación de más de 200 clases. Hansen dijo que dos de los espacios en el anexo se están utilizando actualmente como aulas porque se perdió parte del espacio de clase en Adams Humanities después de las reubicaciones de la oficina.

"Esas dos aulas necesitaban ser reemplazadas", dijo Hansen. "Así que dos de los modulares son básicamente para reemplazar esas aulas".

Los estudiantes que tienen clases en el anexo tienen varias opiniones sobre el diseño de las aulas.

La estudiante de ciencias ambientales Shandi Gordon dijo que la forma larga de los modulares puede dificultar el seguimiento en clase.

"Está bien, pero sigue siendo un inconveniente", dijo Gordon.

"La pantalla está muy lejos si te sientas en el medio o incluso en la parte de atrás [de la clase]".

La estudiante de segundo año de ciencias ambientales Danielle Stroh, que ha tenido clases en el edificio original de PSFA, dijo que

Foto por Michael Cline

PSFX como remplazo temporal de PSFA.

la estructura del anexo hace que el aula sea más estricta y menos cómodo en comparación con las aulas de PSFA. "Es un poco incómodo porque [la clase es] súper delgada y larga", dijo Stroh. "Diría que hay más espacio en la otra [clase de PSFA], y es más cómodo, menos concurrido y menos apretado".

Profesora de estudios africanos, Delores Fisher, que actualmente imparte un curso de comunicación en el anexo, dijo que las rampas que conducen a las aulas pueden presentar algunas dificultades para las personas con discapacidad para caminar.

"Lo único que consideraría es la longitud de las rampas", dijo Fisher. “Parece ser largo para alguien que tiene que usar una silla de ruedas manual en lugar de una silla de ruedas automática.

Me obligo a subir las escaleras con mi discapacidad ”.

Hansen dijo que el anexo permanecerá en el campus mientras PSFA está en construcción y será retirado después de un año.

"Creemos que terminarán hasta el próximo otoño", dijo Hansen.

"Así que para diciembre de 2020 deberían haber terminado".

Para algunos estudiantes, el

anexo representa una mancha en la historia de la universidad.

Estudiante de quinto año en periodismo y psicología, Brandon Lim, dijo que los anexos podrían haberse evitado si la universidad hubiera manejado adecuadamente los problemas de mantenimiento y reparación de PSFA desde un principio.

"Creo que mi única queja es que necesitamos el anexo en primer lugar", dijo Lim. "Si nuestros edificios existentes fueran mantenidos y regulados adecuadamente, no tendríamos que estar en el anexo".

8

The Daily Aztec

Mundo Azteca

Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 EDITOR: Alejandra Luna • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Deportista sueña con ir a los juegos olímpicos por Alejandra luna EDITORA

Manuel Eduardo Gómez Garduno, conocido por sus amigos y familia como “Manny”, es parte del equipo de tenis en los deportes adaptados de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego.

Gómez es estudiante del colegio comunitario de Grossmont en donde estudia administración de empresas y contaduría para después poder transferirse a SDSU. Gómez practicaba deportes desde a muy temprana edad, logró jugar béisbol en el equipo de la preparatoria en la que asistía. Sin embargo, nació con escoliosis, lo cual empeoró cuando tenía 16 años.

“Cuando estaba jugando en la preparatoria me empezó a doler la espalda y tuve una cirugía, pero no fue como acordaba el plan y terminé en la silla”, dijo Gómez.

Esta enfermedad le cambió su vida para siempre, dejándolo sin querer practicar ningún deporte como lo solía hacer.

“Al principio no podía mover mis piernas ni sentirlas para nada, y pues me cambió todo a lo que yo estaba acostumbrado a hacer”, dijo Gómez. “Yo necesitaba mis piernas, no sabía qué iba a hacer después”.

Cortesía de Manny Gómez

Manny en las practicas de tenis en SDSU.

Fue en el verano del 2018 que comenzó a intentar jugar tenis ya que para Gómez era similar que el

béisbol.

“Me tuvieron que convencer una de mis terapistas para que

fuera a un campamento de verano para ver todos los deportes y me gustó el tenis”, dijo Gómez.

En noviembre del año pasado, uno de los compañeros de Gómez lo invitó a unirse al equipo de tenis que SDSU estaba formando para los deportes adaptados y él aceptó.

“Estoy muy agradecido de ser parte de este programa y ser uno de los que empezaron el programa como jugador en la escuela que siempre he soñado”, dijo Gómez.

En abril de este año, el equipo viajó a Florida para representar a la universidad en una competencia de tenis donde ganaron el segundo lugar de la nación.

Gómez mencionó que después de muchos años de estar en una silla de ruedas se ha acostumbrado y reconoce que hay personas que pueden estar pasando por peores situaciones y siguen con su vida.

“Es acomodarse a tus necesidades y cada día darle a la vida”, dijo Gómez. “No porque estés en silla de ruedas no puedes hacer nada”.

Añadió que le gustaría que el programa creciera más porque existen otras universidades que cuentan con varios equipos en diferentes deportes.

“Apenas estamos creciendo, pero ojalá pongamos el ejemplo aquí en California o en la universidad para que gente con

capacidades diferentes puedan venir y jugar un deporte”, dijo Gómez.

Además, Gómez piensa que los colegios comunitarios deberían de contar con este tipo de proyecto para estudiantes en sillas de ruedas y así puedan experimentar algún deporte de su agrado.

Algunas de las metas que Gómez tiene como deportista son ganar el primer lugar en la nación con el equipo de tenis de SDSU y poder llegar a los juegos olímpicos.

“Tengo que seguir trabajando, seguir jugando y seguir practicando para lograr mi meta”, dijo Gómez.

Gómez quiere dar una enseñanza a las personas que se encuentran en una silla de ruedas quienes piensan que su vida ya terminó ahí.

Asimismo, Gómez quiere demostrarles que todo tiene solución y hay que ser felices como son.

“No se limiten porque están en una silla de ruedas y no pueden hacer nada o jugar algún deporte porque si pueden llegar lejos”, dijo Gómez. “Pueden hacer lo que ellos se proponen”.

Alejandra Luna es estudiante de último año de español. Síguela en Twitter @alelunaglls.

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Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 Editor: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Season opener:

continued from page 1 opportunities, and I know I can, so it’s just something I’ve got to improve.”

Thompson, on the following Weber State drive, sealed the game on 4th and four with 1:29 remaining – swatting the ball incomplete and forcing a turnover on downs.

Thompson was helped in the secondary by junior defensive back Dwayne Johnson Jr., who led the Aztecs with 12 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss.

SDSU senior defensive back Kyree Woods was slated to start at safety but was moved to cornerback due to a hip flexor injury suffered by sophomore cornerback Darren Hall on Aug. 27, according to Long.

Weber State was held to just 154 total yards, and the Aztec secondary and defense as a whole had plenty to do with that.

Wildcats sophomore running back Josh Davis, who is the reigning FCS National Freshman of the Year, only collected seven rushing yards on eight attempts.

However, the Aztecs’ run game wasn’t much better.

Senior running back Juwan Washington tallied 55 yards on

22 carries.

Sophomore running back Jordan Byrd entered the game in the second quarter in relief, however, carrying the ball only five times but finished with 50 yards, including a 23-yard burst in the second quarter.

The Wildcats managed to convert only five first downs, compared to the Aztecs’ 14.

The game resulted in 19 punts, nine of which came from the foot of SDSU senior punter Brandon Heicklen.

Just before halftime, Araiza went on for what would have been his second field goal attempt. Heicklen muffed the snap, giving Weber State possession with 24 seconds left.

Long said his players told him Weber State players were calling out the Aztecs’ snap count.

“When they moved the defensive line, they were using our snap count, which is illegal,” Long said. “But if the officials can’t hear it, they can’t call it.”

Midway through the second quarter, the Aztecs faced 4th and three from the Weber State 35-yard line. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jesse Matthews caught a pass for six yards, giving SDSU the first down.

Following Araiza’s first field goal in the second quarter, Weber State junior wide receiver Rashid Shaheed returned a kick for a touchdown on the ensuing

Sports

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9

Photo by Kareem Jones

SDSU junior defensive back Tariq Thompson tackles Weber State sophomore tight end Justin Malone during the Aztecs’ 6-0 victory on Aug. 31 at SDCCU Stadium.

kickoff, but it was called back due to a holding penalty on defensive end George Tarlas.

That one play could have equalled the same amount of points SDSU scored all night, and the Aztecs were fortunate to have the penalty flag thrown in their favor.

Entering halftime, the Aztecs held a 3-0 advantage over the Wildcats.

The Aztecs opened the second half with a three-and-out on defense, followed by an 18yard run from Washington on the Aztecs’ first play. The carry marked Washington’s longest run of the night.

Washington was spotted limping to the locker room with an ankle injury after the Aztecs’ third drive, but returned late in the second quarter and played

the rest of the game.

The Aztecs will head to the Rose Bowl on Sept. 7 to take on UCLA, where they will attempt to defeat a Pac-12 opponent for the fifth time since 2016 and secure their first win against the Bruins in 23 total contests.

Kyle Betz is a junior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @KyleBBetz.

SDSU travels to UCLA for first matchup in a decade

by Kyle Betz ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

San Diego State football will travel to the Rose Bowl for a clash against UCLA on Sept. 7.

The Aztecs (1-0), a Mountain West team, have the opportunity to secure more wins against Pac12 opponents (5) than Pac-12 member Oregon State, who has only four conference wins since 2016.

The Bruins (0-1) lost their season opener to Cincinnati, 24-14, on Aug. 29, although the team was missing pieces on both sides of the ball.

Two running backs, senior Joshua Kelley and sophomore Kazmeir Allen, did not play due to injuries. This left junior wide receiver Demetric Felton – a makeshift tailback – to carry the workload.

Felton finished against Cincinnati with 174 all-purpose yards, including a 75-yard receiving touchdown in the second quarter.

UCLA junior cornerback Darnay Holmes, a five-star recruit who started in 23 games over the past two seasons, did not play after missing practice during the week.

There’s a chance Holmes returns from injury to start against SDSU, bolstering a defense that forced two turnovers against the Bearcats last week.

SDSU offensive coordinator Jeff Horton isolated Holmes from any other name in the Bruins’ secondary.

“He’s probably one of the best

Photo by Kareem Jones

SDSU senior running back Juwan Washington runs through the Wildcats’ defense during the Aztecs’ 6-0 victory on Aug. 31 at SDCCU Stadium.

in the country,” Horton said.

For the Scarlet and Black, the offense is hoping to avoid the same result it achieved last Saturday in its 6-0 win over Weber State.

Horton said consistency is the biggest issue the Aztecs need to work on moving forward.

“Obviously, it was disappointing from our end – really, an embarrassment,” Horton said. “We were never

consistent, we never sustained anything… (Our offense was) nowhere where it needs to be. Obviously, our job is to score points, and we were very fortunate to have two field goals to win the football game.”

The Aztecs found themselves in Weber State’s red zone on three separate occasions but were unable to score a touchdown.

Part of that reason has to do with the offensive line.

The unit did not allow a sack against the Wildcats, but senior quarterback Ryan Agnew was forced to move outside the pocket more often than not.

Aztecs head coach Rocky Long criticized the offensive line’s play following the game, which was also a common occurrence last season.

“I don’t think the offensive line played very well,” Long said. “Except for a little spurt

in the second quarter where we actually ran the ball pretty well, we didn’t block very well for the run.”

SDSU junior center Keith Ismael said the offense is working hard in practice to put themselves in a position to score more points.

“It’s frustrating on offense when you can’t get into the end zone,” Ismael said. “We’re trying to get the offense to flow better and every position to work hard, so once we get in there, we’ll definitely be celebrating.”

The Aztecs, whose pride on offense lies in their ground game, finished the first quarter against Weber State with -5 rushing yards but ended up with 130 yards, part in thanks to sophomore running back Jordan Byrd, who rushed only five times but collected 50 yards.

Horton said he would like to see Byrd receive more touches due to his explosiveness.

“We’ve got to get the ball in his hands more,” Horton said.

“When we were struggling like we were, you need guys that can create big plays like that.”

SDSU is 0-21-1 all-time against UCLA, with the Bruins holding a 19-game winning streak.

Horton said playing UCLA on the road is a big opportunity for the program.

“This is a huge challenge playing UCLA in the Rose Bowl,” Horton said. “What more could you ask for?”

Kyle Betz is a junior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @KyleBBetz.

10

Sports

The Daily Aztec

Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

LA natives return home for Rose Bowl game

by Aaron Tolentino SPORTS EDITOR

Despite being the home of one of the closest Division I programs to San Diego State football, UCLA has only seen the Aztecs 22 times in almost 100 years.

Saturday will mark the first time the Aztecs are able to make the short 129-mile trip for a nonconference matchup at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the first time in a decade when SDSU lost 3314.

The Aztecs recruit a lot of players from Los Angeles, which makes sense geographically considering that large pool of talent is only about a couple hours away (minus the LA traffic, of course).

10 years later, those Los Angeles natives get to go back home to play in front of a hometown crowd and give their thoughts on this rare experience.

Senior linebacker Kyahva Tezino: Los Angeles, CA; Salesian High School Growing up as a kid in Los Angeles, senior linebacker Kyahva Tezino had two football teams to root for: USC and UCLA since no NFL team was in the area at the time.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Tezino rooted for USC during the Reggie Bush and Pete Carroll days, marking the first time he started watching football.

He said it’s been a dream of his to play in one of those iconic stadiums: the Rose Bowl or the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to play at one of those stadiums,” Tezino said. “I’m just happy we get to play somewhere that’s close in LA.” There may not be an Aztec that will have more family at Saturday’s game than Tezino.

Tezino expects to have 60 to 70 people show up – including his family, friends, former teachers from Salesian High School and former coaches he had growing up.

Unfortunately for Tezino, SDSU players are only allotted four guest

tickets each game. He hopes his teammates not from Los Angeles have extra guest tickets they want to give away.

The good thing for Tezino is he’s been asking teammates since fall camp, so maybe that gives him an advantage in securing those tickets before his other teammates.

Sophomore cornerback Darren Hall: Pasadena, CA; Rancho Cucamonga High School Tezino might have some competition from sophomore cornerback Darren Hall who hails from Pasadena, the exact city the Rose Bowl is located in.

Any kid playing football from that area would relish the opportunity to play on the Rose Bowl grass.

“Being from Pasadena, it’s always been a dream of mine to play in the Rose Bowl, so I’m going to have a lot of friends and family there. We’re going to need a hundred tickets for that game,” Hall said. “Playing in the Rose Bowl is a big thing for me and my family.”

Hall plans to have his immediate family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, god family and plenty of friends over to the game.

Hopefully for Hall and his family, he returns for the game healthy as he missed last week’s game against Weber State due to injury.

“There’s more motivation to be healthy,” Hall told The Daily Aztec. “But don’t want to rush things, taking things slow this week, but I’m looking forward to playing.”

Junior running back Chase Jasmin, Agoura Hills, CA; Westlake High School Junior running back Chase Jasmin hails from the San Fernando Valley, specifically Agoura Hills. Instead of having to drive more than 155 miles away to SDCCU Stadium, Jasmin’s family only has to travel roughly 37 miles to Pasadena to see their guy play.

Locals from the area dream about playing in the iconic venue, and Jasmine is no different.

“Growing up in that area, the Rose Bowl has always been something everyone wants to play in,” Jasmin said. “It’s definitely going to be a special game to play there and have my family watch me play. It’s kind of a dream come true.”

Jasmin plans on having his grandparents, aunts and uncles come to watch him play, so he’ll need to do a lot of work to ask for extra tickets from his teammates.

He plans to have 15-20 guests, but that won’t change anything in the way he plays.

All that’s different is there might be a little more nerves, but the preparation remains the same.

“There’s nothing different about approaching this game,” Jasmin said. “I’m sure there’s a little extra butterflies (though).”

Good until September 30, 2019.

Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Sports

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11

Inside stars Tezino, Washington’s friendship

by Aaron Tolentino SPORTS EDITOR

Juwan Washington and Kyahva Tezino.

Both seniors and this year’s stars of the Aztec football team, these names are likely the first two that come to mind when thinking about the upcoming season.

It just happens that the two are also best friends off the field.

Four years ago as young freshmen, neither Washington nor Tezino saw the field and ultimately ended up using their redshirt year. Fast forward to the 2019 season, the two would never have imagined being the faces of the programs in their senior year.

“Nah, we definitely was not thinking about that,” Washington said about his journey at SDSU with Tezino. “We had totally different aspirations, thinking about different things. We was trying to have fun as young freshman.”

Tezino said he’s lucky to have grown close with Washington and made lasting memories with him on and off the field.

“Juwan has been my roommate for years,” Tezino said. “It’s not common for you and your best friend to be the face of the team, so it’s kind of crazy to have that. It’s like a blessing. Who would have ever knew us two would have been there?”

Washington is the guy teammates turn to when it’s time for a laugh, while Tezino is the one who gets the team serious and focused when it’s time to get ready.

But, as the old saying goes, “opposites attract.”

“I don’t know how it fits,” Tezino said. “I’m always serious when it comes to football. I’m always passionate about it.”

“When (Washington) needs to focus, I’m there to get him focused. I feel like that’s how it is with the team,” Tezino added. “He knows when all the guys need to just relax and just be cool and take it slow.”

Off the field, the two seem inseparable. They can be seen eating out together, grocery shopping and hitching rides with one another. In the offseason, you can see the two sitting among their group of friends in Viejas Arena for a basketball game.

For head coach Rocky Long, Washington and Tezino’s tight bond is something he can relate to. It doesn’t surprise him guys can turn out to be best friends after being on the same college football team.

Long said the closest friendships he’s ever made in his life emanated from the football field.

“I think that’s the way it works,” Long said of the two’s friendship. “Probably five or six of my best friends in the world are guys I’ve played when we were all freshmen together.”

Washington and Tezino have made their friendship public on various social media platforms, tweeting things like “Blood couldn’t make us any closer” and referring to each other as their “brothers.”

Now, switch to the fiery part of their friendship.

The interesting thing about the duo is how upfront they are with one another, often coming off as hostile or mean.

Usually that hostility makes those two look like they hate each other, but the reality is just the opposite.

Washington said competing against Tezino is his form of motivation.

“It’s definitely a spark, especially with how competitive we are with each other,” Washington said. “If Kyahva sees me do something, he’s going to

Photos by Kareem Jones

Senior running back Juwan Washington and senior linebacker Kyahva Tezino line up before a play during the Aztecs’ 6-0 win over Weber State on Aug. 31.

want to go out there and make a play. If I see him make a play, I’m going to want to make something happen.”

Washington and Tezino constantly bark at each other during practice, especially because the two play on different sides of the ball – Washington at tailback and Tezino at middle linebacker.

Those two positions are bound to hit each other during practice.

And when they do, it rarely comes without a little extra trash talk on the side.

Tezino said, almost jokingly, he’s taken down Washington over 100 times – even given the fact it is an ongoing tradition to protect the starting running back during fall camp. “(Coaches) be protecting Juwan,” Tezino said.

“He probably won’t admit how many times I’ve tackled him – probably like over 100.”

Washington had a response to Tezino allegedly taking him down that many times. Tezino has tackled him cleanly, but it was nothing Washington considered as a solid hit. “(Tezino) may have had a couple tackles on me, but it wasn’t a good lick,” Washington said with a smile. “I ain’t going to give him too much credit.

I can’t say he put a good lick on me.”

Even Long can’t help but notice the two banter during practice, only to find out they are the best of friends.

“Well, they yak at each other all the time,” Long said. “If people don’t know that they’re buddies, everybody’s going, ‘Oh, those guys don’t like each other.’

Actually, it’s just the opposite.”

That’s the way Washington and Tezino are. On the field, nothing gets personal because each of them realize they are both out there competing and want to push each other to constantly get better.

That’s what best friends do.

Aaron Tolentino is a senior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @atolent2.

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12

Sports

The Daily Aztec

Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 Editor: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Agnew continues to grow as a senior

by Kyle Betz ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Senior quarterback Ryan Agnew is one of the most notable names in San Diego State football’s starting lineup.

The Southlake, Texas native redshirted his first year at SDSU but worked to earn 2015 Offensive Scout Player of the Year.

Three years later, he was named the team’s Offensive Player of the Year after winning six games as a starter.

Agnew recently opened his 2019 account by leading the Aztecs to a 6-0 win against Weber State, passing for 108 yards and rushing for 13 more.

The 6-foot, 190-pound quarterback was called upon by the Aztecs’ coaching staff last September after then-senior quarterback Christian Chapman – the school’s all-time winningest passer – went down with a left knee injury in the second game of the season against Sacramento State.

He exceeded expectations by defeating No. 23/25 Arizona State and rv/No. 24 Boise State, among others, earning him playing time even after Chapman returned from injury.

Offensive coordinator Jeff Horton said it was important for Agnew to learn under Chapman for the amount of time that he did.

Photo by Kareem Jones

Senior quarterback Ryan Agnew calls out a defender during the Aztecs’ 6-0 win over Weber State on Aug. 31.

“I think seeing Christian, the way he handled himself and the standard he set as a quarterback, Ryan’s done a great job since he’s taken over accepting that responsibility and working at it,” Horton said. “He’s a part of the team, a part of the wins, and you’ve just got to keep it going.”

Chapman differed from Agnew in that he preferred to sling the ball out of the pocket.

One of the reasons Agnew is a dynamic player is his ability to evade defenders by scrambling out of the pocket.

According to head coach Rocky Long, Agnew’s mobility is one of his most important traits.

“Ryan’s a scrambler,” Long said. “You can tell him not to scramble and then you take half his game away.”

Of course, anytime a mobile

quarterback like Agnew runs towards an opposing defense, there’s a risk of injury.

Long, however, added Agnew should be able to play his way without protecting himself.

“A player is a player,” Long said. “If that’s the way he plays, let him play that way. You don’t start trying to change their personality and their character.

He’s a good player.”

In 2018, Agnew passed for 1,651 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions – adding rushing for 141 yards.

Entering 2019, Agnew lost three of his top targets in Fred Trevillion, Kahale Warring and Tim Wilson Jr., respectively. All combined for 1,332 receiving yards and nine touchdowns last season. Now, Agnew faces a challenge in passing to a more inexperienced wide receiving corps.Horton said although Agnew excels most when on the run, his ability to throw both inside and outside of the pocket is an advantage for his young receivers.

“He’s his best when he gets outside of the pocket,” Horton said. “It’s not that he can’t do it inside, you still have to throw it inside. But I think just being able to move around will hopefully enhance the completion percentage.”

Junior center Keith Ismael said he’s seen Agnew’s leadership role expand to help the underclassmen throughout camp and the beginning of the season.

“He’s really stepped up and owned that role for himself and brought all the younger players that are starting to play a lot with us,” Ismael said. “He’s one of the key figures on our team and on our offense.”

Kyle Betz is a junior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @KyleBBetz.

Rocky Long hopes small sacrifices pay big divdends

by Aaron Tolentino SPORTS EDITOR

When a San Diego State football player walks in the Fowler Athletic Center, there are two things he cannot be spotted with.

No hats.

No earrings.

While those two things might seem minor, that can still be considered a sacrifice in the minds of a lot of young college men – especially when it comes to earrings.

It’s everywhere in the NFL. You see superstar players like Odell Beckham Jr. and Julio Jones flaunt stylish earrings both on and off the field.

Even in college, guys like Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts and Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can be seen rocking a nice pair of hoops during an interview on television.

In a time when these young men are scrolling through their social media feeds seeing photos of countless athletes flex with things like designer clothes, trendy hats or flashy earrings, it can potentially be tempting to want to emulate those players’ swagger.

But that would not fly by in Aztecs head coach Rocky Long’s program.

Long has a rule for his players

on how to present themselves for them to prove they put the team first.

“When we’re together in a team function – which is practice, travel, meetings, anything that is a legitimate team function – we have certain rules about how they can dress and how they have to act,” Long said. “They give up some of their person freedoms to prove they want to be on the team bad enough.”

Those freedoms include wearing NFL gear, non-SDSU apparel, earrings, grills and hats.

Even old high school gear is not allowed because it can separate that individual from the collective group.

Occasionally, one freshman will accidentally wear his old high school gear. Since the rule is not set in stone like the hats and earrings restriction, one of the veteran players or coaches will just remind the player to not wear apparel from high school next time.

Long said the main goal for these rules is to get his players to sacrifice.

“It has nothing to do with anything other than they’re willing to give up something to be on the team,” he said.

A plethora of SDSU football players are on board with these rules, including junior offensive lineman Keith Ismael who said

File photo

Head coach Rocky Long stands on the sideline during an SDSU football game.

that small sacrifice carries onto the football field.

“If you can sacrifice little things like that, take away the individualism, it will make you a better team, a better teammate,” Ismael said. “You’ll be willing to do just a little more when you’re on the field.

If you can’t sacrifice here (in the Fowler Athletic Center), you can’t sacrifice on the field.”

Senior running back Juwan

Washington also said the rules are a small sacrifice to make for the team.

“Just showing that you are willing to give up something personal for the team,” Washington said. “It’s small, so it’s not even a big deal – just showing that you can take your earrings out, take a hat off when you come into the building.”

Football is the ultimate team game. It’s all about giving up

something for the greater good of the team en route to winning.

If doing small things like taking off a piece of jewelry or hat can help unify and teach guys how to sacrifice, Long sure hopes that type of unity within his team carries onto the football field.

Aaron Tolentino is a senior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @atolent2.

Sports 13 Aztecs’ offense silenced in 2-0 loss to Golden Bears Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 EDITOR: Aaron Tolentino • sports@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

by Luis Lopez STAFF WRITER

San Diego State women’s soccer lost to California by a score of 2-0 on Sept. 1 at the SDSU Sports Deck.

While neither side was able to find the back of the net in the first half, California outshot the Aztecs 13-2.

Only two of the Golden Bears’ 13 shots were on target, but the Aztecs (1-3) were fortunate to head to the locker room without a shot on goal and the score still level.

SDSU looked to maintain a shutout defensively, but a goal from California sophomore midfielder Paige Metayer in the 55th minute opened the Golden Bears’ scoring account.

California junior forward Emma Westin added another goal in the 81st minute off a shot that resulted from a giveand-go turnover. The result gave the Golden Bears (3-0) their best start to a season since 2014.

Aztecs midfielder Chloe Frisch said she felt the team did a good job in executing their overall game plan.

“We did a really good job of closing the middle and not creating any passing lanes for them, so that they had to go out wide,” Frisch said. “When they went out wide we used that as an opportunity to keep them in a corner and try to not let them cross.”

Head coach Mike Friesen said he’s happy with his team’s defensive effort and the

Photo by Aaron Tolentino

SDSU junior midfielder Chloe Frisch attempts to escape from Washington State defenders during the Aztecs’ 5-0 exhibition loss on Aug. 16 at the SDSU Sports Deck.

experience they gained against a Pac-12 school.

“I just told them, if effort, work rate and grit were some sort of currency that we were putting into our bank account, our bank account is building,” Friesen said.

Offensively, the Aztecs were unable to find the back of the net for the second straight game.

SDSU sophomore forward Malia Kaleiohi said the Aztecs prepared for California’s

speed, which resulted in more conservative gameplay from the offense.

“I think we had a little bit of a defensive standpoint today just because we knew that they were fast, so they got behind really easily,” Kaleiohi said.

Friesen echoed those sentiments and said the Aztecs fed off what they were preventing the Golden Bears from doing.

“One thing we tried to do is

conserve a little bit, take away some of the things they were trying to do and create some counter attacking possibilities,” Friesen said.

Aside from the loss, this game marked SDSU senior goalkeeper Brooke Lisowski’s first face-off against her former squad.

Lisowski was a backup goalkeeper for four years at California, a career which only saw her play in four career games including one start for

the Golden Bears.

“I’ve been waiting for this game pretty much ever since I committed to go here for grad school,” Lisowski said. “It was just a fun atmosphere out there.”

The Aztecs’ next competition will be on the road against the University of Miami on Sept. 7.

Luis Lopez is a junior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @Lopez509Luis.

Men’s soccer falls in season opener against crosstown opponent USD

by Cristian STAFF WRITER

Alvarez

San Diego State men’s soccer lost 3-2 to crosstown opponent University of San Diego on Aug. 30 at the SDSU Sports Deck.

The Aztecs didn’t get the result they hoped for to kick off their regular season.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t put our best foot forward in the match,” head coach Lev Kirshner said.

USD outshot the Aztecs 13 to five and held a 5-to-4 advantage on corner kicks.

Six of the 13 shot attempts came from USD senior forward Miguel Berry, who gave the Aztecs problems all night long.

Berry’s pair of goals and one assist in the game proved to be the difference-maker for the visitors.

“We didn’t do a good job containing him,” Kirshner said.

“We got ourselves isolated too often and that’s dangerous when you’re dealing with a player like him.”

The Toreros snapped a fouryear losing streak on Friday night. The last time USD defeated the Aztecs was back on Aug. 20, 2015.

The rivalry between the two San Diego-based teams

the Aztecs to re-take the lead cruising into halftime.

It was both Weber’s first career goal as a collegiate player and as an Aztec.

SDSU’s overall performance appeared to be stronger in the first half, considering their two goals and four out of five shot attempts occurred during the period.

File photo

Then-senior forward Damian German dribbles the ball during the Aztecs’ 2-0 win over Brown on Sept. 14, 2018 at the SDSU Sports Deck.

continues, but for now it’s USD who holds bragging rights.

“All credit to USD for making things difficult for us,” Kirshner said. “Our guys are going to need to bounce back and regroup.”

The Aztecs were up early after senior midfielder Pablo Pelaez scored his first goal of

the season inside the penalty box as a result of a foul in the eighth minute.

In the 24th minute, the Toreros tied the game after junior midfielder Ross Meldrum received a pass from Berry on the right wing with Meldrum finishing up top past SDSU sophomore goalkeeper

Harrison Skinner.

Moments later, the Aztecs earned a corner. Redshirt junior Keegan Kelly crossed the ball directly towards junior forward Tevenn Roux.

Roux deflected the ball toward the feet of sophomore midfielder Tristian Weber, who then finished and positioned

“I thought we had a strong opening 45 minutes,” Skinner said. “It’s hard to take the result, but we still had our moments throughout the match.”

The Aztecs had chances to score more goals, but the outcome remains the same on the scoresheet.

“It’s definitely a disappointing result,” Pelaez said. “The guys worked hard, but at the end of the day, we got to look in the mirror and see what we can improve on.”

Skinner added the Aztecs need to stay positive despite an early-season loss.

“We have to keep our heads up and find a result after a loss,” Skinner said. “We can’t get down on ourselves this early in the season.”

Cristian Alvarez is a senior studying journalism. Follow him on Twitter @AlvarezTheViper.

14

The Daily Aztec

Arts & Culture

Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 EDITOR: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Dragstravaganza whips out the wigs for a production full of music, dance and drag

by Nicole Wittenberg CONTRIBUTOR

The line to meet the multiple Queens stretched through the Aztec Student Union, and the seats were packed while everyone was held in participation for San Diego State’s queens to make their debut.

The audience didn’t have to wait long for the wigs, sequins and lashes to sparkle in Montezuma hall at the 2019 Dragstravaganza.

The show started with all seven of the SDSU Queens performing together on stage.

“Hold up” by Beyoncé and “Oops I Did it Again” by Britney Spears were two of the songs used in the individual sets.

Each Queen performed several solo performances to a mashup of several pop songs. Cheyenne Masters did a performance to the song “This is me” from “The Greatest Showman.”

Her performance was an outlier from the rest because it had less dancing and more acting. All of the Queens had the crowd going wild from people dancing and singing, to people sliding a five dollar bill into a Queen’s shirt.

Monique Heart, a professional drag Queen, who got her start on RuPaul’s Drag Race, made a guest appearance.

Journalism freshman Allie Cone who attended the drag show said, “I love drag shows so of course I had to come, but I especially wanted to see Monique Heart.”

Heart first appeared in a sequined pant suit that could be seen shining from the back of

Photo by (left) Delaney Dietrich and (right) Shane James

Noah Leach is inspired by his creative mind to produce LUXE who lets Leach express his full story. He also uses Luxe as a way to give power to big-shaped people and the gay community.

the audience. She hit a dramatic death drop as the crowd went wild, but the Queens weren’t the only ones hitting death drops. Monique Heart invited an audience member on stage to do

a death drop of his own.

Whether someone in the audience was a drag queen fanatic who came to see the SDSU queens and Monique Heart, or if it was their first drag show, they

witnessed a cultural event.

Nicole Wittenberg is a freshman studying journalism.

Diving deeper into student drag culture

by Sydney Faulkner SENIOR STAFF WRITER

From Thursday’s a Drag to Dragstravaganza, the art of drag has brought years of sass, class, love and acceptance to San Diego State’s campus.

The annual show brings queens from surrounding universities and the professional level, to create one unforgettable glitz and glam night.

The presence of drag on campus has given a creative outlet to many students, while also providing a community they can belong to. The students involved come from an array of areas of study and walks of life.

Noah Leach, also known as LUXE, is an acting and musical theatre junior. When asked who LUXE is, Leach said, “LUXE is the dweller in my imagination that brings all my artistic thoughts and stories to life. I like her to be a mix of glamorous and gothic aesthetic that aren’t something you see in every queen.”

Leach said as an actor, he cannot fully express the story that he wants to tell. As Luxe, he can dance, dress or act in

whichever way he wants, an experience he describes as creatively liberating.

Leach said he chooses to particpate in drag to share it as an art form art form, to give more power to the gay community and to make people happy.

“I want to give a voice to the big - or even just oddly shaped people, so that no one ever has to be ashamed of how they look,” Leah said. “I want everyone to know they are sexy, unique and deserve to be loved.”

Lady Blanca, who is a student at SDSU, is a raunchy, crazy, classy, wild and sophisticated Latinx woman.

“Drag is a means of giving joy to people whilst also being able to convey a political statement through a lighthearted medium,” Blanca said.

Lady Blanca participates in drag because the real world is complicated, and this art form is an easier path to deal with it all.

Blanca said drag on campus brings students together for one unforgettable night of fun, enjoyment and queer love.

It’s inclusive to have this night for all people, LGBTQ+ and our allies, to remind people that

though life is a drag, it can also be joyful.

Both Leach and Lady Blanca collectively agree that Dragstravaganza and the presence of drag on campus is needed and important.

“Drag is important on campus because students can relieve the stresses of being in college as well as give them a safe place to know they belong here,” Leach

said.

“Additionally, it is important to have drag here to show the campus, and the world ... the LGBTQIA+ community is here and we are not going anywhere.”

Sydney Faulkner is a senior studying media studies.

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Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 EDITOR: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Arts & Culture

The Daily Aztec

15

Halal Shack brings inclusive flavors to SDSU

by Juniper Perkins STAFF WRITER

Say hello to the long-awaited Halal Shack, a restaurant featuring a blend of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors with an American twist.

The Halal Shack opened on Aug. 5 in San Diego State’s East Commons cafeteria.

CEO and founder Jamal Rasoully officially cut the ribbon to the new location a few weeks later on Aug. 28.

The new eatery is one of Rasoully’s newest locations. Originating in New York at the University at Albany, the restaurant can also be found on other campuses such as at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of Texas at Dallas and Howard University.

“We’re national now,” Rasoully said.

“New York, Texas, Maryland, D.C., and California. This is our first California location. It’s New York-style street food in the mean streets of San Diego.”

The food’s New York influence meets flavors from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries. The Halal Shack calls this combination “American Halal.”

“American Halal combines mouthwatering Mediterranean flavors, savory Middle Eastern spices and classic American style to create a delicious and healthy eating experience,” The Halal Shack website says.

The Halal Shack’s menu follows a build-your-own process with four steps.

It offers six meal styles, six fillings, six toppings and six sauces. Cheese can be added to orders for 50 cents and hummus for 75 cents. Other extras

include a sprinkling of Flaming Hot Cheetos and crispy pita chips, both for 50 cents.

The Halal Shack’s Spin Sauces are available for purchase at Whole Foods and on Amazon.

While the style of the food is up-andcoming, Rasoully said the idea is rooted in tradition.

“My mission is inclusivity,” Rasoully said. “I wanted higher education dining to be inclusive of all cultures.

Everything I do here is my mom and dad’s. I’m Afghan-American, so my inspiration was to share food I grew up on with everybody.” Even the hummus is Rasoully’s father’s own recipe.

Halal is an Arabic word meaning “lawful” or “permissible.” It refers to food and meat sourced and prepared to follow Islamic dietary guidelines outlined in the Qur’an.

According to the Islamic Council of Victoria’s article “What is Halal? A Guide for Non-Muslims,” the preparation of meat must follow numerous steps to reduce the animal’s suffering.

The Halal Shack serves humanely treated meats as well as offering vegetarian and vegan options with locally sourced ingredients.

“It blew my mind the first time I went there, like how good it is,” history sophomore Jake Frautnick said. “It’s now my new favorite place at East Commons, replacing Rubio’s. I’m definitely planning on going more often.”

Frautnick said he usually orders a naan roll with falafel, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and adds cheese for an extra 50 cents.

Photo by Juniper Perkins

Halal Shack ordering instructions to help customers pick their different styles including fillings, toppings and sauces.

He said he switches up the sauce for a different flavor every time.

“Their gyros are very tasty and some of the best ones I’ve had in a while,“ geology sophomore Jules Carll, who gets a beef gyro with tomatoes, cheese and lettuce, said. “The staff is friendly and welcoming. They gave me samples while I was checking out the menu and I was like, ‘Whoa.’”

Rasoully will be in San Diego for the coming weeks. He wants to personalize The Halal Shack experience by touching tables in East Commons and checking in with his SDSU staff.

“I (want to) thank everybody,” he said, talking about both the faculty at SDSU and the students. “I hope they can continue to enjoy the food. We had a phenomenal week and we hope it keeps getting better.”

The Halal Shack is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and

Saturday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Juniper Perkins is a sophomore studying

Photo by Juniper Perkins

(Top) Perkins tried a brown rice bowl with chicken, lettuce, onion, hot white sauce and hummus. (Bottom) Another menu item she tasted was a gyro with beef, lettuce, tomato, white sauce and cheese.

Illenium drops new album causing waves in electronic music

by Ceighlee Fennel ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Illenium’s new album, “Ascend,” is causing a buzz in the Electronic Dance Music genre. There are 17 songs total with 15 of them featuring other artists, and the album is exactly an hour long.

Some of the artists he worked with for this album are the Chainsmokers, Jon Bellion, X Ambassadors and Said the Sky. He starts “Ascend” with an intro “I Care” of two people speaking to each other. It only lasts a few seconds before it rolls into the first song “Hold On”. “Hold On” is a version of a love song with Georgia Ku as his featured female singer. It has a happy vibe even though the lyrics are about missing someone.

It also includes a drop with a lot of depth. The lyrics capture the frustration about wanting to move on, but holding on despite that.“Good Things Fall Apart”

features the popular artist Jon Bellion. This song was released before the album on accident. Some radio stations played the song before they were supposed to, but even with the early release, the album is having an impact in the industry.

Instruments were incorporated into this album along with traditional synths. “Sad Songs” is a really soft song that includes sound from guitars and other instruments.

However, Illenium was able to still incorporate his traditional EDM drops in a gentle fashion.

“Blood” has an interesting twist with the vocals. Featuring Foy Vance, his voice adds a country edge to the very aggressive EDM song. This song plays around with different genres by adding in the country, rock vocals, with dance music and intense, aggressive drops.

Another song that crosses into a different genre is “Pray.” This songs brings a soulful vibe from the addition of Kameron Alexander’s voice in the

beginning. However, turns into an eerie melody after the first expansive drop. The song continues to tilt back and forth from Alexander to edgy, futuristic synths.

Illenium snuck a couple intense, dark drops into the song “Gorgeous.” It has a beautiful melody with pretty vocals, but he leads up to an edgy drop.

Once the songs finishes with a fullbodied song, the melody mixed with the dance trance, it flows into “Angel.” “Angel” is the album’s prelude before the last song.

It’s a clip from the classic movie “Good Will Hunting” when Robin Williams is speaking to a young Matt Damon about life and love.

Illenium uses William’s voice for the 40 second prelude.The prelude leads right into the last song “Lonely.” It wraps up the album perfectly.

Overall, Illenium included a good mix of aggressive, intense songs with slow, ethereal songs. He has a mix of mainstream EDM songs with cutting edge songs. Most

of the songs are sad and emotional with titles such as “Broken Ones,” “Hold On” and “Crashing.” Some of the ethereal songs include “Every Piece of Me” and “Take You Down.”

If you like Illenium, this is another masterpiece he is adding to his collection.

If you are new to EDM, this is a great place to start because it has the classic EDM sound mixed with songs that lead into its more experimental side.

However, he threw a couple grimy songs into the album to include some aggressive EDM. The lyrics and music work together can stir deep emotions and connections.

This is the kind of album to just sit and listen to the whole way through.

It makes you feel sadness, hope, love, sacrifice, desperation and more. The album as a whole is really emotional and deep.

Illenium deserves the hype he is getting because the album is incredible.

Ceighlee Fennel is a senior studying journalism.

16

The Daily Aztec

The Back Page

Sept. 4 - 10, 2019 Editor: Ceighlee Fennel • arts@thedailyaztec.com

‘Euphoria’ sparks jeweled makeup trends

by Kelly Kerrigan SENIOR STAFF WRITER

After finishing the first episode of HBO’s “Euphoria,” my friends and I sat frozen on the couch, our mouths wide open and our minds in shock.

“What did we just watch?” I asked.

We spent the next eight weeks counting down the days until the next episode aired.

This show had captivated us in a way that no show had before.

The show follows a group of high school students who face the conflicts of modern teenagers.

The title, “Euphoria,” is defined as a state or feeling of intense excitement and happiness — a feeling that never lasts as long as we wish it would.

Just when the teenagers in “Euphoria” are attempting to enjoy their years of adolescence, their euphoric state of being is ripped from beneath their feet and the stress of trying to fit in with society is shoved down their throats.

Colorful, bright, glittery makeup added in with graphic sex, drug abuse, intense social media challenges, struggles with individual and sexual identity and an incredible soundtrack, HBO’s new, strikingly intriguing television show “Euphoria” has people talking.

This show shows the raw truth on controversial topics that are typically watered down to follow T.V. guidelines.

The characters embody today’s Millennials and Gen Z population who fear conforming to societal constructs and who will do absolutely anything in their will to stand out.

The show follows actress Zendaya’s character, Rue, who faces a serious drug addiction showing her battle to remain sober.

Other characters face abusive relationships, the influences of hegemonic masculinity, the power of the internet and misogyny.

Each of the young teens endures the pressures of their parents and society telling them to hide anything that attracts attention.

So what do the characters do instead?

They do the exact opposite. They load their wardrobe with over-the-top pieces, neon shirts, eccentric patterns, high heels and latex dresses.

They adopt every curse word into their vocabulary and partake in a partycentered lifestyle to alleviate the world they face.

The girls in “Euphoria” make an influential statement with their style.

These styles are now trends taking over young girls who watched the show.

The characters boldly apply their makeup with neon eyeliner, rainbow

face gems, glitter and lipstick. Their style illustrates they are not afraid to express who they are regardless of who they talk to. The colorful makeup that has been trending on social media doesn’t just serve as a new beauty trend, but serves as a metaphor for self vocalization.

Young girls, and especially young boys, are trained to believe that wearing makeup is frowned upon, so much so that many schools across the country ban it from being worn.

The internet floods girls with messages that wearing too much makeup makes them look like a clown, yet as soon as a girl has a minor imperfection, she is expected to fix it. The double standard society forces onto girls makes it difficult for them to decide what they should believe.

“Euphoria” changes the definition of what makeup should be used for.

It is no longer a mask for imperfections, but rather a form of art and self-expression that allows people to create who they are and how they are seen.

One of the reasons so many are raving about this show is because we all can find ourselves intertwined with the plotlines and personalities of these characters; the pain in Cassie’s eyes, the anger in Nate’s fists, the lostness in Rue’s mind, the resilience in Maddy’s heart, the euphoria in Jule’s free spirit.

These characters remind us of the reality that often television gracefully skips over.

Life is not always like the movies, but these characters remind anyone, no matter their age, to keep fighting.

Growing up in an era where social media plays such a considerable role in our daily lives allows the media we consume to influence and affect us in abundant ways.

Not only has the exotic makeup grabbed our attention in regards to the show, but it has captured our attention enough to focus on the important social matters that are represented.

These issues are not being accurately represented in other media.

After being told to hold our tongues, follow the rules and walk in a straight line, “Euphoria”-influenced makeup demonstrates exactly what our generation will not do.

We refuse to stick with the confinements that have been put in place from generations before.

We want to be seen, we want to be heard and we absolutely will not accept “no” as an answer.

Kelly Kerrigan is a senior studying journalism and media studies.

Photo by Kelly Kerrigan

Photos taken with a Film AM Camera and developed

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