Volume 60 Issue 10

THE USD VISTA

ABIGAIL CAVIZO

Last week, a 22-year-old man in Colorado Springs opened fire on an LGBTQ nightclub, killing five people and injuring at least 17. The man entered wearing body armor, holding an AR-15 rifle. According to the New York Times, Mayor John Suthers of Colorado Springs and the witnesses, a man from inside the club tackled the gunman and hit him with the butt of the gun, preventing further harm to the rest of the people inside the club. After the club owners looked over the security footage, it showed that two people also held the man down to the floor until the police arrived to take the gunman into custody. The incident took place hours after the nightclub, Club Q, made a post on Facebook about anti-transgender violence on the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

USD junior Riley Lim was shocked and saddened by the news, explaining that some LGBTQ+ discrimination is also not always outright violence.

“It is traumatizing to watch the news as a Chinese gay person and think that that could’ve been

The onset of December and the joy of the holiday season marks the beginning of another time of the year: cuffing season. With love and romance on the mind, the do’s and don’ts of dating take precedence, especially in the tumultuous world of Generation Z (Gen Z).

The colder and bleaker months of fall and winter are popularly known to be the time for seeking out romantic partners. Though the “cuffs’’ in cuffing season do in fact allude to handcuffs, the notion is not as provocative as one may think. With the term’s earliest use in 2011

college jargon and newspapers, cuffing season simply refers to the idea of being tied down and connected to another person.

The season’s run typically occurs from early October to Valentine’s Day, especially because of the cold weather, lack of outdoors and the drop in sunshine. But just like any other trend during any other season, the norms of dating change yearly.

USD senior Aidan Filipovic has been in a stable relationship for almost two years and commented on the norms he has seen in and outside his relationship.

“I made the first move with my girlfriend,” said Filipovic. “But I love women making the first move. I think it’s super sexy.

me. It is easy to be blinded by the corporate marketing schemes and straight people going to gay bars and saying ‘slay king,’ which makes people think that LGBTQ+ people are safe and even celebrated. In reality, so many of us are still facing so much violence,” Lim said. “For the gunman, I think he deserves the death sentence for this, but not only for murder. This was a hate crime.”

Since the shooting, the gunman was identified by police officials. He was treated in the hospital for his injuries, and got out Tuesday morning. The suspect is currently under investigation by authorities for charges of murder and possibly hate crime.

A hate crime charge is a crime that is committed because of discrimination against someone’s identity, such as their race, ethnicity, religion or more. Historically, hate crime charges are difficult to prove in the U.S. First, the incident that happens has to be a crime. Second, prosecutors must prove the defendant’s motives are due to the biases against them. A hate crime could be seen due to someone’s perceived sexual orientation, but the crime could be defended as a coincidence, unless the defendent

And I don’t think there is any reason for them not to, and if we’re talking about equality, this is one form of it. There’s a lot of pressure on guys to perform, but that can also go onto a woman.”

the first move has become more popular in today’s dating scene, but according to Filipovic, it isn’t seen as much as it is heard.

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Club Q provided a GoFundMe for victims impacted

admits their primary motivation.

While this shooting made national news, some people did not hear about this shooting specifically. Recently, there has been an increase in shootings in the United States that also made national news. On Oct. 13, a gunman killed 5 people in North

Carolina. On Nov. 13, students at the University of Virginia were shot at, killing three football players. According to the Pew Research Center, 2020 was the highest year for gun related deaths, but it’s expected that this number has increased since this was the last year the data was fully taken.

USD senior Ryan Nguyen

did not see the news of the shooting at Club Q but was disheartened to hear about the people that were harmed.

“I feel like there’s so much hate in the world. I don’t think anyone deserves that and it just shows that people still have work to do and we can’t just be complacent in our social issues,” Nguyen expressed. “I feel sorry, and my heart goes out to the families of the people that are involved.” Club Q posted on their Facebook page resources, such as a GoFundMe link, for people who want to help the club performers, victims and staff. Since the shooting happened, people can also keep up with what happened on Club Q’s Facebook page, as they are posting consistent updates. “We are overwhelmed with your support and most of all, your love,” Club Q wrote in a Facebook post. “So that we are able to provide help and resources to as many as possible who need it, we are shutting down a previously organized drop-in center at the Satellite Hotel and referring all to the Colorado Springs Police

Department — provided free Community Resource Expo, providing our community members with mental health resources, spiritual support, emotional support animals, childcare, emergency financial resources, LGBTQ+ support, meals and other services.”

Outside of Colorado Springs, LGBTQ+ hate— both implicit and explicit — is still an issue in 2022. In the USD community, first-year Alyssa Gute was devastated, but also insisting that policies must be changed.

“I can’t believe that after so many shootings, it’s crazy that nothing is being done about gun violence,” Gute said. “We need policy change 100%, and it’s also great to see when a big group of college students get together and they do marches and protests to try to get their voices heard. I know it’s hard to get young voices heard in this day and age, but I don’t think its impossible.”

Lim also gave advice for people who want to be a better ally for the LGBTQ+ community at this time.

“I think the best way to be

an ‘ally’ or whatever that even means anymore is to really be invested in the lives of your queer friends,” Lim said. “Donate to LGBTQ+ organizations. Support them emotionally. Be their friend.

Don’t treat us as Gucci handbags that you wear for a month and then dump in the trash. We are a strong community but we are also a very tired community.”

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community at all times is not something Lim described as specific to this shooting.

Educating oneself about supporting other communities before it happens can help prevent hate from spreading. In Colorado Springs, people around the area have rallied together to support Club Q, starting the #ClubQStrong on social media.

For the shooting that just occurred in Colorado Springs, the gunman was put in jail without bail.

While there is a suspect in custody, the investigation is ongoing as the prosecutors are currently working to formally finalize the suspect’s charges.

2022 midterm election results

USD students talk about the outcomes

LUCAS HODSON ASST. NEWS EDITOR

ABIGAIL CAVIZO NEWS EDITOR

The U.S. 2022 midterm elections have ended, resulting in a party leadership change in the House of Representatives, while the Senate remains controlled by the Democrats.

The outcome of the elections will remain unofficial, until each state’s results are verified, but most of the winners of each election have been declared the official winner.

The Democrats won the Senate majority with 50 of the 99 seats filled so far and are currently waiting on the Georgia runoff election that will take place on Dec. 6, to decide the 100th candidate. The state is holding the election because no candidate received enough votes to get the majority, and it will decide between the top two candidates only.

The Republican party won the House of Representatives majority, holding 220 of the seats with the Democratic party holding 213 seats. The House is responsible for making and passing federal laws, but they also have the power to launch investigations, impeach the president, and

decide who becomes president in an electoral college tie.

The Senate is responsible for approving appointments for the president that require consent and providing advice. For treaties, the Senate also votes on a two-thirds supermajority vote. For making laws, a bill can be introduced by a senator, a representative of the bill or a member of Congress. From there, both the Senate and the House must pass it in order for it to become law. If the Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock wins the Georgia runoff then they will hold 51 seats. If the Republican candidate Herschel Walker wins, the Democrats retain the majority because Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris serves as the president of the Senate and casts her vote in the event of a tie.

With the House majority, the Republicans have the power to launch investigations to uncover presidential abuses of power, and corruption. The House promised to launch a few investigations against the Biden administration, but the Biden administration has prepared to thwart their claims, according to the New York Times.

The Republican control may also affect Biden’s legislative agenda and his administration will have to focus on defending the policies they have already passed, such as the billions of dollars given to fight climate

change and an executive order that raised wages and lowered prescription drug prices and other goods and services.

The Senate remaining under the control of the Democratic party is a big win for the Biden administration. Republicans were expecting a “red wave,” but they barely won the House and didn’t gain control over the Senate. With this win, Senate Democrats can continue to approve Biden’s nominees for the federal judges, and if a Supreme Court chair opens up during this term, the Senate will have the power to approve Biden’s nominee.

USD junior Maddie Holt explained that the Republicans not experiencing the red wave they expected is significant, because it showed that the parties don’t always reflect what the people want, and not getting the expected votes showed that people are split right now.

“It’s significant, because [Republicans] thought that they had all of the support of their constituency but they didn’t, and I think it reflects on their choices for endorsing a new president.”

On Nov. 15, Donald Trump announced he is running for president. Due to anger over Roe v. Wade, many of the Trump-backed candidates did not get voted for, because of their affiliation with Trump, and his affiliation with

Once the Georgia run-off election happens, the Senate election will be finalized. Photo courtesy of @pixel6propix/Unsplash

the Supreme Court turnover.

With the Senate still controlled by the Democrats and the House controlled by the Republicans, there will likely be a gridlock in the government until a majority for either party controls both of the branches. If the House decides to pass a bill Democratic Senate may refuse to sign off, and vice versa.

USD senior Gregorio Del Rio explained that this year, the voting results are important to students because of the Student Loan Forgiveness plan that the Biden administration passed.

“Being at USD, I’m probably going to graduate with more than $100,000 worth of debt, and with the loan forgiveness plan, it will help, but I know some Republican candidates are saying

that it is unconstitutional and want to remove it,” Del Rio said.

USD junior Ja’Seem Reed explained that he believes there will be change in what is happening in the government over the next two years.

“There is going to be a shift in the power that Democrats and Republicans hold, and because of that, there will be a hold on what will change in the government,” Reed said.

The midterm election results are not yet finalized, as the Georgia run-off election takes place next month on Dec 6.

Although the red wave did not occur, the Republicans are confirmed to have the House with promises of trying to change what the Biden administration passed.

From

Colorado Springs mourns losses

Understanding homelessness in San Diego

Students consider how homelessness impacts them on and off campus

SALENA CHACON ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Homelessness has been a prominent issue in San Diego lately, made worse by the high cost of living. Although USD has resources for students who may be experiencing housing insecurity or who want to take action to combat homelessness, many students are unaware or do not feel inclined to take advantage of these resources.

Regardless of USD student involvement in issues surrounding homelessness, it continues to be prevalent in the city the University calls home; a count conducted by the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness reported a total of 4,801 unhoused individuals in the City of San Diego in Feb. 2022.

Recently, homelessness was officially deemed a public health crisis in San Diego. Viewing homelessness as a health crisis will help focus regional efforts and push the government to find more sustainable solutions, according to a quote from Vice Chair of the San Diego Board of Directors Nora Vargas in the San Diego Union-Tribune. Following the declaration, the San Diego Board of Supervisors passed a pilot program aimed to prevent homelessness in 220 senior households by providing resources to senior individuals at risk of becoming homeless.

Dr. Odilka Santiago, a USD Sociology professor, recognized the importance of the declaration and the efforts to help housing-insecure seniors.

“It completely makes sense that homelessness is a health crisis, because it is dangerous,” Santiago said. “I think [the pilot program] is not enough, but it’s beginning to address some of the health crises that we have.”

USD junior Natalie Wright is a Sociology major interested in healthcare policy, and was relieved to hear that homelessness

was being addressed in San Diego.

“I think it’s important to be talked about in the media that it is a public health crisis so people start to realize it’s a severe problem,” Wright said. “[Homelessness] has had to take such extreme measures and physically be able to see the changes for people to understand that it’s an issue.”

USD sophomore Jude Van Matre mentioned not knowing much information on the recent declaration, and that living on campus isolated him from encountering housing insecurity.

“Homelessness isn’t something that really affects me. Walking around on campus, you just don’t see it,” Van Matre expressed. “For someone [on campus], it’s almost like you’re kind of living in a bubble.”

USD sophomore Marissa Shaade lives in San Buenaventura and explained that part of the reason why the USD campus feels so secluded is because of its location on top of a hill.

“I think we’re really isolated from what’s actually happening. Not even just homelessness,”

Schaade said. “I feel like it’s just away from everything else.”

Wright lives off campus in Pacific Ridge, and even though her apartment is not far from campus, she spends a lot of time in the city.

“[Homelessness] is something that I experience everytime I go out to the grocery store and just getting around town in general. If you’re anywhere outside of the beautiful campus we have here, you’re going to experience it in San Diego,” Wright expressed.

Even though many students are shielded from homelessness, it is still prevalent outside of USD’s perimeter. A recent report from the Regional Task Force on Homelessness found that the number of people becoming homeless exceeds the number of people experiencing homelessness who found housing in the past year, which means that homelessness has increased.

For students wanting to get involved in community action against homelessness, the UCD website lists organizations on campus students can join, such as the on-campus club

“Pancakes Serving Up Hope” and the off-campus organization “Father Joe’s Villages.” These resources and more can be found at https://www.sandiego.edu/ homelessness/resources.php

Measures to alleviate homelessness, such as declaring it a public health crisis, have been abundant in San Diego and California overall. However, on Nov. 3 Gov. Newsom halted $1 billion in funding for many cities and groups dedicated to helping the homeless population on the ground that their plans for the money were not sufficient enough as they would not decrease homelessness by a large enough margin, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

Wright noticed that the media perpetuates a sense of urgency to issues like homelessness, and while immediately granting financial aid is helpful, it is still important to support a long term plan.

“This has been a pressing issue for a very long time. It’s not something that happened overnight,” Wright said.

Just as this issue did not develop immediately, Wright believes it cannot be solved by only implementing short term plans.

One of the main barriers for unhoused individuals is the availability of housing in San Diego because of how much it costs to live in the city.

The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) found

that “less than one percent of residential housing units were vacant for at least six consecutive months at some point during a five-year period before the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Dr. Santiago emphasized that not only is housing hard to find, but also difficult to afford.

“We need more real, lowincome units to match the population in need. Otherwise we are really misutilizing resources that could provide housing for the long term,” Dr. Santiago said.

Dr. Santiago explained that the task of providing housing is more complicated than the problem of housing accessibility.

“When we approach homelessness as a health crisis, then we need to find not only stable housing, but quality housing. Clean, safe housing,” Dr. Santiago said.

The Urgent Challenges Collectives (UCC) is a campaign at USD dedicated to addressing housing security both on and off campus through areas like research and community engagement. The UCC created a basic needs acknowledgment which establishes that students struggling with housing insecurity face increased challenges in their education, and should reach out to receive resources. Housinginsecure students are urged to contact the Student Affairs Office in their office in UC 232 or through email studentaffairs. Further resources can be found on the UCC website https://www.sandiego.edu/ homelessness/resources.php and include the USD Food Pantry and Torero Closet.

To be eligible for these resources, students must fill out an enrollment form (https://usd.tfaforms. net/218621). Once granted access, these resources are free.

According to the Food Pantry website, https://www. sandiego.edu/food-pantry/ , “The USD Food Pantry and Torero Closet in Hahn University Center (UC) 116 includes: food, school supplies, hygiene supplies, laundry detergent, etc. Additionally, we have a refrigerator and freezer to offer students fresh produce, dairy, and additional protein options. The new space also allows for a Torero Closet, where donated professional clothing can be found.”

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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.

USD students are able to volunteer for “Pancakes Serving Up Hope” to help feed unhoused individuals.

Photo courtesy of Natalie Wright

OPINION

Why do I have to come out?

out of the closet’ is outdated and unnecessary

JESSICA MILLS ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

I’ve never felt a desire to define my sexuality. Labels such as bisexual, lesbian, straight, gay, questioning or queer have never felt right. Growing up with parents, friends and other family members that both publicly and privately belong to the LGBTQ+ community, I’ve seen the freedom that occurs upon coming out. But, I’ve seen the pitfalls as well.

Coming out of the closet, also known as “coming out,” is used to describe the self-disclosure process of an LGBTQ+ individual’s sexual orientation to others. For some, this can be a liberating process — a step toward accepting and honoring their identity. But for others, it’s plagued by anxiety, judgment, harassment and even shame.

The heteronormative expectation for an individual to disclose their sexuality is invasive and unnecessary. Rather than occurring as a single grand moment, coming out involves thousands of separate instances that each require bravery and a leap of faith.

Queer individuals often have to come out repeatedly in their home, school, work and community, and their declaration can shape and change how they are viewed. As a result, some individuals face discrimination in the forms of homophobia and unequal treatment. In extreme cases, some are disowned by parental figures, lose financial support and are thrown out of their home — creating permanent damage to their relationships. This should not be the case — queer individuals are just as

much the same person they were prior to coming out.

In his book “Gay New York,” historian George Chauncey explained that in the gay community, coming out was originally used only by gay men between 1890 - 1940. The phrase was adopted from the debutante culture, where young women would come out in society to symbolize their eligibility to date and marry young men.

Initially, coming out referred to a gay individual telling another

gay individual, or group, of their sexuality and being welcomed into the gay community. After the 1960s, the meaning of this metaphor shifted — implying that someone is hiding a secret and living “in the closet.”

More recently, Gallup reported that, as of 2021, roughly 21% of Generation Z Americans — individuals born between 1997 and 2003 — who have reached adulthood identify as LGBTQ+. This percentage is nearly double that of LGBTQ+ identifying

American Millennials — those born between 1981 and 1996.

In previous generations, coming out could be beneficial for one’s health and family relations. After doing so, many queer individuals were able to live their life authentically, develop closer relationships in and out of the LGBTQ+ community, alleviate stress, share their own experiences, among many other benefits.

While this practice may still prove advantageous in

some ways, as these numbers continue to increase in younger generations, the outdated practice has become redundant. More and more individuals are accepting of the LGBTQ+ community, and so feeling compelled to repeatedly disclose one’s sexual orientation seems unnecessary, intrusive and burdensome.

I will always support and honor one’s sexual and gender orientation, as well as their decision to self-disclose this information. Many often find acceptance and community through “coming out.”

But, because coming out isn’t deemed necessary for straight individuals, it often furthers the idea that queer individuals fall outside the norm. The solution isn’t to obligate straight individuals to come out as well; it’s to remove this heteronormative practice altogether.

As the semester draws to a close and students return home, I encourage you to have conversations surrounding coming out, regardless of your sexual preference. This may help with discrimination against LGBTQ+ members across various communities.

Making a public announcement doesn’t make you any more a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Your identity should be honored and accepted, regardless.

If you’re in need of help, advice, or someone to talk to regarding your sexual or gender orientation, below are mental health resources.

Human Rights Campaign

The San Diego LGBTQ Community Center

It’s Up to Us Campaign 211 San Diego

‘Coming

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.

Celebrations like National Coming Out Day can put a lot of pressure on individuals to announce their identity.

Photo courtesy of @stonewallgives/Instagram

Many people on social media are sharing the cons of “coming out” and defending the right to privacy surrounding sexuality.

Photo courtesy of @queeeerchameleon/Instagram

The San Diego LGBTQ Community Center is one resource for accepting one’s identity.

Photo courtesy of @lgbtcenter/Instagram

OPINION

Animation is not inferior

The art form should be better appreciated

MARIA SIMPSON OPINION EDITOR

Since the dawn of cinema, there have been two distinct forms of filmmaking: live action and animation. The two forms offer different benefits to storytelling on the screen, but in recent years — particularly the last decade — there has been a rise in liveaction remakes of originally animated movies or shows.

These remakes seem to suggest that when an animated movie or show is popular enough, it “deserves” to be remade into a supposedly superior live-action version.

Animation is not inferior to live-action and should be regarded as the beautiful and sophisticated art form that it really is.

Some may argue that animation is a less mature form of filmmaking and is primarily used for children’s movies and shows in order to appeal to their imagination, something that adults have less interest in. I say that it is a waste of creativity, unique storytelling and art, to not make animated films and shows for older audiences.

Animation is typically reserved for children’s movies and series or silly adult cartoons rather than mature or serious adult-oriented stories. As trends in recent years have shown, when an animated children’s story becomes renowned enough, it too

is remade into a live-action film.

Since 2015, Disney has remade nine of their animated classics: “Cinderella,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Jungle Book,” “The Lion King,” “Aladdin,” “Dumbo,” “Pinocchio,” “Mulan,” “Lady and the Tramp” and “Pete’s Dragon.”

This doesn’t even include the new movies that are retold versions of older animated stories, such as “Cruella” and “Maleficent,” reimagined versions of “101 Dalmatians” and “Sleeping Beauty,” respectively.

More live action remakes such as “Peter Pan & Wendy,” “Snow White” and “The Little Mermaid” are expected to be released within the next two years, according to the Walt Disney Company.

The original versions of these films are classics that have withstood the test of time and appeal to kids as well as adult nostalgia. Yet, Disney remakes them, often almost identical to the original film. I would not be surprised if this is partially a money grab, but according to an article by Mowe Studio, there is not a distinct difference in price when producing an animated film versus a live-action film.

So why do big companies such as Disney not use their huge budgets to bring fresh new stories to the screen instead?

A similar situation lies with the award-winning animated Nickelodeon show “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (ATLA). ATLA is an imaginative and powerful

story, and despite the fact that it was designed for children’s television, it remains — in my opinion one of the best TV shows I have ever watched. But again, their producer (Nickelodeon) decided to remake the show into a live action movie in 2010, titled “The Last Airbender.” This movie was not necessary in any way. It did not add a new part of the plot or any new and improved twists on the story. And after the effort to create it, it flopped big time. It was the winner of five Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture, and it has a whopping 5% on Rotten Tomatoes. To top it all off, Netflix is now working on a live-action TV series for the show, to be released in 2023.

Regarding animation as a lesser form of filmmaking puts the art form itself in danger, specifically handdrawn animation. In 2-D hand drawn animation, each individual frame is its own work of art. But many studios and companies are abandoning it for 3-D-esque computer generated images (CGI).

As fewer and fewer filmmakers opt for 2-D, hand drawn animation, fewer animators remain who remember how to master the style. Before long, we could lose that art form. While companies like Disney and Dreamworks shifted to more realistic CGI cartoons years ago as a “superior” format, we should not be so quick to dismiss the beauty that is possible with

hand drawn animation. Studio Ghibli, for example, a Japanese animation studio, is highly regarded for their whimsical and creative 2-D animation. Films such as “Spirited Away,” the 2003 winner of the Academy Awards Best Animated Feature, have captured the hearts of many, so there is no reason to do away with the incredible art that has proven itself to be a powerful storyteller.

Animation does not have to be strictly for children. Look at the popularity of anime, Japanese animation, in the U.S. Lots of teens and adults enjoy anime shows and movies, many of which tell stories just as impactful as any live action television show, yet it has a reputation for being cringe-worthy and immature.

An example of a franchise that I believe could benefit greatly from animation is Marvel Entertainment. Now owned by Disney, Marvel has been pumping out movies and shows non-stop, releasing a total of 12 projects in 2021. Yet, Marvel’s show “What If..?” is the only animated project considered part of the Marvel Universe.

Another superhero animated project is the 2018 film “Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse.” It was highly acclaimed after its release, snagging Best Animated Feature Film at the Golden Globes, the Critics Choice Awards and the Academy Awards. The movie is known for its unique animation style,

reminiscent of the comic books where Spiderman first swung into pop culture and many people’s hearts. Because of their origin in comic books, it makes sense for a superhero movie to be animated in that style.

I wonder why more superhero movies don’t capitalize on a fantastic art form like that, which could probably portray the magical and supernatural elements of that world better than CGI anyway.

Animation has the ability to express fantastical elements that reality fails to capture.

We can even look to music to see the benefits of animation. Gorillaz, a virtual band that has been making music since 1998, is composed of fictional characters which appear in their animated music videos. This is a very unique approach to a band and it has garnered great success. Animation provides a method of imaginative storytelling and expression that pushes the limits of what liveaction filmmaking represents.

There are a myriad of fantastic movies and television shows out there, animated and live-action. While live-action certainly has its benefits in many cases — and I am in no way dissing it — there is no reason that animation should be seen as a lesser format.

In the near future, I hope more studios and producers will experiment creatively and opt for animation as a storytelling method from time to time.

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.

“Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse” uses a unique animation style as a nod to the hero’s comic book origins. Photo Courtesy of @spiderversemovie/Instagram

Studio Ghibli films like “Princess Mononoke” (above) show the whimsical worlds 2-D animation can create. Photo courtesy of @ghibliusd/Instagram

ARTS & FEATURE

Remembering Dr. Michael Wagner

USD faculty honor the late professor and his contributions

HALEY JACOB FEATURE EDITOR

Dr. Michael Wagner was a beloved professor in the University of San Diego’s Department of Philosophy for 40 years, teaching at USD from 1980 to 2020. Friends and colleagues best remember Dr. Wagner for his intelligence spanning across numerous philosophical areas and his warm, welcoming demeanor. His contributions to philosophy extend far beyond his work at the University, leaving behind a remarkable legacy and collection of book reviews, presentations, articles, professional services and most notably — published books. Outside of academics, Dr. Wagner had a way with people that made him a joy to be around and unforgettable, even almost two years after his passing.

Dr. Wagner lost his journey with cancer in the spring of 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic put a temporary halt to hopes of an in-person memorial and celebration of his life. With restrictions now lifted, USD’s Department of Philosophy held a memorial service for the beloved professor and colleague on Nov. 7. Professors from various departments attended the service to reflect on Dr. Wagner’s accomplishments and the profound impact he had on his field of work.

The memorial featured two visiting guest speakers: Dr. Kevin Corrigan from Emory University and Dr. Lloyd Gerson from the University of Toronto. Both professors are internationally recognized scholars whose fields of interest overlapped with Dr. Wagner’s. All three men were a part of the International Society for Neoplatonic Studies (ISNS), stemming from their shared keen interest in the philosopher Plotinus. Dr. Lloyd is the editor of “The Cambridge Companion to Plotinus,” a volume of essays written by academic scholars and leading experts on Plotinus’ work, which featured pieces written by Dr. Wagner and Dr. Gleeson. Their shared involvement brought the three scholars together, and they worked closely for years.

USD Philosophy Professor and Dr. Wagner’s close friend Dr. Jack Crumley knew he wanted to invite Dr. Corrigan and Dr. Gerson to speak at the memorial because of their previous work with Dr. Wagner. At the event, they attested to Dr. Wagner’s remarkable intelligence.

“They had just incredible things to say about him,” Dr. Crumley said. “[Dr. Gerson] was an editor of this volume, ‘Cambridge Companion to Plotinus.’ He said that when he was asked to do this, he

would say to people, ‘I want to do this a particular way,’ and everybody would tell him, ‘get Mike Wagner.’ [Dr. Wagner] was recognized by his peers outside the department, outside USD, as being extraordinarily important and significant.”

Dr. Wagner’s interests ranged from moral theory, metaphysics, issues about love, the nature of physical reality and more. His specialties included Classical Greek and Hellenistic Philosophy, Plotinus, Platonism and Neoplatonism. The breadth of his knowledge was expansive, and he found joy in his research.

“He was somebody who was involved in a number of different facets of higher education, and he was very dedicated to all of them,” Dr. Crumley said. “On a couple of different occasions, I went to ask Mike about something I knew he knew something about. He’d say, ‘Oh yeah, that’s interesting; that makes me think of this.’ Next thing I knew, seven or eight months later, he’s got a paper written about it.”

Dr. Wagner was extensively involved in the University.

During his 40 years here, he held three administrative positions, was a part of 28 different campus committees and councils, and taught a range of courses covering different philosophical topics.

He was described as a “people person” by those who knew him.

He always went out of his way to make junior faculty feel welcome, enjoyed teaching and advising his students and was often humorous.

Dr. Wagner served as Chair of the Department of Philosophy from 1989 to 1998. Dr. Crumley became chair after Dr. Wagner and commented on Dr. Wagner’s profound leadership as chair, and his graciousness and continuous guidance to Dr. Crumley once he took over.

“Even before I was chair, I remember I would be upset about something, and I was going to write a letter to the Dean,” Dr. Crumley said. “I would tell [Dr. Wagner], ‘I’m gonna send this email to the Dean.’ And he would say, ‘No, wait a second, before we do this, let’s think about this.’

You react sort of immediately to new policies or issues or things of that sort, and he helped me keep a sense of perspective before I was ever chair.”

Dr. Crumley found Dr. Wagner’s willingness to help others evident in moments of need as chair.

“Once I was chair, if ever I went to him because there was a real issue, he was really helpful,” Dr. Crumley said. “It’s always nice to have somebody that can sympathize with you. But more than that, it wasn’t just sympathizing; it wasn’t just empathizing; it was him actually helping me figure out solutions to issues. And the thing is, if you like

each other, it’s so much better, and I thought Mike Wagner was a very likable and warm person. I would call him generous with his time and concern.”

USD Communication Studies Professor and Vice Provost Dr. Roger Pace attested to Dr. Wagner’s commitment to others.

“He was willing to listen and talk to you about your experiences,” Dr. Pace said. “The amazing thing about Mike is he knew so much — whatever you were experiencing, he could relate something to it, and I always imagined that his classes were engaging because of that, that he

would understand the students’ perspective and show them theories of philosophy where other people had talked about what they’re experiencing, and I had that on a personal level with Mike. He always was able to show me how what I was experiencing had been experienced by others and discussed in philosophical literature.”

Dr. Crumley shared a touching sentiment on Dr. Wagner’s life and character.

“We all have ups and downs, but I think Michael enjoyed life. I do. And I’m glad,” Dr. Crumley said. “What can I

say — he was a good man. Nowadays, that says a lot.”

Dr. Wagner found purpose through his work and the meaningful connections he made with others, and his contributions to philosophy, both in the department and outside of the University, will continue to live on through the expansive, brilliant bodies of work he left behind. His unwavering devotion to USD during his time here has left an indelible mark on the campus community, and the absence of his warm, selfless character is deeply felt by those who knew and loved him.

USD professors remember Dr. Wagner for his kind-hearted, generous character and remarkable intelligence.

Photo courtesy of Lindy Villa

ARTS & CULTURE

Gen Z tackles cuffing season

Like other

SATVIKA NITYA ASST. A&C EDITOR

Dating norms from Page 1 And I don’t think there is any reason for them not to, and if we’re talking about equality, this is one form of it. There’s a lot of pressure on guys to perform, but that can also go onto a woman.”

The idea of women making the first move has become more popular in today’s dating scene, but according to Filipovic, it isn’t seen as much as it is heard.

“I think women love the idea of making the first move and asking men out but not the practice of it,” said Filipovic. “I think they’re just scared. But they need to know that men love to be spoiled too. It’s a big green flag if you make the first move.”

USD sophomore Soniya Malla shared her perspective on the topic.

“I’ve seen how men talk about women,” said Malla. “And there are exceptions, but in my experience, seeing conversations and texts between my male friends when they talk about women makes me so uncomfortable. And knowing that, I think girls are just super insecure to make

trends, dating patterns change every year

have to think a lot about safety when we talk to men, because we have all experienced coercion and inappropriate comments. We know we are judged by appearance, and we know men use the norms of hookup culture to treat us badly.”

With conversations about independence and equality comes one of the most heavily debated topics in dating history: “Who should pay on the first date?” USD sophomore Elena Wendt shared her perspective on this controversial question.

the first move, because they know they will be judged.”

While there are changes to the more traditional female role of dating, there are also new rules to the male role. Dating in 2022 has often brought up questions about chivalry, its definition and its relevance.

The true meaning of chivalry is the religious, social and moral code that was followed by knights and noblemen. But in the modern world, chivalry is referred to as a man’s cordial treatment of women.

USD sophomore Christian Thames talked about how chivalry is viewed among Gen Z.

Guillermo

ASST. A&C EDITOR

Guillermo del Toro is a popular Mexican director, author and actor. Having won six Academy Awards in the past 15 years, del Toro has made his mark as a filmmaker. Some of his most famous works include “The Shape of Water,” “Pan’s Labyrinth” and his most recent movie, “Nightmare Alley.” Many are anticipating his newest film — which is coming to Netflix in early December — “Pinocchio.”

Del Toro is most known for his fantastical and dark approach to film. By taking on a classic children’s story, many wonder how his style will alter the already popular tale. This will be del Toro’s first time working on an animated film. Retelling a story like “Pinocchio” in this manner is considered more unconventional.

While this remake has already garnered positive attention, fans of the original movie question what a remake will do for the story. Set in 1930s Fascist Italy, this story will be more faithful to the darkness of Carlo Collodi’s original story; with del Toro’s work, the movie will also have a fresh and equally dark style attached to the tale.

“True chivalry has kind of died,” said Thames. “What we think is chivalry now is just the bare minimum, because chivalry actually refers to going above and beyond to show that you have the utmost respect and appreciation for your partner. Opening doors, getting drinks and food — that’s the least you can do. In our generation, most guys don’t feel the need to do more, maybe because they were just raised wrong.”

Along with chivalry, the topic of independence and female empowerment is also called into question.

“Now it’s almost preached

del Toro’s

to women to not expect chivalry and be independent because they are told that guys are going to hurt them nonetheless,” said Thames. “So now, when a girl with low expectations sees the bare minimum, they think it’s chivalry.”

Keeping low expectations often stems from the “no strings attached” policy propagated by the prevalent hook-up culture.

One of the biggest trends in dating, especially during college years, is being intimate without the risk of commitment.

“A big part of that insecurity, to expect less, comes from hookup culture,” said Malla. “Women

“I think whoever asked for the date is the one who should pay,” Wendt said. “But in a relationship, I think the boy should pay. I’m more oldfashioned that way. I think it shows a lot of respect to the girl. But also, girls have to put in more money and effort into meeting society’s beauty standards, compared to men, and even though it’s unfair, men make more money than women in the workplace. I think that impacts the decision of who pays.”

Just like any other trend, dating follows its own patterns and norms that change frequently. Keeping up with them can be strenuous, but being safe and knowing the do’s and don’ts can be beneficial.

‘Pinocchio’

Netflix’s remake of a Disney classic

Netflix is known for creating the same story time after time, and because of Disney’s release of a similar “Pinocchio” earlier this year with Tom Hanks in the leading role, there are some questions around the necessity for yet another retelling.

USD junior Avery Leininger casts some doubts about the new movie.

“Everyone is constantly making more and more remakes of the same story, and sure, maybe this director will be better, but does that matter?”

A fundamental difference

between the two movies lies in the directors and their values. Disney’s new “Pinocchio” movie, directed by Robert Zemeckis, centers around the same heartwarming story that people have come to love — something that Disney is known for.

As for del Toro and Netflix’s approach, the story contains a more grim retelling. This honors more of the original story, written by Carlo Collodi in 1883.

The original story’s dark plot and even darker ending is unlike most fairytale-endings in current Disney and animated stories.

Now, years later, having a director known for his dark elements, the new animated “Pinocchio” could include a somber ending.

USD senior Isaiah Robinson reflects on del Toro’s work, and how it could affect the story of “Pinocchio.”

“I think ‘Pinocchio’ through the eyes of [Guillermo del Toro] is going to be kinda dark and cool. I’m excited to watch it,” Robinson said.

The Netflix version of “Pinocchio,” will feature the wooden puppet coming to life in

stop-motion and hurting those around him as he wrestles with his father’s unrealistic expectations. The competing movie, also entitled “Pinocchio,” is available to watch on Disney+. With its initial release in September, audiences were not extremely interested and left the movie with a 28% rotten tomatoes. There is hope that del Toro’s version of the movie will acquire larger audiences because of his different, more grim approach.

The cast consists of many well-known actors and actresses, which further excites fans of “Pinocchio.” With Tilda Swinton, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Ewan McGregor and other popular actors, their voices will bring many of these beloved characters back to life.

USD junior Jana Dulcich expressed her excitement over the cast.

“I feel like Tilda Swinton is so talented, so her role of a wise fairy makes so much sense,” Dulcich expressed. “She really fits into the fantastical role in this movie, and I think this one will be fun to watch.”

“Pinocchio” will premiere on Netflix starting Dec. 9. With del Toro’s style and tribute to the original story, fans of “Pinocchio” have a new perspective on the popular and nostalgic story.

Understanding dating trends in cuffing season can prove beneficial for many Gen Z daters. Photo courtesy of @Huudong/Unsplash

STELLA SCHNEIDER

“Pinocchio” is the first animated film directed by de Toro.

Photo courtesy of @Pinocchiomovie/Instagram

Dave Chappelle controvesy strikes

Students discuss the comedian’s skits and SNL appearance

JESSICA MILLS ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

(cw: anti-Semitism, transphobia, homophobia, racism, suicide)

Stand-up comedian and actor Dave Chappelle is best known for his comedy series “Chappelle’s Show,” which ran on the Comedy Central Network from 20032006. Despite garnering popular attention, both the series and Chappelle faced backlash due to his racial humor. For example ,his character “Clayton Bigsby” is known as the “world’s only Black White supremacist.”

The character says many harmful slurs and statements against Black, Mexican, Arab, Jewish, homosexual and other peoples during the duration of the episode.

While his career has evolved over the years, Chappelle’s controversy remains prevalent today with six separate Netflix specials — including his newest addition, “The Closer,” which aired in 2021. After stating “gender is a fact” and defending author J.K. Rowling and rap artist DaBaby — who have both been criticized for transphobic comments — Chappelle and Netflix were met with outrage and negative reviews from both viewers and Netflix employees. Chappelle has not apologized for his racist and homophobic content.

According to Indie Wire, Chappelle signed a lucrative

deal with Netflix that paid him $20 million for each special released on the streaming platform. Sources such as Hollywood Reporter and NBC News have confirmed that Chappelle will host and produce four additional comedy specials in the coming years. Business Insider reports that Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos defended “The Closer,” stating that Chappelle’s content “doesn’t directly translate to real-world harm.”

More recently, on Nov. 12 Chappelle hosted NBC’s Saturday Night Live (SNL), the well-known late-night sketch comedy show. This is his third time hosting the liveshow; the previous occurrence was in 2020, following the election of President Biden.

Chappelle opened his most recent monologue for

SNL by stating, “I denounce anti-Semitism in all its forms. And I stand with my friends in the Jewish community. And that, Kanye is how you buy yourself some time.”

The statement was met with laughter from the audience and mixed reviews online — many finding his skit littered with anti-Semitism.

USD junior Mia Griffiths believes Chappelle’s comedy should not be condoned.

“Homophobia, racism, transphobia, etc. have no place in comedy,” Griffiths said. “I think that comedy is meant to be a place for people to have fun and enjoy the moment, and comics who play into tearing down others do not deserve the space or platform to express their ideals.”

Many SNL staff writers were angered by the decision

for Chappelle to host the show and decided to sit out from the episode altogether. SNL’s first transgender and non-binary staff writer Celeste Yim was among those boycotting and wrote on their Instagram story, “I’m trans and non-binary. I use they/them pronouns. Transphobia is murder and it should be condemned.”

SNL staff writer Bowen Yang also posted on his Instagram story, “Transphobia results in trans suicidality. The people most likely to kill themselves are Black trans people and then non-Black trans people.”

An insider of the SNL show told Page Six that while many writers refused to participate in the show, none of the actors boycotted.

USD junior Colby Crispeno believes that Chappelle’s content is harmful to many communities.

“I think some [form] of boycotting is necessary because of how harmful Dave Chappelle’s words can be, especially to the transgender community,” Crispeno said. “I absolutely respect [the staff members’] decision to say ‘I cannot be here and I cannot stand for this.’”

Griffiths also showed support for the writers that walked off the show’s taping.

“I think that it shows solidarity for those who Chappelle has hurt in the past and recognizes that they don’t stand behind SNL allowing him this platform,” Griffiths said.

Many viewers took offense

with Chappelle’s history of transphobic jokes. The National Library of Medicine explains that as of 2020, 82% of transgender individuals have considered suicide and 40% have attempted — with suicidality the highest among transgender youth.

Despite disagreement over his past and present comedy, Chappelle — partnered with Chris Rock — is hosting his comedy tour in San Diego at the Viejas Arena Stadium in the beginning of December.

“I think anyone going to the show is supporting [him] and giving their stamp of approval,” Crispeno said. “Dave Chappelle does not need the money. We should be putting that money — however much those tickets are — into a transgender helpline and suicide helpline.”

Earlier this year, his performance in Minneapolis was canceled following transgender rights protests outside the venue. The show was instead held at Varsity Theater, where the protests then continued.

While Chappelle is not the only comedian to produce controversial content, his immense popularity has left many concerned for the future.

For those in need of help, advice, or someone to talk to, below are some mental health resources for the transgender community. Trans Lifeline: translifeling.org PFLAG: pflag.org/hotlines California Department of Public Health: cdph.ca.gov.

Season five of ‘The Crown’ comes to Netflix New episodes reveal monarchy of the 1990s

COLIN MULLANEY COPY EDITOR

Two months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, season five of “The Crown” came to Netflix on Nov. 9. The longawaited season arrived two years after season four and continues the show’s chronological march into the Queen’s senior years.

Set in the 1990s, season five covers some of the most dramatic and scandalous times of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, including but not limited to: a massive fire at Windsor Castle, the dissolution of Princess Anne and Prince Andrew’s respective marriages, “Tampongate” and the notorious “War of the Waleses” — the highly publicized divorce between now King Charles III and the late Princess Diana.

USD senior Bri Graney studied in the U.K. and saw the most recent season being filmed in London.

“I studied abroad in Oxford last semester. I started watching ‘The Crown’ after visiting London, and I saw them filming season five,” Graney said. “I finished all of [the previous seasons] in about two weeks. I’ve only seen a few episodes of season five, but it’s really good so far.”

Actress Imelda Staunton — perhaps best known for her role as Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter series — plays a convincing Queen Elizabeth, in her overall appearance, mannerisms and tone of voice. Graney was impressed.

“I recognized her [as Umbridge], but I was never super into Harry Potter, so it was pretty unnoticeable,” Graney said. Staunton arguably bears more likeness to the actual Queen Elizabeth than her predecessor Olivia Colman. However, it will be difficult for Staunton to outdo both Colman or young Elizabeth actress, Claire Foy, who each won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for their portrayals.

Although she likes the latest season, Graney is nostalgic about the earliest episodes. “I haven’t watched too much of season five, but the first Elizabeth [Claire Foy] was definitely my favorite,” Graney said.

Fans of Foy may be excited to see her revive the past role of young Elizabeth for season five’s opening scene. Via flashback, Queen Elizabeth launches the Royal Yacht Britannia, and throughout season five the yacht serves as a metaphor for the state of the monarchy and the monarch

herself. As the yacht ages and declines, the Queen must fight to maintain her authority and influence in a world increasingly disenchanted with the crown and its heavy economic burden.

Aside from Staunton as Queen Elizabeth, some of the most impressive performances come from the supporting cast members, including Jonny Lee Miller as Prime Minister John Major, Jude Akuwudike as Sydney the valet, Salim Daw as Mohamed Al-Fayed and Prasanna Puwanarajah as the BBC reporter Martin Bashir.

Princess Diana, played by Elizabeth Debicki, is portrayed in a nuanced light, in a remarkable feat of both acting and screenwriting.

Despite Diana’s popularity and glowing public image in the 1990s, “The Crown” tells another story of Diana, as both a victim and her own perpetrator rolled into one. Season five does not exonerate Diana nor pull back any punches, simply because of the tragic nature of her fast-approaching death.

Instead, she is shown to be fickle and vain, overbearing and over-reliant on her son William for emotional support, naïve and easily tricked by the press, disagreeable and impulsive.

At the same time, season five’s portrayal is also sympathetic to Diana. She’s shown as someone with few friends, isolated and discarded by her husband and is easily exploited by BBC reporter Martin Bashir. In an attempt to bolster his own career, Bashir convinces a vulnerable and paranoid Diana with lies to conduct an exclusive BBC interview, behind the backs of the Royal Family and the Queen.

Martin Bashir’s manipulation of Diana exemplifies another prominent theme of season five, which is the intrusiveness of the media and its outsized role in shaping the narrative about the British monarchy.

Between invasions of privacy, television specials about the monarchy’s continued relevance and strategic interviews with Royal Family members, the media serves as a club to bash the monarchy, particularly as Charles and Diana vie for public sympathy.

If anything, however, season five is the most sympathetic toward the now late Queen Elizabeth II, who navigated extreme pressure during this time, both within her family and among the British public. Perhaps mindful of her recent passing, season five

takes deliberate measures to humanize the grandmotherly figure, as she struggles to operate her new television set, has tea and jokes around with her grandson William, struggles with jealousy in her marriage to Prince Philip, or sheds a tear before her poignant “annus horribilis” speech. Queen Elizabeth II used this phrase, meaning “horrible year” in Latin, to describe 1992, where many negative events befell the monarchy in a very short span.

Although the show’s fifth season does not encompass the aftermath of the Charles-Diana divorce, nor Diana’s untimely death, it lays the groundwork and foundation by introducing Diana’s next love interest, Dodi Fayed. In overt allusion to the coming accident, every time Diana is shown getting into a car this season, the media is seen swarming her, trying to get a better picture.

In one scene — which Graney saw filming in London — Diana’s car brakes fail as she is chased by paparazzi, causing her to narrowly avoid swerving into oncoming traffic: a notso-subtle nod to the Paris car chase that results in her death in 1997, which will undoubtedly be depicted in season six.

Celeste Yim was among the staff writers who walked off the SNL taping. Photo courtesy of @Celesterogen/Instagram

L.O.V.E. (loyalty out values everything)

Men’s basketball player Elliyas Delaire

WAYNE MCKINNEY CONTRIBUTOR

Hard work, focus and teamwork are all ingredients that lead to success. With an almost completely different look for the USD men’s basketball team — consisting of 12 new players and an entirely new coaching staff — these three values are necessary building blocks for anyone wanting to compete in athletics. Not everyone is always willing to buy in, but newcomer Elliyas Delaire is: a transfer sophomore on the men’s USD basketball team.

Delaire is coming from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. There are values that people endure and keep in their hearts. For Delaire what he values most is simply, “family.” He explained it to be his driving force and purpose, which was why he left his previous school. Apart from the basketball side of things, he said it was difficult being away from his family for the first time, and he struggled to feel embraced within the community.

Delaire’s loving nature can easily be seen through his close connection with his older brother Jaiden Delaire, who is also on the USD basketball team. These two are inseparable, and you never see one without the other on or off the court.

Elliyas claims that their relationship is very close.

“He’s my best friend. We’ve grown up close in age, so everything he did, I had to as well,” Delaire said. They are constantly pushing each other, trying to get the best out of one another.

“Just having my brother here to be able to ask for advice and guidance has been so instrumental in my early success here,” Delaire says. Elliyas and Jaiden are from Granby, Connecticut. They grew up spending their childhood traveling to tournaments and events across the northeast.

Delaire explained the massive difference between Connecticut and San Diego.

“It feels like two completely different societies or people, but this San Diego weather most definitely trumps a Connecticut winter,” he said.

Delaire graduated from Loomis Chaffee, a prep school in Windsor, Connecticut. He won the New England championship in 2020, right before Covid-19 hit.

Besides his past, it’s noticeable that Delaire’s love spreads farther than just his immediate family. He’s one of the most approachable people on the team, always supporting and willing to lend a helping hand.

“Loyalty is something I live by. I have a tattoo that says

that. This team is my family, my brothers,” Delaire said. “It’s the acronym L.O.V.E., meaning ‘loyalty out values everything.’”

To love someone is always to have their back and be there for them. Selfless actions have the Toreros off to a 2-0 start. In the past two games, four players have scored in the double figures.

Delaire and the team have big hopes for the future but are staying focused on the present.

“To be honest, I’m just taking it one game at a time. I know everyone likes to look ahead to championships, but if you focus on the task in front of you, the rest will take care of itself,” Delaire said.

Delaire’s skills extend past the basketball court and into the classroom, as he boasts excellent grades. His ability to balance his athletics and academics is aweinspiring and something other

teammates ask advice about. Delaire has aspirations outside of basketball once his athletic career is over, but he doesn’t intend to wander far from the game. He’d potentially like to work a front office job in the N.B.A. or another major sports league. His major is marketing, in addition to minoring in real estate. He’s always been interested in convincing people to buy something or

persuading them. Delaire references Netflix’s many real estate reality tv shows, as well as his excellent social skills and ability to talk to anybody, which has led him to want to pursue a career in real estate.

Delaire’s hard-working attitude and easy personality have rubbed off on everyone and brought the team closer. It’s people like him that play small but critical roles in USD’s success.

Sophomore transfer Elliyas Delaire is one of the 12 new additions to the men’s basketball team for their 2022 season.

Photo courtesy of @usdmbb/Instagram

Delaire lives by loyalty, and that means being loyal to his team as if they were family.

Photo courtesy of usdtoreros.com