42 minute read
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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WHY YOU GOTTA BE SO HEARTLESS, YE?
By Allison White
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American rapper Ye, formerly Kanye West, has reached a new milestone in his nearly two-decade-long career: he has sent it plummeting to rock bottom after posting an antisemitic comment on Twitter where he claimed he was “going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE” in response to another controversy that took place five days earlier. The tweet reached the popular social media platform on October 8th and has since sparked conversations about celebrity accountability, ethics and morality. It shined a spotlight on the evidently present antisemitic behavior that remains in our society.
Just five days before Ye’s viral tweet, on Oct. 3 the rapper made headlines with a political stunt at Paris Fashion Week where he adorned a “White Lives Matter” sweatshirt at the high-end fashion show. The anti-Black Lives Matter and pro-White supremacy slogan caused a ripple in social media where users commented on the ethics of displaying said garments with a hate-speech-specific slogan. Celebrities took to voice their opinions, from actor Jaime Lee Curtis to fellow rapper Sean Combs. The ripple turned into a tidal wave when Ye first turned to Instagram, then Twitter, to share opinions of his own about the entertainment industry, which he believes to be monopolized by Jewish corporations.
This isn’t the first time West made antisemitic comments. Ye has allegedly paid a settlement to an ex-employee for voicing anti-Jewish conspiracies and praising late genocidal leader Adolf Hitler in the workplace in 2018. The ex-employee was backed by six other employees of the rapper. In an NBC News Reports write-up, one of the employees claims there was “more than one incident in which Ye praised Hitler or Nazis in business meetings.” NBC declined to state the date of the settlement. However, the incident shows that his recent antisemitic rhetoric is not the singular occasion that shows his problematic views.
“I mean a lot of my friends who are Jewish, they immediately felt unsafe,” said Ren Smith, a 25-year-old student who witnessed Kanye’s tweet firsthand. “It was a difficult situation to see because how do you showcase your support and make your friend feel they are wanted and it’s okay to be Jewish, you know? How do you make them feel comfortable in an uncomfortable situation? It was just out of the blue; but at the same time, it was not a shocker… cause it’s Kanye, or Ye, as he goes by.”
Smith referenced Ye’s past controversial behavior and affiliations. In 2018, the star showed his support for then-President Donald Trump. Trump ran a notoriously divisive presidency from 2017-2021 and helmed a slogan that successfully became a symbol for his presidency and in turn, the Republican party called: MAGA (Make America Great Again). In a report from CNN on October 11, 2018, Ye stated, “There was something about putting this [MAGA] hat on that made me feel like Superman,” despite the overwhelming disagreement that spawned from items donned with the slogan and the man who created it.
Twitter is a social media platform that, according to the Business of Apps website, allows 206 million active users—38 million of whom are in the United States—to share their opinions how they see fit, if they follow Twitter’s policies. However, these policies are expected to soon transform and fit the new company’s owner’s plan for expanded freedom of speech.
“There’s too much freedom on Twitter, especially now that Elon Musk is the owner of Twitter. Like don’t get me wrong, people are entitled to their feelings and thoughts, but when you’re like Kanye West and you’re making those types of comments, and so many people are backing you up, that is when you take the time to step back and be like ‘maybe not, maybe not.’ And I think it’s insane that so many people are getting away with this,” said Smith.
Ye’s viral Twitter post, though since deleted, has affected not only the Jewish community in general but also the younger generation in the community—this includes Danielle Ben-Israel, a 16-year-old Jewish student, who voiced her opinions on the issue. “I’m starting to get scared because if this guy can go up there and say stuff— and this is before Adidas had left him, and all the brands were blacklisting him—I was like ‘Okay, are more people gonna start saying things like this now? Are people gonna think it’s okay? Are they gonna believe this stuff? Are we gonna see another wave of antisemitism?’ You know it was pretty serious… a pretty big concern for me.”
Another cause of concern that derives from Ye’s antisemitic tweet lives in the middle, where he claimed: “The funny thing is I actually can’t be antisemitic because black people are actually Jew also,” successfully dragging the Black community into the spotlight alongside the Jewish community.
In response to the Black community’s unwilling addition to the antisemitism rhetoric, Ben-Israel stated, “He’s just trying to pit these communities against each other and like, not in terms of comparison or anything, but both groups have been through traumatic events, and instead of pitting them against each other, we could be like supporting each other and fighting the common enemy of whatever it is. And he’s just trying to create more tension and more hate, and I’m like ‘We don’t need more of that from anywhere right now.’”
The inclusion of the African American community opened fresh wounds that first appeared materialized with Ye’s Anti-Black comment about slavery in May 2018. During an appearance on the entertainment site TMZ, Kanye said, “When you hear about slavery for 400 years ... for 400 years? That sounds like a choice.” The rapper faced backlash online from both peers and users of famous social media engines like Twitter and Instagram, ranging from musician Will.i.am to director Spike Lee who pleaded for the rapper to “WAKE UP” in a lengthy post on Instagram.
Ye’s alleged connection between the Black community and the Jewish community inspired insight into the relationship between the two communities that existed well before the rapper’s comments.
“All of these other companies, all these other races, all these other ethnicities, they are nowhere to be found when something happens to black people, and that’s so unacceptable. And no one is calling them out for that,” remarked Omar McDonald, a Black 35-year-old airplane mechanic and former fan of Ye. “We need to call them out. Like alright cool. This guy says one thing about you guys [Jewish companies], and you guys literally destroy his life. He said the most disrespectful s— in American history towards black people. ‘Slavery was a choice.’ And nothing was done about that. So, no, I actually don’t care how you feel… because he has done worse. America has done worse, and America has never spoken up.”
McDonald’s remarks echo the consensus made by the public that Ye did not face enough proper repercussions following his anti-black comment on slavery in 2018. One month after his comment, his then-new album entitled ‘Ye’ was released and quickly certified platinum in the United States of America by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) because of 1 million certified units sold. His latest album ‘Donda’ was also certified platinum, while the two albums after ‘Ye’ were certified Gold. On top of his music success, the rapper put out a three-part documentary on streaming service Netflix titled ‘Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy’ on January 23, 2022 and received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Documentary Series. Ye’s comment on slavery did not bruise his career, but instead was lost in the hype of his cultural iconography.
“No more Kanye in the household, no more Yeezus, we’re not f—ing with you,” continued McDonald. “And then we have to take what we know in the popular outlet, social media, and stop using his name. Stop talking about him—or, you know what, let me not even use ‘him’ anymore. Let’s stop talking about ‘them.’ Whoever ‘they’ are that are detrimental to the culture. We gotta stop using our profile to you know let ‘them’ live. Every time we say ‘their’ name, we’re letting ‘them’ live. We have to write ‘them’ off completely and just eradicate ‘them.’ ‘They’ don’t deserve to be even in our presence or even be spoken on. We just gotta erase these people and keep on pushing.”
One of the mutual reasons observed in the public concerning Ye’s previous evasion from repercussions that affected his career in terms of profitability and credibility is his bipolar disorder—a disorder that affects 2.3% of Americans. In an interview with American television host David Letterman that debuted on Netflix in May of 2019, Ye opened up about his diagnosis which was made in 2016. Ye said, “When you’re in this state, you’re hyper-paranoid about everything… Everyone is now an actor. Everything’s a conspiracy. You pretty much don’t trust anyone.” Whether his mental disorder influences his thoughts, behavior, and speech remains a complex concern.
Smith laments, with a sigh: “I think that he just needs to seek help and learn that his actions have consequences, and he is learning that now with the amount of losses that he’s currently receiving. And does he deserve it…?”
The answer is up to you. Does he?
Kanye West performs at The Museum of Modern Art’s annual Party in the Garden benefit. Photo by Jason Persse on Wikimedia Commons
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Streaming Services are Becoming More Like Cable Television in a Post Pandemic World
The Netflix Logo. Photo from netflix.com
By Niko Balkaran
The COVID-19 pandemic changed consumerism in America. Whether for good or bad, it is too early to tell. In the early days, some people realized they could capitalize on those in need by selling products at higher markups.
Hand sanitizers, electronics and even toilet paper were being sold at double the regular cost and sometimes even triple. This was because goods became scarcer as factories shut down. And so, scalpers began to stockpile items to resell at exorbitant prices.
People took to social media to share their stories. Many stories told a similar tale of trying to purchase something but could not because of the high prices. During the height of the pandemic in 2020, when quarantine rules were strictly in effect, the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X were released. These were the next generation of gaming consoles that offered the promise of having fun while stuck indoors.
Of course, everyone wanted one. But as quickly as they were announced, they were sold out. They popped up again on sites such as eBay, Mercari and StockX. The difference is they were being sold for prices ranging upwards of $800 when the regular retail price was $499.
Sony helped consumers trying to get their hands on the PS5 by using human verification systems. This helped to prevent bots from buying up inventory in seconds. But this supply issue was further agitated because of a semiconductor chip shortage. This made companies unable to keep up with demand.
Even today, some two years after these systems’ release, it is still difficult to get your hands on one. Price gouging is nothing new, as anyone in the sneakers industry can tell you, but it was made more apparent during the pandemic.
Prices from even the regular retailers went up. Sony has even raised the cost of the PS5 in certain international markets. The supply chain issue did not just affect electronics.
Physical copies of books are also becoming more expensive.
“In the first half of 2021, book sales increased 18.5 percent over the previous year, with adult and young adult fiction leading the way,” according to a Reader’s Digest article written by Laurie Budgar, a lifestyle reporter covering finance. “But publishers are struggling to produce as many books as we want to read due to paper shortages, labor challenges and shipping struggles.”
Goods that were in demand and could help pass the time were and are, for the most part, becoming more expensive. This is something that affects everyone, but college students are hit particularly hard because of their limited budgets.
And consumers stuck in their homes for months had a natural tendency to turn to the Internet for entertainment. It’s the home of podcasts, music, movies and television. Nowadays almost everyone has access to a smartphone, tablet, laptop or gaming console. Through these devices it has become easier to connect to the Internet and keep yourself occupied. After all, who hasn’t gone down a rabbit hole reading wiki articles or lost hours to TikTok?
“People were trapped in a small space such as home for over three years of COVID,” said Professor Aghajan Mohammadi, a professor in the Department of Business and Economics. “Families needed some sort of entertainment and engagement, especially kids. Therefore, there were a lot of demand for streaming.”
Streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus gained a surge in customers who now had more free time on their hands. In just the second quarter of 2020, Netflix had an increase of 10 million subscribers for a total of 193 million, according to an article by Peter Kafka for Vox. The article’s main idea is that the pandemic was good for Netflix. This is a notion that experts on the matter agree on.
Streaming subscriptions around the world passed $1 billion according to an article in The Wall Street Journal.
“Covid has massively accelerated the demand and subscriber growth in streaming services during the pandemic,” said Annisea Wong, a professor of Consumer Marketing at York College.
But it is because of this spike in new subscribers across streaming services that they had to start competing with each other in a way unlike before. Disney Plus brought popular Netflix Marvel shows like Daredevil and Jessica Jones to their platforms. These shows, which initially premiered on Netflix, were canceled due to licensing rights issues with Disney according to an article from Tech Crunch. On the other hand, Netflix had shows like Stranger Things and movies with high-profile celebrities like Red Notice with Ryan Reynolds.
These hit shows helped to break the monotony the pandemic brought with it. These streaming services were also “a way of escaping reality after a long day of college work,” said Stanley Sanchez, a sociology major.
Sanchez transferred from LaGuardia Community College to York this year. He also plans to change his major to Occupational Therapy. Sanchez prefers Disney Plus because he is a fan of the Marvel shows on the platform. Disney Plus was also one of the streaming services he got during the pandemic. Additionally, he got HBO Max during the pandemic.
But with new subscriptions came the price increases. A majority of the popular streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime raised their prices steadily over the last few years. “Exclusive or Licensed content and carriage fees” plays a role in these increases, according to Wong.
However, they also remove content from the platforms, which causes fear of missing out. Consumers would then have to spend additional money to either purchase a show or movie they want to watch or spend money on a newer streaming service. Sanchez had to wait to continue watching Friends after it left Netflix and moved to HBO Max.
Netflix could justify another price increase if “they actually put the shows they removed back on,” said Omar Faiteau, a York student and Environmental Health Science freshman.
Consumers are forced to pay a higher cost to keep up with prices increasing and content being divided among the various streaming platforms. One in four U.S. adults “spend more than $75 per month on streaming services,” according to a survey of 1,000 respondents in Finance Buzz.
This is $13 less than a “Verizon Trio Bundle with HBO and ShowTime, which was only $89 per month in 2010,” according to Wong. “An equivalent Trio Bundle with less TV channels costs $179 a month now.”
But could it be considered price gouging with these price increases from streaming services?
“Higher demand comes with higher operating costs,” Professor Wong added. “These streaming service companies are not like those traditional cable companies like Verizon and Spectrum where they monopolized the market back then when there were very little options.”
Streaming services initially gained popularity because they offered content for lower prices without ads. Now, with all of them, streaming services have become just as expensive. To gain more subscribers, Netflix has created an ad-tier version of its subscription and plans to start the rollout next year. Disney Plus has teamed up with Hulu and ESPN to offer a combination package to consumers.
In essence, streaming services have become like cable, only without the monopolization. Streaming service bundles similar to cable bundles can work, “as long as the bundles and packages are customizable,” said Wong. However, she is “not hopeful that streaming services/Internet TV will become more affordable.”
As for Sanchez, he is prepared for one possible, if not likely outcome. “If someone is able to put all my favorite movies and shows together in one place, then they will take all of my money.”
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Miss Pat: An Iconic Record
Inside of VP Records. Photo by Ilvea Lezama
By Ilvea Lezama
Descended from an East Indian father and a Chinese mother, Dorothy Patricia Williams was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on September 20, 1937. “I am Chinese but Jamaican first; my parents were happy to put us with other natives. We felt like we were one; we did not feel like we were any different. That’s why our slogan in Jamaica is “we are one.”
Her father named her Dorothy Patricia after a movie star he admired. As the oldest of two siblings, she knew early on in life that she had to be an example for them. Her hustle mentality started when she was very young. Her father worked arduously at a store, allowing her to get bulks of rubber bands and marbles for a cheaper rate.
“I used to sell them at school for lunch money because we were very poor. Fifty years ago, marbles and rubber bands were our toys. We did not have toys back then. Those were our toys.”
That’s how she got her first taste for entrepreneurship.
Her love for music started with the “clap-hand church.” It was called the “clap-hand church” because there was no actual building where Sunday’s service was held. But instead, Sundays’ service took place on a main road where people would “sing and shake their tambourines.” That became a weekly routine for Williams and her sister. That weekly routine became a foundation for what was to come.
She planned to become a nurse to help the ill like her idol Mother Theresa. However, while studying for her entrance exam to go to the University College Hospital of the West Indies in Jamaica, she met “a handsome young man by the name of Vincent.” Vincent was a driver for her grandparents’ bread van. With the characteristics of a typical “bad boy,” Vincent was known for skipping school and smoking marijuana. A type of young man no parent would want for their daughter. But she was instantly attracted to that bad boy persona.
After receiving her acceptance letter from University College, she packed all her stuff and moved to the campus. Being on campus meant she had no supervision from her parents. That gave her more time to see Vincent.
Her father saw Vincent for what he was - trouble. But she saw him as a handsome young man who would travel two hours by bike to visit her. “We were in love; I knew he was the one for me.”
A few months into her studies, Dorothy became pregnant and had to leave school when she could no longer hide her pregnancy. When her father found out, he was angry, and refused to talk to her. He was mad at the fact that she was repeating history. Her parents had gotten pregnant with her before marriage. And her father wanted something different for her.
In March of 1957, Vincent and Dorothy tied the knot. They moved in into a small rental apartment to settle down as a family. In no time, Gregory Chin was born, who unfortunately lived a short life due to an illness. Amid being heartbroken over her son’s sudden death, she knew she had to stay strong for the other little one she was already carrying. Christopher Chin was born later that year.
Vincent eventually stopped being the bread delivery man for her grandparents. Instead, he started working at a Jukebox company owned by Mr. Joseph Issa. Vincent was surrounded by music, and he loved it. Dorothy would travel with him around the island to service the jukeboxes and collect money. Watching peoples’ reactions while seeing him walk in holding the records was priceless. The reggae culture had yet to start. “Jamaica was not identified for its music or culture, but Jamaica was only known as the pot island.” Most Jamaicans listened to American R&B, gospel and country-western singers like Elvis Presley and Sam Cooke. In the 50s, Jamaica only had one radio station, which mainly played foreign artists and little of local artists.
Dorothy came out with the idea of selling old records from Vincent’s jukebox job. Coming up with a name for their upcoming business wasn’t that difficult. Vincent wanted to call the record store “Randy’s Record Mart” after Randy Wood. Randy Wood was the owner of a Tennessee station that Vincent used to listen to. At that point, they had the records and the name of the business, but they were missing a crucial piece; a place to operate their business.
They found a small space inside a grocery store, and in 1959 Randy’s Record Mart opened its doors. Because the business was starting to pick up, Vincent kept his job with Issa at the Jukebox company while Dorothy ran Randy’s Record Mart alone. Eventually, they ended up moving Randy’s Record Mart to a more vibrant commercial district.
It was a small space inside a restaurant - a restaurant they ended up buying with the help of her father. There were some music producers already doing business in the area. The new location was a magnet for anyone in music, such as singers, producers, musicians and schoolboy DJs. The relocation bought a lot of business for them. The business started evolving within a year. By then, Vincent had left his job with the Jukebox company and worked full-time for his business.
Back then, you had to go to two different places to make a record—one place to do the recording and another one to do the mastering. With many existing studios charging high fees, the Chin’s decided to make a full-house production studio. They had help setting up the studio, and Vincent traveled to the States for needles, turntables mats and anything else they needed to record music.
The name of the Studio was simple and straightforward; Studio 17. One of the first local artists that Vincent produced was a Calypso singer named Lord Creator, who had come from Trinidad and Tobago. At first, radio stations did not play his single, “Independent Jamaica,” but they quickly gave in and started playing it for the locals.
In no time, Studio 17 became a hit for artists who would stop by to record and socialize. Back then, if an artist needed to record, they would sign a contract on a little piece of paper and head to the studio, a very uncomplicated process.
The sixties were an exciting time for Jamaican music and Randy’s Record Mart. By that time, Jamaican radio stations were playing more local artists. The business exceeded their expectations, but it was undeniable that Jamaica was going through some tough political trouble. This trouble caused many Jamaicans, including the Chins, to leave the island for a better and safer life in America, Canada and England.
The Chins made the tough decision to move to New York. The move was challenging for them. The couple were already in their 40s and had taken so much time and effort building Randy Record Mart, from the ground up.
On a warm summer day in 1977, Vincent, Clive (Vincent’s son from a previous relationship) and Christopher arrived at JFK to take their first steps on this new journey. While Dorothy, now known as “Miss Pat” in the music industry, stayed back in Jamaica with their two younger children, Angela and Randy. She had to stay back to take care of the Record store. Vincent did all paperwork to get them to New York.
While in New York, he searched for a place to call their home. Vincent scoured all boroughs until finally deciding on Queens, a thriving area. At that time, Queens had a majority population of white people. Race was not an issue for them as they were accustomed to living among different races in Jamaica.
They opened VP Records in a small rental store on Jamaica Avenue in Queens. As the new kids on the block, they sent out flyers and through word of mouth to let New Yorkers know that VP Records had access to any Jamaican titles available.
Customers started to reach out; they missed home. They missed their Island and the unbeatable Jamaican music. Miss Pat was still running Randy’s Record Mart from Jamaica and helped to distribute Jamaican music. When she would travel to visit Vincent and the children, she would bring records in her luggage.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Miss Pat: An Iconic Record
Miss Pat’s new book detailing her journey. Photo by Ilvea Lezama
Cont’d from p.9
VP Records would initially make as little as $30 a day and sometimes just $130 a week. Americans only knew Bob Marley’s reggae. They didn’t know much about other artists. Names that were big back home in Jamaica did not exist for Americans.
Finally, the family became one again when Miss Pat and the two younger children arrived in New York. She admitted to having a hard time in the beginning, “getting used to the different accents, culture and the people.” She felt out of place, like she had one foot back home in Jamaica and another here in America. With the cultural shock and the children growing and heading their ways, Miss Pat had a lot on her plate, but as the matriarch of her family, she managed it all.
Major American companies like Best Buy and Walmart did not want to carry album releases. However, that changed when a prominent artist named Sean Paul came aboard. VP Records signed a distribution deal with Atlantic Records and a decision needed to be made for that talented reggae’s star next move. They needed to decide which song would make a hit music video. Miss Pat left that decision up to her granddaughters, the next generation of VP Records. They landed on “Get Busy,” and they were right.
In 2003 Vincent passed away. He lost his battle to diabetes and other related complications. In his honor Miss Pat and her Children kept the music going. Pushing through the tears, the family was committed to continuing even as the paperless era of doing business emerged.
Christopher, the oldest of the children, was doing everything to get VP Records artists better exposure, bookings, and promotional events. As a result, VP Records was the first of its kind also to attract big hip-hop and R&B artists.
The following year, Miss Pat gathered every artist that worked with them since day one for the 25th Anniversary of VP Records. The big names included everyone from Shaggy, Bennie Man, Elephant Man, and many more. For one night, reggae music took over an iconic American landmark --- the Radio City Music Hall.
“I am blessed to have many good friends. Knowing the artist personally and professionally. A big community of artists and friends and music lovers and that keeps me young and a lot of prayers. I am very blessed; I am very blessed.”
There is no doubt that Miss Pat has impacted the industry as the first female pioneer in a male-dominated industry as the company matriarch and Grammy-winning label co-founder. Yet, she is still thriving for more after so many years of legacy. She founded the V and P foundation, with its primary goal being to preserve Jamaica’s music history. The foundation’s name is a combination of her late husband’s and her name.
VP Records has been in the music industry as an independent record label for 60 years. “We have been in the music industry to showcase new singers and we have been doing that in the last 60 years. Jamaica has been gifted with music and we need to keep spreading it all over the world. While traveling, I have found out how much people like reggae music and it makes me very proud that a little island in Jamaica is producing so much music.”
York Students Comment on Next Year’s Grammys
By Sierra Ryan
With the Grammy nominations list being released, many people have mixed feelings about the Grammy’s choices.
The Grammys are considered one of the biggest nights to celebrate music. But many music fans feel that the categories in which artists are placed are different from their music. In addition, some said they think that the academy often overlooks artists.
“I don’t think they pick good people at all,” said Maya Jacob, a psychology major. “I feel like it’s overhyped,” Jacobs, a senior, continued.
The Grammys are known for snubbing many artists. For example, despite being nominated ten times, Niki Minaj has never won a Grammy.
In 2021 the Weeknd announced that he would no longer allow his record label to send music for recommendation after the Grammys had snubbed his album “After Hours.” The singer tweeted, “You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency ….”
This led many fans to feel that the Grammys were rigged. As a result, fans and artists began using the term “Scammys” to refer to the Grammys.
When it comes to the genres of music that are nominated, there wasn’t a lot of variety.
“Dance Hall music should be added. I listen to a lot of Caribbean music, and I feel like that would be a fire category,” Jacob said.
“There should be way more cultures’ music like Trinidadian instead of just pop or country, which are mostly like white-dominated genres,” said Hope Straker, a freshman art major.
The Grammys have a history of ignoring artists of color.
“A USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative study unveiled Tuesday found Black performers represented about 38% of all artists on Billboard Hot 100 from 2012 to 2020, but they only received about 27% of top Grammy nominations during that span. And just 24% of this year’s top Grammy nominees are Black,” according to a CNN Business article.
“I want some Puerto Ricans to be recognized,” Ella Ramos, social work major, commented.
As for the people nominated, some said that they shouldn’t be because there are other artists who deserve a nomination instead.
“Some of those aren’t real rappers because DJ Khalid doesn’t even rap like that. Gloria is somewhat new. I would say Kendrick Lamar is the best one cause Kendrick Lamar put a lot of albums out,” said Jacob.
And on the other hand, some students think the Grammys has no merit.
“Most of the artists that everybody likes don’t have a Grammy. So, they’re not going to care about it, and it doesn’t make sense to any of us at this point,” Straker said.
While the performances list has yet to be announced, students had a variety of artists who they thought should perform.
“I want to see Steve Lacy, Frank Ocean, A$AP Rocky, Burna Boy and Lil Uzi,” Jacob said.
Straker said she would love for Niki Minaj to have another performance. But, for Ramos, the choice was obvious for Bad Bunny to take the stage.
Students agreed that the Grammys as a whole could be better. But diversity should be at the top of the organizers’ priority list.
“They can definitely do better at making the nominees diverse,” according to Jacob.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Life of Student Veterans at York
York’s Veteran Affairs Office Photo by Niko Balkaran
By Tonia-lee Haughton
York College provides many services on campus to help students of unique situations, one of which is The Office of Veteran’s Affairs. The OVA’s mission is to help veterans smoothly transition from military life to York College, where they can pursue a college education and seek a desired career afterward.
The OVA takes care of the financial needs of veteran students by providing scholarship opportunities and benefits they receive in the military. These services ensure they can focus on their education and careers as they transition back to civilian life. While these educational milestones are challenging enough for civilian students, these are proven more difficult for students recently leaving the military.
Veterans face many difficulties as they transition back into regular life.
“Transitioning from the military life to civilian life is hard for most veterans. When you’re in the military, everything’s done for you from the time you get up to the time you go to sleep. Your dinner’s already made, your job is already set, you know exactly what you’re doing. You get up at 4 am and you go to bed at 8,” Larry D. Eaton, the Veteran’s Affairs Manager, explained.
“If you’ve been indoctrinated with that for 4+ years when you come out, you’re kind of in the wind. You don’t have any direction,” he continued.
Eaton explained that he works, assisted by his two interns, to help veterans adjust to their new life as civilians and to lessen the difficulties they often face while doing so. He mentioned that the Veteran’s Affairs office also provides housing, assistance with transportation costs, internships, jobs, and financial assistance with tuition and books.
Growing up as a child of an Army woman, Eaton had secondhand experiences of military life as he and his mother traveled from base to base. From that, he understands the challenges veterans face, which motivates his desire to help veteran students.
One firsthand experience of military life comes from a York College student veteran, Corporal Antonio Velasquez. He joined the Marines after graduating high school. Today, he is 25 years old, majoring in business marketing while interning at the Veteran’s Affairs Office. After graduation, he hopes to become a business owner of his own marketing company.
When asked about his experiences transitioning from the Marines into college, Corporal Velasquez showed gratitude and optimism toward his experience. “I felt like it was beneficial to my college experience and that’s because I learned a lot of discipline and I learned a lot of my work ethic. I gained a lot of knowledge from service that helps translate into college and definitely pay attention to detail. You know, just being on time and all the little things helped me with my transition into school.”
Corporal Velasquez implied that his experiences with the Marines were helpful toward his time in college as they taught him life skills that college students need to succeed. He mentioned that his Marine life helped him grow into an adult faster than his civilian peers.
Eaton shows great passion for helping students like Corporal Velasquez. Not only is he interested in taking care of veteran students’ basic needs. He also wants them to enjoy life as they transition into college, so he encourages them to join the extra-curricular activities on the York College campus. He mentioned that York College provides over 40 clubs.
“I didn’t join any clubs when I first joined York. Honestly, I was just focused on my goal, which is my degree, and I feel like that was also due to my military background. I was so goal-oriented that I had tunnel vision on one thing. At first, I thought that was my military mindset, so I didn’t have any clubs my first couple of years,” Eaton said. Though Corporal Velasquez didn’t show interest in club activities, his hobby is playing the video game Call of Duty. He says that’s his favorite game to play because he resonates with its military theme.
The OVA hosted a Veteran’s Day event where they honored York College alumnus Captain Laquasia L. Carrasco. She was the first ROTC cohort on campus. According to Eaton, Captain Carrasco obtained the rank of Officer after she graduated college because of her ROTC experience on campus. Students who join the military after participating in ROTC will have a better start in their military careers than those who joined the military right after high school.
Being a student veteran is understandably difficult when one considers transitioning from a life of the structure in the military to being a college student. Corporal Velasquez advises young people interested in joining the military to “do some research on a job that you actually wanna do.”
“I was lucky that I didn’t get put in a job I hate, but it wasn’t anything that I saw myself doing forever. I probably could have done a lot more research on that and got put in a field where I was a lot more comfortable,” he continued. His advice to students is that they should choose military life only if they’re passionate about it because it’s a challenging job.
Despite the struggles, Corporal Velasquez also said he enjoyed his time in the Marines because he met different people in his field, like sailors, airmen, and soldiers, and learned about their lives. In addition, he enjoyed receiving gifts from families and nearby locals as gratitude for their services. While these students have faced difficulties as veterans, they made it clear that they had some great times in the military, and they wouldn’t change a thing about it.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
The Holiday Season at York
York’s Christmas Tree Located in the Academic Core atrium. Photo by Niko Balkaran
By Shemiza Basdeo
Christmas is a widely known holiday that is celebrated amongst all kinds of people all over the world. It is a time when people honor and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by giving gifts, going to church, spending time with family and friends, while eating good food and sweets. Many families have their sacred and intimate traditions and customs that they take part in for this holiday. It is a time when happiness, joy, and love spread like wildfire and engulf you in the holiday spirit.
Professor Clare Masullo, a faculty member in the Teacher Education department expressed how she is going to spend Christmas in her new home and how she is looking forward to decorating her house both inside and outside to feel the vibes of Christmas. She said that Christmas day is dedicated to spending time with her loved ones so she is going over to her parents’ home. Masullo also said that on Christmas Eve, she plans to stay home and watch Christmas movies all day long. She hopes for a calm and quiet Christmas this year with her loved ones.
Asha Narain, an early childhood education major, explained that her family and herself takes off from work and spends the day with each other. Narain also spends Christmas day with her inlaws, and said they would all cook a dish and take it to her in-laws. The foods that they cook are Guyanese culture-based foods, like duck or goat curry, with rice or roti. The desserts are either flan or cakes. In addition, Narain explains how they all buy gifts for everyone and after eating, they all sit together and open their gifts. Narain believes that Christmas day is meant to spend with family, eating foods that compliment their culture, and giving and receiving gifts.
Anjali Rafaqat, an english education major, said her family starts Christmas day by yelling “Merry Christmas!” to each other. Then, they run downstairs to their Christmas tree and tear open their gifts. She explained her family cannot contain their excitement or eagerness, so before they do anything, they open their gifts to see what they all received. Rafaqat explained how afterward her family takes out pictures of themselves in their festive pajamas to always have the beautiful memories of their annual Christmas mornings. After taking pictures, her family prepares a big Christmas dinner, and invites other family members and friends to come over to eat and spend the day with each other. Lastly, their tradition is to end the night by playing Christmas songs, chatting with each other, and eating desserts. Rafaqat says that “Christmas is one of the best times of the year.”
Professor Lisa Dunn-Lockhart, a faculty member in the teacher education department, explained that her mom flies in from North Carolina and her dad will face time from Jamacia. She said that Christmas night is when all of her family members come together to have a big dinner, play fun games, and spend quality time with each other. One of her ongoing traditions for Christmas day is that each year one family member is given the responsibility to hosting Christmas night. She loves to give out souvenirs to her guests to commemorate the holiday.
Aarti Maharaj, an English major and an education minor, explained that she spends Christmas day with her daughter. Maharaj states that as a new mother, she is trying to come up with new traditions and customs to make the holiday meaningful for her daughter. She makes sure to put up the Christmas tree and read Christmas stories to her daughter each night.
Additionally, to making sure her daughter gets the most out of the holiday, Maharaj also said that she loves giving back to her community. For instance, she likes to participate in donations to help out kids.
“As a future educator, I want to instill values in my daughter that Christmas is not about receiving but more about giving, said Maharaj.
To end the semester, York’s Student Government Association had its annual holiday lighting ceremony. Members of the SGA lit up a Christmas tree and a candle on the Menorah for Hanukah. Professor Andrew Jackson held a presentation on the meaning of Kwanza during the ceremony. According to Jackson, Kwanza is not a religious practice but rather a cultural celebration. He went on to say that everyone can be a part of Kwanza by following the seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work or responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
“We may share different traditions during this period but at York, we try to be inclusive so that everyone leaves with good memories,” said Nish-Hoa Mullings, president of SGA.
-Nish-Hoa Mullings
Professor Parrinello and his students taking a break. Photo courtesy of Divad Smith
By Ilvea Lezama
Have you ever wanted the study abroad experience but closer to home? Well, York College has the perfect class for you; PE 178 ‘Outdoor Living’ taught by Professor Joseph Parrinello. As a New York State Licensed Mountain guide, he takes York students to explore the outdoors and disconnect from reality for a few days.
“I learned the importance of slowing down and clearing my head of all problems,” said Divad Smith, a physical education major. “I tend to take in the little moments I see in nature, like sunsets or just flowers blooming.”
Professor Parrinello is an alumnus who took the class 50 years ago, eventually came back as a volunteer and has been an instructor for the past 35 years.
“If a student can walk, then they can hike,” said Parrinello.
The accelerated class meets three to four Saturdays before the big trip. But it all depends on the size of the class. At the beginning of the semester, students are advised to walk at least two to three miles just to get in the rhythm of things, according to Parrinello.
Students get a taste of what their hiking trip will be like when they go to local parks approximately 45 mins from York College. There, they practice team-building activities and learn basic things like how to travel in the woods, prepare food in a single pot, light a camp stove, read the compass and basic map reading skills. York College provides students with most of the needed equipment, such as sleeping bags, pots and water filters.
“This course presents a unique opportunity for students to gain some skills not just from the outdoors but for life in general,” said Parrinello. “The structure of the program provides them with security while challenging students to participate in activities well beyond their comfort zone. It is in the conquering of these challenges that they gain confidence and inner strength.”
He also has seen students who have experienced the class be encouraged to go on more extensive travels and even study abroad. “I feel that students leave this class more self-aware, more tolerant of others, more introspective because they are allowed to view their current lifestyle in contrast to the life they live in the woods. Life in the woods is simple and being unconnected to social media gives students a different perspective to life,” he said.
An introduction to a new world close to home is how he wants students to view this course. And he said he hopes to continue to do this for many years. He recommends this course for students who need a break in their daily life and an interval to revise their life. “PE 178 is a great place to feel connected to York, fellow students, and nature. Students leave the course rejuvenated, with a new group of friends and looking for more outdoor opportunities.”
The class is offered to everyone, regardless of their major, during the Spring and Fall semesters by the Health and Human Performance Department.
A Heartfelt Journey of Grief and Loss Through the World of Wakanda
By Tyler Onna
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever tells an incredible story of overcoming loss with superb acting. It doesn’t fully stick the landing in the end; however, it marks a satisfying end to Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Making a movie is a difficult enough task to ask of someone. Being asked to make a movie without the person who was the soul of the first when they unexpectedly passed away is nearly impossible. Those were challenges bestowed upon Ryan Coogler while making the sequel to Black Panther. And he mostly succeeds.
The main draw of Wakanda Forever and its strongest aspect, undoubtedly, is the acting on display. Coogler took the genuine grief of these actors and applied it to this movie- the result is some of the best acting in a superhero movie to date.
Angela Bassett gives a performance that will be starting up awards contention. Her regal portrayal of the Queen Mother is even more powerful, and it feels as if she really is leading a nation as a grieving mother. Letitia Wright is fantastic in the film. She gives a standout performance as Shuri, and her raw emotions of grief, anger and vengeance resonate through the screen.
Newcomer Riri Willaims is a welcome addition to the MCU. While she is underused in the movie when she is on screen, Dominique Thorne’s portrayal of her is charming and makes viewers want to see more of her.
The other breakout star in Wakanda Forever is Tenoch Huerta as the antagonist, Namor. The character is equally as compelling as Killmonger. Huerta radiated Namor’s power and compassion as a god to his people. Namor is one of the best villains the MCU has seen in recent memory.
The story Coogler went with for this movie was great. He combined the story of grief and loss in one nation with another nation fearing invasion. And the two go well together. Namor’s army was intimidating and they made the audience genuinely worried about the characters on screen.
A major criticism of the first film from 2018 was the poor CGI in the final battle. Fortunately, history does not repeat itself in this sequel. The visuals in this movie, for the most part, are beautiful. All of the locations and environments look incredible. Some of the green screen could be improved, but compared to the visual stumbles in this phase, complaints are minimal.
With a runtime of 161 minutes, this movie has a mostly excellent pace. For the first two hours or so, the film does a great job of being a grounded emotional story, but the third act was rather disappointing. It was just another Marvel final battle when what we watched for two hours prior was trying to be the opposite.
Martin Freeman makes his return, and he is charming as always as the Wakandans’ “favorite colonizer.” His role in the movie this time around is as damage control. Freeman’s character serves as a way for the audience to remember that the Wakandans have some allies while hinting at setups in future Marvel phases.
There is only one mid-credit scene for this movie, as opposed to the usual two for MCU movies. The scene ensures that the legacy of Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of King T’Challa will continue in future Marvel movies. This fits right in with the previous movies and shows of phase four of Marvel, as the running theme seems to be passing the torch to the younger generation.
Most who fell in love with the first movie and this world will undoubtedly walk away from Wakanda Forever, getting what they came for. The film has incredible acting and beautifully pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman while paving the way for a very exciting future for the world of Wakanda.
Movies Releasing in December
12/15 Avatar: The Way of the Water
12/22 I Wanna Dance With Somebody Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
12/23 Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
