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Volume 59 Issue 15
Thursday, March 17, 2022
THE USD VISTA
The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Diego since 1968
Last call for Torero Basketball Buzzer sounds on San Diego seasons, and men’s head coach JAREK MORGAN ASST. SPORTS EDITOR When the NCAA basketball tournament was canceled in 2020, USD student athletes and spectators realized just how much it meant to them. Last year was tough – athletes were forced to play inside of a bubble, and fans were still unable to fully experience college basketball at its highest level. With renewed hope and having the roaring crowds back in attendance, the Toreros are looking to reach new levels again. Today, it feels so good to be able to talk about college basketball. After so much has happened, concerning limiting the talk about COVID and focus on sports, the atmosphere was bound to be electric. Obviously precautions are still in place, but many of the restrictions have been lifted. After playing in front of empty arenas the previous season, the fact is ten teams from the West Coast Conference (WCC) assembled in Las Vegas, NV to play 18 games for two crowning spots in the March Madness tournament.
March is upon us, so while plenty of madness is on the way, the Torero basketball season is coming down to the home stretch for both programs. Men’s basketball leaves Vegas empty handed The men’s season started with a 103-38 win over La Verne, the largest margin of victory for the team since 1973 to 1974. San Diego got off to its best start in WCC play since 2008 with a 6-3 record. A difficult February schedule, including five games against the top opponents in the conference, slipped the Toreros back to the seventh seed for the start of the WCC tournament. This time around in Las Vegas, the Toreros had something to prove. Last year San Diego finished a disappointing nine out of ten in conference play, and was bounced in the first round when they were defeated by the University of San Francisco by a final score of 67-51. Heading into the 2022 tournament as the seventh seed, the Toreros looked to rewrite past history. In the opening round on March. 3 against the tenth seed University of Pepperdine. The
See Basketball, Page 12
USD Men’s basketball falls to the Portland Pilots in Las Vegas over spring break. Photo courtesy of University of San Diego Athletics
Women in performing arts
Women in different artistries discuss the female impact on the arts ABIGAIL CAVIZO ASST. A&C EDITOR Lights, fame, applause, and beauty — these are the common words associated with women who aspire to have a career in the performing arts. However, women within the arts are more than just performers. To enjoy the arts properly, it should also be understood in its whole form instead of revolving around only the performers. Behind the one performer, there is a whole team of people who go uncredited. This also means highlighting the artists in marginalized communities, including the expulsion of harmful gender stereotypes that come with being a woman in the arts. Historically, men were the
Female artists don’t recieve adequate recognition in the performing arts field. Photo Courtesy of Matthew Ball/Unsplash
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revolutionary creators while women are patrons, simply just the observers who give money to their favorite forms of entertainment. There’s a negative connotation to a woman’s role in performing arts, but it’s
important to remember that being a patron of the arts is just as important as being a creator. For example, many men relied on female support and their labor as patrons to fund their artistry. In general, the performing arts should be viewed in its entirety, which includes a community of patrons, performers, composers, and many other invisible roles that contribute to the behind the scenes. Pieces should no longer just be accredited to one name. Dr. Charissa Noble, USD professor within the music department, explained the harm behind gendering labor. Dr. Noble shared that feminine labor is seen as less important, while the more ‘important’ labor is gendered masculine. “A big part of the feminist project is not to force more women to do composition, but it’s to take down the systems based on false gender binaries,” Dr. Noble said. “The more we focus on how music has always
See Arts, Page 10
MORE STORIES ASG suprise presentation See News, page 2
Anti LQBTQ+ legislation See Opinion, page 5
Spring Break recap See Feature, page 6
Still Woozy concert See A&C, page 9
Sports over spring break See Sports, page 11
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March 17, 2022
NEWS
“Positions in Power” USD ASG senators tackle racism and microaggressions SPENCER BISPHAM ASST. NEWS EDITOR (CW: microaggressions) When the USD Associated Student Government (ASG) convened for their weekly senate meeting on Thursday, Feb. 24, and reached the item on their agenda titled “Positions in power, social justice training,” presenters Chief Justice Sarah Babar, senior, and Chief of Staff Logan Tucker, junior, had something different in mind: a presentation focused on what they claim is institutional racism and microaggressions at USD, and microaggressions within ASG. Attendees, senate and executive members, and advisors were unaware that this presentation was happening on Feb. 24. ASG is a student organization on campus that consists of the Executive, Legislative, Judicial, and Torero Program Board branches. These elected student representatives act as a bridge between the USD community, its students, and the USD administration. As an institution, it is ASG’s mission and purpose to “promote opportunities for growth and expression, address student issues, and enrich a diverse, inclusive, and engaged community,” as stated on their website. Through this platform, Babar and Tucker chose to represent the experiences of their peers at USD, regarding social injustices within the organization and the campus community. As members of the Executive Branch of ASG, Babar and Tucker, noted that being a member of this institution and representing the community is a privilege. “For senators, we wanted to push them because they hold important seats at this table,” Tucker shared. As an elected official who gets paid for their role, Tucker continued to raise questions about what ASG members should acknowledge about their responsibility to the community: “What are you doing with your seat? How are you connecting with people that actually understand the issues that they are experiencing on campus? What are you going to do on the ASG side, is it a resolution?” In preparing for this presentation and raising these concerns, Babar and Tucker claim they acknowledged the potential risk toward their positions and credibility, which they perceived as a possible consequence. Originally advertised as a “training in social justice” Babar and Tucker chose to conceal the content of the presentation from other senators, executive members, and advisors to mitigate the perceived risk of it being “watered down.”
Student leaders Sarah Babar and Logan Tucker present at ASG Senate meeting.
Tucker elaborated on what she believed was put at stake by “lying” to present this topic. “We did lie to people to go up and present,” Tucker said. “And so there was some risk that that gets taken poorly, that people don’t want to work with us, or that no one trusts us going forward, or that the advisors have issues with our positions.” Additionally, Babar touched on the reason why specifically herself and Tucker chose to take on this work. “I think that a lot of people could have done this presentation,” Babar said. “That’s not to say that they should have, or shame on them for not, but a lot of people could have done it… It’s exhausting work. But people are just trying to get by. We looked around and were like ‘Okay, we feel like this needs to be done,’ and that was our way of advocacy.” Babar and Tucker both expressed why they were best positioned to give the presentation. “I’ve worked really hard just to gain the trust of people on campus that they were willing to come and start this conversation about microaggressions,” Tucker said. “A constituent just came up to me and was like ‘hey this is what’s going on,’ and that’s what started this whole thing.” Babar elaborated on her experience as an ethnic studies major, which has been instrumental to her knowledge of the history and meaning behind microaggressions and institutional racism. “I’ve been weaponized by the education the department has offered me, as well as the strong women of color I have looked up to,” Babar said. “They have weaponized me with this information and now I am able to say ‘actually that
is a microaggression,’ ‘that’s disrespectful,’ ‘you’re saying that because I am a woman of color.’ It’s so easy for me now because I’ve done that work, and I have been blessed with the education that I have.” Tucker similarly described her qualifications for giving a presentation on such a topic, as a White woman. “It’s important sometimes to have a White person in the conversation with other White people,” Tucker said. “I can’t get up there and talk about my own experiences when it comes to that type of discrimination, and unfortunately, a lot of White people don’t want to hear the stories of people who are not White.” Tucker explained what she claimed as the presentation’s main objective. “Our presentation is an effort at education, accountability, and a call to action,” Tucker stated. “We would like to take you all through the history of higher education at USD, the campus climate, elements of performative activism, a lesson and reality check of microaggressions, and a series of action steps for administration, our campus community, and our senators.” Babar then clarified the perspective from which they would be presenting. “We are presenting independently of the group itself [ASG], though we acknowledge our positions that we hold,” Babar said. “I understand there are people here today who are nervous about this presentation, who are scared about what we are going to say. I want to ask you and push you: Why? What’s so scary about us? We’re coming to you with intersecting marginalized identities, our lived experiences, what’s so
Spencer Bispham/The USD Vista
frightening about that? What’s so frightening about the truth?” The focus then shifted to the university’s changemaking culture, specifically its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. “How do students of color feel?” Babar asked the audience. “[Dr.] Margaret Leary who serves as the Director of Institutional Research and Planning, reported to us that only 28% of Black students trust USD’s leadership to meaningfully address inequities. Students who hold marginalized identities are untrusting of the admin who have historically overpromised and underdelivered when it came to systemic change on USD’s campus.” While Black students comprise a small portion of the student population, roughly 4% as of 2019 according to DATAUSA, Tucker suggested that the nature of USD’s changemaking pursuits are performative. “USD has spent more of its time and energy focusing on blowing up their DEI [diversity, equity, inclusion] budget and initiatives than defending the dignity and sanctity of every human life,” Tucker said. “Members of our own community, students, faculty, and even senators in this room do not believe in the importance of DEI, which sets the entire institution from growing and evolving at what is supposed to be a liberal arts university.” The presenters then transitioned into the presentation that addressed microaggressions. They defined them as “a statement, action or incidence regarded as a statement of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group.” In an attempt to draw attention to the seriousness
of such statements, Tucker and Babar used past quotes that they witnessed being said by an ASG senator, executive member, or advisor currently sitting in the room: “I tried to be pansexual, it just seemed like it would suit my personality, but I couldn’t do it.” “I don’t get this whole [expletive] pronouns thing.” “No, I’m talking about Asian Asians.” These quotes were not attributed to a specific person. Babar explained why they decided to leave the individuals anonymous. “We are not in the business of embarrassing people,” Babar said. “It’s an optics thing, it’s not a good look for us to go up there and point fingers at people.” After reading these, Tucker and Babar contextualized the ramifications of these comments within the USD community. “Every one of those statements were microaggressions committed by people sitting in this room,” Tucker said. “Microaggressions do not happen in a vacuum, so we have to address more than just the individuals that are saying them. We claim that social justice, DEI, and inclusion are important to us, yet our peers are hurting members of marginalized communities.” The two closed the presentation by encouraging the audience to sit with these comments and with their call to action for student leaders across campus. “We live in a world of colonization and colonialism and as Frantz Fanon, an esteemed French psychiatrist, expresses, decolonization requires radicalism and violence,” Babar said. “Violence in this case is not being instigated, but serves as an equal and opposite reaction.
See ASG, Page 3
Volume 59 Issue 15 ◆
NEWS
The USD Vista
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Holding ASG members accountable
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Chief Justice and Chief of Staff make a social justice call to action
ASG, from Page 2
We must work to challenge the system in place and engage in conversations that end with a plan to actually effect real change.” Courtney Cureton, a USD senior who was in attendance at the presentation, described the atmosphere of the room after all was said and done. “To be honest, I know that it felt heavy,” Cureton said. “It also felt really charged, and I’m intentionally using the word charged because I know there were individuals who were really stressed out. Not only did you feel it in the atmosphere but there was quite literally a disclaimer at the beginning that ‘there are individuals in this room that were against us being up here’ and that says a lot.” In a post-presentation interview, Babar and Tucker emphasized that it was a demonstration by and for the USD student community. “When you give a presentation like this and you’re trying to acknowledge the issues in the
institution, you have to think like a community member,” Babar said. “Not even just as a USD community member, but as someone who holds intersecting marginalized identities. This is inherently my community [and] these are my friends, and if anyone comes for my friends or makes their experience at an institution uncomfortable, it’s my responsibility to do something about it.” The two explained the role their peers played in the presentation’s inception, particularly current members in the USD community, ranging from participants in the Black Student Union (BSU), Gender Equality and Sex Positivity Club (GESP) and former senators who helped build the slides and gather research. “We ride for the people that helped us with this presentation,” Tucker said. “The identities that they hold and the groups that they represent, those are our people, that’s who the presentation was for. We got so much help; it was a testament to a grassroots effort of
getting the community together to put something special together.” This effort left many students wondering what comes next, and Babar had a few points for them to keep in mind. “Stay away from being neutral and hold your opinions and actions with conviction,” Babar said. “We have to remember that students hold an immense amount of power and that demanding answers for the way our institution runs is our right…I think accountability across all boards is critical for real change— hold yourself accountable, hold your friends accountable, hold your classmates accountable, hold faculty accountable, and hold administration accountable.” USD Administration was not aware that this specific presentation was happening at the senate meeting, nor were they formally invited to the meeting. The USD Vista reached out to Dr. Andrew Allen, PhD., Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Initiatives, and was deferred
to Associate Vice President of University Marketing and Communications, Peter Marlow, for comment. Despite not attending the meeting, Marlow acknowledged the points made during the presentation. “I think the university’s answer would be [that] we recognize that we’re not there yet and that we want to be good listeners,” Marlow said. “While the undergraduate education is the most diverse and highest quality, it’s not enough.” He also said that there are initiatives currently in place which are working toward the end of systemic issues at USD. “USD created the whole Horizon Project, tied to systemic racism and issues of equity,” Marlow said. “[We] created a whole website about it where there’s funding to address these issues. The Knauss School of Business is [also] out there trying to drive forward the creation of wealth. Our strategy and outreach looks at different zip codes that can pay [the cost of tuition], but also at those whose students
could never afford to come to a school such as USD. You have to have paying students to afford to support those who cannot.” Both the Horizon Project and the business school are ongoing projects with the former set to be completed in 2026 and the latter later this year. The Horizon Project is a strategic initiative that was established by USD with the intention to augment DEI efforts on campus and in the community. Overall, the project calls for the completion of several inclusivity-related goals by 2026 and a universitywide response regarding the enhancement of Catholic values and the expectation for social and racial justice among the community, at the highest level. Babar and Tucker hope that their presentation marks a new chapter of ASG: one where the senators, staff, and administration will be held accountable for the changes they promise. The USD Vista will continue to follow up on any new developments pertaining to this story.
Students provide aid during professor’s medical emergency After a scary in-class incident, students required to think on their feet and act fast COLIN MULLANEY ASST. NEWS EDITOR When students arrived in “The Dawn of Cinema” class on Monday, Feb. 28, they had more in store than what they bargained for. Initially, it seemed that the class would be straightforward, if not relaxing: Dr. Joseph McGowan told them that he was not feeling especially well, and they would be watching a course-related movie for the majority of the class’ duration. At first, he made light of the situation, to put them at ease. “Maybe I walked up the hill too fast” and, “it was warmer today than I thought,” McGowan told the class, before taking a seat for the movie. However, as the film progressed, so did Dr. McGowan’s agitation. One student noted that he appeared sweaty, disoriented, and not entirely present. When their professor uttered something about class being canceled for the day because he was “feeling kind of lightheaded,” it became clear that the students needed to act.
Instead of leaving for the day or dismissing his distress, students inquired about his well-being, asking him if everything was “ok.” They did not get a response, however, because shortly thereafter, Dr. McGowan passed out. “Things escalated, and he fainted. Many members of the class ran to his side, as he started to turn very pale,” USD sophomore Maddie Holt recalled. When their professor collapsed, students attended to him and continued to provide care on the floor, while calling and waiting for Public Safety to arrive. “We immediately called Public Safety multiple times and went across the hall to ask another professor for help. The entire class was very panicked as none of us knew what to do, since our professor was lying on the ground unconscious,” Holt explained. They continued to check for his state of consciousness, but he seemed increasingly unable to respond: drifting in and out. One student asked Dr. McGowan to provide his
own name, or the number of fingers held up, as an indication of lucidity. USD sophomore Tyler Ratkovich recounted the fear that his professor might go into cardiac arrest. “It was like I could see his heart beating through his shirt, and I knew things were serious,” Ratkovich stated. Barely able to open his eyes, DrMcGowan seemed to be slipping away. Students began to monitor his vital signs, checking for his pulse and breathing. One student who took charge in the situation could not detect a pulse, and began to start chest compressions on the professor, until another student with CPR certification could take over. In the midst of the chaos, Dr. McGowan revived enough to indicate that he did not need CPR presently, at which point the class continued to wait with him and keep him alert. One student offered him their water and a Snapple, in case he was suffering from a crash in blood sugar. Roughly seven minutes later, Public Safety arrived and asked
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the students to clear the space, to allow them to take over, and the students obeyed. Outside the KIPJ, an ambulance arrived, and the students left, hoping for the best for their instructor. Holt recalled her feelings of powerlessness to help any further. “Other students and I were in shock and honestly we were just scared speechless, as we had never seen such a thing happen, and we had no idea what to do to help him [at that point],” Holt stated. Luckily, the following morning, Dr. McGowan sent an email to the class, indicating that he was alright and on the mend. He thanked them for their attentiveness and thanked them yet again, upon returning to class later that week. Unpredictable and upsetting, medical incidents are never a fully remote possibility. Emergency vehicles on campus are always an unwelcome sight, but not entirely rare. In times of world unrest and high personal stress, it is all the more important to attune to one’s physical needs and listen to the body’s signals. According
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to the New York Times, statistics show that heart-related medical emergencies are most likely to occur on Monday mornings, like Feb. 28, due to a coalescence of variables including but not limited to higher cortisol levels, from the stress of a new work week. In such an emergency, it is imperative to contact the proper medical authorities, 911, and USD Public Safety, at (619)-2602222. When reporting medical emergencies, Public Safety advises students to, “remain calm, identify yourself and location to the dispatcher, report any and all details of the incident, and stay on the telephone until the dispatcher tells you it’s okay to hang up.” While one witness reports the incident, Public Safety tells others to, “help the victim to a comfortable position, give resuscitation or CPR as necessary, keep [the] victim comfortable, not hot or cold, ask or look for emergency medical I.D, and place the victim on their side if unconscious.” This was a scary situation for all, but students’ quick thinking created a positive outcome.
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 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.
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March 17, 2022
E DI TOR IA L
The NFL has a race problem
Lawsuits against the NFL from players and coaches agree MEGAN VALADEZ
ASST. OPINION EDITOR Last month’s halftime show, which highlighted six Black hip hop artists, was one of the most influential and politically impactful performances to exist. Discourse and conversations surrounding the halftime show helped me realize a much bigger picture: major racial issues are still at hand in the National Football League (NFL) and Black bodies are still treated unequally. A significant portion of the NFL’s fan base has reacted negatively to the endless protests during games, arguing that the NFL has become “too political.” Some say the stadium is no place for political protest and to protest football is to protest America. To that, I would argue that the stadium is a great place for political protest. Football teams around the nation have players who face racism and brutality in their own lives. Minority coaches and other staff have also been disproportionately affected because of their race. The NFL is currently facing explosive allegations of racial discrimination and corruption made in a class action lawsuit filed on Feb 1. by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores on, who was recently fired by the team. He is accusing the league of discriminatory hiring practices. The lawsuit notes that “32 owners – none of whom are Black – profit substantially from the labor of NFL players, 70% of whom are Black.” Simply put, there is not enough representation of people who look like the players in head coaching positions, in general manager roles, and in executive positions in the NFL. Clearly, the system is broken within the NFL in regards to hiring minority coaches and people in positions of power. 20 years ago, the NFL introduced the Rooney Rule, which states that all teams must give at least one interview to a minority candidate for coaching and general manager positions. Though this looks like the Rooney Rule was a step in the right direction, Black coaches have long complained that they are called in for interviews just to comply with the rule, not because they were considered serious candidates. In filing this lawsuit, Flores realizes he is risking his future in coaching in the NFL. Flores
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige perform at the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show.
wrote in his lawsuit statement that he hopes that “by standing up against systemic racism in the NFL, others will join me to ensure that positive change is made for generations to come.” Flores is not alone — the NFL has a history of systemic racism. From 1934 to 1945, the NFL decided to ban all Black players from the league by simply refusing to sign or draft any of them. In 1946, the Cleveland Rams moved to Los Angeles and were forced to integrate at least one Black player in order to comply with, Plessy v. Ferguson which banned segregation in places of public accommodation. For decades, the NFL also refused to give Black quarterbacks playing opportunities. Even if a Black quarterback was more talented, the NFL drafted a less talented White player. It took up until the 80’s for teams to accept Black players for quarterback positions. More recently, Colin Kaepernick accused the NFL of intentionally refusing to sign him based on his history of on-field demonstrations against police brutality and other societal issues. In 2017, NFL owners publicly endorsed former President Donald Trump’s opinion that a player who protests racial injustice is a “son of a [expletive].” From that time forward, no team would sign Kaepernick for any role, despite his well-known skills and experience in the NFL. Viewership of the NFL has fluctuated over the last five years, beginning when former President Trump began publicly criticizing NFL players for
kneeling in protest during the national anthem. In the summer of 2020, players spoke out on the field and on social media about systemic racism and police brutality which resulted in new social justice demonstrations planned for the 2020 season, which included the stenciling of “End Racism” on fields and stickers on players’ helmets. The league’s net favorability rating among Republicans fell very low in 2020. Fan opposition to the NFL’s new social justice additions were on full display during the regular season’s opening night, when fans at the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Houston Texans game booed a pregame moment of silence dedicated to the “fight for equality” coming months after the murder of George Floyd. This year’s halftime show caused even more disruption and was deemed “very politically encouraging” by many viewers and right-wing politicians. The true battles of the show were between censorship and protest. The National Football League is the country’s biggest and most popular sports franchise. This year, 112 million people tuned in for the Super Bowl and the halftime show and it was broadcasted to over 130 countries. It was also the first halftime show dominated by Black hip hop artists who did not censor themselves when it came to politics and racism. Super Bowl performer Kendrick Lamar sang the words to the only explicitly political song in the set. The line “and we hate the po-po; wanna kill us dead in the street for
sure…” was censored, despite Lamar being the first rapper to win the Pulitzer Prize for his couplets in his song DNA from his album DAMN., about police brutality back in 2018. Eminem took a knee at the end of Lose Yourself, which was an unmissable shout-out to Colin Kaepernick and the Black Lives Matter Movement. Dr. Dre also did not censor his lyric “still not lovin’ police” in his song Still Dre. Just because the NFL finally decided to open their eyes and see that hip hop is just as much America’s music as any other genre, it does not mean that all football fans enjoyed the performance and the politics behind it. Being a Los Angeles native and growing up with parents who loved West Coast rap, I loved the halftime show. The performance was important amidst the past and current
Photo courtesy of @nfl/Instagram
racism of the NFL and just further proves that the sport needs to accept all races equally. While it is important to acknowledge that the Super Bowl halftime show was a good night for hip hop and Black culture, it is also important to realize that the NFL still has major racial issues and Black bodies are still treated disproportionately. History hasn’t just repeated itself – it simply hasn’t ended. Racism is not a thing of the past. Segregation and discrimination are not acts of the past. The NFL needs to take coaches of all races seriously when considering them for positions. They need to diversify their administration and executives because we can no longer have rich, white people calling all the shots. NFL, do better, for the sake of your players, coaches, and fans of all races.
Coach Brian Flores is sueing the NFL for discriminatory practices. Photo courtesy of @brian_flores_coach_tcs/Instagram
The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.
Volume 59 Issue 15
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OPINION
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E DI TOR IA L
Record numbers of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation passed
These unconstitutional and inhumane laws need to be stopped MARIA SIMPSON OPINION EDITOR In 2021, the United States passed a record amount of antiLGBTQ+ legislation and the government’s crusade against the LGBTQ+ community has only continued into 2022. These new laws are limiting the individual freedoms of LGBTQ+ Americans, erasing LGBTQ+ history, and preventing happiness in the lives of LGBTQ+ identifying people. The push for such atrocious legislation is unconstitutional at every turn and inhumane due to the basic rights that are being stripped away. Although it has been allowed in the U.S. so far, it is high time that anti-LGBTQ+ legislation become completely prohibited. Last year, 17 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were passed into laws throughout various states, with even more being created in state legislatures, awaiting governor approval. And while we, the public, only see the 17
horrendous bills that come to fruition, there were over 250 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that were originally introduced in 2021. The effects of these proposed bills include the prevention of transgender youth from participating on sports teams of their gender identity, the right for someone to use religious belief as reason to refuse service to anyone they disapprove of (meaning the LGBTQ+ community) and the prevention of transgender youth accessing quality healthcare appropriate to their gender identity. These are only some of the kinds of bans and limits that state legislation is putting on LGBTQ+ citizens. LGBTQ+ citizens have never had it easy in the U.S; samesex marriage was legalized by the Supreme Court just seven years ago and protection against discrimination was extended to transgender people in 2020. And although these steps have been made they are coming far too late and far too few. For every victory there
seems to be dozens of losses. Among these losses are even more anti-LGBTQ+ bills that are suffocating human rights. In Tennessee, HB 800 recently passed. This bill prohibits any mention of LGBTQ+ people, history, or issues in educational materials. Florida passed a bill that is being referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill which, once again, makes it illegal to teach about any LGBTQ+ topic in schools. Furthermore, this bill also prohibits students from talking about any LGBTQ+ identifying parents, siblings, friends, etc. that they may have in class. The final and hardest blow is the requirement that schools must out students to their families within six weeks of learning that they are LGBTQ+. In Texas, matters are even worse. In February, Texas Governor, Greg Abbot, asked Family and Protective Services to investigate all transgender youths in the state. When they find a child who openly identifies as trans, their parents
are prosecuted as child abusers. Abbot has also directed all teachers, doctors, and caregivers to report any trans youth that they come in contact with. This is referred to as “duty to report” and refusing to do so can result in the loss of one’s job. All of these bills, and the many others that I haven’t mentioned, are incredibly harmful. Limiting education and erasing history continues to create ignorant and close-minded individuals. It is so important that LGBTQ+ history be taught in schools so that students have an understanding of more than one side of history and they can see the damage that has been done to the LGBTQ+ community in the past. Only then can we grow as a nation and move forward. I cannot fathom the requirement for schools to out their students or for parents of transgender children to be called abusive. Outing a student to their family could result in physical harm to that student or complete rejection
from their family, forcing that child into a dangerous and dire situation. LGBTQ+ individuals, especially transgender people, are already at a much higher risk of mental health problems and this only makes that issue worse. If a parent is supportive of their child and accepts them as they are, they should not be prosecuted for ensuring their child’s happiness. Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is inhumane and unconstitutional. The U.S. Constitution boasts that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Silencing LGBTQ+ voices, shoving children away from playing a sport they love, denying proper healthcare, and tearing apart families does not allow for this centuries old promise to hold true for LGBTQ+ American citizens. This kind of legislation is disgusting and has no place in America’s legislation.
Eurocentric biases in the media
Ukraine/Russia conflict reveals prejudice by the media RASHNO RAZMKHAH CONTRIBUTOR I remember going over World War II, the Holocaust, and the Armenian Genocide in my eighth grade history class and thinking how wars of that nature could never happen in today’s world; that there was no way millions of people could be subjected to persecution for no good reason. It has officially been eight years since Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula, the beginning of the invasion we see in today’s news. As of Feb. 24, 2022, Putin made the formal declaration of war on Ukraine and advanced his troops into the homes of the Ukrainian people. While war in European countries is very uncommon, the Middle East has been dealing with a similar situation for decades. The topic of war has been so normalized in that region that the media in the United States often turns a blind eye to it. “To put it bluntly, these are not refugees from Syria, these are refugees from Ukraine. They’re Christian, they’re
white, they’re very similar to people who live in Poland.” That is how NBC correspondent Kelly Cobiella described the Ukraine refugee crisis along the borders of Poland. CBS foreign correspondent Charlie D’Agata made a similar comment as well, stating, “...but this isn’t a place, with all due respect, like Iraq or Afghanistan, that has seen conflict raging for decades, you know. This is a relatively civilized, relatively European — I have to choose those words carefully too.” His ironic poor choice of words caused outrage across many social media platforms, leading D’Agata to make a formal apology and clarification later on. Sadly, these statements are evidence of a much larger problem. The claims that the Middle East has always been in a state of war relieves outside parties of any blame in the lives that have been lost within the past decades. A study conducted by the Watson Institute at Brown University reveals that at least 929,000 have been killed in Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq by direct war
violence, not accounting for those who have died due to destruction and disease from environmental contamination. Additionally, since 9/11, at least 38 million people have been forcefully displaced in/ from these nations, as well as Somalia, Libya, and the Philippines. Besides World War II, this number exceeds the total of those who have been displaced by every war since the early 20th century. Up until a few months ago, I personally had not seen any coverage of the ongoing bombings in occupied Palestine nor the violence in the Republic of Artsakh. I was not aware of the sufferings of Yemen and the sanctions that have starved thousands of people. The death count is considerably high, yet the media coverage around it and peoples’ views of it do not reflect the severity of the situation. The Middle East is not European, not White, and for the most part, not Christian. In fact, the majority of the people in that area practice Islam, which is often directly associated with violence and terrorsim by
political leaders and the media. These people do not resemble the majority of those who live in so-called “civilized” countries. Their letters and languages are completely unfamiliar and their customs are seen as outdated and regressive. Most of all, the people of these countries are no strangers to the violence and cruelty that comes with acts of imperialism. Within hours after the official declaration of war on Ukraine by Russia, I had seen extensive videos and media coverage on Ukrainians fleeing their homes and being welcomed by neighboring countries. Partly because now war is taking place in a predominantly White, Christian country as opposed to “uncivilized” Muslim nations in the Middle East. An interviewee on BBCWorld said the following statement; “it’s very emotional for me because I see European people with blue eyes and blonde hair being killed…” which implies that these deaths hold more value than others because the people involved have certain features. The blatant racism and bigotry doesn’t end with war and
knows no boundaries. These events have proved that there is a bias when it comes to not only media coverage but also matters of refugees and support involving those who are visibly European. War crimes and the attention they receive should not be determined based on what communities are involved or what features the victims have, but rather the severity and the impacts of them. The hypocrisy can only run so deep before leaders can be held accountable for their actions and the propaganda they use to justify ferocity, racism, and xenophobia in vulnerable nations of the Middle East and other parts of Asia. Elite-selected media can be very limiting, which is why I urge everyone to step outside of their bubble and seek the realities of current events around the world by holding open discussions, being involved with the democratic system, and calling out prejudice against marginalized groups by the media and political leaders. Change and a new mindset towards the rest of the world can develop right here at home.
The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.
Offt h e o
US Ds t u d e n t sr e f l e c t o nt h e i rmu c h n e e d e dt i me o f fa st h e ys e t t l eb a c ki n t ot h es p r i n gs e me s t e r .
“ Du r i n gt h ef i r s t we e k e n do fb r e a k , Iwe n t t o Un i v e r s a l S t u d i o si nL Awi t hmyf r i e n d s . I s p e n t t h er e s t o fmyb r e a kv i s i t i n gf a mi l yi n C o l o r a d oa n dh a n g i n go u t wi t hmyd o g s !I t ’ s b e e nan i c eb r e a kf r o ms c h o o l . ”
“ Is p e n t t h ew f r i e n d swh e r e t i mei ny e a r s . p a r t a k ei nd r i n gwi t hs o me d e f i n i t e l yam
-Ma c yUf l i n g( S e n i o r )
-C o l i n ( S o p h
“ Ima i n l ys p e n t my s p r i n gb r e a kwo r k i n g a n dg o i n gt ot h eg y m. Ia l s owe n t t ot h eVa n Go g hs h o wi nDe l Ma r . I t wa sa ma z i n g ! ”
-Va n e s s aGo me z( J u n i o r )
J a s mi nZ h e n g( J u n i o r ) “ If l e wt oVa n c o u v e rt ome e t myb e s t f r i e n dd u r i n gs p r i n gb r e a k . I h a d n ’ t s e e nh e rs i n c et h ep a n d e mi cs t a r t e d , s oi t wa ss u c han i c e t r i pt o g e t h e r . Wes p e n t al o t o fi t s i g h t s e e i n ga n dl i s t e n i n gt o mu s i c . In o wf e e l e n e r g e t i ca n dr e a d yt ot a k eo nt h er e s t o ft h es e me s t e r . ”
ewe e k e n di nB i gB e a rwi t hs o mec l o s e e r eIe x p e r i e n c e ds n o wf a l l f o rt h ef i r s t r s . F r o mt h e r e , Iv i s i t e dL o sAn g e l e st o d r a gk a r a o k ea n dc e l e b r i t yh o u s e h u n t meo t h e rUS Ds t u d e n t s . Ov e r a l l , i t wa s mu c h n e e d e db r e a k . ”
l i nR i c h a r d s o n p h o mo r e )
“ Iwe n t o nar o a dt r i pt oac a mp s i t en e a rT e me c u l awi t hmyd o g a n ds o meo fmyg o o df r i e n d s d u r i n gs p r i n gb r e a k . Wes p e n t mo s t o ft h et i mea r o u n dt h ef i r e b e c a u s ei t wa ss oc o l d ! ”
-C o l b yC r i s p e n o ( S o p h o mo r e )
B r o o k l y nHa r r e l ( F i r s t y e a r ) “ F o rs p r i n gb r e a k , myf r i e n d sa n dId e c i d e dt og ot oF l o r i d a ! Wes p e n t t i mei nWe s t P a l m, K e yWe s t , a n dMi a mi . We s p e n t at o no ft i mei nt h es u n , wh e t h e ro nt h eb o a t , b yt h e p o o l , o ra t t h eb e a c ha n di nt h eo c e a n . I t wa ss of u ng e t t i n g t oe x p l o r et h ed i f f e r e n t c i t i e sa n dwa l ka r o u n di nt h e wa r mt h . T h ef o o dweh a dwa sd e l i c i o u s , a n di t wa sa l wa y s f u ng e t t i n gt oh a n go u t wi t he v e r y o n e . I t wa sd e f i n i t e l ya g r e a t s p r i n gb r e a kt r i pf i l l e dwi t hc o u n t l e s sme mo r i e s ! ”
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The USD Vista
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March 17, 2022
FEATURE AR TS &
The first in the family
Stories of first-generation students at USD RACHEL CEPE CONTRIBUTOR Most USD students follow a lineage of parents and relatives who have a college degree to their name. They have the opportunity to ask their parents about their experiences in college, whether that be with what classes they took or what extracurricular activities they participated in. However, first-generation students do not have the luxury of having the same opportunities as most USD students, making their college experiences a fully independent endeavor. First-generation college students are students whose parents did not finish a four-year college education or even obtain a degree. Once these students graduate, they will be the first in their families to achieve a higherlevel education. According to the Hughes Administration Center, USD accepted 228 firstgeneration students as first-years in the Fall of 2021. These firstyear students join all the other first-generation students already on campus in hopes of succeeding in and out of the classroom. Being the first in his family to attend college, first-year Brandon Griffin explained some of the difficulties he faced even before the school year began.
First-gen students Brandon Griffin and Naliyah Edwards. Photos courtesy of Brandon Griffin / Photo courtesy of Naliyah Edwards
“The main difficulty was figuring out financial aid and figuring out the package,” Griffin said. “This was the first time in my family anyone has seen a financial aid packet.” Griffin described himself as the “guinea pig” of the family, meaning he had to go the extra step to find guidance in the college enrollment process since his family had no prior experience. Griffin found it difficult to curate his schedule, considering how different a high school schedule is from a college one. However, through this experience, Griffin learned to never be afraid of asking
questions. He received abundant help and advice from his friends and campus resources, such as the Commuter Commons, which is a space just for commuter students to connect with each other and commuter assistants. “They are very supportive, meaning that if I ever have an issue or have a question, I can go to anyone in that room, and they will always help me no matter what,” Griffin said. USD sophomore Naliyah Edwards is a proud firstgeneration student with many self-established accomplishments. Edwards is involved in multiple clubs and is a
member of a business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, which has helped her connect with many upperclassmen and professors. The bonds developed through these organizations have helped supplement the lack of guidance she receives from her parents when it comes to the college experience. Edwards’ passion and dedication helped her become deeply rooted in the USD community, as she tries to make her time as a college student fulfilling. “It is about getting good grades and doing schoolwork, but it is so much more than that,” Edwards said. “It is the networking opportunities, the different perspectives you get to learn, the different friends you get to make, even the different study places you can study on campus that other people don’t have.” Campus resources such as the Student Support Services helped Edwards not only get in touch with other first-generation students and students of color, but also provided tips for navigating the various struggles she faces. USD senior Tori Nguyen — the eldest daughter and cousin of her family — expressed her desire to help pave the way for her family as a first-generation college student. However, with this desire comes a tremendous amount of pressure and a mountain of expectations.
“It’s not only my dreams I’m trying to achieve but it’s also my parents’ dreams they never got to achieve,” Nguyen said. “Coming to college, I feel like I have to honor the sacrifice that they’ve made by putting forward what they want for me in life, but at the same time, it comes at a conflict because the life I want to live is not the life they want me to live.” Nguyen overcame these challenges by learning how to put herself first. Despite some conflicting views, she knows her parents will come to accept the life she chooses to live. Nguyen has hopes of continuing her educational journey as a graduate student. With the help of the Ivory Bridges scholarship Nguyen earned (a scholarship dedicated to rising seniors), the path to graduate school is much clearer. First-generation students like Griffin, Edwards, and Nguyen not only leave a huge impact on their families, but on USD too. They bring unique perspectives and experiences that foster a more inclusive environment for all current and future students. First-generation students carry a vast weight on their shoulders, and their strength to persevere and triumph through the challenges of their background should not go unnoticed.
Crypto 101: a beginner’s guide to digital currency USD finance professor shares insider knowledge JESSICA MILLS ASST. FEATURE EDITOR From trending TikTok videos to headline news, cryptocurrencies have remained a consistent topic of controversy and popularity. Many favor this new era of digital assets for its lack of government regulation and instantaneous nature, while others remain skeptical about a completely digital industry. Unlike transactions with physical currency, crypto involves sending virtual coins via electronic transfer. But, how does one value something that lives in cyberspace? As cryptocurrencies continue to trend, understanding the basics may prove beneficial. After working on Wall Street for 21 years, Clinical Professor of Finance Daniel Roccato shared insider knowledge on what he referred to as the “future of financial transactions.” “First, to simply explain it, cryptocurrency is a digital asset,” Roccato said. “It has value just like a dollar bill, but without the physicality.”
While Bitcoin is a widely known form of crypto, there are numerous other currencies one can purchase as well, such as Ethereum and Solana. Each currency holds its own value based on the current market. The market is controlled by the buyers and sellers of said currencies, referred to as “traders.” The price of these digital currencies fluctuate daily based on supply and demand: the more buyers, the higher the prices climb. For example, on Nov. 2021, one Bitcoin valued at an all time high of $68,000. Whereas on March 13, 2022, one Bitcoin valued at $38,700. There are varying reasons to invest in the world of cryptos. Professor Roccato explained the two main functions of cryptocurrency that foster this appeal. “They hold what’s referred to as transactional value,” Roccato said. “Just as one can use a debit card to purchase a coffee at Aroma’s, theoretically a cryptocurrency can do this too.” Although, according to Roccato, we’re not quite there yet.
Cryptocurrency continues to grow in popularity and public interest. Photo courtesy of Bermix Studio/Unsplash
“There aren’t many merchants that accept cryptocurrencies yet. But as we look into the future, more and more of our transactions will be done using these currencies.” The second function pertains to cryptocurrency’s “speculative nature.” “This is the idea that you can buy a crypto today and hope it goes up in value tomorrow,” Roccato said. “The vast majority of purchasing stock is speculative.” Overall, Roccato has found that traders invest in cryptocurrency for two main reasons. “One, it’s cheap. Two, it’s fast,” Roccato said.
Just as one may hold credit cards in their purse, cryptos are similarly stored in a digital wallet. “By opening a brokerage account you create a digital wallet,” Roccato said. “Today, this can be done on platforms like Paypal or Coinbase where traders buy and sell stock.” When depositing physical money from one account to another, a bank is required. This process normally takes multiple days to complete and a banker often takes a fee or commission as well. In the digital landscape of cryptos, selling and buying stock is instantaneous and controlled by the trader, cutting down on fees and time.
For students interested in exploring the world of cryptos, Professor Roccato shared three tips. “Never use rent money,” Roccato said. “Use money you’re prepared to lose if the investment does not work. Stick with larger firms like Paypal and Coinbase when opening a brokerage account. Lastly, start with a few bucks and see where it goes from there, this is my top recommendation.” Roccato noted that while he sees the benefits of investing, this is an industry riddled with scam. Although the transactions are not currently government regulated, he believes this will change in the near future. Depositing Bitcoin into a bank account might not be an option today, but may be a real possibility in the future. While this is an industry that comes with risk and error, understanding the nature of cryptos may prove beneficial in the evolving world. Although cryptocurrency has come a long way since its inception, the new age of digital transactions is just getting started.
Volume 59 Issue 15 ◆
ARTS & CULTURE
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The USD Vista
A RT S & C U LT U R E
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Still Woozy in San Diego A night at the Observatory for indie rock music
ANNA VALAIK ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR You could hear the laid back vocals, ambient synths, and teenage screaming from blocks away — Still Woozy’s dreamy voice literally reverberated through the North Park streets late on March 11, and it was this voice that sold out an entire North American tour, including this very stop in San Diego. Often described as a “genrehopping” artist, Sven Gamsky, widely known as Still Woozy, showed up and showed out for a crowd of excited fans. If you don’t believe this was a hypedup concert, just ask the fifteen people standing outside the venue asking if anyone had extra tickets. Somehow, a ticket landed in my hands, and I knew I had to take advantage of this unique opportunity. I experienced my first solo concert 0at Still Woozy, and this is how it went. Firstly, the Observatory, located in the heart of North Park, was an incredibly easy concert hall to navigate. The lines were organized, security had control over the crowds, and people were quickly entering the venue without issues. Currently, the venue’s COVID-19 protocols include providing proof of vaccination or a negative test result within 72 hours of the concert. These protocols were heavily enforced as well, which I appreciated. I have heard of some venues being quite laxidasical with their COVID protocols, so it was nice seeing the Observatory actually honor their promises and want to keep their patrons safe. All in all, I had a seamless experience from the moment I reached the venue to the moment I stepped inside. Walking into the Observatory late Friday night felt like walking into anyone’s dream concert scenario. The relaxed atmosphere and crowd immediately made this show feel more intimate, especially since concerts can oftentimes turn into an elbow competition for a frontrow view. This couldn’t be further from the energy at the Still Woozy show. Everyone seemed to stake their ground and stay there, happy to be watching the stage from any vantage point because they were all good. Structurally, the Observatory, as a concert venue, also lends itself to a more welcoming experience. It’s a standing only venue, and the concert hall was designed to have a gradual slant; this means you can more easily see over the people in front of you, which is nice for those on the shorter side. At Still Woozy, whether you were in a group, with your partner, or alone, like myself,
A technicolor night of fun, dancing, and singing with Still Woozy at his concert in the Observatory.
everyone’s goal seemed to be just to relax and have fun. Casual clothes were the common attire, but there were also a plethora of people standing out in eccentric pants, fun hairdo’s, and neon makeup. I enjoyed seeing the variety of clothing choices because it was a testament to the type of fans Woozy attracts; people felt comfortable to be themselves because Woozy’s music feels so authentic and free flowing, just like him. During his hour-long concert, Woozy made an impression on the crowd that was truly unforgettable, and was, arguably, a bit unexpected. If you’ve ever listened to his music, you know that it gives off a more chill, relaxed vibe, like something you play in the car with the windows down. Although his tunes are upbeat and groovy, you maybe wouldn’t imagine jumping up and down to them. However, this couldn’t be further from the reality at his San Diego concert. Woozy, himself, put on a show from beginning to end. His infectious
energy, paired with dreamy tunes like “Lucy” and “Habit” took over the concert hall, and the crowd immediately matched his enthusiasm. Woozy ran around the stage constantly, standing on speakers and interacting with his bandmates. He quite literally embodied the phrase “dance like no one’s watching.” Even though he had hundreds watching, it didn’t seem to matter to him. He was letting loose and having fun for fun’s sake, so everyone else wanted to do the same. Out of countless other concerts I’ve been to, I could confidently say he’s one of few who genuinely looked like he was having the time of his life. I can only imagine he brings this same amount of positivity and vigor with him on every stage he steps foot on. Even during some of his slower songs, when he would play his acoustic guitar, he managed to wow the audience and hold their attention. It was an impressive performance, and his band supported his
Photo courtesy of @faithwinphotos/Instagram
incredible vocals perfectly. Everyone was in a trance in the Observatory, and that was all thanks to this indie-pop star. Although I was alone, I actually felt the complete opposite during the performance. Because the Observatory fostered such a comfortable atmosphere, I felt welcomed by those around me. I actually struck up a conversation with another solo concert-goer who was ironically standing next to me, and we both talked about how attending alone is a lot less intimidating than it sounds. So, if you’ve ever considered having this experience or you just can’t seem to find people to go see your favorite artist, don’t shy away from buying a ticket and going solo. It’s all about having a positive attitude. With regards to this particular concert, it would be wrong of me to say I was pleasantly surprised by Still Woozy, because I wasn’t surprised. I knew he was going to sound exactly like how he does on the radio, wowing people
with his dream-like acoustics. However, what I didn’t expect was that the joy deeply embedded within his music would manifest itself directly on stage, right before my eyes. When he played “Goodie Bag,” arguably his most popular song, for the encore, I watched the glowing pink and purple lights illuminate his smile as he watched hundreds of people scream his music. Hopefully, those lights illuminated the crowds’ smiles, too, because they were aplenty. As the final beat dropped and the band ran off stage, I was sad it was time to leave and return to the real world. The crowds began dispersing to the various exits, but it didn’t take long for multiple screams to pull my attention away from the doors and toward the front. Confused at first, I wasn’t sure what the hype was all about. But, I recognized the blue-clad body that interacted with fans and was laughing and dancing all night. Still Woozy couldn’t help himself; he just wanted everyone to have real fun.
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The USD Vista
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March 17, 2022
St. Patrick’s Day and the science of luck Students give their own tips and tricks to help you strike gold
ISABELLA SANCHEZ ASST. A&C EDITOR Luck isn’t just for the Irish. well known superstitions like opening an umbrella inside, walking under a ladder or good luck charms are often seen as myths or hoaxes. Yet, plenty of people still believe that some opportunities and accomplishments are solely due to good luck. But, is it possible to forge your own good fortune? The answer is you could, but it is not as simple as it seems. It turns out luck isn’t just chance and magic– there is a science behind it. Professor of psychology, Richard Wiseman, has published several bestselling psychology books and studied the “science of luck.” According to Wiseman, luck is all about meeting opportunities. Lucky people create or act upon opportunities in their lives, and not only that, but lucky people listen to their intuition. In his article, “The Four Scientific Ways to Become Luckier,” Wiseman says that the unexpected “lucky” actions come from the subconscious mind.
St. Patrick’s Day is a festive holiday. Photo courtesy Creative Commons
So, whether it’s following your intuition or making a decision that just feels right, listening to those signals might bring you good luck. Luck also depends on how one approaches life; it’s important to be optimistic. In order to follow through with new opportunities, the article explains that one needs to believe that they will be successful and that life will work out well. As cliche as it sounds, if one believes they are lucky then they are more likely to actually be lucky. USD students shared their thoughts on the idea of luck and if it is possible to manifest it for themselves. USD sophomore Kaylee Dundee looks at manifesting good fortune in a different way.
“I am a big believer in karma, so I believe that if I put good energy out into the world, it’ll come back to me,” Dundee said. “I do this by trying my best to be kind to everyone I interact with throughout my day and helping people if they need it!” Like Dundee, USD senior Riley Weeden doesn’t subscribe to the typical idea that luck is just chance. Just like Wiseman says, Weeden believes optimistic behavior is the key to luck. “I think that if you have a positive attitude about something, it’s more likely to happen,” Weeden shared. Besides karma and optimism, there are other ways to attract good fortune. From a penny face up on the sidewalk to a personal lucky charm, everyone has their own traditions and superstitions of getting lucky. USD senior Paige Burton follows many lucky superstitions. “I never walk under a ladder and always cross my fingers when hoping for a good outcome,” Burton shared. “Also, whenever I see a penny on the ground, I make sure to pick it up.” But if the penny is tails up, she makes sure to turn it over and leave it for the next person or else
she believes she’ll have bad luck. Similar to Burton, Weeden follows one of the commonlyheld superstitions regarding luck. “If I say something that I want to happen and it hasn’t happened yet, I always knock on wood,” Weeden said. Superstitions aren’t the only trick for good fortune. People hold onto lucky charms—actual physical objects, sometimes daily or only on special occasions. While some of the common good luck charms are a horseshoe, a rabbit’s foot keychain, and the classic four-leafed clover, people have their own unique and personal ones, too. Dundee’s is neither of those three: her superstition is something that is popular in various cultures and is an
Burton’s lucky charm that she takes with her on flights for good luck. Photo courtesy of Paige Burton
ancient symbol of protection. “I wear an evil eye bracelet every single day,” Dundee shared. “I actually haven’t taken it off since I got it because it is meant to ward off bad energy that people sometimes carry.” For Burton, her own lucky charm has been with her since she was little and it continues to hold the same significance as it did then. “When I was a little girl, I would carry this ladybug crystal I got in Japan in my pocket as a form of good luck, but now whenever I travel by plane, I carry this charm for safe travel,” Burton said. St. Patrick’s Day marks plenty of traditions and good luck charms to bring good fortune. Though many believe that luck is out of their control, science says differently. Luck is not up to chance, but up to you. Bringing luck to yourself is different for everyone; it can mean having a positive outlook and putting positive energy out in the universe, or holding onto a good luck charm or a silly superstition. No matter how one chooses to do it, they have the power to make luck for themselves. Now that’s good fortune.
The role of women in the performing arts Women in different artistries discuss the female impact on the performing arts
ABIGAIL CAVZIO ASST. A&C EDITOR Arts from Page 1 been communal, supportive, and collaborative, the more we’ll see women throughout history.” Dr. Noble expressed awe toward Betty Freeman, a trailblazer for the arts that may have gone unnoticed for her artistic vision. Freeman was willing to take a risk by giving money to marginalized composers who were oftentimes overlooked by other major music institutions. Similarly, Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge was another leading female patron of the early twentieth century. Without her, arts organizations would not be able to legally have joint private and government funding. She lobbied in Congress for the rights of arts organizations to have as much assistance as they needed from multiple sources. USD sophomore Julianna Zheng is a music composition major. She credits a lot of her inspiration to her mother’s constant support, but she has yet to find a woman within her artistry that she can look up to. Due to the lack of well-known female names within the composition field and because all her teachers were males, Zheng feels a lot of pressure to consistently prove herself, especially as a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) woman.
People gathered together at the 2021 San Diego Asian Film Festival. Photo Courtesy of sdaff.org
Portrait of Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge. Photo Courtesy of Library of Congress
“Women have such unique perspectives and it’s so important to have a platform to show how we feel—which is why I’m pursuing music composition,” Zheng said. “You just have to tell yourself to do it and disregard gender because people will notice your hard work and the art’s passion will speak for itself.” As a member of both choirs, with performance as her emphasis in the music major, USD sophomore Angelique Brown does not deny that the performance aspect is largely female-led. Brown attributes a lot of admiration toward Milena Kitic, the lead woman in a majority of the operas Brown has partaken
in. Kitic was Orange County’s local star, but has now sung all over the world in various opera houses. She still keeps in contact with Brown, pushing her to focus on music and opera as an artform. To Kitic, opera should be viewed as a beautiful masterpiece, rather than just a ‘party trick’ to show off a cool skill to others. “Most composers and conductors have been male and those are the ones that not only got attention, but also got carried on through history and became the great works we know today,” Brown said. “For example, female composer Clara Schumann has made amazing work, but is nowhere near as famous as the men of her time.” Brown also described the pressure that comes with being a female performer. Since this field is typically female, it’s a lot harder for a woman to get into the industry. Women
are put against each other to compete for their parts, rather than celebrating one another. Instead of focusing on climbing the ranks, women should empower one another and focus on what’s really important: the creation of beautiful works. For the women wondering if they can ever make a name for themselves within their desired artistry, founder of the San Diego Asian Film Festival, Lee Ann Kim, rejects the idea of fame as a primary goal for this line of work. Referring to herself as an amplifier of the arts, Kim wanted to create a safe space for Asian Americans who are truly passionate about their creations. Society has created a revolving door of female stars forced to constantly reinvent themselves to stay relevant. These are the ones who get caught up in the hunger to do better than their last
project and need to learn how to be at peace with themselves on a spiritual level. “There is a huge danger in allowing our art to identify who we are, but that’s not who we are—our hearts should identify who we are,” Kim reflected. “We should allow ourselves to be inspired, but we can’t forget to connect with your inner-self and ask, ‘What is my story? What is my creative space?’” Kim is greatly inspired by Japanese-American actress, Tamlyn Tomita, who is most known for her role as Kumiko in the Karate Kid. Kim admires not only Tomita’s art and creativity, but also her commitment to giving back to the community. Even though Tomita holds fame because of her artistry, she and Kim keep up with one another and uplift each other as Asian American women. Tomita is Kim’s example of a woman who cares deeply about the innovative, impactful side of the arts and its effect on her community. Although not all women have the same journey as one another within the broad field of the performing arts, most can agree that the gendering of their art is harmful. A true artist, no matter their gender identity, is devoted to the creativity behind their work. This does not mean to disregard the unique voices of women, but instead, should augment people’s understanding of their art. Ultimately, art is a fascinating gift to both the artist and the audience.
Volume 59 Issue 15
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SPORTS
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11
The USD Vista
SP ORT S
USD athletes spring forward Tennis teams, baseball, golf continued competing over break
by another evening of excellent pitching from sophomore Brycen Mautz. Mautz struck out nine and gave up no hits in the seven innings he pitched. The offense was on fire Saturday night as well, racking up 15 hits over the course of the game. In the final game on Sunday, the Toreros ground out another win, this time 7-5, to take the series and put their record at 8-6 for the season. USD Baseball travels to Malibu this weekend to take on Pepperdine University in their first WCC series this spring.
MARI OLSON SPORTS EDITOR Although spring break was a week of rest for many, University of San Diego athletes spent the week playing some big games and matches. Men’s and women’s tennis faced nationally ranked teams, and baseball played in their first crosstown rivalry matchup of the season against the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Find out how they played below. Men’s Tennis USD Men’s Tennis started off the week with a bang, beating the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for the first time in program history. The Toreros came away with a tight 4-3 win. All three doubles teams were successful over UCLA, earning the first point for USD. The singles matches were more evenly split. In the number one spot, redshirt senior August Holmgren came from behind to beat Drew Baird from UCLA in three sets to clinch the win for the Toreros. Redshirt sophomore Sacchitt Sharma and senior Will Davies won their matches as well. USD continued their success on Wednesday, March 9, against Florida Atlantic University (FAU), crushing FAU in a 7-0 victory. On Thursday and Friday, the Toreros competed in the San Diego Shakedown tournament, playing the University of New Mexico (UNM) and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) in a couple of quick fire matches. Currently ranked no. 37 in the nation, USD beat both teams at the Skip and Cindy Hogan Tennis Center. The Toreros shutout UNM, clinching a 4-0 victory. Holmgren, redshirt senior David Norfeldt, and redshirt sophomore Marvin Schaber each won their match in two quick sets to propel the Toreros forward. USD also took down no. 47-ranked UPenn, winning four out of six matches for a final scoreline of 4-2. The doubles teams did enough to secure the first point, and Holmgren, Davies, and graduate Gui Osorio provided the winning points for the team. Four wins this week puts the Toreros at 10-2 on the season so far. The Toreros start another busy weekend on Thursday, March 17, against no. 59-ranked University of Wisconsin. The next day, USD will begin the Ed Collins Invitational tournament with no. 20-ranked University of Utah and no. 13-ranked Harvard University through Sunday, March 20. All three matches will
USD Softball celebrates a seventh-inning win over CSUN to open the San Diego Tournament on Mar. 11. Photo courtesy of usdtoreros.com
Gaels (SMC). The Toreros beat the Gaels soundly, 6-1. After dropping the doubles point to SMC, USD came back in to sweep all six singles matches and start conference play with a win. Women’s tennis plays Columbia University at home on March 18, another key competition for the Toreros.
Senior Will Davies was undefeated in all four games over the week. Photo courtesy of usdtoreros.com
be played at the Hogan Tennis Center. Softball USD Softball began their spring break play on Wednesday, March 9, against the University of California, Riverside, coming away with a dominant 10-5 win. Redshirt junior Madison Earnshaw started on the mound for the Toreros, pitching five innings and giving up three earned runs. The USD offense had her back, though; first-year first baseman Joecellia Roberts turned in three runs batted in, and redshirt juniors Izzy Owen and AJ Kaiser had two RBIs each to push the Toreros to the win. The Toreros also hosted the San Diego Tournament over spring break at the USD Softball Complex, with teams from California State University, Northridge (CSUN), Weber State University, and San Diego State University (SDSU) competing. USD won their opening match against CSUN on Friday 9-7, scoring all nine runs in the first inning. Redshirt first-year Ashley Daugherty and Earnshaw combined on the mound to keep the Toreros in the lead through all seven innings. On Saturday, the Toreros dropped the contest to Weber State, going down 1-3. USD scored their only run in the sixth inning, and couldn’t find a way
to fully make the comeback. USD played a doubleheader on Sunday to finish out the tournament, coming up against CSUN again in the morning and against SDSU in the afternoon. The Toreros beat CSUN again, this time 2-1, in a comeback victory in the seventh inning. However, they couldn’t keep the momentum going into the second game against the Aztecs, and dropped the final contest 3-4. USD Softball travels to Oklahoma this weekend to play in the Triple Crown OKC tournament against five midwest teams from March 18 through March. 20. Women’s Tennis In yet another important matchup for the Toreros, USD Women’s Tennis took down Princeton University at home on Wednesday, March 9. Two out of the three doubles teams beat their Tiger opponents, giving USD the first point of the match. In singles competition, redshirt junior Solymar Colling, redshirt sophomore Elizabeth Goldsmith, sophomore Jordyn McBride, and first-year Claudia De Las Heras each won their match to give the Toreros a final score of 5-2 over the Tigers. USD Women’s Tennis also opened WCC play this weekend against the Saint Mary’s College
Baseball In the first Tuesday evening game of the season, USD Baseball was victorious over cross-town counterparts UCSD, beating the Tritons 2-0. Excellent pitching was the highlight for USD against their neighbors. First-year Morgan Lunceford started on the mound for the Toreros and pitched through 1.2 scoreless innings. Lunceford was taken out in the second after a long delay because the stadium lights went out unexpectedly. Sophomore Ivran Romero took over for Lunceford and pitched 4.1 innings with five strikeouts and no walks to keep the Toreros in the game. USD scored both their runs in the fourth inning. Sophomore right fielder Jack Costello scored on a ground out, and sophomore first-baseman Kevin Sim scored on a wild pitch for the only runs of the game. Redshirt sophomore Connor Thurman took over for the final three innings on the mound for the Toreros, and struck out seven with no hits and no walks during the last nine outs to preserve the shutout. In their first road test of the season, USD Baseball traveled to Phoenix, AZ to take on Grand Canyon University (GCU) in a three-game series. USD dropped the opening game on Friday night 5-6, after a 9th inning winner from GCU handed the Toreros the loss. USD was able to bounce back in the next two games. On Saturday evening, the Toreros defeated the Lopes 7-1, backed
Swim & Dive USD Swim & Dive took eight athletes to the National Invitational Championship meet beginning on March 11 in Elkhart, Indiana. This was the largest group to ever represent the University of San Diego at the event. The eight athletes competed in 13 events over the three day meet, with first-year Abby Muaddi placing highest for the Toreros at 31st in the 100 yard backstroke. Additionally, first-year diver Jane Riehs competed in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Zone E Diving Championship March 7 through 9. Riehs finished 48th in the three meter dive and 54th in the one meter dive. Riehs’ appearance at the competition was the first for the Toreros since 2006. Golf USD Golf competed in the Lamkin Classic at the San Diego Country Club on March 7 and 8. The team finished fourth out of 16 universities, and redshirt junior Charlie Reiter finished fourth in the individual competition. Louisiana State University won the competition after staying in first through all three rounds, while the University of Washington and Notre Dame University rounded out the top three. USD finished two strokes behind Notre Dame. After a rough start on the first round, Reiter picked up the pace in the next two and moved from T-25th to finish fourth overall. Redshirt junior Harrison Kinglsey finished tied for 6th, after a consistent 71, 67, 71 set of scores over three rounds. Redshirt junior Evan Kawai also finished in the top 20 for the Toreros. The Toreros will travel next to the Omni Tuscon National Resort in Tucson, AZ to compete in the Arizona National Invitational Tournament on March 18 and 19.
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The USD Vista
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March 17, 2022
Basketball teams bow out of tourney Women lose to Santa Clara; Portland gets the best of men’s team
JAREK MORGAN ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Basketball from Page 1
Toreros defeated the Waves by a final score of 75-67. San Diego jumped out early and never looked back. Senior Joey Calcaterra ended as the leading scorer of both teams with 20 points. Senior Marcellus Earlington added 13 points and 13 rebounds to go along with five assists. The game was admired by both teams and fans alike. Assistant coach Gerald Brown of Pepperdine congratulated the Toreros performance post game. “That team tonight looked like something we have never seen before,” Brown said. “Watching them move the ball like that tonight to get their guys open for those big time plays, that is what killed us. Hats off to them boys because tonight they were special.” Expectations skyrocketed after that first game, but one key piece missing was graduate student Joshua Parrish. With no pregame report given, Parrish was scratched from the contest with an unknown injury, something that would play a major factor in the contest against the University of Portland in the next round. Parrish’s impact was felt immediately this year as he emerged as a key member of this team. A WCC All-Academic team honoree, Parrish was the only player to start all 14 games for the Toreros, averaging 27.6 minutes per contest. In the matchup against the sixth seed University of Portland on March 4, the Toreros lost 73-55. The game was largely decided by a few mistakes. Parrish’s absence was felt on the court and the final outcome. Pilots’ sophomore shooting guard Moses Wood gave high praise to the kind of player that Parrish is for San Diego. “We didn’t know if he was going to play tonight, so when we came out on the floor and saw him in his warm up, we knew we had a chance to do something,”
USD Men’s basketball competed in the WCC Championship Tournament in Las Vegas, NV over spring break. Photo courtesy of University of San Diego Athletics
Wood said. “I mean let’s face it they are a great team already, but with him on the floor they are very difficult to beat.” Woods finished with a career high 28 points against San Diego as they struggled guarding the Pilots. Never quite finding the right kind of rhythm, the Toreros never led the game during the contest. Getting the ball to all-star forward Marcellus Earlington (six points) proved to be a challenging task that never quite played out. After the final whistle blew, the Toreros left the court with their heads held high and were recognized by Portland’s assistant coach Bobby Suarez. “If you were watching this game tonight you saw a tough San Diego team,” Suarez said. “We were lucky to watch a few extra shots go down tonight and sometimes luck is all you need.” Looking toward the future, Suarez noted what to expect when scouting San Diego. “Don’t take anything away from the Toreros, they are a good team and every year they keep getting better. That’s a young team that is really going to shake up the conference in the years to come,” Suarez said, a big compliment to USD’s team.
USD head coach Sam Scholl led the Toreros for the final time in Las Vegas. Photo courtesy of University of San Diego Athletics
COMING UP THIS WEEK
Sun sets for Scholl and staff Following the men’s loss in Las Vegas, rumors began buzzing about what this team needed to get themselves over the hump in the West Coast Conference (WCC). On Sunday March 6, San Diego fired men’s basketball coach Sam Scholl after just four seasons. Scholl took over as interim coach at the end of the 201718 season and then stepped into the role permanently after the campaign ended. His best season was the 2018-19 season, when he led San Diego to 21 wins and an invite to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). He followed that up with a 9-23 and 3-11 seasons the last two years, and the Toreros were off to a 13-9 start this season before struggling down the stretch. In four seasons at the helm of the program, Scholl went 48-65 overall. Athletic Director Bill McGillis made the difficult decision to part ways with Sam. “Decisions like this are very difficult, especially when it involves people you care so much about,” McGillis said. “Coach Scholl is an amazing man, and he has been a tremendous mentor to the young men in our
program. Reflecting on the team’s performance, McGillis continued his admiration for Scholl. “Although we have not achieved the competitive progress we expected, Sam has poured his heart and soul into USD basketball, and he has led our program with great integrity from day one,” McGillis said. Scholl spent much of his basketball career at San Diego, playing there for two seasons as an undergraduate student, and spending ten more seasons as an assistant coach before being promoted to the head coaching job. “Sam has represented the university with great class, and no one cares more about the Toreros than he does,” McGillis said. “We are truly grateful for his leadership and wish him the very best moving forward.” Women’s basketball out in first round Head coach Cindy Fischer is still approaching each game as if it were her first year on campus. “I’ll go to war with this group of players anytime because I know they are going to give their all everytime out on the court,” Fischer said. USD played in a highly
Redshirt senior Joey Calcaterra goes up for a ball in the win over Pepperdine. Photo courtesy of University of San Diego Athletics
USD BSB @ Pepperdine Friday, Mar. 18 6 p.m. Watch: wccnetwork.com
USD WTEN v. Columbia Friday, Mar. 18 10 a.m. Hogan Tennis Center
anticipated matchup with the Santa Clara Broncos in the WCC tournament on March 4 in Las Vegas, a contest that was physical from start to finish. By game’s end, five players had fouled out — in addition to senior Kendall Bird being ejected — only three starters from the two teams were on the floor at the last whistle. Unfortunately, the battle did not end with the Toreros on top. At the end of the game, the Toreros lost the battle of attrition with a final score of 7986, and the incredible season came to an end. The game took a major shift, with 2:56 left in the second quarter, when Santa Clara senior Lindsey VanAllen, an All-WCC pick who scored 31 points the day before against University of the Pacific, drove toward the basket. San Diego’s Bird went high in the air to try to block her shot, but clipped VanAllen and sent her sprawling to the floor. While trying to soften her landing, VanAllen injured her left wrist and was out for the game. Coach Fischer admired Bird’s gritty effort. “Kendall Bird is an amazing athlete and an amazing person,” Fisher said. “She came over to block a shot and it went sideways for her. It was unfortunate.” Graduate student Myah Pace congratulated her teammates’ perseverance. “I am so proud of this team and what they have accomplished this year,” Pace said. “This team was so special and I could not ask for a better group of girls to take this journey with.” The women’s team finished the season 16-14 overall, 8-6 at home, and sixth out of ten in the overall standings of the conference. As a major highlight, graduate student Jordyn Edwards was named WCC Defensive Player of the Year. Edwards led the WCC in steals with an average of 2.6 per game. Additionally, graduate student Sydney Hunter was named to the All-WCC first team for her outstanding play on the court. Looking to the future, this team is going to continue their tradition of fighting hard and playing as a unit with leadership from coaching down to the newest student athlete. Both Gonzaga basketball teams won the WCC championship this year. Students and faculty at the University of San Diego want to proudly congratulate the men and women’s basketball program for their amazing seasons. The effort given by every player, coach, and staff member shows a job well done. We look forward to seeing the teams play again. next season.
USD MTEN v. Harvard Sunday, Mar. 20 12 p.m. Hogan Tennis Center
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