FOGHORN ISSUE 13 FINAL

SF FOGHORN
EST. 1903
NEWS
04
New USF Program
Helps Students
Get Free Food.
CHISOM OKORAFOR
Staff Writer
Overcast skies and a chance of rain — a glitchy
megaphone and a bluetooth speaker —50 students
gathered in Gleeson Plaza on Feb. 1, calling for
peace in the Middle East.
Last week, USFCA Students for Palestine held
their first rally of the spring semester. Students
showed up with signs and keffiyehs — traditional
Palestinian scarves — to support the besieged people
of Gaza.
Four months into the Israeli aggressions in
Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, demonstrations
of solidarity in the form of rallies, protests
and marches are still going strong.
The group led chants such as, “No more bombing,
no more slaughter, Gaza has no food or water,”
in reference to what Human Rights Watch calls the
weaponization of starvation on the Gazan population
by Israel. Palestinians are also facing levels of
mass dehydration caused by the collapse of societal
structures.
Protestors demanded for USF to formally call
for a cease-fire. The crowd chanted, “USF, pick a
side, cease-fire, not genocide,” and “No more hiding,
no more fear, genocide is crystal clear,” calling on
the University to label Israel’s actions as genocide.
Both the federal court and the International Court
of Justice agreed that it is “plausible” that Israel is
committing a genocide.
The Foghorn has previously reported on the
controversy surrounding USF President Paul Fitzgerald,
S.J., signing a statement from Universities
United Against Terrorism, which provoked a community
response garnering hundreds of signatures.
Senior fine arts major Madison Avery said, “I
attended the protest to show solidarity with my Palestinian
classmates and call out USF for standing
with the oppressor. USF is complicit because they
joined [the Universities Against Terrorism] coalition
that openly supports the genocidal oppressor,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
SFFOGHORN.COM
SCENE
06
Presentation
Theater reopens
for a night at the
opera.
@SFFOGHORN
09
THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024 • VOL. 121, ISSUE 13
OPINION
FOGPOD
POLL: Half of USF
is nonreligious.
What now?
SPORTS
12
Where to watch
the 49ers in Super
Bowl LVIII.
PRO-PALESTINE
DEMONSTRATIONS
CONTINUE
At the protest, senior fine arts major Madison Avery wore a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian
scarf, atop their head. Photo by Samantha Avila Griffin / SF Foghorn

02 03
THURSDAY
FEB. 8
2024
STAFF
Editor in Chief
MEGAN ROBERTSON
mrrobertson2@dons.usfca.edu
News Editor
NIKI SEDAGHAT
nisedaghat@dons.usfca.edu
Opinion Editor
CHISOM OKORAFOR
cokorafor@dons.usfca.edu
Scene Editor
INÉS VENTURA
ipventura@dons.usfca.edu
Sports Editor
CHASE DARDEN
cbdarden@dons.usfca.edu
Photography Editor
SAMANTHA AVILA GRIFFIN
svavilagriffin@dons.usfca.edu
General Reporter
PHEBE BRIDGES
pjbridges@dons.usfca.edu
General Reporter
ELINA GRAHAM
emgraham@dons.usfca.edu
415.422.5444
sffoghorn.com
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FOGHORN
Freedom and Fairness
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STAFF EDITORIAL
STUDENTS SHOULD UTILIZE THE
OFF-CAMPUS LIVING DEPARTMENT
Photo courtesy of WIkimedia Commons.
On Feb. 1, the housing application
opened for USF students seeking
on-campus accommodations.
USF stated on the announcement
page of the housing application that,
“On-campus housing for juniors and
seniors will be extremely limited.
Unfortunately, some students who
apply for housing by the March 1st
deadline will not be guaranteed a
housing space for the 2023–2024 academic
year.” While this information
may seem daunting to those entering
junior and senior year, they can
be comforted by the knowledge that
many students are in the same boat.
Students don’t need to feel anxious
over pursuing off-campus housing,
as there are many tools available
on-campus to ease the transition.
U.S. News reported that in fall
of 2022, 45% of USF students lived
in campus housing, while 55% of
students lived off-campus. To assist
students living off-campus, the University
has a department to address
their housing needs. Students should
utilize the USF Off-Campus Living
department in their search for housing
accommodations in the city.
USF Off-Campus Living is dedicated
to supporting students through
the process of finding housing beyond
campus, but they don’t stop there –
the department will assist in mediating
disputes between roommates,
issues with landlords and spats with
neighbors.
The department also offers a
rental website where students can
browse apartment listings. The website
has useful information for students
searching from outside of San
Francisco and potential connections
for students looking for roommates.
International students may feel
a particular nervousness looking for
accommodations in a foreign country,
but the University has specialized
resources for them on their website.
Off-Campus Living has also
published an awareness campaign
around systemic racism in housing.
Students from marginalized backgrounds
are more likely to experience
housing instability. If you feel discriminated
against due to your race,
sex, religion, disability status, or other
identifying factors, you can file a
complaint through the San Francisco
Human Rights Commission or seek
legal recourse through a state or federal
agency.
There are several ways for students
to get in touch with Off-Campus
Living. Students can meet with
them on Zoom or make an appointment
via their appointment schedule.
The department also holds weekly
walk-in hours, where students can
drop-by with questions. These events
happen each Wednesday, 11a.m. -
3p.m. on the 5th floor of the University
Center.
CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE
have not made any statements denouncing the genocide of Palestinians,
and do not support their Palestinian students in their fight for
social justice.”
In a Nov. 10 email titled “Care for our Community,” Fitzgerald
responded to these accusations. “I want to address a statement from
Universities United Against Terrorism that I, along with a coalition
of about 100 other university presidents, signed denouncing Hamas
and terrorism. I chose to sign in order to add my voice in solidarity
with Israelis and Palestinians…I pray for the Palestinian people and
for an immediate end to the violence that is causing such horrible and
inhumane suffering.”
One of the rally’s first student speakers highlighted the toll of Israel’s
actions on women in Gaza. Citing the Institute for Middle East
Understanding, they highlighted the devastation that Israel’s actions
in Gaza have had on women specifically. As AP News reports, women
and children in Gaza have been the main victims of Israel’s military
campaign, with two Palestinian mothers being killed every hour.
Palestinian men, too, were given attention by rally organizers.
This was an effort to push back against the disproportionate focus on
women and children when speaking about those impacted by the war
in Gaza. Palestinian men, the speakers argued, are just as victimized
by the violence, and often play crucial roles in mitigating the humanitarian
catastrophe such as working as first responders or digging people
out of rubble.
Another student organizer pledged to continue the demonstrations
in the weeks to come, saying, “We rest only when our martyrs
have the chance to rest in peace, and our people have the chance to
live in peace.”
Another point of outrage at the rally was an incident that occurred
on Jan. 30 not in Gaza, but in the West Bank. Al Jazeera reports that
Israeli troops “disguised as medical staff and civilians” invaded a hospital
in the city of Jenin and shot three Palestinian men. Though the
men were members of State Department-designated terrorist groups
— one a member of Hamas and two from the Islamic Jihad — International
Humanitarian Law is clear that armed forces disguising themselves
as civilians, and particularly as medical staff, is illegal under
the rules of war.
It is also a war crime to attack a hospital — even when targeting
known militants. There are certain times when a hospital can lose its
protected status under international law, but International Humanitarian
Law is clear that the circumstances of the Jenin hospital raid
are illegal war crimes.
Antoinette De Lira Lopez, a sophomore history major said, “I decided
to join the protest for Palestine because truly, there is no other
option. Either you are on the side of history that supports genocide,
or you’re not. USF community members need to hear and see that Palestine
has not been forgotten, simply because the posts are no longer
trending. USF can and should do better.”
For more information about upcoming demonstrations, follow the
@usfcastudents4palestine Instagram account. The Foghorn will continue
to report on breaking developments in campus response to the
Israel-Hamas War.
Editor-in-Chief: Megan Robertson, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia Siegel,
Managing Editor: Jordan Premmer, News Editor: Niki Sedaghat
Activist resources for the USF community can be found at https://linktr.ee/usfcastudents4palestine. Photo by Samantha Avila Griffin / SF Foghorn
NEWS

04 05
THURSDAY
FEB. 8
2024
NEW CAMPUS INITIATIVE CONNECTS
STUDENTS WITH FREE FOOD
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SAN
FRANCISCO COURTROOMS
SOPHIA MCCRACKIN
Staff Writer
Eighty million tons of food are wasted in the United States each
year – that’s 149 billion meals. According to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, reducing food waste is important for the environment,
as food conservation preserves energy and resources, while benefiting
businesses, suppliers and households.
Bon Appetit and USF Events Services make a conscious effort to
eliminate food waste, utilizing attendance estimates and to-go containers.
They also partner with local charitable organizations, including
the Food Recovery Network, USF Food Pantry, church ministries,
and Chefs to End Hunger. Ultimately, any remaining uneaten food is
composted.
Now, the USF Dean of Students Office alongside Student Leadership
and Engagement has a new plan to mitigate USF’s food waste.
They have implemented a notification system to alert students about
free food on campus, available via the USF Mobile App.
Over winter break, the USF Information and Technology Services
(ITS) tested the system with a pilot program of students, which included
a thorough review of the new system.
This initiative will allow event organizers to send out a notification
via the app to students who have opted in. The alert will either
extend an invitation to an event with free food, or will share where
food can be picked up after an event.
The idea for the new system was born in an ASUSF Senate Town
Hall hosted during the fall semester. A small group of students discussing
food insecurity expressed support for the concept, but the
ITS department, and the students who work there, made it a reality,
according to Lester Deanes, the Assistant Vice President for Student
Engagement.
“Bon Appetit and EMGS [Events Management and Guest Services]
have been key partners in the project from the beginning,” Deanes
said. “They have been focused on maintaining food safety standards
and supporting the catering department employees to ensure the proposed
system does not add any additional burden to their team.”
Junior biology major Camryn Hissen said, “I think it’s a good idea.
It makes sure that students have food to eat, and maybe they’ll even
end up going to events they otherwise wouldn’t have gone to.”
Richard Hsu, the Sustainability Coordinator at the USF Office
of Sustainability, said that food waste contributes to “a small but not
insignificant portion of the University’s carbon footprint.” “Food
waste, as opposed to food scrap, is likely around 10% of landfilled
compostable waste, so it contributes less than 1% of the university’s
reported emissions,” Hsu said.
Reducing food waste not only contributes to the minimizing of
the University’s carbon footprint, but being able to funnel excess food
to those in need corresponds with Jesuit philanthropic values.
“Combating food waste by recovering and donating surplus food
helps to feed the hungry and fight climate change, both of which align
with our mission and reflect our values as a social justice focused institution,”
said Hsu.
In order to sign up to receive notifications regarding free food on
campus, you must first download USFMobile and respond to a brief
poll. All notifications will be sent exclusively through the app.
Editor-in-Chief: Megan Robertson, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia Siegel,
Managing Editor: Jordan Premmer, News Editor: Niki Sedaghat
MEGAN ROBERTSON & JORDAN PREMMER
Staff Writers
What’s happening in city courthouses often goes unnoticed by the general public. To help make this information more accessible, the Foghorn
has compiled a list of San Francisco court case updates.
Protestors chained themselves to each other and their vehicles,
and reportedly threw their car keys into the bay, as a means to
halt all traffic on the bridge.
Screenshot from @sfchronicle on Instagram.
In a Feb. 2 press release from her office, Jenkins “reassert[ed]”
her “commitment to pursuing justice to ensure that the suspect is
held accountable for this senseless crime.”
Screenshot from @sfchronicle on Instagram.
Bay Bridge Protesters Arraigned in Court
On Friday Feb. 2, 80 protesters were arraigned in court for their involvement with
the Bay Bridge Shutdown, a large-scale protest in support of a cease-fire in Gaza in which
protesters shutdown the Bay Bridge last November, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Pro-Palestine activists rallied outside the court, demanding the protesters’ charges
be dropped. The protesters were charged with five misdemeanors, including false imprisonment,
refusal to comply with a peace officer, and unlawful public assembly, as reported
by NBC Bay Area. Friday was the second round of arraignments for protesters involved
in the Bay Bridge shutdown, the first happened on Thursday, Feb. 1.
On Feb. 1 approximately 40 of the protesters’ defense attorneys argued for the
charges to be dropped and requested an opportunity to rival them in front of a judge.
The next hearing is scheduled for March 14.
Jenkins Speaks Out on Defendant’s Court Absence
Dennis James Duree, 40, is accused of stabbing two people in the Mission and SoMa
districts on Dec. 28, 2023: fatally maiming a 45-year-old man and severely injuring a
38-year-old woman, according to a District Attorney press release. He was arrested,
charged with murder on Jan. 16 and immediately placed in the San Francisco County
Jail. As of this week, it has been eight times that Duree’s presence was requested in the
courtroom. He has yet to leave custody in the jail.
Duree’s situation is reflective of a larger theme in San Francisco courthouses —
defendants refusing to appear in court to delay their prosecution, an issue which San
Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins has been quite vocal about. “This is not an
isolated situation,” Jenkins told the San Francisco Standard. “It has become what is allowed
at the Hall of Justice.” A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office told the San Francisco
Chronicle that only in a “very specific set of circumstances” can a defendant be forcibly
removed from their cell. Duree’s situation does not warrant such a removal.
On the day of publication, Duree has an arraignment scheduled in the courthouse.
It is yet to be seen whether he will attend. If he is convicted of all charges, he could face
up to 40 years in prison.
NEWS
The United States creates more food waste than any other country on the globe. According to Recycle Track Systems , the U.S. is responsible for discarding 60 million tons
of food annually. Screenshot from @bonappetitusf on Instagram
Cruise has been based in San Francisco since its founding in
2013, but was purchased by GM in 2016, a move which the
company argues makes the headquarters Detroit, Michigan.
Screenshot from @sfchronicle on Instagram.
General Motors Sues the City of San Francisco
Cruise’s parent company, General Motors (GM), is suing the city of San Francisco.
The corporation claims that the city overtaxed them from 2016-2022, requesting a
refund of $108 million in taxes and $13 million in interest and penalties, according to
court documents. The basis of the suit is GM’s claim that since they are based in Detroit,
Mich., the taxes coming from the City are unfair. GM further argues that the taxes
are invalid due to their company’s low sales in the city, which they claim were approximately
$677,000 in the past year.
This comes following the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) suspending
Cruise’s permits to operate in the city, after an incident last October where an
automated vehicle dragged a pedestrian for 20 feet. GM concurrently pulled all autonomous
vehicles off the streets.
GM’s lawsuit is an amendment to one which began in 2021, the Hill reports, in
which GM sought a refund for the 201 -2020 tax years. It has grown in size and significance
with this amended filling. Both the City of San Francisco and GM have declined
to publicly comment on the case proceedings.
Editor-in-Chief: Megan Robertson, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia Siegel, Managing Editor: Jordan Premmer, News Editor: Niki Sedaghat
NEWS

06 07
THURSDAY
FEB. 8
2024
The Presentation Theater was originally built in 1935, but USF acquired it in 1991. Photo by Samantha Avila Griffin/SF Foghorn
“It sounds simple to say an artist needs a stage, but it really is true,” said Bria Cooper, a junior PASJ major to the Foghorn in our March 2023 reporting of the theater’s closure.
Photo by Samantha Avila Griffin/SF Foghorn
USF’S PRESENTATION THEATER
MAKES A COMEBACK
“Goodbye, Mr. Chips” Opera screening at reopening of Presentation Theater
Scholarship.
On what this renovation will lead to for students, President Paul
Fitzgerald, S.J., said to the Foghorn, “We will be able to expand studio
art, design, architecture and performing arts in enhanced physical
spaces across the university.”
The Presentation Theater is open in a limited capacity for performances,
screenings, and events this semester. Stage two of the renovation
process will continue into the summer, when new rigging and
technical gear will be installed. The Foghorn will continue to report
on developments to the theater and updates regarding further artistic
expansions.
Editor-in-Chief: Megan Robertson, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia Siegel,
Managing Editor: Jordan Premmer, Scene Editor: Inés Ventura
SCENE
ELINA GRAHAM
Staff Writer
After a five-year closure, the Presentation Theater’s curtains have
opened again. USF community members gathered on Friday, Feb. 2
in the newly renovated
theater for a screening of
“Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” a
novella-turned-opera
composed by Gordon
Getty.
Getty, a USF alum,
musician and founder
of The Ann and Gordon
Getty Foundation for
the Arts, financed the
theater’s restorations
Gordon Getty aspired to be an opera singer,
studying with renowned American opera singer
Louise Caselotti in the mid-1970’s. Photo by Samantha
Avila Griffin/SF Foghorn
with a $15 million donation.
This is not his
first contribution to
USF. The Getty Scholars
program grants funding
each year for recipients
of the J. Paul Getty
Scholarship to use for
educational enrichment
purposes, such as study
abroad immersion programs
and research assistantships.
The opera tells the life story of beloved professor “Mr. Chips” as
he goes through the world both teaching and learning from his students.
It was originally a story written by James Hilton and was turned
into a libretto by Getty. “Chips is all about optimism and the beauty of
things,” Getty told the Foghorn. In an opening remark to the audience,
he said the opera is “meant to make us believe in things again.”
The Presentation Theater, which is located in the Education
Building, features design details such as ornate gold detailing on the
walls and columns, as well as sconces featuring elaborately shaped
ram’s heads and leaf patterns. Elegant orange curtains hang from the
ceilings and intricately carved accents, also done in gold, frame each
of the exits. The theater seats 430 guests between the main floor and
the balcony.
As the Foghorn reported first in Aug. 2019 and then in Apr. 2022,
the theater was initially closed due to safety renovations and American
Disability Act compliant improvements.
The completed repairs include new chairs and carpeting and a
wheelchair lift to the stage. Updates were also made to the alarm systems
and the stage’s smoke hatches.
“I think it looks beautiful,” said first-year psychology student
Mya Lopez, who performs in USF’s Performing Arts and Social Justice
(PASJ) dance program. “The PASJ program will do their [dance]
ensemble [show] here this semester. Everyone in the ensemble is super
excited to get a bigger stage and be able to have more people come, because
right now it’s really limited [in the Studio Theater]…This theater
has a much bigger setup.”
The Getty Foundation’s gift will also allow for an endowed position,
the Ann Getty Chair in the Arts, to continue to build USF’s art
program, as well as an endowed student award, The Ann Getty Arts
The theater’s entrance can be accessed from Turk boulevard, at the front of the Education building. Photo by Samantha Avila Griffin/SF Foghorn
SCENE

08 09
THURSDAY
FEB. 8
2024
OPINION
CALIFORNIA MUST REENACT HARSHER
COVID-19 PROCEDURES
ELISE GREEN is a first year
international business major.
Earlier this month, national
COVID-19 hospitalizations averaged
7,660 people a day, numbers that
haven’t been seen since the peak
of the pandemic. In the 28 days
before Jan. 21, the World Health
Organization reported that 6,800
people died of COVID-19 in the U.S..
California’s response to this uptick
in cases is dangerously relaxed and
needs to be more proactive.
It’s been nine months since the
end of the United States’ official
COVID-19 public health emergency.
In a May 11, 2023 statement from
the Department of Health and
Human Services, Secretary Xavier
Beccera remarked that regardless
of the public health emergency
ending, “COVID-19 remains a public health priority.” Despite this
statement, California seems to have put COVID-19 precautions on
the backburner.
Graphic by Grace Tawatao/Graphics Center
Because positive cases outside of hospitalizations are no longer
reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), COVID-19 trend
monitoring is done through wastewater tracking — sewage testing
conducted through the CDC across the United States that serves as an
early warning system for communities whose case numbers are rising.
Through this practice, experts have found foreboding data showing
recent COVID-19 rates rivaling that of the Omicron 2021-2022 winter
wave. Even without mandated reporting of cases, the current number
of active cases through wastewater tracking is the second highest
recorded since March 2020.
With COVID-19 cases aligning alongside the seasonal flu and
rising RSV cases, one would think that COVID-19 regulations
would increase. However, California’s guidelines remain lax. The
CDC advises a five-day quarantine period to mitigate the spread of
COVID-19, but in California, as of Jan. 9, if you’re symptom-free it’s no
longer suggested you quarantine at all.
California’s new quarantine policy is ineffective as a response
to rising cases. Without quarantine, asymptomatic cases are treated
similarly to negative test results despite how quickly the virus spreads.
It’s worth noting that California’s policy still instructs masking for
ten days after a positive test, but overall restrictions have relaxed.
Roughly 35,000 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in the last
week of Dec. 2023, and California’s desire to avoid
an extended quarantine period will only make these
numbers rise.
The original quarantine period across the
United States in 2020 was characterized by social
isolation and financial hardship. For many, the
COVID-19 lockdown was so stressful that memories
of the time have been repressed as a trauma
response. While it may be difficult to revert back
to quarantine days after returning to some sense of
normalcy, public health crises should be treated with
the gravity they deserve. Despite developments like
vaccines and boosters, there are still at-risk groups
like the immunocompromised and elderly. Even for
those not at-risk, the threat of long COVID-19, with
symptoms like seizures and dementia, is serious.
The quarantine period is an asset to everyone and
shouldn’t be disregarded over a social strain.
The trouble with California’s policy is its
drastic differences from what CDC and health
officials advise. The risk of a serious infection from
COVID-19 has not been erased by exposure over
the last four years, and the expiration of the public
health emergency does not mean that the problem
has been solved.
Relaxing the quarantine policy now, during
another infectious wave of the virus is a dismissal
of the progress made since the original outbreak of
cases. With public health guidelines as the primary
COVID-19 infrastructure, California needs to
prioritize public safety. Only with a reliable and
withstanding set of policies will the COVID-19
outbreak be kept under control.
Editor-in-Chief: Megan Robertson, Chief Copy Editor:
Sophia Siegel, Managing Editor: Jordan Premmer,
Opinion Editor: Chisom Okorafor
ELIZABETH STROUT is a
junior English major.
CAN I GET AN AMEN?
I wanted to attend a Jesuit
college because I thought it would
help me feel complete. I’d grown up
going to public schools — excellent
ones, certainly — but, being secular,
not exactly places to explore
religious thought. What drew me
specifically to USF was encountering
students representing the St.
Ignatius Institute (SII) at a Discover
USF event. I was thrilled by the idea
of being part of a university focused
on theology, philosophy, and the
humanities. Coming from a mixed
Catholic and Buddhist household,
I felt welcomed by the message that
SII would be rooted in tradition but
open to those from less orthodox
faiths like myself. Arriving at USF,
I expected to be one of a few non-traditionally Catholic students. I
was surprised to find that indicating any sort of religion made me an
outlier.
The Foghorn conducted a poll through Fizz, an anonymous
college campus social media app, where users must have a “@dons.
usfca.edu” email address to become a member. The Foghorn asked,
“Are you religious?” Out of 1,265 responses, 50% of students identified
as nonreligious while another 25% self-described as “spiritual but
not religious,” leaving only 25% identifying as religious, without
specification for which religion. 1,265 is well beyond the number of
responses necessary to have a statistically representative response,
but according to industry standard, the poll’s margin of error is +/-
3%. Further complicating the results, undergraduate students are
overrepresented on Fizz, with first-years and sophomores being the
majority of active users.
However, these statistics are consistent with larger-scale trends.
According to Axios, 43% of people from 18 to 29 identify with no
religion. This made me wonder: The heart of USF’s appeal is its promise
of Jesuit values. But what does upholding these religious educational
traditions look like, and how do they appeal to a generation of students
turning away from faith?
I understand what the more universal allure of Jesuit education
in the twenty-first century might be. The emphasis on collaboration
and social justice espoused by Jesuit universities feels comforting and
human. It’s nontraditional, but there is something refreshing about the
25% 25%
310 votes 313 votes
YES
Foghorn Poll: The role of religion at USF
SPIRITUAL,
NOT RELIGIOUS
NO
Graphic by Madi Reyes/Graphics Center
softer approach to religion that is reminiscent of modern relationships:
more casual about expectations, yet respectful and fun. I’ll always
fondly remember one of my first mentors here nervously admitting
over pizza after Mass that she had spent the earlier half of the day
at a leather show, and another’s solemnity about the significance of
pronouns in her spiritual practice.
Is USF devout? A bit, yes; broadly, no. The boldness with which
religious schools claim monopoly of the capital-T Truth may be
diminished, but the quiet confidence of Jesuit educational traditions
such as self-reflection and service to others continues, though stated
in more secular, ambiguous language. USF is not losing its religious
roots. Rather, the University is following a sort of Vatican II route to
relevance in the higher education market, a strategy whose financial
and spiritual efficacy only time will tell.
Editor-in-Chief: Megan Robertson, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia Siegel, Managing
Editor: Jordan Premmer, Opinion Editor: Chisom Okorafor
Are you religious?
50 %
642 votes
say “No”
Foghorn Poll Data from Fizz/SF Foghorn
OPINION

10 11
THURSDAY
FEB. 8
2024
The Dons have won their last three games and sit as the second seed in the WCC. Pictured from left to right: Jonathan Mogbo, Ndewedo Newbury, Mike Sharavjamts,
Malik Thomas. Photo courtesy of Chris M. Leung/Dons Athletics
DONS TAKE DOWN TOREROS
DONS BASEBALL GEARS UP FOR FIRST PITCH
JORDAN MARALIT
Staff Writer
Spring sports are around the corner, and Dons Baseball is preparing
to swing and sling at Benedetti Diamond.
The baseball program will be hosting 32 games this year on the
Hilltop, out of the season’s 56 total games. The season will begin with
a four-game series against Fairleigh Dickinson University starting on
Feb. 16. The Dons will begin West Coast Conference (WCC) play when
they face off against the defending conference champions Santa Clara
Broncos in a series starting on Mar. 28.
They will close out conference play with series against the Portland
Pilots on May 2-4, the University of San Diego Toreros on May
10-12, and finish the season against the Loyola Marymount Lions on
May 16- 17.
The Dons ended last season with an 8-19 conference and 18-28
overall record under head coach Rob DiToma. The second-year head
coach said, “As I look back on and reflect, it is really hard to recruit
new players when you are recruiting when you happen to be a new
coach.”
As the team prepares for the season, DiToma forecasted what the
baseball team should be like this season. “We have high expectations
for ourselves, and that exceeds higher than anyone outside of our
team,” he said.“We expect to compete with every player and expect
ourselves to be in the WCC Tournament.”
DiToma highlighted the team’s core principles that build the relationships
within the team. “We talk about culture, attitude, and many
values that mean a lot to each other. We want to win for each other,
partake in daily team activities, and things on team building,” he said.
John Amaral, junior outfielder and communications major, said,
“I push my teammates to go as hard as they can which allows them to
get the most of each challenge.” He added, “I am looking forward to a
high-energy, excited, determined team taking the field every day putting
their best foot forward to win each situation at hand.”
Adam Shew, junior pitcher and civil engineering major, said,
“This season I am looking forward to winning a lot of baseball games
with the band of brothers our coaching staff was able to bring together
this year. In my three years of being here at USF, none of our squads
felt nearly as electric as this one.”
Students can attend home games for free with the use of their One
Card.
Editor-in-Chief: Megan Robertson, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia Siegel,
Managing Editor:Jordan Premmer, Sports Editor: Chase Darden
The team will begin their season on Feb. 16. Pictured from top to bottom: TJ Rodgers,
Kody Watanabe, Charles-Etienne Pelletier, Logan Azem. Photo courtesy of Chris M.
Leung/Dons Athletics
SPORTS
AMANDA HERNANDEZ
Staff Writer
The Dons Men’s Basketball Team beat the University of San Diego
Toreros 95-70 on Thursday, Feb 1.
They defeated the Toreros for the second time this season, after
pulling out a 20-point victory in San Diego on Jan. 11.
The Toreros came out strong in the first few minutes, forcing the
Dons to step up their game defensively. The Dons were led by 6-foot-8
forward, Jonathan Mogbo and junior guard, Marcus Williams.
Mogbo and Williams had a strong connection all night, connecting
on multiple alley-oops and dominating defensively.
“When we went through our press in that first half, and put Johnathan
on the ball, it caused some chaos for them,” said head coach Chris
Gerlufsen. “That got us going and it provided a separation in the first
half.”
USF closed the first half with a 12-point lead, behind Williams’ 14
points and three steals, and Mogbo’s 16 points on 6-6 shooting.
The Dons kept their foot on the gas in the second half, pushing
back against the Toreros’ comeback efforts. In addition to performances
by Mogbo and Williams, the Dons’ supporting cast of junior guard
Malik Thomas, junior forward Ndewedo “Chips” Newbury, and
first-year guard Ryan Beasley pitched in.
The Dons never let the Toreros back into the game, sealing their
16-point victory. Thomas and Newbury chipped in 14 and 12 points,
respectively. Beasley added 10 points of his own behind Mogbo and
Williams who both finished the game with double-doubles. Mogbo
finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Williams finished with
19 points and 10 assists.
Despite star performances from Mogbo and Williams, Coach Gerlufsen
had high praise for Beasley. In the post-game press conference,
after Beasley answered a question about how his first season with the
team, Gerlufsen interjected and praised the young guard.
“I have to remind myself a lot that he’s a freshman because I don’t
see him like that,” Gerlufsen said. “I am hard on him because he’s
wired the right way, raised the right way, he’s been a winner his whole
life, a natural leader. I am on him to bring more of those qualities out.”
The Dons are currently on a three-game winning streak and sit
second in the West Coast Conference with a 18-6 record overall, and
7-2 in the conference. They are heading to Malibu on Feb. 8 to take on
the Pepperdine Waves and look to continue their journey to the NCAA
March Madness tournament.
Students can attend all home games for free with the use of their
One Card.
Editor-in-Chief: Megan Robertson, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia Siegel, Managing
Editor:Jordan Premmer, Sports Editor: Chase Darden
The revamped Dons Baseball teams looks to turn things around after a subpar season. Pictured from left to right: Logan Azem, Gabriel Barrett, Tyvon Moore, Charles-Etienne
Pelletier. Photo courtesy of Chris M. Leung/Dons Athletics
SPORTS

12
THURSDAY
FEB. 8
2024
WHERE TO CATCH THE BIG GAME
Three Hot Spots for Super Bowl Sunday
CHASE DARDEN
Staff Writer
The San Francisco Athletic Club is a
popular sports bar on the corner of
Divisadero and Bush St. in Lower Pacific
Heights. The Athletic Club has
both an indoor and outdoor space with
multiple TV screens to view the game.
If you would like to watch the game at
the Athletic Club, you must pay a $20
cover charge and arrive early to ensure
you get a good spot. Spots are served
on a first come first serve basis and you
must be 21 years of age to watch inside
the bar, and 18 years old for outside.
The San Francisco Athletic Club looks like a sea of red on 49er game days.
Photo courtesy of SF Athletic Club/Yelp.com
Foghorn readers over the age of 21
should consider the Golden Gate Tap
Room which sits at the intersection of
Powell St. and Sutter, as their Super
Bowl viewing venue. The tap room has
2 floors, with over 30 TV screens, and
tons of arcade games. The 11-year-old
bar and grill has tons of arcade games
to keep you entertained in between
commercial breaks, serves over 100
beers with 60 on tap, as well as a wide
variety of food. On Super Bowl Sunday
seats will be first come first serve, and
patrons will be charged a $20 cover at
the door. Doors open at noon.
With over 30 screens and 100 beer selections, the Golden Gate Tap Room is
a marquee spot for Bay Area sports fans.
Photo courtesy of Golden Gate Tap Room/Yelp.com.
SPORTS
The home of the Golden State Warriors
will be hosting a Super Bowl
Watch Party on their 74-foot-wide and
42-foot-high LED screen. The event will
take place in their outdoor venue space,
Thrive City. Thrive City has been home
to watch parties for the NBA Playoffs,
college football, and their weekly movie
nights. Chase Center’s watch party will
be open to all ages, with seats available
on a first-come, first-serve basis starting
at 2 p.m.Tickets will go on sale on Feb. 8
on the Chase Center website.
The home of the Golden State Warriors will turn into a satellite Levi’s Stadium
as fans of all ages can enjoy the game on Warriors Ground.
Photo courtesy of Chase Center/Facebook.
Editor-in-Chief: Megan Robertson, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia Siegel, Managing Editor: Jordan Premmer, Sports Editor: Chase Darden