TheUSDVISTA
Volume 56 Issue 11
Thursday, December 6 , 2018
On Newsstands Weekly
◆ The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Diego since 1968 ◆
The Festival of Lights Emma Goodman-Fish Asst. Feature Editor On the first night of Chanukah his first year of college, Joshua Glasser took the menorah his dad gave him, brought a few candles, and began to light the candles on the sidewalk outside his firstyear dorm in Missions B. When a Resident Assistant (RA) arrived on the scene, she walked past, asked what he was doing, and blew the candles out, the reason being USD strictly prohibits burning candles on campus. Glasser wasn’t defeated by this, and continued to celebrate Chanukah for the rest of the eight nights. Today, Glasser is the president of USD’s Jewish Student Union, called Hillel, and has begun planning for Chanukah this year, which began the night of Dec. 2. “The biggest part of Chanukah is to have people together,” Glasser, now a sophomore, said. “We want to create unity.” Glasser shared how celebrating Chanukah on a college campus, especially a Catholic one can be difficult, yet is still important to him. Since USD is a Catholic school, the schedule is organized around Christmas, rather than Chanukah, so most years, Jewish students celebrate Chanukah while at school, and often away from their families and hometowns.
See Chanukah, Page 5
The parking predicament New construction prompts restructuring of on-campus parking
As USD prepares for the construction of new buildings, University Operations looks to modify the West campus tram system in order to better serve students. Photo Courtesy of USD Media Gallery
Glenn McDonell Asst. News Editor
The University of San Diego’s location on the top of a mesa allows for sweeping views and stunning sunsets, but also has its downsides for those who live down below
and need to find parking on a daily basis. While the university has built parking garages near both of the major entrances to the campus, many commuter students have problems with the accessibility of these parking spaces. Commuter student Takuma
Maruo, who makes the trip from Poway to campus every morning, says that the tram system servicing the West parking structure is one of the biggest problems for students like himself who have to drive to and park on campus every day. “I have most of my classes on
the west side of campus in Olin,” Maruo said. “Right now if I’m headed to class in Olin I have to park in the West parking structure, and a lot of students have issues with parking there because of the tram system.” Maruo has talked with fellow
See Parking, Page 2
Phi Chi Theta fraternity introduced at USD A new professional fraternity available to business students
Amy Inkrott News Editor Throughout the past year, students within the business school have witnessed an ever-changing community. In the spring, the Alpha Kappa Psi (AKPsi) fraternity was suspended as a result of a failure to comply with national regulations. This loss left Delta Sigma Pi (DSP) as the only professional fraternity available to business students. In order to foster a sense of community within the school, a group of students came together to start a new fraternity: Phi Chi Theta (PCT). Sophomore Helena Witiw expressed her excitement about being one of 21 students in the fraternity’s founding class. “I think that it’s important to get yourself involved in something on campus and that doing so helps to make your college experience more enjoyable,” Witiw said. “Being able to do that through a fraternity that
will also be teaching me important life skills and allow me to help others to grow too is a dream come true. Joining Phi Chi Theta, to me, is an opportunity to help create something that will be beneficial to others, beyond myself.” Built on the values of brotherhood, service, leadership, education, and diversity, PCT strives to prepare its members for life after graduation. The founding class of the fraternity is hoping to place an emphasis on the professional development of each individual. Members will be coached on building resumes, writing cover letters, public speaking, and preparing for interviews so that they will be equipped for a future career. “In the future I hope to have a job in politics, either through journalism or working on campaigns,” Witiw said. “Getting a job is getting more and more competitive, but... my skills and network will help me to get a job that I want after college.”
The fraternity is also looking to establish a welcoming community among its members alongside of the professional aspects. “I hope to gain a community of friends that I can lean on and that can lean on me,” Witiw said. “I have already found that with the rest of the founding members, but I hope for it to grow with each new pledge class and for other students across campus to be able to have this sense of community too. The other founding members and I often hang out outside of our official meetings and can always reach out to each other if we need anything.” Sophomore My Ly Nguyen wants her role as Vice President of PCT to provide her with the opportunity to place an emphasis on brotherhood among the fraternity’s members. “I want to be the go-to person for members who have questions, concerns, and ways to make Phi Chi Theta more successful,” Nguyen said. “I hope to forage strong bonds and
friendships throughout my time in the fraternity.” The founding class of the PCT fraternity hopes that the chapter’s future members will become well developed individuals, both socially and professionally.
The fraternity spring rush will take place during the first week of February when it will welcome its first pledge class of USD students.
Mission Bay renovations
OpEd: Something more
California wildfires
Holiday activities
A farewell to Anthony Lawrence
See Opinion, page 5
See Feature, pages 6-7
See A&C, page 9
See Sports, page 11
See News, page 4
WWW.UOFSDMEDIA.COM ◆ @THEUSDVISTA
A emblem of the PCT fraternity. Photo courtesy of Regina Gaffney
2
The USD Vista
◆
December 6, 2018
NEWS
The problem with parking
University Operations discusses changes to the tram system to incentivize West lot parking
Parking from Page 1
students in the business school about how difficult it can be to get to a class in Olin Hall on time when coming from the West parking structure at the bottom of the hill. “I have friends who have to get from Coronado to Olin in 10 minutes every day, and if the tram isn’t there when they expect then they could be late to class, or even be late to a test,” Maruo said. “If they would increase the consistency of the trams going down to the West lot, that would really be helpful.” For junior and commuter student Tony Sotornik, changes to both the tram system and the parking distribution have led him to choose alternative parking options, even when the West lot is closest to his class. “I used to use the tram to get up the hill to go to class in Olin, but it’s made me late so many times that now I just park in the Missions structure or in the Law lot if I’m able to get here really early,” Sotornik said. “Even when a tram comes, there’s no guarantee you’ll get on because it takes three trams to take care of one crowd during the busy times. They need to hire more drivers. ” While Sotornik sees room for improvement for the tram system, his biggest concern with oncampus parking has to do with the distribution of spots designated for commuter students.
“The biggest thing they should do is change yellow to white,” Sotornik said. “If they’re interested in making money, they should make the best spots available to purchase. I would definitely pay an extra few hundred to guarantee a spot so that when I’m running late at least then I would know I have a spot. I wanna see more spots on main campus because I don’t think the West lot is the best they can do.” Vice President of University Operations Ky Snyder, who oversees campus transportation and parking services, says the biggest challenge for the parking infrastructures on campus is not increasing the amount of spaces, but rather incentivizing commuters to make use of the West parking structure. “The fact is that we do have enough parking on campus,” Snyder said. “The problem is that it’s not where everyone would like it, and so that’s why mobility is so important.” Snyder acknowledges that improving the tram system would improve the parking experience for commuter students. His office has found that the biggest challenge for the parking infrastructure on campus is that many students choose not to use the West Parking Structure. “We monitored our campus during the heaviest traffic period and found that 823 spots were available,” Snyder said. By improving the tram service
from the West parking structure up to main campus, University Operations hopes that more students will use the vacant spots on the fringes of campus. “The tram system absolutely has to get better,” Snyder said. “We have to do a better job of getting people from where they parked to where they want to be. Once you get onto campus we need to be able to deliver you to where you need to be quickly.” Snyder says the university has hired a parking consulting firm, and will be considering new tram routes based on the data collected. “We’re currently experimenting with different routes and taking a look at when the heavy ridership is,” Snyder said. According to the July 2018 update of USD’s Master Plan, which details the vision for campus expansion and improvement, the university will consider improving the tram service to meet student demand going forward. The list of proposed improvements to the system include tram station shelter concepts complete with Wifi hubs and rainwater collection, but nothing regarding changes to West lot service routes. University Operations has considered expanding the service in the past but has run into difficulties. According to Snyder, the biggest obstacles have been efficiency and
CLARIFICATION FROM 11/15 In our last issue, a front page photo and article, titled “Toreros Take a Stand,” were published that reported a confrontation between some USD students and Trump supporters. This took place on a public sidewalk in front of our campus. Because it is a public right of way, it is appropriate and open for news coverage. Some students flashed obscene gestures. The USD Vista chose to obscure the gestures per our Student Media Council Charter. Our executive team reached out to a former staffer from The San Diego Union Tribune as well as a current member of the San Diego Press Club before publishing. We believe in upholding journalistic standards of integrity and transparency.
OUR MISSION: Journalistic integrity promotes the transparency of media outlets, taking responsibility for publications, practicing ethical journalism and compassion toward people, and remaining accurate and unbiased in reporting. Any articles published will always aim to relay the facts of the matter, while quotes within articles express the personal opinions of members of the USD community. The USD Vista continually strives to publish unbiased and accurate accounts of USD happenings. Our goal is to follow best business practices in news gathering truthfully, ethically, fairly, and responsibly.
driver schedules. “We would like to get more trams running, but the system is losing money as is,” Snyder said. “If we run more during the busy times of day and take them off when there is less demand, we could make the system more effective. The problem is that this wouldn’t work with the average driver’s schedule.” Snyder also said that the University Operations team is considering a route which would repeatedly run down Marian Way between the West lot and Colachis Plaza in an effort to reduce the wait time during the busiest times of the day for commuter students. “We’re looking into shifting towards the possibility of sending a driver up and down constantly,” Snyder said. “Eventually, we’re hoping to get the wait time down to approximately four minutes.” Aside from improvements to the tram system, University Operations is also considering changes to both the distribution and pricing of spots on the main parts of campus, which the plan refers to as the “mesa.” This will likely mean more spots available to commuters closer to the academic buildings, but potentially at a higher rate than those in the West parking structure. “We know students are upset about all the empty reserved spots they see on campus,” Snyder said. “Anytime there is an empty space reserved for a single person, that’s
a waste. That’s why we’re moving away from that- there’s no longer going to be reserved spots for faculty.” Snyder also pointed to the implementation of a tiered permit pricing structure as a likely reform to the existing system. This would price spots in the Olin or the Law School lots higher than those in the West parking structure. “We are going to raise some rates, but we’re also going to keep some low,” Snyder said. “Our goal is to provide affordable parking in the fringe areas to those who don’t want to pay as much, while offering the more convenient spots at a higher cost.” While University Operation’s acknowledges student concerns with parking, Snyder also believes that student expectations are somewhat unrealistic. “We want students to understand that there’s plenty of parking on the west side of campus,” Snyder said. “People need to shift their mentality from expecting a spot to be right next to the building they’re headed for.” Students can expect to see some of these reforms begin to change the parking system over the course of the next two semesters. Whether an improved tram system and a reshuffling of spots will significantly change the commuting experience remains to be seen.
Volume 56 Issue 11
◆
NEWS
◆
The USD Vista
Toreros take on Black Friday
3
Bringing in the holiday season with a busy day of bargain hunting
Regina Gaffney Contributor As Thanksgiving dinner comes to an end, dishes are being washed and family sits around the living room continuing to tell stories and share laughter. Many see this as a time to relax and possibly enjoy another slice of pumpkin pie. But for others, it’s almost time to go. Lines have been forming for days; tents are being torn down and parking lots begin to fill. As the later evening approaches, shoppers are getting ready to head into stores and rush to the items on their extensive holiday lists. Black Friday is one of the busiest days for shopping in the United States. For many Americans, this day represents the first day of the holiday shopping season. Traditionally, stores would not open their doors until around 6 a.m. on the Friday after Thanksgiving. That time has become earlier and earlier as the years go by. Black Friday shopping was taken to another level in 2011, though, when large retailers like Target and Best Buy began opening their doors at midnight after Thanksgiving. Since then, stores have been opening their doors earlier to shoppers on the evening of Thanksgiving. Sophomore Hanka Eichelberger spoke about her shopping experience on this year’s Black Friday. She decided to go out at 7:30 a.m. on the morning after Thanksgiving. In a time span of five hours, she was able to shop at several stores, including Target and HomeGoods. While she was able to save some money purchasing things she needed for herself, Eichelberger’s main purpose for Black Friday shopping was to
purchase Christmas gifts for family and friends. “For a lot of people, especially college students and those with lower incomes, the available amount of money to spend on Christmas gifts is not very high,” Eichelberger said. “Personally, it seems worth it to brave the masses so I can get everything I need to for family and friends without completely busting my budget.” While Black Friday can be seen as the beginning of getting into the giving spirit of the holidays, others are not as supportive of the day. Senior Jason Cruz chooses not to participate in Black Friday shopping. “I see how it can be good,” Cruz said. “You want to give to the ones you care about and make them happy, but it’s just annoying that it has to be done on Thanksgiving night.” Since retailers began pushing opening times earlier, employees are not able to spend much time at home for the holidays. Some employees do not have a choice in working the crazy shopping day and cannot take a day off. While some argue that systematic commercialism is to blame for the crazy few days of shopping, others believe that shoppers are the ones who continue to fuel the need for deals. Cruz comments on the duration of time shoppers spend in store on Black Friday. “It’s strange to see some people spending an entire day being grateful for the things they have and a few hours later, going out to fight over a TV,” Cruz said. In some cases, shoppers can get very aggressive while trying to get the best deals. Injuries can occur if multiple people are attempting to get the last item in a store or by the
People flood into a Macy’s Department store in search of the perfect holiday present.
On Black Friday, many people rush to the stores before the best bargains are gone.
frantic mobs rushing through aisles. As technology grows and retailers are increasing their online presence, Cyber Monday and online shopping in general continues to grow in popularity. When asked if she participated in Black Friday Shopping, senior Lauren Ripandelli said she only chose to participate in Cyber Monday. “Shopping online is more convenient and you’re practically getting the same deals, if not better, without having to wait in line or deal with the large crowds,” Ripandelli said. As more people are choosing to shop from home, online retailers can increase discounts to ensure that customers are still choosing to buy
their products. To some, spending a few hours online buying gifts is preferable to possibly spending double that for the same items in stores. Eichelberger commented on her participation in Cyber Monday. “It seems like a waste of time, having to go out to get the same things that you can get any other day of the week or online,” Eichelberger said. “But sometimes, if you can get the bigger deal, it definitely seems worth it.” Another form of shopping practiced on Black Friday is ordering products online and then picking them up in stores on Thursday or Friday. This can ensure that a shopper will get the product they
Photo courtesy of Powhusku/Flickr
want at the discounted price but also includes the personal experience of going into the store to pick it up. No matter how one chooses to do their shopping, the holidays are right around the corner. Decorative pumpkins are being put away and new holiday decorations are out on display, especially in shopping malls and stores, where lights and wreaths have been hung to help get shoppers into the holiday spirit. After two of the busiest shopping days of the year, people are getting a start on purchasing gifts for family and friends. While stores may not continue with the long hours and extreme discounts, the spirit of giving and gratitude will still be felt during this time of year.
Photo courtesy of Diariocritico de Venezuela/Flickr
4
The USD Vista
◆
December 6, 2018
Upgrades to Mission Bay Park City of San Diego plans to spend $40 million to renovate the bay area
Lilyana Espinoza Contributor Mission Bay Park is the largest man-made water park of its kind in the country and it is less than 10 minutes away from the University of San Diego. Mission Bay Park welcomes millions each year to participate in a plethora of activities. From sailing to paddleboarding, picnics, and playgrounds, there is something at Mission Bay Park for everyone, including USD students. Senior James Davenport, a member of the USD Cross Country Team, spoke about why he enjoys Mission Bay Park. “I use Mission Bay almost every day,” Davenport said. “I run mostly on the grass as well as the pavement sidewalk. At times it becomes monotonous because of how often I run there, but it is such a blessing to have (the bay) near school.” San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer recently announced plans for $40 million to be put toward Mission Bay Park over the next six years to preserve and enhance the bay. When Davenport learned of the plan to improve Mission Bay Park, he felt the park was worthy of the money. “I believe that Mission Bay is a huge asset for San Diego,” Davenport said. “It provides tourism, attractions, and is a staple for visitors and residents alike. The park itself is great for sunsets, bonfires, birthday parties, and celebrations. The park is safe for children and can provide
a safe haven for children to grow in emotional intelligence from the various playgrounds; (that) cannot be assigned a dollar amount.” Davenport said he believes much of the money given to the park should be focused on bay dredging. Mission Bay covers over 4,000 acres and 27 miles of shoreline. “Mission Bay is currently polluted and not safe for swimming in certain parts of the park,” Davenport said. “Dredging will help reduce the amount of waste in park waters and potentially discontinue runoff waste when it rains. This would be ideal and would enhance the experience of tourists, residents, and the community as a whole.” Junior Kelsey Morris, President of the USD Club Water Ski Team, believes the bay needs improvements, but is unsure if the city should spend so much money. “I think it’s a good idea to put efforts toward improving Mission Bay since it is such a big part of San Diego,” Morris said. “I don’t know if that much money is necessary, or how long that will actually take, but I think Mission Bay should be maintained and improved.” According to Morris, for the Club Water Ski Team, Mission Bay is a vital aspect of the team’s ability to practice. “The Club Water Ski Team skis off of Fiesta Island on a private ski course that is run by the San Diego Water Ski Club as well as the college teams,” Morris said. “Without the course and dock there, as well as all the launch ramps in Mission Bay, it would much harder for us to
practice as much as we do. Mission Bay is also a great place for running or walking, so I definitely enjoy having it so close. We also take our team boat out in the open bay sometimes which is fun too.” According to Mayor Faulconer, the new plans for the park include the upgrades of playgrounds, comfort stations, parking lots, recreation facilities, and more. Navigational safety for the bay is also a large concern as well as preserving the environment of the bay for all of its guests. Restoring shorelines and preserving wetlands is another goal the money will go toward. Mayor Faulconer has been advocating for improvements to the bay for a long time now. Almost two decades ago he was a volunteer member for the Mission Bay Park committee. In 2008, Faulconer co-authored Proposition C that directed Mission Bay lease revenue back into the needs of the park. In 2016, Measure J was drafted to quicken the pace of the projects for the bay. Both propositions were received well by voters and both passed. Senior Gillian Duncan heard about the money going toward the bay because she utilizes the bay every day due to her involvement with rowing. “I am on the bay every single morning because I am on the USD Women’s Rowing Team, so word travels fast amongst the rowing community regarding the bay,” Duncan said. “It’s such an integral part of our practice and racing.”
Due to Duncan’s constant interaction with Mission Bay Park, she found that the money for improvements is a positive contribution to San Diego. “My first reaction was ‘wow that’s so much money,’” Duncan said. “However, reading about how the money is being spent makes so much sense. Mission Bay has been a second home to me for about three years now. I wish more people could see how beautiful it looks at the sunset and how it’s always buzzing every morning with children, the elderly on their morning walks, various San Diegans walking their dogs, and all the water activity. It really is such a hub for life in San Diego. It absolutely deserves to have all that money spent because we should take pride in our space so keeping it up to date and safe is money well spent.” For Duncan, bay dredging and parking improvements are what she is most excited to see for the future of the bay. “I think the two components that I am most looking forward to is the bay dredging and parking (improvements),” Duncan said. “The bay dredging will make it a lot easier for our coxswains to safely navigate the bay. And parking because parking has always been a problem during my three years.” Duncan explained her personal experience with parking at Mission Bay. “The boat house is located on El Carmel Point, which is also a public parking lot and often times it’s extremely hard to get a parking
spot at 6 a.m. because most people haven’t left for work yet,” Duncan said. “This poses a problem because then rowers are late to practice. And the solution isn’t to get up earlier because we already wake up at 5 a.m. and I doubt people are leaving then either.” Mission Bay can also be a place for USD students to accomplish academic work as well as enjoy the sites of San Diego. Senior Cameryn Bergman utilizes the bay due to her major in Environmental Studies. “As part of my research project and coursework I spend a lot of time collecting data from the bay and analyzing it back at USD,” Bergman said. “Additionally, I live on Mission Beach and frequently spend time on the bay to relax and enjoy the view.” Bergman is excited to see improvements to the playgrounds at the park. “I’m most looking forward to the playground updates,” Bergman said. “The bay is a great place for families to spend time and enjoy being outdoors. Updated playgrounds will excite the children and encourage parents to bring them to play there.” Students who utilize the Mission Bay Park recognize the need for improvements not only for aesthetic purposes but to make the area safer and more enticing for San Diegans and tourists alike. With millions of dollars being used for dozens of projects throughout the next several years, people will be able to take advantage of the improvements as they come.
NOW HIRING Arts & Culture Editor | Feature Editor Opinion Editor | Social Media Manager
Volume 56 Issue 11
◆
OPINION
◆
The USD Vista
5
Something else, something more
Louis Komjathy, Ph.D. Department of Theology and Religious Studies
and means to reproduce itself. Trade in your hours for a handful of dimes… Simply consider the fact that faculty raises are directly tied to tuition increases—my ability to live in San Diego and to teach at USD is directly tied to student exploitation, and my exploitation is directly tied to the institutional treatment of faculty as service workers and replaceable parts. This is not to mention the inequitable distribution of material resources and institutional power. How can there be solidarity in a framework rooted in division and fragmentation? It is not because the mechanism is working wrongly that I am ill… In place of this model, contemplative education challenges us to explore the deeper dimensions of being human, specifically by exploring and embodying our own values, commitments, and aspirations. How does one become an authentic human being? From a contemplative perspective, interiority and silence are necessary. Through contemplative inquiry and contemplative practice, one may clarify meaning and purpose. Here we may sit together, speak freely and openly, care about something else and something more. We may explore and listen attentively to “what’s really going on.” Stand up against governments, against God…
A minor, and perhaps not so minor, revolution in American higher education is underway. This is contemplative pedagogy, or teaching and learning informed by and expressed as contemplative practice. The latter refers to methods and approaches, whether religious, spiritual, or secular, that develop attentiveness, awareness, interiority, presence, silence, transformation, and a deepened sense of meaning and purpose. If you have not yet heard about this, I would suggest that it is no mere coincidence. Whoever you are, I fear you are walking the walk of dreams… The Matrix has you. This is the Matrix of corporatized higher education. The Matrix of hegemonic discourse and intellectual conformity. An unexamined life filled with assumed solidities and controllable borders. It is the Matrix of student debt and economic servitude. This is the university as an extension of corporate America, a corporation that ensures that education domesticates its gnostic potential and neuters its liberational power. It is again no coincidence that student loans are almost impossible to erase through bankruptcy. Like NWA MP3s and Che Guevara t-shirts, the system turns revolutionary potential into yet another mechanism of control
In this way, there is clear overlap with traditional liberal arts education in general and the humanities in particular. Such an approach to higher education endeavors to understand humans in the completeness and fullness of their being. We aspire to explore the varied dimensions and expressions of human potential and actualization. Things as they are are changed on the blue guitar… Contemplative education also may intersect with Catholic Social Thought (CST), at least as enacted by progressive Catholic Christians committed to ecumenism, diversity, and inclusion. Some of these principles and values include dignity of the person, dignity of work, person in community, option for the disadvantaged and vulnerable, solidarity, and care for place and world. Whether Catholic Christian or not, CST provides resources for confronting and remedying structural injustice and institutional inequality. This includes in the form of Catholic hegemony and Catholic supremacy that renders so many of us second-class citizens, individuals and constituencies without power, influence, or self-determination in our own community. I stand with you. Will you stand with me? What you wouldn’t have expected lives beneath the surface… You and I and we and even
they have the potential to change our university in more lifeaffirming as well as personally and communally transformative ways. But this will require hope and vision, and commitment and solidarity. It will involve those of us with such affinities and intentions to change our dissatisfaction into resolve, our disappointment into vision, our despair into aspiration and action. It will require that we identify with each other and form affinity groups. It will require intentional community rooted in care and concern, in actual solidarity. And, yes, embodied action is non-negotiable. Sometimes a man stands up… This would be an authentic academic community, one in which all are welcome and supported. One in which academic integrity, intellectual rigor, and philosophical discussion are not simply tolerated, but rather celebrated. One in which values are embodied and lived. From a contemplative perspective, it would be a context and opportunity for exploring authentic and shared aliveness. I have flung open all of the doors of the house… In this spirit, let me offer a few contemplative exercises for local awakening, community empowerment, and social transformation. These involve commitments beyond the mere rhetoric of “change-making.” Imagine education as a process of
learning to become fully human. See the classroom and larger campus as a place for human interaction. Look around. Put away your cell phones and renounce grades. How does one develop embodied, relational and placespecific presence and connection? Walk through the canyons. Play with dogs. Listen to the birds. What conditions are conducive to the continued presence of birdsong in the world? Speak to the often invisible and unrecognized members of our community, those who ensure a beautiful campus, clean classrooms, and nourishing food. Express gratitude to them. Care about their lives and struggles. Identify with and support their concerns. Do they make a livable wage? How can they afford to live in San Diego and take care of their families? May my heart always be open to little birds who are the secrets of living… For those of us who care about each other, who care about community, and who care about our campus climate, we must decide what type of university we want to be. Perhaps this may become a guiding contemplative exercise in itself. I offer it as a contemplative inquiry that may inform dialogic exchange and collaborative projects. This is a vision of something else, of something more. Don’t go back to sleep…
The University of San Diego does not share the views presented within the opinion section.
The grand C. Bechstein piano Luke Garrett, Editor in Chief A mix of spontaneity, beauty, and intimacy greet those lucky enough to encounter the C. Bechstein grand piano being played in the University Center (UC). It is tough to tell whether it is the UC’s stone floors, high ceilings, or simply the quality of the piano
itself that gives its sound such vigor. Regardless, this C. Bechstein piano is surely a jewel of the University of San Diego’s campus. The piano has been on USD’s campus for well over 25 years according Toñis Manriquez, Assistant Director of UC and Staff Development. Much like all pianos of its stature, it is tuned once a year or anytime it is moved from
its current home in the UC East Alcove. The piano tuner himself loves to work on the C. Bechstein according to Manriquez – he considers it to be a valuable and wonderful piano. Despite the piano’s quality in build, its true value lies in its use by USD students. A whole gamut of music can be heard from the piano’s ivory-white keys – from
Disney sing-alongs to classical nocturnes. Upon hearing the former, groups often gather around the black curved structure of the grand singing along and sometimes even dancing. The latter invites lone students to the comfy upholstered chairs surrounding the C. Bechstein to sit back and relax. With such frequent use, the
grand piano has been refurbished three times in the last 25 years, Manriquez shared. Although parts have been replaced, the piano has held true to its duty to strike the cords it is told. Today it stands strong as a tried and true unifying instrument that provides an opportunity for students to play for others and those other students to listen.
C. Bechstien grand piano sits in the University Center East Alcove Luke Garrett/The USD Vista
6
THE USD VISTA
â—†
DECEMBER 6, 2018
CA
WILDFIRES
The Camp Fire wildfire began on Nov. 8 in Butte County, Calif. The fire ended with 88 fatalities, 12 injured civilians, and 5 injured firefighters. It covered 53,336 acres and destroyed 13,696 family homes, 276 apartment buildings, and 528 commercial buildings. The estimated damage is $7.5–10 billion. The fire was 100 percent contained after 17 days, on Nov. 25. The Woolsey Fire burned in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties of California. The fire began Nov. 8, burning 96,949 acres. The fire ended with three fatalities and evacuated 295,000 people. The fire was contained Nov. 21.
How to help California fire victims
Red Cross Disaster Relief, Wildfire Relief Salvation Army in Action, Wildfire Relief Efforts California Community Foundation, Wildfire Relief Fund
Volume 56 Issue 11
◆
FEATURE
◆
THE USD VISTA
A Torero’s Personal Account Saturday, Nov. 17. Malibu, California. It was a deceptively calm day driving into Malibu, where fires had ravaged the natural landscape just days earlier. There were almost no cars on the road and the closer I drove to the burn site, the eerier the setting became. The eastern and central parts of Malibu were completely untouched by the fires and I could see the stark contrast as soon as I pulled up to the police blockade. The hills transitioned from a verdant green to a charred black, extremely desolate landscape. The line to speak to the police at the blockade was unlike anything I have ever seen, with angry and desperate residents just trying to get back home. When I finally got my chance to speak with the officers I was told that “this half of Malibu is closed off to everyone, including residents” and was sent back the other way. However, I was not going to take no for an answer, as my dad’s house was in the immediate burn area and I needed to get there to inspect what damage had been done to the home. My dad’s home is located on a peninsula in Malibu called Point Dume which was hit very hard by the fires; almost 100 homes were lost
just in that area. I decided to make the six mile trek past the blockade into Point Dume. I parked my car on Malibu Road and quietly walked the beach past the checkpoint and began my way to Point Dume. Past the checkpoint, Malibu was devoid of any human activity. The scene was apocalyptic, the hillsides were a dark black, overwhelmed in ash, only skeletons of once-beautiful homes remained, and many cars parked along the highway were melted and charred. After walking for a little over a mile I called my family friends who did not evacuate and asked them to relieve me from waking the side of the empty highway. Once they picked me up, the best they could do was take me to their house, still three miles away from my own home. Thankfully they offered to lend me a bike, so from there I set off deeper into Malibu. On my bike, I had the entire highway to myself. For three miles not a single car came by other than a few police cars. I finally reached my street and the destruction was devastating. Home after home was completely flattened, with nothing left. The power lines had all fallen onto the street and all the trees and shrubs
7
were reduced to charred outlines. When I got to my dad’s house, I was shocked to find that the structure was completely unharmed with how close the flames had come. The entire front gate and wall burned down just feet from the house. In the backyard, which opens up to a large canyon, the flames had engulfed the entire canyon all the way up to about 10 feet from the house where they abruptly stopped. The wall of our surfboard shed right next to our house burned as well as the door. The flames came within inches of our surfboards, but miraculously they remained untouched. To see the sheer power and force of the fire in its aftermath was terrifying. After inspecting the damage at my dad’s house, I rode down to the cliff over the water. After all of this, I still had not seen the worst of it. The most devastating and heartbreaking scene I saw was on a street called Birdview Drive. The homes that were right on the cliff over the water had been reduced to ash and only the chimneys remained. The scene was surreal, a beautiful blufftop property with the sun glistening off the calm water and waves crashing below, but with the charred remains of a once-great home. Malibu will never be the same after this fire, but I am confident that one day it will return to its former glory. For now, my community has a long road to recovery. The once glorious landscape now blackened by the flames will serve as a stark reminder for years to come of the fire that changed Malibu forever.
Spread by Monica Millan/ The USD Vista; Content and photos by John McNicholas/ The USD Vista
8
The USD Vista
◆
December 6, 2018
F E AT U R E
Celebrating Chanukah at USD
Students discuss the realities of celebrating Jewish holidays at a Catholic-majority university Chanukah from Page
1
Chanukah is not the most religiously-important Jewish holiday. The high holy days of Judaism are Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah. However, Chanukah holds a very special place for many Jewish families and individuals. “It is a very important cultural piece, it talks about the concept of oppression,” Glasser said. “It really shows the importance of being able to stand up for what you believe in and to be able to stand up for our identity.” Glasser noted that history tends to repeat itself, and being reminded of the oppression faced in the past brings Jews together. On campus, Glasser has plans to create a recyclable menorah in order to bring Jewish students together and still celebrate when they are away from home and their families. Chanukah is a very family-centered holiday, similar to Christmas, and can be hard to celebrate alone, Glasser mentioned. Glasser grew up playing dreidel, a spinning top with Hebrew letters on it, and making Latkes, a traditional Chanukah meal, while lighting the menorah each year. Menorah is Hebrew for “lamp” and serves to represent the menorah that Jews lit in the second century BCE, in which the oil miraculously burned for eight nights instead of one. Sophomore Marcos Saade shares the same kind of memories of Chanukah that Glasser does. “Chanukah, to me, means a time I get to be able to spend with my family,” Saade said. “It is a happy time, and lighting the menorah is something very meaningful to me that I look forward to every year.”
While celebrating at the university isn’t the same as it was growing up, Saade has found a new community at USD. Saade, along with other students in Hillel, has a dinner with students which includes Chanukah-related food and a lighting of the menorah together each year. The students are welcome to invite other friends as well, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Some Jewish students have found they are supported by their friends outside of the Jewish community at USD, even though it is a Catholicmajority school. Nina Schneider, a junior from Chatsworth, California, shared her experience. “I celebrate with my friends who are not Jewish,” said Schneider. “They are interested and support me in celebration.” Chatsworth has found a community of people who will engage with her in her religious celebrations, like Chanukah, which helps make USD feel like home. While the traditions of Chanukah and other Jewish religious celebrations are clearly different from Catholic holidays, some students still believe that similarities can be found between the two religions. Jewish students are often asked by others why they would choose to attend a Catholic school, and Glasser has found connections between the religions and found strength in his own beliefs at USD. “The set of values is very similar, which has made things easier for me and made it possible to get close with the other students here,” Glasser noted. Saade, who is a friend of Glasser’s, sees the similarities yet is
Joshua Glasser (left) celebrating Chanukah with his family.
also observant of the differences on campus. “It’s interesting celebrating Chanukah on a Catholic campus because it’s not as apparent that it’s Chanukah when you don’t see Chanukah-related stuff all over (campus),” said Saade. “It’s also
interesting to be on a campus that isn’t just Jewish, which relates to the past and opening up to learn about other people’s traditions.” Celebrating a family-oriented holiday away from home in a place that focuses on a completely different holiday has its challenges.
Photo courtesy of Joshua Glasser
However, some Jewish students at USD have also found their community and strength within their unity, as Jews have done throughout history. They continue to celebrate holidays and traditions that are important to them no matter how far from home they are.
a
Menorahs on the eighth night of Chanukah, celebrating the eight days that the oil burned.
Emma Goodman-Fish/The USD Vista
Volume 56 Issue 11
◆
ARTS & CULTURE
◆
The USD Vista
HOLIDAY FUN
De-stress during this busy finals season with a fun coloring page of an ice-skating penguin.
Crossword
Photo courtesy of Coloringpagezone.com
Word Search
9
10
The USD Vista
◆
December 6, 2018
A RT S & C U LT U R E
Close encounters of the furry kind A satirical take on the campus raccoons these dumpster-diving deviants but how much do we really know about them? Where do they come from? What do they want? How can they afford to go here? Do they have access to scholarships or FAFSA? The mysteries of the unknown can turn our picturesque campus into a nightmarish hell. I was able to get ahold of Captain Quinton Kawahara from public safety, and I asked him if he could give us some information in order to ease our anxiety. Though they’ve been around as long as anyone can remember, the sheer size of their population is unknown. Kawahara spoke about what it means to live amongst these creatures. “There are no active measures other than suggesting the community does not feed or leave out food for the raccoons as that will continue to attract them to campus,” Kawahara said. “The San Diego Humane Society Law Enforcement will not respond for general raccoon calls on campus, unless the raccoon has bitten someone or acting aggressive toward people.” Normally appearing around Camino and Founders but sometimes venturing as far as the SLP, these racoons have infiltrated our campus. I personally encountered one, teeth bared, claws at the ready, outside of Copley
This one, who I’ve named marshmallow, slowly begins to trust me. Photo courtesy of Noah Staninger
Marshmallow with his family, James (standing) and Harris (in the back) named after our beloved president. Photo courtesy of Noah Staninger
Library. Last May one decided to crash a Wednesday night mass by climbing on the altar. Back in 2014 (this actually happened, you can Google it) a turf war broke out between the raccoons and the feral cats. Have you seen any cats lately? Didn’t think so. And who is next on their hit list? Students, faculty, or even the beloved dogs that people bring could all be at risk from these freeloading feral fiends. Despite the risks, some students have tried contacting them. I spoke to senior Juan Rodriguez who was willing to tell me about his own encounters with the raccoons. “I think it was two years ago, I was living in Camino and we had animal crackers, and there were raccoons outside by the trash cans,” Juan Rodriguez said. “So one night we decided to feed him some of the animal crackers, and he loved them so we made a trail leading into Camino. So he started running around the halls at around 8:30 or 9 p.m. when there were still some classes going on. We were laughing a lot.” So are these scavenging scoundrels really as menacing as we make them out to be? Despite the threats they pose and the terrors they wrought, this is still the University of San Diego, and we must take active steps to accommodate the raccoons on our campus and provide them with the services that come standard with our university experience. I managed to speak to the raccoons, and I asked how they felt about their lack of representation on campus. They had no words.
Noah Staninger Contributor You’re walking to Camino after a long day of changemaking. You’re only a few feet from the entrance when you begin to feel an overwhelming sense of fear. Your hairs stand on end and your knees feel weak as you approach the door. With each step you take, the anxiety grows and everything begins to seem surreal. You can’t explain it but you suddenly feel as if you’re not alone. You start running, hands sweating as you reach for the door, when suddenly something jumps out of the trash! Could it be a ghost? A clown? Danny Devito?! Or something more sinister still? You freeze, seconds turn to hours as it stares into your soul. The greatest threat to USD students since having to explain what a Torero is. A raccoon! Many students have had perilous encounters with
“Raccoons have been on and around
the USD campus for as long as I have worked here, which is 14 years.” -Quinton Kawahara
Comic courtesy of Audrey Garrett
Volume 56 Issue 11
◆
SPORTS
◆
11
The USD Vista
SP ORT S
Reflecting with Lawrence
Torero quaterback takes a look back on his time at USD and his past accomplishments Anderson Haigler Sports Editor Anthony Lawrence isn’t shy about talking about it — the University of San Diego isn’t exactly where he originally envisioned his college football career taking place. “You look at the campus and it’s beautiful; going to college here would be awesome,” Lawrence said, reflecting on his high school self. “But as far as football, I hadn’t really thought about playing football here. I kind of envisioned going to a big FBS school or a bigger FCS school.” Five years and a USD-record 12,036 passing yards later, the redshirt senior quarterback is sure that he made the right choice. “It’s been a ton of fun being able to be out here in San Diego, to be able to do it in front of my friends and family. The support I get from them, it’s been a blast. I really can’t believe where I’m at today.” Though Lawrence hails from nearby La Mesa, Calif., his landing at USD was fortuitous for the Toreros, if not improbable. “It wasn’t until my senior season that I really had USD as a legitimate possibility,” Lawrence said. It would be a twist of fate — admittedly unfortunate for Lawrence at the time — that would lead to him playing for his hometown team. “I took an official (visit) to Penn, and I talked to Yale a bunch,” Lawrence said. “But after my official (visit), they called me and said their other quarterback recruit de-committed from Iowa and committed to Penn, so that kinda bumped me from the spot. It was basically walk on at a couple schools or have a roster spot here, and I didn’t want to go through the walk-on process and get treated like crap and not really get an opportunity. So (USD) was pretty much it if I wanted a guaranteed spot on the team, a guaranteed opportunity.” As anyone who has even casually followed USD’s football program over the last five years knows, Lawrence took the aforementioned opportunity and ran with it. His early days as a Torero, though, were not without their challenges. A redshirt firstyear season tested Lawrence’s resolve, but perhaps prepared him for big things to come. “You think you’re going to go out and play right away and keep doing your thing,” Lawrence said. “But when you first get here, you realize that these guys are dudes, like they’re good at playing football, they’re smart, they’re athletic. That humbling experience, I didn’t take it very well at first, I was pretty upset, obviously I wanted to get on the field, I wanted to play.” But as the fourth-string USD
quarterback at the beginning of his career, Lawrence had to stick with his decision to sit out in order to preserve and maximize his NCAA eligibility, the very playing time that had led him to come to USD in the first place. “After about week four or five, when I kinda realized that I wasn’t going to play, I just kinda tried to take advantage of it, you know, work hard and put myself in a position to play next year,” Lawrence said. Lawrence’s positive attitude and hard work paid off. When he began his college football career the following season, he burst upon the scene as a player who appeared immediately ready to succeed, passing for 2,392 total yards and 23 touchdowns in his debut year at USD. Despite his early success, Lawrence says that he has continually matured as a quarterback since beginning his time as a Torero.
“I would say decision-making, and the ability to remain calm when I’m on the field,” Lawrence said of the areas he has most improved. “My freshman year, I would get flustered sometimes in the pocket or whatever it may be, and now my decision-making and the game has kinda slowed down for me.” Lawrence offered one specific moment from his first season that stood out among the rest, and perhaps contributed to his nowrespected calm on-field demeanor. “The first game I played in at SDSU at Qualcomm (Stadium) in front of 50,000 was awesome,” Lawrence said. “I remember I got lit up on one play and I was just on my back and I look up in the stands and there’s people in the third deck.” Though Lawrence is a humble as they come, his own work ethic and competitive drive mentioned is something that has both set
him apart from his competition, and earned him the respect and admiration of both his teammates and coaches alike. If the 22-yearold is known for anything other than his prodigious passing talents, it’s for the fact that he is a notoriously hard worker and fiercely competitive player. These traits have not gone unnoticed by USD football head coach Dale Lindsey. “The best thing about Anthony Lawrence is that whatever it is you ask him to do, he’ll do,” Lindsey said. “He’s gonna compete harder than the next guy, he’s gonna find a way to win. Anthony, when you go do something, drills, whatever on the field, shorts, any sort of practice, he wants to win — and does.” To Lawrence himself, it’s simply a matter of quiet confidence, something that has never been in short supply for him. “I have as much confidence
Anthony Lawrence (middle) runs onto the field at Torero Stadium for the final time during Senior Day
as anyone in any sport,” Lawrence said. “If I go out and play basketball against Lebron, I think I’m gonna have a chance.” This self-assuredness has not been without results for Lawrence. As his five-year collegiate career has unfolded, he developed into the most prolific passer in both USD and Pioneer League (PFL) history; he is now the PFL’s alltime leader in career passing yards with 12,017, owns the USD football record for most career touchdowns with 113, and is USD’s all-time leader in career total offense with 12,061 yards. All of these stats in addition to 3,785 total passing yards this season with 35 touchdowns along the way have created a resume that stands alone amongst countless quarterbacks before him. These eye-popping numbers may surprise some, but Lawrence says that he always knew he was
Continued on page 12
Thomas Christensen/The USD Vista
12
The USD Vista
◆
December 6, 2018
An epic career for Lawrence
Though Lawrence heads toward graduation, his accomplishments will remain in USD history
Lawrence outruns a defender, a key characteristic of his play style.
Thomas Christensen/The USD Vista
Lawrence from page 11 capable of achieving this level of success. “I definitely knew I could do it; I definitely had that confidence,” Lawrence said. Having had such a charmed career thus far, Lawrence is thankful for the help he’s had along the way. “Just being able to get the opportunity,” Lawrence said. “I understand that it’s hard to give a ‘short, un-athletic quarterback’ an opportunity, but I always knew I could do it, and I’m just so thankful that these coaches believed in me.” Throughout his career, Lawrence has demonstrated a consistent ability to rise to the
occasion in tough situations. He leads his team to an impressive variety of comeback victories both at home and on the road, in conference play and in nonconference play, and in the playoffs and during the regular season. “I think one of my best traits is that I don’t think any play is too big for me, I don’t think a scenario is too big, I don’t think an environment’s too big for me,” Lawrence said. His play over the last five years has certainly shown this. In his career at USD, Lawrence is 38-8 as a starter, 31-1 in conference play, and 21-0 at home, with three PFL
Lawrence led the Toreros to a victory over Dayton with three touchdowns. Thomas Christensen/The USD Vista
Championships and two playoffs wins to he and his teammates’ credit over that span. On Nov. 24 in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs, Lawrence and his teammates took on Nicholls State University in a win-orgo-home game that tested the veteran quarterback one final time. Although the Toreros lost 30-49 against Nicholls State, what is certain for Lawrence are the memories he’s made, and bonds he’s forged with his teammates along the way. “I’m gonna miss the guys,” Lawrence said. “Just being able to go out there and compete in
everything. In lifts, in offseason conditioning, in the games, in practice is so fun. And then just the locker room, you know the guys, going through camp with them, going through meetings and walkthroughs with them, and going through travel trips where we don’t get back until one o’clock. It’s just so much fun.” Perhaps above all else, Lawrence is grateful that he ended up here, because he was able to play in his hometown, in front of his friends and family. “It’s meant everything,” Lawrence said. “If I went to Penn, my family might never have been able get to watch me play college
Lawrence became the all-time leader in PFL passing yards this season with 12,017. Thomas Christensen/The USD Vista
football, and they’re not able to get to too many away games. So being able to be at home and have them be able to be at every other game, it’s really meant everything to be able to play in front of them.” Though the Toreros did not maintain their streak of first-round wins in the playoffs like previous years, Lawrence held on to another title. For a second, consecutive season the veteran quarterback was named PFL Offensive Player of the Year. As of now, both Lawrence’s future and the teams’ in his absence are uncertain, but one thing is clear – Lawrence and his dedication to the sport will surely be missed at Torero Stadium.
Lawrence reaching for added yardage in victory over Dayton. Thomas Christensen/The USD Vista