Volume 60 Issue 21

THE USD VISTA

Gala 2023 Meows,

define this year’s Met

It’s been about eight months since the Princeton Review dubbed USD as the most beautiful college campus of 2023, marking the first time USD has ranked No. 1 in four years. USD reclaimed its place at the top of the list of 25 schools, beating out 387 other universities in the running. The university has initiated a multitude of changes since this award, most namely the tearing up of the Valley Field for the construction of the new Wellness Center, set to

arrive in fall 2024. Despite these advancements, being No. 1 also comes with economic and environmental costs; while many students are proud of the accomplishment, other students

remain concerned about the potential negative impacts of the university’s aesthetic pursuit.

One ongoing concern regarding the campus’s sustainability is the water usage. As the rainy season passes and the sunny summer days loom upon the school, the demand for water will soon increase again.

USD sophomore Nikki Cardino was drawn to campus because of its beauty, but questions the sustainability of the university’s maintenance practices.

“When I was applying to the school, I would go to all the information sessions, and they seemed more environmentally friendly than they [actually] are,” Cardino said. “There’s always issues with the water systems. Everywhere I look, there’s a broken sprinkler that’s just spewing water everywhere.”

USD senior Sara Timney was also concerned with the university’s water usage, specifically the athletic fields.

See News, page 2

See A&C, page 4

See Feature, page 6 Film

See Opinion, page 10 SD

See Sports, page 11

Flowers blooming on campus in front on the Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice. Kylie Durham/The USD Vista

5

Jared Leto’s cat costume caused mixed reactions.

Photo courtesy of @Metgalaofficial/Instagram

Besides his glittery pearl mask, Lil Nas X wore little else to the Gala.

Photo courtesy of @nytstyle/Instagram

Doja Cat’s gown and makeup paid tribute to Karl’s cat, Choupette. Photo courtesy of @Themetgalaofficial/Instagram

Anok Yai graced the Met’s carpet with a sequine look.

Photo courtesy of @Metgalaofficial/Instagram

Students take a stand against sexual assault

CARE and Center for Health and Wellness commemorate Denim Day

ANJALI DALAL-WHELAN ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Trigger warning for mentions of sexual assault and rape.

USD students and many people around the world observed the 24th “Denim Day” a day of advocacy and awareness for sexual assault prevention on April 26. USD’s Denim Day was sponsored by Campus Assault Resources and Education (CARE) and USD’s Center for Health and Wellness. The day marked USD’s last event of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), following a multitude of other events including Teal Tuesday and the Take Back the Night vigil and march on April 20. CARE and the Center for Health and Wellness called on students to “wear denim to bring awareness to victim blaming and myths that surround sexual violence.”

According to the website of Peace Over Violence, which is the nonprofit that started Denim Day, “the campaign was originally triggered by a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped her rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent.

The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.” After this event in 1998, the first Denim Day was instituted by Peace Over Justice in LA in 1999. For the past 24 years, the simple act of wearing denim on the last Wednesday of April has become a powerful symbol for sexual assault awareness and a reminder that clothing does not impact whether someone is a victim of sexual violence.

USD senior Christina Burns is the lead educator for the relationship sexual intervention program and tabled at Paseo de Colachis to educate on Denim Day, while wearing a full denim jumpsuit. Burns explained why she believed that it was important to commemorate denim day at USD.

“We know that the statistics show that sexual assault is incredibly prevalent in our age group and specifically on college campuses and within different organizations. And so knowing that our community is so impacted by this issue, the more that we bring awareness to it, the more that we shed light on it.” Burns explained. College-age students, especially women, are at high risk for sexual assault. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) reported that 26.4% of female and 6.8% of male undergraduate students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence or incapacitation. Despite the high rate that it occurs, sexual assault is not often discussed and can be seen as taboo. As a result, only 20% of female student victims reported their assaults to law enforcement due to the fear of not being believed or facing consequences for speaking up.

Because of its prevalence, sexual assault is an issue that is very important to many students on USD’s campus. Many showed support for the issue throughout SAAM and on Denim Day.

USD junior Anisa Beckett explained her participation in Denim Day.

“Even though there’s not necessarily a lot that we can do for people who are already victims of sexual assault, I think that calling attention to it and being in solidarity is really important, Beckett stated.”

USD sophomore Emma Heinzen echoed Beckett’s sentiment, adding her reason for participating.

“[Sexual assault] is a very important topic, and it’s not discussed enough, so it it important to be in support of survivors.”

USD sophomore Snigdha Edma said that one thing the university could do about this prevalent issue is provide

education about the topic.

“[We need] more sexual health education, classes and opportunities for students, because I think a lot of times not getting that education might lead to not knowing if you were assaulted, and just having that awareness is really important,” Edma explained.

Sexual assault is an issue

that is extremely important for many students. On Denim Day, USD students expressed their support for victims of sexual assault and called for attention to be brought to the issue. If you or someone you know has faced sexual or relationship violence, resources are available at USD’s Campus Assault Resources and Education website.

USD participates in Denim Day to spread awareness during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Photo courtesy of @bewellusd/ Instagram

From Water Costs, Page 1

“I feel like they overwater it, because I always see water dripping off the edge of the fields,” Timney said.

Despite the appearance that water is going to waste, USD’s Grounds Maintenance Manager, Manny Diaz, assured that water use is always considered. Diaz explained that the irrigation systems used to water plants on campus are zone controlled, with certain areas getting water more frequently than others, in efforts to conserve total water usage. Diaz elaborated on these systems’ efficiency.

“Some areas are more waterheavy, where others aren’t. We use a lot of drip systems, and a lot of smaller nozzles that put out less gallons per minute [for plants that require less water],” Diaz said.

Thanks to practices like zone controlled watering systems, there has been a reduction in USD’s water usage. Dr. Michel Boudrias, chair to both the Environmental and Ocean Sciences (EOSC) Department and USD’s Sustainability Task Force, explained that USD’s water conservation efforts help to promote the campus’s sustainability.

“Over the last decade we’ve saved over 38 million gallons of water per year by doing what we’re doing now,” Boudrias said.

The water conservation alterations made on campus included not only the zonecontrolled sprinkler systems, but also bringing in more plants that are drought-resistant and reducing overall grass cover on campus.

With each new building on campus, more effort is placed into sustainable landscaping. “For instance, the Knauss landscaping has a lot of the right elements,” Boudrias said. “There’s very little grass, and they’ve used plants that are drought-tolerant and are local. That should be the model we use going forward.”

Using drought-tolerant and native plants also helps reduce the amount of manpower needed to maintain the greenery on campus. Luis Martinez was one of the workers who was assigned to the job of maintaining the plants in the Knauss landscaping. He was hired on a six-month contract beginning August of 2022 to keep the building looking new in its opening months. He and his coworkers worked to maintain the plants and grounds. Due to the reduction in water needed for these drought-tolerant plants and the irrigation systems established

on campus, plants do not need to be watered frequently. His interview was translated from Spanish into English for clearer understanding.

“I come in once a week and work for three to four hours,” Martinez said. “In 15 days, if [the plants] don’t get water, they die.”

Diaz explained that aesthetic appeal and sustainability are both considered when determining the amount of droughttolerant plants on campus.

“We’re always pushing toward the sustainability side, toward more drought-tolerant plants, succulents, aloes when we can,” Diaz said. “But still, to keep with the looks of certain areas, we balance it; we can’t have all desert-looking plants here. As much as it would be nice [for sustainability], it wouldn’t fit into the visual architecture.”

Although some students have expressed concern about the sustainability of USD’s campus maintenance, others share their appreciation for attending a campus that is beautiful from one end to another.

USD junior Alec Calvagna recognized the effort to balance the campus’ maintenance and sustainability practices.

“The environmental impact that the school has is justified in its means by educating the entire populace,” Calvagna said. “At a university, practicing moderation is important, and you want to give students the best opportunity to succeed, and that may come at a cost.”

Ashley Sutton, a senior at USD, shared her expectations

on going to a university ranked so highly for its beauty.

“I am disappointed if USD gets anything less than the number one most beautiful campus,” Sutton said. “We spend a lot of money, architectural and landscaping design to ensure this campus is beautiful and it is built into the foundation of our purpose by Mother Rosalie Hill. I love that I go to the most beautiful campus, and even more

so in the most beautiful city.”

Boudrias emphasized that USD promotes a community of changemakers, and student opinion is vital in determining where the university will make changes in campus maintenance.

“Students are the most powerful in making a change,” Boudrias affirmed. “We have done a lot, we have moved forward tremendously, and we’re lucky to have the leadership

now to make a positive change.”

The Princeton Review rankings are also determined by student opinion according to their website via surveys sent out to students at each university. As the days continue to get sunnier, students and faculty look forward to a brighter future mitigating water usage. For students hoping to offer advice and get involved, the Office of Sustainability’s email is sustainability@sandiego.edu.

USD is ranked #1 most beautiful campus by the Princeton Review.

Kylie Durham/The USD Vista

Leaking sprinklers at the main entrance of campus cause puddles on the sidewalk. Abigail Cavizo/The USD Vista

ARTS & CULTURE

Ed Sheeran’s copyright trial

Bigger issues surface within music copyright ethics

The federal court in Manhattan has been privy to witnessing English singersongwriter Ed Sheeran’s trial after being accused of copying American R&B singer Marvin Gaye’s soul classic “Let’s Get It On” (1973). The family of Ed Townsend (Gaye’s co-writer) filed the suit in 2017 against Sheeran’s Grammy-winning ballad “Thinking Out Loud” (2014).

According to New York Times, Townsend’s family claims that the “heart” of “Let’s Get It On” lies in the four-chord progression that repeats throughout the song and accused Sheeran of stealing and copying it.

Replying to those claims, Sheeran’s lawyers argued that those elements are nothing but basic musical building blocks that are open for public use. Sheeran took the witness stand to testify that he co-wrote “Thinking Out Loud” with a fellow singersongwriter, Amy Wadge, about personal experiences.

Even though this case pertains to Sheeran, Gaye and Townsend, many artists and producers are keeping a close watch on the progression and outcome of this trial to see

over copyright issues, the rules around what can be owned by an artist, protected by copyright and what can land them into legal challenges remain blurry.

USD sophomore

Nicole Sevcikova talked about her opinion on this evolving topic of copyright

I definitely think giving writing credits is the minimum.”

The process of deciding what gives a song a “distinguished sound” is completely subjective. In court cases, that decision lies in the hands of the jury. And what makes the issue more complicated is the

by Fergie are popular examples of using samples.

Legally, an artist must get permission from the original artist that the music belongs to before reworking it into new music. But with so many rules surrounding music production, the apprehension and uncertainty of asking permission translates in different ways for various producers.

USD sophomore Rayan Pal, an independent producer, has worked on tracks with artists before and talked about his experience navigating the complex rules of the industry.

“When I was starting out, I was initially scared of all the rules, but the music industry is such a toxic place where everyone who has resources spends billions of dollars to get those legal clearances and use samples,” Pal said. “There is an obvious unfairness between independent artists and bigger performers. Samples are used all the time, so I’ve chosen not to be scared and let it curb my creative expression. But I think everyone that’s suing over elements for public use is doing it for the money.”

“USD CAS counts as an educational account on Instagram, which restricts us from using certain audios,” said Gil. “Trending audios that allow us to increase the reach of our content are usually something Instagram doesn’t let us use, even if I can use them on my personal account. It doesn’t necessarily make it harder to create content ‘cause you get used to it, but you certainly lose out on audiences because of it.”

Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have a library of music on the app that is an aggregate of music that is entirely royalty-free and copyright safe to be used in videos by consumers. Using original audio uploaded by others on the apps is also legal as long as you’re directly using their audio with the name that they’ve given it.

But when using your own original audio, you cannot use a song in your video that is not in the app library and you have not paid for. You can certainly make this video content, but putting it online, especially if you are making money from it, breaks copyright law.

what impact it could have on the overall music industry.

This trial is a recent addition to a long list of infringement suits that have unfolded in the past few decades. From Dua Lipa and The Weeknd to Led Zeppelin and Pharrell Williams, many artists have landed in the middle of major trials, with varying outcomes.

But after dozens of trials

issues and artistic credits.

“I don’t think it’s right to use someone else’s music without giving credit,” Sevcikova said.

“But it’s complicated, because if it’s a set of chords that are just chosen and placed together, then it’s not something you can sue someone over. But if it sounds exactly like or very similar to an iconic signature that distinguishes a song, then

tricky nature of legal issues surrounding the use of samples.

A sample is a section of an existing song that is worked into creating a new track, a trend that is very prevalent in the music industry. Currently, famous songs like “Super Freaky Girl” by Nicki Minaj sampling from “Super Freak” by Rick James and “First Class” by Jack Harlow sampling “Glamorous”

Music copyright issues also threaten regular social media users, as well as producers. Uploading videos or audio to social media without crediting or using copyrightfree music can pose the danger of copyright infringement claims, which makes the job of a content creator, podcast or radio host, digital marketer or advertiser more difficult.

USD senior Arlene Gil who handles social media for USD College of Arts and Sciences, talked about her experience dealing with music on Instagram.

Although Instagram and TikTok have implemented this style of copyright-free music, platforms like YouTube still face the constant issue of claims and copying. There is no app library for YouTube which makes it ten times harder to upload any kind of music that is not yours, even if it’s just background music.

Though audiences and consumers have adapted to copyright issues, working around the rules of the music industry that constantly keep changing remains complex, both for users and creators.

SATVIKA NITYA ASST.

Ed Sheeran maintains that Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” had no influence on his song “Thinking Out Loud.”

Photo courtesy of @Teddysphotos/Instagram

Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” has over 257 million listens on Spotify.

Photo courtesy of @Officialmarvingayemusic/Instagram

A METropolitan night

The 2023 Met Gala and its controversial theme explained

JESSICA MILLS ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Popularly referred to as “fashion’s biggest night out,” this year’s Met Gala theme honored the late Karl Lagerfeld, well known for his work as the creative director of the French fashion house Chanel.

Annually held at New York’s Metropolitan Museum on the first Monday of May, highprofile celebrities, influencers and people of affluence graced the event’s “red” carpet with one-of-a-kind looks that adhere to the theme of “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.”

The Met Gala is organized and presided over by Anna Wintour, who has served as the Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue magazine since 1988. But, the event dates back to 1948, initially established by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert. The gala acts as a charity fundraiser for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and raises eight-figure sums each year, according to Vogue. Each year various attendees are chosen to host the Gala. Penélope Cruz, Michaela Coel, Roger Federer, Dua Lipa and Wintour were this year’s hosts.

Lagerfeld is a major name in the fashion world. He entered the industry when he started working with Pierre Balmain, who founded the French luxury fashion house Balmain in 1945.

Lagerfeld worked as Balmain’s assistant after winning a coat designing competition in 1955. This path eventually led to his work with fashion houses Tiziano, Chloé, Curiel and Fendi. Lagerfeld is widely known for his ready-to-wear collections with Fendi, where he worked for over 50 years. This time stamp was explained as both impressive and unique in a Harper’s Bazaar article, “In today’s transient world, where designers are lucky if they last four seasons, five decades is a remarkable feat.”

Furthermore, Lagerfeld served as Chanel’s creative director from 1983 until his passing in 2019. Vogue cites his designs as giving Chanel a “facelift.” While with Chanel, Lagerfeld was known to play with many different designs and materials including tweed, “the little black dress,” quilting, golden chains and even the number five — a name given to one of Chanel’s most popular perfumes. Lagerfeld also created Chanel’s famous double-C logo.

In 1984, Lagerfeld founded his own ready-to-wear fashion house, Karl Lagerfeld. The brand features luxury fashion, accessories, shoes and more. The company was sold to the Tommy Hilfiger Group in 2005 and is currently owned by Investment Fund Apax Partners, as reported by Vogue Business.

Because Karl worked with multiple fashion houses, some

attendees pulled from archived fashion designs, while others donned outfits synonymous to Lagerfeld’s own attire.

USD senior Haily Hirmez loved actress Keke Palmer’s tweed look.

“It was classy and sophisticated, without looking unrealistic and over the top,” Hirmez said. “The pearls and the rhinestones made the dress shine in a subtle way.”

Although this was a favored look for Hirmez, she felt that many others fell flat.

“Almost all looks flopped for me,” Hirmez explained. “But the biggest flops in my opinion were Gigi Hadid’s, Janelle Monae’s and Kylie Jenner’s. Gigi’s looked like a Halloween costume, Janelle’s was not even a dress, but rather a hanging cage, and Kylie’s looked like she was wrapped in a comforter. Jared Leto’s cat costume was also a major flop. He wore a cat costume to a highly esteemed gala… need more be said?”

USD junior Yana Kouretas enjoyed Jared Leto and Doja Cat’s take on the theme.

“I thought that Jared Leto and Doja Cat, who impersonated Karl’s cat — which I thought was absolutely hilarious and a funny take on the theme — shows that

it doesn’t have to be as serious.”

Musical artist Lil Nas X attended the gala nearly naked and covered in silver crystals. Wearing a silver and pearlstudded mask with whiskers, it seemed he also paid tribute to Choupette, Karl’s cat. Nicole Kidman went for a more nostalgic look and donned the Chanel dress from her 2004 Chanel No. 5 commercial.

Anok Yai was awarded “Best Glow” of the night from the Cut, for her luminous skin and jellyfish-like gold and silver sequined dress by designer Prabal Gurung. Also popular across social media platforms and news outlets was Pedro Pascal’s Valentino black tie outfit. The actor bared his legs with a pair of black shorts, black boots and red overcoat ensemble. Although many celebrities attended the event, the theme sparked both criticism and controversy. Lagerfield has a history of making fatphobic, racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments. He has also spoken against the #MeToo movement and sexual assault survivors, telling the fashion magazine Numeró that he was “fed up” with the movement, according to the Chicago Tribune. In an interview with German fashion magazine Focus he

expressed that “no one wants to see curvy women,” among other harmful comments. Lagerfield also spoke out against same-sex marriage and gay male couples adopting babies. He told Vice in 2010 that he “believe[d] more in the relationship between mother and child than in that between father and child.”

Although many happily attended the event, other celebrities decided to sit this year out. Actor Jameela Jamil shared her thoughts on Instagram in October 2022 saying, “This man...was indeed, supremely talented, but used his platform is such a distinctly hateful way, mostly towards women, so repeatedly and up until the last years of his life, showing no remorse, offering no atonement, no apology, no help to groups he attacked... there was no explanation for his cruel outbursts.”

While most celebrities dressed in black-and-white, true to many of Lagerfeld’s Chanel designs and his own wardrobe, others took to protesting on the actual carpet. Viola Davis however, wore a bright pink gown fit with feathers, sequins and a long train. Lagerfeld “famously hated the color pink,” according to Buzzfeed and

many wondered whether this was Davis’ own form of protest.

Kouretas wasn’t entirely shocked by the choice of theme.

“I think they could have done more, in terms of choosing a better theme,” Kouretas said. “I’m not surprised that they attributed it to Karl, it’s just unfortunate given his reputation. But, I don’t think that the fashion industry is going to stand up for issues [that he causes] unfortunately.”

Similarly, Hirmez questioned the necessity of the event altogether.

“I think the event is unnecessary,” Hirmez stated.

“In my opinion, when you’re raising money for a good cause, all should be able to contribute. It should not just be to those who are famous.”

Lagerfeld isn’t the only designer that has been singled out for the Gala. In 1973, the event honored Balenciaga, Christian Dior in 1996 and many others throughout the years.

From high-end couture to ready-to-wear fashion, Lagerfeld was coined one of the world’s most decorated fashion designers. While his influence will likely remain for future decades, many question Karl Lagerfeld’s public, frequent and recent comments.

Michaela Coel was one of this year’s hosts.

Photo courtesy of @Themetgalaofficial/Instagram

Kidman wore the 2004 Chanel gown from her famous No.5 commercial.

Photo courtesy of @Themetgalaofficial/Instagram

Keke Palmer’s dress followed Karl and Chanel’s popular use of tweed.

Photo courtesy of @Themetgalaofficial/Instagram

Pascal showed some leg at this year’s gala.

Photo courtesy of @Vanityfair/Instagram

University Ministry hosts second Coffee House ever

USD community gathered to share coffee, faith stories and community

LAUREN CEBALLOS FEATURE EDITOR

On April 26, USD’s University Ministry hosted their second ever “Coffee House.” Students, faculty and friends gathered to hear speakers share their life’s journey between “comfort and chaos,” which was the theme for the night.

The first Coffee House invited students who were not yet involved with University Ministry to a welcoming and open environment, accomplishing the goal of Director of University Ministry Christian Santa Maria.

The evening’s hosts were USD sophomores Adam Bretsch and Taylor Polcyn, joined by USD senior Megan Monroe and sophomores David Campos and Izzie Ramirez, who were the musical hosts for the evening. Speakers included USD sophomore Carly O’Rear, USD graduate Soledad Parra and USD senior Mitchell Valine.

In the Ministry Center, coffee, sweets, the comforting environment of warm colored lights, musical ambiance and cozy couches provided students with a place where they were “able to listen and talk about their experience with real life and lived faith,” according to @usdministry on Instagram.

Bretsch and Polcyn opened the night by introducing the theme of “Comfort and Chaos,” setting the tone for the event. Monroe and Campos were then welcomed, singing a compilation of songs addressing different feelings, stages and experiences in college.

Monroe shared her favorite song of the night.

“The song ‘Changes’ by Joy Oladokun. I sang it with Izzie. You know when you hear a song, and it just feels like exactly what you need to hear in that moment, ever since then that song has been so important to me, and I was so happy to sing it tonight,” Monroe said.

Bretsch shared his favorite part of the night.

“It’s got to be the music for me. The music tells a story in a way that words just can’t, which is so beautiful so everyone that just helped out with that… they’re all just incredible, amazing people and to hear them sing and really represent what Coffee House is all about is just beautiful.”

O’Rear was the first speaker, sharing her experience from a few weeks ago while singing a Celtic song with the Founder’s Chapel Choir. She described feeling “swirly,” the possible feeling that God was showing himself through song.

“Is it the chemicals in my brain or everything that I wanted it to be?” she questioned.

O’Rear then sang a song

that she wrote, as a form of storytelling, that reflected on the power and presence of God. Her lyrics pondered her question.

“I really don’t know clouds at all… I really don’t know love at all… Friends say I’ve changed, something’s lost, well something’s changed, I really don’t know life at all,” she sang.

Soledad Parra was the second storyteller, sharing her experience of how COVID-19 changed her plans. Parra had a trip planned, but then her mom got COVID19, and she had to stay home and take care of her. Parra shared her realizations from the experience.

“It was definitely God speaking to me in a way that I had never been spoken to… God was definitely showing me the places in my heart that were very, very wounded… An opportunity to just let something else happen, versus controlling it.”

Valine was the final speaker, sharing an anecdote about his life experiences. Valine explained how one day, his car door windows would not roll up, and when he parked his car, “Sunny,” he put all of his faith in a sticky notes that read “Windows broken, please don’t break in to my car, *smiley face.*”

Valine compared himself to Sunny.

“I’m kinda like Sunny, however my metaphorical sticky note wasn’t gonna stay sticky forever,” Valine said.

He later realized, “I had tried to hide all the parts of myself that I didn’t want to look at, but really those parts make me whole along with the good parts too… I was grounded to love fullness and life.”

One of the hosts, Polcyn, shared her opinion on the speakers.

“I loved hearing all the storytellers, I think they had a lot of really good stuff to share. I adore all of them, I think they’re wonderful, really vulnerable, which I think not a lot of people can get up in front of an audience and do,” Polcyn said.

Alec Hartman, Associate University Minister, shared his reaction to the evening.

“After tonight just with the music and the story sharing and with the MCs I’m just feeling really grateful for the creative ways that people were willing to share their stories and just the willingness to break open their stories for the benefit of everyone, and I think everyone can really take a lot from this tonight,” Hartman said.

USD senior Katherine Seto discussed Coffee House from the planning committee standpoint.

“We try to make this the least formal UM event, something way more casual where people feel that they can really be a part of something, even if they are not like a regular massgoer or anything like that, a comfortable space. And our focus

is on the intersection of real life and lived faith,” Seto said.

At the very end of the night, University Ministry presented all attendees with a question: “What remains with you?”

Seto pondered the question, before producing an answer.

“The idea of leaning into whatever it is I’m experiencing, and there is always a plan for me, whether I can see it or not, and even in the hard times, that it is important to remember that there’s something in the works that’s better than I could ever imagine,” Seto said.

Polcyn was inspired by the shared experience of being together with others.

“Definitely just the

overwhelming feeling of community, there are a lot of people in this room that I don’t know but the smiles and the way that they greet each other and just the warmth that I feel in here remains with me anytime I leave anything with University Ministry people, but especially Coffee House,” Polcyn said.

Monroe was in agreement.

“The strength of the community that I have built here. To be able to look out at all these faces that like have become so integral in my time here, and especially through University Ministry, these people are so deeply intertwined in my life and Coffee House is just like a tangible way to recognize that, and see all these people who I

love so much, and the community that I have built,” Monroe said. Bretsch explained what remained with him.

“So much peace, so much love, so much togetherness… It’s truly beautiful to be able to share that vulnerability with everybody and have everyone listen and be truly intent and feel the love,” Bretsch said.

Coffee House provided an environment that cultivated community amongst students. Speakers shared their journeys about a lived faith. The storytellers and musical storytellers worked together to create a comfortable space for all students to sit back, relax, and embrace the community of University Ministry.

University Ministry celebrated a successful night at Coffee House.

Photo courtesy of @usdministry/Instagram

Megan Monroe and David Campos led the night with musical storytelling. Photo courtesy of @usdministry/Instagram

Myths about sexual assault

Why these misconceptions must be combatted

KATIE FOREMAN ASST. FEATURE EDITOR

Trigger Warning: topics of sexual assault, rape and consent.

As we look back at April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, it is important to combat myths that are commonly spread about sexual assault. Sexual assault is a topic that nobody enjoys talking about, but addressing it helps fight misconceptions around survivors.

Sexual assault is sadly more prevalent than many realize; according to Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, a person in America is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds. It is important to note that sexual assault can be anything from unwanted touching and grabbing to rape. The fact that this is such a common occurrence means that there needs to be more conversations and better education around this topic. Survivors of sexual assault are more than just a statistic, they are human beings.

A note for all survivors of sexual assault and rape from a fellow survivor — you are not alone, you are seen, and you are valued. This list is not meant to trigger anyone, but to let people know that their experiences are valid, and the myths they may have heard are untrue.

Myth #1: “It’s your fault.”

A common misconception about sexual assault is that the blame should fall on the victim, rather than the perpetrator. A multitude of reasons for this misguided blame include: clothing, behavior or if the victim was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. However, none of these reasons ever excuse sexual assault or rape. Saying this often deflects blame from the perpetrator. It is not a victim’s fault what happened to them. This victimblaming must be stopped — it not only harms the victim, but it makes them question the validity of their experience and reluctant to speak out.

Victims may already have a hard time validating themselves so it is important to listen and validate their stories so they know they are not to blame. It is true that there are cases where people come out with false

accusations of sexual assault, but according to Brown University, only 2-10% of sexual assault cases are false allegations. We must acknowledge survivors’ stories, and stand with them.

Myth #2: “Assault is only done by strangers.”

Sexual assault can happen from someone you are dating, from friends or someone you’re related to. Just because you knew them prior to the assault does not mean that it was not assault. In fact, according to New Hope, the most commonly reported sexual assault is from someone the victim knew already. perpetuating the idea that it isn’t assault if it’s done by someone you know invalidates victims’ experiences — this continues to erase the experiences of victims. Just because you are in a relationship with someone does not mean they no longer require your consent. It does not matter how serious the relationship is, consent must always be asked for. Whether dating or married, relationships are meant to respect and protect your boundaries, not violate them. Your experience matters, no matter who hurt you.

Myth #3: “You were drinking, what did you expect?”

It does not matter how intoxicated you were, you did not ask to be assaulted. Many people assert that if you were drunk or under the influence of drugs, you are responsible for what happened to you. This is false; being under the influence is not an invitation to be assaulted. According to RAINN, “Consent cannot be given by individuals who are underage, intoxicated or incapacitated by drugs or alcohol, or asleep or unconscious.” You did not ask for this. Do not let anyone tell you differently. By putting the blame onto what the victim was using, this myth takes away from the severity of the crime that was committed by the perpetrator.

Myth #4:

“You were asking for it by the way you were dressed.”

Rape culture asserts that the way someone is dressed is the reason for their assault. This message is disturbing. It doesn’t matter how much or how little you were wearing; your clothing is never a reason for assault to occur. There is an exhibit called

“What You Were Wearing” that breaks down the myth about assault and rape happening because of what someone wore. Outfits in this exhibit include: scrubs and an XL sweatshirt, play clothes, a Sunday dress, a t-shirt & pants/shorts and pjs. What you were wearing did not determine what happened to you — this belief allows people to put the blame onto the victim and completely removes any sort of consequences or repercussions for the perpetrator. Rape and assault only occur because of perpetrators, not because of victims.

Myth #5:

“It wasn’t violent, so it wasn’t sexual assault.”

It doesn’t have to be violent or aggressive for it to be sexual assault or rape. People may discount their own experience, if it doesn’t align with how the media portrays assault (which is shown to be violent). Assault occurs in a variety of ways and does not have to be physically or verbally aggressive to be assault.

According to Professor of University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Heather L. Littleton, “The more someone’s experience with rape differs from their [the media’s] script … the less likely they are to label it as such. In other words, their experience does not match what they think rape looks like; maybe they trusted the assailant, the assault was not violent, they did not resist strongly or the perpetrator was a woman.” Professor Littleton cites research that states 60% of women-identifying victims of sexual assault did not regard their experience as assault, for they believed it was a “miscommunication.” This myth that assault has to be violent to be real must be combatted to stop the erasure of victim’s experiences.

Myth #6:

“You didn’t say ‘No,” so it wasn’t assault”

Just because you didn’t say the words “no” does not mean you said “yes.” According to KMD Law in 2021, often when victims are in the moment of the assault, they face a trauma response of freezing up and this may mean that they were unable to say the exact word “no”. However, this does not mean that the victim consented. Silence is not the same as an affirmative “yes.”

Myth #7: “You’re being

dramatic.”

Many victims of assault are shut down when telling their stories. Some are told that they are being dramatic or making it up. However, socalled “dramatic” responses are actually the body’s reaction to the trauma they face. According to Very Well Mind, about 70% of survivors of assault deal with extreme levels of trauma and around 45% of survivors reported symptoms of PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). RAINN states that for survivors facing PTSD, their emotions are more intense and may even make them feel like they are in constant danger. Survivors are not “dramatic” for having strong responses, rather they are responding to a traumatic experience.

Myth #8: “It only happens to women.”

It is true that women get assaulted at higher rates than men, transgender and nonbinary people, but that does not invalidate or eliminate the experience of men, transgender people or nonbinary people. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 81% of women vs. 43% of men and 47% of transgender and nonbinary people face some form of sexual assault or harassment in their lifetime. No matter what your gender, you do not deserve what happened to you and your experience is valid.

Myth #9: “You said yes before you said no.”

You can change your mind at any time when engaging in sexual activities. It doesn’t matter if you started out with an enthusiastic “yes”; if you decide that you no longer want to be in that situation, you have every right to say no and change your mind. Consent is defined by RAINN as “an agreement between participants to engage in sexual activity. Consent should be clearly and freely communicated.” RAINN goes on to say, “You can withdraw consent at any point if you feel uncomfortable. One way to do this is to clearly communicate to your partner that you are no longer comfortable with this activity and wish to stop.”

Myth #10:

“You didn’t report it, so it must not have happened.”

Not reporting your experience does not take away from the truth or validity of your situation. According to RAINN, More than two out of three sexual assault and rape cases go unreported by victims, and this can be due to multiple reasons: fear of the perpetrator, fear that the police won’t do anything or take it seriously, the belief that it is a personal matter that the victim can handle themself, and more.

The fear of your story not being taken seriously by the legal system can sadly be true — according to the University of Massachusetts Lowell, less than seven percent of rape and sexual assault cases resulted in convictions over the span of two years. Given this statistic, it is understandable why many survivors do not want to come forward with their stories, but that does not eliminate the validity of their experience.

While this statistic can be discouraging, it doesn’t mean you can’t get justice. It is your choice whether or not you want to report what happened to you. Each victim’s story is theirs to tell and if they choose not to report it, that should be respected.

Being aware of these myths allows us to identify and combat them when they come up. Victim-blaming and rape-culture are sadly so engrained into our society that we push these issues under the rug. It is time to shed light on these serious crimes and the culture around them.

For anyone who is dealing with sexual violence at home, in a relationship, or from your past, you are not alone. Campus resources for anyone facing sexual or relationship violence are available at https:// www.sandiego.edu/care/.

You can also call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800656-4673 or visit their website at https://www.rainn.org/ about-national-sexual-assaulttelephone-hotline for more information and resources.

To report sexual assault and/ or rape to the police, go to https://www.sandiego.gov/ police/services/sexual-assault.

To survivors and those who know survivors of assault or rape, offer yourself and those you know support. There are so many resources to get help and it is nothing to be ashamed of. From one survivor to another, you are loved — keep on fighting.

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.

OPINION

Awful adaptations: remastered

Adaptations shouldn’t be too similar to the source

One of the most popular video game franchises of all time, “Super Mario Bros.” has just received its first theatrical adaptation since 1993. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” released on April 5, 2023, was met with a $377 million global box office opening, the biggest opening for an animated film ever. It will most likely go down as one of the most lucrative adaptations in cinema history, alongside the “Lord of the Rings” and The Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Audiences loved “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” giving it a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, but critics not so much as the critic score on Rotten Tomatoes is 59%. In one word, the critical response has been “meh,” with many citing the lack of characterization and plot. Critics and audiences are butting heads once again, and I find myself somewhere in the middle.

As a Mario fan, I enjoyed “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” but as a film lover, this movie plays it too safe. There is a reference to the source material in every frame. It’s like jangling keys in front of a toddler in hopes of calming them. Even characters

original to the movie are references. Take for instance Mario and Luigi’s father and uncle, who have never been seen or mentioned in the source material. Even though they are “original,” they bear a striking resemblance to Talon and Ingo, two characters from another Nintendo intellectual property, “The Legend of Zelda.” So even characters original to the film are references to pre-existing characters.

It’s a shame, because the parts of the film that were original were the parts I enjoyed the most, especially Bowser’s musical number. It’s as if the film is constantly on its knees begging the audience to pay attention, and it’s very patronizing.

I know my last article on video game adaptations called for more faithfulness to the source material, but a complete regurgitation of the material still can’t replace a compelling story, good writing or unique characterization.

In my last article, “The last of awful adaptations,” I talked about season one of “The Last of Us” on HBO Max, and how it’s so great because it follows the game closely.

At the time of writing that article, only the first two episodes of that show had been released. After the release of the article, I saw episode three and my mind changed. The meat of episode three of “The Last of Us” was completely original, yet it was a televised masterpiece. Critics and audiences agree as well, with IGN even giving it the highest score among any episode in the season. Even though it wasn’t from the game, “The Last of Us” episode three was amazing, and by far one of the most popular from the season.

This is evidence that taking risks with the source material can yield something audiences and critics can equally like. By stepping outside the comfort zone of telling the exact same story as the game, “The Last of Us” show gave us something new for old and new fans to enjoy.

Some may argue that “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” doesn’t need to be a groundbreaking film. After all, “Super Mario Bros” as a franchise is not known for its compelling stories. Mario is meant to be a versatile mascot and is used in a number of different video game genres.

But a character like Joel from “The Last of Us” would look out of place playing tennis or racing a go kart. Despite this, the “Super Mario Bros” is known for originality. Every new Mario game features new ideas, new ways to play, new settings and characters. Mario games do not dwell on old ideas, but instead expand on new ones. However, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” didn’t try anything new. The newest thing it tries is that Luigi is captured by Bowser instead of Princess Peach. As such, originality is one of the lacking references in “The Super Mario Bros Movie”

“The Last of Us” and “Super Mario Bros” video game series are on the complete opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to what they are trying to achieve. “The Last of Us” show wants to create stories, and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” wants to create family fun, no matter what.

Just because “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” prioritizes family fun, doesn’t excuse it for heavily depending on references to create that fun.

If you’ve played a “Super

Mario Bros” game, you’ll know the best part is how unique each game is, and how that uniqueness and risk strengthens the game instead of diluting it. Wouldn’t you want the same standard to be applied to a Mario movie?

Studios need to realize that 90 minutes of cameos and easter eggs may work to make an egregious amount of money, but it won’t keep audiences engaged forever. I think audiences need to watch out for adaptations that play it safe, because there is no reason to watch a Mario movie that only shows you everything you’ve seen in a Mario game. There were many original moments in the film I liked. However, the film does push the limit for how many references I want in a film, and I definitely don’t want to encourage the making of films that rely so heavily on recognition instead of plot and character arcs.

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” could set a precedent for all adaptations to become indulgent of the source material instead of respectful, which would be tragic.

RONNIE SAENZ CONTRIBUTOR

Poster for “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”

Photo courtesy of @supermariomovie/Instagram

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” was well received by audiences.

Photo courtesy of @supermariomovie/Instagram

Half a marathon, whole lot of fun Students run 13.1 miles around the San Diego Bay

When most people hear the word “marathon,” images of Olympic gold medalists and “Forrest Gump” pop into their minds. Originating from the city of Marathon, Greece, running a marathon has become popularized all around the world as a bucket list item or a lofty athletic goal. San Diego hosts many running events throughout the year, from marathons (26.2 miles) to 5K races (3.1 miles). On Sunday, April 23, thousands of runners lined up to participate in the annual San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon, including many USD students and faculty.

While running a marathon, or even half a marathon, may seem like a daunting task, you do not need to be a “runner” to participate.

One self-described “nonrunner” who ran the half marathon is USD junior Kate Haarmann. Haarmann signed up for the race in November with a group of friends just for fun and started at the beginning of the spring semester. At first, Haarmann was not sold on the idea of running for so many miles.

“I didn’t get the hype…why would you willingly run that far at one time?” Haarmann stated.

Nonetheless, she participated in a 12-week training program, during which she ran four times a week with an increased mileage every week, building her endurance from barely finishing two miles, to confidently running ten. Haarmann emphasized the importance of being disciplined and showing up for yourself every single day during training.

USD senior Maile Nomura also began her training with nearly no previous running experience. Similarly, Nomura began training in February by running five times a week and sticking to an organized schedule through a running app. Nomura decided to sign up for the race to surprise her family

and friends, trying to disprove the assumption they held that she does not exercise much.

Alongside runners who began training specifically for the marathon were people like USD senior Oscar Rubio, who has been consistently running since he was in high school. As a member of USD’s cross country club team, Rubio signed up to join some of his friends on the team only a month before the race. While a seasoned runner, Rubio still faced roadblocks during his training. Unfortunately, he injured his Achilles tendon only two weeks before the race from running twenty seven miles in two days. This did not stop Rubio, however, and turned his perspective from running as competition to running for fun.

Like most half marathons, the San Diego Beach & Bay race started early in the morning at 6:30 a.m., forcing runners to wake up before the crack of dawn to prepare. Experienced or not, everyone felt the nervous anticipation in the air.

“I was a bundle of

nerves,” Haarmann recounts. “I don’t think I slept at all the night before.”

The race began by the bay on E Mission Bay Dr, and continued past SeaWorld to South Mission Beach, up to Pacific Beach before looping back to the start.

While running is a solo sport, the half marathon participants emphasized how it was the support of their friends and family that helped them cross the finish line. Haarmann explained how her sorority sisters, roommates and parents stationed themselves at different points on the course to give her a boost of encouragement.

“At mile eleven, I saw my friends drive alongside me in the parking lot, videoing me and cheering me on,” Haarmann explained.“That’s when the run got really hard, so they kept me going for the last tough bit.”

This sense of community was also created within the half marathon runners themselves. Both Rubio and Nomura met people along their run who encouraged them to keep going.

Rubio met a fellow college student at mile eight, who he built an immediate bond with. The pair pushed each other until the very end, supporting each other when the other felt tired. He also noted that he ran into one of his USD professors, who gave him a handshake after completing the race.

Nomura, who ran the race alone, felt support from complete strangers running alongside her.

“At mile 10 I started walking, but a woman behind me wouldn’t let me and yelled at me in support to keep going.”

All this encouragement led these USD students, alongside the 2,500 other runners to the finish line. Just having completed a major accomplishment, crossing the finish line entails a huge celebration of hard work and (finally) being able to sit down. Subsequently, the rest of the day requires lots of rest, food and water for the runners. While physically draining, the adrenaline and pride a half marathon provides is unmatched.

“It’s a different type

of reward,” Nomura said.

As it was their first ever half marathon, all three of these USD students did not know what to expect. After training, running and recovery, the consensus was unanimous: everyone who’s able should run a half marathon at some point in their lives.

“Do it, do it, do it!” exclaimed Haarmann. “You are so much more capable than you think.”

Even without much official training and an injured ACL, Rubio was likewise enthusiastic about anyone running the race.

“It surprised me what your body could do if you really set your mind to it” Rubio stated.

He shared plans of signing up for the next half marathon in San Diego on May 20 in La Jolla, as well as hopefully a full marathon in the future.

The half marathon brought together a community of seasoned and new runners alike, demonstrating that as long as you have good running shoes and determination, you can push yourself past your limits and cross the finish line.

LILI KIM CONTRIBUTOR

Oscar Rubio (right) signed up to join the half marathon with his friends just a month before the event.

Photo courtesy of Oscar Rubio

Kate Haarmann signed up for the race in November for fun.

Photo courtesy of Kate Haarmann

Maile Nomura signed up for the race to surprise her family and friends.

Photo courtesy of Maile Nomura

Weekly recap

Toreros finish regular season WCC games

AMARA BROOKS SPORTS EDITOR

Baseball

USD baseball traveled to Los Angeles on Friday, April 18 to compete in a three-game series against Loyola Marymount University. The Toreros finished 2-1 in the series, showing out against the West Coast Conference’s top team.

The Toreros started the series strong with an impressive 11-1 victory over LMU. The team quickly took the lead, scoring three runs at the top of the first inning. At the top of the fifth, sophomore Ariel Armas hit a bases clearing three-RBI double which moved USD to a 6-0 lead. Redshirt sophomore pitcher Ryan Kysar had a grand start on the mound after turning in three scoreless innings.

In the second game in the series, first-year Will Worthington had an electric home run in the eighth inning securing a 6-3 victory. After a scoreless three innings for both teams, first-year Dustin Allen slapped a RBI grounder to put the team on the board. One batter later, Worthington doubled the score with a RBI groundout.

LMU found their footing against the Toreros in the third-game of the series after multiple back-and-forth innings resulted in LMU 10-9 victory. Worthington had a career best game with four hits and his fifth home run.

Despite the loss, the team has won back-to-back WCC series following their victory over San Francisco last weekend.

The team will next host BYU this weekend at Fowler Park for another three-game WCC series.

Men’s Tennis

Men’s tennis advanced to the WCC Championship after a 4-1 victory over Portland. The team took the doubles point with a 6-3 win at No. 2 and a 7-6 win at No. 1. First-year Neo Niedner proved successful in singles with a 6-1 victory at No. 6.

After the victory against Portland, the Toreros played against Pepperdine, but fell short of the championship title after a 4-0 loss.

The Toreros took home many honors in the All-WCC Men’s Tennis Awards. Coach Ryan Keckley won the Coach of the Year Award and first-year Oliver Tarvet achieved the Freshman of the Year Award. In his rookie year, Tarvet led the team with 18 singles wins and 11 doubles wins.

The team will next

compete against UCSB in the NCAA tournament on May 5.

Women’s Tennis

On Friday, April 28 women’s tennis competed in the WCC Tournament having their first semi-finals match against LMU. Junior Kailey Evans and sophomore Filippa Bruu-Syversen achieved a 7-6 victory over the Lions at the doubles points.

Junior Abigail Desiatnikov won her singles round with a 6-3 victory to tie the match. However, LMU answered back with wins at No. 2 and No. 6 taking an overall 4-3 victory over the Toreros. Evans and redshirt junior Elizabeth Goldsmith are one of the 32 doubles teams that will compete in the 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis. The

two are currently ranked No. 19 in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and have a 15-9 record this season.

The Toreros will next travel to Austin, TX to compete in the NCAA tournament on May 5. The team will face California in the first round of the tournament.

Golf Golf competed this past weekend at the WCC Championship at the Gold Mountain Golf Club and finished fifth out of nine teams competing.

Junior Kelvin Si finished seventh recording a top-10 finish after he carded a five-under 211 in the event to lead the Toreros.

The team totaled a plus-three 867 across all three rounds. The Championship marked the final event for the teams 2022-23

season. Next they will await postseason decisions during the NCAA Golf Selection Show.

Women’s Rowing Women’s rowing competed in the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship this past weekend on Lake Natoma. Saturday’s race was to place the team in their positions for the Grand Finals. In the 2v8 event followed by the Novice 8, the Toreros placed second in their heat, allowing them to advance to the Grand Finals. The women’s 2x recorded their fastest time of 14 entries and secured lane one for the Grand Finals. On May 13, the team will compete in the WCC Championship.

Baseball had a three-game series against LMU over the weekend.

Photo courtesy of @usdbaseball/Instagram

Women’s rowing competed in the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship in Gold River, California.

Photo courtesy of @usdrowing/Twitter

Kelvin Si recorded a top-10 finish at the WCC Championship.

Photo courtesy of @usdgolf/Instagram