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VOLUME 48, ISSUE 18

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2014

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SUN GOD FESTIVAL

PHILLIP PHILLIPS TALKS TOUR

SAN DIEGO

PHOTO FROM UNIVERSAL MUSIC

SDSU Puts All Greek Activities on Indefinite Hiatus All social activites are suspended at San Diego State University after sexual assault and safety concerns arise.

BY jacky to

Leading up to his Dec. 5 performance at RIMAC, musical artist Phillip Phillips discusses his U.S. and world tours, success on American Idol and personal take on his songwriting process

Staff Writer

PHOTO BY KYLE SZETO/GUARDIAN FILE

KILLING OUR VIBE: After last week’s announcement of the proposed changes to the annual Sun God Festival, performers like 2013’s headliner Kendrick Lamar, pictured above may be disallowed from performing over concerns related to advocacy of binge drinking and drug abuse. The UCSD Guardian dissects the tentative changes to SGF 2015 OPINION, Page 4

Weekend, PAGE 6

THE FINAL FOUR Triton water polo gears up for its matchup with the top-seeded UCLA Bruins in the NCAA Championship this Saturday, Dec. 6.

Sports, Page 12

FORECAST

THURSDAY H 66 L 55

SATURDAY H 68 L 56

FRIDAY

H 67 L 56

SUNDAY

H 70 L 55

CAMPUS

UCSD Hosts World AIDS Day Commemoration on Campus By brynna bolt

UCSD hosted a variety of events throughout campus in honor of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. The activities were meant to emphasize and raise awareness of the impact that HIV and AIDS have had on the San Diego community, the nation and the world.

Events commenced at 9 a.m. and concluded at 9 p.m., opening in the Price Center Ballroom East with the display of three sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a part of the NAMES Project Foundation that commemorates the lives of those who have been affected

by AIDS. The sections of the quilt on display were ones contributed by San Diego organizations and individuals in response to the AIDS crisis, both in its early stages and in more recent years.

The quilt was also accompanied by photography that showcased the impact of AIDS on San Diegans currently living with the disease.

At 11:30 a.m., Eric Geiger, a professor of the theatre

staff writer and dance department, performed his solo dance piece “I’M WITH YOU and something is happening” outside of the Triton steps in Town Center.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Library Walk hosted the HIV/AIDS Resource and Information Fair, put on by UCSD’s Student Health Advocates. Members of the Student Health Advocates set up booths on Library walk where they handed out information, answered questions about the disease and provided tips on safe sex.

The Student Health Advocates, with the help of Student Health Services Health Education, arranged the first recognition of World AIDS Day at UCSD in the early 1990s. The student organization has been involved ever since.

Sexual Health Lead Coordinator and Thurgood Marshall College senior Jessica Dinh told the UCSD Guardian that the day’s events are important in spreading awareness about the disease.

See AIDS, page 3

“

VERBATIM

It’s raining outside?

Guess traffic laws and common sense are no longer mandatory!” ” - The Guru How-to-Guru OPINION, PAGE 4

INSIDE Average Cat..................... 2 Film Review..................... 7 Restaurant Review........... 8 Sudoku.......................... 10 Basketball Preview........ 11

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Students Use New Technique to Classify Organisms DNA barcoding allows researchers to distinguish millions of animals and insects.

BY kriti sarin

contributing writer Several UCSD biology students have made innovative discoveries in the field of insect taxonomy by participating in distinctive, handson research offered through the San Diego Biodiversity Project.

Rather than focusing on indoor, lab-based research, the project, which has been receiving funding from the National Science Foundation since 2012, gives undergraduate students the opportunity to contribute to the scientific community by immersing them in the uplands of the Scripps Coastal Reserve.

Heather Henter, the academic coordinator of the UCSD Natural Reserve System, told the UCSD Guardian that the project enables students to incorporate research in

their curriculum.

“The focus of the San Diego Biodiversity Project is to get undergraduate students involved in original research as part of their coursework,” Henter said. “The scientific goal is to document biodiversity … [which] is really important because most biodiversity on the planet is still unknown.”

The project focuses on identifying and classifying different organisms based on their genetic codes through a relatively new scientific technique known as DNA barcoding.

This method of genetic analysis examines a short section of DNA from a standardized region of an organism’s genome to distinguish its species from millions of others and, according to Henter, is significantly simpler than the older methods of analysis.

“Previously, species were identified by morphology, which required

tremendous expertise, or by much more complicated genetics,” Henter said. “DNA barcoding has revolutionized the study of biodiversity because it allows a nonexpert to differentiate species.”

The data from the students’ research are submitted to the Barcode of Life Database, a taxonomic library that contains almost two million barcodes from over 160,000 species of animals, plants and fungi that have been discovered by scientists around the world.

Henter describes the project as an innovative chance for students to conduct scientific research that contributes to the global scientific community.

“Rather than performing some rote experiment that thousands of See BIODIVERSITY, page 2

San Diego State University Greek community leaders announced that they are indefinitely suspending all social activities held by campus fraternities and sororities on Nov. 25. After a weekend of incidents that raised concerns about sexual assault and campus safety, members of SDSU’s Greek life will now be required to undergo sexual-assault prevention training.

According to UT San Diego, on Nov. 21, fraternity members interrupted a “Take Back the Night” march by yelling obscenities, waving sex toys and hurling eggs at the marchers. The next day, a woman reported that she was sexually assaulted at a party near campus. Later that night, a 19-year-old woman also reported that six men tried to pull her into their car near campus, although she was able to escape.

SDSU police officers are currently investigating the reported campus assaults while college administrators are looking into the treatment of the “Take Back the Night” marchers as potential code of conduct and student-organization policy violations.

The march’s organizers, a group called Concerned Students of SDSU, urged the university to suspend all fraternities until they can be made safe on the Monday after the march and asked SDSU to expand its Sexual Assault Task Force to include a more diverse group of students. The group also accused the campus authorities of having greater interests in protecting the school’s reputation than its students.

“SDSU administration routinely expresses concern about sexual assaults, but the reality of campus life shows its efforts have thus far been woefully ineffective,” Concerned Students said in a statement. “We demand bold action from the administration to combat SDSU’s campus rape culture.”

SDSU’s A.S. University Council President Jonathan Cole and leaders of its Interfraternity Council, the Panhellenic Council, the United Sorority and Fraternity Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council consulted with university administrators and the campus Sexual Assault Task Force to figure out how to address the issue.

In a joint statement, the groups pledged to educate Greek community members about sexual assault prevention and how to respond when witnessing dangerous behavior.

SDSU President Elliot Hirshman praised the move as a step in the See SDSU, page 2

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AVERAGE CAT By Christina Carlson Zev Hurwitz Editor in Chief Rachel Huang Managing Editors Lauren Koa Tina Butoiu Associate News Editors Meryl Press Charu Mehra Opinion Editor Brandon Yu Sports Editor John Story Associate Sports Editors Daniel Sung Soumya Kurnool Features Editor

SAN DIEGO

County Approves Large-Scale Alzheimer’s Project BY gabriella fleischman

senior staff writer The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has approved features of The Alzheimer’s Project, a county project that seeks to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and provide support for San Diego residents with the disease, on Tuesday.

According to a Nov. 29 article in the San Diego Union-Tribune, researchers from UCSD, the Scripps Research Institute, the SanfordBurnham Medical Research Institute and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies are all involved in the project. Other contributors include San Diego county supervisors, community members and Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

Alzheimer’s is the third leading cause of death in San Diego county and costs it $75 million annually, according to a Dec. 2 KPBS article. The project hopes to improve research by connecting physicians and patients to clinical trials, as well as improving services for families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s.

Scripps Research Institute profes-

sor Jerold Chun, who is involved with The Alzheimer’s Project, spoke to the San Diego Union-Tribune about researchers’ efforts to produce something tangible from the project.

“Sanford-Burnham and Scripps have large screening centers located within their institutions that were part of a [National Institutes of Health] screening initiative,” Chun said in a Nov. 29 transcription of his interview with the San Diego UnionTribune. “That screening capability allows individual scientists to look for chemical tools or proof of concept compounds that might lead to an actual medicine for, in this case, Alzheimer’s disease.”

The recommendations for the project include a fundraising campaign called “Part the Clouds” and improving the “Take Me Home” program, a program run by the sheriff ’s department that provides GPS devices to patients of Alzheimer’s disease in case they become lost or wander.

Chun explained to the San Diego Union-Tribune that many clinical trials are looking at toxic proteins and enzymes that might play a role in Alzheimer’s have failed.

“That tells you that these companies have the resources, the man-

power, but what they don’t have is an understanding of the disease that’s therapeutically traceable,” Chun told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

He said that the money raised for research will be disbursed based on research grant proposals, which will be reviewed by a group of scientists.

According to philanthropist Darlene Shiley, who is participating in The Alzheimer’s Project and was also interviewed by the San Diego Union-Tribune, this project is distinct because it is so collaborative.

“Could I write out a check for $500,000?” Shiley said. “Probably, but what’s important is that I write a check for the first $100,000 and say I believe in this, I’m in, come join.”

According to the KPBS article, about 60,000 San Diego County residents currently have Alzheimer’s disease, and by 2030, it is expected that 100,000 residents will. The project leaders have three months to create a plan for implementing the recommendations that were approved by the county board of supervisors.

readers can contact gabriella fleischman gfleisch@ucsd.edu

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SDSU Moves to Suspend Greek Life Activites on Campus ▶ GREEK, from page 1

right direction.

“We must work as one community to create the substantive changes necessary to end sexual violence on our campus,” Hirshman said in a statement. “The steps outlined today are the beginning of what must be a sustained effort to change attitudes, culture and actions, and the university is committed to working with and supporting our Greek community as it pursues these essential efforts.”

Cole hopes to collaborate on this issue with Frat MANners, a campus program that seeks to educate fraternity members to prevent sexual violence and abuse. Namely, Cole would like to enlist Frat MANners graduates to lead seminars on this subject, both on campus and in fraternity houses.

Stephanie Waits, the health educator who is teaching this semester’s course, told UT San Diego that she thinks Frat MANners does make an impact, especially on an individual basis. However, she also noted that the course only allows a maximum of 35 students per semester.

Earlier this year, a state audit found that SDSU, as well as three other public universities in California, failed to adequately train faculty and staff in responding to reports of sexual violence and sexual harassment. The audit also found that these universities did not follow state law in distributing policies on how to handle such incidents.

Jacqueline Kim A&E Editor Kyle Somers Associate A&E Editor Nilu Karimi Lifestyle Editor Taylor Sanderson Photo Editor Siddharth Atre Associate Photo Editor Alwin Szeto Video Editor Joselynn Ordaz Design Editor Elyse Yang Art Editor Annie Liu Associate Art Editor Andrew Huang Copy Editor Rosina Garcia Associate Copy Editor Aleksandra Konstantinovic Multimedia Editor

Page Layout Shermin Alein, Lauren Koa, Zev Hurwitz Copy Readers Andrew Chao, Caroline Lee, Jennifer Grundman, Micaela Stone, Kriti Sarin Editorial Assistants Shelby Newallis, Waverly Tseng, Teiko Yakobson, Jonah Yonker Business Manager Jennifer Mancano Advertising Director Audrey Sechrest Advertising Design Alfredo H. Vilano, Jr. A.S. Graphic Studio The UCSD Guardian is published Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year by UCSD students and for the UCSD community. Reproduction of this newspaper in any form, whether in whole or in part, without permission is strictly prohibited. © 2014, all rights reserved. The UCSD Guardian is not responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or art. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the opinions of the UCSD Guardian, the University of California or Associated Students. The UCSD Guardian is funded by advertising. Da fuq, BB Andru?!?!

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AIDS Day Commemoration Included Free HIV Testing on Campus ▶ AIDS, from page 1

“People don’t realize that AIDS is still so relevant and that people from our age group of 13 to 25 are still being diagnosed,” Dinh said. “A lot of people that stop by the event are really influenced by it.”

Free and confidential HIV screenings were also offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Library Walk.

At 3 p.m., Dr. Ankita Kadakia from the UC Health System’s Owen Clinic spoke in the Cross-Cultural Center about Truvada, a new medication that combines two drugs that work within the T-cells of the immune system to block the HIV virus from spreading.

When paired with safer sex practices, Truvada can also be taken as a

pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, to help prevent HIV infection among high-risk individuals.

The Owen Clinic, along with the Antiretroviral Research Center, is involved in ongoing studies that focus on the continued use of PrEP in certain populations, on getting newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients the care they need and on HIV medication adherence.

A series of talks by a panel of youths living with HIV, located in the John Muir Room in Price Center, and the Global Forum Panel discussing HIV/AIDS in the world today, located in the Great Hall of Eleanor Roosevelt College, occurred at 7 p.m.

At 8 p.m., UCSD’s co-ed a cappella group The Beat closed the AIDS Memorial Quilt display.

Further presentations took place throughout the day in each of UCSD’s Campus Community Centers regarding the intersection of HIV/AIDS with specific communities.

“UC San Diego is committed to educating next generation leaders, conducting innovative research and providing advanced patient care that transforms lives,” Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said in a press statement released on Dec. 1. “UC San Diego’s recognition of World AIDS Day enables us to raise awareness about this devastating disease and our efforts to prevent, treat and combat it.”

readers can contact Brynna bolt

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Students Can Apply for Internships with Classification Program ▶ BIODIVERSITY, from page 1

other students have done over the years, these students are actively adding to the sum of our knowledge of the world,” Henter said in a Nov. 20 press release. “By assembling, analyzing and publishing the DNA barcodes they find in the field, our students participate as full citizens in the community of scientists.”

Students who are interested in the program can apply as interns or receive academic credit for their work by enrolling in one of the two San Diego Biodiversity Project courses currently offered at UCSD: Recombinant DNA Techniques, listed as BIMM 101, and Ecology Laboratory, listed as BIEB 121. After

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consulting faculty or enrolling, students have the option to conduct independent research projects.

According to Henter, the success of the project can be partially attributed to the positive attitude of its participants.

“It’s a rare opportunity for undergraduates, and we’re proud of the enthusiasm and the professionalism they bring to the project,” Henter said.

Henter discussed biodiversity as a pressing issue, explaining that over 70 percent of arthropod species remain unknown, and the identification of these organisms would provide critical information for the conservation of rare species.

According to the project’s website,

the state of California has more rare species than any other state in the country. Henter added that the city of San Diego is particularly rich in rare species.

“We are focusing on our local reserve, the Scripps Coastal Reserve,” Henter said. “San Diego is part of a ‘biodiversity hotspot,’ a place with a large number of both endemic and endangered species, thus documenting [how] biodiversity is particularly important here.”

The project’s outdoor barcoding laboratory is located less than a mile west of campus and is one of four natural reserves managed by UCSD.

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OPINION

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OPINION

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ILLUSTRATION BY ANNIE LIU

EDITORIALS

Sunday Sun God The Sun God Task Force should not waste stidemt fees on lackluster replacement activities.

L

EDITORIAL BOARD Zev Hurwitz

EDITOR IN CHIEF

ast week’s Sun God Task Force meeting put to rest rumors that another campus tradition would be cancelled: A tentative date has been set for Sun God Festival 2015. Unfortunately, the disappointment cued in immediately after hearing about everything else.

We owe Associated Students Concerts and Events credit for their determination to work with administrators to fight for our Sun God Festival; we know it’s been a bumpy ride, to say the least. But if the thought of a Sunday Sun God Festival starting at noon doesn’t leave students with immediate distaste, the proposed ideas of “fun, lively” afternoon events to discourage drinking or “chill” comedy show-type, cool-down entertainment will probably do it.

What’s worse is that the provided, preliminary festival agenda also wrote that Sun God Festival 2015 will feature “music acts and [a] carnival without electronic dance music or major headliners that are associated with binge drinking and drug use,” leaving most uneasy about what kind of talent would actually make the cut to be at the festival. We also have no idea what future Sun God Festivals could actually end up being, despite all the work that has gone into maintaining our tradition.

Improving alcohol and drug educational campaigns throughout the school year and leading up to the event are measures we stand behind completely. We, too, have combed through the past festivals’ detox statistics time and time again, and it’s clear that events as large as the Sun God Festival need to be safe for everyone. However, with $550,000 of our student fees on the line, it’s also imperative that this money does not go to waste. It’s concerning that these released, preliminary plans will eat at the festival’s budget while tearing the festival itself apart. If the Sun God Festival remains a UCSD tradition, its music festivals should maintain or even exceed at the talent caliber of years past. Otherwise, there may be little to no reason for us to continue fighting for it.

Student surveys have historically shown that students responded in favor of Top-40 artists at the Sun God Festival and campus events. If the new restriction against artists who may encourage drug or alcohol abuse is strictly followed, potential performers similar to Big Sean, Drake, Kendrick Lamar or Porter Robinson — all former Sun God Festival headliners — could immediately be

Meryl Press

See FESTIVAL, page 5

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MANAGING EDITOR

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

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OPINION EDITOR The UCSD Guardian is published twice weekly at the University of California at San Diego. Contents © 2014. Views expressed herein represent the majority vote of the editorial board and are not necessarily those of the UC Board of Regents, the ASUCSD or the members of the Guardian staff.

ILLUSTRATION BY JEFRREY LAU

Task Force Should Properly Investigate Before Re-hiring Staff Pro for Campus Events

T

he proposed changes to Sun God Festival 2015 have struck a chord with students, perhaps pushing a campus already frustrated by tuition hikes and the closure of student spaces too far.

One of the more troubling Task Force ideas was the proposal to hire Staff Pro again, the security firm that last year, not only allowed drugs and alcohol to make their way into dorms, but had staff members also partaking in these substances to the point of harassing students.

Some of the Staff Pro security detail was seen smoking pot with students before allowing them entry to residences, which might not be a big to-do if they weren’t hired exactly to keep things like that from happening. Guards reportedly also made unwelcome comments to female students, creating a borderline hostile atmosphere contrary to the new culture that the Task Force is trying to establish.

Even if we dismiss each of these claims as hearsay, basic research into the company uncovers dissatisfied event-goers, some complaining that Staff Pro guards intimidated a nursing mother at another event. This shows, at the very least, a culture of poor choices amongst the guards and certainly raises concerns about their ability to exercise good judgment when dealing with Sun God attendees. We understand that there

are probably lots of quality employees at the company, but we sure didn’t see any where it counted.

In a recent meeting, our reporter was told that the best security teams were placed at the festival, while the worst (according to either the Task Force or the company) were stationed at housing.

It seems to completely defeat the point of locking down student housing and limiting foot traffic if the teams assigned to dorms don’t care about the job they’re doing and even perpetuate the behavior they were hired to prevent.

It’s arguable that the increased security measures around dorms actually stopped anybody from bringing in illicit substances or guests if they were really determined to do so. In fact, it’s plausible that the extra security makes students more afraid to ask for help if they do need it. But if we have to have these roadblocks up, we urge Associated Students Concerts and Events and the Task Force to vet other security companies more carefully and reconsider perhaps how teams are stationed.

While we understand that the security of students is an ever-present issue, we won’t see real change while the solution is to paper over the problems with unqualified, overworked people dressed in official-looking uniforms.

Survive A Southern California Winter How-to Guru opinion@ucsdguardian.org

I

n this part of California, we don’t really have seasons.

We’re not saying that the rest of California has seasons, per se; we just have even less of them here in sunny San Diego. So when the much-needed rain hits hard, as it has the past few days, we understand that most San Diegans, native or not, are ill-equipped to deal with the unfamiliar weather conditions. To that end, we have written you all a handy guide to dealing with winter “weather,” and doing a fantastic job at it.

First, check your wardrobe.

The best clothes for dealing with winter conditions here are lots of crop tops, cutoff denim shorts and sweaters with lots of holes in the knitting. Being cold enough in 65 degree weather to not be able to feel your extremities is an art which takes practice and many props. Do not fret if you don’t own enough of these items; the local Forever 21 always has them in plentiful supply.

Also make sure to double-check your shoe collection. Multiple pairs of flip-flops, jelly ballet flats, boat shoes with air holes and stilettos are absolutely imperative if you want your socks to be properly soaked.

Next, neglect to remember any maintenance deadlines on your car, if you own one. This category of rules includes, but is not limited to: not replacing worn-down windshield wipers, not checking tires for wear and tear, ignoring any and all scary squealing sounds coming from your brakes and refusing to acknowledge the blatantly flashing “check engine” light on your dashboard. You get extra points if you buy very expensive snow chains to help you drive on the long commute from Villa La Jolla up to Gilman Drive (It’s an elevation change. It requires chains).

Also keep an extra-long list running of creative quips about weather that dips any fraction of a degree below 65. Some examples include: “My feet are about to fall off,” “I don’t know if I should wear my quarter-zip sweatshirt or carry it in my bag,” “I can’t text my mom to tell her it’s cold with my gloves on,” “I’m going to get frostbite from this wind chill,” “I wonder if Black’s Beach will freeze over so that we can go naked ice skating” and our current favorite “It’s raining outside? Guess traffic laws and common sense are no longer mandatory!”

Finally, if you’re flying home for the holidays, be aware that the most weather-affected flight route on the West Coast is from San Diego to the San Francisco Bay Area, with an average of almost three flights a decade being delayed or cancelled due to snow. Don’t forget to take this into account and arrive at the airport at least four hours early to join the hordes of travellers camped out in the domestic terminal.

Follow these guidelines to the dot, and we assure you, you’ll have a stellar, successful San Diego winter.

Happy holidays, and don’t forget to refer back to our exam preparation How-To while studying for finals!

OPINION

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ASCE Should Consider a Smaller Concert Series to Replace Sun God ▶ FESTIVAL, from page 4

dismissed as options.

Though noted as one of the most major changes, moving the event to a Sunday also strikes us as bizarre.

A date change won’t kill the vibe of students determined to party and pregame before the festival, and though a Sunday Sun God Festival eliminates direct conflict with classes, realistically, the students who would skip Friday lecture to drink will likely be the same students who skip Monday lecture in order to let their hangovers subside. A Sunday festival could create adverse effects of a weekend full of parties leading up to the festival, which would be counterintuitive to all of the task force’s efforts.

At the meeting, the task force offered film screenings or comedy shows as nighttime or preshow activities, but these seem completely random at a music festival and unappealing to the large majority of students who attend the event for the music. Attempting to discourage alcohol and drug abuse by funneling money toward said Sunday

“afternoon events” will likely prove to be an unsuccessful waste of money if administration and coordinators can’t attract enough students to actually go to them. We can only imagine it to be a daunting, near impossible task to creatively come up with exciting events that college students would find more appealing than getting hammered elsewhere.

Each additional “preshow” or “cool-down” activity will also have its corresponding costs, which in turn will eat away more of this year’s smaller, $550,000 budget. The task force’s final report for Sun God Festival 2014 stated that over $180,000 of last year’s $869,514 budget went directly to staffing security, while approximately $32,000 went into securing and fencing off North Campus. Delving into the topic of festival security and its costs for further increasing and improving personnel would require a whole other editorial — direct your eyes a few inches below to read that one — but it becomes much easier to understand student concerns with the event’s budget shrinking by the minute.

Nobody wants to see the Sun God Festival go, but if watering down what once was an amazing campus tradition is the only way administrators will allow us to keep it, perhaps ASCE should look to fund a series of concerts instead.

Several smaller scale music events could immediately cut the thousands of dollars of security costs needed for an event as massive as the Sun God Festival, would likely not require closing North Campus and could allow more budget to be used toward booking more artists that students want to see.

If the Sun God Festival can no longer be what the students want it to be, it shouldn’t take up such a significant amount of the A.S. Council’s budget. There’s no point in exhausting our student fees to put forward an event that merely leaves us with only remnants of what the Sun God Festival used to be. With more than half of a million dollars at stake, now is the time for students to be active in the discussion that decides where and toward what our fees go to.

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Idol Chatter WRITTEN BY KARLY NISSON STAFF WRITER

American Idol-winning singer-songwriter Phillip Phillips discusses platinum-selling albums, touring and an evolving sound in anticipation of his performance at RIMAC this weekend

B

ack in 2012, a Georgia native with the catchy moniker captivated American Idol judges and national audiences with soulful, raspy vocals. Naturally, the impressive amount of success Phillip Phillips attained following his Season 11 victory came as no surprise.

Phillips’ 2012 debut album, “The World from the Side of the Moon,” topped the Billboard Rock Album chart with the delivery of an organic rock that his recently released sophomore album, “Behind the Light,” develops even further. Equipped with the rich sound of a full band, Phillips has embarked on a headlining North American tour set to stop at UCSD’s RIMAC Arena on Dec. 5.

Between shows, Phillips spoke to the UCSD Guardian about his songwriting process, playing live and time spent on the road.

Guardian: You’ve set off on quite an extensive tour, playing in some pretty large venues. But before your success following American Idol, you played some very intimate shows with a small band. Are there times you miss playing to smaller audiences or do you prefer the consistent excitement of playing larger shows?

Phillip Phillips: Yeah, I want to do a tour at some point where it’s just me, my friend that plays the cello and the guitar player — as a little trio — and just play smaller venues like that. But it’s also fun playing the big ones as well because it’s clearly different than breaking it down acoustically and playing with a full band. You get to have fun and you get all these different personalities musicwise … I have an incredible band and it’s just an honor to play with them and share my music with them and have them share that with me as well.

G: You’re getting to stop off in a great deal of cities on this tour. Based on all the shows you’ve performed — before this tour and including it — is there any one place that’s stood out to you as a favorite place to play?

PP: My favorite place I think I’ve ever played was definitely in South America. I did a rundown there with John Mayer and it was just incredible, and the passion down there from the fans was awesome. We played two shows in Argentina and we played in Brazil — one in Sao Paulo and one in Rio … I thought I was going to

be the opener. But when I started playing the songs, the crowds were singing every word to every song and it was just unbelievable!

G: What can you say has been your greatest accomplishment following your Idol victory?

PP: I had an album that went over platinum and for me, that was just unbelievable. I’m so proud of that. Just this new album — I’m so proud of it as well. It’s so real and organic and it’s not like what a lot of artists put out these days where it’s just a loop and a drum beat with a catchy hook in it. It’s actual musicians playing music, and it’s real and there’s no fakeness about it. It’s real music.

G: You’ve written or at least co-written every track on “Behind the Light.” As a songwriter, is there any particular creative process you go through when writing a song?

PP: When I’m writing a song by myself … it’s completely different than with something I co-write. It’s a little more personal. They’re all personal, but it’s always different.

With some people, when you co-write it might be a little tougher for them to understand where you’re coming from or it might be tougher for you to understand where they’re coming from. You’ve got to learn to meet in the middle. It’s kind of like a blind date in a way, but it’s always different and it’s always interesting.

G: You manage to convey an upbeat rock feeling and maintain a personal quality in each song that — like you said — is something lost on a lot of music today. But in spite of such achievements, you’ve managed to maintain a pretty humble and down-to-earth outlook. Do you ever feel like fame is affecting you or that you have to step away from it for a while?

PP: I don’t know — I’ve always just been myself. I’m myself when I go home, and when I’m on the road and onstage and on TV or whatever. You always have to be yourself. What’s the point in living two separate lives?

I mean, everybody does live two separate lives in a way. But as a person, just be yourself. If you have to be somebody else just to make people like you, that’s a little strange.

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM UNIVERSAL MUSIC

Becoming a TwentySomething VINO AND VISAS Shelby NewaLlis snewalli@ucsd.edu

O

n Dec. 1, I turned 20, thus entering a new decade that will most likely be filled with all kinds of adult stuff. Though I’ve legally been an adult for two years, this is the first time I’ve ever had to worry about adult things, like buying my own groceries, paying rent or working in an office setting. In addition to normal adult responsibilities, I’ve had the added bonus of learning how to deal with language barriers, adapting to cultural differences and trying to afford things that aren’t necessary but are still important to me, like travel and expanding my culinary horizons. Aside from traditional adult things, like paying rent that I would have had to learn how to do anyway, being abroad has really sped up the growing-up process. Since living abroad, I’ve become more openminded and realistic with how I want to spend my time, the type of people I want to spend it with and how I can manage it all.

Something that I’ve had to adapt to since living in Italy has been all of the little, bureaucratic, cultural things, like the fact that stores just aren’t open during certain hours of the day and also randomly during the week. These are the things I never anticipated being a problem until I was without groceries one Sunday and could not go shopping because all the grocery stores were closed. Or walking around hungry from the hours of 3 to 6 p.m., looking for a restaurant and noticing that they all have signs that say chiuso (closed) and did not open until 7 or 7:30 p.m. From this, I’ve learned to shop throughout the week and not to get phased by weird store hours because they are actually not weird, just Italian.

Being abroad has been a huge motivator for learning how to be financially savvy. In order to be able to travel, I have to spend my money wisely and limit spending on incidentals. I’ve started to look at the cost of things in terms of Ryanair flights. For example, a friend and I have an Eastern Europe trip planned for January, and since we found flights from Bologna to Budapest for 20 euros, I always think to myself before a purchase, is it worth a flight?

Wanting to travel has also been a huge factor in me finding a part-time babysitting job so that I’m not withdrawing money every other day for living expenses.

Another aspect of growing up that I’ve learned since being abroad is the importance of spending time with genuine and like-minded people.

Now that I have responsibilities and limited free time, it has become exceedingly evident that there are people in life that you just can’t spend your time worrying about. It sounds a bit harsh, but like life-advice guru, rapper extraordinaire Aubrey “Drake” Graham raps about, you have to have people around you who can “reciprocate your energy.” This means that you only need to be loyal to your real friends — the ones who’ve been there for you since day one. As per usual, Drake’s life advice is spot on, promoting healthy and long-standing relationships for today’s youth.

Above all else, your 20s are about learning how to achieve balance in your life. It’s something that I’m learning con calma, an expression meaning calmly or one step at a time.

WEEKEND

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FILM REVIEW

WILD

PHOTO COURTESTY OF WALLPAPER SERIES

Reese Witherspoon walks in search of a new beginning in this moving, rugged wilderness adventure.

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee Starring Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski Rated R Release Date Dec. 5

F

ew of us welcome the idea of being alone with nothing but our thoughts for days at a time. For one woman, this is what was needed to get past the scars left by years of drug abuse, sex addiction and familial tragedy.

“Wild” is directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, who also directed last year’s Oscar-winning “Dallas Buyers Club,” an inspiring film about the early AIDS epidemic. Vallee, along with an excellent cast, was able to make the film entertaining and convincingly emotional.

Based on the real-life memoir of the same name, “Wild” chronicles

the adventures of Cheryl Strayed on a 1,000 mile solo hike across America over the course of several months. “Wild” is not an ambitious film, but its effectiveness lies in its simplicity: It is a small story proliferated with emotion. “Wild” is not a long episode of “Man vs.

Wild”; instead, it is an emotionally charged journey toward selfdiscovery.

Although her filmography hasn’t been prolific in the last several years, this is perhaps Reese Witherspoon’s best role since winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for “Walk the Line.”

Witherspoon convincingly portrays the transformation of a broken woman. Her performance is visceral and praiseworthy, especially when acting opposite Laura Dern, who plays Cheryl’s loving mother Bobbi. Dern’s portrayal makes it clear that beneath her happy smile, she is scarred by her marriage to an abusive husband and hopes for a better life. After years of raising two kids on her own, Bobbi goes back to college, despite the embarrassment of taking classes alongside her daughter. We can see the contrast between Cheryl’s cynicism and Bobbi’s desperate optimism.

Throughout the film, Cheryl meets hikers and has brief encounters with them, but within a short time Cheryl is back on her own. Most of the human encounters enrich the story, and each new character is unique and memorable

in their own way; however, they are overplayed and detract from the seclusion that Cheryl is meant to feel, since she is never too far away from civilization.

Another problem with the film is that the natural challenges that Cheryl faces hardly present any real danger. Although it is clear that she is out of her depth, most of her obstacles are easily overcome. For example, after Cheryl discovers that her boots are too small, she learns that Recreational Equipment Inc. can send new boots to any lodge along the trail. The film is focused more on the obstacles Cheryl faced in the past as opposed to the ones she faces on the trail.

“Wild” is at its best when it leaves Cheryl alone with her thoughts and the wilderness around her. When there are no humans around for miles, we can feel Cheryl’s solitude. When Cheryl

sits alone, appreciating the beauty of the sunset, we can feel her isolation. The film is proliferated with moments of natural beauty — not grandiose, sweeping shots but down-to-earth sights of something a hiker would actually see. “Wild” will inspire you to personally go out into the wild and experience these moments of seclusion among nature for yourself.

Although bogged down by excessive human interaction and lacking suspense, the simple story of “Wild” is elevated by powerful acting and beautiful directing, resulting in the visceral wilderness adventure of a woman who never gave up, walking herself out of the darkness of her tragic past.

— Naftali Burakovsky

staff WRITER

OUTDOORS

Potato Chip Doesn't Rock Falling short of nearly all expectations, Potato Chip Rock is overcrowded, overrated and a waste of time for UCSD hikers Location: Poway, California (30-minute drive east from campus) Trail Difficulty: Steep, seven miles round-trip Best Seasons: Fall, Winter and Spring Time to complete: 3 to 6 hours

W

e all have a handful of friends with Potato Chip Rock profile pics. Maybe you’re in one of those pictures, smiling with your hands in the air on top of that uncannily thin slab of stone. It always looks like the pinnacle of a fun, if tiring, day in the great outdoors just outside of Poway. But if you do have that picture, then you know that everything leading up to that moment was easily the most overrated hike in the San Diego area.

There are two ways up to Potato Chip Rock, and the more popular of the two is the Mt. Woodson trail up the front side of the mountain.

For those not familiar with a typical weekend trek up the Mount Woodson trail, here’s a breakdown

PHOTO BY ANDREW HUANG/GUARDIAN FILE

of the experience: You start with a brief struggle to find parking in the large lot at the trailhead. Following that, the beginning of the hike has a cute park with lawns and a large duck pond, but this quickly turns into dirt and shrubs after the first five minutes. From there on out, it’s a dusty seven-mile, out-and-back hike.

Sticking out like a sore thumb, there is a single, large oak tree halfway up the mountain, shading a large patch of the trail — almost literally the only source of shade on the hike. The pitch is fairly steep, so you’ll inevitably want to cool off and catch your breath under this tree, but it won’t be in the peace and solitude of nature as you might hope. You’ll take your break with a bunch of exhausted San Diegans,

whiny kids begging to turn back and literally dozens of energy bar wrappers, food fragments and discarded water bottles lying among the rocks you will sit on. I even found one with the Sun God on it.

Go Tritons!

If it’s a sunny weekend afternoon, you won’t have a minute to yourself up the trail. At nearly all times there will be loud families slowly ascending the path, sweaty couples in full gym attire edging past you the whole way up and the occasional guy blasting Linkin Park out of his tinny, portable speakers, as if every damn person on the trail wants to hear it. You can almost forget that you even left the city.

Once you finally reach the summit, you’ll probably see the line to get a photo on Potato Chip Rock

before you see the actual rock. It was approximately 20 minutes long the day I went up. Those willing to wait in the heat will be rewarded with a neat shot. And maybe you were only in it for the profile picture all along and the hike was just a means to an end with, like, 30 Facebook likes. Good for you.

I hope your smile looks authentic and your pose makes you seem super fun and outdoorsy. However, those looking to fully experience the gorgeous landscapes and scenic hills and valleys of inland San Diego County can find scores of better opportunities elsewhere.

— Kyle somers

A&E Associate Editor

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WEEKEND

Fresh Out of the Oven Tasty, affordable bakery chain arrives in San Diego

85°C BAKERY CAFE HOURS: Mon. to Sat.: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sun.: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

A PHOTOS BY YULIN LIU/ GUARDIAN FILE

fter silently warming up at the Balboa Ave. plaza for over several months, 85°C Bakery Cafe finally greeted us with its grand opening on Nov. 14. A successful bakery chain from Taiwan, 85°C Bakery Cafe has developed over 700 branches around the world. Its customers appreciate the good-quality food and drinks and often become loyal regulars after their first visit. With its good reputation already established, a long line accumulated outside the café’s doors and persisted throughout the whole day — it’s not an exaggeration to say that a bakery mania has been brought to San Diego by this event. The store is bright and spacious, offering seats on the side for customers to sit down and eat right after their purchase.

The pastries cooked by the 85°C Bakery Cafe kitchen hit the tastebuds of people who crave all kinds of flavors, all at affordable prices. They embrace diverse tastes from all over the world, such as the Japanese-style coffee bread, the European-style marble taro, the classic rum-raisin toast and the Taiwanese garlic cheese bread.

Cakes like tiramisu, creme brulee and mousses are aligned neatly in

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the glass counters, waiting to amaze you with their fresh ingredients and spot-on recipes. But don’t be overwhelmed by all the choices around you — there’s a curvy trail that breaks the way from the entrance to the cashier where you get all the time you need to hold a tray and fetch assorted baked items with a clamp in hand, as exciting as a carnival.

Besides the refined bakery items, which consist of toasts, cheesecakes, tarts, mousses, birthday cakes and more, the bakery offers sublime sea-salt flavored drinks that apply the technique of combining sweetness and lightness with saltiness. The iced sea-salt mountain tea (medium $2.50, large $3) is a signature item. It incorporates the authentic and traditional Taiwanese flavor of tea, the not-over-the-top sweetness and the light saltiness all in a nicely wrapped paper cylinder. Giving it a full shake will help the light cream beneath the lid mix into the tea, which takes away the bitterness. The same goes for their iced sea-salt coffee (medium $3, large $3.50), which applies a similar technique. It is a sweetened, iced Americano with sea-salt whipped cream on top — don’t forget to shake

$ it well before you drink! Besides these salty-sweet drinks, they also sell regular coffees and teas such as cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, black and green teas, milk teas, etc. Seeing as how other vendors are still giving their customers sugar comas, it is a delight to notice how 85°C presents products with balanced flavors that are less sweet or greasy. A tip before jumping in line: If you are only there for drinks, there is a separate counter to order drinks only, which has a much shorter wait; if you want to get both pastries and drinks, put in your drink order while you are paying for the pastries.

Most customers leave 85°C Bakery Cafe with a large paper box in their arms that holds all of their bakery items nicely and securely.

Whether you are someone who just needs some bun to quench your hunger or a foodie who desires high-quality pastries, the cafe is worth trying. Before the whole box of pastries is gone, satisfied customers will find themselves here again, filling a new box with delicious selections to kick-start a new week.

— Yulin Liu

staff WRITEr

WEEKEND

CONCERT REVIEW

ALBUM REVIEW

Bastille

Waiting for a sign by githead

Location The Fox, Pomona Concert Date Nov. 21 Opening Acts Grizfolk, Ella Eyre

Release Date Dec. 8

British pop band Bastille finishes its U.S. tour strong in Pomona.

London rock group proves its potential after a five-year break.

T

ake all your preconceived ideas of one-night stands and throw them in the trash. Githead may have started as a one-night collaboration at an anniversary event for its record company, Swim. However, this onenight stand grew to be a committed relationship between four diverse musicians whose unique talents combined to form the Londonbased rock group Githead. Their new album, “Waiting for a Sign,” is sure to satisfy their fans, though the monotony of some songs might drive away newcomers.

This isn’t to say that the album is lacking in its highlights or that the repetitiveness of the beats is unbearable. In fact, the motorik repetition found in the songs “For the Place We’re In” and “Not Coming Down” are quite catchy.

Both songs stay true to the band’s rock roots with the strong use of bass and rattling riffs. The single “Bringing the Sea to the City” is also impressive with its soothing lyrics, echoing vocals and catchy beat. It stands out from the other songs on the album because of its keyboard use and overall optimistic tone, making it a good choice for their lead single.

Swim claims that for this album, Githead arrived at the studio without any ideas or written work in hopes of the music coming naturally. This plan luckily functions as an advantage for Githead. The

ASCE.UCSD.EDU

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PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM BIG HASSLE MEDIA

majority of its songs flow with authenticity, proving that they have, in fact, evolved since their previous album “Landing,” released in 2009. Githead replaced its dull and mushy sound with a more prominent use of the electric guitar, memorable bass and pulsating drums that illustrates a newfound confidence.

However, a few songs do not use repetition as wisely as the others.

“To Somewhere” lacks depth and doesn’t have any source of excitement, as the listener is left anticipating an impressive guitar solo or instrumental break that sadly never comes. The final track “Waiting for a Sign” implements strong drums and funky basslines but once again

For more information, contact ASCE at avpconcerts@ucsd.edu or (858) 534-0477

leaves the listener a bit disappointed due to its incomprehensible lyrics and monotonous beat.

“Waiting for a Sign” has transformed Githead’s sound to be more energetic and diverse than previous albums with its signature bass lines and catchy rhythms. Despite a couple tracks that drone on, this album has proven that Githead has potential for popularity. The only thing it’s missing is a sign from the public, maybe in the form of a song being played on the radio or one hitting the top 40. Based on the album title, they’re waiting for it.

— ana magallanes

Contributing writer

After the last of the crowd filled in, the opening notes of John William’s “Jurassic Park Theme” confused the audience more than anything else.

The soaring theme ushered the first opening act, Grizfolk, onto the stage.

With a similar vocal style to Bastille, Grizfolk is a relatively new alternative rock band with a bright future proved by its popular song “Vagabonds.”

Moving away from alternative, Ella Eyre, a British singer-songwriter with a huge head of curly hair to match her immense vocal range, followed. Soulful and reminiscent of Adele, Eyre performed some of her songs from her 2013 EP, “Deeper.”

Although she belted through a vocally impressive performance, the audience was anxious for another British band to take the stage.

Finally, with the audience itching for the main act, Bastille entered the stage, opening with “Things We Lost in the Fire.” That’s when you knew you would lose your voice by the end.

On stage, they were joined by a large triangular screen that played various clips that loosely corresponded to their set list and occasional videos of the audience or band members.

Frontman Dan Smith brought the show together and shined through complex harmony lines and thoughtful lyrics. In addition to singing, Smith often took a drumstick and knocked out the rhyme on floor toms. This was partially to give Smith something to do because of his completely horrendous dance moves.

Endearingly, he apologized profusely

before performing “Of the Night,” a mashup of two popular 1990s dance songs. He also pleaded with the audience to dance with him during the song. Of course, the audience obliged.

Despite his questionable jerking that could be called dancing, he came across as humble and thankful.

The band also performed “Blame” from an unnamed, upcoming album.

With its moody guitar melody, it shows a move to more mature and diverse style. The trademark Bastille style was also broken up with slower ballads such as “Oblivion” which captured the true emotional range and expressiveness better than any recorded version. Eyre rejoined Bastille for the peppy “Angels,” their almost identical version of “No Scrubs” by TLC. Throughout the concert, Bastille abandoned any reserved tones from the album “Bad Blood” for a genuine and expressive performance. The four left the stage conspicuously lacking their popular anthem, but not to disappoint, they returned and finished strong for the encore. Even if you’ve heard it a hundred times on the radio, “Pompeii” is something different live with 2,000 other people on their feet chanting the lyrics. The rhythms are more captivating, the melodies are more catchy and the enthusiasm is contagious. It was the kind of performance that left you singing in the car ride way home, in the shower and long after the music faded.

— allison kubo

Contributing writer

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MEN'S BASKETBALL

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Tritons to Play CCAA Foes on the Road Opening Conference Play UCSD will hope to continue season’s strong start against Monterey Bay, East Bay.

Tritons will play CCAA opponents CSUMB, CSUEB.

BY daniel sung

BY John Story

associate sp0rts editor

associate sp0rts editor

With the regular season well under way, the UCSD men’s basketball team will travel to Northern California this weekend to play in back-toback California Collegiate Athletic Association matchups against Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay. The games will also be CCAA openers for both opposing home teams.

The Tritons first take their 3–1 record (1–0 conference) to Monterey Bay on Friday, Dec. 5, where the Otters are 3–2 in non-conference play so far this season. Monterey Bay is predicted to finish in eighth at conference this year, just one spot ahead of the Tritons. UCSD split its pair of regular season matchups against Monterey Bay last year, easily defeating them at home but losing to them as visitors.

Junior forward Drew Dyer has been averaging a team-high of 14 points and 4.3 rebounds so far and looks to continue his stellar play.

With injured players returning to the lineup for the Otters, one should expect a close game between the two teams. However, it should come as no surprise to see the Tritons spoil Monterey’s conference home opener. UCSD has had a relatively hot start, already upsetting perennial CCAA frontrunner No. 19 Cal Poly Pomona in the blue and gold’s first in-league matchup less than two weeks prior.

On Saturday, the Tritons will continue traveling north for a matchup against Cal State East Bay, who will come in to the contest with a 22 non-conference record. East

The UCSD women’s basketball will open up conference play this weekend, with road games against California Collegiate Athletic Association squads Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay. These opponents have also yet to start CCAA play in the 2014–15 season.

In a preseason poll of CCAA coaches, the Tritons received 81 first-place votes to come in fourth place overall behind Cal State San Bernardino. Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Dominguez Hills came in first and second place, respectively, while this weekend’s opponents, CSU East Bay and Monterey Bay, received seventh and tenth place rankings. UCSD placed fifth overall in the CCAA last year with a 13–9 conference record.

CCAA play will continue next week with a Dec. 12 match-up against first-place Cal Poly Pomona and will serve as an opportunity for the Tritons to upset the top-seeded team early on in this year’s campaign.

As for the coming conference openers, CSU Monterey Bay is 2–2 overall in 2014 and the Tritons have enjoyed a one-sided 18–3 all-time record against the Otters. UCSD last faced them in March, winning 56– 48 in CCAA regular season action.

CSU East Bay boasts a 4–1 record to date in 2014, while UCSD has bested the Pioneers in series history 10–3. East Bay hosts Cal Poly Pomona on Friday before facing the Tritons to start their 2014 CCAA play.

The Tritons have a 2–3 record thus far in the regular season, but

PHOTO BY ALWIN SZETO/GUARDIAN FILE

Bay is predicted to finish secondto-last in the conference. UCSD easily handled CSU East Bay last year, sweeping the Pioneers in their two regular season matchups by doubledigit point margins.

Junior guard Hunter Walker looks to relive his performance from last year against the Pioneers when he broke loose with 23 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals and blocks. Walker has been averaging 11.3 points, four rebounds and a team-high three assists in the young season while also leading the team in steals with six total. Although the game can end up being close, it should be an easy win for the Tritons.

The Tritons have started off the season on the right foot overall. UCSD is averaging 11.5 threepointers per game on .447 shooting from beyond the arc, while players

are doing a good job finding the open man, averaging 14.3 assists as a team. The Tritons are all also doing notably well crashing the glass, out-rebounding opponent teams by 1.7 rebounds per game even though no player is averaging over 4.3 rebounds per game.

Before finally returning to La Jolla for their home opener against Cal Poly Pomona, who is looking for redemption after its upset loss, the Tritons have one more game on the road against California Baptist University.

As for this weekend’s schedule, UCSD will battle against CSU Monterey Bay at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, while tip-off for the following day’s game against East Bay will be at 7:30 p.m. as well.

readers can contact daniel sung

A.S. Safe Rides

Registration for FALL Qtr is NOW open!

Register online at as.ucsd.edu/saferides A.S. Safe Rides allows registered undergraduate students to get 3 FREE rides per quarter.

Students must register at least 24 hours prior to their first ride.

asucsd

asucsd

d2sung@ucsd.edu

are coming off a win against Azusa Pacific University last weekend in the 2014 UCSD Thanksgiving Classic. The Tritons look to correct the course of the slow start this weekend as the more crucial stretch of games now begins with in-conference play.

Despite the subpar record, the Tritons have proven themselves to be a productive group thus far. Senior guard Miranda Seto has been putting up career statistics in 2014 by averaging 19.4 points over five games, good for third overall in the CCAA. Junior forward Farrah Shokoor has also averaged a double-double per game with just over 11 rebounds and points in each contest, earning her the top spot in the CCAA and 19th overall in the nation in rebounds. Senior forward McKennan Bertsch is also shooting an amazing 69.7 percent from the floor and averaging 10.2 points per game. All three are likely to start this weekend.

Other probable starters include sophomore guard Haley Anderson, averaging 6.8 points per game, and senior guard Stephanie Yano — averaging 3.6 points per game. Off the bench, freshman guard Taylor Tanita is averaging 7.4 points per game, and senior center Dana Webster is putting up 8.4 points per game.

UCSD is scheduled to meet Cal State Monterey Bay this Friday, Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m. in The Kelp Bed. Game seven against Cal State East Bay will take place the following night, Saturday, Dec. 6, at Pioneer Stadium in Hayward at 5:30 p.m.

readers can contact john story

jstory@ucsd.edu

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T H E U C S D G U A R D I A N | T H U R S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 4 , 2 0 1 4 | W W W . U C S D G U A R D I A N . O R G

SPORTS

UPCOMING

UCSD

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BRANDON YU

GAMES NCAAs CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW

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W. Basketball M. Basketball M. Water Polo M. Water Polo Cross Country

12/05 12/05 12/06 12/07 12/07

AT CSU Monterey Bay AT CSU Monterey Bay VS UCLA VS TBD AT NCAAs

Four in the Fray Having made it to the NCAAs Final Four, No. 6 UCSD will face off against No. 2 UCLA in the semifinals of 2014 National Collegiate Water Polo Championships, hosted this weekend at home at Canyonview Aquatics Center.

BY BRANDON YU SPORTS EDITOR // PHOTO BY MIKE LEWIS

W

hen the Tritons discovered in the offseason that they would be hosting the 2014 National Collegiate Water Polo Championship this winter at Canyonview Pool, the prospects of making it there themselves must have seemed daunting.

The UCSD men’s water polo team had come off of a 14–14 season, ending its 2013 campaign in a bitter 6–5 loss against St. Francis University that barred it from entering the NCAA Finals. When this season rolled around, things looked even tougher, as the Tritons started off 3–6 after several losses against the nation’s top teams. Making it to the NCAA Final Four appeared an incredibly challenging task, especially for a Division-II group going up against the country’s best Division-I squads. Yet, fastforward a couple of months and here they are, the No. 6 blue and gold hosting the top three colleges in water polo to battle for the national crown.

The Tritons cruised to their 17th Western Water Polo Association conference title before defeating No. 9 Brown University 12–7 in last Saturday’s NCAAs play-in game. Next up, fourth-seeded UCSD will face top-seeded No. 2 UCLA in the semifinals of the national tournament this Saturday.

After an impressive season, the 16–9 overall Tritons have battled their way to compete in the Final Four tournament that they will host this coming weekend. UCSD is led by longstanding head coach Denny Harper, who recently earned his 600th win in his 34th season as the Tritons’ head water polo coach.

In the pool, a formidable senior class has paved the team’s way to nationals. After redshirting in the 2013 season, senior utility Josh Stiling

— who leads the team with 67 goals and 44 steals and recently earned his second straight WWPA Player of the Year award — and senior utility Lukas Syka (31 goals, 20 steals) returned this year with stellar play.

Senior utility David Higginson (28 goals, 25 assists, 35 steals) and senior two-meter Matt Michalko (30 goals, 26 steals), among others, have also proved crucial in this year’s run. Senior goalkeeper Cameron Ravanbach has served as a consistently steadfast presence in the cage with 290 saves, nine assists and 32 steals.

While the Tritons have been riding high on a four-game winning streak, the UCLA Bruins will be as tough an opponent as one can find in collegiate waters. The Bruins are 27–3 on the season, with their three losses coming in close outcomes only against No. 1 Stanford University, No. 3 University of Southern California and No. 4 California State University, Long Beach. While they have no singularly dominant player, they have the depth of an undoubtedly elite squad. Of their 21-man roster, 19 players have tallied goals in the double-digits, and they have outscored their opponents by a near 3-to-1 margin on the season.

In their two meetings this season, the Bruins had little trouble handling UCSD in 13–5 and 17–5 blowout victories. If the Tritons are to prevent history from repeating itself, they will need to put up their best performance of the year on both ends of the pool.

UCSD’s semifinal match will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, while the other semifinal match between second-seeded No. 1 Stanford and third-seeded No. 4 USC will follow at 3:10 p.m. The winners of both matches will meet for the championship game at 3:10 p.m. on Sunday, while the third-place game will occur earlier at 1 p.m.

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The Top

Four Squads Overall Record

Dec. 6 1:00 P.M.

Dec. 6 3:10 P.M.

1 UCLA 4 UCSD 2 Stanford 3 USC

bcyu@ucsd.edu

#1sd.

#2

#4

#3

No. 2 UCLA

No. 1 Stanford

No. 3 USC

No. 6 UCSD

27– 3

25– 3

22–6

16–9

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Dec. 7, 3:10 P.M.

THIRD PLACE Dec. 7 1:00 P.M.