The Daily Aztec 3/3 - 3/9

Wednesday, March 3 - Tuesday, March 9 Weekly Digital Edition

Vol. 107, Issue 117 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

Football adds Mike Goff as offensive line coach

University Senate Update: Commencement, COVID vaccines and Fall 2021 by

Catlan Nguyen

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Plans for this year’s commencement, in-person classes for next semester and the future of COVID-19 vaccination requirements were discussed at the San Diego State University Senate meeting on March 2.

Commencement for Spring 2021 The university is still discussing how to hold this year’s commencement and keep it in compliance with COVID-19 social distancing protocols.

Commencement may be held using a combination of virtual and in-person drive by ceremonies but nothing has officially been announced.

It may also be extended to take place over a longer

by

period than three days, according to a report from the Senate meeting.

COVID-19 Vaccinations at SDSU may become future resee

Andrew Finley

STAFF WRITER

SENATE page 3

File photo

San Diego State football head coach Brady Hoke announced the hire of offensive line coach Mike Goff from Western Kentucky University on March 1, replacing Mike Schmidt who was hired as an assistant at Syracuse last week.

Goff played in the NFL for 12 seasons, earning All-Pro honors in 2005 with the San Diego Chargers. Shortly after retiring from the NFL in 2009, Goff joined the Aztecs’ coaching staff as a volunteer assistant in 2010-11, during Hoke’s first season in the Scarlet and Black.

“It is great to have Mike joining our coaching staff and once again reunite him with Aztec nation,” Hoke said of Goff in a press release. “He was an elite offensive lineman at Iowa and in his 12-year career in the NFL. He will help this offensive line in our program and will maximize their abilities in the future.”

Following a four-year career at Iowa under legendary head coach Hayden Fry, Goff was selected in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and spent 12 seasons in see

GOFF page 8

Saying goodbye: Beloved SDSU meme account goes dark by

Katelynn Robinson

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The beloved Ragestatememes account on Instagram announced earlier this week that it would be retiring.

And if that news shocked you, so will this statement from television, film, and new media major Ethan Shaw, the owner, manager and brain behind the Ragestatememes account.

“I don’t like Trujilos,” Shaw said.

Shaw started the Ragestatememes account in his second year of college as a way to pass time. He said he never expected it to grow as much as it did.

“I made this meme page for me, to make myself laugh, maybe people like it...but if it makes me laugh, post it,” Shaw said.

Shaw said the account led him to make many friends in a time in his life where he didn’t have many.

“It made my experience

Graphic by Emily Burgess

at SDSU much more pleasant because if I didn’t have that meme page I probably wouldn’t have any friends,” Shaw said. “I probably wouldn’t branch out. I probably wouldn’t learn a lot of things about myself. It taught me a lot of things. It taught me about my work ethic, it taught me about the struggle of creativity. It really taught

me more than people think because it was just one person, me, backing all this up.”

Shaw said so much of himself and his personality was poured into the page.

He said he learned a lot about comedy, punch lines, and how to construct a good joke. He claimed timing was the most important aspect of a joke.

Shaw found his ability to relate to the students at SDSU was a driving factor in his account’s success.

“The way I can relate to people, I think for some weird reason, made it easy to make stuff I had no experience with,” Shaw said.

Fraternities, sororities, communications professor Michael Rapp, and catcallers were just some of the

experiences Shaw said he had no experience with personally but he attempted to relate to the student body.

Oftentimes Shaw would draw inspiration from tips sent to his direct messages on Instagram. He also stayed up to date on recent San Diego State news in order to provide the most timely content.

When asked about his favorite meme, Shaw said he had a hard time choosing since he critiques his work so much. However, when speaking with The Daily Aztec, he laughed for almost a minute at his meme referencing joining Greek Life and a pun about being lactose intolerant.

Shaw shared some of his content ideas that he never launched including a mini-series he labeled “SDSU Unknown.” In the episodes, he planned to discuss hushed topics including the fraternity drug scandal called SDSU Sud-

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News

The Daily Aztec

March 3 - March 9, 2021 Editor: Jadyn Brandt

As nation marks grim milestone, San Diego County expands vaccine eligibility by

Brenden Tuccinardi

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Following 500,000 more San Diego county residents will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine now that the county has moved into Phase 1B, Tier 1. Individuals working in the emergency services, food/ agriculture and childcare/ education sectors can now make appointments at San Diego County vaccination sites and through their healthcare providers.

Among the half-million newly eligible individuals are all San Diego State faculty, staff, and student employees, regardless of age, including employees of the SDSU Research Foundation, Aztec Shops, Associated Students, and the Campanile Foundation.

Eligible employees will

need to provide either their SDSUid card with their RedID or a past pay stub as proof of eligibility.

However, demand far exceeds supply. San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher warned that it could take weeks for newly eligible individuals to receive appointments, even though they will be able to, beginning on Saturday, Feb. 27.

“There will not be half a million appointments on Saturday, or Sunday, or Monday or for many weeks coming forward,” Fletcher said at a Feb. 24 press conference. “We need folks to be patient.”

In addition to vaccination sites operated by San Diego and Imperial Counties, local clinics, pharmacies and their primary care physicians, eligible SDSU

EDITOR IN CHIEF Brenden Tuccinardi NEWS EDITOR Jadyn Brandt ASST. NEWS EDITOR Katelynn Robinson OPINION EDITOR Trinity Bland MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Noé Sandoval ASST. MUNDO AZTECA Karina Bazarte Photo by Brenden Tuccinardi

community members can make appointments at Student Health Services, which received an additional 300 vaccine doses on Feb. 25.

SDSU will begin administering these doses starting Feb. 26. The university is prioritizing SDSU and SDSU Imperial County employees (including student workers) who have been working on campus since March 2020 and those currently scheduled to receive their second doses.

Additional information will be shared with individuals through their official SDSU emails.

Molecular and cellular biology senior, Sam Suess, received one of the initial 300 doses allocated to the university at the beginning of February.

“It was the highlight of this year,” Suess said. “I feel protected, more helpful and optimistic.” see

VACCINE page 3

Former SDSU JMS professor Chris Chan on his fascinating background in journalism by

Patrick Doyle

STAFF WRITER

It was 1996 when Chris Chan, as a young producer, found himself lost in the Southern Philippines with no sense of direction and no phone service. Cotabato City was not all that it had seemed at first, as Chan had traveled from Singapore to help produce a story on the Muslim rebel groups in the region.

One rebel group had made an agreement with the Philippine government, but another one was still vehemently opposed to compromise. Chan remembers a tour guide pointing out a specific river and informing them it was where the rebels threw the dead bodies of the people they kidnapped and didn’t receive any ransom for. It wasn’t exactly the safest region for a relatively inexperienced pro-

Photo courtesy of Chris Chan

ducer to seek a story.

Nonetheless, Chan went to receive the blessing of the local religious leader in Cotabato City before beginning the story. His reporter and cameraman didn’t want to go, so they sent him alone. He explained to the imam his intentions of wanting to understand their side of the story and his desire to hear why their rebel group continued to oppose the Philippine government.

Chan did not necessarily have a solid plan for if the imam said “no” and took

him hostage. There was no safety net or anything for him to fall back on if things went south. He was just hoping, in that moment, life worked out for the best.

Luckily, it did, and he received the imam’s blessing. Unluckily, he was then dropped off in the middle of the city with no bearings, no GPS, no cell phone, and had to find his way back to the hotel.

“It was an exciting experience,” he said. “You kind of get thrown into different things that you have no idea and never expected.”

A lot of Chan’s career has followed this format of taking ambitious steps with no set plan, just the hope that life works out for the best.

With over two decades of experience now in journalism and even more in communications and teaching, Chan has never gotten a degree in anything journalism or communications-related – and he evidently hasn’t needed it. He grew up in the suburb of Covina, east of Los Angeles, and had a vague interest in political writing.

“It was a really nice place to grow up,” he said. “It was quiet, it was more of your traditional high school experience … I had an interest in politics and news writing. I was in the high school newspaper and then became co-editor of the newspaper.” see

JMS page 3

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Devin Whatley SPORTS EDITOR Kyle Betz ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Luis Lopez SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Catlan Nguyen PHOTO EDITOR Alexa Oslowski ASST. PHOTO EDITOR Amanda Orozco VIDEO EDITOR Angela Kurysh ASST. VIDEO EDITOR Mackenzie Stafford GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR Emily Burgess

SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Breven Honda Ryan Hardison STAFF WRITERS Gaby Jose Jermelle Macleod Jessica Octavio Nicholas Ebadat Kirstie Burgess Jason Freund Andrew Finley Patrick Doyle CONTRIBUTORS Brenna Martinez ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bryan Diamond EDITORIAL editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING advertising@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition every Wednesday thoughout the semester when we are not in a global pandemic.

WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com SOCIAL MEDIA @thedailyaztec

@TheDailyAztec

3 News Students react to first 'rest and recovery' day, say time off made little difference and offered no break from work

March 3 - March 9, 2021 Editor: Jadyn Brandt

by

Alexa Oslowski

PHOTO EDITOR

Last December, San Diego State’s University Senate voted to remove spring break and replace it with four “rest and recovery days” spread throughout the semester. Over 700 students attended this meeting to express their opposition to the proposal and more than 16,000 people signed an online petition demanding the nine-day holiday be reinstated.

Following the decision, the university said they would work closely with faculty and staff to ensure class and work did not occur on these days. However, after the first recovery day

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quirement The university has administered all of the 300 COVID-19 vaccine doses they received to those who qualify according to San Diego County’s phases.

The university received 300 additional vaccine doses on Feb. 25, so second doses will be administered to those who received their first dose at

VACCINE:

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Suess, a resident advisor on campus, was eligible for the vaccine because she volunteers at Alvarado Hospital.

Linda Woods, an instructional designer in SDSU Instructional Technology Services (ITS), also received her first dose at Calpulli

The Daily Aztec

on Feb. 12, many students said the time off made little to no difference.

“The first rest and recovery day was no different than a normal Friday for me. I still had work to do and to study for my classes,” Maddie Dennis, a second-year psychology student, said. “I do not think any of my professors specifically had assignments around the rest and recovery day, however, my workload did not decrease at all.”

Senators who supported this decision said their votes factored in concerns that students would use the traditional break to travel, resulting in a surge in COVID-19 cases in the SDSU community.

Yet, with classes mostly online students can log in anywhere there is a reliable internet connection.

“By taking away our break and it made it clear how little the school cares about their students’ mental health. One day off will not solve all our problems,” Dennis said. “I understand their reasoning regarding COVID-19 and not wanting students to travel, but the fact is that if students really wanted to travel they could with school being all online.”

Jessica Vargas, a first-year nursing student, said the spread out days will do very little to stop people from partying, but rather remove a critical period of rest.

“People may assume that we are sad about not having spring break because we cannot party – and that won’t stop those that do – but I don't like to party,” Vargas said. “I just wanted spring break to mentally relax a bit because with

online classes it's straining to try and do so.”

While some of the scheduled rest days create long weekends, others such as March 30 and April 15, fall in the middle of the

SDSU, President Adela de la Torre said at the Senate meeting.

San Diego State University recently started vaccinating SDSU faculty, staff and student employees as the county moved into the next phase of Tier 1B. Biology Professor Brian Hentschel asked President de la Torre after the president’s report if the COVID-19 vaccine will be a requirement, similar to the Meningitis-B vaccine,

for all students, faculty and employees starting in the Fall 2021 semester.

“The issue right now is that vaccines are EUA (emergency use authorization) and legally, until that changes, we cannot require anyone to take it,” de la Torre said at the meeting. “One of the things we’ve been very successful with is requiring testing for face-to-face (classes) for our students.”

In-person classes

for Fall 2021 Currently, the university is coordinating with each department to determine how many seats can be occupied in a classroom while still maintaining a distance of six feet in compliance with COVID-19 social distancing protocol.

Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Salvador Hector Ochoa and Associate Deans are still determining what other classes need

to be switched to in-person instruction in addition to those currently held in person this semester.

Outside tents may be an option the university uses for classes with more than 70 students but final decisions haven’t been made, Ochoa said at the Senate meeting.

The official course schedule for Fall 2021 will be posted by the end of March, according to Ochoa.

Center.

Woods said the process was “so simple” and very comfortable.

“The nurse who gave me my shot explained a lot of different things about the shot and covid – as if I didn’t know what it was,” Woods said. “Then she just gave me the jab, and I went and sat for 30 minutes.”

Both Woods and Suess

had no severe symptoms beyond a sore arm following their first doses.

“I did feel like someone punched me in the arm,” Suess said. “The next day, I ended up working out, and the blood started flowing, or something like everything just started feeling normal.”

Despite vaccines beginning to shine a little light

at the end of the tunnel, the expansion of eligibility comes as the nation commemorates a grim milestone: more than 500,000 dead from COVID-19.

“The vaccine eligibility for our faculty and staff coincides with a painful milestone: the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic and state stay-at-home orders,” SDSU President

Adela de la Torre wrote in a campus-wide email sent Thursday evening. “We remind our community that our university offers counseling, virtual exercise groups, virtual support for employees and also emergency funds for students.”

More information about the university’s vaccination plan and COVID-19 testing is available here.

in San Diego, so he once again moved across the state to pursue a more stable career.

“San Diego is just a beau-

tiful place,” he said. “Growing up, I had some family friends that lived here, and we would always come and visit. I had a son and

a daughter on the way, and we really wanted a place where we could grow roots and a nice environment for them to grow up.”

One of the first stories Chan covered as a reporter with NBC 7 was the

see

ONLINE

Graphic by Emily Burgess

/DailyAztecVideo

/thedailyaztec

JMS:

continued from page The views and opinions expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.

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Eventually, Chan found an opportunity at NBC 7

see

ONLINE

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Opinion

The Daily Aztec

The time for division is now by

Brenna Martinez

CONTRIBUTOR

After an incredibly tense year of combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement reaching a new peak and ever-intensifying rhetoric from former President Donald Trump that ultimately led to an insurrection, several officials want to sweep 2020 under the rug and move on from the events of the past few years with the new presidency.

As nice as the idea

seems, we cannot ignore the issues of the past and present in the name of moving forward. To be cooperative at this time will only allow Trump’s legacy to continue far beyond his absence from office, even with a new administration in place.

Former President Trump spent his entire presidency spreading harmful lies – lies that many Americans clung to wholeheartedly.

Whether it was demonizing Black Lives Matter activists, shouting “fake news” in attempts to dis-

Graphic by Emily Burgess

credit media sources so that his followers would remain loyal, or inflating white supremacy, the words and actions of the former president laid the groundwork for a new, more hostile America to emerge.

The former president’s actions have created a Republican Party that consistently attempts to smear the truth, no matter how much compelling evidence disproves their stance.

From denying the severity of the coronavirus and crying “fraud” whenever they do not get their way, the Republican Party has convinced some Americans to outright deny the truth even if it is staring them in the face.

This rejection of truth is a trend that has been continuing for far too long, and is bringing real consequences to the American people. Take the COVID-19 pandemic for example. The Republican Party has brainwashed many American consersee

DIVISION PAGE 5

March 3 - March 9, 2021 Editor: Trinity Bland

Gen Z is the generation of nihilism

by Jermelle

STAFF WRITER

Macleod

“Nihilist” is an ugly word.

Nevertheless, I can’t think of a better word to describe the culture of Generation Z. Nihilism comes from the Latin nihil, meaning nothing. In its purest sense, a nihilist is an individual who believes in nothing and trods through life without any grand purpose, plan or meaning.

While some have intentionally renounced any sense of purpose or meaning to life, even the most staunch nihilists acknowledge that having a sense of purpose in which to find fulfillment would be an improvement. The fact that depression exists so rampant in our society is evidence that fullness doesn’t appear from nothing.

So, where does Generation Z find fulfillment in life?

Primarily in three ways: politically, socially, and physically.

Politically, in a polarized country, Gen Z-ers can be found on both sides of the party lines.

Leftists are susceptible to indulging in progressive rebellion without a logical conclusion – the act of rebellion itself is a form of fulfillment. Feeling as if one is a part of a “new wave” – of something important – does indeed give one a sense of self-satisfaction.

However, without a logical conclusion, such rebellion can easily get out of hand and lead to atrocities. One only needs to look at the Soviet Union to see what happens when progress see

ONLINE

Graphic by Emily Burgess

Anti-Asian sentiment is not new in the United States by

Gaby Jose & Jessica

Octavio

Earlier this month, an 83-year-old Filipino woman fell victim to a random violent attack while riding the trolley downtown. This incident falls within a trend of over 2,583 reports of anti-Asian hate crimes since March 2020, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The culmination of issues like the model-minority stereotype has led to the dehumanization of Asians and has contributed significantly to the much more severe problem of rising hate crimes against Asians.

After the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, The uprising of anti-Asian hate crimes within the United States has been directly

linked to the racist rhetoric used to characterize the virus by the Trump administration — the Huffington Post even labeled former President Trump to be “the biggest ‘Superspreader’ of anti-Asian racism” by using terms like ‘Kung Flu’ and ‘Chinese Virus’ to name COVID-19.

However, Anti-Asian sentiment is not new in the United States and has even caused a divide amongst different groups of color.

Executive Order 9066 passed by former President Franklin Roosevelt legalized the formation of concentration camps for Japanese-Americans.

Over 120,000 people were forced into these camps.

The roots of racism towards Asians run deep through our nation’s his-

tory.

Between the Chinese immigrants who built the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860s, the Filipino farmworkers like Larry Itilong who co-led the agricultural labor movement in the 1960s and the modern-day Filipino nurses who are overrepresented in COVID-19 deaths, Asians have sacrificed so

much for the advancement of innovation, freedom, and safety in the United States.

When the problem of racism came to the forefront in the past year, it has been difficult for people of color to navigate the issue of race through an intersectional lens. Instead of setting aside differences and standing in solidarity with one another, it is

File photo

common for people of different communities to point fingers and play into the “Oppression Olympics,” a game in which different communities of color plead on who has had it worse.

People of color as a whole must be attentive to the ways in which they perpetuate white supremacy or how their beliefs about other minorities can be embedded in racism.

Of course, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds could never fully understand what it is like to be a part of a different marginalized community, but acknowledging these differences, educating yourself, listening and amplifying voices from other communities is beneficial to both parties.

5 Opinion Increased attacks on Asian Americans reminded me to embrace my roots March 3 - March 9, 2021 Editor: Trinity Bland

by

The Daily Aztec

Catlan Nguyen

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Due to the hateful disinformation spread about how Chinese people are the leading cause of the pandemic, violent attacks on Asian-Americans in the Bay Area have increased significantly.

According to NPR, more than two dozen recent assaults and robberies in the Bay Area signify a national rise in hate crimes against older Asian-Americans during the pandemic.

Since the pandemic started about a year ago, nearly 3,000 attacks on Asian-Americans have been reported.

Recent incidents highlighted include a fatal attack on an 84-year-old Thai man in San Francisco, a violent attack on a 91-yearold man in Oakland’s Chinatown, and an attack and robbery of a 64-year-old Vietnamese woman in San Jose.

In the past, I was hesitant to embrace my culture as a Vietnamese-American woman as wholeheartedly as I could because I didn’t

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vatives into thinking that things like wearing a mask and social distancing do not work, or at the very worst is a Democratic move for “mind control” over the American people. This rejection of truth has caused the virus to progress to such a severe state in this country and we are past the point of no return to try and fix the damaging lies spread about the virus.

The numerous falsehoods that have been spread by the Republican party is not just an issue of a lack of education or awareness.

It is a direct attack on the well-being and safety of our country.

Graphic by Emily Burgess

want to be made fun of or stick out.

My parents are immigrants who escaped Vietnam during the Vietnam War and fled to the United States, making me a part of the first generation of Vietnamese-Americans in my family.

Growing up, I went to a predominantly white elementary school and I heard countless jokes about my ethnicity and culture.

Over the course of my childhood, I tried to assimilate and be ‘as American as possible.’

However, in times like these, when violence against Asian-Americans continually increases and

a pandemic is scapegoated onto a whole culture, I cannot forget my roots.

I have a complicated relationship with my culture.

I’m ashamed to say I was sometimes embarrassed to be Vietnamese but as a 22-year old woman now, I feel ready to embrace it and fuse it with my American life.

Sometimes, I felt too American to be a part of Vietnamese communities but simultaneously felt too Vietnamese for American communities.

My parents are both Vietnamese immigrants who used to live in the Bay Area and I cannot stop wondering what I would do if it was my dad who

We have passed the critical point of action in stopping these lies and the most recent impeachment trial of former President Trump is a prime example.

A majority of senators and other United States officials agree that the events that took place on the January 6th capitol storm were inexcusable and that the former president did inflate the situation. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell verbally stated that the former president was “practically and morally responsible” for the U.S. Capitol insurrection, yet his vote to acquit the former president did not reflect his words.

Compelling evidence was presented in the impeachment trial that provided video evidence of

the former president inflating the situation, yet despite this hard evidence Mr. Trump was ultimately not held accountable. Some officials even shamed the democratic senators who initiated the impeachment in the first place, echoing the “witch hunt” rhetoric that was voiced with the first impeachment against Donald Trump.

The fact that hard evidence was provided yet many senators ignored this evidence or tried to actively divert attention from the trial by claiming these concerns against the former president were fabricated is simply despicable.

The Trump legacy has created an era where the truth is denied so that loyal followers are rewarded,

got stabbed on the subway or if it was my mom who got robbed of $1,500 after she withdrew it for Lunar New Year.

If my grandparents on my mom’s side were still alive, I would be even more fearful since they used to live in San Francisco.

Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year’s recently passed on Feb. 12.

This holiday is typically filled with happiness, renewal and familial connections. During such an important holiday, it is truly saddening to see our communities attacked.

Asian-Americans already feel like our voices are diminished and we are told constantly that we barely count as people of color due to the model minority myth.

The model minority myth refers to a minority group perceived as particularly successful, especially in contrast with other minority groups. The purpose of this myth is to drive a wedge between different disadvantaged groups.

Don’t get me wrong —

the Asian community isn’t perfect. It still needs to work on many of its issues such as anti-Blackness, fear of discussing toxic behaviors and overall rigidness.

However, the community will never improve if it’s always overlooked, never uplifted and never supported.

These moments also remind me why I chose the career path I did and how I don’t want these stories to be pushed to society’s frays.

I’m currently double majoring in journalism and sustainability, both of which are fields Asian-Americans don’t typically flock to.

As of 2019, Asian-Americans make up about 3 to 5% of most newsrooms in America, whether in print or broadcasting.

I don’t want to see our stories — whether they be our highlights or our tragedies — told by someone who’s never lived them or never will.

I will never forget to embrace my roots or culture ever again nor will I ever feel embarrassed while doing so again.

and those who diverge from the party’s wishes are punished. The few Republican senators who did vote against Trump are facing repercussions from their party and even formal censures.

A healthy democracy requires differences in opinion between parties.

The fact that the very few officials who decided to express an opposite opinion from the majority are being blacklisted is a sign, at best, of an unhealthy democracy.

The previous administration has used the move of twisting the truth so frequently that we as citizens are no longer surprised when it occurs. How have we allowed these lies to continue for so long? More importantly, why have we

not stopped the people perpetuating and upholding these falsehoods?

The question arises of how to stop these lies and how to move forward to an era of peace with the new administration.

It may seem counterintuitive at first, but our answer is division. The only way to stop Trump’s legacy is to take a hard stance against anyone who tries to further uphold the standards that the former president established in his presidency.

We cannot simply “forgive and forget” when it comes to the volatile America Trump created. A harsh stance against these perpetrators must be taken or this hostile America will never fade away.

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The Daily Aztec

Mundo Azteca

March 3 - March 9, 2021 Editor: Noé Sandoval

El condado de San Diego, junto con SDSU avanza al siguiente nivel de vacunación expandiendo la elegibilidad para más personas by

Noé Sandoval

MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR

El 25 de febrero, la Universidad Estatal de San Diego anunció que muchos estudiantes y personal de la universidad ya son elegibles para recibir la vacuna del COVID-19.

Esto es debido al nueva progresión a la Fase 1B, nivel 1 de la distribución de la vacuna en el condado de San Diego.

En este nivel, individuos que trabajan en los sectores de servicios en emergencias; cuidado de niños y educación; y alimentación y agricultura. En SDSU, profesores y empleados estudiantiles ahora podrán hacer una cita para recibir la vacuna, sin importar la edad de la persona.

Estudiantes y personal de SDSU necesitan mostrar su tarjeta de identificación

de SDSU con el número de RedID o un talón de pago anterior como prueba de elegibilidad.

Con esta progresión, 500,000 residentes de San Diego serán elegibles para recibir la vacuna y ser parte de la población vacunada, según el supervisor del condado Nathan Fletcher.

“No habrá medio millón de citas el sábado, domingo, lunes o en las próximas semanas ”, dijo Fletcher en una conferencia de prensa el 24 de febrero. "Necesitamos que la gente sea paciente".

Aunque esta fase está siguiendo adelante, todavía es escasa la cantidad de vacunas para toda la población y puede que tome varias semanas para que todos los miembros de esta categoría reciban citas para vacunarse a través de sus proveedores de salud o en

un centro de vacunación del condado de San Diego.

Hay varias opciones de recibir la vacuna para los que son elegibles. La mayoría de las personas serán vacunadas en clínicas, farmacias locales y por sus médicos primarios .

Todos los miembros elegibles de la comunidad pueden vacunarse a través de cualquier forma accesible, ya sea a través de uno de los sitios de vacunación del Condado de San Diego, los sitios de vacunación del Condado de Imperial o su proveedor primario de atención médica.

En SDSU, el departamento de Servicios de Salud Estudiantil es quien está administrando la distribución de la vacuna, y es necesario hacer una cita atrás del departamento para personas elegibles que querrán recibir la vacuna en la univer-

by Jason

de 2020 y aquellos que actualmente están programados para recibir sus segundas dosis.

Como siempre, a pesar de las vacunaciones todavía no es tiempo de rendir con las medidas de precaución contra el virus. La nación ha llegado a un severo hito de más de 500,000 mortalidades debido al COVID-19.

La universidad tiene más información sobre COVID-19 y la vacuna en su sitio web.

Tormenta invernal devasta a muchos Tejanos, dejando muchos sin electricidad por dias by

Karina Bazarte

ASST. MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR

En el mes de febrero, hubo una tormenta invernal en Texas y otras partes del Sur que dejó muchos sin electricidad y agua por más de una semana.

La tormenta de invierno devastó a muchas personas ya que más de 66 personas perdieron la vida y más de 4.3 millones de personas perdieron la electricidad.

Muchos tejanos se sin-

tieron congelados ya que no tenían agua caliente ni electricidad para usar el calentador.

El 16 de febrero, la temperatura del clima en el estado estaba a 13 grados, batiendo récord. También duró más de 44 horas, algo que los Tejanos nunca habían experimentado.

Michelle Barroso, de 18 años de edad, describió el pánico que su familia y ella tuvieron durante la tormenta.

Imágenes por Michelle Barroso Texas durante una dura tormenta de invierno

La familia Barroso viven en Fort Worth, Texas y fueron afectados por la tormenta “El frío era como si estuvieras en un congelador esperando que mueras de frío era terrible'', dijo Barroso.

Barroso se vistió de más de 3 pares de calcetines, más de dos suéteres, gorros, y estaba debajo de muchas cobijas y todavía sentía sus pies congelándose.

“El martes por la tarde la electricidad se nos fue, mi familia y yo siempre estamos preparados para cualquier cosa así que rápidamente prendimos velas y sacamos nuestras linternas'', dijo Barroso.

Casi todos los supermercados estaban cerrados. Los supermercados que estaban abiertos sólo

permitían compras de 15 minutos y cosas esenciales como leche, huevos, y alimentos necesarios.

Para la familia Barroso, lo más difícil fue cocinar en su asador en el garaje con el frío. También fue difícil conducir un carro hasta los supermercados cuando las carreteras estaban cubiertas de hielo.

En Tejas las escuelas volvieron abrir sus puertas, pero con la tormenta, muchos estudiantes se quedaron en casa por una semana.

Barroso es estudiante de la preparatoria Birdville y tuvo que quedarse en casa por una semana.

“Comprendo por qué la escuelas no les dieron tarea porque estábamos pasando por cosas muy difíciles'', dijo Barroso.

Durante la tormenta,

Freund

STAFF WRITER

File photo

sidad.

La vacuna actual requiere dos dosis y para recibirlas en la universidad se tiene que hacer dos diferentes citas para las dos dosis.

SDSU comenzó a administrar estas dosis a partir del 26 de febrero. La universidad está dando prioridad a los empleados de SDSU y SDSU del Condado Imperial (incluidos los trabajadores estudiantes) que han estado trabajando en el campus desde marzo

7 Sports Column: Lamont Butler has a bright future ahead at San Diego State March 3 - March 9, 2021 Editor: Kyle Betz

hubo informes de que el senador de Texas, Ted Cruz, estaba en un viaje durante esta crisis y circuló en las redes sociales.

“Es algo muy doloroso muchas personas sin electricidad y agua, mucha gente que estaba sufriendo mientras el centro tenía luz. Se me hace una falta de respeto que tengamos que pasar días sin bañarnos y sin luz y sin ayuda,” Barroso dijo Finalmente, todos los vecinos se ayudaron entre todos. Para la familia Barroso las tragedias son muy tristes pero también puede ser un momento donde todos se ayudan.

“Lo más importante es que todos se ayudaron y nos cuidamos uno al otro” dijo Barroso “Mi familia está sana lo cual me mantiene feliz”

What do San Diego State men’s basketball guards Jordan Schakel, Terrell Gomez, Trey Pulliam and forward Matt Mitchell all have in common?

All four of them are starters. All four of them are also seniors.

Add in graduate transfer forward Joshua Tomaić, and head coach Brian Dutcher is looking at five players he may need to replace in his lineup next season.

Despite the NCAA voting in October to grant an extra year of eligibility to all winter athletes, the opportunity to play professional basketball may prove too alluring for some of those seniors. Mitchell has already said he is “on track to play my last (three regular season) games as we speak today in the present.”

One senior has made his intentions clear. The plans of the other four remain unknown. One way or another, minutes will be up for grabs next season.

Enter stage right, freshman guard Lamont Butler.

At the start of the season, Butler showed flashes of potential but averaged

GOFF:

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only seven minutes and 1.8 points in the first twelve games.

The cameo appearances were upgraded to a starring role, as a knee injury to Mitchell and an offense desperate for a spark thrust the freshman into the limelight against Utah State on Jan. 16.

Instead of faltering in the light, Butler basked in it. In a losing effort, Butler played 25 minutes off the bench and impressed with thirteen points and five steals.

It was thanks to him that the Aztecs nearly tied the game in the final minutes. Facing the 7-foot-tall Neemias Queta, Butler sliced through the lane, deked the Aggies’ junior forward with a pump fake, scored on a layup and subsequently drew Queta’s fifth foul of the night.

The performance earned him starts in both matches against Air Force and an increase in minutes. More minutes has led to an uptick in production as, in the past 11 games, he has averaged 16 minutes on the court with 7.1 points per game.

While the upside is clear, Butler still has other aspects of his game to work

Photo by Noelani Sapla San Diego State men’s basketball freshman guard Lamont Butler attempts a layup during the Aztecs’ 78-66 overtime win over Boise State on Feb. 25, 2021 at Viejas Arena.

on – most notably his turnovers. On Jan. 22, his first start of the season, he had seven points, five assists, four rebounds… and six turnovers.

He filled up the stat sheet, yes. But at the same time, six turnovers from a point guard can be the difference between victory and defeat, something Dutcher realized.

“You can’t have a point guard with six turnovers, so as good as Lamont was, he has to be better,” Dutcher said in a post-match interview. “He knows that, we know that, so we’ll watch the tape and see what kind of student he is.”

If studying tape could earn a grade then Butler deserves an A+. Game one against Air Force: six turn-

overs. Game two against Air Force: zero.

His self-awareness reflects his maturity and willingness to grow, evidenced by his words after a 13-point performance against Wyoming.

“I know my game and I know I can help this team win,” Butler said. “I played a lot in high school so it’s just a game of basketball.”

1

the NFL with the Bengals, Chargers and Chiefs.

Goff departed from the Aztecs’ coaching staff following the 2011 season.

He would go on to earn his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies at Iowa in 2012 and head back to San Diego to be an assistant coach for Hilltop High School in 2014.

In 2015, Goff was hired onto the USC coaching staff as an assistant offensive line coach. In his four seasons as an assistant at USC, Goff coached two first team All-Americans, two first team all-Pac-12 picks and a Joe Moore Award semifinalist — the

Courtesy of Western Kentucky Athletics Then-Western Kentucky offensive line coach Mike Goff coaches a group of Hilltopper linemen in practice.

award given to the best lineman in college football each year.

Goff was then hired as an o-line coach at WKU in 2019, helping the Hill-

toppers reach bowl games in 2019-20 while coaching the 20th- and 14th-best

offensive line in the FBS, according to Pro Football Focus.

8

The Daily Aztec

Sports

March 3 - March 9, 2021 Editor: Kyle Betz

Column: How the Aztecs held home court without fans in 2020-21 by

Breven Honda

3 - March 9, 2021 Editor: Devin Whatley

march

Arts & Culture

The Daily Aztec

9

SDSU Pep Band Director helps coordinate Super Bowl Halftime Show by

Kirstie Burgess

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

In years past when No. 19/21 San Diego State men’s basketball was competing for Mountain West Conference Championships, there were sold out crowds of 12,414 inside Viejas Arena and The Show – the student section – was in full force cheering on the Aztecs.

The pandemic changed that this season.

No crowds and no The Show.

The team’s energy had to come from within and not from fans piling into Viejas Arena.

Head coach Brian Photo by Noelani Sapla Dutcher said to only Diego State men’s basketball players huddle together after a foul during the Aztecs’ 78-66 overtime win over Boise State on Feb. 25, 2021 at Viejas have one loss at home San Arena. during conference play this season is a testa- 2004-05 season.

We don’t have that, we “I think everyone heard I have experienced. And ment to the players with Dutcher said the con- rely on the fans, so to go me talk like I was joking so I was looking forward or without fans. tinuation of sold out 9-1, that’s good to hear. I around saying, ‘you guys to definitely let my imagi“It’s a credit to our kids,” crowds would have car- think we really locked in gonna let fans in today?’ nation go wild in my head Dutcher said. “There’s ried into this season, es- after those Utah State But I think we all wanted for that one.” still the advantage of pecially after last year’s games.

Dutcher said he can’t to see what would hapsleeping in your own team, which went 30-2 wait for another sold out When the Aztecs pen. bed, being comfortable overall and 14-1 at Viejas squared up against Boise “Me personally, just be- crowd to watch a game in your environment. Arena.

State last weekend, not cause there’s a lot on the inside Viejas Arena, hopeObviously, it’s an advan“I think it would have only were they faced line and our fan support fully for the 2021-22 seatage when the fans are in been hard to get a tick- with no crowds, but they no matter what, but just son. there because then you et again,” Dutcher said. had to play against MWC having a conference title “With that being said, bring that dynamic to it. “We’ve been sold out for Preseason Player of the on the line, and to be let’s try to get all the fans But, we’re always hard to years and you put a team Year Derrick Alston Jr. able to play for that in in the building next year,” play in Viejas and we’ve that’s 19-4 out there, The two teams were Viejas is something that Dutcher said. proven that we can play we’re gonna get the sup- projected to finish atop in there well without port we’ve always gotten the conference and it fans.” and then some. And then was only fitting that the At home this season, piggybacked on the 30-2 Aztecs and Broncos SDSU went 13-2 overall year, these last few years would square off to deand 9-1 in MWC action. of Aztec basketball, have termine the best team in It’s one thing to be been really (magical).” the MWC. dominant at home for Both games were close Senior guard Jordan one season, but the Scar- Schakel said the team with the Aztecs taking let and Black have done was able to win 90% of both games — the first it for years. its home conference going into overtime and Since the beginning of games through its ener- the second ending in sinthe 2016-17 season, the gy, especially after losing gle digits.

Aztecs have 54 wins in back-to-back games in Schakel, who scored a Viejas Arena and it has Logan, Utah in the mid- team-high 17 points last been consistent. dle of January.

Saturday against Boise The home win totals “Yeah, Viejas was still State, said he imagined over the four years are: good to us,” Schakel said. what the past two home 13, 14, 14 and 13.

(I’m) happy to be playing games would have been In addition, the last at home, we still feel like like with fans and potentime SDSU did not re- we have a home court tially, two more sold out cord at least 10 wins at advantage no other crowds.

Photo by Noelani Sapla home in a season was all teams in this conference “I talked about it to a San Diego State men’s basketball senior forward Matt Mitchell and the way back during the have. They have altitude. couple guys,” Schakel said. freshman guard Lamont Butler (left) celebrate at half court after the Aztecs’ 62-58 win over Boise State on Feb. 27, 2021 at Viejas Arena.

Music has always been a part of Bryan Ransom’s life. When he was in high school, he had a really good band director and thought he could see himself pursuing that as a career.

He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in percussion and received his Professional Teaching Credential from San Diego State.

While he was directing the pep band as a student teacher at Poway High School, the director of bands, Mark Davis, at the time was the entertainment coordinator for the San Diego Chargers.

He asked Ransom for help on game days and

when Davis left, Ransom got hired to fill the position for the organization.

Ransom worked there for 25 years until the Chargers left San Diego in 2017 and moved to Los Angeles.

In 1998, Ransom worked the Super Bowl for the first time. Queen Latifah, Boys II Men, Smokey Robinson and the Temptations performed.

After a women’s basketball game, Ransom was sitting in his office and got a call.

“I got a call around 9 p.m., 9:30. I thought who is calling me this late,” Ransom said, reflecting on the phone call that got him the job.

It was Joe Zenas who was a staging supervisor of the halftime show.

He asked Ransom if he would like to interview to be a part of that year’s halftime show production team.

Ransom said he wasn’t sure what to expect but had time to invest and it sounded intriguing. A few weeks later, Zenas and Ransom met, and Ransom started working on it soon after.

“We met once and hit it off,” Zenas said. “I was very confident in his abilities.”

Zenas tried to bring Ransom back for the Super Bowls after, but there was not enough money allocated in the budget. However, for the 2003 Super Bowl, he was brought back and has been with them ever since.

“He is a really good or-

ganizer and can reach a lot of volunteer pools,” Zenas said.

One of the reasons Zenas says Ransom has been “very effective and has done the job incredibly well” is his ability to build relationships with people.

“I owe Joe a debt of gratitude,” Ransom said.

Even though the Super Bowl is at the beginning of February, the prep

work starts months in advance.

“My involvement, in earnest, doesn’t start until August, September,” Ransom said.

Ransom recruits people to produce the show in the host city. He finds stage pushers and other positions, bringing on more people than necessary because not everysee

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Photo courtesy of Bryan Ransom

Former NFL player Emmanuel Acho hosts “Bachelor” Special by

Trinity Bland

OPINION EDITOR

Fans of “The Bachelor” are in for a treat on March 15.

Former NFL linebacker and Fox Sports analyst Emmanuel Acho has accepted the rose and will host “The Bachelor: After The Final Rose.”

Acho is the best-selling author and the host of Photo courtesy of Emmanuel Acho, via Twitter the YouTube series, “Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man,” Final Rose” special, Acho an “Old South” plantawhich serves to spark will discuss the outcome tion-themed ball in 2018. purposeful dialogue sur- of the finale and the cur- Kirkconnell apologized rounding racial ignorance. rent events surrounding in an Instagram post, sayThe show launched in “The Bachelor” franchise ing, “I was ignorant, but June 2020 and has over with bachelor and for- my ignorance was racist.” mer Wake Forest wide On Feb. 13, longtime 80 million views to date. receiver Matthew James, host of “The BacheA former linebacker for the Cleveland Browns the first Black man to lor”, Chris Harrison anand Philadelphia Eagles, be a lead on the show as nounced on February 13 Acho left the NFL in well as the three finalists. he was “stepping aside” One of the finalists, from the show for “a 2016 to join ESPN as an Kirkconnell, period of time” after deanalyst. He is now an an- Rachael alyst for Fox Sports and has faced criticism over fending Kirkconnell after the co-host of “Speak for photos that have re- her scrutiny. cently surfaced, includJames said the interYourself”.

During the “After The ing one of her attending view between Harri-

son and Lindsay “was diate, featuring James as troubling and painful to the bachelor for the latwatch,” adding that “it est season.

After brainstorming was a clear reflection of a much larger issue that about who could be the The Bachelor franchise host to replace Harrison has fallen short on ad- with her husband, Bryan dressing adequately for Abasolo, former “Bachelorette” Rachel Lindyears.”

Harrison, who is still say Acho would be their listed as the show’s host pick to replace Harrison, on its website, apolo- though it is unclear if gized, writing on Insta- her suggestion affected gram that his comments, ABC’s decision. like his use of the term "Bryan and I both talk“woke police” in defend- ed about this — we ing Ms. Kirkconnell, were think Emmanuel Acho “unacceptable.” would be fantastic,” LindIt is unclear as to how say told People Magazine, long Harrison will step adding that Acho is “very outspoken about racial down.

Within the show’s injustice, for social justwo-decade history, the tice, and has pretty much series has been heavily been the person who criticized for its lack of said, ‘I can have these diversity and for being uncomfortable converpredominantly white. In sations, and people trust the wake of the Black it.'”

“Who better to lead Lives Matter movement and racial injustice in it?” Lindsay continued.

2020, the same criticism “(He’s) someone who’s was seen as urgent and corrections were immesee ONLINE

10 T

he

Daily Aztec

Arts & Culture

March 3 - March 9, 2021 Editor: Devin Whatley

Tom & Jerry Reboot: Does the nostalgia hold up? by

Nicholas Ebadat

STAFF WRITER

Tom and Jerry are icons that have graced the childhoods of five generations since 1940.

From the animated shorts, they introduced children to a simplified version of David and Goliath. It demonstrated that being small does not equal being vulnerable while also being a source for brainless entertainment.

However, as animation technology grew to new heights with time, creators established a unique voice and personality for the iconic characters in animated feature films that captured new generations’ hearts. After 80 years, the classic duo finally got the chance to chase each other across the big screen in live-action, only

to be stripped from their Micheal Peña.

The film’s beginning is voice and outshined by riddled with referencthe supporting cast.

The rebooted movie, es to the classic show “Tom and Jerry,” direct- like Tom in his “cool ed by Tim Story, was cat” sunglasses or Jerreleased in theaters and ry’s comfortable holeHBO Max on Feb. 26. It in-the-wall living space. is about Katie, a young Tom creates his infamous woman in New York City mouse-catching contrapplayed by Chloë Grace- tions, and Jerry predictPhoto by “momokacma,” licensed under CC BY 2.0 Moretz, who lies about ably escapes them. Some her qualifications to be a characters from the tv to include nostalgia legacy and not enough hotel event planner and show and movies also pieces from the icons, time exploring what enlists Tom and Jerry’s make an appearance like it struggles to produce made them special for all help to save a high-class the alley cat gang, Spike anything new about the their fans’ childhoods. wedding from being ru- the dog, and Tom’s love characters. It simplifies Whereas the movie ined. interest, Toots the white the heart of their legacy reminds the audience of As it is a children’s cat. to a forgettable feud be- all the hijinks that Tom film, the main character The movie also includes tween a cat and a mouse. and Jerry are capable of, is hardly likable nor the references to other The movie is filled with the entertainment value best role model because Warner Bros. properties cartoon animals that sing, turns stale too quickly to she stole a lady’s resumé like Batman and Looney talk, and argue that it deserve a film in the first and used it to get the job Tunes by Tom’s wingsuit seems almost unfair that place. Much of the movie the lady wanted to apply silhouette covering the Tom and Jerry are two relies on its human charfor. Additionally, she is moon like a bat and re- of the only voices we do acters who are nonsensimet with bitterness from ceiving a package from not get to hear. It spends cal and feel to the audian annoying event man- the artillery company, too much time on what ence as though they are ager too insecure about ACME. the characters were at losing his job, played by As the movie is quick the beginning of their see

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Quick Take: Best R&B albums of 2021 so far by

Ryan Hardison

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

So far in 2021, music releases have been slow and steady.

Electronic, rap and alternative artists have had a few worthwhile showings, but many of these bigger projects are suited for a later year drop. R&B artists have

which sets the soothing been carrying more than year’s first sixty days: their fair share of weight Pink Sweat$ - tone of “PINK PLANET.” Throughout the album, in the first two months, “PINK PLANET” and these releases have Philadelphia-born and he craves “paradise” and come from an even mix raised singer Pink Sweat$ proves he’s not afraid to of established musicians is an easy artist to love give away his heart and and young singers des- and nearly impossible profess his love. tined for a huge year.

His musings begin to hate. The 27-year-old Inspired by the impres- crooner released his de- calmly with “PINK CITY,” sive showing of today’s but studio album “PINK a track where Sweat$ R&B, here are the best PLANET” on Feb. 12, a recalls his tough childprojects of the bunch wonderfully joyful proj- hood from an uplifting to check out from the ect marked with breezy angle. Lines like “Born in tunes and positive vibes. the rubble” and “raised Sweat$ has earned in the mud” indicate he’s himself a reputation as come from the bottom an earnest and roman- of the earth and rose up tic songwriter as well as resiliently to make somesomeone who excels at thing of himself. To top it making cozy feel-good off, Sweat$’s glossy voice music. Most of his songs is supported by angelic make it hard to resist choir vocals that evoke reminiscing about high his devout origins. There school sweethearts or has never been a time feel like your huddling in human history when up around a campfire. a choir has made a song On top of that, Sweat$’s worse, and that streak inmusic has this adorable deed continues on “PINK quality of sugar and spice CITY.” The irresistible excitethat’s just so … nice.

Sweat$ mellow voice is ment of “PINK CITY” suited admirably for gen- ascends into “Heaven” as tle acoustic production, Sweat$ belts high notes

Photo courtesy of Emmanuel Acho, via Twitter

and declares life “feels like heaven when I’m with you.” This dreamy and romantic guitar ballad incorporates a dazzling harp section and makes way for a blissful start to the project.

After a long run of majestic solos, the song which earns him a spot as one of R&B’s most exciting talents is “Chains,” the album’s most essential track, as well as its softest. If the sentiment of “nice guys finish last” is true, obviously nobody told Pink Sweat$ because he left his innocent bleeding heart on the studio floor when he made this song. His poignant pleas are forthright and genuine, illustrating him as a cuddly nice guy putting everything on the line.

Six of the album’s eighteen tracks come from Sweat$’ 2020 EP “The see

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