Wednesday, Feb. 12 - Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020 Weekly Print Edition
Vol. 106, Issue 22 www.thedailyaztec.com
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
Graphic by Emily Burgess
Lovely locations to take a date this Valentine’s season by Sofia Longo STAFF WRITER
Valentine’s Day, no matter who you spend it with, is a day of appreciation and love to be celebrated with special people in your life. Electrical engineering freshman Katherine Rzepczynski said she believes Valentine’s Day can be celebrated with anyone and everyone. “I think Valentine’s Day, to people, is special because they get to spend time with the people they love,” she said. “Whether it be friends, a significant other, or yourself. Finding love in yourself is super important too.” With that being said, you don’t have to go far to make your Valentine’s Day a special one. Here are some fun activities to do with your Valentine to celebrate the most loving day of the year. SAN DIEGO STATE’S VALENTINE’S DAY FILM FESTIVAL To really get in the Valentine’s mood, enjoy an evening of short films with your sweetheart. All of the films are created and made by SDSU filmmakers. Richard Underwood, an SDSU film school professor, said in an email
that all short films are themed for Valentine’s Day with the topics of love and relationships. This is the perfect option for those who want a relaxing and lowkey night out. The show starts at 7 p.m. and is located at the Don Powell Theatre. Admission is $10 per person. GROUP DATE AT AZTEC LANES There’s no better way to celebrate Valentine’s than with your close friends. Grab your date and bring your whole squad together for an affordable night of bowling fun at Aztec Lanes. To beat the lines, reserve lanes online and don’t forget to rent shoes. Even if bowling isn’t your forte, Aztec Lanes is a perfect place to hang out for the night. Feel free to play matchmaker with your single companions to really get in the holiday spirit! PICNIC AT THE POND Grab some goodies and cozy blankets for a special picnic at the pond. Lay on the grass and enjoy the quiet surroundings, maybe write some love letters. If you stay long enough, you might be able to catch the sunset. Spoil your date and make a stop at Trader Joe’s to get all the Valentine’s treats, such as dark chocolate mini heart cookies,
raspberry rose white chocolate bars, jelly bean hearts and flowers. DATE NIGHT VIBES AND LOVE POTION CLASS AT EUREKA For that quality one-on-one time, grab a bite at Eureka for a tasty meal filled with love. The burgers and vast selection of drinks combined with the lively atmosphere make Eureka the perfect place to dine out. If dessert is on your mind, a quick trip across the street to Cream will top off your sweet night out. The ice cream sandwiches, sundaes and their staple ice cream tacos are hard to stay away from. FOR AN OFF-CAMPUS ADVENTURE There’s no better way to combine the love in the air with some tasteful music. For a musical night out, Sitting on Stacy, an alternative punk rock band, is playing a show at SOMA on Feb. 14. Two members of the band are current SDSU students. With a quick Uber ride from campus, the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. and general admission is $15. Love with your friends or Valentine can be celebrated on campus with a bunch of fun and heartfelt activities. Mix it up, explore or relax for this special day!
Black Resource Center hosts HIV/AIDS activists to help raise awareness by Johann Derek Oribello SENIOR STAFF WRITER
On Feb. 7, the Black Resource Center at San Diego State commemorated National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by hosting a lecture with activist and best selling author Marvelyn Brown. Diagnosed with HIV at 19 years old, Brown spoke to SDSU students to promote her new book, “The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful, and (HIV) Positive,” as well as to raise awareness on the importance of sexual awareness. Brown said her experiences speaking at numerous events in the past have culminated into three main messages she spreads to her audiences regarding HIV. “One would be to get tested,” Brown said. “I also tell people to be educated because (at that time), I still haven’t seen anyone who looked like me that had the virus … My last one is to be responsible.” Africana Studies lecturer Dr. Bonnie Reddick helped coordinate the event with the Black Resource Center and said a prior speaking opportunity for one of her classes led to a chance
to speak to a bigger audience outside the classroom. “I was teaching a black women’s studies class and I saw her on MSNBC, so I emailed her,” Reddick said. “She hit me back up, emailed me and gave a talk to my students which was great. So I hit her back up and said, ‘I’ll pay the director of Black Resource Center, I’d really like to bring you back again,’ and she’s here.” Brown said winning an award at the Ryan White National Youth Conference in the past, a national event on HIV care and treatment, helped give her nationwide exposure in spreading HIV awareness. “Here at this conference there were over 1,000 youth from all over America who had HIV at this conference,” Brown said. “I was given an award at the conference for my courage. I had no idea that by putting the story in the paper I was doing what so many people are scared to do.” Brown also said the experience gave her connections that allowed her to elevate her SEE ACTIVIST, PAGE 2