Reach Magazine Fall 2018 by Trevin

REACH FALL

2018

What Divides Us What Unites Us

The Power Issue SPECIAL SECTION from

THE SPEAR The Future of Virtual Reality

REACH Magazine

The Power Issue San Jose State University

Fall 2018 The front of the book Alyson Chuyang Jirla Salvador Myla LaBine

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arts and entertainment Brianna Sheats

Vocal in Class

Alyson Chuyang

Confidence in Clothes Diversity in Film

Winona Rajamohan

features Winona Rajamohan Brendan Cross Kunal Mehta Chris Core Melody Del Rio Nicholas Girard

Local Color

Christopher Padilla

Jermaine Kelly The Echo Chamber A Journey To Self Love

BJ Querubin Jasmine Strachan

Virtual Reality on Campus Domestic Ground

On the cover Diana Alanis is a San Jose State University student, a DACA recipient and graces the cover of REACH Magazine. Her dream is to get the best education possible to better herself. She wanted to express her Mexican roots by wearing a traditional shirt with a floral headband, in reflection of Frida Kahlo, a famous Mexican artist. Alanis takes pride in being a Mexican woman who has the oppourtunity to flourish in the United States. Photo by Melody Del Rio.

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Spartan Spirit Wear Thrift Flipping Thrifting Trends Hidden Gem Treat Yoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Self

All the feels

Open Software For All

Photo Essay Alana Rios

Melody Del Rio

BJ Querubin

Unplugged Reclaiming My Time The Life of A Dancer

Special section

THE SPEAR

Taylor Lupetti and Marissa Scott Austin Turner Sara Biela

Under Pressure

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Monopolizing The Field Pass The Baton

Fall 2018

REACH Staff

Letter Editor from the

Chioma Lewis Art and Design Editor

Danielle Wilde Front of the Book Editor

REACH magazine

how it affects their lives. Power is something we are all currently having redefined in our lives, but we hope that these stories will help you think critically about how you define power in your life. I began this undergrad in 2011, before some of my editors were in high school. It’s been a long journey, but I am so proud to end it here, on this staff, in this department, at this university, in these pages, for you. This isn’t your Facebook feed or Twitter. There is no comment section here. Power means many things to many people. But in these pages, we hope you will be motivated to reach for yours. - Trevin Smith Editor-in-Chief

Alyson Chuyang Jirla Jem Salvador Myla LaBine Caleb Hodgson Winona Rajamohan Brendan Cross Melody Del Rio Christopher Padilla Kunal Mehta Chris Core Jasmine Strachan Nicholas Girard

Executive Editor: Ernie Gonzalez Assistant Editor: Taylor Lupetti Video/Content Editor: Sara Biela Video/Content Editor: Marissa Scott Lead Video Editor: Jose Trujillo Magazine Designers: Katie Hoedt Pawan Narayan Staff Writers: Chris Estrada, Brooke Finister, Madyson Montoya, Nathanael Person, Austin Turner and Hugo Vera

Joe Roias Front of the Book Editor

Contributors

The Spear

Shellise West Photography Editor

Scott Fosdick Tina Korani Dona Nichols

The Writers Cinthia Loera Managing Editor

hat you’re holding wasn’t just thrown together for three quick units. This magazine was made from scratch with love, by students who wanted to give you stories that will make you think and feel in ways scrolling on your phone never could. I thought it was important to use this issue as an example of what’s possible when people come together. In this era of polarized partisanship and bigotry, in a department that is often so competitive, my editors and I did all we could to bring in as many hands on this issue as possible. The result is a magazine unlike anything we have printed on campus before. You will read about a band director’s big moment and about the overwhelming force of technology in our lives. You will discover a hidden gem and take a walk in a black woman’s shoes. This issue focuses on power, how people define it and

Advisors

Brianna Sheats Arts & Entertainment Editor

Kris Rodriguez Features Editor

BJ Querubin Copy Editor

The Designers Viviana De La Pena William De La Cruz Gabriel Mungaray Jacqueline Contreras Seth Johnson Gabriel Mungaray Benjamin Stein Kael Benitez-Austria Nora S. Ramirez

Nicholas Romeo Omar Perez Christopher Peterson Joanna Prabhu Caleb Ramos Eduardo Teixeira Courtney Vasquez Luke Johnson Melisa Yuriar

Special Thanks

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications at San Jose State University Spartan Daily Advertising Photographers Alana Rios and Nick Zamora Special thanks to Casey Printing Fall 2018

2. Rylan

V O C A L IN CLASS, V O C A L IN T H E S T U D IO

Students may have seen him on the SJSU Event Center billboard, or at local house parties. From large scale festivals such as “Up & Up” to Instagram story guitar sessions, Rylan Ladion is always producing music. As a DJ, Rylan explores electronic dance music, trap, pop and alternative genres, but his main focus moving forward is EDM. Last semester, SJSU invited big name musician and producer DJ Gryffin to perform for students and Rylan had the opportunity to open for him. Rylan says, “Playing original tracks during the show and seeing everyone react to them was an addicting feeling.” Playing his music in front of live audiences inspires him to continue to write.

BY ALYSON CHUYANG

He owes his success to the relationships he has made so far in school, and hopes to one day travel the world as a musician.

3. Wooshay

s San Jose State University students hustle down the hallways between classes for a brief moment, they may be brushing shoulders with up and coming music artists. Between library hours, work shifts and social lives, three students have found a balance between working hard and producing hard. Hidden amongst the lecture halls, there are some rising stars that could be sitting right next to you. Here are three artists you should be listening to right now:

REACH magazine

1. MCM “Money in Millions” Manny

Any business majors out there? This rising star and SJSU student took his interest in entrepreneurship and rap to a whole new level. Hip-hop head, Manuel Gijon began writing and producing his own music last fall. Within a year he released his track “Ballin,” with the artist AzChike, and released the track “Untitled” with artist 1takejay. Though Manuel is unsure where his music will take him, he hopes to “use the profits to finance the businesses [he] plans to start.” MCM Manny’s entrepreneurial interest includes restaurants, nightclubs and bar businesses. His hard verses, mixed with SoCal beats are a refreshing twist. His personality is embedded within his instruments.

Entering his last semester at SJSU, Will Houcheime aka “Wooshay” can proudly look back at what he has done in his time as an artist. He has already performed at the large EDM festival, Nocturnal Wonderland and has opened up for well-known artists including Nelly. Since moving to the United States from Lebanon at age 8, Will has found that the power of music has given him purpose to produce unique beats. “Music can pick us up out of the dark times, almost like an escape from reality,” Houcheime explained. “I’ve wanted to be a part of that, to give people that same feeling and be there for someone when they need it the most regardless of where they are.” His song “Alone” reached #32 on the top charts in the Netherlands, and he hopes to expand the Wooshay sound to even more countries. Fall 2018

CONFIDENCE IN CLOTHES

“My friends know my style as very basic yet comfortable, but lately I’ve been really liking accessories – especially earrings. They look really pretty and wearing them make me feel pretty, too.” - Christina Winn

BY JIRLA JEM SALVADOR

Some people are born with a natural confidence, while others might need a little help. The way people choose to dress and accessorize can help their self-esteem on a day-to-day basis.

uptight demeanor and a subconscious choice to sit with superb posture. Many of us might assume that a majority of people dress to impress their peers, but according to Pine, people actually dress for themselves – answering the internal question, how do I feel wearing this?” rather than “What will others think if I wear this?

“Enclothed cognition” is a phenomenon examined by professors Adam Hajo and Adam D. Galinsky in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. The term is defined as “the “When we put on a piece of systematic influence that clothing we cannot help but adopt clothes have on the wearer’s some of the characteristics associated psychological processes.” In simpler words, the clothes we choose to wear can influence one’s mood and confidence while altering others’ perception of us.

with it, even if we are unaware of it.” - Karen Pine “Mind What You Wear: The Psychology of Fashion”

In her book, “Mind What You Wear: The Psychology of Fashion,” Professor Karen Pine writes, “When we put on a piece of clothing we cannot help but adopt some of the characteristics associated with it, even if we are unaware of it.”

Wearing sweatpants could invoke a more relaxed demeanor that may include slouching in a chair or comfortably napping on a friend’s couch. Whereas wearing a pair of trousers and a blazer could result in a more REACH magazine

Any given person may seek comfort and selfconfidence from a specific type of clothing. Feeling empowered in our everyday lives may be as simple and convenient as putting on a certain pair of socks or a favorite turtleneck.

Just as we speak our mind to express thoughts, fashion can be an outlet to express our personalities. Studies show that finding our own sense of style and being able to dress selfishly can boost self-esteem. Confidence is within every single one of us. The way we dress can ultimately highlight that selfesteem. Treat every sidewalk as a catwalk and go about your day feeling and looking great.

Photos by Jirla Jem Salvador

“I believe time is the most valuable thing in life. And there’s nothing more powerful than a person who knows what moment in time their life is at. Plus, who wouldn’t feel powerful with a nice watch? Especially if it’s a shiny gold one.” - Nancy Park

“Having a brand name bag makes me feel a little bit more feminine and chic even if I’m wearing worn out clothes. It makes me feel like I have money, even though I’m actually broke.” - Marilou Salazar

Fall 2018

FILM LIFE LESSONS ARE NOW IN SESSION BY MYLA LA BINE

For most people, movies are a form of entertainment, but for others, they can serve as teaching moments and can give viewers motivation. Films are universal, and we all have movies that resonate with us for various reasons. Whether it’s through characters’ actions, feelgood stories or inspiring messages, cinema can be a source of empowerment for viewers. In order to find out what movies made San Jose State University Spartans feel empowered, 10 students were asked to name a film that motivated them. The range of answers given were astonishing, and common ground was found when three students selected “Forrest Gump” as their inspirational film. “Seeing

[Forrest Gump] experience tragedy while helping so many around [him] leaves me wanting to do the same,” said Sandy Le, a biochemistry sophomore. SJSU has an incredibly diverse campus that provides multiple opinions that contribute to finding motivation through a variety of different films. Empowerment in film comes in many forms, each allowing us to gain confidence in our ability to achieve something worth working towards. Films provide a wide array of valuable lessons that when applied to real life, can provide viewers with this sense of awareness of their environment. Great movies have the ability to teach audience members to improve both the world around them and their individual lives.

Illustration by Melody Del Rio

REACH magazine

artistic avenue that was launched in December of 2016. For Salazar, living in that warehouse sparked a flame of energy that sent waves across the community. A community that felt helpless in a creative society that was losing its heart. With the help of financial aid, Salazar graduated from San Jose State University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fine/Studio Arts.Suddenly, she was thrust into the real world, where looking for a roof over her head became a challenge. Salazar lost both her parents in the years shortly after her graduation, and all of a sudden, she no longer felt a need to impress anybody with the direction she was driving her life towards.

COLOR

PAINTING THE OF A COMMUNIT Y BY WINONA RAJAMOHAN

n one of the most vibrant districts of downtown San Jose, a wide space that looks almost barren from outside its sliding doors lights up the far edge of South First Street. Through those doors lies a realm lit up with endless possibilities and surprises – your final destination depends on the journey the artists decide to take you on. Artist Erin Salazar’s pulsing sense of artistic direction stems from a turning point in her life that lit a fire of creativity and inspiration.

constraints of art studio rentals and unaffordable resources in the community. Local Color’s building is a 20,000 square-foot space that used to be a Ross outlet and it serves as an affordable workspace for artists through the use of inactive buildings. With ever-present difficulties in finding affordable housing and rental rates for work studios in San Jose, the city exerts an undeniable pressure on rising artists who wish to make a living out of this profession.

“I lived in a warehouse after I graduated college, I was basically squatting there, and when I was there I met a lot of people just working on their art stuff too,” said Salazar.

The initiative was awarded as the winner of the 2017 Knight Cities Challenge by the Knight Foundation, a national foundation investing in journalism and the arts, and it has helped keep Local Color thriving in its current location.

It led to the inception of Local Color, an art initiative that bridges local artists with a sense of artistic freedom and allows them to produce masterpieces without the

“Local Color is a creative space for artists, for the creative community to maintain authenticity through their freedom to use this space,” Salazar said about her curated

REACH magazine

After looking through lists of possible living spaces around the city, she found an empty warehouse that was being shared with other artists like herself. The warehouse became her art studio where she spent days and nights working on commission, sometimes in the form of free food and beer. While being an artist specializing in murals, she also worked as a bartender to make ends meet. “I came home to my art, for me to work on, it was like it was my significant other, I was married to these creations,” said Salazar. This is the same sentiment Salazar shares with most of the artists she has met throughout her life.

20’s now, I was in the middle of my life and I wanted to start living for other people and not just for myself.” Stepping into Local Color, visitors can now experience familiar artists interpretations of local San Jose sights in painted 2-Dimensional models of Japantown, Diridon Station and the Winchester Mystery house. In the far corner of the Local Color space, two artists are in friendly banter. They are helping each other incorporate more painted signs into a miniature of San Jose. The little city fits right into the eccentrically decorated space, dripping in the creations of others like themselves. Drew Roulette and J.Duh have been a part of Local Color since its very first days of inception, and since then the two have been a part of a tight-knit band of not just creative counterparts but friends who spent almost every day together making art. “We just had a road trip together,” Roulette said as he called on fellow artist, Ben Henderson, to turn the tempo down on his tambourine.

I thought if I was in my 20’s now, I was in the middle of my life and I wanted to start living for other people and not just for myself. - Erin Salazar

The four walls of the warehouse are a place for her to call a home alongside others who pursued the same fiery passion. It pushed Salazar’s creative vision far beyond wanting to create works of art on her own. Her goals extended to etch the local art community with her efforts by beautifying the city she now called home, through projects that involved collaborations with other artists. She found herself to be “a lot more punk rock back then,” looking back on her 20’s back when her parents had passed away in their 50s. “I thought if they died early, that’s probably how early I’m going to die too,” said Salazar. “I thought if I was in my

community,” said J.Duh.

Being a part of Local Color has shown the artists the significance of being connected to others like themselves in the community. “I wanted to get into murals, I met [Salazar] and told her that if she needed any work done even just holding an umbrella for somebody, because I wanted to be a part of the

The initiative has helped them not only build their careers as full-time artists, but on the beautification of a San Jose. “We’re constantly being inspired by each other around here, new ideas are coming in and out of this place,” Roulette said. As Roulette and J.Duh worked out front of the empty store, a curtain lay in the middle of the space to unveil more artists working behind it, including muralist Patron who sat in silence as he tore away at the drawings before him. Dripping in the creations of artists like themselves, Local Color bursts at the seams with the vibrance of Fall 2018

paintings, sculptures and odd-ended creations, each stamped with such distinct artistic individuality yet blending together into one big picture of harmony. Working together within these four walls have allowed these artists to bloom and flourish together by watching each other actualize their imaginations into physical creations, stimulating crossing artistics paths and visions to be the driving force in the room. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nobody is dictating anything around here, the greatest part about this is being able to learn alongside each other,â&#x20AC;? said Salazar. In a city so diverse, Local Color is the local color pallet San Jose needs.

domestic ground A Photo Essay by Alana Rios

REACH REACH magazine magazine

Exploring a new place in the dark is akin to swimming in water; it sharpens the senses. My long exposure photographs abstract human movement onto the landscape by compressing many minutes into one still frame. The images become a visual account of the kinetic agreement between human bodies, gravity and the land, that illustrate a story like a modern-day cave painting. The lines of light both illuminate the surrounding details and record moments of unscripted curiosity. Unlike a moving image that follows the action as it unfolds, my still photographs merge the past and the present into one scene. The result is a collaboration between the moving subjects and the limitations of the light-sensitive film. The film stands in for human memory, nuanced and fallible. My work focuses on sites where evidence of human habitation elicits dualities of manmade and nature, transience and permanence, stillness and motion. Domestic Ground is a collection of vignettes of backyards in Northern California. These curated natural spaces offer insight into how we interact with land we perceive to be ours to own. After WWII and the ubiquity of indoor plumbing, mass farming and urban development, the back yard shifted from a necessity to a luxury. Each yard is composed of objects that begin to provide evidence of how we are using our back yards today. The photographs selectively obscure and reveal the topography of each individual place based on the movements of the subjects that can be interpreted as utilitarian or leisure. Within these private landscapes exists a tension between domesticity and wilderness that is often omitted through the history of male-centered representation of the landscape. Through these intimate landscapes, importance is placed on privileging female voices who dare to pioneer closer to home. All images are shot on Kodak Portra Film using a Hasselblad 500c.

Fall 2018

Perhaps We Are Going Away.

Best Of All Possible Worlds.

We Are What We Pretend To Be.

Mother Night.

FROM THE 408 TO THE 281 BY BRENDAN CROSS

itting in the living room of his home in Los Angeles, Calif. Jermaine Kelly anxiously awaited the moment he had been working toward his entire life. Surrounded by family and friends, the former San Jose State cornerback watched the 2018 NFL Draft fizz on by and creep toward its completion. The last round of the draft had just begun when Kelly received a phone call from an unrecognizable number. Befuddled by the 832 area code, his father muted the television while Kelly answered the call. The voice on the other end said, “This is [head coach] Bill O’Brien with the Houston Texans, and I want to let you know that we have a pick coming up, and we’re gonna take you. How’d you like to be a Houston Texan?”

From that moment forward, the whirlwind began. After speaking with O’Brien, the phone was passed to another team representative who told Kelly he had a brief moment to celebrate before multitudes of local Houston radio interview obligations were laid upon him. “I had to actually step out of my home. I literally celebrated with my family for five minutes and was on the phone for the next 30. It was the best experience of my life, everything happened so fast, but it was so, so worth it,” said Kelly. For Kelly, getting drafted was the culmination of a lifelong dream being realized, a dream that began when he and his brother Jeremy would catch passes from their father at around five years old. The duo, however, did not get a chance to play contact football until high school. “It’s crazy how we blended right 20

REACH magazine

in. We were always physical growing up, we would always practice the game with pads even though we’d never done it before,” Kelly said. Though the game seemed to come naturally to him, Kelly had his fair share of doubters telling him that the NFL was unreachable. His first three years of high school football were played at San Pedro High. Kelly and his brother were later forced to transfer to Salesian High School, about 30 miles away in the Los Angeles area, due to a job opportunity for their father. The change, seemed welcome. “In San Pedro, I was told nobody gets out of that school. Nobody gets to go to college and play at the next level,” Despite that, Kelly proved his game belonged on the next level. In his senior season at Salesian, Kelly played both sides of the ball, tallying 456 receiving yards and scoring six touchdowns, along with five interceptions in just nine games played. His stellar performance spawned a plethora of offers from Pac-12 standouts such as Arizona, Arizona St., Utah, USC and UCLA. He was committed to UCLA for roughly seven months, but a change of heart caused him to venture further north. Kelly decided to go the University of Washington. “I just felt like I needed to go somewhere else and explore myself. I felt like it [UCLA] was too close to home and I wouldn’t grow.” After redshirting his first season at Washington, Kelly became a starting cornerback for the Huskies at the beginning of his second season. Unfortunately, his season

To this day, I wake up, and I’ve got a smile on my face every time I walk into the building because I am literally living out my dream to be in the NFL. - Jermaine Kelly Houston Texans Defensive Back

Fall 2018

field...everybody that watched him work felt that they needed to work like him,” Monroe said. Kelly accumulated 79 total tackles in two years as a Spartan. He had a dozen pass break-ups and a baker’s dozen passes defensed his senior season. He ranked third amongst all players in the Mountain West in those categories. His play clearly got the attention of the Texans, who at one time prior to the start of this season had four former Spartans on their roster.

came to an abrupt halt when he broke a bone in his ankle during practice after only playing two games. Kelly recalls when he got injured, his head was spinning and he didn’t know what to do. As it turns out, his injury was only a portion of the turmoil surrounding his life at the time. “My mom was really sick, and she was unable to work, so my dad took on the huge load of just handling the house and paying the bills all by himself.” Kelly’s brother signedon to play football at San Jose State during this time. Kelly loved his time at the University of Washington, but his desire to be closer to family prompted a transfer to SJSU. The transition between playing at a Pac-12 school to the smaller Mountain West Conference that San Jose State is in was a humbling experience for him. “All that entitlement...it kind of woke me up about how things 22

REACH magazine

REACH REACH magazine magazine

really can be,” Kelly said. “Coming from the Pac-12 you kind of get everything, you are much more privileged, and it motivated me to want to do better and be better for myself.” This was not a slight toward SJSU, but rather an a-ha moment, when Kelly realized he was not taking anything about his football career for granted. “Just having my brother there, playing with him, and all the new people I got to meet, it was awesome. I don’t regret anything.” One of those new people he got to meet was Dakari Monroe, a fellow defensive back and current senior on the Spartans’ roster. Monroe had high praise for his former teammate. “Jermaine was a great teammate on the field because he provided great vocal leadership. Off the

While in training camp with the Texans, a slew of injuries kept Kelly out of seeing any preseason action. Those injuries have also sidelined him for a portion of the regular season as he is spending it on the Texans’ injured reserve list. Kelly is keeping a positive outlook and is still able to make the most of his rookie season and hopes to return to the gridiron later this year. “As soon as I get back, I don’t want there to be any missteps. I want to come right in and be able to help and contribute to the team’s success.” Despite the tumultuous times of being told he would not make it to the NFL, to suffering a season-ending injury at Washington and having to transfer, to now losing some of his rookie year to more injuries, Kelly is still thankful for it all, because of the opportunity that was given to him by the Texans. “To this day, I wake up, and I’ve got a smile on my face every time I walk into the building because I am literally living out my dream to be in the NFL.”

Photos courtesy of Houston Texans Photos courtesy of Houston Texans

Fall 2018

THE SP EAR I

nspired by their passion for sports media, co-founders Kavin Mistry and Daniel Reedy launched San Jose State Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first student-found publication â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Spear. This publication provides media coverage of the SJSU Spartans Div. I programs, campus club teams and local professional sports. Led by professor Dona Nichols, The Spear remains committed to creating informative and entertaining content. It covers several teams at multiple levels in a variety of athletic disciplines, by combining conventional reporting with new-age graphics and engaging features. Spear content has been syndicated in multiple professional news organizations, including The Washington Post and NBC Bay Area. Partnered with a sports-journalism course through the Journalism and Mass Communications Department, The Spear provides the SJSU community with sports news and gives students an outlet to learn and hone skills in the sports-media industry. Wielding the Silicon Valley entrepreneurial spirit, The Spear editorial team is constantly advancing its programs, refining its content and expanding its coverage range. The Spear was created by students and for students and pledges to always provide quality content to the sports fans of San Jose.

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Photos: The SPear Staff

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the spear

B y T ay l o r L u p e t t i a n d M a r i s s a S c o t t @tayclupetti

“U

nder pressure” that burns a building down, splits a family in two and puts people in the streets.” The strong words of the 1981 hit “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie that resonate heavily with athletes. Behind the eyes of an athlete lies a brain infected with the power of pressure. From the moment athletes of any age step out to play, they feel the need to win. The heavy emotion can come from verbal viewers, a competitive coach or a pressing parent. Placed in front of athletes are incentives to succeed

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@marissascotttt

Photo: lori paris such as trophies, titles or validation. To some, winning is everything and is a prize that’s valued more than life itself. They won’t stop until they find glory. “You want to come home from a tournament with a winner’s medal,” said professional English football player Rio Ferdinand in an interview with The Guardian in 2006. “That’s not the fans or the media putting us under the pressure, that’s the pressure we put ourselves under.” Succumbing to the pressure has been shown through the use of steroids and playing through the pain – both of which have dire consequences. But like anything in the universe, an object, or in this case a person, can only withstand so much pres-

sure before bursting. Since the first Olympic games in 776 B.C., performance enhancing drugs have become a commonplace in the professional sports world. Athletes from all over the globe are willing to sacrifice their bodies for a piece of metal that can’t guarantee eternal glory. It did not surprise Travis Tygart, the CEO of USADA, to hear how many athletes feel they’re part of a “win-at-allcosts” culture. In a survey conducted by the U.S. Olympic Committee, 61 percent agreed with the statement, “When I am failing, people are less interested in me.” “It is exactly what we hear from athletes about why they chose to dope when they have, and why we must change this culture if we hope to fully return the playing field to

clean athletes,” Tygart said in an interview with AP News in August 2018. The professional sports world has been largely infected with the PED plague. The Steroid Era in MLB during the early 2000s shed light on the human growth hormone problem in professional sports. Idols such as Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire doped their way to the top and fell hard with the consequences of their actions. Bonds, who holds the record for the most home runs in a single season, has yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame because of steroid use convictions. The use of PEDs by star athletes trickled down to those looking up to them.

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the spear According to US News, the percentage of high school athletes using steroids more than doubled from 5 to 11 percent in 2014. “There’s the pressure to make the high school team,” Annie Skinner, the spokeswoman of the U.S. Doping Agency told U.S. News in 2014. “There’s the pressure to do the best you can in high school to get that college scholarship and so the pressures on young athletes are very intense.” While the numbers increase, the efforts to stop the doping do not. In America, only 20 percent of high schools drug test student athletes. However, the choice does not always belong to the athlete. There have been times where the win means more to a coach than the well-being of their players. From 1964-1988, coaches in Germany pulled adolescents from primary schools as young as 10, and forced pill consumption and injections on those that showed potential for greatness. The results? In the 24-year timespan, Germany took home 454 Summer Olympic medals in six world games. A massive accomplishment that came with an even bigger price. The children unknowingly forced to mutilate their bodies were met with lifelong disabilities and for a few, death. For the athletes who fail to succumb to the pressure of doping, the need to win still haunts them. Through countless injuries, athletes choose to play through the pain while knowing it may cost them a normal life when the game is over. As scientific research has shown in recent years, chronic traumatic encephalopathy has latched on to the brain of countless athletes. CTE is a degenerative disease caused by multiple blows to the head that trigger a buildup of tau proteins in the brain. Although the research is still developing, the life-damaging disease can only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem. According to CNN Health, “CTE is known for plaguing people with Alzheimer’s like symptoms such as memory loss, rage, mood swings, and in some cases, suicidal ideation.” Twenty-six years after Dave Duerson won a Super

Bowl with the Chicago Bears in 1985, the former pro-safety shot and killed himself at the age of 50. In an attempt to be heard, former Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster wrote his CTE-anguished thoughts in a diary while living alone in his pickup truck during his final days. In a study conducted by the Department of Veteran Affairs and Boston University, researchers found traces of CTE in 97 percent of NFL players and 79 percent of football players. “It’s like the warning label on tobacco products,” said former NFL player Dwight Hicks. “There should be a warning for parents and kids who want to play this game that if they play, there is a high chance they will develop CTE.” With the onset of CTE comes internalized rage, often times lashed out on their families and teammates. Repeated blows to the anterior temporal lobe may cause concussion victims to lose control over anger and all other emotions. CTE-induced depression, memory loss, impaired cognition and lower testosterone leaves victims in a helpless, weak and dependent state. In an interview with the New York Daily News in 2014, Chelsea Oliver, the widow of former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver, told the story of how her husband flipped their family’s life upside down. “His behavior started to change,” Oliver told the NY Daily News. “One example was we got in an argument. He shattered both of our phones so I couldn’t call the police, and locked all the doors and he told me that if I got up off the couch, he would slam my head into the floor.” The former safety went on to commit suicide in September 2013 by shooting himself in the head in front of his wife and two young kids. Although domestic violence is a problem in the world of professional sports, there are many sport organizations that have strict responses to offenders. In 2015, the MLB implemented a domestic violence policy where the commissioner can implement a suspension if there is suspected domestic violence. With all of the evidence showing what comes from playing through the pain, why are athletes still risking their lives? The short answer – the pressure to win.

“It’s like the warning label on tobacco products. There should be a warning for parents and kids who want to play this game that if they play, there is a high chance they will develop CTE.” -former NFL player Dwight Hicks

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Lupetti and Scott are Editors for The Spear

photo: ernie gonzalez

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fall 2018

the spear

By austin turner @AustinTurnt

mong the most wealthy and influential Americans in the business world lies an exclusive fraternity of billionaires that control the country’s most popular sport. The men and women that own the 32 NFL franchises are a cast of characters diverse in their variety of personalities and of their stature in the sport. While fans are watching their favorite teams make big plays on the field every Sunday in the fall, these financial moguls sit in their stadium boxes and count the millions of dollars made from every ticket sold, jersey purchased and television ad aired. Some of these owners choose to stay in the background and collect revenue checks from their investments, rather than be more outspoken and visible. Owners such as Miami’s Stephen Ross and the late-Seattle Seahawks’ Paul Allen willfully pour money into ensuring their franchise stays valuable. These actions have been shown through funding a $350 million stadium renovation in the case of Ross, or a $60 million state-of-the-art practice facility paid for by Allen, a co-founder of Microsoft. Ross, Allen and others are among the most wealthy of the owners in the NFL, but remain quiet when it comes to the concerns of the league as a sin-

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gular entity. When fans picture an NFL owner, often times the first to come to mind is Jerry Jones. He purchased the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 and instantly rebuilt the team from the ground up. He fired legendary coach Tom Landry and replaced him with a close friend and college teammate from Arkansas, Jimmy Johnson. He also fired the team’s general manager and took over the role himself. Shortly after in his first NFL draft, Jones and the Cowboys selected Troy Aikman first overall, which was a controversial decision at the time. The move proved to be correct, as Dallas went on to become a dynasty. It won the Super Bowl in 1992, ‘93 and ‘95, thus re-establishing the Cowboys as “America’s Team.” Even with all of the team’s success, the face of the Forbes-estimated $5 billion valued franchise arguably isn’t a player, or a coach. It’s Jerry Jones. However, it’s not Jones’ on-field accomplishments that make him so powerful in the league. His business acumen and skills in marketing the product of professional football make him a force among fellow owners. He was instrumental in the NFL’s revenue growth in the 1990’s when the league sold the TV rights to the NFC’s games to FOX in 1994. He even was the man behind NFL’s return to Los Angeles, as he was the one that proposed that the Rams and Chargers share a stadium in Inglewood. Joining Jones among the most

powerful people in America’s most powerful sport is Robert Kraft. He had been a life-long Patriots fan and season-ticket owner since the 1970s. Kraft purchased the team in 1994 from James Orthwein, who had planned on moving the team from the Boston-area to St. Louis. Kraft, who owned the then-Patriots stadium, rejected Orthwein’s $75 million offer to break the team’s lease, which forced him to keep the team in New England and sell the team to Kraft shortly after. He has been one of the more active owners from a league-wide basis. Kraft has proved to be one of the key negotiators for the NFL during the lockout in 2011, when the league and players took months to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement. He reportedly was a voice of reason for the owners, convincing them to agree to the rookie-wage scale proposed by the players so the owners could have their more important terms met by the players’ side. Kraft, and his son Jonathan, are currently at the front of the NFL’s push to establish live-streaming as the main way to watch football in the future. They are making strides in this effort, as Amazon paid $50 million for the streaming rights to the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” package for 10 games. Even at the age of 77, Kraft acknowledges that the future of football is with digital streaming platforms. “We’ll be very interested to see how Amazon goes as it’s behind the

Photo: The Spear paywall,” he said in an interview with the New York Post. “The thing we have to be careful of is millennials. They don’t watch TV, they don’t have TVs or subscribe to cable. So we have to bring that audience in.” Kraft, along with Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, is also trying to push the NFL internationally. Khan, who also owns a majority stake in London’s Fulham Football Club, has agreed to give up a home game each year to allow his Jaguars to play at Wembley Stadium through the 2020 season. The team has been linked to rumors of a potential permanent move to London, though Khan insists that the future of the Jaguars is in Jacksonville. The power that comes with being an NFL owner has not always been used to grow the game of football, however. Carolina Panthers founder

and former owner Jerry Richardson sold the team in May 2018 after reports surfaced of him sexually harassing team employees and using racial slurs. This type of behavior is somewhat common in an environment led by wealthy men with seemingly unlimited power. In a column for NBC Sports, author Mark Leibovich wrote, “I learned the Jerry Richardson problem is not over. There is real concern that Richardson is the tip of the iceberg.” “With obscenely rich, powerful and aggressive people like NFL owners, there can be a commonness of not only acting in a brutish and entitled way, but also, simply, of being able to pay people off when they try to speak out.” In a social landscape marked by more and more issues of overstepped

boundaries and a post “Me Too” environment, it’s not a stretch to imagine that more cases like this may be occurring in the NFL. The privilege of owning a professional sports team is a dream and fantasy to many. The power that money holds over people is strong. It allows people to get away with the unthinkable and do the unimaginable. It’s when this money falls in the wrong hands that the power is wasted.

Turner is a Staff Writer for The Spear

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fall 2018

the spear

Pass the Baton

By sara biela

@sarabielaa

ollowing 60 minutes of play, there is the classic tradition of presenting the game ball to the most valuable player. However, the person awarding the ball is not who one would expect. Instead, it’s first-year San Jose State interim marching band director Craig McKenzie handing it over to one of his members in the troupe. “At the end of the football game, I present a game ball to … what I call the ‘player of the week,’” said McKenzie. “I pick somebody in the ensemble who has risen to the top, exceeded expectations and has been exemplary.” This is one of the traditions the Southern California native has incorporated into the program since taking over the position for Scott Pierson. McKenzie’s bond to SJSU emerged when he moved to the Bay Area in 2008 to pursue a Master’s degree in conducting. Following that, he taught six years at Abraham Lincoln High School in San Jose. He then decided to take his talents to the University of Miami to attain a Doctorate – but once Pierson retired from the podium, McKenzie couldn’t ignore his alma mater connection and returned to the Golden State. “When the job came up, I knew I wanted to be back in California,” he said. “I knew I really liked the Bay Area and that San Jose State was a really special place. I was hoping I would have the opportunity to come back and work here

some day, so the timing worked out really well.” SJSU’s music and dance department helped McKenzie make his homecoming decision that much easier. During his time at Lincoln, he developed a connection with Dr. Diana Hollinger. As McKenzie’s high school band director, Hollinger was faced with the challenge of building numbers and musical quality, as well as change the culture within. She said he played a significant role in helping her alter the “tone” of the band. “Craig was instrumental in helping me change the culture to be more positive, inclusive and engaging,” Hollinger said. “The positive, supportive, inclusive culture stuck and remained until I left the position. Craig was probably the student who most understood what I was trying to do, and led from within to help me do it.” When Pierson retired and the position was up for grabs, McKenzie applied immediately – when Hollinger was informed of his interest, she knew he would stand out and be a perfect fit. “He was always terrific — great character, lots of fun, worked hard and incredibly talented,” she said. “He showed his talent, his preparedness, commitment to doing the hard work and that he really cares about and connects with our student. It was obvious he cared about the things that matter to us at SJSU.” SJSU’s music and dance department also sent student

“He was always terrific — great character, lots of fun, worked hard and incredibly talented.” - Dr. Diana Hollinger page 32

Photo: Sara Biela

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Photo: Sara Biela

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teachers to work with McKenzie’s musicians. After each year up until he departed, the recommendation to his students was always his alma mater. When McKenzie accepted the band director position, he recognized the type of legacy Pierson left behind. “To use one of his words, it’s ‘epic.’ Scott loves that word,” McKenzie said. “It’s a testament to how hard he worked and to what an amazing product he was putting out for decades that we continue to have a marching band here. There’s no way to fill his shoes.” McKenzie knew who he was succeeding and made sure to highlight the importance of the traditions already accustomed to the returning band members. He said that while keeping those alive, it’s also important to evolve and try new things. One element McKenzie added to the ensemble was the rare marching band sighting of flute and clarinet parts. Since SJSU’s traditional music didn’t include those instruments, he personally wrote out the parts. “I heard from colleagues in the area that we were losing incoming students because we didn’t march flutes and clarinets, so I added that to the mix,” McKenzie said. “It’s adding an opportunity for more people to be a part of the ensemble.” Chiara Mattioli, a second-year creative arts major and newest member of the spectrum dance team enjoys all of the traditions, especially the game ball. “It’s awesome,” she said. “One person is recognized for giving 110 percent at practices and in all band aspects. It’s really wonderful and boosts moral.” Although she wasn’t present to experience the program under Pierson, Mattiolli strongly believes that McKenzie has been able to fill in the shoes with his passion and dedication. “I have immense respect for him,” Mattiolli said. “He came into this program after Scott left his unfathomable legacy with really big shoes to fill, and yet, he does it with such grace and humility. He’s such a phenomenal leader.” When it comes to leadership, McKenzie believes there’s more to it than the definition states. More than anything, he wants everyone to be in a welcoming atmosphere to represent their program the way they desire. “My job is to make sure that every student who wants to come to San Jose State and be in the marching band is in a quality, safe environment,” McKenzie said. “I have to make sure I’m providing everything I can to ensure that.” “It’s more of a responsibility than a power — and the cool thing is that the students of the band really help treat me like part of the team.” The baton has been passed, but the legacy remains intact.

Biela is an Editor for The Spear

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SCHOOL SPIRIT Repping SJSU in style

BY ALYSON CHUYANG

By Brianna Sheats SJSU students showcase their school spirit by dressing up in blue and gold, our school colors. These students stepped out and supported the football team in their best spirit wear. A majority of the clothes they are wearing have been cut and styled from just regular t-shirts sold at the bookstore on campus or even the free shirts given out.

THE ART OF THRIFT FLIPPING Calling all frugal fashionistas! A term coined, ‘thriftflip’ is in and is helping all college students keep their style, without the monetary sacrifice. Thrift stores may offer shoppers clothes at a discounted price, but the chances of finding something that is trendy and seen in magazines is slim. Crafty curators, like SJSU third-year Amy Guerrero, go to local thrift shops and find potential in dated clothing.

GoSp

artan

y l i m a f y

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SSJJSSUU! !!

Background photo by Luke Johnson. Student photos: Virna Mendez, Cosette Velasquez, Angelica Cabrera, Meghan Hopkins, Amber Philbeck, Emily Dunn, Rebecca Wolfe and Somina Quadri.

Photos by Brianna Sheats

“Sometimes you have to find a pattern you like, or pants that don’t quite fit, and know that you can do something with it,” said Guerrero. Her projects have been simple cropping of t-shirts. Like Guerrero, you do not have to be a talented seamstress to reinvent items you find. ‘Thrift-flipping’ is all about carrying out your vision from the store to the first time you rock it in the streets. From turning an old wedding dress into a two-piece summer dress set, or some grandfather jeans into high-waisted shorts, there is no shortage of options on what you can do. So the next time you think about splurging on a new jacket that everyone might have, think about the potential you might have thrifting and crafting your own outfit.

The transition of the original jacket being flipped by Amy Guerrero into a cropped white jacket.

Photos by Alyson Chuyang Fall 2018

BECOMING A VINTAGE SHOPPER BY WINONA RAJAMOHAN

Sometimes the beauty in finding your style comes from the unconventionality of it. It stems from the slight struggle to hit that jackpot. It grows from the desire to change, experiment and explore. Sometimes the fashion you need hides away from the blaring lights of shopping malls and brand outlets lined up beside you. Sometimes it might be hiding in another person’s closet. 1. Utilize Basic T-shirts. The first section to head towards, is usually where the men’s items are. Since the variety of men’s clothing styles in thrift stores aren’t that wide, the amount of T-shirts to look through can get pretty overwhelming. From graphic tees to basic-t’s, both men and women can find great options from these selections. Girls, cut them up any way you want! Stumbling across older T-shirts can lead to some great vintage looks that you can’t get from any store’s current collections.

P L AT O’ S C LO S ET C LOT H ES R A C K S H O WC A S I N G T H E I R VA RI ET Y O F I T E M S A N D ST Y L I S H C LOT H ES .

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2. Take Risks. Thrift stores are known for their wackiness, and more often than not, you’re going to find pieces of clothing that have you wondering why they were ever created in the first place. However, amidst the chaos, don’t be afraid to try things that you could have never imagined yourself wearing. You might end up loving it and start a new trend. 3. Pay Attention To Brands. Some pieces being thrown out of people’s closets are many years old, and most of them in thrift stores are in relatively good condition. These items could be branded goods from years ago that you’ve probably seen once on TV or down the street one time, and you’ve never been able to see it again. Nike, Adidas, Obey, Vans - those are some of the most common brands that you’ll be able to find jackets, pants and accessories for less than a quarter of its original price. Fall 2018

Fall 2018

TREAT YO’ SELF (ON THE CHEAP) BY CHRISTOPHER PADILLA

HIDDEN GEM BY MELODY DEL RIO A great escape lies on the outskirts of Redwood City.

of trees on both sides. The Temple was designed by architect William G. Merchant.

There are days when I need to de-stress and take a breath of fresh air without the pressures of the outside traffic.

It was built by the San Francisco Water Department to celebrate the 1934 completion of the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct. To truly appreciate this hidden gem, you must look at the temple from afar, as well as details in a close-up view.

Luckily, located off the I-280 freeway, there is a hidden gem that will convince you that you have been transported to a far-off place. Pulgas Water Temple offers an enchanting view of a mystical GrecoRoman style temple with a pool and a line

The parking lot is open at 9 am and closes at 4 pm, Monday through Friday. You will find it west of I-280 at 86 Cañada Road, Woodside, California.

University life is stressful...and expensive. Still, you gotta take care of yourself if you’re gonna get through it, so here’s some ways fellow students de-stress without breaking the bank: Kevin Luna, 22, Industrial Design “I buy myself some tea usually...Gong Cha is usually the most decent place you can find around here.”

Colleen, 22, Bio-Medical Engineering “I had this one class on Friday evening and I was tired so I went to Yogurtland nearby for some ice cream.”

Cost: $/$$$$ Cost: $/$$$$ on Yelp, on Yelp, a tea usually ~$.29/oz. --Calyne, 22, Business Management costs ~$4.00 --Elizabeth Nguyen, 22, Computer Engineering “Boba. I like to go to Breaktime.”

“When I feel good, I treat myself to some shoes. Or a Bowl of Heaven.”

Cost: Shoes - $20 $600 Bowl of Heaven Cost: $/$$$$ on Yelp, - $/$$$$ on Yelp all under $10 REACH magazine magazine REACH

Schuylet Zanbergen, 19, Mechanical Engineering “Sleep in.” Cost: Free. Just don’t do it too often, or you might miss class. ;p --Nickayla Virtusio, 18, Civil Engineering “Spending time with people, being outside enjoying the sun. Being cooped up and doing schoolwork is tiring. It’s good to take a break and just enjoy everything around you” Cost: Like most of the best things in life, free. Don’t get so caught up in your work that you forget to enjoy the little things! Fall 2018

FREE & OPEN SOFTWARE FOR ALL BY KUNAL MEHTA

he way in which we view the world is increasingly being dominated by technology. If we want to go somewhere, we use a map application. If we want to eat somewhere, we use a review website to find the best nearby restaurants. The world we see today is through the lens of our technology.

free culture and free software movement have been incredibly successful like Wikipedia or the Linux operating system, while others are incredibly obscure and never get off the ground.

Mako, as he is better known online, is a Fellow at Stanford’s Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Much of the technology we use is controlled by Sciences and researches these online communities. He for-profit corporations. And while those corporations started in a diverse set of online communities before might genuinely want to finding his place in academia. A improve our lives for the better, self-described technophile, the way they distort our view of Mako began experimenting the world is often abusive and with the Linux operating exploitative. They lock you into system in middle school and using their services instead of a soon found Dr. Richard “I didn’t really understand competitors, shut down services Stallman’s GNU Manifesto, in what was going on, but I became at a whim, or practice negligent which the Four Freedoms were convinced that there were real security practices so your first outlined. opportunities to study this, and I private information is exposed This resonated with had a curiosity and desire to for criminals to see. Mako, and he started understand patterns.” There is hope though, contributing to free software in - Dr. Benjamin Mako Hill and Dr. Benjamin Mako Hill is a more systematic way. He at the forefront of an participated in many online increasingly large social communities, like Wikipedia movement: free culture and free software. The movement, and Ubuntu. Mako began talking to social scientists about started by Dr. Richard Stallman in the 1980s, outlines four why some projects that benefited the commons were freedoms that users should have: freedom to use the work, successful, but many were not. freedom to study the work, freedom to redistribute and “I didn’t really understand what was going on, but share the work, freedom to make changes and I became convinced that there were real opportunities to improvements, and then share those improvements. study this, and I had a curiosity and desire to understand The four freedoms ensure that users have the patterns,” Mako said. Leaving behind a promising career ability to take control, rather than being held at the whims in free software, he pivoted to academia, and began to of corporations. The goal of the free culture and free research the aspects of why some online peer production software movement is to replace proprietary works with communities were so successful. Expecting to discover a ones that give users more freedom. And some parts of the simple five-step checklist on how to build a successful free

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software project, Mako explains that he found there are tradeoffs everywhere. Some projects attract more people, but suffer from lower quality as a result. Others might end up with more centralized control, an attribute that Mako would rather avoid. Until recently, some academics had a feeling that Wikipedia is an unexpected success, that in theory should not work, but somehow does in practice. There is no reason why strangers on the Internet would come together to build the greatest knowledge database ever known, for no monetary gain. But Mako, after studying these kinds of peer production communities for years, has an explanation: “The contribution method is new and novel, but the goal is unoriginal,” he said. “Everyone is on the same page if there is a known goal.” In the case of Wikipedia, everyone knew that they were building an encyclopedia. Even though there are hundreds of rules, contributors of Wikipedia are expected to follow, they can all be summed up as the policies that go into writing an encyclopedia. Mako notes that this pattern of an unoriginal goal is common in other successful projects like GNU, which was exactly a copy of the Unix operating system. Mako describes his switch to academia as a huge risk – he had just become a board member of Stallman’s Free Software Foundation, and was one of the Ubuntu operating system’s core developers. He would be leaving a guaranteed software engineering career for a large unknown in academia. But he believes that he can make a larger impact by studying peer production projects, and that his research can push the needle for all of them. But Mako wants his power to come from influence and impact, rather than strategies that corporations use like coercion, Fall 2018

paying people, and passing laws. He used to be a political activist that “yelled at people to act differently”, but did not find it as productive, since it relied on other people to change their minds. But when he got involved in free software, he had the opportunity to build a brand new world, which included the rights of users to control their own stuff in its DNA. Mako underscored this commitment by participating in the drafting of the Franklin Street Statement, which called for liberating online services by replacing them with ones that respected users freedoms and autonomy. Mako is worried about a world in which technology controls users rather than the other way around. Stallman said that he would be a waiter if he could not develop free software – but would that even be possible today? Basic systems like reservations or payment processors have become incredibly complex and all run on non-free software that waiters have to use. Mako’s 95 year old landlord says he is able to avoid non-free software simply by not using software at all. But that is not a sustainable solution in today’s 44

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world. All of the companies that control non-free software have power over us, and are able to control our interactions with the rest of the world. Mako sums up his philosophy by using the cliché “knowledge is power”. He comes back to economist Paul Samuelson, who once said, “Let those who will write the nation’s laws if I can write its textbooks,” noting that by impacting the research, he can make a difference. And it already is – Mako’s research is regularly published in the Wikimedia Research Newsletter, and presented about by others at Wikipedia-related conferences. Just like corporations have business school students constantly researching and coming up with ways to improve their profit margins, Mako sees himself doing the same work, but for online communities. Dr. Benjamin Mako Hill has a dream – one where everyone has control from the technology that they used to interact with the world, where they can share and collaborate freely. And one day, he hopes that his research will enable others to make his dream a reality.

eet 25 year-old Charles Parker. He is from southern California, but has lived in the Silicon Valley for over seven years. When I first met Parker, a former San Jose State student, I asked him to add me on Snapchat. His response was, “Oh, I actually don’t own any social media apps.” This millenial father made a conscious decision not to let social media dictate a majority of his life.

himself scrolling through his feeds for hours, which is why he deleted all of his social media accounts. “When I did have it, I was low-key addicted. I would be on it for hours, just scrolling and scrolling,” Parker explained. “That’s kind of the reason I got rid of it. Now, I have a lot more time to do other things, like spend time with my daughter, who means the world to me.”

Parker hasn’t logged on to social media in four years. The last time he posted anything, the entire population believed the fate of the world would come succumb to the Mayan Calendar. The apps he previously owned and used the most were Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. He recalls

For Parker, a sense of liberation has entered his life since he has given up social media. The lack of interest towards the latest trends spamming his phone is completely normal to him now. Without feeling the need to check his notifications every ten minutes, he has become more Fall 2018

The Echo Chamber X That That Divides X Divides Us By: Chris Core Us observant of the world around him. When greeting people, he goes out of his way to talk to them in person, rather than direct message them through an app.

that. I wouldn’t want her to be that weird kid who doesn’t have it, but I would also teach her that socializing is healthy,” Parker explained. “But until she’s of age, I would definitely monitor her usage of it.”

“It doesn’t socially affect me,” Parker pointed out. He did however confess that at times, he feels disconnected from the world. Everyone he knows owns a social media account of some sort, and his lack of them is causing him to fall behind on the latest trends, like the “Shoot” dance by Blocboy J. To stay “It doesn’t socially affect me,” updated with current events, he Parker pointed out. He did however relies on his own news app that confess that at times, he feels notifies him of any important disconnected from the world. headlines on a daily basis. He says the app provides enough information for him to understand a majority of what is happening in the world, such as the different propositions taking place this fall. on Instagram. While having a job and saving up for his future, Parker has a family to take care of. Even after cleansing himself of social media, he has no intentions of restricting his four year old-daughter from ever using it in the future. “I’m not against

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Without the distraction of having his eyes glued to his phone, Parker notices how people interact with the environment around them. One thing that bothers him the most is how severe phone addiction seems to be for others around him. “What gets to me the most is people aren’t aware of their surroundings and what’s going on within a five feet radius of them,” he explained. He wishes there would be more organic interactions amongst people in public places, meaning he prefers a face to face smile over a double-tapped heart

Parker doesn’t have a lifelong end goal with social media. He doesn’t plan on banning it for the rest of his life, but instead will wait and see if it ever catches his attention again.

short trip to Oakland to watch the Raiders’ game-winning touchdown and a quick dart to Arizona to see the Cardinals lose another game is how Jeremiah McBrewer begins his Monday mornings. Consumed by football media the weekend prior, he never thinks to look past the touchdowns that illuminate his cell-phone screen to expand his online horizons. McBrewer is one of more than three billion people who use social media every day. All it takes is a few clicks and suddenly you’re connecting with others and the events taking place around the world. It is now possible to watch the latest football highlight, congressional decision, or even the opinions from friends in your hometown, all at the touch of a button.

Around 40 percent of the world’s population is on social media. But instead of exposing users to new ideas, platforms like Facebook and Twitter are creating echo chambers riddled with mirror images of our own opinions, biases, and interests. Given the large amount of people on social media, there is plenty of responsibility for those who run platforms like Facebook and Twitter to keep a safe and supportive environment. But with so many people to monitor that is not always possible.

“Echo chambers produce an effect that harms democracy.” - Professor Andrew F. Wood

The ability to easily access social media has caused many people to overlook their usage and the communities they participate in.

they should listen to.

San Jose State Communications Professor and Facebook user Dr. Andrew F. Wood, said that people have an obligation to seek out other perspectives, however, people also have the right to go along with their own assumptions and decide who they like and what

“Echo chambers produce an effect that harms democracy,” said Dr. Wood. Fall 2018

An echo chamber usually refers to an enclosed space for producing reverberated sound. But, the term also refers to insular internet communities that only engage users who express similar viewpoints.

“It’s their site, and they have the choice to [create] their own regulations,” said McBrewer. Monitoring users is one job that owners of social media companies have. But finding their role and power in public discussion is more complex.

Social media in and of itself is designed so that people can pick and choose who they speak with and what they want to see on their site, but the companies themselves have ways to make the effect even stronger.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testified before congress this year that Twitter plays a fundamental role in public discourse and should be made available to anyone, despite their political viewpoints. His response came under mounting public criticism that he failed to leave personal political biases out of Twitter’s agenda. This coincided with Twitter and other social media platforms shutting down the account of Conservative talk show host Alex Jones.

Twitter furthers the echo chamber effect with the algorithm it uses to activate the trending feature on its site. According to Twitter’s blog, the algorithm is dependent on three different factors. “The tweet itself,” this includes the amount of retweets and likes a tweet gets. “The tweet’s author,” and how said author interacts with the public. And lastly, “You,” especially the collection of data that reflects personal interests you may have found engaging in the past. These three components work together to make a tweet trend. Once the components come together the trending page refreshes with the new content and the user gets to see what appears to be popular. The ‘trend’ feature also exposes how it’s possible to isolate content that appeals to individuals rather than what is popular among the masses. This social polarization, makes the user feel as if their opinion is the popular opinion around the world, when in reality, it’s just a way for Twitter to show you more content that you would be interested in reading. “It’s based off what they feel is going to get more people to come to their site,” said McBrewer, an avid Twitter user. According to McBrewer, social media companies are more invested in making a profit rather than creating constructive conversation. He is explicit that he doesn’t mind this business model.

In the weeks following his testimony, Dorsey acknowledged that closing the account would be in the best interest of the public. Conservative YouTube media analyst Mark Dice, referred to Alex Jones as “the canary in the coal mine.” Jones is the host and founder of “Info Wars,” a radio show that is broadcasted from Austin, Texas. The right-wing Conservative online talk show was syndicated on multiple social media platforms. In early September, Jones’ shows were removed from Twitter,Youtube, Apple Store and other sites after he was accused of being a conspiracy theorist who spreads hate speech through his talk show. But, for many, he’s become a poster-child for the censorship of Conservative ideals. Although Conservatives like Mark Dice disagreed with Jones’ removal, others agreed with the decision. San Jose State communications major and political Conservative who wishes to remain anonymous said, “it’s a good thing Jones was removed, because the censorship issue is larger than him and does not represent Conservatives as a whole.” Conservative groups such as Prager University, a non-profit

website that produces content for a Conservative audience, should be more concerned when they become censored for their content. The communications major explained how some of Jones’ claims were slanderous and untrue such as claiming that Barack Obama was apart of the Taliban. The claims Jones has made and the claims made about Jones are elements of “fake news.” The term is used by President Trump and many others to take down credibility of sites or to spread slanderous claims about people that have different opinions. “I don’t know if what he says is credible,” said the communications major. Google, the owner of YouTube, said in a statement to CNBC that Jones’ removal from the site was based on community guidelines that prohibit hate speech and harassment. Twitter defended its decision not only to ban Jones, but, to ban any user who violates these guidelines. Dorsey said in his testimony to congress that “We believe strongly in being impartial, and we strive to enforce our rules impartially.” Twitter’s significance goes beyond talk show hosts. The specific impact that Twitter has can be seen with President Trump. Trump Tweets just about everyday and says things that sometimes make national headlines such as firing of Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, and blocking transgender individuals from joining the military. “One tweet can send the whole world reeling,” said Dr. Wood. Trump uses his Twitter for government announcements, but he also uses it to fuel feuds that he has with celebrities and other world leaders. Trump’s Twitter is notorious for posts like, “Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me ‘old,” when I would NEVER call him “short and fat?” Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen!” Tweets like these cause concern and confusion among the public, especially in light of the U.S.’ volatile relationship with North Korea. The president’s Twitter has become so powerful that a federal judge ruled that his account is technically a public forum and the public can’t be blocked from seeing and commenting on it. The decision for the president’s Twitter to remain public sparked controversy with some Conservatives who did not understand why they would be censored on sites if

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Reclaiming

social media was technically ruled a public forum. Many conservatives took to social media to voice their frustration with the decision, but came up short. Conservatives struggle to make it on the trending page of Twitter and keep their channels afloat on other sites such as Youtube. Mark Dice was one of the loudest objectors when it came to the decision to call Trump’s account a public forum but not the opinions of other conservatives. Dice made a myriad of videos discussing how Conservatives are the “odd man out” when it comes to social media, as well as documenting his efforts not to be demonetized on YouTube. Many find themselves flagged on sites that claim that they are using hate speech in their content, but many argue they are exercising free speech. The Communications Major said that Conservatives say nothing wrong online and that censorship occurs because people get their feelings hurt when their ideals are challenged. “To see them get censored is just baffling,” they said. “Hate speech is a made up term because who defines what is free speech?” Hate speech has become one of 50

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the most dividing topics when it comes to social media. Conservatives, such as the communications major, do not think it is a problem while others find it to be quite prevalent. Zea Huizar, a public relations major at San Jose State, believes that people on social media do not think before they post and that removing accounts that propagate hate on social media helps both the company and the community. “Why would you keep one person who does hate speech and lose multiple who don’t?” said Huizar. Social media companies have taken action against hate speech on their sites by enacting different policies to combat the problem. In 2016, Google launched its plan to curb hate speech on YouTube, this included enacting a three strike policy on videos and their creators. Between May and June of 2018 around 70 million Twitter accounts were removed according to the Washington Post. Dr. Wood said he does not think that people should wait for these companies to make decisions about who is good and who is bad for them. “The best way to respond to hate speech is more speech,” said Dr. Wood.

Creating an environment where everyone will join in on debates and conversations is difficult to achieve. People are fearful to leave their comfort zones and hear different opinions from people who do not agree with their own. Different opinions call for different forms of action and adds on to what both sides disagree on. The communications major believes that to fix the divide on social media the companies must take action themselves and hire more conservatives on their staff. Without more Conservative viewpoints who monitor the content put on the sites, Conservative media will continue to get flagged and removed from the internet. But for Huizar, social media is just a platform where ideas are expressed. The companies have the right to monitor conversations but it is up to the users themselves to expand their opinions and reach out for other sides of stories. Social media plays an integral part of everyone’s life whether they use it or not. With the nation at odds, the importance for discussion and civil debate has grown. “If you don’t try you are never going to grow,” said Huizar.

My Time A walk in my shoes as a black woman in America By Jasmine Strachan Photos by Nick Zamora

Every morning I wake up and prepare myself for another day at work. I prepare myself for the judgment. I prepare myself for the misunderstandings. I prepare myself to be silenced. Every day I am forced to clock into a world that was not designed for a person like me. A world that is not designed for the unique radiance of a black woman. It’s my job to fit the ideals of others and it is an occupation with minimal benefits. There is a lack of appreciation and opportunity for the dynamically rare full-time employee that is me. I conform to the rules of my job in this world. My appearance is polished.

My hair is tamed, and my expressive nature is often subdued. Even to my dismay, I never miss a day. Because I am never allowed to. For black women in America, every ounce of our beings are scrutinized. We are constantly forced to fit unrealistic expectations that diminish our persons in efforts to provide comfort spaces for everyone but ourselves. Society is socially constructed to limit people who are different because the acceptance of something different is threatening. Essentially, it requires people to step out of their comfort zones which is a step people typically don’t like to make in my life.

As a black woman, it feels as though I am imprisoned in my own body. Because of my color and size, I am not given the luxury to simply be. I must be cognizant of how my actions, approach, volume and language could be misconstrued as me being violent and angry. I am not allowed to be my natural self because of the fears of others. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, fear is described as an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. Fear is often a recognizable response. It’s doesn’t necessarily have to be associated with terror and panic, but Fall Fall 2018 2018

A JOURNEY TO SELF LOVE BY MELODY DEL RIO

apprehension and anxiety. This emotion controls many actions in our world. For black women, it’s the emotion that keep us in a box. It’s like being forced to fit the same model that is manufactured over and over again. For me, it is recognized in the uneasiness of others around me. The big eyes and expressed eyebrows expose people’s exclamation to my being. The timid scurrying and nervous smiles represent their panic that I may harm them. These are often my greetings when I walk into any room and they are the representations I have of how I may present myself to the world. In this moment, I began to review my mental checklist of what could possibly warrant these feelings of uncertainty. As a plus-size black woman, for years, I have perfected my tone of voice in the hopes it lessens the feelings of fear surrounding who I am. Immediately, I force myself to be examined to settle the uneasiness others feel about me. I work to appease their feelings and concerns because instinctively, it’s my job and it’s been my job for twenty-two years. I dim my light to allow the comfort of my peers to shine through. This is a recurring theme for women. Women are consistently judged by their figures, features, wardrobe and their overall aesthetic. But for black women, those parameters are judged through a harsher lense. The pressures we endure to be taken seriously in this society are unreasonable and it dictates our lives before we have the chance to live it. This systemic oppression black women are forced to live by is perpetuated by the lack of accepting the true essence of the who we are. In this system, people can cast judgement on unique sounding names because they are too different or too difficult to pronounce. It’s failing to understand that names like Shekinah

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or Aisha are beautiful, yet are often given negative connotations such as “ghetto” or “ratchet.” Shekinah is a Hebrew name meaning “God’s presence” and Aisha originates from Swahili language that means living and prosperous. In this system, people are coerced into believing that dreads and afros are untamed hairstyles. According to a study done by the Perception Institute, one in five black women feel social pressure to straighten their hair for work which is twice as many as white women. In addition, white women show explicit bias toward black women’s textured hair. They deem it as less beautiful and less professional than smooth hair which conveniently makes it difficult for black women to be hired being that 38 percent of white women make up the managerial position in workforces, according to Business Researcher’s website. A curly, coiled ponytail isn’t untamed. It is the nature of a black woman’s hair and it is beautifully voluminous as it has grown to be. In this system, doctors can mistreat the pain black women feel in their bodies during their pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, black women are almost 3.5 times as likely as white women to die as a result of pregnancy. That is 43.5 deaths per 100,000 live births for black women versus 12.7 deaths per 100,000 live births for white women. The reasons these biases prevail because it is a lack of education that hinders the understanding of what it is means to be different. It is having the knowledge to recognize how these racial biases affect the livelihoods of black women and its narratives needs to be changed. These narratives continue the divisive nature that keeps our society stagnant from accepting other cultures unknown to our own. I learned that dimming my

light for anyone hinders my personal growth and the growth of others around me. Through acknowledging these racial biases and expanding our understanding of other existing cultures, it provides the greatest opportunity for change to occur. This will only allow more diverse spaces for those whose cultures are constantly unaccepted in society. It is not something that is learned overnight. And it begins with unlearning what is innately taught through people’s personal experiences and perception. But for me, I have learned how to relinquish my acts of assimilation as means to gain my own individual power. The first step was realizing it is not my job to make people feel comfortable around me. It is of the greatest importance for me to be comfortable with myself and it is that understanding of self that allows me to be unstoppable. I walk into every room upright, shoulders pulled back, and my head held high never offering the invisible crown upon my head to slip off in the slightest. I speak respectfully and with conviction to show others that I honor them while honoring myself. Black women are the epitome of beauty, intelligence, and uniqueness. These qualities make the world around us scared of our true essences. We have every right to fearlessly and unapologetically be ourselves regardless of the societal standards inflicted upon us. It took me several years to learn and embrace that reality. The love I have for myself and others who look like me overflows daily. This endless love empowers me to motivate others to learn and unlearn the societal ideals that keep black women stuck at the same old job of fitting others’ standards of who we are. I am finally clocking out and I encourage all of us to do the same.

I stood in my room disgusted about the image in the mirror looking back at me. My self-esteem was at an all-time low. I had no interest in disclosing this information about myself nor was the conversation of being comfortable in my own skin ever brought up. I could not see any trace of beauty within me. It was a major issue in the sense that nothing I did truly made me happy. From my dietary choices to my selection of friends; nothing was helping, and feeling sorry for myself only added fuel to the fire. When your self-esteem is low it is hard to get out of a funk because you have Photos by Anthony Fuccella

to change your environment and sometimes your habits. I started with my eating choices. The food I was consuming made me feel sluggish and bloated. Growing up as an athlete, this was a major issue because I was always active in everyday life. I had little to no self-love. I was not confident and everything I did was done with uncertainty. It was a battle within myself to wear a bikini to swim or to even wear anything with confidence. My answer to finding confidence didn’t lie with that people expected me to do or what people would think of me after. Fall 2018

I also started to look at the people around me. Nothing was wrong with the people I was hanging out with, they were great, but it was time for me to make some changes. I decided to fill my time with people who were more uplifting and honest with me. I now look at friendships and ask myself, “how are they going to help me grow as a person?” It might sound strange or maybe even rude, but as you get older, it’s important to have a group of supportive people by your side. People who are going to do their best when giving proper advice, who are going to be understanding, who won’t judge, and who are going to make you feel good about yourself. As soon as you make that change and surround yourself with better people, their energy will rub off on you. In the age of social media and celebrities who are plastered on billboards, it’s hard to find confidence in your own skin. From body types to the way we behave. The pressure of what is expected of me and other women is suffocating. There is pressure to be the so-called cool girl. In Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl,” the cool girl means you’re another one of the guys. You’re a girl who is

funny, sexy, plays video games, and eats large amounts of hamburgers without gaining a pound. “Cool Girls never get angry; they only smile in a chagrined, loving manner and let their men do whatever they want.” My answer to finding confidence didn’t lie with what people expected me to do or what people would think of me after but only what was going to make me better as a person. I asked myself the most important question: What will make me happy? I now know that whatever I do will influence what happens in the future. Therefore, my answer relied solely on how I wanted to feel mentally and how having positive people around me is beneficial to the goals I want to achieve. Once you surround yourself with positive vibes and ask yourself what will make you a better person, then things will slowly come into perspective. Taking a step back and asking what I really wanted in life resulted in not feeling as lost and alone as I once was and it also meant gaining the confidence I needed. Self-love is important and because of it, I am now sure of myself and content with my life.

The life of

by bj Querubin It’s 1:02 a.m. The bones and muscles in everyone’s feet ache, and everyone’s back is sore from standing up for several hours. Everyone’s brain is fried from a long day of classes, and spending the last three hours executing the same combination, from the same number, to the same song, dozens of times. Yet, the choreographer seems nearly oblivious to everyone’s pain, demanding nothing short of a maximum effort, as he yells for the 27th time, “5, 6, 7, 8!”. The pain and fatigue doesn’t disappear. It actually grows, but by seeing everyone’s facial expressions, no one would know. As their faces snap into performance mode like an actor in 54

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Photos by BJ Querubin

dancer

a play, the show must go on. Dance is one of the most timeless forms of artistic expression. From tribal dances in Africa to viral dances that appear in Fortnite, dancing has transcended into a global phenomenon. When many think of the Silicon Valley, they picture Apple and Elon Musk. What they don’t see is the growing dance revolution emerging. It breaks cultural barriers, brings communities together and creates subcultures within inner cities. Dancers experience a nonverbal synergy with people who may not be great at communicating, but they still speak the same language. This synergy is unlike Fall 2018

the feeling you get from watching an amazing singer or a brilliant movie. This information that is exchanged among dozens of people is received in seconds. Inside the oldest state school in California, you’ll find a passionate dancing community unlike anywhere else. They’re not just hidden in plain sight, they’re growing. I had the pleasure of speaking with four dancers, all of them are passionate about dance and what this artform has done for them. Among them is a b-boy (breakdancer), and he’s a part of the King Library Rockers (KLR), Devon Washington. Washington is a 4th year at San Jose State University and dances in front of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library perfecting his craft as a b-boy. “For me, it’s not so much using time to dedicate to dance, I’m just doing it out of pure love. It’s not something I have to really put my mind to,” said Washington. Being a student, he experiences a lot of stresses from school and having a job. For him, dancing is an escape from reality. “Having the option to dance is a nice way to get away from the real world. Dancing is my passion and I’ve done it for so long now, I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving it. It’s become a part of who I am as a person.” A major part of the b-boying culture is battling. Battling against opposing crews is the ultimate test for a b-boy’s abilities. Each venue is jam packed with hundreds of people, the speakers fill the room with fast-paced drum breakdowns, funk music and b-boys with glossy foreheads and dark sweat stains on their shirts. When Washington battles, he focuses on having fun, but is fixated on himself mostly. “During a battle, I tend to zone out. I don’t think of anybody else, except myself. Imagine a silhouette, of just me and a spotlight, and that’s it.” Washington’s crewmate, Michael Vu, has similar ideals when approaching dance. To the average person, watching Vu’s dance may look like uncontrolled chaos. But to a dancer of his caliber, it’s art. Vu is a senior at SJSU and b-boys alongside Washington in front of the library. Vu dances as frequently as he can, similar to Washington, and he dances out of pure love. “I love the creativity about dancing,” Vu said. “At first I thought dancing was about doing moves and just flashy stuff, but it’s way more deep than that.” Vu battles with Washington at b-boying jams several times a month. He says their preparation comes from battling his own crewmates and training well-roundedly. Vu spends many hours sessioning and practicing in front of the library, at a studio, or in his own apartment. For him, 56

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dancing is addicting and he craves to get better at it. A friend of theirs devotes her life to dance in a similar fashion, but has a different style. While b-boys Washington and Vu prefer to dance on their hands, Ally Tran prefers to dance on her feet. Tran is a 4th year here at SJSU and dances in urban choreography. She has only been dancing for four years, but she continues to mature and redefine her style. Her growth comes from being members of two teams, Academy of Villains and Commonality, “I’ve learned so much about dance through choreography, freestyling and foundation,” said Tran. Dance practices for both teams can become long and taxing, stretching to 3-4 hours for each team. Muscles are sore, joints are aching and any energy remaining is used to get ready for bed. Tran still digs up the extra energy to freestyle at home after those practices. “I can get very stressed from school and work, but freestyling for either thirty seconds or for an entire song helps me take my mind off of all those things that put me down.” Growing up in Vietnam, dance has helped her transition into life here in the U.S. English isn’t Tran’s first language, but dancing helps her make connections with people and improve her communication skills. “When I first came here, I didn’t have any friends and I didn’t talk to anyone,” Tran explained. “But because we share a common interest through dance, it helped me with my fear of talking to people.” This aspect of dance has helped her make a friend, who is a dance major here at SJSU, Kara Richey. Richey is a 4th year at SJSU and is graduating in the Spring. She is a part of SJSU’s dance program, UDT (University Dance Theatre). While taking 21 units, she also works three jobs as a dance teacher, and her commute is at least an hour long for two of them. One job is located in Castro Valley, another is in Morgan Hill and the other is here in San Jose. For a whole month, she accumulates about 25-30 hours of commuting. Richey says she has been dancing for as long as she can remember. “As soon as I was able to walk, I learned how to dance,” Richey recalls. She trained in ballet, tap dance, HipHop, jazz, contemporary and lyrical. Having a lifestyle that encompasses dance 24/7, she admits there have been a few moments where she wanted to give up. “Growing up in a competitive studio, there were body standards that we had to meet,” Richey explained. “That became hard because it wasn’t just about dance. But I was fortunate enough to have teachers who reminded me why I love it.” Her feelings about her outward appearance towards people of a higher level and authority is what she struggled with most. Richey admits she doesn’t always have a way with words, and dancing helps embody the flurry of emotions that 58

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surface when she is dealing with this issue. Another aspect of dance she cherishes most is the community it creates. She has made hundreds of friends of all kinds across the country through dance. Whether they grew up in a studio like Richey, or if they do urban choreography, she has made quality friends she will always be grateful for. I am a dancer. As dancers, the core reason why we dance is because it’s fun. Not fun in the sense that it makes us happy all the time, but fun in the sense that we have the unrestricted freedom to do something we love anytime we want, anywhere we want. From the hundreds of hours spent on drilling the same choreography or the same fundamental techniques, we dance through the pain. To us, dancing is one of the most empowering things that exists. Meeting people of unique backgrounds and watching the stories they tell through dance is another huge chunk of why we do this. If you were to ask me why I dance, this is what I would say: Dancing is poetry in motion. We paint pictures without using any tools while having music be our canvas.

A VIRTUAL REALITY ON CAMPUS By nicholas Girard

irtual Reality is maturing into a mainstream technology. There is now a large and excited group of Virtual Reality enthusiasts who are trying to help you discover VR on campus. I have a lab in the Dwight Bentel Hall room number 221 at San Jose State University where we’ll be teaching dozens of students how to capture 360 VR content. I am just one of many of the dozens of students and faculty on campus who are leading the charge to adopt VR as a medium. Whether you’ve tried Virtual Reality or not, the world is starting to adopt the VR headset craze. Its cousin technology Augmented Reality made its public debut with the hit mobile game “Pokémon Go,” where users could move their phone camera’s perspective in the Photo Sarah Lavalley

Photos by Nicholas Girard

Fall 2018

real world and then move in the game as well. These tech- power. It’s hard to explain what it’s like when you put on the nologies are now being adopted on campus and a communi- goggles, but to state it simply, the world fades away and you ty is forming around the bright future that mobile AR and are in another place made of polygons or pixels. There are a headset VR might offer. few types of VR, in room-scale VR the real world fades away You get an email and download the app linked. as you, the user, are swept into environments with different It’s an Augmented reality app called Standup VR. You tap physics than the real world, flying or floating through space, “Stand-up anywhere” and your phone turns into a window often teleporting around to avoid motion sickness. Roomto mixed reality. The Tommie Smith and John Carlos statues scale VR is also used to meet with other VR users around the can be walked around and the laser scanned 3d models are world in an application called “VRchat.” perfect, you can see the historic black power salute which af- In VRchat the user is free to move around the room ter 50 years is still a monument to progress and protest. You until they hit safety borders. These virtual borders are put in can download it now. It shows the power of current AR tools place when VR systems are set up in a room in case they’re available for free and was created by Nanci Solomon and a about to swat at a TV or a delicate plaster wall. It’s up to team of grad students. those who make VR games to make sure the user never has Last Fall a meeting was called to bring representatives from to lunge forward from their couch, this allows the user to across campus together and start duck and peek around corners a new age of collaboration. SJSU without breaking anything. director of Information TechnolIn the most immersive VR conogy Mike Wardley, is soft-spoken tent, the user can walk around a but serious. He boldly declared small space and simply grab obthat every faculty member who jects, turn dials or grab ammuniwanted to teach their course ustion for guns. ing VR can count on him to proThe most entertaining and Bike wheels tick as adjunct professor vide the resources and tools. Robert Bruce rolls his custom elec- non-educational game current A representative from tric bike with thousands of dollars of ly open for public display in the the psychology department was electrification, gadgets and gizmos KLEVR lab at King Library at aglow at the possibilities of SJSU has to be Arizona Sunshine. into his lab. testing VR in an environment The zombie-shooter game rewithout outside stimulus. Repquires the user to aim their weak resentatives from the school of pistols where it counts, zombie nursing were excited about the heads. The realistic graphics and potential to teach students how to tend to patients in a atmosphere are the some of the most compelling and least fully immersive environment. nauseating on the market and I’d recommend booking a time It was only a week later that San Jose State Univer- slot to see what high-quality VR can be. sity’s first AR/VR club was born. The meeting was a good We’ll likely start seeing 360 VR in the classroom to start for collaboration. The team met, demoed the Microsoft bring viewers to faraway places or demonstrate techniques of Hololens and excitement for the future was shared. A posi- a trade. 360 video is accessible to the less tech-savvy because tive vision was laid out that imagined open standards for VR it is easy to capture and distribute. 360 VR is being used at that would allow the team to develop prototypes on multiple SJSU in the training of human relations professionals in the VR platforms. This helped the team unify. Their current in- military and social services disciplines. dividual projects would have a much greater life and broader A personnel counselor trainer asks you to wear an audience as the Virtual Reality market grows. During the Oculus VR headset as a part of your training, you put it on meeting, a 360 VR campus guide for students was discussed and are inside a 360 video sphere. You find yourself sitting and will likely be ready for Spring 2019. on a park bench, a lower ranking officer acting as a trainer, Information Technology department (IT), the comes to you and tells you something happened. He menMLK Library, Faculty teaching VR and multiple VR labs tions that somebody sexually harassed him. You have to make on campus came together to offer VR to the wide-eyed stu- him feel comfortable confessing to you for your report, it’s dents and the dedicated teachers who want to harness its your job. The video pauses and you have to make a decision as 60

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if you’re in a role-playing game. You might choose to simply ask “what happened” because the other options were impersonal. He confessesses and reports the person who has been harassing him. After a few more options, you succeed and are allowed to take-off the goggles. You are then greeted by your trainer. “Good job, you’ve passed.” Bike wheels tick as adjunct professor Robert Bruce rolls his custom electric bike with thousands of dollars of electrification, gadgets and gizmos into his lab. It’s how he gets to the VR lab in ENG 246. Bruce says he wants to level the playing field so that anyone who wants to attend can come in and build a VR app. In the two years he has run the lab, many novel projects have been created, such as a material design app that lets students test stresses on materials and designs with realistic physics. The tool simplifies a complex computer-aided drafting process into an intuitive stress testing device. Many members of the newly formed AR/VR club are betting on a future where more people use VR and mixed reality for more uses. Arthur Baney is a software engineer and has been making games in a popular application called Unity. He says he’s built thousands of games. I watch him laugh with excitement as members of the AR/VR club try his game, “Age of Empires in VR.” It’s simple, but it shows that with help from artists, he could create the framework for the club’s Fall 2018

interactive VR projects. The head of Clark Hall’s VR will now consider publishing VR content on VR stations like KLEVR and Clark Hall’s Virtual Reality station. Other Virtual Reality labs may also attempt to demonstrate the versatility of VR as a tool in teaching, training, science, art and storytelling. Currently, student made content is demoed in the engineering, journalism and art building VR spaces. A psychology student seeks to create a VR dating app, others want to create empathy generating experiences. Some just want to experiment with the medium. The optimism in the room is un-

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bounded. The AR/VR club will host multiple speakers at times posted on their Facebook page. I plan on teaching students how to create 360 video this Spring and I welcome you to come create your first project in VR. The world’s VR will take us to are unique, but soon the tool will be used to train professionals and as a tool to telecommute to work, keeping more cars off the road. One can imagine professionals supervising work from 360 camera robots at multiple global sites in one day. The possibilities are endless and blue sky thinking is what the technology needs.