THE USD VISTA
Fear in the skies
Surge
The last two weeks have brought a swarm of aviation accidents in the U.S., striking a fear of flying among many. On Jan. 29, a collision between an American Airlines aircraft and an Army Black Hawk helicopter killed 67 people. Since then, there have been four major crashes across the country, causing the death of 17 people and injuring multiple others. One of these crashes occurred in the vicinity of USD’s community on Feb. 12 as two Navy pilots were forced to eject before a military fighter jet crashed into the San Diego Bay. This sudden spike in airplane incidents has led some to question if there are deeper issues within aviation – understaffing, inadequate training, equipment malfunctions and lack of oversight.
USD sophomore Xochitl Felix shared how recent incidents have impacted her feelings surrounding flying.
“You hear everyone saying how you’re less likely to get into a plane crash than a car crash and all these accidents just make
This past Friday, Feb. 14, USD baseball began their 2025 season in a game against No. 23 ranked Texas Christian University (TCU), a lively opener to what is an absolutely packed schedule. TCU’s appearance at Fowler Park, USD’s home ballpark, makes it four straight seasons where the Toreros face against a Power-Five opponent first, a challenge they take with pride.
The team is hosting USD baseball alumni Ariel Armas, who won the 2024 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award as catcher last summer. Armas was drafted by the Chicago Cubs, a historically successful Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Ariel Armas is just one example of many USD baseball alumni who were widely successful after their time with the Toreros, including Colorado Rockies third baseman Kris Bryant, who was an All-Star and the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award in 2016. Armas threw the ceremonial pitch
me question that,” Felix said. “With all the trips I have coming up, going back for Easter break, I don’t really know if I want to take a plane and if I should just drive back. And I’m lucky to have a car and drive back home whereas a lot of people don’t even have that option. It doesn’t make me wanna fly anymore and I’m already scared of flying. It’s just such a stressful environment and it doesn’t seem safe anymore.”
The mid-air collision between the American Airlines aircraft and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was the first crash and the biggest accident in the series. After a preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the crash occurred at 325 feet, which exceeded the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 200 feet limit for helicopters. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later revealed that the helicopter crew may have had differing information on altitudes in the seconds before the crash. The Black Hawk helicopter was conducting a routine annual training while the American Airlines flight was preparing to land at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport See Planes, Page 2
SATVIKA NITYA CONTRIBUTOR
Wreckage from the collision in the Potomac River could be seen from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Photo courtesy of @nytimes/Instagram
Recent plane crashes alarm students Fighter jet falls into
San Diego Bay following other crashes
en route from Kansas at the time of the collision. There were 64 passengers on the plane and three soldiers on the helicopter. No one survived.
USD junior Ash Haynes lives 30 minutes away from the collision site in D.C. Haynes shared his thoughts after hearing about the accident.
“I just got back to USD two days prior to the crash and it just reminded me that there are such huge political, environmental and disastrous events happening around the country,” Haynes said. “It’s
scary because everybody else is watching this on TV, and for me, I see this right outside my house. I live 30 minutes away from the incident and when I heard about it, I was just disappointed at seeing another sad event.”
This recent spike in the frequency of tragic accidents have caused local authorities, citizens and federal agencies to question the reasons behind the incidents.
One of Trump’s first executive orders was to fire the heads and members of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee — a committee responsible for the work of examining safety
issues at airlines and airports. This decision came shortly after the chief of the FAA, Michael Whitaker, resigned from his position on Inauguration Day.
PBS recently reported that the firings hit the FAA when it faced a shortfall in controllers.
“Federal officials have been raising concerns about an overtaxed and understaffed air traffic control system for years [due to] uncompetitive pay, long shifts, intensive training and mandatory retirements,” PBS explained.
Some have made this connection between the loss of workers and the crashes, claiming that Trump’s firing is a leading factor for the FAA being understaffed which in turn led to the crashes.
Others claim that there have been issues with aviation staffing for years and that the time span between the firings and flight accidents were too close to actually have an impact.
USD junior Tatum Mosley shared her opinion on what the reasons behind the aviation incidents could be.
“I think it’s a combination of both the firing and administration,” Mosley said. “I mean yes, Trump did fire a lot of people, but I think the firing just made an already bad situation even worse. Right now I think everyone’s pointing fingers but it
would be better if instead of playing the blame game both the FAA and Trump could work together to fix the issue because people are dying because of it. If they did that, it would make me feel safer to fly.”
In a press conference after the D.C. accident, Trump gave multiple reasons for the collision, including Biden and Obama’s administration and the FAA’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) initiative in the process of hiring.
“The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems and other mental and physical conditions, can you imagine,” Trump said.
“[The FAA] says diversity is integral to achieving FAA’s mission of ensuring safe and efficient travel. I don’t think so, I think it’s just the opposite. I assume maybe this is the reason.”
Felix shared her thoughts on the validity of DEI hiring being the causal factor for the recent plane crashes.
“I just don’t think DEI hiring is the cause for the crashes at all and in my mind, it’s such an idiot thing for [Trump] to say,” Felix said. “I don’t think any employer would hire anyone who is underqualified, especially in a position where people’s lives could be affected. If they are hiring
people with disabilities, those disabilities wouldn’t impact their actual job because being qualified would prove that already.”
Apart from crashes, there have also been several accidents between planes on land. A Japan Airlines flight hit its right wing into the tail of a parked Delta plane at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport in early February. A few days later, another plane went off the runway and crashed into a parked Gulfstream jet at the Scottsdale Municipal Airport in Arizona.
This series of plane crashes reached San Diego on the morning of Feb. 12 when a military fighter jet crashed into the San Diego Bay. The jet had two service members on board, both who managed to eject the plane before the crash. They were rescued safely and are in stable and good condition. The most recent incident after the SD case was the Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis that crashed and overturned at the Toronto Pearson Airport when landing. Like all the other crash cases, investigations into the cause of these accidents are still ongoing.
Though the actual causes for these crashes is yet to be determined, both the FAA and Trump’s administration are working to investigate the reasons for and solutions to the recent rise of aviation accidents.
From Planes, Page 1
Earlier this week, a Delta Air Line flight flipped while landing in Toronto. Photo courtesy of @vinod_r108/X
Trump promises to deport ‘Hamas sympathizers’ Pro-Palestine students fear retribution NEWS
EMMA PIRHALA NEWS EDITOR
Following President Donald Trump’s inauguration, a series of orders and diplomatic conversations led to major changes in the conflict between Israel and Hamas — including a ceasefire, hostage releases and a proposal for the U.S. to temporarily gain control of the Gaza Strip. In the United States, students are concerned about potential retribution against pro-Palestinian protesters from the Trump administration, which committed to cancelling visas and deporting international students who have engaged in pro-Palestine activities in an attempt to combat antisemitism. Trump emphasized his plans in an executive order factsheet.
“To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you,” Trump stated. “I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism like never before.”
The language of Trump’s statements have caused confusion as to who is defined as a pro-jihadist or a Hamas sympathizer. Students across the country have been preparing for the possibility of returning home. Some pro-Palestine students at USD are concerned about these directives following their involvement in activism on-campus. USD sophomore Shukriya Osman shared her perspective.
I have as an American citizen, allowing me to participate in protests for Palestine and use my voice and power to amplify the struggles of those in more vulnerable positions,” Osman said. “However, I do feel a sense of hesitance, as there is often significant pushback and hostility towards those who express support for Palestine. Despite this, I remain committed to staying educated on the issue, and it is precisely this knowledge that fuels my determination
to continue being a voice for Palestine. It’s crucial for me to not only speak out but also to ensure that I do so thoughtfully, with the understanding that solidarity means more than just words — it requires consistent action and advocacy, even in the face of opposition.”
USD senior Jed Edelstein serves as the president of USD’s Jewish Student Association, which has been a voice of support for Israel on campus. However, Edelstein explained his mixed feelings regarding the new administration’s orders.
“I’m going to be honest, most of the time I’m not a big fan of Trump’s actions, but I can recognize he gets stuff right sometimes,” Edelstein shared. “In this case it’s kinda both. This pledge by the president draws an important line in the sand showing that antisemitic and violent actions and rhetoric will not be tolerated in the US especially by those who have been given the incredible opportunity to study here. Though, the language of the president paints those supporting Palestine as jihadists, and even I can recognize that that is an unfair characterization.”
Despite the potential retribution from the Trump administration, the Palestine
or employee information, including immigration status, except in response to a judicial warrant, subpoena, or other legal mandate.”
As the conflict in the Middle East continues to persist, students remain committed to advocating for their beliefs despite any potential
Students created and held up signs at a protest hosted by PSC in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Photo courtesy of @pscusd/Instagram
USD community members gathered in support of Palestine in spring of 2024.
Photo courtesy of @pscusd/Instagram
Alligator bites and Grammy nights
SATVIKA NITYA CONTRIBUTOR
Hold on to your horses — or your alligators — because there is a new rapper that everyone is talking about. Doechii, a Tampa-born songwriter, rapper and artist, has recently risen to stardom in both the hip-hop world and the overall music industry. However, this apparent “overnight trip” to success, where Doechii’s title is becoming a household name, is anything but that. In fact, it is a long winding journey that spans many years.
Doechii’s story started off with her growing up as Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon in the state of Florida. Surrounded in her childhood by her dad and uncle who were both rappers, Hickmon was consistently in touch with music throughout her life. However, it wasn’t until a few months after Hickmon’s senior year of high school that she started dipping her own toes in the water. After being prompted by one of her closest friends to produce and release her own music online, Hickmon released her first ever song in 2016 called “Girls” on Soundcloud under the name “Iamdoechii.”
For Doechii, her artist name was an alternate reality — an identity she built up with 10 times the confidence and attitude than her shy high school self — that she used to make and release music on platforms across the internet for years. She elaborated on this in an interview with Vulture Magazine.
“I am Doechii,” Doechii said. “It just came to me. Jaylah might’ve been getting bullied, but I decided Doechii wouldn’t stand for that shit. My whole attitude was different. It stuck,”
As Doechii, her music made a breakthrough into the music world in 2020 with
Doechii’s unstoppable industry takeover
the release of her viral single “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake.”
The beginning of 2021 was marked with TikTok trends that surrounded Doechii’s song. By the end of March 2022, she was the first female rapper to be signed to Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) — one of the biggest labels in the game with artists like Kendrick Lamar and SZA under its belt.
Despite signing with TDE being a significant achievement, it wasn’t Doechii’s first rodeo in creating larger pieces of music. By the time she was signed, Doechii had already independently produced, written, recorded and released two full albums — “Coven Music Session, Vol. 1” and “Oh The Places You’ll Go.” Signing with TDE supported her already growing musical discography.
Since 2022, Doechii’s career has been painted with numerous unforgettable moments. From hit singles, a third album and award nominations to bagging song features with artists like Kodak Black, SZA and KAYTRANADA, Doechii’s career was on a steady uprise.
But her biggest and most remarkable come-up happened in 2024 with the release of her project “Alligator Bites Never Heal.” This album quickly gained popularity among Doechii’s usual fanbase, but also expanded way beyond. The album’s musical versatility and lack of genre conformity paired with Doechii’s emotional and lyrical vulnerability provided something refreshing and new, making the project appealing to a large audience. The album moves away from everything that is expected from an album. In fact, it’s not even called an album. In Doechii’s words, it is a mixtape.
With “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” Doechii took on a risk that most artists releasing their fourth album would never do
— she changed the creative formula that has historically worked in the music industry. She made the decision to experiment with sounds that are new to her, eliminating the idea of having a consistent genre, sequence and sound for a project. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Doechii talked about the freedom of creating without the need for perfection.
“When you use words like ‘album,’ there are certain politics that come with that,” Doechii said. “With this mixtape, I wanted to be able to cry and scream and color and scribble all over it and not have to worry about perfection and be able to detach myself from this idea of the perfect project.”
USD senior Evan Jefferson who is an avid rap listener spoke on the distinctiveness of Doechii’s work and why he found it alluring.
“She’s a very experimental rapper, and that is such an unconventional side of rap that you usually don’t get to see,” Jefferson said. “When you think of rap you don’t think of instrumentals and musicality. I prefer alternative rap rather than a straight rap song. I like to hear the melody, the lyricism, the production. Doechii incorporates a lot of that into her music and that’s what gravitated me toward her.”
Another risk that Doechii took on this mixtape was a more personal one than a business strategy. Unlike her other projects, Doechii openly explained her history with substance abuse, relationship trauma and struggles with mental health throughout this project. She posed a sharp contrast between her captivatingly jovial flow and jarringly vulnerable lyrics, a combination that has hit the jackpot for the masses.
USD sophomore Nyla Brown, who discovered Doechii in her early days
and rediscovered her after the recent mixtape release, shared her experience listening to Doechii’s music.
“A lot of rappers out there make the same seven songs about drugs, alcohol and sex, following this specific formula that gets tiring after a while,” Brown said. “But Doechii’s music is so incredibly clever and impeccable. Her vulnerability and her talking about deeper issues through her lyrics shows how authentic she is. Her storytelling is so unique. Earlier people knew Doechii’s songs, but now they know Doechii because she’s creating that autonomy and being very raw, authentic and unapologetically herself.”
The fourth song from Doechii’s mixtape, “DENIAL IS A RIVER,” quickly became one of her biggest hits because of this exploration of personal stories. The song is a direct inspiration from one of Doechii’s diary entries from when she discovered that one of her partners was cheating on her with another man, referencing Wendy Williams’ iconic quote — “Denial is a river in Egypt, your husband is gay!” The song later delves into Doechii’s personal denial when dealing with her issues with substances as we see her negotiate and converse with her own alter-ego.
This cleverness and wit in her lyricism is what captured the ears of listeners outside the world of hip-hop and rap. USD sophomore Priya Hecox explained why despite not being an avid rap listener, Doechii’s music has caught her musical ear.
“I am not a big rap fan normally, but I like Doechii’s music because I like how fun and unserious it is while bringing something so powerful to the rap and music industry,” Hecox said. “She does a really good job of making her music super fun to listen to while
still making the audience do a double take and think about her lyrics. She’s such a fun vibe, especially when I’m in the gym or I need to hype myself up.”
The allure of Doechii’s mixtape is also shared by critics in the music industry. 2024’s success followed Doechii into the new year as she won her first Grammy for her mixtape under the Best Rap Album category. This made her the third woman to ever win in this category after Lauryn Hill and Cardi B. Shortly after her win, Doechii gave a memorable performance at the Grammys, rapping her songs “CATFISH” and “DENIAL IS A RIVER” with an operatic twist and breathtaking choreography. This act following her historic win further established her stature not only as an artist in the music industry but also as a performer.
“Generally, it’s been a lot harder for women rappers to break into the industry, especially at the level of fame [Doechii] has,” Jefferson said. “A lot of people don’t like female rap music because it can come off as very promiscuous, it’s really sad. I think she strays away from that stereotype, and that’s part of the reason why she has gotten so much fame. It’s a really impressive feat to have won that award. Especially when the contenders were all male rappers like Common and Eminem.” Doechii professed that making music is like therapy for her — she gets to process emotions, life events and trauma when writing and producing her work. Within a day of winning her first Grammy, Doechii put out a new single called “Nosebleeds,” which commented on her receiving the award and the world’s reaction to it. Seeing the force with which she has entered 2025, it is safe to say that the music industry is awaiting a Doechii takeover.
The album cover for Doechii’s most recent album, ‘Alligator Bites Never Heal.’
Photo courtesy of @doechii/Instagram
Doechii won her first ever Grammy this year for Best Rap Album. Photo courtesy of @thefashionherotv/Instagram
ARTS & CULTURE
Refusing to play ‘the great American game’ A
ELLIE SKJERSAA ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
During the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, in just a 13-minute performance, Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar was able to tell a story of racial inequality and the facade of the American dream. Through his complex lyricism, intricate choreography and many other subliminal messages, this performance has became a symbol for revolution. Lamar showed the world that art is capable of inspiring change.
As the performance began, a spotlight illuminated the center of the stage. Here, each portion of the stage took the shape of a button that would typically be seen on a video game controller. In the middle of the stage stood Samuel L. Jackson, who wore a starspangled suit and introduced himself as Uncle Sam.
“It’s your uncle, Sam. And this is the great American game,” Jackson said as the performance began.
Between the physical video game controller on the stage and allusions to the game in which American life takes place, Kendrick told the world that to survive in America, you must play into the American dream. However, the game is controlled by those in power and has been built with the intention to exclude some while promising success and glory to others. In other words, the American dream is a game that some can’t win because they are not white enough to be granted access to it. Lamar does not want to play that game.
Historically, Uncle Sam has been a fictional character and symbol of the United States of America. Typically depicted as a white man, Kendrick’s choice to have Jackson play Uncle Sam illuminated how deeply embedded racism is in this country. Jackson is well-known for his role in Quentin Tarantino’s film, “Django Unchained” in which his character is eerily similar to his portrayal of Uncle Sam.
In the film, he played a slave who swore his allegiance to his slave owner and even expressed his acceptance of society’s ideals of white superiority which places Black communities in a position of inferiority and oppression.
Similarly, on the halftime show stage, Jackson paints Uncle Sam as a proponent of a system that openly harms and exploits people of color — a system that values capital over the well-being and equality of its people. Jackson’s portrayal embodied the spectacle and sentiment of nationalism that one may have expected to see in a Super Bowl halftime
review of Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show
show, and he demonstrated this after Lamar performed his track “squabble up.”
“Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto,” Jackson said as the song concluded.
This commentary suggests that Kendrick’s music does not belong in the mainstream status quo of a white America. It becomes clear that while Jackson is playing the American game, Kendrick is opposing it.
Lamar’s choice to have Jackson portray Uncle Sam is particularly worth noting because of his history within civil rights movements since the 60’s. After Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, Jackson attended his funeral as an usher and then flew to Memphis to attend a protest advocating for equal rights. He has consistently used his platform as an actor to shine light on the persistence of racism in the United States and has continuously fought for civil rights. All this to say, Lamar definitely chose Jackson to play Uncle Sam for a reason.
After Jackson’s opening, the camera pans to Lamar standing on the hood of a GNX, the namesake of his most recent album. He opened with a teaser of his song called “Bodies” as the audience watched a staggering and seemingly impossible number of backup dancers jump out of the car.
The dancers were covered from head to toe in either red, white or blue. This can be interpreted as a double entendre. Not only are these the patriotic colors of America, but they are also the colors of the Crips and Bloods, popular gangs present in California and more specifically, Compton, where Lamar grew up.
The Black dancers in Lamar’s performance were also integral to the message he wove across the stage. Throughout the show, they physically formed the American flag during the song “HUMBLE” and then pulled away from one another. This could be symbolic of the lack of unity in American politics and culture or a representation of the Black blood, sweat and tears that went into the formation of the U.S..
With very important leaders attending this year’s Super Bowl, Lamar’s message was intentional and with consideration of those who would be watching. This year, President Donald Trump attended, making him the first ever president to go to a Super Bowl. Lamar took the opportunity to use his art not only as a form of resistance against the recent transfer of power, but also to shed light on America’s racist roots. With an all Black cast of performers and backup dancers, Lamar painted a picture of the Black experience across the
stage, highlighting the flaws of a country shaped and founded on racism. He emphasized this point when clarifying that this was a performance with a message, not just an theatrical spectacle as seen in previous Super Bowl halftime performances.
“The revolution is about to be televised,” Lamar said. “You picked the right time, but the wrong guy.”
Here, Lamar referenced Gil Scott-Heron’s poem and song, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” a phrase which has been used in protests across the world. Scott-Heron’s song critiqued the way in which television advertisements pushed people toward passive consumerism rather than tangible activism and could be seen as deliberate considering the advertising aspect of the Super Bowl. With millions of people watching the halftime show, he used the stage to wake people up and to send the message that the revolution is taking place right now on their television screen.
Even what Lamar was wearing could have deeper implications than what meets the eye. Although it appears Lamar was just wearing jeans, there may be more to the story. In mainstream media, denim is associated with the whitewashed stories of cowboys or rock stars. However, denim has undisputable links to the African slave trade.
Both cotton and indigo, which are used to make denim, were profitable commodities that were part of the croprotation in slavery. In addition, slaves were forced to wear denim which was then referred to as “negro cloth” for its ability to endure the inhumane working conditions. During the civil rights movement, activists often wore denim to symbolize unity and to demonstrate how little progress had been made since the Reconstruction era.
Lamar could have been alluding to the history of slavery in which the United States was built upon. Although messages like these are not directly said by Lamar during his performance, there is an assumption that everything can be interrogated with a sense of curiosity.
Lamar’s artistic creativity throughout the halftime show reflected the music he has released throughout the years. With songs like “squabble up,” “DNA,” Euphoria” and “TV off,” he transitioned the stage from a place of excessive spectacles and instead to a place of thought, poetry and systemic exposure. Onstage, SZA joined Lamar for the songs “gloria” and “All the Stars,” along with surprise appearances from
tennis player, Serena Williams and record producer, Mustard.
He concluded the show with his track, “tv off” while the people in the stands’ wristbands illuminated to show the phrase “Game Over.” Here, Lamar may be insinuating that it’s time to step away from the distractions of consumerism and to take action, or in other words, to start the revolution.
Every single moment in the show could have an extensive deep dive dedicated to a single dance move, a single phrase, a
single flicker of emotion. That being said, there were certainly more messages Lamar snuck into his performance that highlight his work as an artist and a musician. Although there have been complaints and criticisms about Lamar’s halftime show, that may have been his intention from the start. People were not supposed to be comfortable because confronting the harsh reality of struggle and oppression some have the privilege to ignore is certainly not an easy process but is one that can begin.
The words ‘GAME OVER’ illuminated the stands. Photo courtesy of @complexmusic/Instagram
Samuel L. Jackson portrayed fictional character, Uncle Sam. Photo courtesy of @complexmusic/Instagram
Backup dancers formed the American flag around Kendrick Lamar. Photo courtesy of @complexmusic/Instagram
FEATURE
Transcending tragedy
Nami Kozu honors a legacy of peace and art at USD
JOSHUA FEINGOLD CONTRIBUTOR
LILY ANDERSON MANAGING EDITOR
Nami Kozu is the daughter of artist Yoshiko Nagara-Kozu, a Hiroshima bombing survivor. Like her mother, Kozu is an artist as well as an acclaimed gallerist in Tokyo and Paris, an accomplished tennis player nationally in the U.S., a former TV news anchor and an art teacher. She is also an alumna of the University of San Diego and graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1984 where she studied fine art.
On Feb. 12, 2025, Kozu spoke at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies (KIPJ) at USD alongside Dr. Darren Kew, Dean of the KIPJ. She came to discuss her mother’s art and the healing properties of creation. Seven pieces of NagaraKozu’s oeuvre were generously donated by Kozu following her mother’s passing in 2023 and can be seen in the Copley Library and the KIPJ. Nami Kozu has previously donated her own work to USD, which can also be seen in the Copley Library.
Yoshiko Nagara-Kozu was 14 years old when a nuclear bomb was dropped a mile away from the factory where she worked in Hiroshima, Japan. She saw a flash from the window and pounced
toward the source of the light, seeking cover pressed against the wall. Seconds later, she turned and saw her friends dead, burnt and punctured with the shattered glass of the window she was standing in front of a moment before. She stood up and went home. Her father was gone and would never be found, her grandmother was killed and her sister was badly burned and died a week later.
Like her home, Kozu was devastated. A month passed. She went for a walk in a field that had been decimated. She came across a single white flower sprouting from barren scorched earth. It was this flower that gave her the power to move on. It gave her a beauty to believe in and the fortitude to keep living.
Nagara-Kozu went on to become a prolific artist and an advocate for peace. The subject of her paintings is often flowers. The creative process of painting helped her to heal from the trauma of the bomb.
USD senior Gray Ehling attended Kozu’s talk and resonated with the concept of finding beauty in suffering.
“It’s really easy and tempting to look at the bad and focus on the bad,” Ehling said. “Finding moments of peace like the flower in the field is a great way to go through our daily lives and to keep moving on.”
Kozu stated that the world is going through a catastrophic
period of time and the message of perseverance and resilience that her mother’s art demonstrates is imperative to the world discussion.
“The peace of the world starts with peace of mind,” Kozu said. “It doesn’t start with the threat of war. It starts with the children.”
As an art teacher, Kozu stressed the importance of allowing her young students to create without boundaries and to learn to create in a way that makes them happy. She noted that as humans we can have the urge to fight or flee, like an animal. Through sports and art, humans are able to redirect these violent instincts to calm one’s inner self and fulfill the soul. Through healing and cultivating peace within, people are able to create peace externally in their environment.
USD senior Brenna Derbish also attended the discussion and found importance in this approach.
“As somebody who is potentially going into education, I think what she was saying about having a balance between teaching kids and letting them follow their passions was really applicable today,” Derbish explained. “Integrating art and story is really important to the world now.”
Kozu said that in order for her mother to continue living well, she would actively choose to look at the beauty around her like she did upon seeing the flower in the field, instead of looking
at the suffering and pain. Her art was about transcending loss and trauma through the power of the purifying act of creation. Upon entering the Copley Library lower lobby, the back wall is adorned with Nagara-Kozu’s piece “Peace is the Moment (Red and White Tulips).” Vibrant hues of crimson jolt across brilliant white petals overlaid on a radiant chartreuse backdrop. On the adjacent wall hangs “Mother’s Day to the Lost Ones,” a tribute to those lost in the 2013 Fukushima earthquake. In this painting, lilies and peonies decorate the space in cohesion with a background of azure and potent green blocks. Her work is frequently centered around the motif of flowers coexisting with incandescent color.
During the Q&A portion of the talk, Kozu was asked about the spiritual undertones of the artistic process. She mentioned how her mother’s paintings were influenced by naturalist Shintoism and Zen Buddhism, traditional Eastern practices emphasizing harmony with nature.
“[Zen was] a way to reach out to our inner self,” Kozu explained. “To imagine, to connect with God, to connect with something bigger than ourselves — connect with the imagination.”
Kozu said that it was through the practice of Zen, in staying with the moment of working with
the brushes, using her fingers and becoming absorbed with the subject, that her mother was able to maintain balance mentally.
USD’s President Harris attended the event, showing his support for Kozu, who was the first alumni he ever met at USD.
“Nami is the living embodiment of [USD’s] mission, her commitment to peace and justice,” Harris stated. “Her mom has lived her life to make sure that we perceive the horrors of war and what happened in the aftermath of Hiroshima.”
During the discussion, Dr. Darren Kew mentioned that there is a burgeoning field of nongovernmental organizations seeking peace practitioners who blend art and peace building by using art in innovative ways to spur growth during conflict resolution between nations. He has advised democracy and peace initiatives to the United Nations, USAID and the U.S. State Department, and was formerly the Executive Director of the Center for Peace, Democracy and Development at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Students can take time to view Nagara-Kozu’s paintings, such as “Peace is the Moment (Red and White Tulips)” and “Mother’s Day to the Lost Ones,” at the Copley Library and at the KIPJ Fine Art Galleries this spring as the
flowers bloom.
USD alumna Nami Kozu ‘84 spoke at the KIPJ last week, sharing the paintings and story of her mother, Yoshiko Nagara-Kozu.
Lily Anderson/The USD Vista
OPINION
Start enforcing daily habits February is the time of New Year’s resolution failures
ZOE ROGERS OPINION EDITOR
New Year’s resolutions inspire people to turn their lives around. Creating a resolution seems like the perfect way to implement a new healthy lifestyle into your year. Feeling like you’re not active enough? Make a resolution to workout five times a week. Do you think you spend too much time on your phone? Be more intentional in doing other activities that don’t involve a screen, such as reading. While New Year’s resolutions are a good idea, they’re not always effective.
Coming into the third week of February, people often give up on their resolutions, whether they lacked the motivation to execute or the goals were not as easily achievable as people realized. Instead of setting a goal for the whole year, we should start implementing the practice of healthy daily habits.
With the excitement of a new year, it’s typical to strive to incorporate a new practice into your life. However, New Year’s
resolutions tend to be unrealistic, eventually leading to people giving up their goals within the next month. As for me, I struggled to maintain my resolution, and ended up dropping it entirely once February started. Columbia University, a college located in New York and known for its academic excellence, reported on the percentage of Americans who give up their resolutions just a month into the new year.
“While nearly half of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, only about 25% of people actually stay committed to their resolutions after just 30 days,” Columbia University stated. “And even fewer, less than 10%, accomplish their goals.”
Typically, those who strive to create a New Year’s resolution lack any form of accountability in achieving their plan. Failure to create a schedule around your plan decreases the probability that it will stick with you for the duration of the year.
Shift, a website that brings various apps into one online experience and efficiency to online users, clarified on why people
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tend to give up on their resolutions.
“Common reasons resolutions fail include setting unrealistic expectations, lack of accountability, and insufficient planning,” Shift explained. “The excitement of a new year can quickly fade, leading to feelings of frustration and discouragement when progress stalls.”
Instead of relying on one big goal to set for the entirety of the year, setting daily habits is the perfect alternative. A daily habit doesn’t have to be a big commitment; it can be a small thing to practice every day that eventually turns into a way of life. For example, if you feel like you’re spending too much time on electronics, read 10 pages of a book every day. Instead of saying “I need to become more fit,” try going on a 10 to 20 minute walk every day.
These little habits can turn into daily occurrences that will change your way of life for the better. In an interview for CBS News, Justin Hale, a speaker and trainer, explained why it’s important to create daily habits instead of resolutions.
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“The problem is people, when they want to be better in the new year, they never focus on understanding what are the exact behaviors that I need to be done to turn into habits, and what’s the plan I’m going to create to make that thing habitual,” Hale explained.
Daily habits should be small, intentional practices that can be achieved on a smaller scale in order to ensure success. The easier the habit is, the more likely you’ll practice it every day.
While daily habits are a good idea, they can also often be unrealistic, like their resolution counterpart. Expecting someone to practice an activity every day may not actually be achievable if they don’t make a smart habit. Having a New Year’s resolution can make someone more goal oriented, more so when they have one big dream of an accomplishment hanging over their head. Planning on doing things such as going to the gym or reading a book a few times a week is much more realistic than expecting them to do it everyday, especially if
that person has a busy schedule. Being daunted by doing a practice every day is natural, which is why it’s important to choose an easy one to increase the likelihood of you doing it everyday. Personally, I honestly don’t even remember my New Year’s resolution. However, I’ve started implementing daily practices to better my way of life, like limiting packaged snacks. Little improvements in your daily life lead you to creating a healthy lifestyle for yourself.
New Year’s resolutions are unrealistic; people are often highly ambitious at the beginning of the new year. However, this ambition is only temporary, and the goals you had for yourself on the first day of January have diminished by the middle or end of February. Instead of having one big goal that you’re expecting yourself to achieve by the end of the year, create small, daily habits. You are more likely to keep up with your goal if you make them easy, achievable and everyday tasks. In doing this, you are setting yourself up for success in creating a healthier life for yourself.
part of spring USD should remove the Bradford pears to save students’ noses
ALEX KUETER ASST. OPINION EDITOR
One of the many hallmarks of spring is the blooming of flowers. With their sweet smells and vibrant colors, these plants symbolize hope, new beginning and renewal. This is often highly anticipated and celebrated and truly marks the end of winter. However, one tree ruins this otherwise sweet start to spring — the Bradford pear. While other flowers are valued for their sweet smells, Bradford pears have a particular unpleasant odor that can be smelled for miles.
As scholars Ryan NevilleShepard and Casey Ryan Kelly explained in an article for the International Communication Association, the odor these trees omit is anything but pleasant.
“Critics also say the tree smells like semen, or what Morgans (2017) called ‘that chlorine musk that reminds you of either narrowly dodging a pregnancy or being a 15-year-old boy,’” Neville-Shepard and Kelly wrote.
USD’s own campus is littered with these foul florals, so if you ever find yourself walking past the SLP or toward Pacific Ridge and smell something akin to a moldy piece of meat, thank the Bradford pears littered around campus. But the nasty odor is far from the only issue with these trees;
they are highly invasive, require intensive watering and are prone to snapping or breaking unexpectedly.
These plants were introduced in the 1960’s from China and Vietnam due to their fast growing nature and beautiful flowers. There, they are prized for their pest resistance and fast growing nature and are often grafted with fruiting pears to produce hearty growing trees.
Brought to just be an aesthetic addition to cities and suburban neighborhoods with their dainty white flowers, the issues with the trees began to arise fast. They have incredibly weak branches and are prone to snapping in moderate wind or winter storms, leaving the trees lopsided and at a higher chance of falling over. With San Diego’s Santa Ana winds, the chances are high that one could snap and cause damage to the campus.
On top of these shortcomings, the trees are highly invasive and hard to get rid of. As limbs fall, seeds spread and rapidly germinate across fertile areas. Thorns grow along branches, creating thickets of trees that are extremely difficult to get rid of. These thick, thorny branches allow the trees to block sun from other native plants, outcompeting them. The issues further continue with water usage. While somewhat drought tolerant, water must fully soak into the depth of the trees’ root systems when they are watered, or
it will not help the tree. In cooler, less sunny climates, spray or drip irrigation can accomplish this. But here in San Diego, the high heat and intense sunlight leads to much of the water evaporating before it can reach the roots. As such, they are more water intensive than a native species would be. It is recommended to soak them until soil moisture is steady 1-2 times a week, or approximately 10-15 gallons of water. Whereas native beautiful velvet ash trees need only be watered once every two weeks.
However, while removing the trees seems like an easy answer, there are ecological consequences to their departure. Their flowers are an important food source for pollinators, like honey bees and flies in early spring. Their fast flowering nature can provide a valuable early food source for important insects. Their small seeds also offer a food source for migrating birds, who are especially dependent on the trees while nothing else blooms.
The years before any new species could bloom would result in pollinators being out of food for up to five years while the plants mature. Furthermore, cutting down a 20 foot tree releases 100 kg of carbon dioxide and prevents the absorption of around 10 kgs of CO2 a year. While planting new trees would eventually result in CO2 being absorbed again, there would still be loss and
Bradford pear trees pose an inconvenience to everyone on campus.
waste from cutting the old ones down. However, these downsides are still small in comparison to the present issues of the tree.
Removing these smelly saplings from campus and replacing them with a native species, such as the Ash Velvet tree, would help to save water, would look pretty and would save students’ noses across campus. Ash Velvet trees are just as capable of absorbing CO2, and after a few years of steady growth, they will be just as big and helpful. Ultimately, Bradford pears
are stinky and have a variety of somewhat hidden downsides. They can be smelled for miles and are easily the worst part of spring. If you are ever outside and wondering what that awful smell is, look around you for a big white tree and there’s your answer. They are not water efficient and often require excessive watering in order to keep them alive in especially hot years. Healing this campus starts with removing the Bradford pear, thus creating a brighter, clearer and better smelling start to spring.
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.
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Shannen Swars/The USD Vista
JULIE FROMM ASST. OPINION EDITOR
The day after the Super Bowl, I spent the afternoon scrolling through people’s thoughts on the outcome of the game and their reactions to some of the commercials. I was shocked to find a screenshot of Kanye West’s apparel website, Yeezy, and the singular product that he had advertised following a Super Bowl ad for the brand. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, so I decided to look on his website for myself.
The only product advertised on the site was a white t-shirt with a black swastika on the front of it. I was completely appalled and unsettled when I saw the shirt. After looking up the incident on other social media platforms, I quickly realized that few of the people I follow on social media were having a similar reaction, or even reacting at all.
In recent years, West has taken to social media to express his often racist and antisemitic opinions and, after seeing the shirt he was advertising, I began to think about the celebrities that we place on a pedestal in our society.
At the Grammy Awards, West and his wife, Bianca Censori, showed up to the red carpet uninvited, and Censori removed a black fur coat to reveal a completely sheer
OPINION
Fatally flawed and famous Celebrities sit on impenetrable pedestals
dress. California’s penal code, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, defines indecent exposure as “the willful exposure of one’s genitals in a public place or in the presence of another person.”
Censori’s dress displayed her breasts and genitals completely, and hundreds of cameras captured the moment and have since published the photos across the internet.
Many people argue that West’s contributions to the music industry can be separated from his heinous actions, like being publicly antisemitic and advertising his wife’s body for the world to see, but I am not one of them. By attempting to separate the art from the artist, we offer celebrities a get-out-of-jail free card to say or do whatever they want, even if these actions put people in harm’s way.
Last year, I read “Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma” by Claire Dederer, a novel that addresses the question of how we are able to consume art created by monstrous people. I became obsessed with the question and began analyzing every celebrity that I’ve idolized. I also began to notice all of their failures as public figures.
West, in particular, was someone that I’d grown up listening to. But in recent years, I have been completely put off by his antisemitic comments and outrageous behavior. This
wasn’t an isolated incident, though. I adored the movie “Call Me By Your Name,” but couldn’t enjoy the movie after finding out about co-star Armie Hammer’s abuse allegations.
More recently, due to the conflict and allegations between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni following their film, “It Ends With Us,” I found myself only thinking about their ensuing court cases while watching the movie. As much as I might try, separating an actor or artist from their beliefs and values is impossible for me to do, and this has ruined so many of the things that I love.
Many people would argue that an artist’s creations are not a reflection of their actions. Though I can understand that someone might be able to listen to a song and not necessarily think about the artist performing it, I find it impossible to enjoy something while knowing that I am funding the livelihood of someone whose beliefs go against everything I stand for. Not only does listening to an artist’s music or watching an actor’s movies further their careers, but engaging with their careers also continues to excuse their actions or the horrible things that they have said.
Cancel culture is a modern phenomenon, punishing people, especially celebrities, for any missteps they make.
However, “cancelling” people has become so commonplace that its impact is hardly felt anymore. It seems that every day, celebrities are cancelled for something that they’ve said, and my hope for my idols dwindles every time a new allegation is brought to light. Due to the amount of cancellations occurring so quickly, the general public moves on from the scandals at warp speed, and most celebrities can continue their careers and consider their moment of public humiliation a minor blip in their careers.
There is hardly ever any long term impact to the livelihoods of cancelled celebrities, and their actions are excused in favor of the art they create. If someone from the general public were to do or say some of the things that celebrities say every day, their careers would be over and they would likely be exiled from society for good.
No one is perfect, but people like West, for example, who are openly antisemitic and create chaos wherever they go, are not the type of people that I want to look up to and hear about constantly in the news.
West’s battle with mental illness has been very public and creates a barrier between himself and his actions that people often use to excuse his behavior. But that brings into question whether or
not the general public will allow a public figure to spew hatred and excuse it because of their mental state. Celebrities have their personal lives on display for the whole world to see, including personal problems like mental illness, and in some cases these problems allow people to take advantage of them, regardless of their wrongful actions. In my opinion, placing celebrities like West on a pedestal and excusing their actions for any reason is detrimental to the impressionable general public, especially young people seeking someone to emulate. Rather than feeding the careers of celebrities whose actions are harmful, the pedestals they stand on should be removed entirely. Acknowledging the fact that the black swastika shirt that West published on his website is completely unacceptable and hateful is the first step. Removing his ability to continue to spread hateful messages through social media and the news is the second. By writing this article, I am aware that I am giving some kind of leverage to celebrities like West and bringing attention to their actions, but I hope bringing that attention encourages fans to consider the line between an artist’s creations and their inexcusable behavior.
West’s swastika shirt is completely unacceptable and hateful. Photo Courtesy of @Jolyon Rubinstein/X
Kanye West and his wife, Bianca Censori, showed up to the Grammys uninvited.
Photo Courtesy of
SPORTS
USD baseball springs into action A look inside the upcoming season
From Recap, Page 1
to kickstart the game and the Toreros’ 67th season of baseball.
The team unfortunately fell 5-4 to TCU in the season opener. One silver lining that the Toreros can hold onto is the performance of red-shirt first-year pitcher Cal Scolari. On his collegiate debut, Scolari threw for five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and two walks. Needless to say, with the reputation USD baseball has, all eyes are on the team this spring.
Austin Smith, a USD senior and outfielder, spoke about his enthusiasm for the new season.
“I’m super excited,” Smith said. “To just get back out there against a different team and win baseball games.”
The versatile player shared how he is no stranger to high pressure.
“Nope, [I’m] not nervous,” Smith said. “Just super excited to get going.”
The Torero players have a total of 54 games to complete in the next four months, which ends up equating to an average of three to four games per week. Baseball and golf are logistically the busiest sports in their respective seasons. This high-commitment leads to players tending to miss school for scheduled tournaments and games.
Smith is no stranger to missing class for athletics, but he aims to make sure he is set up for success in advance.
“We are super prepared for everything,” Smith said. “Our team had the highest GPA in baseball history so this team is ready to balance school and baseball.”
The USD baseball team has seen previous success thanks to alumni players, but there are newcomers who are looking to make their mark and help the team continue
to succeed moving forward.
“I’m most excited to play alongside my brothers,” USD first-year Rex Watson said. “To compete and fight for a [West Coast Conference] championship.”
In last year’s WCC Championship, the No. 1 seeded Toreros defeated Portland University to win the title. The baseball team seeks to continue their success into the current season. Regarding the team’s busy schedule, Watson was similarly confident.
“I believe that although the schedule is going to be tight, we can trust the process and our training that we have done leading up to the season,” Watson said.
The USD baseball team is approaching the 2025 season with conviction. Despite a busy schedule and high expectations, they clearly demonstrate a winning mentality.
San Diego FC is set to play first season
Fans are ecstatic for the introduction of San Diego’s football
On Sunday, Feb. 23, the city of San Diego will finally have a professional soccer team in Major League Soccer (MLS), the highest level of American professional soccer. San Diego Football Club (SDFC) is set to face off on the road against reigning champions, the LA Galaxy. The team will then return home to play their first game at Snapdragon Stadium against St. Louis Soccer Club.
The arrival of the team comes with a lot of fanfare, considering how long the wait has been. San Diego has always been a soccer hotbed, being right on the border of the soccer fandom of Mexico. In addition, the large Latino population of San Diego is still as passionate about soccer as the natives.
It’s for this reason that all the way back during the founding of the MLS in 1996, the then MLS commissioner Doug Logan called San Diego a “prime candidate” for expansion, as reported by Mark Ziegler in the San Diego UnionTribune. However, the sticking point had always been the lack of a suitable stadium to play in. With the completion of the 35,000 capacity in Snapdragon Stadium at San Diego State University, the stadium size was no longer an issue, allowing for the MLS to officially expand to San Diego.
One of the exciting aspects of having a team in San Diego is its proximity to Mexico, leading to a potential cross cultural fanbase appeal. This dual fanbase has already been seen in San Diego’s southern neighbor, Tijuana. The New York
Times explored this topic in 2017 when they wrote an article about the prevalence of American fans traveling from San Diego to watch Club Tijuana games.
Club Tijuana, often nicknamed “Xolos,” was also the first team in Mexico’s top soccer league to offer public communication in both English and Spanish. They are also sponsored by Bud Light, rather than a Mexican beer brand like Modelo. SDFC will likely be attempting to capture this multicultural sporting atmosphere to create a unique experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the MLS.
USD junior Allen Coronado, a Guadalajara native who moved to San Diego in 2018, expressed a similar sentiment.
“A lot of people in the states, if they want that true soccer experience, they’ll probably go to Mexico,” Coronado stated.
“Being able to bridge that gap between those communities, having that here in San Diego, I think it’s going to be a very popular market, especially because of the Hispanic heritage and how popular soccer is here.”
San Diego FC has also tried to appeal to Latinos, particularly with the addition of winger Hirving “Chucky” Lozano. Lozano has played 70 games for the Mexican national team and scored 18 goals, including the game winning goal for Mexico in their shocking victory over defending champions, Germany, in the 2018 World Cup.
This is his first season back in North America since he left for Europe in 2017. In Europe, he played a total of 213 games
and scored 67 goals, while also winning the Italian soccer championship with Napoli and two Dutch Championships with Philips Sport Vereniging (PSV) Eindhoven.
The strategy of getting notable Mexican players is not new to California. Los Angeles FC and LA Galaxy have both done so in the past to appeal to Mexican fans, most notably, the signings of Carlos Vela for LA FC and Javier Hernandez (Chichirito) for LA Galaxy, both of whom were of similar status as Lozano at the time. Coronado also spoke about what bringing in Lozano meant to the team.
“I think the marketing is one of the reasons they brought (Lozano) in,” Coronado said.
“You say that name in Mexico and everyone knows him. Bringing in someone like that as the face of the team shows the path that the franchise is trying to take.”
San Diego has also tried to appeal to local San Diego fans by grabbing a number of players
who grew up in San Diego. Of particular interest is USD’s forward Samy Kanaan. Kanaan played 42 games for the Torero’s between 2022-2024, scoring 15 goals and leading the team last season with nine goals. Kanaan was drafted in the second round with the 56th overall pick in this year’s MLS draft and has already begun practicing with the team. Kanaan, a San Diego native, shared his experience of being drafted.
“I had a feeling that I would be drafted, but I didn’t know exactly where,” Kanaan stated. “It was scary because you have no clue where you might have to relocate.”
However, when Kanaan finally got the call to join San Diego, he was elated.
“It was an incredible experience being part of the inaugural preseason of my hometown,” Kanaan said. “I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.”
Despite being drafted,
Kanaan and SDFC both decided it was in his best interest to not sign immediately, instead allowing him to spend his senior year still playing for USD. Kanaan spoke highly of the SDFC commitment to San Diego’s values.
“The staff and management is very focused on learning from mistakes, becoming more aware and comfortable with our identity as a Football Club and building an unbreakable culture that goes hand in hand with San Diegan values,” Kanaan said.
Between the long wait, intriguing cross cultural connections and addition of home grown talent, SDFC has given fans a lot to be excited about ahead of their inaugural season. This remains to be seen, however, if they can transfer this excitement into long term success. Regardless, for San Diego’s soccer fans the future is less important than the present, and fans can now bask in the knowledge that they now, officially, have a team to call their own.
LUKAS BLANKENSTEIN CONTRIBUTOR
The USD baseball schedule for the next month is getting the team excited.
Alissa Abramovich/ The USD Vista
The new Snapdragon Stadium is hosting the San Diego Wave FC.
Photo courtesy of
SPORTS
Golf legends tee off at Torrey Pines
Genesis Invitational gathers Torero golf enthusiasts
PIRHALA NEWS EDITOR
The biggest names in golf teed up during the Genesis Invitational at La Jolla’s famous Torrey Pines South Course this past weekend. The tournament assembled the top seven golfers in the global rankings — Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Hideki Matsuyama, Nick Taylor, Ludvig Åberg and Wyndham Clark — for a swing at a piece of the $20 million dollar payout.
On the final day of the tournament, scores were neck and neck with lots of movement within the leaderboard.
However, in an outstanding birdie on the 18th hole, Åberg broke a tie with Maverick McNealy and took home the trophy and $4 million in prize money. The win marked Åberg’s first win in a PGA Tour signature event and his second Tour win in his career.
The PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) Tour signature event has taken
place in Los Angeles since its inception in 1924, yet after the detrimental wildfires that faced the region in January, tournament officials moved the match to San Diego. The tournament comes just three weeks after the annual Farmers Insurance Open held at Torrey Pines. USD first-year Thomas Huelskam regularly follows the PGA Tour and shared his excitement about the event’s move to the local course.
“I think it is really, really cool. With the [Farmers Insurance Open] you didn’t get to see the biggest names, but you did still have top players like Ludvig Å berg in the Farmers,” Huelskam said.
“But now that you have Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy down here at the Genesis in San Diego, I think it’s really, really cool. I think it was cool to bring Genesis down here because it ended up that Torrey was going to be a really challenging course for those players. You don’t see the minus 20 at the end, it’s the single digits barely breaking into single digits.”
In an effort to uplift and support the victims of the recent LA fires, a portion of proceeds from ticket sales and special edition merchandise will be donated to the “California Rises” campaign. The campaign was started by Tiger Woods’ foundation (TGR), the PGA Tour and Hyundai Motors Company — Genesis’ parent company.
The campaign will fundraise for American Red Cross, California Fire Foundation, World Central Kitchen and Genesis Inspiration Foundation. Firstresponders were also given the opportunity to be honorary observers on the grounds while their favorite golfers played. The tournament’s director, Mike Antolini, shed light on the decision to partner with nonprofit organizations in an interview with Golf Digest.
“Obviously, we’re here because of a catastrophic set of circumstances,” Antolini said. “And we’re trying to harness that energy into making next week as successful as it can be, because we’re able to use the week to increase support for the region, the community and the wildfire victims.”
these notable moments up close at Torrey Pines. USD sophomore Iggy Wozniak was among one of these students.
Ahead of the Invitational, hosted by Tiger Woods and his TGR Foundation, Woods intended to compete in his first PGA Tour start since last July. However, following the passing of his mother, Woods withdrew on the preceding Monday. In a statement on X, Woods explained his decision to take a step back from the tees at Torrey.
“I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready,” Woods stated. “I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my Mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.”
Players wore pins on their hats in remembrance of Woods’ mother, with his signature Sunday red color which symbolizes power — something that was certainly present within the golfers on the last day.
Åberg finished with a score of -12, with an incredible eight birdies on the final day which secured him the win. Other notable highlights included Scheffler’s chip for birdie from the bunker on the 15th hole, as well as Keegan Bradley’s hole-in-one on the third hole.
Some USD students were lucky enough to watch
“It was a fun event, [I] got here at 9 a.m. and got to watch Scottie [Scheffler] and Rory [McIlroy] behind the line and it was really cool,” Wozniak said. “It was hotter in the morning, but it cooled down and the wind picked up. You could definitely see them overcompensating for the wind. On one of the holes, Scottie overcompensated did too much, and landed in the bunker. It made him only seven feet away from me.”
Another Torero, USD junior Josh Bassetti, spectated at Torrey Pines.
“My favorite moment of the Genesis was being on the 18 green and seeing all of the fan-favorite golfers getting cheered on by the crowd. Even if they weren’t playing well, the fans still showed their love and made sure the golfers heard it. Also, the hot dogs were pretty good, so I enjoyed a couple of those.”
Although professional golf will be leaving the west coast until July after Genesis, golf-enthused students continue to follow their favorite PGA Tour players and enjoy the game from the comfort of their dorm rooms.
Torrey Pines was the site of the Genesis Invitational.
Photo courtesy
Ludvig Åberg pictured after winning the 2025 Genesis Invitational. Photo courtesy of @thegenesisinv/Instagram