Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020
Volume 155 No. 31 WWW.SJSUNEWS.COM/SPARTAN_DAILY
SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934
BLUE NGUYEN | SPARTAN DAILY
Election workers wait and prepare for voters outside the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library. Workers sanitize all surfaces touched and masks are worn for COVID-19 safety.
Vote center workers prioritize safety Curbside voting available, masks recommended but not required By Lexie Shezifi STAFF WRITER
Everything is different this year because of the coronavirus pandemic and Election Day protocols are no exception. Voting centers will still be open, but poll workers will mandate six feet of social distance between voters and offer hand sanitizer as well as alternative options for filling out ballots, like curbside voting, in order to make in-person voting as safe as possible, according to the Santa Clara County Health Department. “We plan to have staff and a few voters at a time,” said Chipo Mulenga, the communications specialist for the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. “If we happen to have a line that is 20 feet long, we can only have three voters.” Mulenga said that even though voting procedures will be a bit different this year because of the pandemic, voting
centers will try to work around different situations. “Voters will be asked to wear a mask, but if they refuse, we will not turn them away and will instead ask them to vote outside at the curb, as we do have curbside voting available,” he said. Mulenga said that all staff will be wearing masks and gloves and will offer voters hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. “We will be enforcing a social distancing requirement of six feet for voters who come inside,” Mulenga said. The voting center on the first floor of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. On-campus ballot drop boxes can be found outside buildings such as the library, Dudley Moorhead Hall and Campus Village Housing, according to the San Jose State website. Mulenga said everything inside voting centers that a voter might touch would be sanitized by staff members, such as any touch screens or surfaces. As for how many people will be allowed inside at one time, Mulenga said it depends on the size of the specific voting center and the ability for people to social distance. He added that all in-person
Voters will be asked to wear a mask, but if they refuse, we will not turn them away and will instead ask them to vote outside at the curb, as we do have curbside voting available. Chipo Mulenga Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters communications specialist
voter requirements, such as providing identification and casting your vote during operating hours, are the same as before. The only difference is the health regulations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. SJSU political science senior Anthony Yoshida said he already voted about two weeks ago and dropped off his ballot at his local city hall in Pacifica. “It’s important to vote in every election because all of these decisions affect you in the long run,” Yoshida said. “There are basic rights we have that are at risk, like gay marriage and COVID itself is not being managed by the current administration.” Yoshida said that people who can vote should because the outcome of this election affects everyone in the U.S.
“If you have the luxury to vote, then do it because there are a lot of people who want to vote that can’t,” Yoshida said. “It doesn’t just affect you, it affects millions of people who need help with things like getting access to health care and so on.” Yoshida said people should vote and that in-person voting doesn’t pose a threat if voters take the proper health precautions to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19. For biomedical engineering junior Kevin Thai, this was his first year voting and he joined the 91 million other Americans who voted across the nation, according to a Sunday CNN article. Thai said he would have voted by mail even if there wasn’t a pandemic because it was what he felt was the easiest option.
“It was convenient because I didn’t plan to go in person at that moment in time,” Thai said in a Discord chat. “Plus the ballot was already at my house.” He said he wasn’t concerned about contracting COVID-19 if he voted in person but that he simply preferred to vote by mail because of the overall convenience. However, if an individual experiencing COVID-19 symptoms made a mistake on their ballot and had to go to a vote center in person, Thai said making the vote count would be worth the risk of catching the virus. He also stressed the importance of voting this year because there’s a lot at stake for both parties. “It’s important to the Democrats because this is their only chance to get President Trump out of office,” Thai said. “And it’s important to the Republicans, or right-leaning folks, because they don’t like Joe’s tax plan and/or fear more gun control.” He believes this became an important election and if he were to vote in any particular election – it would be this one. Follow Lexie on Twitter @lexie4real
CAMPUS VOICES
What do you expect to happen on Election night?
“I strongly believe that regardless of whoever gets elected into office, there will be protests, riots and chaos in America.”
Alexandra Yu psychology junior
“All the polls seem in favor of Biden, but Trump could easily win the electoral college and ultimately the presidency . . . I am optimistic, but also terrified of what’s to come.” Chloe Orton Cartnal special education grad student
“I think Joseph Biden will win, but I also believe that his victory will be controversial to the point that it will harm Americans’ trust in the political system for years to come.” Marcos Verbera Spanish senior
“If anyone was on campus last election, I expect that but with more protests. I know I’m keeping my doors locked and windows shut this election.” Nicholas Douglass design & photography alumnus REPORTING BY LAURA FIELDS
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, NOV. 3, 2020
Celebrating Día de los Muertos By Isalia Gallo STAFF WRITER
Bright colored symbolic ornaments surrounded crowds of people who came together over the weekend to celebrate an important Mexican tradition that honors their ancestors. The Día de los Muertos market took place on Saturday and Sunday near Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. Named after Día de los Muertos, which translates to Day of the Dead, the market featured vendors selling traditional native clothing, handmade decorations, food and colorful artwork. Día de los Muertos is a traditional Mexican holiday that honors the lives of relatives and close friends who died. The holiday, which starts every Nov. 1 and ends Nov. 2, is significant to Mexican culture because it’s believed that the souls of the dead return to visit the living, according to an Oct. 30, 2018 article by history.com.
[My art is] always culture driven. Everybody has a mental state and emotional state, but I think what sets you apart from everything is your identity and your culture.
ISALIA GALLO | SPARTAN DAILY
Roberto Romo, a Chicano artist and high school teacher, paints a skull to celebrate Día de los Muertos at a market on Saturday.
in his culture by accentuating the structure Roberto Romo of skulls with bright beaming designs and Chicano artist and high school teacher colors in his paintings. “[My art is] always culture driven,” According to the article, living family Romo said. “Everybody has a mental state members honor their deceased family and emotional state, but I think what sets and friends in their celebrations and leave you apart from everything is your identity the deceased’s favorite foods and other and your culture.” offerings at altars that people build in Skulls are one of the biggest cultural their homes. images representing Día de los Muertos. Inside the market, customers enjoyed Traditionally, the skulls are made from lively Mexican music while they sugar and placed on altars, according to an shopped and bonded over Día de los Oct. 31, 2019 Refinery29 article, a digital Muertos traditions. media and entertainment website focused Artists from around San Jose came to the on young women. market to paint and draw cultural artwork The sugar skulls signify that “death in front of patrons. doesn’t have to be bitter, it can be Roberto Romo, a Chicano artist and art sweet,” said Juan Aguirre, director of teacher for Summit Preparatory Charter Mano a Mano, a New York-based nonprofit High School in Redwood City, painted organization dedicated to celebrating a skull art piece as a crowd of people and promoting Mexican culture, in the surrounded him. Refinery29 article. Romo has drawn professionally for The altars feature offerings like paintings around ten years and said he takes pride or colorful flowers to show appreciation
and remembrance for loved ones who died. Many vendors had incredible background stories and expressed how they continue to be inspired by their cultural roots. Luis Luna, the owner of Artes Luna, a custom apparel and design business, creates custom traditional apparel and drawings by using oil, spray and airbrush paints and wood burning. Wood burning, also known as pyrography, is a technique used to draw or design on wood. Fernando Luna uses this method on some of his drawings. After struggling to adapt to the U.S. as a 9-year-old Mexican immigrant, Luna got in touch with his creativity and took inspiration from his Mexican and American cultures. “I make everything with the help of my mother, who assembles my hats, and brother, who is a graphic designer,” he said. Other artists shared why they appreciated their cultural backgrounds.
Yolonda Luna, Luis Luna’s sister, is the owner of another custom art shop called Luna Artista and sells keychains and cultural drawings. She is an artist who creates acrylic paintings and keychains with quetzal-sharks that symbolize the Aztec and Maya tribes. Yolanda Luna said that the quetzal-sharks are a combination her brother made from the San Jose sharks logo and Aztec-carved stone designs. She has her own drawing interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Mona Lisa, late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla and moon-shaped floral keychains to signify her business’s name. “As a single mother it’s very hard to be an artist and make money, but incorporating my traditions and culture really motivates me to become a better artist,” she said. Follow Isalia on Instagram @I5alia
Giving back to San Jose’s unhoused community By Ruth Noemi Aguilar STAFF WRITER
Although tricks and treats are usually the focus on Halloween, community service was a major part of this year’s holiday for many San Jose residents. San Jose Strong, a grassroots organization focused on helping the community, and its subcommittee, Walk for Solidarity, hosted a Costumed Community Care event Saturday afternoon which began at San Jose City Hall. San Jose community members assembled and distributed care packages for people facing homelessness in downtown. Volunteers split into three subgroups to distribute the packages to individuals around San Jose. Each of the groups traveled to either St. James Park, Guadalupe River Park and Gardens or other areas around downtown. Some group members walked to Guadalupe River Park and Gardens, where they visited an unhoused community under a bridge to pass out the meals and packages. San Jose Strong founder Mary Celestin said both groups are completely volunteer based. Celestin said she started the group after making “a guide to activism for San Jose” for her Instagram audience in June which gained a lot of attention and pushed her into making a page dedicated to showing people how they can help their community. “[The participation has been] really just awesome,” Celestin said. “People love San Jose and just want to help out doing really, really cool things, such as the Walk for Solidarity team who really pulled this off.” San Jose Strong partnered with a local activist who goes by the alias Spiderman of Cupertino, who first envisioned the event
Volunteers met in front of City Hall to prepare the packages with supplies they had brought and hot breakfasts that were donated by Feed the Block, a nonprofit program founded by B.L.A.C.K. (Black Liberation And Collective Knowledge) Outreach San Jose, HERO Tent and Black Guerilla Coalition, that gives out meals at City Hall every Saturday. Volunteers made about 200 care packages before and during the event. Celestin said San Jose Strong had online reservations on the organization’s Instagram page where volunteers committed to making a certain number of packages. The care packages contained snacks, fresh fruit, water bottles, sanitary items, masks and menstrual products. Lanna Togami, founder of Walk for Solidarity, made Halloween cookies for the occasion to put inside the packages. Togami said that she wanted to put in the RUTH NOEMI AGUILAR | SPARTAN DAILY extra effort for unhoused people because of Lana Togami, Walk for Solidarity founder, prepares supplies for care packages Saturday. the holiday. “It’s a little extra spice,” Togami said. “It’s like the little things that make the difference.” Costumed volunteers, some of whom were dressed as Kim Possible, a unicorn or a tiger, wished unhoused community members a happy Halloween as they handed out Mary Celestin care packages. The various groups handed out bags San Jose Strong founder until they were out of care packages and went back to City Hall to dismiss after connecting with the organization He said he wanted to bring more festivity the volunteers. on Instagram. to the San Jose unhoused community since “Halloween’s my favorite holiday,” Spiderman of Cupertino moved from Halloween events were limited this year Celestin said. “I’m just really excited to get Cupertino to San Jose to focus on helping because of COVID-19. to spend a day helping the community and unhoused people. He began his community “I think the aspect of wearing the seeing cool people and still get to come out service six months ago after being inspired Spider-Man mask and/or costume adds a little jazzed out for the Halloween vibe.” by Batman of San Jose, another masked bit of excitement to people’s lives and I think activist, and seeing a growing population of people enjoy dressing up,” he said. “I think Follow Ruth on Twitter unhoused individuals at the beginning of the it helps encourage them to get out into the @RuthNAguilar coronavirus pandemic. community and see these issues firsthand.”
I’m just really excited to get to spend a day helping the community and seeing cool people and still get to come out jazzed out for the Halloween vibe.
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SPORTS
TUESDAY, NOV. 3, 2020
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Spartans offense erupts against Lobos By Lexie Shezifi STAFF WRITER
San Jose State’s offense delivered an electric performance Saturday during its 38-21 win over University of New Mexico at CEFCU Stadium. The Spartans (2-0, 2-0 MWC) started the season 2-0 for the first time since 1987 and are 2-0 in the Western Athletic Conference for the first time since 2008, according to a postgame news release. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Dreamstyle Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but was moved to San Jose because of coronavirus restrictions in Bernalillo County. Last week, the Spartan defensive effort against Air Force was the talk of the game, but this week, it was quarterback Nick Starkel and how he led the offense. Starkel shredded the Lobos defense by passing for 467 yards and completing 34 out of 47 passes with 5 touchdown passes, a new personal best. One touchdown was a 69-yard pass to receiver Bailey Gaither in the third quarter, which gave the Spartans a 31-21 lead. SJSU head coach Brent Brennan had nothing but praise for his quarterback after the game. “[It was] one of the most beautiful passes [I’ve] ever seen,” Brennan said in the postgame news conference. “This kid is special and I feel he’s just getting started.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF SJSU ATHLETICS
SJSU running back Shamar Garrett cuts through New Mexico’s defense during Saturday’s game at CEFCU Stadium on South Campus.
It’s the same thing day in and day out. One of my coaches and I talk about ‘stacking bricks,’ which the bricks are good plays, and see how it looks at the end of the game. Nick Starkel quarterback
This marked Starkel’s second game for SJSU after transferring from the University of Arkansas. “When I came in, me and the team instantly clicked and got along from the start,” Starkel said in the
postgame news conference. “It’s the same thing day in and day out. One of my coaches and I talk about ‘stacking bricks,’ which the bricks are good plays, and see how it looks at the end of the game.”
SJSU receiver Tre Walker also had a standout performance by catching nine passes for 107 yards and scoring two touchdowns. It was Walker’s second game of his collegiate career which was in the back of his mind when playing. “You know, when I first heard about it last week, it was something I was really excited about. Just coming in as a true freshman, just the goals I set,” Walker said. “I don’t really go out there and chase any stats or anything, but it was definitely in the back of my head as I was playing today.” Walker is quickly moving
up SJSU’s all-time receiving chart as he now ranks No. 5 in career receptions with 157 yards and No. 3 in pass receiving yards with 2,308. “Tre is one of those kids who just loves to play football,” Brennan said. “He has been a joy to coach and I can’t wait to see where he ends up on the list when he is done playing.” SJSU had a 21-7 lead early in the game, but New Mexico fought back in the second half to tie the game in the third quarter. However, the Spartans then scored 17 points after kicker Matt Mercurio kicked a 35-yard field goal,
giving the offense the boost it needed. Starkel threw two more touchdown passes to lead SJSU to a 38-21 victory. The Spartans hope to maintain this momentum on the road when they play San Diego Friday. “It doesn’t matter if you’re playing San Diego State or the Green Bay Packers, every game matters,” Brennan said. “We have to take advantage of this opportunity, San Diego State is a fantastic program, those guys have done a great job there.”
PHOTO EDITOR BLUE NGUYEN
ARWINDER SINGH BHULLAR MIA WICKS NATALIE ACOSTA
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR ALYSON CHUYANG
ABOUT The Spartan Daily serves as San Jose State’s top news source and was named the best student newspaper in the state. New issues are published Tuesday through Thursday during the academic year with the website 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.
EDITORIAL STAFF EXECUTIVE EDITOR CHRISTIAN TRUJANO MANAGING EDITOR OLIVIA BOWMAN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JESUS TELLITUD NEWS EDITOR ANDREA BRISEÑO ASST. NEWS EDITOR BRYANNA BARTLETT PRODUCTION EDITOR CHELSEA NGUYEN FLEIGE A&E EDITOR ERICA LIZARRAGO SPORTS EDITOR KATHRYN HOEDT
Follow Lexie on Twitter @lexie4real
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SPORTS
TUESDAY, NOV. 3, 2020
SEASON REPORT
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SJSU ATHLETICS
Receiver Bailey Gaither celebrates his 69-yard touchdown reception with running back Kairee Robinson (32) in SJSU’s victory over New Mexico Saturday at CEFCU Stadium.
San Jose State football is back, baby
LAST SEASON BY THE NUMBERS Overall Record: 5-7 Conference Record: 2-6 Conference Finish: 4th place
HOME SCHEDULE Oct. 24 SJSU 17, Air Force 6 Oct. 31 SJSU 38, New Mexico 21
Nov. 14 SJSU vs. UNLV 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 SJSU vs. Hawaii 1 p.m. Dec. 11 SJSU vs. Nevada 7 p.m.
AWAY SCHEDULE Nov. 6 SJSU vs. San Diego State 6 p.m. Nov. 21 SJSU vs. Fresno State 4 p.m. Nov. 28 SJSU vs. Boise State TBA Dec. 19 Mountain West Championship TBA
By Isalia Gallo STAFF WRITER
After months of uncertainty surrounding the Mountain West Conference season because of the coronavirus pandemic, San Jose State football is back and on a two-game winning streak. Santa Clara County health department announced Oct. 13 that it moved to the orange tier, which is considered moderate COVID-19 risk, in California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy tier system, a metric for which activities are allowed in which counties. This means the team is approved to play the season. The new eight-game season began with SJSU defeating Air Force 17-6 and the University of New Mexico 38-21 at CEFCU Stadium. Despite not being able to practice for this season sooner because of COVID-19 concerns, the Spartans are performing like a championshipcaliber team. The Spartans made good first impressions with both of their wins as the defense shined against the Falcons while the offense exploded against the Lobos. “I think we did a nice job in recruiting . . . there’s a couple pieces that we added to that front that are going to make us a little more stout up front, which really helps,” head coach Brent Brennan said in the postgame news conference Oct. 24.
Linebacker Kyle Harmon and safety Tre Jenkins tackles Air Force receiver Brandon Lewis during SJSU’s season opener.
Punter Elijah Fischer said that the offseason for the team was very hectic, but that everyone stayed strong, worked hard and built-in their ability to win. “We just have to keep improving on all three phases of the game during the week . . . offense, defense and special teams,” Fischer said. “There are always things we can improve upon during the week to polish up before our next game.” Brennan s aid the win against New Mexico showed the team’s growth. “I’m just so, just really excited about what our defense did tonight against that group from Air Force,” Brennan said. “I mean, what a special effort across the board.” SJSU also began the season with a 2-0 record
which is a first for the team since 1987. Quarterback Nick Starkel, who transferred from the University of Arkansas, led the team on offense during both wins and was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week. “It was really fun to see our team play like that,” Brennan said. “I think our defense did a great job handling the unknown of what New Mexico was going to be.” In a Nov. 2 Zoom meeting, Brennan said that in order to keep the momentum and beat San Diego State this Friday, the team needs to run the ball more effectively. “[You have to do this] especially if you’re going to win games against good teams and closed out those
games,” he said. “I felt like we found some of that [running the ball] late in the game the other night, which I was excited about.” The Aztecs will put the Spartans to the test on Friday as both teams are going into the game with undefeated records. San Diego State is going into the game as the favorite, according to ESPN’s matchup predictor, with an estimated 82% chance of winning. This game will most likely come down to Starkel’s ability to move the ball down the field against the Aztecs defense. Running back coach Alonzo Carter said that he’s seen immense growth from the team’s seniors since their freshman year. “I think we’ve seen
the maturation of a fourth year under coach Brennan,” Carter said. “The fourth year of those seniors taking over and having enough confidence to say, ‘We have each other’s back.’ ” SJSU is set to play the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Fresno State, Boise State, Hawaii State and the University of Nevada in the upcoming weeks. The Spartans are proving to be a force to reckon with after their two wins, but getting far in this shortened season all depends on whether the team stays consistent. If SJSU stays consistent, then a championship game appearance doesn’t seem so far fetched. Follow Isalia on Instagram @i5alia
HEAD COACH
KEY PLAYERS BRENNAN
STARKEL
WALKER
TOIA
quarterback
receiver
defensive lineman PHOTOS COURTESY OF SJSU ATHLETICS