Banner | Vol. 69 Issue 1 by Lancer Media Group

Volume 69 | Issue 1 | September 17, 2021

@cbulancermedia cbubanner.com

CBU welcomes students back Gov. Newsom prevails after in person for fall semester

long-awaited recall election

BY SELAH KELLEY

been 179 ballot drives to recall a state official — 11 of which California voted against re- gained enough signatures to moving Gov. Gavin Newsom force a recall election,” Porter from office on Sept. 14, after a said. “This is only the second time that there has been a recall 19-month recall effort. A petition to recall the 40th election for governor; the first governor of California, began time was the successful recall of circulating throughout the state Gray Davis in 2003.” The petition listed several in February 2020. The petition collected reasons for the request to recall enough signatures to trigger a Newsom, including immigrarecall election three years into tion laws, high taxes and homelessness rates, Newsom’s fourrationing water year term. use, the legality There were 46 of the death pencandidates running alty, restricting in the election, parental rights 24 of whom were and more. Republican, the D a n i e l opposing party of Fournier, freshboth Newsom and Dr. Chase Porter man psychology the state. Notable candidates includAssistant professor of major, credited the passing of the ed Caitlyn Jenner political science petition to Newfrom E!’s “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and som’s COVID-19 protocols. He front-runner Larry Elder, a stated that not only were people conservative former talk radio unhappy with his regulations, but they were also unhappy host. Dr. Chase Porter, assistant with his inconsistency throughprofessor of political science, out the pandemic. “The thing that made me explained that recall petitions in the state of California are more aware of (the petition) rare and that those petitions was back during the early stagsucceeding are even rarer. “According to the Secretary SEE RECALL | PAGE 2 of State, since 1913, there have ASST. NEWS EDITOR

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This is only the second time that there has been a recall election for governor.

New social work programs fill needs BY SOFIA ENEQVIST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

BY LAUREN BROOKS NEWS EDITOR

California Baptist University hosted Welcome Weekend on Sept. 3-5 to officially welcome incoming freshmen and transfer students to campus. Events took place across three days, ranging from freshman-exclusive activities to some open to upperclassmen on campus. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Welcome Weekend was an entirely virtual format in 2020. With some restrictions lifted, events were allowed in person this year. Multiple on-campus organizations were involved in planning and executing the various parts of the weekend. Friday consisted of move-in day for residential students, as well as academic and commuter open houses. Saturday featured a choose your own kickback event, with a pool party, a lounge and

fitness classes at the Recreation Center. Spiritual Life also hosted a kickoff event that night. Campus tours, lunch and a screening of the movie Cruella made up Sunday’s closing festivities. First-Year Experience (FYE) leaders hosted their individual groups of freshmen in a smaller environment to foster new friendships. These groups stayed together for the majority of the weekend. Liz Fronterhouse, senior communication sciences and disorders major and FYE intern, said the FYE program is important for freshmen because it helps them acclimate to campus life. “FYE has a huge role in Welcome Weekend, as our team has a key role in making new students feel welcomed at CBU and getting them connected to campus resources and each other,” Fronterhouse said. “The FYE leaders

serve as a resource to new students as they make the transition and make sure that each Welcome Weekend event is a place for them to connect as well.” Fronterhouse also said she enjoyed observing new students’ eagerness as they learn about CBU. “Freshmen have been eager to get involved,” Fronterhouse said. “They are excited to be on campus and see what CBU has to offer. Many of them do not know how CBU typically runs Welcome Weekend, which has been helpful in getting them excited about what we were able to do.” Esther Logan, freshman worship arts and ministry major, echoed Fronterhouse’s words in her own experiences. She emphasized the importance

SEE WELCOME WEEKEND | PAGE 3

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at California Baptist University launched in fall 2020 as an entry-level degree to work in the field of social work. Liza Arellano, licensed clinical social worker, assistant professor of social work and program director of the Bachelor of Social Work, said the program allows students to gain experience across all levels of social work practice. “Students can work with individuals, families, groups, communities, advocacy and all kinds of different areas,” Arellano said. “Our program at CBU is designed to meet the needs of the Inland Empire. Right now social workers are in high demand in medical and child welfare settings. Our field is broad, so our program is designed for students to work across broad settings.” The BSW program is also unique in that it is an accredited degree by the Council on Social Work and Education. This means that if students complete this degree, they can go on to get a master’s degree in social work in one year. This program works alongside the master’s in social work (MSW) and Doctorate in Social Work programs to prepare students while at CBU. Dr. Charles Lee-Johnson, associate professor of social work and department chair for social work, is excited about what the BSW program brings to CBU and how it connects to the Core Four. “This is probably one of the most exciting things that are happening at California Baptist University in the middle that is going on,” Lee-Johnson said. “I cannot think of anything greater. When you think of the Core Four at CBU — that we want people to be academically prepared, biblically rooted, equipped to serve and globally-minded – I feel like we are capturing all of that in the BSW degree. We have been given a unique skill set to go out and serve as Jesus did, within our community.” The program also offers students the opportunity to be paired with a mentor who is either faculty or an MSW student to help support and encourage them. Additionally, there are Bible studies and

SEE BSW PROGRAM | PAGE 7

Job Incentives —

Shang-Chi —

Cross Country —

B & T , Pg . 1 0

A & E , Pg . 7

S p o r t s , Pg. 9

Businesses provide job incentives for new hires across multiple industries.

Marvel’s newest film breaks Asian stereotypes and introduces new character.

CBU’s cross country team wins team and individual events at meet.

NEWS

September 17, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 1

New library opens in Riverside THE BANNER

staff PRINT

Editor-in-Chief Sofia Eneqvist

Lifestyle Editor Sofia Eneqvist

Managing Editor Emily McGinn

Asst. Lifestyle Editor Lloyd Stackhouse

Photo Editor Elijah Hickman

Sports Editor Aiden Hobson

Asst. Photo Editor Tonia Ross

Asst. Sports Editor Rowan Zamora

Design Editor Sofia Eneqvist

Social Media Director Megan Van Battum

Asst. Design Editor Emily McGinn Lauren Brooks

Public Relations Director Cole Stillwagon

News Editor Lauren Brooks Asst. News Editor Selah Kelley Business & Tech Editor Jasmine Severi

Distribution Manager Wiley Lloyd Advertising Manager Cole Stillwagon

ONLINE

Asst. Business & Tech Editors Alexza Bahnmiller

Editor-in-Chief Sofia Eneqvist

A&E Editor Emily McGonn

Website Administrator Jasmine Severi

Asst. A&E Editor Josiah Murphy

Photo and Video Editor Elijah Hickman

Asst. Director of Student Publications Sonya Singh Interim Director of Student Publications Dr. Mary Ann Pearson

We want your help! Write, take photos or design with us. Email us at BannerEditor@calbaptist.edu for more information.

“

Lawrence Luck | Banner

Many Riverside residents are excited about the new public library located in Downtown Riverside.

BY LAUREN BROOKS NEWS EDITOR

The long-awaited new location of the Riverside Public Library opened to the general public on June 26. The new space spans two floors totaling 42,000 square feet, and it contains an innovation center, archive reading room, outdoor terrace, study rooms and children’s room, according to a press release by the city of Riverside. Erin Christmas, library director, spoke on some of the features offered and upgrades from the old location. She said they gave extra care to the different components of the library during planning and construction. “Everything was perfectly put in its space,” Christmas said. “The old main library had a lot of adapted spaces, which we do not have to worry about here. The adult section has four wonderful study rooms with the newest technologies in

them, including adapters where you can set your digital device to the television. All of that makes those really ideal spaces for anyone in our community to use.” Mason Morris-Moncada, senior anthropology and history double major, mentioned how impressive the architecture was, as well as the convenient location. “The features that stuck out most to me was the importance of creating a library but also ample amount of space for children,” Morris-Moncada said. “Among having physical books, the museum has an extensive online collection to choose from, something the old library lacked.” Miguel Esparza, sophomore photography major, said that he thinks the new library will benefit the Riverside community. “I think this new library is going to give more people opportunities to access resources and materials they

I definitely want all CBU students to come and check out the space. There are great spaces to get studying done both in groups and individually. Erin Christmas Library director

would not normally have access to,” Esparza said. Esparza said he was also amazed by the maker space on the first floor of the library, which contains a 3D printer, available to the public, as well as the massive size of the space in general. “The maker space on the first floor really stuck out. It is a great place for people from the community to exercise their creativity,” Esparza said.

The old location of the library shut down due to the opening of the new location. However, Christmas said the space is being converted to a Chicano exhibit. “The old location is becoming the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture and Industry, and it opens in May 2022,” Christmas said. Christmas welcomes California Baptist University students to come and visit the space and get a library card. She also welcomes students to utilize the four study rooms and outdoor terrace to get work done. “I definitely want to welcome all CBU students to come and check out the space,” Christmas said. “There are great spaces to get studying done both in groups and individually. To get a library card, all you need is a photo ID. We would love to have you all.” The new library is located in Downtown Riverside at 3900 Mission Inn Avenue.

Recall Election

Continued from Page 1

About

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 conern. The Banner retains the right to edit your letter upon publication based on grammar and word count. Send letters to Sienna Darula, 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 Sofia Eneqvist at sofialillian.eneqvist@calbaptist.edu. Thanks for reading!

@CBULancerMedia Keep up with CBU news and events.

es of the pandemic when I started seeing these news articles about Newsom having a brunch for a fundraiser event with 22 people,” Fournier said. “This was directly after mask mandates and social distancing were implemented, and then all of a sudden there is an inconsistency with what he is doing and with what he is saying.” Lana Sabbara, senior psychology major, agreed with these inconsistencies but she said she did not think Newsom was entirely to blame throughout the process. “I think that the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) had a huge role because they did fluctuate on their rules and regulations,” Sabbara said. “As a governor, (Newsom) tried his hardest, but he dropped the ball as a whole in regards to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.” Despite the debate over Newsom’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Porter said that the petition did not have any mention of the pandemic. The petition was written prior to the start of the pandemic, but Newsom’s COVID-19 protocols led to the increase in signatures. “The recall effort was initially caused by several points of ideological disagreement,” Porter said. “Governor Newsom’s response to COVID-19 has since driven much of the enthusiasm for the recall, especially among Republicans who

Ballots were mailed to many California residents as the recall election draws near. have seen California’s response to the pandemic as too restrictive and Newsom’s approach as centering too much power in the office of the governor.” Despite disappointment with Newsom’s politics, Sabbar-

ra said she does not believe that this recall is the right time to make a change in governor. “I really hope that (Newsom) is not recalled,” Sabbara said. “I believe that the Republican that is in the front, Larry

Charissa Graves | Banner

Elder, would actually do a lot of harm to California in a lot of his policies and ideals, like abolishing the minimum wage.” Newsom is up for the reelection of govenor in November 2022.

NEWS

September 17, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 1

Welcome Weekend Continued from Page 1 of the connections she made over the weekend’s events. “I think at first I was overwhelmed by the size of the campus and all the unfamiliarity of it, but it was pretty easy to adapt and get used to,” Logan said. “Connections with people have been crazy. I’ve met so many freshman and upper-classmen who are just excited to create friendships and have a good time. I had been really nervous. I think just about meeting people and it was comforting knowing everyone else was feeling the same way.” FYE is a branch of CBU’s Community Life department, which led most events during the weekend. Chris Hofschroer, assistant dean of students, said he believes Welcome Weekend went well. “We have heard nothing but positive feedback from our new students about Welcome Weekend,” Hofschroer said. “We think that students are just ready to be in person and together again.” As well as FYE, student government organization, ASCBU, also played a role in the carrying out of Welcome Weekend by assisting Community Life. Phoebe Arevalo, senior philosophy major and ASCBU president, talked about ASCBU’s involvement, as well as becoming a familiar face to incoming students. “Welcome Weekend was planned by Community Life, but ASCBU collaborated with them and supported them with extra hands and finances,”

“

At the end of Welcome Weekend, Community Life set up a movie night and a photo booth for students to enjoy. Arevalo said. “ASCBU, as well as all other student leaders, were asked to help with this annual weekend event. ASCBU helped with move-in, Involvement Fair, and Kick-Off. Additionally, we partnered with ComLife to fund an In-N-Out truck lunch for all new students.” Hofschroer also said that the school took precautions for COVID-19 due to the current ongoing threat of the Delta variant. As a result, most of the weekend’s events were

We have heard nothing but positive feedback from our new students. We think that students are just ready to be in person and together again. Chris Hofschroer Assistant dean of students

held outside to help mitigate the chances of the virus being spread. In addition, attendees were required to wear masks and practice social distancing at indoor events. Sakai Kelly-Nyx, freshman pre-nursing major, said that she noticed participating students were abiding by the COVID-19 precautions. “During Welcome Weekend I witnessed most students wearing masks when needed,” Kelly-Nyx said.

New telehealth app: TimelyCare BY SELAH KELLEY

ASST. NEWS EDITOR California Baptist University now offers telehealth and tele-mental health care for undergraduate and graduate students through the app TimelyCare. The app allows for 24/7 on-demand care 365 days a year through any device that has internet access. CBU will now be offering three services through the app: 24/7 on-demand medical treatment, 24/7 on-demand mental health treatment and scheduled medical appointments. All three services will be free of charge for all students, unlike in-person medical appointments at the Wellness Center. Talk-Now, the mental health portion of the app, also provides unlimited appointments as an alternative

to the Counseling Center, which has in-person limits. Griffin Sharp, TimelyCare’s Client Success Manager for CBU, shared that the app can be beneficial no matter what a student needs or where they may be located. “Students have access to this whenever they might need it,” Sharp said. “If they are feeling sick physically or if they’re stressed, anxious, depressed or dealing with something, these services are always available. [The app] is available in all 50 states, so even if students are traveling out of state, they have access to these services.” Students can benefit from this free access to health care. Emily Waters, senior musical education major, said it is important for students to have access to this care. “With the state of the

world the way that it is, we as students are not immune to the stresses and anxieties of the pandemic, racial tensions and political tensions,” Waters said. “For students that have existing mental health issues, these stresses can escalate their anxieties. Even among students without existing mental health issues, there has been a dramatic increase in depression and anxiety. With easy and free access to mental health care, it will give students the access that they need, and the tools that they need to be able to cope with their anxiety, depression or anything under the mental health umbrella.” Kaylee-Grace Porter, junior psychology student, shared the comfort that the app can bring her and the rest of the students. “It will benefit us because it’s a good feeling to know that

I’m taken care of,” Porter said. “If something goes wrong, I know I always have a place to go. It’s easy to use and it’s on your phone, and we are on our phones all the time.” Sharp also shared this idea of the convenience and comfort of the app. In a generation that has their phone in their hand, mental health through an app makes it easy. “What I always say is it’s a great thing to have in your back pocket,” Sharp said. “If and when you might feel sick or if you need to talk to a mental health professional, it’s there.” Students who download the app and make an account with their LancerMail before Sept. 30 will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a pair of Apple AirPods. Students can go to timelycare.com/calbaptist to register now.

Elijah Hickman | Banner

NEWS briefs CONFLICT IN AFGHANISTAN The majority of U.S. troops left Afghanistan through the Kabul Airport on Aug. 16. On that day, hundreds of Afghans crowded around the departing planes hoping to escape from the country, leaving at least five people dead in the aftermath. This marked the end of 21 years of U.S. presence in the country serving as protection from terrorist groups. Only 10 days after Kabul’s first airport incident, a suicide bomber detonated at the Kabul airport on Aug. 26. The bomb killed more than 80 people, including 13 U.S. troops. The attack was later accredited to ISIS-K, an affiliate of the terrorist group ISIS. After numerous terrorist attacks across the country, the Taliban gained full control over Afghanistan on Sept. 7 and announced a new government over the country, establishing known terrorist Muhammad Hassan Akhund as the prime minister.

CALIFORNIA’S RAGING FIRES The Dixie Fire, located 175 miles north of Sacramento in Feather River Canyon, has burned 960,213 acres and is 86% contained as of Sept. 16. This makes it the second-largest wildfire in California history. The Caldor Fire blazing 100 miles south of the Dixie Fire in the El Dorado National Forest has destroyed 218,950 acres and is also 65% contained. Despite charring significantly less acreage than the Dixie Fire, the Caldor Fire is currently ranked as the 16th most destructive fire in California history while the Dixie Fire is ranked as the 14th. As of Sept. 12, 2.2 million acres have burned across California this year.

HURRICANE IDA’S HAVOC .

Category 4 storm Hurricane Ida touched down near Port Fourchon, Louisiana on Aug. 29 with wind speeds of over 150 miles per hour. The storm ravaged Louisiana, knocking out power for over 560,000 residents. Ida continued to bring heavy rains and tornadoes as it moved northeast through Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. The Louisiana Department of Health has reported 82 deaths as a result of storm-related events.

Lauren Brooks | Banner

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LIFESTYLE

September 17, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 1

International students face COVID-19 challenges BY SOFIA ENEQVIST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Many challenges arose throughout the pandemic for international students who were thousands of miles from home while trying to leave the California Baptist University’s campus in spring 2020. Over a year later, international students are still facing difficulties as many of them have yet to return home. Georgia Dale, senior marketing major, has not been back to her home in Australia in 15 months because of the pandemic. Although given the opportunity over the summer, travel costs would have passed $10,000 just to get back to Australia. “Obviously the experience of college as an international student changed dramatically,” Dale said. “When you move overseas it is pretty nerve-racking in itself but once the ability to simply go home and get on a direct flight back to your designated country (is taken away), we don’t really have the novelty of that anymore.” When CBU shut down in March 2020 due to COVID-19, other international students were forced to go home and wait for information on when they could return to the U.S. and CBU. “When I came back from Australia a year ago now, I was really nervous about getting

COVID-19, and what if something really went wrong and I had to go into the hospital?” Dale said. “It ended up happening, believe it or not, because I had COVID-19 and had to go to the hospital. My worst nightmare came true. I was really scared to come over here because, if something bad happens, my family cannot come over here and I cannot get back. That was pretty overwhelming.” Courtney Watson, director of International Student Services, said the International Student Service Center is in place to help students feel integrated into both CBU life and American culture. “We want to be a place where all international students can come for help, immigration advising or just to hang out and get connected here at CBU,” Watson said. “My role at CBU is to be the point of contact for international students for a wide variety of needs, and to be their advocate across campus.” One of the biggest challenges the International Student Service Center has faced has been getting students back into the country to start or continue their education at CBU. “Countries have all reacted very differently to the pandemic, and some have become stricter about allowing their citizens to travel internationally, so many prospective students have had difficulties be-

“

I was really scared to come over here because, if something bad happens, my family cannot come here and I cannot get back. Georgia Dale, Senior marketing major

ing issued travel visas, even for educational purposes,” Watson said. “Many students have also expressed worry about being away from their families during this time.” The number of international students coming to CBU in 2020 was greatly affected by travel restrictions and continues to waver as restrictions change. “It was a drastic drop,” said Amanda Low, junior chemical engineering major. “People who were supposed to come could not come. So, either they were stuck at home or doing school remotely from home. The numbers are pretty much back to normal, but students were getting detained at the airport for a few hours for questioning and students who could not get their visas were stuck at home. Especially if they were first-

year students, it was more of a challenge.” Low is a programming intern with the International Center and an international student from Malaysia. Low recently went home to Malaysia during the summer for the first time in two years after she was unable to travel during the summer of 2020. Watson and Low said one of the biggest resources in place for international students during this time has been the staff at the International Student Service Center (IC). For new students this year, the International Center organized an orientation where they went over the culture shock, life at CBU, InsideCBU and Blackboard. They also take them to and from the airport, take them to Target and have T-mobile come to campus. “CBU’s International Center is made up of staff members who love international students, and many of us have lived outside of the United States ourselves, so we can relate to being in a culture different than our own,” Watson said. “We are quick to make time for students, get to know them and celebrate their culture and walk through challenges and victories with them. It is our hope that no international student would think of us as strangers, but would consider the IC a second home here at CBU. If international students

are looking for resources, please come find us.” One of the main ways CBU aided international students was through providing housing during the summer of 2020 and 2021 if students were unable to return home. “In the summer of 2020 we sent a few surveys to our students to gather information on how they were feeling in relation to international travel, returning to CBU, etc. so we could gauge how to help them prepare for their return to CBU,” Watson said. “We also reached out individually to students who we knew were unable to return to their home countries and may be struggling with being away from family. As soon as it was safe and responsible, we made our office open again for students to come in as needed for advising appointments or personal check-ins.” Outside of the housing services provided by CBU, Dale and Low said they felt not much was done to assist international students during the pandemic. “School provided summer housing, but that was pretty much it,” Low said. “It sucked because they only had Wanda’s open for food pretty much every day of the whole summer. I honestly cannot think of any other resources.” “CBU helped us out — they helped me out as I am in athletics here,” Dale said. “They

made it really easy for me to get housing over the summer. The school allowed me to work. They gave me some job opportunities so I could fill my time over the summer. But to be really honest with you, CBU was not really helpful at all.” Dale said that CBU could have done a better job communicating to students during the pandemic. “(It would have been helpful if CBU) just communicated more regularly and, for international students, was more honest and realistic about what a COVID-19 year was going to look like,” Dale said. “I think making more of a community-oriented environment that really ensures people safety (would have helped). COVID-19 so often is not disregarded, but it is like, ‘Oh, you got COVID-19, you are just another person in the system.’ Overseas, things are treated very seriously, so a bit more security would have been nice.” “I think the International Center is quite beneficial but there is only so much they can do,” Dale said. “We need assistance from academics, from professors and Housing Services.” For more information on the International Center and how to get involved, whether as an international or domestic student, visit the International Center’s Instagram @ cbu_ic.

Sustainable Switch: How does Target promote sustainability? BY ASHLEY MURPHY

ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR

As a consumption-oriented society, we are used to immediate gratification and disposable purchasing. The majority of what we buy ends up in landfills that will stay for decades after we use them. Jacob Lanphere, professor of environmental science, said that “our lifestyles typically are geared towards single used transactions.” All the plastic we use in our daily lives, from your morning run to Starbucks to the Head and Shoulders shampoo you use at night. The discussion of transitioning from the products you currently use to sustainable options can seem a little overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. All it takes is a little planning. Department stores such as Target have started to help make these small changes in our products a little easier by carrying sustainable and affordable brands. Callie Totaro, enviornmental science major, encourages department stores to carry more sustainable brands. “If people keep increasing the demand for sustainability, stores will be forced to meet the demand and carry more of these sustainable products,” Totaro said. So what makes a product or brand sustainable? What are some key factors you should look for in your products to become more sustainable? A tremendous factor in pollution is the amount of waste we contribute just from the packaging of our products. Take a look at the products in your bathroom. Your hair products, your toothpaste, all will be thrown away once empty. Switching your toiletries is an easy place to start transitioning to sustainable products. One brand to check out at Target for toiletries is Hey Human. Co-founded by Jada Pinkett Smith, the company offers a variety of toiletries such as body lotion, body wash and toothpaste. The brand is 99% plastic-free and packaging comes in recyclable aluminum bottles. Their products are also made ethically, all of them veg-

Photo Illustration by Claire Grimes | Banner Cleaning products are among the most popular clean goods.

an and cruelty-free. Some brands that Target carries such as Faith in Nature and Hello offer different levels of sustainability. The beauty brand Faith in Nature, carries hair products made out of 100% recycled and recyclable materials such as bottles or in the bar form. Using a shampoo or conditioner bar requires less packaging, but some may prefer using it in bottle form. Another sustainable alternative is using toothpaste tablets. At Target the brand Hello car-

ries toothpaste in tablet form or in the traditional tube packaging. The tablets come in an aluminum box and require less water to activate. Some may prefer using a tube that Hello carries in recyclable aluminum. Having these options makes it easier to use products that produce less waste. These companies help fit sustainable living into your lifestyle. For the makeup department, Eco tool has started to go in the right direction with creating

sustainable products. At Target they now sell compostable and biodegradable beauty blenders. Lanphere said a good product to start your sustainable journey is water bottles. There are many options for reusable water bottles. Klean Kanteen at Target has a wide variety of different bottle sizes and reusable straws. For some people, a sustainable lifestyle may seem overwhelming or expensive. There are many different parts of your life you can start making a

change. “Just focus on making one positive change at a time,” Totaro said. “If you want to make a game of it, challenge yourself to make one new sustainable switch each month. This way you give yourself time to form the habit and it’s more likely to stick. Don’t burn yourself out.” Natalie Cruz, sophomore enviornmental science major, said she likes to focus on sustainable products and products that can be used in place of plastics, such as resuable bags.

“It is important for brands to be sustainable because businesses need to focus on reducing waste and minizing our carbon footprint,” Cruz said. Cruz shared some of her favorite sustainable products from Target and reccomendations for an easy start towards sustainability. “Some sustainable products from Target that I would reccomend include Native, plastic free deodorant and Stasher, which is an alternative to resealable plastic bags.

LIFESTYLE

September 17, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 1

BSW Program

Continued from Page 1

Photo Courtesy of Liza Arellano

Jerri Middleton, assistant professor of social work; Lindsay Davis, social work programs coordinator; and Dr. Antonio Mejico Jr., assistant professor of social work, are excited to welcome students to the Bachelor of Social Work Program.

and community engagement groups, culture justice and lecture series to enrich student experiences that other universities do not offer. “This is a program designed to be completed as upper-division course work in their junior and senior year,” Arellano said. “In their senior year students complete a field practicum placement where they get a certain number of hours. For students who are not sure what area they want to go in or maybe they do not have a lot of work experience, this provides on-the-job training and experience to be able to use on your resume.” The program offers specialized classes that differentiate it from other universities, such as congregational social work, medical social work, policy and marginalized populations. The goal of the course list is to offer some broad framework-type classes to prepare students to work across all settings. “There is a place for everyone, of every talent and background, in social work,” Lee-Johnson said. “There is not a place you are going to go

where you are not serving people.” A great advantage to students transitioning from the BSW program to the MSW program is the transfer process of field practicum hours. The hours done as a senior in the BSW program are transferred over and allow incoming students to enter as sophomores in the MSW program.

There is a place for everyone, of every talent and background, in social work. Charles Lee-Johnson, Associate professor of social work and department chair “The program has been great,” said Cassandra Bozarth, junior social work major. “I like that all of the classes. They are very engaging, and all of my professors have been kind, knowledgeable and helpful.” Bozarth was originally a psychology major but decided to change to social work after learning more about the program.

“I want to help influence positive change in society, help at-risk populations and fight for social justice,” Bozarth said. “When I heard about the social work program, it had all the things I was looking for and that they have an advanced standing program, so after your BSW, you can move on to get your MSW in only one year. I truly believe this program is helping me to be fully equipped and ready for my MSW.” The BSW program also has a unique collaboration with the Nursing Department for the Interprofessional Education (IPE) aspect that students are enrolled in. This program allows nursing, physician’s assistance, athletic training and social work to come together to approach how they might collaborate in different settings. The IPE setting prepares them to work with other professionals and learn how to meet client’s needs using different resources. For students interested in the Bachelor of Social Work program, there are regular informational sessions advertised on the program’s Instagram @ cbu_cbss. Students can also find more information at https:// calbaptist.edu/programs/bachelor-of-social-work/.

Soﬁa Eneqvist | Banner

PERSPECTIVES September 17, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 1

CBU reflects on the 20th anniversary of 9/11; a look through the past

4 2 6 5

1. A student places a flag in Stamps Courtyard in 2016.

4. The Associated Students of California Baptist University helps honor those who died by

2. During a previous tribute on campus, Christiann Young, senior accounting major, bows in

providing flags for students in 2018.

prayer in the middle of Stamps Courtyard where 2,977 flags were placed in honor of those

5. In 2012, students who live in The Cottages decorate their lawns in remberance of the tragic

lost during the attacks of Sept. 11 .

events.

3. CBU honored 9/11 in 2014 by forming a cross made of flags with lit edges to stand out as the

6. Ahnas Nieves, junior music major, pays tribute to those lost in 9/11 at the 2021 tribute in Stamps Courtyard.

sun set over Stamps Courtyard.

Photos by Elijah Hickman, Lauren Shelburne, Jonathan Logerstedt, Kia Harlan

9 SPORTS Cross-country teams hit ground running Sept. 17, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 1

Both teams sweep first competition of the fall BY AIDEN HOBSON SPORTS EDITOR

The California Baptist University men’s and women’s cross-country teams hit the ground running to open the fall 2021 season with a perfect win at the Anteater Opener, hosted by the University of California, Irvine. The CBU cross-country teams swept both team and individual titles, repeating their dramatic sweep of the 2020 Western Athletic Conference championships. “We were obviously coming in tired, coming in on a pretty heavy load, and so I was pleased,” said Adam Tribble, head coach of the cross-country teams. Tribble said that the beginning of the race did not go according to the pre-determined race plan, but he was happy with the result. “I thought both teams did a good job of adjusting and adapting to things,” Tribble said. “When (the race) did not go perfectly, (they found) a way to get it done.” Along with the team wins, CBU had two individual winners in Yasna Petrova, freshman international studies major, and Ivo Balabanov, graduate student. “It was my first race here, and I had never raced with so many girls before and I had

Elijah Hickman | Banner

The men’s cross-country team races competing teams to the finish line.

never heard of things like teamwork during the race,” said Petrova. “That is what I enjoyed the most: I could communicate with the girls during the race and it was so pleasant.” Petrova won the women’s 4000-meter race in 14:06.8, while Balabanov won

the men’s 6K with a time of 18:39.3. “I am glad that I could take the win because it is always a good start when you start with a win,” Balabanov said. “Also, I am glad that my team was in first place. It means that in the next races we will perform well against faster guys at the

more important races.” Tribble said that seventeen different countries are represented on both the men’s and women’s cross-country and track teams. The team’s diversity allows the runners to bond around their shared and distinct national and cultural heritages.

“I am very happy I could share the win with my teammate, Ivo, who is also from Bulgaria,” Petrova said. “I am very excited for the next races.” The CBU cross-country and track teams will attend the UC Riverside Invitational on Sept. 18 in Riverside.

“

We were coming in tired, coming in on a pretty heavy load. Adam Tribble Head Coach Crosscountry and Track

LANCER of the issue

NAME:

Ivo Balabanov

MAJOR: Kinesiology NOTEABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Won the 2021 men’s 10000-meter Western Athletic Conference title • Set the CBU 8000-meter cross-country record in 2021

YEAR:

SPORT:

Graduate Student Cross-country

MOST PROUD OF: “Most of the races were a pretty huge challenge for me, just with the amount of people we start with, but at the end everything just went nice.” Photo Courtesy of Athletics

FAVORITE MOMENT:

FUTURE PLANS:

“My favorite moment was winning the WAC championship in Texas. Ever since I’ve been here [at CBU] that’s been my goal. ”

“We have a pre-nationals race (coming up) and so my goal is to help myself and my team go and compete there, because it’s an important meet. ”

ATHLETIC GOALS:

“We have a lot of races coming up, whether it’s in cross-country or track, and so I want to do some great things there.”

BUSINESS & TECH September 17, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 1

Worker shortage inspires incentives BY ALEXZA BAHNMILLER ASST. B&T EDITOR

Although companies are opening back up due to lifts of some of the restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, workers continue to be reluctant to return to work. This has created a worker shortage, leaving businesses working with ways to encourage their workers to return to work in-person. As an incentive to get more people to work, businesses have been promoting things such as bonuses or referral payments. Burger King has a $200 signing bonus offer while signing bonuses offered by MacDonald’s have reached $1,000. Tim Gramling, dean of the Robert K. Jabs School of Business, said there are several major factors for this labor shortage. In the 2010s, companies were opening spaces up, taking down walls and barriers. “This was thought to improve teamwork and a sense of togetherness,” Gramling said. “Now, companies are investing in construction to bring back the separation due to COVID health concerns. Plexiglass barriers are common now.” These open spaces make workers reluctant to return to work due to the risk of exposure to COVID-19. “Certain forces encourage this reluctance,” Gramling said. “The fear of safety is one, especially due to the pre-COVID common open workspace layouts. Another force is the extension of unemployment benefits.” Some companies are spending more money to enable social distancing in the workplace, while some workers are still reluctant to go back and inflation is increasing. Gramling said there is proof of this worker reluctance even at CBU. “The senior staff have to pitch in by emptying trashes and cleaning tables to fill in for missing staff,” Gramling said. Dakotah DeRoos, junior

Photo Illustration by Luc Stringer | Banner Workers look for job incentives as they prepare to enter the workforce. biochemistry major, got a night shift job at Walmart in June. “Normal hourly wage for the night shift was $15.50, but I got offered $18.75 because they really needed workers,” DeRoos said. “Night-shift is the stocking shift, and we only had about 20 people on staff, with at least five calling out per

night. People were constantly quitting, resulting in us having to stock twice as much. They also encouraged a 30-minute lunch break over the permitted 1 hour so that more work could get done.” Sarah Mandzok, freshman pre-nursing student, worked as a server mid-pandemic.

“There wasn’t enough staff,” Mandzok said. “The wait times were longer, the food came out slower, the customers would get impatient. It was like a cycle: customers would get upset at the slow service from the few who were still working, meaning they wouldn’t tip, meaning many

wouldn’t want to work anymore because it almost wasn’t worth it.” Job incentives encourage people to begin working again, in hopes of getting the economy back to where it was before the pandemic, such as cheaper prices for goods and services.

These changes can be difficult and different for everyone in every way of life, but as we navigate our way through this pandemic, it is important to remember to always be patient and kind. We are all doing the best we can do to recover from this on-going pandemic.

More students are starting to use e-books BY ALEXZA BAHNMILLER ASST. B&T EDITOR

Technology is constantly advancing and becoming more relevant in daily life. School is just one example of this. Elementary-school children are learning how to navigate computers, while college students may carry around all their class textbooks and necessities on a singular iPad. However, as technology begins to become the norm, we see other things begin to disappear. No. 2 Pencils are replaced

with a stylus. College ruled paper is replaced with a PDF. Textbooks are replaced with laptops and tablets. Whiteboards are replaced with screens. Some people love these advancements, while others are hesitant about how quickly once-common school necessities are becoming more like memorabilia. David Tsymbalov, sophomore political science major at the University of Southern California, said he prefers the new advancements. “Digital makes studying eas-

ier,” Tsymbalov said. “Everything is in one place, (including) all your notes, assignments and materials. You do not have to carry around pens or highlighters or multiple different folders. You know where it all is.” Despite his preference, he said there are some drawbacks to having everything digital. “Since everything is online, there is a factor of laziness in it,” Tsymbalov said. “You do not need to take the extra step of finding the right book for your class or making sure you have

the right assignment in your folder. Having the ‘safety net’ of just thinking everything you need is always with you can lead to forgetting other things, such as finishing a certain homework assignment because you never looked back over it. Also, you do not have to flip through textbooks to find the right answers; you can just Google everything. By cutting to the chase, are we really learning the information that well?” Ash Bedi, freshman biomedical science major, said she thinks studying without tech-

nology is better. “When you study, you are staring at the same thing for hours,” Bedi said. “When I look at a screen for that long, it strains my eyes. It is so much easier to just look at a page that is right in front of you.” Rachelle Torres, professor of English said the advantages of technology outweigh the disadvantages. “Technology allows you to share much more information faster,” Torres said. “As teachers, we have access to multiple ways to teach our students. We

can include links to websites or videos, we can pull up PowerPoints and we can find articles and sources within minutes. The internet also helps the students to connect. They can email, text and call. They have so many opportunities to learn from each other and with each other, as well as to be able to communicate with the teacher.” Though many still love the nostalgic smell of old textbooks, technology presents innovations for learning and conveniences helpful to students.

BUSINESS & TECH September 17, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 1

Popular gaming site responds to educators using the platform BY JASMINE SEVERI B&T EDITOR

Over the past year and a half, many companies have been rethinking how to run and market their websites during the pandemic. As quarantine hit, many website and app-based companies have had an influx of users, and platforms have seen their users expanding use of their sites to stay in contact with each other and run their lives virtually. Discord is a free, popular platform primarily used by gamers to live stream games, play with friends, chat and share content with friends and fans. It operates through invite-only spaces called servers that can host different channels for text, voice and video chat. It includes Discord’s “Go Live” feature that allows people to share screens. Among other features is the ability for the owner of the server and others with permission to assign roles to the users in their server. Assigning roles can give users access to specific features and channels. Discord also has “bots” coded to help make assigning roles easier, if the bot is used. When the pandemic hit, Discord noticed people using the site for a variety of reasons beyond gaming. For example, teachers and students began to use it for education. In response to this trend, Discord released

Michaela Dunn, junior an easy-to-use template for servers made for teachers to civil engineering major, said allow them to interact with stu- she used Discord for communication with dents. a school club John Butler, she set up. assistant profes“I downloadsor of electrical ed Discord for the and computer first time this past engineering, said year for my club, he has been using Society of Women Discord to help Engineers,” Dunn with his classsaid. “It was reales since last the ly helpful because school year, and we had different he is continuing to Michaela Dunn sections for chatuse it now. “I set it up for junior civil ting, for homework and (for) quesall my classes,” engineering major tions. That was Butler said. “(In really nice.” the server) I used Timothy Allec, freshman a bot where I told (the users), ‘Depending on what class you computer science major, said are in, pick one of these (reac- some of his classes are using tions to the post)’ and it gave Discord to facilitate tutoring, them a role automatically. Then and he said he likes it because depending on their role for it helps to streamline commuwhatever class they are in, I set nication. “Teachers can get the inforup a general text channel, and a general audio channel for each mation out there to their students, set up discussion groups of those.” Butler said that this in- and set up tutoring,” Allen said. stant-communication platform “I do not see a problem with it, both encourages students to and I think it works well. It is interact with each other and instant communication, so it is lessens his workload. Students very fast to communicate and to began to ask questions in the keep track of when tests are due chat they would have nor- or where to find them.” If students or teachers want mally emailed to him. Most of the time in the Discord chats, to set up a server for their classother students in the class es, visit discord.com or downwould answer each other’s load the mobile app and make a free account. questions first.

“

(Discord) was really helpful because we had different sections for chatting, for homework, and for questions.

Photo Illustration by Elijah Hickman | Banner Many students, and now some professors, use the app Discord to stay in touch.

Costs push companies to move headquarters out of California BY JASMINE SEVERI

growing businesses, some of which will become the transforA lot of prominent business- mational giants of tomorrow,” es got their start in California, Vranich and Ohanian said in but over the past few years their paper. Joel Bigley, assistant busimany businesses have decided that the cost of living and ness professor, said he thinks the rise of taxes and real estate California’s tax policies make it prices are enough to make them difficult for small businesses to make it, and that move their headloosening those quarters out of policies could California and to help keep more states with easier businesses from taxes and where moving to states they would not with easier tax need to pay their policies. workers as much. “They could Tim Grambe more friendling, dean of the Tim Gramling ly towards small Robert K. Jabs Dean of the Robert businesses from School of Business, said these K. Jabs School of a policy perlosses are cycliBusiness spective (and) a tax perspective,” cal, due to the constant rise California had Bigley said. “They could (also) been on up until this point, it do a better job concerning the was bound to come down at environment of crime. Companies have extra expenses associsome point. “California is coming off of ated with security and so on, so what had been a really long, they could do a better job with steady growth pattern, predom- that. Of course, crime rates also inantly driven by Silicon Val- affect real estate values. In placley,” Gramling said. “Because es where there is crime, there of that, and all the ancillary are typically lower real estate businesses that grew up in Sil- values than in other places. It icon, San Francisco, San Jose is not good for people to live in and this whole area, and that a state where there is a lot of spilled over into the rest of the crime because then their real state, there was bound to be estate value goes down.” Gramling pointed out that something of a drop-off. Those executives and those workers while there is an increasing either got to retirement age or number of businesses that are have been working for a while moving out, that number is still and wanting to change the in- nowhere near the number of dustry, or wanting to step out businesses starting up in Caliof the industry. Now you see the fornia. The state is still gaining effect of the down (portion) of businesses, just at a lower rate. “California still leads all the cycle.” In August, Stanford Uni- states by a very large margin versity released a study on the in the rate of new businesses sudden increase in businesses being started,” Gramling said. moving their headquarters out “(While) somewhere between 100-200 businesses left, someof California since 2018. Joseph Vranich and Lee thing like 90,000 new businessE. Ohanian, the writers of the es will have started.” Gramling said that although study, said in their paper that the headquarters relocation has many business headquarters more than doubled in 2021, and are leaving California, there are expressed their concerns about still plenty of opportunities for college graduates in the state, if this trend continues. “Unless policy reforms re- especially now that working verse this course, California remotely is increasing in popuwill continue to lose business- larity. “A number of college grades, both large established businesses, as well as young, rapidly uates and families of college

B&T EDITOR

“

California still leads all states by a large margin in the rate of new businesses being started.

Emily McGinn | Banner

graduates are finding it is actually reasonable and tenable for those graduates to just move back home because a lot of them can work remotely,” Gramling said. This has been the case for years now, but the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of companies who have employees working remotely. “I am in that situation with my family, with my son who himself has three sons,” Gramling said. “We are finding that it is more effective for him to actually move back in with us because a lot of his work can be done remotely. He is working in another state, but he can still make his livelihood here. As that happens, it becomes less important where the company headquarters actually is.” Sakai Kelly-Nyx, freshman pre-nursing student, said she thinks working remotely can be the future for many of her peers. “Technology is very important to everyone’s lives, as much as (some) would hate to admit it,” Kelly-Nyx said. She said she believes working remotely will be more common, especially now that many companies have been forced to figure out how to do it due to the pandemic. Now that restrictions are starting to loosen up, people might want to stay close to their families to reunite with them after a year and a half of varying degrees of quarantine and to avoid being quarantined away from them again. Gramling said he believes college students and graduates should not let the changing business landscape discourage them from staying and living in California. “California is such a large state with so many opportunities across the board, that there will inevitably be cycles,” Gramling said. “And so the choice to stay or leave a state for an individual is very different than it is for a company. I would encourage graduates to look at all their options. But California, with all the work here, clearly remains a very strong option for college graduates.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT September 17, 2021· Volume 69 · Issue 1

Disney faces lawsuit for dual-release BY EMILY MCGINN MANAGING EDITOR

Actress Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney on July 29 in response to Disney’s decision to release “Black Widow” on Disney+ Premier Access at the same time the movie began to show in theaters. Disney released Marvel’s “Black Widow,” starring Johansson, on July 9. Beginning on July 9, audiences could watch the film in theaters or through Disney+ Premier Access, which allows Disney+ subscribers to pay an additional fee to access new movies. This dual-release process has become more common during the COVID-19 pandemic to decrease COVID-19 transmission at theaters. Disney has opted to use the dual-release system for a collection of other recent movies, including “Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Cruella” and “Jungle Cruise.” Johansson claimed that Disney breached her contract by releasing the film through its streaming service on the same

day of its release in theaters. According to the complaint filed by Periwinkle Entertainment, Inc. on behalf of Johansson, the dual-release caused Johansson to lose money as her profits were linked to the movie’s box office receipts. “To maximize these receipts, and thereby protect her financial interests, Ms. Johansson extracted a promise from Marvel that the release of the Picture would be a ‘theatrical release,’” Periwinkle Entertainment, Inc. said in the complaint. “As Ms. Johansson, Disney, Marvel and most everyone else in Hollywood knows, a ‘theatrical release’ is a release that is exclusive to movie theaters. Disney was well aware of this promise, but nonetheless directed Marvel to violate its pledge and instead release the Picture on the Disney+ streaming service the very same day it was released in movie theaters.” Johansson accused Disney of trying to maximize its own profits while minimizing hers through Premier Access prof-

its and increasing Disney stock value. However, Disney denied the claims, citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for dual-release decisions. Ordinarily, movies would remain in theaters for three or four months before being released on streaming platforms. “I feel like Disney’s dual-release system is mainly a way to entice people to purchase a Disney+ subscription,” said Luke Hernandez, freshman criminal justice major. “I feel like Disney should be clear with what exactly they are planning to do much before it happens, and the actors or actresses involved might be able to come to more of an agreement beforehand. In the case of an emergency, I feel like Disney should still attempt to reach out, but as the main corporation, it is mainly their decision to make.” As of Sept. 12, domestic box office sales for “Black Widow” had reached $183 million, while worldwide sales had reached $372 million. In the past, Mar-

“Black Widow” was released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ on July 9. vel movies such as “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame” grossed billions of dollars in box office sales while in theaters. “Originally I liked the idea of Disney releasing movies on

Disney+ while theaters were closed, but now I think it presents an issue,” said Kristie Wiseman, junior biomedical major. “People are losing money because it is easier to watch movies on Disney+ than in a

Photo Courtesy of Disney movie theater. I think they should wait longer now before opening it on Disney+.” Despite the lawsuit, Disney has indicated that the dual-release system might continue beyond 2021.

Marvel introduces new superhero BY EMILY MCGINN MANAGING EDITOR

Marvel Studios introduced their newest superhero in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” released on Sept. 3. The film features Shang-Chi, the first Asian-American superhero to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film intertwines action, humor and culture as ShangChi traces his family roots and faces issues from his past. Dr. Melissa Croteau, professor of film studies, said that the film is unique compared to many other superhero movies because it showcases pan-East Asian culture. “It did a good job at tapping into the deeper roots that a story like that can have in regards to culture,” Croteau said. “It is what ‘Black Panther’ was able to do, but what not a lot of oth-

ers have been able to do, by using a created mythology to get at very real-world issues.” “Black Panther,” released in 2018, explored African roots and culture in ways similar to how “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” incorporates East Asian culture. Croteau said the success of “Black Panther” displayed that superhero films focusing on culture can succeed on a global scale and paved the way for films exploring different cultural identities. Croteau said that bringing more diversity into major film franchises such as those in the MCU can lead to a reduction in harmful stereotypes, especially during a time when hate crimes against Asian Americans have increased. She also said the film has the potential to introduce people to the diversity within pan-East Asian culture. “People seeing Asian rep-

resentation on screen in a way that imbues the cultural image that we have,” Croteau said. “There are a lot of stereotypes, and there always have been. When you walk into a theater and see a superhero film and you see that person has an Asian identity, I think that has the potential to hopefully shift people’s perspective in a positive direction regarding Asian American identity.” Destin Daniel Cretton directed “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” Croteau said that having a director who reflects the cultural identity of the hero in the film set it apart. “All different types of people could have been making larger films all along,” Croteau said. “All this time, all these people could have been directing meaningful stories on a larger stage and were not allowed to.” Miguel Esparza, sophomore photography major, said he

enjoyed the movie from both a visual and cultural standpoint. As someone who is not a member of the Asian-American community, he felt that the film positively shared the culture. “It was visually stunning and the choreographed fight scenes were beautifully done,” Esparza said. “I think that, culturally, ‘Shang-Chi’ felt authentic. It gave me a positive impression of the beauty of Chinese culture, especially in the movie’s slower expository moments.” Croteau said that this movie was also unique because it showcased geographical locations less common in film such as Macau, which serves as a melting pot for East Asian culture. “They did a great job, especially since they focused the film on Chinese culture,” said Taylor Farr, junior communi-

cation sciences and disorders major. “Seeing the different locations in the film set it apart from other Marvel movies I have seen.” Croteau said that “ShangChi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” can not only counteract stereotypes but also serve as an inspiration for East Asian American viewers. “There is a lot of research that says representation on screen, big or small, matters a great deal,” Croteau said. “I think it is invaluable to see yourself being represented as someone who can overcome adversity and is recognized by others as having a certain amount of dignity and strength. It is not always something you can quantify, but it changes the way people see themselves.” Croteau said she hopes this film, along with others like “Black Panther” will continue to shift the film industry to-

ward more diversity. “What I would like to see is more,” Croteau said. “We know that all these different voices can make amazing films. Studio heads just have to recognize the value of that.” During the four-day Labor Day weekend, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” made $94 million at the box office. Marvel Studios plans to release “Eternals” on Nov. 5 and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” on Dec. 17.

“

What I would like to see is more. We know that all these different voices can make amazing films. Dr. Melissa Croteau, Professor of film studies

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

September 17, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 1

ABBA returns on social media BY EMILY MCGINN MANAGING EDITOR

Pop group ABBA is planning to release their new album “Voyage” on Nov. 5. The 10-track album is their first since 1981 when they released “The Visitors.” The band released two songs, “I Still Have Faith In You” and “Don’t Shut Me Down,” from the upcoming album on Sept. 2. In addition to creating their first album after their break in 1982, the band is planning a 2022 virtual concert, which will take place in an arena in London on May 27. The new album and virtual show come after several songs, including “Chiquitita” and “Dancing Queen,” went viral on TikTok over the summer. Dr. Lance Beaumont, assistant professor of music and associate dean of graduate studies and program development, said that social media platforms such as TikTok have helped lead to revivals for artists decades into their careers. He said ABBA’s return during an era in which social media is prevalent might help them reach a younger audience. “I think for sure (social media) has expanded their fan base, kind of like what we see with Fleetwood Mac and what happened about a year ago now with a resurgence of their music,” Beaumont said, referring to “Dreams” going viral on TikTok as well. “It is giving people who might be younger and who had no exposure to who ABBA was outside of ‘Mamma Mia.’ They are now probably exploring their catalog, listening to their music and finding out that they like a band that existed decades ago.” Since technology has changed tremendously in the last four decades, Beaumont said that how music is popularized and shared has also changed. “The Internet and social media have given artists a platform they did not have before,” Beaumont said. “Before when it was just the radio, a DJ was driving your music. If they liked your music, your music was going to get out there, but if not, you were relegated to living in obscurity or just having

a small following. Now that we have moved to the Internet age, you can promote yourself and remove that middle man. The ripple effects of the distribution (on social media) are just massive.” India Regan, junior communications major, said she thinks the accessibility of music through the Internet and TikTok trends will develop a new set of ABBA fans. “Because of information accessibility, younger generations can explore older and less-known fashion and music,” Regan said. “What is culturally popular right now is to be individualistic and as niche as possible. Listening to older music is part of that for a lot of young adults now.” Lilly Vargas, sophomore studio production major, is excited that ABBA is releasing new music. She said that platforms like TikTok are instrumental in promoting new songs and artists, and she feels that social media will help ABBA communicate more easily with their fans. “ABBA’s music is timeless,” Vargas said. “There are many young people who I personally know also love ABBA and grew up listening to them just like I did. I do not know if some of their songs will have more of a modern twist of pop, but we will not know until they release their album. I can only hope younger audiences listen to them with an open mind and appreciation for their art.” Beaumont said that ABBA’s digitally-created show could inspire some other bands to pursue their own creative avenues. However, he said the expense of constructing an immersive virtual show like ABBA’s might prevent it from becoming a common phenomenon. “I know Coldplay, for example, is really big on greenhouse emissions, and they have refused to tour until they can have a tour that contributes zero emissions, so this could be a way for them to tour,” Beaumont said. “They could (tour) in a virtual way and have different locations set up the stage for them to do it virtually.” ABBA’s show will feature 22 of their most popular hits. Tickets became available on Sept. 7.

Home Movies TV Shows Netﬂix Sept. 15 “Nightbooks”

Nov. 12 – “Red Notice”

HBO Max Sept. 10 “Malignant” Oct. 1 “The Many Saints of Newark” Oct. 15 “Dune”

Apple TV Plus Nov. 5 “Finch”

Browse more movies

FALL FALL MOVIES MOVIES 2021 2021

IN THEATERS Sept. 10 – “The Card Counter” Sept. 10 – “Malignant” Oct. 1 – “The Many Saints of Newark” Oct. 1 – “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” Oct. 8 – “No Time to Die” Oct. 8 – “Lamb” Oct. 15 – “Halloween Kills” Oct. 15 – “The Last Duel” Oct. 15 – “Dune” Nov. 5 – “Eternals” Nov. 5 - “Spencer” Nov. 11 - “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” Nov. 24 – “Encanto”

Emily McGinn | Banner

Streaming services shift film industry BY JOSIAH MURPHY ASST. A&E EDITOR

During a recent panel at CinemaCon, Patty Jenkins, director of “Wonder Woman,” “WW84” and “Monster,” voiced her displeasure about how movies that are released directly to streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, look like fake movies. There is something to be said in her statement, as movies that are released to streaming with no theatrical release do not feel like an event. The allure is gone from the sensation of seeing something for the first time, something nobody, sans critics, has seen yet. When in a movie theater, there is fanfare and excitement when the lights go completely dark. Jenkins is arguing that these streaming movies, stripped of this power, do not have the same allure and look cheap, without fanfare, dropped into a proverbial pond with thousands of other movies already streaming. Something that certainly has not helped with the decline of theatrical releases would be the COVID-19 pandemic. Scott Rydelski, senior theatre and comedic arts double major, argues that this topic must be viewed from a circumstantial perspective.

“It seems like a little bit of a snobbish comment trying to say that they’re not ‘real movies,’ because at the end of the day the same amount of people worked on it as a theatrical release,” Rydelski said. Joy Bennett, senior theatre major, does not think that movies released directly to streaming have less of an allure than theatrical releases finding that it doesn’t have an impact “on the craft of a movie.” Of movies released directly to streaming, Bennett noted that Netflix’s “The Woman in the Window” was an anticipated release. “I wasn’t expecting it to be some cinematic masterpiece, I was entertained. I like Amy Adams,” Bennett said. Michael Eaton, professor of film studies and film production, does not blame the film industry and people like Jenkins. “(They are) trying to hold onto the traditional model of theater only release before streaming or other platforms, bjut the technology of consumer consumption is changing, including the fact that many of us have very large screens and pretty good sound in our livings rooms compared to even ten years ago,” Eaton said. “Many consumers don’t even mind

“

Cinema is cinema at this point and great movies can be enjoyed in many settings, not just theaters. The business model is changing for an industry that got stuck in its ways. Michael Eaton, Professor of film studies

watching movies on iPads or even iPhones.” For Scott Rydelski, going to the movie theater was something he did for as long as he can remember, “I love going to the movies,” Rydelski said. “That’s an event for me. Going to the movies is a big deal. It’s something that I want to share with my kids and with this it’s the first sign I’m seeing that the future for movie theaters is in jeopardy.” Rydelski was particularly looking forward to seeing “In the Heights” in theaters, but the fade out of theaters due to the COVID-19 pandemic was cause for a change of plan.

“I was super excited to see this one in the theaters (as a) Hispanic, with like a group of Latinos and just experience it for the first time,” Rydelski said. “I remember being excited for it and being sad that I couldn’t have that experience within that setting.” Bennett said that movies released straight to streaming platforms are accessible and cost-effective. “I really appreciated having access to (these movies) without having the pressure of having to spend money (at the theater),” Bennett said. Some of Eaton’s favorite movie experiences are at home. “I’ve always enjoyed going to the theater for a movie, especially with my wife and/or daughter and with friends, but I’ve grown to love the at-home experience as well,” Eaton said. “The only theater experience that I prefer over watching movies at home is the deluxe seating theaters with food available like iPic. And my absolute favorite might be watching a movie at a campsite with my family on an iPad in the woods.” Both students came to the realization that the theater experience is a luxury that is becoming harder to afford, and, according to Rydelski, people

are going to want to go with the “cheaper experience.” He concluded that because of this, this is where Jenkins’s comments have some validity. But do direct-to-streaming, or simultaneous release movies, look like a Disney Channel Original Movie? Are these real movies, no matter how “fake” they may look to Patty Jenkins? “They feel normal. Yes, of course they feel like movies,” Bennett said. “Hot take: she just said that because [‘WW84’] did worse than she wanted it to do. Maybe she should’ve made a better movie and we would’ve watched it.” Eaton thinks the film industry should’ve seen “the writing on the wall” even before the pandemic. “Cinema is cinema at this point and that great movies can be enjoyed in many settings, not just theaters,” Eaton said. “The business model is changing for an industry that got stuck in its ways.” Scott Rydelski recommends students check out “Marriage Story,” on Netflix, a sentiment shared with Joy Bennett, but she also recommends watching Amazon Prime’s release, “Annette.” Movies released directly to streaming are not fake mov-

ies, as Jenkins says. Movies released on streaming do not have the cheap feeling of say, a Disney Channel Original Movie. Is the future of movies in streaming services? Eaton would argue yes. “The art form itself is still primarily a matter of trying to make the best movie that you can with compelling and emotional stories that stir the hearts and minds of viewers,” Eaton said. “The business side is changing and that’s not a bad thing. Just as music will always and forever be performed live in front of audiences as well as recorded and played back on devices in various settings, cinema will always be enjoyed by audiences in public and private spaces.” While Jenkins isn’t wrong, her generalization is hasty and poorly expressed. No theatrical experience, for example, would save her movie “Wonder Woman 1984,” because no matter what it’s released on it is still a bad movie, fanfare notwithstanding. Arguably, the blow of its mediocrity is softened because of its direct-to-streaming release. The audience doesn’t have to simmer in the defeat of a bad movie ticket when they can just turn on something else.

SPORTS

Sept. 17, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 1

Christian athletes find their purpose CBU athletes discuss sports performance and the gospel BY AIDEN HOBSON SPORTS EDITOR

California Baptist University is an unapologetically Christian university devoted to spreading the good news about Jesus. The school emphasizes the text of Matthew 28:19-20, which reads in part, “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you” (CSB). As a university committed to the “Great Commission” of Matthew 28, CBU strives to glorify God through everything the school is a part of, including athletics. Many of the Lancer athletes are Christians, and they incorporate their faith into their athletic pursuits every day. “Being a Christian athlete means using your God-given talents and abilities to worship and glorify him through excellence in sports,” said Trevor Van Law, senior mechanical engineering major and member of the men’s swim team. Christians are called to bring their faith into everything they do, including athletics. Christian athletes view their athletic abilities as gifts from God, which they can use to spread the gospel. “As a Christian athlete I see it as a blessing from God that He gave me this talent to represent Him on the field,” said Lauryn White, freshman elementary education major and member of

the women’s soccer team. “Being a Christian athlete means I get to glorify God whether I am on the field or on the sidelines.” For Christian athletes, their faith compels them to work harder, compete better and become outstanding competitors. “Although Christian faith is not the only way to approach athletic performance, our Scriptures provide an excellent illustration,” said David Pearson, professor of kinesiology and dean of the college of health science. “The link between suffering, perseverance and hope describe our faith and is analogous to the process of preparing for physical competition.” Many Christian athletes who come to CBU remark that their athletic journeys at CBU help bring them closer to God, and their athletic endeavors become acts of faith. “CBU students and student-athletes definitely come to know the power of prayer during their time on campus, and I have seen so many who choose to follow Jesus faithfully and completely – in competition, in the classroom and in relationships,” Pearson said. Athletes can also find support and encouragement from their fellow Christian teammates. “From weekly devotions to daily prayer to team Bible studies, being a part of a Christian team fosters a stronger and closer team culture by adding another layer of support and fellowship with my teammates, and it gives us the ability to better support each other in and out of our sport,” Van Law said. The Lancer athletes and coaches highlight their Christian faith in everything they do. The Lancers are back in action with fall-season sports and are competing for the glory of God to spread the gospel.

WAC headlines

TheExchange Sports

SAM HOUSTON IN FCS

The new Western Athletic Conference member Sam Houston State University has garnered attention in the latest Football Championship Subdivision polls. They are ranked first in the STATS Perform Top 25 and AFCA Top 25 polls. Fellow WAC member Stephen F. Austin State Universty also received votes in the AFCA and STATS polls. For the first time in nine years, the WAC has had football competition and WAC-member schools are impressing the football community.

Elijah Hickman | Banner

California Baptist University gets ready to play against University of the Pacific.

BY BRETT ROSEN

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR We hate the Brooklyn Nets, don’t we? Unless you were a Nets fan, you probably did hate them. They built a “big three” in a league where we believed the era of “super-teams” had ended and a new glo-

CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPS The Western Athletic Conference recently announced the location for the upcoming WAC Cross-country Conference Championship. The meet will be hosted by the California Baptist University Lancers, but it will be held at the UC Riverside Agricultural Operations location on the campus of UC Riverside. The CBU Lancers look to defend their titles, as the women and men both swept the individual and team titles at the 2020 championships, held in February 2021 due to COVID delays.

WAC GOLF QUALIFIERS Two Western Athletic Conference golf teams have already earned automatic qualifications to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Regionals in May 2022. New Mexico State University, the defending WAC champions, and Sam Houston State University both earned their spots at the NCAA competition. NM State won the WAC conference championships, earning their spot, while Sam Houston (prior to joining the WAC) won their conference championships as well.

rious era of “duos” had started. In case you might be confused on the concept of what a big three is, it describes a team with up to three all-star caliber players. In 2019, every “big three” team had one player leave for a new team. This was amazing news for a National Basketball League fan to hear because for many years “big three teams” ruled the NBA. From the 2012 Miami Heat who had players such as LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, to back as far as the 1980s, where we saw the Los Angeles Lakers rule the NBA because of their own big three in Magic

Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and

in Los Angeles, the Lakers now have

James Worthy.

complete control over the Los Ange-

After this, the Los Angeles Lakers

les fan base. There is now another big

added Anthony Davis to their roster.

dog in the NBA, and that balances out

Now they have added star point guard

the league so that the Nets are not the

Russell Westbrook to their roster,

only dominant team. The Lakers are

as well. Westbrook is a former MVP

now capable, too.

and an Olympic gold medalist. He

So game on, because now that the

also averaged a historic triple-double

Lakers made a “big three,” other teams

(any three player-statistics categories

are following, such as the Miami Heat

from a single season that are above

and the Chicago Bulls. I guess we can

single-digits) in seasons past, which

say that the Westbrook trade to the

no one else has done since Oscar Rob-

Lakers has shaken up the basketball

inson in 1962.

world, and now every other team has

As a Clippers fan myself, I have accepted the ftact that with Westbrook

to move fast because they might miss the train to this new era of the NBA.

OPINION LANCER ON THE STREET

September 17, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 1

What is your favorite thing about CBU students returning to campus?

Justin Hunter Sophomore Computer science major

Grace Martin Junior Sociology major

“This is my first time being on campus and it is full of nice people all around.”

“You get to make connections, and when it is virtual, it is harder to do that.”

Kelly Garcia Senior Radiologic science major

“After being gone for a year and a half we all missed the unity and the community.”

Hannah Lee Sophomore Film major

Nellie Pinkevich Junior Nursing major

“It is a sense of community “My favorite thing about rewhen you are on campus, and turning to CBU is having the resources like the library.” you can feel the love.”

Students should enjoy choosing college pathways

BY SOFIA ENEQVIST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

While attending the freshman kickoff event as a part of Welcome Weekend to interview students for The Banner, I had a moment of awe as I stood there among the crowd.

I could not help but smile as I watched community and friendships form between freshmen and upperclassmen. I was watching so many people begin a new chapter in their lives as I prepare to close a significant chapter in my own life. I am entering my last semester as an undergraduate college student and despite feeling like life is moving at 10 times speed around me, it was a special moment to speculate about how the incoming freshmen will define their college years. For me, I poured myself into student publications and loved every minute of it. Through Lancer Media Group, I have been lucky to meet some amazingly talented, kind and welcoming people.

Thinking about the time I have spent at California Baptist University and what little time I have left, I am so grateful that my college path was defined by my involvement in student publications. At the Welcome Weekend event, I realized there are so many people whose college years were defined by their involvement in First-Year Experience, Community Life, theater, athletics or hundreds of other things. Being in an already reflective state of mind, I had the best time speculating which freshmen would get involved in various campus activities and which would end up like me, with their feet planted in student publications.

“

I hope everyone is lucky enough to find their own newsroom and create a college path they are proud of. Whether you are just starting or heading toward the finish line like me, there is always time to change your story. One of the best aspects of college is that you can be involved in so many things without ever being tied down to one path. One of my favorite cliché college sayings is, “You will nev-

er have as much free time as you do now.” This is true in some respects. You might not have homework after college which means less time spent at a desk, but at the same time, you gain new responsibilities that will take up your time in other ways. I challenge all the freshmen reading this to start thinking about what you want your college years to be defined by because these next four years will fly by — especially if you end up losing a year and a half to a global pandemic. To the upperclassmen and, more importantly, seniors reading this, are you happy with the way your college years are shaping up? If you could go back and do something differently, would

you? Life is best lived without regrets and with life moving as fast as it does, your choices make all the difference when you get to the finish line. Sometimes I wonder how I managed to get as far as I did. It feels like it was just yesterday I was a freshman wandering into the James Building searching for the newsroom and now I am editor-in-chief of The Banner, preparing to graduate and search for my next newsroom. I hope everyone is lucky enough to find their own newsroom and create a college path they are proud of. Whether you are just starting or heading toward the finish line like me, there is always time to change your story.

COVID-19 should change work culture

“

Students should not feel that they need to sacrifice their own body’s health to turn in a paper, listen to a lecture or attend a class or meeting. BY EMILY MCGINN MANAGING EDITOR

Life has inarguably changed in the past year and a half as the world grapples with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, the possibility of becoming sick remains a constant reality as the Delta variant continues to spread. Now, as we resume in-person classes, activities and events, illness threatens to interfere to a greater extent with our ability to complete our daily activities. As we move forward as a society and attempt to return to a quasi-normal life, we must learn to become more understanding of illness as a reason for absence and become more adaptable to other people’s health needs. In a 2019 study reported by Robert Half, a survey of 2,800 workers across 28 U.S. cities indicated that 33% of those surveyed would always go to work when feeling ill and 57% would sometimes go to work when feeling ill. These numbers indicate what many of us feel as students and workers in the U.S.; before the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us would continue with our daily obligations regardless of sickness. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, we must learn to prioritize the wellness of ourselves and others over other obligations.

In the intense work culture of the U.S., absences do not seem acceptable. Missing classes and other activities can impact grades and cause anxiety, which can lead people to attend events, classes and activities regardless of illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those who are diagnosed with COVID-19 should stay home, rest, focus on feeling better and seek medical attention if necessary. In light of the pandemic, we need to align our personal approaches with the CDC guidance for those who are ill by communicating that we understand sickness is out of one’s own control, that we prioritize health and that we will be flexible and find alternate pathways to help those facing illness to fulfill obligations while emphasizing their own health. Even though we are slowly returning to normal activities, COVID-19 has pointed out that our approach to sickness and health in school and work environments must change. We must develop a more understanding culture on campus regarding illness as we move forward. Students should not feel they need to sacrifice their own body’s health to turn in a paper, listen to a lecture or attend a class or meeting. We must realize that our health is a priority, even if that means taking some time off to feel better before returning to our usual obligations.

ETC.

September 17, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 1

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@zc.design20 Email Elijah Hickman at ElijahD.Hickman@calbaptist.edu to claim your prize.

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