Volume 61 Issue 20

THE USD VISTA

Some science majors are anxious about the marketable value of their degree, as they prepare for their future careers.

Though USD encourages a liberal arts curriculum to enable students to develop a multifaceted perspective on life, many students and faculty within the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) are questioning the practicality of “Bachelor of Arts” (BA) degrees for natural sciences majors, such as biology, chemistry and physics, as opposed to “Bachelor of Sciences” (BS) degrees.

Currently, CAS only provides the option for students to participate in either a BS pathway or a BA pathway in physics, biophysics and environmental and ocean sciences.

Beginning next fall, chemistry and biochemistry majors will be given the option of a Bachelor of Science pathway. However, the faculty in the biology and behavioral neuroscience majors have not yet provided proposals to get the ball rolling for a BS

in either of those disciplines.

Associate Dean Kristin Moran of CAS elaborated on the emerging pathways that will allow some students to choose between earning a BS or BA.

“This was a conversation that was primarily led by physics and environmental and ocean sciences, because there was some feeling that the courses that students were taking were lab heavy, so they aligned with a Bachelor of Science degree in a way that matched other peer institutions,” Moran said.

Moran expanded on how the two pathways came to be.

“The CAS did not have the BS option until a few years ago, and so we had to vote as faculty to create the BS option, and then once we voted to create the BS option, faculty had to create the curriculum to go along with that, so that took a minute. And then finally we were able to implement the BS and BA options for students.”

The concern about credentials for many faculty lies in the idea that a BA potentially hinders future career prospects, due to See BA/BS, Page 3

In 2023 Taylor Swift’s name became impossible to avoid.

Last year the artist re-recorded two albums, was named Time’s “Person of the Year,” embarked on a world tour and made countless headlines. Swift continued to take the media by storm in 2024 by announcing a new album at the Grammy’s in February.

On April 19, Swift released her 11th studio album “The Tortured Poets Department.”

The album dropped at midnight Eastern Time, with many fans waiting expectantly for the 16 new tracks to be released. However, fans were surprised with a “2 a.m. surprise” (or 11 p.m. for USD fans) when Swift announced that “The Tortured Poets Department” was a secret double album that contained an additional 15 tracks.

USD sophomore Lily Slakeoff was shocked by the surprise 2 a.m. drop.

“I was with my littles when we heard it was a double album, and we just screamed,” Slakeoff said. “I didn’t expect it.”

The full double album is named “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.”

USD sophomore Maya Merchant shared her views on Swift and Antonoff’s partnership.

“One thing I’ve heard a lot of people talk about is that

It consists of 31 songs and runs over two hours long. The album was produced by Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff who both share songwriting credits with Swift on multiple tracks. Swift and Antonoff have worked together since Swift’s fifth album “1989.” Unsurprisingly, many songs on “The Tortured Poets Department” are sonically similar to those Swift and Antonoff have previously worked on together.

USD raises tuition for 2024-25 Breaking down USD’s revenue and expenditures

USD students are well aware of the high cost that comes with living in San Diego, but students will soon encounter a new cost: increased tuition. Next year, USD’s tuition will cost $2,730 more than it did this year, according to the website www. sandiego.edu/one-stop/tuitionand-fees/undergraduate.php.

With housing and meal plan costs also rising, the total price students pay to attend USD could go up by $3,632 depending on the meal plan and housing style students choose. This number does not include the additional cost of $150 a semester that will be created when the new Wellness Center fee kicks in, which will likely be next spring semester.

Many USD students were not happy to hear about the tuition increase. USD junior Emma Rafael expressed her emotions on the topic.

“I think that’s bulls**t,” Rafael said. “They definitely don’t need to raise the tuition, because it’s already so expensive, [the

University has] more than enough money to do everything [they] could want to if [they] could just reallocate it to the proper places.”

USD junior Larissa Weiss shared similar sentiments about where students’ tuition money goes.

“It just seems like they aren’t budgeting our tuition well, and instead of fixing that, they just want to raise it more. That’s crazy,” Weiss said.

At an Associate Student Government (ASG) senate meeting on April 11, USD Assistant Vice President for Budget and Planning Marie Davis presented information on USD’s finances to ASG. Davis explained USD’s budget for the nearly complete 2023-2024 academic year.

In her presentation to ASG, Davis acknowledged the tuition increase next year, but explained that USD is competitively priced in comparison to its peer schools.

“We have tried to be very thoughtful with holding those increases as low as possible, while still remaining competitive against our peers and accounting for those inflation

created so expenditures and revenue were equal. However, in actuality, there is usually a difference between the numbers. Looking at the past two reported years, 2022 and 2023, can show how USD usually makes or loses money each year. A net operating income is the amount a company or organization makes after expenses are subtracted from revenue.

USD’s net operating income can be positive or negative, depending on the year. Katy Roig, USD’s Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer provided additional context on net operating income. These numbers do not include the money given by USD’s donors, because as Roig explained, donors can restrict where their money should be allocated, which is called donor restrictions. Roig explained the changes in the University’s assets, based on how much income USD made in the past few financial years (FY).

“For FY 2022, the increase in net assets from operations

was -$8.7 million,” Roig said.

This means that in FY 2022 USD made $6.1 million, but in FY 2023, there was a decrease of $8.7 million in net assets.

Roig explained where the money is directed when the University does make an income.

“When the University has a net increase in unrestricted net assets from operations, those resources are directed toward investment in academic priorities, capital projects or other one-time strategic initiatives,” Roig said.

Capital projects can consist of building or improving facilities. strategic initiatives are projects created by the school, such as USD’s “Recruiting and Retaining a Diverse Staff and Administration” plan.

Most USD students don’t pay the “sticker price” for tuition. According to USD’s website, over 78% of undergraduates receive some financial help. This includes need-based financial aid and scholarships.

New science pathway created for chem and biochem Students discuss the career value of their degrees

From BA/BS, Page 1 the number of students from other schools who are competing for the same jobs.

“It really came down to the fact that students were graduating really well-prepared, but when they were applying for jobs, the faculty that made the proposals felt that they [students] were at a disadvantage, even though they were taking the same classes as someone who graduated from a different university with a BS,” Moran stated. “We wanted to align both with what employers were expecting and also what accurately described the work our students were doing.”

One student expressed her concern for the current system at a recent Associated Student Government (ASG) meeting.

On Feb. 29, commuter senator and junior Aann Alkhori expressed that natural science majors are frustrated that they are receiving their degrees as a Bachelor of Arts rather than a Bachelor of Science

Dr. Michael Lovette-Colyer, Vice President of Mission Integration, responded to this concern explaining that changes are being made to address this issue.

“There is a committee of the Board [of Trustees] called the Academic Affairs Committee, and they’re addressing this very issue,” Lovette-Colyer noted. “We fully expect that they will approve the change to a Bachelor

of Science in at least some of these disciplines… Progress is happening as we speak.”

Alkhori explained her reasoning behind bringing the issue to the floor.

“As a student majoring in the natural sciences, we have a very rigorous work and degree load,” Alkhori said.

“We are required to take many science-heavy courses that are the more advanced versions of similar courses offered. We have no problem completing the courses, but because they are much more rigorous and advanced, we believe that we should at least be able to graduate with a Bachelor of Science.”

Alkhori highlighted why the distinction between BA and BS matters.

“When we graduate, we may come across some issues,” Alkhori said. “For example, it can be very difficult to not get filtered out in a job application, because our application does not say ‘BS,’ although our degree is equivalent to such.”

Alkhori also stated that the distinction between a BA and a BS degree should be reflected by the course load that’s required to obtain the degree.

“I, along with many students majoring in the natural sciences, respect and appreciate that USD is a liberal arts institution,”

Alkhori explained. “It would be a great idea if we could pick to pursue a BA, or a BS, or both

as we already have simple and advanced versions of many classes. Perhaps students wanting to pursue a BA in the natural sciences may take more diverse classes with interdisciplinary subjects, rather than the main rigorous science courses.”

As a biology major and soon-to-be graduate, USD senior Carina Leveroni shared her thoughts on this issue.

“I definitely support having a Bachelor of Science option, because it does prepare us a lot better to go into the field. BA is really useful, and I love taking all

my core curriculum classes, but to go into a STEM career … a BS just gives you better support. When you’re applying to jobs, seeing that you have a BS gives you that leg up, so I definitely think it would be a positive thing to have.”

Leveroni explained her confusion about the lack of initiative in the biology department for the option of a BS pathway.

“Within biology, there are a lot of technical lab skills you are developing, there are a lot of different science techniques that you are doing,

and especially because we are in the Shiley Center for Science and Technology I feel like we would earn a Bachelor of Science degree as well,” Leveroni said.

“I can see in interviews that people are coming from bigger universities where they are getting a Bachelor of Science,” Leveroni said. “That initial readthrough might give those students a little bit of a leg up.”

BS pathways for chemistry and biochemistry will be offered starting next fall, but for biology and behavioral neuroscience, the timeline is unknown.

Next fall, students majoring in chemistry and biochemistry will be able to choose to pursue a BA or a BS. Photo courtesy of @_louisreed/Unsplash

OPINION

Stop the stigma around STIs

One in five Americans has a sexually transmitted infection (STI) at any given moment, according to the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) latest estimate. That means about 20% of the population has likely experienced, or is currently experiencing, the stigma around STIs. They may have been treated negatively by others or felt a self-imposed sense of shame, simply because of a bacterial or viral infection they caught.

During sex ed., many of us were taught that STIs make a person “dirty” or “dangerous.” As such, the majority of our conversations around STIs discuss them in a negative light, rather than in an openminded way that creates a safe-space for people to talk about the truth. Of course, catching an STI certainly isn’t a positive thing. However, this negative stigmatization of STIs actually enables their spread by discouraging people from getting tested, and it actively harms the mental health of people who contract STIs. Because of this, we must change the way we approach STIs as a society. Rather than treating STIs like some immoral curse that people get for having sex, we should treat STIs like any other infection.

There’s a misconception that stigmatizing STIs will discourage people from spreading them. It suggests that shame has a preventative effect; if having an STI is socially unacceptable, then people will practice safer sex and get tested more frequently, to avoid contracting one. Unfortunately, reality doesn’t align with this “logic.” According to a study on STI stigmatization published in the National Library of Medicine, social stigma actually acts as a barrier to STI testing and treatment. This is especially problematic for college students. According to a different study published by the National Library of Medicine, most 15-25 year olds have never gotten an STI test. This age group also has the highest number of reported cases of STIs, yet they avoid testing and treatment for reasons associated with the stigmatization of STIs. For

example, a positive diagnosis requires the risk of rejection by their partner(s), further treatment and also the mental stress of dealing with an STI, so some people would rather not know their status; as the saying goes, “ignorance is bliss.”

This social barrier posed by stigmatization is incredibly dangerous, because STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can all be asymptomatic. Regular STI testing — even if some symptoms don’t show — is not the norm.

By pushing people away from regular STI testing, our social stigma prevents people from knowing whether or not they’re putting their partners at risk. Plus, it delays them from getting time-sensitive treatment that can help get rid of or manage the infection.

Ultimately, the stigma around STIs discourages people from getting tested, and this enables the spread of STI by allowing asymptomatic infections to go unnoticed and untreated.

Beyond harming physical health, the stigma around STIs

also harms people’s mental health. Oftentimes when people are diagnosed, they feel guilty, shocked, ashamed or scared. These emotions are fairly unique to STIs; you don’t feel them when you catch a virus like the flu, so why do you feel that way after catching an STI? Unsurprisingly, it comes back to stigmatization. The negative reactions that people often receive in response to sharing about their STI are the result of the way that our society talks and jokes about STIs. These kinds of reactions prompt individuals who have contracted STIs to self-isolate. They fear it will change or diminish their ability to connect with others. Out of fear of being judged, they may keep their diagnoses to themselves and bottle up their emotions. This can lead to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. In some cases, it can even lead to suicidal thoughts. According to Planned Parenthood, 36% of people diagnosed with herpes develop suicidal ideation. Because of this, it’s important that we change the way we refer

to STIs. Rather than avoiding conversation about them or turning them into the punchline of a joke, it’s important that we support people who catch STIs and treat them with dignity.

Of course, there are always going to be those who resist conversations about STIs for different reasons. Whether it’s the reality of having an STI, the stigma that surrounds it or the fear of rejection based on testing positive, being nervous is completely understandable.

Professional obstetrician and gynecologist (OB/GYN), Dr. Jen Gunter described why conversations with her patients about STIs can be particularly difficult, in an oped for The New York Times.

“I think people contact me directly because they don’t have access to health care, because they are embarrassed and think [erroneously] they are the only ones to experience such a misadventure, because they worry their providers will be judgmental [sadly, this is not uncommon], because there is so much misinformation online that it is hard to separate the

good from the bad, or simply because they’re really scared and it’s 3 a.m. and just maybe I’ll answer,” Gunter wrote.

Talking with your doctor about STIs can be nervewracking, but it’s also the best way to get reliable information. Even though there are plenty of online resources and studies on the topic, it can be incredibly overwhelming to sort through them on your own. Including your provider in face-to-face conversations about your sexual health also helps humanize the issue of STIs. Just like with any other reason to visit the doctor, you can work through it together. Another reason that we need to destigmatize STIs is because of the role they play in consent. At the end of the day, there is always a risk of passing an STI when you have sex, so knowing your status is a key part of giving your partner the ability to fully consent. While testing before and after sexual interaction with a new partner is recommended, both parties should be allowed to make the decision whether they care about that or not.

The key part to these conversations is choice, and that means talking openly and honestly with each other about the risks involved in what you’re doing. Here in California, the state legislature takes this aspect of consent very seriously. Under Health and Safety Code 120290, knowingly transmitting an STI to someone without informing them of your status can open you up to a civil lawsuit on their behalf. While this might seem scary at first, in reality, it serves as a protection for those who value informed consent and may be taken advantage of.

While having conversations about STIs can seem like a big ask, especially with someone you’ve just met, it is certainly preferable to finding out they may have given you something besides a great time last night. In the event that you were one of the many people to test positive, it is not a reflection of your value as a person nor as a sexual partner.

Societal stigma would have you believe that you might never have sex a gain, but in reality, even for those individuals with STIs that are present for life, a healthy and happy sex life is possible, as long as they are willing to have conversations with their partners openly, honestly and frequently.

JACKIE

The Student Health Center provides testing for a variety of STIs; prices vary based on what type of insurance students have.

Emma-Kate Squires/The USD Vista

SPENCER

TW: Mentions of body dysmorphia

“Drop your lbs, not our weights.” That’s the sign I found, as I was stretching in Pacific Ridge’s gym. I looked up at the mirror and noticed this massive slogan plastered on it. It’s pretty hard to miss, because it is at least five feet wide. At that moment, I decided I had finished my workout. I was angry. First, I’m at the gym to gain muscle, not lose weight., I don’t want or need my apartment complex to remind me of my own insecurities and society’s weight loss agenda.

Weight loss propaganda is around us everywhere. With the rise of Ozempic and “diet talk,” pursuing thinness by all means and costs necessary has become a societal norm. Once the temperature rises and summer break creeps closer, another harmful weightloss concept begins to loom overhead: the “bikini body.”

The idea of a bikini body, popularized by decades of advertising and media portrayal, strengthens harmful beauty standards that promote unrealistic ideals. It contributes to widespread body dissatisfaction and reinforces a culture of exclusivity in the fashion and fitness industries.

The bikini itself first emerged in 1946, created by French designers Jacques Heim and Louis Reard. Many cities banned bikinis from beaches because people found their small amount of coverage highly controversial. In the 1960s, the bikini made its way to the U.S. Since then, the style has been a go-to for many people.

It wasn’t until 1961 that the term “bikini body” was coined in the way we think about it today. An ad campaign by a chain of weight-loss salons known as Slenderella International appeared everywhere. One of Slenderella’s advertisements, which appeared in news sources such as the New York Times and the Washington Post, proclaimed: “Summer’s wonderful fun is for those who look young. High firm bust, hand span waist, trim, firm hips, slender graceful legs — a Bikini body!”

Since 1961, little has changed. In 2014, Australian fitness guru Kayla Itsines launched the “Bikini Body Guide,” a workout program that promised to slim you down for

OPINION

Banning the bikini body

summer. This program took the world by storm, catapulting her to fitness fame and spurring the launch of the “Sweat with Kayla” app in 2015. The app quickly soared to the top spot in the App Store in 142 countries within its first year of release.

When I was around 13 years old, I discovered the app on Pinterest through screenshots of the workouts that users posted so people could follow it for free.

I rapidly compiled all the different screenshots onto a Pinterest board and decided to

follow this plan. It was meant to be done at home and didn’t require much equipment. I thought this would be the solution — I would finally feel confident in a swimsuit.

Now, this isn’t Itsines’ fault; it is a combination of many factors, but that was the moment when I became aware that society expected women to look a certain way in a swimsuit. Since then, reminding myself that I should feel comfortable in my skin — regardless of what I look like — has become something I practice daily.

12 years later, Itsines changed the name of her infamous program to “High Intensity with Kayla” to promote a more bodypositive approach to fitness.

Itsines isn’t the only one who noticed that the trends are changing. In 2015, Target launched its attempt at bodypositive swimwear with the “Target Loves Every Body” campaign. This campaign, which featured five women of different sizes wearing all styles of swimsuits, was well received. As far as I can remember, this

was one of the earlier positive attempts at providing swimsuits for all different types of bodies.

A quick search on Target’s current website does not reflect this same message. When I went online to look at the swimsuits in stock at the Mission Valley Target, I didn’t see a model wearing anything larger than a size small or medium until page nine of the results. Worse yet, they marketed most swimsuits for larger sizes with labels like “tummy control” or “full coverage.” On top of this, most of Target’s swimsuit designs only go up to size XL. If buyers want a larger size, they must buy separate designs offered in 1X-3X sizes.

I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t seem very inclusive to me. As someone with thin privilege, I already have to size up in Target swimsuits. I can’t imagine how frustrating it might be to find swimsuits at Target if you aren’t a size small, medium or large.

Luckily, there are other brands that do a better job of catering to all body shapes and sizes. Summersalt, a company that bases the fit of their products off the measurements of 10,000 different women, offers all styles of swimsuits in sizes XXS-3XL. Brands such as CUUP base their top sizes off of bra sizes, and provide up to a 44H. In the last few years — while there is still an incredible amount of room for improvement — the overall discussion around body positivity has increased.

I hope that one day, we can truly get rid of the idea of a “bikini body” and the pressure to get “summer-ready.” Moving forward, I also hope that brands can stay true to their promises of inclusivity and that representation of different bodies continues to increase.

I feel for my younger self and women worldwide who feel scared to wear what they want, because of society’s messages about how we should look. The “bikini body” isn’t achievable for everybody. People carry weight differently and fall naturally within certain sizes. Being comfortable in your skin is easier said than done, but it is far from impossible. By giving yourself grace and choosing to radically accept your body for what it is, you can empower both yourself and other people.

The best body for a bikini is a happy and healthy body, regardless of the size on the swimsuit label.

Summersalt creates their sizes with 10,000 different women’s body sizes, rather than limiting sizes up to XL.

Photo courtesy of @summersalt/Instagram

CUUP is a brand that bases their bikini top sizes on bra sizes, providing sizes up to 44H.

Photo courtesy of @cuup/Instagram

‘What is’... Andy Tirrell?

the world MADISON

From this past December and January’s “Jeopardy!” sequence, you might recognize associate professor of Political Science and International Relations, director of the graduate program of International Relations and associate professor of USD Law School, Dr. Andrew Tirrell. Also known by his friends as Andy, Tirrell is a man of many titles. He’s represented numerous individuals in civil and human rights cases, married a fellow USD professor Dr. Sara Hasselbach and — most recently — received recognition as a three-time “Jeopardy!” winner.

Tirrell’s passion for civil rights began with the observations he made going to middle school and high school in northern rural Florida. Originally from Boston, Tirrell and his single mother moved to a low-income area of Florida where his mother worked as a public school teacher to get her student loans forgiven.

There, he noticed the obvious segregation between white and Black communities.

“There were almost no Black students in the honors classes and Advanced Placement (AP) classes,” Tirrell said. “Thinking back, that made me interested in education law and race, because I saw a high school that never thought to identify Black students to try an honors or AP class I always had that in the back of my mind, and I knew that my high school was shaping lives and feeding into the persistent segregation in my town.”

Tirrell’s recognition of these inequalities in the education system came full circle, when he took a 75% pay cut from his corporate law job to work for a civil rights organization. The clients he represented were students from marginalized communities with various learning disabilities, often resulting in discrimination from the public school system. Tirrell cited that these students were not receiving the support they needed and graduating at much lower rates compared to their wealthier and whiter counterparts, who generally have greater access to academic services.

One case that stuck out to Tirrell was about a 14-yearold boy who was stuck at a second-grade reading level for years. As a low-income child immigrant from Brazil, Tirrell’s client was assumed to be a lowperforming and illiterate student.

“The truth came out that he actually had an IQ of around 140, and he was just dyslexic. Had he been in a wealthier school or neighborhood, or been white and had English as his native language, it would have been quickly identified,” Tirrell asserted.

The Individuals with

Disabilities Education Act is a federal law which holds schools responsible for identifying educational disabilities and providing reasonable services that would help the student overcome those challenges. Under this legislation, Tirrell was able to acquire support for this student to get him up to grade level, so he could graduate from high school.

Now, over 15 years later, Tirrell still wonders where this former client may have ended up.

“Unfortunately, I lost touch with him after that. I’ve been actually trying to find him, I keep reaching out to people with his name and finding it’s not him. I don’t know what happened after that, but I do know that even after he started getting help with reading and was able to do well with school, he never thought of himself as someone who was smart, which is incredibly sad,” Tirrell expressed.

Tirrell’s own experiences with attention deficit disorder (ADD) allowed him to personally identify with his clients, but it also helped him understand what he calls the “neurotype” that served him in his recent “Jeopardy!” streak. Having been undiagnosed in middle school, young Tirrell was a regional champion and state competitor in the Florida Geography Bee, despite having a D in Social Studies at the time.

“‘Jeopardy!’ caters to a particular neurotype. It’s not about being smart, because there are lots of ways to be smart… It’s about having a really sticky brain, where you see something and hear it and you’re not even trying… People are just built differently and ‘Jeopardy!’ rewards those kinds of things,” Tirrell discussed.

In addition to the monetary reward, champion status and local media attention, Tirrell recalls the best part of appearing on the renowned trivia game-

show “Jeopardy!” as the community of like-minded friends he made, while competing against the other contestants.

“It’s like nerd summer camp. You’re at a hotel together for a week, you’re hanging out at the studio waiting to go on. You joke around and get to know each other very well… We still chat every day; we have a Discord that’s been constantly going about a hundred messages a day,” Tirrell explained.

Tirrell was even shouted out by “Jeopardy!” contestant Ike

Barinholtz, actor and comedian of the TV series “The Mindy Project,” in an interview by Vulture.

Along with the “Jeopardy!” family Tirrell made on the show, he has his own family here at USD.

English majors or visitors to the USD Writing Center may be familiar with Dr. Sara Hasselbach, but may not know that she is married and has a five-year-old son with Dr. Tirrell. Before both becoming USD professors in 2015, the two met in New York, where they pursued their higher academic

degrees at Tufts University.

“She reached out to me and she didn’t even introduce herself or anything. She just challenged me to a word game. She asked me to come up with a word that includes every vowel,” Tirrell reminisced, fondly. “Audiometry” was the word that originated these two young students’ wouldbe future marriage and family.

Before meeting Hasselbach, Tirrell had recently quit his high-paying clerk job at a corporate law firm in New York.

“For a lot of people in the New York dating market, if you said you were at a law firm, and now getting a new job and taking a 75% pay cut to work at a civil rights organization, [they] would not be as interested.

But [Hasselbach] was 100% ‘I think you should do that.’ We were very poor,” Tirrell laughed.

Andy Tirrell discovered himself in many unique corners of the professional and academic sector, the U.S. and the world.

Through his education and experiences, he hopes to continue to instill inspiration into his students and those around him.

“I’m reflecting on what I’ve learned from all this, and I think the thing I’ve learned the most is how important it is to find your place… It’s okay to just explore. Life is a process of trial and error — and I don’t like the word error — of trial, to figure out what works for you, what makes you happy,” Tirrell stated.

Tirrell returning to ‘Jeopardy!’ for their ‘Champions Wildcard Tournament’ in January with host Ken Jennings.

Photo courtesy of @usdcas/Instagram

Tirrell and his wife Dr. Sara Hasselbach enjoying a day at the beach.

Photo courtesy of Sara Hasselbach

ARTS & CULTUREFEATURE

Professor Sara Hasselbach’s journey

How she became a USD professor and Writing Center Director

At USD, Dr. Sara Elizabeth Hasselbach is a proud and passionate professor in the English department and the director of the university’s Writing Center.

Professor Hasselbach was born amid a snowstorm in Atlanta, Georgia. Even though the circumstances of her birth were somewhat unsettling, Hasselbach found herself embraced by a caring family, which included her mother, father and older brother. The complexity of their family dynamics became a prominent theme throughout her life, especially as her family navigated divorce and remarriage. Following these changes, Professor Hasselbach was able to deepen a number of familial bonds.

When Hasselbach would feel overwhelmed or needed to vent out any negative energy, her mother was able to handle her emotions and help calm her down. Hasselbach also shared an incredible friendship with her cousin, Mary. Early on in their childhood, Hasselbach and Mary set the foundations for their friendship through handwritten letters. These letters, while having only simple questions, were simultaneously profound as they became the medium in which they understood each other more deeply.

“This was before the internet and you could tell that our parents were helping us write them, because we didn’t know how to do something like that. I still have hers, and they say things like ‘what bands do you like? I like The Fugees.’

Whenever she said something she liked or did, she would ask me about it. And it was just nice to have this correspondence,” Hasselbach remarked.

At every opportunity, Hasselbach and Mary would have discussions on artistic matters, whether it was novels, literary classics or theater productions. She specifically recalled a memory in which they had just finished watching Johnathan Larson’s rock musical, “Rent,” and afterward, ran around the city singing the production’s iconic songs. They were sure to have more memories like this, as they were constantly absorbed in each other’s company.

“It’s funny [because] my cousin and I, we often say we think we would be friends even without being family. No matter what, we would probably get along. But I guess you never know for sure because of all the invisible forces that influence our lives,” Hasselbach mused. This sentiment held true, even as the currents of her life carried her from place to place. This was due to her father’s career as an airline mechanic — a job that required him to relocate twice. They moved to the cultural melting pot of Miami, where she attended Catholic school for primary education, and then to the serene beaches of Fort Lauderdale, where she completed high school.

With each introduction to a new environment, Hasselbach not only maintained her close relationship with Mary, but was also introduced to new cultures and people who helped broaden her worldview and embrace new perspectives. Eventually, Hasselbach’s journey led her to the heart of

New York city where alongside Mary, she delved into the rich worlds of English and Italian literature at Barnard College.

“New York was a thrilling place to be in. It was really culturally diverse compared to places I had been before, so that was nice. The college, it’s a women’s college, so there was a lot of focus on gender equality issues, and that was refreshing to be around. [It was] a bunch of people who agreed it was an issue and acknowledged it. It was supportive and nurturing. I felt like I had the sisterhood and college experience I was always looking for,” Hasselbach reminisced.

After four years of hard work and receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree, Hasselbach’s career took an intriguing turn toward the realm of academic publishing. Her enduring passion for literature led her to the Modern Language Association (MLA), where she established friendships with her coworkers and delved into critical work on academic articles.

After her rewarding experience working at MLA, Hasselbach committed to becoming an English professor, driven not only by her passion for literature, but more specifically, her love of being part of the transformative process.

Currently, while working at USD, Hasselbach’s focus in teaching is to enhance student abilities in critical writing, close reading and appreciation for reading in general.

“I love helping students figure out ideas and how to read and how to connect with stories. And it’s so much about, behavior and analyzing systems. Just helping students encounter those

stories, help them see things differently, and open them to new perspectives. It’s really wonderful when you see them have their ‘eureka’ moment. I want students to eventually find the ideas themselves, by giving them the tools to do so,” Hasselbach said.

Besides her initial educational aspirations, Hasselbach was also given the opportunity to further spread her guidance at USD’s Writing Center. She has been its director for the past two years and in this role, she works with students to offer productive writing workshops. While Hasselbach has always had a love for literature, she understands that the disciplines of reading and writing are not necessarily attractive for everyone else, as some students find writing to be tedious and difficult. Professor Hasselbach, along with her staff, strive to change that notion through the resources offered by their Writing Center.

“The whole point is to make students feel comfortable and navigate through that hierarchy, because they [the Writing Center staff] are experts in writing, but they don’t want students to feel like they are not on an even playing field. That doesn’t mean they’ll just write your papers for you though — their job is to help you through the process so you can become an expert yourself. They’re peers. And they’re the kindest group of people,” Hasselbach shared.

In this capacity, through her combined position as a professor and provider of these writing services, Hasselbach has been able to integrate her goals of increasing students’ literary abilities and make it a

more enjoyable experience. She has also become increasingly attached toward her job and the staff of the Writing Center, going as far as to call them her second family, while she makes it absolutely clear that she holds them to a high standard, adoring each of them for who they are.

“They are this amazing collection of people that are sensitive listeners and astute critical thinkers, and they care. I’m really lucky to have this position. I didn’t realize that there’s this whole part of my heart that opened to this other space — the Writing Center and these people. There’s really nothing that I want more. I think this is it, right here. I’m so happy here and I can’t imagine going somewhere else — getting this somewhere else and having these students somewhere else,” Hasselbach reflected.

Outside her found family at the university, Hasselbach is also fortunate to have her own created family. She has been married to her husband, Andrew Tirrell, for almost 13 years. Dr. Tirrell is also a professor at USD, who teaches courses in political science and is a pre-law advisor as well. Together, the couple navigate the world of parenthood, taking care of their son, who Hasselbach affectionately refers to as a “little monster.”

This blend of personal and professional fulfillment captures the essence of Hasselbach’s journey, revealing a life that has been filled with passion, purpose and human connections. She has found her calling in education, and through the bonds she has nurtured with colleagues and students alike, she continues to fall in love with her job every day.

Professor Hasselbach attending her cousin Mary Ellen’s wedding.

Photo courtesy of Sara Hasselbach

Hasselbach stands next to the statue of John Donne, her favorite writer.

Photo courtesy of Sara Hasselbach

ARTS & CULTURE

The ups and downs of situationships

‘The Tortured Poets Department’

An honest review of the double album from a Taylor Swift fan

From TTPD, page 1

she needs to cut ties with Jack Antonoff, and she needs to explore some other production sounds before it all starts sounding the exact same,” Merchant said. “I don’t know if she needs to cut ties... it all starts sort of sounding similar or is written in very similar ways, and it’s all being released at the same time… you got to at least make sure that there’s quite a bit of variability for your audience.”

The lyrics from “The Tortured Poets Department” appear to be deeply personal. From the second line of the first song, “I was a functioning alcoholic / Till nobody noticed my new aesthetic,” to a line in the last track, “he said that if the sex was half as good as the / conversation was / soon they’d be pushin’ strollers,” Swift poured her melancholy and emotions into the album.

The album opener and first single “Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)” is a slow duet with a steady beat. The chorus contains the line “I love you, it’s ruining my life,” which was used in promotion for the album and exemplified the theme of heartbreak throughout

the album. Post Malone fans were disappointed to hear that the artist did not receive his own verse on the track.

Florence + The Machine is the only other artist featured on the album. Track eight, “Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine)” is a narrative song, reminiscent of “no body, no crime (feat. HAIM)” on Swift’s ninth album “Evermore.” The upbeat and catchy song tells the story of two characters who escape their respective problems by moving to Florida.

Swift’s relationships have been heavily featured in the media. Many fans believe that “The Tortured Poets Department” alludes to the three relationships that Swift has been publically seen in within the past two years.

Swift’s breakup with English actor Joe Alwyn, her long-term boyfriend of six years, was reported in April 2023 and seems to be heavily mentioned through the album. The relationship is most directly referenced in the fifth track “So Long, London,” which contrasts the song “London Boy” on Swift’s seventh album “Lover.” Track 13, “I Can Do it With a Broken Heart” combines both

the depressing lyrics and catchy pop that Swift is known for. Swift sings, “all the pieces of me shattered as the crowd was chanting, ‘more’.” The upbeat but heartbreaking track reveals the pain that Swift struggled through, while simultaneously performing her record-breaking “Eras Tour” and dealing with a breakup. After Swift and Alywn’s breakup, Swift was seen publicly dating Matty Healy, the lead singer of the band The 1975. Many fans also believe that Healy is referenced in breakup songs throughout the album.

Despite the mainly melancholy tone of the album, “The Tortured Poets Department” does feature some love songs. Swift’s relationship with The Chiefs’ quarterback Travis Kelce grabbed the attention of Swifties and football fans alike. Track 15, “The Alchemy” is full of sports references: “trying to be the greatest in the league, where’s the trophy, he just comes running over to me,” which nods to Swift’s appearances at Kelce’s NFL games. Another love song, track 22, “So High School” has the tone and sound of Taylor Swift’s signature all-American love songs.

While love and breakups are

heavily featured in the album, many other themes arise across “The Tortured Poets Department.” True to the name, the album is ripe with literary references. Track 27, “Cassandra,” is a slow melodic song that references the Greek myth of Cassandra, the Trojan priestess who prophesied the fall of Troy, but was not believed. Track 23, “I Hate it Here,” mentions escaping to a secret garden, a reference to the 1911 book “The Secret Garden.”

Along with literary references, “The Tortured Poets Department” contains many pop references and name drops. Track two, the album’s title track, names Patti Smith, a 1970s singersongwriter, and Dylan Thomas, an early 1900s poet. This track also name-drops singer Charlie Puth. In total, the album contains six songs with names as the titles, (“Robin,” “Peter,” “Cassandra,” “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus,” “thanK you alMee” and “Clara Bow.”) On social media, many fans have theories about who these names refer to.

Although usually eloquent, Swift has some lines in “The Tortured Poets Department,” that feel awkward and out of place.

Track 23 “I Hate it Here” contains the line “We would pick a decade / We wished we could live in instead of this / I’d say the 1830s, but without all the racists / and getting married off for the highest bid / Everyone would look down ‘cause it wasn’t fun now / Seems like it was never even fun back then / Nostalgia is a mind’s trick.” The lines not only sounds clumsy but has also faced backlash over its perceived insensitivity.

Merchant shared her views on the controversial lyric.

“I’ve never found Taylor Swift to be all that racially progressive or progressive around gender either. So I think it’s a little bit unique,” Merchant said. “It just comes off in such an odd way. It doesn’t land in the way I think she wants it to land.”

While some fans have expressed disappointment with specific songs or lyrics, Swift’s enthusiastic fan base made the album an instant success. On the first day of the album’s release, Swift became the most streamed artist in a single day on Spotify. On X, Spotify said that “The Tortured Poets Department” was streamed on Spotify a record 300 million times on April 19.

A still from Swift’s most recent music video for ‘Fortnight (feat. Post Malone).’ Photo courtesy of @Taylor Swift/YouTube Swift’s Instagram post revealed the release date and theme for ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’

Photo courtesy of @taylorswift/Instagram

‘Monkey Man’ beats all odds

Dev Patel’s directorial debut revives the action genre

SATVIKA NITYA ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

It is rare to hear that an action film has made people feel connected, represented and emotional because of the genre’s stereotypical bend toward violence and thrill. But, Dev Patel’s directorial debut “Monkey Man” received a standing ovation at the South by Southwest film festival, along with its current second place in the box office after theatrical release.

Through broken bones, eye

still feel connected to the story.”

The movie also covers a wide range of political and social issues in its undertones. Patel ties in themes prevalent in India’s social climate like religious persecution, political divisions, caste systems, violence against women and police corruption. The world of “Monkey Man” is so closely tied to reality that India’s Central Board of Film Certification has flagged down the movie and staggered its release in India, fearing the effect it may have on the sentiments of the Indian audience. But, whether you have knowledge

fields from different countries.

USD senior Sarah Sanchez watched the movie in theaters this past weekend and talked about her reaction to the movie.

“I loved it and it was surprising for me because I’m not an action girl,” Sanchez said. “It just goes to show how good the movie is. I just felt really connected to the main character. I felt like his ride or die and wanted him to succeed and was rooting for him the entire time. I was captivated.”

Nothing about the process of making this movie was smooth

help mend the break could not bear more than one pound of weight put on it, but since Patel did not want to delay the making of the film any longer, he persevered and continued shooting, changing the entire fight choreography to one-handed sequences.

Closing borders also meant the lack of props and equipment for “Monkey Man.” So, when there were camera malfunctions, everything from makeshift camera equipment tied to ropes to act as pendulums to iPhones and go-pros were used for filming. With the

adapt, persevere and continue to grow as a filmmaker. And this film has gone through a lot.”

Throughout the ordeals that Patel faced making this film, his passion for the project is what drove the film to completion. In an interview with Kelly Clarkson, Patel shared how growing up in London, he had felt ashamed of his Indian heritage, and once he started acting in movies like “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Lion,” he got more in touch with his culture. Patel always loved action films, but the only roles he was offered in

want to look away. However, the gore feels justified, because of the movie’s strong connection to flashbacks and origin stories. Patel gradually builds the motive behind Kid’s turn to violence, before finally revealing the ghastly atrocities he witnesses as a kid that lend a hand in the revenge arc.

USD senior Hasan Iqbal kept up with the making of the movie and was excited to see it. He talked about his reaction to watching the movie.

“I feel like this movie had a lot of heart in it which is what is lacking from other mainstream films these days,” Iqbal said. “Usually the climax of bigger movies is this giant CGI fight where you don’t really know what’s happening except who the good guys are. [Monkey Man] is a smaller and more focused story. The storytelling was very proficient and smart. Whether or not you fully understand the story of Hanuman and ancient folklore that is interwoven, you would

add to the stakes of the plot.”

The action sequences in “Monkey Man” are captivating and impressive by themselves, especially because the film had about 10 percent of the budget that other blockbuster action films with similar praise have. With a budget of $10 million, the movie pulled out all the stops it could within the already saturated genre. Patel gave the audience something new to watch within an industry where stunts and sequences are often repeated, whether that be through the innovative choice of weapons used or through the unique fight choreography performed.

During several interviews promoting his film, Patel talked about how his influences have ranged from Hollywood action, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Korean Cinema and Bollywood. “Monkey Man,” in Patel’s words, is “a weird cocktail” of everything he loves from different action

sailing. With its original location for filming set in India, Patel had to adapt to the incoming pandemic and move the location to Indonesia, where he and 450 cast and crew members created a bubble to film in while staying safe from the epidemic. The film originally had the Hollywood action hit “John Wick’s’’ stunt team to assist with the action. With the threat of the pandemic, Patel lost not only his stunt crew, but also his production designer as well as his gaffer who died due to a heart attack. So responding to these challenges and closing borders, he had to adapt and find new people to help him on platforms like YouTube.

Patel also put his physical safety on the line while filming “Monkey Man.” He broke some toes during fight training two weeks before filming, and while shooting the first action sequence of the film, he broke his hand. The nail that was put into his hand to

limited cast, Patel had to not only put every accountant, tailor, light, sound and camera operator on screen but also change the appearances of the eight stuntmen they actually had, to make it seem like they had more people than they did.

However, Patel deemed this process as inspirational because every setback provided more opportunities for creativity.

USD senior Stella Schneider, who has a deep passion for films, talked about how hearing about the process of making “Monkey Man” inspired her as a young filmmaker.

“It shows that you need commitment and persistence and this film is a great touchstone on what it means to be a filmmaker,” Schneider said. “For me film is storytelling at its highest form and storytelling requires so much creativity and that doesn’t just mean the ideas you come up with, it’s also how you

that genre were the funny sidekick or the guy who hacks mainframes. He wanted more and decided that for his directorial debut, he wanted not just to double but triple down on cultural representation.

Even after completion, the movie saw an uphill battle. Initially bought by Netflix in 2021, the film sat on a shelf and never saw the light of day until Jordan Peele saw the film. Peele’s production company, coincidentally named Monkeypaw Productions, and Universal bought the film from Netflix and saw that it got a theatrical release in 2024. The movie has now been out in theaters for two weeks, with many raving reviews. Made about the story of an underdog who goes through hell and back, “Monkey Man” is an action movie that was truly made only after going to hell and back.

Photo courtesy of @_shauryachawla/Instagram

SPORTS

Draft day highlights from the WNBA selections

PRIYA COOPER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

On April 15, 2024, the 28th annual Women’s NBA draft was held in Brooklyn, New York at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The event was sold out for the first time in years and drafted 36 female athletes into the professional league.

Caitlin Clark, a point guard from the University of Iowa played a huge role in elevating the popularity and attention to the draft. Cameron Brink from Stanford, Aalliyah Edwards from UConn and Angel Reese from LSU were also very popular players, coming off this season who made a debut in the first round of picks.

Clark is currently a senior at Iowa, earning her bachelor’s degree in marketing, and was the most anticipated prospect in league history. She was the No. 1 pick in the entire draft, chosen by the Indiana Fever. Clark recently competed in the Women’s Division 1 NCAA tournament and helped lead her team to the final round of March Madness, before losing the championship to South Carolina.

Clark’s performances have not only earned her individual

Caitlin Clark at No. 1 Pick of the first round

achievements but have also generated considerable buzz around women’s basketball. Her ability to draw attention to the sport through her style of

play has helped raise the profile of women’s basketball and attract new fans to the game.

Indiana Fever finished their season ranked 10th in

the 2023 season, and since the announcement of Clark’s commitment, the Instagram account of Indiana Fever has nearly doubled in following. Clark has created positive publicity and attraction toward women’s sports and the WNBA in general, as it is often overshadowed by the NBA.

This week Clark sat down with ESPN sports telecaster Holly Rowe to discuss WNBA expectations through ESPN.

“My expectation is to be one of the best players in the world one day... I think I wouldn’t expect anything less than that. That’s just kind of how I go about my business. And I think if I didn’t expect that people around me would be like, you’re selling yourself short, because that’s how much they believe in me, but also, they know how much work I put in and I think, just enjoy it.”

In addition to Clark, a lot of fan favorites throughout the NCAA tournament were signed to incredible teams this past week. Aliyah Boston, an alumni for the University of South Carolina, was also chosen by the Indiana Fever as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft and will be playing with Clark this

season. Second pick in the draft was Cameron Brink, selected by the Los Angeles Sparks. Brink is known for being one of the top defensive players in the nation. Third pick was Kamilla Cardoso from the University of South Carolina, selected by Chicago Sky. Cardoso became pivotal after the graduation of Aliyah Boston and excelled at getting more efficient despite the extra minutes and leading the Gamecocks to the national championship this year.

Fourth pick was Rickea Jackson who formerly played for Tennessee and also signed to the Sparks with Brink. Fifth was Jacey Sheldon from Ohio State chosen by the Dallas Wings. The remaining players of the first draft were (6) Aaliyah Edwards to Washington Mystics, (7) Angel Reese to Chicago Sky, (8) Alissa Pili to Lynx, (9) Carla Leite to the Dallas Wings, (10) Leila Lacan to Connecticut Sun, (11) Marquesha Davis to New York Liberty and (12) Nyadiew Puoch to Atlanta Dream.

The rising enthusiasm around women’s basketball and sports as a whole continues, as new seasons begin and will feature these players, as they start their professional careers.

The new running club trend hits USD Who runs the world? Everyone.

LAUREN CEBALLOS SPORTS EDITOR

Run clubs are flooding Instagram and Tiktok feeds. Activities with friends are shifting from getting ready for a night out, to going to bed early with an established night routine and waking up early to run a few miles.

USD senior Haley

Kiley-Ram started the USD Social Run Club to find a community through her sport.

Kiley-Ram visited Denver, Colorado over the summer.

During the time she was there, Kiley-Ram found a run club there and decided to try it out.

“I was so nervous to go, but after meeting the local running community, I felt so supported and inspired by all the members. I got a chance to connect with so many amazing runners from all backgrounds who just wanted to find community in the sport they love.” This was such a positive experience for Kiley-Ram that she wanted to share it.

She enjoyed the social and communal aspects, hoping to bring the comradery to USD. In forming this initiative, feelings arose for Kiley-Ram.

“I realized that USD could really benefit from something

similar… Starting the club was initially very nerve-wracking. I was scared people might stick to their comfort zones, keeping to themselves or to their friends. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see how many people really embraced the run club. ” Kiley-Ram said.

Kiley-Ram was able to get past her nerves once she was running with fellow USD students.

“It made me so happy to see people breaking out of their comfort zones in small ways like overhearing conversations about their favorite music to listen to on runs, finding out they’re from the same hometowns, or realizing they’re in the same classes.

Seeing these connections grow makes all the work put into the club worth it,” she expanded.

Now that the logistics were taken care of, Kiley-Ram had the power to start the club, adding to the run club trend at USD.

The club is another opportunity for students to get active which allows for the release of stress, and runner’s high. KileyRam’s excitement stemmed from her personal experience.

“I’ve always had a passion for running, not just for the therapeutic outlet, but also for the sense of community it can foster. I wanted to create a space where people can feel supported and safe without the judgment

or pressure,” Kiley-Ram shared.

Kiley-Ram has a specific goal of providing a welcoming environment.

“Running tends to be a little intimidating to start for a lot of people, but having a group who inspires you to take that first step makes the process a whole lot easier. Whether you’ve run a marathon or just bought your first pair of running shoes, there’s a place for you at Run Club. By making this community more accessible and less intimidating, USD students could embrace a healthy

lifestyle while building lasting friendships along the way.”

Kiley-Ram’s relationship with running goes beyond tracking miles.

“Above all, running has taught me discipline and determination that has translated in all aspects of my life. I went through a really difficult time mentally my freshman year of college and found myself feeling pretty hopeless. I truly believe that taking up running gave me the strength and resilience to overcome these hardships and made me the person I am today.”

Some people are running from something, to something, or for something, and they’re doing it in the same shoes where they mark their miles.

Whether the miles are slow and steady or fast and paced, running helps alleviate stress and can be done in groups.

Kiley-Ram brought her club to USD which works to welcome each of these groups to cultivate community while having fun running. Run clubs like these are bringing the new trend that cross country and track stars alike have been waiting for.

The WNBA welcomed 36 players through the 2024 draft. Photo courtesy of @wnba/Instagram

Photo courtesy of