Tale as old as time Camille Grochowski | Banner
The costumes for ‘Beauty and the Beast’ are displayed on a rack in preperation for the show.
Theater unveils ‘Beauty and the Beast’ after extended delay BY LEIGHANNE MUÑOZ STAFF WRITER
Magic most certainly is in the air – Disney magic to be exact. California Baptist University will be hosting a live showing of “Beauty and the Beast” in the Wallace Theatre beginning Nov. 19. There will be a matinee show on the evening of Nov. 20, and there will be showings from Dec. 2-4 after Thanksgiving break. The theater program was originally preparing to perform “Beauty and the Beast” in spring 2020. However, due to the onset of the pandemic, the show never took place. As a result, some returning actors have been waiting to do this show for well over a year. “We were going into dress rehearsal week when everything was closed down for COVID,” said Lisa Lyons, adjunct professor of theater. “The process has been different the second time around. Many of the principles were from the previous show. Belle, Beast, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Cogsworth and the Wardrobe knew their lines and music already. The ensemble is basically new to the show, so they had to learn lines, music and choreography.” On top of a long gap between the intended opening night and this semester, there were still some other bumps in the road. “We did have an outbreak of COVID, so we lost about a week of rehearsal,” Lyons said. “After that, though it was all hands on deck to get to this week.” Sophia Oliveri, senior theater major, will portray Mrs. Potts in the production. She spoke about what she is most excited about for opening night. “(I am excited for) the live audience,” Oliveri said. “That’s what’s been missing. Without an audience what’s the point of live theater?” Oliveri said the cast and crew worked tirelessly the first time around, and this work ethic has continued into this semester’s production. “The initial cast list came out Dec. 6, 2019,” Oliveri said. “From there we rehearsed 20 hours, if not more, a week. This production, we began casting two days into the semester and have been rehearsing since.” Rehearsals this semester ran from 7-11 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a weekend rehearsal period on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In the week leading to opening night, the actors rehearse from 5:30 p.m. until 12 a.m., and the crew is in the theater even earlier. Although it has been difficult to wait several semesters to do the show, Oliveri said she is excited to be part of the show, especially since it has changed since 2019. “Personally, it’s been a funny challenge navigating being a six-foot teapot,” Oliveri said. “My right arm is a lot stronger having been a spout for over a year. It’s such a blessing to be a part of this production at CBU. We have grown and changed
so much since 2019 and it’s so cool being able to see this show with life breathed into it again.” Nathan Sporcich, junior marketing major, is portraying the Beast. He said he experienced some struggles with getting back into his character after the long gap of time between the originally planned performance date and now, but he is looking forward to performing in person again. “I experienced some trouble in finding myself returning to my performance the first time around when the show was set to perform in 2020,” Sporcich said. “It’s been a while since I have done that, and I didn’t realize how much I missed it. Plus, the show is going to be just what people need to lift their spirits from the pandemic.” Sporcich also gave some insight about this long journey and what came from it. “The journey so far has been quite unpredictable and precautious, but ultimately has been a time of strong bonding and lasting memories,” Sporcich said. Lyons said it has been a long journey to get to the show, but she is proud of how the show has progressed. “Opening night will be a wonderful culmination of a lot of hard work,” Lyons said. “The costumes, sets, lights, sound, projections (and) all the technical aspects of the show are pretty fantastic. Come see the show. (It is) a great way to start the holiday season.” Students can buy discounted tickets at the box office for $10. Military veterans and CBU faculty and staff can purchase tickets for $12, and general admission for everyone else is $15.
Camille Grochowski | Banner
Alexis Parsio applies prosthetics to Nathan Sporcich, who plays the Beast in the production.
Courtesy of the CBU Theater Program
Tre’dish launch —
Supply shortage —
Hawkeye series —
N e w s , Pg. 2
B & T , Pg . 1 0
A & E , Pg. 12
New food platform featuring home chefs launches in Riverside.
Ships piling up at Southern California ports affect supply chain.
Disney+ prepares to launch newest series for Marvel franchise.
NEWS
2
November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
THE BANNER
staff PRINT
Editor-in-Chief Sofia Eneqvist
Lifestyle Editor Sofia Eneqvist
Managing Editor Emily McGinn
Asst. Lifestyle Editors Summer Clark Valerie La Ponza
Photo Editor Elijah Hickman Asst. Photo Editor Tonia Ross Design Editor Sofia Eneqvist News Editor Lauren Brooks Asst. News Editors Selah Kelley Business & Tech Editor Jasmine Severi Asst. Business & Tech Editor Alexza Bahnmiller A&E Editor Emily McGinn Asst. A&E Editors Josiah Murphy Rowen Zamora
Sports Editor Aiden Hobson Asst. Design Editors Emily McGinn Lauren Brooks Luis Menendez Madison Kirkland Social Media Director Megan Van Battum Public Relations Director Cole Stillwagon Distribution Manager Wiley Lloyd Advertising Manager Cole Stillwagon
ONLINE Editor-in-Chief Sofia Eneqvist Website Administrator Jasmine Severi Photo and Video Editor Elijah Hickman
Asst. Director of Student Publications Sonya Singh Interim Director of Student Publications Dr. Mary Ann Pearson
We want your help! Write, take photos or design with us. Email us at BannerEditor@calbaptist.edu for more information.
About
Local food services platform released BY EMILY MCGINN MANAGING EDITOR
Tre’dish, a new food delivery platform, launched in Riverside on Nov. 11. The launch event, which took place at Avila’s Historic 1929 in downtown Riverside, featured chefs from the platform as well as speeches from Tre’dish founders, including company president Peter Hwang. Tre’dish is a platform that features home chefs and allows them to create a business in which they can deliver homemade meals to customers. The Tre’dish team helps chefs create their menu and pricing so they can establish their brand. “It is a home chef-based food platform that celebrates individuals and their cultures and passions, and connects them to their community that is hungry for more opportunities,” said Matti Johnson, employee of Mind & Mill, a Tre’dish partner. “It is connecting people and their passions with the people that need to be ready to consume and celebrate that.” Johnson said she believes it will become successful in the Riverside area and beyond because it adds custom-made variety to food options in the area. She also said that the platform is ideal for college students looking to order different food than normal, or for students who are interested in becoming a Tre’dish chef. “This is unlocking the potential for a whole new food scene,” Johnson said. “It is a whole new opportunity for these chefs to pursue their business passions and an opportunity for us to get a taste of what they have been cooking and hiding away from us this whole time.” Johnson said Tre’dish is especially important after the difficulties faced by many food service workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I think it started with COVID-19, but it is so much more,” Johnson said. “It is an opportunity that is timeless and it can exist past any pandemic crisis because it is safe and it is secure. I think COVID put a lot of people out of their jobs, and this is the surface level of that. A lot of these chefs didn’t have jobs before that, didn’t have jobs they liked or didn’t have an opportunity to start it at all. I think COVID was the instigator, but more than anything it has faded away
Chef Galvan from Corona is one of the numerous chefs who are part of Tre’dish.
Elijah Hickman | Banner
Tre’dish is proud to partner with local chefs in Riverside County. as this opportunity has been highlighted as solid regardless.” Tre’dish can operate in Riverside due to the allowance of Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) permits in Riverside County. If chefs obtain MEHKO permits, they can legally make and sell food from their homes. To ensure safety, Tre’dish has health and safety protocols such as a check-in/check-out process so that chefs abide by food service standards. Denise Lopez, Tre’dish chef, will be selling Mexican food on Tre’dish during weekends. She said she enjoys the flexibility of the platform as she can cook while also working another job. “My experience so far with Tre’dish has been great,” Lopez said. “They have a great team on board that has been there supporting us along the way. I decided to join Tre’dish
Elijah Hickman | Banner
because of the flexibility it offers. It is allowing me to have my full-time career, but I also have a passion for cooking and keeping with my traditions of cooking Mexican food. I think people are very excited to have something new, and I look forward to seeing how much it is going to grow when it goes international.” Tre’dish takes a chefcentered approach to food production and delivery, focusing on individual chefs and their stories so they can build a personal connection with consumers. To do this, each chef has a profile and gallery highlighting their food and story, and each meal comes with a personal note from the chef to the customer. Vincent Pileggi, Riverside entrepreneur and owner of The Brickwood, said he thinks people will support the new
platform because people enjoy local, homemade, unique food options. “I want Tre’dish to have their people come to The Brickwood and do pop-ups at our bar because this is awesome,” Pileggi said. “I love the concept of having people have their homemade businesses that we can call on. There are many options, but sometimes you get bored with those options and need to spice them up a little bit. I think Tre’dish is here at the right place at the right time.” Tre’dish plans to expand to an international level. It also plans to launch a multimedia aspect of the platform in 2022 to incorporate video content featuring its chefs. To order food from Tre’dish chefs and learn more about their stories, visit https:// tredish.com/eat/.
THE BANNER School of Music to host Christmas event
The Banner newspaper is an award-winning, bi-weekly campus publication that publishes 12 issues a year at California Baptist University. The newsroom is located in the James Building in Room 060 and can be reached at 951-343-4787. The Banner, a student-run newspaper, serves the CBU community with accurate, timely and factual reporting on significant aspects of university life, Riverside life and subjects of interest or concern to its readers. others in the university are encouraged to react to published material or to comment on matters of conern. The Banner retains the right to edit your letter upon publication based on grammar and word count. Send letters to Sofia Eneqvist, editor-in-chief of The Banner at BannerEditor@ calbaptist.edu. If you have a story idea for The Banner, please let us know. If a business would like to advertise in the The Banner, please contact Sofia Eneqvist at sofialillian.eneqvist@calbaptist.edu. Thanks for reading!
Follow us!
@CBULancerMedia Keep up with CBU news and events.
BY LAUREN BROOKS NEWS EDITOR
The California Baptist University Sollege of Music will hold its performance extravaganza JOY! on Dec. 1213 at the CBU events center. The event will consist of the three areas of the music department: music education and performance, worship arts and ministry and commercial music. Each is in charge of its own piece of the JOY! puzzle in terms of design and accompaniment. For the commercial portion, Bruce Sledge is contributing. Sledge has performed at the Metropolitan Opera and on various international stages. On the worship side, Nia Allen, a gospel singer who has topped the gospel music charts is a guest artist. Other notable names include Sheila E, Nathan East, Paul Jackson Jr. and Vinnie Colaiuta. As far as ensembles go, the event will feature the Festival Choir (all choirs combined), the Orchestra (symphony orchestra, University Choir
orchestra and the wind ensemble combined), Camerata (top choral arts ensemble), the jazz ensemble and individual ensemble performances. Gene Peterson, director of choral and vocal studies and professor of music, spoke on the broad spectrum of music pieces being performed by the numerous ensembles, as well as a combination feature by Nia Allen. “This year we have a real wide range, from more classic Christmas sacred music to the women of all of the combined sopranos and altos of the choirs, with the jazz band doing ‘Jingle Bells’,” Peterson said. “We have Nia Allen combining with the University Choir to do Whitney Houston’s ‘Joy to the World’ from ‘A Preacher’s Wife’. So there’s just a real wide range of music.” Peterson also touched on the theme of this year’s topic of joy. He emphasized the joyful aspects of being together again due to lighter COVID-19 restrictions, as well as Jesus being the reason for the season. “That’s the perfect kind of
theme coming out of COVID and, of course, being able to just celebrate the reason for joy,” Peterson said. “Also, (we want) to make it very accessible and to show off a lot of different elements of what is happening at the school of music.” Calah McGraw, sophomore vocal performance major, said she is excited for the sense of community in the event and bringing everyone together with love and music. “We are a community and we connect in different ways,” McGraw said. “The music department wants to be able to extend our gifts to the campus and it’s important that we can come together
for a season of giving and receiving.” Lindsay Payment, sophomore music education major, is performing with the festival choir. She highlighted her excitement to be able to perform with the entire school of music in one special event. “I’m most excited to perform with everyone involved in the School of Music,” Payment said. “This is the one time a year where we all get to sing and play together as a whole.” Tickets, as well as the full lineup for the event, can be found at www.music.calbaptist. edu/a-cbu-christmas/.com.
“
“That’s the perfect kind of theme coming out of COVID, of course, being able to just celebrate the reason for joy. Also we want to make it very accessible and to show off a lot of different elements of what is happening... Dr. Gene Peterson Director of choral and vocal studies
NEWS
3
November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
California Baptist University
Upcoming Events BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
CBU’s theater program will put on the musical Beauty and the Beast Nov. 19-20 and Dec. 2-4 MERRY & BRIGHT
CBU’s traditional Christmas tree lighting and pac ing boxes for Operation Christmas Child on the Front Lawn at 6:008:00 Nov. 30. ISP BLOOD DRIVE
Claire Grimes | Banner
Biden included fire threats among the list of contibuting factors of unclean water in the Southwest in his Climate Change and Environmental Justice Plan.
Biden’s new $1.75 trillion spending plan targets climate crisis, economic issues LAUREN BROOKS NEWS EDITOR
President Joe Biden revealed his $1.75 trillion spending bill on Oct. 28. In his announcement, Biden underlined that this spending bill is historic and will help improve national issues such as education funding, physical infrastructure and public works. The bill also addresses international issues such as climate change. “It’s a framework that will create millions of jobs, grow the economy, invest in our nation and our people, turn the climate crisis around and put us on a path not only to compete but to win the economic competition,” Biden said. Dr. Jacob Lanphere, professor of environmental science, described the portion of Biden’s spending plan regarding climate change and the environment in deeper
detail. “He has allocated a lot of funds for the economy to go to promote green energy, electric vehicles, transportation and also to provide education for research at universities so that they can hopefully raise the next generation of students who are going to solve these big-ticket items,” Lanphere said. Lanphere also examined what the portion of the spending plan for research for universities means, especially
“
He has allocated a lot of funds for the economy to go promote green energy, electric transportation...
Dr. Jacob Lanphere, Professor of environmental sciences
from the perspective of California Baptist University. “From a CBU student perspective, I think it’s important to know what is happening locally, but also in our country as a whole,” Lanphere said. “There are a lot of opportunities for internships, grants and research positions that a lot of times come about due to policy changes that our government makes. So, universities may receive some type of government grants for research in areas like sustainability or environmental science. It’s important to know where this money is going and how students can benefit.” Lizzy Sharpe, sophomore environmental science major, called for her fellow CBU students to pay attention to environmental issues in politics. “Since the government affects nearly every aspect
of our lives, we need to pay attention to what they’re doing specifically regarding the environment, conservation, sustainability, climate change, etc.,” Sharpe said. “When we remain informed about current events we become more knowledgeable voters, which allows for us students to promote change and input our ideas.” Sharpe also encourages students to give current events proper consideration and thought. “Although not everyone cares about politics– which in my opinion, everyone should – if you care even the slightest bit about the Earth you live on, you must pay attention to the world around you and what the people in power are saying about it,” Sharpe said. The bill is set to be approved by the House later this week, as both chambers want to reach a decision around Thanksgiving.
A blood drive will be held for students going on ISP trips to fundraise Nov. 30- Dec. 2 YULE 2021
Dinner and a show from comedian Aaron Weber at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel Sequoia Ballroom on Dec. 3 FALL LATE NIGHT BREAKFAST
Community life will be hosting a late night brea fast for students studying for finals Dec. 9.
Luis Menendez | Banner
NEWS Briefs KYLE RITTENHOUSE TRIAL Kyle Rittenhouse shot three protesters on Aug. 25, 2020, killing two. Rittenhouse was charged with one count of reckless homicide, one count of intentional homicide and one count of attempted intentional homicide. He was also charged with illegal possession of a weapon, but the charge was dropped by Judge Bruce Schroeder. The trial began Nov. 1 in Kenosha, WI and closing arguments ended Nov. 15. The jury began deliberating Nov. 16 and as of Nov. 18 they are still deliberating.
GLASGOW CLIMATE CONFERENCE
David Philip de Jesus | Banner
A sign within the lobby lets guests who will be staying at the historical hotel know that lights are being put up to brighten the atmosphere around Mission Inn.
Festival of Lights adapts to COVID-19 BY LAUREN BROOKS NEWS EDITOR
The Mission Inn’s annual Festival of Lights event will occur this year from Nov. 26 to Jan. 6. However, due to COVID-19 and county mandates some normal components of the event will be modified. According to a press release from Riverside County, the event will largely mirror the format for the adapted Festival of Lights first presented last year. The largest change in the event is the cancellation of the normally populous switch-on ceremony. “The 2020 Festival of Lights will be limited to sociallydistanced light displays and decor,” the release said. “There will not be a switchon ceremony and no vendors,
attractions or programming during the event. While we encourage individuals to take in the lights of the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa and the downtown light displays produced by the City, we ask that you do so following all current State and County mandated protocols.” The press release also detailed some of the light displays that can be expected in this year’s event, as well as the possibility of decorations extending all the way to Main Street. “(It) will continue to feature the traditional lights and decorations at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, as well as Citysponsored holiday décor in the surrounding areas, including holiday-themed selfie stations, holiday trees, large ornaments, a sleigh, bows and garland on lights and bridges and an assortment of holiday light
displays,” Duane and Kelly Roberts said. In a press release from the Mission Inn, owners Duane and Kelly Roberts expressed their joy to continually be able to host this iconic event. “This time of year represents so many important things to many people,” Duane and Kelly Roberts said. “You, your family and friends make this event so special for all of us here at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. As Keepers of The Inn, we are most humbled by your presence and we are excited that you are now a part of The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa’s Festival of Lights extravaganza.” Lilliane Vargas, sophomore music studio production major, reflected on her nostalgia for the event, after attending it for several years. “I remember going to the Festival of Lightssince I was
little. Going to the Festival of Lights is one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season, every year it has grown bigger and bigger,” Vargas said. “It has had a special place in my heart growing up especially when I had the opportunity to go to school there in downtown Riverside. I got to see all the behind-the-scenes and the work it took to make it all happen.” Vargas also shared her excitement for this year’s event, despite the continuation and restrictions of COVID-19 protocols. “I am most excited to see how much more they grow this year,” Vargas said. “Every year I feel like there’s a new edition or surprise to the Festival of Lights.” More detailed information is expected to be released as the event draws closer.
The United Nations (UN) held its 26th Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland from Oct. 31 through Nov. 12. The 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change holds every country accountable to avoid climate change and create ways to reduce emissions. The conference resulted in the present Glasgow Climate Pact, with the UN agreeing to continue to fight to bring global warming down to 1.5 degrees Celsius and finalize the outstanding elements of the Paris Agreement.
BOOSTER AVAILABILITY As of Nov. 9, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that those 65 years and older, those ages 50-64 with underlying medical conditions and those 18 and older in long-term care settings who received the original Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine should receive a booster shot. Booster shots should be given to those 18 and older who received the original Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Those age 18-49 with underlying medical conditions or those 18 and older who live or work in high-risk settings who received Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna are also eligible for a booster shot.
4
VISION
November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
VISION
November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
5
LIFESTYLE
6
November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
TEGDUB A NO
GNIVIGSKNAHT
TURKEY/STUFFING Barber Foods Raw Stuffed Turkey Breasts with sage and cranberry $10.98 for six pieces at Sam's Club
ROLLS
Bake House Creations Crescent Rolls $1.49 at Aldi
VEGETABLES
Specially Selected Ready to Roast Carrot & Sweet Potato $2.99 for 16 oz at Aldi Season’s Choice Steamable California Medley $0.89 at Aldi
DESSERT
Bakeshop Pumpkin Pie $12.97 at Aldi
CRANBERRY SAUCE
Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce (14 oz., 6 pk.) $7.48 at Sam's Club
Madison Kirkland | Banner
Students share Thanksgiving food traditions across cultures BY SUMMER CLARK
ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR Thanksgiving is around the corner and people cannot wait to feast on their favorite holiday dishes with their family and friends. Traditional meals vary across the U.S., making Thanksgiving unique to each group that gathers. The most popular dishes made for Thanksgiving are turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, candied yams, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. Even though these are some of the most popular dishes, people across the country have different traditions and add diverse twists to their regular Thanksgiving dishes. Nico Calcitas, freshman pre-nursing student, said his family has its own unique tradition. “We actually change the turkey and go with Cornish hens instead,” Calcitas said. “Everyone will have their own Cornish hen and we usually season it with soy, garlic and honey.” Thanksgiving is about family and friends coming together to give thanks, enabling people to show appreciation and have fun with one another. Fami-
We actually change the turkey and go with Cornish hens instead. Nico Calcitas Freshman pre-nursing student lies come together to make and share their favorite meals and create their own traditions. Kene Thomas, sophomore psychology major, said one of her favorite Thanksgiving meals is a sweet ham her mother makes. “Before we take a bite of our meal, we all have to go around the table, no matter how many people are there, and say what we’re grateful for,” Thomas said. “I look forward to being around my family. We have some family that comes from out of state and being all together is just really cool.” Thanksgiving provides some time off for people to value time with their family and friends or try some new things. Megan Rea, administrative services manager for Finance and Administration at California Baptist University, said one of her favorite dishes made in her household is lobster macand-cheese, but she wants to explore new traditions for future Thanksgiving holidays as a
family. “A unique meal we make is the lobster mac-and-cheese and it is my favorite,” Rea said. “I look forward to rejuvenation time with myself and my family. I want to do more Thanksgiving trips, adventuring and sightseeing around California.” Thanksgiving is not just about the meals. It is about bringing the people who you care about most together and giving thanks. Traditions can range from two people breaking the wishbone of the turkey to everyone in the household sharing what they are thankful for around the table. Meals that families make can vary across all cultures. People can make dishes from their culture or others. Cultures and traditions vary from household to household. Some New York and New Jersey Thanksgiving meals include Italian dishes like manicotti, crab cakes in Maryland, and some deep fried turkey in Texas.
Teddy Peña | Banner To get into the Winter eason Teddy Peña, senior public relations major, demonstrates the steps to make Christmas cookies
Lifestyle Tries: Baking sugar cookies for the holiday season BY TEDDY PEÑA CONTRIBUTOR
One of the most classic dessert recipes for the holidays remains the sugar cookie. This specific type of cookie is versatile because it can be cut into shapes and even decorated with icing. There are many tips that claim to help create the best soft sugar cookies, so we compiled a few in our recipe to ensure the highest quality cookies for your next Christmas get-together!
For this recipe, you will need parchment paper, cooking spray, one pre-packaged sugar cookie mix, three tablespoons of all-purpose flour, one egg, one stick (½ cup) of butter, cookie cutters, cookie icing and any other cookie decorations you want to add. Step 1: Blend your dry ingredients together. For a pre-packaged mix, be sure to the three tablespoons of all-purpose flour to ensure the shape of the cookie cutouts will hold. Step 2: Lightly soften the
butter. Other recipes will direct you to fully melt the butter, however this results in a less soft cookie. I instead, leave the stick of butter out for an hour in room temperature or microwave the butter for only 10 seconds. The butter should still be in the shape of a stick. Step 3: Add the egg and butter to the cookie mix. This should replicate the consistency of Play-Doh. This will be easier to mix with your hands directly, so ensure you wash your
HOW TO PACK A SUITCASE BELTS
hands with soap and water for 20 seconds prior to mixing the dough. Step 4: Place the dough in an air-tight bag or container and refrigerate for one hour. Step 5: Lightly flour a surface to roll out the chilled dough. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to about 0.25 inches in thickness. Lightly flour the top of the dough surface and cut out the dough into shapes using cookie cutters. Repeat this step until the dough has run out. Step 6: Place cookie dough
shapes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and lightly coated with cooking spray. Place the sheets with the cookie dough cut outs back into the fridge and cool for about 45 minutes. Step 7: Set the oven to 350°F. After chilling the dough for a second time, immediately transfer the dough sheets to the oven. Bake the cookies for seven minutes. Another tip is to bake each cookie sheet separately to ensure even baking. After baking,
the cookies will look underdone, but the cooling process will ensure the cookies will look baked. Step 8: Once the cookies are cool to touch, begin decorating the cookies with cookie icing and sprinkles. After that, your cookies are done! The cookie icing may take an hour to cool and harden to ensure you can stack the cookies. Bring these cookies to your next Christmas party or bake them for any occasion!
PACKING TIPS
• Only take what you need. • Pack wrinkle-resistant fabrics (knits, wools, cotton). • Roll soft clothes and fold stiff clothes. • Put dry-cleaning bags in between each layer to prevent wrinkles. • Wear the heaviest pair of shoes. • Pack fragile items within thick clothing.
Wrap belts around the perimeter
LAYER 4 (top): Clothes needed the soonest
SHOES
Pack shoes filled with socks, sunglasses, chargers, etc. in gallon-sized sealed bags
LAYER 2: Long, folded clothes Includes skirts and nice pants (lay the length of the suitcase)
LAYER 3: Shorter folded items Includes collars, starched shirts and blazers
LAYER 1 (bottom): Soft, rolled items Includes T-shirts, knitwear, jeans, cotton pants and underwear Emily McGinn | Banner
LIFESTYLE
7
November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
Banner Busters: Is Daylight Saving necessary? BY EMILY MCGINN MANAGING EDITOR
We all participated in the usual reversion to standard time on Nov. 7 after beginning Daylight Saving Time (DST) on March 14. DST has been controversial since its beginning in the U.S. in March 1918. After Germany first used it in 1916 during World War I to save electricity, other nations including the U.S. began to implement it. It became part of Americans’ lives as a wartime effort to conserve energy. However, when it was first proposed, American farmers opposed the measure as it disrupted their work schedules. The agricultural sector led a fight to repeal the measure in 1919, and the effort succeeded in overturning the federal law. However, some areas continued to observe DST, and it was adopted by the nation again during World War II. After the war, the U.S. no longer had a uniform requirement for DST, so different regions designed their own time change plans, leading to much confusion for years. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 standardized daylight saving time for the nation, and, later, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 lengthened DST. However, Arizona obtained exemption from DST due to its hot climate, meaning that people do not need longer daylight hours. Similarly, Hawaii avoided DST since its day length varies less than other states because of its tropical latitude. Over the years, though, many have questioned the effectiveness of DST, especially considering perceived negative consequences. The U.S. Department of Transportation manag-
“
When there are changes in our schedule that lead us to get any less sleep, its not a good thing.
Dr. Erin Smith, Assosiate professor of psychology
es DST and says it conserves energy, prevents traffic accidents due to less travel in the dark and reduces crime due to more activity outside occurring during daylight hours. “During DST, the sun sets one hour later in the evenings, so the need to use electricity for household lighting and appliances is reduced,” according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. “People tend to spend more time outside in the evenings during DST, which reduces the need to use electricity in the home.” In the 1970s, the Department of Transportation claimed DST lowered the national use of electricity by about 1%. However, new studies have indicated that DST might increase energy use due to the expanded use of technologies such as air conditioning, or it might have no noticeable effect on energy use. Additionally, concerns about changes in sleep patterns and their potential link to dangerous situations such as car accidents have led people to question DST. Dr. Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology, said changes in sleep patterns due to DST can cause issues. “It’s like miniature jet lag — what we might call circadian
Photo Illustration by Elijah Hickman | Banner
Daylight Saving Time ended on Nov. 7, when clocks fell back an hour. desynchrony. (That’s) a fancy way of saying our circadian rhythm of the sleep-wake cycle, which runs on a 24-hour cycle, is messed up,” Smith said. “We, as people, need sleep, a lot more than most of us get. When there are changes in our schedule that lead us to get any less sleep, it’s not a good thing.” Smith said disruptions in sleep patterns can have negative effects on people of every age range and can have ripple effects in society, leading to dangerous situations. “Babies and young children need so much sleep. Any disturbance there will have major ripple effects and, because ba-
bies lack the cognitive sophistication to ‘just lay there until you go to sleep,’ they exacerbate the issue for their already sleep-deprived parents,” Smith said. “Adolescents and young adults are among the most underslept, and disturbances there are like an insult to injury. Adults who work high stakes jobs (medicine, handling heavy machinery, etc.), where peak performance is vital are also at a higher risk of negative consequence from sleeplessness.” Sleep deprivation is especially harmful during the “spring forward” portion of DST when we lose an hour. A Fatality Analysis Report-
ing System in Current Biology pointed to DST as a cause for a 6 months increase in automobile accidents and about 28 deaths annually. Additionally, the “fall back” portion of DST has been linked to seasonal depression due to early sunsets and changes in circadian rhythms, according to a 2017 study in the journal Epidemiology. “It’s hard keeping my energy up when it gets dark so early,” said Claire Bailey, junior psychology major. “It can be a little difficult to stay motivated to complete nighttime activities when it feels like you should be in bed. I lived in Arizona for several years and they don’t
participate in DST. I liked the more gradual change in light as it fluctuated with the seasons. It felt a lot less shocking. I prefer not changing the time.” Although it appears to have negative effects, DST continues. However, Californians voted on Proposition 7 in 2018, a proposal supporting the end of DST for the state. Three years ago, 60 percent of voters favored this proposition. However, to permanently switch to either standard time or DST, the state legislature must vote in favor of DST and petition Congress for exemption from the Uniform Time Act.
Being in a high risk COVID setting can cause stress for students, staff BY VALERIE LA PONZA ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR
It is no secret that the pandemic affected all of us. While it may have affected some more than others, there is no disputing the fact that everyone was affected somehow. A large portion of the population suffered from mental health issues during this time, and college students were no exception. In an article published by Frontiers in Psychology, the researchers found that people have “more stress and have more depressive and anxiety symptoms due to the severity and harmfulness of the epidemic.” The changes which arose due to the pandemic such as the transition from in-person learning to virtual schooling have only recently been reversed, which has brought new challenges to students. Even though school is almost fully in person, fears about getting COVID-19 and having to quarantine during classes are still prevalent. Payton Cordura, junior marketing major, came down with COVID and was forced to quarantine away from the school. She said the thought of getting sick definitely crosses her mind when at large school events. “I definitely had a bunch of apprehensions when I’m at a big event or even at Spiritual
Life night and stuff like that,” Cordura said. She said that when she was at home having to quarantine over the Halloween weekend, “definitely had a lot of FOMO” and that she “definitely felt like patient zero,” due to all the protocol and contact tracing she had to go through. Even with all she had to do, Cordura attributed her positive outlook and good morale during it all to the students and teachers who reached out to her when she was sick. “They were just really great people,” Cordura said. “Our professors here are so personable, especially in a time with COVID. All of them personally reached out and were like, ‘Are you OK? Do you have someone to bring you food?’ Everyone was so nice and so helpful. It was really encouraging to know that’s the community I’m surrounded by.” Another student, Jordyn Tilley, freshman film major, said that even though COVID did not have an effect on her morale, it did give her a sense of perspective. “I want to live life to the best of my ability and do things that I wouldn’t normally do,” Tilley said. It is no surprise that this pandemic has changed the outlook of many people, and even those at California Baptist University are feeling the effects of it. See page 4-5 for information on campus resources.
CHECK OUT THRIFT STORES
GO TO OUTLET STORES
Oftentimes thrift stores will have gently used furniture or home goods that would be great for a first home.
Outlet stores for big-name brands have discounted goods that are old showroom pieces or items that were returned. This is a great way to find expensive pieces for a discounted price.
- Savers - Goodwill - Mission Galleria Antique Shop
- Urban Outfitters Outlet - West Elm Outlet - Crate and Barrel Outlet
SHOP SALES Black Friday is a great way to get items on sale. Even the post-holiday sales are a great time to shop for furniture and home goods. - Wayfair up to 70% off - Overstock
- Living Spaces - Macys
Lauren Brooks | Banner
PERSPECTIVES
8
November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
Fortuna Bowl XXIX attracts large crowd for Parent & Family Weekend 1
3
2 4
3
1. At the end of Fortuna Bowl, a fireworks show lights up the sky.
their championship victory at the end of their game against
2. A drumline plays during the game’s halftime show.
Bombshell.
3. The Lancer Dancers performed a showstopping routine at
5. The men’s Fortuna Bowl team Baptist Baddies smile for a picture
halftime.
after winning the championship against J.A.C.K.
4. The women’s Fortuna Bowl team Twinkle Toesies celebrates
5
Photos by Elijah Hickman, Chloe Daniels
SPORTS Living out Christian ethics in athletics 9
November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
The biblical idea of living ethically in all things in life BY AIDEN HOBSON SPORTS EDITOR
Christians are called to let their faith show in everything they do, whether they are playing a sport or fixing a car. Christian faith is not supposed to be a private exercise that believers take part in once a week. Rather, Christian ethics are supposed to influence everything that believers think, say and do. In the Bible, one aspect of this concept of Christians ethics is the idea of “living above reproach.” “Paul admonishes elders to be above reproach in the church, meaning they are to be blameless, which is different from sinless,” said Noah Gauderman, sophomore applied theology major. “Their interactions with others should admonish Christ and not bring disgrace, and this is not a recommended qualification, but a requirement. However, the church generally speaking should strive to be above reproach as well, and this can only be done by leaning on
“
They are to be blameless, which is different from sinless.
Noah Gauderman, Sophomore applied theology major
Austin Romito | Banner
Many students hike up mount rubidoux to reflect on their spiritual journey Christ for his righteousness that we could never formulate ourselves and, by growing dependent upon him, can work towards being above reproach.” Christians, but especially leaders in the church, are supposed to live lives that reflect and honor Christ. This idea of being “above reproach” means
that they should be honorably regarded in the community so that they do not bring shame to the faith or to God. There are specific uses of this phrase throughout the New Testament. “The ESV (English Standard Version of the Bible) uses the phrase ‘above reproach’ four
times (Col. 1:22; 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6, 7),” said Chris Scrima, sophomore applied theology major. “Three of the four uses relate to people who might qualify for ministry. However, one time Paul uses it generally (Col. 1:22). In this case, the principle is that Christians once lived in hostility to
God but have now been bought by Jesus’ blood, and we no longer need to live in fear of judgment. As a Christian, you are ‘above reproach’ before God.” From an ethical standpoint, Christians need to remember that they are forgiven before God, and thus are called to live in ways that reflect that forgive-
ness. This idea of being “above reproach” and honoring Christ in everything we do applies in many real-life situations, including athletics. “The principle of being above reproach extends far beyond the church setting and applies to every aspect of our lives,” Gauderman said.
BASKETBALL
MEN’S
VS.
WOMEN’S
The California Baptist University men's basketball team opened the 2021-22 season with a win over San Francisco State University, 87-65. Junior Chance Hunter scored 18 points for the Lancers, while sophomore Reed Nottage scored 16. The Lancers had a decisive victory against the SFSU Gators, leading the game from the first half and maintaining their lead throughout.
The CBU men's basketball team continued to dominate the competition, with another solid win against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils. They defeated MSV 95-66. The Lancers had full control of the game from the start, with sophomore Tre Armstrong leading the team with 17 points. Graduate student Daniel Akin and freshman Taran Armstrong scored 14 and 12 points respectively.
VS.
VS.
The CBU women's basketball team came off their historic 2020-21 season and opened the new season with a win against the University of California, Riverside Highlanders. Redshirt sophomore Caitlyn Harper led the Lancers with 20 points. Fellow CBU players Ane Olaeta and Georgia Dale scored 18 and 11 points respectively. The Lancers had to battle the Highlanders throughout the game, but ultimately took the win.
The Lancer women's basketball team faced off against the nationally-ranked Oregon State Beavers, ultimately losing 72-80. The OSU Beavers were ranked 15th nationally going into the game, and the CBU team put up an impressive fight. Redshirt sophomore Caitlyn Harper put up 23 points for the Lancers, while senior Georgia Dale scored 13 points against the tough OSU players.
VS.
Emily McGinn | Banner
10
BUSINESS & TECH November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
Camille Grochowski | Banner
The shipyards in Long Beach are full of thousands of shipments that have been waiting to get sent out for months.
Los Angeles, Long Beach ports blocked BY JASMINE SEVERI B&T EDITOR
Off the coast of both the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, people can see ships loaded with cargo waiting out in the water. They have been there for a long time, and they are not moving any time soon. The supply chain has broken down, but they are working as fast as they can to get it up and running again. Joel Bigley, assistant business professor, said the issue is a lot bigger than ships piling up at the ports, and it starts in the production process at the factories. “The problem with the factories is that they have become subject to government regulations surrounding the pandemic,” Bigley said. “Typically the factories have people who are standing very close to each other as they do work. Some fac-
tories have been told that they have to either keep all the people in the factory or they have to abide by certain regulations, which make it very difficult for the factory to function. So there’s fewer (supplies) actually flowing into the harbor. My point is that the situation is actually worse because there’s not as much coming in.” Marc Weniger, professor of business, said the factories have been starting to catch up with the work they had fallen behind on while they were closed, and as a result too many ships are coming in. “During COVID, we had a lot of manufacturers closed down, and as a result, the supply chain got disrupted because, even if you’re building a car, for example, you can’t go anywhere even if you have all the parts of the car beside the tires,” Weniger said. “You can’t sell the
car without the tires, so that becomes a big issue. The problem is manufacturers came back online in waves, so certain parts are available and some parts were not available. For longest time, everyone just start placing orders they needed but, of course, the factories were closed. Now the factors have finally caught up, and so everyone’s catching up with their backlogs and putting them on the ships and the ships are coming here.” In addition to the issues with factories causing all of the ships to arrive at once, there is the issue of not being able to unload things fast enough. There are many other factors that go into this. Bigley said there are strict regulations about what trucks can come in and move cargo, as well as regulations for truck drivers and for crane operators that are limiting the
amount they can have, creating a bottleneck. “The reason why the trucks can’t come in is because there are not enough cranes that are being used to move the containers,” Bigley said. “There’s not enough chassis to move the containers because they’re being occupied by other containers, and there are not enough truck drivers to move the containers out of the port. It’s a combination of issues, which also includes rail. There’s not enough rail capacity to move the containers out of the port.” Because of all of these issues, shipping will take longer for certain things, and prices might go up if they use airplanes to ship items instead of ships. With the holidays approaching, this supply shortage could be an issue. What should customers do about this when it comes to their Christmas list?
“Order early,” Weniger said. “Order early and buy what you need early. Don’t wait for the last minute on things because things could take forever for you to get them. This could become a big issue right now if you’re just getting started.” In addition to getting your Christmas shopping done early, Bigley offered a different suggestion. “For Christmas, you could have an experience as a present,” Bigley said. “You could go do something. You could go out. You could do from that perspective. You could still have a nice present, but it would just be more experiential. Then you might also experience something digital because things that are digital don’t need to go on a boat. Go watch a movie or something like that.” Jalyn Pereira, senior criminal justice major, also had a sug-
gestion for an alternative way to avoid the shipping issue this holiday season. “I think a great opportunity would be for small businesses,” Pereira said. “A lot of downtown areas have cute little small businesses, and then there’s even farmers’ markets that small businesses come out to. I think that’s a great place to not only support local businesses, but then you don’t have to worry about the rush.” This holiday season might be hectic, last-minute shopping could have serious delays. Students should get shopping done early and consider shopping locally. Another alternative is to make something for friends and family. Productive pandemic hobbies people may have picked up could come in handy once again.
Black Friday sales accomodate for COVID BY JASMINE SEVERI B&T EDITOR
Last year’s Black Friday was vastly different due to COVID-19 restrictions. This year, things are opening back up, but we still need to be careful. COVID regulations are in place, although they are lighter than they were last year. Pre-pandemic, companies were already starting to spread out and extend their Black Friday sales to encourage people to buy their Christmas presents, but the pandemic pushed this to the extreme. There are Black Friday deals in place at some stores such as Walmart and Target.
Austin Romito, CBU alumnus and executive team leader at Target, said that Target has spread out its Black Friday sales to make sure Black Friday runs smoothly and safely for their customers. “Similar to last year, we’re spreading our holiday deals, which was a big success last year,” Romito said. “I can say from personal experience that we were all nervous about what Black Friday was going to look like last year because it was so unpredictable. What Target did and what the retail industry did with spreading out Black Friday deals did a lot of good for the guests in both their safety
with being able to spread out foot traffic and promote social distancing throughout the shopping season, and for better preserving the holiday.” Romito said Target has been spreading out its deals through something called the Deals of the Day. Deals of the Day appear on Target’s app and website, and the deals are meant to encourage people to download the app. “We started rolling them out at the beginning of October,” Romito said. “If you log into the target app, you can get a new holiday deal every single day. You log into the app and the Black Friday deals themselves,
a bulk of them, will actually drop on Sunday of Black Friday, so you don’t even have to wait until Black Friday itself for all of your best deals. That has alleviated the fatigue and stress that comes with trying to do your holiday shopping. Most guests can start getting what they want way early in the holiday season.” Lahela Rosario, senior English major, said she has already started taking advantage of early Black Friday sales. “Just because I’m such a last-minute planner, this year I wanted to be on it in terms of Christmas gifts because I always have a habit of forgetting some-
one because I’m so stressed,” Rosario said. “In the past when I used to wait for Black Friday, I used to be stressed out and I used to just get a bunch of stuff. Then I realized I forgot someone, but now I’m starting up earlier. It does help that Black Friday sales start earlier because it gives me more time to buy things.” Idalie Sandoval, freshman biology major, said she thinks Black Friday will be calmer this year than in pre-pandemic years because of capacity restrictions. “I think things will be different now because, for Black Friday since the pandemic, every-
one’s going to be like, ‘there can only be a certain amount of people (inside at once), but before there would be a whole bunch who could go into one shop,” Sandoval said. “I think now they’re going to be different. They used to have people running all over and people getting trampled, (but now) they’ll only let a certain amount of people in.” The holidays are right around the corner. Black Friday sales are already out there if you look for them, and they will only increase as we get closer to the day and closer to Christmas, so take advantage of the deals while they are there.
Sofia Eneqvist | Banner
11 BUSINESS &TECH Facebook company rebranding as Meta November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
BY ALEXZA BAHNMILLER ASST. B&T EDITOR
On Oct. 28, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced big news. Facebook Inc. will now be named Meta. During the Facebook Connect Conference in which the news was announced, Zuckerberg explained that Meta will “recast the company’s public image from battered social network to tech innovator focused on building the next generation of online interaction, known as the ‘metaverse.’” The term “metaverse” was coined by science fiction writer Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel “Snow Crash”. It refers to immersive virtual spaces where people can play games, meet with colleagues and more. Dr. Effat Zeidan, assistant professor of general education, explains this rebranding and the metaverse. “The company has focused on connecting people through Facebook and other platforms,” Zeidan said. “However, they are now starting a new chapter in virtual reality. The rebranding has been strategically planned to highlight the new future and the new horizon of technological advancements the company will introduce to the market soon. The metaverse is the 3D space that allows for connections to be formed in a virtual world by bridging gaps of the physical world.” As of now, Meta has three new technologies that it has created. The first product is a pair
of VR headsets, Quest 2. With Quest 2, people can play games, work out and watch entertainment in the virtual world by themselves or connect with friends. The second is an app called Spark AR. Sparks is an editing app that allows for people to create their own virtual realities by uploading a picture or video and adding effects. These images and videos can be shared with Facebook contacts and on Facebook profiles. The third technology is the Facebook x Ray-Bans smart glasses. These are glasses that hold “smart” capabilities, such as recording, playing music and taking photographs. To use the glasses, you must also have a Facebook profile. By incorporating these new technologies into the metaverse, will it hurt or help Facebook itself? Currently, Facebook has its own stream of problems. As of July 2021, only 9% of Facebook users are between ages 18-25, and people under 30 spend less time on the site, according to Statista. There has also been negative publicity about current ongoing lawsuits against Facebook concerning privacy issues, also the Federal Trade Commission claiming Facebook is a monopoly wiping out its competition. Alina Filkowski, junior psychology major, thinks the metaverse will help the Facebook image. “I think the metaverse could be a fresh start for Facebook,” Filkowski said. “The new technologies tied to Facebook will
get people to create accounts and will hopefully get more young people on the app.” Sarah Mandzok, freshman nursing student, is not quite sure Meta will help Facebook. “Facebook itself is such an iconic name and brand, so by
Self-driving robots deliver food BY ALEXZA BAHNMILLER ASST. B&T EDITOR
Starship Technologies Inc., a company created by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, hopes to pave the way for the future of the food delivery industry: robotic service. Starship’s robots are self-driving, can carry up to 20 pounds of groceries in their compartment, are trackable through a smartphone, move at pedestrian speed and are only able to be unlocked by scanning the customer’s Starship mobile app. The robots can also play the customer’s choice of song once the compartment has been opened. These delivery robots are currently becoming popular on college campuses. Beginning in 2019, the robots were launched at George Mason University. Within a year, the services expanded to Northern Arizona University, Purdue University, Wisconsin Madison University, University of Houston, University of Texat Dallas and the University of Mississippi. People can order from campus dining options and from the multitude of businesses that have partnered with Starship, such as Starbucks, Panda Ex-
press, Subway, Auntie Anne’s, Panera and Qdoba. The company is active on more than 20 different college campuses and has released more than 1,000 robots. Most recently, UCLA has welcomed the robots. The robots allow for the flexibility of student and professor schedules when it comes to ordering food. Dr. Effat Zeidan, assistant professor of general education, points out another benefit of the robots. “The robots increase efficiency by lowering costs of food delivery and improving customer satisfaction by cutting down on delivery time,” Zeidan said. The cost of each delivery is approximately $1.99. The average cost of non-robotic food service is around $3-8, according to FoodDeliveryGuru.com. As with all new technology, however, there are some downsides. “There may be a concern of losing many human jobs to robots,” Zeidan said. “There is a profitability benefit of using these automated services. However, customers will lose the human interaction and the added human touch to various services in the food chain.” Abigail Kearney, freshman biochemistry major, agrees
Elijah Hickman | Banner
Facebook rebranded to Meta in an attempt to improve the company’s image and look toward the future.
with these concerns“I think the robots promote self-isolation,” Kearney said. “I have met most of my friends here at California Baptist University because I went to Wanda’s or Chick-fil-A and just started talking to people behind me. With this delivery, I wouldn’t want to go out and, as a result, I wouldn’t meet new people.” Starship. has expanded to large campuses, but will it reach smaller schools? “Smaller schools don’t need delivery services since the campuses are small enough that most students and teachers can just walk,” said Elizabeth Roe, freshman criminal justice major. “There’s only a need for the robots in bigger schools so that people who don’t have time to necessarily walk across campus to get food can just get it right to them.” Starship continues to expand as businesses and schools partner with them. “There is an important ethical question we should address with the rise in popularity of these robots in relation to human jobs getting replaced,” Zeidan said. Starship has reported more than 2 million deliveries have already been completed by robots.
changing it, it could possibly harm the company and what people have previously always known Facebook to be,” Mandzok said. Since Meta is only beginning to expand, there are still steps to be taken.
For example, the company has recently invested $50 million in programs it claims it will to ensure the Meta-world is built responsibly. The investment programs include companies that will help ensure the new technolo-
gies meet regulatory and legal concerns, such as Seoul National University and Women in Immersive Tech. Meta is also looking to hire, releasing a statement saying the goal is to create 10,000 new job positions.
APP OF THE ISSUE:
GLORIFY
No. 1 Daily Worship & Christian Wellbeing App
Can add a prayer request to the app prayer chain (14,000 people active)
1-20 minute podcast meditations based on the Bible
Listen to exclusive worship songs
Glorify PLUS: $6.99/month
The premium subscription gives access to premium content, including daily worship podcasts, more music and more meditations. Emily McGinn | Banner
Sofia Eneqvist | Banner
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
12
November 19, 2021· Volume 69 · Issue 5
‘Hawkeye’ series set to join Marvel collection on Disney+ in November BY SOFIA ENEQVIST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The time is near, after ten long years of waiting, Marvel superhero Hawkeye is ready to take the screen again in a new original series titled, “Hawkeye.” Jeremy Renner first made his appearance as Clint Barton (Hawkeye) in 2011 in “Thor.” Since then, Renner has made various appearances as a member of the Avengers and now stars in Disney+ newest TV series, alongside Kate Bishop, played by Hailee Steinfeld. “Hawkeye is an original new series set in post-blip New York City where former Avenger Clint Barton aka Hawkeye has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas,” according to a press release by Marvel Studios. “But when a threat from his past shows up, Hawkeye reluctantly teams up with Kate Bishop, a 22-year-old skilled archer, and his biggest fan, to unravel a criminal conspiracy.” Eden Sides, junior theatre major, said she is skeptical about the new series. “He’s not my favorite Avenger, and I’m missing the originals we’ve lost after the events in Endgame,” Sides said. “But, after seeing the recent trailer, my hopes are up. The one long cinematic shot of them
Courtesy of Marvel.com Disney+ will release the first two episodes of ‘Hawkeye’ on Nov. 24 in the car won me over. Hawkeye might be a good show, but I predict it will pale in comparison to the other Marvel shows. The character of Hawkeye isn’t as beloved, and the show is set around Christmas, therefore setting itself up in a limited timeframe to be watched.” The Hawkeye series is being released amidst a growing Marvel multiverse, packed with new characters and much change in the cinematic universe. Both Sides and said they are interested to see how Hawkeye’s story will relate to the new Phase 4 changes. “I don’t think Hawkeye will affect much in terms of the multiverse, but I think it will progress and open up new story ideas with Hawkeye himself, and especially with Yelena,” Sides said. “I’m hoping Marvel will keep her around for a few more stories. I truly am excited about anything Marvel has to offer. The stories they create
are fantastical but grounded with relatable characters. We are leaving some beloved characters behind in Phase 3, but Phase 4 is showing itself to be trustworthy.” The 6-episode series will premiere on Nov. 24 with two episodes before releasing an episode each week.
“
I don’t think Hawkeye will affect much in terms of the multiverse, but I think it will progress and open new story ideas with Hawkeye himself and especially with Yelena. Eden Sides, Junior theatre major
Sofia Eneqvist | Banner
Swift releases own version of ‘Red,’ obtains full ownership
Philosophy prof, students discuss meaning of word ‘entertainment’ BY ROWEN ZAMORA ASST. A&E EDITOR
BY EMILY MCGINN
parties involved receive part of MANAGING EDITOR the revenue. “There is essentially this Taylor Swift has become pie and it’s divvied up by perone of the most popular artists centages,” Beaumont said. of this generation since her de- “The pie is pretty large, but to but in 2006. She released her get the music out to that many new re-recorded album, “Red,” people, there are certain peoon Nov. 12, breaking the Spoti- ple who get slices of that and fy single-day streaming record percentages of that, and how within a day, a record previ- those percentages work out ously held by Swift herself for is determined upon what the artist does in signing that con“Folklore.” “Red” features Swift’s ver- tract. Most artists when they sions of original tracks on the get the opportunity of getting album, as well as nine bonus on a record label will just sign tracks, including a 10-minute whatever.” During the controversy, version of “All Too Well.” Swift released Swift origimultiple pubnally released lic statements “Red” in about the sit2012, first as uation, both a 16-track alencouraging bum followed Dr. Lance Beaumont, other artists by a 22-track Associate professor of to advocate deluxe edition. However, music and associate dean for themselves and own their Swift began to of graduate studies and art and anre-record her program development nouncing that catalog folshe would lowing a 2019 controversy with music man- re-record her versions of the ager Scooter Braun and her albums sold to Braun. “I think we are going to see former label, Big Machine Laartists wanting to own as much bel Group. The controversy began of their product as possible when Big Machine Label because technology makes it Group sold the master rights possible for them to own everyto her first six albums to Braun, thing, (including) distribution who Swift claimed had bullied and the actual product itself,” her in the past. These master Beaumont said. Sedona Gallardo, sophorights allow the holder to manage the original recording and more liberal arts major, has been a fan of Swift for a long earn money from it. Dr. Lance Beaumont, asso- time. She said she enjoyed the ciate professor of music and album and is excited that Swift associate dean of graduate can own her work. “I listened to it on release studies and program development, said artists make money night and I loved it,” Gallardo through a variety of avenues, said. “Some of the songs were including how many times reinvented and others were songs are streamed, how many classics we know and love. The times songs are played on the vault songs were incredible for radio, the use of songs in com- this album. The moment the mercials and the sale of sheet first song ‘State of Grace’ bemusic. However, many more gan, I had tears in my eyes. She
“
She is just wanting to capture all that she feels owed.
Courtesy of taylorswift.com Many fans are ecstatic about Taylor Swift’s rereleased album. won’t let people bully her and mess with the story she wants to tell. It is empowering and inspirational.” Chloe Hoopes, senior art therapy major, said she also enjoyed the album, especially considering Swift’s journey in the music industry. “I wasn’t a big fan of her a few years ago, but after actually learning more about her and all that she has gone through just to do what she loves, she has earned my respect and will continue to be one of my favorite singers,” Hoopes said. Swift released her version of “Fearless,” one of the albums sold to Braun in April of this year. It featured the original 19 tracks from her platinum edition of the album, originally released in 2008, along with six more songs from the vault that had been cut from the album before its release. Beaumont believes the new album will help Swift reconnect with fans as well as help her obtain ownership, especially since the album includes songs from that period that she had not released. “It brings her music back to her audience again and it gives her another avenue to connect with her audience,” Beaumont said. “Those who are fans of her later work will be reintroduced to her earlier work, which they might have forgotten because ‘Red’ was kind of the album that was her transition out of country into the pop genre.” Beaumont said Swift was
able to re-record her album because her contract removed her rights to the recorded musical products, but not to the actual music. However, he does not foresee more artists taking this avenue because few have Swift’s large platform, influence and resources. “She is just wanting to capture all that she feels owed because, when her older albums are played on Spotify, she does not get the total royalties that she should have had she not given all this stuff away or had it not been taken from her,” Beaumont said. “It’s a business move more than anything.” Beaumont said Swift’s push for artistic ownership points toward a new future for the music industry, specifically with non-fungible tokens (NFTs). NFTs are a technological way to sell digital art. Beaumont said NFTs could allow fans to own a piece of and invest in an artistic product, developing an unprecedented connection between fans and artists. “Typically the artist-fan relationship has just been through social media, the stage or the television screen,” Beaumont said. “Now we are going to see a different connection. If you are part of an NFT for ‘Red,’ for example, if it is going in that direction, you would now have part ownership of that, but then you would also be privy to specific releases or items the artist might only make available to those particular individuals.”
What is entertainment? What constitutes art? How do we decide what to do with those precious moments in which we are allowed to relax? Historically people have turned to art to fill the void that is made apparent when we are left to our own devices. For example, when the whaling industry was at large the crew would spend its downtime creating carved images on whale bones using metal scraps as tools. What drove them to that instinctual endeavor and how does that play out in today’s society? The key to opening this philosophical debate is found in a word study on entertainment. The word “entertainment” has a long history dating back to the 15th century, when it was defined as keeping someone in a certain frame of mind. This definition has since developed to have a connotation that accommodates a consumer society and is now defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “the act of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment.” If the word entertainment can be broken into two categories of intentionality (providing, provided), then we can reach into the 19th-century Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard’s mind and draw out his unique view (with the stipulation that he believed that boredom sought entertainment and distraction). “Those who bore themselves are the elect, the aristocracy, and it is a curious fact that those who do not bore themselves usually bore others, while those who bore themselves entertain others,” Kierkegaard wrote.
Influenced by Kierkegaard and the etymology of entertainment, Dr. Sam Welbaum, professor of philosophy, redefined entertainment. “I would say that entertainment is any media or activity that I am involved in or observe that engages or delights me in some way,” Welbaum said. Welbaum expanded his definition by making a distinction between amusement and entertainment. He claims that amusement is equivalent to a lack of thought, leading to distraction. Some have categorized scrolling through Instagram for elongated periods of time to fall into the category of amusement. The topic of entertainment can be explored, the question has transformed from “what is entertainment?” to “what entertains you?” with an added caveat that asks if your desired entertainment is ethical. Vladimir Bond, senior history and philosophy double major, answered this question. “A good form of entertainment is something that brings you closer to your worldview and God,” Bond said. With Bond’s view in mind, Trennon Williamson, junior Christian studies and philosophy double major, discussed the ethics of pursuing entertainment. “If (entertainment) is taking over your thought process, it is an idol and needs to change,” Williamson said. “Whatever is taking the full focus of your life off of God needs to change.” These two philosophy students agreed that all entertainment exists on a moral continuum and we can plot each instance on the continuum by looking at a combination of one’s own conscious and a conscientious care for those around them.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
13
November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
Review: ‘Eternals’ fails Marvel legacy BY JOSIAH MURPHY ASST. A&E EDITOR
Claire Grimes | Banner
Photos printed on sheets hange around the room that houses the More Dreamers of the Golden Dream exhibit, telling the story of generations of African-American and Mexican-American families that moved to Eastside Riverside.
New art exhibit opens at RAM BY ROWEN ZAMORA ASST. A&E EDITOR
The Riverside Art Museum (RAM), located in the historic Mission Inn district of downtown Riverside, is now showing a revival of the 2013 exhibit More Dreamers of the Golden Dream by Susan Straight and Douglas McCulloh. The exhibit will run from Oct. 7 to Jan. 2. The exhibit was created by Straight, prolific author and University of California, Riverside creative writing professor, who collaborated with McCulloh, senior curator for The California Museum of Photography in 2013, to create a masterful collection of blackand-white photos depicting the stories of East Riverside. They called this work More Dreamers of the Golden Dream and have recently revamped the show with the help of Delphine Sims, daughter of Straight and Ph.D student in the history of photography in the Americas
at the University of California, Berkeley. Sims has contributed to this revamp by writing new essays that thematically come from the next generation. The exhibit displays a large quantity of black-and-white photos that were taken in the East Riverside community. Each photo has a story that has been written out and displayed next to the large black-andwhite prints. This revival is not just an old collection of black-and-white photos. Rather, it is a unique way to capture the individual lives of an entire community, displaying its members’ right to live, love, cry and ultimately pass away. “Why do story and photograph work so well together?” Straight said in her description of the exhibit on the RAM website. “How is it that a wonderful story told to me on a front porch can be enhanced so much by black-and-white photography in a way that the hu-
man brain responds viscerally and takes in the entire world?” The photography pioneer Ansel Adams explained this phenomenon well. “Our lives at times seem a study in contrast: love and hate, birth and death, right and wrong…everything seen in absolutes of black and white,” Adams said in “Born Free and Equal” published in 1944. “Too often we are not aware that it is the shades of gray that add depth and meaning to the starkness of those extremes.” The purpose of the artist’s work was to record an intimate story that may be enjoyed by the next generation. Such a story includes all facets of culture from historical locations to food. Briana Beltran, junior Spanish education major, noted the significance of small cultural things when speaking of a picture depicting a restaurant staff that was displayed in the exhibit.
“
You can see in this photo that these people are fulfilling their parents’ dream of owning a restaurant. Briana Beltran, Junior Spanish education major
“Food is a major part of culture,” Beltran said. “You can see in this photo that these people are fulfilling their parents’ dream of owning a restaurant.” Spencer Thompson, junior mathematics and Christian studies double major, further developed this point. “Food is a beautiful extension of culture that often goes unnoticed,” Thompson said.
Editor’s
Marvel’s latest, “Eternals,” directed by Chloe Zhao (“Nomadland,” 2020) is a bafflingly terrible entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). “Endgame” (2019) felt like the culmination of a grand, overarching story, something big and beautiful, the end of a wonderful experiment of setting up and playing off different movies. On the other hand, “Eternals” feels like the dregs of something that doesn’t know when to quit. Chloe Zhao amazed with “Nomadland” last year, sweeping the Academy Awards in all the right categories with a movie that was really pleasant to watch. She has followed it up with this war crime of a movie. This is Marvel at its lowest, at its most mystifyingly pretentious and portentous in quantity. There is so much movie going on in this movie. A revelation will be shown to the audience through visuals, only for a character minutes later to explain what the audience just saw…just longer, more drawn out and boring. At a glacial 157 minutes, “Eternals” feels like it lasts for an eternity — and even at its climax the movie has no clue what to do with itself, having a “gotcha!” ending that feels like more movie is about to come, but Zhao and her co-writers decided to drop the title card right there instead. There is a beginning to the movie, and there is a middle, but there is no end. If the wind is studied closely at night, one can still hear the credits of “Eternals” playing somewhere in the distance. The Marvel machine harmed itself in giving actual closure in “Endgame.” Now the superheroes are lost in different worlds across TV shows and movies that have no clue what to do with these characters that always have so much
“
“Eternals” is the last straw, short and stubby, with unlikeable characters, diversity for the sake of diversity with no reason anyone should ever care about any of these eternal beings.
to do in their source material. The ending of “Iron Man” (2008) started the whole MCU with a wink-and-a-nod of Samuel L. Jackson showing up as Nick Fury to enlist Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) — this one smart moment led to a gigantic franchise that is now grasping at straws to find meaning. “Eternals” is the last straw, short and stubby, with unlikeable characters, diversity for the sake of diversity with no reason anyone should ever care about any of these “eternal” beings. They have the expressions and emotions of a cardboard cut-out of Steve Rodgers. The jokes land with the grace of a wedding dove flying into the stained glass window during the ceremony. The pretentious, quasi-sacrilegious explanation for the creation of everything in an opening title card that is onepart “Star Wars,” another part Monty Python sets off the warning bells almost as soon as the words “In the beginning” kick off the movie. Should audiences see “Eternals” in theaters? A better time would be spent committing tax fraud, but that’s illegal, so go watch “Eternals” instead. Which should be illegal. Or, better yet, just go watch “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” instead. That’s a better Marvel movie. 1 out of 5 stars.
Reviews
By Emily McGinn | Managing Editor Ed Sheeran released his fourth album, “=,” on Oct. 29, consisting of 14 tracks including recent singles “Bad Habits,” “Visiting Hours” and “Shivers.” Originally, I did not think I would be a fan of this album. When Sheeran released “Bad Habits” earlier this year, it quickly became the new “Shape of You” in my mind: somewhat catchy, somewhat annoying and grossly overplayed. “Bad Habits” has an upbeat, catchy chorus, but it did not seem to say anything, making it difficult for me to connect with it on an emotional level. Then, Sheeran released “Visiting Hours,” a tender, a soft song about his “wish that heaven had visiting hours.” It evokes the deep desire to see someone who has passed and the fear associated with continuing to live without that person, an emotion to which so many of us can relate. The lyrics held gut-wrenching depth and the softness of the song, reminiscent of his early guitar ballads, showcases the beauty of his voice. I had hope for the upcoming album. He then released “Shivers,” another upbeat track that delves into the thrill of
being close to someone you love. I find it more bearable than “Bad Habits,” but the song still lacks some of the uniqueness I normally expect from a Sheeran song. Now that I have heard the entire album, I have mixed emotions. I absolutely love some of the tracks. “Visiting Hours” remains my favorite, and I also enjoy “Sandman,” which sounds as if he wrote it for his daughter. This song captures the beauty of childhood, eliciting nostalgia and taking on the feeling of a lullaby with a soft xylophone in the background. I also thoroughly enjoyed the way he integrated his newfound experiences as a father into his music. “Tides” not only has a catchy, optimistic beat, but it also has honest lyrics capturing the beauty of fatherhood and his continuing growth as a human. In it, he says, “I still have to lean on a shoulder when I’ve broken down / And I have people that depend on me to sort them out.” The beat rushes into a suddenly slow chorus when “time stops to still / When you are in my arms it always will.” “First Times” is a nostalgic love song,
returning to the old acoustic-guitar sound found in songs such as “Photograph.” This song feels like the “Perfect” of the album as he reflects on “the first kiss, the first night, the first song that made you cry” and looks forward to making “a million more first times.” “Overpass Graffiti” and “Collide” are both easy on the ears, but they are not the type of songs I will listen to over and over. “Stop the Rain” is another upbeat tune, but it is one of the more forgettable songs on the album. The album closes with “Be Right Now,” a song with a strong beat and a message about enjoying each moment of our short lives. I enjoy the attention to detail and the imagery of the lyrics in this track as “the shadows cling to the ceiling / And fracture the light / That lands in our eyes.” The song captures the album’s overall optimism and desire to embrace life’s precious moments, ending on a positive, warm note. However, the album lacked a “Galway Girls”-like curveball and some of the unique charm of “÷” that made me continue to cycle through that album.
When I listen to a Sheeran album, I expect distinctiveness. The album was good, but I expect something different from other songs on the radio when I listen to Sheeran’s songs. This album surrendered some of this uniqueness. Did I like some songs? Sure. Is his voice as lovely as ever? Of course. But there are several that will be a one-and-done listening experience for me. 4 out of 5 stars.
“=” Ed Sheeran
SPORTS
14
November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
Rodeo gallops into the community BY AIDEN HOBSON SPORTS EDITOR
The first European settlers of what would become the state of California were Spanish ranchers, who used the fertile land of the coastal plains to graze large herds of cattle. Eventually, American ranchers came to California and continued the state’s long history of agricultural industriousness. One of the features of ranch life in California and the southwestern United States is the sport of rodeo. Rodeos are competitive athletic events where cowboys use their roping and riding skills to participate in events that mimic the everyday activities of ranchers. “Rodeo is more of a lifestyle than anything,” said Gracie Beth Sutton, California high school state champion in cutting, breakaway roping, and two-time high school national qualifier in breakaway roping. “Rodeo is one of the most dangerous yet most rewarding sports out there.” The sport of rodeo is a hugely popular affair, with professional organizations like the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) drawing huge crowds and major sponsorship deals. “Rodeo is different from other sports in that it is made up with several events,” said Amanda Sutton, California High School Rodeo Association (CHSRA) District 8 Vice President and Arena Director. “Team Roping, Calf Roping, Steer Wrestling, Bull Riding, Saddle and Bareback Bronc, Barrel Racing and the recently added Breakaway Roping are the events offered at the professional level.”
While professional rodeo is the most well-known, thousands of young cowboys train and compete in the various associations that are organized for different ages groups. “Rodeo is similar to other sports because it takes a lot of time, dedication, practice, hard work and teamwork,” said Valerie Reyes, freshman health science (pre-med) major at California Baptist University and rodeo competitor. “You have to make sure you are focused and alert on what your every move is going to be.” There are sometimes misunderstandings about the treatment of animals at rodeos. Most people do not realize, however, how much the ranchers and cowboys involved in the sport care for the animals they are competing with. Oftentimes, the livelihoods of the competitors depend on the health and safety of the animals involved. “There are many misconceptions in the treatment of the livestock used in rodeo,” Sutton said. “Stock contractors (those who provide the animals for rodeos) take better care of their livestock than many pet owners. Their livelihood and future are insured by the health and performance of their animals. These animals are treated humanely and most often live longer, better quality lives than those not involved in the rodeo industry.” The sport of rodeo hearkens back to the history of the southwestern U.S. and California, when hard-working farmers and ranchers staked their livelihoods on their efforts in the fields and pastures. Spectators today can attend rodeo events across the country, including in Riverside, to witness the memory of a different age of U.S. history.
Courtesy of Valerie Reyes
Valerie Reyes, freshman health science major, rides her horse in the rodeo.
WAC headlines
NEW MEMBER JOINS
The Western Athletic Conference announced on Nov. 12 that the University of the Incarnate Word will be joining the WAC. Starting on July 1, 2022, UIW will join the WAC as a full member, and as the only member school to sponsor all 20 sports that the WAC sponsors. UIW is the largest Catholic school in Texas and one of the largest private universities in the state. After the addition of UIW, the WAC will have 14 teams.
SWIM HIGHLIGHTS Cowboys pose for the camera at the local rodeo.
Courtesy of Valerie Reyes
The California Baptist University men’s and women’s swim teams swam to a decisive victory Nov. 13 against non-conference foe California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The Grand Canyon University Lopes lost on the men’s and women’s side to the United States Air Force Academy on Nov. 6. The New Mexico State University Aggies lost a non-conference meet against Southern Methodist University and won a meet against the University of North Texas on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13, respectively.
NEW COMMISSIONER
Cowboys pose with their horses and flags at the local rodeo.
Courtesy of Valerie Reyes
The WAC announced on Nov. 4 that Brian Thornton will replace Jeff Hurd as the seventh commissioner of the conference. Jeff Hurd has served as WAC Commissioner for seven years, and will step down on Dec. 31. Thornton previously served as the associate commissioner for basketball for the prestigious American Athletic Conference. He also served as assistant director for basketball development for the National Collegiate Athletic Association prior to his tenure at the AAC. Thornton was a star basketball player for Xavier University, graduating in 2005.
OPINION LANCER ON THE STREET
15
November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
Anna Sjoholm Sophomore Graphic design major
Bryan Saenz Freshman Nursing major
“I love cranberry sauce.”
“Turkey, not the dry one though.”
Makoa Niebel Freshman Undeclared major
“My favorite Thanksgiving dish is probably stuffing.”
Ashley Gonzalez Freshman Health science major
Kassandra Romano Senior Psychology major
“Defintely the turkey.”
“Mashed potatoes.”
Thank you, from your favorite editor-in-chief
BY SOFIA ENEQVIST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Today is a bittersweet day because it is my last print day with The Banner. After four years of working for Lancer Media Group, I am
saying good-bye. Before I go, I have some people I want to thank and thoughts I would like to share. Please read this in Jimmy Fallon’s Thank You Note style. Thank you, The Banner, for showing me the passion I had for journalism and giving me the space to improve my writing skills in a loving and supportive community. For that, I am truly grateful. Thank you, to all the people who poured into me throughout my four years at The Banner. You showed me work can be fun, and coworkers can become family. I hope to pour into others the same way my family at LMG has poured into me. Thank you, Dr. Mary Ann Pearson, director of student
“
When I joined The Banner during my freshman year, I had no idea of the impact it would have on my life.
publications, and Sonya Singh, assistant director of student publications, for giving me a space to be creative and always encouraging me in all that I do. You showed me, a marketing major, that there is room for anyone of any skill set in the world of journalism. Thank you for the long talks and comforting words when life was stressful and overwhelming. I think
what I will miss most once I graduate is seeing your smiling faces every day and hearing your kind words. Thank you, to the amazing 2021-22 Banner staff. Thank you for trusting me as your editor-in-chief and showing me the kind of leader I can be. I am sorry for all the Slack messages but maybe, just maybe, you will miss them once I have graduated. If I do not say it enough, you are all amazing individuals that I am truly blessed to know. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and I am honored to have worked alongside you during this year. Thank you, Emily McGinn, junior journalism and new media major and managing editor, for being the best managing ed-
itor an editor-in-chief can ask for. I’m grateful for the friendship we have formed, the many Wanda’s homework dates and your persistence in introducing me to the “Indiana Jones” movie franchise. I can’t wait to see all that you accomplish in your last year at The Banner. You are truly one of the most creative and smartest people I know. Thank you, the Newsroom, for being a space for collaboration, creativity, late night talks and early morning meetings. This room in the basement of the W.E. James Building has become like a second home during college. I will miss the packed Tuesday night meetings, the random objects that pop up on my desk and most importantly, the memories made there.
When I joined The Banner during my freshman year, I had no idea of the impact it would have on my life. Not only have I been blessed with winning awards through my work with LMG, but the years have shown me the value of hard work and perserverance. The community and experiences I have been part of will forever have a mark on my college years. My final thank you goes to the readers. Whether you read every issue or are reading for the first time, thank you for giving The Banner an audience to write for. Writing for the California Baptist University students, faculty and staff has been nothing short of a blessing in my life.
Vaccine mandates unfairly destroy livelihoods Vaccine mandates
BY EMILY MCGINN MANAGING EDITOR
Imagine this: You are a doctor. It has been a long year as you fight COVID-19 on the front lines, enduring both the physical and emotional trauma that comes with being a first responder during a pandemic. You have worked long hours, and you have spent years studying in medical school. Suddenly, you are fired. You are jobless. You have no income. Despite your dedication during the pandemic, you are no longer important enough to employ. This story sounds like it should be a terrifying work of fiction, but, unfortunately, it is happening in our own country at countless hospitals. Hundreds of healthcare employees across the U.S. have faced termination for one simple reason: vaccine mandates. These mandates have spread beyond healthcare fields and now apply to many workplaces and schools with little wiggle room for other accommodations. Thousands of Americans are facing job loss simply because they refuse to get a vaccine. Other Americans are facing difficulty in going about daily life in cities such as Los Angeles and New York City, which requires proof of vaccination for basic activities such as indoor dining, gyms and indoor entertainment. Current mandates have few
allowances for exemptions, especially for fields such as healthcare, and many have strict deadlines that people must abide by. Some mandates accomodate testing options. However, such requirements can become especially difficult for those facing vaccine mandates to simply go to stores or restaurants. It is first important to note that the debate over the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine is distinct from the debate over vaccine mandates. I am not arguing in favor or against the vaccine. However, the COVID-19 vaccine mandates sweeping the nation now are appallingly totalitarian and inappropriate. It is true that vaccine mandates have been instituted in the past. However, the nature of the COVID-19 virus and vaccine makes this argument completely invalid. The goal of vaccine mandates in the past was largely to reach herd immunity and thereby prevent the spread of infection. Ultimately, vaccine mandates aim to eradicate diseases. Vaccines operate by either inserting inactive portions of a virus (vector-based vaccine) or a piece of mRNA encoding a viral protein (mRNA vaccine) into the body to trigger an immune response. The body will “remember” the virus so the immune response will be quicker upon exposure. However, regarding COVID-19, herd immunity and eradication are extremely unlikely because of the high rate of mutation in the virus. In the past, vaccine mandates for diseases such as smallpox and polio were effective because these viruses have extremely low mutation rates, meaning the vaccine’s level of effectiveness did not diminish quickly over time. This low mutation rate made it possible for eradication efforts to succeed for smallpox. Unlike smallpox and polio, SARS-CoV-2 mutates once ev-
“
Where will vaccine mandates end? Will we be satisfied when it is impossible for unvaccinated individuals to get a job? Or when they can no longer eat at a restaurant, or go to the grocery store or to a bowling alley, anywhere in the nation?
ery two weeks, according to a 2021 study by scientists at the Universities of Bath and Edinburgh. This high mutation rate makes the COVID-19 virus more similar to the influenza virus, which has yearly seasons, than viruses that cause diseases such as polio and smallpox. As a result, it is unlikely that we can successfully eradicate COVID-19 or reach herd immunity, ensuring the failure of vaccine mandates. Despite this reality, some may argue that vaccine mandates are still justified to prevent the spread of the virus. The only somewhat valid justification for removing freedoms and putting widespread vaccine mandates in place is the fact that vaccine mandates should, in theory, prevent infection in vaccinated individuals and therefore eliminate the possibility of them spreading it to other individuals. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fully vaccinated people with the Delta variant, one of the dominant strains of COVID-19, can still get and transmit the virus, though cases in vaccinated individuals will
likely be less severe. Therefore, the vaccine mandates do not prevent transmission of the virus. As a result, it should not matter to you whether or not those around you got the vaccine. If you made the choice to get it, you are protected. If you did not get the vaccine, it is your decision to take that risk. You are not heightening the risk to others since both unvaccinated and vaccinated people can transmit the virus. Furthermore, the stringent testing process for vaccines has historically taken 10-15 years for research and testing. The COVID-19 pandemic began less than two years ago and vaccine rollout began less than a year later. Regardless of personal beliefs regarding the vaccine, we should respect the skepticism and hesitance of those who do not wish to get the vaccine due to the rushed research and testing process. Where will vaccine mandates end? Will we be satisfied when it is impossible for unvaccinated individuals to get a job? Or when they can no longer eat at a restaurant, or go to the grocery store or to a bowling alley, anywhere in the nation? When did we decide that discriminating against others because of their personal beliefs was acceptable? As a nation, we must stop coercing people into getting the vaccine, threatening them with unemployment and an inability to carry out basic tasks. If you are vaccinated, stand up against vaccine mandates for those around you. If you choose to be unvaccinated, continue to reject them for yourself. It is ironic that a vaccine meant to save lives is destroying so many. If we do not end these vaccine mandates, I am afraid for the future of our country. Get the shot, or don’t. It is your choice. Either way, let’s stop hinging livelihoods on whatever path people choose.
succeed historically
BY SELAH KELLEY
ASST. NEWS EDITOR Great debate has risen all throughout the country as COVID-19 vaccine mandates are beginning to be enforced. Many people argue that vaccine mandates are needed to control the COVID-19 pandemic, while others argue that forcing vaccines is a violation of American constitutional freedom. Vaccine mandates are nothing new in this country and have occurred throughout the entirety of American history. One of the first instances of a vaccine mandate in this country was during the Revolutionary War in 1777, only a year after the Declaration of Independence was signed. According to Oxford historians, George Washington mandated that all of his Revolutionary War soldiers be inoculated against smallpox. Although a smallpox vaccine was not created until 1798, it was common practice to infect someone with a less serious form of smallpox to create immunity. In 1809, Massachusetts became the first state to pass a law mandating that the general public must receive the smallpox vaccine. Many more states followed suit and the last smallpox outbreak in the U.S. reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
was in 1947. One of the biggest issues brought up in current American vaccine debates is requiring school children to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, mandating vaccines for school enrollment is also not a new idea. In 1827, Massachusetts became the first state to pass a law requiring schoolchildren to be vaccinated. The law went all the way up to the Supreme Court and the mandate was upheld in Jacobson v. Massachusetts in 1905. Less than 20 years later, the Supreme Court decided in Zucht v. King that students who were not vaccinated for smallpox were legally able to be excluded from public schools and other places of education. These landmark cases set precedent for school vaccine mandates, and by 1980 all 50 states began requiring school children to be vaccinated. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be required for enrollment to schools following approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Oct. 1. Requiring children to receive vaccines for school enrollment is nothing new. Currently, the state of California already requires five vaccines for children in kindergarten through 12th grade: Polio, DTaP/Tdap, MMR, Hep B and Varicella. According to the CDC, smallpox, diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps and rubella have all been nearly eradicated by vaccines. COVID-19 is another easily spread virus that can be nearly eradicated by vaccines and their mandates. The virus has already taken more than 738,000 American lives and vaccine mandates like ones made all throughout American history are essential in saving lives.
ETC.
16
November 19, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 5
#Lancercam @zc.design20
@valramirezphoto
@rapberry
@rapberry
Congratulations! This week’s LancerCam winner is @zc.design20
Email Elijah Hickman at ElijahD.Hickman@calbaptist.edu to claim your prize.
Send us your photos using #LancerCam to be featured in the next issue of The Banner. @CBULancerMedia
LANCER LIFE Illustration by Samantha “Red” Rojo
THANKSGIVING CROSSWORD CLUES 1
Across
3
2
4
5
1. Gobble gobble 2. That dish at Thanksgiving filled with random ingredients 4. President who first called Thanksgiving a national holiday (abbreviated) 5. Warm apple beverage 6. Tasty results of a crop Down
6
1. The day of the holiday 3. The people who came over on the Mayflower 6. Alternative meat to the answer to 1 Across