WEEKLY PRINT EDITION
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 – TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 VOLUME 103, ISSUE 30
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1913
W W W . T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M
Students witness Uber shooting WILL FRITZ SENIOR STAFF WRITER ____________________________
Steve Fisher speaks at his farewell conference April 11 next to Athletic Director John David Wicker and new head coach Brian Dutcher. KRISTIAN CARREON, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Coach Fisher bids farewell to the Mesa ANTHONY RECLUSADO SPORTS EDITOR ____________________________ In a city that is sun-drenched nearly year-round, a large shadow has been cast over Montezuma Mesa as Steve Fisher retired Tuesday, April 11. “I know rumors run rampant, and I got my health, my mind has always been questioned but I have my health!” Fisher said to open his press conference, which received a loud laugh from the crowd. In a joke-filled press conference with Athletic Director John David Wicker and longtime assistant Brian
Dutcher, who has held the title “head coach in waiting” since 2011 and will replace the 72-year-old coach, Fisher officially announced his retirement. With his family, current and former players and a swath of friends in attendance, Fisher said his final farewell to the program as the head coach with a smile on his face and confidence in his decision. “I will never, ever second guess did I do it too soon,” he said. “I did it at the right time for me.” While Fisher is retiring from the head coaching position, he will maintain a role as part
of the program, however, he is unsure as to what it will entail. “I’m not going to be in the way but I’m going to be a part of San Diego State and that’s important to me,” he said. “I want to be here. There is something to be said for wanting to be where you’re wanted and I feel that.” For his current players, who were told yesterday of his decision, this announcement came as a surprise. He didn’t skip a beat after the tournament and went to work on the recruiting trail and in
FISHER continued, P9
Two San Diego State students were among the passengers of an Uber driver who was shot and killed on their way from Papas and Beer in Rosarito, Mexico on March 30. Papas and Beer is a nightclub popular among SDSU students during spring break. An American high school student was also one of the passengers, none of whom were identified, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The Uber driver, identified as Jose Humberto Felix Mendez, was shot six times at about 11:15 p.m., authorities said to the Union-Tribune. Rosarito police told the Union-Tribune none of the passengers were injured in the shooting, in which Felix was the sole target. Music education junior Marissa Aguirre, who visited Papas and Beer during spring break in 2016, said the shooting makes her less likely to want to go back. “It’s just sad that they would have to witness that, and lifechanging,” Aguirre said. “You’re in Mexico—and a bad part of Mexico, so you have to be super cautious. And by going there, these are the risks you take,” she said. Josh Donald, an exchange
student from Australia who was at Papas and Beer over spring break, said news of the shooting does not make him any less likely to visit Mexico. He said while he has seen crime happen, he has never felt unsafe. “I’ve been to Mexico a lot and I’ve never felt uncomfortable,” he said. “I plan on going back again.” Victor Clark-Alfaro, a Latin American studies professor who teaches classes for SDSU in Tijuana, said this shooting is an isolated incident. Tourists are rarely involved in violence in Mexico, and students should not be deterred from visiting because of this event, he said. “The violence is among those who sell drugs on the streets,” he said. “But it is not against students.” The March 30 shooting is the first involving SDSU students Clark-Alfaro has heard of, he said. SDSU Media Relations Officer Katie White said in an email while the university is unable to independently verify the involved individuals were SDSU students, safety is always a top priority at SDSU. She said students, faculty and staff are encouraged to check the U.S. Department of State’s travel warnings before planning any vacations and travel abroad.
Students discuss changing Aztec mascot SPENCER WHITE STAFF WRITER ____________________________ The Student Diversity Commission voted on the Aztec mascot resolution put forward by the Native American Student alliance on April 10. A meeting was held Monday afternoon to discuss and vote on a resolution regarding the change of the name and moniker of the SDSU mascot, the Aztec. The resolution passed with a unanimous vote. Communication senior Anthony Lee has been involved with Associated Students as a board member, and said he felt it was important to be at the meeting. “I’ve been involved for so long in these kind of things for a while now and I think it’s important to stay in the know with what’s going on,” he said. Lee agreed with the decision of the commission and said it was not an easy choice. “When something has been
around for so long it’s tough to change it,” Lee said. “But it was bound to happen eventually and it’s ultimately the right decision.” The meeting began with two speakers who presented to the board. The first was criminal justice senior Crystal Sudano, who has been interested in the mascot debate for almost 10 years. Sudano brought research detailing the history of the controversial character and why she felt the mascot’s origins were suspicious. Chicano Studies professor Isidro Ortiz also spoke at the meeting. He said he had spent several years as an A.S. advisor and the situation concerning the mascot at SDSU was similar to his alma mater Stanford, and how their old Indian mascot was offensive to students. Ortiz has held the position for SDSU to get rid of the the Aztec mascot since 2000, he said at the meeting.
English and American Indian Studies sophomore Lane Yazzie is a part of the Native American Students Association at SDSU. He said he was pleased with the result of the vote, but is anxious for the meetings to follow. “It is intimidating because there are a lot of people in support of the mascot,” said Yazzie. “It’s a good opportunity though for people to learn when these talks come up.” Yazzie said students should take the time to see things from a different perspective while at SDSU. “We are at an institution of learning and it’s important to take time to learn,” Yazzie said. “Especially how it affects native people.” Social science senior Rachel Muntz asked SDSU students to imagine being in another person’s shoes. “Students should consider how they would feel if it was their culture being used as a mascot, and the impact it has on these students,” Muntz said.
The Aztec mascot in full costume at an SDSU football game. KELLY SMILEY, PHOTO EDITOR
“We have students that feel oppressed and marginalized and it’s not acceptable.” She spoke about her expectations for the next meeting, and said she was worried that people will steer away from the main focus of the resolution. “There are some members that are receptive towards it, but I just hope good questions
are asked,” Muntz said. “I am worried that people are going to bring up the cost of rebranding, which might be a valid point, but it has nothing to do with the issue of racism that the resolution addresses.” The A.S. University Council will meet at 3:30 p.m. April 12 to further discuss the resolution. There will be an official vote on the resolution on April 19.