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VOLUME 54 ISSUE 20 THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2017
THE USD VISTA
INSIDE
NEWS 1-4
3 5 7 11 14
Homeless Outreach Student Transition program
Student-run organization combats homelessness for college students OPINION 5-6
Conquering Coachella
Students flocked to Indio for Weekend 1 and Weekend 2 of the iconic festival See page 8 and 9
Festival splurging
Students evaluate the cost of music festivals FEATURE 7-10
Supreme Drag Superstar shines
PRIDE hosted its sixth annual drag show this April ARTS/CULTURE 11-13
“DAMN.” is Kendrick Lamar’s latest release
USD students react to the popular rapper’s new album SPORTS 14-16
What’s next for Brett Bailey and Katherine Hamilton? USD senior basketball players prepare for the real world
Want to write for The USD Vista? Join us every Tuesday 12:30pm SLP403B
Photo courtesy of Goldenvoice Media
March for Science A Night Without Shelter 15,000 San Diegans joined in a global march last Saturday and combating recent policy changes
Event educated community members about homelessness in San Diego
Dray Wilson/The USD Vista
Theresa Smith, of San Diego non-profit called Dreams for Change, speaks to USD students about homelessness. GLENN MCDONELL Contributor Members of the campus community came together last Friday afternoon to spend the night outside in Plaza Mayor to raise awareness for and stand in solidarity with the homeless in San Diego County. “A Night Without Shelter” was created and planned by several leaders within Associated Students. The
event was attended by various individuals on campus, including many members of the women’s rowing, basketball, and soccer teams. The night began with an address given by the Associated Students President-elect, Will Tate, who set the focus and the tone with his remarks. “Tonight is really about our community taking the time to recognize the reality of this issue which is happening all See HOMELESS, Page 4
Photo courtesy of Johanna Lara
Participants in the March for Science showed off their homemade signs promoting science and Earth conservation.
See SCIENCE MARCH, page 2
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USD Vista
NEWS
April 27, 2017
NEWS
NEWS EDITOR ELISABETH SMITH @elisabethsmith0
Asst. NEWS EDITOR TAYLER REVIERE VERNINAS
March for Science draws large crowds
The March for Science drew 15,000 San Diegans Downtown on Saturday April 22. The march was one of hundreds across the nation which called for stronger support from policy makers in Washington. Many University of San Diego students joined in the march, sporting homemade signs.
Photo courtesy of Shannon Walker
Photos courtesy of Johanna Lara
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Dani Devries - Opinion Editor Taryn Beaufort - Asst. Opinion Editor Kelly Kennedy - Feature Editor Jennifer Givens - Asst. Feature Editor Walker Chuppe - Arts & Culture Editor Matthew Roberson - Sports Editor Noah Hilton - Asst. Sports Editor Dray Wilson - Photography Editor Gina Lew - Student Media Advisor Marie Minnick - Operations Advisor
The USD Vista publication is written and edited by USD students and funded by revenues generated by advertising and a student fee. Advertising material published is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an expressed or implied endorsement or verification of such commercial venues by the staff or University. The USD Vista office is located on the fourth floor of the Student Life Pavilion in room 403B. All inquiries should be sent to: The USD Vista 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 The first copies of the newspaper are complimentary, all copies thereafter are a 25 cents charge. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego or of its student body. Letters to the Editor can be submitted to The USD Vista office. Letters should be limited to 300 words and must be signed. For identification purposes, USD identification numbers and writer’s year must be included in the letter. The USD Vista reserves the right to edit published letters. Any content sent to the editor will be considered for publication unless otherwise stated.
The USD Vista
NEWS
Volume 54 Issue 20
Destigmatizing homelessness at USD
TAYLER REVIERE VERNINAS Asst. News Editor
According to a study by the Wisconsin HOPE Lab addressing food and housing insecurity among undergraduates surveyed, more than 4,000 undergraduates at 10 community colleges are struggling with this issue. The Homeless Outreach Student Transition Program (HOST) is a non-profit organization that deals with food and housing insecurity for college students. Senior Robert Arca created the program when he attended Mesa Community College and implemented it at the University
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weekly programs on how to do taxes and fill out the FAFSA, as well as career development. We try to develop the community for these students and put together welcome kits and finals support kits.” The Torero Renaissance Scholars has about 18 students involved with the program. “We also offer housing opportunities with Residential Life, summer internships through a grant, and we are collaborating with USD HOST and Mortar Board for the food pantry,” Avery said. USD HOST is an official club that was established at USD in the fall of 2016. The organization has implemented food pantries on campus containing non-perishable items that have come from the cash and food drive last fall from
“I started a food pantry for the homeless students on campus and created a list of resources for students to use. HOST is an emergency program ready for people whenever a problem arises.” -Robert Arca of San Diego in fall of 2016. “While studying at Mesa, I discovered that college students are struggling with food and housing,” Arca said. “I started a food pantry for the homeless students on campus and created a list of resources for students to use. HOST is an emergency program ready for people whenever a problem arises. My friends at Mesa College encouraged me to keep the project alive, and I brought it to USD.” Arca explained that when he first approached the project to members of USD, some faculty assumed it was not a problem on campus. To get the information straight from the source, Arca decided to interview several students from USD, San Diego State University, and Mesa College and discovered that it is a problem people are starting to address. “Homelessness is a very serious, very big, complicated problem for those affected by it and for those homeless,” Arca said. “But it is also very difficult for anyone trying to help solve the problem. [Homelessness is a] serious social, cultural, economic problem that affects all levels of society.” Another club on campus that focuses on this same issue is the Torero Renaissance Scholars. Cynthia Avery, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, started this program six years ago. Avery explained its mission. “It’s for former foster youth, at-risk, and homeless students,” Avery said. “We have expanded the program to help more students. We support students through bi-
both HOST and Mortar Board. “I believe the food drive was successful because it broke the taboo of homelessness at USD and brought it to the surface,” Arca said. Avery confirmed that the food pantries located in Barcelona 301 at the Student Support Services office and inside SLP 403 are accessible for any student struggling with food insecurity. Austin Galy, Student Advisor at the Tom & Karen Mulvaney Center for Community, Awareness and Social Action at USD explained certain homeless situations. “Knowing the folks that work on homelessness from a federal and national [level], what we are starting to realize is that the meaning of homelessness has far more breadth,” Galy said. “It is not just a matter of counting but a matter of paying attention to certain factors: are you noticing
Tayler Reviere Verninas/The USD Vista
The food pantries are available to all students with food insecurity. They are in Barcelona 301 at the Student Support Services office and located inside SLP 403. school is very affluent and most students have a high socioeconomic status,” Galy said. “But it is very real for the people affected by it which is more people than what most people might think. HOST has been working on tabling and creating. I think if they continue to have those conversations it will hopefully become more normalized conversations over time.” Arca was invited to attend the #RealCollege Convening
“I think that it is not a conscious thought for most students because our school is very affluent and most students have a high socioeconomic status.” -Austin Galy that they are not showering, or wearing the same thing? Realizing that homelessness could be being permanently stuck in your car, or never having a lease and always crashing at someone’s house.” Galy also expressed the taboo of homelessness at USD. “I think that it is not a conscious thought for most students because our
in Milwaukee hosted by the Wisconsin HOPE Lab to further explain this problem on college campuses in April of 2016. He had to seek legal advice to approve his program and took USD HOST from the level of a student project to a permanent non-profit organization. “I sought legal advice to turn USD HOST into a nonprofit organization federally
approved by the government and the IRS as a tax-exempt corporation to ensure any donations made are taxdeductible,” Arca said. “The USD Legal Clinic helped incorporate the non-profit on USD’s campus. I hope to continue research on this subject and finding solutions to the lack of affordable housing for college students.” Arca hopes to continue research on this subject and finding solutions to the lack of affordable housing for college students. “In my particular case, I am trying to isolate the problem and focus on college students,” Arca said. “The number of college students affected is so big we can easily be recognized as our own demographic within the problem. The problem can even lead to changes in federal government. Federal guidelines for a homeless college student do not exist. My goal is to make it its own category to allocated funds, research, and solutions.” Galy stated that he has had conversations with students who don’t have a place to live, either
now
or for the summer. “I appreciate what HOST is doing because it is very important,” Galy said. “I try to challenge myself and others to be more aware of what others are experiencing. Pay attention, listen, take the time out of your day to step back from all of the self-absorption, and to notice the signs. If you see these signs, just be a good friend to somebody and maybe that can be the impetus to figuring out that there is actually something going on.” This semester, the USD HOST club will be hosting a volleyball tournament to raise funds for increased opportunities to help those unable to afford food on Thursday, April 27 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. by the Immaculata lawn and Saturday, April 29 on the lawn behind Copley library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It costs $10 to participate and shirts will be sold for another $10. For more information about resources provided by the organization, please visit the USD HOST Facebook page or contact Matt Burke 561-568-8216 or mattburke@ sandiego.edu for emergency housing assistance.
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USD Vista
April 27, 2017
NEWS
Students sleep outside SLP in solidarity
HOMELESS continued from Front Page
around us,” Tate said. “As an anchor institution, it is important that we are responsive to the needs of our local community here in San Diego.” Tate then invited Theresa Smith, the founder and current director of a San Diego non-profit called Dreams for Change, to speak to the issue of homelessness and specifically what her organization has accomplished. Smith emphasized the degree to which homelessness in San Diego extends far beyond those who are the most visible and who often inform the general public impression of the issue. “People typically think homelessness is just the people who you see, everyone downtown on the streets in tents and such, but what often gets forgotten is the group of people who remain under our radar, like the guy next to you at the gym who relies on using those showers every day,” Smith said. Dreams for Change operates what they call a “safe parking program,” which provides a legally-sanctioned safe area where homeless individuals living out of their cars can live while they receive the resources and support they need to secure their immediate housing needs. The need for such a specific service came out of the fact that many of the shelters operating within San Diego provided services primarily for those on the streets who had developed abusive behaviors and mental disorders. As a result, a large portion of the homeless community without such needs was being neglected. Smith said she realized the reality of this gap during the peak of the recession in 2008 and took action. This divergent approach to tackling San Diego’s homelessness problem has proved successful in
the seven years since it began. Smith’s vision for the safe parking program has been replicated in various locations across the country and even internationally. “If these people stay with us and continue to work with our case members, close to seventy percent will go back into housing, compared to around a forty percent success rates in programs with other approaches,” Smith said. Following Smith’s remarks, everyone was invited to participate in stuffing packages to be delivered to the homeless downtown on Saturday morning. The supplies were donated by the Sheraton and the Westin hotels downtown and consisted of everything from fresh pairs of socks to toiletries and snack items, as well as stamped envelopes to be used for communicating with family members. The remainder of the night consisted of remarks from another speaker followed by the viewing of an Academy Award-winning short documentary. The film featured the story of a teenage girl who aspires to be an artist despite being homeless and undocumented on the streets of San Diego. Joe Zilvinskis, the director of Interfaith Shelter Networks of San Diego, touched on the stigmas surrounding homelessness. Zilvinskis also addressed how privileged communities like USD can work to break them down. “Most people think homelessness looks like someone pushing a shopping cart, but I can guarantee you there is someone here on this campus who is homeless, someone who looks no different than those you see in your classes,” Zilvinskis said. Saturday morning began with remarks from Dan McSwain, a columnist for the San Diego Union-Tribune and a former homeless San Diegan. He told the story of how he escaped a three-year period of living homeless to
Glenn McDonell/The USD Vista
Attendees of Night Without Shelter pack care packages to pass out in Downtown San Diego. become a journalist who now writes on the very same issues he experienced firsthand. The USD community members who had slept outside the SLP then loaded into vans provided by University Ministry and drove downtown to the neighborhood near Petco Park. A regular street corner on Imperial Avenue was transformed into a pancake cooking station where the homeless could come and enjoy a warm breakfast and the company of others. Sara Zamanian is a sophomore and Associated Students senator who was a member of the committee who planned the night. Zamanian said that she felt her experience serving pancakes was especially impactful. “When you’re spending time with [persons experiencing homelessness] downtown and just being present with them, it really helps to break down some of the barriers,” Zamanian said. “Sleeping outside the SLP definitely felt like an act of solidarity, but it was the face-to-face which made this issue so much more personal for me. It was just beautiful.”
Dray Wilson/The USD Vista
Supplies for care packages were donated by the Sheraton and the Westin hotels for students to pack.
Zamanian also explained why the planning committee had thought it so important to include direct service as part of “A Night Without Shelter.” “I feel like our student body often has a hard time getting out of our secure campus bubbles,” Zamanian said. “It’s important to leave the hilltop and experience what’s happening in our community.” San Diego has experienced a 2.8 percent increase in the homeless population since 2014 from 8,742 to 8,506, which has bumped the city into the top four highest populations across the nation, according to the Los Angeles Times. Zamanian says she is aware of the growing problem and organized the event out of a
desire to make others in the USD community more aware. “I know we can’t solve this problem automatically, but I think it all starts with expanding our empathy and broadening our understandings so that some of the false assumptions and stereotypes about the homeless can be broken down,” Zamanian said. Homelessness has become arguably the most prominent social issue facing lawmakers and volunteers in San Diego county over the past few years. By participating in the acts of solidarity and service surrounding A Night Without Shelter, USD students demonstrated that they are not only aware of this fact, but are eager to be a part of the solution.
Dray Wilson/The USD Vista
Theresa Smith of Dreams for Change spoke to students about homelessness in San Diego.
Volume 54 Issue 20
OPINION
The USD Vista
OPINION
OPINION EDITOR DANI DEVRIES
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ASST. OPINION EDITOR TARYN BEAUFORT
The growing cost of festival season Students justify splurging on music festivals DANI DEVRIES Opinion Editor
When the Facebook notifications start rolling in announcing shuttle passes and Weekend 1 tickets for sale, you know it can only mean one thing: festival season. Given our relatively close proximity to Indio, Calif., many students at the University of San Diego decide to dole out the big bucks to attend the Coachella or Stagecoach music festivals. With tickets in high demand, students normally jump at the chance to attend, hardly blinking at the enormous sticker price associated with these types of festivals. While students normally
budget. For most college students, however, spending that kind of cash requires some serious consideration. Senior Alec Bangert pointed out that the cost of the ticket is easily justified when you consider the volume and caliber of artists you get to see. “If you add up the price of how much it would cost to see each individual artist, the ticket more than pays for itself,” Bangert said. “It’s also a really fun environment to be in and experience with all your friends, especially considering Coachella’s setting, surrounded by beautiful mountains and palm trees. Plus, the cost also includes a variety of amenities. This year, there was an IMAX theater with a really cool show,
“If you add up the price of how much it would cost to see each indivdual artist, the ticket more than pays for itself [...]. Plus the cost also includes a variety of amentities.” -Alec Bangert overlook the price of attending these festivals, justifying it with great lineups and a weekend spent with friends, costs can quickly add up. Between the ticket itself, which ranges between $350 and $400 for a basic ticket, plus shuttle passes, hotel rooms or camping fees, food and drinks while at the festival, and rocking your perfect festival season outfit, the cost of one weekend can quickly total more than $1,000. For some, that may be within
and the most up-and-coming technology as it relates to light shows and visuals.” Senior Elisa Flores echoed this sentiment and noted that planning ahead can lessen the sticker-shock. “I decided to go to Coachella mainly because we had gotten a group together that wanted to go, and it seemed like a great way to spend time with friends while listening to good music,” Flores said. “I started saving for my ticket since the last time
I went, which was last year, so that the hit on my bank account wasn’t as harsh because I was already planning for it. I think for the amount of artists you get to see, the price isn’t bad at all. The great thing about festivals is the ability to see so many artists at one time, and that is worth it for me.” For those that make an annual pilgrimage to these festivals, this type of planning can be key. This can be especially important when planning for accommodations, as prices will be sky-high as the season approaches. Senior Jennifer Stamos mentioned that even though the festival was well worth it, the added costs make it a little unmanageable. “This year was my little sister’s and my first time at Coachella, so we didn’t know what to expect,” Stamos said. “We ended up spending an arm and a leg on a hotel and wristband package. While we had so much fun at the festival, I don’t think the price we paid was worth it. I’ll definitely go again, but I’ll try to find cheaper accommodations. And just a tip for future festival goers: wear sunscreen and bring a bandana. Dust storms are no joke.” For festival newbies, the prices can seem especially outrageous. However, there is something unique about these festivals that keeps people coming back, fully willing to keep on spending. Junior Cierra Kriese questioned the price she paid before she admitted the ticket price matched the production value of the show.
“This was my first time going to Coachella, and I definitely think the cost was worth it,” Kriese said. “I thought it was a bit much when I bought [the ticket,] but I had never been, and once I realized
amount of money people choose to spend on large music festivals may seem crazy, it’s clear that those who attend feel that the price is certainly justified. Maybe next time you get that notification
“I started saving for my ticket since the last time I went, which was last year, so that the hit on my bank account wasn’t as harsh, since I was already planning for it. I think for the amount of artists you get to see, the price isn’t bad at all.” -Elisa Flores how much of a production the festival was, and how many different performers I had the chance to see, I enjoyed everything and would definitely spend money on it again.” While to outsiders the
telling you there is a last minute ticket up for grabs, find some friends, grab your bandana, and head to the desert. After all, money is meant to be spent, and a great weekend with friends is well worth it.
Photo courtesy of Jenny Stamos Senior Jenny Stamos shows off her festival attire.
Photo courtesy of Elisa Flores Seniors Elisa Flores and Alec Bangert attended the festival with a large group of friends.
Photo courtesy of Cierra Kriese Junior Cierra Kriese stops for a photo during the festival.
The views expressed in the Opinion section are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.
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The USD Vista
April 27, 2017
OPINION
Transfer students look back on their first year TARYN BEAUFORT Asst. Opinion Editor The University of San Diego welcomed 1,133 freshmen and 369 transfer students to campus in the fall semester. Now that the school year is coming to an end, these transfer students are reflecting on their first year on campus. For many students, the first year at a new school is a whirlwind of meeting different people, exploring their new home, and adjusting to a demanding college life. Due to resources offered at USD, the transition seems to be made easier for some students. Freshman Tara Zueli, who moved from New Jersey to attend USD, noted her first year experience has been nothing but positive. “I am very happy with my choice to come here, even though it is so far away from home,” Zeuli said. “Now that I have experienced Southern California, I could not imagine going to school anywhere else.” For Zueli, entering the land of the unknown wasn’t a source of anxiety. “I think everyone on campus is very accepting,” Zueli said. “It is not very intimidating for new students at all.” One of the major factors
attributing to Zueli’s fast assimilation to USD life was joining the club lacrosse team. “I was able to find people who share my same interests,” Zueli said. “It almost feels like a second family.” During the first two weeks of each semester, USD holds the Alcalá Bazaar that provides students the opportunity to get involved with various student organizations and clubs. Students find a wide variety of organizations that fits almost every interest. Extracurricular activities include club sports teams, Greek life organizations, faith-based communities, and language and culture clubs. USD gives each new student the chance to have a similar experience as Zueli by offering these resources. Although still technically first-year students on campus, transfer students might have a different perspective on their first year than freshmen do. Junior Madison Samuels transferred to USD this fall after attending University of Arizona for two years. “USD has lived up to my expectations,” Samuels said. “I am extremely happy with my decision to transfer.” Samuels said she appreciates that USD tries the
best they can to accommodate transfer students during their big transition. In her first few weeks at USD, Samuels was a little
upcoming year. They are also given the chance to connect with other students during communal lunches and group bonding activities.
“I think everyone on campus is very accepting. I was able to find people who share my same piece. It almost feels like a second family.” -Tara Zueli hesitant with her decision to transfer. She said she felt nervous and lost not seeing familiar faces on campus. However, after enrolling in a transfer preceptorial class, that changed. Preceptorial classes are typically offered exclusively to first year students as a way to get to know other new students in an academic setting. “I made some of my closest friends in that class,” Samuels said. Additionally, the transfer orientation was a big contributor to Samuels’ happiness at USD. Students come to campus a few days before classes officially start to participate in a transfer orientation. Here, they are introduced to all things USD to prepare them for the
“I was able to meet many other transfer students at this time,” Samuels said. After meeting at orientation, Samuels has been able to remain close with all those people and even calls some of them her best friends. Sophomore Sofia Sanchez had always wanted to attend USD, but decided to go across the country to experience the East Coast for a year and then reapply. “I thought it would be pretty hard coming in as a transfer,” Sanchez said. “Everyone had already made their friend groups during freshman year, so they already had their friends.” Although it was intimidating being new on campus, Sanchez was determined to make it work
because it had been her dream school for so long. “I think what helped me the most was being open to meeting new people,” Sanchez said. Sanchez also tried to stay on campus as much as possible, as opposed to going straight to her dorm room after class. “By staying on campus, I was able to meet more people and get to know the school better,” Sanchez said. One of the privileges of attending a small, private school like USD is the many on-campus activities that occur during the week. It seems like there is always an event on campus for people to attend, bringing students together over free food, discussions, and the opportunity to meet new people and try new things. Just being on campus can allow students to familiarize themselves with the USD environment and other students. It seems that USD tries to minimize the challenge that first year students face by offering resources to aid in a smooth transition. Whether you are coming in as a first time student or a transfer, there are plenty of opportunities to make friends and get involved at USD.
Mission Beach: USD’s second home ALEXIS FAHEY Contributor
For decades, many students at the University of San Diego have called Mission Beach home. These students, usually upperclassmen, choose to move to the beach with their friends and share a house together just steps from the ocean. Before 2015, students at USD were only required to live on campus for their freshman year. This enabled students to choose where they wanted to live after that first year. Before 2013, the main option for many students was Mission Beach, so many would move there immediately after freshman year. However, another option was introduced to the USD community when Carmel Pacific Ridge, a luxury apartment complex, was built in 2013 right across from campus. The apartments gained popularity by providing amenities, proximity to campus, and large apartments that seemed to outshine many beach houses. For these reasons, many students choose to move in there, especially for sophomore year. Senior Erica Shutty said she once considered moving to the beach, but
she has lived in Carmel since her sophomore year. “I don’t like the idea of people coming into my house, as the houses down at the beach don’t seem secure, and I hated the idea of having to commute to USD every day where there is never parking on campus,” Shutty said. She also mentioned safety as another reason why she chose to live at Carmel instead of the beach. “I think Mission Beach isn’t as popular as it used to be,” Shutty said. “I think after all the crime that happens, it is becoming a less desirable living area for students.” Last year, a major crime occurred in Mission Beach involving a USD student. Late at night in the middle of spring break season, a USD junior was severely beat up during a fight in an alley. There are also frequent reports of cars being stolen, assaults, and burglaries in Mission Beach. According to point2homes.com, an extensive website that gives demographic and crime statistics for specific areas, Mission Beach is slightly above the national average for yearly crime rates. That being said, however, it is quadruple the national average for automotive thefts. These crimes have not stopped many USD students
from living at the beach. Junior Barrett Thornton thinks living at Mission Beach is a vital part of USD culture. “Mission Beach will never die, it is the reason people come to USD, to live on the beach,” Thornton said. To his point, there are many perks of being in college in beautiful San Diego and living right on the beach with friends. Junior Davey Andrew, who is originally from Hawaii, attested to these perks. Andrew said he loves living at the beach now that he is in San Diego. “There is nothing like playing spike ball and tossing around the old football with
the boys,” Andrew said. “The beach is more than a residence; it is a way of life.” Many students seem to share this sentiment. The Carmel apartments have also raised their arguably pricey rent. This has caused many students to move out and look for other housing options that are cheaper and more studentfriendly. Some students have moved downtown or to Pacific Beach. More often than not, if they don’t end up at Carmel or stay on campus, students still move to Mission Beach. Mission Beach has been a staple of Torero life for decades. For the most part, that doesn’t seem to be changing.
Junior Kate Coats has lived at the beach for one semester since she returned from abroad. “I love living steps away from the ocean, the bay, great restaurants, and coffee shops,” Coats said. “I think it is worth the inconvenience of parking, living in older homes, and commuting to USD,” Coats said. Although the standard for college living has changed in many ways, many students at USD, seem to believe that Mission Beach living is part of USD’s culture. Despite other housing options, the beach still seems to remain a top contender for USD students.
Photo courtesy of Tayler Reviere Verninas/The USD Vista Many students that choose to live on the beach rent houses with roommates.
The views expressed in the Opinion section are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.
VOLUME 54 ISSUE 20
THE USD VISTA
FEATURE
FEATURE
FEATURE EDITOR KELLY KENNEDY
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ASST. FEATURE EDITOR JENNIFER GIVENS
Supreme Drag Superstar shines
PRIDE put on its sixth annual drag show, sparking discussion on campus JENNIFER GIVENS Asst. Feature Editor The University of San Diego’s Supreme Drag Superstar is an annual event aimed at inspiring and empowering students that also draws debate over Catholic values and the free expression of sexuality. At the beginning of this month, USD PRIDE hosted the sixth annual Supreme Drag Superstar (SDS) in Shiley Theater. The 600-seat theater was filled to capacity as the drag kings and queens presented their unique talents, including comedy, dance, poetry, and song. This year’s master of ceremonies was Milk, who is well known for her appearance on season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race on VH1. The witty drag queen strutted the stage, flirted with the judges, and kept the audience laughing all night long. Since SDS’s inception in 2011, a range of Catholic protesters have called for the show to stop, including several online petitions signed and supported by the group “Alumni for a Catholic USD.” In 2014, some protesters took their complaints to the Diocese of San Diego and then to the Vatican. The group continued
Photo courtesy of USD PRIDE Kings and queens dressed to the nines for Supreme Drag Superstar this April. Though the show gender expression and drag show and USD caring for accept prayers from anyone, faces controversy, USD gender identity, and as the whole person and seeing my mom still prays for me all administration has not such it is entirely consistent the student, no matter what the time, it is just a matter prevented the event from with our Catholic identity they look like,” Tullis said. of what they’re praying for. reoccurring. According to to support students of all “You are all God’s children If they are praying for the Christopher Harrop, the gender identities and gender no matter what external thriving of queer lives in order president of USD PRIDE, expressions,” Lovette-Colyer expression looks like. I love that they may be fully human several associations on said. “That does not contradict drag, and it’s always really as God intended them to be, campus made sure the show any church teachings. If there good to support students I think that’s great. If they goes on as planned and is is a man who expresses who in a highly visible way. The are trying to ‘pray the gay(s) aligned with USD policies. he is in ways that are more performers were very good. away’ on the other hand, “The Supreme Drag traditionally feminine or wants I didn’t know what to expect. that is homophobic and not Show planning committee to dress in ways that are more It’s easy to get caught going to happen. Even when works closely with typically female, there are up in the entertainment, I graduate, I plan on being representatives from Student no prohibitions against that. but to have the message an active alumni, so sorry, Affairs and University Ministry In fact, that is very much in embedded it reminded us but this gay is here to stay.” to ensure that the show alignment with our concern why drag [is] important.” Regardless of opposition, for supporting all people “Shiley Theater on the night of the drag and recognizing the dignity 2017 SDS winners: of each and every person. show is one of the most affirming, life-giving King: Dave Ursity Lovette- Colyer Queen: Princess Liberty Belle spaces I experience at USD.” emphasized the essence of -Christopher Harrop Jesus’ teachings and how Tyler Henry, a senior at the sold out event had a supporting students is aligned atmosphere due its prayer vigil this year, aligns with USD’s Mission with USD Catholic thought. USD who performed at SDS, united explained what made him to support from student, with six community and Values,” Harrop said. “The essence of the members convening “All performers and teachings of Jesus is love and want to participate in the show. faculty, and staff attendees. “I wanted to be a part Henry stated the outside of Camino to pray. speakers must agree to a the foundational principle of Included in the prayer detailed list of guidelines to Catholic Social Thought is the of the drag show because support was overwhelming. “When I was on stage group was Jenny Kern a USD be able to participate in the dignity of the human person,” it is one of the few queer alumna from the class of show. Planning SDS would Lovette-Colyer said. “Since spaces on campus that is and heard the crowd, my 1965. As an alumna, she feels not be possible without all people are created in the dedicated to celebrating our entire body was pulsing with Henry said. energy,” Henry said. “It was that the drag show should significant support from image and likeness of God, community,” “I was first introduced an amazing feeling. And when not occur on campus. Kern several other organizations all possess inalienable human said she heard about it from on campus, including dignity — this includes people to the show sophomore I had a standing ovation, I was other alumni and had seen Associated Students, Torero of all gender expressions year (two years ago) as really overwhelmed because photos from previous shows. Program Board, the Women’s and gender identities. It is an extra credit opportunity of the support I felt in that “As an alumna, I Center, and the United Front entirely Catholic to accept in my Homosexuality and theater. To me, it sends the understand why Sister [Sally] Multicultural Center, among and celebrate people who Christianity course. I was message that queer people Furay started the support many other collaborators who identify in different ways in not a main performer but still should be celebrated and group for gay people, and I participate in our pre-show regards to gender expression performed in drag, and it was supported on this campus.” Harrop felt reaffirmed as totally understand that was information garden. PRIDE is and identity and to know fun. I was able to try something something that was needed extremely thankful for these they are welcomed and new with low risk and receive he stepped out of his role as and something of God; organizations’ continued celebrated on our campus.” class credit. After coming PRIDE President to assume however, this particular event support and collaboration.” Jillian Tullis, Ph.D. was a out later that year, drag held his alter ego Dee Zastris. “Each year, I am is carrying it too far,” Kern said. Michael Lovette-Colyer, judge in this year’s show. Tullis more importance in my life “The dancing is too lewd, Assistant Vice President and described her new faculty because it was a fun escape.” overwhelmed by the love Henry shared his and support I experience and the idea is too far gone to Director of University Ministry, orientation which discussed be held on the campus. To the has helped advise SDS since the drag show controversy and opinion regarding those who from students, faculty, and outside Camino. alumni,” Harrop said. “Shiley people who are performing, the first show in 2011. He said emphasized seeing students prayed “I honestly don’t think, Theater on the night of the [know] that Jesus loves you the show is consistent with holistically, not focusing on completely. However, this kind Catholic teachings of love, one aspect of their identities. or at least hope, that those drag show is one of the have malicious most affirming, life-giving of behavior on this campus is acceptance, and compassion. “In new faculty praying not respectful to the campus.” “The show is about orientation, we discussed the intentions,” Henry said. “I will spaces I experience at USD.”
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FEATURE
APRIL 27, 2017
Coachella By Kelly Kennedy and Matthew Roberson
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wo weekends, countless bands, and a lot of dust. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is an ever-popular Indio getaway for people of all ages. The art, food, and merchandise are the same for both weekends, while the artist set times, guest appearances, and celebrity sightings differ between Weekend 1 and Weekend 2. Senior Omar Bishti attended Coachella Weekend 1, and he noted that it lined up well with the University of San Diego’s Easter break. Bishti has attended Coachella for the past four years and felt that this year was busier than previous years. “It was more hectic than in the past, especially as the days and weekend progressed,” Bishti said. Senior Keegan McMillan attended Coachella Weekend 1 for the first time this April. “I didn’t know the difference between Weekend 1 and 2,” McMillan said. Countless USD students braved the desert heat to attend the iconic Indio music festival and experienced unique art, food, atmosphere, and artist performances.
Food Both weekends included a large variety of snacks and sips, including Southern Fried Vegan, Meat Cellar, and Sweet Comforts. The wide range of cuisine catered to all palettes, and also drained wallets. Afters Ice Cream popularized a single scoop of cereal topped ice cream for $10, while iconic slices of fresh watermelon were seen at almost every stage.
Art This year’s Instagram-worthy art installations were primarily pastel colored and dotted the festival grounds. The Chiaozza Garden featured a variety of abstracted plants that artists Terri Chiao and Adam Frezza constructed over three months in front of the main Coachella Stage on the polo fields. A tall structure titled “Crown Ether” looked similar to a fluorescent, abstract house supported by wooden beams, and provided a prime shady spot in the middle of the festival grounds. Large chains of balloons floated above the grounds, and attendees could take photos holding the end of the kite-like chains. Another piece of art titled “Lamp Beside the Golden Door” was constructed almost entirely from mirrored circles and bright, reflective metal poles. Unfortunately, some festival-goers vandalized the installation, and allegedly ripped some of the smaller mirrored pieces off of the installation, as reported by Press-Enterprise.
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Artists
Atmosphere Though it seems clear that most of social media does not approve of blatant cultural appropriation, including Native American headdresses worn for fashion statements, some Coachella goers still wore such pieces to the festival. Trash littered the polo fields throughout the weekend, despite countless trash crews in charge of cleaning up the grassy areas where fans waited for their favorite artists to perform. 100 degree temperatures during Weekend 2 logically increased water consumption and, therefore, waste. The Desert Sun reported that Coachella, Stagecoach, and Desert Trip produce about 107 tons of waste per festival day. After two weekends of Coachella, festival goers created about 642 tons of waste, including water bottles, food wrappers, and cigarette butts. McMillan noted that the dust seemed less invasive Weekend 1 when it was fresher. “I just went the weekend my friends were going,” McMillan said. “I would go the first weekend again though, because there was more grass instead of dust.” Phone thieves and pickpockets made headlines during both Coachella weekends, resulting in multiple arrests. Hundreds of items, including phones, wallets, and IDs were turned into the Lost and Found, and can be claimed via the Coachella website. Some artists commented on the atmosphere of Weekend 2. Mac Demarco vowed to not play the same setlist from Weekend 1, while Travis Scott proclaimed that Weekend 2 was the better weekend to attend. Schoolboy Q commented on the vibe of Weekend 2 in an Instagram caption. “50,000 [people] week 2 was way better, people actually came for a show and not Instagram,” Q wrote. Celebrity sightings seemed much more prevalent during Weekend 1, possibly due to a host of brand sponsored parties that drew famous attendees. Bishti saw his share of celebrities during Weekend 1, including Amber Rose, Ty Dolla Sign, Drake, and Chris Brown.
Set lists, onstage guests, and technical difficulties were the biggest artist differences between the two weekends. Radiohead had a tumultuous start on Friday of Weekend 1, with technical difficulties that left onlookers confused and disappointed. Their Weekend 2 show was much smoother and has been lauded as a success compared to Weekend 1. The xx were the highlight of Friday night and sounded almost the same as they do post-production. The duo repeatedly proclaimed how happy they were to be playing the festival, and the set gave the crowd an opportunity to relax as the temperature cooled. McMillan enjoyed Father John Misty on Friday afternoon of Weekend 1. “His performance was fantastic,” McMillan said. “It’s a whole production with instrumentalists behind him as he swayed from one side of the stage to another. It was even better since we were close to the stage, but still had room to spread out and dance.” Glass Animals and Mac Demarco were also popular Friday performances, and both performances drew huge followings to their midafternoon set times. While many artists wowed the crowds, Travis Scott’s Friday night show fell short of expectations. Scott only played a portion of his popular songs and was generally overshadowed by cannon noises and his own screams. As the performance progressed, a large, menacing robotic bird slowly freed itself from its onstage cage, ending with Scott riding the bird for the last song, “Goosebumps.” McMillan was not impressed by Scott. “[Travis Scott] was my least favorite,” McMillan said. “We were too far away, and you needed to be close for his performance to be good. We left after 20 minutes.” Future drew a large crowd to his Saturday evening performance and was praised by Bishti for his interesting visuals and infectious energy. “[Future was] sensational,” Bishti said. “I was up in the front, and everyone was feeling the energy of the performance. When Migos and Drake came on stage [Weekend 1], everyone lost it. Wild.” On Saturday night of Weekend 2, Gucci Mane brought out 50 Cent, drawing a massive crowd to the Sahara tent, which is normally known for featuring EDM artists. Other hip hop and R&B singers also performed in the tent, including Tory Lanez and Mac Miller. Miller’s energy during his Friday evening show quickly infected the crowd, and accompanied by a live guitarist and drummer, he belted out hits such as “Watching Movies,” “When In Rome,” and “Insomniac.” Bon Iver gave a heartfelt Saturday night performance, and in between songs spoke of the importance of friendship and community. The crowd responded enthusiastically to ethereal renditions of “Skinny Love” and “Flume.” Lady Gaga’s Weekend 2 Saturday night appearance was reportedly more polished than her Weekend 1 set, and she sang a mixture of her cultfavorites such as “Just Dance,” “Alejandro,” and “Love Game,” while also performing songs from her new album “Joanne.” Grouplove made a splash on Sunday afternoon with their signature alternative rock sound and sparkling pom-pom-esque tinsel outfits. The singers were accompanied by a full band and played a few songs from their new EP, “Little Mess.” As the festival drew to a close, Lorde and Kendrick Lamar were a powerful closing duo, playing the final two sets on the main Coachella Stage. Lorde belted out a combination of songs from her cult-favorite album “Pure Heroine,” as well as a few songs from her new release “Melodrama.” Rapper Kendrick Lamar, who has solidified his place at the top of the rap game with his new album “DAMN.” closed the festival on Sunday night. Lamar estimated that his performance drew about 100,000 people, and he treated the audience to songs from “DAMN.” as well as hits from his classic album “good kid, m.A.A.d. city.” The highlight of his set came when Lamar left the stage for a floating cage that hovered over the middle of the crowd. From this floating apparatus, Lamar delivered a raucous rendition of his song “Money Trees.” The Compton rapper’s festival-closing performance also included a short kung-fu style film, in which he was referred to by his newly popular nickname, Kung Fu Kenny. The popular rap group Migos made at least four guest appearances during Weekend 1, but were nowhere to be found during Weekend 2.
The Verdict Despite slight differences between Weekend 1 and Weekend 2, Coachella remains a spring semester staple and Instagram mecca for USD students. As the festival continues to expand its audience base and appeal to young adults, it will surely be an iconic part of Southern California culture for many years to come.
Photos courtesy of Goldenvoice Media Nora Brewington/The USD Vista
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USD VISTA
Student artwork: Traffic 2017
APRIL 27, 2017
Four students curated campus-wide art exhibition debuting this April SARAH BREWINGTON Associate Editor University of San Diego students, passing the bookstore on the way to grab a sandwich at Tu Mercado or speeding by the Humanities Center, slowed down to marvel at the artwork on display across campus. This past month, work by art students was displayed as a part of the Traffic exhibit in the Student Life Pavilion (SLP) gallery, the Humanities Center, the Visual Arts Gallery, and the Yorty Space for the USD community to enjoy and appreciate their work. Traffic is a curated project by USD students Jana Hunter, Veronica Bellocci, Alyssa Gehb, and Bethany Martinez to broadcast the hidden talent of students in the Department of Art, Architecture, Art History (DAAAH). In collaboration with the Basement Society, The Alcalá Review, and the Humanities Center, the art department brought the exhibit into fruition. The Traffic description explained the purpose of the displays. “Traffic 2017 is a studentled exhibition of current student work produced at USD,” the description stated. “It consolidates and displays the various strains of creative production at the university.
name Traffic because it represents the California car culture and the condensed amount of artists and work that is circulated,” Bellocci said. “It represents the flow through time and space where Traffic is the pause where we can all stop and observe.” Sophomore Jana Hunter was one of the four student curators that put together Traffic. Hunter explained the history of the Curator’s Club and the inspiration behind the exhibit. “The Curator’s Club was created by our adviser Professor Shannon Starkey and was presented to us as a volunteer opportunity,” Hunter said. “Each year, the artwork of senior visual arts students is displayed in a gallery across campus. When we all went to the first meeting, Professor Starkey was very ambitious about starting a project that showcased as much art as possible. We were then informed that the workload of this project qualifies for independent study credit, so we were offered to take on this project as an independent study.” Hunter explained that her time as an architecture major has helped influence her decision to get involved with the exhibition. “I think that becoming as
“Traffic is the perfect opportunity for students who have taken an art class in the fall or this semester who aren’t visual arts majors to display their best artwork. [We] wished to bring our wonderful student artists out of the basement for other USD students to see their talent as artists.” -Veronica Bellocci The multimedia and multilocational show cuts across departments and covers everything from introductory courses to senior projects.” Senior Veronica Bellocci explained the reasons behind naming the exhibit Traffic. “We decided on the
involved as much as I can has given me more insight of the community and workings of the department,” Hunter said. “I have come to appreciate all of the efforts that the professors exude because I know how passionate they are and how much they want to expose
Photo courtesy of Veronica Bellocci The exhibition features work from students of all ages and fields of study. the students to information an art class in the fall or this have been interested in they have specialized in. semester who aren’t visual seeing their fellow students’ This passion and information arts majors to display their work, which was made taught by the professors best artwork. Personally, as clear by the great turnout inspires the students and this an aspiring curator and a of the opening reception.” After the hard work of inspiration is seen throughout part of the Curator’s Club, their artwork. I think that this we wished to bring our Gehb, Hunter, Bellocci, and the passion has informed my work wonderful student artists out art students, Bethany Martinez with the exhibition because of the basement for other USD was pleased with the result. “Everything we have it helped me and my team students to see their talent as members find commonalities artists. With this opportunity, heard has been extremely within the pieces even though I was able to rediscover positive,” Martinez said. “From they were all very unique.” my passion for curating.” the students to the faculty, it Bellocci explained that her Sophomore Alyssa seems like everyone has really goal was to expand the work of Gehb was pleased with how enjoyed the exhibition. And that seniors and visual art majors. the exhibit turned out and really brings me joy because “The Curator’s Club [...] the support from the DAAAH that means our hard work over and I expanded on their show department and students. the last school year to create to create a bigger exhibition “Students in the DAAAH this exhibition really paid off.” to happen the same time as have been excited to have While some of the exhibit [USD’s] Research Week,” their work exhibited for a much spaces closed last week, the Bellocci said. “Traffic is wider audience than ever SLP gallery is open until April the perfect opportunity for before,” Gehb said. “Students 28, and the Humanities Center students who have taken outside the department gallery is open until May 9.
CORRECTION: In the April 6 issue of The USD Vista, there were factual errors in the article titled, “New core curriculum to debut in fall.” The article incorrectly stated that students would be required to take one class in Catholic theology and that all courses in the Theology and Religious Studies department would have curriculum connected to Catholicism. The department of Theology and Religious Studies has updated its curriculum to align with the new core’s learning outcomes. Students are not required to take a class in Catholic theology, but are required to successfully complete two courses in the study of religion. Lower division courses taught at USD will include the study of Catholic Christianity and students can choose to study any religious tradition in depth at the upper division level. The article also misstated the number of units students need to graduate. It is 124 units, not 120. Additionally, the article misstated the name of one of USD’s LLC themes. It is cultivate, not sustainability. In the text box titled “New core fast facts” it was stated that the social science requirement will be replaced by social and behavioral inquiry. In fact, all previous areas of the core have been updated to reflect the inquiry process rather than content-specific learning these are now: artistic inquiry, literary inquiry, scientific and technological inquiry, historical inquiry, and social and behavioral inquiry.
Volume 54 Issue 20
ARTS AND CULTURE
ARTS & CULTURE
The USD Vista
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A&C EDITOR WALKER CHUPPE @lord.walker
USD reacts to Kendrick Lamar’s latest drop, “DAMN.” WALKER CHUPPE Arts & Culture Editor @lord.walker Popular rapper and frequent political commentator Kendrick Lamar has garnered a large following, especially among many University of San Diego Students. On Apr. 14, Lamar’s new album “DAMN.” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The rapper has become known his ability to produce catchy radio songs and his hard-hitting lyricism that frequently comments on social and racial issues in America. Led by the single “HUMBLE,” The album has received widespread critical acclaim, and amassed 603,000 album-equivalent units in its first numbers week. Lamar also debuted songs from “DAMN.” live for the first time at Coachella to the delight of many concertgoers. Senior Niko De Laurentiis saw Lamar at the Indio music festival and reflected on his new album drop. “I really dig the album,” De Laurentiis said. “While his other albums have more of a touch upon political and social topics, I feel like this one is
guidance, he’s just as lost as the rest of us. It may not be my favorite album of his, but the man drops classic after classic, and it’s hard not to consider him the greatest rapper alive.” Lamar is a rapper and entertainer by trade, but is also known as being among the best storytelling musicians. His songs “DNA,” “DUCKWORTH,” and “PRIDE” seem to stand out among the rest of the tracks as strong lyrical works. “DUCKWORTH,” as the last song on the album, sums up the album with undertones of Lamar’s Compton childhood and upbringing, echoing the struggle of many other young, black Americans. Junior Set Lu has seen Lamar’s progression over the years. Lu said that he believes Lamar has truly evolved as an artist. “[Listening to his new album], I think that [Lamar] is now a poet— no longer a rapper,” Lu said. “He might just be the modern day Shakespeare. He really delivers his stories to the masses.” Many people connect with Lamar’s message, and his rising visibility and political
“The man drops classic after classic, and it’s hard not to consider him the greatest rapper alive.” -Niko De Laurentiis more into [Lamar’s] own mind and feelings. He’s showing us his own mindset, and, even though people look to him for
activism have been especially popular among young adults. Lamar has managed to elevate himself above the
Photo courtesy of Goldenvoice Media Kendrick Lamar debuted songs from “DAMN.” at his Sunday Coachella performance.
classification of a regular rapper through his storytelling. “DAMN.” follows in the footsteps of his past albums, and the blend of melody and inventiveness continues. Junior Cyrus Lange recognized Lamar for his lyricism and narrative-based hip-hop. “The new album is dope because it’s got crazy vibes and a deep story,” Lange said. “It’s able to succeed at combining mainstream appeal with story-driven artistry, which isn’t typical in today’s music.” Though his album has certainly been successful on paper, students all have differing opinions when it comes to music. USD is a musically-diverse campus, with students who love hip-hop and rap, but others who love
electronic music or country. Still, Lamar’s latest release has caused quite a buzz, and most students have at least gotten word of it or heard a song or two on the radio or Spotify. Sophomore Abdullah Alkhars had been listening to Drake’s latest album until Lamar came out with his new release. “Drake’s album, ‘More Life,’ was a total hit that I really enjoyed,” Alkhars said. “It was on constant replay until [Lamar] dropped his album. When I listened to the early release song, ‘HUMBLE,’ I knew that this album was going to be a huge hit with everyone. After the full version release, ‘LOYALTY’ and ‘FEAR’ are definitely on my constant replay list, but I have to say, as a whole, I liked ‘More Life’ better.”
Sophomore Hugo Mak said “DAMN.” was a decent album, but it wasn’t necessarily in his favorite musical style. “I’m actually surprised that his songs charted so highly,” Mak said. “I actually prefer the new Chainsmokers album—I think it’s just more fun to listen to.” Lamar is one of the fastest rising stars in the current hiphop scene, and although he isn’t exactly a new face on the block, he still has a long career ahead of him. “DAMN.” is the latest successful release for the rapper who has been steadily building a criticallyacclaimed resume since 2010. Junior Adriana Hernandez summed Lamar’s reputation up nicely. “He’s definitely the realest out there.”
Photo courtesy of Goldenvoice Media Kendrick Lamar’s Coachella set drew one of the largest crowds at the festival.
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April 27, 2017
“Ghost in the Shell”: failed whitewashing? WALKER CHUPPE Arts & Culture Editor @lord.walker
“Ghost in the Shell,” a Paramount Pictures film controversially starring Scarlett Johansson, debuted Mar. 31 amid criticisms of Hollywood whitewashing. The 2017 film is based on a Japanese manga and animated film of the same title, originally released in 1995. Opinions on the remake of the anime were polarized because of the decision to cast a westerner as the main character, Major Motoko Kusanagi. When Johansson was named the star of the remake, cries of whitewashing began as filmmakers opted to omit a Japanese actress as the lead. Hollywood has been criticized before for whitewashing
Johansson playing Kusanagi for weeks before the film made its box office debut, others were waiting to see the film before making their final judgments. After its opening weekend, “Ghost in the Shell” brought in roughly $20 million at the box office—an abysmal result considering the film’s $110 million budget. It seemed as though the public had cast its verdict on the film, although it is hard to say if the controversy surrounding it doomed its box office success before it even had the chance to prove itself. Junior Katelynsam Dixon did not see the film as a concrete case of Hollywood whitewashing. However, Dixon said she thought that filmmakers missed opportunities to showcase diversity. “In the original [‘Ghost in the Shell’], the main character doesn’t look 100 percent
“In the original [‘Ghost in the Shell’], the main character doesn’t look 100 percent Asian. Scarlett Johansson isn’t Asian either, but this film could have been a good opportunity for a rising Asian actress.” -Katelynsam Dixon ethnic roles in film, such as casting John Wayne as Genghis Khan in “The Conqueror” and casting Max Minghella as Divya Narendra in “The Social Network.” The publisher of the Japanese version, Kodansha, had no problem with the casting of the American actress. In “Ghost in the Shell,” Kusanagi is essentially a human consciousness inside of a machined, cybernetic body. In the anime, it is not immediately clear that the protagonist is supposed to be ethnically Japanese. This is perhaps why Hollywood producers thought Johansson would be a good fit for the new film. Though many debated
Asian,” Dixon said. “Scarlett Johansson isn’t Asian either, and it’s not a problem, but this film could have been a good opportunity for a rising Asian actress. The film did a decent job bypassing blatant cultural appropriation, but it would have been nice to see an Asian actress represented.” Perhaps the cries of another case of Hollywood whitewashing did facilitate the film’s financial flop, but reviews from critics were largely unfavorable as well. The film currently stands at a 43 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, while the 1995 original is at a healthy 96 percent on the Tomatometer. That being said, critics are not out in droves complaining
Photo courtesy of @felix.flint/Instagram A comparison of the 1995 and 2017 versions of Major Kusanagi.
Photo courtesy of deepskyobject/Flickr Scarlett Johansson as Major Motoko Kusanagi, who is a human-machine hybrid.
about Johansson’s role in the film. Most seem to have found her performance satisfactory. The criticisms are aimed at the 2017 film’s dumbing down what made the original groundbreaking to many in lieu of targeting a mainstream audience. The anime “Ghost in the Shell” was not an action film, though it did feature shootouts, car chases, and explosions. The beauty of the film was in its psychological and philosophical questions that it asked of the audience. Questions of the boundary between human and machine, self-awareness, identity, and the definition of “living,” were all essential to the plot of the 1995 film. The guns and fistfights took a backseat to an eloquent narrative, making the film akin to a psychological thriller. Junior Estefania Martinez gave her thoughts on the film. “I think the plot was good but a little slow,” Martinez said. “It was not until halfway through the movie when it was apparent what the goal was
and who were the good and bad people in the film, but I had not seen the anime version, so maybe that is part of it.” Martinez also expressed her views on the claims of whitewashing in the film. “The beginning was very confusing partly because of the people who portrayed the characters,” Martinez said. “This was perhaps because
commentaries sprinkled in. Though the anime was not able to reach a mainstream audience as easily as the new version, what it lacked in accessibility, it made up for it in its detail and its masterful exploration of debates humans may have to face in the near future. While the new film is not terrible, it did not stay true to
“The beginning was very confusing partly because of the people who portayed the characters. This was perhaps because the main characters were not played by Asian actors.” -Estefania Martinez the main characters were not played by Asian actors, and in a way it just made the setting very confusing. Because of the non-Asian actors playing Asian characters, it seemed like a case of whitewashing to me.” In contrast, the 2017 film is more of an action film with a few of the original’s
Screenshot courtesy of MovieClips Trailers/YouTube The picturesque, futuristic Asian cityscape in the 2017 film.
its philosophical roots, which was largely the original film’s main premise. The new “Ghost in the Shell” is in many ways a modern Hollywood action film, and it would not be an awful standalone. However, it falls short as the live-action version of an iconic anime. Ultimately, the film was not a case of out-and-out whitewashing, as Hollywood adaptations in the past have been, and Scarlett Johansson was not completely out of place as Major Kusanagi. The problem with the film was largely that it was designed to appeal to the widest audience possible, which typically does not result in groundbreaking impact in artistic mediums. With its high standards to live up to, it seems unsurprising that the film fell short. 2017’s “Ghost in the Shell” is essentially a simplified version of the original, and it cut much of what made the 1995 anime so unique. Though it may not be necessary to boycott the film over its westernization, it may not be worth paying to see it in theaters either.
ARTS AND CULTURE
Volume 54 Issue 20
The USD Vista
A taste of country in the California desert DIEGO LUNA Managing Editor Grab your boots, put on your cowboy hat, and polish your belt buckle because we’re going line dancing, Toreros. Stagecoach is one of California’s largest country music festivals. The annual weekend festival is held at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, Calif. and feels like a desert dust bowl after two weekends of Coachella in the weeks prior. The well-attended festival features three days of country music with cowboys, cowgirls, and wannabes trotting through the polo field’s 250 acres of country-inspired artwork and agrarian props. Since its debut in 2007, Stagecoach has continuously navigated the many forks in the road of country music with dynamic performances. Stagecoach will have four stages, The Mane Stage, Palomino Stage, Mustang Stage, and the Honky Tonk Stage. This year’s lineup will feature Dierks Bentley, Shania Twain, and Kenny Chesney as the concert’s headliners, staples in a country music fan’s repertoire. Oddly enough, the festival
lineup also includes artists of genres not as familiar to some country music listeners. With acts including The Zombies, Los Lobos, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Cyndi Lauper, country music fans seem to be in for a musically-diverse treat. In the past, sister festival Coachella has partnered with YouTube to stream many of the festival’s performances. This year will be the first that Stagecoach partners with another large streaming platform. As of earlier this week, the online music streaming platform Pandora announced that it will partner with Goldenvoice to host an exclusive audio live stream of performances from the Stagecoach festival. Pandora’s Chief Marketing Officer, Nick Bartle, shared that country music listeners represent a large presence on the service. “With over 60 million listeners every year, country fans are [some] of the biggest, most engaged and loyal audiences on Pandora,” Bartle said. “Partnering with Goldenvoice to livestream one of country’s biggest events allows us to connect our listeners with this year’s amazing lineup of talent at Stagecoach for
three days of exclusive live performances and content.” Although the number of Stagecoach attendees is significantly lower than Coachella’s, the number of visitors has been steadily increasing over the past few years. It seems to cater to a smaller crowd of University of San Diego students, but those who do attend share that they are happy to have a country alternative to Coachella. Senior Delaney Kipple is an avid country music listener, but she said she has never attended Stagecoach. Kipple shared her thoughts about both festivals. “If I could manage to get most of my friends to go with me, I would probably choose Coachella,” Kipple said. “But I’d rather go to Stagecoach for the music. To me, country music paints a story, and I feel the vibe at Stagecoach would be more laid back than Coachella.” Many students seem to share this mindset. Senior Emily Burke will be attending the festival for the first time this year. “I’m going to Stagecoach because I love country music and the environment of country concerts,” Burke said. “There’s seriously nothing
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Photo courtesy of Michael Hogan/Flickr Shania Twain is rumored to debut new music Stagecoach.
better than listening to country music and partying with your friends on a nice day.” USD student Sapphira Viddauri said this year marks number two for the Coachella Valley local. Viddauri shared about last year’s lineup and her high hopes for this weekend’s sets. “Last year was amazing, and the lineup was amazing,” Viddauri said. “This year will be exciting because of Shania Twain because she [is rumored
to] be introducing new music. I’m hoping to see Thomas Rhett [bring out] Snoop Dogg [to sing with him] this time.” Unlike Coachella, Stagecoach only makes its way to the desert for one weekend in April. But it’s here where folks from all around come to fasten their britches, wear their cowhide leather boots, and two-step their way across the polo fields while listening to their favorite country music stars.
APRIL 5 – MAY 5
THANK YOU! E M P LOY E E G I V I N G C A M PA I G N 2017
We want to thank all employees who are making gifts, big and small, as part of this year’s Employee Giving Campaign.
TO MAKE YOUR GIFT, GO TO: SANDIEGO.EDU / STUDENTSFIRST
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SPORTS
April 27, 2017
SPORTS
SPORTS EDITOR MATTHEW ROBERSON @mroberson22
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
NOAH HILTON @thebackseatlamp
What’s next for USD basketball’s seniors?
MATTHEW ROBERSON Sports Editor
For many student athletes, their collegiate playing careers are a culmination of a life’s worth of dedication to their sport. For even more, earning a scholarship to a Division-I university is the ultimate goal for their athletic endeavors. Realistically speaking, not everyone can continue playing sports as a career once they leave campus. Being able to play college sports is the top of the mountain for countless young athletes. Anything beyond that is icing on the proverbial cake. University of San Diego seniors Brett Bailey and Katherine Hamilton played their final games for the Toreros’ men’s basketball team earlier this semester. The team’s loss to the Portland Pilots on March 3 served as the end to a four-year span defined by improvement for Bailey. As a freshman during the 2013-14 season, the 6’6” native of Spokane, Wash. played in all 35 games for the Toreros, averaging just over 13 minutes
Photos courtesy of USD Toreros
Katherine Hamilton averaged 7.0 points per game at USD (left). Brett Bailey drives to the hoop against Gonzaga (right). Hamilton of the USD women’s The end of the athletic basketball team also had her road can lead to some “I just actually signed with an agent out of athletic career come to an tough decisions for athletes end this semester, and plans regarding their future. Los Angeles this past week. I’m fortunate on staying close to sports Hamilton offered a bit of advice enough to have some opportunities overseas in her post graduate life. for current USD athletes about in Europe or Asia, so I’m going to ride that During her time playing for how to handle that inevitable the Toreros, Hamilton helped day when they take their out and see where it takes me.” the team reach the Sweet 16 uniform off for the last time. -Brett Bailey of the Women’s NIT twice. “I think what has helped As a senior, Hamilton me so far is trying to look at it any problem,” Bailey said. Bailey used 26.9 percent averaged a career high 29.9 as now I have time to try new “Whether it’s a bad grade in of the team’s offensive minutes and 9.4 points per things and do things I wasn’t the classroom or a situation in possessions. In other words, game while also pulling down able to do before,” Hamilton your sport that isn’t preferable, he was being asked to do a personal best average said. “I joined an intramural if you work hard and do things more on offense, and while of 4.13 rebounds every volleyball team, and that was right, good things will come.” doing so he simultaneously time she took the floor. fun. It’s about filling that free While Hamilton does time with stuff you’re interested became more efficient. plan on pursuing in This combination of not pursuing or doing.” hard work and palpable sports in a competitive As any student athlete after graduation, can attest to, the experience improvement has drawn the fashion eyes of talent evaluators. she will still be working of attending a university and “I just actually signed with in a sporty environment. participating in athletics leads to “I do not plan on playing a wealth of valuable knowledge an agent out of Los Angeles this past week,” Bailey said. professionally,” Hamilton said. about time management, “I’m fortunate enough to “But I am currently interning focus, and perseverance. have some opportunities for a sports management But, as Bailey made overseas in Europe or Asia, company. I feel like USD has sure to point out, there is so I’m going to ride that out and see where it takes me.” Photo courtesy of USD Toreros In many ways, Bailey is Bailey looks for room to shoot among a sea of defenders. one of the lucky ones. He had and three points per game. Hard work was part the tremendous opportunity As a sophomore, Bailey of the reason for Bailey’s not only to play collegiate experienced a bit of regression. ascension from junior basketball for four years at a His playing time decreased dependable starter to senior high level, but also to attend slightly, as did his minutes per All-WCC Second Team player. one of the West Coast’s game, points per game, and his The 2016-17 season was most prestigious universities. overall field goal percentage. Bailey’s best at USD by far. The latter part is what Following the departure Serving as the lone senior Bailey feels can help him of program legends on head coach Lamont Smith’s succeed post graduation, Johnny Dee and Chris team, Bailey was given the even if that means giving Anderson, Bailey’s junior reins to the Toreros’ offense. up basketball at some year marked a crossroads He ranked sixth in the West point down the road. for USD men’s basketball. Coast Conference in scoring “I think [USD] definitely Helping fill the void left by at 15.5 points per game. has [prepared me well],” Bailey Dee and Anderson, Bailey’s Advanced stats also said. “Through sports and minutes per game more than say that Bailey’s senior academics here, my eyes were Photo courtesy of USD Toreros doubled as a junior. He turned season was his best by a opened to some situations Katherine Hamilton rises for a layup against BYU. into an effective offensive considerable margin. In his and struggles that are very player, one who now averaged first three seasons playing in applicable to the real world.” mostly prepared me for the always room to have fun in 6.9 points per game and Torero blue, Bailey posted a These real world real world. The only thing I college in addition to grinding snagged nearly eight rebounds player efficiency rating (PER) applications do not only apply wish USD had is a sports away in the athletic arena. per 40 minutes of play. of 9.6, significantly below to the men’s team. Katherine management program.” “Four years fly by,” Bailey also improved the 15.0 benchmark that Bailey said. “In the end, you his free throw percentage, represents an average player. want to be able to look back going from a career 43 As a senior, Bailey’s “I do not plan on playing professionally. and say you enjoyed it.” percent shooter from the PER soared to 18.8. Usage But I am currently interning for a sports With eight combined foul line up to 62 percent. rate, a statistic that measures years of NCAA basketball management company. I feel like USD Bailey spoke about his the percentage of a team’s experience and 253 total approach to getting better and offense that is run through a has mostly prepared me for the real world. games played, one can how that can apply to life off certain player, had Bailey at The only thing I wish USD had is a sports imagine that Bailey and the basketball court as well. a rate of 18.2 percent for the Hamilton will surely be able to “I would say that hard first three years of his career. management program.” look back on their time in Linda work is the solution to For his final season, -Katherine Hamilton Vista and say they enjoyed it.
SPORTS
Volume 54 Issue 20
The USD Vista
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Record book rewritten by women’s track
Andrea Hughes celebrates with other Torero runners after a record-breaking run in the 5K by posing in a throne. NOAH HILTON Asst. Sports Editor Records, they say, made to be broken. For University of San Diego senior running stars Sarah Kapple and Andrea Hughes, this holds true with every lap around the track. Both are coming off two straight weekends of performances the Torero track team had never seen before. Two weekends ago at the Bryan Clay Invite in Los Angeles, Kapple set a school mark in her first career attempt at the 3K steeplechase with a time of 10:51.82, while Hughes topped a record in the 5K that had stood for more than three years with a 16:52.77 mark. This past Saturday, the two were at it again at the Triton Invite at nearby University of California, San Diego with Kapple breaking a record in the 800m (2:13.71) and Hughes topping another school record in the 3K (9:54.97). The performances had track coach Will Guarino raving about the girls’ talent. “Andrea ran an excellent race,” Guarino said. “Her two-mile split of 10:49 and her ability to attack the various segments of the race were wonderful to see.” The coach had similar praise for Kapple, noting that her eye-opening premiere in the steeplechase was no more than a couple of seconds off the pace of the debut time of current American record holder Emma Coburn. The event, which consists of 28 barriers and seven water hazards, first caught Kapple’s attention because of the unique challenges it provided. “I’ve known since high school that I wanted to try the steeple, because it honestly just looked like a lot of fun are
having the hurdles and water jumps in the race,” Kapple said. “I played soccer all throughout high school, so I was hoping that I still had some coordination left over from that.” As proud of the girls as Guarino was, however, the feeling was no match for the pride the girls held for themselves as they crossed the finish line. “The best thing a runner can do to compete to the best of their ability is to be both optimistic and incredibly stubborn,” Hughes said. “Our coach creates such a relentlessly positive atmosphere around our team. He’s set goals for me that I doubted I could manage, but his confidence gave me confidence of my own in return, which is just what I needed to attain whatever goals we set.” Kapple agrees that the feeling in the moments after a record-breaking run is hard to match. “Usually, it’s along the lines of ‘Wow, that was really hard’
and ‘Wow, I can’t believe I just did that,’” Kapple said. “Pretty soon I start thinking about the celebratory ice cream sundae I’m going to have later, too.” For the women, the records also serve as the culmination of years of hard work and miles of long, exhaustive endurance training. Think fitting in a little cardio at the gym is a challenge? Try what these female phenomenons do on a weekly basis. “The first time we did 5K repeats, I thought I would never get through it,” Hughes said. “Now, it’s just another workout we wake up and do. And with the help of my team, I get through it, and then I can go brag to my friends about running fifteen miles that day.” Her star teammate echoed similar sentiments. “This is going to sound strange, but I’ve almost gotten used to being in pain from running,” Kapple said. “It’s like I’m comfortable with being uncomfortable. When
Photo courtesy of USD Toreros
Photo courtesy of USD XC & Track/Twitter
Hughes (1) races for the finish with Kapple close behind. the pain does hit, I always so much together in training, pray and remind myself that, so to race with each other even when my body fails, I and share in each other’s accomplishments know that God will take over. running is so special. I feel lucky to All you need is a little faith.” be able to run with such an The years of early amazing group of women, and morning miles and carefullythey push me so much to be crafted schedules, regimented a better person and athlete.” to balance school and sports, With two races to go, the seem to have paid off in longdynamic duo has its sights set lasting memories on and off on finishing their respective the track for both seniors. careers strong. “I know that the thing I’m college “I’d love to qualify for going to miss the most about NCAA West regionals in being a Torero is my team,” the steeplechase,” Kapple Kapple said. “We go through said. “It’d be a dream come true to make it to that meet.” Hughes said that she agreed with that sentiment. “Two races left means two more chances to top my times,” Hughes said. “I’m not done yet.” That mutual ambition extends to their lives after college as well, as Kapple has signed on with Northrop Grumman as a Systems Engineer. Hughes plans to pursue her master’s and a dream job in education. First, though, a couple more long-distance laps around the track await. For Hughes and Kapple, the sky is the limit as the two look to close out their careers on a high note. Look for both of these record setting Toreros to leave Photo courtesy of USD XC & Track/Twitter their marks on more pages of the USD record book. Senior Sarah Kapple crashes through a water barrier during the steeplechase.
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he
April 27, 2017
SPORTS
USD Vista
USD baseball continues to succeed
Photo courtesy of USD Baseball/Twitter
The Toreros celebrate after an 11-6 win over No. 8 Cal State Fullerton on April 18 (left). Pitcher Matt Kirk blows a bubble with his gum (right). JAKE ELLIS Contributor The University of San Diego baseball team had a three game series against the Brigham Young Cougars over the weekend of March 20-22.
(WCC) but Coach Hill believes that the top teams in this conference can play with anyone in the country. Hill said he understands that the WCC is labeled as weaker compared to the
Hill said that even though Bryant is being recognized as one of the greatest athletes in the world, he has not forgotten where he came from. “Kris Bryant has been a tremendous representation
one of the most prestigious awards in the sport?” In addition, Hill mentioned that the superstar’s character has remained intact. “[Bryant] is one of the most generous people I
Photo courtesy of USD Toreros
Head coach Rich Hill (left) chats with Jake Hernandez (right) of the Make-A-Wish foundation on April 17 at Fowler Park. The first game was on Thursday, with the Toreros winning by a score of 6-3. Saturday’s game was a nail biter with the Cougars squeaking out a victory in 10 innings, 9-8. On Sunday, the final game of the series, the Cougars’ bats just exploded, scoring six runs in both the second and seventh innings. After the series ended, The USD Vista caught up with head coach Rich Hill to talk about the upcoming season. Before the series started, the Toreros were No. 19 in the national rankings. Even though the Toreros were ranked, Coach Hill believed the players’ mindsets would not be changed. “Our players look at the rankings and just shrug their shoulders,” Hill said. “They see that we are ranked, but that only makes them want to work harder, so we can just keep on climbing those rankings, and [put] this team on the national map.” The Toreros compete in the West Coast Conference
Power 5 conferences, but he knows this conference and its toughness. “Every single game we go out and play, we know that we are going to get [the team’s] best effort,” Hill said. “When you go up against one of the best teams in your conference, you want to show them who’s boss. I know our conference is labeled as weaker, or people look down on us when they see us in the rankings, but I truly believe that teams from this conference can compete with anyone in the nation.” One of our alumni has made a pretty big mark on his sport, and his immediate MLB success has helped change the perception of the USD program entirely. Kris Bryant, a former Torero, is making huge waves already in his short tenure in the MLB. He started by winning the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year, and last year he took home NL Most Valuable Player honors and a World Series ring to put the cherry on top of a remarkable year.
of our school,” Hill said. “With him winning MVP, it has been tremendous for our recruiting. How could it not look good when one of your former players takes home
know, he has continuously given back to this place,” Hill said. “The MLB could not have gotten a nicer guy to represent their league and our school to the very best ability.”
Despite having preseason All-American catcher Riley Adams on the team, Coach Hill believes that having a player of that caliber only makes the other players want to try that much harder. “Even though [Adams] has all these accolades, it makes our team want to play that much harder,” Hill said. “They want our team to get those accolades too. We want to put this team on the map.” The farthest a USD team has ever advanced is the first round of the Regionals in the NCAA Baseball Tournament, yet Coach Hill shared that this team can go the distance. “This team can go places,” Hill said. “The top end of our starting rotation can give us a chance against anyone in the country, and our offense is incredibly dynamic. Yes, this team can go up against and beat any team in the country.” Our Toreros are near the top of the conference already and have won the conference in 11 of the past 12 years. This year could make it 12 out of 13, and our Toreros, just like the football team, could create a different path for all of our athletics to be measured against.
Photo courtesy of USD Toreros
Preseason All-American Riley Adams launches a long home run against Portland.