NAMED NATIONAL FOUR-YEAR DAILY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR FOR 2020-21 IN THE COLLEGE MEDIA ASSOCIATION’S PINNACLE AWARDS
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Volume 158 No. 19
COVID-19
Masks stay despite the county’s lift By Madilynne Medina & Gio Gaxiola
EXECUTIVE EDITOR & STAFF WRITER
Several San Jose State students agree with the university’s decision to continue an indoor mask mandate. Santa Clara County lifted its indoor mask mandate on March 2, but the county and state public health departments “strongly recommend” that individuals continue wearing masks in indoor public spaces, according to a March 1 news release. The decision came after the county met several metrics, including an 80% vaccination rate among the population and a seven day-rolling average of 550 coronavirus cases or less, according to the same press release. Despite the county’s decision, the university’s mask mandate will remain in effect “until further notice,” SJSU Interim President Steve Perez stated in a March 1 campuswide email. Accounting junior Andrew Alonzo said he believes the university made the right decision. “COVID-19 is still prevalent, even if the mask mandate has been removed,” he said. Although Santa Clara County discontinued its masking requirement, masks will still be enforced in higher-risk settings including healthcare facilities, shelters, long-term care facilities, public transit and jails , according to the March 1 news release. Sara Cody, health officer and director of public health for Santa Clara County stated in the news release that though wearing a mask in public spaces is no longer required, “it still makes sense to do so.” “Wearing a mask is part of working together to protect others, especially the most vulnerable among us,” Cody said. Leonardo Plazola, aerospace engineering sophomore, said he believes SJSU should consider lessening its mask mandate because of the high vaccination rates among students and accessible
INFOGRAPHIC BY BRYANNA BARTLETT; SOURCE: MARCH 1 SANTA CLARA COUNTY PRESS RELEASE
COVID-19 testing, but agrees with the university’s current policy. “I believe that intimate indoor spaces where people can be pretty close to one another (classrooms, restrooms, dining commons, etc.) should maintain strict mask rules.
“I’m pro-vaccine, so I think we should encourage everyone to get vaccinated.” In accordance with the California State University COVID-19 policy, SJSU students are required to be vaccinated and receive a
If cases do begin to rise, we should go back to [a] stricter policy. Leonardo Plazola
aerospace engineering sophomore
Otherwise, if it’s in open spaces like library study floors, student union, or outdoors, it shouldn’t be as strict,” he said in an Instagram message. “If cases do begin to rise, we should go back to [a] stricter policy.” Aminah Sheikh, communicative sciences and disorders senior, said she also agrees with the university’s decision to continue enforcing masks, but hopes more students receive vaccines. “I am ok with the fact that the school is still requiring masks because personally, I think masks are good for our safety,” she said.
booster shot, according to the SJSU website. Students who are not in compliance with the vaccination requirements will be subject to consequences under the Student Code of Conduct including COVID-19 testing protocols, registration holds and limited access to campus resources, according to the same website. The university currently offers COVID-19 booster vaccination clinics at the Student Wellness Center, with the latest clinic occuring on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Perez stated in the campuswide email that the university was able to return to in-person instruction because of its continuous COVID19 programs. “We’ve kept our testing and booster programs active, and continued to be vigilant by wearing masks indoors and when outside in crowded environments,” Perez said. Sheikh said she believes the university should continue enforcing public health precautions to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. “Any safety measures regarding tests and unvaccinated students is a plus,” she said. Sociology senior Dinda Miqailla said she agrees with the mask mandate but is also concerned about the risk of unvaccinated students. “Personally, I actually agree to keep our masks on just because [COVID-19] is still around, whether we like it or not. It is more of a safety thing,” she said. “I think when it comes to unvaccinated students, unless they are medically exempt from it, they should not be allowed on campus.” Perez said although the SJSU
mask requirement may come as a “short term disappointment” to some, the university will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available. “[The mask requirement] will help keep our immunocompromised colleagues and friends safer and enable us to move forward as a united community,” he said. Kenneth Mashinchi, senior director of strategic communications and media relations, said in previous years, spring break produced a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and the university will reevaluate masking policies after the March 28 - April 1 break.
Christina Casillas contributed to this article.
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MULTIMEDIA
Video & reporting by Evan Reinhardt MULTIMEDIA EDITOR & ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Follow Evan on Twitter @ReinhardtEvan
San Jose State hosted an artistic endeavor throughout February titled ‘Bones, Tones, and Phones,’ led by Futurefarmers, a San Francisco-based art collective. The project aimed to highlight land use and our effects on the environment through the mix of multiple artistic modalities, and will reside in the Natalie and James Thompson art gallery in the Art Building for the remainder of March. Originally pitched more than a year ago, the undertaking included various artists on campus including ceramicists, pictorial artists, musicians and sound editors. Futurefarmers founder Amy Franceschini said the creative process includes many unknown outcomes that contribute to art’s larger worth.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022
ANALYSIS
DAISHA SHERMAN | SPARTAN DAILY
Yes, we are talking about Bruno By D’Netrus Chevis-Rose STAFF WRITER
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” a song from the November 2021 Disney animated film “Encanto,” differs from other popular Disney songs because it has a catchy, rhythmic tune and lyrics that are hard to forget. The viral song has filled the number one spot on The Billboard Hot 100 music chart since Jan. 15. The Billboard charts reflect the most popular songs of the time, genres vary from rap to EDM and even Disney songs.
The last Disney soundtrack song that reached such mass popularity was “Let It Go” from the animated film “Frozen.” “Let It Go” spent 9 weeks on The Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number five, and became a staple song for children that year, according to The Billboard Hot 100 archives. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” has captivated listeners with its melodic story about a character in the movie named Bruno who is feared by others because of his rumored gift of being a prophet. The song is a duet sung by a number of characters who try to warn each other
with a hint of modern bass and a catchy rap hook. The blaring trap style beat that intensifies around the hook of the song is eargasmic, with the soft salsa influenced guitar sounds smoothly echoing in the background. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” also holds the number two spot on The Billboard Hot 100, with over 15 million Spotify streams, according to Spotify charts. TikTok has played a large influence in determining the songs that land on The Billboard Hot 100 charts. Compared to last year, over 175 songs about the “bad luck” Bruno brings into have gone viral on TikTok and have been people’s lives. charted on The Billboard Hot 100 music The song explores trust and loyalty in charts, according to a Dec. 13, 2021 one’s family and community. TikTok Newsroom article. The lyrics are sung rapidly throughout A “TikTok song” is a term popularized the song, making the song fun for TikTok by Gen Z that identifies a song that users to use in their videos as they lip has gone viral and become a meme sync and dance. or dance challenge by being reposted The song is reminiscent of a salsa beat many times on the app, according
The song is reminiscent of a salsa beat with a hint of modern bass and a catchy rap hook. The charts are ranked based on streams and song sales, according to entertainment writer Justin Curto in a Sept. 14, 2020 Vulture article, an online entertainment magazine. The “Encanto” soundtrack has topped the Spotify music charts with 142.6 million streams according to a March 1 Bloomberg article.
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” has been used in a variety of lip syncing and dance challenge videos on TikTok, which helped it climb to the top on the charts. to an April 13, 2020 Insider News article by digital culture reporter, Palmer Haasch. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” has been used in a variety of lip syncing and dance challenge videos on TikTok, which helped it climb to the top on the charts. According to the TikTok platform, the minute-long song has approximately 937.6 thousand videos as of the first week of March. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is about to reach 10 weeks on The Billboard Hot 100.
Follow D’Netrus on Twitter @dchevisrose
SPORTS
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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022
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Spartans end season with OT loss By Matt Weiner THE SPEAR
Anarchy was in attendance and refused to leave during the Mountain West Conference eleventh seed San Jose State Spartans’ 69-67 overtime loss to six seed Fresno State at the Thomas and Mack Center. “This year will be remembered as the beginning of something new,” SJSU junior guard Omari Moore said. All losses are not built equal. Some will fade from your memory like a random dream and others will be etched into your memory’s museum for a long time. This one was the latter. Every time Fresno State center Orlando Robinson and Fresno State threw a punch, SJSU came back with a few upper cuts of its own. Coming down to the final minute and down 60-58, Spartan sophomore forward Trey Anderson stepped in front of Robinson with 39 seconds left to take a huge charge. “[Robinson’s] going to try and get downhill, get all the way to the charge line and make his perimeter to post move … so if you can beat him to his angle, maybe you can take a charge,” SJSU head coach Tim Miles said. Robinson scored a court-high 31 points on 11 of 21 shooting from MAXWELL BECHTOLDT | THE SPEAR the field. Anderson’s charge setup Moore to SJSU forward Shon Robinson battles Fresno State guard Isaiah Hill for possession of the ball during Wednesday’s tournament game. swerve through the lane like he was Dominic Torreto while finishing with a from the team’s guard, Isaiah Hill, who possession and the game. crafty layup at the rim over Robinson. finished the game second on the team Fresno recovered the loose ball, setting BULLDOGS with 14 points. up the Bulldog’s guard Jordan Campbell The Spartans were unphased by Hill’s to sink a teardrop that grazed the roof of basket as Moore threw in another layup the Thomas and Mack Center. to knot the score up to 62. SJSU bent without breaking the entire The Spartans took a 68-67 lead with a game, holding the Bulldogs to shoot 4 of minute left in overtime 23 from three, but the teardrop was the Unfortunately for SJSU, it would be straw that broke the Spartans’ back. the last time the team held a lead. While the loss was excruciatingly With 22 seconds left in a 67-67 painful, it showed that the Spartans can SPARTANS game, Moore was inbounding the ball compete with the better teams despite Omari Moore while the Spartans battled a tenacious their record. junior men’s basketball guard full-court Bulldog press. SJSU freshman for ward Fresno State drew first blood to begin Tibet Gorener let the basketball slip Follow Matt on Twitter overtime on a second-chance bucket right through his fingertips giving up @Mattweiner20
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This year will be remembered as the beginning of something new.
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CLASSIFIEDS CROSSWORD PUZZLE 2
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12
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21 24 28
46
48 4638
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65 68
ACROSS 1. Bumpkin 5. South southeast 8. Not under 12. Component of steel 13. Winter accessory 15. Sandwich shop 16. Partiality 17. Paved outdoor area 18. Mild expletive 19. Election overseers (British) 22. East northeast 23. Hurried on foot 24. Caprine animal 26. Branches of knowledge 29. Unit of American currency 31. Type of tree 32. Intimate 34. Implant 36. Hits 38. Gentry 40. Turn on a pivot 41. Drills 43. White poplar 45. East southeast 46. Trader 48. Rewrite 50. Self-satisfied 51. Adult males 52. Past tense of To be
“What’s a pirate’s favorite cheese?”
55
35 40 45
44
50
61
30
34
43
54
30
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49 51 58
57
63
64
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67 69
54. Splendiferous 61. Ear-related 63. Gloss 64. Fertilizer component 65. Amble 66. Breakfast bread 67. Condo alternative 68. Type of sword 69. S 70. Anagram of “Seen” DOWN 1. Barbecue favorite 2. Acid related to gout 3. Wild hog 4. Guarantee 5. Glance over 6. Fill to excess 7. A Great Lake 8. Flowery verse 9. Carrots and peas for example 10. Distinctive flair 11. Fair attraction 13. Rotating shaft 14. Abstain from 20. After-bath powder 21. One and only 25. Charity 26. Inundation 27. Awe-inspiring
JOKIN’ AROUND
25
39
47
53
11
22
29
33
42
41
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10
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32
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9
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8 14
23
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52
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13
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5
5
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
“CheddAARRGGHH!”
1
SUDOKU PUZZLE
59
60
70
28. Pertaining to the sun 29. Discourage 30. Employ again 31. Abate 33. Brother or sister 35. D 37. Crease 39. Primary chemical 42. Aspersion 44. Not odd 47. Cast out 49. Cause to arise 52. Had on 53. At the peak of 55. Footwear 56. A leguminous plant 57. Not more 58. Cupid’s Greek counterpart 59. Used in advertising signs 60. Adhesive strip 62. C
SOLUTIONS
March 9
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OPINION
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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022
US hypocrisy & exceptionalism America has empathy for Ukraine but not the other countries it seeks to destroy
Bojana Cvijic NEWS EDITOR
EXECUTIVE EDITOR MADILYNNE MEDINA
The Spartan Daily is written and published by San Jose State students as an expression of their First Amendment rights. Reader feedback may be submitted as letters to the editor or online comments.
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A
Afghanisstan, Afghanistan, causingg the Soviet Union to backk out 19899. in 1989. With the proxy war’s end and et Union on the brink of the Sovie Soviet th he Mujahideen fought collapse, the l eading to the collapse a civil war leading Moscow-baacked government, of the Moscow-backed tually led to the Taliban’s which event eventually emergence, a consequence of the involvem ment. U.S. involvement. ese ten days of watching Within the these u it almost makes this conflict unfold, inking about the amount my head spin thi thinking rcle back. It’s complex of timess conflicts like this cir circle frusstrating to watch everyone everryone have an opinion on and frustrating somethiing so egregious, but turn a blind eye to what something h really l lly gotten tt us here. h Y almost feel hopeless has You king, ‘will this ever stop?’ in thinking, The Russian Government is horrible because uelty toward its citizens and other of its cruelty es with its own show of imperialism, countries but the U.S. is no better. In fact, it’s worse. Both countries have imperialist ments focused on furthering governments agendass behind a capitalistic backdrop. wing the Soviet Union’s Following ber 1991 collapse, democratic December ns were held and U.S.-backed elections eltsin became Russia’s new Boris Yeltsin nt. During the country’s president. on from communism to a transition st market economy, inflation capitalist
and economic volatility ensued while oligarchs obtained a massive majority of national wealth. Not only did this lead to corruption within the government, it created a perfect opportunity for Vladimir Putin’s emergence. Ukraine’s push towards the west by joining NATO and the European Union has created an excuse for President Putin’s government to attack Ukraine and gain control over a region that was once part of the Soviet Union. Whether its racism, showing the hypocrisies of how we treat brown and Black refugees, or how the West collectively forgets the most recent conflict in Europe prior to Ukraine, the West has shown its compassion extends only so far as to where its interests lie. I hope it won’t always be like this. There will be a change in the way this world works, because what we live under currently is not sustainable.
KY BA RR
On Feb. 24, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the two countries’ ongoing conflict. This is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s latest step in gaining control over the region, following the 2014 annexation of Crimea, while also backing separatist forces in the southeastern region of Donbas. The invasion has brought widespread condemnation unlike any we’ve ever seen. Western nations including the United States have placed strict sanctions on Russia, making it the most sanctioned country in the world according to a Monday Bloomberg article. The U.S.’s track record of meddling in foreign affairs has created the perfect breeding ground for dictators, including Putin, who have their own intentions for the region of Eastern Europe. Media outlets in the U.S. have also brought sharp criticism toward Russia in support of Ukraine, including a cartoon in solidarity by FOX animated comedy “The Simpsons.” Late-night comedy show “Saturday Night Live” also brought in a Ukrainian choir for its cold open p on Feb. 26. The hypocrisy ypocrisy is surreal. The U.S. has helped spur the condemnation of Russia worldwide, with good reason. son. Hypocrisy risy lies in the U.S.’ actions elsewheree in the world; most recently, in Palestine. ne. Swift sanctions anctions were placed on Russia, but ut sanctions against countries includingg Israel for its actions against Palestine have brought on more support for Israel,, and condemnation against an-led movements including Palestinian-led Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS). DS movement supports The BDS economicc divestment away from odeled after the Israel, modeled theid movement in anti-apartheid rica. South Africa. While prominent figures includingg Palestinian fashion model id have Gigi Hadid called forr support for Palestine,, magazines includingg Vogue o remove decided to ences to any references Palestine in reporting ne, furthering of Ukraine, crisy of the West. the hypocrisy ne like Hadid is being If someone censored because of Palestinian support, imagine how Palestinians fighting for their eryday feel. home everyday an we look to the U.S. to be the moral How can arbitratorr of the world when it’s so far from that? S. has caused so many of the problems The U.S. d faces today, including this one. the world untry may not have had a direct hand in The country Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine, but it ed set the groundwork for it. sure helped Putin used the excuse of the North Atlantic Treaty ti t t l military ilit lli Organization, an iintergovernmental alliance, to encroach on Russian territory through Ukraine and hide his own ambitions for the country. Much of the surrealness stems from how reporters have decided to speak about Ukraine, expressing “shock” that such a “civilized” country could be attacked like this. Ukrainian Deputy Minister, David Sakvarelidze said in a February 26th interview with BBC News that the invasion was emotional. “It’s very emotional for me because I see European people with blue eyes and blonde hair being killed,” he said. Other stories of Nigerian students and citizens fleeing Ukraine to Poland only to be denied at the border have been reported by The Guardian, a stark
reminder of how western countries have treated asylum seekers and refugees who are not white. While they are sent back into untold dangers, Ukrainians are met with open arms, as they should be. The problems western imperialism has created in other countries means the offending nations have an obligation to help people fleeing their respective regions, it’s the least they can do. I wish I could say I can’t believe reporters are saying this, but I can. We would always like to think of journalism being an objective career, but where is the objectivity in statements like this? Over these past ten days we have seen blatant biases coming out in reference to this conflict and I can’t help but feel frustration. The Russian government deserves widespread criticism for what it has done to Ukraine and it’s not wrong for the U.S. to condemn its actions, but it’s ironic considering the U.S.’ history of involvement with regime changes in Asian and Latin America countries. The U.S. also affected domestic social justice movements with projects including the counter-intelligence program to disrupt organizations including the Black Panther Party, anti-war campaigns and civil rights movements with aims for a better and different country. It doesn’t feel fair constantly watching the U.S. hypocrisy. The U.S. has had a massive role in creating the destabilization in Eastern Europe and has brought this problem onto itself. In 1980, the Soviet-Afghan War was a conflict in g Cold War, which was fought as a proxy war the larger So involving the U.S. and the Soviet Union. acked the Whilee the Soviet Union ba backed Democrratic Republic of Afghanistan, Afgh hanistan, Democratic the U.S. and other countries includin ng Saudi Arabia back ked including backed M the Mujahideen which led a vicio ous and costly war against agaainst vicious g of the government
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