VOLUME 51 ISSUE 9 ESTABLISHED IN 1968
THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO WWW.THEUSDVISTA.COM
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Greek Life expands to add new fraternities By Kevin Searle CONTRIBUTOR and
Contributing interviews by:
Brittany Carava
As of next semester, USD’s Greek life community will be expanding. With the approval of campus administrators, two new fraternities will be coming to USD in the next two spring semesters. “I think it’s great that Greek Life is taking over campus,” said Ryan Stoll, a sophomore and an active member of Phi Kappa Theta. At the end of this summer, the Interfraternity Council, a six member governing board with the goal of making the fraternity experience at USD excellent, formed an expansion committee. The committee, composed of the IFC Executive Board; two
members from each fraternity; and a representative from the chapter advisers, has the goal of welcoming new fraternity chapters to USD’s campus in the coming semesters. According to senior Mark Barnett, the IFC President, the group began by looking at eight nationally recognized organizations of varying sizes that Greek Life community. The criteria included their former presence at USD, their success at similar campuses and recent recognition for their excellence. The expansion committee narrowed the potential new chapters down to three existing Greek Life community: Sigma Pi, Delta Upsilon, and Pi Kappa Phi. Sigma Pi is a secret fraternity founded in 1897 at Vincennes University in Indiana. Secret fraternities are those which choose to conceal their
inner functions and secrets from those who are not members. The fraternity has initiated over 95,000 members in its history and currently has 6,000 members spread over its 124 chapters and 5 colonies “[USD] and Sigma Pi have a shared set of values” said Zach Spillner, Sigma Pi’s Director of Expansion. “Our goal in bringing a new chapter to USD is with the hope to effect positive change within the campus culture.” Founded in 1934 at Williams College in Massachusetts, Delta Upsilon is the sixth-oldest all-male fraternity. With 79 active chapters, nearly 4,000 active members and more than 125,000 members since its founding, Delta Upsilon is the largest non-secret fraternity. A non-secret fraternity is one that does not actively conceal its secrets from non-members; Delta Upsilon prefers the term “social
fraternity.” The Executive Director of Delta Upsilon, Justin Kirk, believes that the fraternity and USD would be a values. “Delta Upsilon and the USD both have a strong commitment to creating globally competent, ethically minded, leaders” Kirk said. “Delta Upsilon’s foundational value of justice, commitment to diversity, and non-secrecy would provide a unique opportunity for USD students.” Pi Kappa Phi, often referred to as Pi Kapp, is a secret fraternity founded at the College of Charleston in South Carolina in 1904. Pi Kapp has initiated more than 110,000 members in its history and has nearly 10,000 members in its 178 active chapters. Clint Carlisle, Pi Kapp’s Coordinator of Expansion, said, “Over the years, Pi Kappa Phi has continued to partner with
universities that share our mission by providing students with an opportunity to challenge themselves to develop knowledge, values and skills in order to enrich their lives and empower them to impact their communities.” He believes that “expanding to the University of San Diego would be an ideal opportunity to partner with a university that provides students with an environment that will nurture amongst a new group of men.” Each of the three potential new member fraternities met with staff and alumni, along with IFC and Panhellenic groups. Finally, the potential chapters held campus wide presentations on USD Greek Life community. With these meetings, all those involved See GREEK, Page 3
Wealth gap at USD By Jackson Somes NEWS EDITOR
Before settling on USD for her graduate work, Erica Ruiz decided to tour the campus with her parents. One of the standout features of the campus recognized by her parents was that USD was comprised of of predominantly white students from
Photo Courtesy of Vikki Hambley
USD’s womens cross country team competed in the WCC championships this past weekend. USD’s team finished eighth overall.
XC in WCC championships By Davis Jones
SPORTS EDITOR The Torero cross country program wrapped up its regular season in Malibu, CA last weekend during the 2013 West Coast Conference Championships, with an eighth-place Two weeks before for both the men’s side and the women’s side, we
had one of the best races that we’ve had, so we came from a pretty big high,” USD head coach Will Guarino said. “A lot of personal bests were broken. We also came away with some school records, one on the freshmen side and the other on the senior girls side. And you want to have that kind of momentum going into the conference championships. But at the same time, I felt like something happened along the process where we needed to come back even higher and expect even more from
NEWS 2-4
ourselves at the championship level, which is what we prepare for.” For the women’s race, three USD positions. Senior Gillian Gorelik, who broke the school’s all-time record in the 6km two weeks ago, took 29th place with a time of 22:31. Freshman Andrea Hughes ran a time of 22:55 Padberg (23:12) took 50th place. See RACE, page 16
FEATURE 8-9
generation, oldest in my family and my parents didn’t graduate, they didn’t even go to high school,” Ruiz said. “My dad is a carpenter and there are months where he does construction and even farm work.” After touring the campus, Ruiz’s parents felt they had to make sure that she would be comfortable attending USD given the disconnect between her own background and the apparent backgrounds of the other students who attend the university. Currently, Ruiz is a USD graduate student working to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for students from working class and low income backgrounds at the university. Ruiz said she is suited for the task due to her own personal background. “I feel I can empathize a lot with those students,” Ruiz said. “When we start having those conversations with students it will be a great way to start talking about the elephant in the room.” Ruiz has teamed up with Esteban del Rio, Associate Provost and Inclusion and Diversity director, to plan a series of events and forums to understand student attitudes toward
SPORTS 14-16
Dia De Los Muertos Celebration RateMyProfessor Students and faculty respond to the popular PFL comes to USD Students and faculty come together to rating site during the registration process. Toreros hold on to their standing with celebrate the traditional holiday. a win at Valparaiso. PAGE 2
OPINION 5-7
Use extra semesters to explore opportunities Spending an extra year or two earning your undergraduate degree PAGE 6
PAGES 8-9
ARTS AND CULTURE 10-13
Rock from down under is top notch Australian indie band Atlas Genius is a hit on their current US tour, stopping in San Diego to rock downtown’s House of Blues. PAGE 10
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economic disparity and build empathy for low income students. “Students from more modest backgrounds whose families are just struggling to make it; who every year may be feeling excluded from USD deserve to have a conversation where the university acknowledges class difference,” del Rio said. reasons students decide to leave USD. Within this reasoning also stems the concept that these students from lower income families are not feeling welcomed due to the notion that the seemingly wealthy atmosphere of the university can be a real challenge for working class students. It is this notion that del Rio and Ruiz seek to overcome. Del Rio and Ruiz have developed The Class Project. This is a yearlong program aimed at discussion and data collection of the understanding of what ‘class’ is on campus. A workshop for faculty and staff has already been developed through the Center for Educational Excellence. This workshop provides instruction about how to discuss class within the work of the faculty. Efforts are being made to develop additional workshops for students to help develop empathy for class differences among students and the challenges class presents. By the end of this semester del Rio and Ruiz hope have an understanding of the campus and student attitudes of See DISPARITY, page 3
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The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
NEWS
EDITOR
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Jackson Somes news@usdvista.com
Brittany Carava news2@usdvista.com
Power of Satire
By Jackson Somes NEWS EDITOR
Satire is the mark of a government. A government’s willingness to uphold
Photo Courtesy of Christy Howland
Dia De Los Muertos altar commemorates loved ones that have passed on with photos, posessions and other ceremonial objects
USD celebrates Dia De Los Muertos
the resignation of President Hosni
Students and faculty observe the traditional holiday
agreed to step down. After a period of
By Brittany Carava
president.
ASST. NEWS EDITOR of the loaf representing sorrow and the
Bassem Youssef transitioned from of life.
immigrants in the United States. She has and Youssef earned international praise
supporter of Youssef and praised his work several times.
those who are no longer living. With and even favorite foods and drinks deeds.
Brittany Carava / The Vista
ACHA Dia de los Muertos celebration featured traditional facepainting
going to instal a regime similar to the
or multiple loaves of pan de muerto Students also took part in traditional
worked to overthrow. To highlight this fear of an issued a warrant for Youssef’s arrest. that Youssef’s insults of President Morsi had harmed national interests.
Ethics and environmental justice By Clay Mosolino CONTRIBUTOR
invited to speak on the limited progress
Youssef’s arrest. He was released on Salomon Hall was full of students as pollution and poor worker health as
This
series
honors
Professor
are essential for the health of the Peña makes the point that the state
of Washington. He is well known for
government’s strength resides in its
Peña is the founder and president of the
The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
3
NEWS
Wealth disparity events Events planned for class discussion
DISPARITY, continued from Front Page class and wealth disparity through a survey and an open forum discussion
from the new Freshman class.“Students really changed with this new class. Student’s are showing up to stuff that
Start painting that elephant in the informed basis of student attitudes del sustained events to drive campuswide discussion about class and develop empathy for working class students and families. The idea that this university is a place for students from only wealthy backgrounds was referred to by del stereotype is still alive and true. “It’s the University of Spoiled
Freshman orientation. Assistant Dean of the Center for Student Success Merrick Marino was a core member in the restructuring of orientation. redesign and reinvent out orientation experience and approach it from a very This reimagining consisted of moving the orientation process from the focus campuswide process.
“It’s a call as a Catholic institution to be inclusive and to make sure that everybody’s dignity is recognized.” Esteban del Rio consisting said. “The stereotype is spoiled rich kids; I can’t think of a better way of
of
members
from
the Assistant Dean of the College of
agree that events and discussion about class disparity are a step in the right direction. “I think the events are a good
Marino said. By ‘culture work’ Marino is referring to intentionally setting out
overcoming a possible lack of student engagement by reaching out to
the USD culture. A central feature involved in attempting to shape the perceptions students have about the USD culture is encouraging the discussion of class and wealth. “We know going in that there are common perceptions and
participation and support but also felt
Greek Life to grow GREEK, continued from Front Page completed evaluations to submit their feedback on their interactions with
something new and two I think there are students who aren’t interested in our current experience but would be interested in creating something new
the committee voted on extending an Marino these stereotypes are inaccurate because there are many USD students from low income backgrounds. Special receptions for certain groups of students such as a Black Student Success reception were among some of the changes to orientation. Further changes included a night
said Womack. passed on as a suggestion to Cynthia
community seem to be excited about 25 percent of the university’s students
USD community. With the approval of
addition of new fraternities on campus will likely help that number grow. students looking to rush a fraternity
icebreaking activities and making Assistants more integral to orientation process. These changes were made with hopes that students will connect with each other in a way that no previous orientation had accomplished. “That’s really the only way you can
The planned economic disparity events are intended to work alongside the new orientation to change the campus climate regarding class and wealth to make working class students comfortable on campus. “It’s a call as a Catholic institution to be inclusive and to make sure that everybody’s dignity culture has an underdeveloped approach to class. Often a connection is made between being poor and being “In America there is a misconception that if you work hard enough you’ll achieve whatever you want; you’ll get
and those students are excited about will begin the work in January to establish a chapter in time for spring recruitment. The representative will stay in San Diego through the entire semester and assist in the recruitment and establishment process. The members from both the upper and lower classes that they feel embody the core values of the fraternity and can help the new chapter to be successful. USD administration is excited to
excited because “It will give more people the opportunity to be in a lot of great fraternities to choose from. excited to acquire new chapters and welcome them into the campus community. the USD community is ready for have a strong support system as the new chapter becomes acclimated to
be fraternity men but not enough room in our current groups to accommodate
process is a great model for other present for the entire year and helped the new members become accustomed
Womack. Sophomore Maddie Moe agrees place. “We’ll probably see an increase because when you start something new
Moe. “Honestly it will be nice as well to have more even numbers during
Public Public Safety Safety Report Report
Thursday, October 31st
Thursday, October 31st Friday, November 1st
Location: Manchester Village Bike Rack At 3:28 p.m. Public Safety responded to the report of of a theft. Upon investigation, unknown suspect(s) stole a student’s secured bicycle between 10/29 at 7 a.m. and 10/31 at 3 p.m.
At 11:50 p.m. Public Safety responded to the report of an intoxicated student. Upon investigation, the student was determined to be able to care for herself and was released to her residence.
At 4:29 p.m. Public Safety responded to the report of a theft. Upon investigation, unknown suspect(s) stole a ping pong table on 11/1 at approximately 3:45 p.m.
Sunday, November 3rd
Sunday, November 3rd
Sunday, November 3rd
Location: San Miguel Archangel Hall
Location: Founders Hall
Location: San Rafael Hall
Location: Maher Hall
At 1:39 a.m. Public Safety responded to the report of
At 1:37 a.m. Public Safety responded to the report of an intoxicated student. Upon an intoxicated student. Upon investigation, the student was investigation,the student was determined to be able to care determined to be able to care for herself and was released for himself and was released to his residence. to her residence.
Location: Sports Center Main Building
At 1:03 a.m. Public Safety responded to the report of a simple assault. Upon investigation, two students engaged in a physical altercation. No injuries were reported. Image by Gabriel VanHelsing/Wikimedia Commons Colleen Buffington/The Vista
Editorial – 619.260.4584 Business – 619.206.4714 www.theusdvista.com
Taylor Cabalse- Editor in Chief Jordan Ondatje - Finance Director Alex LaClergue - Advertising Manager Katelyn Montero - Associate Editor Ian Rodgers - Managing Editor Ivy Guild - Art Director Jackson Somes- News Editor Brittany Carava- Asst. News Editor Kendall Tich - Opinion Editor Sara Butler- Asst. Opinion Editor Hannah Bucklin - Feature Editor
Khea Pollard - Arts & Culture Editor Maya Arrieta - Asst. Arts & Culture Editor Davis Jones - Sports Editor Hunter Jameson - Asst. Sports Editor Hannah Holmquist - Copy Editor Kevin Nelson - Photography Editor Shannon Henley - Web Editor Colleen Buffington - Graphic Designer Gina Lew - Student Media Advisor Marie Minnick - Operations Advisor
The Vista publication is written and edited by USD students and funded by revenues generated by advertising and a student fee. Advertising material published is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an commercial venues by the staff or University. The Vista ion in room 403B. All inquiries should be sent to: The Vista 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 all copies thereafter are 25 cents charge. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necesor of its student body. bers and writer’s year must be included in the letter. The Vista reserves the right to edit published letters. Any content sent to the editor will be considered for publication unless otherwise stated.
4
NEWS
The Vista | Thursday November 7, 2013
Change lives.
Men’s Health Event The Mo’ You Know Nov. 9, 9:00AM Rancho Bernardo, CA
Earn your MSW in San Diego
877.364.0433 www.usc.edu/socialwork
Upcoming Events Thursday, November 7th
Tuesday, November 12th
Wednesday, November 13th
Peace and Hope:
The Haitian Project:
Alumni Happy Hour with the College of Arts and Sciences
Addressing Human Rights Abuse in Latin America
Subsidiary, Solidarity and the Importance of Catholic Missionary Work in Haiti Time: 12:15 p.m.
Place: Joan B. Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice Room 219
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Place: Joan B. Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice Theater
Place: O’Toole’s Lounge
Cost: Free
Cost: Free
Cost: Free
17th Annual James Bond Stockdale Symposium
An Evening of Music from Mexico, Indonesia, China and America
Place: Shiley Theater Place: Shiley Theater
Teaching Credential Information Session
Place: Mother Rosalie Hill Hall Room 137 Cost: Free
The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
OPINION Is bullying present on college campuses? By Chelsea McLin CONTRIBUTOR
Since high school, we have left behind a lot of things we’ll probably never have to encounter again: back-toback classes every day, rotten cafeteria food and physical education. However, one thing we thought had been long forgotten makes a reappearance on many college campuses. This is bullying. Bullying is usually associated with high school, junior high or elementary school. It’s seen as something so juvenile that there is no way an adult could engage in it. But bullying has taken a new form that we overlook and just write-off as someone being mean. Freshman Paine Harris agrees that bullying has appeared on campus in a new light. “It’s a different kind of bullying.” Harris said. “It’s not the same childish bullying you might see where someone is excluded from a table or they’re treated badly because they look a certain way. It might be deeper. Someone might be mean to you because they’re having a bad day or because they might not like you for whatever reason. Bullying exists, but we just see it as someone being mean.” The main reason people believe that bullying disappears after high school is that there is no exact word for it. According to Fabianna Pergolizzi, CEO and President of Project AntiBully, the word “bully” itself is trivial and we don’t associate it with college students, but bullying is present our whole lives. Pergolizzi says that bullying in college is actually worse because there
Kevin Nelson/ The Vista
Bullying does not cease to exist after high school. While less noticeable, it is still apparent on college campuses, including USD.
is more competition in the college setting than there is in high school. In college, the main focus is to graduate and get into a great career. However, students have to beat out other students to stand out for these careers. The less competition, the better, which means the smallest groups on
campus are the easiest targets. News writer for Nea Today, Cindy Long, reports, “Most bully victims are targeted for their differences, and high achieving minority students might be targeted for not conforming to social stereotypes.” But can bullying really happen on the USD campus which aims for
diversity and inclusion? Freshman Vickell John-Baptiste believes that it can, but it’s in a way that’s overlooked by most. “It’s not traditional,” JohnBaptiste said. “Bullying takes the form of isolation. If you don’t look like the norm, then you will be ostracized. Especially at USD, there is a certain
5
persona of the ‘cool crowd.’ People who haven’t been around other cultures don’t understand and think it is okay to joke with racist comments.” We think bullying has been phased out because we think we have outgrown it, but that is not the case. Our differences act as barriers that allow people to stereotype others. Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention says that 18.5 percent college undergraduate report being bullied once or twice. Freshman Paola Coronado perceives bullying as a constant part of life. “I have friends who have personally been bullied for being Mexican with crude comments,” Coronado said. “Bullying isn’t phased out because people are always trying to put down other people. I think it happens all around the world. It doesn’t matter if you’re 50 years old, 30 years old, or 20 or 18. The only way to phase out bullying is to make people understand that everyone is different. We’re all just humans.” So should USD students worry that they might be bullied during their time in school? It’s something we should all be aware of. Just because something isn’t as extreme as the bullying we once knew in high school doesn’t mean it’s not bullying. It still has lasting effects on the victims who are unfortunate enough to encounter it. Bullying is something we should open our eyes to. USD has a handful of students who are of a variety of different ethnicities and races, so it is important that we become more culturally aware to connect students campus wide and maintain a healthy environment for all students.
Get to know your AS President All Things USD Alex Hermann Favorites What are your involvements on campus?
Favorite Movie: The Blind Side “I love pretty much any movie with Sandra Bullock in
“Currently, I devote my time to Associated Students and Beta Theta Pi. Previously, I was involved in University Ministry, Residential Life and Undergraduate Admissions.”
Favorite tv shows: Scandal & Full house
What is your favorite part of your job as A.S. president? “I love the opportunity to hang out with lots of different people and make new friends.” Photo Courtesy of Alex Hermann
What do you like the most about San Diego? new breakfast places.”
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
Year: Senior Major: Communication Studies Minor: Leadership Studies Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
Favorite sport: College basketball “I like watching college basketball. My favorite team is the Toreros, of course. Also, I have been to the Final Four twice, in St. Louis and Indiana.”
WANTED
A business editor as snazzy as this guy. editor@usdvista.com The views expressed in the Opinion section are not necessarily those of The Vista staff, the University of San Diego or its student body.
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The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
OPINION A discourse on death
EDITOR
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Kendall Tich opinion@usdvista.com
Sara Butler opinion2@usdvista.com
Use extra semesters to explore opportunities By Sara Butler
ASST. OPINION EDITOR
By Kendall Tich
OPINION EDITOR Growing up in the American culture, we are socialized to treat death as something that happens, but is not discussed unless it is imminent or brought up again after someone passes away. Perhaps this is because it is so unexplainable and unknown that it scares us or maybe it is something that we don’t start thinking about until we are older. Whatever the reason, no one really talks about it at all unless they are nearing the end of their lives or watching someone who is. Death is a frightening, foreboding presence in our society as well as in our personal lives and its inevitable existence should not be ignored nor forgotten. In fact, in many other cultures, death is not seen as such a taboo, untellable subject. After a presentation in my sociology class about Dia de Los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead,” I have been questioning the way our society thinks and feels about death. For those who are unfamiliar with Day of the Dead, it is a Mexican holiday celebrated in Mexico and across other countries and cultures as well. During the holiday, which takes place Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 each year, family members and friends gather to pray for lost loved ones and celebrate their lives. We seldom see these types of gatherings in American culture unless it is immediately following someone’s death and there is a funeral or wake. While death isn’t something that talked about, it should at least be recognized because after all, it is an inevitable part of life. The speaker who came to my sociology class talked about the fact that during Dia de Los Muertos, people often look to better understand themselves through the death of others. While this seems gruesome for many Americans, it’s an opportunity to connect with those who have passed in a way that helps you better understand yourself. Rather than grieving and then moving on, it allows people to continuously remember those who have passed by celebrating their lives and the way their legacies have carried on in subsequent generations. In most cases here in the U.S. when someone passes away, although we continue to remember them, we tend to leave their passing in the past and very seldom does it come up as an in-depth conversation. We often remember them for who they were when they were alive instead of beginning a new memory in the form of the legacy they leave behind for us. My mom’s mother recently passed away, but with her passing came a new understanding of my mom, my family and myself. Everyone has always told me that I remind them of my mom when she was my age. I used to laugh this off knowing that even though I am similar to my mom, I am still my own person. However, after reminiscing on the times I have had with my grandma and my family, I have gained a deeper understanding of what it means to leave something behind when you pass away. I may not be exactly like my mom and she may not have been exactly like her mom, but the values, beliefs and traditions that my grandma has passed on to both my mom and me have become ingrained into my personality and my life. In realizing that those who die leave something behind for their loved ones to carry on into the future, we are better able to appreciate and celebrate their lives in a way that allows us to comfortably remember them and talk about them even long after they are gone. There are very few people who will say they do not fear death. As college students, we act as though death is too far in the future to talk about. For most people in their twenties, this is true, yet we will be exposed to death around us for long before it is our time to go. By not talking about it, we are not preparing ourselves for the passing of loved ones. We think it isn’t ever going to happen to us yet it’s something that occurs in our world every second. By celebrating the lives of those own identities through the death of loved ones, it will be easier for death to be talked about in our society and for the memories of those who have died to live on even long after their passing.
Four year university, four years of parties, four years of classes: this is the four year package. The typical college narrative usually includes four years working toward an undergraduate degree. However, what happens when this year plan? USD advertisements and recruiters attract potential students by hinting at the promise of a making the four year package a reality. As a medium sized over many large, public schools in California. The size of our campus means less competition for spots in classes when it comes to registration, providing easier access to classes students need to graduate. These classes also tend to be smaller in size, allowing students to directly engage in the material and participate in one-on-one discussions with their professors. supportive learning environment that should increase the rate of four-year graduation. However, the amount of time spent in college earning an undergraduate college diploma is increasing among college students, and USD is no exception to this trend. According to the USD website, our university only has an average 65 percent rate of students graduating in four years, with a 74 percent rate for The average four year college degree may be becoming more of a myth than a standard. Sophomore Allison DeHart has for her to graduate in four years. “With registration fast approaching, I have been trying to
Photo Courtesy of Lumax Art Flickr/CC
Graduating late may happen for many different reasons. Involvements with internships and jobs may affect coursework, or prompt the need for a lighter schedule. Problems at home or personal issues may be distracting, making grades suffer or requiring a leave of absence. Problems with registration or credit transfers may mean that a student may not complete enough units
semesters, to craft a schedule that allows me to juggle two majors and the
senior year rolls around. All of these various obstacles interfere with the four year track and raise the rates of late graduation. Many colleges are approaching this growing issue with new methods of attack, including lowering tuition, improving counseling services and offering academic workshops for registration and exploring possible majors. Keeping students on the four year track allows universities, such as USD, to improve their rankings as well as keep their campuses from overcrowding. However, will a few extra semesters at the university really hurt a USD student? Granted, graduating on time does
program,” Brantley said. “Even at a small university it can be hard to get the classes you need.”
Spending more than eight semesters in college means more tuition payments, as well as forgone
at USD,” DeHart said. “With all of the core classes USD requires, it is nearly impossible for me to graduate with my double major of Behavioral Neuroscience and Spanish. If I want to be done in four years, I am going to have to choose between my Spanish major or minor.” Senior Oliver Brantley is currently deciding whether he will be graduating this spring or staying a few extra semesters at USD. “I may graduate late because
wages or salaries from potential job offers after graduation. However, taking a little longer to graduate may not be as bad as it seems. These things can also lead you to learn a lot about life. In your adult life, issues will arise. You may not be able to pay this month’s rent, or a relative may pass away. By learning how to adapt to these situations in college, you are better equipped to handle them in the real world. Adding semesters may make your time in college more manageable and enjoyable. “Graduating late would be ease my workload for next semester,” Brantley said. “I’m currently registered for 18 credits but I have to weigh my options. For me, it’s not a matter of getting it over with, but rather if I can reasonably manage that kind of schedule.” Other times, graduating late is by choice; the extra years are an exploration. Maybe traveling abroad pushed you back a semester, or maybe you changed your major three or four times. The more time you spend exploring different worlds and opportunities in college, the better chance you will have at truly knowing what you want to do after graduation. Sometimes graduating late may
to work a job in order to pay for your in four years. However, you can use this to your advantage. Working in college may teach you a lot of life lessons and balancing tricks. If you graduate late because you this addition to your resume may actually put you at an advantage over other applicants fresh out of college without any work experience. In the workplace, most employers do not ask how long it took you to earn your degree; they are more likely to ask about past employment. Many students do live out the four year plan, go off with their degree and conquer the world. But how many of us will look at that piece of paper and be unsure where to step? While it is not always the case, sometimes graduating late can be a good thing. It can boost your maturity and graduation. It may teach you about how to deal with tricky situations, or help you to be sure what you want to do with the rest of your life. be the key to getting a closer answer to the lifelong question: what do you want to do with the rest of your life?
Spotlight on “Cajita” project Inspired by Dia de Los Muertos, Dr. Camacho’s Sociology 216 D class created “cajitas”, or little boxes, to represent themselves and their ancestry. This project was adapted from the assignment developed by Dr. Pulido for his Ethnic Studies courses. These cajitas were tributes to loved ones who have passed, as in Serra Hall, with one featured below.
Allyson Meyer Sophomore
“My cajita represents who I am both ethnically and personally. The multiple pictures represent my Irish heritage and the importance I place on family in my life. My name, a family name, is also represented through those pictures. They are a reminder of my past and the importance of knowing where you come from. The picture in the upper left-hand corner is of my greatgreat uncle who was killed during World War II. His middle name was Allyson, and sharing his name is a constant reminder of his legacy. The sewing items, recipe and Relay for Life bracelet are a memorial to my grandma who passed away from cancer four years ago, and the origami flower and the Not On My Watch bracelet are a reminder that suicide has impacted my life, and the need to spread awareness and educate people about suicide prevention. Lastly, there are many references throughout the box to my love for travel and understanding different cultures and identities.” -Allyson Meyer
The views expressed in the Opinion section are not necessarily those of The Vista staff, the University of San Diego or its student body.
The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
7
OPINION
Why we go to great lengths for great opportunities behind my family and all my friends.
Amidst the struggle of balancing AP classes, tennis and a social life, I
By Lucy Meske CONTRIBUTOR
leaped into situating into a new home, surrounded by strangers. In the past, industrialization has
A transition from country to country can be pretty similar to that of a college freshman. I’ve realized this as I On the tour with my Ethnic Studies class, we were given insight into the
my life down the road when selecting my choice. millions of students to college each year brings immigrants over the border each day.
“Though the physical environment is truly paradise, it can be lonely at times as well as stressful making my expectations.”
understanding to some of the things we learned about in class.
process of merely getting past the physical boundary created by the
the border, where there are more
even dangerous. Visas and
other
legal
“The same allure that brings millions of students to college each year brings immigrants over the border each day.”
harmed the environment and people conditions are seen as unethical. One woman we met, told us the factories didn’t even allow them to go to the bathroom and her sister developed an infection from the harsh conditions. Another large economic reason the pay. While minimum wage in California is $8 an hour, according to
higher reward. I have experienced this in my own As a senior in high school, the road to college seemed a long way before I could leave the nest. were stressful for most, especially a one the minute it was due. In my high school career, it was four years of solid grades, participation in community service and leadership in clubs that were a huge attribute for getting into college.
turn to dangerous ways of crossing the border. mile-long row of crosses. Our tour guide pointed out that the crosses symbolize the illegal immigrants who died trying to cross the border. According to the tour, more than 7,000 immigrants have died since 1994. of the desire to come to America, and said freshman Ashley Joshi. Although many obstacles stand
their families behind. I’m sure it can be tough coming to that is not your native tongue and in order to provide for them. measures one may go for greater opportunity. Having to adapt to a new place can be scary. For me, I chose to move to the Southern side of the west coast with high expectations of endless sunshine and a new change of scenery. I left
is truly paradise, it can be lonely at
to cut down the cost for an education here. But when it comes down to it, it is worth the cost. “Part of the price comes with a smaller school’s strength of said. “I wanted to go to a school in which I would be more than a number As the saying goes, “the greater We gravitate toward opportunity. College is not only full of them, but also grants many freedoms. It’s our choice what we eat, how often we go to class and what we do in our spare time.
with college’s expectations. I can’t imagine how it must feel crossing the border into a foreign
provide food and money for a family.
absolutely no one.
opening experience.
be hard to accustom to, for Mexican
I realized not only was it more than its stereotype, but also realized how blessed we are with the opportunities we are given each day.
provides an economic opportunity that is an absolute necessity for one’s family.
“Whether it be from high school to college, or from one country to another one, the journey is like a roller coaster ride.” College is a great economic cost one to decide if they can afford, or Even other colleges involve some
with high hopes, we too have great expectations for the future. Whether it be from high school to college, or from one country to another ride. and turns, but we hope to survive with only more promising adventures ahead.
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Letters to the Editor Policy
Consider InstaSize your allin-one photo application. It is application that let’s you choose the perfect companion to your Instagram, as it allows you to
highlights products at different shopping centers or malls, using
messaging through text, audio, are a variety of categories to potential Instagram photos choose images from, including below you post them. Any size popular, abstract, cartoon, sci- photo can be uploaded and
the best deals as well as features
photographs and designs will borders with different colors and
products you buy regularly, you
more exciting or inviting. Some popular wallpapers include bird’s eye views of different cities, artsy pictures of tropical beaches and animal prints from real photographs.
onto your photos, such as text,
your next shopping trip. Also, scanning items you buy helps
Correspondence should be sent to editor@ usdvista.com with the subject line “Letter to the Editor.” Letters for the up-coming edition are due Saturday by 6 p.m.
Submissions should be limited to 500 words and must include verifiable contact information. Letter content is subject to editing for clarity and style.
both of you touch the same spot your phones vibrate at the same time. Couples allows you to build a timeline of all of your special moments and memories together.
The Vista strongly encourages letters to the editor from students, faculty, staff, administration and the community.
helps eliminate the individual photo editing application on your phone, combining all your needs into one single application.
different promotions and sales at
earned points in the application that can be redeemed as gift cards at some of these stores.
The Vista does not publish anonymous letters, those addressed to a third party or letters in poor taste.
The views expressed in the Opinion section are not necessarily those of The Vista staff, the University of San Diego or its student body.
The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
8
FEATURE
FEATURE
ART DIRECTOR
Hannah Bucklin feature@usdvista.com
Ivy Guild iguild@usdvista.com
RATE MY
PROFESSORS
NAME
OPINION ON RATE MY PR
Kami Shabaz
“When it comes to RateMyProfess stories and opinions on there, how
Senior
Professor Diane Keeling
“From a rhetorical perspective, all case, RateMyProfessor puts the e doesn’t measure how much a stud overall GPA. That would be useful
Junior
“RateMyProfessor is a great tool RateMyProfessor when choosing
Professor Larry Williamson
“You know you're getting passé w
Sam Khajenoori
Sarah White Sophomore
Professor Thomas Orourke
“Whenever I am trying to decide class already, but I also always c there ends up being true. I like it the teacher as a person not just w had a 2.5 for easiness because a
“I used to view the reviews of fello myself skimming most of the goo fessor format seemed to magnify out on the site, as I had with loca never offer their own photo or rea this reviewer. So, as long as thes hold a grudge against an instruct
The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
9
FEATURE University of San Diego
Search
Web
ROFESSOR
sor I definitely think you have to take it with a grain of salt. I tend to see a lot of exaggerated wever I continuously rely on it when I’m registering for classes.”
information contains a bias or constructs a particular way of viewing the world. In this emphasis in education on the professor rather than the student-professor relationship. It dent learned in the course, how much effort a student put into the course, or the student’s l information when interpreting the evaluations.”
for students to utilize in order to find a professor that suites their learning abilities. I use g my classes.”
when the last "hotness" chili you got was eight years ago and probably self-generated.”
on what teachers to take for my classes I try to talk to my friends who may have taken the check RateMyProfessor. Even though it isn’t always accurate, a lot of the information on because it’s written by students for students. I also like it because it usually tells you about whether or not they’re an easy grader or not. I picked one of my teachers even though she all of the comments talked about how life changing her class would be.”
ow graduate teaching associates during grad school out of simple curiosity, but found od reviews, while savoring the nasty ones. I realized that, like Yelp reviews, the RateMyProy a human perception flaw -- our tendency to notice negative over the positive. So I tuned al TV news shows years before. Also, unlike at Yelp, the reviewers at RateMyProfessor al name to go along with their reviews, and readers cannot see the other reviews posted by se reviewers are anonymous, posting a review will be especially attractive to students who tor. That is unfortunate, as the site offers a potentially valuable service.” Images courtesy of Hannah Bucklin, Sarah White and the University of San Diego. Ivy Guild/The Vista
Ivy Guild/The Vista
10
The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
ARTS & CULTURE Cheating death
EDITOR
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Khea Pollard arts@usdvista.com
Maya Arrieta arts2@usdvista.com
Rock from down under is top notch
Atlas Genius visited The House of Blues downtown for U.S. tour By Kevin Nelson and Evan Westerberg
By Khea Pollard ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR It’s natural for us to want to have people, places and things forever. We act as though Earth is all that exists in a very large universe. It’s normal to miss loved ones who’ve passed on but some of us presume there is no life after death and are afraid of what lies beyond the grave. Even discussing it prompts fear in many conversations. There are different stages to death. When the heart stops beating the brain is not always 100 percent dead. Therefore, reviving those who have experienced sudden death is a viable possibility. I recently read an article by Rachel Nuwer on BBC’s website about technology that allows us to resuscitate dead bodies after hours, or even days after their passing. The science behind this involves preserving cells in the body before they commit programmed suicide, also known as apoptosis. We would have to lower the body’s core temperature low enough to prevent this from occurring and causing major cellular damage upon resuscitation. Countries such as Japan and New Zealand have implemented these resuscitation techniques with very high success rates. According to the article, we have the same resources for resuscitation techniques here in America. These untapped resources are grounds for an ethical dilemma. Is that truly something we want? Some would say we are tempting fate. My mother always says ‘when it’s time to go, it’s just time to go,’ in regards to mortality. There are so many puzzling questions that arise when I think about changing the course of fate. If death is monitored by a force larger than human beings, do we have the right to alter it? Fate may in fact be a man-made creation to account for the sporadic nature of life. Yes, occasionally, I walk from class to class and think about these things. In our day-to-day interaction on campus, most of us talk about things that matter, or not. Hopefully, death doesn’t dominate any of your friendly conversations. I recall discussing death at length in philosophy class at length last semester. I remember talking When we discussed it as a class the atmosphere grew somber. We thought about death’s aftermath, the soul leaving the body, philosophical stuff indeed. The majority agreed the soul is a lasting entity separate from the body. This made me wonder why we cherish the physical so intensely. It makes sense to miss a loved one’s touch, their smile. The body is a vessel for pleasure with the soul existing at the center, assuming it exists. Ideally, the soul is what we fall in love with when we get to know another person. If the soul is everlasting, then the connection between two people is everlasting too, right? So, what we really mourn are memories, the loss of this connection. We lose something comfortable, reassuring, and it’s scary. We’ll do anything to prevent it. Likewise, after someone we care about dies, we don’t know where they’re headed next. That too makes us uneasy. Maybe it’s American culture that has taught us to fear death. We are a culture that fears the unknown. For all we know, life after death is 1,000 times better than life here on Earth. There could be a grand utopia in the sky just awaiting us once our Earthly memberships expire. I’m not referring to this space as “heaven” purposely, because there is no concrete evidence heaven exists either. During this class discussion I could see everyone’s wheels turning. That’s something far more promising than cheating death and bringing back the dead. To know people are thinking critically about something deeper than the VMAs and baby Blue Ivy is always inspiring. As far as cheating death goes, I live by the mentality of ‘if we can conceive it, we can achieve it.’ If we become so technologically advanced that we can stop death in its tracks, kudos to us. Unfortunately, we cannot revive those who’ve been dead for extensively long periods of time, yet. One day we will be a race of immortal human beings. Just you wait.
Atlas Genius took to the stage at the House of Blues in downtown San Diego during their current U.S. Tour on Sunday,Nov. 3. Atlas Genius, an Australian alternative rock band, was formed in 2009 and is best known for its hit single “Trojans”. It wasn’t an easy road to the House of Blues stage from their hometown in Adelaide, Australia however. The band, featuring brothers Keith and Michael Jeffrey as well as Darren Sell, began as a cover band until 2011 when it entered its original single “Trojans” into an Australian radio station talent competition. The single took off and topped Billboard’s Top Alternative Songs at number four. In February, the band released its debut album titled “When It Was Now,” as well as a second single “If So,” which peaked at number eight on Billboard’s Top Alternative Songs. Last Sunday’s show featured opening act Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., a Detroit-based band led by Daniel Zott and Joshua Epstein. The band is currently touring with Atlas Genius and once they hit the stage it became evident why. The band kicked off the concert with the song “Run” from its 2013 album “The Speed of Things”. Between the bands high energy, Zott’s crazy stage antics, whipping his long and wild hair in the face of the front row, and the big blinking Jr. Jr. signs, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. caused the crowd to go into a frenzy. The second act, Family of the Year (FOTY), was a change of pace from the upbeat Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. The Los Angeles-based band mixes indie music with folk storytelling, creating a unique sound between the male voice of lead singer Joseph Keefe and female singer Christina Schroeder. A heartfelt moment occurred when FOTY’s drummer Sebastian Keefe, brother of Joseph Keefe, came to the mic to sing a duet that spoke about the bands hard times trying to make it big. The bands night was capped off by playing its hit song “Hero,” a song that reached number 12 on Billboard’s Top Alternative Tracks. Following FOTY’s set the curtains anticipation on what was to come. After a long wait the curtains receded beams of bright blue lights, almost blinding the crowd. walked onto the stage quietly before a voice counted in the band. As soon Atlas Genius and sending the crowd into an uproar. Atlas Genius continued the concert with a set of fast-paced and upbeat songs including the hit single “If So.” Halfway through the set the
Kevin Nelson/ The Vista
Australian alternative rock band Atlas Genius took to the House of Blues stage in downtown San Diego last Sunday. Above: Atlas Genius performs their hit single “Trojans” infront of an energetic crowd. Below: Atlas Genius lead singer and guitarist Keith Jeffrey.
show hit a snag when lead singer Keith Jeffery went to change guitars between songs and a complication with his guitars connection to the sound system occurred. After two or three minutes of chaotic running around by the stage crew, the show was ready to resume and the band did not skip a beat. Keith Jeffrey rocked around making as much use of the small stage as possible, and even found himself in the front rows of the crowd getting the intimate House of Blues audience involved in the show. Atlas Genius walked off the stage but the crowd chanted for more. An encore ensued and the show wasn’t complete until the band played its most popular song: “Trojans.” The crowd sang along as the band played, ending the night on the highest note possible. Although a relatively small-time band, Atlas Genius brought the house down with a concert that featured fantastic opening acts, a brilliant light show and excellent crowd participation. It was only four years ago that Atlas Genius was covering songs of other bands in Australian bars but now it is sharing the stage with bands like Grouplove, Young the Giant and Imagine Dragons. It seems as though the band from down under is no longer on the bottom.
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The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
11
ARTS & CULTURE
The Blacklist may be the new Breaking Bad NBC’s new television show The Blacklist is quickly gaining popularity By Brittany Carava ASST. NEWS EDITOR
its viewers at San Diego’s Comic-Con this past summer and fans were left anticipating the Sept. 23 premiere. Social media started to buzz as soon as the pilot was released. “An advanced screening of the show has earned the network an overwhelming amount of positive buzz as the fall TV season draws closer,” said an article from social media tracker “Lost Remote.” In just a little over a month since airing, “The Blacklist” has gained over 30,000 followers on Twitter and 280,000 likes on Facebook. The marketing team publishes daily posts and reaches out to viewers with exclusive behind-the-scenes info to keep fans engaged while they anxiously await the next week’s episode. Another interesting element to the series is the music that is included on the show’s soundtrack. Everything from Dean Martin to The Rolling
One of the most dramatic and action packed new shows this fall, NBC’s “The Blacklist” combines crime drama with psychopathic criminals to create an extremely engaging series. “Boston Legal” stars as Raymond “Red” Reddington, an ex-government agent turned “Concierge of Crime.” He abandons his family and starts selling countries while involving himself in After 20 years on the run, Reddington mysteriously turns himself into the FBI, where he offers to help catch a laundry list of highorganized criminals. He does this only on the condition that he only works directly with new FBI agent Elizabeth Keen, played by Megan Boone of “My Bloody Valentine” fame. Reddington’s connection to Keen is unknown, which leads viewers to wonder if she has secrets of her own. Each episode leaves viewers wanting more as Reddington and members of Reddington’s “Blacklist.” At the end of each week, viewers are left hanging as one case closes and another opens with a preview of what to expect for the following week. Along with this main storyline every episode, there are other subplots involving Keen’s husband, Tom, a seemingly innocent schoolteacher who is possibly connected to the world of crime. Fans of the psychological thriller “Silence of the Lambs” and crime drama “The Usual Suspects” will love the duo that Spader and Boone create as the notorious criminal and the bold investigator. So far there have been seven
scenes, bringing viewers closer to the action. Now that both popular crime dramas “Dexter” and “Breaking Bad” have come to a close, fans may be looking for another addicting program
Photo Courtesy of NBC
Psychopathic criminal Ranko Zamani (Jaime Jackson) holdsTom Keen (Ryan Eggold) hostage in NBC’s new hit crime drama, The Blacklist.
episodes, each with their own villain to cheer against. The eighth episode is scheduled to premiere this Monday, Nov. 11. Viewers are left on the edge of their seats as Reddington and Agent Keen track down these dangerous offenders and get wrapped up in the highly detailed tactics of these criminal masterminds. “James Spader as Red Reddington is creepy, but somehow
still charming enough to make every single bit of advice he gives worth considering, in spite of inevitable consequences,” USD senior Scott Robertson said. Senior Meg Marcum agrees with Robertson, “I think that James Spader as Reddington is great. The way the characters act make me want him to come out on top, even though he is sort of the bad guy,” said
Marcum. Created by Jon Bokenkamp, this thrilling series was touted as “one of the juiciest picks on the fall menu,” by the New York Post. Bokenkamp weaves a web of thrilling car chases, active bombs aimed at politicians and two-faced humanitarians that keep the viewer sucked in for the hour-long program.
that these three series all have in common is an unusual hero to root for. Serial killers, drug dealers and international crime extraordinaires aren’t typical protagonists but with each character, there is something that provokes viewers to connect and root for them anyways. With the increasing popularity of “The Blacklist,” it’s possible that it can satisfy viewers’ needs for an addicting crime drama that will keep them guessing. If you haven’t been keeping up with The Blacklist, you can watch the or watch live on Mondays at 10 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Mayumi Nashida
Indie music group Lovelife stopped in San Diego on Oct. 28 for their fall tour.
Lovelife is indie with mainstream appeal By Olivia Lougee CONTRIBUTOR
Performing for a sold out audience, the upbeat, dark and electronic band, Lovelife, opened for The Neighbourhood at The House of Blues downtown. While many might be unfamiliar with Lovelife, there is no doubt that this is a group to look into. Formerly known as Viva Brother, the band split up in 2012. Lead singer Lee Newell and his group left their homes in England and headed to Brooklyn, N.Y. for a fresh start and new inspiration.
offers unique music that draws the attention of the crowd and captivates the audience. Guitarist Sam Jackson and keyboardist Ally Young explained how their music differs from other types of mainstream music heard today. “We incorporate a little bit of everything. as a sort of mash-up and make Lovelife sound the way it does. There’s a lot of collaboration involved and as an electronic band, we make all of the music ourselves with the instruments. It’s not coming from technology or a laptop,” Young said. To someone who has never heard their music before, Young explains it as “dark electronic pop with a heartsick sort of feel to it.” As for the name “Lovelife,” the band confessed that heartbreak and
their knowledge of love was a major factor when drawing inspiration for songs, and ultimately determined the name of the band. “All of us were coming out of relationships and going through the same heartbreak. It was all we knew,” Young said. Additionally, all four of the band members in Lovelife contribute to the songwriting process. They look to their environment for musical inspiration, including the sights and sounds of New York and Los Angeles as well as the people they’ve encountered in both cities. The honest and compelling lyrics inspired by these places are evident in tracks like “Midnight Swimming,” “Invisible” and “Your New Beloved,” a song written by Newell about his exgirlfriend.
The band recently released their third EP titled “Stateless,” and is The Neighbourhood in Los Angeles. After the tour, Lovelife plans to return to Los Angeles, get back in the studio, and begin working on the next album. As an indie band, their music is largely unnoticed by the mainstream audience. Still, Lovelife plans to continue making music for their steadily increasing fanbase. The Neighbourhood exhibits similar musical qualities as Lovelife. The Los Angeles-based band mixes atmospheric indie rock with hip-hop Jesse Rutherford is accompanied by guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels, bassist Mikey Margott and drummer Bryan Sammis. The band
formed in 2011 and has since released Love You” in 2013. Throughout the show and between songs, Rutherford would incorporate the crowd’s participation and enthusiasm into the show. The band opened with the song “Let it Go” and the crowd immediately stormed toward the stage and sang along. The dark and sultry music captivated the audience as they swayed to the beat. The band saved more popular tracks like the upbeat “Sweater Weather” and the darker “Afraid” for last, leaving the crowd yelling “Encore!” Overall, the concert left people reassured that both Lovelife and The Neighbourhood are bands to watch because of their haunting music and fantastic beats.
12
The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
ARTS & CULTURE
EDITOR
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Khea Pollard arts@usdvista.com
Maya Arrieta arts2@usdvista.com
The Day of the Dead is actually a celebration of life The Sherman Heights hosts its 14th annual Day of the Dead celebration ByVanessa Zamorano STAFF WRITER
with the traditional Mexican drink, “canela,” and cookies. The Aztec dancers performed in front of the home while the altar was blessed. Afterward, the procession continued to Chicano Park where several other altars were placed. Newcomers and previous attendees alike gathered to celebrate in this year’s Sherman Heights procession. A woman marching in the procession described how she stumbled upon the celebration in Sherman Heights years ago by happenstance. “I was driving home one day from work and stumbled upon the procession. I was intrigued and followed it to Chicano park. I had never heard of this celebration but after seeing the festivities and doing my own research, it has become a tradition for me. I lost my husband seven years ago, so this really hit home for me. I bring my daughter and we participate every year both here and with our own altar at home,” she said. Chicano park is an important symbol to the Hispanic community in San Diego for community
This year marked the 14th annual Sherman Heights Day of the Dead Celebration. Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is one of the most important traditions celebrated in Mexico and throughout Latin America. This holiday is a celebration in honor of the memory of loved ones who have passed away. It is traditionally not seen as a mourning holiday because it is a celebration of the continuity of life. It is believed that during this time the spirits of departed loved ones come back to visit and thus it is said that the path back to the living world must not be made slippery by tears. The Sherman Heights Community Center’s annual celebration is a twoday event that takes place in Sherman Heights, just east of Downtown San Diego. The main attraction of the celebration was the Day of the Dead altars on display. Day of the Dead altars vary in design but are typically made of wood and consist of shelves and ledges in an arch form that are decorated with colorful paper and cloth. Candles line the inside of the shelves along with the cempasuchil to commemorate the dead. The orange the earth to signal souls to the altars. A traditional food placed on the altars is the Day of the Dead bread. sugar, eggs, orange peel, anise and yeast. It is adorned with strips of dough simulating bones and at the top there is a small round piece of dough that symbolizes teardrops. Altars also contain a combination of pagan and religious detail as well as photos of the deceased. Samples of their favorite food, drink, clothing and hobbies are also placed in commemoration. In accordance with Mexican tradition a procession gathered in a cemetery to view their loved ones’ gravesites. As part of the Sherman Heights celebration a procession took place in honor of the fallen and
Vanessa Zamorano/The Vista
Top: Aztec dancers performing. Bottom Left: Altar for the deceased. Bottom middle: Family handing out cookies and “canela” for the procession. Bottom right: Woman with skeleton face paint.
leader Aztleca. The procession traveled from the community center to Chicano Park. During the procession, people held signs with photos and names of
activists being honored. There were hundreds of people present. Aztec dancers performed traditional dances during stops along the way. The procession stopped at a home along the
way where a brightly lit and decorated altar was displayed on the front porch. The home belongs to a family that has participated in the celebration for years. They provided participants
and a neighborhood. Years ago, the land where the park is built today was going to be the location of junkyards that would have threatened local businesses and homes. Through community activism and support, Chicano Park exists today as an appropriate pitstop for the funeral procession. The altars constructed in Chicano Park were blessed upon arrival of the Day of the Dead group. Marigolds were placed on the steps of the gazebo where several altars were placed next to one another, forming a path to each altar. Following the blessing of the altars, there was a performance of Aztec dancing and a reception at The Spot Barrio Logan, an art gallery near Chicano Park. The annual Sherman Heights Day of the Dead celebration is an extremely welcoming event--all are invited to participate. It is a celebration of the community through the remembrance of those that have passed away. Day of the Dead is a tradition with a universal purpose that unites all people to celebrate life in spite of death.
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The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
ARTS & CULTURE 13 COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS CROSSWORD Across 3. Toby Keith’s party single that won Video of the Year in 2012
8. This performer is set to headline alongside fellow Georgia native Jason Aldean
4. Winningest male vocalist of all time
9. The Band Perry’s single with a tragic backstory that won Song of the Year in 2011
5. 2012 Entertainer of the Year
11. First-ever recipient of the Entertainer of the Year award in 1967
Down 1. Female host of this year’s awards
6. Home state of 2012’s New Artist of the Year
2. First woman to win a CMA
7. “Music City USA”--the site of this year’s awards
5. The male counterpart to this year’s hosting duo
10. Amount of categories for which awards are give 12. Network hosting “country music’s biggest night”
Answers from last week’s crossword
Friday, November 8th
Valley View Casino Center 7:00 p.m.
Selena Gomez
Sunday, November 10th
Valley View Casino Center 7:00 p.m.
Maze Ft.
Frankie Beverly
Image by Mind Meal/Wikimedia Commons
Image by Tm/Wikimedia Commons
Image by Musiclover617/Wikimedia Commons
Image by LupeEnd007/Wikimdedia Commons
John Brown’s Body Lupe Fiasco:
Saturday, November 9th The Griffin
9:00 p.m.
Tetsuo and Youth Preview Tour
Wednesday, November 13th
House of Blues San Diego
7:00 p.m.
Colleen Buffington/The Vista
14
The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
SPORTS
EDITOR
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Davis Jones sports@usdvista.com
Hunter Jameson sports2@usdvista.com
Wildcat Strike
By Davis Jones
SPORTS EDITOR John Calipari, by most standards, has never made subtlety a priority. The University of Kentucky men’s basketball head coach seems to need his screen time as one of the most Kevin Nelson/The Vista
USD’s Mason Mills waits for the ball to be hiked during a previous game against Harvard. Mills threw for four touchdowns in the dominant win at Valparaiso last Saturday.
undefeated record. like to coach an undefeated team,” he said after his national championship
Torero Football dominates Valparaiso Victory keeps Toreros tied for PFL lead
coach an undefeated team before I’m be done. So let’s chase that.” Actually, it can be done. Bob
By Hunter Jameson
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR The Crusaders provided their The
Torero
football
team
in a safety. The Toreros received the ball due to the rules of a safety and
quotation marks. Undefeated seasons the lottery never happens, that the another person’s cited phrase and not quarter.
its possibility.
Redshirt junior quarterback Kyle
had four receptions for 55 yards and
this year stems from the team’s sticks more to a team than his attitude; both Calipari and U.K. basketball
half, USD scored to make the score possession just minutes later, senior its coach labels the season as such.
up players even more to accomplish it. If your coach thinks you can do it,
Red Sox crowned World Champions
hard pressed to not think the same after
Boston wins title for third time in 10 years
ceases to be the main objective. It’s not
By Hunter Jameson
head. No losses. Not one. The train can never stop. It runs circles in the mind
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
to the United States from Aruba to play
and earned the trust of his teammates talent to implement into the system,
entire season.
undefeated season can psych you up so much that it psyches you out instead. Even a national championship by 50 points this year and cap it off
if it took seven pitchers to do so. The
more accurate distinction to be desired. Not the top top. They just played better
Doubront. in the past decade. Some analysts say that this team holds
Closer Koji Uehara came up clutch in
atop the AL East division since the
supposedly held more talent than the Photo Courtesy of James Aizen
preach the cycle. Come play for a team
Opening Day Batting Order There is one piece of the puzzle
Ellsbury CF Pedroia 2B
conditioned to believe the hype in their
Saltalamachia C The heavy hitters of both teams,
Ortiz simply could not be stopped
Bradley Jr. LF
World Series Batting Order moments for their respective teams, on Poythress said in September. “The differences on his lineup card compared
Ellsbury CF Pedroia 2B Gomes LF
up. be themselves. Ross C
The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
15
SPORTS Women’s basketball returns for new success Lady Toreros begin year after 22-10 season and WNIT bid
By Davis Jones
SPORTS EDITOR USD women’s basketball coach Cindy Fisher is set to begin her ninth year at the peak of her program’s success. A record of 22-10 last the Women’s National Invitational Tournament marked the only time in school history that the team has made back-to-back postseason appearances, as the 2011-2012 team won its way through to the WNIT Final Four. With four starters returning and a balanced mix of upper and lowerclassmen, the team features a deep, talented roster in what Fisher believes will be an exciting 2013-2014 campaign. “It’s a really fun group of girls,” Fisher said. “I think what I’m most excited for is that we have a lot of different players who can do a lot of different things. They are very versatile. Whoever we have out there can all play and step up and do good things. We have 12 players this year and a walk-on, and I wouldn’t hesitate at any given time. I feel as strong as I’ve ever felt about the depth of this team and their character and their excitement to play.” Fisher describes her four seniors as both very steady performers and tremendous leaders. Guard Amy Kame year after she averaged 16.1 points and 2.4 steals per game. She improved different statistical categories last year, including when she poured in 30 points against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes in the Championship of the Maggie Dixon Surf N Slam Classic on Dec. 30. Kame, along with forwards Felicia Wijenberg and Kameron Knutson and guard Alysse Barlow, compose a senior class that Fisher calls one of the best in program history. “One thing I tell every team is that you’ll go as far as your seniors take you. We will go as far as they go. Our seniors have played a lot of minutes for us, and they’re excited to get things started. I think as long as they stay healthy and stay excited, we’ll have a really good year,” Fisher said. Rounding up last year’s allconference selections for USD were freshman forward Maya Hood and junior guard Katelyn McDaniel, whom Fisher looks toward to build from her stellar sophomore season. She tallied the third-highest scoring average for her team at 10.2 ppg as well as led the team with a .720 free-throw shooting percentage. With four juniors, two
sophomores and four freshmen on her roster, the team’s balance among classes highlights a consistency that can take them deep into another postseason. “I think it’s super important to keep your classes balanced with each other. I think there’s always an order to be met. There’s a pecking order, there’s an expectation order, there’s a leadership order, and I think it all helps
“If you have to coach effort every day, and you have to teach that mentality, it’s rough. And we don’t have to do that for this group. We realize that we need to step up and perform and not rest on what we’ve done in the past. This is a new group and a new beginning and we want to get better. We want to win. We’re trying to take that next step.” Head Coach Cindy Fisher to develop the young players and take a lot of pressure off them,” Fisher said. “By the time Amy’s coming up to you and says, ‘Hey, I’ve been there before. Don’t get rattled. You’re going to do next class to move up the ladder and step up.” The roster’s consistency will undergo a test this year after the announcement was made that Maya Hood will sit out the 2013-2014 season. player and last year’s WCC Newcomer of the Year is expecting a baby in early November. She will return for the 2014-2015 season with three years of eligibility left. “That’s huge. Making up for Maya not being there is going to take awhile,” Fisher said. “Her twin sister Malina is an amazing player, but she’s always kind of been in the backseat watching Maya. But now she’s in the forefront, and now Malina needs to step up and play really well. It’s a big loss, but it’s such a happy event for Maya and we’re all so supportive for her and excited for her. And the thing about Maya is that she’s such a positive person and a positive leader. So having someone like that who’s now out of your practices is something you really
notice, now that that energy isn’t there. It’s been fun to watch other people know that and step in and try to change that themselves.” USD begins its season on Nov. 9 with a road contest against the Northern Colorado Bears, a team that also made the WNIT last season and whom Fisher describes as ‘very talented.’ Other notable preseason games include a home game four days later against the Pac-12 Arizona State Sun Devils and a Nov. 18 road game against the San Diego State Aztecs, who pulled a close four-point victory last December. The Toreros host the University of Idaho Vandals on Nov. 26; the team starts its 2013-2014 season after playing the national-powerhouse University of Connecticut Huskies last March in the Women’s NCAA tournament. Fisher says that the schedule has already seen some adjustments. A preseason scrimmage against the United States Air Force Academy Falcons was canceled after the recent government shutdown. USD had to cancel its annual Maggie Dixon Surf ‘N Slam Classic because of the early start in the WCC with the addition of the league’s newest team, the University unexpected changes, Fisher says that she and her coaching staff had a preseason schedule. “We tried to build it so that it would prepare us for conference. We felt like we needed to play some tough opponents on the road to get us ready for the Gonzagas and the BYUs and the Saint Mary’s, so we wanted to do that early in the nonconference to help get our players more adjusted to the road,” she said. When asked about the importance of constructing such a schedule, Fisher was quick to point out its intangible value from which her players will I think that, when people talk to you as a head coach and ask you what’s the most important thing, everyone wants to say ‘recruiting, recruiting,’ which is still very important,” Fisher said. “But your schedule is also extremely important, the way you build your schedule and the way it unfolds. You want to make sure your kids don’t challenged early enough to make sure they get those good wins to gain that Fisher knows, however, that the as its character takes them. “If you have to coach effort every day, and you have to teach that mentality, it’s rough,” Fisher said. “And we don’t have to do that for this group.
Photo courtesy of Adam Hicks
USD’s womens basketball coach Cindy Fisher looks on during a game last season.
The come in ready to play. Some days are better than others. But they know. They understand that there’s a level they need to practice at. And being picked second in conference [for the preseason] showed a lot of respect, and I think they acknowledge that and
know that we’re no longer the hunter, but the hunted. We realize that we need to step up and perform and not rest on what we’ve done in the past. This is a new group and a new beginning and we want to get better. We want to win. We’re trying to take the next step.”
Photo courtesy of Adam Hicks
USD’s womens basketball coach Sydney crouches infront of the scorers table during a Torero basketball game last season. Photo courtesy of Adam Hicks USD’s womens basketball coach Cindy Fisher looks on during a game last season. Cindy Fisher will be coaching her ninth season and look to improve on last years record of 22-10.
The Vista | Thursday, November 7, 2013
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SPORTS
Cross Country finishes up WCC schedule Toreros complete West Coast Conference Championships in Malibu
RACE, continued from Front Page title. Senior Jason Witt ran a winning Three freshman ran the top three USD performances in the men’s race. single point in last year’s conference
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Francisco Dons won the women’s
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Photo Courtesy of Adam Hicks
Top Left: Andrea Hughes sprints past part of the pack during the Standford Invite. Top right: Freshman Adam Bodine runs in the West Coast Invite. Bottom Left: USD’s Gillian Gorelik batttles to pass another runner from Chico State during the Stanford Invite. Bottom right: Freshman Matthew Beasley runs past onlooking fans to finish the West Coast Invite. USD’s cross country team participated in their last regular season event during the WCC Championship last week.
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