The tainted legacy of cancelled creators

USA Today, the Los Angeles Times and the Cleveland Plain Dealer are just a few newspapers in the nation that have made the executive decision to drop the comic strip “Dilbert” after the creator, Scott Adams, made several racist and prejudiced comments.

Although the comic strip mainly focuses on satire and workplace comedy, during a live stream on Feb. 23, Adams made many white supremacist statements such as “the best advice I would give to white people is to get the hell away from Black people.” In his rant, Adams claimed that Black Americans are a hate group citing a Rasmussen poll found that a significant portion of Black Americans did not agree with the statement “it’s okay to be white.” Previously, Adams had posted several YouTube videos that contained far-right political messages.

The Adams incident reflects how content and media are judged today based on the creator—a phenomenon that has become more prevalent in recent years as cancel culture becomes increasingly influential. When creators are deemed controversial, their work is often boycotted, and the dropping of the Dilbert comic is a stark example of content being negatively impacted due to the unrelated actions of its creator.

“While Adams’ statements are highly offensive, the comic strip should not suffer for the actions of its creator. So long as Adams’ views do not affect the material of the comic, the comic’s publication should be held separate from Adams,” Freshman Saanvi Gunukula said.

Another example of content being judged based on its

Staff Writer

past years, with a stream of transphobia that dates back to 2014 as stated by Vox. Most recently, Rowling called trans people “violent, duplicitous rapists.” Despite the efforts of many fans to boycott Hogwarts Legacy, it has become one of the fastest selling video games ever, nearing one billion dollars in sales. Hogwarts Legacy is a roleplaying game that includes dozens of playable characters inspired by the Harry Potter series. This game takes place in the universe created by Rowling.

“I would not judge content significantly differently if its creator made statements I find offensive. Whenever I see the content, I might think of the statements that the creator made, but aside from that, I do not think it would have a significant impact on how I view the content,” Freshman Advitha Patil said.

boycotted due to J.K. Rowling’s transphobic views, as well as accusations of hidden anti-Semitic imagery. Although Rowling did not have a significant influence on the creation of the game, she owns the Wizarding World franchise’s intellectual property, meaning she will receive a part of the profit that the game makes. Rowling’s reputation took a plunge in the

In the case of Dilbert, judging content by its creator has effectively erased a beloved comic, which goes to show that this kind of judgment can have a negative impact on art and culture. Nonetheless, in the age of cancel culture, many people hold creators’ personal values as a standard for judgment of materials, reinforcing the cultural prevalence of the practice.

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Sad-beige parenting: Aesthetic minimalism for babies

Tammy Newman

Sad-beige parenting—coined by Hayley DeRoche, an author and a mother on Tiktok—has risen in popularity over the past few months. The trend refers to the parenting practice of favoring neutral-colored environments in place of bright and colorful bedrooms; traditional colors associated with babies, like blue and pink, have been replaced with shades of beige throughout baby showers and nursing homes, colorful toys have been substituted for simplistic wooden decor.

Per The Guardian, the beige aesthetic began as a marketing trend on DeRoche’s TikTok account and e-commerce platform Etsy, which advertised achromatic items and targeted parents. While sad-beige parenting is still a relatively niche practice, it has seen a massive increase in popularity— internet searches for beige childrens clothing jumped 67% in 2022 alone.

A driving force behind the sadbeige movement is the idea that children should not grow up in an environment that subconsciously encourages gender stereotypes. The University of Missouri-Kansas Women’s Center explains how assigning certain colors to a gender— such as blue for boys and pink for girls—indicates that the child will have a specific role they must grow into in their future. This is where beige comes in; as a neutral color, it is free from gender stereotypes and can help reduce harmful expectations.

However, growing up in a setting devoid of color can limit and discourage a child’s brain development and their creativity. Science Daily reports that toys with high contrast and colors like red and

Staff Writer has become relatively popular due to the trend. Prices for the minimalist clothing are steep; a simple top can cost around $45 while a plain smock can reach over $130, The Guardian reports. These high prices are a barrier for those who wish to partake in sadbeige parenting; the trend is more prevalent among wealthier families.

While sad-beige parenting has its supporters, who claim that it is imperative that kids grow up in a gender-neutral home, the practice has received backlash. Opponents claim that it is a waste of money and does more harm to the child than good. Krista Boehem, a mother who owns an online kids’ clothing store, explains that children should be able to express themselves through their clothing— which is not achievable if they are restricted to neutral colors.

Ella Polak Staff Writer

While perusing through Yelp for a noodle restaurant, my dad and I discovered Karimi Restaurant, located in downtown San Jose. The restaurant serves a variety of Indo-Pakistani fusion dishes such as hakka noodles and Sichuan fried rice. When I stepped inside the diner, I was immediately drawn toward the interior decorations—metal ornaments suspended on green, red and gray walls—reminiscent of the Indian flag. The large space had plenty of open tables, and I ordered food from a counter on the side.

for developing children.

“If my parents did not provide me with the colorful childhood they did, I would definitely not be as creative as I am today. I believe the bright pink walls of my childhood room are what prompted me to develop an interest in art, which is something I still love doing,” Senior Corinne Thelen said.

Despite the purported negative side effects, neutral-toned clothing

“Kids should be able to be kids, and children love loads of colors. Depriving kids of bright, fun colors will only make them unhappy, especially if the only color they see in their house is beige,” Junior Yunnah Moon said.

In an effort to expose their children to more vibrant colors, many parents have openly voiced opposition to the trend. It is uncertain whether this practice will continue, but its advent has shown the outsized influence social media can have on parenting.

Tripping on faith: Psychedelic churches proliferate in the US

Andrew Duval

In a tent in the rural town of Hillsdale, Utah, a group of two dozen lay face down on patterned, blanket-covered air mattresses, braving the frigid air to experience a mind-altering, psychedelic-induced trip. Business executives, military veterans, middleaged suburban parents and former members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS)—this mixed congregation has traveled hundreds of miles for a pricey retreat with Hummingbird Church, which utilizes the psychedelic ayahuasca as it sacrament. In recent years, churches like this have proliferated across the United States, reflecting a growing interest in psychedelics as a medium for spiritual enlightenment and healing from past trauma.

Psychedelics and religion are by no means a new combination. According to The Associated Press (AP), ayahuasca has played an integral part in the religious rituals of Indigenous groups in the Amazon for hundreds of years. Its popularization in the West can partially be accredited to celebrity testimonials; high-profile stars including Aaron Rodgers and Will Smith have publicized their experiences with using psilocybin recreationally, describing them as lifechanging. Many who have struggled with various forms of addiction and trauma, including eating disorders, physical abuse, depression and alcoholism, have also reported positive experiences. Maeleene Jessop, a participant in a Hummingbird

Church retreat, grew up experiencing sexual abuse within the FLDS church and reported that magic mushroom ceremonies eased her depression.

Despite its positive reception, psychedelic churches have largely remained underground as many of the substances are illegal under federal law and stigma surrounding recreational use of psilocybin persists. Los Angeles Times reports that on Aug. 13, 2020, the Zide Door Church of Entheogenic Plants in Oakland was raided by police after a anonymous complaint that the church was a dispensary for cannabis and psychedelics. The church responded by filing a lawsuit, claiming that the seizure violated their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

Churches, activists, government officials and psychedelic users across the country are actively pushing for acceptance and legalization of psychedelics for therapy and spiritual healing.

Some churches have invoked the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which prohibits the federal government “from substantially burdening a person’s exercise of religion.” Additionally, per AP, an Arizona church filed a lawsuit against the federal government for confiscating an ayahuasca shipment originating from Peru.

Staff Writer effects such as providing relief for people who are struggling mentally and need external help. However, everything comes with its downsides— in this case, people abusing the drugs offered—so psychedelic churches and ceremonies should be closely monitored, with proper precautions in place like background checks,” Senior Tejas Shah said.

According to Rolling Stone magazine, many psilocybin users are ex-Mormons who left the church, seeking freedom from the restrictive, antiquated views of the FLDS. Now, as leaders of psychedelic churches, many stay away from strict hierarchy and organization in their ceremonies, weary from past experience.

Partaking in the ceremonies can be risky; the AP states that people have been sexually assaulted, robbed or left without the usual support of space for communal reflection.