Volume 60 Issue 17

The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Diego since 1968

THE USD VISTA

Did Dale Lindsey retire?

AMARA BROOKS SPORTS EDITOR

As the news of Coach Dale Lindsey’s retirement from coaching spread, fans and players alike were shocked. USD football announced the longtime head coach’s retirement on Mar. 21 and was met with an immense amount of support from Torero fans and both past and current players. In his 10 seasons with the Toreros, Lindsey accumulated an impressive 80-30 record, achieving the same number of wins as his age. However, Lindsey claims his retirement announcement was just as much of a shock to him, stating he never wanted to stop coaching.

A day after the announcement, Lindsey spoke to The San Diego Union-Tribune and denied the university’s retirement claims.

“I did not (bleeping) retire,” Lindsey said. “I was shown the door and would like to coach. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.”

The USD football Instagram page announced the coach’s retirement; shortly after, comments and reshares poured in

For a city that markets itself as one of the “sunniest” places in California, San Diego has recently been hit hard with heavy rainfall. Dating back to the month of December, the city has faced multiple storms including heavy rainfall, strong gusts of wind and all-around colder temperatures.

As with all geographical locations, there is never a promise as to what the weather will bring, but for sunny San Diego, the rain is a drastic change from the typical, warm spring weather.

To provide a deeper understanding of where these rainstorms stem from,

Professor Paul Kemp of the Biology Department shared his knowledge on the subject matter.

“This season of late winter rains has been almost unprecedented. California has been hit by 12 or 13 so-called Atmospheric Rivers.

This occurs when a cold, low pressure system rolls down the Pacific Coast from Alaska, and the South East trailing part of the system ‘pulls’ warm, moistureladen air from the subtropical Pacific Ocean into the cold air. This creates large amounts of condensation and rain.”

According to the California Water Watch, the 2022-2023 Water Year, which is a scale that measures the amount of precipitation from overall rainfall, currently sits at “28.45 inches which is roughly 10 inches more than the Historical Record average at 18.95 inches.”

Compared to previous years, this year’s rainfall is some of the highest that California has seen in a while, especially for

with statements like “da greatest,” “the best to ever do it” and “GOAT.”

The Union Tribune reached out to Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis to ask if Lindsey was actually fired.

“What I can share is that by every measure of success, Dale Lindsey has been absolutely tremendous,” McGillis stated.

Despite his age, Lindsey claims that he wasn’t ready to retire and in fact still had a lot more he wanted to give to the USD football program.

“I wasn’t planning on retiring,” Lindsey said. “I know chronologically how old I am. But I don’t function like an 80-yearold man. If you just sit at home, you become a vegetable — and vegetables die sooner or later.

I’ve seen too many coaches work their ass off for 40 years, think they’re going to go off to some golden parachute retirement. Then they’re dead in six months. I don’t want to be one (of those), nor do I intend to be one.”

Previous player for the USD football team Devvin Gitchuway shared that Coach Lindsey was

See Coach Lindsey, Page 11

See A&C, page 3

See A&C, page5

See Feature, page 6

those living in central and southern California. Kemp revealed the impacts of these continuous storms to the coast.

“Most of the atmospheric rivers have been aimed right

See Opinion, page 9

page 12

View from the University Terrace Apartments on a rainy day.

Dale Lindsey has been the head coach of the USD football team for 10 years.

Photo courtesy of @usdfootball/Instagram

Enough showers, how about some flowers?

Insane weather patterns in California impacts students

Rain from Page 1

at the Central California Coast causing tremendous rainfall, with much flooding, as well as damage from the high winds associated with these storms,” Kemp said. “As these storms move inland they are still carrying a lot of moisture that falls as snow at higher elevations where the temperatures are below freezing, producing dozens of feet of snow in the Sierras. These snow events have been quite significant in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, where several back-to-back snow events produced up to 12 feet of snow.”

These surplus quantities of snow and rain appear daunting to those trying to navigate highways and busy cities, but they’ve proven to be a valuable solutions to this year’s drought problems. In a recent statement from the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, California’s governor announced the benefits of the current rainy season pertaining to California’s drought problem.

“Governor Gavin Newsom today rolled back some drought emergency provisions that are no longer needed due to current water conditions, while maintaining other measures that support regions and communities still facing water supply challenges, and that continue building up long-term water resilience.”

The snow has also drastically increased, with some ski resorts planning to stay open until June. Kemp shared his thoughts about the high records of snow.

“I like hearing about records that are broken by such weather, such as Mammoth Mountain receiving more than 800 inches of snow at the summit this winter,” Kemp said. “I think a few other California ski areas had record or near-record single snow events or snow accumulations.”

Despite all of the benefits the rain is bringing to San Diego, the damage from these winds and rain is something that has been impacting the USD community. Some students are struggling to manage the unexpected weather turnout. USD junior Camden Crook found herself in a tough situation before the school year even started due to the excess rain.

“The first couple weeks before school we had a massive

amount of rainfall in San Diego. I am living off campus on Mission Beach this semester, and my roommates and I were actually kicked out of our house because of the rain. The excessive rainfall uncovered a mold problem within the walls of our home. We had to leave of course, and it forced all six of us to couch surf the first week of school, which was brutal. This past week of rain has just brought back those memories of being evicted. So has the rain done much good? In many ways, yes it has. But for my friends and I? I would say no, it has not.”

For USD senior Zoe DeBroux, the issues of the rainfall are negatively impacting her last couple months living in San Diego.

“I think the biggest problem for me is the flooding,” DeBroux said. “I live and work in South Mission Beach, and the flooding on the streets as well as any pedestrian area is pretty intense, in fact it makes the boardwalk pretty unwalkable. Where I work, we have had to close for multiple days before just because there is three feet of standing water on the ground, which is pretty crazy and unlike anything I have seen before.”

Despite the issues of flooding, DeBroux recognized positive impacts of all the rainfall.

“I think it is awesome for the plants and San Diego, especially since we are in a drought right now. I think it is great that in some ways we are able to mitigate that with a lot more water. The downside is that it is pretty evident San Diego infrastructure isn’t the best or made for a lot of rain. There has been a lot of flooding everywhere. It is also a bummer that it messes with the normal, sunny beach days we experience in March. A lot of us, myself included, are ready to have some much warmer days.”

The current season of rain may have been unexpected for most San Diego residents, but that is not to say some are not making the most of the situation. DeBroux shared what she has been doing in an attempt to turn a rainy day around.

“I have been going on rain runs, which has been a new sort of fun. I have just been turning all my outdoor activities into

The USD Vista

a rain run, walk or whatever it is, and just fully embracing and accepting it,” Debroux said. “I also think it has been so helpful for my productivity, because if it is really gross outside, all I can do is stay in and get work done, so it helps.”

Crook had similar thoughts on the matter, also mentioning how her study habits have altered recently.

“I have to tell myself to think happy thoughts. But honestly, my studying has improved a lot. I think the bad weather has encouraged me to study more, because the outside is so awful, so the inside by default is more appealing. I have spent a lot more time in the library this week than I have in the past couple years. I don’t know exactly if that is because of the rain, but I think it is,” Crook said.

The wet weather is something that no one living in sunny San Diego planned for, yet there may

be a silver lining to the significant increase in rain. A “superbloom” is potentially in California’s future because of the surplus quantity of rain. According to National Geographic, a “superbloom” occurs when there is an overabundance of rainfall for a lengthy period of time, similar to what California is witnessing right now.

The result of this bloom would bring about a plethora of wildflowers, ranging anywhere from Poppies to Sunflowers, to mostly undisturbed habitats, creating beautiful scenery over the California Landscape.

Kemp shared his opinion on how he feels of a potential superbloom occurring.

“I think there will be some very significant floral blooms in Southern California coastal areas this year. I also think they will peak about a month later

than the “famous superbloom” of March 2019 in Southern California. I hope that people will behave much better than they did in 2019, when they trampled all over many of the best flower areas. In fact, at least one of those areas, Walker Canyon, which had spectacular floral displays, is closed to people this year.”

With the Spring time officially upon San Diego, there is hope that these dreaded, consistent rainfalls will bring about a glorious bloom. Already claimed as the most beautiful campuses in the nation, USD students and faculty are sure to enjoy their beautiful school among the rolling green and colorful hills of San Diego, especially once the sunshine returns. Many at USD hope these April showers (and March, February, January and December showers) will indeed bring the “superblooming” May flowers.

California “superbloom” after heavy rainfall produces beautiful flowers.

Photo Courtesy of @eacwestmartin/Instagram

Plan C’s fight for equal abortion access

Non-profit organization provides information about the abortion pill

Two major events interfered with the ongoing effort to provide equal access to abortion in the United States: the pandemic and the overturning of Roe v. Wade. With these events, it became increasingly difficult for Americans assigned with female anatomy at birth to end their pregnancies.

Abortion is not always synonymous with a procedure that terminates a pregnancy. It can also be synonymous with a pill: the abortion pill.

This type of abortion comes in the form of medication, either Mifepristone or Misoprostol. Some people refer to the abortion pill as one that simply brings back a period, while others recognize that its primary use is to end an early-stage pregnancy.

leading to unequal opportunity for abortion. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, people all over America had trouble receiving procedural abortions because of the lack of in-person doctor visits. Then in 2022, when Roe v. Wade was overturned in June, access to abortion was increasingly limited in certain states.

USD senior Ramona Tellez explained the importance of access to abortion, postSupreme Court decision.

“Access to abortion has always been a critical piece of healthcare. In the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned, it is more important than ever. Even if you don’t understand bodily autonomy, the person with an unwanted pregnancy does, and will do anything they can to terminate said pregnancy.”

Sometimes, the only way to terminate a pregnancy within a

and recognizes the efforts of the several women behind the domestic distribution of the pill.

According to NPR, consequences of illegally sending abortion pills to certain states could have legal implications such as jail or prison time and fines of up to tens of thousands of dollars. These providers put their lives in danger every single day to illegally send pills to strangers who wish nothing more but to terminate their pregnancies safely.

On the other hand, there are some comments regarding the safety and accessibility of the pill. Students For Life America refer to abortion pills as “chemical abortions” because they believe that the pill is made up of “powerful drugs.” All drugs are technically chemicals, as they all have chemical structures. There is no research to suggest that abortion pills have any added unnecessary “chemicals”

point that it is “safer than Advil.”

Although proven safe by the FDA and further extensive research, everyone seeking an abortion pill can consult a doctor through telehealth or in-person before going through with the abortion through Plan C’s website. Proof of pregnancy is also not needed in order for the pill to be safe for one’s body.

Invisibilia, an NPR podcast, released an episode in September titled “A Little Bit Pregnant.” In this episode, the abortion pill is discussed as a reliable and safe option for people who have both confirmed and unconfirmed pregnancies. It talks about destigmatizing the abortion pill and calling it a “period pill” instead.

Being pregnant can be a terrifying realization, and those who have missed periods may never want to find out if they are pregnant.

People can take this

human remains of the growing baby will infiltrate our sewage system. In places where sanitation and filtering infrastructure is lacking and/or broken, it could lead to a real problem in the cleanliness of the water we drink.”

According to a Politico article about the abortion pill and wastewater regulation, pharmaceuticals pose negative impacts on the environment. However, this pertains to pharmaceuticals as a whole, not just one drug.

Nathan Donley, the Environmental Health Science director for the Center for Biological Diversity, told Politico that abortion pills and “fetal remains” are far from the issue.

“Of all the drugs and synthetic chemicals we shed that can potentially contaminate water, abortifacients are a fraction of a fraction of a percent. It’s nothing.”

Even though many are confused as to how Students For Life of America believes that abortion pills make a significant environmental impact, the organization petitioned in December that the FDA reconsider the implications of the abortion pill on wastewater and regulate the use of the pill as a whole.

The FDA denied the organization’s request not even a month later, saying that the petition did not present any new evidence.

Though saddened about the various opinions surrounding abortion in the U.S., USD junior Lindy Hickman appreciates what Plan C has done to make abortion more accessible.

The pill can be taken most safely within the first 11 weeks of pregnancy. If taken after the recommended time, then there can be complications threatening a pregnant person’s health. This alternate way to receive an abortion is not new, considering the pill has been around since 1980, when a French pharmaceutical company created the first Mifepristone pill.

The creation of the abortion pill began its long trek of approval from the FDA, which first banned its distribution in 1989, under the elder Bush Administration. After years of back and forth and clinical trials, the pill was officially FDA-approved in 2000.

Although approved, the distribution of the abortion pill was restricted by outside factors

state with legal bans is to take a pill. Plan C, an abortion pill informational resource, was founded in 2015. The non-profit’s main goal is to provide everyone access to an abortion pill, even when it is illegal in their state.

Many people around the U.S. are unaware of abortion via medication, and Plan C’s aim is to spread the word with campaigns both online and in-person. Their website, plancpills.org, provides information on where to find abortion pills, medical advice and emotional support.

The organization screened their new documentary called “Plan C,” which premiered at both the 2023 Sundance and South by Southwest Film Festivals. This powerful documentary both introduces

that are bad for humans.

USD junior Alyssa Jackson shared her reservations regarding the abortion pill, which she referred to as a “chemical abortion.”

“Chemical abortion is not safe for the lives of mothers nor their babies,” Jackson stated. “In terms of increased availability, chemical abortions have become increasingly accessible through mail, at local pharmacies and public universities in California, which makes them that much more harmful. Women can order it without even proof of pregnancy or consulting her doctor.”

Plan C makes sure to spread awareness regarding the safety of the pill. In the documentary, one Plan C representative takes the pill on camera, even though she was not pregnant, just to prove a

“period pill” which will bring back their period, making the possibility of being pregnant ambiguous. Pregnant or not, period pill or abortion pill, the pill is safe and FDA approved.

Separate from questioning the pill’s safety and accessibility, Students For Life of America and some anti-abortion citizens believe the abortion pill has negative environmental implications. USD sophomore Sabrina Richards explained why she believes abortion pills are harmful to the environment.

“My worry about having chemical abortion pills sent to your doorstep is how detrimental to the environment and our water system it will be. Since chemical abortion pills can be taken up to 12 weeks into the pregnancy,

“Plan C helps not only to give abortion education, but allows for all individuals to have equal access to necessary medical resources. I personally find it absolutely ridiculous that there have been laws passed that prohibit basic bodily autonomy, and put people at severe health risks.” Hickman explained. “It truly saddens me that we have to resort to the abortion pill, because of our current political state, but am grateful there is still a push for safe and accessible healthcare for everyone.”

Safe and accessible healthcare for everyone, and especially those who are pregnant, is necessary for basic human-rights.

But, if the U.S. and state governments cannot provide the information and resources necessary to terminate pregnancies, then Plan C will.

For more information on the abortion pill and how to manage an abortion, below are some supportive resources.

Plan C https://www.plancpills. org/

Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline https://www.mahotline.org/ Reprocare Healthline https:// abortionhotline.org/.

OLIVIA SYNEK ASSOCIATE EDITOR

One of Plan C’s campaigns involves driving around a marketed-truck, especially in pro-choice areas.

Photo courtesy of @Plancpills/Twitter

Selena, Justin and Hailey drama Society’s deeply-rooted misogyny pins the two women against each other

JESSICA MILLS ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Trending across social media platforms, individuals from all over the globe have focused on three celebrities: Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez.

The two women have been at the center of gossip since 2018, following Justin and Hailey’s marriage only six months after his split from Selena and their on-again, offagain eight-year relationship.

Since then, both women have been highly scrutinized. Despite each publicly saying they hold no ill-will toward the other, many still take sides — Team Selena or Team Hailey.

Many social media posts and videos have brought up past events, made comparisons saying, in particular, that Hailey is copying Selena’s clothing, posts, behavior and choices.

Despite Justin notoriously treating both women poorly, many romanticize his character, wanting him to get back together with Selena, who’s openly spoken about how much trauma their relationship gave her.

Instead of playing into the drama and further pitting these two women against each other, many feel it’s time to address the real root of the drama: misogyny.

USD senior Paulina Smale is among those

frustrated by this narrative.

“These two successful women aren’t being highlighted about their successes, only the drama about a man, and drama that is years old and not significant compared to their successes and their own businesses,” Smale said.

While both women have made posts alluding to the drama (for example: Selena’s post captioned, “Today is International Women’s Day and I want each of us to be gentler to ourselves”), Justin has not commented on the issue publicly, as Smale points out.

“I think it’s really interesting that Justin Bieber hasn’t

made a comment, because it could so easily be hushed and shut down by his comment or saying that he supports both women and doesn’t support the fighting,” Smale explained.

Despite having a public and more recent relationship with singer The Weeknd, fans continue to romantically pair Selena and Justin together.

USD senior Brian Medina isn’t a fan of Justin Bieber or the way in which both women are being treated and pinned against one another.

“People often romanticize bad behavior and especially when it comes to men,” Medina said. “It shifts the focus from

holding the men accountable onto the women that are hurt and affected by these individuals. It’s reflective of how the current society views this whole situation and especially how they idolize these people.”

In November 2022, Selena released a documentary, “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me,” depicting her life and detailing her struggle with lupus, her autoimmune illness, and her mental health. Shortly after, in a now-deleted post, Kendall Jenner, Hailey and their friend Justine Skye, lip-synced to an audio clip saying, “I’m not saying she deserved it, but I’m saying God’s timing is always right.”

Any body can dance

Viewers called out their behavior, leaving comments on the video, saying that they’re mean girls and that it’s a clear jab at Selena saying that she deserves her physical and mental illnesses.

“I’ve noticed that Selena seems to be trying to better herself. She has an autoimmune disease that she’s working on and meanwhile with Hailey… I don’t really keep up to date with what she’s doing,” Medina explained.

The emphasis here is not to take sides with either woman, but to instead hold those accountable and break the pattern of engaging with misogynistic drama and agendas.

USD’s ‘Less Than Three’ and their inclusive vision

The only thing louder than the sound of music was the sound of applause and cheer that filled the Bosley Fitness Center room. It didn’t matter that my lungs were out of breath, or that I’d forgotten almost the entire choreography, but dancing amongst a group that just wanted to have a good time — who smiled as wide as their mouths would allow and clapped till their palms were sore and red — felt exhilarating.

This was my experience from the first night I attended USD’s Less Than Three (LT3) dance club’s weekly Thursday workshops in the fall of 2021.

But LT3’s history dates back to 2015, when it was born from another prominent USD club: the Filipino Ugnayan Student Org (FUSO), truly out of the simple, vital need and love for dancing.

During the annual, almost 40-year-old tradition of Friendship Games that occur in October, featuring several Pilipinx American student organizations from various college campuses, different teams engage in activities to compete against one another and earn the title of “S.P.U.F. Champion” (spirit, pride, unity, friendship).

One such category, Roll Call, requires participants to choreograph their own dance routine and perform in front of everyone.

Even though FUSO didn’t win in that category in 2015, they placed 7th in Roll Call, and the process of dancing together and building a space to let loose and have fun, inspired the then members to start USD’s first and only dance club that didn’t require skill or training, only the passion and willingness to dance. This is reflected in the name of the club, which is a spelled out version of the emoticon “<3”, a symbol for love.

USD Alumnius and LT3’s founder Carlo Patenia talked about the story behind the origin of LT3’s name.

“I originally wanted to call it ‘Creative’ but one day, one of my closest friends was venting about what the club meant to him,” said Patenia. “He said the club was a lot of heart. And we all agreed ‘cause this is a community where people from different backgrounds, cultures and majors can come in and be in love with dance and [with each other.]”

LT3 now follows the legacy of its predecessors through weekly workshops conducted by its board members and other volunteers. It performs at several

USD events, and provides spaces for dancers and non-dancers to meet new people and cultivate relationships over dancing. Under the guidance of the current president, Katrina Baha, the club has grown, drawing in 40-50 people each week.

As a USD senior, Baha talked about the drive behind her decision to become the president of LT3 and her goals for the club before she steps down from her position.

“I joined LT3, because I could immediately tell that the community was different,” Baha said. “The dance community where I grew up was very white, toxic and oppressive. LT3 was the first time that I was exposed to a welcoming, diverse, inclusive dance space. We do go to a predominantly white,

Catholic institution, and myself — I’m none of those things. And knowing and helping others know that such spaces exist on campus is important to me.”

LT3’s efforts have expanded immensely this semester as they ventured out from their usual niche of hip-hop to including styles like k-pop, contemporary and urban-afro. Along with USD’s Queer and Trans Student Union, LT3 organized its first vogueing and ballroom workshop in the first week of March, with guest choreographers Billy Marc Jacobs, Jaquan Cook and Friidae. They aimed to raise more awareness and create space to learn about the significance of culturally-driven dance styles.

USD sophomore Deric Fryer talked about his experience as a non-dancer attending one of

LT3’s workshops for the first time. “I’m absolutely not a dancer, but it was really cool, and it was [a] unique thing to try out,” Fryer said. “It was very inclusive, because it never felt like I was being judged even though I sucked. The environment was super supportive, and I was able to have a lot of fun while trying to keep up and learn the motions.”

LT3 hopes to continue creating a space for unjudged artistic expression for students that are yet to come into USD. Their biggest effort yet is their biggest event to date: the Diversity in Dance Banquet, on April 21. The event is dedicated to showcasing the range of dance styles and expressions present at USD, the event is open to students from all backgrounds to participate or attend.

Selena and Hailey pictured together at an event in 2022.

Photo courtesy of @Popbase/Twitter

SATVIKA NITYA ASST. A&C EDITOR

LT3 e-board members holding up their club sign.

Photo courtesy of @Lt3_dance/Instagram

Marvelmania

Addressing the MCU’s film quality over recent years

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) first began with the release of “Iron Man” in 2008. 15 years later, the growth of the Marvel franchise has only gained momentum. With a total of 31 feature length films, two short films and nine television series, fans of Marvel have a great deal of content to choose from, with more on the way.

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is the third installment of the “Ant-Man” trilogy and the first film to join the Marvel franchise in 2023, thus far. Still in theaters, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” was released on Feb. 17 and will be available on the Disney+ platform on July 8 of this year.

With the release of this film and other content on its way, conversations around the quality and the amount of content being released by Marvel have resurfaced among Marvel fans.

Disney+ was founded at the end of 2019, and because most streaming services have established production companies and Disney+ is new to the scene, their goal was to push as much content as they could onto the platform to compete with other major streaming services, and as a result, Marvel employees felt the pressure for time. While

was a need for ample content for Disney+ to stand a chance against other big streaming companies, many questioned how its rapid growth would impact the quality of the MCU.

A source who has worked with Marvel for the past decade spoke with The USD Vista about their experience and is remaining anonymous as they plan to work with them again in the future. They opened

I think when you do a business model like that, things suffer, because of lack of oversight or too much content to control,” they expressed. “That being said, Marvel puts out some unique and [enjoyable] content, but at a certain point the amount of it gets overwhelming.”

Requiring abundant content for the Disney+ platform has rushed multiple films and television shows to

from making good stuff and are throwing out random movies and shows to have content,” Lalitcumar explained. “They are bringing characters that don’t have much to do with everything into their stuff, just so they have more things coming out.”

Recent content caused contention online as people pondered the quality of the editing and the treatment of Marvel’s post production staff.

With many articles coming out about the treatment of their staff, most specifically their VFX artists, fans are learning about the effort it takes to add the explosion or the villian to the screen.

In interviews conducted by Vulture, multiple visual effects (VFX) artists spoke out about refusing to sign new contracts with Marvel to do new VFX after working on recent films and television shows in the franchise. Many of those interviewed expressed dissatisfaction in the long hours and the low pay; Marvel often pays 20% below the industry standard for VFX.

In other interviews or articles released about the issue, there are also strict expectations for what each project should look like, restricting creativity and expecting perfection of their vision from each artist.

Some students speculate that the overworking of Marvel VFX artists contributes to the downgrade in quality.

USD junior Madi Wyatt has watched Marvel for years now and ponders the pressures of VFX artists to put out content.

this concern, and president and primary producer Kevin Fiege is looking for a way to alleviate this issue. However, it has already left a mark on work produced over recent years.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Fiege announced, “the pace at which we’re putting out the Disney + shows will change so they can each get a chance to shine,” in an effort to give VFX artists more time to work and for audiences to catch up with the current rate of production.

Wyatt reflects on recent content from the Marvel franchise, more specifically, the numerous television shows the brand has produced.

“I’m not necessarily a fan of the shows they’re doing. I think they are overkilling it with how many they make, it takes away from the original stories,” Wyatt expressed. “I feel like the overall quality is definitely not as good as the original ‘Avengers’ and ‘Iron Man’ movies.”

Lalitcumar also had a take on the many Marvel series being produced over recent years.

“They are not exploring characters very well in the series. It seems like they are just using the episodes to hype up what’s coming up next.”

Kevin Feige has announced the slowing of production in coming years. This means that many films and shows expected in Phase 5 of the Marvel franchise could be released later than originally anticipated.

Disney+ is producing more originals for the service, they already provide the content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and more.

Soon after the release of this streaming service, a surplus of Marvel related content was sent to production.While there

up about how the founding of Disney+ affected the production of content for the MCU.

“There was a big push by Disney with Marvel to get material on the platform… Over the years it’s changed drastically from doing one to two movies a year to three movies a year and three streaming shows a year.

the screen. Debates came to both social media and Marvel fans at USD about the idea of quality vs. quantity in the MCU.

USD junior Pinak Lalitcumar, a fan of Marvel, expressed concern over the current production of the Marvel franchise.

“I think they are deviating

“I think because of the small timelines they have and the changes expected from them, it’s difficult to put out all the content expected of them,” Wyatt explained. “I read about a lot of them leaving projects because of the demand, and honestly I would do the same. It’s too much pressure.”

Marvel Studios addressed

“With all the content out there, audiences are getting more in tune with what is good and how good the quality should be,” the anonymous source from Marvel said.

With “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” to be released on May 2, 2023 and more content on the way in coming years, Marvel is making an effort to repair their relationship with both fans and employees after recent years.

STELLA SCHNEIDER ASST. A&C EDITOR

Paul Rudd, who plays Ant-Man, posed for the movie’s red carpet premiere.

Photo courtesy @Marvelstudios/Instagram

‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ is still playing in theaters.

Photo courtesy @Marvelstudios/Instagram

USD’s outstanding work in physics and biophysics Student and

professor awarded at the American Physical Society (APS) March meeting

LAUREN CEBALLOS FEATURE EDITOR

During spring break, USD sent representatives of the physics department for the school to the 2023 American Physical Society (APS) March Meeting, which took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, from Mar. 5-10. Two of the attendees included undergraduates Maya Nugent, who ran a poster session for her research and Professor Rae Robertson-Anderson.

At the Conference, Dr. Robertson-Anderson and USD junior Maya Nugent were both awarded for their excellence in physics and biophysics.

Nugent is part of a joint lab with Dr. Robertson-Anderson and Dr. Ryan Mcgordy, working directly under Dr. Robertson-Anderson and most closely with post-baccalaureate Gregor Leech, USD class of ‘22.

Nugent was awarded not only for her three-hour poster session, but also her ability to communicate her research to her fellow conference attendees and judges.

Nugent explained her experience as a contestant.

“There was a group of judges who were going around to all of the posters and you didn’t know who they were; they were just kinda walking through, hidden, asking questions,” Nugent said.

Nugent is currently a biophysics major, which is an interdisciplinary field that is a combination of physics, math and chemistry.

Dr. Robertson-Anderson applauded Nugent for her understanding of her work.

“Poster awards are not just [about] how cool of a science, but also how well you articulate it, so she was able to very clearly explain her work... And she was the only undergraduate [to be recognized with an award].”

Nugent shared her reaction to receiving the award.

“I was shocked, because I wasn’t really expecting to win, but then I got really excited about it and the other three girls who all won were grad students...The people who I was talking to at this conference were all graduate students, there were very few undergrads, and so that was very cool to have this opportunity at USD, when I still don’t even have a full degree in physics.”

Dr. Robertson-Anderson, a Georgetown alumna, started as faculty at USD in 2009. Dr. Robertson-Anderson chose USD as an institution with undergraduate research with a close-knit community, where she could know all the students and have one-on-one interactions with them. She also commented that she established the biophysics major to provide a new career path in STEM at USD.

Dr. Robertson-Anderson was awarded the Prize for a Faculty

Member for Research in an Undergraduate Institution and gave two talks at the conference. Her award was based on the culmination of all of her accolades throughout her research, as well as her research interest and research with undergraduates.

Dr. Robertson-Anderson articulated her thoughts about going to the conference from a professor’s perspective.

“[Students had the opportunity to] practice communicating science in a way that people understand might not be in your exact field… I think the one really cool thing is a lot of people mistook them for graduate students or postdocs… giving them that kind of confidence was really cool and just getting them to see the experience [of presenting research].”

Dr. Robertson-Anderson went to her first conference through USD in 2010 and started bringing students in 2011. She explained how, even as a professor, she took away tons of beneficial information from the conference.

“Every time I go, it’s almost just like drinking out of a fire hose… I always come back with so many ideas… It’s so energizing, invigorating.”

Dr. Robertson-Anderson related the effects of doing research at USD.

“When you’re doing research at a small university, what we’re doing is very different…and so they don’t really realize that there’s tons of people interested in the same questions we were interested in and this meeting is all about those questions…so it’s very eye opening for students.”

Dr. Robertson-Anderson shared her initial thoughts when she received her award and was recognized at the national level.

“I was just thrilled and just felt very humbled… Also I just feel so grateful for the students… they’re the reason I got the award… the reason I love coming to work everyday... And

I just couldn’t do that without them, and they’ve taught me so much… They bring ideas that I’ve never thought of, I love each and every one of them so much, and looking back on the award, that’s what I’m very grateful for.”

Dr. Robertson-Anderson’s first talk was about how the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

“Our cells can move and divide and talk to each other… we have… all these different types of cells that all have different properties, and that’s because they’re made up of a whole bunch of different molecules that all interact… each one of those molecules by themselves, aren’t going to

do a lot, but together they are much more than the sum of their parts… bringing things together that aren’t normally supposed to go together, like biology and physics…very interdisciplinary,” Dr. Roberston-Anderson said. USD not only attended the APS but also brought home the awards of Dr. Rae RobertsonAnderson for a Faculty Member for Research in an Undergraduate Institution, and Maya Nugent for her research, poster session and ability to articulate her research. The pair reaped the benefits of the conference and also gathered new information to continue developing the USD physics department.

Maya Nugent thoroughly presented her research during her poster session, earning her an award.

Photo courtesy of Maya Hendija

American Physical Society March Meeting attendees proudly represented the USD community.

Photo courtesy of USD News Center/sandiego.edu

‘Fire is (re)-catching’

The renewed popularity of ‘The Hunger Games’ series

MEI FLORY MANAGING EDITOR

On a rainy night in March, my roommates and I decided to watch the entire “Hunger Games” series from beginning to end. With all of us on the brink of graduation (and soon postgrad life), we sought comfort in the nostalgia of our middle school days through Young Adult (YA) dystopian movies, which I personally believe were at their peak in the year 2014. That was the year when “Divergent,” “The Maze Runner” and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” were all released. Nearly a decade later, it seems like these YA dystopian films are making a comeback. One series in particular is making its rounds on social media, especially TikTok: “The Hunger Games.” Of all the dystopian adaptations to be released, this one is by far the best.

Based on the popular book series by Suzanne Collins, “The Hunger Games” has withstood the test of time. It remains the best YA dystopian film adaptation due to its commercial success, its faithfulness to the text and its cultural impact, which relates to its relevance to American society.

Soon after my roommates and I completed our “Hunger Games” movie marathon, a message from Netflix popped up on our TV screens: “Last day to watch on Netflix: March 30.” Knowing our time with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), Effie (Elizabeth Banks) and — our personal favorite — Finnick (Sam Claflin) was limited, we re-watched the first two films nearly five times each. Themes and plotlines that were lost on me as a 12 year-old suddenly became more relevant as I re-watched the series at 22 years-old.

The trilogy was adapted into four films, with the third novel of the trilogy split into two parts. Director Gary Ross handled the first film, while Francis Lawrence directed the rest. The series earned $2.97 billion at the box office, according to Box Office Mojo. Unlike other dystopian counterparts, “The Hunger Games” series ended as the director intended: with all the major plotlines carried out on the screen. Other series such as “Divergent” and “The 5th Wave” didn’t receive this opportunity due to lack of

public interest and profit.

A major contributing factor to the success of “The Hunger Games” was how closely the films stuck to the original text. Direct quotes from the film such as “Want a sugar cube?” from “Catching Fire” and the ending of the final film match the dialogue and writing of the books nearly word for word.

The films also portray how Katniss and Peeta handle their traumas, by finding comfort in each other.

These scenes in the books were not only important to the overarching plot but also demonstrated the severity of the abuse that both characters endured. More importantly, the films do not shy away from the topic of PTSD and the horrors of the Capitol. By the end of the series, Katniss has children of her own, showing that she feels safe enough to bring children into the world, where they will never be placed into such violent games.

Including other details such as the “real or not real?”

scenes between Katniss and Peeta, as well as Peeta’s humor and physical strength, also caught fans’ attention. Ross and Lawrence did well in preserving these moments that could have very easily been lost in the writing for the films. This is where adaptations like “The Maze Runner” fall short, since the films diverge early on from the books, therefore

missing the complexities of the world-building that the authors work hard to create within a few hundred pages.

But what really made “The Hunger Games” movies and the books stand out were how closely they resemble our own society. The Capitol, meant to be a place of excessive material wealth and extreme lifestyles, actually represents the greed of living within a capitalist society. The contrast between the Capitol and the impoverished District 12 (where Katniss is from) emphasizes class inequality. Whereas the wealthier districts can afford to train their children to prepare for the games, poorer districts such as District 12 barely make ends meet, leaving the children disadvantaged and more likely to die during the games.

The emphasis on the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale was also heightened in the films and the focus of almost every teen magazine in 2014. Yet, as many TikTok users point out, Katniss was never going to choose Gale, because he was too much like her — too cruel and desensitized to violence. One TikTok user posted a video with her take on the character.

“I was watching the Hunger Games yesterday and noticed that at the beginning, when Katniss says that she’s only ever shot animals with her bow, Gale replies ‘it’s no different,’ with humans. And I realized

that in that single line from the start of the trilogy we are shown exactly who he is, his disregard for human life. Which is why he has no issue bombing innocent people in the war with the Capitol.”

Unlike “Twilight,” the focus of the books and the films were never about siding with either boy (Team Peeta vs. Team Gale), but rather demonstrating how manipulative our media can be, both in fiction and reality. The latter films highlight the battle between the Capitol and District 13 through propaganda and communication instead of through violence and gun power.

According to an article written by Sarah El-Mahmoud for CinemaBlend, the shortcomings of the film franchise are directly related to the real-world media focusing on the love triangle, rather than the concept of a government employing punishment in the form of a battle royale between children.

“There was something about the marketing or perceived notions about what women/ teen girls should be interested in when it comes to plot lines that brought attention to Hunger Games’ weaker points instead of its strength as a dystopian thriller. The Hunger Games movies serve as a commentary on how people in places of power can corrupt generation after generation,” El-Mahmoud said.

The article also noted that the revolutionary action within

the world of “The Hunger Games” translated into real-life political activism. El-Mahmoud wrote, “Since the movie’s release, the famed three-finger salute Katniss gives in the franchise was used by activists in Thailand and Myanmar.”

Upon secondary viewing, I realized how much of an impact “The Hunger Games” had on pop culture when I was still in middle school. For most of 2012 and 2013, I recalled how popular archery became, how many girls I saw sporting a side braid like Katniss, the mockingjay pin sold in every store and listening to songs from the movie soundtracks on the radio. Everyone knew Rue’s mockingjay whistle by heart, and if you ask any Gen Z, they can probably tell you where the phrase “I volunteer as tribute” came from, often repeating it ironically in humorous situations.

“The Hunger Games” film series, with its likable (and very, very unlikable) characters and more grim take on our own society cements its ranking as the best YA dystopian adaptation to date.

The last day to watch “The Hunger Games” on Netflix is, unfortunately, Mar. 30. Luckily, the prequel film, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” will be released in theaters on Nov. 17. Until then, give the books another read. And, as always, may the odds be ever in your favor.

The views expressed in the opinion section are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.

The movie adaptation includes a celebrity cast with Liam Hemsworth (left) as Gale, Jennifer Lawrence (middle) as Katniss and Josh Hutcherson (right) as Peeta.

Photo courtesy of @thehungergamesfanbase/Instagram

OPINION

More than noise

Music is essential to the human experience

ZOE MARIE ZAPANTA ASST. OPINION EDITOR

I can’t remember the last time I did anything without music. You will rarely catch me without my headphones. Music is everywhere. Whether you are driving down the street blasting it from your car speakers or tuning out the world as you go about your day with your headphones on — music is always there.

Our souls intertwine with music every day. We use it to wind down, articulate things we can’t find the words for, come to terms with our emotions,and generally improve our well-being. It has evolved into a tool for healing and selfexpression, often influencing how we, as individuals, take steps to impact society. That is why I believe that music is an essential part of human life.

Music elicits both strong emotional and physical responses. According to a study by the University of Nevada, Reno, music around 60 beats per minute can cause the brain to synchronize with the beat. So, a slower tempo can quiet your mind and relax your muscles, making you feel soothed. This helps release the stress of the day, and it demonstrates that music is effective for relaxation and stress management.

In a similar vein, faster music helps people feel more alert and concentrated. Upbeat music encourages more optimistic and positive feelings about life.

I have different playlists for different moods, and each of those playlists is unique to me and my personal worldview.

In the book, “Classical Music: Expected the Unexpected,” author and conductor Kent Nagano spoke with neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin on how music connects with the brain. Levitin explained that some sociological effects of music include the improvement of people’s well-being. This is due to chemical reactions in the brain, such as an increase in oxytocin. Oxytocin, or the “love hormone,” makes us more inclined to engage in social interactions or build trust between individuals.

In my case, I listen to a lot of love songs and a majority of those songs are upbeat and express the type of love that I may want in a way that I can’t put in my own words. Listening to that type of music can lead me to romanticize interactions or avoid

situations that may hurt me.

For example, Taylor Swift is one of my favorite artists. In her music, Swift digs into the heart of the human experience in a poetic way that almost romanticizes growing up, falling in love and breaking up. She does so in a way that fans of all ages, including myself, can relate to. Her music allows her to be vulnerable, and it prompts me to reflect on my own experiences so I can understand myself better.

Additionally, live music events allow you to connect with people around you, and connection is an essential part of life. According to The Conversation, a not-for-profit website for publishing news and research studies, when we’re in physical proximity with other people, our mutual tuningin, which is the sociological precondition for any form of communication, toward one another actually generates bodily rhythms that make us feel good and gives us a greater sense of belonging.

Also, when you have the same interest in music as someone else, it’s much easier to talk with that person. Not only that, but if you have similar taste in music as someone else, chances are you’ll be able to find common ground pretty quickly. Hearing music live creates the space for that, and it is a unique experience that you may never get again. I saw Harry Styles in concert recently, and being in a room of people that have all been touched by his music in some way was surreal, and I never felt so understood in that way before. Other people may experience

music differently though, and their reliance on music can lead to changes in their behavior. According to a study from Journal of Personality and Social Psychology that was explored by the American Psychological Association, violent song lyrics can increase negative emotions and can cause people to act more aggressively. Researchers from Iowa State University conducted an experiment to find a relationship between the two, and the students that participated reported feelings of hostility after hearing songs with aggressive words. Popular songs depict violence in just as much striking detail. As we already know, music affects our worldview, but in the case of vigorous themes in music, those messages can discourage the growth of empathy as well as decrease positive emotions. Music like this can be found throughout many genres, one being rap a vast majority of young people enjoy. The audience might expect rappers to do what they say in their lyrics, and the artists can be pressured to commit those violent acts to prove their credibility to others. Certain lyrics may glamorize violent crime, but listening to them and singing about it does not certify causality. Music doesn’t necessarily cause people to commit these actions, but it can add significantly to the pressure to react.

Popular music reflects today’s culture, and that can be a catalyst for social changes. In the lyrics and sound of each era, we can discern the imprints of

a particular generation and see history in the making. Culture is changing faster than ever before, and it mirrors musical forms that are evolving and emerging at the same rate.

We can see music’s impact on human rights movements and its role as a spark for change in our history books. One example is the impact of the “freedom songs” of the Civil Rights Movement, such as “We Shall Overcome” and “Strange Fruit.” These songs broke down barriers, educated people, built empathy and had a hand in ending segregation. In a study from Stanford University entitled “Songs and the Civil Rights Movement,” these songs “give the people new courage and a sense of unity,” and “they keep alive a faith, a radiant hope, in the future,

particularly in our most trying hours.” A modern example of this is Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts.” With lyrics like “I’m 100% that b**ch” and “Why men great til they gotta be great?” This feminist anthem is Lizzo expressing for herself and for women everywhere that she knows exactly who she is without a man and that she is amazing. Everyone experiences music differently. Music is a part of us as much as how artists are the music they create. It serves as a sounding board for how we move through life. It allows reflection of ourselves, spurs change, and ultimately brings us closer as a society. Music is a window to the soul, and as complex as humans are, music is essential to understanding how we move through the ever-changing world we live in.

The views expressed in the opinion section are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.

Music has become the background noise to our daily life.

Photo courtesy of @RossSneddon/Unsplash

Music has become intertwined with our daily lives.

Photo courtesy of @SimonNoh/Unsplash

Dale Lindsey to retire after 10 years with USD football Football coach claims retirement wasn’t his decision

From Coach Lindsey, Page 1 a great coach and claimed that Lindsey always stated he would coach until his “death bed.”

“People would always ask him if and when he was going to retire. He would always say never,” Gitchuway explained. “Dale Lindsey was a great coach when it came to football. He was a coach of his winning program because he had a ‘if it’s not broke don’t fix it mentality.’”

The 80-year-old coach came to USD in 2012, where he was named the 13th head football coach in USD history. Lindsey arrived in San Diego with an excellent reputation, having 40 years of coaching experience at various levels, including highschool, college and professional. Lindsey himself has an impressive football history playing with the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University, where he was a part of the infamous undefeated 1963 team, which won that year’s Tangerine Bowl now known as the Citrus Bowl.

In 1965, Lindsey was drafted to the Cleveland Browns as a sixth round pick where he played for seven years, before he signed with the New Orleans Saints in 1973. After his NFL playing career, Lindsey coached for six NFL teams including the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Diego Chargers to name a few.

After announcing the coach’s retirement McGillis made a statement in a press release sharing Lindsey’s successful history with the university.

“Coach Lindsey is leaving an incredible legacy at the University of San Diego,” McGillis said. “Beyond the extraordinary level of championship success our program has achieved under his leadership, Coach Lindsey established a standard of excellence for the young men in our program, and the lessons they’ve learned from him will last a lifetime. The numbers speak for themselves, but they don’t even begin to tell the

story of the impact he’s made at USD. His emphasis on and commitment to the value of a college education has been the true hallmark of his leadership from day one. He will retire from USD as one of the greatest head coaches in our university’s history and one of the elite head coaches in college football. Tremendous man. Tremendous coach. Tremendous leader.

Coach Lindsey led our program with great integrity, and he has built a model program in every sense of the word. His presence and leadership have been a gift to our scholar-athletes, alumni, coaches and community. We have been blessed.”

USD junior Chase Lyons shared how Lindsey coached his players on and off the field. Alongside the program’s long standing relationship with Autism Tree and providing assistance in the community, Lyons shared how Lindsey helped players not just become better players but men as well.

“He’s always been almost like a grandfather figure to all of us,” Lyons stated. “He worked very closely with my position group and was a mentor for me and always inspired me to do

good things. He’s impacted how I compose myself in the real world and on campus. I try to be better so that the football team doesn’t get a bad stigma and to carry myself in a better way and be a better man in the world. ”

Coach Lindsey finishes his time at USD as the winningest coach in the program’s history, and leaves with the fourth best win percentage (72.7%) in Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) history. His career with the Toreros also includes seven Pioneer Football League (PFL) championships, five FCS Playoff appearances and three-time PFL Coach of the Year Awards.

Cody Tescher Director of Football Operations & Player Personnel speaks on his experience working alongside Lindsey not just as a co-worker, but as a past player as well.

“I have nothing but love, respect, and appreciation for everything Coach Lindsey did for me as a player and in my career,” Tescher explained. “I would not be where I am today without him and without the opportunities he afforded me. Coach Lindsey is a real straight shooter and what you see is

what you get and it’s something I admire a lot about him. He is very old school but he has always cared about the players and was always there to listen and do what he could to make everyone’s experience better. What he and USD Football accomplished with him as Head Football Coach is incredible and he is unquestionably the most successful HC in our program’s history.”

When asked to speak on the claims that Lindsey was possibly forced he explained Tescher could only address the positive impact Lindsey had on him.

Lindsey shared to UnionTribune that he was in a meeting with McGillis, where he was told he was no longer the head coach for USD football.

“Anytime you’re called into the principal’s office, you know something’s wrong,” he said. “I didn’t get a reason. I’ve been fired before. You never get a reason. I can’t tell you any more than I was told, ‘You no longer work here. Goodbye.’”

The Vista contacted Vice President of University Operations Ky Snyder to provide comments on Lindsey’s statement that he was “shown the

door” but was informed that “all inquiries are to go through Media Relations.” Media Relations failed to respond to the inquiry.

Aware of the conflicting statements from both sides, Lyons shared that he wishes both parties could have had some resolution before a decision was made.

“I just think it was hard between both parties between the AD (Athletics Department) trying to make decisions for the football team and the future of it and (coach) wanting to stay as long as he can. I don’t know if it could’ve been handled any better but it’s just unfortunate on both ends and I’m just really sad that it went down that way and there wasn’t anything resolved before the decision was made.”

The Vista reached out to Dale Lindsey for comment but received no response from the former coach. Assistant coaches Steven Irvin and Garrett Robinson were reached out for comments on Lindsey’s claims that he was pushed out and what the program would be looking for in a new coach but received no response. No announcement has yet to be made on who the new head coach will be.

Coach Lindsey has accumulated an impressive 80-30 record, achieving the same number of wins as his age.

Photo courtesy of @FCS_STATS/Twitter

Coach Lindsey finishes at USD as the winningest coach in program’s history.

Photo courtesy of @FCS_STATS/Twitter

Chase Lyons shared that Lindsey has been like a grandfather figure to the team.

Photo courtesy of @usdfootball/Instagram

Weekly sports recap

Women’s basketball finish their season as baseball, softball and tennis continue success

Baseball

Women’s Basketball

The women’s basketball team unfortunately concluded their season after falling to Oregon in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament this past Thursday, Mar. 23. The team finished in the tournament’s Super 16 round with a 61-81 final score. USD redshirt senior Kiera Oakry set the tempo for the Toreros, scoring half of the team’s total points at the start of the first quarter and taking a 12-9 lead.

Senior Kasey Neubert was also influential in the game with the most points scored in the game, securing another doubledouble. Neubert finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds. The Torero team finished strong and still held their own in the fourth quarter as they ended the game with a 6-0 run and won the quarter with 20-1 points scored.

Senior guard Myah Pace finished her career with the Toreros at 14th place on the all-time scoring list with 1,144 points, third all-time with 247 steals, sixth all-time with 375 assists, eighth alltime with 299 free throws made and ninth all-time with 233 offensive rebounds.

With five free throws in the game, Oakry finished her Torero career at 10th in alltime free throws list with 253 throws. Oakry’s 125 free throws this season are the fifth most in a single season in program history. The team had an historic end of a season. The Toreros will return to the court in the Fall.

From Mar. 17-19, the baseball team played in a three-game series against the University of the Pacific Tigers, with all three WCC games taking place at home at Fowler Park. The Toreros finished 2-1 against the Tigers. During the first game in the series, the Toreros scored in each of the first five innings, with home runs from juniors Kevin Sims and Angelo Peraza.

The team had an impressive ten-run comeback in the eighth inning, securing a 16-9 victory over Pacific. The Tigers came out into the first inning, completing three runs; however, Sims answered with a solo home run to deep left-center field, marking his sixth homerun this season. By the bottom of the eighth the Toreros were down 8-6, but accomplished plating 10 runs on just one hit by taking advantage of errors from Pacific and bringing home every runner that reached base. Hoping to go for a clean sweep against the Tigers, the Toreros were defeated by Pacific 5-2. USD sophomore

shortstop Justin DeCriscio had his first college career home run at the bottom of the third to help push the team into the lead.

Softball

The softball team hosted their past six games at home competing against South Dakota, Colgate and St. Thomas.

On Friday, Mar. 17, the team took home a split after falling to South Dakota 2-1, but they won against Colgate 14-2. The softball program went into the two Friday games after a season high of runs scored in program

history. The 14 runs against Colgate marked the most in a single game since 2017. On Mar. 22 the team ended a homestand with a doubleheader split against St. Thomas, winning game one 2-0 and falling in game two 4-3. USD first-year pitcher Emmie Giaime had a tremendous start, as she allowed no walks and only four hits over the course of six innings. Sophomore Joecellia Roberts set a career high with 21 RBIs this season. Sophomore Mikalyn Emmanuelli became the first Torero this season to extend her on-base streak in 10 consecutive games.

On Friday, Mar. 31 the team will travel to Tucson, Arizona, to compete in the Bear Down Fiesta against Arizona University and Georgetown University.

Men’s Tennis

Men’s tennis competed in the Ed Collins Invitational the weekend of Mar. 17 and finished 2-1 after competing against Princeton, Memphis and Tulane. Friday’s game against Princeton came down to a third set at No. 3 where the team ultimately fell to Princeton with a final score of 4-3. On day two of the Classic, the team came back to defeat Memphis 4-1 after earning the doubles point with 6-3 wins at No.1 (Iiro Vasa/Sacchitt Sharrma) and No.2 (Marvin Schaber/Lambert Ruland).

USD First-year Lambert Ruland stepped up playing in both doubles and singles during the match and helped the team stay in the lead with a 6-3 and 7-5 win at No. 6 singles. The Toreros dominated in the final match of

the classic, earning a 4-0 win against Tulane. The team won all six first sets in singles and managed a doubles point at No. 3, finishing with a 7-6 score.

Women’s Tennis Women’s Tennis had an electric win after defeating LMU 5-2 on Thursday, Mar. 23. The match against LMU marks the first WCC match of the spring season. LMU took home the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3, but the Toreos responded with five straight singles wins. The Toreros also dominated in singles match wins defeating both Oklahoma (4-1) and Gonzaga (7-0).

USD sophomore Claudia De Las Heras earned the WCC Women’s Tennis Singles Player of the Week.

Senior Kasey Neubert had a career high finishing against Long Beach State with 18 points and 19 rebounds.

Photo courtesy of @usdwbb/Instagram

AMARA BROOKS SPORTS EDITOR

Oliver Tarvert scored a win at No. 2 in straight sets.

Photo courtesy of @usd_tennis/Instagram

Justin DeCriscio had his first college career home run, pushing Toreros into the lead.

Photo courtesy of @usdbaseball/Instagram