Volume 62 Issue 21

On newsstands weekly

Volume 62 Issue 21

Thursday, May 15, 2025

THE USD VISTA VISTA

The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Diego since 1968

From Prevost to Pope Leo XIV American cardinal Robert Prevost appointed pope

EMMA PIRHALA NEWS EDITOR On Thursday morning, as students drifted through their 9 a.m. classes, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new pope. An hour later, the American cardinal, Robert Francis Prevost, emerged as Pope Leo XIV. As the first American pope in the Church’s history, Pope Leo XIV’s election kindled celebration among many Toreros.

USD junior Thomas Forrester shared his excitement for the election of Pope Leo XIV. “I think having an American pope is exciting,” Forrester said.

“There isn’t much representation of Americans in the Catholic Church and vice versa, so I think it’s cool.”

The University quickly released a statement on Instagram honoring the new pope.

“The University of San Diego joins the global Catholic community in celebrating the historic election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV – the first American to

See

Pope,

Page

3

INSIDE GET order refunds See News, page 4

USD’s country craze See A&C, page 6

Marie Minnick See Feature, page 10

Letter from the Editor-in-Chief See Opinion, page 12

Men’s tennis See Sports, page 15 Pope Leo XIV led the first mass of his papacy on Sunday, May 11.

Don’t miss the latest news. Find us online:

@USDVista

Photo courtesy of @globaleyenews/X

@theusdvista

theusdvista.com

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The USD Vista

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May 15, 2025

NEWS

NTT union strikes for two days From

Strike,

Toreros divided on union activities and demands Page

1

Last week, chants echoed across campus as students, faculty and community members rallied together in solidarity with the non-tenure track (NTT) union’s strike. The strike occurred on Wednesday and Thursday, with picket lines and rallies occurring over the two days. During the two days of the strike, nearly 200 students, faculty and community members picketed in response to wage cuts and course reductions.

Additionally, members of other unions came to the event to show support. Leading up to the strike, the University’s collective bargaining team sent an email to the USD community.

“The timing of the NTT strike, at the end of the semester and on the eve of final exams for many students, is disappointing and unfortunate,” the email read.

Some students found the language of the email to be abrasive, causing many debates on the popular social media platform Fizz — which is accessible through a USD email.

“The email about the strike from the Dean’s office is so manipulative,” an anonymous user wrote in a post that received 2,100 upvotes.

“This should be a quiet matter and not a scandal on campus,” another anonymous user said. “I did not come to this university to see something as distasteful and disrespectful as professors trying to convince kids not to go to classes.”

An email from the University outlined the union’s demands.

Key proposals include a 12.5% raise, a $3,500 signing bonus, an $80,000 base salary with annual raises, tuition benefits, a $100,000 down payment assistance stipend and paid sabbaticals. The union also seeks guaranteed course loads, multi-year contracts and compensation for canceled classes.

A previous email from administration to faculty explained that if the union’s demands were met, it would led to a 9% increase in undergraduate tuition. For the upcoming 2025-2026 school year, tuition cost $61,340 without any additional mandatory fees.

A 9% increase in tuition would result in an approximately $5,520 bump in costs to students.

The rally began outside of the Student Life Pavilion (SLP) where faculty and students gave

speeches. USD Adjunct Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Matt Parker shared his thoughts on the matter at hand.

“We, the non-faculty who teach over half the classes at USD, are no longer willing to be treated as expendable,” Parker exclaimed to the crowd.

“We’re not temporary. We’re not invisible. We are educators, we are professionals, we are essential.

We are, on this day, on an unfair labor practice strike because the University has repeatedly failed to bargain with us in good faith.”

Some students emerged as prominent supporters of the union during the rallies. USD sophomore Leilani Youmans joined in on the union’s rally to express her support for professors.

“I became involved with the union after my professors said they needed student support,” Youmans shared. “My professors have always supported me through my academics, so it was time to support them through this union. They all put so much time, effort and work into their jobs, and I want them all to know that their students love them, and their work does not go unnoticed.”

USD sophomore Sofia Perez also picketed for both days of the strike. Perez explained that it is her duty as a student to raise awareness for her professors.

“As a student, I believe we have a vital role to play in getting the administration to listen to the union because teaching conditions directly impact our learning conditions,” Perez said. “I think collective action and community engagement like we saw at the rally today is an effective tool in getting the ball rolling. Ultimately, I chose to strike alongside the union to demonstrate that disrupting the status quo and withholding labor highlights the professors’ value, making it clear to the administration and campus community that the school cannot function properly without them.”

Perez further highlighted the impact that the NTT professors have on the USD community.

“I came to USD for the relationships that students develop with their professors, and as a result I have come to develop my own meaningful relationships with all my professors (NTT, TT, and tenured),” Perez explained.

“People do not go into teaching to become rich, they go into teaching

The USD Vista Jackie Marquez - Editor-in-Chief

Anjali Dalal-Whelan - Feature Editor

Lauren Ceballos - Associate Editor

Ellie Skjersaa - Arts & Culture Editor

Lily Anderson - Managing Editor

Riley Rains - Sports Editor

Lara Dominique Solante - Copy Editor

AndreaArvizuSalazar - Distribution Manager

Alissa Abramovich - Art Director

Arden Anderson - Social Media Manager

Emma Pirhala - News Editor

Shannen Swars - Photo Editor

Zoe Rogers - Opinion Editor

Anna Hallock - Director of Finance

because they care about making an impact on young people, and I have felt impacted by each and every professor at USD.” The demonstration concluded at the Hughes Administration Center, where President Harris’ office is located, to deliver the signed petition from the faculty.

Alongside delivering the petition, USD adjunct professor of English, Joe Babcock, called upon the University to make changes.

“This has been called the ‘dirty secret’ of American higher education,” Babcock explained regarding the overutilization of adjunct labor. “So if USD is so obsessed with being this changemaker campus, why don’t they take this opportunity to actually leave to set a model for how other institutions can treat their adjunct faculty?”

When protestors arrived, Harris was out of the building.

However, USD’s Chief Legal Officer, Tom Skinner, met with the union’s Bargaining Action Team (BAT) and accepted the petition on the president’s behalf. USD adjunct theater professor Soroya Rowley announced the results of the conversation with Skinner. “[Skinner] accepted the petition and is gonna give it to President Harris for us, and he committed to getting this done this semester,” Rowley shared to the crowd.

The USD Vista contacted the University’s media relations team to learn more about the actions that will be taken by administration following Skinner’s acceptance of the petition.

“The university will continue to bargain in good faith with the NTT union, as it has done throughout the process, and is committed to coming to an agreement that supports all members of the USD community,” a media relations representative said. “It is our hope that we can come to this agreement as quickly as possible. The parties are still far apart on compensation, but the university intends to make a new proposal on Monday night in the next bargaining session. While there are no guarantees that the parties will reach an agreement by the end of the semester, everyone involved is working hard to come to an agreement.”

However, as of The USD Vista’s production date of May 13, the union and USD have yet to come to a resolution.

NTT faculty marched with a sign on the first day of the strike.

Emma Pirhala/The USD Vista

Community members created signs in response to proposed course schedule.

Emma Pirhala/The USD Vista

Students were involved in the protests throughout the two days.

Emma Pirhala/The USD Vista

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The USD Vista office is located on the fourth floor of the Student Life Pavilion in room 403B. All inquiries should be sent to: The USD Vista 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego or of its student body.

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Letters should be limited to 300 words and must be signed. For identification purposes, USD identification numbers and writer’s year must be included in the letter. The USD Vista reserves the right to edit published letters. Any content sent to the editor will be considered for publication unless otherwise stated.

Volume 62 Issue 21 •

NEWS

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NEWS

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The USD Vista

Faculty senate split on Gaza language Halaka leads silent vigil in response

CADEN HAYNOR ASST. NEWS EDITOR USD professor John Halaka practiced a silent vigil in the mornings from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. for the past two weeks, standing outside the USD law school entrance with two signs drawing attention from passersby. The first sign read, “Genocide is not acceptable. Is it for you?” The second sign, placed at his feet, read “Ethnic cleansing is not acceptable. Is it for you?” Halaka is protesting a motion presented in the USD faculty senate that would change the language regarding the actions of Israel in Palestine.

Halaka, who has been a professor at USD for 35 years in the department of art, architecture and art history, helped develop a series of teach-ins on Palestine as part of the Gaza at USD Coalition. This teach-in currently consists of 40 events, educating and engaging the community to think critically on the topic of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Halaka explained why he is protesting.

“I am here as part of an educational mission as a professor at USD,” Halaka stated. “I am here to continue the process of getting students to question that relationship to genocide, whether they agree with genocide, and if they do that’s their right to agree, and if they don’t, are they just passively walking by? Secondly, I am here in front of the law school because there appears to be faculty within the law school that either think that genocide in Palestine is okay, or they think that there is no genocide going on. They are uncomfortable with criticism of Israel, and some of them have tried to shut down a resolution

in front of the USD Senate.”

The USD faculty senate has elected representatives and deans from each of the colleges as voting members. President Harris and the Provost also serve in the Senate as non-voting members.

The USD faculty Senate minutes from April 24, obtained

by The USD Vista, explained the initial resolution brought forward

by Professor Kevin Guerrieri in support of the USD Gaza Coalition.

“This version references the persecution and punishment of those protesting against the genocide in Palestine, and the general assault on all immigrants without due process,” the resolution explained.

Guerrieri explained the broader reason behind introducing the resolution.

“Ultimately, one of the main things that [those who have been working in the coalition] want to do is to continue the education on Palestine, which includes the history behind everything,” Guerrieri said. “I think that our collective and individual responsibility is to be as informed as possible, to seek information from different sources and to raise our voices.

That’s what we have been doing as a coalition and Professor Halaka’s silent vigil is a part of that.”

The minutes further explained that there was a motion by USD Professor Herbert Lazerow, a senator in the law department, to amend the resolution by deleting “against the genocide in Palestine.” Lazerow explained why he motioned to delete those words from the resolution.

“My initial view was that the resolution was unnecessary, as the senate had already endorsed freedom of speech on campus in

its commendation of President Harris,” Lazerow stated. “[Second,] I thought the references to the conflict in the Middle East unwise because they extended beyond the senate’s expertise … A third reason is that I want a ‘clean’ resolution passed by a substantial majority. A resolution endorsing free speech without taking sides in the middle east was likely to pass almost unanimously … [Fourth,] I believe that taking a position on the conflict in the middle east would reduce the influence future senate recommendations might have on USD’s decision-makers.”

Following Lazerow’s amendment, there was a motion

by USD Professor of Integrated Engineering, Gordon Hoople, to amend the Lazerow amendment to include “the catastrophic war in Palestine.” This motion passed with 15 senators in favor, 12 opposed and four abstentions. Hoople explained why he did this motion.

“My motion was a procedural one — I was attempting to modify Lazerow’s motion to more closely align with comments I had heard from several senators during debate,” Hoople stated. “My hope was that this would allow us as a senate body to vote one way or the other to reveal where the majority of senators stood on the issue. This was not a reflection of my personal views on the issue, but an effort to help move the debate forward.”

The resolution was brought up again by Guerrieri, the senator who initially proposed the resolution, at another meeting on May 1. Guerrieri explained what occurred when he brought the resolution back up.

“When we got to the resolution on May 1, deliberations were opened again,” Guerrieri stated.

Halaka protesting outside of the Law School on May 12.

Emma Pirhala/The USD Vista

“I previously had sent to the [Executive Committee] alternative language to be used instead of the word genocide in the event that the senate decided not to include it … I made some final arguments in favor of maintaining the original language and also shared a lot of resources on genocide in Gaza.

After making those arguments, another senator made an argument against the overall resolution and then made a motion to table it.”

The USD faculty senate minutes for May 1 have not been approved yet, so they are not publicly available. Now that the resolution is tabled, it is not considered again unless someone makes a motion, with a second, to bring it off the table.

The University responded to what occurred in the Senate and the silent vigils.

“As has been expressed previously, USD supports academic freedom and freedom of speech and encourages members of the community to engage in respectful dialogue, explore topics with compassion, work for peace and lead with love,” the University stated.

“Antisemitism, Islamophobia or any form of discrimination have no place at USD and are contrary to our values of inclusivity and respect for human dignity.”

Halaka is planning to practice the silent vigil on the mornings of Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the end of finals. As the USD faculty senate meetings continue, and as Halaka continues his silent vigils, faculty senators and USD community members consider the weight and language of these significant events.

Toreros celebrate Pope Leo XIV From

Pope,

Page

1

lead the Roman Catholic Church in its 2,000-year history,” the post read. “As he addressed the crowd, Pope Leo XIV emphasized building bridges, reaching out to those in need and fostering peace throughout the world – values that resonate deeply with our USD community. As a contemporary Catholic university, we look forward to Pope Leo XIV’s leadership as he guides the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics and shapes the future direction of the Church.”

Born in the suburbs of Chicago in 1955, Prevost was raised in a devout middle-class family. He attended Catholic schools throughout his childhood before attending Villanova University and the Catholic Theological Union for higher education. Prevost holds a doctorate in canon law — the study of the ecclesiastical laws

Leo XIV becomes first American pontiff

governing the Catholic Church.

Prior to securing the papacy, Prevost had a lengthy career spanning the globe. He spent over 20 years serving as a missionary in Peru, where he was eventually granted dual citizenship. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost to head the Vatican’s bishops’ office, where he was involved in selecting bishops.

Despite his extensive career, Prevost was an unlikely candidate for the office. Skeptics believed that the papacy would not go to an American due to the country’s role as a global superpower. Many thought that the incoming pope would be from Europe or even Asia. Amongst these skeptics was USD theology professor Emily Reimer-Barry. She previously thought that the concept of an American pope was impossible.

“Well, my reasoning is that the United States already has a

lot of power in the world, and it felt like it wasn’t the right time,” Reimer-Barry explained. “And for me, in the sense of, you know, sort of centering the United States or United States cultural values. I think I’ve really appreciated what I’ve learned about the Catholic Church in Argentina with Pope Francis, and Poland with John Paul II thinking about World War II and interesting European history with Benedict. So I feel like my understanding of Catholicism was broadly expanded under previous popes, in part because they were not American. So I just didn’t think it would happen, but it did. So here I am to apologize for my limited moral imagination and to say I’m, you know, excited to see what will happen.”

Pope Leo XIV has been widely described as a centrist candidate.

In a meeting with the cardinals, Leo XIV explained that he wishes

to follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis. Additionally, Leo noted the growing significance of artificial intelligence and its threat on human dignity and workers. Reimer-Barry noted the role that AI may have had on Leo XIV’s naming process.

“So the last time we had a Pope who took on the name Leo, it was in the late 1800s in the context of the Industrial Revolution and the ways that mechanization and factories were really undermining human dignity in the context of unsafe working conditions and mass migration from rural areas to urban areas, and the kinds of impacts that had in terms of unsafe housing conditions and lots of social problems,” ReimerBarry said. “Though what was significant for Leo XIII was that he really saw the role of the church as helping the world to think through the injustices of that

economy… So this pope is already signaling that in the same way that there were such huge changes in the industrial revolution in the previous Leo’s time, he sees some really significant changes in our current economy on the basis of artificial intelligence and the ways that that is already influencing human workers. So I think that it will be really interesting to see how he’s going to think about updating the Church’s social teaching or updating the Church’s social agenda to really respond to what the new problems of the world are, including the misuse of AI in a lot of context.”

In his first few days in the role, Leo XIV also called for a ceasefire in Gaza and for the media to end the use of divisive language. As Pope Leo XIV settles into his papacy, the world has its eyes set on the future of the Catholic Church.

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The USD Vista

May 15, 2025

NEWS

Ten cent pickup fee costs students extra USD Dining claims fee was a ‘system error’

ALEX KUETER ASST. OPINION EDITOR Students who order through GET at La Paloma or Aromas have been receiving a 10 cent “pickup fee” on their orders. GET is a mobile app used by many USD students to place food orders at on-campus dining locations.

Students can order ahead for the time that they want to get their food, then pick it up and skip the ordering line. While there is a limited number of orders accepted for a given time slot, GET ordering is a very popular and time-saving way to order food on campus.

However, this ordering service has had a catch. For at least the past six months the app placed a 10 cent surcharge on some orders placed at Aromas and La Paloma. This extra fee appears to be active on the app from around Oct. 2024-April 2025, or approximately six months.

While it is unclear exactly when this fee started, student receipts from the aforementioned restaurants display the pickup fee as early as Oct. 2024. This fee is not visible when ordering the food on the app, but it appears in the receipt that students are emailed after the transaction.

The number of GET orders varies per restaurant, but Yerandi Merlo, the manager of Aromas Coffeehouse, gave insight into the number of orders.

“We have approximately 1,300-1,500 GET orders in a week,” Merlo said.

With this many orders, the fee potentially generated $130$150 from Aromas while in an average week. While La Paloma also charged a fee, a number was not provided by dining

services for their weekly amount of mobile orders. USD has not clarified if the money generated from this fee has been collected by dining services or the app itself after contact attempts.

When USD Dining was approached about this fee, they were unaware of the fee’s activation.

Charles Ramos, the director of dining services, stated that there should not be a charge for pickup.

“To clarify, we do not charge for the pickup of items. This appears to be a system error, and it has now been corrected,” Ramos said.

Additionally, Ramos stated that the fee was only associated with Aromas orders and was activated by the merchants there.

“I reviewed all the GET accounts on campus and found that the issue was only occurring at Aromas,” Ramos said. “The field in question is a system setting that allows merchants to apply a pickup fee — not a tax,” Ramos said on April 8, 2025.

However, according to student receipts provided by five students, the fee had also been active at La Paloma at least a week prior to the email, on April 1, 2025. For further clarification, The USD Vista contacted Dining again on when and why this fee was activated, the University’s media relations and Dining Services failed to comment.

Many students were unaware of this fee’s activation, while others were aware and assumed it was just a fee that they needed to pay.

Some students, like USD junior Ella Kocourek noticed the charge, but didn’t report it to dining services.

“I noticed it, I think, at the beginning of the

semester,” Kocourek said. “I thought it was annoying, but I kinda just overlooked it.”

Others thought it was activated on purpose and was just an additional fee required for using the site, like USD senior Gray Ehling.

“I probably use [GET] a couple times a week,” Ehling said.

“I noticed it, when I ordered, it added the 10 cents. I am annoyed but not shocked. It’s USD, they’re constantly taking money.”

However, many students are much less relaxed about the missing money and are eager to know where and why the fee was activated.

USD senior Yuri Palomino stated she was upset by the fee, especially because she uses it multiple times a week.

“I didn’t know about this fee. I am very enraged, and I think it’s very absurd that the school is doing this,” Palomino said. “I use it every day, sometimes twice a day.”

Others like Sophia Stark, a USD junior expressed frustration about the policy and the lack of information on where the money has gone.

“I use [GET] every other day,” Stark said. “I don’t know where the money is going to, and I didn’t know that 10 cents was being included every time and I didnt know it was a new thing. I just want to know where it’s going.”

Lissette Martinez, a spokesperson for the University, stated that once the issue with the fee was resolved with GET, refunds would be processed for all those affected by the fee.

“Auxiliary services is still working with the tech company to determine the source of the issue,” Martinez said. “They

This receipt shows the fee has been active since Oct. 2024 at La Paloma.

Alex Kueter/The USD Vista

This receipt shows the fee has been active since Feb. 24 at Aromas.

Alex Kueter/The USD Vista

estimate they will have a resolution by early June. Also, they’d like to reiterate that the fee is not active anymore.

Once the vendor sorts out the issue, the service fee will be refunded to the appropriate folks who used [GET].”

The Vista followed

up with this on May 12 to see how graduating seniors would be refunded, but the University did not respond in time for a comment.

As of The USD Vista’s production date of May 13, USD has yet to confirm whether refunds have been distributed.

$10 million gift reshapes military at USD New Military-Connected Center for Excellence from Epstein Family DAVID COOK CONTRIBUTOR A $10 million gift from the Epstein Family Foundation is set to reshape how the University of San Diego supports militaryconnected students. Announced earlier this month, the donation is a call to action aimed at inspiring USD and its supporters to match the $10 million by raising at least $2 million per year over the next five years. The combined $20 million will fund scholarships, staff growth, new programming, and the construction of the Epstein Family Foundation Military-Connected Center for Excellence (MCCE).

Nelson Chase, director of USD’s Military and Veteran Programs, explained the impact of the donation.

“The transformative gift from the Epstein Family Foundation means that the university and

our philanthropic partners are committed to supporting and growing our military-connected student population,” Chase said. “This means an expanded veteran center and more support staff that help our students’ holistic well-being, academic success, benefits processing and compliance, and career development opportunities.”

USD is home to more than 900 military-connected students, including veterans, active-duty service members and students from military families. The new MCCE will enhance on-campus services, support students transitioning to civilian life and work as a hub to connect USD with the larger military population in San Diego.

The center will also host specialized events designed to help more students understand military experiences and build greater awareness around

the lives and contributions of military-connected students.

Zach Phillips, a firstyear student in USD’s Naval ROTC program, claimed the gift is a big step forward in how military students are supported on campus.

“I think it’s really special that the Epstein family would give that money to the military program,” Phillips said. “It’s going to grow the program in ways that it hasn’t seen before and create a new culture of military students at USD.” San Diego’s Naval ROTC unit is the largest in the nation, serving more than 200 students from five local universities: USD, San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene and California State University, San Marcos. While the unit supports students from all universities, Phillips explained that the program operates out of a single

building shared by officers, enlisted staff and administrators.

“This gift could add on to the space that they have and make their jobs easier,” Phillips said. “It would make everything run smoother.”

While ROTC students benefit from an existing support network, other militaryconnected students often face a different reality. Yannick Assilamehou, a USD senior whose father served in the Navy for two decades, explained how the gift resonates deeply for Silent Ranks, the families of those who serve — who haven’t always felt seen on campus.

“To be quite frank, I was not aware of the donation,” Assilamehou said. “But knowing that somebody is looking out for the Silent Ranks and the people truly dedicated to service at our school … it just feels good to feel seen without the politicking.”

The University hopes the MCCE will help change that.

In addition to facility upgrades and programming, the gift will fund scholarship opportunities, as well as new staff who will offer academic guidance, mental health counseling and career development services tailored to military-affiliated students. The center will also serve as a bridge between the University and San Diego’s broader military community.

As part of the matching challenge, USD plans to raise $2 million each year for the next five years. University officials say they’ll reach that goal by strengthening relationships with current donors and foundations.

Whether through scholarships, expanded services or simply being seen, the Epstein Family Foundation’s donation will make a large impact on USD’s military-connected students.

Volume 62 Issue 21 •

GAMES

•

The USD Vista

GAMES

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Crossword of the week: Graduation edition

Down 1. Phrase seen on graduation cards: “Congrats ____!”

3. Many graduates will host one of these after their ceremony.

4. Graduates throw their ___ once they’ve finished commencement.

6. Valedictorians traditionally give one of these at graduation.

8. Traditionally you move this from the right to left at the end of graduation.

10. The number of commencement ceremonies USD will have 11. Many clubs and organizations give these out to seniors.

JACKIE MARQUEZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Across 1. Traditional graduation regalia includes a cap and ___.

2. Formal document awarded to graduates for completing their degree 5. Seniors take lots of these before and after graduation.

7. First word in the name of the song traditionally played during graduation 9. What graduating seniors will walk across on May 25 10. At USD, each graduate gets six ___ to graduation for their family and friends.

12. The tassel was worth the ____.

13. ____ of 2025

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Volume 62 Issue 21

•

The USD Vista

ARTS & CULTURE Country makes a comeback

USD student’s country craze: from music to boots and line-dancing LAUREN CEBALLOS ASSOCIATE EDITOR What was once a way of life has now become both a trend and a fun way to bond with friends for many USD students. Country music and Western wear is making an evident and quick resurgence, and not only on USD’s campus, but for many 20-something-year-olds across Southern California. From music to fashion to hobbies, Toreros have an undeniable love for the “country” style and some of the fun that often comes along with it.

For many students, the country music genre has consistently been a favorite.

USD sophomore Abigail Rodgers is an avid country music listener. Rodgers has a deep connection to her love of the music genre largely for its ability to bring people together.

“I think it’s beautiful how it expresses so much in different songs, and you also get to dance in different ways and, like, it’s more of a community type of thing,” Rodgers said.

Whether it’s a belt buckle or a pair of cowboy boots for the fashion trends, Western

wear is also becoming more popular. A pair of Wranglers with comfortable bellbottoms and the addition of a cowboy hat to feel a little taller can make for some fun outfit options.

Rodgers explained the Western wear she has seen Toreros sport on USD’s campus.

“I do wear [Western clothing] sometimes, and I feel like recently it’s becoming more of a thing,” Rodgers said.

“Like over summer I feel like certain types of patterns … like gingham, that’s like very much coming in and a lot of people are wearing cowboy boots now, using a hat as an accessory or style. So I feel like it’s definitely coming back and, like, more people are now wearing it, rather than it just being only for ‘country’ or those types of events.”

Although Rodgers partakes in the country trend, she doesn’t think that everyone on USD’s campus is keen on joining in on the movement.

“I think it depends on the setting,” Rodgers added. “More for USD, I don’t see [Western wear] as often, like everyday going to classes, but I think there is actually a good amount of people that I’m actually surprised do wear it at USD.”

Cowboy boots are a staple in Western wear.

Line dancing at Temecula Stampede draws in Toreros over the weekends.

Toreros’

lifestyle

and

Lauren Ceballos/The USD Vista

reasoning behind style choices vary. Some stumbled upon the country look because of a well-known activity associated with it: line dancing. At USD, many students end their week with line dancing or use it as a pickme-up on Monday or Tuesday nights, depending on the venue.

With nights of line dancing at close-to-home venues such as Moonshine, it has become a popular pastime for many Toreros. Some love the activity so much that they are willing to drive all the way to Temecula Stampede, which is over 50 miles from USD’s campus.

USD sophomore Juliana Ramirez gladly made the drive to Stampede recently with her friends for a fun night.

“I’ve been once before, and I only knew one dance, and it was really fun to see,” Ramirez said. I didn’t really feel like the drive was that bad, it was fun with everyone in the car and we were getting excited to go and dance.”

Not too long after, Ramirez’s sorority, Pi Beta Phi, hosted a philanthropy event on campus with the activity of line dancing which drew in many from the community.

Ramirez commented on the event.

“It’s so fun, it’s really cute seeing everyone learn how to do it and actually do it here,” Ramirez said.

Lauren Ceballos/The USD Vista

USD sophomore Katie Howard, who attended the event, explained how she first got introduced to line dancing.

“I started line dancing three years ago,” Howard said.

“I just randomly went one night because, actually, me and my boyfriend broke up the week before … My friends were like … ‘Do you want to come line dance?’ And I was like, ‘Yes.’ And then, I went.”

After stumbling upon line dancing, Howard has found a new hobby that she thinks will stick around for a long time.

“Every single time after that, I would just go every Friday with my sister and my friends, and then we would learn it, like, by watching YouTube videos,” Howard said.

“Now we do it all the time.”

Howard shared encouragement for other Toreros to try line dancing and to embrace the country spirit if they haven’t yet.

“I absolutely love line dancing,” Howard said. “I think everybody can do it, and everybody should do it, cause I am a terrible dancer and I figured it out.”

Toreros have been embracing the country style, stumbling upon country music and line dancing for different reasons. It seems like the Toreros who have found the fun in cowboy boots are trying to share their excitement with those willing to join in.

Volume 62 Issue 21

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ARTS & CULTURE

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The USD Vista

Resistance comes in all tailored forms

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The Met Gala reminds students of the power of self expression

ELLIE SKJERSAA ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR What someone wears on their body is not only an expression of their social standing, but also a powerful form of creativity. Over time, fashion has become a valued part of life with many events reflecting its prestige. The biggest fashion night of the year, the Met Gala, captures the cornerstones of fashion and emphasizes its importance in American culture.

The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, which helps fund the museum’s clothing and fashion exhibitions. The event showcases new and elaborate outfits, innovative designers and high-end celebrities.

This year, the Gala’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” aimed to highlight the impact that Black people have had on the fashion industry and its success. The theme was inspired by the concept of Black dandyism, which stemmed from the 18th century trans-atlantic slave trade.

Throughout time, clothing has been a symbol of power and status, and Black dandyism used clothing as a means to cross the boundaries of what class, power and status meant. Dandyism has historically not only been a way of creatively expressing oneself through clothing, but it has also served as a form of resistance to the structures that marginalize Black people and their voices. Black dandyism involves precise and refined tailoring, which took root in the period after emancipation and flourished during the Harlem Renaissance.

In uplifting the significance of Black dandyism, the Met Gala reflected the current escalation of menswear and specifically aimed to highlight the work of Black men, their fashion and the work of these designers.

“Men usually come a bit lazier than the women so I think it was cool to see how the men interpreted this year when it was more tailored to men,” USD junior Ava Cumello said. “[The theme] definitely came late, but I also think it’s good that they did do it at all. But I think style has been influenced

by Black culture for so long that it’s definitely disappointing it has taken until now.”

Similar to how the Met Gala reflects society’s largescale admiration for fashion, so does USD’s campus. Many students have found that being able to express their individuality through clothing has been an important part of their college experience.

USD sophomore Marquel Gardner explained that some days he wakes up and doesn’t have enough time to put effort into his outfits. But when he does have time, he often tries to reflect how he’s feeling through his clothing.

“When you start thinking to yourself, ‘Oh, should I wear this,’ the answer is always going

Whoopi Goldberg hit the carpet in 35,000 sequins.

Photo Courtesy of @themetgalaofficial/Instagram

Inspired by his childhood in Harlem, A$AP Rocky wore his own design.

Photo Courtesy of @metgalaofficial_/Instagram

The new exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” is available to the public.

Photo Courtesy of @metmuseum/Instagram

Black dandyism originated in the 18th century.

Photo Courtesy of @natgeo/Instagram

to be ‘Yes,’” Gardner said. “If it’s making you feel uplifted, if it’s making you feel empowered, then absolutely wear it.”

In the eyes of Willie Legacie Allen, a senior at USD, self expression is not always a simple task. He explained that this is largely because of the vulnerability and potential discomfort that comes with stepping outside of what society deems acceptable.

“I didn’t start off going to school wearing heels and a corset and things that were being categorized as female clothing and fighting gender battles and norms like I’m doing now,” Allen said. “But I don’t know

anyone who really starts off doing something that nobody else is doing and feeling comfortable with it right away.”

Clothing holds the power to show people who you truly are, so for those who are stepping outside of gender-conforming attire, this can be daunting for many reasons. Allen explained that finding the space and community to express oneself is the most crucial part of feeling comfortable.

For him, his experience going to Coachella during his junior year with a group called “Queer Plus” helped him realize that fashion was important to him.

“I feel like stepping out with

my fashion is important because it identifies that I’m not scared to step out of the box,” Allen said.

“But it also gives other people the hope to wear what they want to because when you feel good, you look good at the end of the day.”

With intense workloads, being a student can be draining.

Finding little ways to uplift others is a way to give everyone space to be themselves and the support to try new things.

“In any space you are susceptible to conformity, so if you see that [someone is] embarking on their own personal style, tell them you like it,” Gardner said. “That really could

go a long way. It could lead them to try more things and not to feel so gelled by what other people are wearing.”

Today, events like the Met Gala reflect fashion’s long-lasting and esteemed standing in society.

This year’s theme gave voice to a community that has so often been excluded from recognition and praise. While clothing can express conformity, it also has the power to show resistance to social norms and exclusionary systems which often oppress groups of people. Although the Met Gala theme told a story of resistance, there is still much work to be done as reflected upon by Toreros.

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May 15, 2025

Volume 62 Issue 21

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FEATURE

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The USD Vista

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The USD Vista

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May 15, 2025

AR TS & FEATURE Thank you Marie Minnick

USD’s Assistant Dean of Students retires after 28 years ANJALI DALAL-WHELAN FEATURE EDITOR After 28 years at USD, Marie Minnick, the assistant dean of students, is retiring. While many students know Minnick from her role in the Office of Ethical Development and Restorative Practices, she holds another significant position in USD’s leadership as the operations advisor for student media.

Minnick advises all three divisions of USD’s student media: USDTv, The USD Vista and USD Radio — ensuring that the students who participate in student media have the resources that they need to succeed. Minnick has taken on a variety of roles during her time at USD, but advising student media is the one job that has stayed consistent.

When Minnick began advising student media, she was in charge of reviewing The Vista before it went to print, despite having no experience in media.

She is grateful that is not her responsibility anymore so she can focus on helping students develop their leadership skills.

“The investment in [the students] as leaders has been something I’ve really greatly appreciated,” Minnick said.

“I have been able to work with some pretty amazing students throughout my time.”

Minnick was born in the Bay Area but grew up in San Diego. Growing up, she described herself as a tomboy.

She played softball as her main sport as a kid, and in college, she was on her school’s club soccer team. Minnick said sports are still important to her.

“Sports were very much a part of my self identity,” Minnick shared. “Being active and athletic is still a part of my joy. I share season tickets for the Padres — and I’m a hardcore fan.”

Another thing Minnick loves is Bob Dylan. She has been to over 100 of his concerts, often traveling to see him.

Minnick’s dad was an important mentor to her growing up and instilled in her the values that she still holds today.

“A lot of the values that I carry really come from my parents,” Minnick said. “But primarily from my dad, in terms of the way you value and treat people, and our obligation to being a person for others was very much a value that my dad carried.”

After high school, Minnick attended Biola University, receiving a degree in Christian education. She originally planned to go into youth ministry within the Catholic Church. However, after becoming an RA her senior year, she decided she wanted to work in higher education as another way to invest in young

One of the most fulfilling parts of Marie Minnick’s job is connecting with USD students.

Photo courtesy of Marie Minnick

“It doesn’t hurt to come to a campus so beautiful or to work with amazing colleagues. Those are both blessings. But the thing that has kept me motivated and given me meaning is working with students.”

— Marie Minnick people’s futures. She then earned a Master of Social Work degree with an emphasis in student development in higher education at Azusa Pacific University.

Although Minnick attended Evangelical schools for college and graduate school, she was raised Catholic, and this faith is important to her. She believes that spirituality and religion, in whatever form they take on for a person, can help people understand the world.

“I loved the ability [in school] to consider faith development as part of how we experience the world,” Minnick said. “You know, we talk about our social, our mental [and] our physical ways that we grow and develop. And for me, there is a spiritual aspect. And it doesn’t have to be within a traditional faith or belief system, but I think that is a part of how we make meaning with the world.”

Her first job post-grad

was at Santa Clara University as a community director.

She continued to work there until she came to USD. Minnick began at USD as the director of student activities, working with student government, student media and the orientation programs.

Later, she was asked to take on a role with student conduct and began her work with the office of ethical development and restorative practices. This aspect of her job can sometimes be emotionally challenging, as she often encounters students who are in difficult situations.

“I’ve seen students really in pain and struggle,” Minnick shared. “When people have been damaged through interactions, you know, I feel that profoundly for them, and so there’s a weight that goes with that.”

Despite the challenges that come with her job, she

Minnick is a huge Padres fan.

loves the connections that she’s been able to form with students over the years.

“It doesn’t hurt to come to a campus so beautiful or to work with amazing colleagues,” Minnick said.

“Those are both blessings. But the thing that has kept me motivated and given me meaning is working with students.”

Minnick’s family has become very connected to USD; two of her three children graduated from USD and her husband works in SOLES as a

Photo courtesy of Marie Minnick

student-teacher supervisor.

At the end of the semester Minnick will retire after 28 years with USD. She has many plans for retirement, which include napping, walking, political involvement and travel.

Minnick and her husband have a trip planned to Great Britain and Ireland in the fall and hope to take a large trip yearly.

While Minnick’s presence will be missed at USD, she will be remembered by the lessons and connections she has made with students.

Volume 62 Issue 21

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OPINION

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The USD Vista

OPINION

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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The USD Vista

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May 15, 2025

EDITORI AL

Letter from the Editor-in-Chief

My staff and I have been joking about my “Letter from the Editor” since I started serving as Editor-in-Chief almost one year ago. After I butchered the pronunciation too many times to count, they began teasingly referring to it as my “Leditor.”

My Leditor, my final article, always seemed so far away, and I never pictured myself finally sitting down to write it. But before that, I had never pictured myself as Editorin-Chief, nor as opinion editor, nor as assistant opinion editor. For the record, I hadn’t even considered journalism as a potential career path until I arrived at USD. I ended up in our newsroom, SLP 403B, after a first-year freak out over my future career.

“What on earth will I do with an English degree post-grad?”

I remember asking my first-year advisor.

I’m still grappling with the question, but asking it earned me the wise advice to join the school newspaper. According to the alumni that my advisor had connected me with, getting my writing published in college would help me in the long run.

While writing for The USD Vista certainly expanded my portfolio, it has given me so much more than a collection of bylines.

My experiences have given me practical skills that I know I’ll use no matter where post-grad takes me. Yes, I learned to write in Associated Press style, but I also became more extroverted as I hounded the student population for interviews. I gained experience working under pressure as my

team and I frantically laid out pages every Tuesday night so that I could make it to my weekly Resident Assistant meeting on time. Even my organizational skills improved.

On top of new skills, The Vista has also given me a community of smart, talented and caring journalists that I’m lucky enough to call my friends.

To my section editors: Emma Pirhala, Anjali Dalal-Whelan, Ellie Skjersaa, Zoe Rogers, Riley Rains, Alissa Abromovich, Shannen Swars, Hailey Howell, Priya Cooper and Khushi Patel, you’ve all grown so much this year. I remember starting off the year scared out of my mind because the majority of our staff had either graduated or gone abroad, but it turns out that I had nothing to worry about. You all stepped into your roles wholeheartedly and made the newsroom your own. It’s been a pleasure to work with you, but also to laugh and spend time alongside you.

To my exec team: Lily Anderson, Lara Dominique Solante and Lauren Ceballos, you all have been my ride or dies. Thank you for always having my back. Our newsroom has been so lucky to have such a thoughtful, supportive and reliable team. We couldn’t have done it without your unwavering dedication to our paper.

Lily, it has been such an honor to have you first as my assistant opinion editor and then as my managing editor. I remember being ever-so-slightly intimidated by you when you joined the opinion corner, and it was for good reason.

You are one of the smartest people I’ve ever met, and you’re a sharp

editor. Thank you for always catching the mistakes I overlook; you’ve made my life much easier.

Lara Dominique, I can’t believe how easily you stepped into the copy editor role. Not only have you helped shape the Vista’s voice with your stories and edits, you’ve played a huge role in shaping our newsroom culture. Thank you for all the jaw-droppingly out-of-pocket stories and side-splitting laughs.

To Lauren Ceballos, The Vista’s Editor-in-Chief for the ‘25-‘26 school year, I am so excited for all that you’re going to accomplish next year. The joy and kindness that you’ve brought to our newsroom this year speaks to the kind of leader that you are. I’m confident that as challenges arise you will be able to handle them with grace and set a strong example for your team. Serving as Editor-in-Chief is a whirlwind, and you’ll find yourself doing things you’ve never dreamed of (whether that be for better or for worse). Before you can blink, you’ll be writing your own “Letter from the Editor,” so take it all in and enjoy it while you can. Now is your opportunity to shape your legacy — make it count.

Finally to Gina Lew, my advisor and mentor, I wouldn’t be where I am today without you, and I mean that literally. Thank you for advocating for me when I couldn’t imagine staying at USD because of my finances. Thank you for always picking up your phone when I had an urgent question. Most importantly, thank you for teaching me how to think like a journalist.

I think that’s the most important thing that The Vista has given me:

a different worldview. As I read the news, interviewed community members, interacted with the University’s public relations team and networked with local journalists, I developed a newfound understanding of what it means to be a watchdog. As the “fourth estate,” the role of a journalist is to think critically and hold those in power accountable. This role is more important now than ever before.

In the past year, our nation has seen unprecedented challenges to the freedom of the press. Access to the government press pool has been restricted with news agencies like the Associated Press being barred.

Additionally, officials have limited the public’s access to government information by removing thousands of web pages related to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Justice. From harassing journalists online to suing news organizations for unfavorable coverage, the Trump administration has put America’s independent press at risk.

These challenges aren’t unique to national newsrooms, student journalists are facing limitations in coverage as well. At Tufts University, Ph.D student Rumeysa Ozturk was detained

by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after writing an op-ed calling her school to divest from Israel. Across the country, student newspapers are grappling to retain their independence as they’re forced to rely on funding from their universities. Here at USD, student journalists are required to go through the University’s Office of Public Relations in order to arrange

interviews with administrators and University officials. Of the at least 20 interview requests submitted by The USD Vista in the last year, 13 were met with statements from the press office rather than one-on-one interviews with the administrator requested.

I don’t bring up these trends as a “gotcha” to the Trump Administration, ICE or USD’s public relations team. I bring them up because they show how important it is to support The USD Vista and student journalism as a whole.

As USD’s undergraduate student newspaper since 1968, the purpose of The Vista is to share stories about students, by students and for students. We serve as the first draft of USD’s history, and we’re privileged to uplift the voices of our community. The freedom of the press affects all of us. So, whether you have copies of The USD Vista hanging on your wall (we’ve heard about you, Camino residents) or you’re just reading our paper for the first time, I encourage you to keep supporting student journalism.

Maybe that means picking up our paper on newsstands every Thursday, or maybe that means dropping in on a Tuesday pitch meeting at 12:30 p.m. in SLP 403B. Regardless of how you get involved, you won’t regret it. I know I certainly didn’t. In fact, if the real world is anything like our newsroom, I’m excited to get out into it.

Thank you for everything, Jackie Marquez Editor-in-Chief 2024-2025

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.

Volume 62 Issue 21

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OPINION

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The USD Vista

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OPINION

The present is a gift

Living in the moment is the key to happiness JULIE FROMM ASST. OPINION EDITOR I have written the phrase, “I’m trying to be more present,” in my diary more times than I can count.

It feels ritualistic, reminding myself constantly to stay in the moment and to not look too far into the future. My anxiety has always convinced me that it’s best to think three steps ahead and to try to have things figured out for my future, so much so that I can’t enjoy what is presently happening around me. I’ll plan for a moment, like my college graduation, so far in advance that when the moment actually arrives, I’ve moved on to my post-graduation plans and where I want to be in 2027.

If there is one thing I wish I could change about my college experience, it would be to let things happen in their own time.

In the few moments where I have relinquished my control of the It’s important to be present and savor the moment. future and enjoyed the present, like ignoring the urge to try and plan in two months, I’ll be leaving San next. I remember the moments where I want to live a year from Diego to live on my own, and I’m I spent lounging on the couch now for example, I have felt more no longer in a relationship. If I told with my friends, laughing until alive and joyful than ever before. myself six months ago that this was we couldn’t breathe. I remember Planning makes me feel safe. the case, I would have broken down walking across campus on the first When I know what’s coming, I in tears and scrambled to find a few days of my first year, thinking can prepare myself and be ready solution. There were tears, but I can about how unbelievably lucky I for it when it comes. But this is see now that this was a beautiful was to be going to this school. delusional thinking because even thing. Plans fall through, and as I remember all the seemingly in the moments where I have scary as that may be for someone insignificant moments that I spent planned everything out, things like me, I am constantly reminding with my best friends, which are never happen the way that I think myself that the plans that fall now my most cherished memories. they will. When something goes through are the ones that weren’t With graduation quickly awry, an idea doesn’t work out or if I meant to happen in the first place. approaching, those are the felt scared at the time, I eventually When I reflect on my college moments I wish I could go back look back and know that it worked experience, I don’t think about to and relive one more time. And out anyway. Six months ago, I the anxiety I had before tests, the there’s nothing I wish more than thought I would be moving to a heartbreaks I experienced or the to have been more present and new city to live with my boyfriend; stress I felt about what would come more aware when those moments

Your time is valuable, and it’s important to spend time with your loved ones.

Photo courtesy of @azizacharki/Unsplash

were actually happening.

Harvard University conducted a study about the link between happiness and being present.

“One of the keys to happiness lies in simply redirecting our attention from mind wandering and distraction to what’s happening right here, right now in the present moment,” the study said.

The more we focus on what could happen to us in the future, instead of what is actually happening to us in the present, the less fulfilled we will feel. Even in the most mundane moments, like walking from class to class or going through the carwash, keeping your attention in the moment can make

Photo courtesy of @meredithspencer22/Unsplash

you feel happier and can even make time feel like it’s moving slower.

My undergraduate experience felt like it passed in the blink of an eye, and I wish that I had practiced mindfulness beginning my firstyear so that I could maybe look back and feel the experience more fully in my memory.

But even now as I write this, I am thinking about what I should have done differently, or what I wish I had done my first or second year of college. In the past few months, though, with graduation quickly approaching and my time with my best friends growing even shorter, I have implemented mindfulness practices into my daily life.

When my friends and I are sitting around the house rehashing our best stories from the weekend, I look around at each of them and listen intently, grounding myself in the moment.

When I walk on the boardwalk in the morning, I breathe in the smell of the ocean and try to memorize it so I can think back to it when I move across the country in a few short months.

I am constantly trying to ground myself in the here and now, because if I have learned anything from college, it’s that time escapes us, and the only way to hold onto it is to stay in the moment.

As I move forward into my future and say goodbye to some of the greatest years of my life, I know that I will cherish the moments I shared with my friends in college forever. But I also know that I will cherish the moments to come, too — moments that I can’t even imagine yet. And when those moments do come, I know that I will do whatever I can to soak in the feeling of it before it’s gone.

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.

The USD Vista

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May 15, 2025

OPINION

Save students with more study days USD students need more time to prepare for finals

ZOE ROGERS OPINION EDITOR Finals season’s suspenseful approach has filled the minds of many college students as they enter the last few weeks of the academic year. Calendars are becoming more jam-packed as students start holding their breath for the start of their final exams and projects.

However, students have no time to actually prepare for the final season. With our last school day being Friday, May 16 and the first exam date on the following Monday, students are not being set up for success in the long-awaited exam season. USD needs to give their students at least three to five days of no classes to prepare for a week of finals.

Over these past few weeks, it has become increasingly difficult to manage time efficiently. With homework due in the next few days and exams to study for at the same time, students are in the midst of chaos. Not giving us at least three to five days off of school to study for finals is detrimental to us. While students have the weekend, they also need it to recharge from the last week of classes.

Cengage, an education site that provides online learning platforms, explained the importance of having at least five days to study before an exam.

“Ideally, studying should start at least five days in advance of the exam to allow students an ample amount of time to go over course concepts and materials, and reach out to their instructor or peers if they find they have any questions,” Cengage wrote.

A weekend is not enough time to begin studying for our exams the following Monday. Plus, this puts a lag in studying for our exams the rest of the week, prompting a time management challenge for students. It is too difficult to begin studying for our exams during the academic week while also packing to go home and trying to take time for our mental well-being. We have projects, presentations and essays that are holding all of our attention. Only once those assignments are completed can we then start focusing solely on exams.

Stacking these assignments on us one after another, without giving us time to catch our breath, can lead to adverse impacts on our mental health.

Navigate 360, a site that

Giving students more study days would benefit their mental health and academic performance.

is used to support student success, states the impact of the ruthless academic cycle and what that stress can lead to.

“Students caught in this cycle often feel there’s no way out,” Navigate 360 wrote.

“Academic stress leads to poor performance, which then creates even more anxiety — especially when school culture places a premium on achievement over well-being.”

Academics can lead to issues of anxiety and stress in students, especially when they feel there is a higher risk factor in performing poorly.

If USD wants to prioritize our well-being over achievements, they need to implement a longer study schedule. Plus, students are more likely to succeed if they have more study days, allowing them to space out their study time and further their academic success.

The National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest biomedical library, provides the benefits of spacing out your study tasks.

“The ‘spacing effect’ describes the phenomenon wherein, when given equal study time, spacing study

out into multiple sessions promotes greater long-term learning than massing (i.e., cramming) study into one study session,” the National Library of Medicine wrote.

If students are proactive with their study schedules, plan out their time wisely and are on top of their workloads, a weekend could possibly be a sufficient amount of time to prepare for finals. If students allocate their time wisely, they could begin studying for finals the week before during the last week of classes and have enough time to prepare for exams.

Photo courtesy of @anniespratt/Unsplash

While in some cases this may be possible, each student comes with their own array of tasks and projects that fill up their time within the last week of classes. For some students, it feels almost impossible to think about studying for finals when they have a project and essay due for every class.

Implementing at least three to five study days will allow for USD’s undergraduates to prepare fully for exams, diminish the presence of academic stress and convey that USD values their students’ wellbeing over their academics.

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.

Volume 62 Issue 21

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SPORTS

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The USD Vista

SPORTS

Men’s tennis makes a racket USD tennis ends their successful season

ANTHONY SHARKEY ASST. SPORTS EDITOR The University of San Diego men’s tennis team had one of the best seasons in program history this year. The Toreros ended the 2025 season with a record of 25 wins and only four losses. Not only did they win the West Coast Conference (WCC) league, but they also tied for the second most wins in the history of the program.

After winning all seven of their WCC games, the Toreros went on to defeat both Pacific University and Pepperdine University to claim the 2025 WCC Tournament title.

Blake Kasday is a graduate student and has been playing for USD tennis since 2020.

Kasday commented on the team’s success this season.

“I don’t think this season has been one breakout year,” Kasday said. “It’s been a lot of consistency over many years.”

The results speak for themselves — this current WCC Tournament victory made it eight titles in the last nine seasons for the men’s tennis program.

In 2024, Kasday won the ITA Southwest Region Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award.

Experienced players like Kasday play a huge role in the team’s success.

“For next season I think

the team is gonna do special things,” Kasday said. “I think they have another top-ten season ahead. I don’t think next season is gonna be a rebuild, it’s gonna be a continuation.”

Stian Klaassen, a redshirt junior on the USD men’s tennis team, echoed the same notion.

“It wasn’t a surprise to us,” Klaassen said. “The work we all have been putting in in the fall, and even in previous years, made this no surprise.”

Klaassen finished his season with impressive personal records: 18-4 in singles and 17-5 in doubles.

“Every practice you have to be an open-minded student of the game and be able to give 100% mental focus throughout the whole practice,” Klaassen said.

Adrien Berrut, a USD first-year, shared a similar technical approach to tennis.

“I love playing one against one,” Berrut said. “I always say it’s like a boxing match.

You can feel the hit of your opponent and then you hit back.”

Berrut has been playing tennis since he was four years old.

He won both a Swiss National Championship in the U18 singles and a European Championship in the U18 doubles competition for his home country of Switzerland.

“It was pretty tough to arrive in a well-established team,” Berrut

said. “But I think they all really showed me what the [team] values are and [what] the team identity is.”

USD junior Neo Niedner also weighed in on the culture of the team.

“Our experience, unity and team culture really set us apart,” Niedner said. “Not every team has that, and I think it’s a big reason why we were able to come out on top so often this year.”

Niedner finished the season with a singles record of 15-6, with big wins against the University of California, Irvine and the University of Southern California in the NCAA Tournament.

“I started playing tennis when I was six years old,” Niedner said. “Ever since then, becoming a professional player has been my dream — that’s been my main motivation.”

Many of the team’s players started young and have professional ambitions, including USD junior Iiro Vasa, who has also played since he was four years old.

“Coming from Finland in Northern Europe, tennis has opened so many doors for me — I’m incredibly grateful for everything it’s brought into my life,” Vasa said. “Without it, I wouldn’t have ended up at USD or had these experiences. It keeps giving me new opportunities, and that’s what keeps me going.”

USD tennis team after winning the WCC championship.

Photo courtesy of @usd_tennis/Instagram

USD senior Nikhil Niranjan reflected on the season.

“It means a lot to me and to everyone on the team,” Niranjan said. “To do what we were able to do ... achieve a 25-4 win loss record and reach as high as number six in the nation ... speaks volumes to the whole program and everyone behind the scenes who has contributed to the program in one way or another.”

The men’s tennis season ended on May 4 against the University of Southern California in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

Although many of the players were disappointed with the result, the men’s tennis program accomplished new milestones. The Toreros earned the right to host the

NCAA Tournament Regional for the first time in USD history. They also managed to break the attendance record with over 650 spectators in their opener against University of California, Irvine, winning 4-2 in the Hogan Tennis Center.

“Something we really try to pride ourselves on is not only making it a fun experience for us, but making it a fun experience for everyone who comes,” Kasday said. “We really try to be a team that is involving the crowd and knows that their presence actually does make a difference in the outcome of our matches.”

The men’s tennis team has had an incredible season but they are hungry for more.

The Toreros’ aim for next

Ja’Seem Reed signs with Cleveland

USD wide receiver signs as undrafted free agent to the Browns CHERISHANN DIAMZON CONTRIBUTOR Ja’Seem Reed, a senior wide receiver at USD, has signed with the Cleveland Browns

as an undrafted free agent, following the 2025 NFL Draft.

Reed played four seasons with the Toreros and ended his college career

Ja’Seem Reed pictured during his first year at USD. Photo courtesy of @jaseemreed_/Instagram

with 77 receptions, 1,052 yards and 12 touchdowns.

USD football Head Coach Brandon Moore explained how Reed’s work ethic played a role in creating this opportunity.

“He had a great career at USD and was a huge part of our offense,” Moore said.

“The NFL is tough, but Ja’Seem works hard and really commits to the process. I think that gives him a chance.”

Moore described Reed’s speed as a major strength as well.

“Well, I think one of the team’s biggest gifts is his speed,” Moore emphasized. “He ran very well for us. He was the fastest player on our team, and I think that’s going to give him a shot to make the Browns.”

Reed is one of several former USD players to reach the NFL in recent years, including tight end Ross Dwelley, wide receiver and return specialist Jamal Agnew, tight-end Dalton Kincaid and quarterback Josh Johnson. Agnew now plays for the Atlanta Falcons after time with the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars. Kincaid was a first-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2023. Johnson,

a veteran quarterback, has played for multiple NFL teams. “[USD has] had a few guys reach that level now,” Moore said. “It shows that there’s serious competition in this league and that players here can develop and succeed.”

On campus, some students were just finding out about Reed’s signing. USD firstyear Gabriel Benitez said the news caught him off guard.

“It’s pretty insane to see a student from USD sign something that big,” Benitez noted. “It’s crazy.”

Others discussed what Reed’s move might mean for the school.

Senior Samuel Kronen commented on Reed’s signing.

“I think it’s super awesome,” Kronen explained.

“It represents our school really well and our athletics. I hope it brings in more school spirit, especially when it comes to athletics, which I feel like sometimes USD lacks.”

USD junior Adamaris Flores Velazques also learned about the signing this week.

“It’s very exciting, because I did not know that at all,” Velazquez said. “I’m, like, not knowledgeable in football or

what’s going on, necessarily. So that’s pretty exciting for him.”

Velazquez also described feeling proud to see a classmate reach the NFL. “Super proud,” Velazquez said. “Like, there’s a lot that goes into, you know, having, what would feel like a classmate and alumni from USD, like your school going and representing.”

Reed still has to make the Browns’ final roster — signing as an undrafted free agent doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed anything.

Most of these contracts run three years at the league minimum. Teams can cut undrafted players at any time, so there’s not much security.

Over the next few months, Reed will try to earn a spot during offseason workouts, rookie minicamp and preseason games.

NFL teams must reduce their rosters from about 90 players to 53 before the regular season begins. If Reed does not make the Browns’ roster, he could be claimed by another team or signed to a practice squad, where players can continue to develop and may be promoted during the season.

16

The USD Vista

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May 15, 2025

SPORTS

What it takes to be a leader

USD sports club captains speak on their experiences LUKAS BLANKENSTEIN CONTRIBUTOR

RILEY RAINS SPORTS EDITOR

USD’s sports clubs are a huge part of many people’s college experience. Club sports are a way for many to exercise, make friends and compete against their fellow students, and they are not possible without the leaders that help run them.

A leader can make or break a club, and it takes a lot to lead.

For club leaders, the rewards of running their clubs are numerous. USD sophomore Nayla Hifri, the captain and co-manager of the Swim Club, shared about her experience running the team.

She mentioned that her favorite part was meeting other people who shared her love of swimming.

“I love being a part of the team here because while our group is small, I have been

able to work alongside and coach some really cool people, who I likely would not have met if it wasn’t for our shared love for the sport,” Hifri said.

Solomon Ashenafi, a junior basketball general manager, also mentioned that his love of his club came from the people he met.

“Being involved in Men’s Club Basketball has introduced me to some of my best friends to this day,” Ashenafi said.

“I have been able to continue playing the sport I love at a high level while being part of a team that supports me on and off the court. Even in professional development, giving me advice and referrals on classes and job opportunities, it has just been an overall positive experience for me.”

For USD junior Lila “Ember” Fowler, the general manager of the Club Ultimate Frisbee team, becoming a leader was a way for her to give back to

Lila “Ember” Fowler (center) playing on Manchester field against University of California, San Diego.

Photo courtesy of Taylor Newton

the team that made her feel welcomed as a first year.

“I had never played a

Solomon Ashenafi playing basketball at his highschool prepared him for USD Club Basketball.

Photo courtesy of @solo_.18 / Instagram

COMING UP THIS WEEK

WROW vs WCC Championship Friday, May 16 TBD Golden River, CA

BSB vs Pacific Saturday, May 17 6:00 p.m.

MTEN vs TBD

competitive sport before I joined the club, and so freshman year of college was the first time in my life that I’ve got to feel how special a community, a sports team, can be,” Fowler said. “As a freshman, being a part of club frisbee made me feel like I belonged on campus. As a junior on leadership, I’ve gotten to make our club serve that role for the next generation of students.”

Giving back to the team was a commonly mentioned trait among leaders’ motivation to become captains. Ashenafi, whose club was honored with the “New/Emerging Club” award, discussed how serving the community gave him motivation to become a better leader.

“Being a campus leader to me means being able to serve my community in providing something meaningful to the students on campus,” Ashenafi mentioned. “The work that has gone into making Club Basketball

the organization that it is today means so much to me because I get to see players, coaches and other team members/supporters reap the benefits through the amazing events we’ve been able to host this year!”

Hifri also chimed in on what she believed made someone a strong leader, emphasizing the ability to communicate effectively with other athletes.

“I think a successful leader in sports is a person who can relate to the struggles and challenges other athletes face,” Hifri stated. “Also, someone who can cater to the abilities and goals of each athlete they coach.”

Ultimately, leadership is a rewarding job for those who choose to take it. While it comes with a lot of extra work and responsibilities, the ability to create, grow and lead your club is worth all the sacrifice. Their efforts are well-appreciated by those who they lead.

USD Club Swim competing at University of California, San Diego.

Photo courtesy of @usdclubswim/Instagram

MROW vs MPSF Championships Saturday, May 17 TBD Sacramento, CA

BSB vs WCC Tournament Wednesday, May 21 TBD Las Vegas, NV