Vista: February 25, 2021
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University of San Diego Digital USD USD Vista USD News 2-25-2021 Vista: February 25, 2021 University of San Diego Follow this and additional works at: https://digital.sandiego.edu/vista Digital USD Citation University of San Diego, "Vista: February 25, 2021" (2021). USD Vista. 1106. https://digital.sandiego.edu/vista/1106 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the USD News at Digital USD. It has been accepted for inclusion in USD Vista by an authorized administrator of Digital USD. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO ♦ FEBRUARY 25, 2021 THE USD VISTA VOL. 58 ISSUE 15 NEWS The future of in-person learning ․․․․․․․․․. 1 FEATURE Invisible Leaders: Assata Shakur․․․․․․․․. 5 Spread: Favorite classes of USD seniors․․․ . 7-8 ARTS AND CULTURE Influential Black student voices on BHM ․․․․․ 9 OPINION The power of words in modern-day politics․․. 13 SPORTS Men’s baseball takes on SDSU․․.․․․․․․․․․․ . 17 “Men’s baseball takes on SDSU” Sports, Page 17 Photo courtesy of David Bernal/USD Athletics THE USD VISTA STAFF Celina Tebor - Editor in Chief Alena Botros - Opinion Editor Gina Lew - Student Media Advisor Jennifer Mossuto - Associate Editor Brittany Lang - Feature Editor Marie Minnick - Operations Advisor Catherine Silvey - Managing Editor Taylor DeGuzman - Arts & Culture Editor Mikaela Foehr - Copy Editor Eric Boose - Sports Editor www.uofsdmedia.com Tori Tanigawa - Art Director Regan Ferrari - Social Media Manager @TheUSDVista Tyler Pugmire - News Editor @USDVista THE USD VISTA ◆ FEBRUARY 25, 2021 The future of in-person learning: professor discusses feasibility of returning As cases around the county begin to decline, a return to campus seems possible, but cases on campus must also fall MARIA SIMPSON campus themselves for teachers and students have about in-person class is ASST. NEWS EDITOR this transition to happen, acknowledged that the socializing with other and there could be a lot of biggest difference would students. At the start of the bumps along that road. probably be the impact of “Especially being a Spring 2021 semester, USD Just as students may human interaction. First freshman, it’s hard to offered certain classes,have a preference toward year Alexandra Hill shared meet new people in such as labs and recreation staying online or going that what she misses most Con’t on Page 2 courses, in person. As of back to in-person, Feb. 12, USD encountered professors have their own a setback as COVID-19 opinions and concerns. Yi cases on campus shot up Sun, Ph.D., a professor of in the past few weeks, so the history department, is those in-person courses a proponent of returning were moved back online. to campus, but only when According to USD’s it is safe to do so. COVID-19 Dashboard, “I would continue cases on campus have online teaching but would recently declined. Since like to go back to campus the beginning of the if a vaccine is available,” spring semester, it has Sun said. Returning to in- been a stated goal that if person instruction once cases in the county drop USD is on track with staff (which the vaccine might and student vaccinations render possible) and San on campus would be a Diego enters into the red smart and safe way to tier, USD will attempt a significantly lower risk of hybrid learning approach. spreading the virus, but The possibility ofthat time period depends moving classes back to on when the county campus and learning in approves distribution for a classroom setting once those specific groups, so again holds a swarm of it could be a significant unknowns and kinks amount of time before to be worked through. that is possible. First and foremost, Returning to in-person professors would have instruction would come USD has not held fully in-person classes since Spring 2020. to be willing to return to with a lot of benefits. Many Tanner Claudio/The USD Vista NEWS 1 Volume 58 Issue 15 ◆ NEWS ◆ THE USD VISTA Copley Library opened in September 2020 and has allowed students to make reservations in order to study. Tanner Claudio/The USD Vista From Page 1 year Paige Gehringer said. their work. It is known happen, putting them at class on Zoom,” Hill “It’s just awkward silence.” that focusing on a screen more risk. Sun also shared said. While Zoom is Similarly, professors for long periods of time another possible issue technically equipped to have not had the same makes it easier to become with switching. facilitate questions or ability to bond with distracted and it can be “If a proposed return chatting, breakout rooms students either. Many draining to the mind and happens later this hold nowhere near the professors take up their body, so a more interactive semester, say after spring same effect as hanging profession because they experience is sure to break, the transition may out with other students are passionate about alleviate that. be more disruptive than and instructors in a real helping their students As debates continue on what is worth,” Sun said. classroom. learn and grow. Online the possibility of returning A fast turn around could The online formatschooling hinders to campus, it is important mean a lot of stress and has made it much more teachers from establishing to remember that online pressure on teachers and difficult for new students the connections that make schooling is a much safer students alike. Logistics to get to know people in their jobs fulfilling. option and COVID-19 is of shifting classes from their classes and form “I would love to see my still a very present issue. remote to hybrid are easier friendships, which are students in person,” Sun In-person learning could said than done, and will staples of the college said. “While I try my best only happen if a lot of safety take some time. experience. to create an interactive measures were taken. There are many “I reminisce about Zoom class, it is still not While students would still uncertainties right now times when my teachers the same as in-person have the option of staying and when students and would crack a joke and teaching and learning.” online, the majority of professors will be able the class would burst out In-person classes could professors would have to to return to a classroom laughing — that doesn’t also push students to be agree to return to campus environment once again is happen over Zoom,” first more motivated about for in-person classes to one of them. NEWS 2 THE USD VISTA ◆ FEBRUARY 25, 2021 The first year of college can be tough; the pandemic makes it tougher A glimpse of students’ first year of college during COVID-19 YANA KOURETAS Fall 2019, and only 997 of belonging by joining resonated with feelings CONTRIBUTOR were enrolled in 2020 — a clubs or organizations on of disconnection and significant 12.7% decrease, campus; others have felt as disorientation, and It’s no secret that college which indicates how though they are being kept explained why she feels first years grapple with COVID-19 has affected in the dark. Consequently, like just another lost first emotions of homesickness, students’ perspectives each student’s experience year on campus. and disorientation. It and decisions about how in this virtual setting has “It is different being is easy for them to feel to proceed with their manifested differentlyon campus because I am disconnected from the education. While under depending on how the constantly just in my school or those around normal circumstances, pandemic impaired their room, and don’t really them when they first first years might besocial and academic lives, know what else to do here move onto campus. Yet as spotted sitting in front or if it hasn’t at all. right now,” Gonzalez said. the coronavirus pandemic of La Paloma with new In this pandemic, “I also have felt super has prevailed into another friends or lounging on the where one’s life is set in disconnected because I semester, these emotions quad lawn and soaking up a predominantly virtual haven’t wanted to look and feelings continue to the sun, these activities are world, the act of making into clubs or anything like stay heightened for many. now a less familiar sight. friends and building that yet because I don’t In fact, 1,142 first years Some first years have relationships carries more want to add yet another at USD were enrolled in found comfort and a sense weight than it has in the set of Zoom calls to my past. Not only can it be plate.” more difficult to find a On the other hand, sense of connection from some students turned to behind a screen, but it on-campus organizations can also be hard to reach to maintain their sanity in out to people because this most isolating time. meeting with others is USD first year, Summer hard to do at the moment. Leija, relied on the As the number of mundane, yet necessary COVID-19 cases at USD daily viewing of her peers climbed and preventative over Zoom to connect measures surged on with new people. campus, students turned “I’m involved with to different outlets to the University Ministry, keep from being entirely which is something I’m isolated from other really passionate about, students and the campus and I have met more itself. people through the retreat As classes continue on throughout a pandemic, all students must wear a face mask Hiromi Gonzalez, they held. I’m also in the while walking through campus.