Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020
Volume 155 No. 40 SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934
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JESUS TELLITUD | SPARTAN DAILY
A San Jose police officer directs traffic near San Jose State as police close off East San Fernando and South 10th streets after reports of a mass stabbing Sunday.
Stabbing spree leaves 2 dead, 3 injured By Bryanna Bartlett
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
“I don’t think there should ever be a time where a student who’s trying to work on a paper should look out his window and see a dead body,” said Richard Scholz, a San Jose State aviation senior, over the phone. Scholz said he witnessed Sunday night’s fatal mass stabbing at the Grace Baptist Church located across the street from SJSU because he lives right behind the church at the SJSU Theta Chi fraternity house on East San Fernando and 11th streets. San Jose police officers surrounded the church at approximately 8 p.m., after responding to a report of five stabbing victims, according to a Monday SJPD news release. An adult male was pronounced dead at the scene and an adult female was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries, according to
the news release. Three other men were transported to local hospitals and are in serious but stable condition. The murders marked the 40th and 41st homicides of 2020 in San Jose. The news release stated that the motive and circumstances surrounding the homicides are under investigation, but there is currently one adult male suspect in custody. Scholz, the SJSU Theta Chi vice president, said the fraternity’s president notified other members about the crime and instructed them to stay inside. “We went downstairs and I could see through the window that looks into the church. There was a door open in their kitchen and we could see a body on the ground . . . lying in a pool of blood,” he said. According to the news release, the church operates as a homeless shelter and was not holding religious services at the time of the incident. Richard Morales, a homeless San Jose
There was a door open in their kitchen and we could see a body on the ground . . . lying in a pool of blood. Richard Scholz aviation senior
native, was looking for shelter at the church Sunday night but was dismissed by police at the crime scene with nowhere else to go for the night. “I just called [pastor Philip Flores Jr.], I told him I was gonna be late,” he said. “Of all days, I’m late and this shit happens.” Communications junior Alison Ross-Medina said she was also near the scene at the Delta Zeta sorority house on East San Fernando and 11th streets. “It’s honestly really unsettling,” she said over text. “We all knew San Jose
wasn’t the safest city in the world, but for there to be a murder across the street from the place you consider home really changes your perspective.” Ross-Medina said she saw cop cars and ambulances flood the streets and heard clamorous screams but couldn’t tell if the yelling came from police, victims or witnesses. Scholz said the University Police Department should have weekly evening patrols to better protect off-campus student organizations and housing. “This could have easily been one of our members,” he said. “I think it’s as simple as having police officers do strolls near Greek life and these areas with student populations . . . just so that people know that this area is protected by a police officer.” Follow Bryanna on Twitter @brybartlett Jesus Tellitud contributed reporting to this article.
SJSU students at odds over Proposition 16 result By Laura Fields STAFF WRITER
Several San Jose State students have mixed reactions as Proposition 16, which would’ve reinstated affirmative action, failed to pass at the polls in November. According to the California General Election Voter Guide, Proposition 16 would have permitted race, ethnicity and gender to be a determinant factor when universities and government agencies admit students and hire people. Additionally, the measure would have repealed the 1996 Proposition 209, which banned this type of affirmative action. Business finance junior Tuong Pham said he was “super surprised and happy” that Proposition 16 did not pass. Pham supports the current law, Proposition 209, which prohibits discrimination against or grants preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin affecting areas of public employment, public education and public contracting. “It was a win for civil rights that Prop. 16 did not pass,” Pham texted through the SAMMY app. “I am disappointed in my fellow students that would support the repeal of Prop. 209.” Californians For Equal
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Rights, a Proposition 16 opponent group, said on their website the proposition discriminates because the legislation allegedly gives certain races preferential treatment over others. The proposition had strong support from leaders like Sen. Kamala Harris, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). According to the California Secretary of State website, despite overwhelming support, the proposition failed to pass, with
I am disappointed in my fellow students that would support the repeal of Prop. 209. Tuong Pham
business finance junior
42.8% of Californians voting yes. The results of the election are uncertified but will be finalized by Dec. 11. The SJSU Associated Students board of directors also signed a letter of support for Proposition 16. The letter, drafted by A.S. Lobby Corps, states that
Proposition 16 promotes societal change in dismantling structural racism and sexism within California. “Everyone should have an equal chance to succeed, though Black, Indigenous and people of color have little access to opportunities that will change their professional
trajectory for the better,” the letter stated. A.S. Director of Legislative Affairs Kadence Walker advocated for students to support Proposition 16 before the election. Walker said in order to understand why affirmative action is important and necessary, people must look at the history of deep-rooted systemic issues. He said these issues have undermined the success of historically marginalized groups, like minorities and women in California and the U.S. “It simply allows universities to take a greater
holistic approach when considering admissions,” he said in response to the opposing arguments that Proposition 16 discriminates against certain minorities. “It makes no sense to exclude consideration of race during the admittance process.” Walker stressed that universities should be able to acknowledge potential students’ diverse backgrounds, such as ethnicity, in order to develop an understanding of the student. Then those universities can make more well-rounded decisions on admitting those students. Linguistics junior Connor Hunt said he believes the wording of the proposition led to confusion, which may have been why it didn’t pass. He said he voted for Proposition 16 but would have preferred a low income-based form of affirmative action rather than one based on race. “Race-based affirmative action seeks to increase diversity at universities, whereas income-based affirmative action seeks to support low-income students,” Hunt said. Hunt said he was sad to see Proposition 16 not pass, but he hopes an alternative can be proposed and implemented soon. Follow Laura on Twitter @swimgirllaura
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, NOV. 24, 2020
Thanksgiving, a new perspective Native Americans speak out on the painful history and controversy surrounding the holiday
There’s a lot of these other different kinds of stories, of horrific tragedies and genocidal massacres of Indigenous people and it’s ironic to see that in elementary schools, this isn’t really told. I think children are pretty smart so I don’t think we should underestimate what kids can or cannot handle.
By Joclyn Aguirre STAFF WRITER
Americans know the typical Thanksgiving story with pilgrims and Native Americans coming together for a big feast. But some Native Americans people say the harsh reality is that this narrative isn’t the full truth and they still struggle with the historical context behind this holiday to this day. “[Thanksgiving] is so difficult because in school they make it seem like people are lost at sea and we are very giving, so we decide to have this big feast together,” San Jose State political science alumna Teresa Gomez said. “In reality, you know, a lot of native children, whether it’s their family or their blood memory, remembers that’s not the truth.” Gomez’s family is originally from Arizona and are descendants of the Yaqui people, an Indigenous group who live in Mexico. She believes that being of Indigenous Mexican ancestry was difficult and confusing as a child because she knew what she was taught in schools wasn’t correct. “It’s especially painful when teachers have everyone dressed up as pilgrims and Indians and they have the feathers in their hair, without even understanding the meaning of our feathers and why they’re so sacred to us,” she said. The eagle’s feather symbolizes the bravest, strongest and holiest person and Native Americans are gifted eagle feathers by their community to honor them with dignity and pride, according to Native Hope, a nonprofit organization that aims to dismantle barriers for unheard Native individuals. Some Native American people are still holding onto these traditions as well as acknowledging the narrative of “thanks taking.” “This holiday in particular is one that has this foundational story of America that is based on half truths in a lot of ways,” Chicana and Chicano studies lecturer Jesus Covarrubias said over Zoom. Covarrubias said the pilgrims celebrated the massacre by feasting. “There’s a lot of these other different kinds of stories, of horrific tragedies and genocidal massacres of Indigenous people and it’s ironic to see that in elementary schools this isn’t really told,” Covarrubias said. “I think children are pretty smart, so I don’t think we should underestimate what kids can or cannot handle.” He said the past still impacts Native Americans to this day, but they have found ways to flip the script by celebrating more than 500 years of resisting colonialism.
Jesus Covarrubias
Chicana and Chicano studies lecturer
acknowledge the history and modern political battles, like family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border and threatening environmental issues, like the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline on the Standing Rock tribe’s reservation. Covarrubias said the sunrise ceremony is mainly a Bay Area celebration. “It’s just a way to do an Indigenous ceremony honoring the rising sun and giving thanks,” he said. Gomez said Native Americans celebrate their resistance and existence on Thanksgiving after surviving generations of unspeakable violence. “Even though we’re still hurting, we’re still here, we’re still alive and we’re still creating [the] beauty of love,” she said. “It’s really a beautiful moment of empowerment and I think even forgiveness and health, at least for me. I can’t speak for every native person.” Even though Gomez doesn’t celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving, she said it’s a time for her to honor her ancestors. “I celebrate [not Thanksgiving] because my family has been here before this was the United States,” Gomez said. Joey Montoya, an SJSU advertising alumnus and founder of a Native American apparel brand, Urban Native Era, said he still plans to celebrate the holiday by spending time with his family, but he will not officially recognize Thanksgiving. Montoya was born and raised in San Francisco and is Lipan Apache, a tribe who historically lived in Texas. “These bigger holidays for me is the one time where I can actually sit down with family and enjoy their presence,” he said over Zoom. Montoya learned about Thanksgiving as a child and at nine years old, his family told him the story of how his ancestors were massacred, separated from their family and removed from their homes. Montoya decided to stop recognizing Thanksgiving and began attending the sunrise ceremonies at Alcatraz Island. He has been going to the sunrise ceremony for the past eight years. “It’s nice to be around our community on that day and really not celebrating Thanksgiving,” he said. “But acknowledging our ancestors, acknowledging the people who really paved the way for us to be here.” Montoya said he felt a call for him to share the issues Native Americans face and decided to start his apparel business to spread awareness. “Overall it became more than just a job. Not that it was ever just a job for me, it was just something that I was really passionate about spreading awareness,” Montoya said. “I knew it would help our community out in a different way.” He said he wants to pay homage to his ancestors and the Native Americans who once inhabited the Bay Area. “I really urge people overall to begin these conversations whether that’s at the dinner table at Thanksgiving or wherever it is,” Montoya said. “I think it’s really important to tell this reality.”
[Thanksgiving] is so difficult because in school they make it seem like people are lost at sea and we are very giving, so we decide to have this big feast together. In reality, you know, a lot of native children, whether it’s their family or their blood memory, remembers that’s not the truth. Teresa Gomez
political science alumna
Gomez said as a child, she would go with her family to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco on Thanksgiving to attend an annual sunrise ceremony, a native celebration aiming to reclaim the holiday. The ceremony, “Unthanksgiving Day,” is for Native American people to commemorate their resistance, according to a Nov. 22 article from The Guardian. It includes cultural dance, prayers and speeches to
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, NOV. 24, 2020
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Vigil honors transgender lives lost By Jovanna Olivares STAFF WRITER
A silent vigil was held outside San Jose City Hall on Friday to remember the transgender and gender-nonconforming lives lost due to anti-transgender violence. Sera Fernando, the chief diversity officer of Silicon Valley Pride, an LGBTQ+ community organization serving the Santa Clara County region, organized the event. Community members gathered in front of City Hall throughout the evening with flowers and were encouraged to write notes to victims who have died. Transgender Awareness Week was held from Nov. 13-19, leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance on Friday, which is observed annually worldwide to honor the memory of transgender people who were killed by transphobic people. Fernando, who is a San Jose State alumna, said there must be more public attention toward the epidemic of hate and violence against the transgender community. “I remember holding a rally in June and speaking to the crowd about how at the time there were around 11 trans folks that were murdered,” Fernando said. “Now we’re in November and it has swelled up to 37.” This year has been the deadliest year for transgender lives so far since the transgender death toll record began in 2013, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a political lobbying and advocacy organization. There have been 37 deaths recorded so far in 2020 within the U.S. and its territories, but reporting hate crimes to the FBI is not mandatory, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The organization suspects that the statistics are actually much higher and said transgender individuals are likely to be misgendered at death. “Transgender deaths are underreported and often completely left out of public view,” Fernando said. “It is difficult to even find records for most cases and [the victims] are not always accurately identified.” Fernando explained the need for intersectionality within social movements like Black Lives Matter while also including the most marginalized
JOVANNA OLIVARES | SPARTAN DAILY
Hieu Samuel Nguyen brings flowers to a memorial for the victims of transphobic hate crimes on Transgender Day of Remembrance.
reinventing the San Jose community. Saldy Suriben, chief marketing officer for Silicon Valley Pride, said the day was meant to be peaceful and accessible for everyone to attend. “Today’s a day of compassion and empathy and a call to action,” Suriben said. Fernando said the vigil was also used Lee Gomez as a platform to display the artwork to the SJSU 2020 alumnus public and give people the opportunity to donate directly to queer artists. and underserved communities. Lee Gomez, a 2020 SJSU alumnus, said According to an Oct. 28 Human Rights the vigil was an appropriate way to reflect Campaign news release, transphobic and dedicate a moment to remember each crimes disproportionately impact Black individual’s story. and brown transgender women of color “It’s the individuals job to really take who make up about 4 out of 5 of all initiative to learn and to go outside of their anti-transgender homicides. usual perspective to learn these things, Vibrant artwork was displayed outside but it’s really up to each person to do their City Hall, including posters and chalk part,” Gomez said. messages promoting intersectionality and The first Transgender Day of inclusion. Fernando said all the artwork Remembrance was in 1999 after the this year was made by queer artists from tragic death of Rita Hester, a transgender various organizations like San Jose Strong, woman who was stabbed 20 times in a grassroots organization dedicated to 1998, according to GLAAD, an LGBTQ+
Recognizing and respecting transhumanity is not too much to be asked.
media organization. Hester’s death sparked the annual international movement to remember transgender lives. “It’s important now to dedicate a moment,” Gomez said. “They may not have had the media coverage or even the proper attention during their lives. Recognizing and respecting transhumanity is not too much to be asked.” Fernando said the vigil was organized outside of City Hall instead of at an LGBTQ+ space to bring more awareness to the lives affected and to make it accessible for community members. “The vigil is set up for anybody to just walk through and just see and really develop compassion and empathy,” Fernando said. “We encourage everyone to come to our events, honor and uplift our LGBTQ+ community like they deserve.”
Follow Jovanna on Twitter @joo_zuniga
LGBTQ+ livestream provides platform for queer artists By Shiri Marwaha STAFF WRITER
The San Jose queer community put together a wildly entertaining day of performances, music and comedy on Saturday to help give back to the LGBTQ+ community. During the Queer Homecoming livestream event, audiences experienced poetry, yoga, dancing, live music, comedy and a drag show that was hosted by San Jose Strong, a grassroots organization dedicated to helping the community. “Queer Homecoming is a celebration of our culture, queer arts and queer community with a goal to uplift and inspire queer people,” said Kayla Layaoen, the public school education and safety team lead for San Jose Strong. Layaoen said the event was supposed to take place in person at a church in Saratoga but because of the coronavirus pandemic, it was livestreamed on platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Twitch. San Jose Strong founder Mary Celestin said the relentless work of her volunteer team helped bring the event to life. “Everything that’s been done has been the amazing work of [Layaoen] and the committee that put in a lot of time to make this event and have it start rolling,” Celestin said. She said the opportunity to have a platform to stream these performances is exciting. Layaoen said the event was financed by The Awesome Foundation’s San Jose chapter, which is a global community initiative supporting a wide range of areas including arts, technology and community development. The foundation donates more than $1,000 toward each established chapter. Individual donors also helped the organization pay the performers. DJ Cruzita, a San Jose resident and artist, enchanted the audience with infectious groovy music varying across many genres as the evening progressed. The audience was kept busy with yoga workshops, in addition to raffles and
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY CELESTIN
Tori Tia was one of seven drag performers at San Jose Strong’s Queer Homecoming.
It’s been a hard year for everyone. But I think that we still need to try when we can define moments of joy and celebration. Cynthiainpublic
Queer Homecoming emcee
auctions that helped raise money for the chest binders, a donation drive for local transgender and non-binary people. A 2016 SJSU alumna, stand-up comedian and producer, who prefers to go by the name Cynthiainpublic, emceed the event. She kept the audience’s attention with her humor and quick wit. The stand-up session consisted of queer-friendly jokes by comedians Baruch Porras-Hernandez, Geulah Finman, Chris Ryan and Paula Comedy, who each talked about their identities and their family’s reaction after coming out as LGBTQ+. The performances promoted important messages to queer youth about how to be
patient when coming out to family members. “Don’t give up on them, they will come around,” Porras-Hernandez said. A drag show concluded the event with performers like Tori Tia and Sofia Dorado in extravagant costumes and colorful makeup reminiscent of artwork. The bold performances and candid, fun conversations easily made the audience laugh, cheer and squirm. San Jose Strong members said they were surprised they pulled off such an ambitious online project. “I personally have been working on this almost, like, 24/7 for the past three months,” Layaoen said.
The switch from an in-person venue to an online livestream required performers to improvise their acts last minute, like performing on a chair instead of using the entire stage space and pre-recording their performances. “I tend to just have everything in [Zoom’s gallery view] so I can observe the audience,” Cynthiainpublic said. “A lot of times I start my [comedy] set by just interacting with the audience.” She said performing comedy is often easier in person because of the shared comedic atmosphere and contagious laughter. “If one person is laughing, it’ll make the other person next to them more willing to laugh,” she said. “But [in a livestream] you really have to work a little bit more.” Cynthiainpublic said although the new format deprived the performers of the ability to feel the audience’s energy, having the event online helps performers engage with the audience through interactions on Zoom. “[For example] I’m sitting, not standing up,” she said. “Sometimes I’ll like to incorporate PowerPoint or I’ll do something like a virtual background.” Drag performers had to be creative and adjust their performances, with many having to pre-record performances, which were later streamed on various platforms. SJSU 2020 graduate Jiang Chen Rodriguez, who goes by the drag name Sofia Dorado, said they were limited with no stage to perform on, so they had to get creative with demonstrating their skills like skating into their act. Despite the online difficulties, the event gave LGBTQ+ artists an important platform, entertained the audiences and raised money through auctions to support the local transgender and non-binary community. “It’s been a hard year for everyone,” Cynthiainpublic said. “But I think that we still need to try when we can define moments of joy and celebration.
Follow Shiri on Twitter @Marwaha5Shiri
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OPINION
TUESDAY, NOV. 24, 2020
Rethink celebrating Thanksgiving Isalia Gallo STAFF WRITER
Many people believe that the original Thanksgiving was a fancy celebration between Native Americans and pilgrims, but the reality is far more disturbing. Fanaticism for the holiday obscures the reasons why it shouldn’t be celebrated. The killings and mistreatment of Native Americans by English colonizers are glossed over during the “happy” feast. The beginning of the end of Native American life began with the Pequot Massacre on May 26, 1637, when English colonizers defeated the Pequot tribe, leading to the tribe’s eventual downfall. Although the holiday was made out to make those who celebrate it grateful for land that the Englishmen’s “God” presented to them, the conquest of the Americas was purely an act of genocide. It gave an idea of peace that may have never existed between Native Americans and the pilgrims. According to a Nov. 20, 2017 Business Insider article, “In 1637 . . . Governor John Winthrop declared a day of thanks-giving to celebrate colonial soldiers who had just slaughtered 700 Pequot men, women and children in what is now
Mystic, Connecticut.” Winthrop’s Thanksgiving celebrated the slaughter of Native Americans. English colonizers learned to survive by backstabbing, murdering, enslaving and stripping Native Americans of their ancestral roots, not to mention they brought deathly diseases from Europe that plagued the Americas. Native Americans have been continuously mistreated and “patriotic” Americans used their mistreatment as propaganda. According to a Nov. 19, 2019, History.com article, on Nov. 26, 1863, Abraham Lincoln officially declared the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day to promote peace and unity. In the same article by History.com, it said that by establishing the holiday as an American custom, Lincoln hoped it would help “heal the wounds of the nation.” Although Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation that year, a year prior he had issued an order for the death of 38 Dakota Native men in Minnesota, which became the largest mass execution in U.S. history, according
ILLUSTRATION BY NICK YBARRA
Native Americans have been continuously mistreated and “patriotic” Americans used their mistreatment as propaganda. to a Dec. 26, 2012 article by The Nation, a news magazine. Lincoln’s decision was more than just trying to stop Native Americans from gaining back their land, but rather to punish them for
killing white settlers while defending their ancestral land. “Lincoln’s treatment of defeated Indian rebels against the United States stood in sharp contrast to his treatment
of Confederate rebels,” according to an article by The Nation. “He never ordered the executions of any Confederate officials or generals after the Civil War, even though they killed more than 400,000 Union soldiers.” Lincoln showed his true colors at this instance by demanding to kill only the natives and not the racist confederates. According to a Nov. 1 article by The Washington Post, even when the 14th and 15th Amendments granted citizenship and the right to vote for African Americans, Native Americans were still excluded.
“It took until the 1960s and the passage of the Voting Rights Act for Native Americans to get the right to vote in every state, with Utah and Maine being among the last to recognize their full voting rights,” according to the same Washington Post article. From the betrayal of their ancestors by English colonizers to stripping them of their identities, we should be mindful of all the suffering that Native Americans have gone through and not celebrate Thanksgiving. Follow Isalia on Instagram @i5alia
Single-use masks are harmful to the environment Shiri Marwaha STAFF WRITER
Disposable masks that are meant to protect us from the coronavirus are becoming an impending environmental threat because of the increased trash they create in landfills. According to an Oct. 28 article by News4 Nashville, a Nashville news outlet, 62,210 personal protective equipment items, including single-use masks and gloves, were collected during an annual International Coastal Cleanup event. In September, the event involves participants from dozens of countries who remove and log a sample volume of plastics and marine waste from the ocean and waterways. The trash build-up is an indication that disposable protective equipment, such as masks and gloves are adding to the municipal solid waste produced worldwide. According to an Oct. 24 article by NBC 7 San Diego, municipal solid waste is the garbage produced by households and can include packaging, grass clippings, bottles and newspapers. Material that is recovered from the waste stream can be recycled and composted, but the remainder will end up in a landfill. About 2.2 billion tons
of municipal solid waste is generated annually, but at least 33% of that is not managed so that it’s environmentally safe, according to The World Bank, an international financial institution. Waste created during the pandemic, such as disposable face masks and gloves, will add to the solid waste produced globally, thereby creating an environmental disaster. According to a Nov. 6 article on Euronews.com, a pan-European news network, “If waste is not properly thrown into a rubbish bin, but on the road or the pavement, it will typically fall into a gutter, mix with rainwater and be washed out into a river or the sea.” Personal protective equipment waste is not only littered in neighborhoods but has made it into bodies of water, posing a huge threat to birds, animals and marine life, according to a June 8 article by The Guardian. In the same article, conservationists warned that the coronavirus pandemic could spark a surge in ocean pollution, adding to plastic waste that already threatens marine life, after finding disposable masks floating like jellyfish and waterlogged latex gloves scattered across seabeds. One way to reduce the
waste produced is by using reusable masks. The public isn’t exposed to the danger of the coronavirus as often as doctors, so nonmedical professionals should feel safe using sustainable cloth masks. Homemade and even store-bought masks made out of double-layered fabric scraps or old clothing are a great substitute and don’t end up in landfills or in gutters as often. According to a March 28 article by The Washington Post, “Masks don’t have to be complex to be effective.” Homemade masks provide similar protection as disposable masks, according to a May 7 article published on Hartford HealthCare’s website, a Connecticut health care network. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization recommend people wear a cloth mask in public when social distancing. According to a March 19 Washington Post article, hospitals with a shortage of N95 masks began using homemade cloth masks. If cloth masks work well in a hospital, they should be adequate enough to be used by the general public. Reusable masks help reduce everyday trash and are more affordable too. For people going out more than once a day, cloth masks are economical, while providing protection against the virus. To alleviate the amount of disposable masks that are littered, countries should follow France’s example and
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY BLUE NGUYEN
The trash build-up is an indication that disposable protective equipment, such as masks and gloves are adding to the municipal solid waste produced worldwide.
introduce fines for improper disposal of used face masks. According to a July 20 article in The Hill, a news website, France introduced fines in July amounting to 135 euros, or $154, for mask
violations such as not wearing masks in public spaces, like malls and grocery stores. Cloth masks are also reusable and biodegradable, making them environmentally friendly. Single-use medical
masks contain harmful microplastic fibers, which when improperly disposed, end up in bodies of water around us causing damage to the environment and wildlife, according to an October Marine Pollution Bulletin published in the National Library of Medicine database. Masks don’t have to be complicated or disposable to protect us from the coronavirus and a simple cloth mask can serve the purpose while still being eco-friendly.
Follow Shiri on Twitter @Marwaha5Shiri
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
TUESDAY, NOV. 24, 2020
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Help new graduates find jobs Dear Editor, I would like to express my concern over college students who are graduating in 2020 and fear entering the workforce in the midst of the pandemic. The past year has induced much anxiety among college students, specifically those who are in the class of 2020. The pandemic has created a global economic slowdown, making it harder for new graduates to secure a job in their desired career fields. Students have resorted to seeking networking opportunities on social media, but even then, networking through social media platforms may not be quite as impactful to a recruiter as opposed to meeting in person. Many internships this past summer were canceled due to company budget cuts caused by the effects of the pandemic, leading to students losing experience opportunities and marking them less valuable job candidates. Of course, it is important that the class of 2020 prioritized their health this year as opposed to disregarding the virus and carrying on with life as it once was. Everyone has gone through their own struggles during this pandemic, but I believe that the class of 2020 should be given praise for their perseverance to attain their degrees and pursue their careers during a difficult time.
While there is no doubt that some will be successful in their job search despite the current situation, others may need help, and universities should create resources specific to their unique situation. These new graduates cannot be left in the dust to figure everything out on their own and one way universities can help is by offering transition workshops for students on how they can effectively enter the workforce during a stressful time, such as this pandemic. There can even be discussion forums made for students who need a voice to express their concerns and reduce their anxiety over the matter with other students who can relate. Sincerely, Kelsey Villareal Communications senior
Normalize online classes Enforce COVID-19 rules Dear Editor, After months of spending time inside, students have grown used to a socially distanced lifestyle. Going out and interacting with large groups of people can be quite difficult; many students experience high levels of anxiety and stress when forced to interact with large groups in public. Once a vaccine is approved, in-person classes should not be mandatory for students. Those who experience severe anxiety like myself can feel like they’re suffocating and will have trouble breathing properly. It can be extremely difficult to navigate daily life while living with a tightly wound rope around your neck pulling tighter and tighter as you overthink and internalize global issues. SJSU should make it their top priority to comfort and accommodate students for future learning. If forced into a public environment for prolonged periods of time, students may
struggle to learn and have difficulties reaching their full academic potential. SJSU should grant students the option to choose whether they want to take in-person classes at all, or do a hybrid schedule with only a select number of in-person classes. It will not be an easy transition into socalled “normal life,” so SJSU should allow students to dictate their lifestyle to be as stress free and accommodating to them as possible. Sincerely, Sophia Zivanic Public relations sophomore
CLASSIFIEDS CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Dear Editor, As the holiday season draws in closer and the previous decrease in cases the regulations for COVID-19 on businesses and everyone got looser. Making it seem like it was more acceptable to go out, to go shop, or eat out. Just as long as you wear a mask of course. However, there are so many problems with this. First, over time with these looser regulations, the number of cases slowly started to increase again. With more people catching the virus, on top of it already being flu season, it is really bad. Second, a lot of people wear masks inside of the businesses but while they are out either waiting in line to go into shops or just roaming around hallways like malls. Third, a lot of people, most obviously celebrities, are throwing parties not really caring about the repercussions, going as far as posting signs around
SUDOKU PUZZLE Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
their parties to “not post on social media” because they know they will get criticized. I think these new looser regulations to fight COVID-19 are not very effective or helpful to fight COVID-19, especially with not everyone being completely safe. I believe that we should go back to how things were at the beginning of the pandemic. Where we were all quarantined inside and where we know we were safe from catching the virus. We should fight the virus aggressively and not just learn how to live with it. Sincerely, Giorgina Laurel Public relations junior
JOKIN’ AROUND Why do moon rocks taste better than earth rocks?
Because they’re meteor.
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS 1. Generous slice of the pie 5. Vipers 9. A state of high honor 14. A purring sound 15. Dribble 16. Embankment 17. Using traditional skills 19. Proxy 20. Assail 21. Norm 23. Preclude 25. Taxonomic group 28. Attempt 29. Slice 32. Breed of ruminant 33. Record (abbrev.) 34. Welt 35. Wreaths 36. Doctrine 38. Killer whale 39. Shoestring 40. Little bit 41. Waiter 43. S 44. Jump 45. Residue fragments 46. Predictions
48. Laminated metamorphic rocks 50. Implant 54. Ships 55. To strain off 57. Not fulfilled 58. Distinctive flair 59. Not false 60. Requires 61. Airhead 62. Inheritor DOWN 1. Anagram of “Cabs” 2. Attraction 3. The products of human creativity 4. A businessman’s bag 5. An Old Testament king 6. Detects 7. Anagram of “Paste” 8. Flattened on impact 9. In a willing manner 10. Lawful 11. Not under 12. Cleave 13. Nevertheless 18. Unemotional
22. Unconsciousness induced by narcotics 24. Nuclear power plants 25. French for “Room” 26. Supplications 27. Long stories 29. Cut 30. Canker sore 31. Rips 33. Scarlet 34. Author 37. Canola 42. Go in 44. Lifting devices 45. Nonchalant 46. Celebrated 47. A stringed instrument 48. Departed 49. What a person is called 51. Exposed 52. Decorative case 53. A whitetail 54. Small rounded bread 56. Explosive
11/19/2020
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SPORTS
TUESDAY NOV. 24, 2020
SEASON PREVIEW
JESUS TELLITUD | SPARTAN DAILY ARCHIVES
The San Jose State men’s basketball team aims to go far in the Mountain West Championship Tournament without any interruptions from the coronavirus pandemic.
Men’s basketball seeks improvement LAST SEASON BY THE NUMBERS
By Felix Oliveros STAFF WRITER
Despite the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the San Jose Overall Record: State men’s basketball 7-24 team is optimistic about the upcoming 2020-21 Conference season. SJSU lost to New Mexico State University Record: 79-66 in the opening 3-15 round of the Mountain West Men’s Basketball Conference Tournament in the 2019-20 season Finish: (7-24, 3-15 MWC). 10th place SJSU will face Simpson University Nov. 2 at the Provident Credit Union Event Center. Mountain West Conference play Nov. 25 will start Dec. 21 as SJSU vs. Simpson SJSU travels to take on 2 p.m. Utah State University. Conference play will Dec. 6 determine SJSU’s place SJSU vs. University of the in the 2020-21 Mountain Pacific West Men’s Basketball TBA Championship, which Dec. 9 will be held March SJSU vs. University of 10-13 at the Thomas Saint Katherine & Mack Center in TBA Las Vegas, according to the Mountain Dec. 18 West website. SJSU vs. Santa Clara Fans will not be able TBA to attend the Spartans’ home games this season Dec. 31 because of Santa Clara SJSU vs. Boise County’s COVID-19 TBA restrictions, according Jan. 2 to a Nov. 19 post on the SJSU vs. Boise SJSU men’s basketball TBA website. Games will be streamed live on the Jan. 14 Mountain West Digital SJSU vs. Colorado State Network, according to TBA the post. Head coach Jean Jan. 16 Prioleau discussed the SJSU vs. Colorado State changes to the Mountain TBA West schedule format at Jan. 28 a Nov. 12 media day. SJSU vs. Air Force “I think the guys just
HOME SCHEDULE
TBA
Jan. 30 SJSU vs. Air Force TBA
HEAD COACH
returning alongside Knight are senior guard Richard Washington who averaged the second most points on the team at 10.3, as well as sophomore guard Omari Moore who averaged 4.9 points per game and shot 50% from the field. For the Spartans, defense will have to improve this upcoming season in order to have a winning record. After averaging an 11.5 point differential in losses, Prioleau believes his team is making strides to get better. I think the guys just want to play. Prioleau said in a phone interview that the Whether it’s 18 games, 20 games, team needs to sustain I think they just want to have a season their defensive spurts in games. He also added or some type of season. Jean Prioleau that while it doesn’t head coach show in the statistics, the film shows that his team was able to get The team also to improve his skills this stops defensively when they needed it, but they conducted Zoom upcoming season. “For this season it’s weren’t able to convert meetings and practiced on an outdoor court been the little things to on the offensive side of that was constructed pick up from last season the ball. He added that they on the tennis courts and to help improve my in September next to efficiency,” Knight said will need to limit attempts at media day. “Making 3-point CEFCU Stadium. While junior guard the right play, making by their opponents Seneca Knight led the the right reads, going in order to win team in scoring last downhill, finding the more games. Although the team’s season, the Spartans open man, any little will also look for strong thing and improving on offseason wasn’t ideal for SJSU because of the contributions from my defense.” Knight, one of three pandemic, the men’s a multitude of players on the roster, not just returning starters, will basketball team will not also be a leader for five waste this shortened the starters. freshmen season and will look to “Guys on the team incoming know that the strength this season. He said improve on all aspects of of the team is our team. they are eager to play, the game. It’s not just one person competitive and take because one person’s not direction well from the going to be able to put coaches and veteran Follow Felix on Twitter it on their shoulders,” players on the team. @f3lixthe3rd The two other starters Prioleau said at media want to play,” Prioleau said. “Whether it’s 18 games, 20 games, I think they just want to have a season or some type of a season.” Prioleau said that during the offseason, the team did what it could in order to practice. This meant abiding by Santa Clara County Public Health guidelines such as social distancing and wearing face masks.
day. “So it’s really going to come down to the rest of our team to be able to play, be accountable and try to stick to what we’re trying to do as a team.” Knight will come into this season after averaging 17.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in his sophomore year. He significantly increased his points per game from his freshman year to his sophomore year and said he looks
AWAY SCHEDULE
Dec. 2 SJSU at Pepperdine TBA Dec. 21 SJSU at Utah TBA Dec. 23 SJSU at Utah TBA Jan. 8 SJSU at Fresno TBA Jan. 10 SJSU at Fresno TBA Jan. 21 SJSU at New Mexico TBA Jan. 23 SJSU at New Mexico TBA Feb. 8 SJSU at San Diego State TBA Feb. 10 SJSU at San Diego State TBA Feb. 25 SJSU at Wyoming TBA Feb. 27 SJSU at Wyoming TBA March 10-13 Mountain West Tournament TBA
KEY PLAYERS
Feb. 13 SJSU vs. Nevada TBA Feb. 15 SJSU vs. Nevada TBA Feb. 19 SJSU vs. UNLV TBA Feb. 21 SJSU vs. UNLV TBA
KNIGHT PRIOLEAU
guard
HAMMONDS
guard
WASHINGTON
guard
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SJSU ATHLETICS
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SPORTS
TUESDAY, NOV. 24, 2020
7
SEASON PREVIEW
JESUS TELLITUD | SPARTAN DAILY ARCHIVES
The Mountain West Conference announced the new schedule on Nov. 17 for SJSU’s women’s basketball team after the conference modified its 2020-21 regular season schedule.
Women’s basketball aims for victory LAST SEASON BY THE NUMBERS Overall Record: 19-12 Conference Record: 12-6 Conference Finish: 3rd place (Tie)
HOME SCHEDULE Dec. 8 SJSU vs. UC Irvine 12 p.m. Dec. 13 SJSU vs. Pacific 1 p.m. Dec. 21 SJSU vs. Utah State TBA Dec. 23 SJSU vs. Utah State TBA Jan. 8 SJSU vs. Fresno State TBA Jan. 10 SJSU vs. Fresno State TBA Jan. 21 SJSU vs. New Mexico TBA Jan. 23 SJSU vs. New Mexico TBA Feb. 8 SJSU vs. San Diego State TBA Feb. 10 SJSU vs. San Diego State TBA
By Laura Fields STAFF WRITER
San Jose State women’s basketball is set to play a shortened 25-game 2020-21 season schedule, despite the recent surge in coronavirus cases. The team is coming off a 2019-20 season where they improved by 13 wins (19-12, 12-6 MWC) from their 2018-19 season. SJSU will face University of California, Berkeley in their first of five non-conference games starting Wednesday. The first Mountain West Conference game is on Dec. 21 against Utah State University at the Provident Credit Union Event Center. Forward Alani Fluker, a public health freshman from San Antonio, Texas, said she is excited to play her first collegiate game. “I’m pretty excited about the season,” Fluker said over the phone. “I’m pretty confident in our team, we’ve got a really good group of girls who just want to win, bottom line.” With practice happening during a pandemic, Fluker detailed the safety measures SJSU Athletics implemented to keep players and staff safe. “We have been practicing but obviously with COVID and everything, we have to take precautionary measures,” Fluker said. “We always make sure we wear our masks in practice, our balls are constantly sanitized and we still maintain social distancing.”
HEAD COACH
She said that the team social distances at practice by having team huddles spaced out, face masks are worn at all times and players are tested three times a week for COVID-19. There is one university Fluker said she is looking forward to playing against this season: Fresno State. “We [took] a tough loss against them last year in the tournament,” she said. “But it was a learning experience and we’re looking to grow from it. We’ve gotten better as a team.” Point guard Danae Marquez said she’s eyeing the Mountain West Championship this year as the new season approaches. “I’m most excited about putting all of our pieces together and seeing the magic that’s going to come out,” Marquez said over text. “We have a whole lot of weapons.” Though Marquez feels the coaching staff has limited travel as much as possible to reduce COVID-19 exposure, she said she is concerned about the integrity of the bubble that the team has worked hard to maintain. The team has been associating themselves with only other players and staff under the state’s stay-at-home mandates. Players are restricted to going outside only under essential travel and are advised to practice social distancing. “The idea of having to rely on others to remain in our bubble is what gets tough when we begin traveling,” Marquez said.
“I’m just taking it day by day and [I’m] gonna enjoy this season the best I can.” Three veteran players from last season are also returning to SJSU. Point guard, Ayzhiana Basallo, forward Tyra Whitehead and guard Raziya Potter are going to play key roles in this upcoming season. Incoming freshmen like Sophia Jones, who averaged 25 points per game her senior year of high school, are also expected to bring forth a strong scoring season for the Spartans. On Nov. 19, Basallo was named to the preseason All-Mountain West Conference team with votes from Mountain West Conference coaches and media. She is the fourth Spartan in program history to receive the honor. After averaging a team-high 18.5 points per game and shooting over 44% from the field, Basallo was named Mountain West Newcomer of the Year when the 2020 season ended. B asallo and Whitehead were named as rising talents in the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year watch list on Nov. 11, a list voted on by the staff of Her Hoops Stats Newsletter, a news site for all things women’s basketball. Only 25 players in the country make the list, according to the Mountain West website. The SJSU women’s basketball program was
recently named second place in Mountain West’s Preseason Poll, the best ranking the program has received in a preseason poll. Similar to football, the women’s and men’s basketball teams will be streamed to accommodate regulations. “Due to current COVID-19 restrictions set by Santa Clara County, fans will not be allowed at the Provident Credit Union Event Center for home contests,” Connor Pelton, SJSU assistant media relations director, said in an email statement to the Spartan Daily. Pelton’s statement also addressed questions about spectators potentially seeing the Spartans in action in other states and the team’s handling of COVID-19 precautions. “Decisions on fans at San Jose State games away from home will be set by the host institution,” Pelton said. “Our women’s basketball student-athletes have been living in controlled environments with regular testing protocols since returning to campus in August and look forward to competing this season.” With new players like Jones, who matches Basallo in scoring ability, the Spartans feel confident in continuing to build a winning culture. Follow Laura on Twitter @swimgirllaura
AWAY SCHEDULE
Nov. 25 SJSU at UC Berkeley TBA Nov. 30 SJSU at University of San Francisco TBA Dec. 18 SJSU at. Sacramento State 5 p.m. Dec. 31 SJSU at. Boise State TBA Jan. 2 SJSU at Boise State TBA Jan. 14 SJSU at Colorado State TBA Jan. 16 SJSU at Colorado State TBA Jan. 28 SJSU at Air Force TBA Jan. 30 SJSU at Air Force TBA Feb. 13 SJSU at Nevada TBA Feb. 15 SJSU at Nevada TBA Feb. 19 SJSU at UNLV 5 p.m. Feb. 21 SJSU at UNLV 1 p.m. March 7 Mountain West Tournament TBA
KEY PLAYERS
Feb. 25 SJSU vs. Wyoming TBA Feb. 27 SJSU vs. Wyoming TBA
BASALLO CRAIGHEAD
point guard
JONES
point guard
WHITEHEAD forward
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SJSU ATHLETICS