Volume 61 Issue 15

THE USD VISTA

There are only a handful of USD staff members who will go down in the Torero history books as legends. They become household names, as no USD student can say they haven’t crossed paths with these campus celebrities. One of those legends is Mickey, the “pasta guy.”

James McManus, better known on campus as “Mickey,” has been a cook at USD for over 30 years. Before joining the USD community, Mickey cooked throughout most of his life, beginning with cooking to pay for his education at SDSU. While he received his B.A. in English, cooking remained Mickey’s passion and led to his full time career. Today, he manages the pasta station in the Student Life Pavilion (SLP) every week night for dinner, making between 60-80 pounds of pasta every night. However, in October 2023, the pasta cook took a leave of absence to get open heart surgery.

“Boy, that story is good,”

Mickey said about his surgery. “I had an ulcerated belly button, and my girlfriend said I had to go to the doctor. When I get there, one guy starts taking pictures [of my heart], and says I have an issue… I had no idea.”

In November, Mickey underwent surgery and was given a new valve, which came from a cow’s heart.

“You know how cows like to take naps? I want to take a nap right now,” he said.

During his absence, the cook also dealt with knee issues and kidney stones, which lengthened his time away from the kitchen and making pasta. USD cook Danisa Araya, who has been Mickey’s partner for 20 years, explained the pasta chef’s recovery process.

“After the surgery, he needed special care. I took some time off so I could help him.” Ultimately, Mickey’s love for his job and students helped him overcome his hardships.

“At the hospital, he was like, ‘I really need to go back to work,’” Araya said. “He loves to be around people, and See Mickey, Page 2

In a letter to colleagues dated Feb. 14, faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at USD announced that they are organizing a union of non-tenure track (NTT) faculty, along with the Services Employees International Union (SEIU). The newly formed Organization Committee consists entirely of NTT professors: those who are contractually employed to teach courses at USD, but classified as “temporary employees” by the university.

The Organization Committee launched a website, which identifies its goals to combat, “precarious positions with low pay, little job security, no meaningful academic freedom, and few opportunities for advancement.” The website also states that, “these conditions affect student learning by limiting our ability to provide quality instruction and mentorship to our students, and they hold us back from becoming fully acknowledged and included members of the campus community.”

letter, appealing to fellow CAS faculty to join their unionization effort. Rowley explained the benefits of a tenured position.

Theatre Department Lecturer Soroya Rowley signed the Organizing Committee’s

“A tenured position at a university is the ultimate dream for most academics, and it used to be the norm. Tenure ensures job security, which allows professors academic freedom in their teaching and scholarship,” Rowley stated.

Rowley also explained how the ratio of tenure to NTT positions has changed over time.

From Mickey, Page 1 for him to be in an apartment by himself, it was hard.”

While Mickey was gone, many students noticed the lack of laughs coming from the pasta line.

“I definitely noticed that he wasn’t there. He has a really unique presence,” sophomore Maeve Egger said.

Mickey returned to campus three weeks ago, reportedly as good as new.

“I’m all better,” he said. “Fully recovered.”

Many students celebrated his long-awaited return, and even after being away for months, noticed that Mickey’s skills did not falter, according to junior Rebecca Tilling.

“The day he came back the line was moving a lot faster and the pasta tasted more seasoned.”

With a naturally exuberant personality, Mickey has befriended many students over the years by engaging in conversation and joking around, as he furiously mixes pasta, sauces and veggies in his skillet.

USD senior Elle Kallsen, an avid SLP pasta station lover, explained her excitement

USD professors form union Campus celebrity makes a return

From NTT union, Page 1

“In the last several decades, tenure has been on the decline. Today, the majority of professors at most universities are nontenure track (NTT). We teach the majority of the classes, yet we make a small fraction of the salary that a tenured professor makes, and we have no job security,” Rowley stated.

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Anthropology Meghan Donnelly was another of the Organizing Committee members who signed the letter to colleagues. Donnelly further explained the distinction between NTT and tenure faculty, and how these differences impact their lives, if their contract expires.

“Many [NTT] professors’ contracts last only one semester — [and] we may or may not be hired back. Or we may get hired again, but to teach a smaller number of courses… While there are many NTT faculty who have been teaching at USD for years — and some decades — the nature of our contracts means that we live with constant insecurity, not knowing what our income, workload, need for a second job, etc. will be the following semester, or year,” Donnelly explained.

Adjunct Assistant Professor of English, Deniz PerinCoombs — another member of the Organizing Committee — elaborated on the instability of working in an NTT role, and

Mickey explains his leave of absence

Non-tenure faculty join SEIU Local 721

how getting rehired is often outside of NTT faculty’s control.

“Most instances of NTT faculty not being hired back are related to enrollment fluctuations. NTT faculty might have classes… pulled due to low enrollment in their or others’ courses. This could also mean that they end up teaching fewer classes than anticipated, meaning less income, and possibly a demotion from benefits-based to nonbenefits based,” Coombs stated.

Melissa James, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies, explained the goals that a union would potentially fulfill, in advocating for the workers’ rights of NTT faculty.

“Some of the core goals of unionization are for [NTT] faculty to have a real say in decisions about our working conditions, better job security and fair pay,” James said.

Their website states, “forming a union enables [NTT] faculty to negotiate collectively for better terms of employment, using democratic processes to ensure that the interests of all [NTT] faculty are represented. A union contract will establish a floor for what constitutes fair treatment and compensation, not a ceiling.”

Along with SEIU Local 721, the Organizing Committee seeks, “to ask USD Administrators to recognize our union through a card checking process,”

according to their website.

SEIU Local 721 is a union that “represents over 100,000 workers in Southern California… all [NTT] faculty in the California State University system are members of SEIU, through its affiliate the California Faculty Association (CFA),” according to their website. Rowley explained the current status of the Organizing Committee’s unionization effort.

“We are still waiting for a response from USD administrators, but we expect they will uphold USD’s vision of working for justice and leading with love by agreeing to remain neutral and respect our right to form a union under the [National Labor Relations Act].”

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) ensures that people who wish to form a union have the right to talk about and organize a union with their coworkers at their workplace. The law states that employers cannot threaten the jobs of employees who exercise these rights.

USD Assistant Director of Media Relations, Steven Covella provided USD’s stance toward unions on campus.

“USD is not pro- or antiunionization. If a group of people is helped by a union, as many have been throughout history, that’s a good thing. If a union’s involvement is counter to the majority of a group of

upon Mickey’s return.

“I’m so happy he’s back,” Kallsen said. “His absence was noted, because his energy is very much reflected in our culture of care.”

USD senior Jordan Eskew also shared her appreciation for the cook.

“If I go to the SLP, it’s only to the pasta station,” Eskew shared. “I would go [to the pasta station] on a hard day, and [Mickey] would always ask how I was,” she said.

Not only does Mickey chat with students, but he ensures that their pasta dish is always a “chef’s kiss.”

As someone who has cooked for a majority of his life, Mickey expresses his love for food in every noodle.

“Every plate I make is my favorite. I want to put love into [the food]... every plate has got to be perfect.”

As a smaller university, USD allows students, faculty and staff to connect on a more personal level, even in the dining hall.

With his apron tied tight and skillet in hand, Mickey isn’t just serving up pasta – he’s dishing out joy and comfort to all of USD’s carb-loving students.

people’s best interests, it’s not. We support each person’s right to make an informed decision on whether or not to join a union based on their individual circumstances,” Covella stated.

“The Office of the Provost, faculty committees and many others at USD have been in conversation with non-tenure track faculty members over the past year to identify opportunities for enhanced job stability, compensation and advancement, and are looking forward to continuing those conversations,” Covella stated on behalf of USD.

At an Associated Student Government (ASG) meeting on Feb. 22, USD President James T. Harris III addressed the recent unionization effort by NTT faculty at CAS. He explained that tenure and non-tenure professors have different roles at USD, as tenure professors engage in research and serve on committees in addition to teaching.

“[NTT faculty] have one responsibility, and that’s

teaching, and they are vitally important to the institution,” Harris said. “Anyone has the right to organize, we have no unions on campus… the last time we had a movement of this sort, what we did was we informed people what they have, what they don’t have, what they think is going on. And that group chose not to unionize, and I think that might be the case here.”

Harris also acknowledged that NTT professors face some challenges.

“I think we’ve got to do a better job with our [NTT]… we want all our employees to feel that they belong to this campus and that we are supporting them,” he said.

While the NTT professors wait for a response from USD, they have made the broader USD community aware of their unionization efforts. On Thurs Feb. 29 they are hosting a teachin in the Learning Commons from 12:30-2 p.m. which is open for all students, faculty and staff to learn more about the union.

“The nature of our contracts means that we live with constant insecurity, not knowing what our income, workload, need for a second job, etc. will be the following semester, or year.”

-Dr. Meghan Donnelly, NTT professor

Mickey works at the pasta station in the SLP and says he puts love into every plate.

Emma Kate-Squires/The USD Vista

USD hosts ‘World at War’ Symposium

The world is at war — and USD knows it. The Department of Political Science and International Relations hosted over five hours of presentations and discussion panels during their annual Pearson-Chambers Symposium on Feb. 22. The symposium brought students, faculty and community members together to learn about the conflicts breaking out all over the world. The symposium featured guest speakers who are experts in their field — from Vice Admiral Robert Thomas, to professors from all over San Diego — the panels highlighted the variety of perspectives the San Diego community brings to the table.

Three panels, broken up throughout the day, began with Israel, Palestine and the Middle East. Panelists included USD professor Dr. Ted Falk, UCSD professor Dr. Michael Provence and USD professor Dr. Necla Tschirgi. Panelists universally criticized the distinctive approach the U.S. has taken by insisting that it is always involved — but never constrained — in international politics, particularly in the U.S.’ decision to block ceasefire initiatives. Provence pointed out that “a ceasefire would be a false promise, if it leads us back to the status quo.”

The panelists concluded that the U.S. should de-center itself from the conflict resolution process, and instead focus on the dynamics within the Middle East, such as the role of nonstate actors in the conflict. Falk talked in particular about the influence of Hezbollah in the area, a Lebanese

group with social, political and terrorist components.

The next panel was about China, Taiwan and Asia, with keynote speaker Admiral Thomas to provide his military insight from the Taiwan Strait. The panelists also included USD professors Dr. Yi Sun and Dr. Kacie Miura. Dr. Sun specialized in the view from Beijing, which allowed attendees to understand the strategy behind China’s geopolitical decision making.

“The hands that tied the knot must also untie it,” Dr. Sun said referencing U.S. military bases surrounding China. She emphasized that the tension between the U.S. and China is not one-sided and it will require action from the U.S. to convince China to slow expansion efforts.

Miura added that the recent Taiwanese election of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate William Lai could be a reflection of a Taiwanese desire to distance itself from China. The DPP has been clear on their support of Taiwanese independence, an idea which Miura says is making China uneasy.

Miura has studied China extensively, working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Fuling, China. Miura was one of four female panelists for the day and when USD senior Angela Miller attended this panel, she said that having diversity among the speakers helped her connect more to its message.

“You see [someone] that looks like you and there’s trust building in how they deliver the information –that it is for me,” Miller said.

Among the diverse perspectives represented was SDSU professor Dr. Mikhail

Alexseev who weighed in on the final panel about Russia, Ukraine and Europe, contributing his unique perspective as a Ukrainian. He shared polling data from Ukrainians about personal loss and trauma caused by the warfare.

“We will win, because we have to, because there is no other option,” he said.

Alexseev was joined by USD professor Dr. Casey Dominguez — who explained that republican voters have soured on the issue of sending aid to Ukraine — and USD graduate student Jack Kamps, who brought in his unique experience from attending a NATO conference.

“It’s an incredible honor. This feels like the right way to wrap up that time in Copenhagen… it’s so my bread and butter,” Kamps said. The three experts reflected on the war, almost exactly two years after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2021.

The field of international

politics is constantly changing and evolving, which can make global events hard to keep up with, but USD graduate student Nicky Perez said attending was beneficial.

“Just hearing what our professors have to say helps clarify a lot of ambiguity,” Perez emphasized.

Perez attributed the large turnout to the quality of USD’s Political Science department.

“We have a really talented [political science] department, so I love just getting any chance to hear more from them.”

Kamps agreed with this and reflected on his experience with guest speakers in the department.

“I think one of the biggest impacts [the political science department] can have on the university is the speakers we bring in.”

Over 150 people attended the symposium throughout the day, choosing presentations

that coincided with areas they were most interested in. Miller chose the afternoon panel about China with the intention to learn more about a conflict she felt unfamiliar with. She talked about the empowering nature of political involvement as a first generation student.

“My family doesn’t engage in politics, so I grew up isolated from it. I wanted to understand my government… to better understand my place in it,” Miller said.

The panelists served as a reminder that the USD community has the opportunity to be a part of something bigger, even the global stage, and that starts with knowledge. Through education, USD students can become more involved in the world around them, and far away. While the world may be at war, there are plenty of opportunities like this symposium to understand these complex situations.

ARTS & CULTURE

The ups and downs of situationships

Taking a leap of faith this leap year

Stories and superstitions about the 366th day

sold over 200,000 copies when it was last published in 2020.

many cultures look at the year or Leap Day as bringing misfortune.

For all the times you’ve yearned to have an extra 24 hours added to your life, 2024 is set to fulfill this once-in-alifetime wish – or once every four years. The end of February brings us closer to Leap Day on the calendar, Feb. 29, that makes its appearance every four years. This day with its quadrennial occurrence also comes with its own traditions, superstitions and activities.

For many, this extra day of the year is a sign of luck that is marked with oddly specific stories and events. In France, to celebrate the arrival of Leap Year, a satirical newspaper called “La Bougie du Sapeur,” or “Sapper’s Candle” is published every four years, only on Feb 29. So though the paper has been running for over 40 years, with its first edition out in 1980, it has only had eleven editions out, and 2024 will mark its twelfth.

The paper started out as a joke between two friends, Jacques De Buisson and Christian Bailly, and has now turned into a 20-page journalistic entry, filled with puns, jokes, notes, wordplay and interviews — both true and false — commenting on the news from the last four years. Despite the paper’s low frequency of publication, it

Following the footsteps of this Leap-Day-exclusive newspaper is the equally exclusive, Leap Day cocktail invented in 1928 by Harry Craddock, who was a bartender at the Savoy Hotel in London. It was featured in his 1930 cookbook with the notation: “It is said to have been responsible for more proposals than any other cocktail that’s ever been mixed.” All you need if you’re over 21, is gin, vermouth, Grand Marnier and lemon juice.

And if a cocktail is just the beginning for you, then celebrations in Anthony, a town at the Texas-New Mexico border also known as the “Leap Year Capital of the World,” might sound like a good idea. A multiday festival that was initially pitched in 1988 by Mary Ann Brown and Birdie Lewis who were both born on Leap Day, the festival celebrates those born on Feb. 29 with a special dinner, musical performances, good food and games.

Leap Year’s luck is considered to extend even to animals. In Reggio Emilia, a province in northern Italy, Leap Years are known as “I’ann d’ la baleina” or the whale’s year. Locals “believe” that whales only give birth during a leap year.

But not everyone thinks of Leap Year as being lucky. In fact,

In Taiwan, it’s a commonly held belief that elderly parents die every four years, during a leap year. To promote a longer life and prevent this misfortune, married daughters return home during leap years with pig trotter noodles, because it’s believed that the dish is delicious enough to grant aging parents good health and fortune.

The Leap Year is also harsh on farmers, with superstitions always pointing to an unfavorable season for crops any time Feb. 29 joins the dates on the calendar. However, most superstitions, traditions and stories that exist surrounding Leap Year are regarding marriage.

Though women can also propose marriage whenever they please today, fifth-century Ireland legally only allowed men the right to propose marriage. The arrival of the Leap Day was the one exception where women were allowed to propose marriage, and this was only possible after a deal was brokered between Irish nun Saint Bridget of Kildare – who complained the women had to wait too long for men to pop the question – and the nation’s saint, Saint Patrick.

Though this might sound like a jackpot in the women’s luck department, this Leap Day tradition looked unlucky for many men. To make it easier for the women to propose, all countries that observed this tradition came up with different punishments for men who rejected proposals. In Scotland, any man who rejected a marriage proposal would be fined anywhere between £1 and a silk gown. In Denmark, the price was 12 gloves and in Finland, it was enough fabric to make a new skirt. Today, these traditions have become whimsical gestures done for the sake of a joke.

On the other end of leap year marriage superstitions is Greek culture, where any marriage that occurs on Feb. 29 is seen as being imposed with bad luck and destined to end in divorce. Greeks believe that getting married on Leap Day curses not just your marriage but also your love life, since you will never be able to find love.

The curse of the Leap Day is also said to extend to those born on Feb. 29. Those whose birthdays fall on this rare occurring day are called “leaplings” or “leapers,” and in some cultures, being a leapling is considered to give you a terrible fate.

USD sophomores Angelina and Tiana Belway who are twin leaplings turning five this leap day talked about growing up with a birthday that comes around every four years.

“I don’t think we celebrate [leap year birthdays] more but

it’s definitely a lot more special to us because we’ve waited four years for it, for the actual date to happen,” Tiana Belway said. “We’re turning 20 this year, or I guess five, so we’re having our friends over and we’re getting the number five put on our cake. It’s almost like a children’s party.”

The pair also talked about common questions they’ve heard as leaplings.

“There’s so many things we’ve heard from others and it’s mainly questions about how old we actually are,” Angelina Belway said. “And another question we get is about what day we celebrate our birthday on regular years since it’s on a day that doesn’t exist really. And for us, that day is March 1 and we consider it our ‘February 29’.”

Superstitions that induce good or bad luck surrounding leap years or days have no way to be confirmed. But there are some interesting historical events that have coincided with the rare occuring leap year.

1912, which is famously known as the year the Titanic sank, was a leap year and so was 64 A.D., the year that Rome burned down. The most infamous leap year that has recently been added to this list is the year

2020, the year that saw the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are also definitely some positive historical incidents that have occured on leap years. 1752 was the leap year when Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity and 1848 was the leap year when gold was discovered for the first time in California.

Though these historical events, traditions and superstitions have surrounded leap years for decades and do not have a direct correlation with the rare occuring Feb. 29, the 2024 Leap Year has brought in some special attention, due to its uncanny resemblances to 2020. Many on the internet have pointed out how 2020 and 2024 are mirrors of one another: both being leap years, having Biden and Trump as presumptive Presidential candidates and watching the Chiefs win in the Super Bowl against the 49ers.

Since there are so many running similarities, the running joke is to see what corresponds to the COVID-19 pandemic this year. Depending on whether the Leap Year brings you luck or misfortune, you can close your eyes and manifest the rest of the year of 2024.

SATVIKA NITYA ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Photo courtesy of @emmanuelledebeauregard/Instagram

A vintage card describing the Irish leap year tradition of women proposing to men. Photo courtesy of @remnantsofourpast/TikTok

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ARTS & FEATURE

Highlighting the Humanities Center USD’s ‘intellectual candy store’

KATIE FOREMAN FEATURE EDITOR

The Humanities Center’s presence has “a tendency to sort of float under the radar,” as the Director of the Humanities Center, Dr. Brian Clack said. Located in Saints Tekakwitha and Serra Hall (room 200), the Humanities Center was designed to be central to everything, yet there may not be much known about what happens there, what its purpose is, or that it even exists. Clack elaborated on the mission of the Humanities Center, the events and programs that take place there and how students can get involved.

“The purpose of [creating the Humanities Center] was to try to enhance the profile of the liberal arts which of course, also encapsulates sciences certainly,” Clack said. Clack reflected on what the Humanities Center is all about.

“There was a professor in the law school… Bert Lazerow, and he said the Humanities Center is ‘an intellectual candy store.’ I love that… the most basic level of being engaged [is] just by attending some of our events. And then your students who do come get very excited about it, and then keep coming back, but the first step is knowing about things that are happening.” Clack noted that the humanities interweave various disciplines to shed light on different perspectives and ways of thinking; the goal of the Humanities Center is to create a space that encourages that kind of dialogue.

“We wanted to make it [the Center] a student-facing public face, so that it was a place that people could pop in and out, see things that appeal to them. Hence, we did the widest array of programming. And if you look at our programming any semester, there should be something that appeals to anybody, everybody,” Clack said.

The programs and events at the Humanities Center range from workshops, movie screenings, guest authors and lecturers, art exhibitions, research projects, podcast making and more.

One series that routinely occurs at the center is called “Natural Landscapes and Human Meaning” and takes place every Tuesday at 4 p.m., until April 16. This series has been ongoing since 2022 and highlights the relationship between humanity and the natural world. Clack explained that it is meant to create conversations from different points of view about how aspects of landscapes and nature can connect to the human experience.

“One of the things that’s

been distinctive about the development of the disciplines over the last century or so, is just how divorced from each other the arts with sciences have become. And what we’ve been trying to do is to bring those different spheres of disciplines together again,” Clack said. “So it’s not just people who work in English literature and philosophy and art history working together. We now have scientists who frequently attend our events, and the conversations between us all have been kind of beautiful.”

Clack explained the reason he is so passionate about the humanities and its purpose is because it can bring about a more broad view of life and the world around you.

“The more you hear from different voices in different disciplines, the greater, the more rounded, the richer, the picture of life and existence will be… we’re trying to explore that multifaceted, multi-dimensional understanding of the human experience,” Clack said.

He noted that anyone can benefit from participating in the humanities and its programs.

“It’s very useful for all of us, whatever field a student decides to major in or whatever avenue a particular academic chooses to take with their life.

It’s always enriched — that’s the word I emphasize: ‘enriched’ — by an understanding of what other people in different disciplines do,” Clack said.

Inside the Humanities Center is an art gallery that rotates different pieces of art throughout the semester.

“Remember, [students] can come in and there’s no fee to

come in and you look at highend stuff —good artists, workers, printworks [and] we have video artists on display, as well, so you can come in this space. That gallery is the only place on campus fit for video art,” Clack said.

Associate Professor Derrick Cartwright, a faculty member of the Humanities Center, shared about the purpose of the gallery.

“We felt like if you as a student wandered in here to hear a talk, and were inspired to go look in [the gallery], you could have an even richer experience… satisfy your whole self. And that’s the goal, is to make the galleries sort of hum along with everything else that’s happening,” Cartwright said.

The gallery is just one of the many opportunities students have to get involved with the Humanities Center.

“The other thing [students] could do is the research program that we have, the Keck Undergraduate Humanities Research Fellowship,” Clack said. “We fund year-long research fellowships for students doing work in the humanities. So you find yourself a faculty, mentor, a supervisor. Spend a year on your own chosen project. It’s your own research.”

The students who are involved in this research program are given a $5,000 stipend a year and additional funding for travels. “[Students] could be part of our student board… We have about six, seven or eight students on a student board. What they do is they help promote the Humanities Center. They plan events for the Humanities Center. And it’s really kind of a beautiful thing for students to be involved with,” Clack said.

Another opportunity students have through the Humanities Center is taking a class with a small number of students that focuses on one particular subject.

“One of the things that I think makes the Humanities Center really unique is that students can interact with the center, due to just their own personal interests,” Assistant Director of the Humanities Center Lindy Villa said. “We have pop-up classes. And sometimes the pop-up class may be something that’s not in the students’ major

or minor. It’s just something that’s of interest to them.”

Dean Noelle Norton commented that the Humanities Center is striving to bring together diverse disciplines instead of looking at them all narrowly.

“You have to have a space where the humanities are revered. Change the narrative,” Norton said.

Clack stated that the Humanities Center welcomes students to come see if anything sparks their interest or stimulates their mind, but also to connect with others.

“Definitely a very, very friendly place. Anytime a student comes in, we’re just delighted,” Clack said.

There are so many aspects to the field of humanities, as well as the Humanities Center. The reason these members of the center want to encourage students to stop by is because they believe that everyone can benefit from learning more, especially from a wide array of perspectives.

“It’s the opportunity to be reminded of the very best things that people do in the world and how a place like this can inspire more good work. That’s my favorite part,” Cartwright said.

To learn more about the Humanities Center and when their next events are, check out their website at https://www. sandiego.edu/cas/centers/ humanities-center/ or stop by Saints Tekakwitha and Serra Hall, room 200. Also, to apply to be a part of the Humanities Center Student Board, go to https://www.sandiego.edu/cas/ centers/humanities-center/.

The series ‘Natural Landscapes and Human Meaning’ taking place at the Humanities Center. Photo courtesy of Lindy Villa

Students at the Humanities Center booth at the Alcalá Bazaar. Photo courtesy of Lindy Villa

I’m not ‘just a girl’ Women need to stop infantilizing themselves online

MARIA SIMPSON COPY EDITOR

For the last several months, the phrase “I’m just a girl” has circulated online alongside numerous “girl” trends: “girl dinner,” “girl math,” “coquette girls,” etc.

Many of these trends began as funny, cute and even relatable bits, but they’ve morphed into a dangerous statement about women, infantilizing them and showcasing them as a less capable “other sex.”

Femininity should be able to coexist with feminism, and that needs to begin with women’s social media presence.

It is no secret that feminine qualities have long been viewed as “lesser than” in our culture. Being “girly” or overly feminine is seen as childish, unprofessional and even stupid. Many women, myself included, have found themselves purposefully straying away from all things “pretty and pink.” Luckily, many of those traits are being embraced now.

There were many social media trends in 2023 that echoed this reclaiming of girlhood, particularly for women who denied themselves of that joy in their younger years. However, many jokes and trends that began as forms of celebration lost their positive purpose and instead have

dragged women back down.

Recently, social media apps like TikTok, Instagram and X saw trends like “girl dinner,” where women post small, low-effort snacks as a kind of lazy meal, “girl math,” in which women brush their poor financial decisions under the rug and the “coquette” aesthetic which is characterized by hyperfeminine and delicate style, usually associated with bows. While these trends may seem harmless at first glance, the ripple effects of such trends are negative. Girl dinner promotes eating disorders, a challenge far too many women face in an effort to look a certain way. Girl math promotes the stereotype that women cannot understand or handle money. The coquette aesthetic glorifies a childlike appearance, which plays a role in infantilizing and simplifying women Those problematic trends bled into outright appalling content made by women about women. I saw videos and posts where women stated outright that they “belong in the kitchen,” lamented that they have no desire to have a career or education and even articulated resentment toward past generations who fought for women’s right to vote, attend college, work any job, get divorced, own a credit card and more. What began

as a fun joke has morphed into misogynistic mindsets.

The epitome of these trends and ideals can be seen in the trendy phrase, “I’m just a girl.” Women have made videos expressing their supposed inability to complete tasks or face difficult things on account of their being “just a girl.” I am in no way removed from this. I used the phrase lots of times myself as an excuse to avoid discussion of postgrad finances with my dad, to complain about a difficult assignment or to just not wake up early. As time has passed, I’ve realized how negative the impact of such a statement really is. When women avoid tasks because they are “just girls,” they are redirecting responsibility, not unlike the way the infamous phrase “boys will be boys” does for men. Except in this case, it paints women as incapable and unintelligent beings.

The phrase’s popularity on TikTok stems from No Doubt’s 1995 song “Just a Girl.” The song has been a feminist anthem since its release and uses the phrase “I’m just a girl” in an angrily satirical fashion, pointing out how women are perceived as helpless. By using the phrase as an excuse — “don’t

blame me for messing up, I’m just a girl after all” — women are vocalizing a need to be saved, as if they are incapable of helping themselves.

As the many “girl” trends have grown, they have become too prevalent in the way men view women, as well. As TikToker Madison Wild stated in a video, “‘girl’ is being used as an adjective instead of a noun,” and that adjective clearly translates to “childish” and “incapable” when taken in the social media context. These trends infantilize women, dumb them down and make them appear incompetent. If women are treating themselves as if those things are true, then it opens the door for men to do the same.

I’m not saying don’t be girly. Being girly is great, and reclaiming girlhood as something beautiful instead of shameful is so important. A mass celebration of girlhood ensued in 2023, perhaps prompted by pop culture phenomena such as Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” and Beyoncé’s “Renaissance World Tour.” By dressing up, trading friendship bracelets and enjoying these experiences together, women found

comfort and connection in their femininity this year, and I believe for many women it was an experience that helped them reclaim their girlhood in a healthy way.

Personally, I love being girly, whether that means dressing up just to go to class, getting my nails done or listening to “basic girl” pop music. As Taylor Swift, the basic pop queen herself, once said, “I want to wear pink and tell you how I feel about politics.” Emphasis on “and.” Those things are not mutually exclusive. You can dress in a feminine way and feel empowered in your body, whatever that looks like for you, but don’t leave your brain behind.

Instead of using femininity as an excuse to avoid hard work, personal challenges and difficult conversations, women should embrace all of those facets of themselves. I am not “just a girl.” I am a girl who is smart, fun, capable, brave, independent and so much more. Critical thinking and strength can go hand in hand with femininity. Let’s do better as women and prove that being feminine and being a woman does not detract from one’s intelligence and power.

The ‘I’m just a girl’ trend often perpetuates harmful stereotypes about women, such as women not being able to drive.

Photo courtesy of @zi.naii/TikTok

Even corporations like Waffle House have joined in on the coquette trend. Photo courtesy of @wafflehouseofficial/Instagram

OPINION Contraceptives on campus

A look at USD’s mission in relation to contraceptives

JACKIE MARQUEZ OPINION EDITOR

Condoms are practically everywhere at public universities. From bathrooms to bookstores, doorsteps to information desks, you can find protection almost anywhere. This isn’t the case here at USD, nor is it at the majority of Catholic universities in the U.S. Despite our school’s progressive, changemaking attitude, contraceptives are nowhere to be found on our campus.

Currently, the Student Health Center (SHC) does not provide non-hormonal contraceptives, such as condoms or dental dams. Additionally, the SHC will not prescribe hormonal birth control such as “the pill,” IUDs or implants unless there is a medical reason for it.

In the words of Kimberely Woodruff, USD’s Director of the Student Health Center, “We can prescribe hormonal contraceptives if medically indicated, but not directly for contraception.”

So, if you have hormonal acne, irregular or heavy periods or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), you may be able to get contraceptives through the SHC.

If you need them to decrease the risk of pregnancy, you’ll have to get what you need elsewhere. This could be at an off-campus clinic like Planned Parenthood or at an off-campus pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens. Additionally, individuals and student organizations are not allowed to distribute contraceptives on campus. According to the university, external groups, student groups and individual students are expected to follow the school’s practice of not distributing contraceptives on campus. This has prompted clubs like Students for Sexual and Reproductive Justice to hand out contraceptives directly outside USD’s main entrance, for fear of suspension or expulsion.

Michael Lovette-Colyer, USD’s Vice President of Mission integration, explained that these policies around contraceptives are shaped by the university’s Catholic mission.

“As a Catholic university, our approach, like other Catholic universities across the country, is for all of our policies and practices and protocols to respect the teachings of the Catholic church,” Lovette-Colyer said.

Due to this, USD’s approach to contraceptives closely aligns with the Catholic church’s teachings on contraception,

which stems from its teaching on sexuality. According to Lovette-Colyer, “what the church is most passionate about and concerned about is human flourishing. How to help people be fully alive and who they are.” This leads the Catholic church to view sex as a gift from God that’s only for married couples intending to procreate.

However, most college students, even students here at a Catholic school like USD, don’t share that understanding. This year, only 44% of our first-year students identified as Catholic, meaning the majority of new students don’t align themselves with the university’s faith traditions. This difference in beliefs is something LovetteColyer recognizes himself.

“We realize that the Church’s teachings and values about the human person, about sexuality, about contraception may not be shared by everyone,” LovetteColyer said. “[However] this is a strongly held belief in the church, and we ask that people respect that.”

While I disagree with the university’s approach to contraceptive access on campus, my goal is not to disrespect the Church or the university’s religious beliefs; it’d be ridiculous for me to try and change the teachings of one of the largest religions in the world with a single opinion article. Instead, my goal is to point out the shortcomings of USD’s policies and suggest alternative ways of applying our Catholic values.

So, let’s talk about the issues with our current policy. First, the policy fails to address the reality of college students.

To put it plainly, USD students are having sex. According to the Cardinal Newman Society, a center dedicated to studying

Catholic higher education, 46% of surveyed Catholic university students have had premarital sex. On top of that, 84% of those students reported having friends who’ve engaged in premarital sex. While these numbers maybe be a little different than those of USD, it’s likely that our student body’s rate of premarital sex is similar.

Alongside these high premarital sex rates at Catholic universities, a surprising amount of sexually active students across the country don’t use contraceptives. According to a 2022 study done by the American College Health Association, 20% of sexually active students use the withdrawal method as their primary form of birth control.

Unsurprisingly, this method isn’t as effective as using physical or hormonal contraceptives, and it can lead to a host of negative implications. First, it does nothing to prevent STDs, which, in our day and age, is hugely problematic.

According to the CDC, half of the U.S.’s new STI cases in 2020 were among 15-24 year olds (that’s around ten million). Second, the withdrawal method also leads to unintended pregnancies; one in five who use it get pregnant. Third, it can lead to women seeking abortions. According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, nearly half of all unintended pregnancies end in abortion. Luckily, these outcomes can be avoided — or at least decreased. Researchers at Washington University found that providing free birth control to women reduces unplanned pregnancies and decreases abortion rates by 62-78% when compared to the national average.

It’s not that the school is unaware of these facts.

According to Lovette-Colyer, it’s a common misconception

that the Catholic university is ignorant or not paying attention to the reality of its students.

“We do pay attention, we are well aware of the percentage of students who do engage in sexual behavior and of STI rates,” Lovette-Colyer said. “We come up with a different answer than ‘the best solution to that is to provide contraception,’ because they’re available in lots of other places.

So, college students, even Catholic ones, are having sex, and an unreasonably large number of them aren’t using contraception, leading to high STI and pregnancy rates, but the university is aware of this. They simply choose to refer their students to find care at a different pharmacy or clinic off-campus.

This approach fails to acknowledge the grim realities of campus sexuality, and then does little to actively change them. Instead, it gives students additional hoops to jump through, to get the services they need.

The reason Toreros go to the SHC for healthcare is because it’s accessible. You can make an appointment a day or two in advance, conveniently schedule it during a break between classes, receive the care you need and then grab a little treat from Aromas right after. Referring students to a clinic or pharmacy off campus defeats the whole purpose of having accessible healthcare close by. Not only does it take longer to be seen and receive treatment, but it also forces students to find their own transportation.

A significant amount of USD students are car-less. First-years aren’t allowed to have a car on campus until sophomore year, and many international and outof-state students are unable to bring a car with them. As such,

USD’s policy forces students to call a Lyft/Uber, or brave the public transportation system in order to get the care they need. When you’re a college student with very limited funds, almost no time to spare and no way to get around, the school’s practice of off-campus referrals places an unnecessary burden on you, the student.

This burden doesn’t affect every student equally. Studies have shown that a lack of access to contraception disproportionately affects women, queer people, people of color and people with disabilities. By no fault of their own, people from marginalized groups often lack the resources needed to access contraceptives such as transportation, time, money and a quality sex education. By placing a roadblock to healthcare that not all students can overcome, our current policy around contraceptives directly contradicts other Catholic traditions like working toward justice and equity for all.

Our policy also fails to work toward the Church’s pro-life values as effectively as possible. It’s a proven fact that unintended pregnancies often lead to abortions, and that increasing access to contraceptives decreases unintended pregnancy rates. So, by increasing access to contraceptives on campus, the university could help mitigate unintended pregnancies and consequently abortions. While I’m not saying that the Church should or shouldn’t support abortions, I am pointing out that the school’s practice of denying contraceptives on campus seems to work against the Church’s pro-life values by failing to take meaningful action against unintended pregnancy.

At a Catholic school, it may seem like the distribution of contraceptives counters the very mission that guides us. However, our Catholic mission is as complex as our student body, and because of this our current policy recognizes some of the Catholic church’s values while overlooking others. As such, I believe that allowing the provision of contraceptives oncampus should enable human flourishing in a different sense.

Doing so could decrease STI and pregnancy rates and also remove a structural barrier that prevents marginalized students from receiving the care they need. By allowing the SHC and student organizations to provide this form of preventative treatment, the university could ensure that they truly support the best interest of students and their wellbeing.

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.

There are a variety of contraceptive options for students, but USD doesn’t allow them to be distributed on campus.

Photo courtesy of @rhsupplies/Unsplash

USD women’s basketball closes the season Women Toreros running low on games but high on accomplishments

LAUREN CEBALLOS SPORTS EDITOR

With two games left in the season, the Lady Toreros are celebrating their accomplishments, in addition to their wins, this basketball season so far.

USD women’s basketball tipped off their season with a blowout game against Chapman University, ending in favor of Toreros with a score of 92-38 on Nov. 6, 2023. USD junior Kylie Horstmeyer held the first season high for points scored within a game, 14 points against Chapman. Redshirt senior Kasey Neubert worked for her first double double of the season and seventh of her career, as well as the team’s first this season. USD graduate student, Dylan Horton, scored the first points of the season with a three pointer. This game was the most points scored by Toreros since Dec. 11, 2020 and the third seasonopener that Toreros have won, with 49 fast break points and 28 assists among the team, according to USD Athletics.

Following their first game and win of the season, the women’s team wanted more, resulting in a win against Portland State on Nov. 11, 2023, with a final score of 71-43. Horstmeyer was the lead scorer for the second game in a row while Neubert notched another double double, making it the eighth of her career. With help from lead scorers: Horstmeyer, Neubert, USD juniors Harsimran Kaur and Courtney Wristen, the lead grew to 28 points within the game. A few games later, in Torero’s game against Princeton on Nov. 19 2023, USD sophomore Veronica Sheffey tallied a career high of five steals. Kaur already logged nine blocks by this point and had 10 rebounds,

a career high. At the Dana on Mission Bay Thanksgiving Tournament, USD fought to keep the lead against Weber State, 56-53. USD first-year Mila Wawszkowicz had a season high of seven points.

On Nov. 29, 2023 in their game against Nevada, Sheffey scored a career high of 18 points and Wristen a career high of 17.

USD junior guard Claire Gallagher made her return to the court after a knee injury in Toreros’ game against currently ranked No.7 USC but at the time ranked No. 6 on Dec. 3, 2023. Toreros came in hot during the first half, having a tied game of 17-17 in the first half. Toreros ultimately lost the lead but played competitively against one of the top teams in the nation.

The game against SDSU on Dec. 7 featured Sheffey’s career high of 23 points and eight assists. Toreros lost but made it a close game with a final score of 67-63.

USD first-year Lauren McCall matched her high of seven points within the first 10 minutes of the Winter Classic Opener in late December 2023.

When Toreros played Pepperdine at the start of the New Year, Toreros had 48 rebounds, “the most by the program against a Division I team this season,” according to USD Athletics, with a close game ending in favor of the waves with a final score of 53-52.

On Jan. 6, 2024, against Saint Mary’s, Neubert scored her 800th point. In Toreros’ game against Portland on Jan. 11, Neubert made her seventh double double, the most since Patricia Brossman’s 10 in the 20182019 season, according to USD Athletics. Kaur joined the club in getting her first double double of her career during this game. Sheffey scored 20 points against

Gonzaga, carrying the offense on Jan. 13, with the team putting up a total of 67 points against a team who is currently 14-0 in conference play and are bearing a winning streak of 21 games, meaning Toreros put up a good fight against a leading team. Toreros also had the least amount of turnovers this game. Toreros played Pacific on Jan. 18. Sheffey led the offense once again, with 17 points and Neubert had six steals, the most since Steph Gorman in 2022 as

well as 700 rebounds, her career high, according to USD Athletics. LMU hosted San Diego on Jan. 20. During the game, Toreros made their highest amount of free throws, 19, and Horton reached the 900 club, scoring beyond that number throughout her career according to USD Athletics.

On Feb. 3, Toreros beat San Francisco at the Jenny Craig Pavilion (JCP) with a score of 77-66. Toreros tallied points across the board to earn a win for their record. USD Athletics shared how Horton had nine field goals, the most by a Torero along with Wawszkowicz earning a career high of eight rebounds. Toreros hosted Santa Clara on Feb. 8. During the game, Kaur scored a career high of 18 points.

On Feb. 15, Toreros tallied another win for their season against Pepperdine, scoring 69 points to the 49 scored by Pepperdine waves, keeping them from getting closer than 13 points amid the win. Scoring was once again across the board, with five players scoring a double-digit number of points: Horstmeyer, Neubert, Sheffey and Horton. The team also scored 20 free throws, a new high.

After conquering the waves, Toreros continued to ride the tide with a win against LMU on Feb. 17, scoring 66 points against the Lions’ 50.

“With six assists on the day, Sheffey (129) moved into the single season top-10 in assists, matching Polly Dong (200304) and Lori Morris (1983-84) for the seventh-best total in program history. Next up is Jane Gilpin (130) in sixth,” according to USD Athletics. Sheffey beat this new record not long after, in the next game against Santa Clara.

“With five assists on the day, Sheffey (134) took over sole possession of fifth on single season top-10 in assists. Next up is Cori Woodward (137) in 2015-16 in fourth,” USD Athletics stated.

The final home game of the season for the Lady Toreros was against Saint Mary’s on Saturday Feb. 24. With two games left this season against Pacific on Thursday Feb. 29 and San Francisco on Saturday March 2 at their home gyms, our Toreros celebrate their season victories and accomplishments with pride and excitement.

Lady Toreros not only won their games against Chapman, Portland State, Weber State, CSUN, San Francisco, Pepperdine, LMU and St. Mary’s, but also broke records and accomplished individual goals throughout the duration of the 2023-2024 season with the ability to continue to do so within the next two games.

USD women’s basketball is set to play their next game at Pacific on Thursday, Feb. 29.

Photo courtesy of @usdwbb/Instagram

USD women’s basketball players pictured on their first day of practice this season. Photo courtesy of @usdwbb/Instagram

Baseball preseason and predictions A look at WCC preseason team

PRIYA COOPER ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

As spring comes into full swing, so does the start of the USD men’s baseball season. The team opened their season Feb. 16 with a tournament in Austin, Texas, against the Longhorns.

USD Athletics shared the weight of the victory in game two against Longhorns.

“San Diego’s victory over No. 16 Texas on Saturday marked its third win over a ranked opponent in its last three seasons (March 10, 2023, at No. 16 TCU and May 21, 2022, vs. No. 11 Gonzaga),” according to USD Athletics.

USD sophomore and 2023

All-West Coast Confrence Team member Jack Gurevitch, an infielder for the Torero baseball team, said that while opening up was tough, coming away with only one victory was a great way to get ready for the games ahead.

“We fought hard. I mean, we lost two games, but we came out with one… I didn’t feel for one second that that [other] team was any better than us. Overall, we played a really good game and went forward. If we were to see them again, it’d be really good for us. We’d be ready to go,” Gurevitch said.

The team later had their first non-tournament official season game vs. UC San Diego at home Feb. 21. It was the first home game of the season, and the team pulled away with a win, leading 8-7 over the crosstown rival. The Tritons initiated the scoring in the opening frame, capitalizing on a USD mistake and securing a 3-0 lead, with two runs batted in singles.

In the bottom of the third, USD senior Jack Costello’s hit enabled USD junior Ariel Armas to cross home plate, putting the Toreros on the scoreboard.

Subsequent to that, Jack Gurevitch and USD senior Angelo Peraza — both selected as members of the West Coast Conference Preseason Team for 2024 — each delivered Runs Batted In (RBI) single in consecutive plays, leveling the score at 3-3. Costello delivered the decisive blow with two outs in the bottom of the frame, lacing a looping RBI single into left-center field to plate USD junior Justin DeCriscio from second base, to push USD to victory in its 2024 home opener.

Gurevitch shared how the result of the first home game speaks a lot to the dedication of the team and their desire to make big strides on the field this season.

“It’s a really good team with a good culture. The team meshes very well. Some games we faced a little bit of adversity, but the team has been very strong with the mentality and just overall trust in each other. So I have nothing but the utmost confidence in our team and our coaching staff and basically everyone running the program,” Guervitch said.

Gurevitch also had a chance to talk about the emotions surrounding being selected for the 2024 WCC baseball preseason team.

“It’s an honor. It makes me happy and excited. It’s overall just really cool. If I give credit to my teammates and my coaches for getting to be where I am, I would say I wouldn’t be. I

wouldn’t be in this position to be honored for that, if it wasn’t for basically everyone surrounding

Jack

COMING UP THIS WEEK

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me. But overall, I’m really just thankful to be in that position.”

The main goal of the team this season is to make the postseason, Gurevitch explained.

“The particular goal for the entire team is just to make it to a regional this year. Our team has the depth and definitely the vision to make it that far. And I think if we just stay on the path that we’re on right now, we’ll be fine and we’ll make it there. So I think that’s not only my goal, but everyone’s goal on the team,” Gurevitch said.

Following this victory the team plays Arizona at Fowler Park on Feb. 23, 24 and 25, and hopes to continue the win streak going forward as they prepare for the season.

The team won their games on Friday and Saturday versus University of Arizona and only fell short by one run for the final game on Sunday.

The final scores were 10-8 San Diego and 6-4 San Diego for the first two matches. The last game ended 9-10 with Arizona victorious. Game two was the

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second night in a row, the Torero pitching staff tallied 19 combined strikeouts, a mark that was not recorded as a team in a single game since March 16, 2008.

After the first game against Arizona, USD had a lot to celebrate.

“Friday night’s victory over the Wildcats is USD’s 10th win over a Power-5 opponent since the beginning of the 2022 season, which marked head coach Brock Ungricht first year at the helm in San Diego,” USD Athletics shared.

The Toreros were able to make it a one-run game at 10-9 in the final inning, but fell short despite having two outs and the bases loaded.

Next the team plays California State University, at Northridge on Feb. 27 and UC Irvine on Friday March 1.

After the game on March 1, the Toreros enter a very competitive weekend playing games back to back against UCLA on Saturday and Michigan Sunday, with both games to be played in Los Angeles.

USD BSB at SDSU

Tuesday, March 5 6 p.m. San Diego, CA

USD

Gurevitch earned 2024 WCC Preseason team 2024 on top of 2023 All-WCC Freshman Team. Photo courtesy of @ usdbaseball/Instagram

USD baseball hosts their next home game on March 12 against CSUN at Fowler Park. Photo courtesy of @ortizvisualz/Instagram