Volume 69 Issue 7 February 18, 2022
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Why don’t we step on the seal? The history of a campus tradition
Photo Illustration by Elijah Hickman | Banner BY AMANDA PALACIOS STAFF WRITER
A crowd of friends walks by a marble circle stamped into the ground. One begins to stray, inching closer toward it. The pack’s yells grow louder with each step their friend takes, but their fear doesn’t affect his decision. He steps on the forbidden stone. A few minutes later, a girl is looking down at her phone. Suddenly, her sixth sense kicks in and she finds herself tip-toeing around the outline of the seal to avoid dooming her fate. Each student shares the same knowledge of the Califor-
nia Baptist University seal in Stamps Courtyard but chooses to approach the situation differently. The seal holds so much power that an entire school knows the tradition it carries. Unless you kiss the ring on the other side of the courtyard, one foot on the crest and your graduation is toast. At least that’s what your tour guides said. To determine if the seal’s spell is real or not, it is important to know its history. It was 2003. The graduating class had recently gifted CBU with the infamous seal placed in the Courtyard. But when rush hour around classes hit, they noticed students would
mindlessly walk over the shiny new gift — something that represents CBU’s identity. Chris Hofschroer, assistant dean of students, witnessed the famous tradition start during his undergraduate years here at CBU in 2004. “A bunch of people were out in the quad area for a student leadership conference, and everybody was like, ‘Man, people are walking on the seal, people should be more respectful.’ It’s the thing that identifies us — it’s our symbol,” Hofschroer said. Hoping to lessen foot traffic over the seal, the band of students gathered to form a plan that would deter others from
2022 WINTER OLYMPICS Team USA Highlights
walking on the school’s identity. “I remember sitting there and someone stepped on the seal, and they said, ‘Oh my gosh you stepped on the seal!’ And they told him, ‘You have to run over and kiss the ring because you won’t graduate on time!’ It was a total off-the-cuff, random situation,” Hofschroer said. What may have been a joke to that student quickly became the new tradition on campus when news of kissing the ring spread and more and more people began to enforce the “rules.” Seventeen years later, the tradition still stands. Many students around campus believe that stepping on the
SEE CBU SEAL | PAGE 7
Photo by Kia Harlan | Banner
Students find inner artist through ceramics program A&E EDITOR
Emily McGinn | Banner
my life that I should graduate, then I will live that purpose,” Bankole-Wright said. Yet, she avoids walking over the seal when she can, out of fear that a CBU faculty member will call her out on it. “I am afraid they may pull me aside because I am breaking a long-held CBU tradition,” Bankole-Wright said. Even for the nonbelievers, the seal is embedded with a ritual that people like to honor. So, if the tradition is made up, why do we continue to walk around it as if it’s holy ground? CBU even blocks it off with rope
The ceramics classes at California Baptist University help students unlock their creativity.
BY ROWEN ZAMORA
Vision, p. 6-7
seal can lead to not graduating and don’t want to risk it. “I tend to avoid stepping on the seal just out of habit since everyone I know has always avoided it since freshmen year,” said Anthony Lulo, senior business administration major. “I’m graduating this semester so I don’t want to take any chances.” Some students, though, don’t fear the proclaimed destiny that lies under their feet. Morgan Bankole-Wright, sophomore communication sciences and disorders major, admits she has walked on it many times, unfazed by its potential jinx on her graduation. “If it is in God’s purpose for
There is a common misconception among people: They wholeheartedly believe that they are not creative. This, of course, is inaccurate as what they are truly picking up on is their lack of skill to implement their creative aspirations. The ceramics program at
California Baptist University can grant an individual those necessary skills while fulfilling a general education requirement. “Anybody can learn to work in clay and ceramics and most students here find it a very therapeutic experience,” said Amanda Santos, adjunct professor of ceramics. “We want to give students a chance to learn
technique, but the creativity is all on them. We want to leave it as open as we can so they have the best experience.” The one-on-one help that professors provide for students in developing their artistic style and ability is not unique to the ceramics program, but it is the fundamental key in all education that allows students to think critically and flourish as
Community Life and the Black Student Union collaborated for a Black History Month event.
Netflix video games —
Streaming service giant Netflix creates new mobile games for fans of television shows.
Sports psychology —
N e w s , Pg. 2
B & T , Pg . 1 1
S p o r t s , Pg. 14
Black History Month —
CBU offers graduate program that trains students in Sport and Performance Psychology.