Banner | Vol. 68 Issue 2 by Lancer Media Group

Volume 68 | Issue 2 | September 25, 2020

@cbulancermedia cbubanner.com

Mario’s 35th anniversary —

‘Dune’ movie release —

B & T , Pg. 9

A & E , Pg. 11

Nintendo’s Mario celebrates 35 years of gaming.

Highly anticipated sci-fi film set to release in 2021

Ways to stay active during COVID — Campus alternatives to the gym.

L i f e s t y l e , Pg. 6 BY EMILY MCGINN NEWS EDITOR

Magnolia Crossing experiences frequent fire alarms

Luc Stringer | Banner Students return to their apartments at Magnolia Crossing at 2 a.m. on Sept. 23 after waiting in the parking lot for half an hour for the Riverside Fire Department to give the all-clear.

Since the start of the semester, Magnolia Crossing has experienced seven incidents in which the fire alarm went off, requiring residents to evacuate. Joe Ojeda, Magnolia Crossing resident director, said the number of fire alarm incidents resulted from several factors. “We found out the fire alarms were a little more sensitive than we would have hoped, but that is also a good thing by making sure we provide a safe living area,” Ojeda said. Ojeda said the first few fire alarms occurred from smoke resulting from residents’ cooking, and the remaining alarms occurred from remaining dust in the alarm system from construction. Magnolia Crossing, unlike some other living areas, also has a central alarm system per the fire marshal and the government’s current requirements for university living areas with common rooms. As a result, each time smoke triggers the alarm in a single unit, the fire alarm will go off throughout the entire building, causing all residents to evacuate. “It is extremely important (to evacuate) because we just never know,” Ojeda said. “It is better to be safe than sorry. I

SEE FIRE ALARMS | PAGE 2

CBU students, faculty remember RBG’s impact BY MISTY SEVERI NATIONAL EDITOR

Elijah Hickman | Banner Samantha Emerick, senior marketing management and interntional business major, makes the signature coffee order at Molino’s Coffee.

Students balance school and work BY ASHLEY MOORE

ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR Working while attending California Baptist University is not uncommon. While having a job and attending college is something many students do, it is not always easy to balance the demand of each. It can be hard to find the correct way to accomplish both. Mariah Mooring, senior creative writing major, works at The Grove Community Church. For two and a half years she has worked in the Children’s Ministry Department. Mooring said she has found it difficult to balance both because of the

time required of each. “Balancing work and school can be a real challenge, especially when the school requires more hours outside of class time,” Mooring said. “What I find to be one of the most challenging aspects is completing school work on time, as it is something that often comes at the end of the day for me.” Completing schoolwork can be a difficult task to accomplish while working a job. Even still, Mooring can succeed at both by setting herself on a schedule that incorporates both. “Block out your time each day,” said Mooring. “Have a schedule and stick to it, but

remember to give yourself breaks and time for the things and people you love. Working while being in school is a challenge, but it can teach you time management skills and you will already have work experience when you finish your degree and enter the workforce full time.” Samantha Emerick, senior marketing and international business major, works two jobs while attending CBU. She has worked at Disneyland for a year and a half and has recently started a job at Molinos Coffee in downtown Riverside. Emerick said she has also felt the demand which comes with

“

Have a schedule and stick to it, but remember to give yourself breaks and time for the things and people you love.

Mariah Mooring, senior creative writing major.

SEE SCHOOL & WORK | PAGE 6

The nation mourned Sept. 18 at the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, trailblazer and women’s rights advocate. Ginsburg has battled cancer four times, beginning with lung cancer in 1999 and ending in her death from pancreatic cancer in 2020. She died at the age of 87. Appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 under President Bill Clinton, Ginsburg was only the second woman ever appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, after Sandra Day O’Connor in 1981. Dr. Amy Stumpf, professor of society and religion, said she finds it hard to believe the U.S. did not have a woman on the supreme court until the ‘80s. “When Americans say women and minorities have equal rights and full access they obviously haven’t looked at a SCOTUS roster,” Stumpf said. Ginsburg was a major advocate for women’s rights, voicing her opinion on issues such as the legality of abortion and gender discrimination. One of the examples of this was her authorship of the court’s decision to strike down the male-only admission policy at the public university Virginia Military Institute in United States V. Virginia (1996). Dr. Chase Porter, U.S. history professor, said the loss of Ginsburg goes beyond a vacancy on the Supreme Court. “Her tireless work on women’s equality means that many

look to her as an embodiment of the liberal vision of equality for all,” Porter said. “People genuinely believed in her advocacy of that vision, and are thus saddened to lose one of its staunchest champions.” Even before her appointment to the Supreme Court, Ginsburg was challenging cases that questioned the place of women in the workplace. She contributed to or led more than 60 cases surrounding gender-based discrimination. Amanda Kurowski, senior intercultural studies major, said her reaction to Ginsburg’s death was one of of pure devastation. “She was an icon, a giant among men, and the backbone to the majority of women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights in this country,” Kurowski said. “She has to be remembered but she has to be followed. We have to continue fighting for the rights of people everywhere and continue to elevate the oppressed in this country.” Stumpf said it was important to appreciate and acknowledge Ginsburg’s expertise. “I appreciate her mastery of the law,” Stumpf said. “She knew the Constitution, the law and she loved this country and modeled dignified service. She also modeled how to be civil in the midst of disagreement.” Ginsburg’s death has created a vacancy on the Supreme Court. President Donald J. Trump is expected to nominate a replacement, which will need the confirmation of the Senate.

NEWS

September 25, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 2

Campaigns change during COVID-19

THE BANNER

staff

BY LAUREN BROOKS ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Editor-in-Chief Jane Robertus

Lifestyle Editor Teddy Peña

Managing Editor Soﬁa Eneqvist

Asst. Lifestyle Editors Ashley Moore Will Anton

Photo Editor Camille Grochowski

Sports Editor Kelly McKittrick

Asst. Photo Editor Luc Stringer

Asst. Sports Editors Adityastha Wratsangka Aiden Hobson

Design Editor Soﬁa Eneqvist Asst. Design Editor Emily McGinn News Editor Emily McGinn Asst. News Editors Kaylee Elrod Lauren Brooks Business & Tech Editor Jasmine Severi Asst. B&T Editor Luc Stringer Arts & Entertainment Editor Jackson Waldrop Asst. A&E Editors Cole Stillwagon Steven Rousseau-Dixon

Public Relations Director Victoria Buszinski Social Media Manager Kaylee Elrod Advertising Manager Alex Iannone Distribution Manager Joshua Lomelí

ONLINE Managing Editor Casey Maldonado National Editor Misty Severi Photo Editor Luc Stringer

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

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

Elijah Hickman | Banner

Marissa Hunter, sophomore electric computer engineer major, passes the ball to her partner Scott Howsden.

Intramurals begin amid pandemic BY KAYLEE ELROD ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Intramural sports are different this semester compared to past years with new safety precautions and different sports. Some of the intramural sports that are taking place are spikeball, soccer-tennis, a basketball skills competition, badminton, pickleball and ping-pong. This semester, all intramural sports are singleday events so students can fit it easily into their schedule. For students who are offcampus, the school is offering a National Football League Pick ‘EM League, a virtual run and an E-sports league. The details are on the Recreation Center’s Instagram, @cburecreation. The Recreation Center is taking precautions to ensure safety. For example, spectators are not allowed and only people participating in the activity can attend. The Recreation Center is also taking players’ temperatures, requiring masks and enforcing social distancing at events. Sanitation is required between games, and each person or team may bring their own equipment. “We would like everyone to participate in whatever level they feel comfortable in,” said Marnie Kavern, intramural coordinator. “Make sure to follow us on Instagram @

Fire alarms Continued from Page 1

About

THE BANNER

The Banner newspaper is an award-winning, bi-weekly campus publication that publishes 12 issues a year at California Baptist University. The newsroom is located in the James Building in Room 060 and can be reached at 951-343-4787. The Banner, a student-run newspaper, serves the CBU community with accurate, timely and factual reporting on signiﬁcant aspects of university life, Riverside life and subjects of interest or concern to its readers. Students, faculty, staff, administrators and others in the university are encouraged to react to published material or to comment on matters of concern. The Banner retains the right to edit your letter upon publication based on grammar and word count. Send letters to Jane Robertus, editor-in-chief of The Banner at BannerEditor@calbaptist.edu. If you have a story idea for The Banner, please let us know. If a business would like to advertise in the The Banner, please contact Alex Iannone at AlexanderJordan.Iannone@ calbaptist.edu.

@CBULancerMedia Keep up with CBU news and events.

know it is a huge inconvenience. I live here too, so I understand how annoying it can be, but it is something we all have to do.” In an attempt to avoid future incidents, California Baptist University replaced the smoke detectors in each apartment’s common room. Previously, each room had an ionization smoke alarm, which causes the fire alarm to go off when smoke interrupts the ion flow between two charged plates. These detectors are usually more sensitive to flames. The school replaced these detectors with new ones that set off the alarm when smoke interrupts a beam of light in the detector’s chamber. Ojeda said the new detectors are less sensitive, but they are sensitive enough to create a safe living environment. CBU also cleaned the alarm system to eliminate dust. Magnolia Crossing resident advisers Katelynn Jarboe, senior Christian behavioral science major, and Jenavieve Santoyo, sophomore business administration major, help during fire evacuations by knocking on residents’ doors, guiding them to emergency exits and ensuring that no one enters the building again until fire personnel allow it. “CBU has been doing their best to identify and resolve the issue as swiftly as possible because CBU understands this is not fun for anyone,” Jarboe said. “They have been doing a great job of trying to resolve the issue so we do not have to continue

cburecreation for all the upcoming programming.” Joshua Bigley, senior mechanical engineering major, participated in the spikeball tournament that took place on Sept. 7. “This year, intramurals are different as they are following CBU’s guidelines by (requiring players to) stay six feet apart, requiring masks and cleaning equipment,” Bigley said. “Obviously you cannot play a lot of sports and stay six feet apart, but they are trying to keep intramurals by finding sports that do allow us to follow the guidelines.” Michaela Dunn, junior engineering major, participated in the soccer intramurals last year. She enjoyed participating because she was able to connect with other students. “I am not on campus this semester so I, unfortunately, can not participate in intramurals in person,” Dunn said. “However, I really love that they are still having intramurals. I think it is awesome that they have virtual intramurals as well because that is allowing everyone to get connected no matter where they are.” Upcoming intramurals in October include tennis, badminton, pickleball and pingpong.

being evacuated.” Since Magnolia Crossing’s fire alarm system notifies the entire building if smoke is detected in a single room, Santoyo said students can take precautions to avoid evacuations. “If it goes off in your room, it goes off in everybody’s room, so just put the fans on high while you are cooking just in case,” Santoyo said. In addition to using exhaust fans when cooking, Ojeda said students can help avoid incidents by opening windows when cooking meals that can produce a large amount of smoke, closing the door when taking hot showers and remaining vigilant when cooking. Ojeda said he hopes the fire alarm situation has been mostly resolved by the actions CBU has taken in response, but he encourages students to continue to follow fire safety policies in the future if the fire alarm goes off again. “As annoying as it is when it goes off multiple times in a week, you never know if it is a real emergency and you never want to chance it,” said Lauren Kennedy, junior business administration major and Magnolia Crossing resident. “We have gone a few days without the alarm going off. I hope the alarm does not go off anymore but we never know.” If a fire alarm causes residents to evacuate again, students should go to the nearest emergency exit and evacuate to the back wall of the parking lot to await instructions. If a student is in class when a fire alarm goes off, the student can email Ojeda for an excuse from class.

As the 2020 election approaches, candidates have had to adapt how they campaign amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Politics shifted to keep up with the ever-changing state of the world. Patricia Lock Dawson, a candidate for Riverside mayor, reshaped her campaign to comply with COVID-19. The campaign trail, which once was dependent on rallies, fundraisers, meet-and-greets and door-to-door interactions, has changed to largely social media networking. “All of the normal channels have been put off right now,” Dawson said. “We have had to be much more creative with messaging and finding ways to connect with voters.” She said she faced some challenges with campaigning during COVID-19 because she could not showcase herself as a candidate as easily due to restrictions. She also said that COVID-19 has reformed the status quo of politics and changed the mindset of many ordinary voters. “The stakes have never been higher for competent, effective leadership,” Dawson said. “It is about who has done more and who can take us into the future and who can deal with adversity by seeing opportunity in it.” Dawson said it is important for young people to use their voices and vote. “Know your power, and do not ever take that for granted,” Dawson said. “You can live your purpose through your vote. You can enact change through the power of voting. Do not wait for somebody else to fix something.” Aliza Purificacion, freshman pre-nursing student, is a firsttime voter in the upcoming election. She believes strongly in the power of democracy, and the importance of new voters to participate. “It is important to realize what is going on in the world instead of just ignoring it,”

Purificacion said. “There are so many people who do not realize voting is very important and can affect the future.” As a result of the pandemic, the 2020 presidential election has expanded its mail-in option for those who may not feel comfortable voting in person. California is sending every registered voter a ballot, but it is also opening polling locations from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3. “Informed participation is a vital part of our democratic process,” said Chase Porter, assistant professor of political science. “For this election in particular, if you intend to vote early or by mail for health reasons, make sure to be very aware of processes and deadlines. You do not want your vote to not count because of a missed deadline.” Porter said COVID-19 has changed the course of this election since candidates have expressed different ideas about how to solve coronavirusrelated issues. He compared and contrasted their different approaches, noting a Kaiser Family Foundation poll that found that 20% of voters considered COVID-19 to be the most important deciding issue in terms of casting a vote. “The Trump campaign has started holding large campaign rallies again, while the Biden campaign has focused on much smaller or virtual events,” Porter said. “A POLITICO article from Aug. 4 noted that the Trump campaign claimed to have knocked on one million doors during the previous week, whereas the Biden campaign claimed to have knocked on zero. The Trump campaign is using more traditional campaign tactics, whereas the Biden campaign is leaning much more heavily on technology to the campaign.” According to the California Secretary of State website, mail-in ballots must be postmarked by election day, and it must reach the election office within 17 days following the election.

TAKE PRECAUTIONS SUCH AS TURNING ON THE EXHAUST FAN OR OPENING A WINDOW WHILE COOKING TO AVOID TRIGGERING THE FIRE ALARM.

2 IF THE FIRE ALARM GOES OFF, PREPARE TO EVACUATE THE BUILDING.

EVACUATE THROUGH EMERGENCY EXITS, FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AND MOVE TO THE DESIGNATED AREA.

4 WAIT FOR FURTHER

INSTRUCTIONS FROM FIRE PERSONNEL OR SAFETY OFFICIALS, AND REENTER THE BUILDING ONLY WHEN INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. Emily McGinn | Banner

NEWS

September 25, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 2

Students celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

COVID-19 CASE TRENDS

BY KAYLEE ELROD ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 and Community Life is celebrating throughout the month. For the cultural celebrations at California Baptist University, Community Life typically plans events during which students can experience culture through food, music and games. However, with the current guidelines in place, the celebration has to be changed. In past years, Community Life has held a one-night celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month, but this year it will be a month long celebration. Each Tuesday during the celebration there will be a trivia night via Instagram. The trivia can be found on Community Life’s Instagram, @cbu_life. Trivia Tuesdays will allow students to learn why we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, who are important figures in history who have helped shape the United States and what are different initiatives from Hispanic individuals that have led to social change. In addition to the Trivia Tuesdays, there will be other events for students to learn about and experience Hispanic culture. Natalie Espinoza, senior liberal studies major, said she believes a month dedicated to

CALIFORNIA HAS HAD MORE THAN 778,400 CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19.

CALIFORNIA HAS HAD 14,987 DEATHS DUE TO COVID-19 AS OF SEPT. 20. RIVERSIDE COUNTY HAS HAD 56,681 CONFIRMED CASES. Elijah Hickman | Banner Traditional dancers at the Hispanic Heritage Festival in 2018, before coronavirus safety measures. celebrating Hispanic heritage through these activities is an important part of showcasing different cultures. “It is important they are doing this because it is giving students an understanding of the culture and why it is important to celebrate it,” Espinoza said. “Trivia Tuesday is a perfect way to educate everyone on the culture.” For students who are on campus, Community Life will be hosting an event on Oct. 1 in Lancer Plaza. There will be music playing that honors Hispanic heritage and students will have the opportunity to walk through a display with

educational information in it. There will also be snacks and crafts available. Community Life will also be ending the month with a movie night that will have limited seating. “Whether or not you can participate in the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at CBU, there is a wealth of knowledge out there in the form of movies, books and articles that students can seek out to learn about Hispanic culture,” said Taylor Alitzer, assistant director of Campus Activities. “We are going to do our best to get that information out there but encourage students to use this time to become informed

and gain a greater appreciation for this month.” Megan Vanbattum, junior film production major, is living on campus this semester and said she is excited there will be an in-person event. “Amazingly, they are doing in-person events for Hispanic Heritage Month,” Vanbattum said. “It not only is going to teach more people about the Hispanic heritage, but it is also going to make this semester feel a little more normal since we will have an in-person event.” Whether on campus or online, students will still have opportunities to celebrate Hispanic heritage this month.

Local churches reopen outdoors BY EMILY MCGINN NEWS EDITOR

Some local churches have initiated their in-person reopening processes as the pandemic progresses. Many of these churches have adapted their services to abide by COVID-19 precautions such as social distancing and wearing face coverings. The churches Harvest Christian Fellowship, Redeemer Baptist Church and The Grove Community Church are offering outdoor services, and Sandals Church is now offering a variety of options, including forms of both indoor and outdoor services and small groups. These churches also offer online and live streaming options for services. Sedona Gallardo, freshman liberal arts major, attends Harvest Christian Fellowship and has found ways to connect with the church by attending services and planning to join the young adult ministry. Currently, the church is allowing people to attend outdoor tent services with restrictions and precautions such as requiring face coverings, social distancing and

sanitizing chairs. “I think there is a need for the church in person right now and I think church can be done safely at this time,” Gallardo said. “While I do not know data about cases at Harvest or if COVID has been contracted at other churches, I feel safe going to Harvest at this time.” Jon Hurst, executive pastor of The Grove Community Church, said The Grove transferred to online services during the shutdown earlier this year and began outdoor in-person services in June. The church also began in-person meetings for some ministries, such as the young adult and small group ministries. During in-person meetings, the church implements precautions which include requiring face coverings, using social distancing markers and requiring volunteers to wear masks and gloves and maintain social distance. Also, the church is still offering online resources and services. “The vision of The Grove is that we are being changed by God to reach all people, and that has not stopped or slowed down during COVID,” Hurst said. “We have been able to

Tonia Ross | Banner Daniel Bishop, the lead pastor at The Grove Community Church, gives his sermon outside to maintain social distance. reach out to people in a new way. Now is a fantastic time to get involved and it is a great time for people to grow in their faith and trust in God.” Dr. John Montgomery, Dean of Spiritual Life, said that if students are interested in becoming involved in a church in the area, they can visit the Spiritual Life page of InsideCBU and visit the church area directory posted there. The directory contains a list of local churches that align with CBU’s beliefs. Students can then become connected with local churches online and learn what opportunities and ministries the church is

offering during the pandemic. “Things have changed (during the pandemic), and it is not as easy to access spiritual growth in the community,” Montgomery said. “Because it is not easy to access, we have to work harder to get that. I would encourage students to be intentional during this season and to think through what they need to do to grow spiritually.” Montgomery said students can also use on-campus resources to grow spiritually through Chapel, discipleship groups and other resources offered through California Baptist University’s Spiritual Life website.

Clubs adapt to virus restrictions

BY EMILY MCGINN NEWS EDITOR

This semester, California Baptist University clubs resumed meetings and activities, but they are required to abide by COVID-19 restrictions. Most clubs are meeting virtually through platforms such as Zoom, WebEx and Instagram Live. Clubs began this semester with a virtual Club Fair that occurred during the week of Sept. 7 through Instagram. Taylor Altizer, assistant director of Campus Activities, works with students to create and manage clubs. She said club presidents have had to rethink how they will manage their clubs from new platforms. “What I love about our club presidents is that they are supportive of one other and have proven to be resilient

during this time,” Altizer said. “They were not anticipating having to navigate such a unique year. While there have been some disappointing moments, our club presidents have been quick to adjust.” Altizer began to plan how clubs would navigate the coronavirus as the shutdown began in March. Although many clubs continued during the spring shutdown, Altizer said she was initially worried about how clubs would remain active this semester. However, she worked with club presidents to plan ways through which clubs can continue. In fact, Altizer said some of the new practices they have introduced, such as the virtual element of club activities and the increased communication between Community Life and club leaders, might continue

beyond the pandemic. “Club presidents have had to think differently about club engagement, which has expanded the population of students involved in clubs,” Altizer said. “Students who live at home can engage virtually, and that is an awesome byproduct of the adjustments we have had to make. I hope that as things improve, we still maintain this mindset and continue to serve all students.” Mary Shanks, senior liberal studies major and president of the Disney Club, said her club will have monthly meetings through Zoom and Instagram. She said she has faced some challenges since she must communicate with members solely through social media. “We are moving along to try to bring the joy of the Disney club on campus to students at

home,” Shanks said. “In the spring, we struggled to keep our members involved, but we are working to host events we would have done on campus and have new events.” Alondra Blanco, junior environmental science major and secretary of the environmental science club, said that the club has to plan virtual events such as watching environmental documentaries and holding informational sessions about the environment. “We are trying to get some events together, which is difficult because we cannot have in-person meetings,” Blanco said. “It is allowing us to be more creative in being stewards of the environment.” Clubs will continue to hold virtual events and use nocontact methods.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY HAS HAD 1,153 DEATHS DUE TO COVID-19 AS OF SEPT. 20. Emily McGinn | Banner

NEWS briefs CALIFORNIA BLACKOUTS Rolling blackouts began affecting California residents in August and have continued through the heatwave that started Sept. 5. Rolling blackouts occur when the California Independent System Operator (ISO) determines that the state’s energy needs exceed the ability of the power grid. This round of rolling blackouts is the first to occur in California since 2001. The ISO claimed the blackouts resulted from the heatwave and heightened demand for electricity, but some also acknowledged the outages could have stemmed from dependence on renewable energy such as wind energy after some wind and gas plants shut down briefly on Sept. 5. Some areas have also experienced planned outages to reduce wildfire danger. To avoid the need for rolling blackouts, the California ISO encourages residents to avoid using energy unnecessarily by limiting their use of air conditioning, lights and other energy sources.

ELECTION UPDATE President Donald J. Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden are continuing to campaign after participating in the Democratic and Republican conventions from Aug. 17-20 and Aug. 24-27, respectively. The Microsoft Corporation released a statement Sept. 10 claiming that hackers connected to Russia, China and Iran have been carrying out cyberattacks on both campaigns, including the group suspected of hacking during the 2016 campaign season. However, Microsoft said most of the cyberattacks targeting the campaigns this year have not been successful. Before the election in November, Trump and Biden will debate on Sept. 29, Oct. 15 and Oct. 22, and the vice-presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 7.

WEST COAST FIRES UPDATE According to the Cal Fire website, there are currently 15 fires or fire complexes actively burning in California. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, fires have burned more than 155,752 acres in Oregon this year as of Sept. 17. Smoke from wildfires has created unhealthy air quality for much of the West Coast, including Riverside, during September. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that smoke inhalation from fires can cause coughing, breathing difficulty, throat and eye irritation, headaches, chest pain and exhaustion. They advise people to be aware of air quality reports and to try to stay indoors when air quality is poor.

VISION

September 25, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 2

the exciting world of

Film Photograhpy

“

I bought it and after several YouTube videos teaching me how to use it, I fell in love.

Jailyn Patrick junior photography and intercultural studies double major

Rolls of film taken by David Ardill, junior photography major, during the summer.

“

Courtesy of David Ardill

Courtesy of Raymond Alva

A moment captured on film by Raymond Alva, junior photography major.

Summer portraits taken on film by David Ardill, junior photography major.

Courtesy of David Ardill

Film felt like a good place inbetween hobby and professional work that I could experiment with. David Ardill junior photography major

Courtesy of Raymond Alva A photo taken on film by Raymon Alva, junior photography major, of a friend standing in the middle of a road.

VISION

September 25, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 2

“

You truly can’t start your journey as a photographer until you take a chance, go out there and don’t be afraid to just start taking photos and go from there. Prof. Christopher Kern Program Lead of Photography

Film photos laying on a wire mesh to dry after being developed.

Before there was the digital photography that we are familiar with today, there was analog photography. This photo-taking method involves chemical processes to capture a physical image. The younger generations that grew up primarily with digital photography have discovered their appreciation for analog photographic processing over the past decade. Now, film photography is gaining popularity amongst younger people who did not grow up with it. This rise in the popularity of film photography has given the practice more attention because the technique is becoming more mainstream again. Christopher Kern, program lead of California Baptist University’s photography major, claimed that film photography is actually not experiencing a revival and described that the practice is just becoming discovered more and more by the younger generations.

Courtesy of David Ardill

“I had no idea if it even worked or not, but I had seen some pictures on Instagram from other film photographers and I thought it looked really cool. I bought it and after several YouTube videos teaching me how to use it, I immediately fell in love.” Since the younger generations are just recently being introduced to the concept of analog photography, many people have developed a strong connection with the process. Raymond Alva, junior photography major, described his feelings about the craft of film photography. “There’s a certain character about analog photography that you don’t get with digital,” Alva said. “It’s hard to explain. There’s definitely a feeling you experience that you just can’t get with digital. I’ve been shooting mainly with digital cameras for almost five years now, and now some of my favorite work is the stuff I’ve done with analog photography.”

“I would argue that there isn’t a resurgence of anaFilm photography is a much longer process than log photography,” Kern said. “It’s always been there, it’s just a matter of the younger generations becoming digital photography. Society is now so fast-paced that many people are now yearning for a change of pace. more aware of it. It’s groups like Generation Z learning that it exists and experimenting with it.” “In a digital world, people are craving something Current college-aged students have both digital and hands-on and tactical,” Ardill said when explaining analog photography at their disposal. Everyone inter- why he feels film photography is gaining popularity in the younger generations. “Film photography is this ested in the film process has their own experience as separation from the sped-up digital world, and kids to how they were first introduced to the analog side are craving that.” of things. David Ardill, junior photography major, was able to describe what first got him interested in film photography. “I was just looking for something new in photography that I could turn into more of a hobby and mindlessly enjoy,” Ardill said. “I didn’t want to bring my camera everywhere and I didn’t want to just take photos on my phone. Film felt like a good place in-between hobby and professional work that I could experiment with.” There are other times where one’s appreciation for film photography was much more sudden and unexpected. Jailyn Patrick, junior photography and intercultural studies double major, recalled her first experience with film photography. “I was shopping in a Goodwill one day and came across a Minolta film camera from 1980,” Patrick said.

There are so many ways people can start getting into photography in general. For film photography, Patrick was able to explain a more practical way for someone to slowly ease into the process. “Start with a disposable camera,” Patrick said. “They have a built-in light meter and fixed aperture, which means all you have to do is wind it up and click. This will get you used to how film cameras work.” For CBU students, Kern described PHO105: The Camera as a course open to anyone even remotely interested in the photography skill. “People can talk about photography all they want,” Kern said. “You truly can’t start your journey as a photographer until you take a chance, go out there and don’t be afraid to just start taking photos and go from there.”

Written by: Teddy Pena, Lifestyle Editor Designed by: Sofia Eneqvist, Design Editor

LIFESTYLE

September 25, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 2

Students promote wellness through exercise BY KELLY MOORE SPORTS EDITOR

With gyms shut down across the country and at California Baptist University, students have had trouble staying active, but students such as Rynika Chambers, CBU Recreation Center Zumba instructor and senior graphic design major, strive to help students stay healthy and find community. Chambers began instructing Zumba, Pilates, and Deep Stretch at the CBU Recreation Center in the summer of 2019. She said she misses instructing classes in the Rec Center, and after encouragement from Jenny O’Daniel, senior graphic design major and Simmons resident adviser, she was inspired and started instructing Zumba for freshmen. “I encouraged Rynika to start Zumba because I have been really discouraged with corona and just wishing CBU would plan more in-person things and get more creative with that,” O’Daniel said. “Just being in Simmons has opened my eyes to how much these girls are open to the community and need community and how mental health is down.” Community can be difficult to find during a pandemic, but Lilian Harmon, freshman business administration major, said she believes Zumba helped her

form friendships. “My favorite part is that I can work out, and also have fun with my friends,” Harmon said. “Zumba has definitely bonded our hall. It is something that we all look forward to every single week.” Chambers said to maintain social distancing she instructs her students to reach both arms out and spin around until people are within two arm lengths away from one another. “I love their energy and how excited and responsive they are,” Chambers said. “They’re just there to have fun. No one is taking it too seriously or worrying about being good or looking at themselves in a mirror. They’re just happy to be there and having a good time screaming the lyrics and making fun freshman memories.” Chambers suggests toning workouts for body maintenance for students who seek to do at home workouts without equipment. She said she enjoys putting on YouTube workouts from Blogilates or Madfit. In addition to at-home workouts there are multiple ways that students can stay active around campus. Everyone should bring a blanket and a friend and try Zumba. CBU faculty, staff and students are all welcome to attend Zumba on Fridays at 7 p.m. by the pool.

Elijah Hickman | Banner

Rynika Chambers, senior grapic design major, and Lindsey Britt, senior healthcare administration major, warm up to prepare for their weekly Zumba class.

Cal Baptist community stays well amid COVID-19 BY TEDDY PEÑA

LIFESTYLE EDITOR The age of the COVID-19 pandemic brought a slew of problems with it. Constant news coverage, physical isolation and canceled plans all made up for an unfavorable 2020. This public health emergency hit suddenly, and many lives were affected in some way by the pandemic. Everyone has their individual responses to change. Many people experienced a decline in their mental, spiritual and emotional health, regardless of how they handle the sudden change. Cassie Carter, junior liberal studies major, said she has experienced the challenges that came with the coronavirus pandemic. “During this season of coronavirus, it has been a constant struggle for me to stay motivated and well both mentally and academically,” Carter said. “The isolation from society, friends and even family members has had such a huge impact on my

mental health. Academically, I find it extremely difficult to find the effort and energy I once had for school and pour it into this semester. This season has been a constant spiral down and it seems impossible trying to climb back up to normalcy when things are still so unresolved.” One of the many things robbed from so many people because of the pandemic was their sense of normalcy. As time went on and the outbreak unfolded, students started to ask themselves, “what is normal?” Currently, business as usual looks different than it did at the start of 2020, and members of the California Baptist University community have had the opportunity to reflect on their year so far. Jenna Olson, junior anthropology major and First-Year Experience leader, described what the change in normalcy felt like for her and how that played out for her. “I think that everybody can notice that there’s a change

in normalcy right now,” Ol- people keep up their physical son said. “I think it’s okay to health. While physical health acknowledge this change in is important, a person’s mental normalcy because everybody and spiritual health is just as has experienced some sort of important. Gavin Andrew, director of change. I tend to deal with anxiety and worry, and I’m a plan- CBU’s First-Year Experience ner, so this time we are living program, elaborated on the importance of one’s in has definitely spiritual and been a struggle. I mental health. have experienced “For many of ‘Zoom burnout’ us, it’s very hard from everything Jenna Olson, to live via a combeing online. It’s okay to normaljunior anthropology puter screen,” Andrew said. “A ize the ups and major and FYE leader lot of students downs that come feel a sense of with this time in a isolation because good way so that no one has to feel alone during they’re not used to the lack of this time.” friendship and interaction with The “quarantine 15,” which people. So, if students aren’t speaks to the weight gain that staying balanced physically, was experienced by many spiritually, and mentally, we people due to staying in their will continue to see that incline houses, was a popular topic of of mental health issues in this discussion when stay-at-home generation. We make an effort orders were first put in place. to communicate with students Then came the at-home work- that they must reach out and out videos and much more con- connect with communities tent that was thrown out onto around them because the comsocial media in efforts to help munity is still here, even if it’s a

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No one has to feel alone during this time.

bit harder to find this year.” Everyone had their own experience with how they were able to cope with the negative effects of the pandemic in a healthy way and even provide some advice about staying well during a turbulent season such as a pandemic. “Two things have gotten me through this season of uncertainty, it is staying in God’s word and [being with] my sisters,” Carter said. “Being quarantined with my sisters sounded like a nightmare at first. However, being with my family has strengthened our relationship. Although churches were closed, I was desperate for God and his comfort. I found myself putting in more time to read the Bible and pray then I ever had before.” “One thing I have noticed in myself and I assume so many people can relate to this is that I just feel weak in this time,” Olson said. “There’s a lot of things I can’t do during this time and it makes me feel like I’m weak and that I don’t know what to

do. A verse that has stuck with me and helped me in this is 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, where Paul says he is not afraid to admit that he feels weak because then Christ can work through him, and the verse closes out by saying ‘For when I am weak, then I am strong’. That is something I have been reminding myself during this time: I can be okay with feeling weak and that I don’t know what’s going on because Christ sees that and makes me strong despite my weakness.” Staying well in all aspects during a pandemic presents many challenges. The current generation of college students has never dealt with an event such as this. It is normal to feel emotional highs and lows during times of heightened stress. Help is out there for all members of the CBU community. Spiritual Life, the CBU Counseling Center and friends, family and peers are there so no one has to endure loneliness during the era of the novel coronavirus.

LIFESTYLE

September 25, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 2

Oct. 10 is the 28th annual World Mental Health Day. This day is observed to raise awareness, promote education and end the stigmas surrounding various mental health topics. Listed below are some resources that are easily accessible for all college-aged students.

CBU Counseling Center

spiritual life

The Counseling Center at CBU offers Christ-centered, psychologically sound therapy free of charge for all CBU students. The Counseling Center also offers many sources for both students and faculty to guide them in their mental health journey.

CBU’s Spiritual Life office is the department of the university that deals with everything relating to students’ spiritual health. Spiritual Life provides information and resources for students interested in growing in their spiritual journey.

Students aid family through pandemic CBU students find ways to make impact throughout communities It was impossible to foresee the events that led to the global pandemic of COVID-19. However, if history has taught us anything, it’s that the family and community units have potential to become even stronger and more resilient when placed under pressure. Many California Baptist University students experienced this familial and communal strengthening first hand over the summer, which has been characterized as one crisis after another. In a time when certainty on any issue seems like a philosophy of the past, students have buckled down with their families and communities, refusing to give in to fear, and have helped one another in any way possible. Anthony Navarro, junior psychology major, personally rose to the occasion of aiding his family through the uncertainty and took responsibility for his family and community units. “I picked up the slack for a few of the adults in my house, and really made an effort to help out as much as I could,” Navarro said. “We mostly just needed to stay tight and connected, and we were able to do that through planning safe activities to pass the time.” Zachary Cleek, junior graphic design major, had similar experiences to Navarro during the summer months and contributed however he could to his fam-

ily’s safety. “My focus was to especially be helping my mom, who wanted to go visit her parents,” Cleek said. “My dad and I were able to talk her out of it, encouraging her to keep them and herself safe by staying home. Also, being there for my sister when she was laid off from her job, which was very stressful.” Maintaining a constant presence with one’s family and community is never an easy task, but it is perhaps now more important than ever. Communities need each other. Families need each other. We are not built to run the marathon of life by ourselves; it was never in God’s plan that we should exist alone. This truth becomes more evident with every new COVID-19 report and during difficult times like these. Prof. Trevor Mannion, adjunct political science professor, echoes what students have done to aid their families during this season of the pandemic. “When life becomes not so certain you tend to reach out more or try to be around to cherish what you realize is not quite so permanent,” Mannion said. “This obviously is a crisis and I find myself driven more to just try to reach out and check on my family. I feel like me checking on them helps them cope with this crazy 2020 we are all enduring. At the core, just being there for people, even from some required distance helps people to realize we are all in this together as a species and can lift each other up in these unfamiliar times.” Familial strength, communal strength and prayer are all needed during this turbulent time. Making an impact during a pandemic may look different, however, students and faculty of CBU alike have both truly risen to the occasion and with their continued persistence and faith in God, it is much easier to remain optimistic.

that those who have calendars to keep track of the obligations can meet this struggle head-on. “Students that seem to get ahead of this time management issue have developed systems as simple as having a whiteboard that calendars and prioritizes their schedules and activities. Or they have a planner that they carry with them to do the same,” Bishop said. While Bishop agrees balancing both is quite the struggle, he has advice for students which can help. This includes making sure

to get the amount of rest needed while maintaining a healthy diet, finding time for yourself to sort out how each day is going and reaching out to professors and peers to help improve performance. Making an effort to balance school and work can be hard, but it is not impossible. Taking the advice of Mooring and Emerick can help students be successful at both. Scheduling your days and times leads to a better semester and even better college experience.

BY WILL ANTON

ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Riverside County Crisis and Suicide Helpline

suicide prevention hotline Call 800.273.8255 or text HOME to 74174 The Suicide Prevention Hotline is available for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress. This is a large network of many crisis centers and the caller will be directed to their nearest crisis center.

Trevor Line for LGBTQIA+ Youth

Call 951.686.HELP

This 24-hour service exists to provide crisis and suicide intervention services. Callers will be directed to highly trained volunteers.

CONTACT Loneliness Helpline CALL 800.932.4616

Call 1.866.488.7386 The Trevor LifeLine is operated by The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth. The line provides a safe environment for individuals to be open when experiencing a crisis, feeling suicidal or being in need of a non-judgmental space.

This number is for anyone feeling lost, alone or unsure about how to meet their needs. Callers are connected with specially trained volunteers. These volunteers are not counselors. Instead, they are trained in active listening free of judgment. Because volunteers are not counselors, calls typically last around 10 minutes.

Operation SafeHouse Call 951.351.4418

People around you Reach out to friends, family, peers, or professors. Remember you never have to be alone.

Operation Safehouse provides emergency shelter, intervention and outreach services to youth in crisis. The organization also offers information and education about topics involving runaways, transitional living and human trafficking.

Emily McGinn | Banner

Student workers Continued from Page 1

“Before the pandemic, I would try to take both hybrid and online courses,” Emerick said. “It allowed me more free time for work, but also allowed me to socialize. However, this semester I honestly feel a bit more cluttered for the reason that schedules don’t always align, and sometimes random events occur, causing conflict.” While it would seem all

classes being online would leave more room for free time, this is not always the case. This semester brings with it more difficult and this can make students feel more stressed and more discouraged. Emerick has since found useful ways to manage her time and is here to share it with her fellow Lancers. “To all the students at CBU, I really recommend obtaining a planner,” Emerick said. “Color code it, love it, cherish it. It will be your absolute best friend. Also, just have fun with it. Life

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is always going to be stress- seven and a half years. Bishop ful whether you are in school said the mission of the Career Center is to help or not; just trust prepare students yourself. Make to identify and sure to take menthen engage in tal health days, their chosen cajuggling both Samantha Emerick, reer. He said he work and school will definitely test senior marketing and is here to help students achieve your strength. international business these goals alongPush through and major side his faculty take time for yourmembers. Bishop self.” Mike Bishop, senior direc- also said 70% of students report tor of the Career Center, has time management as a key issue worked in this position for during their time at CBU and

Push through and take time for yourself.

Students stay spiritual during pandemic BY MISTY SEVERI NATIONAL EDITOR

The coronavirus recently hit its sixth month in California. With no clear end in sight, students at California Baptist University are understandably feeling the emotional and mental exhaustion more than ever. Being at a Christian university, it is important for students to focus on being spiritually grounded, turning to God in their times of need and uncertainty. Brian Zunigha, director of Discipleship Ministries, said surrounding yourself in community and being focused and intentional in worship is important. “Reaching out to friends and keeping that community has to be more intentional now,” Zunigha said. “Reading the Bible, praying to Christ all of it has to be more intentional to stay focused on what matters during these times.” Although many churches

are beginning to host services all-powerful is what brings her in person again, such as Mag- comfort in times of distress. For Mike Lovato, the execnolia Church located across the street from CBU, students still utive pastor of discipleship at have to weigh the risk of attend- Magnolia Church, his day starts with a quiet time with God. ing church. “What I have found almost Chloe Cox, sophomore architecture major, said because every day is that my mind is everything looks so different spinning as soon as I wake up,” Lovato said. now, it is on the “There is so students to be much that goes more proactive on every day, so with their commany bad things munity. Chloe Cox, on the news. It “I’ve been reaching out to sophomore can hurt you. So I try to quiet my close friends architecture major my mind and my and growing in own personal community with voice and focus them, reading the Bible and praying,” Cox on God’s.” Lovato said he has a wife said. “Staying connected is really important so you can feel and two daughters on top of his close to them even with being full-time job, so he understands more spread out and separated. how chaotic life can be. SpendEven if they are not reaching ing even 15-20 minutes a day in out to you, show that you care serious conversation with the and want to build community Lord, recognizing God’s control can really make a difference. with them.” Lovato also recommends Cox added that remembering God is in control and students add structure to their

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Show that you care and want to build community.

lives to eliminate unneeded stress that distracts them from a relationship with God. “Working from home gives me more flexibility. I can take longer lunches and see my family,” Lovato said. “Taking a rest in the middle of the day helps me stay more spiritually grounded because I’m not trying to pressure myself into the mentality to only work. You get to say ‘If I take a break it’s okay.’” Students who are unsure of where to find solace in the Bible should read the book of James, which describes patience and faith in the Lord during times of trials and temptations. A more specific verse in the Bible is Psalm 46:10, which says, “Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Spiritual Life office is open for students who want to talk to someone in-person. Students can join a Tribe, which are Bible study groups run by Spiritual Life interns.

Photo Illustration by Luc Stringer | Banner

A student turns to the book of James during quiet time with God.

PERSPECTIVES September 25, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 2

Protesters march for justice across California over the summer 2 1

5 4 6

1. Corey Patton and Fiona Meehan, residents of Ladera Ranch, California, lead a Black Lives Matter march down the city’s main road in June. 2. A Riverside local holds up his skateboard while marching down Main Street during the Riverside protest earlier this summer. 3. Students from the Capistrano Unified School District stand together at an intersection in Las Flores, California, during a Black Lives Matter march.

4. A Riverside resident holds up her sign while marching down Main Street toward Riverside City Hall. 5. Police line up in front of the Riverside City Hall while locals gather during a Black Lives Matter protest this summer. 6. Residents of Moreno Valley kneel during a Black Lives Matter protest over the summer.

Photos by Camille Grochowski, Luc Stringer and Tonia Ross

BUSINESS & TECH

September 25, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 2

Mario celebrates 35th anniversary BY LUC STRINGER

ASST. BUSINESS AND TECH EDITOR Everyone’s favorite plumber wearing overalls and a signature red hat turned 35 this Sept. 13. Super Mario Brothers, Nintendo Entertainment’s flagship video game character, celebrates a long life with a trip through Mario’s most classic moments. In a recent CNN interview, Shigeru Miyamoto, Mario’s Japanese creator, said he chose to create a character that might

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No matter what worlds he takes on, Mario remains Mario. Shigeru Miyamoto Creator of the Mario video game series

be more relatable instead of a “superhero.” “We wanted him to be someone who might live near you,” Miyamoto said. “No matter what worlds he takes on, Mario remains Mario. Maybe this is strange, but I find that fact very comforting.” This design choice seems to have been the right call, as Mario is one of the most profitable video game characters of all time. Its most recent title, “Mario Odyssey,” sold more than 18 million units as of June 2020. In celebration of the 35th anniversary, Nintendo is

re-releasing popular Mario content for its current generation system, the Nintendo Switch, as well as hosting multiple events, all of which can be found at supermario35.com. “We look forward to everyone joining us on a Mario journey 35 years in the making,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s president, in a statement. “We are marketing this significant milestone with a wide variety of games and experiences that all generations of Mario fans, from here to the Mushroom Kingdom, can enjoy together.” “Super Mario 3D All-Stars” is a collection of three of the most classic Mario titles: “Super Mario 64,” “Super Mario Sunshine,” and “Super Mario Galaxy.” Each of these games, originally on older Nintendo gaming consoles, are only available on the Nintendo Switch until the end of March in 2021 when the product will no longer be sold. Some of the anniversary events include a “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” tournament, new furniture in “Animal Crossing” and a “Splatoon 2” event. Nintendo even created a small hand-held device to play the original “Super Mario Bros.” on the go. Tanner Dubyak, sophomore communications major, spent his early years playing “Super Mario Bros” with his cousin. He said that the competition

A collection of iconic Mario games from Nintendo are showcased on display as the well-known character celebrates 35 years. it fostered was a bonding moment. “Mario means a lot actually,” Dubyak said. “It has held a lot of great memories that I will forever hold dearly.” Dubyak is not the only college student who can reminisce

about Mario games. Nathan DeRisio, sophomore criminal justice major, remembers that Mario games were difficult as a kid, but still an incredibly fun experience. He said he is even considering buying Nintendo’s

Switch system to play the anniversary re-releases because of the memories these games hold. “Mario is very nostalgic for me,” DeRisio said. “It is always going to be one of those classic games I could always pick up and play.”

Camille Grochowski | Banner

For many, Mario is more than just a video game character. He is the symbol of hours and hours of fun. Who knew a simple plumber could change our lives and impact the world of gaming so much?

School of Business extends reach of Leadership Studies Program BY JASMINE SEVERI

BUSINESS AND TECH EDITOR Starting this semester, CBU’s Leadership Studies Program will be hosted by the Robert K. Jabs School of Business, and they have big plans for it. They want a wide reach for the program, as anyone can benefit from strong leadership skills. Dr. Gaynell Vanderslice, assistant professor of business management and the new program director for the Leadership Studies Program, said she thinks you have to set your goals high and let God help you achieve them, and that is the goal for this program. “The vision is to extend the reach of exemplary leadership at every level, everywhere,” Vanderslice said. “We have students that come from around the globe, we have students who are local who will go out across the seas. … and we have students who are working at every level within

organizations, companies, firms, entrepreneurs, start-ups — you name it. They are working on the front line, to middle-management, leadership supervisors. Some are working as executives or administrators.” But they are not promising a magic solution to achieve success. Vanderslice said the key is to realize that leadership comes in many forms, that it can be for anyone, and it is something people do every day. “We’re not saying everyone’s going to get promoted,” Vanderslice said. “We’re saying whatever your aspirations are, our desire for you is that you realize you can put those aspirations into play now, and not feel as if you are waiting for someone to come along and do things for you.” Dr. Marina Girju, associate dean of the school of business, said the leadership studies program is open for all students at CBU and goes well with

any major. “The goal of this program is to develop these leadership skills in addition to our professional career development,” Girju said. “It really is a program that is trying to get together all CBU students, regardless of the degree they are pursuing at CBU, regardless of the passion for the career they want to have.” Hannah Doerfert, graphic design and digital media and leadership studies double major, said the program has worked well with her own major. “I definitely see myself taking more of a lead (in group creative projects), and conducting things and being the art director, because hopefully after college I plan to be a creative director for whatever corporation needs a creative director.” Doerfert said she thinks the Leadership

Studies Program complements any major, and that she would encourage more students to check it out. “You don’t have to take as many courses as you would with a direct one,” Doerfert said. “I think it pairs well with any major on campus. You’re going to need those leadership skills, so I definitely encourage people to look at that and see if it fits into their schedule.” The School of Business is looking at longterm goals to make the Leadership Studies Program easily accessible to students of every major, including potentially offering seminars and potentially making classes available during the summer and other non-traditional times. Vanderslice encouraged students to email her if they are interested in potentially taking summer classes for the Leadership Studies Program.

Amazon recieves approval to begin drone-delivery system BY LUC STRINGER

ASST. BUSINESS AND TECH EDITOR

Sofia Eneqvist | Banner

These days, consumers expect deliveries in record time, but Amazon is about to start rolling out what is potentially the fastest and most effective delivery system of all time. The Federal Aviation Administration approved Amazon’s new drone delivery program in early September, allowing Jeff Bezos’ industry giant to move forward with this technology. Amazon has been developing its drone system, coined PrimeAir, for years, making its first autonomous delivery on Dec. 16, 2016. Amazon claims that packages eligible for PrimeAir could be delivered in as little as 30 minutes or less. Now, with FAA approval, Amazon can begin to make commercial deliveries outside of testing circumstances. Currently, Amazon’s drones have a 15-mile range and can support packages that weigh up to 5 pounds. They are not the only company, however, who may benefit from continuing FAA support. UPS is developing its Flight Forward “drone airline.” According to a UPS press release, Flight Forward was the first to receive FAA approval with the Part 135 Standard certification, which removes scope

and size limitations. Flight Forward currently serves healthcare professionals and hospitals around the nation transport medical samples. Timmy Tamashiro, sophomore radiological science major, said drone deliveries could be more efficient and environmentally friendly, but also said he was skeptical about the impact it would have on human jobs.

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I would like to think we can handle (the change) without a governmentrun situation. Adele Harrison professor of finance

“The drone won’t give money back into their community,” Tamashiro said. “They’ll take the jobs of the people who actually work. The drones won’t even get paid. .... Nothing can beat human interaction, and I (would) rather have a person deliver my package then some piece of plastic dropping off my stuff and flying away.” Many people share Tamashiro’s fear, but Adele Harrison, professor of finance,

said that she believes the free market economy can handle the potential economic implications of PrimeAir. “I would like to hope that it is the job of the entrepreneur — that there is someone out there that (will) say: ‘this particular aspect is going away, but I could utilize people (in a different) way,” said Harrison. “I would like to think that we can handle it without some government-mandated or government-run situation.” For some, PrimeAir is too fast a jump in technology. Katie O’Daniel, sophomore behavioral sciences major, said she would be frightened by drone delivery. “It makes me feel like I am in a futuristic movie where the drones turn against (us),” O’Daniel said. Amazon has said that drone safety is important. These drones will be able to react to the environment around them, avoiding obstacles in their path. Amazon also pledges to work with the FAA to create an air traffic management system that is safe for the public. Whether or not America is ready, PrimeAir is here to stay. Amazon has not provided a roll-out date but says customers should expect drone deliveries very soon.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CBU student group releases newest short film 10

September 25, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 2

BY JACKSON WALDROP A&E EDITOR

Student production company Elephant Room, consisting of four close friends and senior film production majors, released “In a Nutshell,” their newest short film and secondto-last project of their college careers on Sept. 18. Elephant Room has been working together since they were all freshman and have finished many projects together, including their junior year project “Jetpack Girl,” which won Best Actress, Best Supporting, Best Editing, and runner up for Best Picture award at the California Baptist University Film Festival. It was also officially selected for the San Bernardino Valley College International Student Film Festival. Members of Elephant Room said their unconventional approach to working together as a team has helped them work better together and make better quality work with accountability, motivation and mutual support. This has helped them be successful within the area of film that they are currently in. Their unique approach and individual personality have made positive impressions on many already. Their new short film “In a Nutshell” is how Elephant Room member and film production major Michael Duggan says he saw the vision and hard work they have put in since freshman pay off. “Early on when we start-

Luc Stringer | Banner

Nick Kerhulas (center), the star of “In a Nutshell,” and members of Elephant Room, CBU seniors, Allen Fletcher, Nathan Rierson, Jonathan Cadenhead, and Michael Duggan, celebrate their film’s release. ed it was just us four hoping to have more opportunities and connections between all of us, but we didn’t have connections,” Duggan said. “But what has been really cool about ‘In a Nutshell’ is now, almost four years later, we do have connections, we do have a wider scope of people. A lot of the things we envisioned for our future as freshman are coming into fruition now, which is really exciting to see and hopefully will continue.” “In a Nutshell” is the first project that Elephant Room came up with and wrote entire-

ly together. “This is the most Elephant Room project that there has been,” Duggan said. “It is a combination of all four of our ideas and minds together.” Michael Duggan explained the idea and the basic story of what the film is about. “‘In a Nutshell’ is about a man named Jim who is stuck in a job that he hates and is pulled into a miraculous adventure when something sticks with him that he could not have planned for,” Duggan said. “It is a very fun film that has some really great parts as well as a mes-

sage in the end.” Nick Kerhulas, actor and lead for the character Jim in the film said that working with Elephant Room was a blessing to him. “Working with Allen, Michael, Nathan and Johnny was the best experience I’ve had on production so far,” Kerhulas. “They were very professional and cordial. They brought that level of energy every day on set and with everyone they worked with. Everyone that helped work on the project was such a team player as well and a vital part of the film making process.

When I watched our short film I noticed that the crew accomplished pretty much exactly what they intended to do. That stood out to me the most. Working on this short film felt like a blessing.” Originally, the film was supposed to be finished and ready for release by the CBU Film Festival on Apr. 20, 2020, but then all events were canceled because of the COVID-19 epidemic. The film festival was canceled and Elephant Room decided to put the release on hold. “It was a bummer to put it off

at first,” Duggan said, “But now we are really happy it happened because it forced us to take more time and were able to dial in on some shaky parts, some re-casting, and work to get better music for the film. If it would have come out when we were planning, it wouldn’t be as good as it is now.” Allen Fletcher, senior film production major and Elephant Room member, explained how Elephant Room had to adapt their plans and strategies because of COVID-19. “We thought we might release it in October when CBU would have another film festival, but we figured that wouldn’t happen so we thought up a small social media campaign through the summer and set the date for September. Since we didn’t have a solid due date anymore, we decided to release it when it was fully ready and take our time.” Elephant Room’s next project is going to be the biggest production of their college career. This project is said to be like nothing has done in the past. Elephant Room members said they love and appreciate all the support and commitment they have been shown by their friends, family and fans. “In a Nutshell” is available to watch on YouTube and you can stay updated with news and new projects from Elephant Room on their Instagram; @elephantroomprod and on their website, elephantroomprod.com.

Amusement ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ returns parks push to reopen soon BY COLE STILWAGON ASST. A&E EDITOR

BY COLE STILWAGON

ASST. A&E EDITOR

With California amusement parks closed for the last six months because of the novel coronavirus, a trade organization is calling on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to set guidelines and rules so they can prepare to reopen before the Holiday season. California Attractions and Parks Association released a statement directed towards Gov. Newsom, to speed along his announcing of guidelines on Sept. 14. In the statement, Erin Guerrero, Executive Director said: “California’s amusement parks urge the Governor to issue amusement park guidelines expeditiously so these vital community attractions can responsibly reopen their doors and get residents back to work.” The California Attractions and Parks Association is a trade organization that represents the majority of California theme parks including Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and Knotts Berry Farm, among others. Expanding on his comments, Guerrero also said in the statement that the theme parks are ready to reopen. “Over those six months, parks crafted detailed plans to reopen—they include capacity reductions, face-covering requirements, robust health and safety protocols for both guests and employees, and significant modifications to support physical distancing,” Guerrero said. As these theme parks get ready, they now wait on Gov. Newsom to send them the right direction towards reopening and for permission to open park gates again. . Gov. Newsom spoke on the

matter Sept. 16 in the recurring press conference that he has been holding during the COVID pandemic. “We will be making announcements soon as it relates to theme parks,” Newsom said. “Very, very shortly.” With the possibility of future reopenings for California theme parks, the question remains in whether crowds will still show up and visit during a pandemic. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a potential vaccine will not be available for mass use until late 2021. News sources are speculating whether patrons will be willing to be surrounded by groups of people like theme parks have before. Students have opinions on the subject. Caitlyn Rice, junior graphic design major, spoke on her personal decision to return to Disneyland when it reopens. “Based on how Disney has handled their reopening in Orlando, I would feel safe returning to the parks in Anaheim,” Rice said. “I think it’s time to let a little bit of magic back into our lives.” Tyler Doench, junior marketing major, agreed and said he is looking forward to Disney reopening when they are ready. “Disney has their guests best interest in mind and is going to do everything possible to make sure the magic is there for when guest return so I absolutely trust them in going,” Doench said. With the crowds ready to return and the California theme parks ready to get back to business many are now waiting for California Governor Gavin Newsom to announce the next steps and to set guidelines and rules so they can prepare to reopen.

Ellen DeGeneres returned to her hit talk show Sept. 18 for its 18th season after the show came under fire for a toxic work environment, which started an internal investigation into the show. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” was shut down back in spring due to COVID-19 and was late to return due to controversy and backlash. In the season premiere, DeGeneres started the show by addressing the investigation and the rumors. “As you may have heard this summer, there were allegations of a toxic work environment at our show,” DeGeneres said. “And then there was an investigation. I learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously. And I want to say, I am so sorry to the people who were affected.” Following her opening apology she continued: saying, “I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power. I realized that with that comes responsibility and I take responsibility for what happens at my show. This is ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show.’ I am Ellen DeGeneres. We have had a lot of conversations over the last few weeks about the show, our workplace and what we want for the future. We have made the necessary changes. And today we are starting a new chapter.” She then went on to address the personal rumors and attacks of her behavior and character. “My intention is to always be the best person I can be. And if I’ve ever let someone down, if I’ve ever hurt their feelings, I am so sorry for that. If that’s ever the case, I have let myself down and I’ve hurt myself as well because I always try to grow as a person. I look at everything that comes into my life as an opportunity to learn. I got into this business to make people laugh and feel good.” Back in July, the show was

Sofia Eneqvist | Banner put under an internal investigation by Warner Media following a slew of allegations. These allegations stemmed from a Buzzfeed article that featured comments from 11 both former and current staffers who described the show’s toxic work environment. Within the article, claims against the host and executive producers included racism, sexism, workplace intimidation and other mistreatments. As a result, three of the show’s top executive producers exited the show weeks before its season 18 premiere. Fans of the talk show host were enraged and discouraged by the alleged racial discrimination and inhuman treatment. A Twitter campaign was started calling for the host and her television show to be “canceled.” Cancel culture has become a widespread conversation and trend within social media.

The world has easily flipped on stars over past and current mistakes, ending the careers of some public figures. Phillip Cuneo, sophomore health science major, spoke on cancel culture through a Christian lens. “I do not think anyone has grounds to ‘cancel’ anyone because we are all living in sin that is just as bad,” Cuneo said. “However, there should be some sort of accountability being held within smaller confines.” Ramah Shirey, junior worship arts and theater double major, spoke on the canceling specifically of DeGeneres. “This doesn’t sound like a one-time mistake that she had regrets from before it got released to the public,” Shirey said. “I don’t know if I would use the word “cancel,” but I do not want to support that kind of behavior. That being said, I also do not want to hate her or

bash her because that wouldn’t solve any problems. It’s good to let people know that they shouldn’t act a certain way.” Many are skeptical of the return of Ellen Degeneres, with many being equally excited for it. There are also some who do not know what to think about her now or the idea of the show returning and are unsure about the topic. DeGeneres still has many loyal fans, but it is safe to say her reputation and the show itself has been affected by this controversy and backlash. It will be interesting to see where she and her show goes from here. As a new season “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” kicks off, Degeneres said on air she is hopeful for a new chapter to begin, one of love, kindness, and respect. It remains to be seen if these values continue promote a more positive work environment on the show.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

September 25, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 2

‘Fresh Prince’ reboot planned for NBC platform BY STEVEN ROUSEAUDIXSON ASST. A&E EDITOR

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Director Denis Villeneuve will helm a new film adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel ‘Dune,’ which will be released sometime in 2021.

New ‘Dune’ trailer releases BY JACKSON WALDROP A&E EDITOR

“Dune,” a well-known and immensely-loved novel series by Frank Herberg is coming back to the big screen. Actors Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa and many more are coming together to make a new film adaptation. The new trailer for this film was released on Sept. 9 and already has almost 22.5 million views. The deal for the rights to a new adaptation of this beloved sci-fi series was made back in 2016. The director Denis Villeneuve is best known for his Oscar nomination of Best Director for his film “Arrival” in 2016 and his 2017 film “Blade Runner 2049.” BC Bierman, Ph.D., associate professor of emerging media, explained what “Dune” is about, why he is so excited about the film and why it is such a highly anticipated film. “‘Dune’ is a novel written by Frank Herbert and originally published in Analog magazine in 1965 and is currently still the top-selling sci-fi novel of all time,” Bierman said. “And rightfully so. Set in a very dis-

tant future, Herbert’s work is a deeply complex and expertly structured narrative that is now proving more prescient and timely than ever as the story addresses political corruption, the dangers of nepotism, religious fundamentalism, nationalist extremism, the dangers of technology, cultural colonialism, and, most importantly, the willful destruction of ecosystems as the politically powerful plunder of natural resources to their own blind advantage. However, there are hopeful silver linings that are as equally prescient and timely.” However, this film is, in fact, a remake. Director Alejandro Jodorowsky attempted to make a film adaptation of “Dune” in the 1970s but it was never made. This film was going to star names such as Orson Welles, Salvador Dali and Mick Jagger, with music by Pink Floyd. Director David Lynch was the first to succeed in making a full-length “Dune” movie in 1984. At the time it was the most expensive movie ever made. The film was a commercial flop upon its release but since has gained cult status in the Dune fan community.

“Dune” is a story of a universe that is full of planets divided by noble families, a fight for power, and a struggle for survival. Full of new cultures, languages, religions, politics, species and monsters, the world that is created by Herbert is vast and complex. This is why directors have struggled to bring the world and story created in the Dune novel to life. “There are high expectations that he can pull off what Lynch could not,” Bierman said. “Of course, Villeneuve has the advantage of learning from Lynch’s mistakes and the benefit of current CGI platforms that should allow for a much more visually compelling imagining of the disparate planets and ecologies, complex characters, delicately interwoven plotlines, alien lifeforms, and unique technologies of ‘Dune.’ I can’t wait and fingers crossed.” The “Dune” story has set the expectations for sci-fi stories and has influenced many we know and love today. Torrin Diaz, senior film production major and longtime fan on the novel, said “Dune” has inspired many sci-fi stories that came after it.

“‘Dune’ is such a classic piece of epic science fiction and has heavily inspired many of the stories we love, including ‘Star Wars,’” said Diaz. “I think fans of the book and newcomers to the franchise are going to be in for a great time when it releases.” Jonathan Cadenhead, senior film production major, said Dune is going to change science fiction culture and the genre itself. “It’s really cool to see come to fruition what I think the author meant it to do, which was (to have) ‘Dune’ impact culture and let people see worlds differently,” said Cadenhead. “I think it’s going to be one of the biggest films ever made, and I think it’s going to shift science-fiction culture and the film genre.” The release date is sometime in 2021, unknown and pushed back now because of the pandemic. Oscar Isaac, an actor staring in “Dune” and who starred in the “Star Wars” movies, has said in a Q&A that no x-wing or millennium falcon can compare to this. “Dune” is arguably one of the most anticipated films in history.

In the age of nostalgic fan service, the classic NBC sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is getting its own reboot for NBC’s new streaming platform, Peacock. Even after the final episode aired in 1996, various video clips, phrases and the ever popular Carlton dance remain in circulation. But if you were expecting a goofy reinvention of the show from the ’90s, don’t. The new series, titled simply “Bel-Air,” is a gritty dramatization of its predecessor’s premise that finds the main character, Will Smith, moving in with his wealthy uncle Philip Banks after a fight in his hometown of Philadelphia. The original interpretation of this fight seems very comedic. However, “Bel-Air” depicts an intense confrontation involving a gun and police intervention. This occurs only a minute into the trailer. Though a departure from the original, the show has received general approval from critics thus far, and an exciting endorsement from The Fresh Prince Himself, Will Smith. He spoke about the production to Morgan Cooper, writer and director of the project, in a YouTube video. “The concepts of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, re-imagined as a drama like a real kid from west Philadelphia, modern-day, a Black family in Bel-Air modern day?” Smith said. “The Carlton character, a young Black Republican modern-day?… What’s the Hillary character in a world of Instagram and social media modern

day? Uncle Phil, a Black lawyer-turned-judge today with young black kids coming before him. Aunt Viv, a professional woman that decided to raise her family, and now that her kids are older, making her way back into the world of what is her life going to be as her kids are growing up? That is so rich, dude.” “‘Bel-Air’ will dive deeper into the inherent conflicts, emotions and biases that were impossible to fully explore in a 30-minute sitcom format, while still delivering swagger and nods to the original show,” said a spokesperson for NBC’s streaming platform Peacock in an official press release. Evan Tinker, senior film major, said the choice to take such a dramatic stand on these topics may not be well received. “I feel that there will most definitely be some mixed reactions from the people,” Tinker said. “‘The Fresh Prince’ is such a staple in the modern age of television, and it was like a Trojan Horse of a show, in the sense that while being funny and having its moments of drama, it touched on topics of race, sex, fatherhood, friendship, etc. So, a show of that weight being rebooted could be something that we might need now more than ever given the current climate of our society. “It was such a special show that many people would agree should just be left alone. If it’s executed properly with the right intentions, I think it may be worthwhile.” Peacock seems to be in agreement, as they ordered two seasons of “Bel-Air” based on a single pitch. Peacock, where the series can be viewed, has yet to announce an official release date for the series.

Sofia Eneqvist | Banner

Editor’s Review If students are looking for relaxing melodic music that fits all environments, from studying to driving alone to even hanging out with friends, this is the perfect EP for them. Almost Always’ newest EP “come apart in your light” is a six song 20-minute long collection, and it is a perfect example of something you could listen to in the background or pay attention to every lyric. Every song is full of meaning and a poetic feel that gets better with every listen. The EP starts out very peacefully then reaches a cli-

max with an upbeat feel with the third and fourth tracks, then descends back into an even more peaceful, calming and concluding feeling in the final two tracks. “Come apart in your light” takes the listener on a beautifully melodic and harmonic journey that takes them into a space of peace in their mind. Although the lyrics of every track are full of metaphors and ambiguous poetry, the listener can relate and adapt the feeling of the words to their own lives and circumstances. This is done almost unconsciously

EP: “COME APART IN YOUR LIGHT” BY ALMOST ALWAYS

and is brought about because of the perfect combinations of sounds, instruments, and words. Since the EP is only 20 minutes and feels even shorter, it is something listeners can put on repeat and feel like they are listening to a new song every time. There are always words, layers or feelings that are new with every listen. “Come apart in your light” is truly a collection of songs with a clear welcoming start and resolving end yet is easy to listen to again and again. The journey that this EP takes the

EDITOR’S RATING:

listener on leaves the listeners wanting to go back and take the journey again. Almost Always has not released an EP since 2019. He released his largest collection of works last summer in his 15-track album “convalesce,” which was a concept album that showcased the artist’s complexity and versatility that

BY JACKSON WALDROP A&E SECTION EDITOR Almost Always is capable of. However, this latest EP “come apart in your light” has only six songs but shows a clear improvement of skill and collectedness that every artist strives for in their collective body of work. The flow of this EP is so seamless that it feels like one work. It does not feel like six good quality songs. It feels like six good quality songs that come together to make one great piece of art. Almost Always goes against that pattern of modern music with this EP. It reminds the listener that you can listen to six

songs in order in one sitting. That listening to a musical body of work as a whole is not a dying concept. Almost Always’ “come apart in your light” goes against the current of modern music while still being able to captivate listeners. You can listen to “come apart in your light” on all streaming platforms, and listeners should try to listen to the whole EP. It is a collective melodic journey crafted by Almost Always. Don’t let just listening to one track keep you from experiencing the journey as a whole.

SPORTS Virtual fans become reality

September 25, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 2

BY ADIT WRATSANGKA ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

To limit crowds, professional sports have implemented the use of “virtual fans” in their official games. These limitations will potentially affect college sports as spectators to not be allowed to watch the team’s games. Virtual fans would help in keeping the crowd atmosphere in games, but some argue it cannot completely replace live spectators. “Fans and spectators play a vital role in a baseball game, absolutely,” said Gary Adcock, head coach of the baseball team. “The energy given off by a crowd can not be understated. You can pump in crowd noise, music and all but nothing can replace the fan’s impact in my opinion. The roar of the crowd and cheering gives extra life to the game.” Fans can boost an athlete’s competitiveness and raise the stakes of a game. Matt Amrhein, senior business administration major and a right-handed pitcher, said he enjoyed having spectators in the stands at games. “I’ve always been such a big competitor with myself and with the opponent that the number of fans didn’t really affect me,” Amrhein said. “But the slow increase of fans year by year, since my freshman year,

Fall and winter athletics delayed BY AIDEN HOBSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Luc Stringer | Banner

Students cheer at a CBU basketball game last year, a reality that is no longer available as a result of COVID-19. with the energy from the people in the stands has helped me really stepped up my game.” Amrhein said the players on the team are like children going into a candy shop on game days so he said the team will compete to the best of their abilities with fans or no fans. Adcock said there will be times where the lack of spectators might affect the players’ performances but both teams will be in the same so it’s not a concern. He added the home team advantage will be lost in many ways. Many other sports will also

be affected by the situation. Christian Meyer, junior psychology major and freestyle swimmer for men’s swim and dive, said he has pros and cons on potentially not having spectators during swim meets. For him, he cares about whether or not his family watches him. “I like it when my parents are able to come and watch me swim,” Meyer said. “At the same time, I’m not all that happy when people come to watch me swim poorly.” He said it takes away the burden of possibly displaying poor performance in front of

the crowd, but he also said he wants people to watch his accomplishments or wins. “Also, it is bad in our case as swimmers. We don’t have a lot of fans like basketball and football,” Meyers said. “So those that do come, help contribute to our funds. Taking away spectators is in turn, taking away funds from the team which could end up posing a big problem.” There have not been any announcements on whether the athletics department will implement the use of virtual fans. this upcoming season at CBU.

Due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the Western Athletic Conference has announced that all fall season sports, and any athletic competitions for winter season sports, have been canceled, with a pending potential reschedule of athletic activities for the new year. This has had major effects on the fall season sports athletes, coaches, and even winter season sports. As classes were moved online, athletes and coaches alike were faced with uncertain circumstances about the future of their sports seasons. Coach Adam Tribble, head coach of California Baptist University’s Cross Country and Track teams, shared his initial thoughts about the cancellation of athletic competition. “Initially, everybody is sad because that happened because everyone spent so much time and energy and finances for the fall season, but we’re excited that we’re going to be able to bring back so many people to come back in the future [spring and fall seasons],” Tribble said. Despite the set-back of canceled competitions, fall and winter-season sports athletes and coaches are optimistic about their seasons moving forward. “I honestly wasn’t too surprised,” said Isabella Rhodes, junior civil engineering major and women’s swim and dive team member. “With the way things were going, it didn’t seem very likely that we would have competition. At the same time, I knew that meant this season would take a lot of mental strength to continue to push our bodies.” While coronavirus regulations and restrictions have changed competition and practice schedules and formats, most athletes have noticed little change in their training routines compared to prior years. Mathias Scarano, junior mechanical engineering major and member of the men’s swim team, said “Our training has moved forward as planned for the most part, but staying motivated is very difficult mentally.” CBU athletes and coaches are working to continue preparing for upcoming competitions despite season setbacks.

CBU Crazies wait for competition to begin again BY AIDEN HOBSON

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Luc Stringer | Banner

Grayson Logan, junior international relations major, and Jacob Klarke, junior business administration major, support the Lancers during a previous year’s basketball game.

As a result of the pandemic, the Western Athletic Conference has postponed all fall athletic competitions. This means that school spirit boosters like the California Baptist University “Crazies” have had no competitions or games to cheer. Jacob Klarke, junior business administration major and member of the CBU Crazies, explained what the organization is all about and why he misses being apart of the CBU events and sports games. “The Crazie crew’s job is to lead fans in being the absolute craziest student section in the NCAA,” Klarke said. “The Crazies bring energy to the crowd while also cheering on the Lancers until we lose our voices. And sometimes we even dress up as hotdogs, wear blue wigs or pink tutus to embrace our name of being Crazie.” The Crazies are a common sight at basketball games, help-

ing excite the crowd and foster school spirit. Whether they are wearing goofy costumes or leading the student section in chants or cheers, the CBU Crazies are always trying to promote friendly competition and school spirit. Being a CBU Crazies is a great way to meet friends and join a part of the growing CBU community. “I find it funny that some of the students would bring cardboard cutouts of some players and celebrities to the basketball games,” said Kenna Morrison, sophomore mechanical engineering major. While their antics may make it seem like the CBU crazies are not a serious group, they are an integral part of publicizing athletic events to the CBU student body. All while helping to bring attention to different sports events and athletic competitions throughout the year. “The CBU Crazies really get the crowd riled up and bring a whole new excitement to the [athletics] event[s],” said Spen-

cer Thompson, sophomore mathematics and Christian studies double-major. Even though fall events are canceled and the Crazies haven’t been able to attend any CBU sporting events or athletic competitions, the group is still optimistic about the potential restart of CBU sports. “I am super excited for when CBU athletics start up again and I already have been planning future fun costumes,” Klarke said. “And I’m sure all the other Crazies and potential new Crazies are longing for the return of sports. Since there are no sports, there are no Crazies. It’s sad but makes us that much more excited for the season to start and hopefully allow fans!” As the novel coronavirus pandemic continues, collegiate athletic departments are struggling to maintain school spirit while protecting their athletes, staff and fans. Meanwhile, CBU Crazies and fans patiently await for the return of athletic competitions.

SENIOR highlight

NAME:

MAJOR:

Georgia Dale Marketing

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS: -WAC player of the week -All-academic team freshman, sophomore and junior year.

ARE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT YOUR SENIOR SEASON?:

YEAR:

SPORT:

Senior Basketball

FAVORITE MEMORY:

My first week of college. I had only been in America for a short period of time, so I was really processing everything around me as it was all brand new. I met some of my greatest friends during that week.

Not quite – there is a large responsibility being a senior as people do hold expectations to perform not only as an athlete but as a leader. I do very much look forward to the challenge, however, I am more excited for the team that we will have. We have an extremely talented team here at CBU.

WHY CBU?

Reagan Lee | Banner

Georgia Dale, senior marketing major, looks to pass the ball to a teammate during CBU women’s basketball home game against Long Beach State on November 5, 2019.

I chose to come to CBU as the women’s basketball team had an extremely successful program that I was really excited to be involved in. I was also very drawn to the idea of living in California as the weather is beautiful and there’s so much to see in California.

FAVORITE HOBBY OUTSIDE OF BASKETBALL...

My favorite hobby is being with my friends and going to the beach. I also love anything creative such as music, art and writing.

OPINION LANCER ON THE STREET

September 25, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 2

What is your favorite part of online classes?

Ashley Dominguez First year

Philip Cuneo Sophomore

Clinical psycholgy grad student

Health science major

“Having my own time to study, but also even though we’re separate, we’re still connected to each other.”

“It allows me to be in my own element, rather than having to be dressed up to go to class I can just sit at my desk.”

Hana Okuhara Junior Health science major

Armon Patrick Junior Psychology major

“I do not need to leave the comfort of my bed to go to the university.”

Joshua Keaton Junior Nursing major

“I do not have to get ready and “Not having to dress up for I can just get into class right class is definitely the best thing about online classes.” away.”

Online school forces students to re-learn learning

BY JANE ROBERTUS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

In light of the transition to online classes for most American universities, and even for lower levels of education from elementary schools up through middle and high schools, students across the country have had to adapt to a completely

new style of learning. With this change, there have been many adjustments to make to individual’s styles of learning and the challenges of online school have not been small. Many students have struggled greatly due to this sudden switch, although for some it has been easier than for others. Changing class formats has also presented technological difficulties, as professors and students become heavily reliant on technology to learn. In traditional styles of school, both collegiate and lower levels, there is a sense of community and learning is a group effort. Amid the change to online synchronous and asynchronous online learning, students must now work more individually and in many ways, the feel-

ing of community has been lost. Remote learning has, in many ways, robbed students of the group-style education that they became reliant on from the start of their educations. Because of this, I have felt as though it is almost like we are re-learning how to function in school. Although online school may be easy for people who are extremely self-motivated and independent learners, for many students this is not a preferred method. In this way, online school has forced students into an unfamiliar and for many, a difficult style of schooling. However, there may still be valuable lessons for students to learn, both in and outside of the virtual “classroom.” While there may now be no other option, learning has taught me a

“

Remote learning has in many ways, robbed students of the group-style education that they became reliant on from the start of their educations.

new kind of responsibility and independence —one that was not as prevalent during the days of in-person learning. I have learned how to better manage my time and be more self-sufficient in learning. Professors and other students are still easily reachable through email and calls, but being outside of the physical classroom setting has taught me a new

style of learning I did not know I was capable of. Despite this, there have still been multiple instances when I reflect on how unfair this all seems, and I think the frustration that students feel at this forced change is justified. Online school is not easy. In many ways students have lost what they knew as school. Universities and other levels of educations look completely different in 2020. The necessary transition to remote learning because of the impact of COVID-19 may leave many students feeling isolated and detached from their education and the people who made up that system. I certainly know this is how it has felt for me, but because of that, I have found that I am not a self-motivated learner. These past three years

at CBU I have relied heavily on the in-class instructions and interactions. I also came to realize that these are elements of school I always took for granted. Although virtual learning has presented many challenges it has also been a time of personal growth and reflection. Being able to appreciate the things I once saw as necessities, has forced new independence. Online school forces students out of the traditional group mentality and into a new style of thinking, one based heavily on self-motivation and independence. This may be easier for some than others, but without a doubt, it is a new experience, and also a time to give grace and understanding to yourself and other students.

Jane Fonda inspires action for Tik Tok creates community the climate crisis movement through its unique algorithm

“

Reading about the different aspects of climate change allowed me to better understand the issues at hand.

BY SOFIA ENEQVIST MANAGING EDITOR

“Vote. Voice. Use Your Feet,” these are the three phrases imparted to me when reading Jane Fonda’s newest book, “What Can I Do? My Path From Climate Despair to Action.” To be completely honest, I bought this book more out of my love for Jane Fonda than a desire to learn about climate change. However, after reading it I have not only an even deeper admiration for Jane Fonda but a fire in me to fight climate change. The book, which came out Sept. 8, focuses on the different aspects of climate change and presents a call to action. Throughout the 16 chapters, Fonda outlines The Green New Deal, environmental justice and the relationships between climate change and the oceans, women, the military, water, plastics, human rights, health, fossil fuel and the forests. Fonda stops at nothing to educate readers on the importance of taking action to mitigate climate change. The idea for the book came from Fonda partnering with Greenpeace to start a 14-week activism cam-

paign called Fire Drill Fridays. Held in Washington D.C., Fire Drill Fridays were composed of three parts. A Thursday night teach-in that educated watchers via Instagram live on a specific aspect of climate change that would be discussed the following day. The second component was Fire Drill Fridays itself, which was held at the United Methodist building near the Capitol. The events featured many climate change experts and celebrity activists throughout the 14 weeks. The final component was the march from the United Methodist building to the Capitol itself. I was inspired by this quote found in chapter seven: “Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.” Many different emotions came over me as I read further into the book. I felt anger toward generations before us that neglected these issues, fear for what the future will hold and shock as I learned some of the statistics surrounding climate change. Fonda emphasizes that this is not only a climate crisis but a human rights crisis. A startling statistic reported in the book says, “The World Health Organization estimates that every day 93 percent of the world’s

children under the age of fifteen breathe air so polluted that it puts their health and development at risk.” This statistic does not include the heavy smoke we are all experiencing from fires roaring across the West Coast. Reading about the different aspects of climate change allowed me to better understand the issues at hand. Fonda could have not chosen a better time for the release of the book, especially as states across the country are faced with bizarre weather events that can only be explained by climate change. Fourteen of the 16 chapters dive into what each Fire Drill Friday was like. The book is set up to educate and provide resources for Fonda’s calls to action at the end of each chapter titled, “What Can I Do?” Fonda quotes the UN secretary-general saying, “Climate change is no longer a long-term problem. We are confronted now with a global climate crisis. The point of no return is no longer over the horizon. It is in sight and hurtling towards us.” I encourage everyone to read this book, whether interested in climate change or not. It is not only eye opening but also provides great resources on how to start the climate change conversation in your own city and circle of people. “There is a saying: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together,” Fonda writes in Chapter 1. “The more I was learning about the climate crisis, the more I knew that building a community was how we would grow the army that was needed to change the way this country does business — literally, and for the long haul.”

BY KELLY MCKITTRICK SPORTS EDITOR

During a worldwide pandemic it has been difficult to find activities to distract yourself. However, thanks to the best social networking application, TikTok, you could find yourself scrolling for hours through random videos specifically engineered to your liking. TikTok is a Chinese video-sharing social networking application owned by internet technology company ByteDance. The creators of TikTok merged with an existing application called Music.aly, in August 2018. In September 2018, it surpassed Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat in monthly downloads in the App Store. TikTok gives users access to sounds to use from previously made TikToks as well as preexisting music to create lip-synching videos, comedy videos, travel videos and popular dance trends. The application is debated among young adults in America because of the raging popularity with younger age groups. Most college-age students are split because no one wants to be on an application that young teen-

agers think is cool. After all, that will ruin someone’s reputation. However, TikTok is beginning to reach an older audience because of the algorithm. A unique aspect of TikTok is that people could scroll through their “Following” page, which includes videos of people that one chooses to follow or through their “For You” page. The “For You” page is what makes TikTok special. The page is full of videos that through TikTok’s collective data of personal interactions with other videos the application determines potential videos one will enjoy. According to a TikTok press release about its algorithm, the “For You” page is generated by a recommendation system. The recommendation system creates a “personalized experience” for users. The press release said: “Recommendations are based on many factors, including things like User interactions such as the videos you like or share, accounts you follow, comments you post, and content you create. Video information, which might include details like captions, sounds, and hashtags. Device and account settings like your language preference, country setting, and device type. These factors are included to make sure the system is optimized for performance, but they receive lower weight in the recommendation system relative to other data points we measure since users don’t actively express these as preferences.” Similarly, TikTok when a user first joins, the application asks the new user to note what he or she is interested in to help

gauge what videos to display. Further, the application notes when you like something based on interacting with a long video or skipping certain videos. A problem that may occur is that users may find themselves in a bubble watching similar videos. The upside to the bubble is that people find communities with similar interests. The application allows people to express their creativity through videography. People can duet their own videos or duet videos from another user. This makes the viewing experience more fun because users can see the original video and then later see someone duet the video adding more substance to the original. Not only does Tik Tok personalize your experience, companies are willing to pay influencers between $200 to $20,000 to promote their products. The company determines how much influence you have to figure out how much exposure the product would gain. Influencers will use hashtag generators to try to grow their following. Companies often track the growth of an influencers following over a threemonth period. Tips on growing a following include knowing your audience, being yourself and posting content consistently. Anyone has the potential to make money on TikTok if they want to constantly post and remain consistent. California Baptist University students should give TikTok a chance if they have not because it is a personalized experience, how could you not like an application that shows exactly what you want to see? Although, you may find yourself addicted.

ETC.

September 25, 2020 · Volume 68 · Issue 2

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