Spartan Daily Vol. 162 No. 19

SJSU celebrates CHI Day events

By Nikita Bankar

STAFF WRITER

The savory scent of fresh tacos lingered through the air, traveling along the line of white tents and pink, teal, navy and yellow balloons on Seventh Street Plaza during the Day of Celebration for Chicano Activists event on Wednesday afternoon.

The purpose of CHI (Chávez, Huerta and Itliong) Day, hosted by the César E. Chávez Community Action Center, was to honor the legacies of labor rights leaders César E. Chávez, Dolores Huerta, and Larry Itliong, according to their Instagram.

Among the variety of art and crafts stands scattered along the plaza was a colorful piñata-making station by the Event Center, led by organizer Irma Juri.

A collection of colorful party hats were placed on the table, along with colorful paper streamers, glue and string for people to use. Juri taught eager crafters how to create the decorations, giving them a step-bystep tutorial.

Juri said she has been making piñatas for over 20 years, and looks forward to sharing her now professional work at CHI Day.

“It is my pleasure to teach students, and it makes me happy because they love it,” Juri said. “I really enjoy events like these, because I love not only being outdoors, but I love the people.”

Juri said it is important that schools hold events like these to celebrate important figures in history.

She also said everyone can gather and celebrate people like César Chavez, who mean a lot.

“It is important because they are all important people,” she said.

Accounting senior Marlene Moreno said piñata-making was her favorite part of the event She said both her and her friend planned on spending the most time at the station.

“I’ve only been here for 15 minutes and I’m already enjoying myself,” Moreno said. “I really want to try the food a little bit later.”

Moreno said she came to the event because of how lively it was, and how many people were there.

“I’m Mexican, so I think it is really important to educate people on topics like these, and when it includes fun activities it makes (them) more enjoyable,” she said.

During the event, vendors sold a variety of fresh tacos and flavored agua fresca in front of The Arch of Dignity, Equality and Justice.

Agua fresca is a sweetened, waterbased drink made of fruit, cereal, grains, seeds or flowers, according to an article by Shape.

The Arch of Dignity, Equality and Justice was created by Chicana artist, activist and scholar Judy Baca in 2008, and commemorates the work of César E. Chávez, according to an SJSU X post.

Across from the arch, next to the education booth and the table giving away free tote bags was a screen printing tent, where a stencil of Chávez, Huerta and Itliong could be used to create a painting of blue gradients.

Graphic design freshman Sriya Gopalan said she was excited to create a screen painting, since it was a physical version of her major.

“I had not done it before, so I was

glad I got to try it,” Gopalan said. “I love when students create and display art in their free time.”

Gopalan said she loves when SJSU holds cultural celebrations like these on campus. She also said she admires the effort that goes into organizing all parts of the events, since there are so many people that must plan every aspect of it.

“It is really something to admire,” she said. “It is almost like a carnival, but with a deeper purpose behind it.”

Wearing colorful hats and detailed, flowy dresses were Mexican folk dancers from Ensamble Folclórico Colibrí, who performed numerous times on stage in front of the Event Center.

Ensamble Folclórico Colibrí promotes the pride of identifying

as an LGBTQ+ Latinx through the art of Mexican folklórico dance, according to its website. Its mission is to preserve costumes and traditions through cultural and educational projects, according to the same site.

Across from the assortment of food, drinks and desserts was a live mural art station, with numerous canvases set up for those who wanted to step in and paint.

Pedro Rivas Lopez, one of the organizers at the station, said he believes it is important to stand for justice in today’s world.

Lopez was painting a portrait of Chávez, using various shades of purple, brown, black and orange to bring life to his work.

He said this event hits home for him because he is a farm worker and

immigrant.

“I believe in everything that these three human beings do,” Lopez said.

He said it is important for people who have an opportunity to express themselves creatively to echo leaders who have been here before us.

“It touches my heart when we celebrate people of color who made an impact in the United States,” he said. “I’m a big social justice supporter and I always use my art as a means to create social justice and awareness.”

Poet hosts talk & writing workshop

By Melissa Alejandres STAFF WRITER

San José State’s MOSAIC Cross Cultural Center hosted a women’s history poetry workshop at the Student Union on Wednesday night. Special guest speaker and professional writer and poet, Olivia Gatwood walked students through creating poetry.

Gatwood said she was introduced to poetry in high school and was intrigued by it because she was a vocal teenager.

“Poetry has made me understand my life through a lens that makes sense to me, rather than makes sense to the rest of the world,” Gatwood said.

She said poetry allows people to be creative with the way they talk about life and talk about identity.

Gatwood said mental health is essential, and people forget that they can heal emotional wounds through poetry and that she has learned so much about the people around her through poetry.

“I think poetry is made up of tools we have which is an emotional compass,” Gatwood said.

She said poetry has been demonstrated in the educational system as a grade-based assignment, or something that limits imagination and creativity.

Gatwood said this is the reason why a lot of younger people refrain from writing poetry, sharing it, or using it to heal.

She said the poetry workshop’s main purpose is to honor Women’s

History Month and to openly discuss shame associated with womanhood.

“A lot of women are raised to feel shame about their bodies or voice,” Gatwood said.

Gatwood said everyone at the workshop had different perspectives and shared personal hardships.

She said people were shy at first, but by the end of the workshop, people had more courage to speak up.

Jessica Short, full-time staff member and coordinator at the Gender Equity Center said she also writes poetry and was inspired to reach out to Olivia Gatwood.

Short said with the help of Francesa Dolor, the program coordinator of MOSAIC, they were finally able to get Gatwood to come and speak to students. We also thought students would be inspired to read their poetry.

“We wanted to have a speaker to inspire intersectional feminism specifically for this month,” Short said.

She said poetry has helped people artistically explore themselves and build communities at SJSU.

“I think poetry has helped me work (through) traumas (in) my life and difficulties,” Short said. “It has been there for me when I felt I had no other way to express myself.”

Short said she’s seen poetry motivate people and help them find their voice.

“I feel poetry is unique, but it does not band-aid over mental health completely,” she said. “It allows us

to have a voice and possibly heal from (things) as many times as necessary.”

Short said when it comes to treating mental health the most common options are medical treatments, but she said poetry being an art form is equally helpful for the same kinds of mental health challenges.

“It can’t be solely medicine, or solely a hospital, or certainly a therapist or a counselor,” Short said. “Those are all wonderful (resources) but they can’t be the only thing that can heal us.”

Meg Ross, a forensic science and crime scene investigation senior, said she got into poetry after writing poetry in her middle school class.

“I was going through a hard experience in my life and I decided to put my feelings into words, ”

Ross said.

Ross said Gatwood represented Women’s History Month well because she used symbolic and simple examples of red lipstick and tampons in her poetry reading.

“Anyone can write a poem,” she said. “We had someone who has never written poetry before and was able to express so many words and loved it.”

Francesca Dolor said she feels encouraged to host more multicultural events in the future where people can feel a sense of belonging.

“We are one of the first organizations at SJSU who had to fight to create a space of all different aspects including social justice and cultural identity centers,” Dolor said.

Dolor said the purpose of the

MOSAIC Cross Cultural Center is to continue the legacy of student activism by providing a space for students to share their different identities and express themselves.

She said that is why events like these are important.

“To me, poetry feels like the truth,” Gatwood said.

NIKITA BANKAR | SPARTAN DAILY

Business junior Judy Trinh (left) and accounting senior Marlen Moreno (right) work on a balloon craft together on Seventh Street Plaza during the Day of Celebration on Wednesday afternoon.

SENIOR

Follow

MELISSA ALEJANDRES | SPARTAN DAILY

A group of students workshop their poetry at MOSAIC in the Student Union on Wednesday night.

1 2

5

4

#1: Students cut paper flowers during Chávez Huerta Itliong Day of Celebration on Seventh Street Plaza on Wednesday afternoon.

#2: Seventh Street Plaza is decorated with colorful yellow, teal, pink and yellow balloons and white activity tents.

#3: Dancers from the Ensamble Folclórico Colibrí perform a Mexican folk dance in pink and white outfits on a stage in front of the Event Center.

#4: A volunteer serves various Mexican desserts, such as sweet bread (conchas), to those attending the event.

#5: A screen printing tent gives event-goers an opportunity to use a stencil to create a blue ombre design of the activists being celebrated.

EDITORIAL STAFF EXECUTIVE EDITOR ALINA TA MANAGING EDITOR MELANY GUTIERREZ PRODUCTION EDITOR JULIA CHIE NEWS EDITOR ALEXIA FREDERICKSON A&E EDITOR AALIYAH ROMAN OPINION EDITOR MAYA BENMOKHTAR SPORTS EDITOR NAVIN KRISHNAN CONTACT US EDITORIAL –MAIN TELEPHONE: (408) 924-3821 6:00 PM - 12:00 AM MONDAY - WEDNESDAY EMAIL: spartandaily@gmail.com ADVERTISING STAFF ADVERTISING DIRECTOR GIULIA CRUZ ABOUT The Spartan Daily prides itself on being the San José State community’s top news source. New issues are published every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday throughout the academic year and online content updated daily. The Spartan Daily is written and published by San José State students as an expression of their First Amendment rights. Reader feedback may be submitted as letters to the editor or online comments. SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR MAT BEJARANO OUTREACH EDITOR CHRISTINE TRAN COPY EDITOR JOAQUIN DE LA TORRE PHOTO EDITOR PRATHAM GILL PHOTOGRAPHERS PHU TRAN AIKMAN FANG ILLUSTRATORS CIA CASTRO CAMMY TAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER NIKITA BANKAR STAFF WRITERS KAYA HENKES-POWER MELISSA ALEJANDRES ETHAN LI JONATHAN CANOS PRODUCTION CHIEF MIKE CORPOS NEWS ADVISER RICHARD CRAIG TELEPHONE: (408) 924-3240 EMAIL: spartandailyadvertising@gmail.com CORRECTIONS POLICY The Spartan Daily corrects all significant errors that are brought to our attention. If you suspect we have made such an error, please send an email to spartandaily@gmail.com. EDITORIAL POLICY Columns are the opinion of individual writers and not that of the Spartan Daily. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is made up of student editors. LETTER TO THE EDITOR SJ honors Chávez, Huerta and Itliong

#6: Pedro Rivas Lopez, a hired volunteer, paints a portrait of César E. Chávez at his live mural tent.

SJSU discusses AI at film festival

AI Day and Town Hall kick off the San José Cinequest Film Festival on Wednesday, bringing the community to have an open discussion about artificial intelligence.

Cinequest is a 10-day Film Festival at the Hammer Theater that showcases several different movies and hosts a variety of discussion panels.

Jeff Klaben, an adjunct professor at Santa Clara University, started AI Day and Town Hall.

“(It’s) taking what our local governments doing and what our creative community’s doing and (making) it safer and accessible,” Klaben said.

The festival included several activities starting with an open discussion with community members and ending with a speech from San José Mayor Matt Mahan.

Klaben said he sees this wave of AI technology overtaking society and it has a lot of promise, but a lot of people are scared.

“I bear a little bit of guilt too because part of my career has been working with cyber security and developing AI,” Klaben said. “I feel like I have a responsibility to make sure it goes out in the world and it benefits people.”

AI is referred to as Artificial Intelligence, it is a technology that helps computers and machines to emulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities according to a webpage from the International Business Machines Corporation.

In recent years, AI has sparked fear surrounding job stability, lack of security, and impersonation according to an article for the website Scientific American.

A study conducted by The Pew Research Center found that 52% of Americans feel more concerned than excited about the increased use of AI.

Facilitator and volunteer for the Cinequest film festival, Cathy Simpson said she has had an incredible experience facilitating open

spaces for years.

“If people don’t talk, we [carry] all our thoughts and sometimes they can get way out of proportion,” Simpson said. “But if we talk about it, we can hear people’s concerns and make informed decisions.”

Simpson asked audience members to put ideas on an empty board to create an agenda of topics that the groups were interested in discussing with one another.

“Today is this opportunity for us to come together as a community and for each of you to be able to express yourselves, your concerns, your questions,” Simpson said.

Topic suggestions ranged from plagiarism in art, how AI can assist seniors, and AI’s

aid in personal development.

Klaben said he hoped the festival and open discussion, improvised discussion would foster a space in which people could listen and possibly change their mindset.

“Creativity isn’t a natural born skill, it’s a way of thinking and operating,” Klaben said. “These tools give people a chance to experience creativity firsthand and not just watch it.”

Artistic director of ComedySportz and facilitator, Jeff Kramer helped to implement aspects of improv into the open discussion.

“AI is a tool but improv is also a tool and it’s how we use [those] tools,” Kramer said. “But do you have the

creative mindset to be able to use these tools intentionally and see what you can build out of it.”

Kramer said that having improv tools can help people to listen to one another but also build on each other’s ideas.

Once the discussion sessions were done attendees came together to reflect upon how their conversations went.

Kramer asked the group to start their reflections with the statements “I wish”, “I liked” or “What if”.

These statements help to provide feedback in an organized and constructive way according to a PDF from the Interaction Design Foundation.

Many of the audience

members said they wished they had more time to continue their discussion, while others stated their experiences.

An audience member said that talking about a topic like this, with people of different ages and in different stages of their lives allowed people to see the impact AI has on everyone.

“I really liked that a dream [of] a community can have a conversation and crosspollinate [to] take some fear and confusion from AI and has manifested into something beautiful here,” Klaben said.

SJSU drops regular season finale

By Mat Bejarano SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

In another disappointing defeat, the San José State men’s basketball team dropped its sixth-straight game against No. 22 Utah State University on Wednesday night at home 90-70.

In the Spartans (9-22, 2-16 MWC) last regular season game, the team struggled massively guarding shots from beyond the arc against the Aggies (25-5, 13-4 MWC).

Utah State entered the game in last place for 3-pointers made in conference play, averaging 5.94 per game, but Wednesday night's match proved much different for the Aggies as they were able to drain nine shots from 3-point range by halftime.

“When Utah State shoots a 3-point shot that well, they’re a tremendous team,” SJSU Head Coach Tim Miles said. “For them to go out tonight and shoot it 16 for 27 was so impressive.”

The Aggies were led offensively by senior guard Darius Brown II as he led the team with 12 points, eight assists and shooting a perfect 4 for 4 from the 3-point line. Brown would ultimately end the night with a career-high seven 3-pointers.

The Spartans would keep the game neck-and-

neck in the first half after a second-chance layup by senior forward Trey Anderson, but would once again find themselves in a hole after back-to-back 3-pointers by Aggies Brown to help push their lead 35-28.

“I think that is the story of the game, they played elite offense and we were not able to get them under control,” Miles said.

SJSU found itself in its second-straight game down by double digits at halftime staring at a 53-37 deficit.

“Well, it’s been all year we have not guarded the three,” Miles said. “I think it goes down to … our athleticism and the quality of this league, we just don’t always measure up that way.”

The second half saw the same result as the Spartans’ defense could not stop the second best scoring team in the Mountain West. The Aggies would at one point hold a 21-point lead, 68-47.

A bright spot in yet another tough loss for the Spartans was when junior guard Alvaro Cardenas recorded his fourth double-double of

the season, he finished the game with 18 points and 10 assists.

“I think when I get to the paint and find the open guy, (I) get my teammates going,” Cardenas said.

The Aggies continued to dominate at guarding the three tonight holding the Spartans to a 7-for20 night. Cardenas, who sits third best for SJSU in 3-pointers made,

struggled from downtown shooting 0-for-4.

“(Utah State) is a good team, they’re lengthy, they contest every shot and they did a good job with that,” Cardenas said. “Since they’re switching (and) they’re not getting into rotation as much and it's harder to just find the open guy.”

SJSU junior guard Myron Amey Jr. led the Spartans’ offense with 20 points and 7 rebounds while shooting 7-for-14 from the court.

The Spartans are next scheduled to play in the Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Thomas & Mack Center. The time, date and their opponent is still to be determined.

“Next week it starts fresh … that’s what we got to think of it and that’s how we have to approach it,” Amey said. “Like I said, all year it's been this defense. I mean, we put up 70 points but gave up 90 (points). So, it’s just defense, we got to get stops.”

Spartans’ Alvaro Cardenas drives baseline against Utah State’s junior wing Great Osobor of Utah State Aggies. NIKITA BANKAR | SPARTAN DAILY

SJSU’s Diongue towers over competition

By Nikita Bankar STAFF WRITER

With his 7-foot stature, gleaming smile, the team’s defense on his back, and his eyes on a Mountain West tournament upset, sophomore center Adrame Diongue bodes a strong, supportive presence to the San José State basketball team.

While his towering appearance is something many notice about Diongue, it is not all there is to him.

Diongue was born in Rufisque, in the Dakar region of Senegal, and arrived in the U.S. in 2019, according to an article by ESPN. He enrolled at Mount Zion Christian Academy in North Carolina, moved to Arizona for his last three years of high school, and spent his sophomore year at Bella Vista Prep.

He then spent his final two seasons at Arizona Compass, according to the same site.

Diongue, who is majoring in design studies, said while basketball is his current pursuit of interest, it was not the sport he began with as a child. Up until he started getting taller, he said he played soccer as a midfielder in Senegal.

“One day my dad had bought me basketball shoes and a ball, to see if I would use them,” Diongue said. “One afternoon, it was raining really hard and the field was really soaked, so I decided to give it a chance. I ended up playing for eight hours, and had a lot of fun.”

Diongue said his dad was his biggest influence, who encouraged him to dive into basketball in the first place.

He said his dad did not necessarily think he would ultimately pursue basketball, despite his efforts in introducing the flavor of the sport to him.

“It ended up working out in the end,” Diongue said.

He said transitioning from Senegal to the United States was difficult at first, but he ultimately got used to how things worked.

The distance from Senegal to the United States is 5,307 miles - so Diongue said he wants to make the most of the journey.

Not only did he have to adjust to the different ways of living, but he said he had to get used to the difference in diet.

“The food is really different,” he said. “Back home we have rice and fish, but here it’s just burgers and pizza.”

Diongue was the no. 43 ranked prospect in ESPN's Top-100 and a 4-star recruit while attending Arizona Compass Prep School, according to the SJSU Athletics page.

He also brought the team to the #1 ranked spot in Arizona, as they went 24-5 in 2021-22 to their second-straight trip to the GEICO Nationals in Florida, according to the same site.

From 2022-2023, Diongue attended Washington State, where he played in 23 games and averaged 1.3 points, 0.2 assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.52 blocks per game. He made his season debut against UC Irvine at San José State Univiersity on Nov. 7, 2023.

Diongue was recruited by SJSU coaches last season and is currently playing on a scholarship. As of Feb. 24, Diongue averages 16.4 points per game here at SJSU, according to the NCAA.

Junior guard and communications major Myron Amey Jr. said Diongue’s biggest strength is his god-given height and the quick-witted reflexes he brings to the team.

“The defensive presence that he has helps us quite a bit in the game,” Amey said. “He is able to get rebounds and defensive spots, so he plays a big part in this team.”

Amey also said the brotherhood of basketball makes his experience extremely special for him.

“Basketball is going to have ups and downs, but the consistent thing about it is that you’re seeing your teammates every day, who are people that bring good energy,” Amey said. “You’re not always going to be smiling or feeling good, so having my teammates there really helps.”

Freshman guard Rickey Mitchell Jr. complimented Diongue’s character and said he brings a colorful sense of humor to their group, aside from being a fantastic player.

“He’s just a funny guy, and I love being around him,” he said. “He is always there for us, and holds us together.”

Mitchell said he looks up to many of the older players like Diongue for advice since he was not used to the speed of college basketball when initially joining.

Diongue said it was quite difficult for him to juggle basketball, academics, and his personal life, because of the practices, travel, and overall commitment that he and his teammates are required to have.

“Your body gets sore, and then you have to show up at school every day and go to class,” he said. “It is definitely challenging but you just have to push through.”

Diongue said despite the uphill battle that basketball may bring, he definitely wants to pursue a career in professional basketball. He said his favorite part about playing the sport is blocking people’s shots.

Diongue had four blocks in backto-back games against Wyoming on Jan. 2 and Boise State on Jan. 5, according to the SJSU Athletics page.

He also collected three blocks and nine rebounds at Fresno State on Jan. 16 and registered four blocks against New Mexico on Jan. 24, according to

the same site.

“It is fun to see how disappointed the other player is when I dunk on them or block them,” he said. “It really is a great feeling.”

Basketball has always been his goal, and Diongue said it has become especially important for him to achieve the goals he has set for himself.

He said since he has come quite a distance for the sport, he wants to make the most of his time here.

“I’ve wanted to make it out since I first started playing,” Diongue said. “I just really want to step up and make a difference and an impact.”

NIKITA BANKAR | SPARTAN DAILY

SJSU’s center from Senegal Adrame Diongue handles the ball against the defense from Norfolk State.