Volume 60 Issue 20

THE USD VISTA

Drenched dorms debacle Students left in limbo after Cuyamaca flooding

Wednesday (April 12) morning that provided instructions on how to move forward.

At approximately 2:30 a.m on Tuesday, April 11, USD sophomore Charles Lorenzo had a rude awakening.

“I was laying in my bed trying to go to sleep, and then the next thing I know, I got blasted in the face with water, and I was soaking wet,” Lorenzo said. “I was drowning.”

With the fire alarms blaring, students vacated the Cuyamaca short hall of the Alcalá Vista apartments. It was here that Lorenzo found his RA who then called Public Safety to the scene.

“I was just in this shock of being extremely wet, cold, all my clothes are wet — I’m in my underwear and a towel outside, just freezing my a** off,” he recalled.

Lorenzo is one of about 14 students – according to USD’s Associate Director of Media Relations, Elena Gomez – whose apartments were flooded the early morning of April 11. “The flood was caused by a damaged sprinkler in one apartment, and there is no evidence of a malfunction or issues with USD’s infrastructure or piping,” Gomez clarified.

Residential Life sent an email to most affected students early

Frank Ocean Coachella drama

Singer drops out of second weekend after controversy

JESSICA MILLS ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

After a six-year performance hiatus, singer Frank Ocean graced the Coachella stage as a headline performer for the event’s first weekend. Despite being the largest music festival in North America — featuring hundreds of popular artists — many Coachella-goers bought festival tickets solely to watch Ocean’s set on the third day.

Ocean was announced as the final headliner for Coachella’s lineup back in 2020, which was canceled due to the COVID19 pandemic and rescheduled for 2022. However, Ocean was unavailable during the event’s new dates, according to Rolling

Stone, and was replaced by Kanye West. West later pulled out, and The Weeknd took his place.

While many had high performance expectations, videos and posts flooded social media platforms, chronicling attendee’s distress over Ocean’s set during and after his performance.

@USDVista @theusdvista uofsdmedia.com

After showing up late, his show ended sooner and more abruptly than many listeners were expecting, due to Coachella’s curfew of midnight on Sunday.

Vulture detailed that per the festival’s agreement with Indio, going five minutes past curfew costs $20,000, plus an added $1,000 for every additional minute. Due to his tardiness, Ocean’s set went 25 minutes past Coachella’s curfew, costing the festival $40,000 in fines. Ocean briefly walked off stage before coming back to

announce that the show was over.

USD senior Maile Nomura was among those disappointed in his overall performance.

“If I could describe Frank’s set in one word, it would be: disrespectful,” Nomura explained. “When Frank sang, it was absolutely beautiful. I am a huge Frank Ocean fan; I bought tickets in June [2022] before the lineup was announced and Frank was the only confirmed artist, because I knew the rest of the lineup did not matter,

See Ocean, Page 4

“We ask you to pack all your items that are dry by 5 p.m. tomorrow (April 13), in the boxes provided to you today,” the email stated. “USD will relocate the remainder of your dry items to your temporary space tomorrow. Do not remove any items contaminated by water.”

USD sophomores Sofia Morales and Cecelia Baker, who were directly beneath the flooded room, received this email and followed the provided instructions. Due to their proximity below the flooded dorm, all of their belongings were soaked. Both Morales and Baker received temporary housing reassignment the night of the flood, and packed their belongings on Wednesday, after receiving the email.

The morning of April 13, however, Baker returned to her old dorm to make sure everything was packed correctly.

“I go over in the morning to make sure [my belongings are packed],” Baker recounted. “And my things have been scattered throughout the apartment, [movers] are putting wet things in cardboard boxes, sealing them up,

MORE

Trump Indictment

See News, page 3

Theater in San Diego

See A&C, page 5

Sexual Assault Awareness

See Feature, page 6

Colorism in Hollywood

See Opinion, page 9

Moore joins USD Football

See Sports, page 12

Cuyamaca is the site of a recent water leak that damaged property

Photo courtesy of Sofia Morales

Coachella audience members watched Ocean’s performance on a large on-stage screen.

Photo courtesy of Maile Nomura

SASHA BUKHTIYAROVA CONTRIBUTOR

Flooding, Page 2

Cuyamaca under water

USD addresses parent and student concerns over flooding

From Flooding, Page 1

and packing them for the movers to bring them to the [temporary housing in the] UTAs. I want my money back for these things, and they were going to throw out my mattress topper that I paid for.”

Morales shared a similar experience with moving her items as well.

“[The movers] literally delivered a box of sopping-wet stuff covered in the contaminated water to our new place. It was supposed to be [left] there [in the flooded dorm], for the insurance,” Morales said. “I said [to the movers], ‘do not touch our stuff; the university told us to leave it out for insurance claims. It’s wet, it’s contaminated — don’t touch it.’” USD recognized the urgency of the flooding situation, and responded as quickly as they could.

“The university responded to the situation immediately,” Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students, Nicole Whitner, said. “In collaboration with an outside contractor, we are assessing the extent of the water damage to the buildings and property and developing a repair plan.”

While most of the affected students were immediately relocated to temporary housing, this wasn’t the case for everyone.

USD sophomore Natalie Burchett, who shares a wall with the students directly below the flooded dorm, did not receive the email from Residential Life the night of the incident.

“They haven’t really been communicating with me until the last minute,” she said. “The whole week I’ve just been sleeping on my couch, and they moved all of my stuff out, before they told me I was going to get a new place. They don’t really tell me anything that’s going on, until they decide that something’s happening, and

then when they tell me about that, it’s right before it does.”

After spending the week on her couch because her bedroom was flooded, she was alerted on Friday morning that she would be relocated.

“People [from Hospitality Services] came in at nine in the morning and were like, ‘We’re going to take everything out of your room,’” Burchett recalled. “And I was like, ‘Oh, ok, I didn’t know that. Ok cool.’ So I spent the whole day packing up all of my stuff.”

Burchett alone moved her dry items to her temporary housing on Friday evening.

The following Monday, Burchett learned that the university didn’t know where some of her items were.

“It’s not that they haven’t communicated to me about where [my clothes] are,” Burchett explained. “It’s just that they literally don’t know where they are.”

An email sent to Burchett by Residential Life on Monday, April 17, stated, “We are still waiting to hear back about your items that were sent out for cleaning and/or inspection, but we will hopefully have an update for you by tomorrow.”

As of Sunday, April 23, Burchett had received no such update.

While flooding of this scale is unprecedented in the Alcalá Vista apartments, Baker and Morales experienced a similar issue the previous semester in the same dorm room.

“There was a fire hydrant, someone was fixing it and they messed up, and it exploded right into our room — like spewing directly into our room. We called [Residential Life], and they were like ‘I think you just left your window open and it rained.’ Like no… There’s a fire hydrant that exploded right by

our room,” Baker recounted. Morales, whose room was also flooded by the hydrant last semester, was equally dissatisfied by the university’s response in previous incidents. “Last time our room was flooded and we asked for reimbursements, the school didn’t give us anything,” she added. “Don’t make me feel stupid, just because you’re the university and I’m a student. It feels like you’re belittling us just because we’re lower.”

Morales and Baker were not the only students who experienced issues within their time in the Alcalá Vista dorms. Lorenzo elaborated upon previous issues he experienced before the flooding initiated within his apartment.

“There were problems with the room the entire semester,” Lorenzo said. “It was just an old room. We had to get our fridge replaced, we had to get our microwave replaced over break. Our fridge had to get fixed, the water was always leaking in the shower, and it was just a bunch of little problems like that.”

Residential Life was unable to comment on the flooding within the dorms, and explained that Media Relations was preparing a statement and would be in contact with the Vista soon, through Associate Director of Media Relations, Elena Gomez. Maintenance within student housing is important to the university, and Gomez advised students on what to look out for.

“If anyone observes a damaged sprinkler head, leaking water or issues with any fire suppression systems in a campus building, they should immediately contact Public Safety. Nothing should be hung from or affixed to any sprinkler head, fire alarm or fire suppression system,” she explained.

Currently, many of the

affected students remain in a state of limbo, awaiting estimates for their damaged goods, and instructions on how to move forward. Some students, like Lorenzo, Morales and Baker, were offered permanent housing for the rest of the semester, while others, like Burchett and her roommates, were provided temporary housing for the upcoming weeks and are still unsure of the duration of their stay.

“Moving in the middle of the school year is not easy, especially with a month left,” Lorenzo said. “But the school’s been helpful, it’s just very difficult. It’s a difficult situation.”

For Morales and Baker, the relocation situation was made much more difficult on Tuesday night, the week after the flooding, when Baker noticed something strange in the kitchen of her temporary housing.

“I was just looking at the floor and I saw a couple bugs,” she said. “I thought they were fruit flies, but then I looked closer, and I realized they were termites. I looked all around the kitchen, and they were everywhere, just crawling everywhere.”

On Wednesday, April 19, both Morales and Baker attended class, unsure of what their housing situation would be, while their parents spoke with the university about the termites.

“We’re all just so exhausted, so fed up, and it just feels like it’s one thing after another, and nothing’s really getting solved,” Baker stated. Morales finally received a call from her mother, Tracy Morales, with an update on the situation. Morales spoke with a representative within Parent and Family Relations at USD, who explained that there were no open dorms on campus or

emergency apartments available with Pacific Ridge. However, they were able to negotiate with the Pacific Ridge Apartments to allow Morales, Baker, and their two suitemates to be relocated for the duration of the semester in apartments maintained as “corporate units,” reserved for workers at Pacific Ridge. Additionally, the university sought to reconcile with the four roommates by providing an opportunity for them and their parents to speak with Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students, Nicole Whitner, who also provided a statement to the Vista.

“My heart goes out to the students impacted, as we know this has been an unanticipated challenge. While there are many circumstances out of our control, I am so appreciative of my team and my colleagues for all they’re doing to respond to our students’ needs as they arise,” Whitner said.

Tracy Morales commented on what they plan to discuss in their meeting with Whitner.

“It will be about how the school handled the situation and how they communicated,” she Morales explained. “The school recognizes this has an impact on the student’s ability to learn and sleep and function.” Both Morales and Baker were overjoyed by the news that they could meet to discuss their frustrations, after their week-long housing debacle.

“This is the best report we’ve ever gotten,” Baker exclaimed. The university will be continuing to deal with the effects of the flooding in the upcoming weeks. Students are advised to look out for any damaged infrastructure within their dorms and to reach out to Residential Life if they notice anything unusual that could indicate a problem.

Trump indicted on 34 charges

USD students and faculty react to first indictment of U.S. President

KYLIE DURHAM ASST. NEWS EDITOR RONALD SAENZ CONTRIBUTOR

For the first time in American history, a former president has been indicted. On March 30, 2023, Donald Trump was indicted for 34 felony charges. Prosecutors are taking a closer look into Trump’s business practices as all the charges accuse Trump, of falsifying business documents.

This indictment, otherwise known as a formal charge of a serious crime, resulted from a five-year, ongoing investigation carried out by the Manhattan District Attorney.

The legal process following this indictment will occur over the next couple of years, with a possible trial in 2024 that will align with the next U.S. Presidential campaign cycle, for which Trump has already announced his candidacy.

According to an article from the New York Times, “Mr. Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges of falsifying business records, all of them focused on his involvement in the payment of hush money to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who said she had an affair with him.”

Falsifying business records is

considered a misdemeanor, but if the prosecution, led by New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg, can prove there was an “intent to defraud” or an intent to cover up an additional crime by falsifying the records, then Trump can be prosecuted for a felony. Prosecutors do not have to charge Trump with the secondary crime or even prove he committed it to convict him of a felony; they only need to prove there was an intent to cover up.

The news of the former President’s indictment did not come as a surprise to everyone.

Dr. Kira Tait of the Political Science and International Relations departments shared her opinion on the recent matters.

“I am not surprised. Presidents are not above the law. It is a mistake to think that they are. While there are some legal protections that they enjoy while in office, those protections are not absolute and do not continue to shield them once they leave office. There is some debate about whether all of the charges are valid and whether the state has a strong enough casse. I believe that is up to the state prosecutors and the judge to decide,” Tait said.

Some USD students were shocked by the news.

USD sophomore Anthony Sharkey offered his thoughts regarding Trump’s history in office.

“Besides the hush money, it sounds fishy to me. There is definitely something to be investigated there, pretty sure it is not just nothing,” Sharkey said. “It is interesting he has so many scandals like the impeachment that didn’t go through, and obviously there are more. So I don’t know if this is going to stick, or if this is another scandal that just happens in a slough of investigations that went nowhere.”

USD senior Sophie Brands voiced her thoughts regarding the recent indictment in addition to the previous legal challenges Trump has faced.

“I feel like it was a long time coming. I feel as if the indictment they chose is not the route to be taken because he has done worse things. There are a few other cases, like the Georgia one where he allegedly messed with the election, and another with documents that he won’t turn over. I think those have a little more validity to them. Of course I think this is valid, and I think it did happen, I just think they have stronger cases.”

In the event that none of the charges stick, Trump will likely continue to run for president in 2024, according to an article from The New York Times.

Sharkey is concerned that the indictment may actually boost Trump’s political career, if he is not convicted.

“If he gets out of the indictment, that can definitely boost his chances. He’s gonna say something like ‘they can’t lock me up,’” Sharkey explained. “I think that’s something about Trump that appeals to a lot of people — that it’s the government against him.”

Dr. Tait also speculated on what the indictment may do for President Trump’s public image in regards to the 2024 presidential campaign.

“For his supporters, I believe the indictment will have the same effect as his election loss in 2020. It will galvanize them and strengthen their support of him,” Tait said. “According to CNN, his campaign has received a surge in donations since the indictment.

For those who are not quite fond of him, assuming he is found guilty of the crimes he is accused of, they may feel a sense of justice and even some relief. How the trial progresses will determine what happens in 2024.”

USD junior Kate Harmen shared her views regarding the former President’s future plans to run for office again, and how it might impact his public image.

“I am not convinced that legally this will affect much change just considering on the basis of what the charges are, and what the results will come out to be. It is hard to predict how this will affect his future campaign,”

Harmen said. “I am honestly doubtful that this will have repercussions on his popularity and his following unfortunately. I think he still has cemented himself in a very popular place in society.”

Brands raised a couple questions on how this indictment can potentially impact the 2024 elections.

“I think there are two questions to ask about what this means for the 2024 election,” Brands said. “One is, are the Republicans going to put their foot down and say we are not going to have a President involved in an indictment? The second is, how is this going to affect his approval ratings? So far we can tell amongst Republicans it has gone up, but in the general public, I don’t think he stands much of a chance against the Democrat running because I do not think moderate voters or independent voters will stand for this, so I do think it will hurt him overall. I think it will be interesting to see if the Republican party will stand up against this behavior.”

Overseeing the case is Judge Juan Merchan, who scheduled the next hearing for Dec. 4 of this year. Prosecutors want the trial to begin in early January 2024, but Trump’s team is vouching for a later trial date, sometime in spring of 2024. Judge Merchan has yet to set a trial date.

Saying goodbye to Styrofoam

The material is now prohibited from distribution in San Diego

JESSICA MILLS A&C EDITOR

Effective April 1, Styrofoam products are no longer allowed to be distributed and sold in San Diego. Styrofoam bowls, plates, trays, cups, lids, egg cartons, meat trays and other items are included in the ban — impacting restaurants, food services and plastic manufacturers.

However, some businesses that made less than $500,000 on their most recent Federal tax form have an extension until March 31, 2024, to comply with alternative, plastic options. Likewise, customers can still request plastic straws and utensils.

The ban marks the conclusion of a four-year lawsuit between the city, restaurants and plastic manufacturers. The lawsuit started because many felt that the

ban disregarded reports stating that removing Styrofoam will not reduce litter or trash, and that the alternatives will end up taking their place. The lawsuit document explains that bans on “polystyrene food containers would cause a shift to materials with other significant environmental impacts.”

Many national and regional food chains stopped using polystyrene foam, also known as the brand name Styrofoam, prior to the ruling, due to backlash from concerned customers and environmental groups.

In a press release, the city explained their rationale.

“Polystyrene foam products are typically used one time before being discarded, and due to their light weight can easily become litter. Polystyrene foam litter breaks down into small pieces which do not biodegrade and often end up in streets,

canyons, waterways, storm drains, and eventually the ocean, where it harms wildlife that mistakenly ingests it.”

USD senior Jenny DeSantis believes that this ruling is a great step toward being a more environmentally friendly city.

“I would love to say that our city banning single-use plastics will save the world, but that’s unrealistic. But, I do think that this ban is putting our city on the path toward bettering our interactions with the environment and helping us preserve the world’s ecosystem a little while longer.”

San Diego residents are no longer allowed to use Styrofoam products at city parks and beaches, unless the food is packaged elsewhere and sold in San Diego stores. USD junior Mia Griffiths is not deterred by this.

“I think this ban allows people to see how often we really use

single-use plastics especially in the restaurant/food service industry,” Griffiths said. “It also allows us to actively find better alternatives that are just as good and eliminate the use of single-use plastic.”

While customers can still enjoy dining out, they can now do so with less worry over using non-biodegradable single-use plastics that often end up in San Diego’s scenic environment.

Styrofoam waste does not biodegrade.

Photo courtesy @cityofsandiego/Instagram

Coachella performance controversy Frank Ocean’s weekend one performance

Ocean, from Page 1 as long as I could see Frank. I waited for four hours to see him, and at the end of the night I just felt disrespected to be honest.”

Robb Report explained that Ocean was set to make $4 million per headlining show, $8 million in total for Coachella’s two weekends. Now, they say Ocean will only be paid $4 million, but his performance could further cost the festival.

“There [are] a lot of people making excuses about his performance, but the bottom line is it was unprofessional,” Nomura. “He committed to a performance, he was paid millions, he is aware of the dedication of his fans, and yet he still came on late, didn’t sing with a mic for half the set, and barely thanked everyone at the abrupt ending of his concert.”

Additional reports stated that Ocean had originally decided that his stage would be transformed into an ice rink. Billboard explained that the set up “required more than a month of rehearsals [...] for dozens of other professional hockey and figure skaters.”

Word then spread among the skaters and performers that Ocean had allegedly hurt his ankle, and in the 11th hour, the ice stage was

melted down and deconstructed.

Dan Powers, a former hockey player that was to perform on Ocean’s set and co-host of “Empty Netters Podcast,” said in an episode that “Those figure skaters got cut, not because there was an ice issue, not because there was something wrong. There was no malfunction. [Ocean] just straight-up was like, ‘F–k this. I’m not doing this anymore.’ And [to] these 120 people [he] had bused out here, he was just like, ‘You guys aren’t doing s–t now.’ So it was just a wild flip.”

Furthermore, those set changes reportedly made Ocean late to his own show.

“He was around an hour late, but he did not appear on stage for another 20-30 minutes after the music started playing, so in that sense he was [one] and a half [hours] late,” Nomura said. “I think people expected him to be at least 20-30 minutes late, but an hour and a half is simply just unprofessional.”

Instead, the stage was transformed into one large screen. Among microphones, keyboards and other instruments, Ocean was tucked in a back area. He was hidden from most audience members, unless a camera showed him on the large screen. Ocean would also leave the stage for various lengths of time, while the camera pivoted to DJ Crystalmess or New Orleans artist HaSizzle.

USD senior Sydney Frigerio explained that many of Ocean’s songs were remixed, following unfamiliar tempos that the audience couldn’t sing along to.

“The whole thing was just very ‘off,’ that’s the best way I can describe it,” Frigerio said. “He kept playing remixes of his songs, and he was halfsinging. There was a huge screen covering him the entire time too.”

During his show, Ocean also took the time to talk to the audience about his brother, who passed away from a car accident in 2020.

“He gave his speech that I’m sure everyone on TikTok has seen at this point, about his brother and how they used to go to Coachella a lot, how he missed us [his fans] and how there might be an album coming,” Frigerio said.

Ocean is known as a less traditional artist — he doesn’t tour or release music frequently and lives a very private life. Many viewers said that the reason for his speech and the quality of his performance was due to mental health issues.

“A lot of people are saying he did this because of his anxiety, however there were certain points where he did come a bit further out on stage,” Nomura said. “Knowing that, I feel like being hidden for the majority of the concert definitely took away from the performance. He could have easily just [sat] on a chair with

a spotlight and sang and people would have been beyond happy.”

Each year, Coachella live streams every artists’ performances — often containing exclusive interviews. However, Ocean’s set was the only one not included on the live stream. Rolling Stone said that this was due to the last minute production adjustments. For those in attendance, mixed feelings surfaced regarding the caliber of Ocean’s show.

“On a purely business end of things, he’s being paid millions and millions of dollars for this,” Frigerio said. “You know, he signed a contract and agreed to do this, as an artist and performer, your job is to perform. On kind of a different perspective, I think for people that are at the top of their craft, the public can glorify them and forget that they have lives outside the ones they’re portraying to us. But then, I have this whole thought process of: okay maybe he did sign up thinking he was ready, and then he got there and he [realized] ‘I don’t think I can do this.’”

Just three days after weekend one, Variety Magazine announced that Ocean pulled out of his scheduled, second weekend headline slot due to fractures and a sprained left ankle. In his place, Blink-182 performed. The report included a statement from Ocean saying, “‘It was chaotic. There

is some beauty in chaos. It isn’t what I intended to show, but I did enjoy being out there and I’ll see you soon.’ — Frank Ocean.”

Despite Ocean pulling out of weekend two, USD junior Marco Jimenez enjoyed the festival.

“When I heard that Frank Ocean had dropped out, I was really disappointed. He wasn’t the only reason I got my ticket, of course, but I was really excited to see him, because I’m a huge fan. I tried not to let that ruin it for me because there were still so many other people I wanted to see, I also heard that his weekend [one] set was kind of a mess, so I would’ve been disappointed either way. It didn’t really feel like anything was missing, I still had a blast.”

Like Jimenez, many weekend two attendees were upset by Ocean’s drop-out. Some even doubted the actuality of his injury, once made public.

“I know that a lot of outlets were saying that it was a leg injury, and I think there’s no way that’s true,” Frigerio said. “If I was going to weekend two I’d be pissed. Frank was a huge selling point. But, I hope he’s okay and works it out.”

Overall, the controversy surrounding Frank Ocean’s Coachella 2023 performance generates various conversations about artists, accountability to their fans and their mental and physical well-being.

‘John Mulaney: Baby J’ Comedy Special

Comedian returns after rehab

USD junior Abby Stallard has been watching Mulaney’s work for a while and is looking forward to the release of his new special.

“John Mulaney: Baby J” is coming to Netflix on April 25. This will be John Mulaney’s third Netflix comedy special, following “The Comeback Kid” and “Kid Gorgeous.” Before working with Netflix, Mulaney’s first hour-long TV special was titled “New in Town.”

Recently, Mulaney also created the musical comedy special “John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch.” His new stand-up special will have a very different tone from his previous work, as much of the content is based around his time in rehabilitation.

Mulaney first rose to fame writing for “Saturday Night Live” and has gone on to a full career in comedy and even starred as a voice actor in various films.

His new special is advertised as a “wide-ranging conversation,” looking at Mulaney’s life over recent years. In a teaser for the special coming out, Mulaney jokes about the stories he is telling.

“And as you process and digest how obnoxious, wasteful, and unlikeable that story [from before rehabilitation] is, just remember that’s one I’m willing to tell you.”

“I hope he is really open to the truth and doesn’t put up any barriers. It must be very therapeutic for him to have such honesty about a difficult time in his life, and I think that he can find the humor in his situation and make light of a really grave situation,” Stallard expressed.

In December 2020, Mulaney checked into a rehabilitation facility after his addiction to alcohol, cocaine and prescription drug use flared up after 15 years of being clean.

Mulaney was a guest on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” in late 2021 and opened up about his struggles with becoming sober, his new relationship with Olivia Munn and the baby they were expecting. During the show, Meyers and Mulaney talked about the night when friends of Mulaney came together and staged an intervention to get him the help he needed.

“When I opened the door, I knew it was an intervention. That’s how bad of a drug problem I had,” Mulaney expressed.

“Sitting here tonight, I’m so grateful to you and to everyone

from the tour and will appear in the new stand-up special.

USD senior Cheryl Pham has been watching Mulaney’s specials

to explore important topics and struggles has been done by other performers in the past, and Stallard expressed

how people are receptive to this type of honesty on stage.

“Someone standing on a stage alone talking about themselves in front of a ton of people is honestly the most vulnerable that you can get. Comedy is telling stories and elaborating on the human experience, so I think it will be really powerful,” Stallard explained.

This new comedy special will highlight some of the difficult parts of Mulaney’s rehabilitation, but will keep the same humor his audience is used to.

STELLA SCHNEIDER ASST. A&C EDITOR

Mulaney’s most recent comedy special takes a deep dive into his recent years.

Photo courtesy of @Johnmulaney/Instagram

SATVIKA NITYA ASST. A&C EDITOR

San Diego is known for its beautiful beaches and unspoiled, picturesque weather. But along with these treats for the eyes, the city provides a place for a thriving theater scene.

Whether you love big dramatic productions or smaller, niche tellings of stories, theaters all around San Diego bring plays of all genres to the big stage. Here are four such productions that you cannot miss out on before they close.

Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play

A play set in 1999, tells the story of Ami, an awkward Asian American high schooler whose world comes crashing down after publicly discovering that her family is responsible for manufacturing MSG, the mysterious ingredient getting all the kids addicted. Ami vows to redeem her family name and save the world from MSG.

This whimsical, timetraveling adventure written by Keiko Green and directed by Jesca Prudencio takes the audience on a rollercoaster of a journey through wild teenage crushes, family legacies and the magical properties of instant ramen.

With a run time of one hour and forty minutes, this play opened on April 8 and has received raving reviews from the San Diego Union-Tribune and BroadwayWorld, calling it “smart, heartwarming and hilarious.” Currently playing at the Old Globe, the last day to watch this play is May 7.

The Chronicles of Kalki

This thriller directed by Desireé Clarke serves as an account for the adventures of two highschool girls, Meat and Betty, and the mysterious disappearance of their friend Kalki — who may or may not be an avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu.

With the police hunting down this girl-god and questioning her two friends about her whereabouts, the story follows the impact of Kalki’s constant reappearance and powers on the lives of Meat and Betty. As they journey through high school, they’re left wondering if Kalki is doing God’s work or just there to wreak havoc.

With some left super confused by the play and its content and others super impressed by a simple story of teenage angst amped up by visiting Gods, this production has mixed reviews from critics. But one thing that all critics can agree on is that it is definitely a show to watch for great acting and deep thought.

USD first-year Halle Fernandez shared her reaction to hearing about this play.

“It sounds so interesting and I definitely want to go watch it,” Fernandez said. “The concept

Spotlight on the stage

Must-watch theater productions in San Diego

sounds cool and this story seems different than any plot I’ve seen before but I do think that’s the only area of intrigue. And maybe I need to go watch the play to figure it out but as far as I can see, there is no conflict or moving plot beyond this unique nature of the character.”

This play by Aditi Brennan Kapil premieres in San Diego on May 7 at the Moxie Theatre and runs until June 4.

1776

This Broadway production directed by Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus is filled with rich history, as it transports the audience back to the story of America’s founding fathers and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

A story of two dozen passionate, complicated and alltoo-human individuals trying

to settle their differences while holding the fate of the nation in their hands, this production is filled with musical numbers and complex storylines carried out by a multiracial and diverse cast, a fact that was missing from history the first time around. The play will run May 9 - 14 at the San Diego Civic Theatre and received a Tony for Best Musical, making it a definite Broadway must-watch.

Destiny of Desire

This play is an onstage homage to the joys, tribulations and plot twists of telenovela “Native Gardens” by Karen Zacarías. The story is set in Mexico where two babies are born — one into a life of outlandish wealth, and one into a life of poverty. But the plot gets rolling when the newborns are swapped by a ruthless ex-

beauty queen and this sets forth outrageous misfortunes to grow into an extraordinary destinies for both characters.

Directed by Tony Award winner Ruben SantiagoHudson and filled with vibrant choreography and live music, this play explores emotional rollercoasters and social commentaries, highlighting the art of telenovelas.

USD junior Madison Calderon who grew up watching telenovelas talked about her reaction to hearing this play take the stage.

“Usually when you hear about plays, the stories are usually Eurocentric lens based plays,” Calderon said. “But its so cool to see that telenovelas which is a part of Mexican culture and something that I used to be embarrassed about ‘cause I couldn’t explain it’s

nature to anybody, is now becoming mainstream through a play. But at the same time, it’s kinda also problematic ‘cause it has the potential to send the message that these kind of overdramatized stories are all that Mexican art can offer.”

This play opens on May 19 at the Old Globe Theatre and is set to run until June 25. With critics from the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune naming the play “a zany, funny delight,” this play for sure needs to be added to your list. There are loads of plays set to run in San Diego with a variety of stories and genres coming to the big stage. These productions are in such great proximity to USD with available student discounts; the door is wide open for students to enjoy these theatrical performances.

‘Exotic Deadly: or the MSG Play’ takes viewers on a time traveling journey.

Photo courtesy of @Theoldglobe/Instagram

‘Destiny of Desire’ features live music and engaging choreography.

Photo courtesy of @Theoldglobe/Instagram

‘It’s Natural. Period.’

Women’s Commons and Office of Sustainability talk menstruation

KATIE FOREMAN ASST. FEATURE EDITOR

It was that time of the month — a “Nothing Bundt Feminism” event all about periods and sustainability. Several students — including one male — attended the “Dinner and Dialogue on Period Equity” program held on April 19 at the Women’s Commons, in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability. The forum provided a space to ignite meaningful dialogue about an issue that affects about half of the world’s population over their lifespan: menstruation.

Although menstruation impacts 1.8 billion people every month, it still tends to be a conversation that people push under the rug. At the USD event, topics included the stigma of periods, menstrual cups, colonization, sustainability and the environment, while allowing an honest conversation on a subject that makes some people a little uncomfortable.

USD first-year Devin Becker attended and shared what she learned.

“I definitely learned that I was not alone with period stigmas and stuff like that. I learned a lot about menstrual cups, which was actually really nice, because now I’m gonna get a free one,” Becker explained.

The feminist event even attracted one USD male identifying student, junior Kevin Gray, to attend. The information shared at the dinner get-together was eye opening for him.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming here — I don’t experience

menstruation,” Gray said. “Men don’t really talk about this stuff that much, so I really did not know much when it came to menstrual cycles or anything like that; I learned a bunch, and it was a great experience.”

Students agreed that the topic of menstruation should be talked about by all genders, regardless of whether one has a menstruation cycle. Even if you don’t menstruate, you know someone who does.

USD first-year Shea Salamack shared how the conversation went.

“We talked about normalizing [menstruation] with a lot of conversations, and how guys should also be part of the discussion,” Salamack said.

“It shouldn’t just be something that’s in elementary education targeted toward just girls,” Salamack expressed.

The event itself allowed students to brainstorm phrases and messages that they have been told about having a period. Some of these included: “periods make you crazy” and “periods are something that we don’t talk about.” In discussion groups, students were able to talk about these stigmas and how they made them feel.

“I think it was really about breaking the stigma,” Salamack said. “We talked about our first experience with periods and how it was something that was embarrassing and how the education around it at a young age should be changed, so that people don’t feel that way.”

One of the hosts of the event, a USD first-year and the undergraduate Education Assistant for

the Office of Sustainability, Chase Kendrena, shared how tampons and pads negatively impact the environment.

At the event, students were told how in the span of 38 years, one person who menstruates will dispose of 8,000 to 17,000 tampons/menstrual products. This statistic demonstrated to students how wasteful the prevailing period products are. According to the event, the best solution to this problem: menstrual cups.

Kendrena opened up a safe space for students to share their experiences and to help learn about these small, flexible funnel-shaped cups that are reusable feminine hygiene products. People use the cup, made of rubber or silicone, as an eco-friendly alternative to tampons. There are several benefits to using a menstrual cup, including its affordability, safety and environmental friendliness.

Cost for a menstrual cup is generally between $25-$35 and can be purchased online or over the counter at drugstores.

“I think I really just wanted to have a collaborative space, where we are talking about this topic, because it’s something that I’m pretty passionate about,” Kendrena said. “I had high

expectations that were met.”

As for the students who attended, their eyes were opened to how much waste they produce from menstruation cycles, as well as the fact that there is a sustainable solution.

“Think about how much waste is produced after [using period products], if you’re not used to menstrual cups,” Salamack said. “There’s just so much waste from [period products], and it’s hard to forget about it, but just talking about that and making people aware of that — I think is very important.”

One aspect of the event that stuck out to students was commentary surrounding decolonizing periods. In Native and Indigenous cultures, periods were looked at as something sacred and beautiful — something to celebrate and admire. However, as Native and Indigenous cultures were colonized, the European views of menstruation became mainstream; this view looked at periods as something that makes people dirty and impure. Students discussed the importance of recognizing Native and Indigenous cultures, as well as reframing views of periods to also look at them as something natural and beautiful.

“The more the European

view of [periods] became mainstream as something that was dirty and very stigmatized, so I think that’s interesting,” Salamack said. “I also think it’s important to talk about just to see how Colonialism impacts all these different aspects of life.”

Though the event sparked meaningful conversation and answered guests’ probing questions, there are no additional meetings planned for now. But information about sustainable feminine hygiene flowed freely at the event, equipping people with valuable health resources.

“These types of events are open to everyone to come and discuss and if you don’t like it, that’s okay,” Kendrena said. “Come in, be open and educate yourself and really put that effort into being more aware. I feel like a lot of people are scared of topics like this, but just come in and be prepared to just listen and absorb information.”

The night was both educational and an opportunity for students to gather together and connect. The Women’s Commons and Office of Sustainability have more information about menstrual cups and decolonizing periods on their Instagram accounts @usdwomenscommons and @usdsustain.

Students shared conversations about ways to normalize periods.

Photo courtesy of @usdsustain/Instagram

USD students gathered to discuss their experiences and build community.

Photo courtesy of @usdwomenscommons/Instagram

Robbed of representation

Hollywood’s blatant colorism

JACKIE MARQUEZ OPINION EDITOR

Disney recently announced its live action remake of the animated classic “Lilo and Stitch.” While the movie itself was met with excitement, the film’s casting decisions have garnered mixed reactions.

On Thursday, April 13, The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Sydney Elizabeth Agudong will be playing Lilo’s older sister and guardian, Nani. In the original film, Nani is dark-skinned with black hair and strong indigenous Hawaiian features. While Agudong is of Hawaiian ancestry, the fact that she is fairskinned and lacking indigenous features sparked criticism.

This type of inaccurate representation isn’t uncommon in Hollywood, rather it reflects the film industry’s colorism. Colorism in film is deeply problematic, as it sets a eurocentric beauty standard, puts actors of color at a disadvantage and robs people with darker complexions of representation. Because of this, it is essential that we think critically about the media we watch.

Oxford Languages defines colorism as “prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.” In other words, it’s a bias against people with a dark skin tone. Colorism is often confused with racism, but there is a distinction between the two. Racism is based on a person’s membership to a particular race or ethnic group, while colorism is based on the tone of a person’s skin. Also, racism is often perpetuated by members of a different race. Colorism, however, can be perpetuated by people of the same race or of a different race.

The film industry demonstrates its colorism by filling the roles of dark-skinned characters of color with lightskinned actors. Agudong’s casting in “Lilo and Stitch” isn’t the first time a light-skinned actor has been cast as a darkerskinned character. Disney previously came under fire for its 2019 remake of “Aladdin” where Naomi Scott, a light-skinned English and Indian actress, played Jasmine. Colorism is also evident outside of Disney. In “Nina,” a 2016 biopic about

American singer-songwriter

Nina Simone, Zoe Saldana takes the lead. Simone was a darkskinned black woman, Saldana is not. Broadway musical “In the Heights” also sparked controversy for its casting decisions. The musical takes place in Washington Heights, a primarily Afro-Dominican neighborhood in New York City, yet all main characters were light-skinned or whitepassing. Colorism isn’t just an unfortunate occurrence in Hollywood, it’s a pattern.

The purpose of a live action movie is to reimagine fictional characters as real people, and by recasting characters that are intentionally dark-skinned as light, the industry strips away an important aspect of the character. The stories of people of color are already underrepresented in Hollywood.

According to USC, 73% of Hollywood’s characters are White, while 12% are Black, 5% are Asian, 5% are Hispanic and 4% are other races. The question, then, is why cast light actors over dark skinned actors?

Directors have justified their inaccurate casting decisions by claiming that actors with light skin were simply the most qualified for the job. After being accused of colorism, Jon M. Chu, the director of “In the Heights,” responded that “we [the crew] tried to get the people who were best for those roles.” So, why are light-

skinned people the best people to portray the experiences of people with dark skin?

In whitewashing characters of color, Hollywood further limits the representation of people with dark skin. This ultimately prevents darkskinned people of color from seeing themselves in the media they consume. After news of Agudong’s casting broke, Twitter user @MotivatedUni tweeted “Listen she’s probably a lovely woman but I can’t help but feel disappointed. I wanted Nani to look like me :(“

Her issue with the film’s casting underscores a key issue of colorism: it alienates marginalized people from the big screens. It is imperative that people of color see characters that look like them on the big screen. According to Psychology Today, positive media representation has beneficial impacts on people of marginalized groups. Positive representation can increase self-esteem, reduce stereotypes and provide validation and support. In neglecting to provide this representation, the film industry robs dark skinned people of these benefits. Not only does Hollywood’s colorism decrease representation for darkskinned audiences, it also disadvantages actors of color. The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media found that “Only one-in-five of Black

leading ladies from the past decade have a dark skin tone.” With few dark-skinned women being cast, light-skinned actresses often receive more roles. In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Zendaya, a lightskinned black actress, explained how her skin tone has given her an advantage in the film industry.

“I have a bit of a privilege compared to my darker sisters and brothers,” Zendaya said. “Can I honestly say that I’ve had to face the same racism and struggles as a woman with darker skin? No, I cannot. I have not walked in her shoes and that is unfair of me to say.”

In failing to represent darkskinned people of color, the film industry perpetuates a eurocentric beauty standard. Eurocentric beauty standards favor European features such as fair skin, straight hair and small noses. By primarily casting light-skinned people of color who meet these standards, Hollywood fails to consistently portray people of color with tightly coiled hair, dark skin and large noses as beautiful. In a 2015 interview with The Wrap, Viola Davis weighed in on how colorism in Hollywood shapes what is considered beautiful.

“When you do see a woman of color on screen, the paper-bag test is still very much alive and kicking,” Davis said. “That’s the whole racial aspect of colorism: If you are darker than a paper bag,

then you are not sexy, you are not a woman, you shouldn’t be in the realm of anything that men should desire.”

Although the interview happened a few years ago, Davis’s point still stands. In showing a singular form of beauty, the film industry ultimately devalues nonEuropean features. It suggests that actors of color need to adhere to eurocentric beauty standards to be considered beautiful or worthy of being cast.

In casting light-skinned actors to represent darkskinned characters, Hollywood demonstrates its colorism. It ultimately robs dark-skinned audiences of accurate representation, disadvantages dark-skinned actors and perpetuates a harmful beauty standard.

While colorism goes beyond Hollywood, the narratives shown on screen shape those around race that we see in the real world. Because of this, it is important to be able to recognize colorism in the media. When watching a film or movie, consider who is represented and who is not, and take a look at the kind of roles that people of color play. Being able to critically evaluate how race is depicted in our media and acknowledging prejudice against people with dark skin tones is the first step in countering colorism.

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 animated version of Nani, Lilo’s older sister, has indigenous Hawaiian features. Photo courtesy of @liloandstitch/Instagram

There is a noticable difference between Agudong’s appearance and Nani’s. Photo courtesy of @whoisjaynedoe/Instagram

School shootings and safety

Students need more preparation for potential events

contexts has been linked with emotional desensitization, indicated by low levels of internalizing symptoms.”

With the rise of gun violence across the U.S., especially in schools, people are taking more precaution than ever to ensure their safety. From the increased implementation of security cameras, panic buttons and lockdown protocols, emergency preparedness is a serious issue.

Despite these necessary precautions, mass shootings keep happening. While USD has certain protocols in place, more needs to be done to ensure people’s safety on campus. Students shouldn’t go to school worrying if they’re going to go home at the end of the day, which is why we should assess what is in place on our campus and improve on it to better prioritize the safety of our students.

Mass shootings are occurring more frequently. The Marshall Project, a nonprofit, online journalism organization focusing on issues related to criminal justice in the U.S., found that the U.S. has had more mass shootings in the last five years than ever before. There are many different ways to describe what constitutes a mass shooting, but The Marshall Project description states that a mass shooting is what happens when “a gunman slaughters four or more strangers in a public place.”

According to The Washington Post, there have been approximately 377 school shootings in America since the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. The most recent one happened at the end of last month. According to BBC news, there have been at least 160 mass shootings across the United States so far this year, which is more than the amount of days that have passed in 2023.

Mass shootings have unfortunately accompanied us as we have grown up. They happen so often that many of us, including myself, have become desensitized. Science Direct describes desensitization as a treatment or process that diminishes emotional responsiveness to a negative, aversive or positive stimulus after repeated exposure to it. An article from Psychology Today discusses how The American Academy of Pediatrics and other reputable organizations have found that “exposure to violence at high levels and across multiple

In an article from The Poly Post, the student-run newspaper at Cal Poly Pomona University, students admit to “brushing aside” gun violence especially if they only heard about situations involving it from a school wide email or briefly mentioned in the news. Many of these students also describe that they lack reaction to the effects of it, unless it happened near them. These feelings of desensitization have led students to pay less attention to gun violence when we need to pay more attention than ever.

I recently attended a Public Safety Training on campus for my

be the difference between life and death. These types of drills were a regular practice for me in high school but not in college. Fire drills happen quite frequently on campus, so executing drills is not new to USD. Another concern of mine is the fact that USD is an open campus. Having an open campus allows for anybody to come and go as they please. On top of this, there is a lack of security at entrances to prevent access to the university. Stationing more security officers at these locations would deter people who would not follow the proper procedures from entering campus. Promoting school safety creates a space where students can grow and

for students, full-scale active shooter scenarios are complex issues and can be emotionally and mentally taxing for participants,” Gomez explained.

“And, as mentioned above, public safety is offering active shooter training this semester with two sessions coming up on April 18 and May 2. In addition, an active shooter training video is also available on Public Safety’s website. Over the years, USD has done full-scale active shooter scenarios on campus. Like most universities, fullscale exercises are usually done during summer break or winter session. There are opportunities for students to volunteer, and it is usually an all-day event.”

Gomez also explained

school website that detail this, but since those videos can be overlooked by staff and students. Mandatory viewing of those modules would be beneficial in making a difference in saving lives. This training would be more effective if we not only knew where to find videos of what to do, but if we were practicing those protocols ourselves.

Press also mentioned that full-scale exercises are usually done during summer or winter break rather than the regular school term, due to the emotional nature of drills. The effectiveness of these exercises could be improved by holding them during the semester, when students are actually on campus attending classes. Though these exercises can be heavy emotionally, having them during the school year allows more students to physically practice what they would do, instead of just thinking about it. While this could potentially be emotionally upsetting, preparing for a shooting is arguably less traumatic than experiencing one and not knowing what to do. Ultimately, having required practices for as many people as possible allows as much preparation as possible.

on-campus job. In this training, I learned about protocols that are already in place to keep us safe. The training went over what the protocols entail, how they go into action, as well as how to respond. But the training session and the increased crime on and off campus left me with additional questions about what to do. How do I know how to physically respond besides watching a video or reading about it? Is campus as safe as it presents itself to be? These questions have left certain practices to be desired and implemented on campus.

My first concern with USD was that there are not regular, large-scale schoolshooting drills being practiced by students. Lockdown drills allow for maximum safety in the event of a real life scenario. They provide students with an opportunity to practice skills like barricading doors and finding hiding places in the classroom, and these skills can

learn comfortably and would decrease feelings of anxiousness associated with coming to school.

Because of these concerns, I reached out to Sergeant Ryan Hansen of USD Public Safety, who led the training session I attended. After initially requesting an interview with him and receiving confirmation that he would answer them, I sent my questions to him directly, but received responses from Elena Gomez of USD Press.

Gomez explained why active shooter drills are not as commonplace as fire drills that take place at certain campus locations.

“USD has an emergency operations center (EOC) on campus that is staffed by various personnel from most divisions across campus. The purpose of the EOC is to practice all types of emergency preparedness situations, including active shooter (which we have done). While DPS does offer active shooter training

that alongside numerous technologies already in place, frequent public safety training sessions occur on a routine basis.

“All DPS officers are also trained in active shooter response and protocols and completed their last training in January 2023. USD also works with various local, State, and Federal agencies to ensure ongoing community safety information. Active shooter training is provided during new employee orientation and is also available year-round by request.”

This information, the training I attended and the school’s website demonstrates that USD takes this issue very seriously. But I still think that more can be done.

If the protocols already in place were at their maximum efficiency, myself and other students would know what to do in an emergency situation on campus, beyond the universal steps of ‘Run. Hide. Fight.’ There are videos on the

Gomez made sure to point out in her response, “Our campus is open to the public for those who follow proper protocols while on campus.” An open campus invites general public visitors as well as the campus community to come and go as they please from the property. Just before Easter break, however, the suspect in an assault incident nearby gained access to campus before they were brought into custody. By implementing more physical security measures at entrances, it would make a difference in how accessible our campus is to the people that do not intend to follow the proper procedures.

Much of what I learned is available on the school’s website under ‘Public Safety.’ The website has most of what we need to know about crime prevention, incident reporting and emergency preparedness. These sections are also provided with videos going in more detail about how to proceed. By implementing more security, ma modules and full-scale practices during the regular school session, USD would be making the right decision to better prioritize safety on campus.

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.

ZOE MARIE ZAPANTA ASST. OPINION EDITOR

When it comes to shooting preparedness, most students only know the ‘Run. Hide. Fight.’ protocol.

Photo courtesy of @ABC10/Youtube

LA sports and entertainment trek

Students visit Anaheim and Inglewood to speak with companies

AMARA BROOKS SPORTS EDITOR

With the LA sun shining and a hip-hop beat blaring, 29 students received the opportunity to run out of the Los Angeles’ Rams gameday tunnel and onto the SoFi Stadium field. USD’s Career Development Center (CDC) took a group of students on a Torero Trek to meet representatives with the Anaheim Ducks and SoFi Stadium. I was also able to attend in order to cover and participate in the Trek.

Torero Treks are opportunities for undergraduate students to explore a wide variety of career options by observing and interacting with leading companies in a particular industry. By attending Treks, students gain insider knowledge about the industries they’re interested in while also conversing with alumni or employees in the organization.

On April 21, students interested in a career in the sports and entertainment industry — along with two CDC counselors — trekked up the I-5 to the Honda Center, the home of the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks are a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL). Alongside

The Ducks, students met representatives from OcV!BE, an ongoing community and entertainment development, working in partnership with The Ducks to provide entertainment to Anaheim.

Students started their visit with a panel of representatives from various fields including content production, human resources, media and communications and ticket sales. In the panel, students learned what everyday responsibilities entail in these various roles along with the challenges, while also having the opportunity to ask their own questions. Following the panel, students took an exclusive tour

of the Honda Center, where they got access to the press box, the talent loft, the team bench and could even touch Anaheim’s ice during a meet-and-greet with mascot Wild Wing.

USD senior Mia Webster went into the Trek hoping to pursue a career in sales in tech, and she described how helpful the Trek was; it helped to affirm her decision and also added the possibility of sales in entertainment as well.

“It was very helpful, because I’m about to be going into sales and tech, and I know that it’s very daunting, and it’s not as fun,” Webster stated. “Seeing people that really enjoy their jobs and are excited to go into work everyday and do something different…because [in tech] it’s a grind set and not as enjoyable or fun. I’ve also always loved sports entertainment, and I’ve always put it in the back of my mind and it’s kind of making me reconsider how long I want to stay in tech.”

USD senior Damion Richardson shared how The Ducks’ ability to cater to the

students and meet with Ducks mascot Wild Wing was his favorite part of the Trek.

“Just the genuine opportunities we’ve had,” Richardson explained. “Whether that’s meeting the mascot for the Anaheim Ducks — which was really cool and really interesting — and being able to be surprised with the gift bags was just something so unexpected.”

Webster also enjoyed visiting the Honda Center and explained how the representative’s attentiveness added to the overall experience.

“Going to Honda Center for me was very special, because I grew up in Orange County and my high school played in that stadium. I’ve been to concerts in that stadium and seen Ducks games,” Webster stated. “Just the whole Honda experience. They were so caring and so engaged with us, and it meant the world to me, because they took us seriously as professionals. They really catered the tour specifically to us, which I thought was special.”

After spending the morning with The Ducks, the trek drove 45 minutes westward across the city to the SoFi Stadium, home to the LA Rams and Chargers. The stadium is the first of its kind with state-of-the-art technology and never before seen architectural and technological features. The stadium contains the world’s first two-sided videoboard and 37 earthquakeresistant columns. The stadium is revered and globally known for its accomplishments. Opened in September 2020, the stadium became LA’s newest world-class location for sporting and entertainment events.

At SoFi Stadium, students had the opportunity to converse with three representatives in the tourism and sales sectors of SoFi. Following the panel, the students were led on a thorough tour of the stadium, having access to chairman seat views, walkthroughs of both teams’ locker rooms and finished with various on-field activities. After feeling the rush of running through the tunnel and onto

the field, students were able to pass around footballs and even try to kick a field goal.

CDC counselor Sue Kelly shared her experience of the Trek and enjoyment of what both companies offered students.

“I had a blast,” Kelly shared.

“It was a very fun Trek as a whole [...] there was a nice variety of learning and interacting while also getting physical activity in touring both spaces.”

Richardson tried his hand at a field goal during the tour and shared his excitement around the immersive experience.

“I fully immersed myself,” Richardson claimed. “I loved it […] being able to be on the football fields and the locker rooms.”

The CDC hosted two other Torero Treks this year regarding social impact and media. This particular Trek was special because by communicating with representatives from the Anaheim Ducks, OCV!BE and SoFi Stadium, students were able to ask questions involving various topics like resume and interview skill building.

Students receive a tour of SoFi Stadium, gaining access to chairman seat views, walkthroughs of team locker rooms and the chance to kick a field goal. Amara Brooks/The USD Vista

Students pose for a picture with Anaheim Ducks mascot, Wild Wing. Amara Brooks/The USD Vista

Students learn about SoFi’s innovative technology. Amara Brooks/The USD Vista

Brandon Moore named head of USD football Football head coach announced following ‘retirement’ controversy

AMARA BROOKS SPORTS EDITOR

Associate Vice President and Executive Director Bill McGillis announced on Wednesday, April, 19, that former Colorado School of Mines head coach Brandon Moore will become the new head coach for USD football. The news comes just one month after the program was involved in some controversy regarding previous head coach Dale Lindsey’s debated retirement. In a statement about Lindsey’s retirement on March 21, McGillis only had nice things to say about the program’s winningest coach. However, Lindsey told The San Diego Union-Tribune, “I did not (bleeping) retire.”

Moore made history late last year after leading the Bulldogs to their first ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Championship game his first season with the program. Moore, who was a linebacker at University of Oklahoma, also spent six years playing in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers.

In a statement posted on the football team’s main athletic page, McGillis addressed Moore’s successes, while addressing the legacy Lindsey left on the program.

“As a coach, Brandon has demonstrated an outstanding record of success as a position coach, defensive coordinator and head coach, and he has done so in a highly-competitive academic environment with exceptional students,” McGillis stated. “I am very confident Coach Moore will build on the amazing legacy of Dale Lindsey and the strong foundation of championship success established by all of our former players and coaches.”

A day after the announcement, the team met with Coach Moore for the first time. Junior

safety Maverick Martin shared how just off initial meeting, he could tell the new coach would fit in as one of the team.

“Coach Moore seemed like a really good guy and a really cool coach,” Martin stated. “He’s young, and he showed up to the meeting in Air Force 1’s, which was pretty funny and awesome, because it shows that he’s relatable to us.”

Moore started his coaching career in 2012, staying with Scottsdale Community College for three years before joining Colorado Mines as a Linebackers coach in 2016.

Martin described that Coach Moore’s coaching principles are rooted around love.

“He’s definitely different than any kind of coach I’ve ever had,” Martin explained. “I can tell that so far just because of what he said in his speech. He said that he wants to win, but how he wants to win is through

love. [He] wants the entire team to love each other and know what’s going on in our lives and he wants to be personal with us, and show that he cares about us and we’re more than just football players. With him being a player before himself, he really cares about our mental health, and I’ve never had a head coach say that, especially in my first time meeting them.”

Mentioned in McGillis’ statement, it’s understood that Coach Moore is picking up the “amazing” foundation that former Coach Lindsey left with the program. In the same statement announcing his introduction to the program, Moore spoke on the work he gets to continue with the team.

“The decades-long athletic department success presents an ideal place to call home. I’m grateful to the long list of USD players, coaches and staff that have built the

football program into national prominence and look forward to continuing the climb. We can’t wait to get started.”

Lindsey, who had head coached the program for 10 years, left the program with the fourth best win percentage (72.7%) in Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

Martin shared that Coach Moore coaching the program following Lindsey’s legacy means he gets to coach a team of winners.

“Coach Lindsey’s the G.O.A.T, you know,” Martin claimed. “He left a forever impact on our program and a piece of him in each of his players, but like all things gotta come to an end, and all you can really do is just pick up where Coach Lindsey left off. Coach Moore said today he’s so excited about taking on this team in San Diego, as he’s taking on a team of winners and he’s not taking on a losing program and

trying to make them winners. He’s taking on a winning program and continuing from where we left off.”

When USD football announced the news on their Instagram, the comments were flooded with support and encouragement from both past and current Toreros. Comments such as “pick up where Coach Dale left off. Let the greatness continue” from @chrisdelsantos and “I am a former Torero player and Brandon Moore is probably one of the best men you could get to lead that program outstanding” from @baniszr all spoke to the respected work and reputation Moore has.

The University is hosting a celebration on April 26 to welcome the new coach at Paseo de Colachis. The Toreros will return to the field and start their 2023 season on Sept. 2.

Coach Moore spent seven years playing in the NFL.

Photo courtesy of @minesfb/Instagram

Brandon Moore was announced as USD football’s newest head coach.

Photo courtesy of @USDFootball/Twitter

Moore made history, leading the Bulldogs to a NCAA Division II Championship game.

Photo courtesy of @minesfb/Instagram