THE USD VISTA
Election Day brings in new leaders
Toreros gathered in Frank’s Lounge to watch the results on election night. Photo courtesy of @usdpolisci_ir/Instagram
CADEN HAYNOR NEWS EDITOR
On Election Day 2025, voters elected Democrats in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City, while California voters voted “yes” on Proposition 50.
As the polls closed across the country, USD students entered Frank’s Lounge to watch the results come in on the TVs.
One of those students was USD sophomore Michelle Esparza, who looked into these elections before seeing any results.
“Voting is a really important way for people to use their voice,” Esparza explained. “Americans are coming out to vote against all of Trump’s actions, which are against democracy. We can use our voice to fight the injustice in this administration.”
California’s Proposition 50 was a highly publicized election. The proposition was a response by Gov. Gavin Newsom to Texas’ gerrymandering actions. This proposition passed with almost a 65% vote on “yes,” putting a redrawn gerrymandered map of state districts into effect that gives the Democratic party five extra seats in the House of Representatives.
Esparza talked about why voting “YES” on Proposition 50 was important for Californians and America as a whole.
“Especially in the times we are in, voting for Prop 50 is really important to directly go against Trump’s undemocratic actions,” Esparza said. “I am glad there is some opposition to Trump coming from politicians.”
The first decided election
‘Bienvenidos’ a la música de
RILEY RAINS ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
USD’s Wind Ensemble and Concert Choir hosted their first student concert of the season on Nov. 7 in the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla. The concert hosted a plethora of compositions, with an emphasis on Latin creators. The directors offered all commentary that was said in between songs in Spanish and English, for a fully immersive experience into the “Bienvenidos” student concert.
The wind ensemble began the night with “Of Endless Miles and Empty
Rafts,” composed by Michele Fernández, concluding with José Ricardo Alva da Silva’s “Dança Brasileira Nos 2,1.”
Every composition featured a gentle light show; whether it was blue orbs dancing to crescendos or glowing beams mimicking the Trombone’s roars, the visual show was a fan favorite. USD senior Tanner Blackington shared his thoughts on the spectacle.
“I thought it was incredible,” Blackington exclaimed. “I thought the lights were crazy. That was not something I was expecting.”
The USD Wind Ensemble is composed of 25 Toreros out of the 37 band members.
Blackington explained what drew him to “Bienvenidos.”
“I thought the composers were incredible,” Blackington emphasized. “It is cool to know that it is mostly students out there. I know they had a few fill-ins in the band, but I mean, I was really amazed. You look out in the band and you see so many faces of people you’ve seen around — that’s not something that you can typically get from one of these things.”
of the night was the Virginia gubernatorial race won by former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. She became the first female governor of Virginia, simultaneously taking the incumbent Republican out of office. A former Central Intelligence Agency officer, Spanberger promotes education reform,
Music, Page 4 USD’s Wind Ensemble and Concert Choir perform in La Jolla
However exciting the visual spectacle was, the Torero musicians stole the show.
Flutes, clarinets, bassoons, trombones, trumpets, saxophones and more all The ‘Bienvenidos’ included light spectacles along with the music.
Lara Dominique Solante/The USD Vista
On Election Day, Toreros took to the polls.
Photo courtesy of @wtopnews/Instagram
Off-year elections see high voter turnout
Multiple states held highly publicized elections
From Elections, Page 1
strengthening the economy and healthcare affordability.
One hour after Virginia, New Jersey closed its polls for the 2025 gubernatorial election, resulting in another partisan flip — electing female Democrat Mikie Sherrill. Sherrill’s campaign focused heavily on reproductive rights, gun safety and economic stability, all of which she reiterated in her victory speech.
USD sophomore Sam Pearson, a California resident, reacted to the results of these elections.
“I don’t think I was shocked by any of the outcomes,” Pearson stated.
“I think that it’s good that people are going out and voting for or against what they believe in, especially at a time where politics are so extreme.”
One of the most publicized elections this year was in New York City. An hour after polls closed in New Jersey, New York City elected its first democraticsocialist and Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani.
At 34 years old, Mamdani
is the youngest New York City mayor in a century, and his campaign focused heavily on low-income working-class neighborhoods, looking to make public transportation free and increase rent control.
As a young politician, Mamdani worked to connect with the younger generation through intense social media coverage and networking, which is where many young people
came across his campaign.
Increased media coverage caused people from around the country to tune in to the campaigns, debates and results of the election in one U.S. city. Dr. Casey Dominguez, chair and professor in the department of political science and international relations, talked about this increased media coverage on the New York City election.
“There is a bias toward
East Coast politics in the media,” Dominguez said. “What happens in the election of one city on the opposite coast matters little in other states.”
Even though national turnout data is still being finalized for an off-year cycle, voter turnout was particularly high in key states for this election. Competitive races and responses to the recent actions of the Trump administration drew large
groups of voters to the polls.
Virginia had over 2.6 million ballots cast and New Jersey had 3.1 million. New York City alone had 2 million voters come to the polls and California counted 8.3 million votes statewide for one proposition. These turnout numbers are all sharp increases from 2021.
Dominguez, the faculty advisor for USD Votes, reacted to these rates and the results of the elections.
“A high voter turnout rate is always good because it improves the legitimacy of the elections,” Dominguez said. “For California, there was almost a fifty percent voter turnout for Prop 50… These democratic wins were a response to the actions of the Trump administration. A large number of Latino voters that voted for Trump one year ago, voted for Democrats this election period. Some could attribute that to the recent tariffs, but these communities are likely very aware of the recent mass deportations.”
The newly elected officials will take office in January.
USD’s first ‘First Lady’ passes In memory of Marjorie Hughes
CADEN HAYNOR NEWS EDITOR
On Oct. 23, Marjorie “Marge” Hughes, the wife of Author “Art” Hughes, the first president of USD, passed away at 94 years old.
As the first “First Lady” of USD, Marjorie served the University’s community for decades, known for her faith, hospitality and generosity.
Raised in a strict Catholic family as the second of ten children, Marjorie Hughes had strong connections with her community and the students that she cared for.
In USD’s formative decades, Marjorie was known for her grace and quiet leadership which helped shape the social atmosphere of the University.
President Art shared credit with Marjorie for much of
their accomplishments with the University, particularly the familial atmosphere she created.
Dr. Kristin Moran, a professor in the communication department, talked about Marge Hughes as she knew her.
“I knew [Marge] because my mom was a professor here, so when I was little, I was friends with the daughter Susan. So [we] would hang out at her house,” Moran said. “Our families traveled together to Madrid and different places and my parents and Marge Hughes were friends. I knew her — both as a child, as my friend’s mom and I knew her, as a student, as the face of the University… She was like a stern mother, like a good, stern mom and she definitely brought this University into its first area of professionalism.”
Moran shared how Hughes was as a presence on campus.
“She was very present on campus as was her husband,” Moran stated. “It was a time period where presidents of universities didn’t have as many external obligations, so the president was around a lot and would have lunch on campus. President Harris does that, but it’s a little more programmed.”
In a 1995 USD Magazine interview, Marge recalled
a cherished trip with President Art through Spain. There, they visited Alcalá de Henares, which was the Spanish university that USD’s architecture was modeled after.
In a letter to the University following Marjorie Hughes’ death, President Harris talked about Marjorie as he knew her.
“While we never had the opportunity to meet Art Hughes, Mary and I did have the privilege to know Marge,” Harris wrote. “She was always gracious and kind to us and continued to embody the
values of the university throughout her life. USD would not be the institution it is today without the loving care and leadership of Art and Marge Hughes and we are so grateful for their lives. May their souls and the souls of all the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”
For those that knew her personally and to those that did not, Marjorie’s legacy will continue to live in the hearts of every member of the USD community.
Mail-in, absentee and in-person voting were available this election on state ballots. Photo courtesy of @zohrankmamdani/Instagram
Author Hughes served as USD’s president from 1971–1995. Photo courtesy of ‘USD: The First Forty Years’ by Dr. Iris Engstrand
President Author Hughes and Marjorie Hughes were very involved on campus. Photo courtesy of ‘USD: The First Forty Years’ by Dr. Iris Engstrand
EMMA PHILLIPS ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Last week, the University launched a new mobile app called “USD Toreros.”
Executive Director of Athletics Kimya Massey brainstormed ways to elevate fans’ game day experiences with the app. Athletics collaborated with the Information Technology Services Department to create the platform. The app consists of various features intended to streamline the process of learning about the teams and watching their games. In a statement to The USD Vista, USD Athletics explained what their focuses are.
“Students, faculty, and staff can access and scan tickets directly from their phones, check live scores and statistics, follow their favorite teams or athletes, and receive real-time alerts about upcoming games, giveaways, and campus promotions,” USD Athletics stated. “It also connects directly to video streams, team social media, and official merchandise as well. For students, it’s a great
The USD Vista NEWS
University launches new athletics app ‘USD
Toreros’
provides information for spectators
new way to elevate our school spirit and stay connected with campus life. For faculty, staff, and alumni, it’s a convenient way to feel part of the Torero community wherever they are.”
The app consolidates these different aspects to one platform. However, some students feel that this is not needed. USD firstyear Keira Salinas shared her opinion on the new app.
“We already get texts that say ‘go to the Jenny Craig Pavilion’ for an event that is going on,” Salinas said. “I would much rather follow an account on Instagram that says ‘Hey, here is some information about it’ because I don’t want the app to take up storage.”
Although the app does not relay additional information, that is not already available to the community, USD Athletics explained that one of their goals is to make the information easier to access.
“As digital engagement became increasingly important, we recognized a clear need for a centralized hub that keeps the entire USD campus and fans connected
in real time,” USD Athletics stated. “The app is part of a broader effort to modernize our communication and fan experience, ensuring that USD Athletics remains accessible, engaging, and forward thinking.”
USD first-year Lauren
Mohan spoke on her stance on how the app may affect USD’s sports culture.
“It could help with sports culture because it makes it seem more of a big deal,” Mohan said. “It’s organized and we have a whole app for it, so it is pushing for a leg in
school spirit. At the end of the day, I don’t think that it’s going to make a big impact unless [it is being used by] the families that travel to campus to watch the sporting events so it’s more for that demographic. Whereas if students want to go to a game, with their friends, they will just casually go.”
Salinas talked about how she does not attend many USD games because she lives across campus.
“I think [a reason I don’t go to sporting events] is because I live so far away from the JCP and I don’t have a reason to go all the way over there just for a game,” Salinas said.
Mohan stated that the app will likely not affect how much she goes to games.
“If I’m going to a game, it’s just because I’m going out with my friends,” Mohan stated. “So the app doesn’t affect whether I go or not. You want to go because it’s a fun event not necessarily for the event. I’m going to eat food and take pictures with my friends.”
The USD Toreros mobile app can be downloaded on the App Store.
Last week’s crossword answers:
Gina Lew - Student Media Advisor
Dr. Byron Howlett - Operations Advisor
The app is available to everyone via the App Store.
Hailey Howell/The USD Vista
ARTS & CULTURE
USD musicians perform in La Jolla ‘Bienvenidos’
From Music, Page 1
came together to cultivate magical tunes that audience members thoroughly enjoyed.
The rainstick advanced the ensemble’s progression, and director Pierre Tang even included audience involvement — urging them into clapping along with the beat.
The second half of the concert also contained multitudes of talent — the USD Concert Choir, containing 32 Toreros, began with Peter Anglea’s “Jubilate Deo” in Latin. The night ended with the USD Wind Ensemble and the Concert Choir coming together to perform a beautiful rendition of Marques L.A. Garrett’s “Earth Song.”
USD senior and soprano Tatum Mosley described the preparations that took place before “Bienvenidos.”
“We spent every Tuesday, Thursday for about an hour and twenty practicing this,” Mosley recalled. “We had the Arts and Culture Festival a couple weeks
celebrates Latin American composers
ago and that was a good prep session. And from there we just kind of fine tuned everything to make it perfect. I had so much fun. I thought it was really great.”
USD hosted their annual Arts and Culture Festival on Oct. 25, which welcomed a variety of singers, dancers, actors, poets and ensembles from campus. Concert Choir and the Wind Ensemble were just a few of many artists that performed in preparation for their various events. The Arts and Culture Festival was free to attend, as was “Bienvenidos.”
Music Department Chair Jeffrey Malecki shared the department’s goal.
“The music department is really proud of our mission to bring these concerts to our musical community free of charge,” Malecki boasted.
The USD Wind Ensemble and USD Concert Choir will host their next performance on Friday, Dec. 5 in Founders Chapel.
GAMES
Crossword of the week:
ANJALI DALAL-WHELAN
This is most often used as a substitute for butter.
A medium of exchange
Middle grade book series based on Greek mythology
A tax that a government can impose on an import 7. A French dish made with tomatoes, eggplants and zucchini; also the name of a famous Disney film
The country that hosts the “Christ the Redeemer” statue Across
Brian Lustig pictured conducting USD’s Concert Choir at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. Lara Dominique Solante/The USD Vista
Are boyfriends embarrassing?
RILEY RAINS ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Once upon a time, posting your boyfriend on Instagram was the biggest flex. These days it might just earn an eye roll. Young women negotiate how much of their romantic lives they’re willing to share, and what that decision will say about them.
Vogue opinion writer and social media influencer Chanté Joseph released an article — “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing?” — that put the battle to the test. The piece argued that society views boastful relationships as shameful, and independence as empowering.
USD students weighed in on what it means to date without losing themselves — or their followers.
In order to help gauge a census of opinions, Joseph surveyed the top comments of Halley Kate and Jaz Smith’s “Delusional Diaries” podcast, surrounding the matter.
Viewers wrote: “Why does having a boyfriend feel Republican,”
“Having a boyfriend typically takes hits on woman’s aura” and even “Boyfriends are out of style. They won’t come back in until they start acting right.”
After reading their responses, Joseph came to the conclusion that society deems it shameful for heterosexual
Vogue article sparks controversy on campus
women to have partners.
“Being partnered doesn’t affirm your womanhood anymore; it is no longer considered an achievement, and, if anything, it’s become more of a flex to pronounce yourself single,” Joseph wrote. “To me, [the embarrassment] feels like the result of women wanting to straddle two worlds: one where they can receive the social benefits of having a partner, but also not appear so boyfriend-obsessed that they come across as quite culturally loser-ish.”
This struggle has presented itself in a dramatic shift with the way women treat their boyfriends on social media. Instead of bold “hard launch” posts, some straight women are opting for more subtle pictures: the boyfriend’s hand on a steering wheel, instead of a confident smiling selfie. Another couple might post love-letter captions too long to fit onto a full screen, showcasing pictures that make their Instagram look like a relationship fanpage as opposed to an individual’s account. As Toreros scroll on their Instagram, this contrast has quickly sparked conversations on campus.
USD sophomore Emily Choi, who is in a committed four-year-long relationship, is cautious of private couples.
“I think it is very interesting that people want to hide their boyfriend on social media,”
Choi said. “Some people don’t want others to think that [their significant other] is all they are and all they say they are. But others try to hide their boyfriends because they are trying to get around. I think it is a bit suspicious if you don’t want to tell people you have a boyfriend. Are you cheating? Are you ashamed of them? I feel like you should be proud. I know I am.”
Posting on social media is only one facet of relationships; however, in the modern day, it has quickly become the most outward appearance of one’s significant other. While Choi is weary, she also recognizes that relationships are about balance.
“Having that balance in life is the biggest adjustment,” Choi countered. “I know it can be very hard to balance having friends, a life and a significant other, so I don’t judge.”
Another argument Joseph makes in her article is that some women in the past have built their life around men. Joseph calls this phenomena “living in Boyfriend Land” — a concept that USD junior Stella Destino finds disturbing.
“Yeah, I think most of the time [having a boyfriend] is embarrassing,” Destino argued. “If you’re accommodating your life for someone else then yeah, that is just embarrassing. I know so many girls that, unfortunately, have changed their lifestyle to accommodate their boyfriends or future husbands, and frankly it’s sad.”
Whether it’s moving across the country or emptying a drawer for boyfriends, Toreros question whether sacrificial acts stem from embarrassing surrender, or genuine love. While Destino is a champion of independence, USD sophomore Gavin Kerr pointed out that wanting a relationship is a very human desire.
“I don’t think having a boyfriend is embarrassing,” Kerr explained.
“We are social creatures, and we all want to have community. It isn’t realistic to have complete solidarity.
The status of a relationship is meant to be beneficial, that
is why people get in them.”
Kerr, like Choi, is in a committed relationship. USD sophomore George Johnson, explained his position on “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing” as a single man.
“As a bachelor, I think I’m goofy and silly, not embarrassing,” Johnson joked. “These people are crazy.”
While the opinions on Joseph’s article are all across the board, it is undeniable that women’s expectations from society are constantly evolving.
In the age of independent “Girl Bosses,” Joseph explains that straight women have to constantly evaluate heteronormativity in relation to a pressing conflict: proud love versus social validation.
“As straight women, we’re confronting something that every other sexuality has had to contend with: a politicization of our identity,” Joseph stated.
“Heterosexuality has long been purposefully indefinable, so it is harder for those within it, and outside of it, to critique. However, as our traditional roles begin to crumble, maybe we’re being forced to reevaluate our blind allegiance to heterosexuality.” Joseph’s Vogue opinion piece — “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing?” — draws attention to the many expectations that society places on women and criticizes them for living in “Boyfriend Land.” Toreros debate Joseph’s claims, reflecting on the complexities of balancing relationships in college as heterosexual women. Whether students romanticize the single life, or proudly boast about their boyfriends, articles like Joseph’s highlight the constant struggle that some women, especially college students, feel regarding their roles in society.
Some people opt to post soft-launches, like the image pictured above, instead of bold selfie posts.
Photo courtesy of @loreley/Pinterest
The USD Vista posted this poll on Instagram. Photo courtesy of @theusdvista/Instagram
Chanté Joseph posted this collage of feedback on her Instagram account Photo courtesy of
What are you NOT grateful for?
With Thanksgiving Break approaching, many are reflecting upon what they are thankful for. On the flip side, from looming finals to their least favorite side dish, here are some things Toreros are not too fond of.
"One thing I’m not grateful for is the time change. I still don’t understand why we still do it and it just makes me so so tired so so early in the day."
-Kate Lising,USD senior
Spread by: Alissa Abramovich/Content by Amelie Sedlack
"Definitely all the finals. I’m already stressed, and I’m not excited for all the studying I’ll have to do. I’m also not grateful about coleslaw and sweet potato casseroles. The texture and taste of both are awful."
-Camila sophomoreTorres,USD
"Finals. Standardized testing."
-Layla Mickelson, USD first-year
"Not excited to prepare for my presentation during break and we have finals after also. I'm not excited that it’s not the full week. Like why don’t we get Monday and Tuesday off, too?"
-Carly Senteno,USD senior
"Calculus. The class is hard and it’s a drag. I’m not looking forward to it."
-Natefirst-yearColberg,USD
Photo Courtesy of @Soundtrap/Unsplash
Photo Courtesy of @aaronburden/Unsplash
ARTS & FEATURE
USD explores Indigenous culture
Toreros learn about Native American Heritage
AMELIE SEDLACK FEATURE EDITOR
Many students are familiar with the land acknowledgement at the start of most USD events and classes. This pays respect to the Kumeyaay land that USD was founded on and acknowledges that the land was stolen from the Kumeyaay people. The month of November marks Native American Heritage Month. The Center for Cultural Development partnered with the San Diego American Indian Health Center to put on an event titled “Sweet Talk” to spread awareness about the history of the U.S. and this land.
The event, located in front of the SLP, attracted students walking through Mother Teresa Plaza on their way to the Student Life Pavilion (SLP). Tamales and donuts were served as students came by and pamphlets were available for students to pick up and learn more. Gourds and paint were provided for students to grab and paint with friends. Toreros could also grab beads for bracelet making along with sage bundles to take back to their dorms.
USD junior Raphael Gardner attended the event.
“I kinda wanted to see what they had to offer,” Gardner said. “They had food, everyone there was really nice and it was right next to SLP, so I thought, ‘why not?’”
Gardner explained what he learned by attending this event that he wished was spoken about more.
“To be fully honest, I didn’t even know that there was a Native American month,” Gardner admitted. “So I think that was definitely something I should have known but
just didn’t. That’s definitely something I learned that was pretty important. I do know, if I’m correct, USD is built on some Native American land. I remember that was something they talked about thoroughly during OLÉ! Weekend. I would say it’s something they should talk about more because it’s part of our history and it’s part of California’s history, too, like very, very extensively. I do think it’s something that we should be talking about more.”
Other students shared in Gardner’s sentiment. USD sophomore Leah Nash shared her thoughts on the importance of USD devoting a month to
spreading awareness about Native American heritage.
“I think it is [important to have a Native American Heritage Month],” Nash said. “The fact that I don’t know that much shows that students probably aren’t as educated as we should be on it and I think it can only be helpful.”
USD junior Salvador de la Rosa explained why he thinks it’s important to have this month and events for Native American Heritage Month.
“I think it’s important to acknowledge that different kinds of people share cultures as well,” Rosa explained.
“Where people can express
their cultures without being criticized, where they can express it freely and share what it’s about. Especially for those people who are interested in learning about new things.”
USD first-year Kitty Ayotte also added why she thinks this month is important to spreading awareness.
“The Native Americans were here before us and they have culture and history that’s important to understand and know and learn about,” Ayotte shared.
While the event provided flyers and pamphlets for students to take and learn more, some students feel that they have only learned a minimal amount about Native American history and culture since coming to USD.
Nash has only learned about Native American history through the land acknowledgments that are read at the start of her classes.
“I know most professors will say the land acknowledgement that USD was built on land that was previously Native American Land,” Nash said.
Ayotte shared what she learned during her orientation.
“All of our orientation, we talked about land acknowledgements and the land we’re on,” Ayotte said. “In my Christianity class, we talked about Saints and Tekakwitha and how the name is split.”
USD first-year Jake Long shared what he has learned about Native American history in his own classes here at USD.
“I’ve learned about how this
land was on Native American land and because of the land acknowledges we do and parts of other classes that I’ve taken,” Long explained. “In art history we have a small little section on it.” Rosa remembered an event he attended that spoke about the genocide of Native American people in the U.S.
“I’ve learned that there’s a lot of genocides that happened in the past,” Rosa shared. “A lot of history about Native Americans in the U.S., as well as, what happened to the indigenous people in other countries like Guatemala. I attended one of the lectures with Professor Julia Medina and a professor from UCSD [which] talked about the genocides that happened in America as well.” Gardner described what the attendance of the event was like.
“Honestly, I feel like it was pretty good,” Gardner explained. “We saw people coming and going like crazy... Overall, it was a really good event. I really liked the people there. It was a really good vibe.”
Rosa shared that he wished there were more events to spread more awareness on this topic.
“Maybe have one event per week for the whole month,” Rosa suggested.
The event provided a start to the month, celebrating Native American heritage. For those that were able to attend, they learned more about Native American Heritage Month and the land their school stands on.
Members of the Center for Cultural Development pose behind their table during the ‘Sweet Talk’ event.
Amelie Sedlack/The USD Vista
OPINION
How the Dodgers bought baseball
The Dodgers’ $395 million payroll exposes MLB’s broken system
DAVID COOK OPINION EDITOR
Growing up in Northern California, I was raised to love the Giants and hate the Dodgers. I’ve been to more Giants versus Dodgers games than I can count, and every single time, I’ve screamed “Beat L.A.” until I lost my voice. The rivalry runs deep, passed down through generations, from the Polo Grounds, to Candlestick to Oracle Park. But lately, it’s started to feel less like a rivalry and more like a rigged game. Because when the Dodgers can spend whatever they want, what chance does anyone else have?
The Dodgers’ payroll this season is an absurd $395 million for their 40-man roster. That’s over $70 million higher than the next closest team, nearly $180 million above the league average and a staggering $330 million more than the Miami Marlins — the team with the lowest payroll. How can a team that pays its players $65 million total compete with a team paying nearly $400 million? They can’t.
It is essential to understand just how the Dodgers can get away with these massive pay gaps across franchises. Unlike other professional sports leagues, the MLB does not have a hard salary cap — a predetermined ceiling on the amount that teams can pay players. Instead, there is a luxury tax threshold, officially known as the Competitive Balance Tax. Teams that exceed it must pay a hefty penalty, ranging from 20% to 50%, depending on how many consecutive years they’ve been over the line. In the 2025 season, the luxury tax was $241 million, a figure that the Dodgers didn’t just surpass, but obliterated.
This season, the Dodgers are roughly $155 million over the tax line. As a result, they’re projected to pay about $167 million in luxury tax penalties, which is the largest singleyear tax bill in baseball history. Add that to their payroll, and the Dodgers will spend well over half a billion dollars on their players this year.
So, how can the Dodgers afford to do this year after year? Because they can. Owned by the Guggenheim Baseball Management group, led by billionaire Mark Walter, with investors like Todd Boehly and Magic Johnson, the Dodgers generate massive revenue through an $8.35 billion, 25year TV deal with Spectrum SportsNet LA. The deal brings in roughly $334 million annually.
They also have league-leading attendance and merchandise sales. For most teams, a $167 million luxury-tax bill would be crippling; for the Dodgers, it’s simply the cost of doing business. Their financial power lets them keep paying for elite talent year after year without blinking.
This strategic maneuvering is evident in individual player’s contracts. Let’s start with the elephant in the room: Shohei Ohtani. He signed a 10-year, $700 million deal to leave the Los Angeles Angels. That’s the biggest contract in sports history, yet somehow, it barely affects the Dodgers’ current payroll because of a deferred payment plan that spreads his salary out from 2034 to 2043.
From 2024-2033, the Dodgers will pay Ohtani $2 million per year, and from 2034-2043, Ohtani will be paid $68 million per year, while likely not even playing for the Dodgers. This means the Dodgers do not incur luxury tax penalties, since only $2 million of Ohtani’s massive contract counts toward their salary each year. That kind of financial engineering is brilliant, sure, but it’s also ridiculous for a league with no real salary cap.
It is true that when 2034 rolls around, the Dodgers may be in some financial trouble since they will have to pay Ohtani $68 million annually, regardless of whether he is retired or on another team by then. It also becomes even more absurd when you consider the rate at which professional athletes’ contracts have been increasing over the years, so when 2040 rolls around, the Dodgers might not be taking as big of a hit as they would if they paid him now. It’s genius.
And that’s just one player. The Dodgers’ lineup looks like a fantasy baseball team that has come to life. They have players like Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. These are superstars who could easily each be the face of a franchise, all wearing Dodger blue. Their pitching staff might be the best in the league, with Ohtani on the mound alongside Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner, proven ace Tyler Glasnow and Yamamoto, who just won World Series MVP and proved every penny of his $325 million contract was worth it. Even their bullpen is stacked, featuring rookie Roki Sasaki, another Japanese phenomenon who dominated hitters this postseason. On paper, it’s tough to argue that any roster can compete with Los Angeles.
What makes it worse, is how this spending spree warps the entire league. Teams like the Tampa Bay Rays and the Oakland Athletics have to scrape by with smart scouting and bargain contracts, while the Dodgers throw money at the problem until it goes away.
Remember when Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow led the Rays to the 2020 World Series? They were dominant — until they lost to the Dodgers. Now, just a few years later, both Snell and Glasnow are on the Dodgers, winning the same trophy they couldn’t get with their small-market franchise. And can you really blame them? Why would two players stay on an inferior team and take less money? It doesn’t make any sense for these stars to stay on their small-market teams when it’s clear that they will get paid more and have a better
chance to win on the Dodgers. That’s not poetic justice, it’s just proof that the system is broken.
To their credit, the Dodgers have created a bridge between Japan and Major League Baseball. Having Ohtani, Yamamoto and Sasaki on one roster is inspiring millions of fans overseas. It’s genuinely cool to see how global the game has become. And honestly, it’s hard not to like some of the players themselves. Ohtani might be the most universally respected athlete in sports right now. He’s humble, soft-spoken and freakishly talented. Even Dodger Mookie Betts is charismatic and easy to root for. If only he weren’t wearing Dodger blue. The problem isn’t the players — it’s the system that lets all the best ones end up on the same team.
Then there’s Freddie Freeman, who’s one of the hardest players to root against, even for a Giants fan. It’s almost tragic that an Atlanta Braves legend like him — someone who helped deliver Atlanta its first title in decades — will probably be remembered more as a Dodger legend instead. He left the Braves because they couldn’t agree on a contract. Baseball fans remember how there were reports that his agent was not telling him everything, and Freeman even fired his agent after the behind-the-scenes details around his surprise departure from Atlanta were released. But the Dodgers were there to swoop in and sign him before the air was clear, handing him a 6-year, $162 million contract. Since then, he’s hit walk-off home runs in two different World Series years and become one of the most essential pieces of their lineup. You can’t hate his game,
but you can hate how easy it was for the Dodgers to buy it.
One of the craziest parts of it all, though, is that the Dodgers didn’t even play their best baseball this October. The Blue Jays had real chances to win the World Series and blew them. The Dodgers themselves have admitted it — they weren’t firing on all cylinders. Instrumental players like Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández struggled. Hernández even said on Betts’ podcast, “On Base,” “We won a World Series and we didn’t play good at all throughout the playoffs.” They brought their B-game to October, but still lost only one game total in their first three series and cruised to the title series. They completely dominated the National League while not playing well. They swept the best team in baseball, record-wise —the Milwaukee Brewers — in the NLCS. That’s how deep and unfairly stacked this roster is.
I’ll admit it: the Dodgers are an incredible baseball team. They’re stacked, disciplined and well-run. But it’s hard to respect a dynasty built on a blank check. Baseball used to be about balance — developing players in the Minor Leagues, smart trades and a little October magic. Now, it’s about who can afford to spend half a billion dollars.
I’ll still be in the stands next time the Giants face L.A., wearing orange and black, booing every time Freeman steps up to the plate or Betts robs a double in right field. Because even if the Dodgers keep buying championships, they won’t buy all fans’ respect. And until baseball fixes its broken system, I’ll keep chanting the same words I’ve shouted my entire life: “BEAT L.A.”
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.
Shohei Ohtani hoists the World Series trophy after the Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in extra innings of Game Seven.
Photo courtesy of @Dodgers/Instagram
America enters second Gilded Age
Rising inequality and political apathy are our warning signs
OWEN FUGIT
ASST. OPINION EDITOR
For the past few decades in American politics, the topic of wealth inequality and affordability has remained fairly popular among politicians — from presidents to town council members. It is easy to see why these issues are such a huge concern. More than 35 million Americans live in poverty. That’s nearly 11% of the entire population living on less than $15,000 a year.
Though wealth inequality and affordability are not the only causes of this staggering statistic, experts recognize the outsized impact that a degradation in those conditions can have on struggling individuals.
Students here at USD must pay close attention to these issues in the coming months.
As the discussion grows around wealth inequality, Toreros should facilitate true civil discourse with each other to find common ground on addressing this issue that affects everyone, not just the rich or the poor, before it’s too late.
Looking back on our own history of wealth inequality here in the U.S., we can see certain historic indicators becoming ever more apparent. If we want to avoid a crisis, we should heed these warnings.
Take the Gilded Age as an example. This period, stretching from the end of the 19th century up through the First World War, saw the wealthiest 10% of American households
control 75% of the nation’s wealth. At the same time, the average American earned about $400 a year. Adjusting for inflation, we see that during the Gilded Age, the average American worker was living on less than $15,000 a year. That is only a couple of hundred dollars above the current U.S. poverty line.
With such a vast separation between the rich and the poor, the Gilded Age stands out as one of the clearest examples in American history of class wealth division. The gap between rich and poor widened over time until the Great Depression, followed closely by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s social safety net policies and the subsequent Second World War. After the war, America saw the creation of a middle class for the first time, which demanded white-collar jobs and skilled labor across the nation.
Changes in tax policy, a gradual disintegration of America’s industrial sector and a focus on technology contributed to the end of middle-class growth in the 1970s and 80s. Reagan’s tax cuts put the U.S. on a new economic path heading into the 21st century. Following the bailout of the banks in the wake of 2008’s financial crisis, a new period in American history began that some have dubbed the “Second Gilded Age.”
Trump has professed his love of the first Gilded Age, touting it as one of our nation’s finest moments. This should be of great concern to every American, rich or poor. As we already know, it took world wars, the Great Depression and nearly
a century of policy changes to fix the effects of the first. There is no guarantee that the Second Gilded Age will be kinder to Americans than the first.
In recent months, the discussion around wealth inequality, class distinctions and the cost of living has been spotlighted in American civil discourse. In the 2024 presidential election, both candidates ran on a platform of making life more affordable for average Americans. Donald Trump won that fight.
Since taking office a second time, his returns on economic policy have been suboptimal, with most economists agreeing that Trump’s tariffs and tax breaks will only make life more expensive for average Americans.
However, far more concerning than his tariffs is Trump’s disdain for the troubles that are facing average Americans, echoing the disdain felt by the wealthy during the first Gilded Age. Many know the story of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s seminal work, “The Great Gatsby,” which provides us with unique insight into the lives of the wealthy in the twilight of the Gilded Age. Fitzgerald’s tale is a cautionary one, and with Trump’s recent decision to not only host a 1920s Gatsby-esque party at his Mar-a-Lago resort, but to do so the night before millions of Americans were set to fall into an unprecedented time of food insecurity was an exercise in hubris.
Flaunting wealth as a leader of a nation so close to crisis in this way not only parallels the Gilded Age, but also mirrors
the years leading up to the French Revolution in 1789. The French Revolution stemmed from centuries of the crown ignoring the needs of the people, spending lavishly and failing to hear the alarm bells as they rang.
The French crown’s failure to learn from the causes of the American War for Independence was the final nail in its coffin.
A war waged over the British crown’s inability to listen to its subjects taught the French king nothing, and he paid the ultimate price in return. Trump risks traveling down a similar road, and must recognize the changes that must be made if he wants any hope of avoiding further conflict.
The wealth inequality of the Gilded Age was subdued by an economic disaster and two world wars. To dodge another half-century of growing wealth inequality, with stagnating progress and harm to America’s position as a global power, we must implore those in power to listen to the alarm bells going off today.
Recent off-year elections in New York City, Virginia and New Jersey have shown that the issues of wealth inequality and affordability have taken center stage with voters.
Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who won the New York City mayoral race, built a campaign on promising to solve wealth inequality that deeply resonated with voters nationwide. The election of a democratic socialist shows that people are frustrated. As history has shown us, the population
can only bear grievances up until a certain point.
Socialism skeptics must offer an alternate solution to the cost of living crisis, as denying the feelings of the public has been proven time and again to be the strategy of a failing government.
Entering into another Gilded Age benefits no one in the long run. Forcing workers to slave away for low wages decimates national progress, while wealth accumulated by the top 1% seldom lasts more than three generations.
With no winners and only losers, it is imperative that we listen to the lessons of the past and avoid replaying the same old stories of progress, stagnation and eventually conflict.
The wealthy cannot stay wealthy without consequences. No matter how many unions they bust, workers they underpay or government positions they attempt to influence, history proves that hoarding wealth cannot last. The money the rich accumulate will eventually return back into the public coffers. History offers two choices for the absurdly wealthy to do so: voluntarily giving up large portions of their fortunes in a controlled manner established within the preexisting system, or spending exorbitant amounts to suppress dissent until the pot boils over.
With a full year until midterm elections, America has few chances left to avoid slipping into a Second Gilded Age. If both parties want a fighting chance in next year’s midterms, they must run candidates who can hear the alarms and act accordingly, instead of flaunting wealth while millions face hunger. We need candidates who are not scared to fight wealth inequality, or else we run the risk of descending into another period of isolation and stagnation, which history tells us can only be fixed through disaster.
Students here at USD should take a keen interest in who and what each party supports in the coming year, and must facilitate open, positive discourse whenever possible. The results of next year’s midterms and the policies our elected officials support and stop will be crucial in setting our course for decades to come.
As college students looking to graduate and join the workforce, it is imperative that we all work together to find a solution to this problem that threatens to bring years of domestic and international progress to a standstill.
President Trump sits in his Mar-a-Lago ballroom, highlighting the wealth gap between America’s richest and poorest.
Photo courtesy
Set sail with USD’s club sailing team Club team pushes to join competitive sports
PRIYA COOPER SPORTS EDITOR
The USD club sailing team is setting sail for another exciting season, and they hope to be able to race competitively in the upcoming months.
USD sophomore Sofia Kartel explained the club’s position.
“Just this last year, we’ve become preliminary members in the PCSC, the Pacific Collegiate Sailing Conference,” Kartel said. “And then next year, we’ll become full fledged members. So now that we’re a part of that group, we will have the opportunity to race in collegiate regattas.”
The club hopes to establish themselves as a team that could officially compete under USD and practices at Southwestern Yacht Club in San Diego Bay.
USD sophomore Giulia Coloso is the finance manager for the club team and also functions as a studentvolunteer coach. Coloso explained how the boats are set up from practices.
“We practice every Sunday and organize carpools from the school,” Coloso said. “We meet at the yacht club at 11 a.m. on Sundays and then we start rigging and putting up the boats. And that takes a while. So maybe around 12 p.m., we put the boats in the water because they’re on the dock. We push them all in the water, and then we start sailing.”
Coloso continued by sharing the team’s routine.
“We usually just do practices, between ourselves, not regattas,” Coloso said. “We sail for a couple hours, and depending on what we want to do that day, sometimes we even go out into the open ocean, and go out of the bay. Sometimes we stay in the bay. We do a lot of mock races against each other.”
The practices fluctuate and change based on member participation, as the sport is heavily dependent on how many members can participate each Sunday.
“It also depends on how many people we have on a specific day, because the boats are two person boats, so there’s one person skippering and the other controls the sail,” Coloso said.
Kartel is the risk manager for the club and also spoke on how the club operates each week. The risk manager works to make sure everyone stays safe during sailing, ensures anyone who is injured gets proper treatment and takes care of any medical clearances for the club.
“Usually we’re using
probably around four to five boats every practice, and there’s two people in a boat, but then we haul a bunch of other people in the coach boat,” Kartel said. “So if we have five boats, that’s 10 people on a boat, but then say maybe we have another four or five people on the coach boat, and we just switch out. We rotate sailors on the water, so that way we’re not having to come back to the dock every so often, we can kind of go farther.”
Practices are busy and collaborative, with sailors rotating in and out of boats to make sure everyone gets time on the water. That same collaborative spirit extends beyond the water.
“There’s some people who have a lot of experience sailing, or started sailing when they were a little kid, and are now coming back to it,” Kartel said. “And then it’s a majority
of people who have never done it before, don’t even know how to tie a knot, and are just coming into it. And so that’s so fun to have, because it’s not like a sports club where most of the people have years of experience and you join and everyone’s better than you. We’re all starting from baseline zero or the people who aren’t starting from baseline zero are super welcoming.”
USD alum Nolan Anderson, started the club a few years ago, and ever since then, the club has been making efforts to boost our funding and just get more people interested. Kartel discussed why the club is unique in comparison to other organizations at USD and what makes it all worthwhile.
“I would say, just the nature of what we do and the equipment that we use is super unique,” Kartel said. “No other club at USD is sailing
boats. Quite frankly, no one is learning how to tie knots and to rig a sail and to rig a whole boat, and to put a boat in water and to take it out, and learning, you know, the physics that are involved in sailing… it’s actually a really almost mathematical sport.”
Kartel also explained how sailing is more versatile than other sports.
“But I think the technicality of it is something completely different from all other clubs, and the physicality is also really different,” Kartel said. “You don’t have to be going to the gym 24/7 to be a good sailor and to learn how to sail and to be effective on the team.”
Coloso also talked about her favorite part of being a member of the club and the advantages of being so close to the water.
“For me, it’s definitely worth it, because sometimes after a long week of studying and
being on campus, just being outside on the water, with the wind and the sun, it’s really nice, and it’s really relaxing,” Coloso said. “Every time I go, I’m so glad that I went after.”
Kartel shared similar experiences. For many sailors, those afternoons on the water are a highlight of the week.
“My favorite practices are when we do our ocean sail days, which is when we go past Point Loma, past the lighthouse, and we just sail around in the open water,” Kartel said. “It’s a lot of fun. The waves get really big out there. You get more speed, and it’s something different.”
Between the demands of school and daily routines, time on the water gives students a rare chance to slow down and recharge.
“It’s not like I can get to the ocean every day,” Kartel said. “But I love being a part of the sailing club, because I know that at least for one entire afternoon every week, I’m going to be out in the water. I’m going to be in the sun. I’m going to be having a good time.”
The team was scheduled to compete for the first time ever on Oct. 11 in the Pacific Collegiate Sailing Conference freshmansophomore regatta hosted by UCSD. However, due to technical circumstances, the club sailing debut was halted.
“We were not able to participate as we did not have enough cleared members in the club to be able to sign up,” Coloso said.
“And because we would have needed more skippers than we had available that weekend, as it was on parents’ weekend. Of course we were very sad as we had been looking forward to getting our foot in the door and starting competing in regattas, but we are going to try our hardest this year to be ready for another one and get everything done to be able to participate.” Kartel also commented on the team’s inability to compete.
“We had to adjust our plans because we didn’t have enough experienced sailors available to race both Saturday and Sunday as it was parents weekend,” Kartel said. “Not being able to compete was a big bummer but, in the end there wasn’t much we could do to get around it.”
While their first regatta appearance didn’t go as planned, the team’s progress signals better times ahead. For USD’s club sailors, it’s not just about competition but the shared experience of wind, water and teamwork that keeps them coming back.
USD club sailing practices at Southwestern Yacht Club in San Diego Bay.
Photo courtesy of @usd_sailing/Instagram
Torero sailors pictured practicing on the ocean.
Photo courtesy of Giulia Coloso
Toreros face first loss of season USD
PRIYA COOPER SPORTS EDITOR
ACOSTA
SPORTS EDITOR
USD men’s basketball executed a late comeback but ended up falling short, dropping a 71-68 game to Idaho State on Nov. 7 at the Jenny Craig Pavilion in their second game of the season. Students at the game and in the Bullpit described the game as electric, despite the loss.
The Toreros faced a seventeen point deficit toward the end of the game and closed the gap to only a three point differential by the time the final buzzer sounded.
USD shot 7-for-11 (63.6%) from the three-point range and 50% from the field in the second half. Over the final six minutes, San Diego’s defense only allowed Idaho State one field goal the rest of the way. However, Idaho had the winning points at the free throw line in the final few minutes.
During one of Idaho’s timeouts in the second half, USD first-year Violet Kozak shared her first USD basketball game experience.
“Comeback has been pretty impressive, they are keeping up with the other team as best as they can,” Kozak explained. “Each possession felt intensive and competitive and the fan’s excitement only added to the momentum.”
After USD graduatestudent Adrian Mcintyre’s deep three beat the buzzer to end the game, USD first-year AJ Muandumba shared his analysis on the matchup between USD’s starting five compared to Idaho’s. Prior to attending USD, Muandumba played for the U18 Angola national team and now competes at USD club level.
“It’s a new team, so losses like this are honestly expected,” Muandumba said. “We haven’t been together very long, so the chemistry isn’t really there, it reminds me of my high school team growing up. Like at the beginning of the season,we never had it together just because it was always a fresh team, so you have to take a couple losses early on. But then as the season goes, you start to understand each other and you start to build that chemistry.”
Muandumba had a lot of insight on the Torero’s performance and expressed hope for the team’s potential going forward as the season progresses.
“I would argue that we had a lot of turnovers in this game,
men’s basketball shows promise despite setback
we weren’t making some free throws, and we only lost by three points,” Muandumba said. “That’s the game right there, which really shows that we can be a good team and we have the potential to be a really good team. I really enjoyed the game, and I can’t wait to see what they have in the future.”
In the JCP during the game, Bob Bartholomew was in the stands. Bartholomew was drafted for the Antonio Spurs in the 1981 NBA Draft and 17th pick overall.
An alumnus and hall of fame member for USD, Bartholomew was honored at the start of the game.
Bartholomew contributed during USD’s transition from NCAA Division II to Division I and remains one of the basketball program’s all-time leaders, ranking in the top five for both career points and rebounds. Bartholomew commented on the emotions surrounding being back at USD.
“It’s fantastic,” Bartholomew said. “Jenny Craig is so pretty. You know, when I played, it was at the Sports Center. And this is a big change from that. So it’d be nice to see a few more people fill it up, but it’s a really nice facility. And they do a good job with all the pregame
activities and everything.”
Bartholomew also discussed his thoughts on the USD’s team, which is made up of mostly new recruits this season.
“They played hard,” Bartholomew said. “I think they have some promise and hopefully will work out some kinks. Hopefully before the league really starts they get stronger.”
Bartholomew expanded on the team’s strengths and weaknesses based on what he saw in the JCP.
“They kept after it and they got it close at the end,” Bartholomew said. “If they could just maintain that over a longer period of time, I think they’ll have success.”
Though USD came up short, there was an overwhelming support from the community such as the USD Dance Team, local basketball teams who wanted to see a glimpse of the college level, and enthusiastic students who wanted to rally together for the newly assembled team. The Toreros will make another appearance at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Nov. 18. versus Grambling State as a part of the Acrisure Invitational tournament, featuring NCAA Divison I teams.
USD men’s basketball team pictured shaking hands after the first game of the season.
Photo courtesy of
Toreros pictured practicing in the Wellness Center. Photo courtesy of @usdmbb/Instagram