Volume 56, Issue 8 by The USD Vista

TheUSDVISTA

Volume 56 Issue 8

Thursday, November 1, 2018

On Newsstands Weekly

◆ The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Diego since 1968 ◆

Voting absentee Tyler Arden Contributor The clock is ticking. As anxious students await absentee ballots and rush to mail them back before election day, they’re coming to realize that voting away from home comes with its own unique set of challenges. On Tuesday, Nov. 6, many of those locally-registered San Diegans will line up to cast their votes. Plenty of students won’t go to their polling place or get an “I Voted” sticker, but that’s not to say they don’t care about voting. Instead, these students plan to vote via absentee ballot. It’s a popular option for out-of-state students and California inhabitants alike, and requires starting the voting process long before election day. First year Tyler Young from Reno, Nev. is one of many students doing just that. For him, having a voting plan in place was important, especially because he needed to request an absentee ballot via mail.

See Absentee, Page 2

Get informed and...

Title IX turmoil

Paulina Sierra Opinion Editor On Sunday, Oct. 21, the LGBTQ+ community was shaken by news of a leaked memo that revealed the Trump administration’s intent to redefine sex as a “person’s status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth.” The Department of Health and Human Services is spearheading the memo. The intent is to publish this definition under Title IX, which will greatly affect the way rulings on discrimination can be run. If made into law, it would take the right to discrimination on the basis of sex away from the 1.4 million Americans who have openly identified on government records as transgender. The news met Aaron Meyer, a transgender senior, through an outreach of solidarity from the LGBTQ+ community online, and with absolutely no surprise. “Early this week I started seeing a lot of posts and events supporting

Special Issue: 2018 Midterm Elections

Read on to see the midterm election highlighted in every section.

See Title IX, Page 2

Student cohort critiques AS senate

In the aftermath of a contentious executive veto, senate override, and eventual formal warning issued to the president, the senate and president sat at odds in regard to the College Readership Program (CRP), but also more fundamentally to their respective uses of power. In an email from President Natasha Salgado to The USD Vista, she warned of the community’s reaction to the senate’s actions. As she predicted, some members of the USD community went looking for answers. A record 24 students filled the seats at last week’s Associated Student (AS) senate meeting – the first AS meeting since the censure of President Salgado. The meeting ran its usual course with the swearing in of a new senator, confirmation of student organizations, and a water fountain proposal. Although the senate’s agenda items were completed swiftly, the AS meeting was far from over. As the speaker of the senate, Tyler Warren called for “final business” – a time reserved for the public to voice their opinions to the governing body – the presence of 24 students was made known. Alanah Winston, sophomore sociology major, was the first to

speak on behalf of the student cohort, clearly stating the group’s concerns: the censure on Salgado and the priorities of AS. Beginning with critiques of the senate’s reasons for censure and The USD Vista’s coverage of it, Winston defended Salgado as the sole member of AS who listens to her community. To Winston, this juxtaposition of Salgado’s impact and the senate’s lack thereof delegitimized their censure of the AS president. “The only person that actually gave us funding was Natasha, herself,” Winston said. “She took money out of her own grant. That is where we saw results. Someone in AS is listening to the needs and concerns of the students, and we feel as though the rest (of AS) is not necessarily doing so to that extent. (This) is why we find it hypocritical to accuse her of abuse of power.” Supporting students snapped in agreement as Winston sat down. Soon after, senior Maya Ramirez stepped up to voice further complaints against the recent actions of the AS senate and their prioritization of the CRP over other important initiatives, including retention rates of people of color, parking rates, and the removal of Junipero Serra’s name from campus. Following Winston and Ramirez’s expressions of discontent with the AS senate, a pattern of

student grievance and senate response ensued for the remainder of the meeting. The group’s grievances were centered around the senate’s lack of engagement with the USD community and the need for senators to fulfill their respective roles. This was stated clearly by Black Student Union CoPresident, Riley Lewis. “You need to go outside of this room to find out what your constituents want and need,” Lewis said. “This is a paid position. If you are going to take the money they are paying you, then you also need to put in the hours where you can find out what your constituents want and need.” Senators’ responses varied from being apologetic to defensive. Rowan Parmenter, senator of Alcala Vistas, acknowledged his own frustrations with of AS. “I really apologize for you all thinking this is inefficient,” Parmenter said. “I am frustrated with how things take a long time. We were held up because we didn’t have a finance chair, so we couldn’t make these decisions... Please reach out to AS and we will do our best to reach out to you. ” Alternatively, Warren defended the senate’s engagement and involvement on campus. He claimed it was unfair to say senators aren’t showing up to events when he

stated that the majority of last year’s top Olé Point earners were AS and TPB members, meaning they are some of the most involved members of the USD community. Salgado closed the meetings by thanking the senators and the members of the public, as well as encouraging the senators to better seek out their constituents. “I hope that members of the public and senators are able to have that two-way communication,” Salgado said. “Not just having our members of the public come in and search us out, but having us search them out as well.” At Salgado’s last words, Winston cheered, “Woo! Yes, Natasha!” and the group of students applauded as the meeting was adjourned. Following the meeting, Winston shared her thoughts. “I felt a lot more defensiveness... than I did willingness to receive critique,” Winston said. “We were not met with willingness to change from all of our senators. The speaker of the senate, within the first 10 minutes, was like ‘I’m here to defend the senate’ and that made it feel like we were attacking them and that is not our intention. It is only to voice our opinions.” Warren, in an interview after the meeting adjourned, further defended the senate by pointing out the diversity of representation

within the senate. “There are a lot of people in this room that represent multiple different groups,” Warren said. “Like we have got veterans in here… Me personally, I might not got to their meetings. I definitely go to the International Student Organization meetings. I go to military program meetings. I go to Interfraternity Council meetings when I can.” Senators and members of the public stayed long after the meeting to exchange contacts and further discuss the issues brought up. Cheche Turrubiartez, senior political science major and one of the 24, reflected on the meeting. “My hopes for the future is that the communication the constituents were asking for... gets granted,” Turrubiartez said. “The conversation was heated, but I think that maybe it was necessary. The senators are definitely here talking to their constituents after the meeting. So I think that there was something that changed and hopefully things get better.” Regardless of the tension and conflict within AS, student involvement and participation is at an all-time high within recent memory. With the finance chair confirmed and energy within the senate high, eyes are on AS to see how they will act as the governing body of the University of San Diego.

Hunter v. Campa-Najjar

Pipe bomb politics

“STOP KISS” comes to USD

Let’s get cheesy

Senior day win for women’s soccer

See Opinion, page 4

See A&C, page 11

See A&C, page 12

See Sports, page 15

Luke Garrett Editor in Chief

See News, page 3

WWW.UOFSDMEDIA.COM ◆ @THEUSDVISTA

The USD Vista

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November 1, 2018

NEWS

USD students vote absentee Out-of-state students registered as absentee voters are finally receiving their ballots

Absentee from Page 1

ballot via mail. While the state allowed him to register online, requesting his ballot required a physical form. Young said it was a relatively easy process, but getting that ballot was not without delays and accompanying frustrations. “The ballot took over two weeks to get here and I had to contact the voter registration office in Nevada twice to ensure that the ballot was sent,” Young said. Even with all the advance planning it required, Young said that taking the time to account for receiving a ballot and working through the process was worth it given his involvement and stake in the elections at home. “Voting in Nevada is really important this year because Nevada is facing gubernatorial and senate elections,” Young said. “Both of these are nationally known to be the two of the most contested races in the country.” Young’s decision to vote in Nevada wasn’t solely based on his desire to cast a vote in high stakes local elections, though. Equally important to him was being knowledgeable about the matters that he is voting on. “Being a first year, I simply have not been in San Diego long enough to be informed on the issues facing this region versus those at home in Reno,” Young said. “To vote here would be robbing informed voters in San Diego of their voice.” Absentee voting allows

students to stay registered in their home precinct even though they won’t be physically there on election day. The process allows students to receive and complete their ballot through the mail. Given the nature of these absentee ballots, an extra logistical challenge is cast over the mail center on campus as it becomes a pseudo polling place responsible for sending out and delivering a growing number of ballots. Most notably, absentee voting means processing an extra volume of mail. Given the importance and time sensitivity of election material, Mail Center Manager Cheance Adair said that the center is working to process ballots quickly. “Currently we are getting ballot notices out as fast as we can,” Adair said. “I cannot guarantee they are getting notices in the same day. There could be a one-day delay, but I currently have a full tray of ballots that we have notified the student for, and they are still here, yet-tobe-claimed.” Adair said picking up those ballots when they arrive is important. Without them, students can’t vote. To help students, the mail center made changes this year notifying students when important election mail arrives so they can prioritize picking it up. “This year we set our email notice to alert campus residents that the item waiting for them is a ballot, as opposed to a letter or package,” Adair said. “Ballots are trayed separately so we can grab it

The USD Vista Editorial – 619.260.4584 Business – 619.260.4714 www.uofsdmedia.com @TheUSDVista Luke Garrett - Editor in Chief Kaia Hubbard - Associate Editor Hannah Sonberg - Managing Editor Kathryn Querner - Copy Editor Monica Millan- Art Director Amy Inkrott - News Editor Paulina Sierra - Opinion Editor Jennifer Mossuto - Feature Editor Dorothy Dark - Arts & Culture Editor Anderson Haigler - Sports Editor Thomas Christensen - Photography Editor Zoé Morales - Photo Assistant Richard Benson - Distribution Editor Elizabeth Brunelli - Finance Manager Rachel Steinheimer - Advertising Manager Gina Lew - Student Media Advisor Marie Minnick - Operations Advisor

A USD student displays an absentee ballot from Multnomah County in Oregon. Amy Inkrott/The USD Vista

quickly for the recipient too.” Once students do pick up those ballots, Adair said that it is essential to complete that form and return it to the mail center quickly. While college students can be prone to procrastination, in order to ensure that each outgoing ballot is counted, waiting until the last possible deadline may not be enough.

The USD Vista publication is written and edited by USD students and funded by revenues generated by advertising and a student fee. Advertising material published is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an expressed or implied endorsement or verification of such commercial venues by the staff or University. The USD Vista office is located on the fourth floor of the Student Life Pavilion in room 403B. All inquiries should be sent to: The USD Vista 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego or of its student body. Letters to the Editor can be submitted to The USD Vista office. Letters should be limited to 300 words and must be signed. For identification purposes, USD identification numbers and writer’s year must be included in the letter. The USD Vista reserves the right to edit published letters. Any content sent to the editor will be considered for publication unless otherwise stated.

“Don’t wait, get it in the mail system as soon as possible,” Adair said. “The USPS is probably working ballots as fast as they can, however, they are also, in general, processing letter mail slower these days to keep up with the demand for expedient package deliveries. You can thank Amazon Prime for that.” Each county has their own deadline for when ballots must be

received in the voter’s home state. With that, students should research candidates and ballot questions in advance to be prepared for when it is time to complete their ballot. Adair noted that USPS retrieves outgoing mail from campus each day at 4 p.m. at the latest. Students should plan accordingly to get their ballot in to the mail center before then if they haven’t already.

Standing in Solidarity: A week of tragedy Hannah Sonberg Managing Editor This past week has included an abnormal and horrific frequency of tragic acts of implied bigotry. Outlined below are the events that occurred between Oct. 24 to Oct. 27 in order to relay information and acknowledge the victims.

Oct. 24, 2018 On Wednesday in Jeffersontown, Ky., Maurice Stallard was shot in his local Kroger store, followed by Vickie Jones, who was shot in the parking lot of the same store as the suspect was fleeing. Gregory A. Bush was seen attempting to enter a predominantly black church 10-15 minutes before the shootings at the Kroger store. Bush was arrested after the fatal shootings in a nearby area.

Oct. 25, 2018 Cesar Sayoc of Aventura, Fla., a supporter of the current administration, has been arrested on multiple charges for sending 13 seemingly homemade pipe-bombs to primarily democratic political and media figures. Some of these figures include former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the CNN news office.Read more on page 4.

Oct. 27, 2018 A Pittsburgh synagogue, the Tree of Life Congregation, was violently attacked on Saturday, leaving 11 dead and six wounded. The gunman, Robert Bowers, carried four guns and verbally expressed his anti-Semitic views, that mirrored his threatening online activity, during his attack. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady is pushing for the death penalty as punishment Bowers’ attack.

Volume 56 Issue 8

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NEWS

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The USD Vista

Attack ads take over campaign

East County’s race between Duncan Hunter and Ammar Campa-Najjar turns nasty with new ads

Ammar Campa-Najjarr’s campaign ad highlights Duncan Hunter’s response to various charges of fraud and embezzlement.

Glenn McDonnell Asst. News Editor With the midterm elections next Tuesday, Nov. 6, local San Diego politicians and special interest groups have been increasing their presence and visibility through advertisement campaigns, some of which have used aggressive tactics to portray their message. For some candidates, like East County Congressman Duncan Hunter, attacks on an opponent are done in the midst of ongoing scandal or controversy. In August, the Republican representative from Alpine made national headlines following a federal indictment accusing both him and his wife of using $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses, among other charges.

In response, Hunter’s opponent released an attack ad highlighting 60 charges of fraud, embezzlement, and corruption. The ad personally criticizes the candidate through references to his wife and political career that insinuate his flaws. Sociology and political science double major Imma Honkanen believes that these allegations alone, if confirmed, should be disqualify Hunter from even being considered for reelection in California’s 50th congressional district. “If it turns out that he really did commit all of these campaign violations, I think there should be consequences,” Honkanen said. “With all these accusations, I don’t think he should be running for reelection.” On Sept. 26, Hunter’s campaign released an ad claiming that

his opponent, first Latino-Arab congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar, is an “Islamic terrorism sympathizer” and a “national security risk.” Since the ad was released, Campa-Najjar’s campaign has actually seen an increase in contributions, according to ABC 10 News. Honkanen has noticed more of these sorts of ads during this election season than in the past. “Since our politics are really divisive right now, I think a lot of candidates are reflecting that with the attack approach,” Honkanen said. “I actually see them pretty often now.” While the most common medium for these types of ads has historically been television, many students have come across them while using social media. Honkanen says the most

Photo courtesy of Ammar Campa-Najjar for Congress

common place she sees these sorts of ads is on Twitter and Instagram. “I consider myself pretty active in politics, and a lot of the accounts I follow are political,” Honkanen said. “Most of the time the ads I see for candidates are in the sponsored format, with the ‘paid for by’ line at the bottom.” Typically, these clips focus on a candidate’s opponent on a personal level, featuring details of their past or their background, designed to anger or displease the targeted voter. Senior political science major Kati Byrne sees this kind of ad as strategically smart but nevertheless distasteful. “I don’t like when I see an attack ad,” Byrne said. “As someone who has studied campaigns and elections, I understand their value and what they’re trying to accomplish, but I

still have a problem with it.” For Byrne, the use of negative tactics impacts her willingness to support a candidate’s run for office. “I don’t see a candidate who is constantly attacking their opponent as worthy of my vote,” Byrne said. “I’d rather them show me why they’re better than their opponent and why I should consider supporting them, not why I should dislike their opponent.” As election day approaches, political campaigns will be intensifying their final push with increased ad placements on television, social media, and a range of other public-facing platforms. The election’s final results on Nov. 6 will reveal if the candidates’ attack strategies throughout the campaign have paid off, or simply lead to more outrage among more critically-minded voters.

Duncan Hunter’s campaign ad refers to Campa-Najjar as a terrorist, quoting a comment from Campa-Najjar’s father on 9/11. Photo courtesy of Duncan Hunter for U.S. Congress

The USD Vista

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November 1, 2018

OP I N ION

Pipe bombs & political divides In the midst of explosive political divides, USD students cope with increased tensions and violence

Paulina Sierra Opinion Editor Sophomore Lauren Harmon, a registered Republican voter, joined the country in shock last week upon hearing the news that 14 pipe bombs were mailed to major figures within the Democratic party. “It was quite disturbing,” Harmon said. “No one should ever be targeted in that manner. My political position definitely does not affect the way I view it.” Some of the major political figures the bombs were mailed to include former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Joe Biden, current California senator Kamala Harris, New Jersey senator Cory Booker, billionaire and Democratic donor George Soros, and the downtown New York CNN news offices, to name a few. The bombs were made using PVC pipes and used a notable amount of black duct tape. All the packages were strategically addressed, using the return address to target a different political figure in case delivery to the original victim failed. All the packaging was similar; the bombs were sent inside a manilla folder stamped with six American flag stamps emblazoned on the front. None of the bombs detonated, and were intercepted before arriving at their intended destination. Cesar Sayoc, 56, was arrested on Friday Oct. 26 in Plantation, Fla. on the accusation that he is responsible for sending the explosive devices. He had recently been asked to leave his parents’ residence, and was living inside his van, which was adorned with several images of President

A view of the CNN office building in downtown New York, which received a bomb in the mail and broke the story. Courtesy of aylamillerntor/Flickr

Trump and Vice President Pence, as well as a sticker that said “CNN Sucks.” Inside the van was evidence that the bombs were made and prepared from within it, which included mailing supplies, soldering equipment, and a white powder that is, as of now, still unidentified, but is being tested by investigators. While Sayoc, now facing trial

in Florida, claims that he never intended to have the bombs detonate and that they never could have hurt anyone, investigators concluded that the bombs had been intended to work, as they contained all the parts and efforts to make them functional, but were simply crafted poorly. While Sayoc was not being monitored by the Secret Service

as an active threat, he had been arrested eight times since 1990 for various charges including drug possession and theft. The arrest most related to his current criminal charge took place in 2002, when he was arrested for threatening to bomb the Florida Power and Light Co., specifically threatening that “it would be worse than September 11th.” While this threat was significant, it was not considered threatening enough to place him

“The one thing it emphasizes for me is the fact that dangerous radicalism, from both the far right and the far left, has been passed over as normal or acceptable,” Dombo said. “I can only hope that this man’s actions aren’t praised or don’t embolden those who may be anti-Democrat.” Dombo states, however, that the election will be influenced by this event, and that the political climate will, in turn, be affected.

“It was quite disturbing. No one should ever be targeted in that manner. My political position definitely does not affect the way I view it.” -Lauren Harmon

Barack Obama, one of the political figures targetted by the attack, at a rally in 2011. Courtesy of Marc Nozelll/Flickr

on a watch list. While the event was jarring, Harmon has concluded that in terms of voting, events like this should not have a major influence. “Though I am voting, I think it is important to not let outside factors affect the way that I vote,” Harmon said. “For me, it’s important to look at the facts and the moral obligations that I have to my values and what I want to see in my future that helps me vote. It’s not necessarily about the here and now for me, but the long haul and how my vote affects my future.” Sophomore Maisy Dombo, a registered Democrat, believes this event is indicative of an increase in radicalism in the America.

“I believe that every election greatly affects the political climate whether we expressly address it or not because those who we elect are those who are making law and policy which of course influences daily life,” Dombo said. “However, this election seems as if it could be very impactful particularly due to the media campaigns and pleas from celebrities for young voters to register and utilize their constitutional right.” Sayoc has now revealed that he intended to send bombs to hundreds of major Democratic players. While the impact of Sayoc’s threat was minimal, the threat posed by intense political divides continues to jeapordize the way our democracy is run.

Volume 56 Issue 8

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OPINION

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The USD Vista

Title IX memo mayhem

Transgender students discuss the effects of the leaked memo, and what they’re doing now Paulina Sierra Opinion Editor

Memo from pg. 1

trans people so I figured something must have happened,” Meyer said. “I looked into what was going on and I was not surprised in any way. Honestly, based on the fallout, I was expecting to find out about something much more concrete than what is actually happening. But this is really just more confirmation of what we already know about this administration’s stance on trans people.” For Meyer, the fear of the government rolling back on transgender rights has always been active and present in his life, and was only heightened by the leaked memo. “In California, trans people can change their gender marker on their birth certificate and once that is done, the original record is sealed,” Meyer said. “This is what I have done and it is what enabled me to change my gender marker on my passport. When I vacationed in Europe this January, TSA had trouble scanning my passport, which I had only recently acquired with the correct name and gender marker. I was terrified that some ruling had been issued or my changing of my gender marker had put me on some sort of No Fly List or something. It seems so dystopian and I remember thinking that at the time, but it’s still one of those fears I have in the back of my head. So the idea that my original birth certificate could be unsealed and/or used by the federal government against me is pretty scary for me. I really hope nothing comes of this because, even living in California, there are a lot of ways this [policy change] could cause great harm to trans people.” Paige Ferguson, the president of Gender Friends, an on-campus discussion and processing group meant to support transgender students, was concerned on both the political and social front. “My reaction to the memo was fear,” Ferguson said. “Not only would rolling back federal protections for trans, non-binary,

Transgender pride flag on display on the fourth floor of the SLP. Paulina Sierra/ The USD Vista

I started thinking about what the Trump administration has already done to target the trans community I wasn’t so astonished anymore. Trump has attempted to pass a policy that would ban transgender folks from serving in the military, he has revoked protections for trans students which allowed trans people to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity, and Pence has a long history of opposing LGB and Trans rights. The current administration and individuals within it have been actively working to harm the LGB and Trans community for some time now, so no, I don’t feel very surprised anymore.” Ferguson has concerns over the effects this will have on USD,

“I think students and faculty at USD could benefit from educating themselves about trans issues because I haven’t heard anyone outside the community be concerned about the leaked memo.” -Paige Ferguson and intersex people put the community at risk for violence and discrimination, but it also normalizes transphobia and emboldens prejudiced individuals. It’s scary when autonomy over your life can be ripped away from you.” While Ferguson was initially surprised by the memo, the announcement makes sense to them within the context of the administration’s past public attitudes, particularly those of Vice President Mike Pence. “At first, I was surprised and thought, ‘How could they possibly do this?’” Ferguson said. “But when

both on an administrative and social level. “I feel like this has the potential to change the campus environment for me and other trans, non-binary, and intersex individuals,” Ferguson said. “One possibility is that this will make the campus environment more hostile. USD added ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ to the non-harassment and nondiscrimination policies in 2011; that’s under 10 years ago and who knows if USD would stay committed to these policies. Even now we’re struggling to get more

all-gender bathrooms on campus that are accessible and not tucked away in the back hallways of buildings. But another possibility is that the student body will rally together and continue to stand up for trans rights and hold the world accountable to respecting the human dignity of trans, nonbinary, and intersex people. I hope it’s the latter.” The LGBTQ+ & Allies Commons has already taken steps to show discontent with the leaked memo. The space provided supplies for creating protest posters used in a demonstration in the greater San Diego area on Oct. 27, as well as transportation to a teach-in in Hillcrest lead by transgender youth, ages 14-18, regarding what ought to be done by the greater adult San Diego LGBTQ+ community. The Commons also planned an event on Oct. 29 entitled “Self-Care & Solidarity” as a relaxed event to soothe the nerves of those emotionally fraught as a result of the memo and the subsequent calls to political engagement that can often feel overwhelming to those whose existence has become inherently political. Ferguson attended the demonstration, and noted a small presence from the USD community, which they found disappointing. “It was comforting to see other trans people and allies standing up for trans rights because this group is relatively small on USD’s campus,” Ferguson said. “I think students and faculty at USD could benefit from educating themselves about trans issues and gender-identity topics because I haven’t heard anyone outside

the LGB and Trans community be concerned about the leaked memo. So, the march and rally were nice because it reminded me that the community isn’t as small as it feels on USD’s campus.” So far, there has been no public action taken by those who approve of the memo within the USD community. To those who care to support the transgender community, Ferguson suggests the need for allies to educate themselves on

whether this will cause apathetic voters to care, due to the fact that those who care about transgender rights are usually already politically involved. “I would hope that people would be inspired to vote in the midterms because of their outrage but to be honest I think that anyone who would be affected by this was already planning to vote anyways,” Meyer said. “Maybe it’s cynical but I don’t think this is going to affect the vote either

“I would hope that people would be inspired to vote in the midterms because of their outrage, but ...I think that anyone who would be affected by this was already planning to vote anyways.” -Aaron Meyer the issues being addressed, as well as for them to engage politically via voting. “Allies can help by educating themselves about trans and intersex issues, there’s a lot of resources online, on YouTube, and even on campus to help allies get better acquainted with the community,” Ferguson said. “Allies can use the correct pronouns for trans and non-binary people and correct others if incorrect pronouns are used. They can also vote for those that will help keep legal protections for trans and intersex people in place and also help us secure more legal rights and recognition. And allies can use their voice to spread awareness about these issues, but please remember to not talk over or for trans individuals.” While the leaked memo is sure to rattle up some liberal voters, Meyer is pessimistic about

way.” The definition would affect two laws currently under review by the White House: one from the U.S. Department of Education that addresses complaints of sex discrimination from within schools that receive funding from the federal government, and one from Heath and Human Services regarding to programs that also receive federal funds. Both are expected to be released in the next few months, and would be open to scrutiny and other comments from the United States citizenry for 60 days before they could be enacted, which would include within them the new proposed definition of “sex.” It will be within this tense period that the legitimate consequences of this leaked memo, and the reality of the way it will affect transgender people across the country will be realized.

The USD Vista

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November 1, 2018

OP- E D

Morality that divides Ian Lewenhaupt, Senior When it comes to political views I always claimed that I was a centrist, not because I didn’t have a stance on certain political issues, but because it was just uncomfortable for me to admit that I belonged to one side or the other. Statistically, that would put me in the majority. Most people lie somewhere in the middle because they agree with one party on some issues and with the other party on other issues. I knew where I stood but I could never really describe why I felt uncomfortable identifying myself with one side, so instead I just kind of checked out of politics. Only recently has it dawned on me that this discomfort may be a profound intuition that speaks to the core of our political morality. On Nov. 6 we are beckoned, and even begged, to simplistically identify ourselves with one party or the other (maybe three if you’re lucky enough to have an independent on the ticket). Then, if we weren’t already, we have to convince ourselves and others that we have chosen the “good” side, or at least the better one. Our decision has then by necessity created a bad, or worse side. The side of the other. There is no doubt that many of us “vote our conscience” and choose our party affiliation based on deeply-held values such as truth, justice, equality, or even racism, bigotry, and corruption. These values, of which each party makes claims to, then seem to create a very obvious

wrong and right each according to the party making the claims. Good on one side and bad on the other side and yet there are people on both sides. Naturally, we are then able to explain this phenomenon by ranking people as better or worse than other people. There are simply people who are more or less just than others, more or less bigoted than others, etc. As reasonable as this may sound I would argue that it simply cannot be true. In the end we are all humans united in our inevitable death which will mark the end of all of our stances. No matter what side we are on there is a good chance that we will die having believed in something and maybe through that we can find some gratification. Is the purpose of our lives really to find a belief and stick to our guns? I doubt it. I am not saying that we shouldn’t do what we think is right (otherwise I wouldn’t be writing my own beliefs for others to read), but rather I’m asking how important it is to be right. Even Jesus Christ, founder of Christianity and political figure, denied our morality as the key into heaven. No, it is only through him, fully divine and fully human, that his followers get into heaven. We are born morally neutral. As Nelson Mandela so aptly stated, “People must learn to hate.” So too we must learn to love. However, before any learning has taken place we are still human and therefore inherently unified. Good and bad is a narrative that was

created by us and there is not even one person among us who perfectly conforms to whichever side of the spectrum we subscribe too. Yet still, we divide ourselves along these lines. Divided and yet we each think we know what’s best for everyone. At least that’s the case with politics as it currently stands. Of course, we must take a stance because we all have wants and desires for the world that we live in. It is in our nature to decipher what we like and don’t like, what we want and don’t want, and, by all means, we should act upon those desires and beliefs. This should bring us together rather drive us apart. We should recognize that having beliefs and advocating for them is an inevitable part of who we are as humans. Being more or less right than someone is not based in anything except for the dehumanization of the other. Of course we have different views because we have all heard a different story of good and bad. So, this election season, instead of dividing ourselves by right and wrong, let us come together to share our stories and recognize that our differences are only disguised as different. Let our opposing beliefs speak to the underlying mutuality that we have with one another. Politics is meant to be a place where we come to share our story of good and bad and listen to other such stories. Then we will begin to see that there is no “us” and “them” only “us”.

Homelessness – what we know and why it matters Mike William, Professor of Political Science A good friend of mine once told me that sometimes we do not have the luxury of choosing the social justice issues that we focus on. In some cases, the world simply calls on us to take action whether we want to or not. With this in mind, what is your response when you walk by a homeless neighbor in Linda Vista, Pacific Beach, or downtown? Do you think, this is really a problem but it is not my problem, and therefore, I do not have to act? Do you think, this is really a problem, it is not my problem but I did not cause this problem, and therefore, I do not have to act? Do you think, this is really a problem, it is not my problem, I did not cause this problem, but someone should really do something about it, and therefore, I do not have to act? But what if you are the person that is supposed to do something about it? What if you are the perfect person to do something about it? Before you read the next paragraph take a moment to think about how much you already know about homelessness. How many individuals would you estimate are homeless in America? In San Diego? At USD? According to federal government data from 2017, there are approximately 554,000 people in the United States who are homeless. Of this number, around 194,000 are living without shelter. In San Diego County, as of January 2018, there are 8,576 men, women, and children who are homeless – with 4,990 living without shelter. While the number of homeless people in San Diego County has declined nine percent since 2011, we still have the fourthlargest homeless population in the United States (with New York City, Los Angeles County, and Seattle having the most). How do we know this? Well, the federal government mandates that every two years cities and counties count the number of people who are homeless in their communities. In San Diego, we have decided for public policy reasons to do this count every year. So, during the last 10 days of January, a nationwide Point-in-Time count takes place. Volunteers set out early in the morning and spread out across their cities and towns and literally count the number of people they find living on the streets. This process, along with collecting data from service providers on the number of people sleeping in shelters, lets us know how many people are homeless in our communities. It is imprecise and

it is only a snapshot but it is the best estimate we have. Through surveys conducted with our homeless neighbors each January we also know that there are a variety of experiences of homelessness. For example, approximately 25 percent of those who are homeless in San Diego County – around 2,100 individuals - can be designated as “chronically homeless.” According to the federal government’s definition, someone is chronically homeless if she/he has been “continuously homeless for a year or more or has had at least four separate occasions of homelessness in the past three years where the combined total length of time is at least 12 months.” Those suffering from this type of homelessness present the most difficult issues for governments and for non-profit service providers. These individuals are often unable to care for themselves because of mental health or addiction issues and they require many different types of services to survive. The evidence shows that the chronically homeless – even though they represent a minority of the homeless population - account for a majority of the resources allocated by governments and non-profits. Some cities have decided the most dignified way to address those who are chronically homeless is to simply give them a place to live and provide them with services for as long as they need it. In some cases, this means they are provided homes and services for their entire lives. This policy, referred to as housing first, is controversial, though. Even though there is evidence that it is more dignified and less expensive to provide this type of housing, some argue that it is not “right” to provide housing to some and not to others. The majority of the homeless population, however, are in a different situation. Some of our neighbors and friends find themselves in shelters or on the streets for short periods of time during the year. In fact, it is estimated that 11 to 19 percent of college students attending four-year schools experience housing insecurity. These individuals, referred to as the transitional homeless, are ones who may have to go to a shelter once or twice during the year for a short stay. How does this happen? In some cases, it might be that you are at college and your parents lose their jobs or get sick, and suddenly, you are unable to pay for your rent. Or, the spring semester ends and you do not have the income to afford a place to live during the summer. You check out

of your dorms and then what? These issues are closer to home than many of us may think. Based on conversations with students, faculty, and staff here at the University of San Diego, there are a number of our students every year who have experienced homelessness either before arriving to USD or while they are here. Does it matter if the number of USD students facing this situation is 1 or 100? How should the university respond once they become aware of a student facing homelessness during the semester, during intersession, or during summer? What resources – if any – should USD allocate to address these situations? Close your eyes for a moment and think about how you respond when you see a homeless person on the street. What are your thoughts? What do you do? The issue of homelessness challenges all of us to think deeply and critically about what it means to live in a just society. Dacher Keltner, a psychologist, writes: “societies are indeed judged by how they treat their most vulnerable and powerless.” It seems clear to me that the values and mission of USD align with this sentiment. As an institution, we simply cannot ignore this issue. Indeed, through the hard work of many students, faculty, staff, and alumni we have many projects that address homelessness on and off campus, such as volunteer opportunities at Rachel’s Night Shelter, Pancakes: Serving Up Hope, Homeless Outreach Student Transition (HOST), Pancake Peeps - Sawubona, the USD food pantries, and our Torero Renaissance Scholars program. What we have done as a USD community with respect to the issue of homelessness is commendable but there is always more that each of us can and should do. What responsibility do you have to take action for that one person from Linda Vista or that one classmate from USD who is experiencing homelessness? These are the questions that I did not think about as much as I should have when I was in college – but they are the questions that I hope you consider each day here at USD. I want you come to the Changemaker Hub and share your ideas or submit a proposal for the Changemaker Challenge. There need to be coordinated actions and policies at USD and in San Diego more broadly to address homelessness. You should be involved. In fact, you might be the perfect person to do something about this important issue.

Volume 56 Issue 8

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FEATURE

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The USD Vista

F E AT U R E

The reality of USD student voting USD has differing opinions regarding student voter responsibility and the pressures that come with it

Jennifer Mossuto Feature Editor Only 28 percent of millennials and Gen Z, 18 to 29-year-olds, are certain they are voting in the midterm election on Nov. 6. This group now makes 33.3 percent of the vote, and holds the power to change the outcome of the popular vote. With less than one-third of this group planning to vote, how can students expect more of their friends and peers to use their power in this election? Sophomore Lexi Crea is surprised by the lack of voter participation. “I am encouraging my friends to vote,” Crea said. “Me and my roommates were on a trip in Palm Springs for the long weekend and one night the midterm elections got brought up and I started asking everyone, ‘Are you registered to vote?’ and I actually helped my roommate from Colorado register to vote right then to get her absentee ballot and it only took her a minute.” Crea is from Lone Tree, Co., and is voting through an absentee ballot for her state. She is constantly encouraging others to vote, whether it is for California or their home state, and offers help to everyone she can. “I’ve been posting on Instagram about the importance of voting, and some people actually respond and say, ‘Thank you for posting

this,’ and I’m just generally telling everybody, ‘I don’t care who you’re voting for but it’s really important to be registered to vote and to actually make sure you not just be registered, but also fill out your absentee form and actually mail your ballot in,’” Crea said. When asked about her plans to vote, Crea immediately perked up and explained how easy it was to get her absentee ballot and register online. “Yes, I plan to vote,” Crea said. “I have my ballot right now and I will be mailing it on Monday. It wasn’t difficult at all to get my ballot. I would say the only inconvenient thing was getting it from the mail center, which is so easy. It takes one, maybe two minutes to fill out the absentee form, which is extremely easy to do online. You only need your name, driver’s license, and clarification of an address, and that’s it.” Since Crea is from out of state, her voting propositions are different than California’s. Due to the difference in climate and weather, Colorado includes propositions that focus on the environment. Proposition 112 on her district’s ballot considers whether oil and gas companies should have to be 2,500 feet away from vulnerable land when drilling, fracking, or anything of the sort.

“Prop 112 is especially important to me because if it passes, then we are helping and considering our future generations,” Crea said. “Some people want to vote (against it) because it could put jobs at risk, but at the same time I think the future of our planet should hold a heavier weight. I think the environment is really important, especially since it is neglected by the current administration, but this proposition hopefully could lead to more environmental propositions in the future.” Other USD students have differing opinions about this election. Sophomore Kylé Kirsch is from Northern California and has not yet voted, but plans to and expects her friends at USD to vote as well. In comparison to Crea, Kirsch has more of a hesitant position toward voting. “I think voting is important but sometimes it’s hard to remind myself that my vote counts for something,” Kirsch said. “There’s so many people voting and it’s hard to wrap my head around an individual vote having any value but I know that it’s my civic duty to vote and it’s an important right to have.” With millennials and Gen Z controlling 33.3 percent of the vote, their opinions are extremely important to this election. If they were to all participate, they could

The polling station on campus is located in Degheri Hall, near the USD main entrance. Photo courtesy of the USD Media Gallery

easily flip a vote. For California specifically, these young adults are more likely to be concerned about repealing the gas tax. Others are concerned about banning meat sales, but do USD students care about these prevalent issues? “Prop 12 stood out to me,” Kirsch said. “It changes the standards for confinement of farm animals. The conditions farm animals are held in are inhumane and by banning sales of non-compliant companies, it creates an incentive to change the animals’ living conditions.” Unlike Kirsch and Crea, NBC News states that only 16 percent of millennials claim to have great

interest in voting or politics. Whether a student is from in or out of state, both Crea and Kirsch recognize the importance of voting and encourage the people around them to register and learn more about the election. Although they do not think more than half of the student population is voting, they hope it turns out that way. As a university that creates changemakers, and with many students who have not had the opportunity to vote before this election, they are encouraged to use their voice and use their vote in this midterm and all future elections. USD will have a polling station on campus this Tuesday.

THE USD VISTA

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Volume 56 Issue 8

NOVEMBER 1, 2018

Untangle the Mess

CALIFORNIA MIDTERM PROPOSITIONS

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FEATURE

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THE USD VISTA

PROPOSITION 6 Taxes

Repeals the previous 2017 gas tax passed by state legislators, which added 12 cents to the price of a gallon of gas. What it means to vote YES & Why YES:

Midterm Elections are right around the corner, occurring Tuesday, Nov. 6. On this upcoming ballot, there are 12 propositions to vote on. Five of them are highlighted below, as relevant propositions to the USD community. TO PRACTICE VOTING, FILL IN THE OVAL COMPLETELY YOUR CHOICE

This would eliminate the SB1 portion of gas taxes and give back over $5 billion to drivers yearly. It could also end the road projects that are financed by SB1 and prevent future projects, which are expected to create jobs.

What it means to vote NO & Why NO: SB1 would continue to stay in place and finance statewide transportation and keep gas prices as they are.

NEXT TO PROPOSITION 10 Housing

PROPOSITION 2 Housing Bonds Authorizes the state of California to free up $2 billion in bonds for housing that is intended to prevent homelessness, specifically mental health services. What it means to vote YES & Why YES: The spending of bond money on housing for Californians with mental illness would be approved. These funds would specifically help the growing homeless population of individuals who struggle with mental illness.

What it means to vote NO & Why NO: The $2 billion would not go toward housing for the mentally ill and would be used for other purposes.

Repeals the previous Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995. What it means to vote YES & Why YES: The Costa-Hawkins Act would be repealed. This would allow Californian cities to expand rent control, in order to help drive down rents.

What it means to vote NO & Why NO: This would allow the limits of rent control in California by Costa-Hawkins to continue. It would prohibit cities from creating rent controls on any housing built after Feb. 1, 1995. It would also lessen housing options if there is no incentive for landlords and other property holders to bring properties on market.

PROPOSITION 12 Animals PROPOSITION 3 Water Bonds

Authorizes the state of California to use $8.87 billion in state bonds for water infrastructure and safe drinking water projects. What it means to vote YES & Why YES: Revenue would go toward safe drinking-water projects and watershed and fishery improvements. It would also go to environmental projects and protect disadvantaged communities. Matching funds from non-state sources will need to be allocated as well.

Bans the sale of meat from animals that are confined in certain small spaces. What it means to vote YES & Why YES: Specific size requirements for animals with sellable meat would be established, and would replace the 2008 Proposition 2, which set limits based on animal behavior.

What it means to vote NO & Why NO: Selling animal meat under current space regulations would remain unchanged. If passed, it could add costs and shortages for some meats and eggs.

What it means to vote NO & Why NO: Authorizing the $8.87 billion in general obligation bonds for water, groundwater supplies and storage, dam repairs, and more would be opposed. Some donors to the proposition are trying to influence which projects are worked on, which may be seen as a problem. Spread by Monica Millan/ The USD Vista; Content by Emma Goodman-Fish/Asst. Feature Editor

THE USD VISTA

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Volume 56 Issue 8

NOVEMBER 1, 2018

Untangle the Mess

CALIFORNIA MIDTERM PROPOSITIONS

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FEATURE

◆

THE USD VISTA

PROPOSITION 6 Taxes

Repeals the previous 2017 gas tax passed by state legislators, which added 12 cents to the price of a gallon of gas. What it means to vote YES & Why YES:

What it means to vote NO & Why NO: SB1 would continue to stay in place and finance statewide transportation and keep gas prices as they are.

NEXT TO PROPOSITION 10 Housing

What it means to vote NO & Why NO: The $2 billion would not go toward housing for the mentally ill and would be used for other purposes.

PROPOSITION 12 Animals PROPOSITION 3 Water Bonds

What it means to vote NO & Why NO: Selling animal meat under current space regulations would remain unchanged. If passed, it could add costs and shortages for some meats and eggs.

The USD Vista

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November 1, 2018

O R E R O

A L K S

BY USD TV

Toreros, we know you have something to say. “Torero Talk” is the place where your student voice is heard. College is full of ups and downs, and while we’re all unique in the challenges we face, we’re also all on this journey together. In an age where we often turn to our phones, we’re taking a moment to open up the dialogue and have meaningful conversation right here on campus. Let’s learn from each other. Change starts with conversation. Let your voice be heard.

“The biggest thing I started doing this year is really planning out my week. I have a white board at home and I list everything. It’s down to the ‘t,’ sometimes nearly down to the minute. Having a plan is huge. Creating a routine so you can get into a pattern.” -Nigel Ward, Senior

“You should go for a nice walk. Put everything down, clear your head, and go for a walk. Try letting go of everything that’s frustrating you and just release it.” - Hasan Iqbul, First year

How are students overcoming challenges, tackling current events, and making change in their own individual ways? “I actually did this last night! I had a really full day yesterday and decided to go to the beach with a friend of mine. I got some ice cream, went to the beach, put my toes in the sand and felt the water. That’s personally just really relaxing for me...hearing the waves.” -Alicia Talancon, Sophomore

“Perspective is the biggest thing. So when you’re working ask yourself, ‘Am I thriving right now, or am I just coping and having 26 Red Bulls?’ Know when to take a break and when to stop what you’re doing and realize this test isn’t going to dictate the rest of your life.” -Robbie Hill, ‘14, now Assistant Director for Marketing

Make sure to check out the full interview at https://vimeo.com/usdtv

Volume 56 Issue 8

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ARTS & CULTURE

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The USD Vista

A RT S & C U LT U R E

“STOP KISS” brings life to the stage Student-led performance brings a culturally-relevant production to the campus community

A poster used to advertise for the student-run “STOP KISS” production.

Jenna Murphy Asst. A&C Editor Within the tiny Vassiliadis Family Black Box Theatre of Camino Hall, senior theatre major DeZell Lathon and his team have spent the last two months working tirelessly to bring together a student-run, student-directed, and student-designed play. “STOP KISS,” originally created by Diana Son, tells the story of two lesbian women, Callie, played by Shane Murphy, and Sara, played by Caitlyn Crepeault. It shows the progression of their relationship as they discover and come to terms with their sexualities. At the same time, the play is about the investigation of an assault committed against the two women when they were seen kissing in the park. After the assault, Sara ends up in a coma from the beatings, and Callie is left wondering what will become of her partner and friend. The play sheds light on the frequent discrimination and danger faced by people who identify as LGBTQ+. For Lathon, this issue is one that needs to be recognized and addressed. “The current administration is not too keen on LGBTQ+ rights, which is one of the many reasons I was inspired to choose this play, but also because the conversation about violence against women in the queer community is a conversation that is lost,” Lathon said. The play comes at a pivotal time for our nation and the LGBTQ+ community. In the past few weeks the Department of Health and Human Services has proposed that gender be defined strictly within federal civil rights law as unchangeable,

meaning that identifying as transgender would not be recognized by the government as legitimate. Additionally, the Justice Department under Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recently argued that protections against discrimination, laid out in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, should not include gay people. In these troubling times, a play that tells the stories and struggles of the LGBTQ+ community is needed to begin a discussion about how basic human rights are being threatened. As evidenced by his latest production, Lathon believes theatre is the perfect way to get these stories across and facilitate conversation. “We wanted to market this to people who wouldn’t normally come to see this show,” Lathon said. “We reached out to professors to get their classes to come, sororities, fraternities, and others, because yes, I know this topic. People in PRIDE know this topic. We know the conversation, and we know why it’s important. But what about the people who don’t talk about this?” “STOP KISS” was chosen by Lathon for his Student Lab project. Student Lab is a series here on campus in which a committee of faculty members gives students a list of plays selected by the committee. Potential student directors read through the plays, pick one, and submit their directorial visions and approaches. Then, they wait in hopes of being chosen. If chosen, they are provided with equipment and a venue, but the faculty members have little to no involvement in the rest of the process, making it a solely student-run production. When reading through the committee’s selections of plays,

“STOP KISS” spoke to Lathon in a way that the other plays didn’t. “This play spoke to me on such a level,” Lathon said. “I came out here at USD my freshman year and when I read this show, the characters, and their stories, I knew this was a story that needed to be told.” USD is a changemaking campus; however, Lathon recognized that the only way to foster change is to be informed on the issues at hand and inspired to take action. His hope is that this play will familiarize people with the issue of violence toward the LGBTQ+ community.

“I think this campus has a lot of potential,” Lathon said. “And I only hope that as a creator, as an artist, and as a storyteller, that I can tell stories that resonate with people, and help them see others in a better light. Because the whole purpose of theatre is that at the end of the day, people just want to be understood. You want to be seen and you want to be heard and my job as a storyteller is to make you feel seen and to make you feel heard. And with this show I think we’re helping a lot of people feel that.” The USD PRIDE organization

Dorothy Dark/The USD Vista

was supportive of Lathon and his colleagues throughout the creative process, as on campus identifiers and/or advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. Last Thursday night after the show, they hosted a “Coming Out” party to celebrate the play and support the cast. In light of the recent governmental propositions and discourses, the play gave the PRIDE community an opportunity to feel recognized and supported. Similarly, it offered USD students the information needed to become more aware of experiences in marginalized communities.

The USD Vista

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November 1, 2018

San Diego gets cheesy

Fourth annual Mac n’ Cheese Fest offers tastings and libations to adults in San Diego Lilyana Espinoza Contributor On a warm Saturday afternoon, hundreds gathered to enjoy one of America’s favorite dishes — mac n’ cheese. The 4th Annual San Diego Mac n’ Cheese Fest was held at Waterfront Park, where attendees ages 21 and up received unlimited samples of mac n’ cheese and beer from various local restaurants. Although general admission was $40 per person, the festival’s Facebook page brought in numerous USD students, including Senior Gabby Schram, who waited eagerly in the massive line that wrapped around the venue. “I have been following their Facebook page and I’ve seen very tasty looking pictures, so that made me really excited,” Schram said. Mac n’ cheese enthusiast and senior Connor Murray was intrigued by what he would be tasting. “I am super excited,” Murray said. “I don’t know much about it, but I do know that it is unlimited mac n’ cheese and beer. That sounds like a win-win to me.” According to the festival’s Facebook page, the mac n’ cheese vendors were chosen based on the region’s best mac n’ cheese. Proceeds from the event go to the World Wide Network of Learning, a nonprofit organization aiming to enhance career and education opportunities for students. Throughout the festival, each taster was able to cast one vote to determine the popular vote

award for People’s Choice Best Mac n’ Cheese. The other award, which is determined by a panel of expert judges, was Best Gourmet Mac n’ Cheese in San Diego. Senior Michael Sween had been looking forward to this event and was eager to find out which of the mac n’ cheese samples would be his favorite. “I am loving the event,” Sween said. “I love mac n’ cheese, I love beer, and this is the perfect combination of the two. I haven’t been here that long, but so far Tavern+Bowl has been my favorite. They had a nice mac n’ cheese with some type of baked pork on top of it. It was a really good combination. They also won last year’s Golden Noodle. We will see how the others hold up to them.” After the judges had tasted the mac n’ cheese from the 18 different vendors, they decided that Viewpoint Brewing Company was the winner. The restaurant’s smoked gouda macaroni featured the rich cheese coupled with distinct flavors like pork belly and chorizo. According to their website, Viewpoint Brewing Company is located in Del Mar and was California’s first brewery. Second place for the Best Gourmet Mac n’ Cheese was awarded to Uptown Tavern. Lastly, the people voted and decided that Stacked: Food Built Well was the winner for the People’s Choice Best Mac n’ Cheese. Their sundried tomato and andouille sausage mac n’

An example of two servings of mac n’ cheese offered at the festival.

cheese captured the hearts and stomachs of attendees. Stacked reclaimed their title after winning the People’s Choice Award last year. The closest location to USD is in the Fashion Valley Mall. Second place for the people’s vote went to The Smoking Gun SD. At the conclusion of the event, Senior Marshall Daigle gave his opinion on the awards

given to the various venders. “I agreed with the judges for the most part,” Daigle said. “I would have liked to see San Diego Mesa College win one of the awards because they were one of my personal favorites. However, I really enjoyed Viewpoint Brewing’s mac n’ cheese. I also know Stacked was trying a new recipe for their mac n’ cheese sample.

Photo Courtesy of Lilyana Espinoza

I wasn’t the biggest fan, but I guess the risk paid off because they won the people’s vote.” The 4th Annual San Diego Mac n’ Cheese Festival brought mac n’ cheese lovers in the community together for a friendly competition. Next year mac n’ cheese recipes will once again compete to win the Golden Noodle as well as the people’s votes.

Volume 56 Issue 8

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SPORTS

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The USD Vista

SP ORT S

Lawrence soars in USD win

Quarterback Anthony Lawrence sets USD all-time passing yards record in 59-35 victory over Jacksonville Anderson Haigler Sports Editor Game after game this season, the University of San Diego football team has found success by consistently putting up big numbers on offense. Their effort last Saturday was no exception. Taking on the Jacksonville University Dolphins at Torero Stadium, the Toreros exploded for a season-high 59 points in a victory that had more than its fair share of special moments, the most notable of which being yet another accolade for USD’s star quarterback, Anthony Lawrence. With a quick toss to junior wide receiver Michael Bandy, the redshirt senior cemented himself as one of the program’s all-time greats, earning his 11,106th career passing yard and the record for most all-time passing yards in USD football history. Success on offense last week was not limited to the Toreros, however. The visiting Dolphins, who USD blew out 63-10 last season, found their footing early with a run-heavy approach. Sixtyfour of Jacksonville’s 71 total plays on offense were rushing plays, and the lopsided strategy appeared to be fruitful for them in the first half. After USD struck first with a 17-yard touchdown run from sophomore running back Emilio Martinez, the Dolphins responded with a rushing touchdown of their own, evening the score at seven with 6:22 to play in the first quarter. It was in these early phases of the game that the teams looked most evenly matched. Though the firstplace Toreros cruised to victory in their last matchup against last-place Jacksonville, this year’s offering had a more urgent tone in its opening quarter, with the two teams being tied for the entirety of the first period. True to form, however, USD began to pull away as the game unfolded. Though the Dolphins made the game as close as 21-14 with a touchdown in the first half’s final minute, the Toreros’ ensuing possession sparked what would best be described as a torturous series of drives for the Jacksonville defense. The Toreros’ run of success began when wide receiver Michael Armstead sprinted 67 yards for a lengthy kickoff return, setting the table for yet another quick rushing touchdown from Martinez. Armstead, though, was far from finished. On the opening play of the third quarter, the junior returned the Dayton kickoff 100 yards for a thrilling touchdown that set the stage for a big second half for USD. After the game,

With a 16-yard pass to Michael Bandy last Saturday, Lawrence earned his 11,106th career passing yard, most in Torero history.

Armstead discussed his big day on special teams, adding that he may have had a little extra motivation to take his second return all the way. “To be honest with you, the kickoff return before (his touchdown run) should’ve been to the house,” Armstead said. “Our team’s been working really hard in practice, so I felt like I should’ve got that first one, and I was really upset about that. So that second one I said, ‘there’s no way I’m gonna let my guys down.’” The dash, which spanned the length of the field, featured Armstead weaving in and out of defenders with ease, eventually breaking free and shedding a Dolphin clinging to his jersey to be downfield completely by himself for the final 40 yards. “I felt a little grab on the back, and I was like no way, just do not get caught right now,” Armstead said. “I just put my head down and ran as fast as I could.” His memorable march down the field was the first of a couple for the Toreros on the day. But on the other side of the ball, USD did not set forth their best effort. Their defensive woes were largely overshadowed and compensated for by their stellar offensive performance, but the continuation of the Toreros’ struggles in that respect didn’t seem to sit well with

their head coach. “If I said the defense played atrocious, that would be a compliment,” Lindsey said. “Tackling, that was worse than atrocious. I’m not happy about the tackling, I’m not happy about the execution. Special teams did a good job, the offense did a good job, but the defense just did enough for us to win.” He mentioned that his team’s struggles on defense may have been self-inflicted. “It was more us messing up than, I think, the other guys whipping us,” Lindsey said. His scathing criticism of his team’s defensive performance was harsh, but perhaps well-warranted. While the Toreros are undefeated in PFL play, many of their contests have seen the Toreros give up a sizable amount of points, only to muscle their way to victory with a powerful display of offense. If they are to achieve their lofty postseason ambitions, the Toreros will need to clean up their efforts on defense, and their coach is keenly aware of this deficiency. “We cannot continually think we’re gonna score 59 points and give up 35,” Lindsey said. “This isn’t basketball, this is football. It’s supposed to be seven to six, 10 to seven. I’m okay with those kinds of games. I’m okay with 59 to four too. Our defense has gotten us in

trouble in about half of our season so far, and we’ve gotta find a way to stop bleeding.” Like Lindsey mentioned, the Toreros were able to create distance from Jacksonville late in the game behind a field goal, a rushing touchdown, and yet another strong performance from Lawrence. Though they periodically allowed the Dolphins to score with relatively little opposition, they simply outclassed their opponent with a superior offensive effort, making up for their defensive shortcomings. When time expired, the Toreros were 5935 winners, coming out with yet another high-octane performance in the face of permissive defense. Lindsey assessed his team’s offensive performance. “Let’s put it this way: our offense, we couldn’t ask them to do anymore than they do, and they’ve done, over the last eight weeks,” Lindsey said. One pass within the Toreros’ 284 total passing yards Saturday was perhaps slightly more important than the rest. After the game, Lawrence reflected on both the record he set and his career at USD. “It’s awesome,” Lawrence said. “Just, the guys who came through this program and the people I’ve been able to share this moment with and the coaches who put in

Thomas Christensen/The USD Vista

the great game plan every week, it’s a really great honor.” Lawrence, who hails from nearby La Mesa, Calif., emphasized his appreciation for the opportunity over the last four years to play in his home city. “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.” Humble as always, the quarterback was quick to credit the group of receivers he’s had over the years. “They did it all for me,” Lawrence said. “I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without them. It’s been an honor to play with all of them.” Bandy, who has played with Lawrence for the last three seasons, was equally prompt in shifting the credit back to his quarterback. “He’s awesome, it’s all him, definitely,” Bandy said with a smile. “All the work we’ve put in in his last four years have been awesome.” His coach offered high praise of his quarterback as he has done so after every game this season, expressing appreciation for everything Lawrence has accomplished in his career thus

See Football, Page 14

The USD Vista

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November 1, 2018

Toreros overpower Dolphins

Yet another high-scoring effort from USD’s offense leads the Toreros to their 26th consecutive PFL win Football From Page 13 far. “We can’t say enough good things about him,” Lindsey said. “Anthony plays up every week. He doesn’t care who we’re playing, what we’re doing, how the game’s going. He doesn’t get rattled — he gets a little mad at himself when he misses a ball, and we have to calm him down once in a while, but this guy is gonna compete, he’s gonna compete to win. And we are just so fortunate that he chose USD five years ago to come over here. He has been the difference in how this program has soared.” As is common with programs as prosperous as the Toreros’, much of USD’s season has been

consumed with records and various milestones, including what Lawrence was able to accomplish Saturday. Although their win Saturday moved them to a perfect 5-0 in PFL play, and extended their expansive PFL win streaks to 33 consecutive home games, and 26 games overall, Lindsey stated that his team is unaffected by the expectations surrounding them. “We’re just trying to win a game,” Lindsey said. “The record that we’re looking for is 5-0. That’s the only record we’re interested in. I told the team yesterday, we don’t care about the winning streak, we don’t care about the home streak. We didn’t really care about Anthony’s streak. What we wanted

to do is win the game, that’s the number one thing.” Central to Lindsey’s team’s mental approach is a sense of unity and collectivism. “It’s about us,” Lindsey said. “It’s not about ‘I’, ‘me,’ or ‘my,’ it’s about us. And as long as we keep that in perspective we’ve got a chance to win a championship. And that’s the only thing that’s important. I think in the big picture if you ask Anthony, he’s interested in winning the championship. I don’t think he cares about the record either.” Bandy echoed his coach’s inthe-moment mentality. “We just try to take it one game at a time and do what we

can,” Bandy said. The Toreros’ 59-35 victory over Jacksonville moves them to 6-2 on the year (5-0 PFL). Next week they will take to the road once again, this time to Des Moines, Iowa to take on Drake University (5-2, 4-1 PFL) in another PFL matchup. Lindsey spoke about his team’s upcoming game, mentioning the stark difference in weather between a typical Iowa afternoon and a sunny San Diego afternoon. “Drake is a really loaded team,” Lindsey said. “They have a lot of fifth-year seniors, and they run well. We’ll have our hands full, plus it’ll be cold and windy, you know, another Iowa beautiful day unlike San Diego. So we’re gonna have to

get our stuff straightened out.” USD will return home on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. for their final home game of the year against PFL opponent Davidson University.

UP NEXT: USD vs. Davidson Saturday, Nov. 10 2 p.m. Torero Stadium Watch: TheW.TV Listen: 1090 AM

USD weighs in on Measures E&G A look at what the Soccer City / SDSU West debate means (or doesn’t) to the USD community

Left: A rendering of the stadium and surrounding development proposed under Measure G, also known as SDSU West. Right: An early rendering of the facilities proposed under Measure E, also known as SoccerCity. Left photo courtesy of sdsuwest.org. Right photo courtesy of FS Investors

Eric Boose Contributor Since 2017, 166 acres of land in Mission Valley have sat underused, a dilapidated shell of what the grounds were when then-Qualcomm Stadium was home to the San Diego Chargers, Padres, concerts, and more. The issue of deciding who will have the privilege of redeveloping the newly-renamed San Diego County Credit Union Stadium has become one of the more contentious issues on this years’ ballot. While USD students are unlikely to be greatly affected by either proposal, both Measure E and Measure G, better known as Soccer City and SDSU West respectively, offer unique benefits for the city of San Diego. Soccer City and SDSU West each promise to build a new stadium in place of the current one, but the proposals have their own plans for how to surround the new venue. Soccer City promises

to lure a Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion team to San Diego, and plans therefore include additional soccer fields to be used by both recreational teams and a new soccer academy. Sophomore Jimmy Ryan, a Carlsbad native and member of USD’s men’s soccer team, is excited by the boost Soccer City would give the soccer culture in San Diego, but even he is skeptical that it would impact USD’s soccer programs. “We just lost the Chargers... I know everyone in San Diego was devastated when they went to LA,” Ryan said. “But there’s also a big Latino presence in San Diego and I know that they all go down for the Xolos games in Mexico, so I’m sure that they would come out to see whatever San Diego team.” Ryan also explained that the change in culture would likely impact youth soccer in San Diego. “It also brings a youth program with it, it brings these academy

systems, it’d bring just a stronger youth presence to build better homegrown players from San Diego,” Ryan said. “I played for an academy called Surf, there’s this whole academy system across the U.S., and we played against Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy, who had a first team that played in the MLS. We didn’t have that and we still competed against them and so I always wondered what it would be like to be actually working towards going pro like all the teams we were playing against. I always wondered what it would have been like to be oh, I’m trying to make it on the professional team, not just get recruited by colleges.” Along with new fields, the Soccer City plan includes a 34acre park centered around the San Diego River and buildings for retail space and restaurants near the stadium. On the other hand, SDSU West proposes a modern home for SDSU’s football program: a

35,000 seat stadium which, as USD professor Michael Canepa points out, does not inherently rule out a soccer team in San Diego. Canepa is a long-time San Diegan, an SDSU alumni, and a former sportswriter for The San Diego Union-Tribune. “I think the thing that gets lost in all this, and maybe the media hasn’t done a good job of explaining this, even if San Diego State gets this land, it doesn’t mean that a soccer team can’t come and play in that stadium,” Canepa said. “They build a 35,000 seat stadium for San Diego State football, it certainly doesn’t mean that an MLS team could not come in and play in that stadium.” SDSU West also serves to expand SDSU’s current campus size, and will include multiple research and technology buildings, as well as student residences. Like Soccer City, SDSU West plans to include a park on the river, but instead of 34 acres, the park in SDSU’s proposal takes up

nearly 90 acres. USD sophomore Ryan Ferron sees no benefit to Toreros from SDSU West. “Personally, I don’t see it making an impact for that many students at USD,” Ferron said. “At least, not in a way that SDCCU Stadium doesn’t already provide. I think the addition of a stadium would be useful as a venue for San Diego, but it wouldn’t be the best or closest large venue that San Diego has.” Soccer City and SDSU West are on the ballot for residents of the City of San Diego, and are separate ballot measures. If Soccer City’s Measure E and SDSU West’s Measure G both pass, the measure which receives the most votes will win. If neither receives a majority of “yes” votes, the Mayor’s Office will hear other proposals for how to use the land. Election day is Tuesday, Nov 6. A polling place will be set up in the Degheri Alumni Center.

Volume 56 Issue 8

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SPORTS

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The USD Vista

A memorable senior day victory Senior forward Milan Moses leads the Toreros to 1-0 win over USF with late-game goal

Senior forward Summer Mason takes the field with her teammates as part of USD women’s soccer’s Senior Day celebration. Mason scored the Toreros’ lone goal in the game. Thomas Christensen/The USD Vista

Alyssa Sanchez Contributor The University of San Diego women’s soccer team defeated the University of San Francisco Dons by a score of 1-0 in their final home game last Sunday. It was a special day for USD, as it was not only the last home game of the season, but Senior Day as well. Senior forward Summer Mason wasted no time getting

formed a wall to keep the ball out of the goal and sent it flying back to the middle of the field. The two teams remained in the midsection of the field for much of the first half as the forward players stole the ball from each other many times. The Toreros and the Dons also enlisted strong defense which made it very difficult for anyone to score, let alone approach the goals. Junior midfielder Milan Moses took control of the ball multiple

“It was surreal. That was a goal of mine for this game as it was my last time playing on this field, my last year here, and I just really wanted us to win by me making a goal or at least an assist.” -Summer Mason things started, running down the field with the ball to take a shot after just a few minutes of play. USF defensive players quickly

times and attempted to get crosses over to Mason who was almost always in position to score, but the Dons refused to let the duo get by.

Senior Maddie Marotta battles with a USF defender. Thomas Christensen/The USD Vista

With Mason and Milan dominating the field for the majority of the first half, USF was mainly tasked with stopping the two in their tracks before they could shoot the ball. The Toreros and the Dons played with a lot of intensity, sometimes getting rough in their style of play, which caused the referees to give out warnings or turn over the ball on multiple occasions. Senior midfielder Maddie Marotta was injured after a misstep onto the ball which caused her to be helped off the field by the USD athletic training staff, and unable to re-enter the game. After a number of failed attempts by both teams to break through each other’s defensive barriers, the score remained 0-0 at the half. Head coach Louise Lieberman decided that the team’s tactic had to change for the second half of the game. “I told (her team) that they had to start playing with passion and good effort,” Lieberman said. “We decided to play a little more direct to get their flow going. Their attitude changed and they decided to step up their game because they knew it wasn’t good enough in the first half.” The Toreros’ new plan was immediately implemented at the start of the second half and USD began breaking through the Dons’ defense, giving themselves more opportunities to make a goal. It appeared as though USD was playing in an entirely different game as they were much more aggressive than before, and took control over the ball. USD had multiple chances to score by getting many corner kicks which clearly worried the Dons as they had to up their defense to protect their goal. USF players constantly scrambled

to block the many corner kick attempts from USD and had to rely on their goalkeeper to stop the ball several times. USD goalkeeper Amber Michel made two impressive stops in the second half without any defensive assistance as the Dons were able to outrun USD players. San Francisco’s team seemed to have formed a similar plan

“It was surreal,” Mason said. That was a goal of mine for this game as it was my last time playing on this field, my last year here, and I just really wanted us to win by me making a goal or at least an assist.” Mason said that she had a positive experience playing on the USD soccer team over the course of her career. “It’s been amazing. There were

“The seniors are phenomenal individuals, phenomenal soccer players, and I’m super lucky that I had them for two years. I wish that I‘d had them for more.” -Coach Louise Lieberman to play more directly as they made an effort to take many more shots at the goal than they had in the first half. However, they were unsuccessful in their attempts as the Toreros fended off the Dons almost each time they neared the goal. Again, both teams struggled to make a goal and the game remained scoreless for most of the second half. However, the Toreros’ performance only improved as the game dragged on and they tried much harder with each attempt to slip in a goal wherever they could. Finally, in the 85th minute of the game, Mason was able to break away from the pack of USF players behind her racing downfield to score the first goal of the game. USD then led 1-0, and played very defensively to prevent USF from scoring in the last five minutes. Mason’s goal remained the only one scored by either team as the regulation time ended with the final score of 1-0. The Toreros finished the game as winners, and Mason was extremely pleased to have scored the winning goal in her last game for USD.

lots of ups and downs, coaching changes, player changes, all kinds of things, but it’s been great and this was a really great year,” Mason said, “We had a really small team and everyone was close so it was just amazing here.” Marotta reflected on her years on the women’s soccer team. “My experience has been really great,” Marotta said. “The atmosphere has done a complete 180 since (Lieberman) got here. We’re a family. It was always very positive and we had each other’s backs.” Lieberman was happy with the outcome, adding that she was proud of this year’s senior players. “We didn’t win pretty but a win is a win and we’ll take it,” Lieberman said. “The seniors are phenomenal individuals, phenomenal soccer players, and I’m super lucky that I had them for two years. I wish I’d had them for more.” With the win, USD women’s soccer has wrapped up their home schedule. They will play their final game of the season at Pepperdine on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m.

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November 1, 2018