Banner | Vol. 71 Issue 4

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February is Black History Month

@cbulancermedia cbubanner.com

ISSUE 4

VOLUME 71

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

Eras karaoke brings together CBU Swifties

Sofia Guzman | Banner

CBU’s Community Life staff gathers together to sing “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. Community Life hosted Eras Karaoke Night on Jan. 12 for students to connect through Swift’s music.

BY CONNOR RYAN MANAGING EDITOR

Taylor Swift will never go out of style at CBU, as the Swiftie-themed karaoke night was a smash hit for students.

Community Life hosted the event on Jan. 12 and it was nothing short of a concert.

According to Jamie Eriksen, director of Campus Activities, Community Life conceived the idea when discussing how to create a cozy environment for

new and returning students at the beginning of the semester.

“Maybe people in the fall didn’t have a chance to connect with people and so we’re trying to create new opportunities for them to connect with people,” Eriksen said. “What better way than to have a karaoke night where, whether you wanted to sing or come and hang out and just laugh and enjoy the music together? It’s such a neat way to bring the community together over music.”

The Eras Tour, beginning in March of last year and ending in December, was not only Swift’s largest tour but the highestgrossing tour of all time, earning $1 billion. According to People’s Entertainment, the concerts were over three hours long and included songs from each of her 10 studio albums, making the tour accessible to anyone who likes her music.

Community Life aimed to capture the ongoing popularity by facilitating their own Eras

Karaoke Night for students to relive their favorite Taylor Swift albums.

The staff transformed the lounge to create the perfect arena-type setting. Eriksen shared that their interns rearranged the furniture and utilized colorful decorations to mimic a laidback environment.

“Obviously, with Taylor Swift, lots of sparkles, a disco ball, glow necklaces and bracelets,” Eriksen said. “We wanted it to feel homey but with

a fun spin on that. Foodwise, we did some fun things where we had some fun snacks for people there as well.”

The snacks consisted of fresh donuts, pizza and an assortment of drinks. Eriksen stated that they chose these foods so students would feel like they were hanging out at their friend’s house.

This also inspired another activity where students had the opportunity to make friendship bracelets, inspired

by the popularity of Swifties trading bracelets at the actual concert.

“Community Life did a good job of organizing the event [by] adding the small but perfect touch of friendship braceletmaking stations, an homage to the trend made popular from the tour,” said Madison Head, senior creative writing major.

Swift appeals to all fan bases and the CommLife Lounge was

SEE ERAS KARAOKE | PAGE 2

Senior swimmers reflect

BY MICHAEL MARKS SPORTS EDITOR

Senior Night is a special night that only happens once in an athlete’s career. It is a chance to honor as well as reflect on the work and journey that these athletes have been through during their college careers.

Some may be continuing their careers with professional sports teams, others move on to coaching and some move on with their employment. Regardless of what these athletes choose to do after their time at California Baptist University, it was certainly a night the swimmers would never forget — especially facing off against CBU rival GCU in what has shaped up to be a thrilling and memorable Senior Night.

Senior Night wasn’t just meaningful for the seniors but also for Associate Head Swim Coach Jim Bossert, who also swam for CBU at one point in his college career. Having a coach who understands a player’s needs, especially one who went

through the same program, provides a unique perspective and is a testament to the coaching staff ’s dedication to providing their players the best chance of success.

“I know what they are going through with academics, I know what they’re going through with time management, struggling with their faith, struggling with finding who God is, and finding how much God has an impact on their life,” Bossert said. “I understand those struggles ‘cause I went through those struggles here.”

This program has combined competition with faith, as the team always strives for something bigger themselves, both in and out of the game, especially with the changes the program has undergone from DII to DI. “I think the seniors are going to leave an overarching legacy that these seniors have helped us transition into the Division I era. They came in the probation era. You couldn’t go to the national championships.

We were in that weird limbo in that transition from Division II to Division I, so these athletes have really ushered in that Division I mentality into the program,” Bossert said.

Paul Rasoumoff, senior majoring in chemical engineering, talked about what competing at CBU has meant to him, and how he was able to express his faith openly.

“Seeing others build their faith and push themselves on days when there is no motivation has helped me push myself,” Rasoumoff said. “It has encouraged me to wear my faith proudly. Talking about my beliefs and being public about my faith on the team has made me more confident in talking about my faith to friends and strangers in hopes of spreading the gospel. Both coaches and teammates have encouraged me to dive deeper and grow my relationship with Jesus Christ.

They have given me so much to be grateful for.”

The culture of the team has changed much during this time

Courtesy of CBU Athletics

Women on the CBU swim team set on the swimming term blocks before they start their event. as well, especially with how the team supports one another, something that Rasoumoff and many other seniors on the team have helped to drive forward, with Rasoumoff saying, “There is more cohesion between the team, including the men’s and women’s teams. With that cohesion, there is more team pride than ever before. We are

the Lancers now, not just a group of swimmers. We all want this team to succeed and are all doing our part for one another.”

While they may be graduating soon, the season is far from over, as the team is still on its journey to greatness especially considering CBU and GCU will face off against one another in the future. The

camaraderie that swimmers share, however, is what helps to make this experience so special.

Faith Brazil, a graduate student getting her master’s in business administration, spoke on this shared fellowship.

SEE SENIOR SWIM | PAGE 14

NO MORE PIZZA DELIVERY

VALENTINE’S DAY

LOVE IN THE BIBLE

Sorry pizza lovers, California’s Pizza Hut announced it will no longer be offering delivery options.

.

Find out the Christian origins of Valentine’s Day and the meanings behind different colored flowers.

What can we learn about love and marriage through reading and interpreting the Bible?

Business & Tech, pg. 10

Vision, pg. 4-5

Faith & Lifestyle, pg. 7

NEWS

2

February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

THE BANNER

staff

PRINT Editor-in-Chief Alexza Bahmiller

Managing Editor Connor Ryan

Photo Editor Madison Sardana

Design Editor Lauren Vincent

Asst. Photo Editor Charissa Graves

Cartoonist Lauren Vincent

News Editor Connor Ryan Business & Tech Editor Alexza Bahnmiller Sports Editor Michael Marks Faith & Lifestyle Editor Olivia Cox A&E Editor Gabi Riggin

Asst. A&E Editor Sarah Murphy Asst. News Editor Miranda Smith Asst. B&T Editor Arianna Bultsma Asst. F&L Editor Yasna Petrova

Asst. Director of Student Publications Casey Maldonado Director of Student Publications Sonya Singh

About

THE BANNER

The Banner newspaper is an awardwinning, campus publication that publishes 6 issues a year at California Baptist University.

The newsroom is located in the James Building in Room 060 and can be reached at 951-343-4787. The Banner, a student-run newspaper, serves the CBU community with accurate, timely and factual reporting on significant aspects of university life, Riverside life and subjects of interest or concern to its readers.

Sofia Guzman | Banner Katelyn Marley, freshman behavioral science major, sings “You’re on your own kid” by Taylor Swift at Community Life’s Eras Karaoke Night.

Eras Karaoke Night Continued from Page 1 brimming with both men and women throughout the night.

“It was really neat to see that there’s a lot of guys who are Taylor Swift fans also who knew the music, who were excited about the music, who were singing and dancing,” Eriksen said. “They were on the stage, too. Even though some people might have assumptions about the type of event, it was neat to see everybody there.”

Elijah Cole, junior film major, shared how exciting it was to bond with like-minded people.

“Even though I have an absolutely awful voice, the mood in the building was so electric. I still enjoyed myself as I stumbled through my voice cracks while I sang ‘Red,’” Cole said.

Head shared the same sentiment and said she felt like the energy was similar to that of an actual Taylor Swift concert.

“Even though we were not

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Keep up with CBU news and events.

“

It was such a joyous atmosphere where everyone wanted everyone else to have fun and feel free to dance and sing however they wanted.

“I absolutely loved this event and would be thrilled to see it come back,” Cole said. “It was a great moment of bringing the community together, mingling and sharing our common interests. However, I can see that changing year by year. This past year has definitely been dominated by Taylor Swift. It may be that an event like this would be less popular come a year like 2025 or 2026. However, I suppose that’s a bridge to cross once it has appeared.”

Eriksen stated that Community Life constantly works to innovate and create events that resonate with the student body.

“For us, it’s super important with our 12 student leaders that we work with that we’re always having these conversations with them about what students want. We really want what we do to be a reflection of what students desire for creating community, too,” Eriksen said.

It’s safe to say the Eras Karaoke Night was something from a Swiftie’s wildest dreams.

CBU students build Legos, new connections at first-ever Minifig Mixer hosted by Community Life

BY MIRANDA SMITH

Students, faculty, staff, administrators and others in the university are encouraged to react to published material or to comment on matters of concern. The Banner retains the right to edit your letter upon publication based on grammar and word count. Send letters to Alexza Bahnmiller, editor-in-chief of The Banner at alexza.bahnmiller@calbaptist.edu.

planning on it, my friends and is right now. By collaborating I sang two different karaoke with her student workers, she songs on the stage,” Head said. determined it would align with “When we were not on the student interests.

“I think a lot of times with stage, we sang and jammed in our seats. It was such a joyous Community Life, we’re always atmosphere where everyone not only looking for ways to bring people wanted everyone together but else to have fun and bring people feel free to dance together around and sing however things that they wanted. It are culturally was especially interesting right fun when little now, and I think moments and whether you’re chants from the a Taylor Swift Eras Tour were fan or not, she’s equally as loud and an interesting passionate in the c u l t u r a l small Community phenomenon Life Lounge as they were in the Madison Head happening right now,” Eriksen SoFi stadium. I senior creative writing said. “We thought felt connected to major it would be a fun everyone in that way to tap into room, even though I had never met and may never something that is kind of a big interact again with most people deal.”

Cole also touched upon there.”

Eriksen acknowledged that this and stated that this was the decision to do a Taylor timely, as Taylor Swift is still Swift-themed event arose performing music across the from how relevant the artist world.

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

CBU’s Community Life hosted its first-ever Minifig Mixer on Jan. 22, allowing Lego enthusiasts to make minifigures and establish new friendships.

Taking place in the Community Life Lounge, the mixer had about a dozen tables piled high with hundreds of Legos for students to let their imaginations go wild.

According to Community Life staff members Zech Zieglar and Emily Lee, this event attracted more students than anticipated, as a line quickly formed up to 40 minutes before the event’s posted starting time.

Upon entering, attendees had the opportunity to sign up for a raffle, where students could place their ticket in one of four miniature Lego sets before heading over to build a personalized minifigure.

The room was decorated like a child’s birthday party, with Lego-themed balloons and colorful tablecloths.

Memorable childhood snacks were provided, such as Capri Suns, Cheez-Its, and Rice Krispie Treats, adding a touch of nostalgia to the festivities.

Lego creations The “Lego Batman” different movie played quietly in the students built throughout the background as students night.

On the other hand, Zieglar gathered together with their friends to build an assortment said his favorite part was seeing the anticipation build of structures.

Zech Zieglar, sophomore while leading up to the event, architecture major, said, “This and how that translated to a event was inspired by the successful turnout.

“It’s fun kind of having that desire to bring a unique group of people together, where feeling of exclusivity when you come over you have people here and you’re who sometimes like ‘Oh that’s the come to events, event I’m going sometimes don’t, to!’ It feels like a come together to lot of people here, build Legos.” especially with His fellow staff the line outside member Emily and so I think Lee, sophomore that helped a lot,” psychology and Zieglar said. philosophy double As this was major, shared the first event of her reasoning for Sierra Morales its kind, many pitching this idea. junior music major students hope for “We know this event to occur everyone loves Legos and we try to reach as again in the future, with a better many different types of people spectrum for a wider audience. as we can, Lee said. “One of Jordan Chan, senior chemistry our struggles is reaching guys major, stated that while he sometimes, as a lot of our was enjoying himself, his only events cater more towards suggestion would be to change females.So we were like, what’s where this event is hosted next something both guys and girls time to accomodate its size.

Chan shared how the can enjoy?”

Lee said her favorite part combination of the large of the event was seeing the turnout and the smaller venue

“

I grew up with playing with Legos as a kid.

My favorite part about this is that I get to just come to build Legos for fun.

caused there to be a long waiting period before students and their friends could participate in the event.

Accompanying Chan, Sierra Morales, junior music major, said the activity brought back good memories of her childhood, contributing to her fondness for the event.

“I grew up playing with Legos as a kid. My favorite part about this is that I get to just come to build Legos for fun,” Morales said.

Upon being asked if this event would be pitched again, Zieglar stated that he was not opposed to the idea.

Lee expanded on this, sharing how she would love to ramp up the festivities. “[It could be] even more large-scale next year, since this was the first time, so we can work out some of the kinks,” Lee said.

By the end of the night, most of the Lego pieces for the mini-figures had run out, leading students to crowd around one another in hopes of participating by building with the other Legos provided.

With the success of this event, Community Life anticipates hosting more unique events like this soon.

NEWS

3

February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

NEWS BRIEFS WRITTEN BY CONNOR RYAN

UCR STARBUCKS PETITION

Josselyn Guillen | Banner Dongnyeuch Seo, graduate student majoring in kinesiology, participates at the clinic at Martin Luther high school to help student athletes.

Kinesiology department performs 50 electrocardiograms on young athletes

BY CONNOR RYAN

known otherwise. This can help prevent sudden cardiac arrest from happening in the To help honor the life of local future. We were very grateful baseball player Austin Gorrell, for the opportunity and hope to CBU has begun a new outreach expand it and continue testing program for high schools, our student-athletes every beginning with Martin Luther year.”

According to the Centers King High School in Riverside.

On Dec. 18, electrocardiograms for Disease Control and (EKGs) were distributed to Prevention, heart disease has more than 50 athletes at King been the leading cause of death High by California Baptist in the U.S. since 1950, an issue University’s College of Health that is especially prevalent among athletes.

Science.

Kim shared that while These tests examine how well the heart functions and there is no definitive cause of were provided to students cardiomyopathy, the symptoms after King High reached out to may be exacerbated by the CBU faculty regarding a local strain athletes put on their baseball tournament honoring hearts during games and intense exercise.

Austin Gorrell.

Most high schools and Gorrell, a graduate of John W. North High School in colleges do not require students Riverside, discovered that he to participate in an EKG, which had a heart disease after getting is one of the only ways to tell an EKG scan at the University whether someone is suffering of Nevada. According to a video from heart disease before it is

by Dreamer Athletics, Gorrell too late.

“Many professional teams had cardiomyopathy which causes the heart to expand require the athletes to have and can lead to heart failure. EKGs because they want Soon after discovering his to prevent sudden cardiac illness, Gorrell passed away in death,” Kim said. “Sometimes 2015 at the age of 19. Following athletes don’t know if they have this tragedy, his family began hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a baseball tournament in so they [may] die when they’re Riverside for high school teams doing a competition.”

After receiving the request to raise awareness about heart from King High, Dr. Kim disease. four graduate Dr. Jong-Kyung Kim, assembled professor of exercise science, students to help him perform said that Martin Luther King EKGs on the student-athletes High School contacted CBU’s on Dec. 18.

One of these students, Daniel kinesiology department following the Austin Gorrell Seo, graduate kinesiology major, shared how tournament in they organized November.

Kim the event. stated that the “We did two coach, Justin parts. First, we Solis, was eager measured their to provide the blood pressure student-athletes manually, and with EKGs. then after that, “This is very common for Dr. Jong-Kyung Kim they were seated to be ready to the athletes. professor of exercise measure their This is called science EKG, which was hypertrophic interpreted by cardiomyopathy and [it] causes an enlarged Dr. Kim himself. After the heart,” Kim said. “This is a interpretations, we told the critical condition sometimes coach there and the teachers and it can cause a sudden there how the student’s EKG cardiac death. So, the EKG and blood pressure showed and is a very simple device, just the possible future treatments. to identify hypertrophic We conducted about 50 people and it took us about four hours. cardiomyopathy.”

Following the EKGs, Jacqlyn It was a long time but then it Spencer, athletic trainer was a fun time, too, so it wasn’t at King High, shared how really a tire for us,” Seo said.

Seo stated that while it was appreciative the faculty was that they got to partner with a great experience to help high the kinesiology department to school students, it was also an excellent way for him to gain help the students.

“Our student-athletes hands-on experience in his benefited greatly from the EKG field.

When performing the EKGs, testing CBU was able to provide for us,” Spencer said. “We were he had to be aware of a lot of able to find any athletes with minor details to ensure the cardiac-related abnormalities, tests ran correctly.

“There’s a lot of other side which we never would have

MANAGING EDITOR

“

This is called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and [it] causes an enlarged heart.

jobs to do, for example, before the EKG we have to put it on the right position on their body.

It has a specific position for us to put our electrodes on it, and before doing the electrodes we have to first check whether they have hair on the specific body parts because it might interfere with the electric records. Those are the tedious but essential parts that the students had to take part in,” Seo said.

Kim and Seo emphasized their gratitude toward the CBU administration for providing the equipment and funding for this experience.

Both stated that without their support, they wouldn’t have been able to help the students at King High.

In the future, Kim hopes to be able to reach even more people with their services and would love to branch out to more high schools throughout Riverside.

“We’re going to reach out to the general population, like the Riverside communities, especially low-income persons,” Kim said.

Spencer shares Kim’s heart for the community and said it was a great experience to work with the CBU team.

“My experience was great working with CBU’s Kinesiology department,” Spencer said. “We were able to quickly work out the details and have a smooth, successful day of testing on our campus. The admin, physician and students involved were all very helpful and knowledgeable. It was also a great opportunity for our high school sports medicine students to collaborate and learn from college students.”

Through this event or others, Kim said the department is dedicated to providing for the community and helping those in need wherever possible.

New Laws

2024 % tax on ,

California has imposed an 11

AB28

both firearms and ammunition with the funds going to support violence protection programs

California will now re uire employers to give employees at least five paid

SB616 sick days per year, an increase from the previous three day minimum.

Lands Act allows religious or independent higher education

-

institutions to build multi family homes on their property without

.

rezoning

California has legislated a new

“

”

emergency alert called Ebony Alerts

for missing lack youth ages 1 to

SB673 to account for disproportionate

representation on missing persons

.

lists

Written by Natalie Tanaka Sources: KCRA, CA.gov, Cal atters.org

STUDENT FILMS INFANT SHARK The first infant great white shark was allegedly witnessed by UCR biology doctoral student Phillip Sternes and wildlife filmmaker Carlos Gauna. According to UC Riverside News, Sternes was searching for sharks along the coast near Santa Barbara on July 9 when he spotted the pup. Gauna’s drone recorded footage of what appeared to be a young great white shark, but rather than it being gray with a white belly, it was completely white. Sternes said the white coloring was because the shark was shedding its embryonic layer, meaning it was a newborn.

Sternes spotted several pregnant great whites in the area a few days prior. Until now, no scientist has discovered where great whites mate, meaning this could lead to a major breakthrough in shark science.

BIDEN FUNDS MASSIVE TRAIN President Biden approved $2.5 billion dollars of funding for a railway project on Jan. 23. The program, called the Brightline West High Speed Rail Project, is a massive 218-mile railroad that will span from Southern California to Las Vegas. Initially, it received a $3 billion grant from the United States Department of Transportation in Dec. 2023, and with the expanded funding, Brightline West announced they will break ground in eary 2024. The project is estimated to cost $12 billion to build. Biden’s government funding will be provided in the form of tax-exempt bonds, according to AP News. While there is no confirmed date for when this railway will become fully operational, AP News reports that officials have estimated it will open to the public by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Brightline West’s official website released a statement claiming train tickets will be similar to that of gas costs.

CSU STRIKE ENDS IN ONE DAY

The Affordable Housing on Faith

SB4

Over a thousand students at UCLA and UCR have begun protesting against Starbucks locations on their campuses. Los Angeles Daily reports that the students are attempting to remove the locations due to tactics utilized by the coffee corporation to discourage unionization. According to KTLA5, several former Starbucks employees have come forward claiming they were let go because unionization efforts. The National Labor Relations Board has stated that Starbucks closed six of its stores because of unionization. Starbucks spokesperson Andrew Trull claimed that Starbucks is open to their workers forming lawful unions in a statement released on Jan 29. Students at UCLA will submit over 700 signatures to the board of directors for Associated Students UCLA, while students at UCR will submit theirs on Wednesday, according to KTLA5. Between the two schools, approximately 1,500 signatures will be signed demanding that the universities cease their licensing agreement with the corporation.

The historic and massive California State University faculty strike has been cut short, and professors have returned to their jobs. On Monday, Jan. 22, the California Faculty Association declared they were going on strike, due to their inability to secure a 12% increase in wages and other benefits, according to CalMatters. NPR reported over 29,000 faculty members went on strike, making this the only time that the organization has walked out on their jobs at every campus since their formation in 1983. However, the strike would be shortlived, as professors returned to work on Tuesday. AP News reported that the CSU staff reached a “tentative agreement” the same day the strike began. According to the Californian, the CSU faculty managed to secure two raises, one being a 5% raise that was retroactive back to July, 2023. The second 5% raise they were promised will go into effect in July, 2024.

VISION

4

February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

It’s lif not w e ou , but hat w wh rl ive o w e ha s, t v ha e ha e in v t e J ma .M tte in r s. .L awr enc e

2024 Did You KnoW

Source: www.weareteachers.com

Valentine’s Day gifts to their pets.

Teachers get more valentines than anyone else.

8 billion conversation hearts are manufactured each year.

250 million roses are grown just for Valentine’s Day.

145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year.

The chocolate box has been around for more than 150 years.

About 25% of pet owners give

learn to make origami or o rriiig gga aam m h rrtttss ori iga gam mii hearts heeeaaar art 1

2

Over 58 million pounds of chocolate and candy are bought for valentine’s Day.

3

Red

4

5

“I Love You” Passion Respect Courage

6

White

and that’s it!

7

By Lauren Vincent

Use these

Innocence Purity Loyalty

Pink

for writing letters to

your loved ones!

Design by Alexza Bahnmiller

Gratitude Appreciation Refinement

Yellow Friendship Happiness Caring

VISION

5

February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

The story of

According to another legend, Valentine helped Christians escape harsh roman prison until he himself was caught and imprisoned. During this time, he fell in love and sent a letter - presumably to the jailor’s daughter, signed ‘From Your Valentine.’

Valentine

According to legend, Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in rome.

When emperor claudius II banned marriage for young men under the impression that single men made better soldiers, valentine decided to defy the status quo and performed marriages for young couples in secret.

By the 18th century, it was common for friends and lovers to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By 1900, printed cards began to replace these.

Valentine’s Day

PLAYLISTS

20 04 20 14 20 24

Beautiful Soul Jesse MccartNey

This Love Maroon 5 Are You Gonna Be My Girl Jet If I Ain’t Got You Alicia Keys

Boom clap Charli xcx

All of me John legend How will i know Sam smith a sky full of stars Coldplay

Say don’t go Taylor swift

Sources: iheartmusic.com, genius.com Apple Music, cosmopolitan.com

until i found you stephen sanchez I, Carrion (Icarian) Hozier pointless lewis capaldi

FAITH & LIFESTYLE

6

February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

Secular workplaces provide evangelistic opportunities

BY OLIVIA COX

FAITH AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR

During their time at CBU, students work long hours and experience many late nights to gain the skills and knowledge needed to enter into their desired professions, all through the lens of a Christian worldview. While CBU has a School of Christian Ministries, a large majority will go on to perform jobs that may not directly correlate with their Christian faith.

However, this does not mean that CBU's students must separate their faith and work.

In an interview titled, “Am I Wasting my Life in a Secular Job,” theologian and pastor John Piper asserts that believers whom God places in secular jobs are given a unique opportunity to share the gospel daily.

“As I read the New Testament, it is clear that the apostles do not intend that all Christians should leave their ordinary employment. The principle that Paul follows in 1 Corinthians 7:20 is this: ‘Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called,’" Piper said.

Lindsey Thomas, CBU However, Piper explained that as Christians remain in alumna in graphic design, is an their current condition, they environmental designer at an are called to do it alongside architectural firm. Most of her coworkers and clients are unbeGod. “[I]t is possible to be work- lievers. However, she has many ing in corporate America and opportunities to share the gosbe using more of your strength, pel in her work environment.

“God has more fibers really opened of your being, doors to having more ouncmeaningful rees of your lationships with strength for coworkers who the sake of the have a variety kingdom than of exposure to if you were a the gospel mesmissionary,” sage,” Thomas Piper said. “In said. “More often other words, than not, conthere is no versations are necessary cormore subtle, but relation bebecause of the tween where nature of my job, you work and what your asLindsey Thomas, design intentionsigned task alumna graphic ality opens a lot of doors to explain is, on the one design major how my beliefs hand, and and a relationyour wholeship with God hearted devotion to Christ or the fruit- lead me to love others and serve fulness of his kingdom, on the others.”

Thomas has found listening other hand.”

“

Relationships with coworkers outside the office is impactful to them understanding the depth of our care and love for them."

to others and showing love are two of the best strategies for opening doors for gospel conversations. She explained that kindness and grace are the best ways to reflect Christ’s love to the world.

“As a designer and creator, it is so amazing to work unto the Lord,” Thomas said. “The joy in creation is so much more perfected when we understand why we make something. If it is for our own glory, then we have missed our mark. What I do does not belong to me. I cannot credit myself for my talents that God has given me.”

Thomas shared that she feels that God has called her to steward her gift of design well. She not only uses her professional talents in her caree but also to serve God within her church.

“Relationships with coworkers outside of the office is impactful to them understanding the depth of our care and love for them," Thomas said.

"Whether that is as simple as a text saying we are praying for them when personal emergencies take place or getting coffee

with them on my breaks."

Reading God’s word and gaining new knowledge and insight into the Bible has helped Thomas reflect God’s image and share his good news more effectively at work.

“A few verses that I have loved to reflect on that tie into this huge part of my work are Colossians 3:23-24, which reminds us of our work for the Lord and our heavenly inheritance, as well as Proverbs 3:5-6, which points to trusting in God and knowing he is working in the bigger picture, no matter what our current understanding or perspective is,” Thomas shared.

Faith Matzel, CBU alumna in entrepreneurship, works at a digital marketing agency, where she always seeks to bring up her relationship with the Lord while interacting with her coworkers.

“I feel like my current relationship with the Lord tends to navigate those conversations,” Matzel said. “For example, if I am feeling a little farther from the Lord, saying those things

may feel more scary. Or if I’m feeling close to the Lord, then I have confidence in the Lord that he is guiding the conversation. In reality, he is always guiding the conversation, but my confidence in Jesus feels stronger when I am sure to be walking closely with him.”

Reliance on the Holy Spirit in her conversations, rather than her abilities, is crucial for Matzel as she shares the gospel at work. Matzel prioritizes God’s will and guidance over her fears or hesitancies that occur when she wants to share her faith.

“It is very hard to remember every day, but ultimately, all the work we do is for the Lord," Matzel said. "Whether it be school, work, upkeep of our living space, for example. So, to the best of my ability, I try to remind myself that all the work I do is for Jesus."

Matzel encouraged students that regardless of the environment that God places them in, he will contninue to prepare them to serve and give him glory in that space.

IEP program teaches students language and culture

BY YASNA PETROVA

ASST. FAITH & LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Is it not beautiful that language learning nurtures friendships and the exchange of cultural experiences? This process happens here at CBU and all students can be part of it. The Intensive English Program (IEP) at CBU provides international students with the opportunity to learn English in a short period of time before they begin their degrees. The program gathers young adults from all over the world and teaches them the American language and culture. It also gives local CBU students and people from overseas the chance to interact.

"It is not just classes — go have fun," Heather Snavely, director of IEP, said. "You need to learn but you also need to experience."

Snavely encouraged English learners to get involved in college life since it is the best way to improve their language skills in a sustainable and fun way.

Being locked in a room writing papers or staying inside seems to be the opposite of a way to improve language abilities. Students should instead embrace the learning process and step out of their comfort zone.

Snavely encouraged students to participate in events and communicate in English as much as possible.

"The IEP is a time for them to learn not only English but campus culture," Snavely said.

"It is a time to learn about the American lifestyle, which is thrilling and challenging for any international student. On the other side, it is also an excellent experience for local students to show all that they love and are

Charissa Graves | Banner Nathan Landry (right), international student adviser, leads a class called Lifeline, which brings international students together and gives them the opportunity to learn and practice skills that help them succeed in their cultural transition and in their academics. excited about to newcomers."

Gabriela Tardivo, freshman IEP student from Brazil, shared that she found it fun to pronounce the phrase, "How's it going?" and shared that it was hard to get right.

"I was really confused about what was going on my first semester. However, now I manage to have fun and learn the language more," Tardivo said.

Joaquin Campos, freshman IEP student from Chile, enjoys teaching Chinese students his first language, Spanish.

"Learning another language is a very important tool for my life," he said.

Lamiae Momouni, fresh-

man IEP student from Mar- and recalls his first semesters rocco, added "I appreciate the when he was part of the IEP wonderful opportunity and am with a smile.

"The IEP gave me confithankful to all the professors who contributed to develop- dence in the language. After finishing the proing my English gram, I was able skills." to take different Meanwhile, classes and get Roman Zozumy bachelor's lya, graduate degree," Zozustudent from lya said. "Now, I Ukraine, shared am in graduate thoughts about school and feel the IEP proso comfortable gram that he using the lancompleted four guage for difyears ago. He Heather Snavely, ferent projects is in his final IEP program director and personal semester of the research."

MBA program

“

It is a time to learn about the American lifestyle, which is thrilling and challenging for any international student."

Snavely referred to international students as "small fish in a big pond." At first, they seem confused and lonely in this big new country and university; however, it is rewarding seeing them thrive and embrace the opportunities given.

Most aspects of American life do not seem like a big deal to most CBU students, but they are so interesting to most international students. The things some may take for granted are extraordinary new experiences for our IEP students. Some people do not even realize how much they do not know until they meet somebody born and raised in a completely differ-

ent environment and interact with them. Perceiving the world from different lenses makes it shine in many different ways.

Exchanging those lenses is a experience that opens up minds.

Any CBU student can be part of this process by reaching out to the International Center and becoming a conversational partner. Also, students can attend international events and make friends there. Snavely encourages students to know about the opportunities to engage with international students. The opportunity to expand the boundaries of your mind and form friendships is here on campus. Give it a shot.

Monetary pleasure may not fulfill like biblical joy

BY YASNA PETROVA

ASST. FAITH & LIFESTYLE EDITOR Pablo Picasso, who created art that was recognized and enjoyed by millions only after his death, said, "I'd love to live like a poor man with lots of money." He implied that one should use funds as a resource without forgetting to notice the little, simple things that bring joy. Is that possible, or are people too consumed by greed? How can society escape those cycles of dissatisfaction and worry and enter into a life full of joy and prosperity?

"Money can buy momentary happiness but not long-lasting joy because of the very definition of happiness, a short-term

feeling about your immediate situation," said Dr. Adele Harrison, professor of finance.

Harrison pointed out that one can spend money on endeavors, gifts or experiences that trigger endorphins at the moment and make them feel happy. The more money you have, the more you can have that momentary experience.

"It is a long-term life of joy that money cannot buy," she said.

Harrison referred to the Bible, as it states that we can never be satisfied by the things of this world, which creates a cycle of needing more and more.

"If X amount of money brings me joy now, then when the momentary experience is

gone, I need Y amount of money," Harrison said.

She said she believes the mindset of needing more and more brings discontentment.

"If you want long-term joy and contentment in your life, more money will not get you there," Harrison said.

The healthiest way to look at money, in her opinion, is as a gift and a resource of God to be used as a tool to bless others, meet one's immediate needs and provide a way to store it for future needs. Harrison encouraged CBU students to exercise some self-discipline, as well as to live in a state of contentment and be patient in allowing things to work out.

"You should spend less time

comparing what they have to what others have and spend more time being thankful for what you do have," Harrison shared.

Living independently after being accustomed to her family's standard of living was not easy for Harrison as a college student. She believes it is OK for students to feel uncomfortable for a while until they reach their parents lifestyle and work experience level.

"If expectations are set appropriately, you give yourself room for happiness and satisfaction," Harrison said.

Luis Chavez, senior kinesiology student, shared how in some contexts, money can generate happiness by spending it on peo-

ple one cares about.

"It is possible that money can buy happiness when it comes to raising a family and providing for them," Chavez said. "I think there is a threshold that if you make enough, more is not going to make you any happier."

Chavez believes that money can contribute to happiness based on his personal experience but only to an extent.

"I feel like money can help for sure," said Massimiliano Berti, junior sustainability major. "What really helps is to reach an economic level where you are not worried about money, so then you can focus your energy on what truly matters to you and the people around you."

Harrison shared some of her

favorite verses on the topic. The first one was Matthew 6:25-34 which states, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?"

Another verse she pointed out was 1 Timothy 6:17: "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."

“It is not the amount of riches that is important but the way that you use them," Harrison said.

FAITH & LIFESTYLE

7

February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

Photo Illustration by Charissa Graves | Banner Many people struggle to understand the biblical interpretation of romantic love and the role that it plays in the Christian's life. Around Valentine's Day, there are a few passages to note that can provide some clarity.

Bible provides lessons on marriage and romance

BY OLIVIA COX

FAITH AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says, "Love is patient, love is kind."

Both Christians and the secular world use this verse at weddings, in movies, in literature and more. However, rarely is the deeper, richer meaning explored. Valentine's Day is a holiday all about love. Often, we talk about love as being a "what," but in reality, love is a "who." The Bible states that God is love itself, He is the essence and personification of love.

Dr. Christina Gonet, professor of theology, explained the origins of marriage. Marriage, love and romance all began in the Garden of Eden by God's design. The first humans to walk the earth were also the world's first love story and marriage.

God created Eve from the rib of Adam to be his wife and helper.

"God chose to create men and women to live in this intimate relationship with one another, to have children and to help each other grow closer to God," Gonet said.

Biblical marriage runs deeper than just romance. Gonet explained that husbands and wives enter into a covenant relationship that involves unwavering commitment, humility and

partnership. According to Gonet, marriage is a gift that needs to be nurtured and protected to reflect God to the world. She has found that Ruth and Boaz are a beautiful example of a godly marriage.

"After Ruth's husband, brother-in-law, and father-inlaw all die, she stays faithful to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and moves with her back to Bethlehem," Gonet said. "It is there that she meets Boaz. Boaz is a close relative, and he marries Ruth in order to provide for her and Naomi and to continue Ruth's first husband's family line. Boaz and Ruth both put others before themselves and conduct themselves honorably before the members of the family and com-

“

God chose to create men and women to live in this intimate relationship with one another, to have children and to help eachother grow closer to God." Christina Gonet, professor of theology

munity. And it is through their family line that God chooses to have King David and Jesus be born."

Many readers of the Bible may find the book Song of Solomon confusing and struggle to find a gospel tie. Gonet shed some light on the book and its purpose.

"Song of Solomon is Old Testament wisdom literature," Gonet said. "It gives us a picture of living rightly before God and with others. The book uses poetry to provide a positive view of the love between a husband and wife. They long for each other, seek each other out and want to be together."

Gonet noted that Genesis 2:18 states, "It is not good that the man should be alone." She found this particularly interesting, considering Adam is not alone in the garden as he is with God. "God makes Adam a 'helper fit for' him. The two become 'one flesh' and contribute to cultivating a world full of human flourishing as God's king and queen," Gonet said. "It is so much more than sex or a contract. Two becoming one is a workmanship of God's grace that involves all of one's being."

Bella Ponce, CBU alumna in

photography, shared her perspective on biblical marriage as a Christian wedding photographer. Ponce explained that the idea of submission and leadership found in Ephesians often carries cultural baggage that lacks the ideas of love, respect and honor that is within God's design.

"Submission in no way is degrading despite what culture thinks," Ponce said. "Because sin has distorted the way we look at things, we must go back to the Bible to see an accurate picture of the word submission. When we look at the Gospels, we read how Jesus was submissive to the will of the Father. It was Jesus' delight to come under the care and authority of the Father."

Damaris Alvarado, senior applied theology major, explained the significance of submission.

"Submission is willfully coming alongside someone in support of their leadership to cultivate human flourishing.

Christ-like leadership does not display itself through control, manipulation and abusiveness.

It is self-giving and sacrificial," Alvarado said.

Ponce also debunked some of the cultural baggage surrounding the word "helper" found in Genesis 2 to describe Eve in rela-

“

Submission is willfully coming alongside someone in support of their leadership to cultivate human flourishing. Christlike leadership does not display itself through through control, manipulation and abusiveness. It is self-giving and sacrificial."

Damaris Alvardo, senior applied theology major tionship to her husband, Adam.

"While some may see the term 'helper' as less significant, it is not because the Holy Spirit is also described as our helper (John 15:26). Is the Holy Spirit characterized as less than in the Trinity? By no means. There is equal value in each member of the Trinity but with different roles," Ponce explained.

When thinking of admirable godly couples in her life, Ponce cited her parents' relationship

as being a lovely example of God's will for marriage.

"My parents' prayer life together keeps their marriage as strong as it is. One of my favorite things about their marriage is how head over heels my dad still is with my mom," Ponce said.

"Yes, he still takes my mom on dates because husbands are to never stop dating their wives. He loves and cares for her so well."

Ponce photographs couples and said she loves the front-row seat she gets in Christian couples’ young romance.

"I had the opportunity to photograph my friend's proposal and something I deeply admire about their relationship is how they have treasured each other's purity by saving their first kiss for marriage," Ponce said. "They prioritized getting to know each other's hearts first before introducing anything else; it's definitely something you don't see in today's culture."

Alvarado said she admires Jacob's commitment and sacrifice towards his wife. Jacob worked 14 years to marry Rachel but the Bible tells us it "seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her," (Genesis 29:20).” This passage can be seen as inspiration for our patience in relationships.

The Biblical Timeline of Romance Genesis Abraham & Sarah

Genesis Adam & Eve

Ruth Ruth & Boaz

Genesis Isaac & Rebekah

Luke Zacharias & Elizabeth

Matthew Joseph & Mary

Acts Aquila & Priscilla

PERSPECTIVES CBU celebrates the start of Black History Month with annual gala

8

February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

2

1 3

4 1. Event attendees pose at the photo booth on Jan. 30 in Innovators Auditorium during the second annual Melanin Mosaic gala to kick off Black History Month.

2. Alika O’Guynn, sophomore business administration and secretary of the Black

5 Student Union, hosts a trivia session on Black History.

3. (From left) Dr. Veola Vazquez, Dr. Tim Gramling, Dr. Damon Horton and Dr. Kenya Davis-Hayes conduct a panel discussion on minorities in leadership.

4. Noel Ryce, senior Christian studies major, performs an original duet with graduate commercial music student Natalie Chaney.

5. Sharron Lee, freshman worship arts and ministry major, performs “A Bit of Both” by Allen Stone.

Photos by Charissa Graves

9 SPORTS Wrestling team seeks to tame competition February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

BY MICHAEL MARKS SPORTS EDITOR

Sports often require athletes to learn to dig deeper and go beyond what they know, which is the way an athlete achieves growth. This also requires consistent work day in and day out, even if the results aren’t immediately seen. This mimics a wrestler’s patience on the mat when facing his opponent, making sure not to be too eager or impatient, relying on his training, and displaying fortitude until the perfect moment to strike presents itself.

This approach is not unlike that of Derek Moore, head wrestling coach, who understands building his players up on one front and handling the changes the program has been going through on another.

“You sometimes think of excellence as being perfect, but for sport and for wrestling, it is about choosing to constantly make those gains, and that is where we’re at right now.

Searching for the excellence in the fight, searching for the excellence in the effort,” Moore said.

What helps to set this program apart is not just the way it approaches the physical or the mental but the way it also integrates the spiritual, displaying the values that students and athletes alike hold dear. It reflects not just on the values of the school but also the care that the coaches and athletes have for one another in their search for excellence.

“I think it’s a very powerful thing in sport to know that God has a plan for us, and it is good to know that he will not give us more than we can handle. Maybe it won’t come right now, but we have to trust that process. It’s very similar to what most coaches say without the power of the creator behind it,” Moore said.

This dedication in the search for greatness is reflected in players like Hunter Leake and Elijah Griffin. Griffin was honored by the BIG 12 Conference by being named “the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week for the 11th award of the season after defeating Northern Colorado’s [nationally] third-ranked Stevo Poulin,” according to the conference’s website.

Griffin would continue riding on this success, eventually taking down Ryan Henningsen in a record 20 seconds at North Dakota State.

Leake, for his part, has been a significant contributor to the team and brings in the wins when the team needs them most, beating out Fernando Barreto with a pin to win the match at North Dakota State.

Seeing how these two upperclassmen have stepped up to the plate and helped to push the program forward is something Moore hopes to instill in the up-and-coming wrestlers as well.

“Both those guys have put themselves in the positions to qualify for a spot at the [BIG12] conference, which increases their likelihood of qualifying for the NCAAs,” said Moore,

“He’s [Elijah Griffin] leaning into the process that we are trying to build, and he’s been a great example of that. When he’s in the room wrestling, it means something to him; every moment of that practice is intense.”

The younger talent on the team has certainly been taking note, with many starting to step out into their own prospective roles on the team. It is this kind of commitment that keeps the team hungry and eager season after season.

“We also have some very tough young talent on the team right now,” Moore said.

“Drayden Morton bumped up a weight class last weekend at South Dakota State, and he beat a ranked opponent as a redshirt. Carter Schubert went out against Northern Colorado and got a solid win against Derek Matthews, who beat a ranked opponent. These two guys aren’t in our lineup this year, but they’re already showing that ability,” Moore said.

Chaz Hallmark, senior financing major, reflects on some of the closer matches of the season and the cohesion both the players and the coaches build with one another as the team moves forward, especially for those closer matches.

“I see the team closing the gap with our competition by trusting in our coaching staff who have been at the highest levels and succeeded, and trusting in their process that they see as well as being intentional with every day

LANCER OF THE ISSUE

JADYN HEPLER, MEMBER OF WOMEN’S WATER POLO AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MAJOR Q: WHAT DREW YOU TO COME AND PLAY AT CBU? “I decided to come to CBU because of the future I saw for myself as well as the future of the program.

I found myself feeling at home when I visited as well as how much it fit with my academic life as well as with water polo.”

Q: FAVORITE TEAM MEMORY??

“My favorite team memory is our team retreat this year. It was a great experience to have with my teammates and spend time with each other. I feel like this is the way I have really gotten to know my teammates and have so many fun memories. We also got to go ziplining and did a high ropes course, which was also a lot of fun.”

Q: WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO PRE-GAME MEAL??

“I usually cannot eat much before a game because of my nerves. If I do eat, it tends to stay light, like a salad, yogurt, granola bars or fruit.”

Q: WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO BEFORE A GAME? “Depends on the game but normally I listen to country before a game or sometimes I’ll listen to rap or hip hop.”

Q: WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM TRADITIONS? “My favorite team tradition is having team dinners. They are just a great way to get the team together outside the pool and spend time together.”

QUICK STATS

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1

4

POINTS THIS SEASON

ASSISTS THIS SEASON

PENALTY GOALS

Madison Sardana | CBU Athletics

CBU wrestler Elijah Griffin, junior kinesiology major, faces off against an Iowa athlete on Nov. 4, 2023. we have left in the rest of the season,” Hallmark said.

Wrestlers also have an added dimension to their sport, particularly when it comes to diet. This extra pressure could be seen as detrimental to some, but to others, a tool to help strengthen mental fortitude.

“When competing at the Division I level, every sport is extremely taxing on your body and mind, from practices to balancing school and friends,” said Hallmark. “However, the portion of wrestling that sets it apart from other sports would have to be the strict discipline that goes into making weight on a weekly basis. No other sport requires the athlete to not just watch their food intake but their water intake as well

and this added factor forces wrestlers to develop a mental toughness that isn’t seen in other sports.”

As the wrestling team continues to grow and change, many of the younger players are stepping up to the challenge.

Carrying on the traditions and dedication of many wrestlers before them, cultivating a culture of excellence.

“I knew a lot of what to expect because my older brother Dayne wrestles in college [for CBU]. Ultimately, no matter what level you are at, it is just a game, and you need to have fun with it. God has given me this gift and determination, and I want to glorify him in it,” said Drayden Morton, freshman sports management

major.

With the team a little over halfway through the season, many of the wrestlers are eagerly anticipating and preparing for the NCAA National Championships in March, which, for some members of the team, is their final chance at glory.

“My goal for our team as we close out this season is to take as many guys to the NCAA tournament and chase down all-American status,” Hallmark said. “As for myself, I want to qualify for the NCAA tournament, and this being my final year, I want to prepare myself as best as possible to leave everything out on the mat regardless of the outcome, knowing I gave it my all.”

Pro organized sports teams shape collegiate careers

BY MICHAEL MARKS SPORTS EDITOR

Sports have changed significantly throughout time.

While many competitions and games have existed throughout history, the modern iteration of sports has only taken form in the past two centuries.

As a result of its growth and popularity, sports has undoubtedly shaped our identity and story as a people, from sports heroes like Michael Jordan to some of our greatest scandals like Barry Bonds. The way that culture views and relates to sports is important not just for the entertainment value but for the social aspect.

Mark Blincoe, professor of history, sheds some light on the origins of organized sports.

“There are no pro teams in many places, or even if you have a pro team, the pro team came much later than your college teams. Major League Baseball begins in like 1896, and you have collegiate teams before then, around the 1880s,” Blincoe said.

College sports and the pro leagues developed right alongside each other over the decades. Professional baseball came first, followed by basketball and then football, with hockey as a sort of fourth professional sport in specific areas of America.

This has also had a detrimental effect on college sports, especially with the growth of professional sports leagues and the money involved with professional organizations.

“It’s shaped the way money works in basketball and football in college sports in a way that those professional sports have just fed off of college sports,” Blincoe said. “It also means that in your collegiate sports, like basketball and football, you can have schools that feel elite. I don’t like the fact that college sports are becoming

more overtly professional now, people still have deep and exclusive and having the connections to the sports that money in a small percentage of many fans themselves have and still do play. schools.”

“Soccer is definitely a key As a result of this, many colleges have essentially part of me,” said Matthew become training grounds Marks, sophomore business major.

“I for future pro players. It has administration affected the way athletes definitely will never forget all approach their college careers, the memories I made from with many ending their careers soccer and I will continue early to play at the pro level carrying that as a part of me, once they’ve trained up enough even though I may not play professionally. I still have good to move on.

“They’ve relied on college memories and enjoy watching to be their minor leagues. As the sport for what it is.”

The attitude toward their minor leagues, colleges will have athletes that are good college sports is more varied enough to be in professional in some places than others, sports but maybe not quite at even the perception of the the level to compete at 19 or 20 entertainment value between in the pro realm,” said Blincoe. college and professional sports “But if you were going into, say, varies.

“Pro sports is more baseball, you might be able to get drafted and be in a triple-A competitive, more engaging team and be a year or two away in some ways and is nationally recognized compared to from being in the majors.” college,” Marks While some see said. “I think it’s this infusion of got a lot more sports and money excitement and as a problem, entertainment many players than the college see this as an level.” opportunity to get H a v i n g out of whatever a personal circumstances Timothy Tamashiro, connection to they may find senior pre-med health a team matters themselves in. The science major to people. drive to succeed is Tamashiro standard across reiterates this view, the board for athletes.

“A good representation of demonstrating how people a really big fan base is a school can feel very differently about called Kahuku High School sports, depending on whether it [in Hawaii],” said Timothy is a local team or a professional Tamashiro, senior pre-med team.

“For all of us, when I root health science major. “It’s kind of like what you would see for a team, there is another down South. It’s just a football connection when it is from town. There is nothing going my hometown. I think that on there but football. For a lot we could be like, look, that’s of the kids, the only way out of my team, that’s where I’m the island is through football from [and] I’m proud of that,” scholarships. Either that or Tamashiro said. “Because they don’t have a ticket out at there’s no professional sports team [in Hawaii], a lot of people all.”

Regardless of how people go for the 49ers or the Dallas feel about college sports, Cowboys, so you have a mix of professional sports, and the football teams. You’re going to money involved in them see all types of flags waving.”

“

It’s kind of like what you would see down South. It’s just a football town.

BUSINESS & TECH Hacker steals seven million users’ data from genetic testing company 23andMe 10

BY ALEXZA BAHNMILLER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Over the years, mail-in genetic testing has grown in popularity, with 21% of Americans participating, according to the Pew Research Center.

One of the most common companies to offer these tests is 23andMe, founded in 2006 with the hope of “building a personalized health and wellness experience that caters uniquely to the individual by harnessing the power of their DNA,” according to its website.

While mail-in DNA tests can be quick and efficient ways to find out more about yourself, there have been concerns surrounding them since they arrived on the market. In December, 23andMefound itself at the center of conversations about safety as it announced

February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

seven million users’ information had been accessed by an anonymous hacker. According to The Guardian, the hacker began selling 23andMe profiles for $1 to $10 per account.

The information contained in the profiles depended on the type of test that the user purchased.

The basic (ancestry) test provides information about the users geographic ancestry, inherited traits and a DNA relative finder option, but the ancestry and health test also includes health information, such as predispositions, genetic health risks and carrier status reports. To get this information, users are required to mail in their spit and can access their results weeks later through their online account.

Dr. Daniel Szeto, professor

of biology and biochemistry, explained that the degree to which people are concerned about their information getting stolen varies depending on the person and their intentions.

“

My father was adopted and did the test, too. He was able to find his biological mother and father.”

Susannah Balcer, sophomore nursing major

“If you have nothing to hide, I think the tests are good. [The tests] give you the idea that we are all related, we are not isolat-

Pizza Hut is halting delivery services to lower costs as California prepares to raise the minimum wage on April 1.

ed on an island by ourselves. It begins a conversation and the easiness of doing it — just submitting your saliva,” Szeto said.

“The privacy is a concern, but I don’t think that 23andMe is sophisticated to the point where they can interpret things like, ‘This person with this type of sequence is lazy and wouldn’t be a good worker to hire.’ I don’t think they can do that. But, in terms of some disease, it would be easier to tell.”

Susannah Balcer, sophomore nursing major, said that the hacking doesn’t change her opinion about the company because of the great experience she had.

“It doesn’t change my opinion because it is important to know your genetic history,” Balcer explained. “I did [the test] to find out if I had any family I

Madison Sardana | Banner

Pizza Hut halts delivery services

BY ARIANNA BULTSMA

ASST. BUSINESS & TECH EDITOR California’s minimum wage will increase 30% from $16 to $20 for fast-food employees on April 1, causing restaurants to adjust in other ways.

Dr. Adele Harrison, professor of finance, explained what led to the rise in wages.

“The unions were pushing for a bigger pay rise for the fast-food workers,” Harrison said. “The owners and unions

weren’t coming up with an agreement. The state of California stepped in, causing the employers to cave and say they’d raise the money to $20.”

With this rise, Pizza Hut has changed one of its ordering

features by deciding to end all delivery services in California.

This change is projected to result in the layoffs more than 1,200 delivery drivers.

Harrison discussed why things like layoffs occur as a

was not aware of. My father was adopted and did the test, too. He was able to find his biological mother and father. It was exciting to expand my family on my dad’s side.”

Balcer compared the risk of the genetic test to sending money in a Christmas card.

“It’s a risk I’m willing to take,” she said.

Tania Brooks, sophomore film production major, said she is not as confident.

“After reading articles about the hacking and finding out that so many people’s information got stolen, it is concerning,” Brooks said. “The purpose of [the test] is to be able to safely access information so it does change my mind about taking it.

I originally wanted to to be able to learn about my ancestors and history.”

Szeto said he believes that there is room for growth in the genetic testing market and hopes that in the future do-ityourself style kits will become popularized, allowing for people to not have to send their DNA samples but instead be able to test it themselves.

“You can analyze some things that you’re looking for without needing to send the information to a company,” Szeto said. “You have better control. I think that’ll be a way of advancing this particular technology.”

Since the breach, 23andMe has been hit with several lawsuits, with users claiming they weren’t notified of their test results being compiled in curated lists that were then shared on the dark web, according to The New York Times. The lawsuits are ongoing.

result of the increase in minimum wage and the possible implications. She also mentioned how, with the history of every increase, there usually is a detrimental impact on low-skilled people overall and people of color.

“As happened in the past, every time they raise the minimum wage, two things happen: employers either reduce hours or don’t bring on new people and prices always go up,” Harrison said. “It depends on whose shoes you are in, but the overall impact on the economy will be negative. Every time they raise the minimum wage, unemployment increases by 5 to 10%.”

A federal WARN Act notice states the company has decided to eliminate first-party delivery services, eliminating all delivery driver positions so customers must use third-party apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats to get their pizza.

A few CBU students expressed their opinions on the fast-food pay raise and how it is a positive outcome for workers and said they don’t mind the delivery option at Pizza Hut going away.

Janira Hernandez, freshman biology major, said she never used the Pizza Hut delivery feature before and doesn’t plan on using a third party to do so.

She also expressed her thoughts on the minimum wage rising in general.

“My thoughts on fast food

minimum wage rising to $20 an hour is that it is beneficial for the workers and it should be done because some of these fast food companies are multi-million dollar companies,” Hernandez said. “On behalf of the employees, everyone has their struggles. Many employees don’t have other options but to work at fast food, depending on background and more.”

“

Every time they raise the minimum wage, unemployment increases by five to 10%.”

Dr. Adele Harrison, professor of finance

Valerie Luevano, freshman pre-nursing student, said she also found the raise beneficial for fast-food workers.

“The fast-food minimum wage rising to $20 an hour is great,” Luevano said. “Working in fast food has its ups and downs, but it’s a job that someone may need just to survive day by day.”

Other effects of the increase in minimum wage include McDonald’s and Chipotle announcing an uptick in menu prices, according to Kelly McCarthy for ABC News.

The impact of the raise on the overall economy is to be determined.

Apple releases VR headset, Vision Pro

BY ARIANNA BULTSMA

ASST. BUSINESS & TECH EDITOR Apple released its first new product in years, Vision Pro, on Feb. 2. Vision Pro is a mixed-reality headset that blends digital content with physical space, much like virtual reality (VR) glasses. To navigate, users will use their eyes, hands and voice.

Pricing for Apple’s Vison Pro starts at $3,499.

With Vision Pro, apps can be accessed while a user looks at the space around them. Some examples include browsing the web with Safari, adding a

to-do list with the Notes app or chatting with others on Messages. With a glance, users can move between apps effortlessly. Instead of going to a movie theater and paying for tickets, those with Vision Pro can transform any room into a personal theater. With a 3D camera, memories come alive and viewing photos has never been this unique. FaceTime calls, especially, can feel more like an in-person talk.

Its engineering is unique and contains different features than any other Apple product. On its website, the company states,

“Apple Vision Pro integrates incredibly advanced technology into an elegant, compact form, resulting in an amazing experience every time you put it on.”

There have been rumors that this headset is a response to Meta’s VR headset. When comparing the two, they both have qualities that the other lacks.

For example, Apple Vision Pro’s display quality and compatibility with gaming controls are more advanced but Meta’s display is 120 Hz making it faster than Apple’s 90 Hz. Some of the top movies are available in 3D with the glasses,

such as Avatar, Avengers and Star Wars, which will mark the glasses as the first 3D camera Apple has made. According to an analyst from investing.com, the brand’s ultimate goal is to have Vision Pro work alongside Apple devices.

As exciting as the new product may be, Ulysses Martinez, sophomore kinesiology major, is wary about the price point.

“The new product that Apple has recently released hadn’t intrigued me at all, especially as an Apple user. Sometimes you ask questions like what’s the point of this, and I had one

of those moments knowing I didn’t really care much about it,” Martinez said. “I probably wouldn’t buy it, especially knowing that Apple always had expensive prices. As well as being a college student, if I really wanted it, I wouldn’t be able to get it knowing that I’m currently paying for school.”

Adrian Najera-Rico, freshman mechanical engineer major, has similar concerns.

“Apple’s new product interests me because technology is always evolving,” Najera-Rico said. We see new technical advances in each stage of the tech-

nological industry. But, I would not purchase due to a better model [or] version that would most likely be made within the next couple of years.”

For the last four quarters in a row, Apple’s overall revenue has fallen, according to Fortune.

Just last year, they experienced a 3% dip in revenue. CEO Tim Cook said during a conference call that Apple “continues to face an uncertain macroeconomic environment.” Releasing Vision Pro now could be their strategy to boost sales and the odds are good, as the pre-orders have already sold out.

BUSINESS & TECH

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February 2, 2024 · Volume 71· Issue 4

Alaska Airlines door blows out mid-flight to Ontario

BY ALEXZA BAHNMILLER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As people were making their trips home from the holidays, disaster struck. On Jan. 5, an Alaska Airlines flight from Portland, Ore., to Ontario, Calif. had its 60-pound emergency exit door plug blow out at 16,000 feet in the air, according to ABC News.

Despite the emergency there were no serious injuries reported, but according to remarks made by the National Transportation Safety Board Chair, Jennifer Homendy, it was a stroke of luck that both seats next to the door were vacant that flight. Additionally, the incident occurred just 10 minutes before landing.

“I imagine the accident could have been much worse if the flight had been at its cruising altitude of 35,000 feet, with people standing, walking or us-

ing the restroom. We could have ended up with something so much more tragic,” Homendy said during a news conference.

In the aftermath, four passengers who were on board filed a lawsuit against Boeing, alleging that the plane was “unreasonably dangerous and defective.”

The plane model, a Boeing 737 Max 9, had experienced two previous fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. The FAA agreed to ground all its Boeing 737 Max 9 planes that had door plugs until its inspections were completed on Jan. 17. The FAA has since announced they are in the process of reviewing the data, with the newest findings as of Jan. 29 revealing the aircraft left the Boeing factory without critical bolts on the door.

Gregg Landolt, director of flight operations at CBU, explained how flight inspection protocol works.

“I used to manage major overhauls for airline aircraft, and I can tell you airliners are very complicated vehicles. For example, a major overhaul of a Boeing 757, similar to a Boeing 737, will have 1,000 inspection tasks and normally one will find another 500 tasks that have to be accomplished because of broken and leaking systems and parts,” Landolt explained. “The plug that blew out would have been an additional emergency exit door if the FAA had determined the need for that door, which it apparently didn’t.”

Landolt concluded that despite the numerous inspections, there could have been preventative measures of double-checking.

“Pilots inspect the airplane before every flight, but the location of the plug that blew out is not in a normally accessible area, being up high, out of reach of a closer inspection. A more

complicated inspection process could have prevented this incident, but these airplanes fly probably about four times per day and the inspection would have been impractical before this incident,” he said.

“

Every passenger is afraid and they think they are the only ones afraid, which isn’t true. We pilots are afraid of something going wrong, too.”

Gregg Landolt, director of flight operations

Karlie Reed, sophomore aviation flight major, addressed the topic of safety.

“There are plenty of false narratives surrounding the incident, but the big one is about how unsafe flying is. There are many risks involved, but given [that] everyone made it back safe in the event of this emergency, it’s a true testament to how much training flight crews receive and how much they are prepared to tackle any situation,” Reed said.

Landolt agreed that flight training of all kinds is extensive.

“Training, training, training.

AA is now paying for the loss of trust with reduced reservations and news articles which will cause passengers to go elsewhere,” Landolt said. “American airlines are the safest airlines in the world, thanks to the quality of training and level of maintenance they receive.”

As an aviation student, Reed pointed out some takeaways.

“One of the things we take away from this is making sure

that all of our inspections are up to date, and not to get complacent with flying because so many mistakes can arise when we’re not careful and those mistakes can turn into emergencies,” Reed said. “Though we can never ensure everyone’s safety 100 percent of the time, I do think flying is a safe option that people shouldn’t be hesitant towards. Most people aren’t worried about getting in their car to drive, but there are plenty more fatal car accidents than aviation incidents.”

Landolt further emphasized this sentiment of not letting fear get in the way of action.

“Every passenger is afraid and they think they are the only ones afraid, which isn’t true. We pilots are afraid of something going wrong, too,” Landolt said.

“The key is to use that fear to become better trained so you are ready if or when something happens.”

both high, so I wouldn’t recommend this as a coffee shop to study or get work done. However, it could be a great place to check up with friends at the right time.

With the crowd Coffeecito receives, it seems like many people are checking them out or are very fond of the coffee shop. After checking out their Yelp reviews I noticed multiple people mentioned their excitement to try out Coffeecito House

but experienced s o l d out food, and the crowdedness caused them to say they either wouldn’t come back again or stated it was overhyped.

I find the building to be very lovely but don’t find the actual business to be good enough for me to come back often. From my experience, it was very crowded and hard to enjoy my food and drinks. Coffeecito House is a place to at least visit once but there is no need for it to be a person’s go-to coffee shop.

X announces plans for exclusive shows

BY ALEXZA BAHNMILLER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

In October of 2022, Twitter was bought by Elon Musk for a cool $44 billion, making him the owner of six companies, the others being Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, xAi and The Boring Company.

One year later, Musk rebranded Twitter to X. According to Jordan Valinsky for CNN Business, Musk had warned prior to the rebranding that Twitter, facing steep losses in ad revenue, was on the edge of bankruptcy.

Linda Yaccarino, who was named CEO of the company in June, explained on X that the platform’s rebranding is “a second chance to make another big impression. Twitter made one massive impression and changed the way we communicate. Now, X will go further, transforming the global town square.”

Roston Willis Jr., assistant professor of digital and social media marketing, shared his thoughts on the strategy behind companies rebranding.

He explained that it is similar to going back to a restaurant where you had a bad experience if it has a “new ownership” sign out front. You give the restaurant a second chance because you attribute the experience to the past owner, not to the place.

“I think that there is a psychological value when it comes

BY ARIANNA BULTSMA ASST. BUSINESS & TECH EDITOR Coffeecito House is a coffee shop in downtown Riverside that just opened on Dec. 1. One thing that makes the shop stand out from its competitors right out of the gate is its location. Since 2020, the owners have been hard at work turning a home built in 1900 into a bright and welcoming coffee shop.

When first arriving after the 10-minute drive from CBU, your eyes will quickly notice the distinctiveness of the building, with its traditional, old-fashioned home.

to seeing things as new,” Willis said. “By associating your experience to a new thing, it gives people the opportunity to come back and see what’s fresh, what’s new, and what’s different.”

Emma Hannick, junior marketing major, said she thinks that the Twitter rebranding may not have been the right decision, however.

“I think the rebranding was totally unnecessary, mainly because people still refer to it as Twitter and now it has a whole connotation of being a Tesla/ Space X app,” Hannick said.

Hannah Gordon, junior music and English double major, said she agreed.

“I think the change from Twitter to X definitely made the app less relevant,” Gordon said.

“Like how HBOMax changed to just Max. What was the point?

Especially if it’s essentially the same thing. It just makes the app less marketable and [more] confusing.”

X’s user base continued on a downward spiral, falling by 15% by the end of October, while its ad revenue declined by 54%. But, according to Alexa Corse for the Wall Street Journal, CEO Yaccarino is utilizing her background in television to bring exclusive shows to X in collaboration with Range Media Partners. A total of 10 shows were announced on Jan. 9, including shows hosted by former CNN host Don Lemon, former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi

Gabbard and sports commentator Jim Rome.

“I would not watch the shows on X. Honestly, that just seems like a weird concept to me. X is not Youtube. Twitter never had shows as far as I’m aware,” Gordon said. “It just seems weird to have shows on a social media app. I know Instagram has reels but those are short-form content. I wouldn’t trust the news either if the shows are going to be news-related. Social media apps are not reliable sources of news, in general.”

Hannick shared Gordon’s sentiment.

“I can’t imagine people going to X to watch a certain show and frankly it’s not a new idea,” said Hannick. “Other platforms like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon already do the same thing and miss the mark more than they make it.”

Since the shows have not yet launched, only time will tell if they bring X the boost it needs.

“This is X’s way of changing the dynamics of social media and going, ‘We’re going to appeal to this market, this demographic, and we’re going to do as Fox did and like CNN did by saying if you come on this platform, you’re going to get the content that’s associated with it,’” Willis said. Willis said. “They recognize that they don’t just want users on their platform. They want customers. Customers spend money. Users just consume.”

Coffeecito can easily get crowded, adn as I made my way to the front of the building I noticed the line went outside the front door and around the porch.

After some time there were only four people ahead of me and I was able to notice the bright and minimalist decor of the inside of the coffee shop. It took around 25 minutes to finally order.

The menu has many options: coffee, teas, house-prepared energy drinks, pastries, and breakfast and lunch meals.

When ordering, I recommend speaking up more than you naturally would, as it gets pretty loud in the area. I had to get in line a second time to order my

drink as I didn’t realize the worker didn’t hear me when I ordered my drink because I only got the two pastries I ordered; the cherry blossom and Lainey lemon.

After ordering, looking for a place to sit wasn’t easy either. This may have been due to the rain, but there wasn’t much seating outside, especially for the number of people in line. The upstairs has a few areas to sit, but with such a big crowd, there was no room up there — a small table by a window opened after a few minutes.

The pastries they sell are very sweet but still good, depending on the sweetness you prefer. Personally, I found their iced drinks to

have a better flavor than the hot drinks. I ordered one of their seasonal hot drinks, the Skinny Vanilla Almond Delight, and a simple iced vanilla latte. The hot drink to me seemed to have too much flavoring in it, causing an aftertaste that I didn’t care for.

At the time I went, they were sold out of most lunch and breakfast items. Their bacon and egg bites were requested by multiple people in front of me, but they sold out of the popular items fast.

The number of people and the volume of conversations were

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT JinHee Trio brings music faculty together

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February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

BY SARAH MURPHY ASST. A&E EDITOR

In a small room inside the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts, the sounds of the violin, cello and piano all blend together and harmonize into perfect songs.

On Jan. 27, the JinHee Trio performed classical and modern works for CBU students and faculty, one of many concerts the university puts on throughout the year.

Dr. JinHee Kim, who teaches violin at CBU, played the violin for this performance.

She was accompanied by Dr. Marek Szpakiewicz on the cello and Dr. Susan Boettger on the piano. They presented pieces

by Antonín Dvořák and Paul Scheonfield. All three professors fromdifferent colleges decided to visit each one and perform the JinHee Trio concert.

By the remarkable level of their playing, one would expect them to have spent countless hours practicing. However, they spent most of their time practicing independently and rehearsed together only three times before the performance.

Noelani Kiu, junior English major, attended the JinHee Trio Concert because of her love of classical music.

“Watching the musicians brings the music to life,” Kiu said. “The Dvorak piece has some really lovely segments that complement the violin and the cello very well, and the cafe music had elements of jazz and blues, which was so much fun.

I would definitely recommend it to other students because the professors do such a wonderful job, and it is beautiful to hear them play.”

Dr. Susan Boettger, director of the keyboard program at Irvine Valley College, has played the same pieces before with other musicians, but she said there was something special about this particular trio.

“It’s an old friend, these pieces. So it’s just a matter of figuring out exactly what the other person wants to do and we’ve always had great chemistry. When we play it tends to just work,” Boettger said.

It can be nerve-racking to

Josselyn Guillen | Banner Dr. Marek Szpakiewics (right) plays cello and Dr. JinHee Kim plays the violin at CBU’s JinHee Trio concert on Jan. 27 at the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts.

Josselyn Guillen | Banner Dr. JinHee Kim plays classical and modern work on her violin at CBU’s JinHee Trio concert on Jan. 27.

kind of see people’s reactions.

I enjoyed being able to talk to everyone and hear their feedback.”

CBU’s School of Performing Arts hosts several music concerts throughout the school year. One of these ongoing events is the Faculty Artist Series, where CBU students can come and show support for their professors. In the next couple of upcoming performances, Aristides Rivas will be playing the cello on Feb. 10 and Dan St. Marseille will be playing the saxophone on March 21.

These musicians tend to get great enjoyment out of playing for students. It is an opportunity to share the unfiltered beauty that music can create in a shared space among those who also love music.

“That’s what it’s about.

That’s what we live for. The hours of practice and preparation are for the opportunity to share with people,” Szpakiewicz said. “This is just such a special, precious moment.”

Josselyn Guillen | Banner Dr. Marek Szpakiewics, director of String Studies and Chamber Music at Azusa Pacific University, plays the cello at CBU.

perform on stage by yourself.

However, Szpakiewicz, director of String Studies and Chamber Music at Azusa Pacific University, expressed how much he enjoyed playing with other musicians.

“It feels like a team, and it’s exciting when you have high-level musicians, and then you enjoy the creativity together,” Szpakiewicz said. “We just make an effort, and that’s it. We get together and have a good time.”

Rhett Warner, senior philosophy major, particularly enjoyed the JinHee Trio Concert because of how the musicians actively engaged with the students in the audience.

“My favorite parts were the musicians’ friendliness and the intimacy of their performances,” Warner said. “Being up close to moving instruments handled by brilliant artists is fascinating. I recommend these events to any student.”

There is always an element of surprise when it comes to

DESIGN BY: GABI RIGGIN

these concerts even for the musicians themselves. Although they may have practiced together, the pieces are never performed exactly the same.

There is some improvisation and spontaneity that goes into playing the pieces.

“You have a lot of possibilities and opportunities to create a moment,” Szpakiewicz. “So if I’m playing and then I decide I’m going to do something different, they’re like, ‘Oh, what’s happening now?’ But then they see, ‘ok, you want to do something special here.’ And they follow. That’s part of the communication,” Szpakiewicz said.

Boettger enjoyed being able to communicate with the audience during the concert. She addressed the crowd to ask students what their favorite songs were that the musicians played.

“It was wonderful,” Boettger said. “It was really great to see everyone. It was something very intimate because it is a smaller room. So you can really

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

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How far will you go to pander to your audience? 5-time Oscar-nominated film “American Fiction,” directed by Cord Jefferson asks this question of its main character, Monk.

Thelonious “Monk” Ellison is an “uppity” black author in LA struggling to sell his books to publishers. In a world seemingly more concerned with performative diversity than genuinely giving diverse artists the light of day, Monk’s writing is written off as not “black” enough. Amidst dealing with extreme family issues and needing money fast, Monk decides to play into his publishers’ ideas.

Golden Globes highlights

Viewership soars!

UP 50% FROM LAST YEAR WITH APPROX. 9.4 MILLION VIEWERS

ACCORDING TO AP STYLE

Network shuffle NBC DROPPED THE SHOW, BUT CBS PICKED IT UP

Streaming sensation CBS SAID IT WAS THE 2ND LARGEST LIVESTREAMED EVEN ON PARAMOUNT +

Biggest winner of the night Oppenheimer WON FIVE AWARDS FOR THE NIGHT

DESIGN BY: GABI RIGGIN

DESIGN BY: GABI RIGGIN

BY ALEXZA BAHNMILLER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PHOTO CREDIT:

ALEXZA BAHNMILLER

Sundance, one of the top film festivals in the world, was founded in 1978 with the initial hopes of attracting more filmmakers to Utah. Beginning with only 10 emerging filmmakers, Sundance now hosts around 40,000 attendees a year, according to sundance.org. Many of our favorite films began with a screening at Sundance, such as “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Get Out,” “Blair Witch Project” and more. Sundance offers independent filmmakers the opportunity to sell their films to companies such as Netflix and Warner Bros and network with like-minded film geeks, usually fresh out of film school and hoping to make their mark on the world.

In an attempt to involve students more with the festival, the Windrider Forum was created in 2005 with a few dozen students from Biola University and Fuller Theological Seminary. Students from Christian colleges have since been invited yearly to join and engage in conversations about the films screened at Sundance from a “distinctly theological lens.” CBU is one of the invited schools, and as a student enrolled in FLM320-Sundance, I was able to go.

Windrider helps to organize “host homes” for the school groups to stay at throughout

the week-long event. Since Sundance involves traveling from theater to theater across Park City, location and travel are important. Thankfully, the home we stayed at was only a 10-minute drive from practically everything and the free transit services across Utah came in handy.

As part of the Forum, meetings were held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., in which short films were screened, followed by Q&A’s with crew members.

Handpicked by the Windrider team to fit this year’s theme of “Fatherhood,” the best one was CODA’s Troy Kotsur’s documentary “To My Father,” which commemorated his father and his impact on Kotsur’s worldview.

After the morning meetings, students were free to attend their Sundance films. For CBU, we were given 10 in-person tickets and five online, which we used to book our screenings ahead of time. The first film I saw was “Rob Peace,” which also happened to be my favorite. Based on the biography “The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace,” the film tells the story of Peace, focusing heavily on his relationship with his father. The film was moving, especially due to recent Julliard grad Jay Will’s performance, and had me nonchalantly attempting to wipe the tears

from my eyes as the end credits rolled. After the screening, the cast and actor-turned-director Chiwetal Ejiiofor went up the stage to discuss their experience with production and to take audience questions. My other favorites included “Your Monster,” directed by Carolina Lindy and “Conbody VS Everybody,” directed by Debra Granik. The majority of the films were documentary-based, either fully based on true stories or “true-ish,” stories, and many of the directors were journalists, making for captivating projects that viewers could feel someone put their heart into creating. The hardest part of Sundance, though, is the uncertainty of whether or not this will be your first and last time viewing a film, as the films that do not get ‘picked up’ by a distribution company become difficult to access. This is my fear for my favorite films, as all three listed above are still seeking distribution post-Sundance.

Films, however, that did get picked up include an Aubrey Plaza film that sold to Amazon for $15 million, “A Real Pain” to Searchlight Pictures for $10 million, and “Super/Man” to Warner Bros. Discovery for $15 million. The largest sale of the festival was “It’s What’s Inside,” to Netflix for $17 million. As a self-identified Jesse Eisenberg “stan,” I’m happy

“A Real Pain” got picked up, for which Eisenberg won the Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic. The film is a simple but effective character study of him and his relationship with his cousin, played by Kieran Culkin.

Going to Sundance is a different experience for every person. The cast and crew are there to celebrate.

Students are there to learn and hopefully network. Attendees are there to be a part of the experience. Regardless, everyone is united by their love for film. Everywhere you go, people are discussing films and stories, what they just saw or what they wanted to see. It is a community-driven atmosphere that leads to thousands of people laughing in unison together in theaters, crying together, or, in the case of “Your Monster,” booing as the protagonist kisses her ex-boyfriend. The festival serves as a reminder of how impactful film can be and how it can connect us, a reminder especially needed during the peak of streaming services. More than anything, Sundance exemplifies the hope that exists in humanity by showcasing the people out there who seek the stories that need to be told and dedicate their lives to telling it all in the hopes that someone out there will be ready to receive.

SPORTS

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February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

Senior swim Continued from Page 1 “No one really talks about how hard taking a fifth year is mentally and physically, so by the time senior day [happened] I was just glad to be there,” Brazil said. “It was also pouring rain, so I thought it was really sweet and funny that all my friends and family stayed and got soaked. I know that GCU is such a big rival, but honestly, we are all so close with each other.

The camaraderie within swim is one of the biggest reasons why I love the sport. After every race, we always shake hands, and if it is your buddy, you hug it out. There is never any rivalry. So honestly, it was good to see them again before we face off at conference.”

The team also competed together during the COVID-19

era and faced unique challenges compared to teams of the past. The team’s challenge’s during lockdown reflect the growth each swimmer faced as individuals when they had to navigate such a difficult season.

“I came in during the peak of COVID so there needed to be more team bonding and more going on. Competitions were virtual, so motivation to compete took a lot of work and was hard to get and maintain,” said Cody Meyer, senior accounting major. “After COVID, the team was huge due to all the seniors getting an extra eligibility year, and we had in-person competitions, so there was a lot more motivation, team activities, etc.”

The team’s care and dedication for one another, especially during such an unprecedented global event.

This mentality extends to the up-and-coming swimmers on

the team as well, with Brazil offering a piece of advice to the younger swimmers on the team.

“When you come to college, the sport that you loved your whole life becomes a job. You work 20 hours a week, and if you work hard enough, you hopefully can get paid. This can take a lot of the joy out of the sport you once loved and bring forth a lot of unnecessary pressure. If I could leave anything to my teammates, it is not to take everything too seriously and have fun.

Constantly finding joy in practice and swim meets is something I hope I left behind for my team,” Brazil said.

While these seniors’ time is coming to an end, the relationships and memories they have made will always .

“The love of Christ and the love of their coaches is always going to be there,” Bossert said.

Courtesy of CBU Athletics

The CBU swim team competes against their rivals at Grand Canyon University on Jan. 20, 2024.

Ancient Sports

Written & Illustrated By: Michael Marks

Ōllamalitzli

The word can be broken apart into ōlli, "rubber," and the verb ōllama or "to play ball." This was an early Mesoamerican version of soccer played with a rubber ball, similar to the way volleyball is played today, with players using their heads, legs, arms and hips to hit the ball. Many early Mesoamerican groups, from the Aztecs to the Mayans, played some form of this game, often tying the sport to their religious or political ceremonies. The history and culture of this game are deeply important to the people of Central America and a modern version of this game exists called Ulama (Source: History Crunch).

Kabaddi Originally hailing from India, this is an ancient sport that has had many forms over time, with the modern iteration taking form around 1930. The sport consists of seven players on opposite sides separated by a line. The objective is to attack or raid the other team and touch as many players as possible without getting caught while holding your breath. The player who crosses the line is called a raider, and the defenders are called an antis. If the raider touches a player, they are considered out and cannot rejoin play until their team gets points during their turn to raid the other team or if the raider is caught by the defenders. This game has become a symbol for Indian sports, even becoming the official sport in many Indian states, such as Andhra Pradesh (Source: Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India).

Nguni Stick Fighting

This is an early African sport hailing from the Nguni Tribes, particularly the Zulu tribes, around the time of Shaka Zulu. It was an exclusively male-only sport as it was intended to teach and train young men how to fight and become warriors. The sport itself required three sticks: the first stick, Induku, was used to strike the opponent, the second stick, Ubhoko, for defense, and the third stick, Umsila, with a shield, Ihawu, to protect the knuckles of the left hand. While participants typically wouldn't find themselves in mortal danger, there was little protection, with combatants walking away bruised, scarred, and bloody, which they wore as a symbol of pride. This sport is still practiced today (Source: South African History Online).

Chunkey This early sport was similar to shuffleboard and originated in modern-day Southern Illinois from the Cahokian tribe. It eventually spread to many other Native American tribes across North America. The game is played by rolling a stone with a hole in it across the ground. Players would then throw spears at it in an attempt to be the closest to it before it stopped.

Players who got a spear through the hole would receive two points. Some versions valued accuracy more or were tweaked to resemble hunting more closely. The game was also crucial because tribes often used it as a catalyst for interaction and as a bridge for peace, often being used to decide disputes between people or tribes, whether that be hunting rights, territory disputes or other disagreements. The game spread all over North America, even bordering modern-day Mexico in some places (Source: Montessori Physical Education).

Sports science explores how athletes push past limitations

BY MICHAEL MARKS SPORTS EDITOR

Many athletes focus on improving their game and rightly so, but little attention has been directed towards the science of shattering athletes’ records. Sports science plays a crucial role in any athletics team. Because of this research field, athletes can run faster, jump higher and push past physical limitations that were once thought impossible to overcome. With the everincreasing participation in athletics, understanding how our bodies respond during intense physical exercise is vital, so much so that the sports medicine industry is expected to grow to $7.2 billion by 2025, according to Markets and Markets.

The way athletes approach training and recovery is crucial but their approach to athletics as a whole may be just as important. Oftentimes, players

and coaches want the latest science in order to give them a competitive edge, whether that be the latest drill, stretch or exercise that gives their athlete a better chance at winning.

The science behind these techniques, however, is more nuanced than it initially seems.

Trevor Gillum, professor of kinesiology and program director for sports science, weighed in on the topic.

“As a researcher, I might collect data and write up the study that suggests that it doesn’t work, but if I’m a coach and I read that study and I look at it and say that, well, it actually worked for three of the ten people enrolled in the study, then I might see if it’s going to work for one of my athletes,” Gillum said.

The approaches that researchers and coaches take are very distinct. The researcher may be more concerned with the accuracy of the research and testing a

particular hypothesis, whereas the coach is focused on training athletes and winning.

A researcher may deem a method or technique meaningless, while a coach continues using that method or technique with the athletes in order to eke out any extra possibility of success. A coach may be able to disprove an area of exercise science simply by tapping into their athletes’ sheer will but coaches can only push their athletes so far until they reach the physical limitations of their bodies.

One area of particular interest is how athletes deal with soreness. Many ways have been pushed to alleviate soreness in recent years, from hot and cold baths, cupping and even changing one’s diet.

Gillum shed light on why it is essential to let athletes’ bodies recover the right way.

“I don’t know that we want to find ways to alleviate muscle soreness because it’s really part

of the healing process. It’s part of the recovery process.

The better we can let nature take its course, the better we can let physiology do its thing, then the more likely we are to be protected from future subsequent bouts,” Gillum said.

This protection from subsequent bouts doesn’t just apply to injuries but also to training in general. When we work our muscles, we create micro-tears in them, causing our muscles to feel soreness. These micro-tears don’t just heal. They heal stronger than they were before. This has significant consequences for training, lest an athlete plateaus.

“The way we get stronger is twofold: One is our muscles get bigger and bigger muscles produce more force.

The other thing with force is—it’s a neuromuscular component.

It’s our central nervous system,

the brain, the spinal cord, and of the increasing knowledge the way it’s recruited. So, by coming out of the sports constantly changing the way science field and making great use of it. we recruit those C h r i s muscle fibers, Gonzalez, junior we’re playing nursing major, upon those shared how his muscular neural knowledge of adaptations,” said the body has Gillum. changed how B r u c e he views health Tuan, senior Bruce Tuan, fitness, nursing major, senior nursing major and particularly understands the when it comes to mind-to-body a healthy heart. connection in his own sports.

“Weight lifting is good “Surfing and martial arts give you a sense of your but so is long-term health. limitations. It helps build on Running, walking, biking, a mind-body connection by swimming, any of those things telling you what you can and every now and then mixed in with strength training just to cannot do,” Tuan said.

Physical training is a deeply keep that cardiovascular health intertwined process between and promote more long-term the mind and body. Sports health,” Gonzalez said.

As researchers continue to science has demonstrated how it is not enough for an athlete to push the boundaries of sports just focus on physical aspects science, athletes will continue but the mental side too. Many shattering the records once are, however, taking advantage thought unbeatable.

“

Surfing and martial arts give you a sense of your limitations.

OPINION

15

February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

LANCER ON THE STREET What is your favorite Bible verse?

Sal Gonzalez Senior Criminal justice major

Anthony Osorio Junior Finance major

Isaac Hernandez Senior Business administration major

“Probably 1 Corinthians 8.”

“John 3:16.”

“It’s Proverbs 19:20-21.”

Wiley Lloyd Senior Marketing major

Lily Baer Junior Criminal justice major

“My favorite Bible verse is Psalms 119:60.”

“It’s on my Instagram bio. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.”

Embrace life’s unpredictability

BY ALEXZA BAHNMILLER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Self-expression, magnified by social media, is constantly on the minds of the younger generation. We are taught in school and online to think about who we are and, more importantly, who we want the world to see.

Many of us complain of stress induced by overthinking — but how can you not when everything you post, every outfit you wear, every friend you do or do not associate with — says something about you? In the frenzy

to help us identify who we are as soon as possible, we can seek external sources to tell us the truth, to help us see past our own biases. Confused? Take the BuzzFeed quiz and discover why your soul most closely resembles an iced vanilla matcha.

Need career advice? Consult your zodiac sign, your numerology chart, your MBTI, etc...

If you don’t like the answers, you can create a new persona and even a new reality through positive-thinking exercises like manifesting. In less than five minutes, you are now ready to reach your fullest potential and crush it at the game of life.

I think there is a great tie between this attempt to find out who we are and the need for perfection. Perfectionism is the need to control things. It has

been stereotyped in our culture and often incorrectly labeled as OCD, but in reality, everyone struggles with perfectionism to some degree. Maybe you are not an "I-need-to-have-a-4.0" perfectionist, but maybe you are the "I need to have my expertly crafted playlist going when I workout" type or the "I need to beat this level of COD’" type.

We all have some area of our lives that we need control over, big or small. It is a way of giving our fragile little human selves a blanket of protection against the unknown — because let’s face it, everything is unknown.

Whether or not we take our next breath is unknown. So why not take every quiz we can to know who we are? Why not put together that playlist so that we know something is concrete?

Why not take advantage of everything we can control and control it?

As comforting as doing this can be, it is important to remember that uncertainty plays a big role in life’s beauty. The unknown is not inherently bad, it is what keeps us looking for and trusting in something greater than ourselves. Life is about growth, but it is nearly impossible to grow if we do not allow ourselves to fail. If we constantly avoid activities, conversations or experiences because there is risk involved, that, regardless of the magnitude, requires us to be braver and bolder and step outside our comfort zones for a quick second, we will lose out on all the world has to offer. How will we enjoy the refreshing comfort of

drizzling rain if we are too busy running through it or staying inside altogether? Or, in better words, famed poet and musician Leonard Cohen once said, “There is a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in.”

It is good to be prepared. It is good to be educated about as much as possible, including ourselves. It is good to plan for our futures, our days and our goals. But we should always remember that only one person truly knows what we need: God. I mean, most of us can’t even decide what we are hungry for; why are we pretending to know what we want out of our existence?

If we are able to set aside our earthly egos and offer up these expectations of ourselves, our futures, and our plans to him,

he will make sure that everything actually goes perfectly, and not just in a materialistic, shallow sense, but in a divine sense.

I don’t want to wake up in my old age and think, “Thank goodness I achieved everything on my checklist. What a life lived.” I want to wake up and think, “Everything makes perfect sense. My life was like a jumbled-up puzzle that I could hardly make out for the longest time. At times, it didn’t even feel like a puzzle, it just felt like random shards of paper. But now, because I trusted the instincts God gave me and his plans ultimately over mine, I can see somehow every piece lined up perfectly and made a beautiful portrait of who I truly am.”

Humor is not Items deserve to hold more meaning in our subjective

BY CONNOR RYAN MANAGING EDITOR

Some jokes are simply not funny. This is less of a controversial statement than you may think it is. Everyone is familiar with humor as a concept, as humans are hardwired to search for humor in life and within each other, as it motivates us and strengthens the bonds between friends and family.

From infancy, laughter is a primal instinct of our species. When a mother plays peek-a-boo with her baby or tickles them, they show amusement just like an adult will find a witty joke humorous. We’ve all been exposed to the idea that humor is subjective because one person’s sense of humor differs from another. For example, one might argue that the baby would not laugh at the witty joke, and the adult would not laugh at peek-a-boo, making humor subjective.

However, one would not consider making a complex joke to a child. Why? Because they are thinking about their audience. Though many factors play into what makes a joke funny, one of the most important is who is listening. This is why we make different jokes around our coworkers than our friends.

Your joke might be funny to your friends, but your colleagues might deem it immature. The joke is still inherently funny but relies on a specific audience to garner laughter. Almost any joke can be unfunny or offensive

if told in the wrong context and I would argue that not knowing what your audience will laugh at signifies a poorly crafted joke.

Additionally, good humor catches you by surprise. The incongruity theory of humor proposed in Aristotle’s book “Rhetoric” states that in an objectively good joke, “the word which comes is not what the hearer imagined.”

In other words, jokes with a clever twist catch people off-guard in a way that translates to amusement. This surprise creates a basis for objective humor. Whether it is a well-timed punchline in a stand-up routine or a ridiculous plot twist in a movie, a certain degree of shock elicits a knee-jerk physiological response that transcends personal subjectivity. A good joke travels down a mental path no one else expected and pleasantly surprises.

The brain also recognizes specific patterns and structures in humor as universally amusing. While culture can shape the nuances of humor, the core principles of what makes something funny remain surprisingly consistent across cultures. As mentioned previously, in most cultures, jokes fall under a specific structure: first, there is a setup, then a punchline.

The brain processes predictable structure combined with an unexpected outcome in a way that triggers laughter. This universal response suggests that objective elements within the structure of humor influence our collective perception.

Consider the classic “slip on a banana peel” or the “pratfall” scenario. While the

cultural context might add layers of nuance to the joke, the fundamental humor arises from the universally relatable experience of unexpected clumsiness. Though a dated comedic trope, physical comedy taps into our shared understanding of the human condition, making it a cross-cultural source of amusement.

While personal tastes undoubtedly shape individual preferences in humor, the notion that humor is subjective oversimplifies the complex nature of comedic experiences. The cross-cultural appeal of the aforementioned comedic elements, delivery, timing, shock value, audience and complexity contribute to the argument that there are objective aspects to what makes something funny.

Acknowledging the objective nature of humor does not diminish different types of comedic expressions. In recognizing the objective elements of humor, we can appreciate why we laugh at some jokes and not at others.

A joke that is too predictable or complex will fall flat because it is not relatable or surprising.

Similarly, a joke can fail to make people laugh because of poor delivery or timing.

Regardless, without one or more of these elements, we can look at a joke and objectively say it is less funny than it would be if it had those qualities.

While everyone has their own taste and preference for humor, these principles are evidence that humor is a universal experience that defies cultural boundaries.

lives and our culture

BY MICHAEL MARKS

SPORTS SECTION EDITOR Growing up, one of my favorite memories was when my grandfather and I would go fishing together every summer at a local lake in Illinois. I noticed that every time we went, he would bring the same beat-up, old-looking tackle box with us. As a young child, I never understood why he still held on to it. He could easily have bought a bigger, better, newer tackle box than the one he had.

I eventually got curious enough to ask him about it, and he replied, “This was my father’s tackle box; of course, I was going to hold on to it.”

He told me it used to be an ammo box during WWII but his father turned it into a tackle box after the war.

Being the virtuous man he is, my grandfather turned it into a lesson. He told me that just because something might be broken, that does not mean it cannot be fixed. In the same way, just because something is old, that does not mean it does not work. People are the same way. We get old or think we cannot do things as well

as we used to, and sometimes, we end up “throwing” ourselves away, too.

This way of thinking has transported into other areas of our lives as well, including our relationship with our possessions. What I learned as a young child that day is that the generations that grew up before globalism thought very differently about their stuff than modern Americans do today. Things used to matter more because things were harder to come by. From family heirlooms like a diamond necklace right down to something seemingly as insignificant as a tackle box. In generations prior, you often used to hear stories of how all sorts of items, things and pieces were passed down from generation to generation. It was a way to tell part of a family’s story, the same way my grandfather told me the story of our family.

Things used to be built to last because of the reasons above and how differently we as a culture used to think differently about our things.

Items were often passed down because people used to value their possessions. Simply put, we have become too wasteful.

In doing so, we have lost a part of ourselves and our past.

The damage it has done to our culture is visible for all to see. We have allowed empty concepts, born out of our vapid desire to consume, to balloon into the problem it has with consumerist concepts such as “fast fashion,” “throwaway culture,” and “planned obsolescence,” seemingly taking over every part of our lives. The pollution, waste,

and environmental damage from our wastefulness fill our screens with images of landfills, plastic oceans, and black skies: a testament to our desire to consume without giving much thought to the things and items we use in everyday life.

If we do not value our past, why would we expect anyone to value a better tomorrow? Our past includes the possessions we sell, buy, carry and interact with every day. Until we learn to begin truly appreciating our possessions again, we will continue this culture of waste and excess.

“

Until we learn to begin truly appreciating our possessions again, we will continue this culture of waste and excess."

Our relationship with things should matter not just for the environmental damage it has caused but for the cultural value we are continually robbing ourselves of.

So next time you think of throwing something away and buying something new, ask yourself if that item is the tackle box in your life. You might end up missing a special moment with your grandson one day.

16 February 2, 2024 · Volume 71 · Issue 4

By Lauren Vincent

Sudoku

Comic Strip

Name: _________________________________________________

Word Search Valentine's

Día de los Muertos Crossword

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11. A decorated skull for Día de los Muertos 12. Bright colorful pieces of paper strung all over the town for decoration

Across: 1. A special treat for the occasion 3. To light the way and bring life to the celebration 4. Bright, colorful, fantastic creatures 5. The place where offerings and pictures of the deceased are placed 6. A symbol of Christianity 7. Shaking spooky bones all over the place 10. The offerings placed on the altar for the deceased to enjoy

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Created using Word Search Generator on Super Teacher Worksheets (www.superteacherworksheets.com)

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