THE USD VISTA
USD accused of labor law violations
Around forty individuals claim USD denied breaks, overtime pay
EMMA PIRHALA
The University was recently hit with two lawsuits related to employment at USD. The lawsuits claim that the University failed to provide meal and rest periods, keep accurate records of shifts and breaks, failed to reimburse employees for job-related spending and failed to compensate employees after termination. The first case was filed in August 2024 by an estimated class of 40 unnamed current and former hourly-paid employees. The lawsuit also includes a named employee, Maria Gabriela Verdugo, who worked for USD from June 2021 to October 2023, as a plaintiff. The lawsuit did not specify which departments the current and former employees worked in.
In October 2024, Verdugo filed another lawsuit accusing the University of the same offenses. Both lawsuits named the University and 10 anonymous “Does” as defendants. USD’s attorneys filed a response to the first lawsuit on Oct. 24, 2024 denying any wrongdoing. Shortly after, the University’s attorneys
Dr. Melvin Rogers gave a series of thought-provoking talks on campus during his time as the Social Sciences Knapp Chair of the Liberal Arts for the 20242025 academic year. The Knapp Chair title is awarded to an exceptional scholar from outside USD, who then spends one to three weeks of residence at the University. Rogers, a professor of political science and the Associate Director of the Center for Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Brown University, was selected for this honor.
During his time at USD, Rogers led multiple discussions on the intersections of democracy, faith and African American political thought, examining how these areas shape an understanding of justice and equality. His conversations occurred in
NEWS EDITOR
Dr. Rogers spoke at USD as the 2025 Social Sciences Knapp Chair.
Photo courtesy of Joshua Feingold
The next hearing will take place in San Diego’s Hall of Justice courthouse on May 9, 2025.
Photo
See Lawsuit, Page 3
CONTRIBUTOR
The state of the NTT union
Inside the NTT union’s progress nearly a year after protests
Last summer, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) held an election for the creation of a non-tenure track (NTT) faculty union at the University of San Diego. The election certified that USD NTT faculty were represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721 for the purposes of collective bargaining. Of the 182 people who voted, over 90% voted for the union. This was decided with no objections from USD’s attorneys.
The union is currently meeting biweekly with administration and negotiating proposals to change the terms of their contracts.
Dr. Holly Hamilton-Bleakley, an NTT adjunct assistant professor of philosophy and the director of medieval and renaissance studies, explained the function of the union in relation to its conversations with administrators.
“The department chairs and administrations have to be a little more at arms length from adjuncts because of the union,” Hamilton-Bleakley added. “The union is kind of the middleman now, so there is less direct involvement.”
Professor Soroya Rowley is a part-time theater professor who has been at USD for 20 years. Rowley has been a key part of the union and explained the progress of the negotiation process thus far.
“It’s going at a good pace,” Rowley stated. “We worked really hard last semester to propose the full contract, and USD has been good about responding in a timely fashion to our proposals. We’ve done a tentative agreement on three articles so far. Those articles are the savings clause, where we can negotiate and renegotiate certain aspects of the laws change; labor management committee, which is a formal way for people representing the employer and people representing the union to have regular meetings; and then notice of vacant positions, which is a policy to ensure that those folks who are eligible for certain teaching opportunities know that [USD is] looking for someone.”
USD has been in collaboration with the union since last year. The University’s media relations team commented on the ongoing affairs.
“The University is continuing to meet with the NTT union representatives in the hope of reaching a mutually acceptable collective bargaining agreement,” USD’s media relations team said. “The meetings began last Fall, and we are in the process of exchanging proposals and negotiating in
good faith toward a resolution.”
Some of the most prevalent subjects of the union’s negotiations are related to elements of job security including healthcare, contract shifts, retirement and wages. Health insurance more specifically, is a benefit that can change based on the contract allocated by the school. For full-time benefits-based employees, healthcare benefits include medical, dental and vision.
Rowley expressed the importance of healthcare benefits in the negotiation process.
“Our main benefit is healthcare,” Rowley said. “Most of us get it through covered California or a spouse, and so it would be much better for us to [get it through USD].”
Another topic of negotiation has been increasing the length of contract for NTT faculty. The school’s process of hiring adjunct, or supplementary, faculty long-term has led to one-semester and one-year contracts, which do not contain certain benefits, causing NTT faculty to want longer contracts.
Hamilton-Bleakley explained the history of hiring adjunct professors.
“It’s an outdated system that is doing different things than it was meant to accomplish at the beginning,” Hamilton-Bleakley claimed. “At the beginning it was, say 70 years ago, set up so that if a professor took a sabbatical, then you could bring in someone who’s retired from the department, and they come in and teach the class and they’ll pay them some money. But, now in a lot of departments, the bulk of your department is adjuncts, and they’re doing the bulk of your teaching. And you’re paying them a significantly lower amount of money. And they’re not contingent because they stay here, you know, this is my eleventh year. So, it’s not like you’re coming in for a semester and then you’re never heard of again.”
Hamilton-Bleakley further spoke about her experience with short term contracts.
“They have this policy that if you’re a benefits-based employee, any children you have that get into USD can qualify for tuition remission,” Hamilton-Bleakley explained. “My daughter is applying this cycle to get into USD. I just found out a couple weeks ago that actually [tuition remission] only happens if you have a three year contract. I am full time, and I am benefits based, but I only have a one year contract. So my daughter does not qualify for tuition remission, even though this is my eleventh year.”
Another prevalent negotiation topic is retirement compensation, which USD allocates through the use of a retirement savings plan. This is offered by schools and nonprofits to their employees.
Rowley explained the access that NTT faculty have to USD’s retirement benefits.
“USD has a really great retirement benefit for employees, so we think that the NTT faculty should have access to that,” Rowley said. “Right now, the part-timers have no access.”
Another stressed subject of negotiation has been higher wages, specifically asking the University to allocate a living wage to NTT faculty.
Dr. Diane Keeling, who is finishing her twelfth year at USD as a tenure-track (TT) professor of communication, expressed her opinion on the wages currently allocated to many NTT faculty.
“I feel like it is an injustice that NTT faculty who have been here longer than me get paid as much as a new TT professor,” Keeling explained. “They’re not compensated for their experience in the same way as a TT professor.”
Professor Dylan Wells, a part-time English professor with
two years at USD, explained the effect that low wages have on many NTT faculty.
“We are all employees who have multiple masters degrees, Ph.D.s and years of experience, and we are not making a living wage,” Wells explained. “So what we have to do is work in multiple schools. I am teaching at three institutions right now total … It will have a tangible difference in the classroom if I can teach 90 students instead of 125 students. I can give each student more of the time and attention in the class and in office hours.”
Some students have noticed how teaching at multiple institutions can stretch a professor thin. USD first-year Matt Chufong-Sprague explained his experience with accessing a NTT professor in the art history department last semester.
Some students have noticed, however, that many other types of professors are stretched thin with workplace obligations as part of their profession. USD firstyear Nico Posehn described his experience with a TT professor in the mathematics department.
“I noticed in my first semester that a TT professor of mine was constantly stretched thin not only in her class, but with other responsibilities on an impromptu department level which made her less available for office hours,” Posehn outlined. “Between my friends, there seems to be a common trend that all types of professors are occupied with a lot of obligations.”
As the negotiation process continues, NTT faculty wait for a compromise with USD administration to see improvements in elements of their job security and wages.
“[My professor] wasn’t available for any of her office hours during finals week, and so it was a struggle to ask her any questions,” ChufongSprague said. “She was never even available through Zoom because she had other classes to teach then.”
CADEN HAYNOR ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Protests led by NTT faculty and student supporters erupted in spring of 2024.
Photo courtesy of
A key initiative of the NTT faculty was the ability to vote in USD matters such as benefits, wages and hours. Photo courtesy of @usd_nttfaculty/Instagram
NEWS
Student workers explain changes in work environment University faces class action lawsuit
From Lawsuit, Page 1
asked the court to consolidate the two cases for efficiency.
The USD Vista obtained a copy of the lawsuit through a public records request. The suit claimed that USD violated several labor laws.
“Defendants failed to pay for all hours worked … failed to provide Plaintiff with legally compliant meal periods, failed to authorize and permit Plaintiff to take rest periods, failed to timely pay all wages to Plaintiff when Defendants terminated her employment, failed to furnish accurate wage statements to Plaintiff, and failed to indemnify Plaintiff for expenditures,” the class action complaint stated.
The lawsuit is centered around the claim that the University failed to provide meal and rest periods, keep accurate records of shifts and breaks and failed to compensate employees after termination.
“Defendants maintained a policy and practice of not paying Plaintiff and the Class for all hours worked, including minimum, straight time, and overtime wages,” the lawsuit claimed. “Defendants required Plaintiff and the Class to work ‘off-the-clock,’ uncompensated, by, for example requiring Plaintiff and the Class to perform work prior to clocking in for the workday, during unpaid meal periods, and after clocking out for the workday … In failing to pay for all hours worked, Defendants also failed to maintain accurate records of the hours Plaintiff and the Class worked.”
According to the lawsuit, California law requires a ten minute uninterrupted rest break for every four hours of work, or major fraction of four hours. Similarly, as stated in the lawsuit, California law requires that employees take meal periods before the sixth hour of their shift. If a break is missed for any reason, then an employer must legally compensate the employee an additional hour’s worth of pay.
The USD Vista contacted the attorneys representing Verdugo and the class and the plaintiff to learn more about the case and Verdugo’s employment history at USD. Despite three attempted contacts, the attorneys did not respond.
The USD Vista reached out to the University’s media
relations team for comment on the case. However, they declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Although the lawsuit does not mention the departments that the case focuses on, USD Dining has implemented campus-wide changes to how employees clock-in and out for shifts and breaks. On Jan. 31 of this year, five months after the first suit was filed, managers at different dining locations across campus contacted employees to emphasize policies regarding breaks, as explained in emails that The USD Vista obtained anonymously from student-workers.
“We are now utilizing a manual clock-in the system,” an email to Bert’s Bistro employees stated. “The clock on the iPad is located right outside the office. You will be required to clock out for every single break to document you are taking your breaks. This has been implemented campus-wide.”
Another email explained the campus-wide push to enforce breaks.
“It’s extremely important that we use the WebClock,” an email sent to workers at Tu Mercado read. “We have to punch in at the beginning of each shift and at the end of each shift. We also have to punch in / punch out
The USD Vista
for Every Break in between. This is being monitored.”
WebClock refers to a timekeeping program which is often utilized by workplaces to accurately record hours worked by employees.
In addition to reinforcing the rules about breaks, employees were required to sign documents acknowledging USD’s policies regarding breaks.
“I have been reminded about and I am aware of USD’s policies governing meal breaks and rest periods,” the acknowledgement read.
The document further cited regulations about when to take breaks and emphasized that employees are responsible for taking the breaks as scheduled by their supervisor.
The lawsuit has impacted the day-to-day experience of studentworkers on campus. Studentworkers from different locations within USD Dining noticed a shift in operations following the lawsuit. A student-worker who has worked at an on-campus restaurant in West Campus for at least the past year explained the environment surrounding breaks before the lawsuit came to light. The student declined to have their name published due to fear of retaliation.
“Prior to this semester, we were allowed to take breaks
basically whenever we wanted,” the student worker said. “But there was really no one telling us when to take our break, and there was also no one checking to make sure that we took our break.”
However, at the start of the semester, the same studentworker began to notice a change in how their managers handled breaks. The worker elaborated on this change.
“Now, we have scheduled breaks,” the employee said. “So they tell me when to take it. I also have to clock in and clock out for my break. Prior to that, they had no restriction on your break.”
Another student working at the same location since last year also noticed the shift in their working environment. The student also declined to have their name published due to fear of retaliation.
“I feel like they’re a lot more strict about [taking breaks],” the worker stated. “In the fall, it was kind of like, ‘Oh yeah, you can waive your breaks, you can kind of just take it when you want, when it’s convenient for you,’ and now it’s ingrained in your schedule. If you have a long enough shift, your 15 minute break is on HotSchedules.”
HotSchedules is an application that schedules shifts and meal/rest periods for employees to ensure
accurate recordkeeping. On top of scheduling breaks using HotSchedules, USD Dining has also implemented new iPads in all dining locations to track breaks.
Another student employee employed at a dining location in the Student Life Pavilion (SLP) since last school year, corroborated the notion of a stricter environment regarding breaks and spoke on the new implementation of iPads to track breaks at the start of the semester. Like other studentworkers, the student declined to have their name published due to fear of retaliation.
“In essence, when you come into work every day you have to check-in using the iPad and clock in and clock out, in addition to adding your hours on Workday,” the student-worker said.
While campus dining locations have changed the way they track hours and breaks, the class action lawsuit against the University is still ongoing. Both parties addressed the court during a virtual appearance in January to present their arguments for and against the consolidation of the cases. This motion has not been decided by the court yet. A future hearing is currently scheduled for May 9, 2025. The USD Vista will continue to provide updates on the lawsuit as the case progresses.
Quinn Hallinan - Advertising Manager
Gina Lew - Student Media Advisor
Marie Minnick - Operations Advisor
New iPads have been implemented campus-wide so that workers can clock in and out for shifts and breaks.
Photo courtesy of an anonymous employee
ARTS & CULTURE
A night of Screen Actors Guild’s finest 13 awards given out to honor the best in film and TV
The 31st Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, the only televised ceremony that exclusively honors actors in TV and film, occurred on Feb. 23. With top prizes going to movies and shows like “Hacks,” “The Substance” and “Conclave,” there were multiple notable moments from the SAG Awards.
Unlike other ceremonies where the audience or a selected batch of viewers vote on the winners, the SAG Awards stand separate because they are solely voted on by actors. Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) make up the voting audience for the SAG awards. So, nominated actors are voted on by fellow performers who have personal experience in the industry.
In this year’s ceremony, the 2024 political thriller “Conclave” won in the “Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture” category. The last three SAG winners in this category — “Oppenheimer,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “CODA” — all went on to win the Best Picture category in the Oscars. But “Conclave” broke this cycle with only the best-picture award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts under its belt.
Timothée Chalamet won the “Actor in a Lead Role” category for his depiction of Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.”
During his acceptance speech, Chalamet explained what the moment meant to him.
“I know the classiest thing
would be to downplay the effort that went into this role and how much this means to me, but the truth is this was five years of my life,” Chalamet stated. “I’m really in pursuit of greatness. I know people don’t usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats.”
The other nominees in the lead actor category were Adrien Brody for “The Brutalist,” Daniel Craig for “Queer,” Colman Domingo for “Sing Sing” and Ralph Fiennes for “Conclave.”
USD senior and working actor Julian Flores — who is eligible to join the SAGAFTRA union — expressed his thoughts on Chalamet’s award acceptance speech.
“I personally, as an actor, appreciate the sincerity in those words because I chase that greatness as well,” Flores said. “Especially in the last 10 years, the lack of sincerity in wanting to strive to make the best work of art in terms of the outcome of awards is so complacent because people are now afraid of publicly admitting that they want to be the best. Timothée’s speech showed that he is passionate and he was vocal about how important the craft is for him. A lot of people are afraid to admit that ardent fervor they feel in fear of sounding too pretentious or full of themselves.”
SAG’s lead-actress award was more competitive than its counterpart, with huge industry names being nominated for the category — Cynthia Erivo in “Wicked,” Pamela Anderson in “The Last Showgirl,” Karla Sofia Gascon in “Emilia Perez” and Mikey Madison in “Anora” as nominees. But the award was triumphed by Demi Moore for her role in the 2024 horror film “The Substance.” While accepting the award, Moore gave a sentimental speech where she dedicated the award to her younger self.
“That little girl who didn’t believe in herself,” Moore
said. “The words are kind of beyond me, so I’m just gonna have to just say thank you.”
However, Moore’s win at the SAG awards did not carry over to the Oscars where Mikey Madison won the award for “Best Actress in Leading Role” for her role in “Anora.” USD junior and theater major Liv Meloy shared her thoughts on Demi Moore’s wins and losses this award season.
“[Moore’s] win was well deserved. She portrayed a character so wild to anyone and about concepts never heard before that it’s impressive she did it so well,” Meloy said. “I think she should’ve won something given how long her career has been and how good she was in ‘The Substance.’ However, Mikey deserved the Oscar.” Moore extended the sentiment to other young actors in the same place as her and gave them some advice to keep continuing the course they’re on.
“So as these young actors who are having to do it all, I just encourage you, don’t lose sight of the human connection,” she said. “That’s the work that we do. It’s to be connected to one another.”
Other notable awards in TV went to Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” for “Ensemble in a Comedy Series,” and to Jessica Gunning for “Actress in a TV Movie or Limited Series” for her work in the British comedy-thriller “Baby Reindeer.” The historical drama show “Shogun” sweeped four SAG awards — “Ensemble for Drama Series,” “Actor in a Drama Series,” “Actress in a Drama Series” and “Stunt Ensemble in a TV
Series.”
SATVIKA NITYA CONTRIBUTOR
During his acceptance speech for the ‘Actor in a Lead Role’ category, Timothée Chalamet emphasized his pursuit of greatness. Photo courtesy of @tchalamet/Instagram The USD
The cast of ‘Conclave’ pictured with their award for ‘Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.’
Photo courtesy of @sagawards/Instagram
ALEXANDRA ALCALA ASST. A&C EDITOR
College can be a fun and freeing time, but it can also involve a harsh schedule with classes, exams and work at all hours of the day. Between the long study sessions and the stress of balancing responsibilities, small sources of comfort can make a big difference.
Comfort items offer students a sense of familiarity and emotional support in a stressful environment. These items play a crucial role in helping students feel emotionally supported, especially when far from home. As a senior at USD, biology student Karma Terlik has four years of experience balancing the many responsibilities that come with being a student. To her, comfort items come in a variety of forms and help her decompress after a hard day.
“When I think of a comfort item, I think soft and fuzzy, maybe a jacket or a stuffed animal,” Terlik said. “Personally, my entire bed is a comfort item for me. It’s a place to de-stress and regulate myself after a long day. It brings me joy, and it’s something that I look forward to. I think it is a nice thing to have, especially because I’m surrounded by homework all the time.”
Comfort items, and their significance, vary from person to person. For some, it’s a sentimental object from home. For others, it’s something as simple as a cute hoodie or a cuddly blanket. These items provide not only physical comfort, but also a mental escape from the pressures of college life. USD firstyear Gabby Pine has found that comfort can come from many different sources. Not
USD students keep it cozy
Toreros discuss their comfort items of choice
only has her sorority and friends helped her settle into USD, but her favorite comfort item has also helped.
“A comfort item for me would be my blanket,” Pine said. “I have a very cozy blanket in my dorm. I brought it from home. I haven’t had it for a long time, but it’s truly so cozy. It helps me relax after a long day.”
The attachment to comfort items often begins during childhood. Many babies and toddlers form strong emotional bonds with their favorite items, including blankets — often referred to as a “blankie.”
These soft, familiar objects provide warmth and security, helping children self-soothe and feel safe in new or stressful environments. As students grow older, that connection to certain items doesn’t disappear — it simply evolves.
A cozy blanket in a college dorm can offer the same sense of reassurance and familiarity, especially during moments of stress or homesickness. USD sophomore Michelle Martinez has seen this firsthand.
“For me, a comfort item looks like pictures from my family and friends, and a blanket that I always use and have had for two years now,” Martinez said. “They bring different types of comfort, but both help especially during hard times in school like finals week.”
Like Martinez, USD senior Sophie Simpson also has a comfort item that reminds her of home. As a senior, her most important keepsake has been with her for a very long time.
“I have a stuffed otter named Otty,” Simpson said. “He’s special to me because
he feels like home and has every characteristic I’d think a comfort item would have. [Otty] also reminds me of my childhood and what’s important to me. I’ve had him since I was born, and now he’s here with me in college.”
Although many students have a comfort item of their own, there’s some uncertainty around bringing a beloved childhood stuffed animal or blanket to college. USD senior Abbey Casserly waited until her junior year to bring her comfort item to school.
“When I came to college I saw that a lot of people brought stuffed animals, and people would sleep with them too,” Cassely said. “At first I was like ‘That’s interesting,’ … but then once I saw other people doing that I was like ‘Wait, it is a nice touch of your childhood
to bring something with you.’… So then, my junior year, I decided to bring my Winnie the Pooh bear back to school with me as a piece of home.”
The connection formed with comfort items during childhood doesn’t just fade as students grow older. Certain comfort objects stay with them for years, serving as quiet reminders of home. For some students, bringing a lifelong comfort item to college isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about carrying a piece of their past into their future. USD first-year Sam Vasquez explained how the meaning of comfort items extends beyond what they physically are.
“I immediately think of pillows or something soft when thinking of a comfort item,” Vasquez said. “I have a sentimental attachment to them. Not really from what they are, but for where they come from. They are a part of my home.” The emotional attachment to comfort items plays an active role in helping students cope with stress. During overwhelming times, such as midterm season, these familiar objects can provide stability in the midst of academic chaos. For students facing long nights of studying and back-toback exams, the presence of a comfort item can make all the difference. In fact, just having something familiar nearby can create a sense of calm.
As students juggle the demands of school and other responsibilities, these sentimental objects serve as reminders of where they come from and what brings them peace. So whether it’s a wellworn stuffed otter, a cherished pillow or a simple blanket, these comfort items are more than just objects — they are a part of life for many students.
For some students, their bed is a comfort item that helps them de-stress. Anjali Dalal-Whelan/The USD Vista Some students bring their stuffed animals with them to college. Riley Rains/The USD Vista
Blankets and pillows serve as a comfort item for many students. Jackie Marquez/The USD Vista
USD senior Abbey Casserly’s Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal is a piece of home for her.
Photo courtesy of Abbey Casserly
Stop #1
Stop #6
CRAWLING THROU
A FULL DAY OF STUDY
SP
Fuel up at Aromas
Aromas large variety of coffee and breakfast foods makes it a great spot to begin your day Its busy atmosphere is perfect for working with friends and staying caffeinated
“The food is really good, I feel like it’s a good place to lock in ”
-Sasha Ganum USD sophomore
Finish late into the night at Copley Library
If the study session needs to continue past midnight, the Copley library is open until 2 a m Sunday through Thursday The Mother Hill Reading Room, also known as the “Harry Potter room, ” is one of the quietest places on campus, and is a great spot to end a hard day of studies
“My favorite study spot is the reading room That room is always completely silent for some reason I always completely lock-in in that room ”
-Daniela Castillo Cario, USD junior
With midterm season in ful Toreros are studying for long all day at a dorm-room desk quickly, so moving spots is motivated. Follow this “study day of productive work on U
Soak up the sun a Camino/Founders co
Taking advantage of San Diego’s s the prettiest areas of campus is a avoid a midday slump The Camin courtyard is usually quiet and peac great place to work during t
“The sunlight always feels good I j outside with fresh air -Christian Vaikona, USD soph
Grab dinner and g to studying
After the sun has set, grab dinner plenty of tables in La Paloma to
I just like the food over here, and like sitting her
Stop #5
-Mabel Tulay, USD
Anjali Dalal-Whelan/ Th
Shannen Swars/ The USD Vista
Shannen Swars/ The USD Vista
Anjali Dalal Whela
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n full swing, many long hours Spendin desk can get boring ts is a way to stay tudy crawl” for a fu on USD’s campus
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Find a spot in Knauss. and get back dying.
dinner at La Paloma There are loma to continue studying
re, and I’m always in Shiley so I ting here,” y, USD junior or
Take a break and watch the sunset at the Garden of the Sea
When studying all day, it’s important to take breaks The Garden of the Sea is an ideal place to watch the sunset and take a mental breather
I ll just come out here and journal, and read and stuff And it’s a time for just me And just to calm down from all the stress and completely forget about all the stuff I have to do ” -Bárbara Urias, USD first- year
Photo courtesy of Bárbara Urias
Spread by: Alissa Abramovich/The USD Vista: Content by Anjali Dalal-Whelan/The USD Vista
Photo courtesy of @USD Business/ Instagram
ARTS & FEATURE
Dr. Rogers’ call for transformation Building faith in racial progress
From Dr. Rogers, Page 1 a variety of formats. These included a public conversation, a lecture, a “Pizza and Politics” event hosted by the political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha and a discussion hosted by the Black Student Union.
Rogers’ talks were based on his recent book, “The Darkened Light of Faith: Race, Democracy, and Freedom in African American Political Thought,” as well as reflections on the work of James Baldwin, an influential African American writer and civil rights activist. His expertise and insights provided students and faculty with a deeper understanding of the critical role of African American thought in shaping democratic principles and political theory.
Rogers’ presence on campus was largely a result of Dr. Cory Gooding, a USD associate professor of political science and international relations and director of Africana studies, and Dr. Timothy Wyman McCarty, a USD associate professor of political science and international relations. Gooding and McCarty co-chair the Race, Ethnicity and Politics Speaker Series, hosted by the political science department. McCarty explained that, when deciding who should come and be heard by the USD campus, Rogers was a clear choice.
“I am a fan,” McCarty explained. “He is somebody that I have admired [along with] his work for a long time. I am persuaded by the moral force of his reading, and it’s his orientation toward political questions that I really love. He is a critic of pessimism and romanticism at the same time. The way that he is trying to find a way to talk, specifically about racial justice and white supremacy, is in a way that I find incredibly compelling.”
The motivation of Rogers’ “The Darkened Light of Faith” came about in response to a gap Rogers observed in the literature about how African American political thinkers have radically thought about democracy.
“I had a selfish desire to write about the figures I wanted to read about,” Rogers stated while discussing his book with McCarty during the Public Conversation About Race, Democracy and the Darkened Light of Faith event. “Their stories rose to the grandness of a philosophical epic.”
One of those stories was that of David Walker’s, whose 1829 pamphlet, “An Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World but in Particular and Very Expressly, to Those of the United States of America,” was instrumental in igniting discussions on the abolition of slavery. Walker’s Appeal, written with fiery passion and urgency, led to anti-literacy laws that repressed the spread of abolitionist literature, prohibited
enslaved people from being taught to read or write and made the distribution of insurrectionary literature punishable by death. Despite such intense opposition, Walker continuously resisted slavery and the injustices faced by African Americans in the U.S..
A central question of Rogers’ work was: What justified the belief and faith in democracy amidst oppression and violence?
Rogers argued that faith is not a naïve optimism, but rather an inherent belief that humans can be better than they are and that the world can be improved.
The conversation about his book also touched on the debate between Martin Delany and Frederick Douglass, regarding faith in democracy. Douglass, an African American abolitionist and speaker, maintained faith in the possibility of equal rights despite his criticisms of the U.S.. In contrast, Delany, an African American journalist and physician, was more skeptical due to lack of certainty. In his work, Rogers argued that faith is not inherently dependent on the certainty of achieving a specific goal.
Rogers also explored the concept of pessimism as a mobilizing force. While pessimism acknowledges the persistent failures of justice, he warned against allowing it to become complacency. Instead, pessimism should generate an intensity of action, much like historical movements for justice. It is in this balance of optimism and pessimism that faith flourishes.
“Faith is not a cockeyed optimism,” he noted. “Faith is not reliant on a certainty of success, but on markers of change.”
According to Rogers, faith is a commitment that runs ahead of proof, an orientation toward aspirations for the U.S.. Rogers pointed out that it is important to embrace an aspirational form of the people, meaning imagining what is yet to be instead of simply looking at a descriptive form of the people, which continues to empower those who are already enfranchised.
Addressing contemporary challenges, Rogers acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining faith in democracy in today’s landscape. He pointed out that we live in a divided world where existential threats feel overwhelming, but this does not mean faith should be abandoned. Rather, it requires a deliberate plan to fix this divide.
Natalie Humphrey, a USD senior who attended the public conversation on “The Darkened Light of Faith,” resonated with the idea of maintaining faith.
“What stood out to me was his explanation that ‘there is no way to endure what we face without relying on other people,’” Humphrey explained. “Faith has always lived in other people. We
need to cultivate more trust and openness with each other, and pull our loved ones close.”
As the discussions moved toward solutions, Rogers encouraged students, faculty and other guests to reflect on what they truly care about and what kind of future they want to build. He drew on historical struggles, noting that revolutionary thinkers and oppressed communities have often had to act without any clear indicators of success. Rogers persisted with a call to action, emphasizing the necessity of bipartisan dialogue and collective action.
“Create a wider forum and serve as the loudest scorekeeper,” Rogers urged the audience.
In Rogers’ lecture, “On James Baldwin: Racial Progress Without Redemption,” he explored the roadmap Baldwin created to understand how justice can be achieved in democracy.
Rogers explained that Baldwin was not interested in blame or guilt. Instead, he was interested in responsibility. Baldwin believed that people are inherently responsible for the society they belong to and that the best way to approach issues of racial injustice, or any injustice, is by accepting the weight of history.
“We’ve got all this history bearing down on us,” Rogers explained. “We need an account of responsibility — of what we owe to it.”
At the core of Baldwin’s
critique is a system of evasions — a constant insistence on innocence — that distorts reality and keeps white Americans from confronting the darkness of history. By distancing themselves from the past, they end up estranged from it, and that disconnection leads to a kind of deformation. The nation becomes unable to see itself clearly and is terrified of losing the damaged identity it’s built.
“The things we must attend to do not disappear because we close our eyes,” Rogers stated.
Oftentimes, Rogers explained, the narrative spun is that racial progress requires a sense of redemption. However, redemption is not the answer. In fact, Baldwin rejected the idea of redemption within racial progress altogether. Redemption places too much value on victories and deforms people’s relationship to history. The answer is transformation.
“Nothing short of a rebirth is required,” Rogers explained. “A reawakening of what the nation is. Americans must recognize their past and sculpt a collection of new responsibilities.”
Rogers also acknowledged the current political climate, particularly attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and stressed the importance of resisting complacency. According to Rogers, institutions may not always align with justice but can be challenged and reshaped through consistent work.
“We measure the soul of a nation through the effort we’re putting into it,” Rogers stated. This notion of responsibility stood out to John Gilly, a USD senior who was present at the Baldwin lecture.
“Dr. Rogers argued that Baldwin’s understanding of ‘freedom’ — the basis for American democracy — is a community responsibility,” Gilly elaborated. “Individuals are not free in isolation, only in relation to others.”
When reflecting on how Baldwin would have approached the current status of DEI, Rogers explained that Baldwin could have seen it as a threat against social and ethical progress.
Rogers explained that, in times like these, it is more important than ever to lean on community. He described democracy as something that needs intimacy, such as what’s found in friendships and relationships, to function. This intimacy and connection allows people to imagine a version of society that is no longer fragmented. Ultimately, Rogers’ message focused on resilience. Democracy, he argued, is built on the idea that no loss is permanent and that individuals always have the opportunity to reorganize, rethink and try again. The struggle for justice is never-ending, but it is in this struggle that democracy finds its deepest meaning.
Dr. Rogers accepting an award at Heidelberg University.
ZOE ROGERS OPINION EDITOR
How many times have you felt pressured to tip someone whose only job is to take your order? Tipping culture nowadays has gotten out of hand. Customers are expected to provide a tip ranging from 15 to 25 percent of their order, significantly increasing the money poured out of their bank account. However, most of the time, customers feel the pressure to tip because they’re aware of the low wage that the employee receives. It’s time to get rid of tipping culture altogether and start implementing liveable wages instead.
On my recent trip to Japan over Christmas break, I went through culture shock. Not only were the Japanese fundamentally nicer than the average American walking down the street of San Diego, but they also had no trace of tipping culture. I learned that the Japanese take the tip as more of a handout, basically implying that they should get paid more for their work, which they don’t think is the case.
Tipping can be seen as offensive in Japan, reflecting negatively on the employee’s duties and implying that the employer is not properly paying their workers.
Start Travel, a website dedicated to travel information and destination guides, provided cultural information explaining why tipping is not accepted in Japanese culture.
“It is in the Japanese culture to take pride in your work,” Start Travel explained. “As such, employees have the highest standards when supplying a service and don’t feel the need to accept tips to feel appreciated. To the Japanese, attempting to give a tip suggests their employer does not value them enough to offer sufficient pay.”
In the United States, tipping has become extremely prevalent. We are expected to tip at almost every establishment that we walk into. Sometimes, I struggle with pressing the “no tip” button on the screen as I stare sheepishly at the cashier. Having the tipping device in front of you can make you feel extremely uncomfortable, especially when it feels like the employee is eagerly awaiting a tip.
My friend has a rule that goes, “If I’m not sitting, I’m not tipping,” which I’ve begun implementing into my own life. I personally feel more inclined to tip at a
OPINION
Goodbye to gratuity
Tipping culture in America has gone too far
restaurant than a coffee shop.
Tipping has become a cultural norm that we see all over the nation. At this point, it seems as if I am going to start having the tipping display screen offered to me whenever someone holds the door open for me.
The U.S. has had a long history of tipping. TIME, an American news magazine based in New York City, reported on the beginning of the American tipping culture.
“Wealthy Americans in the 1850s and 1860s discovered the tradition which had originated in medieval times as a master-serf custom wherein a servant would receive extra money for having performed superbly well, on vacations in Europe,” TIME wrote.
Our relationship with tipping culture has evolved significantly since the late 1800s. Tipping surfaced as a way of rewarding serfs. Now, we don’t see our food service workers as servants, we see them as people with rights equal to all workers. Workers’ wages should reflect this factor, and tipping should be resolved because employees should be compensated fairly for their work. While the original incentive behind tipping is significantly outdated, it is still a practice in our everyday life.
The U.S. Department of Labor, a federal agency that promotes labor laws and worker’s rights, provided information on the Fair Labor
Standards Act (FLSA) and its application to employee tipping.
“Under the FLSA, a tipped employee is an employee engaged in an occupation in which they customarily and regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips,” the U.S. Department of Labor stated.
The agency also provided that tipped employees can oftentimes earn less than usual minimum wages. This statement is typically used by employers to justify low pay, saying that the employee makes up for the low pay with tips. There isn’t a way to guarantee how many tips the employees can receive in a day, and relying on tips can be insufficient for the employee, especially because they live their day hoping the customer clicks the 25 percent button on the screen. Instead, employers should pay employees the appropriate salary for their occupation.
The National Employment Law Project (NELP), a nonprofit advocacy organization that supports quality jobs for workers, elaborated on how much bartenders rely on tips.
“Waiters and bartenders earn more in tips than they do from what employers pay them as an hourly base wage,” NELP stated. “The median share of hourly earnings that come from tips account for 58.5 percent of wait staff’s earnings, and 54 percent of bartenders’ earnings.”
The NELP project emphasizes the need to turn
away from the system of paying workers low wages, and ultimately make up for it in tips. Living off of tips can be insufficient and unreliable, so eliminating employee reliance would benefit our society.
Tipping is a subjective act. We just go off of how well the service was executed, and how much dedication the employee invested in providing a service to the customer. Although there is an unspoken rule that 20 percent is standard for good service, everyone tips differently. Forcing employees to rely on the tips of customers is problematic and can oftentimes be inconsistent depending on the day. In addition, tipping disparities have become prevalent based on the demographic of the worker.
Render, a print magazine that focuses on the food industry, investigated the reasoning behind gender tipping disparities using studies conducted by Matthew Parrett for the Journal of Labor Research.
“What Dr. Parrett found was that men and women earned about the same in tips when the service was perceived to be “exceptional,” but that for any lower service quality, women’s tips were lower than men’s,” the article explained.
Some may say that tipping incentivizes good service, and that the low wages should not matter because the employee will be getting their money’s worth from tips anyways.
However, tipping is subjective to who is being waited
on, and even when workers provide excellent service, a tip is not guaranteed. As for the lower wages, they are often more practical for employers, especially when employees receive substantial tips. Rather than budgeting extra funds for wages, employers can invest that money in purchasing resources and store products. However, it should be an employer’s job to provide wages for workers, not customers. Eliminating tipping and implementing liveable wages would significantly benefit our society and culture. By removing tipping, customers can focus on better ways to show appreciation, such as advocating for liveable wages and fair compensation to all workers. Making this change would allow for employees to be valued for their quality of work, not just their demographic. Eliminating tipping from our culture as a whole would benefit us in multiple social aspects. Not only can tipping be inconsistent depending on the customer and depending on the day, but also expecting employees to generate tips due to their low wage is a problematic and unstable form of income. Tipping correctly can be tricky, and evaluating how much to tip, and when, is a whole other battle. The social pressure to tip is inescapable in our daily lives. If we implemented liveable wages and stopped tipping, we wouldn’t have to feel bad after clicking the “no tip” button.
If you’ve bought anything, ever, you’ve probably seen this tip screen.
Alissa Abramovich/The USD Vista
OPINION
Move your bottles and backpacks
Saving seats in the SLP is so immature
ALEX KUETER ASST. OPINION EDITOR
USD boasts many popular dining spots, such as La Paloma or Oliva for tasty lunches, and Aromas for breakfast. However, the dinner scene is largely dominated by the Student Life Pavillion’s dining hall, known among students as the SLP. The majority of other on campus dining locations close earlier in the afternoon and have less variety, so the SLP is the place to be, or eat, in the evenings for USD students.
Despite how many students eat at the SLP, it seems as if there are not enough chairs or tables for everyone to fit. While you can easily find open seats at earlier or later times, it is nearly impossible during peak hours due to the hundreds of students who go to the SLP for dinner.
Students being unable to find tables has led to an annoying phenomenon — reserving tables with water bottles or backpacks. This epidemic is causing the tables to fill up long before people are sitting at them. This practice is of great annoyance to many diners, like myself, who don’t want to carry their food and drinks around campus trying to find a place to sit. Reserving tables with personal items is an irritating practice that should stop for both the safety of the students who do it and also for those who need a place to eat.
Unofficial reservations have been an increasing problem during dinner at the SLP. Students looking for a table will leave backpacks, water bottles, keys, phones and other personal items at empty tables in order to save them while they enter the area to order their dinner. Lines in the SLP can range from 5-15 minutes during peak times, or longer if students wait for other people or order items from different stations. This means tables can sit empty yet “reserved” for about 20 minutes
while students order, causing many who exit the food stations unable to find tables. This becomes especially irritating to those looking for a table, but especially for students who eat very fast or just want to grab dinner between classes and would have been in and out of the saved tables before students came back to sit at them.
Some students, such as USD junior Katelyn Smith, get annoyed with the lack of people occupying tables when students need somewhere to eat.
“I think that it can be a little frustrating coming out with your food and looking for a spot but everything is taken by, like, a Hydro Flask or a Stanley,” Smith said.
Other students, such as USD senior Brianna Floyd, explained how it can be hard to tell what even counts as a “reservation.”
“Last week we got dinner, and there was a smoothie on the table that looked like trash, so we sat there and then the people came later and took it and left,” Floyd said.
Among the students who practice space saving, few see any major problem with it. USD first-year Ava Bubhart stated she saves seats all the time in order to beat the crowds.
“Me and my friend do it, we’re guilty of that,” Bubhart said. “We’ll save seats with our water bottles. Especially when like it gets busy, like 5:30 or 6:00. We usually save something cause there’s usually a lot of people.”
Others, such as USD sophomore Annie Jackson, see it as a fair but frustrating battle for a table.
“I honestly don’t mind, I think it’s a good way to like claim a spot,” Jackson said. “We do it a lot. During rush hours it’s really hard to get a table, so if you’re coming in early then it’s like OK. We’re part of that circle but its like survival of the fittest, you know.”
When talking about the chance of not getting a table
due to other people saving spaces, she described being frustrated when the tables turned.
“We came before, and there were no tables at all so we had to eat upstairs,” Jackson said. “That was not good at all.”
The root of this problem is very basic. There are not enough spaces for students eating in the SLP to all sit comfortably — or even at all. The SLP hosts hundreds of students a night and is typically at its busiest from 6-7 p.m. for the dinner rush. With how many students eat at the SLP during rush hours, hundreds of students come and go and many are unable to find seating. While some may take their food to go, others sit outside which is less than desirable in the colder months. Though there is often outdoor space along benches or staircases to sit, once
the sun is down it quickly becomes cold and there are no strong lighting options outside, leading some students, like myself, to feel unsafe eating outside.
Some may think that there is no issue leaving their stuff behind.
Who cares about inconveniencing others as long as you get a seat, right? But there is some danger associated with this reservation system that many do not realize. Though USD seems like and is a very safe campus, petty theft can happen, especially due to the open campus nature of our school.
Anyone could walk into the SLP and walk out with a new backpack and $1,000 computer inside.
Even students may be tempted to take nice water bottles if they are seemingly left behind. While USD has Public Safety officers around campus, it’s not a good idea to chance it as we are not strict with people coming and going.
Though most students wouldn’t steal items, there is a good chance students’ stuff could be moved from the tables to allow someone else to sit. Workers may collect abandoned items, but there is no guarantee that they will make it back to you. It may be diffiult to find or recover your items if they are moved.
Some students who have had things moved are lucky to find them at other tables, like USD sophomore Sienna Foo.
“Someone moved [my stuff] once to the end of one of the long tables,” Foo said. “It made me a little upset, but I just grabbed it and moved tables.”
Despite how frustrating it can be to those looking for tables,
there are many advantages for those who do save them. When the SLP fills up during busy hours, it can be very hard to find a table if you did not arrive before the crowd, so saving one before you go in can spare you that awkward walk trying to locate one. Additionally, the station area where food is ordered is incredibly small and there is very little room to walk around without bumping into people, as echoed by Foo.
“Like a lot of people put down their stuff and go get their food, which is fine because there’s like too many people in one space to have backpacks with people bumping into each other,” Foo said. Trying to stand in line with a backpack not only gets heavy and uncomfortable, but the additional space taken up by them allows less people to fit in the lines, making them stretch much more. Leaving your backpacks outside at a table can clear up the ordering area and helps with students’ back pain from carrying bags.
While I can sympathize with these reasons, they don’t seem good enough to justify saving spaces like we are in middle school. A bag or a water bottle is not a person, and should not be used to save a whole table in an already limited dining area. Table scarcity is a real problem and is annoying to many students. But by saving tables and fixing your personal inconvenience, you inconvenience a whole host of other people, many of who may have eaten quickly and left before you got back with your food. So, as students, we should just wait to grab a table when we actually have food in hand.
Students frequently leave water bottles on tables in the SLP to save seats.
Alex Kueter/The USD Vista
A backpack at an SLP table often means that table has already been claimed.
Jackie Marquez/The USD Vista
SPORTS Students are hooked on gambling
Sports gambling on college campuses reaches new heights
LUKAS BLANKENSTEIN CONTRIBUTOR
On May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court made a landmark decision to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, the Federal Act which banned states from legalizing sports gambling. Since then, the sports world hasn’t been the same. Sports gambling is now legal in 38 states and in the District of Columbia. As a result, America has spent more money on sports gambling than ever before.
According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), which bills itself as the premier national trade group for the U.S. casino industry, Americans spent a record $147.91 billion on legal sports gambling in 2024, a 23.6% year-over-year increase from 2023. Meanwhile, the gambling industry walked away with a record $13.7 billion profit, a 25.4% increase from 2024.
A large part of this uptick in gambling has been the proliferation of sports betting apps, such as Prize Picks, DraftKings and FanDuel. These apps allow fans to place bets from their phone with just a few clicks, as opposed to traditional sports betting that requires bettors to go to a casino. These apps have also been reporting record growth. DraftKings, which had the largest market share of any sports betting app in 2023 according to Statista (35%), released their earnings report for Q4 on Feb. 13, 2025.
DraftKings reported revenue of $1,393 million, an increase of $162 million, or 13%, compared to $1,23 in 2013.
A large portion of this rise in revenue has been as a result of increased betting among college students. In 2023, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the governing body for college sports, released a study on college gambling.
“Overall, the present survey found that sports wagering is pervasive among 18 to 22-year-
olds, with 58% having engaged in at least one sports betting activity,” the NCAA statement said. “Sports wagering activity is widespread on college campuses — 67% of students living on campus are bettors and tend to bet at a higher frequency.”
This increase can also be seen as a Torero trend. USD senior Matt Pearson noted that he also has a number of friends who now sports bet.
“Most of my friends that watch sports now occasionally bet on them as well,” Pearson said.
Sports betting apps have recognized this trend and see the value in attempting to market more to college students. This can be seen with Caesars Sportsbooks, a popular online sportsbook, and their former partnerships with Louisiana State University in September of 2021 and Michigan State University in January of 2022. Both campuses signed multi-year contracts with Caesar’s, which made Caesar’s the official betting partner of both universities. These deals eventually fell through due to public backlash against both universities.
One of the larger ways that online sports betting sites have tried to increase gambling on their apps is through constant ads on sports’ programs.
According to the AGA, the sports betting industry spent $434.4 million on advertisements in 2024 and made up 0.4% of all TV advertising volume (for context, alcohol is 0.5% and telecom/ wireless is 1.5%). This ad spending appears to be effective at grabbing eyes, especially those of college students, as the NCAA’s sports wagering study suggests.
“Advertisements have a major influence on betting activity: 63% of on-campus students recall seeing betting ads,” the report stated. “This is a higher rate than that found in the general population or those that commute/virtually attend college, and 58% of those students indicate they are more
likely to bet after seeing the ads.”
According to the AGA, bettors risked an estimated $150 billion and lost more than $13 billion with U.S. sportsbooks in 2024. $13 billion is comparable to what Americans spent in total on Cyber Monday in 2024.
While the sports leagues have been willing to run these ads, they have often taken a harsher penalty on their athletes and officials gambling. In July of 2024, NBA player Jontay Porter was banned from the NBA for life after it was discovered that he made bets on himself and his team while he was a member of the Toronto Raptors.
Even players that don’t bet on their teams have faced harsh penalties. NHL player Shane Pinto was suspended for half a
season due to sports gambling, and MLB umpire Pat Hoberg was banned for sharing an account with a friend who bet on baseball, although MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said there was no evidence that Hoberg manipulated the outcomes of games in any way. Pearson thinks that this approach from the leagues is hypocritical.
“I don’t think the ads have encouraged me to gamble,” Pearson said. “However, I find them incredibly hypocritical with how much professional leagues care about their players gambling.”
Sports betting poses a large risk to college students as it can lead to the development a gambling disorder. A gambling disorder, also called a gambling addiction, is detailed by the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses (DSM), which is the American Psychiatric Association’s professional reference book on mental health and brainrelated conditions. The DSM-5, their latest edition, provided the following definition for a gambling disorder.
“Persistent and recurrent problematic gambling behavior leading to clinically significant impairment or distress,” the DSM-5 said.
According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, a non-profit organization meant to help tackle the causes and problems of gambling addiction, problem gambling is a serious issue in the U.S..
“2.5 million U.S. adults (1%) are estimated to meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem in a given year,” their website stated. “Another 5-8 million (2-3%) would be considered to have mild or moderate gambling problems.”
This number may be even higher among college students. Pause Before You Play, a responsible gambling awareness website, provided their own statistics on college students.
“Many studies suggest that the rate of problem gambling in college students is alarmingly high, with one stating that problem gambling affects as many as 6% of students,” the website read.
According to Pause Before You Play, this early gambling is compounded because, like most addictions, those who begin gambling earlier in life are more likely to have a long-term gambling addiction throughout the rest of their life.
With sports betting on the rise and the industry bringing home record profits in 2023, it is unlikely that this new wave of sports betting will fizzle out anytime soon. That’s why it is more important than ever to make sure to gamble responsibly
If you or anyone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER (426-2537) for free confidential gambling problem assistance, or call the USD counseling center at 619260-4655 to request a mental health appointment or get free over the phone consultation.
Caesar’s Palace Sportsbook in Vegas, where bettors can bet and watch a variety of sports at one time.
Sports bets are commonly placed at casinos.
Lauren Ceballos/The USD Vista
SPORTS
A student’s guide to bandwagoning
How to jump on the hype train without getting caught
CHERISHANN DIAMZON CONTRIBUTOR
March Madness is about to begin, the NBA and NHL playoffs are approaching and baseball is back. For sports fans, this is the most exciting time of the year. But for those who haven’t been following all season, it’s also the perfect opportunity to jump on the bandwagon.
Bandwagoning is when someone suddenly supports a winning team without prior loyalty. It’s a time-honored tradition, especially among college students looking to join the excitement of buzzerbeaters, upsets and championship dreams. While some die-hard fans call it fake, others see it as simply enjoying the ride. Either way, it’s a fast pass to the fun without the emotional baggage of years of heartbreak.
For many college students, team loyalty isn’t the priority — social connection is. USD sophomore Alanya Kaçan admitted that her support for teams often depends on her friends’ allegiances, or even friendly wagers.
“Honestly, I’ve never rooted for March Madness,” Kaçan explained. “I just root for whoever my friends are supporting, especially if they have bets placed.”
For many students, team allegiance is less about personal loyalty and more about shared experiences, whether through friendly wagers or cultural trends. Some even base their support on pop culture influence rather than sports history.
USD sophomore Shannen Limqueco referenced the recent Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs craze as a deciding factor in her NFL preferences.
“If I know something about the team, like the Chiefs with Taylor Swift, then I’ll pick them,” Limqueco said. “For March Madness, I’d probably just root for whichever school is closest to San Diego.”
When it comes to college basketball, Limqueco emphasized that proximity plays a big role in her decision-making. Rather than following a specific team year after year, she prefers to support schools with a local connection. Given San Diego’s strong presence in college sports, it makes sense that she’d gravitate toward a familiar name.
“SDSU almost won a few
years ago, so I’d probably root for them,” Limqueco said.
While some students, like Limqueco, choose teams based on location, others factor in both geography and success.
USD first-year Wyatt Boswell, a member of the USD Rugby team, has been a lifelong fan of Bay Area sports teams, but acknowledges that winning seasons influenced his support.
“To say my teams weren’t picked based on success would be lying,” Boswell admitted. “The Giants were phenomenal when I was really young, so that obviously inspired my fandom.”
For students who don’t have long-standing allegiances, blending in as a fan takes a little time. Simply jumping on the bandwagon isn’t as easy as throwing on a team’s jersey and calling it a day. True fandom requires a bit more. Students need to choose a team that aligns with their interests, understand the team’s history and pick up on key talking points to avoid standing out as a casual observer. Whether it’s memorizing star players, learning rivalries or understanding the latest season’s highlights, fully integrating into the fan culture takes some dedication.
Not all teams are created equal when it comes to bandwagoning. Some teams naturally gain more attention depending on their performance, status or connection to a fan base. Bandwagon fans often gravitate toward teams that fit certain categories.
The “hot favorite” is a team with a dominant record, positioned as a championship contender and widely recognized for its success. These teams often have the highest number of casual supporters.
The “Cinderella story” refers to an underdog team making an unexpected run in a tournament, gaining popularity as they continue to defy expectations. Fans who start supporting them early can appear knowledgeable about the sport.
The “local pick” is the team closest to a fan’s city or region, often creating a sense of connection, even for those who have not followed them before. This is common for students who support their college team or the professional team in their area.
Finally, the “cool merch team” is one known for its strong branding, distinctive colors or stylish uniforms. These teams
attract fans who may not follow the sport closely but appreciate the aesthetic appeal of their gear.
While some fans choose their teams based on success, storylines or aesthetics, others remain loyal to the teams they’ve supported for years. Boswell has stayed true to his Northern California roots.
“I’ll be rooting for St. Mary’s, the Gaels,” Boswell stated. “My high school, De La Salle, is a feeder school to St. Mary’s, so I have a ton of friends there.”
Bandwagon fans aren’t expected to be experts, but small mistakes can easily expose them. Recognizing a star player, recalling a pivotal game moment or offering a broad take on team chemistry can instantly boost credibility. Even a simple remark about the team’s determination and effort can create the impression of a dedicated follower.
A connection to a player, whether from past games, college affiliations or media coverage, can influence which team earns their support. This approach makes it easy to pick a side without deep knowledge of the sport or season. For students like Kaçan, player recognition is enough to determine a rooting interest.
“If I’ve heard of any of the players, I would root for the team they’re on,” Kacan said. “I’m from Chapel Hill, so if there’s a [University of North Carolina] or Duke player on a team, I’d support them.”
Limqueco takes a different approach, sometimes choosing based on the colors of the teams uniforms.
“I picked the Chiefs in the Super Bowl because they wore red,” Limqueco admitted.
Watching the game with passionate fans means knowing how to react. When a big play happens, jumping up and cheering is a foolproof move. If the referee makes a questionable call, a shake of the head and muttering something about bad officiating is always a safe bet. For close games, sitting with hands on head and letting out a frustrated sigh can make anyone look invested. After a tough loss, staring at the screen and expressing disappointment is the great way to blend in.
While hopping on the hype train is fair game, there are a few unspoken rules to follow. Acting like a lifelong fan despite only recently learning about the team can be a major giveaway. If the team loses, it’s best to have a backup and casually reference another favorite. While many students are comfortable switching teams for the excitement of big games, others like Wyatt Boswell, remain loyal no matter what.
“I’ve always been a Giants fan,” Boswell explained. “My mom was once an A’s fan, but since they left, I’m a firm Giants fan.”
When choosing teams
in baseball, football and basketball, he admitted that his choices were based on location, but also success.
“I wasn’t a Raiders fan because one of my best friends was a Raiders fan, so we just had to have a bit of a rivalry,” Boswell said. “And the Warriors, again, kind of based on their success in recent years. But I remember watching Antoine Jamison play for the Warriors, that was a throwback moment. I vaguely remember going to a game when I was six years old, seeing one of the first years Steph Curry played.”
For Limqueco, picking teams for March Madness depends on how deep they make it into the tournament.
“Honestly, only if there is no Southern California team in the bracket, and it’s like the top four or top two, I might pick based on color,” Limequeco said. “If a team looked like they were USD colors, I would pick them just for that. Because I don’t really pay attention to schools or rankings, I just think, if you got to the top five, you’ve got to be good enough.”
For most sports fans, the excitement of the game is about entertainment. Whether students are watching for the love of the game, the social experience or just an excuse to yell at the TV, owning the bandwagon experience with confidence is key. If a team loses, there’s always another one waiting.
Beavers fans in the Beaver Stadium during a game in late February.
Photo courtesy