02-27-2019

Wednesday, Feb. 27 - Tuesday, March 5, 2019 Weekly Print Edition

Vol. 105, Issue 24 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

WHAT’S INSIDE

BLACK STUDENT LEADERS

BLACK ALL YEAR

BLACK HAIR IDENTITY

COMING TOGETHER

BLACK INSPIRATION

Meet the black executives of Associated Students as they discuss diversity on campus.

February’s Black 365 campaign hosted events almost daily to support the black community.

OPINION: Black women have been combating Eurocentric norms for centuries.

Various organizations hosted black-focused events during the month of February.

From Ida B. Wells to Max Robinson, these are the black writers who made me who I am.

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Illustration by Katherine Cooke

Feb. 27 - March 5, 2019 EDITOR: Bella Ross, news@thedailyaztec.com

News

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Voice of San Diego files suit against SDSU After seeking public records from SDSU for many months, the outlet asserts the university has shielded them illegally

Courtesy photo

In November 2018, San Diego voters approved a measure that would permit the sale of the Mission Valley stadium site to San Diego State for the development of an auxilary campus and new stadium.

by Bella Ross NEWS EDITOR

After a months-long battle to obtain records from San Diego State pertaining to its plans for the Mission Valley stadium site, local nonprofit media outlet Voice of San Diego has responded to their unmet requests with a lawsuit.

In a Feb. 19 story on its website, Voice of San Diego reporter Ry Rivard detailed how SDSU failed to release a number of documents that would shed light on how the university plans to fund the expansive stadium project without raising student tuition and fees, one of SDSU West’s central campaign promises. After pushing for contracts SDSU had with numerous consultants, Voice was still left without a significant model that could potentially answer the question of how likely students are to get pegged with the cost of the project.

Voice of San Diego Managing Editor Sara Libby said they were able to speak with the consultant who made the model, however the university failed to budge on releasing the document publicly.

“At one point, (SDSU) did make available a consultant who had done work on the project who gave us information about projections and calculations he’d done for the project, yet the university continued

to withhold those documents,” Libby said. “So, we knew they existed, their own consultant had told us they existed and they were simply arguing that they weren’t public records which is a position we disagree with.”

SDSU declined to offer specific details regarding the litigation. However, a university statement said SDSU has been compliant with Voice’s requests and that more documents relating to the project will begin to surface as the planning process continues.

“The university has in recent months provided a full and complete response to the Voice of San Diego, including a significant number of documents related to its retained expert consultants, as required by the California Public Records Act,” the statement said. “SDSU must balance its commitment to transparency with legal restrictions as it pertains to proprietary documents. With time, SDSU anticipates that significant amounts of information and documents related to the Mission Valley site plan, including financial models, bond issuances and the land plan, will be released through public meetings and hearings, including those to be held by the Board of Trustees of the California State University.”

Rivard’s story said the university is claiming the exemption of attorney-client

privilege, despite the financial models having been prepared by real estate firm JMI Realty.

“The university signed a contract with the law firm of Gatzke Dillon & Balance that, in turn, subcontracted with JMI and other consultants,” Rivard wrote in the Feb. 19 story. “So, on paper, JMI is working for an attorney that is working for the university.”

Libby said SDSU’s response to a prospective lawsuit tells her the university is aware that withholding certain documents in this way is an illegal act.

“In the course of trying to secure these records, our attorney went back and forth with them a couple times and made it clear that we intended to file a lawsuit to obtain the records if they continued to withhold them and, at that point, they handed over some records that we had been seeking,” Libby said. “So, that to me seems like a big admission that they had been withholding them illegally, that they only gave them up under the sound of a lawsuit.”

In discussing the public interest in having these documents released, Libby said the scope of the project and the fact it is occurring between public entities means San Diegans should be entitled to all the details.

“I think there is tremendous public interest on both sides because this is a

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public university and we’re talking about a public piece of land,” Libby said. “We just want to know how this is going to be paid for and other basic details we feel the public has the right to know.”

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Feb. 27 - March 5, 2019 EDITOR: Bella Ross, news@thedailyaztec.com

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

SDSU’s black student leaders discuss breaking down barriers

by Michael Cline SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Photos by Jocelyn Moran

Top to bottom: Vice President of University Affairs Ronnie J. Cravens Jr., Vice President of Financial Affairs Christian Onwuka and Vice President of External Relations Michael Wiafe.

Vice President of Financial Affairs Christian Onwuka brings his 13-year-old brother to class and his A.S. office weekly to show him anything is possible in the face of adversity. Onwuka is one of three people of color on the A.S. executive board focusing on empowering minority students while fostering an inclusive campus.

“I want to show other kids from similar backgrounds and neighborhoods like myself you can do this shit,” Onwuka said.

“It’s not out of the ordinary for a person of color to get into a position of power and affect change.”

Onwuka is joined by Vice President of University Affairs Ronnie J. Cravens Jr. and Vice President of External Relations Michael Wiafe. Since their inauguration, the three executives have prioritized breaking down barriers.

Cravens said he ran for his position to “pay it forward” and to inspire future students of color to run. He also said his background is particularly helpful in fostering an environment of inclusivity as a student leader.

“We ran for this position to empower future leaders of minority backgrounds,” Cravens said. “Because we are the only minorities that are A.S. executives, a lot of our responsibility comes not only from representing our community but also having other voices at the table.”

Diversity of experience is also embodied within each student leader.

Wiafe said while they are persons of color, all three executives bring their differences and unique perspectives to the table. In addition to being a person of color, Wiafe is also an immigrant.

He said his immigrant background helps him relate to other students within underrepresented communities, such as undocumented students.

“My black and immigrant background helped me as a leader in recognizing these differences,” he said.

All three executives also spoke to the

struggles they face as leaders, specifically in overcoming assumptions and bias outside their community while communicating the importance of advocacy for all students.

Wiafe said leadership is about making tough decisions while also making the right ones.

“Even though I’m a black executive, it doesn’t mean everything I do is for the black students on this campus,” Wiafe said. “I’m working for everybody because my role covers the entire student body.”

Onwuka also said being a black A.S. executive is the “hardest thing” due to antiblack bias.

“You may not like me because I’m black, but you will respect me and the work I do,” he said.

Despite the struggles, the three executives championed their accomplishments as student leaders, specifically in breaking down barriers for persons of color to run for leadership positions on campus. They cited the need for additional faculty and administrators with diverse backgrounds to increase inclusivity and diversity on campus.

The three executives also shared their views on Black History Month and the role it plays on campus.

Wiafe said Black History Month is an opportunity for black students to have events and gather together. Cravens said the event does a lot of good but shouldn’t be confined to one month. Onwuka especially called for continual recognition of black achievement.

“What we should be doing as a university and society is celebrating when people do great things,” Onwuka said. “We shouldn’t limit the contribution of people of color to this society to just one month.”

Onwuka also said organizations conducting outreach seeking to expand membership diversity should continuously recruit to all underrepresented communities outside of cultural heritage months.

“I get mad when I hear people place emphasis on a marginalized group only for one month,” Onwuka said. “Why aren’t you doing that the entire year?”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Black 365 campaign seeks to embrace blackness every day of the year

by Nakia Richarson STAFF WRITER

The new Black 365 campaign at San Diego State set its hopes on encouraging black students to celebrate, create awareness and fight for justice every day of the year – not just in February.

“We came up with this idea of Black 365 because people think that February is such an amazing month when we get to learn about all our people,” sociology and communications junior and College of Arts and Letters representative Jada Johnson said. “We want the exact opposite. I don’t want a month.”

The campaign hosted events almost daily throughout February focused on the black community from luncheons to job fairs, according to a Black 365 promotional calendar. Most events were hosted at the Black Resource Center, one of SDSU’s newest resource centers that has served black students since spring 2018.

Johnson and sociology junior Jasmine Miles launched the idea of Black 365, a month-long event, to occur during Black History Month to acknowledge people of color who don’t get enough recognition for their achievements.

“We took a different spin on it,” Miles said. “We wanted to highlight people you don’t normally highlight, like Marsha P. Johnson – a Stonewall Riots activist. You don’t talk about her because she’s trans.

You don’t talk about Malcolm X because

he’s seen to be violent and not defending his community.”

In addition to launching the campaign to celebrate black people year-round, they said they hope the campaign pushes SDSU to be more conscious with helping students of color who face challenges, such as helping them integrate into the university and supporting the fight for getting black students educated.

According to SDSU’s Department of Analytic Studies & Institutional Research, the university’s black enrollment was at 3.8 percent of the student population as of fall 2018, compared to 34.7 percent white enrollment and 28.9 percent

Hispanic enrollment. Johnson and Miles said the trend has been influenced by economic and sociological factors.

“There needs to be more intentional practices by the university in regards to students of color.” Johnson said. “Some of us can’t even afford to be here anymore due to student fees. I don’t have funding to even be at this university.”

Johnson said the university needs to work towards becoming more accessible to black students and to teach diversity in all classes if it seeks to make a difference.

“What the university should be doing is integrating blackness 365 days a year in however many colleges we have and

however many majors we have,” Johnson said. “Because, at the end of the day, black people have been here working, building and growing this country, and the only time we get recognition is when a black person says it during Black History Month.”

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Black 365 is a February campaign to promote racial justice on campus.

Opinion Black hair reflects black history 4

The Daily Aztec

by Jasmine Mouzon STAFF WRITER

Though I celebrate my blackness yearlong, February is my favorite month to remind people about the great things black people have contributed to society.

From George Washington Carver making innovations to peanut butter to Langston Hughes’ great literature, there are many individuals to celebrate.

However, I want to focus on black women who have created inventions for hair that have gone on to be trends we still follow today.

Hair may not seem like such a big deal, but for decades, black women have suppressed their natural hair texture to conform to Eurocentric standards.

Thus, people like Madam C.J. Walker, Marjorie Joyner and Christina Jenkins have invented things to help black people with their hair.

I’ll start off with Madam C.J. Walker, originally named Sarah Breedlove, the first AfricanAmerican, self-made millionaire.

Madam C.J. Walker had a scalp disorder that caused her to lose hair, so she decided to create her own products that would suit African-American people.

In the 1900s, Walker developed her own pomade and hot comb system which promoted a healthy treatment for scalps.

Her ideas are still used in black hair care and cater to the needs of the black community.

At no surprise, Madam C.J. Walker had an impact on other black inventors as well.

Inventor Marjorie Joyner learned many techniques from Walker and was able to come up with her own idea.

Joyner invented the permanent hair-wave machine which catered to both the black and white communities.

The machine helped white people achieve the curls they desired as well as helping black folks loosen any tight curls.

The product helped beauticians do hair in a faster, more efficient way than before.

Though the modern day perm system is not the same, curling/ straightening perms are still very much used by people who wish to change their hair texture.

Another inventor who changed the hair game within the last couple century is Christina Jenkins.

In the 1950s, Jenkins invented the hair weaving process.

For those who don’t know, weaving is the process of sewing in extensions to someone’s head, which is usually done by braiding the person’s real hair and then using string to sew in the extensions.

Prior to Jenkins’ invention, people’s hair weaves were stiff and didn’t move much, plus they were placed on with clips which weren’t healthy for scalps.

Therefore, Jenkins came up with the idea to sew on the extensions as a healthier and more efficient way to maintain the weave.

Now, weaves are used by people of all ethnicities as a way to lengthen their hair.

Other hairstyles include braids, locs and baby hairs.

First, braids can be traced

back to ancient Africa as a way for different tribes to identify themselves.

Braids have and still continue to serve as art for Africans/AfricanAmericans and are also a protective style to keep our hair healthy.

As far as locs, historians claim it’s a bit difficult to trace the precise history of them.

However, one of the earliest forms of self-expression through locs can be dated to 1950s Jamaica as a way for people to express their separation from society by making a political statement with their hair.

It is also a protective style for people of African descent, but of course non-blacks adopted the style, despite it not being quite suitable for their hair textures.

Lastly, baby hairs, or laying edges, were predominant during the 1970s when people like LaToya Jackson, Sylvia Robinson and Salt ‘N Pepa showcased their swirled baby hairs.

Doing our edges or baby hairs is a way for black women to express ourselves and show how diverse our hair is.

It’s a craft that many of us perfected by spending hours in the mirror with a toothbrush and edge control to achieve that perfect swoop.

Though these inventions/ hairstyles have been created by black women, non-blacks have also used these styles.

It’s always great to see other cultures appreciate the work of others, but it becomes an issue when black people are shamed for sporting the same styles that nonblack people are wearing.

Feb. 27 - March 5, 2019 EDITOR: Kemi Giwa • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

For example, braids, locs and baby hairs have become a trend in pop-culture and are used on non-black models/artists to appear as “edgy,” but when black people wear those styles, it’s “ghetto,” “inappropriate” and “unprofessional.”

We should work on recognizing where these styles originated and who they were meant for rather than monetizing off of the ideas of the black community, but shaming them for using those same styles.

There’s a difference between culture appreciation and appropriation, a concept that many need to grasp.

I only bring this up because it’s 2019, and New York has become one of the first states to ban discrimination against natural hair for black people.

Countless times, black children have bent sent home from school or have had their hair cut or touched by their teachers because their natural hair or protective styles were deemed “inappropriate.”

Black men have been turned away from jobs because their hair was in locs or braids, and the same with black women.

Stop criminalizing black hair.

Black hair is beautiful, not inappropriate, period.

Thank you to all the black women who took it upon themselves to create black hair inventions that helped us combat Eurocentric standards while teaching us to love our textures.

Anyway, Happy Black History Month and in the words of Solange Knowles, “Don’t touch my hair.”

Jasmine Mouzon is a senior studying journalism.

Love like Maya Angelou this month

by Shayne Jones STAFF WRITER

“We don’t know how or why love occurs.

Truthfully, we don’t know that even gravity isn’t a kind of love.”

I was in fourth grade when I heard Maya Angelou’s robust voice for the first time.

Stoic composure juxtaposed with commanding inflection was a voice that captivated me.

“You may shoot me with your words, / You may cut me with your eyes, / You may kill me with your hatefulness, / But still, like air, I’ll rise.”

Her message was clear even when I didn’t fully understand the meaning of the phrase.

The diction, tone, personification, it was all there; but it wasn’t rearing its head and stomping the ground groveling for attention.

It was calm and intentional.

And that’s what makes a good poet.

“But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams / his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream / his wings are clipped and his feet

are tied / so he opens his throat to sing.”

Angelou spoke only the words that mattered.

She was a master of them--each meticulously chosen, each chosen for a reason.

She was headstrong and resilient, magnificent and regal.

Then when you know better, do better.”

Angelou’s view of the world was simple, yet remains to be one the most compelling I’ve heard.

She saw humans objectively and realized the potential in all of us for real understanding.

She believed we have God and

poetry.

This person, this beacon, dedicated a lifetime to speaking the truth of love through words, and those words have reached into my soul and shaken it awake.

In an era of injustice, bigotry, unchecked privilege and hate, let love shake you.

“Angelou was simply one of those people who was born knowing how to love.

Love was central to Angelou’s life thesis, and it narrated every sentence. She believed love, and I mean pure love, would end injustice.”

Angelou was simply one of those people who was born knowing how to love.

Love was central to Angelou’s life thesis, and it narrated every sentence.

She believed love, and I mean pure love, would end injustice.

Race, religion, language, culture — they were important, but they weren’t everything.

Unity, inclusion, respect, love for oneself — they were everything.

“Do the best you can until you know better.

the devil within us, and it’s up to us to awaken one and tame the other.

Angelou survived assault at seven, went mute for five.

But soon silence turned to reflection, reflection found hope and hope fell in love with language.

She had reason to hate, but she loved.

She had every right to fight, but she loved.

She felt all the pain of the past and all the turmoil of the present, but yet, she loved.

Until her final day, love was her

“Yet if we are bold / Love strikes away the chains of fear / from our souls.”

Angelou’s poetry is alive as ever in this Black History Month.

But black history is not a month.

It is an immortal movement of people which surges forward with unparalleled force.

Angelou’s force was love and she spoke it loudly.

This Black History Month, let love deafen.

Shayne Jones is a junior studying journalism.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Will Fritz MANAGING EDITOR Jocelyn Moran NEWS EDITOR Bella Ross ASST. NEWS EDITOR David Santillan OPINION EDITOR Kemi Giwa MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Alejandra Luna ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Julianna Ress ASST. ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Lexington Howe SPORTS EDITOR Abraham Jewett ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Aaron Tolentino ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Dana Tsuri-Etzioni PHOTO EDITOR Michael Abshear MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Amal Younis ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Mirella Lopez GRAPHIC DESIGNER Katherine Cooke

SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Michael Cline Lauren J. Mapp STAFF WRITERS Stephen Early Sydney Faulkner Daniel Guerrero Breven Honda Shayne Jones Antonio Márquez Jasmine Mouzon Kylie Renner Nakia Richardson Karlene Sanchez CONTRIBUTOR Karlene Sanchez Tyler Whitehead ________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Josh Diaz SALES MANAGER Valerie Barrientos ACCOUNTING & CONTRACTS Samir Sandhu Meah Mapp ________________________________ GENERAL MANAGER/ADVISER Jay Harn 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.

Opinion 5 Democrats owe their success to black women Feb. 27 - March 5, 2019 EDITOR: Kemi Giwa • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

by Kemi Giwa OPINION EDITOR

Although we are less than two years away from the highlyanticipated election year, any polls predicting or making definite statements about who the Democratic frontrunners will be or even who the nominee will be are meaningless.

Debates haven’t even started. It’s simply too early.

This far in advance, polls tell us less about a candidate’s chances and more about name recognition.

However, the polls that do exist have the top three likely contenders as white males.

Though the rankings change depending on which poll you’re viewing, the top three remain fairly consistent with Biden, O’Rourke and Sanders (cough, he’s not even a Democrat, cough) as top three.

As a big fan of both Biden and O’Rourke, I have no serious qualms about their potential.

In fact, I think they’d be amazing presidents.

But with that being said, I do find it strange that the top three choices according to many major polls are all cisgender, straight, white men.

I mean for Christ’s sake, we just swore in the most diverse Congress in this nation’s history — with so many “firsts,” and not to mention, we have an unprecedented number of people of color, women

and young people running in the primary.

With that being said, why are some still so quick to jump right past the qualified, experienced women and women of color and cuddle up to the white guys?

And not because they have a better track record or more legislative accomplishments, but rather because many people are subconsciously uncomfortable with electing anything other than old white men to lead our country.

Or maybe they don’t feel like a woman, especially a woman of color, is capable of leading the country.

Even worse, some who claim to be liberal are liberal up until it comes time to reject the status quo, then it’s, “well, I don’t think she could win.”

Let’s take a look at the landscape of the Democratic party, a party that black people — particularly black women — have been the backbone of for decades. Just this past November, more than 90 percent of black women voters cast their ballots for Democratic candidates.

More than any other group in the country.

Black women never waver, we never diverge — we’re loyal members and this makes us a necessary component to the success of the party.

Again, in 2016, more than 90 percent of black women voted for

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Hillary Clinton.

In 2017, a whopping 98 percent of black women cast their ballots for Senator Doug Jones in Alabama, a deeply conservative state that hadn’t seen a Democratic senator since 1992.

Black women did that, and we continue to do that.

And aside from our loyalty, we actually do the work.

We organize and discuss strategy in hair shops on Saturday morning and church on Sunday, we knock on doors, we make phone calls and we organize tirelessly.

For this reason, we’re no longer okay with merely being the backbone of a party that we invest so much time, money and energy into.

We’re ready to lead.

Stacey Abrams is a perfect example of this.

Ms. Abrams isn’t the future of the Democratic party like many have suggested, but rather the now.

Black women aren’t the future of the party, we’re the now.

The present.

Since the beginning of her career, she’s created the blueprint for a more equitable and prosperous country and has worked to seriously bring conversations about voter disenfranchisement to the forefront.

Now, the Democratic party isn’t perfect, but we know the Republican party exists to harm

us.

And black women are smart enough to look beyond the dog whistles, the pandering and the lies to see the Republican party works strategically against our interests and ultimately to harm us.

For this reason, we vote like our life depends on it, because...well, it does.

In fact, the interests we vote for end up being the interests that work for the rest of the country.

Advancing issues around racial inequality, health care and economic justice don’t just help black women, but they help everyone.

As black feminist hero, Claudia Jones once said, “If black women were free…everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.”

Additionally, the expectation is — whoever wins the Democratic nomination will lead the nation for two terms.

Within the span of eight years, our country’s demographic is expected to change drastically.

This means, as time evolves, the racial and gender makeup is expected to look less and less like the Bernie Sanders of the world and more like the Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams and Kirsten Gillibrand.

It’s almost insulting to automatically suggest that we

should rely on a 77-year-old white man to lead a party (one he doesn’t even claim) that is increasingly diverse and a country that still has yet to heal from its racist, sexist legacy.

Now, I say all this to say that I will support whoever the Democratic nominee happens to be. Even if it is Bernie Sanders.

But, I strongly encourage everyone to reach beyond this conversation of “electability” that’s largely only discussed when it concerns candidates that are women or people of color.

We have a number of amazing candidates looking to kick President Donald Trump and other Republicans out of office in 2020.

As a result we need to make sure we’re having substantial, quality conversations about their policies and record.

Let’s spend less time focusing on Kamala Harris’ past relationships and favorite rappers, and more on her vision for the future of the country.

Let’s spend less time focusing on regaining the white working class voters who Democrats haven’t been able to win back for more than 50 years, and more time supporting and empowering the black women who have been loyal to Democrats for decades.

Kemi Giwa is a senior studying public relations and political science.

Fast-food accessibility is a public health issue

by Karlene Sanchez CONTRIBUTOR

The accessibility of fast food restaurants in America has become a public health issue.

Americans are never out of options.

For example, wherever I go, it’s not difficult finding a nearby McDonald’s, Jack in the Box, Carl’s Jr. or an In-N-Out, to name a few.

All of these restaurants, although not the best source of nutrients, are delicious, especially for Americans.

On average, adults in the U.S. consumed 11.3 percent of their total daily calories from fast food between 2007 and 2010, according to a National Center for Health Statistics data brief published in 2013.

Seven states in the U.S., including Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and West Virginia, hold 35 percent or more of obesity rates within their population.

The fact is the accessibility of unhealthy fast food restaurants is higher than the accessibility of healthier food restaurants, which makes it easier for people to choose what is the most accessible and convenient to them.

That being said, Americans are currently approaching 40 percent

obesity rates, after holding 3435 percent between 2005 and 2012, according to the American Medical Association.

The rate of obesity increasing is an issue because it shows Americans are not taking precautions when considering their health and the fast food restaurants that surround us on a daily basis aren’t quite helpful.

unsaturated fats, sodium, sugar and carbohydrates, without offering options such as fruits or vegetables.

Now, as affordable and accessible as these fast food chains are, what is not being considered enough is the potential risk factors on the health of individuals.

Americans, including myself, can be found guilty of going for

California, as well as other states that have high obesity rates, should consider making a policy for creating healthier fast food restaurants.

These healthier fast food restaurants should include healthier cooking methods and be as accessible and convenient to Americans as a McDonald’s would be.

“The rate of obesity increasing is an issue because it shows Americans are not taking precautions when considering their health, and the fast food restaurants that surround us on a daily basis aren’t quite helpful. As these rates increase, we must take action immediately.”

As these rates increase, we must take action immediately.

As stated by the World Health Organization, public health is defined as “the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts of society.”

Public health focuses on the entire spectrum of health and wellbeing, not only the elimination of certain diseases.

Although, some fast food restaurants do offer healthier options, most of what is on their menu is high in calories,

what is affordable and accessible, especially when school, work and homework become difficult to manage.

There are times when it becomes difficult to make a run to a grocery store and buy the necessary groceries needed to cook healthy meals.

Food plays one of the biggest roles in the lives of human beings, providing the nutrients and energy we need to be healthy.

It’s what allows us to stay energized throughout the day and has a great impact on our health and our overall well being.

Obesity rates among the world population aren’t only linked to poor eating decisions, but also linked to a lack of the necessary physical activity.

Obesity occurs from an energy imbalance.

An imbalance which is between calories consumed and calories expended when used as energy by the body.

When the calorie intake exceeds the amount burned, then the amount of energy left over is stored as fat and increases the chance of weight gain and obesity.

What we could be working to create is building infrastructure toward healthier fast-food restaurants and alternatives that are available and convenient for all demographics.

We should be promoting public health and preventing diseases by making sure people are educated on what their foods contain and how certain foods affect their bodies, as well as, by making drastic changes to our diets now, before chronic diseases arise.

We can also work to make those around us aware of this public health issue by educating them on what the risks could be of making poor food choices and encourage a healthier lifestyle early on to avoid complications later.

In addition, we can work to encourage our family members to help us make better decisions.

As we know, the food choices we make don’t only depend on behavior, but on cultural, environmental and socioeconomic influences as well.

Ultimately, we are in this together.

We will improve when we begin by making the slightest changes in our diets.

Slowly but surely we will become a healthier society.

Karlene Sanchez is a junior studying public relations.

6

Sports

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Feb. 27 - March 5, 2019 EDITOR: Abraham Jewett • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Swim and dive wins Mountain West title

by Breven Honda STAFF WRITER

San Diego State swim and dive won its fourth Mountain West Championship on Feb. 23 in Minneapolis.

“I want to thank the good Lord for allowing me to coach this team,” head coach Mike Shrader said. “He has blessed me with so many great young ladies to work with, and it has truly been an honor.”

It was the team’s first MWC championship since 2015.

One player that stood out was freshman diver Ximena Gonzalez, who was named Mountain West Diver of the Meet, marking the first time a freshman has ever won the honor.

Shrader said he was proud of Gonzalez’s performance throughout the season.

“Gonzalez has been really steady and has done an awesome job, especially as a freshman,” Shrader said. “Her and (diving coach) Roland (McDonald) have really worked well together, and she is very easy to coach.

She is really tough and was a big, pleasant surprise for us this weekend.”

Gonzalez scored a 325.55 on Wednesday, the first day of the

Courtesy of San Diego State Athletics

The San Diego State swim and dive team hoists up the Mountain West Championship trophy on Feb. 23 at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.

meet, which broke the previous school record of 325.20 set by then-senior diver Alexandra Caplan last season.

Gonzalez also became the first Aztec diver to win a MW Championship since 2012.

The championship win puts the Aztecs in a tie at four with Boise State for the most

conference titles among active Mountain West members.

“We got to compete against (Boise State) earlier this year in a dual meet and that was an extremely close meet, where it came down to the last relay, so our kids knew we needed to be at our absolute best last weekend,” Shrader said.

Shrader said the team wants to win, as shown by going undefeated in dual meets this year, but also focused on having the championship mindset outside of the pool.

“To do that, we’re going to have to work hard on a daily basis, push each other, have a championship lifestyle outside

of the pool,” Shrader said. “They bought in and understood it was going to be a lot of hard work, and they put the work in necessary to swim really well.”

Shrader said the 200 meter and 400 meter medleys were crucial turning points for the Scarlet and Black last weekend “It’s double points, so it’s heightened importance in the meet,” Shrader said. “The medley relays were off the charts, setting MW records and school records in both 200 (meters) and 400 (meters) medley and was a big turning point in the meet and gave our kids a lot of confidence.”

Up next, junior swimmers Morganne McKennan and Courtney Vincent as well as sophomore swimmer Klara Thormalm will head out to Austin, Texas, for the NCAA Championships on March 2023, Shrader said the goal will be to stay focused while also balancing fun. “(Vincent, McKennan and Thormalm) don’t just want to be a part of the meet, but they want to go and do something,” Shrader said. “We want to try to swim better once we get down to Austin and just have some more fun but stay focused.”

I CHOOSE TRANSIT. How I get there defines me.

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Feb. 27 - March 5, 2019 EDITOR: Abraham Jewett • sports@thedailyaztec.com

Sports

The Daily Aztec

7

Aztecs collapse in eighth inning, lose

by Daniel Guerrero STAFF WRITER

San Diego State baseball found itself on the wrong side of a 4-2 finish against University of San Diego on Tuesday night, after a run-filled eighth inning at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The Aztecs surrendered four runs in the top of the eighth inning and couldn’t climb all the way back, despite scoring two and loading the bases in the bottom half.

Head coach Mark Martinez said the lack of fundamentals led to the Toreros’ eighth inning scoring outburst.

“The inning blew up on us because we can’t field our position,” Martinez said. “From the mound, we get a balk call and didn’t field a ground ball.

We’ve got to give credit to USD. They beat us and I think we have a lot of room for improvement.”

USD’s junior third baseman Adam Lopez brought home the game’s first run on an RBI double that was hit to the left field corner with no outs in the top of the eighth inning.

The Toreros added their second run after sophomore pitcher Casey O’Sullivan

overthrew sophomore third baseman on a force out following USD’s sophomore center fielder Tora Otsuka’s sacrifice bunt attempt.

Martinez replaced O’Sullivan with junior pitcher Adrian Mardueno, but he balked in Tora on a failed hidden ball trick after Tora advanced to third on single by sophomore first baseman Shane McGuire.

The Aztecs scored both of their runs in the bottom of the eighth with recording a hit.

Back-to-back four pitch bases loaded walks to freshman first baseman Brian Leonhardt and sophomore third baseman Casey Schmitt brought in two runs, but the rally ended after freshman right fielder Jaden Fein grounded into a fielder’s choice.

The two-run rally began when junior designated hitter Mike Jarvis and senior shortstop Angelo Armenta reached base after back-to-back hit by pitches. Sophomore catcher Joe Fitzhugh then loaded the bases after earning a four pitch walk.

Junior center fielder Julian Escobedo, who popped out in foul territory for the inning’s second out, said it was unfortunate that the team couldn’t take the lead at the end

Photo by Raymond Gorospe

Senior infielder Angelo Armenta steps on home plate to score a run during the Aztecs’ 4-2 loss to San Diego on Feb. 26 at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

of the inning.

“It’s just unfortunate that we didn’t come out on top with bases loaded,” Escobedo said.

“We have one out and we didn’t get the job done and we didn’t put up really good at bats, but that’s part of the game.”

Prepare for the business of

Freshman pitcher Aaron Eden hurled 6 1/3 innings in what was his first career collegiate start.

Prior to his start, Eden had logged 5 1/3 innings with an 1.69 ERA in three relief outings.

Martinez said Eden still has room for improvement after his

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performance.

“He did a good job pitching, keeping them off balance,” Martinez said. “He can be a special, special talent. He still has some things he has to grow up to, he’s a freshman and we’re looking for big things from him.”

8 / The Daily Aztec

Feb. 27 - March 5, 2019

Feb 27 - March 5, 2019 EDITOR: Alejandra Luna • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Mundo Azteca

The Daily Aztec

9

Profesora de Estudios Chicana y Chicano habla sobre la crisis de Nicaragua en SDSU por Antonio ESCRITOR

Márquez

El 25 de febrero, Victoria González-Rivera, profesora asociada en el Departamento de Estudios Chicana y Chicano de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego, fue la primer maestra en presentar los problemas que algunas ciudades en latinoamérica han estado sufriendo por años.

González abrió estas exposiciones con el tema de la crisis actual de los derechos humanos en Nicaragua.

Asimismo, estas presentaciones se llevarán a cabo por una temporada donde diferentes maestros hablarán de diversos temas en relación a los conflictos sociales de latinoamérica.

En su presentación, la profesora explicó la importancia de informar a los estudiantes sobre la crisis de Nicaragua donde más de 300 personas han perdido la vida, de acuerdo al periódico español, EL PAÍS. “Me sorprendió muchísimo la actitud tan negativa de tantas personas, tanto en EEUU como en México en contra de los centroamericanos”, dijo

González. “Yo sentí que hace unos meses con la caravana en noviembre, la posición del presidente estadounidense en contra de los centroamericanos y de la caravana abrió las puertas para que mucha gente se sintiera cómoda expresando rencor y odio y estereotipos sobre personas centroamericanas”.

Durante la exposición, González mostró imágenes de las protestas nicaragüenses que comenzaron el 18 de abril de 2018.

Laura Reyes, estudiante de seguridad internacional y resolución de conflictos en SDSU, explicó su presencia al evento.

"Debido a mi herencia centroamericana, es muy interesante ver cómo la intervención de EEUU ha causado muchas implicaciones en las democracias, tanto de América Central como de América del Sur", dijo Reyes. “Al ver cómo Venezuela es muy relevante, quería ver cómo Nicaragua se está tratando a sí misma”.

Asimismo, la estudiante comentó lo que aprendió después de la exposición de la profesora González.

“Para que ocurra una

Foto por Antonio Márquez

Profesora González-Rivera presenta la crisis de los derechos humanos que hay en Nicaragua.

revolución, debe haber más organización”, dijo Reyes. “Es interesante ver cómo el legado de los años 50, 60 y 70 aún resuena hoy”.

Sin embargo, una estudiante extranjera de Dinamarca dijo que jamás hubiera escuchado lo que pasaba en Nicaragua, si no fuera por este evento.

"Realmente es sorprendente

cómo el país puede cambiar de democrático a tener ahora este tipo de democracia casi dictatorial", dijo Cecile Hald, estudiante de derecho penal y ciencia política en SDSU. “Los estudiantes son el futuro, los jóvenes son el futuro”.

Dos de las soluciones que sugirió la profesora González-Rivera fue ofrecer estado protegido temporal y evitar la propaganda simplista,

ya que uno de los países que sí ha brindado ayuda es Costa Rica.

González-Rivera agregó que no regresará por el momento a su país natal porque teme por su vida, ya que muchos de sus colegas se han ido al exilio.

“Un gobierno no puede simplemente mandar a matar o matar a la población civil y seguir en el poder”, dijo González.

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Interested persons may pick up an employment application packet from The Daily Aztec, located in the basement of the Education and Business Administration (EBA) building or in the A.S. office located on the 3rd floor of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.

• One year of collegiate newspaper experience; a minimum of one semester editing experience at The Daily Aztec is preferred • JMS Major • 60 or more units of completed coursework; minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 • Must be currently enrolled at San Diego State University, taking a minimum of 6 units

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Arts & Culture

The Daily Aztec

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Feb. 27 - March 5, 2019 EDITOR: Julianna Ress • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Various organizations to host upcoming events through the Black Resource Center

by Stephan STAFF WRITER

Early

This year at San Diego State, Black History Month was loaded with events, workshops, talks and mixers.

The Afrikan Student Union along with other campus organizations like the Student African American Brotherhood and Sisterhood, Campus Curls and Black Space managed to put on over 25 events together within February’s 28 days. “Having the Black Resource Center here has been truly a blessing,� international business junior and Afrikan Student Union President Richard Amaechi said.

The Black Resource Center, which is just a year old, has helped to serve as a hub for these organizations. “The people who are in the BRC really strive for nothing but the best when it comes to providing different programming, promoting black excellence and even mental health for the students here,� Black Resource Center Cultural Chair and public health sophomore Mary Tesfaldet said.

As the month winds to a close, there are just a few events left on the Black History Month calendar.

However, black history wasn’t just made in February.

March alone has three more upcoming events, including the Career Care CafĂŠ held with Career Services on March 6.

In addition, the Black Resource Center’s Sip and Paint event on the 12th is another way students can come in to unwind and mingle amongst their peers.

There is also the Creators Circle presented by Visionary Media where videographers, writers and various other artists can get to know each other. “Creativity and connectivity are the two overarching things I wanted to provide with the Creators Circle,� interdisciplinary studies senior Nnagozie Odeluga said.

Odeluga said the creative fields are often intertwined, yet he found no places on campus where black creators can come together and exchange what they might and probably do need from each other, collaboration.

Another future event is one of ASU’s signature events, the

annual High School Conference.

During this event, the organization recruits black high school students and brings them to SDSU, allowing them to see the black presence on campus and that there is a place for them at the university.

Each year, about 300 high school students participate.

Amaechi said this 43-year tradition is probably the most

important event of the year.

Along with putting together events and social activities for black students, these organizations also have an agenda to engage students from all backgrounds.

These are spaces designed to respectfully teach and learn from all backgrounds and perspectives.

Testafalt recalled past events, such as voter registration drives

during the midterm elections, as examples of engaging with the campus on a larger scale.

She said the focus was on millennials and getting them excited about the voting process.

The BRC served as the homebase for those operations. “The two main words when the BRC was first being discussed and built were home and family,� Odeluga said.

Photo by Julianna Ress

The Black Resource Center has helped organizations like the Afrikan Student Union thrive.

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REQUIREMENTS: • Knowledge of day-to-day radio station operations, the National Association of Broadcasters standards of practice and broadcasting ethics • One year of radio station experience or the equivalent; one semester of this experience must be with KCR Radio

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DEADLINE TO SUBMIT Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12.

For more info, visit kcr.sdsu.edu

Those interested should pick up a volunteer application at the KCR offices, located in the Communications Building, Room 122, or at the A.S. Office, located on the 3rd floor of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.

Completed applications are to be submitted to the A.S. Office.

This is a volunteer position appointed by the Student Media Advisory Committee (SMAC).

Feb. 27 - March 5, 2019 EDITOR: Julianna Ress • arts@thedailyaztec.com

Arts & Culture

The Daily Aztec

11

Student production ‘R+J’ revamps a classic

by Sydney Faulkner STAFF WRITER

“R+J” brought a new twist on a timeless classic in San Diego State’s Experimental Theatre from Feb. 19 to 23.

“R+J,” adapted from William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and directed by Dani Bedau, is a touring production that will be performed at local high schools in San Diego.

“R+J” approached the classic tragedy by getting creative with the way the roles are portrayed. Four cast members played Romeo, and four cast members played Juliet. According to graduate student and dramaturg Joel Castellaw, this was to explore the infinite possibilities for the portrayal of these star-crossed lovers, inviting further reflection on the ways Shakespeare’s play can be reinterpreted and reinvented by all who encounter it.

The cast and crew of “R+J” have been working on the production since last August.

Theatre performance junior Athena Assalone said the process took a lot of collaboration.

“It was an incredibly unique process to bring to life,” she said. “The cast read the play numerous times and took an individual theme from the show. We then all brought them together and compiled them into a general message we wanted the show to convey to the audience.”

Business administration freshman Malijah Hopkins said “R+J” was a one-ofa-kind production. The ensemble spent a month or so getting to know each other and themselves on a deeper level.

“R+J” was unique in the sense that the ensemble came together and really helped shape the finished product. They picked themes, scenes and characters that were crucial to the story of “Romeo and Juliet.”

“After putting together a cohesive script, we worked with Shakespeare lexicon and broke down every single line into a modern paraphrase so that we truly understood the language we were speaking,” Assalone said.

Acting and theatre performance freshman Maddy Davis said the creative team is responsible for putting together the show that is now “R+J,” and that it was a great new way to approach a production.

After all showings of “R+J,” the ensemble and Bedau hosted an interactive exercise for the audience. This experience was to show the audience the process of how the cast and crew truly dug deep into “Romeo and Juliet” and made it into something of their own.

The audience was presented with a short part of “Romeo and Juliet” on a whiteboard and were then challenged to replace the words and form a modern version.

“I loved being able to understand Shakespeare’s words and being able to add a lot of valuable material to my acting toolbox,” Davis said.

Since the show would be presented in high schools, theatre design senior Andrea Bashe, said the goal for costuming was to keeping it modern and stylish for young audiences to engage with, while still alluding to Renaissance silhouettes.

It was also important to create looks that would work for two or more characters since almost every actor and actress played Romeo or Juliet plus an additional character, and had to form together as an ensemble without anyone leaving the stage.

The next theatrical production will be “Hookman,” showing from March 15 to 24 in the Experimental Theatre.

Photo by Emily Klemmetsen

Brenden Mokler played Romeo and Jonathan Esquer played Balthazar in “R+J.” Lighting design was by Chloe Oliana Clark, scenic design was by Jenni Baldwin and costume design was by Andi Bashe.

Student rapper aims to provide music opportunities to those afflicted with lupus via non-profit organization

by Kylie Renner CONTRIBUTOR

Joshua Jamal Palmer, artistically known as Jashupi, is a 22-year-old San Diego State senior who’s using his experiences with lupus to relate to and help others.

“Not everybody that suffers from lupus has the energy or the mentality to want to create music and provide a service for other people,” Palmer said. “I feel like I thought of this, so I might as well follow through with helping other people that suffer from the same things that I go through.”

Born and raised in San Diego, Palmer said he grew up listening to the music his parents played throughout the house, including artists like Bob Marley & The

Wailers and Mariah Carey, and genres such as smooth jazz and hip-hop. He began writing lyrics in elementary school but became serious about producing his own music freshman year of high school.

Palmer studies public administrations at SDSU and said his goal is to use his degree to start a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for people who suffer from lupus and are interested in pursuing music.

Palmer said one of the main symptoms of lupus is fatigue, and that it can be difficult for someone who suffers from the disease to work long hours and countless nights in the studio perfecting their music— something that the industry demands.

“Dealing with lupus makes you more

conscious of where your time is going, and how limited your energy is,” he said.

“As much as I’d like to be good at time management, I’m working on it. And I do try to stay conscious of where my energy goes. You just have to know your body and know what sacrifices need to be made in order to reach your goal.”

Palmer said he likes to write songs that convey his present feelings about romantic relationships, where he stands in his music career and how he wishes he could be creating music at a higher level. He said that while his music might not be for everyone, he feels his lyrics could resonate in pop culture.

With influences like Kanye West, J. Cole and Drake, Palmer said his songwriting

Courtesy of Josh Palmer

Public administration senior Josh Palmer communicates to his followers about his music via his Instagram, @jashupi_.

process usually starts with looking up instrumental versions of popular songs or tracks he likes on YouTube and freestyle rapping from there.

“Sometimes I just like to have fun and see what rhymes and see what sounds good together,” he said.

Palmer said he gets help producing music from his friend, Roberto Martinez.

Martinez said his goal as a producer is to understand Palmer’s vision while they exchange ideas for new music and concepts. He described Palmer as a very dedicated and hardworking musician.

“His music is relatable as a college student with big dreams,” Martinez said.

“What makes him stand out is his ability to experiment with melodies and new ideas.”

Palmer has had multiple opportunities to perform in front of live audiences at events and locations including open-mic nights at the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, Oggi’s and LeStat’s coffee shop in Hillcrest.

As a member of the Aztec Music Group on campus, he said he hopes to soon take on more performance opportunities.

Palmer emphasized the importance of putting effort into all ideas—even the ones that might not sound great at first.

“I’m pretty big on learning and constantly trying to level-up in terms of my songwriting ability and my appeal as a musician,” he said.

As for the future, Palmer said he hopes to someday hear himself on the radio and dreams of touring within the next five years.

His public music can currently be streamed on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music and SoundCloud.

Palmer added that having lupus has taught him that suffering from a disability won’t grant favoritism in the music industry.

“Everyone is suffering from something so don’t waste time moping or pitying yourself,” he said. “Actually do something that will either make you feel better or make someone else feel better.”

12

The Daily Aztec

The Back Page

Feb. 27 - March 5, 2019 Editor: Julianna Ress • arts@thedailyaztec.com

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

The black writers who shaped who I am

by Lauren J. Mapp SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Black History Month is a time to learn and appreciate the history of influential African-Americans in our nation. As a writer of color, I feel it is fitting to reflect on some of the black journalists, poets and writers who have inspired me in my career.

Ida B. Wells As a journalism student working as an investigative reporting intern at inewsource, I find inspiration in reading about the work of Ida B. Wells, an investigative reporter during the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.

She advocated against racial injustices

“As a writer of color, I feel it is fitting to reflect on some of the black journalists, poets and writers who have inspired me in my career.” throughout her life, suing and winning an illegal segregation case against the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company in 1884.

After three of her friends were murdered by a mob in Memphis, Tennessee, Wells began to research lynchings against African-Americans in the late 19th Century.

In the 1930s, she ran as the first African-American woman in an American election for the Illinois State Legislature.

James Baldwin

One of the most powerful documentary films I have watched in recent years was the 2016 film “I Am Not Your Negro,” based on an unfinished manuscript by James Baldwin.

Baldwin — an influential novelist, poet, public speaker and playwright — published his first novel, “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” in 1953.

The book focuses on his life in Harlem as an African American and was succeeded by other books and essays about the struggles of the black community in America.

Throughout his career, Baldwin shared his thoughts on issues pertaining to racial tensions and his experience as a gay man. He marched with Martin Luther King Jr., debated with Malcolm X and observed other aspects of the Civil Rights Movement.

Alice Walker The first time I cried because of a novel was when I read Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” for a fourth-grade book report.

Being a member of a loving and supportive family, I couldn’t understand or relate to the atrocities the main character Celie faced as a child, yet I fought through my tears to finish reading it because I was so intrigued by the epistolary writing style.

In 1983, Walker became the first woman of color to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, which she received for “The Color Purple.”

Maya Angelou Whenever I need a boost of confidence, I turn to Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise” from her 1978 collection of poetry, “And Still I Rise.”

Public Domain

Ida B. Wells was an investigative reporter in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.

The poem details her response to the hatred and judgment of others, and how she continues to dance, laugh and walk in a self-assured manner.

Known for her poetry, Civil Rights Movement activism and her series of seven memoirs, starting with “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” Angelou unabashedly wrote about deeply personal issues throughout her life.

Max Robinson ABC World News Tonight co-anchor Max Robinson was the first AfricanAmerican man to be a broadcast news anchor.

He began his career reading the news behind a newsroom logo that hid his African-American identity, and later reported on urban neighborhoods and the race riots in the 1960s.

One of the National Association of

Black Journalist’s founding members, Robinson supported the education of younger journalists as a mentor until he died from complications related to AIDS in 1988.

Mary Ann Shadd When she started “The Provincial Freeman” in 1853, journalist Mary Ann Shadd became the first black woman in North America to be the publisher of a newspaper.

She supported the abolitionist movement, following in the footsteps of her parents who helped runaway slaves to reach freedom through the Underground Railroad.

In 1883, she earned a law degree from Howard University, making her one of the first black women to practice law.

FITNESS FRIDAY Get your weekend off to a great start!

Every Friday at 5pm try a different group exercise format.

Courtesy of William J. Clinton Presidential Library

Maya Angelou was known for her poetry and activism durin the Civil Rights Movement.

arc.sdsu.edu/groupfitness