Spartan Daily Vol. 161 No. 42 by Spartan Daily

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Thursday, November 30, 2023

Volume 161 No. 42 SERVING SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934

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SJSU offers resources to students The Accessible Education Center gives services to neurodivergent students By Nikita Bankar STAFF WRITER

San José State University is a place of not only education and community, but a place of inclusivity regarding students of various learning disabilities. Some students who often experience differences in mental function, learning styles, sensory processing, communication styles and behaviors are referred to as

neurodivergent individuals, according to Forbes. They may struggle with soft skills such as emotional intelligence, social interactions or the ability to work effectively in a group, according to the same website. The word neurodiversity refers to the diversity of all people, but it is also used to acknowledge autism spectrum disorder (ASD), other neurological or developmental conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or learning disabilities, according to Har vard Medical School. The Accessible Education Center (AEC) at SJSU provides comprehensive services in support of the educational development and success of students, according to its website.

Ignacia VillavelazquezHill, director of AEC, said the primary mission of the center is to prescribe academic accommodations for students. “We provide disability management, offer workshops for students and support recruiting events for the university,” Villavelazquez-Hill said. “First and foremost, our goal is to address students’needs in a timely fashion.” Villavelazquez-Hill also said something that has kept her involved and active in the center, and in her field, is because she enjoys facing new challenges every day.

GRAPHIC BY NIKITA BANKAR

She said it is very rewarding to provide services to students who are always facing an uphill battle. “It’s great to know that the support that our office is providing is enabling them to accomplish that degree,” she said. The AEC offers alternative testing, a computer lab, study rooms, real-time captioning, note taking support, alternative formats (braille, e-text and large print materials) and ASL interpreters, according to the SJSU website. Pre-nursing junior Jude Anderson said she knew she had dyslexia before starting kindergarten. Dyslexia is a languagebased learning disabi disability that causes difficultie difficulties with word recognition, reco spelling and reading comprehension, a c c ord i n g to Psychology T Today. Pe opl w it h oplee dyslexia often have oft trouble matching m letters they see th on a page with the w sounds those letters and lett combinations of the letters make, according to the Yale Center for Dyslex Dyslexia and Creativity. “It really held me back, because ever yone was r e a d i n g normally and I would take years to read, because w o r d s would just wou start flying off the pages,” Anderson said. “I also had a gr green seethrough film strip to help me read, which was emb embarrassing because everyone wou would laugh at me.” Anderson said sshe also struggles with ADHD, making it difficult to pay attention a to what teachers are saying in class. People with ADHD may ADH have trouble paying attention, a controlling impulsive behaviors b or be overly active, according to acco the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Anderson said it is frustrating because she knows she can do the work, but her brain tells her not to despite having the resources available. “Luckily, my professors have been very accommodating to all of my disabilities,” Anderson said. “I think SJSU is doing a great job when it comes to helping people who need the support.” Psychology junior Simone Gandy said when she was younger, she had trouble with reading and literature, but was not officially diagnosed with dyslexia until her junior year of highschool. Gandy said she was worried about coming into college because she knew the standards for deadlines and for presentations would be stricter. “I was nervous because it’s embarrassing being at a college level and struggling to read out loud,” Gandy said. She said she got the accommodations she needed and that the process for getting help was not too complicated. Gandy also said gathering her AEC paperwork wasn’t too bad, though it did take a little bit of time to go through the process. “I also had to do an interview with a woman from the center who was really understanding,” Gandy said. “I wasn’t sure what accommodations I could still use from high school, but she was very supportive.” Gandy said if she was more willing to accept that she needed help earlier, she would have been surprised by how much they could do for her. She also said the school made it really easy to get the accommodations she needed and took away the stress she initially felt. “A big part of having a learning disability is selfadvocating, and I have a bit of a hard time doing that,” Gandy said.

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Students talk harassment at work By Aaliyah Roman STAFF WRITER

Trigger warning: This story refers to sexual harassment. The workplace is assumed to be a place for solely gaining income, but it can also be a place of discomfort due to conflict or harassment for some San José State students. Sociology junior Joseph Namba said his manager inappropriately touched his bottom when working at his previous job as a barback in July 2019. “No woman should grab a guy’s junk like that,” Namba

said. Namba said his manager moved past behind him to reach for something and grabbed his bottom in the process. He said the customer sitting right in front of them at the time made the situation more uncomfortable. “He (the customer) was disgusted by the fact she was doing that,” Namba said. “He’s like, ‘Dude, that’s not cool’ (and) I’m just giving him a look like ‘I know.’ ” He said there is a stigma of men not speaking up about harassment because being touched by a woman is usually praised in society.

Namba said if a man gets harrassed, society responds as,

“That’s bullshit,” Namba said. “It’s complete nonsense like, girls should speak up about it, but guys (should) as well. They have the full on obligation to speak up about incidents like that.” He said because of that stigma, he did not feel it was a big enough deal to report it or to confront his manager about it. Namba said he did not decide to bring it up until years Xiana Hanhan after the incident when that marketing junior same manager did not work there anymore. “Good for you”, but if a woman “I didn’t have the courage to has the same experience, it’s a speak up about it,” Namba said. bigger issue. “I kind of gaslit myself thinking

Honestly, I try not to give them a reaction, I try to just keep myself composed and calm.

it wasn’t that big of a deal.” He said because his manager treated him well at work, he viewed her as a “cool manager” at first. Namba said his manager paid him more than other employees and gave him opportunities to work private events. “She pays me good,” Namba said. “I gotta get paid.” Marketing junior Xiana Hanhan said she has had conflicts with both customers and coworkers at work. Hanhan said she would often get hit-on by male guests at Maggiano’s, a restaurant she HARASSMENT | Page 2

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NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023

HARASSMENT Continued from page 1 currently works at as a host. Maggiano’s is a restaurant in Santana Row that specializes in “lavish” Southern Italian cuisine, according to the Santana Row website. She said she would mostly get hit- on when she puts more effort into her appearance. “I wouldn’t really know how to take it because I'm at work,” Hanhan said. “It’s not really harassment but it’s just more uncomfortable.” Hanhan also said her coworkers found her phone number and asked her out on dates. “I’m like, ‘Why are you texting me,’ ” Hanhan said. “It was just so weird.” Hanhan said she feels pressure to look put together at work because she works at a nice restaurant. “When you walk in I’m the first person that you see, so that makes me want to get ready because I want to give an impression to other people that I’m put together,” Hanhan said. Aleen Phimpha, a business management information systems junior, said she works as an associate at the Lego store in Valley Fair. Phimpha said she once had a customer yell at her during a phone call for 10 minutes straight. She said the customer called to return a product they purchased at her store, but because Legoland is a separate company from the Lego store, Phimpha

AALIYAH ROMAN | SPARTAN DAILY

A Starbucks barista takes a customer’s coffee order at San José State University’s Student Union location on Wednesday afternoon.

was unable to return the product. Phimpha said the customer continued asking her why they could not return the product. “It was 3 p.m. during the day (and they were) yelling at me,’ ” Phimpha said. “I think they’re just having a bad day,” Phimpha said. Phimpha said she usually resorts to telling her manager about upset customers, but her manager encouraged her to handle the conflict in this situation. She said managers or supervisors have more

authoritative power and experience handling

get maybe a little mad waiting for a table at about it.” the restaurant. She said a drunk customer started a fight with her manager after being upset about a two hour long wait for a table at the restaurant. She said the restaurant staff called security to escort the customer out the door. “I’ve seen people get upset over the wait Joseph Namba time, but not like that,” sociology junior Hanhan said. Hanhan said people angry customers. Hanhan said she expect to get seated “I didn’t take it (the experienced customers immediately and get customer) too personally,” taking their anger out impatient when being told Phimpha said.“I did on her while they were there is a wait.

It’s complete nonsense like, girls should speak up about it, but guys (should) as well. They have the full on obligation to speak up about incidents like that.”

Phimpha said she recommends that anyone working in customer service to remain calm and contact the higher ups if customers act outof-hand. “Honestly, I try not to give them a reaction,” Hanhan said. “I try to just keep myself composed and calm.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023

SJSU celebrates 50 years of hip-hop STAFF WRITER

Students led an event in honor of 50 years of hip-hop at San José State’s Mosaic Cross Cultural Center on Wednesday night. The purpose of the event was for students to learn about the history of hip-hop, make some of their own beats, write poetry, draw up graffiti and enjoy delicious soul food according to Mosaic’s Instagram post. The food at the event was from Jackie’s Place and it consisted of fried chicken, yams, mac and cheese and collard greens, according to the same source. Mathematics junior Yabets Merid, who led the event, said he is of Ethiopian descent and loves hip-hop culture. Merid said there were four different stations at the event for attendees to produce beats, create poetry, do graffiti art or listen to music. “The music-listening station is more meditative,” Merid said. “I made four playlists: ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s and 2010s hiphop music,” Merid said. “You scan the QR code at the station and select what music you would like to listen to. I would love for some people to listen to some hip-hop classics.” He said he wanted people to write four lines answering the question, “What do you want people to remember you by?” at

the poetry station. He said the poetry station was intended to spark peoples’ creative thinking. Merid said that a piece of graffiti art is one of the most beautiful art pieces he has ever seen, and it connects to culture. He said the beat-making station meant the most to him because beat-making is a pillar of hip-hop. Merid said the importance of the event was to urge people to understand the importance of hip-hop culture in society, and to teach people more than what they already know about the culture. “If you know nothing about hip-hop, the event tonight teaches you the history of it. Then you literally get to participate in the culture by making beats and writing a few lyrics,” Merid said. “Maybe you didn't know there’s someone else in the room that’s a hiphop fan and now you're here connecting and networking with other people who have similar interests.” Merid said he has loved hip-hop since he was 10 years old. He said his earliest memory of hiphop was when his dad turned on the radio and he heard “Not Afraid” by American rapper Eminem. “This hip-hop shit has always been in me,” Merid said. “My love for hip-hop will forever run deep. I was memorizing Kanye’s lyrics before I knew my

LAMAR MOODY | SPARTAN DAILY

Students write and compare lyrics with each other at the Mosaic Cross Cultural Center on Wednesday night.

times-tables and no one ever forced me to. For me, it was just a passion thing.” Music junior Blessing Theus said the event was energetic, fun and important since music has hit a milestone and turned 50 years old. Theus said the most beneficial station at the event was the beat-making station, because everyone wants to see how a song is made from scratch. “A lot of the time you don't get to see how people get into the nittygritty of making songs,”

Theus said. “Sometimes people might break down videos to show you how to make a song, but to see it here in person is the most beneficial. Seeing what plug-ins they use and seeing how the drum machines go into effect is a key piece in learning how to make top tier songs.” Theus said getting thoughts or lyrics down on paper is very important when it comes to musical expression and documentation. Radio television and film senior Max Martin

CLASSIFIEDS 2

ACROSS 1. Rooster feature 5. Work safety org. 9. Thompson and Lazarus 14. Word with high pressure 15. Inky mess 16. Divest of weapons 17. "Lawrence of Arabia" director 18. Orioles division 19. Journalist Roberts 20. Primate's servant girl? 23. Emissions detecting agcy. 24. No alternative? 25. Schwarzenegger played one in film 27. Protected financially 31. Hamster or porcupine, e.g. 33. Like Wrigley's walls 34. Rum cake 35. Hunter of snow movers? 38. Name on many labels 39. Word spoken in court 40. Yodeler's feedback 41. Anonymous people 42. Feed the kitty a penny? 43. One in the dough? 44. Sunglasses, to the hip 46. Throbbed 47. Struck with fear

3 7 4 5 3 9

49. Hockey legend Bobby 50. Slice of history 51. Sea creature in the news? 58. Kind of range 60. From the top 61. Without urgency or purpose 62. Prefix with change or act 63. Use a home office machine 64. Vault 65. German industrial center 66. Neutral shades 67. More than footsore DOWN 1. Storm antecedent 2. Bicolored snack 3. Average, to a statistician 4. Word with account or note 5. Complied with 6. Cabbage sides 7. Watering device 8. Memo abbr. 9. It takes three tricks to get a hand 10. Phone dial trio 11. Constructs nails? 12. Live to ___ old age 13. Window cleaner's goof 21. Surveyed

7 6 8 3 2

SUDOKU PUZZLE Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1

said hip-hop is one of the only genres that he believes is revolutionary. “If you look at the themes of the music, you look at the people making the music or you look at what's happening to the people making the music, hip-hop is the soul focus in society today," Martin said. Martin said everyone has different artistic expressions. He said some people might be more musically inclined, meaning some people have good vocals for singing or good finger

8 4 2 7 3 2 4 6 7 5 9

placement for a piano. Some people might be more artistically inclined, meaning they have good handwriting or they know how to use different fonts. “I think it just depends on the person,” Martin said. ”For me, I like the graffiti station because it's fun to make that style of art. I think every station has its own value depending on the type of person you are.” Follow the Spartan Daily on X (formerly Twitter) @SpartanDaily

JOKIN’ AROUND What's Michelle Obama's favorite vegetable?

Barackoli.

By Lamar Moody

22. Lebanese tree 26. Temper, as steel 27. Big city on the Big Island 28. Word with handed or tempered 29. Unfairly low scores at the pool? 30. Japanese hostess 31. Bombasts 32. It's instrumental to Solti 34. Chicken part 36. Former Korean president 37. Parachute part 39. "It ___ Be You" 43. Singer Ives 45. Sailor's behind? 46. Shrimplike crustaceans 47. Avian high-rise 48. Shows pleasure 49. Crossing medium 52. Kind of tense? 53. Early South American empire 54. Replenish 55. Creative spark 56. A four-RBI hit 57. Exaggerated claims 59. Grant opponent

SOLUTIONS

NOVEMBER 29

P B S M A C H U E A G L E R Y E A R L E S D R I E R E L L U S E R S G O N E R F I E L D O F D R E A M S A N C I E N T A R A B I A B E T A S A N K S U N G N E E B O I L R A E B A R N B U R N I N G P R O E G O S S P A M A U L E Y E D M O S T S H R I L L E U T E R P E B E A S T O F B U R D E N G R O G S A S T O R E L S A N N E S B L E A K A L E B A S S O S O R T S L S D

3 9 2 4 6 5 1 7 8

7 5 6 4 8 1 1 3 9 7 2 8 3 2 5 9 4 6

1 6 9 8 3 2 5 7 4 6 9 8 4 2 5 3 1 7 7 8 6 2 4 1 9 5 3

8 4 2 5 7 1 6 9 3 7 2 5 1 3 8 9 6 4 4 5 9 3 8 6 2 1 7

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SPORTS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

TITUS WILKINSON | THE SPEAR

San José State junior right-side hitter Brooke Bryant (2) celebrates with her teammates after a kill in the Spartans' loss to Colorado State University on Nov. 2.

SJSU's Bryant to follow in father's footsteps By Nikita Bankar STAFF WRITER

Despite a difficult season for San José State volleyball, business junior and right side Brooke Bryant kept her head high this fall following her performance in 2022. The team had an overall record of 13-18, with a home record of 5-7 and an away record of 3-10. Brooke Bryant played in 27 matches and 56 sets last year and averaged 0.92 kills and 0.45 blocks per set. Her season highs included 9 kills against U.C. Riverside and 8 kills at Weber State and seven total blocks against Fresno State. “I played softball since I was eight years old, and then my dad signed me up for volleyball tryouts my freshman year of highschool,” Bryant said. “I had never touched a volleyball in my life. My dad just thought I would be good at it.” She said one of the coaches told her if she wanted to make the team the following year, she should join club volleyball. “It was a big jump from highschool volleyball to college,” Brooke Bryant said. “The main difference was jumping into a pool of 25-year-olds that just knew everything and were a lot more physical because they had been doing volleyball for four years.” Brooke Bryant’s dad, Blaise Bryant, was a former AllAmerican running back at Iowa State, and played for the New York Jets, Denver Broncos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Blaise Bryant said being a professional athlete in the past did not necessarily make it easy to connect with Brooke during her

sports journey. “I think it would have been easier if I was a non-athlete,” he said. “I critique too much. I’d rather just be a parent watching.” Blaise Bryant also said his favorite thing about his daughter on the court is her passion and relationship with others. “I like her excitement, and camaraderie with her teammates whether she’s on the court playing or just on the sidelines,” he said. “I’m really proud that she became a captain.” Communications senior and middle blocker Jiana Lawson said she has enjoyed seeing Bryant’s confidence progress over this year. “I was really proud of her blocking progression, and just appreciated her bringing all the joy and lightheartedness onto the court,” Lawson said. “She was able to find a way to develop trust in herself while we were going through the season which was difficult, so I commend her for that.” During the 2022 season, Lawson averaged 1.59 kills and 1.05 blocks per set in 103 sets played. Entering her second year at San José State after transferring from the University of Portland, Lawson was one of 10 studentathletes chosen to represent San José State at the Black StudentAthlete Summit in May 2022. Lawson said this is the most she has ever enjoyed being on a team, with this year being her fourth at the collegiate level. “We brought in a really special group of freshmen, and if they get the proper coaching and leadership they’ll be pretty unstoppable for the next three years,” Lawson said.

ABOUT

EDITORIAL STAFF

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.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR MATTHEW GONZALEZ MANAGING EDITOR JILLIAN DARNELL PRODUCTION EDITOR ALICIA ALVAREZ NEWS EDITORS IRENE ADELINE MILANEZ ALINA TA A&E EDITOR ALEXIA FREDERICKSON SPORTS EDITOR MAT BEJARANO SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR BOJANA CVIJIC

ANGEL SANTIAGO | SPARTAN DAILY

SJSU’s Brooke Bryant (left) and Jiana Lawson (right) wave to the crowd before the Spartans' match.

Bryant said she herself has grown a lot since her freshman year at SJSU, and that she is grateful for those who mentored her. Bryant also said while managing her personal life, academics and volleyball has been challenging, she has gotten used to it over time. “Balancing school and traveling almost every day is hard, and if you are going for club volleyball you are practicing two times a week.” Despite the challenges volleyball has given her, Bryant said she truly loves every single person on our team, making it

OUTREACH EDITOR CHRISTINE TRAN PHOTO EDITOR ALEXIA FREDERICKSON COPY EDITOR GILLIAN BROWN SENIOR STAFF WRITERS BRANDON NICOLAS NATHAN CANILAO STAFF WRITERS DYLAN NEWMAN NAVIN KRISHNAN NIKITA BANKAR MELANY GUTIERREZ JULIA CHIE ANGEL SANTIAGO VANESSA REAL AALIYAH ROMAN MAYA BENMOKHTAR

a main reason for her staying committed. “We all work on different things, but we all connect really well,” she said. Brooke Bryant said she would love to play volleyball professionally overseas after she graduates. After hearing her plans, Blaise said he will fully support Brooke and her athletic career. “I always tell her to play as long as she can,” he said. “Once you get locked into a job, car payment and a mortgage, the playing is over and you’re gonna be working the rest of your life.”

LAMAR MOODY

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As she goes into her senior year, one goal Brooke Bryant has for herself is to be a better teammate. “I want to be a better leader,” Bryant said. “I was captain this year, and I learned a lot from the experience. I would love to set the standard to have great years going forward.”

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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.

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OPINION

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Anxiety is not my forever home Melany Gutierrez STAFF WRITER

When the sharp tightness and heavyweight takes over my chest, crushing me down like I’m a smashed soda can, my first thought in those frightening moments is, “I have an elephant sitting on my chest.” My head tilts down as tears fall from my cheeks leading my eyes down to look at the crescent moon-shaped marks pierced into the palm of my hands by my nails. “What is wrong with me?” I ask myself. That question is the fork in the road between pulling myself out of dark spaces or spiraling into them. Depression and anxiety were my home for so long. It's been one of the most difficult tasks in my life to leave the comfort of being sad. A lot of people fail to realize the different facets of dealing with or overcoming mental illness. All of the stigma, the assumptions and expectations that society has built around anxiety and other mental health issues should stop. If there is one thing I’ve learned it’s that no one – not even me – knows what to expect from anxiety and depression until you live through it. I didn’t truly understand and constantly made assumptions about what anxiety was until I finally had it. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in March of 2023. I had been in therapy for two years before that but it became a far worse, unmanageable case of depression and I eventually had to go on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). SSRI’s are a class of medications commonly prescribed to treat depression and other psychiatric disorders, according to a website by the

National Library of Medicine. I felt really broken, like a shattered vase that could not be repaired. A few months before, my sister had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and had been prescribed Lexapro. Lexapro or Escitalopram is an antidepressant medication prescribed for major depression disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, according to a website by National Alliance on Mental Illness. When I explained to my sister my situation and mental health status she felt it sounded awfully similar to the kinds of feelings she had before she started taking SSRI medication. I saw the sort of helpful impact Lexapro had on her life, so despite all my fears of what it would do to my body or my fear that somehow I would wake up one day and no longer recognize myself, I did it. I made an appointment, discussed my options and was prescribed Prozac. Prozac, or Fluoxetine is a type of antidepressant used to treat depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, bulimia and various other mental disorders, according to a website by the National Health Service. I felt so embarrassed for needing to take medication, especially coming from a home that wasn’t accepting or understanding of mental health issues. I never told my parents that I was on Prozac so the most embarrassing part was when I went back home and had to lock my room door to make sure no one would catch me popping the pills. It made me feel like I was a drug addict. In some fantasy world my parents would not minimize my mental health issues. Instead, it would just break their hearts to know that their daughter, who all her life has done so well socially, physically and academically, was broken. My body’s initial reaction to Prozac was more physical than mental. I had stomach aches, nausea, insomnia and issues with oversleeping. I did not become an entirely different person which is what I

GRAPHIC BY MELANY GUTIERREZ

thought was going to happen. I just woke up one day and was able to get out of bed, brush my teeth, shower and finally feel refreshed and clean, go to class, eat, walk and talk. It was the first time I ever actually felt like myself again in a long time. The sadness and anxiety had become my home, it was scary to think of my life without it anymore, like a toxic relationship I couldn’t leave. I let myself sit in a flower field of venomous thoughts, always involving all the overwhelming aspects of my life; family, romantic relationships, school, personal life and responsibilities. Other times, it was as simple as the overstimulation of being outside in big crowds around loud noises. Walking into a grocery store and worrying if I look stupid standing in the vegetable section

for too long because I can’t decide if I wanted cauliflower or asparagus. Anxiety is a bitch. It's sounds, thoughts and feelings that I thought I would never have control over. It’s the restless nights from not being able to sleep and having to walk for hours just to get my mind focused on something. It’s the thing that pushes me to say “I'm sorry” a million times to my boyfriend when I feel like I did something wrong and I’m ruining everything even when things are okay. Anxiety is what kept me up at 3 a.m., crying so hard until that moment when my chest tightened. The moments when I start to hyperventilate, push my nails into my palms and worry that I am a disappointment to my family and a burden to everyone around me.

It took me months, not just to feel like myself again, but to be happy being me. I’ve taken time to redirect my negative thoughts and use physical coping mechanisms to cultivate positive sensations and feelings during negative moments like journaling or putting ice cubes in my palms. In an abstract way, broken vases can always look lovelier after being put back together. I know that I’m strong and resilient, that I’m loved by others. I now sit in a beautiful flower field surrounded by all the loving and positive moments and thoughts I’ve had with myself since my sad days.

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Artificial Intelligence has gone too far Maya Benmokhtar STAFF WRITER

AI-powered editing apps have made remarkable strides in enhancing and altering visual content, but it has gone too far and it’s honestly scary. AI editing tools can convincingly alter images and videos, blurring the line between reality and fiction. This raises concerns about the authenticity of visual content, potentially leading to misinformation or deceptive practices. Scrolling on social media, I constantly see pictures of hourglass-shaped models and get smacked with a reality check. That this picture has gone through insane editing and enhancements and that I have been catfished once again. Advanced AI algorithms enable the creation of deepfake videos, where individuals' faces are swapped or manipulated realistically on to other bodies or situations.

While initially developed for entertainment, this technology can be misused for malicious purposes, spreading false information or damaging people’s reputations. I mean, my TikTok feed is flooded with people using AI-generating apps for their LinkedIn or Resume pictures. What is gonna happen when these people get an interview and the hiring manager realizes they look nothing like their deceiving photo? What about those using it for their dating app profiles and end up going on a date with someone who has literally catfished them? AI editing apps often promote unrealistic beauty standards by enabling users to easily modify their appearance in photos. This can contribute to body image issues, low self-esteem, and a distorted perception of beauty. Personally, I have struggled with body image issues because I constantly see edited and photoshopped pictures as soon as I open up Instagram on my phone. I used to be so confident, never wearing makeup, letting my natural curls air dry, and wearing whatever the hell I please. Now, I feel like I can’t leave the house without any mascara on, I constantly want to straighten my

hair and fear wearing deep-cut tops because of my small B-cupsized breasts. I was talking on the phone about these crazy AI editing apps and filters with my sister, and the first words that came out of her mouth were, “I literally prefer myself with a filter on now.” It has gotten to a point where these applications and over-thetop enhancing filters have made real-life people insecure and question whether they look more “beautiful” after going through edits and filters. It was not until recently that I started questioning my beauty, now, I do because I do not look like a filter and my body does not look like that of these Pepsi bottleshaped influencers on my feeds. While AI editing apps offer remarkable creative possibilities, their widespread and unregulated use can have far-reaching consequences. I'm not even kidding. My boyfriend and I tried it, the child looked adorable and definitely gave me baby fever. However, after the baby fever disappeared, I got another reality check. I could not help, but think about how scary it is to see an app that has the capability to show how me and my partner's future child would look.

GRAPHIC BY MAYA BENMOKHTAR

It was so accurate with a perfect mix of me and my partner, my green eyes and my same nose, with his coiled curls and luscious lips. As society becomes more reliant on AI, there's a fear of over-dependence and vulnerabilities in systems that could lead to catastrophic failures. It is only a matter of time before AI entirely takes over manmade things or takes people’s jobs, that

is something society should fear, especially the younger generations. AI is everywhere, not just in photo-enhancing apps. ChatGPT is another scary AI, but that is a topic for another day.

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OPINION

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023

COUNTERPOINTS

Rihanna vs. Beyoncé: who’s the better artist?

Navin Krishnan STAFF WRITER

Rihanna does things for herself while Beyoncé has lived under the shadow of Jay-Z. Robyn Rihanna Fenty, also known as Rihanna, six-time Guinness world record, winner of her high school beauty pageant, and the richest female musician in the world needs no introduction. Rihanna has been at the top since her “Music of the Sun” released in August 2005, when she was 16, according to an Oct. 16 article from Business Insider. When it comes to defeating hegemonic masculinity and pioneering arguably one of the greatest eras in music, no one has amassed more change than Rihanna. What I love most about Rihanna isn’t her beautiful frame or voice. For me, the most striking aspect of Rihanna is her loyalty to the African-American community and her recognition of her musical predecessors. Before Rihanna began her career in 2005, according to the Planet Radio website, the world was a divided and scarred seedling of what it is today. Since her first time signing, the world has flopped over. Black America has strengthened their foundation in entertainment and feminine power has rooted its place in a new era of diversity, equity and inclusion. Rihanna showed a world not ready for love, what it means to believe, she defeated negative rhetoric about what it means to be an American. She shows what it means to send a message across the spectrums of race, sex and gender. Rihanna’s songs have sentimental value. Her song “Disturbia” exemplifies a great sense of creativity and I personally believe this song was a tribute to Michael Jackson’s hit song “Thriller.” Queen Riri is the shining example of how music can make femininity and strength synonymous.

by her conflict with Keri Hilson and by living under Jay-Z’s shadow, according to the same source. Beyoncé walked off the stage in August in Glendale, Ariz. when the sound system went mute, according to Francesca Shillock of Hello Magazine. Maybe this was karma’s way of sparing the attendees’ ears of her repetitive and obnoxious bars that make no sense. Rihanna’s 2007 hit “Don’t Stop the Music” is a viable example of how music can take an audience into a different world. It shows how music can have a therapeutic effect and let people leave their problems behind. Her knack for recognizing the American community as a whole is remarkable. For example, her 2005 song, “Pon De Replay” translates to “play it again” in Jamaican. Rihanna’s roots trace back to the Afro-Caribbean coast and she was able to tribute her heritage from Barbados and reggae music, according to the Guardian. Rihanna’s single “Man Down” seems like a dilemma of love and remorse after murdering her partner, but is actually a song about her breaking his heart. The music video was filmed in Jamaica and has a sentiment that hits home for Rihanna herself. “Rape is, unfortunately, happening all over the world and in our own homes and we continue to cover it up and pretend it doesn’t happen,” Rihanna said according to the Hollywood Reporter website. Rihanna’s inner

ILLUSTRATOR

Beyoncé is the superior artist and performer in all musical aspects.

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, 32 time Grammy Award-winner, former Destiny’s Child member and “the first lady of music” according to the Guinness World Records website is the best performer of our generation. Beyoncé has taken the music industry by storm since her first solo album “Dangerously in Love” in 2003. The album received raving reviews and included the hit song

GRAPHIC BY ALICIA ALVAREZ

strength comes from her resilience and it shows in her music. Despite being physically assaulted, she kept her dignity and pride and produced many of the great collaborations in today’s music industry such as “Take Care” and “What’s My Name” with Drake, “Run This Town” and “Umbrella” with Jay-Z and “All of the Lights” with Kanye West. Rihanna stands today as the most valuable and wealthiest female musician at $1.4 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. She ranks ahead of Taylor Swift with $740 million and is more than

Queen Riri is the shining example of how music can make femininity and strength synonymous. Besides, Beyoncé, or Queen Bey has run out of honey and is on her way out of the hive.

Besides, Beyoncé, or Queen Bey has run out of honey and is on her way out of the hive. Beyoncé, the former Destiny’s Child singer had one of her few big hits in 2003, when she released “Dangerously in Love,” according to Bernadette Giacomazzo on the HipHop DX website. Queen Bey was also allegedly accused of using an offensive lyric in her new album, Renaissance, according to BBC news. Beyoncé’s legacy is tarnished by her

Joanna Chavez

double Beyoncé’s worth at $540 million. She surprised everyone at the 2023 Super Bowl as she performed her hit songs at halftime, took a bow and indicated she was pregnant, according to Planet Radio. Don’t get me wrong, Beyoncé is phenomenal, but her time has passed and Rihanna survived the storm. Follow the Spartan Daily on X (formerly Twitter) @SpartanDaily

“Crazy in Love” featuring her now husband, rapper Jay-Z according to the Britannica website.

Sasha Fierce.” The first disc entitled “I Am” was an introspective look into who Beyoncé was, as not only an artist, but as a woman. The first song on the album “If I Were a Boy” is a commentary about the double standards that exist between women and men. Beyoncé explores what she would do if she was a man doing the daily misogynistic experiences that are done to her. I know I’m talking a lot about Beyoncé ’s albums and lyricism, but I need you to understand that since 2003, Beyoncé has consistently elevated her music and has released solid albums. Rihanna has a few songs such as “Man Down,” where she showcases her ability to write deep and meaningful songs. When it comes to the actual vocals though, Rihanna’s performance is lackluster. Beyoncé ’s vocal range is a rarity in today’s music industry. According to Vox.com, she has a vocal range of 3 to 3.5 octaves, which puts her in the same group of iconic performers such as Michael Jackson and Tina Turner. Her vocal range allows her to pull off any type of song while still making it her own unique piece. One of my favorite instances of this is when Beyoncé sang a cover of “All I Could Do Was Cry” by Etta James in the film “Cadillac Records.” Many Beyoncé fans think that this version of the song is superior to the original. This is justified by her vocals, which make the already heartbreaking song even more emotional to listen to. I’m not saying that Rihanna doesn’t have her good moments, I am saying that Beyoncé could out-sing many artists in the pop game with her mouth duct taped shut. Jumping to 2022, Beyoncé released her seventh studio album “Renaissance.” This album was focused on American activism and selfexpression, all while delivering some of the best house beats I’ve heard from an A-list artist. The tour was a cultural reset in so many aspects. It created multiple social media challenges and influenced people to create outlandish

I’m not saying that Rihanna doesn’t have her good moments, I am saying that Beyoncé could out-sing many artists in the pop game with her mouth duct taped shut. Beyoncé ’s career far predates Rihanna’s, and may have had a big hand in Rihanna’s career take-off. In 2005, Jay-Z, or as I like to call him Mr. Beyoncé , signed Rihanna to Def-Jam Records. According to Vanity Fair, L.A. Reid’s memoir “Sing to Me: My Story of Making Music, Finding Magic, and Searching for Who’s Next” claims that he was uninterested in Rihanna. Although she was already signed, it took Beyoncé telling Reid that Rihanna was a “beast” and the rest is history. Beyoncé spoke Rihanna’s career into existence, all while in the midst of her successful first album that unleashed an era of confidence. Although audiences waited with anticipation for Beyoncé’s next album, she was watching over the whole music industry and uplifting other artists. Give her her flowers for shaping Rihanna’s future success. In 2006, Beyoncé released her second album “B’Day,” which featured the hit single “Irreplaceable” and in 2008 with the double album “I Am…

and stunning silver outfits. This was all done so that Beyoncé could strategically uplift and inspire fans to feel the same self-love and unity that she slowly built up in her career over the years. Her Renaissance Tour brought in about $4.5 billion to the American economy according to New York Times and I understand why. Beyoncé was always able to utilize her powerful voice but in this tour specifically, she adjusted her range to fit the whole 40-song setlist. Her stunning onstage props like the gigantic holographic stallion that fans named Reneigh, and the energetic choreography make the tickets worth the price. You’re not paying to see a mediocre artist, you’re paying to see THE Beyonce, the greatest performer of our generation. Follow the Spartan Daily on X (formerly Twitter) @SpartanDaily

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023