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Volume 60 Issue 11
Thursday, December 8, 2022
THE USD VISTA
The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Diego since 1968
Gary Miller: ‘The Guy in the Box’ Getting to know USD’s beloved kiosk greeter
suburb in Brooklyn. He was raised by two immigrant parents, his mother from Latvia and his father from Poland. Gary went on to college at the University at Albany in Albany, New York, where he played lacrosse all four years. After graduating, Gary moved to Los Angeles to attend chiropractic school. He then relocated to San Diego and opened his own chiropractic practice, which he owned for 38 years. At the same time, he also bartended at a hotel and taught spin classes. Gary kept this busy lifestyle for many years, until the COVID-19 pandemic hit and affected each of his jobs, ultimately leaving him temporarily unemployed. “I retired during COVID19. The chiropractic business became unobtainable,” Gary stated. “It became a mess to be a chiropractor during COVID19, the hotel closed, and then the gyms closed. So I was unemployed for a couple of years, just living hand to mouth.” During his unemployment, Gary had a discussion with his longtime girlfriend, who has worked at USD for 29 years. “I told her in that period — when I wasn’t working — that I wanted to be the guy in the
ALLIE LONGO ASST. FEATURE EDITOR Whether a student is running late to their 7:45 a.m. class, walking home during dead hours or showing up to school for their morning sports practice, they have most likely received a friendly wave from Gary Miller. Gary is the kiosk greeter at the main campus entrance at the University of San Diego, known for his outgoing and kind personality. Gary greets each passing student during his shift, sometimes even sharing words of encouragement or an endearing compliment. Many could assume Gary has worked at USD for a while, as he is quite a well-known figure on campus, but he has only been here for six months since joining USD’s campus in May 2022. In these short few months, Gary has left a profound impact on the USD community through his unwavering kindness and commitment to making everyone’s day a little brighter. Prior to working at USD, Gary has lived a life filled with various occupations, quite different from the work he does now for USD. Gary was born and raised in Williamsburg, New York: a
Gary, the “guy in the box,” stands outside his kiosk to greet USD students passing by.
Jackson Tahmoush/The USD Vista
USD rugby players eligible for pay For the first time in history, club players can join NIL ABIGAIL CAVIZO NEWS EDITOR
@USDVista
MORE STORIES Idaho murders unsolved See News, page 3
For the first time in history, players on the USD men’s club rugby team will have an opportunity for pay. They are the first club to join the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Association. NIL is a policy under the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) that allows athletes to get paid for brand deals, regarding their name, image or likeness. As an NIL athlete, players are able to receive money through brands, sponsorships or other deals, as long as it is regulated under the NCAA’s specific guidelines of the NIL policy. Prior to the men’s club rugby’s announcement, the NIL
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USD radio live show The USD men’s club rugby team celebrates after their recent win for the ‘Founders Cup’ against San Diego State University. Photo Courtesy of Paul Habeeb
@theusdvista uofsdmedia.com
was only for athletes in the NCAA. Although the NIL allows athletes in all three divisions of the NCAA to make money off of their brand, the NCAA’s rules of integrity, such as unfair recruiting or bribery, still
applies to the athletes. According to ncaa.org, the Division I Board of Directors approved of the NIL policy in June 2021, even if the athlete’s state does not have
See Club Rugby, Page 2
See A&C, page 10
NCAA volleyball tournament See Sports, page 12