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Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021

Volume 157 No. 17 WWW.SJSUNEWS.COM/SPARTAN_DAILY

SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934

ILLUSTRATION BY DAISHA SHERMAN

SJSU professor discusses dictatorship By Amani Hamed STAFF WRITER

Ryan Skinnell, San Jose State associate professor of rhetoric and composition, gave a hybrid presentation on rhetoric, fascism and truth at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library Wednesday at noon. Skinnell, who has co-authored and edited 10 books on the subject, defined rhetoric as language and symbols that people use to persuade one another to think, believe and act in certain ways. During his presentation, Skinnell gave examples of rhetoric which included campaign speech. He said campaign speech is “inherently rhetoric” because it’s trying to influence the way people will vote. Skinnell also said rhetoric includes the San Francisco Giants baseball team’s logo on his own mask he was wearing. Symbols connect people with one another while excluding people viewed as hostile, people who are united under an opposing symbol the way Giants fans are united against Dodgers fans, Skinnell said. “For example, the handsome person standing at the front of the room is a San Francisco Giants fan, which means that

if you’re a Giants fan, we’re all in this together and if you’re a Dodgers fan, we’re not friends and can never be friends,” Skinnell said. Rather than give a concrete definition of fascism, Skinnell said it’s played out in rhetoric and in symbols and gave several examples of

far-right, anti-semitic organization led by influential figures including aviator Charles Lindbergh, who resisted U.S. entry into World War II and insisted that Jewish people were trying to lead the U.S. into war, according to a Jan. 21, 2017 article from The Atlantic.

In effect, the charismatic leader proves the feebleness of democracy by flouting its assumptions. Lie big, refuse to be shamed for lying and then accuse liberal democrats of flouting their own values of free speech and tolerance of opposing views. The charismatic leader proves themself worthy by conspicuously exploiting democracy’s weaknesses for everyone to see. Ryan Skinnell associate professor of rhetoric and composition

fascist regimes including the Nazi Party, the America First Committee and the Proud Boys. The Nazi Party was the only system of fascist authoritative government among Skinnell’s examples of fascist organizations. The America First Committee was a

Skinnell’s primary area of focus is 20th-century-fascist leaders including Italy’s Benito Mussolini and Romania’s Corneliu Codreanu. “They were notorious liars,” Skinnell said. “They lied about everything, big things,

little things. They lied, obviously, to people who knew they were lying. And yet people, millions of people, trusted them.” Skinnell also quoted German American scholar Hannah Arendt’s book “The Origins of Totalitarianism,” saying “The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced communist but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false, no longer exists.” Communication studies junior Bodhi Fiala said he believes people need to know right from wrong to combat fascism and part of this knowledge comes from discussions such as these. “I think that the best way to avoid more people falling to fascist ideology is through more education,” Fiala said in an Instagram message. “What I’ve come to understand about fascism is that it happens when an opposing party is completely struck down. An important part of democracy [is] debating.” Skinnell painted a picture of how an ordinary civilian could be easily persuaded to behave in a certain way, even when they knew they were being lied to by a charismatic dictator. DISCUSSION | Page 2

Parties get out of control at ‘The Grad’ apartments By Madilynne Medina NEWS EDITOR

Several San Jose State students are concerned about their safety and security while living in or visiting off-campus student apartment complex “The Grad San Jose” after numerous people fomented violence, resulting in damage to the building on the night of Sept. 11. San Jose Police Department officers responded to vandalism reports at the apartment complex at about 12:06 a.m. on Sept. 12, Sgt. Christian Camarillo said in an email. Many people participated in the vandalism and were captured on videos that circulated social media platforms including Instagram and Snapchat, depicting them yelling and throwing electric COMPLEX | Page 2

ILLUSTRATION BY HANZ PACHECO

NEWS

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TUESDAY, SEPT. 28, 2021

DISCUSSION Continued from page 1 In this way, fascist leaders generate popular support, he said. “The people who throw their lots in with fascists are not stupid, uneducated sheep,” Skinnell said. “They are not, for the most part, evil, conniving devils. They are not, for the most part, tricked or hypnotized. They are rather ordinary people seeking stability, safety and prosperity in uncertain times.” Fascists exploit the fears of a certain group of people, and promise to create a better future for them through fascism and totalitarian government, Skinnell said. They tell this group that they’re, in Skinnell’s words, a “chosen people” and fascism is the solution to their problems, he said. Skinnell said fascists develop a strong nation based on the identity and superiority of this chosen group. The performance of these lies is just as important, if not more important, than the lies themselves, Skinnell said. The illusion of authenticity, the appearance of sincerity, is often what convinces the masses to rally behind a captivating fraud, he said. Skinnell said fascist leaders are seen as believable because they perform their lies in animated, candid, eloquent and passionate manners. On the other hand, democratic leaders who recite truths in ways that are boring, unappealing or dispassionate are seen as dishonest, or at the very least uninspiring, Skinnell said. This thwarts attempts to correct fascism and restore democracy by replacing lies with truth, he said, adding that ultimately, if the lies are more compelling, people will dispense with the truth. “In effect, the charismatic leader proves the feebleness of democracy by flouting its assumptions,” Skinnell said. “Lie big, refuse to be shamed for lying and then accuse liberal democrats of flouting their own values of free speech and tolerance of opposing views. The charismatic leader proves themself worthy by conspicuously exploiting democracy’s weaknesses for everyone to see.” Skinnell gave the example of Hans Frank, the Nazi governor of Poland during WWII, who helped institute Hitler’s final solution. He said Frank had been so impressed by Hitler’s earnestness and believed Hitler was trustworthy because he spoke with sincerity. “Twentieth century fascists including Mussolini, Hitler and Codreanu contended

COMPLEX Continued from page 1 scooters at the complex. The vandalism resulted in a shattered lobby window. A report was filed but no suspects have been identified or arrested, Camarillo said. The Grad is located on the corner of East San Carlos and Third streets, a block away from SJSU main campus. The Grad’s General Manager Erika Barragan said it was not a “normal” weekend for the staff. “It is very unusual for us, and me as well, to experience such a disturbance,” Barragan said. The complex can house more than 1,000 SJSU students in its 19 floors, according to a Nov. 19 2018 news release announcing the building’s completion. The Grad offers “luxury” student housing, according to the building website. Students in the complex recounted the only working elevator out of three breaking down from over-capacity at 10:27 p.m., about 2 hours before the vandalism incident A student who prefers to be referred to as B.K. for privacy concerns, was attending several parties in the complex and said he was stuck in the elevator with more than 20 people for more than 45 minutes. He said the elevator went up and then dropped “about a foot” to the third floor. B.K. said those inside the elevator tried pressing alarms and calling police but there was no reception in the elevator. After being stuck for around 30 minutes, B.K. said the group received a call saying assistance would arrive in about 15 minutes. “We were kind of stressing out at this point because people

INFOGRAPHIC BY LINDSAY VILLAMOR

that the only empirical truth worth adhering to was the social Darwinian principle of struggle, which is to say the strong should dominate, and if necessary, annihilate the weak,” Skinnell said. The 21st century has seen its fair share of fascist leaders rise to power globally, some

One example of this is how Donald Trump practically encouraged the Jan. 6 insurrection. His leadership style resembles fascist tendencies. Katy Jensen political science senior

through democratic elections, he said. Skinnell added that fascism is also a U.S. problem and is far from being a foreign issue. “It’s not just a distant phenomenon, either.” Skinnell said. “American fascism is and has long been thriving.”

are passing out for like minutes at a time,” he said.“There’s people on the floor trying to [catch] their breath.” Barragan said she received an emergency call regarding the elevator, called the elevator management company and met with an elevator technician to help those stuck. “When the doors opened, we found that there was an over-capacity of people in the elevator,” she said. As the crowd exited the elevator, Barragan said she realized none of those stuck were residents of the building. Barragan said according to The Grad’s policy and leasing agreement, guests must be with a resident otherwise it’s considered trespassing if they’re not “real guests.” She said she asked those who’re not considered guests to leave and informed the security about the guest policy. “The [guest] policy, it didn’t specify, as far as how many guests you’re allowed to have,” Barragan said. “We do want to welcome our students who have their friends or family here so we weren’t really enforcing the two person rule.” The Grad’s guest policy has changed to two checked-in people per resident as a result of the Sept. 11 incidents, according to a Sept. 14 email to residents. “I felt it was necessary at that time just due to the amount of people that were considering themselves guests,” Barragan said. She said an individual opened the door to the property and let in a “swarm of people” shortly after the crowd dispersed from the elevator. “We were outnumbered by that point,” she said. Multiple students said they saw security guards and police

Fiala said the U.S. government structure would prevent a fascist leader from taking power. “I know a lot of people like to compare [former President] Donald Trump to fascist leaders like Hitler but our government is set up to help us prevent one person from completely taking over,” Fiala said. Political science senior Katy Jensen said Trump’s leadership style had fascist undertones. “One example of this is how Donald Trump practically encouraged the Jan. 6 insurrection,” Jensen said in a text. “His leadership style resembles fascist tendencies.” Hundreds of people stormed the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6 to disrupt the Electoral College result certifications, according to a Jan. 7 New York Times article Skinnell said the most famous and active neo-fascist group is the Proud Boys, but many others exist and thrive. Identity Evropa was created by a San Jose native and the group is known for recruiting and proselytizing white supremacy on college campuses, Skinnell said. Identity Evropa is designated as a white nationalist hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Founded in 2016 by Nathan Damigo of San Jose, who bemoaned San Jose’s cultural diversity as his own “dispossession,” the group has since renamed

officers trying to manage the large crowds. Biomedical engineering freshman Harrison Haylock said he was going to a party on the 16th floor when he saw police officers managing a rowdy crowd. “It was really crowded. A lot of people [were] trying to go up to the 16th floor because there’s supposedly another party up there,’’ Haylock said. “Then we see police officers with their little guns or whatever, or batons standing at the fucking door, everyone files out the fucking Grad, I’m being pushed up against people, being squished and stuff. Barragan also confirmed at least one of the Grad’s security officers pepper sprayed members in the crowd during the night. Business junior Shianne Foster said on the same night she hosted a “kickback” in the multipurpose room, which attracted more students than she anticipated. “I didn’t even know 75% of the people who were there,” Foster said. “I tried to tell people that they need to leave but they wouldn’t listen to me.” Foster said she received a notice on Sept. 16 from The Grad’s leasing office alerting her she had three days to move out because she was tied to the lobby’s window vandalism. The Grad’s management asked Foster to move out because they suspected an attendee at her party was responsible for the damage. Foster said The Grad management told her she was financially responsible for the window damages. “I was trying to tell them it is not that easy to just get up and leave and find another place to stay, especially within a three day period,” She said. “It really

themselves the American Identity Movement. They were involved in orchestrating the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, North Carolina, at which Ohio resident James Alex Fields Jr. drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center website. “These groups are filled with our neighbors, our colleagues, our friends, maybe even some of you,” Skinnell said, pointing to the small crowd of people who attended his presentation in person. Skinnell ended the presentation by stating the importance of fighting fascism, stating that the end of 20th century dictators did not signal the end of fascism itself. “So while the 20th century fascist leaders that I’ve been talking about today are long dead, Fascist rhetoric moves on,” Skinnell said. “Sometimes candidly, and sometimes it’s obvious but quiet background noise. Consequently, it remains an urgent task for us to understand how those people recruit and attract followers, particularly in democracies without which they would wither and die.”

doesn’t work like that and they were telling me ‘well we can’t help you with that.’ ” Foster said she felt the decision was unfair because she didn’t know everyone who attended the party and there were several other parties that night. “I just feel like this could have easily been prevented and they’re blaming me for all the events that happened that night,” she said. Foster said she was already back in her apartment at the time of the window vandalization.

It was really crowded, a lot of people trying to go up to the 16th floor because there’s supposedly another party up there. Then we see police officers with their little guns or whatever, or batons standing at the fucking door, everyone files out the fucking Grad, I’m being pushed up against people, being squished and stuff. Harrison Haylock

Follow Amani on Twitter @Amani_Marie_ up,” she said. Barragan said she’s not allowed to disclose any information about the student or the vandalization because the incident is still an open case. “There’s video surveillance and everything, so everything has been handed over to law enforcement, they’re investigating,” Barragan said. Foster said she was released from the punishment and was allowed to reside in her apartment after her father spoke to the leasing office on Sept. 20. Barragan said she believes students’ repopulation to campus and downtown contributed to these incidents. “I believe it’s the influx of new students that moved in,” Barragan said. “And I don’t believe they understand the lease agreement that they signed and how they’re accountable for their guests, and it’s unfortunate.” Barragan said management is trying to work more collaboratively with law enforcement along with the stricter guest policy. She said law enforcement performed its first security service Saturday after she filed an application to request SJPD presence on high -traffic days. “Providing that sense of security [for residents, friends and parents] is just going to help with the safety concerns that arose from [the vandalization],” Barragan said.

biomedical engineering freshman

She also said security officers rarely ever checked for resident identification and “anyone” could come in. “They [the security] allow these events to happen and pile

Follow Madilynne on Twitter @madilynneee

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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ANALYSIS

ILLUSTRATION BY JOVANNA OLIVARES

‘Midnight Mass’ expounds fascist horror By Amani Hamed STAFF WRITER

Horror genius Mike Flanagan, creator and director of instant-horror classics including Netflix’s TV series “The Haunting of Hill House” and supernatural horror film “Doctor Sleep,” has done it yet again. “Midnight Mass,” which premiered Friday is no exception. Flanagan consistently delivers the best in building suspense and terror while tackling complex emotions including grief, guilt and trauma. Without going into too much detail and spoiling what may be the best limited-horror series we’ll have all spooky-season, Midnight Mass is a powerful examination of family, faith and fanaticism all neatly wrapped in a classic horror bow. Flanagan’s characters and the roles they play tighten the noose of totalitarianism around the neck of their small, struggling fishing community. There are five characters you’ll meet in this fascist-horror hellscape.

Every fascist movement needs a charismatic leader, a silver-tongued charlatan who believes his own lies so deeply that they become the truth. Actor Hamish Linklater plays a fervent small-town Monsignor and gives a performance that will make him a household name. To let Linklater near a pulpit would be collectively dangerous to our health; the man could convince anyone of anything. Like many other fascist orators, the Monsignor stands before his congregation, full of passion, conviction and lies. The Prophet will be familiar to anyone who has ever heard the spirited speeches of Jim Jones, a mass murderer, cult leader, preacher and political activist Adolf Hitler, former chancellor and Fuhrer of Germany and leader of the Nazi Party or former U.S. President Donald Trump. All fascists lie. They lie even when convinced of the ultimate goodness of their purpose. Their lies unify millions and ignite within them the fire of faith. They may even admit, as Linklater’s Father Paul does, that they’re lying and have always been lying right to your face. But, these authoritarians insist, they had a good reason. The best reason! No fascist lie is without a promise, and the promise is what keeps the hungry millions hanging on, what keeps faith alive, even after the admission that it’s all built on a foundation of falsehoods. They care about you, deeply. And you just have to follow them a little longer, sacrifice a little more and what is promised will be revealed. Economic prosperity. Riches, even. Glory. Supremacy. Everlasting life.

While the Prophet can justify any lie to fit their purpose, the Apostle can find any truth and twist it to their cause. Flanagan’s examination of Beverly Keane, played to unnerving perfection by actress Samantha Sloyan, is a master class in differentiating faith from fanaticism. While others in the series exhibit faith, attend mass and pray, Keane literally weaponizes her understanding and practice of religion to create a movement of intolerance and violence. The Prophet could have no better ally. Where they fall short and resort to lies, the Apostle gives people warm, comforting, beautiful truth that absolves them of any personal responsibility for their shortcomings and gives them endless entitlement. They’re chosen. What the Apostle and the Prophet

promise is their divine rights. They’re ordained and therefore anyone who stands in their way is fundamentally and morally wrong. Their prosperity and supremacy must be assured at all costs. While lies might be a necessary evil for the Prophets of fascist ideologies, for the Apostles, the truth is so flexible, so malleable, that it’s whatever they desire it to be. For Keane, the truth must always return to three general ideas: first, she can do no wrong. Second, she deserves, even at the expense of all those around her, to prosper. And third, anything other than her total prosperity is an unfair and cruel victimization of her, and is an affront to everything she stands for. Here is a core element of any fascist movement: the creation of an “us” and a “them.” While Midnight Mass gets delightfully heavy-handed on the Catholic symbolism, which is now just a staple of the horror genre, Mike Flanagan’s presentation of religion is far from a demonization of religion as a whole. Flanagan’s criticism of religion run amok, as personified by Keane, is juxtaposed with the selfless faith of people including Canadian actress Kristin Lehman’s motherly Annie Flynn and actress and screenwriter Kate Siegel’s gentle Erin Greene.

Without going into too much detail and spoiling what may be the best limited-horror series we’ll have all spooky season, Midnight Mass is a powerful examination of family, faith and fanaticism all neatly wrapped in a classic horror bow. Religion, faith in any cause, can be just, and kind, and serve others. When placed in the hands of Bev Keane, religion is a weapon. A master manipulator, she appeases some and poisons others, all while pouring from the same cup. In many ways, the Bev Keanes of the world are far more dangerous than the Father Pauls. Other famous Apostles throughout history include: Mildred Elizabeth Gillars, an American citizen who was a radio propagandist during World War II for the Nazi government, Kayleigh McEnany, a U.S. conservative political commentator and author who served as press secretary during Trump’s presidency and Ma Anand Sheela, former personal secretary to Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the guru and leader of the Rajneesh movement.

In one of the most startlingly and refreshingly wholesome representations of Muslim faith on screen, British actor Rahul Kohli’s Sheriff Hassan is a man who believes but engages with religion in a way that is balanced with a secular morality and is tempered by logic. Kohli, who plays a sheriff and a father, believes in separation of religion and state. He is skeptical of miracles and prefers cold, hard facts compared to comforting lies.

There is more than one Non-believer in Midnight Mass. Actress Annabeth Gish’s brilliant and empathetic Dr. Sarah Gunning has never felt she belongs at St. Patrick’s Church. As a lesbian who would rather rely on science than belief in the unprovable, she is at odds with the religious establishment. As a doctor who genuinely cares for everyone, regardless of their faith, she is at odds with Keane and Father Paul’s destructive goals. The Non-believers including Hassan and Gunning have no tolerance for the intolerant and no patience for bullshit. The Non-believers challenge fascism for the good of everyone around them, often at their own expense. As fascism infiltrates, as it promises and poisons everyone around them, the Non-believers may not prosper, but at least they keep their wits about them by refusing to drink the Flavor-Aid. Some Non-believers who resisted fascism include: Sophie Scholl, a German activist who challenged the Nazi Party, Malala Yousafzai, an education activist and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner and Lea Schiavi, an anti-fascist Italian journalist.

Mike Flanagan uses a classic horror villain to expose the fascism’s evils but not in the way one would think. Flanagan’s seven-episode series could easily have been a gory, one-villain bloodbath but that would absolve the rest of the Crockett citizens and they deserve their collective guilt and responsibility. After all, it takes a village to raise a fascist-dystopian nightmare. Like every other character, Flanagan’s Monster is just a stand-in, an allegory, whose presence simply brings out the villainy in the rest of the normal, everyday Crockett citizens. The Monster is the ugly fulfillment of Bev Keane’s silent longings and the terrifying face of the promises of dominance and safety. Ah, to be, at once, the victim and the victor. How far are the ordinary Crockett citizens willing to go? Are they willing to become the Monsters? Famous examples of Monsters throughout history include white supremacy, evangelical Christianity and Wahhabism.

The scariest person one can meet during a bloody fascist panic is themself. While many of us would hope our logic and reason would win out, that we would never participate in the violence of the mob, many of us would be wrong. The Monster and how it comes to live literally and figuratively in the hearts of the Crockett citizens is a scathing indictment of every “good person” who allows fascism into their soul and still has the audacity at the end of the day to call themselves “good.” It’s also a warning that fascism is so lovely, so benign at first, when presented as convenient truths and comforting lies, it’s truly too easy for ordinary citizens to be duped into swallowing it. Those warm, sticky-sweet placations go down easy but end up turning the stomachs of well-intentioned people who realize too late how fully they’ve allowed themselves to be misled. Famous examples of people who didn’t know they were the monsters all along include all the “regular” German citizens during WWII, anyone who has ever donated to Pastor Joel Osteen and lived to regret it, and every person who refused the vaccine, only to later die of the coronavirus.

Follow Amani on Twitter @Amani_Marie_

COUNTERPOINTS

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ILLUSTRATION BY DAISHA SHERMAN

Is raising taxes on smoke products fair? Increasing prices on tobacco and Financial spike assists low-income nicotine violates his tax promises communities combating addiction Royvi Hernandez OPINION EDITOR

A tax hike on tobacco and nicotine products is against President Joe Biden’s tax pledge and whether you’re a user or not, it’s a regressive plan that may be short-lived. The House Democratic Caucus advanced a $3.5 trillion tax legislation on Sept. 13 including a tax increase on tobacco, nicotine and vapor products, according to a Sept. 16 Tax Foundation article. The Tax Foundation is the nation’s leading independent nonprofit that informs tax policy at the federal, state and global levels, according to its website. This shatters Biden’s promise to not raise taxes for those earning less than $400,000 a year. Biden enacted a tax policy which was signed into law on March 11 that guarantees only those with a $400,000-or-more income will receive tax increases, according to an April 13 article by Investopedia, a New York based financial website. In part of his “Build Back Better” program, Biden focuses on ensuring corporations and wealthy individuals pay their fair share in his tax plan, according to a March 18 CNBC article. However, tobacco and/or nicotine usage isn’t a “rich-people thing” and most of its users live below the poverty line. The U.S. Census Bureau reported $17,420 as the nationwide poverty guideline income in two-member households and $21,960 in three-member households in 2021, according to the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation website. The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation advises the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on policy development in health, disability, human services, data and science, according to its website. It also provides advice and analysis on economic policy. People who live below the poverty threshold and have lower levels of educational attainment experience higher rates of cigarette and tobacco use compared to the general population, according to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention’s (CDC) Smoking and Tobacco Use website. To put this into perspective, 21% of Americans who make less than $35,000 per year are smokers, according to the same CDC webpage. I’m not saying that using tobacco or nicotine products is good, but this tax increase will affect those who are trying to quit cigarettes, which are the most harmful, by using vapes as the alternative. Vapor products including electronic cigarettes are less hazardous than traditional combustible tobacco products. They assist smokers in quitting deadly stoges, according to a Sept. 22 American Journal of Public Health article. About 70% of Americans who smoke are interested in quitting, according to the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services webpage. Affordable vapor products make it easier for smokers to stop reaching for their daily cigarette pack. However, many people won’t have any other alternatives to cigarettes because Biden’s tax plan equally affects vapor products. A vapor excise tax of $1.65 per milliliter of liquid would drive 2.5 million Americans back to smoking, according to a July 24, 2020 study by Michael Pesko, a health economist and associate economics professor at Georgia State University.

Users may rethink their decisions to purchase the products but that doesn’t mean this will stop them from buying it at all. A tax on vapor products will lead youth to increase their use of tobacco, according to a September National Bureau of Economic Research study. Vapor products would be taxed at a rate equal to cigarettes and the average cigarette smoker currently pays $1.01 in federal excise tax, according to an Aug. 31 Tax Foundation article. The multi-trillion dollar tax plan will also target small businesses, especially those that are still grappling to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Convenience stores are the top sellers of cigarettes nationwide and generate more than $575,000 total in revenue on average, according to an American Lung Association study. This will have a huge economic influence and go against any revenue the U.S. government raises from the tax increase. Such increases in federal excise tax will reduce sales, lead to employee layoffs and cause lost wage income, according to the National Association of Tobacco Outlets’ (NATO) Federal Excise Tax Increase Study webpage. Any hike to the federal cigarettes, tobacco and vapor taxes will have a significant negative effect on retail stores, distributors, employees, states, cities and local communities, according to the same NATO webpage. Users may rethink their decisions to purchase the products but that doesn’t mean this will stop them from buying it at all. A factor that must be considered: the inescapable scope of addiction. Simply making tobacco more expensive won’t stop people from wanting to smoke. Nicotine is addictive and this will only change their buying habits.

Follow Royvi on Twitter @lesroyvs

Estevan Lopez STAFF WRITER

The tobacco and nicotine industry may burn because of President Joe Biden’s recent tax hikes. Although many hate the idea of tax hikes, I believe that this will help the fight against smoking. Democrats advanced a bill on Sept. 14 that will increase taxes on tobacco and nicotine products to help pay for Biden’s $3.5 trillion spending plan, according to a Sept. 15 CNBC article. The proposed plan will have a lasting effect on low-income smokers in a positive way by changing their mindset about smoking and making consumers think twice before spending extra money on tobacco products. Although some say this violates Biden’s pledge to not raise taxes on Americans making less than $400,000 a year, it’s beneficial to spike taxes on these products because it can reduce smoking and smoking-related illnesses. The 2021 Tobacco Tax Equity Act would double the federal excise tax that consumers pay to purchase tobacco products, adjust it to inflation and tax non-combustible cigarette alternatives including vaping devices at the same rate as traditional cigarettes, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study. Americans living below the poverty line smoke at higher rates than the general population, according to the same CNBC article. These individuals may smoke for twice as long as people making triple their level of incomes, according to the CDC webpage. Higher taxes on nicotine and tobacco would seriously help reduce smoking, yet many Americans are angered at the thought of a tax spike. There are more than 34 million smokers in the U.S. and more than 16 million are living with a smoking-related disease, according to the CDC’s Smoking and Tobacco Use webpage. Nearly 40 million U.S adults still smoke cigarettes and about 4.7 million middle and high school students use at least one tobacco product. Each year nearly half a million Americans die prematurely of smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, according to the same CDC webpage. These numbers should wash out the lowincome Americans’ anger toward the tax policy change. Tobacco taxes can benefit smokers who quit, reduce the overall consumption of tobacco, and put smoking cessation on the radar of those who continue to smoke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study. This is a strong fact that can stop outraged smokers who believe taxing more on tobacco products is bad. The tax policy change will influence the youth and young adults, who use these products the most.

Youth and young adults are two-to-three times more likely to respond to changes in prices than adults, according to a Jan 15, 2019 Truth Initiative article. Truth initiative is the largest public health nonprofit organization in the U.S. that’s committed to eliminating tobacco use and nicotine addiction, according to its website. Economists have estimated that raising the cost of cigarettes to $10 per pack nationwide would result in 4.8 million fewer smokers between the ages of 12 and 15, according to the same Truth Initiative article. Illnesses caused by exposure to secondhand smoke is another factor to consider, especially when it comes to non-smokers who are affected in lowincome households. Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and upon smoking, people inhale the same cancer-causing substances and poisons that cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer in smokers, according to the CDC Smoking and Tobacco Use webpage. Low-income populations are more likely to suffer the harmful health consequences of exposure to secondhand smoke, according to the same CDC webpage. This act can’t make low-income consumers completely stop smoking but cutting through wallets will have an influence on whether or not people think it’s worth purchasing tobacco products. Biden’s tax increase can also help low-income consumers who are trying to quit. About 35% of these people have less success in quitting than 58% of those who live at or above the poverty level, according to the CDC webpage.

This tax increase will be a major contributor in stopping low-income consumers from smoking their lives away. About 67% of low-income adults who smoke cigarettes daily attempt to quit smoking compared with about 70% of those living at or above the poverty level, according to the CDC webpage. The number of people who’ve tried to quit and failed can put into perspective the tobacco and nicotine industry’s stranglehold on Americans, especially those who live below the poverty line income. This tax increase will be a major contributor in stopping low-income consumers from smoking their lives away. Honestly, it’s just about time.

Follow Estevan on Twitter @9estevan

SPORTS

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FOOTBALL

SJSU loses game, QB Nick Starkel By Estevan Lopez STAFF WRITER

The San Jose State football team suffered a dispirited 23-3 loss Saturday against Western Michigan as the team lost senior quarterback and captain Nick Starkel to a left-arm injury. The Spartans offensive line had a tough time protecting Starkel against the Broncos defense, giving up six sacks. Starkel went down late in the second half after being sacked by a Broncos linebacker who fell on Starkel. Starkel made his way back to the sidelines in the fourth quarter after being examined by the SJSU medical staff, but returned in an arm sling. Both freshman quarterbacks Walker Eget and Natano Woods were rotated in the game after Starkel’s injury as both got their first snaps under center at the collegiate level. Senior running back Tyler Nevens stepped up for SJSU in Starkel’s absence as he ran for a season high 94 yards on 15 carries. Nevens addressed Starkel’s injury after the game. “It’s big, I’m not going to lie to you,” Nevens said, according to a Saturday SJSU Football article. Head coach Brent Brennan also spoke on Starkel’s injury during a Monday news conference. ‘’[Starkel’s] getting evaluated by staff and we got to get into the week and figure out how that’s going to play out with practice,” Brennan said. With Starkel out because of an injury, the Spartans have to choose one of the three

COURTESY PHOTOS OF TERRELL LLOYD | SAN JOSE STATE ATHLETICS

Senior QB Nick Starkel looks up for a pass while freshman lineman Anthony Madrigal (55) blocks a Broncos defensive lineman Saturday.

[Starkel’s] getting evaluated by staﬀ and we got to get into the week and ﬁgure out how that’s going to play out with practice. Brent Brennan head coach

quarterbacks to lead the team this Saturday against New Mexico State. One option would be Eget as he completed one of eight passing attempts for eight yards. Woods also made an impression Saturday night when he split time below center

with Eget against the Broncos defense. He threw it minus four yards and only completed two passes out of his four attempts. “Natano has played a little bit. Walker has played a little bit . . . I think it’s more of us coming up with a plan that we can execute at a high level because we didn’t

CLASSIFIEDS CROSSWORD PUZZLE

do that against a good team on Saturday,” Brennan said. Wide receiver and former quarterback Nick Nash is another possible option to replace Starkel. Nash was praised last year when he stepped in and led SJSU to win after Starkel went down with an undisclosed injury early in the game against San Diego State on Nov. 16, 2020. Nash helped the Spartans to a second-half comeback win of 28-17 to continue their then undefeated season. Nash had career highs in that game with 169 passing yards and two touchdowns. He finished third on the

SUDOKU PUZZLE Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

team in rushing in the 2020 Fall season as well. Brennan said it’s plausible Nash will come into Starkel’s absence, but nothing is concrete. ‘’[Our intent with Nash] has been his ability to keep him moving around and doing a bunch of stuff for us,” he said. The Spartans (2-2) are expected to play against New Mexico State (1-4) Saturday at CEFCU stadium at 7:30 p.m., the Spartans’ first home game in over a month.

Follow Estevan on Twitter @9estevan

JOKIN’ AROUND “What did the fish say when he hit the wall?”

“ Dam.”

SOLUTIONS

ACROSS 1. Mongrel 5. Napped 10. Generous slice of the pie 14. Gumbo 15. Eyeshade 16. Gambling game 17. In a non-hurting manner 19. Dines 20. Clairvoyant’s gift 21. Laneway 22. Loft 23. Notwithstanding 25. Chew noisily 27. Consumed food 28. Not southern 31. Ostentatious 34. Brass musical instruments 35. Caviar 36. Ripped 37. Lights 38. Quash 39. French for “Friend” 40. Hebrew unit of weight 41. Broaden 42. Ambrosia 44. Thorax protector 45. Approaches 46. Chooses 50. Pirate’s pal 52. Anagram of “Space”

54. Not in 55. French for “State” 56. Deadly nightshade 58. Fee 59. Not written exams 60. Seven days 61. Church alcove 62. Heretofore (2 words) 63. Stringed instrument DOWN 1. Acted gloomily 2. An edict of the Russian tsar 3. Journeys 4. Buff 5. Slender 6. Fine thread 7. Being 8. An organism with various forms 9. Attempt 10. Draw 11. Coriaceous 12. Against 13. Pear variety 18. Not clergy 22. Picnic insects 24. Chess piece 26. Coffee dispensers 28. Wanderer 29. Learning method

30. A noble gas 31. Knife 32. “Where the heart is” 33. Not occidentals 34. Harriers 37. Lascivious look 38. Atmosphere 40. A neutral color 41. Tricked 43. Ladybug 44. Meal 46. French for “Room” 47. Hyrax 48. Channel selector 49. Investment 50. Anagram of “Meat” 51. At the peak of 53. Kaolin 56. Type of snake 57. A wise bird

Sept. 23

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SPORTS

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TUESDAY, SEPT. 28, 2021

VOLLEYBALL

PHOTOS BY TRAVIS WYNN | SPARTAN DAILY

Senior libero Sarah Smevog jump-serves the ball against the Aztecs toward the end of Set 1 at the Spartan Gym located in Yoshihiro Uchida Hall Saturday night.

Spartans take fourth consecutive win By Sandra Santos-Cruz STAFF WRITER

San Jose State’s volleyball team beat San Diego State 3-0 with a nerve-racking last-minute play Saturday afternoon at the Spartan Gym located

in Yoshihiro Uchida Hall. A total of 325 fans watched the Spartans win their fourth game in a row, making it the longest streak of the season. Even though the Aztecs began the game with great defense

and a lead, the Spartans didn’t let it hinder their confidence. With the first set tied at 19, opposite and outside hitter Haylee Nelson led the Spartans to victory with 10 kills as they won 25-20. “I do not come into the

Outside hitter Amethyst Harper pops the ball back up during Set 2 of the match Saturday night.

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matches expecting to win,” head coach Trent Kersten said. “I know there are a lot of good teams out there and if there is a victory, we are going to have to earn it.” During Set 2, an error cost the Spartans a point deduction, falling behind 12-11, just one point ahead of the Aztecs. The Aztecs stepped up their game and closed the gap with a score of 15-15. However, that didn’t slow the Spartans down and soon after the team took back the lead by scoring four consecutive points. Nelson continued to shine in the game as her 18 total kills propelled SJSU to a 21-20 victory in Set 2. “I think San Diego State did a good job, I think they watched a lot of film and paid a lot of attention,” Nelson said. “But I think that as a team we are coming up with a strong serving, we caught a lot of teams out of guard with that.” Spartan libero Sarah Smevog had an impressive performance on defense as she racked up a total of two assists, 12 digs and 5 service aces. “I take a lot of pride in my defense because I want to do the best I can for my team to succeed,” Smevog said. “Our coaches do a really good job at helping us scout the other team and we all do it on our own too, but specifically we try to relax before a match,

find a synchronized chemistry before we go out there.” In Set 3 Nelson, middle blocker Ryann Thomison and outside hitter Amethyst Harper made a three-line barrier to kill an incoming play from the Aztecs, which gave the Spartans a 23-16 lead.

But I think that as a team we are coming up with a strong serving, we caught a lot of teams out of guard with that. Haylee Nelson opposite and outside hitter

In the last moment of the match Harper set her fifth kill, giving SJSU the victory and a final score of 25-16 for Set 3. The Spartan’s next match is scheduled against Boise State University in Idaho at the Bronco Gym Thursday. The next home game is scheduled on Oct. 9 against Colorado State at the Spartan Gym located in Yoshihiro Uchida Hall. Follow Sandra on Twitter @_sandraiveth_

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TUESDAY, SEPT. 28, 2021

Celebrate

NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY WITH THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA REGISTRAR OF VOTERS OFFICE

TUES, SEP 28 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM SANTA CLARA COUNTY GOV’T CENTER 1555 BERGER DRIVE, BLDG 2 PARKING LOT (OAKLAND RD/BERGER DR)

Join us in celebrating National Voter Registration Day! INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS FOOD TRUCKS PHOTO BOOTH MUSIC BRING THE FAMILY, JOIN THE CELEBRATION If you need additional information please contact us via e-mail at rov.media@rov.sccgov.org or via phone at (408) 282-3008.