Volume 57, Special Edition by The USD Vista

TheUSDVISTA

Volume 57 Special Edition

Friday, August 30, 2019

On Newsstands Weekly

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

A groundbreaking plan The USD Renaissance Plan spans over four years with five projects

Bulldozers and backhoes fill the space behind Copley Library, laying the foundation for the Learning Commons. Construction is estimated to be completed in May 2020. Luke Garrett/The USD Vista

Luke Garrett News Editor Although a hard hat may not be an item on the class of 2023’s collective back-to-school shopping list, members of this incoming class may benefit from such a purchase. With the Renaissance Plan now in full swing, this four-year construction plan sets in stone consistent and major construction projects

throughout the class of 2023’s tenure at the University of San Diego. The Renaissance Plan consists of five projects spread over the next four years: the renovation of Copley Library, Founders and Camino, and Olin Halls, as well as the construction of the Learning Commons and the Knauss Center for Business Education. Currently, only two of the mentioned projects are in

the works — Copley’s renovation and the Learning Commons’ construction. Both are set to be complete in May 2020. Copley and Learning Commons The renovation of Copley will bring an entirely new interior consisting of three classrooms, 38 collaborative spaces, and seating for over 1,000. According

Tuition on the rise

This summer, University of San Diego students and parents reviewing their fall semester billing statements were, for the first time, encountered with tuition costs exceeding $50,000, a $1,700 increase from last year’s rate. According to a 2018 report by U.S. News & World Report, American college students paid an average of $35,676 in net tuition costs and fees to attend private colleges last school year. At many schools, including USD, tuition is not only set to rise this year, but has also shown a pattern of consistent annual tuition increase. Since 2015, USD’s tuition has risen by around 3.5 percent annually. This means that incoming seniors will have experienced a nearly $5,000 leap

in tuition from their first-year rate. Additionally, the steady climb in tuition shows no sign of stopping. Many students find this data concerning, including junior Alexa Perez. “It’s honestly scary to see the tuition go up,” Perez said. “It would be nice to know why it’s increasing, what it’s going toward.” Janet Courtney-Smith, the Assistant Vice President of Budget and Planning, holds a different perspective on the matter. In her position of managing the annual operating budget for the school, Courtney-Smith finds that the budget favors student needs by consistently prioritizing financial aid, even increasing financial aid funds more than the tuition. “We’re increasing financial aid by more than the tuition rate increase because we need more and more financial aid,” Courtney-

Smith said. “We’re trying to build up the financial aid number faster, so we’re increasing the resources for financial aid faster than we’re increasing our tuition revenue.” Courtney-Smith also cited the university’s growing discount rate (the average discount to tuition students receive from USD) as a reason for increasing financial aid funds. “What (the discount rate) means is in the planning process, we assumed that in the past that 25 percent of tuition would not be collected, or 25 percent of it would go to financial aid,” CourtneySmith said. “So technically you’re not collecting that money. It’s slowly been going up and up and up. Now we’re looking at it going up to 40 percent in the near future.” Another large priority driving the yearly tuition increase is faculty compensation, as USD is

Building name changes at USD

Value of college education

A look at Balboa Park

Catherine Silvey Feature Editor

See News, page 2

See Opinion, page 4

to Theresa S. Byrd, dean of the University Library, this portion of the library has not been renovated since 1985. Erin Borzage is the project manager for the library’s renovation and spoke directly to the effect this renovation will have on the class of 2023. “This building provides to the class of 2023 what students in prior years have felt would have been beneficial to their college

See Renaissance, Page 3

Letter from

Pres. Harris James T. Harris III, D.Ed. USD President What are your passions? Do you think about where your passions and your God-given talents intersect? Do you know how best to connect your passions with the knowledge you are gaining in the classroom? Do you have the confidence to try something different, something outside of your comfort zone and not be afraid of failing? Have you considered aligning your passions in ways that help those who are most vulnerable in our society? Opportunities for you to make a positive difference in this world do not have to wait until after you graduate from college. They can happen now. The transformative power of higher education can change individuals for the better, and I think it is one of the great forces in the world today. As a firstgeneration college student, my higher-education experience changed me. Three very important things that transformed me as a man and as a leader happened during my college years. First, I found my faith and converted to Roman Catholicism. Second, I found my vocation. I fell in love with the idea of teaching and became an educator. Third, I found the love of my life, my wife, Mary.

See Harris, Page 5

First-year resource map

See center spread on Page 6-7

See Tuition, Page 8

See A&C, pages 9

Discover art at USD See A&C, page 10

WWW.UOFSDMEDIA.COM ◆ @THEUSDVISTA

Football preps for season See Sports, page 12

The USD Vista

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August 30, 2019

NEWS

Four new names on campus

Student activists and university administation saw compromise in Saint Tekakwitha Luke Garrett News Editor Four new names greet the incoming class of 2023 on various buildings across the University of San Diego’s campus: Saint Tekakwitha, Mata’yuum, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, and Francis Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận. Although these names are now written in campus-approved font and virtually indistinguishable from all others, they resulted from two years of student activism led in large part by the American Indian Student Organization (AISO) and its then-president and now-graduate Patrick Murphy. The University of San Diego announced the name changes on April 4, 2019 — all are now in effect. Of the four, the changing of Serra Hall to Saints Tekakwitha and Serra Hall was the most symbolic, as AISO had called for the removal of Saint Junípero Serra’s name in November of 2017. Organization members passed out pamphlets on the recently canonized saint, and painted 300 red rocks, each representing 1,000 native deaths due to the California Mission System begun by Serra. Through the following year, AISO also held dialogues and panel discussions with students, faculty, and staff from other California colleges.

Previously, university officials told The USD Vista that a name change was unlikely. However, in Fall 2018, USD President James T. Harris III, D.Ed. brought together a working group made up of administrators, faculty, and student activists to address the topic of Serra’s name on the building. In a Spring 2019 interview with The USD Vista,

are taking place on our campus,” Harris said. “I was a proponent for keeping Serra’s name on the building: he is a Catholic saint, this is a Catholic university. But through our conversations, we talked about the possibility of adding something to that building, and so what we came up with is that we would add the only Native American saint in

Saints Tekakwtha and Serra Hall now names the building previously titles Serra Hall.

Harris spoke to the conversations had between students and administration within the working group. “You have these two competing narratives, in some ways, that

the Catholic Church, and that is a woman by the name of Kateri. It’s a symbol that we were honoring those who were here first, and also those who came later, so that they would be on equal footing.”

A H C ! G N I CH

At the beginning of Spring 2019, President Harris brought the name changes to the USD Board of Trustees, and by midspring the board had unanimously supported the motion. Along with this change, the Mission Crossroads facility was changed to Mata’yuum Crossroads — which means “gathering place” in the Kumeyaay language. The

Luke Garrett/The USD Vista

Kumeyaay people are indigenous to present-day Southern California and Northern Baja California and have been in the region for 12,000 years, according to reporting by KPBS.

The final two name changes were made to Plaza Mayor and Menor. The former will now bear the name of Saint Teresa of Calcutta and the latter of Francis Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận, the Vietnamese Cardinal and social justice advocate that Pope Francis named as Venerable in 2017 — the first of three steps toward sanctity in the Catholic Church. Gabriel Fallis, the current President of AISO, spoke on the new building names. “I feel ecstatic seeing that USD is living up to its Changemaker mantra, as well as fulfilling its commitment towards making this campus more inclusive and diverse,” Fallis said. “I am confident that USD will continue to progress in order to make this campus more welcoming and accepting, not only for American Indian students, but for all students who are underrepresented.” To the incoming class, these new names may seem no different from the rest, but a two year history of student activism and administrative compromise lie beneath their curvy script. Many of those students who were a part of that history have since graduated. Now the new class of 2023 is here to make its own history.

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Volume 57 Special Edition

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NEWS

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The USD Vista

Construction and renovation

The Copley and Learning Commons projects are just the start of the Renaissance Plan Renaissance from Page 1

experience,” Borzage said. “They will be the first class to have it available for the entirety of their college education, allowing them to study and perform at their best from the day they arrive on campus.” During this academic year, The Mother Hill Reading Room — also known as the Harry Potter Room — along with the Student Life Pavilion and Saints Tekakwitha and Serra Hall will serve as the temporary library spaces for undergraduate students, as they will remain open late into the evening each night. Only a hammer’s toss away and directly behind Copley, the Learning Commons is also being built on what was previously a grass field that was often used recreationally. Meaghan Christman, Learning Commons project manager, shared some highlights of the new educational space. “Students should look forward to the addition of 13 modern classrooms, various group and individual study areas spaced throughout the building, and the ability to access the building and fresh food on a 24 hour basis,” Christman said. “Lastly, students can gather at the fire pit located in the plaza between Copley and the Learning Commons.” The university has also kept its promise to leave the 65 year-old podocarpus tree unscathed while the Learning Commons is being constructed. This promise was made to students and faculty alike after significant protest mounted against the tree’s destruction. The USD Vista reported that over 700 community members signed a petition demanding the tree be able live on amid the Learning Commons’ construction.

Construction and renovation will limit campus transit on Manion Way to north and eastbound one-way traffic. As students and faculty return to USD, two campus forums

are scheduled for Sept. 24 and 26 to update the community with project information and adjustments. Renaissance Plan This major campus-wide

project, overseen by Ky Snyder, Vice President of Operations, is meant to line up with the university’s 75th year anniversary in 2024. The website dedicated to the project provides the campus

TOP: shows all that remains of the 80s interior of Copley Library. BOTTOM: shows the final demolition of an interior wall. Luke Garrett/The USD Vista

community with plan overviews and updates. The mission and vision of the project are also written in full view. “At Alcalá Park, beauty and sustainability go hand in hand,” the website reads. “In order to reach USD’s vision as a contemporary Catholic university where innovative Changemakers confront humanity’s urgent challenges, the university must prepare for its future.” In line with this mission, the Copley and Learning Commons projects are both Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certified. Erin Borzage, Copley Project Manager, spoke directly to the sustainability of the Renaissance Plan as a whole. “Each Renaissance project presents unique opportunities to implement energy savings measures, whether lighting and ventilation, domestic water savings, storm water and rainwater management, building materials themselves, or ways the building’s design can benefit the health of occupants,” Borzage said. “One specific example is partnering with San Diego Gas and Electric’s ‘Savings by Design’ program to identify areas our projects can expand on energyefficient designs.” Borzage also mentioned safety readiness as a key part of the campus-wide project. “As a part of the Renaissance Learning Commons project, a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is planned so that in a critical situation trained individuals can mobilize quickly to assess and respond to any issues on campus,” Borzage said. With the Renaissance Plan still just beginning, more updates and changes are sure to come.

A six-foot fence with “Do Not Enter” signs guards the now-protected podocarpus tree. Students and faculty succesfully protested the tree’s destruction last year with a petition that was 700 signers strong. Luke Garrett/The USD Vista

The USD Vista

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August 30, 2019

E DI TOR IA L

More than a degree

The college experience provides opportunities for personal and intellectual growth Eric Boose Opinion Editor As tuition costs steadily rise at colleges and universities across the country and massive, ever-increasing student debt is increasingly hailed as a crisis, it would be easy to question what makes higher education worth the cost. One of the longstanding narratives surrounding higher education implies that the payoff for a college education is the promise of a relatively secure job with good wages upon graduation. However, such a one-dimensional narrative of the value of higher education also reduces colleges and universities to little more than job factories. The economic value of a bachelor’s degree is well documented. Georgetown University estimates that 80 percent of students who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2017 are employed, and will earn an average of $32,000 more per year than their peers with only a high school education. However, there is more value to a college education than the numbers show. This value is abstract, and it is up to each person to seek

out for themselves. Broadly, this value of a college education can be summed up as “opportunity” – opportunity to grow both professionally and personally, developing and defining who you are both intellectually and socially, and the opportunity to be independent without being alone. The value of these opportunities is hard to quantify partially because it is so variable. Each student will have experiences which they find most valuable, and some students will find more value in their education than others. Some students may immediately recognize the non-economic value of their education, while others may not realize it until years after graduation. The opportunities that students have will also vary between universities. Transfer students will have different experiences to build on than students who spend their entire college career at one institution. While finding value at the University of San Diego is up to each individual student, there are elements of this campus which would be good places to start looking. USD, especially

as a liberal arts university, is an academic institution above all else. As such, professors often encourage students to think critically and independently apply the material they learn. For some, this may seem impractical – the ivory tower of academia impeding students from gaining specific job-related skills. On the other hand, when would the ability to apply one’s knowledge to solve problems not be a practical skill? Furthermore, job-specific skills only benefit students who enter a field closely related to their field. If college was little more than job training, an English degree would be of little use to a student interested in being something other than an English teacher. A degree is not a destiny, but skills like critical thinking, communicating ideas, and absorbing information are universal. It should not be surprising that a university presents opportunities for its students to develop both academically and intellectually. It should also be noted that students will develop specific skills and knowledge in their field along with more abstract, universal skills. However, the college

experience is comprised of much more than lectures, homework, and projects. For many students, college is an intermediate step between living at home and being fully independent. While students live mostly on their own, campus resources provide not only a safety net to fall back on, but also opportunities to expand social networks. Dorm living is a staple of the undergraduate experience, but USD goes one step further by intertwining social and academic life through Living Learning Communities (LLCs). The goal of LLCs is to jump-start students’ social development by grouping students with common interests in the same residence hall and in LLC-exclusive classes. If living in close proximity was not enough, students will have the opportunity to socialize with their peers through residence hall events, and occasionally events which pertain to the LLC’s specific theme. Such social and academic proximity streamlines the establishment of friend groups and larger community, ideally leading students to feel comfortable in the early stages of their college career. The encouragement of

critical thinking and the establishment of community are both opportunities presented to students essentially on a silver platter. While these resources will be valuable for some students, there will also be students who struggle to find that value. For those struggling to find value in the opportunities they are presented, there is little else to do but look for different ones. For those who find the unquantifiable value of their college experience quickly, the next step is to search for more of that value. Ultimately, the value that any one student gets out of their college education is determined by the work done in search for that value. There is value to be found on this campus, whether in the resources designed by the university, through independent exploration, or through some combination of the two. The key question is to ask how we view our college experience. Are we viewing it as just a ticket to be punched, something to mark off a checklist? Look for what lies beyond that. See the opportunity to be independent, to grow and learn, and to do it all in a community.

The University of San Diego does not share the views presented within the editorial and op-ed sections. The opinions expressed in this section reflect solely the opinion of the respective writer.

Volume 57 Special Edition

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OPINION

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OP- E D

The USD Vista

Letter from Pres. Harris

Harris from Page 1

The positive impact of higher education on my life was profound, and the same transformative experiences are happening every day at the University of San Diego. That is what originally attracted me to USD. Students are empowered to collaborate with other students and faculty across disciplines to accomplish remarkable things. Some of you may not be aware that the University of San Diego is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States and is one of only 44 universities in the world – and the first in California – to be designated by Ashoka U as a Changemaker Campus. Our campus is intentionally organized to help students distill their passions and ideas, conduct research, effectively scale programs for the greatest impact, write business plans and turn their concepts into actionable solutions. It starts in the classroom, where social

change learning objectives are embedded into the curriculum, effectively extending the classroom beyond the four walls of the university. Through an organization called the Changemaker Hub, students are encouraged to use their knowledge and experiences to figure out

students to engage in social entrepreneurship, including the Changemaker Challenge, the Venture Vetting Competition and the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge. Students, along with faculty, are incentivized to participate in service-learning projects, including the Changemaker

“Opportunities for you to make a positive difference in this world do not have to wait until after you graduate from college.” solutions in collaboration with others. The Hub, along with other organizations, enables students and faculty to draw upon support from schools and departments across campus that they otherwise may never be exposed to. These organizations also connect students with other faculty advisors, alumni, community leaders, partner companies, non-profit organizations and funding sources. Annual competitions on campus encourage

Scholarship, Changemaker Summer Fellows and the Changemaker Fest. When students successfully turn their dreams into realities, the results are shared with the global Ashoka U network, comprised of more than 40 countries, where the students’ innovative projects are showcased as best practices for the benefit of other universities. Changemaking at the University of San Diego starts with how students grow as individuals and explores their

ability to go beyond themselves to help shape local, national and global communities. The fact that USD has been designated a Changemaker Campus means that we are dedicated to providing the support needed for students to build the foundations for more purposeful and meaningful lives. The Changemaker designation and philosophy is also strongly aligned with the University of San Diego’s Catholic identity and teachings on social justice. The practice of Changemaking and USD’s Catholic intellectual tradition both reflect a deep conviction to developing ethical, capable and compassionate graduates committed to the common good. At the heart of USD is the recognition of the dignity of every person as created in the image and likeness of God. This recognition cultivates an active faith community dedicated to the development of the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. This fundamental Culture of Care inspires active, responsible

citizens and ethical leaders who acquire the knowledge, skills, and values to make a positive difference in the world. USD students across every field of study are conceiving ideas and launching solutions that improve the human condition. Through a values-based education and an ecosystem for social entrepreneurship, our students gain practical skills in critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork that equip them with experiences that last a lifetime – and a competitive advantage to bring to the workforce after graduation. We are so proud of our students, faculty and alumni who venture out all over the world, impacting lives, and making a positive difference. Through learning, connecting and engaging, you can pursue a wide range of activities at USD. What are your passions? What are your ideas? How will you leverage the resources available to you during your time at the University of San Diego to help change the world for the better?

The University of San Diego does not share the views presented within the editorial and op-ed sections. The opinions expressed in this section reflect solely the opinion of the respective writer.

The USD Vista

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august

30, 2019

FOOD SPOTS STUDY HUBS

AROMAS

EXTRACURRICULAR ZONES

LA PALOMA With four different menus to offer students, La Paloma hosts a variety of food vendors that allow groups divided on the foods they want to eat to indulge together in harmony. Comfortable seats and accessible power outlets make for an ideal spot to unwind and recharge between classes.

COPLEY LIBRARY “HARRY POTTER ROOM“ Spacious and silent, Copley Library is perfect for the student that likes to study alone. While much of Copley Library is closed for construction, the popular “Harry Potter Room” is still accessible to students this semester. Find a spot to settle in and shuffle your lo-fi hip hop Spotify playlist. This is the place for hunkering down and getting things done.

Aromas will always have a dua identity, acting as both a stud spot and a social hangout. Wit room to not only get down t some serious cramming but als to take a much-needed stud break, Aromas is the perfec place to grab a coffee and settl in for a little while.

THE HEL

Toreros who enjoy giv communities can find se through The Mulvaney Ce a community engagemen been connecting Torero San Diego community Additionally, University M trips and immersion pro looking for service experie

SAINTS TEKAKWITHA & SERRA HALL

USD’s re is the b The men cuisine w restrictio Tecolote

Volume 57 Special Edition

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FEATURE

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The USD Vista

STUDENT LIFE PAVILION (SLP)

al dy th to so dy ct le

The Student Life Pavilion is the collaborative space you need to power through a longprocrastinated group project or to meet with friends to prepare for a dreaded midterm. Large tables and a noise-friendly atmosphere make all floors of the Student Life Pavilion the best accessible setting for group work on campus.

TU MERCADO If ever in need of a lightning-fast breakfast before an early class or a pick-me-up snack in the middle of the day, Tu Mercado is the place to go. Housing a sandwich shop, coffee station, and grocery store all in one compact site, the eatery provides a variety of options and easily bests every other campus restaurant in both pricing options and efficiency. No matter what, there’s always time for a stop at Tu Mercado.

LPING HAND

ving back to their ervice opportunities enter in Maher Hall, nt resource that has os with the greater for over 30 years. Ministry hosts service ograms for students ences rooted in faith.

THE ATHLETE USD offers a variety of resources for fitness fanatics, including two gyms — the Bosley Fitness Center and McNamara Fitness Center. Both facilities offer recreational fitness classes that students can enroll in for college credit, making it a great option for those looking to beef up their semester curriculum. Additionally, students can register for intramural activities to participate in the sports they love on a campus-wide level, or take things to the next level by joining a club sports team and competing against other colleges.

MATA’YUUM

HAHN UNIVERSITY

VALLEY PARKING STRUCTURE

TRA MAIN EN

NCE

LA GRAN TERRAZA

esident four-star restaurant, La Gran Terraza, best spot to spend excess dining dollars. nu offers a sophisticated take on California with plenty of options for guests with dietary ons, and the restaurant’s beautiful views of e Canyon create the perfect atmosphere for a luxurious lunch break.

THE GO-GETTER USD is home to over 150 registered clubs and student-run organizations, giving over-achieving Toreros ample opportunity to immerse themselves in USD student life. Students can find out more about these on-campus groups by attending the biannual Alcalá Bazaar, which will be held in the Colachis Plaza on Sept. 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Spread by Alee Pingol/ The USD Vista; Content by Catherine Silvey/ The USD Vista

The USD Vista

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August 30, 2019

F E AT U R E

USD tuition exceeds $50,000 As tuition increase trend continues, students seek answers for their growing costs

Tuition from Page 1

working to increase the salaries and wages of faculty and staff. This is considered especially urgent, because according to assessments conducted by the university, USD’s faculty is paid far less than the faculty of comparative schools. This has made the recruitment and hiring process of new faculty difficult for the school, and has presented the school with an issue it is eager to resolve. “We’ve had a consultant come in, and they’ve done a study of our faculty compensation,” CourtneySmith said. “Particularly in the college, faculty compensation is very low compared to other San Diego schools and also nationwide.” Although heavy on-campus construction has been occurring over the past several years and will continue into the 2019-2020 school year, Courtney-Smith explained that none of the money used for construction is pulled from tuition revenue. “The way that we’re handling all of the new construction is based on fundraising,” CourtneySmith said. “We put together

a capital campaign and have a spending program in place because we wanted to make sure that we weren’t raising tuition in order to pay for buildings … we’re not increasing revenue to pay for capital.” After determining that an increase in tuition is needed, the next step is deciding by how much. USD’s tuition increase rate has hovered at 3.5 percent for the past couple years, largely due to the competitive pricing strategy used by the university. This strategy balances the needs of the school with tuition patterns of similar colleges. USD closely compares its pricing with schools with a high cross-application volume, or the schools that USD applicants tend to apply to the most. “We keep track of how much they are increasing their tuition by,” Courtney-Smith said. “So if we need to increase it by 3.5 percent, but we look and we see that everyone else is only increasing it by 2 percent, then we go back to the drawing board … we need to figure something else out. I’ve been doing it at this level for a few years now and we’ve sort of stayed steady-state.”

USD’s competitive pricing strategy compares the tuition increase rates of colleges with similar applicant pools to USD last year. Graphic courtesy of Janet Courtney-Smith

The process that weighs these factors to produce the yearly tuition rate begins in the fall of the prior year. During this time, Courtney-Smith meets with the President’s cabinet and with the faculty senate to discuss the tuition rate, explaining what the school has done in the past and presenting them with her recommendation. “I get all kinds of input from people, and everyone has a chance to talk,” Courtney-Smith said.

RANKED AMONG

hat T e m a G Play The ge Your Life... Will Chan

“They basically weigh in before we go any further. Everyone has a chance to be heard.” While student needs remain a large priority of the tuition budgeting strategy, some students still have concerns about their growing costs, including sophomore Kylie Nevells. “By raising tuition costs, schools are raising our future debt,” Nevells said. “I don’t believe placing our generation in debt once stepping out of college

is healthy. College is supposed to allow us a step forward in our futures and careers, and nowadays it seems as though graduates are choosing careers to get out of debt rather than choosing a career to propel them into their dream jobs.” Despite the fact that they are set to benefit from the tuition increase through the increase in financial aid, many students are feeling far more burdened by the annual increases than benefited.

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Volume 57 Special Issue

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ARTS & CULTURE

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The USD Vista

A ART RT S & CULTURE C U LT U R E

Guide to Balboa Park

Affordable art and experiences can be found at one of San Diego’s cultural gems Lizzy Jennings A&C Editor Affordability and art hardly go hand in hand, especially in a place like San Diego, which is ranked as the twelfth most expensive city in the United States. With tickets for attractions like the popular WonderSpaces exhibit or the San Diego Zoo costing anywhere from $20 to $50, it can seem as if the art scene in San Diego would require an extensive budget, which almost no college student has. From textbooks to La Paloma noodles, it sometimes seems as if there are things other than art that we should be spending our money on. However, being an arts and culture lover in a city as diverse as San Diego does have an upside, as there are often more options

many of the gallery or museum spaces on the park’s grounds. Rich with history, even walking around the grounds of Balboa Park can be an experience on its own. Senior Lexie Michel has enjoyed exploring the park on her days off this summer, especially the Friday food truck festivals the park hosts. “Balboa Park is a great place to go if you’re looking for an afternoon of fun museums, vendors, street performers, and more,” Michel said. Michel especially enjoyed that the park has a variety of free activities available to the public. “I get to do something out of the ordinary without spending any money, which can be rare in San Diego,” Michel said. If students want a more

“I get to do something out of the ordinary without spending any money, which can be rare in San Diego.” -Lexie Michel available at every price point. Local museums and attractions have discounts and free events, all aimed at the student on a strict college budget. Making a little extra effort to find these deals means that the San Diego art scene can be accessible to anyone. Central to the affordable art scene is Balboa Park. Understanding the ins and outs of this 1,200 acre area is key to getting the best experiences for the lowest prices. In fact, much of what the park has to offer is free, including its garden facilities and

structured visit to Balboa Park, they can visit the San Diego History Center. There, one can learn all about San Diego’s extensive past with an especially appealing donation-based admission to the center. This means attendees can pay what they wish, with a suggested donation of $5. To appeal to the artist, the park is home to a variety of exciting museum spaces. One of these spaces, the Timken Museum of Art, has free admission, which is its attempt to

Balboa Park’s Botanical Garden is one of the park’s many free attractions.

Balboa Park is as naturally beautiful as the art hanging in the various museums located on park grounds. Photo Courtesy of Kevin Baird/Flickr

provide a barrier-free experience for those who wish to experience art. Recognized as one of the finest small art museums in the world, the Timken Museum is the perfect option for a college student looking for accessible art in San Diego. Another museum housed on park grounds is the Museum of Photographic Arts. The current and upcoming exhibits will be showcasing art from Australia all the way to China. Similar to the Timken Museum of Art, the Museum of Photographic Arts has a donation-based admission. Visitors can pay what they wish, which ensures the museum is accessible to almost everyone who wants to visit.

Photo courtesy of Sim Br/Flickr

Finally, one cannot overlook the San Diego Museum of Art when considering what Balboa has to offer to an art lover. Housing both permanent collections and rotating exhibits, the San Diego Museum of Art is full of art that can appeal to every interest. Though pricier than the other two art museums in Balboa Park, the museum offers discounted $8 tickets for students who show a school ID. Setting aside less than $15 would provide any student access to three of the finest art museums in the United States, and would likely cost less than what most people spend on one trip to Tu Mercado. At the University of San Diego, it can sometimes feel like

students are living in a bubble. Shuttling between Mission Beach and campus makes it is easy for students to miss out on all the rich culture and experiences to be had beyond campus. Anyone can make San Diego their home without breaking the bank by taking advantage of all of the affordable opportunities the city and its sights are eagerly offering. Whether one is at Balboa Park or elsewhere, sometimes getting the real culture of San Diego simply means getting outside and enjoying the natural beauty of the city and all it has to offer. No matter your budget, places like Balboa Park make it possible to be a student and enjoy art and culture in San Diego.

The park is home to Spanish style architecture, similar to the USD campus. Photo Courtesy of Psyberartist/Flickr

The USD Vista

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August 30, 2019

Discovering art at USD

Exploring the current art in different galleries and exhibits on USD’s campus Lizzy Jennings A&C Editor The art scene at the University of San Diego is an ever-cha exhibits a year. However, many students fail to realize how much art they actually have access to. Being a university that prides itself on aspects like its business school and Catholic identity, USD’s art and galleries on campus can easily be overlooked. In order to truly take advantage of all the campus has to offer, students could learn more about the various art and exhibits housed at USD every semester. Here’s a look at what our campus has to offer. Permanent collections USD currently has three active galleries on campus that all host a variety of exhibits during the academic year. Additionally, the school is home to two permanent collections, featuring prints, Native American art, and historical artifacts. The prints collection is located in Founders Hall, adjacent to the Hoehn Art Gallery, and is an open resource for all who want to examine or simply enjoy the prints housed in the collection. With a wide range of styles and subject matter, the nearly 3,000 graphic art resources in the collection can be an important tool for students. The May Gallery, located in Saints Tekakwitha and Serra Hall, is the university’s other permanent collection. This collection also features Native American art and artifacts such as woven baskets and handcrafted pottery, with pieces spanning nearly a half-century. The May Gallery collection highlights the urgency of the issues faced by this population by putting its history on display. The exhibition aims to document political action in the South and Southwest of the United States, giving it a local relevance as

An image from Ja’Tovia Gary’s impactful video art series being shown at the Humanities Gallery in Saints Tekakwitha and Serra Hall. Photo courtesy of Katherine Noland

many of the artifacts were created or discovered in the state of California. This gallery is open from November to May, allowing students opportunities to see the important and thought-provoking exhibit. Upcoming exhibitions USD doesn’t just offer these fixed collections, however. Thanks to Katherine Noland, Operations Coordinator of the university’s galleries, and the rest of the gallery staff, students at USD have access to a variety of exhibits every year from both established and upand-coming artists. The Hoehn Family Gallery, located in the main foyer of Founders Hall, is the main display place for these rotating exhibits. A

quiet place amidst a busy campus, the gallery is a hidden gem for USD students. This semester, the gallery will be hosting an exhibit featuring rarely displayed Renaissance drawings and prints from the British Museum in London, England. Though the main feature of this carefully curated exhibition is the inclusion of a Michalangelo drawing, the exhibit as a whole is special. Many of these prints have never been displayed in California, or even in the United States. In fact, many of these prints and drawings are so sensitive to the elements that they are hardly ever displayed at the British Museum itself. This

Renaissance print and drawing exhibit will give USD students and the public alike a unique opportunity to study and enjoy these pieces of art that are rarely displayed or seen. For students with a stronger interest in contemporary art, the rotating exhibits at the Humanities Gallery, located in Saints Tekakwitha and Serra Hall alongside the May Gallery, feature a screening series once a semester. This fall, the video art of up-and-coming artist Ja’Tovia Gary will be shown from September to mid-October. Gary, who is the recipient of several renowned grants and has a work included in one of the Whitney Museum of American Art’s permanent collections, is known for using her art as a platform to give

insights into Black-American culture and experience in modern times. This semester’s screening will include two of Gary’s award-winning videos played on a loop during the gallery’s opening hours. Here for the students Making sure that students know this art is available is one thing, but motivating them to take advantage of these resources is another matter entirely. As the average college student gets busier and more overbooked every year, they may not feel the need to take time out of their day to walk through one of USD’s galleries. However, Noland urges students to take the time to see the art housed on campus. “Students are the reason we do this,” Noland said. “If you need a pause in your day you can walk into a gallery and look at something else for a minute and be present.”

Carlo Maratti’s “Adoration of the Sheperds” is one of the many Renaissance drawings that will be shown in the upcoming “Christ: Life, Death and Resurrection exhibit.” Photo courtesy of Katherine Noland

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Volume 57 Special Edition

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SPORTS

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The USD Vista

SP ORT S

Pistole hired as softball coach Jessica Pistole has been named the fifth coach in USD program history

Chris Spiering Sports Editor After 18 seasons coaching the Toreros, USD softball head coach Melissa McElvain resigned to spend more time with her family. She is the school’s all time wins leader with a career record of 381-505. As her replacement, coach Jessica Pistole joins the Toreros after spending five seasons at Southern Oregon University (SOU) where she

which solidified her as the winningest coach in program history. Pistole, the reigning NAIA Coach of the Year, also was selected as the Cascade Collegiate Conference Coach of the year twice. Everywhere Pistole goes, winning seems to follow. When Pistole was at SOU, her team’s offense seemed to be their strong suit. Her team batting averages were above .300 in each of her five seasons, improving in each season. “I

“We’re going to do what we say were going to do. It’s our story this year, It’s our journey.” -Coach Jessica Pistole coached the Raiders to three straight National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Softball World Series appearances from 2017 to 2019. “I am really excited to be here and to get everyone together,” Pistole said. Prior to SOU, Pistole coached at the high school level where she won a state title at Twin Falls High School in Idaho. She also served as an assistant coach at Utah State University for a season. Last year, Pistole won the first ever NAIA softball championship for the Raiders,

want all of my players to be athletes,” Pistole said. “I don’t care if we lead the nation in home runs, as long as we get base hits from gap-to-gap.” Hitting home runs is what many fans wants to see. But as Pistole mentions, there is much more to the game than just sending one over the fence. “There are a lot of ways to score,” Pistole said. “It doesn’t mean reckless and crazy, it means understanding yourself as a hitter. We all know this game is mental.” When Pistole was hired as

the head coach at San Diego, she didn’t expect it to be as difficult as it was to leave SOU. “When it came along, it had to be something that provided a lot of similarities,” Pistole said. “In all honesty, I wasn’t expecting it to. Probably the most difficult decision (my family and I) have made.” According to Pistole, The difference between Division I and NAIA isn’t a big as one might think. “I think the game is the same at whatever level,” Pistole said. “The game might change in terms of speed and pitching. The top of NAIA is pretty even with mid-Division I schools. For me, as a coach, I’m excited to put my abilities and philosophies to the approach. You don’t change a whole lot, you just adjust a little. I only know one way to do it.” Pistole’s coaching style is focused on teammate dynamics and the process of improving rather than throwing everything at her players at once. After every game, Pistole asks herself what the team did well and what the team needs to improve on. “I love the game of softball, but I don’t just coach because I love the game of softball,” Pistole said. “It’s really about the relationships and the journey

Jessica Pistole joins the Toreros after five seasons at Southern Oregon University. Photo courtesy of USD Athletics

you get to go on from start to finish.” Pistole plans on communicating with the players and coaching staff to ensure they are all on the right page. Coaching a new team may have its struggles, but Pistole is confident that the Toreros are going in the right direction. “We’re going to do what we say we’re going to do.” Pistole

said. “It’s our story this year, it’s our journey.” In the last six seasons, the Toreros have finished in the top three in the West Coast Conference (WCC) four times, but have yet to bring a title to USD. Pistole and the Toreros’ season and journey to bring a championship to USD will begin this spring.

The USD Vista

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August 30, 2019

Football prepares for kickoff

Toreros will aim to win their sixth consecutive Pioneer Football League title in 2019

The Torero offensive line gets ready for a snap against the University of Dayton during USD’s Homecoming Weekend last season. They finished 2018 9-3, advancing to the first round of the FCS playoffs. Photo courtesy of Thomas Christensen

Chris Spiering Sports Editor The University of San Diego’s football team is ready to fight no matter who is on their schedule. Every season since 2013, the Toreros have either won the Pioneer Football League (PFL) or have been named co-champions every season. This year, they aim to take possession of the title for the sixth-consecutive season. As the players are finishing up their summer vacations, they stayed in shape by lifting weights and eating healthy to get ready for the grind of training camp. USD started training camp Aug. 1, as they moved past the heartbreaking end of last season.

compete. Like every new season though, there will be old shoes to fill and questions to answer, but fortunately, there is a special willingness across the board for guys to step up and fill these roles.” The team lost 11 seniors from graduation last season, but fully expected to fill those roles during camp. This past May, the Toreros lost two important leaders to graduation, quarterback Anthony Lawrence and tackle Daniel Cooney. Farina realizes the loss may be tough, but explains what needs to be done to expand that leadership role. “Ant and Cooney were vital to our success in the previous

“I think a lot of the seniors as well have stepped up and shown how to go about it the correct way – the winning way.” -Zach Nelson The Toreros finished the year 9-3 after losing in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. Redshirt junior quarterback Alex Farina expects some rough patches early on in the season, but is confident that the team will keep its momentum going. “I’m excited,” Farina said. “Our team is full of talent on both sides of the ball and we have a number of guys ready to

years and both were great leaders, so they will certainly be difficult to replace,” Farina said. “However, there are 11 guys on the field at once, each with a different responsibility working to achieve the same goal. I’m confident that we will be fine.” Senior fullback Zach Nelson had similar thoughts about the leadership roles on the team. “We’ve been able to handle the transition just fine,” Nelson

said. “I think myself and Marcus Vaivao have played a big role so far in leading the team and I think a lot of other seniors as well have stepped up and shown how to go about it the correct way— the winning way.” The Toreros will look to move past last year, but also keep a little bit of the flair they had in the regular season. “Ultimately, I think we have a great thing going,” Farina said. “And we will carry off the momentum from the last few years.” A collective unit of Toreros will be fighting to establish their role on the team. Nelson had some strong words to say about some of his teammates when giving his thoughts on the start of training camp. “I’m very confident,” Nelson said. “We have a dynamic group of skill players. Very ball dominant guys on offense. Tight ends, wide receivers, running backs, are going to be a nightmare for defenses. Defense has the best defensive line group I’ve ever seen. Marcus Vaivao will lead the defense. Very athletic secondary with the Tolbert twins and Brian Kelly.” In program history, USD has made four appearances in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs with an overall record of 2-4. The Toreros ended their 2018 season

with a loss in the FCS playoffs by the score of 49-30 to Nicholls State. Once again for the third consecutive season, the Toreros swept the PFL with their only losses in the regular season coming from UC Davis and Harvard. USD has won or shared

bigger programs, Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) or Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). We’re confident enough to go out, compete, play our style, and hang with whoever it may be. I think it’s just a matter of when at this point.” The Toreros kick off the

“I’m confident that there isn’t a team in the FCS that we couldn’t go compete with on any given day.” -Alex Farina the PFL title seven of the past eight seasons. The Toreros are a combined 72-21 over that span. Total dominance would be an understatement. Moving to a more competitive conference could be an option but the team is only focused on the present. “There are definitely some more competitive conferences out there, but I try not to concern myself with things that are out of my control as a player.” Farina said. “I’m confident that there isn’t a team in the FCS that we couldn’t go compete with on any given day though, so if the were to happen, we’d welcome the opportunity.” The Toreros know that they can only control what they can control. “Always up to the challenge.” Nelson said. “This program has shown it has no issue playing

2019 season on the road against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 2 p.m. Their first home game is Saturday, Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. against UC Davis at Torero Stadium. Tickets are free for students.

UP NEXT: USD vs UC Davis Saturday, Sept. 7 2 p.m. Torero Stadium USD vs Harvard Saturday, Sept. 14 2 p.m. Torero Stadium