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Volume 64 Issue 3
Thursday, October 1, 2026
THE USD VISTA VISTA
The Official Student Newspaper of the University of San Diego since 1968
USD President James T. Harris III announces plan to step down in 2027 as
RILEY RAINS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CALLA JORDAN MANAGING EDITOR AMELIE SEDLACK COPY EDITOR On Tuesday afternoon, President James T. Harris III announced that he plans to soon step down as president of USD. The Board of Trustees is to immediately begin searching for a replacement. Harris said he’ll stay in office until a successor is found. “While my chapter as your president is coming to an end, my dedication to this extraordinary academic community remains steadfast,” Harris wrote in an email to the USD community. “My journey in education began over 45 years ago as a teacher, and, following a sabbatical, I look forward to my next chapter returning to teaching and writing
a USD faculty member.” Harris was hired as USD’s fourth president more than 11 years ago. He attended the University of Toledo as a firstgeneration college student and later earned a masters in educational administration and a doctorate in higher education administration. After working as a student teacher at a Catholic high school, Harris converted to Catholicism. USD Chair and Professor of Theology and Religious Studies Karen Teel, Ph.D. has been a member of the theology department since 2007 and saw President Harris’ transition to campus in August 2015. “I was surprised…,” Teel said about the announcement. “He always wanted to be called Jim. He was very friendly, welcoming and a nice presence on campus. I hadn’t been thinking about him retiring but when I heard James T. Harris III has worked at USD since August of 2015.
See Harris, Page 2
Photo courtesy @usdtoreros/Instagram
Campus buildings stay lit after dark A closer look at lighting’s effect on campus sustainability KENDALL EMTMAN NEWS WRITER
Some USD facilities keep lights on throughout the night; students have thoughts.
INSIDE
Photo courtesy of Shea Moggio
Waymo
Shopping
See News, Page 3
See A&C, Page 4
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During this year’s PreOrientation program, sophomore David Benini, a student guide and about 150 other students were woken up early in the morning while sleeping on the Wellness Center field. “I fell asleep, and I woke up and I thought it was daytime,” Benini said. “It was five in the morning, and the field lights had woken everyone up. It was a painful thing to wake up to — such bright lights in your face.” Students were frustrated they had been woken up and confused about why the lights had turned on in the first place. “Why are the lights on at five in the morning?” Benini asked. “I was wondering that right away. I also thought how wasteful of energy that is, because the lights aren’t being used that early.” The Wellness Center lights
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turn on at 5 a.m., and the facility itself does not open until 6:30 a.m.; however, according to a USD spokesperson, a number of buildings on campus keep their lights on when they are not open to students. “The majority of our buildings, including key administrative, academic and residential buildings, keep their interior and exterior lights on overnight,” a USD spokesperson wrote in an email to The USD Vista. The spokesperson said in their email that building lights remain on overnight to promote campus safety. However, the practice has raised questions from the community about its effectiveness. USD junior Lera Budilova wondered whether the overnight lighting policy has made an observable difference in theft on campus. “Even with all the lights on, there is still a lot of theft,”
See Lights, Page 2
Dying to live
See Spread, Page 6-7 See Opinion, Page 9
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Offseason athletes See Sports, Page 11
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President Harris steps down From Harris, Page 1
about him working for 45 years, I thought maybe it was time.” The USD campus has changed significantly since President Harris was hired. Several facilities were built during his tenure, including the Knauss Center for Business Education (2022), the Learning Commons (2020) and the ongoing Integrative STEM Facility, set for completion in November of 2027. USD senior Brooke Fitz Cluster works for Outdoor Adventures and would sometimes host the Canyon Walks that President Harris would attend with students. “He really can command a room, but in a way that connects people,” Fitz Cluster explained. “I’m so grateful for just his support over the years and I’m super excited for his next journey, but this definitely is a bittersweet experience. It’s kind of cute to know that we’ll be graduating together, in a way.” During Harris’ tenure, USD has been consistently recognized by the Princeton Review as a top university for “best quality of life” and “happiest students.” Last year USD received its largest
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donation ever from Darlene Marcos Shiley to fund the $75 million Shiley STEM Initiative. President Harris made a point to connect with students, whether it be the President for a Day program or a simple handshake in passing. At a College Core ceremony, USD senior Mia Gleason remembers chatting with President Harris about final exams. “[I’m] a little sad, you know?” Gleason said. “He’s pretty nice. I feel like he always would say ‘hi’ to students and actually care about how they’re doing. It didn’t feel superficial.” No presidency is without controversies. In 2021, President Harris received backlash from some in the USD community after uninviting 13-year-old transgender teen Maddox Lyons from speaking at a campus event less than 24 hours before the event began. In 2023, Harris’ tenure also oversaw football hazing allegations and subsequent lawsuits which resulted in a suspension of the athletes’ sports activities. In May of 2025, around 200 non-tenure USD professors walked out during a two-day unfair labor practice strike that ultimately led to a tentative union contract agreement the following September. Negotiations involved various USD faculty members including President Harris.
“I think something that’s been big on our students’ and faculties’ minds the past couple years is the whole issue with the non-tenured professors,” USD senior and Colead for USD Tour Guides Rowan Daugherty said. “Definitely the pay gap in job security that’s there.” Daugherty isn’t alone in hoping for change with a new president; USD junior Emmett Shinn reflected on the past with hopes for the next president. “I think that the values of liberal arts education have degraded over the last 10 years, especially at our school,” Shinn said. “People seem to have lost focus on what it means to have liberal education. So if we could get someone that could kind of reinstate those values of having a well rounded learning experience, that’d be really positive.” In his retirement announcement, Harris addressed shortcomings during his tenure. “It has been said that a president should be the living embodiment of the mission of the institution they serve, and yet, leadership is an imperfect human endeavor,” Harris wrote. “For those times when I may have fallen short of those high expectations, I am grateful for the grace and forgiveness you have shown me over the years.” Harris estimates he’ll formally leave office sometime in 2027.
Lighting after dark From Lights, Page 1
Campus remains lit throughout the nighttime. Photo courtesy of Shea Moggio
Budilova said. “It doesn’t seem to really do anything.” According to an email sent by public safety on Sept. 21, there has already been an electric bicycle theft this semester from the San Antonio De Padua Parking Garage. Students also questioned the need for interior lighting, especially in buildings closed to students and faculty at night. USD first-year Samantha Blackley understood the need for exterior lighting for safety and visibility, but believes the policy should change. “I think more emphasis should be placed on outdoor lights and safety rather than focusing on indoor lights,” Blackley said. USD professor of environmental and ocean sciences Kayla Gorman explained how lighting impacts the wildlife around USD. “I think on the ecological side… for exterior lighting specifically, if we have any urban ecosystems around here and the species are nocturnal, that’s light pollution, that’s going to disrupt some of their natural behaviors,” Gorman said. “But again it’s a very traditional sustainability conundrum where you have a lot of different players that are interested in one specific problem.” The university is aware that using interior and exterior lights
On Sept. 29, President Harris announced his plan to step down from presidency. Photo courtesy of @usdmbb/Instagram
overnight contributes to electrical costs and energy consumption. USD said it hopes to limit the impacts by putting more sustainable alternatives in place. “All lighting, whether overnight or during the day, impacts the university’s electrical costs,” the spokesperson wrote. “While continuous overnight lighting adds to that consumption, the university’s investments in campus-wide renewable energy offset these costs.” USD has worked to maintain its sustainability goals through the Energy Master Plan, implemented in 2022. According to the university’s sustainability director John Alejandro, this plan aims to reduce the campus’ energy use with energyefficient projects, including LED lighting and solar energy. “The Sustainability Office aims to upgrade all remaining interior and exterior lighting on campus to LEDs within the next three years. By doing so, we will reduce USD’s energy consumption and costs and lower its overall carbon footprint,” Alejandro said. There is also the question of whether the university’s choice to prioritize LED placement will effectively solve this problem. Gorman suggests that this route has some benefits, especially if keeping lights on overnight is non-negotiable. “It’s definitely a step in the right direction depending on how much energy is being used with non-LED,” Gorman said. “I’d say it’s 10 to 20-ish percent more effective energy use, depending
on the starting and ending energy points. If we’re going to keep the lights on regardless, it is better to switch to more efficient lighting sources.” Other universities in the San Diego area are also trying to balance energy efficiency with concerns about on-campus safety. According to San Diego State University’s website, the university has converted all roadway, parking lot and parking structure roof lighting to LED lights and has also installed a central system that uses sensors to brighten these areas when it detects motion and turn off when it does not. USD has similarly placed motion sensors in some areas on campus. The University of California San Diego (UCSD) has taken a comparable approach, choosing an energy-efficient policy, while addressing visibility and safety concerns. According to UCSD’s website, the university replaced all walkway and parking lot lighting with LED fixtures to provide brighter, white light for pedestrians. Additionally, UCSD is taking steps to conserve energy by limiting nighttime lighting and keeping interior lighting on in certain buildings where it is deemed necessary for security. As energy use on college campuses remains a topic of concern citywide, the university will continue to work toward its goals of sustainability and on-campus safety. However, whether USD’s efforts will involve changes to overnight lighting remains to be seen.
Volume 64 Issue 3 •
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NEWS
Kitchen fire causes SLP evacuation SOPHIE HUMMEL NEWS EDITOR MAE O’MALLEY NEWS WRITER JULIANNA FLORES FEATURE EDITOR RILEY RAINS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF “I started cleaning the restrooms and all [of] the sudden there was a lot of smoke on the third floor,” Tapia said. “Then I saw the fire.” USD Custodian Vicky Tapia was in the SLP on Sept. 22 when the fire began. At approximately 12 p.m., students leaving class walked outside to find ambulances and fire engines arriving on campus. Students were corralled across the street from the University Center (UCs) and the Student Life Pavilion (SLP).
Over the course of the next few hours, the USD Department of Public Safety sent out text messages and emails to the USD community providing updates on the situation. By 12:38 p.m., all students, faculty and staff had received an email and text that the small kitchen fire had been extinguished. USD sophomore Gabriel Roine knew this wasn’t a drill from the start. “I’ve been in the nursing school when fire alarms have gone off … emergency departments didn’t even come out,” Roine said. Torero Hub Service Assistant Receptionist Joel Cuevas works in the UCs and evacuated when the alarms went off. “There [were] like 5 or 6 fire trucks,” Cuevas stated. “The ladder was extended all the way to the fourth floor of the SLP.” It isn’t uncommon for the fire alarm to sound in
various campus spaces, especially student housing. USD senior Maddie Tobin had witnessed fire alarms on campus before and initially questioned this event’s legitimacy. “I remember freshman year when I had to walk out with my plate of food from the SLP and there was actually no fire that time,” Tobin commented. “Freshman year, also in Maher, there was a kid that held his lighter up to the alarm just to set it off for fun.” An hour and a half after the alarm began, USD Public Safety and University Operations emailed the community that the SLP had been evacuated and would resume activities momentarily. “The SLP has been cleared and reopened, and food service will resume shortly for students, faculty and staff,” the email read. The SLP has operated normally since the incident.
Fire rescue ascends into the SLP. Bettina Mogelvang/The USD Vista
Waymo’s Ojai line hits the roads A new way to go in San Diego
EMMA PIRHALA CONTRIBUTOR Getting from point A to point B is a challenge all college students tackle. From arriving to class on time, to making it home safely after a night out, students have traditionally turned to rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. Rather than sharing pleasantries before an 8 a.m. lecture, Waymo offers another option for riders. The driverless rideshare service was launched in San Diego on Sept. 1. For now, the car travels in a 50-square-mile service area that stretches from Pacific Beach to North Park. Waymo introduced its new Ojai line of vehicles to San Diego. These blue vans provide more space than previous models. Limitations remain during the initial launch. Rides accessing the freeway and heading to San Diego International Airport are currently restricted, and the rideshare service is only available by invitation. However, the company is in the process of expanding. Riding with Waymo does have some drawbacks. Riding in a Waymo is reportedly pricier than an Uber or Lyft, according to the San Diego Union Tribune, but, some users are willing to splurge. USD senior Allie Linane explained that she’d spend
more for peace of mind. “I’ve had some uncomfortable conversations and horrible drivers,” Linane shared. “I’d rather pay more for something more regulated [than a traditional rideshare service].” Linane views Waymo as a safer option than other rideshare services. She described
Waymo’s Ojai line has populated the streets of San Diego.
The USD Vista Riley Rains - Editor-in-Chief Calla Jordan - Managing Editor Amelie Sedlack - Copy Editor Sophie Hummel - News Editor Julianna Flores - Feature Editor Cristina Trice - Arts & Culture Editor Katt Harding - Sports Editor
a ride her family took in a Waymo that changed her perspective on the autonomous cars. “We were going [on a ride] in San Francisco and there were tons of people and e-bikes and scooters,” Linane said. “And a scooter pulled out in front of the Waymo, but none of us saw it. The Waymo essentially stopped the car
Kyra Lefebvre - Art Director Emma O’Connell - Photo Editor Lucas Meza Ehlert - Distribution Manager Ella Fitzpatrick - Social Media Manager Sasha Sepatjian - Director of Finance Nina Dameri - Advertising Manager Dr. Byron Howlett - Operations Advisor
Blake Nelson - Student Media Advisor
before we even saw [the scooter] … had we been with a driver, they wouldn’t have seen that and it could have been a collision.” Safety is a key concern with the arrival of Waymo as these vehicles have been in accidents before. On the same day as Waymo’s initial launch, there was an incident in San Francisco
Photo courtesy of @waymo/Instagram
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where a toddler was nearly struck. Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing motor crashes, showed that Waymo’s cars were involved in 68% fewer crashes than humandriven cars. However, safety is still at the forefront of riders’ minds, including USD first-year Ella Karr. “I feel like it’s a bit unsafe and unsettling to see them on the road whenever I’m around them,” Karr explained. “I’m just always nervous that something’s going to go wrong or malfunction and I’m going to get caught in the crossfire.” For riders who feel unsafe and want to report their concerns, Waymo offers a 24/7 in-app reporting feature with access to a human agent. The San Diego City Council is currently debating how to regulate the new mode of transportation. Waymo operates under permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and local governments currently lack a channel to regulate the cars. The council voted unanimously to request citywide control in adopting and managing autonomous vehicles, but the state has yet to respond. As of now, there are only a few dozen Waymo’s cruising around San Diego, but with time the company hopes to add more robotaxis to the roads.
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.
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Volume 64 Issue 3
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ARTS & CULTURE Let’s talk shopping
Toreros debate in-person versus online shopping ANNIE BARTOLOME ARTS & CULTURE WRITER Last week, USD junior Ivy Fortman visited the Fashion Valley mall to find something to wear for her friend’s twenty-first birthday. The celebrant asked all the attendees to don an all-black ensemble, so Fortman kept this request in mind as she searched different stores for a potential outfit. She ended up acquiring a black minidress from Princess Polly for the occasion. Fortman, similar to a number of USD students, f r e q u e n t s h o p p i n g locations close to campus to pick up new clothing acquisitions. “I have grown to dislike shopping online as I can’t get an accurate idea of the clothes, so I typically shop at Fashion Valley or go thrifting at Pacific Beach,” F o r t m a n expressed. T or e r os have a myriad of choices when it comes to purchasing new articles of clothing. There are several s h o p p i n g complexes, malls and second hand stores located less than half an hour away from campus. Underclassmen who live on campus are also given the convenient option of shopping online that can then be shipped to the USD Mail Center for pickup. With multiple options available, the decision on how and where to shop comes down to personal preferences. USD senior Hanna Hafner works in retail at Westfield University Towne Centre, a mall located around twenty minutes from campus. This allows her the convenience of being at the mall several times a week, so she is able to browse stores before and after her shifts. Hafner favors the act of physically selecting clothes over scrolling. “I don’t love shopping
online because you can’t try on the clothes first,” Hafner shared. “When I’m not at the mall, I like visiting flea markets, thrift stores or other secondhand sources. Thrifting makes me feel good. It’s essentially affordable recycling rather than supporting the vicious cycle of fast fashion.” For many students, shopping secondhand is certainly an
deaths of 100,000 marine animals each year. It is not just used clothing that causes harm. Chemicals are also used in the production of clothes, and the apparel industry accounts for 10% of emissions across the globe. Additionally, the water used to produce clothing is monumental and can be wasteful.”
Apps like Depop, Ebay, Poshmark and ThredUp allow individuals around the world to take pictures of clothing items that they no longer have use for and list them. After the items are listed and approved by the app, the item can be seen in the search results of users who are looking for specific brands or styles. Some apps like Facebook
appealing option. It is often more affordable than buying retail and is widely considered to be better for the environment. Goodwill, a prominent chain of thrift stores that boasts locations nationwide, provides statistics on its website detailing the benefits of buying secondhand. “The synthetic fibers that are used in 72% of our clothing can take hundreds of years to decompose,” the website lists. “These non-biodegradable microfibers are harming the oceans, contributing to the
Despite the popularity of inperson shopping, purchasing clothing isn’t limited to just physically visiting stores. There are several resale apps and websites that allow individuals to browse used clothing and accessories from the comfort of their own home. USD senior Kerwin Sandhu shared his favorite online secondhand option. “Depop has cool vintage [clothes] but you have to be patient,” Sandhu counseled, referring to the popular secondhand app.
and TikTok have added a ‘marketplace’ or ‘shop’ section of their app. Both Facebook and TikTok allow merchants to sell different products on their platforms. USD sophomore Aiden McCaffery revealed his latest online purchase. “I recently bought gym shirts off TikTok Shop,” McCaffery laughed. “I bought them because I thought they were funny and looked cool.” Several Toreros opt to purchase fashion off of Amazon, the world’s largest online store.
Hamza El-Keilani, a first-year student, articulated his thought process behind shopping online. “I shop mostly online due to convenience and price,” El-Keilani communicated. “Amazon and other online merchants allow me to get more clothes for the best price.” On Amazon’s website, users can access Amazon News which details the benefits of choosing to purchase with Amazon. “Last year alone, U.S. customers avoided more than 4 billion trips to the store and over $11 billion in fuel costs—with Prime members each saving on average over $650 on delivery fees and fuel, 64 shopping trips, and 55 hours of time,” Amazon News boasts. However, when purchasing online items, students do not just look for convenience. Senior Jessica Hui went into detail about the criteria she has when choosing pieces via the web. “When I shop online, I like to purchase from smaller brands that can’t be found in the [United] States,” Hui commented. “I find that the craftsmanship, design and silhouette stand out compared to items that are more widely available.” International fashion is certainly appealing if an interested party wants to purchase a specific item and is looking for quality that surpasses generic standards in the United States. The international fashion world has many hubs that specialize in different markets. For example, Italy is known for its high-quality leather, Japan is renowned for its denim and the United Kingdom is recognized for its starting of the punk-rock movement and clothing. Whether students prefer inperson or online, shopping retail or selecting from secondhand stores, San Diego and the web provide many sources from which students can find pieces to add to their wardrobes.
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ARTS & CULTURE
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‘The dichotomy of it all’
Art by Kyra Lefebvre
Toreros discuss high and low art in pop culture CRISTINA TRICE ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR “Love Island” and Jane Austen. “Parasite” and TikTok. “The Bachelorette” and “The Odyssey.” Colloquially, these art forms exist on virtually opposite sides of a scale that revolve around the idea of “high” and “low” art. One is held in high regard, demonstrated as intellectually stimulating, thought provoking and timeless. The other is often treated as temporary and lucrative entertainment. The origins of high and low art can be traced back to the 18th century Enlightenment period when philosophers became interested in the distinction between art that was made for expression (fine art), and art that was widely available and pragmatic in nature (craft art). As culture has shifted and grown over the last three centuries, the definitions of high and low art have evolved with it. USD English professor Halina Duraj, Ph.D. shared her thoughts on the distinction between the two art forms. “I think of high art as something that has cost the artist a great deal to make, in terms of time, work and attention,” Duraj explained. “[High art] is something that an artist made, in large part for the sake of making it. I think
of what someone might call low art as something whose purpose in entering the world was primarily, at about either entertainment or to make a profit, and sometimes the twinning of the two.” One of the most popular contemporary examples of what many people consider to be low art is reality television. A 2024 Public Broadcast Service (PBS) study found that around 80% of American adults consume reality TV. Many critics of reality TV argue that it is mindless to consume — it lacks authenticity. Proponents of the genre argue that it not only allows for mental escapism, but also provides a unique window through which people can observe human behavior. USD senior Tatum Gries expressed her thoughts on the paradox of pop culture’s categorization of high and low art. “I read a lot, I listen to music all the time, I’ve logged over 400 films in my Letterbox; I appreciate art,” Gries shared. “But I’ve also seen four complete seasons of ‘Love Island’…
Just because something’s popular does that mean it’s less good? ‘Love Island’ isn’t this amazing, deep story, but it’s real. I
think it is pretty vulnerable to some extent to put yourself on national TV and be judged and picked apart and edited… I think there’s something really bold in doing that.” USD senior and English major Elara Gibbons shared her personal relationship with the arts. “I grew up creative writing a lot and I used to want to be an author, so definitely a lot of writing in my life as far as art,” Gibbons expressed. “I’m also on the internet a lot, so I play a lot of video games… and I consider video games art. I think we interact with art everyday in different ways.” Gibbons shared examples of high and low art merging and evolving over time. “[For] an example, Surrealism is a 20th century, avant-garde literary theory and art form,” Gibbons argued. “I would say surrealism is 100% a high art. Then you have ‘dreamcore’ and ‘weirdcore’ which are internet aesthetics that are sort of low art versions of Surrealism. If you look at dreamcore or weirdcore you can see aspects of surrealism imitated through them.” With the rise of technology and the internet, the convergence of high and low art is more tangible now than ever before. People have access to all forms of media and have the power to consume, recreate
or study it to the fullest extent. In his book “Literary Theory: A Short Introduction,” a required reading for many students in courses across the English department, author Johnathan Culler discusses the connection he sees between various cultural art forms and literary art. He suggests that cultural studies are often regarded as lower forms of art in comparison to forms such as literature. “In theory, cultural studies is all-encompassing: Shakespeare and rap music, high culture and low, culture of the past and culture of the present,” Culler wrote. “But in practice, since meaning is based on difference, people do cultural studies as opposed to something else.” Gries, an English major, shared her reaction to Culler’s explanation. “I think I agree with it for the most part, especially about which one is held the highest,” Gries commented.
“For me, it raises the question of ‘who gets to decide what’s considered high and low [art]?’ It can be slightly pretentious to consider something low art. Obviously there are things that are considered high art for a reason… I just
don’t love the word ‘low art.’ I think there needs to be some middle ground.”
Some critics online argue that high and low art often intersect and the lines between the two are defined by culture and time, and less so by binary descriptions. Duraj discussed the intersection of the two forms she has witnessed from talking to her students in class. “The first thing I think of is ‘The Odyssey,’” Duraj said. “As a film, it seems like most students saw that over the summer, at least when I asked. A lot fewer kept their hands up when it came to reading the poem. What’s exciting to me is that the popularity of the film brings that into the world of a generation that might not encounter it. It’s a way in which the popularized version of the narrative or text can expose people to a richness that they might have otherwise missed. I think that convergence is only good.” Social definitions of high and low art will certainly continue to shift as culture evolves and time progresses. Its importance as the very framework of society reflects just how valuable art is to human beings, in all of its forms.
The USD Vista
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October 1, 2026
Toreros customiz “I wanted to look like Barbie in ‘Barbie in a Mermaid Tale.’ That was the inspiration.” Mary-Clare Wilson, sophomore Photo courtesy of Mary-Clare Wilson
Tattoos, piercings and colored to get creative with their l expressed themselves throug Whether it was through heart moment decisions, read why thems
“I want to express myself. It helps me become the best me, and it's a form of expression. It doesn't really matter what anybody else thinks.” Gregor Coffaro, senior
Volume 64 Issue 3
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ze their character
“We only have one body to live in, we might as well just do whatever you want with it to make yourself feel the best.”
d hair are all ways for students look. These Toreros have gh the art of customization. tfelt experiences or spur of the y students choose to decorate selves.
Davia Rode, senior
Julianna Flores / The USD Vista
“I got a matching one with my mom and my aunts. When my mom was pregnant with me, she called me her string bean as a code word before anyone else knew that she was pregnant.” Madeline Brown, first-year
Julianna Flores / The USD Vista
“Some of my jewelry are mementos. I have a couple things from my mom or my friend. It's a good way to have memories on you.” Savannah Mills-Hall, junior
Julianna Flores / The USD Vista
Art by Kyra Lefebvre/The USD Vista: Content by Julianna Flores
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Volume 64 Issue 3 •
OPINION
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OPINION
We are dying to live forever The cost of outrunning mortality
the promise of longevity is so compelling. Health is not valuable simply because it can extend life, but because it preserves the independence that makes life feel like one’s own. This also exposes a crucial contradiction — if ordinary abilities eventually become privileges, then the years in which they come effortlessly should not be consumed by anxiety over losing them. Perhaps, the awareness that health is temporary should make us more present in our lives, rather than preoccupied with extending it.
PRATINYA BODANAPU OPINION EDITOR Every morning, millions of people wake up and immediately ask a machine how well they slept. Before deciding whether they feel rested, a ring supplies a readiness score, a smartwatch reports resting heart rate and an app calculates steps, calories and minutes spent in deep sleep. Continuous glucose monitors can turn lunch into a graph, while at-home tests estimate biological age. Taken together, these technologies ref lect a significant change in the way health is understood.
I also believe that the limits of life may be part of what gives it meaning in the first place.
Feeling healthy is no longer enough. Now, we have the ability to prove it through data. As health becomes measurable, it goes from people wanting to live well to a project of living as long as possible. Data Bridge Market Research valued the global longevity and wellness biotechnology market at roughly $5 billion in 2024 and projects it to reach $15.6 billion by 2032, more than tripling in less than a decade.
As mortality is increasingly translated into numbers, ordinary choices acquire a different significance. A night out becomes a bad sleep score, dessert becomes a glucose spike and a missed workout represents lost cardiovascular fitness. For most of human history, longevity meant surviving dangers that killed people prematurely. Increasingly, longevity means optimizing a body that is already healthy, and the ability to do so is closely tied to wealth. Monaco, one of the wealthiest countries in the world per capita, also consistently records one of the world’s highest life expectancies. The relationship is visible
In recent years, the interest in longevity has increased.
within wealthy countries. A Journal of the American Medical Association study found that among 40-year-olds in the United States, men in the richest 1% could expect to live 14.6 years longer than men in the poorest 1%; among women, the gap was approximately 10.1 years. Money has long bought access to the conditions that extend life, from safer housing and better food to preventative healthcare. The longevity economy takes this relationship a step further by selling increasingly sophisticated ways to intervene in aging itself. Technology entrepreneur Bryan Johnson represents the most conspicuous version of this ambition. Johnson has reportedly spent $2 million a year attempting to slow his biological aging through a tightly controlled regimen of exercise, diet, sleep and supplements. His routine includes over 100 pills a day,
Art by Kyra Lefebvre
eating his final meal around 11 a.m. and even participating in a plasma exchange involving his teenage son. In 2018, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, was reported as an investor in Nectome — a startup researching methods of preserving the microscopic structure of the brain after euthanisation in the hopes of reconstructing individuals’ brains after they pass away.
take risks and care for others.
The pursuit of a longer life rests on a broken assumption: more life necessarily means a better life.
Yet, the desire to preserve health makes sense when the alternative is seen up close. USD sophomore India Danyow, who worked at a senior living facility, said the experience had a strong impact on how she viewed her own life. “It teaches you how short life is,” Danyow said. “We take so many things for granted — like brushing [your teeth] or eating solid food. Watching people lose independence is so sad.” This helps explain why
While trying to increase time on this planet, it is important to remember that life has value not simply because of its quantity, but because of what fills it. Eventually, I think the point of life is to participate in the world — to form relationships, create,
Once health becomes an end in itself, that relationship reverses. Life is no longer being protected so that it can be lived, life is being organized around its own preservation.
Time matters because it runs out; choices carry weight because choosing one path means giving up another, relationships demand commitment because they cannot be postponed indefinitely and ordinary moments become valuable because they cannot be repeated forever. An immortal life would remove death, but it would also alter scarcity — which is what gives moments weight. This does not make death desirable, nor does it diminish the value of medicine that postpones it. However, it means that a good life cannot be understood as an indefinitely extended one. The question is not only how much time exists, but what we do with the time that is given to us. Perhaps the desire for immortality is aimed at the wrong subject. What most people should ultimately want is not for their bodies to continue functioning, but for their existence to have mattered beyond themselves. There is already something about being human that allows a life to extend beyond its biological limits. Ideas survive their authors, values survive the people who taught them and each life continues to shape another, long after its biological endpoint. Legacy is the only thing that is truly immortal because something created during a finite life lives on after it.
Have an opinion? We want to hear it! The Vista is now accepting essays from students, faculty, staff and community members about the issues that matter to them. If you’d like to submit an opinion piece between 400 and 800 words, please reach out to vistaeditor@sandiego.edu.
The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego or its student body.
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The USD Vista
10
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October 1, 2026
AR TS & FEATURE
Professors strike a chord
Faculty in the department of music play in the Applied Music Recital JULIA HURDATO FEATURE WRITER Upon entering the French Parlour in Founders Hall, Toreros heard the plucking of cello strings and the click of piano keys echoing throughout the room. Seven USD professors took the stage, playing a series of solo and chamber performances. On Sept. 23, The University of San Diego department of music hosted the Applied Music Faculty Recital highlighting professors and their musical talents. Each year, The USD department of music hosts a recital that showcases the faculty. This year’s recital featured five performances with a variety of musical instruments, allowing staff to present their speciality. USD Professor Roberto Castro performed Henri Tomasi’s “Ballade for saxophone and piano” on saxophone alongside Professor Gema Garcia Grijalva on the piano. Castro explained the value of these performances on the USD campus. “It gets the students to hear professional performance,” Castro shared. “The symphony exists but this is more intimate, [it’s an] opportunity for them to have a personal connection with a teacher. It brings balance to all the hard work we do everyday.” Throughout the year, the department plans concerts featuring student and faculty ensembles that perform at USD.
Professor Tasha Smith Godinez plays the harp for the audience. These events showcase a variety of musical genres — from woodwind concerts to Balinese Gamelan music performances. Students in the department of music listened to the recital in the audience. USD first-year Madison Le expressed the importance of attending live performances. “I quite enjoyed the harp piece at the beginning because the harp is one of my favorite instruments,” Le explained. “Live music is so important — hearing them share their craft with other people is really inspiring as musicians to play more and to bring more people together with music.” USD Professor Tasha Smith Godinez performed Elias
Photo courtesy of @usdmusicdept/Instagram Parish Alvars’ “Introduction, “I think ‘Adoration’ was Cadenza and Rondo” on the my favorite, cello [suite],” harp. Godinez recalled her Le recalled. “Being able to hopes for music students see live music and share after watching the recital. that on campus is special.” “Our hope as faculty, there’s While accessible to everyone kind of consensus of we are on campus, some Toreros were trying to inspire the students,” not aware of the performances Godinez explained. “Whether hosted by the department. they play the instrument we USD sophomore Priya Chand play or not, but just to inspire shared her hope to connect them to want to practice with Toreros on campus. more and want to play more “I think that having events and the artistry you can have foster community within as a professional musician.” our school can help us all Toreros appreciated connect as peers,” Chand the ability to attend stated. “Something I want live performances from to be a part of even though the USD campus. I am not studying music.” First-year Mackenzie USD Professor Ryan Nestor Le recalled her favorite performed Marc Mellits’ “Tight performance of the night. Sweater” on the marimba
Games
alongside Professor Elizabeth Brown on the cello and Professor Gema Garcia Grijalva on the piano. The performance included three professors that played together, allowing students to see collaboration on stage. Nestor shared how the music department provides students with the opportunity to experience live music performed by their professors. “It shows the health of the department when their faculty are doing something voluntarily at a high level,” Nestor explained. “We try to give back and give high level musicianship so that students can experience some of that.” The USD department of music offers one unit courses that provide students with the opportunity to learn how to play a new instrument or reconnect with an old hobby. USD faculty encourages Toreros to get involved with the music department. “We hope that these concerts will be an inspiration for students to either get back into music or to continue music,” Nestor expressed. “We also know that people get really busy, but it’s always worth it. Music is an important part of the educational experience.” With on campus performances, Toreros experience live music, learn about applied music lessons and build relationships with faculty. The department of music continues to host events, inspiring Toreros to get involved with music on campus.
Volume 64 Issue 3
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SPORTS
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The USD Vista
SPORTS
No crowd. No scoreboard. No days off. Offseason athletes are already chasing the spring season
ALISSA BIALAS NEWS WRITER
Before August rolled around, USD athletes had already headed back to school to start practicing. Among them were the athletes who would not be playing their actual season until spring time. Not having an official season does not mean a lack of games or practice — athletes put in hard work all year long. Luke Bouchard, special assistant to USD baseball’s coach Brock Ungricht, described the constant grind of planning a college sport. “We actually put offseason plans in for most guys right now, that way when the season ends they have a week or two to hang out and then they go straight to summer baseball,” Bouchard said. “Most of them [do] unless they’re injured or they played a lot for us this season.” Thus, USD’s baseball players, like many other athletes, go straight from their season into training for the next. Throughout all of it, unity is important within the team to keep morale up. “We try to just have that main focus on the academics and the baseball and taking care of their stuff off the field,” Bouchard commented. “We try to keep that group as tight as we can by doing team building activities and keeping it fun at all times.” During the fall semester, a variety of sports take the spotlight. Spring athletes
are busy improving for their upcoming season. USD junior Luke Ulrich, a pitcher for USD baseball, commented on what it is like during the offseason, where sometimes they have to be their own critics. “On a day with no game, I keep score by asking myself if I got better,” Ulrich said. “‘Did I get my throwing in? Did I take care of my body? Did I work on something specific? Did I get a little better mentally?’ If I can answer yes to those things, I consider it a good day.” Upon the return to school, the hustle for spring athletes does not stop. There are no fans or spectators to cheer teams on, no headlines to highlight a win or exceptional game, only the athletes and their mentalities. Their hard work remains theirs, hidden until the actual season begins. Sophomore Tommy Vidon, from USD’s men’s rowing team, described what a regular day looks like during fall training. “Most of the days are just going to be doing drills and long steady states where you can just hold a certain pressure – let’s say for a long period of time,” Vidon commented. “In the fall, we’ll be doing mixed boats which means the fastest guys will be with the slower end guys.” Vidon also addressed staying motivated when races are not actively happening. “It’s just the team factor
USD pitcher works through a bullpen session during offseason. Photo courtesy @usdbaseball/Instagram
since we’re all so close with each other — it’s competitive every single day,” Vidon said. “Even if it might be a lighter rowing day or we might be going a little easier — it’s as competitive as it’s going to be on one of those harder days.” When races are not around to keep morale up, the rowing team finds no lack of competition within the team itself and practices. Additionally, Vidon discussed the necessity of summer workouts to ensure the team was ready when school began. “[After] my senior year of high school, that summer, I did not work out and I came in, and it was the worst time ever — it just shocks you so hard when your body is not adapted to it,” Vidon recalled. “All the guys, at least at this level, know that you need to work out a certain amount over summer to make sure you’re able to get the ball rolling in the fall and you’re not super out of shape.” An athlete’s season does not end when the games stop. When the spring sports finish near the end of the school year, fans go home and go on with their lives, assuming players do the same; however, for most athletes, there is hardly a break. Immediately after the season ends, whether that be with wins or losses, the offseason plans begin. For many athletes, their sport remains on their mind 24/7. Chaz McRoberts, a junior
USD baseball team heads to the beach for conditioning. Photo courtesy @usdbaseball/Instagram
and pitcher for USD baseball, commented on his dedication to baseball, right after the last season ended and beyond. “I still remember all the feelings of our last game — sadness, gratefulness, but the emotion I felt the most was disappointment,” McRoberts said. “The moment that I left the field that day, I was already setting sights on next year. Asking myself questions such as, ‘What can I do better? What went wrong? What do we need to do differently?’” McRoberts emphasized the “we,” bringing up coach
USD rowers take to the water during an early morning fall workout.
Ungricht’s belief in the importance of team bonding and breaking down barriers. “Even though the fall is considered our offseason, we must bond as a team now so that when the spring season rolls around, nothing will be able to break us,” McRoberts recalled. Without any Friday night lights, a random weekend in October might look very different for USD’s offseason athletes. Whether that be practicing, training, lifting or team bonding, these athletes are putting in effort to prepare for the upcoming season.
Photo courtesy @usdwrowing/Instagram
The USD Vista
12
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October 1, 2026
SPORTS
Game on at the health center
The courts are packed. Students say that’s the point ROCCO PASQUINI SPORTS WRITER
The USD Palomar Health Center, which opened April 22, 2025, has quickly become a hub for recreational sports and fitness among University of San Diego students. The indoor facilities are frequently used and offer spaces for weightlifting, exercise, recovery, yoga and other activities, while the outdoor facilities provide open areas for a range of recreational sports. The 69,000-square-foot outdoor facilities include an 84-by-50-foot basketball court — most commonly used as two pickleball courts — a professional-size beach volleyball court with a 10-foot-tall net and a miniature soccer field. The soccer field features turf, two small goals, netting on all sides and space for anyone with a pair of cleats. At night, students regularly gather on the field to play, socialize and spend time outdoors. “The atmosphere is great when there are a lot of people,” first-year Adam Bell said. “It makes it more fun, and you want to win more because if you lose, you have to wait a while. The field is always a place I go late when I have nothing to do because I know there are going to be people down
there, and I can have a good time.” The recreational spaces allow casual nights at USD, where players don’t have to plan a match to play. Beach volleyball is a teambonding activity that requires full communication among six teammates. The activity can also give students opportunities to interact with people they have not previously met. The space provided can hold a 12 person volleyball match and has open sand for other recreational activities such as spikeball. Whether students arrive with friends or visit the courts on their own, beach volleyball provides an exciting and welcoming chance to meet new people. USD first-year Cora Wood often plays beach volleyball at the recreation center courts with her friends. “The atmosphere is very positive and welcoming,” Wood described. However, the busiest of these outdoor activities is pickleball. Every day, the two courts demonstrate just how popular the game is. USD first-year Giorgio Di Mascio played pickleball frequently with his mother in his free time and now uses the health center’s
Toreros engaging in friendly competition out on the court. Photo courtesy of @usdtoreros/Instagram
COMING UP THIS WEEK
courts twice a week. “When all the courts are busy, I just feel frustrated, thinking, ‘Why are these games taking so long? Can they hurry up?’” Di Mascio said. “But, then I take a step back and say, ‘Wow, all the courts are busy because everyone’s having such a good time and getting along.’ So it’s a good thing in retrospect.” All players need is four people, paddles, a ball and a court to enjoy the game. Paddles and balls can be rented for free inside the health center. The courts are regulation size, and just a two-minute walk from the Valley living spaces. Pickleball has grown in popularity over the past few years, with national participation increasing 170% in the last three years, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. “They’re the place where everyone can gather, just playing on the courts and loving every minute of it,” Di Mascio said. The Palomar Health Center is open from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The courts will remain open throughout the school year and are available for any USD student looking to play an outdoor recreational sport.
Students participate in a pickup basketball game. Photo courtesy of @uofsandiego/Instagram
Evening games at the Palomar Health Center run even after the sun goes down.
Photo courtesy of Shea Moggio
WTEN vs San Diego Veterans Classic Friday, Oct. 2-4 8 a.m. San Diego, CA
MTEN vs San Diego Veterans Classic Friday, Oct. 2-4 8 a.m. San Diego, CA
WXC at Louisville XC Classic Saturday, Oct. 3 8 a.m. Louisville, KY
WSWIM vs SDSU/USD Distance Friday, Oct. 2 2 p.m. San Diego, CA
MXC at Louisville XC Classic Saturday, Oct. 3 8 a.m. Louisville, KY
WVB vs Denver Saturday, Oct. 3 12 p.m. San Diego, CA