FOGHORN ISSUE 10 FINAL

SF FOGHORN
NEWS
03
Community
statement calls for a
ceasefire in Gaza.
SCENE
07
Chinatown night
market attracts
thousands.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023 • VOL. 121, ISSUE 10
OPINION
08
USF alumnus
responds to
university stance.
The Asian Art Museum displays welcome banners for APEC at the entrance of the building. Photo by: Niki Sedaghat/SF Foghorn.
SPORTS
12
USF Triathlon
finishes third at
nationals.
APEC COMES TO SAN FRANCISCO
USF Community Engages with SF’s Historic Summit
INÉS VENTURA & MEGAN ROBERTSON
Staff Writers
San Francisco is hosting the final meetings of the annual
Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit
from Nov. 11-Nov.17 at the Moscone Center. An estimated
20,000 visitors have arrived in the city, including world
leaders such as President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi
Jinping, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, among
others. USF is sponsoring numerous APEC related events
and volunteer programs for students in the international
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
studies, Asian studies, economics, and politics departments.
What is APEC?
APEC is an annual gathering of leaders from the attending
21 member economies in Asia, the Pacific Rim, North
America, and South America. Delegates, dignitaries, and
representatives engage in various dialogues focused on issues
such as sustainability and economic development.
APEC claims to “advance economic policies in the Asia-Pacific
region to promote free, fair, and open trade and investment
and advance sustainable and inclusive economic
growth,” according to their website.
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02 03
THURSDAY
NOV. 16
2023
STAFF
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STAFF EDITORIAL
NO-GO ON CRYPTO
College students aren’t exactly
known for the best financial decisions,
but this year may be harder
than most. This is in part because Investopedia
reports in 2023, the cryptocurrency
market has been performing
poorly all year.
Cryptocurrency, or crypto, is “a
digital currency, which is an alternative
form of payment created using
encryption algorithms” as defined
by the State University of New York.
Many people use cryptocurrencies
as an investment to make money —
in fact, in 2020, the New York Post
found that as many as one in five college
students had used their student
loans to invest in cryptocurrency.
As of April of this year, Pew Research
found that 40% of men from
ages 18 to 29 have used cryptocurrency.
Last year’s major crypto exchange
FTX Exchange collapse has led many
to see the dangers of investing in
cryptocurrency. The FTX collapse,
and founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s
arrest, bode poorly for the future of
cryptocurrency.
FTX, founded in 2019, was a
crypto exchange, which as the Corporate
Finance Institute explains, are
platforms that “facilitate the trading
of cryptocurrencies for other assets,
including digital and fiat currencies.”
They function similarly to stock exchanges.
By 2022, FTX had become
the second largest crypto exchange in
the world, worth $32 billion.
With this success, FTX would
go on to spend $1.1 billion dollars on
celebrity endorsements and sponsorships,
according to CNBC, including
spending millions on a sporting arena
in Miami as well as endorsements
from big names like basketball star
Stephen Curry, “Shark Tank” reality
TV mogul Kevin O’Leary, and comedic
actor Larry David.
At the top of the FTX crypto empire
was Sam Bankman-Fried, who
Forbes reports was once one of the
richest people in crypto. Much of the
wealth was thought to be generated
by broker’s fees from FTX and profits
from the related trading firm Alameda
Research. However, his success
was short-lived.
According to Investopedia,
“FTX’s collapse took place over a 10-
day period” in Nov. 2022. In the simplest
terms, FTX customers discovered,
due to an investigation by crypto
news site CoinDesk, that a majority of
the assets held by Alameda Research
were in FTT tokens. FTT is the cryptocurrency
created by FTX. What’s
worse, Alameda had taken as much as
$10 billion from FTX customer funds
to repay its own loans, according to
Reuters. This means much of FTX’s
value was illiquid, meaning it could
not be returned if customers asked
for their money back.
On Nov. 6, Forbes writes, rival
crypto exchange Binance sold 23 million
FTT tokens, leading to a drastic
reduction in the value of the token,
and prompting panicked customers
to begin withdrawing their money
from FTX in what’s known as a bank
run. Within the week, FTX filed for
bankruptcy, and days later Bankman-Fried
was arrested.
Early this November, Reuters reported
Bankman-Fried was convicted
of two counts of fraud and five counts
of conspiracy for stealing an estimated
$8 billion from FTX customers.
Under these charges, the former billionaire
could serve up to 100 years in
prison, though the New York Times
estimates that twenty to fifty years
is more likely. U.S. Attorney Damian
Williams called the FTX fraud
“one of the biggest financial frauds in
American history.”
The FTX collapse rippled across
the entire crypto market. The New
York Times stated, “The cryptocurrency
industry has long struggled to
convince regulators, investors and
ordinary customers that it is trustworthy.”
This problem of trust is only
exacerbated by the FTX collapse. Not
only did it eliminate a core pillar of
the crypto environment, it also increased
skepticism around crypto,
harming efforts to normalize the use
of cryptocurrencies.
The FTX collapse is a chilling
reminder of the dangers of investing
in unregulated financial assets. It
leaves a stain that will not be easily
forgotten. Hopefully, after the saga,
students will think twice before using
their student loans on such risky
ventures.
800 USF COMMUNITY MEMBERS CALL
FOR CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA
MEGAN ROBERTSON
Staff Writer
As the Israel-Hamas war enters its sixth week, a number of
demonstrations and calls to action have taken place on the Hilltop.
On Nov. 9, USF community members attended an afternoon “Shut
it Down for Palestine” rally and an evening vigil remembering “all
of the martyrs in Palestine.” An “End the Siege on Gaza” student-led
rally is scheduled for Nov. 14.
While students are leading demonstrations, faculty, staff, and
alums have also mobilized around the war. On Nov. 10, the Foghorn’s
editorial team learned of a faculty-led “USF Community
Member Statement” calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, which, at the
time of print on Nov. 14, has been signed by 808 USF community
members.
The document, which is circulating via a Google Form, states
that all signatories “stand opposed to the genocide in Gaza, and
believe its our moral obligation to ask our USF community to do so
as well.” At the time of publication, 500 students, 119 faculty and
librarians, 127 alums, 53 staff members, and 9 other community
members have signed their name to the cause.
The faculty-led statement was published on Nov. 3 and aims to
acquire 1,000 total signatories. Philosophy professor Saera Khan
spoke to the Foghorn on behalf of the group of faculty who published
the statement. “This statement emerged from students asking
administration and faculty to make a statement about what is
happening in Gaza,” Khan said.
President Father Fitzgerald, S.J. released an Oct. 16 email statement,
acknowledging the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but not condemning
the violence or speaking to the political factors at play.
On Oct. 26, Fitzgerald, along with 100 other university presidents,
signed the “Universities United Against Terrorism” statement,
which says they “stand with Israel,” and denounce “Hamas
and terrorism.”
Fitzgerald received push back from the USF community due to
this signature, and on Nov. 10 sent a community-wide email where
he stated, “I chose to sign in order to add my voice in
solidarity with Israelis and Palestinians.” A further
in-depth, op-ed response to this letter can be found
in “Palestinians Need Action, Not Prayers” on page
8 of this issue.
“This may be understandable,” Khan said, citing
a Nov. 7 reporting from the Chronicle of Higher
Education, which found that colleges and universities
around the country are refraining from showing
support for Israel or Palestine, due the pressures
of protecting free speech while prioritizing
the safety of Israeli and Palestinian students. “At
the same time,” she continued, “it seems especially
important that an institution that centers social
justice would make a statement.
Julia Laverde, a senior critical diversity studies
major, signed the statement in response to
Fitzgerald’s signature on the “Universities United
Against Terorrism” document.“The 800 of us who
have co-signed the community member statement
are saying ‘not in our name,’” they said. “We refuse
to allow our University’s administration to continue
acting in USF’s declared values of ‘changing the
world from here’ and ‘cura personalis’ by supporting
Israel’s ongoing support of genocide to Palestinians,
both in their words and in their silence.”
The community statement not only calls on action from the
University, but further calls on President Biden “to demand and
facilitate an immediate cease-fire” and “refrain from sending any
more weapons to the Israeli government.”
Senior environmental studies major Jade Carter learned of the
statement through Instagram. “I thought that the fact of students,
faculty, and staff uniting to make a joint statement to and for the
University was a pretty profound move,” she said. “Any way that we
can push the call for a cease-fire is imperative.”
The “USF Community Member Statement” argued that the proposed
cease-fire aligns with USF’s core values. It reads: “As community
members of a Jesuit institution of higher learning, committed
to ‘cura personalis,’ care for the whole person, we call upon all to
consider what it means to bear witness to the plight of Palestinian
people in Gaza facing genocidal Israeli state violence.”
Khan called the statement “a grassroots effort in creating a
voice for faculty, students, staff, and alumni who believe that our
mission would compel us to advocate for a cease-fire and stand
against human suffering.”
Senior business analytics major Jocelyn Luciani signed the petition
after seeing a classmate share it on social media. “It’s important
as students, faculty, and alumni representing an institution,
that we collectively stand against the genocide in Gaza,” she said.
Senior performing arts and social justice major Fayola Jean said
that she signed it out of a duty to the martyred Palestinians. “We
learn about the Holocaust all the time and we always talk about
how, ‘Oh, we wish we could have made a difference,’ or how wrong
it was, but it’s like — when this is happening in the world right now,
what do we do? So I’m on top of like signing all those things, protesting,
sharing posts. Revolution is happening!”
The statement ended by stating, “we mourn for the Palestinian
and Israeli civilians killed, we condemn the rising tide of Islamophobia
and antisemitism in the wake of these events, and we continue
to fight with everything we have for the living.”
Editor’s note: Foghorn staff members Jordan DelFiugo, Niki Sedaghat,
Jordan Maralit, Inés Ventura, Samantha Avila Griffin, Kyla
Menconi, and Chisom Okorafor are signatories to the statement.
Students engage in a walkout protest outside of USF School of Law on Oct. 25th, calling for a ceasefire.
Photo by Samantha Avila Griffin/ Sf Foghorn.
NEWS

04 05
APEC COMES TO SAN FRANCISCO
THURSDAY
NOV. 16
2023
CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
The portion of the summit that will take place here is known as
the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (ALEW), operating under this
year’s theme of “creating a resilient and sustainable future for all,”
according to the APECSF23 site. ALEW is the final stretch of gatherings
that will conclude APEC’s 2023 season. The summit taking
place in San Francisco will complete the list of U.S. cities hosting
APEC this year, like Palm Springs, Honolulu, Detroit, and Seattle.
Alongside CEOs, entrepreneurs, and other economic stakeholders,
senior global leaders are scheduled to discuss “global opportunities
and challenges that are shaping economic, environmental,
and societal trends,” according to the CEO summit’s official
website. The member economies set to attend account for 60% of
the world’s economy. APEC meetings throughout the year have focused
on regional economic issues, including sustainability, digitalization,
women’s economic empowerment, trade facilitation, energy
and food security, and health.
​This is the U.S.’s first time hosting APEC since 2011, and the
third time hosting the summit since its formation in 1989. It will
also mark the city’s “largest international gathering since dignitaries
gathered in 1945 to sign the charter creating the United Nations,”
according to AP.
As part of preparation, the San Francisco Special Events Committee
raised $20.1 million in fundraising for hosting APEC.
Mayor London Breed’s office estimates that the summit will
generate more than $53 million in revenue for the local economy.
“This will be significantly financially impactful for the people here
in San Francisco,” Breed said at a press conference on Oct. 24.
USF’s Participation
USF’s Center for Business Studies and Innovation in Asia-Pacific
(CBSI-AP) hosted the APEC Business Advisory Council’s
“Charting A Sustainable Future” talk on Nov. 13 at USF’s downtown
campus and are co-hosting the inaugural “Jimmy Carter Conversation
on US-China Relations” on Nov. 18 in Lone Mountain with the
Carter Center. CBSI-AP is also connecting students through their
Global Student Ambassadors Program (GSAP) to volunteer at APEC
proceedings at the Moscone Center.
Through his volunteering, first-year entrepreneurship and
innovation major Het Patel greets delegates of the member economies,
members of the press, and other attendees as he registers
them for the summit upon their arrival to the Moscone Center.
“It’s not just signing people up, it’s also networking,” he said. “They
don’t just tell me their names, they talk to me and ask me questions
like ‘Why are you here?’, and when I tell them that I am a freshman,
they tell me how good it is that I am already involved and getting
connected,” said Patel. Students who volunteer through the GSAP
program are exposed to experiences and resources that only exist
outside of their classes. “You never know, you might meet your future
employer,” he said.
Inside the proceedings, senior international business major
Mark Anthony Catahan works alongside the press cabinet of APEC,
which includes major media companies like FOX, CNN, AP, and the
China Global Television Network. “It’s been an enriching experience
to meet these delegates and press,” he said.
“I took the opportunity for two things. One: to learn about
APEC and what the member economies talk about. And two: as an
SF native I want to show delegates how beautiful the city is, because
I love the city and I want to show them what this city has and why
we are so excited for this year’s summit,” Catahan said.
USF’s Chinese Student & Scholar Association (CSSA) is likewise
taking a group of approximately 30 students to volunteer at the
APEC proceedings. CSSA’s group of volunteers are Chinese-identifying
students of all majors.
Asian studies senior, Kunhan Ma, is volunteering through
CSSA for three days of the summit, where she will be welcoming
leaders and dignitaries into the Moscone Center. “I think this experience
can be impactful for my education,” Ma said. “It’s also a good
opportunity to see the President and other Presidents.”
Impact on surrounding areas:
Security measures have been rolled out to prepare the area for
its high-profile guests, with the Secret Service installing more than
10-foot tall “unscalable walls” around the Moscone Center and
Yerba Buena Gardens. The main security zone stretches between
Market, Fifth, and Harrison streets, which are closed off. Additionally,
areas around conference events and activities will be closed to
vehicle, transit, and bicycle through-traffic. People will be allowed
to enter security zones to access their homes and businesses with
proper ID shown at security checkpoints and marked entrances.
Encampments of unhoused people which are typically seen in
the South of Market (SoMa) and Tenderloin neighborhoods have
been cleared out by SF Public Works, with unhoused people being
displaced as part of the city’s many preparations ahead of the
summit. Public Works spokesperson Rachel Gordon told the San
Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday that the targeted intersections
“have been on the city’s list of known encampments and are described
as areas of concern because they were growing, in some
cases blocking sidewalks and spilling into the curb lane.” Irrespective
of APEC, the city has been trying to resolve encampments at
those locations “over time.”
Reactions from SF Residents:
At the time of printing on Tuesday, a number of protest actions
have and will continue to occur around the city. The NO to APEC
Coalition, a grassroots collective of more than 150 activist organizations,
plans a week of demonstrations — the majority of which can be
found posted around the Hilltop, from the UC to Kalmanovitz Hall.
In an Instagram statement, these activists claim that APEC encourages
member nations to “further their drive for profits, and
their control over our political, economic, and cultural life, as
well as the rapidly deteriorating climate. Their long-time strategy
to concentrate power and wealth, funds police states around the
Asia-Pacific and Latin America region, locks in an unsustainable
fossil fuel economy and silences our voices of resistance.”
Beginning their week of action on Nov. 11, NO to APEC held a
“Peoples’ Counter Summit” at San Francisco State University, with
more than 1,000 attendees.
Thousands attended NO to APEC’s Nov. 12 protest at the Ferry
Building Plaza, including many USF community members.
Miya Stephanoff, Spring 2023 environmental studies graduate,
went to the protest because they find APEC to be “an amalgamation
of everything evil in our world. Capitalism, white supremacy, patriarchy,
militarization…I could go on and on,” they said. “I had to be
there in protest and scream that business cannot continue as usual.
There were many cultural speakers before the march happened and
they spoke to how intersectional APEC’s impact is.”
Notable aspects of the protest for Stephanoff were the large police
presence and a “language justice team” which interpreted the
event into Spanish and Tagalog. “Protests need to be as accessible
and inclusive as possible because that is a fundamental part of social
justice,” they said. “There were over 100 organizations present
and they were all calling not only to end the APEC conference but
also for a cease-fire in Gaza and to free Palestine.”
Thousands are expected to attend Wednesday Nov. 15’s “mass
mobilization event” where activists plan to “put their bodies on the
line” to “creatively block” Wednesday’s CEO summit — in which all
dignitaries are set to attend.
In the op-ed piece, “Why I’m Protesting APEC” on page 10 of
this issue, read more about a USF student’s involvement in the NO
to APEC coalition.
Peru will host the next APEC summit in 2024.
A flier posted near the steps of Lone Mountain urges community
members to “say no to APEC.” Photo by: Megan Robertson/SF Foghorn.
NEWS
Activist group NO to APEC hosted a counter summit on Nov. 12. Screenshot from @no2apec on Instagram.
Activist Alan Marling projects a call to action onto Moscone Center, where the summit is taking place. Screenshot from @aemarling on Instagram.
NEWS

06 07
THURSDAY
NOV. 16
2023
COMMUNITY BUILDING AT COASTAL CLEANUP
SCENE
ELINA GRAHAM
Staff Writer
Volunteers in neon vests and plastic gloves could be seen a mile
away as they gathered in front of Ocean Beach Cafe on Nov. 11, ready
for a morning filled with community service. The cafe works with local
organizations Refuse Refuse, Together SF, and the Civic Joy Fund
to host weekly neighborhood trash pickups, all under the umbrella organization
Clean Up The City. These events use grassroots volunteer
efforts to clean up San Francisco.
Refuse Refuse is one of the largest city-wide garbage collection
organizations. Their cleanups have led to the proper disposal of more
than 457,912 gallons of littered trash.
The nonprofit group Together SF aims to raise civic engagement
and education in the city and organizes events including neighborhood
cleanups, food pantries, and meal deliveries.
The Civic Joy Fund was started as a way for community members
to connect by working on shared communal projects. They helped
sponsor Saturday’s event, paying for all the volunteers’ lunches.
The clean up brought together 52 volunteers from diverse backgrounds
and ages. A large number were students, young people, and
families with children. Ocean Beach cleanup captain Bobak Esfandiari
split the group into four sections, each tackling a different part of
the neighborhood. One team took over the beach, a second the surrounding
walkway and parking lot, the third the Balboa Natural Area
parallel to the beach, and the final group focused on La Playa Street,
the bus station, and the Safeway parking lot.
Handheld mechanical trash grabbers, garbage bags, gloves, and
other essential supplies were provided, and after a quick instructional
speech and welcome from the cafe, volunteers had 90 minutes to
gather all the trash they could before Recology, San Francisco’s waste
management system, came to pick up the collection.
Information regarding clean up locations is located at Clean Up The City’s website. Photo courtesy of Bobak Esfandiari.
“I feel like the city sometimes isn’t doing enough to keep it clean,
so we have to work together to make it cleaner,” said first year marketing
major Megan Galle, who was there volunteering.
In recent years, there has been an increase in littering and illegal
waste dumping in San Francisco streets. The city has a customer
service line where citizens can report abandoned waste, and in 2022,
there were over four times the amount of calls than there were a decade
ago. Recology picked up 8.8 million pounds of illegally dumped
garbage last year.
The city has proposed plans to use movable license plate reader
cameras to identify and take action against those who litter. However,
the process has seen delays since its proposal in 2020, due to a change
in vendors, leading citizens to take the matter into their own hands.
Though these cleanups always yielded a steady turnout of 20-30
volunteers, event leaders said they have noted an increase in volunteer
numbers after the pandemic. Regarding participation, Esfandiari said,
“I think people, as they came out of the pandemic and wanted to get
more involved in their communities again, have been looking for easy,
lightweight ways of getting involved and this is a great way, giving
back to the community and keeping the streets clean.”
Esfandiari, who has been involved in this cleanup since May 2021,
said, “There will always be trash on the beach, at the end of the day.
But for me, one of the greatest joys is the idea that we’re not just picking
up trash on a weekend, but that people are making friends and
connecting in ways that I think is really healthy and good for everyone
involved.”
First-time event attendee Destin Stewart, age 18, said, “I feel like it
builds more of a community. You come together with people you don’t
know and together, you clean up the city.”
Information on joining one of these cleanups can be found on the
Clean Up The City website.
The market comes after the success of the Sunset Night Market, which happened in September. Photo by Jordan DelFiugo / SF Foghorn.
JORDAN DELFIUGO
Staff Writer
SAVORING THE NIGHT
Chinatown night market draws thousands
Guided by the glow of red, paper lanterns hanging above Grant
Avenue and the smells of barbeque pork buns and pastries, thousands
gathered between Pine and Sacramento Streets this weekend
for Chinatown’s night market, where 25 different local vendors sold
pre-made dishes. According to the San Francisco Standard, 99% of
the vendors were local Chinatown restaurants.
The two-day market took place on Nov. 10 and 11, from 5-9
p.m. each night ahead of the Asian Pacific Cooperation Summit
kick-off, which occurred at City Hall on Nov. 11.
For those with a sweet tooth, popular options included Metro
Hong Kong Dessert, as well as
AA Bakery and Cafe, which has operated in San Francisco for
the past 32 years. “The reason I came to the market is because I saw
a video of the AA bakery owner making cupcakes,” said Ji Chuan,
a senior business major who attended the market on Saturday. AA
Bakery and Cafe’s tent drew a large crowd as attendees gathered
around bakery owner, Henry Chen, while he frosted petals onto
cupcakes, creating intricate floral designs on his pastries in real
time.
Steven Lee, who owns three businesses in Chinatown, including
Sam Wo Restaurant, which had a booth at the night market,
explained the event’s purpose in combating negative San Francisco
stereotypes, “We’re basically trying to change the myth, we’re trying
to tell people, ‘don’t believe everything you hear.’ Come down
and visit us and see what we’re doing,” Lee told ABC7. Sam Wo
was a popular attraction for those seeking savory dishes, with their
stuffed noodle rolls.
The event featured a performance from LionDanceMe, who
performed a traditional lion dance, in which multiple dancers operated
a dragon costume, mimicking its movements while accompanied
by a drum circle. According to the New York Freemasons
Athletic club, the ritual is thought to “bring luck and drive away
evil spirits on auspicious occasions.”
The event was organized by the non-profit organization, Be-
Chinatown, a coalition of leaders, merchants, and residents in
Chinatown. According to their website, the organization “aims to
strengthen the community and create economic opportunities for
the neighborhood.”
Kidd Huang, a graduate student in the sports management program,
said, “It’s always fun to see free events in the city, and it
was fun to see another night-market after the massive one at Irving
street.”
In a statement to Yahoo News, Malcolm Yeung, executive director
of Chinatown Community Development Center explained
the purpose of the event “People in the community and the city are
looking at APEC as a potential reset for San Francisco, a relaunch
of our image, certainly our reputation.”
Though entry to the market was free, attendees could purchase
tickets for $5 each to redeem at the booths, a system intended to
streamline transactions for vendors, Hannah Hu, from the Chinatown
Volunteer Coalition, told the San Francisco Chronicle. However,
the popularity of the food led to its vendors selling out in the
first few hours of the market, with some vendors selling out of hot
food as early as 7 p.m. on Friday night.
This left Huang disappointed,.“By the time I got there, they
didn’t have any hot food left– which devastated us because this is
the soul of the market!” However, Huang said she was still able to
enjoy boba from Cool Tea Bar’s booth.
While the food ran out, attendees listened to house music playing
from the Asian Firefighter Association’s DJ booth throughout
the night. “The vibes were on point with music, cool performances,
and obviously loads of amazing food,” said Sammi Chee, junior
chemistry major.
“Just soaking in the whole scene of bringing that Asian
night-market feel to SF was a blast,” Chee, who is from Malaysia,
said, “It’s really cool to see people here in SF enjoying something
that’s such a big part of Asia.”
SCENE

08 09
THURSDAY
NOV. 16
2023
OPINION
PALESTINIANS NEED ACTION, NOT PRAYERS
USF administration’s response to the Israel-Hamas war falls short
VINEET MEHMI is a
2023 USF politics alumni.
Since Oct. 31, heavy
bombardment and shells in Gaza
have killed 2,000 students and
100 school teachers, along with
the destruction of more than
200 schools. According to the
Palestinian News & Information
Agency, more than 600,000 students
will, as a consequence, not be able
to “pursue their fundamental right
to education.”
In response to these barbaric and
tragic events, thousands of students
across the country — including
hundreds of USF students holding
their own protests on campus —
have organized demonstrations to
call attention to the blatant human
rights violations against Palestinians, and the increasing death toll in
Gaza. At the time of publication, 808 community members, including
staff, faculty, alumni, and students have signed a statement standing
unequivocally against “the genocide in Gaza.”
One of the main demands of the USF students’ Oct. 25 protest
was for the USF administration to “publically denounce Israel’s
genocide of Palestinian people through an email to the entire campus
community.”
As we sit privileged in the West, it is our duty to demand recourse
for these gruesome atrocities. I am disappointed that this concept of
condemning violent acts seems to be a challenging idea to grasp for
the USF administration unless it pertains to Hamas.
In response to the escalation by Hamas, President Paul Fitzgerald,
S.J., was quick to put out an Oct. 18 email that labeled the events as
Graphic by Madi Reyes /GRAPHICS CENTER
“defying comprehension.” However, Palestinian civilians have been
facing events that have “defied comprehension” long before Oct.
7, and have almost never received this kind of attention from the
University– an indicator of the intellectual dishonesty being shown
by major institutions across the country.
The violence in the region has been ongoing since the Nakba in
1948 when at least 750,000 Palestinians were displaced beyond the
borders of the state. Under Article 129 of the Geneva Conventions,
forced displacement is considered genocide. This violence continues
to this day, as the Palestinians fight for a right to their own homes.
When asked for a statement on why USF has yet to condemn the
actions of the Israeli government, USF spokesperson Kellie Samson
directed the Foghorn toward a second statement put out by Fitzgerald,
sent to the USF community via email on Nov. 10.
This statement referenced Fitzgerald’s signature to “Universities
United Against Terrorism,” a letter that denounced “Hamas and
terrorism.” In his Nov. 10 email response, Fitzgerald called for
“the release of Israeli hostages” and noted that he “pray[s] for the
Palestinian people and for an immediate end to the violence that is
causing such horrible and inhumane suffering.” Many members of the
USF community took issue with this statement.
This email was one of a series of lackluster responses that do
nothing to alleviate the concerns of Palestinian advocates. It is
morally egregious that Fitzgerald can sign his support for Israel, but
only extend the same courtesy in the form of prayers for Palestinians.
While USF might not have financial stakes in weapons
manufacturers, standing with Israel and being silent on violence
against Palestinians is akin to supporting their methods of warfare;
tactics that include the use of white phosphorus against civilians.
It is not a surprise, then, that USF students who feel strongly about
Palestine chanted “USF, you can’t hide; you’re supporting genocide”
at a rally on Thursday.
Morally, it is simply a matter of
recognizing the atrocities committed
against the Palestinian people. So
far, USF has refused to explicitly
outline these atrocities or assign
responsibility to Israel, which is why
protesters continue to demand action
and why continued protests by USF
students should be welcomed. USF
cannot remain neutral on genocide.
Given that Fitzgerald is willing
to sign a document that states he
“stand[s] together with Israel Against
Hamas,” he along with all the 100
other university presidents listed —
can just as easily demonstrate their
commitment to standing with the
people of Palestine. In the same way
they acknowledge the horrors facing
Israelis, they must be willing to put
out a statement that denounces the
atrocities committed against the
Palestinian people.
If, as the “Universities United
Against Terrorism” document states,
Fitzgerald stands against “murdering
innocent civilians including babies
and children,” the USF administration
should start with the thousands of
innocent civilians who have been
killed over the past month at the hands
of Israeli militarization in the region.
ELISE GREEN is a first- year
international business major.
WILL BARABA LEE’S PALESTINE
STANCE PUT HER AHEAD?
After the passing of Senator
Dianne Feinstein this past
September, Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie
Porter, and Barbara Lee are regarded
as the three election frontrunners
for the California State Senate
Seat, with the Berkeley Institute
of Governmental Studies October
polling results showing 17%, 16%,
and 9% support respectively. All
three prospective senators are from
the Democratic party with similar
platforms, and until recently, the
variation in their campaigns was
slight.
At the Oct. 8 National Union
of Healthcare Workers (NUHW)
Senate Candidate Forum, all three
representatives spoke, and they reached a diversion regarding the
action they’re calling for concerning the Israel-Hamas War. Barbara
Lee’s stance established her individualism in the Senate run, and has
created the opportunity to build off of growing social movements to
further her campaign.
Both Schiff and Porter support increasing American aid for Israel,
with some difference in opinion on how best to handle actionable
defense and the broader issue of gloabl terrorism. In
turn, their platforms remain fairly interchangeable,
making Lee’s stance on the Israel-Hamas War
striking in comparison and appealing to a different
social demographic.
Reminiscent of her voting choices in the
aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, in which she cast the
only vote against the 2001 war in Afghanistan, Lee
is calling for a cease-fire in Palestine. During the
NUHW Senate Candidate Forum, she expressed her
empathy for both Israeli and Palestinian victims,
but provided her thoughts on the United States’ role
in the conflict succinctly.
“Our country has a responsibility, I believe, to
call for a cease-fire and to call for the whole world
to come together to try to stop the escalation of
what is taking place in the Middle East.
And peace is possible if we can bring all parties
together to talk,” she said.
Lee’s call for diplomacy within the Middle East
echoes the results of a CBS News survey published
Oct. 19 which asked respondents about their
feelings on U.S. action regarding the Israel-Hamas
war. Results showed 72% of those surveyed believed
the United States should be engaging in diplomacy
within the region. The overwhelming majority were
calling for less militant approaches, and across
California, there has been a wave of support calling
for similar U.S. action.
Throughout the state, there have been
thousands calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. Protests
have taken place in many of the major cities,
including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco.
Oakland, of which Barbara Lee is the Congressional
Representative, has seen people of all ages take
to the antiwar movement as they denounce the
violence unfolding in the Middle East.
These protests reiterate Barbara Lee’s stance
in contrast to her Senate competitors, and the 30%
of undecided voters across California now have a way to distinguish
the Representatives and their policy beliefs. Coverage of the Israel-
Hamas war has encompassed major media publications, and the
protests calling for a cease-fire are growing every week in California.
Thousands feel strongly about the role the United States should
play in this global conflict. Voting for an official who will lobby for
those same policy beliefs would not be unfounded, given that on an
executive level people are beginning to lobby their votes over the
Israel-Hamas war and the United States’ response. Considering her
advocacy for a ceasefire in Gaza, Barbara Lee may begin seeing new
support from California voters.
For the thousands who have protested, and the many cities seeing
calls for a cease-fire and humanitarian aid, the Senate election is an
opportunity to broaden that voice to the U.S. Government. Barbara
Lee was trailing behind her competitors in the October polls, but the
significance of her stance and broad coverage of news relating to the
Israel-Hamas War puts her in a unique position.
By continuing her advocacy for a ceasefire and diplomatic
approach, Lee could earn the support of those across California with
a similar stance, and unlikeSchiff or Porter, that support would not be
divided with a nearly identical campaign. With the primary election
in March rushing closer, Lee’s campaign chances face an uncertain
trajectory. It’s overwhelmingly her support of a ceasefire in Gaza
that’s her campaign’s defining feature, and may become the driving
force behind her voters by the 2024 Senate election this spring.
Graphic by Sophie Reichert / GRAPHICS CENTER
OPINION

10 11
THURSDAY
NOV. 16
2023
WHY I’M PROTESTING APEC
DONS WEEKLY ROUNDUP
OPINION
In light of recent events, I have
struggled to pretend that everything
is fine when corporations and
politicians continue to support and
fund a country that commits war
crimes and continues its genocide
of indigenous Palestinians. Many
people have become jaded or come
down with “boycott fatigue,” and
carry on as if nothing is happening,
leading me to feel alienated and
overwhelmed. That’s why I’ve
been mobilizing in protest of the
MADISON AVERY is a high profile, week-long summit
senior fine arts major.
happening here in San Francisco
this week — the Asian-Pacific
Economic Cooperation summit
(APEC).
You may have noticed the advertisements on MUNI bus stops
stating things like “APEC will be epic.” If you look on the Office of
the United States Trade Representative website, you’ll see that the
meeting is set to facilitate “trade and investment, economic growth,
and regional cooperation.” These vague descriptions hide the much
more sinister plan to eliminate labor and environmental protections,
Graphic by Sophie Reichert / GRAPHICS CENTER
tariffs and taxes, according to a political analysis put out by the JMS
Study Movement. The people who will bear the greatest consequence
of these policies and capitalist developments are the communities of
color in the global South. They are especially vulnerable due to the
longstanding effects of resource extraction, colonization, and the lack
of protection against climate disasters. All of this is “justified” under
the guise of “free trade” and “economic wellbeing.”
On the surface, APEC makes a strong statement with their 2023
theme of “creating a resilient and sustainable future for all.” Those who
are pro-APEC argue that this summit will have many achievements,
including shortening the length of time it takes for goods to cross
borders and “[making] it easier for students, businesspeople, and
tourists to travel around the [Asian-Pacific] region.”
The website even goes so far as to claim that the 21 member
economies aim to “create greater prosperity for the people of the
region” — but who gets to prosper? In the Philippines, ever since the
U.S. occupied the country in 1898, large corporations have ownership
over the means of production and the two governments save money
by being lax on trade regulations. This extraction, privatization,
and deregulation is what leads to many Filipinxs’ displacement,
underemployment, and poverty.
The conference will also impose on the daily life of San
Franciscans. From Nov. 11 - 19, commuters will experience significant
disruptions in transportation. The conference will be held in the
South of Market (SoMa) and Nob Hill areas and an
“exclusion zone” will be enforced. MUNI routes will
be altered, off-ramps will be closed, highway lanes
will be closed, as well as roads, pedestrian and bike
paths around the conference. If you look at the SFMTA
website, you can find only vague descriptions of these
changes. This will add time to everyone’s commute.
Additionally, small businesses around the exclusion
zone will be affected, as the public will have restricted
access to storefronts. They have received little to
no support from the city to prepare for the week of
reduced foot traffic.
Not only will San Francisco residents lose time
and freedom of movement, APEC is also a burden on
taxpayer dollars. According to BBN Bloomberg, “San
Francisco has set aside another $10 million in taxpayer
funds, mostly for extra policing.”
If you’re sick of seeing governments and
corporations around the world destroy lives, land, and
entire communities without repercussions, I urge you
to get involved with me. The NO to APEC Coalition
comprises more than 100 grassroots organizations that
are working together to disrupt the summit and shut
down APEC. If you want more information about what
APEC is and its negative effects, I urge you to head
over to the website and peruse the many resources.
Shutting down APEC won’t solve the issues that
capitalism and free trade agreements create. However,
it will send a strong message to its 21 “member
economies” that we see through their self-proclaimed
goals for “balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative
and secure growth” and will fight for our and the rest
of the working class’ rights to a peaceful and healthy
environment. It is also a great opportunity for groups
to organize around a common goal, for people to learn
about different organizations they can join, to inspire
more people to get organized, and build momentum
in the streets. This is a moment when more people,
including USF students, can realize their power and
exercise it in order to change history.
Luana Leite blows by Liliana Marques and Da’Miyah Lewis to get to the basket. Photo courtesy of Chris M. Leung/Dons Athletics.
CHASE DARDEN
Staff Writer
A new season of athletics is in full effect on the Hilltop as winter
sports kick off and fall sports take the backseat.
The Dons’ women’s basketball team started their season at 1-1,
after falling to the University of California, Santa Barbara on Nov. 8
at the Thunderdome and following that game with a 22-point victory
over Stanislaus State University on Nov. 9 at War Memorial Gym. In
both games, the Dons were led by the 2022-23 West Coast Conference
(WCC) Sixth Woman of the Year, Jasmine Gayles. Against UC Santa
Barbara, Gayles posted a career-high 30 points, to go along with five
assists and one steal, on 40% shooting from the field (10 for 25). Gayles
continued her dominance on the Hilltop, as she finished with 21
points with three assists and three rebounds, which helped the Dons
secure their first win of the season. Following Gayles’ scoring displays,
on Nov. 13, the WCC announced Gayles as the Credit Union 1 WCC
Player of the Week. With back-to-back 20-plus point performances,
she leads the Dons in scoring and also leads the conference in scoring
at 25.5 points per game.
In Idaho, the undefeated Dons’ men’s basketball team went to battle
with the Boise State University Broncos on Nov. 12. In their first game
on the road, the Dons aimed to build on their two early wins against
Bethesda University and Saint Francis University. In enemy territory,
the Dons and Broncos went down to the wire. Through the first half,
the lead was close between USF and Boise State, as the Broncos exited
the first half with a 32-24 lead. Both teams exchanged runs, with the
Dons responding to an offensive surge from the Broncos, as USF went
on an 8-0 run to bring them within two points with 15 minutes left in
the game. The teams went blow-for-blow for the remainder of the game,
with the Broncos prevailing 63-58, giving the Dons their first loss of
the season. Mike Shravjamts, Johnathan Mogbo, Ndewdo Newbury,
and Isaiah Hawthorne starred for USF. For the third straight time
this season, four Dons finished in double digits, Sharavjamts led the
team with 13 points, followed by Newbury with 11, and Mogbo and
Hawthorne with 10 apiece. Mogbo finished with a season-high nine
rebounds, while Newbury recorded a career-high three blocks.
The USF men’s soccer team wrapped up their season on Nov. 11
in Portland, as they took on the number 13 NCAA nationally ranked
University of Portland Pilots. The Dons and Pilots had a defensive
battle as both teams tallied a combined six shots in the first half, with
the first two coming from USF’s own Gabriel Bracken Serra and Max
Chretien. None of the shots found the back of the net for either side, as
both teams headed into the second half, scoreless. The Pilots made the
first scratch with a 49th minute goal from midfielder Nick Fernandez.
The Pilots struck again with an 84th minute goal, ultimately sealing
the win. The Dons ended their season with a record of eight wins, four
losses, and five ties. Though neither of the Dons soccer teams made
the postseason, men’s goalkeeper Eric Waltz recorded five saves in the
game, bringing his total to 45 on the year, which ranks fourth overall
in the WCC.
Women’s and men’s basketball teams continue their season as the
women head to Hawaii to take on the University of Hawaii Rainbow
Warriors at 5 p.m. on Nov 17 on ESPN+. On the same day, the men’s
team will head to Phoenix to take on the Grand Canyon University
Antelopes, on CBS Sports at 5 p.m.
Students can attend all home games for free, with the use of their
One Card.
SPORTS

12
THURSDAY
NOV. 16
2023
TRIATHLON FINISHES THIRD NATIONALLY
CHASE DARDEN
Staff Writer
On Nov. 11, for the second time in three years, the USF Triathlon
team graced the podium at the USA Triathlon Collegiate National
Championship. The Dons finished third overall with a total of 933
points, behind Queens University of Charlotte and Arizona State
University. The Dons competed against 13 other schools at their
competition in Tempe, Arizona.
Kira Gupta-Baltazar, the 2021 NCAA Division 1 National
champion, finished in the top 10 individually for the third straight
year, finishing sixth overall. Along with Gupta-Baltzar, USF triathletes
Molly Elliott, Gillian Cridge, Maddie Perkins, and Heidi Henry all
finished, individually, in the top 50.
The Foghorn spoke to members of the Triathlon team on navigating
challenges as student athletes and looking towards their futures.
Gupta-Baltazar, the Ontario, Canada native, has excelled as a
triathlete at USF, and etched her name in the Dons’ history book. But
her journey to the top wasn’t the clearest.
“Sport includes a lot of ups and downs and I’ve definitely seen both
sides in the past couple of years,” she said. “I had my first major injury
early this past year and was forced out of all physical activity for two
months. The months were challenging and rewarding and I came away
with a greater understanding of myself.”
With the help of her coaches and teammates, Gupta-Baltazar said
she has been able to better develop a work-life balance.
“I’ve learned from my teammates and coaches the importance of
putting my mental health first,” she said. “When I started implementing
activities into my routine that put my mental health first, I noticed a
shift in my motivation. Although consistency is every athlete and their
coach’s dream, it isn’t attainable without consistently putting your
mental health first.”
First-year biology major Maite Kuestner finished eighth overall
individually in her first time competing in the national championship.
Within her performance, Kuestner recorded the fastest bike time ever
by a Don, at 34:08, and the third fastest overall at the competition.
“Coming into the semester, although the podium was a dream for
us, some of us, including me, I kind of struggled to see it as a goal at
first,” Kuestner said. “Quite a few of us were coming off of injuries and
this semester definitely wasn’t easy… it truly was an effort achieved by
every single member of the team.”
Coming from Cologne, Germany, Keustner overcame obstacles of
her own.
“This year’s season was different to what I’m used to in many ways:
moving across half the planet to join a new training group in a new
environment,” she said. “I tried to not set myself any high expectations
while also trusting myself and my coaches…we took this whole year
rather to adjust to the changes, get used to my new life while trying to
keep the momentum I had coming in.”
As Keustner is beginning her collegiate journey in athletics,
Gupta-Baltazar is finishing up her senior year on the Hilltop and
looking towards her future.
“For as long as I remember, my dream has been to be a professional
triathlete,” she said. “I would still very much like to follow that path,
which involves a lot of travel and following the sun.” The biology major
looks to study sports medicine, “but first, hopefully you will see me
on the start line of the 2028 Olympics competing for Team Canada,”
Gupta-Baltazar said.
While many of the familiar USF Triathletes are in the tail end
of their college careers, with the additions of first-year triathletes
Abigail Lotz, Kuestner, and Henry, the Dons can look to carry their
momentum to the national stage again in 2024.
SPORTS
Dons Triathlon stands at the podium for the second time in three years. Pictured from left to right: Maite Kustner, Molly Elliot, Gillian Cridge, Noga Gottlieb,
Maddie Perkins, Veronika Divis, Kira Gupta-Baltazar, Heidi Henry, Clodagh Mellet, Abbey Lotz. Photo courtesy of USF Athletics.