Volume 61 Issue 12

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Volume 61 Issue 12

Thursday, February 8, 2024

THE USD VISTA VISTA

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

A soggy start to the semester Storms and floods hit Southern California

RITI DEY ASST. NEWS EDITOR During last week’s recordbreaking storm, the City of San Diego experienced the most rainfall in its history in one day.

According to CBS News, San Diego saw “an astonishing 2.73 inches (6.9 centimeters) of rain” on Monday Jan. 29, exceeding the typical amount of rainfall (about 5 inches) for the entire month of January in the city.

CBS reported that it was the “wettest day in January history.”

2023-2024 marks what is known by meteorologists as an El Niño year, a concept which is determined by warmer Pacific Ocean temperatures, influencing climate patterns around the world. In Southern California, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared that “moderate to strong El Niño conditions during the fall and winter result in wetterthan-average conditions,” as can be seen in San Diego this year.

The San Diego UnionTribune reported flooding on several roads, including Mission Record-breaking rain and flooding hit San Diego the week before spring semester began.

Photo courtesy of @usdcas/Instagram Boulevard at Reed Avenue,

‘So… what are we, exactly?’

The realities and reprecussions of a situationship

See Floods, Page 3

INSIDE Bye, Blackboard

NYLA HARRIS ASST. A&C EDITOR In the new age of dating, a wide variety of labels are emerging to describe romanticlike relationships that two or more people create with each other. Asking the big question of “what are we?” can reveal discrepancies in how each person in the relationship feels about the appropriate way to describe their commitment to one another. The newly surfaced term “situationship” has been trending and used by many in younger generations to describe this confusingly labeled “romantic-ish” relationship between two or more people.

Situationships, as defined by the Women’s Health Magazine, is a romantic relationship that lacks commitment and the associated norms and expectations that come with that.

Essentially, it’s (ironically) a label for a “label free” relationship.

Although this may seem rare, there are many people that

North Mission Bay freeway ramp at Interstate 5 and more.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria issued evacuation warnings to residents in flood-prone areas such as Southcrest, Encanto and Mission Valley. KCRA News explained, “firefighters and lifeguards rescued about two dozen people from the rushing San Diego and Tijuana rivers… two homeless shelters were also evacuated.” The City of San Diego released storm preparedness statements, providing free sandbags at recreation centers to prevent or reduce flood water damage in homes.

The flooding did affect USD students, faculty and staff, as not many San Diegans were equipped to handle such intense weather conditions.

The floods affected several homes, including USD English professor Dr. Carlton Floyd.

“It has been daunting and discouraging,” Floyd shared.

“Most of my neighbors were flooded here in Spring Valley, where I live, and one recalled that we have not seen anything like it in this area since the mid 1970s. A neighbor two

See News, page 2

Valentine’s gifts See Opinion, page 4

Ways to show love See Feature, page 6 Situationships or unclear relationships can create anxiety around holidays such as Valentine’s Day. Photo courtesy of @chris.blucat/Instagram

experience this kind of label-less relationship in the dating world.

USD junior Meredith Sheridan considers herself to be someone who regularly goes on dates in her early 20s and has experienced many situationships over the years.

She expressed how these kinds of relationships make her feel and what she’s learned from them.

“I’ve been in lots of situationships. Too many to count honestly,” Sheridan said.

“When I was younger, like around 18, I didn’t have as much experience dating, so these types of relationships were a lot harder for me mentally, because I wasn’t mature enough to communicate what I was feeling or what I wanted from the relationship,

Don’t miss the latest news. Find us online:

@USDVista

and disregarded whether that person was taking advantage of me or not. Now, I like to set my boundaries really early in the relationship, so even if I’m not looking for a relationship at the time, I’ll just say, ‘hey, I’m not looking for a relationship at the time I would prefer for us to do X, Y, Z,’ and if something

See Situationships, Page 10

@theusdvista

theusdvista.com

Exploring polyamory See A&C, page 9

Love of sports See Sports, page 12

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The USD Vista

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February 8, 2024

NEWS

The dawn of Canvas:

USD community reacts to transition from Blackboard to Canvas LILI KIM ASST. NEWS EDITOR With the start of the spring semester, USD wakes from its winter slumber as students flood the green lawns of campus in search of their new classrooms.

This spring, the USD community is also adopting a fresh change in the form of Canvas.

Canvas, a web-based learning management system, replaced Blackboard, which was USD’s previous online learning program for over a decade. According to the Director of the Learning Design Center (LDC) Ashley Kovacs, this switch was initiated for a multitude of reasons.

“The version of Blackboard we used was going to enter ‘end of life.’ In tech terms, this means the current version we were using was no longer going to be supported,” she said.

Kovacs also mentioned that many students were ready to move on from Blackboard.

“We got a lot of feedback from students particularly about how Blackboard was antiquated and the look and feel of it was clearly dated. Because of the

large market share that Canvas has in relation to Blackboard, a lot of students asked, ‘Why aren’t we using Canvas?’”

The 20 largest school districts in the U.S. use Canvas, as well as all California community colleges. The shift, therefore, would allow transfer students and adjunct professors who teach at other universities greater ease when logging onto their USD accounts, Kovacs explained.

Migrating over to Canvas from Blackboard, however, took some time and effort on both the part of the LDC as well as professors. USD Professor of Communication Thomas O’Rourke described the shift like moving out of a comfortable home.

“Imagine you’ve lived in a house for 15 years. You’ve decorated it, and all the things are in the right places in the cabinet.

And then somebody comes in and says, ‘We’re going to move this to a condo down the block.’

It sounds simple, but some of the furniture doesn’t fit, and some things get lost,” O’Rourke said.

Due to the magnitude of the shift, the LDC worked to ensure that the entire community was well equipped.

The team initially launched

some online programs on Canvas at the beginning of the fall semester, before going campus wide. They have been preparing faculty and staff since the end of September for the transition, in hopes of making it as seamless as possible. Specifically, they hosted online training sessions and helped resolve technical issues.

“Without the IT team, I never could have done the transfer,” O’Rourke said.

Regardless of the midyear switch, students are adapting to Canvas rapidly.

USD senior Nolan Anderson expressed his excitement about the new learning program.

“It’s intuitive. Everything just feels smoother and — more importantly, the professors [seem to] like it.” Anderson also explained how he used Canvas at his university abroad, so the program was familiar.

Kat Harris, a sophomore at USD, said her experience has been smooth sailing as well. “I honestly like it better than Blackboard… it’s more organized.”

Kovacs explained that Canvas is more organized, with student-oriented features which was the deciding factor

The USD Vista conducted a poll on Fizz which found popular support for Canvas.

Colin Mullaney/The USD Vista

for why USD chose to make it the primary learning system.

“According to the data, a majority of students access their classes from their mobile device,” said Kovacs. “Canvas is a mobile-first platform. The ability to access your grades on the tram or access a powerpoint on your phone before class was a huge selling point for us.”

Additionally, Canvas blends well with other technologies, such as Zoom, PDF files and electronic textbooks, ensuring that students would

not need to have ten tabs open just for schoolwork.

“We tried to create an ecosystem around Canvas where students have one place they can go,” said Kovacs.

The installment of Canvas created a fresh slate for students entering a new semester, and in Professor O’Rourke’s terms, “forced us to do a housecleaning.”

As the semester continues, students will continue to learn how to navigate the platform and conquer the changes of the new semester.

Break-ins in Valley residence halls 6 burglaries reported in the Valley during January

ANJALI DALAL-WHELAN NEWS EDITOR While many students were away from campus during intersession, members of the USD community were alerted to several burglaries.

Six burglaries occurred in January, in first-year Valley residence halls — four in Valley A buildings and two in Valley B buildings.

In an email to USD’s campus community, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students Nicole Whitner and Assistant Vice President and Director of Public Safety Chief James Miyashiro gave more information on the wave of crime.

“The recent burglaries and thefts occurred during the Intersession period when rooms were vacant, when students and

staff were away from rooms and offices, or when items were left unattended. In several instances, windows or doors were left open or unlocked for easy access,” the email stated.

The email also explained new preventative measures that were installed in residence areas. These include increased patrols by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) around the Valley and Vistas residence halls, installation of sash locks and dowel rods to add extra protection to groundlevel windows and patrols by Residential Life staff members.

Additionally, Residence Life staff checked for unsecured windows before the semester began.

The email from Whitner and Chief Miyashiro connected to a list of tips to reduce the risk of burglary or theft which can be found on the USD News Center website.

Sash locks were installed in the windows of some lower-level rooms in the Valley.

Photo courtesy of @harveywindowsanddoors/Instagram

Chief Miyashiro provided additional information to The USD Vista in a written statement.

He explained that he believes the burglaries are connected by the same perpetrators.

“They followed a consistent modus operandi [pattern], with unknown individuals gaining access to rooms through unlocked windows or doors left ajar. The unknown perpetrators exclusively targeted unoccupied rooms,” Miyashiro said.

Miyashiro stated that USD’s DPS is collaborating with the San Diego Police Department, but no arrests have been made as of Feb. 2.

He also informed The USD Vista that the university is considering installing security cameras around residential areas, although they have not been installed yet.

“The university is actively considering the augmentation of surveillance cameras in proximity to residential halls,” Miyashiro stated.

USD first-year Emma Pirhala is a Valley B resident and expressed her concern regarding the crime notifications.

“It’s definitely concerning since there doesn’t seem to be much action in finding out who is committing these crimes. However, I feel safe by taking proper precautions,

Public Safety increased presence around the Valley due to increased crime.

Spencer Bispham/The USD Vista

like locking my doors and windows,” Pirhala said.

USD first-year Ashley Rodriguez said the break-ins have caused her apprehension. Her building in Valley A was broken into during the fall semester.

“We had a floor meeting about it, and it was really rattling coming to college and already feeling unsafe,” Rodriguez said.

She expanded on how the most recent burglaries have affected her.

“When I got all the notifications that there were more break-ins happening

over break, it was really scary.

I hope that USD puts in some cameras in the Valley or hires more Public Safety officers.

Because even though they’re supposed to be on patrol most of the time, I personally rarely see them,” Rodriguez stated.

Chief Miyashiro urged students to stay vigilant and report suspicious behavior to prevent crime on campus.

DPS can be reached through their emergency number (619) 260-2222 or their non-emergency number (619) 260-777.

Volume 61 Issue 12

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NEWS

The USD Vista

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Record-breaking rain effects USD community

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Students and faculty share their experiences with flooding

Floods, from page 1 doors down is having to move, her house flooded so badly.

There are U-Haul Big Boxes outside her place, as we speak.”

Floyd continued to explain how the flooding affected his home. “I am not in that shape. I can fix or remove most things that got wet, although it is expensive and work intensive…

I think what’s most depressing is that few around here have flood insurance. I’m guessing that it will take another month or so before the house is back to generally sound conditions.”

USD junior Amelia Douglas reflected on the effects of the flooding on her residential area by Mission Beach.

“I was working as a Recruitment Counselor [for Panhellenic Recruitment] on campus, and [the rain] made me late for trainings because I couldn’t drive for some time

or because I was trying to help friends sandbag their houses or deal with preventing water damages in the best ways we could,” Douglas said.

“I have been mostly worried about my car and being able to get to and from places, because when it rains the streets flood, and I am very south Mission so it makes it dangerous for me to get anywhere.”

The blustery storms peaked at 35 to 40 mile-per-hour winds, which were strong enough to bring down several trees and powerlines. CBS8 reported that a 70 foot tall pine tree fell on a house, wrecking the house as well as an SUV in North Park. Over 1,600 customers of San Diego Gas & Electric experienced a power outage, which reportedly lasted several hours in areas including Nestor, San Ysidro and Otay Mesa.

The USD Residential Life

Department sent out “Rain Advisory” emails with suggestions on accommodations for such problems, such as keeping windows closed, dressing for the rain and reporting to USD Public Safety if any water leakage occurs in student housing.

The roof of a dorm in Manchester Village collapsed due to the rain, causing issues for some USD students.

USD sophomore Aliya Garrett shared her experience living in Manchester Village amid the flooding, which affected both her and her roommate.

“We were both transfer students for the soccer team, so we drove down on Sunday with our car jammed packed to find out our dorm was no longer available because the day before, so much rain had come in that the roof had collapsed,” Garrett explained.

“That was very problematic because I was coming from out of state so I had a lot in my car and I really didn’t want to move twice, but I had to.”

Garrett’s troubles continued, despite being moved to a different dorm. “I think it was handled poorly,” Garrett said. “[USD Residential Life] put us in a temporary dorm after waiting five hours, and were not on top of the repairs. Then four days later, they told us to move in because it was fixed but failed to inform us that there were actually bed bugs. The repair is fixed but because of the bugs, we have been permanently removed and are waiting for them to treat our stuff. It will likely be at least another week before we get our things decontaminated and move in somewhere else.”

Floods, evacuations and power outages effected the USD community the week

before spring semester started.

On the second week of the semester rain began again. On Sunday Feb. 4, an atmospheric river hit California, which caused heavy rain and storms across the state. Heavy rain began Monday in San Diego.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration “atmospheric rivers are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere – like rivers in the sky – that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics.”

Atmospheric rivers cause heavy rainfall like what San Diego has experienced this week.

According to Fox 5, San Diego, Fashion Valley, an area close to USD’s campus, received 1.58 inches of rain from Sunday to Tuesday morning.

Fox 5 says rain is expected to continue until the morning of Friday Feb. 8.

LINDA VISTA FARMERS MARKET

2024 LUNAR NEW YEAR 2:00 - 7:00 PM | FEBRUARY 15 6939 LINDA VISTA RD Some San Diego residents received evacuation warnings.

Photo courtesy of @nbcsandiego/Instagram

Celebrate as we ring in the Year of the Dragon!

LINKTR.EE/LOVELINDAVISTA IG: @LINDAVISTAFM LOVELINDAVISTA.ORG

Financial support is provided by the City of San Diego Arts, Culture and Community Festivals City Council Allocations

A t

Students walked through the rain during the first week of spring semester.

Photo courtssy of @usdcas/Instagram

The USD Vista Colin Mullaney - Editor-in-Chief

Katie Foreman - Feature Editor

Abigail Cavizo - Associate Editor

Satvika Nitya - Arts & Culture Editor

Spencer Bispham - Managing Editor Lauren Ceballos - Sports Editor Maria Simpson - Copy Editor Aidan Freis - Distribution Manager Khushi Patel - Art Director

Hailey Howell- Social Media Manager

Anjali Dalal-Whelan - News Editor

Anna Hallock - Director of Finance

Jackie Marquez - Opinion Editor

Emma-Kate Squires- Photo Editor Emma Holliday - Advertising Manager

Editorial – 619.260.4584 Business – 619.260.4714 www.theusdvista.com/ @TheUSDVista Gina Lew - Student Media Advisor Marie Minnick - Operations Advisor

The USD Vista publication is written and edited by USD students and funded by revenues generated by advertising and a student fee.

Advertising material published is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an expressed or implied endorsement or verification of such commercial venues by the staff or University.

The USD Vista office is located on the fourth floor of the Student Life Pavilion in room 403B. All inquiries should be sent to: The USD Vista 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego or of its student body.

Letters to the Editor can be submitted to The USD Vista office.

Letters should be limited to 300 words and must be signed. For identification purposes, USD identification numbers and writer’s year must be included in the letter. The USD Vista reserves the right to edit published letters. Any content sent to the editor will be considered for publication unless otherwise stated.

The USD Vista

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February 8, 2024

OPINION

It’s not the thought that counts Not all romantic gifts are made equally

RONNIE SAENZ ASST. OPINION EDITOR Whether it’s flowers or perfume, we’re all expecting something from that special someone this Valentine’s Day, but sometimes that romantic gift really isn’t that special.

When it comes to gift-giving, the best intentions don’t always yield the best results. So, I’ve put together a list of a few things you shouldn’t give your partner for Valentine’s Day — that way you can avoid any embarrassment or hurt feelings.

Starting off strong, the absolute worst gift you can give your partner is a gift card.

Nothing says, “I don’t know what to give you, but I don’t want to give you money,” like a gift card, which isn’t any better than money anyway. A gift card is just cash you can only use in one place which technically makes it a worse gift than money because now your options are limited to one place. When gift-giving, you want to make sure that you give the person something personal. A gift card basically

says, “I don’t know what you’d like, so go pick it out yourself.”

It’s fine for people you don’t know very well, like a coworker or a distant cousin, but for your partner? Your soulmate? No, you need to do better. You should know your significant other well enough to know what they like.

The next gift on the Valentine’s Day chopping block is a box of chocolates.

The thing with gift cards is that they do not belong anywhere close to your Valentine’s gift, but a box of chocolates seems perfectly reasonable. It seems simple enough, and there are so many options for heartshaped boxes and assorted chocolates for that special someone. However, the fact that it is so heavily commercialized and predictable makes it trite.

In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent an estimated $2.2 billion on Valentine’s Day candy in 2022 with heart shaped chocolate boxes ranking as the second most popular candy. We’ve seen it so many times it won’t feel special at all to just get a box of chocolates

for Valentine’s. It’s forgettable and can only work as a compliment to something better.

The last gift I think you should never give your partner is a bit controversial, but going out for dinner is a terrible gift. I don’t think this counts as a gift, because it’s just a date. Does a date really count as a gift? Some people think so. I don’t, because dinner is the bare minimum, it’s literally needed for survival.

Some say that an expensive dinner with planning and effort can be a great gift since it can make someone feel special, while sharing time with their partner.

My issue is that at its core, you’re just spending more time with your partner. Yes, it’s expensive and there was effort involved in making it happen, but at the end of the day it’s just a date.

Some will say that “it’s the thought that counts,” no matter what gift you get, or it’s the fact that your partner put in the effort to get you something that matters — not so much what they got you. I disagree.

When it comes to gift giving it’s more than the thought that counts, it needs to actually

Gift cards fail to show the thoughtfulness your partner deserves.

Photo courtesy of @puravida/Instagram

mean something. Gifts need to be specific to the recipient and represent that you know them well. Giving someone any of these gifts above is a sign you really don’t know your partner that well, and would rather phone it in than getting closer to them.

These tips aren’t for everyone. Maybe your partner really likes chocolate or

gift cards to the Cheesecake Factory. That doesn’t mean these choices are generic, and for the vast majority of people, a turn off. As a single guy, who am I to say? But you know what they do say: coaches don’t play.

So get them some flowers, a charcuterie board, some fine cheeses, wine or just anything you know they will love.

Nicki Minaj vs. Megan Thee Stallion How the media pits women against each other

CAMERON TRAYLOR CONTRIBUTOR

Throughout the years, we’ve grown together through social media. However, it’s in human nature for people to abuse media-sharing technologies, to manipulate and corrode the public information we have access to. In the current hyper-advanced digital age we live in, it seems as if violence and conflict between women, and toward women, through the media has become society’s new pleasure.

The weaponization of social media has become a central topic in today’s classrooms, courts and other important places. As systems like AI become ubiquitous and more powerful, it’s normal for us to wonder, “have we gone too far?”

In terms of rap news and pop culture media coverage, Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion have collaborated together on “Hot Girl Summer” in 2019. Then Megan Thee Stallion released “WAP” in 2020 with Cardi B, who most would claim to be one of Nicki Minaj’s rivals. Nicki seemingly talked about Megan in her song 2023 song “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” when Nicki mentions her hate and disapproval of horses.

Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B later collaborated again on the

song “Bongos” during September 2023. This new year, Megan released her popular single, “Hiss.” However, the rivalry between the hip-hop superstars hit a turning point Jan. 29, when Nicki Minaj released “Big Foot.”

This track seemed to be a response to “Hiss.” However, the claim that it was a diss on Megan was denied by Bronx native Nicki Minaj. When “Hiss” dropped, it quickly became a trending topic of conversation throughout digital platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and X. In the song “Hiss,” Megan Thee Stallion raps about her current celebrity lifestyle and the challenges that she experiences as a female rapper in today’s world. On a 10-second interlude in the song, the Houston rapper says, “Every time y’all celebrate fake news, ha! Using my names for likes and views.” Megan Thee Stallion goes on to reclaim her own power in the remainder of the song and reminds listeners of the difficulties of fame and success as a Black woman as she raps clearly and proudly, “These blogs get paid to lie.”

The showcasing of these lyrics isn’t to pick a side between Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion, or to decide which one is right or wrong. It’s to demonstrate how there’s a current trend in society

that we all participate in, where people are purposely attacking others through social media and perpetuating harmful narratives.

USD Professor Mary Brinson, who has done extensive research on harmful portrayals of Muslims in media added, “These artists have the right to freedom of expression in any way they see fit. However in an industry where women historically are criticized and scrutinized (i.e. Taylor Swift), tearing each other apart contributes to and amplifies the problem. It seems that many of the current female artist have dedicated groupies that take to social media to defend them (i.e. Swifties, Beyonce’s Beyhive, Minaj’s Barbz) in response to media-hyped conflicts.”

Stereotypes and the spread of misinformation in the media, is often driven by malice and ill will in order to try to continue false narratives and further biases, especially negative ones.

Online spaces where people digitally interact are hubs for the spread of misinformation and it’s where made-up stories circulate without remorse for the victim, or those carrying out the spreading of fake news.

USD Professor Jessica Magellan, whose background is in Sociology and Feminist Theory, added her input, “Feuds

in the music industry, including rap are nothing new. The fact that these two artists happen to be women of color in an often misogynistic industry only makes them both more vulnerable to oppression, stereotypes, doxxing and cancel culture. This combined with the disturbing ‘cat fight’ trope and ‘angry black woman’ trope make public feuds like this even more concerning.”

February is a month to honor Black history, and a month to celebrate love and compassion.

It’s important that we take time

as a collective to reflect on the importance of the words and images we use when representing people, especially those from marginalized communities.

Let’s aim to create a world where every story is valued, but most importantly heard. We can create this world through active listening, empowering our communities, and understanding diverse perspectives. Uplifting the voices of the marginalized is a key factor in promoting a more diverse and inclusive world for everybody to inhabit.

The release of ‘Bigfoot’ was a turning point in the rivalry between the rap stars.

Photo courtesy of @nickiminaj/Instagram

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

Volume 61 Issue 12

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OPINION

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The USD Vista

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OPINION

‘You need to calm down’

Contrary to popular belief, Taylor Swift isn’t ‘ruining football’ JACKIE MARQUEZ OPINION EDITOR The Kansas City Chiefs will play the San Francisco 49’ers in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday Feb. 11. This matchup has sparked controversy among football fans, with some fans going as far as to call the game “rigged.” However, there’s an unlikely target for football fervor this season: Taylor Swift.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, pop superstar Taylor Swift is dating Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. According to Today, Swift has attended 12 Chiefs’ games in the time that the couple has been together.

At each of those games, the singer-songwriter has captured the camera’s attention; given Swift’s massive following, it isn’t surprising that she’s appeared on jumbotrons and broadcasts alike. What’s surprising is the backlash she is receiving for her appearances.

Now, I’m not a huge fan of Taylor Swift; valid critiques can be made about her carbon emissions, white feminism and fake country accent.

However, the negativity surrounding her in the football world is unnecessary, as well as ref lective of a bigger issue that’s not her fault.

Just last week after the Chiefs’ defeated the Baltimore Ravens, Barstool Sports posted

a video showing a Ravens fan yelling at the singer.

“Hey Taylor, you’re ruining football,” one fan screams as others join in.

Other fans have echoed similar sentiments on social media, with one common complaint being that they just want to watch football, not Taylor Swift. While I understand not wanting the game to be interrupted, a quick pan to Swift cheering in a box seat does not distract from the game.

While it may not seem like it to Swift’s critics, the singer is actually shown very little during games. According to The New York Times, she is only shown for an average of 25 seconds during broadcasts.

Considering that most football games run longer than three hours, and that her presence is really only noted at Chiefs games, 25 seconds isn’t very much screen time.

Step away for a snack and you could miss her entirely.

It also isn’t uncommon for broadcasts to show celebrities in the crowd. Historically, football broadcasts have always shown more than just football.

Not only have they shown fans in the stands, they’ve also shown male celebrities, cheerleaders on the sidelines, advertisements during breaks and halftime shows. With all these shots, you watch more non-football content than actual gameplay during a broadcast.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce on the field celebrating the Chiefs’ AFC championship win.

Photo courtesy of @billboard/Instagram

According to ABC News, the average football game is just over three hours, yet the camera only shows about 18 minutes of action. So, unless fans complain every time the camera pans to the crowd or other celebrities,

When the camera cuts to Swift, it briefly shows her cheering like all the other fans.

Photo courtesy of @voguemagazine/Instagram

the reasoning for this backlash toward Swift just doesn’t stand.

If this incredibly brief screen time is still too much for you, consider who is truly responsible for putting Swift onscreen. Last I checked, Taylor isn’t manning any of the cameras, the producers and media crews employed by the NFL are. So, why would the NFL devote screen time to her? A better question is why wouldn’t they?

Taylor Swift is obviously very popular with women, and her presence at games has turned some of her fans’ attention toward the sport.

Front Office Sports reports that Swift has generated a brand value of nearly $331.5 million for the Chiefs and the NFL since she began attending Chiefs games. So, by exploiting Swift’s presence at games, the NFL is able to appeal to a usually underrepresented audience in the realm of sports (women), and make more money.

To put it simply, Taylor Swift isn’t distracting from the game or taking up a large amount of screentime. She simply exists in the box of a stadium, and the NFL draws attention to her. In doing this, the NFL also captures the attention of her fans, prompting Swifties to tune into Chiefs games.

This makes the NFL extra

money, benefitting football as a whole. The game itself isn’t any different. All that’s really changed is now more women are watching football and more fans are forced to remember that Taylor Swift exists.

In my opinion, the controversy is indicative of how a certain subsection of sports fans view women. Historically, the football industry has been male-dominated.

With all male players and a majority of pundits and commentators being male, space has not been made for women on or off the field. As such, football has come to be viewed as a kind of “man cave” that’s under invasion.

So, if the presence of Taylor Swift is ruining football for you, you must not have liked the sport very much to begin with, or maybe you’re just really uncomfortable with women existing in the world of sports. Either way, it is ridiculous to blame Taylor Swift for the NFL’s attention on her. If anyone is to blame, it’s our culture’s capitalistic values; without our emphasis on consumerism and celebrity culture, the NFL wouldn’t choose to cut to Taylor Swift just to make money. So, if you’re truly bothered by the sight of Taylor at a Chiefs game ask yourself why, or just “shake it off.”

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

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The USD Vista

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February 8, 2024

10 ways to spr Valentin Make handmade Valentine’s day cards with friends or your partner; you can paint them, collage them, or decorate however you like.

Exchange the cards with each other to show your friends some love, just like you might have used to do back in elementary school.

Sweeten the cards with some candy or chocolate as an added, bonus treat.

Make homemade pizookies (cookie pies) with a friend/partner.

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Go to your local grocery store and get snacks and treats for a picnic, whether it be a picnic in Kate Sessions Park or on campus.

Send a family member a Valentine’s card.

Being away from home can be daunting, but that doesn’t mean you can’t communicate your feelings from afar. Send a card home, or to a family member in another state, so you can feel a little closer together this Feb. 14.

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Watch sunset on partner or friend an cream

Buy your best friends to a stranger. Nothing and I’m thinking abo fragrant reminder of h you. Every time they the counter, they’ll mean to you. Have th them, or pass them a per

Text your hometow them that you lov thinkin

Volume 61 Issue 12

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FEATURE

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The USD Vista

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pread love for ine’s Day

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et on the beach with your nd and take them on an ice cream date.

ends flowers, or give flowers othing says “I appreciate you, ng about you,” like a pretty, er of how much they mean to e they see the flowers out on hey’ll know how much they ave the flowers delivered to hem a beautiful bouquet inperson.

metown friends to remind ou love them, and you’re nking of them.

9

Plan a date night (with a partner or friends) on a budget. Staying in can consist of movie-marathons, making homemade, heart-shaped pizzas, painting, etc. A good rom-com never hurt anybody, so choose your favorite, and share it with your close circle. A night in can also be interactive, if you practice a craft together, like following along with a painting tutorial, or dance the night away with some music.

Bake cakes and decorate it, trying to recreate each other’s faces with frosting.

10

Show yourself some love — buy yourself flowers, take yourself out to coffee/tea, go on a drive to the beach, have a night in and binge your favorite show, eat cookie dough out of the container, read your favorite book, watch your favorite movie, call your best friend or partner, or anything else that brings you joy.

Spread by Khushi Patel/The USD Vista: Content by Katie Foreman/The USD Vista

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February 8, 2023

Volume 61 Issue 12 •

ARTS & CULTURE

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The USD Vista

A R T S & C U LT U R E

You’re not the only one for me Polyamory: a peek at the concept of non-monogamy

SATVIKA NITYA ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR “There are plenty of fish in the sea” is a phrase taken quite literally in the world of polyamory. With its premise of consensual non-monogamy, the idea of having multiple romantic partners has slowly seeped into discussions in spaces like classrooms and even mainstream media.

From representations in shows like “Good Trouble” and “Succession” to the media frenzy surrounding Jada Pinkett-Smith’s description of her marriage to Will Smith as a “relationship of transparency” — though it was riddled with extramarital relationships — polyamory has been brought to light in recent conversations, sparking both approval and opposition.

But first, let’s define polyamory and what it entails.

“Polyamory” is the practice of developing multiple intimate, romantic, and often — though not always — sexual relationships simultaneously, with all involved parties aware and consenting.

In simpler terms, it’s a type of relationship where someone can pursue and love numerous partners, with the permission and knowledge of everyone involved.

It is a term that falls under the broader umbrella of “nonmonogamy,” also referred to as “ethical non-monogamy” (ENM), along with other nonexclusive structures like situationships, open relationships or swinging.

This means that, unlike infidelity — which is often inaccurately interchanged with polyamory — all people involved are consensually and voluntarily non-monogamous.

There is not one way to be poly. In fact there are nine types of polyamorous relationships and based on the number of partners you have and the specific boundaries you’ve set with them, your relationship dynamics change and fall under various categories within the polyamorous umbrella.

The biggest question that arises after hearing about polyamory is: how does this even work? The answer is communication.

Open communication with everyone involved is the biggest driving force of polyamory, along with trust, respect and patience.

Communication, along with regular testing, is also how they maintain sexual safety within their relationships.

Recent research published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine stated that poly couples have fewer STIs than those practicing non-consensual non-monogamy: infidelity.

Contrary to popular myths that polyamory has no possibility of permanence or family future, there are millions of polyamorous

A polyamorous relationship with three people is called a throuple or a triad, as pictured above.

Photo Courtesy of @triadandtrue/Instagram

relationships that are homes for children. In fact, according to sociologist Dr. Elisabeth Sheff’s research, it is these qualities of strong communication that cause polyamorous households to contribute sincere emotional nourishment to children, with the presence of multiple resources and support systems.

With the rise of polyamory in current conversations, the dominant topic of argument is over the idea of whether it is a lifestyle choice or not. For those that oppose polyamory, are not involved in it or are resistant to fully accepting its presence, the argument lies in the idea that polyamory is immoral and an easy out from commitment.

Author and sex therapist Tammy Nelson attributed this need for multiple partners to pandemicborn concept known as “domestic ennui”, where people, after being stuck in the same space with one person for a long time, are willing to explore more. Though Nelson promotes this exploration, his attribution of polyamory to boredom has been used as a way to condemn polyamory by many.

USD senior Jason Reed resonates with this sentiment about polyamory in his own way.

“My initial reaction to hearing about polyamory is to think that people just don’t want to commit to one person,” Reed said. “It sounds like commitment issues and if it’s not, hearing about the rules involved and what not, I think it’s a really good exercise in open communication — but it’s not for me. I can openly communicate with just one person.”

For those that practice polyamory or believe in its validity, it is not as much a lifestyle choice, as it is a deepseated orientation. In an article from Vanity Fair, political activist

and writer Caroline Rose Giuliani talked about her experience being polyamorous and argued that polyamorous folks are simply wired to love multiple people.

Being polyamorous is how they experience love and relationships in its truest form, and someone can be polyamorous even if they are single or only have one partner; being polyamorous simply means that they are open to the idea of loving more than one person.

For some people, polyamory is how they feel bodily autonomy.

Giuliani further explained that thinking of polyamory solely as a “choice,” rather than an orientation is harmful. She highlighted a very important distinction, saying that since most of the U.S. current antidiscrimination discourse revolves around fixed, immovable traits, like race, gender or ethnicity

(relationship status not being one of them), polyamorous couples can be denied housing, prevented from advancing at work and even fired without any legal recourse.

USD senior Viviana Moiso shared their thoughts on this issue.

“I don’t think polyamory is a lifestyle ‘choice’ in the same way that I don’t think being gay is a lifestyle choice.

It’s just the way your brain chemistry works,” Moiso said.

“So [polyamorous individuals] being denied rights is the same dilemma as unmarried, but longterm couples being less likely to be considered for adoption or housing. It’s unfair and frustrating. Polyamory is often compared to polygamy, where men have this long list of wives whereas a ‘polycule’ is where it’s real people, who love each other deeply. And I don’t think people

should have to exclude one or more of their partners, to be more likely to receive basic rights.”

Outside this discussion, scientists have also provided some background over this inclination to polyamory, by saying that humans have an innate impulse to be non-monogamous.

Evolutionary psychologist David M. Buss of the University of Texas says that monogamy is not biologically ordained. Our current dominant mode of monogamy is an evolutionary social process, reinforced by institutions like marriage and our societal set up for bi-parental care for children.

USD senior Steven Iannicca talked about the science and how he looks at polyamory.

“Based on the research, it does make sense that we lean more toward being polyamorous, but I think it’s also how we’re raised and culture plays a huge role in it,” Iannica said. “Monogamy and polyamory can both coexist, but I think it ultimately comes down to what you think is right or wrong. And culture and the way you’re raised play a huge role in determining that.”

Regardless of your opinion on the matter, it is a fact that currently, in the United States, 4-5% of the population practices polyamory, which is around 13 million people.

Yet, the only three cities that have legal protections and rights for polyamorous folks are Somerville, Arlington and Cambridge, all in Massachusetts. And there are only a handful of lawyers across the country that specialize in polyamorous rights to defend them from any discrimination and hate they may face.

Even though there’s a long road left to cover in terms of the social and legal course of polyamory, at least those who practice it have multiple hands to hold while they make this journey.

Three actors that depict a polyamorous relationship on the Hulu show ‘Good Trouble,’ behind the scenes.

Photo Courtesy of @goodtrouble/Instagram

Volume 61 Issue 12

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The USD Vista

You and I?

The ups and downs of situationships NYLA HARRIS ASST. A&C EDITOR from Situationships, Page 1 changes between either of us, we’ll communicate that.”

The timing and dynamic of situationships can vary from person to person. Sometimes they are presented after a few dates, when it’s too early to label or discuss the status of a romantic relationship.

Other times, it can be a way of defining a causal relationship that is predetermined by all parties to be ‘short-term.’

USD senior Abby Baines has also experienced many situationships, but she highlights how the relations and dynamics of these situationships change by identifying within the LGBTQ+ community.

“Something interesting I’ve noticed is that my situations with men were always pretty non-confrontational, like the men I was with were never going to bring it up. They never asked ‘what are we’ and never hinted at wanting a relationship or to be more exclusive,” Baines says.

“With women and nonbinary partners it’s definitely been different. More often asking ‘what are we,’ double checking that it was just a situationship or friend with benefits, and on the other side of things, they would also frequently try to

The limbo stage during situationships where you don’t know where you stand can be challenging to deal with.

Photo courtesy of @9gag/Instagram

bring up the conversation about dating or becoming exclusive.”

One unfortunate reality for some people is that they may experience a situationship without the knowledge that they’re entering into a label-less relationship. This is oftentimes a one-sided, unrequited desire by one partner who wants something

more, while the other partner doesn’t hold such plans of love.

USD senior Riley Lim has experienced such reality through the partner he met while away in Europe.

He describes his experience with the situation, as well as how he chose to close that chapter.

“I met this guy when I was studying abroad, but we really

hit it off near the end of my trip so we unfortunately had to do a very interesting long distance situation. It caused a lot of anxious attachment, I was just yearning for him all the time — it wasn’t fun,” Lim says. “After about eight months I sent a text saying, ‘I don’t think I can talk to you unless we are in the same place where we can

really grow a relationship, and I don’t think it’s the best to stay in this gray area and continue talking.’ The conversation of ‘what are we’ would come up all the time — like I said — we were talking on and off for eight months online, so every other week we would redecide if it would be best for us to be together or apart. It really had to take someone to say ‘I really think we have to cut off all contact in order for us to feel better,’ and that’s what I did.”

A central premise to why many situationships occur in the first place is the daunting feeling that can come with communicating a final or transitional decision in a relationship. However, no matter what you’re experiencing — from exclusive/committed dating, to “friends with benefits,” your opinion in the “what are we” conversation can help in clearing the confusion and possible anxiety that can come with a situationship.

Healthy relationships can be strengthened by acknowledging the value of your feelings in the matter and relaying them to your partner. If you find yourself in a sticky situationship this Valentine’s Day, regardless of what the other person chooses to give or not give and do or not do, surround yourself with people who appreciate you and communicate that care to you this Feb. 14.

Volume 61 Issue 12

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SPORTS

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SPORTS

Who’s your draft pick?

USD’s wide receiver Re-Al Mitchell preps for the 2024 draft LAUREN CEBALLOS SPORTS EDITOR USD redshirt senior, Re-Al Mitchell, is currently preparing for the 2024 National Football League (NFL) Draft.

Mitchell recalled the start of his journey with football when he “came out of the womb,” but he didn’t officially start playing until he was about four years old.

From flag football to tackle around the age of seven, it all started with making obstacle courses to practice for the game with his dad.

Mitchell was born and raised in Eastvale, CA, commuting to St. John Bosco high school before graduating early to then attend Iowa State University for over two years which he claimed were the best of his life. From Iowa State, Mitchell transferred to Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, where he earned his degree in psychology.

When deciding where to play next, Mitchell landed upon the University of San Diego and recently finished his second season as a Torero.

Originally, when deciding where he would go for college, Mitchell turned down an offer from his dream school, the University of Oregon, as a sophomore in high school to play defensive back because he would not be a quarterback. He then proceeded to play at Iowa State as backup to current San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Brock Purdy, which Mitchell proudly claimed.

Mitchell is a wide receiver here at USD and has earned career highlights including 2022 AllPFL First Team (All-Purpose) and 2022 Second Team Academic AllPFL, known as a “Triple threat of

passing, rushing and receiving,” according to USD Athletics.

“I came to USD with aspirations to play quarterback here. But during fall camp, I wasn’t really getting all the reps I would foresee getting, so I just met with the coaches and I was like, ‘hey, just let me get on the field and where I can,’” Mitchell said.

Now, Mitchell is marketed for the NFL draft as an all-purpose player. He also described the benefits of the different roles that he has played on the field.

“Now, I just use my quarterback brain out of the box, you know, seeing the field into my certain role, and it’s honestly like a cheat code,” Mitchell described.

Mitchell always knew he had the skill to get to the NFL, but the idea of the draft did not become a reality until recently.

“After my first season at USD, I started getting some attention and some emails from certain teams and stuff like that. People were asking me, was I coming back or was I gonna leave, and I was like ‘what are you talking about, I’m not that good,’ or so I thought,” Mitchell remarked.

Now more than ever, Mitchell is working to achieve his end goal, the NFL. One major component is tackling the right headspace.

“It’s a process. Everyday I’m working out, whether it’s working out from a mental standpoint or it’s drawing out plays, making sure when I do have interviews with teams, [that] I know what I’m talking about, watching every clip from the past two seasons.

To make sure again, if I get questioned about it,” Mitchell said.

Another step in the process is

Mitchell playing as a Torero during the most recent football season.

Photo courtesy of @usdfootball/Instagram

“Pro Day,” which is a day where scouts come to campus and see how well athletes perform certain events.

“The biggest event is the 40 yard dash, that’s the money maker. If I run fast, which I will… a lot of

Mitchell pictured on the field during his first season as a Torero.

Photo courtesy of @usdfootball/Instagram

this is geared toward that, and so I’m working with our strength coach here to help prep me for that and then just eat the right things, recover and sleep… so it’s basically like the life I was living before, but I had school, but now I don’t have school, [due to years of eligibility].

So it’s even better, because now it’s all football stuff,” Mitchell shared.

With all these moving parts, Mitchell shared how he navigates the playing field.

“You really need to stay focused and in your lane. If you start looking at other things people are writing about you, whether good or bad, that could be a detriment and then also there are a lot of people who have aspirations to playing the NFL, but there’s only so many spots so if you get in your head about that, that can be discouraging.

So it’s really just trying to take it hour by hour everyday, trying to maximize that hour. And you know, when it’s all said and done, I’m confident that I’ll be able to do enough to get the opportunity and take advantage of the opportunity and [take] advantage of the opportunity at the next level.”

Mitchell also shared that he was always a college football fan growing up, so he does not have “allegiance to an NFL team.”

“I don’t have anywhere specific in mind… I’ll be happy with that opportunity. And I’m just trying to take advantage of that opportunity while I’m there.”

Mitchell discussed what

his plans are for the future.

“Even if I don’t get drafted, I will still sign somewhere as a free agent [a player who is eligible for the draft but not selected]… so I don’t know where I’m going, day three [of the draft] regardless, but I would like a call, and I would like my close friends and family to be around,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell expressed how he fuels himself to keep going and how he got to where he is today, thanks to his discipline, family, friends, coaches and God. “Thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I was able to lean on Him, and He was able to uplift me and keep me afloat throughout everything, and I was able to learn so much through that… definitely give praise to Him,” Mitchell expressed.

Re-Al Mitchell is ready to see what is going to happen next and doing the preparation to hope that all ends in his favor, achieving every football player’s dream: making it to the NFL. The 2024 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 25-27 in Detroit, MI at Campus Maritus Park and Hart Plaza. The Draft originated in February of 1936, first held at the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia.

Players used to be scouted through newspapers and word of mouth.

Now, eligible football players for the draft are denoted by “four years of college eligibility,” according to NFL.com and awaiting a call in the late days of April.

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February 8, 2024

The ups and downs of student athletes Athletes love their sport, but do they love its effects?

PRIYA COOPER

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR With Valentine’s Day right around the corner and the recent start of a new year comes reflection of ourselves, our lives, what we value in each day and what we truly love.

Sports are an integral part of a lot of students’ lives on campus and can sometimes be described as a love/ hate relationship. For the most part, people are dedicated to their sport and have impressive discipline which allows them to thrive in a competitive environment and compete to the best of their ability.

While there are many highs in the world of sports, there are definitely days where practice is grueling or the thrill of the game ends in disappointment. This week some of our athletes on campus discussed the love/hate relationship with the game. Most of our students had nothing to complain about. Studentathletes lead different lifestyles, giving each one a different insight and perspective on their involvement with USD Athletics.

USD junior Grace Kramer is a member of the USD women’s rowing program and shared her opinions on her love/hate relationship with her sport.

Kramer expressed her favorite and least favorite aspects about her role as a student-athlete.

“All my teammates are my best friends, and we just have a good time together and practices are always fun,” Kramer said. “I

can’t really think of anything [I dislike]. It’s very busy, but I like that about it. Sometimes it sucks waking up early every morning but that’s like part of it. You can’t really change it.”

Nico Libed, a USD firstyear on the baseball team had similar thoughts and commented about his passion for the game. “[The part I love] is probably just hanging out with all my teammates. All of them are really cool so we hang out all the time.”

As for what Libed likes the least, he identified the lack of freedom.

“And just not having enough time to do stuff, but — other than that — it’s pretty good.”

Libed had no major complaints or dislikes — just awareness that scheduling could make life tight and more difficult sometimes.

Sports can sometimes conflict with activities that other students may be able to enjoy in their free time but they also build a strong and unique bond that athletes may not want to trade for anything else.

USD sophomore Delaney Paulus is a member of the women’s club lacrosse team. She highlighted her experiences with teamwork, as well as the difference between men and women’s lacrosse.

“One thing I love about lacrosse is playing a team sport that involves working together. My team and I are very close, and it’s nice to know that I have girls I can count on. One thing I dislike

The sport of rowing allows athletes to work closely with their teammates to accomplish their goals.

Photo courtesy of @usdwrowing/Instagram

about lacrosse is some of the rules regarding contact. Men’s lacrosse involves more contact, and I wish women’s lacrosse had the similar rules... [I would change] the rules to make women’s lacrosse have more contact and also if these rules are changed adding helmets and more protection for our gear.”

Much like any romantic connection or relationship, sports

Torero baseball players pictured show their love of the game.

Photo courtesy of @usdbaseball/Instagram

COMING UP THIS WEEK USD SB vs Idaho State Thursday, Feb. 8 4 p.m.

San Diego, CA

bring a range of emotions. Nothing feels as good as a triumphant victory and knowing you have your teammates beside you.

However the crushing blow of

defeat and the feelings that follow, the exhausting physical demands and the mental toll of competition can be incredibly challenging for even the most disciplined athletes.

Paulus expressed her fondness of the comradery within her team.

Photo courtesy of @usdwomenslax/Instagram

USD WBB at Santa Clara Thursday, Feb. 8 6 p.m.

Santa Clara, CA

USD WSB vs #8 Texas Stacy Winsberg Tournament Friday, Feb. 9-10 12:30 p.m.

Los Angeles, CA

USD SB vs #10 UCLA Mark Campbell Invitational Saturday, Feb. 10 12:30 p.m.

Irvine, CA

USD SB vs Maryland Stacy Winsberg Tournament Friday, Feb. 9 10 a.m.

Los Angeles, CA

USD MTEN vs Washington Saturday, Feb. 10 12 p.m.

San Diego, CA

USD MBB at Pacific Saturday, Feb. 10 7 p.m.

Stockon, CA

USD SB vs SDSU Wednesday, Feb. 14 5 p.m.

San Diego, CA USD WSWIM vs MPSF Diving Championships Monday, Feb. 12-14 Mission Viejo, CA