VTA workers strike; operations halted
By Alina Ta SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Commuter students and faculty at San José State are struggling to find ways to go to campus after Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) union workers started striking at around midnight on Monday morning.
VTA employees who are union members for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 began striking against the transit company at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, according to a press release from the union.
At around 4 a.m., union members also started picketing at five VTA yards: VTA Headquarters, the Light Rail Facility, North Yard, Chaboya Yard and Cerone Yard, according to the same press release.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 is a trade union organized by transit employees at VTA, according to its website. The union protects, advocates and negotiates for better working conditions, wages, benefits and other matters related to employment.
Guillermo Nava, a union member, said
he’s been working at VTA for 23 years.
Nava said the union has chosen not to strike in a long time because the union members do care about the customers.
“That’s the first time, I mean, in a long time that we (have gone) to strike because we are concerned about the customers,” Nava said. “We’re really (about) customer service, so we really want to provide that but unfortunately, sometimes you have to make that effort for them to listen to us.”
Union members are striking and refusing to help run transit services in the South Bay because VTA failed to address critical
VTA also failed to improve work conditions after a mass shooting happened in May 2021, where multiple union members were killed, according to the same source.
Raj Singh, a coach operator for VTA and the president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265, said these union members are VTA employees who work as bus and light rail operators, maintenance workers, dispatchers and customer service phone operators.
“I think the message is very powerful,” Singh said. “Not a single person reported (for) work. I think that’s the most powerful
I think the message is very powerful. Not a single person reported (for) work. I think that’s the most powerful statement that it could be.
Raj Singh
VTA
coach operator and president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265
issues related to fair wages, benefits and grievance procedures, according to the same press release.
statement that it could be.”
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 has over 1,500 members, according
That’s the first time, I mean, in a long time that we (have gone) to strike because we are concerned about the customers.
Guillermo Nava Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 member
to the same press release. Nearly 96% of members voted in February to authorize a strike if necessary.
Singh said all VTA’s customer service center and all the bus and rail operations in the South Bay are down as a result of the strike.
He said the union apologizes for creating an inconvenience for those who depend on public transit in the region.
But the union has been negotiating with VTA for six months to demand changes for its arbitration clause.
Arbitration clauses are alternative dispute resolutions where both parties agree to settle disputes with a third-party arbitrator, according to a website from Contracts Counsel.
“We’re not really happy ourselves that we are in this position,” he said. “The fact is that we’ve been having these conversations on reaching agreement for six months out, and the agency has not negotiated in good faith for the first five months.”
Stacey Hendler Ross, a public information officer for VTA, said VTA has made multiple modifications to its
proposal, including adding a 9% increase in salary over the next three years.
Hendler Ross also said VTA is open to returning to negotiations and that they are flexible, but the union needs to come to the table with an equal interest in resolving this issue.
She said the VTA also understands that students rely heavily on its services.
Almost 24% of students at SJSU use public transit, according to a Fall 2023 survey from SJSU Associated Students’ Transportation Solutions.
Out of that group, 21% ride on VTA’s light rail or the buses to travel to campus, according to the same source.
Hendler Ross recommends students to walk to campus after using Caltrans to travel to VTA’s Diridon Station. She also recommends students to ride bikes and to use rides share, carpool and ride hailing services to travel to SJSU’s campuses.
Faith Kiarra Santiago, a fourth year public health student at SJSU, said she typically rides on one of VTA’s buses and the green line on the light rail from Winchester Boulevard to the Paseo de San Antonio to travel to SJSU’s campus.
On Monday, she drove
her father’s car to school instead. Kiarra Santiago said her dad had to adjust his night shift hours to ensure she would be able to drive to school.
“(I was) a little bit frustrated because public transportation is free (for some SJSU students) and I just don’t want to pay for parking most of the time,” Kiarra Santiago said.
Students and university employees can purchase a SmartPass Clipper card for $3, according to a webpage from SJSU.
Commuters who have a SmartPass Clipper can use unlimited rides with VTA on Local and Rapid buses, limited routes and light rail lines, according to another webpage from SJSU.
“We regret how this hardship is affecting students,” Hendler Ross said. “There’s not a whole lot people can do if they rely solely on public transit.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION LOCAL 265
Union members from Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 march and picket around Valley Transportation Authority North Yard in Mountain View on Monday.
Ustadh
SJSU participates in Ramadan
By Gabriel Evans CONTRIBUTOR
Ramadan is an annual religious holiday in which Muslims observe and fast for 30 days from dawn to sunset across the globe. It’s a spiritual tradition that consists of fasting, prayer, community and worship, according to an March 4, Al Jazeera article.
During this time, Muslims abstain from food, drinking and sexual intercourse when the sun is up and increase acts of worship such as prayer, recitation of the Quran and charity, according to an webpage by Islamic Network Group.
The SJSU Muslim Student Association hosted its first event of the month on Wednesday in the Campus Village Building 2 Multi Purpose Room.
The event featured guest speaker, Ustadh Basil Farooq, an Arabic instructor who is a current student of the Islamic Sciences, according to a webpage by Kitaab Academy.
Farooq talked about how Muslims can remain disciplined and steadfast in their religion and build good habits beyond Ramadan.
After the talk, a congregation sunset prayer was held and then a large communal meal called an Iftar, was served and catered from
El Halal Amigos. An Iftar is the meal eaten by Muslims to break their fast after
Many also consider the Iftar to be a blessing, with the acts of serving food and consuming food
“The few minutes before Iftar, it’s when your du’as are accepted. You are really close to Allah.
an article by Islamic Relief UK.
Hibaq Shaie, a fourthyear psychology student said that she enjoys the communal aspect of Iftar.
“My favorite part about Iftar is the community, coming together completely. A lot of people grow up without a family or anything, a lot of times they break fast alone, so I feel like it's nice having a community,” Shaie said.
Association plans to host community Iftars like these every Wednesday and Thursday during the holy month of Ramadan, according to the MSA’s social media.
“Iftar is a time where us Muslims, as brothers and sisters, related or not, we come together and break bread together, ” Shaie said.
sunset every day during the month of Ramadan, according to Collins Dictionary.
It is most commonly eaten in the community among family and friends , according to an article by the Islamic Network Group.
Adnan Chatila, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student said that communal selfimprovement is a favorite aspect of Ramadan for him.
“What I find most enjoyable is that everybody is in a community setting and everybody is trying to uplift everybody else to be a good person and fast from desires they normally would have,” Chatila said.
At the event, participants were engaging in community talks while enjoying a meal after the day of fasting.
to mark the end of the fasting period once the sun has set, according to an article by Muslim Hands UK.
Zoraiz Sabeel Syed, a third-year computer science student said that the prayers before eating the meal are the most important.
You strived all that time and the food before you so you are just waiting and you make your du’a at that time,” Sabeel Syed said.
A du’a is a supplication or prayer used by Muslims to engage in direct communication or prayer with Allah, according to
After the Iftar ends, the daily night prayer, Isha, is completed. Then a voluntary night prayer called Taraweeh is performed. Taraweeh is performed in sets of 2 rakats, or units, of prayer until completed at 8, 12, or 20, according to an article by Islamic Relief Canada.
The event ended with the communal dinner and a closing supplication.
The SJSU Muslim Student
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GABRIEL EVANS | SPARTAN DAILY
Speaker
Basil Farooq talks to students at Campus Village Building 2 in the multi purpose room on Wednesday evening at Sa n José State University.
GRAPHIC FROM CANVAS
Gaga shapeshifts once again
By Nicole DeVries STAFF WRITER
The release of Lady Gaga’s highly anticipated album “MAYHEM” introduced a new era for the iconic pop star by exploring themes of empowerment, love and chaos.
Lady Gaga has made a career for herself by pushing boundaries to inspire change in music through her creative expression.
From wearing a meat dress at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards to her speech at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards about transgender rights, consistently used her platform to challenge music and inspire inclusivity.
Listening to “MAYHEM” from start to finish, it is the kind of album that makes you lose yourself in the music, so much so that you forget you’re even driving.
“Abracadabra,” the second single from “MAYHEM,” immediately creates a mystical and magical vibe that is felt throughout the rest of the album.
This song is the most indicative of Gaga’s iconic hits like “Bad Romance” and “Applause” by creating an atmosphere of theatricality and avantgarde.
Through lyrics, “Hold me in your heart tonight / In the magic of the dark moonlight / Save me from this empty fight / In the game of life,” Gaga transports her listeners to a world of mysticism and vulnerability with dramatic flair.
Since its release, the song has accumulated over 170 million streams on Spotify, and I predict it will become one of the top-performing
tracks on the album.
The second song, “Garden Of Eden,” represents introspective themes of temptation versus self-worth in contrast to the more upbeat nature of most of the song.
The orchestration along with Gaga’s melodic voice adds an ethereal nature to the song, making it a standout track by highlighting her emotional depth.
This track also explores aspects of open sexuality through lyrics such as, “I could be your girlfriend for the weekend / You could be my boyfriend for the night / excuse to
make a bad decision.”
Gaga intertwines themes of femininity and desire as we’ve seen throughout the album, while also referencing the tension between personal freedom and traditional religious values.
Later in the album,
Listening to “MAYHEM” from start to finish, it is the kind of album that makes you lose yourself in the music, so much so that you forget you’re even driving.
Album review
“MAYHEM” Rating:
“Killah” featuring Gesaffelstein hits another tone shift, show casing Gaga’s confidence through heavy techno beats as she sings about taking control of her desires and power as a woman.
“And the boys all pass me by / Talkin’ some shit
with your hand on my ass / I’m a murderer in disguise,” Gaga sings in the verse.
Track eight, “Zombieboy,” offers another refreshing moment to “MAYHEM”’s dark energy with a more campy disco aesthetic that is reminiscent of Chappell Roan’s recent success of “HOT TO GO!” with upbeat rhythmic lyrics.
The song is driven by groovy guitars and clapalong drum beat as Gaga narrates a night spiraling out of control in one of my favorite lines, “I could be your type from your zombie bite.”
Gaga commands attention through a sense of dominance and defiance over her listeners as she continues to reject the objectification of the traditional male gaze.
The traditional male gaze is defined by the expectations of a male fantasy that are subjected to women in media, according to a July 14, 2023 New Yorker article.
These darker elements begin to reveal themselves throughout the rest of the album as “MAYHEM” continues to blend powerful themes of liberation with dark metaphors such as in track 11, “Shadow Of A Man.”
“I don’t wanna be the one to fall on the knife / To come alive I'm about to be there, I'm about to be there / Watch me, I swear I'll dance in the shadow of a man,” Gaga sings.
Artist: Lady Gaga Release Date: March 7, 2025
Genre: Dance pop
The last song of Gaga’s seventh full-length album has already seen early success with the pre-release single collaboration with Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile.”
The song brings two of the most beloved artists of the early 2010s together and recreates their magic in a single that has continued charting since its release.
“Die With A Smile,”, currently stands at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Global 200 chart and has stayed there for 10 consecutive weeks, according to Billboard’s website.
This track is emotionally powerful while being infectious and showcases some of the best vocal performances from Gaga and Mars in their recent careers.
Each track on the album feels uniquely Gaga while creating a brand new experience and her ability to evolve and push boundaries has grown with every album release.
With “MAYHEM,” Gaga further solidified her place as one of the most influential and daring figures in pop music through her commitment to pushing boundaries and I’m eager to see her artistry persist.
Follow Nicole on Instagram @nicoledevriies
ILLUSTRATIONS BY NICOLE DEVRIES SPARTAN DAILY
Commuter students rejoice on campus
By Bryan Reos STAFF WRITER
San José State is hosting its fifth annual Commuter Appreciation Week for students who commute to campus.
SJSU is scheduled to host multiple events throughout the week this year to support the commuter community, according to SJSU’s events calendar.
The week of events kicked off on Monday afternoon with a student resource fair located at the Student Services center in the Peers Connections lounge from noon–3 p.m., offering students free snacks, shirts and a chance to make important connections.
Greg Garcia, the program director for tutoring services at Peer Connections, said he wants to alert students of the various resources available to them that many wouldn’t have otherwise known about.
“San José State sometimes can be like its
own little city and it’s hard to know what's going on everywhere, so I'm glad that we have these things so you can always learn more,” Garcia said.
family crafting activity for commuter students and their families at the Student Union Meeting Room 1, according to SJSU’s events calendar.
in massage chairs with free refreshments on Wednesday from 1-4 p.m. at the Student Union Meeting Room 1 as well, according to the same source.
Students found 86.66% of the student population live off-campus, according to a Fall 2023 survey.
may have to find other avenues to get to campus.
“Just seeing them come into effect recently, it's kind of weird, like not seeing the buses run, not seeing, like the VTA,” Calderon said. “They have like the senior service vans in my neighborhood, not seeing them was a little weird today,”
Some of the attendees of Commuter Appreciation Week are feeling the effects of the strikes, with many unsure of their future transportation to campus.
Ashley Conte, a thirdyear business transfer student, commutes from Sunnyvale to campus regularly using the VTA’s light rail system, which is currently down.
send a letter to the editor
On Tuesday, from 4-7 p.m., Commuter Appreciation Week is scheduled to continue with a do-it-yourself
The third event the Student Union will host is a spa day for commuters, offering a relaxing atmosphere
Letters to the Editor may be placed in the letters to the editor box in the Spartan Daily office in Dwight Bentel Hall, Room 209 or emailed to spartandaily@gmail.com to the attention of the Spartan Daily Opinion Editor. Letters to the Editor must contain the author’s name, year and major. Letters become property of the Spartan Daily and may be edited for clarity, grammar, libel and length. Only letters of 300 words or less will be considered for publication. Published opinions and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of the Spartan Daily, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or SJSU. The Spartan Daily is a public forum.
Troy Calderon, a second-year aviation student, is a San José resident who commutes 15 minutes to campus. Calderon says he appreciates the information Commuter Appreciation Week offers.
“Things that stuck out were learning more about things like the (Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center), parking services, really just all the amenities that we have at SJSU and becoming more familiar with the resources that that you can utilize as a student,” Calderon said.
SJSU’s Associated
The last event of Commuter Appreciation Week is scheduled for Thursday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for students to get free fresh produce from a mini free farmer’s market on Seventh Street Plaza, according to SJSU’s events calendar.
Starting this week, Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) transportation systems will no longer be available for the foreseeable future as workers are on strike, according to VTA’s website.
This means that the 37.94% of off-campus students who rely on VTA to commute, according to the same survey,
“I took an Uber this morning, it was really expensive, so I'm not sure how I'm gonna do this for the rest of the week or the rest of the semester if it goes on,” Conte said.
Despite the hurdles some commuter students face this week, the Commuter Appreciation Week events can help students who already face difficulties from the strikes.
“I think even the smallest things, like free stuff or food, that’s usually enough for people like me, to be like let's go in between classes and check it out,” Calderon said.
SJSU students cross 10th Street near the east campus entrance
Spartans end season with a bang
By Israel Archie SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The San José State men’s basketball team dominated in its final game of the season, defeating Fresno State 92-68 on senior night where the program honored both undergraduate and graduate seniors on the roster.
With the win, SJSU finished the season with a record of 14-18 and 7-13 in the conference, while the Bulldogs finished at 6-25 with a conference record of 2-18.
Graduate guard
Donavan Yap was the main man for the Spartans on Saturday afternoon, dropping 30 points against his former team.
“It feels pretty good being able to play against my previous team and being able to get the W,” Yap said. “That was a great game for sure.”
Yap’s mother was at the game as she watched her son have one of the best games of his career.
“It’s always been me and my mom, so her being able to come out and support me on this night was special for me,” Yap said.
Yap shot 79% from the field on 14 attempts and went 5 for 7 from behindthe-arc while missing only one free throw the entire game.
Senior guard Josh Uduje spoke highly of Yap’s performance and proudly shared the moment with him.
“I was telling him (Yap) this is stuff you tell your kids about,” Uduje said. “He had 30 against his old team; that’s something that you only see in a book.”
Uduje was honored at the game along with Yap, graduate forward Sadaidriene Hall, graduate center Chol Marial and the staff members of the team who are graduating this year.
Uduje was supported by his mom and his brother, who surprised him the night before the game.
“We only have one senior night and I wasn’t expecting them to be here,” Uduje said. “Being able to perform in front of them and get the win is amazing,”
The Spartans as a whole, outshot and outrebounded the Bulldogs, giving SJSU head coach Tim Miles something to be proud of.
“(It was a) good home win to end the season for San José State
(and I) love it,” Miles said. “I think (there was) a lot of balance, some career highs from different guys doing some excellent things and finally nine guys you know, so that helps a lot.”
SJSU shot 53% from the field, 39% from the 3-point line and made 84% of its free throws compared to Fresno State’s 41% from the field, 15% from three and 62% from the charity stripe.
Along with Yap, the Spartans had three other players with double figures.
Freshman guard Jermaine Washington also had a career high 19 points on 5 for 11 shooting from field, 2 for 6 from deep and shooting a perfect 7 for 7 from the free throw line.
Washington played such a great game that Uduje couldn’t talk about the game without mentioning him.
“(With) Jermaine having a great day today (and) having his career high, I feel like that’s something we don’t speak about enough with our team is
that anybody can show up on any type of day,” Uduje said.
Uduje scored 16 along with shooting 6 for 11 from the field, grabbing three boards and draining a three-pointer.
This season, Uduje had 24 out of 30 games this season where he scored double-figures according to his stats page on SJSU Athletics.
Junior center Robert Vaihola was big on the glass grabbing a careerhigh 19 boards along with 13 points to record a double-double.
Following the win, the Spartans are scheduled to play Wyoming in the Mountain West Tournament on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Las Vegas, Nev.
SJSU is currently ranked #8 in the conference while Wyoming is right underneath at #9 according to a Mountain West web page.
“Our plan is to win it for sure,” Yap said. “Our end results haven’t been where we wanted it to be but we know that moving forward starting the conference at 0-0, anybody could win and we’re trying to win the tournament.”
SJSU falls to Oregon State at home
San José State's women’s gymnastics team faced off against Oregon State on Sunday afternoon in a high-energy meet that brought out the team’s best performance of the season with a score of 195.750. at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
Despite falling to the Beavers, the Spartans had a memorable senior night which included facing Jade Carey, a two-time Olympic gold medalist for artistic gymnastics.
SJSU sophomore Devyn Valuch scored an impressive all-around, earning 39.050 only second to Oregon State’s Carey, who led the event with 39.825.
Spartans’ head coach Joanne Bowers reflected on her goodbyes to the seniors, acknowledging the growth she’s witnessed over their collegiate years.
“It’s always bittersweet during senior meet because all you're thinking about is everything from their freshman year,
everything they’ve gone through (and) everything you’ve ever gone through with that kid,” Bowers said. “Watching them grow up as people and getting ready for the world is half our jobs as coaches.”
Competing against Oregon State offered a unique opportunity for SJSU to experience elitelevel gymnastics in its home arena.
Bowers encouraged the team to watch Carey perform as her skill offered a chance to inspire young gymnasts.
“Normally you just try to stay in your team bubble and you don’t watch the other team,” Bowers said. “Well, I turned around and I’m watching her (Carey).”
SJSU graduate student Jaudai Lopes and junior Mikaela Pitts came out strong on vault with scores of 9.850 to help the team tie with the third-highest score in the school's history, a 49.125, according to a Spartan Athletics web page.
Lopes celebrated one of her last meets with the team and shared how the
presence of an Olympian added to the excitement of the meet.
“Honestly tonight was our season high, so it was a really good environment,” Lopes said. “It was really cool competing against an Olympian Jade Carey. I think that kind of pumped us up a little bit, but overall I was just good energy and we're just doing it for the seniors, so it was just good vibes.”
The momentum continued into the uneven bars event with an overall score of 48.80 for the Spartans.
Graduate student
Katherine Weyhmiller scored a team-high 9.850 followed by senior Sophia Konieczny earning a 9.800, according to the same Spartan Athletics web page.
Konieczny emphasized
that the team’s performance and camaraderie contributed to the energy of the event.
“The team did really good today,” Konieczny said. “This is the season high for us, so I'm super proud that we were able to bring it out for one of our last weeks at home. We all care about each other so much… We had a lot of really good routines and good moments tonight.”
The balance beam proved to be another exceptional moment for the Spartans with freshman Madison Gustitus tying for third overall with a score of 9.875 followed by strong performances from freshman Samantha Macasu who earned a 9.850 and sophomore Marissa Ashton with a 9.800.
Although the Beavers’ heavy lineup ultimately overpowered the Spartans, Lopes and the team stayed focused on themselves.
“I think the biggest challenge is honestly, just trying to keep up with them,” Lopes said. “They're like a top 10 team, like, we were just trying to keep up and also just like stay in our own bubble and just have fun,”
The Spartans closed the meet with a 48.800 on floor exercise with freshman Ava Johnson tying for third overall with a score of 9.850 along with Beavers sophomore Sophia Esposito.
Bowers’s excitement about the opportunity to witness Carey was also reflected by others on the team, recognizing the impact Carey’s career has on bringing new people to
watch gymnastics.
“I think it's an amazing opportunity,” Konieczny said. “It's always really good when we could get more people out here and more interest in this sport. Whenever we compete against big teams that have known athletes, I think it's an amazing opportunity for more people to come to see gymnastics for the first time and enjoy the sport and hopefully come back and watch us more.”
The Spartans are preparing to face off against Stanford, Berkeley and Arizona State in a quad meet hosted by the Golden Bears on Sunday at 2 p.m.
ISRAEL ARCHIE | SPARTAN DAILY
SJSU guard Jermaine Washington at the free-point line on Saturday at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
ANFISA PITCHKHADZE | SPARTAN DAILY
San José State University freshman gymnast Madison Gustitus competes in the all-around on Sunday afternoon at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
By Nicole DeVries STAFF WRITER