Volume 67 | Issue 7 | January 24, 2020
@cbulancermedia cbubanner.com
BY EMILY MCGINN
Students, faculty visit Israel
On top of a mountain in Israel, CBU students are taught about the biblical history that is connected to the location during a trip over the semester break.
ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Twenty California Baptist University students and three faculty members traveled to Israel from Dec. 29, 2019, to Jan. 8, 2020, to visit biblical sites such as the Sea of Galilee and the garden of Gethsemane. The group also visited political sites such as the West Bank and the Gaza border along with historical sites such as the Western Wall. They learned about Israeli history and culture and current issues affecting the Middle East. “(The students) get a sense of events in the Bible coming to life,” said Dr. Anthony Chute, associate dean of the School of Christian Ministries. “Most students come back with the feeling that the Bible is new again. Because of the cultural and political issues, you also get what life is like living in Israel.” Passages, an organization that works with Christian college students in planning trips to learn about and explore Israel, worked with CBU to organize the trip. The chosen applicants attended two informational meetings and watched training videos that provided background information about Israel. Janelle Smith, sophomore Christian studies and Christian behavioral science double major, participated in the trip. “It had a really big spiritual
Courtesy of Daniel Shaw
SEE ISRAEL TRIP | PAGE 2
Paper straws come Veterans supported by CBU, to campus eateries local government resources as food services Programs change standards provide vets its locations by 2020 by impleASST. NEWS EDITOR menting straws made of materials other than plastic, as well Two California Baptist Uni- as newly designed lids. Shake versity dining locations, Wan- Smart has also begun to move da’s and Shake Smart, began toward more environmentalto implement the use of paper ly-friendly straw materials at straws in December 2019. Eric its locations. Many companies have beDaCosta, assistant director of Food Services, said these loca- gun to implement more envitions began to offer paper rath- ronmentally-friendly options, er than plastic straws because including paper straws, as a the companies that license result of the growing concern those locations decided to begin about the effects of plastic supplying their locations with waste on the environment and wildlife. The Environmental paper straws. “For some of our (locations), Protection Agency said plastic waste breaks into we are like a fransmaller pieces chisee,” DaCosta known as misaid. “For examcroplastics over ple, if Chick-fil-A time, which can decided to go to accumulate in paper straws, marine ecosyswe have to go in tems. Therefore, that direction beplastic products cause we carry such as straws their product. For could damage Shake Smart, we these marine ecoare a licensee so Eric DaCosta, systems, harm we have to follow assistant director of wildlife and emit what they are offering with their Food Services toxins. On the other hand, paper paper supplies.” Wanda’s is a food service straws are biodegradable and that sells Starbucks products. much less likely to harm wildAs a result, it receives supplies, life. However, customers have including straws, from the Starbucks company. In July expressed concerns because 2018, Starbucks committed to eliminating plastic straws from SEE PAPER STRAWS | PAGE 3
BY EMILY MCGINN
academic, economic aid BY NATHANAEL HOVDA
ASST. BUSINESS & TECH EDITOR Malik Bellamy, junior engineering major and veteran, leaned against the counter, headphones stretched over one ear, waiting as his food heated in the microwave. In-
side the retrofitted kitchen of the Veterans Resource Center in the Office of Student Success, Bellamy named a list of benefits the office gives to student veterans like himself. Besides the academic resources for jobs and applications, the office gives students the space to relax, study, socialize and network through connections with the city and veterans’ groups. Bellamy recounts the transition between his time as a jet mechanic in the Navy to his study at CBU. “They’re really on top of their game,” Bellamy said.
“They did all of my paperwork and I’ve never had any problem with my benefits since I’ve been here.” Even with around 400 veterans on campus, he said there are always opportunities available to him through the office and even a few free tickets to attend “The Price Is Right.” Stephanee Fontanilla, junior communication sciences and disorders major who works in the Veterans Affairs office, said her experience working with student and faculty veterans has given her an increased appreciation for
their service. “My father is a veteran, so experiencing this kind of welcoming environment is good to be a part of,” Fontanilla said. She noted that while the office is fairly new, students do consistently use its services and the staff is kept up-to-date with on-campus services and veteran events throughout the city. The Riverside Municipal Auditorium hosted a veterans-only job fair Jan. 13 with representatives from a range
SEE VETERAN SUPPORT | PAGE 10
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For Shake Smart, we are a licensee so we have to follow what they are offering with their paper supplies.
Camille Grochowski | Banner
NEWS
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January 24, 2020 · Volume 67 · Issue 7
Australia fi res threaten country THE BANNER
staff PRINT
Asst. Lifestyle Editor Mary Molina Teddy Peña Ashley Moore
Editor-in-Chief Sienna Darula Managing Editor Abigail Wolf
Sports Editor Kelly McKittrick
Photo Editor Kelsie Stevens
Asst. Sports Editors Adityastha Wratsangka Jordan Culberson Cullen Holt
Design Editor Sofia Eneqvist
Social Media Director Taylor Finn
News Editor Sofia Eneqvist
Public Relations Director Austin Romito
Asst. News Editors Emily McGinn Kaylee Elrod Evie Seaberg
Distribution Manager Christian Spangler
Business & Tech Editor Jasmine Severi Asst. Business & Tech Editors Luc Stringer Nathanael Hovda
Advertising Manager Austin Romito
ONLINE Editor-in-Chief Sienna Darula
A&E Editor Jane Robertus
Managing Editor Misty Severi
Asst. A&E Editors Jackson Waldrop Dyana Villa Julius Kwan
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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 Austin Romito at WilliamEdwardAustin.Romito@calbaptist.edu. Thanks for reading!
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BY SOFIA ENEQVIST NEWS EDITOR
Australia has been in a state of hazardous fires and air quality since September, taking over 17.9 million acres of land across Australia’s six states. According to a report by CNN, 28 people have died, and an estimated one billion animals have been lost or reported dead. Additionally, an estimated 2,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged. Australia is known for its hot and dry summer seasons, which contribute greatly to the fire season they are currently experiencing. Since November, the Australian police have charged at least 200 people for arson or fire-related offenses. Dr. Jacob Lanphere, professor of environmental science, said the fires mainly raise an issue for the animals and people in the surrounding area. “Immediately and during the fire, the air quality is an issue with particulate matter in the atmosphere at a high concentration which could cause health problems for people who are sensitive to these issues,” Lanphere said. “Long term — the environment will grow back fairly quickly, the plants, the trees. However, they may have some problems with invasive species taking over the area at a rapid pace.” Lanphere also highlighted the importance of local zoos and conservation efforts to
Sofia Eneqvist | Banner help protect and rehabilitate wildlife and habitats. “A lot of people look down on zoos because they hold animals, but zoos do a lot of good things to help keep animals from going extinct,” Lanphere said. California Baptist University students who call Australia home have had to watch the devastation unfold from afar. “It’s been quite a helpless feeling knowing you’re on the other side of the world and unable to help,” said Georgie Dale, junior marketing major and Australia native. “It’s awful seeing local communi-
ties and places going down in flames. Australia is a nation that genuinely cares and feels everything that goes on so it’s quite devastating for all” Lanphere hopes the fires will encourage people to understand the need to preserve the forests. “Restoration is going to require people putting plants in the ground, cleaning up debris, and forest management,” Lanphere said. “It will never be back to the way it was; it could take 10–100 years to be restored.” “It’s not just the land that’s been damaged, but there’s homes and families so the re-
building and reconstructions will take many years,” Dale said. “The most difficult thing is seeing all of the wildlife starting to disintegrate and all of the homes being destroyed” Gracie Champion, freshman liberal studies major and Australian native, said. “It’s hard watching this happen from the other side of the world, and not being able to do much to help.” Both Dale and Champion urged students to spread awareness or donate to a relief organization such as WWF – Australia at https:// donate.wwf.org.au/donate.
Israel Trip Continued from Page 1 impact on me personally and so many people who went,” Smith said. “Just going there and being in the places where the Bible passages happened created a whole new way to visualize it. I am not going to read the Bible the same way ever again.” Emily Key, senior creative writing major, is another student who went on the trip. Like Smith, she said she believes that visiting Israel helped her comprehend Jesus’s characteristics and life in a deeper way. “One thing that the trip as a whole emphasized was the humanity of Jesus,” Key said. “Seeing the places, hearing the stories in those places and having conversations with people really emphasized that for me.” In addition to influencing participants spiritually, the trip allowed Smith, Key and the others to learn more about the political and cultural aspects of modern Israel. The students listened to speakers discuss issues such as terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After listening to speakers with unique perspectives on
Courtesy of Emily Key
Students walk along the Masada in Israel as they learn about the historical significance of the site. various issues, Smith said she believes she more thoroughly understands the current circumstances in the Middle East. “One thing that was especially cool was that we heard from people who were unfiltered by the media,” Smith said. “Learning the history, as well as talking to real people was eye-opening and life-changing.
Now, I feel like I can participate in conversations about the Middle East and have some sort of perspective.” This was the third trip to Israel that CBU has coordinated through Passages. Chute said CBU plans to send students on the trip for as many years as the Passages program continues.
“At the heart of it, (the trip allows) Christians to go to Israel and experience the roots of Christianity, get a better perspective of our faith, walk in the footsteps of Jesus and feel the tangibility of Scripture,” Smith said. “When you see the geographic context of (the Bible), it makes understanding it a lot clearer.”
Community Life hosts MLK Jr. Day celebration BY SOFIA ENEQVIST NEWS EDITOR
California Baptist University’s Community Life held its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Tribute on Jan. 21 in the Community Life lounge to celebrate MLK’s achievements throughout his lifetime. The tribute featured a collection of photos of MLK with his family, friends and fellow leaders. Community Life also set up excerpts from his many speeches, candles and artwork. “This year we wanted to do something a little different cause normally it had been a variation of listening to the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech and we wanted people to engage with the events that came before and after that,” said Taylor Altizer, assistant director of campus activities for community life.“We
pinpointed a couple of major contributions that he made for voting rights, the Birmingham convention, things like that, where people could learn about him, his life and his assassination” Altizer said. “Also to have a deeper appreciation for his speech that we hear every year, but I don’t think we take the time to step back and think about what it meant.” During the tribute, students were allowed to listen to the eleven-minute ‘I Have a Dream’ speech followed by an activity where students picked up a yellow card that said “Dream” to remind them every day of MLK’s global influence and desire to change the world. “The purpose is for students to take it with them and it’s a size that can fit into their wallet,” Altizer said. “Every time
they see it, they can remember what they learned about the speech and contemplate how has my life been changed because of this. Moving forward, can I change other people’s life by standing up for injustice?” Grace Taber, junior communication science and disorders major, is an activities intern at community life. “I am glad we go to a school that openly celebrates this and that I can be apart of an office that puts this kind of event on,” Taber said. “It is just a passive event where students can decide to reflect if they want to.” Altizer hopes students gain a deeper appreciation for the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and a desire to learn more about him. “Take the work that he did and figure out what that looks like in their life,” Altizer said.
“To understand how they can fight injustice and serve our community not only on a small level but also globally. As well as, in seeing the things that aren’t right and correcting them by not being afraid to stand up for what we believe in.” Madison Chia, junior pre-nursing major, said the MLK tribute is a great way to help educate students on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. “A lot of people can take the holiday and use it for their pleasure without stopping to review history to see the impact that it has on today,” Chia said. Community Life hopes anyone who was unable to see the MLK tribute will take the time to look into the man that Martin Luther King Jr. was and think about the speech’s impact on the world around them.
NEWS
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January 24, 2020 · Volume 67 · Issue 7
Paper Straws
NEWS briefs
Continued from Page 1
paper straws are less durable than plastic straws, which can make them more difficult to use, affect the taste of a drink and require customers to use more straws during each visit. “While I agree with the concerns of students about paper straws, I also think this could be beneficial for the environment,” said Mackenzie Hernandez, freshman communication sciences and disorders major. “Paper straws are biodegradable, unlike plastic, so using them at dining locations such as Wanda’s could benefit wildlife.” In addition to their durability issues, paper straws are more expensive than plastic straws, which can make it more difficult for businesses to find a cost-effective method to implement paper straws. DaCosta also said paper straws often lead to customer dissatisfaction. “I do not like paper straws because they make everything taste bad. They get flimsy and they do not work after a
NEW CALIFORNIA LAWS
Elijah Hickman | Banner
Students display their drinks from Starbucks and Chick-fil-A. Starbucks recently introduced paper straw products.
while,” said Mataya Chidester, freshman exercise science major. Although other dining locations on campus still use plastic straws, many including Foodology, El Monte Grill and Delect-a-Bowls use other e nv i r o n m e n t a l l y- f r i e n d l y
items, including biodegradable and recycled bowls and containers. DaCosta said while there are no current plans to eliminate plastic straws at any other dining locations on campus, transitioning fully to paper straws is a possibility in the
future. “We generally take it year by year and see what the cost is and if it makes sense,” DaCosta said. “We have discussions about if it is cost-effective, what the customer wants and what is best for the university. There are many different factors.”
California has passed many new laws for 2020. Many of these laws benefit the environment and wildlife. Senate Bill 8 bans smoking in state parks and coastal beaches. This law, however, does not ban smoking from parking facilities near these parks and beaches. It is now also illegal to sell products that contain microbeads. Some of these products include facial scrubs, soaps and toothpaste. This law was passed because the tiny plastic in the microbeads has been found in waterways. About two dozen laws passed were aimed at helping the state meet clean energy goals and combat wildfire danger. For example, Senate Bill 167 requires utility companies such as PG&E to devise plans to reduce the negative impact of planned power shutoffs to people with disabilities and first responders. New laws passed regarding the job field, as well. The minimum wage increased to $12 for small companies, and it will continue to increase each year until it reaches $15. Employers are also no longer able to require current or new employees to agree to arbitration as a condition of having a job. The California Consumer Privacy Act is one of many laws passed regarding user privacy. This law allows people to have more control over how their personal information is shared and used by companies. Customers are also allowed to opt out of information sharing and can request that companies delete their personal information.
Sofia Eneqvist | Banner
CBU welcomes new transfer students BY JASMINE SEVERI
BUSINESS & TECH EDITOR California Baptist University welcomed a class of approximately 190 new freshmen and transfer students who are starting their first semester this spring, an increase from last spring. Community Life welcomed the newcomers with Spring Welcome Weekend, starting with a move-in day Jan. 10 and followed by Spring Welcome sessions Jan. 11-12. During these sessions, students were highly encouraged to ask questions. Amy Lima, sophomore photography major and new transfer student at CBU, said she learned a great deal from Spring Welcome Weekend. “(Spring Welcome) taught me to ask questions,” Lima said. “Don’t be afraid to ask a stranger where your classes are or where you can go to see Financial Aid. If you don’t know where the Campus Store is, just ask. People are nice. And I also learned to check my email a lot because professors email you through the school email.” Lima said she thought Spring Welcome was informative, providing her with vital information about the Student Success Center, tutoring and financial aid. The events, which primarily took place on Jan. 11, included CBU’s traditional Kugel Walk. Daniel Garcia, assistant director of new stu-
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No matter our background, no matter our story, he welcomed us, so we want to do the same for them. Daniel Garcia, assistant director of New Student programs
dent programs, said the new students experienced their Kugel Walk a little differently than students this previous fall, and he anticipates a possible change for this upcoming Fall Welcome Weekend, as well. “We are reconsidering the way we do the Kugel walk,” Garcia said. “We separated (the new students) into their First-Year Experience groups, and their leaders took them to the Kugel. They let them know the importance of it, that we are a school committed to the Great Commission and Dr. Ronald L. Ellis’s vision behind that.” Garcia also noted that this new version of the traditional Kugel walk is a more intimate experience for students and student leaders. “They were able to do it in a more intimate way, rather than just walking by and touching the Kugel. It was a ratio of about two leaders to
Misty Severi | Banner
Spring transfer students exit Innovators Auditorium inside the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business after meeting CBU’s faculty and staff at the Welcome Weekend Spring Involvement Fair. 10 students and it was a little more heartfelt, and that’s the direction we’re probably going to go in the future,” Garcia said. Garcia said he hopes Spring Welcome will ease students’ nerves and make them feel welcomed as they begin their new journey at CBU. “A verse we go by is Romans 15:7,” Garcia said. “It says: ‘Therefore welcome one
another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God.’ That is what we want to do for our students; welcome them as Christ has welcomed us, no matter our background, no matter our story, he welcomed us, so we want to do the same for them.” CBU students welcome the new students to the school this semester. Rakiesia Snyder, freshman English major,
offered her advice to students coming in this spring. “I can say that it’s very important to balance everything,” Snyder said. “Don’t play more than you study or study more than you play. It may be difficult at first but you really can have the best of both worlds.” Snyder also stressed the importance of socializing. She said having people around can
make college life easier, in her experience. Apart from the Welcome events for new students each semester, Community Life, Residence Life, the International Center and Spiritual Life has many activities for students coming up this spring, including free concerts, cultural excursions and a picnic this spring for commuter students.
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LIFESTYLE
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January 24, 2020 · Volume 67 · Issue 7
Riverside views offer higher perspectives of life BY SOPHIE GRAVITT LIFESTYLE EDITOR
In the chaotic life of a college student, it becomes easy to feel overwhelmed by assignments, occupations, extracurriculars and other responsibilities. Taking a step back — or a step up — and viewing life from a wider perspective is sometimes essential. From a higher level, the little things that cause stress seem to fade away. So, grab a friend, get to a higher elevation and take a deep breath. There are many places to view the city of Riverside from a higher perspective, all within close proximity to California Baptist University. These environments are perfect spots to visit for dates, picnics, photoshoots or to simply unwind. The best part is that they are all free. One of these places is Sycamore Highlands Park, located on Fair Isle Drive in the neighborhood of Canyon Crest. This park sits on the top of a hill, which allows its visitors to see a huge portion of the city, as well as its mountains. It includes a playground, a large gazebo, a vast green field and miles of hiking trails in the hills. Alexis Guerrero, junior pre-nursing student and intercultural studies major, said this is her favorite place to watch the sunset because of its breathtaking view. She explains taking time to be still in this setting leads her to a deeper connection with God who created all things. “Sycamore Highlands Park is my favorite place to go to just relax, breathe and enjoy a
Smoke fills the sky in Riverside because of fires in the surrounding area in August 2018. People hiked to the top of Mt. Rubidoux to get a view of the sunset during the fires. peaceful sunset. This view lets me see how beautiful it truly is to remember all that is handmade by (God),” Guerrero said. Another local place with a view is the University of California, Riverside’s Botanical Gardens. Not only does this location contain endless greenery, but it also offers an elevated view of nature at the top of a hiking trail. From this perspective, visitors are able to see a diverse collection of plant life in its entirety.
Hannah Brodie, sophomore communication sciences and disorders major, chose to take her senior prom photos at the UCR botanical gardens. She mentioned it felt like a whole other world amid the vibrant plants. “The botanical gardens at UCR are a beautiful place for photoshoots of any kind because of the scenery. My favorite part about this location was a bridge that goes over a creek surrounded by trees. I felt like
I traveled to an entirely new place,” Brodie said. Located on Van Buren Boulevard, the California Citrus State Historic Park is another scenic place to pass time. This park displays some of the key qualities for which California is known. Surrounded by orange groves and palm trees, the trails and hills of this state park are refreshing for visitors. At the top of the trails, there is a hill lined with palm trees that over-
looks the entire park and most of the city. This historic park hosts weddings, festivals, photoshoots for special occasions and more. Shekiah Warner, senior intercultural studies and photography double major, explained how she has always had a passion for taking pictures. When she moved from Fresno to Riverside, she was eager to find new locations for photoshoots. When she discovered the citrus park, she was eager to organize
Belle Balkan, freshman healthcare administration major, cuts up raspberries into small pieces to put them into her overnight oats, a form of breakfast oatmeal that can be made in advance.
Austin Romito | Banner
a photoshoot. “The California Citrus State Historic Park is a go-to destination for weddings and couples’ sessions. It’s the perfect spot for an outdoor venue that showcases the beauty of the Inland Empire,” Warner said. Whether students are looking for a place to relax, a fresh background for pictures, a romantic view for dates or just a new sight to see, these locations near Riverside can provide a new perspective.
Camille Grochowski | Banner
Recipes make cooking in dorms easy Students try new foods, explore dorm-friendly recipes, more BY MARY MOLINA
ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR California Baptist University has many options for eating on campus, but sometimes students just want to cook in their dorms. A home-cooked meal can bring a sense of comfort to students living away from home. Here are some easy recipes for college students to whip up in their dorm. The mornings can be a tricky
time for college students trying to make it to early classes. Some students cannot find time to make breakfast. An easy fix is to have something you can prep the night before, such as overnight oats. Banana Raspberry Overnight Oats Ingredients: ½ cup old-fashioned oats, 1/3 cup Greek yogurt, ½ cup milk, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup or honey, ½ banana, ½ cup raspberry, ½ tablespoon chia seeds. Instructions: Step One: Simply combine all ingredients and pour into a glass jar. Step Two: Let it sit in the fridge overnight, then add toppings and enjoy. After morning classes, students may need an easy lunch they can fix up in their room.
Carissa Arguello, senior kinesiology major, said she likes to find easy and tasty recipes to make when she gets home from classes. “Potato tacos are an easy recipe that I love to make. It tastes really good and doesn’t take much time,” Arguello said. Vegan Potato Tacos Ingredients: Potatoes (desired amount, chopped), 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 bell pepper (chopped), 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning, 1 can black beans, 1 can refried beans, flour or corn tortillas, 1 cup of lettuce (chopped), 1 avocado (diced), hot sauce. Instructions: Step One: Add the chopped potatoes to a pot and cover them with water, bring the water to a boil and cook until tender with a fork, then drain out the water.
Step Two: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat, add in potatoes with the chopped bell pepper and taco seasoning. Step Three: Cook potatoes for 5—7 minutes and flip until each side is crispy. Step Four: Add the black beans and refried beans to a separate pan over medium heat, stir to combine. Step Five: Once heated turn it to low, wrap the tortillas in a towel and microwave for 30 seconds. Step Six: Assemble layers of beans to tortilla, followed by potatoes, lettuce, avocado and hot sauce. When it comes to dinner after a long day of school and activities, there is nothing better than some comfort food. Lauren Gallagher, junior public health major, shares one
of her favorite recipes. “My favorite recipe to make is definitely Indian coconut curry with rice and naan bread. I really enjoy making it because when I get tired of campus food, it’s an easy ‘gourmet’ meal that I can make with one pan and a rice cooker,” Gallagher said. Indian Coconut Curry Chicken Ingredients: 2 pounds chicken breast cut into ½ inch chunks, salt and pepper to taste, 1 ½ tablespoon vegetable oil, 2 tablespoon curry powder, ½ sliced onion, 2 cloves of garlic (crushed), 1 can coconut milk, 1 can diced tomatoes drained, 1 can tomato sauce. Instructions: Step One: Season chicken chunks with salt and pepper. Step Two: Mix curry powder and oil in a large skillet over
medium-high heat for 1 minute. Step Three: Add garlic and onions and cook for 1 minute. Step Four: Add chicken chunks and toss to coat with the curry mixture, reduce to medium heat and cook for 7–10 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the center. Step Five: Pour coconut milk, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce into the pan and stir. Step Six: Cover and simmer while stirring occasionally for approximately 30—40 minutes. Serve over rice and with naan bread. These recipes provide options for students to cook in their dorms and take a break from eating out. Cooking in your dorm is an easy way to make healthy choices and also have a fun activity to do with friends.
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January 24, 2020 · Volume 67 · Issue 7
Ladies’ Night allows students to connect BY SOPHIE GRAVITT LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Free haircuts, manicures, massages, henna tattoos, fitness classes, community and a ladies-only space. Female students have the opportunity to treat themselves to a night of self-care and fellowship. California Baptist University’s Recreation Center hosted a Ladies’ Night event on Jan. 21 to kick off the spring semester. This event was an opportunity for female students to start the semester by connecting with one another and building relationships. Tahlia Wilson-Nealy, graduate assistant at the Recreation Center, said she enjoys this event because it allows women to make new friends, enjoy themselves, socialize and have fun during a time that can be quite stressful. “This event gives ladies the opportunity to get connected to one another on campus and find resources in other women who are in different positions in life. Women are able to find common ground and say, ‘We are here and we all love God. In the meantime, we can enjoy one another and have fun,’” Wilson-Nealy said. Last semester, the attendants of Ladies’ Night filled out a survey offering assessments and responses on their opinion of the event. Staff at the Recreation Center reviewed these
responses and incorporated new elements such as front-ofthe-line passes for the girls that signed up. These passes allowed the students not only to enter into the event at the front, but also to receive first priority for the services offered at the event. Wilson-Nealy fondly recalled a memory of last semester’s Ladies’ Night event in which four women who had never met one another became friends during the evening’s relay race. To Wilson-Nealy, this represented the primary goal of Ladies’ Night: Encouraging spontaneous yet genuine companionship. Molly Enns, junior marketing major and Spiritual Life intern, ran a booth at Ladies’ Night advertising the Urban Excursion trips that Spiritual Life offers. She explained that Ladies’ Night was the perfect opportunity for women to see all the resources and opportunities available specifically to them. “I love how the female students of CBU are building community together, looking to learn more about different things and having fun in a guyfree zone. It’s a great chance for women to grow as followers of Jesus and meet other Christian women,” Enns said. Ladies Night showcased all of the possible ways for women to come together, relax and learn something new about
Trixie Witham, sophomore finance major, enjoys a free hair cut during the spring 2020 Ladies’ Night event. themselves and their environment. Angela Bucholz, senior nursing major, is a member of the Peer Health Education Club, a club whose purpose is
to educate women on efficient ways to stay healthy. “We are here to educate about women’s health, which is a perfect resource to have avail-
able at this event. Specifically, we encourage women to take folic acid which is good for your skin, memory and health in general,” Bucholz said.
Gabrielle Tieman | Banner Ladies’ Night is a special event offered at CBU once a semester. Students can look forward to the next Ladies’ Night event in fall 2020.
Undeclared students share diverse experiences BY TEDDY PEÑA
ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR Being a young adult is already a confusing time for anyone. Add in outside pressures including higher education and trying to figure out a future career and the struggle only intensifies. Declaring oneself “undeclared” is not an actual major. It indicates students who have not yet declared an official major. There are currently approximately 80 undergraduate students at California Baptist University who are undeclared, which is 20 fewer than when the 2019-2020 academic year started in September. Izzy Villarosa, a sophomore who is currently undeclared,
explained that she decided to enter California Baptist University undeclared because she did not know what path she wanted to take yet. “Some of the GEs I already took helped (me) figure out what I like and dislike,” Villarosa said. Villarosa explained she explored different majors by using the general education requirements to her advantage. Taking diverse classes from within the general education requirements is a good way to expose oneself to the different fields CBU has to offer. Villarosa said her family was also a helpful resource. Oftentimes, their surrounding community can guide students to
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Reflect and take your time to see what your interests are.
Carlo Torres, sophomore healthcare administration major
areas of study that might interest them. “We have other family members who work in what I was thinking of doing,” Villarosa said. Students who are undeclared also have the opportunity to work either on campus or off campus and explore their interests in those settings.
Carlo Torres, sophomore healthcare administration major, said, “working at the College of Nursing immensely influenced my decision in choosing my major.” Every student has his or her own journey to how they ultimately decided on a major. Some undergraduates take a multitude of personality assessments and others proceed straight to statistics and figures regarding career salaries. “It mostly consisted of me looking at subreddit pages from employees who described their duties, tasks and projects from their occupation,” Torres said when describing his own process of discovering a major. Samantha Naple, assistant
director of Academic Advising, said undeclared students are common. “There’s not a ton of them, but we do get quite a few of them at the beginning of each (academic) year,” Naple said. Many students who were previously undeclared have advice for those unsure of what they want to study. “School is hard in general, but all you can do is look around and find what you like and persevere,” Villarosa said. Torres encouraged students to do some self-reflection before declaring a major. “Reflect and take your time to see what your interests are,” Torres said. Naple explained that stu-
dents, both undeclared and declared, benefit from the online resources that CBU provides. “One of the resources that we do hand out is the ‘Focus II’ assessment, which you can find on InsideCBU,” Naple said. The Focus II assessment gives the student a solid understanding of their strengths and passions. It is common to be unsure about the future and all that it entails. With the right mindset, any person who is still exploring various career paths will be set up for success. Being undeclared in college allows for healthy growth both mentally and personally, which is valuable in the young adult years.
Spring transfer students adapt to new college environment BY ASHLEY MOORE
ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR The Spring 2020 semester has brought withmany new transfers. For a spring transfer, it can be nerve-racking to be at a new school. There are, however, many ways to get plugged into campus events and meet students who can become lifelong friends. From joining different clubs offered to attending sporting events, California Baptist University is full of ways to make any new student feel right at home. Joshua Hernandez, senior computer science major, transferred to CBU in the spring of 2018. He recalls his transfer experience as “different” than others as a result of being a late admissions student and wondering if he would even get into the school. CBU had also been a bigger campus than his previous community college, making it more difficult to navigate. Not knowing where all the buildings and offices are can make the campus seem larger than it actually is. “I walked around campus to make sure I knew where I was going, which I highly recommend. Just walking around campus and figuring out where
your classes are before school starts,” Hernandez said. Taking the day before classes to start to walk around and learn the layout is one way to become more familiar with the school. This way, the first day of the semester will seem less intimidating.
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If there is something you want to be a part of or take a chance on, do it. Rachel Lightenberg, undergraduate admissions counselor
Kyle Jordan, senior exercise science major, transferred to CBU in the spring of 2018, as well. Jordan recalls his first week of classes as “going with the flow.” He attended the first basketball game as a way to get connected and speaks highly of going to events to meet new people. Hernandez and Jordan met each other at a campus coffee event through FYE (First Year Experience), then called FOCUS (First-year Orientation to Christian University Success), and have been great friends
ever since. Leaders of FYE were there to help their students adjust to new college life. “It was nice to have people who genuinely cared,” Jordan said. “They also went beyond the timesheet and just made you feel like you were part of the community.” Nights such as these, full of friends and connections, is what drove Jordan to become an FYE leader. Those who have had positive experiences with their leaders are driven to help lead others, as well. Rachel Lightenberg, undergraduate admissions counselor, strongly agrees getting plugged in with campus events is the best way for spring transfer students to get involved and make friends. “You won’t be here a long time. If there is something you want to be a part of or take a chance on, do it,” Lightenberg said. Being a transfer student is a different experience than starting at CBU as a first-time freshman. Each person has a different college experience and different story. Sharing these stories with others can create friendships and bonds that last longer than the years spent at CBU.
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PERSPECTIVES January 24, 2020 ¡ Volume 67 ¡ Issue 7
California offers a variety of views and activities for spring break
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4 1. Yosemite offers large mountain rang-
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es for a variety of outdoor experiences in California. 2. Riverside locals sit below the large cross on top of Mt. Rubidoux while the sun sets over the city. 3. People enjoy the beach in Santa Barbara by playing a game of beach volleyball with friends.
4. Avalon Bay in Catalina Island is full of docked boats that are used as transportation. 5. The Golden Gate Bridge overlooks San Francisco Bay.
Photos by Kelsie Stevens, Austin Romito, Gabrielle Tieman and Phillip Ndowu
SPORTS
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January 24, 2020 · Volume 67 · Issue 7
Stuntin' on 'em Cullen's Column
BY CULLEN HOLT
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR At the beginning of the fall semester and the start of California Baptist University’s second year of Division I competition, I wrote about the top storylines to watch. In this edition of Cullen’s Column, we take a look back at how those storylines developed and a look ahead at the top Lancer storylines to watch this semester. In September, I asked if CBU men’s soccer would be able to replace 2018 top scorer Preston Judd. The Lancers topped their 2018 conference record, but it was the women’s soccer team that stole the headlines by finishing as the regular-season Western Athletic Conference runners-up. The Lancer volleyball team could not replicate their statement 21-win season as a first-year Division I team in 2018, but CBU’s men’s water polo team took home third place at the Western Water Polo Association Championships to secure their best-ever finish in the conference. I wrote that Milan Acquaah, junior business administration major, would be cannot-miss entertainment again this year. He won two WAC Player of the Week Awards and was named on the Lou Henson Award mid-season watch list. Acquaah tested the professional waters by declar-
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A stunt group from the cheer team lifts up fellow teammate Carissa Gonzalez, freshman journalism and new media major, during a basketball game.
CBU assistant coaches step up to lead Lancers program,” said Miller, assistant coach. “I have been with CBU cheer for 10 years, first as an athlete The California Baptist University cheer team is going and then as a coach, and I care through a time of transition very deeply about upholding after CBU’s head cheer coach the traditions of this cheer stepped down in September program. Tami will be greatly 2019, leaving the team to be missed, but we believe our motled by its assistant coaches to: 'Passion, God, success,' is throughout the 2020 competi- bigger than one person. Even though both assistant tion season. After head coach Tamarin coaches have done a tremenFleming stepped down for per- dous job coaching the team so far, they have pretty sonal reabig shoes to fill as sons earlier Fleming led CBU’s this school cheer program to win year, assisseven consecutive tant coachnational championes Brandon ships. Seagondollar “I got the opporand Olivia tunity to be coached Miller have by Tami for two been coachyears. She made the ing both blue program what it is and gold Olivia Miller, now today, but we are cheer teams. CBU's blue assistant cheer coach so fortunate to have two great assistant cheer team competes, whereas CBU's gold coaches,” said Ashley Brown, cheer team performs at CBU junior marketing major. “They have been coaching alongside games and events. “Since Tami's departure, her for a couple years, so they Brandon and I have been able are very aware of what to do.” The team has worked harder to continue the program on its path of excellence in cheer- during the transition in leaderleading. While Tami was here ship to ensure that the coachshe did an amazing job of es- ing change does not affect their tablishing a very well developed ability to work well as a team,
BY KELLY MCKITTRICK SPORTS EDITOR
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Tami will be greatly missed, but we believe our motto: 'Passion, God, success,' is bigger than one person.
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The Cheer team performs a halftime show during a CBU basketball game. with high hopes of winning another National Cheer Association College National championship in Daytona Beach, Florida. Serena Roberts, sophomore health science major, said, “We can do it. We just need to focus and work hard these next couple months. Our goal is to hit two zero-deduction routines and if we do, then everything will fall into place.” Next season brings more change to the program as an en-
tirely new team will be headed by Seagondollar. He will return to CBU in fall 2020 as head stunt coach leading the new stunt team through its first season. Despite the changes, CBU’s cheer team is devoted to bringing home its eighth consecutive championship this year. The team's road to that championship starts with the USA Spirit Nationals on Feb. 1516 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
ing for the 2019 NBA draft. Now a junior, Acquaah and the Lancers have a winning record to start conference play this year. On the women’s side, CBU basketball dropped its first four games of WAC play. There is no need for panic, however, as the Lancers were 0-3 to start conference play last season before going on a tear and finishing as the regular-season conference runners-up. In February, attention shifts to the diamonds as CBU softball and baseball kick off. Lancer softball returns two of three All-WAC honorees, but will look to replace graduated star pitcher Kellie Springstead. Of the six all-conference athletes on CBU baseball’s 2019 WAC championship team, only one will return in 2020. That lone returner happens to be freshman All-American Chad Castillo, sophomore business administration major. Head coach Gary Adcock has just one losing season in his 15 years at CBU: His second season with the program in 2005. In the pool, Lancer women’s water polo boasts two All-Americans on its 2020 roster as the team looks to top last year’s Golden Coast Conference finish when they host the conference tournament in April. If 2019 was any indication, Lancer athletics will make plenty of headlines in the new year.
'Lancer Way' tells athletes' stories BY ADIT WRATSANGKA ASST. SPORTS EDITOR The Lancer Way is a storytelling program run by California Baptist University's Athletic Communications department. Its first story was published in October. CBU Athletics uses The Lancer Way as a platform where CBU student-athletes can tell their personal stories. “Our initial vision behind it is that we wanted to give our student-athletes a voice,” said Daniel Cross, assistant director of Athletics Communications. "It is a platform on our website that they can use to express their stories and reasons why they chose CBU.” CBU's Athletics Communications department had been successful in running its social media by posting game recaps and athlete spotlights, but it did not have a platform for the athletes before The Lancer Way. “We want stories that are real and authentic from our student-athletes that we feel our community can grasp and agree with,” Cross said. To gather material, the Athletics Communications department asks the coaches of each sport to reach out and ask for athletes on the team who might have a story to tell. “We're looking for stories such as different upbringing, nationality or problems that they have to face in their life,” Cross said. Andrew Shortall, director of Athletics Communications, said the Lancer Way stories are interesting because while we often see these athletes on campus or competing, we do not know their stories and the things they have overcome. “The numbers on these (Lancer Way) stories show that they are being read twice as much as the usual game recap stories,” Shortall said. Rebecca Oviedo, sophomore political science major and freestyle and individual medley swimmer with women's swim and dive, shared her story through The Lancer Way. Oviedo is from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and had the opportunity to tell the story of how she came to CBU. “I feel happy on being able to share my story with everyone,” Oviedo said. “The Lancer Way is such a great way for the CBU community to get to know their athletes." Oviedo said she hopes that after reading student-athlete's stories people will understand the hard work student-athletes put in to both athletics and academics and be influenced by what they read. To follow the Lancer Way story updates, visit the CBU Lancers' website at cbulancers.com/sports/thelancerway.
BUSINESS & TECH
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January 24, 2020 · Volume 67 · Issue 7
Veteran Support
Continued from Page 1
of private and public sector employers, some of which were even hiring applicants on the spot. Riverside is home to more than 13,000 veterans, and after a 2016 White House challenge to end veteran homelessness in communities across the country, Riverside was the first to reach functional zero in California. That success is due in large part to continued initiatives by the city to support its veteran population, either through job fairs, outreach or special programs. Edward Coronado, assistant to Mayor Rusty Bailey, said he believes it is important to be proactive rather than reactive. Bailey, an Army veteran, has made efforts to make his hometown a place where veterans feel accepted and supported. One of these current initiatives is developing community partners for Bikes4Vets, a city program that creates custom bicycles for wounded and disabled veterans, free of charge. Coronado noted that while Bailey does not have a vote on policy brought to council, “(He) is very passionate about various policies the city has for veterans. He leads through targeted campaigns, partnerships and initiatives,” Coronado said. Bellamy said, in his own time serving around the globe, that the experience in the military gives a unique insight into leadership, one that gives elected officials a better understanding of how to serve the people they represent. “It’s like a commander to a squadron,” Bellamy said. “You are serving the group instead of the individual.” That mentality is essential to giving the best access and opportunities to those who have served our country.
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Iran situation reveals misinformation from social media users, news sources BY NATHANAEL HOVDA
ASST. BUSINESS AND TECH EDITOR Qasem Soleimani, leader of the Iranian Quds Force, was probably not a household name until recently for most Americans, save for a few foreign policy experts and those well-acquainted with Middle Eastern affairs. But after his death from a U.S. drone strike Jan. 3 provoked tensions with Iran, Soleimani and the nation’s military have remained one of the most searched terms on the internet. In the days following the strike, “Soleimani,” “Iran” and “WW3” were the top trending topics on Twitter and Google with tens of millions of searches. In addition to mainstream media, newspaper articles and talk shows, news of the incident saturated the internet through online memes and social media.
With so much information spreading, most were not even aware that both fake and factual reporting were intermixed within the same feeds. Fake news found its way into the stream of information that people rely on during times of crisis. Officials from the Selective Service System released statements squashing rumors of a military draft and news organizations had to issue apologies for reporting false information during the height of the crisis. Miles Ward, sophomore business administration major, said he believes it is an issue, but not necessarily intentional. “A lot of the problem is people’s tendency to exaggerate and exclusively follow trends on social media,” Ward said. “That was only amplified with the ordeal with Iran.” As social media filters the
information and news to users’ feeds, the line between factual reporting and entertainment can become blurred. That is only projected to worsen as new users continue to sign up across platforms. Even media outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post warn that social networks risk shredding all credibility unless they put a stop to the growing problem. Dr. Chris McHorney, professor of political science and department chair, said that while misinformation will always be a problem on social media platforms, “Ultimately, we (the people) are responsible for identifying the misinformation.” With Iran, McHorney noted the risk of miscommunication specifically because the volume of misinformation was high. In the heat of the conflict, accurate reporting between
governments was critical to ensuring proper de-escalation and the eventual easing of tensions. Michael Metzler, freshman film major, said when he reads the news it largely comes from social media. He said he is aware of the possibility of fake news on those platforms, but news updates often are first to appear on social media before being published by news organizations. “(I heard it from) Facebook,” Metzler said, “and it was before I heard it from a traditional source.” That highlights a growing trend for companies to integrate news features into their platforms, as more mainstream sources have struggled to make the transition. Instantaneous news streams provide access that newspapers and channels cannot, and often do not require paid subscriptions.
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Technology advances in 2010s BY LUC STRINGER
ASST. BUSINESS AND TECH EDITOR From iPhones, social media, video streaming, Uber and more, the turn of the year and the end of the decade marks a chance to reflect on the past 10 years of technological advancement. Netflix launched the first original streaming show, “House of Cards,” Feb. 1, 2013, to critical acclaim. Since then other popular streaming services such as Amazon and Hulu have followed suit, sponsoring and producing shows and films. Because streaming services are easily accessible and relatively cheap, they have become the college student’s entertainment staple and students at California Baptist University are no exception. “I have a Netflix and Hulu
and (I am) always binge-watching shows,” said Gabrielle Ann, junior nursing major. Ann said she believes Netflix will prevail through the next decade and continue to produce popular content. Virtual reality claims its well-deserved spot as another hallmark of the past decade. The Oculus Rift, an ambitious VR headset designed for consumers, launched its successful crowdfunding campaign on Aug. 1, 2012. Kickstarter, a popular crowdfunding platform, reported that Oculus Rift raised more than $2.4 million out of its $250,000 goal. The Oculus Rift VR headset gained so much traction for the company that Facebook bought the company for more than $2 billion in 2014, before it had even released its first commercial product.
Today, the improved Oculus Quest sells for $399 on Amazon and has spawned numerous competitors, from devices that transform smartphones into VR headsets to devices made by Valve, Microsoft and Samsung. Yet VR is not the only surprisingly successful business initiative of the decade. Amazon held a market share of 45 percent as of 2019, according to Needham & Company’s 2019 survey. By 2021, Amazon is expected to control at least half, or possibly more of the entire e-commerce market. “(Amazon is) a powerhouse,” said Sebastian Vasquez, freshman criminal justice major. “They can sell anything and everything. I think Amazon might be it. I feel like Amazon is the easiest and most accessible (e-commerce website) for people.”
Amazon’s market dominance is a testament to its effective business practices. It has truly been an inextricable part of the decade. Dr. Kim Peters, associate professor of computing, software and data sciences and industrial and systems engineering, said the next decade promises to be just as exciting as the previous. Peters predicts a surprising change in our pocket hardware. “I don’t think we will need phones anymore,” Peters said. Instead, Peters said she believes watches, hologram devices and other smaller personal electronics will become the standard for connection with others. Whatever the next decade holds, there will continue to be new and interesting technological advancements in 2020 and beyond.
BUSINESS & TECH
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January 24, 2020 · Volume 67 · Issue 7
Food Lab adds Nashville hot chicken BY JASMINE SEVERI
BUSINESS AND TECH EDITOR Last semester, California Baptist University expanded its dining options by adding Shake Smart and Delect-a-Bowls at Couch’s Corner to its selection. Soon the Riverside Food Lab, a downtown food market with many stands and food options that is beloved by CBU students, is adding a new restaurant to its selection for the first time since its opening in 2018. Baba’s Chicken, the soonto-be new addition to the Food Lab, was previously a pop-up that appeared from time to time in Riverside but is now settling down at the Food Lab. Baba’s Chicken will no longer be a pop-up, but a full-time tenant in the Food Lab replacing Masala Mischief, which was designated a pop-up and had a shorter lease. Mike Hemood, creator of Baba’s Chicken, never planned on becoming the owner of a restaurant. After the first time he tried Nashville Hot Chicken in Los Angeles, he decided to try making his own version and — with great encouragement from his wife — invited some friends over to critique it. “I never thought about starting a restaurant, but I’ve always
enjoyed cooking at home,” Hemood said. “So I had friends come over and I made chicken sandwiches and everybody fell in love with it. They would message me like, ‘Hey man, can we come over this weekend for some chicken sandwiches?’ I thought they were joking, but they were serious. They really wanted chicken sandwiches.”
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We still have customers that have been there since day one. Mike Hemood, Creator of Baba’s Chicken
Hemood said he decided to try it out as a pop-up outside of one of his friends’ stores because of people’s interest in his sandwiches. “We still have customers that have been with us since day one,” Hemood said. “(Back then) it was taking me 45 minutes to make a sandwich but they didn’t care.” Ommar Choudhry, co-owner of Baba’s Chicken, said he has been in the restaurant business since he was a teenager, and his family owns several restaurants.
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Riverside locals look for the new food spot, “Nashville Hot Chicken,” that will soon open among the variety of food options at the Riverside Food Lab. Choudhry teamed up with his friend Hemood after seeing what he could do with just a pop-up. “I’ve known Mike for about five years now,” Choudhry said. “We were friends and he mentioned this idea to me. I said, ‘Let me think about it.’ Then he
invited me to his pop-up, and I ate the food and I said, ‘Wow, this is different.’” Choudhry said he was impressed with Baba’s Chicken’s turnout with just a pop-up and was eager to get into business with Hemood for Baba’s Chicken in a full restaurant.
Whether it is on or off campus, students at CBU appreciate variety in their food options and are sure to frequent these new additions. Brianne Jackson, freshman vocal performance and theater double major, said she was happy to hear about this expansion
of food options near CBU, especially since she said she loves chicken. “I’m here for it,” Jackson said. “I think it’s cool to have diversity in food choices.” Baba’s Chicken will open at the Food Lab on Market Street mid-February.
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YouTube to implement new COPPA rules BY MARY MOLINA
ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR YouTube recently rolled out new guidelines to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), requiring all videos geared toward kids ages 13 and under to be marked as such. These videos will not receive targeted ads anymore. A change in ad rules is meant to protect children from inappropriate ads, but will unintentionally affect YouTubers’ revenue and creative processes. The guidelines provided by COPPA are broad, which leads many YouTubers to be apprehensive about what will be considered as “geared toward kids.” Many believe the start of these new guidelines could begin to affect video content and quality. Susannah Metzler, junior graphic
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If a video is child-friendly, that channel might not mark it as such for money reasons.
Susannah Metzler, junior graphic design major
design major, points out the general nature of the new COPPA guidelines. “Because COPPA is not specific on what makes a video child-friendly, many channel creators don’t know if the videos they release will be flagged as child-friendly or not child-friendly,”
Metzler said. Metzler said she believes this could affect how YouTubers decide to market and promote their channels’ videos and that viewers might see some YouTubers start to be more cautious in their decisions. “So if a video is child-friendly, that channel (might) not market it as such for money reasons. But then the viewers could flag it as such, bringing down revenue for that channel. So I think either channels will ultimately stop releasing videos that are child-friendly or increase content geared toward adults intentionally to make their videos seem less child-friendly so they can still get money for it,” Metzler said. A decrease in views, which will affect ads and profitability, is a possibility with these new COPPA guidelines, as well. James Earhart, senior graphic design major, is aware of how these new
rules will change the way YouTubers approach their videos and try to obtain views. James Earhart has a YouTube channel of his own called Powercordz Project. “Creators who push the boundaries or do not meet the guidelines they will suffer greatly,” Earhart said. “However, creators who have followed the guidelines or adapt to this will more than likely see a spike in views.” With the changes that could come to viewership, additional problems could arise. Earhart said this could effect the creative experience for both the audience and the YouTuber. “These rules were made to appease advertisers 100 percent,” Earhart said. “These rules are so restrictive. It doesn’t allow creative freedom for creatives. These rules are made to ‘protect’ children, but instead of creating a safe space for children to watch content they’ve created an un-creative vi-
sual and listening experience for children to consume.” There appear to be many issues that can arise from this new set of rules and guidelines. The new COPPA guidelines could interfere with content creators’ video content and their ads, however, some people view this as a wise move to protect children and advertisers. Faith Wicks, freshman communication studies major, shared her opinion on the situation. “I think it will be a positive thing,” Wicks said. “It will cost YouTubers a lot of views, which will be negative, but some of these ads are not appropriate for kids. So, in the end, I think it (will be) positive.” The YouTube world is about to change and viewers will see their favorite YouTubers and channels affected. In the end we will see how COPPA will change the overall YouTube experience for viewers and creators.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT January 24, 2020 · Volume 67 · Issue 7
Photography student showcases work CBU student hosts first solo photo exhibition ‘Finding Beauty’ BY JACKSON WALDROP ASST. A&E EDITOR
Raymond Alva unveiled his first ever solo photo exhibition, “Finding Beauty” on Jan. 18 at a California Baptist University studio space. Alva is a sophomore photography major at CBU who has been involved with photography since he was a freshman in high school. Alva said he categorizes his photography style as “experimental portraiture” and has recently been working mainly in the music industry, from tour photos to album covers and promos. Alva’s focus and direction has been developing over his years at CBU. “What I really want to do, especially after the exhibition, is gallery shows,” Alva said. “That is where my work definitely lives and I hope to do more of those in the future.” The start of this change of direction and focus in Alva’s work was also inspired by the classes ‘History of Photography’ and ‘Fine Art Photography’ with assistant professor of pho-
tography Tamara Cedré. “Those two classes really shaped my mind of how photography is an art and how much power it has,” Alva said. “And if you have a gift and God has given you the ability to take photos, I feel that you are obligated to make something meaningful and use it for his glory.” Someone who really helped Alva have this opportunity of a solo exhibition, as well as its execution, was Christopher Kern, photography program lead and assistant professor of photography. Alva said he would not have been able to do the solo exhibition without him. “The blessing is Raymond’s ambition and drive that he has to create and share,” Kern said. Alva is also in a cohort in the photography program whose members Kern said bring a new energy to the program. Alva said he used to be interested in fashion photography but quickly realized that was not for him. “My reasons for sticking with photography before CBU are a lot different from why I stick to it now,” Alva said. “Before CBU, my goal with photography was to take cool-looking photos, and now I want to take meaningful photos. I want to showcase stuff that actually means something, hopefully using this to invite people to think about the topic at hand or about
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A CBU student walks around the exhibition ‘Finding Beauty,’ admiring the featured photographs and displays by Raymond Alva, sophomore photography major. themselves.” Alva’s pieces in the exhibition deal with the concept of abstractness and distortion. “The concept of distorting beauty and trying to take obvious beauty and distort it and still see that it is beautiful. That’s where the idea of ‘Finding Beauty’ came from, how it is perceived and defined and who defines it,” Alva said. “What I find interesting is how true that is about the gospel and what
Jesus did. Jesus loves us, even in our brokenness he says that we are beautiful. So, who is the fashion industry to say what is beautiful and what is not? That’s God, and he says we are all beautiful.” The photos displayed at Alva’s exhibition were all abstract and distorted portraits that did not fit into these constraints that the fashion industry and mainstream portraiture puts on the idea of beauty.
The photos were distorted using sheets of Mylar, a reflective thin layer of aluminum. The same Mylar was placed in the middle of the room of the exhibition so that viewers could have the freedom to distort their image in the same way and connect with the art. Alva intentionally did not release his work on Instagram or social media prior to the event. David Ardil, sophomore photography major and friend
of Alva, said, “He wanted to control the environment these photos were seen and experienced in. He didn’t want Instagram to be the first place he presented them.” Students can view more of Alva’s work on his Instagram @ rapberry as well as his website raymondalva.com. Alva said he hopes to do more gallery shows in the future and wants readers to know that any support is welcome.
Student aspires to entertainment Alumna releases fourth poetry book
BY DYANA VILLA
ASST. A&E EDITOR
Ryan Lee, a junior communication studies major at California Baptist University, is well known on campus for his acting and comedy career. Lee began his career as an actor at the age of five by complete accident. Lee’s family went to Los Angeles to sign on their older sibling and Lee was signed on as well. He began doing short commercials like Clorox, Progressive, and Cold Stone Creamery,Disney Channel sitcom “I Didn’t Do It”, the Nickelodeon sitcom “Wendell and Vinnie”, and the TNT Drama “Hawthorne” with Jada Pinkett Smith. While Lee’s parents expected him to play sports growing up, he preferred acting, dancing and singing. His parents enrolled him in community theater to help him gain experience . After discovering his love for comedy, Lee started doing stand-up at Second City, which is a well-known theater in Los Angeles that focuses on comedy entertainment. “I discovered my love for musical comedy. I felt like that was the place I thrived the most, which was through music,” Lee said. Lee began his journey at CBU in 2017. He had plans to go to a school for comedy but it was too far from his home. To his surprise, CBU was the only school on the West Coast to be offering a comedy major the same year he was applying for colleges. “That was a huge nod from God—the one school I first went to and remember is the only school that offers what I want. God was telling me to come to CBU,” Lee said. Koli Marks, senior theater performance major, said he met Lee in the theater department when he was a freshman and the two had a close bond. “Ryan has many talents but my personal favorite is his dancing skills. We once learned an entire dance to ‘Thank U, Next’ by Ariana Grande that we never actually performed for anyone,” Marks said. “He also
BY SIENNA DARULA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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Ryan Lee, junior communication studies major, performs his self-written comedic song during CBU’s 2019 ‘Woofest.’ knows all of the choreography for Zac Efron’s ‘Bet On It’ number in ‘High School Musical 2’,” Marks said. Marks said he knows Lee will succeed in acting and comedy because of his investment, hard work and dedication. Mark Hopper, sophomore vocal performance major, knows Lee from various theatrical productions they have been in together at CBU. “I first met Ryan during ‘Barnum’ and we built a close friendship throughout the show. Ryan inspires me all the time with his incredible work ethic and talent. Ryan is always working on a new project and it’s extremely impressive,” Hopper said. Hopper agrees that Lee is a talented actor and comedian but he also said Lee has a passion for screenwriting. “Ryan is one of the best screenwriters I know, and even created and starred in his own web-series called ‘Pal Point,’” Hopper said. John Pate, assistant profes-
Be unapologetically you through all of it. Ryan Lee, junior communication studies major
sor of communications studies and department chair of communication arts, said Lee was one of the first declared comedic arts majors and that he has known Lee for more than three years. Pate said he admires his passion for theatrical and comedic arts. “Ryan knows the direction that he wants to go and he does what he knows will get him there,” Pate said. Pate also said that Lee’s drive to succeed will help him with his ambitious goals. “Ryan inspires me as a student because he takes the initiative to find things on his own
and be a self starter. Students usually find themselves and take advice from other students while in school to look for professional jobs later in life, but Ryan is doing that now while he is still in school,” Pate said. Lee performs on a regular basis weekly doing comedy, stand-up, plays, musicals and other performances. Lee is currently rehearsing for both of the upcoming productions at CBU, “Babette’s Feast,” which will open Feb. 14, and “Beauty and the Beast,” which will open in late March. Lee said he hopes to inspire other students to chase their dreams and always be themselves. “Be unapologetically yourself through all of it. The industry can be very daunting, walk into any audition or comedy club and rather than saying ‘what do I need to do for you to choose me?’ say ‘this is me, take it or leave it,’” Lee said.
The road to becoming an author is often long and narrow, but recent graduate Ry Reed just published her fourth book in her pursuit to have a career in writing. Reed graduated from California Baptist University in December 2019 with a B.A. in journalism and new media. Reed’s latest project, “White Orchids,” was published Jan. 8. It is a collection of poems and short motivational stories inspired by her life and experiences. Her journey as a writer started with rejection, but she kept pursuing her passion. “The first book I ever tried to get traditionally published was rejected probably over 200 times — like 200 literary agents — from here to Europe,” Reed said. She eventually decided to publish her first book independently and marketed it to friends and family. To this day, she works with a small team to publish her books independently with no agencies or contracts. “If you have an agent or you work through a publishing company, you have basically zero control,” Reed said. “You don’t control what the book is going to look like, who’s gonna read it first, the beta readers or even how much money you get.” Dina Soliman, 2019 CBU alumna and friend of Reed, has known Reed since she published her first book. She has seen her grow as a writer and a person while pursuing her passion. “I’ve never seen her work so hard for something,” Soliman said. “She went to book signings, book talks, and professors wanted her to speak to their classes. She never stopped working, didn’t want to take breaks. So, from when I first met her to now, she has grown, matured and blossomed into the person she was born to be.”
Reed said she has felt a lot of positivity surrounding the release of “White Orchids.” “It’s been insane—the love that I’ve received. For my first book, I had zero buys. I mean, I had two people that bought my first one online. That was it,” Reed said. “The other day, someone sent me a little video of a young woman who is not from this country and she bought my book. She wanted to ask a question about it,” Reed said. “It’s getting those little things. They’re small, but it’s like little fires that are building up, and to wake up and see that, it’s humbling.” James Veneman, visiting professor of photojournalism, said he got to know Reed throughout her time in his photojournalism classes. After reading “Pink Grapefruit,” Reed’s most recent book prior to “White Orchids,” Veneman said he was impressed by her personal approach to writing. “She reaches her readers at a point of understanding. She shows in her writing that we’re more alike than we are different,” Veneman said. “She does it in a clever, interesting way.” Veneman said one thing that affects Reed’s ability to tell stories is her ability to observe the world around her. “She has a very positive outlook, but one of the things that I think that she really does – wherever she is – she pays attention to what’s going on,” Veneman said. While Reed’s interest in writing began at a young age she never expected to become an author.“What truly got me into this industry, I can’t say. I think you’re just meant to do something. You can’t really explain the why, you just understand the feeling,” Reed said. Reed is currently working on an additional book titled “The Little Red Poetry Book Called Heartbreak,” which will explore relationships. To keep up with her latest work, follow @ry_reedisme on Instagram. “White Orchids” and “Pink Grapefruit” by Ry Reed are currently available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT January 24, 2020 · Volume 67 · Issue 7
‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ concludes the franchise trilogy BY JANE ROBERTUS A&E EDITOR
The latest and final installment of the new “Star Wars” trilogy has been deemed the end of the “Skywalker Era.” “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” directed by J.J. Abrams, was released in theaters on Dec. 20, 2019. With the highly anticipated film’s popularity, there have also been a variety of different reactions from long time fans and newer viewers alike. Although the film has earned mixed reviews from critics and fans and did not have as much box-office success as some of the other “Star Wars” movies, “Rise of Skywalker” has still been popular among loyal fans as the series has drawn a cult-like following for decades. Michael Eaton, professor of film production, said nostalgia can be a big factor in drawing audiences to film franchises such as “Star Wars.” Eaton said he has seen this in his personal experiences with both the original movies and the new trilogy.
“I saw the recent ‘Star Wars’ of the storytelling does not hold movie with my family and I up as well over the years. Torrin Diaz, junior film actually remember standing in line for a whole city block production major, said this final installment with my parents of the new ‘Star to buy tickets for Wars’ trilogy did the 1977 original not live up to the on the second hype it received. weekend after it “‘Episode IX’ opened,” Eaton is a solid film that said. tries its best to He added that Evan Tinker, close out a trilogy the nostalgic apJunior film production that has suffered peal even extends to current genermajor from creative division,” Diaz said. ations in addition Diaz went on to describe the to those who grew up watching specific issues that he found in the original series. “For young fans, there is a the film and how, despite its nostalgia element in their fan- strong moments, it still falls dom also because they get to short. “It might be the best of the go back and watch the original ‘Star Wars’ from 1977 and com- newest trilogy but rushed charpare its quality with the newer acter arcs and goodbyes are a films,” Eaton said. “It’s just as clear sign that this trilogy has cheesy, but the storytelling and failed to live up to its potential,” the visual effects of the original Diaz said. Another difficulty with seactually hold up really well because it was somewhat ground- quels and prequels to existing franchises is the pressure they breaking at the time.” Despite this, Eaton said it face to live up to expectations. Evan Tinker, junior film prois likely that fans may become tired of the constant reboots duction major, also said he had and sequels because the quality issues with “The Rise of Sky-
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It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t what the franchise deserved.
walker” and emphasized how it fell short. “It feels like the film was so focused on serving as a conclusion to ‘The Skywalker Saga’ and bringing back nostalgic callbacks that they forgot to actually tell a decent story that makes some sense,” Tinker said. “It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t what the franchise deserved.” Eaton said he read a review in the New Yorker by Anthony Lane that had a line he found particularly relevant to the current state of the ‘Star Wars’ franchise which reads: “The Force is with us forever, whether we like it or not.” This seems to be a common sentiment as fans and critics alike react to the concluding film in the latest ‘Star Wars’ reboot series. The highly anticipated ‘Rise of Skywalker’ has not met expectations. Although it is unlikely that any sequels will ever be as successful or well-liked as the original, big franchises continue to draw massive audiences because of beloved storylines and characters.
Sofia Eneqvist | Banner
Editor’s Review
To the excitement of their subscribers everywhere, Netflix released season two of the limited series “You” Dec. 26, 2019. Ever since its initial release on Sept. 9, 2018, the exciting crime drama has drawn a large audience of binge watchers. The second season of “You” continues to focus on the main antihero, Joe, an obsessive stalker whose victims are always his girlfriends. This time he discovers a new love interest: a woman named Love, who also falls victim to his stalking in a whole new city. While season one takes place on the East Coast in New York City, in this season Joe chooses to travel all
the way to the sunny West Coast and live out his life of normalized deception and crime in Los Angeles. Throughout the course of the series, Joe’s stalking and violent tendencies remain barely hidden from the other characters on the show, and the suspense of him being caught fuels the majority of the plot. The television show’s story continues its use of narration from Joe’s perspective, which causes the view-
SHOW: ‘YOU: SEASON 2’ STREAMING PLATFORM: NETFLIX er to subconsciously root for him—a smart and engaging choice that adds a complicated element to the dynamic plot. Although this change of scenery and atmosphere provides the show a brilliant opportunity to venture into new territory with a fresh setting and characters, the second installment of the show falls somewhat flat. The slightly repetitive plot of season two feels annoyingly similar to that of season one and, although a
EDITOR’S RATING:
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First months of new Disney streaming met with feedback from viewers BY DYANA VILLA
ASST. A&E EDITOR Disney+ launched in November to provide Walt Disney Co. fanatics with their favorite movies and television shows. The streaming service costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 for a year, making it an affordable plan for families and individuals to enjoy. Its catalog varies from classic Disney films to newer additions and gives users the freedom to choose according to their preferences. Prior to the release of Disney+, Disney announced that they were going to open the legendary Disney vault full of classic films no longer available anywhere else. Disney+ became popular partially because of the 34 films released with the vault. These include movies such as “Beauty and the Beast” (1991), “Cinderella” (1950), “Dumbo” (1941) and more films from the past. With the release of Disney+, Disney also added a new original show for “Star Wars” fans known as “The Mandalorian” (2019). The addition of this show has encouraged individuals to subscribe to the streaming service to watch episodes released on a weekly basis. Although Disney has received positive feedback, there are still customers with concerns. Disney+ lacks newer features that other streaming programs have and faces technical issues such as frequent freezes and problems with WiFi connection. These may be small technical issues, but people expect the latest and greatest from Disney. Nathaniel Alcala, sophomore pre-nursing student, said he could not resist Disney+ when it was first released and decided to pay annually. “What influenced me to get Disney+ was that Disney stripped Netflix of its Disney movies,” Alcala said. “I’m a big Disney fan. My dad has worked for Disney for 25 years and we are really big fans of it; we go to Disneyland all the time. I use Disney+ daily and I find myself constantly binge-watching stuff throughout the day.” Alcala also mentioned his favorite shows that are only
viewable on the streaming service. “My favorite show (on Disney+) is ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (2008). It’s technically not Disney but I’ve been re-watching it and am excited for the new season coming out,” Alcala said. “I like watching ‘The Mandalorian’ and I absolutely love it, although I will say the mid-season episodes were pretty bad.” Alejandro Aguilera II, sophomore biomedical sciences major, also set up Disney+ the week it was released because he was eager to watch “The Mandalorian” and got a free annual subscription with Verizon. “I don’t use it as much anymore, because I mainly used it to watch all the ‘Star Wars’ movies and keep up with ‘The Mandalorian’ because it is the best show on there. Other than that, I enjoy re-watching ‘Finding Nemo’ (2003),” Aguilera said. Aguilera plans to keep the streaming service for a while because he enjoys watching the films with his family and reliving memories. “I like getting to re-watch a bunch of ‘oldies but goodies,’ especially the ‘Star Wars’ movies, but they don’t have a ‘keep watching’ tab, so I would still choose Netflix over it because there is a bigger variety,” Aguilera said. Dr. Krystal Hays, assistant professor of social work, is familiar with Disney+ but is not a subscriber. “I was a Disney fan growing up and I think Disney is great for parents and their children to bond together as a family,” Hays said. Hays pointed out that Disney still has a free app where people can access several movies and television shows without having to subscribe to anything. “There are a lot of Disney followers and because of that I think Disney made a smart move in creating Disney+ because it is an easy target to gain subscription,” Hays said. Disney+ continues to grow and make improvements for its viewers, and despite technical issues it attracts many subscribers to the new streaming platform. There are expected to be more movies and television shows released soon on this new streaming service for friends and families to enjoy.
BY JANE ROBERTUS A&E EDITOR
few changes have been made, viewers may find several of the beginning and middle episodes have a slow, plodding pace to them as there is little progress made until the final episodes. This is not to say that “You” season two is completely void of some bright spots—one of the best being the brilliant performances of lead actor Penn Badgley and lead actress Victoria Pedretti. Both Badgley and Pedretti take a mediocre script and shine through with convincing and often chilling performances in the Netflix thriller. New characters are also added throughout and they help advance the story in many interest-
ing ways. In addition to this, the show also ends on a high note with a dramatic and surprising final episode, which almost redeems the show. Sadly, this is not quite enough to make up for the previous episodes. As Netflix prepares to renew the show, viewers can only hope they continue the strong acting and good plot twists that worked for this season and the one before it. However, it may be beneficial for everyone if they ditched the repetitive formula that can quickly cause the constant narration of Joe’s voice to fade into nothing but background noise throughout.
SPORTS
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January 24, 2020 · Volume 67 · Issue 7
CBU wrestles to gain momentum China sponsors CBU’s ‘Championship Class’
BY JORDAN CULBERSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
In the past four seasons, California Baptist University’s wrestling team has struggled to find its mark because of injuries, but this changed in the 20192020 season. The team has a mentality called “Next Man Up,” which means many young freshmen fill in the spots for the other injured players and persevere to get a win in both varsity dual meets and tournaments. “It would be nice to finish strong, but we scampered with a tough team. We are just up there and we have a very young team. We got a lot of guys redshirting or out with injuries right now,” said Lennie Zalesky, head wrestling coach. “Three of our varsity guys are out with injuries, so we’re just trying to fight. All of these guys are doing well— they’re still winning matches and filling in their second and third teams and they’re winning matches in the varsity lineup.” Since the team lost five wrestlers to injury before the season began and then lost three more to injury, CBU’s wrestling team transitioned to a younger roster. Upperclassmen on the team want the freshmen to be able to build camaraderie with the rest of the team to build more confidence on the mat. “For the freshmen, I’d say basically that the biggest thing is to believe in yourself. Coming in here as a freshman, I was pretty afraid, mostly because I didn’t really know anybody, so being able to have a band of brothers step in and help me keep up my growth and wrestling just as a young man,” said Jacob Cooper, senior business administration major.
BY KELLY MCKITTRICK SPORTS EDITOR
Danielle Lutjens | Banner
Dilan Atjun, redshirt freshman biomedical sciences major, attempts to take down his opponent by grabbing his leg. “Basically, I wanted the freshmen to rely on not only the other freshmen, but lean on the older guys to direct them into a position that they know they can grow from and even with setbacks they know that they can grow further in their faith and self-confidence.” CBU’s wrestling team works to maintain a positive team dynamic by intentionally bonding
through other activities outside of the gym. “We are definitely more like a family because we have the team aspect here. We hang out and eat dinner, and every time we’re in here we’re always grinding for each other, working hard and pushing each other, and there is always room for improvement,” said Garrett Strang, construction management major.
The team is currently working to win a big meet against California State Polytechnic University on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. No matter what challenges this team faces, the Lancers all plan to always trust one another and themselves to reach their goals, while also getting a win on the mat.
In fall of 2019, the Sports Administration of China partnered with California Baptist University to provide 19 worldclass Chinese athletes the opportunity to pursue a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in sports management at CBU. The Sports Administration of China sponsors these students in hopes that they will return to China after they graduate from CBU with international knowledge in their field and perhaps join the international sports organization. The elite athletes, joined by 10 additional students pursuing athletic-related fields, underwent a rigorous interview process to represent China in the new CBU Championship Class. The inaugural class became a part of the first CBU Championship Class in China with great success; however, the success was not without new challenges for the students. “The biggest challenge the students face is that they have been training in their sports team ever since they were little, so they didn’t have systemized school education like most people do,” said Sunny Wang, graduate assistant for the Olympic Program. “Therefore, they lack training in writing and reading skills.” Xuesong Gu, who placed fourth in archery at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, said this was her experience. “When I was an athlete, I
didn’t have much time to study. I was training every day,” Gu said. “Actually, I really want to learn more knowledge and the college life also is my dream. I hope to be able to better teach more people technology through learning.” Many of the students in the CBU Championship Class said they want to live an American college life and take advantage of the many opportunities at CBU. Unfortunately, studying in a foreign culture can be challenging as a result of language and cultural barriers. “The main problem is the language barrier, but by studying English and making more friends, the transition will be easier,” said Yue Cao, participant in the 2016 Rio Olympic 400-meter freestyle. Wang said CBU was selected by the Sports Administration of China because it is a university that provides students with the means to succeed in their careers and make a difference in the field of athletics on the international stage. Sean Chen, winner of a World Cup personal championship in archery, said, “The students are friendly, enthusiastic, energetic and passionate every day. The professors are also very professional and are willing to help me academically. All the staff was great.” The CBU Championship Class is an opportunity for students to be in the company of world-class athletes and learn about their culture and past. As the program continues, students should be aware of the CBU Championship Class and continue to support their fellow Lancers.
Danielle Lutjens | Banner Evan Honer, freshman business administration major, prepares himself for a backward dive by extending his arms.
CBU’s Evan Honer wins diving awards BY ADIT WRANTSANGKA ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Having been named WAC diver of the week three times this season, Evan Honer, freshman business administration major and diver for the men’s swim and dive team at California Baptist University, has won multiple diving events and broke the 3-meter board dive record Jan. 10 in a dual meet against Claremont MuddScripps. Currently, in Honer’s first year competing for CBU he has broken the 10-meter platform record and scored top three in the all-time program record for the 2- and 3-meter boards. Rick Rowland, head coach of the swim and dive team, said Honer is currently one of the top in the program covering all three levels of diving. Jeff Couto, diving coach of men and women’s swim and dive, recruited Honer from Liberty High School in Peoria, Ariz. During high school, Honer placed second in Arizona State Championships and was voted most valuable diver for the Liberty High Lions. “Evan (Honer) has a unique background; he did diving as hobby,” Couto said. “He has al-
ways been into extreme sports such as trampoline and free running.” Rowland said Honer only started competing in the 10-meter platform event in college but his athleticism and bravery helped him to excel. “He does things on land that other divers probably do, too, but he is on another level,” Rowland said. “Honer looks like he can be a stunt man.” Apart from his talent, Couto said Honer has a great work ethic. “He is extremely driven and determined,” Couto said. “When he sees a mistake he does not let it get him down but he tries to get better.” Honer said he is happy with his current performance this season and has significantly improved. “I have learned so many new dives and my (dive) list is completely different since before I came to college,” Honer said. “There is still a lot I can improve on, which is promising.” Honer said his main goal this season is to place within the top three in the 1-meter dive at WAC Championships. Honer will be competing against UC San Diego at Lancer Aquatics Center on Feb. 1.
Reagan Lee | Banner Sydney Palma, redshirt freshman communications major, dribbles the ball around her opponent during a game against CSU Bakersfield.
Women’s basketball improves over break Lancers reflect on new areas to improve for this season BY KELLY MCKITTRICK SPORTS EDITOR
The women’s basketball team went 1-6 over the semester break, snagging a win Dec. 16 in an upset against Idaho State University. The Lancers’ current overall record is 8-10, but the women’s basketball team is known for gaining momentum as the season unfolds.
Head coach Jarrod Olson said, “Typically, our teams have finished the year pretty strong, so we are working hard to get a good streak going here and finish the season well.” Despite the narrow losses, the winter break served as a learning moment for the team as they discovered what they need to work on moving forward this season. Georgia Dale, junior marketing major, said, “The winter break has provided our team with many opportunities to sharpen our game. Being in season does not allow for much time to practice. Therefore, the break has allowed us to add greater depth into our game.” Earlier this season, the
Lancers lost two of their strongest players, Britney Thomas and Caitlyn Harper, to injuries, leaving the team to fill gaps in their starting lineup. The break was utilized to figure out what specifically needed improvement without the two key players. “We have actually improved our defense since Christmas, and for some reason, once we got better at defense we stopped shooting the ball as well. But we are pretty confident that the shooting will come back soon,” Olson said. If the Lancers’ shooting game improves, they should have no problem obtaining the success they desire this season. The women’s basketball team
is unified in working to finish the season strong and they said they understand the expectations of their coach and their program. “The expectation for us is to always give our best no matter what the outcome is,” said Gracie Champion, freshman liberal studies major. The women’s basketball team anticipates qualifying for both the Women’s National Invitation Tournament and the Women’s Basketball Invitational coming up later this season. Ultimately, the Lancers strive to finish first in the Western Athletic Conference this season after finishing second last season.
OPINION LANCER ON THE STREET
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January 24, 2020 · Volume 67 · Issue 7
Do you make New Year’s Resolutions?
Clayton Maranville Junior Applied Theology and Business Administration double major
“I do make them and mine this year is to live by faith alone.”
Karen Falk Junior History major
“I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions because if you want to change something about yourself, you don’t need to wait until the new year to change it.”
Cassidy Dennison Junior
Jose Martinez Sophomore Environmental Science major
Business Administration major
“I don’t make New Year’s resolutions because I think you should make a change in your life any day of the year.”
“I do. I think when 2020 comes around everyone wants to make a big change, to make a New Year’s Resolution.”
Kobe Daludado Junior Marketing and Public Relations double major
“I do. Mine is to cut back on social media because it takes up a lot of time from interacting with other people and affects my schoolwork.”
Australia’s fires Forget New Year’s Resolutions reflect a trend
BY ABIGAIL WOLF MANAGING EDITOR
The Australian wildfires that started in September 2019 have been truly devastating. They have destroyed more than 17 million acres of land, killed at least 28 people and an estimated 1 billion animals and destroyed more than 2,000 homes. The cause, effect and future impact of these wildfires is a challenging issue to understand as organizations and political leaders point fingers at each other. The Australian Academy of Science acknowledges many reasons for the devastating fires: “Bushfires, along with other weather and climate challenges, pose complex and wide-ranging problems. Population growth, climate change, temperature extremes, droughts, storms, wind and floods are intersecting in ways that are difficult to untangle and address.” It is important to acknowledge, however, that most can agree that the fires were fueled by droughts and Australia’s hottest and driest year on record, as well as people who have been charged with being negligent or intentionally starting fires under dangerous conditions. In a time where climate change has become a politically charged issue, it is essential
that people educate themselves on the issue instead of just believing what they hear because an array of false or misleading reports have been released regarding the wildfires. Is it all just a natural part of the ecosystem? Crazy pyromaniacs starting fires? The buzz word: “Global warming”? Or is it a result of a human disregard for the environment — AKA climate change? One thing is certain: This is not just another fire season in Australia and our climate is changing. Australia’s 2018 State of the Climate Report states, “There has been a longterm increase in extreme fire weather, and in the length of the fire season, across large parts of Australia.” Experts have clarified that while bushfires are not started by climate change, they are escalated by the effects of global warming. The State of the Climate Report also observes, “Australia’s climate has warmed by just over 1 degree Celsius since 1910, leading to an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events.” Scientists predict a consistent increase in the devastation of extreme heat events to increase as soon as 2040, and with rising temperatures, Australia is extremely vulnerable to a repeat occurrence. I am not saying we should give up our cars and modern technology and stop living in the modern age, but we must at least acknowledge that we are causing harm to our earth and the home we share with other people, animals and wildlife. Though not the sole cause of the Australian wildfires, humans do leave an impact, often negative, on the environment. It is time we start to pay attention to it.
BY SIENNA DARULA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
By the time you read this, it will already be the end of January 2020 and the majority of Americans have given up on the New Year’s resolutions that they were so determined to follow just a few weeks ago. The list of common resolutions goes on: Exercising, drinking more water, reading the Bible, reducing smartphone usage and so on. According to psychothera-
pist Jonathan Alpert via Business Insider, New Year’s resolutions fail for three main reasons: They are not specific enough, they are framed negatively and they are not relevant for individuals. To combat these things, goals need to be specific and measurable, be framed with positive language, and be about an individual’s personal desires rather than something society tells someone they should change. I would argue that another reason they fail is because people create unrealistic goals. For example, someone who never went to the gym in 2019 probably cannot pledge to spend 30 minutes in the gym three times each week beginning Jan. 1 and
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keep up with it. While that may be an achievable goal for some, there is a low chance of success if it is too drastic of a change. People in the United States cannot keep up with their resolutions. Each year, millions of people set goals for themselves in honor of New Year’s, but research shows the majority of people give up on their goals before the end of January. It is OK to fail, but the problem is many people spend the other 11 months of the year waiting to try again. As students, we often wait for the beginning of a semester or a new year to “reset” and give new things a try. However, we cannot live waiting for things to get better in the future.
We cannot live waiting for things to get better in the future. Selfimprovement is not tied to New Year’s.
Self-improvement is not tied to New Year’s Day. Goals can and should be set at any time. If you thought you were going to stop procrastinating this semester, but you already messed up and did your first assignment at the last minute, do not give up. If you fail, try again. Frame goals with positive language, saying “Do homework in advance” rather than “Do not procrastinate.” This semester is still just beginning, and there are 11 more months to go until 2021. If you have something in your life you want to change, in the words of Shia LaBeouf in his motivational speech video, “Just do it.” Jan. 1 is not a magical day for goals. Achieving those resolutions is about setting realistic, specific goals—on any day of the year—and not giving up at the first sign of failure. If you will not do something today, you probably will not try tomorrow.
‘Clueless’ remains a classic
BY SOFIA ENEQVIST NEWS EDITOR
The 1995 classic “Clueless” remains the ultimate romantic comedy. As a modern-twist adaptation of “Emma” by Jane Austen, the story focuses on a perfect girl living a perfect life with her father. The main character Cher
Horowitz, played by Alicia Silverstone, is admired by all but struggles to let loose and take the back seat in day-to-day life. Each character models a character from “Emma” and some even share the same name as their parallels. While the characters find their roots in 18th century standards, their lives are nothing short of pure ‘90s bliss. “Clueless” introduces mundane and difficult topics such as relationships, family drama, high school and popularity wraps them in humor, relatability and plaid skirts. Set in the vibrant and rich community of Beverly Hills, Cher tackles high school to the best of her ability alongside her best friend Dionne. The narration of Cher’s inner thoughts tells the audience,
“She’s my friend because we both know what it’s like to have people be jealous of us.” Together, Cher and Dionne take on the task of turning the new girl into a popular cookie-cutter version of them, while simultaneously pairing up two teachers romantically at their high school. They consider their selfish vendettas masked by random acts of kindness to be gifts to everyone around them. One of the primary issues introduced in the film is Cher’s relationship with her stubborn yet adorable ex-stepbrother Josh, who is played by Paul Rudd. Throughout the film, situations arise that bring Cher and Josh closer together. While the idea of being head over heels in love with your ex-stepbrother might sound a little strange, in an 18th century
setting it was fairly normal. While there is much more to the film than just best friends and boy drama, the romantic comedy creates a fantasy world where you cannot help but want to live. Over the years, the film has stood the test of time because of the simple fun it brings to life. You cannot help but laugh as you watch the characters deal with issues far smaller than they have worked them up to be in their own minds. “Clueless” is also known for being the source of the ever-so-famous phrase, “Ugh, as if!” which is arguably the film’s most iconic line. Since its release in 1995, Clueless has stood to be a cinematic classic that makes every viewer wonder if we all have a little Cher in us.
Do not follow your heart, follow your mind
BY CHRISTIAN SPANGLER DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Some variation of the expression “listen to your heart” has been the feature of many a Disney movie, popular song or
piece of advice given by loved ones or mentors. However, the issue with that is that listening to one’s heart by itself disregards logic. The problem with feelings is that oftentimes they are not based on anything real or they are based on half-truths. For example, if you have feelings for someone and want to date them, but there are clear signs that the relationship would be unhealthy, then your heart may be leading you on a path to emotional trauma and hurt that can easily be avoided. When making decisions it is safer to use logic as the determining factor. When using
logic and facts, one is less likely to overlook the flaws of people and situations that are clouded by emotions. Using logic can prevent stepping into unhealthy situations. Not letting your emotions be your main guide is a biblical principle, as well. Jeremiah 17:9 states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can understand it?” When placed as the leader of decision-making, the mind by itself makes decisions based
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on the best information it has. Of course, the emotions are essential in such process, but again, the mind should lead the emotions, not the other way around. Of course, logic is not without flaw; if your thought process in your logic does not have good or correct information, it cannot make accurate decisions. However, it is still a better guide than basing decisions off of feelings alone because the brain bases
The simple solution is to make a point at starting new friendships with people of the opposite gender if you don’t already have them.
decisions on actual knowledge. Logical thinking cannot work alone, however, and emotions are not bad things. I cannot stress that enough, as there are some people who will tell you emotions do not matter. Emotions do matter. Emotions are the spice of life that make life enjoyable, and joy itself is an emotion. Humans are thinking and feeling beings. Also, logic can be used to rationalize any number of things without the sympathetic influences of the heart. So, what is the balance? Acknowledge and own your emotions, as repressing them is unhealthy. However, use logic
to navigate them, understand them and to figure out where they come from, as well as if they should be acted upon. The best decision will typically not be made with just the heart or just logic. The best decision will be one where heart and mind can be brought to a place of mutual understanding. It is wrong to simply listen to your heart, but it is also wrong to say that you should completely ignore your heart. Put it like this: Your decision-making should be like the engine of a modern ship. Your emotions should be the engines that push you forward, but logic is the rudder that steers the ship.
ETC.
16
January 24, 2020 · Volume 67 · Issue 7
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Word Search:
New Year’s Resolutions: What should you do more of this year?
Word Bank 1. BECOME AN EARLY RISER 2. BECOME DEBTFREE 3. BE HAPPY 4. BUDGET 5. BUY LESS PLASTIC 6. CHORES 7. CLEANING 8. COMPLIMENTS 9. COOK MORE 10. CRAFTS 11. CUT CALORIES 12. DECLUTTER 13. DONATE CLOTHES 14. DO SOMETHING THAT SCARES YOU 15. DO YOGA 16. DRINK WATER 17. EAT VEGGIES 18. EXERCISE 19. FAMILY TIME 20. GIVE BACK 21. GO TO BED EARLY 22. JOURNALING 23. KEEP UP TO DATE ON THE NEWS 24. LEARN SOMETHING NEW 25. LESS CLUTTER 26. LESS
MULTI-TASKING 27. LESS PROCRASTINATION 28. LESS SCREEN TIME 29. MAKE NEW FRIENDS 30. MAKE YOUR BED 31. MANAGE STRESS 32. MEDITATE 33. MORE SLEEP 34. NEW HOBBIES 35. NO NEGATIVITY 36. OWN PLANTS 37. RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS 38. READ BOOKS 39. SIDE-HUSTLES 40. SPREAD KINDNESS 41. STRETCH 42. TAKE THE STAIRS 43. TALK LESS, LISTEN MORE 44. TRAVEL 45. TRY SOMETHING NEW 46. VACATION 47. VOLUNTEER 48. WEAR SUNSCREEN 49. WORK OUT