Wednesday, Feb. 6 - Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019 Weekly Print Edition
Vol. 105, Issue 21 www.thedailyaztec.com
Inside: A conversation with California’s lieutenant governor, Pg. 3
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
SDSU asks for public input on Mission Valley campus project by Daniel Guerrero STAFF WRITER
San Diego State’s Mission Valley Notice of Preparation and Initial Study Scoping (NOP/IS) meeting on Jan. 29 marked the public’s first chance get educated on the logistics of the SDSU Mission Valley project, featuring ample time for questions and comments. “This is a very important part,” SDSU alumnus Bill Hammett said. “This right here is living up to the campaign promise of this being an open and transparent process. I think this is the most critical step so that you get the buy-in from the community because we’re going to need everybody to build this.” The event, which took place at the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center, provided guests with a timeline of for the project’s early developments, which will include a public environmental impact report draft released in summer 2019. The draft will also have a 60-day public comment period, with suggestions said to be projected in the final draft, according to SDSU’s Director of Planning Laura Shinn. First on the agenda is the construction of the 35,000-seat stadium, future home to the Aztecs football team, Shinn said. One of the public’s largest concerns regarding the project during the campaign surrounds
the issue of traffic, as Mission Valley is already notorious for its congested roadways. Transportation engineer Cecily Taylor from Fehrs & Peers, the private firm that will serve as the project’s traffic consultant, said the firm will be able to analyze and suggest solutions for traffic problems that may arise throughout this project. “Seeing where there’s congestion, circulation issues and where it’s determined that there are impacts due to this project going in,” Taylor said. “We will be recommending mitigation for those impacts.” Taylor said the process will be will also incorporate public comments that relate to the firm’s assignment. “We’ll kind of do our analysis, incorporate any comments we get today and just do our analysis and that will be in the draft (environmental impact report),” Taylor said. “And, that draft (environmental impact report) will go out for public comment and when those comments come in we’ll kind of do the analysis again so this is a little bit iterative, but not necessarily ongoing.” For many attendees, statements like these reiterated the project’s emphasis on public input. After just this meeting, Hammett said SEE MISSION VALLEY, PAGE 2
Photo illustration by David Pradel and Katherine Cooke
Sophomore guard Téa Adams shoots over multiple SJSU defenders during the Aztecs’ 69-68 victory over the Spartans on Feb. 2 at Viejas Arena.
The Den, Culinary Kitchen shut down over winter break by Aretha Matsushima STAFF WRITER
Two San Diego State dining options – The Den by Denny’s and the East Commons Culinary Theatre – will no longer be operating as restaurant competition has stiffened elsewhere on campus. SDSU Dining Director Paul Melchior said The Den and Culinary Theatre are going
out of business primarily due to insufficient earnings, likely stemming from competition with South Campus Plaza restaurants. “When South Campus Plaza opened and we allowed meal plans to be accepted there, a lot of our sales went there because they were brand new and had good concepts,” Melchior said. Psychology freshman Daomi Pham said she is unhappy with The Den closing as she found it
Campus fraternities give back with Season of Giving by Brenden STAFF WRITER
Courtesy photo
IFC members donated 3,266 pounds fo food to Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank at the end of the fall semester.
Tuccinardi
At the close of the fall semester, the Interfraternity Council executive board and member fraternities came together during the holiday season to donate more than 3,200 pounds of food and around $500 to the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. The first-ever Season of Giving took place over five days beginning on Dec. 8 and concluding on Dec. 12. The event utilized some friendly competition among the fraternity chapters with the focus of giving back during the holiday season and strengthening ties among the council’s fraternities, IFC President Jacob Mahony said.
“We wanted to do something that would make a difference in our backyard,” Mahony said. “Especially around the holiday season, we didn’t want people to be going hungry.” San Diego Food Bank President James A. Floros thanked IFC for their donation in a letter. “On behalf of The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, but more importantly those we serve, I want to thank you and the rest of the supporters in SDSU’s Interfraternity Council for hosting a holiday food drive this year,” Floros wrote. At the end of the week, IFC collected 3,266 pounds of food, SEE FOOD DRIVE, PAGE 3
to be a valuable place to eat on campus. “It was convenient and near to campus,” Pham said. “The quality of it’s food was good for it’s price. It was the perfect spot for a college student.” Melchior said The Den’s old location is currently undergoing renovation to become Plant SEE DINING CLOSURES, PAGE 2
CORRECTION:
In the Jan. 30, 2019, edition of The Daily Aztec, the story titled “Sexual assault reporting spikes during fall semester” incorrectly referred to Title IX as Title IV, and did not accurately describe which departments don’t report sexual assaults to the Title IX office. Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services and the university’s Sexual Assault Victim Advocate don’t report assaults to the Title IX office. However, Counseling and Psychological Services does provide anonymous statistics for the university’s annual security report, and Student Health Services reports assaults to the San Diego State University Police Department. The Daily Aztec regrets this errors.