http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/ The Vista -- The Vista is the University of San Diego's weekly undergraduate student newspaper. 2008 December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120411 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120411 The crooked tree outside of Aromas has been a focus of attention at USD. The reason for its awkward angle has boggled students for decades and as time goes on, it tends to arouse even more curiosity on campus. vista@usdvista.com (Meredith Schneider) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120412 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120412 As anyone who has recently stepped foot on the USD campus is aware, next Thursday evening Third Eye Blind will be playing at the University of San Diego. The brainchild of famed singer Steven Jenkins, drummer Brad Hargreaves and guitarist Tony Fredianelli, Third Eye Blind has been one of America’s premier concert bands for the past 15 years. vista@usdvista.com (Avery Durnan) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120413 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120413 With the recent additions of SOLES and the new gym, dorm and cafe down in Mission Crossroads, USD has set a high bar for buildings on campus. The Student Life Pavilion, tentatively arriving next fall, appears to follow such standards. vista@usdvista.com (Carrie Widder) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120414 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120414 University of integrity, university of wonder, university of passion. It is these principles that were addressed in the “Be Blue, Go Green” campaign, which captured the campus’ drive towards new policies led by the USD Sustainability and Climate Change Task Force, whose newsletter was sent out last week. vista@usdvista.com (Jenny Farrell) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120415 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120415 Dear Loveless, Ah, the question on all of our minds. When I discussed this question with a friend, her answer was simple, “That’s easy. vista@usdvista.com (Jillian Anthony) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120416 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120416 San Diego’s own reggae band, Little District will be playing in front of the UC at noon on Dec. 4 and AS will be providing food. vista@usdvista.com (Avery Durnan) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120417 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120417 Working a 40-hour per week desk job might not be the only option after graduation. At least it’s not for Jenny Farrell, class of 2009, who plans to become actively involved in serving others by hopefully joining the Peace Corps after receiving her diploma this May. vista@usdvista.com (Lauren Barulich) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120418 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120418 The United Front Multicultural Center’s Showcase Night was a feast of food and flags. Senior Juan Velasquez felt that the event was an excellent opportunity to experience diversity. vista@usdvista.com (Leslie Culver) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120419 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120419 At the start of every semester, one is assured that certain aspects of campus life will not change. One of these constants is the expenditure for books which often cost a student well over $500 per semester. vista@usdvista.com (Rubin Resnick) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120431 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120431 I had an epiphany a few weeks back in the midst of my struggle to put together a reasonable schedule for my last semester at USD. As I tried to work my schedule around one General Education requirement that will remain anonymous, it finally hit me: “Why do I need to take this class? vista@usdvista.com (Serge Seplovich) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120432 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120432 Mission Beach, an area of San Diego not known for its safety, was struck with yet another fatal incident this past month.? On Nov. vista@usdvista.com (Nick Miller) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120433 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120433 President-elect Barack Obama has reached the apex of his popularity. Everyone loves a winner. vista@usdvista.com (Ryan Mulvey) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120434 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120434 Can you feel it, dear reader? Candy canes and gingerbread houses are floating in on cool breezes and the soft glow of Christmas lights are radiating warmly through these brisk December nights. vista@usdvista.com (Scott Novak) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120435 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120435 The end is near for the 2008 college football season and it has been a wild one. There have been upsets, blow-outs, nail-biters and even a tie (no wait, that was in the NFL, but no matter). vista@usdvista.com (Ryan Plourde) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120436 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120436 Amidst a growing insurgency in Afghanistan, the United States is facing another problem. What if the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), along with the recently approved sum of 204,000 Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), deliver a significant blow to the Taliban insurgency? vista@usdvista.com (Jesse Aizenstat) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120437 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120437 I was in the middle of completing my work that was due on Monday and Tuesday when I received a text from my roommate who just got out of practice. “I’m headin’ to the casino, you in or you out?” It was Sunday night and I had law cases to analyze, classical authors to read and papers to write, so I graciously denied his offer and this is where the story ends. vista@usdvista.com (Rubin Resnick) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=444463 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=444463 vista@usdvista.com ( ) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=200812045 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=200812045 Let me pose a hypothetical situation for you: you’re at a party, and you find yourself in a conversation that has hit a dead end. Doesn’t matter if it’s a guy or girl you thought was cute and then realized had a light missing upstairs, a dud in the art of conversation or you happen to be waiting in line to use the bathroom at the top of the stairs in a cramped house in Mission Beach and the person next to you begins to engage in small talk. vista@usdvista.com (Carrie Widder) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120452 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120452 Just as with many trends in San Diego, they all seem to come from the illustrious City of Angels. On a recent dinner date with one my dearest friends, we stumbled upon Tender Greens, a concept restaurant out of Los Angeles. vista@usdvista.com (Giovanni Gonzales) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120453 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120453 One of my favorite things about doing movie reviews is seeing the trailers for upcoming films. Ever since I saw the trailers preluding “Religulous” I’ve been waiting for “Milk” to hit theaters. vista@usdvista.com (Lauren Millslagle) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120454 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120454 Christmas is this holiday that we’ve been celebrating for a super long time, like 2,000 years or so. I’m not sure who invented Christmas music, but they're most likely responsible for 80 percent of the happiness during the month of December. vista@usdvista.com (Peter Cho) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120455 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120455 Imagine everything you ever loved as a child: from Barbie to sparkles. Now turn those sparkles into Swarovski crystals, and join Barbie with the likes of Hello Kitty, “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Wizard of Oz.” Sound like a childhood dream come true? vista@usdvista.com (Samantha Shorey) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120456 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120456 Too often, museums are construed to be reminiscent of the past. Oil paintings and large ivory sculptures do not typically indicate modern thinking. vista@usdvista.com (Chelsea Robinson) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120461 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120461 Professional athletes may not have the easiest lifestyles in the world, but those lifestyles are envied by most. As an athlete, you make millions of dollars to play a sports that you love. vista@usdvista.com (Raymond Ayala) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120462 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120462 The No. 2 Connecticut Huskies (6-0) must have been licking their chops when they found themselves in a pre-season bracket with the San Diego Toreros (3-3). vista@usdvista.com (Darren Feeney) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120463 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120463 Last season, the Toreros men’s basketball team welcomed a group of freshmen to campus that weren’t expected to do much in their first year of collegiate basketball. Not just some, but almost all of the baby Toreros were able to make a name for themselves throughout the season. vista@usdvista.com (Raymond Ayala) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120464 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120464 Chuck Norris is to action television as Senior Breanne Ogden is to USD volleyball; they are a perfect match. While the super strength and roundhouse kick of Norris never go unnoticed on the small screen, it has been the unselfish attitude and competitive spirit that has gotten Ogden noticed. vista@usdvista.com (Devin Ginty) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120465 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120465 North American mixed martial arts (MMA) has always been at a crossroads. Down one path, the sport flourishes and expands its sphere of influence into the mainstream, eventually becoming the foremost combat sport on the continent. vista@usdvista.com (Moses Utomi) December 4, 2008 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/article.php?article_id=2008120466 http://www.sandiego.edu/vista/archive_article.php?article_id=2008120466 For UC Davis, the game was a mere formality given the quality talent of their program in comparison to that of San Diego’s. Last year, in the Aggies’ new stadium, the Toreros gave up a 46-42 lead in the final 30 seconds of the game on a four play, 63-yard drive that was capped by a 18-yard passing touchdown to lose 49-46 in heartbreaking fashion. vista@usdvista.com (Rubin Resnick)