The Daily Aztec 4/21/2021

Wednesday, April 21 - Tuesday, April 27 Weekly Digital Edition

Vol. 107, Issue 23 www.thedailyaztec.com

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

Derek Chauvin found guilty San Diego streets alive with marchers

Photo by Brenden Tuccinardi

Katelynn Robinson & Brenden Tuccinardi by

The streets of San Diego were filled with music, honking, and the noise of celebration today. The nation breathed a collective sigh of relief.

On April 20, former Min-

neapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin was found guilty of all three charges in the murder of George Floyd.

Chauvin was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second degree manslaughter, all of which he pled not guilty.

Water polo wins final home game, advances to Golden Coast tournament by

Alexa Oslowski

PHOTO EDITOR

San Diego State water polo played its final home game at the SDSU Aquaplex against No. 17 California Baptist University on April 17, securing a 16-9 victory and a spot as a No. 2 seed in the upcoming Golden Coast Conference Championship tournament.

The team also honored the eight seniors, utility Emily Bennett, driver Karli Canale, defender Lucia Carballo, driver Dani

D’Andrea, center Haley Hagerty, utility Maddie Higginson, attacker Rory Nuuhiwa and driver Lindsy Peterson in a pregame ceremony.

The seniors went on to score 10 of the team’s 16 points, with Bennett leading the team in scoring with five goals.

Bennett scored the first goals of the game at the 5:55-minute mark in the first period, and Cal Baptist quickly answered back to take a 2-1 lead. HowevPOLO see page 3

This verdict comes almost a year after George Floyd’s murder on May 25.

The specifics of Chauvin’s sentence will be decided in the following weeks. He faces up to 40 years in prison for the most severe charge which is second degree murder.

California State University Chancellor Joseph Castro released a statement shortly after the verdict was announced.

“As your chancellor, I want every African American student, faculty, staff, alumnus and family member to know that I stand alongside you

today and everyday,” Castro wrote.

“Like so many others, I am relieved that the jury found Mr. Chauvin guilty on all counts, and I hope this action will provide George Floyd’s family with some MARCH see page 3

Opinion: Why you should get the vaccine

Photo by Katelynn Robinson

by

Sara Rott

STAFF WRITER

It's been a year since what's felt like the world has shut down, a pandemic struck and barriers prevented us from going about our daily lives.

Now we have two vaccine options (three once the

safety of Johnson & Johnson is confirmed), none of which will stop COVID-19 but will bring us one step closer to normalcy.

Don't be fooled by that word, our world has been forever changed by this global pandemic, and I believe we will never truly return to the way things were before.

The news publicizes the side effects the COVID-19 vaccine cause because they want us to be aware of what could happen.

Focusing on the benefits of vaccination because COVID-19 has had a perVACCINE see page 3

2

News

The Daily Aztec

April 21 - April 27, 2021 Editor: Jadyn Brandt

Study abroad suspended through summer by

by

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

MARCH:

continued from page

Brandon Balayan

STAFF WRITER

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solace – a measure of relief that justice has been served in this tragic case,” Castro said.

San Diego State sent an email expressing the university’s solidarity and support of the verdict.

“We must work through love, and we need always to come together through kindness,” the email said.

“We are working against centuries of deeply-seated systemic racism.”

The email continued and listed events in the upcoming weeks that will be put on by various SDSU clubs and organizations.

President Adela de la Torre tweeted, “I am pleased that a verdict has been rendered in the Chauvin trial today.

This is just the beginning of overdue justice. Now is our time, and it has long been our time, to strengthen our bridges and move forward, together, to create a better

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 Photo by Alexa Oslowski The SDSU International Student Center is home to the study abroad offices. Prior to the pandemic students would visit in order to learn more about study abroad programs.

until more people are vaccinated and COVID-19 case numbers significantly decrease.

“Because I don’t know how other countries are doing with administering the vaccine, it seems a bit insensitive to travel and open up study abroad programs,” nursing sophomore Sathya said. “Even if

I or the students in these programs are vaccinated, we could possibly spread COVID to other people in other nations...So I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable traveling even though I want to.”

Sathya said she is currently enrolled in a class that offers a virtual study abroad program over the

summer, which is one of the methods SDSU claims will help students feel connected internationally despite not being able to physically travel.

“The university also continues to offer global education via many virtual classes and academic pro-

and more equitable society.”

On Tuesday evening, two groups marched through Downtown celebrating the verdict. However, organizers and marchers said their work is far from over.

“As we March throughout these streets it’s okay to be happy,” an organizer from Unity Runners told marchers before they started out on the route. “For me as a black woman it (the verdict) was bitter sweet.”

The group walked from 800 B Street to Waterfront Park and back.Along the way, a second group organized by We Stand United SD joined, eventually splitting off and heading back to the San Diego County Administration building, dispersing at 9 p.m.

This was the second day of protests in San Diego in the same week.

On Saturday, April 17 a group of approximately 200 protesters gathered in Downtown San Diego to show their support for the family of Daunte Wright,

Adam Toledo and the Black Lives Matter movement.

The protest was organized

by Black women and although the movement supports BLM they announced they were not associated with BLM San Diego.

Daunte Wright was a 20-year-old black man who was pulled over in Brooklyn Center on April 11. Officers pulled him and his girlfriend over for driving with expired tags, authorities said.

When Wright refused to get out of his car Officer Kimberly Ann Potter pulled out her gun, yelled “taser, taser, taser,” but then proceeded to fire her gun. The shot killed Daunte Wright. His girlfriend was in the passenger seat and his mother was on the phone with him.

Details about the warrant for his arrest have not been released.

Protests took place across the country on April 17 in the cities of Chicago, Denver and Portland.

Most notably a protest of thousands took place in

Minnesota to demand justice for 13-year-old Adam Toledo who was shot and killed by a Minnisota police officer on March 29. The officer was responding to a shots fired alert, when he chased Toledo on foot. Toledo is seen walking with Ruben Roman who is believed to have fired the shot that alerted the police. On body camera footage Toledo can be seen dropping a pistol and putting his hands in the air as directed by Officer Eric Stillman in the seconds before his death.

Despite today’s long-awaited justice, the movement is far from over, marchers said.

“As we March through these streets please remember the lives of those taken by police that did not receive justice. There are so many names,” a marcher said. “Also, think of all the names that will be on this list.”

Karina Brazarte contributed reporting.

see

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The Daily Aztec

3

Biden anticipated to recognize Armenian Genocide

Patrick Doyle

As COVID-19 vaccinations continue to roll out around the world with varying success, San Diego State has confirmed that all faculty-led study abroad programs will continue to be suspended through the summer.

While there is no word on when these programs will resume beyond the summer, the university said that “students can expect additional opportunities to become available as state, county and international public health guidance continues to evolve.”

The university also reiterated that study abroad graduation requirements, such as for the Weber Honors College, continue to be waived for the foreseeable future, but offered no word on when the waiver would end.

Many students who are required to study internationally to graduate hope the waiver stays in effect

News

April 21 - April 27, 2021 Editor: Jadyn Brandt

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 Jason Freund Ryan Hardison STAFF WRITERS Brandon Balayan Jermelle Macleod Sara Rott Jacob Sullivan CONTRIBUTORS Alexis Casas 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

It was April 24 in Yerevan, Armenia, and Mika Melikyan was with three of his other 7th grade classmates at the city’s Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial. The memorial is made of two parts. First, 12 inwardly slanted stones overlooking an eternal flame, which represents the mourning in memory of the 1.5 million victims.

Second, a tall monolith representing rebirth from those atrocities.

Like this monolith, Melikyan and his classmates were grounded and standing in solidarity for those lost, but represent another generation that has been raised out of the atrocities in 1915.

In 2015, the SDSU sophomore and his family won the Green Card Lottery and immigrated to the United States, whose Congress has recognized the genocide since 2019.

However, since President Ronald Reagan mentioned the Armenian genocide in a proclamation that commemorated the Holocaust, other presidents have been reluctant to use the word “genocide.”

With the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approaching on April 24, many are hoping for President Joe Biden to fufill his campaign promise and recognize the systematic killing of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians and other Chris-

tians in 1915 as a genocide.

Brief History of the Armenian Genocide The Armenian Genocide is commemorated on April 24 because in 1915 the Ottoman government arrested and later murdered hundreds of Armeninan intellectuals in Istanbul, according to the Auchwitz Institute. This escalated into mass deportations of Armenians and the killing of about 1.5 million people.

What makes this a genocide is the intent by the Ottoman government.

At the time, the Committee of Union and Progress, also known as the Young Turks, was the ruling party of the government.

The intent of their government was to homogenize the Ottoman Empire, to deport and annihilate Armenians and to seize the property of those killed or deported.

UCLA’s Armenian Student Association President Arman Antonyan has ancestors who were killed in the Genocide. His maternal ancestors were originally from the Erzerum and Kars provinces in Eastern Turkey, some of the many regions where genocidal policies took place.

There were two main pillars of homogenization policies within the Ottoman Empire: first, the cleansing of the Empire’s non-Mulsim population, who were seen as a “cancer” of the region, and second was assimilation.

The policies were accom-

Photo courtesy of Mika Melikyan The Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan, Armenia honors the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.

plished by mass deportations, death marches, massacres, changing names of cities and forced conversion of religion, according to The Young Turks’ Crime Against Humanity.

The seizure of property was another element of the Armenian Genocide.

According to an article published by the Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies, the Young Turks had Liquidation Commissions that had the responsibility of confiscating all money, goods and property taken from deportees.

They would also ask banks and individuals for the accounts and properties left behind. The commissions would later sell all these belongings in public auctions.

The evidence that proves these events as genocide includes numerous academic journals, eye wit-

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Photo courtesy of Mika Melikyan

ness testimonies and even telegrams from the perpetrators themselves.

On July 12, 1915, Talaat Pasha, the political leader of the Ottoman empire, sent a telegram to Reshid Bey, the governor of the Diyarbekir province about the plan to massacre Christians, according to The Young Turks’ Crime Against Humanity.

“In recent days massacres have been planned of the Armenians in the province, as well as other Christians without any differentiation,” Talaat said.

Talaat’s words were his bond. Christian men, women and children were killed without differentiation all throughout the Eastern provinces of the Ottoman Empire.

Then in August 29,1915, Talaat sent another telegram to the province of Ankara admitting that such crimes had been committed.

“The Armenian question in the Eastern provinces has been resolved,” Talaat said. “There’s no need to sully the nation and the government[‘s honor] with further atrocities.”

By the end of 1922, the genocidal policies enforced by the CUP reduced the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire from about 2 million to 400,000 according to a report by The New York Times.

Given the history of

the Genocide, recognition would impact people in different ways. Whether it be the ancestors of survivors or U.S.-Turkish relations.

Impact of Recognition in the United States Whether the Armenians one knows is a celebrity or working at your local market, these people outside of Armenia are a part of the diaspora. Many ended up where they are now not because they voluntarily chose to do so, but because their ancestors were forced to aimlessly walk to their deaths during the Genocide.

The United States is one of these destinations of refuge.

According to a paper published by UC Santa Barbara, there are about 1.5 million Armenians living in the United States, second to Russia which has 2.3 million.

Naturally, Armenians would want the country they are living in to recognize a significant part of their history. Congress accomplished this when the House and Senate voted in favor of a resolution that makes genocide recognition and commemoration an official policy of the United States.

The Trump administration later commented that the congressional action did not reflect their adsee

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Opinion

The Daily Aztec

April 21 - April 27, 2021 Editor: Trinity Bland

Traditions should be valued, not ignored

by Jermelle

STAFF WRITER

Macleod

“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.”

— Gustav Mahler The word “tradition” has an extraordinarily negative connotation to it. Tradition is associated with two things a majority of people fear most: an establishment of hierarchy and a strict set of rules.

I believe tradition is a guide, not a jailor.

Tradition is the wisdom and practices of those who came before you that have been passed down from generation to generation.

However, I am not so naive as to say every tradition is just and needs to be followed.

While, there have been countless barbaric and horrendously harmful traditions throughout history such as human sacrifices, slavery, and rapes, I do not endorse the following of societal traditions.

Societal traditions, especially in the modern era, are not traditional in the humanitarian sense

VACCINE:

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sonal and profound impact on me. Despite the fact that the virus has shown us so many negative things, I believe we should look on the bright side.

Safety The number one priority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) number is to serve as the nation's health protection agency. They ensure that all three of the vaccines are safe. They also list out all possible side effects that could happen and list all vaccine sites they keep you 15 minutes after to make sure that you don't have any negative reactions.

Hugs Okay, I have certainly missed hugging people. Get-

Graphic by Emily Burgess

of the word, as they promote the good of whoever makes the rules rather than the good of humanity.

The ground rule for following a tradition or a set of traditions should be whether or not the traditions in question are founded on love and respect for humanity as a whole as well as its advancement and don't physically harm anyone.

If a tradition is founded on anything other than the respect and value that

each individual deserves, it is no longer a tradition.

It is a tragedy.

Beyond the imagined authoritarian stronghold on the lives of individuals that most people imagine, tradition can take many forms. I believe that there are three types of traditions that are especially important and poignant to the development of a well-rounded person, whether through immersion in the tradition or simply investigating and

acknowledging it.

Religious Tradition Religious tradition is exactly what it sounds like; a tradition based around a particular practice of faith and worship. These traditions depend on the specific guidelines and rules established by the religious authorities, which are usually based on a specific story and text.

If you are religious then you should adhere to your religious traditions with strictness, sternness and

ting fully vaccinated gives that greater chance of hugging people close to you.

After a year without them, I think it can be said for all of us that we need a hug.

Building a protection The main purpose of a vaccine is to alert your immune system of the virus. This trains your immune system to create antibodies to prevent us from getting sick. It is no different than receiving the flu shot we get annually.

Reunions If like me, you haven't seen the people you love in almost a year then imagine the possibility of it. According to the CDC, you can gather with people without masks if you are fully vaccinated.

Lowering the risk Although we are not getting rid of COVID-19 fully,

what we are doing is lowering the chance of getting the virus and spreading it.

It would provide peace of mind knowing the people you are around are vaccinated and safe.

Don't believe the rumors You are not going to grow a third arm.The government is not planning on inserting microchips into our bodies.

The vaccine is not going to turn you into an alien or give you COVID-19. Make sure you are getting all your information off of CDC themselves or reliable websites.

We can live again We might need to wear masks for the rest of the year and it’s a measure we should take if we want to go back to our daily life. After being trapped inside, I think all of us realized how great

it would be to experience things we always took for granted. Going to school, seeing our grandparents or even leaving the house.

Perks There are perks to being vaccinated. We all like being rewarded and places around us are doing just that to help encourage vaccinations.

Krispy Kreme donuts are offering a free donut for showing your vaccination card.

Uber and Lyft are offering free or discounted rides to and from vaccination centers. Landini’s Pizzeria in Little Italy, those who get a COVID-19 vaccine will be able to purchase $1 slices of pizza every Tuesday in April.

I have been fully vaccinated and can assure you that side effects are not as they seem.

You might have a sore arm

an uncompromising will to maintain the traditions handed down throughout generations unless an authoritative figure in the religion says otherwise, and even then, you should be wary if you are told something untraditional.

If by chance you are irreligious, I implore you to consider the wisdom contained in religious texts.

In the modern era, an uncanny amount of individuals are looking to religious figures for wisdom, but refusing to buckle down and commit to what they believe is right. Religious texts were not written just for their time, they were written to be applicable for all time.

Ethnic Tradition Regardless of what you are told, you should be proud of your ethnic background and embrace the traditions that come from it. Immerse yourself in your culture and be willing to share it with others if they are curious.

Every ethnicity has something unique and beautiful about its culture to contribute to the see

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but it varies among the people who get it. Some people have told me that getting the vaccine was an easier experience and less painful than receiving a flu shot.

Others have said they felt really tired and sluggish the next day.

Currently, everyone should be eligible to receive the vaccine. Check the county website to find out more information.

All in all, we can gain the chance to save more lives with this vaccine, getting this vaccine can mean so much to specific people and we can gain the chance to save more lives with this vaccine.

As Derek Shepherd so optimistically says before starting any surgery in Grey’s Anatomy, “It's a beautiful day to save lives.”

Opinion

April 20 - April 27, 2021 Editor: Trinity Bland

The Daily Aztec

5

Marvin Gaye’s revolutionary impact on music can easily be heard today Ryan Hardison & Trinity Bland by

If called upon, an overwhelming majority of Americans would likely recognize their country’s national anthem.

Not really by choice as the sluggish and stagnant tune of “The Star-Spangled Banner” is programmed into our brains through class assemblies and professional sports games before we even realize what its words represent.

Plus, in the immortal words of Vince Staples, it doesn't even slap.

In spite of this, there have been more than a few iconic renditions of this ballad. Whitney Houston unsurprisingly belted a powerful version at Super Bowl XXV

in 1991. Luther Vandross, Jennifer Hudson and even Fergie (though she’s more known for messing it up) have tackled the nation’s musical symbol.

However, the night when Francis Scott Key’s song truly proved its merit was at the 1983 NBA AllStar Game. At the center of L.A.'s Fabulous Forum, the astonished faces of the crowd and the arena’s beaming white rays mirrored off of Marvin Gaye’s Aviator sunglasses.

With his entrance, the game turned into a can'tmiss concert broadcast across the country. The crowd grooved with the thumping beat of his drum machine and absolutely lost their marbles, ensuring that everything following the song would play out much less impressive.

Graphic by Shalika Oza

This would be one of three magical nationally televised performances for Gaye in 1983 as he also made a wonderful final appearance on Soul Train and dazzled all the legends in his presence at the Motown 25 anniversary special. After releasing his final studio album

“Midnight Love” the year prior, these performances captured the essence of what first made him a fan favorite when his career began.

Throughout his career, Gaye released 25 studio albums, with much of his legacy defined by an illustrious run of albums from

the 1970s. He lived life in the vein of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. There was the pleasant and passionate Marvin Gaye, whose blissful public persona and legendary concoctions made him one of America’s treasured icons. There see

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In my skin: My experience with racism in TFM program by

Alexis Casas

CONTRIBUTOR

The negative associations that stain my skin more than my melanin have always been an existing reality present in my life. I’ve grown up in a world that is far from black and white but separated as such from centuries of slavery, racism, patriarchy, sexism, and many other power-hungry institutions. Growing up as an Afro-Latina, my race and gender have reiterated the systematic tones and languages spread by white men in our society. Therefore, the language used to describe centuries of pain that my ancestry has been subjected to and that my breathing kinship continues to be oppressed by, come to be announced with no reaction of surprise. The historical violence present then is just as prominent now. It is a notion shoved in my face just like many other Black

individuals and people of color. The Blackness of my skin and the dynamics that dwindle my being because of my race have never been so painfully harsh until I’ve sought higher education at San Diego State.

As an aspiring filmmaker in the Television, Film, and New Media program at San Diego State, an incident like Robert Jordan’s vile lecture is one that didn’t shock me, it only infuriated me. In a recent lecture, the professor stopped to emphasize assumptions often associated with African Americans in a tone that rejected any sensitivity. This lack of sensitivity is one that envelopes the TFM program as a whole. As this incident isn’t the first of its kind to exist in this department, or in this immensely white institution, his insensitivity spoke a loudness greater than his racially driven examples. It was a loudness that riveted through my bones like a sickening cold as the violence and lost lives of Black

men and women steadily fill this country by the hands of those in power. It is these same hands that live and breathe the like-minded association Professor Jordan enunciated about in his lecture.

During my time at SDSU, I’ve gone through countless incidents that have alienated me for my voice, my mind, and my worth. This is a perpetual reality of mine that I share with other people of color in both the TFM and Television, Theater and Film program, and beyond. As a member of Black Renaissance, a Black lead club that is passionate about making sure black representation is present within the projects and shows for both the Theatre and Film program on campus has finally made me feel included. This inclusion didn’t start though until my last year of college began.

Stories are magnificent ways to spread and share different worlds and passions amongst a vast audience. Since elementary school, I’ve dreamed of

telling stories as fantastical as the blue-eyed, blondehaired characters that bombard our books and screens.

I’ve wanted to tell my own stories that depict the lives of nappy-headed, brownskinned, Spanish-speaking, vagina-havin’, oriental, queer, and everything contrary to this Western fascination that

has pushed to silence these narratives. The film department seemed like the best place to be, as the influence amongst screens resembles a wildfire spread across our society.

To my dismay, the film department has only tried to see

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Photo courtesy of Alexis Casas

6

The Daily Aztec

Mundo Azteca

April 21 - April 27, 2021 Editor: Noé Sandoval

Columna: Amor en la universidad es posible by

Trinity Bland

OPINION EDITOR

En esta época del coronavirus, la cultura de las citas románticas en línea y aventuras rápidas que son la definición de amor de la sociedad han cambiado drásticamente.

Nosotros como estudiantes estamos tan acostumbrados a escuchar que el amor y las relaciones románticas sirven como una distracción. Los estudios han indicado que las relaciones durante la educación fueron problemáticas en términos de enfoque y logros, especialmente si algo va mal.

Parecería que la opinión común era que el romance en la escuela secundaria o la universidad era una idea terrible.

Piénselo — los maestros y los padres les dicen repetidamente a los estudiantes que las rela-

ciones y la educación simplemente no se mezclan.

El amor es una distracción, pero ¿hay realmente una base para esto? ¿O es algo que la gente dice para asegurarse de que sus hijos se conviertan en médicos?

Sin embargo, el amor tiende a provocar una amplia variedad de emociones que van más allá de proporcionar simplemente un estimulante escape de la realidad.

Equilibrar el romance, la educación y los desafíos que vienen para convertirse en adulto nunca es fácil. Sin embargo, muchos estudiantes que enfrentan un conflicto entre la vida social y una pandemia en lo cual se encuentran en una situación única, donde amar a otras personas nunca ha sido más crítico.

El amor se puede enfocar en describir el sen-

by

Graphic by Emily Burgess El romance durante los estudios no es imposble

timiento en sí o en esa persona que te da “mariposas”. Significa algo para todos,especialmente durante la universidad, cuando los estudiantes se encuentran en una etapa de transición de la vida.

Cada individuo está en un nivel diferente.

Algunos están emocionalmente disponibles y quieren algo serio.

Otras ni siquiera pueden comprender lo que significa ser consciente de sus emociones y esto asegura un mal resultado.

No vale la pena preocuparse porque este es el momento en el que aprendemos las lecciones de vida más importantes, particularmente sobre el amor y la intimidad.

Aunque es posible, las

Karina Bazarte

ASST. DE MUNDO AZTECA

El 15 de abril, el Comisario de Seguros de California, Ricardo Lara tomó su primer dosis de la vacuna Pfizer en Viejas Arena en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego. Ricardo Lar aes un graduado de SDSU y mostro su solidaridad de protegerse contra el coronavirus.

“SDSU es el lugar donde naci políticamente y donde comencé mi carrera de servicio publico” dijo Lara “Tambien es lugar para estudiantes de primera generación donde hay muchas oportunidades para nuestra comunidad” Ricardo Lara fue elegido como comisario de seguros en el estado de California en 2018 y es parte de partido político Demócrata. Anteriormente, él ha servido en la Assemblea Estatal de California en 2010, y fue

Photo por Karina Bazarte CA Comisario de Seguros y Graduado de SDSU Ricardo Lara recibe su primera dosis de la vacuna contra COVID-19

senador estatal en el Senado Estatal en 2012.

Lara es una gran influencia para los Latinos y para el es muy importante que los Latinos se tomen el tiempo para recibir su vacuna.

Lara llego en la mañana

The Daily Aztec

7

Devin Whatley

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

citas románticas durante estando en la universidad pueden ser más difíciles que las citas románticas fueron en la escuela secundaria porque todos son adultos jóvenes. La expectativa de saber como estar en una relación y saber lo que la pareja quiere pude ser see

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Ricardo Lara recibe la primera dosis de la vacuna contra COVID-19 como un mensaje para la comunidad latinx by

Sports Women’s soccer loses in heartbreak to New Mexico 3-2, Lobos win Mountain West Final

April 21 - April 27, 2021 Editor: Kyle Betz

al sitio y fue uno entre muchos que recibió su primera dosis ese dia. El estado de California expandió la elegibilidad la vacuna el 15 de abril para todos las personas de las edades de 16 y mayor.

Después de vacunarse,

Lara expresó e sus pensamientos sobre la vacuna.

“Es importante para mi no nomas por ser Latino y hijo de dos formalmente inmigrantes indocumentados de Mexico pero es para ser el ejemplo,” dijo Lara

La mayoría de los latinos han trabajado durante la pandemia para seguir contribuyendo a su familia haciendo los trabajadores esenciales y exponen sus vidas contra coronavirus.

Algunos Latinos seguen trabajado aunque esten enfermos para seguir contribuyendo a la economía.

Muchos latinos no han tenido los suficiente recursos para dejar de trabajar durante la pandemia debido a la responsabilidad de mantener el hogar.

“20% de la comunidad Latina ya tomaron la vacuna pero somos 56% de los casos, La comunidad Latina tiene los casos mas altos especialmente los hombres,” digo Lara.

Lara reiteró que la comunidad latino ha sido una gran parte de los trabajadores esenciales durante la pandemia.

“Tenía que regresar aqui see

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There’s a common saying that sports bring “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.”

At the UNM Soccer Complex in Albuquerque, the Mountain West Conference Final had all of it and then some.

After a game-tying goal with four seconds left in regulation, San Diego State women’s soccer (83) lost 3-2 in overtime to the University of New Mexico Lobos (10-1), denying them the Mountain West Conference title and ending their regular season.

In the 95th minute, UNM was able to get a ball on a crossing pattern inside the penalty box. Freshman goalkeeper Alexa Madueno was able to deflect it out but was forced off of her line.

The ball then found the feet of Lobos junior forward Jadyn Edwards, who knocked it in and punched New Mexico’s ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

The game was initially labeled by conference officials as a “cross-divisional match,” but the quality of play on the field from both teams was equivalent to a high-octane prize fight.

To start, SDSU brought out some high-pressure attacking tactics, which overwhelmed the Lobos in the early minutes of the game.

By running the tactic, the hope is to create quick goal-scoring opportunities, and the Aztecs got one to strike first.

In the 16th minute, sophomore forward Rachelle Elve tried to fire in a crossing pass junior forward Anna Toohey, who was matched up with a Lobos defender inside the penalty area.

The newly-minted Mountain West Newcomer of the Year was

Photo by Devin Whatley San Diego State women’s soccer junior forward Anna Toohey attempts to work her way around Fresno State defenders during the Aztecs’ 2-1 win over Fresno State on March 27, 2021 at the SDSU Sports Deck.

able to get UNM senior goalkeeper Emily Johnson off her line, and Toohey struck the ball in for a goal, giving SDSU an early 1-0 lead.

Five minutes later in the 21st minute, Lobos junior forward Alesia Garcia kicked the ball that knocked right into Madueno’s hands. However, she was unable to properly secure it, and UNM junior midfielder Cami Floth zipped in a shot for the game-tying goal.

In the 36th minute, the Lobos would strike again as Garcia was able to fire a pass across to Edwards for her first goal on the night, giving UNM a 2-1 lead it would take into halftime.

What was causing the lack of scoring for SDSU? Look no further than at three key areas – shots, possession and defense.

UNM held a 10-6 advantage over the Aztecs in shots. Those six shots in the first half for SDSU were one of their lowest shot totals on the season.

The Lobos also controlled most of the possession towards the latter part of the first half,

thanks in part to their ability to keep the ball on the final third of SDSU’s side of the field.

Defensively, the Lobos were not being challenged much as their offense kept the ball along the Aztecs’ final third of the field for a latter part of the first half. However, when the Aztecs did have opportunities, UNM swarmed SDSU with a “triangle” approach on defense – having multiple players back and applying pressure to deny angles.

One positive for the Aztecs on the backline was the defensive performance of senior defender Sarah Broacha, who had multiple deflections and clear-outs against UNM senior forward Gwen Maly and Garcia. Those plays prevented the Lobos from adding additional insurance goals in the game.

In the second half, the Aztecs would go scoreless for the next 44 minutes trying to find that game-tying goal.

By having the ball within the final third of SDSU’s side – the Lobos made it hard for the Scarlet and Black to convert some of-

fensive opportunities.

But, like head coach Mike Friesen has said previously, the Aztecs have taken up the motto as “road warriors” and finally cashed in on an opportunity in the 89th minute.

In sequence, Broacha cleared the ball out to find Frisch in the final third of UNM’s side of the field.

Frisch was able to force an SDSU corner kick opportunity with 12 seconds left on the clock.

As the time kept ticking, Toohey fired a ball in between the UNM defense and right past Johnson’s reach for the equalizer. After looking like the offense was stuck in a desert, “Toohey Time” came through once again for the Aztecs, tying the game and sending it to overtime.

In overtime, SDSU had a chance to take the lead, as Frisch earned a free kick opportunity inside of the 18-(yard line. As she lined up, the Lobos packed the goal and penalty box.

Frisch fired a shot, but it ended up being just a bit wide. Then, after Edwards’ goal in the 95th minute to win it, UNM students and

fans stormed the field in celebration.

In the end, SDSU was able to have a 6-4 advantage in the second half over the Lobos in shots, but it was not enough as UNM finished with 14 shots to the Aztecs’ 11.

Madueno matched Johnson in saves, with each of them having five total.

In one of the most unorthodox seasons in program history – where a fall season was postponed, phased workouts were prevalent and players received routine COVID-19 testing multiple times per week – the Aztecs finished just short of another Mountain West title and trip to the NCAA Tournament.

The program heads into next season with many unknowns – will the seniors return for an extra year?

Who transfers in? What does the freshman class look like? These questions will have answers as time goes on.

For now though, the team finishes another winning season, capped off with the West Division crown.

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Sports

The Daily Aztec

April 21 - April 27, 2021 Editor: Kyle Betz

Mountain West Conference championship, fundamentals a focus for Greg Bell in 2021

Photo by Kyle Betz San Diego State football senior running back Greg Bell makes a Hawaii defender miss during the Aztecs’ 34-10 win over the Rainbow Warriors on Nov. 14, 2020 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.

BY Jason Freund SENIOR STAFF WRITER When observing spring ball before the 2020 San Diego State football season, onlookers saw a swarm of running backs fighting for a starting job.

One man was held back.

A freak eye injury cost him his 2019 season and valuable practice time during camp.

Did that stop senior running back Greg Bell?

No. No, it did not.

Bell proceeded to rush for 637 yards on 113 carries (5.6 yards per rush) while finding the back of the endzone six times during the 2020 season.

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er, this was the last time that SDSU would be trailing the Lancers.

A goal by junior driver Delaney Binette with 2:38 left to play in the opening quarter put the Aztecs back in the lead 3-2.

SDSU went on an 8-0

He could’ve left after his senior season to the greener pastures of the NFL. Instead, Bell is back with his eyes on the greatest prize of them all: bringing a championship to The Mesa.

“I just think it’d be big to do it from my hometown,” Bell said. “A lot of people know me out here, and I think it’d be huge to do it out here for this school in San Diego.

So far, Bell has made up for the time he lost last season.While he is already an exceptional runner, the senior has been focusing on parts of his game that need improvement.

During a scrimmage last week, Bell made two

catches on 3rd and long situations to secure first downs.

While two catches may seem trivial, they didn’t go unnoticed by offensive coordinator Jeff Hecklinski.

During a media presser, Hecklinski revealed that Bell had been spending extra time working on his pass-catching ability.

“Greg, at times last year, would lose focus in the passing game,” Hecklinski said. “He’s really worked hard from what I’ve seen… he really does a nice job of catching the football and he’s really focused on improving his hands and improving himself in the passing game.”

scoring streak until the 4:19 mark of the second quarter, when Cal Baptist scored a goal to bring the score to 8-4. SDSU kept a strong lead throughout the first two quarters, and Nuuhiwa scored the final goal of the half to make the score 10-5 entering halftime.

The Aztecs started the third quarter strong, scor-

ing three goals in the first five minutes of gameplay.

The Lancers answered back to end the third quarter with back-to-back goals and were down 13-7 with one quarter of gameplay left.

The two teams failed to score in the first minutes of the fourth frame, but Carballo broke the silence at the 5:43 mark. The

Another aspect Bell has been working on during camp: blocking, which is something that can be overlooked by other running backs.

In a heavy-RPO system, it is imperative that a running back prepares himself for the possibility of the quarterback keeping the ball to make a pass.

When that happens, the back becomes either a check-down option or, in most cases, a blocker.

Hecklinski has already praised Bell for his work, but the senior has continued to fine-tune the fundamentals.

“Fundamentals are gonna get you through stuff

Lancers and the Aztecs then exchanged goals but it was too much for CBU to overcome.

Higginson would score the final point with just over a minute left of gameplay, adding insurance to the Aztecs’ lead over the Lancers. SDSU junior goalkeeper Raquel de Pinho led the game in saves, recording 12 over

like blocking,” Bell said.

“You can be fundamentally sound and it’s gonna make it easier to block people.”

The bond Bell shares with his fellow backs may be more important than any cut or any catch he will make as an Aztec.

The running backs aren’t just competing against each other for a starting spot — they want to make each other better through competition. Each back understands that to a T. “No one’s hating on each other and nothing like that,” Bell said. “If someone breaks off a long run, we’re congratulating that person… it’s a great (running back) room.”

the Lancers’ eight.

SDSU is currently on a four-game win streak after bouncing back from the 10-game losing streak that started their season. The Aztecs (7-13, 6-1 GCC) play in their first game of the Golden Coast Championships on Friday, April 23 against No. 3 seed University of the Pacific Tigers (9-5, 6-1 GCC).

Arts & Culture AB Samahan hosts virtual Filipino Cultural Night

April 21 - April 27, 2021 Editor: Devin Whatley

by

Catlan Nguyen

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

San Diego State’s Andrés Bonifacio Samahan – a Filipinx cultural organization on campus – hosted their first Filipino Culture Night online on April 17 featuring short student-made plays and cultural dances to portray both the struggles and highlights of Filipino American culture.

“This culture night is super important because our cultural night last year completely changed and couldn’t be performed fully due to the lockdown and pandemic,” modern dance choreographer Simon Homer said. “This FCN is different because we have a new hope about coming back (to in-person instruction) and it’s important to show our pride in our culture especially with everything going on in the Asian community.”

The Daily Aztec

The five dances and two short films displayed the joy and pride members of the Flipino community have towards their culture.

It also shows the identity conflicts Filipino immigrants and first-generation citizens experience.

AB Samahan Cooperative Cultural Affairs Coordinator EJ Ruelos said the intended goal of the event is to speak out about Filipino American issues in the Filipino community and to express how the Filipino American youth feel about these issues.

“Specifically, we’re highlighting the duality of being Filipino American, but coming to terms with those dual issues that we face,” Ruelos said. “Issues such as trying to live between two cultures and not really fitting into either.”

The event was made possible due to a group

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Courtesy of AB Samahan Photo Caption: A screenshot of one of many AB Samahan dance performances from Filipino Cultural Night.

of about 30 students consisting of choreographers, scriptwriters, acting directors, video editors, actors, singers and dancers, Ruelos said.

“My favorite part of being a dance director was seeing a lot of people come together to do this,” nursing first-year and dance director Angeline Paguia said. “We have this collective effort and collective

passion to really produce something amazing. Some of them have never danced before and we have others who’ve danced for years.”

Pixar writer, director and animator Bobby Rubio also attended the live stream. Rubio created Pixar’s animated short “Float” which made history as the first Pixar work to feature a Filipino American animated character.

The dance performances included modern dance, contemporary dance, Pagapir dance, Paso Doble dance and a Pandanggo sa Ilaw dance.

Pagapir dance depicts a royal manner of “walking” among the Maranao tribe’s people, who live mainly around Lake Lanao in the Philippines, according to see

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Inside The Tape: Doja Cat and SZA reign over their pink planet in “Kiss Me More” music video by

Evelyn Martinez

CONTRIBUTOR

Amala Dlamini, also known as Doja Cat, released the official music video for her latest single “Kiss Me More.” The song features singer/songwriter Solána Rowe, better known as SZA. The video, featuring the two artists, reigned in over 25 million views since it was uploaded to YouTube, April 8.

The scene is set on a pink-tainted planet that Doja and Sza rule over.

The video emulates feminine power through an allpink atmosphere and the women’s possession of a male foreigner. The music video’s brilliant reference to Adam and Eve features a man making the mistake of indulging in the forbidden fruit, as opposed to a woman falling to temptation. The allegorical fruit is a symbol of the hidden

Graphic by Emily Burgess

treasures Doja and Sza, or women in general, have to offer.

Alternate scenes feature Doja and Sza in flirty, delicate fabrics. These scenes exhibit the fragility of the women. Their vulnerableness contributes to their beauty and by the end of the video, we see that the beauty of their delicacy contributes to their strength.

The video begins with a handsome astronaut crashing onto the planet.

His rocket, which was his transportation, is up in flames. He’s left with no other option but to wander the land in a curious pursuit. After a while of roaming, he comes across a boat at a river. A bit hesitant, he boards and rows through the waters. As he does so, he sees a giant,

pink alien-like Doja, who’s relaxing seductively upon the land. He becomes mesmerized by her as she blows him a kiss.

The astronaut is met by a pair of stone lips at the end of the lake. The area is surrounded by cherry blossom trees which grow foreign fruit. Exhausted and famished by all the rowing, he plucks fruit from a tree and takes a bite. As soon

as he does this the stone lips open and he’s pulled in.

The scene switches to him lying in silk pink bedsheets with Doja and SZA. The three caress each other as Doja places delicate kisses on the astronaut, creating a reference to the song title.

This long river and the foreign fruit contribute to the reference to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. According to Britannica and Adam Augustyn, there are rivers that flow from the Garden of Eden, similar to the concept in the video. The cherry blossom trees that await the astronaut at the end of the river are an allusion to the garden from the story.

The tree from which the astronaut picks the fruit is a reference to the Tree of Knowledge, from which Eve picked the fruit. see

ONLINE

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Daily Aztec

Arts & Culture

April 21 - April 27, 2021 Editor: Devin Whatley

Short Hits: Mid-April releases have something for old heads and new generation music fans

by Jacob

Sullivan

STAFF WRITER

The passage of the week means the gift of Friday releases has come yet again. April 16 came with the release of Conway the Machine’s new album “La Maquina.” For those interested in some cutting-edge yet nostalgic New York boom-bap hip-hop, Conway is your go-to. Perhaps you are looking for some music with a southern flare; look no further than YSL Records’ new album “Slime Language 2,” curated by label boss Young Thug.

Conway the Machine - “La Maquina” Coming off of an insane performance in 2020, Conway is back with his second contribution of the year, “La Maquina.” The album is a slender eleven songs, clocking in at just

around 41 minutes total.

The production credits are more varied than the usual Conway album. There are of course the Alchemist and Daringer produced tracks you expect from Griselda. In addition to Conway’s frequent collaborators, big-name music engineers like Murda Beatz, Don Cannon and Cardiak back Conway’s bars.

The album is a prime example of all killer, no filler.

Conway does not dedicate any time to a bad beat or a boring concept. His confidence is at an all-time high, comparing himself to the MVP-caliber likes of James Harden, Patrick Mahomes and Kevin Durant. Across every song, Conway drops lyrical pieces of gold, exhibiting his wit, pop culture knowledge and grasp of the streets. Conway’s abil-

ity to reference popular chine ain’t the silliest with culture, in particular the the bars (Woo).” sports world, is unrivaled.

“La Maquina” has a variOn “6:30 Tip-Off,” a stand- ety of features. Conway’s out track on “La Maquina,” own drum work artist Jae Conway stuns listeners Skeese is featured three with lines like “N----, I can’t times. With those feawaste an hour with my tures, he puts in a lot of twenty-four. / My mentali- work at establishing why ty is more Kobe than Kief he belongs on a beat with Sutherland.” and “They say Conway. On the track West is the brains behind “200 Pies,” Conway and 2 it and Benny is the star. / Chainz show stellar chemBut let’s not act like Ma- istry as they spit over a

sweet vocal sample from The Alchemist. To wrap the album up, Conway makes it a family occasion, bringing in his brother Westside Gunn and cousin Benny the Butcher. Daringer supplies the electric guitar-influenced beat. Benny drops some immaculate rhymes, starting the track off with the line, “ You ain’t a shooter, n----, you Ben Simmons, see

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Photos Courtesy of YSL Records and Conway The Machine on Twitter The cover art for “Slime Language 2” by YSL Records and “La Maquina” by Conway The Machine

Quick Take: New albums by BROCKHAMPTON and Lana Del Rey showcase duality of music styles in the gentle, minimal side SENIOR STAFF WRITER of music. Her songs have always had a soft tinge of There are two contrasting intimacy and play out like varieties of sound in music, a fantasy that isn’t always and many far in between. happy or sad but consisLike yin and yang, the heal- tently captivating. ing power of loud and quiBrockhampton is a group et music represents duality of born rock stars whose and a comparative push- powerful sound packs a pull relationship. sensitive punch that tracThese ranges embody dif- es back to the members’ ferent harmonic qualities respective childhoods. but are equally evocative. Trauma and passion uniThe haunting subtlety of fy them and also highlight softer music inserts itself the aggressive, personal into your deepest memo- strengths in their verses. ries and is often more nosAs finals season rears talgic. On the other end, its ugly head, try spinning abrasive, blaring music can these albums to pass the enter at the forefront of time when you’re fed up your brain and attack your with reading virtual textthoughts directly. Each lis- books and perusing Quitener has their respective zlet: preferences, and each is Lana Del Rey just as powerful and sub- “Chemtrails Over the lime as the other.

Country Club” Lana Del Rey and BrockLana Del Rey has grown hampton are positioned at tremendously as a singer each side of this spectrum. and songwriter while stayLana Del Rey is a fixture ing firmly planted in her by

Ryan Hardison

nostalgia-soaked Americana interests. She manages to land in some kind of public controversy on a regular basis, the most recent being an ill-timed Instagram post admiring the romance of Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth, but Del Rey has matured – musically at least.

Her previous album “Norman Fucking Rockwell!” was one of 2019’s best and her finest yet, and “Chemtrails Over the Country Club,” released March 19, finds her in similar inspirational territory but based on a surprisingly new environment. Its orchestrations are much smaller in scale than “Rockwell,” and the attention shifts east of California scenic ques that you’ll find on an “underrated spots” TikTok and into a spacious, rural setting, straying from the self-centered public eye.

Graphic by Emily Burgess

Her affinity for starting anew and escaping the pressures of California is centered on escaping her celebrity and exploring faraway love. Del Rey still connects with her past material but her anecdotes of fame and romance are less melancholy and there’s

even a concealed amount of joy in the depths of her mellow tunes.

The pulse of this album is closer to traditional folk music than her other releases and it pays homage to numerous folk figures. She even covers Joni see

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