Volume 61 Issue 17

THE USD VISTA

Former TPB Chair discusses ASG

Insight into ASG budget and autonomy

Last semester, Torero Program Board (TPB) Chair Marco Jimenez stepped down from his position of leadership. TPB is a branch of USD’s Associated Student Government (ASG), primarily focused on planning events and programs for the undergraduate students throughout the school year. Previously, Jimenez was involved with TPB for two semesters as the Marketing Coordinator, then transitioned to TPB Chair for one semester. As the lead of TPB, the chair also holds a seat on ASG’s executive board.

Jimenez expressed how being a part of ASG’s executive board ultimately led to his decision to leave.

“The reason I chose to leave was because I felt that the ASG organization was run in an unfair way. It’s supposed to be ‘by the students, for the students’ –that’s the whole slogan. But I felt that there was unnecessary and unjust intervention from the advisors who were meant to support the org, but a lot of the

times, it felt like they made the decisions for us and didn’t give us the option,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez gave insight into

explaining ASG’s processes, including how ASG decides the budget, student autonomy within the organization and

impact on the student body. Every undergraduate student at USD pays $260 in their tuition toward a “student activity fee” for

USD student band: the Microblades

Students take the local music scene by storm

Looking for new bands can be a daunting and arduous process. However, students at USD can check out The Microblades: a powerhouse trio right here on campus. The three members came together through a high school French class and a Nextdoor ad (an app for neighborhoods to get tips/ help/connect with others). The band is composed of lead singer, guitarist and USD sophomore Giulietta Randell, drummer, back up-vocalist and USD sophomore Lauren Deerinck and bassist Imogen Collis, who is a student at MiraCosta College.

Collis and Randell met in French class at Canyon Crest Academy in Carmel Valley. They initially practiced together on and off, trying to find a third, reliable hard-working member for their band. Randell explained the difficulty when searching for a third member.

“In the past when I had been in a couple different groups, oftentimes it’s just hard to find

a dedicated group of individuals who you can respect. Someone who is competent and professional.”

Through posting an ad on Nextdoor they found their third with Deerinck. It was a perfect

match, “We live so close together, it’s like ‘Oh, I have drums at my place let’s practice there’ it’s made practicing really easy” Deerinck said. However, for her freshman year of college Deerinck attended

the 2023-2024 school year, with 30% going to TPB. ASG disperses the money among many different centers on campus, such as United Front Multicultural Commons (UFMC), the Black Student Resource Commons (BSRC) and the Mulvaney Center. These centers that request money have other clubs underneath them.

For example, UFMC requested $21,030 for the Spring 2024 semester and $13,235 was approved. The approved amount is put toward events hosted by UFMC, such as “DiversiTea,” a monthly dialogue series discussing relevant current events and socio-political issues. Throughout the semester, other clubs can request money through the ASG budget committee, which meets every Tuesday during dead hours. ASG and TPB run their organizations on the slogan “by the students, for the students,” meaning that all student money needs to go back to the student body, whether that be through events, clubs or programs.

Jimenez explained the budgeting processes for the student activities fee.

“Every quarter, the ASG See Ex TPB Chair, Page 3

Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles. After starting to gain some traction in the local music scene, Collis and Randell would drive the three

Super Tuesday hits USD Donald Trump and Joe Biden gain clear path to November rematch

EMMA PIRHALA ASST. NEWS EDITOR

This past Super Tuesday brought voters in over a dozen states to polling centers and mailboxes on March 5, including California, to vote in the primary elections. Students here at USD voted in their parties’ nominating contest for the upcoming presidential election in November.

Super Tuesday’s primary elections showed President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump to be in the lead for their parties as the presumptive nominees.

USD first-year and California voter Caylie Miller shared how she voted in the presidential primaries.

“I voted in the Republican primary for [Donald] Trump, because we need to put America first. We are in an uncertain economy and times, and Trump will make policies that are in the interest of Americans and that will Make America Great Again,” Miller said.

Trump led in all but one race for the Republican party, which he lost in Vermont to Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. However, this win was not enough to keep Haley in the contest for the GOP’s nomination, as she dropped out on March 6.

At a press conference, Haley suspended her campaign.

“The time has now come to suspend my campaign. I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard, I have done that. I have no regrets. Although I will no longer be a candidate, I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe in,” Haley said.

USD senior and President of the Political Science Honors Society Kaiya Mitchell expressed why she voted for Biden in Virginia’s primary.

“I voted for [Biden] because I want to see him have another four years in office,” Mitchell said. “He has accomplished so much in his term and he knows how to get things done. Some of those accomplishments include successfully leading us through COVID, capping prescription drug prices, passing a huge Infrastructure bill, record environmental protections, new

gun safety laws and helping revive our economy by creating over 400,000 jobs, more than any other President. I want to see what else he can accomplish if given the chance, and I think that he is our only hope in protecting women’s rights and our democracy as an institution.”

Closer to campus, San Diegans voted in local and state elections as well as the presidential race.

Following Senator Dianne

Feinstein’s death in September 2023, her seat in the United States Senate is up for grabs with a primary for the special election on Super Tuesday. Two candidates, Democratic Representative Adam Schiff and Republican, former San Diego Padre, Steve Garvey will advance to the election on Nov. 5.

Democratic Representative Katie Porter will not continue to the election, despite forfeiting her seat in the House of

Representatives to run for Senate.

Another issue on Californians’ ballots was “California Proposition 1,” which would amend the Mental Health Service Act, to allow counties to reappropriate their mental health, drug or alcohol treatments to focus on increasing housing and individualized support, and allowing the state to borrow as much as $6.4 billion to construct mental health facilities and provide housing leads by slim

margins, but it is too early to tell whether the legislation will pass. The proposition has faced significant backlash from mental health advocates, since the legislation would promote forced institutionalization and decrease individualized care.

USD sophomore and Californian Maryann Michlovich shared similar views on Prop. 1.

“I voted ‘no’ on [Proposition 1], because it is way too expensive and doesn’t actually solve or properly address the issue of homelessness,” Michlovich said.

However, other students struggled to vote in the primaries due to the difficulties in securing mail-in ballots.

Resident of California and USD first-year Sydney Ignasiak explained her issues in obtaining a mail-in ballot.

“I didn’t vote, since I didn’t receive a ballot. It was delivered to my house, but I was not informed about it,” Ignasiak said. “I honestly didn’t realize that the primaries were so soon and didn’t know when the last day to vote was. However, even if I was informed that my ballot was delivered, I don’t think I would have voted, since I don’t know enough about the candidates.”

USD Votes is a nonpartisan organization which promotes voting and election accessibility on campus.

USD senior and President of USD Votes Iesha Brown detailed ways in which the organization can help students struggling to get involved in the election.

“Resources available on campus for students to remain informed on voting, comes directly from USD Votes and our collaboration with other student orgs and faculty to support students on how they can develop their plan to vote whether they are in or out of state. Not only do we collaborate to deliver student presentations, but we also table around different spots on campus to ensure students have the opportunity to meet us and remain informed.”

Super Tuesday was not the conclusion of the primaries, with the remaining states’ nominations trickling in until June. However, with no other remaining candidates, the state of the election currently holds a Trump versus Biden rematch come Election Day on Nov. 5.

Former President Donald Trump won the Republican race in all but one state on Super Tuesday. Photo courtesy of @realdonaldtrump/Instagram

Joe Biden gave the State of the Union address a few days after winning all of the Democrat races on Super Tuesday. Photo courtesy of @joebiden/Instagram

U.S. Airman self-immolates for Palestine

USD students react to ‘extreme protest’ in Washington D.C.

SPENCER BISPHAM MANAGING EDITOR

Trigger Warning: Suicide

In a recent incident of protest, 25-year-old active-duty senior Airman Aaron Bushnell took his own life in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. Bushnell self-immolated (lit himself on fire) for the stated cause of the liberation of Palestine: a hot-button political issue around the world during the last several months. The former U.S. Air Force veteran was “outraged” at the U.S. government’s response to the Israel-Hamas conflict and had previously expressed his desire to “take a stand against all state-sanctioned violence.”

“I am an active duty member of the United States Air Force, and I will no longer be complicit in genocide,” Bushnell said, moments before dousing himself in flammable liquid. “I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest, but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it is not extreme at all.”

In a video that circulated online, Bushnell is seen striking a match and shouting “Free Palestine” once his uniform erupts in flame. First responders to the scene are also heard

shouting, “get him on the ground” while simultaneously holding him at gunpoint and searching for a fire extinguisher.

USD senior Niah Ayala had a strong initial reaction to the news about Bushnell’s protest.

“It was shocking,” Ayala said. “It takes a lot of bravery to put yourself in that position and to prove a point. I know especially for the Palestinians themselves, they feel like no one is really listening to them, because there is no action being taken.”

Ayala also shared how the incident played against the current national backdrop.

Since Oct. 7, Joe Biden has expressed his support for Israel.

“I think, because of how Joe Biden and everyone feels, his specific contribution proved that not everyone in the U.S. agrees with Israel or wants to do this,” Ayala said.

To those familiar with Biden’s foreign policy stance regarding Israel, Bushnell’s “extreme act of protest” may have come as a shock. The two nations have enjoyed a long-standing military and political partnership, which is reflected in the U.S.’ influence in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. American tax dollars have been sent to Israel in the form of both weapons and cash payments, totaling over $130 billion since Israel’s founding.

Since The USD Vista’s latest

coverage on Israel and Palestine, the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has ended. Both parties resumed fighting back in early December 2023, and have driven the death toll to over 30,000 casualties, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry. The vast majority of these deaths are Palestinian civilians without direct ties to Hamas, causing an increasing number of people around the world to question Israel’s actions.

For USD junior Andrew Fullerton, the situation is far from black and white.

“I mean obviously the U.S. funds Israel [and] is obviously pro-Israel, antiPalestine,” Fullerton said. “I don’t think Israel really gives a single [expletive] about that guy lighting himself on fire, that’s not doing anything.”

He spoke on how his personal ties to the situation add a layer of confusion.

“I have a lot of friends that are Israeli, who are obviously pro-Israel, but I also do think that Israel is certainly unethically wiping out a lot of Palestinians,” Fullerton said. “I think if you were to lift up a board between the two [groups], Israel is targeted by a lot of the Islamic countries. I need to do more research… at the same time, does that mean they need to wipe out all of Palestine? I’m

not sure; it’s really complicated.”

On Dec. 29, 2023, South Africa filed a case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) claiming the latter’s government is attempting to commit genocide against the Palestinian people. The case accuses Israel of breaching the 1948 Geneva Convention, which was designed to protect innocent civilians from the brutal realities of war.

USD senior and political science major Lex Padilla spoke to the importance of the United Nations (UN) and its bodies, such as the ICJ, when mediating international conflicts.

“Even though the UNHRC [United Nations Human Rights Charter] is not a binding piece of legislation that you can

Inside ASG’s operations

actually use in court, it’s used as a basis in cases with people in other countries,” Padilla stated. “People will be like, ‘I don’t understand why the UN is so important,’ but it’s less about binding legislation and more the fact that after WWII, all these countries got together and decided that this was the standard.”

In 2024, there was also a resolution for immediate ceasefire introduced to the United Nations Security Council, which was vetoed by the U.S. in late February. Meanwhile, South Africa’s case against Israel remains undecided.

Despite Bushnell’s actions and these cries for peace across the world, Israel’s war against Hamas rages on.

Former TPB chair shares his experience

See Ex TPB chair, Page 1 finance committee meets to allocate the budget. That consists of the ASG President, the Finance chair, the [ASG] Vice President, the Speaker of the Senate, the four Senate Committee Chairs and me — the TPB chair. The Finance Chair doesn’t vote. He just facilitates the meeting,” Jimenez said.

“TPB alone last semester [Fall 2023] had $312,000 to use across 12 events. ASG as a whole has $1.6 million to distribute [for the 2023-24 school year].

This includes revenue and the money that rolled over. If the money isn’t used the whole year, it rolls over to the next.”

ASG members, including the TPB chair, are compensated for their work through work service awards (WSA). Calculated by the Office of Financial Aid, WSA for members of ASG are determined through a review of their job descriptions and corresponding number of work hours. The Office of Financial Aid reviews these independently, and then determines the amount that student leaders are awarded. Members of ASG do not have a formal say in this. The TPB Chair position receives $2,900 per semester.

ASG also makes decisions, working with their four, fulltime advisors, one of whom is Assistant Director of Student Activities and Involvement. This position, along with the

Executive Assistant for Student Activities Involvement, are two of the staff members that are salaried through the student activities fee. The executive assistant works with scheduling across the organization and also takes care of payments and checks, while the assistant director manages the finances.

Jimenez explained that the main reason why he left the organization was because of the perceived power imbalance between the ASG advisors and the student WSA members of ASG.

“The person who previously held the [assistant director] position left, and that needed to be rehired, but that decision was not in the hands of the students. You would think that the decision should be made by ASG exec, or by the students because we’re the ones paying for the salary [through the student activities fee], but that decision is made by USD staff — the advisors,” Jimenez said. “Another power imbalance is that we had to cater to their schedules, and weren’t allowed to meet outside of working hours [9 a.m. to 5 p.m.] for our ASG exec meetings, even though we’re full-time students, and there were much better times, where all of our schedules aligned.”

The Public Relations Chair for ASG, Morgan Pheng, responded on behalf of ASG in an email to The USD Vista to explain the role that the

Executive Assistant and Assistant Director play in the organization.

“As ASG Members, we are an integral part of the interview process for the Executive Assistant of ASG and the Assistant Director of ASG and play an active role in the hiring process. These staff members play a crucial role in supporting student-led initiatives, advocating for student interests, enhancing student engagement, and providing resources to student organizations and ASG members. Both the Executive Assistant of ASG and Assistant Director of ASG have tasks that are deeply integral to the day to day activities of students and support ASG leaders in executing our decisions.”

The students in ASG are meant to represent the student body, but Jimenez asserted that he thought the advisors would make decisions that didn’t always represent the students.

“There were occasions when I felt pressured into making decisions from the advisors that I didn’t think were best or most fair for the students and for my team,” Jimenez stated. “For example, TPB does merch giveaways, and I would be strongly advised to not give merch to the entire team, but only to those who were on the committee. The team wouldn’t be allowed to have any [merch] because they had class during the actual giveaway, even though

it’s worked on together. But then, the advisors would take an extra pair for themselves. If you walk into the office, there are piles of unused merch that sit there, [which] could [instead] be in the hands of a student who paid for it with our student activities fee.”

Spending the students’ money wisely was a consistent reminder for ASG members from the advisors, but Jimenez thought that the advisors did not always follow their own advice.

“Students’ money was never misused in any major ways, but there are things I disagree with about how money is allocated,” Jimenez said. “For example, in the senate, all the food is paid for there using different ASG budgets. And something that was stressed on me as TPB chair was that the money needed to be used wisely. If that’s such a big stressor, why are they able to have so much food at the senate? It gets taken back to the ASG office.”

Jimenez explained that he wasn’t alone in the conversation. Before he left, members of the ASG executive team met outside of working hours to discuss the leadership dynamics within ASG.

“In my experience with ASG exec and TPB, we would talk about it a lot. I can guarantee that every single person between those two groups feels this exact same way, even if they don’t speak out about it,” Jimenez said.

On behalf of ASG, Pheng also

sent the following statement in an email to The USD Vista: “ASG is an excellent opportunity for students to build their leadership and decision making skills autonomously, while still having the support structures and guidance of staff. ASG Advisors play a supportive and advisory role in student government decisionmaking processes, whereas ASG members hold formal positions and voting powers that directly influence decisions impacting the student body.

ASG members are responsible for soliciting input from their constituents, representing their interests, and making decisions that reflect the needs and priorities of the student body.”

Jimenez emphasized that since it is the students’ money in the activities fee, students should know about their opportunity to speak up about anything at ASG Senate meetings, which occur every Thursday during dead hours.

“Outside of it now, I know that ASG members work hard — even with the unspoken power imbalance in the way that the students [ASG members] don’t have as much autonomy over the organization,” Jimenez said.

“I would describe being the TPB Chair as a ‘thankless position.’ I left the organization with nothing but the friendships made, and I hope it changes for them and for the USD community.”

At a vigil, hundreds of people gathered to remember Aaron Bushnell.

Photo courtesy of @gzt/Instagram

ARTS & CULTURE

The ups and downs of situationships

A look into The Microblades

USD’s up and coming, award-nominated student band

From The Microblades, Page 1 hours from San Diego to LMU to pick up Deerinck for gigs.

The first show The Mircoblades ever played was also the first time Deerinck had ever performed in front of an audience. One of their favorite experiences performing was at SOMA (their third performance ever as a band), an iconic venue in San Diego that has been graced by the likes of Billie Eilish and Green Day. Learning how to improve as a musician comes from performing in front of live audiences, a fact that Randell talked about.

“Playing in front of people is like the time where we learn to problem solve quickly, also how to bounce off the audience,” Randell said.

Deerinck had learned how to play the drums for a little under a year before she joined Collis and Randell on stage. Playing has been the best practice for The Microblades.

“I noticed my most growth as a drummer after we started playing shows,” Deerinck said about her confidence as a part of The Microblades.

The Microblades have played together for a year and half. Through performing at shows, they gained the attention of a local radio host, Lou Niles. Niles is known in the San Diego music scene to have a sense of “the next best new musical talent.” He gave The Microblades a platform for their music on the radio, as well as encouraging them to submit for the San Diego Music Awards. They often play shows with other local musicians.

“You are surrounded by so much talent, like in the music scene there are so many talented musicians and just being able to talk to them about philosophies and music is really eye opening,” Deerinck explained. “I am really grateful to have that experience and talk to those people.”

These connections with other musicians help them build their portfolio of venues to play and rapport among the San Diego music scene.

Currently, The Microblades describe themselves as a vintage rock band whose sound really can’t be tied down.

“All three of us, we like to associate ourselves with different decades in music history,” Deerinck said. Until now, the triad has released three songs on major music platforms, transcending genre limitations, a testament to their commitment to expanding their musical expertise. They follow each other’s instincts when writing and recording their music, riffing off one another to find the ideal sound.

“It starts off, I am writing a demo of a song or some lyrics and I’ll send it via messages to [Collis and Deerinck] to see what they

feel would add to the project,” Randell said. “Our second song ever released, I initially wrote with the idea it would be a folk/rock type of song. And then [Deerinck] came up with a drum beat that was more pop-punk and that ended up being the version we released.”

The Microblades’ most recent song, “Cowboy,” is nominated for Best Pop Song at the San Diego Music Awards. When talking about how this award affects their band Deerinck said, “This

is a really big step for us, gaining this recognition, especially in San Diego. This is huge,” Randell added. “It makes me realize people are actually listening to us, taking notice of us.”

The recognition for The Microblades hasn’t stopped there. The SDMA (which the public votes on) is not the only award that “Cowboy” was nominated for. The music video made for the song was also nominated at the Innovative Video in Education (iVIE) awards.

“Cowboy” was their second music video, and filming this music video was quite the ordeal for The Microblades. The video was shot in the Anza Borrego Desert and it involved driving a vintage car into the desert, by Deerinck, who learned how to drive stick shift the day before. Since the trio isn’t represented by a label, all of the heavy lifting (literally carrying drums for miles through the desert) falls on the band members’ shoulders.

Their dedication to being musicians is what drives them to keep playing shows. Fame isn’t the goal for The Microblades. They are having fun and enjoying the love of the music, which can be seen through the countless hours they’ve spent driving on LA freeways to various concert venues or even playing a show underneath the freeways in downtown San Diego. They perform in a wide variety of venues from breweries and vintage shops to DIY shows and a music festival at the Garden Amphitheater, Deerinck shared the band’s past playing experience.

“Under the freeway at night... was like super underground, literally,” Randell said. “It’s rough out there, it’s cold, there’s no stage, sometimes they have to break out a generator. It’s like a dustbowl, people mosh.”

Both Deerinck and Randell attest to the luck their band has encountered, from finding each other in a sea of unreliable musicians to being nominated for Best Pop Song at the San Diego music awards. Now, after performing for almost a year and a half together, the band hopes to perform at more iconic venues, like the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles and the House of Blues San Diego.

Before they reach these heights, The Microblades have equally exciting things coming up in the foreseeable future. Their next show is at The Look House on March 16. Later this year, they will be releasing their first EP for all to listen to.

Lauren Deernick, Giulietta Randell and Imogen Collis (left to right) performing at their most recent show at the Vintage Threads on March 9.

Emma-Kate Squires/The USD Vista

A still from the music video for The Microblades’ most recent song ‘Cowboy,’ shot in the Anza Borrego Desert.

Photo courtesy of The Microblades/YouTube

‘Dune: Part Two’ delivers the spice

The sequel to the popular 2021 film is a blockbuster

COLIN MULLANEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The second, cinematic installment of the “Dune” series, directed by Denis Villeneuve, landed in theaters on March, 1, 2024, and it’s already raked in over $360 million, including $82 million in the first weekend. Based on the books by Frank Herbert, published in 1965, the sci-fi epic is a nearly three-hour-long ride through the sands of Arrakis. Family rivalries, geopolitics, atomic weapons and learning to love after loss are just a sample of what’s in-store for audiences.

Timotheé Chalamet, who plays protagonist Paul Atreides, and Zendaya, who portrays Chani, have come a long way since their breakout roles in “Call Me by Your Name” and “Shake It Up,” respectively. Fans disappointed by the lack of Zendaya and her measly seven minutes of screen time in the first “Dune” movie will be compensated for their two years of patience, with a slowburn romance and emotional payoff that’s out of this world.

Picking up where “Dune” left off, Paul Atreides and his mother, Lady Jessica — portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson — are lost in the desert. They seek to avenge the death of Paul’s father, Duke Leto Atreides, at the hands of their rival: House Hakonnen, led by the stuff-of-nightmares Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. Through a series of trials set in motion long ago, Paul

Atreides must discover whether he has what it takes to be the local peoples’ Messiah figure, aka the “Lisan al Gaib,” or whether he is merely a fraud, who has only gotten to where he is, because of his mother’s political puppeteering and mystical training.

Paul’s mother is a prominent devotee to the “Bene Gesserit”: a group of “witches,” who are playing 4-D chess, using the rival houses as pawns in their game. The Bene Gesserit are highly intuitive and powerful women that exert their influence on the “ruling” men of the galaxy, in order to strategically determine every political outcome in advance. Like the native Fremen people, the Bene Gesserit await their

own coming Messiah, or the “Kwisatz Haderach” who will show “the way,” as the first male initiate of the Bene Gesserit.

Mixed loyalties and divided duties will inevitably come back into play, and provide answers to questions posed by the first “Dune” movie, including whether Paul’s mother will sacrifice him for to the greater good of the Bene Gesserit, or show him divine wisdom and grace — with the help of her telepathic, unborn fetus.

In “Dune: Part Two,” symbolic allusion abounds, including religious iconography, rituals and motifs from traditions like Christianity, Daoism and Islam. Paul Atreides must encounter his own inner darkness and egoic human

nature, in order to overcome and defeat it, like Jesus resisting Satan’s temptations in the desert after 40 days and nights.

As an archetypal “messiah” image, Paul Atreides is resurrected after a deep journey into the unconscious and underworld. He learns the transformative properties of poison, and the life-giving power of confronting whatever truth one would least like to ingest.

To rise above, Paul must go deep within, and learn how to ride the waves of his own mind and emotions, to walk the fine line between the conscious and unconscious mind and gain mastery over himself and his human nature.

In “Dune: Part Two,” prophecy is greater than any

one individual, yet it requires each person involved to sacrifice who they would have become, in order to be who they truly are. By definition, destiny is “destined,” but it must also be carefully enacted by brave and daring individuals, looking for the fight of their lives.

If that wasn’t enough pressure, Austin Butler — no longer speaking in an Elvis accent — makes an appearance as Feyd-Rautha, to reflect back the sinister shadow side that Chalamet’s character is struggling to integrate. Competing for Messiahship, this rivalry does not go quite as smoothly as John the Baptist dunking his cousin Jesus in the Jordan River.

A mix of action and depth, avid fans of artfully choreographed fight scenes will not be disappointed, nor will theologians and practicing psychoanalysts. The music score by Hans Zimmer will also send a shiver up and down audiences’ spines, with bagpipes, rumbling drums and war chants, fitting for the movie’s many combat scenes.

“Dune: Part Two” wouldn’t be complete without a vague and elusive ending, leaving the series and cinematic universe open to further expansion and exploration. However, despite its ambiguity, there is something immensely satisfying about the resolution, and watching Zendaya ride… nevermind, USD students will have to go see it for themselves, at one of many local theaters showing “Dune: Part Two.”

Actor Zendaya, Director Denis Villeneuve and Actor Timotheé Chalamet posing for photos at the world premiere of ‘Dune: Part Two.’

Photo Courtesy of @dunemovie/Instagram

ANJALI DALAL-WHELAN NEWS EDITOR

Over 6,000 miles away from her hometown, Dr. Yi Sun is living out her dream in a way she never would have imagined. Her journey spans oceans, indoctrinations, culture shocks and mishaps, but it has brought her exactly to where she believes she should be.

Born in Tianjin, China, in 1963, Sun grew up in a multigenerational home with her parents, grandparents and two younger siblings. During her childhood, due to the Communist Party of China’s rule, most housing was governmentowned and practically free.

Sun’s childhood home was a three-room apartment for seven people that lacked modern luxuries such as indoor plumbing, refrigeration and air conditioning. The apartment was part of a compound that shared a courtyard with other families. Sun reflected on communal living.

“It was really a community, so people looked after each other’s children, they babysat... it was sort of a reciprocal arrangement… but it was really kind of a nice, communal warm kind of setting.”

Sun reminisced on the cultural differences during her childhood being different from the traditional American experience, with separate houses and modern conveniences.

“In the summertime, back then there was no AC, there was no refrigeration, so you basically had to cook your food every single day, but on the plus side, it was all fresh,” Sun said. “You could say, ‘oh you toughed it out.’ But at the moment, we didn’t feel there was unnecessary hardship. It was just the way it

ARTS & FEATURE

Dr. Yi Sun: Her journey to USD from humble beginnings

was, and people went about their daily lives pretty cheerfully.”

A large part of Sun’s childhood was during the Cultural Revolution in China, a movement launched by Mao Zedong to rid capitalist influence from the country of China — often remembered for its violence and propagandizing of youth. The Cultural Revolution lasted from 1966, when Sun was three years old, to 1976 when she was in middle school. Sun explained how her personal experience with the period differ from her view as a historian.

“As a child, I didn’t know enough to feel it was traumatizing,” Sun said. “As a historian, you look back and go ‘oh, my goodness, that was a decade of chaos.’ But interestingly, the way it affected… personally would have been the fact that during that era, there was serious promotion of gender equality.”

With slogans such as “women hold up half the sky,” the idea that women were equal to men was enforced during the Cultural Revolution, which gave girls both a sense of empowerment and responsibility. In school, she was required to memorize and repeat Marxist sayings, which emphasized the importance of gender equality and financial independence. Sun explained that these messages continue to have a profound influence on her.

“To an extent, maybe you could call it indoctrination,” Sun described. “Ever since you were little, we are told day in and day out that you’re just as good, you’re just as equal [as men], but to prove that — you have to work… to this day, that may be a lingering influence. I can’t imagine myself not working.”

Since childhood, Sun always knew what profession she preferred.

“I always wanted to be a teacher, for some reason, I still can’t explain it, I think I just knew I wanted to be a teacher.”

However, Sun never expected to become a professor in the U.S. As a young adult, she attended Nankai University in Tianjin, where she studied literature and planned on teaching American history in China.

Sun explained that she decided to come to the U.S. on a chance encounter. A conversation with another student led her to decide that she wanted to see the world outside of China.

“It was kind of almost a random thing, but I’m glad I made that decision,” Sun said.

Deciding to attend graduate school and study diplomatic history, Sun thought Washington State University would be the perfect place for just that. It was not until she arrived in “Washington” that she learned of the difference between Washington state and the U.S. capital, Washington D.C. Sun describes being driven through the woods, after getting off the plane in utter confusion of where she had ended up. She didn’t have the courage then to ask anyone where the monuments were, for a few days after her arrival.

“Later on I learned, oh, there’s so many places, including schools that are named after Washington. What did I know?” Sun recalled, with a laugh.

Despite the initial mix-up, Sun still enjoyed her time at Washington State University, where she earned an MA and Ph.D. in American history.

In graduate school, Sun’s doctoral dissertation was in China-U.S. relations during the Taiwan Straits Crisis, a part of the Cold War. After finishing her Ph.D., she moved to Michigan to teach at Albion College for three years. Although Sun enjoyed her time at Albion, she was attracted to the University of San Diego, where she has now taught for 26 years, because of the warm weather and opportunities for career growth.

Her plan for her next research project is personal, because she wants to write about women in her hometown of Tianjin.

“I actually want to write about Tianjin because I have this emotional attachment there… The women in Tianjin [I’ve selected] are all women who [have been] very active in the areas of education, medicine, journalism and political activism from the very beginning of the 20th century,” Sun said. “I am really fascinated by their stories and I want to dig more into it and read their diaries, newspaper reports and also archival materials.”

Dr. Sun brings a personal approach when teaching history.

In her classes she incorporates personal stories and experiences, making history more interesting and relatable to her students.

She hopes that students will remember the big picture of what they learn, not just specific details.

“The human and personal ties that I have established with students, I consider that my biggest accomplishment. I think people will forget about the Treaty of Nanjing a few weeks after the test, but if they still retain the bigger picture, I think that’s amazing,” Sun said.

She is most proud when she talks to former students and they discuss the impact that her classes have had on them. Sun discussed how some of her proudest moments entail introducing students to Asian Studies in high school curriculums and having her students travel to East Asia because of her classes.

Sun’s positive outlook has followed her through the many twists and turns she has been through in her life, continuing to inspire students and make a difference at USD.

Dr. Sun exploring Monaco on foot in 2018.

Photo courtesy of Yi Sun

OPINION

‘Fizz is always watching’

Anonymous online shaming is hurting our campus culture

Fizz is the social media app that first appeared last academic year, in spring of 2023. Modeled after Reddit, users can post, upvote, comment and create polls for only other USD students to view and interact with. Fizz connects students belonging to the same college via their email address, i.e. sandiego.edu. Unlike other social media platforms, Fizz completely strips users of a username or profile; everyone on the app is completely anonymous. According to the app’s developers on the App Store, Fizz allows users to, “say what you want, when you want, and maintain full control over your anonymity,” but this digital freedom comes with a cost, specifically an increase in bullying and digital harassment on the platform.

This semester on Fizz, the atmosphere has changed, there has been an increase in social shaming, with some cases where users take photos or videos of people without their consent, to embarrass them for their actions. People wearing unique-looking outfits or costumes have been photographed and made fun of by users. Couples walking hand in hand are shamed for their public display of affection (PDA), while some users speculate if the girl is unfaithful to her boyfriend.

While it is normal for friends to discuss these situations with each other or post on their own

social media, discussing these very private matters on such a public forum completely changes the game, not allowing for any privacy, perspective or nuance. With the new “Crush” tag that users can add to posts, many have taken to dropping the full names of people they have crushes on, which can be really embarrassing or creepy on our small campus. Athletes have their sex lives speculated about, and other students have had sexual rumors spread about them. Regardless of its truth, these rumors get hundreds of upvotes and can be disturbing to read, especially if they are about you.

While other social media platforms such as Instagram or Snapchat make it possible to be anonymous, there is an immediate wall of anonymity Fizz users get that allows them to be more vicious on the platform. They do not need to make a separate account or go through the hassle of switching between personal and burner accounts when discussing other people. Users can target whoever or say whatever they want without any fear of consequence because there is no name to tie it back to them. Students on the app lose any sense of accountability and seem to feel as if they have the right to discuss people however they see fit. This creates a culture where students are scared to exist or to try new or potentially embarrassing things while on campus, and incidentally be posted on Fizz.

Many students at USD have also noticed the increasingly

negative culture on the app and are worried about themselves being posted. The toxicity has been growing this semester, says USD sophomore Sophia Skubic.

“Especially surrounding the sororities and fraternities, especially because it’s anonymous, the toxicity and calling out of people creates an unsafe environment at school.”

The phrase “Fizz is always watching” is often thrown around as a warning to “act normal” when other people are around. USD sophomore Victoria Garcia agrees.

“This year I feel like it has been more targeted toward individuals,” Garcia said.

Having some accountability online is good. For example there have been posts telling people to clean up their own food in dining

halls [see photo]. However, I think the culture of Fizz is getting increasingly aggressive and cruel, with every minor flaw in a person being ridiculed by hundreds. Additionally, with the recent uptick in the “Crush” tag where people post their crush’s full names or speculating who they date, Fizz is an increasingly toxic platform creating a culture of negativity and hostility at USD. There has been a rise in racist, sexist and generally aggressive posts. While strangers have always made fun of people on the internet, the combination of true anonymity and the small school environment means there is no escape from harassment. As people who never asked to be included in narratives are discussed by total strangers online. With Fizz being a large part

of campus online life, we as a community have to decide how we want to proceed with the app. Many people I talked with discussed how, originally, Fizz was a good place for jokes and threads about parties, but now has turned into a negative drain, where people choose to shame and attack others rather than come together as a campus as the app intended.

While Fizz is definitely sticking around, it’s worth asking if some of the new updates/ trends, such as the crush tag, ultimately made the app a more dangerous place to be or if they are okay to stick around. Perhaps some of the issues could be fixed with a limit on identifying information, or an increase in moderators to help block content that promotes hostility online.

Students are often publicly shamed for things like their parking jobs on Fizz.

Photo courtesy of @anonymous/Fizz

Fizz provides students with a platform to anonymously spread untrue and toxic information about others on campus.

Emma-Kate Squires/The USD Vista

This photo was posted on Fizz with the caption ‘The employees aren’t your personal servants. Clean up your s***!’

Photo courtesy of @anonymous/Fizz

RONNIE SAENZ ASST. OPINION EDITOR

We’re nearly at the halfway point of the spring semester, and many students are feeling tired, fatigued and burnt out. Most of us are counting down the days until spring break begins on March 25, so we can finally rest up, but does it have to be this way? USD typically has spring semesters with two breaks: one for Easter and one for spring break. Yet this year, we only have one break even though USD can give us two. The University needs to give students more than one break during the semester, so we don’t become burnt out and unproductive.

Currently, we only get one break for a four-month semester, and we don’t get any holidays off like Presidents’ Day or Cesar Chavez Day. Yet, according to a research article published in the Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology, breaks have been found to have incredible benefits that increase productivity and morale. You may believe the weekends make up for these breaks, but unfortunately

OPINION

Give us a break

USD needs more breaks during the semester

that’s not the case. Many students, including myself, work on the weekends — whether it’s projects, jobs or other extra-curricular activities. Personally, I’m burnt out, and the stress has literally made it impossible for me to enjoy my weekends. There needs to be more breaks during the semester, so we can refresh and reset and have something to look forward to.

Another benefit of having more frequent breaks during the semester is that students have more opportunities to attend to personal matters. Oftentimes, the semester is far too busy to apply to scholarships, jobs or internships or see family. These are important things that students need to do, but the workload of the semester holds them back. Students need time to do these things to lead meaningful and healthy lives, and in my opinion, the weekend is not enough time to do it. Many students have jobs and extracurricular activities on the weekends, and not to mention school work due the following week. A week break or even a threeday weekend will give students more breathing room to relax. It’s not just productivity, but

breaks during the semester allow students to further bond with their friends. They don’t have to worry about school work getting in the way of their social lives, but enough students are still on campus to interact with everyone, especially on shorter breaks like Presidents’ Day. Even those who leave campus often do so with their college friends. Some of my best college memories happened during spring break, and these memories are important, as they allow students to bond with each other on a deeper level.

According to the USD credit hour policy, at least 42.5 hours of total in-class instruction and outof-class student work is required per credit which puts a limit to the amount of school days we can take off. Yet if we look at another Catholic private university, such as Loyola Marymount University (LMU), they require a minimum of 45 hours of total in-class instruction. LMU not only has a higher minimum in-class instruction period, but more breaks during the semester than USD. Not only does LMU have two weeklong breaks during the spring, but it also has holidays, such as Cesar Chavez Day, off as well. In order

to achieve this, LMU has shorter winter and summer breaks to accommodate for the breaks during the semester, but if LMU can do it with a higher in-class instruction requirement, why not USD?

Some may argue, given our credit hour policy, adding more breaks during the semester will have to cut into the long summer and winter breaks. However this isn’t a real issue in my opinion; we can just take a week or two off of our threemonth summer break or monthand-a-half-long winter break. We can manage to shave off a couple of days from the summer and winter

The Ozempic epidemic Unethical exploitation in pursuit of thinness

breaks if it means students won’t be burnt out during the semester. It’s that time of the semester when students are feeling so anxious and burnt out that they’re avoiding schoolwork. It’s tough to keep up with the grind of jobs, school and other responsibilities, which is why the breaks during the semester are so important to students. I wouldn’t mind getting a few days taken off my summer or winter break, if it means I can have a more relaxed and enjoyable semester with more breaks. In the meantime, if you’re feeling burnt out and need a break, take the day off. You’ve earned it.

LILY ANDERSON ASST. OPINION EDITOR

It’s no secret that our society has always been addicted to quick fixes and cheat codes. For decades, the weight loss industry has capitalized on this obsession with instant gratification. While the solution used to be fad diets and unsustainable workouts, the new answer to the never-ending search for skinny is Ozempic.

This so-called “miracle drug” has taken the world by storm. Novo Nordisk, a company based in Denmark, produces Ozempic, and individuals self-administer it via injection. If it sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is. Ozempic lacks FDA approval for weight loss, and its unintended usage and normalization are entirely unethical. Promoting Ozempic as a weight-loss tool heightens issues surrounding body image and eating disorders while also making it harder for those with diabetes who need the drug to access it.

Ozempic was created for people with type-2 diabetes. It is proven to lower high blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular issues such as strokes, heart attacks or death. It is designed for longterm use for adults with type-2

diabetes. Ozempic began to be used as a weight-loss aid around 2021 when people realized that it mimics a hormone that makes you feel full and slows digestion. Its frequent side effects include nausea, vomiting, dehydration, abdominal pain, constipation and hair loss.

Once people without type-2 diabetes realized they could use this drug to lose weight, its usage increased by 300% in under three years. Doctors wrote nine million prescriptions for Ozempic in the last three months of 2022 alone. In July 2023, a shortage occurred, making it harder for people with type-2 diabetes who rely on the drug to access it.

The doctor’s office isn’t the only place Ozempic has gained traction; the drug has gone viral. A quick search on TikTok results in hundreds of thousands of videos discussing Ozempic. SNL aired a skit mocking the drug’s usage, and many celebrities, such as Chelsea Handler and Sharon Osbourne, have spoken openly about their experience with Ozempic.

Over 84% of young adults report using social media, meaning that most of us here at USD have seen Ozempic’s platform firsthand. Sharing information regarding how Ozempic can help those who need

it for prescribed health reasons is one thing, but celebrities’ normalization of using it for appearance-related reasons puts impressionable audiences in a vulnerable position.

Overusing Ozempic promotes the idea that thinness is the ideal body image, suggesting that injecting oneself with a substance intended for health issues one doesn’t have is a reasonable means to achieve it. Promoting thinness as the end-all-be-all is an issue in itself and is a concept that promotes disordered eating and relationships with food.

Skinniness as a beauty standard negatively impacts countless people. Within the U.S., 9% of people suffer from disordered eating at some point in their lives. When you look at college students specifically, up to 20% of women and 10% of men struggle with an eating disorder, and the ages of 18 and 21 are the median age of eating disorder onset. College students are susceptible to disordered eating in general, which makes the prevalence of Ozempic even more concerning.

Many people need to realize that Ozempic is not a permanent fix. Your body learns to rely on the drug to sustain weightloss, meaning people regain weight when they stop using

it. Research published in the journal of Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism has found that nearly everyone using Ozempic will regain at least 2/3 of the lost weight. This study was funded by Novo Nordisk, meaning the creators of Ozempic know this is an issue. This rebound weight can be challenging for people to cope with and can lead to even more disordered habits.

Wegovy, another injectable drug, is explicitly intended for weight loss. Celebrities like Elon Musk and Oprah have spoken about using it and the weight loss they experienced. It is produced by the same company as Ozempic, though as a larger dose, and it is usually not covered by insurance. While Wegovy has been approved for weight management, it is still only intended for people who are categorically obese or have health-related issues due to weight, not for people looking to slim down for appearance.

Both of these drugs are just another way for corporations to increase insecurities and then profit off of them. Not only are pharmaceutical companies making money off this, but specific luxury gyms like Equinox even offer programs for people on Ozempic. WeightWatchers, a weight-loss program that

claims to be nutrition-focused, also launched a subscription program for people using Ozempic and Wegovy. Instead of using their platforms to educate people about sustainable weight-loss and healthy eating, these companies have realized how much money they can make by pushing Ozempic. Capitalism is on display, and it is harming everyone involved.

My hope for the future is that society prioritizes safe and sustainable ways to stay healthy, such as mindfully listening to your body’s actual needs through intuitive eating and balanced exercise. The narrative that thinness equals success or happiness is ingrained in our culture, but it doesn’t have to stay this way. There has definitely been a rise in body positivity over the last few years, but it is still not enough.

The normalization of drug use like Ozempic for weight loss not only fuels harmful bodily expectations but also underlines the insidious nature of profit-driven exploitation. The strongest thing someone can do is challenge the status quo and prioritize their genuine health over superficial appearances, rejecting the notion that an injection can ever replace self-love and well-being.

The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.

Spring break gives students a glimmer of hope during the busy spring semester. Photo courtesy of @alfredstatewomensoccer/Instagram

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Women’s Gold Cup in San Diego USA faces Brazil in women’s soccer championship

LAUREN CEBALLOS SPORTS EDITOR

This year, Women’s History Month includes the celebration of the Women’s Gold Cup. The game is the final round between 12 women’s soccer teams throughout the world.

Professional women’s soccer players practiced at Torero Stadium for the Women’s Gold Cup, which resulted in a win for the U.S. women’s team over Brazil, 1-0.

The tournament began on Feb. 17, with women’s teams playing preliminary games. Games were played in four cities throughout the U.S., including San Diego State University’s very own Snapdragon Stadium.

The U.S. and Brazil played the final game on Sunday, March 10, 2024. In order to get to this game, the U.S. beat Canada 3-1, and Brazil knocked out Mexico with a score of 3-0.

The cup is the premier event for women’s teams around the world. This year’s tournament included the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football’s (CONCACAF) top eight teams and four guest teams from the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol, South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).

“The U.S. opens Group A play[ed] on Tuesday, Feb. 20 against the winner of the Preliminary Match between Guyana and the Dominican Republic, face[d] Argentina on Friday, Feb. 23 and then close[d] out the group against Mexico on Feb. 26,” according to U.S. soccer.

The tournament allows for winning teams to make it to the finals. Knockout rounds began with the Quarterfinals, hosting the top two teams per group. These teams were decided by their standings and number of points, using tie-breakers for

teams with the same amount.

Games allowed for Brazil to be second in the tournament to reach the Semifinals, beating Argentina, 5-1. Canada passed the Quarterfinals, beating Puerto Rico with an overtime goal, resulting in a final score of 1-0.

USD sophomore Cindy Avonce shared her expectations going into the final game.

“I feel good about it. I am happy that the U.S. made it to the finals. My two teams were Mexico and the U.S. Mexico

unfortunately did not make it, but I’m happy that at least one of my teams got to make it and I think the U.S. and Brazil are going to be a really good match,” Avonce explained. Avonce has no preference for men’s or women’s soccer.

“I like watching both [men’s and women’s soccer]… I strongly support female athletes, because as a former female athlete myself, I think that it’s really empowering to see such strong women on the field, and I like

seeing that women play the same tournaments as men do. I think that inspires young girls, like how I was inspired to watch them and how I’m inspired now,” Avonce expressed.

The Women’s Gold Cup takes place prior to the actual soccer season. Avonce anticipates the rest of the season, after the final game on March 10.

“I am very excited, because I think that there [are] a lot of strong teams around the world currently, and so I’m excited to see how that unfolds,” Avonce said.

Prior to the final game, Avonce spotted the teams practicing on Torero turf and attempted to get to their vicinity, but they got on the bus, before Avonce and her friend could talk to them.

“I watched the Brazil women’s national team and the USA women’s national team. Actually, they do practice on the [Torero] field, but nobody knows. I saw them practicing, so that, was really cool because it was ‘on the low’ but it was very cool to see them on the field and practicing before they hit the big stage [at Snapdragon] this weekend.”

USD sophomore Aliya Garrett just transferred to USD and joined the USD women’s soccer team. Garrett

shared her feelings about the Women’s Gold Cup.

“I love it, it’s one of those things that seems like an anomaly, so you wait around until it comes, and then when it does it becomes a part of your culture. I also love that it gives a large platform for the younger girls to realize that there is a space for them in professional sports,” Garrett said.

Garrett shared her excitement for the Women’s Gold Cup.

“I have loved nothing more than watching the progression of women’s sports. Growing up I never really looked up to female players, it was always the males like Messi and Renaldo, but here I am now in my 20s seeing women like Sam Kerr and Mapi Leon who continue to break glass ceilings and inspire my journey. I finally have strong females in my sport who I not only relate to but give me a chance to dream about what my future may look like and how it could realistically turn out. There is no wishing anymore, we as women have the room to finally make it happen because of the women who came before us,” Garrett said.

While Garrett values the progression of women on the field, she recognizes that there is more work to be done.

“Of course, I will always want more representation until we are equal, but we have to be careful not to take in the small moments. Every small win is a big win and we just have to keep chipping away at it. Women weren’t dealt the easy cards but we most definitely have the ability to use what we have to our advantage,” Garrett explained.

Garrett views the games in a certain light because of her personal experience and journey to play soccer in college.

“You know, I used to be a kid who would look up to the Canadian women’s team and just wish I were them. It used to be all about soccer for me, but something changed. There was a moment when I realized I was no longer just fighting for my dreams, I was fighting for every little girl who was told at recess to go be a cheerleader. I was fighting for the girls who sat in class saying they wanted to be professional athletes when they grew up and everyone was laughing. There comes a point where you realize the dream was never really meant for you alone,” Garrett stated.

The Women’s Gold Cup crowned the U.S. as the winners. The proximity of the games to San Diego excited USD students and athletes like Avonce and Garrett, and continues to empower women in sports throughout International Women’s month.

The U.S.A. women’s national team beat Brazil 1-0 with a goal scored by U.S. Captain Lindsey Horan in the first half. Photo courtesy of @uswnt/Instagram

CONCACAF works with young girls with aspiring dreams like Garrett, to set them up for the Gold Cup.

Photo courtesy of@concacaf/Instagram