NVIDIA, a technology company and corporation based in Santa Clara, is hosting its GTC AI Conference from March 17 to March 21 triggering multiple road closures in parts of downtown San José.
The conference serves as an opportunity for people to connect with developers and learn more about artificial intelligence and its contribution to humanity, according to NVIDIA’s webpage.
Michelle SmithMcDonald, senior director of media relations at San José State, confirmed the reasoning for the road closures in an email sent to the Spartan Daily which said, “(The road closures) are city-initiated street closures due to the NVIDIA GTC event.” Roads had started to close in the area before the conference started. Some of the closures started on March 12, according to an
Instagram post from the university.
Eric Cross, SJSU Parking Services manager, made it clear that students should not experience a major effect from the road closures.
“To my knowledge, the NVIDIA conference will not be having a major impact on the traffic lanes going to any of the
parking lanes,” Cross said. “I was informed that traffic would be coming from downtown.”
Five street closures are set to occur downtown, according to a webpage from San José Downtown.
The five closures are set to occur on San Carlos Street, both northbound and southbound Market Street, both directions of
Park Avenue and Viola Avenue.
In addition to these street closures, there will be a 30-minute closure to display showcases on the intersection of Market St and San Carlos St for the duration of the conference which can also be found on the same source. These closures are scheduled to end on March
22, according to the same Instagram post from SJSU.
Despite these setbacks on the street, Associated Students Vice President Chima Nwokolo is looking at the positives and seeing the good of the conference.
“I think the NVIDIA conference in downtown this week will show and present the rise of AI in Silicon Valley as we are
already seeing it with ChatGPT,” Nwokolo said. “I think many of our SJSU students will take this opportunity to learn more about the field of AI, especially those who look to be involved in the tech and innovation workforce.”
A.S. letter for trans rights passes unanimously
By Alina Ta SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Student representatives from the San José State Associated Students’ (A.S.)
The Board of Directors voted in support of a letter after failing to pass a resolution that would have shown their support for transgender rights.
In the letter obtained by The Spartan Daily, the A.S. Board of Directors listed five actions they want to take to support the trans community on campus and within the wider California State University
(CSU) system.
• “Advocating against legislative efforts that discriminate against trans and nonbinary studentathletes, including opposing ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ and H.R.28.”
• “Supporting the passage of a constitutional Transgender Bill of Rights to safeguard trans individuals’ rights in education, healthcare, employment, and public accommodations.”
• “Encouraging the CSU system and higher education institutions to uphold policies that protect transgender students from discrimination
and affirm their right to continue competing in collegiate sports.”
• “Calling for the introduction of federal legislation protecting transgender and nonbinary athletes and service members, countering exclusionary policies like ‘Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness.’ ”
• “Ensuring CSU-wide resources, training programs, and policies provide comprehensive support for transgender students across all campuses.”
Geoffrey Agustin, director of communications, said A.S.
has not announced when the letter will be publicly available, but the letter will be accessible to the public after it has been signed by Vice President Chima Nwokolo.
Katelyn Gambarin, director of legislative affairs, said she is glad that directors voted unanimously in favor of the letter.
“I’m very happy that the letter passed, but ... I still hope that our board can work towards passing a resolution, just because that’s more substantive for our organization as a whole,” Gambarin said.
The A.S. Board of
I’m very happy that the letter passed, but ... I still hope that our board can work towards passing a resolution, just because that’s more substantive for our organization as a whole.
Directors originally tried to pass a resolution on Feb. 26 that would have advocated for the same actions and upheld the same goal to support trans rights and participation in sports, but the board did not garner enough votes to pass it, according to a Feb. 27 article from the Spartan Daily.
Gambarin said both resolutions and letters from the board communicate its stance on an issue, but letters are more private and sent individually to legislators and stakeholders in the CSU system.
“The letter could still have an impact on the legislators who receive it, but we have no way of knowing that,” she said.
Gambarin also said the letter is not an official piece of A.S. legislation like the resolution, but it was easier to pass.
Two-thirds of the directors need to vote in favor of a resolution for the board to pass it, according to the A.S. bylaws.
On Feb. 26, ten directors were present to vote on the resolution, according
to previous reporting from the Spartan Daily. Five voted in favor of passing the resolution, two voted against it and three chose to abstain or withhold their vote. They needed eight votes to pass the resolution.
“I’m glad that the letter passed,” Gambarin said. “I feel like the failing (failure) of the resolution led to a lot of conversations that should’ve been probably had earlier regarding why people were reluctant to pass the resolution.”
Unlike a resolution, other matters, including letters, can be approved with a majority vote where more than 50% of the board votes in favor of an action item, according to A.S. bylaws.
Gambarin also said the vote for the letter was not done with a roll-call, allowing the directors to show their support without having their names directly attached to their individual votes.
ISRAEL ARCHIE | SPARTAN DAILY
Signs crossing South First Street and West San Carlos Street warn drivers to keep off the road in certain areas on a rainy Monday afternoon.
INFOGRAPHIC BY ALINA TA | SPARTAN DAILY
Katelyn Gambarin A.S. Director of Legislative Affairs
A.S. LETTER
Continued from page 1
I can't really speak to (other directors’) personal reasons for (how they voted), but I do know that there was some concern about them voting in favor because of Trump’s recent crackdowns on people who speak out against issues that go against what he believes in,” she said.
Mahmoud Khalil,
a former graduate student from Columbia University, a Palestinian activist and immigrant from Algeria, was arrested on March 8 and is being accused by the White House of allegedly distributing fliers that promote Hamas, according to a March 16 New York Times article. He also has not been charged with a crime, according to a March 17 article from the New York Times.
A.S. Letter Highlights
Advocating against legislative efforts that discriminate against trans and nonbinary student-athletes, including opposing ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ and H.R.28.
Supporting the passage of a constitutional Transgender Bill of Rights to safeguardtrans individuals’ rights in education, healthcare, employment, and public accommodations.
Encouraging the CSU system and higher education institutions to uphold policies that protect transgender students from discrimination and affirm their right to continue competing in collegiate sports.
Khalil can be deported, or go through what is also known as removal proceedings, under Section 237 (a) (4) (C) (i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, according to a government notice obtained by the Washington Post.
Under Section 237 (a) (4) (C) (i), the Secretary of State said it has “reasonable ground” to believe that his presence and activities within the U.S could potentially have “serious adverse foreign policy consequences” for the country, according to the same notice.
Gambarin said she can’t speak for other board members but the majority of the directors who voted against or chose to withhold their vote are international students.
“I know that he’s (Trump) been probably cracking down on these people, regardless of their immigration status and just making it that much harder for people to utilize their free speech,” Gambarin said.
Oli Harter, a second-year animation student, said he empathizes with international students because of the fear many transgender people experience daily.
I’m very happy that the letter passed, but ... I still hope that our board can work towards passing a resolution, just because that’s more substantive for our organization as a whole.
Katelyn Gambarin Associated Students Director of Legislative Affairs
Harter who is transgender also said this does not mean transgender rights should not be prioritized.
“The international students who are on the board chose to be there and I have a ton of empathy for them but that does not give them the right to deny my community the rights that we deserve,” Harter said.
In 2024, 52 anti-trans bills passed in various states throughout the U.S. and 51 have been signed into law, according to a webpage from Trans Legislation Tracker.
Jordan Robinson, a third-year aerospace engineering student and an event coordinator for Turning Point USA at SJSU, said he does not agree with the resolution, but he will continue to
remain respectful towards the trans community and those who are in favor.
Turning Point USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that aims to build an organized and active conservative grassroots activist network through high school and college campuses throughout the nation, according to its webpage.
“We are called to love one another and pray for those who oppose us, so this is what I will do,” Robinson said.
Geoffrey Agustin, the A.S. director of communications, said the relationship between A.S. and the student body was not great after the board failed to pass the resolution.
Agustin also said it was refreshing to see more students speak up at their
last meeting and he hopes the relationship between the board and the student body improves over time.
“I’m really glad that the failure of the resolution caused some students to wake up in the sense that they started coming to us, they started commenting, they started reaching out to their representatives, because that's what they should be doing,” Agustin said.
“They should be reaching out to their student reps about something they're passionate about.”
Water co. adopts new unhoused ordinance
By Bryan Reos & Anahi
Herrera Villanueva STAFF WRITER & CONTRIBUTOR
Santa Clara Valley Water established a new ordinance to fine and potentially arrest those who are unhoused living near the waterways that are owned by Valley Water, according to a Valley Water webpage.
Valley Water directors voted on Nov. 26, 2024, to have the Water Resource Protection Zones Ordinance. This ordinance would aim to reduce water pollution by keeping houseless people from residing on Valley Water property, according to a Nov. 26, 2024 San José Spotlight article. Brandon Sanchez, San José Police Department deputy chief said the police want to act as security for these non-profit organizations in reaching the unhoused.
“Obviously, we can’t arrest our way out of this situation,” Sanchez said. “The goal is to get them into those services. For those who refuse services and depending on the circumstances and location with the new ordinance it will be considered trespassing under administrative code.” The ordinance also
bans trash and pollutants related to encampments, according to the same Spotlight article
Although the ordinance serves to protect the Santa Clara Valley Water, a concern of what can happen to the unhoused lingers.
Gail Osmer, a local unhoused advocate for 30 years, said the summit that was held to discuss the Water Resource Protection Zones Ordinance was not what
she was expecting.
“I kinda had to keep my tongue in. I'm kinda disappointed with the summit that they had. What has been accomplished? Nothing,” Osmer said. “No one is really standing up and doing anything for the unhoused community.”
Valley Water has already moved encampments in San José along Upper Penitencia Creek, according to a Feb. 6, San José Spotlight article.
“It’s tough for law enforcement because our peace is a much less attractive peace but at times, unfortunately, a necessary peace. It’s a difficult position law enforcement is in at times” Sanchez said.
A goal of this ordinance is to provide clean water for a healthy life, environment and economy, according to a Valley Water webpage.
However, Osmer said that although the
ordinance’s goal is to provide better living conditions for the unhoused but so far nothing has been fully secured.
“They (houseless community) are scared they will be evicted and there is no place to go,” Osmer said.
Jennifer Codianne, deputy operating officer in the Watersheds Division of Santa Clara Valley Water, said that they always give collaboration
updates when it comes to encampments.
“When we have to do relocation efforts we work with an agency to ensure housing opportunities, we want to give them support,” Codianne said.
As of now, most shelter and temporary housing sites are full with no real place to host those who will be relocated unless the emergency interim housing is built, according to the same Feb. 6, San José Spotlight article.
Beyond the relocation of those who are unhoused living in Valley Water waterways, is making sure they are getting the services that they need.
“They have three groups going out and talking and educating the unhoused. I think that is very important and we know the unhoused but they don't know the unhoused,” Osmer said.
“I think when people do this and people talk about the unhoused they have to have respect.”
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BRYAN REOS | SPARTAN DAILY
Santa Clara Valley Water District's building displays a mural on the corner of Blossom Hill Road and Sanchez Drive.
Students burst with color for Holi
1 2 3 4 5 6
#1: Krishna Sumesh stands by the fountain on Tower Hall lawn, covered in blue, pink and yellow powder at the San Josè State University Indian Student Organization’s Rang Barse ‘25, as a part of the Holi festival, the Hindu spring festival of color.
#2: Shruti Hardasani (right), a third-year business administration student, Aishwarya Deepak (left), a fourth-year biology student and Vashaki Lohadas (center), a fourth-year microbiology student stand in the center of the color-drenched procession of students enjoying the festivities.
#3: Students take over the Tower Hall lawn and cover each other in powder paint provided by the SJSU Indian Student Organization.
#4: Students throw multicolored powder paint into the air as a part of the Holi celebration.
#5: Arnav Kedia, a first-year computer science student douses Archi Patel, another first-year computer science student with colored powder.
#6: Red handprints cover a participant’s shirt during the Rang Barse event on Saturday.
BRYAN REOS | SPARTAN DAILY
Labubu craze does not faze
Trends have a life of their own and sometimes bounce back after fading for a while. In this case, the newest craze is all about the Labubu dolls.
The unlikely popularity frenzy has taken over San José along with the world, and this latest trend has caught on to kids and adults alike.
Labubu dolls are furry elf characters dressed in fluffy costumes with rabbit-like ears and a nightmarish grin with saw-like teeth. They were released by a Chinese toy
company, Pop Mart, in 2024 and now they have made a comeback in the United States, according to a Nov. 4, 2024, Los Angeles Times article.
The dolls come in different vibrant colors and designs in a collection called The Monsters, according to an article from The Post. They can be purchased as a theme set or individually in a “blind box” which means you will not know what theme you will be getting. When I learned about this trend I did not see myself owning one.
People have been going crazy over them to the point where they fight over those dolls, and line up overnight just to get their hands on them, according to according to a Nov. 4, 2024, Los Angeles Times article.
The mania is real, though I admit I have possibly done this a few times for some other items.
The furry little monsters were created in 2015 by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung who moved to the Netherlands with his family when he was young, according to Sep. 26, 2024 Prestige article. Before creating the figurines, Lung was a
children’s book illustrator which informed his current work.
Lung’s inspiration came from Nordic folklore and mythology, according to the same article. From that, he invented The Monsters including Zimomo, Tycoco, Spooky, and of course, beloved Labubu
Lung did a great job of constructing something unique and different yet
Correction
On Thursday, March 13, the Spartan Daily published a story titled, “Determination to dance with balance,” in which Deborah Le’s name was spelled incorrectly in the photo credit and caption.
The Spartan Daily regrets this error.
a bit out of the ordinary. Despite their scarylooking design, they are works of art. They aren’t something you throw in the back of your closet.
It made its way to the U.S. in 2024 but the trend faded for a short time. Recently, when the post was made, a member of the K-pop group BLACKPINK, Lalisa Manobal, posted a video of herself clutching the Labubu doll on Instagram. Since then, fans have followed the latest trend by collecting those dolls.
The dolls bring the same feeling that Sonny Angel or a Smiski did undoubtedly and like many other toys, they hold a high value. I believe the Labubu is more than just a craze, they will become a collector’s item as time goes on.
If you’re not familiar with the Sonny Angel doll, as described on its official website, it is a little angel boy with a smile who likes to wear all sorts of headwear. As for the Smiskis, they are small miniature neutral, glow-in-the-dark figurines with a nonchalant expression that comes in different poses. Per the website, they are cute creatures that love hiding in small spaces and corners of your room.
Not everyone is a fan or is aware of the furry monsters. Eunice Rios Ramos, a fourth-year psychology student shared her take on the looks of the Labubu doll.
“They are scary looking and they freak me out,” Rios Ramos said. “They look like they wait for you to fall asleep at night to wake up and do mischievous things, I have always had a fear of scarylooking dolls.”
I cannot agree more, despite being a curiouslooking doll, it has a creepy demeanor to it. The smile is not something I want to be looking at in the middle of the night or accidentally running into on my way to the bathroom in the dark.
Just maybe, if they did not have those saw-like teeth and just a cute smile, I would get my hands on a few and collect them. I mean who is not nostalgic for memorabilia pieces like Furby and Beanie Babies? Labubu and The Monsters are next. I will not own one but admire them from afar. I do not like the idea of being surprised by a “blind box” because what if I do not like what I pull at all?
The Labubu dolls in my opinion are collectible toys that will be worth it in the long run, but they are still not cute enough. I would rather get a Sonny Angel over a Labubu, or if there were a release of the doll with a different look I would get it. For now, it is just not for me.
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GRAPHIC BY ELIZABETH BRAVO REBOLLOSO | SPARTAN DAILY
Elizabeth Bravo Rebolloso STAFF WRITER
SJSU fails to stop reigning champs
By Nicole DeVries STAFF WRITER
San José State women’s water polo team faced a tough challenge against defending 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champions, UCLA on Saturday at the Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center.
The No. 18 Spartans (11-8) held their own against the No. 3 Bruins (16-3) in a competitive first half, but the defensive pressure proved difficult resulting in SJSU’s defeat 19-6.
Sophomores Rose Jensen and Jennine Osorio found early offensive success scoring two goals to lead the Spartan’s offense.
SJSU (15) Renee Fleming attempts to pass to teammate
Jensen set the tone for the Spartans by scoring the first goal of the match on a 6-on-5 opportunity in the first quarter.
I think for the most part, we had a lot of good steals and a lot of good field blocks, especially in that first half of the game.
“It felt really good, honestly,” Jensen said. “I think our momentum in the first and second quarter were really strong, especially scoring the first goal. I think it was just a really fun experience because they won the national championship last year.”
The Spartan’s quick goals and strategies of maintaining tight defensive pressure kept the Bruins from establishing their usual offensive rhythm.
Jensen emphasized the team’s preparation leading up to the matchup, highlighting their focus on developing technique adjustments.
“We watched film on them
PREVIEW
(UCLA) and learned their tendencies on defense and offense. We’d been training all week for that, and I think it really paid off in the first half,” Jensen said. “We just struggled to stay with them on their counters in the second half.”
Jensen struck again early in the second quarter, putting the Spartans ahead 3-2 with just 18 seconds in on a pass from senior two-meter-defense Renee Fleming.
However, the Bruins’ relentless counterattack through the rest of the second quarter helped them build a 7-4 lead by the end of halftime.
Despite this, the Spartans stayed competitive with key defensive plays from goalkeeper Grace Smith, who made a total of six saves and five field blocks.
SJSU head coach Beth Harberts praised the team’s defensive execution, especially in the first half.
“I think for the most part, we had a lot of good steals and a lot of good field blocks, especially in that first half of the game,” Harberts said. “I was really proud of our energy in terms of knocking down and covering water.”
Even with a strong first half, the Bruins took control in the third quarter, with the Spartan’s only goal in
the quarter coming from sophomore utility player Isabella Adams in the final seconds.
SJSU struggled against the Bruins fast breaks and quick passes as they stretched their lead further, making a comeback difficult.
However, the Spartans stayed resilient, as Osorio managed to score in the last few minutes of the match, with an assist from freshman driver Nynke Willemsen.
Reflecting on the game, Osorio shared her thoughts on facing previous NCAA champions and the team’s strategies.
“UCLA is a tough team, they’re really good
competitors,” Osorio said. “We did a lot of scouting for them, so we knew that they were gonna do picks and drives so we altered our defense and I think that showed in the first half.”
Following the loss, the Spartans are now shifting their focus to their next matchup against Harvard, which will also be their senior day.
“I’m looking forward to play Harvard honestly,” Osorio said. “It’s our last home game and it’s our senior night, so I really want to come out and hopefully beat them. I think that would be a good time to show who San José is.”
Harberts also acknowledged the importance of the upcoming game, recognizing its significance for the seniors and the program as a whole.
“It’s a special time for us to be able to honor our seniors, having that last home game I think is a very culminating experience,” Harberts said. SJSU returns home for its final regular season game to face Harvard at 1 p.m. on March 21 at the SRAC.
“I think Harvard’s gonna be a good adversary for us as we go into that ... I think this is kind of one of those special opportunities for us to have fans here for that last home game,” Harberts said.
March Madness kicks off tonight
By Israel Archie SENIOR STAFF WRITER
On Sunday, the National Collegiate Athletic Association announced the schools competing in the men’s basketball NCAA Tournament, March Madness.
March Madness is a sevenround single-elimination tournament that eventually leads to the two schools playing for the NCAA title according to a NCAA webpage.
ESPN has schools listed in a 16-seed format with four schools in each.
There are currently 68 teams involved because four 16-seed schools and four 11-seeds have to play for a spot in the round of 64 bracket, according to the NCAA.
This part of the tournament is known as the First Four and is scheduled to be played between Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the NCAA.
The two 11-seed games are the Texas Longhorns vs. Xavier Musketeers and the San Diego State Aztecs vs. the North Carolina Tar Heels according to the same source. The NCAA also mentions the two 16-seed matchups featuring the Alabama State Hornets vs. the Saint Francis Red Flash and the American Eagles facing Mount ST. Mary’s Mountaineers.
While we have to wait on those games for the completed 64-round bracket, here are the teams that clinched a spot already by seed.
1st Seeds
The first seed teams that made it into the tournament include the Auburn, Duke
Blue Devils, Houston Cougars and the University of Florida.
These seeds will play the sixteenth seeds as seen on the live bracket from the NCAA.
2nd Seeds
This seed includes the Michigan State, the University of Alabama , Tennessee Volunteers and the Saint John’s Red Storm. Alabama ranked third in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with Tennessee following right behind at fourth according to the conference webpage. 3rd Seeds
The third seeds consist of the Iowa State, the Wisconsin Badgers, the Kentucky Wildcats and the Texas Tech Kentucky ranked sixth in the SEC according to the conference webpage. Iowa State and Texas Tech are both in the Big 12 Conference, with Texas Tech ranking
second and Iowa State raking fifth according to Big 12 webpage
4th Seeds
In the fourth seed, we have Texas A&M, the Arizona Wildcats, Purdue who was the NCAA runnerup, according to last season’s bracket and the Maryland Terrapins.
5th Seeds
The fifth seed has the Michigan Wolverines and Oregon, and Clemson. The Memphis Tigers, who are coached by Orlando Magic legend Penny Hardaway are also featured, according to the team’s webpage.
6th Seeds
For the sixth-seed teams, the bracket includes Ole Miss, Brigham Young University, the University of Illinois Fighting Illini and the Missouri Tigers.
7th Seeds
The seventh-seed teams in the tournament include the
Marquette Golden Eagles, the Saint Mary’s Gaels, UCLA and the Kansas Jayhawks.
8th Seeds Louisville, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Gonzaga, and the defending champ University of Connecticut make up the eighth-seed teams.
9th Seeds
The ninth-seed teams in this March Madness tournament are the Creighton, Baylor, the University of Georgia and the Oklahoma Sooners. 10th Seeds
For the tenth seed, the New Mexico Lobos, Vanderbilt, Utah State and the Arkansas Razorbacks are in the bracket.
11th Seeds
The only two eleventhseed schools to clinch a spot on the 64-team bracket are Virginia Commonwealth University and the
Drake Bulldogs 12th Seeds
The March Madness twelfth-seed teams include the UC San Diego, the Liberty Flames, McNeese State Cowboys and the Colorado State.
13th Seeds
The schools in the thirteenth-seed are composed of Yale, the Akron Zips, the High Point Panthers and Grand Canyon University.
14th Seeds
The fourteenth-seed schools in this tournament comprise the Lipscomb Bisons, the University of Montana, Troy and the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
15th Seeds
The fifteenth-seed teams that are competing in the tournament this year are Bryant, Robert Morris Colonials, Wofford Terriers and Omaha.
16th Seeds
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and the Norfolk State University are the only schools in the 16th seed group to currently have a spot on the 64 round bracket. Following the first four games on Tuesday and Wednesday, the First Round of the tournament is scheduled to begin this Thursday at 9:15 a.m. with 16 games being played that day.
The scheduled games on Thursday are Creighton vs. Louisville, High Point vs. Purdue, Montana vs. Wisconsin and SIUE vs. Houston.
McNeese is set to match up against Clemson. VCU and BYU are scheduled to play each other along with Georgia and Gonzaga.
Wofford is matched against Tennessee while Arkansas is set to go against Kansas. Yale has its first game of the tournament against Texas A&M while Drake has a game against Missouri.
Utah State is scheduled to play UCLA while Omaha is up against St. John’s. Auburn is set to play the winner between Alabama State and Saint Francis according to a live bracket from CBS Sports. The remaining games on Thursday include matchups of UC San Diego vs. Michigan State and UNC Wilmington vs. Texas Tech.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SJSU ATHLETICS
while (16) UCLA Maile Turner defends on Saturday afternoon.
