Volume 61 Issue 14

On newsstands weekly

Volume 61 Issue 14

Thursday, February 22, 2024

THE USD VISTA VISTA

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

COVID tuition case lingers in the air Updates in the 2020 class-action suit against USD

EMMA PIRHALA ASST. NEWS EDITOR Nearly four years since the pandemic shut down universities nationwide, former USD students are fighting for compensation in the United States District Court. In October 2020, former USD graduate students decided to file a class action suit — a civil suit presented by a group, or class of people who allege to have been negatively impacted by a defendant — against the University of San Diego for its tuition prices during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the latest hearing, dated Feb. 7, 2024, alumni representing the students enrolled during the Spring 2020 semester filed a motion to include a previously rejected report, from economics expert witness Dr. Gareth Macartney calculating the monetary damages incurred by the class. Their motion was granted in part and denied in part.

This recent hearing is the first major update in the COVID-19 tuition case, since its start in October 2020 when two students of USD’s Paralegal Certificate Program, Haley Martinez and

In March 2020, USD classes went virtual and didn’t officially return to in-person until Fall 2021.

Photo courtesy of @usandiego/Facebook

Shooting turns Kansas City’s celebration tragic 1 dead and over 20 injured during Super Bowl victory rally

ANJALI DALAL-WHELAN NEWS EDITOR Last week, Kansas City, Missouri’s Super Bowl celebrations took a shocking turn. The city was celebrating the Chiefs’ recent Super Bowl victory with a parade ending in a rally in downtown Kansas City when a shooting broke out on Feb. 14. According to CNN, the shooting left one mother of two children dead and injured over 20 others, including children.

As of Feb. 20, four people have been charged in relation to the shooting. Two juveniles were charged with gunrelated charges and resisting arrest.

Because the people of interest are under 17, their identities must remain private.

On Tuesday, two adult men were charged with murder and other felony related charges.

USD sophomore and Kansas City native Sofia Aguyo shared her reaction to hearing about the shooting.

“When I first saw the news notification on my phone, I

Matthew Sheridan, filed the class action complaint against the University, concerning its tuition fees during the Spring 2020 semester; Martinez was later removed as a named plaintiff. A class action complaint is the legal document that starts a class action suit, according to classaction.org.

As detailed in the original complaint, the students requested “to be refunded the money they spent for educational services that were not provided,” including payments for services and access to USD’s facilities that were not provided throughout the full course of the semester. The original complaint also mentions that other online classes at USD prior to COVID-19 were offered at a reduced price, compared to USD’s in-person classes.

The complaint reads, “for the few classes for which USD provided online instruction [prior to COVID-19], USD charged far less in tuition. For example, USD charged $1,580 per unit of on-campus classes for its Master of Science in Health Care Informatics, but charged 41% less – $925 per unit – for

See Class-action, Page 3

INSIDE Helicopter crash See News, page 2

‘Sephora kids’ See A&C, page 4

Tour Guide tales See Feature, page 6

Celebrations took a turn when a shooting broke out in downtown Kansas City.

was completely shocked that a shooting could happen at such a large celebration, where I knew so many people that were there. I had been seeing social media stories of tons of people that I know from high school that were at the parade that day and was worried about

Photo courtesy of @andrewcr1/Instagram

their safety,” she said. “I was fortunate and relieved that none of my family members went to the parade, although my dad was in the downtown area when it happened.”

Aguyo also shared the experience of one of her friends, who was present

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during the incident.

“One of my best friends was at the parade, and she told me it was a really confusing experience because everyone thought the gunshots were initially fireworks, because they happened right after the

See Kansas City, Page 3

@theusdvista

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Housing hunt?

See Opinion, page 9

Tarvet third in the nation See Sports, page 12

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The USD Vista

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February 22, 2024

NEWS

5 Marines perish in helicopter crash Investigations begin regarding crash in San Diego County RITI DEY ASST. NEWS EDITOR Record-breaking San Diego storms caused a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter to crash in Pine Valley, resulting in the loss of five Marines who were confirmed dead on Feb. 8.

According to AP News, the CH-53E Super Stallion is the largest helicopter in the military,.

These helicopters are designed to fly through bad weather.

The incident transpired during a flight training mission, as the Marines were returning to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego from Creech Air Force Base northwest of Las Vegas, U.S. News reported.

The helicopter was initially reported missing, and it was found on Feb. 7 in California’s Pine Valley, San Diego County.

USD sophomore Emily Cizin, member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), reflected on the incident with her family, many of whom have served in the military previously.

“I’m part of a big military family, so when anything of this nature happens we all talk

about it together,” Cizin shared.

“Initially I was shocked to hear this happened, you know there are dangers surrounding serving, but you never think they would happen so close to you. I also felt for all the families knowing that their sons were no older than 28, and one was even our age. It was crushing to hear but also made a clear statement that you could lose people at any second.”

Several military and government officials commented on the tragedy. Lt. Col. Nicholas J. Harvey, the squadron’s commanding officer, reflected on the incident in a statement to the The San Diego Union-Tribune.

“We have been confronted with a tragedy that is every service family’s worst fear,” he said.

The Marines were part of the “Flying Tigers,” a name assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 within the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. “The Flying Tigers family stands strong and includes the friends and community who have supported our squadron during this

challenging time,” Harvey added in his statement to the U-T. “We will get through this together.”

The families of all five Marines have been personally informed, in accordance with military protocols. The names of the fallen became public 24 hours after notifying their next of kin. The fallen included Lance Corporal Donovan Davis (21), Sergeant Alec Langen (23), Captain Benjamin Moulton (27), Captain Jack Casey (26) and Captain Miguel Nava (28).

The incident has prompted reflections about the decisionmaking process that led to the training mission during severe weather conditions, NBC San Diego explained.

Timothy Loranger, a former Marine Corps aircraft mechanic and current civilian pilot and lawyer, emphasized in a statement to NBC San Diego the importance of evaluating the risk involved in such situations.

“This is a training mission.

It’s assumed that it wasn’t critical that they got back to Miramar that evening,” Loranger said.

“Weather is going to be front and center, a very important question.

Should the aircraft have been

flying in these conditions?”

The CH-53E Super Stallion, though known to be a reliable military helicopter, is not exempt from mechanical issues, especially under challenging weather conditions. This crash mirrors a previous Super Stallion crash in 2018 when four Marines from Miramar died when their helicopter crashed near the California-Mexico border, during a training mission.

Marine Corps Times reported that the families of the victims later sued companies such as Kampi Components Co., Inc. and Diamond Rubber Products Co. that provided parts for the helicopter, alleging a defective part contributed to the crash, since pilot error was ruled out by the Marine Corps as a likely cause.

The Super Stallion was involved in 14 other “Class A” mishaps, which is the most serious sort of mishap where a person either dies or faces a permanent kind of disability.

As a result of the last few years and the previous lawsuit, the Corps has been transitioning from the current model of the Super Stallion to a

newer, more powerful model called the King Stallion.

AP News articulated that the possibility of mechanical failure exacerbated by the storm will be explored in an ongoing investigation regarding the reason behind the crash.

Cizin emphasized the importance of training for the military to avoid situations such as this one.

She explained, “this [incident] put emphasis on all the preparation that you have to go through. Most of the time when you are doing something routine it feels like a drag and a waste of time, but when something like this happens it serves as a reminder to never become complacent because complacency costs lives.”

The intense weather conditions such as heavy snowfall and high wind speeds have complicated recovery efforts, making access to the site difficult for search and rescue teams. The investigation will delve into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, seeking to provide answers and ensure lessons are learned to prevent future incidents.

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Volume 61 Issue 14

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Class-action continues against USD

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USD seniors reflect on the value of online-learning

From Class-action, Page 1 the online version of the same class, for the same degree.”

Current seniors are the only USD undergraduate students who attended USD while classes were held online. These seniors who started their time at USD during the pandemic share mixed feelings about their experiences with online learning.

USD senior Mari AguilarVargas was a first-year at USD during the pandemic.

“I don’t think the level of instruction was comparable.

That’s not to say it was due to lack of effort, because I think my professors at the time were doing the best they could, but I think it was something that no one was truly prepared for and therefore my education for the semesters felt hindered,” Aguilar-Vargas explained.

Regarding the struggles associated with virtual learning, Aguilar-Vargas stated, “It was hard to find the motivation to wake up early and log into Zoom, and also just adjusting to the whole Zoom experience in general. Having wifi issues on both ends, or even having to buy a new computer, because my other one was old and just couldn’t keep up with the all day use of it.”

Some classes, such as science labs, were significantly impacted by the transition to online classes, which failed to provide the necessary learning experiences needed to understand the subjects.

Aguilar-Vargas detailed her experience with labs, “It just didn’t feel the same to log into Zoom to complete a lab knowing that it wasn’t something that was meant to happen online,” she said.

In Aug. 2022, the operating schedule for the case set a deadline for both parties to exchange initial expert reports as evidence.

However, lawyers representing the class served the University with a second report from Macartney two months after the named deadline. Due to the report’s untimely submission and its basis on information available at the initial deadline, Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo ordered for the report to be removed from the record and for the students to compensate USD for the attorney fees incurred by the report.

On Feb. 7, 2024, the class action lawsuit against USD received an update as the former students presented a motion to overturn Magistrate Judge Gallos’s order, which removedMacartney’s

report from the record.

The hearing concluded with the court ordering for discovery to reopen until April 7, 2024, a period in which plaintiffs and defendants may report evidence — providing USD the ability to conduct additional depositions of Macartney and submit their rebuttals.

The former students were also “ordered to pay all reasonable costs and expenses, including but not limited to attorney’s fees, incurred by [USD] during the limited reopening of discovery and in seeking the court’s intervention,” the court documents stated.

USD senior Lauren Ghibaudo, who began at USD in the Fall of 2020, shared her experience with classes during COVID-19.

“My experience was definitely different, it was completely online, and even though I was able to be on campus, it was really hard to learn virtually and make new friends.

I do not think that paying the same amount for online classes was worth it,” Ghibaudo said.

“While I eventually learned how to learn online, there is just something so irreplaceable about in-person learning that you can’t replicate through Zoom.

I even had a professor who was completely asynchronous, and I had to watch pre-recorded lectures. I never talked to them or knew anyone in my class,” Ghibaudo explained.

“While I do wish the tuition was lower, I have really liked my time at USD despite COVID-19, which is something out of my control,” Ghibaudo continued. “If I had dropped, I would never have been able to meet some of my best friends I met freshman year and experience life [with] them.”

University of San Diego public relations representative Cameran Zech commented on behalf of USD that the quality of education was commensurate with the price of tuition in Spring 2020. In a written statement to The USD Vista, she explained, “USD, its faculty, and staff went to extraordinary lengths under

unprecedented circumstances to provide the safest, best possible learning experience for USD students during the pandemic.

The University pivoted as quickly and efficiently as possible, at considerable expense, to remote learning and operations, with the same quality of faculty and resources.”

The case will continue, although there is not a set date on the docket, as of Feb. 20.

Discovery will remain open for the next 60 days, in which new evidence may be uncovered and presented. 30 days following the close of discovery, the parties will be able to refile updated motions.

However, for the time being, the case is far from completion.

As USD’s seniors graduate in the spring, the fate of the classaction lawsuit will remain in the hands of the judicial system.

“It was really hard to learn virtually and make new friends. I do not think that paying the same amount for online classes was worth it.”

- Lauren Ghibaudo, USD senior

Shooting breaks out at Super Bowl rally USD students react to gun violence

From Kansas City, Page 1 celebration was over. She said they didn’t have any service, and it took awhile to put together what was happening which was really scary for her to not know what was even happening or where to go from there.”

USD junior Olivia Akers is also from Kansas City and had a connection to the woman who was killed in the shooting. Akers shared her emotions on the subject.

“I am grateful to say none of my friends or family were harmed, however one of my best friends knows the family whose mother was shot and killed,” she said. “Even though I don’t know this family, hearing about their loss made me grieve for them. I feel like it goes to show that everyone in the Chiefs community has been impacted by this terrible event.

My hope is that as a community we can rebuild our trust in one another and work together to ensure we can safely celebrate together again in the future.”

The weekend following the

shooting, hundreds of people rallied to call on lawmakers to pass stricter gun laws in Missouri, as Kansas City’s public radio station KCUR reported.

However, according to KCUR, it is almost impossible for Kansas City to pass gun reform because, “Kansas City is handcuffed on gun safety initiatives by a longstanding Missouri law, known as preemption, that prevents any county, city or municipality from passing legislation regulating the sale, purchase, transfer, ownership, use, possession, transportation, licensing, permit and registration of firearms.”

USD first-year and Kansas City resident Carol Reffett shared her view on gun restrictions following the shooting.

“I definitely think that there should be a lot more gun restrictions because it’s just so easy to get [a gun] and bring it into a space like that. It’s scary,” Reffett said.

KCUR reported that all 12 children who were taken to Children’s Mercy

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After the shooting, people in Kansas City have come together to show support for the victims.

Photo courtesy of @kansascityinphotos/Instagram

Hospital after the shooting were released. Several other victims remain in the hospital.

According to Today, Chiefs

team members have shown support to victims through social media, by visiting hospitals and donating money.

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

While Kansas City is the latest location to be affected, the debate over gun violence continues. in the United States rages on.

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

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

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

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

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

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Volume 61 Issue 14

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The USD Vista

ARTS & CULTURE The ups and downs of situationships

Catching senioritis?

Identifying seniors’ lack of motivation in the final semester NYLA HARRIS ASST. A&C EDITOR For fourth year students graduating in Spring 2024, the finish line is now in sight. So why do seniors start to trip, fall and run the other way at the end of the race? While “senioritis” isn’t a physical disease you can catch from someone else, it has become a plague for many students nearing the end of their educational journey.

According to the MerriamWebster Dictionary, senioritis is defined as the “fallback of motivation and effort by seniors, as evidenced by tardiness, absences and lower grades.”

Every senior suffering with such lack of motivation has a different story for why this feeling happens. University of the People, a tuition free online degree program, lists common themes for the stories, which consist of end goal mindset, boredom,

denial/fear and anticipation.

USD senior Alex Nazereno finds herself plagued with senioritis, as she balances interning at a law firm and anticipates graduating with her bachelors in May of 2024. She describes a bit of her story as she pushes through her final semester.

“Leaving homework until the last minute is my senioritis.

I just think it can be difficult to actually sit down and do reading or papers nowadays, especially considering we’ve done that our whole educational career,” Nazereno said. “Being a senior in my experience, especially with friends, homework and our outside lives, it’s normal for your mind to be somewhere else, because we’re always just doing something.”

Some professors think it’s laziness, others believe it to be a mindset. However, for many fourth year students, the reason for late or absent assignments is due to the

general exhaustion of senioritis.

When individuals have been put on the path to achieve so much in such little time, feelings of fatigue or burnout may occur.

USD senior Lilliana Morino is aware of this common issue that affects her classmates. She explained her experience and reason for pushing through during her final semester.

“Balancing schoolwork and job applications is extremely difficult right now, but I know that it’s only temporary stress, that I will thank myself later for,” Morino said. “Focusing on school while being an adult does come with its challenges, but I try to be in the moment. I’m sure there will be a time where I’ll look back and miss being a student.”

Before continuing down the path of no return, there are tricks and tips to get reenergized and finish the year off strong. One of the recommended tips, as mentioned by Morino, is staying present within the senior experience, with the future

payoff in mind. Other tips include setting goals, rewarding oneself and taking deserved breaks.

USD class of 2023 graduate Gabrielle Sabia reminisces on her time as a college student.

In reflecting upon senioritis, she gives advice to seniors experiencing what she once felt being a student only one year ago.

“Just do what you gotta do, because you’re almost there, and it’s going to be so rewarding and gratifying when you get to that podium, especially when you give it all you got at the end,” Sabia said. “The most rewarding part of graduating was making my family proud and seeing all the people that celebrated me. I remember literally patting myself on the back after I graduated, because it’s so important not to brush over major accomplishments like getting your bachelors, associates or whatever degree it is you get. It’s a big deal, and I think you have to give yourself even more credit, like as a woman, or just anyone that’s in a space

where you originally weren’t allowed to be in, you just deserve all the credit and reward.”

Imagine training for a year to run a marathon, accomplishing all the goals set for yourself and then asking if running your hardest matters on race day. The intensity and rigor of balancing school and work during the final year of university can be extreme. For many students, it’s their last year ever going to school — a task they may have worked toward, for over 16 years.

Regardless, losing motivation completely could result in losing things you’ve already worked for. Student burnout and intellectual exhaustion is a common part of the college experience.

However, combating senioritis can start with addressing this exhaustion, identifying points of focus, rewarding oneself for all the achievements done and giving space to breathe and exist as a senior in college.

The ‘Sephora kids’ take over

How media is shaping the lives of Generation Alpha ABBY RAMOS CONTRIBUTOR Shouting, kicking and even hitting can be expected when you’re around young children.

Whether they’re your cousins, nieces, nephews or even your own kids, tantrums are nothing new.

What happens when you encounter these young children while shopping? What do you do when these unsupervised 11-year-olds are ready to fight you over the last Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops?

The term “Sephora Kids” refers to the current wave of preteens taking over the popular beauty retail chain “Sephora,” despite their young age. Some argue that the majority of these children that come in and buy products are arguably too young since the popular skincare products that they gravitate to are too harsh for their skin and include anti-aging ingredients. These chemicals, according to dermatologist Dr. Ashleigh Vallée, can damage their skin barrier, leaving them with dry and irritated skin.

In other cases, as seen in viral TikTok videos, these kids are allegedly harassing employees, ruining set displays and throwing tantrums when their parents do not want to spend hundreds of dollars on beauty products or when another customer purchases the last item. Gianna Caldera, one of many TikTok influencers, spoke out about a 10-year-old girl who took the product Caldera was about to grab and attempted

to make a trade; if Caldera gave her the Gucci ring she was wearing, the girl would give her the last of the Drunk Elephant Glow Drops. When Caldera rejected the offer, the 10-yearold supposedly responded with “At least I don’t have to play connect the dots on my face.”

Coming to light at the end of 2023, this cultural phenomenon has piqued the interest of many, including dermatologists, parents and a wide audience of social media users.

While it’s entertaining to watch these children and their bizarre behavior, there is more to this trend than meets the eye. USD English professor Thomas Gustafson provided his viewpoint on this issue.

“Everybody’s too d*** online,” Gustafson said. He talked about how children are encouraged by social media, particularly the “Get Ready with Me” genre of content, to purchase these products. “They need to learn how to conduct themselves.

And that’s largely the parents’ job, but it’s also partly society’s.”

As Gustafson said, along with social media, the role of parents is also considered by many when looking at kids’ behavior. USD junior Ailish O’Deegan shared her thoughts on the connection of this behavior to parenting.

“These children need to be parented because clearly there’s a lack of discipline in some areas for them to be openly harassing strangers,” O’Deegan said, referring to viral TikTok videos where influencers

claimed they were the receivers of temper tantrums and screams from “Sephora Kids.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communications and Media explained how children and teens become targets for marketing, whether it’s from their favorite social media influencer or a playable advertisement on apps, the internet and video games.

Some say this promotion of advertisements is a potential cause leading these kids to chase an unattainable, ideal appearance through the purchase of products that promise to make them look a certain way.

According to behavioral health experts from On Our Sleeves, a national movement focused on children’s mental health, social media places an overemphasis on looks, especially for girls. Beauty influencers promote these products and unintentionally encourage kids to “think of themselves as a brand.”

Beyond the influence of the media and parents on the “Sephora Kids,” some critically look at our modern-day society creating an environment where children are forced to coexist with us in places that aren’t necessarily meant for them.

In his book “The Great Good Place,” sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term “third places” to refer to public spaces where people can gather and socialize.

Third places foster community flourishing through conversation and the cultivation of habits for public association. These places

A Sephora employee showing the unclean state of products after being used by children.

Photo courtesy of @delaneykalea/TikTok

include cafes, bars and — now — Sephora. In the U.S., children have limited options for their “third place,” pushing them to seek a sense of belonging and community online. In their quest for stimulation and support, they encounter influencers promoting a world void of flaws.

Of course, this illusion wouldn’t be possible without the assistance of beauty brands that are available online or at stores like Sephora.

Whether the blame for

the behavior of these so-called “Sephora kids” lies with parents, the media, society, the preteens or all of the above, Sephora has now become a hotspot for Generation Alpha. While rumors circulate on the web about the store implementing an age policy for certain products or even entry to the store, for now, there are still young kids influenced to walk into Sephora with a mission: to obtain Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk lipstick at all costs.

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February 22, 2024

TOUR GUIDES’ F LILI KIM, SENIOR Lili Kim is an Assistant News Editor at The USD Vista.

“I would say my funniest tour guide story is probably on my first ever tour that I gave. I was a new tour guide, and I was still a little bit nervous. We had only a couple of families show up, which is nice, but it started raining really hard, which never happens in San Diego, but so happened to happen on the day that I was giving my first tour. It was just me and four people hustling and running around USD’s campus, trying to find a place to stand under. Giving my tour from super random spots underneath the little overheads of the buildings… I had to literally sprint across two different buildings.”

GRACIE LAKOSE, SOPHOMORE “Sometimes you’ll have a prospective student with a sibling who already goes to USD and then sometimes they’ll just kind of manhandle the tour. My personal favorite tour guide story though was when I was in President Harris’s leadership class last semester… he [President Harris] crashed my tour one day. He’s in his full suit and I’m in my silly little polo with my silly little walkietalkie. And he crashed it and said something really flattering to me… after that I was completely speechless and lost whatever train of thought I was on… but that was awesome because what better way to prove my point than that the President of the university cares about me. So that was really cool, but then I had class with him after the tour… he was like, ‘I didn’t expect to make you so speechless’, that was a little embarrassing.”

Many have seen USD tours happe high schoolers in awe, lost p Manchester Hall is or little kids r USD tour guides are the face o impression that prospective stud their experiences as a tour guid strange and/or unfortunate accidentally eating a fly. Our tor funniest stories from their ye

Photo courtesy of www.sandieg

CARINA LEVERO

“Over the summer, I did tours a tour guides working, and sum which means there's always wed So I have walked through my f wedding photos, including one t pictures outside of Knauss for group of like 50 to 60 [people], doors. [There was] this weddin whole party, and I quickly had

“One time when I ate a fly on a earliest tours, and I was standin a sudden a fly blew in my mou mouth. And I sw

Volume 61 Issue 14

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FEATURE

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The USD Vista

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FUNNIEST TALES

happening on campus, whether its ost parents asking you where kids running around the fountain. face of our school and the first e students have of USD. However, guide does not come without its unate moments — including ur torero tour guides shared their eir years of touring the school.

sandiego.edu/admission-and-aid

ERONI, SENIOR

tours a lot. I was one of the main nd summer is wedding season, ys weddings going on on-campus. h my fair share of weddings and g one time when they were taking uss for some reason and I had a ople], and we just walked out the wedding just taking photos of the y had to move the entire group…

ly on accident. It was one of my anding there talking… then all of y mouth… It was buzzing in my d I swallowed it.”

JAYDA WALSH, SENIOR “Probably my worst one was my very first tour after my training… and it was for a football recruiting day… there's tons of people, it's all these high school football players and their families… there ended up being 150 boys and their families… I like to talk with my hands a lot. I move my feet a lot and I step back and I stepped on a bush and fell into the bush a little bit. And I'm like, ‘oh, hahaha’. All these people are standing and then I get up… So that’s my horror story… I just went home and was like, I'm never doing this ever again.”

ALEX HILL, SENIOR “I was giving a tour, it was me and one of my closest friends named Dakota, another tour guide, which in itself, putting us together was a very bad idea… we were walking through the library and we started on the bottom floor, and we're walking up to the second floor. We made it all the way up the staircase, and all of a sudden, we turned around, and we simply lost the entire group in the library. They were just not there anymore.

We were literally dying of laughter. We walked down the stairs and they were just huddled in the corner of the library looking so lost... it was the funniest.”

“I was outside of Camino and Founders and there was another tour group that was there... usually I'm not someone who likes to walk backwards. But this time I did. Someone asked me a question. I was talking to them. And I walked backwards. And I tripped like on the edge of the sidewalk. And I fell into the bush side of Camino... I popped back up and no one in the group said anything, they just disregarded it entirely.”

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

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The USD Vista

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February 22, 2024

FEATURE AR TS &

The many wonders of Mandy Womack Giving pain a purpose

AUDREY DAY CONTRIBUTOR Students may know Ms. Womack — Mandy Womack — if they have ever opened their USD email to find a message from her with the subject line “Correspondence for Case” in a big, bold font. Students could be initially intimidated by Womack, generally apprehensive when receiving emails from USD’s Office of Ethical Development and Restorative Practices. Little do they know that Womack’s past experiences of navigating tragedy and loss and personal obstacles have all shaped her into the woman she is today.

Now in her sixth year as the Assistant Dean of Students, Womack works in USD’s Office of Ethical Development and Restorative Practices which is responsible for implementing USD’s Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities. Womack guides students to reflect on their choices and behaviors in order to move forward from their mistakes.

She shared that her empathy for others was developed at a very young age due to growing up with her brother, Nick, who had special health needs.

“Nick was about five and a half years younger than me, and he was born with hemophilia, a blood disorder that stops blood from clotting. Even the smallest bruise can be life threatening.”

Womack went on to explain the severity of Nick’s disorder.

“Something as little as getting hit by a wild pitch in baseball could make it so that he couldn’t walk without pain.

Watching him navigate that

reality his entire life really is where I first developed empathy for others that are often battling something,” Womack said.

In her current role, Womack communicated that she approaches the student conduct process in a unique way, with a focus on understanding and compassion.

“Our office philosophy for the Office of Ethical Development and Restorative Practices is that students are generally bright, creative, energetic and trustworthy individuals who may have made a bad decision. I think that’s a different approach when we look restoratively, versus saying, ‘you’re a bad person and how do we punish you,’” Womack said. “Our hope is that our restorative justice process allows for a lot of reflection.”

Womack explained that her involvement in the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority as an undergraduate at San Diego State University (SDSU) impacted her life in a large way.

“My time serving on Panhellenic (one year as treasurer and one year as president) sparked my passion for leadership,” Womack said.

“Learning to see the needs of an entire community, rather than just my one chapter, solidified my interest in working in higher education.”

While Womack remarked that her sorority experience was filled with happy moments, she recalled a devastating event that occurred while she was serving as SDSU’s Panhellenic President her senior year.

“During my senior year, the Vice President of Panhellenic took her own life on campus. [We]

Womack enjoying tea with her mother.

Photo courtesy of Mandy Womack

Womack (on right) with her husband and oldest daughter, Megan, at the mid-year graduate Mass at USD. Photo courtesy of Mandy Womack were good friends and had worked on the Panhellenic Executive Board for about seven months together. My initial emotion was shock. This transitioned into sadness and confusion. I would describe her as someone who ‘had it all together.’ She was beautiful, strong academically and kind.

The most shocking thing for folks was, if she’s feeling desperate and has it all together, what does that mean for other people? Being able to open this conversation was so important,” Womack said.

Womack elaborated on how she handled the situation.

“Myself and another Panhellenic leader visited all the sorority houses and told them what had happened. We talked about how to support them and their members. That experience of navigating a crisis, that is what cemented for me that this is what I like to be doing,” Womack said.

While Womack shared about supporting others through their obstacles and crises growing up, it was not until about 20 years ago that Womack was faced with her own obstacle. “[I had] a life-threatening illness called Guillain-Barré Syndrome… it was my most powerful reminder that I am in control of absolutely nothing, except how I react to things,” Womack said. “It really shifted my perspective on what matters most to me.”

In addition to this illness

changing her outlook on life, Womack shared that raising her two kids, Megan and Zoe, has helped her recognize the importance of showing up for herself and others authentically.

“Having my two kids has really helped me show up to work in a vulnerable way.

One can only pretend to have so much together when you are raising two children.”

Although Womack described the feeling of not having control in her life, she said she has learned how to take these experiences and use them to apply kindness to the students she meets with. She expressed that she is given new chances to help others on a daily basis.

“I have opportunities to do this every day at work… noticing when policies or practices are no longer serving us, noticing when underrepresented voices are not being noticed, speaking up when values do not align with actions,” Womack said.

Womack said she spends her free time volunteering in local and national organizations for Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.

“Fraternity and sorority life was my passion that brought me into higher education,” Womack said.“The sorority experience, and Theta specifically, can provide a strong sense of belonging to our members of these organizations.

Considering ways that we can continue to do this — expand

our support for members, create a more welcoming and inclusive environment — these are all reasons I continue to volunteer almost 30 years after my college graduation,” Womack said.

Womack shared that her work in USD’s Restorative Justices and her volunteer work for Kappa Alpha Theta sorority are largely intertwined.

“The work I’m doing now in Restorative Justice has really impacted how I’m doing my sorority work. I really think about how I can help people move forward — both USD students and people I work with in Theta chapters across the country,” Womack said.

Womack expanded on how she views her own position here at USD. “I see my role here in the Office of Ethical Development and Restorative Practices as someone who accompanies students as they are on this path to who they are becoming. As they are on this path, sometimes little and sometimes big things happen.

I’ve accompanied students through loss of parents, unexpected pregnancy, the death of a best friend and also through joyous times such as finding their partners in life,” Womack said.“So this idea, that particularly for the four years students are here we get to walk on a journey with them, is such a blessing.

That is my greatest joy of work.”

The USD Vista

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February 22, 2024

9

OPINION

A USD senior’s guide to housing The do’s and don’ts of finding a place to live

SASHA BUKHTIYAROVA CONTRIBUTOR Let me paint a picture for you: it’s Aug. 31, 2023. I’m about to fly to San Diego to start my senior year at USD, and my roommates are about to move into the house we leased for the next year. At 3 a.m. on the day of my flight, I receive a text: “The house is unlivable. I don’t know what to do, but we can’t move in.”

The house, after many, many renovations, ended up being habitable, but I spent my first month of the school year sleeping on the couch while improvements were being made. This, in turn, heavily impacted my following semester, due to starting off on the wrong foot from the outset. The USD housing application deadline is steadily approaching (applications close on March 4 at 4 p.m. — so make sure to submit your application at your My SanDiego portal).

Many students at USD will soon be choosing their housing for next year. This can be the first, or one of the first, times that students are selecting their own housing situation, and it can be easy to mess up.

Sometimes it feels like the outcome is out of your hands, or left up to chance and luck.

The best way to learn is through mistakes — but it is even better if the mistakes are not your own. I’ve lived all over campus.

From San Buen my first-year, crashing on multiple couches for extended periods of time in Manchester Village, then the Vistas my sophomore year, Pacific Ridge my junior year and — finally — off-campus housing my senior year. Through the years, I have definitely made my fair share of mistakes when choosing housing. So, below are some pieces of advice when choosing where to live.

DO: Start early.

DON’T: Wait until the last minute to look for housing.

Look, I get it. Housing in six months may not seem like a concern now, when midterms are coming up, you have a club event this weekend and a five-page paper due on Friday. But trust me, the sooner you start looking for housing, the more stress you save yourself in the future.

USD junior Lily Olson has been a desk worker in housing services for almost two years now and advises students to apply early.

“We always get calls during intersession [over summer] about people who didn’t submit their applications and desperately need housing for the next semester,” she said.

“I always feel bad when I can’t help, but there’s only a limited number of beds and so many people we can accommodate for.” The easiest way to reduce the risk of being denied oncampus housing is to get your application in on time. Even if you are only tentatively sure that you might want to live on campus, it is a good idea to have your application submitted as a backup plan.

If you’re considering offcampus housing, this holds true as well. Although it is possible to find last-minute housing, it is stressful and you’re likely to compromise your expectations just to get it done faster, as compensation for a lack of preparation.

For instance, my junior and senior year I found my housing over the summer. This meant sharing a one-bedroom apartment my junior year, and living in a house that was undergoing renovations for the first three months of my lease, during my senior year. Give yourself time, and start thinking now about what you want in your living situation next year.

DO: Talk to your roommates and establish clear expectations.

DON’T: Assume you will find everything you want in a place.

No doubt, you’ve heard the statistic released by the US News & World Report that San Diego is the most expensive city to live in in the U.S. With rent already higher than the national average, it is important to work with your roommates to establish clear expectations and boundaries for your future housing. Know what is negotiable and what is not: set limits for total expected rent, how to split rent, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, parking and amenities such as laundry or air conditioning.

Make sure all of you are on the same page from the beginning, to save yourselves from running into problems down the line.

Although that applies more to off-campus housing, communication between roommates is important when living on campus as well.

Do you each want your own rooms? Look for single-room layouts in Manchester or San Buen. Is parking a priority for all of you? Look for space

Students can now lease a Pacific Ridge apartment through USD.

Photo Courtesy of @pacificridgeapts /Instagram

in Manchester, which has its own parking garage. Do you all want to be in more social areas where you’re likely to run into friends? The open layouts of the Vistas and Pacific Ridge Apartments facilitate neighborly interactions as you walk between buildings in open air spaces. By doing this, you can make sure everyone is happy from the beginning — and if you disagree on something important, you have time to look for alternatives.

DO: Talk to previous tenants about their housing.

DON’T: Go in without seeing the property.

If you’ve gotten this far in this article, you’re already following this piece of advice.

Regardless of if you are living on or off campus, talk to people who have previously lived there. Upperclassmen can provide some inside tips about the buildings you’re interested in — which part you should live in, things to consider that you would never expect about the area and hidden perks or downfalls the housing option has to offer.

This is especially important for off-campus housing. My roommates and I essentially went in blind last year, leading

San Buenaventura offers amenities such as a putting green for residents.

Photo Courtesy of @usd_reslife /Instagram

to the fiasco that was my Fall 2023 semester. We did not know the right questions to ask, such as, “Are there any electrical issues you know about in this house? What is the landlord’s communication like? What is parking like?” Don’t assume that the landlord is going to tell you everything; they’re running a business, and it is in their best interest to withhold information that can be used to negotiate lower rent. Be careful of scams as well; I had friends who rented a ghost property — a listing that does not exist — my junior year, and it took them months

to get themselves situated in new housing while the semester was occurring. Be sure to also check if your off-campus apartment has the proper permits it needs to lease units.

Finding housing can be an arduous and intimidating process, especially the less experience that you have. If I can leave you with anything, it is to be open to any and all advice.

Your peers are and have been going through the same thing as you, and their advice can be indispensable. Remember: it is always more fun to learn from others’ mistakes than your own.

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

Volume 61 Issue 14

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OPINION

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The USD Vista

OPINION

The privilege of Americans abroad We should embrace different cultures and their insights

JACKIE MARQUEZ OPINION EDITOR Over intersession I studied abroad in Tokyo, Japan. As someone who can only speak English and a bit of Spanish, one of my biggest concerns about the trip was the language barrier. The idea of spending three weeks in a foreign country with no way to communicate with the locals was unnerving to say the least. So, in an attempt to prepare myself for my upcoming adventure, I frantically downloaded Duolingo.

About a month after I started my Japanese lessons, I touched down in Tokyo. After leaving the airport I stopped by a 7/11 to grab a quick snack; confident in the handful of phrases I learned, I greeted the cashier in Japanese. To my surprise, he greeted me in Japanese… and then started speaking to me in English.

As I interacted with more people abroad, it became increasingly obvious that a lot of locals knew some English.

In fact, many of them knew about American culture in general. If you studied abroad, you may have experienced something similar.

When it comes to going abroad, coming from a prominent Western country like the U.S. affords students like myself with many privileges.

As such, it’s important to recognize those advantages and consider what they can teach us about our own country and culture, too.

English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.

According to Ethnologue, a database focusing on world languages, Mandarin Chinese has the most native speakers, but English has the most speakers in total. Nearly 1.5 billion people speak English, and it is an officially spoken language in 88 countries and territories. English is also the most widely studied foreign language. According to the University of Winnipeg, there are 142 countries where English is a mandatory part of public school curriculum. Some of these countries include Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Germany, Italy, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, China, Japan and South Korea. Due to this, people with English as their native tongue can almost always find someone who speaks their language abroad.

In comparison to their global

counterparts, the U.S. is significantly behind in language education.

While the majority of countries start studying a foreign language, such as English, in Kindergarten through 6th grade, most American public school systems don’t require a foreign language until high school. In fact, according to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, barely 20% of Americans study a foreign language at the K-12 level. Rather than accepting this as the way things are, think about what it would be like if we treated learning a language the way that other countries do. Instead of relying on others to speak English, Americans could better learn a foreign language and interact with the culture in a more enriching way.

Not only do people in other countries know the U.S.’ predominant language, but they also know about our American culture. As I took the subway to class everyday, it wasn’t rare to see someone wearing San Diego Padres merch, nor was it rare to see U.S. politics on the news. One morning as I rode the Yamanote Line to class, the screens on the train were displaying coverage of Ron DeSantis dropping out of the U.S. presidential race.

While I consider myself well-read

Japanese news coverage of Ron DeSantis dropping out of the presidential race.

Jackie Marquez / The USD Vista

when it comes to news, I couldn’t tell you much about Japanese politics. Because the U.S. is a global superpower, our news cycle tends to overlook foreign politics, unless they directly relate to us. For example, Shinzo Abe, Japan’s former prime minister, was assassinated in 2022.

This was briefly mentioned in major news sources, but it didn’t make headlines for more than a day. In a sense, this fosters a false sense of nationalism and keeps Americans ignorant to foreign affairs. It feeds into a U.S.-centric worldview that erases the significance of other countries. Rather than accepting

this reality blindly, we should follow in the footsteps of other countries and be mindful of foreign affairs, even if they don’t “directly” affect us.

Ultimately, being from a western, English-speaking country directly impacts your experience in a foreign country. Almost everywhere you go, you can find someone who speaks your language or knows about your culture. As such, it’s important to be mindful of the privilege your American identity affords you. Rather than blindly accepting that you don’t have to know very much about other cultures, put in a little extra effort to build a deeper connection with them.

Welcome to the dark side

The importance of meeting your shadow self LILY ANDERSON ASST. OPINION EDITOR There are parts of yourself that you may not even realize exist. Parts that are dark, detrimental and even dangerous.

This concept is your “shadow self,” the aspects of your identity that you repress, knowingly or unknowingly. As hard as it may be, choosing to face your shadow self is one of the most beneficial steps in personal development, because it leads you closer to discovering your true form. If you avoid doing this, you may struggle with self-esteem, anxiety and a distorted sense of self, because your shadow will always find you and continue to remind you of the parts you ignore.

The concept of a shadow self was first clearly defined in 1945 by Carl Jung, who also founded analytical psychology.

His focus primarily concerned personality, archetypes (another term Jung coined) and the unconscious mind. In Jung’s model, “the shadow” stands alongside “the ego” as part of our identity. While the ego is often in charge of mediating our interactions with the outside world and how we show up in it, the contents of our shadow still make themselves known

through unconscious means, like our motivations and desires.

Many people may be unaware that this version of oneself exists below the surface, without a more profound analysis.

Though the shadow may appear strictly negative and worthy of repression, that is, separation from our identity, its potential for self-growth is a shining light.

This growth can be further found by exploring Jung’s “golden shadow” concept. Your golden shadow is the parts of yourself you don’t realize you have but lead to the most light.

Similarly to how your shadow contains all the traits and thoughts you have suppressed because of a fear of evilness, your golden shadow also includes suppressed aspects. However, they are positive and creative elements that you never should have suppressed in the first place. Through finding your golden shadow, you can reidentify your positive traits, unlock creativity and explore talents you forgot you had.

Connecting with your innate self and finding the gold within you is one of the many benefits of shifting through your shadow.

College is already a time full of discovery and hard work.

These years are an excellent opportunity to do honest reflection and find the pieces of

yourself that were hiding. This may not be what you planned to spend your time working on, but it could be the best decision you could make for yourself.

By breaking through your ego and entering your unconscious mind, you can access greater self-awareness, self-mastery and compassion. To begin this process, it is crucial to recognize the times that your shadow self is taking over.

This can include situations where you are judging others, pointing out your insecurities in other people, power tripping, playing the victim, stepping on others to reach success or refusing to acknowledge your biases and prejudices.

Often, when you feel hatred toward others, you hate the same attributes within yourself. By acknowledging the moments you partake in these actions, you can begin the real work: shadow work.

Shadow work falls under the umbrella of psychotherapy and is the primary way to reveal the part of the psyche that is being suppressed. The goal of shadow work is to combine the self with the shadow, so that it no longer represents shame and impulses and can be seen for its benefits instead.

The main types of shadow work include dream analysis, journaling, psychoanalysis and

sand tray therapy. Jung explains dream analysis is very important because of the symbols and themes presented for personal analysis. Applying Jung’s steps of analysis in your own life is a great way to reflect. Journaling is another way to tap into your unconsciousness and participate in self-exploration, especially by “free writing” and not starting out with expectations.

While more abstract, sand tray therapy is a way for people to transfer their inner lives and thoughts into something physical, an image often called a “mandala.” These images are usually symmetrical and circular, or whole, representing the unified personality after integrating the shadow.

Figurines can also be used to create a three-dimensional story. Psychoanalysis, a form of therapy, isn’t as accessible as the other types of shadow work, as it requires a professional.

However, it can deepen the level of interpretation.

Like many other personal growth skills, the idea of a shadow self was discovered by social media. In Sept. 2023, a book titled “The Shadow Work Journal” went viral on TikTok, though professionals have questioned its legitimacy. The journal above claimed to adhere to Jung’s methods, though it

is difficult to say what Jung would think. It is common for methods like this to become part of pop psychology and inform people of incorrect information.

As always, research any techniques you use to improve your mental health.

For questions and concerns regarding safe forms of mental health support, please visit the counseling center’s website to make an appointment or speak to a professional.

It may seem counterintuitive to spend so much time working on the part of yourself that is seen as “bad.” Jung challenges people with this view to remember instead that the shadow self is part of human nature, not an evil entity. By accepting the darker parts of yourself instead of pushing them away, you are becoming a better person — not worse. By owning this part of yourself, you are strengthening your individuality, practicing self-control and tapping into unlocked creativity. You are also preventing the shadow from coming in the back door and causing chaos unconsciously.

I challenge you to face your shadow head-on instead of running from it; who knows what discoveries this may lead to and what gold you might find.

Despite what you may think, the dark side isn’t always so bad.

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

Volume 61 Issue 14

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SPORTS

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11

The USD Vista

SPORTS

Toreros’ fast break

USD men’s basketball is playing competitively LAUREN CEBALLOS SPORTS EDITOR USD men’s basketball takes on the heat of their season with a winning streak of four games this season, as of Feb. 15. They also had other competitive wins against Northern Colorado in late November, ending with a score of 74-72 in favor of Toreros, and against Arizona State in early December, ending with a score of 89-84. Toreros have stacked up games within five points where Toreros pushed to overcome point deficits.

About half of the team’s roster are first-year athletes, with transfer student PJ Hayes joining the team for his senior season, and second-year Emmanuel Callas coming off the bench from injury recovery. With a larger amount of younger members, the team could be considered fresh and new. After their fair share of rotating injured players throughout the last few seasons and players coming off the bench from recovery, the Toreros have hit the ground running. Prior to the four game winning streak, Toreros beat both the University of Portland, Pepperdine and other teams.

The Toreros’ winning streak began at Santa Clara on Feb. 3, where Toreros walked away with a final score of 70-59.

That night, USD juniors Deuce Turner and Steven Jamerson II made notable contributions.

Turner had a game high of 23 points and his 15th double-digit point accumulation this season, while Jamerson earned his third consecutive double double: earning double digits in two statistical categories. His most recent one included 10 points and 10 rebounds, a team high.

With less than 15 minutes left in the game, Hayes tied the score with a foul on a three pointer, tying the score up to 41-41. The lead shifted, until around the 10 minute mark where Toreros were able to take the lead with Jamerson’s three pointer.

From there, the Toreros were able to make a 10-point gap, later scoring four more points from Turner’s free throws, ending the game at 70-59.

Hayes totaled 14 points that game against Santa Clara, and first-year athlete Kevin Patton Jr. was named WCC Player of the Week, scoring eight points and getting three blocks. USD junior Wayne McKinney III had five rebounds on defense and three steals throughout the game.

Head Coach Steve Lavin shared his thoughts on the game against Santa Clara with USD Athletics.

“In conference play, when you can knock off a team that’s in the upper half of the league — on their home floor — it’s an indication that you’re making

USD men’s basketball is set to play their next game at St. Mary’s on Saturday Feb. 24.

Photo courtesy of@usdmbb/Instagram

progress. Santa Clara is a quality team who’s beaten Gonzaga… so I’m proud of our players, not only to win this game tonight, but to win three out of four road games as the youngest team in school history. [The win] really bodes well, not only for the future this season, but beyond.”

The second winning game was against LMU. McKinney scored 24 points, had six rebounds and matched his career high with six assists, with two dunks in the first four minutes. Jamerson notched his fourth double double, having a game high of 11 rebounds and scoring 14 points, tying his season high of 35 minutes on the court and 86.1% shooting accuracy from the floor, according to USD Athletics. This win was the fourth in the last five games and the second in the streak, resulting in the 10th home win for Toreros this season.

Toreros came in hot with a 10-0 run against LMU. As the game progressed, USD went into the second half with a 13point lead. With a little over two minutes left in the game, the score was 68-59. Toreros were leading by 12 points, with 1:47 left and LMU pushed to close the gap, making it 71-67. In the final minute, Toreros won, 79-77, with

shots by Turner and McKinney.

Winning game three out of four was at Pacific, with a score of 89-84, thanks to a 13point comeback. In the first half, Toreros were down 13-26.

However, they powered through.

McKinney carried with a career high of 31 points throughout the game, joining Hayes and Turner in scoring 30 or more points a game in this season alone.

Jamerson added another double double to his record and scored a career high of 22 points and a team high of four assists. Turner scored 20 points, his sixth game tallying 20 points or more and 17th time hitting double digits.

Senior Deven Dahlke started closing the 13-point gap, with a three pointer that would get the Toreros back on their game.

McKinney tied the game 36-36 then first-year Jimmy Oladokun Jr. scored a layup, giving Toreros the lead 38-36. At half time, Toreros were up with a lead of 45-43. This game, Oladokun was able to total seven points, four rebounds, and three assists. In the second half, Toreros were up 56-55 and kept going up from there only allowing Pacific to get within five points of the Toreros but ultimately winning with a score of 89-84. Turner had two

steals throughout the game and Callas had a block.

“USD’s win at Pacific on Saturday night marked the 11th time this season that it has overcome at least a fivepoint deficit and won, and the seventh time in 2023-2024 that it has overcome a doubledigit deficit to earn a victory,” according to USD Athletics.

Toreros’ game against Portland took place on Feb. 15 at the Jenny Craig Pavilion (JCP) and was the fourth straight conference win. Earlier in the season, Toreros beat Portland 85-81 on Jan. 23 thanks to nine three pointers scored by Hayes, creating a program record. On the 15, the team came back from a 13 point deficit in the second half, ending the game 71-66. The team was draining their free throws, going eight for eight in the last two minutes, pulling through for the lead. During the game, Dragos Lungu, first-year guard, was working hard on defense, shuffling throughout the zone and helping aid in defense on the court. Patton had a career high of 13 points and Jamerson had four blocks, a new career high.

The team also made a season high of 11 steals at this game.

This is “the eighth time this season that USD has overcome a double-digit deficit and won,” according to USD Athletics, resulting in the sixth win out of seven games to date.

The streak was lost against Santa Clara on Feb. 17 at the JCP with the second most attendees in the stands at home this season. In the previous match up on Feb. 3, Toreros beat Santa Clara 70-59, the game that began the winning streak. Despite the losing score, Toreros had other wins that night. Turner scored 30 points for the second time this season with McKinney and Patton both scoring in the double digits, aiding the team.

Following Lungu’s effort on the defense in the previous game, Dahlke did the same, working the zone to the benefit of Toreros.

Toreros also ran down the shot clock for the Santa Clara Broncos, meaning that Toreros were able to keep the Broncos from getting a shot up within 30 seconds, on top of some forced turnovers.

Oladokun commented on his coach’s stance with the season and what the team is hoping for as they approach its end.

“Our coach said that we’re playing our best basketball toward the end of the season, and that’s good. So hopefully we can make a run. If we win the season tournament then we could be eligible for the NCAA tournament so that would be really cool,” Oladokun shared. “Other than that, we’re practicing hard and everybody’s really invested into it and I think we’re gonna have a really good team this year and next year too.”

Patton Jr. has earned his fourth WCC Freshman of the Week title as of Feb. 19. He expressed his feelings toward earning the awards and how the team’s season is going.

“I think the season is going pretty well so far. We’ve had some ups and downs but recently we’ve been coming around, winning some games.

Winning freshman of the week, it’s an honor, shoutout to my teammates because I couldn’t do it without them. Also winning games helps that so, I’m excited and looking forward to what else we can do,” Patton shared.

Patton also explained the games that the team has coming up for the rest of the season.

“I would just say that we’re getting better everyday. We have a big game this weekend against St. Mary’s and after that we have, I believe, LMU and Pacific so we’re looking to close the season out strong.”

USD men’s basketball has been working hard to stack up wins this season and is hoping to win in their upcoming games against St. Mary’s, LMU and Pacific, the last home game of the season on March 2 at JCP at 7 p.m.

12

The USD Vista

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February 22, 2024

Oliver Tarvet ranks third in the nation

USD tennis player shares his journey with finding his passion LAUREN CEBALLOS SPORTS EDITOR

USD tennis player Oliver Tarvet climbed the ranks to third in the nation according to ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) rankings.

Tarvet began playing tennis, among other sports, at a young age. His parents promoted the idea to stay fit and healthy, but it has grown to be so much more to him. Between cricket, soccer and tennis, Tarvet realized that tennis stood out to him the most and that he had a talent for it.

“I kind of just enjoyed tennis the most, I was probably the best at it. I was a little selfish, so I preferred individual sports.

I didn’t like relying on others…

I just enjoyed it... At that age, I didn’t really think about where it would take me. I was just enjoying the sport and everything that came along with it,” Tarvet said.

Tarvet was born and raised in England and found his way to the states when starting his collegiate career at USD. He is currently a sophomore and after living in the U.S. for a year and a half, he found the transition to be surprisingly smooth.

From friendly people, to their fascination with him being from Britain and the similarities between the U.S. and his home, Tarvet acclimated quickly.

“I didn’t find it too different.

I found that actually people were very welcoming and very friendly relative to England. I think people are a bit less friendly, a little more blunt [there]. And people here, they approach

you a lot more often, which doesn’t happen in England, and obviously being from Britain, people are kind of intrigued by you,” Tarvet explained.

Tarvet is one of two kids. He has a sister who he claims is the brains, and he is the brawn, in other words: the athlete. When deciding where to go to college, Tarvet found USD to be a balance between the two. He is currently studying Communication, but shared that if he wasn’t playing tennis and had more time, there is a possibility that he would have pursued being a doctor and earning a degree in biology, or that he might have pursued environmental science.

However, Tarvet realized at a young age that tennis was not just a sport, it gave him a purpose and he was ready to dedicate himself to it.

Around the age of 12, Tarvet decided to stop playing tennis because he was at a new school and wanted to be more involved with friends and other activities.

“I stopped for maybe a couple of weeks or so, but I realized that my life kind of didn’t have as much purpose, and I wasn’t getting the same fulfillment even at 12 or 13,” Tarvet said.

Deciding to play and listen to his heart, Tarvet found himself at USD, where he has earned recognition as 2023 ITA Southwest Region Rookie of the Year, 2023 WCC Freshman of the Year, 2023 All-WCC First Team (Singles), 2023 All-WCC Honorable Mention (Doubles with Stian Klaassen) and WCC Singles Player of the

Tarvet was ranked No.8 on Nov. 15 2023 and worked up to No.3.

Photo courtesy of @usd_tennis/Instagram

COMING UP THIS WEEK

USD SB vs Utah Friday, Feb. 23 8 p.m.

Palm Springs, CA

WBB vs Saint Mary’s Saturday, Feb. 24 2 p.m.

San Diego, CA

USD MBB at St. Mary’s Saturday, Feb. 24 7 p.m.

Moraga, CA

Tarvet views his ranking as just a number and finds passion in tennis, playing the game he loves.

Photo courtesy of @usd_tennis/Instagram

Week among other awards at the school and prior to USD. One of the most notable accolades for Tarvet is his career high as No. 3 in the nation for singles among the ITA rankings, as of Feb. 8, 2024. “It’s obviously good to be recognized nationally.

I always thought I was pretty good at tennis, and that was kind of confirming that I am one of the best players in college tennis. As much as I could be selfish and self-centered, I think it’s mainly down to my coaches and my team supporting me.”

Tarvet looked at the number and realized that it’s just that.

“It’s nice to be recognized, but as my coach says, it’s just a fancy number. Just because you’re three in the country doesn’t guarantee anything beyond... If anything, it makes people have a little bit more of a target on your back just because they want to beat you and they’ll get a lot of recognition for beating you,” Tarvet shared.

Tarvet uses this as ammunition to take on his opponents.

“I would say it almost motivates me, because I don’t want to give people the satisfaction of beating me. It’s nice to be

USD SB vs UCF Saturday, Feb. 24 7:30 p.m.

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recognized. It’s nice that people are congratulating me, but at the same time, it doesn’t really matter. Just because you have a ranking, it doesn’t give you an advantage in life. It doesn’t really change anything from what you do on a daily basis,” he expanded.

Tarvet explains that the way he has achieved his goals is through something a former teammate taught him.

“It’s just consistency. We do the same drills day in and day out. It’s just about making sure that you’re having a good day every single day and that you are mentally engaged.

You’re not slacking, you’re giving everything 100% and I think once you can do it on a day-to-day basis and have the consistency of just stacking good days on top of good days, you’re gonna have success,” Tarvet said.

Tarvet holds a humble stance toward his accomplishments and can be characterized as craving the competition that he is able to partake in on the court, bringing an energy and passion to the team and the matches that he plays.

“I’m a pretty competitive person, it’s what I’m known for amongst the team, being more

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vocal, a little bit louder. I enjoy the competitive element a bit and fighting for the same goal.”

With passion and excitement for the game, Tarvet has been able to not only learn the rules and the swing, but also an important life lesson.

“I think it just [reinforces] to me that in life if you do want something, it’s not going to come easily, and you’ve got to work hard for it because there are just a thousand other people that are trying to achieve the same thing as you… Not just for tennis, but in every field of life, every profession of life, life’s competitive and in order to achieve what you want to achieve, you have to outwork and outcompete people… you need to work hard in life otherwise you won’t get anywhere and others will.”

Oliver Tarvet found his purpose through tennis, and has been able to grow with it. His accomplishments are received with humility and his goal is to continue to work toward his goal of playing professional tennis with the help of his family, coaches, and teammates along the way.

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