Digital Edition - 3 - Spring 2026

APRIL 8, 2025

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Santa Monica’s Scenic, Multi-Generational ‘No Kings’ Protest Read on Pg. 4

April 8. 2026 | Volume 128 Spring Volume 3 | Santa Monica College

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Graphics By Katie Easterson APRIL 8, 2025

Letter From The Editor April showers bring May flowers

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f I’m being honest with everyone reading this, I hate writing my Letter From The Editor. I used to be good at it, trying my best to finish a week before publication so I could focus on other things. Now, it’s production day, and I’m sitting here typing this, not knowing exactly what to write about.

I struggle with writer’s block, partially when it comes to these letters, but also just — in general. I love writing. I love how it makes me feel to create. It’s one reason I like production days; they are hectic and time-consuming, but watching editors work on their respective layouts — it’s always enjoyable.

A part I grapple with in my letters is repetitiveness — not knowing if I’m just saying the same exact thing in each letter. I should remember, but I don’t, and my ADHD might be to blame for that.

One thing I won’t forget to mention is that this week, you can vote in the Associated Students election via Corsair Connect. Voting in any election, local or not, is beneficial to our communities — educating yourself on candidates and the message they want to express through their campaign can help you make informed decisions.

Change begins at a local level. With our school facing a huge deficit, knowing who you put in positions of power is crucial for future decision-making, and the future of Santa Monica College.

Election voting ends on April 9. Make sure to cast your votes on Corsair Connect!

(L-R) Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Editor in Chief Katie Easterson and Managing Editor Sofia Kieser pose for portraits outside the SMC science building in Santa Monica, Calif. before hosting an Associated Students Candidates’ Forum on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Elizabeth Bacher | The Corsair

(L-R) Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Editor in Chief Katie Easterson and Managing Editor Sofia Kieser pose for portraits outside the SMC science building in Santa Monica, Calif. before hosting an Associated Students Candidates’ Forum on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Elizabeth Bacher | The Corsair

Editor In Chief

Katie Easterson

APRILEditors 8, 2025 Corsair

Front Cover 3 Protesters brought all sorts of signs to the “No Kings 3” rally on Palisades Park at Ocean Avenue and Montana Avenue on Saturday, March 28th, 2026, in Santa Monica, Calif.

Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair

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Editor in Chief Katie Easterson

Inside Cover A Santa Monica College student practices Chinese calligraphy at the Chinese Culture Club during Club Awareness on the SMC main campus on Thursday, March 26th, 2026 in Santa Monica, Calif.

Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair

Managing Editor Sofia Kieser Photo Editor Elizabeth Bacher

Back Cover Santa Monica College Diving Corsair and 2018 Youth Olympics Gymnast Karla Perez squeezes her towel before her front 2 ½ tuck dive from the one-meter board at the Western State Conference No. 3 Swimming and Diving Meet on Friday, March 27, 2026, at the SMC Pool in Santa Monica, Calif. Perez won gold for her team in the competition.

Silke Eichholz | The Corsair

Assistant Photo Editor Tom Rosholt News Editor Kayjel J. Mairena Assistant News Editor Patrick Conlon Arts & Entertainment Editor Kyla Downey Culture Editor Nastassia Melendez Opinion Editor Jaqueline Martin Sports Editor Ciara Burris Copy Editors Scarlett Mendez Harley Morgan Maria Lebedev Design Editor Scarlett Mendez Multimedia Editors Jenna Tibby Tim Sim Raphael Lopez Social Media Editors Jeffrey Berrios Mollie Bishop

Advisers Gerard Burkhart || Photo Adviser Sharyn Obsatz || Writing Adviser Samantha Nuñez || Social Media Adviser

Staff Writers Harley Morgan, Alexandra Gorgij, Kollin Zullo, Malaika Kamau, Christine Muñoz, Leo Williams, Izabel Enrique, Natalia Zabala, Addison Koepke, Kayvon Nili-Esfahani, Cam Brewster, Sean Mendoza, Caelen Perkins, Maria Isabel Carias, Victoria Cue, Vicki Mehdizadeh, Joanna Rivas, Paola Carrasco, Alejandro Contreras, Milca Lopez Photographers Andrew Starnes, Victoria White, Jinhao Tian, Guillermo De La Barreda, Silke Eichholz, Karina Custodio, Jordi Garcia Sosa, Michael Diebert, Tori Campbell, Juliana Frame, Maria Lebedev, Katelynne Dubeau, Gregory Hawthorne, Kantapong Wongjirasawad, Masie Najafi, Danny Sanchez, Ada Greatrix, Masanori Aguayo Social Media Staff Roxanne Solar, Clarissa Moreno, Cayman Carter, Donnisha Mukes, Gia Rush, Darlene Cabanillas, Seandrea Brady (nicole), Tiwana Floyd

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Santa Monica’s Multi-Generational ‘No Kings’ Protest

APRIL 8, 2025

Protesters dressed up brought all sorts of signs to the “No Kings 3” rally on Palisades Park at Ocean Ave. and Montana Ave. on Saturday, March 28th, 2026, in Santa Monica, Calif. The protest was part of a nationwide movement opposing policies of President Donald Trump’s administration.

Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair

Caelen Perkins || Staff Writer

Thousands of protesters ranging from 99 to 2 years old, gathered for a “No Kings” protest at Palisades Park in Santa Monica.

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verlooking the Santa Monica pier, “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer played from inside a white tent. Thousands of people, ranging from senior citizens to toddlers, attended the Santa Monica Democratic Club’s “No Kings” protest at the Pacific Palisade Park on March 28, 2026.

Katz said this was the third No Kings protest the club has organized, and the success was an accumulation of the previous two.

Under a large, shaded tree, two street musicians played “This Land Is Your Land”

by Woody Guthrie, while a mother swung her toddler daughter in circles. Children The DJ kept the protesters’ feet moving and climbed trees and played tag, dodging and their bodies shaking. Hundreds of people of weaving around protesters' legs on the all ages continued to arrive, holding signs of green grass. While the kids played, their various shapes and sizes and cheering on the parents mingled and supervised, calling people dancing as they passed by. them back when they strayed too far.

“The most scenic No Kings in the country is this one,” said John Katz, organizer and pres- Sean Rosenberg said he brought his ident of the Santa Monica Democratic Club. 2-year-old son, Oelsen, to the protest so “You can look out and see the ocean, you that he could start to understand social can look at the palm trees, and it’s a beautiful problems, solutions and his role in shaping 75-degree day.” the country at a young age.

Protesters brought all sorts of signs to the “No Kings 3” rally on Palisades Park at Ocean Ave. and Montana Ave. on Saturday, March 28th, 2026, in Santa Monica, Calif.

Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair

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Protesters listen to political strategist Steve Schmidt’s speech during the “No Kings 3” rally on Palisades Park at Ocean Ave. and Montana Ave. on Saturday, March 28th, 2026, in Santa Monica, Calif.

Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair

Oelsen Rosendburg, 2, left, and twins Logan, center, and Aurora Sullivan, right, 2, play with bubble machines and hold a mini protest sign at the No Kings protest at Palisades Park in Santa Monica, Calif., on March 28, 2026.

Caelen Perkins | The Corsair

Protesters with signs gather for the “No Kings 3” rally on Palisades Park at Ocean Ave. and Montana Ave. on Saturday, March 28th, 2026, in Santa Monica, Calif.

Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair

“Being engaged is not a concept, but it’s a part of American life and it always has been,” Rosenberg said. The 2-year-old, Oelsen, held a bubble machine gun in one hand and a small handmade sign that said, “Kings? No thank you!” in the other.

Steve Schmidt, a former Republican strategist, headlined the event. Schmidt told the crowd they had a responsibility as Americans to defy what they believe is morally wrong.

Some people brought their children, and others brought their parents. “We don’t want Trump,” said Muriel Bates, a 99-year-old Santa Monica resident. Bates came to the protest in a sequined American flag top hat, accompanied by her daughter Vivian Bates, and her chihuahua, Bino.

“This generation of adults in America cannot tolerate handing to our country a legacy where a man implicated in the abuse and rape of little girls is able to function with impunity.”

Michelle Grant, vice president of programs for the Santa Monica Democratic Club, said she and co-chair Leslie Bracker organized the “democracy fair,” comprising 12 organizations including Indivisible West LA, Field Team 6, L.A. Guild of Reproductive Health and Santa Monica Great Park Coalition. Each organization had a table shaded by a large fig tree, where they handed out pamphlets and doughnuts, and helped residents register to vote.

Grant and Bracker worked with the Santa Monica Police Department to close three blocks of Ocean Avenue, from Idaho Avenue to Alta Avenue along Palisades Park.

Steve Schmidt, political strategist and co-founder of the Lincoln Project as well as the Save America Movement, addressed a crowd during the “No Kings” rally at Palisades Park on March 28, 2026, in Santa Monica, Calif.

Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair

“The point of this protest is strength in numbers,” Grant said. “We need to show this administration that we care, and that people are listening and watching. We are going to come out and vote in November and get some power back.”

- Steve Schmidt

Schmidt’s speech ended the protest at 1 p.m.

After he finished, the crowd cheered and lined up to shake his hand.

“We have no place to compromise on the idea of ‘Should we have a king,’” Schmidt said. “We have to defy it, we have to oppose it, we have to stand up to it. When July 4th comes, let it come with a defiant spirit for all of your hearts.”

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Corsairs make a splash with stro

Led by standout diving performances and strong home meet into a preview of c

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anta Monica College Corsairs hosted the Western State Conference No. 3 Swimming & Diving Meet on Friday, March 27, and competed against visiting Ventura College Pirates, Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs, College of the Canyon Cougars, and the Citrus College Owls.

The women Corsairs finished once in first place, four times in second and three times in third, with 99 points scored from 20 entries with an average performance of 315.9.

The men’s team scored 119 points from 30 entries with an average performance of 310.6, earning three firstplace, two second-place and five third-place finishes. The women and men Corsairs ranked third overall.

The event kicked off at 10 a.m. with the diving competition, limited to the 1-meter diving board only, which earned the women Corsairs their first top finishes. Karla Perez placed first, Jodi Globus second and Cindy Canseco fifth.

Corsair Christian Ventura also placed fifth, earning the first four points for the men’s team that day.

In the absence of SMC diving head coach Ryan King, swimming head coach Brian Eskridge said, ‘‘We got five divers, which is nice.

Nice score, a lot of points.

There are not a lot of divers

Silke Eichholz || Staff Write

at this level. So having divers gets you a lot of points.”

Perez’s parents, Arelis Blanco and Juan Perez, and her younger sister, Jimona Perez, cheered in the stands. Her father recorded her dives and they immediately analyzed the videos after to see how she could improve on her next round. Jimona Perez said that her sister started diving two years ago and was previously a gymnast. Before diving, Karla competed in the 2018 Youth Olympics, where she represented the nation of Guatemala and won a bronze medal.

“She’s very good. She’s going to compete to win the State Championship this year,” said Eskridge. “She set our school record on both the three-meter and the one-meter already.”

After the diving competition ended, the attention of the spectators switched to the relays and individual races in the pool.

In the men’s individual events, Ronan Suarez won the first gold in the 1650 long-distance freestyle.

Corsairs swept the 200 breaststroke event with Riley Taizo Amis winning gold, followed by Zinadin Rosales earning silver with a personal best and Anton Olsson taking bronze. Nazaret Argueta placed fourth and Gabriel Munoz seventh.

Both gold winning, SMC Swimming & Diving Corsair Rohan Lee (left), competes in the Men’s 400 Medley Re one-meter board. Corsair Anastasia Rho (bottom right) swims as anchor in the Women’s 800 freestyle relay p

Rosales also won bronze in the 200 individual medley, and Munoz, competing for the first time in the 400 IM event, placed third as well. Daine Lira, another competitor in the 1650 freestyle, also placed third.

In the relay events, both men’s 400 medley swim teams placed at the top.

The first team of Suarez, Amis, Rohan Lee and Rosales won gold, while the second team of Casey Stockton, Argueta, Lira and Ricardo Parseghian earned bronze.

In the 400 freestyle relay, the team of Amis, Olsson, Rosales and Lee won silver, and the team of Olsson, Suarez, Lira and Argueta placed third in the 800 freestyle relay.

Stockton raced twice for a personal best in the 200 backstroke, placing sixth and in the 100 freestyle, finishing ninth. Rigo Juarez Pastrana also improved his personal best.

Amis, a biology major, said, “For the conference in about three weeks, I think I am feeling really good… as a

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ong showing at WSC Meet No. 3

relay squads, SMC swimming and diving turns a conference and state potential.

er and Photographer

back issues and swam through the pain.

Los Angeles Valley College.

Montgomery, a sophomore and a political science major said, “My goal is to get first place in all my events. Probably gonna swim the 100 fly, 200 fly, and maybe the 100 IM, or the 200 back. For the 200 fly, I’m definitely aiming for a 2:15 time as my time, and then the 100 fly, I want to get under a minute.”

Eskridge considers the meet’s race training. “It doesn’t really matter who wins these meets. It’s all about the conference and state championships… you want to put up good times. A lot of it is race training. They’re s wimming a lot in practice and then going straight to a meet and learning to swim tired. It’s been good,” he said.

Having the meet at SMC encouraged families and friends to attend.

Stockton’s mother, Katie Sweeney, refers to herself as a “groupie” who also travels to see her son and his teammates compete.

When asked whom to look out for, Eskridge said, “On the boys’ side, Riley Amis. He’s probably gonna qualify for state and Rohan Lee. He was a state qualifier last year. And then our relays, Rho, a nursing major, said for the boys, they have a “I think the team spirit is good shot at making state, good. I think today was too. On the girls’ side, fun, having people’s family Izzy Montgomery, she’s a Silke Eichholz | The Corsair and friends here. I think returner. She was a state everyone did really well qualifier last year and elay swimming butterfly, and Karla Perez (top right), a 2018 Youth Olympics Gymnast, dives from the and we were cheering each conference champ in the placing her team third on Friday, March 27, 2026 at the SMC Pool in Santa Monica, Calif. other on. The divers did 200m butterfly.” amazing. As usual, yeah!” team, I think we are in a good spot to team of Anastasia Rho, Gonzalez, Lee had not swum in a few maybe get a couple of teams, a couple of Montgomery and Isabella Garcia won Eskridge explained that weeks prior to the meet relays in conference and states.” silver. The second team of Daniela Prado there are 10 teams in the due to a shoulder injury Cota, Leslie Alvarado, Liette Espinoza Western State Conference but did participate in a In the women’s individual events, Isabella and Juniper Erin Kim placed fourth. and that every SMC athfew events.

“Izzy” Montgomery raced twice for silver lete will participate in the in the 200 backstroke and 200 butterfly.

Bronze was earned in both the 400 freeconference meet, which The swimming and diving Montgomery missed gold by 0.27 style relay by Espinoza, Ornella Dubudetermines the conference Corsairs will next travel to seconds behind Abigail Chatalyan from che, Gonzalez, and Cota, and in the 800 champion as well ase who Orange Coast College in Los Angeles Valley. freestyle relay by Montgomery, Garcia, qualifies to compete for Costa Mesa to compete in Dubuche and Rho. the state championship in the OCC Invite on Friday, Ashley Gonzales placed third in the 200 mid-April. SMC hosted April 3, and Saturday, breaststroke and reached a personal best. Corsairs Alvarado, Kim, Garcia and Rho the WSC last year, and this April 4. all recorded personal bests in various year it rotates to In the women’s 400 medley relay, the events. Rho said she experienced some

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Join The Club

Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair A member of the Santa Monica College club The Oaxacans of SMC, blows bubbles as students engage during Club Awareness Day on the main campus on Thursday, March 26th, 2026 in Santa Monica, Calif.. The club brought a ‘banda’ to perform live, along with traditional candies and artisanal objects.

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Nastassia Melendez | Culture Editor

undreds of students gathered on Santa Monica College’s main campus quad Thursday, March 26, for a club awareness event, where dozens of clubs recruited new members.

why playing this style of music was “We’re here because about important for the students at SMC, he said, “I don’t see any of that here.” it’s important for Nearby, the Barber Club drew attention only for its spin-the-wheel game offercultural awareness,” not ing free haircuts, but for its friendly dog,

-Guzman

Ghost. “I want to bring people the same joy I feel when I’m with my dog,” Yusuf Hana said when asked about his companion.

The event brought together a wide range of student organizations, each offering a glimpse into their culture, interests and values. be heard throughout the quad, and club president and musician, Arthur Guzman, Hana shared his passion for his craft, camLive Oaxacan and Sinaloense style mu- spoke on the importance of representation. his mentors, and a little-known pus resource: a student-run salon sic from the Bandalos Corsarios could Guzman said, between songs. When asked where haircuts are available for $10.

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Randy Bonilla, cuts hair for Santa Monica College student Cam Brewster during Club Awareness Day Kantapong Wongjirasawad | The Corsair

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A Santa Monica College (SMC) student practices Chinese calligraphy at the Chinese Culture Club during Club Awareness Day. The Chinese Culture Club also offered traditional Chinese candy to any student that wold stop by.

Guillermo De La Barreda | The Corsair

“I love the said, “especially

teachers,” Miss

Hana For Cameron Stephenson, the appeal is Mange.” his passion for maps, including their differences in scale: “there’s a ton of difAt the Japanese Language and Culture ferent map projections, the common Club Associations table, students focused one is the Mercator projection,” he said. on accessibility and support for any- “It makes Greenland the size of Africa.” one interested in the language or culture.

The Business Club highlighted pro“We have native speakers, and new speakers,” fessional growth alongside learning. said Vice President, Damara Powell. “If you’re in a Japanese class, feel free to come join.”

“You’re also learning from all the guest speakers that are coming in,” Tjahyadikarta said, “and learning from their experiences.”

Community-building was a central theme across the event. The Black Collegians Club emphasized connection as a foundation for student success.

“It’s so important to feel connections, and build community,” said treasurer Xenia Porter. “This just gives me more opportunities to meet people I wouldn’t necessarily run into.”

“It’s a really good way to get to know other Porter also stressed awareness of camresources. “We want to be able to people, and connect pus make sure students know their resources, more about the campus, more about with others who are know The Geography Club offered a broader what’s around for them. That’s so important.” lens, encouraging students to think about in the same major,” The Adelante Club echoed the value of land, culture and history in new ways.

JLCA also offers hands-on help. “We can help you with your homework if you need,” she said, noting recent activities like practicing tongue twisters “to kind of help people with enunciation.”

“Maybe you’re into geography,” said member Kenneth Beckford, who hopes to be a city planner one day, “or you might be interested in knowing about cultures who utilized the land, such as a river for agriculture.” said Co-President, Margareth Tjahyadikarta.

- Tjahyadikarta

building relationships. “That’s our goal here: for you to make new friends,” said co-secretary, Vanessa Gutierrez.

“We welcome anyone,” Gutierrez says, “everyone’s opinion matters here in our club.”

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Club Banda Corsairs plays music at the Club Awareness Day Their music spread throughout the event and event helped to hide the sounds of nearby construction.

Tori Campbell | the Corsair

“Latinos are a really part of a big part of the U.S.,” she says, noting that representation remains central to their mission and “representing where they’re coming from, and where the roots are.”

out here, it’s better for us to tell you, coming from a Muslim.”

The Chabad Jewish Student Club also centered on how cultures can be marginalized through misrepresentation, and spirals of silence that perpetuate misinformaCultural awareness was also at tion, underscoring the imthe forefront for a newly formed portance of these clubs.

Muslim Club, sharing a table with the Middle Eastern Club. “This club is important because Mehdi Hidouche, displaying it gives Jewish students a comhis father’s 50-year-old Qu- munity, and a safe place to go ran, spoke about how the club, to, and just feel very welcome though only about 10 members and supported,” said Presistrong, emphasized how even dent Rebecca Hauptschein. small numbers have an impact.

Bandalos Corsarios, a band, performs as part of the Oaxacan Club during Santa Monica College Club Awareness Day.

Kantapong Wongjirasawad | The Corsair

“If you want to join, you can learn more about Islam,” Hidouche said. “Since a lot of people don’t really talk about it

All across the quad, students centered on a simple but powerful idea: if your culture isn’t represented, create the space yourself and invite others in.

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The Santa Monica College Art Department hosted Mexican American multidisciplinary performance artist Rafa Esparza at a special event held on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

Rafa Esparza: Brown the Experiment The Santa Monica College Art Department brought Mexican-American artist Rafa Esparza to campus for a special event held at the SMC Student Services Center Orientation hall.

Christine Xolotl Muñoz and Masie Najafi || Staff Writers

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find myself time traveling when I am making art,” Rafa Esparza said.

“My relationship to adobe comes from my relationship to my family. Learning how to make adobe was something that I asked my father because I missed our friendship and his guidance, and he taught me.”

Esparza is a first-generation Mexican American and multidisciplinary performance artist who resides in Los Angeles.

Many SMC students are able to relate to his experiences of being the first in the family to navigate the college experience.

SMC art history professor Briana Simmons attended artist Rafa Esparza’s talk with her students .

“Hearing Esparza’s journey reminds SMC students that community college is the first step toward growth and a place to explore interests and creativity. Esparza’s work engages contemporary topics that are of interest to SMC students, including Brown queer identity, challenges to the rigidity of traditional spaces like museums, responses

to policing and surveillance, the impact ICE has had on the Latiné community in Los Angeles, and connecting heritage and personal identity to greater community engagement,” Brianna Simmons said.

Simmons is an art history professor at SMC and attended the talk with her students. “It is so important for SMC students to know that their education, their engagement, their presence truly matters,” Simmons said.

Simmons said Esparza highlighted his transformative experience at community college during his speech and how meaningful it was for him.

“Now he is a renowned artist with exhibitions at museums like the Whitney in New York City and also abroad, such as Diego Rivera’s Anahuacalli Museum in Mexico City,” Simmons said.

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Rafa Esparza discussed themes of heritage, identity, and other influences that drive his work across a variety of mediums, including installation art, sculpture, drawing, painting, and performance.

sie Najafi |The Corsair

“In his talk, Esparza talked about the significance adobe holds for him and showcased his recent artwork connecting Mexican culture to the community today,” Mara Laforte, SMC student and sociology major, said. “I would love to see more artists talk like this on campus. It’s inspiring to hear stories behind the work and feel a connection to the artist instead of watching or reading about them on a screen.”

Laforte sat in the first row prepared to take notes during the talk. She was drawn to the event after taking an art history class at SMC. “The thing that interested me most about this event was Esparza’s creative scale in using adobe as his base. His range from adobe paintings to adobe floors amazed me,” Laforte said.

SMC Art Professor Robert Huerta took the opportunity to invite Esparza to speak on campus.

“The Santa Monica Associates Lecture Series takes place every year, and I saw it as an opportunity to invite Rafa, whose work aligns with the themes of the ‘Concrete Hope’ exhibition currently on display at Santa Monica College’s Pete and Susan Bar-

rett Gallery,” Huerta said.

Huerta saw Esparza’s story as an inspiration for students, saying “Rafa’s trajectory from a community college to a UC serves as a model for students in the Art Department looking to continue their arts education and develop a professional practice as an artist.”

“I hope that students who attended the event were inspired by the scale that Rafa has taken his work over the span of his career and moved to continue the development of their own ideas in whatever they do,” Huerta said.

Esparza said he wanted to learn how to work with adobe as a way to connect with his father and also challenge the classification of adobe as being only used as a building material to now seeing it as an artistic medium.

Bringing adobe into the museum space was a way for Esparza to challenge who and what type of art can be in those spaces.

“I think it is important for students to experience contemporary artists like Esparza because he is at the forefront of changing paradigms,” Simmons said.

SMC student Mara Laforte attends artist Rafa Esparza’s talk.

Giselle Medina, guitarist and singer of British band I See Orange, performs at Shangri-La on Thursday, 14 2026, in Austin, TX, during the South By Southwest (SXSW) festival.

Mar. 12,

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40, SXSW remains a proving ound for musicians Written and photographed by Guillermo de la Barreda

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Stefan Parker-Steele of London’s post-punk trio, Alien Chicks, jumps mid-air while performing at Swan Dive on Monday, March 16, 2026, in Austin, Texas, during the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival.

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Kimito, of Japanese electro rock band The Game Shop, performs at Elysium during Japanese Night on Sunday,

The longtime Austin festival and conference blended music, film, and technology across the city, reaffirming its role

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very March, Austin hosts South by Southwest, a conference and festival that combines music, film and TV, and interactive media. The event is known for spotlighting emerging and established talent across multiple creative industries. It also serves as a hub for networking and connecting industry professionals and fans alike.

“SXSW still delivers,” said Sean Goulding, senior agent at British music booking agency One Fiinix. “Maybe not at the level of its peak years, when thousands of acts competed for attention, but the heart and soul of the festival remain very much intact.”

Goulding appreciates the level of community and engagement among artists. “I also heard about songwriting camps fostering collaboration, observed bands playing 15 plus shows with relentless hustle, and was especially moved by the artists in the crowd supporting their peers onstage.

I left SXSW with a sense of optimism. Something that can feel in short supply in today’s world,” he said.

Pedro Perazo, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist of New York-based punk rock band SXSW started in 1987 as a music festival. Over the years, it has expanded Gogol Bordello, performs at Mohawk on Thursday, March 12, 2026. in scope to include a major film and TV festival and an interactive division focused on technology and innovation. This year marked SXSW’s 40th edition. Due to last year’s demolition of the Austin Convention Center, all three festival tracks ran simultaneously over a single week, cre- the world perform in intimate venues for industry professionals and fans, ating a more dispersed festival footprint as conference programming was hoping to build momentum in their careers. Most arrive either as emergdistributed across hotels and venues throughout downtown. ing acts or as somewhat established performers seeking broader recogniThis year, SXSW had a schedule of events that stretched throughout the tion. Some return multiple years before breaking through, while others day for a full week, rather than the usual 10 days of prior editions. Daymay manage to build steady careers or eventually give up. Past performers time programming featured panels, meetups, screenings, and startup who later achieved widespread success include LCD Soundsystem, St. events, while brands and organizations hosted daytime concerts and gath- Vincent, Amy Winehouse, Billie Eilish, Metric, Fontaines D.C. and Idles, erings. In the evenings, the official music showcases started and continued among others. late into the night, while film screenings and premieres kept taking place.

Some of the most talked-about artists this year included Lola Young, Austin’s fluctuating spring climate became another defining feature of the Swapmeet, Chalk, Basht., Adult DVD, Tom A. Smith, TTSSFU, and Panic week’s experience. Weather conditions shifted dramatically throughout the Shack. Bands often performed several 45-minute sets each day throughout week, starting with mild temperatures in the 70s, to peak near 98 degrees, the week, moving quickly between venues across Austin. Audiences, filled before cooling into the low 50s. with industry insiders, watched closely as performers presented their work SXSW has long served as a discovery platform where artists from around in a setting widely known for music discovery and career exposure.

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Meg Fretwell, of Welsh punk rock band Panic Shack, takes her guitar out as she gets ready to perform at Mohawk

(L to R) Romi Lawrence and Emily Smith, of Welsh punk rock band Panic Shack, perform at Swan Dive

Tasmin Nicole Stephens, also known as TTSSFU, an English singer-songwriter and guitarist, dances with a fan while singing

Jack Parker of New York-based PONS performs at 13th Floor on Tuesday, 17, 2026, in Austin, Texas.

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Ryan Gosling Blasts Off With “Project Hail Mary”

Adapted from the novel by Andy Weir, directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller deliver a highstakes interstellar epic starring Ryan Gosling and a co-star who’s not so human.

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Maria Isabel Carias || Staff Writer

oving a story from the internal monologue of a best-selling novel to the visual language of the big screen is a notoriously delicate operation — but with the works of novelist Andy Weir, Hollywood has succeeded twice.

million and attached Ryan Gosling in the leading role with directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller being hired to direct and write the screenplay two months after the movie’s announcement.

“Project Hail Mary” is Weir’s third novel following the smash hit “The Martian” and the moderately received “Artemis.”

After numerous production delays, the film adaptation of “Project Hail Mary” premiered on March 20, 2026, starring Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz and Lionel Boyce.

The film received glowing reviews from critics and general audiences, but how does it compare to other science fiction offerings?

In an interview with Grimdark Magazine, Weir remarks how “Project Hail Mary” was initially conceptualized as “Zhek,” a traditional space opera involving aliens, faster-than-light travel and a telepathic protagonist. However, Weir deemed the protagonist as “too boring,” but salvaged aspects of the manuscript for “Project Hail Mary.”

Even before the novel’s release in 2021, film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer secured the film rights to the novel for $3

The story begins in a not-so-distant future, where a powerful yet dangerous microorganism known as astrophage is consuming the sun’s energy, which will cause a catastrophic global cooling within 30 years. Desperate to stop the sun’s dimming, a team of three astronauts are sent on a mission

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to observe the star Tau Ceti, which has resisted the astrophage infection.

The only problem is that the sole survivor of the voyage, Ryland Grace (Gosling), has awakened with amnesia and is completely alone 12 lightyears away from Earth on a one-way trip, as the Hail Mary does not have enough fuel to return home.

Throughout the movie, Grace begins to regain his memory as a school teacher and former molecular biologist, whose work has caught the interest of Eva Stratt (Hüller), a European government agent.

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emotional and is given scenes that show her vulnerability while being in charge of such a risky mission, such as one where she sings karaoke with her colleagues. There is almost a romantic chemistry between her and Grace that is absent in the novel.

I know a lot of science fiction movies — and movies in general — nowadays use heavy CGI and green screen for their special effects, but while watching the movie, it almost felt like I was in space with Grace and Rocky as well.

“Project Hail Mary” uses a combination of visual effects and practical effects, with the Hail Mary having its interior built and filmed in front of a black screen so that the light reflecting off Gosling’s suit was the actual light from the stars on Rocky’s ship.

While approaching Tau Ceti, Grace stumbles upon an alien craft belonging to a five-legged, spider-like alien known as an Edridian, whom Grace names “Rocky.” Rocky is also investigating the star’s resistance to astrophage, which Grace comes to understand after creating a translation program to communicate.

The character of Rocky was portrayed via puppetry; puppeteer James Ortiz and the Together, it is up to the two of special effects department creatthem to save their respective homes by breeding a natural preda- ed the puppet with a thin fiberglass shell and applied CGI to any tor for the astrophage. complex movements. Ortiz also provides the voice of Rocky.

Going into the movie with prior knowledge of the novel, I was amazed that despite the majority of the movie consisting of just Grace and Rocky, their scenes together never feel like they drag on for too long. The transitions into Grace’s flashbacks as he regains his memory also never feel like they disrupt the movie, and at the end of the day, you feel sympathy for him as he’s been sent out on what is essentially a suicide mission and has only one chance to save Earth.

Apart from the two leads, the other character that gets the most screentime in the movie is Stratt. Compared to her book counterpart, Stratt in the movie is presented as less ruthless and more

In an era where most movies lack passion and creativity, “Project Hail Mary” feels like a much-needed jolt of adrenaline. It is a near-faithful adaptation with the heart and soul of the original novel retained.

However, it is still not quite a perfect movie, as its environmental themes in the novel have been downplayed — such as the nuking of Antarctica to create more greenhouse gases as the Earth begins to cool being completely removed from the final cut.

I also believe the movie could have been a little shorter, with its nearly three-hour runtime.

As a beautifully crafted movie, “Project Hail Mary” certainly deserves a massive thumbs-up — or thumbs-down if you’re Rocky.

Graphics by Katie Easterson

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