THE USD VISTA
The week finally arrived — parents roam the campus, the stage goes up and the students gather together to listen to the artist selected for this year’s Big Blue Bash. Here to perform for USD students this fall was pop and R&B artist, Tinashe. Her popular songs “Nasty” and “2 On”
brought many students out on Friday to watch her performance. Whether students were long-term fans or new listeners, this was a memorable night for Toreros.
“I was super excited when I heard Tinashe was going to perform,” USD junior Jemila Momoh said. “I really love her music, and she’s just having a great moment right now so I just love to come out and support.”
Tinashe is currently on her
“Match My Freak World Tour” for her seventh album, “Quantum Baby.” She is set to travel around North America, Asia, Europe and the UK. The album produced “Nasty,” her first song to hit the Billboard Hot 100 charts as an independent artist. After a concert in Los Angeles, Tinashe made the trip back down to San Diego to put on a Homecoming Weekend show for Toreros and visiting family members.
USD senior and TPB vice chair Sally Scott was the lead organizer of this year’s Big Blue Bash. She shared some insight into why this event is so important to cultivating a closeknit community on-campus.
“I think that having this concert is a really good way to bring people together, especially for the underclassmen just because everything is so new, and they’re kind of struggling to find
Saying goodbye to Liam Payne
On Oct. 16, the world learned the shocking news of the passing of One Direction star Liam Payne. As a childhood icon and a key member of the popular British boy band One Direction, many students feel the weight of his death.
“I genuinely had a pain in my chest,” USD senior Julianna Escamilla said. “It felt so unreal, and it felt so hard to grasp. This hurts so much because I grew up listening to One Direction, and there was a part of me hoping for a reunion and now it’s just not going to happen.”
Payne passed away at age 31 after falling from the balcony of his third-floor hotel room at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires. Payne had been in the Argentine capital for a few days to visit his former bandmate, Niall Horan. Payne attended Horan’s concert
and was seen dancing and singing with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, who had left Argentina two days before his death.
Minutes before Payne’s fall, Argentine authorities received
a call from Casa Sur’s hotel staff with concerns of a guest whom they said was overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol. In the call the hotel manager also noted that the guest’s room had a balcony and was worried that the guest would do something dangerous. As of Oct. 21, it is unclear whether Payne accidentally fell or intentionally jumped
identity on campus,” Scott said. “We still talk about the Aminé concert [from our freshman year] to this day, so just having a shared experience for people to talk about is a way to bond with people that you may not be as close with.” With artists such as Aminé, Driver Era and 070 Shake gracing the stage in past years, the anticipation for the announcement of this
Big Blue Bash,
Payne’s father mourns the death of his son at a memorial in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo courtesy of
LARA DOMINIQUE SOLANTE COPY EDITOR
Big Blue Bash performer Tinashe blows away USD students, turning new listeners into fans.
USD Vista
Election anxiety affects students
Outcome of upcoming presidential race looms over voters
presidential election for the first time. This pressure is impacting students who are learning to be politically active.
As of publication, Election Day is just twelve days away. While Americans, and even those across the globe, await the much anticipated results of the presidential race, a phenomenon called “election anxiety” is affecting the bulk of adults in the United States.
A recent survey conducted by Forbes Health and Talker Research showed that 61% of respondents reported a negative impact on mental health related to the pending election. The study concluded that Gen Z is the most affected age group in the survey, with 66% reporting feelings of anxiety, fear or stress.
USD second-year Alecia Doak explained how the election is impacting her.
“I am a political science major, so [the election] is essentially all I talk and think about. I do have some anxiety,” Doak said. “I would say, I do think a lot about [the election] because that’s all we talk about. But at the same time, I’d say I am a little anxious … I don’t think it’ll be the end of the world if one or the other wins, but I do think that life could change a lot, depending on who wins. So, yeah, I’m a little nervous.”
As a university with a majority Gen Z undergraduate population, many USD students have the option to vote in a
USD first-year Sydney Pullman is voting for the first time this year. She shared that she is experiencing some anxiety deciding who will get her vote.
“It is my first time voting because I just turned 18, like six months ago, and it is a little nerve racking just because I don’t feel like I know everything,” Pullman shared.
“I just feel like there’s a lot of different information out there that I haven’t read. And there’s also information out there that isn’t true. I just feel like this election is kind of a strange election. Just with the two different parties being different from one another. And how [Kamala Harris] has been brought up and then also how [Donald Trump] has already been elected before and he’s also been impeached. I feel like it’s just a very interesting election.”
With the holiday season arriving soon, Gen Z also described feeling anxious about seeing family and friends with politics in the air. The Forbes survey explained that 60% of Gen Z shares these sentiments.
In just over a month, many Toreros will be traveling home for Thanksgiving Break.
But, the political ideologies of more outspoken family members discourages some students from sharing their
political beliefs at the dinner table, and even with friends.
USD junior Daniel Armendariz explained his view on the importance of keeping politics out of Thanksgiving.
“My immediate family, we don’t really talk about politics that much,” Armendariz shared. “I mean, I did grow up with some of their background on politics. But we’ve never struggled, even though we have some differences. I do wanna say that my extended family has people on both sides. Sometimes there’s some conflict. And you know, that’s a dangerous thing. I think that that’s something that needs to change and that’s something that just needs to not be an issue. I think that it’s Thanksgiving, and it’s a moment to share with family.”
With the outcomes of the election looming on student voters, the University is working to provide opportunities for politically active Toreros such as the Civil Discourse Ambassadors program and the USD Votes campaign which promotes voting amongst students.
The Civil Discourse Ambassador program is
new to USD this year. The program aims to encourage civil discussion regarding the election in today’s tense political environment.
USD sophomore Leilani Youmans decided to join the program and serve as a Civil Discourse Ambassador this year. As a politically active student, Youmans expressed that she has been experiencing election anxiety.
“I’ve been thinking about the election a lot and my worries about it have increased as we get closer to Nov. 5,” Youmans shared. “I personally believe our top priority as a nation should be to address the conflict happening in the Middle East and to stop the violence. Whoever America picks as our next president is going to affect international relations immensely, especially relations in the Middle East, so I really hope we pick a president who advocates for peace and cooperation over continued violence.”
Despite her anxiety regarding the impact the election will have on crucial topics, Youmans decided to funnel this energy into the
Civil Discourse Program. She explained how the program has helped her to understand different perspectives.
“The Civil Discourse program at USD has really opened my mind to other perspectives that may be different from mine,” Youmans detailed. “What’s so cool about this program is that it gives students the resources and tools they need in order to listen to one another effectively, but also to make the best decisions for themselves. We’re really a group that is working to educate students that it’s okay to disagree, but there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about disagreements. We’re trying to move towards a climate at USD where we can talk about politics without the conversations ending up in conflict.”
Student voters will soon flock to the polls to share their voices in the upcoming election. If you or a friend are having trouble coping with the upcoming election, please reach out to the Counseling Center to schedule an appointment or speak with an on-call counselor at 619-260-4655. Timely Care for online support.
Jackie Marquez - Editor-in-Chief Lauren Ceballos - Associate Editor
EMMA PIRHALA NEWS EDITOR
USD Votes hosted an event with pets of professors to destress and get students registered to vote.
Shannen Swars/The USD Vista
Students involved in USD Votes handed out donuts and stickers. Shannen Swars/The USD Vista
Recent rail accidents prompt train safety
San Diego County reports at least 14 railroad fatalities in 2024
EMMA PIRHALA NEWS EDITOR
On Oct. 14, an unidentified woman had her leg amputated after being struck by a freight train on East Harbor Drive in the Gaslamp Quarter. The incident occurred as fans left the Rady Shell venue, following a concert by the artist Still Woozy, which ended at 10 p.m. Several concertgoers were climbing between the train cars that obstructed the path to parking lots. However, when the train abruptly started moving, the woman fell onto the tracks and her legs were run over. The San Diego Department of Police reported that the individual suffered serious injuries from the incident and lost one of her legs.
USD senior and Managing Editor of The USD Vista Lily Anderson witnessed the event after leaving the same concert. She described that most people were climbing through the trains to get across the tracks to the parking lot. Anderson decided to wait until the train passed to cross but as she waited, tragedy struck.
“We heard this really loud banging noise of the slack being pulled out of the [cargo containers], and the train started moving and we could see everybody who was getting ready to walk through it jump back,” Anderson shared. “Some people went running and yelling. I saw a girl who immediately grabbed her phone, I’m assuming to call 911. And it just was super chaotic and we could also hear this girl, like, screaming her lungs out. Instantly, my thought was either someone was dead and she’s screaming cause she’s looking at a dead person, or she is getting run over by the train …
Then we could see that there was somebody on the ground, and we weren’t quite close enough to see details, but we could tell there was someone laying on the ground near the tracks.”
The recent incident is not an isolated occurrence, however.
According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 17 incidents of injured or killed individuals, excluding workers, as of July 31 were reported in San Diego County in 2024 alone. Of the 17, 14 individuals were fatally
injured, including a 17-year-old male in Sorrento Valley who was killed after being struck by an Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train. The FRA reports do not include injuries or deaths related to the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTA), which oversees the trolley system. In May, an individual was fatally struck in El Cajon after he collided with a MTA trolley.
As a whole, California reports the greatest amount of train-related incidents of
any state, with 740 reported injuries or fatalities, including workers, in 2023. The number of trespass deaths, or deaths by pedestrians, totaled to 190, an amount more than two times greater than the second-ranking state of Texas. California’s trespass death toll accounts for 26% of fatalities in the country despite the state ranking fifth in the amount of rail miles, possessing 4,971 rail miles out of 136,650 miles in the country.
In light of recent events
GAMES
and the popularity of rail and trolley transportation at USD, students are concerned about the amount of accidents.
USD second-year Rachel Maristela shared that the frequency of train-related accidents diminishes her willingness to hop on one.
“I don’t ride trains a ton, I thought about riding a train to get around, cause I’m not from California,” Maristela shared. “So hearing that [the trains aren’t safe] is not super reassuring of my train riding decisions.”
Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit promoting rail safety awareness, provides safety tips regarding trains via their website. The organization suggests that pedestrians stay alert and aware of their surroundings when near trains. Modern trains are faster and quieter than the oldfashioned locomotives that many people imagine. Because of this, Operation Lifesaver encourages pedestrians to never walk on train tracks. Not only is it highly dangerous to do so, but since all train tracks are deemed private property, walking on them is considered illegal trespassing. Driving near railroads can also be dangerous, the organization noted. When crossing rails, Operation Lifesaver recommended driving directly across at a designated crossing, be sure not to stop. If a vehicle stalls on a railroad, drivers should exit the car immediately and locate an Emergency Notification System sign to report the incident. Despite the recommended safety measures, accidents and fatalities continue to rise in California. USD’s proximity to both MTS and Amtrak rails, prompts greater conversations regarding train safety.
3. This residence hall is home to a study room nicknamed
4. What students do when someone breaks a plate in
7. The first word of USD’s Latin motto
8. This on-campus dining location serves a smoothie
10. Students can catch a baseball game at this on-
2. Business professors’ office hours are held in this hall
5. 3D printers are available for use here
6. This tram route loops between Law Circle and the Alcala
9. Despite their name, these exams don’t always happen in
12. The oldest building on USD’s campus
The USD Vista wants your feedback. Email vistaeditor@sandiego.edu with any questions, comments or concerns.
Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner is a popular train for USD students traveling up the coast.
Photo courtesy of @pacificsurfliner/Instagram
OPINION
A burden to your bank account Stop overspending on your dorm room
ZOE ROGERS OPINION EDITOR
The environment where we decompress, prepare for the day and live our lives plays a huge role in our overall well-being. A messy, chaotic environment is definitely an easy way to develop disorder in your life. However, obsessing over the idea of perfectly decorating your room can have its downsides, too. College students are obsessed with the idea of over-accessorizing and decorating their dorm rooms. While it’s essential to have a clean, welcoming space as a part of your everyday life, you do not need to overspend on the aesthetic of your dorm room.
The college living situation is romanticized on many fronts. I remember when coming into college, I saw so many videos on TikTok and Instagram about how people were designing their dorm rooms for the year. I saw the posts of first-years or sophomores from various schools talking about how they would make their dorm as aesthetically pleasing as possible.
It’s easy to want to have a visually appealing room with lights, posters and colorcoordinating accessories throughout the room. I remember going into my first year, I looked up my dorm on USD’s housing website and tried to plan out what I would buy and where it could be useful. I fell victim to getting lost in the wall
decor, bedding, desk items and drawer organizers many times.
Sometimes, there can be an overwhelming pressure to have the perfect dorm like the ones that we see so frequently on social media. This is an easy topic to let consume your mind, and it’s tempting to get caught up in the details, especially when there are so many different aspects to obsess over for your dorm to be up to par with the dormitories represented online.
I remember when my first-year roommates and I originally created our group chat, we were already talking about what posters we wanted and how we should decorate our room. Despite this conversation being a good icebreaker for my roommates and me, it highlights the pressure that students have to design an appealing room. But the truth is, in order to achieve this highly coveted style of living, you need to invest a lot more money than you really should into your living experience.
The National Retail Federation, a retail trade association that promotes and defends its businesses’ interests with local and national authorities, states that students spend roughly $750 on college dorm supplies a year. For many people, spending this amount of money can be intimidating, especially when living in these spaces temporarily. While there are things that are necessary to spend money on to ensure a positive living situation, such
as bedding, shower products, laundry supplies and room essentials (like a vacuum, microwave or minifridge), it’s important not to give in to the pressure of blowing too much money on your dorm. We only live in these spaces for nine months out of the year. After that, the school year is over. We pack everything up and either store it for about three
more months, or bring it back home with us. Though it’s easy to say, living in a bare room can be difficult for anybody. If extra dorm accessories such as mirrors, wall decor, coffee table objects and other similar objects are what bring you joy within a semester of stress, then purchasing them is not a bad idea. It’s important to cultivate a healthy environment where
you feel you can decompress and find joy after a long day of school. And if buying that random poster you saw at the store would achieve that for you, then you should buy it. If you feel that your room is perfect without the extra bling, then it’s okay to keep it that way. Don’t go out of your way to buy the extra things that you’ve noticed everyone else is buying solely because everyone else is buying them.
Additionally, if you’re monitoring your spending, saving the money you have for an emergency dorm purchase is important. It would be smart to save your money and spend it when the time comes and you run out of dorm supplies such as soap or paper towels, in contrast to blowing your cash on an expensive shelf that you have your eye on.
The pressure to create a decked-out living space filled with dorm room accessories is extremely prevalent, especially with the ability to see how students can turn their simple dorm into a beautiful bedroom. But it’s important not to get caught up in the details. Buy what you need first, and if you want to add something to your room that’ll make you happy, buy it. Don’t overspend on your dorm. We’re living here for only nine months, so allocate your money wisely.
Social media is an easy way to get caught up in the pressure to have an aesthetically pleasing dorm.
Photo courtesy of @Dormify/ Instagram
Spending lots of money on dorm decor is becoming normal for college students.
Photo courtesy of @Dormify/Instagram
CAS NTT FACULTY WON OUR UNION
93% of non-tenure track (NTT) faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) voted YES this summer to join SEIU Local 721.
This would not have been possible without the overwhelming support of our students who built awareness about our campaign and fought with us for a fair union election. So, from CAS NTT faculty: Thank you, students, from the bottom of our hearts.
• We still need your support. Scan the QR code to sign up and learn how.
ARTS & FEATURE
Setting the vibe with Slow Tide Getting to know the Big Blue Bash student opener
HAILEY HOWELL FEATURE EDITOR
With the anticipation of the Torero Program Board’s Big Blue Bash, many students were left wondering not only who the headliner was going to be, but also wanting to know more about the student opener. Unlike the headliner, Slow Tide was announced a week before the event, which got students excited to hear their music and discover how they started playing together.
The idea for the band, Slow Tide, first came about when USD first-year Miguel Cheng reached out to other incoming students who seemed to be interested in making music. Cheng connected with USD first-years Brannum Cyphers and Katie Tucker via social media before coming to USD this fall semester.
“I saw that [Cyphers] played guitar and he was playing like shows, and I was interested in that,” Cheng said. “So we were talking before we came here, and then we jammed out for a bit. And then I also found [Tucker] the same kind of way.”
USD first-year Leila Nuri joined the group after sharing an icebreaker during orientation week about her musical background. The word spread to the others about her experience on bass which eventually led to Cheng messaging her about playing for the band. Then, after Nuri heard from a Resident Assistant about a potential drummer, USD sophomore River Shaia joined the group.
“One of [Nuri’s] RAs said that there was a drummer moving into the Vistas,” Cheng said. “So we scoped him out, and we emailed him and everything. Yeah, that’s kind of how we met.”
The band members
explained that they first got into playing, or became interested in the music world, for different reasons. Multiple members mentioned the inspiration to play coming from their families.
“I’ve been playing drums since I was seven,” Shaia said. “I got into it because my dad plays guitar and sings, and his brother played drums. So there was always just a drum set at the house … My dad was like ‘Okay, well, that’s your instrument,’ and I was like ‘Okay, cool.’ And so I picked it up and really just stuck with it.”
Cheng explained that he was also inspired to play guitar after learning from his father.
“My dad was in a band when he was in college and high school too,” Cheng said. “So growing up he taught me everything he knew, like the surfing, skating and band stuff. Instruments were part of that too. Yeah, just picked up guitar and stuck with it.”
Nuri explained the musical inclination in her family that inspired her to play as well.
“[My inspiration was] also my dad,” Nuri said. “He played bass in high school and college bands, and he has managed some smaller artists. My family’s very musical and I used to play piano, but then I just started to pick up bass because that’s what he played … Like five years ago.”
Tucker, the vocalist in the band, explained that she has been singing from a young age.
“I’ve just always been singing since I was little,” Tucker said.
“No one in my family really plays music or anything, but I’ve just always loved to sing. I tried singing lessons for like a week, and didn’t vibe with it, so I stopped doing that. But yeah, kind of just always been singing.”
Once they officially formed the group, the band decided on a name, but they didn’t know what
it would be right away. They explained that the decision wasn’t just their idea but that they had input from many others. After narrowing their options down to three possible names, they sent surveys onlin e and asked about the name through word of mouth to about sixty people. The goal was to see which name was most popular. Ultimately, Slow Tide was agreed upon. The group shared that they don’t have any specific bands they draw inspiration from as they all listen to different types of music, which is reflected in the music that they decide to play.
“I would say for the general group, we all listen to different things,” Cheng said. “I would mainly say maybe like indie rock or surf music, but we’ll play literally anything.”
Many members of the group had performed before coming to USD, but as a band they played once together at the USD Surf Team’s House, prior to auditioning for the Big
Blue Bash. After first applying to be the student opener, the band was originally told that they weren’t going to play, but after a cancellation they were invited to perform.
“We applied, and we got rejected,” Cyphers said. “I literally think [the invitation to play] was because we posted on Fizz, and it got like two thousand upvotes. The next day, [TPB] hit us up saying ‘All of a sudden they canceled on us.’”
The process to be the student opener involved sending in audition videos, but the band faced a few setbacks at the time.
“We filmed [the audition] in the Valley A dorm room,” Nuri said. “I didn’t have my bass amp yet, so we were splitting with the vocals and the sound was messed up, but we sent in our videos.”
At the Big Blue Bash, they performed songs from different genres focusing mostly on indie rock covers. They played popular
hits from “Disco” by the Surf Curse to “Kiss me” from Sixpence None the Richer, though the band is also currently working on their own originals as well.
The band explained that they would love to keep playing at shows while in college and are grateful to have the opportunity to play together.
“We just got lucky … We obviously work well together as a band, but I also like all of them,” Tucker said.
Nuri agreed with Tucker’s sentiment, describing the comradery they have together.
“I love that we’re all good friends but also have fun playing shows together and jamming out in our free time,” Nuri said. “Literally nothing beats playing a show.”
Even though the band just formed not too long ago, they are excited for the journey of playing together and looking forward to future shows.
Slow Tide opening for Veggi and Tinashe at the Big Blue Bash.
Shannen Swars/The USD Vista
Students sway along to Slow Tide’s set at the concert.
Ellie Skjersaa/The USD Vista
From left to right: Nuri, Cyphers and Shaia jamming out.
Ellie Skjersaa/The USD Vista
ARTS & CULTURE
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
New and returning models walk the runway for the first time since 2019
ALEXANDRA ALCALA ASST. A&C EDITOR
After six years, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is back.
Victoria’s Secret is famously known for being a retail store focused on lingerie, clothing and beauty products. The show, hosted by the brand, is a one-night event of glamor and high-profile models.
“I had always known of the Victoria’s Secret show as it was a very iconic symbol of the ‘90s and 2000’s, so when it was canceled it was a little sad because it felt like that iconic symbol of [those] times was no longer represented in society,” USD sophomore Neve Borgeding said.
Because the show aired from 1995 until 2018, the impact it had on viewers was significant. It had become an iconic fashion show that a lot of people anticipated every year.
“I would describe the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show as something that I grew up on,” USD sophomore Talia Derbedrosian said. “My sister and I used to watch it all the time. We would sit down once a year, and we would watch it together. When I think of the Victoria’s
Secret Fashion Show, to me, it’s honestly just like something that reminds me of growing up and something that my sister and I would always do together.”
This year’s show took place in New York City at the Duggal Greenhouse, a popular venue in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Besides showcasing the models, the show featured performances from famous singers such as Cher, Tyla and Lisa from Blackpink. The show streamed on different platforms such as Prime Video and Amazon Live, as well as on Victoria’s Secret social media accounts such as Instagram and YouTube.
“I couldn’t watch it with my sister this year because I’m in college now and I don’t live with her,” Derbedrosian said.
“But we were texting about it, and it kind of just felt like that part of me that was from my childhood finally came back. I just enjoyed watching it in general. I would just admire the clothes, the models, their beauty and everything.”
One of the main appeals of the show is the models. After a long awaited return, there were appearances from big household names such as Adriana Lima,
who is one of the most known Victoria’s secret models and named the most valuable Victoria’s Secret angel in 2017.
“I had heard through social media that the show was coming back, which made me very excited because I have always loved watching the shows and seeing the amazing outfits and what singers they have,” Borgeding said. “I think that one of my favorite models is Adriana Lima because she came from a lower income background, so it was really cool to see her build a name for herself and become such an inspiring woman for other girls growing up.”
Victoria’s Secret models are famously named “angels”— a name that is represented by the wings that they wear during the runway. Other angels that returned after the six-year hiatus included Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Kate Moss and Barbara Palvin, all of which started and grew their career by being part of the show.
“I’m really excited for the show to be back, however I wish we could see some new faces, not those who are already famous walking the runway,” Borgeding said. “I feel like it’s lost some of its authenticity now that there are so many girls who are on the show because their mom was an angel. I would love to see new models who made a name for themselves.”
Still, some people do not believe the comeback of the show was a great idea as the reason the show stopped six years ago was due to controversial and unrealistic beauty standards.
Back in 2018, the fashion show was canceled after being critiqued as sexist, outdated and lacking diversity. These critiques were based on the fact that the show is characterized by models being primarily of the same race and body type.
Because of these critiques, some felt the show had no business being aired and suggested the company rethink the image they were portraying to women, specifically young girls and teenagers. In contrast, some appreciated how the show was back in 2019 and did not like the idea of change.
All of the controversy ultimately caused the final show in 2018 to have a mass decline in viewers, declining from their average nine million viewers to only three million. The loss of one of their main chief executives, who left after the 2018 show, also affected the company.
“I have heard about the controversies surrounding inclusivity issues which is understandable,” Borgeding said. “However, I think this past show they did a better job of including women of different ethnicities as well as some more diversity concerning body types. Another controversy [that] I think is interesting is the rise of nepo babies, especially in the modeling industry. I think it’s unfortunate how there are some girls who are automatically receiving special testament because their mom was an angel when there are more hardworking girls out there.”
The last show took some of the critique into consideration as it now featured more women of color, two transgender women and their first plus size models— Ashley Graham, Tyra Banks and Paloma Elsesser.
“I think it was a good call [to add plus size models to the show], especially considering the push back they’ve had in the past, moreso with the lack of plus sized models. I don’t think
they had any pushback about lack of trans models, though I could be wrong,” Moore said. “Also having one of the biggest fashion shows in mainstream media, next to NYFW, doing something like this is a big thing.”
While there has been change on the runway, women of color and transgender women were already part of the show back in 2018. This could explain why the plus size models were the ones to cause the most impression on the audience— they were the first to ever walk a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
“The dilemma with the shows was that there were no different body types included in [it], and honestly I have two opinions on this,” Derbedrosian said. “I agree while at the same time, I disagree. I agree that there should be more body types on the stage. I don’t think modeling should be limited to just one body type for women. I understand why women were upset about this, but at the same time I didn’t think this would lead to the cancellation of the show. I’m just happy that the show is back and that they did include some more body types.”
There has been no confirmation if the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will return to its usual yearly production or if this was just a one-time occasion. Regardless, it seems that many USD students have a soft spot for the show and its relation to their childhood. The controversy surrounding the show continues to spread on social media, but it appears that this year, the brand took into consideration some of the past critiques that led it to its six-year hiatus.
Adriana Lima back on the Victoria’s Secret runway after retiring in 2018.
Photo Courtesy of @adrianalima/Instagram
Homecoming weekend starts with a bang Tinashe revealed as mystery performer
From Big Blue Bash, Page 1 year’s mystery performer was undoubtedly high. However, the suspense was longer than intended due to a last minute cancellation a few days before the concert by the original artist scheduled to perform.
“It has happened before in the past where an artist will cancel, it’s just kind of a question of having a quick turnaround,” Scott said. “Usually you have more weeks and months to do that, so it [was] definitely a setback.”
Regardless of these obstacles, TPB students pulled off a successful night with show stopping sets from openers DJ Veggi and the student opener Slow Tide (For more info on the student opener, see page 8). Headliner Tinashe then followed with an electrifying performance. Some students were specifically looking forward to the inclusion of Black artists that this year had to offer.
“I feel like this is the first Black artist that USD has had, so I’m excited to celebrate that and have fun with my friends,” USD junior Sydney Jourdain said. USD certainly spares
no expense on the Big Blue Bash. Scott noted that with a budget of $180,000 dollars, the University is often able to find popular artists that attract many students. This money is usually split between the performer and the crew. Ultimately, the students are the main organizers behind the event.
“We, [the students of TPB] are basically given [this] budget, and we can kind of decide what we want to do with it,” Scott said. “It’s all the big details of ‘Who’s our artist going to be?’ all the way down to ‘Where’s our artist going to park?’ and ‘Who’s going to make the signs to put on the parking spot?’
At the end of the day, it’s up to the students to put it on.”
This process is certainly neither short nor simple, but the work is not in vain.
The event is a great way for students to meet one another, enjoy live music on campus and see popular artists for free.
“It makes me excited going to school here knowing that they invest their money into something that’s not making them any money,” USD senior Hannah Griffith said. “It’s
just for us to enjoy ourselves and have fun. For me, it feels like I’m at a school where they care about students’ life beyond just academics.”
Other students such as USD junior Ofure Ologbosele enjoy these concerts for the chance to see their favorite artists.
“I love when we have the opportunity to see different artists at our school,” USD junior Ofure Ologbosele said. “I’m a third-year, and I’ve come to these events every year, and every year they just continue to get better.”
According to USD students, the stage presence and the choreography Tinashe brought to the stage certainly made for an incredible night.
“It was even better than I was expecting,” Griffith said. “Her energy, her dancing, the lights and the back-up dancers, they were all so good. She was just a really good performer.
Although organizing this event can be stressful for TPB, it paid off. Students love the opportunity to see their favorite artists live every semester, and with Olé Fest to come in the spring, only time will tell what TPB has in store.
Payne found dead at 31 in Buenos Aires
The singer leaves behind a complicated legacy
From Liam Payne, Page 1 from the hotel balcony. Upon entering his room, Buenos Aires police came across various substances, including alcohol, over-the-counter drugs and supplements. Payne suffered internal and external bleeding from the fall, with a fatal fracture at the base of his skull.
For many USD students, receiving the news of Payne’s death was incredibly shocking. Some students took solace in One Direction’s music and Liam’s solo music. Others found comfort in seeing the vigils set up outside of Casa Sur. One of these students was USD junior Hailey Wood.
“Seeing people setting up vigils for him at the hotel, I think he’ll honestly be remembered for the rest of people’s lives,” Wood said.
“It reminds me of when the Beatles members died and how big of an impact that had on generations before us. I feel like it’s kind of happening again.”
Payne first found fame on “The X-Factor” and gained popularity in one of the world’s most popular boy bands, One Direction. The five young band members— Liam, Harry, Niall, Zayn and Louis— went on to produce five studio albums and sold over 70 million records, making them one of the most successful boy bands in history. With four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Hot 200, most students are bound to know a song or two.
In 2016, six years after the start of their rise to stardom, the group announced that they
would be taking space away from the band. From here, each of the members went on their own paths as solo artists.
Payne produced many memorable tracks. His single, “Strip That Down” featuring Quavo, earned a spot in Britain’s Top 10 hits in 2017. In 2019, he released his first solo album, “LP1.” The album did not perform as well as expected as it missed the Billboard Top 100 chart. After this, he made the choice to take a step away from the music world. He finally returned in March of 2024 with a fresh single, “Teardrops.”
“My most recent memory is me and my roommates screaming ‘Teardrops’ in the car because it’s a really good song,” USD junior Sophia Skubic said.
“That was the only song we listened to for several weeks because we were like, ‘Wow, he did it, this is the song.’”
For Skubic, One Direction was an integral part of her youth. Their presence in her childhood cultivated her love for music.
“I just feel like they kind of shaped me as a kid,” Skubic said. “They were my main source of music, [and they were] my first musical band or artist that I was into. They were my introduction to music, so they were a big part of my childhood and still are now.”
USD first-year student Meher Jhooty shared a similar sentiment. Her love for the band was evident in her early years, and she hoped for a reunion.
“They meant everything to me,” Jhooty said. “Growing up, I had a phase where all I listened
to was One Direction. This is so sad. Now there isn’t going to be a reunion, so all hope is lost.”
Fame and success do not come without their challenges. His death has prompted discussions about the harmful effect stardom can have on still developing teens. Although Payne had hardships, students commend him for the amazing work he did and the mark he left on society.
“He is a good person and he definitely had his demons and had been going through some stuff, but I feel like he contributed to the band a lot when they were together,” Skubic said. “I hope people remember him for the good music and contributions he made.”
In all the good he contributed, there was a darker side to Payne’s life.
The One Direction alum faced legal issues from ex-fiancée, influencer and model, Maya Henry. Payne and Henry began dating in 2019 and were engaged a year later, only to separate in 2021. That same year, they got back together and then broke off their engagement again in 2022.
According to Henry’s lawyer, a week prior to Payne’s death it was reported that Henry had issued a cease and desist order to Payne after new abuse allegations.
USD junior Veronica Gomez weighed in on this, voicing her support of Henry but also acknowledging the tragedy of Payne’s passing.
“I definitely think that toward the end — whatever came out about him, I was on
her side,” Gomez said. “Her story was awful to hear. That that was the truth of what was going on and that he was capable of that, that was shocking, and I sided with her immediately. This doesn’t excuse his behavior, but I think that both [Payne’s influence on fans and Henry’s experiences] can exist at once. It’s still sad.”
Despite the recent allegations against Payne, his legacy in the band and in his solo career proved influential to many people’s lives, especially throughout childhood. As the
world mourns the loss of this influential pop star, many students will remember him for the time he devoted to his fans and the joy he brought to many through his music. Liam Payne was a major and nostalgic part of many Toreros’ childhoods, making this a tough goodbye and a tragic loss. Today, Payne is survived by his seven-year-old son, Bear Grey. From creating songs to scream in the car to raising a son, Payne will certainly not be forgotten. Payne’s complicated legacy will continue to live on.
Opener DJ Veggi performing his set on USD’s campus. Ellie Skjersaa/USD Vista
Headliner Tinashe and her background dancers. Ellie Skjersaa/USD Vista
Liam Payne was a core member of British Boy Band One Direction.
SPORTS USD men’s golf takes first place
Top five finishing streak continued at Stockton Pacific Invitational
PRIYA COOPER SPORTS EDITOR
USD was triumphant at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational at the Stockton Golf and Country Club. The invitational tournament took place from Monday, Oct. 16 to Wednesday, Oct. 18 and was the first victory of the 2024-2025 season for men’s golf. San Diego ranked first place out of the 15 teams competing in Stockton and has placed high at every tournament so far this season.
The win was the team’s third consecutive top five finish of the season. The team previously placed third at the Alliston Mackenzie Invitational, held on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8. As a team, San Diego finished third of 14 total programs in the tournament, combining for a score shooting 49-strokes-under-par and 803 strokes total during the event.
The Toreros fell only seven shots shy of their competitor and tournament winner, San Jose State University and six strokes short of second place finisher and opponent, Pacific University. Toreros also placed fourth out of eight teams at the season opener at the Southern Dunes Collegiate Invitational that occurred in Maricopa, AZ at the start of September.
The victory in Stockton was the first career tournament win for new head coach Evan Emerick. He suceeded Chris Riley, who announced his departure from the Torero program in May of 2024.
Emerick is aided by USD Associate Coach Sam Foust, who has helped the team reach three consecutive NCAA tournaments. Emrick joined USD in June 2024 after coaching at the University of Southern California, where he served as an assistant coach for one year. Before his time with the Trojans, Emrick spent a combined 15 years at the nearby San Diego State University as both a player and a coach.
USD sophomore You Seong Choi and USD graduate transfer Jaden Cantafio helped Coach Emerick achieve his first tournament win. Both concluded the tournament with 202 total strokes across three rounds. Cantafio’s passion for the game goes beyond just winning, it’s about the relationships he’s built and the sense of unity within the team.
“I love to compete, especially alongside the great group of teammates and coaches that we have at USD, it feels like family,” Cantafio said. “It’s what we practice for, and it’s always fun being able to play for something bigger than yourself. Some goals moving forward are to keep having fun and working to get better every day. If we focus on that individually and as a team, the rest is going to take care of itself.”
USD first-year Cooper Humphreys was just behind Cantafio and Choi for the Toreros as he turned in a top10 performance. Humphreys finished T-8, ( T is a scoreboard abbreviation for “Tied at that
score or position”) with a final score of 7-strokes-underpar. Humphreys reflected on the excitement and intensity of competing with his team, expressing how much he thrives in a high-stakes environment.
“This week was so fun,” Humphreys said. “The feeling and pressure of knowing you’re competing for a team win is something we all want
to experience and I can’t wait to feel it again. My goals for the rest of the year are to get some more team wins and some wins of my own.”
USD sophomore Ryan Abuan placed T-47 and was followed by USD first-year Henry Dall, who competed as an individual and placed T-57, to round out USD’s results. Abuan and Dall discussed how the win
helped team morale and will prepare them for more matches post their tournament success.
“This week in Stockton meant a lot for my team and I, as this is a huge confidence booster to our strong fall season,” Abuan said. “As the spring season is just around the corner, we look to defend our WCC Title and take that momentum into an NCAA run.”
After securing an early season victory, Dall highlighted how crucial it is to build on that success while maintaining a steady mindset. It is important to recognize the impact of an early victory on the team’s confidence, but also stress the importance of staying disciplined throughout the season.
“I think an early win in the season is a great momentum booster going forward for the rest of the year,” Dall said. “Our goal for this year has been to not get ahead of ourselves and just focus on one shot at a time, and we are going to keep the same mentality for the rest of the season.”
The Toreros are back in action on Oct. 29 when they travel to Kapolei, Hawaii to begin play in the Kapolei Invitational at Kapolei Golf Course. The team looks to continue the streak of placing at least top five in every tournament at the upcoming games to come. After the tournament in Kapolei, the golf teams fall seaon will conclude. The Toreros will come back in February of 2025 to begin their spring season.
USD graduate student Jaden Cantafio at Stockton Pacific Invitational.
Photo courtesy of @jaden_cantafio/Instagram
USD men’s golf team with first place trophy.
USD at Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston Men’s rowing takes first place in Collegiate Fours SPORTS
PRIYA COOPER SPORTS EDITOR
The Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) is an annual weekend-long rowing event held towards the end of every October. The race lasted from Oct. 18 to Oct. 20 this year and always takes place on the Charles River, running between Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is the largest three-day regatta in the world, featuring 11,000 athletes competing in over 2,500 boats across 73 events. According to the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, the event attracts 225,000 visitors to the area and generates almost $80 million for the local economy each year.
Both the men’s and women’s rowing teams are competing in multiple races at the event this year. The men competed in the Collegiate Eights and Collegiate Fours, while the women’s team rowed in the Club Four and Club Eight.
USD sophomore and coxswain for the men’s Collegiate Four crew, Jonah McDonnell, talked about the expectations going into the weekend.
“As a program, we have never been in a better position to make a name for USD, especially on such a large stage,” McDonnell said. “I think I can speak for our whole team when I say we have never been more excited and focused for a fall race, and the results on Sunday will speak for themselves.”
The results did indeed speak for themselves as USD men’s rowing placed the highest they ever have
at this year’s Head of the Charles and received gold at one of the biggest races of the year. The team took 1st place in the Collegiate Fours out of 42 competing teams and twenty-seventh place in the Collegiate Eights, also out of 42 teams. Senior Derek Hissong, senior Sam Pigott, junior Rex Bales, junior Aidan Andrzejewski and sophomore Jonah McDonnell won the Men’s Collegiate Four. They finished 27 seconds ahead of Stetson University, who was the winner of the Collegiate Four in 2023. The Collegiate Eights crew was manned by USD athletes sophomore Nick Lee, sophomore Dawson Hein, junior Kacen Hamada, senior Jacob Cofrey, sophomore James Grauley, sophomore Jaydn Conover, sophomore Henry Michaud, sophomore Gable Kritch and junior Santiago Gomez. This marks the first HOCR first-place finish in program history, after finishing men’s rowing places third in 2022 and second in 2023.
The men’s rowing team’s historic performance at the Head of the Charles set a new standard for USD, with their Collegiate Fours and Eights delivering impressive results.
Riding that wave of success, the excitement extended to USD’s women’s rowing team as well. Senior captain Addison Peebles expressed her eagerness to compete in Boston, where the energy and scale of the regatta fueled her team’s passion for racing.
“The Head of the Charles is my favorite event of the year,”
Peebles said. “As the largest three-day rowing regatta in the world, it is the culmination of our summer training. I can’t wait to race alongside my best friends, feeling the energy of tens of thousands of spectators cheering us on. The anticipation and the thrill of the competition makes it an unforgettable experience.”
Building on the anticipation surrounding the Head of the Charles, USD senior rower Georgia Koerwitz echoed the excitement of competing on such
a grand stage. Reflecting on the unique atmosphere of the event, she shared her thoughts on what makes this experience so special.
“I am extremely excited to be racing my last head of the Charles this year,” Koerwitz said. “The environment at HOCR is like nowhere else, being the largest regatta in the world. It is a weekend that feels like all of Boston comes together to invest in rowing. It’s quite amazing rowing in a place that truly cares about rowing and its culture, it’s completely different than anywhere on the West Coast. We hope to medal this year and continue to grow as a program.”
At the 2024 Head of the Charles, the women’s Club Four earned a fourth place finish out of 50 boats, and the Club Eight crew came in sixth place out of 42 boats. The USD Club Four was rowed by junior coxswain Everett Melstrand, junior Sophia Bouvard as well as seniors Kayla Baker, Ali O’Dea and Jayden Soukoulis. The Club Eight was rowed by USD sophomore coxswain Natanya Ahadian, sophomore Grace Kaufmann, junior Ava Minney, senior Gigi Koerwitz, senior Addie Peebles, junior Annika Goodwin, first-year Rebecca Donn, freshman Skye Lang and junior Vivian Goretic.
After the successful weekend, Goretic reflected on the experience and opportunity to compete
against so many different athletes.
“Head of the Charles Regatta is one of the biggest rowing regattas in the world and a special weekend to us, not only because of the distance we travel to get to it but more so because we get to race against schools we usually don’t see in our regular season and do it right alongside Olympians that are just returning from Paris, looking for some fun racing,” Goretic said. “The regatta captures the beauty around the sport in the most empowering way, and we are excited to have this momentum looking forward to our spring season. Our Club Four finished in the medals with fourth place, our Club Eight finished sixth, both of these being the best finishes in program history, which we are incredibly thrilled by.”
This year, both USD’s rowing teams made history, with the men’s team achieving their first-ever championship and the women’s team delivering commendable performances. As both teams look to the future, their successes at this prestigious event indicates a positive start to the season and other races to come. Both the men’s and women’s team are set to compete this coming weekend in the second tournament of the fall season, the Head of the American Reagtta on Saturday Oct. 26. in Sacramento, CA.
Women’s Club Eight crew team on the Charles River in Boston.
Photo courtesy of @usdwrowing/Instagram
Men’s rowing wins gold in Collegiate Fours.
Photo courtesy of @usdmrowing/Instagram