The Daily Aztec 3/24/2021

Wednesday, March 24 - Tuesday, March 30 Weekly Digital Edition

Vol. 107, Issue 20 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

San Diegans rally against anti-Asian violence

VIEJAS VACCINES Viejas Arena will serve as a San Diego County vaccination site. page

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Photo by Patrick Doyle San Diegans rallied in the streets of Downtown on March 20 following shootings in Atlanta that left eight people dead, six of them Asian American women.

A.S. ELECTIONS The two candidates for A.S. President outlined their plans for SDSU. page

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HATE HAS NO PLACE Editorial: The sad truth is SDSU is no stranger to hate-motivated acts. page

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by

Patrick Doyle

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

In the wake of the deadly Atlanta shootings which killed eight people, six of which were Asian American women, San Diego residents took to the streets

Catlan Nguyen

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

SDSU men's basketball fell to No. 11 seed Syracuse in Idianapolis page

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as “this is what community looks like,” and “racism has got to go!”

The rally was met with support from the community, with cars honking their horns every block and people in restaurants cheering as the demonstrators

walked by. Some people in the front of the marching line even played snare drums in tandem with the rhythmic chants condemning violence against members of the Asian, Pacific Issee

RALLY page 2

Atlanta shootings are ‘breaking point’ for Asian American women at San Diego State by

AZTECS UPSET

near the San Diego County Administration Center on Saturday to protest anti-Asian racism.

Roughly 100 people joined the crowd through its march across Downtown, and the demonstrators chanted phrases such

Eight people were gunned down in Atlanta, Georgia at three spas about a week ago. Six of the victims were women of Asian descent.

Much of the immediate media coverage focused on the suspect’s motivations rather than the victims and those in the Asian American community, even after he was charged with eight counts of murder in connection with the attacks.

Some San Diego State students and faculty recount how this shooting was a breaking point for them after more than a year of increased violence against Asian Americans.

The shooting also led to multiple protests calling to stop Asian hate including

one in downtown San Diego on March 20.

How are Asian-American women at SDSU responding to the shooting?

“This shooting was definitely the breaking point but I feel like aggression against Asians have been building up for years and years,” public health fifth year Ariel Ramirez said.

“After this incident, I think a lot of racism towards Asians won’t be as tolerated.”

Ramirez is a Filipina student whose mother, Nolita Tu-Lao Ramirez, is a SDSU alumna and was the first Filipina ambassador at SDSU back in 1991.

“The shootings on Tuesday hit differently in that, as an APIDA woman myself, I saw myself in the victims,” Director of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi

American Center Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan said. “I am more disturbed by the response.We can’t allow this concept of a ‘bad day’ to

justify this.”

A police officer who is no longer a spokesperson see

RESPONSE page 3

Screenshot from Catlan Nguyen SDSU student leaders and faculty Spoke candidly of their initial responses to the shooting. (Top left) Ariel Ramirez, (top right) Bella Martelino, (middle left) Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan, (middle right) Grace Han, (bottom left) Sarah Hoang, (bottom right) Yna Pineda.

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News

The Daily Aztec

March 24 - March 30, 2021 Editor: Jadyn Brandt

Vaccination site at Viejas Arena now open by

Alexa Oslowski

PHOTO EDITOR

Starting on March 23, Viejas Arena will become San Diego County’s newest vaccine site, according to an email sent by San Diego State President Adela de la Torre. On Monday, Board of Supervisors Chair Nathan Fletcher held a press conference at Viejas Arena announcing the county’s partnership with SDSU. “The opening of a robust vaccination site at this well-known location offers an important expansion of our ability to not only administer vaccines but to ensure an equity-based focus, to make sure that the communities who have been historically left behind and not had unique plans and processes in place, ensure their access to public health,” Supervisor Fletcher said.

Project SAVE (Scheduling Assistance for Vaccine

RALLY:

continued from page

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lander, and Desi-American communities. Dozens of people brought homemade signs to show their solidarity with those who experience racism.

Before the rally, some demonstrators shared their stories of when they or someone close to them experienced violence targeted at them because of their race. One of the rally organizers, who asked only to go by Toni, opened up about a recent experience that left her shaken.

A week ago, Toni was on a run when a man on his bike pushed her over for no apparent reason. She recounts that instead of standing up for herself, in that moment all she could say was “sorry.”

“It killed me inside. I tried to laugh it off, and it just started eating at me,” Toni said while fighting off tears.

“So I’m here today to find my voice. I’m a loud, outgoing person – I have been

Photo by Alexa Oslowski Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Nathan Fletcher announced Viejas Arena at SDSU would open as a vaccination site on March 23.

Equity) is a pilot program created to help get those in eligible vaccine groups and most vulnerable to COVID-19 complications vaccinated according to the County News Center.

“Ten percent of the appointments at this site will be set aside for Project SAVE. This has been a suc-

cessful program engaging with community-based organizations to reach those participating communities, and ensure they have direct access into the system,” Supervisor Fletcher said. “They need some direct engagement from someone who knows the community, who speaks

all my life, and the moment that I needed my voice I didn’t use it. I didn’t use my voice. I want you guys to use your voice, I want you to find your voice today.”

The organizers invited other people to speak about their experiences, and several individuals from the crowd shared their stories, such as Filipino American Dee de Guzmán. After the rally, de Guzmán shared his reaction when he first heard about the shootings in Atlanta.

“I was confused, I didn’t know what was happening,” de Guzamán said. “And when you saw how methodical it was, you couldn’t help but think it was a racially-driven attack. It really just deeply saddened me that this is something that has become almost a normal thing now in the community to be living in fear.”

De Guzamán said the increase in violence against Asian Americans recently did not primarily make him fearful for his own safety, but rather that of his elders.

“The fact that my mother tells me she has fears of walking outside is what saddens me the most,” de Guzmán said. “So it’s never really been about my safety, more than how it’s changed the mentality of the older Asian community and how they have this fear to walk outside their door.”

Another rally organizer, who asked only to go by Alice, said she felt a similar fear on behalf of her family when witnessing the Atlanta shootings.

“I saw my family behind that gun,” Alice said. “I saw my family being harassed and attacked on the street.

I could see myself in these people and it just broke my heart to know that there’s such hatred out in the world.”

Alice, a Chinese-Vietnamese American, helped put on the rally to create a forum for people to express themselves and share their experiences living in fear because of their race.

Her Instagram page, @ StopAsianHateSanDiego,

the language, who can answer to questions and issues and walk through the vital public health importance of getting a vaccine.”

Andrea Dooley, SDSU’s Associate Vice President for Health, Well-Being & Accessibility, Ramah Awad from the Majdal Center who represents the San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition and Najla Ibrahim, director of health and wellness at the Somali Family Service of San Diego also spoke regarding how this new site supports their communities who were among the hardest hit by the pandemic.

“This is an important moment for our continued and long-standing partnership with San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

We are very thankful for this partnership,” Dooley said. “Together at San Disee

ONLINE

supports members of APIDA communities, as well as other marginalized groups.

The rally came to an end after over an hour of marching, and the event left some cautiously optimistic about the future.

“It made me feel hopeful that something can happen,” de Guzmán said.

While violence against Asian Americans still persists, and the horrors of the Atlanta shootings will forever be in the minds of many, Alice said she believes that small gatherings like this can have a lasting effect.

“I want us to create a ripple effect,” Alice said. “A chain reaction that kindness will bring more kindness, unity will bring more unity.”

The organizers said they were pleasantly surprised by the turnout and were glad to see such an outpouring of support from San Diegans. After the rally, Alice and Toni encouraged the demonstrators to visit and support local Asian

March 24 - March 30, 2021 Editor: Jadyn Brandt

RESPONSE:

continued from page

EDITOR IN CHIEF Brenden Tuccinardi NEWS EDITOR Jadyn Brandt ASST. NEWS EDITOR Katelynn Robinson OPINION EDITOR Trinity Bland MUNDO AZTECA EDITOR Noé Sandoval ASST. MUNDO AZTECA Karina Bazarte ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Devin Whatley SPORTS EDITOR Kyle Betz ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Luis Lopez SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Catlan Nguyen PHOTO EDITOR Alexa Oslowski ASST. PHOTO EDITOR Amanda Orozco VIDEO EDITOR Angela Kurysh ASST. VIDEO EDITOR Mackenzie Stafford GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR Emily Burgess

SENIOR STAFF WRITERS Patrick Doyle Catherine Van Weele Amber Salas STAFF WRITERS Brandon Balayan Jermelle Macleod Jacob Sullivan Megan Oytas Andrew Finley Nicholas Ebadat CONTRIBUTORS Evelyn Martinez ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bryan Diamond EDITORIAL editor@thedailyaztec.com ADVERTISING advertising@thedailyaztec.com PRINT The Daily Aztec publishes 5,000 copies of its weekly print edition every Wednesday thoughout the semester when we are not in a global pandemic.

WEB Daily content is available at www.thedailyaztec.com SOCIAL MEDIA @thedailyaztec

@TheDailyAztec

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/thedailyaztec The views and opinions expressed in this issue do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Aztec.

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on the shooting received a lot of backlash after claiming the murder suspect had “a bad day.”

For Korean American Student Association President Grace Han, the shootings felt personal because many of the victims looked like familiar faces.

“When I actually saw the picture (of one of the victims), it made me really upset because it looked like somebody I would’ve known,” Han said. “It shouldn’t have gotten to this point in the first place.”

Loh-Hagan also said we can’t allow narratives laced with stereotypes to continue being the main focus and we must stop exploiting and sexualizing APIDA women.

Some have claimed the suspect was trying to suppress his sexual deviancy by shooting these women because they were assumed to be sex workers at the spas.

However, there’s been no evidence these women were sex workers.

Other students are calling for everybody to check their biases.

“Not all spas are mechanisms for sex work, they just have that bad rep unfortunately,” President of the Vietnamese Student Association Sarah Hoang said. “There are so many intersectionalities here (in the victims) but truly the murderer’s motives are rooted in white supremacy.”

Loh-Hagan emphasized how she wants people to remember the bigger context of this tragedy and to not blame white people for these issues but rather the system that is rooted in white supremacy.

For many Asian American women at SDSU, racism and sexism have always been linked for them and aren’t mutually exclusive.

“They weren’t reporting it as a hate crime and yet six Asian-American women were killed,” Associated Students Executive Vice

3 News A.S. President candidates debate The Daily Aztec

President Bella Martelino said. “I felt disappointed and hurt and a little bit scared because whoever was reporting on the topic and even the police investigating it didn’t see it as what it was.”

What should we all do, allies and Asian Americans, moving forward?

Loh-Hagan said we should educate ourselves on accurate Asian American history and join together across communities to change the system so it benefits all communities.

“A tool of white supremacy is to have oppressed groups fight among themselves so then they have no time to fight against the system,” Loh-Hagan said.

Marketing third year and Filipina student Yna Pineda said in addition to educating yourself, allies can amplify Asian American voices.

“One of the biggest things we have to do is to hold ourselves accountable,” Pineda said. “Not just ourselves, but everybody around us too.”

Many students are optimistic about the future and the changes they’re seeing at SDSU with more Asian American women stepping into leadership positions.

“Especially this year, it’s pretty powerful that in most of the prominent cultural orgs (on campus), they all have women in their number one seat right now which is the presidency or the chairperson,” Hoang said.

In addition to Hoang and Han, Leiana Lepule is currently president of the Pacific Islander Student Association (PISA), Cara Barlin is president of Asian Pacific Student Alliance (APSA), Cristal Ami is chairperson of Andres Bonifacio Samahan (AB Samahan), and Lindsay Takahashi is president of Nikkei Student Union (NSU).

“To quote VSA co-president Sarah Hoang, come for the community and stay for the family,” Loh-Hagan said. “I am thrilled because we are benefitting from APIDA women and our ancestors’ work.”

by

Katelynn Robinson

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Associated Students presidential candidates Bella Martelino and Ashley Tejada debated about issues that most affect the San Diego State student body on March 17.

Biology junior Martelino, and English senior Tejada debated on the topics of COVID-19 policy, mental health, affordable housing and more.

Martelino is the current A.S. Executive Vice President and Tejada currently serves as a student-atlarge on the A.S. Board of Directors.

Tejada said that the student voice was muted and neglected during the senate decision to cancel Spring Break.

“I was in the center during that Zoom call when students were Zoom-bombing,” Tejada said. “Students were very upset at the time and Zoom-bombing is even a strong word to use because they had a right to be there.”

Martelino said she would like to implement more campus security for the SDSU neighborhoods.

“I have currently had a number of female friends who’ve had unknown people stalking outside of their houses, following them at home at night and even breaking in. When the university hired Elite

security this year to track down parties I would work as President with University PD and Administration to utilize Elite security to ensure the safety of our SDSU neighborhood,” Martelino said.

Additionally, Martelino said the Sophomore Success program, which requires non-local students to sign an agreement to live in SDSU housing for at least two years is unaffordable.

Tejada said she wants to work to give the administration a statistic of how many students are struggling with housing affordability to prove change needs to be made.

“I want to make sure that we exhaust all options on our campus because our administration and our faculty needs to do better right here. Because they are failing the student body. They are failing with affordable housing,” Tejada said.

Tejada said the university’s decision to cancel Spring Break and add more rest and recovery days created more threeday weekends and therefore more opportunities are COVID-19 spikes. She also said the student body alone is not to blame for the spike but the county is as well.

“As a county we have guidelines. As a university, we have policies to put in place. But automatically

going to blaming students is not the answer,” Tejada said.

Both Martelino and Tejada said they will be pushing for student accessibility of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Moving forward with “partying” in regards to, I think it is really interesting how that was our focus especially when so many different things were happening,” Martelino said. “We allocated funds for Elite security when it could have possibly been going to students in need.”

While discussing mental health initiatives the candidates will take on as president, the topic of Spring Break was brought up again.

Martelino said as president one of her ultimate priorities will be to collaborate with multiple governing bodies to make mental health a priority.

In a rebuttal statement Tejada said, “I want to bring to the table, she is currently Vice President.

So I’m curious as to why she wasn’t at the university senate speaking on the student’s behalf.”

Associated Students candidate voting opens on March 22 in the SDSU student webportal.

Watch the full debate online on the Daily Aztec website or on the Daily Aztec YouTube channel.

Screenshot courtesy of the Daily Aztec

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Opinion

The Daily Aztec

March 24 - March 30, 2021 Editor: Trinity Bland

Editorial: Hate has no place here The Editorial Board

The sad truth is San Diego State is no stranger to hate-motivated acts.

Just last week, anti-Semitic vandalism with ties to a white supremacist group appeared on campus.

Almost a year ago, AB Samahan, the Filipinx and Filipinx-American Cultural Organization at SDSU, was the target of a racist zoom bombing.

Unfortunately, these incidents are among countless others being added to a long list of hate-motivated violence not only at SDSU but across the nation.

They don’t even begin to cover the microaggressions many students of color and LGBTQ+ students face academically, professionally or in their regular everyday lives.

This editorial board grieves with the families and friends of the six Asian American women, two other victims murdered and those injured in Atlanta.

We are heartbroken but sadly, not surprised.

First, a whole pandemic is scapegoated onto Chinese people and in turn all Asian individuals because to some — what’s the difference?

Then, each headline every week recounts a different act of violence against another Asian-American.

Hate crimes like these have happened since America’s beginnings, from putting Japanese-Americans into internment camps to the violence we see today.

Some major publications

been linked. The fetishization of Asian women has always led to people easily dehumanizing them without a second thought.

Our editorial board at The Daily Aztec recognizes how, even currently,Asian American voices are still a minority on our current staff.We currently have only two Asian American editors and that shouldn’t be the norm.

The majority of newsrooms still have a far way to go to be as representative as the diverse country we live in.

We grieve with a nation too often faced with racially and homophobic motivated tragedies such as the Atlanta shooting and the shooting at Pulse nightclub in 2016, which

primarily targeted LGBTQ+ people of color. We shake in anger with the millions of people whose lives are forever-changed by gun-violence.

We also stand with those saying enough is enough and join their cries for real, long-lasting change.

Fighting for justice is a human fight. It means fighting for people of all intersectionalities, including LGBTQ+ people, women, those with disabilities and people of color.

Lives were tragically lost and we need to find a way to move forward. We live in an “us versus them” culture and trying to compare social movements and participating in “oppression Olympics” is not the route to take. We can

advocate to stop Asian violence without comparing it to the Black Lives Matter movement or further dividing different communities.

Contributing to the great divide in this country during this time creates more problems.

You may be wondering how you can make a difference in your everyday life.

Educate yourself on the erasure of past hate crimes and reevaluate your own biases which we all have.

To that end, here are resources and action items to get involved at SDSU and beyond: Sign the SDSU APIDA Pledge Follow the Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American Resource Center on Instagram and Facebook.

Attend one of the APIDA Resource Center’s upcoming programs.

Donate to the APIDA Resource Center in support of its initiatives and provide basic needs support for students.

Attend a free bystander intervention and de-escalation training through Hollaback or Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ) Time and time again, we are finding ourselves repeating the phrase “hate has no place here,” it’s time we actually mean it and follow through.

We at The Daily Aztec will continue to amplify the voices and stories of Asian Americans in order to do our part in making a difference.

The President’s Lecture Series was meant to foster diplomacy, but was more like propaganda by

Brandon Balayan

STAFF WRITER

There are stark differences between promoting diplomacy and propaganda, and San Diego State seems to have difficulty discerning between the two.

On March 17, a President’s Lecture Series event was held in conjunction with the Charles W. Hostler

Institute on World Affairs, and they hosted Zhang Ping, the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles.

The Senior Director of the Hostler Institute, Nancy Nicholson, emphasized the Hostler Institute’s mission of letting the other side be heard in these discussions. However, this was anything but a discussion.

The event started with introductions by Professor Bruce Reinig and President Adela de la Torre before transitioning into Ping’s speech. Nicholson said Ping used his time to read a written speech by the Chinese Consulate team and answer questions regarding economic relations that were prepared beforehand.

There was no exchange of

dissenting ideas and the Zoom chat was closed.

The event was also held because it was relevant to the meeting on March 19 with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese officials in Alaska to discuss U.S.-China relations, according to a report by the Associated Press. Then on March 22, the U.S., Canada, Britain and European

Union imposed sanctions on two officials from Xinjiang in response to the region's human rights violations, according to a report

by Politico.

Ping spoke about the adversarial relationship between the U.S. and China, the tariff and sanction measures currently imposed see

ONLINE

Opinion

by Jermelle

Macleod

Have you ever looked at another person’s flaws and immediately dismissed, judged or condemned them when you’ve done the same thing, something similar to it or something of the same caliber?

The next time you want to pass judgment on someone, remember the following story taken from the key things we can do that Gospel according to Saint are more helpful than judgJohn. ing others.

The Pharisees, an an1. Understand you cient Jewish group that are not perfect clung to the Mosaic law If you don’t want to help with strictness, brought a your peers improve themwoman caught in an adul- selves or understand the terous act to Jesus while position they hold — no He was sitting in a temple matter the magnitude — teaching His followers.The the least you can do is Pharisees reminded Jesus recognize that you are not that the Mosaic law states perfect. that adultery is punished This may seem obvious through stoning. but far too many people — Wishing to test Jesus, the myself included at times — Pharisees asked Him what believe they are God’s gift He thought should be to earth and thus judge done. Jesus stooped to the and condemn others for ground and began writing their faults. on the ground with His The cure for this type of finger in silence. When the arrogance is to remember Pharisees questioned Him your own faults when you again, He stood up and wish to pass judgments on spoke, saying, “He who is someone, much like the without sin among you, let Pharisees did after being him throw a stone at her rebuked by Christ. first.” He then stooped In some way, I suspect down to the ground again you’ve done the same and continued writing with thing as the person you’re his finger. condemning. Take a moThe Pharisees, realizing ment and ask yourself if that they are not without you’ve ever had the intent sin, began to leave one by or the emotional capacity one starting with the old- in your heart to do what est. After some time went they’ve done. by, Jesus was left alone with 2. Understand the the adulterous woman. Je- other person sus stood up and asked her, After taking a look at “Woman, where are those yourself and realizing accusers of yours? Has no you’re not perfect, you can one condemned you?” do the next most produc“No one, Lord,” She said. tive thing instead of judging “Neither do I condemn people; try to understand you; go and sin no more,” them as a person.

Jesus replied.

I’m convinced a majoriWhile judging may make ty of problems with other you feel good for a little people stem from a lack while or give you a good of communication and unlaugh as you secretly get derstanding. I guarantee over your own faults, the the world would be less person you judged isn’t go- judgemental and we’d have ing to make a single change fewer people we consider in their life nor will you un- “enemies” or “the oppoderstand the situation that sition” if we could take a brought them to a fault in moment to stop and unthe first place. derstand whomever we I believe there are three wish to judge.

The Daily Aztec

by

Catherine Van Weele

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Graphic by Emily Burgess

On the other hand, true understanding doesn’t come from understanding the arguments of others, it comes from understanding a person’s heart, past and soul, which can only be accomplished through open, honest and loving dialogue.

Ask yourself: Am I able to communicate with my enemy and try to understand them?

Am I able to sit down and talk with somebody I wished to judge in a loving way?

Am I able to cast aside my own preconceived notions of the individual and who they are in order to understand them and their position?

3. Offer advice and help Once you truly understand the other person and why they are the way they are, you can offer to help them with their flaws.

Ultimately, how can you truly help someone you don’t understand on a deep level? You can try, but the advice may be shallow and fruitless.

Keep in mind, just because you offer advice and assistance doesn’t mean the person will take it, but it does mean you tried. If they don’t want your help, rejoice in the fact that you have a deeper understanding of another human being.

However, I would rather try and fail to help my fellow man than to judge, condemn and scorn them.

To conclude, ask yourself something: we live in an extraordinarily polarized and judgemental era — are you going to continue to contribute to the chaos, rage and turmoil we see see

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We have to create a healthy relationship with diet culture

You shouldn’t judge others STAFF WRITER

Graphic by Emily Burgess

are attempting to diminish this crime by writing headlines clarifying how the murderer’s motivations were actually based in sexism and not racism.

Does that make gunning down innocent citizens any less horrific and heart-wrenching?

Distinguishing the two erases the intersectionality of minority women, who are targeted because of both sexism and racism, not just one or the other.

The murderer, who does not deserve to be named, claimed he acted to prevent his sexual deviancy.That somehow these Asian women were tempting him sexually by trying to make an honest living at a spa.

For Asian American women, sexism and racism have always

March 24 - March 30, 2021 Editor: Trinity Bland

ONLINE

I have never gone on a diet before.

I love food far too much that I could never bring myself to restrict what I eat, even if dieting meant the possibility of attaining the highly coveted aspiration of thinness. At times, I have felt not being able to commit to a diet meant I had a lack of discipline and willpower to achieve what so many others have seemingly accomplished.

As I’ve grown older and have had time to reflect, I found that I am fortunate to have such a healthy relationship with food.

While food is something we should be able to enjoy without feeling guilty or ashamed, the $71 billion dieting industry wants you to think otherwise.

The toxic language and attitudes that surround eating has been all too normalized in our culture.

We demonize certain types of food because we have been conditioned to think that way. When we hear words like “fats”, “sugars'' or “carbs,” we immediately think these foods should be avoided. In reality, we need each of these food groups to sustain a healthy diet. If we have a cheat meal or cheat day, then we are supposed to double down on our diet for the rest of the week.

We label foods as “sinful” as if eating them indicates we have a moral deficiency.

We use words and phrases with positive connotations when describing diets.We will say that we are going on a “cleanse” or detox”. It makes it sound like we are ridding our bodies of this build of waste and toxins, but it’s just a more polite way to say we are restricting our food intake.

We label foods as “guiltfree” as a signal letting us know that we don’t have to feel bad about eating it. Some foods are called

“superfoods” or “miracle foods” because eating those are supposed to bring us to our weight loss goals faster.

Unhealthy eating habits have become so common that they go unnoticed in plain sight.

When people tell us that they only had a coffee for breakfast and that it was their only meal of the day, it doesn’t raise any warning flags because there’s a good chance that was our breakfast too. When people tell us they are on a diet, we don’t raise any concerns. Instead, they are congratulated -- and if their diet leads to weight loss, there is even more reason to celebrate.

On average, 17% of Americans, which equates to over 55 million people, are on a diet at any given time. For most people, the objective of their diet is to lose weight. With every new fad diet that comes out, the dieting industry tells us this is the next best thing we can do to shed that extra weight.

Some examples of popular fad diets right now are keto diets and intermittent fasting. One quick search on any mainstream diet will lead you to countless motivational before and after photos. The dieting industry wants you to believe this works.They want you to believe that you can achieve your dream body by following a diet for a few weeks and then keep the weight off.

The truth is diets don’t work in the long run. Most people regain the weight they lost a year after their diet. There are many factors that explain weight regain. One of the primary causes of weight regain is due to your metabolism slowing down as you reduce your food intake.

When you stop restricting your food intake, your metabolism remains at this see

ONLINE

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The Daily Aztec

Mundo Azteca

March 24 - March 30, 2021 Editor: Noé Sandoval

Continúa la pelea para la Justicia de la soldada militar, Vanessa Guillen por

Karina Bazarte

ASST. DE MUNDO AZTECA

A tan solo un mes de cumplir un año de la muerte de la soldado, Vanessa Guillén la pelea para su justicia aún sigue adelante.

Guillen de tan solo 20 años, fue asesinada en la base militar Fort Hood, en Killeen, Texas por un soldado especialista Aaron Robinson.

El 22 de abril 2020 era un día de trabajo común para Guillen. Muchos soldados vieron a Guillen entrar a la unidad de su trabajo pero nunca la vieron salir. La hermana de Guillen, Mayra Guillen presenció que algo terrible estaba pasando ya que Guillen siempre se comunicaba con ella por mensajes.

Gloria Guillen dijo que meses antes de que su hija Vanessa Guillen fuera ase-

sinada, ella estaba siendo acosada sexualmente por un sargento.

En la investigación, la llaves y cartera de Guillen fueron encontradas en el cuarto de armas. Pero nadie sabía dónde se encontraba. Al siguiente día muchos soldados vieron al soldado Roberson cargando una caja de toba hacia su camioneta.

Guillen no era la única desaparecida. Durante su búsqueda, el soldado Gregory Morales fue encontrado en una tumba cerca de la base Fort Hood. Morales tenía más de un año desaparecido y fue alistado como ausente sin permiso antes de ser encontrado.

Protestas tras protestas el caso de Guillen movió todas las comunidades. Actores como Salma Hayek, compartieron en sus redes sociales una fotografía

de Guillen y decía “Dónde está Vanessa Guillen?” pero era demasiado tarde.

En junio de 2020, Guillen fue encontrada sin vida en tres tumbas diferentes a lo largo del río León. Eso devastó mucho y sobre todo la familia Guillen.

Cecily Aguilar confesó que el soldado Robinson asesinó a Guillen en el cuarto de armas. Luego Aguilar ayudó a Robinson a desaparecer el cuerpo de Guillen.

En cumplimiento de la ley intentó arrestar a Robinson pero se quitó la vida con un arma.

El caso de Guillén motivó a muchos en compartir sus historia en las redes sociales con el hashtag #IAMVANESSAGUILLEN. La familia de Guillen se reunieron con el ex-Presidente Donald Trump para hablar sobre el acto I VA-

NESSA GUILLEN donde protegerán soldados de ser abusados sexualmente.

“Yo entiendo lo que le pasó a Guillen fue muy feo.

La militar falló en protegerla y pienso que el act I AM VANESSA Guillén cambiará muchas cosas. Esto es más que un acto en escrito en un papel la militar tiene que cambiar dentro y por fuera. Estamos para nuestros soldados y es nuestra responsabilidad,” dijo una soldado militar.

La familia Guillen espera que el Presidente Biden les ayude con el act I am Vanessa Guillen.

Recientemente, el cumplimiento de la ley se niega a realizar en video de los últimos momentos de Robinson al público. Natalie Khawam realizó un estado donde explica que la gente de los Estados Unidos necesitan saber la verdad.

La pelea por la justicia de Vanessa Guillen continua.

Courtesy of elle.com

El condado de San Diego abre Viejas Arena de SDSU como nuevo sitio de vacunación por

Noé Sandoval

EDITOR DE MUNDO AZTECA

El 21 de marzo, el condado de San Diego anunció que abrirá el estadio Viejas Arena de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego para que sea un sitio de vacunación para martes 23 de marzo.

Este nuevo sitio está disponible para estudiantes, profesores, y personal de SDSU. Además, está disponible para el público en general del condado de San Diego.

El sitio es una extensión de las vacunaciones dadas por el departamento de Servicios de Salud Estudiantil. El sitio del condado operará de martes a sábado, de 9:30 a.m. a 3:30 p.m. Las citas estarán disponibles para las personas elegibles a las fases de distribución.

El lunes, el presidente de la Junta de Supervisores, Nathan Fletcher, tuvo una

File photo

conferencia de prensa en Viejas Arena para anunciar la asociación del condado con SDSU. “La apertura de un sitio de vacunación sólido en este lugar conocido ofrece una expansión importante de nuestra capacidad no solo para administrar vacunas, sino para garantizar un enfoque basado en la equidad, para asegurarnos de que las comunidades que históricamente se han

quedado atrás y no han planes y procesos únicos implementados, aseguran su acceso a la salud pública ”, dijo el Supervisor Fletcher.

Además del nuevo sitio, el condado ha creado una programación de asistencia para la equidad de las vacunas, llamado El Proyecto SAVE en inglés. Este es un programa piloto creado para ayudar a vacunar a las personas en los grupos de

vacunas elegibles y más vulnerables a las complicaciones de COVID-19.

“El diez por ciento de las citas en este sitio se reservarán para el Proyecto SAVE. Este ha sido un programa exitoso que se relaciona con organizaciones comunitarias para llegar a las comunidades participantes y garantizar que tengan acceso directo al sistema ”, dijo el supervisor Fletcher.“Necesitan un compromiso directo de alguien que conozca la comunidad, que hable el idioma, que pueda responder a preguntas y problemas y que explique la importancia vital para la salud pública de vacunarse”.

El sitio ahora es uno de los 29 sitios supervisados por los sistemas de atención médica del condado y del área de San Diego, como UC San Diego Health, SHARP, Scripps.

Actualmente, el condado

con la ayuda de estas asociaciones ha administrado más de 1,4 millones de dosis a los residentes del condado de San Diego “Las comunidades que históricamente tienen el menor acceso a nuestros sistemas de salud normales tienen una manera apropiada culturalmente competente a través de mensajeros confiables para poder acceder a nuestra red de vacunas”, dijo el Supervisor Fletcher. "Estamos increíblemente agradecidos con la Universidad Estatal de San Diego, con nuestros socios comunitarios, con nuestros socios del sistema de salud y con todos los que nos han ayudado a unirnos".

La universidad continúa registrando los casos de COVID-19 en el campus y continúa ofreciendo pruebas para los estudiantes y personal de la universidad. see

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7 Sports No. 11 seed Syracuse upsets No. 6 Aztecs in first round of NCAA Tournament March 24 - March 30, 2021 Editor: Kyle Betz

by

The Daily Aztec

Amber Salas

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

INDIANAPOLIS— No. 6 seed San Diego State men’s basketball came into Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis knowing it had a tough test ahead of it with No. 11 seed Syracuse’s 2-3 zone defense, but what Syracuse threw their way was something the Aztecs ultimately couldn’t withstand. Quite frankly, they were baffled as they fell 78-62 in round one of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.

It was a bad night to have a bad night.

The Aztecs came into the tournament on a 14game win streak fresh off of winning the Mountain West Conference tournament championship. The Courtesy of 2021 NCAA Photos San Diego State men’s basketball senior forward Matt Mitchell guards Syracuse sophomore forward Quincy Guerrier during the Aztecs’ 78-62 loss to momentum was thought the Orange during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 19 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. to be with the Aztecs all the way, until Syracuse “I thought we played “We were trying to find who expected to make a tecs would miss a basshowed up going on an hard to the end,” head ways to attack it off the deep run after having the ket and the Orange kept 18-0 run that left the Azcoach Brian Dutcher said. dribble, off the pass, off opportunity taken away finding a way to get the tecs’ confidence running ball in Boeheim’s hands “We had a tendency of the high post and weren’t last year. out the door. maybe struggling to find successful at any of those “I’m extremely grateful where he made it nearMarch Madness is an offensive flow at times things because of their for this coaching staff for ly every single time, finknown for close games. but our defense always high quality defense, so giving me a chance com- ishing the night with 30 It’s especially known for keeps us in the game. But that’s a credit to Syra- ing out of high school,” points — only missing buzzer-beater shots that Schakel said. “We had a three 3-pointers going tonight, we let them cre- cuse.” send games to overate too much separation The season ended in lot of great memories 7-for-10. time, for games where and they played well of- the blink of an eye for over the years, and this Syracuse set an NCAA teams win by one point fensively. Obviously we the two four-year se- isn’t how we wanted to Tournament record for and these are all things struggled to shoot the niors — senior guard end it but in a couple days the most 3-pointers ever that have been seen this ball — their zone was Jordan Schakel and senior I’ll be able to look back scored in a game with 15 weekend. But the Aztecs forward Matt Mitchell — and be grateful. Right total. The Orange have very good. were simply blown out. now this one doesn’t feel Boeheim to thank for that. good.”

Boeheim passed his dad The Aztecs had a 15-10 and head coach Jim Boelead with 11:23 remaining heim for the most points in the first half, but even scored in an NCAA that lead wasn’t pretty. Tournament and curIt started with a missed rently ranks second for three from senior guard most 3-pointers scored Jordan Schakel, a missed by a Syracuse player in an three from senior Ter- NCAA Tournament game. rell Gomez and another The Aztecs’ defense, missed three from senior which has only allowed 60 forward Matt Mitchell. points per game (ranked The Aztecs held a lead 4th in the NCAA), was until there was 9:22 re- non-existent against Budmaining in the first half… dy Boeheim and allowed then Syracuse junior him to score 16 of the guard Buddy Boeheim Orange’s 19 first points. made a jumper.

As Boeheim continued And another... to make shot after shot, And another… the Aztecs were continuCourtesy of 2021 NCAA Photos Boeheim simply could San Diego State men’s basketball junior forward Nathan Mensah goes up for a layup during the Aztecs’ 78-62 loss to Syracuse during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 19 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. not be stopped. The Azsee ONLINE

8

Sports

The Daily Aztec

March 24 - March 30, 2021 Editor: Kyle Betz

Three observations: Volleyball takes down Boise State in five-set battle by

Megan Oytas

STAFF WRITER

San Diego State volleyball had a tough match set up for it on March 20 as it entered Bronco Gym to play Boise State, who was on a four-game winning streak and had an undefeated home record. But after a close match, SDSU broke Boise’s streaks and came out on top, 3-2.

The Aztecs (5-8) took down the Broncos (10-3) in five sets (25-20, 23-25, 25-21, 24-26, 15-13). The Scarlet and Black showed they have what it takes, as Boise now sit at second place in the Mountain West Conference. Not only that, but the Broncos had only played one other five-set match this season, which was a loss against UNLV. SDSU took early leads and was able to hang on

Courtesy of Derrick Tuskan, SDSU Athletics San Diego State volleyball senior libero Lauren Lee connects with the ball during the Aztecs’ 3-1 loss to Fresno State on Feb. 12 at Peterson Gym.

to them, including a pivotal moment in the fifth set where the Aztecs went on a five-point run to get a 9-4 lead. While Boise chipped away at the lead and tied it

at 13-13, a service error by the Broncos followed by a huge block by freshman outside hitter Heipua Tautua’a and senior right-side hitter Erin Gillcrist to win

the set and the game.

Head coach Brent Hilliard said the win gave the team the confidence boost it needed.

“We’ve had our ups and

downs and probably more downs than ups, so to be able to take down a team at their home place — where I think they’re undefeated — and they’re pretty high-ranked in the conference, it feels like we’re on the right track,” Hilliard said. “We have some players who are starting to develop to the point where I feel like they are close to competing to the top of the conference.”

Here are three observations from the match.

1. Big defensive plays The Aztecs came up with blocks to shut down the Broncos’ offense — an area where Hilliard said the team needed improvement.

“They were touching balls that seemed like the see

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Football spring practices postponed due to contact tracing by

Andrew Finley

STAFF WRITER

San Diego State football announced a second delay to the start of their spring practices last Tuesday.

After its original start date delay on March 15 because of poor weather conditions, the team’s second attempt at starting spring practices came to a halt due to COVID-19 contact tracing in the football program. The

spring practice schedule is expected to resume in the “coming weeks” and consist of 15 practices.

The news comes shortly after the announcement of the Aztecs’ 11game 2021 regular season schedule, which consists of two Pac-12 Conference and seven Mountain West Conference opponents.

With a disappointing season behind them and a shiny new schedule on

the horizon, head coach Brady Hoke is eager to get back on the field but is quick to acknowledge the importance of a healthy football program.

“The health and well-being of our student-athletes remains our top priority,” Hoke said in a press release. “The good news is that no student-athletes are part of the contact tracing. They will continue to work out and we will be able to have a com-

Photo by Kyle Betz San Diego State football associate head coach and running backs coach Jeff Horton walks around with a mask on during pregame warmups before the Aztecs’ 29-17 win over Colorado State on Dec. 5, 2020 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.

plete spring season.”

This pause of action is the first for the Aztecs since the COVID-19 pandemic started — even through 2020 summer camp and their shortened season. Hoke said it’s been a team effort regarding due diligence to follow COVID-19 protocols.

“I have said on several

occasions how proud I am of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and university officials on how they have been able to navigate these unusual times,” Hoke said. “At the appropriate time, I look forward to starting spring practice and beginning our on-field work toward our 22nd championship.”

Photo by Kyle Betz San Diego State football then-senior offensive lineman Jalen Booth shakes Brady Hoke’s hand during the team’s Senior Night festivities before the Aztecs’ 29-17 win over Colorado State on Dec. 5, 2020 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.

Arts & Culture Review: Benny Butcher’s “The Plugs I Met 2” March 24 - March 30, 2021 Editor: Devin Whatley

knack for finding a plug.

Musically, Benny lets his producers act as his plugs.

The corner of Genesee The beats act as the unStreet and Montana Ave- cut product, while Benny’s nue in Buffalo, New York lyrics are the fork that he is no tourist attraction. A mixes the product with. rugged patch of concrete Last October, Benny down the street from a used this formula to creLutheran Church and a ate magic with Hit-Boy food distribution center on “Burden of Proof,” his has morphed into one of second commercial album. the most daunting corners With his new extended discussed over a beat. This play “The Plugs I Met II”, is because it was, and still Benny the Butcher teams is Benny the Butcher’s ter- up with Harry Fraud and ritory. brings back this formula Benny put in serious to deliver a musical return work on this corner, and to the corner that created he is not gonna let anybody The Butcher. forget. From hand-to-hand Benny and Harry have drug deals to shootouts, obvious chemistry. HarMontana Avenue remains ry bolsters Benny’s pasBenny’s domain. sionate verses with an He has since left the assortment of dynamic, corner and now inhabits a sample-heavy beats. Fraud studio booth instead. His creates a variety of moods approach to the streets as well, ranging from agand the beats are defined gressive to ruminative to by one thing: Domina- celebrative. tion. While on the streets, The first track, titled Benny did this through his “When Tony Met Sosa” feaby Jacob

Sullivan

STAFF WRITER

tures a beautiful, vibrant saxophone sample. Benny’s appearance in this song reflects on his ascent to rap stardom and how it was a long road. Making statements like “Been a young legend, I caught flashes in ‘06. /” The next track is “Overall,” which includes a perfectly fit posthumous feature from Queens rapper Chinx that Harry pulled out of his vault. “Overall” is a braggadocious banger with Benny rapping as if he just had a smooth meeting with his plug. He fills the song with witty bars like “Who went from whippin' soft Os to late night talk shows? (Me) / Y'all gettin' frail, I gеt the mail in Dior robes. /” Later, he dubs himself the hood Bill Gates and “Mister ExtraTwelve-Grams-On-EveryTwenty-Eight.”

On “Live By It,” Benny raps over a sinister beat featuring a relentless piano

The Daily Aztec

9

mentioned features Fat and even more relentless lyrics. Benny’s flow is as ef- Joe, backed instrumentally with an infectious flute and fortless as his misdeeds on some hard-hitting drums. the track. He raps about The next track, “No Ingiving guns to children, structions” has Benny using women to score in peak form once again, robbery information, and disguising himself as a de- gracefully flowing over an ominous beat. His lyrics livery man in order to rob detail his street life, somesomeone.

As he finishes the sec- thing Benny approached with tenacity. Some inond verse, Benny switches sights about his time on up his flow to close out Montana Avenue can be the ruthless track, rapping “Leave your head swol- heard, like “My hood make len with what I'm holdin' your block look like the (Uh) / This one on me way Virgin Islands.” His sins on from Texas, reported sto- Montana Ave. detail a man who serves a half a brick len. / Go and get a gun and start buyin' some jewelry. / “with kindness”.

Benny enlists the help If you too shook to cope, of French Montana and then just hire security, ah.”

“Plug Talk” and “Talkin’ Jim Jones for the seventh Back” both feature atmo- track, “Longevity.” The lyrical content sees all three spheric samples that set the tone for each track. going in about the importance of understanding life The former makes use of as a marathon, not a sprint.

Yoshiko Sai’s 1977 song “Taiji No Yume” and in- The chorus is the best example of this, with lyrics cludes Benny and 2 Chainz rapping about their former hustling days. The latter see ONLINE

Former President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen collaborate on new Spotify podcast by

Trinity Bland

OPINION EDITOR

Former President Barack Obama and legendary rock musician Bruce Springsteen have a podcast together on Spotify. “Renegades: Born in the USA” was launched in late February and will span over the course of eight weeks with eight episodes.

In “Renegades,” Obama and Springsteen, who first met in 2008 on the presidential campaign trail and struck up an unlikely friendship, discuss race, fatherhood, marriage and the future of America.

"On the surface, Bruce and I don't have a lot in common. He's a white guy from a small town in Jersey.

I'm a black guy of mixed race born in Hawaii. He's a rock and roll icon. I'm not as cool," Obama said in a video promoting the podcast. “In our own ways, Bruce and I have been on

parallel journeys.”

Following The Michelle Obama Podcast, the new series is the second podcast project available exclusively on Spotify from Higher Ground, the production company launched

by Obama alongside wife and Former First Lady Michelle Obama after leaving the White House.

Spotify revealed the plan for “Renegades” at its Stream On virtual presentation on Feb. 22, announcing that the first two episodes are available to both its paid and free users.

The former President and classic rock icon bonded over what Obama describes in the podcast's first episode as “a shared sensibility” about life, including work, family and America. Obama, in the introduction to the first episode, mentions both he and Springsteen have been “trying to chronicle the stories of its peo-

ple” in the way they each have attempted to look for a way to “connect their own individual searches for meaning and truth and community with the larger story of America.”

Fans will be in for a treat as they recorded the eight-episode podcast over a few days holed up in a converted farmhouse-studio stocked with dozens of guitars and at least one bottle of whiskey, on the grounds of Springsteen’s home in Colts Neck, New Jersey.

In a bit of off-the-cuff exchange at the beginning of the first episode, Springsteen asked Obama how he wanted to be addressed during the podcast recording.

“Barack, man. C’mon, dude,” The former president answered.

The goal of “Renegades” is to establish the world’s new access to such intimate and unfiltered dia-

logue — just a couple of buddies, sitting around and enjoying each other’s company. Obama speaks in a casual timbre and occasionally, Springsteen picks up a guitar to strum some chords or sing a song.

With this, there is a special and specific natural ambiance that welcomes people from all walks of life to feel right at home listening.

After four years of the nauseating Trump administration, in the middle of a global pandemic, in the aftermath of George Floyd, it is difficult to imagine who exactly the audience is. Why was this podcast made? Why was it made now? There are those who were disappointed by Obama’s low profile during the Trump era and perhaps perplexed as to why “Renegades” is premiering now rather than in 2017 when its comfort food might have been more welcome.

From the first episode in

which Obama and Springsteen both discuss why they felt like outsiders as kids in their own respective right to how their views on finances have changed over the years, the show has its charms.

These two are undoubtedly likable guys, who can be exciting to listen to if the conversation is relevant to a rainbow of people, which “Renegades” wholeheartedly is.

In an effort to foster healthy dialogue about race, Springsteen talks about his decades-long partnership with his integrated E Street Band and the central importance of late saxophone colossus Clarence Clemons while Obama reflects upon his friendship with John Lewis.

Many experiences shared between the two run parallel in the different themes discussed in “Renegades.” see

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10 T

he

Daily Aztec

Arts & Culture

March 24 - March 30, 2021 Editor: Devin Whatley

Review: 'Snyder cut' delivers on its promises by

Nicholas Ebadat

STAFF WRITER

The director of “Watchmen” and the first two movies of DC comics’ live-action movie universe, Zack Snyder, released his unaltered vision of the movie “Justice League” four years after its theatrical release.

After the tragic suicide of his daughter during production of the film, Warner Bros. Studios replaced Snyder at the helm with Joss Whedon, director of Avengers, to finish the film for its then slated arrival.

As the original was a clear Frankenstein’s monster of the two directors’ ideas, the movie performed terribly at the box office and fans took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with how their heroes’ live-action debuts were treated. The hashtag #ReleaseTheSnyderCut

was trending on Twitter multiple times with support from the actors of the film and the studio responded after three years with an announcement of the movie slated for a March 18 release on HBO Max. The film has a runtime of about four hours and is divided into eight parts, reportedly using only footage that Snyder shot himself and none of Whedon’s reshoots.

“Zack Snyder’s Justice League” is a film that was made for fans, but also provided scenes integral to a more palatable and epic plot for the average viewer. Most elements that worked from the first release were brought up in scale to make for better action, but the film contains minor pacing issues and awkward character moments that feel like an effect of minimal or poor

judgment in editing.

In comparison to the original, the Flash and Cyborg received much-needed introductions and had many more moments to showcase their abilities and characterizations that were neglected in the theatrical release.

Ray Fisher as Cyborg was a major part of why the movie worked this time as he gives the audience a reason to feel for our heroes. He is portrayed as the only league member to have had a mostly normal life as a tech-savvy college football quarterback, and circumstances drop a world of responsibility and trauma on his metal shoulders. In addition, the extent of his power is established in an engaging way while also displaying his admirable compassion for others.

Ezra Miller as the Flash was also given an intro-

duction that shared more about the character than we originally received. A scene introduced a Barry Allen that is so much faster than the average person that he consequently comes off as socially inept.

This creates some comedic interaction between citizens but when faced with his love interest, Iris West played by Kiersey Clemons, his actions and use of his abilities come off as a creepy breach of personal space instead of the intended act of affection.

However, other scenes featuring the Flash peppered throughout the movie were testaments to Snyder’s ability to create unique and visually stunning effects that belong on the big screen. Super speed has been displayed in live-action movies twice before, but he was able to present it in an epic way that sets the Flash apart.

The alternate use of effects by Snyder made for a much better presentation of the conflicts’ weight. Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman received much better treatment as less emphasis was placed on her bitterness from the loss of a man and more on her as a badass Greek warrior. Ben Affleck’s Batman was less of a tired old man for comedic relief and more like the gadget-using enforcer that we began to appreciate. The main villain, Steppenwolf, felt less like a groveling side boss who is in over his head and more like the precursor for the end of days. The recurring appearance of Darkseid and nightmarish possibilities created excitement that the original could barely hint at. Lastly, we get a league in which every member has a part in see

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Inside The Tape: Doja Cat goes back to the “Streets” in latest music video by

Evelyn Martinez

CONTRIBUTOR

On March 8, Amala Diamini, better known as singer/songwriter “Doja Cat,” released her latest music video “Streets,” from her popular second studio album “Hot Pink.”

The song initially gained popularity on social media app TikTok, where users turned it into a dance trend.

This new music video, which was released on Youtube, accentuates women’s empowerment in a previously male-dominated society, and strikes back at the popularized phrase: “She belongs to the streets.”

Within the video, Doja Cat captivates, seduces and captures a man.

Throughout the scenes, it becomes evident this man wasn’t the first. In the end, Doja returns to the streets, defying the misogynistic

implications behind the phrase.

The phrase “She belongs to the streets” is another way of labeling a woman as promiscuous. It’s a manner of saying that a woman who is overtly sexual is unsuited to be a girlfriend or wife and she belongs elsewhere. In her music video, Doja owns the streets and in the end, she goes back for more.

The opening scene is set at night on a busy street. A taxi driver is stuck in traffic when a mannequin in a well-lit display window catches his eye. Doja is the mannequin, dressed in a modest black gown. Once she catches his attention she comes to life and the light in the display window transforms to a crimson red. Doja’s now in lingerie and all that’s seen through the glass window is her silhouette.

The red lighting and Doja’s lingerie are strikingly

Graphic by Emily Burgess

similar to the concept of the windows of the Red Light District in Amsterdam. According to the magazine Traveller and Senay Botaz, the place is famous for its red-light windows, where prostitutes stand to be stared at by pedestrians who often pay for their services.

Whether or not the similarity in the design was on purpose, there’s no doubt

that Doja is alluding to her sexuality in the scene just as the women in the Red Light District do.

The taxi driver is now in the display window with her as she dances for him. Well actually, on him.

Flames ignite the transformation to the next scene where Doja is surrounded by zombie-like men who crawl out of the ground for her. With their mouths

agape and eyes glazed, they appear to be under her spell.The taxi driver makes his way out of the crowd to approach Doja. He’s captured once again, this time by her web.Yes, a web.

Doja, now a spider, crawls all over him as he still appears to be captivated by her.

According to JSTOR Daily and James MacDonald, a spider’s web is meant to attract prey, not capture them. Doja evidently worked to attract the attention of the taxi driver before she caught him in her web. She’s a pro at this.

The scene is altered again. This time, she is in a home dressed as a housewife with her head resting on the taxi driver’s (presumably her husband’s) lap. This scene defies the long-held notion of the phrase, “She belongs to the streets.” In opposition see

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