Volume 68 | Issue 1 | September 11, 2020
@lancermediagroup cbubanner.com
CBU Welcome Weekend —
Chadwick Boseman —
Tik Tok —
N e w s , Pg . 2
A & E , Pg . 1 3
B & T , Pg . 1 0
Returning and new students move on to campus.
“Black Panther” actor dies at 43 from colon cancer.
Companies including Microsoft and Google battle to purchase the famous app.
Chapel introduces online platform CBU releases steps
in pandemic action plan for campus
BY EMILY MCGINN NEWS EDITOR
A student sits alone in the lecture hall to watch the third online Chapel video of the semester.
CBU moves all in-person events online for fall semester BY JANE ROBERTUS EDITOR IN CHIEF
The start of the Fall 2020 Chapel looked a little different than past years. Instead of
students filing into the Events Center to attend their required Chapel service, pre-recorded services were uploaded to Blackboard. With California Baptist University’s classes moving online because of statewide COVID-19 restrictions, CBU’s weekly Chapel has also had to restructure the program to be accessible online. While Chapel will continue to occur almost every Tuesday and Thursday, students now
Photo Illustration by Alex Iannone | Banner
have the option to complete online Chapel anytime within a seven-day period, allowing for more flexibility and accommodations with the format of online classes. However, just like the previous in-person Chapel experience, 18 services will be available, with students required to complete 15 to receive credit. Brett Vowell, director of Chapel, said this transition to an online format has taken adjustment and preparation.
“It has been a challenging but exciting transition,” Vowell said. “While there is less energy spent in building a stage and setting up chairs each week, the interactive videos require a large amount of time, energy and planning in order to produce the final product that is made available to students through Blackboard.” Vowell described how the software that the online Chap-
SEE ONLINE CHAPEL | PAGE 11
California Baptist University has prepared a plan for the Fall 2020 semester to manage the novel coronavirus through precautions and requirements. This includes a quarantine process for students who are exhibiting symptoms, who have tested positive for the illness or who have been in direct contact with an individual who tests positive for COVID-19. To manage COVID-19, Anthony Lammons, dean of students, said the school has remained informed about the situation by referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state government and the Riverside County Health Department. “We are doing our best to remain in good communication locally and beyond,” Lammons said. “We take your safety and ability to study, and the safety of all of the employees here very seriously, and we are doing everything that we can. It can be a time of frustration, and we understand that. I implore our community to look beyond ourselves and look out for everybody. We hope to return to some semblance of normalcy, but there is no guarantee when that will take place. Meanwhile, we will continue to move forward.” Lammons said that if a
student tests positive, CBU will take steps to isolate the individual, which could occur at the student’s home or in on-campus housing set aside for quarantine. While a student is in isolation, the school will monitor the student’s health and deliver food. Students who test positive must remain in isolation for 14 days. In addition, CBU will attempt to prevent the spread of the virus by contact tracing through the Office of Student Care. When a student tests positive, the Office of Student Care speaks with the student to discover who might have been exposed to the virus on campus. Any individuals who were in the presence of someone who tests positive for COVID-19 for longer than 15 minutes would be notified and must quarantine for 10 days. Students might also be required to enter isolation if they display symptoms of COVID-19, such as failing to pass the daily temperature check required for residential students. If a student is exhibiting symptoms, the school will discuss the situation with the student and health professionals to make an informed decision about the next steps to take, including quarantine and testing. Caleb Russell, senior mechanical engineering major,
SEE COVID-19 PLAN | PAGE 2
Freshmen enter college during pandemic BY ASHLEY MOORE
ASSISTANT LIFESTYLE EDITOR
As the new academic year begins, students are adjusting to the changes this season continues to bring. While students of all years are being affected by classes moving online, this year’s incoming freshman class will miss out on many first-year experiences. While California Baptist University will not host its regular in-person events, such as Welcome Weekend and others, connections can still be made and optimism can still be found. Being intentional about forming relationships with fellow Lancers is what will keep the students connected, even if not together in person. Katelyn Worrell, freshman criminal justice major, said she has been able to enjoy her first year of college with a positive outlook, despite these changes. Worrell said she has loved living on campus and spending time with her roommate. “Being on the cheer team has definitely been something that’s connected me to enjoy my first year,” Worrell said. “It’s also been really amazing to not only meet new people every day but to become good friends with the
people I simply wave to when I pass by.” Despite the differences 2020 has brought, Worrell finds her positivity through her cheer team and the new friends she has made. In this way, she continues to grow with her fellow students and form friendships which will last a lifetime. Guadalupe Acevedo, freshman architecture major, agrees her first year of college has been different than she thought it would be. But through this, Acevedo has also been able to focus on the good which has come with her first college experience. “A positive outcome is that I have met wholesome people as my experience continues and it’s a very beautiful and different environment that I love,” Acevedo said. While different than expected, friendships and bonds can still be made this semester. Even though the majority of classes continue online, meeting new friends and forming new connections is not impossible. Finding people to connect with is not always easy, though, and can especially be harder now that classes are not in person. First-Year Experience
leaders are upperclassmen who help freshmen become plugged into campus any way they can, and help them create relationships with fellow students. FYE leaders are still here for their students, just as much as they ever were. It is no less a priority to them to help freshmen find those they can have strong relationships, even while not always together. Melia Lawrence, junior psychology major, has been an FYE leader for two years ad currently oversees around 150 freshmen. With classes all now being virtual, Lawrence says being an FYE leader this year is more difficult compared to the past due to minor technical difficulties. While Lawrence feels the challenges of online, and the sadness of her students not being able to attend events, she still encourages her freshmen with positivity. “A word of encouragement would be to make the most of this semester despite the circumstances,” Lawrence said. “Many people don’t have an opportunity to attend school so give it your all. Try to branch out and meet new people and be intentional with those around
Luc Stringer | Banner
Katelyn Elizabeth, freshman criminal justice major, and Melia Lawrence, junior psychology major and First Year Experience leader, get to know each other.
you, even your professors because they care so deeply and want the best for you. Be intentional about growing your faith and finding people to walk alongside and support you through the journey.” Creating these intentional relationships, though even through a screen, is important
during these times. Staying in communication with fellow Lancers keeps the school unified when we are not together. Students can still encourage one another and be there for each other during this time. It is important to reach out to one another and still do outdoor activities that are still allowed.
Be intentional about reaching out to classmates and getting to know one another. While college experiences have changed and this year looks different, memories can still be made. Chins up, Lancers. While on-campus activities may look different this year, connections are not lost to us.