Volume 60 Issue 11

THE USD VISTA

Gary Miller: ‘The Guy in the Box’

Whether a student is running late to their 7:45 a.m. class, walking home during dead hours or showing up to school for their morning sports practice, they have most likely received a friendly wave from Gary Miller. Gary is the kiosk greeter at the main campus entrance at the University of San Diego, known for his outgoing and kind personality. Gary greets each passing student during his shift, sometimes even sharing words of encouragement or an endearing compliment. Many could assume Gary has worked at USD for a while, as he is quite a well-known figure on campus, but he has only been here for six months since joining USD’s campus in May 2022. In these short few months, Gary has left a profound impact on the USD community through his unwavering kindness and commitment to making everyone’s day a little brighter.

Prior to working at USD, Gary has lived a life filled with various occupations, quite different from the work he does now for USD. Gary was born and raised in Williamsburg, New York: a

rugby players eligible for pay

For the first time in history, players on the USD men’s club rugby team will have an opportunity for pay. They are the first club to join the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Association. NIL is a policy under the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) that allows athletes to get paid for brand deals, regarding their name, image or likeness. As an NIL athlete, players are able to receive money through brands, sponsorships or other deals, as long as it is regulated under the NCAA’s specific guidelines of the NIL policy. Prior to the men’s club rugby’s announcement, the NIL

was only for athletes in the NCAA. Although the NIL allows athletes in all three divisions of the NCAA to make money off of their brand, the NCAA’s rules of integrity, such as unfair recruiting or bribery, still

applies to the athletes. According to ncaa.org, the Division I Board of Directors approved of the NIL policy in June 2021, even if the athlete’s state does not have

suburb in Brooklyn. He was raised by two immigrant parents, his mother from Latvia and his father from Poland. Gary went on to college at the University at Albany in Albany, New York, where he played lacrosse all four years.

After graduating, Gary moved to Los Angeles to attend chiropractic school. He then relocated to San Diego and opened his own chiropractic practice, which he owned for 38 years. At the same time, he also bartended at a hotel and taught spin classes. Gary kept this busy lifestyle for many years, until the COVID-19 pandemic hit and affected each of his jobs, ultimately leaving him temporarily unemployed.

“I retired during COVID19. The chiropractic business became unobtainable,” Gary stated. “It became a mess to be a chiropractor during COVID19, the hotel closed, and then the gyms closed. So I was unemployed for a couple of years, just living hand to mouth.”

During his unemployment, Gary had a discussion with his longtime girlfriend, who has worked at USD for 29 years.

“I told her in that period — when I wasn’t working — that I wanted to be the guy in the

See Gary, Page 8

See

See

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The USD men’s club rugby team celebrates after their recent win for the ‘Founders Cup’ against San Diego State University.

Photo Courtesy of Paul Habeeb

Gary, the “guy in the box,” stands outside his kiosk to greet USD students passing by. Jackson Tahmoush/The USD Vista

Athletiverse allows club rugby athletes to get paid

Rugby players can begin their partnership in Jan. 2023

From Club Rugby, Page 1

their own NIL policy in place.

The men’s rugby club players are able to receive NIL pay through the platform, “Athletiverse.” This company was also founded by a USD student, Dominyck Bullard in early 2022. After finding out he had a rare bone tumor in his arm, he had to stop playing baseball for awhile and noticed that some student athletes had to go to college, focus on their sport and also work another job for extra money to support themselves. By incorporating social media into a marketing platform for athletes, Athletiverse’s goal is to allow businesses to utilize athletes as marketers to represent their brand.

USD junior and founder of Athletiverse, Dominyck Bullard, explained that he wanted every athlete to be able to benefit from NIL, regardless of whether it is a club team.

“I think it’s cool that through this platform, for the first time ever, any athlete can get paid — big or small. Before that, it was really just the top 1% getting paid through NIL.”

Through Ahtletiverse, the USD Rugby players are able to sign up with their website and connect their social media accounts, such as Instagram. From there, the business that is partnered with the player can post directly on their Instagram

account instead of the athlete doing it on their own. The more followers an athlete has, the more money they could get from NIL. While Bullard has worked with many Division 1 athletes at other colleges across the country, but he explained that seeing it happen at USD is rewarding.

“With the rugby team themselves, we’ve so far made one deal, but the cool part is that we’re the only platform that allows club athletes to sign up,” Bullard said. “A lot of the rugby guys have people that want to sponsor them, but they just don’t know how to do it. The big news here is that this is the first time ever that a club athlete can get paid — you don’t even have to be a Division 1 athlete at USD. These are just kids that signed up, because they wanted to do it and now they have the opportunity to receive pay for it.”

Receiving the privileges is a big step for a club sports team, especially since in recent years, the USD rugby players have had big wins leading up to their spring 2023 season. Since this deal was made recently, the USD rugby players were thrilled to hear about the new opportunity.

Before their partnership with Athletiverse, USD junior and rugby player Paul Habeeb recently got a NIL deal through Bullard with Rose Donuts on Linda Vista. Habeeb is thrilled

to see the expansion of NIL for the rest of the club team.

“My reaction [to hearing about the Athletiverse partnership] was excitement. I knew that Athletiverse wanted to expand its platform to club sports, especially rugby since it is treated more like a club, as no other NIL platform is reaching out to the club sport level,” Habeeb said. “This is revolutionary, especially since rugby in the USA is having trouble growing at the rate it should be due to Title IX disallowing rugby to be a NCAA sport. Rugby at the college level relies on funding from alumni, supporters and the school to expand as a team individually. If rugby can’t get the support of their school, then getting funds from NIL would be amazing as then the team could fund more equipment, scholarships, travel fees and much more.”

At USD, there is no men or women’s rugby team under the NCAA. According to Title IX, there must be an equal amount of women’s and men’s sports at any university in order for a team to participate in the NCAA divisions. Women’s rugby is emerging more often at other colleges, but for men’s rugby to be ensured as a NCAA sport, they would need more funding. Even though rugby may not be at every college, it is growing in popularity at USD.

USD junior and club rugby

can begin their deal with Athletiverse as early as Jan. 2023. Photo courtesy of Paul

member, Alex Lim, asserted that their club team deserves the recognition, especially because of their growth as a team.

“I honestly believe we will be even better than last year [in both participation and talent]. The environment on the teams is next level. We only lost two starters last year from graduating and gained so much talent,” Lim said. “As club sport athletes we dedicate hours out of our days to the sport

with only half the recognition. So it’s nice to see this happening to us, after fighting so hard to get this program on the map. However, this is only a step in the right direction for not only club sports but rugby as a whole, therefore our work is far from over.”

The USD men’s club rugby team will be able to begin their deal for Name, Image and Likeness with Athletiverse soon, as early as Jan. 2023.

Toreros discuss reproductive health at USD

The USD Student Health Center in a post Roe v. Wade world

USD senior Julia McAtee (they/he/she) is a co-president of USD Pee in Peace, an organization on campus that aims to promote health and wellness of trans students on campus.

Roe v. Wade, the court case responsible for federally guaranteeing access to abortion in the United States, was overturned on June 24 of this year. In the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, the Supreme Court ruled that abortion rights are now determined on a state-by-state basis.

Abortion rights were on the ballot in California for the midterm elections. California voters in the state election voted “yes” on Proposition 1, which “adds the right to abortion and contraceptive use to state constitution,” according to The Associated Press.

Although abortion is now protected by California’s state constitution, out-of-state USD students may live in one of the 11 states where abortion is now banned: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

“Reproductive care is at the basis of our beings. Fundamentally, it is about choice and autonomy and I feel like promoting reproductive justice and trying to ensure that all people have access to contraceptives, to reproductive care… it’s just an act of community care, caring about other people and wanting them to nourish their whole being and their whole person,” McAtee expressed.

Senior Ezra Wheeler (they/ them) is the other president of USD Pee in Peace. When they found out about the reversal of Roe v. Wade, they were upset with the decision.

“Abortion being criminalized and banned in other states just opens the door for it to be banned here eventually and criminalized further. And so, we might be okay now, but when these kinds of legislation are being put forth we can’t get comfortable with that safety, because we never know that it won’t touch us,” Wheeler explained.

Reproductive health at USD is a topic of ongoing discussion,

as many students at USD rely on the Student Health Center (SHC) for medical needs. Since USD is a Catholic institution, reproductive health services are limited. The University of San Diego explained the services they provide in an email.

“In keeping with our Catholic tradition, the SHC does not provide abortions. The SHC does provide students with medical information regarding sexual and reproductive health in order to make their own informed decisions,” USD wrote in an email. “The University of San Diego SHC medical providers are very sensitive to the issues of students surrounding sexual and reproductive health and are committed to providing caring, accessible and confidential support to all students. The SHC often connects students with campus and community support services to address their individual concerns.”

The University also mentioned that they are open to conversation regarding their reproductive health services.

“Students interested in extended conversations on sexuality and Catholic teaching are encouraged to contact University

Ministry staff or the Counseling Center, other resources are also accessible in the broader San Diego community,” USD wrote.

The SHC currently does not prescribe contraceptives unless for a medical reason, such as acne or heavy periods. This means students cannot be prescribed contraceptives by the SHC directly for birth control.

USD junior Alyssa Jackson agreed that contraceptives should not be provided to the USD community, and explained that USD’s Catholic identity must be considered in their decision.

“The Student Health Center should not prescribe birth control to its students. There are many side effects students should be aware of if considering, but also it should be noted that the school will not be held liable for any of the effects it [would] have on a woman’s body,” Jackson said. “USD’s Catholic identity should absolutely play a role. The University should inform its students on natural family planning instead of birth control and condoms, which are against the Catholic faith. Abortion should not be used as a means of birth control which is why universities like USD should not be promoting

it in their health centers.”

McAtee is also the founder of the club Students for for Sexual and Reproductive Justice (SSRJ), which was recently approved on Dec. 1. The main mission of SSRJ is to promote the sexual and reproductive wellness needs of students on campus.

“I want SSRJ to be a place where people who are passionate about these issues, especially in a post-Roe world, can come and gather and talk about their concerns but also their hopes for the future, what they want to see on campus and in the community,” McAtee said.

Although not all Toreros are directly affected by the overturning of Roe v. Wade, McAtee believes everyone should care about reproductive rights.

“This crusade against reproductive health and abortion and critical health care services will also affect us in the long run,” McAtee said.

Whether someone agrees with Roe v. Wade being overturned or not, USD Pee in Peace and SSRJ are among the organizations on campus that students can join if they are passionate about this justice and furthering resources are available at the SHC.

Men’s club rugby

Habeeb

SALENA CHACON ASST. NEWS EDITOR

ABIGAIL CAVIZO NEWS EDITOR

University of Idaho students stabbed to death in their Moscow home

Toreros react to the college students’ murders

KARISA KAMPBELL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

On an ordinary day in Idaho, four college students were stabbed to death in their home. Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen were students at the University of Idaho. On Nov. 13, after a night out, an unknown perpetrator entered the home and brutally killed these four students to death. No suspects or people of interest have been identified in this case.

While no substantial leads have been made, or at least released by the police in regards to this case, there are some key factors of information that have been released about the murders. The first is that even though the killer has yet to be identified or arrested, they do not believe that whoever it is poses an immediate safety threat to the community. According to an ABC News article, Chief James Fry, the Moscow, Idaho, Chief of Police believes that this was a targeted attack on either the house or one of the suspects. However, that was later retracted by the Moscow police department, adding to the confusion around the case and its details.

The killings happened between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Of the six residents of the house, two of them survived and were not approached by the killer.

Before calling 911 the next morning, the two surviving roommates called for help from friends after discovering one of their roommates unresponsive. They called 911 at 11:58 a.m., and the officers who arrived at the scene found the other roommates. At the time of arrival to the scene, the officers did not believe the surviving roommates to be involved in the crime.

USD sophomore Zadie Nguyen is from Moscow, Idaho. She described her thoughts on the horrific killings and the impact it had on the community.

“Idaho, especially Northern Idaho rarely faces murders,” Nguyen said. “Northern Idaho is a very close-knit community, so for something as impactful as what has happened in Moscow really shook our community, since everyone has a mutual who knew a victim.”

While not directly in our community, other Toreros shared

how this attack on the college community impacted them.

USD sophomore Gray Ehling described that she was horrified when she heard about the tragedy. She has a personal connection to the case, as her boyfriend knows one of the surviving roommates.

“My family and I talked about it a lot and about our own safety because it could happen to anyone,” Ehling said. “I feel like we are safe on this campus, which could not be true. I feel like anyone can come on this campus at any time.”

USD first-year Brooklyn Bruschi shared similar sentiments to Ehling.

“I think it is scary. Before coming to college, I know stuff like that happened on college campuses, but now living on a college campus and hearing

about stuff like that it’s a lot more frightening,” Bruschi said.

The Idaho murders have also had a large impact on Generation Z through the reach it has made on TikTok. News organizations and crime junkies alike have been flocking to TikTok to breakdown their own ideas on what actually took place the night of the murders. Nguyen shared how seeing this blow up on social media has impacted her.

“To see it blow up on social media, as someone who graduated at the same high school as one of the victims, it really puts the situation into the media spotlight which is uncommon for us to get back at home,” Nguyen said.

Bruschi described the nuances of sharing details of crime cases on social media.

“I feel like it [social media]

has been harmful [to this case] because I feel like situations are taken more lightly when they are seen through social media,” Bruschi said. “I feel like especially through TikTok people are not going to be as concerned as they probably should be since they are sending it through a social media platform and not a news organization. But I also feel like it is beneficial in some cases that it does help to spread awareness to a different generation of people.”

The Idaho murders are not the first time a real-life murder mystery went viral. In 2021, the murder of lifestyle vlogger Gabby Petito saturated all social media outlets, similar to what is happening now with the murders of Goncalves, Chapin, Kernodle and Mogen. In part because of the huge amount visibility

granted by social media, Petito’s murder was solved. However, according to a New York Times article, investigators are pleading that the rumors and theories regarding the case must stop.

If you are ever concerned about your safety, there are a few resources Toreros have access to help protect themselves. Noonlight is a free app available on the app store that allows students to press and hold a button if they are feeling unsafe. It will notify Public Safety (PSAFE) Officers as well as the nearest San Diego Police (SDPD). Additionally, practice safety measures such as always keeping doors and windows locked. If living off campus, it is important to call 911 if you ever feel unsafe. If living on campus, call PSAFE’s emergency number (619) 260-2222.

Outside of the University of Idaho, there is a tribute for the four students who were killed in their home.

Photo courtesy of @truecrime_junkiez/Instagram

The police are currently investigating the homicide case; the victims’ house is crossed off with police tape.

Photo courtesy of @fox35orlando/Instagram

All by myself

We need more people of color in student media

SPENCER BISPHAM ASST. OPINION EDITOR

Recently, four other USD students in media and I had the opportunity to attend the Society of Professional Journalists’ MediaFest ‘22 conference in Washington, D.C. The trip was an incredible experience, and part of it was attending my first Black journalists roundtable. As the only Black writer at The USD Vista, this environment was refreshing. For once, I didn’t stand out among the dozens of journalists convened in the same room laughing, sharing stories and making connections.

After sitting with those conversations, bringing that spirit of inclusion back to our mostly white student media program has proven more challenging than I anticipated.

When covering stories, I try to lead with empathy, so it was no surprise that this task initially evoked strong feelings. The most immediate of these was rage, often at the instances of discrimination recounted by others at the event. During the roundtable, one student claimed that their attempts to cover stories relating to other Black folks and communities of color were openly shot down by the rest of their staff. Another maintained that as the only Black staff member, the Editorin-Chief of their paper was moreintensely critical of their work than that of their white peers.

Unfortunately, these accounts of racial discrimination are just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to

explicit prejudice, journalists of color are also challenged with avoiding tokenization and trauma-inducing stories.

According to Matthew Ingram from the Columbia Journalism Review, the demands on Black journalists in particular are extremely taxing in a post-George Floyd era.

“On top of often covering stories that involve violence against other Black people, with the associated emotional trauma that can produce, many Black journalists are also called on to give advice about stories written by nonBlack reporters and to educate their colleagues about racism and its effects,” Ingram wrote.

At a predominantly white institution like USD, these claims about Black journalists reflect my lived experience. I have entirely lost track of the amount of times I’ve had to explain myself: my words, mannerisms and why certain things are offensive to me as a person of color. I’ve had conversations with others who also feel like they’ve had to become experts in justifying themselves, even though the answers to many of their peers’ questions are a simple Google search away.

In a Communication Studies research article from 2018, scholars found troubling information about how news media deals with race, as it relates to all minority groups.

“Past research on racial discourse in news reveals patterns of ‘modern racism,’ where both explicit and implicit references to people of color are combined in problematic ways,”

it reads. “Mainstream news also privileges dramatic, episodic framing of race, focusing on interracial conflict, violence, and individuals; this displaces evidence of racial comity and the role of institutional and social-level factors.” This framing of race in the media is prevalent in different news mediums, television especially.

A story from 2020 on CNN about George Floyd illustrates this concept quite well.

“Violent George Floyd protests at CNN Center unfold on live TV,” the headline reads. “Police and protestors clash in Minneapolis as curfew starts.”

Not only are these headlines overly-dramatic, but they do exactly what is described in the above Communication Studies article. There is no acknowledgement of the institutional or social factors (systemic racism and policing) which were the subjects of many George-Floyd-era protests, forcing the blame onto individuals instead. Not only was this insensitive to the racial minorities who were speaking up in protest, but it was also a failure to report the story holistically. An overwhelming lack of representation is just one layer of this racial insensitivity at all levels of news media. As of 2018, The Pew Research Center estimated that 77% of all newsroom employees in the U.S. are white, in contrast to 65% of its general workforce population. These demographics leave a huge gap in representation for communities of color, both in terms of the types of stories that are covered

as well as who’s covering them. If staff in media outlets don’t represent different racial/ cultural backgrounds, accurately reporting on non-white folks falls to the few of us who find ourselves in the newsroom.

Fixing this misrepresentation matters, and it starts on college campuses. Providing students with opportunities to explore careers in news media is important, but it can be daunting to take advantage of said opportunities if you can’t see yourself within the organization.

In a study of 75 awardwinning college newsrooms, analysts at Nieman Labs found concerning statistics about the diversity of leadership in student journalism.

“Less than 6% of Editors-inChief were Black, even though Black students comprise nearly 10% of the corresponding colleges’ total population,” the study said. “And 11% of top editors were Latinx, despite Latinx students making up almost 22% of that total population.”

The same article cites Marissa Evans, a former student journalist at Marquette University, and her experience of being alienated by whiteness in the newsroom. The piece describes her attempt to become the Marquette Tribune’s first Black Editor-in-Chief and how she “didn’t feel wanted” by student media, after they gave the job to a younger white man. Evans later received feedback that this decision rested on how the hiring committee didn’t know how well she “would work with other people,” despite her numerous

qualifications for the position.

The sincerity behind their statement is questionable, but it still reflects the lack of diversity within college newspapers.

In an industry dominated by one particular racial identity (or another singular identity group), how well can someone outside that group really be expected to integrate into a leadership position?

In the U.S., news media is the “Fourth Estate:” an essential part of our country’s democratic system, which ensures those in power are held accountable. As with our elected offices, it’s ideal that the demographics of the news media industry should reflect those of the general population.

Similar to elections, it is up to those of us who desire change to see it realized. In all of student media at USD, between our newspaper, TV and radio programs, there are numerous opportunities for students of color to get involved. Joining The USD Vista has been one of the most gratifying experiences in my undergraduate career, despite the institutional challenges that present themselves on the job. Even when I’m not in love with it, I find it to be a powerful outlet to share the stories of those without much of a voice.

If you think you might be interested in The Vista, USD TV or USD Radio, feel free to apply here! Applications are open to all undergraduate students through Dec. 9. Your voice has power, and especially for other students of color, it’s important that you use it.

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.

Since George Floyd’s death in 2020, navigating careers has become more difficult for many Black Americans.

Photo courtesy of Mike Von/Unsplash

The media industry lacks POC representation, which can put limitations on stories being told.

Photo courtesy of The Climate Reality Project/Unsplash

Thrift shopping’s new frontier

The future of secondhand shopping is online

JACKIE MARQUEZ ASST. OPINION EDITOR

Goodwill, a nonprofit organization that resells donated clothing and other items at low prices, launched an online version of its thrift stores on Oct. 4 this year. On their new website, GoodwillFinds.com, the company offers the experience of thrifting in a digital format. Thrifting is a form of shopping done at secondhand stores where consumers can buy used items for cheaper prices. Shoppers can navigate through different sections of the homepage to find anything from secondhand sci-fi books to statement pieces to suitcases.

The creation of this site reflects the future of the secondhand industry. As other industries move to digital storefronts, the move to online thrifting is necessary to keep thrifting relevant. Online thrifting helps the secondhand industry compete with other online retailers, making it more accessible than in-person thrifting.

It also provides a more sustainable alternative to traditional online shopping, and it offers a wider variety of goods than local thrifting. As such, students who enjoy online shopping or thrifting in person should support online

thrift stores with their business.

Thrifting has become a staple to Generation Z’s culture of conscious consumerism. The low prices and allure of finding something unique draws in younger crowds, while offering a sustainable alternative to mainstream fashion retailers. The practice is only expected to grow in popularity.

According to a resale report by Thredup, the secondhand market has grown by 32% in 2021. It is predicted to double in size by 2026.

Much like thrifting, online shopping also grew in

popularity. Online shopping has been around since the dawn of the internet, but thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, its popularity has skyrocketed.

According to Statista, online sales in the U.S. generated around $470 billion in 2021 alone. This is projected to rise to $560 billion by 2025. This growth in online shopping has made the internet the new frontier for fashion retailers, including secondhand sellers.

With both online sales and the secondhand market growing, it makes sense for thrift stores to move online. In fact, ThredUp’s resale report predicts it to grow four times in size by 2026.

Currently, companies such as Shein, Fashion Nova and Amazon Fashion dominate the digital market. They fulfill a niche with their online accessibility. Customers can shop anytime from anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection. For college students, this is a huge plus. I’ve seen students online shopping in the library, in on-campus dining locations and even during lectures. This accessibility is something that in-person thrifting lacks: A thrifting trip can take hours out of a person’s day. Shoppers have to sift through aisles of clothes, many of which are poorly organized.

Thrift shopping is a true treasure hunt, you never know what you’ll find or when you’ll find it. By moving online, thrift stores like Goodwill are able to reach customers who prefer to do their shopping on the internet. While thrift stores will likely never reach the scale of mainstream

fashion corporations online, the accessibility of moving online prevents thrift stores from being left in the dust.

In doing so, secondhand companies provide an alternative that is just as accessible as other companies.

Online thrift shopping mimics the format of online shopping, while still providing more sustainable options. Before online thrift stores, customers were limited to firsthand garments from companies like those previously mentioned. The fast fashion companies that dominate the internet harm the environment by depleting nonrenewable resources and contributing to pollution. Earth.org reports that the fast fashion industry uses the second highest amount of water out of any industry. Its use of synthetic fabrics contributes 35% of all microplastics in the ocean. It also requires large amounts of energy to create such fabrics, which is generated through burning fossil fuels.

Buying secondhand ensures that your purchase doesn’t contribute to additional environmental harm. By moving thrift stores to an online space, the secondhand industry provides a more sustainable option for online shoppers.

Online storefronts also expand the experience of thrifting for customers. Local thrift stores collect their inventory from the community. Individuals bring old clothes into the store or leave them in collection boxes located around the city. Because this inventory is coming from a limited geographic area, there can be a lack of variety in what’s available.

My hometown was very agricultural, and the clothing donated to local thrift stores reflected that. There was an abundance of flannels and Levi’s, but it was rare to find name brand goods. Online thrift stores collect a wider variety of goods, in fact they source their clothes from around the U.S. This provides more diverse styles and garments.

While this style of thrifting provides more variety, the process of donating goods can be tedious. Other online secondhand stores like ThredUp rely on people mailing in the clothes they’d like to donate. With ThredUp, people can request a “consignment kit” and the company will send them a bag and shipping label so they can drop off their donations at FedEx or USPS.

ThredUp doesn’t say exactly where the clothes are mailed to, but they are sent to a facility for inspection and then listed for sale by the business. Other online secondhand stores like Ebay and Depop allow users to list their clothes themselves. Then they send their items directly to buyers. Printing a shipping label, packaging clothes and then mailing off said clothes takes a lot of effort. Creating listings for items takes even more.

On top of this the format is less accessible to unhoused individuals and people without internet access. Goodwill’s way of collection partially addresses the issue. Goodwill’s online store has people drop off their donations the same way they would do so in person. Then, local stores send items in to be processed and listed online. This takes the burden of shipping and listing off of the people looking to get rid of their used stuff.

To fully address the downsides of online thriting, it’s important that in-person thrift stores are not phased out. Rather, secondhand stores should offer a balance of inperson and online thrifting.

By providing an online option, thrift stores like Goodwill ensure their longevity. The format allows secondhand sellers to bring in new customers. It also improves upon the existing way to thrift. Goodwill’s move online sets the standard for other thrift chains, and those other chains should follow their lead. After all, it’s more convenient and better for the environment.

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.

Goodwill has created an online platform so that their items are more accessible and it provides a wider variety.

Photo courtesy of @runliftthrift/Instagram

Thrifting is a very popular activity among college students. Photo courtesy of @2ndwind_style/Instagram

ARTS & FEATURE One wave at a time

How Gary Miller is spreading joy across campus

Gary from Page 1 box,” Gary described, referencing USD’s entrance kiosk. “In fact, I told her 10 years ago I wanted to be the guy in the box.”

After spending so much of his career juggling multiple jobs, Gary desired a laid back lifestyle, so he decided to apply for the kiosk job and got it soon after. Even so, Gary admits that he went about the job a bit unconventionally. He began by always keeping the left door of the kiosk open, to greet employees and passersby. Gary is bilingual in Spanish and always made an effort to speak with those on the USD campus that speak Spanish.

Along with people, Gary began to greet animals he would meet during his shifts.

“I feed the crows, squirrels and dogs,” Gary explained. “Dog biscuits for the dogs, peanuts for the squirrels and crows.”

After having such a great response to opening the left side of the kiosk, he decided to open the right, and that’s when his popularity on the USD campus took off. By leaving the right side of the kiosk open, Gary began chatting with the students as they walked onto campus.

As he began greeting and talking with students, Gary became especially close with athletes of the school, who walk to campus earliest in the morning.

“I started saying ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ to the students, especially the basketball, volleyball players and rowers,” Gary stated. “And then the students started responding when I greeted them. Then some would boldly ask me my name, and we would start having a conversation, and then it just

exploded for me in every way.”

The friendship and kindness between Gary and studentathletes goes both ways. USD sophomore Bendji Pierre, forward on the USD Men’s Basketball team, always appreciates

his interactions with Gary.

“He is always encouraging, always giving our team good energy,” Bendji stated. “He is an energy boost. Every time I see him he is always in good spirits; he is never discouraging, and he

is always even-keeled. Seeing that before I go to class makes my day.”

Though he appreciates connecting with the studentathletes, Gary makes a constant effort to greet each and every student, and he has had nothing but positive responses to his friendliness on campus.

“One of the greatest signs of respect on this campus is when a student pulls their earbud out to say ‘hi’ to me,” Gary remarked. “Students constantly pull their earbuds out as they walk by, because they want to hear what I am yelling out to them.”

USD junior Rachel Conley notices and appreciates Gary’s constant kindness, and discussed its impact on her college experience.

“Gary has had such a positive impact on my experience at USD. Every morning, afternoon and evening I walk by the security gate, Gary always has the biggest smile and warmest welcome,” Conley stated. “His spirit and uplifting words are truly a gift to the USD community.”

Gary attributes his positive and uplifting spirit to his past careers.

“I have always been this way. People never wanted to go to a grumpy chiropractor, [and] as a bartender, the nicer you are the bigger your tip jar is,” Gary explained. “As a

spin instructor screaming my head off at 5:30 a.m., I have always been sort of paid to be that uptempo, positive guy.”

Forming these meaningful connections with students has left him with only positive things to say about the USD community.

“I think this is an amazing school, and it has amazing students. They are bright, well scrubbed, they have been raised well, and they are all so respectful,” expressed Gary.

Tearfully, Miller explained how self-fulfilling working at the kiosk has been — something he never expected to such a degree from a job.

“I never expected at this stage in my life that I would have a job that would give me the opportunity to make 200-300 people smile every day,” Gary expressed. “My time on campus is hardly ‘working.’ It is a gift from God that I am employed sharing my bright spirit with so many wonderful students.”

Though Gary has only been working at USD for a short time, he has managed to make an immense impact on students and the community as a whole. In regards to how many more years he would work, he guessed around 10. Looking at Gary’s track record, one can only imagine the immense impact he will continue to make at USD.

Gary is best known for waving to everyone that passes by the kiosk and shouting encouraging phrases such as “Have a nice day!”

Haley Jacob/The USD Vista

Gary appreciates his relationship with students and enjoys interacting with them as they enter and exit campus. Haley Jacob/The USD Vista

ARTS & CULTURE

The true tale of ‘Rudolph’

The Christmas classic’s unfortunate beginning

KATE ROBERTS CONTRIBUTOR

For many, crackling fires, warm smiles and sweet smells of baked treats trigger all the senses in preparation for the holiday season. Good tidings of great joy dance along the faces of happy families gathering together in perfect harmony, celebrating the abundance of the year. The façade of universal joy seems to permeate every television screen during the moments leading up to Christmas and New Year’s.

However, the holiday season can also look more like a looming cloud for many. Gray skies, empty homes and the taunting echoes of loneliness seem to grow louder during the month of December — feelings that are not generally marketable by mainstream media. Sometimes the warm stories we have come to love have cold beginnings.

In Chicago during the holiday season of 1938, Bob May was at a loss for good tidings of great joy. He was stuck in his lifeless job writing ads, while he and his daughter watched Evelyn May, his wife, lose a two-year battle to cancer.

Life couldn’t seem more grim. Nights were long for

Bob and Barbara hoping and wishing Evelyn would see the light of another day. During one of those lengthy nights Barbara asked Bob “Why isn’t my mommy like everybody else’s mommy?” Barbara’s discomfort with feeling the difference from her peers triggered old memories for Bob to resurface.

Painful memories of never feeling like he belonged during his childhood seemed inescapable. In attempts to help mend the heart of his daughter and heal his inner child, Bob began to dictate what would be known as one of the greatest Christmas stories of all time.

USD junior Emilia Honey appreciates the behind the scenes stories of familiar classics.

“So many holiday movies share a similar premise, however you rarely know the background of the movie and the intention behind why it was produced,” Honey said.

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’’ originally hit the screens in 1948. The storyline — although much more simple than what we see today — is powerful and pertinent for many.

Interpretations may vary and for USD senior, Harley Wahl the classic story represents an important message.

“The things that set you apart and make you unique are truly what make you special and in Rudolph’s case can end up saving the day,” Wahl said. However, the story’s complexity can reveal itself in different ways. The story takes place in the snowy mountains, where young reindeer frolic and play. However, one reindeer seems to be the brunt of every joke. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer has always stood out, due to the unusual, bright light on his face. The reindeer children tease and laugh at Rudolph, making him feel like an outcast. Sad and lonely, Rudolph retreats to his room to patiently await the joy that Santa Claus will bring on Christmas Day.

On the night of Christmas Eve, a thick fog settled over the area where Rudolph lives, causing Santa’s sleigh to crash. The possibility of continuing the journey under the present conditions was grim — until Santa saw a bright light coming from Rudolph’s bedroom window.

Santa, seeing a solution to his problem, softly wakes Rudolph from his sleep. Rudolph frantically tries to hide his bright nose, but Santa pays no mind and begins to tell him of the perils of his foggy journey.

With a newfound appreciation for his nose, Rudolph leads the reindeers on Santa’s sleigh, piercing through the fog with his guiding light. Making such an impression on Santa that night, Rudolph was made to be commander and chief of the reindeer race.

Oftentimes, the holidays can cause us to feel like there is a thick fog lingering in our minds or surrounding our day to day.

Paralyzed by the confusion of what way is the path of least resistance, we may not know how to navigate getting through this season. In the original movie, Santa’s reindeer didn’t aid in finding a way to keep going through the night. Once the sleigh crashed, they gave up and gave in to hopelessness.

However, Santa decided to look for a solution to work through the fog. For many, this season isn’t always merry and bright and creates challenges. For Rudolph, Santa was rather clear, “Rudolph with your nose so bright, won’t you join my sleigh tonight?”

Rudolph’s willingness to step into the fog, guided him and others into the light of a new day.

For Bob May, this bedtime story became his guiding light, through one of his darkest

holiday seasons. After making his first physical copy of the bedtime story as a Christmas gift to his daughter Barbara, word spread of the story of Rudolph. When asked to read the story at his company Christmas party, Bob May was met with a standing ovation.

The company — Montgomery Ward — saw an opportunity and offered to buy the rights to the book from May.

During this time a great deal of debt had piled up from his wife’s cancer treatment and overall living expenses. So, May gladly accepted.

However, his intimate story was no longer his, and Montgomery Ward was reaping the benefits — selling over six million copies of the story over the course of six years.

Nonetheless, in line with the holidays and the giving spirit Montgomery Ward miraculously returned all rights to Bob May, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer saw great success for years to come.

For the May family and families all over, the story of Rudolph’s bright light led them through the loneliness of night and brought them to the bright horizon of new beginnings full of good tidings and great joy.

Feeling down? Call this number

Kindergarten school project created a pep-talk hotline

and I’m really thankful that I got to hear that today.”

“Peptoc Hotline” was established on Feb. 26 as a school project by West Side School in Healdsburg, California, as a way to bring happiness amid the darkness of the COVID-19 pandemic and previous wildfires. Jessica Martin, an art teacher at the school, and Asherah Weiss, an artist, began the wholesome project.

Martin told her students to say something that helps make them happy when they are in a tough situation or need a smile, as a way of gathering recorded messages for the talk line.

The resource took a week to make, and according to USA Today, the line received 8,000 calls per hour.

The number 707-873-7862 spells out “707-8PEPTOC.” The phone call starts with a welcome from Rosely Pochan — Jessica Martin’s daughter — followed by a greeting and an option for the call in Spanish.

Listeners are prompted by a menu of options to choose from. For example: “press two for words of encouragement and life advice, press four to hear kids laughing with delight and press six to hear how awesome you look.”

Advice from the kindergarteners ranges from “Take three deep breaths” all the way to “Punch your pillow,” and “Do flips on the trampoline.”

Other recommendations include, “If you get nervous, get your wallet and buy ice cream,”

“Be grateful for yourself,”

“We love you,” “You can do it” and “This will get better.”

Calls began exceeding their expected quota within the first two days. The original cost of the phone plan was $50 dollars, providing for a thousand minutes, and allowing for an unlimited number of

users. Due to the overwhelming number of calls, President Diana Chu of Telzio presented the hotline with one million calling minutes; now, there is a GoFundMe to keep the project going as an available resource.

As the semester deadline approaches, the holiday spirit is filling the air for many. However, before the reward of a break, there are finals, essays, projects and more.

USD first year Camila Gomez called the number and shared her thoughts.

“I thought it was really cute, because you can hear that

they are kindergartners right away so obviously,” Gomez said. “I think of when I was a kid and it just makes me happy because their life is so simple.”

Peptoc serves to remind its callers that life is bigger than tests and that everyone has someone rooting for them.

USD first-year Elaina Berwind Hoffman found the recorded messages helpful for finals season.

“I really enjoyed getting little words of encouragement… especially with finals coming up, it feels really good to be told that ‘I can do this’

Some of the most common forms of dealing with stress include exercise, maintaining healthy eating habits and taking breaks while studying. Peptoc presents a new option of relief for many.

According to an article by PsychCentral, The Benefits of Nostalgia, “Dr. Clay Routledge, Social Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology at North Dakota State University, nostalgia “increases positive mood, self-esteem, feelings of social connectedness, optimism about the future, and perceptions of meaning in life.’”

Nostalgia can be used as a marketing tactic to foster relationships, and through Peptoc as a way to foster positivity.

In the USA Today article on Peptoc, Chu shares, “What resonated with me was when Jessica described the idea behind it as ‘reinventing’ the phone menu, by shifting it from a typically frustrating experience to an uplifting one.”

For many, Peptoc serves as a reminder to be optimistic and can provide an uplifting break amidst the chaos and stress of finals week. Students in need of a pep talk can call the number 707-873-7862.

LAUREN CEBALLOS CONTRIBUTOR

Art made by a first grader from West Side School for the project.

Photo courtesy of @Peptockids/Instagram

‘Avatar: The Way of Water’

Years after the first film, the sequel to ‘Avatar’ comes to theaters

STELLA SCHNEIDER ASST. A&C EDITOR

“Avatar: The Way of Water” is set to premiere in theaters on Dec. 16, exactly 13 years after the original movie, “Avatar,” was released in Dec. 2009 and director James Cameron has talked about the sequel since the release of the initial movie. After a limited screening of “Avatar” in Los Angeles, Cameron hinted to the crowd, “Yes, there’ll be another.”

“Avatar” has held the title as highest-grossing film since its initial release, with a lifetime grossing of $2.9 billion. Its popularity has had many craving the sequel for years, and now that it’s being released, questions linger about whether it will have a good reception in theaters.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” is projected to open in theaters at $150 million-$170 million.

USD junior Noah Schliesman talked about his opinion of the “Avatar” franchise.

“I’d probably go see the new movie in theaters with my friends when it comes out,” Schliesman said. “The first one was literally life-changing as a kid, so I want to see if [the sequel] actually lives up to the hype.”

“Avatar: The Way of Water” focuses on the story of the Sully family, highlighting their connection, the trouble and tragedies that follow them and their ability to endure challenges and life together.

The sequel will pick up the Sully family’s story about 13 years after the first movie, introducing audiences to Jake [Sam Worthington] and Ney’tiri’s [Zoe Saldaña] new family.

USD sophomore Cheyanne Gates reflected on the new “Avatar” story coming to theaters.

“I feel like it’s unexpected to have a sequel after so many years, but I think it’s really cool for fans to see the Avatar world again,” Gates expressed.

These movies require an expensive level of technology for the motion capture and filming in 3-D. Because of this, their cost of production is extremely high — in both the original and the sequel.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” needs to earn over $2 billion dollars to make a profit due to its costly production.

The original movie had an extravagant budget as well, allowing the underwater motion capture and crazy visuals audiences hadn’t seen before in 2009.

USD junior Bella Patterson recounted her connection to “Avatar.”

“I remember when I first watched ‘Avatar’ as a kid, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Patterson expressed. “Everything about it was so cool — the new world and the way it was filmed. It was the first fantasy movie I saw where it really looked like a real, other world.”

In September of this year, the original “Avatar” returned

in theaters for a limited time, in anticipation of the sequel coming out this month. Upon re-release, the first film made $76.5 million on a limited, three-week engagement.

Many fans of “Avatar” only learned about the sequel recently, but it seems Cameron has already begun working on future movies for the franchise.

Sam Worthington returned to his role as Jake Sully in the sequel, and went on “The Tonight Show,” discussing the future of the “Avatar” franchise saying, “about 80, 90 percent”

of “Avatar 3” has been shot.

Worthington added that because the child actors were aging out, “a few scenes” of “Avatar 4” have also been filmed.

Schliesman continued to share his opinions of the Avatar franchise.

“It’s so weird that they are coming back with so many [Avatar movies] after so long without them. Like why didn’t he make them sooner? Everyone loved the first one.”

Acknowledging the concerns, James Cameron is prepared to end the “Avatar”

series after the third film if the newest sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water” isn’t profitable. However, with such a franchise-driven entertainment industry, the “Avatar” franchise likely has a few more movies to flesh out this science fiction world.

Many anticipate the new movie arriving in theaters and how it will live up to the expectations and memories rooted in the original “Avatar” film.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” wil be available in theaters Dec. 16.

USD Radio’s 2022 live session Student performers take over the SLP for the first time post-pandemic

JESSICA MILLS ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

After a two year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USD Radio returned to campus this semester and held their first live session in front of the Student Life Pavilion (SLP) on Nov. 29. Students danced, sang, recorded and cheered on student performers — keni can fly and the wings.

USD senior and Director of USD Radio, Nick Brumbach, took inspiration from the well-known KEXP and Tiny Desk live sessions and prioritized working with student artists. Brumbach was thrilled with the performance’s turnout and success.

“It was a big process, getting everything together [for the show] beforehand,” Brumbach said. “But the day of, everything went very smoothly — the set up and keni’s performance was awesome.”

USD senior Kenny Pich performed for USD Radio’s live session with his band keni can fly and the wings, which features students Coleman Fannin, Matteo Woods, Riley Conway and USD alumnus Josh Thompson.

“I think it went well,” Pich said. “I really enjoyed that it

was at school and in the middle of a school day, while students were just walking around.”

USD alumnus Josh Thompson plays the bass for the band and described their laid-back dynamic.

“I really just see [the live performances] as an extension of the jams we started doing in our living room,” Thompson said. “That approach has taken a lot of the stress off of performing for me.”

USD senior and Marketing Director of USD Radio Austin Smith hosted and helped conceptualize the show. Smith sees a lot of value in having events such as the live session on campus.

“We don’t really have a way to showcase student artists unless they’re directly involved with some university program,” Smith said. “Otherwise, we don’t showcase our student talent.”

As their first semester back on campus, USD Radio has faced several challenges. Many executive members and involved students were anticipating the radio live stream — which allows one to independently broadcast music via the internet. However, due to changes in equipment and IT, they’ve had to put these streamed shows

on pause until next semester.

“I want students to have their shows,” Brumbach said. “I ended up just drawing the line and [telling everyone] ‘we’re not going to have shows this semester, but we’re working really hard to have them next semester.’”

USD senior and Program Director Katherine Ely is also looking forward to the shows that will take place next semester.

“With radio you have the freedom to play whatever you want, as long as it’s clean,” Ely said. “It doesn’t matter if people are listening or not, this is your show. You get to play whatever

you want. I love that freedom.”

Once they’re up and running, students will be able to listen to the shows directly through the USD Radio’s website, where articles about music can be found.

Despite setbacks, Ely values all the achievements they’ve made this semester.

“It’s a little frustrating about shows and technology [issues], but it’s also our first semester doing this after the hiatus, so I kind of expected there to be some hiccups,” Ely said. “Even though we haven’t had many shows, I’d say it’s still a big success.”

With various events planned

for next semester, Brumbach is excited for what’s to come.

“I want as many people to join USD Radio as possible,” Brumbach explained. “I’ve been really surprised how many people show up and are continuing to come to our meetings, especially with the lack of content we have right now.”

Those interested in joining USD Radio, hosting a show or performing live can connect with the organization via their Instagram, @usdbeats, and find additional information on their website, uofsdmedia. com/category/usdradio.com/

The sequel will follow Jake and Ney’tiri’s journey 13 years after the original story.

Photo courtesy of @Avatar/Instagram

Students sang and danced along to crowd-favorite song “mr. wednesday.”

Jessica Mills/The USD Vista

One may think that the athlete with the most attention or starting position is the most important player on a team. However, this is not necessarily true. The players who are committed to growth, hard work, and consistency are the ones who are most vital to a sports team. Being an athlete goes beyond the minutes you get on court. An athlete shows up in other ways. Specifically, a student athlete has to follow through in the classroom and in their academics. If an athlete falls short in the classroom this can directly impact their ability to play. An athlete also needs to show up in their relationships and make a point to have a supportive group of people around them who are equally motivated. An athlete has to be picky on who they have around them. Finally, an athlete has to rest or prioritize “self care.” This means taking care of their body, eating well and sleeping well. Being an athlete takes sacrifice and dedication, and Dominic Muncey embodies everything an athlete needs to be.

This local sophomore is a walk-on basketball player at USD and was able to get his first collegiate start on Monday, Nov. 7 against Sonoma State. The USD mens basketball team successfully lived out Muncey’s star night by getting the win 81-59. Knowing you have worked so hard to finally get an opportunity to start in a Division I sports game can come with a lot of happiness and fulfillment, and Muncey explained that special moment.

“That was probably one of the most accomplished feelings I have ever felt in my life… felt like a ‘mama I made it’ kind of moment that I’ll never forget,” Muncey said.

Last year, Muncey played in three games but now is feeling that he could be a very big defensive key for the Toreros. Marcellus Earlington on the team chimed in on the way Dominic has been playing.

“Dom is a very great defensive player and a very good leader as well. He always is locked in on both sides of the ball and will always give it 110% whether he is on the baseline or is helping us on the court,” Earlington said.

Others have also commented on Muncey’s hard work and are impressed by his ability to be effective on the court.

Being a walk-on player is not necessarily an easy task and can actually be quite difficult. One challenge that a walk-on could face is the ability to earn minutes or struggle to get the opportunity to show who you are as a person/ player. Also, when

From walk-on to starter

Men’s basketball player Dominic Muncey

college athletes are recruited out of high school, there is usually a lot of communication and ways where a coach and player can get to know each other. However, since Muncey walked on, he wasn’t able to establish a relationship with the coaching staff before joining the team.

Muncey commented on what it was like to walk on.

“Being a walk-on this year at USD has been amazing, because I finally got opportunities to show who I am as a player, ‘’ Muncey said. “Who I am as a player is someone that does what they can do. What I mean by that is, if I can do all the little things correctly — the parts of basketball where size and skill doesn’t matter as much — then I can make an impact. I have put countless hours in the gym and on the court, to get stronger and

better, since I first had the dream to play college basketball.”

Muncey is from Las Vegas, Nevada, but moved to San Diego in 2017 right before his freshman year of high school at Cathedral Catholic High School. Muncey remarked on this move.

“Family is what originally brought me to San Diego and it is ultimately what kept me here as well,” Muncey said. “While I had opportunities to attend school elsewhere, it was hard to make the decision to leave the beautiful city of San Diego and my family.”

Muncey also shared his love for the University of San Diego that he has always felt.

“I also loved the USD campus and everything that this school represents. It’s important to find a school that fits your needs as a student and athlete. USD has many

opportunities when it comes to academics and, thankful for me, I get to experience those same opportunities as an athlete. And it doesn’t hurt to be at a school that is so beautiful… doesn’t get much better”

Outside of the court, Muncey dedicates himself to his studies.

”I am currently undecided but leaning toward a major in Business. I have chosen business at the moment, because I believe with whatever I end up doing, I will be a part of a business,” Muncey said.

Dominic also understands the importance of life after sport. Post-basketball players want to carry out his grit he learned on the court, in anything that he does.

“One goal of mine after my sport is to be successful in anything I do,” Muncey

said. “I want to use the skills I have learned from the sport of basketball and be able to apply them to whatever I end up doing. I think that anything I put my mind to I will accomplish. I also hope to keep my friendships after I move on from basketball. The people I have met at USD and on the basketball team will be lifelong friends.”

Muncey shared the one thing that he affirmed everyone should know about him.

“You don’t have to be the best to hang with the best,” Muncey said. “I feel like I have done a good job at controlling what I can control and that is what has gotten me to this point in my career.”

Catch Dominic Muncey on the court this basketball season, contributing to the team’s success.

WAYNE MCKINNEY CONTRIBUTOR

Muncey is a San Diego local who walked on to the men’s basketball team.

Photo courtesy of @dom.muncey/Instagram

Muncey lives by the saying, “you don’t have to be the best to hang with the best.”

Photo courtesy of @dom.muncey/Instagram

Women’s volleyball advances to Sweet 16

Toreros off to regional semifinals after winning first and second rounds

OLIVIA SYNEK ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The University of San Diego’s Volleyball team is currently ranked no. 3 in the NCAA tournament, with a current record of 29-1. The Division I volleyball championship began on Dec. 1 for the Toreros, meaning the Jenny Craig Pavilion (JCP) hosted the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) for the first round. Toreros showed school spirit and support as just under 2,700 people were in attendance.

The Toreros secured both the first and second sets, with scores of 25-21 and 2514. UNC came back and won the third set 25-21. The game was over after four sets; the Toreros came out hot for the fourth set, beating UNC 25-11.

Notable moments from the first round match include 17 kills by junior Layla Blackwell’s, a new career-high. Blackwell’s hitting percentage stood at .739, with the second highest hitting percentage standing at .367 by graduate student Breana Edwards. Edwards also followed Blackwell with 12 kills.

This game marked the 25th consecutive win for the Toreros, as they advanced to the second round of the NCAA

tournament and prepared to host Washington State on Dec. 2.

The Toreros hosted the second championship game of 2022 not 24 hours after beating UNC. This game had a fan turnout similar to the previous match, as about 2,200 people were seated in the pavilion.

The Toreros once again

secured both the first and second sets, with scores of 2519 and 25-22. They were unable to win the match in three sets, as No. 24 Washington State won the set 25-21. The fourth and final set ended with a score of 25-15, sending the Toreros to the regional semifinals. Notable moments from the

second round match come from outside hitter Edwards. Edwards received the season-high number of kills, at 23. She also secured a hitting percentage of .447.

Senior Grace Frohling followed behind with 17 kills, with a very similar percentage of .441.

The Toreros are now set to go head to head against No. 15

University of Kentucky at Palo Alto’s Maples Pavilion on Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. This game puts the Toreros in the NCAA Regional Semifinal, or the Sweet 16, a place they have not seen since 2018. It also officially marks the fifth time the Toreros have made an appearance. The match will be streaming on ESPNU.

The Toreros defeated Washington State last Friday (3-1), advancing them to the regional semifinals in Palo Alto.

Photo courtesy of @usdvolleyball/Instagram