Volume 68 | Issue 5 | February 5, 2021
@cbulancermedia cbubanner.com
Recall Gov. Newsom? — The campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom gains momentum.
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GameStop starts frenzy —
How Reddit users caused the company’s stock price to surge.
Netflix beats streaming record — Netflix passes 200 billion subscribers.
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Photography program relocates to Adams BY JACKSON WALDROP ASST. NEWS EDITOR
With California Baptist University’s Photography program continuously expanding and with the purpose of efficiency, community building and outward focus, the program has officially moved to the business park of 2900 Adams Street ABPK #B25 and #B26. CBU’s Photography program has grown in the past few years. It started with just the classroom James 430, then expanding into one unit of warehouse space at Adams #A19, and now using two units right next to each other, #B25 and #B26. There are several benefits to this transition for the photography program. Not only does this provide needed space for the program, but this situation also fits the photography industry standard. Christopher Kern, assistant professor of photography and program lead, said this was the best fit for the program. “This is exactly what we use in the industry.” Kern said. “Anywhere in the United States or the world, they are looking for spaces that are just like these warehouse complexes. The high ceilings are ideal, the square footage, the open space,
SEE PHOTOGRAPHY | PAGE 11
Courtesy of Raymond Alva
The new photography studio, located in Adams Business Park, provides photography students with iMacs, printers, lighting equipment and more. The space also helps prepare students for their careers by more closely resembling the warehouse complexes used in the photo industry.
Vaccination rollout starts Athletics ticketing director starts community nonprofit BY EMILY MCGINN NEWS EDITOR
The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines began in December after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use on Dec. 11. The FDA approved a second vaccine, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, on Dec. 18. As of Jan. 18, more than 31 million doses were distributed in the United States and more than 15 million doses were administered according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). California had received more than 3 million vaccines and administered more than 1 million as of Jan. 16, according to covid19.ca.gov. “It is important for people to get the vaccine,” said Krystal Velazquez, sophomore pre-nursing student. “The reason for this is that most diseases are eradicated thanks to vaccines. I think the distribution of the vaccine will lower the cases
of COVID-19 in the U.S., but that is only if everyone who can get the vaccine takes it.” California has developed a three-phase plan for vaccine distribution and administration that shares how the state plans to allocate vaccines in the upcoming months. The first phase contains the people vaccinated first, including healthcare professionals and long-term care residents. The second phase includes people over 65 years old and workers who have a higher chance of being exposed to the virus in certain jobs such as emergency services, education, childcare, food and agriculture and transportation. The second phase also contains groups where COVID-19 might spread more easily, such as people who are in prisons or are homeless. The third phase includes people over 50 years old and younger people with underlying health conditions, as well as more workers at risk of being exposed to COVID-19. Accord-
ing to covid19.ca.gov, California expects to receive enough supplies to administer vaccines for most residents by this summer. Dr. Emily Hollingurst, adjunct faculty of pharmacology, said that she expects the federal government to play a larger role in vaccine distribution in the coming months. “This process is ever-changing as it was left to the states and local health departments to acquire vaccine doses, but since the Biden administration took over, there will be increased distribution and access to the vaccine,” Hollinghurst said. “The CDC established tiers and groups to prioritize vaccination, which the local health departments follow. The problem with leaving it up to the states and local health departments is there may be a lack of funding and support staff to store, administer and coordinate vaccinations. Just observing family
SEE COVID VACCINE | PAGE 2
BY ADIT WRATSANGKA ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
As the COVID-19 pandemic surged in early 2020, California Baptist University gave issued a work-from-home order. Having to work from home and with fewer sports games going on, Zack LaGuardia, director of ticketing and sales of CBU athletics, had more time on his hands to help the community. LaGuardia started a non profit called Kits with Kindness. The charity’s main action is distributing amenity kits of daily essentials to the homeless community. Due to COVID-19 creating monetary issues for some individuals, LaGuardia began getting groceries for older people who are not able to do so. After a few weeks of helping around 10 older people, he thought he wanted to create an impact in a different capacity. Having been in Riverside
A tour of murals in VISION | Page 4-5
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The need for a helping hand in that disenfranchised group of people is greater than ever. Zack LaGuardia, director of ticketing and sales of CBU Athletics
for four years, LaGuardia saw how the homeless population had grown. He said with the COVID-19 pandemic the numbers will most likely not go down. “The need for a helping hand in that disenfranchised group of people is greater than ever,” LaGuardia said. He said his original thought was that summer was ap-
proaching and, knowing the temperature could rise to 100 degrees in Riverside, he wanted to distribute sunscreen to the homeless community to prevent sunburns. “My idea was to go to the 99 cent store and buy 50 bottles of sunscreen and hand those out to the homeless of the community,” LaGuardia said. “But when I got to the store I started seeing soap, toothbrushes and other amenities that I knew I take for granted but would make an impact to the homeless that do not have access to them.” After the trip to the store, LaGuardia ended up with around $200 worth of items that he packed into kits and distributed throughout Riverside. About 10 days later, as LaGuardia was driving on the side of the 91 freeway, he saw
SEE KITS WITH KINDNESS | PAGE 9
CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA
NEWS
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February 5, 2021 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
THE BANNER State lifts stay-at-home order
staff PRINT
Editor-in-Chief Jane Robertus
Lifestyle Editor Teddy Peña
Managing Editor Sofia Eneqvist
Asst. Lifestyle Editors Ashley Moore Will Anton
Photo Editor Camille Grochowski
Sports Editor Kelly McKittrick
Asst. Photo Editor Luc Stringer
Asst. Sports Editors Adityastha Wratsangka Aiden Hobson
Design Editor Sofia Eneqvist Asst. Design Editor Emily McGinn News Editor Emily McGinn Asst. News Editors Kaylee Elrod Lauren Brooks Business & Tech Editor Jasmine Severi Asst. B&T Editor Luc Stringer Arts & Entertainment Editor Jackson Waldrop Asst. A&E Editors Cole Stillwagon
Public Relations Director Victoria Buszinski Social Media Manager Kaylee Elrod Advertising Manager Alex Iannone Distribution Manager Joshua Lomelí
ONLINE Managing Editor Casey Maldonado National Editor Misty Severi Photo Editor Luc Stringer
Asst. Director of Student Publications Sonya Singh Director of Student Publications & Adviser Dr. Mary Ann Pearson
We want your help! Write, take photos or design with us. Email us at BannerEditor@calbaptist.edu for more information.
BY EMILY MCGINN
California lifted its regional stay-at-home order for residents on Jan. 25. The order has been in place since Dec. 3. During the stay-at-home order, the state did not allow any private gatherings, required masks and social distancing at all times and required some non-essential businesses to close. The order originally went into effect when ICU availability fell below 15%. The state lifted the order due to projections that all regions would have more than 15% ICU availability in four weeks, according to covid19.ca.gov. “We are seeing a flattening of the curve,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said at a press conference on Jan. 25. “Everything that should be up is up and everything that should be down is down — case rates, positivity
THE BANNER
The Banner newspaper is an award-winning, bi-weekly campus publication that publishes 12 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. 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 Jane Robertus, editor-in-chief of The Banner at BannerEditor@calbaptist.edu. If you have a story idea for The Banner, please let us know. If a business would like to advertise in the The Banner, please contact Alex Iannone at AlexanderJordan.Iannone@ calbaptist.edu.
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positive mental health.” Riverside County remains in the purple region. As a result, many non essential indoor businesses remain closed, including indoor dining. However, lifting the stay-athome order allows outdoor dining and salons to reopen. “Counties do not actually have much flexibility to adopt different approaches under the tier system,” said Dr. Chase Porter, assistant professor of political science. “If they are going to comply with state requirements, all they are allowed to do is be more strict than the tier requirements, rather than less strict,” Porter said. “In general, it seems like counties are following the framework.” Although California has lifted all regional stay-at-home orders, future projections of ICU capacity might result in
a return to the restrictions if ICU availability falls below 15% again. However, with continuous administration of COVID-19 vaccines, reopening might continue without another stay-at-home order. “The potential curveball is vaccination rates,” Porter said. “I do wonder if metrics and rules will start to incorporate vaccination rates. I have not heard anything to indicate that this will happen, but it would not surprise me if it did. “There are elements of the current tier system framework that make a return to pre-COVID normalcy a mathematical impossibility, so I suspect the framework may see some future modification..” For Riverside County to advance to the red tier, case numbers must drop below seven in 100,000 and positivity rates must drop below 8%.
CBU holds spring blood drive BY EMILY MCGINN
NEWS EDITOR
California Baptist University hosted the spring semester LifeStream blood drive from Feb. 1–3 in the Van Dyne Gym. During the drive, participants could donate blood and receive a COVID-19 antibody test. Like last semester’s blood drive, this one followed guidelines in place due to the ongoing pandemic. Each participant received a temperature check, face coverings were required at all times and each station was distanced from others and sanitized after each donor. During the fall blood drive, LifeStream received 224 donations. Each of these provides LifeStream with plasma, red cells and platelets, so the donations from that blood drive were sent to local hospitals to help 672 patients. “My favorite part of being part of the drives is meeting new people,” said Isaac, LifeStream donor specialist. “Everybody has their different stories. I feel like the importance of the blood drive is the thought behind it.” Adam Botello, LifeStream Blood Bank senior regional
COVID Vaccine
About
rates, hospitalizations (and) ICUs. Testing is starting to go back up, as well as vaccination rates in this state, but we are not out of the woods.” Since the order was lifted, the state has returned to its Blueprint for a Safer Economy, which refers to its four-tiered system for reopening. The purple tier indicates a widespread infection and has the most restriction, while the red, orange and yellow tiers are progressively less restrictive. As of Jan. 26, only four of California’s 58 counties fall into tiers other than purple. “I feel great about the recent decision to lift the order,” said Mayanie Kakish, freshman business administration major. “The spread of the virus will happen whether there is an order or not. People will still try to live a somewhat normal life. This action will promote
NEWS EDITOR
Continued from Page 1 and friends who have been trying to get their vaccines in different local counties, their experience has been frustrating.” Each vaccine requires two shots for maximum protection. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires a second shot three weeks after the first, and the Moderna vaccine requires one four weeks after the first, according to the CDC website. The vaccines have some side effects common among patients, including pain and swelling around the shot, fever, chills, headaches and fatigue. However, the CDC reported 21 cases of an allergic reaction
Alex Iannone | Banner In years past, the blood drive has been held in Innovators Auditorium, but due to the current pandemic, the blood drive has been held in the Van Dyne Gym to aid with social distancing. account manager, said he hopes this drive produces many donations because of the blood shortage resulting from sickness, low turnouts and fewer blood drives. “It is so difficult to keep our hospitals stocked,” Botello said. “Typically, pre-pandemic, we would like to have probably seven to 10 days’ worth of blood on the shelves. What that does is make sure that all of our hospitals are stocked and we have an ample backlog of blood.
This morning, we were at 0.4 days, so we have less than half of a day of blood on the shelves.” Although Botello does not expect as many donations as in pre-pandemic semesters, he said he hopes the drive can provide support for many patients at local hospitals. “Things are slower than what we are used to, but we are doing much better here than any of the other drives we are doing,” Botello said. “The students want to help out and
support the community.” Regardless of the number of donations received, Charlene Hunt, LifeStream collections supervisor, said she is glad to see people participating to help others in the community. “There is a lot of bad news in the world, but I am blessed because every single day, I get to come to work and see the good in people,” Hunt said. “They will never know who they are helping, but they are actually saving people’s lives.”
called anaphylaxis in the first 1,893,360 of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine. Anaphylaxis is treated with epinephrine. The CDC recommends those who experience an allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine do not receive further doses. Sarah Laker, senior nursing student, received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and she received observation for 30 minutes to ensure no severe allergic reactions took place. “Getting this new vaccine should always be one’s personal choice,” Laker said. “That freedom must be maintained. However, I would say there is only a minuscule fraction of people who should be concerned about getting it.” Hollingurst has received both doses of the Moderna
vaccine. She experienced some soreness in her arm after the first dose and had chills, fatigue, muscle aches and fever after the second dose. “These symptoms develop about 12 hours after injection and resolve in 24–48 hours,” Hollinghurst said. “These symptoms are expected. They are known as ‘reactogenicity,’ meaning the immune system is being stimulated to produce more antibodies and thus in turn have these systemic side effects. There are side effects and warnings with any vaccine.” Even after receiving the vaccine, the CDC advises people to continue to socially distance themselves, wash their hands and wear masks around others. “Right now, I feel that
the virus is spreading like wildfire, and in the majority of cases I have seen it is spread amongst families because we let our guard down with our family,” Hollinghurst said. “It is unknown now if being inoculated will decrease the transmissibility of the virus if one were to be exposed or infected after complete vaccination. Our hope and experience with other vaccines for respiratory viruses are transmissions will be decreased in inoculated people, but that is still being investigated.” Hollinghurst said she believes the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines will receive FDA emergency use authorization within the next few months.
NOTE
CHAPEL SCHEDULE Chapel 1 Jan. 26 - Feb. 2
Chapel 2 Feb. 2 - Feb. 9
Chapel 8 March 2 - March 9
Chapel 3 Feb. 4 - Feb. 11
March 4 - March 11
Chapel 9 Chapel 10
Chapel 4 Feb. 9 - Feb. 16
March 9 - March 16
Chapel 5 Feb. 16 - Feb. 23
March 16 - March 23
Chapel 6 Feb. 18 - Feb. 25
March 18 - March 25
Chapel 7 Feb. 23 - March 2
March 23 - March 30
Chapel 11
Chapel 12
Chapel 14
March 30 - April 13 Chapel 15
April 1 - April 13 Chapel 16
April 6 - April 15 Chapel 17
April 13 - April 22 Chapel 18
18 Chapel services are offered throughout the semester. Students are required to watch and respond to 15 Chapel services to pass.
April 15 - April 26
Chapel 13
Emily McGinn | Banner
NEWS
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February 5, 2021 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
Biden begins presidential term BY LAUREN BROOKS ASST. NEWS EDITOR
President Joseph R. Biden Jr. was officially inaugurated on Jan. 20. After a long election process, his speech was focused on a message of unity. “For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness, and fury,” Biden said. “No progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only state of chaos. This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge. Unity is the path forward.” Chris McHorney, professor of political science, spoke on the message of unity in potential applications to the future of his administration. He said that it was a message of optimism given to the exhausted American people after a period of hardship. “In my opinion, President Biden was articulating a hope that our country could be more unified after a bitter campaign, contested election and assault on the Capitol building,” McHorney said. “I doubt that President Biden is expecting the Republicans in Congress will support many of his legislative proposals.” President Biden has signed 42 executive actions since his inauguration on Jan. 20. These executive orders include rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, ending the transgender military ban and the creation of more vaccination sites. Selah Kelley, sophomore sociology major, said she noticed the compassion and responsiveness of the
NEW COVID-19 STRAIN
Courtesy of Eric Haynes Joe Biden speaks at the Blue Ribbon Panel for Cancer Moonshot during his vice presidency in October 2016. administration after the inauguration. She applauded him for his quick response to discern LGBTQ+ issues. “I noticed the first day after the inauguration was filled with new policies, (or reversing ones from the last administration,) that showed the empathy of his new administration,” Kelley said. “He ended the Muslim travel ban immediately, which was huge. He also made some movements in transgender rights, taking away the rights of hospitals to refuse service because of one being transgender, as well as allowing students to use the correct bathroom.” Daniel Taylor, freshman engineering major, has a less optimistic look at the future of the administration in comparison to Kelley. “I do truly believe that no
politician has the people’s best interest in mind, and I do not think things will be much better under Biden,” Taylor said. “I am super pessimistic with government leaders because they prove time and time again that they are incapable of fixing our issues. Cops are murdering innocent people, mass incarceration of Black, indigenous and people of color. The (people in) power do absolutely nothing to solve these issues.” McHorney said the success of Biden’s administration will likely be assessed based on the performance of his policies regarding COVID-19. “Given the seriousness of the current public health crisis, the Biden administration’s plan to address the pandemic could have significant political ramifications,” McHorney said.
“Most Americans remain very concerned about the pandemic. The Biden administration will primarily be judged based on the effectiveness of the plan.” McHorney also said Biden’s COVID-19 plans could affect the future of education for students. “The success or failure of Biden’s COVID-19 plan will significantly impact their education (with remote or in-person instruction) and the economy,” McHorney said. “A revitalized economy unhindered by the pandemic will mean a strong job market when they graduate from CBU.” Throughout his next few weeks, Biden is planning on tackling issues regarding climate change, economic growth and the spread of vaccination accessibility across the country.
COVID restrictions continue at CBU BY LAUREN BROOKS ASST. NEWS EDITOR
On Oct. 31, California Baptist University issued an Instagram post and email announcing the continuation of remote learning throughout the spring 2021 semester. During winter break, Gov. Gavin Newsom reinstated the stay-at-home order on Dec. 3 due to rising COVID-19 cases. As a result, CBU officials were required to change COVID-19 campus constraints to comply. Winter break was extended for a two-week period, pushing the start of the semester from
NEWS Briefs
Jan 8. to Jan. 22. Outdoor dining and outside gatherings were barred until Jan. 25, when the state lifted the regional stay-at-home order. “We will continue to follow the campus safety protocols that were established last semester, with live synchronous instruction, face coverings and physical distancing,” said Lisa Hernandez, professor of mathematical sciences. Anthony Lammons, dean of students, said that the occurrence of potential socially distanced in-person events depends on state and county regulations.
“A lot is dependent upon what we are permitted to do by both the county as well as the city,” Lammons said. “We are still holding on and waiting for the next tier before we can make that decision.” The decision to lift the stayat-home order, along with the delay of the start of the spring semester and continued remote learning, has affected the lives of many CBU students. Natalie Cruz, freshman environmental science major, spoke on how COVID-19 has changed her spring semester from the fall. “COVID-19 has affected my spring semester by taking me
back home,” Cruz said. “It has been a bit rough since I still have labs on campus.” Lammons also spoke on CBU’s hopes for the fall semester saying that normalcy is the ultimate goal. “Our No. 1 priority is keeping our campus community safe, and we will do everything that we can to get to the point where we can get back to normal,” Lammons said. “We hope that restrictions will eventually be few, if any.” CBU announced on Jan. 31 that the fall semester will plan to return to in-person learning, as well as potential events.
A new COVID-19 strain, known as CAL.20C, has been discovered in California. The strain has been detected in more than one-third of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County, according to the Cedars Sinai website. Some believe CAL.20C has contributed to the recent surge of cases in California, and experts are in the process of researching the strain to determine its effects on factors such as antibody resistance. Other strains emerging around the world, including the B.1.1.7 strain that appeared in the United Kingdom in November, are also being investigated for changes in vaccine efficacy, transmissibility and antibody resistance.
BIDEN PURCHASES VACCINES President Joe Biden stated on Jan. 26 that the U.S. has bought 200 million additional COVID-19 vaccines. The purchase will contain the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines currently approved for emergency use authorization. The administration expects to have the supplies to vaccinate 300 million people by summer or early fall, meaning that the entirety of the U.S. adult population might be vaccinated by then. Biden has also announced an increase in state allocations of the vaccines in an effort to expedite vaccine distribution.
JEFF BEZOS STEPS DOWN Jeff Bezos, who has been the CEO of Amazon since its founding in 1994, announced that he will step down as the CEO in 2021. He will move into the position of executive chairman on the company’s board, and Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon Web Services, will move into the CEO position for Amazon. During Bezos’s years as the CEO of Amazon, the company grew and is now worth $1.7 trillion. In his new position on the board, Bezos plans to continue to participate in significant projects while spending more time with other projects, including Blue Origin, his company dedicated to space exploration, and The Washington Post.
Governor recall campaign grows in state BY EMILY MCGINN NEWS EDITOR
An ongoing campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom claims to have collected over 1.2 million petition signatures in support of the recall effort, according to the Recall Gavin 2020 website. In California, voters can recall state and local officials before the next election cycle. The process requires the proponents of the recall to file and publish a notice of intention, organize and circulate a petition, and receive a number of signatures that total at least 12% of the previous number of votes for the office in question, according to the California Secretary of State website. The proponents must file the petition by a set deadline, and the state must then ensure the signatures are valid, meaning that they belong to registered voters in the state. If enough signatures are determined to be valid, a recall election will occur, during which voters will choose whether or not to recall the official, and, if so, who the successor will be. “We are a democratic society, so it gives the people an option if they feel an elected
official is not exercising the will of the people,” said Dr. Tanya Harris, adjunct professor of public administration. “It gives them a voice if individuals feel (the officials) are not keeping up with representing the people who they are sworn to protect and defend.” The recall effort against Newsom began on June 10, and the proponents received an extension to March 17 to accumulate signatures due to the pandemic. For a recall election to take place, the recall campaign will need to collect 1,495,709 valid signatures, according to Ballotpedia. “It is part of democracy,” said Kyle Swartz, freshman business administration major. “If you can vote them in, you can vote them out. It is to prevent one person from gaining (too much) power with checks and balances.” The Recall Gavin 2020 website lists reasons for the recall effort, including accusations of executive overreach, continuing shutdowns that harm small businesses, high homeless rates and a failure to follow rules put in place to curb the pandemic. However, in June, Newsom released a statement in response to the effort claiming
A Riverside home touts political signage, exemplifying support for the Recall Gavin Newsom campaign. that the movement will cost taxpayers unnecessarily and that it is led by people who do not align with California’s values, according to Ballotpedia. “I see the purpose of recalling officials as a last resort way of citizens showing their disdain over those elected in power that oversee the actions enacted upon their community,” said Leonardo
Acosta, freshman mechanical engineering major. “It is in place so if things ever went severely wrong, there could be a civil way to displace someone. People in power should listen to outcry and respond in a sort of way that acknowledges there is outcry.” Harris said that recall efforts can have positive effects in that they give people a voice, stress certain concerns and lead to
more transparency. However, she said they may have negative aspects because they can stem from partisan divisions and only represent the beliefs of a portion of the electorate. “Sometimes it comes down to partisan support,” Harris said. “If you have a lot of people with a governor who does not have the same message as someone they align with, then they feel they want to get him
Luc Stringer | Banner out of office. I think that is one of the issues, and that is why it goes to vote. One of the pros is that it can highlight some issues. What you would hope to get out of it is to bring people together. You understand the other side and try to work with them collaboratively.” The only campaign that succeeded in recalling a California governor removed Gov. Gray Davis in 2003.
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VISION
February 5, 2021 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
Mariposa Alley, between 9th and 10th St.
3801 Mission Inn Ave.
A look of th Near Chicago Avenue and University Street
Photos by Tonia Ross Design by Sofia Eneqvist
VISION
February 5, 2021 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
5
3000 block of 10th St.
at the many murals he Riverside area
2870 University Ave.
LIFESTYLE
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February 5, 2021 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
Students take classes to expand their worldviews BY TEDDY PEÑA
LIFESTYLE EDITOR The college experience is one where the student is meant to learn and be challenged. Students are expected to complete their undergraduate studies with a major or concentration that corresponds to the industry they desire to join. Students at California Baptist University must complete the general education requirement the institution puts in place for students to experience well-rounded education. Some classes, whether outside of an individual’s educational requirement or not, will challenge the student’s worldview and dare them to step out of their comfort zone. Possessing the willingness to step out of one’s own comfort zone is not only a product of maturity but also intelligence. Marissa Hernandez is a junior sociology major. She had the opportunity to take Introduction to Sociology, which then led to her deciding to switch her major to sociology so she could pursue the study of human behavior and interaction. Hernandez’s experience
is common. Students are encouraged to continually question what they want to do after graduation, which enhances one of CBU’s “Core 4” outcomes of education: to be academically prepared. “I took an intro to sociology class as a pre-nursing student and I am so glad I did,” Hernandez said. “I have always had a passion for helping others, but I was not sure how I wanted to do so. After taking that class, I switched my major and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” Rylie Horn, junior kinesiology major, was able to enroll in classes that were not related to her major. She wanted the opportunity to expand her education and challenge her worldview. “I have taken a couple of classes throughout my college years that have challenged me and were way different than my major,” Horn said. “These courses were about topics that I had never thought of or talked about. A couple of my favorites were Minorities in America with Dr. Kenya Davis-Hayes and Applied Ethics with Dr. Amy Stumpf.”
Dr. Antonio Mejico, assistant Hernandez mentioned that professor of social work, teach- since elective units are required es classes that are designed to for students, this provides an challenge the student’s per- opportunity for students to take spectives on a variety of social classes that pique their curiosiissues. Mejico professes to his ty. “Elective units are required students that enduring an education where one’s perspectives and I think it’s best to choose and views are shifted and put to classes that you find interest in,” Hernandez said. “By going the test is healthy. “I am a big fan of Fred Rog- out of your comfort zone, you may find new arers,” Mejico said. eas that spark “Rogers said your interests in ‘When we talk regards to what about our feeltype of career ings they become path you are seekmanag eable.’ ing.” I have always Horn also thought about said that differthat in a way that if we don’t talk Rylie Horn, junior ent courses spark new interests about the chalkinesiology major and that they are lenges that we beneficial for any face in the world, they aren’t as manageable. The student’s education. She also more that we can talk about talked about how a variety of important issues that might classes have played a role in her not always be comfortable is personal development. “The benefits for me were important. When we challenge ourselves to view the world finding new things that I bethrough the lens of others, we came passionate about,” Horn begin to see the beauty and di- said. “If I never took these classes, I never would’ve become versity that God created.” There are benefits to imple- the person that I am today and menting different courses into would’ve stayed stuck in the one’s undergraduate career. same place that I was in after
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Be open to learning about new ideas that may contradict your previous thinking.
graduating high school.” Mejico always has words to tell his students before they dive into the content of the course. He encourages empathy and dialogue that is healthy and conducive to an individual’s learning experience. “I tell my students to be still,” Mejico said. “This is because Christ is present in every moment of our lives and is present in every conversation. This reminds us that we do not have to endure difficult conversations alone. “I also tell my students that our minds work best when they’re open,” Mejico said. “We don’t have to agree all the time, just remain open. My favorite thing about teaching the courses that I do is that I get to witness the transformation taking place. My biggest hope is for my students to leave viewing the world differently as they entered it.” Both Hernandez and Horn explained that having an open mind will be helpful when considering taking courses outside one’s comfort zone. “The best advice I could give to other students would be to not hold back,” Hernandez said.
“It’s very important to break out of your comfort zone. My mom always told me that being too comfortable in life can hold you back from endless adventures and opportunities. There are so many fun opportunities CBU has to offer and I wouldn’t risk missing out on them.” “I would say to be open to learning about new things and ideas that may contradict your previous thinking,” Horn said. “I would also advise to actually do the reading because most of the time you’ll get a lot out of it.” Mejico said he is proud whenever any student of his enrolls in a class that may be outside their comfort bubble because taking classes to talk about topics a student is unfamiliar with takes courage and encourages what Mejico calls a “transformative education.” “The fact you took the step to enroll in the class is very important. It takes courage to step out of what is familiar to you. Learning about what is outside your comfort zone is actively participating in transformative education,” Mejico said. “This is where a student leaves a class thinking, feeling and seeing the world differently.”
Sofia Eneqvist | Banner
Students take part in slowing spread of COVID-19 on campus BY WILL ANTON
ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge across Southern California, students at California Baptist University are preparing themselves for a different spring semester. The drastic rise in cases has made the health of students and staff an increasingly heavy burden to bear, one that returning students must help shoulder if the school is to have a successful semester. Therefore, it is imperative that students returning to campus do their part to stop COVID-19 from spreading within the student body. Julia Olson, junior sociology major and resident adviser, said she believes the student body can take steps toward health and safety if they remain cautious. “Stay inside,” Olson said. “The less time we spend wandering around outside, the easier it will be to keep numbers down. If you want to avoid the crowds, maybe order your food at non-mealtime hours. Continue to stay six feet apart from others. It’s been a hard year for all of us. The more we work together the sooner we’ll achieve normalcy.” The future of both the student body and on-campus life
now partially rests in the hands of those who have chosen to return for the spring semester. If students choose to neglect their responsibility to keep themselves and their peers safe, there could be severe consequences. However, many CBU students believe that these consequences can be avoided entirely if they adhere to the guidance of the school administration and executive council. Hannah Darke, junior Christian behavioral science major and RA, said that if students can simply abide by the rules that have been set in place, then they will have done enough to slow the spread and fulfill their responsibility. “One way that students can do their part to stop the COVID spread on campus is by respecting the guidelines so that CBU can be a safe campus, and to keep the campus open to on-campus living,” Darke said. “Simply wear your mask.” Adhering to school restrictions and rules may be an inconvenient task, but it is nonetheless a necessary action that students must take to both preserve what remains of normal campus life, and regain ground that has been lost to the pandemic. Brian Zunigha, director of discipleship at Spiritual Life,
advises students to keep aware of the new reality that the pandemic has created if they wish to return to normal CBU life. “We can all play a role in protecting ourselves, our friends, and our families by following the university’s health and safety guidelines, which can all be readily found at the website address: https://calbaptist.edu/ spring2021/health-safety.” Zunigha said. “Very simple practices of wearing face coverings and maintaining proper physical distancing really aren’t all inconvenient when you consider how those things can reduce the spread of COVID and protect the lives of others.” Research and experience have shown that COVID-19 can have detrimental effects if not taken seriously. Those being cared for in the ICU, and worse yet, those who have lost family or friends to the virus, can testify to the disastrous effect it can have if treated too lightly. The effects and reality of COVID-19 are still present. Local, state, and federal authorieties have set guidelines in place for CBU administartion to adhere to. Therefore, CBU students have the responsibility to exhaust every measure and do their best to halt the spread of COVID-19.
Kengkue Her | Banner Joseph Kim, senior Biology major, practices social distancing by staying 6 feet apart from other students as he waits for his order at Chick-fil-a.
LIFESTYLE
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February 5, 2021 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
Vision boards are a versatile and creative way to set intentions and manage goals. Pinterest is a great tool for creating paperless vision boards and looking for visual inspiration.
Teddy Pena | Banner
Lifestyle Tries: Creating a vision board for 2021 BY ASHLEY MOORE
ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Vision boards are a great way for students to have a visual representation of what inspires them. Through vision boards, creativity can flow and goals can be made. Vision boards can be made on an actual board or
can be made through the app Pinterest as a paperless, free option. Board: Purchasing a corkboard from your local Target or Michaels is a good start. Tacks can also be purchased and are the best product to use to display pictures. The best way to
create a vision board is for students to think of what inspires them. For photographers, this may be photoshoot ideas. For writers, it could be quotes. For architects, it can be building layouts. Displaying personal work, as well as work that is inspiring is a great way to spark
creativity as well as show goals that are intended to be met. Bible verses are also a great addition for any vision board. This can help start the day off with positivity as well as serve as a reminder throughout the day of God’s promises. Pinterest: Pinterest is a great
idea for students who want a free app, and wish to remain paperless. Within the app, different “boards” can be made, which can give more depth and bring more visions to life. On Pinterest, students can either upload their own works or search for those which help
to inspire them. Pinterest is a great way to find anything from art to business tips and different recipes. With such a broad spectrum for creativity, Pinterest is an efficient option for students to create a vision board that can constantly be with them on their phones.
Long break brings lack of motivation BY ASHLEY MOORE
ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Camille Grochowski | Banner
David Wiebe, senior Mechanial Engineering major, talks to an employee from California Steel Industries about a potential job opportunity during the spring career fair early last year.
Career Center provides tools to prepare for internships, jobs BY WILL ANTON
ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Internships are an ideal way for students to get hands-on exposure to the professional world. While internships may not always guarantee a position at a company, they certainly help to give students a boost into the “real world”. Students at CBU who are involved in internships, both through the school or provided by the school, are given an advantage when entering the job market. Hudson Goegebuer, senior mechanical engineering major, believes that through diligent use and correspondence with the Career Center office, students can best choose which internship suits them. “The Career Center has
plenty of options for everyone learn the invaluable lessons of to pursue,” Geogebuer said. “My professionalism. The Career Center job personal experience with the office is that they really look out and internship portal (found https://calbaptist.edu/cafor all of us. Additionally, they at have excellent connections, and reer-center/students/find-ajob-internship) loads of availabilcontains useful ity for networkadvice regarding ing.” internships, as Students that well as motivation have a year or less for students to to graduation are take initiative in oftentimes enpursuing one. couraged to find Hudson Goegebuer “The sooner an internship. you begin your The Career Censenior mechanical job or internship ter is the main engineering major search, the beton-campus hub ter,” said the Cafor all internship related needs and concerns. reer Center Website. “Getting Countless alumni have found a job or internship while you’re the job of their dreams by work- in college is one of the best ways ing with the Career Center to to figure out what to do once build a strong resume, polish you graduate. Is your dream their interviewing skills, and job actually a good fit for you?
“
The Career Center has plenty of options for everyone to pursue.
Or is another career better? Real-world experience can help you understand your likes and dislikes, passions and skills.” Teo Harlan, senior general engineering major, said that internships are vital for students who wish to put their best foot forward when entering the professional world. “Internships that are offered through CBU are important because they connect you with companies and people you might not otherwise get a chance to meet,” Harlan said. “I got my internship by going to CBU career fairs and interviewing as many different companies as I was able.” The experience of having an internship provides students with skills and knowledge that prepare them for the road ahead.
Coming back from an extended break can be both beneficial and a struggle for students. While the extra two weeks might have been nice for some, for others it made coming back to the school year more difficult. But even through this, students need to start the semester strong. Shekiah Warner, senior intercultural studies major, worked a lot during her break and also spent a lot of time with her family. Even with the extended break, Warner said she found her outlook on this semester better than the previous. She said she looks forward to graduating as well as being able to make memories with friends, even if infrequent. While being online is not her preference, she holds onto the truth that this is all God’s plan. “What I have been really clinging to is that this is still in God’s plan,” Warner said. “Because God is good, his plan for me is good. He did not come to steal, kill and destroy my dreams. The enemy might have, but God didn’t. God came to give me life and life abundantly and if doing school online is a part of his plan then here we go.” Warner said that holding onto God’s truth is what keeps her motivated to continue strong in this semester, and can be an encouragement to those around her who might have lost motivation during the extended break. Rachel Toenjes, senior liberal studies major said that the additional two weeks on break
before coming back to school was an adjustment and made the overall break feel a lot longer than usual. “I don’t think it will impact the rest of my semester much, but since our break was already longer than usual it felt like a lot of time to be away from school,” Toenjes said. “I was definitely ready to get back into it before the two-week extension and then even more so after that.” Savannah Citron, professor of sociology, is pursuing her master’s in counseling psychology. For Citron, the extended break was both a combination of positives and negatives, due to her dual role at California Baptist University. As a student, she had prepared and motivated herself to be ready to start the semester the two weeks prior. When this did not happen, it was difficult to keep up that same energy for another two weeks. Though as a professor, she said she appreciated the extended break for extra prep time. In this way, Citron’s responses to the extended break were able to balance each other out. “I am glad to be back,” Citron said. “As a student, I am glad to be back and working with the subject material that I have. I got to spend a nice break with my family and am ready to get back into the swing of things. As a professor, I am definitely really excited to engage with my class for the semester and the students I have to work with. I want to make sure I provide encouragement to my students and make myself available as a resource to anyone who may need anything I can give them.”
Weekly meal-prepping creates simple, healthy options for college students BY ASHLEY MOORE
ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Meal prepping is an effective way for students to not only eat healthily but also have a grasp on time management. For many students, a struggle of eating on campus can be the limited dining options that offer healthy foods. Meal prepping is cooking meals for the week, the weekend before. Doing this can ensure that there are healthy options in one’s fridge and offer a quick grab-and-go option for those who have classes, work or studying to do. Molly Enns, senior marketing and integrated credential major, said she has been meal prepping for over seven
months. She was inspired to do so because of her love for cooking and with the help of Pinterest, which showed her meal prepping ideas. A full-time student while also working a significant amount throughout the week, Enns found herself in need of quick and healthy meal options. Making her meals on Sundays, Enns said she rotates through different recipes that contain carbohydrates, proteins and vegetables. She adds seasonings to meals throughout the week as she sees fit. Meal prepping has become a great way for Enns to ensure she chooses healthy meals over fast food.
She also said she finds it is beneficial for time management, which can be helpful for students during this semester. Enns suggested that students use Pinterest to find meal prepping ideas. This way, students can make Pinterest boards full of different ideas and recipes which they will enjoy. “Overall, meal prep is a really helpful tool to utilize if you don’t have a lot of free time,” Enns said. “It’s meant to decrease your amount of stress and things to do, so if you find it makes you more stressed, start small. Start with simple small meals and slowly build your skill and repertoire of recipes to choose from.
Lily Perez, junior nursing student, said she believes there are many benefits to meal prepping. “The benefits of meal prepping as a student are helping you to stay organized and on top of your meals because as students we tend to skip meals a lot,” Perez said. “It also saves you time with cooking and making sure you get the right amount of nutrients you need for the day.” Meal prepping is an efficient way for students to have access to healthier options over fast foods. While it requires the time to prepare, the payoff is worth the work.
Teddy Pena | Banner
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PERSPECTIVES Feburary 5, 2021 ¡ Volume 68 ¡ Issue 5
Students head outdoors during longest winter break in CBU history
1. Residents from Corona beginning their a few days before the insurrection on Jan. 6, ascent into the Twisted Forest Hiking Trail 2021. in Utah during their family vacation in the 5. The sun begins to set over Frankfurt Airfall.
port in Germany while a CBU student waits
2 Alex Benter, junior nursing major at Azusa to board an airplane home. Pacific University, finishes his final zipline at 6. Psy Covert, junior graphic design major, Skull Canyon in Corona, Calif.
stands in front of one of the many castles in
3. Tourists walk outside of the Lincoln Me- the English countryside as a part of her trip morial one day before the insurrection at to the United Kingdom. the United States Capitol. 4. The Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
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Photos by Kelsie Stevens, Tonia Ross, Shabnam Shaikh and Luc Stringer
SPORTS
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February 5, 2021 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
Women’s basketball wins 14 straight games BY ADIT WRATSANGKA ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Defeating Chicago State on Jan. 23 raised California Baptist University women’s basketball overall record to 14-0 and 6-0 in Western Athletic Conference competition. This record puts the Lancers above the No. 1 ranked University of Louisville, who holds a record of 13-0 and second- and third-ranked North Carolina State and the University of Connecticut with a record of 10-0. The team has been in excellent form and Jarrod Olson, head coach, said he is not surprised with the players’ current performance. “We have a talented group of players and they are determined to make this season a success,” Olson said. Olson said Ane Olaeta, Britney Thomas and Caitlyn Harper are the team’s strongest current players. Although these three players have been outstanding, Jessica Case assistant coach, said all of the players have been huge assets for them all year long. “Their commitment to show up every day and work on the defensive end has been huge for them and will continue to be a focus all year,” Case said. “On the other end of the court, it is their unselfishness that truly shows, as they are third in the nation in assists per game.” Case said the team has a saying that the “ball finds the shooter” and with that mindset, the team has been able to pry through on offense with passes. This year the team has been able to compete to the best of its abilities. Showing the real strength of CBU’s women’s basketball.
Tiena Neale, sophomore communications science and disorders major, scores a point against Cal Poly’s Broncos on Decemeber 19, 2020. “We had a difficult season team, women’s basketball had Olson said. succeed this season, so the canThe Lancers are looking to celed games should not affect last year due to injury,” Olson to face uncertainties and an evadd more wins to this record, them. said. “We have been more con- er-changing schedule. Olson said he gives credit to but their games against the sistent this year, which has led “This season has by no the players for being able to fo- University of Texas Rio Grande means been normal or easy, and to more wins.” Valley and Dixie State Jan 29- they have been outstanding at That does not take away cus and adapt to the situation. “They have shown great 30 had to be canceled. the fact that the team had to taking each situation in stride Case said resiliency and flex- and adjusting,” Case said. face the challenges of the pan- commitment to their goals and demic. Like any other sports it shows in the way they play,” ibility are what helped them The team’s current form
Reagan Lee | Banner shows promise to fulfill Olson’s goal for the season: winning the WAC regular season and qualifying for a post-season tournament. For more updates follow CBU women’s basketball on Instagram @cbuwbb to find the latest on their season.
Western Athletic Conference introduces five more university members, launches new football program BY AIDEN HOBSON
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR The Western Athletic Conference officially announced Jan. 14, the addition of Abilene Christian University, Lamar University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University and Southern Utah University as members of the conference starting in July 2022. The WAC’s official website also notes that the conference intends to sponsor a conference football competition at the Football Championship Subdivision level beginning in 2022. “The new members, along with Dixie State and Tarleton, will give the WAC seven fulltime members that play in, or are transitioning to, the Football Championship Subdivision,” according to the WAC
press release. “It is anticipated that at least one more football-playing member will be added.” While the addition of football to the WAC will not directly affect sports competitions at California Baptist University, the expansion of the conference will greatly affect CBU and all other conference schools. “I cannot overstate my level of excitement in making this expansion announcement,” said Jeff Hurd, WAC commissioner, on the WAC’s official website. “The opportunity to bring five quality institutions into the conference, to significantly strengthen the WAC’s national basketball brand and other championship sport profiles.” The expansion of the Western Athletic Conference is a momentous event for all schools in
the conference, including Cali- to compete against more teams fornia Baptist University. It will in upcoming seasons. “The fishbowl we’re in now bring many new and exciting changes to conference compe- just got bigger, and that gives the fish in it more tition for the varspace to grow,” ious sports teams Tribble said. “I at CBU. think we just have “I’m very exto keep doing what cited about [the we’re doing. I think expansion of the the only thing that WAC],” said Adam really changes is Tribble, head that the bar that coach of the CBU you’re trying to get cross country and track teams. “I Adam Tribble over is higher.” According to think the fact that head coach of cross the WAC’s website, the WAC is going country and track the newly expandto be better, the ed conference will better everyone is feature divisions going to be.” The CBU cross country and for team sports other than foottrack teams are particularly ball and men’s and women’s dominant in conference com- basketball. The Southwest divipetition and Tribble said he is sion will consist of all the curexcited for more opportunities rent and new WAC schools that
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The fishbowl we’re in now just got bigger, and that gives the fish in it more space to grow.
are based in Texas, while the West division will be made up of the rest of the WAC member schools. The expansion of the conference will bring more publicity to the conference and elevate the level of competition for all sports. Even teams that are not directly affected by the addition of new members will benefit from the newly expanded conference. “The WAC expansion could bring an excitement of sports and school spirit to our university,” said Isabella Rhodes, civil engineering major and junior member of the CBU women’s swimming and diving team. “If the expansion does create a greater conference, stronger sports competition and more attention, it may bring excitement to the student body to
want to see our sports compete and win. It’ll make going to CBU competitions to cheer on our university’s name together exciting and fun. In return, it will create a greater experience for our student-athletes.” The newly expanded WAC provides greater opportunities for all the students and student-athletes at WAC-member schools. The addition of football will bring more attention to the conference and member-schools, even for non-football schools like CBU. A larger conference raises the level of athletic competition and will make conference competition more exciting for fans and student-athletes alike. All sports teams at CBU are training hard to compete in the newly expanded conference.
Sports icons impact fans and athletes BY KELLY MCKITTRICK SPORTS EDITOR
Courtesy of Wikimedia
Ken Griffey Jr. batting for the Seattle Mariners during a game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 2, 2009.
Courtesy of Athletics
Chad Castillo, junior business administration major, prepares to bat at a game during a game in early 2020 last spring semester.
California Baptist University’s student-athletes and sports fans are often devoted to or inspired by their favorite professional players and teams. Dr. Ed Garret, associate professor of kinesiology, described how young athletes looking up to professional athletes act as a “personal GPS to life.” “The people you look up to have traveled that road before, so they know where all the pitfalls and hairpin curves are,” Garret said. “They have the expertise to say, ‘You are still on the fastest track to your destination,’ ‘Obstacle ahead,’ or ‘Reroute.’ The challenge you face in the journey of life is in keeping your eyes ‘up’ on the road and not ‘down’ on your phone.”
Chad Castillo, CBU baseball player and junior business administration major, said he believes watching professional athletes play a sport is important for young athletes to witness. For Castillo, former professional baseball player Ken Griffey Jr. inspires him to play better. “My favorite professional athlete is Ken Griffey Jr. because of his ability to play at such a high level while having fun,” Castillo said. “He has inspired me to go after every day at 100% while maintaining a positive attitude because, at the end of the day, baseball is just a game. I think it’s very important for aspiring athletes to look up to professionals because it gives them ideas about how to approach the game. It shows kids
how to hold themselves and display a passion for the game.” As young athletes watch sports for inspiration, fans show support by remaining loyal to their teams through difficult losses. Garret said he thought the best way to explain why fans stay loyal to teams would best be described through a quote. “I will borrow a line from ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ and Mr. Andy Dufresne: ‘Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of the things. And a good thing never dies.’ Therefore, it is the hope that our team will triumph next time in battle. It is the belief that tomorrow will bring about a new day and a new opportunity. But most of all, it’s because I look sick in the team swag.”
Avid sports fan James Chidiac, senior architecture major, said he has remained loyal to his “home” team the Los Angeles Lakers despite some tough seasons. “Lakers have always maintained a quality of greatness and class that not many sports franchises have achieved or will ever achieve,” Chidiac said. “It’s a franchise that resembles what I want to accomplish in the end and that is to strive to always compete to be the best.” Chidac said the way fans honored Kobe Bryant’s death inspired him. Sports bring people together and teach loyalty through trials. Sports are important to people throughout their lifetimes because they inspire and give hope to fans of any age.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT February 5, 2021 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
Photography
Continued from Page 1
it’s all relevant, especially for the photo studio side of things.” The Photography program has been deeply connected to the Graphic Design program at CBU. Yet, it has been expanding rapidly and the community was growing enough that the Photography program needed its own destination. Kern explained how this transition is also meant to help the culture and community of the program grow and be more accessible. “It has been a few year transition to not break away from the Graphic Design program but to create our own community and culture that’s relevant to the industry,” Kern said. “But more so, it is to create a destination for our photo community, but also to service our university eternally and to have a presence outside of CBU. It is much more accessible for people in the community and the industry to come visit us here than it is on main campus.” Raymond Alva, junior photography major, said he was excited for this transition as well. “Finally having our own space is such a big step for our program,” Alva said. “When I came to CBU, we were still transitioning away from being a part of the design program. Now we’re fully on our own and it’s so sick to see. We now have the space to shoot, print, critique and develop our own film, most of which we weren’t able to do at the same time in our space in James 430.” Ruth Alraei, senior photography major, said she appreciates all the hard work that has been put into this change. “Now being able to hang up photographer’s work on the walls and have a small place for our major help give value to our degree,” Alraei said. “Kern has worked so hard on everything and we appreciate it all so much.” Before this change in locations, half of the photography classes were held in James 430,
and half were held in Adams #A19. The equipment and resources were split between the two locations and it was expensive to service. “Really, the opportunity to have two spaces next door to each other—it looks like we expanded our square footage, but we are really being more efficient with our overhead,” Kern said. “So not only is this transition creating a destination for the Photography program and encouraging the building of community and culture, it is also being more cost-efficient and resourceful.” Kern also explained how this transition relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has made it possible to have necessary in-person classes this semester. “Even before the pandemic, this was all in the plans for the last few years,” Kern said. “But now trying to practice social distancing and setting up the spaces to be compliant with the CDC, the square footage and opportunity to space each other out has been part of our rationale to be able to get our face-to-face classes this semester. If we were still in James we couldn’t do it.” Some photography courses can be difficult to teach remotely. Classes such as digital printing, which requires facilities and equipment, have had to be pushed to this spring because the program did not have space to hold the course in person safely. Now, with this transition, the program is able to hold classes with proper social distancing and safety guidelines. This transition is a longterm solution for the Photography program. However, ideally, they need more space because they are still missing a presentation space. This space used to be the gallery downtown Riverside, but that space has not been accessible due to COVID-19. Kern said he has his eye on the unit next door. Kern said they can make this new space work for presenting and shows, but to be relevant to other photography or art programs, the program would still need a finished
Courtesy of Raymond Alva
The new photography studio, located in Adams Business Park, is open for photography students to use for studio lighting photo shoots. gallery space eventually. Essentially, this transition is a push for CAVAD students and the program to be more accessible for connections, open events and to be outward-facing, not just for the CBU community but for the community
as a whole. The new space at Adams Business Park is still considered part of CBU’s expanding campus. This means that they have 24 hour security, are a part of the CBU WiFi network and Lancer Express transport is
provided to get students there and back to the main campus. The Photography program finally has a place of its own for the community and culture to grow and thrive. It will be interesting to see how this transition affects the rapid growth of the
photo program and community. Check out information, photos, hours, services, safety guidelines and precautions for the new photo studio at 2900 Adams Street #B25 and #B26 on their website https://www. cbuphotostudio.com.
Inaguration festivities showcases performers BY COLE STILLWAGON ASST. A&E EDITOR
In honor of newly inaugurated President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, entertainers across the country banded together in celebration. Aptly titled “Celebrating America,” the live telecast across multiple networks showcased performances and appearances by some of the country’s favorite stars. The inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Vice President Kamala D. Harris took place on Jan. 20. Spectators from television across the country and in person witnessed the swearing-in of a new beginning for America in Washington D.C. The ceremo-
ny included singers, Lady Gaga performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and Jennifer Lopez performing “This Land Is Your Land.” In a press release issued by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, the committee wrote, “The capstone primetime program for the inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Kamala D. Harris to celebrate the beginning of a new national journey toward an America united,” said the Presidental Inaugural Committee in a press release. The press release expanded on what the special would focus on making sure to encourage Americans along the way. “The American people’s re-
“
This is a perfect looking pull quote box. It’s literally perf.
First and Last, year and major and or title of the person
silience, heroism, and a unified commitment to coming together as a nation to heal and rebuild,” the Presidental Inaugural Committee said. Following that evening, the primetime telecast of “Celebrating America” broadcasted live on over six networks and streamed across multiple platforms, including ABC, CNN,
CBS, NBC, MSNBC, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch in the United States. Tom Hanks hosted the event and kicked off the night leading special appearances by actresses Kerry Washington and Eva Longoria, NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Chef José Andrés and the first woman MLB general manager, Kim Ng. It also included special performances across the globe from Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jon Bon Jovi, Ant Clemons, Foo Fighters, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Bruce Springsteen and Justin Timberlake. Additionally, the telecast celebrated everyday Americans and their work in their local communities during the pan-
demic. The telecast highlighted six people including 8 year-old Morgan Marsh-McGlone from Wisconsin, Illinois. The elementary schooler created an online lemonade stand, raising over $50,000 for under-fed students and families due to COVID-19. With Americans tuning in across the county to watch the live celebration and support from today’s stars. “I believe this new administration has a lot more support from celebrities than previously,” said Kristin Thoroddsen, junior sociology major. “We saw this throughout the election. Young Americans look up to celebrities and influencers. They have much influence on
people’s beliefs.” Kevin Zelaya, junior mechanical engineering major, said he thought the event was over the top. “This is supposed to be professional and the transitioning of power, not the VMAs,” Zelaya said. “It was an attempt to gain the approval of viewers and people through celebrities. Don’t try and fool the American people with dazzle. Win the people over by creating policies that we need and helping the country.” Finishing the festivities off Katy Perry performed her song “Firework” as fireworks lit up the D.C. sky. Both the first and second families watched on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Poet Amanda Gorman inspires inaguration audiences BY JANE ROBERTUS EDITOR IN CHIEF
On Jan. 20 Amanda Gorman made history at President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s inauguration ceremony. The 22-year-old poet read her poem “The Hill We Climb” to the crowd gathered in Washington D.C. at the Capital and to the entire nation, making her the first-ever youth poet laureate to present. Gorman set a new record as the youngest person to ever present a poem at an inauguration ceremony in the history of the United States. Just weeks after presenting her poem Gorman was signed with the modeling agency IMG, which has represented high-
profile models such as Gigi Hadid and recently signed Kamala Harris’s stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff. Gorman will also be presenting at the 2021 Superbowl. In a press release, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced, “We are honored to recognize these three individuals who represent the best in all of us,” Goodell said. “We are grateful for their commitment and proud to share their stories and recognize them during this special moment on Super Bowl Sunday.” With increasing numbers of young people taking interesting American politics and voting, Gorman sets an example as to how age should in no way
restrict people from making a difference. Gabrielle VanSant, senior creative writing major, said that age should never disqualify an author. “Just because they’re young doesn’t mean they can’t be heard,” VanSant said. VanSant emphasized the emotional importance that works of creative writing such as poetry hold as well and how spaces for sharing work can lead to better understanding. “Creative writing is a really emotional and mental creation as well as a physical one,” VanSant said. “I find when I write I get to share a part of myself with the world. When there are spac-
es to share it, people can bounce ideas off of each other and give encouragement as well, which is super healthy for writers.” Students said the opportunity to have poets, particularly young authors and activists such as Gorman, is inspiring and can fuel changes and hope for future generations. Allison Weaver, junior English major, said seeing artists present their work is a powerful experience for everyone. “Seeing someone like Amanda Gorman truly is going to leave an impressionable mark not only for young authors but young boys and girls all around the world,” Weaver said. “To see such a talented girl reciting
a poem for one of the highest levels of government was quite liberating.” Gorman has also continually used her platform to inspire activism and work towards social changes through her powerful writing and public image. Weaver said that creative writing can often be utilized for the greater good and that things such as social media also help artists inspire others through their work. “You don’t realize how many people you can reach even with something as simple as your degree.” Weaver said. “Living in the era of social media, people like Amanda can use their platforms to use their course
of studies to integrate a creative element such as poetry to reach people, It’s beautiful how we can take something we have studied and something we are creative with and inspire others with it.” Weaver also urged students to invest time in reading and appreciating historical American literature. “We often forget that Black History is also American History,” Weaver said. “People like Amanda Gorman will forever be ingrained in our minds, and now hopefully our history books. Continue to read Black literature and other culture’s literature to expand your knowledge.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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February 5, 2021 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
LACMA announces RAM partership Museum shares 21st-century art with local art enthusiasts BY COLE STILLWAGON ASST. A&E EDITOR
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art announced on Jan. 15 that it would begin a new partnership with Riverside Art Museum in hopes of sharing 21st-century art with audiences across Southern California. Starting in 2021, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) announced its brand-new partnership with four art institutions located in the Southern California area. One of the featured museums in this partnership is local to California Baptist University, the Riverside Art Museum. Along with the Riverside Art Museum, three other institutes are involved in the partnership: California State University, Northridge, Art Galleries; Lancaster Museum of Art and History; and Vincent Price Art Museum at East Los Angeles College. The partnership was created by an almost $2 million grant by the Art Bridges + Terra Foundation Initiative. Michael Govan, Los Angeles County Museum of Art CEO
and Wallis Annenberg director, explained this partnership and how it is going to change how the public sees “collaboration” when it comes to the art museums in a press release. “LACMA is working to redefine what ‘outreach’ and ‘collaboration’ mean for a 21st-century art museum…,” Govan said. “Over the next several years, we will share our collections and resources with partner institutions to spread exhibitions and programs beyond the museum’s Wilshire campus. LACMA has always aimed to serve the widest possible audience. The generous support of Art Bridges and the Terra Foundation for American Art offers an unprecedented opportunity to make our programming accessible throughout the region.” With this new partnership comes a new age for the city of Riverside, a city that is known for being a popular arts community. Students from California Baptist University’s College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design offered their thoughts on how the new partnership could influence Riverside’s city
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Jed Francisco, senior business major at University of California Riverside, sits among one of the many painting exhibits at LACMA, admiring the uniqueness and variations that the artist have created. and it’s art community and culture. “This will be a great influence on the city of Riverside,” said Caitlyn Rice, junior graphic design major. “Riverside is already so diverse in its culture and love for the arts, and I feel
like many people will be able to appreciate this new addition.” Justice Avendano, junior graphic design major, said he believes the partnership will have a positive effect on the Riverside community. “This influences riversides
youth to be more creative in the arts field,” Avendano said. “Hopefully, the collaboration will bring in more resources for our museum to build a stronger foundation in the arts community.” From now until 2024, the art
institutions will showcase some of LACMA’s top exhibitions. The first exhibition will start its tour across Southern California this month. It will be making its way to the Riverside Art Museum starting this summer on June 5.
Netflix expands offerings BY SOFIA ENEQVIST MANAGING EDITOR
Despite a rise in competition for streaming services, Netflix remains the top dog as the company reaches a record-breaking 200 million subscribers. 2019 and 2020 brought the release of streaming services such as Disney+, Apple TV+, HBO Max and Peacock. They all proved themselves worthy competition for Netflix. However, the company still managed to bring in 37 million subscribers in 2020 alone. To kick off 2021 with a bang, Netflix announced in a press release on Jan. 12 that the streaming service plans to release a new movie every week. “Netflix will bring you a new movie every week featuring the biggest stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock, Dwayne Johnson, Idris Elba, Meryl Streep, Zendaya, Jennifer Lawrence, Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Garner, Gal Gadot, Dave Bautista, Naomi Watts, Jake Gyllenhaal, John David
Washington and Octavia Spencer,” according to the press release. In that same press release, Netflix also provided a long list of filmmakers they will be partnering with and genres they will be releasing throughout the year. The catalog of movies Netflix plans to release was also posted along with the press release. The catalog contains the director, writers, producers and cast names, along with a synopsis of each movie. Nick Clift, senior behavioral science major, said he believes Netflix remains the top contender because of their name recognition and continuous effort to push out content. “Netflix is my go-to for streaming services,” Clift said. “I’ve always been able to find something to watch because of their wide variety of options. If they continue to push out good quality content at the rate they are now, they will continue to be the top streaming service.” A total of 71 movies will be
released on Netflix over the next 12 months. Marlena Muro, junior film major, said she believes Netflix has better original series and movies. “They’re a lot more intriguing and stories that people wouldn’t think they would like, but then they end up being good enough to binge,” Muro said. “Whoever is in charge—producing, directing, whatever—at Netflix is amazing and they need every raise. If Netflix keeps making really interesting and visually pleasing series and films that people just can’t miss like Birdbox and The Queen’s Gambit then they will stay on top.” Netflix’s dedication to producing and releasing content is an important factor that sets it apart from other streaming services. The company’s long history and established reputation allowed it to be favored among its competitors during a season of increased competition.
Editor’s Review
One of the biggest names in modern folk-rock, Passenger, released his 14th album, “Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted,” on Jan. 8. Passenger is most famous for his 2012 song “Let Her Go,” which topped the charts in 14 countries and now has more than 1.2 billion streams on Spotify. He is still riding this song’s success and continues to release consistently high-quality folk music. Passenger has experimented with different styles of music from acoustic singer-songwriter to indie rock and now falls some-
where in the middle of the two. This new album shows this unique style he has evolved into clearly. Before this album, Passenger’s most recent project was a short, eight-song album “Patchwork,” released in July 2020. This work was written and recorded in lock down and comments on the situation in the middle of the first lockdown in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leading up to Passenger’s 14th album “Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted,” Passenger released five of the
10 songs as singles through 2020. He first released, “The Way That I Love You” on March 20. This song has a similar sound and style to his most successful song “Let Her Go” and now has more than 11 million streams on Spotify. Passenger then released “London in the Spring” on May 1, the title track for the album “Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted” on October 23rd, “Suzanne” on Nov. 13, and finally “Remember to Forget” on Dec. 11. The full album features five more songs and includes acoustic versions of
Sofia Eneqvist | Banner
PASSENGER EDITOR’S RATING:
every song. This album exemplifies what Passenger’s sound has turned into over the past years. He has always been an acoustic, guitar-based singer-songwriter, and this has stayed consistent throughout his whole career. However, some of these originally acoustic songs turn into folk or indie-rock songs
BY JACKSON WALDROP A&E EDITOR through production. This combination explains what Passenger’s unique sound has become and is evident in this new album. Including the acoustic versions gives fans the chance to hear what the songs sounded like originally. The album features both very calming and exciting songs and includes heartfelt, vulnerable and fun, upbeat songs as well. This well-rounded, beautifully exciting and brutally honest album captivates listeners and causes them to feel the same feelings as well as relate the songs to
their own experiences. “Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted” has already gained great success and even reached No. 2 in the UK within the first week of its release. Although it did not reach No. 1, it is no doubt one of Passenger’s best works and has been long anticipated. This new album is the biggest testament to the evolution of Passenger’s sound over the years as well as the sound of modern folk music. You can listen to “Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted” on all streaming and music platforms.
BUSINESS & TECH
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February 5, 2021 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
Reddit users drive GameStop stock price to all-time high BY LUC STRINGER
ASST. BUSINESS AND TECH EDITOR Gamestop stock reached a record high as small investors from an online messaging board take the financial world by storm. Gamestop is filing a lawsuit against Robinhood — the daytrading app that made everything possible. Hedge funds thought they were smarter than the common man. It is something big corporations often do — a technique called short selling. Essentially, a professional investor can bet that a company’s stock will go down, making a profit. Gamestop, being in bad shape, was such a company that major hedge funds bet against. That is when Reddit took the stage. A now not-so-small community of people on the WallStreetBets subreddit noticed an advantageous change in the Gamestop leadership. Small traders began to buy Gamestop stock in bulk, and the interest in the company was reflected in its market value. Valued at just $4 before the boom, it reached a high of $325 on Jan. 31. Hedge funds, however, have an obligation to their short-sell bet, and need to sell before they lose too much money. The catch? Reddit won’t sell. Melvin Capital, one of the corporations shorting the market, lost 53% of its portfolio in January. \ Their losses were so large, in fact, that another finance company, Citidel, spent $2.75 billion saving Melvin Capital. The consternation reached such fervor that even California Baptist University students have begun investing.
Caleb Chong, sophomore graphic design major and member of Lancer Media Group’s photography and design teams, was fortunate enough to buy Gamestop stock when it was a mere $40 a share. Approached by a member of WallStreetBets, by what he called “dumb luck,” Chong made an investment on Robin Hood. His return is set to be over $900. Chong is excited about being a part of the movement, but says he may soon sell. He remains ambivalent about the broader implications of the movement, but sympathizes with the die-hard investors behind WallStreetBets. “To be honest, this is mob mentality,” Chong said. “It brought a lot of good, but on a deeper level, I’m pretty scared. I thought: Gamestop that’s a nostalgic-sounding name, I’ll extend my hand. All I knew was Gamestop was heading in a new direction and the hype was real.” On Feb. 1, Chong was visibly stressed. Gamestop dropped $100 in a single day as hedge funds continue to play damage control. He urged people to “ignore fake news” about Redditors selling their holdings. According to Chong, WallStreetBets is stronger than ever before, and Gamestop may just be the first target. WallStreetBets exposed a flaw in the financial system that is yet to reach full exploitation. There are rumors and notso-rumors circulating the “WallStreetBets” subreddit of attacking other markets being shorted by big business.
The Gamestop opposite Tyler Mall remains open, serving customers during the uncertainty of their organization. AMC, the silver industry, and various failing tech companies are just a few of these targeted companies. Sam Robertus, sophomore sports analytics major, said that he completely supports he completely supports WallStreetBets. For Robertus, Gamestop is illustrating the battle between
socio-economic classes. “For a long time our system, and capitalism in general, really favors rich people,” Sam said. “It puts poor people at a disadvantage, so it is cool when you see people who maybe don’t have as much money come out on top in a situation like this.” Gamestop has been mostly silent, privatizing the company
due to the “sudden increase” in interest. However, on Jan. 29 a press release confirmed their intention to sue Robinhood. “Robinhood acted contrary to the interests of its clients and anointed itself as the overlord of the free market,” Gamestop said in its press release. Investors, too, are unhappy
Luc Stringer | Banner with Robinhood’s handling of the situation. Some of the WallStreetBets users have filed independent lawsuits, which are discussed at length on the forum. For students interested in investing, contact Adele Harrison, professor of finance, to join the California Baptist University Investment Group.
Yelp adds brand new COVID-19 safety option for users’ reviews BY LUC STRINGER
ASST. BUSINESS AND TECH EDITOR
Photo Illlustration by Elijah Hickman | Banner
Yelp now gives users the option to fill out a coronavirus safety precaution review on businesses’ and resturant profiles within the Yelp app.
With tensions on the rise and the pandemic’s impact as strong as ever, businesses must consider COVID-19 safety to stay in business. Yelp announced in January that it now accepts COVID-19 reviews about restaurant safety. Health and safety was always a concern, but this new measure by which we gauge a business may change the face of hospitality. Already struggling to meet federal expectations, the sector must spend more on sanitization and mask enforcement. Forbes advised small businesses to “make sure” that they maintain their standards. Yelp explained what things would be reported to their site in a recent blog post. “Yelp will display if users observed, or did not observe, the enforcement of social distancing and staff wearing masks,” according to Yelp’s blog post. It is up to the public to leave these reviews, and whether or not these reviews will hold weight is yet to be determined. Marc Weniger, professor of business, is not sure if Yelp’s change in policy will be detrimental. He called it a “trend” that may soon dissipate. “It is too early to tell,” Weniger said. “It is really a trend at this point …two or three years down the road we can tell, but at this point, it is hard to know anything.” Danielle Penn, sophomore political science major, runs her
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I do not think (a business) should be judged just off of that because that’s not taking into account other factors. Blake Kelley, freshman sports analytics major
own small business as a wedding photographer and sees the inside of many venues. However, Penn said she is not convinced that judging a business by its adherence to safety mandates is always prudent. “If let’s say, an ‘underground-nightclub’ is going against state protocols, that’s questionable,” Penn said. “A business needs to survive by following protocols, like patio dining, I believe is just trying to survive. All of this is new to business owners and many are just trying to support their families.” Similarly, Blake Kelley, freshman sports analytics major, said that COVID-19 safety should not be the end-all for a business. “I don’t think (a business) should be judged just off of that because that’s not taking into account the other factors, like the quality of service or food,” Kelley said. With the recent release of the COVID-19 vaccine, it remains to be seen if COVID-19 safety will remain an important facet of the small business lifestyle.
BUSINESS & TECH
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February 5, 2021 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
Social media sees political controversy over Trump ban BY LUC STRINGER
ASST. BUSINESS AND TECH EDITOR As American lives become increasingly digital, the stage is set for a new kind of political rhetoric. Lights. Camera. Smartphone. The security breach at the U.S. Capitol showed the world how a few words online could become the slogan for organized violence. It prompted sites such as Facebook and Twitter to institute new standards for political content on their platform. Twitter was the first to issue a temporary ban on President Donald J. Trump’s account on Jan. 6. Facebook then issued a permanent ban on Jan. 7, and Twitter followed with a permanent ban after asserting that Trump’s posts “can be mobilized by different audiences, including to incite violence” in a blog from Jan. 8. Google, Snapchat and other organizations have followed suit — either with permanent bans or by restricting former President Trump’s accounts. With the relationship between social media and politics reaching a new, tempestuous furor, some have asked if politicians should even be allowed to post on social media at all. Adam Peters, sophomore computer science major, said that social media could be a good platform for politicians to speak, as long as they do it responsibly. “Social media helps bridge the gap and allows politicians to directly share their plans and personalities with large numbers of people,” Peters said. “Some may find a politician’s messages as information while others may vehemently attack the individual, often the attacks being ad-hominem.”
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“We’ve been dealing with the question of political trust wellbefore posting onling was an option. Chase Porter Assistant professor of political science Brady Clayton, senior communication sciences and disorders major, said Twitter is not the only social media site. Perhaps other sites can step in to combat the volatility of Twitter. “It’s very situational,” Clayton said. “Platforms such as Twitter provide information while also being about a large toxic audience. “However, there is a large community that is not on Twitter, and social media platforms like YouTube can bring about good political information to an audience who isn’t always seeking it.” It has become more and more difficult to trust the information on the web. In the face of so much profit in “fake news” and unethical advertising, the internet remains an informational staple in society. It is crucial to the way modern society works. When asked if people can trust anything politicians say online, Chase Porter, assistant professor of political science, said he thinks some information can be trusted, but to take it with a grain of salt. “The question of trust is not just a matter of medium,” Porter said. “We’ve been dealing with the question of political trust well before posting online was an option.” Just like any other era, people must stay vigilant against the continuing threat of misinformation.
Photo Illustration by Luc Stringer| Banner
Earlier this year, Trump’s twitter account was suspened following the events at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
COVID-19 relief could have long-term effects on U.S. economy BY MISTY SEVERI NATIONAL EDITOR
It has been over a year since COVID-19 became a global pandemic. As a result the United States goverrnment spent $6.5 trillion in the2020 fiscal year. $2.6 trillion went to COVID relief. As a result, the national debt of the U.S. crossed the $27 trillion mark in Oct. 2020 and has continued to rise since. Dr. Paul Wendee, adjunct professor of business and economics, said the money in the national debt is owed to institutions, foreign investors and the American people in the form of securities such as bonds, which are backed by the U.S. Government. The Federal Reserve, a separate government entity from the Treasury Department, also funds whatever securities the Treasury cannot sell. According to Wendee, the money for the stimulus checks comes from the government going into more debt. “It’s all done by computer screens, they push
a button and $1 trillion goes from the FederalReserve into the Treasury and the Federal Reserve gets $1 trillion in government bonds to put on their balance sheets,” Wendee said. “The Treasury prints the actual money we see in our hands and pockets. The Reserve creates that money basically out of thin air and that’s how they’ve been funding the stimulus efforts.” Because the government sent out money to Americans, economists are debating whether this will lead to serious inflation, which occurs when the value of the dollar decreases because the government adds more money into the economy and there is not enough production to offset the increase. This causes the prices of items to go up. Wendee said inflation is a potentially serious consequence of the pandemic, but that Americans do understandably need the money the government has sent out. “The only way that we won’t have inflation with all the money the government is paying out is if the production level goes up,” Wendee said.
“Right now a lot of people are not working, so the production level has gone down. If it does not go back up, there would be too much money chasing too few goods. Now that people have more money, if production stays the same as it is now, there will be inflation. People don’t get employed by giving people money, they get employed if the business is getting more business and needs more people.” Dr. Bob Namvar, professor of economics, is writing an academic paper on the topic. He said he does not anticipate inflation being a major problem in the coming years but he does expect a rise in taxes. “Printing unreasonable amounts of money generates more inflation,” Namvar said. “However, at this time since spending has slowed down since the first quarter of 2020, we have not experienced a demand-pull inflation. Inflation rate has stayed at about 1-2% I do not see any possibility of high inflation more than 2-3% in 2021. Higher taxes are expected in the upcoming years to compensate.”
Another area that has seen a significant impact from the pandemic is small businesses. Mikayla Bennetts, senior marketing major, said her biggest concern is the future of small businesses. “It’s hard watching these small businesses that have worked so hard to build themselves up, be shut down due to COVID-19,” Bennetts said. Although it is natural to be worried in unprecedented times, Namvar said he does not see a reason students should be concerned about the future after the pandemic. “The world has experienced several pandemics during the last several hundred years, including plague, Mexican flu, and AIDS but we did not experience any big short-run or long-run effects in the world (for economics),” Namvar said. “I believe everything will go back to the same pace and normality in a short period of time, and I do not think our students should be very concerned about their future. We are proud to have the largest and most blessed economy and country and I foresee a bright future for our students.”
Apple invests in podcasting BY JASMINE SEVERI
BUSINESS AND TECH EDITOR During the pandemic, people have been staying at home now more than ever. Because of this, some businesses have been suffering, while others, particularly ones that are more digital or web-based, have been thriving. One such business is podcasting. Because there has been a slowdown on the filming of new movies and television shows due to COVID-19 restrictions, people have been searching for other forms of entertainment. Podcasts are relatively easy to produce and do not require much contact with other people, if any at all. Because of this, podcasters have been turning out new content, and people have been listening. This surge has brought podcasting to the attention of a few large tech companies looking for ways to broaden the content they provide. Apple is looking into making a Netflix-like subscription service for podcasters and their audiences, and Amazon has recently acquired the podcasting company Wondery. Brittney Smalley, senior English major, said companies are capitalizing on the podcast trend. “People can listen to them anytime they want and they
are probably noticing this,” Smalley said. “When (those companies) notice people’s increasing interest, they immediately think money and take advantage of that. Additionally, big name companies are very competitive, so when one does it, it is common for (others) to tag along.” Dr. Douglas Lainson, associate professor of business, said that although podcasts are very similar to radio shows, there is a key difference. “Radio is a commercial service,” Lainson said. “Podcasts are turning into a commercial service, but radio tends to have a much wider distribution and a wider audience, so it has to please more people in order to be commercially effective, whereas a podcast can be very focused and very targeted to its very niche audience. You can find a niche to be very successful at it. I think that’s a huge difference between the two.” Smalley said there is another difference between the two forms of audio media. “Podcasting creates a more intimate connection because it feels as though it is just you and the podcaster. I think this is an important benefit over things like YouTube vlogs,” Smalley said. Caleb Catuara, senior En-
glish major, said he agrees with podcasts being more accessible. “I think podcasts could be considered better than radio shows because they can be downloaded or streamed anywhere and listened to at any time whereas a radio show you have to listen to live if you don’t want to miss anything,” Catuara said. Lainson said a service like the one Apple is in the process of making can be successful depending on content. “Content is going to be king,” Lainson said. “So if the podcaster is capable of delivery consistent, quality content over time, then I think a subscription profile will be fine, I think it will serve it well. If they get a large audience and they can’t maintain, or deliver, I think it will fail.” Podcasts span multiple genres and yet can be specific, targeting to a very niche audience. Lainson said he and his wife listen to the podcasts of some pastors they like, while Smalley would listen to political ones and Catuara listens to sports-focused podcasts. Whatever the niche is that students are looking for, they are sure to be able to find it in podcasting.
The vaccine for COVID-19 has been developed and has started distribution in the U.S., but that does not mean it is safe for people to stop wearing masks, even if they already received the vaccine. It is still required that everyone wear a mask outside their homes in California with limited exceptions. People who take the vaccine could still be transmitters of the disease without experiencing symptoms. California is distributing the vaccine to those who qualify for it under Phase 1A and Phase 1B of the distribution plan. Go to covid19.ca.gov for more information on the distribution plan.
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SPORTS
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February 5, 2021 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
Delays in fall sports season crowds spring BY AIDEN HOBSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Kits with Kindness Continued from Page 1 one of the men that he had given a kit to still going into his kit and using the items in it for his daily needs. “At that moment I realized that these simple items that I, for one, take for granted can make a profound difference on these people’s lives,” LaGuardia said. LaGuardia then told this story in community Facebook groups. From there he received messages from people who were interested in getting involved. “It then sort of took a life on of its own,” LaGuardia said. “At
Courtesy of Zachary LaGuardia
Zachary LaGuardia, the creator of Kits with Kindness, stands with volunteers who work diligently to make kits for the homeless. that point, I was just thinking of it as a one-time thing, but there was so much interest for the homeless population and before I knew it turned into me and 20 people.” Now, after nearly eight to nine months, Kits with Kindness has over 500 people involved. Kits with Kindness has expanded to helping not only the homeless but also their pets. They packaged 20—to—30 pet kits every month with food, bowls, toys and treats, and this month they distributed sweaters to dogs.
Kits with Kindness also started distributing feminine product kits. “That came as a suggestion from our group members because as a male, I was not thinking of feminine needs,” LaGuardia said. “A lot of the time, the items that went into these kits came from the suggestion of the group members.” LaGuardia said Kits with Kindness managed to attract people who were previously homeless or have family members who are homeless. Donations aside, those involved gave LaGuardia suggestions on what
to pack in the kits. These suggestions helped LaGuardia improve the impact that he made on the community in Riverside and surrounding cities. “We want to give them value and make them understand that they do hold worth,” LaGuardia said. “The mission is to inspire hope, to spread kindness and to restore dignity to the people that have been often overlooked.” LaGuardia said the goal of Kits with Kindness is not to get people off the streets but to give them hope.
U.S. Soccer Federation grants women’s soccer fairer treatment BY KELLY MCKITTRICK SPORTS EDITOR
Players from the United States women’s national team filed a lawsuit seeking equal pay from the U.S. Soccer Federation in March 2019 and in December 2020 agreed to a proposed settlement regarding non-compensation claims. In May 2020, a federal judge rejected the women’s team arguments about receiving unequal pay compared to the U.S. men’s national team. However, the women’s team continues to demand change from the U.S. Soccer Federation. According to an official U.S. Soccer press release, U.S. Soccer agreed to new working condition policies regarding hotel accommodations, staffing, ven-
ues and travel. U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said she believes there is still work to accomplish to reach equality for the U.S. women’s national team. “Just as important, we want to work with the USWNT on growing women’s soccer here in the United States and across the globe,” Cone said. “Part of this is encouraging FIFA to invest equally in the men’s and women’s game, including increasing the World Cup prize money. I will lend my voice and efforts to making this happen not only for the USWNT but for all women’s national team players and everyone who believes in the women’s game throughout the world.” California Baptist Universi-
ty’s women soccer team players Kacey Dennis and Brodi Blomdahl said they believe it is unfair that women competing at the national level are compensated less than men. “If you look at the women’s U.S. national team, who had so much success over the years that they deserve to be paid the same, if not more than men get paid because they are more successful than the U.S. men’s national team,” said Brodi Blomdahl, junior communication sciences and disorders major. Blomdahl said she believed at CBU the fan base for women’s soccer and men’s soccer is equal in size, but Kacey Dennis, junior biomedical science major, said she believes more could be done to better support women’s
soccer. “I believe that schools put more of their attention on men’s sports, which can then be correlated with the amount of fan base women’s soccer gets,” Dennis said. “People can spread our program more through social media. I think that certain sports are highlighted more than others and that women’s soccer at CBU deserves more recognition due to the accolades we have accomplished in the past.” CBU’s women’s soccer season has been practicing in preparation for their upcoming season. Lancers can show support by posting on social media and watching online streams of their games.
“Everyone knew it was a possibility. We took the approach The COVID-19 pandemic that we were going to prepare ravaged the sports world in for the season to be in the fall 2020, forcing many sports to until we were told something different. It was 100% the right be postponed or rescheduled. During the spring 2020 move, though, and once we season, sports such as softball heard for sure, we set about tryhad their seasons canceled. ing to take advantage of the opThis trend continued in the portunity that it afforded us to fall 2020 sports season when train and get better.” Many would view the cansports such as men’s water polo and volleyball had to be celed spring 2020 season and rescheduled fall 2020 season rescheduled for spring 2021. The cancellation of the as a frustrating setback, but the spring 2020 season was a dra- various teams at CBU continue matic and shocking event for to work hard. “We’ve had to be creative and many athletes at California open-mindBaptist Univered and I think sity, who sudour girls have denly saw their done a good job entire year’s athadapting to the letic preparation new normal,” dissipate along Galvez said. with any future “We remind competitions. each other at “My first the end of the reaction was day that we’re shocked,” said grateful to be Brittany Galvez, here and we’re graduate student grateful for and member CBU to be open of the softball and give us a team. “Before Brittany Galvez, graduate chance to comwe knew it, we saw schools clos- student and softball player pete.” Lowery said ing one after the other and then everything fell he believed that more pracand there was shock and frus- tice could only help perfect his tration and tears. We were lost team’s performance. “Every second we had to for words; [there were] a lot of tears. Even thinking back to it, practice, we have taken advantage of it,” Lowery said. “There it still hurts.” Despite hopes that the fall have been times where we were 2020 season would be able all sent home and we still had a to be conducted safely, all weekly team meeting to keep in fall-season sports were re- touch.” Despite concerns about the scheduled for spring 2021. “I was disappointed at first safety of athletic competitions after hearing that the season during the ongoing COVID-19 was rescheduled because I pandemic, CBU has taken prewas unsure of what that would cautions to guarantee the safety mean for the team,” said Zach of its student-athletes, coaches, Lowery, senior engineering and athletic support staff. Furmajor and member of the thermore, many student-athmen’s water polo team. “I am letes and other athletics staff an optimistic person, so it was are excited for the upcoming season. unexpected.” “We’re grateful to be able to Despite the disappointment of a rescheduled season, compete, and we’re stoked to many were not surprised by be able to get out and be with the continual postponement each other and compete,” Galas many concluded that a fall vez said. Although many sports were sports season would not be postponed, Lancers should able to be conducted safely. “The postponement of fall try to remain positive moving sports wasn’t all that big of a forward despite what may be surprise,” said Branden Higa, considered a crowded spring CBU volleyball head coach. season.
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Every second we had to practice, we have taken advantage of it. There have been times where we were all sent home and we still had a weekly team meeting to keep in touch.
SENIOR highlight
NAME:
Cora Jacoby
MAJOR: Kinesiology NOTABLE EVENTS: • Newcomer of the Year (2017)
SPORT:
Soccer
FAVORITE CBU MEMORY? “I have so many favorite CBU memories, but one that sticks out is going to the CBU open mic night. My friends and I would go each year and loved hearing everyone sing and have a good time.”
Reagan Lee | Banner
Cora Jacoby, senior kinesiology major, passes the ball to a teammate during a CBU home game against Grand Canyon University on October 20, 2019.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER?
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE TEAM BONDING MOMENT?
“My favorite professional soccer player is probably Tobin Heath because she is an amazing and hardworking player. She is super enjoyable to watch and inspires me to become a better soccer player every time I watch her.”
“We would all get dinner together and going to the Front Lawn to watch the sunset. We were all talking and having a good time together.”
THOUGHTS ABOUT YOUR LAST SEASON OCCURRING DURING A PANDEMIC: “It is pretty challenging. I’m the type of person who doesn’t like change so this pandemic hasn’t been easy for me. Thankfully I have amazing teammates and coaches to help me through this.”
OPINION LANCER ON THE STREET
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February 5, 2021 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
Who do you think will win the Super Bowl?
Caleb Erickson
RJ Perez
Marissa Norheim
Ally Currie
Isaiah Yoder
Junior Photography Major
Senior Accounting Major
Freshman Behavioral Science Major
Senior Electricial Computer Engineering Major
Freshman Arcitecture
“Kansas City Chiefs.”
“Kansas City Chiefs.”
“Tampa Bay Buckaneers.”
“Tampa Bay Buckaneers.”
“Tampa Bay Buckaneers.”
Problems from 2020 cannot go unaddressed
BY JANE ROBERTUS EDITOR IN CHIEF
At the start of the new year, many breathed a sigh of relief and felt a peace of mind that 2020 was over, with high hopes that 2021 would be significantly better. After a decidedly chaotic year, welcoming in 2021 brought both a sense of optimism and exhaustion to many.
Amid the lasting impact of the ongoing pandemic, police brutality of the summer revealing deep-rooted racial injustice in our country and a stressful election season with political dissension, most Americans would agree that 2020 has been a brutal year and one that no one would want to repeat. However, with each hard hit to our country last year, nothing has been revealed more clearly than the fact that these are issues that have always existed and 2020 merely brought to light. The handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has cost our country the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens and also had a damaging effect on the economy, revealed our unpreparedness in the face of a worldwide emergency. The shocking video of George Floyd’s murder at the
hands of Minneapolis police officers was unfortunately only one instance of such a tragic event and stems from years of systemic injustice and racism that permeate our country’s history. The election process, from the uncivilized debates to the claims of election fraud only shows the divisive and divided nature of the current American political process and the mistrust many have for our government as well as the many flaws that lie in a two-party system. The issues of last year in no way disappear with the turning of a new calendar page, and assuming this mentality is harmful and can lead to repetition of the same issues in the upcoming years and months. Although it may be tempting to see 2021 and the start of a new year as a time for a com-
plete reset, it is important to keep in mind that a new year is nothing more than a new calendar. This is not to say that hope is bad and that optimism should cease. Nothing fuels positive change and progress like a sense of ambition and motivation toward a brighter future. One of our goals as a society should be to leave the world a better place than how we find it currently. However, this cannot be accomplished without acknowledging the fact that most current events stem from ongoing brokenness and failures that are not unique to any one year or time period. An essential aspect of paving the way for future generations to have a better world to live in is recognizing and addressing the problems of today. Instead of sweeping them aside with the
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Nothing fuels positive change and progress like a sense of ambition and motivation towards a brighter future.
title that they are “last year’s problems” or that 2020 was the worst it could get, it is important to look for the root of these stumbling blocks and find ways to ensure they don’t become bigger barriers for generations to come. While it may be refreshing to start a new year and press reset, it is not an excuse to check out from politics and current events of last year and treat them as one-time occurrences.
2020 may be over but the lasting impact of the year is not going to fade away as peacefully as some may hope. It is still our duty to make a positive impact on the world around us and those in it. One of the main ways to do this is to remain informed and engaged, and not become passive or complacent to the brokenness in our country and its systems. Ultimately, the issues seen in 2020 were not new. They are simply the bubbling over of problems that have been simmering slowly below the surface of America. Claiming that 2020 was a terrible year may very well be true. The problems of the last year were problems of the years before it and will likely remain problems for years to come if not addressed and responded to properly.
‘Ring by spring’ produces a Tom Brady stays a legend culture of unhealthy practices
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This creates an unhealthy attachment to relationships by establishing that your worth comes from who you are dating.
BY SOFIA ENEQVIST MANAGING EDITOR
One thing I quickly learned as a freshman at California Baptist University was the concept of “ring by spring.” I think most people can attest that they have experienced the “ring by spring” culture at CBU and other Christian universities. However, for those unfamiliar with the concept, “ring by spring” refers to the aspiration of students to be engaged by the spring semester of their senior year in college. It has easily become one of the marks of a Christian university. I’ve witnessed the pressure to find love while in college during conversations with friends and classmates. Each time I hear the stress in their voice as they worry their time at school is coming to a close and they are still without a relationship. I have also seen new relationships in college met with overwhelming questions of marriage and their plans for post-college. This type of pressure can contribute to unnecessary stress in a new relationship, which can place pressure on the couple to decide about their future prematurely and
rush unprepared into a committed. I am also in no way saying that being engaged young is a bad thing or something to avoid. As a 20-year-old who is engaged and, in a way, achieved the absurd “ring by spring” mission, I am not against being young and in love. I am, however, against the pressure students feel that says because you are dating in college or because you are engaged in college, you must be chasing the “ring by spring” ideology. While I understand the desire to want to date as a young adult and find someone to share your life with, I worry that “ring by spring” culture is creating unrealistic perceptions of dating and marriage. “Ring by spring” creates the idea that your time in college is measured by who you meet and not by achieving a college degree. I struggle to find the benefits in a concept that says if you do not find love in college you have somehow failed to fulfill your “ring by spring” potential and thus wasted your time in school. In a study done by Stacy Keogh George for The Institute of Faith and Learning at Baylor University on the “ring by spring,” culture, over half of the students surveyed said they felt
pressure to be married. “In fact, 60 of the 139 responses to the question, “What is ring by spring?” use the word “pressure” to describe the sentiment behind the ring by spring culture,” Keogh George said. “When asked directly if students feel pressured to be married, at least 67% of students say they feel at least a little bit of pressure.” The pressure students reported feeling can also cause an assumption that because you are single, you have less value in your community. This creates an unhealthy attachment to relationships by establishing that your worth comes from who you’re dating. “While students and faculty may joke about the marriage-obsessed ring by spring culture, it dispenses a social psychological burden that follows students, particularly women, throughout their undergraduate experience.” The idea that students must find someone to marry in college because they need to check off some weird box rather than believing that they can find their spouse in a different season of life is a flawed system. While “ring by spring” culture is not necessarily the fault of Christian universities, the ongoing discussion about needing a “ring by spring” only fuels the fire and pressure students feel. It is partially the role of the university to eliminate the need for a “ring by spring” by intentionally talking about dating and marriage as a marathon that goes through life and not a sprint with the finish line as graduation day.
BY MISTY SEVERI NATIONAL EDITOR
I grew up in a household that loved football, and there were two games every year that my family and I watched, the Army-Navy game (go Army!) and the Super Bowl. This tradition goes back as far as I can remember and those days have been some of my favorite memories as a child. My favorite team was always the San Francisco 49ers, but my parents loved the New England Patriots. Because of their love of this team, I grew up knowing the name Tom Brady and watched as he returned to Super Bowl after Super Bowl. Recently Tom Brady made headlines as he once again led his team to the Super Bowl. I never thought that Brady would be considered the underdog going into a Super Bowl, but this past year he transferred to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and won the National Football Conference title during his first year on the team. In the past, I was not a fan of Brady’s. I always thought that he was overhyped and there were other players just as good, like Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers, who were not getting their fair share of the spotlight. Manning however only went
to two Super Bowls despite his massive career, and Rodgers has only been in and won one Super Bowl. However, after Brady led the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl in 19 years and second-ever apperance, it solidified Brady’s legacy as one of the greatest football players of all time. Brady has set many records during his career, including the highest number of Super Bowl appearances, 10, and wins, six. He also holds the record for highest number of division titles, 17 and championship appearances, 13. He has also won four Super Bowl Most Valuable Player awards, another record. I doubt anyone can deny that he has had a phenomenal career. But Brady has not been without controversy. Football fans either love or hate him. Part of this is because the “Deflate Gate” scandal involving the New England Patriots. This scandal was about the footballs used by the New England team. According to officials, the Patriots’ footballs were under the mandated air volume, which would make the football easier to grip, throw and catch. As a result of this information, Brady was ordered to sit out the first four games of the next regular football season. There were multiple attempts to overturn this ruling but he ended up accepting the punishment. Another possible reason to not like Brady, is due to the sheer number of Super Bowls he has been in. Although its an impressive feat, it became understandably predictable by the time the ninth Super Bowl came around.
There are a lot of things that people can learn from Brady: good sportsmanship, leadership and courage both on and off the field. It takes dedication to be one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. You have to be brave enough to take calculated risks and then be ok with the outcome. But it also takes drive and courage to leave the team you helped build, and the team you were with for 20 seasons, to go start somewhere new. After Brady led Tampa Bay to their championship victory a friend said, “Do you know the level of confidence Brady must have had to possibly ruin his legacy by leaving the Patriots and going to the Buccaneers? And he was right.” Brady will not be starting from scratch, though. His friend and long time teammate Rob Gronkowski, who had previously retired, decided to leave retirement to join Brady in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The current record for longest quarterback career is held by George Blanda, who played for 26 seasons. He retired at the age of 48, something unheard of due to the physical stress on the body and the injuries players can receive on the field. Brady is in his 21st season in the NFL at the age of 43, although he’s been showing no signs of retirement, stating that he plans to play until he’s at least 45. Fans and commentators have long wondered if Brady is going to set another record by having the longest career in NFL history. Although no one can be sure when Brady will retire, it’s going to be a bittersweet moment when he finally hangs up his football jersey for good.
ETC.
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February 5, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 5
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