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Thursday, August 29, 2024
Volume 62 Special Edition
THE USD VISTA VISTA
The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Diego since 1968
Presidential election heats up
Race intensifies with start of Harris-Walz campaign EMMA PIRHALA NEWS EDITOR The race for the White House escalated during a summer full of surprises. In an unprecedented election, the presidential contest faced a turning point at the first debate on June 27, where a poor performance by incumbent President Joseph Biden raised concerns about his age and health. Although Biden admitted that he did poorly, he remained adamant that he would stay in the race. “I’m the nominee of the Democratic Party,” Biden stated in a fundraising email. “No one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving.” However, by late July, Biden stepped off the ballot, giving way for Vice President Kamala Harris to sweep away the Democratic nomination. On August 22, Harris accepted the nomination at the Democratic National Convention. During her acceptance speech, she called on Americans to look towards the future. “It is now our turn to do what generations before us have done,” Harris said. “Guided by optimism and faith, to fight for this country we love, to fight for the ideals we cherish and to uphold the awesome responsibility that comes with the greatest privilege on Earth — the privilege and
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump captivate audiences at rallies. Photo courtesy of @thedemocrats and @realdonaldtrump/Instagram
pride of being an American.” Supporting Harris is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who officially joined the ticket on August 6. As Governor, Walz, a former schoolteacher
and high school football coach, played a crucial role in securing free breakfast and lunch for Minnesota students. Walz also led Minnesota to become the first state to pass legislation
protecting rights to abortion following 2022’s Dobbs decision. USD sophomore Elaina Phiel explained why she is voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. “I want to vote to ensure not
Toreros compete in Paris 2024 Brooke Raboutou secures silver for Team USA
PRIYA COOPER SPORTS EDITOR Toreros from USD competed in women’s climbing, rugby and soccer, as well as men’s basketball and skateboarding during the 2024 Olympic Games hosted in Paris this past summer. Most of the Torero competitors are alumni who had the honor of representing their home countries, including the U.S. and others, on the world’s biggest stage. Brooke Raboutou recently graduated from USD in 2023 and received a silver medal for climbing in Paris this year. In addition to medaling, she is the first American woman to receive
a medal in the climbing category. Rabaoutu studied psychology and marketing at USD, is twentythree years old and is originally from Boulder, Colorado. Her many feats include being the youngest person in the world to climb 5.14b (expert level climbing range) at age 11 and being the first U.S. climber ever to qualify for the Summer Olympic Games. She started climbing at the age of one and comes from a family of professionals. Both of Raboutou’s parents are former world champion competition climbers and leading outdoor sport climbers. Her brother, Shawn Raboutou, is a professional rock climber specializing in bouldering. Raboutou attended the
University of San Diego in 2018 before taking time off to prepare for the 2020 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo, where she finished in fifth place in the combined event. After her accomplishments in
only my own future but the future of America,” said Phiel. “While I do not agree with all of their policies, I agree with [Harris’s] idea of America and how she treats people. I am voting to ensure that I have the right to vote. I can ensure that I have control over my reproductive rights and, hopefully, eventually have more equality as a whole. [Walz] has a stellar track record as Governor and has served the country.” On the other side of the aisle, former President Donald Trump faced an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, PA, where a bullet grazed his ear. The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed on scene by Secret Service snipers. Although the event led to a brief lead in the polls, the appointment of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as Trump’s running mate received mixed reviews. Senator Vance first achieved fame due to his bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” which detailed his upbringing in a low-income family in Ohio navigating issues of opioid use and domestic abuse. USD junior and president of the USD College Republicans, Corey Jernigan, expressed his opinion on the selection of Vance as running mate. “Personally, I would have
See Election, Page 2
MORE STORIES AI college admissions See News, page 2
Campus ‘rec’ classes See Feature, page 3
Office hours See Opinion, page 6
‘Brat’ summer takeover See A&C, page 7
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@theusdvista uofsdmedia.com
Raboutou breaks barriers in sport climbing.
Photo courtesy of @brookeraboutou/Instagram
See USD Olympians, Page 8
Paris Olympics recap See Sports, page 8