The Daily Aztec 2/7/2024

Weds., Feb. 7 - Tues., Mar. 5, 2024 Monthly Print Edition

Vol. 110, Issue #5 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

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The Daily Aztec

News

JMS students embark on a culturallyenriched journey to Thailand

February 7 - March 5, 2024 EDITORS: Eugénie Budnik & Hannah Ly • news@thedailyaztec.com

Students experienced culture shock, explored landscapes and created social media content

By Sumaia Wegner & Hannah Ramirez MANAGING EDITOR & STAFF WRITER

San Diego State University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) rang in the new year by taking 19 students to Thailand for a nine-day study abroad program created by Temple Northup, JMS director.

The purpose of the trip was to give students the opportunity to gain experience, as international journalists and develop skills in content creation by exploring a culture outside of their norm.

“What I liked about a place like Thailand versus a country like Italy is just that it is very different from the United States,” Northup said. “The food is different, how you get around is different, everything is different. So I feel even though it’s a short trip, you can really get a sense of things.”

The program was constructed to show a three-dimensional Thailand through cuisine, history and lifestyle.

Students produced videos and written work to translate their findings to their audience back home.

JMS students visited night markets,

restaurants (only reachable by boat) and even went on a cruise overseeing Iconsiam, one of Bangkok’s luxurious malls.

Multiple excursions were dedicated to visiting temples, such as The Golden Mount and Wat Pho, which houses the famous reclining Buddha.

Making an appearance at Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) was also facilitated through the program.

Students from both universities showcased the work they curated as undergraduates.

SDSU students also gained insight into how social media fostered different international career opportunities.

On the last day of the trip, students ventured to the outskirts of Bangkok, into the waters of Pattaya Beach, visited an elephant sanctuary and Erawan Park, which boasts ethereal waterfalls.

Students also experienced daily life as traveling journalists. Observations, such as the absence of free toilet paper, the expectation of silence on public transportation and the prevalence of households without kitchens, sparked interest.

As an Asian American media studies major, senior Marissa Evangelista found

Students pose for a photo while bathing the elephants at Elephants World elephant sanctuary on Jan. 10. Photo by Monica Watson

the visit to have a personal impact.

“I think it was cool for me to see a different Asian culture. It is important for not just me, but for anyone to see,” Evangelista said. “It was also my first time traveling internationally.”

Navigating Thailand were tour guides Somchai “Tommy” Wisawasompop and Peach H. Honghem. The pair presented the historical context of famous landmarks and shared stories about the day and nightlife in Bangkok.

JMS lecturer, Peggy Peattie, who accompanied Northup on the trip, mentioned that the daily interactions gave students a chance to appreciate other cultural perspectives as aspiring journalists.

“You need to be able to read body language — if you can’t understand the language, you need to be able to understand human dynamics,” Peattie said. “You need to be able to be patient

and be respectful of other cultures. I think that is something that can translate into your immediate environment.”

Whether it is getting into media studies, public relations, newspaper or radio, Northup believes first-hand learning experiences will help students broaden their minds and prepare them for a better future in global industries.

“Our tagline is, ‘We make storytellers.’

And another reason for doing this (program) is to be really great storytellers.

I think the more you travel (and) the more culturally adept you are, the better your stories will change stories on the market,” he said.

Northup, hopes the program inspires faculty members to coordinate study abroad programs within their departments.

For those interested in studying abroad, Northup suggests that SDSU students reach out to the JMS Instagram.

‘It’s like a jail to them’: Lahaina wildfire survivors seek long-term, dignified housing solutions Lahaina residents aim to restore community after 2023 Maui wildfires

By Hannah Ly NEWS EDITOR

For months, Lahaina residents have made Kaanapali Beach — a popular tourism spot in Hawaii — their temporary refuge, residing in tents as protection against the sun and scorching sand. With a canopy of donated food as their kitchen and the ocean as their front yard, the people living in these tents utilize fishing poles for legal beachside camping.

These aren’t vacationers; they are here because they have lost homes due to the Aug. 8 Maui wildfires.

The “Fishing for Housing” protest, organized by Lahaina Strong, advocates for affordable long-term living solutions

for wildfire survivors. Their fight is for dignified housing.

Following the devastating Maui wildfires, over 6,500 people found themselves without homes in what became the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history. This has only exacerbated the pre-existing housing shortage.

Those who lost their homes are currently staying in rental houses or hotels, but the options are both limited and limiting, according to residents.

“There’s about 5,000 people along the Kaanapali Coast here in these resorts and hotels that are shuffling around from room to room,” said Carlos Lamas, a Fishing for Housing volunteer. “(The Red Cross) mean well, and they are helping,

A destroyed house sits in the burn zone in Lahaina on December 10, 2023. Photo by Brittany Cruz-Fejeran

but there’s a lot of red tape. You can’t have guests over, you can’t cook in your units. It’s just not dignified housing.”

Unlike tourists who have more flexibility with guests and amenities, many Lahaina residents face stricter rules and risk eviction for not complying with resort regulations — restricting items like microwaves and pet accommodations.

“Many people don’t want to live (at the hotels), but at this point, they don’t have a choice. … A lot of people I’ve talked to say it’s like a jail to them,” said Vince Bagoyo Jr., a Hawaii housing developer.

A few proposed government initiatives include tax incentives for short-term rentals to convert to long-term housing, a moratorium on short-term rentals and incentives for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

While the state and county propose short and long-term answers for displaced individuals, residents share mixed feelings about the solutions.

According to Lamas, he wants to see an end to short-term rentals in West Maui.

“It’s hard to have empathy for upperclass tourists or settlers with their second or third house while you have somebody who is working two or three jobs to support their family and doesn’t even have one,” Lamas said.

If the tax incentive falls short, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green is open to utilizing emergency powers for a short-term rental moratorium. However, this approach may face legal challenges as property owners, like Bagoyo, argue it could be deemed a constitutional taking without fair compensation.

Bagoyo also expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of ADUs, suggesting that it may only appear politically appealing.

“I think that they’re trying to impose something that looks politically good, but in terms of its implementation, it may not work,” Bagoyo said. “It’s going to be interesting to see how many takers of that subsidy. $100,000 is not a lot of money.”

While opinions on proposed solutions vary, residents share that government action is crucial for clearing the debris and rebuilding the Lahaina community.

“I understand the cleanup wasn’t going to happen overnight. But I did anticipate a lot more work to be happening I guess,” said Leila Baqui, a Lahaina resident. “It’s been five months now and it feels like it’s all just faded. (It’s) a whole lot of talking but not a whole lot of doing on the government’s part.”

According to Hawaii Sen. Angus McKelvey, legislative sessions are in the process early this year to discuss public infrastructure funds, housing bills and establishing a community land trust.

“We have to rebuild Lahaina in the right way because it was going in the wrong direction,” McKelvey said. “And I think the people who are sticking it out, and (risking) their health through being in toxic dust every day, they demand the return of Lahaina that I remember when I was a kid — and now we have a chance to recapture it.”

For more information on the developing hazardous debris removal process, visit the Maui Recovers website.

Opinion

February 7 - March 5, 2024 EDITOR: Noah Lyons • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

Rizz won 2023 ‘Word of the Year’: How is language evolving?

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Social media is affecting the future of language creation

By Hannah Ramirez STAFF WRITER

When my uncle asked in our family group chat what “rizz’’ meant, I wanted to die a bit at first.

This was my documentary-watching, Washington Post-reading uncle. But if he was asking me about this silly word, I knew there had to be a value to learning.

Rizz, a word created by Kai Cenat, online streamer and Youtuber, is described when someone uses charm to win over another person they’d otherwise have no shot with. The use of the word skyrocketed after Tom Holland was asked about his “level of rizz” in a Buzzfeed interview.

But even with Holland’s endorsement of the word, it still hasn’t gotten mainstream approval from older generations.

Despite this, the Oxford Dictionary found that rizz was the highest used word in 2023 among 22 billion words in English-speaking sources.

It was also voted due to its “potential as a term of lasting cultural significance.”

As silly as it may seem,

Illustrations By Emily Petsch

the use of the word “rizz” is just one sign of how the English language is evolving as a result of social media, and that deserves the same attention as any other innovation.

Language evolution in general is nothing new. We clearly don’t speak Shakespearean English when trying to order a California burrito, and frat guys no longer say they are “cruising for a bruising.”

The needs and habits of speakers change with new technologies and environments.

But social media and the internet have caused the biggest shift yet, connecting the world like never before. And it’s not going anyway any time soon.

This shift has expanded opportunities for language creation. We can communicate ideas faster than ever and personalize words to Gen-Z. One of the earliest practices of social media networking sites was limiting the amount of characters a person could post in a caption. This limitation transformed into the basis of textspeak — giving birth to acronyms such as “LOL” and “OMG” — and no one bats an eye at it.

While this was ushered in by millennials on their Myspace pages, Gen-Z has delved deeper into the rabbit hole. But textspeak still isn’t seen as the mental workout it is. Older adults often treat abbreviations as if we are butchering language or being lazy. In reality, we turned a barrier into a creative challenge to abbreviate words any way we could.

When it comes to talking about the changes social media has brought to language, I would be doing a disservice by not bringing up the phenomenon of “girl math” and “girl dinner.” It captivated Gen-Z and infected many conversations since the rise of the trend.

When women found out that they are guilty of subbing in tiny treats for a full meal, and that money doesn’t count when spending cash, they had to rush to make words for it.

Cultural trends and new words can go viral in minutes. Immortalizing the language of Gen-Z is an advantage this generation has perfected. No wonder linguists are seeing new words like “rizz”

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exceed the popularity of longer-established words.

We live in a brave new world, where our fingers type ideas on our screens, and soon after words roll off the tongue.

While I originally rolled my eyes at “rizz” being learned by my uncle, I now roll my eyes at those who think they are too high and mighty for social media’s slang. These words are the ones that will keep this generation alive in memory, and be taught in textbooks as the biggest era of language evolution.

By not taking “rizz” and other new words seriously, you might as well live under a rock.

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Opinion

The Daily Aztec

AAJA SDSU officers Hannah Ly (vice president), Petrina Tran (social media outreach officer), Sumaia Wegner (president) and Brittany CruzFejeran (secretary) pose for a photo before their trip to Lahaina, Maui. Photo by Christie Yeung

AAJA SDSU empowers student journalists to be fearless The organization’s officers gained irreplaceable skills through an opportunity of their own making

By Brittany Cruz-Fejeran SENIOR STAFF WRITER

At 10 p.m. on Oct. 5, I texted the group chat for the Asian American Journalists Association at San Diego State University (AAJA SDSU). I had a crazy idea.

After a conversation with our San Diego chapter president, JoAnn Fields, I wanted to go to Lahaina, Maui, to write about residents affected by the August wildfires.

Hannah Ly, AAJA vice president, immediately responded, “We are crazy!”

Petrina Tran, social media outreach for AAJA, sent a GIF from the movie “Frozen” that said, “I love crazy!”

Sumaia Wegner, AAJA president, said, “OH SNAP CRACKLE POP RICE KRISPIES,” which we took as a sign of approval.

We later named this initiative “The Lahaina Project.”

This year’s leadership challenges every student journalist to be bold in their pursuit of field experience.

Through our project, we proved that we can do whatever we set our minds to.

My fear was leading the team into something that was a complete waste of time. If I gave in to those thoughts, we never would’ve learned all that we did.

In just two months, we planned a week-long trip to Maui during finals through sheer determination and support from everyone around us.

In preparation, we studied trauma-informed reporting, Lahaina’s history, its current events and historical misconceptions of Hawaiians and their culture to ensure we didn’t repeat those mistakes.

During our stay, we conducted interviews with indigenous locals, tourists, activists and politicians. We

photographed and filmed as much of Lahaina as we could, including the “burn zone.”

“Never before had I been challenged in so many ways,” Ly said. “Jumping at opportunities and adapting to plans on short notice became second nature.”

Our team learned to plunge at chances without hesitation, such as a sudden invite to the “burn zone.”

We were speechless to see the destruction with our own eyes. Hardened puddles of metal painted a small picture of the blaze that engulfed the city.

We overcame challenges — a sudden invite to the “burn zone,” a historical tour we planned to attend that wasn’t happening anymore, a good source decided against being one out of their safety and some very hot sand.

Tran said that this experience gave her confidence in her own abilities as a journalist.

“One of my favorite parts __

What Black History Month means to me as Editor-in-chief

By Daesha Gear EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

When I became The Daily Aztec’s editor-in-chief, I was notified by Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune reporter, of a story about how I would be the first Black woman in 110 years to hold this important role.

The last Black editor-in-chief for The Daily Aztec was Neil Kendricks (before Reggie Smith in ‘77) during the 1993-1994 year.

I was excited to be featured in a professional paper and to make history at The Daily Aztec.

However, it took me months to fully recognize the significance of Mapp’s article. As we produce our February issue, it’s a meaningful time for me to reflect on Black History Month.

When I was encouraged by my colleagues in the spring of 2023 to apply to become the next editor-in-chief of The Daily Aztec,

Illustration by Renee Roldan I instantly got butterflies in my stomach. My own intersectional identity — being a young Black woman in a newsroom setting — served as an insecurity that worked hand-in-hand with my Imposter Syndrome.

Twenty-year-old me at the time had many thoughts. How can someone so young run a large team and publication that is 110 years old? I’ve never seen someone who looks like me apply to this position… am I the first?

To ignore those negative thoughts, I reminded myself that anything is possible and to not limit a worthwhile opportunity, especially with my peers rooting for me to apply. If they all had faith in me, why shouldn’t I? So I took the latter thought and I have not looked back since.

Now, I embrace my intersectionalities and empower

February 7 - March 5, 2024 EDITOR: Noah Lyons • opinion@thedailyaztec.com

of the trip was when we’d come back to the apartment in the evening, make dinner, sit and debrief about the day, talk about journalism ethics and how to navigate things or ask professors and mentors for help,” she said.

We challenged ourselves.

For Wegner, that challenge was creating a feature story.

“I stick to sports because it is light-hearted,” Wegner said.

“However, after this trip, I learned that reporting on hard-hitting news, the things that make you question and wonder why things are the way they are, is needed to make any kind of change.”

Ly, Wegner, Tran and I will make our own paths to being better journalists. Our new program, Students Traveling Across Regions to Empower, Represent and Serve (STARTERS), embodies that.

Since starting AAJA with my peers in 2022, I wanted to do more than go to a convention and listen to lectures.

Never did I think I would lead us to a trip across the ocean, let alone work with a team that helped me carry the burden of getting us there.

As students witness the industry scramble for a sustainable business plan, we can’t help but wonder about its future.

According to a report published by Northwestern Local News Initiative, in newspapers vanished at an average rate of more than two a week in 2023.

Locally, we saw San Diego Union-Tribune journalists accept buyouts after it was sold to hedge fund Alden Global Capital.

As the industry evolves in ways we cannot predict, it is essential to be bold in how we find our stories.

AAJA didn’t go to “save” anyone. We acknowledge that our stay was for our own benefit regardless of the volunteer work we did. Trips into indigenous lands should be handled with respect and sensitivity. Informed consent was at the forefront of every conversation.

Thank you to our mentors and advisors for guiding us. Our biggest thanks go to the people of Lahaina who shared their lives with us and treated us like family.

This trip taught us to be fearless and crazy ideas can become a lifechanging adventure.

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others to become leaders, regardless of their identity.

It may be easier said than done to overcome Imposter Syndrome, and it’s okay. It’s something that isn’t automatically resolved by holding a high position. What does matter, though, is having an optimistic mindset, taking risks and being patient.

I am interested in what the future holds for Black leadership in The Daily Aztec’s newsroom since Kendricks’ tenure as EIC ended 30 years ago.

However, I know that I will not be the last.

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THE

DAILY AZTEC EDITOR IN CHIEF Daesha Gear MANAGING EDITOR Sumaia Wegner NEWS EDITORS Eugenie Budnik Hannah Ly OPINION EDITOR Noah Lyons MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Jennifer Aguilar ARTS & CULTURE EDITORS Natali Gonzalez Sam Hockaday SPORTS EDITORS Roman Aguilar Eric Evelhoch SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS Jazlyn Dieguez Serena Neumeyer PHOTO EDITOR Isabella Biunno MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Rosalie Burich LIVE PRODUCER Madison Cadena GRAPHICS EDITORS Emily Augustine Gabrielle Houser ________________________________ SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Brittany Cruz-Fejeran Ariana Mardani STAFF WRITER Hannah Ramirez PHOTOGRAPHERS Christie Yeung Olivia Vargo Monica Watson GRAPHICS Bella Hodges Daisy Garcia Emily Petsch Renee Roldan ________________________________ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sofia Gonzalez ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Kendra Landi ________________________________ GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Quentin Skaggs EDITORIAL editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING 619.594.7807 advertising@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 2,000 copies of its monthly print edition Wednesdays 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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February 7 - March 5, 2024 EDITOR: Jennifer Aguilar • mundoazteca@thedailyaztec.com

Mundo Azteca

El Significado de la Candelaria Por Jennifer Aguilar EDITORA DE MUNDO AZTECA

Cuarenta días después de la Navidad — 2 de febrero — es el Dia de la Candelaria.

Para todos que les salio la figurina del niño Jesus al rebanar la Rosca de Reyes les toca hacer una fiesta de tamales este día. ¿Pero porque la Candelaria es 40 dias después de la Navidad?

Segun a la tradicion Judía, las madres tenian que esperar 40 días después del parto para purificarse con sus recién nacidos para entrar al templo.

Tambien tenían que esperar 40 días para presentar sus recien nacidos ante Dios en el templo y ante las autoridades religiosas.

Después del parto de Jesus, Maria se purifico por 40 días y despues llevando un sacrificio de una paloma o cordero para ser considerada limpia y poder entrar al templo. Al igual, el niño Jesus también fue presentado hacia Dios en el templo de Jerusalén.

Para los que celebran la Candelaria, la Candelaria significa el fin de las festividades Navideñas con una fiesta de tamales — de la persona que le salio la figurina de el niño Jesus en la Rosca de Reyes.

Segun a una leyenda Mexicana, los dioses Maya machacaron el elote y crearon los primeros humanos y por eso se come tamales en esta fecha.

Incluso, otra razon en lo cual se comen tamales en esta fecha es porque el 2 de febrero marca el nuevo año en el calendario Mexicano — Tláloc, Chalchiuhtlicue and Quetzalcóatl.

En otras tradiciones, la Candelaria

The Daily Aztec

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La Candelaria se ha convertido en un dia llena de tradiciones agarro su nombre porque Jesus representa la luz que illumina la humanidad como una vela.

La Candelaria se ha convertido en un dia llena de tradiciones y tambien como un recordatorio de lo que paso en el pasado.

Courtesy of Adobe Stock

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Baseball building ‘connection’ on and off-field to compete in the Mountain West

Sports

February 7 - March 5, 2024 EDITORS: Eric Evelhoch & Roman Aguilar • sports@thedailyaztec.com

First-year head coach Shaun Cole, the Aztecs are focused on establishing culture

By Eric Evelhoch SPORTS EDITOR

There’s a different energy around Tony Gwynn Stadium this season.

It’s not just because the Aztecs won a share of the Mountain West Conference regular season championship for the first time since 2004 last season, or because the roster has 20 new freshmen and additional transfers.

After two seasons of coaching SDSU to one of the top pitching staffs in the conference, Shaun Cole has taken over as head coach of the Aztecs and is emphasizing

Outfielder Irvin Weems safely slides back into first base after an attempted pickoff. Photo by Olivia Vargo

the team being fully connected.

“It’s all a consistent theme and message about preparation, mind and body — how are you doing that?” Cole said.

“When we get a group of guys that start thinking that way and working that way, now we’re gonna get them to free up and compete at a high level and you’ll see that aggressive style of baseball.”

The Aztecs return 48.7% of their at bats from last season and 39.3% of their RBI production, so building chemistry throughout the lineup and in the field has been critical.

“That’s a big stepping stone to having success in this program,” said junior outfielder Irvin Weems. “We also talked a lot about having leadership and older guys taking over big roles, and even freshmen coming in and having big roles… just playing as a team and being more connected as a whole.”

Junior pitcher Chris Canada threw the most innings last season of all returning pitchers. SDSU gets back 41.2% of their innings pitched from last season and 60.4% of their starts on the pitching staff.

“We’re all just really looking forward

to pulling on the same rope,” Canada said.

“Now there’s no division (between pitchers and hitters), everyone’s just getting in work and we feel as one team.”

It’s all part of building the connection and culture heading into the 2024 season.

“There’s a different vision, there’s a different energy to it and people like to grab on to that,” Cole said. “Now it’s up to us to continue that momentum — we need to play and we need to win games, but I think right now there’s a good buzz and I think people are excited.”

A season preview of women’s softball, expanding on last year’s success After nearly advancing to the 2023 Women’s College World Series, there’s plenty to be hopeful for in 2024 2024 team members Cali Decker (11) and Mac Barbara (31) celebrate with teammates after a win last season at the SDSU Softball Stadium.

Photo by Olivia Vargo

By Roman Aguilar SPORTS EDITOR

The San Diego State women’s softball team has plenty to be excited about heading into the 24 season.

Led by head coach Stacey NuvemanDeniz, the Aztecs finished their 2023 season with an overall 39-17 record to advance to the program’s first-ever SuperRegional after winning the NCAA Los Angeles Regional against Liberty.

SDSU won the Mountain West tournament — the first held since 2006 — with a perfect 3-0 record after finishing second in regular season play.

Nuveman-Deniz — who’s heading into her second year — is 78-33 with two Mountain West Championships, two NCAA tournament appearances and one super regional appearance. Overall, Nuveman-Deniz has a 6-4 record in NCAA tournament games.

Nuveman-Deniz’s staff led the program out of the Los Angeles Regional with a 3-0 record that included wins over Liberty (twice) and Grand Canyon. The Scarlet and Black outscored their opponents 19-3.

The pitching staff posted a 1.00 (ERA) in 21 innings — striking out 22 against two walks while holding opponents to a .181 average.

In the final ESPN/USA Softball poll last season, the Aztecs were ranked No. 18 and No. 19 in the final USA Today poll.

The Scarlet and Black are currently ranked No.23 in the Division I Softball preseason Top 25 poll. This ranking in 2023 marked the second time SDSU has been placed this preseason following a No.25 poll listing in the Softball American poll.

Following the end of the 23 campaign, coach Nuveman-Deniz announced the hiring of Caitlin “Curly” Grimes as an assistant coach. Grimes served as an assistant coach at Cal State Fullerton for eight seasons before coming to San Diego State.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Curly to San Diego State and our Aztec softball tribe,” Nuveman-Deniz said. “She brings a wealth of experience and success to The Mesa and is a fantastic compliment to the rest of our staff. She’s an outstanding mentor and I know our student-athletes will benefit from her tutelage both on and off the field.”

Grimes will join a staff that was named the West Region Coaching Staff of the Year. The award represents each of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s 10 Division I regions.

Throughout the 2023 season, four players hit at least .340 for the Aztecs in 2023, including outfielder Bella Espinoza (.393, 57 R, 30 SB), catcher Cali Decker (.368, 6 HR, 40 RBI, 29 R), catcher Mac Barbara (.358, 13 HR, 45 RBI, 34 R) and

fielder Jillian Celis (.343, 6 HR, 48 RBI, 42 R).

The Scarlet and Black also had three athletes earn NFCA West region honors as Barbara earned first-team honors for the second-straight year, while Decker and pitcher Allie Light were named secondteam all-West region — both for the first time in their careers.

San Diego State also earned a leaguehigh seven All-Mountain West selections.

Light was added to the First Team joined

by Barbara and utility player Makena Brocki, while four Aztecs made it on the Second Team, including Celis, Espinoza, Decker and pitcher Sarah Lehman.

Going into the 24 softball season, SDSU is scheduled to play three teams that made the 2023 Women’s College World Series, and 18 games overall against 15 teams that made the NCAA tournament.

SDSU is also set to play seven of the teams this year that finished within AP’s Top 25 poll of the RPI last year, including No.1 Oklahoma, No.4 Stanford, No.12 LSU (twice), No.13 Utah, No.15 Nebraska, No.16 Oregon and No.19 Texas A&M (twice).

San Diego State begins its 2024 campaign with the SDSU Season Kickoff on Thursday, Feb. 8 to Sunday, Feb. 11 at the SDSU Softball Stadium.

The season-opening tournament won’t be easy as the Aztecs kick off the season

against Stanford, which was ranked No. 3, before facing No. 28 Minnesota on Friday and No. 29 Kentucky along with UC Santa Barbara on Saturday.

SDSU will then begin conference play with a home series against Utah State from March 15-17. San Diego State will also travel to Fresno State March 22-24, and host Colorado State March 28-30 before heading to New Mexico for a doubleheader on April 3.

The team will also welcome MW regular season champion, Boise State, April 6-7 before traveling to play San Jose State April 12-14.

The Aztecs will host Nevada for senior weekend from April 26-28, and head to UNLV to end the regular season May 2-4.

Visit DA Sports Online

Game recaps, previews and more updated regularly

February 7 - March 5, 2024 EDITORS: Eric Evelhoch & Roman Aguilar • sports@thedailyaztec.com

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Infographic by Emily Augustine

8 Backpage Horoscopes: Is the love of your life sitting right next to you?

February 7 - March 5, 2024 EDITORS: Natali Gonzalez & Sam Hockaday • arts@thedailyaztec.com

The Daily Aztec

Illustrations By bella Hodges

By Ariana Mardani SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Taurus April 20 – May 20 Aquarius January 20 – February 18

Some would refer to an Aquarius as a smooth talking serial dater. You like having a companion, someone to enjoy the simple life with, but you also love your freedom and feel that when a relationship gets too serious, it’s time to end it. These characteristics translate into your academic life. You like to go with the flow in your ways of study and choose not to stick to strict routines, even if they seem to work well. With the start of school and Valentine’s Day on the rise, I’d advise you to take a break from the dating, refrain from looking for lust within a classroom and instead find the scholar within you.

Stick to familiarity in how you approach school. Learning to commit to something like a study plan will eventually show you that commitment is a lot more enjoyable than being the heartbreaker you are.

Taurus, you’re confident, goaloriented students. The classroom is a space where you feel you belong, which is what makes you so excited to get back into the groove of college. That being said, no amount of intelligence could help you realize how oblivious you are to those who crush on you. It’s no surprise people are attracted to your work ethic, strong energy, excitement and drive. But you get lost trying to be so academically perfect, you’re left blind to the idea that you’re already perfect in someone else’s eyes.

Coming back after the holidays, try to open up to the possibility of finding more than just knowledge from a classroom and who knows, you might end up with a Valentine.

Leo July 23 – August 22

Valentine’s Day, the start of school, meeting new people – all of this is like a game to you. Nothing is more enjoyable than being able to express your personality to random people you’ve never met. Grades aren’t ever a stress of yours because why would they be? You draw people in with your incredible presence, quick wit and sarcasm – even the teachers love you. Similar to school, Valentine’s Day is always something you look forward to because you never spend it alone, whether it be with friends or one of the numerous classmates that have asked you out. I don’t really need to tell you how you’ll be spending this month, you don’t care, you just know whatever happens, it’ll be good.

Scorpio October 23 – November 21

Passionate and intense, yet controlling in your ways. Scorpio, you know what you want and you can get it with ease. School isn’t something you look entirely forward to, but like many other things, it doesn’t scare you away.

You succeed in most of the things you set your mind to, whether it be education or a relationship. I applaud you for your high performance within the classroom, but alongside that comes the multiple classmates you find and want. Like I said, no one doubts your abilities to get those whom you seek out, but this Valentine’s season, shift your mindset from trying to get someone just because you know you can and instead take the time to look for your perfect match.

Gemini May 21 – June 20 Pisces February 19 – March 20

Creativity is a talent that runs within Pisces. This is something that makes you guys so beautifully unique. However, with that comes ups and downs. Love is something you feel to the fullest, regardless of if that someone you’re dedicating time to isn’t deserving of it. You’ll spend hours romanticizing a person that doesn’t exist within them, the same way you tend to space off in the classroom, creating an academic world of its own. This skill is something that will carry itself within you, but try to not let it manifest in ways that hinder you. Instead of spending classroom hours wandering around in your own head, spend it being present with what’s reality, maybe then you’ll find your one true love sitting across from you.

Your love life has been an absolute rollercoaster and so has your school life.

The only difference is your love life is like the start of one, where you’re scared and shaking with a stomach full of butterflies as you reach the highest point, wishing you hadn’t gone on it. Your school life, on the other hand, is the part once you’ve fallen, where you can finally open your eyes and start to realize it’s not scary, but actually fun. This is a nice way of telling you school isn’t your problem, it’s the bad apples you’ve been gifted along the way that I guess we could categorize as “partners.” I know it sucks and feels like you’ve wasted your time and energy on people undeserving of it, but what’s special about you is you won’t let that bring down your spirit. You’re resilient, energetic and have enough love to give around. Continue focusing on school, as you already do, but just know the right person is coming your way. It may not be this Valentine’s Day, but, eventually, when it is THE Valentine’s Day for you to enjoy, it’ll be better than you could have ever imagined.

Aries March 21- April 19

Spending time in silence is something that you find comfort in, so participating in class or showing off that you know the right answer aren’t situations you’d willingly put yourself in.

With that, Aries, you’re a big observer, who categorizes themselves as a hopeless romantic. So the classroom space might not be somewhere you come to display your academic understanding, but rather daze off dreaming of the “what if’s” with that one person you can’t keep your eyes off of. Valentine’s Day isn’t looking like anything crazy to you. Maybe you’ll watch a movie or spend time with friends, but that can all be changed if you amped up your confidence levels. I’m not saying to ask that person out, but with school coming up, strike up a casual convo with the one you’re making googly eyes at or maybe even just let it be known you’re in the classroom with answering a question or two.

Cancer June 21 – July 22

Being a creature of habit, Cancer, you are used to what keeps you comfortable.

Coming back to school, and dealing with these slight changes does frighten you to an extent, which is what makes you want to rush into a routine you can trust.

Alongside this habitual tendency, you already have a certain someone you’ve spent the last couple Valentine’s Days with and you plan on continuing. Everyone knows you as this ball of emotion, which to an extent is true, but it’s all because you love having stability and, once something seems even remotely off, it terrifies you.

While your new classes and the upcoming holiday seem already prepared, allow your guard to come down just a little bit.

Straying away from doing the same thing all the time can be way more fun than it seems.

Virgo August 23 – September 22

Virgo, it’s clear that you know what you’re talking about when it comes to the classroom. You do your studying, you get your work done and your grades showcase the energy you have put in to get to where you are. When it comes to your love life, you find yourself behaving in similar ways, but have noticed that maybe having this “know it all” mentality doesn’t work in your favor. You’re incredibly wise and proud of that, but, the opposite of exams, relationships don’t have a right answer.

Come back into this year with that in mind – it takes two to tango. Know that there’s someone else in this relationship and, even if it’s blossoming in unexpected ways, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Instead of trying to fix something you may see as a problem, put yourself in the shoes of your partner and make sure you’re making decisions with them, not for them.

Libra September 23 – October 22

Wild, chaotic and crazy in all the best ways. Libra, you love distractions, you like making scenes for people to enjoy and LOVE anything with a thrill. School isn’t really for you, but people are, so you’ll take what you can get and spend time in the classroom just for the social aspects.

Even though you love surrounding yourself with people who make you feel seen and appreciated, you tend to stray away from commitment because you’re scared. Of what? That’s something I’ll never fully know. With school coming back into session, you’ll have a lot of new friends, some of which you’ll want more than just a friendship with, but take your time and pick out someone you can genuinely see a long lasting relationship with. Spending Valentine’s Day with someone who doesn’t make you scared to spend more than a week with will make the holiday so much more fun, trust me.

Sagittarius November 22 – December 21

When it comes to being an academic weapon, Sagittarius never fails to prove themselves. School is fun and all, but what you enjoy more is the excitement of the new semester and all the new possibilities of falling in love. You know exactly what you need to do to get the grades you want and it’s just become a little too boring for your liking. I think you and I could both agree, it’s time to stir the pot a little and get to the next season of your life’s show – I’ll grab the popcorn because it’s about to get juicy. This holiday, you’ll find the one that you want by picking them out prior to classes even starting. That’s right, you’ll stalk the Canvas roster and pick out that special someone who’ll be your partner in crime. In no time you two will be inseparable, go you!

Capricorn December 22 – January 19

Capricorn, you’re ambitious and career driven and that’s all that you really care for in your college life. You came here to study and studying is what you do, all the other additions were cherries on top. So when you found the love of your life, it was unexpected, but equally as cherished as your studies. When you decide to devote your time to something like your studies or another person, you fully dedicate yourself to it – and that’s such an amazing trait of yours. So no, you don’t find the love of your life sitting beside you in the classroom, because you’re laser focused on what’s being taught and too busy to pay attention to those surrounding you. But you’re not alone over this holiday, you’re with the only person you’ll ever need, who showed up when you least expected. So go plan the best date ever.