Weds. Dec. 1 - Tues. Dec. 7, 2021 Weekly Print Edition
Vol. 108, Issue 15 www.thedailyaztec.com
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
Opinion WATCH OUR LIVE BROADCAST ON THURS. @ 12 PM INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Kyle Rittenhouse trial verdict “shattered any hope I had” by Aaliyah Alexander OPINION EDITOR
OPINION Marvel content has gone above and beyond, and even too far. PAGE 3
ARTS & CULTURE Film production senior Shayleen Haller’s women-led short film ‘The Obedience Project’ was recently shot in studio C. PAGE 4
MUNDO AZTECA Editor assistente Karina Bazarte viajar por Europa por primera vez. PAGE 6
SPORTS Football defeats Boise State and punches ticket to Mountain West Conference Championship. PAGE 8
INDEX News............................... 1-2 Opinion..............................3 Art..................................4-5 Mundo .............................. 6 The Back Page, Sports..... 7-8
Imagine growing up as a kid and your parents having to explain to you that certain people won’t like you just because of your skin color. As you get older, imagine your parents having to explain to you to be mindful of how you present yourself to white individuals so they won’t negatively generalize your community. Lastly, imagine your parents having to teach you that the justice system in America wasn’t built for people like you. Instead, if you were to get unjustly murdered by a white man on your way to get a pack of Skittles from the corner store or while on your morning jog, America would find some way to demonize you, not the perpetrator. Ah, if you imagined all of those scenarios and thought to yourself “hm, that would be
hell” — welcome to the life of the average Black American, my friend. In all honesty, I’m tired of talking about my experience as a Black woman in America because it seems to just be an echo in a void. My parents always taught me “stand up for what you believe in,” implying that if I do, things will surely change, but damn, my people have been doing that for centuries and we still have to deal with the modern day Jim Crow Laws. The verdict for now 18-yearold Kyle Rittenhouse who murdered two people and injured one in Kenosha, Winscosin during a protest against yet another Black man being shot by the police shattered any hope I had for humanity. It’s funny how when the justice system does work, the world is in utter shock (like in the case of George Floyd’s murderer Derek Chauvin who was found guilty), but when
Screenshot from Markus Prime’s Instagram
Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty of all charges on Nov. 19, 2021.
the justice system fails, it’s not shocking at all. When late civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hammer said the words “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired” in 1964, she unknowingly created a
phrase generations of her community will continue to say and experience. Now in 2021, I can physically and emotionally feel the weight SEE KYLE RITTENHOUSE, PAGE 3
News Building renamed after SDSU alumnus, former business dean Charles Lamden by Eugenie Budnik STAFF WRITER
The structure formerly known as the Education and Business Administration Building was officially christened as Lamden Hall during a dedication ceremony on Nov. 17. The building has been renamed in honor of former accounting department chair and business dean Charles W. Lamden and his wife Gertrude “Trudy” Lamden. Charles Lamden was an essential figure in the establishment of the College of Business Administration at San Diego State, serving as the dean of the college from 1954 to 1965. The College of Business Administration has since been incorporated into the Fowler College of Business. Lamden served the greater SDSU community for 45 years, including teaching, mentoring
Photo by Eugenie Budnik
Charles Lamden was honored in a ceremony and reception which took place outside the newly named, Lamden Hall. Food, live music and guest speakers were part of the event.
and leadership. Bill Lamden, the son of Charles Lamden, recounted the impact his father had on the SDSU and greater San Diego community. “In the 1970s, my dad founded and accredited what is known as the Charles W.
Lamden School of Accountancy. But more importantly, he is known for his teaching and because his students loved him,” Lamden said in a oneon-one interview prior to the ceremony. Over 300 SDSU students, faculty and staff, alumni, and
community members gathered for the dedication event held at the northwest entrance of Lamden Hall. “I had Dr. Lamden as my auditor professor in 1978,” said SDSU accounting alumna Valerie Mcpherson. “He was so passionately concerned about serving the client and responsibility. It was known even then, that it was a privilege to take a course with him.” The renaming of the building to honor Charles Lamden was due in part to both his impact on SDSU, as well as the Lamden Family’s philanthropic contributions to the university. Among those invited to speak at the ceremony were university President Adela de la Torre, Dean of the Fowler College of Business George Belch and California State University SEE LAMDEN HALL, PAGE 2
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The Daily Aztec
News
Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2021 EDITOR: Katelynn Robinson • news@thedailyaztec.com
Two-Spirit identity in discussed in “Walking in Two Worlds”event
Photo courtesy of the Native Resouce Center Instagram
Lenny Hayes, founder of Tate Topa Consulting spoke to the attendees about the Two-Spirit identity.
by Lucelis Martinez SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The Native Resource Center (NRC) hosted a talk with Lenny Hayes about Two-Spirit identity in the Native community. The NRC hosted the conversation on Nov. 16. It was titled, “Walking in Two Worlds: Understanding the Impact of Historical and Generational trauma on the Two-Spirit/ Native LGBTQ+ Community.” Hayes is the founder of Tate Topa Consulting and specializes in “mental and chemical health issues” according
to the Tate Topa website. During the presentation, Hayes also shared a lot about his background and what he specializes in. His work often centers around sexual violence of Two-Spirit/ LGBTQ individuals in the Native population. Hayes is also part of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the northeast corner of South Dakota. The term Two-Spirit, he explained, has a lot of history behind it. In short, the term refers to people who identify with both a masculine and feminine spirit, and has been used to describe sexual orientation and gender identity. Hayes also made clear however, not all Native communities use the term TwoSpirit, for example, the Navajo peoples. He also shared that some communities have even up to 15 genders. Amidst the group of 46 attendees, Hayes also shared that the conversation around pronouns needs to be nuanced. He told the group pronouns are a result of colonization and one’s identity is not tied to their gender. During the conversation, Hayes gave examples of Two-Spirit individuals who are recognized today. One of these individuals was known as WeWha from the Zuni (a specific Native American community). Another individual mentioned by Hayes was Hastiin Klah from the Diné peoples. Hayes mentioned he respected Klah for their mastery of eight different
spiritual ceremonies. Both these individuals lived and died within the 19th and 20th century, but Hayes said the interactions between Two-Spirit individuals and Native Americans run deep. Throughout history, Hayes mentioned, many of these individuals were respected and even when they were separated from the main community this was not always “a bad thing.” The peoples within the communities would interact with the Two-Spirit peoples out of their own desire to do so, and this fostered good relationships. Mateo Gin Tarango is a program assistant at the Native Resource Center and helped facilitate the event. Tarango is also a Elymash Yuuchaap (EY) Mentor for the Native Resource Center. Tarango is a fourth year student studying Recreation & Tourism Management, with an emphasis in Sustainable Tourism Management. “The work that Lenny does is not always easy, as it often involves intergenerational trauma and tragedy, but it is vitally important,” Tarango said. Tarango went on to say they were happy about the turnout and encouraged more students to come to events like that. SEE ONLINE
Lamden Hall:
continued from page 1 Audit Committee Chair Adam Day. “We are grateful for the legacy Dr. Lamden and Ms. Lamden have left on the Lamden School of Accountancy, Fowler College of Business and San Diego State University,” de la Torre said during the ceremony. “Their story, their successes, and their commitment to the profession and to accounting education is something that many accounting students and professionals strive to emulate to this day.” The dedication event culminated in a ribbon cutting ceremony, in which members of the Lamden family joined President Adela de la Torre, Vice President Adrienne Vargas, Dean Belch and Adam Day in offically opening Lamden Hall. “I want everyone to remember just one thing about my father. I want you to remember the ‘Lamden Lasting Legacy’ here at SDSU,” Bill Lamden said. The formal ceremony was followed by a reception honoring the Lamden family. The granddaughters of Charles Lamden were among those in charge of organizing the reception. The reception included food trucks serving dishes such as pulled pork sandwiches and various deserts free of charge to attendees of the ceremony. A giant marquee spelling out ‘Lamden Hall’, as well as a balloon arch was set up with professional photographers for photo opportunities. A live band was also featured as background music to the event.
Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2021 EDITOR: Aaliyah Alexander • opinion@thedailyaztec.com
Opinion
Marvel content is getting excessive by morgan ray STAFF WRITER
I am Morgan of “The Daily Aztec,” and I am burdened with copious Marvel content. I know, I didn’t think I’d be saying this either. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has played a massive role in my life for over a decade now; I can and I will look for an excuse to geek out over it — just ask my co-writers. For starters,“The Avengers” is one of the reasons why I’m sitting here today! It inspired me to take a crack at high school theatre and when I realized I couldn’t hack it, I started writing film reviews. The “Guardians of the Galaxy” soundtracks brought me back to classic rock, the music of my childhood. “Avengers: Endgame” was the first film that made me cry in a theater and we all know why (side note: when Steve grabbed Thor’s hammer, I think my soul left my body). Most recently, I met some of my first new friends in a long time through bonding over the miniseries during lockdown. Reader, you should have seen the way our group chat lit up during “WandaVision”‘s run! When we all finally met in person, it was at the theaters for “Black Widow.” Make no mistake, my adoration for the MCU knows no bounds, so know that I say this purely out of love — I’m getting a little sick of it. Lately, it’s been nothing but a constant stream of content, which sounds like an ideal situation…until you get it. The first three miniseries were a hell of a ride, but by the time I got to the “What If?” series (which was pretty damn good) I found myself procrastinating the episodes. Me, procrastinating watching MCU content? The irony is richer than Tony Stark’s estate. Really though, how does Marvel expect
Screenshot from Marvel’s Instagram
Marvel movies are amazing to watch but less is more.
us all to catch up? Contrary to what pop culture would have you believe, massive friggin’ nerds like me do have lives. Marvel’s content (and fandom) is so mentally/emotionally engaging that I need time to process everything/one, especially now with the opening of the Multiverse and whatever the hell “Spider-Man: No Way Home” is gonna do. After “Endgame,” I took a year-long break from Marvel after years of nonstop devotion. When I returned for “WandaVision,” the absence made my heart grow fonder and I was ready for anything. Now, it feels like every time I
turn around, there’s a new project in the wings whether I like it or not. Here’s an actual text I sent, “Oh sh*t, we’re gonna have to start caring about Hawkeye soon.” I mean, I’ll still probably watch it and contradict everything I say here, but this is while we’re still processing “Eternals,” which is a massive cinematic/narrative step forward for the MCU. Maybe it’s best that we let this moment steep for a bit. How about we let the writers rooms catch up and take constructive criticism from fans? Looking at you, “Loki” season one. Marvel probably isn’t afraid of competition because as far as I’m concerned, they’ve got the extended universe thing on lock and other franchises are still playing catch up. Fan loyalty shouldn’t be a problem either because we’re not going anywhere, and it definitely isn’t finances because Disney probably makes $1 million everytime Kevin Feige blinks. What I do know is that if Marvel gives us fans too much, they’ll spread themselves too thin and we might lose interest, some for good. I mean, that new Batman film looks real badass… Perhaps the mass delay of the rest of Phase Four was a blessing in disguise. It’ll give us more time to catch our breaths and build meaningful, welldeserved anticipation for these films. I mean, Sam Raimi’s return to Marvel? Taika Waititi’s second Thor film? A new Blade film? Which one of y’all sacrificed your soul on Vormir for these? I want to fully appreciate the MCU and I want the same for my fellow fans, but how can we enjoy the main feast if we’re constantly being force fed appetizers? Sometimes it’s better to have enough rather than “ANOTHA!” Morgan Ray is a junior studying journalism and media studies.
The Daily Aztec
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Kyle Rittenhouse: continued from page 1
of injustice and trauma white America has bestowed on Black Americans. Living in America as a person with pigmented skin who is expected to dismantle a system that was built against them while educating certain people on how to treat others as human beings is like getting sentenced to life in prison for someone else’s actions that you took no part in. There’s this theory in media studies known as the “desensitization theory” where it says repeated exposure to certain aggressive behaviors or violence in the media causes an individual to normalize those behaviors. It later leads them “to have the capability of acting aggressively without experiencing negative emotions that would, under normal circumstances, circumscribe aggressive behavior.” I think it’s safe to say after years of learning about the horrors of slavery in history classes on top of seeing death after death of a Black man or woman at the hands of a white man on the evening news numbed a lot of us, especially people like me. I want so badly to end this article with a positive message or quote from someone like rapper Tupac who said “oh child, things are gonna get easier,” but I can’t say something that I don’t believe. I’ll end with this: I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. Aaliyah Alexander studying journalism.
is
a
junior
Courtesy of Freepik
The justice system is long overdue for a reform.
Spending time in nature has benefits to mental health
Photo by Lindsey Anderson
As college students, it’s crucial to get outdoors to reset.
by lindsey anderson CONTRIBUTOR
I recently saw a post on LinkedIn that added a refreshing take to our digital normalities. The author of the post introduced the idea that Zoom is not the only platform in which remote work can successfully be conducted. Instead, the author utilizes a
telephone platform and chooses to send meeting invites with a phone number in place of a Zoom link. In doing so, the author of the posting demonstrates his newfound flexibility. He can now hold meetings over the phone and can take them with him wherever he goes. This flexibility is then executed by taking his meetings on a walk outside, boosting an otherwise exhausting activity by introducing the presence of fresh air. The author expresses a newfound enthusiasm for attending his meetings as he has found a way to efficiently connect with the outdoors — an activity that has been sacrificed due to the demands of work and school. But some sacrifices are foolishly made, and our waning time in the great outdoors is one of them. Several hours of class time spent indoors coupled with additional hours of homework completed the same way means the majority of our time spent as students is undertaken inside. Weekends aren’t much different. Coffee shops, thrift stores and bars — the most frequented weekend sites for students — are all consistent with indoor activity. The socializing that complements these activities is critical to our overall well-being, but the lack of fresh air leaves a gap in our mental and physical fulfillment. Fresh air has been linked to increased health and happiness, especially in individuals who spend at least 120 hours a week outdoors. Consistent immersion in nature can also serve as a blanket on the mind; calming stress, slowing thoughts and alleviating anxiety. As stress levels
decrease, energy and mental sharpness are increased as fresh air and sunlight act as a stimulus to our consciousness. With levels of stress and anxiety only increasing in students, time spent outside may be more important now than ever. Plus, the cognitive kick nature provides is especially beneficial to students as we embark on the home stretch into finals season. But the increased workload that comes with finals insinuates that little free time will be found. Thus, we must make a conscious effort to prioritize our outdoor escape. Now this doesn’t mean we need to be backpacking junkies or avid climbers to get our outdoor fix; the method can be much simpler than such activities. Starting with a walk every morning will kick start fresh air immersion in an attainable manner, whilst reaping the same benefits of extensive nature exposure (just make sure some trees are present where you choose to walk). Taking your reading from the bed to the park is also an excellent way to spend some time in nature, especially if you can find a grassy spot under the sun. While you’re there, take a few moments to listen to the birds, watch the animals and smell the earth, allowing your brain to temporarily settle down and embrace some TLC. You’ll return to your schoolwork feeling refreshed and with noticeable improvements in your focus, your performance and your overall satisfaction with your work. Not only will your end result be more successful but the process of getting it done won’t be such a drag. That exposure
to fresh air will give you just the kick you didn’t know you needed. Soon, your immersive outdoor experience will become the most sacred part of your day and you will find yourself prioritizing this time in ways you never have before. As someone who has found immense solace in nature, I will leave you with a guiding principle from zen meditation: “You should sit in nature for 20 minutes a day... unless you’re busy, then you should sit for an hour.” Lindsey Anderson is a senior studying rhetoric and writing.
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Arts & Culture
Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2021 EDITOR: Ryan Hardison • arts@thedailyaztec.com
Women-led film ‘Obedience Project’ travels back in time By Flower Smith SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Photos by Chris Medina
(Top) One of the lead actors messing around with props. (Middle) The director, in her element. (Bottom) Lights, Camera and Action starting the adventure that is “The Obedience Project.”
Time, patience and passion is what drives the filmmaking process, film production major Shaylen Haller said. In her final semester at San Diego State, Haller has been working on her thesis project titled “The Obedience Project.” This film is inspired by 1950s and 1960s studio films and sitcoms. The film encapsulates a twisted 1950s simulation with test subject Mary undergoing a brutal experiment that molds women into becoming the ideal wife every man desires. With being heavily inspired by ‘50s and ‘60s sitcoms, Haller shared her passion for her creative projects and the meaning behind her ambition. “My love for studio films, ‘50s and ‘60s inspired films, I’ve always loved the aesthetic of that and I really wanted to combine that with a social commentary type of film,” Haller said. “While I was writing this very extravagant high production value type of film, I found myself inserting my own experiences being a woman living a patriarchy to the story.” Upon arriving in Studio C, cast and crew were ready for a two day filming period. “Film is a very hurry up and wait type of industry,” Haller said. “While you watch a tenminute short film and you’re like ‘oh, this is so short’, it takes us days and days and days to make that for the most part.” Film and production fourth year and production designer Brittney Khansari was in charge of making the set come to life. From the set building to set dressing, Khansari worked with a team to help bring the project to motion. “This project was a time piece
STAFF WRITER
When clicking on the Instagram account named ‘Mark@ SDSUFowler,’ which has posts of a professionally dressed middle aged man sharing the details of his ‘outfit of the day,’ one might be wondering exactly what connection to SDSU the account actually has. The account actually belongs to Mark J. Ballam, the managing director for San Diego State’s Center for Advancing Global Business (SDSU CAGB). In this role, Ballam works with professors to incorporate international perspectives into their business curriculum and creates opportunities for students to include international experiences into their studies. However, when Ballam is not building bridges between major global companies and SDSU, he is running a brand-new professional clothing Instagram account.
The account was not Ballam’s idea, but the idea of his colleague Zena Yang who serves as the center coordinator for SDSU CAGB. Yang encouraged Ballam to create the account following the comfy and unstructured fashion of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I came in and I told Zena that I had found a pair of shoes at the back of my closet. I even had to dust them off, as they had been in there for so long,” Ballam said. Yang introduced Ballam to the term ‘outfit of the day’ or ‘OOTD,’ in which influencers will post pictures and details of their daily attire on social media channels such as Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Ballam said he reluctantly agreed to start the account, but came to think of it as a fun postpandemic activity. “It took me a while to agree, as I’m pretty naive with social media. But Zena, as well as other colleagues were so excited at the idea so I said, ‘Okay, I’ll try it’ and so far it’s been okay,” Ballam said. The account features pictures of Ballam sitting in the same
MANAGING EDITOR Trinity Bland NEWS EDITOR Katelynn Robinson OPINION EDITOR Aaliyah Alexander MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Noé Sandoval ASST. MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Karina Bazarte ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Ryan Hardison ASST. ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Cristina Lombardo SPORTS EDITOR Jason Freund ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Finley ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Sara Rott
Photo by Chris Medina
PHOTO EDITOR Noelani Sapla
The ‘50s inspired set emerses the audience into a new world of a ‘50s sitcom.
and so this is my first time ever actually building an actual ‘50s set,” Khansari said. “It was overall a challenge to have to get all those things, so finally looking at the set, it was really cool to be like ‘I did that.’” The hunt for mid-century inspired furniture and equipment started in summer before the fall 2021 semester began. A foundational part to searching for timepieces involves a good work ethic, attention to detail and research skills. “I think research is the foundation of a good production designer because you need a blueprint to go off from,” Khansari said. “You need to understand the time period you’re in and you need to know what you are looking for.” Connor Trees, production fourth year and director of photography, handled everything from the surrounding camera, to framing and all the imagery around the film. “Since we’re basing it off a
‘50s sitcom, we were looking for very old, something more analog style,” Trees said. The pre-production included story boarding, mood boards and looking at color palettes in order to establish the look and feel of the film. To replicate the 1950s sitcom feel, the crew used equipment to make the set feel more authentic to the time period. “So we’re using hot lights, which are tungsten lights, which use actual flames in bulbs to be able to light the set instead of LEDs and more safelights used these days,” Trees said. Along with a short time frame to film everything, something valued on set was communication and respect from one another. This project is primarily womenled, which is meaningful to Haller and the rest of the crew because of existing reputations of film being a male-dominated industry. SEE ONLINE
Outfit of the day account teaches formal wear By Eugènie Budnik
EDITOR IN CHIEF Catlan Nguyen
Courtesy of Mark Ballam’s Instagram
Ballam’s dog Cocoa often makes a surprise appearance in the bottom of his photos.
spot everyday, with details of the day’s outfit tagged in the post’s caption. The posts also feature a second picture which focuses on his shoes, which Ballam believes to be one of the most important elements of a professional outfit. Ballam’s most tagged shoe brands are Allen Edmonds, Mark Nason Los Angeles and Cole Haan. Those with a keen eye can even spot Ballam’s rescue dog Cocoa
sneaking into the pictures. Ballam’s Instagram account is not without influences, however. Ballam’s own father was always professionally dressed, and Ballam has been inspired to incorporate his dad’s beliefs into his own career and hobbies. “My dad always used to say that you needed to make sure your shoes were shined and your wrinkles were ironed out,” Ballam said. Ballam said he hopes to continue uploading content to his Instagram account, and hopes it will inspire the students of SDSU to dress their best when in the realm of professionals. “My advice to students, especially when interviewing [for a job] is to dress one step up from your daily dress. It doesn’t have to be super fancy! A simple button up shirt and sport jacket will work fine,” Ballam said. Those interested in keeping up with Mark Ballam and his professional outfits can follow him on Instagram @ markatsdsufowler.
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Mackenzie Stafford ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jayne Yutig GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hemen Mesfin
STAFF WRITERS Eugènie Budnik Kennedy Humphrey Christian Houser Morgan Ray SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Juan Daniel Avila Lucelis Martinez Jessica Octavio Flower Smith Jenna Meyer CONTRIBUTORS Maritza Camacho Lindsey Anderson ________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Brian Arnold GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Luis Valenzuela EDITORIAL 619.594.4190 editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING 619.594.6977 advertising@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition every Wednesday throughout the semester WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com QUESTIONS/COMMENTS letters@thedailyaztec.com The views and opinions expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.
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Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2021 EDITOR: Ryan Hardison • arts@thedailyaztec.com
Arts & Culture
The Daily Aztec
5
Concert Roundup: 100 gecs perform
hyperpop hits with cloak and no dagger By Kennedy Humphrey STAFF WRITER
Hyperpop duo 100 gecs held a show in San Diego for their 10,000 Gecs tour on Nov. 18. 100 gecs is an energetic band formed by members Laura Les and Dylan Brady in 2015. The duo released their first EP “100 gecs” in 2017, but quickly grew in popularity in 2019 when their album “1000 gecs” went viral on TikTok. Since then, the artists have gone on to make remixes of their songs with other popular musicians like Charli XCX, Fall Out Boy and Dorian Electra on their album “1000 gecs and The Tree of Clues.” The concert was held at The Observatory in North Park, which promised a more intimate experience compared to a setting like Pechanga or Mattress Firm Amphitheatre. There was no shortage of fans outside as a line wrapped around the venue and could be seen from across the street. As soon as the doors opened, ready concertgoers wasted no time securing their spots in the middle of the barricade, claiming their chance to be as close as they could to the performers. Merchandise for 100 gecs was steadily being sold as fans in fishnets and alligator hats lined up to get celebratory drinks in preparation for the concert. The crowd was representative of the versatility in 100 gecs’ music, as there was no exact style shared amongst them. 100 gecs had two openers for the night. The first was rapper Aaron Cartier who arrived onstage and quickly set up his
phone so he could begin performing. Off the bat, Cartier brought immense energy to the crowd as he jumped around the stage and enthusiastically delivered his lyrics. The crowd jumped up and down with him as he performed while electric blue lights consumed the stage. Cartier even announced his intention to start a recording studio in San Diego, and encouraged anyone who was interested to reach out to his direct messages. Next up was pop musician Underscores. Underscores continued to hype up the crowd with smooth electronic instrumentals and clean vocals that tied everything together like a neat bow on a birthday gift. Being familiar to San Diego, the artist asked the crowd if they had ever heard of the Del Mar Fair, and screams of confirmation led into a performance of “Del mar county fair 2008,” a song any pop-loving San Diegan would enjoy. Underscores also performed a hyperpop rendition of Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi” which forced concertgoers into reciting every lyric as they collided into one another. After about 40 minutes, a curtain was pulled up which revealed two large prop speakers and a brick background. The crowd yelled in anticipation and soon after, Les and Brady ran onto the stage. Both sported wizard-like cloaks — Les’ being purple with yellow stars, and Brady’s being yellow with black music notes. The first song they performed was an unreleased track, currently known as “hey big man.” With heavy rock influences and brash guitar riffs, this song proved that
Photo by Kennedy Humphrey
Laura Les and Dylan Brady appeared on stage enthusiastically dressed in wizard cloaks and performed with them.
there’s no genre the duo couldn’t conquer, and held heavy contrast to their more pop influenced tracks. Throughout the night, the band killed it as mosh pit after mosh pit began to form. Les and Brady both gave stellar performances, singing their lyrics as they stomped around the stage and flipped their long blond hair to the beat. The only thing more on brand for them than the cloaks they eventually took off, was their act for “hand crushed by a mallet”—arguably their most popular song—the only track requested from the crowd more than their viral hit “money machine.” Les and Brady also had a special surprise for concertgoers, when they started to perform their newest single “mememe,”
which was also released the same night. After performing “stupid horse,” “ringtone” and “hollywood baby,” among other songs, the bright purple lights Les and Brady performed under went black as the pair ran off the stage. The abrupt exit made fans confused and angry as they chanted “more gec, more gec, more gec!” The crowd was more than pleased when less than five minutes later, they ran back on stage with a predictable encore. To end the show, 100 gecs performed “800db cloud,” and fans rejoiced, shouting the lyrics right back to the band. Thanks to screams into the microphone, blaring bass, flashing lights and plenty of unreleased songs, 100 gecs is sure to be welcomed back into San Diego with open arms.
Dumpling Dash: Jasmine Seafood feeds and funds city By Jessica Octavio SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Jasmine Seafood is a gem on San Diego’s coveted Convoy Street, a local haven for lovers of Asian cuisine located in Kearny Mesa. This dim sum place has two spaces right next door to one another: Jasmine Seafood Restaurant, a classic banquet-style sit down Chinese restaurant, and Jasmine Express, a more quaint and convenient option for takeout. Founded in 1994, Jasmine Seafood is a cornerstone of Asian American culture in San Diego, being one of the only places in town to find authentic Hong Kong style dim sum. Not only is Jasmine a place for Americans of all backgrounds to enjoy a unique Chinese dining experience, it has also been a home for the community. San Diegans have trusted Jasmine Seafood to host a variety of events, such as fundraisers, banquets, and weddings over the years, and to date, the restaurant has raised over half a million dollars to support organizations such as Rady Children’s Hospital and Monarch School, a comprehensive institution for homeless youth. Despite the impact Jasmine Seafood has had on our community throughout the years, it was not immune to the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food and hospitality industry. Through the waves of the pandemic, Jasmine Seafood has been flexible with their different offerings, and they have been able to pivot towards take-out orders and providing outlining dining options in their parking lot. Due to closures and limits to indoor capacity, the restaurant has lost half of the staff and is making a little over half the sales as in previous years.
Photo by Jessica Octavio
Dumplings and shu mai are tasty items on the menu.
Although I’m not Chinese, plenty of my childhood memories include early afternoons enjoying dim sum with my sister, parents, cousins, aunts and uncles at a local Chinese restaurant very similar to Jasmine. If you grew up like me, the setting would be familiar: a large banquet hall spanning roughly 12,000 square feet, adorned with gaudy lights and Chinese artwork, and a staff dressed in the seemingly universal uniform of all dim sum restaurants (white button-up shirt, red vest and black slacks). According to Chinese food historian Yan-kit So, dim sum translates directly to “so close to the heart.” Dim sum describes a variety of small Chinese dishes intended to be eaten at breakfast or lunch alongside tea. Traditionally, servers would have carts of food from steam-heated carts, and customers could hail a cart to pick dishes of their choice. First to come out were two all-time dim sum favorites: pork and shrimp shumai
and har gow. The shumai were open-faced dumplings with a yellow wrapper filled with a flavorful, savory mixture of pork and shrimp. The har gow dumplings were simple pieces of shrimp wrapped in a thin translucent white wrapper. Both my shumai and har gow came in separate round metal steamers, with each steamer having four dumplings each. The small serving sizes made it easier for me to try multiple dishes, and I highly advise dim sum newbies to do the same by ordering a variety of small dishes with a group of friends. For the sake of continuity, I had to order xiao long bao again. Each XLB dumpling came in its own cute mini pie tin, with each tin being a little larger than a silver dollar. Even though the nontraditional presentation was unique — and probably more for practical reasons than aesthetic ones — I think I prefer the way the soup dumplings are served in most other restaurants. I found that peeling the dumplings from the tin could risk losing some broth along the way. The vegetable crispy chow mein was an unexpected favorite of mine from Jasmine. Thin egg noodles with a light savory sauce came with carrots, sliced celery, bok choy and more, and I was impressed with the texture of the noodles throughout the meal. Usually, I expect some sogginess, especially in the middle of the nest of noodles with remaining crispiness on the edges, but there was definitely a nice, uniform texture throughout the dish. After our meal, we stopped by Jasmine Express to pick up dessert to-go. The express location feels like a homey, momand-pop Chinese take-out place. There is Peking duck on display in the heater, and a selection of small desserts such as almond cookies and taro and green tea flavored salted egg yolk pastries. My friend
and I brought home a few packs of lotus leaf sweet rice cakes. The rice cakes were sold by the handful with a few croissantsized rice cakes wrapped in saran wrap and easily shared. The lotus rice cakes had an airy but glutinous texture with just a hint of floral sweetness, and while they suited my taste well, some of the friends I shared them with felt like they were bland or had an unappetizing texture. With an exciting atmosphere and limitless options, Jasmine Seafood is a great spot to go whether you’re looking for your favorite Chinese dishes or if you’re hoping to try something new.
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Mundo Azteca
Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2021 EDITOR: Noé Sandoval • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com
El tour de ‘LA 167’ de Farruko viene a San Diego en el estadio del Viejas Arena por Juan Daniel Avila y Martiza Camacho
ESCRITOR Y CONRTIBUYENTE
Farruko animó a la vibrante y diversa multitud con canciones de primer nivel y charlas inspiradoras el 19 de noviembre en el Viejas Arena. Akim y Milly comenzaron para su tour de LA 167 con una vibra escalofriante, solo para preparar a la multitud para las sorpresas que Farruko estaba a punto de traer. Milly se destacó con sus sofisticados movimientos de baile y su mini personaje de Chris Brown,pero luego las luces se apagaron y todos se pusieron de pie rápidamente. Mientras la gente llenaba la arena oscura, la sala se iluminó con dos puestos de gasolinera naranja y negro en el centro del escenario etiquetados como “Farruko”. La multitud está gritando y coreando su nombre y justo antes de que te des cuenta, el hombre mismo sale con un traje de carreras verde y blanco, decorado con marcas como Ferrari, Perrelli y Redbull. La configuración del escenario reflejaba su vestuario con temas de automóviles, vida en la ciudad, dinero y éxito. El artista puertorriqueño se enorgullece de decir que lo logró, pero en canciones como “Guerrero” y “$”, da a conocer que el éxito llegó con trabajo y lucha. Y a pesar del dinero y la fama, sigue siendo humilde hasta las raíces. Los bailarines aportaron un elemento electrificado diferente al espectáculo. Había cuatro bailarinas y dos bailarines que sacudieron el escenario con movimientos sensuales que realmente dieron vida a las canciones. Sin mencionar la cantidad de twerking que estaba ocurriendo, la multitud se quedó atónita sobre cuánto tiempo podían hacerlo sin romperse la espalda. ¡Incluso al revés! La superestrella del reguetón no
rehuyó volver a los clásicos como “Se le da”, “vamos para la playa” y “La Cartera”, que cuenta con la estrella de éxito Bad Bunny. El verdadero día uno, los fanáticos reconocerían estas canciones populares y se levantarían de sus asientos en Viejas Arena para cantar. Después de interpretar algunas de sus mejores canciones antiguas, Fraukko pasó de un ambiente romántico relajado, en el que su canción chillax dice explícitamente “vamos a pasarla bien” a un ambiente alegre de fiesta que se abrió con “Helicóptero”, una de las principales canciones populares de su último disco La 167. No podría haber una mejor canción para comenzar la vibración de la fiesta que Helicóptero simplemente porque la canción habla de Farruko montando la escena en un club con él como la atracción principal. En última instancia, la canción señala que siempre habrá algunos haters en tu vida y eso está bien porque siempre tendrás a tu familia, a tus seres queridos y a los que han fallecido para apoyar lo que sea que tengas. La parte loca de esa canción es cuando el ritmo cae y crea este ritmo de EDM / Reggaeton que solo crea este comportamiento contagioso de solo querer bailar y divertirse. Que es exactamente lo que estaba haciendo la multitud en la casa de la cancha de baloncesto azteca. La multitud estaba en llamas con “Pepas”, “El incomprendido” y “Calma” como sus canciones más populares. “Pepas” llevó a todos a una dimensión diferente con confeti por todas partes y fuego saliendo del escenario. Esto creó un vínculo que la gente en la arena aceptó, permitiéndoles simplemente vivir en el momento presente mientras cantaban la letra de “Pepas” entre sí mientras saltaban de sus asientos asignados. “Pepas” en sí ha estado en el puesto número uno en la lista de Hot Latin
Foto by Ivan Guzman
Farruko estuvo en el estadio de Viejas Arena el 19 de noviembre dejando a los espectadores emocionados.
Songs Billboard durante 14 semanas consecutivas y ha estado en las listas principales durante 20 semanas, mientras que actualmente sigue ocupando el puesto número uno a partir del 28 de noviembre. No es de extrañar que la canción se haya vuelto tan popular desde su lanzamiento en junio. Este nuevo estilo de combinar EDM y reggaetón junto con otros ritmos de fiesta se ha apoderado de las listas de éxitos latinos con productores de EDM como Skrillex, Diplo y DJ Snake, entre otros, que también han dejado su huella. Pero parece que Faruko y sus productores dominaron este sonido cuando terminó el concierto con
“Embalao”, una canción que habla directamente a la gente que no deja de festejar hasta que sale el sol. Con letras como “Bartender, hookah y más botella’ La’ luce’ de la disco parecen estrella...Hoy me vo’a amanecer Rulin en mi nota,”. Sin embargo, la parte que hace que todos se vuelvan locos con el ritmo es cuando Faruko dice: “Si un día me vo’a morir...Hoy quiero hacer lo que me da la gana No sabemo’ qué va a pasar mañana”. En ese momento el ritmo bajó y todos se volvieron locos por última vez con una ráfaga de fuego que salió del escenario y Farukko se despidió de la multitud mientras las luces se apagaban en Viejas Arena.
Columna: Mi primera experiencia viajando a Europa por Karina Bazarte EDITORA ASST. DE MUNDO AZTECA
Con el estrés de los exámenes, las tareas y la escuela en general, definitivamente se necesitaba un descanso de acción de gracias y el 17 de noviembre tuve la oportunidad de visitar Europa. Los lugares que visité fueron Ámsterdam, Holanda y Liverpool, Inglaterra. Ambos lugares están llenos de hermosos edificios, lugares para sentarse y actividades divertidas. Aunque la pandemia no ha desaparecido, Europa tiene sus propias restricciones. Estos son algunos de los lugares que visité y las restricciones que debe conocer antes de visitar Europa durante la pandemia. Amsterdam Ámsterdam es conocida por su historia, como la casa de Ann Frank, Heineken Experience, la libertad de consumir marihuana y el Barrio Rojo. Pero antes de llegar a Amsterdam es necesaria una prueba de COVID-19. Cuando llegué, el clima era drásticamente diferente al de San Diego, hacía unos 43 grados, lo cual era extremadamente frío. Las casas y los edificios parecían estar caminando por Universal Studios y me sentía como si estuviera en un libro de cuentos. En cada rincón había pequeñas chocolaterías, jugueterías, tiendas de ropa y tiendas de tabaco donde la marihuana se vendía como un producto normal. Ámsterdam se toma la seguridad muy en serio, por lo tanto, antes de ingresar a un
una hermosa chica que habría sido una periodista increíble. El último día, tuve la oportunidad de recorrer los canales de Ámsterdam en un barco pequeño, la increíble experiencia Heineken y el barrio rojo. Todos esos lugares tan hermoso para visitar con respeto. VER EN LINEA
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Foto por Karina Bazarte
Karina Bazarte viajo para Amsterdam, Paises Bajos y a Liverpool, Reino Unido.
restaurante, debe proporcionar una tarjeta COVID-19. Si no se muestra la tarjeta, tienen derecho a denegar el servicio. Además, dado que hay una pandemia, todo cierra actualmente a las 8 pm. Mientras caminaba por Ámsterdam, vi que todos son libres de fumar marihuana y en los cafés se vende marihuana, por lo tanto, puede comprar una taza de café mientras consume marihuana. La Casa de Ann Frank La casa de Ann Frank fue una de las experiencias más emocionantes que he
vivido. Mientras caminaba por la casa donde ella escribió su famoso diario, pude sentir la tristeza entre las paredes y el miedo de ser descubierta algún día. Cuando entré a una puerta detrás de la estantería original donde se escondía la familia Frank, una pequeña escalera larga conducía a las habitaciones donde todas las ventanas estaban cerradas y el ruido había desaparecido. Su historia marcará Ámsterdam para siempre y la historia detrás de esa casa contendrá para siempre la historia de
Sports
Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2021 EDITOR: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com
The Daily Aztec
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Aztecs defeat Georgetown, gets beaten by USC Trojans in Wooden Legacy Tournament At first, things looked good. SDSU scored on six of their first 11 possessions and held a 13-7 lead just nine minutes into the game. And then… clank. Shot after shot either bounced off the basket or hit nothing but air. The Aztecs would score on just two of their final 17 possessions and missed 11 of their final first half shots. In the second half, it seemed like the Aztecs were starting to show some semblance of offense as the shots finally started falling. SDSU took advantage of USC’s poor field goal and free throw shooting to claw their way back to within eight. It didn’t take long for the Trojans to recover from their funk as they muscled out twelve more points against the Aztecs five to secure the win. Senior point guard Trey Pulliam was the only Aztecs to post double-digit points with 11 while senior forward Aguek Arop dropped nine points with six rebounds in 20 minutes. Pulliam and Arop had the first and second highest point total for the team as the Trojans zeroed in on senior guard Matt Bradley. Bradley regularly dueled with senior guard Drew Robinson but, more often than not, Robinson came out on top. The 6-foot-9 guard cut Bradley off at every pass and didn’t fall for his pump fake, resulting in just three points for Bradley in just 1-of-7 shooting. SDSU didn’t even have luck at the free throw line, but then again neither did USC. The Aztecs went a measly 4-of-11 from the charity stripe and the Trojans shot a just as
poor 6-of-18. What the Trojans did that the Aztecs couldn’t was rebound. The Trojans gobbled up 15 offensive rebounds amongst their 49 total boards, leading to 18 second-chance points. SDSU has until Nov. 30 against Cal State Fullerton to figure out their offensive woes. Should they continue to shoot poorly, this SDSU team with NCAA Tournament aspirations may struggle to reach the peak of the Mountain West.
SDSU STUDENTS During its regular meeting on Monday, December 6, 2021 the Associated Students Board of Directors will vote on
BYLAW & CHARTER AMENDMENTS Copies of the proposed changes are available to interested individuals upon request by emailing asgao@sdu.edu. 619-594-6555 as.sdsu.edu
Photo by Noelani Sapla
Senior Trey Pulliam shoots a jump shot against USC during the Wooden Legacy Tournament.
By Jason Freund SPORTS EDITIOR
This was the San Diego State Aztecs team that head coach Brian Dutcher was expecting to see. Against the Georgetown Hoyas (2-3) in their first match of the Paycom Wooden Legacy, the Aztecs (4-2) rediscovered their ability to shoot, sinking 48.3% of their field goals en route to a 73-56 victory. Sophomore guard Lamont Butler was a crucial aspect to SDSU’s victory, shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the field while putting up 16 points — nine from beyond the three-point arc. The first shot of the game was a threepointer from Butler, but as the game progressed, Georgetown took a slim fourpoint lead with 9:46 minutes remaining in the first half. Their lead, however, wasn’t large enough to keep the Aztecs at bay as the Scarlet and Black grappled their way to an eight-point lead heading into halftime. The Hoyas wouldn’t back down in the second half, cutting SDSU’s lead to five in the opening minutes of the second half. A 12-2 run by the Aztecs was highlighted by two Butler three-pointers and a putback dunk from senior forward Aguek Arop while senior guard Trey Pulliams’s two-point layup put SDSU back up top 5642. The Hoyas responded with an 11-1 run, taking advantage of shoddy shooting from the Aztecs and a string of shooting fouls to get within four points of SDSU. It was the closest they would ever get to tying the Aztecs. A volley of jump shots, timely free-throw shooting and a thunderous windmill dunk from the high-flying junior forward Keshod Johnson all but put Georgetown to bed and
knocked them out of the championship. After three straight performances of shooting below 40% on their field goals, including a putrid 34.8% against UT Arlington on Nov. 20, the Aztecs found their shooting stroke. The 48.3% field goal shooting was their highest this season while the 73 points scored was the highest amount of points scored by SDSU this season. A glimmer of hope can be seen in the 43.8% three-point shooting. After struggling mightily from beyond the arc this season — including a terrible 2-of-11 against the University of Riverside — SDSU has made seven, six and six three-pointers in their last three matches. Meanwhile, senior guard Matt Bradley continued to post solid scoring numbers as an Aztec, leading the team with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Versus USC There are two ways to look at the 58-43 flogging the Aztecs took at the hands of the USC Trojans (6-0) in the final round of the Paycom Wooden Legacy. On one hand, SDSU’s defense — despite getting consistently hammered by USC’s bigs — held the Trojans to season-lows in points (58), field goals (24) and threepointers (4). On the other hand, the offense — after breaking through for 73 points against Georgetown a day before — reverted back to the atrocious brick-tossing that has haunted them in games past. Yes, the Trojans had two starters standing at 6-foot-9 and another at 6-foot-10 to swat away shots, but shooting 32.1 percent from field goal range won’t help the Scarlet and Black beat anybody, nonetheless one of the top teams in the Pac-12. Not even an Anaheim Arena packed with rowdy SDSU fans couldn’t bring out the offense.
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The Back Page
Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2021 Editor: Jason Freund • sports@thedailyaztec.com
Aztecs take down Boise, punch ticket to Mountain West Conference Championship By Andrew Finley ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The Aztecs (11-1, 7-1 MWC) woke up bright and early on Nov. 25 for their 9 a.m. primetime matchup against the Boise State Broncos (7-5, 5-3 MWC). After being down 16-3 midway through the second quarter, the Scarlet and Black flipped the script and prevailed, winning the game 27-16 and punching their ticket to the MWC Championship game. Junior wide receiver Jesse Matthews said comeback victories like this are what makes SDSU football as good as it is. “That is the great thing about this program - the mental toughness,” Matthews said. “Adversity is going to strike, but it is how you respond to it. We did a great job responding.” The game began with three straight three-and-outs before junior Matt Araiza missed a 48-yard field goal. The Broncos got the ball back and scored in a hurry — a six play, 69-yard drive was capped off by a touchdown pass from junior quarterback Hank Backmeier that gave Boise the first points of the game. An Araiza field goal on the ensuing drive cut the Broncos lead to 7-3. The following drive looked to be a spark for the Scarlet and Black after junior Patrick McMorris picked off Backmeier, and gave SDSU the ball back on BSU’s 41-yard line to end the first quarter. However, the Aztecs were stuffed by the Boise defense and were forced to punt. The Broncos again swiftly worked their way down the field, and capped off their 10 play, 80-yard drive with Backmeier’s second touchdown pass of the game to junior Khalil Shakir. Boise would miss their extra point try, but still increased their lead to 13-3. BSU would add on with a field goal after the Aztecs went three and out, and failed to convert on fourth down with a fake punt, giving the Broncos a 16-3 lead with 3:04 left in the second quarter. After several short drives, and with a 13 point deficit, it was clear the Aztecs’ offense needed to switch things up to get
Photo by Andrew Finley
Sophomore safety Keyon White high-fives freshman safety CJ Baskerville after a special teams play.
some sort of momentum. A nicked-up senior Lucas Johnson wasn’t getting the job done, so into the game came senior quarterback Jordon Brookshire — a four game starter who hadn’t played a snap since putting up a passer rating of 20.5 against San Jose State six games prior. The move to put Brookshire at quarterback caught many people off guard. What may have caught them more off guard was what came of it. Brookshire marched the Aztecs’ down the field en route to their first touchdown of the game — a 29-yard catch-and-run for Matthews capped off a five play, 78-yard drive for the Scarlet and Black. Brookshire was responsible for all 78 yards on the drive, completing three passes for 76 yards and rushing for the other two yards. The touchdown drive gave the Aztecs new life, and cut the deficit to 16-10. The SDSU defense forced the Broncos to punt, allowing Brookshire to go back
to work with 28 seconds left in the half. Brookshire completed two passes for 36 yards, and put the Aztecs in field goal range. Araiza would sink his second field goal of the game, and cut BSU’s lead to three heading into the locker room. The Aztecs would receive the ball coming out of halftime, and got right to work. Brookshire and senior running back Greg Bell led the Scarlet and Black on an 11 play, 75-yard drive that took over five minutes off the clock. Bell rumbled his way into the endzone from two yards out on a fourth and one play to give the Aztecs their first lead of the game with a score of 20-16. BSU would give the ball right back on McMorris’ second interception of the game off a pass tipped by senior Caden McDonald. Brookshire and the SDSU offense got right to the point with a three play, 43yard drive that took just 36 seconds.
Brookshire was again responsible for all 43 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown run that improved the Aztecs’ lead to 2716. Both teams traded punts for the next six drives with neither team scoring any points in the fourth quarter. SDSU’s defense showed out, shutting out the high-scoring Broncos for the entire second half, sacking Backmeier four times and capping off their day with their third interception of the game by junior Dallas Branch. Senior Jonah Tavai — who had three sacks against BSU — said the message for the defense going into the second half was pretty simple. “Just play, just play ball,” Tavia said. “We have our offense going good, and our defense is going to go out there and do the best that they can. We just told ourselves, and especially our younger ones who were playing, to go out there, have fun and play ball. That’s pretty much it.” Brookshire would take his offense onto the field to take a knee and end the game. The Aztecs concluded their regular season flexing their muscles putting up 24 unanswered points against one of the powerhouse teams of the MWC, and securing their spot in the conference championship. Brookshire was the standout player in this game, coming in relief of Johnson and being the spark that led the Aztecs to victory. He finished the game going 11-15 for 190 passing yards along with nine carries for 56 yards and two total touchdowns. Head coach Brady Hoke said Brookshire was prepared, and understood the mission. “I told him (Brookshire) on Monday or Tuesday that we would probably have to count on him on Friday,” Hoke said. “He understood that he had been preparing very well, and it came to fruition.” The Aztecs will face the Utah State Aggies (9-3, 6-2 MWC) at Dignity Health Sports Park next Saturday at noon in the MWC Championship, where the Scarlet and Black look to win their 22nd conference championship in program history.
Column: Aztecs deserve sellout for MWC Championship By Jenna Meyer SENIOR STAFF WRITER
After a completed and historic regular season for San Diego State football, it all comes down to the Mountain West Conference Championship Game on Dec. 4. The Scarlet and Black secured the West Division after defeating Boise State in an early morning 9 a.m. matchup the day after Thanksgiving. Now the Scarlet and Black hold their own fate, looking towards one more game in Carson, CA, taking on the Utah State Aggies (9-3 overall, 6-2 conference) at noon in a matinee matchup. The Aztecs have spent the entirety of the past two seasons at their home away from home in Carson at Dignity Health Sports Park while the new Aztec Stadium progresses towards completion. While many loyal fans and students have made the roadtrip, it has not been enough to fill the stands of the sports park with a capacity of just 27,000. To give a brief rundown of the highlight reel of a season for the Aztecs, here are a few of their crowning achievements. Two preseason Pac-12 Wins The Aztecs traveled to their first away game of the season, taking on the University of Arizona. From the beginning, the Aztecs dominated and
defeated the Wildcats 38-14. The following week, the Scarlet and Black went head to head with the Utah Utes. The Utes put up more of a fight, taking the Aztecs into triple overtime, but the Aztecs persevered and came out on top 33-31. A full season of “away games” and always on the road Because the Aztecs played in Carson, every game has been a road game. There is no true home field advantage that comes with playing two hours away from campus, students and fans, but the Aztecs have more than managed to continue to succeed. The team has quickly adapted to a new environment and built their strong resume throughout a season of essentially all away games. 11-1 Overall, 7-1 Conference Record While balancing the factor of an entire schedule of “away” games, the team has managed to stay consistent in wins with only one mid-season loss to Fresno State in the Battle for the Old Oil Can. The Aztecs’ most notable wins include Arizona, Utah, Air Force and the season finale against Boise State. Additionally, the Scarlet and Black were forced into two thrilling overtime matchups with Utah and San Jose State. AP Poll and College Football Playoff Ranking
The Aztecs have held their own in both the AP Poll and College Football Playoff rankings. The 2021 season was the first time in program history the Scarlet and Black have made it into the College Football Playoff rankings — another historic and monumental section on the resume. Going into the championship and a potential bowl game selection, SDSU holds #19 in the AP Poll and #19 in the CFP ranking. Standout players and National Attention The Aztecs have had two standout players in the 2021 season — former walk-on wide receiver, junior Jesse Matthews, and junior kicker/punter, Matt Araiza. Matthews — a two-time player of the game — has made a huge impact in two of the most recent games at UNLV and against Boise State. At UNLV, Matthews had his season high of receiving three touchdowns, leading the Aztecs to defeat the Rebels 28-20. Against Boise State, Matthews achieved another season high with 133 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown. His agility and big-play ability is a big contribution to SDSU’s offensive efforts. Kicker/punter, Matt Araiza, nicknamed ‘Punt God’ by Twitter users, has gone viral and appeared in national news for
his record breaking season of kicking and punting. Arazia — a six-time player of the game and four-time Mountain West special teams player of the week — has written an impressive resume for himself with highlights including three tackles against Utah, his longest field goal of 53 yards, a punt of 86 yards at San Jose State, an 81-yard punt against Air Force, and the game winning field goal to secure the Homecoming win against Nevada. Awaiting the Big Game and going for the Championship While to many students and fans the trip to Carson is a trek, the Aztecs deserve a packed stadium for their final game at Dignity Health Sports Park. SDSU Athletics has encouraged students to attend games by taking advantage of free mobile student tickets and purchasing $5 fan bus tickets for round-trip transportation to games. They have created an effortless way for students to travel to Carson and it’s time, for the last game of the season, for students to utilize this. A call to action for all SDSU students, fans, and alumni: find a way to get to Saturday’s game to cheer on the Aztecs. Their resume and season deserves a packed stadium and electric crowd for their last game in Dignity Health before moving to Aztec Stadium next fall.