Volume 57, Issue 6 by The USD Vista

TheUSDVISTA

Volume 57 Issue 6

Thursday, October 17, 2019

On Newsstands Weekly

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

SCOTUS on LGBTQ+ Althea Ulin Asst. News Editor Two landmark cases were argued in front of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) on Oct. 8. Standing before the nine justices, members of the LGBTQ+ community demanded that their equal employment rights be federally protected from workplace discrimination. Twenty-one states have anti-discrimination laws protecting these rights, plus Washington D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico, but outside of those, the LGBTQ+ community fears workplace harassment and inequality. The joint cases of Bostock v. Clayton County and Altitude Express Inc. v. Zarda will decide whether the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay workers from being fired based on their sexuality, and the Harris Funeral Homes v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will decide if that same legislation protects transgender workers from workplace discrimination based on their gender identity. The Diverse Sexuality and Gender Alliance (DSGA), an LGBTQ+ advocacy group on the University of San Diego’s campus, formerly known as PRIDE, will be hosting an information session and discussion on Oct. 16 regarding the recent hearings. Paulina Sierra, president of the DSGA, explained her perspective

See SCOTUS, Page 3

Mata’yuum event Dedication gathers students and administration

USD President Harris and AISO Chairman Gabriel Fallis shake hands as Persephone Lewis explains the symbolism of blankets. Celina Tebor/The USD Vista

Celina Tebor Managing Editor As the sun set on Monday evening, the University of San Diego celebrated the renaming of its Missions Crossroads to Mata’yuum Crossroads. Mata’yuum is a word of the Kumeyaay tribe, which means gathering place. According to the event’s description, the renaming “honors USD’s location in the traditional territory of the Kumeyaay Nation and further supports its ongoing tribal initiatives to create a more inclusive campus.” The event took place on Columbus Day, which some have rejected, instead calling it Indigenous People’s Day in

opposition to the glorification of Christopher Columbus and his arrival to the Americas. Within the crowd of over a hundred people, which the cul-de-sac could barely contain, there were over a dozen individuals wearing shirts branded with “Indigenous People’s Day.” This renaming comes along with those of Serra Hall to Saints Tekakwitha and Serra Hall and Plaza Mayor and Minor to Cardinal Van Thuận Plaza and Mother Teresa Plaza. All buildings with the names Missions were renamed to Valley, like the dorms Valley A and B (formerly Missions A and B) and the Main Parking Structure (formerly the Missions Parking Structure).

The Mata’yuum Crossroads Dedication began with an introduction by Persephone Lewis, a professor in the Department of Ethnic Studies and also the Tribal Liaison for USD. She explained the purpose of the event and also acknowledged Indigenous People’s Day. In her five years at USD, Lewis has seen improvement in attitudes toward indigenous people. “When I first started, nobody knew who the Kumeyaay were,” Lewis said. “Nobody thought about the indigenous people that were here before. And I think now, a lot of the students know Kumeyaay. They know how to say it, they’ve heard the land acknowledgment in their classes. I

See Mata’yuum, Page 2

ASG cuts subscription Luke Garrett News Editor

USD students lost their digital subscription to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Oct. 8 and are not going to get it back. This cuts the already stripped College Readership Program at the University of San Diego in half. The other half of the program, a digital subscription to The New York Times (NYT), also lies in uncertainty as Associated Student Government (ASG) must renew its contract by Nov. 8 to maintain the campus-wide subscription. ASG has provided no updates on how it plans to renew. The program exists on college campuses across the U.S. and began at Pennsylvania State University in 1997 “with the specific goal of promoting civic literacy and global awareness on campus through daily exposure to the news,” according to the University of Utah. Over the past two years, ASG has systematically defunded the program and limited student access to high-quality journalism. In 2018, ASG defunded the delivery of three physical newspapers across campus, and the following year the program was further cut, leaving one free digital subscription to the NYT. During Thursday’s ASG senate meeting, President Marion Chavarria Rivera did not mention the WSJ’s termination, but instead suggested that students

See WSJ, Page 2

The man behind USD landscaping

Ernie Salazar explains how to maintain the No. 3 most beautiful campus in the U.S. It is still dark out as Assistant Grounds Manager Ernie Salazar makes his way to the University of San Diego. As the sun is rising, he preps his foreman for the day ahead. They discuss what to trim, fix, and plant. The rest of the team arrives by 6:30 a.m., and soon, USD’s Grounds Maintenance team is at work all around the campus. Under Salazar’s direction, the Grounds Maintenance team is in charge of the upkeep of facilities and gardening. Salazar has been in the landscaping industry for 45 years, working at USD for 22 of those years. “I started a gardening business when I was 20,” Salazar said. “I got an Associate’s degree

in landscape technology, became a certified landscape contractor, and am qualified in pesticide application.” Salazar’s office is behind Copley Library and next to the Skip and Cindy Hogan Tennis Center. He keeps his workspace organized, with weather reports, work schedules, and pictures of the school on his bulletin board. He also keeps upcoming projects on file. “New construction is changing our landscape,” Salazar said. “Our responsibilities as gardeners change with it.” For example, there are plans to work on a new landscape for the Skip and Cindy Hogan Tennis Center. Other projects include working on the USD Softball Complex and putting in a new putting green for the golf team.

Salazar recognizes the extent of the work that goes into maintaining diverse greenery. Currently, USD is home to 164 different species of plants. USD’s online plant inventory explains that trees serve different purposes on campus. Some plants are for erosion control. While some trees are grown on campus for shade, others accent the landscape. Tree compatibility is important because USD is home to trees from many different regions, such as the Chinese evergreen elm from East Asia and the fern pine from East Africa. Maintaining healthy turf is another responsibility, as the school’s sports teams need grass that can endure sporting events. Torero Stadium’s grass has impressively survived seven

ASG talks transparency

Editorial: PG&E power cut

Climate 101

Mayella Vasquez Asst. Feature Editor

See News, page 2

See Opinion, page 5

See Landscaping, Page 8

See Feature, pages 6-7

Ernie Salazar shares the daily work it takes to maintain the USD landscape. Mayella Vasquez/The USD Vista

Linda Vista Farmers Market See A&C, page 10

WWW.UOFSDMEDIA.COM ◆ @THEUSDVISTA

Women’s soccer 5-0 victory See Sports, page 11

The USD Vista

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October 17, 2019

NEWS

Mata’yuum dedication event

“Kumeyaay people are visible here:” USD community members celebrate new name

Mata’yuum from Page 1

think that’s the biggest difference, is that Kumeyaay people are visible here.” Next, Associated Student Government President Marion Chavarria Rivera spoke. She started by acknowledging that USD is on the traditional and unceded territory of the Kumeyaay Nation. She explained that it is important to note USD’s Catholic identity, but the renaming is a great example of fundamental growth on campus. “These advances do not happen overnight,” Rivera said. “Great things can happen when we stop speaking for others and elevate them and let them speak their truth.” USD President James T. Harris, III, D.Ed., spoke next. He spoke of the importance to come together during the polarizing times in the nation and referenced. Pope Francis’ 2015 speech apologizing to indigenous people for the grave sins committed against them. At the end of his speech, despite some of the somber topics he discussed, he finished on a high note. “Let’s have a celebration,” Harris said. It’s customary in some indigenous cultures to start events with bird singers, who sing a form

of music traditional to indigenous people of the Southwest United States. A group from the Campo Band of Kumeyaay Indians performed, shaking rattles filled with native palm seeds to create a rhythm. Afterward, the community members in attendance formed a long line to shake hands with the bird singers. Mike Connolly Miskwish from the Campo Band of Kumeyaay Indians spoke next, outlining the history of the Missions system and oppression of indigenous people over time. He discussed the effects of assimilation and the loss of language and culture that the Missions system brought. “The Missions had a different way of teaching,” Miskwish said. “It was a way of brutality.” The next speaker was Councilman Stan Rodriguez, of the Ippay Nation of Santa Ysabel. He began by speaking in an indigenous language, and anyone in attendance who didn’t speak the language would have only understood one word — mata’yuum. “To us, this is our holy land,” Rodriguez said. “The oceans, mountains, the valleys. Everything has a name. And it’s in our creation story.” Despite the continued encroachment that indigenous

people faced, Rodriguez stressed the importance of coming and growing together, in difference and diversity. “We may come from different religious beliefs,” Rodriguez said. “If we continue to fight, we will burn our house down.” The final speaker was Gabriel

Kumeyaay Indians performed, shaking rattles filled with native palm seeds. Celina Tebor/ The USD Vista

Fallis, the Chairman of USD’s American Indian Indigenous Organization (AISO). He urged the audience to remember the millions of indigenous lives lost. “That is something we must remember,” Fallis said. “Every step we take, and everywhere we go. We are guests here.” He finished with a resounding and piercing line. “Remember, but never forget, but we are still here,” Fallis said.

NYT remains

College Readership Program reduced to one outlet

WSJ from Page 1

body rely on Copley Library’s single copy of newspapers and research-oriented digital access for news. “Currently, right now, Copley Library has both (subscriptions) available to all students,” Rivera said. Rivera went on to describe that few differences exist between the library’s journalistic resources and that provided by the College Readership Program. “The only comparison one could make (between the two resources) is you can’t see comments and sometimes people come in and make edits to their articles,” Rivera said. This described similarity between the two resources is misleading. In order for students to access the NYT or the WSJ through Copley, they must go to the library’s website, sign into the research database, scroll through other periodicals and academic journals, click on the NYT or WSJ, then search for a specific article by name or date. This resource, as explained on Copley’s website, is explicitly designed for research and not daily use. The Copley resources do not provide students with app access or a full view of the day’s news. The digital access provided by

the College Readership Program gives students full subscriptions; meaning they have access to unlimited articles through the newspapers’ apps and websites. Despite the WSJ subscription termination, no effort has been made to alert students of their shrinking access to journalistic sources. The ASG website contradicts the status of the program, as it still lists the WSJ as free for students under the “ASG initiatives” tab. ASG officials worked to regain the free WSJ subscriptions for students, but not through its own funds. Rivera and Finance Chair George Saunderson attempted to have the WSJ funded by the business school because they believed the business students made up the majority of the WSJ readership. Rivera proposed the idea to Dean David Light of the Business School, but the school declined to fund the WSJ for all students. “It is unfortunate that subscriptions to both the NY Times and WSJ cannot be provided to students by Associated Student Government,” Light said in an email. “The School of Business will not participate in the College Readership Program at this time.” ASG has an annual budget of over $1.5 million and, according to previous years’ financial records,

“Nice try Columbus, but we’re still standing here.” Lewis finished off the speaking portion of the event by thanking the guests and elders who traveled to celebrate the renaming, and honored Harris, Miskwish, and Rodriguez with native blankets, which symbolize warmth, even in

the WSJ digital access costs $12,000 — less than one tenth of a percent of the annual budget. According to the 2017-2018 ASG budget, a similar amount of funds was spent on the Bradford Lee Bosley Fitness Center’s DirecTV subscription. Following the senate meeting, ASG officials spoke to the struggles they have had with the College Readership Program. Much of them originate from last year’s student government, according to Chair of Diversity and Inclusion Jesse Magaña. “We are kind of picking up the pieces that were left off by an exec team that left last year,” Magaña said. With uncertainty surrounding the program, and the Rivera claiming that the library already provides sufficient news for the campus, the fate of the College Readership Program is dim.

CRP newstands lie empty in the SLP. Zoé Morales Martinez/The USD Vista

the coldest of times. After the speakers concluded, the audience celebrated with a variety of indigenous crafts, games, and food. Energy was high and members of the indigenous community and USD’s student body connected and conversed. Junior Ryan Chang was one of the USD students that attended the ceremony. He attended it for extra credit for his Ethnic Studies class.

“I think it was actually really cool that they decided to do it on Columbus Day, instead of picking out a random day and not making it as memorable,” Chang said. “I thought the significance of it was pretty cool. I did not expect this many people to be here.” Lewis still thinks more steps can be taken to support indigenous students at USD. She wants more Native students on campus, and has been working with admissions to make it happen. She said the university admitted its highest number of native students this year: 43. This is almost double the number that USD normally admits. Lewis also wants a space on campus for Native students, citing the elder or community offices that many Canadian universities have. One other thing she hopes for is a new staff position dedicated to student support, to develop a retention program and engage communities with outreach. Where Missions Crossroads once stood is now Mata’yuum Crossroads. A gathering place for USD community members, native or not. The next incoming first years may never know the name “Missions” once adorned USD’s campus, and as evidenced by the large turnout at the celebration, some Toreros believe that’s a step forward.

ASG senate

Acknowledges need for openness Luke Garrett News Editor Associated Student Government (ASG) senate acknowledged the need for greater transparency, yet also voted to end the hearing of the public while an hour still remained on the senate clock. The student body initially granted around five minutes to the hearing of the public on Thursday, Oct. 10. Newly-elected senators Simon Mizrahi and Justin Daus each voted to extend the hearing of the public, granting 10 additional minutes. “I am looking to make this a more transparent government,” Mizrahi said. “I want journalists to have more time to ask questions. We are supposed to be here until 2:30 p.m. because that is why we were elected.” Thursday’s senate adjourned at 1:30 p.m., after Mizrahi’s second motion to extend time failed, making it the third senate in a row to end an hour early. During the allotted time, ASG senate responded to questions regarding senior Tyler Arden’s request for greater transparency during the prior meeting. “He had a valid point and we all have no reason to say why he was in the wrong,” Speaker of the

Senate Carolina Moreno Armenta said. “We notice the transparency issue on campus, with senate and ASG exec. From the very beginning, we have talked about transparency and you can bet we are working on it.” Despite this, the ASG senate minutes, a required weekly transcript of senate proceedings, are still unavailable to student view. The minutes have been approved by senate but their publishing is “still in the works,” according to Armenta. President Rivera also denied an interview with The USD Vista for the third week in a row, citing unfavorable coverage of ASG in year’s past. Senator Mizrahi commented on the President’s decision after the meeting adjourned. “I think that her decision should be reviewed,” Mizrahi said. “I think being open to the press is fundamental. It’s how students hear what is going on. I think it is a fundamental aspect of our democracy in our country and at our school. I think democracy should be supported.” The majority of the senators remained silent during the meeting. Out of the 3o senators, more than 20 have never made a motion or said a word during senate proceedings this year.

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Volume 57 Issue 6

NEWS

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The USD Vista

DSGA discusses SCOTUS

LGBTQ+ community fears arbitrary workplace inequality

SCOTUS from Page 1

of the cases, and how they relate to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. “If you look at what discrimination against a gay person is, it is ultimately that the person failed to align with the stereotypes of their sex, which assumes heterosexuality,” Sierra said in regards to her stance on the positions of Bostock and Zarda. “It is absolutely an issue of sex, because they were fired not because they were perceived as being attracted to men, but because they were men who are attracted to men.” Sierra noted the circumstance of the law to protect workers based on their sex assigned at birth, rather than their sexual orientation or gender identity; thereby necessitating that the cases be argued as discrimination based on sex to fall under the protection of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She added that these cases hold gravity over members of the LGBTQ+ community that are coming into their professional careers, and they are especially important for college students looking into the security of their future income and ability to work. Sierra explained the importance of having this conversation on campus to help LGBTQ+ students and community members process the threats and opportunities these cases could pose. Sierra mentioned a lack of optimism as history has not frequently ruled in favor of LGBTQ+ people. “It is traumatic for LGBTQ+ individuals to see our rights up for debates, and oftentimes we are forced to hear about these issues in environments that encourage divergent opinions,” Sierra said. “While this isn’t inherently a bad concept, you have to remember that this is a debate on whether or not we as LGBTQ+ individuals deserve the right to live freely and to exist without fear. I believe it is imperative to provide those that will be affected by this with information in a space that doesn’t erode at their very being.” In the case’s appearance before the Court, attorney Pamela Karlan represented Gerald Bostock and arguing on the behalf of Bostock and Matthew Zarda. “When an employer fires a male employee for dating men but does not fire female employees

who date men, he violates Title VII,” Karlan said. “The employer has discriminated against the man because he treats that man worse than women who want to do the same thing. And that discrimination is because of sex because the adverse employment action is based on the male employee’s failure to conform to a particular expectation about how

the basis for the discrimination,” Alito said. “And it’s sexual orientation. It’s not sex.” Other justices were quick to seemingly defend Karlan’s points with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Neil Gorsuch intensely interrogating the defense’s rebuttal to Karlan’s points. Gorsuch went so far as to have Jeffrey Harris, the defense

sex at birth; namely, that they live and identify as a man for their entire lives … Third, Harris Homes fired her for, in its owner’s words, changing her sex. That’s discrimination in the same way that firing someone for changing their religion would be religious discrimination.” Cole claimed that had Stephens been assigned female

precedence. Additionally, Cole pointed to the Price Waterhouse case which stated that Ann Hopkins could not be fired for not being feminine enough, and for that, his client could not be fired for not being masculine enough either. The main argument from John Bursch, the representative for Harris Homes, was that the

Activists stand outside the Supreme Court with a rainbow flag in support of LGBTQ+ rights.

men should behave; namely, that men should be attracted only to women and not to men.” Meaning, if there is an equally-qualified man and an equally-qualified woman, and the employer fired the man because he was attracted to other men, and the employer would not fire the woman because she was attracted to men, that is discrimination on the basis of sex, according to Karlan, as protected in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Karlan’s points were countered with thoughts from the defense and questions from the bench surrounding the idea that this was discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation which is not explicitly illegal textually in any federal legislation. Justice Samuel Alito frequented this thought. “Now, if you add in two other cases, that a man who is attracted to women, not fired, a woman who’s attracted to women, is fired, then you have a much better idea

lawyer, admit that there was a causal relationship between sex and the firing of Bostock. Moving onto the next case, Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC, Aimee Stephens claimed workplace discrimination on the basis that she had been fired because of her sex as a transgender woman. Harris Homes fired her on the basis that she did not fit in accordance with the male dress code as a male. David Cole, representing Stephens, laid out a simple three-point argument as to why this was a case of unequal workplace opportunity on the basis of sex. “First, in firing her for failing to conform to its owner’s explicitly stated stereotypes about how men and women should behave,” Cole said. “Second, Harris Homes fired her for identifying as a woman only because she was assigned a male sex at birth. In doing so, it fired her for contravening a sexspecific expectation that applies only to people assigned male

Photo courtesy of Ted Eytan/Flickr

sex at birth, she would not have been fired, but because she was assigned male at birth, she was fired for expressing her gender as she saw fit, and that her employers had preconceived notions of what those of a specific sex were supposed to act like and fired her because she did not fit that vision. Cole described this as, “It is saying, I object to you because you fail to conform to this stereotype: The stereotype that if you are assigned a male sex at birth, you must live and identify for your entire life as a man. That is a true generalization for most of us, but it is not true for 1.5 million transgender Americans.” Harris Homes had admitted in court of the Second Circuit that had Stephens showed up to work as a woman in proper dress code, she would have been fired because it did not fit her sex. The federal court has deemed discrimination against transgender people sex discrimination for the past two decades proving judicial

Supreme Court did not have the right to interpret the law like this on behalf of the American people as it would disrupt the democratic process by which laws of this nature allegedly should be decided. The entire argument of the Harris Homes v. EEOC case was founded in precident and role of the Court to make a decision like the one that will decide whether or not, on a federal level, transgender Americans can be protected from workplace discrimination. The two decisions could come out as early as the first quarter of 2020, but in the meantime the LGBTQ+ community, and the rest of America, waits on whether they can be fired at will by employers who disagree with same-sex love or gender identity. These could be landmark decisions for civil rights in protecting the rights of queer people to live as Americans divulging their ability to succeed and participate in the workforce regardless of their sexual identity.

Retraction 10/10 In “Bryce Vine lights up the JCP” on pg. 10, the photo in the upper right corner was falsly attributed to Zoé Morales Martinez. Celina Tebor took the photo.

The USD Vista Kaia Hubbard - Editor in Chief Anderson Haigler - Associate Editor Celina Tebor - Managing Editor Amy Inkrott - Copy Editor Alee Pingol - Art Director Luke Garrett - News Editor Eric Boose - Opinion Editor

Catherine Silvey - Feature Editor Lizzy Jennings - Arts & Culture Editor Chris Spiering - Sports Editor Zoé Morales Martinez - Photo Editor Connor Buckley - Distribution Manager Molly Feeney - Social Media Manager Jake Schmid - Finance Manager

Editorial – 619.260.4584 Business – 619.260.4714 www.uofsdmedia.com / @TheUSDVista Razann Rizk - Advertising Manager Gina Lew - Student Media Advisor Marie Minnick - Operations Advisor

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

The USD Vista

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October 17, 2019

E DI TOR IA L

Un-breaking the news

In a digital age, news broadcast information is in favor of entertainment Eric Boose Opinion Editor When the United States was still only a fledgling country, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “wherever the people are well informed they can be trusted with their own government.” Essentially, Jefferson says that a well-informed electorate is necessary in a democracy. In the modern era, the role of

news is inherently bad. It is not. In fact, it would be easy to look at TV news and say that there is little to nothing wrong with it. However, for someone with a strong, idealistic view of what journalism can and should be, TV news is a bit of a letdown. There is such a scramble to have the story first that broadcasters are content to tell only the beginning of a story first rather than to wait and tell the

By having to turn their own profit, news producers are in the same business as the producers of “The Bachelor” — entertainment. keeping voters informed has fallen squarely on the shoulders of journalists. For decades, the duty of journalists has been to seek out the truth and inform the people of it. The news has aspired to provide voters relevant information so that their choices will be based on a consideration of the facts, not just on a whim. For the most part, journalists have done just that. The news, whether in print, on the radio, or on TV, has provided voters with information they need to know. However, it could be done better. In an increasingly digital era where information is available at the push of a button, newspapers and radio news broadcasts have struggled to stay relevant. With its visual storytelling and short, conversational reports, TV news has managed to maintain relevance better than its print and radio counterparts. The struggle that TV news faces is far more complex. This is not to say that TV

whole story. However, to anyone unaware that breaking news is only the tip of the iceberg, that report is the whole story, and they are free to ignore any intricacies that may be revealed later. Equally problematic, once the story breaks, the anchors are stuck. They have to find a way to keep people’s attention while their producers and reporters hurriedly track down more details. So, while journalists work behind the scenes to unveil the rest of the story, viewers are treated to the opinions of an “expert” or a panel of “experts.” Despite not knowing what the whole story is, people are more than happy to give their opinion on the story. That opinion is rarely moderate. There would be no point in bringing on a socalled “expert” just for them to say that we should wait to get more details before forming opinions. That does not keep people’s attention. As social media became

increasingly present in our lives, the news — TV news especially — seems to have become more focused on generating sound bites than stories. Fiery quotes and heated arguments make the rounds on social media quicker than an anchor reading the news. So, those panels of “experts” brought in to discuss the sparse details of a still-developing story become arguments; some more civil than others. And while everyone has a right to disagree with anyone else, and while discourse and debate are keys to making progress, they are not inherently news. Now, none of this is the fault of journalists themselves. TV news exists in a different historical context than newspapers and radio. In the late 1940s, William Paley and David Sarnoff, two pioneers of broadcast journalism, made a deal with Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Essentially, the deal was that broadcast networks like Paley’s CBS could use taxpayer-owned airwaves on one condition: one hour, every night, would be dedicated to informational broadcasting. That informational broadcasting is better known as the evening news. In that deal, Congress made one crucial error. There was nothing prohibiting paid advertisement during the evening news. In defense of Congress, it would be unfair to expect them to foresee the power of television to deliver advertisers to consumers. However, had such a prohibition been included, American

broadcast journalism would be changed for the better. Instead, news broadcasts are expected to turn their own profit. This is the root of the issues with TV news. I should clarify that as a general rule, these issues affect local news broadcasts more than national ones. Local news broadcasters were the first to shift toward a more entertaining style of doing the news, and they were rewarded with an increase in advertising dollars. National news broadcasts were quick to follow local stations’ leads, and the news changed from informational broadcasting to entertaining information. By having to turn their own profit, news producers are in the same business as the producers of “The Bachelor” — entertainment. Broadcast journalists have to somehow deliver the news in a way that keeps as many people watching as possible. Therefore, their broadcast needs to be as entertaining, dramatic, exciting, heartwarming, etc. as whatever else is on. Under that burden, news broadcasters are forced to let ratings drive content. In order to keep ratings up and people

to break a story without knowing what the story is and give debate more screen time than facts. While these broadcasts may entertain viewers, they underachieve in their duty to create a well-informed electorate. With a country so polarized that party affiliation can influence a person’s definition of what counts as a fact, fundamentally solid, unquestionably factual journalism is of utmost importance. If we are truly going to be a well-informed electorate, we need news broadcasts which broadcast the news in the best way possible, and we do not have those right now. Removing advertising from the nightly news, whether through a decision of the broadcasters themselves or through an act of Congress, is a step that must be taken as soon as possible. For 23 hours of the day, broadcasters should focus on turning a profit, but for one hour a night, they should work for the voters. I have no doubt that if ratings did not drive content, the content of nightly newscasts on any channel would noticeably change. I believe we would see

There would be no point in bringing on a so-called “expert” just for them to say that we should wait to get more detials ... That does not keep people’s attention. watching, the nightly news has become the types of broadcasts we see today. The “news” is not necessarily the crucial information voters need to make an informed decision, but instead the stories that will get people to tune in. News broadcasters race

stories reported fully, not just a quick breaking news update followed by a panel debate. I do not know if more people would watch this new kind of broadcast, but I know the people who watch it would be better for doing so.

The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.

Volume 57 Issue 6

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OPINION

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The USD Vista

Unplugging is not a solution

Pacific Gas & Electric’s problems will not disappear in the dark

Eric Boose Opinion Editor On Oct. 9, around 800,000 Californians lost power for as long as four days, according to The Sacramento Bee. The cause of the blackout was not some power surge or natural disaster, it was a conscious decision by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to turn out the lights on a couple million customers in Northern and Central California. The power shutdown is PG&E’s plan to reduce the risk of wildfires while the affected regions experience dry and windy weather — peak fire conditions. Power limitations are not a new strategy for fire limitation, but The Los Angeles Times reports that California has never seen a planned blackout as widespread as this one. San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has deployed power cuts on multiple occasions, and deployed a much smaller one — affecting only around 30,000 people according to The San Diego Union-Tribune — at the same time as PG&E’s massive blackout. The power cut is not inherently a problem, but PG&E has done almost nothing right in their handling of it. The blackout is not only leaving homeowners in the dark, but also left businesses without power through the end of the week and into the weekend. Such a prolonged blackout can also spoil food, restrict or deny access to water, shut down highway tunnels, and threaten the lives of people who require powered devices like respirators to survive. Of course, PG&E has been preparing for such problems,

especially the last two. The utility has set up emergency power stations — generators for powerless customers to access — and they have been working with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to address possible tunnel closures. However, PG&E has set up only one emergency power station per county, aside from Butte and Napa counties, which each have two. Also, that work with Caltrans to deal with tunnel closures was hasty. Caltrans was notified that Caldecott Tunnel, one of the busiest tunnels in the Bay Area, would be affected only 36 hours before the blackout began. To say that PG&E has been careless in their handling of a problem they knew was coming might be an understatement. It certainly raises the question of whether a massive power cut is really the best way to prevent wildfires. PG&E would certainly say that it is. And for them, this is the best solution. PG&E is a corporation. Their prerogative is to maximize profit. PG&E is also bankrupt, and a convicted felon. The company declared bankruptcy in January, having paid out billions in damages related to multiple devastating wildfires caused by the company’s negligence in maintaining its infrastructure, according to The Los Angeles Times. One of those fires was last year’s Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California’s history, killing 86 people according to The Los Angeles Times. In 2010, PG&E was convicted of six felonies after a pipeline exploded in San Bruno, California, killing eight people.

With dry conditions and high winds, the best — and by that I mean cheapest — way for PG&E to protect itself from even more liability is to simply cut power for over two million people. Notice that this does not inherently protect people, or even necessarily prevent fires. As Brian Edwards-Tiekert of KPFA Radio in Berkeley points out, people without power will light candles, use gas-powered generators, and cook on grills. Of course, PG&E is not liable for any of that. PG&E’s choice to blackout millions of customers is reprehensible. Their motive is not safety, it is laziness. The best way for PG&E to prevent wildfires is for them to update their infrastructure, conduct strict and frequent inspections, and to keep up with necessary maintenance. They have not done any of those things. Instead, in April, the utility paid $4.5 billion in dividends to stockholders, according to KQED, Northern California’s National Public Radio affiliate. Later in April, PG&E spent $235 million, not on new infrastructure or maintenance, but on employee bonuses, according to CBS News. Along with refusing to update their infrastructure, the company has not changed its “shabby, cornercutting, shareholder-favoring ways,” since 2010, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. In December 2018, a California Public Utilities Commission Report stated that PG&E pressured employees to falsify safety data between 2012 and 2017. Along with spending money on shareholders instead of new

Audrey Garrett/The USD Vista

equipment and continuing to lie about the safety of that equipment, PG&E has spent much of 2019 failing to conduct routine maintenance. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that as of Oct. 1, the company had completed only one-third of the tree trimming they needed to for the entire year. Three-quarters of the way through 2019, PG&E had done one-third of one of its most basic duties. So, cutting power to 2.2 million customers might be one of the more responsible things PG&E has done recently. Even then, that choice only shows how little they care about the

safety of their customers, let alone Californians in general. PG&E, in its current state, has consistently put shareholders over safety. Ten months ago, regulators were considering breaking up PG&E, or at the very least, converting it into a public utility. Now, it is clearly time for some sort of transformative change. As The San Diego UnionTribune’s Editorial Board puts it, “this week, PG&E may have dug its grave.” If that is the case, someone ought to push them into it. Their negligence has not just left Californians in the dark, it has left them in danger.

PG&E’s incendiary track record: Camp Fire

The deadliest fire in California history, the Camp Fire killed 86 people and destroyed more than 19,000 structures in Nov. 2018. A PG&E-owned wire was the source of the fire.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force

San Bruno pipeline explosion

A pipeline explosion and the ensuing fire left eight people dead in a San Francisco suburb in Sept. 2010. PG&E was found guilty of six felony charges, five of which were for violations of pipeline safety standards.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.

CLIMATE

is the combined effect of long-term trends in a particular area, such as its yearly average temperature or inches of rainfall. In regard to climate change, an area might continue to have the same types of weather events, such as snow, but it might happen more or less frequently. This is important for understanding climate change stories in the news because weather events can often be conflated with climate change. However, only if those events have become a pattern, such as the more intense heat waves in California, according to an article in The Washington Post, can they be attributed to the changing climate.

The USD Vista

WEATHER

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October 17, 2019

refers to short-term conditions such as wind, rain, sun, and snow.

Increased temperatures combined with a drying climate is predicted to create serious risks to the San Diego area in the form of heat waves and wildfires. California’s Fourth Climate Assessment estimates an expected average temperature rise of 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100. This indicates that 80 years from now, the average temperature in October could be up to 77 degrees. This rise will contribute to increased heat waves and less rainy days. Besides making San Diego a less comfortable place to live, these conditions are also predicted to make wildfires worse when they do occur in the San Diego area.

Sea level rise also poses a severe risk to the coastal parts of San Diego County, especially given that 40 percent of the county’s population lives in coastal communities. A recent climate report by San Diego County conservatively estimated a three foot rise in sea level by the end of the century. This does not sound like a lot, but this could seriously affect areas like Mission Bay and Del Mar where a large amount of properties are located at or near the current sea level. Communities set up on sea cliffs will also be affected. Rising sea levels also bring higher and more intense tides, which will erode the foundations of these sea cliffs, making them increasingly unstable. This is dangerous for structures built on top of them, as well as for the popular beaches below them, such as Black’s Beach in La Jolla.

What is it, and why is everyone talking about it? USD has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2035, but this does not mean the school will no longer produce carbon emissions. Carbon neutral means producing a net zero of carbon emissions. So, for any amount of carbon that the school expels (through energy consumption, tram emissions, etc.), it will be taking that much carbon out of the atmosphere in some other way. Typically this is done by planting trees. Being carbon neutral does not mean having zero carbon emissions, but it is a step in that direction toward being non-reliant on carbon.

Volume 57 Issue 6

CLIMATE CHANGE

is a complicated topic that can be hard for people to navigate. Understanding some of the common vocabulary and basic ideas used in news stories will allow people to comprehend exactly what they are talking about, and realize how it could affect their lives.

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FEATURE

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The USD Vista

Carbon emissions from human activities are some of the biggest contributors to climate change among others. San Diego alone produced just over 10 million metric tons of carbon in 2017 according to the city’s Climate Report, which is the same amount of carbon Panama produced in that entire year. Despite this, there are many easy ways to reduce our individual emissions levels. Well-known human emission contributions, and common ways to reduce them are listed below. The food people consume makes up roughly 25 percent of the world’s carbon footprint according to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. What can be overlooked is the fact that much of the food people buy is processed in factories and often shipped great distances to get to local supermarkets. To cut down on personal emissions, the most effective action is to eat less meat. According to a study by the University of Oxford, producing meat products can sometimes create up to eight times more emissions than vegetables. Personal modes of transportation are a more direct contributor to a person’s carbon footprint. Fortunately, there are easy, though not always convenient, ways to cut down. Junior Shannon Daley commits to carpooling with her roommates every day to school, even though it sometimes means that she is on campus longer than she has to be. Daley explains, “It’s not very convenient, and I know it is just a small thing, but little things can add up.”

People’s wardrobes also contribute, which is why it is important to try and source clothing locally, or used, whenever you can. If that is too difficult, an easy rule of thumb is to not buy into “fast fashion.” Fastfashion clothes are inexpensive and low quality which means they end up in the trash faster. Stores who make their clothes like this include H&M and Forever 21, according to Business Insider.

Energy consumption is another large carbon contributor that is easy to cut down on. Turning off lights and unplugging appliances when they aren’t being used are simple strategies to not only reduce carbon use, but also save money.

Spread by Alee Pingol/ The USD Vista; Content by Mikaela Foehr/ The USD Vista

The USD Vista

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October 17, 2019

F E AT U R E

An award-winning landscape The secret behind USD’s renowned beauty lies with its Grounds Maintenance team

Landscaping from Page 1

seasons of football, soccer, and rugby. Salazar credits the hard work of the Grounds Maintenance team for this impressive feat. “We get the work done because we have a prompt team,” Salazar said. “Our employees have a lot of experience, ranging to 40 years at USD.” Being The Princeton Review’s Most Beautiful Campus in 2018 is a great source of pride for Salazar, as the award recognizes his hard

work paying off. “It is an honor to work on one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States,” Salazar said. “Being able to be part of this campus and make something that I and others can enjoy is my favorite part of the job.” Even though the landscape is a leading contributor to USD’s beauty, water usage in San Diego is a large concern. According to a compilation of research done by USD’s School of Leadership

Salazar’s bulletin board in his office helps keep his busy schedule organized. Mayella Vasquez/The USD Vista

and Education Sciences (SOLES), water consumption in San Diego County increased in residential areas alone from 84 gallons per capita in 2017 to 91 gallons in 2018. This increase is partly due to a statewide lift on water restrictions in 2017. However, the USD website states that, in 2016, water usage at USD was at its lowest in 25 years. USD also uses weather-based sprinklers that automatically adjust to local weather patterns. Reducing over-watering and being responsive to dynamic weather conditions are two benefits of this system. General construction also reduces gardening labor and water usage. For example, the Learning Commons is no longer a green area that has to be maintained. Salazar shared his thoughts on the future of landscaping and the importance of water conservation. “We are in Southern California, so we don’t get as much rain as other parts of the country,” Salazar said. “On campus, we try to save water by removing unnecessary grass and shrubs whenever we can without taking away from the school’s beauty. We don’t want to just have

The African tulip tree is Salazar’s favorite plant on campus. Mayella Vasquez/The USD Vista

gravel and dirt, we need balance.” Salazar is planning to retire soon, and intends to stay at USD for the rest of his career. Once he retires, he wants to travel around the United States with his wife. However, Salazar is committed to his work until then, and wants to ensure his legacy will live on after he leaves. “I think our maintenance and landscaping is better than Balboa Park’s,” Salazar said. “I want to

keep working until I feel like I can pass the baton.” Salazar’s love for his job radiates off his person. He suggests visiting the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice to see his favorite tree, the African tulip tree, which is in bloom. “I always leave thinking it was a good day,” Salazar said. “Be honest, that’s all you have to do. Find a job you want to be there for.”

Volume 57 Issue 6

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ARTS & CULTURE

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The USD Vista

A RT S & C U LT U R E

Linda Vista’s Farmers Market For farmers market fans, the local Linda Vista market won’t disappoint

Lizzy Jennings A&C Editor Residents of San Diego know that this city is the place to be if you’re a fan of farmers markets. With year-round-mild weather and an abundance of open, outdoor spaces, the city of San Diego capitalizes on these positive attributes by holding farmers markets nearly every day of the week. However, for some University of San Diego students, it can seem daunting to drive almost 30 minutes on a school night for fresh produce. Luckily, that is where the Linda Vista Farmers Market comes in. Easily accessible to campus and budget friendly, this particular market is a great option for students. The market is held every Thursday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., a change from their summer hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. that was put into effect this October. The market is located just up Linda Vista Road in the Rite Aid parking lot, with the actual address being at 6939 Linda Vista Road. Though they are one of the smaller markets in San Diego, the influence of Linda Vista’s diverse population is evident in the market, which caters to, and is staffed by, a variety of different families local to the area. The evidence of multiple ethnic influences is clear, as stands range from Mexican taco stands to Fillipino food booths. Stepping into the rows of bustling booths can make a visitor feel as though they have stepped into a

Farm-fresh eggs from San Diego County farms are readily avaliable. Lizzy Jennings/The USD Vista

different world, as conversations are occurring all around in multiple different languages while people wander the aisle shopping for various goods. One of the major draws of the Linda Vista Farmers Market is its affordability. Prices for the market’s produce tend to be significantly less than the prices on campus in Tu Mercado, and because of the market’s location it is almost as accessible for students as our own on-campus grocery option. In fact, there is a noticeably different price for produce at the market than in most grocery stores. While

bundles of grapes sell for around $2 a bundle at the market, they retail for nearly $6 at grocery stores like Trader Joe’s. The market also provides a range of produce with rows and rows of leafy greens, supple peaches, and stacks of fresh eggs. “I like how the market is accessible enough to stop by after class,” said senior Emily Bomberger. “Even though it may be smaller than some other markets in San Diego it is nice because you can be in and out quickly.” If affordable prices and accessibility to campus aren’t

Grapes are one of the many produce items that are cheaper at the market. Lizzy Jennings/The USD Vista

enough of a draw, the strong sense of community you feel when shopping at the market should be enough to persuade any shopper. Children of vendors dart between stalls and live music plays while visitors carefully survey and select the freshest of the fresh. The vendors are all incredibly kind, eager to discuss their items and help customers. Because the market is held in association with the San Diego Farm Bureau, there is a guarantee to the quality of the produce being sold, and many of the vendors also set up shop at larger markets

the San Diego circuit. Whether you need to grab some quick groceries or want to spend an afternoon doing something a little different than usual, visiting the Linda Vista Farmers Market is the perfect way for students to get involved in the community that surrounds our school. Eating more fresh produce and supporting the local economy and community seem to be just two of the many amazing benefits that can come from simply taking advantage of what we have accessible to us as students in San Diego.

At the market, farmers offer up juicy and delicious fruits like peaches, nectarines, and persimmons with more variety, and at a more affordable price, than both Tu Mercado and most grocery stores. Lizzy Jennings/The USD Vista

The USD Vista

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October 17, 2019

A Bite of San Diego: ice cream Even as weather starts to cool, it’s always ice cream season in sunny San Diego

Ashley Ingraham A&C Contributor A Bite of San Diego took a look at our reader-suggested ice cream shops to put together a comprehensive list for all Toreros looking to try something new. These locations are great for late-night cravings with friends, date night spots, or indulging and treating yourself a little. Better than that, ice cream tends to be an affordable dessert for college students with a sweet tooth who are balling on a budget. So if ice cream is a favorite dessert of yours, read on to find out some of the best spots to try out. The Baked Bear 4516 Mission Blvd. San Diego, CA 92109 First up on the list is Baked Bear, which is a franchise that has been consistently growing in popularity. The company now has shops scattered across the country, but their first location was actually in San Diego on Mission Boulevard. The owners of this ice cream spot wanted to bring inventive sweets to their hometown of San Diego, and they definitely succeeded in doing this. This shop has ice cream sandwiches that are out of this world, made with cookies baked from scratch. They pride themselves on the quality of their product and will only serve cookies fresh from the oven. To order at Baked Bear, you first pick your top and bottom cookie options. You can mix and match any cookie or brownie of your choosing, which is no easy task with over a dozen options to chose from. Whether you’re a fan of chocolate chip, red velvet, or snickerdoodle; there’s plenty to pick from. Step two is choosing your ice cream flavor, arguably the most important part. All of Baked Bear’s options are original recipes, so your experience with their ice cream here will surely be unique. Their Bear Batter, a bright blue cake batter ice cream, is always a great choice. They also have Vegan Chocolate Chip for anyone out there who is on a vegan diet. Next up, you choose your toppings. From sprinkles to oreo crumbs, they have seemingly endless options to choose from for each ice cream fanatic. And lastly, you decide whether or not to have

One of the many mouth-watering creations that can be made at Baked Bear, this particular custom sandwich is smothered with copious amounts of chocolate and caramel. Photo courtesy of Yelp Inc/Flickr

your sandwich warmed up, which is highly recommended. The items here typically range from $2 to $6, making this place an even more perfect pick. Not only that, but this location also shares a parking lot with Urban Outfitters, so finding parking won’t be a stress. Salt & Straw 1670 India St. San Diego, CA 92101 What sets Salt & Straw apart from its ice cream competitors is their abundant and everchanging menu that features unique seasonal flavors. This month’s “October Spooktacular Series” includes The Great Candycopia, Creepy Crawly Critters, Mummy’s Pumpkin Spiced Potion, Dracula’s Blood Pudding, and Black Cat Licorice and Lavender. This ice cream shop is a little pricier than others on the list with cups and cones costing around $6 for one scoop, but their

The Salt & Straw sign is iconic for ice cream fanatics.

Photo courtesy of Blese/Flickr

unique options make the extra few dollars worth it. Customers love their original flavors that you can’t find anywhere else. They have classic flavors loved by many like Freckled Mint TCHO-colate Chip and Salted, Malted, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. They also have options that you can’t get at other shops such as Honey Lavender, Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache, and James Coffee and Bourbon to name a few. Parking can be scarce since Salt and Straw is located in Little Italy, but customers definitely won’t regret taking some extra time to find parking for this excellent quality ice cream. Hammond’s 3077 University Ave. San Diego, CA 92104 Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream is the perfect place to pick for all your ice cream needs with their menu holding 32 flavors of Hawaiian ice cream and sorbet. Their ice cream is “super premium,” meaning it’s handmade with 18 percent butterfat, adding a rich and creamy texture you can taste. With a menu as wide-ranging as Hammonds, every customer can find a perfect flavor that they’ll surely love. Items like Ginger Cream, Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Nut, and Peanut Butter Guava Jelly to name a few are fun flavors that you definitely need to try. If you can’t decide on one flavor, order their “mini flights” so you can try different flavors in a small serving. Hammond’s tends to be on the pricier side compared to

some of our other ice cream locations, with a small scoop being $4, and their street parking can be challenging to find at times, but their high-quality product makes it all worth it. Mr. Frostie 1470 Garnet Ave. San Diego, California 92109 This popular location for ice cream in Pacific Beach specializes in soft serve, reduced-fat ice cream. Customers love Mr. Frostie’s “All-American” theme, as they serve up snack bar food and classic ice cream items. The lines that can last almost to the end of the block just prove that this place is worth the wait; no one walks away from Mr. Frostie’s unhappy. Their servings of ice cream are massive, which makes the relatively cheap pricing even better. Whether you’re looking for a banana boat ice cream or a hot fudge cake, this shop has it all. The local favorite is known for their shakes, which are the perfect consistency and chock full of all the mix-ins a person could desire. Fans of Mr. Frostie’s say the search for parking in Pacific Beach is never a regret with the great time spent at this joint. Better yet, their options only range from $4 to $6. Gelato Paradiso 789 W Harbor Drive Ste. 117, San Diego, CA 92101 Readers love this location, evident in the fact that many sent it in as a suggestion to our media poll. At this restaurant, gelato is the name, and

authenticity is the game. They’re passionate and genuine in their approach to serving authentic Italian gelato to customers, and fans of this restaurant rave about the amount of gelato you get for such a great price. Their options for flavors are bold with artisanal cocoas, extracts, and fresh fruits folded into each batch. If you’re a fan of the fall season and flavors, their flavor for the month of October is pumpkin. One of our highly recommended favorites is their banana flavor. The sweetness is perfectly blended out, and it’s made from freshlyripe-Guatemalan bananas. Parking can sometimes be a little tricky to find since it’s located in Seaport Village, but the exceptional quality makes it a must for all ice cream lovers.

Photo courtesy of jax989/Flickr

Volume 57 Issue 6

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SPORTS

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The USD Vista

SP ORT S

Toreros defeat Saint Mary’s

USD women’s soccer defeats the Saint Mary’s Gaels 5-0 to remain unbeaten at home Chris Spiering Sports Editor It took a collective effort from the Toreros to get the job done as they defeated the Saint Mary’s College Gaels 5-0 last Wednesday to remain unbeaten at home. The hot corner was sizzling for USD as they scored a massive four goals off of corner kicks. The Toreros hadn’t played a home game in over a month, and the home atmosphere surely helped the Toreros shine. “It’s great to have the fans’ support,” redshirt-senior goalie Amber Michel said. “How strong we came out with everyone, it was awesome.” The first 20 minutes were quiet as both teams were aggressively trying to take control of possession. In the 20th minute, it seemed as if USD had scored a goal, but the referee waved it off as it didn’t cross the goal line completely. The Toreros had put seven goals through the net, but two were taken off in the first half. The scoring onslaught started with a corner kick in the 22nd minute. Sophomore defender Michaela Foster placed a perfect kick right to the Gael goalie that she couldn’t handle, and it fell right into the back of the net for a goal, making the score 1-0. That score was her second goal of the season. “My mindset is definitely to score,” Foster said. “If not, I want to put it on one of my teammates so they can tip it in and make it as easy as possible for them.” There wasn’t much offense for Saint Mary’s in the first half. In the 26th minute, the Gaels had an opportunity for a goal

The Toreros celebrate after a goal early on in the first half. Five different players scored a goal Wednesday night to extend USD’s unbeaten streak at home. Tanner Claudio/The USD Vista

with a free kick. The shot by Venessa Gaitan deflected off a Torero defender and was cleared out. In the 34th minute, the Toreros were set up for another corner kick. Foster lined up and kicked a perfect ball right to senior defender Kelley Carusa for the goal, her first of the season to make the score 2-0. It was a bit of a slow half for Michel. Just before the 40th minute, she recorded two saves while having to jump and deflect a ball over the crossbar for one of the saves. She finished with three saves altogether in the first half. In the 40th minute, the Toreros were lined up for

another corner kick. This time it was first-year midfielder Eden Quiroz, who placed a perfect kick to sophomore forward Madison Louderback, where she tipped it in for her first goal of the season to make the score 3-0 just before the half. USD seemed to have controlled the ball for a majority of the first half. The Toreros had eight corner kick attempts to the Gaels’ two in the first half. The score could have easily been 5-0, if the referee didn’t wave off what had looked like two goals by the Toreros. The second half started slow for the first 10 minutes as the Gaels were looking to get something going for their team.

But they just couldn’t get in a rhythm. The 56th minute came around and the Toreros were lined up once again for another corner kick. It was the first collegiate goal for the first year Quiroz as she deflected the ball past the Gael goalie to make the score 4-0, Toreros. USD was on fire from the hot corner all night long and the scoring didn’t stop. Less than five minutes later, in the 61st minute, redshirt-junior midfielder/ defender Emma Barrow scored a goal from the right side from an assist by Carusa. The score was 5-0, which marked a seasonhigh for the Toreros. USD finished with 11 corner

Forward Bekah Valdez and midfielder Milan Moses team up as they try and stop the Gaels from scoring. The Toreros finished with a 5-0 shutout.

Tanner Claudio/The USD Vista

kicks on the night. “We practice them a lot in training,” Foster said. “We always go over what we want from the corner and make the defensive team think about it.” Five different Toreros tallied a goal as they shared the ball and gave each other good chances to score all night long. “We were really good with the ball,” Foster said. “I think we looked like the better team and we were passing well and our attackers came out today and showed what they can do.” A substitution by USD in the 79th minute replaced Michel with first year goalie Ellyn Casto, ending Michel’s night. She finished with her second shutout of the season. The Torero defense never let the Gaels get close to scoring. “I think everyone was tuned in to get the shutout today,” Michel said. “It’s definitely a team effort from the forwards all the way back to the defense, everyone came out wanting to win this game today and I think that is how we got the shutout.” San Diego improved to 4-0 at home (5-6-1 overall) this season, with their only losses coming on the road. “I think being at home gives us that extra energy,” Michel said. “But at the same time, we have to bring it here and we have to bring it on the away games, so bringing it to Santa Clara will be important.” Like Michel said, USD will go on the road on Saturday, Oct. 12 to face West Coast Conference (WCC) opponent Santa Clara University. Their next home game is Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. against Loyola Marymount University at Torero Stadium.

The USD Vista

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October 17, 2019

Volleyball wins 11th straight Toreros advance to 13-4 (7-0 WCC) after defeating Santa Clara University

Maria Watters Asst. Sports Editor The USD women’s volleyball team advanced to 13-4 (7-0 WCC) after defeating the Santa Clara Broncos in an intense three-set victory Thursday night in the Jenny Craig Pavilion. After a decisive win against the University of San Francisco a week earlier, the Broncos sought to end USD’s impressive 10-game win streak. Losing just five sets since their last defeat, the Toreros entered Thursday’s match determined to defend their undefeated conference record as they reach the midpoint of their season. USD volleyball head coach Jennifer Petrie was confident in her team’s abilities, but very aware of the strengths of the Broncos as well heading into Thursday’s match. “We know that, in our conference, in any given night, you have to come out sharp and ready to play because everyone is capable of taking down somebody in conference,” Petrie said. “Especially when you start off in the lead, people really want to gun for you at that point, so it’s important that we come out aggressive and ready to play.” On top of the pressures already surrounding the contest, Thursday night’s match held a special significance for the players and the fans watching. With the players, fans, and court adorned in pink, the spirit of breast cancer awareness month was alive in the gymnasium, honoring and celebrating the brave and courageous souls who have or are currently battling breast cancer with a battle between two dominant teams. The Bull Pit thundered with excitement as the teams took the court; they were ready for a

battle, and a battle they would get. While the Broncos averaged higher in blocks and aces per set, the Toreros won out in more kills and digs per set. Statistically, the teams were evenly matched. USD served first, setting the tone for the match right from the start with a huge kill by first-year opposite hitter Grace Frohling. The Toreros capitalized on the Santa Clara hitting errors early in the set, jumping ahead to a 4-1 lead. But the Broncos remained composed, scoring two big kills and the first ace of the match from first-year outside hitter, Julia Sangiacomo. Santa Clara fought their way to the lead over the Toreros, 6-4. The teams exchanged kills and blocks, not surrendering more than two points at a time. But, after substituting setters and opposite hitters, the Toreros went on a four-point run. Shaken up by the blocking ability and speed of the Torero’s front line and the incredible defense led by sophomore libero Annie Benbow, several communication and hitting errors cost the Broncos, forcing them to call the first timeout of the match when the score reached 8-11. Coming out of the timeout, the Toreros’ momentum was interrupted enough for the Broncos to tie up the score at 14. Though both sides continued to battle, the Toreros maintained the lead for much of the set, once again forcing a Santa Clara timeout at 16-20. This timeout proved less successful for Santa Clara, as USD was soon poised to close out the set at 24-20. But the Broncos weren’t going down without a fight, denying the Toreros’ set point three times. An incredible rally for the fourth set point seemed to end with a kill by USD sophomore outside hitter

Katie Lukes, but Santa Clara challenged the call, claiming their player managed to keep the ball off the floor. But after a painstakingly-long review, the original call was confirmed and San Diego was awarded the point and the first set, winning 25-23. During the break, fans looked up at the jumbotron and watched a touching video about cancer research and the SideOut Foundation, a group that works with volleyball players and the community at large to bring about change in the way that breast cancer is treated. The video encouraged viewers to visit the foundation’s website at side-out.org to learn more about this incredibly important cause. Though the Toreros narrowly won the first set, they came out of the break confident, quickly winning back the serve and a 3-0 advantage. But, just like the first set, the Broncos battled back from their slow start to take the lead by a score of 4-3. The lead shifted between the two teams for the first half of the second set until the double substitution of setters and opposite hitters for USD led to a four-point run for the Toreros, giving them a comfortable lead of 18-14. Despite their efforts, Santa Clara was never able to retake the lead and USD won the second set 25-22, giving the Toreros a two-set advantage. While it was not obviously reflected in the score, USD seemed to dominate the second set with the momentum firmly on their side. Santa Clara would have to make serious adjustments in order to combat the relentless San Diego attack. USD emerged from the locker room full of energy as they were set to start the third set. After earning the first point

off a tip by Lukes, it seemed like the Toreros were off to another dominant start, but the Broncos were determined to prevent USD from getting an early lead. Santa Clara went on a seven-point run, the longest of the match, giving them a comfortable 7-1 advantage, and forcing a San Diego timeout. The Toreros may have been shaken. Half of the Broncos’ points were caused by USD attack errors. Despite being up two sets, losing the third would give the Broncos plenty of confidence for a fourth set. Somehow the Toreros would need to come up with an answer and fight their way back into this set. After calling the timeout, Petrie had to reorganize her team in order to respond to the Broncos’ seven-point run. “Volleyball is a game of momentum, and (Santa Clara) certainly took hold of that in that third game, and they needed to,” Petrie said. “Any team that’s down 0-2 is going to come out their strongest in the third game, and so we did a good job of weathering that storm.” Coming out of the timeout, the Toreros were able to string together a short run to close the gap, but Santa Clara maintained the lead. USD was in desperate need of a change if they were going to have any chance of winning the set. With the Broncos up 18-16, it seemed the fans were preparing themselves for a fourth set, but the Toreros were determined to take the third. First, two kills by USD senior outside hitter Thana Fayad resulted in a Santa Clara timeout. After, the Toreros kept going and a huge kill from USD senior setter Anna Newsome sent the Bull Pit into a frenzy. USD had taken the lead and had

USD women’s volleyball huddles up after almost every play to give each other encouragement. The Toreros have won 11 straight matches, including wins over SDSU and USC.

their eyes set on the win. Another kill by Newsome gave the Toreros match point at 24-18. They had scored eight unanswered points, absolutely dominating the end of the third set. USD needed just one more point to put the Broncos away, and a silencing kill by senior middle blocker Megan Jacobsen did just that. The Toreros took the third set 25-18. The Toreros dug themselves out of the 1-7 hole at the beginning of the set and won the match by going on the longest run of the match — nine unanswered points. USD defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 3-0, extending their win streak to 11 and exited the gymnasium at an impressive 13-4. Petrie was proud of the way her team battled back into the third set. “During our conference play we have just been really trying to focus on getting better each time we play,” Petrie said. “Every time we step on the court ... we have bigger goals and bigger aspirations than any one individual match. I just want to see them improve on the areas that we’ve been working on in practice and put it into play in a match.” The match itself was a battle of grit, determination, and heart. Neither team stopped fighting, and neither team ever gave up. For some, it was an incredible volleyball match, but for all, it was a beautiful homage to those who fight their own battles with breast cancer. Their grit, determination, and heart was truly celebrated Thursday night in a match that those in attendance will not soon forget. The Toreros will go on the road this week to take on the 14-2 BYU cougars on Friday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m.

Zoé Morales Martinez/The USD Vista