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Volume 63 Issue 5
Thursday, October 16, 2025
THE USD VISTA VISTA
The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Diego since 1968
‘Extra extra read all about it’ Malcom Todd performs for Toreros at Big Blue Bash
Malcom Todd performed multiple of his hit songs on USD’s campus at the Big Blue Bash on Oct. 10 for many student supporters.
RILEY RAINS ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR LARA DOMINIQUE SOLANTE COPY EDITOR Last week, students waited in anticipation to find out who would be this year’s artist for the Big Blue Bash. To kick off the homecoming festivities, the Torero Program Board (TPB)
revealed Malcolm Todd would be this fall’s headliner. Many Toreros were excited to hear some of his top hits, such as “Chest Pain (I Love)” and “Roommates.” On Friday, students sang along as he spun around the stage and performed surprise covers of infamous theme songs. Malcolm Todd is currently working his way through North America and Europe on his
tour, titled “The Wholesome Rockstar Tour Pt. 2.” The 22-year-old alternative R&B artist got his start after “Out of Bounds” blew up on TikTok in 2022. After convincing his parents to take a gap year from the University of Oregon, Todd inked a deal with Columbia Records and began pursuing music full time. Before Todd played “Walking to Class,” a song about a
Lara Dominique Solante/The USD Vista
college girl, Todd mentioned his past experience with college. “Guys, I dropped out of college, so I’m living vicariously through you,” Todd laughed. Todd was energetic on stage. In between hits, he joked with the crowd, encouraging students to study instead of partying. Todd coined the word of the night as “fun” – and “fun” is exactly what students had.
Toreros cash in on NIL
“The concert exceeded my expectations,” USD first-year Gabe Roine raved. “He played all of his popular songs which was lit. I loved singing along and jumping around with my friends. And the surprise iCarly theme song — chef’s kiss.” Todd pranked USD students, readying them for an original, emotional piece.
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A look into Name, Image and Likeness deals at USD ANJALI DALAL-WHELAN ASSOCIATE EDITOR USD junior and football linebacker Nick Felago found his way to a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal from a misdirection by Apple Maps. Two years ago, when he was going into his first year at USD, he went to get an acai bowl with a teammate after practice. Rather than an açaí shop, his maps directed the two of them to the sales office of the brand Açaí Roots. While Felago couldn’t get his post-practice snack, the sales team gave him a kombucha for stopping by, which he posted to his Instagram story.
INSIDE
The brand’s marketing team saw the post and reached out — leading to what has now been an over two-yearlong partnership between Felago and the acai brand. A few years ago, this partnership would not have been legal. Until recently, student athletes were not allowed to make money off of their athletics or identity while they were in college. In 2021, a dramatic shift came when the NCAA changed their rules to allow student athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. For the past four years, NIL has made waves in the world of college athletics — including at USD. Over 200
NIL deals have been made with USD athletes, according to Lauren Kirby, USD’s Assistant Athletic Director for NIL. A popular way for athletes to partner with brands is through their social media pages. While at some large schools, high-profile student athletes have struck deals worth millions of dollars, some USD student athletes are finding smaller companies to make the most of their brand as an athlete. Felago shared that his NIL deal with Açaí Roots has been extremely helpful in his career. “It’s been really cool to have a partner and a base around me besides just my personal name,” Felago said. “They’ve obviously
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USD men’s rowing partnered with the brand Nautica in an NIL deal. Photo courtesy of @nautica/Instagram
National Guard
Banned books
Homecoming Weekend
Male leadership
Josh Page returns to USD
See News, page 3
See A&C, page 5
See Feature, page 8
See Opinion, page 10
See Sports, page 12
Don’t miss the latest news. Find us online:
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The USD Vista
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October 16, 2025
NEWS
Ice cream sundaes return to the SLP Students celebrate the comeback of ‘Sundaes on Sunday’
CADEN HAYNOR NEWS EDITOR ‘Sundaes on Sundays,’ typically hosted every week by USD Dining in the Student Life Pavillion (SLP), halted at the beginning of this school year. This event featured a build-your-own ice cream sundae bar every Sunday evening during dinner hours. Sundaes didn’t come back this year until Sunday, Oct. 12. Each week, students would flock to this event, looking forward to a scoop of ice cream to gear up for Monday. The ice cream was paired with a topping bar that had sprinkles, chocolate syrup, chocolate chips and other sundae staples. Students were disappointed this year when they entered the SLP expecting ice cream, and came face-to-face with pies lining the walls. One of those students was USD sophomore Sophia Kartel who spoke about what these events meant to her. “These Sunday events were more significant than just the ice cream being served, they were about the community I
could build,” Kartel said. “The SLP became like that third place, aside from home and school. Especially now that home and school are mixed, it’s so important to have that other space to make friends. With the Sunday Sundaes gone, though, that is harder.” USD Director of Dining Services Charles Ramos explained the reasoning behind replacing the ice cream in SLP. “The intent behind our Sunday dessert offering was to feature ‘Pie à la Mode’ — pie served with ice cream,” Ramos explained. “In terms of cost, the pricing is fairly comparable when you consider the difference between standard pies and a variety of ice cream flavors with a toppings bar.” This special event was made as a way to give ice cream to students who, otherwise, would have to go far off campus to find it and pay for it out of pocket. USD sophomore Bianca Avila spoke on how this event reminds her of home. “My family would do ice cream every Sunday too as a family dinner,” Avila said. “So Sunday Sundaes felt like
home. It brings me that family feeling, but with my friends.” USD sophomore Giulia Coloso explained what these nights meant to her. “That was the only reason I went on Sundays,” Coloso said. “Ice cream isn’t easy to get either, so it felt like I was getting off campus. A lot of these types of events are geared towards freshmen at the SLP and I really don’t go there anymore even though it would be a great place to build friendships.” Ramos went on to describe how USD Dining plans to implement ice cream going forward in the school year. “So this is a temporary change and ‘Sundaes on Sundays’ will be returning soon, this time paired with pie for a true ‘à la mode twist,’” Ramos stated. On Oct. 12, ice cream returned at last to the SLP, with two large tubs of vanilla ice cream sitting next to pie and toppings. USD first-year Paige Wheeler explained how she felt about the ice cream on Sunday. “It honestly looked a little unappetizing since it was so
watery and I didn’t really know it was ice cream,” Wheeler stated. “Then I was like ‘oh, that’s ice cream with the pies, that looks good,’ but I got the vanilla soft serve I usually have. I didn’t even know [Sunday Sundaes were] a thing.” USD sophomore Kyra Lefebvre reacted to the return of this ice cream dessert. “They’re coming back, no way,” Lefebvre said. “They are a great coping mechanism to get over the Sunday scaries, so I’m glad they’re back.” Haruto Umino, an international student from Japan, described his knowledge
of
these Sunday treats. “I never knew about the ice cream before or [that] it is here now,” Umino stated. USD first-year Audrey Herriges reacted to the reimplemented ice cream on Sunday. “I didn’t even know that was a thing, but now that I do know it was a thing, maybe I do want ice cream to be there,” Herriges said. “I would so love if they had mint chip. The pie was so good that they had there before too.” This highly anticipated dessert special will continue to attract students looking for an end-of-the-week treat.
Ice cream tubs with vanilla ice cream were available to students Sunday night. Photo courtesy of @eatatusd/Instagram
Volume 63 Issue 5 •
NEWS
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The USD Vista
NEWS
California National Guard sent to Oregon Trump administration mobilizes National Guard in Portland
CADEN HAYNOR NEWS EDITOR SONOMA MULVIHILL CONTRIBUTOR President Trump announced that he federalized 200 Oregon National Guard troops for a 60-day period in Portland on Sept. 27. The President stated that this activation of troops was due to protests around the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland. Trump followed with statements related to the lack of safety in the city, saying that it is war-ravaged. USD sophomore Noah Kerr is an Oregon resident and regularly visits downtown Portland. Kerr reacted to Trump’s comments about Portland’s safety. “I think it’s all quite silly,” Kerr stated. “From my experience of Portland, as I go there regularly and walk downtown regularly with my younger siblings, ‘war-ravaged’ is more than hyperbole, it’s just false.” Kerr continued by speaking on Trump’s actions in sending the National Guard into Oregon. “It’s appalling to think about sending troops there,” Kerr said. “It’s a very high bar to involve the National Guard. There are a lot of homeless people who do, admittedly, take over downtown and they are a bit of a nuisance. Calling the National Guard for that is ludicrous and it’s insane and unbelievable because there’s nothing happening that deserves any federal attention.” Since the National Guard arrived in Oregon, protests have been held against their presence. Some of these have escalated — with federal officials using tear gas and making arrests. Oregon and Portland filed a lawsuit, challenging the legality of the deployment — arguing it exceeded presidential authority. In response, a Trumpappointed federal judge temporarily blocked the deployment through a restraining order, stating that the action was done without a sufficient reason. USD senior Hallie Rhodes gave her take on the Trump administration’s actions with these troops. “His actions are inhumane
and evil,” Rhodes explained. “I understand it’s difficult with the policies and laws about immigrants in general, but it’s unethical.” On Oct. 5, within 24 hours of this ruling, the Trump administration federalized 300 California National Guard troops. With the continuing government shutdown, these troops are essential services for national security and, while they are not currently being paid, they will receive back-pay when the government reaches a spending bill agreement. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek reported the arrival of 101 California troops in Oregon that same morning. Kerr reacted to Trump sending California National Guard troops to Oregon, after spending time in California for school. “With my connection to California and looking at it in general, it’s ridiculous,” Kerr stated. “Sidestepping a court order like that is blatantly unconstitutional and it’s pulling away from the real services and duties of the National Guard. It’s a slap in the face of anything any Americans should be upholding. I love my country, but I don’t love to see that. It’s a mockery of the US. It makes me worried, like what if something happens in California that needs our national guard and they’re in Portland.” USD senior Zadie Nguyen reacted to the implementation of these federal troops on U.S. soil. “I think it is an over excessive use of force,” Nguyen said. “We need to be utilizing more of our time and money on our infrastructure instead of using it to send immigrants away. It seems kind of familiar to bad things that have happened within our world’s history.” The same federal judge held an emergency hearing on Oct. 5 and issued a second temporary restraining order, blocking the deployment of all troops from any state to Oregon. This judge stated that there continues to be no constitutional basis for these actions. In order for these actions to be constitutional, a judge would have to interpret them to “execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions.” This is a power of Congress, given to them through
The USD Vista Lauren Ceballos - Editor-in-Chief Anjali Dalal-Whelan - Associate Editor Emma Pirhala - Managing Editor Lara Dominique Solante - Copy Editor Caden Haynor - News Editor Amelie Sedlack - Feature Editor Riley Rains - Arts & Culture Editor David Cook - Opinion Editor
Priya Cooper - Sports Editor Alissa Abramovich - Art Director Hailey Howell - Photo Editor Lucas Meza Ehlert - Distribution Manager Anahi Padilla - Social Media Manager Emma Holliday - Director of Finance Benjamin Boss - Advertising Manager
As pictured above, the National Guard has been deployed in D.C. since August.
Article I. The Constitution grants the president the title of Commander-In-Chief, but does not give him unilateral domestic deployment powers. USD senior Alex Roman questioned the use of the National Guard and the legality of the Trump administration’s actions. “I think that it’s wrong that he’s doing something illegally,” Roman stated. “He’s using his power in a way that negatively affects people. I think that the National Guard could be used for better things than clearing out illegal immigrants.” This mobilization in Portland was among various federal interventions in cities led by Democratic mayors — including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Chicago. These federal troops operate under Rules of Engagement that define when and how force can be used. This means that they can only detain civilians if martial law is declared and only carry live ammunition if they are facing armed threats. USD sophomore Elias Herrmann explained his thoughts on the use of the National Guard by the Trump administration and the political
topic of illegal immigration. “I don’t think he’s doing it in the best way, but at the end of the day, they’re illegal and I don’t think that they should be here,” Herrmann stated. “Of course, it should be done in a more humanized way, but Donald Trump is sending the National Guard because no one is doing anything about them. The states don’t care and aren’t taking action. There are
always better ways to do things like this, but there will be no change if he does it in a nice way.” Multiple political figures are citing the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of federal Armed Forces for civilian law enforcement as a method to combat his actions. The lawsuits against the Trump administration are ongoing and will continue as these troops patrol U.S. cities.
101 California National Guard troops arrived in Oregon on Oct. 5. Photo courtesy of @theoregonian/Instagram
Editorial – 619.260.4584 Business – 619.260.4714 www.uofsdmedia.com / @TheUSDVista Gina Lew - Student Media Advisor Dr. Byron Howlett - Operations Advisor
Emma Pirhala/The USD Vista
The USD Vista publication is written and edited by USD students and funded by revenues generated by advertising and a student fee. Advertising material published is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an expressed or implied endorsement or verification of such commercial venues by the staff or University. 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. Letters to the Editor can be submitted to The USD Vista office. 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 63 Issue 5 •
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ARTS & CULTURE
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The USD Vista
ARTS & CULTURE ‘Mr. Incorrect’ comes to San Diego USD hosts Malcolm Todd
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“This is very vulnerable for me, so sorry if I cry,” Todd exclaimed. “I’m just going to do it.” He then played the iCarly theme song, sparking Toreros to go berserk – everyone was jumping and screaming the lyrics. USD spared no small expense to bring the captivating pop star to campus. Although TPB declined disclosing the exact budget, last year the University spent around $180,000 to bring Tinashe to campus. Toreros were wildly surprised at 2024’s budget, and very grateful to the University for their commitment for student connection. USD sophomore Frida Duarte shared her thoughts. “I mean it’s really sweet that they’re bringing up school spirit,” Duarte said. “This is a time for all of us to kind of decompress, time to connect with each other. Me and all my friends here, we haven’t spent a lot of time together recently so it’s really nice, especially with
LARA DOMINIQUE SOLANTE COPY EDITOR
an artist like Malcolm Todd.” Big Blue Bash is an annual concert that occurs during USD’s Homecoming and Family Weekend. The events include a variety of programs created for alumni and parents to enjoy while they visit campus. October, for many Toreros, is midterm season. The Big Blue Bash being placed in the middle of such a stressful time is part of the appeal. USD sophomore Sophia Shirk explained her relief. “This has been getting me through the week,” Shirk smiled. “It’s just so worth it for all of us to come together.” This year, Toreros were pleasantly surprised when USD announced the artist on Tuesday, instead of the day of like the past couple of years. Some students have been fans for years. USD first-year Aliana Urdaneta-Rodas explained her history listening to Todd. “I was so excited because I love Malcolm Todd,” UrdanetaRodas gushed. “I’ve been
listening to Malcolm Todd for years now. I remember listening to him before he even went viral and everything.” While Urdaneta-Rodas has been a fan since his debut, not all Toreros knew who Malcolm Todd was, but the excitement around campus was infectious. USD junior Sydney Ignasiak explained her reaction to USD’s announcement of the headliner. “I honestly didn’t know him very well, but all my roommates really knew and liked his music,” Ignasiak recalled. “I was excited because they were excited.” In previous years, artists have canceled at the last minute causing USD to scramble for a replacement. This year, Todd signed the contract early – this allowed anticipation to build and Torero’s to prepare for the big night. With Malcolm Todd making the night hit harder than “Concrete,” Toreros can only hope that next year’s Big Blue Bash is as exhilarating.
Malcolm Todd giving Toreros a loving heart. Lara Dominique Solante/The USD Vista
GAMES Crossword 10-16
Crossword of the week:
ANJALI DALAL-WHELAN ASSOCIATE EDITOR
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RILEY RAINS ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
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LAUREN CEBALLOS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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Down 1. His catchphrase is “You can’t see me.”
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2. DNA stands for ____ acid.
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8
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4. Dorothy’s actress in “The Wizard of Oz” 6. This candy bar’s catchphrase is “you’re not you when you’re
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hungry.”
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8. An abandoned prison offshore 12
from San Francisco 9. The airline’s planes are dark blue 10. This fruit is red on the outside and white on the inside
Across 3. The formal name of “...” 5. _____ opened for Malcolm Todd in Big Blue Bash. 7. This makeup artist made a famous eye shadow palette
13 14
Across 12. 2024 tennis movie with a love 3. The formal name of “...” triangle fouled in basketball 5. ___ opened for Malcom Todd in Big Blue Bash. 7. This makeup artist made a famous eye shadow palette 11. A shot you take when you get fouled in basketball 12. 2024 tennis movie with a love triangle 13. The key to remembering sine cosine and tangent 14. Gross _____ product is used as a measure of a nation’s economic performance and activity. 11. A shot you take when you get
Down 14. Gross ____ product is used as 1. His catchphrase is “You can’t see me.” cosine and tangent a measure of a nation’s economic 2. DNA stands for ______ acid. performance and activity. 4. Dorothy’s actress in “The Wizard of Oz” 6. This candy bar’s catchphrase is “you’re not you when you’re hungry” 8. A military prison offshore from San Francisco 9. This airline’s planes are dark blue 10. This fruit is red on the outside and white on the inside. 13. The key to remembering sine,
Volume 63 Issue 5
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The USD Vista
Protecting our right to read
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USD celebrates Banned Book Week
RILEY RAINS ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR This spring, Dean Noelle Norton was notified that her book “Creating Gender” was among the titles banned by the Secretary of Defense at the U.S. Naval Academy Library. USD’s College of Arts and Sciences Dean was just one of the authors out of over 400 writers whose books were pulled from Nimitz Library in a wave of censorship this April. Book bans are at their highest level in decades, with organizations like PEN America and American Library Association (ALA) documenting over 6,000 bans in the 2024-2025 academic school year. The commonly accepted definition of a “book ban” is any action taken against a book based on its content that leads to a previously accessible book being completely removed from availability. Settings of academia, such as local libraries and public schools, are the most affected areas when it comes to books being banned. USD Associate Dean of the University Library, Professor Laura Turner, offered her insight. “We need to understand that books are the breadth of human knowledge,” Turner urged. “As a Librarian, when I am told to remove a book from my collection because they aren’t appropriate in content, it’s a foreign concept to me. We carry [books] that may make you really uncomfortable. It’s our job as librarians to hold intellectual freedom for students, no matter the content.” The initiators of these book bans are largely organized pressure groups. ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom performed a study and found that in 2024, 72% of demands to censor books in schools and public libraries came from government entities, while only 16% stemmed from parents. Complainants argue that books containing themes of race, LGBTQIA+ narratives and gender exploration should be removed
Dean Noelle Norton giving a lecture about her banned book, ‘Creating Gender.’
for illegal obscenity for minors. However, a large majority of titles include esteemed classics that criticize government and encourage open-mindedness: George Orwell’s “1984,” Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner” and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” being just three of the many. USD sophomore Olivia Sullivan recalled her experience with these famous banned books. “A lot of the books like ‘1984,’ ‘Animal Farm’ and ‘Fahrenheit 451’ were books that I read in high school,” Sullivan remembered. “I personally think that it is important for people to keep reading them because I feel like the censorship isn’t doing education any good.” National Banned Book Week — Oct. 5 through Oct. 11 — started in 1982 by First Amendment
activist Judith Krug as an attempt to quell the sudden increase in challenged and banned books in public libraries and schools. The ALA encourages educators and universities to participate in events to raise awareness in settings of academia – USD was no exception. Copley Library hosted a variety of events during National Banned Book Week, one example being Torero’s opportunity to go on a “Blind Date with a Banned Book.” USD librarians wrapped up novels and marked the reason(s) why they were censored – whether the ban for depictions of sex, violence, racism or LGBTQIA+ themes, there were enough “dates” to fill Torero’s shelves. Copley Library also celebrated National Banned Book Week by hosting an
Pictured is a spread of different ‘Blind Dates with a Banned Book’ at the Copley Library.
annual “Right to Read” lecture presented by Dean Norton and Dr. Odilka Santiago — a sociology professor who specializes in research surrounding homelessness, housing insecurity and housing injustice. Dean Norton began the lecture by describing how shocked she felt when she discovered that “Creating Gender” had been removed from the Nimitz Library. “When the notice came that this book was banned, I was beyond surprised,” Norton recalled. “I was minding my own business when almost 20 years later, in comes an email that shocked me. I felt very weird. I’m still not sure why it’s banned.” “Creating Gender” is a statistical based research collection that focuses on how U.S. welfare policy creates gender
Riley Rains/The USD Vista
Photo courtesy of Michelle Kennedy
paradigms. Dean Norton was one of three authors who tackled the topic: Cathy Marie Johnson and Georgia Duerst-Lahti also contributed to the book outlining dangerous gender roles in welfare. U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth – who initiated the mass censorship – never explicitly stated the reasoning behind the removal of “Creating Gender.” After Dean Norton’s explanation, Dr. Santiago continued by outlining her graduate research, and its relevance in censoring voices in marginalized communities. By talking to over 50 homeless people in San Diego alone, Dr. Santiago urged students to humanize individuals without an abundance of advocates. “The violence of silence is not about what goes unsaid, but is also about the denial about who has the right to be heard,” Santiago emphasized. Toreros are aware of the detrimental effects of banned books in America and offered their opinions. USD senior Greta Palmiter explained her thoughts. “I think that removing voices is really dangerous,” Palmiter argued. “If you don’t hear from people you can’t learn or grow from what they have to say.” As a Catholic liberal arts institution, USD prides itself on inclusivity – especially in scholarship. Copley Library provides a plethora of academic resources and databases written from a diverse set of voices. As organized pressure groups continue to challenge beloved novels, universities and libraries all over America are taking a stand for their right to read. Just to be clear: since USD’s chartering in 1949, the University has never banned, censored or hidden a book from its students.
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October 16, 2025
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Volume 63 Issue 5 •
FEATURE
The USD Vista
Spread by: Alissa Abramovich/The USD Vista: Content by Amelie Sedlack/The USD Vista
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October 16, 2025
AR TS & FEATURE
USD hosts homecoming events A look at the events welcoming parents and alumni
AMELIE SEDLACK FEATURE EDITOR Halfway through the semester and in the midst of midterms, USD hosted Homecoming Weekend with events for both students and alumni. Over the weekend of Oct. 10–12, USD students also welcomed their parents and families to campus. USD sophomore Andrea Tricio’s family came to visit the previous weekend, but she still liked the time of Homecoming weekend — explaining that it was a nice break before the stressful week of midterms. “For many students — with midterms and stuff — this is kind of a break from the stress of school,” Tricio said. While some students appreciate a weekend or two with their family throughout the semester, others have a more set cadence of time together. Friday’s events included the Alumni and Student Festival, the Evening Under the Stars - Wild West Fest and finally the Big Blue Bash. The Festival was from 5–7:30 p.m. and was located across Maher Circle, Torero Way and Plaza de San Diego. The event served food and drinks, had a beer garden for those over 21, and had carnival games for students, their families and friends to play. USD first-year Felix Pineda attended the festival with his mom and enjoyed having the time to spend time and talk with her. “It was just me and my mother so we got to catch up a lot and I got to talk to her,” Pineda said. “I haven’t seen her in a couple weeks … It was really great to see her again because we haven’t had a sit down conversation in a while. Sure we can call and see each other and stuff but it wasn’t a long enough time where we could really connect together.”
The Evening Under the Stars - Wild West Fest, located in the UCs and O’Toole’s from 7–10 p.m., asked attendants to wear Western attire. There were also casino games, line dancing lessons and a silent auction throughout the event. These were fundraisers to help raise money for the Torero Student Support Fund which helps students who are in danger of dropping out due to unexpected financial hardship. USD first-year Courtney Finkbeiner is from Washington and this weekend was the first time she saw her parents since OLÉ! Weekend. She talked about the events she was planning to attend and what she will do with her parents in San Diego. “We’re going to do the Wild West [event],” Finkbeiner said. “I’m excited to see them. I’ll probably just spend time with them, go to the Farmer’s Market, go to the beach.” The next big thing was the Big Blue Bash with student openers and headliner Malcom Todd spanning from 6:30–10 p.m. on Torero Way. Mikaela Takeya, a USD firstyear, does not have family coming but still sees Homecoming weekend as an opportunity to spend time with her friends. “I might go to the Malcom Todd event, just for the vibe,” Takeya said. USD sophomore Bronwyn Jacobs Walker went to Friday’s events with her friends as her family was unable to come down for the weekend. “I just went with all my friends and their siblings who came and visited,” Jacobs Walker said. “It was fun. It was a good way to hang out with people. I thought all of the performers were really good. I really liked the opener — she was great.” Saturday’s events included
USD football fans cheer on the team over Homecoming Weekend.
USD students, parents and alumni attended the College of Arts and Sciences Homecoming Brunch. Photo courtesy of Emma Pirhala/The USD Vista the Homecoming Brunch and a game and I think it will be alumni to come back, too,” MaiTorero Tailgate and various fun to have my family there Prasarnsuk said. “I think that sports games. The College of to watch,” Abenroth said. part of the reason I came back is Arts and Sciences Homecoming Sunday’s events included the a lot to do with my old team … Brunch and Hoehn Gallery Tour Alumni and Family Mass and the So it’s kind of like an excuse for from 9–11:30 a.m. was located in Champagne Brunch. The Alumni me to come back. I thought USD Founders Hall. The event provided and Family Mass and Food Drive did a great job. Homecoming was a buffet in the French Parlor and at 10 a.m. invited all attendants really fun. From what I’ve seen a mimosa bar. The tour showed to bring food and supplies to this year there’s been a really big the new exhibits in the galleries donate to the USD Pantry which push marketing strategy wise and a look at the print room. works to support current students to get people to come back for Later that day, the Torero experiencing food insecurity. school spirit overall so I think Tailgate starting at 11 a.m. Pineda also attended the that’s cool especially coming in Eagan Plaza provided food, Sunday mass with his parents from a cheer background. That’s drinks and beer and preceded and reflected on the homily. what I love to see. I’ll come the women’s volleyball “My favorite event – I back in a heartbeat anytime.” game at 12 p.m. and the really like the Sunday mass While it’s easy for students to football game at 2 p.m. today,” Pineda said. “The pass through the festival or stop River Abenroth, a USD homily was really good. The vibe by the Big Blue Bash on their sophomore on the football was just amazing. I go to the way through campus, for alumni team, lives in San Diego Wednesday Peace masses and living away from school, it could but is still excited for his pretty much every single Sunday be harder to come for a weekend family to watch him play mass and this one was really in the middle of the semester. for Homecoming Weekend. different – it was really good.” Mai-Prasarnsuk spoke on the “I play football so I have USD alumna and former timing of Homecoming Weekend. cheerleader Maddy Mai“It really depends on Prasarnsuk returned to USD for when you started your job,” Homecoming Weekend to see Mai-Prasarnsuk said. “I think her old teammates and coach. timeline wise it is a good period She reflected on her time at USD. for early alumni for those who “It was busy this weekend have jobs it gives us time to get but it was good to see everyone,” settled … It’s just dependent on Mai-Prasarnsuk said. “It’s good what kind of job you got, when to see my old team and coach. you’re starting. But I don’t think A lot of people from my grade it’s anything you have to make who were engineering or are accommodations for. Especially doing their masters are still on if you’re somewhat local like campus so I got to see them too. myself it’s easy to just make A bunch of my friends still live the drive after work on Friday.” in San Diego so we – it’s actually Whether students visit home a lot of cheer alumni – so three often or only see family for of us went together. It was holidays, Homecoming Weekend good [to be back on campus]. offered some students a chance It makes me miss it for sure. to see their family again before I was telling my friends today the stress of midterms takes over. nothing but great things. I would Even if family does not come redo it again in a heartbeat.” or comes at a different time, Mai-Prasarnsuk continued many Toreros see Homecoming to reflect on her time during Weekend as a fun time to spend Homecoming Weekend. with friends instead. Events “I think Homecoming are held for all ages of Toreros, Weekend at other schools is a whether past or present as Alumni lot bigger and it’s a big thing for also get to revisit their alma mater. Photo courtesy of @uofsandiego/Instagram
Volume 63 Issue 5
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OPINION
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The USD Vista
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OPINION
Rapid AI growth distorts reality
In the age of AI, the truth might be the first casualty DAVID COOK OPINION EDITOR It started with videos of animals on trampolines. Over the past two weeks, my reels have been filled with AIgenerated clips of animals like elephants, gorillas or kangaroos bouncing on trampolines. Many of these videos are essentially indistinguishable from reality. Not two weeks later, AI went from cute and impractical to something significantly larger: full, realistic videos. With OpenAI’s new Sora model, you can type a sentence and receive a movie-quality clip that appears to have been shot on a professional set: no camera, no actors, no humans — just code. Sora also released its model to the public in an app that has an interface nearly identical to that of TikTok, where users can scroll endlessly through videos, all created by AI. That’s how fast things are moving. AI isn’t growing steadily; it’s exploding. Each model builds upon the one before it, learning faster, producing more and getting freakishly good at mimicking reality. What took decades for film and animation to achieve, has been done by AI in a span of just months. A lot of people see this rapid growth as a good thing. Sure, AI has its perks, making creativity more accessible. Now, you don’t need fancy equipment or big budgets to make content anymore. In this aspect, a benefit to AI is that it can help small creators, speed up editing and even push innovation in medicine, science and education. These possibilities are real and endless. The same technology that can generate art, can also
One of the AI -generated viral videos of an elephant jumping on a trampoline went viral on TikTok, tricking many viewers.
create exploitation. Tools like Sora can make videos so realistic that distinguishing the truth from fiction becomes nearly impossible. On top of that, Sora has a verification option, where anyone — celebrities or civilians — can not only create AI generated content of themselves, but also make content of other verified creators. This has created a trend of viral AIgenerated videos of verified creators like Mark Cuban, Jake Paul and Sam Altman. Sora also has content policy guidelines that ban inappropriate videos from being produced. However, many people have access to this technology independently, so that they do not have to follow Sora’s content policies. This creates scary possibilities like political propaganda and pornography. The possibilities are
literally endless, and that brings me — like many others — a sense of uneasiness for what could come next. Then, there’s also the rise of the AI actors, which is potentially a clearer sign of where this is all headed. One of these examples is the fully digitized and developed actress: Tilly Norwood is a completely digital actress with her own agent, along with interviews and brand deals. She doesn’t actually exist, but she’s taking up space and taking roles like she does. For studios, that’s the dream: no salaries, no unions, no personal boundaries. For real actors, it’s a nightmare. It’s absurd how easily “innovation” turns into replacement. AI isn’t just automating jobs — it’s automating people. Writers, editors, artists and now performers are
being phased out by systems trained on their own work. Meanwhile the laws aren’t exactly catching up. Governments are still arguing over data privacy while deepfakes, fake voices and synthetic bodies are being used to take real jobs and ruin real lives. In May, the Trump administration’s Big Beautiful Bill, initially proposed leaving AI laws up to the state’s discretion, but that was quickly removed after bipartisan disapproval. Just before the removal of this clause, President Trump signed the “TAKE IT DOWN Act” into law, criminalizing non-consensual deepfake videos, but falls short in some ways. The law only prohibits sexually explicit images, leaving out important topics like political deepfakes or fake interviews, AI-generated audio recordings, among other things.
Photo courtesy of @Cartoon 4D/TikTok
The scope of the bill is very narrow, so we will undoubtedly see future bills regulating soon. At some point, we have to ask whether this technological progress really is progress or not when it is erasing the people who made it possible. The same tools that let anyone create also lets anyone distort, inviting a world where everything always has a possibility of being AI-generated. This is the paradox of our current world — we’re building technology that imitates humanity better than humanity can regulate it. If AI keeps growing at this exponential rate, and still remains unchecked, then the line between real life and an AI generated video will blur. What I fear is when the line becomes so blurry that it will vanish entirely. When that happens, the question won’t be what can AI do next, but what is left for us to do at all.
Last week’s crossword answers:
RILEY RAINS ARTS AND CULTURE
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
10
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October 16, 2025
OPINION
The boys we left behind
How the internet shaped a generation without role models OWEN FUGIT CONTRIBUTOR Societal values have shifted a lot over the last 30 years for several different reasons — one being the internet. Many of the changes brought by the web have been positive, from increased access to information to newly created jobs on social media under the title of “influencer,” fundamentally changing how people experience the world. However, there is a much darker change taking place with effects that are just now starting to surface. It seems that today, the internet is a place built upon change, contrasting the old with the new, and always searching for the next big thing. Women’s rights have come into focus in recent decades — and rightfully so. Even as a man myself, I can see how women have been systematically disadvantaged and devalued over the general course of human history. Our focus on women’s rights over the past several decades is more than welcome, albeit much later than we would care to admit. But while we have focused on how to improve life for women, we have left our young men and boys unattended with the full power of the internet constantly bearing down on them. Now, after roughly 30 years of unrestricted internet use, our men — myself included — find it increasingly difficult to grow up and build a life in an increasingly online world. In the decades prior to the internet, we had large institutions that would filter out most of the bad influences from the public eye. Typically, the role models of young boys was synonymous with masculinity such as professional athletes, actors or superheroes. The internet cut out this filter protecting young men from toxic idols, giving anybody the chance to define masculinity for a new generation of men. Many people may have heard of a controversial figure online known as Andrew Tate. A few years ago, I started seeing his videos on my own social media feed, and I thought it was a joke. Here was a bald, narcissistic misogynistic bully, touting sports cars and supermodels, living in exile in Romania. On top of all this, he was trying to sell me life advice. I was lucky enough to have friends who spotted this issue at the same time I did, and we never got pulled under his spell. But I can’t say the same about many of my peers. Where I saw a fraud, they saw a role model, and it would be wrong to fault them for
that because young men often feel they are navigating life without a reliable role model. AJ Pasciuti, a student on the PhD for Leadership Studies track at USD and a combat veteran, recognized that when the opportunity arose for someone to fill that role, the men occupying the male cultural sphere today chose a specific kind of leadership. “I think that societally, what we believe is that a leader is somebody that’s barking orders or yelling or in charge of everything,” Pasciuti said. “In my experience, it’s the ones who bark the loudest that have the most to hide.” The results from three decades of unrestricted internet usage clearly show that young men latched onto the idea of a strong, aggressive, often violent man, recognizing those traits as leadership without recognizing how they were falling victim to what was essentially a sales tactic. The men like Andrew Tate sold young boys isolationism through bigotry and malice. The idea of a “lone wolf” was very popular in these circles, but Pasciuti offered some advice contrary to such a mentality. “A leader does not trade insults or manufacture division for personal gain,” Pasciuti argues. “Instead, we forge communities, lifting groups of people toward a shared vision of something bigger than themselves. Leaders do not convince people they are sick, then present themselves as the cure. That’s not leadership. That’s manipulation.” Current male role models present a stagnant, often regressive view of the world. They espouse a philosophy that things will only get worse for young men if things get better for other groups such as women, minorities or other marginalized people. Young men are being told that society is leaving them behind, and to a certain extent, this may be true. There has been a documented dropoff in the academic performance of young men over the past several decades, for instance. Instead of encouraging young men to work hard and better themselves in the face of this gap, though, male role models asked young men to turn to cynicism and advocate for movements that would reduce the power of the very groups who had only just gained it. Pasciuti argued against cynicism with a belief in trust and hope. “A leader’s only true obligation is to hold the hope that tomorrow will be better than today and to share it with those they serve,” Pasciuti said. “That hope isn’t born from blind optimism. It’s earned, shaped by discipline and
Even from a young age, men begin to understand and question the complexities of being a man and the world. Photo courtesy of @Andis Kakeli/Unsplash
Before the age of social media, it was much more common for young kids to have superhero role models, such as Spiderman. Photo courtesy of @ferreiramarcos___/Unsplash
rooted in dignity, accountability, and personal responsibility. It demands openness, a teachable spirit, and a mind that remains curious rather than cynical about the future.” Young men stand at a crossroads today. Down one path is all the male influencers we already know who would further separate men from one another and from the rest of the world, and down the other path is a conscious choice that we make as a society to include men. Many feel that
young men are disproportionately painted as villains in contemporary discussions about inclusivity. Whether or not this is actually true does not change the fact that movements tend to garner little support from the communities they vilify, and in this case, it’s those same young men who need help the most who are turning away from the very movements that could help them. If we want to improve the lives of our young men today, the best thing we can do is
bring them back into our social movements. By alienating young men, we risk losing them to the hopelessness and despair that male role models promote today. We cannot preach inclusion and diversity if we exclude a class of people simply because they were born male and that is the exact grievance such movements hope to resolve. We have to show young men true masculinity, which comes from a belief in empathy, a willingness to learn and a mindset of adaptability and cooperation.
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 63 Issue 5
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SPORTS
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The USD Vista
SPORTS
NIL takes over USD
Student athletes cash in on Name, Image and Likeness From NIL, Page 1 hooked me up with a lot of stuff that’s benefited me financially, and with the food, of course.” Felago noted that discussions of NIL are prevalent among student athletes at USD. “I can talk to any athlete about it,” Felago said. “Male, female, any sport and we will be able to have a conversation, whether they have a strong opinion one way or another or they have a cool deal or they’re working on something… it’s definitely always a topic of conversation.” Daniel Bruton, a professor in the Knauss School of Business who has worked in sports marketing for over 30 years described the change as an overcorrection of an unfair system. “The way the structure was for athletes was extremely unfair,” Bruton said. “When there’s programs making millions and hundreds of millions of dollars… and then the athletes can’t accept a sandwich, or they’re suspended, I always felt like it’s not right. And now, I feel like the beginning of NIL has been a huge over correction to the other side. It’s just like, ‘pay them [athletes] whatever you can and whatever you want.’” NIL deals can take many different forms. From free merch or food, to financial payments — the contracts differ widely. “Each school seems to have their own rules,” Bruton explained. “Each state has its own rules, congress is involved, so it’s kind of the wild, wild west out there.” USD softball player and junior Janae Combs has also dipped her toes into NIL social media deals. Combs posted
an Instagram reel to her 700 followers, promoting tape to help with menstrual cramps. Combs found this deal on an app which connects athletes and brands. She shared that it didn’t go exactly how she expected. “It wasn’t my favorite deal,” Combs said. “It was a little bit cloudy with the information about what I would be receiving and stuff like that. I wasn’t a big fan of the deal itself, but I think it did help me get experience in that kind of world of NIL and now I kinda understand how it all works.” Combs said she felt that the brand was not transparent about the compensation she would receive. “I thought I was getting money, but it was just the product value and the product that I was getting,” Combs said. “So I think sometimes the NIL deal providers aren’t clear and you might be signing up and signing into contract with something you don’t exactly know what you’re signing up for.” Despite this experience, Combs said she was open to more NIL deals in the future. “Being on softball at USD … It’s not as big as other sports or other schools, so it’s not a lot of NIL deals either,” Combs said. “So it’s more just kind of here and there or whatever. If I’m interested or want to scroll to the app and I see something cool you know try to apply for it, but it’s nothing I’m really driving to do.” USD Athletics has taken an active approach to working with student athletes on NIL deals. Last April, they launched a website to centralize information about NIL for athletes and
Influxerusd is a platform that helps athletes sell merchandise. Photo courtesy of @Influxerusd/Instagram
Last spring, Vuori announced partnership with USD’s golf and tennis team. Photo courtesy of @vuoriclothing/Instagram
businesses. This website goes over many of the FAQs and legal questions surrounding NIL. The website also links to “the Torero exchange,” which is a website that lists athlete profiles, with their information and social media handle, allowing brands to reach out to them and strike deals. In Fall of 2024, Lauren Kirby came to the Athletics department to serve as USD’s first director of NIL. She explained how Athletics is helping Toreros navigate their deals. “We offer one-on-one strategy sessions to any student-athlete who wants help in the NIL space - this ranges from help with brand outreach to strategy around social media presence,” Kirby said in a written statement. “We have hosted workshops open to all studentathletes with guest speakers specializing in areas such as sports marketing, personal branding, financial literacy, and social media/content creation.” USD’s Knauss School of Business is also paying attention to NIL. This year, professor Carlton O’Neal is teaching a class called Athlete Marketing in the Age of NIL. This class is
meant both for athletes looking to market themselves as well as students who are interested in working in sports marketing. O’Neal explained the value of the class for athletes. “If people implement what I’m teaching in the class, they’re going to go out and show who they are.” O’Neal said. “That’s going to give more notoriety to them and I think it’s going to be better for the school.” O’Neal expanded that athletes can use their name, image and likeness to generate income for anything — not just themselves. “There’s a swimmer in my class, she’s thinking of using her notoriety as a USD swimmer to teach kids swimming,” O’Neal said. Another way NIL is taking place at USD is through full group sponsorships. Four full teams at USD have received NIL deals in the form of photoshoots which were posted to the brands’ and teams’ social media pages. The first was men’s rowing with Nautica, an apparel and lifestyle brand. Men’s and women’s tennis and men’s golf all received a deal with Vuori, a San Diego based athletic brand. Despite the benefits that many athletes have received from
NIL, some believe there may be some negative ramifications of NIL in college athletics. “It’s definitely created some haves and have nots as far as Universities,” O’Neal said. “Especially the ones with the quote-en-quote ‘money sports:’ football, basketball, I mean they generate billions, so that’s probably been a bit of a negative thing for colleges overall.” Many believe that this is causing athletes to transfer to more well-known schools to score NIL deals. Bruton explained this idea, and how it could negatively affect athletic programs at small schools such as USD. “Say you are USD and your tight end catches 100 passes and has the opportunity to go somewhere that’s going to pay him half a million dollars,” Bruton said. “He’s gonna go … It would be crazy not to.” The world of NIL is still new and ever changing. This summer, a legal settlement opened a path for universities to pay their college athletes outright. As the policies evolve, the business of sports will continue to provide opportunities — and challenges to USD athletes.
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The USD Vista
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October 16, 2025
Torero alumnus takes on old stomping grounds USD Tennis alum returns as an assistant coach for Santa Clara LAUREN CEBALLOS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Josh Page is a USD Tennis Player alum and Captain who returned to his home court this weekend as Santa Clara’s Assistant Tennis Coach. Page smiled with confidence on his old stomping grounds, jealous of the new, fresh shades of blue on the courts and feeling a burst of nostalgia. “I remember coming here on my recruiting trip and being at the bottom of the hill… thinking to myself, no way is that a place that I could maybe go to,” Page said. “Coming back, it’s just a reminder of a really special time… And when you come back to places like that… it’s a really cool feeling.” Looking back on his experience, there were a few things that truly stood out to Page during his two years as a Torero. “I think winning back to back WCCs was cool,” Page stated. “Especially my senior year, we had a really new group, and we had struggles during the season, just getting up to speed. But in the tournament time, we had a great win… I’ll remember forever.” Page made his way to the Santa Clara Broncos after his role with the Gooding Todero Academy, time as a graduate assistant for the University of Toledo’s men’s tennis and after
working with Croatian tennis player Borna Coric. All of this experience has led him to enjoy the role that he has now. “I think I knew in college that I wanted to get into coaching, that was always something that I wanted to do,” Page explained. “I had a bit of a period where I was traveling with a player and then wanted to get back to America. I’ve spent a bit of time working in Academy settings, but missed the competitiveness of college coaching.” Page was born and raised in England where he ranked 124 in the International Tennis Federation junior ranking and played in the Junior Wimbledon championship twice. This was just the beginning for Page. Page came to USD for his later years in college, after attending Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) — walking the new Paseo at USD during his senior year of college. At ABAC, Page earned many titles including the National Junior Collegiate singles champion, ITA Sophomore Player of the Year for Junior and Community Colleges and many more. At USD, Page had many more impressive accomplishments, including the titles WCC All-Tournament Team for Doubles with his teammate Jordan Angus, WCC AllTournament Team for singles
Page coaches the Santa Clara Broncos on his former courts.
and WCC All-Academic Team. The seasoned Torero Captain missed the environment so much that he decided to put himself back in it — just in a different way. With all these accomplishments, Page shared a bit about his experiences and how it has influenced his coaching style. “Give them opportunities to make mistakes as well, because if you don’t have that, I think it’s really hard to play tennis,” Page said. “I made a lot of mistakes in tennis so maybe
that’s why it helps. But I often used to feel like if I had too much pressure on me, I wouldn’t be able to play well. And I think that’s the balance that you have to find with coaching and playing. I do think I’m probably quite a hard coach, but I hope I find a balance.” Page brought skill to USD — fueled by his love of the game. “I’ve played tennis for as long as I can remember,” Page said. “My older brother was my coach and was a huge part of my tennis [career] ” Overall, Page enjoyed
USD falls to Drake 19-16
Toreros lose on Homecoming Weekend
CHERISHANN DIAMZON CONTRIBUTOR USD’s homecoming game ended with Drake University kicker Harry Balke drilling a 55yard field goal as time expired Saturday at Torero Stadium. The Toreros had just tied it up at 16-16 when USD sophomore and kicker Emiliano Salazar made a 41-yard field goal with 1:09 left in the fourth quarter. Drake got the ball back on their own 35-yard line after USD kicked the ball out of bounds, and they moved into field goal range in the final minute. The game came down to a missed intentional grounding call in the final seconds. The officials failed to flag the quarterback for throwing the ball away to avoid a sack. USD Head Coach Brandon Moore went to the officials asking to review the play. “I asked him if I could review it,” Moore said. “I told him that there was clearly nobody in the area. The ball didn’t reach the line of scrimmage and the quarterback was just trying to chuck it away. They said it wasn’t
COMING UP THIS WEEK
reviewable. I couldn’t review if there was somebody in the area.” Without the call, Drake stayed in position for the game-winning kick. The highlight of the game came in the second quarter. USD ran a flea flicker, or a trick play with USD redshirt
junior and quarterback Tyler Voss throwing a lateral to USD junior and wide receiver Yosei Takahashi, who launched a 73yard touchdown pass to USD senior wide receiver Cole Monach. “We got it once at full speed in practice against our defense, so
not a schemed up look and they ended up looking terrible, but that look was also not the look we were expecting, but it ended up working out,” Monach said. The play gave USD a 13-7 lead going into halftime. USD couldn’t find a rhythm
USD men’s football took on Drake at Torero Stadium on Oct. 11 2025.
Photo courtesy of USD Athletics
TEN vs ITA WVB at Washington State Thursday, Oct. 16 Thursday, Oct. 16 All-Day 7 p.m. San Diego, CA Pullman, WA
WSWIM vs Seattle Saturday, Oct. 18 10:30 a.m. Long Beach, CA
WVB at Seattle Saturday, Oct. 18 1 p.m. Seattle, WA
WSOC vs Pepperdine Friday, Oct. 17 7 p.m. San Diego, CA
Lauren Ceballos/The USD Vista
his visit and appreciates getting to share his love for tennis with the Broncos. “Being out there in matches and tournaments like this weekend, it’s just fun, and I love that in college,” Page said. “It’s a unique thing. It doesn’t feel like a job most of the time.” The Torero court has gotten to welcome home many alumni, one of them being former decorated Torero Tennis Captain Josh Page. Page now cheers on the players that are in the shoes that he once wore.
after the break. The offense stalled in Drake territory multiple times in the second half. “They did a good job, bending, not breaking,” Monach said. “So we just got to be able to finish those drives. I felt like we did good getting near the red zone, but we just gotta be able to finish.” Salazar kept USD in the game with four field goals, including makes from 41 and 47 yards. “He gave us an opportunity to win, made three or four really tough field goals,” Moore said. “He was pretty much one of our only weapons today.” Drake took the lead with 4:38 left in the fourth on a five-yard touchdown run to make it 16-13. USD drove down the field and Salazar tied it with the 41-yarder, but it wasn’t enough. The loss drops USD to their second straight one-possession loss in Pioneer Football League play. Moore stressed the team would take it one game at a time moving forward. “We’re just gonna take one game at a time like we always do,” Moore said. “We focus on trying to be 1-0, focus on trying to play 60 minutes of football and taking it moment by moment.”
ROW at Head of Charles Regatta Friday - Sunday, Oct. 17-19 Boston, MA
MBB vs Cal State Saturday, Oct. 18 2 p.m. San Diego, CA
MSOC vs Seattle U Saturday, Oct. 18 7 p.m. San Diego, CA
XC at Highlander Invite Saturday, Oct. 18 8:45 a.m Riverside, CA WSOC vs Saint Mary’s Wednesday, Oct. 22 7 p.m. San Diego, CA