December 2023

The Panther

The Panther

Hangar fire in Tustin raises concerns of health among local residents

After the historic hangar in Tustin burned, traces of harmful materials were found in the ashes, resulting in several precautions taking hold.

By Natalie Paul, Assistant News Editor

In the early hours of the morning on Nov. 7, one of the two historic hangars in Tustin erupted into flames.

The hangars were built in 1942 and held blimps during World War II for the U.S. Marine Corps. According to the city of Tustin, the two structures are some of the largest wooden structures to ever be built in the world.

As the fire was occurring, residents nearby were advised to stay indoors and to stay out of

the area. During this time, the ash was deemed to be harmful by the city of Tustin.

Two days after the fire initially started, the public was informed of asbestos being found in the ash that could be seen throughout Tustin. As a result, schools in the area were closed for the following few days as a safety precaution.

On Nov. 9, Al Vasquez, Chapman’s vice president of enterprise risk and safety, sent out an email regarding a smoke advisory to students, staff and

faculty members.

Jack Sundblad

“Smoke and ash from the recent fire at a hangar located at the former Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin may pose a health risk to some Orange County (OC) residents in the immediate and adjacent vicinity, including the City of Orange,” the email stated. “As a result, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) has issued a smoke advisory indicating that air quality will be variable as wind conditions change.”

Read P2

Lights, camera, dance!: Marybelle Musco funds new contemporary series

The Marybelle Musco Contemporary Dance Series, which began on Nov. 4, highlights renowned dance groups from around the country.

By Tatum Foulger, News Staff Writer

Marybelle Musco, the primary benefactor of the Musco Center for the Arts, has long been a champion of the performing arts at Chapman University.

This past summer, she donated $300,000, which has been used to fund the Marybelle Musco Contemporary Dance Series. The series kicked off in early November and brings dance groups from around the country to campus.

Musco Center for the Arts struggled to fund performances following the COVID-19 shutdown, but things are looking up with Musco’s donation.

The series began with the internationally renowned Mark Morris Dance Group, paying homage to the chart-topping songs of Burt Bacharach in a performance titled “The Look of Love” on Nov. 4.

The group, based in Brooklyn, New York, is led by acclaimed choreographer Mark Morris, who has been noted by the New York Times as “arguably the most successful and influential choreographer alive, and indisputably the most musical.”

Richard Bryant, the executive director for the Musco Center for the Arts, couldn’t hold in his excitement that the Mark Morris Dance Group was kicking off the series.

“There is so much to say about Mark — his 180 choreographic works, his successes in opera, his extraordinary Brooklyn-based dance center, his school, his work with people who suffer from Alzheimer’s, his 11 honorary doctorates and his scores of awards and accolades from around the world,” Bryant told The Panther.

He continued: “So yes, excited is an understatement. Having Mark Morris and his company here represents a pinnacle of contemporary dance that underscores and enhances the university’s achievements in building its new dance

Read P4

Video | Unaccounted Space | Chapman Veteran Student Jake Slocum

By Justin Yoon, Podcast Editor

Slocum was also featured in our “Veterans at Chapman” podcast alongside fellow student and former member of the U.S. Navy Devansh Menta. Check it out on the right!

Jake Slocum, an applied human physiology major, speaks with The Panther in this short documentary about his decision to join the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman and his experience serving there.

Chapman sociology professor receives over $600k research grant from Indiana University

Chris Bader, a sociology professor at Chapman, received a grant from Indiana University to help further his religious research.

By Natalie Paul, Assistant News Editor

After applying for a grant from Indiana University in January, sociology professor Chris Bader received the news on Oct. 31 that he had received the grant, which will help provide resources to the public regarding religion and spirituality.

Bader is one of the co-principal investigators of the grant, along with Andrew Whitehead of Indiana University. This grant is a part of a $1.6 million from the John Templeton Foundation.

The award was given by Indiana University for a total of $664,186 to be used towards the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) to help with their research on religion.

Bader has been a part of co-directing the ADRA since 2008, and the website is the largest archive of religion-related data in the world, according to Bader.

“The ARDA is a free archive of data related to religion and spirituality,” Bader said. “Anyone can visit the ARDA, search for topics related to religion and spirituality and either perform analyses online or download data for free.”

An Oct. 31 press release

from Chapman explained how the grant will help develop the ARDA website.

“This project will strengthen the Data Archive by adding 100 new, curated data files and by optimizing the speed with which data and metadata are displayed,” the press release stated. “Relying on the curated data, this project will also maintain, update and expand online data visualization and download tools.”

By adding new surveys and projects, researchers and the public will be able to further the questions that they have about religion, such as the kinds of religious groups inside and outside of the United States, as well as the history of these groups. The grant will also specifically focus on adding information from health researchers, economists, psychologists and anthropologists to the website.

Marisa Quezada was a student of Bader’s and a former student assistant in the sociology department who graduated from Chapman in 2022 with a bachelor’s in sociology. Bader was able to connect her to ARDA because of her passion for research on the subject of religion. Now, she process-

From P1

Hangar fire in Tustin raises concerns of health among local residents

By Natalie Paul, News Assistant Editor

Since the initial fire, there have been two additional flare-ups, reigniting the fire. The most recent took place on Nov. 14.

The South Coast Air Quality Air Control tested the ash to see what would be found in it. The results showcased that the Tustin Legacy area tested for more than 1% of asbestos. Lead and nickel were also found in the debris, which made the city declare a Local State of Emergency.

The city of Tustin will receive $1 million from the Navy to clean up neighborhoods in the affected surrounding areas of the hangar. Clean-up of the area has begun, but it has raised concern among residents.

es data files for the archive to make sure that they are correct and are easily accessible to the public.

“Because I was on the fence about whether or not to pursue a Ph.D. or graduate school in general after graduating from Chapman, being a part of the ARDA has been helpful in exploring different types of research and has helped me realize that I want to pursue research more seriously through a graduate program,” Quezada told The Panther. “Having the perspective of being outside of school and trying new things while also still having the support of professors at Chapman has been critical in my postgrad journey.”

Bader explained why developments to the website were needed and why it is important to have the ARDA database as a resource.

“It is vitally important that we be able to study religion effectively,” Bader said. “Whether one is a believer or not, religion is a key driver in moral attitudes, voting decisions and a host of other non-religious outcomes. It is our hope that the ARDA can help us explore some of these issues.”

“Although the fire is still slowly consuming more of the hangar, a controlled and systematic teardown of the remaining structure is being prepared. The exact date and time of the teardown has not been determined.

- City of Tustin press release

Many living in the communities have noticed that the crew cleaning the area have been wearing protective gear. However, residents have questioned why they have not been asked to evacuate the area or take those same precautions.

The most recent press release from the city of Tustin on Nov. 14 explains the city’s future plans to tear down the remains of the damaged hangar.

“Although the fire is still slowly consuming more of the hangar, a controlled and systematic teardown of the remaining structure is being prepared,” the press release stated. “The exact date and time of the teardown has not been determined. Building engineers need to ensure the teardown process considers the weather, the amount of the building remaining and any dust up from the work.”

More updates are to follow on the city of Tustin’s website as the clean-up process continues.

Lights, camera, dance!: Marybelle Musco funds new contemporary series

From P1

By Tatum Foulger, News Staff Writer Emily Paris

center and its ascendant academic programs in dance.”

The contemporary dance series continues in January with a performance by Camille A. Brown and Dancers titled “ink,” which is the final installment of Brown’s trilogy on Black identity. Tickets are available on the Musco Center website.

Musco’s passion for dance has led to her desire to support the arts at Chapman.

The Musco Center for the Arts, which first opened in the spring of 2016, can accommodate everything from full-scale Broadway-style productions to operas and presentations from the campus community. The center also showcases productions by Chapman University’s College of Performing Arts (CoPA), including the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, the Department of Dance and the Department of Theatre.

“Musco Center is thrilled to present the Marybelle Musco Dance Series this season,” said Jennifer Marchese-Ernst, the director of programs and public engagement for the Musco Center. “We are truly honored to be guided by Marybelle’s exceptional taste and passion for the arts, especially in dance. Chapman and really, Orange County as a whole, is truly fortunate to have some of the world’s best choreography and modern dance brought right to our front door.”

Musco’s donation has also directly benefited the College of Performing Arts. Through “Leap of Art” residencies, students have been able to interact with choreographers and dancers through master classes, which have included visits from singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash and violinist Lucia Micarelli in past semesters.

Julianne Pedersen, a dance professor who is also the chair of the dance department, said she is grateful for Musco’s continued support of dance at Chapman.

“Not only do students get to perform and choreograph in the astoundingly beautiful Musco Center for the Arts, but they have meaningful access to the greatest contemporary choreographers and dancers in the world,” Pedersen said.

about these residencies because, thanks to Mrs. Musco, we can bring in dance companies that are among the best in the world.”

Pedersen continued: “We just concluded the Mark Morris residency brought to us through Marybelle’s generous gift, and I got to see all the touch points the department had with the company. Students hoping to become choreographers saw the intricacies of his craft at the performance and will be better choreographers for it.”

CoPA Dean Giulio Ongaro shared a similar sentiment about the opportunities for students.

“In the performing arts, we always benefit from this kind of exchange by learning new techniques and ideas, as well as by having models to follow,” Ongaro said. “Students and faculty are always excited

According to Bryant, Musco’s donation has also supported the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music.

Beginning this semester, several classical music residencies were made possible, including the Australian Haydn Ensemble, Juilliard String Quartet and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, as well as the employment of classically trained professional musicians to perform alongside students for the live concert version of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” held back in September.

Ongaro hopes CoPA’s successes will allow the school to continue receiving donor support.

Chapman chess club honors former student in memorial chess tournament

The chess club donated proceeds to the Leo Eifert Scholarship for mathematics students.

By Alexandra Der Boghosian, News Staff Writer

Chapman University’s Chess Club honored former student and club founder Leo Eifert at a memorial chess tournament on Nov. 11, since the passing of Eifert in 2016 until 2021, the club has been on pause.

The club partnered with the Leonardo Eifert Endowed Scholarship for Imaginative Applications of Mathematics to raise donations for students interested in mathematics. The club has raised over $300 for the scholarship.

Eifert founded Chapman’s chess club in 2011. He passed away in 2016 from complications during surgery caused by a car accident. Before his passing, Eifert mentioned to the advisor of the club, food science professor Fredric Caporaso, the idea of planning a tournament.

“I realized that Leo’s presence left a good mark on the Chapman community, especially with starting the initial form of the chess club,” said senior biology student and president of the chess club Nathan Mermilliod. “He built the foundation that we have now. He paved the way for us to have a very successful chess club.”

The Nov. 11 tournament included students, fami-

lies and chess players from all across Orange County. The club organized the tournament in two different sections. One was with advanced players who strived to win the tournament, and the other was with beginner-level players and those who were there for the excitement of chess.

Mermilliod recognized the significance of the scholarship to both the club and the tournament.

“Seeing people get excited about the tournament, reorganizing the Leo Eifert tournament and donating to the scholarship was my favorite part,” Mermilliod said.

Mermilliod and Caporaso restarted the club last year and decided to plan the tournament that Eifert wanted and donate funds to the scholarship.

“We plan to hold the tournament every fall semester, and (we also) plan an invitational Orange County tournament in the spring with other schools in the area,” Mermilliod said.

Caporaso knew Eifert personally and described him as a hardworking student who always had a passion for chess.

“As a math and physics major, he was a good and very serious student,” Caporaso said. “When I first

saw him, he was playing chess with a very worn-out chess set, and I had a chess set in the back of my office and offered him the set. From that, I asked him if he wanted to start a chess club.”

Caporaso recognized how Eifert’s hard work and love for chess created a special bond within the club.

“Students, faculty and staff come together in the chess club, and I think that is what Leo wanted the chess club to be about,” Caporaso said.

Fowler School of Engineering professor Alexander Kurz won first place in the tournament and is set to have his name engraved into President Daniele Struppa’s unique chess set in his office. The set looks like a table, but when opened, is a chess set. On the handle of the chess set is a plaque that has names engraved on it. According to Mermilliod, Kurz is a regular attendee to chess club meetings and is an advanced player in chess.

Second place in the tournament went to Mermilliod, and third place was junior data science student Dominic Brugioni.

The chess club meets every Tuesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Swenson Hall 109 for both advanced chess players and beginners.

CORRECTION: In the November print edition, in the story titled, “Tensions soar across college campuses amid ongoing Israel, Hamas war,” the byline on pg. 1 was listed as .Jiya Kathuria. The story was actually written by Grace Song, a Politics writer. We regret the error. The online version of the November print edition has been updated and is correct on The Panther’s website.

Guggeheim Gallery exhibition ‘Standardized Patient’ gives insight on mental health in a clinical environment

By Alexandra Der Boghosian, News Staff Writer

Chapman University’s Guggenheim Gallery showcased Kerry Tribe’s “Standardized Patient,” a visualized representation of mental health among health patients, following this year’s Wilkinson College’s Engaging the World theme, health equity.

Tribe is a visual artist and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, who focuses her work on human consciousness and real-life scenarios.

The exhibition first opened on Oct. 23 to the public, consisting of two projector screens: one representing the context and action between a patient and their doctor, and the other representing the emotion and conflict the patient feels. There was also a video soundtrack played in the background. The exhibit closed on Nov. 30.

Both videos included actors as medical school students. The projector was also set at a specific angle that didn’t allow people who walked into the gallery to see what was being played on the screen, creating a sense of mystery for the audience.

Guggenheim Gallery Coordinator Marcus Herse recognizes the abstract meaning of the patient and the challenging aspect he had in coordinating the exhibit.

videos in the exhibit representing real life scenarios, it was crucial for Tribe and the actors to perform the scripts as accurately as possible.

“The most challenging part of resembling this exhibition was the technology,” Herse said. “We have two very good projectors and two sets of speakers above the projection. Therefore, all the wiring is going up to the ceiling and back down, so you don’t see much of the tech when you walk in, but the sound surrounds the room like a movie theater.”

“This idea is going around the standardized patient exam that medical students have to take... It’s very interesting to see the interactions between the patient and the medical student and to see what empathizing with people truly means”

- Marcus Herse

“This idea is going around the standardized patient exam that medical students have to take,” Herse said in an interview with The Panther. “The medical students in the videos have to tell patients bad news (and) learn how to empathize with somebody when they are given a diagnosis, and they have to deal with this change in life. It’s very interesting to see the interactions between the patient and the medical student and to see what empathizing with people truly means.”

The exhibit consisted of post-production, scripting and research within the videos to align scientific facts with the script, according to Herse. Due to both

The gallery focuses on emotions and expressions that health patients feel when going through life-changing experiences, as well as showcasing the concerns and emotions of family members towards the individual who is sick.

Senior studio art major Anna Ledbetter has worked at the Guggenheim Gallery for three years.

“My favorite part when putting up an exhibit is seeing the final part come together,” Ledbetter said. “Setting up the exhibit takes a lot of work and time, so seeing the final results always makes it worth it.”

According to the Guggenheim Gallery website, the “Standardized Patient” focuses on the exploration of emotion and mental health in a clinical environment.

“The project explores questions empathy, communication and performance, and was developed through Tribe’s close collaboration with professional clinicians, communication experts and ‘Standardized Patients,’” the website states.

Tribe visited campus on Nov. 29 to give a tour of her exhibit to the public. Her work has been admired by many art students and professors at Chapman.

“Medical issues aren’t really front and center,” Tribe said in an interview with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. “It’s really about how we make peace with the people that we care about most.”

Video | The Panther Newsletter Promo

By Lisa Wong, Video & Podcast Editor

Want the week’s top stories delivered straight to your inbox? The Panther’s got your back. We brought back our wekly newsletter earlier this school year, and we’re excited to share it with you! Every Wednesday at 8 a.m., we’ll have a selection of articles, videos, podcasts and even photo essays for you to check out. Sign up to start receiving them at the QR code below!

Emi Thomas

POLITICS

Chapman’s Homeless Policy Practicum makes efforts to combat homelessness

professor Wendy Seiden (bottom right) and her students contribute to the process of overcoming obstacles that lead to homelessness.

By Grace Song, Politics Staff Writer

Emi Thomas

With America’s homelessness crisis continuing to surge and California leading the nation with the highest rate of homelessness, which only keeps rising, homelessness has become a major crisis in California’s high standard of living costs. However, numerous groups and organizations have risen to help address homelessness, with Wendy Seiden and Chapman law students joining the cause.

Seiden is a law professor who currently teaches the Homeless Policy Practicum (HPP) at the Fowler School of Law. The course was created as an outgrowth of her work with the Orange County Family Violence Council’s Homelessness-Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Task Force.

Seiden originally co-founded the Task Force as an ad hoc committee to assist survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault as they were cleared from the Santa Ana, Orange and Anaheim Riverbed. The task force has now been active for five years and meets monthly to allow a broad array of service providers and individuals with lived experience to collaborate with the goal of improving the county’s response to services for survivors who are unhoused.

within the unhoused population, involving traffic tickets, parking and registration violations or fees.

When asked about what more can be done to combat homelessness, Sutphin said:

“One of the things that I want to change is just how the conversation is framed, changing it from an application of blame to a discussion of compassion and a solution-oriented conversation.”

Tiara Smith, a third-year law student, has been working with Housing is a Human Right, a coalition consisting of volunteers who advocate for “housing as a human right.”

“The coalition has had speakers talk to the group about changing the narrative around homelessness and how advocates can share their own stories to help others understand that becoming homeless could happen to anyone, and thus, we should be supportive towards unhoused individuals and offer compassion and resources rather than disgust or hatred,” Smith told The Panther.

“Part of the purpose (of the course) is always educating my students as lawyers to see how they can bring about policy change in whatever field of law they’re in or in whatever community they live in.”

- Wendy Seiden

Christiana Turner, a second-year law student, has been attending meetings for Housing Now, which focuses on policies and bills, such as Senate Bill (SB) 555 and SB567, that housing coalitions should support.

New House Speaker Mike Johnson embraces staunch conservative views, religion as a leading force in his politics, policies

The new Speaker holds conservative values which are the forefront of his ideologies and political career.

By Grace Song, Politics Staff Writer

In his first speech from the House chamber as elected speaker Oct. 25, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson cast his speakership using religious terms, stating: “I believe God has ordained and allowed each one of us to be brought here for this specific moment.”

Johnson was a little-known conservative who represented the fourth congressional district of Louisiana prior to his speakership. After weeks of chaos and turmoil over who would become the new speaker, Johnson quickly ascended in the ranks.

John Compton, a political science professor at Chapman University, responded to Johnson’s speakership.

“I don’t think anyone really knows what he’s gonna do, to be honest, because he very clearly has some very clear conservative views on different issues,” Compton said. “But, it’s not clear at this point how much he intends to drive the agenda of his caucus as opposed to just being a mouthpiece or facilitator for the Republican caucus.”

Charlie Sisk, a sophomore political science major and the president of Chapman Republicans, expressed his support for Johnson.

“Mike Johnson is a very strong individual,” Sisk said in an interview with The Panther. “So, I think people kind of respect that and understand that we need more of a conservative individual in there right now, to stand by his values and everything, and put America first.”

Johnson has deep roots in the Southern Baptist Convention, which is the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. He and his wife, Kelly Johnson, a licensed pastoral counselor, are members of Cypress Baptist Church in Louisana.

Johnson also played a key role in leading efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In 2020, he argued against Biden’s win because some state officials changed voting procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic without the approval of legislatures. Johnson also rallied his fellow Republican colleagues to overturn the 2020 election results.

Chapman Democrats President and junior political science and peace studies major Michael Pepito expressed concerns on Mike Johnson’s speakership as a potential roadblock for gay rights.

Seiden teaches the HPP to inspire law students to use their legal knowledge, and skills to change law and policy. In the course, law students develop their legal analysis, research and writing skills while interacting with and learning about the challenges of those living in Orange County unhoused.

“It was my task at that point to figure out what would be the best teaching projects for students to learn about housing and homelessness and what people who are experiencing homelessness go through,” Seiden said. “Because the HPP is a clinical course, students learn by doing actual policy work meant to make a positive difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness.”

Christian Sutphin, a second-year law student, is collaborating with Back On the Road, a grassroots coalition that focuses on unrecognized challenges

“My main takeaways (from seeing the bills pass in fruition) probably are that it takes a lot of people and a lot of voices to actually make change,” Turner said.

Seiden emphasized how the course teaches students to utilize their legal skills to effectively and intentionally bring positive change to the legal system.

“Part of the purpose is always educating my students as lawyers to see how they can bring about policy change in whatever field of law they’re in or in whatever community they live in,” Seiden said. “Even if they are not doing policy work as their primary career, as lawyers, they know the law (and) they know how to read the law. They are uniquely skilled in the legal arena to understand and bring about change.”

“Let’s say, the Supreme Court ends up overturning a lot of what are considered pretty monumental cases, like affirmative action over Obergefell v. Hodges, gay marriage and then obviously, if you’re left leaning, you would rely on Congress codifying it,” Pepito said. “But, if Congress is deadlocked or if the House, or the speaker of the House, is someone from Louisiana who represents evangelical Christians and someone who is (an) evangelical Christian, that’s obviously gonna be a huge roadblock,” said Pepito.

Compton expressed his thoughts on Johnson winning the speakership.

“I think Republicans were realizing that it was turning into a circus, and so they turned to someone who’s relatively unknown and who hasn’t made a lot of enemies yet,” Compton said. “I think the reason that Mike Johnson ultimately won is that he’s someone who’s on good terms with the far right of the party. His views on social issues are pretty far right.”

Law

Analysis | Chapman looks at Biden along with other possible Democratic presidential candidates for upcoming 2024 election

While President Joe Biden is running for reelection next year, some Democrats may not want to mark his name on the ballot.

By Nicole Kavros, Politics Editor

President Joe Biden is running for his second term in the 2024 presidential election.

Meanwhile, citizens are wondering: if it’s not Biden on the ballot, who will it be?

Throughout Biden’s presidency, his approval rates have only been going down. Democrats aren’t sure if they want to keep him — but there doesn’t seem to be another popular option among the party who has voiced a desire to run. And, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. running as an Independent, it’s looking like Biden could lose even more votes.

“Most of the people in (Biden’s) party wish (he) wasn’t running,” said presidential historian Douglas Brinkley at a Chapman speaker event last month. “So this is a conundrum that Biden’s going to have to figure his way out.”

According to FiveThirtyEight’s polls tracking Biden’s approval throughout his presidency, his approval rate has been sinking. The first polling numbers, which came in just days after his inauguration in January 2021, showed a 53.1% approval for Biden. Now, he has a 55% disapproval and 38.7% approval rate.

“Biden’s health is obviously a concern,” said Brinkley. “I don’t think it’s his age; there’s been a deterioration. I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t be able to do it at 80.”

Biden would become the oldest president to presume presidency if he were sworn in for a second term at age 82, only beating out his own record of entering office at age 78.

Sophomore strategic and corporate communication major Yness Riedel, who is on the board of Chapman Democrats, said that the possible Democratic candidates are “pretty average.”

“Most of the candidates are running on the same policies. However the whole ‘Vote Blue No Matter Who’ has sort of died off ever since Israel and Palestine,” Riedel told The Panther.

Riedel also commented on Biden, who she said she personally is not a fan of.

“Many Democrats that fall on the liberal, far-left spectrum are not happy with how the Democrats are handling Israel and Palestine. People are especially not happy with Joe Biden,” she continued.

Renee Elefante

Whether or not Biden is the democratic candidate come next November, he does need to watch out for Kennedy as an independent — who might be his biggest threat.

“I think you do have to keep an eye on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. running Independent, not that he’s going to win, but he very easily can get 5% about everywhere,” Brinkley said. “He could flip a state and may even get up to 10% in a national election.”

According to Ballotpedia, there are two other Democrat candidates who have announced their intention to run in 2024.

Dean Phillips, a Minnesota representative, is focusing on four main issues for his campaign: decreasing living costs, improving community safety, investing in the youth and making politics less divided.

The other candidate, author Marianne Williamson, previously ran in the 2020 election before ending her campaign early on in the year. She has centered her campaign on economic troubles, universal healthcare, affordable education, paid parental leave and a rise in minimum wage, according to Ballotpedia.

Biden, however, is focusing his second term campaign on child and elder healthcare, protecting Social Security and Medicare, implementing a minimum tax for billionaires, protecting voting and abortion rights as well as banning assault weapons.

Analysis | A look at possible Republican candidates for the 2024 presidential election

Entering the year before presidential elections begin, Republicans are weighing their possible options for candidacy.

By Nicole Kavros, Politics Editor

Now that Mike Pence has officially dropped out of the Trump-dominated Republican race for the 2024 election, Republicans are exploring all of the possible options for candidacy in their party.

Donald Trump has been triumphing over Joe Biden in several state’s polls by up to 10%, regardless of his high-profile legal cases and controversies. In fact, polling from after his indictments were given shows that he may even be benefitting from the scandals. But, while he seems to be the most popular candidate among Republicans, and the likely choice for the ballot, there are still conservatives who feel that Trump is not a suitable option for the presidency.

During his visit to Chapman in October, renowned presidential historian Douglas Brinkley discussed the possible options for the next presidential election. When asked about Trump’s chances, Brinkley replied that he “never would’ve thought Trump survived Jan. 6.”

“(Trump) is beyond the proverbial favorite. There’s nobody even getting close to him in the Republican nomination,” Brinkley said.

A poll done by the New York Times has found that Trump is leading over Biden in five of six key swing states.

But, Trump may have some solid competition in his own party.

Possible alternative options to Trump are former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, as well as Florida Gov. Ron

DeSantis.

Senior political science and philosophy double major Ethan Oppenheim, who is also a member of Chapman Republicans, explained why he would favor DeSantis and Haley over Trump.

“I think DeSantis has been very good in speaking out in support of Israel,” Oppenheim said. “I think in general, he’s been pretty good with the economy, keeping taxes low (and) keeping the market liberated from excessive regulations.”

But when it comes to who he would vote for on the Republican ballot, Oppenheim is leaning more

“(Trump) is beyond the proverbial favorite. There’s nobody even getting close to him in the Republican nomination.”

-Douglas Brinkley

towards Haley.

“As of right now, my top choice would probably be Nikki Haley. She’s another one whose policies I really like,” Oppenheim said. “I think her foreign policy is on point. I think she’s a traditional, conventional conservative, which is exactly what I want. I think she has good values and is well intentioned.”

Oppenheim also explained why he wouldn’t be voting for Trump if he’s the Republican nominee.

“If Donald Trump’s the nominee, which he probably will be, I’m actually not going to vote for him,” Oppenheim said. “I voted for him in 2020 because I didn’t think he was a horrible president, and I thought he would be a good alternative to Biden. But, since he lost the election in 2020, I think he’s gone absolutely off the rails.”

However, this doesn’t seem to be the popular consensus among Republican voters. According to FiveThirtyEight, Trump maintains a substantial lead in the polls with over half of the votes, compared to second-leading candidate DeSantis, who has 14%.

“(A large majority of) the voting base believes that the system is inherently rigged against us, us being Conservatives,” Oppenheim said. “They see all of the criminal indictments against Trump as evidence that they’re trying to remove the figurehead of the party and suppress our voices.”

Other candidates are also running; Ballotpedia lists businessman and pastor Ryan Binkley, North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, entrepreneur and political commentator Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson.

Tim Scott, former South Carolina Senator, was also in the running until he withdrew his candidacy Nov. 12.

“It does seem to be, short of something extraordinary happening, a Trump-Biden rematch,” Brinkley said.

Photo collage by

Chapman Women in Film Club creates a safe space for female filmmakers on campus

The all-inclusive club teaches women how to deal with difficult gender dynamics in the hopes of creating more positive film sets both in and outside of Chapman.

By Izzy Betz, Feature & Entertainment Writer

For so long, and still to this day, the film industry has been overwhelmingly run by men. Look at the Oscars, for example: of the 13,253 nominees at the Academy Awards since 1929, 17% were women, and less than 2% were women of color. It doesn’t come as a surprise to female filmmakers around Chapman anymore. However, the Chapman Women in Film Club is changing the narrative.

The club strives to create entirely female-independent film crews and foster places of support for women to learn how to handle difficult gender dynamics on and off set.

had our first meeting the following spring semester.”

Penland created WIF with three goals in mind: creating networking opportunities to meet other women with similar interests, creating a place of support for women to turn to whenever they are dealing with difficult gender dynamics on and off set and educating members on what mistreatment looks like and the red flags to look out for before joining projects.

Weekly meeting topics range from dis-

of talented, driven and kind people — and that’s something I’m very grateful for.”

The current focus of WIF is the short film titled “Queen Henry” they are in pre-production for. In February 2024, a fully female-crewed independent short film will come together to shoot the film thanks to the hard work, love and support of the club. The team includes writer Alyssa Tuohy, co-producers Lexi Berganio and Zoey Hughes, director Sierra Brogmus and cinematographer Burke.

“(WIF) is a constant that I know I can always go back to. It’s a space where I feel welcome and able to connect with others.”

-Lily Burke

The idea for Women in Film (WIF) came about in October 2020, when junior screenwriting major and founder of WIF, Skylar Penland, wanted to get involved in more projects and meet more women in Dodge. Before WIF’s creation, there were no dedicated clubs or groups for filmmakers to bond and talk about the everyday struggles of female-presenting people on Chapman and on independent film sets, so Penland decided to take matters into her own hands.

“I had originally planned just to join a club and was surprised that one didn’t already exist,” Penland said. “I went home that night and wrote up the Women in Film constitution and submitted it for review. Everything got approved, and we

cussing female-focused current events and presentations on industry skills to networking activities and upperclassman guest speakers.

Sophomore film production major Lily Burke told The Panther that she is extremely thankful for both the community of women she has found at the WIF meetings and the lessons she has learned to bring to set. Having a WIF club on campus is a safe space for Burke and her new friends to not only come together and talk about current concerns they have, but also work together in a consistently positive work environment.

“(WIF) is a constant that I know I can always go back to,” Burke said. “It’s a space where I feel welcome and able to connect with others. It’s given me the opportunity to DP (director of photography) in the future with a group

Junior creative producing major Lexi Berganio hopes the board can organize outreach programs with other colleges and create a larger network of female students interested in film. Their overarching goal is to help women who have been too nervous to join any film projects gain confidence and learn how to navigate difficult situations.

“We want to be there for those who need us,” Penland said. “Our membership is all-inclusive. Anyone can come to any amount of meetings whenever they want or need. We are here to provide opportunities, educate and support.”

If you are interested in joining or learning more about the club, send a DM to @ chapmanwomeninfilm on Instagram or email the communications chair Zoey Hughes at zhughes@chapman. edu.

Photo courtesy of the Women in Film Club

Jerry Zou: Chapman’s first Asian American Studies minor

Jerry Zou, the first Asian -American Studies minor at Chapman, and Stephanie Takaragawa, associate dean of Wilkinson College of Arts, talk about the creation of the program and what it means to them.

By Taylor Bazella, Assistant Features & Entertainment Editor

Despite being Asian American for his entire life, it wasn’t until senior theater performance major Jerry Zou took a First-Year Foundations Course his freshman year at Chapman titled “Yellow Peril to Yellow Power: Asians in America” that it finally hit him just how much of his culture he had yet to learn.

“It was the start of something new here at Chapman when it comes to Asian American education,” Zou said. “For me, it was right at the start of my college career, and I (realized) there’s so much more to learn about Asian American studies than I have ever encountered.”

In Zou’s sophomore year at Chapman, conversation swirled about the possibility of creating an Asian American Studies minor. Now in his senior year, Zou is officially the first student to join the program. The minor resides under Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and students are required to complete 21 credits.

“Students want to study the nature, the history and importance of their identities,” Zou told The Panther. “I think there’s a natural curiosity that we human beings have, and with a pretty good demographic of Asian students across the university, (most of whom) definitely missed out on studying their Asian American identity critically in high school. I think that’s the reason why it’s only right that we have this minor.”

Stephanie Takaragawa, the associate dean of the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, played a major role in the making of the Asian American Studies minor.

“In 2015, two students, Farrah Su and Darryl Zhao, asked me what ethnic studies programs Chapman had since they couldn’t find any,” Ta-

karagawa said. “I told them we didn’t have any, and that’s why they couldn’t find them. Both were active members of the Asian Pacific Student Association and asked about a proposal to start Asian American Studies.”

After being denied a grant to do research on creating the minor due to “Chapman already having Asian studies,” Takaragawa decided to teach the very course that had introduced Zou to his own Asian American identity.

“I wanted to see if there was interest in a class like that,” Takaragawa told The Panther. “The class was full with a waitlist… All these students together encouraged the creation of an Asian American Studies minor. In 2018, I taught the class again and for the third time in 2020, where Jerry Zou, now our first Asian American studies minor, self-designed the minor before it was created.”

But in order to create an educational minor, it was essential for Takaragawa and a team of students to create the perfect curriculum.

“(The minor) is pretty broad and expansive,” Zou said. “The curriculum goes from history to media to film to mixed race theory to Asian American literature to anthropology and Asian American food culture.”

But its creation didn’t come without its own set of challenges for the team, the biggest being trying to convince the university that the school needed the minor.

“The faculty at Chapman didn’t understand the difference between Asian and Asian American studies,” Takaragawa said. “Actually a lot of people don’t, which is why we need it and need to educate people to stop conflating identities based on phenotypic differences or race.

Photos Courtesy of Jerry Zou

Takaragawa continued: “Understanding how Asians contributed to (United States) history, how they got here, what their lives were like, immigration issues and laws, discrimination, the racialization of the groups and lots of other reasons that diversity is important is embedded in Asian American studies, from discrimination to activism and empowerment.”

In the future, Zou hopes to take his education about Asian American studies and incorporate it into his future career: on-stage performance.

“If we can bend the idea that old white plays can only be cast with white people, then we can really (confront the idea) of what theater can (traditionally) be and then reapply it now and retell these stories but through an ethnic life,” Zou said.

With the minor still being so new, there aren’t many students associated with the program yet. But as popularity begins to grow and more awareness is spread, there will be more students to give input on classes they would like to take.

“In the future, I would like more students to let us know what they want in the minor, and how their interests can be incorporated into the curriculum,” Takaragawa said. “Right now, classes like Asian American Media, Asian American Ethnic Enclaves and Asian American Film give broad strokes on the communities and how they are represented and how they represent themselves. But there are so many ways this minor can go and we are excited to see the possibilities.”

For more information on the minor, visit https://www.chapman.edu/wilkinson/interdisciplinary-minors/asian-american-study-minor. aspx.

Chapman students discuss challenges that come with not having a car

Chapman students share the various daily difficulties that not having a car at the university presents to them.

By Maya Caparaz, Features & Entertainment Writer

Throughout senior creative writing and communication studies double major Kari Lien’s experience of applying for jobs and internships, they often had to make the tough decision to not apply for positions because they are unable to find a convenient mode of transportation.

Without a car, it is much harder to get around Orange County and the greater Southern California area than Chapman students who have cars. Lien has a license, but because of financial constraints, they are unable to afford a car at the moment.

“It really disappointed me when I saw all internships that are based in (Los Angeles) are fully in-person now,” Lien told The Panther. “Those internships are mostly unpaid, and my college years are the only time I can afford working an unpaid internship for

experience, but because I can’t do those internships, I feel as if I’m not granted access to the full realms of my learning opportunities before I have to enter the workforce.”

Lien is one of many Chapman students who do not drive their own cars during the academic year. In Orange, not having a car creates a variety of challenges for students in addition to not being able to easily commute to jobs or internships in the region like Lien.

Even getting to class can be a challenge for some students without a personal vehicle who are not near the campus.

There are a variety of reasons that Chapman students are without cars, including economic reasons, living far from home, not having a driver’s license

Emily Paris

and not feeling a desire to drive. Senior screenwriting major Charlotte Loesch does not have the option to bring a car to school from her hometown of Washington, D.C. on the opposite side of the country. In addition, Loesch hasn’t driven often since getting her license in high school.

Loesch spoke to The Panther about one of the most difficult aspects about not having a car — grocery shopping.

“If I want to go grocery shopping, I can’t carry all my groceries with me on foot or on a bike,” Loesch said. “So I’m kind of tied to whenever my friends are going grocery shopping or when my roommates are going grocery shopping, so I never (go) by myself. I always tag along with people.”

Being without a car at Chapman generally limits students in how they get around Orange and surrounding areas. Lien’s hometown of Alameda in the San Francisco Bay Area has better public transportation and is more pedestrian-friendly than the city of Orange and Orange County.

“(Not having a car) really limits opportunities,” Lien said. “Orange isn’t really a walkable city. Southern California itself isn’t really walkable. My hometown is very much accessible by public transportation. It’s a norm, and it works pretty well there, so coming here was a stark difference. I could take the bus to work so easily.”

One way that Bordner believes Chapman could better help students without cars is by improving the university’s Safe Ride service, which provides rides to students. Bordner wants the university to expand the range in which drivers can take students.

“(Safe Ride) doesn’t really go that far,” Bordner said. “It doesn’t go to my house, so I’ve had to Uber because Safe Ride told me, ‘Sorry. You’re out of bounds.’ I feel like that’s the main thing that (Chapman) can work on so people who don’t have a car actually have a safe way of getting back if someone can’t give them a ride.”

New club brings the spirit of entrepreneurship to campus

This year, students at Chapman University with dreams of starting their own business can get a jumpstart on launching their idea with the help of the Chapman Entrepreneurship Organization.

By Molly Rose Freeman, Features & Entertainment Writer

In 2022, Aylo Corshen competed in the Panther Cage Match — a yearly “Shark Tank” event put on by the Argyros College of Business and Economics. This is a chance for student entrepreneurs like Corshen to apply their education and receive feedback, but the senior business administration major left the event thinking about something missing from his Chapman experience. He would later discuss his feelings with Cynthia West, the director of the Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics, who sparked Corshen– who took second place in the competition– to take action.

“Something I expressed is that coming in, wanting to be an entrepreneur and taking the entrepreneurship emphasis, I really felt like I lacked the connection with entrepreneurs. I really found it hard to find those potential aspiring entrepreneurs,” Corshen told the Panther. “(West) asked: ‘Well, is there a club on campus?”’

The answer was no. So, Corshen started his own. He is now the president of the Chapman Entrepreneurship Organization, which has been up and running since October. 2023 and is already taking great strides to make the entrepreneurship program more inviting.

The Chapman Entrepreneurship Organization meets every Friday at either 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. depending on the week. Meetings are scheduled for

Fridays in the hopes that students can come in and speak with peers who are working on their projects in the center. Check out their Instagram page for more information.

Starting a new organization can be a nerve-wracking experience, but Corshen and his fellow executives were pleasantly surprised by the amount of interest they were able to garner. Vice president Marcelo De La Maza, a senior business administration major who happens to have been Corshen’s partner for the last Panther Cage Match, spoke about what it felt like initially.

“The first meeting was really cool, because we didn’t know what to expect,” said De La Maza, who does a lot of the club’s social media outreach. “We were like ‘How many people are really gonna show?’ But people kept coming in and in and in, and I was kind of nervous. Now it’s more like we know each other… It was pretty exciting to see it come to life.”

The club currently has about 35 active members, and it’s growing every day. All three executives were in agreement on the sense of community that has been fostered during each of the meetings. Beyond being a chance for students to further themselves professionally, it is also a really great place to meet like-minded individuals with similar goals.

Some of the coolest features the club offers are its incubator program, in which students can flesh

out potential business ideas, and the guest speaker program, which will begin next semester. Members of the club also have the unique opportunity to be taught by students with more business experience.

Junior business administration major Eli Schecter, the club’s main educator who sets all the curriculum, has launched several companies and recently raised nearly $500,000 for an artificial intelligence startup. In a recent meeting, he taught participating students about the art of the ‘elevator pitch.’ Schecter is excited about the potential of the club to bring about new opportunities for its members.

“I think that we’re going to see some businesses that get launched really as a by-product of people coming to the club and learning about entrepreneurship and having the resources they need to launch what they’re passionate about,” Schecter told The Panther.

Something the executive board wants students to know is that the club is not solely for business majors or minors.

“I think that entrepreneurs can come from anywhere,” Corshen said. “I think what we’re really trying to emphasize is that wherever you are, whatever field you’re in, whatever school you’re in at Chapman, it doesn’t matter because if you have ideas for what you want to start or what you want to make, those are the people we’re looking for.”

Creatives behind ‘Saltburn’ talk opulent world-building, aspect ratios and genius of Emerald Fennell

On Oct. 13, The Panther sat down with production designer Suzie Davies, cinematographer Linus Sandgren, composer Anthony Willis and set decorator Charlotte Dirickx to talk about the making of their upcoming film “Saltburn,” released on Nov. 17.

By Nicholas De Lucca, Features & Entertainment Editor

In a pivotal moment of “Saltburn” when Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) arrives at the gates of the grand residence of the Catton family (coined as Saltburn), the awkward but deceptive middle-class protagonist is struck by the eccentricity and decadence of the elite manor. Butlers remain on-call for every flash desire. Museum-worthy artifacts sit on display just outside the bathroom. Oliver crosses the gates into a world where wealth is nearly unquantifiable.

The production team behind director Emerald Fennell’s sophomore feature film “Saltburn” experienced a similar shock and awe pulling up to the gates of the film’s focal location for the first time. Instead of scouting a property carefully-preserved by the United Kingdom, the team discovered a house built in 1300 that is still being lived in by descendants of the original aristocratic family.

On their tour of the house, they would find statues topped with bowties and straw hats and 16th century Dutch cabinets with the backs removed to store a collection of records, as well as a Harley Davidson motorcycle parked in the living room. They, too, were stepping into a different world –– one that was lived in.

“I thought, ‘All bets are off. This is where we need to shoot,’” said production designer Suzie Davies upon her initial tour of the residence. “It was really exciting to find that property, and it helped develop our family who lived there. It had such a wealth of history and detail about it. It sounds very weird, but I felt like this property wanted us to film there.”

On Oct. 13, The Panther sat down with members of the production team for the film “Saltburn”: Davies, Academy Award-winning cinematographer Linus Sandgren, composer Anthony Willis and set decorator Charlotte Dirickx. They each discussed how their craft helped contribute to Fennell’s vision of a world of pleasure and elegance plagued with envy, greed and lust.

The film follows Oxford student and outcast Ol-

iver who sparks a friendship with charming, aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). Felix invites Oliver to Saltburn for an unforgettable summer amongst his family — mother Elspeth (Rosamund Pike), father James (Richard E. Grant), sister Venitia (Alison Oliver) and close friend Farleigh (Archie Madekwe). What follows is a series of manipulations, sexual power plays and betrayals.

spoke to The Panther about balancing the film’s dark twists with beautifully composed images.

“We thought that the beauty of art could help us when you see things that may be disturbing or when you question if you can watch this,” Sandgren said.

“We give the audience something painterly beautiful or composed or lit, similar to how Baroque painters did — take graphic content with very beautiful light.”

After visiting the Saltburn residence, Sandgren was struck by the detailed ceilings. Sandgren shot the film in a 4:3 aspect ratio — meaning shots resemble more a square than a traditional wide frame — which not only helped capture the location from top to bottom but also worked hand-in-hand with the film’s “voyeuristic approach.”

The production design and costume teams shared a particular challenge in designing the look of the film to match the period of 2006 when the film is set. This meant implementing circle belts, slouch boots and iPod Shuffles, but costume designer Sophie Canale mentioned in the film’s press kit that clothes from 15 years ago aren’t available in costume houses yet; rather, they’re still in wardrobes or charity shops.

Willis previously earned a BAFTA nomination in 2021 for his first collaboration with Fennell on the thriller film “Promising Young Woman.” Willis described Fennell as “musically egalitarian” and spoke on her willingness to embrace all sounds — from “dirty dance synths” to “the slight pompousness of a French horn.”

“My first thought (after reading the ‘Saltburn’ script) was: ‘Oh my gosh, Emerald, she’s even more clever than I realized, upping the ante on some of the thrills and the shock and her ability to show different sides to two people and how they behave’ — things we don’t really see in films normally,” Willis said. “There’s very few people on the planet that have the imagination and the fun that she has. She brings out something special in everyone, and that’s what you want. We can sit and create on our own, but it’s nothing like the kind of stimulus of a filmmaker like (Fennell) who just has this unique way of seeing things.”

“Saltburn” was released on Nov. 24. The film will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video in the future.

Sandgren

Photos Courtesy of MGM and Amazon Studios

Karma Carr is more than just girl dinner

By Izzy Betz, Features & Entertainment Writer

Karma Carr is the creator of the viral TikTok sound and trend “girl dinner.” But there is more to her than this jingle: she’s a triple threat. Collage by Emily Paris; Photos Courtesy of Karma Carr

The perfect meal: three frozen chocolate-covered bananas. Or, as Karma Carr likes to call it, “girl dinner.”

If you are a religious TikTok binge-watcher, you may have come across a video in July of a teenage girl holding up an almost entirely eaten chocolate-covered banana, singing, acapella style, the words “girl dinner” in a four-part harmony. The creator of the viral jingle is none other than Chapman’s very own freshman theater performance major Karma Carr.

Like all members of Gen-Z who were born and raised on the internet, their pinky indents and ring lights have been with them since they came out of the womb. Carr was “on Instagram like no other” since the fifth grade, eventually contributing to the dancing and comedy videos on the social media app Musical.ly. As time passed, the app slowly transitioned to TikTok. Sometime last year, she made a silly video wearing black contacts, and the rest is history.

“That was one of my first videos to get traction, and I was like, ‘If people think this is funny, then I could do some other funny stuff.’ And here we are,” Carr said.

While she was initially considering not posting it at all, the girl dinner video has become a worldwide sensation. Nearly half of a million people have made a video using the original sound she created. Girl dinner videos on TikTok have 2.6 billion views in total. Multiple spinoffs, including boy dinner and non-binary dinner, have followed suit. Popeyes even made a “girl dinner” meal on their menu. The New York Times, People, Washington Post and Bon Appétit have all written articles analyzing the trend and its impacts on female viewers.

While the critics’ opinions are split on whether “girl dinner” is positive or problematic, fans of Carr and participants in the trend know the positive change it has made.

“I think she’s not afraid to speak on topics that are not easy to talk about,” said Kendyl Brown, Carr’s best friend and a freshman screen acting major at Chapman. “She adds a perspective to the conversation that benefits everyone.”

Disordered eating has long been a struggle for women, especially when comparing themselves to

others on the internet 24/7. Carr never expected her video to garner the attention that it did, and she never expected to become a public figure on the internet.

“I think she’s not afraid to speak on topics that are not easy to talk about. She adds a perspective to the conversation that benefits everyone.”

- Karma Carr

“I feel like the world has become a kinder place

since we started accepting (that) being a girl is something to be celebrated and not something to be condemned for,” Carr said. “Over time, I feel like (the girl dinner trend) has created some good positivity for femininity and embracing being a girl in all its weird aspects, including eating.”

For those who have always wanted to post a comedy or singing video on the internet in the hopes of striking gold but have been too scared to try, Carr has some simple advice.

“Just post it. The longer you wait, the more time you’re wasting not posting it, not following your dreams, and not creating anything for yourself,” Carr said. “You can’t wait for anyone else to drag you out of that hole and make you make yourself something. You have to do it.”

After years of singing her original short harmonies on the internet, her debut single, “Keep Up,” came out on Nov. 17. Expect more music coming from her soon, as well as many more theatrical performances at Chapman University.

Review | ‘The Holdovers’ should be your new Christmas classic

Director Alexander Payne’s film “The Holdovers” encapsulates the Christmas spirit through laugh-out-loud comedy and loveable characters.

By Taylor Bazella, Assistant Features & Entertainment Editor

It’s not every day that I find myself alone, sitting in the middle of a movie theater for an 8 p.m. showing whilst digging through a container filled with a myriad of random snacks from my own pantry and drinking a large bottle of Pepsi Zero. But, I don’t think this could have been a more fitting experience for Alexander Payne’s new film, “The Holdovers.”

“The Holdovers” premiered on Aug. 31 at Telluride Film Festival, followed by a theatrical wide release on Nov. 10. Not only has the film garnered a 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, but there is also talk about potential Academy Award nominations for the movie in early 2024.

The film is set in 1970 and follows a grumpy, dictatorial teacher named Paul (Paul Giamatti), a troublemaking student called Angus (Dominic Sessa) and the school’s head cook, Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), as the trio forms an unlikely bond over Christmas break because they have nowhere else to go.

Paul, known for his harsh teaching style and lack of empathy, is stuck with watching the holdovers, or the kids who have to stay at the academy over break. While, at first, he is responsible for a band of five students, it isn’t long before four of them leave to go on a parent-permitted ski trip. This leaves only one stu-

dent behind: Angus.

Despite his strict, nasty attitude toward the students, it’s clear Paul has a soft spot for friend and co-worker Mary, who recently lost her teenage son in the Vietnam War. Mary pushes Paul to be kinder to his students, especially Angus, who already feels abandoned after his mom and stepdad decide to go on a last-minute Christmas honeymoon without him.

What starts as a group of outcasts determined to put up emotional barriers, refusing to let the others in, turns into a heartwarming, dysfunctional dynamic of friends who find a way to overcome their own insecurities by leaning on one another.

The film is incredible because of the way it successfully relies on a simple narrative to convey a powerful message to its audience. Rather than exaggerated storylines or special effects sequences, the film is dictated by its ability to capture the audience’s attention through telling the story of three people who become extremely lovable, each in their own unique way.

What really makes this a stand-out film is the actors’ ability to perfectly become their characters. Within the first twenty minutes of the film, I was already entranced by the unusual characteristics of

each individual and what they brought to the group. Their arcs left me misty-eyed, proud of the kind of new version of themselves they had become. It’s clear writer David Hemingson has taken his time with these characters, creating what I would consider to be the perfect band of misfits. It’s mystifying that Sessa, who plays Angus, is acting in his first film. He was a student at Deerfield Academy, one of the schools “The Holdovers” was filmed at before auditioning.

Additionally, the film truly is beautiful to look at. Set in New England during the holiday season, the ground is covered with snow, making every costume and set piece stand out in comparison. The focus on cinematography through faded scene transitions, insert shots and a retro-stylized set design set the movie up to be not only emotionally provoking but also visually stimulating.

Although “The Holdovers” nearly hits the status of a perfect film for me, there is one thing holding it back: its length. With a run time of two hours and 13 minutes, this feel-good comedy had me checking my watch a time or two. I think it would ultimately benefit from a mere 25 minutes being cut. Which scenes though, I’m not entirely sure.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Paws

‘Friends’ was my childhood friend, but it didn’t come without its issues

By Romi Blackstone, Guest Columnist

Similarly to many, I find an immense amount of comfort in television shows from the ‘90s and early 2000s.

Whether it is an early 2000s drama like “Gilmore Girls,” a teen drama like “One Tree Hill” or a ‘90s sitcom like “Seinfeld,” I’ve seen them all. But, there’s one ‘90s show that changed my brain chemistry forever and is by far my favorite TV show of all time: “Friends.”

“Friends” ran from 1994-2004 and has generated nearly $1.4 billion since its debut. “Friends” became a worldwide phenomenon and has been and will continue to be embedded in our culture.

In spite of this, “Friends” has gotten a mountain of backlash over the years for their lack of diversity and out-of-touch jokes. But “Friends” isn’t the only older TV series that has gotten that kind of backlash. This begs a question: Are we, as a society, allowed to enjoy our favorite TV shows even though they’ve received rightful criticism?

“Friends” featured six white main characters and had very few people of color make appearances. There was one Asian American woman throughout the series, who was only in the second season.

The show’s lack of diversity is so blatantly obvious that even past talk show host and former “Friends” love interest, Charlie, played by Aisha Tyler, has been open about how the fans still remember her as the “Black Girl’’ versus what her character actually embodied.

I believe that “Friends” holds some responsibility for not normalizing people of all backgrounds being in front of the screen. If diversity had been more normalized on Friends, Tyler and other people of color who were on that show would not feel singled out.

Along with the show’s lack of diversity, “Friends’’ only partially represented the LGBTQIA+ community. I say partially because, on the one hand, it showcased queer characters long before other shows did. It is established in the first episode that Ross’s ex-wife Carol left him for another woman, and she and her partner Susan were proud and not at all ashamed to be gay.

“Friends” also went beyond discussing matters of homosexuality and even discussed the transgender community. Chandler’s dad was a transgender woman who did not care what people had to say about her.

On the other hand, while Friends did showcase multiple LGBTQ+ characters, much of the writing towards those characters wasn’t positive. The jokes directed at Carol, Susan and Chandler’s dad often reinforced harmful stereotypes such as Ross stating he should have known Carol was a lesbian because she enjoyed beer straight from the can or the fact that Chandler’s dad Charles was never fully addressed as a woman or called a name that was more fitting to her.

Yes, it can be said that “Friends’ ‘ was ahead of the time in terms of LGBTQIA+ representation, but the writing geared towards the community was definitely not.

Despite those issues, “Friends” guided me through my childhood, much like a big sister. I learned all I ever needed to know from the six main characters, who I actually saw as my friends.

I know I am not the only one who has had a personal connection to a TV show, whether it be “Friends” or another. So, should we diminish all of what our comfort shows provide for us just because of their ignorance in particular areas?

I am of the belief that we, as a society, can acknowledge the fact that there are some jokes and scenes in old TV shows that would never be shown today and that the writers of certain shows, including “Friends,” should have been more inclusive. However, I also think that we can still find joy in TV shows that don’t necessarily fit in today’s culture and appreciate them for what they did for us.

The eye of the hurricane, spreading like wildfire

By Emilia Cuevas Diaz, Opinions Editor

Every time we raise the alarm, we are told we are over dramatic. Every time, we are told that we have more time to fix it. Every time we bring up climate change, we are told that we’re not there yet.

Well, we are now.

On Oct. 25, the city of Acapulco in Mexico was hit by Hurricane Otis, which was predicted as a tropical storm, but intensified to a Category 5 hurricane overnight.

This is not catastrophizing. This is not alarmist. Climate change is here, and its consequences are starting to become unpredictable. The consequence is that people find themselves unprepared for disaster.

Natural disasters are getting worse. They are leaving behind more damage and more casualties, and they are getting harder to predict. We are seeing a record number of wildfires every year, an increase in floods and hurricanes are speeding up faster and in less time due to the warmer ocean water.

This is exactly what happened in Acapulco. While the hurricane would’ve been disastrous in its own right, the fact that people didn’t have time to prepare properly or to evacuate made it worse by a long shot.

Acapulco was with an estimated 100 people dead or missing and billions of dollars in damage, as well as little to no water for days, limited access to food and power coming on and off. Residents are still struggling to recover from the damages, trying to rebuild their houses, businesses and community centers and likely will continue to do so for months, if not years.

And sure, you can probably find fault in how the government is dealing with the aftermath, or how the funds are being distributed, but the bottom line is the hurricane should not have accelerated that fast.

Just like people in New York should’ve been able to breathe clean air outside instead of being shrouded in smoke from the wildfires. Or how no one in Lahaina, Hawaii should’ve been chased out of their homes by fire. Or how the people of Hong Kong and Libya and Greece and Taiwan and Brazil and so many more should not have had to endure flooding.

None of these natural disasters should be happening. Not with this intensity. Not with this frequency. This should never be something we get used to.

And what are we doing? Arresting climate protesters. Criticizing demonstrations that deface art. Fining one of the most recognizable faces of climate action for blocking access to an oil terminal.

These groups are yelling at you, begging for change. Pleading with you to save the world. And all you can say is that they are not going about it the right way?

We are past doing things “the right way.” If we don’t do something and soon, it won’t matter if we did things right or wrong because it’ll be too late.

If you’re still lucky enough to be in the calm before the storm, be careful. If you’re in the eye of the hurricane, don’t lower your guard. Climate change is here, and it won’t spare anyone.

Photo collage by Emi Thomas

The secret to the mentality of a swim champion

By Caleb Otte, Sport Staff Writer

Becoming a champion is one thing, but retaining your crown is another. That’s what senior Cole Kershner, a business administration major on Chapman’s swim team, is attempting to do this year.

After becoming the 50-meter freestyle champion at last season’s Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championship swim meet, Kershner is wanting to improve on his 20.46 second time and get his second champion win at the conference meet.

“As long as you’re getting stronger, a lot of times you’ll get faster,” Kershner told The Panther. “I’m definitely getting stronger and I’m just trying to work harder in the water.”

Kershner explains the simple, yet important steps he is taking to stay disciplined and fit.

“Listening to what (my) coach says,” Kershner said. “Getting in the water a lot. Lifting heavy weights. And trying to be on my top game in practice as much as possible.”

The drive to improve, and attention to details, is what will give him a platform to repeat his championship win. Even after winning the 50 free at the Claremont MuddScripps swim meet on Nov. 4, Kershner is still critical of himself.

“If we’re being honest, that was a pretty sloppy swim for me,” Kershner said. “It’s great that I won, but what can I learn from this? I try to keep a positive attitude, but I didn’t think it was a great race for me. I could’ve fixed my turn, I breathed too many times. I’m always looking at what I can do better at the next meet and improve overall for SCIAC.”

pressive is that he didn’t come to Chapman to swim.

“I actually came here, originally, to play water polo, and then I didn’t make the team,” Kershner said. “I ended up swimming, and I didn’t have a super intense swim background.”

One of the defining qualities of champions is having a “never good enough” mentality. Kershner is consistently pushing himself to be a better swimmer. Head swim coach Juliet Suess gave more insight into Kershner’s attitude towards the sport in an interview with The Panther.

“I think one of Cole's greatest qualities is his desire to grow, whether that's in the pool, the classroom, or in life,” Suess said. “He listens when you bring something to his attention, and it shows in his progress with swimming and in how he interacts with his teammates. It's natural that we don't always get everything right, but at the end of the day, Cole wants to do right by his teammates and friends, not just win events.”

Something that makes Kershner’s accomplishment and mindset even more im-

Overcoming the adversity of not making the water polo team and coming on to the swim team as a less experienced swimmer than some of his teammates made becoming a conference champion even more special for Kershner.

“I was never a huge club swimmer, so I guess coming into college and winning (my event at) conference was a pretty massive deal for me,” Kershner said.

Kershner sees his role on the team as the funny yet passionate leader who his teammates can relate to.

“I’m kind of a goofball, so I want to try to make people happy, joke around,” Kershner told The Panther. “I’d say the men’s team (has a) super playful culture. We mess around and joke around, but when it’s time to work, we get serious. I always just try to keep a positive attitude and put smiles on people’s faces.”

Kershner’s fun-loving attitude and excitement for the sport is recognized by his teammates as well. Junior Joe LaFontaine, a health sciences major, gave his perspective on his teammate to The Panther.

“I would describe Cole as a very motivated and driven person,” LaFontaine said. “He works hard in the pool and in the classroom. He is also a great person to have around and is always cracking jokes. He has a competitive nature and strives to be the best he can be while bringing up the people around him.”

Suess also sees that fun and personality that Kershner injects into the swim team.

“Cole is a natural leader,” Suess said. “He has a huge personality, and he wants to draw people in and make everyone feel welcome. He brings the fun to everything he does.”

Kershner’s mindset and enjoyment for his sport can help elevate him to become champion once again this season. While the road to a repeat won’t be easy, Kershner understands what it takes to be a winner.

“It takes a very strong mindset,” Kershner said. “With all athletics, it’s very easy to get burnt out. I think swimming, especially, because you’re just staring at the bottom of a pool for two hours straight, which can be pretty hard for a lot of people. You have to have a relentless determination for excellence.”

Photos courtesy of Cole Kershner Cole Kershner looks to hold the title as the 50 freestyle champion this year and focuses on his mentality to get him there.

Chapman’s women’s soccer has their heads held high after successful run to playoffs

The squad finished as the fourth seed in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) after having a winning record in the regular season. Pictured: senior computer science major Emma Harper..

By Caleb Otte, Sport Staff Writer

For any college sports team, it is one of the biggest goals they are presented with at the start of the season: making the playoffs. It marks an accomplished season, no matter the playoff results, and the Chapman women’s soccer team was able to revel in achieving that objective this year.

With five wins, four losses and three ties in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), the team made the playoffs as the fourth seed. Although the season ended with a loss to California Lutheran University, the women’s soccer team can hold their heads high after a successful season. This was a year that included memorable moments, such as a last minute goal by Andrea Aldama to beat Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges and a 2-0 win over rival team Redlands, qualifying Chapman for the playoffs.

Courtney Calderon, who has been the head coach at Chapman for almost two decades, reflected on what made her team tick this season.

“What made this team very special is their resilience and work ethic,” Calderon told The Panther. “This team’s focus from day one was all about the ‘we,’ always what’s best for the team. That mentality helped us in tough times.”

Junior communication studies major Stella Bauman, who is a forward on the team, echoed a similar sentiment to her coach.

“Our team has so much heart and so much love for the game of soccer,” Bauman said. “We have been through so many ups and downs throughout our season, and playoffs would not have been possible without full commitment and love for playing soccer.”

Bauman also talks about the ways Calderon motivated the team throughout the season.

“Something Coach Calderon does to help motivate and prepare us is always trying to keep us positive in a win-mentality,” Bauman said. “On Thursday, before the semi-final game (against Cal Lutheran), she told us to win everything we do leading up to the game, whether that was winning your test, your coffee order or your walk to school. And I think keeping us in that mindset really helped us throughout the season.”

Even though the team lost in the playoffs, Calderon has an interesting perspective on the season. Given that she has made multiple NCAA tournaments in her time at Chapman and has seen all the sport has to offer, she has a unique understanding of what “success” is.

“What made this team very special is their resilience and work ethic. This team’s focus from day one was all about the ‘we,’ always what’s best for the team.”

-Courtney Calderon

ies major and defender Serena Lovell expanded on what the moment meant for the team.

“We always play to win; we never want to settle for anything but the best,” Calderon said. “Our goal is always NCAA championships, but our focus is one game at a time. Success is not always defined by the wins and losses; there is so much more. This team set a solid foundation for us to build on.”

The women’s soccer team has a lot to be proud of for this season. A moment that many players found truly special was graduate student Andrea Aldama’s game-winning goal on Senior Night. Junior integrated educational stud-

“My favorite moment from this season has to be when Andrea Aldama scored in the last 40 seconds of her senior game to beat Claremont on our home field.” Lovell said. “We were all so excited and happy for (her). I even had tears in my eyes from being so hyped. That whole day (Senior Day) was just a great representation of the family dynamic on our team. I’ll remember (her) goal and that win forever.”

Aldama, who is studying law and plays defense for the team, spoke with The Panther about how special that goal was for her and what it meant to score it.

“The last minute goal against CMS was the absolute highlight of my career,” Aldama said. “For it to have been on Senior Day, and this being my last year playing collegiate soccer, it was an absolute honor to have been able to do that, especially when we needed a win in order to still have a shot at playoffs. It made every practice, every game, every training I have ever done since the beginning of my soccer career worthwhile.”

That is what this team built throughout the year: a long-lasting connection. Sports are about the people who play them, and the women’s soccer team found success by leaning on one another.

“The girls and the staff are what made this season special,” Aldama told The Panther. “I believe our bond was greater than ever, and it felt like I knew these girls for years, even though it was only a year and some were actually only three months.”

Ultimately, the journey the women’s soccer team went through this year will only bond the team for future seasons. Next year, they’ll look to finish with a higher seed and make a deeper run in the postseason. But for now, they can appreciate what was accomplished this year.

Photos courtesy of Larry Newman