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IN STANDS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019

Volume 153 No. 23 SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934

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Spartans rev up for homecoming

CHRISTIAN TRUJANO | SPARTAN DAILY

Left: Business sophomore Yesenia Guzman (left) and justice studies sophomore Alma De La Cruz (right) work on the Chicanx/Latinx Student Success Center golf cart. This is the third annual homecoming golf cart parade and will feature 20 diﬀerent organizations. Right: Tamela Sullivan, coordinator for training and events, and her team decorate the University Personnel golf cart for the third annual homecoming golf cart parade. The parade will begin today at 12:30-1 p.m. on the Associated Students Recreation Lawn and drive through campus, ending at the Seventh Street Plaza. The parade will be followed by an after party with live music and food outside the Student Union.

State considers faculty housing SJSU talks with CA to reappropriate land for retail and employee housing By John Bricker STAFF WRITER

OLIVIA WRAY | SPARTAN DAILY

Sustainability program manager Katie Excoﬃer and Raymond Luu, SJSU associate director of commercial services, discuss ways to practice sustainability in business and education.

Alumni talk about job paths through green sustainability By Olivia Wray STAFF WRITER

Students eagerly listened to the advice of five environmental sustainability professionals at the San Jose State Green Career Panel. Hosted by the SJSU Office of Sustainability and the Career Center on Tuesday, the panel featured speakers from the Bay Area who shared their experiences of how they started their careers. Eric Ahnmark, a sustainability program manager at Recology, said, “I strongly believe that, really, every single company needs to have some sort of sustainability focus or sustainability role and to a degree it’s out there for the taking.” Campus sustainability coordinator Kristen Wonder

I work with contracts at SJSU, like Spartan Shops and whether its revenue, supplies – anything – I want to educate myself on ways to incorporate sustainability. Raymond Luu Commercial services associate director

said she chose the speakers with intent to inspire and encourage students from environmental, sustainability and science majors to participate. The panel featured transportation specialist Nick Danty, environmental compliance and zero waste specialist Johanne Yee, environmental justice program manager Delfi Reyes

and sustainability program managers Eric Ahnmark and Katie Excoffier. Ahnmark and the other speakers emphasized there is always a need for sustainability job positions, especially in the face of accelerated climate change. Raymond Luu, SJSU CAREERS | Page 2

The Alfred E. Alquist building could soon become housing for San Jose State faculty and staff and retail space, if California gives the site to San Jose State to develop. Charlie Faas, vice president of administration and finance, said he met with State Sen. Jim Beall and state assemblymember Ash Kalra and worked together to identify the Alquist site as likely surplus space. Currently, the state of California owns the land. Faas said the new campus building plans include five floors of classrooms and retail space, with one to three towers of employee housing on top, depending on the available space. SJSU surveyed faculty and staff roughly eight or nine months ago, Faas said, asking what kind of housing would interest them if the university built a new structure. The city of San Jose supports SJSU’s effort to provide affordable housing for its staff and faculty, but is not in a position to help the school gain access to the Alquist site. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said he enthusiastically supports SJSU’s potential development of the Alquist building, although he has not been involved in the process because the state controls the land. “Bureaucracies are complex and it is going to take some time for all of that to unwind,” Liccardo said.

Bureaucracies are complex and it is going to take some time for all of that to unwind. Sam Liccardo San Jose mayor

Developing the Alquist building would complement Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent review of state assets, Faas said. Newsom signed an executive order in January to develop affordable housing on excess state lands, according to the California state government’s website. On April 11, California’s Department of General Services released a report identifying vacant parcels owned by the state, including a county-by-county map. Although SJSU plans to build more student housing on campus, Faas said housing on the Alquist site will be used for faculty and staff only. It would be difficult to recruit new faculty and staff without an affordable housing option for newcomers to the Bay Area, Faas said. “If we do not have faculty and staff, we can’t teach students,” he said. HOUSING | Page 2

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16, 2019

CAREERS Continued from page 1 associate director of commercial services, said he attended the panel in the hope of learning more about sustainability opportunities and practices that could benefit him in his own career. “I work with contracts at SJSU, like Spartan Shops and whether its revenue, supplies – anything - I want to educate myself on ways to incorporate sustainability,” Luu said. The panel also encouraged students who attended to help spread awareness of the growing need for careers in sustainability. Career counselor panel co-host Kristen Keller said for undergraduate students, “This is a crucial time to start thinking about their careers and we want to provide the resources.” Keller and Wonder wanted students to hear from professionals who had unique career journeys because they believe it is easy to get discouraged about what comes after graduation. For some of the speakers, such as Excoffier, the path toward a long-lasting career took many turns. After college, Excoffier started her life as a biologist and then discovered more opportunities, like software engineering.

Sustainability wasn’t the first career pathway for Excoffier. After twenty years in software engineering, Excoffier became interested in sustainability when Al Gore released the 2006 documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” about global warming. Without any sustainability experience on her resume, Excoffier found it difficult to get a job in the field. She found an internship at Genentech and after two years, started working full-time. “This is my second career – sustainability. The word didn’t even exist, I don’t think, when I was [in college],” Excoffier said. Even though Excoffier didn’t start out in the sustainability field immediately after graduating, she advised students not to worry about their futures. “Just stay flexible and continue to be curious and learn about more and more things,” Excoffier said. “Don’t assume that there is a straight career path.” Transportation specialist Nick Danty said that students should never get discouraged if they don’t find their dream job right away. He encouraged students to go in many different directions within education, always learn more and to even take unpaid internships because he said it was a valuable part of his journey.

OLIVIA WRAY | SPARTAN DAILY

Students were excited to ask environmental sustainability professionals for internship and career path advice at the SJSU Green Career Panel Tuesday in the MLK Library.

Danty had an internship at the Sonoma County Transportation Authority, where his supervisors recognized his hard work and persuaded him to apply to graduate school. Studying at SJSU for his master’s degree in transportation and land-use, Danty discovered more internship opportunities and made connections who helped him get the career he has now. “Network with your fellow students, faculty members – maybe even reach out to people in the field, personally, that

you’d like to talk to – that did help me and I wish I’d done it more,” Danty said, “And don’t be afraid to explore things that, maybe, you didn’t learn in school.” Following the advice and stories of each speaker, the students had the opportunity to talk with them individually and start building connections for their own career pathways.

Follow Olivia on Twitter @bmo_liv

HOUSING Continued from page 1 Although students have said they want more housing for them as well, several supported using the Alquist site for building faculty and staff housing. Communication junior Jose Moreno said he hopes new housing can help faculty commute shorter distances. “For one of my professors, it is like an hour to get here,” Moreno said. Communication junior Mandish Sandhu said the land’s proposed use is not concerning to him. “I mean, faculty needs a place to live too,” he said. Along with supporting more housing space for faculty and staff, students approved of using retail space at the Alquist site for a new grocery store downtown. Sandhu said students need more “good quality

I mean, faculty needs a place to live too. Mandish Sandhu communication junior

JOHN BRICKER | SPARTAN DAILY

The Alfred E. Alquist Building, which California could give to SJSU to use as faculty and staﬀ housing in the near future, stands on Paseo de San Antonio, between South Second Street and South Third Street, just a block away from campus.

food that won’t break your bank.” Mayor Liccardo said downtown San Jose needs more options other than Whole Foods, but lack of customers within walking distance keeps grocery stores in downtown San Jose from being profitable without providing free parking. “They have to depend

on people walking and biking and that requires an enormous amount of density,” Liccardo said. In 2016, the American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau found the population of downtown San Jose to approximately 77 thousand, making it the sixth densest neighborhood in San Jose.

Along with supporting the idea of a new grocery store, Faas said he would like to see some of the space used for movie theaters which could operate as classrooms during the day and businesses at night. But even if SJSU uses the Alquist building for staff housing, more student housing will be needed eventually.

SJSU is planning on adding 800–1,500 beds on campus by building Campus Village 3 and 4 according to Faas. ABC reported in March that roughly 4,300 SJSU students experience homelessness at some point. Sandhu said he knows many students are looking for housing.

Sculptor returns to SJSU for art lecture By Diana Avila STAFF WRITER

Ebitenyefa Baralaye spoke to San Jose State students Tuesday about his background and how it connects to the art pieces that he creates. He makes connections to real-life moments and interrupts them based on his feelings. Baralaye is not just an artist, but has taught all over the country. He is currently a professor of ceramics at the College of Creative Studies in Detroit. Some of his work has been in installations in New York and San Francisco, where he has also taught in an art institute. However, his work is not new to SJSU, as he had previous installations in the Thompson Gallery earlier this year. During the lecture he discussed how he is about to

connect on a spiritual level with his art to give a deeper meaning to how the form and the design is made. “I think, for me, art is a social act and conversation with other things outside of myself,” Baralaye said during his lecture. He continued to talk about the importance of an artist having the ability to get to know themselves in order to take risks and develop works that create that conversation among different views. “Our relationship with materials starts with our relationship with space and environment,” Baralaye said. He said he looks to simple concepts of everyday living things to create his artwork. The idea of human comfort has let him work on art that he was not expecting to find. Baralaye spoke about one

I think, for me, art is a social act and conversation with other things outside of myself. Ebitenyefa Baralaye Detroit College of Creative Studies professor and artist

of his pieces, in which made different fold-out chairs out of clay to represent his different moves throughout the last couple of years. He called the piece, “Folding Chair”. The materials that he used for the piece were intentional as he tries to do with all of his pieces. The meaning behind using wet clay is that it will dry and crack. The change in texture will represent a moment in time. Another art piece that he

discussed during the lecture was the piece “Imprint.” Baralaye said it represents vulnerability. The clay was pressed many times over without any particular pattern or structure. The next Tuesday night art lecture will feature Rebeca Bollinger, a mixed media artist.

Follow Diana on Twitter @dianaavila284

“It is just really hard to find a good cheap place,” he said. Mayor Liccardo said his office is looking for ways to effectively use city funds to help SJSU students find housing. Faas said the university will build new Campus Villages soon but that it has set no timeframe for those plans. “This is not 5–10 years away,” he said. “This is sooner than that.”

Follow John on Twitter @JohnMichaelBr15

Crime Blotter Obstruction of a public officer Oct. 13, 2:18 a.m. at South 4th Street/Northbound I 280 District attorney/warrant request Possession of burglary tools Oct. 13, 5:16 a.m. at University Police Dept. Adult cited Theft of personal property Oct. 13, 8:05 a.m. at Music Building Information only Auto burglary Oct. 13, 2:19 p.m. at Delta Upsilon Fraternity Information only Possession of narcotics and controlled substances misdemeanor Oct. 13, 2:30 p.m. at Campus Village 2 Adult cited

OPINION

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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16, 2019

Buttigieg bashes weak Warren in debate Loser

Shocker

Mayor Pete Buttigieg

Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Sen. Kamala Harris

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Winner Chris Core STAFF WRITER

The race for narrowing down which Democratic candidate will challenge President Donald Trump in the 2020 election took another step closer following the fourth primary debate in Ohio Tuesday night. During the three hours of questioning the 12 candidates touched on major issues facing Americans, including Medicare for all, gun control and women’s reproductive rights. The three candidates throughout the prior debates have been former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders, but last night South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg stole the show. Buttigieg did not have the most screen time in Ohio, but the moments he was given came with thought out counter-attacks and fresh ideas on a stage filled with similar suggestions to problems. Buttigieg started off strong in the beginning of the debate when he challenged current polling leader Warren on her health care for all plan. Warren said that she will not sign a bill into law that raises taxes for middle-class Americans, but has previously vocally endorsed Sanders’ plan that would raise taxes for the middle class. Buttigieg did not let this slide, putting out his idea of “Medicare for all who want it” rather than enforcing Medicare for all Americans, making taxes rise. Warren was quick with a rebuttal, and said that Buttigieg’s policy was “Medicare for all who can afford it.” Buttigieg was able to brush the sentiment off easily by pressing her on if her policy would raise middle-class taxes or not. Warren had no answer for him. Buttigieg did not only pressure Warren, but also pushed his verbal attacks onto former U.S. Rep. Robert O’Rourke on gun control. When asked to expand on how the policy would function, O’Rourke said that if he makes the ownership of those weapons illegal that he expects his “fellow Americans to follow the law.” Buttigieg was quick to call this policy a weak “purity test” and that focusing on background checks and other solutions to the issue would help with the problem more effectively.

Buttigieg used his experience as a Navy veteran to call out President Trump on how the Syrian crisis was handled, and said that the slaughter that occurred to the Kurds was a consequence of betraying American allies. Not only did Buttigieg criticize how the Trump administration handles foreign affairs, he also set the framework for restructuring the U.S. Supreme Court to depoliticize the appointment of judges. The idea would be to make the Supreme Court have 15 seats rather than nine to make each vote have less power, theoretically preventing an uproar every time a seat opens up. In contrast to the stellar performance by Buttigieg, Warren was attacked viciously on stage and could not find her footing on a majority of her policies. Aside from failing to present an answer on how her own healthcare plan would affect middle-class taxes, she also was reminded by entrepreneur Andrew Yang on how automation is affecting the American job market. Warren had said prior to the debate that automation should not be blamed for job loss, but rather bad trade policy. Yang did not agree with her theory and posed the statistic that truck driving is the most common job in 29 states and employs 3.5 million Americans across the nation. If automation takes over then these drivers will be out of jobs. Warren had another misstep when women’s reproductive rights were discussed and candidates were asked how they will prevent states from blocking access to these types of resources like Planned Parenthood.

CLASSIFIEDS CROSSWORD PUZZLE

The majority of candidates referenced the Supreme Court and Roe v. Wade as the best possible way to protect women’s rights, but Warren said the democratic process is more important than the Supreme Court. Warren said that three out of four Americans support abortion and with that much backing, the democratic procedure should prevail. However, this neglects the fact that states like Missouri have a full ban on abortion despite the large amount of support across the nation. Sen. Kamala Harris came out as a shocker in this debate, displaying an assertive passion for issues when in the past she has been accused of reversing her ideals. Harris had fire behind her words when discussing Syria and gun violence in America. Additionally, Harris discussed her anger when men make laws about what women can and cannot do with their bodies. She also came equipped with policy to discuss with her income inequality plan coming off clear and thought out. Harris’ plan would create a tax credit system that would give Americans a $6,000 credit each year to help with expenses. The idea did not cause much backlash from her opponents and fit in well with others on stage who are running on universal income for all. The next debate will be held on Nov. 20, giving plenty of time for voters’ minds to shift, and perhaps a new frontrunner to take the lead in polls. Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisCore24

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

JOKIN’ AROUND What is the most important subject a witch learns in school?

Spelling.

SOLUTIONS

ACROSS 1. Only 5. Dress 9. Vats 13. Beseech 14. A part of the small intestine 16. Brother of Jacob 17. Unit of land 18. Style 19. Transmit 20. Perhaps 22. Prophetesses 24. Central area of a church 26. Do without 27. Ovular 30. Womb 33. Warblers 35. Rates 37. Small portable bed 38. Darlings 41. Twosome 42. Whiskers 45. Offspring unlike either parent 48. Sleeping sickness carrier 51. Kayak 52. Thin

54. Flippant 55. Not often 59. Closes violently 62. Portent 63. Adult male singing voice 65. Related 66. Platter 67. An analytic literary composition 68. Roman emperor 69. Remain 70. Not there 71. Sketched DOWN 1. Unwanted email 2. Killer whale 3. Sore throat 4. Examine 5. Band booking 6. Beers 7. Regenerate 8. Agency 9. Mosaic tile 10. Applications 11. Curse 12. Lather 15. Excellence

21. Wicked 23. Always 25. Barely managed 27. Carve in stone 28. Fourpence 29. Before, poetically 31. Mortician 32. Stinky black and white mammal 34. A single-reed woodwind 36. Kind of bean 39. Confederate soldier 40. Trim 43. Rule of a substitute king 44. Immediately 46. Poems 47. Wreath 49. Hotel offering 50. Catch in a net 53. Anxious 55. Mats of grass 56. Leave out 57. Plateau 58. Fly high 60. Bog 61. Winter precipitation 64. Type of whiskey

10/15/2019

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SPORTS

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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16, 2019

Spartans taken out by last-minute Wave By Christian Trujano STAFF WRITER

Managing a comeback in the third period, the San Jose State men’s water polo team fought until the final seconds against Pepperdine University, ultimately losing 10-9 after the Waves made a game-winning shot in the last three minutes. SJSU is now 3-11 on the season as they prepare for their first Golden Coast Conference match of the WAVES s e a son on Saturday. Spartan a n d Wav e s of fans SPARTANS p a c k e d t h e bleachers at t h e Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center Sunday morning as both teams started strong early in the game. Pepperdine came out a bit quicker and used their constant pressure to capitalize on SJSU’s early mistakes. “We’re a little young and missed a couple shots that we could’ve made; that was the difference in the game,” head coach Bruce Watson said. Watson said that Pepperdine was able to get those easy goals,

10 9

which didn’t help his team. Going into halftime, the Waves led 6-4, but it didn’t discourage the Spartans. Throughout the game, the lead changed between both teams four times, showing just how balanced the game was. Pepperdine focused on its counter-attack plays the entire game, leaving the SJSU defense fighting to rush back and support sophomore goalkeeper Yahav Fire, who came in to save multiple shots. Fire had a busy day with the Waves offense as he came in clutch with 13 saves, three of those being back-to-back in the last 2 minutes of the game. “When you get to the third and fourth quarter, that’s the time for players that matter to step up,” Fire said. “If I won’t step up, Pepperdine gets a bigger lead.” SJSU senior driver Marc Weber had a standout game individually too, with 3 goals and 6 shots. Scoring 3 of the Spartans’ 9 goals, Weber said his fellow teammates played more collectively this game and the overall team spirit gave him the confidence to shoot more. “We have such a good team atmosphere and chemistry that we just push each other,” Weber said. “The guys push me to keep shooting

CHRISTIAN TRUJANO | SPARTAN DAILY

Sophomore goalkeeper Yahav Fire throws the ball back into play during the game Sunday against Pepperdine University at the Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center. Fire stepped up with 13 saves in the game.

and I do the same with the others.” With two of those goals in the third period, Weber gave SJSU the advantage before ending the period with a tie game of 8-8. Spartan fans were fired up as SJSU was on the verge of a huge comeback. As both teams entered the fourth period, the race to take the lead made all of the players step up. Fire, with his multiple saves, kept Pepperdine at bay but with 5 minutes left in the game, the Waves took the lead.

Now comes the crunch time of the season. Everybody in practice and in the games needs to know, now it’s time to win the games. Marc Weber senior driver

Two minutes after that, Waves sophomore attacker Max Sprute scored the game-winning goal after Spartan senior utility Emerson Trout gave up an easy pass.

Conference matches next. Watson said the young team is showing they can play against anyone. “Now comes the crunch time of the season,” Weber said. “Everybody in practice and in the games needs to know, now it’s time to win the games.” The Spartans will face Long Beach State on Saturday in their first Golden Coast Conference match of the season.

“[Pepperdine] scratched and clawed back in,” Watson said. Watson and the young Spartan team believe this game is a key stepping stone to gain experience as Follow Christian on Twitter they go into Golden Coast @ChristianTruja2

NFL COLUMN

Pass interference reviews set bad precedent second look at a play they think should be overturned. Being able to throw the Brendan Cross STAFF WRITER challenge flag on penalties, however, sets a bad precedent. Penalties that have been bling block: the catch rule. equally as controversial If the NFL continues Before a March 2018 this season include roughto make penalties reviewchange that simplified the ing the passer able, it will send the and holding. league into a rabbit hole it rule, Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert, If NFL owners continue cannot escape. who literally catches balls to think that every conA blatantly missed for a living, didn’t know troversial call should be call in last season’s NFC what a catch was by defi- able to be reviewed, then championship game set nition. we could be just a few the NFL world ablaze “I don’t know if anyseasons away from havand eventually prompted body really knows what ing nearly every penalty a rule change during the the right call is,” Eifert potentially offseason. said to ESPN.com in 2015 be reviewable. This season, head Every yard matters in coaches have been able to after an apparent touchdown reception was over- the NFL, so if coaches are challenge offensive and turned after review. given the ability to chaldefensive pass interferIt took 98 years for the lenge a penalty regardless ence calls, as well as nonof the yardage, they will calls, if the coach believes NFL to figure out what a catch is. Let’s hope it do it. a penalty should have doesn’t take another 98 Allowing coaches to been called on the play. for the league to figure throw a challenge flag to Originally, I was for out that challenging pen- review pass interference this change. Pass interalties has no place in is the lazy route. Much ference is an incredibly the game. like the catch rule, the game-changing penalNFL officials have an NFL needs to change and ty that can sometimes retool the pass interferreward 50-plus-yards to a incredibly difficult job. They have to assess a ence rule so as to limit the team that didn’t actually play and make a decision constant controversy complete a pass. within seconds on wheth- it attracts. Through six weeks of So far, there have been the NFL season, however, er or not a flag should 40 pass interference relatthe ability to challenge the be thrown. In theory, everyone ed reviews since the start call and non-call has conof this season, according fused coaches and viewers wants every call to be correct, but human error to ESPN.com. Seven of alike as to what the rule is just part of the game. In the 40 have been overeven means. the same way that a quar- turned, but NFL coaches “I really don’t know terback can overthrow a are on a cold streak and what pass interference wide receiver, a referee have only one successful is anymore,” Green Bay can miss a call. challenge in the last Packers head coach Matt The challenge flag 21 attempts. LaFleur said via the team’s should not go away If officials are being official because it’s a vital part extra reluctant to overwebsite. of the game that gives turn these challenges, The confusion is akin coaches a chance to take a then what’s the point of to a previous NFL stum-

having the ability to challenge it in the first place? A coach only gets two challenge flags to begin a game, and a large majority of them are wasting it on pass interference calls that seem unlikely to be overturned. This rule was largely put into place due to one bad call in the aforementioned NFC championship game last season. The NFL can’t operate on a reactionary level like that, regardless of the gravity of the missed call. Thankfully, this rule is only in place for the 2019

If the NFL continues to make penalties reviewable, it will send the league into a rabbit hole it cannot escape.

season and is in a trial basis. If NFL owners have their wits about them next offseason, they’ll get rid of this rule. If instead, they decide to expand it and make

even more penalties reviewable, then it’ll be a challenge for me to ever watch another snap. Follow Brendan on Twitter @BrendanCross93

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16, 2019

88rising put my ‘Head in the Clouds’ By Erica Lizarrago STAFF WRITER

Record label 88rising continues to assemble Asian and Asian American artists, placing them high on the charts. Unlike other albums, “Head in the Clouds II” is a compilation of artists from the label under the collective name, 88rising. The album showcases the group’s ability to freely move outside their comfort zone with reflective and dreamy hip-hop. Following the release of their first successful family album, “Head in the Clouds II” collectively conjures up a romantic, trancey feel with 16 tracks that nod to the groups evolution as Asian and Asian American artists. The sophomore album opens with the single “These Nights,” featuring internet star Rich Brian and South Korean popstar Chung Ha. It’s the perfect song to kick off its dreamy vibrations that continues with the remaining tracks. It follows a classic upscale R&B beat and a catchy tune, leaving no question why the group would utilize this song as a single. “Tequila Sunrise,” featuring AUGUST 08 and GoldLink, compliments the album with beach trip vacation vibes. It’s easy to imagine sipping a piña colada or driving down a street with the top down on a summer night. Its beat and tropical aesthetics easily makes

it a favorite on the album, adding an impeding influence from Hong Kong artist Jackson Wang. “Need is Your Love,” is a groovy, pop-like song that’s easy to dance to and perhaps one of the catchiest beats on the album. The album has a heavy influence from Joji in all of its songs, considering his role as executive producer. It’s clear he is the mastermind behind the project, with many songs bearing his unique mumbly hip-hop style. He benefits tremendously from songs like “Breathe,” which showcases his unique vocalizations and hypnotic slower-paced signature beats. Lyrics like “Hold My Breath / Until You Call My Name” emphasize the aura Joji presents himself with, as a hopeless romantic artist. It’s romantic and devastating at the same time, highlighting an airy heaven-like atmosphere. The song is short, sweet and simple, a classic Joji track. Throughout the album however, it can seem as if Joji’s influence overpowers the individuality of other artists. While he’s featured in three songs, you can feel his authority in the making of other songs. The album does feature the distinctive stylings of others, but it can seem like its production has injected much of his imprints. This is an aspect listeners can either love

ILLUSTRATION BY ERICA LIZARRAGO

album review “Head in the Clouds II” Rating:

or hate, considering the family album’s marriage is supposed to drive the distinctive diversity among its labels artists. Rich Brian is one of the main featured artists, but his appearances seem to fall flat and drowned in autotune and basic SoundCloud-esque rapping. While his songs are catchy, upbeat and fun; it calls to question what his performances of these songs would be like live. The real star of the album is NIKI, an Indonesian

Artist: 88rising Release Date: Oct. 11, 2019 Genre: Pop

singer, songwriter and producer. The tracks that feature her are eclectic, different and catchy. She stands out among the blending of mumbleness and trance from Joji and the autotune that continually follows Brian’s voice. NIKI is visible early on the second track, “Strange Land,” which is a slower acoustic ballad. Its romantic pace takes on a classic singer songwriter hint, while “Shouldn’t Couldn’t Wouldn’t,” shows her strong R&B vocals similar to artists like Kehlani.

“Indigo,” is among one of the favorites on the album. It’s a song that screams bad girl vibes, with its incredible falsettos and breathy chorus, unlike other verses on the album. She shines as an upcoming R&B artist and it’s easy to imagine poses of girlfriends bumping the songs she’s featured in. There’s a nod to electro house with the track “Just Used Music Again,” and “Walking,” the latter of which features electronic dance music icon Major Lazer. These songs are less meaningful than other tracks, but the creative nuanced house-like crescendos make them fun tracks. The album has its fair share of simple songs on romantic heartbreak, love and loss, including highlights like “Calculator,” which is a perfect nod

to failed love. “I Love You 3000 II,” is a romantic and trancelike sequel to the first song featuring Stephanie Poetri. Its organic, acoustic guitar-picking ballad is contemporary and fitting for the title of the sophomore album. The album ends perfectly with a track called “Gold Coast,” which exceptionally wraps up the album’s lush, tropical daze and broadranging sounds. While slightly predictable in some areas, “Head in the Clouds II” does exactly what it was meant to do: highlight its commitment to the incredible diversity of Asian and Asian American artists, continuing to put them on the map for future releases to come. Follow Erica on Instagram @erica.lizarrago

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16, 2019

APARTMENT ANIMALS

Grad student rescues homeless hound Jaileane Aguilar COPY EDITOR

Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those animals, about 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats, according to the Mosby Foundation. As a dog owner, I tend to emphasize to my friends, family and just about anyone that I know that purchasing from a breeder or from outside of a shelter or rescue center is something we shouldn’t do. It’s important to recognize that if you’re looking for a pet, consider going to a shelter or reaching out to a rescue organization and looking at the dogs that are locked up and scared, all because their owners were either irresponsible or couldn’t take care of them anymore. John Tello currently studies history in graduate school at San Jose State. He’s also attending a graduate program in San Francisco studying education. Tello adopted Scout in Spring 2018. His parents are connected with a rescue program called Golden Gate Basset Rescue, a rescue organization located in the Bay Area. The parents were able to

help Scout, a mixed basset hound puppy, find his forever home with Tello. Scout was completely abandoned on the street in San Jose as a young puppy. Tello said Scout lived on the streets of Monterey Blvd. “I believe in rescuing pets. I think pets, at the same time we rescue them, they rescue us,” Tello said. Scout enjoys playing all day, but is still getting used to people. Currently, Scout has a dog roommate, who is an older female basset hound, who he enjoys playing with during his free time. Tello said having a dog through college is a great opportunity for students to be able to have emotional comfort. “I think it’s fun altogether to have my pet while I’m doing crazy grad work. I’m constantly reading and writing and it’s good to have that extra support and company,” Tello said. Tello said Scout is great company while he is writing his papers. “Scout is a big relief when I have to face challenges outside of school. He’s a big help [and] just him being around is good. It’s good to have him there. He’s a cool pup,” Tello said.

Tello said he’s been able to have a lot more fun and go out now because Scout is now a big part of his life. Tello is able to attend multiple dog events now because of Scout, including events like, “Howl On The Moon” and “Bark In The Park.” Scout’s owner said he has improved his social life, in addition to being an emotional support dog. What’s next for the basset hound? Scout is still a puppy which means he still isn’t as obedient as his owner would like him to be. Tello said he decided Scout will go to training

school to become more obedient. The dog lover said he is also looking forward to attending more dog events with his playful companion while also attending a Ph.D. program in the future. “I think it’s great for students to go out and rescue pets if they can because it’s a great support all around while in school,” Tello said. BLUE NGUYEN | SPARTAN DAILY

Follow Jaileane on Twitter @Jaileane1 Apartment Animals appears on Wednesdays.

Above: Basset hound Scout was adopted by graduate student John Tello in Spring 2018 from a rescue program called Golden Gate Basset Rescue. Below: Scout pauses during his evening walk with his owner on the Smith and Carlos lawn.

COLUMN

‘You get what you give’ is totally radical John Bricker STAFF WRITER

“You Get What You Give” easily makes the short-lived ’90s rock band New Radicals the best one-hit wonder of all time. On Sept. 25, music nerds rushed to their Twitter accounts to celebrate One-Hit Wonder Day by raving about their favorite artists and bands known for only one song. A more technical definition of a one-hit wonder would limit the discussion in America to groups who only broke the U.S. Billboard Top 40 once. Even limiting the discussion with technicalities leaves a lot of promising contenders from all decades of modern pop music. Old school pop tunes like Frankie Ford’s “Sea Cruise” face off against modern classics like Gotye and Kimbra’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” in this battle for the best pop sensation, while ’80s hits like A-ha’s “Take on Me” compete with ’70s rockers like Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit In The Sky.” All of these songs are unique, but “You Get What You Give” truly stands out with its glorious piano-rock sound and uplifting hooks.

New Radicals took the world by storm in 1998 with their only smash hit, only a year after forming the band. Frontman Gregg Alexander had tried to start a solo career with his flop debut album “Intoxifornication” in 1992, which put his boyish, snotty and obnoxious voice at center stage. Although Alexander’s voice never launched him into solo pop stardom, his performance on New Radicals’ hit single is perfectly suited to deliver the band’s underdog attitude and uplifting message. Over a driving mix of smooth guitars and pianos, Alexander pours his heart out with relentlessly addictive melodies, channeling the charm of singers like Elvis Costello with a healthy dose of ’90s flare singers like Alanis Morissette. The song stretches on for five minutes, but New Radicals make that time fly by with constantly evolving song structure and beautiful production. Details like the opening spacey noise, ominous whispers over one of the track’s several bridges or short guitar lines carrying the track from

ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN BRICKER

New Radicals took the world by storm in 1998 with their only smash hit, only a year after forming the band. verse to verse keep the song interesting, even in its more conventional moments. Luckily, Alexander’s songwriting and singing make those moments rare, relentlessly delivering surprising falsettos and harmonies to elevate the tracks irresistible hooks.

In most pop songs, a hook is easily set aside from the rest of the song as its shining moment. But in “You Get What You Give”, it is nearly impossible to find any few seconds that won’t get stuck in your head. Although New Radicals are now known as a one-

hit wonder, “You Get What You Give” is not their only great song. The band’s 1998 debut album, “You Might Be Brainwashed Too” is filled with clever and catchy rock songs, like the ballad “Someday We’ll Know” or the surprisingly atmospheric and dynamic “I Hope I Didn’t Just Give Away The Ending.” The album’s diverse soundscapes can easily appeal to fans of Radiohead’s early albums, while its often tongue-incheek skepticism might speak to fans of pop punk bands like Fall Out Boy or My Chemical Romance. Unfortunately, New Radicals’ debut would

also be its swan song. The band broke up in 1999, possibly because its big hit seemed too hard to follow up. Even if New Radicals couldn’t face the new millennium, “You Get What You Give” has stood the test of time and feels just as fresh and inspiring as it must have when it was released more than 20 years ago. If you are looking for some great rock music, give New Radicals a shot, because the band deserves to be remembered as more than just a one-hit wonder. Follow John on Twitter @JohnMichaelBr15