Spartan Daily Vol. 165 No. 04

Students partake in pizza with presidents

By Ashley Kang STAFF WRITER

On Wednesday afternoon, San José State University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson and Associated Students President Katelyn Gambarin greeted dozens of students at their “Pizza with the Presidents” event in the Student Union.

New and returning students alike lined up for free pizza and a chance to meet their university and student government presidents.

Francisco Castañeda, an aerospace engineering transfer student from Mendocino College in Ukiah, California said he came to meet new people and familiarize himself with the SJSU community.

“There are probably more people in this school than there are in

classes this semester, with a record-breaking total enrollment of 40,000 students. Transfer students made up about 40 percent of SJSU’s incoming undergraduates.

Castañeda said the Weeks of Welcome events have been helping him acclimate to the larger university community.

“I feel like everyone here is pretty friendly. They’re easy to talk to,” Castañeda said. “It's a big change because in my community college, everyone’s kind of reserved, everyone’s kind of to themselves and it's just more laid back. I like it.”

Kaden Nguyen, a math transfer student from San Jose City College, also came out to get to know the community better.

“I’m able to experience the Spartan life,” Nguyen said. “They offer tons of resources and support for

of the United States, but instead, it's for SJSU.”

Maurelle Bagus, senior operations specialist at SJSU Student Involvement, helped organize the event and thought it was a success.

“I think they (students) are surprised that the president is being so forward facing with the students. So I think they enjoy it,” Bagus said. “And of course, you know, they love free food and free swag.”

Gambarin said she was pleasantly surprised to see so many students come out, given the relatively smaller turnout she saw at the “Popcorn with the President” event, which took place on Seventh Street Plaza on Thursday, Aug. 21.

“I’m sure a lot of them (attendees) showed up for the pizza, but I’m really glad to have talked to so

It’s a big change because in my community college, everyone’s kind of reserved, everyone’s kind of to themselves and it’s just more laid back. I like it.

Francisco Castañeda aerospace engineering transfer student

their students.”

my hometown, so it’s a big change,” Castañeda said.

SJSU saw its largest-ever freshman and transfer

He said meeting the Teniente-Matson felt like “meeting the President

many students and I wish I could have talked with them longer,” Gambarin said. “I know there were

so many folks who were waiting in line. So I’m just really glad I got to talk to some folks and connect with people today.”

Though she couldn’t talk in-depth with

meetings in-person or via Zoom and make public comments “regarding any issues affecting SJSU students.” The next meeting will be held on Sept. 10.

to introduce herself to new students and invite them to engage in student governance.

“It’s to meet them (students) out where they are and encourage them to

each student she met, Gambarin gave out her business card to students who wished to share any questions or concerns they had outside of the event. She also encouraged them to attend bimonthly A.S. Board meetings as a way to voice their ideas and perspectives.

A.S. Board meetings are held on Wednesdays, every second and fourth week of the month, in Student Union Meeting Room 1A. Students can attend the

One of Gambarin’s goals as A.S. president this year is to be more visible and accessible to the SJSU community.

“I think having events like this is super important to make sure that students really know that they can talk to their administrators about things that are happening around campus and hopefully that can pave the path for change,” Gambarin said.

Teniente-Matson said she hosts events like these

reach out to me, to know that this is a wonderful place, a place of belonging, a place of community, and, of course, a place to excel as a student,” TenienteMatson said.

“I want to have everyone feel like they belong here and to participate and be engaged on campus.”

Spartans search for new opportunities

By Matteo Carlini & Shinju Kang STAFF WRITERS

On Wednesday, the Career Center at San José State hosted a “Career Center Carnival” from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the Smith Carlos Lawn.

The carnival not only provided students with the opportunity to meet with employers, but it also provided them with a chance to meet some potential employers.

Anurag Josyula, an SJSU graduate student who is pursuing a master’s degree in data analytics.

“I feel like the carnival is a great place to meet people and do fun activities. There are several stalls which are really helpful … a great opportunity and it’s a place where people can discover something new,” Josyula said.

friends,” Josyula said.

The event offered activities such as music, as well as grabbing some free carnival food and claiming a free t-shirt prize.

Elaina Villarreal, a first-year psychology student, attended the event and talked about her experience.

“You never see a petting

from different employees.

Shriram Dundigalla, an SJSU graduate student who is pursuing a master's in data analytics.

“The best stall I feel like, the career center … I can apply for a mentor where he would guide me in resumes and also the opportunities which I get,” Dundigalla said.

This is the sixth annual

“I feel like this carnival is a motivation,” Dundigalla said. This event also allows students to make connections with other students and they had a chance to meet the Career Center Team.

“I feel like this is a very interactive place … I think for a student, I think it’s very much needed because

Elaina Villarreal SJSU first-year psychology student of a busy schedule, we don’t really get to

a nd socialize much,” Josyula said. “I feel like events li ke this should be encouraged more.”

In addition to learning about job opportunities and internships, the carnival provided students, as well as their friends, with a way to relieve some stress that every student has at the start of a new academic year.

internships , t he val provide d nts, the ir d s, with a to e th at student has at t he a n ew a ca demi c

“There are several other things like the photo booth … I think that’s a great place for me to get a picture with my

h ere a re a l othe r s like th e o booth thin k a g re at for o a re with

zoo at college … all the stands they’re really helpful too, and it’s not just entertainment, also really good information,”

You never see a petting zoo at college … all the stands they’re really helpful too, and it’s not just entertainment, also really good information.

land a good job or get connected to internships with potential employers for potential jobs, according to the event flyer.

zoo at colle ge all the stands the y’re reall y j ust entertainment, also real ly information,” Villarreal said. Th er e wa s a wide variet y of b ooths ra ng ed from g ame booths, f ood

bo ot h an d

There was a wide variety of booths at the event that ranged from game booths, food booths, a prize booth and booths

Students were also given a stamp card and each booth they visited.

Th e Care er Center staff is willing to help students in any way they can to help the m go connected with emp po st each booth “Get th migh

“Get thirteen stamps, you might get a cold boba,” Dundigalla said.

The SJSU Career Center leads campus efforts to help students prepare and transition to college after life. They help them create a path for longterm career success.

The Career Center said that they have a lot of resources to help students explore majors, careers, engage with employers and launch a successful career.

Career Center Carnival at SJSU, according to the SJSU Career Center’s

Diana Salazar, a firstyear forensic science student, said she is looking forward to interacting with potential employers for jobs and internship opportunities.

Letters to the Editor may be placed in the letters to the editor box in the Spartan Daily office in Dwight Bentel Hall, Room 209 or emailed to spartandaily@gmail.com to the attention of the Spartan Daily Opinion Editor.

Ca re er C ent at SJSU, a t he C a Instag ram. Diana Sal a y ear foren student, said forward to potenti for j obs an opportunitie s “I’m ver y aroun about inte r … it’s ve t o g et mon e over S a

EDITORIALSTAFF send a letter to the editor

“I’m very excited to look around and talk about internships and jobs … it’s very important to get money and stuff over here,” Salazar said.

Letters to the Editor must contain the author’s name, year and major. Letters become property of the Spartan Daily and may be edited for clarity, grammar, libel and length. Only letters of 300 words or less will be considered for publication. Published opinions and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of the Spartan Daily, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or SJSU. The Spartan Daily is a public forum.

Campus study spots provide focus

By Mariana Sanchez STAFF WRITER

As the new semester kicks University are on

off, San José State University students are on the hunt for the best spots to study at on campus – places that reduce stress, spark creativity and possibly offer more than just tackling assignments.

offer more than

For most students, a consistent stu dy focus

a consistent study environment is associated with being able to focus and increasing academic

ac ad em ic

performance.

Beyond studying at the same location, students have shown a preference to other areas with fewer distractions

Chris Le, a secondyear computer science student, said certain environmental factors co nt ri bu te to a

great study spot.

“(I think) ambiance, sound level and accessibility to food (are important),” Le said.

Learning consists of different psychological, social, and cultural factors which are also created by participants, according to the National Library of Medicine webpage.

The study found how negative emotions and stress pose difficulties in different learning environments

“(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library has) a really clean atmosphere, most of the time, it’s just a really nice pristine feeling,” Le said.

The MLK library became one of the first to combine resources of a major public library with a university, according to the SJ Library

SJSU’s joint public library, established in 2003, provides students with multiple floors and areas where students can focus on their studies, according

With a range of nine different floors to choose from, the library supplies students with diverse collections and technology

Julia Mills, an SJSU nursing alumna, said even though she ran into issues in the library as a student, it

“(Dr. Martin Luther K c said bec one first to comb pu univer according SJ Lib website. pu 2 w a fo on their studies, accord to the same source With a of n cho supp div collections and technol equipped workspaces. S e into is studen

(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library has) a really clean atmosphere, most of the time, it’s just a really nice pristine feeling.

Chris Le SJSU second-year computer science student

was a go-to spot.

“I always had the same table (at MLK), way up high, that I like to see out the glass window,” Mills said. “Rainy days, sunny days, just what’s going on.”

Her go-to spot wasn’t just about routine, it reflects the value of having natural elements for many students.

Along with the library, Mills said that another go-to spot was the Student Union because of the open hang out area.

“I was in the nursing program,” Mills said. “So all of us would just, in between classes, hang out there.”

She explained how during her time at SJSU, the Student Union did not have

much available compared to the new additions now.

“The Student Union was this hideous, awful place,” Mills said. “All we had, I think, back then was Burger King.”

Eve Uehara, a fourth-year psychology student, noted a problem she has with staying in random campus buildings.

“If I’m just sitting in the hallway or something and people are walking by, footsteps kind of reverberate through the hallway,” Uehara said.

She noted her enjoyment of sitting on the front lawn of the science building and watching the squirrels in the grass.

The simple benefits of nature and observing living things help make the studying process feel less stressful for most.

Though the recent lawn closures in front of Tower Hall have been difficult to get around, she still finds herself gearing towards a study spot outside.

“It’s all connected to nature, which is a lot better,” Uehara said.

Intimacy is dying and sex is boring

I find it ironic that in a culture so obsessed with romance and surrounded by sex, the art of intimacy and eroticism is dying.

We have been taught to be imitations, curations and images, rather than human beings capable of love and worthy of knowing.

Humans often confine ourselves to an idealized picture of desirability rather than exploring the transcendence of our authenticity.

eroticism.

comparison.

desire, presenting love as a product facilitated through algorithmic matchmaking, according to a Sep. 21, 2024 Easy Sociology article.

In this way, love has become something to be earned or bought instead of personified, making heartbreak a loss of asset, rather than proof of compassion.

Similarity, sex and sexuality has become a way to measure a partner’s value, instead of being recognized as an intrinsic and powerful flow of creative energy.

Intimacy and eroticism have no sturdy home in this day and age, but like any belief and practice, it is our responsibility to foster the depth we so desperately crave.

Unrealistic beauty standards portrayed by the media have pressured so many of us, especially young women, to fit an image of that society deems worthy enough to love, or at least, to objectify.

Social media provides us with a platform to display our most idealized selves, serving as a feedback loop for superficial validation and

It punishes rebellion against systemically prejudiced and patriarchal standards, provoking fears of inadequacy of sexuality, both bred

a unique perspective on

“Eroticism reveals to us another world, inside this world,” Paz said. “The senses become servants to our imagination, letting us see the invisible and hear the inaudible.”

according to a Nov. 7, 2019 Psychology Today article.

As a collective, we are fed ideals that are not our own, beauty that can never be achieved, lifestyles we do not lead and information that clouds our individual judgment.

looking for ourselves in places where we are not – identifying but not embodying.

I am not necessarily rallying for strict monogamy, but intimacy and eroticism can only live when connection is honest, patient and curious.

In a capitalist landscape, the explosion of social media and online dating has taken away the practice of intimacy and eroticism through the commodification of love and a manufactured fear of rejection.

When we avoid the totality of self in an effort to gain external validation or to protect our own ego, we demote our substance to a burden rather than a blessing.

This over-identification with external things plagues our ability to see ourselves stripped down and raw, ergo, our allowance to show our truth to others.

In Georges Bataille's book, “Eroticism: Death, and Sensuality,” he writes, “Man goes constantly in fear of himself. His erotic urges terrify him … but man can surmount the things that frighten him and face them squarely… he can be rid of the curious misunderstanding of his own nature that has characterised him until now.”

Online dating offers the illusion of infinite options, making it easier to indulge in multiple sources of validation rather than seeking to understand one’s self or another being.

There is an overemphasis on physical appearance, which promotes a disposable view of relationships and poses a risk of deception,

Social media allows us to scroll when we are bored or when we disagree and it serves as a distraction from our own feelings and thoughts.

Our attention spans are dwindling, creating a culture driven by instant gratification, according to a June 29 article from The Annie E. Casey Foundation. We are constantly consuming but still constantly hungry,

With so many platforms to present ourselves as a certain person, our individual nuances and complexities intentionally get lost in translation.

Love is sold as some type of achievement or product, rather than a deep experience of self.

Dating platforms operate as businesses that profit from human

We are so scared to be seen unfinished, to be touched imperfectly, to be known with our flaws, and maybe, to be anyone at all –it is not failing itself we fear, but rejection from others when we are being truly honest.