Volume 61 Issue 3

THE USD VISTA

For writers, the end is in sight

Writers union reaches tentative deal with Hollywood studios

This past Sunday, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) reached a tentative agreement with Hollywood studios to end the second-longest strike by the WGA in history, lasting for a total of 146 days. This deal not only ensures higher compensations and protections for writers but also raises hopes for the entertainment industry to come out from its current media and filming shutdown.

The WGA released a statement along with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) announcing the threeyear contract deal. The strike will officially end and writers will go back to work once the agreement is approved and signed by the guild’s board member from both the east and west branches as well as the guild’s 11,500 members but picketing was suspended immediately. Though the terms of the deal are still not released, a surge of positivity has been seen both through a boost in entertainment companies’ shares as well as a breath of relief for all students who want to break into the industry.

The reason why the WGA,

At the end of spring semester 2023, USD’s Associated Student Government (ASG) held elections for the following year. However, this most-recent election season was missing an aspect that usually comes with elections: campaigning. Last spring there was only one person running for president of student government, and one running for vice president. Most of the other positions had the same number of people running as positions available, if not less, with the exception of atlarge senators, which had seven open positions and 12 candidates.

ASG has four equal branches. The Executive Branch is led by

the President, Andres Fernandez Perez. The Legislative Branch includes academic, residential and at-large representatives. The Judicial Branch manages disputes with ASG. The

which is a labor union that aims to protect the creative and economic rights of writers went on strike for the first time since 2007 is to demand an increase in pay for writers. They also want greater protections in the wake of AI and rightful compensation for streaming residuals, which are long-term payments for reruns and other airings after initial release to those who worked on media like film and TV.

On May 2, the existing contract between the WGA and AMPTP — which includes Netflix, Disney, Warner Bros., Discovery, NBC Universal, Paramount, Sony, Amazon and Apple — came to an end at 12 a.m. without a new, ratified contract. The WGA was in the process of negotiating with AMPTP but after the latter did not meet the WGA’s demands, AMPTP released a statement saying that negotiations with WGA had concluded without an agreement. The statement also said that a “comprehensive package” was proposed to the Guild but “sticking points” like “mandatory staffing” and “duration of employment” that WGA requested were a point of contention leading to a failure of agreement. This

strike, Page 9

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fourth branch is the Torero Programming Board, which organizes events for students.

This fall, ASG elections continued with 18 senate positions to fill, both for

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Associated Student Government holds weekly Senate meetings which are open to USD students to attend.

Photo Courtesy of

The writers guild reached a tentative agreement after 146 days on strike.

Photo courtesy of

Seattle Police kill international student

SPD officer says student had ‘limited value’ after her death

SATVIKA NITYA ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

The Seattle Police Department released bodycam footage of an officer on Sept. 11, who was recorded saying that a female student’s life had “limited value” after she was fatally hit by a police car. This footage was released eight months after the incident occurred, bringing about public outcry over the lack of timeliness around a grave issue and the collective fear among international students.

Officer Daniel Auderer was dispatched to a crash scene on Jan. 23 after another police officer hit and killed 23-yearold, Jaahanvi Kandula, an international student from India, with a police car. Kandula was an exchange student from India who came to the U.S. in 2021 pursuing a master’s degree at Northeastern University Seattle. She was the daughter of a single mother who grew up in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Kandula was set to graduate in Dec. 2023.

Kandula was on the crosswalk when Officer Kevin Dave, who was responding to an emergency call, sped up to 75 mph in a 25 mph zone and collided with her, killing her on the spot. Officer Daniel Auderer, who is a trained drug recognition expert, responded to the crash to examine if Officer Kevin Dave, who struck Kandula, was impaired at the time of the incident.

The day after the incident, Auderer’s body-worn camera caught a phone conversation between him and the Seattle Police Officers Guild President (SPOG), Mike Solan, where the former was heard saying “but she is dead,” before laughing. Auderer followed up that statement with arguably dismissive comments as seen in footage released by SPD on YouTube. “Yeah just write a check” for “$11,000,” “ she was 26 anyway,” stating Kandula’s name wrong, and “she had limited value.”

Kandula’s family gave a statement to ABC News, speaking out about the recent release of the footage. “It is truly disturbing and saddening to hear insensible comments on the bodycam video from an SPD officer regarding

Jaahnavi’s death,” the statement said. “Jaahnavi is a beloved daughter and beyond any dollar value for her mother and family. We firmly believe that every human life is invaluable and [should] not be belittled, especially during a tragic loss.”

This bodycam footage was released eight months after Kandula’s death, a fact that has the South Asian community in Seattle in disbelief. Representatives met with local leaders days after the release of the footage, strongly calling for disciplinary action against Officer Auderer. This sentiment isn’t limited to Seattle or South Asian communities.

USD senior Ahmed Albattal who is an international student from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, empathized with Kandula’s family, sharing his reaction to the incident.

“I’m really close to my mom, and I know, in a way, what type of experience that would be, especially for her mother,” Albattal said. “Losing your daughter, who you send abroad all by herself, just to get the education she wanted, and then one day she’s gone right before she’s about to fulfill her dream to graduate — I can’t imagine how hard that would be. And not only being in a different country when your daughter dies, but eight months later finding out about the footage and having such comments being said and having to live through that trauma again is unimaginable.”

Mike Solan, the other participant on Auderer’s phone call, was not heard during the recorded footage but when CNN reached out to both the parties involved, Auderer said his comments about Kandula were intended to be a mockery of city lawyers and were not made with malice.

He has reportedly claimed that the footage was taken out of context but he does understand that if a citizen were to hear it, “they would rightfully believe that I was being insensitive to the loss of human life.” Critiques to that statement have emerged online, with many saying that — regardless of intent — matters of death should never be talked about satirically.

The community police commission co-chairs, who are a group of 21 city representatives

The USD Vista

Colin Mullaney - Editor-in-Chief

Abigail Cavizo - Associate Editor

Spencer Bispham - Managing Editor

Maria Simpson - Copy Editor

Khushi Patel - Art Director

Anjali Dalal-Whelan - News Editor

Jackie Marquez - Opinion Editor

Katie Foreman - Feature Editor

Satvika Nitya - Arts & Culture Editor

Lauren Ceballos - Sports Editor

Aiden Freis - Distribution Manager

Demili Pichay - Social Media Manager

Anna Hallock - Finance Manager

Emma Holliday - Advertising Manager

in Seattle dedicated to provide community-based oversight of SPD and the police accountability system, said that the reported explanation of mockery shows nothing but “a callous dismissiveness toward police accountability systems” and is “unprofessional and inhumane conduct.”

USD senior Catie Rose Martinez shared her thoughts on this dialogue and whether there is a place for satire in matters of death.

“I think it’s extremely insensitive and extremely out of line, because someone’s death is not a joke. If he’s saying that he’s making fun of the incident because the system is wrong, he’s not doing s*** by making satire and not really helping to change the system,” Martinez said. “As police officers, you are supposed to protect people. By making a joke, it’s diminishing the fact that it was a police officer and car that hit her. If a tragic death just happened, especially when it’s a member of your own force that caused it, there

is no place for satire because it’s unfair to those involved.”

This recent conversation has also brought up serious dialogues among international students and their relationship with both state and campus police.

Due to differences in culture and environment, the contact that many international students have with police varies from the countries they are from. Not only do fears of deportation and pressure from the immigration office plague international students, but also lack of family support and safety in a different country.

“As a brown person, I feel like I’ve had different experiences with [Public Safety] than my white friends,” Albattal said. “I don’t feel safe around them, at all. The minute I see a [Public Safety] car I always think, s*** am I doing something wrong? I have to behave and not stare at them for too long. And it’s not only [Public Safety], [but] cops outside. If I see a cop car, I have to always see if my phone is close to me and if I’m driving, I make it very clear that

my hands are on the steering wheel and that I’m looking forward. My biggest fear is that — if they accuse me for doing something wrong — I just get deported. I don’t have any power here. I’m literally a stranger in a different country that is 17 hours away from my home country.”

The USD Vista reached out to Public Safety for a comment. USD Public Relations representative Lissette Martinez responded on Public Safety’s behalf. Martinez stated Public Safety officers “do not distinguish between international and other students on campus. The safety and well-being of all the students is their number one priority.”

Officer Kevin Dave, the officer that struck and killed Jaahnavi Kandula, is still employed at the Seattle Police Department, having faced no criminal charges, as are Auderer and Solan. Investigation into this matter began at the start of September. Matters as such raise concerns against accountability with the police and also raises fear among students, including some at USD.

Gina Lew - Student Media Advisor

Marie Minnick - Operations Advisor

international student Jaahanvi Kandula was killed by a Seattle police car in January.

The role of Student Government

Students discuss views on ASG and voting in student elections

first-year representatives and remaining spaces that hadn’t been filled from the spring. ASG moved the voting registration time to after the Alcalá Bazaar, to encourage more students to register to run in the elections. This election, some students running for representative spots created posters which were posted around campus and on social media.

ASG held a two-day voting period and had two events to incentivise voting: giving away doughnuts on Sept. 20 and dole whip on Sept. 21 to students who voted in the election.

According to ASG, this fall the total number of votes in the ASG elections was 755. Last spring semester the ASG president race received 323 votes, and the vice president race received 295 votes although the races were uncontested.

USD senior Andres Fernandez Perez is the president of ASG; he explained that the majority of USD students are not involved or aware of ASG, but he would like to change this perception.

“I think that the student body doesn’t know much about ASG and isn’t aware about a lot of the things that we do,” Fernandez Perez said.“There is a perception of ASG that we’re just kind of a money-authorizing organization. And myself and the rest of the team on all four branches really want ASG to be a not seen as just a money-authorizing group, but we are ones that can really help students on all issues.”

USD sophomore Gabbie Arellano confirmed this perception of ASG’s role as solely for money authorization.

“I don’t think about it [ASG] until I need to go to request funds for clubs,” Arelleno said. She added that she rarely sees information or posters for ASG.

However, USD first-year Jordan Romo disagreed with Arellano’s statement.

“For promoting [events] they are very consistent. I always see their stuff on social media,” Romo said.

Arellano voted in the elections this semester because her friend was running; however she didn’t vote on any of the positions her friend wasn’t running in. She explained the reason for this.

“I feel like I didn’t get information on any other races, but my friend’s,” Arellano said.

USD senior Olivia Mummery did not vote at all in ASG elections this fall or last semester.

“I didn’t know any of the people. I guess if I knew or recognized any of the people, maybe I would have,” Mummery said. “It’s not advertised super well. Maybe if there were more posters or signs, more people would know about it.”

Despite not seeing information on voting, Mummery expressed that she thinks ASG is very present on campus.

“They do a really good job planning events. I’m always walking around campus and whenever they have stuff set up

it’s so fun to just go and see what’s going on. They do a really good job engaging and planning things.”

Fernandez Perez explained the reason he thinks student participation in ASG is low. He said that athletics and student government face similar challenges with low student buy-in. He attributes this issue to the wealth of things to do in San Diego.

“In San Diego, we have a lot of amazing things to do: there’s the beach, the city, so many different neighborhoods and so with that comes a cost at our particular attachment to campus.”

Fernandez Perez said that he believes this is also the reason school spirit is often low in USD athletics.

USD sophomore Tatum Mosley was an at-large Senator in ASG last year. She said that most students are not involved with ASG, because they don’t know that opportunities exist like office hours, which are a chance for students to address issues with ASG.

“It’s more about [students] not knowing that we’re here and also the fact that they don’t know how much power that students really have toward faculty members and actually seeing things done on campus,” Mosley said. Mosley expressed that before joining ASG, she had no idea what they did.

According to the Associated Student Government website, the main purpose of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of ASG are to “work together to solve student issues, financially support several campus services, facilitate communication between student organizations, and serve as the official student voice to the administration.”

Examples of issues Mosley said students could advocate for in office hours include air conditioning in dorms or requesting a water fountain in a certain location.

As well as office hours, ASG holds senate meetings every Thursday from 12:00 p.m. -2:30 p.m. in Salomon Hall in Maher. These meetings are open for all members of the USD community to voice their concerns and talk to members of ASG.

The USD Vista conducted an anonymous poll on the social media app ‘Fizz’ which can only be accessed by users with a USD email account. The poll asked “Does Associated Student Government (ASG) allow students to have a meaningful voice on campus about important issues?”

The poll gained 932 responses. Only 3% of users voted “yes” while the rest said “no,” “don’t know” or “don’t care.”

USD students have a variety of opinions on their student government, ASG’s level of involvement on campus, and the impact that student participation in elections can have on real issues.

This year ASG said they hope to increase their presence on campus while responding to student’s concerns.

The USD Vista conducted a poll on the social media app ‘Fizz’ asking students their opinions on ASG. Colin Mullaney/The USD Vista

KATIE FOREMAN FEATURE EDITOR

Trigger warning: Topics of suicide, self-harm and mental health disorders will be discussed

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and whether you’ve been directly impacted by the loss of a loved one due to suicide, have attempted yourself or have had suicidal thoughts and ideations, I want you to know that I am happy you are still here. This month (and every month) is a time to remember those who have passed away due to suicide and to recognize all of the individuals who have lost someone to suicide.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 48,183 people died from suicide in 2021 — that is equivalent to one death every 11 minutes. Not only did almost 50,000 people in the U.S. die from suicide in 2021, but 12.3 million adults contemplated suicide, 3.5 million adults made a plan to kill themselves and 1.7 million adults attempted suicide (CDC, 2023). Mental health has truly become an epidemic — mental health disorders impacted 57.8 million U.S. adults in 2021 which means more than one in five people faced some kind of mental health disorder. Just because someone appears to be “put-

Dear

together” or “happy” does not mean they don’t have their own internal struggles and/or battles.

I understand that sometimes life is so overwhelming and it seems that the only way out is to end your life — seriously, I get it — but I also know that having a life is such a privilege, which we often forget. I am not saying that because life is a blessing you should always be happy and cheerful, but at the end of the day, we are worth so much more than our negative thoughts about ourselves.

Mental health disorders can make it extremely difficult to function at times and to even think that life is worth living. Some people have a hard time understanding that because they have not experienced it themselves, but I can almost guarantee you that you have met someone in your life who has struggled with suicidal thoughts, attempts or mental health disorders. Why does that matter?

Well, because these are the types of issues that are not easily seen in plain sight. When mental health challenges and/or suicidal ideations go unaddressed, the lives of beautiful, wonderful human beings can be taken away. I know from personal experience that it can feel absolutely terrifying to open up about having struggles with these topics — writing this letter is one of those moments — but recognizing and addressing the harm that mental health disorders and

suicide causes is the first step in getting people the help they need. It must be said that getting help does not make you “weak” or unable to “deal with” your thoughts; it means that you are strong enough to take a step to keep fighting and cope with your trauma and/or mental challenges.

I hold this topic very near to my heart, because I have felt like I was at the end of my rope. I have received counseling over the years to pull myself out of what seemed like a very dark hole. I was alone, scared and depressed. Honestly, just hopeless. Now at age 21, I look back at my teenage years and my heart breaks for the fact that I ever felt the only option was to give up.

I share from my own life only to convey that life seriously can get better, once you get help and start to love yourself more. Loving yourself and your life is not an overnight process. It is not an easy thing to do, but that is why I am so passionate about people getting the help they need — it can really turn your life around. It was not until I got help that I started to realize that my life was worth more than my thoughts told me. I encourage everyone to get help, whatever that looks like for you.

For anyone who is dealing with suicidal thoughts and/or mental health issues or knows someone struggling, there are so many options to start your process of helping and loving yourself. The Center for Health and Wellness Promotion (CHWP) works with students to offer initiatives toward a more healthy life. The CHWP also helps those dealing with substance abuse; it’s located in University Center 161 or you can email chwp@sandiego. edu. The USD Counseling Center also is available to any students

who are looking for someone to talk to about what they are facing; it’s located in Saints Tekakwitha and Serra Hall 300 or you can call (619) 260-4655. USD also offers students access to TimelyCare, an app that allows students to access mental health resources at anytime. Timelycare can be downloaded from the app store free of charge.

The Campus Assault Resources and Education (CARE) is another service offered to any students who have dealt with or are currently experiencing sexual and/or relationship violence; to reach it call (619) 260-7777. The suicide hotline is available 24/7 and you can call or text it at 988. There is also a San Diego County suicide crisis hotline to call at (888) 724-7240 or visit their website https://988lifeline. org for more resources.

You are not alone. Your story is valued and important. You are valued and important. Wanting to end your life may seem like the “easiest” option, but I promise you that your life is so precious and you are such a treasure. There are so many people that love you and want you to be okay, including me. Whoever you may be, whatever you are currently facing, you are stronger than you realize. I have so much faith in you and know that you can start this healing journey. I am right there with you.

Sincerely,

Katie Foreman

reader: I’m happy you’re still here

TimelyCare allows USD students to access a mental health counselor at any time of day.

Photo courtesy of @timelycare/Instagram

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.

The semicolon is meaningful in regards to suicide awareness, as it represents something continuing on where it could have ended Photo courtesy of @recycle.tattoo/Instagram

Out of touch and

out of date American politics are oversaturated with senior citizens

RONNIE SAENZ ASST. OPINION EDITOR

Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney recently announced on Sept. 13 that he will not be running for reelection in 2024. Senator Romney, age 76, noted several reasons for his withdrawal, but the most prominent was that he felt he was too old for the position.

“I considered my age and the fact that at the end of my second term I would be in my mid eighties, and I think it’s time for guys like me to get out of the way and have people from the next generation step forward,” Romney said.

However, Romney was not directly encouraging his fellow seniors in office to step down. He even claimed if he was as spry as Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley who is 90 years old, he would stay for reelection.

Yet, I don’t share this sentiment. I feel as if Romney should have stepped down six years ago when he was 70, and that should be the standard for any politician at or over 70.

According to a CBS poll from Sept. 2022, 73% of Americans believe that there should be age limits for elected officials. In addition, 47% believe having more young people in office would be better for the U.S., compared to only 12% who believe having more old people in office would be better. This is because at any age older than 70, you are too out of touch to make competent decisions for the country. This is also because there have been some issues concerning the health of senior elected officials.

This sentiment doesn’t come from nowhere. The average age of senators in the Senate is 63.9 years and in the House it’s 58.3 years, yet the median age of U.S. citizens is 38.8 years.

So, the average congressman

does not properly represent the average U.S., citizen age-wise.

Looking at the past two presidents, both President Biden (78 years) and former-President Trump (77 years) are older than Romney, yet they both plan to run for reelection. Many in the U.S., myself included, are tired of the oversaturation of senior citizens in office.

Republican Presidential candidate Nikki Haley went on record saying, “the Senate is the most privileged nursing home in the country.”

Senior officials are so much older than the average U.S. citizen that they’re out of touch with many pressing, contemporary issues. One of the best examples of this was the TikTok hearings in March over the app’s data security and harmful content on the platform. These officials were asking about TikTok utilizing the consumer’s public data, as if it were some new nefarious evil, yet it’s a feature that’s been around for decades on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. I often watch those hearings to have a laugh, because the lack of knowledge many of these Senators have on current social media usage is comical.

How can senior officials be expected to deal with emerging issues like AI, high security data breaches and social media, if according to the Pew Research Center, two thirds of seniors (above 65) don’t even know how to navigate social media? Either they need to educate themselves on these kinds of contemporary issues, or we need to get people elected who have lived with technology. Otherwise, tech companies or other individuals can take advantage of the ignorance of our officials, such as in the Pentagon data leak in April 2023.

In summary, the Pentagon data leak happened after a low ranking IT official gained

access to multiple highly classified Pentagon documents.

It would be extremely beneficial to the U.S. to have younger elected officials to make decisions on these kinds of contemporary issues. That’s not to say the insight of older officials isn’t valued, but as mentioned earlier they make up most of the seats in the House and the Senate. By setting an age limit of 70, more young people will be encouraged to run for office.

Other than representation, there are a number of health concerns, plaguing older officials. Age often comes with illness, and while there are older senators who are physically and mentally healthy, there are many who aren’t. Being a U.S. elected official is no easy task and takes an enormous stress on the mind and body, no matter your age. As a result, many of the older officials just can’t keep up with the demand that the job asks for, which is not their fault at all. It’s like asking a 12-year-old to work construction; chances are, they simply don’t have the abilities necessary for the job.

Recently, the 81-year-old Republican Senator Mitch McConnell froze up twice while speaking to the media. The cause of his freeze ups are still a mystery, but it reflects a trend of broader health issues among senior officials. The 90-yearold Democratic California Senator Diane Fienstein, the oldest senator in the history of the U.S., also had a number of health issues this year from shingles in May to a fall in August that left her confined to a wheelchair. In July, Feinstein had to be corrected and guided during a Senate Appropriations Committee as she appeared

extremely confused and frail.

Things have gotten so bad as of late that, in August, Diane Feinstein gave power of attorney to her daughter Katherine Feinstein. Power of attorney is a legal document where someone gives another person authority to make legal decisions on their behalf. Yet McConnell and Feinstein are still expected to take on the responsibilities of a senator, despite their very glaring health issues.

President Biden is the oldest serving U.S. President in history at 80 years old. Since the beginning of his Presidential campaign in 2019, he has received criticism over his cognitive abilities as he frequently slurs, forgets and misspeaks during speeches and interviews. Biden has a lot of moments where I question his competence for the role, such as just last week on Sept. 21 2023, where Biden mistakenly addressed the Congressional Hispanic Caucus as the Congressional Black Caucus.

There are spry senior elected officials currently serving such as 90-year-old Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, or 82-year-old Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders, who have kept up with the workflow and stayed healthy enough to perform their job. I would say for the most part, they are the exception. Some believe that older people are wiser than younger people, so keeping older people from office would be a disservice to the U.S. Then there are those that believe younger people just don’t have enough knowledge to compete with someone older. After all, more years means more wisdom, right? In the past, scientists

used to believe that our brain development peaked in our 20s and then degraded after that. This is only half true. Scientists now believe brain development is not just a peak and decline, some cognitive functions actually get stronger as you get older while others weaken. According to the article “How memory and thinking ability change with age” by Harvard Health Publishing, as you get older it becomes more difficult to learn new information and remember old information, but it also becomes easier to find relationships between diverse sources of information. Essentially, if you’re young you learn and remember better, and if you’re old you understand big picture ideas better. Becoming 70 years old doesn’t necessarily mean you get smarter, it just means your brain is wired differently than a 20 year old brain. There are a lot of problems that come with keeping older U.S. elected officials in office. They already overrepresent the country’s senior demographic, and many will deal with health issues that will impair their ability to serve. Adding a maximum age limit of 70 would be very helpful to this effect, but there are so many senior officials above that age that implementation would be extremely difficult. In the meantime, we can help alleviate these issues on our own by going out of our way to support younger officials and discouraging reelections for senior citizens. After all, all these senior officials were voted in, so if we want our officials to represent us better, then we need to use our vote to prove it.

Mitch McConnell freezes when asked about running for re-election before being assisted by an aide.

Photo courtesy of @MSNBC/X

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.

Diane Feinstein returns to the senate after suffering from shingles. Photo courtesy of @Travis_in_Flint/X

Celebrating th Latin Am

September is Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, which celebrates the accomplishments, contributions and culture of Latin Americans and Hispanic individuals in the United States. USD held events this past month educating students about Hispanic and Latin American culture. Different members of Latin American communities give their insight to USD about Hispanic Heritage Month.

Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, Director of the Center for Inclusion of the Sweet Talks Series on campus

“Hispanic is a catch-all term,” like to be referred to by their ethnici catch-all term, oftentimes people do we ' re not talking about a monolithic very diverse group… and so this was that, but also to celebrate the accom

“If you look at the term [Hispanic] historically, it was created by the federal government as a term of convenience to cluster all these groups together. And until this day, we don't really know who that includes. Does it include Brazilians? Does it include Spaniards? We really don't know It all depends on how people self identify so this is census driven And for those of us who grew up in this part of the world, and who witnessed a lot of civil rights activities around the Chicano movement and fights for social justice, ‘Hispanic’ just erases any of that history.”

USD sophomore who found the Talks activity to be quite valuable

“I would encourage people t even though you don't really kno figures are], you get to learn a lot diversity not only women durin but also men, like baseball player and engineers,” Quintero said

“Within this label, there's a diversity of groups that should be accounted for. And this term is just kind of a blah no, no nuances for the diversity within our communities,” Pulido said.

Dr. Alberto Lopez Pulido

Dr. Regina Dixon-R

Priscila Quinter

Department Chair of Ethnic Studies, professor and Ethnic Studies Honors Faculty Liaison

“Be open to different perspectives and different ideas”

Emma-Kate Squires/The USD Vista

Photo Courtesy of www.dontforgettomove.com

Emma-Kate Squires/The USD Vista

he cultures of mericans

on-Reeves ntero

Equity, and Inclusion and the Inclusion and Diversity, is a part on campus found the Sweet quite valuable

rm, ” Dixon-Reeves said “Many people thnicity, ethnic group. But because it is a ple don't realize when you say ‘Hispanic,’ olithic group. You're talking about a very, s was an opportunity for us to celebrate ccomplishments of all of these people ”

“We've got a large number of students who are Hispanic And so we want to celebrate them We want to celebrate their heritage,” Dixon-Reeves said. “We want them to see themselves reflected in the school, both in faculty as well as amongst staff, and also to be able to see themselves.”

The Sweet Talks activity matches the pictures of Latin American popular figures, such as Frida Kahlo, Ellen Ochoa and Cesar Chavez with their biographies Students were able to learn more about Hispanic and Latin American cultures and achievements

“If you ' re able to see somebody that looks like you because then you can say, ‘Man, I can do that too, if somebody who has a similar experience to me can do this,’” Dixon-Reeves said. “That's why it's so important for us to celebrate.”

How can you get involved and celebrate?

eople to come because y know [who all the n a lot and you get to see n during different times, players and chemists aid

For others in the USD community, Dixon-Reeves recommended that students can do a variety of activities to embrace and celebrate Hispanic and Latin American cultures. “They [students] can begin to read. They can watch documentaries, they can expose themselves to Hispanic culture,” Dixon-Reeves said “We've got a ton of student organizations here we ' ve got stuff that you could go and participate in… You can seek out opportunities. There are enough people here that speak Spanish that you can actually practice your Spanish outside of the class.”

Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month is a time to learn, listen and acknowledge the history and accomplishments of these diverse groups of people.

Spread by Khushi Patel/The USD Vista: Content by Katie Foreman/The USD Vista

Emma-Kate Squires/The USD Vista

USD voted among the best colleges for veterans Serving those who served

ALLIE LONGO ASST. FEATURE EDITOR

The U.S. News & World Report recently published its 2024 Best College rankings, selecting the University of San Diego as one of the best colleges for veterans. USD was voted number 98 in its overall ranking among the country’s top 100 national universities and number 65 in best colleges for veterans. U.S. News is a digital media company that uses data and technology to publish independent reporting and rankings and determines its ranking of the best colleges for veterans, based on the benefits they provide for veterans and active-duty service members — from financial to community building opportunities. USD has various programs in place for veteran students.

Nelson Chase, the Director of the Military and Veterans Program at USD, was one among many of those who heard about USD’s recent ranking. Chase oversees the Military and Veterans Program at USD, with their department located in the University Center (UC). The program holds this space to host any events and meetings, and is also used as a general “hangout” space for veteran students. As both a veteran and a USD alum, Chase wishes this program existed while he was a student.

“We had nothing [back then]… I didn’t even know there were other veterans on campus,” Chase noted. “The university has made tremendous strides in wanting to connect military students to each other, and provide resources centered on them. We’ve come leaps and bounds since I was a student.”

Chase emphasized the importance of USD having a well-developed Military and Veterans Program.

“There’s at least five or six military bases within a five to 10 minute drive of USD,” he stated. “So we really have a focus on growing the population [of military students] and supporting them.”

One of the things USD does in aiding its student veterans is through finances. Many veteran students come to USD with the GI Bill. This is a federal law which helps veterans pay for college, graduate school and training programs by providing them sums of money based on their time in service. The GI bill won’t cover all of USD tuition, so the school participates in “Yellow Ribbon,” which is additional funding from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which the school matches. Chase explained that USD recently uncapped the limit of Yellow Ribbon funding, which according

to Military.com was $27,120.05 for the 2023 school year.

“Any veteran student who’s eligible [for Yellow Ribbon] will never have an out-ofpocket tuition fee here at USD,” Chase explained. “So we’re really committed to making the funding available to have [veterans] come here.”

The Yellow Ribbon also extends to dependents of military veterans as well. Not only does USD have financial support for veterans, but they continue to support their students through various programs in place. Chase elaborated more on these programs.

“We have ‘Lunch and Learn’ where we bring in different campus partners,” he explained. “We’re having an LGBTQ+ military education seminar in October. We have a bi-weekly wellness group just for active duty and veterans facilitated by a counselor from the wellness center.”

Some veteran students said they take advantage of these opportunities put on by the Military and Veterans Program. All of these opportunities put in place prove further to USD’s voting among the best colleges for veteran students. Both staff and students agreed with the recent ranking. USD junior Hunter Thompson served five years in the U.S. Navy, enlisting when he was 17 years old. For three years during his service, he was overseas in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain. Now, he’s 25 and getting his Bachelors in Electrical Engineering, Thompson expressed gratitude for the opportunities and support USD has provided.

“The support staff we have here is unparalleled to anywhere else that I’ve gone to school,” Thompson stated. “The school offers us so much… the school really does look after its veterans.”

Thompson takes advantage of all the center has to offer. He spoke about all the opportunities it has given him.

“Every other Tuesday, we have doughnuts with Father Greg, which is absolutely phenomenal,” Thompson said. “We also have ‘Wellness Wednesdays,’ with lunch provided, where we have a person from the Wellness Center talk with us.”

Thompson acknowledged the support and acceptance not only within the Military and Veterans Center, but also throughout the entire USD community.

“Everybody’s very welcoming. I’ve never been anywhere on campus where I felt out of place,” Thompson said. “But I also try to include myself in the campus too — I did rugby last semester, and that was a blast.”

To improve and further support the veteran

students, Thompson’s only request would be a bigger Military and Veteran space.

“Really the only thing that I could see needing improvement is a bigger space, because it is relatively tight here,” Thompson admitted. “Especially as the years go on, we get more and more students and it becomes known that there’s a vet center on campus, because we’re always hosting various things.”

It’s not just Thompson that had a positive experience as a veteran on campus. New student veteran Briana Burton is a sophomore at USD and described how she was welcomed with open arms by the USD community.

25-year-old Burton served in the Navy for a little over five

years and landed at USD, after hearing about their well-known architecture program. This is Burton’s first semester at USD, but so far she reports feeling positivity throughout the campus.

Prior to attending USD, Burton went to a different school, whose Military and Veteran program was still shut down following COVID-19. Therefore, finding resources, support and the Military and Veteran center at USD exceeded all her expectations.

“There’s a lot of support here. You can’t really be lost or go wrong from my personal experience. There’s support all over the place,” Burton explained. “Everybody here has been very nice and welcoming.”

Burton said one of her favorite parts about USD is all the events the campus offers. She has attended any event she could find since starting school. “I went to all the other orientation events. But the events are lit. Oh my gosh. They’re so fun. They’re always giving you food and stuff,” Burton exclaimed. From the reviews by both faculty and students of the veteran services offered at USD, the ranking on the best colleges for veteran students appears to be well-deserved. Not only does USD offer financial aid for veterans and their dependents and support through the Military and Veterans program, but that support carries over into the general campus community.

USD student and veteran Briana Burton worked in civil engineering construction for the Navy for over five years. Emma-Kate Squires/The USD Vista

USD’s efforts to support citizens in and out of the military leads it to rank as one of the top colleges for veterans.

Photo courtesy of @USD Military and Veterans Program/Facebook

ARTS & CULTURE

WGA almost at the finish line

USD students discuss the impact of WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes

kicked off the WGA labor union walkout, with thousands of people taking to the streets with signs and placards, opting out of working on any form of media.

The writers’ demands arose from the fact that the previous contract was created long before streaming services and media had a boom. The way that content is viewed today has changed drastically from the times of television and movie theaters and the list of demands from the WGA is asking to adapt to these new conditions according to Variety magazine.

One of the WGA’s biggest asks is that writers be adequately compensated for every platform that their work is being presented on. Writers are very minimally compensated or sometimes not compensated at all when a show or movie that they worked on for a network or production house is moved to a streaming platform, and this leads to devaluation of their work and robs writers of credit.

USD sophomore and VisualArts student Kali Marin, who wants to go into the film industry, talks about her feelings toward the writer’s strike and how it will impact students who are studying to enter the field.

“This can definitely heavily affect students coming out of university hoping to enter the field,” Marin said. “It’s always been competitive in the writer’s room, but the outcome and reward of working that hard is now not as significant as it used to be, because you’re barely able to make a living wage out of it. What the WGA is asking for is the bare minimum. And the thing I’m worried about is that in the process of fighting for the money that I’m owed for the work I’m doing, I’ll lose my passion for my work itself.”

The issues that this strike represents not only impact newly graduating seniors from college who want to break into the field of screenwriting and entertainment — but also heavily impact audiences who, if the strike continued, would be starved of media content.

Writers are also fighting for a better solution to the exploitive use of “mini-rooms,” which are small groups of writers that are faced with unrealistically heavy deadlines to produce huge amounts of scripts for a show’s potential first season, prior to production as per the WGA. This pre-writing process poses an obstacle to writers in terms of structuring their work contact and getting paid for work they’re doing before the show starts.

This problem is also accompanied by the threat of AI replacing writers on sets, another topic that the WGA is demanding protection from.

Over the past five months of

the strike, many WGA proposals have been rejected. However, starting last Wednesday, studio heads and representatives of the WGA met for five consecutive days of negotiations with major studio heads of companies like Disney and Netflix present, and concluded with a potential deal on Sunday.

Along with writers, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Arts (SAG-AFTRA) also joined the strike in July, seeking protection against the utilization of AI and its ability to clone faces in media and better compensation due to the rise of streaming services. Actors are also plagued by the same threats as the writers, with many actors making only a few cents as residuals.

Big names like Tina Fey, Pete Davidson, Jack Black, Seth Meyers and many more have joined actors on the picket line, showing overt support for their cause. However, this was met with criticism from the audience who said that these actors make enough money and have no reason to march for more.

USD senior Naarah-Moriah Addae who is graduating as a theater major and wants to act in the future talked about her reaction toward the SAGAFTRA strikes and this criticism.

“Most people don’t realize that it is 1% of actors that make it big time, and everyone else barely makes a living wage, and these big names are there to support the smaller cause, not ask for money for themselves,” Addae said. “I was really anxious to go into this field before the writer’s strike anyway because of the uncertainty that comes with it. But now, even though I agree with the cause, people are out of jobs because of it and it’s making an already hard field ten times harder.”

According to AP News, SAGAFTRA has not struck a deal and actors are still on strike with no set dates for negotiation. But the news of the deal with writers might help them with resolution, too.

Hollywood felt the impact of the strike immediately, as many late-night shows, movies and TV productions came to a halt because of the lack of writers. Filming schedules were falling behind, students were losing internships at writing firms and ultimately, the entire business model of the entertainment industry was at risk.

The deal with the writers only wins half the battle, because the actors needed to continue filming will still be on strike.

However, there are some independent films that have agreed to both WGA and SAGAFTRA contracts and have been given waivers to continue production, a decision that has brought up the critique that allowing certain companies to continue production before all

big studios agree to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA contracts nullifies the point of the strike. USD exchange student Zoe Clifford-Sellam gave her opinion on this topic.

“I don’t think it nullifies the point, because the point of the strike is to help writers and actors get to a place where they can receive good wage,” Clifford-Sellam said. “Writers and actors are losing work and

money because of this strike and if the point is to uplift them and there are studios accepting to those terms, then definitely the writers and actors should go and take up jobs. We need to reframe the way we’re looking at this. These independent companies should be looked at as examples for bigger corporations, as to what they can adapt to be.”

The WAG and SAG-

AFTRA strikes are crucial for the entertainment industry, their impact being felt by current actors and writers. The result of the writers’ strike has proven to be successful, giving hope to graduating or recently graduated students who are trying to enter the field. However, the circle is not complete without the negotiations with SAG-AFTRA.

The International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG) pose in Paris standing in solidarity with the WGA.

Photo courtesy of @wgaeast/Instagram

Actress Lola Tung from the hit series ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ on the picket lines striking for SAG-AFTRA.

Photo courtesy of @lolatung/Instagram

Writers’ strike from Page 1

Content creators: a 21st century career Insight into the growing field of social media

ZOE ZAPANTA ASST. A&C EDITOR

Social media continues to heavily influence our generation. This capacity for massive influence of certain platforms has given opportunities for people to gain millions of followers and make a living off creating “content.” Content includes posts, videos, brand sponsored videos, etc. These people, otherwise known as content creators, are constantly making and sharing media showing a part or all of their lives for the whole world to see. For many of them, it is their sole career.

The field comes with its benefits such as sharing passions and interests, and having a flexible working schedule. But making this a lasting career can come with a price — an added pressure to constantly churn out good content.

Content creation as a career evolved from social media. Creators started posting content unique to their interests. The content they produce vary from different categories such as entertainment, education or beauty. Every single content creator that

has made social media their main source of income has to maintain a consistent and engaging posting schedule.

USD professor of Social Media Marketing, Dr. Farhana Nusrat, offered her expertise on what makes this career so compelling and makes people successful making content as a full-time career.

“Social media platforms are so accessible, and it’s so simple to identify a niche that allows one to pursue their passions.”

Nusrat added that it is also a very fulfilling career, especially for young people because the career is so flexible and diverse.

“It is essential to realize that the career path of a content creator is multifaceted and calls for a holistic approach,” Nusrat said, as she talked about what contributes to success in the field. “Quality and consistency of content [are fundamental]; regularly producing engaging content of the highest caliber is crucial. This includes wellresearched topics, appealing graphics and gripping storytelling. Another is being authentic; a proven successful strategy to win over customers’ trust is being your authentic self. ”

The evolution of this new

career brings into question how these creators got their start.

Content creation functions similarly to marketing: creators target a specific audience, and the audience usually has an interest in whatever the creator is sharing with them, whether it is a product or tips and tricks. Creators then start forming a following by making content about something they have a passion for, and they continue making content based on their audience.

USD sophomore Christa Chan, the Publicity Chair for the Filipino Ugnayan Student Organization on campus, shared what motivates her to create content.

“Being a part of a multicultural student org., my motivation is to help bring representation for students of color, specifically Asian Americans at USD, which is a predominantly white institution,” Chan said. “Growing up, I never had the representation or safe place I needed in high school, so this opportunity has meant a lot to heal my younger self and make sure that students who might have felt the same way as me feel seen at USD.”

Social media carries a lot of

risks, such as perpetuating false expectations and not knowing what to do with the content you produce. Not all content creators are influencers, but sometimes with their large followings the assumption that you have to share all parts of yourself and face extra attention. If you’re a content creator that doesn’t like all that added attention, the attention can be negative, because you’re trying to create but there are people who want to tear you down with their mean comments and the standards they want you to meet.

USD senior Marco Ren explained drawbacks when it comes to making content for programs he holds for the USD Queer and Trans Student Union.

“The standard for social media a lot of the time is perfection, and nothing is ever perfect so this places a lot of weight on content creators,” Ren said. “You want to put your best forward but also maintain a level of authenticity.”

Creating content for the world is something that content creators continuously have to navigate because of added pressures and the expectation to always have content that is engaging. But at the end of the

day, it is part of the job and they have to do what they can to get through it. USD junior Karely Gonzalez described how she manages the extra emotions that she’s faced when it comes to creating content for her on-campus programs for the Commuter Commons.

“In being a content creator, I have to be comfortable with receiving feedback and understanding the value in being offered that. Once creators are able to get through that hurdle, there’s less pressure to nail it on the first try, and — instead — it’s a win when you get the chance to do it again, and the next time even better, because you’re aware of what works and what doesn’t.”

In this era of unexpected opportunities for content creators in the age of social media, it’s crucial to be comfortable with receiving feedback and understand its value. As up-and-coming creators, they must embrace the benefits of newfound success while actively seeking feedback. Success in this digital age depends not just on creativity but also on adaptability and a willingness to learn from both successes and setbacks.

BookTok: TikTok’s reading community

An inside look at the internet’s virtual book club

The term “BookTok” is used to describe the bookreading community on TikTok, where people post videos to recommend books and share their love of literature. This combination of social media and book reviews revolutionized people’s reading experience and how people are finding and making book recommendations.

BookTok started as a hashtag on TikTok by a group of book lovers, and it quickly became a massive trend, filled with people who are passionate about reading and sharing their experience.

Now, it’s one of the world’s biggest social media communities for books. On TikTok, the app’s built-in analytics shows that the hashtag “BookTok” has 177.2B views. The community is so big that many large book retailers like Barnes & Noble have dedicated sections to the BookTok community in store and online.

A book is considered “viral” on TikTok when multiple creators are amassing a lot of views talking about it. Those influencers, called “BookTok-ers,” will make videos about book recommendations, the different genres and tropes they like and other plot-related content. These videos end up going viral based on keywords that engage audiences and the way the video is framed. For example, sometimes the creator will start the video off by labeling

it as a “storytime,” another popular trend on TikTok, to entice their audience. The “storytime” trend on TikTok features creators pretending to tell the plot of a book as if it is their own story, usually in a very dramatic way to keep their audience engaged, then at the end reveal it is a book.

USD sophomore Katelyn Chu elaborated on how these techniques affect the audience and cause books to go viral.

“Framing it like a storytime initially gets people interested, especially if it has to do with a keyword or popular trope amongst the younger generation,” Chu said. “As an example, romance has always been super popular. But with the new success of ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ TV show and its love triangle, a lot of people are talking about the books that it’s based off of…making the books even more popular.” BookTok’s virality continues to influence reading through marketing campaigns and changing peoples’ reading habits. According to Vox, influencers in the BookTok community with large followings can get paid by book publishers and authors to promote books by giving their reviews.

In the article by Vox, BookTok influencer Cait Jacobs, who currently has 314.3k followers, talked about what these sponsorships look like.

“When I’m accepting a sponsorship, they will often give me talking points, and I will always make sure that I’m never

being told to lie about it. If I haven’t read a book, then I will say I haven’t read it yet,” Jacobs said.

USD junior Andrea Miranda shared her thoughts on how BookTok influences how she and others choose their books to read.

“I love BookTok, but I feel that sometimes people rely on it too much because so many books are trendy. I have read books from BookTok that I have loved, such as ‘Daisy Jones and the Six,’ but also some that I did not enjoy,” Miranda said. “So now I hesitate before buying a trending book and check the reviews on Goodreads.” Goodreads is an American social cataloging website and a subsidiary of Amazon that allows individuals to search its database of books, annotations, quotes, and reviews.

The virality of the books makes them seem more enticing to read, but if a book doesn’t go viral, it may not see the same success. USD junior Vanessa Mai talked about her thoughts on what that means for non-viral books.

“It can be both a good and bad thing to have BookTok displays. It’s great that they’re marketing toward a specific population, since many of us have TikTok and I think it’s cool to see what’s currently trending,” Mai said. “However, I think it can also overlook other great books if people are solely focused on what’s currently ‘popular’ rather than the book [content] itself.”

Booktok has changed people’s reading habits. People that haven’t read in some time, were

picking up books for fun again.

USD senior Mia Tabladillo highlighted the books she found through Booktok. “I read ‘The Spanish Love Deception’ and ‘The Love Hypothesis,’ and those two books got me out of my reading slump,” Tabladillo said.

BookTok is growing and

changing how audiences interact with books through influencers, trending books and by creating a community for people to share and reignite their love for reading. As this unique community continues to thrive, BookTok stands as a testament to the love for reading evolving in this digital age.

ZOE ZAPANTA ASST. A&C EDITOR

Nebraska women’s volleyball fills a football stadium Husker’s volleyball team breaks attendance records

LAUREN CEBALLOS SPORTS EDITOR

The University of NebraskaLincoln Women’s Volleyball team filled their football stadium for a home game with over 92,000 fans in the crowd.

On Aug. 30, the Cornhuskers, or Huskers for short, swept University of Nebraska Omaha, the Mavericks, in three sets with scores of 25-14, 25-14 and 25-13. The state called it “Volleyball Day,” and the attendance numbers show the eagerness of the Husker fandom. The tickets went on sale in April and the team sold around 89,000 tickets within the first three days of being on sale.

According to Sports Illustrated, the Cornhusker fandom has a deep-rooted history, as the men’s football team has a 60year sellout streak for their games. Moreover, their women’s volleyball team has sold out their 8,000-seat stadium the last 306 games with a streak of qualifying for the NCAA tournament every year since 1982 and has acquired five national championship titles.

The website shared the enormous number of attendees:

“A crowd of that size would be not just the largest in NCAA volleyball history and not just the largest for a women’s sporting event in the United States. It would break the world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event.

The U.S. record attendance at a women’s athletic event is 90,185 for the 1999 Women’s World Cup [for soccer] final at the Rose Bowl. The world record is 91,648 for the Barcelona vs. Wolfsburg Women’s Champions League semifinal in April 2022.”

“The previous attendance record for the sport [of volleyball] also belonged to Nebraska, but it came by way of a loss to Wisconsin in the 2021 national championship match in Columbus, Ohio, which 18,755 people attended,” The New York Times reported. “Motivated by that defeat, [against Wisconsin] and boosted by a loyal fan base and even the state’s governor, Jim Pillen, the school made a plan to break not just the N.C.A.A. volleyball attendance mark, but the record for all women’s sports globally.”

Santul Nerkar, a writer and editor for FiveThirtyEight, shared beliefs on why this might

have been possible in an article entitled, “A Record Crowd Shows Buildup of Nebraska Volleyball and Women’s Sports.”

“Not every Division I school has the same set of circumstances that would allow it to conjure what Nebraska has with its volleyball team. The state has no major professional sports teams, and the football program for its flagship university enjoys a near-monopoly on college sports fandom.”

USD junior Paulina Gaitan related this to USD volleyball as well as women’s sports in general.

“I think that it’s very interesting when noting the distinction between women’s sports and male sports, how there is not that big of an audience in female sports as it is with men’s sports, and that is a historic fact. But in recent years, and even here at the university, I know last year the women’s volleyball team was final four and students were getting really excited about it, but it’s just a little shocking to me how women have to be the very best at it for everyone else to notice, so noticing this very high turnout with the Nebraska game is very exciting to know,” Gaitan said.

After the game, there was a firework show followed by a performance by country singer Scotty McCreery.

The record-breaking game filled social media, providing excitement for women in the world of sports.

USD junior Valeria Rodriguez shared an opinion on the event.

“I think it’s interesting that a lot of women in sports are getting that much attention, mostly because it’s always been men in sports and how it’s soccer, it’s football, everything else… We don’t see that a lot anymore unless you’re looking for it, it’s not brought up to our attention… Here, [Frank Warren’s lounge] you see all these TVs are full of just guys,” Rodriguez said.

Chloe Pavlech, former basketball player for University of Maryland and current assistant coach at Baylor University, took a video at the game of a little girl watching wide-eyed and cheering, upon the entrance of the Cornhuskers.

The post stated, “She will grow up in a world where she expects more. She will grow up in a world where men watch women’s sports. She will grow up in a world where women’s sports sell out football stadiums. She will grow up in a world where men support women. She will grow up in a world where she doesn’t thank the media for coming. She will grow up in a world where the boys want to be like the Nebraska Volleyball Players.”

Earvin Magic Johnson, or Magic Johnson, a former athlete in the NBA, made a tweet about volleyball during circulation of the news.

“There are so many people dressed in all red on the Big Ten Network. I’m blown away! Shoutout to all the Husker

fans that showed their support for women’s athletics and the Nebraska Volleyball team.

@HuskerVB,” the post read.

USD

general. The excitement which manifested itself on social media, publications and through the Cornhusker fandom. While Nebraska is celebrating a high, children are growing up in a world where over 92,000 people went to watch a women’s volleyball game. USD

USD WVB at Gonzaga

Huskers jump up for a block amid the filled football stadium.

Photo courtesy of @huskervb/Instagram

Chloe Pavlech captured a young girl in awe at the volleyball game. Photo courtesy of @chloee/Instagram

The stadium lit up with fireworks, celebrating the end of the historical game.

Photo courtesy of @huskervb/Instagram