FOGHORN ISSUE 9 FINAL

SF FOGHORN
NEWS
04
Senate hosts
town hall in
new format.
SCENE
07
USF attends the
American Indian
Film Festival.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 • VOL. 121, ISSUE 9
OPINION
09
Why the Land
Back movement is
integral for all.
SPORTS
12
Men’s Basketball
beats Bethesda by
69 points.
Much of Yolanda López’s work frames her mother and her grandmother (depicted above) in the spotlight. Photo by Samantha Avila Griffin/SF Foghorn.
“ WOMEN’S WORK IS NEVER DONE “
EXPLORES ACTIVISM THROUGH ART
MEGAN ROBERTSON
Staff Writer
The Virgin of Guadalupe is a symbol that is imbued in
the very essence of Catholicism in North and South America.
Her hands in prayer, the young woman radiates a divine,
golden glow. This apparition of Mary, the virginal mother
of Jesus, is one of the most prominent symbols in American
Catholicism.
Many Catholics would consider it sacrilegious to manipulate
the Virgin of Guadalupe in any way — and in 1978
with her famous, artistic motifs of Guadalupe, San Francisco
artist Yolanda M. López did just that.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Thacher Gallery’s current exhibition, “Women’s Work is
Never Done,” shares the life work of López (1942-2021), the
longtime San Francisco resident, artist, Chicanx and Latinx
activist. The gallery opened the exhibition on Aug. 31.
Curated by López’s son Rio Yañez and artist Angelica
A. Rodriguez, the exhibition features work from López’s
60-year-long career. It includes some of her most famous
works, such as her 1978 “Guadalupe: Woman Goddess,” and
her 1990s political poster artwork, in addition to pieces that
were discovered after her death in Sept. 2021, like her 1974
portrait of her mother.
EST. 1903
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02 03
THURSDAY
NOV. 9
2023
STAFF
Editor in Chief
MEGAN ROBERTSON
mrrobertson2@dons.usfca.edu
News Editor
NIKI SEDAGHAT
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Opinion Editor
CHISOM OKORAFOR
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Scene Editor
JORDAN PREMMER
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Sports Editor
CHASE DARDEN
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Photography Online Editor Editor
LEILA ESHA TSELNER DUPUGUNTLA
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ekdupuguntla@dons.usfca.edu
General Reporter
JORDAN TYLER MARALIT
jcmaralit@dons.usfca.edu
General Reporter
JOR 415.422.5444
DAN sffoghorn.com TYLER MARALIT
jcmaralit@dons.usfca.edu
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STAFF EDITORIAL
MORE THAN A MYTH: THE VALUE
OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE
For centuries, the realm of
“valid” knowledge has excluded many
perspectives, often to its own detriment.
However, in the past few years,
academic institutions and world governments
are finally recognizing the
value of alternative sources of information.
Indigenous Knowledge is a
valid form of expertise, and institutions
should further their efforts in
embracing it.
Indigenous Knowledge is defined
as “understandings, skills, and
philosophies developed by local communities
with long histories and experiences
of interaction with their
natural surroundings,” according
to UNESCO’s programme on Local
and Indigenous Knowledge Systems.
Though Indigenous knowledge can
come in different forms, the International
Encyclopedia of Human Geography
notes that Indigenous Knowledge
is “characteristically local in
scale, transmitted orally, collectively
owned, holistic in perspective, and
adaptive in nature.”
Western institutions’ preference
for written sources have historically
led to the discounting of oral Indigenous
Knowledge, as detailed by the
Oral History Association. Western
scholars have jumped to assume Indigenous
oral history is simply myth,
with no basis in reality. In 1917, Robert
Lowie wrote in the Journal of
American Folklore that “Indian tradition
is historically worthless.” In
reality, the Oxford Academic finds,
“Indigenous oral histories are not
merely traditions, myths, chants, or
superstitions, but are valid historical
accounts passed on vocally in various
forms, forums, and practices.” These
oral accounts are as reliable as other
methods.
For example, the Yale Law Journal
details an infamous legal battle
from 1996-2004 between Western
scientists and five Indigenous nations
of the Columbia Plateau. The
Bonnichsen v. United States case regarded
the body of an ancient human
referred to as the “Kennewick Man”
that scientists claimed had no relations
to modern day Indigenous peoples.
Initially, the courts sided with
the scientists, in part because they
dismissed the oral tradition evidence
presented by the nations due to “concerns
of authenticity, reliability, and
accuracy.” However, DNA evidence
revealed that the Kennewick man was
indeed related to Indigenous Americans.
This trial proved that not only
is Indigenous Knowledge reliable, it is
also capable of reaching conclusions
faster than Western methodologies.
Another positive impact of Indigenous
Knowledge is the refutation
of the idea that before colonization,
land was “untamed”. Academics are
realizing that the American frontier
that was once considered wild
are actually products of generations
of careful cultivation by Indigenous
peoples, such as the prairies of the
midwest that were subject to centuries
of systemic controlled burning to
become the rolling hills of today.
These examples have put an end
to the pessimistic idea that coexistence
between humans and nature is
impossible. Humans have, and will
continue to, influence the natural
world in positive ways that cultivate
flourishing environments.
Indigenous knowledge is passed
down through teachings, not biologically
acquired, and is born out of a
history of studying the environment
and one’s relation to it. Indigenous
Knowledge doesn’t fall under the
common “Magical Native American”
trope in popular culture that portrays
Indigenous people as inherently
more spiritual and “close to nature”
than others. Indigenous knowledge
is not ubiquitous, as even just within
the U.S. there are countless distinct
and vibrant Indigenous nations.
In recent years, more and more
Western institutions are recognizing
the value of Indigenous Knowledge.
The Biden Administration has “formally
recognized Indigenous Knowledge
as one of the many important
bodies of knowledge,” following the
Canadian Government, just to name
a few.
In the course of righting the
wrongs of history, the incorporation
and valuation of non-Western perspectives
and ways of thinking is crucial
to solve the problems facing the
world today. Indigenous knowledge is
a credible source, and should be embraced
in Western institutions.
ASUSF SENATE HOSTS
FIRST TOWN HALL OF THE YEAR
KYLEY FISHMAN
Contributing Writer
The Associated Students of the University of San Francisco
(ASUSF) Senate hosted its Fall 2023 Town Hall on Nov. 1 in McLaren
Conference Center. The town hall was restructured this semester
to give USF community members an opportunity to address their
concerns in a small, group-oriented discussion, directly with an
administrator, led by an ASUSF Senate appointed facilitator of the
table.
Historically, town hall meetings were led by administrators
and members of the Senate. They would consist of an hour-long
presentation, conducted by administration, followed by student’s
questions.
According to ASUSF Senate’s Vice President of Internal Affairs,
Kiannah-Nicole Karani, who is also a sophomore environmental
studies major, town halls “happen
once a semester, but it’s the first
truly student focused one.”
This semester’s town hall
focused on food and housing. When
students walked into McLaren, they
were met with five tables placed
throughout the room, each with
a placard displaying the table’s
designated topic. Students were then
encouraged to sit at the table they
felt most aligned with their concern.
Senate facilitators led students
and administration in a moderated
discussion over the student’s
concerns. Topics ranged from food
quality of on-campus dining to
housing accessibility.
Junior english major Sarah
Badawi attended the town hall
because of her struggle with finding
off-campus housing. “I felt like the
administration seated at the table
were actively listening and taking
notes,” said Badawi. “They gave
examples of where to go and events
to attend in case we wanted to know
more or if we had any other issues.”
ASUSF Senate’s new town
hall format is designed as a way
to allow concerns to be vocalized
and responded to, one-on-one with
students and administration.
“I love it,” said Mariah Moore,
a first-year English major and the
Resident Hall Council President for
Gillson Residence Hall. “I love that
it’s an outlet for students to be heard
and voice their concerns because I
feel like there’s not enough avenues
for students to do that besides the
few surveys the University pushes
out. I feel like that’s not enough. You
need somewhere where students can
physically go and voice their concerns. So I think this is great.”
Tori Broillard-Bruce, Senior Director for Student Housing, said,
“I’ve really appreciated this switch into this format.” “The town hall
forum style really creates a better suited, conversational, direct
approach to talking about the key issues that we [in administration]
need to take care of…Sometimes, we’re not doing what we need to do
because we don’t know what we need to do.”
He encourages students to directly contact administrators,
facility, or residence hall leaders regarding issues through email,
phone, or by going to an administrator’s office, as they will get
resolved in a more timely manner.
“Community is nothing more than unity through communication,
and the more communication we can have, the more community we
can have because we have that unity,” Brouillard-Bruce concluded.
The next town hall will be on Mar. 6, 2024, from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.,
with topics and location TBD.
This semester’s town hall centered on issues pertaining to food and housing, with five different tables.
Photo by Samantha Avila Griffin/SF Foghorn.
NEWS

04 05
THURSDAY
NOV. 9
2023
USF REACTS TO SAN FRANCISCO
TRANSPORTATION NEWS
JORDAN DELFIUGO
Staff Writer
JOIN THE FOGHORN
Revel previously suspended moped operations in Washington, D.C. last
November. Screenshot from @gorevel on Instagram
Revel Pulls Mopeds
After a five year run, the electric rideshare company, Revel announced
that it will be decommissioning its fleet of 3,000 mopeds in San Francisco
and New York City, effective Nov. 18. The plan was announced via a Nov.
3 company wide email, in which Revel CEO and co-founder, Frank Reig,
stated that Revel would discontinue the moped service. According to the
San Francisco Chronicle, the decision comes following a 30% decline in
ridership. Sophie Fudge, sophomore nursing major, said she will miss
Revel. “I think its always unfortunate when there’s one less alternative
method of transportation to get around the city, especially something
like a moped, which is very convenient in San Francisco.” She continued,
“I thought they were a good time, they definitely had a use. I’m sorry
to see them go, especially since they were electric.” In a statement to
The San Francisco Standard, Revel spokesperson Robert Familiar said
that the company would be shifting its focus towards “electric car ridehailing
and charging” moving forward.
NEWS
Check SFMTA.com for the latest updates and alternate routes during road
closures.. Screenshot from @sfmta_muni on Instagram
Despite an estimated 15,000 car break-ins, there have only been 45
convictions as of September, according to District Attorney Brooke Jenkins.
Photo courtesy from @SFCarBreakins on X.
APEC Prompts Road Closures
Road closures and local traffic restrictions will occur Nov. 7th
through Nov. 18th due to the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) summit, according to the San Francisco Municipal
Transportation Agency’s website. The annual APEC summit event,
occurring between Nov. 11 and Nov. 18 which will be hosted at the
Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco, is expected to host over
20,000 attendees from 21 different countries, Kron reported. President
Joe Biden and China’s president, Xi Jinping, are among those expected
to attend, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Road closures and
detours will surround the Moscone Center and Yerba Buena Gardens,
affecting parts of Mission Street, Market Street, and California Street
to name a few. There will also be pedestrian checkpoints at various
locations, including at Howard Street, Mission Street, Folsom Street,
and Huntington Park. Nikki Thomas, a junior psychology major, said,
“It’s pretty crazy that San Francisco is hosting this event, but I can’t say
I’m looking forward to [the closures]. It’s already hard enough to get
around SF without detours and checkpoints too.”
New Car Break-in Legislation
According to San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins,
there have been approximately 15,000 car break-ins in San Francisco
this year. On Oct. 26, Senator Scott Wiener held a press conference
at the Palace of Fine Arts, where he introduced new legislation which
aims to close a “legal loophole” that Wiener suggests complicates the
process of prosecuting car break-ins when they occur. The legislation
would eliminate the “open door defense,” which requires prosecutors
to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that one’s car door was locked at
the time of the break-in to convict for auto burglary, the San Francisco
Standard reported. George Condes, a junior computer science major,
said “I’ve seen lines of smashed car windows at touristy places in the
city. I’m shocked that this defense existed to begin with, but glad it
might be changing.” At the press conference, Wiener said that he plans
to introduce the bill in January when the legislature reconvenes, in
hopes that it will be signed into law by the end of 2024.
The Fall 2023 staff of the Foghorn wants you to join us! Photo by Student Leadership and Engagement/USF.
We have six open positions for Spring 2024:
News Editor
Scene Editor
Copy Editor
Layout Editor
General Assignment Reporter
Deputy Writer
Come work for the Foghorn! Please email
mrrobertson2@dons.usfca.edu and jgdelfiugo@dons.usfca.edu
for information on the position requirements and application
process. Applications are due Friday Dec. 1 at 12 a.m.

06 CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
07
THURSDAY
NOV. 9
2023
SCENE
On Nov. 6, co-sponsored with the Spanish Studies department, Karina
Hodoyán, professor of Latinx and Chicanx Studies, led approximately
two dozen students and community members on a tour of
the exhibition framing López’s work in the context of San Francisco
social movements.
“She transformed the way that Latinx and Chicanx scholars
talk about the production of culture, talk about the legacy of history,”
Hodoyán said. “The art not only was beautiful but also offered
a message.”
The gallery was divided into decades of her artistry, spanning
from the 1960s to the 2000s. Some of the earliest featured artwork
was inspired by López’s political advocacy in the Mission District,
using activist mobilizing techniques she learned from the Black
Panther Party. Her 1969 work, “Free Los Siete,” depicts the stripes
of the American flag as a jail cell, imprisoning members of “Los Siete
de la Raza,” a group of seven Latine young adults who were tried
in 1969 for the death of a police officer.
Rain Longoria, a first year environmental science major who
attended the tour, said she was most moved by López’s “Las Santas
Locas” 1979 photography series, in which López centers the all-female,
Mission District-based car club.
In the tour, Hodoyán noted how these women were often
“criminalized and misrepresented in the media.” Hodoyá argued
that López’s photography changed the narrative, representing “joy
and empowerment” in the women’s “sacred power and femininity.”
Initially, Longoria said she did not recognize the significance
of what ended up being her favorite work in the exhibition. “I was
just like, ‘oh, it’s like a beautiful picture of her and her friends.’…
Yolanda López’s “The Nanny” makes its second appearance at USF’s Thacher Gallery this fall, after being featured in the
2019-2020 show “Emboldened, Embodied.” Photo by Samantha Avila Griffin/SF Foghorn.
No — it’s us becoming goddesses.”
Frank Nuñez attended Monday’s tour with their partner, USF
alum Somer Tiller. Being from López’s hometown of San Diego,
Nuñez said, “It was really nice to see the representation, the transition
from San Diego to San Francisco, which is what I’ve done…And
the more modern representation of Latinx artists.”
Nuñez’s favorite work in the exhibition was López’s 1994 “The
Nanny.” As opposed to her typical work, which is based in photography,
painting, and multimodal collages, “The Nanny” offers a lifesized,
traditional nanny uniform. Indigenous religious symbols, the
Virgin of Guadalupe, and a fetus are painted on the garment, along
with a baby bottle and a corn husk sticking out of the pockets.
While this is Thacher’s first exhibition of López’s entire body
of work, “The Nanny” was featured in the gallery’s 2019-2020 show
“Emboldened, Embodied.”
Thacher Gallery planned to showcase a full body of López’s
work after her involvement in the 2019-2020 show. However, due
to the COVID-19 pandemic and López’s passing, the gallery is just
now sharing a full embodiment of her work.
Tiller worked at the gallery on “Emboldened, Embodied,” which
inspired them to return for this exhibition. “It felt good to see her
whole body of work and just like not a few pieces,” Tiller said. “It
really gave me a lot of perspective about her and her life.”
“The Nanny” is part of López’s titular series featured in the
exhibition, “Women’s Work is Never Done.”
Also under this motif are López’s silkscreen prints, the
1996“From South Africa to North America,” which displays two
women from both locations with a protest scene in the exterior,
and her 1997 “Your Vote Has Power,”
which displays a woman of color
voting with a child on her back.
“I feel like her work is very contemporary,”
said Gloria Simmons,
Director of Thacher Gallery. “Even
the things that she made in the sixties
— the protest posters — they
are responding to things that we’re
responding to now.”
“Your Vote Has Power” is also
reflected on one of López’s “pocket
posters.” These polaroid sized
images are sent home with gallery
attendees. With her artwork on
the front and a call to action on
the back, the idea of pocket posters
has been a staple of López’s artistry
throughout her career. “Your Vote
Has Power”’s call to action reads:
“The practice of citizenship destroys
the illusion of Whiteness…
The treasure you own is your vote.
Most politicians covet it and fear
how you will use it….Seize the
time.”
Since August, exhibition tours
have ended with USF community
members making their own pocket
posters, which are now on display
in the gallery. Some read: “no
human is illegal,” “Is brown skin a
crime?” and “Freedom starts with
free minds.”
“Women’s Work is Never Done”
will remain on display until Nov. 12.
Thacher Gallery’s next exhibition,
“Offerings Somatic—the body as a
substance of ritual,” will open on
Nov. 30 and close on Feb. 18, 2024.
USF CULTURAL CENTERS LEADS FIELD
TRIP TO AMERICAN INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL
ELINA GRAHAM
Staff writer
Applause and cheers filled San Francisco Public Library’s
Screening Room on Nov. 4, as the second day of the “American Indian
Film Festival” concluded. The American Indian Film Institute,
founded in 1979 began the festival as a means to foster “understanding
and appreciation of the culture, traditions, and issues”
that Native American still experience today, according to their mission
statement.
Now in its 48th year, the festival held screenings of 56 films
from Nov. 3–11th at various Bay Area locations, including the De
Young Museum, Berkeley City College, and the California Academy
of Sciences. Ranging from documentaries, to animations and music
videos, all films were works made by and about Native American,
Alaskan Native, and Canada First Nation peoples. Each day of the
festival, a number of films were shown so viewers had the option to
plan their visit around what they wanted to see.
USF’s Cultural Centers hosted a field trip on Nov. 4 to attend
the Animations Program screening at San Francisco Public Library’s
Main branch. “To have these events is to embrace more and
more diversity in the city,” said sophomore computer science major,
Ezequiel Beck, who attended the trip. “It’s important for these
events to happen, and to invite students to come and learn.”
Assistant Director of USF’s Cultural Centers D. Perez Sornia
emphasized the relevance of attending city-initiated cultural
events. “I think the city putting their money where their mouth is
by uplifting events happening all around us is great. It’s a way for us
to stand with communities who we aren’t personally a part of, and a
Speaker Mary Jean Robertson has been amplifying native voices for 50 years on her KPOO radio program, Voices of
the Native Nations. Screenshot from @AIFISF on Instagram.
way of giving them opportunities to tell their stories.”
Some films explored the longstanding history of violence and
racism against Indigenous people. One film, “Ohskennón:ten Owí:ra
(Little Deer),” showed two Indigenous girls’ escape from the abuse
and horror they experienced at the Mohawk Institute Residential
School. This was one of many schools established by Christian missionaries
and the U.S. government to eradicate Indigenous Culture
and forcefully assimilate Native American youth into mainstream
American society.
Mohawk writer and director Jonathan Elliot of the Six Nations
Reserve in Ontario took to the stage to introduce his film “Ohskennón:ten
Owí:ra (Little Deer).” “I don’t consider this my story,
I consider it a community story. The survivors told me they wanted
to make this film to educate audiences about what they went
through at residential schools, but to make it a message of hope
and resilience.” Elliot said, on the film’s significance. “I think it’s a
testament to their strength and to their ability to help guide future
generations to understand what they went through, because it’s important
to not forget.”
USF Graduate student Yih Ren, who is the Gender and Sexuality
Center Coordinator at the USF Cultural Centers, attended
the festival and spoke on the impact storytelling has on our understanding
of the people around us. “Oftentimes when we talk about
representation, we’re talking about only one type for a whole culture
or ethnicity, so if we add more stories, we add more layers to
that representation.”
Screenings will continue until Nov. 11th both virtually and
in person, at venues throughout Berkeley and San Francisco
— information about tickets can be found on their website.
SCENE

08 09
THURSDAY
NOV. 9
2023
OPINION
THE DONS BAND BOUNCES BACK
JORDAN MARALIT is a
junior politics major.
The Importance of Arts Revitalization Post-COVID
At the start of my freshman
year, I was looking for ways to
get involved on campus when I
stumbled upon a club called the
“USF Dons Band” at the Involvement
Fair. As someone who tapped into
their musical talents at the age of
seven, when I first played the piano,
the band seemed like the perfect
way for me to partake in a campus
activity, and continue to explore my
interest in music.
Having a marching band in
college allows students to bolster
their musical self-expression. The
band has helped me to express
myself and step out of my comfort
zone artistically. It is important
because college students may have a difficult time finding their
crowd and interests.
Despite all the benefits it brings, the Dons Band has faced many
challenges, which led to a decline in enrollment during and after
the COVID pandemic. According to the USF Dons Band website,
the team has a 30-player capacity, but since COVID, membership
has declined. This year, there are only 12 active members. When the
COVID lockdowns started in March 2020, the Dons Band were at
the West Coast Conference Tournament in Las Vegas. They returned
to USF right after, and then, along with the rest of USF, all members
engaged in remote learning, according to the band’s director and
adjunct professor Joseph Lares, who founded the Dons Band in 2009.
When USF went fully remote, it was difficult for organizational
in-person activities — like band rehearsal — to take place. According
to the National Endowment for the Arts, few areas of the U.S economy
were hit harder than the performing arts. This was especially true on
college campuses.
Lares said, “Members graduated, recruitment dwindled, and by
Fall 2021 the band was only down to eight members. It was unclear
if we would be able to rebound from the pandemic, but with a core
of student officers still operating over Zoom wanted to relaunch the
band.”
Despite difficulties, the band persevered and continued to rebuild
as a club. While meeting on Zoom, the Dons Band created a “Stayat-Home
Project” with band members altogether and performed a
rendition of “San Francisco” by Judy Garland.
To truly bring the band to its full level again, we must rebuild
what has been lost: by bringing more people together and sharing a
common love for performing arts.
The Dons band amplifies school spirit through athletic events,
Halloween block parties, and competitions against other bands. The
main catalog of their music setlist varies through all music genres.
It includes hits from Bruno Mars, Daft Punk, Otis Redding, the Foo
Fighters, and traditional marching band repertoire.
Not only is this a club that students of all skill levels can sign up
for, but the Performing Arts and Social Justice Department offers the
band as a course for a max of two credits.
As a course, the band meets in the War Memorial Gym every
Monday. The musicians split up into sectionals and divide the
ensemble into groups — brass, woodwinds, and percussion — to
practice their parts. A section leader is assigned to a particular group
to supervise them, and guide the musicians through parts they may
struggle with.
Junior band member, and computer science major, Zachary Alon
said that he joined the band because of his “desire to perform and to
improve his skills as a musician.” Alon plays the alto saxophone.
Alon, the executive manager, said, “New members are the
lifeblood of the band. I want people to know that the Dons band is not
only a place to play music, but also a tight knit community.”
With more in-person campus activities taking place, the Dons Band
now has the opportunity to recover. Performing arts organizations
got hit hardest in the pandemic, however the perseverance of staying
active through virtual interaction allowed them to survive. Now, the
Dons Bands is showing that there can be a further revitalization of
creativity and community spirit.
The Dons Band’s next major gig will be at the Chase Center
Doubleheader on Nov. 26th. To join the Dons Band, follow
@usfdonsband on Instagram or the official website for more info.
In February, the Dons Marching Band (pictured above) played at the Chinese New Year Parade. Screenshot from @usfdonsband on Instagram.
LAND BACK’S ROOTING FOR US ALL
INÉS VENTURA is a
sophomore media studies major.
Over the course of the last few
years, you have probably heard some
form of land acknowledgement
towards a specific nation or
Indigenous group as the original
caretakers and rightful owners of
the area you find yourself in. To
many, this might seem as the latest
“woke ritual,” but it is actually a
historical action that stems from a
much larger movement.
The Land Back movement
is “organizing and sacrificing
to get Indigenous lands back to
Indigenous hands,” according
to the NDN Collective. For
Indigenous Americans in the
Western hemisphere, the Land
Back movement has been an ongoing struggle since 1492 when
Christopher Columbus arrived in North America. For generations
since then, Native Americans have been organizing to get their land
back — sometimes by way of treaties between the U.S. and Indigenous
nations — and have banded together to form a movement towards
restoring their land sovereignty.
Land Back became more broadly known after it circulated online
in 2018 as a hashtag started by Arnell Tailfeathers, a member of the
Kainai tribe of the Blackfeet Confederacy of Canada, who is credited
with popularizing the term. The NDN collective, which started the
contemporary relaunch of Land Back, views the movement as a means
to bring organized movements together that are “working towards
true collective liberation,” as stated in their campaign description.
Respecting and reinstating Indigenous land sovereignty is an
action that is important not only to the healing of Native Americans,
but to the land itself — and the movement should
be seen as such. On the surface, Land Back appears
to only be about undoing the harm caused by
colonialism that Native Americans still deal with
today. In reality, it is an intersectional movement
that has roots in other advocacy movements,
like environmental justice, that affect everyone.
The purpose of Indigenous people reclaiming
land is not only to serve as a reparation for the
generations of abuse and erasure brought on
by colonialism, but to restore the relationship
between humans and land, which has been
interrupted and unbalanced — made obvious by
the climate crisis. According to the movement’s
manifesto, the human relationship with Earth
is supposed to be “symbiotic and just,” which is
why restoring land stewardship to Native tribes
is crucial to the healing of Indigenous lineage
and the land which we all share.
Since its inception, the movement has
sparked many conversations and contentions
between Indigenous activists and politicians
questioning if giving land ownership back to
Native tribes, as opposed to government or
private groups, is a good idea. The movement’s
successes have proven that it is.
In 2020, the Esselen tribe of Northern
California purchased 1,200 acres of land near
Big Sur,Calif., in collaboration with the state.
After 250 years of absence, the tribe now resides
in their rightful land and have since been able
Graphic by Grace Tawatao / GRAPHICS CENTER
to use it again for “educational and cultural purposes,” according to
Esselen tribal leaders.
In January of 2022, the Save the Redwoods League, which has
been protecting Redwood Forests since 1918, released a statement
announcing the transfer of 523 acres of forestland to the Sinkyone
Council. Sam Hodder, chief executive of the league, said to the
New York Times, “Fundamentally, we believed that the best way to
permanently protect and heal this land is through tribal stewardship.”
The land has since been renamed Tc’ih-Léh-Dûñ, meaning “Fish Run
Place” in the Sinkyone language.
The restoration of land stewardship to Indigenous peoples has
proven to not only be possible, but beneficial to the land itself. A
study from Grist, a climate focused media organization, showed that
Indigenous-led resistance to fossil fuel projects in the U.S. and Canada
has stopped an “​amount of greenhouse gas pollution equivalent to at
least one-quarter of annual U.S. and Canadian emissions.” Outside of
the U.S., reclamation projects have shown the same success. Science
Academics at Elsevier found that biodiversity in Indigenous-managed
lands in Brazil, Australia, and Canada has proven equal to that in
protected areas.
It’s hard to tell what to expect from the movement moving
forward, since many of their demands have been repeatedly met with
opposition from policy makers in respective states of land that have
yet to be reclaimed. But if there’s one thing that the movement and
its supporters have proven, is that they won’t take no for an answer.
It’s easy to generalize Land Back as something that only pertains
to Native groups, and even view it as a threat to the comfort granted
to us by colonialism. However, these inhabited lands are meant to
be protected by humans, not exploited for our use. As we move into
a future threatened by countless climate issues, this movement is
something we should all be part of as global citizens, with Indigenous
people leading the way to health and healing for themselves, us, and
the Earth as a whole.
OPINION

10 11
THURSDAY
NOV. 9
2023
USF’S TAEKWONDO CLUB GEARS
UP FOR FIRST TOURNAMENT
DONS PLAYER PROFILE:
MARISSA VASQUEZ
SPORTS
JORDAN MARALIT
Staff Writer
While Dons Athletics have most notably shined through basketball,
baseball, and soccer, the USF Taekwondo Club is representing the
Hilltop on the mat with their kicks, hits, and punches.
USF’s Taekwondo’s Club is gearing up to compete at UC Davis’
annual Fall Open Tournament on Nov. 19, which will be the club’s first
tournament of the semester.
The USF Taekwondo Club practices on the semi-competitive
level of taekwondo, which entails more physicality than traditional
taekwondo.The club is a member of USA Taekwondo, the governing
body of taekwondo for the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Taekwondo is a traditional Korean Martial Art which involves
not only kicking and punching techniques, but also teaches focus and
self-discipline. According to the Olympics, all taekwondo matches
“last over three rounds of two minutes each, with a one minute break
between rounds.” The website explains that “the objective of each
competitor is to score points by landing blows and kicks on their
opponent’s torso or head or to win by knockout.”
It is further described that “blows must be delivered through
a straight punching technique using the knuckle part of a tightly
clenched fist. The kicks that count are those delivered using any part
of the foot below the ankle.”
Brisbane Martial Arts describes the ranking of taekwondo belts
as, “The first being white, which you receive when you commence
training. The following belts are yellow, blue, red, red/black, Cho Dan
Bo, black/white and black belt. On each of the color belts you wear
stripes indicating your level of attainment on that belt.”
The USF team participates in local tournaments such as the annual
University of California Open Taekwondo Championships hosted at
UC Berkeley and the American Open Taekwondo Championships held
at California State University, East Bay.
The club prepares students who wish to upgrade their belts and
compete in major tournaments every semester. Junior kinesiology
major and president of USF Taekwondo Club, Jake Gonzaga, currently
has a third degree black belt.
Gonzaga has competed nationwide and internationally. He has
traveled to Mexico, Costa Rica, Taiwan, South Korea, among other
nations to compete in world championships.
“During training, we try our best to simulate the competition
format and visualize what it will be like during the competition.
Sparring requires a lot of stamina and strength so getting our bodies
in shape is a top priority,” said Gonzaga.
Taekwondo invites students from all experience levels to
participate. Practices occur on Monday and Wednesday from 5-6:30
PM at the Koret Combative room. If you are interested in joining, follow
@usfca.tkd on Instagram and check out the Dons website for more
information.
Taekwondo club is open to students of all experience levels. Pictured left to right Yool Bong, Jake Gonzaga, Coach David Louis, Henry Delfino, Sean Paredes,
and Kaitilyn Tran. Screenshot from @usfca.tkd on Instagram.
ELISE GREEN
Contributing Writer
Marissa Vasquez started playing soccer when
she was four years old. Now, a senior kinesiology
major and awarded member of West Coast
Confrence’s (WCC) 2022 All-Academic First Team,
she’s the embodiment of her motivations.
“I’ve always been so competitive,” she said. A
native of Diamond Bar, Calif.,Vasquez said, “I did
have some time where I didn’t play on a team, but
I kept working and made it to college to play.” As
WCC’s 2022 Offensive Player of the Week, her
accolades have grown with her collegiate career.
“If something doesn’t work there are other
paths towards a goal,” Vasquez said. Regarding
her journey to becoming a student athlete, she
explained, “It’s what I’ve loved and grown through.”
When Vasquez came to USF in 2020, she was
a forward who had already received the WCC All-
Freshman Honors. Three years later as a midfielder,
having played and started all 19 games for the Dons
last season, she said her perspective on what it’s
like to be a student athlete has shifted.
“Coming in as a freshman I was so nervous,”
she admitted. Starting during the height of the
COVID-19 pandemic, she called it “a unique,
different experience,” but said she wouldn’t change
a thing.
Vasquez described balancing the sport with
her education.“I think soccer helped me succeed in
school,” she said. “I knew to keep playing my grades
had to be good. [It] definitely taught me to have
good time management.”
Part of that time management goes to her
game day routines, which includes grabbing game
day tea lattes with her teammate, junior defensive
player Isabelle Esparza. “Oat lavender Earl Grey
for me and jasmine for Isa,” she said with a laugh.
Whether it’s listening to relaxing music or finding
time for a quick nap, Vasquez said that her routines
contribute to her success on the field, and in the
classroom.
Vasquez reflected on her time playing soccer at
USF. “I look back and think it’s crazy we’re already
all seniors,” she said.“I’m way more confident and
comfortable.”
This past Saturday, Nov. 4, was the team’s last
game of the season, away at Knoles Field against
the Pacific Tigers —the same team Vasquez began
her collegiate career against.
“I always want to lead as an example,” she
explained of the change she’s seen in herself from
first-year to fourth. “Back then, and even now, I’m
not the loudest on the field but I hope my game and
effort speak for me and inspire my teammates and
others around.”
Marissa Vasquez has made a name for herself in women’s soccer within the West Coast Conference.
Photo courtesy of Chris M. Leung/Dons Athletics.
SPORTS

12
THURSDAY
NOV. 9
2023
Ndewedo “Chips” Newbury rises for the slam, pregame at War Memorial Gym. Photo courtesy of Chris M. Leung/Dons Athletics.
DONS DOMINATE ON OPENING NIGHT
SPORTS
CHASE DARDEN
Staff Writer
The Dons Men’s Basketball Team opened up the 2023-24 season
on Nov. 6, with a 128-59 win over Bethesda University.
The Dons came out the gates firing, commanding a 50-point lead
after one half of play. The Dons had an electric first half, shooting 13
for 20 from three, and 73% from the field.
Shining in their debuts were newcomers, Johnathan Mogbo and
Mike Sharavajts.
Mogbo finished with 17 points in his first game on the Hilltop.
In the first half, Mogbo threw down multiple monstrous dunks and
alley-oops that caused an eruption from the crowd, finishing with 15
points in the first half. The junior Florida native transferred to USF
this year, from Missouri State University where he spent his first two
collegiate seasons.
Mogbo reflected on his first performance on the Hilltop. “I brought
energy, defense, everything. I feel like Coach [Gerlufsen] prepared us
for this and I think everyone did a good job, on both sides,” he said.
“I just want to thank God, without him nothing’s possible. My
mom always told me when I get on the court to be ready. So just go out
there, play hard, play as hard as you can, no matter who we are playing
and good things will happen.”
The Dons opened up the second half with a poster putback dunk
by Sharavajts. The Dons made use of their entire team, with every
player on the roster seeing time on the court, and with seven players
scoring in double digits.
Sharavajts, one of the Dons’ most highly anticipated transfers,
held down the team as their starting point guard. The 6-foot-8 guard
wasn’t scared of sharing the ball as he finished the game with 11 points,
seven assists, and a highlight alley-oop that he threw to 7-foot-center
Volodymyr Markovetskyy.
Also adding to the barrage of offense for the Dons, was junior
Stefan Todorovic, who put up 17 points, and showed his offensive
skills, knocking down three three-pointers and shooting 7 for 11 from
the field.
Head Coach Chris Gerlufsen spoke on the newcomers’ impact on
the game. “I think we have a lot of weapons up and down the lineup. I
think we have guys where we could have multiple leading scorers as the
year goes on,” he said.
“Our newcomers have really meshed and ingrained themselves into
our program quickly. They’re all exciting players… I’m excited about
what our group can be. We’re not even close to what our potential is.”
Todorovic also spoke about his successful shooting from behind
the three-point line.
“My whole life I’ve been a shooter, so I think it all comes with
confidence, which I have all the time when I step on the court,” he said.
“[Shooting is] my job. Be shot ready all the time, and being shot ready
for me is going to open up a lot of different stuff for not only me but
the others too.”
Bethesda did not have much to show from their performance,
shooting 37% from the field, 11% from three, and suffering 25
turnovers — 15 more than the Dons. Bethesda only had one person
score in double digits, Jonathan Ilelji, who put up 18 points. Ilelji shot
1 for 8 from three, to go along with five turnovers.
The Dons dominated the game, never letting Bethesda get the
chance for a comeback. Throughout the length of the game, Bethesda
never had a lead over the Dons.
The Dons open up the new season undefeated, with a statement
win that is bound to send a message to the rest of the West Coast
Conference.
Students can attend all Dons home games for free with the use of
their One Card.