Volume 61 Issue 16

THE USD VISTA

Valley elevators let students down

Expired permits around campus raise concern

Frequently out-of-order elevators plague students’ journeys while trekking to and from Bosley Gym, Valley A and B, Mata’yuum Crossroads, San Antonio de Padua (SAPS) and San Buenaventura. Without reliably functioning elevators, students must walk up five flights of stairs at the Main Parking Structure to access the rest of campus. The broken elevators delay students’ commutes, causing irritation and reducing accessibility.

USD first-year and SAPS resident Annie Hsu described her experiences with the Valley Elevators.

“It sucks when the elevators are down, and I have to lug [mail] back to my room. And on a more general basis, the Valley trams get packed in the mornings and a lot of people end up walking. We want to take the elevators, but sometimes they don’t work. [The broken elevators] just makes the morning really crappy,” Hsu said.

USD first-year and Valley A resident Julie Ibrahim

Crisis at the border

The San Diego Migrant Welcome Center shut down on Thursday, Feb. 21, due to a lack of funding. When operational, the Welcome Center was operated by South Bay Community Services (SBCS) an organization that supports families in San Diego.

The welcome center provided phone chargers, meals and a place to rest and served over 81,000 migrants who arrived since October 2023. However, the services came with a price tag of $6 million to San Diego County and its taxpayers.

When the Welcome Center closed, hundreds of migrants were released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to a San Ysidro bus stop on Friday, Feb. 22. More than 2,000 immigrants were dropped off at transit stops across the county in a span of three days.

revealed her feelings about Valley elevator outages.

“Honestly it just ticks me off. I remember one time I was holding like 10 things in my hand, and my class started in about 10 minutes. The elevator was out of service and it was so frustrating, because my class was at 8 a.m., so already waking up that early and having that happen as a minor inconvenience really seemed major at the time. I was literally so annoyed.”

USD first-year and Valley B Senator Alejandro Murillo detailed his interactions with the elevators.

“I have definitely been affected by the elevator outages. When they occur, it can be very inconvenient – especially when the trams aren’t working. This inconvenience to me cannot even be compared to the inconvenience that students who are disabled face with these outages. When the trams aren’t being run, students who lack the ability to make it up the stairs face a great challenge, feeling stuck in the Valley. I have heard countless complaints

See Elevators, Page 3

USD senior Shayla Rodriguez shared her thoughts on this situation as the cochair of the Association of Chicanx Advocates at USD.

Rodriguez highlighted the issue of a lack of funding.

“This situation and similar situations like these is indeed deeply disheartening and infuriating, yet sadly not surprising,” Rodriguez said.

“This situation highlights only one of many of the challenges immigrants face, such as the inadequate funding and policies that fail to prioritize their well-being. Addressing the funding gaps in organizations supporting immigrants and refugees is important and worth advocating for.”

An influx of asylum-seekers at the San Diego border within recent months caused nearly

An update on the carl on Lauretta Civil Enforcement Complaint filed against off-campus apartment

ANJALI DALAL-WHELAN NEWS EDITOR

Some USD students are hoping to receive restitution for the potentially dangerous conditions they experienced in an off-campus apartment building. As students begin to sign leases for next school year’s housing, a civil complaint filed by the San Diego City Attorney is still pending against the carl on Lauretta, a USD-alumni owned, off-campus apartment building that mainly houses students. Residents of the carl on Lauretta have faced a variety of challenges with their housing over the 2023-24 academic year. On Nov. 9 The USD Vista published an article reporting on issues that students had faced while living in the carl on Lauretta. These challenges included a delayed move in and non functional elevators. Residents received notices to vacate from the City of San Diego in the fall, but were told to ignore them by building management. After the notices stopped being zip-tied to residents’ doors, they thought the situation had been resolved, however, the controversy around the building was only beginning.

On Dec. 4, The San Diego City Attorney’s Office filed a civil enforcement complaint against the owners of the carl on Lauretta, alleging that the owners violated San Diego Municipal Code and California Business and Professions Code, by allegedly issuing leases without the required certificate of occupancy. The complaint listed the owners as, “The Mogaford Capital Group LLC, a California Limited Liability Company, doing business as Crawford Design & Development; Michael Crawford, an individual; HUGS International corporation, a Delaware Corporation; CarlOlivier Dumesle, an individual.” Both individuals listed in the complaint, Michael Crawford and Carl-Olivier Dumesle are USD alumni.

Business and Professions Code sections 17200 through 17210,”

Sharp stated. “We have requested injunctive relief, civil penalties, and restitution for impacted residents.” Injunctive relief restrains parties from acting in certain ways, civil penalties are fines payed to the government.

Wiley says she thinks she should receive restitution or recompensation.

“I think that for the amenities like the elevator, I think there should be some sort of back pay,” Wiley said.

“Especially because I live on the fourth floor, so I have to walk up the stairs every day, lug my groceries up there, moving in was not fun.”

USD senior Elle Kallsen, another resident of the carl on Lauretta, explained she had considered the idea of asking for restitution for her experiences living in the building.

“I intend to look through my lease and see what I signed and reflect on what was accurate and what was not accurate during my time at the carl” Kallsen said.

The USD Vista contacted Michael Crawford by email and messaged and called CarlOlivier Dumesle but did not receive a response from either.

The building’s owners have not responded to requests for comment.

“Before you take major steps to demolish that singlefamily dwelling, the owner needed to come to the city to get a demolition permit. They didn’t do that,” Elliot told NBC.

One of the major issues brought up by Elliot was that the fire alarms were not operational for some of the time residents lived in the carl on Lauretta. “Code enforcement, the fire department went out dozens of times to that property to let them know, ‘hey, we looked at your systems and they are not in compliance,’” Elliot said.

USD senior and the carl on Lauretta resident Olivia Wiley learned that the fire alarms were not operational for part of the time she lived in

In an interview with NBC 7, San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliot provided details on the complaint. According to Elliot, the developers did not obtain the proper permits before they began building the carl on Lauretta.

the building from the news reports. She described her reaction to seeing the news.

“We knew that they were having trouble with [the fire alarms], but we didn’t know the extent of the trouble,” Wiley said. “I just was kind of stressed about not having working fire alarms to be honest. If I had a fire then what are we going to do? Like in the middle of the night, just not wake up? It was kind of scary.”

Wiley explained what has changed at the carl on Lauretta, since the civil enforcement complaint was filed.

“We got new management last month. The old management company I think was fired by the owner.” Wiley said.

“They [the new management company] have been more

responsive to emails and stuff.”

Wiley explained that the new management had been responsive to issues such as fixing a broken lock and replacing the fire alarm batteries. However, the elevators are still not operational.

According to the City of San Diego Development Services Department, the carl on Lauretta still has two uncompleted inspections. The city’s website states that “not all final inspections are completed and passed.”

Andrew Sharp, the Director of Strategic Communications for the office of the City Attorney provided an update on the civil complaint on March 4.

“The property is still in violation of the San Diego Municipal Code and California

As reported by The USD Vista, USD entered a partnership with the carl and associated properties last summer due to a lack of on-campus housing. USD discovered issues with the housing and moved students leased through USD out of the affiliated buildings last fall.

USD Director of Media Relations Lissette Martinez provided an update on USD’s partnership with the carl on behalf of USD.

“The University of San Diego terminated its relationship with the Carl. USD is not currently partnering with Carl or its holding company, the Mogaford Capital Group, and there are no plans to do so in the future,” Martinez stated.

Many residents of the carl on Lauretta will be moving out when their leases end in June, but according to City Attorney Mara Elliot, the civil enforcement complaint could take months or years to be resolved.

The carl on Lauretta was newly developed in 2023, but has run into issues in its first year.

Lili Kim/The USD Vista

Migrants left at bus stop in San Ysidro

USD community reacts to crisis at border

From Migrants, Page 1

800 migrants to travel to the Welcome Center daily, which reduced the Center’s funds.

According to publicly available data from CBP, there have been over 120,000 encounters with migrants at San Diego’s border since the start of the fiscal year in October 2023. In comparison to the previous fiscal year to date, there has been an increase of 74% in encounters by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

A CBP spokesperson issued a statement in an email to The USD Vista about the causes of the recent influx of migrants.

“CBP continues to surge personnel, transportation, processing and humanitarian resources to the most active and arduous areas throughout San Diego’s border region where migrants are being callously placed by smuggling organizations,” the CBP spokesperson, Michael Scappechio, explained.

“CBP coordinates to the fullest extent possible with state, local and non-governmental partners to ensure the safe and orderly onward movement of migrants when they are released from our custody following screening and vetting as part of their immigration proceedings.”

CBP described the need for funding and policy change.

“This situation is the latest example of the pressing need for Congress to provide additional resources and take legislative action to fix our outdated immigration laws.”

USD Adjunct Law Professor

and Supervising Attorney at USD’s Immigration Legal Clinic Tammy Lin disagreed with CBP’s claim that smuggling operations caused the recent increase in encounters with migrants at the border.

“There are always going to be these smugglers unless they stop it. The migration routes have not changed. Even in 2008, folks would be coming from the other side of the world and they would end up in Tapachula and then Mexico and make their way up… With social media, there’s less of a reliance on these smuggling routes because before they were the only ones that knew what to do, where to go, everything like that,” Lin explained. Instead, she connected the influx of migrants to a variety of reasons.

“First, the policies from the [Trump] administration tried to force everyone to stay on the Mexican side of the border. It created a huge backlog of cases and forced the border courts to only handle the cases at the border.”

However, Lin agreed with CBP’s call for updated immigration laws.

“The last major overhaul was in the ‘90s… it’s like if you have work, and you’re not using the most up-to-date Microsoft Windows or Mac iOS, you are using something from the ‘90s and it is not going to work well,” Lin said USD first-year Priya Hecox reflected on her initial reaction to the situation.

“I was extremely upset when

I heard about this,” Hecox explained. “San Diego is so close to the border that we cannot afford to be closing down centers that are such an obvious need to our community… The closure of the center is showing blatant disregard for a huge part of our community.”

With immigration being a contentious topic coming out of the primary elections, Hecox reflected on the way that the issue has been handled politically.

“My opinions on Biden’s handling of the border crisis are pretty much the same as our past presidents. It is not far up enough on [Biden’s] list

of priorities as it needs to be,” Hecox said. “I also think that he and other local politicians do not treat the border crisis with the mindset that they are dealing with actual people. Biden’s administration sees the issue regarding numbers: numbers of people, number of jobs, the economy, etc. Not the fact that they are all people with lives, families and are coming with a variety of needs.”

The San Diego Board of Supervisors approved a plan to search for federal and philanthropic funding for a new migrant center on Tuesday, Feb. 27. The approval came down

to a 4-1 vote with Supervisor Jim Desmond in opposition.

“By allowing this federally funded long-term shelter here, it’s just being complicit with the federal government and the current mess,” Desmond stated to NBC 7.

Although County Supervisors considered asking the federal government to temporarily shut down the border, the motion was ultimately rejected. The humanitarian crisis continues, as migrants are still being left at bus stops rather than being housed temporarily in the San Diego Migrant Welcome Center.

The ups and downs of Valley elevators

Facilities Management assures students elevators are safe

From elevators, Page 1

from my constituents and am currently working to get something done about the issue,”

Senator Murillo described.

One elevator in the Main Parking Structure displays a permit that expired on June 14, 2023. Bosley Gym’s displayed elevator permit is even more outdated; it appears to have expired Aug. 15, 2020. The Knauss Center for Business Education, Copley Library, the Learning Commons, Maher Hall and Camino Hall all have at least one elevator with an expired permit on display.

Instead, all elevators on USD’s campus post signs that state, “This University of San Diego elevator is inspected and serviced monthly by an independent elevator contractor in compliance with State of California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Elevator Safety Orders. The San Diego Elevator District may be delayed in issuing annual elevator permits. Regardless, USD elevators are maintained in safe operating condition at all times.”

The California Department of Industrial Relations, which is

in charge of providing elevator inspections and permits regulates, that “no elevator shall be operated without a valid, current permit issued by the Division. The permit, or a copy thereof, to operate a passenger elevator, freight elevator or incline elevator shall be posted conspicuously and securely in the elevator car.”

Despite this law regarding elevators, many on-campus elevators only show expired permits, or neglect to display one at all.

Assistant Director of Media Relations Steven Covella commented via email on behalf of Facilities Management, regarding the status of the expired permits.

“Every elevator on USD’s campus is inspected monthly by an independent, third-party maintenance contractor. These inspections are conducted with much greater frequency (monthly) than is required by the State of California (annually), and any maintenance issues are addressed promptly, often the same day. All of USD’s elevator permits are up-to-date, but due to a backlog in the state

office issuing these permits, some of the corresponding signage may not reflect that.”

Regarding the current elevator outages, Covella added, “Facilities Management does not currently have any open work order requests for inoperable elevators in the Valley Residence Halls or anywhere on campus. Sometimes an elevator may go down temporarily as an automated safety precaution due to improper use (i.e. overloading, propping doors open, etc.) — but Facilities Management has not received any such reports.”

The lack of updated permits paired with frequent breakdowns has students questioning their safety in campus elevators.

USD sophomore and San Buenaventura resident Elena Williams described her concerns.

“Although I haven’t gotten trapped in a Valley elevator, there have been a couple of times I got close. Sometimes the elevators will take an abnormal amount of time to open on the designated floor which can be a bit nerve-wracking,” Williams said. “Because they have broken down before at basically any time of the day, it means that I have less trust

in the elevators working, if there is an emergency that arises.”

The Valley elevators remain to have consistent issues — preventing students from getting to their classes on time and limiting accessibility for all Toreros.

A succesfully

When a student comes across an inoperable elevator, Covella recommends submitting a work order request via the Facilities Management website or by calling their phone number at (619) 270-4516.

In the event of an emergency, contact the Department of Public Safety at (619) 260-2222.

A recent influx of migrants has led to a crisis at the border between the U.S. and Mexico. Photo courtesy of @bowlersdesk/Instagram

ARTS & CULTURE

The ups and downs of situationships

Emotional wreckage, happy giggles and existential crises may seem like three emotions that can only exist separately. But Netflix’s new show “One Day” defies that expectation, giving you all three and more within one story told throughout 14 episodes. Inspired by David Nicholls’ novel, which shares the same title, the show is categorized as a romantic drama that follows the story of Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew over the span of 20 years. The show doesn’t just take the audience through time. Rather, it follows a unique format and limits their experience to one moment, or more specifically one day.

Starting from the pilot episode that captures Emma and Dexter’s first encounter on July 15, 1988 when they spend one riveting evening together and go their separate ways the next morning, every episode that follows occurs on the same day of the next year, acting as a narrow window through which the viewers get to see both the characters’ lives for only those 24 hours. Instead of a slow growth and build up to current life events, each episode brings a rapid change of scenery, events, costumes, character looks and life events which adds an element of surprise that the audience is constantly playing catch-up with, and in turn, is always engaged.

It’s not just the pacing and format of the show that have made it the talk of the internet for the past month — it is also the content itself. The show takes the classic approach of a “will they won’t they,” as it follows Emma and Dexter’s friends-to-lovers story. That very plot choice makes the show enticing to watch, because the audience gets invested in the two characters right from the beginning, rooting for them to find their happy endings with one another. Over the 20 years that we spend with them, we see them be great friends and bad friends, have disagreements, falling outs, heartwarming moments and wholesome dialogue all while they fall in love.

Viewers from around the world have expressed their love for and reactions to the show through social media. Most of the videos shared are of people violently sobbing, warning others to beware of the gut-wrenching sadness that they are sure to feel too.

After following and building up your world with Emma and Dexter, the audience reaches the end of their rollercoaster ride with a huge fall, since the climax of the show is heartbreaking. Especially since the show jumps through time in a very specific way, the shock of the ending hits viewers harder than the average

tragedy. Without giving any spoilers, “One Day” helps people not just understand, but also feel the value of time, which is amplified ten-fold by the ending of the show, when the choice for only showing July 15 through the years becomes apparent. Though there seems to be a consensus on the devastating nature of the ending of the show, the relationship between Dexter and Emma still has some contention among viewers. Some admire the bond that both the characters share, saying that Dexter and Emma had something that transcended love, and naming their relationship as just a romance reduces the intensity of their connection. Others believe that “One Day” showed a flawed

relationship with rose-colored glasses and that there were aspects of the show that depicted unhealthy behaviors as normative.

USD junior Rayan Pal talked about his feelings regarding the show.

“I thought it was a good show start to finish, but a lot of my thoughts came after letting it sink in for a couple of days. That’s when I realized this should not be romanticized as much,” Pal said. “A lot of people say that they [Dexter and Emma] were the ‘right person, wrong time,’ but I believe that there’s no such thing as the wrong time with the right person. If they love each other, they should make it work. There were times in the show where they did things that were

morally not okay and hurt other people in the process, and those things are romanticized, because everyone thinks ‘well, they’re going to get together someday.”

Outside the romantic aspects, which have become the leading theme of the show, “One Day” also deals with other sensitive topics that make the show relatable to a wider audience. There is a heavy storyline that follows Dexter’s experience handling his grief with substance abuse and other forms of self harm.

We also see Emma navigating a life and career that is significantly less glamorous than her university experience. She has an extremely successful academic career during her time in college, riddled with big ambitions for her future and as the viewers follow her through the years, they see the lows and highs that Emma faces in the professional world.

Since we see both Emma and Dexter manage these obstacles, as they’re also managing being there for one another, we see something that many people are all too familiar with: the loss and regaining of connection with people that have been there for you either physically, mentally or metaphorically.

USD senior Briana Guardado talked about how she related to the different characters.

“I definitely did not see it as a rom com. Maybe at first, but then you start to see the development of Dexter and Emma. There is so much more to the show than just the romantic part of it,” Guardado said. “You can immediately tell that this is not a rom-com, it’s life. In many ways, I found myself relating to Emma and her situation, with going through school with all these high hopes and then ending up working in a job that you don’t like. The show showed life and how you go through all these losses and downward spirals, but the people you have matters.”

Another aspect of the show that received some backlash was the casting choices. The show “One Day” is the successor to an already successful movie adaptation of the book, which came out in 2011, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. The biggest difference that the show made in terms of casting choices was to hire a South Asian actress, Ambika Mod, to play Emma. Since the news of Mod’s casting was released, many people criticized the casting choice, saying that Mod was unfit to play the role of Emma. This has brought into discussion how having a brown actress as a lead in a role that has nothing to do with her race will always bring up harsher criticisms of the actress’ performance and appearance.

USD first-year Priya Hecox discussed her experience watching the show as a South Asian woman.

“It healed something in me. Growing up, I always thought that I was pretty but never pretty enough for a white man. That they would always be into the blondes and the girls that the shows said I should look like,” Hecox said. “Watching Ambika Mod play Emma made me so happy, because she played the role so perfectly and carried out the storyline so well. We’ve had representation recently through shows like ‘Never Have I Ever,’ and I’m grateful for that, but seeing this and watching a South Asian woman have a role that is independent of her race makes me happy.”

This sentiment has resonated with others who have defended Mod’s performance in the show, complimenting the ease with which she played Emma. Clearly, the ratings thought so too. Since the show’s release on Feb. 8, it has consistently been one of the top watched shows on Netflix across 75 countries, amassing over 35 million views. If you haven’t watched it yet and are in need of a show that makes you lovesick, “One Day” may be for you.

SATVIKA NITYA ARTS

Photo courtesy of @therichmondreviewer/Instagram

Poster for ‘One Day’ directed and executive produced by Molly Manners. Photo courtesy of @ambikamod/Instagram

The

For your next binge watch

USD Vista staff picks must-watch underrated shows

SATVIKA NITYA ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

TV shows have always had a strong hold on the entertainment industry, and this past year has been rich in TV content. In fact, in the U.S., even with a 24% drop in the number of scripted shows released due to Hollywood strikes, there were a total of 481 shows released across all platforms. This means that among the sea of dramas, comedies, thrillers and more, you are bound to miss out on some gems.

With this in mind, The USD Vista staff picked out some of their favorite underrated shows you must watch.

Why Women Kill

Khushi Patel / Art Director

2 seasons / 20 episodes / Paramount + and Hulu

An anthology series that jumps back and forth in time along with three women from different decades whose fate is tied together by the same house that they live in. All three women deal with some sort of infidelity or betrayal in their marriages and the show molds that storyline in a dark comedic drama.

“I like it because it was so interesting to see how each of their lives lined up, even though their stories all took part in different times. Overall, it was cool, dark and funny,” Patel said.

Daisy Jones & The Six

Satvika Nitya / Arts and Culture Editor

1 season / 10 episodes / Amazon Prime Video

Based off the best-selling book by Taylor Jenkins-Reid with the same name, “Daisy Jones & The Six” shows the rise and fall of a fictional 70’s rock band in Los Angeles. With time jumps, interview style documentation and footage of concerts and recording sessions, the show captures the complete rock band experience.

“I think it’s one of the best book-to-TV adaptations of all time. Even though it’s about a fictional band, you will get invested in the characters so quickly that you’ll mourn that they aren’t actually real. Plus, for your post-binge aftercare, you have a breathtaking album you can listen to,” Nitya said.

School Spirits

Maria Simpson / Copy Editor

1 season / 8 episodes / Netflix and Paramount +

Afterlife murder investigation is the perfect phrase to describe this show. It follows a high school girl who is murdered in the fictional town Split River, Wisconsin, and tries to piece together the mystery

of her death from beyond the grave.

“My sister and I are obsessed with this show. It had me on the edge of my seat until the very last second. I need season two to come out immediately. If you like ghost stories, murder mysteries or just a good time this show is for you,” Simpson said.

Jury Duty

Abigail Cavizo / Associate Editor

1 season / 8 episodes / Amazon Prime Video

A hoax-style sitcom that details the inner workings of the American jury system through a fake jury trial, ‘Jury Duty’ is from the perspective of Ronald Gladden, the one juror who is unaware of the hoax and believes it’s a real trial.

“I’ve never seen any show quite like this one, and I doubt it could be replicated. They chose the most perfect “hero” for the reality-meetsThe Office-type show,” Cavizo said.

Rick and Morty

Colin Mullaney / Editor-inChief

7 seasons / 71 episodes / Hulu

This animated show about a mad-scientist grandfather, Rick, and his socially awkward grandson, Morty, is very satirical and provides a lot of in-depth commentary about society, culture, philosophy, politics and human existence.

“It’s remarkably clever and makes me laugh every time I watch it. It also makes me nostalgic, because I watched it a lot with my dad when I had my wisdom teeth taken out. It’s just ridiculous in the best, most toptier humor kind of way. My favorite

character is the family therapist Dr. Wong, whom I relate to on a spiritual level,” Mullaney said.

The Midnight Gospel

Ronnie Saenz / Asst. Opinion

Editor

1 season / 8 episodes / Netflix

Inspired by the podcast

“Duncan Trussell’s Family Hour,” this animated show deals with a space traveler who explores existential questions about life, death and everything in between.

“It’s really surreal, but also talks about the self and ego in a very compassionate way. I ugly cried during the final episode too, which is enough to make it amazing,” Saenz said.

Derry Girls

Anjali Dalal-Whelan / News Editor

3 seasons / 19 episodes / Netflix

This family-centered comedy is a British sitcom that follows 16-yearold Erin and her four friends as they navigate life around the world of armed police of Northern

Digital detox

Exploring time away from social media

Ireland in the 1990s. Despite the dire circumstances, teenage life and its adversities are very apparent for Erin and her friends.

“Derry Girls is absolutely hilarious but also very sweet and serious at times. The Irish accents are so funny and the characters are all very engaging and relatable,” Dalal-Whelan said.

One Tree Hill

Lauren Ceballos / Sports Editor

9 seasons / 187 episodes / Hulu

One Tree Hill is one of the classic 2000s dramas that goes under the radar. Set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, the show revolves around two half-brothers, their complicated family history, love interests and high school life.

“It’s everything that a teen drama should be. It’s fun, dramatic, intense, romantic etc. The show also came out before shows were more censored and controlled, so some sensitive topics do come up which I think is good because it gives awareness,” Ceballos said.

Checking and scrolling through social media has become an increasingly popular social activity amongst the younger generation (Gen Z). Although many people’s use of social media is not inherently problematic, there is a growing population of users who have become easily addicted and engage in compulsive or excessive use of these varying apps.

USD sophomore Brianna Gonzalez experienced a pattern of scrolling addiction and talked about her experience.

“There are definitely times where I feel a little too addicted [to social media],” Gonzalez said. “Sometimes I catch myself getting too deep into it, and I kind of just fixate on the content.”

Falling into social media addiction is not incurable. According to the Addiction Center, a “digital detox” is a period of time in which someone significantly reduces the amount of time spent on electrical devices, such as smartphones or computers, as well as the social sites accessed

through them. As students, the ability to reduce the amount of computer time could be difficult, considering our obligation to use such applications for our assigned class material. However, other forms of social media that are often embedded in our smartphones could be a starting point to practicing such “digital detox.”

Many students around campus, including USD senior Ashley Larson decided to try this out by taking a timely break from social media. She shared some of her realizations from the cleanse.

“I wanted to originally do it to focus on academics, school and athletics at the time because social media just didn’t fit into that time bubble anymore. But once I did it I felt so weightless in a way because I didn’t have to keep up with things anymore,” Larson said. “It created a lot more personal connections because people would text me and call me to reach out to me, rather than just assuming they knew what was going on with me through social media.”

Over-scrolling may be an action taken without intent, but addictive social media use can look and have similar side effects as

any other substance use disorder. It could result in symptoms such as mood swings, withdrawal symptoms, conflict and relapse. Research found through the National Institute of Health has also shown that there is a link between social media use, negative mental health and low self esteem. While social media platforms have benefits, an abuse in their usage could cause unhappiness and isolation patterns. These emotions are not only tied to the social pressure of consistently sharing one’s life with others, but also to the comparison of the material things and lifestyles that these platforms also showcase.

USD senior Gabriella Rosler often has conversations around the importance of mental health, and shares a bit of her perspective on social media.

“I was just talking to my friend about it this morning. I feel like social media was literally made to hijack our biological functions to get our attention at all time,” Rosler said. “Access to just that many people who are just two dimensional beings that you don’t get to really see as human – I think – is just unhealthy in abundance, and can feel impossible to escape.”

While many people are able to use social media daily without lingering issues, those with social media addictions are all consumed by their need to engage on social networking sites. The assumption and result of labeling anything as addiction can seem extreme without context, but it can happen and slowly become a reality for anyone. Digital detox can confirm if students really could survive a day without checking their phones, and if it might be time to start cutting back more consistently.

NYLA HARRIS ASST. A&C EDITOR

A poster for ‘Rick and Morty’. Photo courtesy of @rickandmorty/Instagram

Unplugging from social media can reduce stress levels and improve sleep quality. Photo courtesy of @psytastic.app/Instagram

Poster for ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’. Photo courtesy of @primevideo/Instagram

A still from ‘One Tree Hill’. Photo courtesy of @onetreehill/Instagram

ARTS & FEATURE

Women inspiring women at USD Celebrating Women’s History Month

KATIE FOREMAN FEATURE EDITOR

International Women’s Day is celebrated on Friday, March 8 as a part of Women’s History Month — a time to reflect on the achievements women have made throughout history and across the globe. From not being able to have personal bank accounts until 1974 to the fight for reproductive justice, women have been handed a different deck of cards in life than men. That has not stopped women from remaining resilient to their setbacks, making large contributions to different societies and cultures everywhere.

Many women have inspired others to be what they want to be and to have a voice in this world. This year, Toreros shared which women at USD inspire them most.

“There’s a lot of amazing women on campus, but one that really comes to mind is Leeva Chung,” USD junior Olivia Bassett said. “She’s so brutally honest. She is loud. She is not ashamed of who she is. She wears bright colors, and you just know that she’s so confident in herself in a way that women are taught to not take up space, and she takes up space.”

During her time at USD, Bassett has taken several of Dr. Chung’s Communication courses.

“I’ve thought about her and just all the advice that she’s given me over the years, and she’s inspirational,” Bassett said. “She’s had a million different careers. She’s had her downs and ups and the way that she ended up where she is now I think is just so empowering and amazing. I love her.”

Dr. Chung shared advice she wished she knew when she was younger.

“You don’t always have to be so strong to do it by yourself and figure it out. It’s not a sign of weakness to just say, ‘hey, I need some help.’ In my world, it was ‘you got this,’” Chung said, who was raised to believe she could handle everything on her own. Over the years, that mindset shifted.

“Ask for help. There’s no shame in asking for help,” Chung said.

Recalling her college years when she was constantly thinking about the future and what was coming next, Chung expressed that she wishes she had just enjoyed the moment.

“I would validate and encourage [younger] me to be present,” Chung said. “Don’t be so forward thinking.”

The last thing she wanted to tell her younger self is something that she hopes all women experience.

“Thank goodness in college you found your voice — the

advice is, you take that time to find it,” Chung said. “Especially as a female, especially as a woman of color… the only way you’re gonna get through life is figuring out your backbone and figuring out your specific unique voice that you have.”

Another strong woman — Professor Gabriela Gugiu Herrera — inspired USD senior Fátima Lizette Ramirez, to help find her path.

“She’s the woman I aspire to be,” Ramirez said. “She worked in PR [public relations], and I feel like she kind of made me realize that probably PR is the field I want to focus on in my career.”

Currently enrolled in one of Gugiu Herrrera’s courses, Ramirez noted that Gugiu Herrera worked with PR agents for Volkswagen and T-Mobile, prior to becoming a Communication professor. She helped them curate public relations branding and exposure.

“[She is] trying to teach us that if we want to, we can become that as well,” Ramirez said. “She’s very understanding… she’s just amazing.”

Ramirez noted another inspirational USD woman — Sara Hasselbach, director of the Writing Center and professor of literature.

“She is the sweetest teacher I’ve ever had in my life,” Ramirez said. “She’s so outgoing — so positive. She always gets to class [and] she’s always smiling.”

Ramirez mentioned an impactful activity that Hasselbach would do in class.

“Each class [she] asked us a different question — an interesting question — to get to know ourselves. At the end of the semester, she recommended a book that she thinks we would like — that was really, really nice.”

Hasselbach offered her advice for young women.

“I would love for young women today to be more freely audacious. And to avoid making themselves smaller, quieter, and lesser.”

Offering guidance to her younger self, Hasselbach shared about a struggle she has faced throughout her life.

“I would probably like to tell my younger self to be more assertive about setting boundaries. This is something I still struggle with now, to be honest,” Hasselbach said. “This would take shape in a number of ways, but they might include: trusting my instincts about who/ what to allocate time for, saying ‘no’ more often, and feeling less responsible for making situations

comfortable for everyone else.”

Hasselbach is not the only professor who has made a strong impact on her students.

Environmental and Ocean Sciences Professor Suzanne Walther stood out to USD senior Ryan Perry.

“She is just the most impressive woman,” Perry said. “All of the women in the Environmental and Ocean Sciences department are so smart, and they inspire me because… they’re just so [true to] themselves with their particular interest in environmental sciences.”

Perry emphasized her admiration for the passion behind Walther’s teaching and love for what she does.

“I think it’s really inspiring to see women pursuing things that they’re interested in and sharing that love and true dedication with the next generation.”

Speaking with Walther, she vocalized that her approach to life today has developed over her experiences growing up and she hopes that young women can learn to accept who they are.

“The things that made me different or [the] ‘other’ — I was from an immigrant family, multilingual, first generation college, etc. — let me see the

world in different ways and that later became a strength,” Walther said. “I would tell myself not to spend so much effort hiding those things but to just use that energy elsewhere, and for joy instead.”

Walther went on to volunteer her personal thoughts and wisdom on things young women need to know today.

“Knowing that each of them offers a valuable perspective, that they can and will contribute to this world, in whatever way that is, just trusting that.”

Women are inspiring women all around campus, and these Toreros wanted to share their love with the women who have influenced them the most. The words from these professors, as well as students, exhibit the ways in which women uplift other women and inspire them without even realizing.

Women everywhere deserve to be acknowledged and respected, and International Women’s Day recognizes women’s hardships, accomplishments and progress. It is an opportunity to remind the women in your life that you love and value them. Women show each other and the world that they have a voice, power, strength, love and so much to contribute to society world — let’s all celebrate women.

International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month celebrate women’s resilience throughout history, uplifting women everywhere.

Photo courtesy of @peopleofcolorbeauty/Instagram

OPINION

Engaging minds, not just eyes

A call for professors to retire slide shows

I have noticed a trend in my classes this semester that I have not been fond of. In the fall, most of my classes were techfree, and I welcomed this setup with open arms. It was nice to have a break from the constant use of technology outside of the classroom. On the flip side, a decent amount of my professors this spring rely heavily on their PowerPoints for lectures.

To be more precise, multiple professors read directly from their slides — and only from their slides. I have experienced this both in technical classes based on specific concepts and in many core curriculum classes or other entry-level classes. Not only does this make class boring, but it also wastes our time. I could be twice as productive on my own with a copy of the slide show. I have even seen slides with outdated and years-old information, suggesting that professors haven’t double-checked their material before class. Usually, my peers seem just as bored as I am and get distracted by other work or online browsing.

This apparent disinterest tends to make professors frustrated, which is entirely understandable.However, what they don’t understand is

that times are changing. While PowerPoint may have been a game changer in the past, it is not the best method for engaging students anymore. Instead of catching their attention, it gives them an excuse to online shop or text their friends. Moving forward, professors need to rethink their teaching methods and start making changes in the classroom. In my experience, the most exciting and effective classes don’t use slides and are predominantly techfree. The professors aim to start discussions instead of lecturing and break up the time block with small activities.

In an era of rapid technological advancement, the higher education landscape stands at a crossroads. It is hard to define when and where technology should and shouldn’t be used. There is a significant gap between traditional teaching approaches and the demands of today’s students.

In a Fizz poll of The USD community posted by The USD Vista on Feb. 20, 79% of poll participants reported that at least a few of their teachers read directly from their slides. I find this statistic to be shocking. While I knew I wasn’t alone in my frustration, I didn’t expect nearly 4/5 of students polled to have this problem.

This issue isn’t only happening at our institution. The national Student Voice survey, an online survey developed by the Kentucky

Department of Education as a resource for all academic institutions, similarly reports students’ frustration. It found that 55% percent of college students feel that the teaching methods used in class don’t work for them, and 51% percent think experimentation with teaching styles would significantly improve their education. Expecting all students to prefer a lecture-heavy class style run by slides is outdated.

Psychological research conducted by EU Business School has shown that students’ attention spans differ depending on the lecture’s form and that an active learning environment leads to more engagement. Students have reported that their preferred active learning styles are: case studies, smallgroup discussions, gamebased learning, polls and brainstorming. Interactive lectures are clearly what students find to be the most beneficial, and professors should accommodate this. While it may require extra lesson planning, the change these different methods could provide would be well worth it.

Not only would switching up teaching styles benefit students, it would also benefit professors. What frustrates me most is that I was taught

to avoid reading directly from slides throughout my education. Teachers required slide shows with extremely brief bullet points and urged us to know the information well enough to explain it without relying on the presentation. When professors do precisely what I was taught not to do, education standards become blurry. I know that my professors have worked hard and dedicated many years to their craft, so they seem to be selling themselves short. By creating more engaging lecture, they could better share the expertise they spent years cultivating. I hope professors see students’ frustration as a means for change, not a call to double down. Instead of continuing to stick to old and known methods, it is time to embrace the unfamiliar. I envision a future where classrooms are centers for exploration and discovery, every student is engaged and every mind is working. I want to be excited for class and ready to learn instead of bored by the time I step through the door. Professors, if you’re reading this, I appreciate your dedication and am privileged to be in your class, but please ditch reading directly off the PowerPoints and

with your students instead of a board.

engage

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.

According to this poll posted on Fizz, the majority of polled USD students have at least 1 professor who relies on slides. Lily Anderson/The USD Vista

Slide-heavy lectures can lead students to lose interest in what the professor is teaching.

Photo Courtesy of @domlafou/Unsplash

OPINION

Define feminine

An attempt at defining the feminine experience

SASHA BUKHTIYAROVA CONTRIBUTOR

International Women’s Day on March 8 may seem limited to just a change in profile picture for a major business, or a post on one’s Instagram story. However, growing up with parents who emigrated from Europe, the holiday was a much bigger event. My mother told me in Europe there would be marches, and the men would always give women flowers on this day. Even now, my mom will send me a text on the morning of March 8, often accompanied by a little flower GIF.

With this holiday on the horizon, I thought it would be interesting to define femininity in my own words. As an idea, it felt simple enough -– I love the women in my life, and I can separate the experiences I have with them from those with the men who I am friends with. Yet, when I sat down to write, the page remained blank.

I began to realize that the words that I would’ve used to define the feminine experience — understanding, unity, empathy — seemed to be derivatives of the words that characterize toxic masculinity.

Since the socialized definition of masculinity has normalized and encouraged patriarchal norms, trying to define “femininity” outside the constraints of these patriarchal values becomes challenging. We exist in a world of binaries; good and evil, nice and mean, masculine and feminine. Because of this, the definition of one term becomes reliant on the other. It seems as if there is no feminine without masculine. This creates a circular argument, where both words define each other, but carry no

intrinsic definition. It seems almost inescapable to define femininity, without considering the influences of masculinity, and vice versa. It felt odd that in this article, where I set out to celebrate women, I could only define the feminine experience against the backdrop of masculinity. Masculinity, in its own way, has also become a skewed and vague term. I don’t want to make sweeping generalizations or invalidate different groups that identify as feminine (therein itself is an aspect of femininity: a desire for perfect

inclusion, a community founded on differences). However, across my wide array of female-identifying and gender-fluid friends, the only trait that truly unites them is the sense of “togetherness” they foster. According to philosopher Thich Nhat Hanh, “the father of mindfulness,” “to be loved is to be recognized.” In my experience, the desire to recognize others despite personal differences and foster a sense of community truly is at the heart of femininity.

This was the point where my frustration grew, because I did not want to invalidate the communities formed by men, nor put feminine communities on a pedestal. I also did not want to restrict femininity to women alone, as feminine men do exist and even masculine men can embrace certain feminine traits. Down the rabbit hole I went, trying to conceptualize an abstract experience into words.

Even though it is not the original idea I had at the outset of this piece, nor did it feel to be a totally satisfying conclusion, the only definition I could come up with for femininity was a reflection of masculinity. Today, that more so reflects an image of toxic masculinity. The

‘Be a man’ ... but what does that even mean?

feminine emphasizes community because masculinity emphasizes individuality. The feminine emphasizes understanding because masculinity emphasizes assertion.

To confine ourselves to these binaries when defining our experiences with gender is to limit our potential in friendships, relationships, even our understanding of self. It is easier to think of ourselves as one thing or another, rather than an accumulation of many things — most of which are socially projected onto us. As much as I love being a woman and embracing my femininity, it saddened me to realize I had no tangible definition of the idea.

Engaging in these circular definitions trivializes the intricacies of the human experience. I strongly encourage those reading to define themselves and their masculinity or femininity outside the confines of one or the other. To do so allows for a more nuanced picture to form, an idea that is respectful and understanding of the complexity involved in its creation. Simplifying our understandings of femininity and in turn, masculinity, simplifies our understandings of ourselves.

SPENCER BISPHAM MANAGING EDITOR

It’s no secret that our world is becoming more polarized by the minute. In fact, it’s become so toxic that even the most nuanced of concepts can become oversimplified and politicized overnight. The specific concept that hits closest to home for me is gender, specifically what it means to be a man, and why masculinity in general is so fragile at this current moment.

Growing up, I never really questioned my own gender identity. I did many of the things that boys are known to do: played a variety of sports, pretended to hate things that girls liked and took comfort in TV shows like “Ben 10” and “Transformers.” It wasn’t until I got older that I started to notice differences in my personality from those of the other young men around me, namely that I felt more sensitive, emotional and selfconscious. At the time, these were not gendered traits in my head; I just chalked it up to how I was raised by both my parents. They reassured me that these things were just what made me special, that I was just as “normal” as any other guy my age.

I’ve come to love these parts of myself with time, but I also now

have a better understanding of why they originally made me feel out of place. Along with sensitivity, empathy and self-awareness, there are a number of personality traits that have been constructed in our society as “feminine.” Being nurturing or patient may also be perceived that way, but so can more negative qualities like irrationality, weakness and general ineptitude. Conversely, there are traits that are characterized as “masculine” too: being strong, independent, hypersexual, stoic and aggressive are just a few examples.

According to the gender schema theory of communication, these traits which are stereotypically thought of as “masculine” or “feminine” are essential parts of how we conceptualize men and women. There are also patterns and behavior we attribute to each group, all of which are typically solidified in our brains by age seven as surmised in cognitive development theory. That’s pretty astounding considering that gender is literally a social construct, and that there are plenty of real, negative implications for such unavoidable ways of thinking. One of these implications is the fragility of masculinity as it relates to our self-esteem.

If you have ever identified as a man (or know anyone who does) you probably know something about the

pressure to be masculine in every sense. It’s not just about how you act, but you must also physically embody strength, charisma, humor, etc. in your appearance as well. If you don’t, you run the risk of being perceived as feminine, which has endless negative implications. It’s been proven by the Institute of Labor Economics that there is a real bias for masculine traits over feminine ones in the workforce, but unfortunately it doesn’t stop there. Ask a woman about a time when they felt inadequate, and I promise you’ll see the effects of gender bias reflected in their experiences. This bias isn’t the only thing which makes masculinity fragile. Recently, there has been a move toward embracing “traditional” masculinity in popular culture, led by voices like Andrew Tate, the Paul brothers, David Goggins and others. It seems that, in their minds, traditional masculinity means embracing stereotypically masculine traits (strength, independence, etc.), in order to become the best version of yourself. It’s the kind of musclebound masculinity we see in action movies, TV shows and advertisements, where “manlymen” are the ones moving things forward at the expense of anyone in their way — usually women, or sometimes other men who don’t

embrace the same mentality. More than anything it’s exhausting, and a completely antiquated outlook on reality. None of us can be that “hard” all the time, despite every attempt to bury feelings and keep things pushing. We’re not living in the stone age where you might be eaten by a saber tooth tiger at any given moment… it’s okay to take the time to feel your emotions.

Even for those who aren’t clinging to an imagined version of what masculinity should be, it still presents the challenge of exclusion. The queer community exists in the intersection of masculinity/femininity and for many of us, it is the only place we feel safe to explore this contradiction. As The USD Vista contributor Sasha Bukhtiyarova said in her article about defining

femininity, “we live in a world of binaries.” Sometimes, it’s necessary to step out of this way of thinking and decide how to embrace gendered qualities for ourselves.

At the end of the day, masculinity will never have a singular definition. Some people would prefer us to present ourselves in ways that fit their gender schema, but unfortunately it’s just not that simple. It makes sense to me that we should instead aim to present ourselves as we wish and adopt the qualities that best suit our needs. People of all genders are capable of accepting traits that fall outside the norm, and at the end of the day it’s nobody’s choice but their own. In the words of the Dutch Poet, Gerard de Malynes: “live and let live.” Or at the very least, live and mind your own business.

The binary makes it difficult to define femininity outside of patriarchal values. Photo courtesy of @timmossholder/Unsplash

Traditionally masculine values, such as strength, reduce men down to their bodies. Photo Courtesy of @zachthemack /Instagram

6 months for $0. Streaming, savings, and free delivery. New members only. Terms apply.

SPORTS

International Women’s Day in sports

PRIYA COOPER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

International Women’s Day is on March 8, and the USD Vista is highlighting some of our female athletes, sharing their stories about their victories, challenges and evolving roles in the athletic world.

USD sophomore Stella Smith, who runs for both track and field and cross country, mentioned that celebrating her teammates and the work that they accomplish is a huge part of the sport.

“I feel we celebrate each other through our competitions, everyone is always cheering for each other and providing that extra motivation. If it’s not just for the coach, but it’s also your teammates, even though you’re competing with them, and it helps you just feel really good about yourself and your races and knowing that you have that extra support system,” Smith explained. As more women find success

Highlighting female athletes at USD

younger female athletes get the recognition they deserve.”

USD first-year basketball player Lauren McCall explained how being a female in sports is powerful and key to her image and goals as an athlete.

“Being a woman in sports is everything to me,” McCall said. “Growing up, there were not many prominent female athletes to follow, and I wanted to make sure the generations and teammates behind me had that from me. I would and still do make sure

Representation has been a difficult challenge in the past, but today the world is much more inclusive on the front of athletics. However, there are still challenges associated with being a female athlete.

“I think the biggest challenge I faced being a woman in sports was hearing that I would never be able to compete as a male did,” McCall said “Growing up playing multiple sports, I was surrounded by males at all times and while they were amazing, they also pushed me to compete

at the level they did, which is why I’m at the level I am today.”

Smith spoke about the challenges that she faces.

“I think it can be really hard to be a female athlete, especially in college, because of the demands it has on your body. I think that taking care of your body normally is hard enough. And then adding the whole component of running 30 to 40 miles a week and having school workouts, you have to take care of yourself a lot more than you’re used to, when you compete in college athletics,” Smith added.

There are still struggles female athletes face that are often overlooked, such as stereotypes and mental health concerns. Smith also touched on how mental health is secondary at times in the athletic world.

“I think advocating for mental health in college athletes is super important, since it is so overlooked. We shouldn’t feel embarrassed to go and get support for what we’re going through, just because

we’re athletes,” Smith asserted.

“It’s not a sign of weakness, but it’s more of taking care of yourself in the right ways to continue to be successful in our sport.”

Despite tough times, Smith explained that all the female athletes on campus should be and are very proud of all that they have done for their teams and themselves.

Members of the team share their motivations and goals for the club in various professional sports, they become role models for young girls who aspire to follow in their footsteps.

“I am proud of myself and accomplished, when I say that I’m a female athlete in college just because of how much it takes to do that and the sacrifices you have to make.

I also think it’s hard to not compare yourself to other people on the team, because it’s an individual sport, but you also have this whole team supporting you,” Smith stated.

International Women’s Day is a moment to honor the women, including female athletes, who have dedicated so much time to their sport to become the best version of themselves they can possibly be.

New club softball team takes off

LARA DOMINIQUE SOLANTE

ASST. FEATURE EDITOR

At USD, club teams are what give student-athletes a chance to shine if they haven’t already been signed onto an official team at the university. In Fall of 2023, USD sophomore Sophia Skubic had the idea to start a new club softball team. After a semester of intense planning and lengthy meetings, Skubic was able to get her vision off the ground with the help of fellow USD sophomore Ruby Stinson. Together, they were able to achieve official club standing at the beginning of this semester, spring 2024.

Skubic, the team captain, shared her intentions for starting the team.

“I started this club, because I have always loved softball and wanted to bring it to USD for girls who just wanted to have fun and play the game,” Skubic said.

Prior to this semester, USD did not have a club team for softball — only the intramural and official university teams, which was something that Stinson was initially displeased with.

“I wanted to help start the club, because I loved softball throughout my childhood and high school, and I was honestly bummed to see USD didn’t have a club team. I love mixing sports

with academics as something to look forward to outside of the classroom, and so I thought it would be super valuable to bring that to USD in a casual way, with a sport that I love so much,” Stinson shared.

USD junior Audrey Krishnadason shared her intentions for joining the team.

“I joined because I am a transfer, and I played at the collegiate level at my last school. I didn’t want to play at the D1 level because I wanted to focus on my academics, so I decided that [a club team] would be a good inbetween level of commitment.”

Over the past few weekends, the team has been gathering for their practices, building their skills and team dynamics, which they were able to give an insight into.

“Everything so far has been so fun. We’re definitely looking for more members, but practices have been a blast, and it feels so good to be back on the field. You can tell everyone else feels the same,” Skubic shared.

Stinson also shared the same sentiment.

“As of now, it’s just been awesome that girls have expressed interest to come out and practice with us, and they plan on joining this semester. Having already had a handful of girls consistently come out and love it, the future is looking

positive to recruit more girls in semesters to come. Luckily, we have a few buffer semesters to lock everything in before league, which will be mainly with Arizona and LA teams.” For the next semester, the team is planning on traveling to San Marcos and Irvine for tournaments. They are also looking to join a competitive league, like club basketball, club volleyball and club soccer have — a defining characteristic of that league being their playoffs, which is something the team is hoping to experience. According to league rules, the team is not allowed to join a league for a year from the time the club is started, so they will have some time to build and grow and find a coach before they jump all in. Skubic shared her additional goals and visions for the team.

“My goals for this club are to grow the team and join a league, so that we can play in tournaments next year. [I am] looking forward to getting a great group of girls together and finding a second family. I would love for there to be a softball club team on campus even after I graduate,” Skubic said.

Krishnadason also shared her perspective on the growth of the new team for the coming semester.

“We don’t have many players and we haven’t been able to field a full team yet, but there are girls who have been playing for a while. If we could just get a couple more [players] to come out, we could be pretty good. We are all just there to have fun, so it keeps the mood really light and high energy.” Skubic identified the obstacles

that she faced — this semester and last — in bringing her idea and the team to life, with the main obstacle being logistics of getting all the interested players together.

“Just getting the word out has been hard, and getting times where everyone can come. [There is] a lot of interest in the club, but not a lot of action from the student side right now, but that’s our main goal for this and next semester, to just grow the team,” Skubic added.

Stinson’s perspective appeared as though they will mostly be focusing on growing and expanding the team for this semester, and organizing themselves to join a league for the next fall and spring.

“I have a feeling it will be a very chill semester, and we will get so many more girls at the Alcalá Bazaar next semester, and we can start planning for league.

I am so excited to see where this goes, and am very open to suggestions from the team. It is definitely hard starting a club from scratch but it has all been worth it, and I have a great team to help me out,” Skubic said.

As the semester continues, the team will continue to develop their skills as athletes through practices and bonding, especially with the opportunity that they were given thanks to Skubic’s vision for the new club softball team.

Smith is proud to be a member of the USD cross country and track teams. Emma-Kate Squires/The USD Vista

Women’s club softball provides another opportunity for women in sports. Photo courtesy of Sophia Skubic