THE USD VISTA
The
CULTURE EDITOR
Hidden in the darkest corners of Hollywood, the secrets of major celebrities and leading influencers remain untouched and confidential.
However, the disturbing allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs have recently risen to the surface, prompting his arrest and indictment on Sept. 17, 2024. Combs currently faces charges of human trafficking, racketeering and drug distribution without bail and also has allegations of sexual assault and coercion.
He is currently being held in the Brooklyn Detention Center and is awaiting a trial date, although his next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 9. Comb’s lead attorney Marc Agnifilo, is pushing for a speedy trial which means that in federal cases, the jury trial must begin within 70 days from when the indictment was filed.
In 1993, Comb’s created the record label “Bad Boy Records” with the help of Arista Records where he signed big-time artists such as The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans and Craig Mac. On top of this, his albums had immense success with many
songs hitting the Billboard 100 chart including “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” and “I’ll Be Missing You.” He has won three Grammy awards, making his successful career undeniable.
However, in light of recent events, his career may face a tragic end.
“His career and public image are ruined,” USD senior Jonathan Martinez said. “I feel like nowadays in society, it only takes
one thing to completely change the narrative around you. Even if he were somehow found to be innocent, which I highly doubt, everything is done for him.”
This controversial artist
has had civil lawsuits against him that have alleged sexual assault and violence for many years, some even dating back to the 90s. In 2023, his ex-wife Casaandra Ventura joined the long list of women and men who have accused the rapper of violent crimes. A 2016 hotel surveillance video was retrieved by CNN and depicted a scene of Comb attacking Ventura. Two days later he released a video admitting and apologizing about his actions. However, he has denied all charges that he is facing currently. Because many other celebrities are involved in these allegations, some students sense that this could be a turning point in Hollywood. “I feel like there’s a really big disconnect between celebrity status and normal people,” USD senior Raquel Simoes-Rutt said. “Normal people view them differently and don’t see things they do as seriously as they should because they are held to a different status and historically have been excused for things. Maybe if this continues to be as big as it is, it will open peoples eyes to see how convoluted the whole system and Hollywood is.” Well known celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher, Usher, Jay-Z and others have been photographed at
See Diddy, Page 5
PIRHALA NEWS EDITOR
One type of message fills the inboxes of students and faculty alike: scam emails. Phishing emails, or messages that ‘fish’ for certain information, are utilized by hackers to gain access to sensitive and private information. Many students receive phishing emails in the form of job postings, which promise hefty stipends for minimal work — with a caveat. You often need to provide a Social Security Number (SSN) or other personal information in order to apply for these positions. In some cases, these scams resemble legitimate messages. However, others are recognizably fake. Some students have received emails that impersonated President James T. Harris III and requested their contact information.
so real,” Smith explained. “And then they bring up things like tuition or like financial aid, and I’m not gonna like, I’m not gonna joke about that. And so I click on it, but then they’re joking.”
USD Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer of
“When users enter their credentials or personal data, attackers may gain access not only to their accounts but to the entire network, making the university an appealing target for phishers to penetrate,” Harel explained. “They especially look
USD senior Diana Smith shared how real some phishing emails are. “Well, they make it seems
Information Technology Services (ITS) Elazar Harel provided insight into phishing emails and why they flood students’ inboxes.
Phishing emails are becoming far more advanced and convincing than in the past. The increasing power of artificial intelligence streamlines
hackers’ activities by improving the quality of the messages, making them more persuasive. Many phishing emails utilize compromised email addresses within an organization’s domain to build credibility and gain trust within a network. For example, a phishing email sent to some students and faculty members on Sep. 16 came from an email with a USD domain. The convincing job posting received attention from those in the USD community due to its apparent trustworthiness. Once attackers acquire access to the victims’ accounts, they may drain assets from financial accounts, breach important data or impersonate the identity they stole. To prevent phishing, ITS utilizes a variety of methods to promote awareness. Duo Mobile, a multi-factor authentication tool, used by all USD students and faculty reduces the risk of accounts being stolen by hackers. ITS reported an incident where USDOne accounts were compromised when
EMMA
Simulated phishing emails bait students and faculty
The dangers of clicking a ‘phishy’ link in a scam email
From Phishing, Page 1 students and faculty accepted false calls or push notifications from Duo Mobile. In light of this event, ITS recommends that USDOne account holders report any spam calls or notifications from Duo Push, as they may indicate a hacker is attempting to gain access to their account.
According to their website, ITS launched the Phishing Awareness Program in 2017 in partnership with KnowBe4, a security awareness training tool.
The objective of the program is to raise awareness about the dangers of phishing emails by targeting outreach to those with weak security awareness. To target cyber security training programs, ITS regularly sends out phishing emails to students and faculty.
Those who access the links in the emails are redirected to a training module, which informs students and faculty about how to detect and avoid phishing emails.
Harel explained the thought process behind the
artificial phishing attacks.
“Combatting phishing attacks requires awareness among patrons,” Harel stated. “The simulated phishing messages are, in fact, real phishing scenarios. We do this so users become more vigilant, familiarize themselves and avoid phishing by providing timely learning opportunities and strengthening a security culture…These simulated messages enable us to measure the vulnerability of our campus community by tracking the statistics that can show us who are most vulnerable to phishing attacks and what type of phishing attacks are ‘successful.’”
Some students and faculty have fallen victim to the simulated phishing emails. USD first-year Aaron Hernandez shared his experience after succumbing to the artificial scam messages.
“Yeah, I’ve seen them because I got it once before,” Hernandez said. “I got an email and I just I was like, what is this? Because I kind of thought it was like I was
in trouble. So I just clicked on the link and it’s like, ‘you’ve been phished.’ If you see a link like this, don’t click it because this is what happens if you do, people steal your information and things. And itt looked official, like it looked like it would be from somebody from USD. I mean, like they gave a picture in an example and everything.”
Detecting scam emails can be difficult, however, there are telltale signs of phishing that ITS recommends looking for. Students and faculty should avoid clicking links from messages that require action be taken immediately. Caution should also be taken when the emails are vague or generic. USD sophomore Gavin Emerzian shared his experience with an email that was, in fact, a scam.
“I usually can easily spot when the email sent to me is actually a USD phishing email,” Emerzian said. “The weirdest ones were telling me that a fake email was attached to mine and
I needed to click a link to verify it was not affiliated with mine.”
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCASM) and ITS plans to launch campaigns to further spread awareness. NCASM is a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, the National Cyber Security Alliance, and NCSAM
Champions such as USD. Each week in October, USD community members can learn more about cyber security through different modules, including phishing, password security and data, social engineering, viruses and ransomware. Students and faculty attempt to remain vigilant as these ‘phishy’ emails pop up in their inboxes.
Residents rally to ‘clean up’ downtown
The new five-point plan to reduce homelessness and crime
EMMA PIRHALA NEWS EDITOR
Downtown San Diego and its surrounding neighborhoods, such as Gaslamp and Little Italy, are abundant with nightlife and restaurants. However, crime and cleanliness is decreasing traffic to the area. A new plan from the Downtown San Diego Partnership, a nonprofit promoting the downtown district of San Diego, intends to clean up downtown. The proposal was released at a press conference on Sept. 23 attended by local leaders. The five-point plan detailed a pronged approach to reduce crime, drugs and homelessness while promoting tourism and commerce.
In recent years, crime and homelessness has escalated in downtown. A dashboard by the City of San Diego reported that in the Petco Park neighborhood, crimes against persons, such as assault, murder and rape, increased by 23% within the past three years. Drug use, vagrancy and disorderly conduct, otherwise known as crimes against society, rose by 101%. The rise in crime dampened tourism, negatively impacting businesses in the area.
Downtown is a popular area for nightlife with many bars in the Gaslamp Quarter, however the risk of crime dissuades some partygoers from going downtown. USD sophomore Maya Tschetter explained why she avoids downtown.
“Yes [crime] is definitely a
part of [why I avoid downtown],”
Tschetter said. “First of all, I don’t have a car so that makes it tough. But secondly, in some places I don’t feel safe even with my friends, but especially by myself. So going somewhere like Pacific Beach feels a little bit safer.”
However, crime in the area doesn’t deter everyone.
Petco Park is a hotspot for USD students, and many people stay safe in other ways.
USD first-year Sam Vasquez helps to feed the unhoused population in downtown each week.
“So, every single Monday, when we go downtown to feed
the homeless, there’s just more and more, every single week.,” Vasquez revealed. “But the majority of the homeless population is not violent. That’s a negative stereotype that I hate, that they’re violent and they’re all drug addicts. A lot of them are just people who are down on their luck. But it’s also a stigma that people have about going downtown, that all there is only homeless people, so stay away.”
Vasquez described how she stays safe downtown.
“Some parts are unsafe,” Vaquez said. “You have to be careful, especially at night. Don’t go alone, bring your peppers
spray, like be safe. Because there is a problem with violence, and especially robbery, downtown.”
The Downtown San Diego Partnership’s proposition lists five strategies: improving health and safety, rapid crime response, solving the behavioral health crisis, new legislation and enhancing quality of life. Many of the tactics involve strengthening laws which would ban homeless encampments and loitering, as well as increasing police presence. However, much of the plan requires funding, which has yet to be solidified
The Downtown San Diego Partnership proposed another
coalition project in 2022, and although the organization stated that some progress was made, major issues such as safety were not resolved and the region remains one of the most dangerous in the city.
USD first-year Gabby Pine shared her opinion of the plan.
“If you want to combat homelessness, you have to go to the root of the problem–which is the cost of living, groceries, all that kind of stuff,” Pine explained. “Saying, ‘you can’t live here,’ like, they’re just gonna relocate, right? They’re just taken away their home for the time being.”
Leaders in the Downtown San Diego Partnership hope that this plan will take effect immediately to best serve the downtown area. President and CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, Betsy Brennan, explained the importance of revitalizing the district at the press conference on Sept. 23.
“Our downtown is just that, our downtown,” Brennan stated. “It is the heart of our city and it is our downtown. It is the heartbeat of our region. It is the front door to our wonderful city where cruise ships come and host 130,000 guests for Comic-Con and is a recognized foodie scene.”
As of now, downtown continues to suffer from crime, homelessness and struggles with cleanliness as drug paraphanelia litters the streets. However, residents remain hopeful that the new plan from the Partnership will alleviate their concerns and bring pride back to downtown.
Downtown San Diego struggles with homelessness and crime.
Photo courtesy of @anamariarphoto/Instagram
Simulated phishing emails prompt students to learn about cyber security. Shannen Swars/The USD Vista
Architecture students sick of the shed
USD architecture students addressed the fact that there could be more resources for architecture students in the shed they work in located behind Camino Hall. Art students, particularly those in the architecture majors work on the first-floor of Camino, as well as in a shed behind the building. The studio building opened in 2016. The shed is a 2,000 square foot building which allows students a workspace where they can complete projects. Students are provided with drawing spaces and work areas as well as computers with architecture software that enables them to digitally design projects.
Some students recently expressed their concerns about the counterproductive conditions of the shed. USD sophomore and arts major Callie Schreiber frequently works in the shed and weighed in on the debate.
“I have spent time in the shed to work on projects for my sculpture class, and when the weather was not ideal, I could not work outside and there was very little space for my project indoors,” said Schreiber. “I was in an uncomfortable situation and felt like I could not finish my project to the best of my ability.”
“Architecture at USD, as part of the Department of Art, Architecture + Art History, occupies the lower level of Camino Hall and a new 2,000-square-foot studio building designed by Rob Quigley, FAIA,” the architecture page on the USD website states. “Dedicated 24-hour access studio spaces include large drawing and work tables and computers with advanced graphic, three-dimensional design, and rendering software.”
Professor Daniel LopezPerez, the architecture program director, commented on the fact that they are in the midst of planning a new development campaign for the pavilion.
“The Architecture Pavilion was born out of a unique collaboration between our students and Rob Quigley, San Diego’s preeminent architect, author amongst many, many buildings of the San Diego Public Library,” Lopez-Perez commented. “Rob generously
spent several semesters developing its design alongside our students. Although industrial, it is an advanced prefabricated structure that we treasure… Now to the timely part, with new leadership in our department, we are just now in the earliest stages of launching a new development campaign!”
Some students feel that the conditions architecture students have to face versus other majors is not fair and shows how some majors are prioritized over others.
USD sophomore Isabella Mariano says that there is a clear distinction between the way art majors are treated versus other majors.
“The art program as a whole has the worst resources,” Mariano said. “You have to buy your own materials, which are so expensive for college students. All they provide for a lot of projects are just basic tools, and I’d assume as you grow in the upper division classes, there would not be the resources needed to expand your skills.”
Other buildings on campus are much more advanced, such as the state-of-the-art Knauss Center for Business Education. For example, USD advertises the building as a strong resource for business students. The school of business is used for student collaboration and highlights the purpose of the building for innovation.
In comparison, the architecture shed is placed behind Camino in a small area, with no heaters or air conditioning.
USD junior and architecture student Sophia Rico states that the conditions in the architecture shed are not satisfactory for students.
“While we’re fortunate to have access to essential architecture software in the studio, not all students can afford the necessary softwares for their own technology, as some program subscriptions cost over $500. Although we have 24-hour access to the architecture shed, the safety of students working in an indoor/outdoor facility at night needs more attention.”
Students continue to work in the shed and take classes there. As USD announces new renovations each year, some students hope that soon the architecture shed, and that the art program will get the attention it feels it deserves.
The exterior of the architecture shed employs an open air concept.
Shannen Swars/The USD Vista
Students collaborate on art and architecture projects in the shed.
Shannen Swars/The USD Vista
ARTS & CULTURE
Finding comfort in the media
How television shows can offer a moment of relief during school
ELLIE SKJERSAA ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Whether you use it to be informed, to be entertained or to escape the uncertainty of the real world, it is undeniable that the media, especially television, plays an immense role in most people’s lives. For busy students that face loads of coursework, the stress of employment or involvement in campus organizations, life can get overwhelming. Many students revert to television as a way to wind down after a crazy day, oftentimes turning to their favorite comfort shows.
“Watching a show I’ve already seen definitely gives me a break from reality,” USD senior Ave Sandstrom said. “There’s also this element of nostalgia in there, and sometimes that’s just what you need.”
In contrast to watching a new show, comfort shows nurture relaxation because the twists and turns of the plot are already anticipated. Being on the edge of your seat is not necessarily sought out in times of high stress.
“I feel like I always start watching [a comfort show] in the thick of the semester when I don’t have enough brain space to start a new show but I want to have something on in the background,” USD senior Zoe Black said.
In comparison to films, long-running television shows can be watched over the span of months or even years.
Because of this, finishing a series and saying goodbye to the characters you love most can be a challenge. Rewatching can provide one with a sense of comfort in knowing that these characters will always be there.
However, for some, the characters aren’t necessarily what keep them coming back. For students like USD junior Emma Vertiz, the artistic nature of the show is what she appreciates.
“Letting myself just live in that world of action which is so separated from my life or anyone’s life, it’s just fun to be in that for a moment and to let myself go for a moment to appreciate the cinematography, the art and the work that was put into it,” Vertiz said. “I can enjoy that every time.”
All of these elements are crucial to what makes a series worth watching over and over. USD students reflect on their favorite comfort shows and why they return.
“Friends”
“Friends” largely focuses on the intricacies and values of friendship, the struggles of
adulthood and the growth one inevitably goes through. For students like Sandstrom, the show offers stability at a time of discomfort. Sandstrom explained that when she traveled by herself at a young age, she turned to “Friends” to find support in a time when she felt homesick.
“I was looking for familiarity and comfort, and ‘Friends’ was on Netflix so I watched it pretty much every night I was [abroad],” Sandstrom said.
Sandstrom also noted that a lot of the comfortability it offered could be attributed to the characters in the show.
“This show is kind of unique because there isn’t just one main character that people connect with and see themselves in like the way it is in other shows,” Sandstrom said. “There are six main characters, and they are all so different. Obviously not very different in terms of race, but they’re different in terms of gender, personality, story and occupation and I feel like everyone can identify with someone in the show. I love Joey and Phoebe, and without them I definitely wouldn’t watch the show.”
“Primal”
This Adult Swim cartoon series was created by Genndy Tartakovsky, a RussianAmerican animator who is known for his animated series “Samurai Jack” and “Dexter’s Laboratory.” “Primal” centers around themes of survival, the hardships of loss and the beauty that one can find in connecting with others. What separates it from other shows is the absence of dialogue throughout the episodes.
For Vertiz, “Primal” is special. Although she doesn’t rewatch many series, this one has stuck with her throughout the years.
“I love his art, I love gory action shows and [Tartakovsky] has all of that,” Vertiz said. “His world building and those connections you can make with the characters without having any dialogue, what a unique thing. It’s like you’re on that journey with [the characters]. When you see them happy or when they struggle, you really feel something which is just really incredible.”
Although the characters are somewhat unlikable, Vertiz explained that there is still a desire to root for them because of the hardships that the audience watches them go through. In that way, they can be relatable to anyone who has gone through the heartache of losing someone that they love or has grappled with the complex realities of human nature.
“New Girl”
For students like Black, “New Girl” is a go-to show. The series follows the lives of five friends and roommates who endure comical scenarios together, navigate complex relationships and face the ups and downs of what it means to grow older.
“I love it because the characters are really unique, funny and they are relatable. It is a good reminder that no one’s normal,” Black said.
Like Sandstrom and Vertiz, Black finds that the characters are what bring her back every time. Not only are the characters entertaining, but they are also relatable to college students who may be struggling to find their purpose in the world.
“I think it makes me feel better about being an adult because [the cast] are all adults still living with friends, are funny and don’t have super serious jobs,” Black said.
“Adventure Time”
Cartoon Network is home to the popular show “Adventure Time.” This animated series takes place in the Land of Ooo, a thousand years after a nuclear war destroyed civilization. Jake the Dog and Finn the Human, the main characters of the show, take the viewers along on their wild adventures in this coming of age series.
For Generation Z, this show was a favorite due to the imaginative world it takes place in and for its quirky yet captivating humor. For some students, comfort shows are those that have elements of nostalgia.
“I think [‘Adventure Time’ is] really funny,” USD senior Zach Babbs said. “It’s definitely more tailored toward a young boy, so it has stupid jokes that I liked growing up and continue to like now.”
The shows people revert to in moments when yearning for the known are sometimes those enjoyed during childhood. This could be because of the simpler times one enjoyed in their youth.
“I watched it as a kid, and I guess when I’m watching it [now] it brings me back to the times when I didn’t have as many obligations,” Babbs said.
Television serves as a powerful and reliable escape for students. Whether it’s the relatable characters, engaging storylines or the familiarity of a show watched during childhood, comfort shows foster relaxation and a reminder of simpler moments. The comedic nature of “Friends” and “New Girl” and the action and artistry of “Primal” and “Adventure Time” make these a few of the shows that some Toreros love to rewatch.
Lead characters Finn and Jake from “The Adventure Time” series. Photo courtesy of @adventuretime/Instagram
Main character Jessica Day from “New Girl.” Photo courtesy of @officialnewgirl/Instagram
Genndy Tartakovsky’s sketches for the series, “Primal.” Photo courtesy of @genndytartakovsky/Instagram
Ross. Phoebe, Rachel, Joey, Monica and Chandler from “Friends.” Photo courtesy of @warnerbrostv/Instagram
A turn toward accountability in the music industry
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs indictment sparks celebrity scrutiny
From Diddy Page 1
parties, raising speculation about their involvement with him.
Interestingly enough, Kutcher created an anti-sex trafficking organization in the same year that he was attending these parties.
“I think more and more celebrities are going to start realizing that their actions have consequences,” Martinez said. “At the end of the day, it’s your brand, your image and the way you market yourself that’s important. I think this might be a wake up call for Hollywood because if Diddy — who was one of the most popular figures in the music industry back in the day — got caught, anybody can get caught.”
Comb’s trial could lead to further investigation of other celebrities who are believed to be involved. Simoes-Rutt noted the disappointment she felt when hearing about his indictment in the news.
“It’s really upsetting that people who are supposed to be representatives are doing stuff like this,” Simoes-Rutt
said. “We’re supposed to trust them, look up to them, they’re supposed to be role models and they’re definitely not.”
Those in Hollywood have not always been held accountable for their crimes.
This began to change in 2017 as the #MeToo movement led some in Hollywood to step forward and share their experiences of sexual harassment and abuse.
However, the movement seemed to pass over the music industry. Some reasons for this could be the intense presence of male gatekeepers in the music world and a lack of HR structures.
Even when these structures do exist, many artists don’t speak out against their bosses because of their powerful influence in the industry. However, Comb’s indictment could fuel change. The music industry may be inclined to hold its higher-ups accountable.
On social media platforms, memes about Comb’s parties and the 1,000 bottles of baby oil found in his home have been circulating. Martinez noted that
even though people are making light of the situation online through jokes and memes, that doesn’t mean that people don’t take it seriously. He pointed out that there could be bigger conversations to be had, especially surrounding young people’s presence in the industry.
“Of course if a kid has the potential and the talent, then they should get opportunities in the music industry, but the fact that they could be exposed to all of this portrays more issues,” Martinez said. “Should we really be exposing them to this much influence and popularity? Maybe there will be conversations about parents’ influence in that.”
The party culture of Hollywood elites is currently under scrutiny as a result of Comb’s indictment. Once revered as a trailblazer in the music world, these accusations and charges symbolize a potential turning point for how the public views celebrities and the severity of their actions. While spectators await a trial date, conversations
surrounding celebrity culture, accountability and social influence are sure to continue
and may possibly unveil a deeper, more uncomfortable truth about the world of
Nicki Minaj lights up Viejas Arena
Rapper performs in San Diego as part of her ‘Pink Friday 2’ tour
ALEXANDRA ALCALA ASST. A&C EDITOR
On Thursday Sept. 26, Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known to the world as Nicki Minaj, performed at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State University. The artist is half-way through her tour, “Pink Friday 2” and made a stop in San Diego for a night. Even though the concert took place at SDSU, the proximity to USD made it possible for some Toreros to attend.
For many students, Nicki Minaj was an influential part of their childhood, making this concert an exciting opportunity. Second-year student Briana
Marinescu shared what drew her to buy a ticket for the show.
“The reason I decided to attend the concert is because my friend wanted me to go with her,” Marinescu said. “I am a fan of [Nicki Minaj’s] older music for sure because I grew up with it.”
Students have had a wide range of options to choose from when it comes to going to concerts this past month as there’s been almost one every weekend, such as Danny Ocean, Hozier, Stephen Sanchez and even the Bayfest Festival.
“I listen to her songs a bit, but I love concerts so I attended the concert as an experience,” USD junior Hana Fukumoto said.
Even though concerts are something Fukumoto is dedicated to, as she has seen Bruno Mars, Jonas Blue and Vance Joy, she says she would probably not attend another Nicki Minaj concert.
Other students had different takeaways from the concert. For example, both Marinescu and Fukomoto agreed that Minaj had some fun outfits. The artist has been keeping an average of about 5-10 outfit changes per concert. Students have mentioned that this is a highlight of the concert.
“I loved her outfits and outfit changes and, of course, listening to my favorite song live,” Marinescu said. Fukumoto doubled down on this, expressing her thoughts about Minaj’s wardrobe.
“I loved the costumes she wore,” Fukumoto said.
However, it seems that there were some aspects of the concert that were not so favorable. It’s not unusual for artists take a little more time than scheduled to come out on stage at concerts, but it seems Nicki Minaj took this a bit too far.
“[Nicki Minaj] didn’t come on stage for three hours,” Fukumoto said.
In addition, USD sophomore Cordelia Essers did not attend the concert even though she has been a casual fan of Minaj for a very long time.
“I was aware of the concert and debated buying tickets to it and ended up deciding not to,” Essers said. “I am a fan, I listen to the majority of her music on a regular basis. Some highlights
about Nicki that I like is that she loves the color pink. I like the fact that the people who go to her concerts wear all pink and even one of her albums is named ‘The Pink Print.’” Essers mentioned that she is a fan, but this was not enough to get her to go to the concert at SDSU. She would much rather save the opportunity for other concerts.
“I didn’t attend because I’m a fan but not a huge fan,”
Essers said. “There are so many other concerts coming up that I’d rather go to because I listen to them more frequently. Also, her tickets were kind of expensive, and I didn’t feel like going all the way to SDSU.”
While Minaj attracted some USD students, Toreros seem to have mixed reactions toward her. Some enjoyed her music and aesthetics, while others couldn’t justify spending the time and money to attend her show.
Nicki Minaj on stage at her concert in the Viejas Arena.
Photo courtesy of @nickiminaj/Instagram
Nicki Minaj posing for her new album ‘Pink Friday 2.’ Photo courtesy of @onikamagazine/Twitter
fame and power.
Sean “Diddy” Combs performing in London on Nov. 7, 2023.
Photo courtesy of @Diddy/Twitter
ARTS & FEATURE
More about ‘There’s More’
USD’s student-led podcast gives voice to community members
HAILEY HOWELL FEATURE EDITOR
With the growing success of platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, podcasts have become even more popular. Whether it’s about news, pop culture or true crime, the medium gives students access to other stories and perspectives. Students may not know, but USD has a student-led podcast that focuses on giving voices to students and other members in the San Diego community.
Through a collaboration with the Humanities Center, the Changemaker Hub and the USD College of Arts and Sciences, the podcast first began as a way to combine both storytelling and changemaking. Dr. Brian Clack, Director of the Humanities Center; Mike Williams, Director of the Changemaker Hub and Dr. Noelle Norton, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences officially started to conceptualize what this would look like in 2016 and approached Dr. Diane Keeling, a USD professor who focuses on rhetoric studies.
“They approached me because my expertise is rhetoric…storytelling is one of the most influential forms of rhetoric,” Keeling said. “They sat down with me and really allowed me to conceptualize from the ground up what storytelling might look like on campus and for it to be an interdisciplinary space. A space where we’re thinking about change and how stories can work better than arguments at helping people to empathize and understand difference or relate to someone who has an experience that’s similar to theirs and that they’re not alone.”
Keeling explained that she had experience working with radio in college but quickly realized that there were differences between radio and podcasting.
“I had to teach myself how to
do podcasting,” Keeling said. “It’s really popular now in rhetoric programs, particularly on the composition side of rhetoric… So I attended a few workshops. I taught a few really bad classes, but now they are, of course, classes where people get jobs, and they’re the highest student evaluations I’ve ever received.”
Most of the time, the podcast collaborates with an organization on campus such as the Black Student Resource Center or the Office of the Tribal Liaison. Typically the campus partner identifies what the stories should be about, which is usually in relationship to what their program is working on. Then, they find people, either students, faculty or people in the community, who they think would be great storytellers. Typically three people share at each live event.
“Anyone can be a storyteller,” Keeling said. “Anyone can collaborate with us. We have information on the website of how to get involved if they want to be a campus partner.”
Keeling also recognized that she wanted the podcast to be similar to “The Moth,” a nonprofit storytelling group that records live events, allowing them to be shared with an international audience. Her other main goal was that the podcast should be student-led. She explained that the first student producers were hired in 2017. That’s when they conceptualized the name of the podcast, “There’s More,” and how the podcast website would go on to be designed.
One of the student producers for the podcast, USD senior Ashley Larson, described her role and involvement with the podcast.
“We do hosting, we do producing, editing, scripting, emails, contact, like the whole nine yards,” Larson said. “Basically we do everything that you see and that you don’t see. So, we do work with producing on Spotify, we work
with stuff in Adobe editing softwares. We host events. We contact storytellers and work with them too, one on one.”
Larson explained that taking Dr. Keeling’s podcast storytelling class sparked her interest after already having a love for podcasting, which is why she decided to join.
“I took the podcasting class,” Larson said. “I’ve always been interested in podcasting. I ran a small one a couple years ago just on my own, and I was thinking, ‘I really want to get into the nitty gritty of all of it.’ I signed up for the class all last semester. I loved it, and then I just connected with Dr. Keeling. I was like ‘Hey, I’d love to be on the team, if you’ll have me,’ and then it just ended up working out that we had spots open this year.”
Kate Buehrig, a USD junior, is the other student co-producer of the podcast. She shared about the significance of the podcast and the impact it creates on those listening to these stories.
“My favorite aspect of the podcast is listening to the student stories,” Buehrig said. “Every month we have a different
theme of the live event, and it is so great to hear from so many different students on campus.
I love learning more about different activities students are involved with and how they have impacted their community and how their community has impacted them. It is great to see how vulnerable all of the speakers are when sharing their stories.”
Buehrig also described why students should listen to the podcast or hear the stories live.
“Students should listen to the ‘There’s More’ [podcast] because there are so many awesome stories from their peers, as well as faculty and Linda Vista community members,” Buehrig said. “Each episode is usually less than 10 minutes which is perfect for walking between classes! And if students do not find podcasting to be their favorite medium, students are always encouraged to go to the live events in person!”
USD senior Zeina Battikha was one of the three storytellers who spoke at the previous podcast live event, which focused on Palestine. She described the reason why she chose to share with the “There’s More” podcast and the impact she
hopes it makes on students.
“I think it’s essential for people to hear from others who have a personal stake in humanitarian crises to fully understand the impact they have on individuals, despite distance from the region,” Battikha said. “It’s difficult to share these stories because of how deeply personal and emotional they may be, but that’s the point – speaking freely about my culture should not have to be so difficult. But vulnerability is also a source of strength, and the power of oral tradition should not be underestimated…”
The podcast has worked with a variety of campus partners and plans to continue to focus on hearing important voices within the San Diego community. The “There’s More” will facilitate their next event with the Black Student Resource Center and USD Votes on Oct. 3, 2024 at 4 p.m. in the Humanities Center, Saints Hall 200. It will be held in partnership with “The Stoop,” a podcast which has been featured on NPR. The focus will be on amplifying Black voices and the upcoming 2024 election.
Student co-producer Ashley Larson editing audio for the podcast.
Photo courtesy of Magdalene McRae
Producer Dr. Diane Keeling speaking to audience at live event in the Humanities Center.
Photo courtesy of Magdalene McRae Kate Buehrig, a USD student producer, recording in a studio.
Photo courtesy of Magdalene McRae
OPINION
Just give us a break
Why USD’s professors should give students mental health days
ZOE ROGERS OPINION EDITOR
As students, we are continuously bombarded with assignments and deadlines. For us, balancing academics and mental health is crucial, though the task is much easier said than done. The expectation that we balance these elements of our lives can sometimes feel impossible. Taking mental health days is an essential way to prevent mental burnout, but it can be hard to fit a day off in our busy schedules. Professors need to account for our mental stability by providing mental health days for their students within their syllabus.
My struggle with balancing academics started in high school. As my assignments began to rack up, I couldn’t quite figure out how to balance academics, sports, my social life and time for myself all at once. My weekday schedule became a repeating cycle that I felt I couldn’t escape. Wake up, practice, school, practice, homework, sleep and then do it all again the next day- every day. I couldn’t see a way out of the continuous loop I found myself in.
Not wanting to burn out, I decided to take a mental health day for myself. I felt like I was moments away from running out of energy and was close to breaking. Taking this day off allowed me to step back, organize myself and restore the
energy that I felt I was missing.
Taking time for yourself when you feel like you’re sinking can help exponentially. In an article published by McLean Hospital, Andrew M. Kuller, PsyD, provides insight on the key signifiers of when someone should take a mental day off.
“If you’re feeling stressed out and drifting away from a healthy set of behaviors, those are things you could think about and try to rectify by taking a mental health day,” Kuller said.
Many of USD’s undergraduates feel that school can sometimes be overwhelming. Especially when you have an assignment on top of assignment and no room to breathe. Feeling like you’re drowning is a common characteristic for many students and it is not discussed enough.
Academic validation is something that I seek continuously. I often fear that if I don’t get the grades I desire, worse consequences will come than a bad grade. Seeking this constant validation can be damaging on numerous fronts.
The urge to feel successful in academics can lead to the suffocating mindset of having no room for error.
It’s easy to be hard on yourself about academics. When you feel like balancing academics and life outside of school is nearly impossible, taking a mental health day can be a beneficial method of combating these overwhelming emotions.
Canyon Creek Behavioral
Health, a hospital focused on mental health, explains why taking a mental health day off is beneficial, especially for students.
“Mental health days are meant to provide a break from the stress and demands of daily life, help prevent burnout and improve overall mental well-being,” Canyon Creek Behavioral Health stated. “One of the main benefits of taking a mental health day is the
reduction of stress and anxiety. Adolescents are constantly on the go and juggling multiple responsibilities. They are expected to achieve the highest grades and become involved in extracurricular activities while also dealing with the effects of adolescence and the pressures of growing up. As a result, they often experience high levels of stress and anxiety.”
Because students face heavy academic loads,
are given limited time to complete assignments and often are under a lot of stress or pressure, professors need to incorporate mental health days into their course syllabus. Professors claim to be aware of our stressed emotions and suffocating environment, yet sometimes it feels like they do nothing to truly help us. So, by granting us the liberty of taking mental health days during the semester, even just one or two, our professors can prove that they are here for us. While mental health is important, some believe we should not rely on our professors to assist us in our mental health journey. We should deal with it ourselves. In some instances, this perspective can be correct. However, because our professors control our workload and academic environment, they should help fight the stress they incorporate into our lives by providing at least one day off. Because they give us days of work, the least they could do is give us 24 hours off. Academics are essential. While they can be validating, they can also be damaging to students. In a time when mental health has become a topic of awareness, professors need to take action by providing us with at least one day off for our mental health. We all deal with stress differently, but granting us the opportunity in the semester to combat burnout is one of the most beneficial
Photo courtesy of Shannen Swars/ The USD Vista
It’s easy to feel stressed or burnt out when you have too many assignments.
Photo courtesy of @Tim Gouw/ Unsplash
Last weekend, my friends and I were discussing our Instagram accounts and how we had thought about deleting the app entirely. It was something I’d been considering for a while but just hadn’t committed to doing. While we were talking, my friend chimed in proposing a question: if you delete your Instagram profile, how will people know you exist?
At first, I thought this was completely ridiculous,
“Of course I exist,” I told her, “here I am, sitting on the couch across from you.”
But then I began to think about my Instagram page and what it says about me. There are no references to my passions or hobbies; there are mostly posed photos of my friends and I in front of scenic backdrops. Nothing about my profile would tell anyone anything about who I really am. Social media has evolved from a platform to connect with
OPINION
The perfect persona
Social media has distorted our self-perception
people to a platform to curate a false, or even idealized, identity.
Instagram was released in 2010, and when I downloaded it at the age of 10, I posted silly selfies of myself and my siblings and did not consider what anyone would think. These early days of social media are nostalgically referred to as the years when Instagram was ‘casual.’
People posted anything they wanted, and celebrities posted life updates the same way everyone else did. Because the app was so new and social media was just beginning to gain popularity, people posted without thinking about how they would be perceived.
Now, Instagram has transformed into a place where you can advertise any version of yourself that you choose. A study conducted by Case24, a phone case company, found that only 29% of social media users post a photo without editing themselves first.
Apps like Facetune allow you to edit your appearance in countless different ways. If
you wish that your acne could disappear, the smoothing feature gives you clear skin in seconds. If you want a smaller waist, all it takes is dragging your finger across the screen to give an hourglass illusion.
Worst of all, editing has become so seamless through years of trial and error that it can be almost impossible to tell what is real and what is not.
The rise of photoshopping and editing is, of course, an issue that paints a deceiving picture of your appearance. But what is more problematic is the ability to choose what aspects of your life are seen and what remains hidden.
The photo of you from your vacation to Cancún last summer, piña colada in hand, is obviously not the same you that now sits in the classroom.
Not only can you edit your appearance to be what you think is superior, but you can also choose which angles of you are seen and which ones are deleted. But when you choose to only post the high points of your life and the best photos of yourself, who is seeing the real you?
Being vulnerable on social media platforms like Instagram can be extremely intimidating. It can be easier to pretend like your life is perfect than to allow people in.
Oftentimes, when influencers or celebrities choose to share more personal details about their lives, they are met with comments
about how ‘brave’ they are. Removing the mask that we all have on social media should not have to be a courageous act — it should be the norm.
Social media’s conception was inspired by a desire to connect with people, and in some ways it still is. You can see posts from all over the world at the touch of a button. But now, I wonder if we are only connecting with the personas we have all created instead of the real person behind the profile page.
After conversing with my friends, I finally decided to deactivate my Instagram account and delete the app. I realized that watching a continuous loop of people’s best moments was doing me more harm than good- especially at times when I was feeling upset about my own life. Without the app, I feel more connected to the people around me and to myself. Best of all, I do not feel the pressure of being perceived by people who do not truly know me.
It is important to remember that the photos people choose to post are almost never a true reflection of who they really are. It took me a long time to realize that comparing myself to an edited photo taken at just the right angle was not serving me. Now that Instagram is more focused on curating the perfect image and constant comparison, I feel much better being removed from the game.
JULIE FROMM ASST. OPINION EDITOR
Instagram can be damaging to your perception of self.
Photo courtesy of @Luke van Zyl/ Unsplash
This behind the scenes of an Instagram brand photoshoot demonstrates how photos can be staged. Shannen Swars/The USD Vista
Toreros’
strong start comes to an end
Women’s soccer holds off San Francisco with late goal, but stumbles in Washington
PRIYA COOPER SPORTS EDITOR
USD women’s soccer battled to its third consecutive match unbeaten, tying San Francisco 1-1 at home in the WCC opener on Sept. 25, 2024. The Toreros got away with a late equalizer from USD sophomore Tamia Graham. Following the tie, the team played the Washington State Cougars on Sept. 28, 2024, which resulted in a 1-0 loss for San Diego.
Graham talked about the signifigance of tying San Francisco in the last few minutes.
“San Francisco was a quality opponent and a real test for us after winning our last two games, and we showed our relentlessness and dedication to finish out a game the way we wanted to,” Graham said.
Graham also discussed how the team is going to carry the momentum into the next few games as the season progresses.
“All 90 minutes were filled with absolute grit and hard work, and to come back so late in the game and not give up after going down early in the second half shows what kind of team we are and what we have to offer,” Graham said. “I’m so proud of us. Next game is against another great opponent, and we all have a great mindset going into the next match and can’t wait to bring back the win.”
The Toreros curated several chances to tie the score during the second half of the game
against San Francisco. That was until the 86th minute when USD first-year Ella Callanan sent the ball into the box and USD senior Josefine Schlichting got a foot on it and passed the ball to Graham, allowing her to get a goal off and tie the game. The final score was 1-1, leading the Toreros to their third straight game unbeaten.
Schlichting shared her feelings about tying San Francisco and how she felt going into the next game.
“The season opener is always a very emotional game, but we did a good job keeping our composure and playing our game,” Schlihting said. “The atmosphere in the stands was contagious and we had a lot of fun on the field. This was a good start in a really busy seven days with two more games to come, but we are super motivated.”
It is also the first time the Toreros have scored in three straight games since August 2022 and the first time going three games unbeaten since September 2022, creating an era of victory until their recent game against Washington State.
USD sophomore Maquena O’Callaghan talked about the emotions of starting the season off on a good note.
“Starting our WCC play last night was exciting, but we are not satisfied with a tie,” O’Callaghan said. “Our team will continue to prove we are a top competitor within the conference. Going into our away trip this weekend against Washington State,
we will bring high energy and show them we are a new team with a new high caliber.”
Additionally, USD graduate student and defender Molly Quarry, who received the only warning during the game against San Francisco, talked about the excitement of ending the game on a tie.
“After a long stretch of away games, we were excited to start off our WCC campaign at home against San Francisco,” Quarry said. “Coming into the game on a winning streak, we were motivated to get a good result against them. Our performance in the game showcased some of the best
soccer we’ve played all season, and it was a lot of fun to play in front of a good Torero crowd.”
Quarry also talked about how the momentum will help the team going forward.
“As we head into this weekend’s match against Washington State, our team morale is high,” Quarry said. “We’ve been playing well and have celebrated individual achievements with Tamia Graham and Mikayla Abrenica scoring their first collegiate goals. We hope to use the lessons we’ve learned and build on these little victories as we face WSU.”
San Diego played Washington State in Pullman, W.A. on Saturday night Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. They did not get the results they wanted with the final score being 1-0 for the Toreros first WCC road match of the fall season.
The Washington State Cougars secured the gamewinning goal in the 42nd minute of the match, leaving the University of San Diego women’s soccer team down for the rest of the game. Despite their efforts to level the score, the Toreros were unable to mount a successful counterattack after falling behind. This narrow loss brought an end to USD’s three-game unbeaten streak, highlighting the challenges they’ve faced in securing victories in recent matches.
The defeat also marked a tough start to their WCC campaign, setting their record at 0-1-1 in conference play. More notably, the team is still searching for their first WCC win since Oct. 15, 2021.
USD womens soccer goalie, llise Medrano, saves a shot kicked by Washington State.
Photo courtesy of @usdwsoccer/Instagram
USD womens soccer player Natalie Yoo goes up against Washington State Cougars.
Photo courtesy of
USD women’s volleyball season kicks off Toreros go undefeated at LSU invitational SPORTS
PRIYA COOPER SPORTS EDITOR
The women’s volleyball team started their season off strong by taking on Gonzaga University at the Martin Centre in Spokane, Washington on Sept. 26, before continuing on to face Washington State University at the Bohler Gym in Pullman, Washington on Sept. 28.
The matchup against the Gonzaga Bulldogs ended in a victory for the Toreros after they prevailed in three straight sets for a fourth consecutive match with scores 25-13, 25-16 and 25-21.
The win against Gonzaga marked volleyball coach Jennifer Petrie’s 500th career win. She currently has the most active wins out of all Torero coaches. The only other USD head coaches to reach the 500-win milestone are former baseball managers John Cunningham and Rich Hill.
Coach Petrie told USD Athletics how it felt to hit the 500-win marker after the game against Gonzaga.
“It’s just unimaginable to me,” Petrie said afterwards, still wringing water from her hair post victory celebration. “This has been built on so many years of so many great players and so many great coaches that have worked alongside me.”
The Toreros are 63-9 against the Bulldogs all-time, meaning they have beat Gonzaga 63 times
total with only nine losses. The two programs’ last meeting was in November of 2023, when USD beat Gonzaga 3-0 in Spokane, Washington. The Toreros have won each of the last 57 matchups between the two teams, and have swept the Bulldogs a total of 49 times in that span.
San Diego also recently competed in a preseason tournament in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and went undefeated in the four-team Louisiana State University (LSU) Invitational.
After making the 1,589-mile trip cross country, the Toreros didn’t drop a set the entire week, winning all nine of its frames across three matches.
USD first-year Kylie Munday discussed how the LSU invitational prepared the team for conference play.
“The end of preseason was a great way to feel prepared and confident going into conference play,” Munday said. “We competed really hard and are eager to start the conference off really strong this weekend. We are looking forward to an awesome season.”
At the LSU Invitational, USD competed against North Florida, Boston College and Louisiana State University in preparation for the in conference season.
The 3-0 sweep of Power5 opponent and tournament host LSU was spearheaded by USD sophomore outside hitter Nemo Beach, who tallied a
team-high 13 kills. A kill in volleyball is an attack by a player that is not returnable by the receiving player on the opposing team, and it leads directly to a point or loss of rally.
Munday also continued her rapid ascent, notching the sixth double-double of her college career. Alongside her, USD senior Haylee Stoner and USD redshirt senior Madi Allen anchored a Torero defense that held the Tigers to a 0.113 hitting percentage.
Stoner expressed her emotions around starting the season off on a strong note.
“I’m really excited for this season,” Stoner said. “Our team is super strong and is able to face any opponent that comes our way, something we especially learned after the LSU invitational. I’m excited to see the growth in our team as the season continues.”
The game against Washington State on Sept. 28 ended in defeat for the Toreros with the final score ending 3-1. The loss resulted in an end to what had otherwise been a highly successful five-game win streak for the women’s volleyball team.
Before falling in its opening frame in Pullman Washington, USD had not lost a set since Sept. 14, when it was defeated by nationally ranked No. 12 Oregon at home in San Diego.
The Toreros were within a point down the stretch in set one, 21-20, but could not keep
up with the gap and fell short. The team was eventually able to even the match at 1-1 and USD appeared to be back in its rhythm when it led 22-20 late in the third set. However the Washington State Cougars closed the frame and ultimately ended up pulling back in front. The fourth set went similarly with Washington State embarking on a late 10-5 run to deal the Toreros a 3-1 loss in the match despite the visitors recent successes.
In 2022 the women’s volleyball team made it to the final four of the National Collegiate athletic
Association tournament and lost to the Texas Longhorns in the semifinals. Texas eventually went on to win the entire tournament and became national champions while San Diego was named a semifinalist alongside Pittsburgh. Looking ahead, the Toreros are gearing up for their next challenge on Thursday, October 3, 2024. They’ll be back on their home court, the Jenny Craig Pavilion, as they resume West Coast Conference (WCC) play against Pacific. The first serve is set for 7 p.m., and the Toreros will be looking to bounce back.
Coach Jennifer Pietre enters the lockeroom after win over Gonzaga Photo courtesy of @usdvolleyball/Instagram
Coach Jennifer Pietre celebrates 500th career win with her team. Photo courtesy of @usdvolleyball/Instagram
Women’s volleyball players embrace Coach Pietre. Photo courtesy of @usdvolleyball/Instagram