Thursday, Volume 152 Feb. 7, 2019 No. 7 SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934 WWW.SJSUNEWS.COM/SPARTAN_DAILY NASA engineer brings Mars to SJSU By Kunal Mehta in the desert where the parachute STAFF WRITER frayed. The engineers took the parachute to the largest wind tunnel San Jose State students, alumni in the United States – NASA’s Ames and community members were Research Center. enthralled by the tales of Mars After testing nearly 70 different exploration told by NASA Jet conditions under intense Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) instrumentation such as high- engineer Kobie Boykins at the speed cameras, they realized the Hammer Theater Wednesday night. problem was caused by the Earth’s As part of the National thick atmosphere. Geographic Live! speaker series, Boykins explained that Mars’ Boykins presented “Exploring atmosphere is one-hundredth the Mars,” sharing his work on the density of Earth’s, so the problem Opportunity, Spirit, and Curiosity would not be an issue when they rovers that explored the red planet. actually landed on Mars. Boykins unveiled pictures Recent SJSU aerospace collected by the Hubble Space engineering graduate, Reine Ntone Telescope that illustrated the depth said she could really relate to what of numerous galaxies, some of which Boykins went through. Ntone is have existed ever since the big bang. now a systems engineer at NASA “It gives me chills,” he said. who worked on the Technology He began talking about the Mars Education Satellite 8. rovers by discussing the parachutes “I work at NASA and deployed a used to slow down the rover as satellite last week. I had watery eyes KUNAL MEHTA | SPARTAN DAILY it enters the Martian atmosphere. Aerospace engineering graduate student Alex Drossler (left) and San Jose State aerospace engineering He then showed a video of a test AEROSPACE | Page 2 alumna Reine Ntone hold up wheels that were used for Opportunity/Spirit and Pathfi nder rovers. Students send love to veterans By Cora Wilson the director of the Veterans STAFF WRITER Resource Center, the idea came to life. On Wednesday, San Jose “We wanted to start State Campus Village 2 something with the Veterans residents gathered to make Resource Center and we hope Valentine’s cards for veterans to continue it even after I on campus. This program leave SJSU, just so that there A&E started last year when resident is [an] appreciation for them. adviser Karina Huete decided They are a community that 21 Savage she wanted to give back to the isn’t always appreciated this veterans at SJSU. time of year,” Huete said. detained by ICE The idea of “Valentine’s This partnership is one that for Veterans” sparked when is more personal for Huete. Page 4 Huete was looking into ways She has an aunt in the Navy, other campus communities an uncle who is a veteran, give back to veterans. She had as well as other friends attended a resident adviser and family who serve or workshop and learned ways have served. to connect campus residents “I know they really with the other community on appreciated it last year because CORA WILSON | SPARTAN DAILY and off campus. it was something that hasn’t Civil engineering senior Karina Huete (left) and physics freshman Elijah After getting in touch last Franklin set up the Valentine’s for Veterans event at Campus Village 2. year with Maggie Morales, VALENTINE’S | Page 2 PG&E declares CAMPUS IMAGE Opinion Leisure after lecture Artist’s tattoo sparks bankruptcy, controversy still in business Page 5 By Roman Contreras Declaring bankruptcy gives STAFF WRITER an individual or company a fresh start. The process The November 2018 either clears a party of Camp Fire devastated debt, or helps it create a thousands, left many without manageable plan to repay their homes and in the worst the funds owed. cases, without their lives. The now bankrupt Once responders were utilities company has able to gain control of the submitted its proposed fires, reports from Pacific 2020 General Rate Case Gas and Electric (PG&E) to the California Public revealed that faulty power Utilities Commission on Sports lines were likely the cause of Dec. 13, 2018. If approved, these wildfires. the company would SJSU signs Unfortunately for the increase a typical residential utilities company, the faulty customer bill by 6.4 percent 20 football lines were its own. or $10.57 per month. VICENTE VERA | SPARTAN DAILY recruits PG&E then declared SJSU School of Music and Dance lecturer Raphael Boumaila walks his dog bankruptcy on Jan. 29. ENERGY | Page 2 Milou around Tower Lawn before they head home after sunset. Page 8 sjsunews.com/spartan_daily 2 THURSDAY, FEB. 7, 2019 NEWS 1 2 CORA WILSON | SPARTAN DAILY (1) Kinesiology freshman Demi Johnson writes a colorful Valentine’s card for a veteran. (2) Psychology freshman Yennhi Lee decorates her card with glitter glue. VALENTINE’S are hundreds of veterans on by veterans every single day this campus.” here on campus and they are Continued from page 1 The Veterans Resource part of your daily life. You may You actually are surrounded by veterans every Center received a special poster not interact with them but this been done for them in a while, from last year’s Valentines helps normalize it a bit more,” so they were really glad there single day here on campus and they are part of for Veterans. The poster has said Morales. was some kind of connection your daily life. been hanging on the wall of Moving forward, Morales with them through housing,” the Veterans Resource Center and Davis seek to partner said Huete. lobby where it is constantly with the residence halls on Maggie Morales The Veterans Resource Director of Veterans Resource Center complimented. campus again so students Center is located in the Student The cards the students make have the chance to become Union. The center is a hub can also be a lesson on how to be more educated on how to for eligible student veterans, community for student veterans them even live on campus. more intentional when giving interact and build connections reservists, national guards, and the veteran population as a 28 percent of those veterans are back to veterans, according to with veterans. active duty and dependents. whole,” said veterans counselor women and California has the Morales. Valentines for Veterans takes It also provides assistance Robert Davis. “We all enjoy the highest number of veterans in Morales said it would place in the CV2 lobby for three with state or federal education care packages and the cards the country, according to the brighten a veteran’s day if consecutive days: Wednesday benefits and certification, and all the support that the Veterans Resource Center. people who are writing cards and Thursday from 12:30 to campus resources and community shows us.” “Some people, when they can say something more 2:30 p.m., and Friday from 1:30 intentional student programs SJSU is located in Santa Clara think of veterans, they are specific rather than the to 4:30 p.m., so more students that aid in the transition from County, which has the highest thinking very globally, as if common “Thank you for your can come by to make a card. military to education and to number of veterans in the state. they don’t have any in their service.” Even jokes or invites career. According to the Veterans circle,” said Morales. “This can to coffee on the card can make “It’s great to see the support Resource Center, there are 447 help them to think more locally a greater impact. Follow Cora on Twitter of the students and the veterans at SJSU and some of and to understand that there “You actually are surrounded @coraawilson ENERGY “This proposal does to settle any confusion “SJCE would also provide they be forced to contract resolve their current not request funding for that may have arose residents and businesses with separate gas and financial issues. Continued from page 1 potential claims resulting regarding resident’s gas with the option of selecting electric companies. In order to prevent from the devastating and electricity. 100 percent renewable, “I’ll be pretty mad the possibility of another 2017 and 2018 Northern “What we’re doing is carbon-free power.” because I’m always trying disastrous fire, PG&E is California wildfires.” monitoring proceedings,” In a press release from to turn off lights but the replacing equipment with The General Rate Case she said, “But there is no San Jose City Hall in electricity bill is still high,” newer “more resilient poles continued, “the largest difference in day-to-day May 2017, SJCE would San Jose resident Matthew and covered power lines.” of which are still under operation.” contract with PG&E Flores said. “Now that it’s “I know that our 24,000 investigation.” San Jose Clean Energy for billing services and getting colder and I run dedicated employees “I actually didn’t know (SJCE), a PG&E partner regular meter readings my heater, my bill is gonna remain steadfastly focused they were declaring introduced to the public in for customers. be really high again.” on delivering safe and bankruptcy,” justice studies June 2018, has since began The company will In a Jan. 29, 2019 reliable natural gas and senior Tony Arreola said. auto-enrolling customers continue the predetermined press release, PG&E electric service for the “I’m a college student in their energy programs, contract with PG&E representatives reported 16 million people across living in downtown SJ effective Feb. 1. and has been assured it they are seeking approval our service area,” said Though the company where it’s already The company buys will receive no backlash for $5.5 billion in “debtor- John R.