10-07-2020

Wednesday, Oct. 7 - Tuesday, Oct. 13 Weekly Digital Edition

Vol. 107, Issue 2 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

Revised 2020 football schedule released Kyle Betz SPORTS EDITOR by

In conjunction with the Mountain West Conference, San Diego State football released an updated 2020 season schedule via a press release on Oct. 1.

Last Thursday, the conference announced the season will start on Oct. 24. That’s when the Aztecs are set to host UNLV in SDSU’s season opener, which will be played at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Califoria.

Every SDSU home game will be played in Carson this season.

The Aztecs are scheduled to follow up their home opener with a Halloween clash against Utah State on the road. After that matchup, the Aztecs will host San José State and Hawai’i at Dignity Health on Nov. 7 and Nov. 14, respectively.

The Aztecs will then take a brief road trip to play against Nevada on Nov. 21 and Fresno State on Nov. 28.

In-conference action will wrap

by

File Photo The San Diego State football team huddles around then-senior linebacker Kyahva Tezino as he gives a pregame speech. The game resulted in a 48-11 win over Central Michigan on Dec. 21, 2019 at the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque.

up on Dec. 5, when the Aztecs host Colorado State.

SDSU is set to play one non-conference game against BYU on Dec. 12 to complete its eight-game schedule. SDSU was supposed to face the Cougars on Nov. 14 in the inital 2020 season schedule.

Conference play will conclude in the Mountain West Champi-

onship Game on Dec. 19, which will be hosted by the team with the highest winning percentage in regular season conference play.

The Aztecs are looking to improve on a 10-3 record in 2019, which culminated in the team’s 48-11 New Mexico Bowl game victory over Central Michigan last December.

Election 2020: A guide to voting in San Diego Catlan Nguyen SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR by

With the election less than a month away and the nation still gripped by the coronavirus pandemic, voting this year will be very different from what we are all used to. Massive changes were made to the San Diego County voting system to address public health and safety, and millions of Americans will vote by mail. It’s a lot to keep track of and there’s a lot of information (and misinformation) out there, so here are some tips to help you ensure your vote is counted.

This one’s obvious but, make sure you’re registered.

California voters should be regis-

Graphic by Emily Burgess

Chancellor-select Castro announces plans for time as CSU leader

tered to vote at least 15 days before the election or by Oct. 19 to automatically receive a mail-in ballot due to the on-going pandemic.

Check your registration status here in case you’ve moved recently.

Same-Day Voter Registration is also a safety net for those who missed the deadline. Eligible citizens who need to register or re-register to vote within 14 days of an election can complete this process and vote at their county elections office, polling place or vote center. Their ballots will be processed and counted once the county elections office has completed the voter registration verification process.

Many students at SDSU are urging people to vote safely and reminding younger voters that their voice matters.

“Every election is important but I would say this election is incredibly important, especially for younger people because it’s the first time a lot of us have a say in our future,” SDSU Rock The Vote member

Grace de Vega said. “It’s the first time we have a voice and we get to exercise that right.”

If you’re a college student living on-campus and registering to vote in San Diego you can have your ballot sent to you at school.

If you’re a college student living in a dorm: 1. At SDSU: Use the residence hall address for your mail-in ballot.

2. At UC San Diego: Use the 9450 Gilman Drive address and your UCSD box number as your unit number.

3. At Cal State University San Marcos: Use the residence hall address and your apartment number.

4. At the University of San Diego: Use the 5998 Alcala Park address and your USD unit number.

5. At Point Loma Nazarene University: Use the campus’ main address.

There’s a lot at stake so take your time.

There’s no need to rush when fillELECTION see PAGE 2

Cal State Student Wire

Chancellor-select Joseph I. Castro said he has no plans at this time to implement a system-wide reduction in tuition costs or fees in a press conference Sept. 30.

“I don’t yet have a full awareness of all the different kinds of campus fees across the system so I will need to take some time to do that,” Castro said. “But I can tell you that philosophically, here at Fresno State, I’ve tried to make sure that the fees that we do charge are appropriate.”

An online petition has been signed by more than 5,200 San Diego State students demanding refunds for campus service fees not provided due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Given the circumstances, I don’t believe students are utilizing the services on campus nor do I think most of them are even available at this time,” business administration junior Dustin Do said. “Therefore, it makes no sense that we have to pay full tuition.”

The petition calculates the university should return between $884 and $989 each semester to students due to the services unable to be utilized. It also requests the university refund these fees for the Spring and Summer semesters in 2020 which transitioned to online as well.

Castro said that some fees, like parking and housing, will not be paid for by those not benefiting from the services. However, other fees such as those used to pay for facilities, will continue to be funded by students.

“I would say that those are like the houses that some of our families own, and they will be used in the coming years and it’s really important that we continue to fund those and support those,” Castro said. “I realize that is a bit of a sacrifice, but I do think that it’s worthwhile for you and other CASTRO see PAGE 2

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CASTRO:

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CSU students.”

Use of the CSU’s $1.7 billion reserve to mitigate the income that comes from student fees is off the table, Castro said.

“Reserves are really like a savings account at home, and once you spend $1 of your savings account, unless you replenish it is gone forever,” Castro said. “And if you use it for expenses that are recurring, that’s a really bad formula. It’s very important that we consider using reserves and I know that many campuses were careful not to use them too quickly or for things that are really recurring in nature.”

Castro also addressed the presence of police on CSU campuses and whether or not they would be removed, saying they would not be removed but he is willing to reexamine their funding.

“We need to have public safety officers in order to protect our facilities, and the people who are here, and I know some campuses are not occupied by large numbers of people, but that can also be a time when others who might want to do bad things could take advantage of that opportunity, so to speak,” Castro said. “So I do believe that we need to fund our public safety officers. And I also believe that we need to fund our basic needs initiatives.”

When asked about whether or not officers should be armed, or

ELECTION:

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ing out your ballot.Take the time to look over your voter information guide and sample ballot for your district and make a plan for who you’re going to vote for before receiving your absentee ballot.For statewide ballot measures and propositions, familiarize yourself with the issues and look to experts you trust. If you’re struggling to make a decision, talk it out with friends and family.

They might have information and perspectives you didn’t come across in your research.

Understanding the process takes a lot of the stress of voting away.

Completing your mail-in ballot can be complicated. It’s helpful to review the rules and requirements before you fill out your ballot because one wrong pen mark might mean your vote won’t be counted.

“I think more people will be voting by mail rather than at polling

News armed to the extent that they are on some campuses with weapons such as AR-15 rifles, Castro said he was “unaware” of this but promised to look into it.

Signed into law months ago, Assembly Bill 1460 that requires all 23 CSU campuses to mandate the completion of one three-unit ethnic studies course has Castro’s full support.

“I’m committed to successful implementation of that bill that’s now law. And I know that Chancellor [Timothy P.] White and his team have been working with the presidents and provosts too, and the faculty to begin that implementation process, and I’ll look forward to continuing that and completing that as the new chancellor next year,” Castro said.

Castro’s predecessor, Chancellor White, came under fire during the deliberations of AB1460 when he and the Board of Trustees introduced the “Ethnic Studies and Social Justice” that would have allowed students to take a course that didn’t necessarily focus on different ethnic groups and was expanded into other areas of study.

Castro also addressed concerns of diversity throughout the CSU system. In his introduction video, he vowed to increase diversity among faculty and staff throughout the system.

“I think the first step is for me to have a conversation with the presidents and for us to again reflect on what we have done, what’s

stations because of cautionary protection against the virus,” business administration junior Sarah Mendoza said. “I only found out about how voting by mail works this year since I’m doing it for the first time myself, but I’m figuring it out as we go.”

Here’s a breakdown of what you should do: 1. Once you receive the ballot, carefully read and follow the instructions. Any mistake will make your ballot invalid.

2. Sign and date where indicated using a pen with dark ink. (Ideally blue or black) 3. Mail your completed ballot back to the address indicated on the return envelope.

4. Each mail-in ballot can be returned by mail, no postage required, or at one of 126 drop box locations.

Here are each location’s hours.

5. Completed mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3, and received no later than 17 days after the Election in California.

However, it’s better to get them in

Oct. 7 - Oct. 13, 2020 Editor: Jadyn Brandt

worked well and what more we can do,” Castro said. “I would like us to be in a position where we inspire those graduates to join our faculty. So rather than having a talented graduate of the UC go to Texas or Oklahoma, no offense, I’d rather have them stay here in California. So that’s one of the thoughts that I have and I plan to pursue that with him and also discuss that and other strategies with the presidents and faculty leaders and student leaders as well.”

Castro also said he plans to address diversity in the student body. At SDSU, less than 4% of the student body is Black, something Castro said he’s addressing at his home university of California University State, Fresno.

“I think that we need to look at the strategies that we have utilized in the past and presently and continuously ask, ‘Are these the right strategies going forward?’” Castro said. “I think that all of us need to look at that and take steps to address this, so that over time we can increase the representation of African American students, and also work harder to retain them and help them graduate so that they can be part of this emerging group of leaders in California and throughout the country.”

Although Chancellor White announced that the spring 2021 semester will be delivered predominantly remotely, Castro said he see

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sooner rather than later.

San Diego County voters also have the option to vote in-person.

Polling locations will be open Oct. 31 through Nov. 3 to minimize lines and big crowds so voters can stay safe during the pandemic.

SDSU students can also vote in-person on campus at Viejas Arena, Emily Mickelson, the voter registration lead for SDSU’s Rock the Vote Campaign, said.

If you’re voting in person or dropping off your ballot know where to go.

You can find your assigned polling place on the back of your Sample Ballot, Voter Information Pamphlet or online. San Diego County is offering 235 polling locations.

Masks will be required at polling locations and social distancing protocol will be enforced. if you plan to visit between Oct. 7 and Nov. 3, check the locations’ websites for its operating hours.

On Election Day, all locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Brenden Tuccinardi NEWS EDITOR Jadyn Brandt ASST. NEWS EDITOR Katelynn Robinson OPINION EDITOR Trinity Bland MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Daniel Guerrero ASST. MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Noé Sandoval ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Devin Whatley SPORTS EDITOR Kyle Betz ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Luis Lopez SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Catlan Nguyen PHOTO EDITOR Alexa Oslowski ASST. PHOTO EDITOR Amanda Orozco VIDEO EDITOR Angela Kurysh ASST. VIDEO EDITOR Mackenzie Stafford GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR Emily Burgess SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Breven Honda STAFF WRITERS Jake Greenfield Aleah Jarin Shalika Oza CONTRIBUTORS Brandon Balayan Emily Forschen ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bryan Diamond MARKETING/PR DIRECTOR Roxana Becerril EDITORIAL editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING advertising@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition every Wednesday thoughout the semester when we are not in a global pandemic.

WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com SOCIAL MEDIA @thedailyaztec

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/thedailyaztec The views and opinions expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.

Oct. 7 - Oct. 13, 2020 Editor: Trinity Bland

Opinion

The Daily Aztec

3

Students are disadvantaged by distance learning Shalika Oza STAFF WRITER by

With San Diego State scaling back operations this March – stopping all but essential research and transitioning the majority of classes online – due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many students moved back home with hopes that by August, the government would have successfully handled this pandemic.

As time progressed, it became clear this wouldn’t be the case, and students no longer held onto the hope they would be able to return to campus in the fall.

The nail in the coffin was the announcement that many CSU’s and UC’s were switching to completely online instruction and the announcement of SDSU Flex.

While SDSU kept in mind the need to social distance and flatten the curve when creating a mostly distance learning plan for the fall semester, it seems the university never considered the factor of ac-

Graphic by Shalika Oza

cessibility.

Many students who were hoping for a return to campus also relied on the resources offered on campus. When campus closed in March, many of my student-created GroupMe’s began to fill up with complaints of students not being able to handle the sudden switch to online classes.

Some in part due to not liking the new plan of action, and some

in part because they did not have access to the technology required to continue classes online.

In my efforts to search for what resources SDSU is offering in terms of technology, I found that through the Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT) website, laptop checkouts are available through the library’s technology services checkout.

Only after navigating to two

separate pages can students find a link to information about ECRT resources listed on SDSU’s central coronavirus webpage. Although SDSU has sent emails about resources and has provided information on SDSU NewsCenter, it’s disappointing that ECRT is mentioned deep in the university’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage and not on the main page where students are told to turn to first.

This is an issue for many reasons, but most importantly, not everyone is aware of the ECRT and all they can do.

Other issues stem from the fact that not all SDSU students have chosen to move back to San Diego. This laptop checkout is only available to students who can pick up laptops in-person at the library.

Ultimately, the university’s fall 2020 plans seem to be trying to save face rather than actually aiding students through these trying times. see

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I took the GRE and passed, here is what you should know

by Jake

Greenfield STAFF WRITER For those that don’t know, the Graduate Record Exam, or GRE, is a four-hour, $200 hoop ambitious students looking to further their education after obtaining their bachelor’s degree have to jump through.

For anyone applying to grad school, you are already deeply familiar with this pain, myself included.

This year, some schools have temporarily stopped requiring the GRE, due to COVID-19.

However, more than likely that at least one school you plan to apply to still requires the GRE, and knowing the fundamentals of the exam, as well as preparation strategies, is essential for a great performance.

There are three sections in the GRE: verbal, quantitative (which is math), and analytical writing. The GRE is similar to other standardized tests like the SAT, but if you want to know more about each section check out this link.

I am currently applying to Doctor of Physical Therapy programs, and most require the GRE. Many

require a minimum score in the 50th percentile on each section.

After taking the exam and scoring around the 80th percentile, presenting myself as a competitive applicant, I took to Instagram and shared this bit of news. I was flooded with questions from fellow DPT applicants asking for advice from my experience when it came to studying, strategies and what to expect.

My relationship with the GRE started in January. I planned to take the test sometime between April and the end of summer. Applications are due in October, so I wanted plenty of time to retake the test if necessary.

This may seem like a lot of time, but I just wanted to be safe. Many students have said they only took two or three months to properly prepare for the exam. I took the first month to familiarize myself with the format of the exam and buy my test materials.

I used a few different resources to study. I bought the official ETS GRE books which you can find for around $40 on Amazon. This contains one general test guide with two paper practice exams and one book for both the verbal and

Photo by Jake Greenfield

quantitative sections.

There are a plethora of online GRE prep courses and programs, some of which can be extremely expensive, but PrepScholar GRE is an underrated online program

that costs $38 for a full year. I used the program’s diagnostic test to format the course to my needs.

I did up to two lessons a week see

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The Daily Aztec

Mundo Azteca

Oct. 7 - Oct. 13, 2020 Editor: Daniel Guerrero

Dreamers 101 proporciona recursos para los estudiantes indocumentados de SDSU Daniel Guerrero MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR by

Los estudiantes indocumentados en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego pueden enfrentar muchos obstáculos.

Con las clases y otros compromisos como estudiantes, los estudiantes indocumentados también enfrentan desafíos con respecto a su estatus migratorio individual, que a veces puede ser incierto.

Ahora, un nuevo curso titulado Dreamers 101, proporciona información y guía a los estudiantes indocumentados. Les ofrece recursos y consejos sobre su estatus de immigracíon y los desafíos diarios que podrían enfrentar.

El curso de un crédito fue agregado durante el semestre de otoño y es impartido por Cynthia Torres, la coordinadora del área de recursos para los estudiantes indocumentados.

Torres ha ayudado a estudiantes indocumentados en SDSU desde 2009 y ha jugado un papel en la apertura del Centro de Recursos para Indocumentados en 2020. Es

Foto cortesia Cynthia Torres El Centro de Recursos para Indocumentados se abrió en 2 de mayo de 2017 en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego. Aún asi, algunos grupos han luchado por la necesidad de más recursos para los estudiantes indocumentados.

la asesora del club Educación Sin Fronteras en el campus y continúa tratando de ayudar a estudiantes indocumentados a través del nuevo curso.

“La única diferencia entre ellos y los demás es ese estatus”, dijo Torres.

A pesar de que este es el primer año del curso,Torres ha servido como recurso para estudiantes indocumentados de SDSU. Ha estado ayudando a estudiantes indocumentados desde 2009

y es asesora de Educación sin Fronteras en SDSU. Eduardo Mogollan se graduó en 2014 con una licenciatura en administración de empresas y fue ex presidente de Educación Sin Fronteras en SDSU. Dijo que el nuevo programa es algo necesario para que los estudiantes indocumentados tengan el apoyo para seguir con su educación y carrera.

“Pues, en realidad yo creo que es muy importante que los estudi-

antes quienes son Soñadores o indocumentados que les sirva como apoyo para salir adelante en la universidad y que no se rindan”, dijo Mogollan.

El curso está compuesto de menos de 15 estudiantes que provienen de todos los orígenes y culturas, incluidos estudiantes de América Latina, países de Oriente Medio y Asia y Canadá.

Torres dijo que la clase tiene el objetivo de ayudar a todos los indocumentados.

“Queremos asegurarnos de ser inclusivos. Y tenemos las puertas abiertas a todos”, dijo.

Dado que esta clase es la primera de su tipo, hay esperanzas de mucho más.

Aunque la clase proporciona otro recurso para los estudiantes indocumentados, Torres, junto con otros ex alumnos, sienten que es uno que se debió haber hecho hace mucho tiempo.

Carlos Rodríguez se graduó en 2018 con una licenciatura en finanzas y también fue ex presidente de see

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La organización estudiantil de Médicos Sin Fronteras comenzó en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego Daniel Guerrero MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR by

Una nueva organización de estudiantes que tiene como objetivo ayudar a crear conciencia sobre los esfuerzos humanitarios de Médicos sin Fronteras, ha llegado a la Universidad Estatal de San Diego.

Con alrededor de 30 miembros

en la organización los objetivos de los partidarios de Médicos Sin Fronteras SDSU es parte de la organización global conocido como Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), son alentar a la comunidad de SDSU a participar más en los esfuerzos de salud humanitaria global de MSF y recaudar fondos para esas causas.

Jerald Jianoran, estudiante del úl-

Foto Cortesia Jerald Jianoran Medicos sin Fronteras se anuncio como un grupo nuevo en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego el 24 de agosto. El grupo tiene como objetivo ayudar a crear conciencia sobre problemas de salud humanitarios en la comunidad alrededor de SDSU

timo año estudiando Salud Pública, es el presidente de la organización y una de las personas principales con la idea de llevar Médicos sin Fronteras a SDSU. Jianoran dijo que iniciar la organización estudiantil es en parte para ayudar a apoyar a las comunidades que necesitan recursos médicos.

“Hay muchos problemas de salud que ocurren continuamente y no se detienen si hay una pandemia y no se detienen cuando todos estamos en cuarentena”, dijo Jianoran. “La gente de todo el mundo y a nivel nacional está pasando por problemas de salud y yo quería ser parte de ese movimiento que inspira y activa el cambio”.

El movimiento para iniciar el grupo comenzó con un mensaje de texto de Jianoran a Kara Suárez, una estudiante de tercer año estudiando Salud Pública y vicepresidenta del grupo.

Suárez dijo que sus padres son enfermeros y que estaba famil-

iarizada con la organización más grande cuando a Jianoran se le ocurrió la idea.

Dijo que sintió que era necesario localizarlo y llevarlo a SDSU considerando que la escuela y la comunidad están muy cerca de la frontera con México.

“Mi pasión por esta organización proviene de estar tan cerca de la frontera”, dijo Suárez.

También dijo que poder tener el recurso en el campus y alentar a la comunidad de SDSU también es un motivador para comenzar el grupo.

Dado que las clases aún continúan en línea, la organización se ha apoyado en los eventos virtuales para dar la bienvenida a nuevos miembros y hablar sobre los próximos eventos.

Los objetivos para el primer año de la organización de estudiantes incluyen concienciar a la organización de MSF más grande de la see

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Oct. 7 - Oct. 13, 2020 Editor: Kyle Betz

Sports

The Daily Aztec

5

Women’s golf coach Leslie Spalding discusses fall season cancellation, international talent Breven Honda SENIOR STAFF WRITER by

San Diego State women’s golf continues to be the reigning Mountain West Conference Champions since they did not have the chance to defend the crown back in April.

Normally, the Aztecs would be competing this fall, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Mountain West Conference canceled all fall competition on Aug. 5.

The season cancellation makes the situation even more difficult because they have a diverse team with a handful of players from different countries outside North America.

The Daily Aztec caught up with head coach Leslie Spalding to see how her players are doing around the world and what it is like to have international talent in the program.

The Daily Aztec: How are you and the program doing right now?

Leslie Spalding: “I’m doing well. The program is crawling at a snail’s pace right now but we’ve had two practices and we have three that are opting out because the restrictions don’t fit. It’s very restrictive in terms of how we can practice so I’m supportive of my athletes and what they need to do.”

DA: Do you think you can have a season with both the PGA and the LPGA playing for a few months now?

LS: “Not in California, I don’t. Yeah, it might be possible right now, but I’m hoping in the spring, we can. With our restrictions right now in California, I think it is very difficult.

Right now we’re in phase one of our plan and we’re allowed to play nine holes but not 18.

I am hopeful for the future we can get through and into different phases rather than the one we are in and we can go forward where we can actually get out of this.”

DA: What does it mean to the women’s golf game at the college level, including your program that recruiting does not just take nationally, but in-

Courtesy of Derrick Tuskan, SDSU Athletics San Diego State women’s golf head coach Leslie Spalding (left) talks to then-sophomore Sara Kjellker during the Lamkin Invitational, when the Aztecs defeated San José State by a final score of 3-2 at The Farms in Rancho Santa Fe, California on Feb. 11.

ternationally?

LS: “It’s really interesting because in recruiting, we talk to players from all over the world in different countries and we’ve had a great experience in the spring of talking to players and learning how every country is handling (the pandemic). We’re such an international team. (Junior Sara Kjellker) from Sweden, they had no restrictions and she had quarantined for two days and said ‘I’m done with this’ and she practiced all the time and they lived life as if it is normal. Then we have the Phillipines, who closed their borders immediately and (sophomore Bernice Olivarez Ilas) was not allowed out of her for two months, maybe more. They were very restricted in terms of movement because they were worried about getting the virus because they don’t have the infrastructure to handle it.

Coming back this fall, having a Swedish person come back to restrictions, quarantines and all that, I understand her point of view, but at the same time, she has not been here so it’s very difficult for her to accept.”

DA: What is the chemistry like for the team to mix in players from all over the world rather than just have players from the U.S.?

LS: “I think I would like to have an American team and I think in our future we will have a lot more California players which I’m looking forward to.

But having that international scope really shows what other countries in the world are do-

ing for their sports programs.

I have an Australian, who are leaders in sports science and I have Sweden and Switzerland, where they have national teams and they travel them all year where they don’t have to pay out of pocket for expenses.

Then, for Americans, it’s all up to the families to provide for that stuff. In terms of chemistry, it’s an interesting dynamic because it’s friends for a lifetime where they learn from each other and I love the diversity I’ve had on this team for the past nine years. I think it is really cool for our student-athletes to experience.”

DA: How much more time do you have for recruiting since no competitions are not being held?

LS: “We completed 2022 in July and we can’t do 2023 and we can’t go watch. I have plenty of time, but there’s really not much I can do. I don’t really know the 2023 class and the only way I can know that is by going out and watching and I can’t communicate with them, so not doing a lot of recruiting right now. But we have our commitments for 2021 and 2022.”

DA: Looking back, in four of the last five seasons (20152019), you have had a conference championship in either individual or team competition.

How does that speak to the success of the program?

LS: “There are so many great athletes out there and it’s finding the right ones that can help you grow a program and help

build on that success. It’s hard if you’re unsuccessful, to all of a sudden get a really good player. But when you get a really good team and you get known for having a good team, people want to be a part of it and I think that has been the really fun part of it. Being in the best city in America with the best climate in America along with our home course (The Farms) is fantastic. We’re a very desirable place to be and I love that. It means we can be a little picky in who we are going after and what we’re looking for.

We have definitely defined that and I think the future looks really good in terms of players who are passionate about the sport, who have huge desires to achieve big goals and that is what you really want – someone with heart that wants to succeed and be a proud Aztec.

I believe our future is a group of proud Aztecs. Right now, we have a player that is No. 73 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings in Kjellker and is somebody who is out there practicing 16 hours a day and she has huge goals and huge dreams, but she is also extremely passionate and motivated, so it is going to be really fun to get back to some sense of normalcy and hopefully have a successful spring season.”

DA: How have you and the team been keeping in contact with all of the different times?

LS: “The only time of day that it works for us is 3 p.m., which is 6 a.m. in the Philippines and 11 p.m. in Sweden.

It was very difficult to have a team meeting and we didn’t have that many because it was so difficult. I am keeping in contact with the players individually. We have a player who is in Germany, the Philippines and Australia. They’re living their life as they normally would and they’re in a much better place than being here because they are able to work out, practice, do everything without restrictions. Communicating is a little tricky when you try to get a world on the dang schedule. It is very interesting.

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The Daily Aztec

Arts & Culture

Oct. 7 - Oct. 13, 2020 Editor: Devin Whatley

Project Rebound gives formerly incarcerated students a second chance and an education Brandon Balayan CONTRIBUTOR by

During COVID-19, being confined to the four walls of our homes may be a new experience. However, the students of Project Rebound are all too familiar with it.

Project Rebound is a California State University program used to help improve the lives of formerly incarcerated students through outreach, education and resources so they desist from crime, Executive Director Dr. Alan Mobley said.

Formerly incarcerated students like psychology alumnus Moises Garcia-Perez utilized the program and its resources to stay out of jail.

“I think to myself about going to jail at this age, and I’m like, sorry, I can’t,” Garcia-Perez said. “I’m 27 and just got my degree; I’m trying to play catch up is what I’m doing.”

Garcia-Perez had his first run-in with the judicial system when he was on a five year probation from 13 to 18 years old. While on pro-

Photo courtesy of Ana Daniela Maya Project Rebound helps improve the lives of formerly incarcerated students through outreach, education and resources.

bation, his probation officer helped push him to get an education.

Garcia-Perez believes his background made others believe he was incapable of getting an education. To prove those people wrong, he attended San Diego Mesa College and earned an associate degree in psychology in 2017. While in community college, he had more encounters with the judicial system and was sent to county jail.

Mobley believes while people

are in jail, they experience the dark knight of the soul, which is a deep reexamination of one’s life, often caused by trauma.

“This kind of thing very often will provoke a deep introspection, right on the part of the individual, Mobley said. “And that deep introspection is a very fertile place for personal change.”

Mobley believes this change starts with investing in communities, colleges and programs such as

Project Rebound which can make prisons obsolete. To measure its impact, the program relies on its recidivism and retention rates.

Since 2016, the recidivism rate for Project Rebound students is at 0%, while the California recidivism rate is around 50%, according to a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation report.

According to the report, the Project Rebound retention rate for the Fall 2018 semester was 89.8% among the 287 students entering the cohort, and the CSU student retention rate was 84.3% among 65,430 students entering the cohort.

Project Rebound is currently operating in 14 different CSUs. Each campus works with correctional facilities in their service area, and they refer people from these facilities to their program, or the program nearest to the individual’s home. see

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Review: Disney’s live-action Native Resource Center “Mulan” remake misses the mark celebrates Kumeyaay New Year Emily Forschen CONTRIBUTOR by

With the 2020 release of Disney’s live-action “Mulan,” little is left desired in the way of grandeur.

The movie glistens with stunning costumes, breathtaking scenery and even beautiful, hyper-realistic animated birds. Every bit of excellence money can buy was fully present, and in some cases, executed with near perfection. What largely dimmed the lights on this otherwise sparkling movie was the only thing capital can’t touch — a

Graphic by Emily Burgess

sense of purpose.

“Mulan” struggles to find the same thing as its namesake protagonist. Both the character and the film are on a journey to find who they are in a crowded company. This is Disney’s fifth attempt at a live-action remake of original animation, and like the character, it sure does stand out, but not for the right reasons.

On a formal level alone, very few elements from the original animated movie remain. The premise is the same: a misfit young woman named Hua Mulan in Ancient China struggles to fit in and when her father is called to serve in the war, she pretends to be a man to serve in his place.

The remake claims, however, that it isn’t trying to stay loyal to the animation, but rather to the original ballad of Mulan (it appears in the credits as “suggested by the ballad of Mulan”). In many ways, it does subtly hark back to the animation — including references to original song melodies in its swellsee

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Aleah Jarin STAFF WRITER by

San Diego State’s Native Resource Center celebrated Kumeyaay New Year with a Zoom meeting on Sept.

23 to discuss the significance of the holiday and what it means to the Kumeyaay people.

The discussion was led by Arts and Liberal Studies Graduate Student Chris Alvarado Waipuk and American Indian Studies Instructor and Tribal Liaison Jacob Alvarado Waipuk. The two are brothers and are from the Kumeyaay nation within San Diego, specifically San Pasqual Valley.

NRC Director Chris Medellin kicked off the discussion and reminded attendees of the event’s significance.

“We provide this space today to support the Kumeyaay nation, and let individuals learn in a safe space about traditions and culture by Kumeyaay people,” Medellin said.

Attendees learned about Kumeyaay New Year through the creation story told by Chris Alvarado Waipuk.

Photo courtesy of Jake Alvarado Waipuk Chris Alvarado Waipuk (left) and Jake Alvarado Waipuk (right) are looking to promote Kumeyaay nation and their traditions and stories to future generations.

“It’s important to know the Kumeyaay creation story, so then we can [understand] why the Kumeyaay’s believed that this was their new year,” Chris Alvarado Waipuk said.

Waipuk explained the meaning behind this Indigenous day and said, “The reason why it’s Kumeyaay [New Year] is because we believe see

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