Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021
Volume 157 No. 4 SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934
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SJPD raids downtown drug house By Madison Fagundes EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
S e ve r a l h e av i l y armed San Jose Police Department officers, cars and one unit tank surrounded a house on East St. John Street, near North Sixth Street, for a raid around 1 p.m. Wednesday. SJPD blocked off the entire corner of East St. John and North Sixth streets for about two hours. SJPD Lieutenant Brian Matchett said the police department had a warrant to search for drugs in the house. “As soon as everybody exits safely, we’ll go in there and secure the house and hopefully find some evidence,” Matchett said. The officers drew guns at the house and demanded the suspects exit the building. When no one came out, they banged on the front door with zip-tie handcuffs and weapons in hand. Officers escorted the
One [drug] house goes down and two more go up . . . you can slow it down, but you’re not going to stop it. DayDay lifelong San Jose resident
He said he watched as students walked to the bathroom and police officers formed their perimeter. SJPD didn’t respond to inquiries regarding the raid in time for publication. Krista Golobic, a mother of two children who also attend Horace Mann Elementary School, said she didn’t receive a notification about the lockdown until five minutes after the children were supposed to be released from class. “I understand the school can’t stop criminals,” Golobic said. “It just makes me a bit more hesitant and obviously more observant for these situations.” PHOTOS BY EVAN REINHARDT A lifelong San Jose Top: San Jose Police Department officers detain five individuals Tuesday at 272 E. St. John St. during an alleged resident, who wishes to go drug raid. Bottom: SJPD units block off the street while officers survey the surrounding area. by the nickname DayDay five individuals and when the raid was for privacy concerns, said a dog from the home taking place directly drugs, violence and other to the street, where on the other side of illegal activity are just a they were lined up the parking lot. part of daily life for many and detained. “I don’t understand people in downtown and The SJPD officers why they couldn’t Wednesday’s raid won’t used the side gate have done this raid change anything. of San Jose resident earlier in the day, “It’s just there, it’s Dania Granados’ knowing that the always going to be there,” home to gain access kids get out of school he said. “One [drug] to the back of the at 1:55 [p.m.],” Bev house goes down and two alleged drug house. said. more go up . . . you can Granados, who Donald Seacrest, slow it down, but you’re has lived in the area San Jose Unified not going to stop it.” for the last eight School District years, said she didn’t plumber, was on know the raid was school property happening until she neighboring house],” Bev for privacy concerns, when it entered came home from picking Granados said. said she was worried lockdown. Evan Reinhardt and her son up from school. Granados and her son about her child who Seacrest said officers Madilynne Medina “I was a little scared stood on their porch as attends Horace Mann hopped over the school’s contributed to this article. because I have kids the raid unfolded. Elementary School. gates with weapons ready and I didn’t know that Another resident, who The school activated its before all students were Follow Madison on Twitter all that happened in [a wished to be referred to as shelter-in-place protocol locked inside. @maddxsonn
A.S. board of directors discusses Afghanistan aid By Madilynne Medina NEWS EDITOR
San Jose State’s Associated Students board of directors said it intends to assist Afghan students and communities affected by the recent crisis in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is now under the control of the Taliban, a militant group that ruled the country in the late 1990’s, according to a Tuesday AP News article. In Feb. 2020, President Trump signed a peace deal with the Taliban and agreed to withdraw American troops by May but President Biden extended the withdrawal deadline to Sept., according to the same Tuesday article. As this deadline approached, The Taliban seized control of the majority of Afghanistan and the U.S. withdrew troops, according to the same article. The current seizure leaves Afghan civilians in severe danger because those who worked with Americans will endure cruel attacks by the Taliban’s harsh rule, according to an Aug. 17 AP News article. A.S. President Anoop Kaur, Vice President Nina Chuang and Controller Maritza Molina presented proposals to the board asking for support.
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“As an institution close to the highest population of Afghans in Fremont, it’s our responsibility to take charge and support our students,” Kaur said during Wednesday’s A.S. meeting, which was held on Zoom. Fremont, otherwise known as “little Kabul,” and other parts of the East Bay have the largest Afghan populations in the U.S., according to an Aug. 16 Fox KTVU article. Kaur said the board intends to focus on three “perspectives,” which are: local and international students, incoming refugees and refugees who’re stuck abroad. “We want to offer additional resources that are needed to respond to the crises as many humanitarian organizations are stretched very thin,” Kaur said. The A.S. executive board also proposed a donation drive that would include collecting food, clothing, toiletries and monetary donations. Chuang said the proposed donation drive would take place from Aug. 30 through Oct. 25 at the Seventh St. Plaza. She said the board is discussing possible donation bins at various A.S. departments including: SJSU Cares, the Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center and the solidarity network. The solidarity network is a group of on-campus organizations including: the MOSAIC Cross Cultural Center, Cesar E. Chavez Community Action Center, Student Wellness Center, Gender Equity Center and PRIDE Center, according to the student affairs website. Kaur said A.S. intends to use “multiple modes of advocacy,” such as creating infographics with resources for Afghanistan and international students and using emergency funds from SJSU Cares if it’s available for financial and housing relief. SJSU Cares assists students facing unforeseen crises by providing support around basic needs such as: food, shelter, and emergency resources, according to its website. “We want this to be a complete board initiative,” Kaur said. “We would like to send a message to the student population that the whole board is there for them.” William Armaline, founding director of the Human Rights Institute (HRI) and sociology associate professor, said he applauds the work of A.S. because the institute is also working
We are in the creation of the quagmire in Afghanistan and so we are no less obligated as part of American society to help clean up that mess. William Armaline sociology assistant professor
to support students and affected groups in danger or distress from the Afghanistan crisis. The HRI is a research and policy institute that designs human rights solutions for community organizations, stakeholders and policy makers, according to the HRI website. Armaline said the institute is trying to establish a “Visiting Scholars” program, which would allow SJSU and parenting universities to assist scholars, journalists and artists being targeted by the Taliban in receiving visas, shelter and housing support. “I would applaud their effort, [A.S.], because it is really critically important,” he said. “We are in the creation of the quagmire in Afghanistan and so we are no less obligated as part of American society to help clean up that mess.” Global studies sophomore Ariana Shah said she was pleased A.S. is in the process of designing solutions. “I think all the ideas are incredible and I honestly don’t know that much when it comes to advocating and organizing people, but I feel like that’s all really incredible,” Shah said in a phone call. “I feel like every human should have the basic decency to have empathy for other countries that are not just in our global, western perspective.”
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SEASON PREVIEWS
THURSDAY, AUG. 26, 2021
FOOTBALL
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAN JOSE STATE ATHLETICS
Brent Brennan, San Jose State’s football head coach, talks to the team during the Spartans’ Aug. 2 preseason training at Humboldt State in Arcata, California.
SJSU ready to defend MW title By Isalia Gallo & Don Le SPORTS EDITOR & STAFF WRITER
The San Jose State football team is preparing for the 2021 season after running away with the Mountain West Conference championship last fall and a 7-0 conference record. “We have new players [and] we have new opponents,” said head coach Brent Brennan in a Monday press conference. “This season is much different than a year ago because [we] got a full schedule of games. So, for us to expect anything just because we played well a year ago would be foolish and we’re not moving in that direction.” Brennan said the team had a great couple weeks of preparation and is excited to welcome back fans to CEFCU Stadium. “I’m most confident in our team [because] of our leadership,” he said. “We have returners that have played a ton of football [and] been through all kinds of stuff here who have seen the ups and downs. . . and so you have that leadership that knows what it looks like and knows what it takes to play at a high level.” The return of in-person attendance at CEFCU stadium is a major factor in this upcoming season. “For the team, it’s [going to] be a lot of excitement, we’re happy to see everybody back in the stands, but we’re just [going to] stick to what we
know, work together, play together and just try to execute on the field,” said Kyle Hoppe, starting center and graduate student. Coming into his sixth season with Spartans, Hoppe, along with the other upperclassmen, are looking to use their championship experience from last season and win the Mountain West title again. Hoppe said he is looking to continue playing the
gritty offense that got them the conference title. “We’re just trying to score, and then some,” Hoppe said. Hoppe said his offensive coordinator told the team that it’s scoring touchdowns and executing plays no matter what it takes. “We’re just coming out and we’re just gonna execute . . . we’re gonna do our job,” Hoppe said. “All eleven people on the same page, just come out and execute and . . . get a good foundation for the season going forward.” The Spartans aim to prove their standout season wasn’t a fluke. “We understand as a coaching staff and a football team that no one cares what you did yesterday and last year was an amazing moment in time, [but] it’s long gone,” Brennan said. Hoppe said the new players are already filling roles on the team and creating a huge impact. Hadari Darden, linebacker and graduate student, shared the same sentiment. “I feel like their hard work is paying off,” Darden said. “Their time spent with the coaches and the way they’re studying [the plays] is visible.” Darden said the team has been reaching for a higher level of seriousness they haven’t seen before this season. “I feel like you can see it when we practice. You can see the strength, you can see the speed and agility,” Darden said. “[We] can see that people are more dialed in than ever [and] we can see what’s at stake coming off a championship and ever yone having a target on their back.”
During the mid midst of the COVID-19 pandemic last year and again this fall, the Spar Spartans traveled to Humboldt State in Arcat Arcata, California to train for the preseason. “That was a great thin thing for us a year ago and it was a grea great thing for us this year,” Brennan said. “For us to be able to get away and have our team all together, in both circumstances, circ was really positive.”
For the team, it’s [going [ to] be a lot of excitem excitement, we’re happy to see every everybody back in the stands, but w we’re just [going to] stick to what we together, play know, work togeth together and just ttry to eld. execute on the fiel Kyle Hoppe starting center
The players said they appreciated the team bonding they had th this preseason at Humboldt State. “I think Humboldt [Sta [State] was actually one of the best things tthat could have happened,” Darden said. said “Last year’s [trip to Humboldt] had a lot of benefits. We’re forced to be stuck stu in a dorm with each other [and we w get to] bond with each other [bett [better] and build a connection.” Sophomore defens defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko said sticking sticki together and staying focused are prim primary goals this upcoming season. “I think a big theme for fo us right now is just taking it one w week at a time, climbing a mountain slow slowly, just like we did last year,” Fehoko said said. The Spartans will be playing home against Southern Utah Saturday night at 7 p.m.
Estevan Lopez contribute contributed to this article.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
THURSDAY, AUG. 26, 2021
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FOOD REVIEW
Tacos El Güero serves authenticity By Estevan Lopez STAFF WRITER
If you’re searching for the next best plate of tacos, look no further than Tacos El Güero Estilo Tepa. This authentic Mexican taco stop is located in Eastside San Jose at 2448 Story Rd. and is open Thursday to Sunday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Run by Vanessa Huerta and Enrique Huerta, the brother and sister duo are partners in a successful passed-down family business. Running a family business can have its ups and downs, Enrique Huerta said. “Sometimes there [are] good times and bad times, but at the end of the day we both have each other as brother and sister,” Enrique Huerta said. Vanessa Huerta said that runningg a business while beingg a full-time student can be physically and mentally exhausting.
“There are times when [I’ve had] to bring my laptop to work in order to get my assignments done,” Vanessa Huerta said. While there are many other taco trucks located near Tacos El Güero, Vanessa Huerta said having their own style to their business is what separates them from competition, and it shows. Their specialty isn’t the typical plate of tacos you imagine, such as their tongue and eye tacos. This plate may not sound the most appealing, but Vanessa Huerta says otherwise. “A lot of people feel that eye tacos are nasty because it is an eye, but it’s actually really good,” Vanessa Huerta said. Her excited expression as she described the provocative and intriguing tacos was all I needed to come back and try one myself. Upon arrival I had a chance p to look through the menu and chose to order acos al pastor with everything on it, including fresh green cilantro, firm cubed onion and a delicious tangy-spicy red salsa.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VANESSA HUERTA
Enrique Huerta and Vanessa Huerta smile for a photo.
ESTEVAN LOPEZ | SPARTAN DAILY
Salsa verde gets poured over al pastor tacos with cilantro, onion and fresh, cut limes on the side.
Al pastor p meat is taken from felt full, I had to run to the owners pork shoulder, which is and order more of their delicious, boneless p slow-cooked on a revolving well-proportioned tacos. Each slow-cook stick known taco had the perfect amount know as a “trompo” to keep its of meat and was cooked it tenderness while the meat iis thinly to succulent sliced of off onto perfection. tortilla. If you enjoy a the tortilla spicy kick, their Of course cour I had red salsa is the to try the th tasty way to go on your agua de coco, choice of taco, which I mistook horchata, to as it perfectly to be horc down the compliments the wash dow greasy carne. citrus flavors from juicy, greas drink is the limes and This dr cilantro. something highly recommend if The restaurant’s recomme atmosphere is you love the t taste Enrique Huerta super friendly of coconut coconu with Tacos El Güero of sweet and welcoming. a touch o business owner creamy As you walk in, and you’re instantly hit with the scent textures. moment I took the first of meat and tortillas while upbeat The mo my taco I immediately Spanish music plays and creates a bite into m knew two tacos weren’t going to jubilous ambiance. be enough. Although my stomach While it does get busy
CLASSIFIEDS CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Sometimes there [are] good times and bad times, but at the end of the day we both have each other as brother and sister.
SUDOKU PUZZLE Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
throughout the evenings and weekends, the wait for the tacos is well worth it. My trip to Tacos El Güero on Thursday consisted of a five minute wait, luckily I arrived before a rush of about twenty customers came to get their hands on these tasty tacos. Tacos El Güero has some of the best tacos in San Jose, hands down. I’m genuinely looking forward to continuously giving my business to this local taco spot and my fellow Spartan, Vanessa Huerta. The sibling duo said it’s rewarding to share their culture through cooking. “I feel proud showing [our Mexican culture to] people . . . who come from different cultures,” Enrique Huerta said. Follow Estevan on Twitter @9estevan
JOKIN’ AROUND “How does the moon cut his hair?”
“Eclipse it.”
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS 1. Roughage 6. Comply with 10. Flat float 14. Love intensely 15. Drill 16. Arab chieftain 17. French for “Queen” 18. Epic 19. List of options 20. Criminal 22. Rectal 23. Skid row 24. Haughty 26. Placed 30. Genus of macaws 31. Long-haired wild ox 32. Unit of land 33. Hue 35. Bog hemp 39. Abridge 41. Spouse 43. Adult male singing voice 44. Encircle 46. Bloodsucking insects 47. Woman 49. Drunkard 50. Distinctive flair 51. Highly seasoned fatty sausage 54. Flower stalk
56. Buttocks 57. Make ineffective 63. Ammunition 64. A dog wags one 65. Ways 66. French for “Black” 67. Feudal worker 68. Anagram of “Basal” 69. A neutral color 70. Lower limbs 71. Anoint (archaic)
DOWN 1. Ranch 2. Notion 3. Be agitated 4. Sea eagle 5. Submerged ridge of rocks 6. Hiding 7. Gondolier 8. Therefore 9. Annually 10. Noteworthy 11. Revise 12. Last 13. Genuinely 21. Winged 25. Paddles 26. Not first 27. Hurt 28. Weightlifters pump this 29. Disparaging 34. Constrains 36. Letters, etc. 37. Ancient Peruvian 38. Biblical garden 40. Streetcar
Aug. 25
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OPINION
THURSDAY, AUG. 26, 2021
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ABOUT The Spartan Daily prides itself on being the San Jose State community’s top news source. New issues are published every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday throughout the academic year and online content updated daily. 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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ILLUSTRATION BY DAISHA SHERMAN
Who is LeVar Burton?
The only possible Jeopardy! game show host candidate
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For years, “Jeopardy!” has been the ultimate foundation for a drinking game among know-it-all friends who want to learn fun facts along the way to getting wasted. With 41 Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award, it is the most awardwinning game show in the U.S. after its 57 years on air, according to the “Jeopardy!” Awards webpage. Naturally, finding a host to replace the legendary Alex Trebek, who died last November, isn’t an easy decision. Fans like myself know one thing for sure: Mike Richards, the show’s executive producer, wasn’t the right replacement. The show has cycled through many celebrities and public figures since Trebek’s death to test who could take the place as the show’s helmsman. While many guest hosts gained support from fans, such as Aaron Rodgers and Anderson Cooper, none received as much love from fans as LeVar Burton. Sony Pictures Television, the show’s producer, eventually decided to choose Richards as its new host.
Richards announced Friday he would be stepping down from the position after insensitive remarks he made during his 2013 podcast
“The Price is Right,” after she got pregnant. Clearly, these are not remarks that should be expected from the new host of “Jeopardy!” Now that Richards has dropped out, who can fill Trebek’s giant shoes? The apparent choice is American actor, director and children’s television host, LeVar Burton. Burton is known for his
Naturally, finding a host to replace the legendary Alex Trebek, who died last November, isn’t an easy decision. Fans like myself know one thing for sure: Mike Richards, the show’s executive producer, wasn’t the right replacement. “The Randumb Show” resurfaced in an Aug. 18 article by The Ringer. The Ringer scoured through all 41 episodes of the podcast to find Richards making inappropriate comments, often toward his co-host and assistant. The Ringer article detailed one example of his remarks, in which Richards threatened to fire a model on his other show,
23-year role as the host of the award-winning PBS kids’ television show “Reading Rainbow,” which encouraged young children to read. He also played Kunta Kinte in the 1977 ABC miniseries, “Roots,” which portrayed the life of a young Black boy forced into slavery in the Antebellum South. The show informed many viewers about the
lives of slaves and won nine Primetime Emmy Awards for its work, according to the IMDb “Roots” webpage. His role as Geordi La Forge on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” may also pull in the countless number of “Trekkies,” and turn them into devoted “Trebekkies.” These roles reflect Burton’s respect for inspiring learning in others. Characteristics like this, along with his friendly presenting style, are what would make him a perfect “Jeopardy!” host. Burton has even expressed interest in hosting the show since 2013 when he tweeted, “My dream job…? The new Host of #Jeapordy” and created a petition the next day nominating himself to be the host, which gathered 3,153 signatures. Although Burton hilariously misspelled the game show’s name, he’s clearly passionate for the role. “I’ve been preparing for this my whole life,” Burton said in a 2013 Serial Optimist interview. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Serial Optimist is a magazine that predominantly interviews actors, artists, comedians, musicians, photographers and other “interesting people,” according to its website. After Richards’ departure, Burton’s name
began to trend on Twitter as viewers and lifelong fans championed for him to get the host role. Fans voted for Burton to host the show more than any other guest host. He received 16% of the votes, while Richards only received 3%, according to an August poll from the Morning Consult. The Morning Consult is a North American marketing company, according to its website. But it’s not just fans who want Burton. Well-known Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds chimed in to voice his support for Burton as well. “Pretty consistently from 2013 to 2015, Deadpool would explode on Twitter with fans wanting me to play him. It was awkward because I agreed with them, but the studio didn’t see it. Ultimately the fans won and the rest is glorious history. I’m forever grateful. Hi @levarburton,” Reynolds said in an Aug. 20 tweet. Reynolds’ anecdote describes how, with persistence, dedicated fans will often get their way. Hopefully, in this case, he’s right. While Sony Pictures Television hasn’t named the show’s next host, the obvious choice is Burton.
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Correction On Tuesday, Aug. 24, the Spartan Daily published a story titled, “Weekly festival debuts downtown,” in which Eric Vasquez was misidentified. The Spartan Daily regrets this error.