Banner | Vol. 69 Issue 2 by Lancer Media Group

Volume 69 | Issue 2 | October 1, 2021

@cbulancermedia cbubanner.com

Provider shortage—

Academy Museum —

Intramurals —

N e w s , Pg. 2

A & E , Pg . 11

S p o r t s , Pg. 12

The new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opens to the public in LA.

The Habit and Foodology remain closed as Provider experiences worker shortage.

Intramurals such as flag football return after a year of being postponed for COVID-19.

California Baptist University’s rankings on the 2021 U.S. News & World Report of America’s Best Colleges

Most Innovative Schools

139

Best online MBA program

Best Colleges for Veterans

Best Regional University

Best Online Bachelors Programs

Top Performers on Social Mobility

251 Nursing

Best Value Schools

Best Undergraduate Teaching

166

Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs

For a full list of CBU’s in-person and online rankings visit https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/california-baptist-university-1125/overall-rankings

CBU athletics featured on ESPN The end of an era:

Zoom stock drops over $15 million in market value BY JASMINE SEVERI B&T EDITOR

California Baptist University women’s basketball team wins the Western Athletic Conference on March 22, 2021.

BY AIDEN HOBSON SPORTS EDITOR

California Baptist University is in the third year of its fouryear transition period to classification as an NCAA Division-I athletics program. Popularizing CBU on the national stage is an essential part of fulfilling the athletics department’s goal of glorifying God through excellence in athletics. Lancer athletic events will now be distributed to a wider audience, as part of a new broadcast deal that CBU and the Western Athletic Conference have signed with ESPN, the premier sports broadcast network in the country. “The continued relationship with ESPN is key to our future

success in growing CBU into a national brand,” said Tyler Mariucci, director of Athletics, in a press release. “This expanded partnership between the WAC and ESPN will enhance the viewing experience for Lancer Nation and expand the visibility of our programs through the worldwide leader in sports.” The press release also explained the specifics of the deal as it pertains to CBU athletic events. ESPN will air all home men’s and women’s basketball games, along with releasing more than 70 championship events on ESPN+. CBU Athletics will stream baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, softball and volleyball on ESPN+, as well. Students across campus are

excited to be able to view CBU athletic events on one of the biggest sports broadcasting platforms available. “The fact that CBU’s athletic events and marketing are primarily being distributed on ESPN is a great move,” said Samuel Nguyen, junior applied theology major. “It demonstrates that CBU is part of the big leagues. This makes me increasingly glad to be a part of such a great school.” Broadcasting CBU athletic events through ESPN elevates the status of Lancer athletic events. It brings more attention to CBU than ever before and helps with marketing CBU to the local community. Raising awareness is crucial to helping CBU Athletics succeed as an

Elijah Hickman | Banner NCAA Division-I school. “I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for our university since it’ll expose us to a wider audience and it’ll get a lot of people hooked on Lancer athletics,” said Marc Lemieux, first-year graduate student in forensic psychology. As CBU transitions into Division I, it is working to popularize Lancer athletics not only among the surrounding community but also on a national scale. “ESPN is on almost every TV I’m near,” Lemieux said. “It’ll make it easier for me to watch CBU games.” The ESPN deal helps to pop-

SEE ESPN | PAGE 7

A year and a half ago the world was suddenly thrust into a pandemic. Businesses closed, and people were put into lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus as much as possible. Work was suspended for some non-essential workers, and others adapted to the change through working or attending school remotely. Throughout this chaos, a certain company stood out as the place most people were turning to so they could work or attend classes remotely: Zoom. People also turned to other companies in addition to Zoom to support remote working and learning, such as WebEx, Skype and Slack. Now, as life gradually returns to some form of normalcy, companies are opening in-person offices, and schools are holding classes in person again. California Baptist University is back, in-person and on campus, but what about Zoom? Now that many companies and classes are returning to having in-person activities, Zoom’s stock has fallen. This is not unexpected. As people begin to do more things in person, they will use Zoom less. When it stabilizes, though, will Zoom recover? Dr. Adele Harrison, professor of finance, said she thinks Zoom needs to do something to make itself competitive over the other companies that have tried to fill that same role. “Now what Zoom is being confronted with is they are a single-product company,” Har-

“

Now what Zoom is being confronted with is they are a single-product company. They do virtual interactions. That’s their product that they’re selling. They are totally at the mercy of the demand for that particular product over other products. Dr. Adele Harrison, professor of finance

rison said. “They do virtual interactions. That’s their product that they’re selling. They are totally at the mercy of the demand for that particular product over other products. As you can imagine, especially during COVID, many other competitors came in to try to offer things to meet that space. That is why Zoom is now having trouble. They were where people went first when they were forced to do (remote) interactions, particularly public schools. (But now) businesses are reopening and schools are reopening, so that demand will be reduced.” However, Youssef Attalla, freshman pre-nursing student, said he thinks people will continue to use Zoom even after the pandemic. “It will be a better alternative for meetings if people can’t

SEE ZOOM | PAGE 8

NEWS

October 1, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 2

THE BANNER

staff PRINT

Editor-in-Chief Sofia Eneqvist

Lifestyle Editor Sofia Eneqvist

Managing Editor Emily McGinn

Asst. Lifestyle Editor Lloyd Stackhouse

Photo Editor Elijah Hickman

Sports Editor Aiden Hobson

Asst. Photo Editor Tonia Ross

Asst. Sports Editor Rowen Zamora

Design Editor Sofia Eneqvist

Social Media Director Megan Van Battum

Asst. Design Editor Emily McGinn Lauren Brooks

Public Relations Director Cole Stillwagon

News Editor Lauren Brooks Asst. News Editor Selah Kelley Business & Tech Editor Jasmine Severi

Distribution Manager Wiley Lloyd Advertising Manager Cole Stillwagon

ONLINE

Asst. Business & Tech Editors Alexza Bahnmiller

Editor-in-Chief Sofia Eneqvist

A&E Editor Emily McGonn

Website Administrator Jasmine Severi

Asst. A&E Editor Josiah Murphy

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

THE BANNER

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 Sienna Darula, 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!

Camille Grochowski | Banner

Students wait in line at Chick-fil-A during a Monday evening dinner rush.

Provider faces labor shortage BY SELAH KELLEY

ASST. NEWS EDITOR Hiring signs have filled windows all throughout the country, due to a labor shortage largely credited to the COVID-19 unemployment relief fund. California Baptist University is not immune to this labor shortage. Currently, Provider, the company that manages CBU’s restaurants, is short nearly 200 on-campus employees. Provider employees are working to compensate for this labor shortage, but many lines at dining locations on campus are ranging from 30 minutes to over an hour. Eric DaCosta, director of Food Services, shared how different the labor is on campus now compared to pre-COVID. On-campus food service issues have stemmed not just from lack of labor, but also the student worker availability. “When we operate at full capacity, we have about 450 employees,” DaCosta said.

“Out of the 450 employees we typically have about 20% that are students. Students usually work on an average of ten hours a week. Currently, we’re at only about 270 employees total and 60% of that are students, so one of the challenges is the availability of students because they have classes during the day.” Like many other companies throughout the nation, Provider has been offering incentives to gain more applicants. Provider offers perks for both those already on staff and those willing to join. “We’re holding job fairs, using staffing agencies and we’ve offered referral incentives to current employees,” DaCosta said. “We raised the average wage as much as we can, but we’re still struggling to get applicants through the door and showing up.” Connor Ryan, sophomore creative writing and journalism and new media double major as well as Brisco’s employee, said that the employees and

restaurants are struggling during this time. “The labor shortage has made it so that several locations are simply unable to open at all,” Ryan said. “For example, The Habit was originally supposed to open on weekdays during the fall semester, but after having a soft opening, they realized that opening The Habit would stretch their manpower too thin and opted to leave it closed. When someone has to call off, it raises a huge issue because there is rarely anybody who is available to pick up someone’s shift.” Kylie Williams, sophomore environmental science major and El Monte Grill employee, also discussed how the unusual hours have been conflicting with school schedules for her and others. She also shared that, despite what it may look like to a customer, El Monte and other restaurants are doing the best they can. “The labor shortage has just made hours weird,” Williams said. “I already have a pretty

packed class schedule with a lot of homework, but I also work the closing shift four days a week. There are about six of us there at a time, maybe more, serving and doing cash register. This seems like a lot, but there are so many customers we get backed up really easily, even with all hands on deck. While it makes time go faster, it also makes it more stressful and we’re bound to make a few mistakes.” Although Provider is still short workers, the situation is looking more promising. DaCosta believes that the end of COVID-19 subsidies is going to lead to an increase in applicants and employees. “Because the government subsidies ended in September, we’re starting to see a little bit more improvement,” DaCosta said. “We’re hoping for an opening for The Habit in October, possibly with limited hours.” For Provider employment information, please visit https://nowhiring.com/pcfs/.

Booster shots evaluated by FDA BY SELAH KELLEY

ASST. NEWS EDITOR As the COVID-19 Delta variant began to rise during the summer, so did the discussion of a third shot, specifically through Pfizer-BioNTech. Scientists have discussed booster shots since COVID-19 vaccines were first introduced in December, and the Delta variant gave motivation for their release. In research for the vaccines, Pfizer stated that the original two doses begin to lose efficiency after six months; however, this study has yet to be fully released. The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) convened with their Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on Sept. 17 to discuss if a booster shot should be approved at this time. This meeting was open to the public and allowed any person to present data and views on the booster shot. The

FDA came to the conclusion that the booster shot will not be approved and recommended at this time for the general public. However, it was approved for individuals 65 and older, as well as those seriously immunocompromised, such as organ transplant patients. Amanda Pitchford-Madrid, lead faculty for Community and Public Health at California Baptist University, shared the possible thought process behind the FDA approving the third shot for only certain individuals. She also spoke about what she believes is the future for COVID-19 vaccines. “People that are immunecompromised, no matter what, can get both doses and won’t be as immune as everyone else,” Pitchford-Madrid said. “You need that third dose to get them to the same place. For every one, as the virus changes it is very likely we will be on an annual schedule, just as with influenza, as that virus changes

and tries to stay alive.” Cali Steffens, senior environmental science major, said she believes if doctors are recommending the third shot, then it will be beneficial. “I feel that if the booster shot is going to help those who are immunocompromised, and is suggested by doctors, it is good for those individuals to receive to stay safe,” Steffens said. “It is very possible that this could change soon. With different variants and new information, new boosters may end up being suggested as well.” Lydia Prins, junior nursing student, said she believes the FDA is approving the booster shots for the most vulnerable to keep them safe and theorizes that there may be future protection coming for the general population. “I think we have all figured out that COVID-19 primarily affects those of higher age and those with compromised immune systems, so it doesn’t

surprise me that they are focusing on protecting people within those categories,” Prins said. “Maybe they will develop something different for younger individuals or maybe we just don’t need it. That is something that is at the discretion of health professionals and researchers.” Whether people are Immunocompromised or not, Pitchfork-Madrid wants everyone to make safe decisions when it comes to COVID-19. “Vaccines are free and available,” she said. “It’s better to be safe than sorry. And get tested. If you’re not going to get vaccinated, at least make sure that you’re getting tested to know your status.” Those who fall into the categories of people authorized to receive a booster shot should receive it at least six months after the first two doses. The rollout of the booster shots began in late September.

@CBULancerMedia Keep up with CBU news and events.

Lauren Brooks | Banner

LIFESTYLE

October 1, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 2

Teddy Peña | Banner

Teddy Peña, senior public relations major, demonstrates the steps for how to make colorful tie-dye shirts.

Lifestyle Tries: making colorful tie-dye shirts BY TEDDY PEÑA CONTRIBUTOR

Tie-dye is a colorful and fun way to add personality to various products. This is a great activity to do alone or with company. There is a vast spectrum of items that can be tie-dyed: socks, shirts, tote bags, bandanas and many other products all

have the potential for a tie-dye makeover. Craft stores and many department stores sell a selection of tie-dye kits, making the process much easier. Some basics that will be needed are bottles for the dye color, tie-dye pigment, rubber bands and gloves. In addition to the tie-dye kit, you will also want plastic bags

and a protective surface to work on (we used a large trash bag and taped it to a table to protect any furniture from the dye). Step 1: Now that all the materials are gathered, the first step is to tape down the trash bag or something similar if you are working on a surface you do not want to stain. Step 2: Take the items that

you wish to tie-dye and use the rubber bands to strategically (or randomly) scrunch the item. There are various patterns that have online tutorials if you desire a specific tie-dye pattern. We went with a traditional spiral pattern for our shirts. Step 3: Put the gloves on and take a bottle with the liquid dye and use the sections made by

the rubber bands to make your colorful design. Step 4: With the gloves still on, place your item in the plastic bag and seal. Let the bagged tie-dye creation rest for at least 24 hours. We put ours outside for sunlight exposure, but this is optional. Step 5: After at least 24 hours, carefully take your cre-

ation out of the bag. Take off the rubber bands and hand-rinse your item. We rinsed our creations in a sink but made sure not to leave any dye in the sink basin to avoid staining. Step 6: Use a washing machine to thoroughly rinse out the rest of the excess pigment. After the rinse cycle is complete, your craft is ready.

Hey singers and instrumentalists! WHITE AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH IN POMONA, CA NEEDS A WORSHIP LEADER AND/OR WORSHIP BAND. CONTACT PASTOR D.J. DUNCAN AT (707) 337-4138 OR PHIL16DJ@YAHOO.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Staying active while in college is important for overall wellness BY LLOYD STACKHOUSE ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Roughly 87% of graduate students and 81% of undergraduate students considered their health to be good, great or excellent in 2019, according to the National College Health Assessment Report recorded by the American College Health Association (ACHA). Despite the students’ strong belief that they were healthy, only 64.3% of college students exercised the recommended 150 minutes a week. Additionally, only 8% of graduate students and 4% of undergraduate students consumed the five recommended servings of fruits and vegetables daily. In addition to improving physical health, daily exercise benefits mental health. A study conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reported that running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour a day reduces major depression by 26%. If exercise provides these boosts to students’ lives, why are they not exercising enough? Leslie Dooley, fitness coordinator at the Recreation Center, believes one of the reasons why students fail to reach the recommended 150 minutes a week is because their expectations of what exercise should be differ from what it actually is. “Fitness doesn’t have to just take place inside the rec center,” Dooley said. “It can take place in the dorm, or outside

“

We all start somewhere and everybody has a different fitness level.

Leslie Dooley, Fitness coordinator at the Recreation Center

on the Front Lawn; it can take place anywhere.” However, Dooley said exercise can be intimidating to some students due to the pressure to perform at the level at which others exercise. “We all start somewhere and everybody has a different fitness level,” Dooley said “Let’s just find what works for you. If that is coming in maybe once a week to the Rec Center, or maybe twice, for 20 or 30 minutes, then let’s start there. We can build from there.” She also recommends joining intramural sports or the Adventure Club as a way for students to get involved physically and socially at California Baptist University. Regarding healthy eating, one of the largest problems students have with eating the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is confusion as to what a serving of fruits and vegetables consists of. Online health resource MedlinePlus defines a serving of fruit and vegetables as equivalent to what will fit in the palm of your hand. Alyssa Hernandez, junior

Viviana Delgado, aviation flight and film production double major, ends the day with an apple and a healthy salad.

nutrition major, emphasized the significance of healthy eating and the cost of being oblivious to what one eats. “You only get one body and you need to take care of it,” Hernandez said. “Your body is an investment for your future health. Heart disease is the country’s No. 1 killer; why would we risk adding to that?” Hernandez said eating healthy is crucial, practical and manageable for students, especially when CBU has many healthy dining options.

“It’s simple to fulfill the needed servings because every dining area always offers fruits and a selection of vegetables to include with meals,” Hernandez said. “Many places like Wanda’s or El Monte allow you to have fun with vegetables by letting you control what you put on your plate.” However, Ambar Arellanez, junior nutrition major, said she realizes that adjusting one’s diet can be difficult at first. “I would suggest at least incorporating fruit and veggies in

one meal once a day,” Arellanez said. “Getting a green smoothie at Shake Smart is a great alternative.” Both Hernandez and Arellanez recommend implementing small dietary changes to make a larger impact on one’s personal health. Hernandez’s tips include being careful with late-night eating, choosing water over soft drinks and exercising daily. Arellanez also listed a few substitutions for unhealthy foods that she personally imple-

David Philip de Jesus | Banner ments into her own habits. “Instead of eating chips you could eat bell peppers with hummus,” Arellanez said. “Other examples include eating fruit instead of candy, cheese and crackers instead of frozen snacks and whole grain bread with avocado instead of pastries.” CBU provides students with many opportunities to exercise and eat healthy. However, it is up to students to us the services offered to impliment a healthier life.

VISION

October 1, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 2

e d i s r e v i R n i o d o t s g Thin s n o i t c Attra

k r a P e l t s a C 1. s n e d r a G l a c i n a t o B R C 2. U s n I e v i r D n e r 3. Van Bu s e v o r G e g n a 4. Or

s e r o t Thrift S 1. Savers y m r A n o i t a 2. Salv t u o n r u B . 3 a i r e l l a G n o i 4. Miss l l i w d o o G . 5

Hikes

x u o d i b u R . t 1. M l i a r T k r a P n o y n a C e r o m 2. Syca l i a r T s e e r T 3. Two l i a r T s n e d r a G l a i n a t o B 4. UCR

VISION

October 1, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 2

Art and Culture

1. Riverside Art Museum 2. Riverside Metropolitan Museum 3. Riverside Library 4. March Field Air Museum

Hey friends! Hope you are loving your time at CBU. I put together a list of my favorite things to do in Riverside. Enjoy your “home away from home.” love, Sofia

Unique Resturants

1. Tio's Tacos 2. Riverside Food Lab 3. Mission Inn 4. Monty's Good Burger 5. Juju Bar

Coffee Shops

1. Daily Brew 2. Twee Coffee 3. Condron Coffee 4. Crave Coffee 5. Lift Coffee Roasters 6. Molinos Coffee

design by Sofia Eneqvist

PERSPECTIVES October 1, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 2

TWIRP events brings students together

33 3

1. Juniper Park’s cover of “Love Story” by Taylor administration major, his raffle stub after being 5. At the the Barn Dance TWIRP event, couples Swift has the crowd going wild. picked to receive a pair of AMC movie tickets . swung their partners around during a square dance. 2. Community Life serves a wide varitey of snacks 4. Mandy Evans, sophomore liberal arts major, including popcorn and pretzels for students to and her TWIRP date, Paul Rasoumoff, sophomore enjoy during movie night. chemical engineering major, waltz at the Barn Dance together. 3. Mida Villavanzo, Community Life secretary, hands Joel Williams, junior business Photos by Kia Harlan, David Philip De Jesus, Claire Grimes

SPORTS

October 1, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 2

Golf teams tee up for first fall competitions Both women’s and men’s teams start season strong BY AIDEN HOBSON SPORTS EDITOR

The men’s and women’s golf teams at California Baptist University have returned to fall competition for the first time since fall 2019. The men’s team tied for tenth place in its first tournament of the season, while the women’s team finished second. “My expectations for the first tournament were to represent the team and CBU to the best of our ability,” said Marc Machado, head coach of the CBU women’s golf team. “We go into every tournament with the goal of doing all of the small details to the best of our ability. If we do the common things uncommonly then we will have a chance to win the tournament.” The women’s team runners-up in a field of sixteen schools, an impressive start to the fall season after facing a year of COVID-19 restrictions and canceled competitions. “(COVID) is not going anywhere,” said T.L. Brown, head coach of the CBU men’s golf team. “When you travel it definitely is a strange thing to be warned and asked to wear a mask. (COVID) has definitely affected travel.” Despite the difficulties and disruptions that are associated with traveling during COVID, the CBU golf athletes are working hard to perform well. “The main goal for me going into the tournament was to put myself in a comfortable spot on the leaderboard going into the

final day,” said James Mackie, junior marketing major and member of the CBU men’s golf team. “I thought I did very well. I had two rounds under par, and I kept putting the pedal down the whole tournament and at the end of the day, I was really happy to see where I was on the leaderboard.” Both Lancer golf teams have worked through COVID disturbances and are continuing to excel into the fall season. “We are all looking forward to pushing each other during practice and competing the rest of this fall and the spring season,” Machado said. “We don’t take the ability to compete for granted and we want to represent CBU and the Lord in all that we do.” The women’s golf team finished competition at the Bearkat Invitational hosted by Western Athletic Conference foe Sam Houston State University on Tuesday. The men’s golf team also finished competition on Tuesday at the Nick Watney Invitational hosted by Fresno State University. The men finished seventh out of fourteen teams at the Nick Watney Invitational, which was won by California State University, Fullerton. John Hayes, senior business administration major, finished as the low-man for the Lancers. The women finished runner-up at the Bearkat Invitational in Huntsville, Texas. Jocelyn Chee, graduate student, was the top finisher for the Lady Lancers for their second away competition of the season. The CBU golf teams’ seasons have begun well. The women will compete in Washington state at Seattle University on October 11th. The men’s team will also head north to face Oregon State on October 12th.

WAC headlines

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The Western Athletic Conference recently announced their TicketSmarter WAC Men’s Soccer Players of the Week. California Baptist University’s Bryan Iliohan and Grand Canyon’s Rafael Guerrero each garnered an offensive player of the week and defensive player of the week honor, respectively. CBU won its first conference competition against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on Sept. 25. Guerrero made eight saves as the goalkeeper for GCU against Seattle University on Sept. 25.

FOOTBALL RESURRECTION Western Athletic Conference football has returned for the first time since 2012. The WAC is competing at the Football Championship Subdivision level, with defending FCS national champions Sam Houston State University headlining the new WAC football lineup. Sam Houston will be joined by Abilene Christian University, Dixie State University, Lamar University, Stephen F. Austin University, and Tarleton University. Sam Houston has remained at the top of the major FCS polls this week.

CROSS-COUNTRY RANKED Several Western Athletic Conference cross-country have been ranked in a top regional poll. Four men’s teams and three women’s teams have been listed in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) regional cross-country poll. The WAC cross-country championships will soon be hosted at the UC Riverside Agricultural Operations for 2021. The Lancers will be racing to defend their team and individual conference titles.

Esther Lee, freshman biology major, competes during a tournament on Feb. 2, 2021.

Courtesy of Athletics

ESPN Continued from Page 1 ularize all WAC schools, including CBU. Bringing national attention to the newly expanded WAC will help elevate CBU and all WAC-member schools on the national level. It can also bring attention to new WAC sports, such as football (which CBU does not sponsor). “The WAC and ESPN have a long history together, and it’s exciting to continue that relationship into the future,” said Jeff Hurd, WAC commissioner, in CBU athletics’ press release. “ESPN remains the gold standard when it comes to sports, and this multi-year agreement will continue to assist in the WAC’s growth nationally.” Lancer fans can tune in to ESPN to see their favorite CBU sports teams compete for the glory of God and for the betterment of CBU athletics soon. Details on specific athletic events will be released by CBU athletics when appropriate. Lancer fans can look forward to seeing CBU athletics events on ESPN.

The WAC and ESPN have a long history together, and it’s exciting to continue that relationship into the future. ESPN remains the gold standard when it comes to sports

“

Jeff Hurd WAC Commissioner

Elijah Hickman | Banner

Cassidy Dennison, senior business administration major, and Logan Manley, sophomore health science major, celebrate the game-winning spike against the University of California, Riverside.

BUSINESS & TECH

October 1, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 2

Privacy concerns increasing rapidly Sharing of personal data becomes cause for concern BY ALEXZA BAHNMILLER ASST. B&T EDITOR

Whether people are using social media, a website for school or work, email or Google search, internet privacy is a major concern. Vox, a news website, posted an article that told its audience what they know about privacy in an effort to spread awareness to the public about how much access people give to others when they use any form of social media. In this article, Vox told its audience that just by clicking on the link that led them to their article, they already know what type of device is being used, what browser is being used, the activity on the site and on the browser and the location based on the device’s IP address. This is just from clicking a link. A website takes it one step further when it asks to accept cookies. Asking for permission to use cookies on a device is a way for websites to forgo a data privacy protection law known as the General Data Protection Regulation, which was enacted in May 2018. By allowing cookies, users are allowing information such as their name, user ID, browsing history, personal preferences,

settings, log-in information, online identifications, personal data such as phone number and address and shopping cart to be seen. Essentially, everything that the user has done on the internet on that device is now available to that website. Aubrey Scott, software engineer at HAPO Credit Union, said she thinks privacy is increasingly more difficult to maintain as technology advances. “Technology is constantly advancing,” Scott said. “Something technology can’t do today could be accomplished by tomorrow. There are always new routes that website hosts can take to find out the information needed. The best bet is to play it safe. Assume everything you have ever and will ever put online will always remain there because truth be told, that information can be accessible in some way forever once it’s sent, published or posted.” According to the Pew Research Center, most Americans value their privacy, even as online presence continues to grow in popularity. Survey results show 90% of participants think the information that is collected about them is important and should not be easily accessible. Alina Filkowski, junior psychology major, said she is unsure about putting her information online. “It’s scary to think that people can find information about you that you don’t know they have,” Filkowski said. “Espe-

A CBU student reviews privacy guidelines on Zara’s website before shopping. cially since nowadays everything is linked to something else, making it easier to get hacked. My Facebook is linked to my Venmo, so if my Facebook was hacked, essentially my

credit card information could get stolen from my Venmo, too.” Lindsey Monroe, sophomore nursing student, points out a few ways to lessen the possibility of getting information

Photo Illustration by Elijah Hickman | Banner stolen. “Don’t accept cookies or click on pop-ups on computers,” Monroe said. “Don’t store your usernames and passwords in your laptop’s storage either,

(because) if someone stole it, they could find all of that. Also, if a website seems illegitimate, don’t click it or scroll through it. It could give your device a virus.”

Californians decide to move out of state, population declining BY ALEXZA BAHNMILLER ASST. B&T EDITOR

People move every day. They may move down the street, to a different state or even to a completely new country. California has always been a popular state. In fact, it is currently the most populated state in the United States, with 39.37 million residents as of 2020, according to Statista. However, that number has been declining. Between 2010 and 2020, 6.1 million residents left California and only 4.9 million arrived, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco lost

a combined 88,000 people in 2020. According to the Department of Finance, California’s population growth rate for the year 2020 was the lowest the state has experienced since 1900. California even lost a congressional seat this year due to the declining population. Why are so many California residents leaving? A recent University of California, Berkeley poll showed that the No. 1 reason for leaving or wanting to leave the state is the high cost of housing. However, the reasons can vary from housing costs to job opportuni-

ties, to family and connections. Abigail Kearny, freshman biochemical major, said she is debating leaving California after she graduates. “My grandfather lives in North Carolina, so as soon as I get the chance I want to move closer to him,” Kearny said. “He refuses to leave the East Coast because that’s his home, so I would have to go to him.” Ash Leatherwood, freshman philosophy and psychology double major, said he is planning to move back to his home country of Spain because he misses the culture of his people

and his family. “I am planning to move back to Spain after graduating,” Leatherwood said. “I miss the culture, which is much stronger, and I want to continue my dad’s ministry over there.” Some residents are also leaving California for work-related reasons, such as finding a better place to run a business. Rachel Weber, owner of Columbia Shores Regenerative Health, moved her business from Riverside, Calif. to Richland, Wash. “It’s much more affordable and safer to run a practice

in Washington,” Weber said. “There is less crime, taxes, homelessness and wildfires. These are certain factors that I don’t have to worry about (in Washington as much) as I did in California. There are certain things I do miss about California, though, such as the weather. However, as a business owner, it just makes more sense financially.” According to a TravelMedium survey, Washington is the third most popular place for Californians to move to, with more than 55,000 residents moving there in 2018 alone. The other two most popular desti-

nations are Texas, with more than 500,000 California residents moving there in 2019, and Arizona, with approximately 70,000 residents moving there in 2018. California is a beautiful state and has much to offer its residents. While the population may be declining, it is still the most populated state in the country. If it continues this downward trend, this might change, with Texas, currently the second most populated state, taking its place as No. 1, or Washington taking more of California’s former residents.

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make a meeting (in-person),” Attalla said. “Zoom can be for anything. It doesn’t have to be for school. It could be for meetings, for work purposes or for any big thing.” While Attalla has hope for Zoom, others think things will return to what they were before the pandemic. Jada Smith, sophomore pre-nursing student, said she has doubts about Zoom rising in popularity again and that she thinks her education will be better for returning to in-person classes. “I feel like the popularity isn’t going to come back as hard as it did during the pandemic,” Smith said. “Obviously, it’s nice to stay home but I feel like I lacked engagement. I feel like a lot of my friends did too. (We missed) the interaction with others. My whole first year of college was online and I barely met anyone. (But now) I’ve already met so many people. It’s so crazy because last semester, at this time, I didn’t know anyone. And now I know some people that I can go hang out with and study with.”

Many students were excited to be back in person at California Baptist University after attending school virtually last year.

Photo Illustration by Elijah Hickman | Banner

BUSINESS & TECH

October 1, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 2

The solution to wildfires can help us and the environment BY ALEXZA BAHNMILLER

Elizabeth Roe, freshman political science major, said the The Dixie Fire is the sec- fires have had an impact on her ond-largest fire in California’s life as a Californian. “I’ve lived in California my history. According to CAL Fire, the department of forestry and whole life, and you can tell the effects of these fire protection of fires,” Roe California, Califorsaid. “As the nia averages 7,575 fires get worse, fires a year, coverthe air qualiing approximately ty gets worse, 2,333,909 acres. too. It smells The Dixie Fire like smoke burned for more and it’s hardthan two months and er to breathe. stopped shy of one Especially million acres, endsince in Califoring on Sept. 26. The Elizabeth Roe nia, it gets hot, fire destroyed more than 130 commercial Freshman political so the smoke buildings and more science major combined with the temperathan 420 “minor ture just makes it hard to want structures,” such as homes. The Dixie Fire seems to have to be outside sometimes.” James DeRoos, former firebeen ignited by power lines. Power lines that are damaged fighter at the Arlington Fire may have their wires come in Department, stated some of the contact with trees, resulting impacts of the wildfires. “Fires have effects not only in sparks and potentially fire. Power lines are the third most on the environment but also on common cause for California human health as well,” DeRoos wildfires, with equipment use said. “Health impacts could be being the second and the first as small as just eye or lung irritation, to very serious things being the burning of debris. This number of fires burn- such as bronchitis or asthma. ing in California impacts its Environmental impacts can include destroying homes, wildresidents. Sarah Mandzok, freshman life habitats (and) timber, and nursing student, agrees that polluting the air.” To attempt to find solutions California’s fires have an imfor California’s wildfire probpact. “Fires especially harm our lem and its effects, Gov. Gavin farms,” Mandzok said. “Farm- Newsom signed a $15 billion ers’ supplies get destructed, and investment package deal on the livestock’s health declines. Sept. 23. This investment Any vegetation is destructed, is going to companies that combat the drought and too.”

ASST. B&T EDITOR

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As the fires get worse, the air quality gets worse too. It smells like smoke and it’s harder to breathe.

climate change effects, as well as to a company that directly tries to prevent wildfires before they happen: Technosylva INC. Technosylva is a company that invented a technology to help aid firefighters. This newest innovation is geological information system-enabled software that helps to predict a fire based on vegetation, current and predicted weather and topography. It can also help predict the path of the fire. Different analytical outputs are being used, such as GIS maps, charts and reports. The software allows for real-time analysis of wildfire behavior and simulation, all of which can be completed within seconds. This Wildfire Analyst was specifically designed to be able to give fire chiefs and incident commanders the critical intelligence needed to support suppression and resource allocation. Technosylva’s newest innovation not only will help with containing fires before they spread or even preventing them completely, but it will also help increase the safety of the firefighters and the public. Hopefully, by investing in companies trying to combat the effects of wildfires — especially those working to innovate and improve existing technology — California will become less of a wildfire “hot spot” and we can begin restoring it to its natural beauty.

Business career and internship fair marks return of live fairs

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Last semester most activities, including classes and clubs, occurred online. While having virtual versions of these activities was better than canceling them entirely, students and faculty alike are excited to return to on-campus classes and events. One of these on-campus events, the Business Career and Internship Fair, happened on Sept. 22, which marked the first career fair California Baptist University has hosted since the school returned to in-person classes and activities. It was hosted in the Innovators Auditorium in the Robert K. Jabs School of Business Building. Lisa Singer, director of the Career Center, said there were 40 companies that came to talk to CBU students at the fair. To keep the event socially distanced to minimize contact and the potential spread of COVID-19, the school had to reduce the number of companies that could attend, but it still had plenty of choices. Many companies were eager to meet potential employees and interns from CBU. The career fairs are for everyone from various majors. They offer a wide range of companies for many fields, including Aflac, the FBI, the Army, Target, Pepsi and 13 different accounting firms. These employers offered jobs pertaining to marketing and public relations, accounting, engineering, finance, information technology, political science and many that are open to all majors. While most companies were looking for students with some experience, Singer said she thinks it is important to start making those connections early. “Start building the relation-

“

Now more than ever (employers) want to build the relationships. They want to start meeting our students as freshmen and sophomores, even when they’re not looking, and cultivate a relationship. Lisa Singer Director of the Career Center

ship with employers,” Singer said. “Now more than ever, (employers) want to build the relationships. They want to start meeting our students as freshmen and sophomores, even when they’re not looking, and cultivate a relationship.” Isaac Flores, freshman business administration major, said he did just that. “I’ve noticed that a lot of people here are more looking for seniors and juniors for their internships, but as for me I’m just always looking to get my foot in the door,” Flores said. “It doesn’t hurt to stop by and say hi.” Flores said he thinks it is important to establish that early on, so they will know him in the future when he has more experience. Omar Esmieu, recruiting manager for the Army office in Fontana and CBU alumnus, said he thinks the transition back to in-person fairs has been interesting and that attending in person makes interactions with students easier. “This is my first time going

back in person since COVID, so we are trying to figure everything out, but (that day was) pretty successful,” Esmieu said. “A lot of people showed up and actually talked to us, so it was better than the virtual one we had as far as attendance and (talking) a little bit about what you are offering.” Grace Kenyon, lead senior associate at Luttrell Weigs LLP, said she agrees that in-person meetings are easier and give employers a better chance at getting a proper impression of potential employees. “It’s a lot more successful in person,” Kenyon said. “It’s a lot easier on the kids — the students are more involved in it. It’s great because people get the opportunity to actually go up to employers and shake their hands and ask them questions. It’s a lot easier to build connections when you are going up to someone, handing them your resume, and making that in-person connection.” Despite preferring in-person meetings and being grateful we are getting to a place where it is safer to do it, companies are still doing many meetings virtually. “We do a lot, especially interview-wise, through the phone and through Zoom,” Kenyon said. “We are (still) transitioning back from remote to in-person.” This career fair was a success, as the first of the Career Center’s fairs to return in person since the start of the pandemic. Singer said that 206 students attended the career fair. If students missed this event or are looking to connect with more businesses, the career center will be holding other fairs during the semester, with the next one being the engineering fair on Oct. 6, followed by the seminary fair on Oct. 20 and the Fall Career Expo on Nov. 3.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT October 1, 2021· Volume 69 · Issue 2

Photo Illustration by Charissa Graves | Banner

Community Life is excited to welcome back students to Open Mic Night, which will take place in Lancer Plaza on Oct. 14.

CBU plans in-person Open Mic Night BY EMILY MCGINN MANAGING EDITOR

Community Life plans to host Open Mic Night for this semester on Oct. 14. It is the first time Open Mic Night will take place in person since spring 2020. “Open Mic Night is a chance for California Baptist University student talent to be on display,” said Kristin Holderman, director of Community Life. “We provide the venue, and students sign up to perform, sing or read a spoken word piece. It

is up to them how the entertainment for the night is, and it is always good.” Open Mic Night takes place in Lancer Plaza. The event will take place outdoors, so it will comply with COVID-19 guidelines. As a result, the event will be similar to Open Mic Nights that occurred prior to the pandemic. “We are so excited to be returning to in-person events,” Holderman said. “Open Mic Night is always a highlight of the semester, so we are anticipating a positive response from the

students as well.” Samantha Rojo, freshman psychology major, said she is excited that events such as Open Mic Night are now available on campus. “I will absolutely be attending,” Rojo said. “I want to see all the talented people and show my support. I think events like these are important. They help you reach out to the CBU community. They also help us make connections that will last for a lifetime.” Christina Arispe, junior commercial performance ma-

jor, said she is also excited to attend and support students’ artistic expression. “It not only gives students an opportunity to express themselves, but it also lets other students hear how they are feeling and provides a safe space to listen and learn in an artistic or non-artistic way,” Arispe said. Holderman said she believes Open Mic Night will help students become closer to fellow students and the school. “(I hope students will gain) a greater connection to their peers and appreciation for the

Regal Cinemas build limited 4DX theaters BY EMILY MCGINN MANAGING EDITOR

4DX technology has begun to appear in more theaters across the country. Developed by CJ 4DPLEX, 4DX is meant to immerse the audience in a film through appealing to multiple senses. It includes motion seats, environmental elements such as scent and other special effects. Regal Cinemas leads the implementation of this technology in U.S. theaters. 4DX first made an appearance in South Korea in 2009. However, as of 2020, only 32 theaters throughout the U.S. have 4DX capabilities. Dr. Melissa Croteau, professor of film studies, said that, although theaters are beginning to install the technology, she has yet to see people begin to favor 4DX as a film viewing option. “I have not seen that they have been super popular, although they were fairly recent when we went into the lockdown,” Croteau said. “I have not heard anyone walk around saying, ‘I cannot wait until those 4D seats are in there.’” Croteau said that, in addition to concerns viewers might have about feeling physical effects for the entire length of a film, one of the chief reasons she believes 4DX might not become as popular as some might have thought is that the motion chairs and special effects could distract the audience. “I think that it can be more distracting from your involvement in the story,” Croteau said. “We go to movies for lots of different reasons, and it is not all based on the story, but the story is extremely import-

ant. It is the thread that holds the film together. Watching film is always an embodied experience. You are always in your body, and there is a sort of identification with people on screen. When your own flesh actually feels something, a rumble, a jerk you could be pulled out of the story world rather quickly.” Croteau also said that if theaters continue to install 4DX technology, they will most likely have to continue offering options such as 2D and 3D experiences to appeal to all viewers. “Not everyone likes the sensation of 3D technology,” Croteau said. “There are illnesses, specifically illnesses of balance like vertigo, that do not respond well to 3D. Now, looking at 4D, you are looking at the same situation. If studios spend the time and money to program and communicate these films to theaters in order for them to have these experiences, is it going to be worth the money when you have two rows of these 4D seats in the back of some of your theaters?” Esther Logan, freshman worship arts and ministry major, has seen movies in 4DX. While she enjoyed the experience, she acknowledges downsides and questions how long popularity of 4DX would last. “It felt like being on an amusement park ride,” Logan said. “It also made you feel like you were a part of the action and inside the movie, which was also super exciting. I think bringing those aspects into film would both draw people in and entertain them immensely, as well as somewhat isolate the group of people whose sen-

sors are easily overloaded. It would give and take to both crowds.” 4DX requires additions to the film production process because the experience must be programmed and communicated to theaters. In addition, it costs about $1 million to install a 200-seat 4DX movie theater. Croteau said there would potentially be insurance and health costs and concerns involved, as well. As a result, 4DX will require a sizable investment from theaters and studios. “I think it would attract more people to go back to watching movies in theaters, but also would be more expensive,” said Ana Guinto, sophomore studio production major. “I think it has potential to be popular, but it’s going to take some time.” Audiences will have to embrace 4DX viewing methods to make it economically worthwhile for theaters and studios. “At this point, do I think it will make a huge impact in changing the film industry?” Croteau said. “No, I don’t. I don’t think there are enough people who want it, but it is an idea that has promise.” Although Croteau expressed concerns about economic viability, more films are coming out with 4DX versions, including Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” Films coming out soon in 4DX include “No Time to Die” and “Dune.” Theaters that offer 4DX in southern California include Regal LA Live, Cinépolis Pico Rivera and Regal Irvine.

gifts and talents they possess and a sense of belonging to the student body and the university, as well as an appreciation for campus traditions,” Holderman said. If students would like to participate in Open Mic Night and showcase their talent, they can sign up in the Community Life Lounge during the week leading up to the event. Community Life will also offer refreshments to attendees and decorate for the event. Students interested in updates on events can follow @cbu_commlife on Instagram.

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It not only gives students an opportunity to express themselves, but it also lets other students hear how they are feeling and provides a safe space to listen and learn in an artistic or non-artistic way. Christina Arispe, Junior commercial performance major

Emily McGinn | Banner

TONY AWARDS 2021 BEST P

BEST PLAY

BEST MUSICAL PLAY

“The Inheritance” - Matthew Lopez

“The “Moulin Inheritance” Rouge! - Matthew The Musical” Lopez

“Grand Horizons” - Bess Wohl “Sea Wall/A Life” - Simon Stephens and Nick Payne “Slave Play” - Jeremy O. Harris “The Sound Inside” - Adam Rapp BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Andrew Burnap “The Inheritance”

“Grand Horizons” - Bess Wohl “Jagged Little Pill” “Sea Wall/A Life” - Simon “Tina: Theand Tina Turner Stephens Nick PayneMusical” BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Mary-Louise Parker “The Sound Inside”

Joaquina Kalukango - “Slave Play” Laura Linney - “My Name is Lucy Barton” Audra McDonald - “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune”

Ian Barford - “Linda Vista” Jake Gyllenhaal - “Sea Wall/A Life” Tom Hiddleston - “Betrayal” Tom Sturridge - “Sea Wall/A Life” BEST PERFORMANCE BY A Blair Underwood - “A Soldier’s LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL Play” BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Aaron Tveit “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”

Adrienne Warren “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical”

Karen Olivo - “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” Elizabeth Stanley - “Jagged Little Pill”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

October 1, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 2

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opens BY SOFIA ENEQVIST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, located in the Saban Building in Los Angeles, opened its doors on Sept. 30. The museum is devoted to exploring the art and science of movies and moviemaking. “The 300,000-square foot museum will feature more than 50,000 square feet of gallery space for both a highly immersive permanent exhibition and a schedule of diverse temporary exhibitions, two film and performance theaters, a state-of-the-art education studio and dynamic spaces for public and special events,” said an Academy Museum of Motion Pictures press release. The museum leadership features prominent movie industry leaders such as Bob Iger, chair, as well as co-chairs Annette Bening and Tom Hanks, who represent the Academy Museum Campaign Committee. “It’s important to have spaces that commemorate art and film,” said Sara George, senior fine arts and art therapy double major. “We consume media and film through a screen, and often that means we miss out on the value of context and history. The Academy Museum is a space dedicated to preserving that history and telling those stories.” Marlena Muro, senior film production major, said the museum is an opportunity for people to see aspects of award-winning films and filmmakers that they never knew about. “Art is culture and you can learn so much about people

Photo by Ivania Montes | Banner

Many stars, including co-chair Tom Hanks, came out to tour the The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which opened on Sept. 30. and even about yourself when you are immersed in museums like the Academy Award Museum or the Van Gogh Exhibit,” Muro said. “People love being entertained and movies are one of the top ways that they are entertained. This may give them a better appreciation for them and their creators.” In collaboration with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy Museum is committed to telling stories of moviemaking through a light that is celebratory and educational. “The collections include

more than 12.5 million photographs; 237,000 film and video assets; 85,000 screenplays; 65,000 posters; and 133,000 pieces of production art. Highlights feature more than 1,700 special collections of film legends such as Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Hattie McDaniel, Alfred Hitchcock and John Huston,” said an Academy Museum of Motion Pictures press release. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online at https://www.academymuseum.org/. Tickets are $25 for adults, $19 for seniors, $15 for

students and free for visitors 17 and younger. “I do plan on visiting the Academy Museum,” George said. “As an art student, I believe it’s important for us to be involved in and informed on the art scene and culture we live in, and visiting this museum is a great place to start. Whenever I need inspiration or feel like I’m in a creative rut, I try to visit creative spaces, and I hope the Academy Museum will become an inspirational space I can add to that list.” Muro said she is visiting the Academy Museum on Oct. 22

for a class field trip. “We will be there all afternoon on an audio tour,” Muro said. “I think it will be a unique opportunity for us since the museum will be open less than a month by the time we go. We also heard that we will be one of the first group tours. This will be the first of many semesters that the film program plans to takes its students on this unique field trip. I think it will be great, especially going with people who are into filmmaking as much as I am.” “I think this academy museum is going to be a valuable

addition to the LA museum scene,” George said. “LA has a lot of culture surrounding the ‘Hollywood’ and celebrity side of the film, so I’m excited to see a space that focuses on and celebrates the arts and artists in filmmaking.” The museum is located at 6067 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036 and will be an addition to Miracle Mile’s cultural hub, which includes the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Petersen Automotive Museum, La Brea Tar Pits & Museum and Craft Contemporary.

“Dear Evan Hansen”

By Emily McGinn | Managing Editor “Dear Evan Hansen” was released in theaters on Sept. 24. Thus far, it has received many critical reviews that take aim at the moral failings of the protagonist, the age difference between Ben Platt and his character and the portrayal of the award-winning Broadway musical on screen. I actually enjoyed the film, and here’s why. Yes, Ben Platt did look like a 27-year-old man playing a teenager because he is. However, if you can look past the obvious age difference between the actor and the character, the story will bring you on an emotional journey that you might not have expected. The film walks a fine line between causing the audience to feel frustration and empathy towards protagonist Evan Hansen, who struggles with anxiety and depression, as he falls deeper into an abyss of lies that allows him to become close with a family reeling from the loss of a son and brother to suicide. The point that many seem to miss is that the film does not endorse Evan’s actions and poor choices. Are his actions moral? No, of course not. But these major character flaws and mistakes provide complexity to the emotional insinuations of the plot. The film makes viewers feel uncomfortably torn between liking and hating the protagonist. While it may be easier for morality and emotion to be black and white, it is unrealistic to not experience mixed feelings toward a flawed character. The best part of this film was that there was no traditional hero or villain.

Instead, the film featured a collection of flawed, broken characters who make choices and have to face the consequences, as Evan does at the conclusion of the film. Secondly, the film displayed some harsh, uncomfortable realities about the ways in which people react to death. For example, Zoe struggled to grieve her brother’s death. Her mother was in denial. Her stepfather was stuck for a long time in a phase of anger, and then he eventually broke into a phase of sadness. These different reactions showcase that grief works in different ways for different people and, whether we like it or not, it does not always occur in the way that we think it should. In addition, whether or not you enjoy the film, it undeniably raises awareness about serious topics such as adolescent suicide and mental health issues. It specifically brings the idea of anonymous mental health struggles to light and the presence of these issues in the lives of many people who might not reach out for help. The film serves as an important reminder to check on those around you and to seek help from others if you need it. Was it my favorite film ever? No. But it did provide me with an emotional rollercoaster, push me to address thought-provoking questions about grief and mental health as I reflected on the film and, yes, I was in tears by the end. Any film that can elicit that level of emotion and thought cannot be a complete failure.

By Josiah Murphy | Asst. A&E Editor Dear Evan Hansen, go to jail. Stephen Chbosky’s “Dear Evan Hansen” is the film equivalent of picking at a fingernail and ripping off too much, and wishing that, if only those precious seconds could be taken back, everything would be OK. But they are gone now, and so is the fingernail. Still, that may be a more enjoyable experience than watching all 137 minutes of “Dear Evan Hansen.” The biggest problem with “Dear Evan Hansen” is that every moment on a molecular level is poised and primed to be the wrong note. All of the worst, most problematic story beats happen. It fades to black as though it has earned it, and wouldn’t you know it? This is the year 2021’s “Joker.” The villain gets away with everything and is portrayed as a misunderstood hero for the sake of mental health, but it goes about it all wrong. The Roger Ebert saying goes, “It’s not what a movie’s about, it’s how it’s about it.” By that meaning alone the moral of the story is to exploit suicidal teens to better your social standing, and to exploit this so that said suicidal teen’s sister is vulnerable and willing to date you. “Dear Evan Hansen” is played completely straight: He is viewed as the moralistic hero by the film’s fade to black… somehow. By the time this fade to black is reached, the film wants audiences to feel as though a triumphant self-discovery has been made. The only discovery audiences will have made is that they wasted money on purchasing a ticket to “Dear Evan Hansen.”

The only thing that “Dear Evan Hansen” will inspire audiences to do is laugh at how earnestly insincere the movie is and how each moment is tailor-made to be about something important while not actually saying much of anything. Music crescendos to inspire, ultimately whiffing out into scenes of more nothingness. A family recounts a fictitious moment that never happened, and it is meant to be uplifting, yet it comes off as pandering, sad and hilariously pathetic with how hard the movie is trying. Chbosky, whose own “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is one of the best teen movies this side of “Clueless,” is inept at the prospect of directing a musical. It is one of the most boring musical-movies put to the big screen. Looks are deceiving as Evan Hansen sings opener “Waving Through a Window” alone, with twirling camera movements and one crane shot to swoop in on the gymnasium. That’s it. The rest of the numbers are relegated to characters sitting in chairs and staring at each other, making weird facial movements to get the notes out. This works on the stage, but in a movie? No. Abysmally offensive on virtually every level, “Dear Evan Hansen” takes important real life issues and destroys them with its own messaging, creating a conflicting, confusing and morally reprehensible movie that, like its protagonist, has no identity and is a sociopathic exercise in exploitation. To quote the lyrics of one of the songs: “Step out, step out” — of the theater. Rating: 1 out of 5 stars.

SPORTS Cross-country travels across the country 12

October 1, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 2

Cross-country teams prepare to travel to invitationals BY AIDEN HOBSON SPORTS EDITOR

The California Baptist University cross-country teams are continuing their fall campaign by traveling to South Bend, Indiana for an elite invitational competition on Oct 1. The Joe Piane Invitational, hosted by the University of Notre Dame, brings some of the best runners together from across the country to compete. “We wanted to get, in our last year of transition, a really good simulation of the points-chasing qualifying run like it is on a yearly basis for NCAA cross country nationals,” said Adam Tribble, head coach of the CBU cross country teams. “This year we’re actually going to two of the big meets in the build-up for the conference meet, so obviously we want to go in, compete hard, do the best we can. We want to get a taste of what’s to come in the future.” The Lancer runners have dominated conference competition for the last three years. The women’s team is undefeated in Western Athletic Conference championships since its entry into the conference, and the men are entering this season as the defending team champions. As they look to continue their winning trajectory, the CBU cross-country teams are traveling to bigger meets to run

Elijah Hickman | Banner

The California Baptist University men’s cross country team dominates at the 2021 Ben Brown Invitational earlier this year. against more elite competitors. However, traveling across the country has its challenges. “The traveling can actually be the difficult part,” Tribble said. “When you’re moving across three different time zones, traveling can be difficult.” Traveling can cause fatigue

and other problems for athletes. “Traveling, especially to far destinations, makes you tired so you might need some extra resting time,” said Greta Karinauskaite, sophomore member of the CBU women’s cross country team. Despite the challenges as-

sociated with traveling, the Lancer runners focus on the positives of traveling to large competitions. “Traveling with the CBU team is a great opportunity to get closer to my teammates by living together for a few days,” said Florian Le Pallec, senior business major and member of

the men’s cross country team. “We are lucky to travel in good facilities, which allows us to be in the best possible conditions for the race. Besides the race, we have time to go through the city quickly ” There are challenges associated with traveling for competition, but the CBU cross country

teams are ready to race hard at Notre Dame. “I am going to the Joe Piane Invite to compete against the biggest teams of the country. It will be an opportunity to challenge myself to beat the best.” The cross-country teams competed on the morning of Oct. 1, at the University of Notre

Intramurals help create campus community BY ROWEN ZAMORA ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

As the quarantine aspect of the pandemic has drawn to a close, it has left students and staff excited to get out and play intramural sports. As we move into the first week of intramurals, students are getting excited, having signed up for a diverse set of activities — including FIFA league, basketball, pickleball, spikeball, flag football, madden league, sand volleyball and volleyball. While registration for flag football, FIFA and basketball

are all either closed or closing by Oct. 4, pickleball is still open and accepting members, until Oct. 14. “I could not be more excited to have intramurals back again,” said Andrew Vander Weide, senior construction management major. “They bring a lot of energy to the campus and specifically to the Rec Center, which is what we need more than ever after a year and a half of inactivity and dispiritedness. Knowing that many people haven’t had adequate social interaction in a long time, I think intramurals are a great way to get back into the way life should be as social,

interactive people.” If you do not have the time in your schedule to commit to a planned intramural, the facilities are available outside of scheduled hours for anyone who would like to play or organize their own pickup games. Additionally, you can attend “Rec it Friday,” a one-day tournament occurring once a month on Friday. Of the plethora of sports offered for “Rec it Friday,” some highlights are beach volleyball, street hockey, and ultimate frisbee. Intramurals give people an experience that goes beyond skill; rather, intramurals are

a practical personification of community. It allows people to experience the joys of fellowship after the COVID-19 lockdown period. They also include online options like Super Smash tournaments. “It brings together people who have similar interests,” said Marnie Kavern, senior intramurals coordinator. “It gives students a break from schoolwork and studying to release some stress and have fun. While participating, our hope is that students meet Christians that show others what it looks like to follow Christ through their actions and relationships that

are built.” Kavern pointed out a strength of intramural sports and their casual ability to create relationships between people where Christ can be the focus. “I played sports all throughout high school and wasn’t really good enough to play at the Division I level but I [am] super excited to play intramurals,” said Dakota Whitmire, sophomore criminal justice and Christian studies double major. Whitmire said he loves the intramural sports community, noting its ability to form bonds between participants. “I have been ready to play in-

tramurals for a while now, just because I love sports and love making new friends,” Whitmire said. “My mindset going into playing is to have fun, to play my best at the sport I am playing and to glorify God on and off the court or field. At the end of the day, win or lose, it’s just a game and it doesn’t define who I am as a player or a person.” The CBU student community is getting excited for the return of intramural sports. Visit @cburecreation and https:// calbaptist.edu/campus-recreation/intramurals for information on schedules and registration.

LANCER of the issue

NAME:

Florian Le Pallec

MAJOR: Business NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS: • WAC All-Academic Team • Runner-up in the 1500 and 5k at the 2021 WAC Track and Field championships. • Medalist at European Championships

FAVORITE MOMENT: “My favorite moment was the track WAC conference. I finished runner-up in the 1500m and the 5k. We travelled to Texas for five days.”

YEAR:

SPORT:

Senior

Cross-country & track

MOST PROUD OF: “I am proud of being runner-up at the European championships. Representing my country was really emotional, and winning the medal was the best reward.” Elijah Hickman | Banner

FUTURE PLANS: “After my graduation from CBU, I would like to stay in the state for working or running. If my performances allow me to run as a professional, I would like to join a team.”

BEST CBU MEMORY: “My favorite moment at CBU was when we went to Big Bear in August for a training camp. It was also an opportunity to hang out with my teammates.”

HAIR ROUTINE:

“I have to say I use gel to fix my hair. I used to wear a cap for the warm-up, so my hairstyle is most of the time different.”

OPINION LANCER ON THE STREET

October 1, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 2

What was your favorite TWIRP event?

Kyle Foster Sophomore Mechanical engineering major

Madison Hill Sophomore Pre-nursing student

“My favorite TWIRP event was probably the barn dance. The mechanical bull was amazing.”

“Mine was probably the barn dance. It was really fun. Especially with the square danc-

Corina Womack Junior Health science and psychology double major

“We went to the Juniper concert, and that was pretty fun.”

Grace Helman Junior Nursing major

Brianna Stahl Junior Social work major

“I like the concert a lot. That “I’m going to the Angels game was really fun. They’re a good tonight with my boyfriend so that’s exciting.” band too.”

Political views should help us get to know others

BY EMILY MCGINN MANAGING EDITOR

Politics is deeply interwoven into our lives. In fact, political views are one of the ways in which we express our experiences and core values. As a

student pursuing a minor in political science, I follow politics closely and have developed my own set of strong beliefs when people mention a controversial political topic. I tend to hesitate and find a way to dodge any questions directed toward myself about what I think. Why do I struggle with sharing my political views? Apparently, I am not the only one who faces fear when confronted with political discussion. According to a 2020 survey conducted by the Cato Institute, 52% of liberals, 64% of moderates and 77% of conservatives feel they cannot openly share their political opinions. This study indicates that, in the current political cli-

“

We should not allow political differences to stand in the way of friendship and likewise, we should not allow fear to stand in the way of freely expressing our opinions. mate, most people likely experience fear about sharing their political ideas. This fear presumably stems from concern that people will view and treat us differently if they discover we hold a specific political view, particularly one

that does not align with theirs. Many of us wish that we could voice our political views without negatively affecting the way in which a friend or acquaintance views us. Unfortunately, an indifferent response such as this is nearly impossible. As with any information that we absorb about another person, political opinions inevitably and subconsciously alter the way in which we view another individual. However, we need to develop a mindset that allows us to view this change as a positive or, at the very least, useful, aspect of interaction. We rarely encounter someone with views identical to our own. Currently, the political

divide is growing, leading to increasing polarization and less acceptance of differing views among friends and family. We must remember that disagreement does not and should not equate to disrespect. We should not allow political differences to stand in the way of friendship and, likewise, we should not allow fear to stand in the way of freely expressing our opinions. We can still care about and learn from those who have different values than us. Although we try to separate political views from an individual, these beliefs often reflect much of what a person stands for, which is an important part of understanding each other. As listeners, we must learn to over-

come political differences and, instead of viewing them as rifts, we must realize that sharing political views provides us with an opportunity to learn about and better understand an individual regardless of their alignment with our own ideals. As individuals who have our own beliefs, we must learn to be confident and bold in sharing a dimension of who we are. We should not have to fear being honest with ourselves and those who are close to us. Perhaps if we strive to understand political discussion as a way to better understand other individuals, these discussions could pull us closer together regardless of how far apart we are on the political spectrum.

Paths can change in college Christians should support the religion in Kanye West’s album

BY LAUREN BROOKS NEWS EDITOR

From nearly the beginning of our lives, one constant question is asked of us: “What do you want to do with your life?” It starts as an icebreaker question in elementary school. Maybe your answer was to be president, a doctor or something more obscure like a world-famous deep sea animal vet. In the early days, we were encouraged to think big and taught that the future held infinite possibilities. As we grew older, we were told to think smaller and that our large dreams were simply

not realistic. Money became more of an object enforced on our futures. Reality broke through the fog of our naive delusion. By the time college rolls around, very few people have a genuine idea of what the future holds. Some may pretend they have a clear path ahead, but roadblocks happen. Life changes and we grow. The cycle of knowing what is happening next tightens, as the focus of getting internships, jobs and starting real life is constantly on students’ minds. Our capitalist society is so ingrained into our brains that choosing labor for money is always at the edge of our present attention. I am guilty of it too, sacrificing my mental health to pretend I knew what lied ahead. I subconsciously impersonated someone who was comfortable in the environment of being told to know the future, even if the path chosen is known to be a twisting and uncertain one. Especially as a journalism major, which tends to be lower-paying than many other

majors, we need to work twice as hard to secure a career with decent pay. More art-focused majors face this problem more than other major types, as many of us have chosen to follow our passions rather than money. Not to say that other majors aren’t also following passions, but the money isn’t quite there for more art-based majors, as wealth is almost never the main goal. The looming threat of capitalism, not making it in the world, and having art never be seen is existence. We as a collective student culture need to learn to embrace the unknown with more open, accepting arms. It is okay to explore our true passions later in life and to change on a whim. We’re not locked into one path of life. We need to focus more on the relationships around us, the people and emotions we miss by seeing life in tunnel vision and stop putting pressure on ourselves to know what is happening next. Who knows? Maybe the trail that one never sees coming could be the best one.

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APPLY TODAY! AWOLF@CALBAPTIST.EDU

BY JOSIAH MURPHY ASST. A&E EDITOR

“You my Chick-fil-A,” was a common meme of a lyric from Kanye West’s 2019 effort, “JESUS IS KING.” While simultaneously clever and eye-rolling in its approach to the subject, Kanye West’s “JESUS IS KING” (and the subsequent Sunday Service Choir that spun off of that) is an overall genuine statement of faith from a wild entertainer, making the proclamation in a way that suits his overall oeuvre. While the lyric lives on in infamy, the overall lyrical content of the album is a perfect example of the Philippians 1:1518 passage where Paul writes about the different reasons some of his constituents at the time preached out of “envy” or “rivalry” while others preached out of “good will.” Paul ultimately concludes that “the important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached” and that Christians should rejoice. From the all-caps title, “JESUS IS KING” is firmly rooted in West’s faith, and serves as an overt testimony and testament to what God has done in his life, from the opener, “Every Hour,” to closer, “Jesus Is Lord.” West’s career is big, and he makes sure that everyone listening knows that his faith is just as big and

loud. “JESUS IS KING” is a cohesive concept, conceptualizing newfound faith and proclaiming it with all of his artistic talent. Utilizing gospel giants like Kirk Franklin helps matters greatly, bringing in a titan from the Christian and gospel music scene to heighten the production in terms of value and content. “Donda,” the long-awaited latest effort from West, released on Aug. 29, suffers from an identity crisis and the album is stubbornly pretentious and overstuffed. The imagery is overtly rooted in the Christian faith and modern pop-culture osmosis. “Jesus Lord,” the 17th track, references both “thirty pieces of silver” and “Wakanda,” the latter being a reference to his presidential bid. Is “Donda” about his recent, impending divorce? Is it about his mother? Or is it about his bid for president and then vice president? Or it is it a spiritual and literal sequel to the themes expressed, now expanded upon, in “JESUS IS KING?” It contains multitudes of messages, and while that overall message is muddled, there are still moments where his profession of his faith is very clearly stated. Whatever the motives for West’s latest faith-centered output, Christians should view it as a wonderful expression of testimony, as Paul wrote. Christians should take the conversations that West is starting with these faith-integrated tracks and take it in stride to stir a proverbial or literal revival. West is an artist with enough clout to cause a massive hype for every release with simultaneous controversy. It is a modern work that sheds light on topics that many Christians may have a difficult time addressing on their own. As a result, it guides conversation toward biblical truth, and now

“

As is common with mainstream artists, Christians tend to spark inner debates about whether or not their faith is legitimate. Instead of pondering if West’s personal faith is legitimate, listeners should embrace the bold proclamation of faith as something to embolden themselves and strive to have conversations as big and boisterous as West’s tracks. that these ideas are out there, Christians should expand upon what West is singing about and use it as a tool to create and curate bigger conversations about faith. Christians tend to spark inner debates about whether or not their faith is legitimate. Instead of pondering if West’s personal faith is legitimate, listeners should embrace the bold proclamation of faith as something to embolden themselves and strive to have conversations as big and boisterous as West’s tracks. So whether by “selfish ambition,” “envy” or “rivalry,” fans, listeners and Christians should not consider West as someone to decipher and dissect, but should take his artistry, warts and all, as a perfect opportunity to show that God works in mysterious ways, which sometimes means big, loud stadium-ready ways.

ETC.

October 1, 2021 · Volume 69 · Issue 2

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@zc.design20

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Congratulations! This week’s LancerCam winner is @valramirezphoto

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

FALL CROSSWORD CLUES

Across 5

1. Where to go for fall fun, carnivals and rides 4. Fall labyrinth 6. _____ weather 7. They fall in fall 8. The sport your dad watches on Sundays Down

2. Sugar-and-corn-syrup fall treat 3. Another name for fall 5. Starbucks fall favorite (abbreviated) 6. Birds fear me 9. Horse feed 10. First day of fall