EST. 1968 WWW.UOFSDMEDIA.COM
VOLUME 53 ISSUE 21 THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016
THE USD VISTA
INSIDE NEWS 1-3
2 6 8 10 13 16
Your Chariot Awaits
A new ridesharing services promotes safer rides for women. ARTS/CULTURE 4-6
James Bay is ‘bae’.
Humphreys Concerts by the Bay hosts folk-pop singer James Bay. FEATURE 7-9
Dent the Bubble
Fair Trade Event, Morena’s Moment 2.0. BUSINESS 10-11
The Panama Papers
Largest data leak in history reveals tax evasion and money laundering. OPINION 12-13
Life’s a drag
Why a Catholic campus should welcome diverse events. SPORTS 14-16
Mary Grabowski wins WCC Player of the Week Senior catcher grabs award after series vs. LMU.
Kings, Queens, and Rosaries Photo Courtesy of Cory Immele Students performed dressed in drag for PRIDE’s Celebration of Gender Expression: Supreme Drag Superstar V to a sold-out crowd last week.
BROOKLYN DIPPO News Editor Last Thursday hundreds of students and visitors crowded into Shiley Theatre to see the PRIDE club’s sold-out show, Celebration of Gender Expression: Supreme Drag Superstar V. On the sidewalk outside, a much smaller group prayed in protest of the event. The University of San Diego was founded by the Catholic Diocese of San Diego in 1949, but despite its religious affiliation labels itself as a Changemaker campus that encourages diversity and inclusion. In 1990 USD recognized its first community of LGBTQ and allied students, which grew into the PRIDE community that is currently active on campus. The community met many milestones on campus, such as getting LGBTQ-themed courses approved, changing campus policies to have gender-inclusive and sexualityinclusive terminology, hosting workshops for students, and even putting on a dance for USD students. The event that has incurred the most backlash is the annual student drag performance. The PRIDE website describes the purpose of the event as educating the community on gender identity and expression. “At this ‘edu-tainment’ event for the campus community, speakers teach
Brooklyn Dippo/ The USD Vista Catholic protesters prayed in front of the event in hopes that USD will stop hosting it in the future.
about the experiences of transand gender-fluid communities, including the prevalence of violence, while students entertain with light-hearted lip-sync and astounding choreography,” the website states. Hundreds of USD students enjoy the show every year and see it as a safe community for exploring gender expression. Junior Sophia Gaffney went to see both her friends and her professor, Greg Prieto, dressed in drag. “I thought the show was great!” Gaffney said. “One of my professors dressed up in drag and gave a killer speech.
I think it’s so important for young adults in the LGBTQ realm who are struggling to see an older faculty member embracing their sexuality and standing strong in who they are. That was a moving moment.” Gaffney also shared her personal views on gender expression. “I am all about breaking gender norms,” Gaffney said. “Don’t get me wrong, if it is your personality or character to fit a certain stereotype or expectation of gender then by all means fit it! Gender expression to me is individual case by case but if you desire to push the boundaries and
break the norms of gender then go for it, hell yeah!” After attending the drag show last year and realizing there were few drag kings, Junior Chelsea McLin signed up to be a performer this year and learned a lot about her own gender identity. She is a cisgendered female, meaning that her gender identity aligns with her sex, so she stepped out of her comfort zone to dress up as a man. “I’m a cisgender female so dressing in drag was a firsttime experience,” McLin said. “I don’t feel the hardships of someone who wants to dress
See PRIDE, Page 3
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NEWS
Read the Vista
April 21, 2016
NEWS
NEWS EDITOR BROOKLYN DIPPO @brooklyndippo
Asst. NEWS EDITOR ELISABETH SMITH @ellie_smith13
Forget the pumpkin, your chariot is waiting ELISABETH SMITH Asst. News Editor
ELISABETH SMITH Assistant News Editor When scrolling through my Facebook feed I come across three kinds of posts: babies, Tasty cooking videos, and Odyssey articles. While the first two are entertaining, I often scare my roommates while loudly sighing in disgust about the Odyssey articles. Now I am no expert, but I do have about four years of student journalism under my belt. In those four years I have interviewed politicians, a professional football player, CEOs of start-up companies, and successful alumni along with students and faculty. Through these experiences I have discovered a passion for journalism and hearing people’s stories. But websites such as the Odyssey are not journalism, and they frankly give a bad rap to journalists everywhere. With articles titled, “Why girls love the dad bod” and “#BaeGoals as told by Bagels”, millennials are accustomed to clicking on fluff articles instead of reading real news. While the idea behind the Odyssey and sites similar to it is commendable, helping young adults be heard and create content for their peers, the execution is not impressive. These sites give false confidence to writers who are looking to boost their resume. Little do students realize they can get real experience with other organizations, such as the USD Vista. Student newspapers are often overlooked even though we offer real journalism experience to students, and educate staff about AP style, layout design, and editing. What’s most disheartening about these websites is the fact that they distract readers from serious articles. When I post an article on the USD Vista page about issues including smoking on campus and the dangers of Uber, I’ll get around 10 to 15 likes (most of which are from my family back home). Yet an Odyssey post listing “20 ways you know you go to USD,” will get over a thousand shares. Listicles are a great way to procrastinate on homework, but don’t forget about the real articles. Read the articles that have valid sources, point of view, and most importantly: correct grammar.
Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar, oh my! If there wasn’t already enough ridesharing apps, University of San Diego students now have another choice to make their commute to Mission Beach, but there’s a catch: only female students can use it. Launching nationally in the fall, Chariot for Women plans to join the long list of ridesharing services, but is taking a new approach to the business model. The company’s mission is to provide safe rides to women and children. Michael Pelletz, the founder of Chariot for Women, started the company after driving for Uber. Pelletz had the idea to start the company in February 2016 after giving a ride to an incoherent male passenger. “After the gentleman got into my car, I knew he was very high and he kept passing out in the back seat,” Pelletz said. “I eventually pulled over to the cops [that I saw on the side of the road] and after, all I could think about was how scared I would be if I was a woman.” Thus came Chariot for Women, which emphasizes safety of both the drivers and the passengers. Specific safety precautions include a random safe word given to the passenger and driver to ensure no passenger takes the wrong ride, running driver background checks through the Safer Places Inc. company, and not allowing men to drive or ride in Chariot for Women vehicles. “All those incidents [involving women] came to my head when I started the company nine weeks ago, and I thought that I need to do something much safer,” Pelletz said. The company planned to launch April 19 only in Mass., but Pelletz said that after
Editorial – 619.260.4584 Business – 619.260.4714 www.uofsdmedia.com @USDVista
Photo Courtesy of Chariot for Women/Facebook Chariot for Women will launch in the fall of 2016, distinguishing itself from other ridesharing apps by only hiring female drivers.
over 8000 women signed up to drive, they decided to postpone the launch to allow the technology to support the large network. Junior Lexie Fahey frequently uses ride-sharing services and is looking forward to the launch of Chariot for Women because riding with a woman makes her feel safer in some circumstances. “I use Uber around four times a week because I work downtown and it’s actually cheaper than parking down there,” Fahey said. “Although my experiences with Uber have been mostly good, at times I wish it was a female driving when I’m in the car alone at 1 a.m. I think it would just feel safer with women drivers, especially late at night and when I’m alone.” While this new ridesharing option may be enticing to college-aged women, it may not be legal. According to a Boston Globe article, legal experts believe the company may violate Massachusetts’, the company’s home state, anti-discrimination laws by purposely not hiring men. Pelletz denied that this will be an issue for Chariot for Women. “I’m not a lawyer but I assembled a great legal
team,” Pelletz said. “Before they would sign on they looked into [the civil rights issue] and they all agree there’s nothing wrong. If and when we get challenged we look forward to showing the courts the inequality and exposing the sexual assault.” USD Law professor Miranda McGowan is skeptical that the company can legally only hire women. McGowan teaches and writes in the areas of employment discrimination, constitutional law, and race and gender identity. “There are two ways that the company could run into legal problems,” McGowan said. “From hiring on the basis of sex and restricting the consumers to women.” McGowan explained that employing drivers based on gender violates Title VII. Title VII is part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, and religion. It generally applies to employers with 15 or more employees, including federal, state, and local governments, according to the American Association of University Women. “You’re permitted to use gender as a basis for hiring
Hunter Jameson- Editor in Chief Matlyuba Nurova - Finance Director Emily Norris - Advertising Manager Sara Butler - Associate Editor Kevin Nelson - Managing Editor Laura Tressel - Copy Editor Kelly Kennedy - Art Director Brooklyn Dippo - News Editor Elisabeth Smith - Asst. News Editor Abby Gentry - Opinion Editor Diego Luna - Business Editor
only if you can prove it’s the essence of the business and the essence of the job,” McGowan said. “Then you have to demonstrate the link between the two and how sex relates to that.” Creating this link can be nearly impossible for employers, and courts generally do not allow gender biased hiring unless the employees are in intimate contact with customers, such as female prison guards who work in prisions with female inmates. “There are sex-neutral ways to address these issues,” McGowan said. “[Implementing] extremely stringent background checks and using safe words with companies like Uber would be a better solution than starting a new company.” McGowan said that courts would most likely not allow this kind of gender discrimination if other rideshare companies do not try the stricter safety ideas first, and prove that those alone do not improve safety. Until the fall, female students can still rely on established ridesharing apps such as Uber and Lyft, and possibly start using Chariot for Women when the new school year rolls around.
Henley Doherty - Asst. Buisness Editor Jamie Eddy - Feature Editor Dani DeVries - Asst. Feature Editor Tayler Reviere Verninas - Arts & Culture Editor Matthew Roberson - Sports Editor Ian Lituchy - Photography Editor Alexis Zink - Asst. Photography Editor Christina Ingell - Asst. Photography Editor JJ Stavola - Distribution Manager Gina Lew - Student Media Advisor Marie Minnick - Operations Advisor
The USD Vista publication is written and edited by USD students and funded by revenues generated by advertising and a student fee. Advertising material published is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an expressed or implied endorsement or verification of such commercial venues by the staff or University. The USD Vista office is located on the fourth floor of the Student Life Pavilion in room 403B. All inquiries should be sent to: The USD Vista 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110
The first copies of the newspaper are complimentary, all copies thereafter are 25 cents charge. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego or of its student body. Letters to the Editor can be submitted to The USD Vista office. Letters should be limited to 300 words and must be signed. For identification purposes, USD identification numbers and writer’s year must be included in the letter. The USD Vista reserves the right to edit published letters. Any content sent to the editor will be considered for publication unless otherwise stated.
NEWS
Volume 53 Issue 21
The USD Vista
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Protesters can’t pray away PRIDE PRIDE continued from Front Page
as a gender they weren’t assigned at birth, but being in the drag show was a rewarding and educational experience for me. It’s definitely scary to dress in drag, so I give kudos to those who have courage to be their authentic selves every day. To me it seems that people find more entertainment value when a man dresses in a wig and a skirt, like they can poke more fun of it and take the seriousness out of it. At the same rate, transwomen are highly marginalized due to messed up social constructions of masculinity.” Though it is widely enjoyed, not everyone agrees with the idea of a Catholic university hosting a drag show. The week leading up to the show there was a petition against the event circulating online. USD alumni and San Diego lawyer Charles LiMandri hosts the website Alumni For A Catholic USD and gathers signatures each year in an attempt to stop the drag show. Though he wasn’t in attendance, another vocal member of the Catholic Church was.
Thomas McKenna, the president and founder of Catholic Action for Faith and Family, has attended every drag show not for the entertainment but to support Catholic USD students who are offended by it. After attending the very first Supreme Drag Superstar, McKenna filed a suit with the Vatican to get the Church to prohibit further drag shows on Catholic college campuses. The Church concluded that it was a scandal and McKenna has continued to attend and protest against the show since. “I originally came [to the drag show] at the request of students here that felt this was out of touch with the reality of their Catholic faith so I was asked to come help them, support them, and attend the presentation,” McKenna said. “So I would say that because the clarity of the Catholic Church’s teachings on the issues of the LGBT homosexual activity is not clarified in either way, that some students could leave here thinking that the Church is okay with that. And that is something that I’ve consistently said is that I believe that this event leads
Photo Courtesy of Cory Immele Junior Crash Ketcham competed for his third time, and was crowned the winner of PRIDE’s Celebration of Gender Expression: Supreme Drag Superstar for the second year in a row.
some people away from the truth of the Catholic Church.” A reparation rosary was held on the sidewalk in front of Camino Hall. Nine people gathered to say the Novena to Divine Mercy, eight from the local Catholic community and one USD student. The prayer is usually said in segments over a period of nine days before a feast in request
Brooklyn Dippo/The USD Vista Members of the Catholic community gathered to say prayers in protest of the show, including USD sophomore Nick Norita.
for mercy from the Lord. Sophomore Nick Norita kneeled in prayer, tears falling from his eyes. Two of his friends who passed by during the rosary stopped for a moment to comfort him and pray with him. “They’re all good people,” Norita said. “They are my brothers and sisters. I do love them very much and I understand if they don’t see it. My Church is a Church of love but if the message is heard or seen in the wrong way that can be hard to understand.” Later Norita explained why he disagrees with the drag show. “We take a high view of what sex is for [in the Catholic Church],” Norita said. “If we use sex in a way that is not what it was made for, then it is sinful. I wanted to be a face that showed the real love and compassion behind an often difficult to understand teaching. The drag show should not be on campus. The show promotes as good what the church sees as the misuse of sexuality. Sin can mean ‘missing the mark’ and to promote a missing of the mark is not something that should be a part of the Catholic education.” The protesters mostly kept to themselves, only voicing their concern when local media asked for interviews. They were drastically outnumbered by the people there to support the show. Maddie Kasik, the president of PRIDE, explained that the community anticipates protesters at the event and respectfully disagrees with them. PRIDE encourages people in attendance to respect the protesters’ opinions. “Each year on the Wednesday before PRIDE’s Celebration of Gender Expression: Supreme Drag Superstar, PRIDE gets together at a general body meeting and discusses the significance of the event, why it is important to us, and what have been some challenges we have faced,” Kasik said.
“During this meeting, we engage in a dialogue about how, even though we may not agree with what the protesters are saying, PRIDE members should respect the protester’s right to express their own opinions. PRIDE deals with the protesters at the event by standing in solidarity with one another and demonstrating our open support and celebration of gender expression and gender identity.” Even with widespread support for the event, there is still some sentiment of unequal treatment towards the event. Junior Crash Ketcham, the winner of Supreme Drag Superstar V, dances in almost every USD event and has participated in PRIDE’s drag show the past three years. “USD staff and administration have done a remarkable job dealing with the hundreds of phone calls, emails, and handwritten letters demanding the removal of the drag show,” Ketcham said. Ketcham acknowledges administration’s full support of the drag show and thinks that it is time for USD to allow photographs and videos of the event to be shared by the performers and community. “Administration supports the show wholeheartedly, but won’t allow videos to be released in the event that it’s taken out of context or falls into the hands of people who disagree,” Ketcham said. “I just don’t think it’s going to be any different with or without the videos. Whether we have the videos or not, administration is going to get a ton of flack, so why not just have the videos? And also, it’s the right thing to do. It’s not fair that I can have all these videos [dancing at USD events] except the drag show.” The drag show has no signs of stopping at USD as it sells out quicker each year. PRIDE has responded to their critics with inclusivity and acceptance, and gives students a forum to express whichever gender they choose.
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ARTS & CULTURE
College friendships might come and go
April 21, 2016
ARTS AND CULTURE
A&C EDITOR TAYLER REVIERE VERNINAS
Toreros march to Take Back the Night Students advocate culture of awareness for sexual assault
TAYLER REVIERE VERNINAS A&C Editor
TAYLER REVIERE VERNINAS Arts & Culture Editor Since the end of the school year seems to come faster with every passing day, I cannot help but be nostalgic and appreciative of all the fond memories I have made thus far. Nor can I help but think of how much more dynamic my friendships in college are compared to high school. Of course, my two best friends from back home will always be my best friends forever. However, the best friend title that I give to the special few I consider to be my best friends in college implies a more dynamic connotation of the word. My definition of a best friend is someone who sees the positive and negative aspects of yourself, yet still appreciates all of it. A best friend supports you, helps you understand more than one perspective, calls you out on your actions when they are not aligned with your values, and apologizes when they know they have said or done something wrong toward you. The genuine best friends are the ones who help you become comfortable with the uncomfortable. College has challenged what I think I know, in order to understand what and why others think the way they do. The beauty of college friendships is that while we are discovering who we are through our interactions with others, they too are recognizing the kind of individual they are becoming or want to become. However, college does come to an end and there will come a point in which all of the friends we surround ourselves with right now will no longer be in the same proximity to casually hang out or go on adventures with. But just because we graduate from college, getting our diploma does not mean we will leave behind our closest friends. It is difficult to come to the realization that not all of these extraordinary people we are with right now will be with us every day after these four years are over. Although some friends come and go, there is a reason why certain individuals come into our lives for a day, a month, or many years. So let’s cherish these wonderful people who have enhanced our collegiate experience and continue to keep challenging them, as well as ourselves, to being the beautiful individuals we are created to be. Let us be in the present moment of friendship and know that these are the people who in some shape or form have changed our lives for the better.
“Shatter the silence, stop the violence” was the theme for this year’s Take Back the Night. On Tuesday, April 12 members of the University of San Diego community participated in the march to bring awareness for sexual assault. The march started at the Student Life Pavilion and finished at to the Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice, where the group gathered for the remainder of the event. Toreros yelled chants such as “Tell me what a feminist looks like? This is what a feminist looks like,” and “What do we want? Freedom! When do we want it? Now!” as they marched while holding signs with thematic messages and graphics of the motto. Sophomore Amy Maltz marched alongside her friends and fellow classmates in support of the cause for awareness. “My sorority’s philanthropy is domestic violence awareness, which is interrelated with sexual assault and I wanted to participate in it,” Maltz said. “I think the most hard-hitting thing was the student testimonies because it made it hit home a lot more. I think people do not realize that these things actually happen at USD to people our age who we might live around.” The event was sponsored by USD’s Women’s Center and featured two student
Alexis Zenk/The USD Vista Students held posters at the march that displayed powerful messages promoting awareness for sexual assault.
song “Til It Happens To You”. “The song talks about the stigmas that people have toward sexual assault victims,” McDonell said. “It is an important song because it displays the victim’s voice in all of it. Even though some may not be able to relate, the song explains how victims just want others to listen in support and love because you don’t know until it happens to you.” McDonell, along with fellow FCC member, senior Jaz Tinsley, helped coordinate the choir performance because they thought it would bring an overall reflective atmosphere to the vigil as a whole. “The event was really impactful because the march walked through all parts of
experience from the evening. “Marching made me feel very empowered and that we were making a difference just seeing people stop and watch us walk by,” Tinsley said. “It was cool because the further we went the more people came along to march with us.” The evening continued with two student testimonies regarding sexual assault awareness. The solemn procession around The Garden of the Sea illuminated the community standing together in solidarity. The student speakers gave powerful, heartfelt testimonies that impacted the solemn atmosphere of the evening. Maltz was empowered by their stories and shared
Alexis Zenk/The USD Vista Junior Karen Clark was one of the many Toreros gathered around The Garden of the Sea for the vigil.
testimonies that were presented at the KIPJ’s Garden of the Sea. Students and faculty surrounded the reflection pool holding candles and listening to some members of Founders Choir Chapel (FCC) sing acapella. First year Megan McDonell was one of the FCC members singing acapella to Lady Gaga’s
campus,” McDonell said. “We were chanting throughout the SLP with messages about stopping sexual assault. People stopped and looked which was cool when they asked what we were doing it for. It helped start the conversation and bring awareness to others, even if they were not marching with us.” Tinsley also shared his
why she thinks events such as this are important within the college culture. “It was an amazing and powerful experience to hear people talk about their experiences,” Maltz said. “Events such as Take Back the Night have powerful aspects that help get the point across to people. Some events have low participation
of students, which is a shame because people work very hard on these events. A big part of USD’s core values is community service and participating in social justice initiatives such as this. It is really important that people do participate, but unfortunately not a lot of people do.” Tinsley commented on how the on-campus event impacted his perspective on sexual assault. “My eyes were opened a lot by the student testimonies,” Tinsley said. “It kind of instigated me to really want to make an effort to put a stop to this and further educate myself in order to do anything I can to stand up for the victims of sexual assault and relationship abuse. The overall message I received was to be active when you see something unusual happening and be strong enough to stand up and stop it even if it is for a complete stranger.” This was McDonell’s first year experiencing this kind of march and she shared why awareness for this cause is so vital for the community. “It is a topic that can be so easily hushed especially within the hookup culture of college,” McDonell said. “Having it be vocalized so prominently might have seemed unsettling but made it even more impactful. This is a good start but there needs to be a lot more open forum conversations among different groups on campus in order to foster a community of acceptance and love.” Student speakers demonstrated courage through their powerful conviction and vulnerability when sharing their stories. The overwhelming love and support from the USD community exemplified the messages for spreading more awareness.
Volume 53 Issue 21
ARTS AND CULTURE
The USD Vista
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A night out on the bay with James Bay Folk-pop singer performs at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
TAYLER REVIERE VERNINAS A&C Editor Sunday, April 17 at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay was not a typical evening on the bay of Shelter Island. San Diegans were in for a treat as James Bay gave a stellar performance for a crowd of many devoted fans, including students at the University of San Diego. The evening began with an opening performance from the group Joseph, three sisters from Portland, Oregon whose powerful and melodic voices rang throughout the Point Loma Bay. The intimate venue created an ambiance of relaxation and peace among members of the crowd. Sophomore Aidan James, although unfamiliar with the group before their performance, was amazed by the extremely talented trio. “They were a group of sisters who showed how a simple melody of three voices can be just as moving and powerful as a performer with a band,” Aidan James said. “They had a very casual presence on stage and their raw talent was incredible. It thoroughly prepared me for the main act.” The opening act set the tone for soulful, folk-pop singer James Bay. Bay passionately continued his performance with each original song. He opened the show with “Collide”, followed by his song “Craving”. He switched the guitar in his hands with the start of each new song. Aidan James was taken aback by James Bay’s musical performance. “It is nice to listen
Photo Courtesy of Leslie Gobel Toreros in the audience rocked out to James Bay’s cover of “Proud Mary” as he passionately strummed and sang the night away.
to music that is free of synthesizer or autotune and is just pure talent; James Bay exceeded [my] expectations,” Aidan James said. “I did not know a lot of his songs prior
“It was unbelievable, unbelievable, so great,” Gobel said. “I have been waiting to see James Bay for a while, so it was pretty hyped up for me because I am a huge
“You could feel the music throughout your entire body. Words could not really describe the sensation, but it was a good one” —Aidan James to the concert, but ‘Need the Sun to Break’ and ‘Let It Go’ were definitely my favorites from that night.” First year USD student and James Bay fanatic, Leslie Gobel, described Sunday night’s show.
fan! It was one of the only concerts that I have been to in which the artist was so talented when playing a song that the whole entire audience fell silent just to listen to him.” At one point during the concert, James Bay played
the musical chorus on his guitar for “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley which transitioned into one of his hit songs, “Scars”. His authentic talent and musical enthusiasm enlivened the crowd as they passionately sang along to his lyrics. James Bay also rocked out to a cover of “Proud Mary” which really heightened the excitement at the Humphreys Concerts by the Bay venue. Bay’s surreal vocal chords and gifted guitar skills resulted in an encore by the audience at the end of the night. Gobel was ecstatic when Bay returned onstage to perform more hit songs. “I actually was one of the people who helped start the encore cheer from the
COACHELLA CAR RIDE PLAYLIST:
front of the audience,” Gobel said. “I really wanted him to come back on because I felt so great about the whole performance. I forgot that he had so many other songs to play and I thought it was great that he came back onstage to play more than one song.” Aidan James was at a loss for words to describe his feelings post-concert. “You could feel the music throughout your entire body,” James said. “Words could not really describe the sensation, but it was a good one.” As an interactive performer, James Bay definitely had fans feeling some type of way on Sunday night. It was a feeling so strong that they probably could not Let It Go.
USD VISTA STAFF EDITION
Hunter Jameson, Editor in Chief You & Me (Flume Remix) by Disclosure
Diego Luna, Business Editor Freaking Out The Neighborhood by Mac Demarco
Sara Butler, Associate Editor First by Cold War Kids
Henley Doherty, Asst. Business Editor iT by Christine and the Queens
Kevin Nelson, Managing Editor Dance Yrslf Clean by LCD Soundsystem
Jamie Eddy, Feature Editor Money On Me (ft. Anderson Paak) by Snakehips
Laura Tressel, Copy Editor Move Together by James Bay
Dani DeVries, Asst. Feature Editor T-shirt Weather by Circa Waves
Brooklyn Dippo, News Editor YOUTH by Troye Sivan
Tayler RV, Arts & Culture Editor Angela by The Lumineers
Ellie Smith, Asst. News Editor Kiss It Better by Rihanna
Matthew Roberson, Sports Editor Janglin by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Abby Gentry, Opinion Editor Inside Out by The Chainsmokers, Charlee
Kelly Kennedy, Art Director Father Stretch My Hands Part 1 by Kanye West
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April 21, 2016
ARTS AND CULTURE
What Went Down during Foals’ newborn tour lineup KELLY KENNEDY Art Director On Sunday, April 17 The Observatory North Park hosted Foals, an English Indie rock band that hails from Oxford England. The venue sold out of tickets days before the band arrived to perform. The line stretched around the block that The Observatory occupies as people waited in line for up to 30 minutes to enter. The inside of the venue was filled wall to wall with attendees crowding as close to the stage as possible in order to get close to the vibrant aura of the five piece band. Following their formation in 2005, Foals has put out
five records, including their latest, What Went Down. Interestingly, Foals used GoPro Spherical to film their most recent music video for the song “Mountain At My Gates”. Viewers can pan through the entire scene that the video was filmed in while they continue to play, allowing for a 360 view of the mountain scenery and the band members. Their recent music ranges from softer, upbeat songs such as “Birch Tree,” to stronger indie jams such as the classic “My Number” and newer “Mountain At My Gates”. Both were featured at the beginning of their recent appearance in San Diego.
Kelly Kennedy/The USD Vista Frontman Yannis Philippakis enters the crowd during the show.
Foals’ musical style is comparable to Bombay Bicycle Club as well as Silversun Pickups, whom they will be joining for select shows during their current tour. Similar to Bear Hands, Cage the Elephant, Tame Impala, and others, the rhythm and intensity of their music increased as their setlist progressed, and the complexity of their sound developed through their melodic depth. The crowd at The Observatory, dominated by a combination of mid20s to late 40s attendees, reacted energetically to the mood progression as it transitioned from cheerful and smooth to a stronger, more alternative sound. As the concert continued, the band’s disposition mirrored their musical tone as Foals’ frontman, Yannis Philippakis, was repeatedly removed from the crowd by security for jumping into the throng and crowd surfing. Sophomore Richard Atnip expressed how impressed he was with this portion of the performance. “The lead singer of Foals did two stage dives and the opening band had a saxophone solo, I definitely got my 20 bucks worth,” Atnip said. “Philippakis has a reputation for rambunctiousness on stage, as one security guard
Interested in being a member of The USD VISTA Staff? Apply for the 2016-2017 school year! Email: editor@usdvista.com
Kelly Kennedy/The USD Vista Lead singer Yannis Philippakis was front and center for Foals’ encore.
advised press in the photo pit, ‘Watch out, he will jump into the crowd and security will have to remove him.’” Another Torero, sophomore Courtney Coddington, commented on her anticipation for the concert after seeing Foals in this year’s Coachella lineup. “The concert was amazing,” Coddington said. “I saw they played at Coachella so I knew it would be good, but I didn’t expect them to be that incredible. My favorite part was when the lead singer said, ‘San Diego you are absolutely
splendid!’ in his posh British accent. Absolutely incredible. Five out of five stars.” Foals’ current tour includes Coachella Weekend Two, Outside Lands, Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, and many smaller venues in addition to larger music festivals, both in the United States and abroad. The band will continue to travel through October 2016, though there have been rumors that they may take a break to focus on their music following the completion of this tour.
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Volume 53 Issue 21
FEATURE
The USD Vista
FEATURE
FEATURE EDITOR JAMIE EDDY @jamieddyy
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ASST. FEATURE EDITOR DANI DEVRIES @danidevries_
Chella or nah?
JAMIE EDDY Feature Editor Coachella weekend one has come to an end for all those who attended and now the second weekend is quickly approaching. This is the first year in college that I did not partake in the musical madness. Was I a bit sad? Yes, I’ll admit it, but it was a beautiful weekend in San Diego spent with friends, the boyfriend, and the beach. I feel like I’ve been constantly moving this the past month from going to Colorado last weekend, camping in Big Sur the weekend before, and spending time with my family two weekends prior. I simply needed to stay put for a moment, and I’m glad I did. If I’m being honest, I felt some FOMO – fear of missing out – not being apart of the beauty, chaos, and dancing, which all creates such a surreal feeling when in Indio. I often read and hear people ragging on Coachella for the abundance of crazy drug users, people who don’t actually listen to the musicians performing but go anyways, the expensive price tag, and the excessive heat. I’ve witnessed first hand some weird things go down but for me, the incentives outweigh any complaints when it comes to music festivals such as Coachella. Yes, the $425 price tag is steep, but if you enjoy music as much as I do, the price of seeing the majority of the individual performances is worth it. Not to mention, many artists bring out special guests. Also, the venue itself is epic. The number of stages, art installations, beer gardens, and unique statues and places to lounge beneath make the experience that much better. And let us not forget, they make for great photos. Lastly, and not to sound completely ridiculous, I love seeing both the amazing and not so amazing style choices. By not so amazing, I acknowledge the respect I have for people who absolutely rock their own personal style that is not one that I would be able to pull off; unless it’s a flower crown, then I just really don’t agree with that. Coachella is a place to let go of any worries or stresses, and most importantly, to get your groove on. I’m excited to see these next weekends photos and hear stories from friends and peers about their weekend.
Alexis Zenk/ The USD Vista Students, alumni, faculty, and staff join in honoring and empowering victims and survivors of sexual assault at Take Back the Night.
Sexual Assault Awareness Week at USD The USD community hosts events associated with the issue of Sexual Assault DANI DEVRIES Asst. Feature Editor
One in five women and one in 16 men will be sexually assaulted while in college, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. With these numbers in mind, the University of San Diego recognized National Sexual Assault Awareness Month this past week putting on a variety of activities and events aimed at raising awareness and helping the voices of victims of sexual assault be heard. The Student Action Dinner was held on Monday, April 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the UFMC offices located in the SLP room 418. The event was a forum for students to discuss the university’s efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence. The forum aimed to generate new ideas for how the university can grow in its ability to help victims and limit future assaults on campus. The annual Take Back the Night walk was on Tuesday, March 12 from 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. The event consisted of a march across campus, starting in Plaza Mayor with a candlelight vigil to honor and empower victims and survivors of sexual assault. The event also featured two speakers, one of which was sophomore Grace McDonald. “Speaking at Take Back the Night was all at once terrifying and empowering,” McDonald said. “I was intimidated because I hate public speaking and I was going to be so honest about something very personal to a huge amount of people that I see on a regular basis. But Erin was so helpful and supportive in preparing for the event, and I was able to watch Abbie speak before me and she was so amazing. And I’ve received so much support from the USD
community. It’s hard not to feel strong when the strongest and most inspiring people you know tell you that you are those things too. If I helped even one person by sharing my story publicly, then any fear
sexual assault awareness week open discussions and hearing,” Murphy said. “It was nice to put a face to all the resources USD has to offer. Plus, how passionately these individuals spoke about
“Sexual assault awareness week represents a very important problem in our society today. I’m very happy the Women’s Center sponsors events over the week.” -Mary Sutton I felt in doing so was worth it.” Wednesday’s event was called ARTS: Artists Reflecting in Support, and took place in the Mother Rosalie Hill Hall Inner Courtyard from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This showcase of interactive posters, student
their positions was an added bonus. I think it’s safe to say that a majority of the USD community genuinely cares and wants to help put an end to this complex issue, however many of us simply just don’t know how. And I think that education is the first vital step.”
Photo Courtesy of The USD Womens Center Many USD members join in solidarity for sexual assault awareness week.
art, and live performances centered around issues of sexual assault as a way to show support for survivors and empower the community. Senior Courtney Murphy is an advocate for sexual assault awareness and continues to research potential solutions and encourage conversation regarding this issue. “What I really enjoyed was not only being able to be a participant in addressing the issue, like in the Greek life discussions, but I also equally enjoyed going to the
Thursday, April 14 played host to two events. The first was a lunch and discussion titled “Sex in the Media: Exploring Messages of Consent.” The talk focused on the messages about sex we receive from the media, and how these messages affect our understanding of consent. The lunch was held is Serra 215 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. The second event of the day was PRIDE’s fifth annual Celebration of Gender Expression: Supreme Drag Superstar.
The show was held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Shiley Theater and featured seven acts. The event served as an opportunity to show support for PRIDE and better learn about the experience of trans and gender fluid communities. Friday rounded out the week by inviting the student body to show support for survivors of sexual assault by wearing the color teal all day. This also stood as a pledge of students’ commitment to end sexual violence on our campus. Additionally, The Clothesline Project was going on throughout the week. The project, which was meant to serve as a visual representation of the sexual assaults happening in our community, featured shirts hanging all around campus with statements about sexual assault. Junior Mary Sutton emphasized the importance of the weeks festivities on USD campus. “Sexual assault awareness week represents a very important problem in our society today,” Sutton said. “I’m very happy the Women’s Center sponsors events over the week. I think USD does a great job and I love the clothesline project too. I think some workshops and panels might be interesting to have. Many people still don’t understand the reality of sexual assault and more direct education could help. Awareness is the most important part though.” The gatherings that took place this past week act as a platform and foundation for future discussion surrounding the issue of Sexual Assault. This matter continues to be a threatening occurrence on college campuses nationwide. It is the job of USD students, faculty, and staff should come together and work to eliminate this concern for the safety of our USD community.
8T
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USD Vista
FEATURE
April 21, 2016
Volume 53 Issue 21
The USD Vista
FEATURE
9
Students for Fair Trade
Morena’s Moment 2.0
This past Wednesday, April 13, the The Mulvaney Center, The Changemaker Hub, Center for Inclusion and Diversity, Office of Sustainability, and Students for Fair Trade from the University of San Diego held an event known as Morena’s Moment 2.0.
“I had no idea this space existed and I’m thrilled that I do now,” Pluschkell said. “The lot was the perfect size for the businesses, food, band, and everyone who was able to make it. I had a blast and it makes me happy to see events like this one be such a success because it reinforces the notion of community, engagement, and getting outside our immediate campus.”
This unique affair was designed to activate energy around characteristics of “Community and Commerce,” In addition to the food and beverages, several student musicians from USD came to play tunes for the and to highlight the many organizations and programs that seek out ethical creation and consumption. In night, creating a fun atmosphere and energy throughout the evening. The band also helped to pump up the addition, the event helped to promote the small local businesses at the bottom of the Linda Vista hill. models during the fashion show. Our school is constantly searching for innovative ways to collaborate and connect with people outside our The purpose behind the fashion show was to model fair trade products that keep ethical consumption and direct USD bubble, and Morena’s Moment is one reflection of this commitment. sustainability in mind. John Loggins, Director of Community-Based Student Leadership and Learning, spearheaded this event Senior Rosalie Plofchan, an active member in Students for Fair Trade, helped bring together the fashion and brought the vision of Students for Fair Trade and the Mulvaney Center’s ideas to life. show aesthetic. “The Mulvaney Center for Community, Awareness and Social Action is committed to intentionally and “For me, the best part of Morena's Moment was seeing so many people come together from all over San meaningfully connecting with the community around us,” Loggins said. “Truly joining with community Diego and linger about,” Plofchan said. “Something about the energy of the event kept people there for requires us to be innovative and open to the energy already present. USD is lucky to be situated in the hours -- curious about all the different booths, speakers, and entertainment. I had so much fun! I think Linda Vista/Morena District, surrounded by wonderful craftspeople and innovative social entrepreneurs. there is a lot of potential for the future and hope USD will continue its efforts in collaborating and engagWe hope that this is just an opening event that will spark conversation, connection and opportunities for ing with our neighbors in Morena, Linda Vista, and the SD Fair Trade movement.” co-creation. In other words, we want to #DentTheBubble.” The event was held in the parking lot at the USD Electronics Recycling Center from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Within a few hours, the simple concrete parking lot was completely transformed into a space draped with lights and filled with local business stands, food, photography, music and decorative tables for eating. Senior Allison Pluschkell was not aware of the E-Waste resource center and thought it was a great spot to have the event.
Maria Silva, Assistant Director of Community Engagement, is another key leader from the Mulvaney Center in putting on Morena’s Moment. “It is amazing to see how spaces are activated when community members are present,” Silva said. “Morena’s Moment was a taste of how we can transform spaces by bringing community together, I know this seed was planted in everyone who participated and I look forward to seeing what lies ahead!” Events such as Morena’s Moment 2.0 highlight all the time and energy spent on promoting and creating lasting relationships among a community of people that extends outside the confines of the USD campus.
Photos Courtesy of USD Students For Fair Trade
Jamie Eddy/The USD Vista
10 The USD Vista
BUSINESS
Relax my lady, your chariot is here
Volume 53 Issue 21
BUSINESS
BUSINESS EDITOR DIEGO LUNA @diegotothemoon
Asst. BUSINESS EDITOR HENLEY DOHERTY @hensolo_
How to get away with tax evasion Major data leak reveals potential tax evasion and money laundering of world leaders
HENLEY DOHERTY Asst. BUSINESS EDITOR @hensolo_
DIEGO LUNA BUSINESS EDITOR @diegotothemoon Chariot For Women is a new ridesharing service that is similar to Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar. However, its business structure is radically different than its competitors’ for one simple reason: Chariot For Women specifically caters to the female population. This was the untapped market that Uber and Lyft neglected. Interestingly enough, there is a similar app called Chariot. Although Chariot is also a ridesharing service, its primary focus is to provide transportation for large groups. To clarify, Chariot For Women is not the same as Chariot. Chariot For Women is currently crowdsourcing for a new name. I think this is a necessary change because I can already imagine future altercations between Chariot For Women and Chariot. There are some individuals who have very strong opinions against Chariot For Women and claim that it’s unconstitutional for them to exclude men from taking part in any of their operations. Personally, I believe the conclusion following those premises are faulty for a few reasons. For example, the restaurant Hooters is not allowed to hire male staff based on legal grounds concerning “business necessity,” this principle should also hold true for other business practices. Chariot For Women argues that its primary focus is safety of its drivers and their passengers. One example of its safety measures would be the use of a “safe word”. Every time the driver starts her day, she has to answer a random security question that changes daily to ensure her identity. When the passenger requests a ride, a safe word pops up on the driver and passenger’s phone. If the driver says the correct word, the ride may begin. I agree with Chariot For Women in that there should be opportunities for female empowerment and safety. Chariot For Women is doing just that, challenging the status-quo by stomping on the double standard society.
Recent data leakage on the international front has brought fraudulent activity of businesses and leaders around the world to the forefront of world news. This recent data leak has exposed over 2.6 terabytes of 11.5 million digital documents and files, leaked from a law firm in Panama called Mossack Fonseca. These leaked files have thus been coined the Panama Papers. Data leakage is a problem that students and faculty at the University of San Diego have been warned about in recent months. With the recent risk of phishing scams that were aimed at the USD community, students have become aware about the dangers of releasing personal information. According to the New York Times, the papers reveal that a large number of businesses and people of considerable influence and wealth are suspected to be holding bank accounts in offshore locations in order to avoid being hit with high taxes. The suspects include various international politicians, companies, crime leaders, and celebrities such as several associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin; family members of Chinese President Xi Jinping; Mauricio Macri, the President of Argentina; Salman, King of Saudi Arabia; Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson, Prime Minister of Iceland; soccer player Lionel Messi; as well as actor Jackie Chan. The list of people is growing as the documents are continually being analyzed by various sources, and many more names are expected to be uncovered. These individuals are suspected of storing wealth in offshore companies known as shell companies—inactive businesses without significant assets that are used for a variety of financial reasons. Using offshore shell companies to hold money is not in itself illegal. However, these offshore companies make it easier for white collar crimes to be committed, such as money laundering and tax evasion. This is why the countless businesses and individuals listed in the Panama Papers are under so much scrutiny. Senior Maxine Velez shared her thoughts on the data leak. “My initial reaction to the
Photo courtesy of Perspecsys Photos/ Flickr CC The Panama Papers, which contained over 11.5 million documents, is the largest data leak in history.
Panama Papers incident is that I am not surprised how many world leaders are on the list,” Velez said. “Corruption is and will always be around. My view on the data being leaked is that if you don’t want to get in trouble and have people find out what you are doing behind the scenes, then you should not be doing it in the first place. This goes to show how we need to place better and more reliable people in power around the world, and a lot of restructuring of financial, political, and educational systems needs to be and should already be taking place.” Junior Alexa Layne commented on the lack of international coverage of the Panama Papers incident. “After researching some
Panama Papers issue just goes to show how easy it is for the wealthy and wellresourced of the world to continue to gain advantages over those who don’t have as much,” Layne said. “I am impressed, however, by the amount of collaboration the ICIJ has done in the investigation of the Panama Papers and the initiative the countries involved and the JITSIC have taken in regards to meeting in Paris on April 13 to discuss the steps moving forward. All in all, I think the resignations as a result of the fallout from the leak of the Panama Papers hints to the nature of the business being done by Mossack Fonseca and its clients.” According to The
“It makes it even more suspicious that so many prominent, wealthy people are involved with Mossack Fonseca.” -Alexa Layne information about the Panama Papers, I find it very surprising that the issue isn’t being given more attention,” Layne said. “The over 11 million documents were intentionally leaked by an anonymous source, making it the largest document leak in the history of investigative journalism. Numerous world leaders, prominent politicians, international criminals, and even famous athletes are mentioned in the leaked documents... It makes it even that more suspicious that so many prominent, wealthy people are involved with Mossack Fonseca.” Layne also shared her thoughts on the involvement of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists with the issue. “I think this whole
Guardian, the majority of offshore shell companies are located in the British Virgin Islands, where an approximated 100,000 offshore companies are expected to exist. A smaller but still substantial amount of shell companies are also presumed to be in Panama and the Bahamas. Based off of the information documented in the Panama Papers, the largest amounts of money held in these offshore accounts have been traced to holders in China, Russia, and to a lesser degree, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Significantly smaller amounts of money are being held by offshore shell companies by people from the United Arab Emirates,
Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, and the United States. There have yet to be any major U.S. banks, prominent names, or intermediaries uncovered in the digital Panama Papers documents. Despite the list of names and businesses that have been leaked through Mossack Fonseca’s files, the true owners of the money stored in these offshore shell companies as well as the source of where the money was obtained is difficult to track in each individual case. This is because the owners of the funds often use other people to sign off the money on documentation, people who may not even be related in any way to the money owners themselves. Mossack Fonseca is the fourth largest offshore shell company provider in the world, and it has serviced around 300,000 of these companies. Despite the major data leak and the law firm’s countless dealings with owners of accounts with offshore shell companies, the firm claims that it adheres to all international laws and conducts, as well as with anti-money-laundering laws. The firm further claims that this massive data leakage was a result of the failures of outside intermediaries such as other law firms and banks, and was not by any means a fault of the firm itself. Data security is integral for any well-functioning organization, business, or school, including the University of San Diego. However, largescale data leaks such as the Panama Papers incident can sometimes bring to light important information.
April21, 2016
The USD Vista
BUSINESS
11
Ya h o o i s e x p e r i e n c i n g a m i d - l i f e c r i s i s DIEGO LUNA BUSINESS EDITOR @diegotothemoon
The once dominating search engine Yahoo is in the process of being acquired by another tech giant. Although it is not yet clear who that might be, Yahoo still has not found a clear path toward a successful turnaround strategy. Yahoo was founded in 1994. Despite the fact that they began their operations in the beginning stages of the internet boom, it is now ancient by internet standards. According to comScore, an internet analytics company, Yahoo sites are the third-most trafficked sites on the web. Internet traffic is simply the flow of data across the web. These Yahoo sites include Yahoo Finance, News, Search, Mail, Tumblr, and Flickr. Students at the University of San Diego share their thoughts on Yahoo’s current state of affairs. Junior Max Cardinale is a marketing major and explains why he no longer uses Yahoo’s services. “Yeah, I remember that annoying Yahoo jingle,” Cardinale said. “Honestly, how many people use Yahoo as their search engine? I only used Yahoo when I set up my first email like
10
years ago.” On that same note, there are skeptics that think Yahoo lacks purpose. Matt McAlister is a current contract author for The Guardian Newspaper
The latest, Marissa Mayer, is a computer scientist who was one of Google’s earliest employees. Yahoo appears to have the properties of a broken vase, and after almost four years, even
Asian holdings, particularly in Alibaba, the giant e-commerce company. According to CNN Money, the stock market is valuing Yahoo’s core business as something almost completely worthless.
would if she stayed on as CEO until her contract permitted. If Mayer got fired, she would take home $12.5 million: $1 million in salary, a $2 million cash bonus, and $9.5 million in stock that would vest in 2016. However, if Mayer stays and Yahoo gets sold under her jurisdiction she would get to take home three years salary of $3 million, roughly $9.5 million in stock, and about $24.5 million worth of awards for total of $37 million. There is a silver lining for Mayer, Yahoo, and the stakeholders. This past Monday was the deadline for interested parties to submit bids for Yahoo. And according to several reports, it appears that Verizon is expected to make the final offer. Google’s owner Alphabet, as well as Comcast, Barry Diller’s IAC, and Time Warner have all reportedly dropped out of the bidding war for Yahoo. However, if Verizon
Photo Courtesy of Fortune Live Media/ Flickr CC Yahoo CEO, Marissa Mayer is adressing a press conference with Fortune Magazine.
and ex-Yahoo employee. McAlister explains Yahoo’s central problem. “Yahoo has a soul problem, nobody knows what it stands for,” McAlister said. “They never really have. It was one of the things that I struggled with as an employee at the company many years ago. And it makes it very difficult for people inside and outside to know how to help Yahoo win.” Over the last decade, Yahoo has had six different CEOs pass through its doors.
Mayer can’t piece it together. At its peak in early 2000, Yahoo was valued around $255 billion and stock was close to the $500 threshold per share. Yahoo never really recovered from the dotcom bust. After a series of missteps, bad bets, and what Forbes calls a case in poor leadership, Yahoo is now valued at $34 billion, which is roughly a 87 percent decrease in value since 2000. That $34 billion is roughly the value of its stake in its
There has been a lot of judgment inflicted on Mayer’s leadership role. Some
“Yeah, I remember that annoying Yahoooo jingle. Honestly, how many people use Yahoo as their search engine? I only used Yahoo when I set up my first email like 10 years ago.” —Max Cardinale
plays its cards right, the payoff for Yahoo executives and shareholders might be substantial enough to keep Yahoo alive.
people think her salary is too generous and is unjustified. If Mayer gets fired before Yahoo is sold, her payout would undoubtedly be less than it
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12
The USD Vista
OPINION
No mo’ F.O.M.O
Arpil 21, 2016
OPINION
OPINION EDITOR ABBY GENTRY opinion@usdvista.com
ASST. OPINION EDITOR JOAN O’LEARY opinion2@usdvista.com
Kim K. reveals personal motherhood style The reality-TV star raises questions on motherhood and sexuality
ABBY GENTRY OPINION EDITOR This weekend, my social media accounts were flooded with photos and videos from Coachella music festival… and it’s only Weekend 1. Yes, the endless Snapchats and artsy photos were a little excessive and irritating but I caught myself doing something even more obnoxious. After almost every Snap I opened, I muttered something along the lines of, “I wish I was at Coachella right now.” I quickly learned that social media makes it difficult to be satisfied with where you are and what you are doing. Rather, we are amongst the company of our friends, staring at our screens and wishing we were elsewhere. Instead, we should try to enjoy the company we are with and what we are doing. If we never looked at our social media and learned that there is something else happening, the thought of being elsewhere would never even cross our minds. Social media is a double edged sword since that is its purpose, right? To make people wish they had what you have, or be where you are. On the other hand, we need to catch ourselves when we become envious of what is happening on a screen and ignoring what we are blessed enough to have right in front of our noses. Although Coachella may be the exception to this rule, I often find that everything looks more fun on social media. If they have the time to post it, it probably means it is not that great. When I think about it, most of my favorite memories have never appeared on social media or even come close to it because I was too busy enjoying myself to think about needing to send a Snapchat. On top of that, most people post to present an image of themselves that may or may not coincide with who they are away from social media. Nobody posts pictures for the world to see on their worst days; rather they put their best foot forward and share their highlights. Essentially, Facebook and Instagram are highlight reels of individuals’ lives. Try not to compare your story to others’ highlight reels. Instead of spending your weekend wishing you were at Coachella based off of Snapchats and Instagrams, we should try to enjoy where you are and who you are with. Life is too short to be taking advantage of the here and now. And hey, Coachella will still be there next year.
KENDRA RUDD-GLOSTER CONTRIBUTOR Kim Kardashian. Whether you love her or hate her, you probably know who she is. She is an entrepreneur, a television personality, a wife, a mother, a sister, and a daughter. If you don’t know Kim from her reality TV show Keeping Up With The Kardashians, you definitely know her from social media. After hearing chatter on campus about Kardashian and her latest Instagram scandal from both students and professors, I think the issue of women and body image needs to be addressed. Last month, the mother of two posted a nude selfie on Instagram sending the world into a social media frenzy. Not a stranger to controversy, Kardashian captioned the photo “When you’re like I have nothing to wear LOL,” showing the world her sense of humor. Sophomore Trynitee Lombard was completely unsurprised by the picture. “Honestly, I expect this kind of thing from her,” Lombard said. “That’s just Kim being Kim. In the words of DJ Khaled, ‘another one.’” Despite receiving over 1.6 million likes on Instagram, the photo was met with a lot of backlash by fans and non-supporters alike. A few celebrities took to Twitter to express their opinions. Actress Chloe Grace-Moretz tweeted to Kardashian, “I truly hope you realize how important setting goals are for young women, teaching them we have so much more to offer than just our bodies.” Singer Pink also had an opinion to share in an open letter that she posted on Twitter. She began by applauding women who use their brains, strength, work ethic, talent, and magic that they were
naturally given rather than using their bodies for attention. Regardless of how you feel about the actual photo, I believe that Kardashian deserves a dose of gratitude for constantly calling attention to an issue that many would rather brush under the rug. Women should be comfortable enough to embrace their bodies and to
surrounding the nude picture. “I get why the picture is controversial, but men do it all the time,” Mills said. “You see pictures of shirtless men everywhere you go, but when it comes to women, they are scrutinized a lot more. Unfortunately that’s just the way society works.” There’s no doubt that we live in a society where sex
Photo Courtesy of Instagram/KimKardashian Kardashian, mother of two, posts nude photos on her public social media accounts.
express their sexuality in the way that they would like to. Sophomore Jawara Mills thinks the structure of our society is to blame for all of the controversy
sells and women’s bodies are constantly sexualized. However, with this being the case, I believe it should be completely fine for a woman to take charge and display
her body however she wishes. For some students, the frustration stems from the fact that Kardashian is a mother of two. Some think that her actions are not providing the image of a positive role model for her children. Junior Korey Bowles questions the combination of embracing sexuality and motherhood. “I believe publicly embracing your sexuality is quite a courageous thing to do and is left to the discretion of every individual’s good judgement,” Bowles said. “But, it is less suitable for a mother to do so in such a manner.” SophomoreAdriana Hatch also brought Kardashian’s children into the picture. “I would just like ask Kardashian how she would feel if it were her daughter’s naked picture all over social media,” Hatch said. While this is an understandable concern, I would argue that Kardashian is actually being a positive role model, in that her daughter will grow up knowing that it is completely acceptable for her to embrace her body. I personally do not believe that anyone has the right to tell someone what they can and can’t do with their bodies — or their social media, for that matter. A woman’s body is her property and she is the sole decision maker when it comes whether she wants to display it. Women should not be criticized for making any decision about their bodies. Sure, seeing naked bodies all over our Instagram feeds would be a bit strange, and I don’t think that constant nude selfies are necessarily the way to go. But, I do believe that on an occasion that a woman is brave enough to embrace her body, we should applaud her.
GOT ISSUES? WE DO
23 OF THEM IN FACT opinion@usdvista.com
Writers Meetings: Tuesday at 12:30 4th Floor SLP
The views expressed in the Opinion section are not necessarily those of The Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.
Volume 53 Issue 21
13
The USD Vista
OPINION
The dog did not eat your ballot Millennials should end the exessive excuses and get out to the polls
BENTLEY PORTERFIELD CONTRIBUTOR Millennials, what is more annoying: questions about your post-college plans or questions about who you will be voting for in the upcoming election? Yes, politics can be irritating but they also have a major impact on your life. What if I told you that you could have a say in the powerful institution of government? Well, you can, it’s called voting. Not enough millennials take advantage of this privilege. Let’s look past the political clutter in this season’s election and take back the power by voting. As millennials, we are constantly scrutinized for our lack of participation at the polls: getting us to vote can be as painful as pulling teeth. A former political science professor of mine used to joke about what it would take for students to get out there and vote; saying that they would need to be driven to the polls in a party bus filled with free snacks and shirtless models. While this was a seemingly harmless sarcastic comment on his part, the lack of enthusiasm to vote from our generation is concerning. According to Pew Research Center, only 26 percent of millennials list politics and government as one of their top-three interests.
Sophomore and political science major Kennedy Avery shares her beliefs about older generations’ opinions on our millennial voting issue. “Their belief that youth are less involved holds credence because it is true, but that does not come out of
While millennials get most of the heat, it turns out we are not the only non-voters. With a low voter participation across generations, it appears most older adults are just as turned off by politics as we are. The American Presidency Project found that only 54 percent of
Photo Courtesy of Ivan Amezcua/Flickr CC End the scrutiny toward millennials and get out to the polls.
laziness,” Avery said. “It results from us not being settled in a place in our life where we can commit and involve ourselves in our community. We are still forming our opinions and establishing our identities. I think you should vote if you inform yourself about the candidate’s stances on issues; I do not think you should vote just to vote.”
eligible voters cast ballots in the 2012 presidential election, which was actually a high turnout compared to previous years. It seems that many Americans don’t consider voting a priority even though it determines the leader of the free world, our commander in chief. As Americans, we are fortunate enough to live in a nation where we have a say
in who runs our government. Abby Schrader shares another concern she has with millennials taking to the polls this voting season. “I think it is important for millennials to consider their own opinion and not just grandfather what their parents think,” Schrader said. “We need to be individual thinkers and form opinions ourselves.” The winner of this election will have an immediate and direct impact on our lives. His or her policies will influence important matters such as health care, employment, the economy, climate change, and others. A study conducted by Harstad Strategic Research, Inc. found that there are 88 million millennials in the United States and 70 percent of them are registered to vote. With numbers like these, our votes alone could potentially determine the next president. So, let’s do just that. Let’s get organized, vote, and impact our future. Candidates are not blind to our voting potential; in this voting season, Facebook and Twitter have become a bigger part of the election by targeting the technologically-dependent generation. However, it is our responsibility to move beyond this surface level campaigning. The formulated news headlines and sound
bites can be misleading and hard to keep up with. Trust me, I know following the campaign can get tedious and frustrating, but devoting enough time to learn about the candidates’ positions, beyond 140 characters, is crucial to making an educated voter. For those of you who still may not be convinced, remember, you are affected by politics whether you participate or not. Excuses are hard to defend because the outcome of this election will directly affect your life. If you care about climate change, the economy, gay marriage, abortion, getting rid of the potholes on your street, or war, you are interested in politics. If you do not voice your opinion when electing government officials, our country will end up with a leader who doesn’t represent the people. Taking the initiative to vote is one step towards changing the reputation of millennials. Unless we begin to act differently, older generations will continue to perceive us as the party bus generation. Despite our reputation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation deems millennials as the most educated generation in history. Let’s act like it and become the most influential.
Let’s face it: Life’s a DRAG ABBY GENTRY OPINION EDITOR
I get it, we are a Catholic school. This title carries certain expectations, and those expectations bring controversy. Religious institutions always seem to stir the pot because people are passionate about their faith and want their faith to be represented in a way that satisfies them. Now, I don’t believe it is wrong to be passionate about your faith. However, I do not think one’s religious beliefs should harm other people, clubs, organizations, and what they choose to stand for. Last Thursday, April 14, USD’s PRIDE club hosted its annual Celebration of Gender Expression: Supreme Drag Superstar V. This event is historic for the chaos it brings to campus and the attention it receives from the outside community. In years past, camera crews and journalists have showed up on campus hoping the capture the drama and controversy surrounding the event. This year, while the event was seemingly more low-key, PRIDE continued to receive backlash from administration, parents, and students alike. Several parents of students around the country
received an email from a John Ritchie requesting signatures to prevent this event from occurring. “This is a spiritual battle,” Ritchie said. “You and I must respond today with prayer and protest.” I am not saying that Catholics such as Ritchie are not entitled to their beliefs. However, I do believe that they should not let the way they view the world prevent others to stand for what they believe in and choose to represent. In contrast to Ritchie, many USD Catholic students proudly support the event to exemplify their religious standard of love and compassion toward others while holding judgment from those that are different. First year Megan McDonell opens up about why she was able to support the performers in the drag show while exercising her Catholic values. “I would say that most of my friends who are also devout practicing Christians and Catholics [who went to the drag show] may not 100 percent be able to identify with the values that encompassed the show,” McDonell said. “However, they supported the drag show to demonstrate love and acceptance toward others.”
The thing is, events put on by organizations such as USD PRIDE tend to be some of the most enjoyable because each person involved has poured their heart and soul into having a positive outcome. These performers are aware that what they are
to be. This should not be taken away from them by people who disagree based off of their own standards. Megan McDonell shares how her experience at the drag show was an uplifting experience for her and those around her.
Photo Courtesy of Cory Immele The drag Queens and Kings pose after the show.
doing is challenging and risky and yet they commit to the performance and genuinely hope to show everyone a good time. Those involved are not looking to stir the pot and create chaos, the outsiders are the ones doing that. These people just want to celebrate what they are proud of while embracing who they choose
“I think people should know that it is an absolutely heartwarming event,” McDonell said. The atmosphere was one the most animated I have ever seen at an event at USD. Everyone who talked about the show after could stop smiling. You could tell the support meant so much to the performers as well. People should know that the show is
very educational and just an overall amazing experience.” As a so-called Changemaker campus, USD and its student body should welcome and encourage these special events that come to campus. We are in a special position to exemplify what it means to accept others regardless of your own beliefs. It can be frustrating and discouraging to watch others suffer for what they believe in while others are put on a pedestal for standing up for their beliefs. To create an equal mentality amongst our student body, we should encourage and support others by practicing love and acceptance. McDonell shares her frustrations on the antidrag movement on campus. “If USD truly wants to be a welcoming atmosphere that says they support acceptance, then I do not understand why this rule still holds,” McDonell said. Standing for your personal beliefs and opinions is an important aspect of the college growing experience. When students, members of the community, clubs, and other organizations prevent this from happening, they take away the ability for others to grow in their own way.
The views expressed in the Opinion section are not necessarily those of The Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.
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USD Vista
SPORTS April 13
Volume 53 Issue 21
SPORTS
SPORTS EDITOR MATTHEW ROBERSON @mroberson22
California heats up for playoff season
NOAH HILTON Contributor April 13 will no doubt live on in the minds of columnists, bloggers, and editors as one of the darkest days in the history of sports writing. They had finally been exposed. Blank pages and empty screens tempted them, endlessly and mockingly. The ineffable nature of the night had rendered them utterly unqualified for the task at hand. Words had finally let them down. One of the greatest basketball players — no, athletes — in history, finally, indelibly, and indisputably tattooed his name into the annals of sporting lore. None of us actually saw this coming, as we prepared instead for the emotional farewell into a microphone after the final whistle. Lesson learned: never doubt a man who over 20 illustrious seasons in purple and gold has reimagined the definition of competitor. Celebrities peppered the sidelines, and yet no one cared. Every eye in the building was focused on No. 24, the merciless sneer of the Mamba locking his face into a stone-cold stare as he willed his team, his franchise, and his city to one final win. Four hundred miles up the coast, one of the most dominant teams of our generation wrapped up a storybook season and cemented their 201516 campaign among the greatest of all time. Their MVP, his baby-faced features a misleading contrast to his sniper-like lethalness from deep, appeared night after night to be incapable of missing. In attempting to describe what happened last night on the hardwood floors of California’s basketball palaces, the typical lexicon of legends — words like “brilliant” and “historic” and “unfathomable” — just don’t seem to suffice. Considering the feebleness of rhetoric in a situation such as this, it almost seems fitting that the NBA’s season finale is best represented instead by the indubitable directness of numbers like 60 and 73, and onlookers are instead left to the far simpler task of aweinspired appreciation. Thank you Kobe. Thank you Warriors. Thank you basketball.
Clockwise from top left: photos courtesy of Keith Allison, Bridget Samuels, and Nick Kave/Flickr CC Top left: NBA MVP Steph Curry. Top right: LA Clippers’ head coach Doc Rivers. Bottom right: Corey Perry. Bottom left: Joe Thornton and Anze Kopitar.
MATTHEW ROBERSON Sports Editor The latter part of April inevitably creates two different kinds of NBA and NHL fans. With the playoffs getting underway, fans of teams that fail to make the postseason have no choice but to pack it in and hope that next year brings greater fortunes. The other side of that is fans of teams who are still fighting for championship rings. These students often take their fandom to the next level, shirking their academic responsibilities and social lives to make sure that they catch every second of the action. From personal experience as a Seattle sports fan, I know both sides of this all too well. For the last 14 autumns my beloved Mariners have been at home while other teams are still playing meaningful games. Luckily the Seahawks have turned themselves into one of the most formidable forces in the NFL in recent years, providing the opportunity to become fully invested in their last four playoff runs. Here in California, half of the state’s NBA teams and all of its NHL teams are participating in their respective sport’s championship tournaments. The Golden State Warriors are not only the defending champions who have the best record in the NBA this season, they also managed to put up the best record in the history of professional basketball. Additionally, their star player and point guard, Stephen Curry, eclipsed his own record for most three pointers made in a single season. Look beyond
“When the team’s ownership changed, and the Monta-Bogut trade happened, pretty much every Warriors fan thought we would be terrible,” - Aidan Davison the greatness of Curry and one finds the less-heralded, unassuming greatness of Klay Thompson. If Curry’s 402 threes weren’t enough, Thompson connected on 276 shots of his own from beyond the arc, good for third best in NBA single season history. Who has the second most three pointers in one year? That Curry guy, in 2014-15. Junior Aidan Davison, a native of Piedmont, California has been a Warriors fan since the pre-Splash Brothers era, when the team was consistently mediocre and led by divisive shooting guard Monta Ellis. When the team changed ownership in 2010, Davison saw the move as a potential make-or-break situation, especially when Ellis was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for center Andrew Bogut in 2012. “When the team’s ownership changed, and the Monta-Bogut trade happened, pretty much every Warriors fan thought we would be terrible because Monta carried the team,” Davison said. “Steph Curry was on that
team and was popular but no one imagined he would turn into a god. The thought of a championship was a long shot. Now they’re world renowned and the fan base probably multiplied by 1,000. It’s crazy.” Despite their allencompassing name, the Warriors aren’t the only Golden State team competing for an NBA championship. The Los Angeles Clippers nabbed the fourth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs after amassing a 53-29 record in the regular season. This marks the fourth consecutive year in which both the Clippers and Warriors have qualified for the playoffs, giving California residents from both ends of the state a team to root for. If both teams can win their first round of matchups, they will square off in the Western Conference Semifinals in a heated battle for state bragging rights. For Californians who prefer the ice over the hardwood, the state’s hockey teams have also provided something to cheer for during the always exciting playoff season. All three teams based in California — the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and San Jose Sharks — qualified for this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. To add even more intrigue, the Kings and Sharks are paired up in the tournament’s first round, making this the third time in the last four years that the regional rivals have duked it out in the playoffs. While hockey is undoubtedly still lower than the other major sports in terms of Californians’
priorities, the recent success of all three local squads has done wonders to bring interest to the game. Senior Corey Neveau grew up in Orange County as a devoted follower of the Ducks. He loves the fact that California’s NHL teams are consistently playing deep into the season, as it brings attention to the often slept on sport. “The Ducks organization has invested money in developing the sport by buying local hockey rinks and supporting youth hockey,” Neveau said. “They have also been one of the best teams in the league for the last few years and that has gotten people to pay attention. Additionally, the success that the Kings have had for the last few years has done a lot in growing the sport in Southern California.” Realistically speaking, the Warriors, Clippers, Kings, Ducks, and Sharks all have a chance of winning a championship this summer. All five teams have talented rosters with playoff experience and coaches who are used to the big stage. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately if you’re a fan of intrastate drama, the teams will have to go through each other to get to the championship round. Whether you’ve been a California kid for your whole life, or just moved here upon enrolling at the University of San Diego, this year’s NBA and NHL playoffs will offer a great opportunity to watch the state’s best athletic clubs try to climb the treacherous playoff mountain.
April 21, 2016
SPORTS
15
The USD Vista
To r e r o b a s e b a l l u p d a t e Team’s record hovers around .500, Kirby tears ACL
NOAH HILTON Contributor
It’s been a confusing season for the University of San Diego baseball team. Ranked among the top teams on the West Coast to begin the season, they have had an inexplicably underwhelming campaign so far. The team accustomed to excellence is now fighting to maintain a winning record. However, one thing is certain about this year’s squad — they certainly don’t make things easy for themselves. The obstacles began with their schedule. The Toreros opened the season against two perennial powerhouses in the Vanderbilt University Commodores, last year’s national runner-up, and the Oregon State University Beavers, a consistent participant in the College World Series in Omaha, NE. While USD went a combined 0-5 against the two teams, the slate of match-ups should have also served as outstanding preparation for the conference schedule. Head coach Rich Hill knew that if his team were to be considered among the nation’s elite, they would have to be able to compete with the big schools. “If you want to be a millionaire,” Hill said. “You’ve got to hang out with millionaires.” This spoke to the positives that can come from playing what is arguably
Photo Courtesy of USD Athletics Shaky pitching has been one of the downfalls of the Toreros this year. The staff has posted a collective 5.54 ERA through the first 39 games.
one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Unfortunately, that preparation has been undone by injuries to some of the team’s most vital stars. After watching sophomore shortstop Bryson Brigman struggle through a muscle strain early in the year, the team has been faced with junior slugger Ryan Kirby’s season ending prematurely with a devastating ACL tear. Prior to the injury, Kirby was one of the team’s premier offensive threats, carrying a .366 batting average that was accompanied by five home runs and a team-leading 29 runs batted in. In his absence, budding MLB prospects Brigman and catcher Riley Adams will need to take on bigger roles in order for the team to continue its push for a spot in the conference
tournament. Adams’ power bat has supplied five home runs and 26 RBI, while Brigman’s speed on the base paths — he leads the team by a wide margin with 10 stolen bases — and solid glove work in the field have helped the Toreros on both sides of the ball. Junior outfielders Hunter MercadoHood and Daniel Gardner, as well as freshman Kevin Collard, will be looked to for needed contributions in the outfield in order for USD to effectively recover from the loss of Kirby. Early indicators are positive, to say the least. A loss to crosstown rival San Diego State University Aztecs certainly stings, but the team rebounded well to earn a series win over Santa Clara and finish off a week in which they averaged more than seven runs a game. Yet the challenges are far from
over, as over the next month the team will rack up the frequent flier miles by playing 10 straight road games. The month of April will close with trips to the University of San Francisco, University of Portland, and the University of the Pacific. How the team performs in those match-ups will likely play a huge role in determining how far the team might advance once the postseason rolls around. With a hole in the lineup needing to be filled and an upcoming slate of games that will take the team far away from the friendly confines of Fowler Park, the Torero’s road to a playoff berth will certainly be an uphill battle. However, with the core of the team still largely intact and their talent readily apparent, don’t count them out just yet.
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The USD Vista
SPORTS
Volume 53 Issue 21
Mary Grabowski named WCC Player of the Week SCOTT TOZZI
Contributor University of San Diego catcher Mary Grabowski has been named the West Coast Conference Softball Player of the Week. This is the second time she has been honored with this achievement. Grabowski was a key player during the Toreros’ three game matchup against the Loyola Marymount Lions, helping the team take two out of the three games. The veteran catcher went 4 for 9, with a .444 batting average and an RBI. The San Diego native is a senior with a 3.1 GPA who will be graduating this semester with an undergraduate degree in Liberal Studies. Her focus is to become an elementary school teacher, where she can make a difference by helping children who are underprivileged financially. When asked about how playing college softball would benefit her after she graduates, Grabowski was quick to talk
about the importance of being part of a team. “Our team’s culture is realizing the impact it makes in the world around us,” Grabowski said. “There’s more to this team than just calling them my teammates. I value the times that we shared together, both as teammates and as friends. They are not just teammates to me, they are also family.” Grabowski also mentioned that her dad has been a positive influence through her softball career at USD. “He’s my hardest critic, but my biggest supporter,” Grabowski said. “My dad is my biggest fan and knowing how proud of me he is makes me strive harder.” Grabowski is also a motivated student who has great work ethic, and a strong belief in positive team reinforcement. She is a welcomed presence in the Torero community and a real asset to her teammates and classmates.
Photo Courtesy of USD Athletics Mary Grabowski, starter of 39 of the Toreros’ first 41 games, is batting .311 with runners in scoring position.
MARY GRABOWSKI 2016 STATISTICS
Hits: 38 Batting average: .314 Doubles: 8
Home runs: 2
On-base percentage: .339
Games played: 39
RBI: 21 Slugging percentage: .446 Runs: 10 *all statistics are through the team’s first 41 games
Photos Courtesy of USD Athletics
Grabowski is known for her defensive prowess, excellent hitting skills, and ability to handle the pitching staff, such as Grace Hernandez (#18).