Volume 60 Issue 14

THE USD VISTA

New Wellness Center closes Valley Field

In an email released onFeb. 13, University Operations informed the USD community of the new Wellness Center being built. This new project will begin March 1, and conclude in Fall 2024, for its grand opening. The three-story Wellness Center will be accessible to all faculty and staff and provide a space for physical activity as well as mental health and wellbeing, diet and nutrition upkeep and overall campus engagement.

According to University Operations, the facility will be 80,000 square feet of indoor space and 69,000 square feet of outdoor space. Special features include both “advanced strength training and cardio equipment,” and “teaching kitchen for healthy diet and nutrition programs.”

As a result of construction, the infamous “Valley Stairs” will be closed, with Valley residents’ only access to the Student Life Pavilion (SLP) being rerouted through the Main Parking garage stairs and elevator. Alcalá Way will

also be closed to through traffic during the day, with restricted access to parking behind the Hahn University Center (UC).

In an email sent by University Operations, the reasons to open this new center was explained.

“At the University of San Diego, we place great importance

on providing students with the programs, experiences and support services necessary to achieve their full potential. Our holistic approach to education includes mind, body and spirit — as well as knowledge, values and skills,” the email to students stated. “The three-

story Wellness Center, part of the campus master plan, will be open to all students, faculty and staff. The facility will set a new standard for inclusive wellness resources and NCAA practice facilities for our scholar-athletes.”

In preparation for the construction, Campus Recreation

also sent an email on Dec. 9 to club sport leaders and coaches, notifying them of the Valley Field’s pending closure. The email stated that the closure of the Valley Field would also begin March 1, and it announced that all recreational activity will be moved onto the Manchester Field for the spring semester. All sports teams were further informed of changes made to their scheduling, including a reduction of overall practice hours for the individual club teams and no full-field practices; teams will have to share halves of the field, among other changes.

Associate Director of Media Relations at USD, Elena Gomez, shared information about the number of students who actively participate in a club sport or are on an intramural team, shedding light on who and how many will be affected.

“Our sport club program currently has over 700 members, which is the most in USD history and a 40% increase compared to fall 2021,” Gomez said. “Our intramural program has just over 900 participants. We have 25 active sports clubs (the most in USD history) and of the 25, 19 of them practice/compete on campus.”

Valley Field, Page 2

Tragedy struck the campus of Michigan State University (MSU) on Feb. 13, when a gunman opened fire, killing three students and wounding five others. It marked the 67th shooting of 2023, NPR reported. The gunman entered MSU’s Berkey Hall at 8:18 p.m. and began firing at students in classrooms before moving to the MSU student union. He was found about three hours later, having died of an apparent selfinflicted gunshot to the head.

The 43-year-old gunman has no known connections to MSU. MSU sophomore Porter Grutter described the aftermath of this devastating event. “I have classes in Berkey. My best friend works in the union.

We go to these places every single day and never think twice about it. I was fortunate to be off campus when it happened, but my friends were hiding in closets and peeing in trash cans, because they couldn’t leave their room, praying that no one would text them so their phones wouldn’t buzz,” Grutter said. “When we went to the vigil last night, there were thousands of people just crying and holding each other, even complete strangers.”

As students, faculty and staff begin to make efforts to recover, the thought of having to return to campus looms over students.

“I have to go back to school, because I have no choice. Even if they move classes online, I still have to go to work, because I have to pay for school and my house. There are people in that same position who are horrified to even be near campus, let alone on campus and working. For some of us, it’s not an option, and we either

See A&C, page 3

See A&C, page 4

See Feature, page 6

See Opinion, page 9

See

page 12

Renderings of new Wellness Center include places for students to engage with campus recreation.

Photo courtesy of sandiego.edu

MSU students attend vigil after Feb. 13 shooting.

Photo Courtesy of @michiganstateu/Instagram

OLIVIA SYNEK ASSOCIATE EDITOR

KARISA KAMPBELL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Valley Field closure impacts student life

From Wellness, Page 1

USD junior Emily Nash is involved in a sports club as the General Manager of the Women’s Club Lacrosse team. Nash spends her time alongside the team coach, to ensure everything operates smoothly. When she was notified of the Valley Field’s upcoming closure, Nash had concerns about what the change would tangibly mean for the Women’s Lacrosse team, especially for the team’s player count.

“The main concern, especially for club sports that are competitive, is that if we don’t have all of the players to practice as a full team, then we are not going to get better, which pushes us off, and then we won’t make it to playoffs,” Nash said. “Our goal is to make it to playoffs, to advance to higher levels and to eventually push our club forward.”

Due to the abrupt change in plans, teams were given approximately a month and a half to adjust to the new scheduling hours. The playing time options were extremely limited for the Women’s Lacrosse team, moving some of their practices to weekend days. With no room left open for discussion, the solidified decision created conflict for the girls.

Nash explained the procedure that her team went through

Student Wellness Center to take its place

to secure practice times.

“There is no process; we are just given a slot. There is no raffle, there is no drawing from a hat, there is nothing of that. They give practice times, and we have to do it. We can’t really find a way to move it,” Nash said. “It is not ideal for any USD student [to practice on the weekend]. If you go to college, you know that Friday, Saturday and Sunday are very hard to get students to show up.”

Gomez also addressed how some of the new schedule changes will look for current teams.

“We understand that going from two fields down to one will have an impact on our student experience. When we learned about the new building location, Campus Recreation, Athletics and other campus partners worked hard to come up with a schedule,” Gomez said. “For Campus Recreation, we combined some intramural sport league play days, we reduced some lowenrollment intramural sports, and for sports clubs, we are now requiring all clubs to share a field, versus clubs having an entire field to themselves for practice.”

All club teams are expected to cut down their hours to accommodate the surplus number of teams now practicing on the Manchester Field. USD junior

Elle Kallsen of the Women’s Club Soccer team is also affected by this change, and she shared her thoughts on what this new schedule and practice constraints could mean for her team.

“Less practice means less time to prepare for games. Three practices has allowed us to bond as a team and get a lot of touches on the ball. Now that we are down to only two [practices] a week, we’re going to have to compensate,” Kallsen said. “We are going to have a conditioning and fitness day, so that we can still try to achieve our goals and be in good shape to win as many games as we can this season.”

It is not just players being affected by the changes; coaches are scrambling to make the new time changes work. Nash advocated for her coach, who must also adjust to an unplanned shift while balancing her work outside of coaching the club USD Women’s Lacrosse team.

”My coach is having a difficult time, because she is also coaching other teams, and so she would love it to have later practices, but we can’t because that’s when intramurals play,” Nash explained. The construction will also have a huge impact on Valley residents. Primarily a first-year living area, the Valley is home to

a large portion of the first-year class and some upperclassmen.

USD first-year Gabbie Arellano lives in San Juan and hopes the disruption will be minimal for residents and sports teams.

“I am both excited for the new Wellness Center, considering I love rock climbing, yet also sad to see the Valley Field go, knowing many events and practices were held there… I would hope they do construction mostly while we — students — are at classes or on breaks.”

In a separate email sent by the University of San Diego, the university warns about the possible impact of construction noise. The email states that in order to help combat this, ear plugs will be available at Mata’yuum Crossroads. It also emphasizes the additional study spaces available to students throughout campus.

USD first-year Ari Payomo is concerned about the noise that the construction will create for the students living in the Valley on campus.

“I’m in San Juan, and in my opinion, I’m not really excited about the construction, only because of how much noise it will most likely make. I think that it should happen when students are away/on break, so it does not disturb anyone in the Valley when they are studying, relaxing, or trying to sleep in their dorms. The new Wellness Center sounds exciting itself, but the construction will cause some inconvenience to the students in the Valley,” Payomo said. While the new building will bring beneficial additions to the overall well being on campus, there is no question that the disruption is causing noticeable frustration. With construction to begin during the school year and continue until the fall of 2024, it is unknown what exactly this will look like for students living in the valley and those participating in field sports. For detailed information regarding construction implications, visit www.sandiego. edu/university-operations

From MSU, Page 1

go back or drop out,” Grutter said. Grutter also revealed that the question of when classes will resume has yet to be answered.

“We’re basically completely in the dark and just have to hope that those [who are] making decisions are going to do what’s best for us, but honestly who even knows what’s best for us? We need to go back. We need to get back to our community and work towards healing all together, but then there’s the fear of having to relive that experience and knowing that this can happen in the places you feel at home is so heartbreaking,” Grutter explained. “Michigan State is now going to be the safest

college campus in the country, because they have to. Because we experienced the unimaginable. Because 40,000 students are afraid to even step foot in a classroom. An action so simple as requiring I.D. scanning to get into buildings could have stopped this, and these actions will only be taken now, after the fact.”

The reverberations of yet another tragedy on a college campus echo throughout the country, and USD is no different. USD junior Abby Soderquist shared how the shooting made her feel.

“It’s horrifying, and you never think that it’s going to be you. We think we’re protected, and

everyone who has been affected by school shootings has also thought that it was never going to happen to them. It’s very unsettling to walk around campus.”

USD sophomore Maria Nesheiwat expressed concern about how prepared USD’s campus is in the event of a shooting

“It’s scary to think about because I don’t even know the protocols if it happened here,” Nesheiwat said. “USD has been my home for almost two years and it makes everyone reflect on how easily that could all change.”

USD junior Claire Madsen mentioned that she has never heard a faculty member explain what to do in a school shooting.

“I have never heard an instructor or professor talk about anything like that, and I think this is definitely something that should be talked about because I feel like a lot of times there is definitely conversations about stuff that happens, but I have personally not had an experience where a professor relates it to our campus and what we would do in a similar situation.”

James Miyashiro, Assistant Vice President for Public Safety, commented on the recent concern about safety on our campus and what measures are in place to best protect the community.

“Everyone should continue to be vigilant of their surroundings.

Know where you can go (exits, entrances and other escape areas). Call, text, or tell someone anytime you see, hear, or even sense a dangerous situation. Learn the three main steps during an active shooter and other emergencies such as Run, Hide & Fight (information is available on the DPS website). Students may also request training in active shooter and other emergencies.”

The risk of school shootings an undeniable reality nationwide. Having to remain vigilant and aware of the signs and protocols to best protect yourself and others is a bleak and terrifying reality that Generation Z college students are facing today.

“The new Wellness Center sounds exciting itself, but the construction will cause some inconvience to the students in the Valley.”

- Ari Payomo, first-year

ARTS & CULTURE

We’re watching ‘You’

Netflix’s

popular drama returns for season four

This article contains spoilers from seasons 1-3 of “You.” Based on the book series written by Caroline Kepnes, “You” first came to life as a TV series in 2018. The first season quickly became a success, as many viewers became obsessed with the main character Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgely, and his psychotic approach to finding — and keeping — love.

During the first season, Joe falls for a beautiful girl he meets in a bookstore, Guinevere Beck, played by Elizabeth Lail and begins stalking her. In his crazed journey to dating her, Joe did anything necessary, even killing, to date the woman of his dreams.

As the series moved to its second season, Joe tries to escape his past (and crimes) in his search for love, when he meets a woman named Love, played by Victoria Pedretti, who may just be Joe’s match.

As the series progresses, the show’s writers stray further from the book with each new

season. Throughout the second and third season, Love and Joe’s relationship takes twists, as they fall in and out of love. Eventually, the audience learns that Love is just as deranged as Joe in her search for love, even willing to kill for him in return. However, Love was never a murderer in the book series; so much of season three came from the minds of the script writers and not the original author, Kepnes. This change in adaptation was likely an attempt to bring more viewers back for seasons and keep the journey of Joe interesting.

Now across the seas, the fourth season follows Joe, this time without Love. As the show continues to adapt this idea of Joe stalking and killing others, a big twist changes the pace for the new season.

After changing his name to Jonathan Moore and getting a job as a professor in London, Joe enters a new social group full of glamorous, rich socialites.

‘Jonathan’ finds himself being stalked by someone within this new group, completely inverting the dynamics of the show and allowing this twist to dictate the crimes that occur.

USD junior Olivia Patterson has seen the first five episodes of season four and is looking forward to the second part coming out in March.

“I love the new twist and how the show keeps me on my feet. I could never have guessed that Joe would be a ‘victim’ to stalking himself. I can’t wait to see where they go with this in the second part of the season,” Patterson expressed.

As this new season takes the inventive approach to the crimes, it also alters the intimacy prevalent in past seasons. Most of the first few seasons were based on Joe’s obsessions and resulted in racy love scenes either by himself or with a partner.

Badgley has been vocal about how strange it is to portray intimacy in a show about stalking and other criminal behavior.

In a recent episode of his podcast, ‘Podcrushed,’ Badgley expressed his discomfort with the continuation of filming sexual content in the fourth season, saying he wanted to respect his real-life marriage, and that he is at a point in his career where he no longer wanted to do such scenes.

As a result, the fourth season rescinds a lot of the sexual content from past seasons and evokes a more grim tone.

Patterson reflected on the intimacy portrayed in “You.”

“I feel like all the sex scenes didn’t always progress the story, a lot of the time they just felt unnecessary,” Patterson said, “I hope if there are those kinds of scenes in the new season they have purpose.”

Many people have expressed concerns over how audiences glamorize fictitious characters and real-life killers in TV shows and movies over recent years.

Every new season released is accompanied by fans obsessing over Joe Goldberg on Twitter. User @sammyspreenman tweeted, “what sort of deep rooted issues do I have if I’m attracted to Joe from ‘You.’”

Tweets like this gained popularity for characters like Joe over the years, even as Badgley speaks out against this behavior and attraction to this character.

This has been a conversation for quite some time now, with people blaming streaming services like Netflix for casting attractive actors to play

murderous roles. For example: Zac Efron playing Ted Bundy, Ross Lynch as Jeffrey Dahmer in 2017 and Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer in 2022, Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan, Penn Badgely as fictional Joe Goldberg and many others.

Even with awareness over this new trope of casting attractive people as villainous people, audiences of “You” and other movies starring these men have taken to social media, calling attention to how attractive they all are. Some fans even empathize with Joe from “You” and post about how they think these real-life serial killers are popular and harmless.

Fans believe Hollywood is perpetuating this obsession of awful people by continuing to make these sorts of TV shows and movies, and even rewarding people for their performance, like Peters receiving a Golden Globe for his role as real-life serial killer Jeffery Dahmer.

Badgley has disclosed his discomfort about people’s attraction to his character in “You.” He has spoken out against people having a crush on his character over the years, because he doesn’t view it as healthy, or appropriate.

In a video Badgley filmed for Netflix a year after the release of the first season he said, “Obviously, Joe is one of the worst people ever… Don’t defend him, ever. He doesn’t need it.”

Despite Badgley’s attempts to wean people off his character, the framing of Joe has a lot of people romanticizing him and his criminal behavior. This romanticization is perpetuated by the sex and masturbation scenes, nudity and other sexual content in almost every episode of the first three seasons.

USD senior Isaiah Robinson has been a fan of the show “You” since its initial release and believes the intimacy displayed in the show is too intense and does not add value to the show.

“The relationships and desires of even the most messed up [people] can be displayed without being romanticized. I think intimacy in ‘You’ and other shows [is] too normalized,” Robinson expressed.

Upon the conversations around the romanticization of characters like Joe, many audiences feel like the intimacy doesn’t benefit the plot, but is more so for attracting and entertaining viewers.

The first five episodes of the fourth season of “You” were released Feb. 9, with the second half being released Mar. 9.

The new season is already resurfacing important conversations around intimacy in TV and film, and the dangers of romanticizing characters and criminals like Joe.

STELLA SCHNEIDER ASST. A&C EDITOR

The cast of “You” season four.

Photo courtesy of @Younetflix/Instagram

The legacy of Hogwarts Students discuss the game’s story and controversy

JESSICA MILLS ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

With a new, immersive addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, many fans were thrilled with the release of “Hogwarts Legacy,” an openworld, action role-playing game.

Set in the 1800s in the Wizarding World, players are put in the center of their own adventure as they complete tasks, master spells, meet other characters and much more.

Published by Warner Bros. under the Portkey Games label and developed by Avalanche Software, the game is firmly rooted in J. K. Rowling’s original story, but it creates new ways for players to plug into the Wizarding World.

“Hogwarts Legacy” is available on PlayStation5, Xbox Series X and S and PC. The game launches on April 4 on PlayStation4 and Xbox One. For Nintendo Switch users, it launches on July 25.

USD junior Jae Johnson has played Hogwarts Legacy since its early release on Feb. 6 and shows videos of himself playing on his Youtube channel.

“I think the game is absolutely amazing and immersive,” Johnson explained. “As a Slytherin myself, I am fairly impressed with the detail. The gaming community is exploding with Hogwarts content, with many large influencers broadcasting the game everywhere, even doing role plays of Harry Potter, while playing (myself included). Even the Harry Potter fans who aren’t gamers love to watch it; it is like a movie that you are in, with the story being about you.”

USD senior Roderick Utz has also enjoyed playing the game.

“There’s a lot of exploring. If you’re someone that wants to complete the game you’d be spending hours upon hours finding little secrets and everything [that’s] hidden,” Utz said.

Although many have appreciated the game’s conception, some remained hesitant to purchase and play it, due to J. K. Rowling’s prior statements regarding the trans community.

In a tweet that surfaced on June 6, 2020, Rowling retweeted an op-ed article that discussed “people who menstruate.” Rowling took issue that the word “woman” was not being used. She ultimately faced backlash, and three years later, many have not forgotten.

However, J. K. Rowling was not involved in the video game’s creation. Her writing remains the foundation for “Hogwarts Legacy,” but this addition to the franchise is not a new story from the author.

“J.K. Rowling is a genius creator, writer and storyteller,” Johnson said. “Her opinions or thoughts on different matters

does not take away from anything she has created in my opinion. But that is me. If you are turned off from the game still, she isn’t involved, and nothing in Harry Potter, nor Hogwarts Legacy, even begins to suggest favoritism or exclusivity to anyone.”

The game developers have added a trans character to the game named Sirona Ryan, a witch and barkeep at the Three Broomsticks pub in Hogsmeade.

“She’s essentially a very important character,” Utz said.

“You end up becoming friends with her, and it’s a big part of the game, so I feel like that was a way of [game developers] saying ‘we don’t associate with what J. K. Rowling said.’”

Utz has yet to meet anyone in the gaming community who’s decided to boycott the game due to Rowling’s statement.

“The only person that I’ve met that’s said they’re not going to touch the game is because they don’t like the story,” Utz said.

While “Hogwarts Legacy” certainly features many similarities to the “Harry Potter” series, players can expect a brand new storyline and impressive animation in this game.

Many players enjoyed the game’s new storyline and characters.

Photo courtesy of @Hogwartslegacy/Instagram

“Harry Potter” fans can expect new and familiar Hogwarts scenery in the new game.

Photo courtesy of @Hogwartslegacy/Instagram

‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’

The indie hit that’s been breaking the box office for almost a year

On Mar. 25, 2022, 10 theaters across North America witnessed the limited release of a small indie film called “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (EEAAO), the film that has now grossed over $106.9 million worldwide, been nominated for 11 Oscars and is still thriving in theaters almost a year after release.

Directed and written by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, this adventuresci-fi film debuted in the South by Southwest Film Festival on Mar. 11, 2022.

With the concept of the multiverse introduced and carried out through a traditional Chinese immigrant family, the movie merges bizarrely wonderful ideas with equally unique cinematography and special effects.

For the upcoming 95th run of the Oscars, scheduled to air on Mar. 12, 2023, “EEAAO” has been nominated for major award categories like “Best Picture,” “Best Director,” “Best Actress,” “Best Original Screenplay,” “Best Costume Design,” “Best Score” and five other Academy Award categories.

USD junior Jessica Fernandez De La O talked about her reaction to seeing the movie’s massive success.

“I personally haven’t been

super inclined to go to theaters after COVID-19, because recent films seem more generic and something I can stream from home,” said Fernandez. “But this being a small film [that’s been] picked up and doing so well just shows the significance it carries, and it’s really impressive to see how much it incentivizes people to go to theaters. It revives the love for film.”

With a talented, starstudded cast including Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis, “EEAAO” revolves around the story of a Chinese immigrant named Evelyn Wang, who stressfully runs a laundromat with her husband in the middle of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit while also grappling with her daughter’s sexuality and life choices.

The plot of the movie thickens when it’s revealed to Evelyn that the universe she resides in is one of a billion and that there is a different version of her in each of those universes, which are all in danger because of a dark force destroying them. It then becomes Evelyn Wang’s mission to save everyone from a descent into oblivion.

This movie expands the concept of the multiverse by highlighting how every small decision ever made by

humans can create an alternate universe. Whether that be the smallest of changes, like a universe where “Ratatouille” is called “Racacoonie” or a universe where an evolutionary choice made millions of years ago has now caused humans to have hot dogs as fingers.

But the film’s goal is not just subtle comedy or ridiculous concepts. As the story progresses, it makes underlying commentary on mental health, existentialism and the feeling of loneliness and disorientation we all experience as we’re navigating this world.

USD sophomore Jesalin Diaz, a big fan of the movie, talked about her feelings toward the

movie and its deeper meaning.

“At first, I was very confused because of how much was being thrown at me,” said Diaz. “But if you look past the mind-blowing special effects, the movie talks a lot about what we, especially as college students, face related to feeling unsure about the future and life in general. And I also loved how the movie talked about the trauma you face as a child of an immigrant and the struggles that come with that.”

EEAAO has managed to resonate with audiences of all ages and races across the world. But it has reached new heights and surpassed boundaries, specifically for the

Asian American community through the portrayal of its nuanced characters.

New York Magazine film critic Alison Wilmore talked about how part of the appeal of the film is that it’s about Asian American characters without being marketed as an Asian American film and that “the characters simply are relatable in all their aspects, like anyone else.”

USD senior Jasmin Zheng reacted to the film, its cast and its content as a Chinese woman herself.

“Oftentimes, when there’s a movie with a minority cast, people tend to focus only on that,” Zheng said. “But this

movie includes that cast without making it about their culture and the stereotypes that come with it, and that makes me happy. But I also worry if the hype for this movie is arising [solely] because of the fact that it’s pushing minorities into mainstream film.”

Despite the reasons for “EEAAO’s” popularity, this film has kept audiences on the edge of their seat throughout its course.

After winning the public’s support and helping revive the love for watching movies in theaters, the only question that remains is if this indie hit will win in the forthcoming Academy Awards.

SATVIKA NITYA ASST. A&C EDITOR

The film made many viewers realize how much bigger the universe is than they believe it to be.

Photo courtesy of @Everythingeverywheremovie/Instagram

Time Magazine named Michelle Yeoh as an “Icon of the Year” for 2022.

Photo courtesy of @Everythingeverywheremovie/Instagram

No B.S.

Dr. Leeva Chung brings organized chaos into the classroom

KATIE FOREMAN ASST. FEATURE EDITOR

Once a wild child, always a wild child.

At age 14, University of San Diego communication studies professor Dr. Leeva Chung was staying out until four in the morning, forgetting to call her mom or check in. Today, this USD educator of 24 years will tell you she’s still living in the moment.

“I’ve honed it,” Dr. Chung said. “I know I exude a lot of energy — so my dad has taught me to learn Tai Chi and hone it.”

Any of Dr. Chung’s students in her multiple communication studies courses can attest to her zeal for education, unusual teaching methods and distinctive appearance. In her classroom, the purple-hued professor rocks the boat. She is not traditional in any sense of the word — she speaks her mind.

“You don’t have to like me,” Dr. Chung said. “If I concentrate on how people are feeling about me, I’m losing sight of what you’re here for, which is the material… I can’t have the whole entire class like me — that’s not why I’m here, but I think the respect part is really important.”

Dr. Chung’s unique teaching style is a culture shock for some students, but she describes it as “organized chaos.”

“There’s a goal, and there’s a method, but I am not going to tell you how the method and goal works — and that is chaotic,” she said. “There’s a method and there’s a madness — it feels icky, but later, it feels empowering.”

Students, for the most part, agree. On the website Rate My Professor, former USD students rated Dr. Chung’s classes an overall 4.1 out of 5, which helps inform future students. Comments range from “Her lectures are eye-opening and her class has made me grow a lot,” to “She is bold, and definitely beats her own drum,” to “She has very scattered teaching methods and can

sometimes get off topic, but she makes it so much fun!” Students often noted her humor, passion and unorthodox classroom.

Dr. Chung said she teaches the way that she wishes she was taught, back when she was in school. She went through enough schooling to understand what she liked and what she didn’t like from educators. To her, it all makes sense. The organized chaos that students witness in her classroom is nothing new to Dr. Chung; she has been forced to be malleable her entire life.

The San Francisco native was raised in Chinatown, but she did not adhere to a traditional upbringing. Her parents divorced in the early 1970s — unheard of in her conservative Chinese community — and Chung attended four different elementary schools. Her mom was an opera singer, and her dad was a government employee; they co-parented Chung with her two sisters as best as they could under their circumstances.

Throughout her experiences at different schools, she discovered her love for learning, as well as the many different approaches people take to educating.

“I was a smart kid, but I now understand there’s no one ‘right’ way of learning; there’s so many multitudes and modes in which we can connect information to the student,” she said. “And if you just rely on one, it just doesn’t work.”

The first elementary school Chung attended closed down, so she was then transported to an all Black school, which also closed. From there, Chung attended a school called Lake Shore and, in the second grade, she was overlooked for the gifted program due to discriminatory reasons, and her mother moved her to a community school. Once enrolled in this next school, Chung’s mother moved to San Francisco’s Marina District and Chung was transfered to nearby Treasure Island for classes. These many educational transitions at such a young age taught Chung how to be flexible and coopera-

tive, especially in the classroom.

“I’ve had to be always ready to adapt and adjust: boom, boom, boom,” she said.

From learning to adjust to situations in her own life, Chung continues to carry this sense of flexibility with her, especially in her approach to teaching.

“How can I be true to this class by being present and flexible if I’m on a rigid schedule and giving you this clear prompt, that makes no sense to me, that I need to change? I can’t connect these dots for you — that’s part of the learning,” she said. “I want to be flexible and I want to give the dual nature of academic freedom and learning to that flexibility.”

While Chung’s teaching style has won her multiple awards for her skill as an educator, she holds a humble attitude toward such awards. Dec. 16, 2016, was declared “Leeva Chung Day” by the City of San Diego for the involvement she and her class had in a project with Pure Water San Diego. Chung finds herself to be undeserving of this day, saying it was her class that put in the hard work, not her.

“It kind of embarrassed me; if it had said ‘Leeva Chung’s Class Day’ then I’d be like, ‘yeah, okay, that makes sense, because we all kind of work together,’” she said. “It’s like, ‘why should I get that honor when my students did all the work?’”

Chung embraces building relationships with students and ensuring their success. For the entirety of her life, she said she has been surrounded by people who did not enjoy school. This began with her sisters. Chung finds purpose in supporting others in their educational pursuits.

“My mission is: how do you make people enjoy being present with us, learning what we do?” Chung said. “I’m a champion for the underdog.”

As a tall, Chinese woman growing up, Chung says she felt like an underdog. Not being able to play sports for a tall person, she said she again felt like the un-

derdog. Not being able to speak Chinese the way other people did, she felt like the underdog. Being shoved into numerous schools, once again Chung felt like the underdog, as well as during class time when she spoke up often, which was deemed inappropriate by teachers.

“So it’s almost like — not the misfit — just the one… puzzle piece that doesn’t fit,” she said.

A sign her father had over his door was particularly impactful to her, and she would read it daily. It read:

“There is no right way to do the wrong thing. Give without remembering. Take without forgetting. Forget your mistakes, but remember what they taught you.”

Chung said her family has played a significant role in who she is today. Her mother gave her confidence and a sense of selfreliance. Her father taught her compassion and grace for others. Her grandmothers passed down their wit and humor. Her sisters showed her what it means to be present for the ones you love.

“Life is like a mosaic; everyone gave me a very distinct message,” Chung said.

Overcoming multiple obstacles throughout her childhood, Chung persevered in school, eventually earning a Speech Communication degree from San Francisco State University, then a Master’s degree in Speech Communication from California State University Fullerton. Finally, Chung completed her doctorate at the University of Oklahoma. She is a respected college professor, an author and a sought-after public speaker. Curiously, her original career choice was vastly different from her current occupation.

“I wanted to be a checkout clerk at a grocery store,” Chung said. “And so that’s why today when I go to the grocery store, I pack my groceries. I just find it thrilling.”

Despite overlooking her original career goal, she has experienced great accomplishments over the years. Her overall proudest achievement, Chung said, involved building a connection with a student in one of her classes. She described this particular student as “awful” in her class, refusing to participate, or even speak to her. Toward the end of the semester, however, Chung decided to show this student grace, by offering him an opportunity over email. As a result, there was a complete change in their understanding of one another.

“It was like this 180 with him,” she said.

The student and Chung came to terms with one another and ended up creating a positive relationship that she still values to this day.

“Everything that made me feel in a bad way, ended up being good for the right reasons,” Chung said.

Her biggest talent, it turns out, is making something appear out of nowhere, as was the case when forging a connection with this student.

At age 57, the wild child continues to inspire students with her no-BS style and unique approach. Throughout her life, Chung has been true to herself: adaptable, authentic, unapologetic and introspective. Chaos is a constant for her, both in and out of the classroom, yet somehow it always works out.

“I believe that’s like life; it’s like a river. You never know where it’s gonna flow,” Chung said. “You just gotta go with it.”

Leeva Chung at age 56 smiles about being able to share the life lessons she learned with her students.

Photo courtesy of Leeva Chung

Leeva Chung at age 21 built her own path despite the confinements that surrounded her Photo courtesy of Leeva Chung

Black history is American history

Florida’s wrongful banning of AP African American History

JACKIE MARQUEZ OPINION EDITOR

If you’ve ever read “Fahrenheit 451,” you know that banning information is a dangerous form of control. It is evident that Florida lawmakers haven’t read Ray Bradbury’s book. Last month, the Florida Department of Education sent a letter to the College Board stating that they had decided to ban the AP African American Studies course. The course is still brand new, with the 20222023 school year being its debut.

According to Education Weekly, the Florida Department of Education’s letter described the course as “inexplicably contrary to Florida law, and significantly lack[ing] educational value.” Soon after, the College Board cut out a significant portion of the class. According to the New York Times, the removed content included theories like intersectionality, the work of Black feminists like bell hooks and the work of thinkers whose work related to Critical Race Theory like Angela Davis. They also made the study of current movements, like Black Lives Matter, optional.

The Department’s two reasons for opposing the course are unjust. Florida education laws are slowly encroaching on students’ freedoms by censoring materials, which should not be the standard for educational courses. On top of this, by deeming African American history as “inappropriate and lacking in educational value,” they deprive students of an opportunity to learn about the history and experiences of Black Americans.

The Florida law that the College Board’s course violated was the “Stop Wrong to Our Kids and Employees Act,” abbreviated as the “Stop W.O.K.E. Act.” The text of the law is vague, but according to the Florida Senate, it prevents any instruction or training that could compel students or employees to believe that they are privileged or oppressed because of their race or gender.

This isn’t a great standard to weigh a history class. When we look at the historical mistreatment of Black Americans, it’s evident that oppression was tied to race. Slavery was oppression based on race. Segregation under Jim Crow was oppression based on race. If learning about these topics prompts students to believe that race plays a role in oppression, then how can we not teach about oppression through the lens of racism?

This law lays the foundation for government officials to censor educational professionals. As Jeremy Young, the Senior Manager of free expression and education at PEN America, explained to the New York Times, the College Board’s response of stripping down the course material risks sending a dangerous message. It potentially communicates that, “political threats against the teaching of particular types of content can succeed in silencing that content.” This message is dangerous, because it suggests that whoever’s in power can shape how we teach our history, by silencing ideas they don’t agree with.

This censorship also restricts the freedoms of parents and children. First and foremost, AP African American Studies

is an extracurricular, just like every other AP course. The class is completely voluntary — no one is being “forced” to learn about African American history. By banning the course, the Department of Education is restricting parents’ and childrens’ choices. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, this is contradictory to the right to free speech, which is protected under the First Amendment. As they explain, “Even with respect to K-12 education, where states generally have latitude to determine school curricula, these bills overstep the government’s legitimate authority.” Rather than allowing students and parents to choose whether or not they want to learn about African American history, the government is taking that option entirely off the table. Frankly, it’s paternalistic. African American history is American history, and because of that it inherently has educational value, even for the people that claim it doesn’t. However, opponents to the course claim that the subject material is concerning and inappropriate. Florida education commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. highlights the “concerning” topics found in the course and gives an explanation as to why they are so concerning on his Twitter account. Among these topics are Intersectionality, Black Queer Studies, Movements for Black Lives, Black Feminism, The Reparations Movement and Black Struggles in the 21st Century. At a college level, these theories are foundational; ethnic studies courses focus on these theories as frameworks to analyze history. The appeal of AP courses is that they are taught at a college level, and

their tests can be taken for college credit. Given that high schoolers are using these courses to learn advanced material for college credit, it’s reasonable and acceptable that the course material is more advanced than what is typically taught in high school history classes.

These topics are crucial to understanding the diverse experiences of Black Americans. Intersectionality, for example, looks at how both race and gender influence a person’s lived experiences. It highlights how Black women have unique experiences from Black men and white women. Black queer studies focus on the experiences of LGBTQ+ people of color. Black Americans have multifaceted identities that deserve to be learned about, but their experiences are often left out of mainstream education. Studies of marginalized groups such as queer folks are often seen as political. It’s disheartening that aspects of people’s identities are treated as part of an agenda, rather than something we can learn from. These topics capture experiences that are relevant to the current events Black students are living through today, so students should have the option to learn about them.

The biggest argument against these topics is that they are indoctrinating children. As Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told his audience in a press conference, “We want education, not indoctrination.” Indoctrination is defined by Oxford Languages as “The process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.” In teaching Black history, schools do the opposite of indoctrination. History has been historically taught from

a white perspective. When students learn about westward expansion, for instance, they learn about “manifest destiny” and how Americans believed it was their “god-given right” to expand their territory. Students don’t learn nearly as much about the genocide of Native Americans that occurred as a result of westward expansion. Some students in the south learn about the Civil War as a war of northern aggression. When it comes to the causes, they’re taught about conflicts around states’ rights, rather than conflicts over owning slaves.

When students learn history from a Black perspective, they are learning about American history from a different angle. It gives them a lens to criticize the history they’ve already learned. Labeling anything that contradicts the dominant narratives of education as “indoctrination” is dangerous, especially if those contradictions to the prevailing curriculum actually promote critical thinking. Without considering Black perspectives, our history will continue to reiterate white-dominated perspectives, which is why these critical viewpoints are so important. Ultimately, studying Black history gives students the opportunityto learn about Black culture and think critically. It also gives students the tools to address issues that the Black community faces and has faced historically in America. In banning these course materials, the Florida Department of Education censors educators, limits the freedom of parents and students, devalues Black experiences, and deprives high schoolers of an opportunity to learn about Black history.

Among the course’s critics is Florida’s Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr.

Photo courtesy of @SenMannyDiazJr/Twitter

Critics have questioned the priorities of education officials in Florida.

Photo courtesy of @claytoonz/Twitter

OPINION

‘They love me, they love me not’

Romance media affects how we view love

ZOE MARIE ZAPANTA OPINION EDITOR

I love love. If I am reading a book, nine times out of ten it is a romance novel. Picking a movie to watch? I am searching through the romance category. My Spotify playlists or top artists? Mostly love songs.

Love is one of the most common elements used in media because of its relatability, intriguing nature and emotional attachment to our lives. However, the way that it is used can differ depending on the genre. Romantic dramas will sometimes show love as challenging, but worth the effort. Comedies are more likely to focus on the downfalls of love; some even promote the idea that certain kinds of love are not worthwhile compared to the effort required to find true love.

I think that romance media affects our perception of love, as we move through personal relationships and set the standards we hold for those relationships. A lot of the ideas that romance enjoyers have align with the common messages that the media conveys about love, but I don’t think that sharing that perception is a bad thing.

What we perceive through the media as romance affects our relationships through how we treat each other, how we define love for ourselves, how we accept others and how we understand others who define love differently from us. But, when it comes to the standards we hold romance media can lead to unrealistic expectations.

One of my favorite romance movies of all time is “Notting Hill.” The film tells the story of a world renowned actress, played by Julia Roberts, falling in love with a small town bookshop owner, played by Hugh Grant. This movie is famous for her speech to him, in which she says, “I am also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” I love this movie because of the trope it presents — a celebrity falls in love with a “normal” person — and because of the “meet cute” that takes place. A meet cute is an amusing or charming first encounter between two characters that leads to the development of a romantic relationship between them. When it comes to romance in my own life, I refer back to this movie and others like it, wondering when a celebrity crush of mine will sweep me

off my feet, or when I’ll have an encounter with a stranger that leads to a whirlwind romance. But it is unrealistic for me to think that way. Romance media has instilled a standard in me that makes me think that I have to find a “perfect match,” or that in order for someone to be my perfect match, they have to look a certain way, have particular personality traits that are possessed by my favorite characters and celebrities, or come into my life a certain way. Sometimes I even prefer living in these fictional depictions of love, since a part of me knows that, because it is unattainable, I can’t get hurt directly.

Sometimes, too, romance stories will romanticize unhealthy love. They suggest that toxicity is normal and expected, or that your relationship has to be intense, like “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

Beliefs we hold about love and romance are likely to change our motivations and experiences in romantic relationships. If we are more likely to base love in our lives on what we observe in the media, then we may be more likely to be disappointed in our own, reallife relationships. Sometimes, we may even persevere through the most toxic situations when it comes to love, if we watch movies that cause us to believe that true love can always persist through challenges.

In an article from The Charge, a research study is featured from Julia Lippman. Her study goes into depth about how young people’s minds are essentially free for the media to mold. 60% of students agreed that people consuming media, especially kids, are impressionable to these standards. People begin to understand that this behavior is normal. Participants in the study provided examples of this such as that if an older person expressing interest in a teenager makes them a passionate forbidden lover, rather than a predator. Or that if an abuser is conventionally attractive and they tell you they “love you,” that relationship is worth fighting for, because they can just be “fixed.” We shouldn’t be urged to feel like any relationship of this sort is worthwhile or anything close to romantic.

But, I stand by my belief that it is not always a bad thing to like the idea of romance. Aside from unrealistic expectations I may have about romantic

relationships, I still think that romance media is good because it has taught me things like I deserve healthy love. I can’t expect someone to save me, and I certainly don’t need someone to. But I can and should expect my partner to meet me halfway, to support me when I need them to and to communicate with me about things, so we can continue to grow as people.

Romance media is good because it can also help people get more comfortable with their sexuality. Leaving room for people to interpret the work in their own way helps people to implement new ideas into their love life, and even learn new things about themselves. An example of this with positive results is the film “Love, Simon.”

An article from The Temple features a student testimony of what the film meant to her. The student identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community and describes the story of the film as “refreshing” since the movie stars a gay character

that isn’t depressed, suffering with a disease such as AIDS, or isn’t the comedic sidekick to a straight person. This film is also important since it was one of the first movies from a major production studio that represented the LGBTQ+ community. It opened the door for more stories and more representation in cinema, and it even helped people feel more comfortable coming out of the closet.

At the end of the day, most people just want to love and be loved by others. I think that romance media influencing our perceptions of love allows for a lot of reflection on what healthy, happy romance should look like. It spurs people to make exciting or necessary changes to their love lives, and ultimately allows them to escape reality for a little while in an effort to protect themselves from things they are afraid of. I still love love, and you never know, your meet cute might just be right around the corner.

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.

Movie tropes can give us new ways of understanding our own lives.

Photo courtesy of @JaBreeHarris/Twitter

Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, presents an unrealistic love story.

Photo courtesy of @nottinghillmovie/Instagram

Romance media gives us the opportunity to experience love outside of a relationship.

Photo courtesy of @AnnieSpratt/Unsplash

Flag on the referees

Are referees held accountable for missed or bad calls?

Referees have been a key component to games since the dawn of sports. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “umpires, referees, and other umpire officials preside over competitive athletic or sporting events to help maintain standards of play. They detect infraction play. They override penalties, according to the rules of the game.” Referees play a significant role in games because of their enormous influence. They are, however, inevitably going to make choices that alter the course of games because of their immense power. Referees have also been the subject of contentious decisions that have hurt the outcomes of extremely important games.

In the National Basketball Association (NBA), there have been multiple controversial decisions made by the referees that resulted in teams winning games they were not destined to win. The Lakers and Celtics met in a tight game on Jan. 28, 2023, during the NBA season 2022–2023. There were just 4.1 seconds left in the game’s final quarter, with the score tied at 105-105. The star forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James, was struck in the arm by the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum as he drove into the paint for a potential game-winning basket. Normally, this would register as a shooting foul, which forbids an opposing player from making physical contact with the shooter’s body while the shooter is attempting to shoot the basketball. As a result, the shooter would be permitted to attempt free throws, which depending on whether you are fouled outside the three-point line or within the three-point line are essentially two or three unlimited shots from the freethrow line and are worth one

point each. But the referees in this game made the decision to not blow their whistles. The alleged missed foul call clearly enraged LeBron James and the Lakers. However, this did not prompt the referees to reevaluate the action or reverse the call. After the game entered overtime, the Celtics defeated the Lakers 125–121.

Anthony Davis, a star power forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, quoted in the Los Angeles Times, gave his remarks on the missed foul call on LeBron James.

“He fouled him [LeBron James]. He fouled him. Clearly.

“Clearly!” Davis exclaimed.

“It’s bull—. But, at the end of the day ...It’s not fair. And I guarantee that if the refs started getting fined for missed calls, it’d be a lot better.”

Right now, referees have the ability to drastically alter the momentum of games. A missed call might determine whether a team wins or loses a game. A possible way to stop the referees from making bad calls is to fine or punish them. Thanks to modern technology, referees can make informed decisions. However, they continue to

commit the usual error of failing to call a foul or calling one that wasn’t there. Given how effective and precise they must be, it is understandable why referees have the most challenging job.

Throughout the history of the NFL, many people have complained about the referees and how they need to be better. This past Sunday during the Super Bowl, there was lots of controversy due to a referee’s last call made against Philadelphia Eagles cornerback James Bradberry, who supposedly held Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, while he was receiving a pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes. When watching the replay, it looks as if Bradberry is not holding Smith-Schuster. That makes this call controversial, because if the call was never made, then the Chiefs would have never been able to run out the clock and win the game. The Eagles would’ve gotten the ball again and had a chance to potentially score and win the game.

A referee from the game, Carl Cheffers, spoke about the call and explained why he made it.

“The receiver went to the

inside, and he was attempting to release to the outside,” Cheffers stated. “The defender grabbed the jersey with his right hand and restricted him from releasing to the outside. So, therefore, we called it defensive holding. It was an obvious case of a jersey grab that resulted in a restriction. There was no debate.”

Cheffers also stated that the other referees who were working with him all agreed on the call the referee made. Even though the referee himself came out and said that the call was fair, many people still don’t agree with the call and feel as if the game could’ve ended differently had the call been different.

This year wasn’t the first and only time the referees made controversial calls. In last year’s 2022 Super Bowl between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals, there were some controversial calls as well. Three back-to-back calls in the last two minutes of gameplay upset fans. The first call during the Rams’ touchdown drive was on third and goal, from the 8-yard line; Cooper Kupp missed a throw from Matthew Stafford, and it would have been a fourth down, but the referees

called a holding penalty against the Bengals, giving the Rams a first down. On the next play, there was a touchdown, but referees called penalties on both the Rams and the Bengals, and the touchdown was revoked.

Next, Kupp missed a pass from Stafford, but the pass fell incomplete. The Bengals were called for pass interference, which put the ball on the oneyard line. Two plays later, quarterback Stafford eventually found Kupchak, and they scored a touchdown. Many fans were not happy with these game-changing calls and felt as if the refs were on the Los Angeles Rams’ side.

These two instances are not the only instances in the NFL of controversial calls made by the referees. Many NFL fans want the league to start holding the referees accountable for all the bad and controversial calls they make.

Overall, both NFL and NBA players are dissatisfied with the refereeing throughout their respective games. Their calls can significantly affect the course of a game, they can cause irritation and general outrage among players and spectators.

CLAY

During this year’s Super Bowl, there was a lot of controversy over one of the last plays of the game.

Photo courtesy of @BleacherReport/Twitter

NBA Player Patrick Beverly showed the game camera to the referee after missed foul call on LeBron James.

Photo courtesy of @BleacherReport/Twitter

USD women’s tennis competes in ITA Spring season starts with championship tournament

AMARA BROOKS SPORTS EDITOR

The USD women’s tennis team traveled to Seattle, Washington, to compete in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Indoor National Championships. During ITA Kickoff Weekend, the team earned the No. 17 spot after defeating both #25 Georgia Tech and #11UC Berkley (Cal). The victory against Cal marked the second straight day the Toreros won the doubles points with victories at No.1 (Elizabth Goldsmith and Kailey Evans) and No. 3 (Claudia De Las Heras and Jordyn McBride). The ITA Indoor National Championships occurred over the course of three days from Feb. 10-13.

The indoor tournament is a big accomplishment for the women’s team. USD fifth-year Solymar Colling explained what the tournament means for the team’s upcoming season.

“The indoor championships are a big deal, because it kicks off the season. It is held in the very beginning, and it’s a good predictor of how the rest of the season may play out,” Colling described. “Only 16 schools qualify to play indoors, so the significance and prestige are for sure there as only the best schools in the nation play.”

Getting to this point demands hard work and consistency, as the team has practiced and

prepared for matches since Jan.

3. This is the first time that USD women’s tennis has ever made it to the indoor championship, and as they are not an indoor team, the team had to find indoor locations to help them prepare.

USD sophomore Kailey Evans described how the team prepared and worked through the challenges of playing in a new, indoor environment.

“It can be a little difficult to get used to playing indoors so quickly,” Evans stated. “For our team, it is important that we are intense and are getting the best quality of our practice, as well as recovery and properly fueling our bodies. This is how we are able to give our best on our match days. We are also a team that focuses on meditation and affirmations.”

The team proved that they’ve found their stride this year, as they swept the West Coast Conference (WCC) Weekly Awards for the third week in a row. Kailey Evans and Elizabeth Goldsmith earned the University Credit Union (UCU) WCC Doubles Team of the Week award for the third consecutive time, after defeating No. 23 Arizona State. The USD duo, ranked No. 53, had a big 6-2 win at No.1 doubles against the ninth-ranked Arizona duo.

Evans shared how the connection built between her and Goldsmith helped them in game-time decisions.

“Elizabeth and I just understand each other on the doubles court, we are consistently setting each other up, so we give ourselves the best chance to win,” Evans said. The championships kicked off on Friday, Feb. 10, with the No. 17 USD women’s team playing against the No. 3 Texas A&M, in the first round of 16. The Toreros fell to Texas with a 4-0 loss, as the Aggies earned doubles points wins at No.1 and No. 2. The loss to Texas A&M resulted in the Toreros moving to the consolation bracket to face No. 13 Auburn. The team lost to

Auburn with a 4-3 score, when it all came down to a third set tiebreaker at No. 2 singles. The team continued on and played #7 Virginia to end the tournament. Evans shared that just making it to the tournament is a big win.

“We have put ourselves on the map for others to know who we are and where we come from,” Evans stated. “We are grateful that we get this opportunity to play together and play with the best teams in the nation.”

The USD women’s tennis team is already starting their spring season with many accomplishments and good

prospects for the future. After the tournament ended the Toreros welcomed the University of Hawaii at the Hogan Tennis Center. The team won the doubles point with a 6-0 win at No. 1 with Goldsmith and Evans and a 6-3 win at No. 3 with De Las Heras and McBride. The women’s team proved the tournament was a useful learning experience with their win against Hawaii. The women’s team will head to Waco, Texas on Feb. 25 where they will compete against the University of Washington and Baylor University.

Solymar Colling shared that only the best 16 schools in the nation qualify for the tournament.

Photo courtesy of @usdwtennis/Instagram

Elizabeth Goldsmith and Kailey Evans earned the UCU WCC Doubles Team of the Week award.

Photo courtesy of @usdwtennis/Instagram

Evans stated the team is grateful for the opportunity to play together in a tournament like this.

Photo courtesy of @usdwtennis/Instagram