Nov. 2023
The Panther
Vol.106, No. II
Chapman University’s Newspaper
Website: thepanthernewspaper.org
Instagram: @panthernewspaper
Tensions soar across college campuses among ongoing Israel, Hamas war Students and administration are speaking out about the ongoing crisis in response to the Israel and Hamas war.
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Chapman releases 2023 security, fire safety report, showing increases in rape, stalking cases While aggravated assaults were down from previous years, stalking and rape reports increased. By Tatum Foulger, News Staff Writer
By Jiya Kathuria, Politics Staff Writer
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ensions are rising throughout college campuses in response to the Israel and Hamas war. Campuses including the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of California, Riverside (UCR) and California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) have faced increasing threats and safety concerns amid demonstrations and rallies. At UCLA, some student groups received threats for a lecture called “Emergency Teach-in on the Crisis,” causing the class to transition from in-person to online. At UCR,
Photos by Emily Paris and Renee Elefante
students spoke out in response to Palestinian flags on campus. Several students at CSULB who held a rally in support of Palestine created an uproar on campus, to which the university’s administration condemned the rally but acknowledged the students’ right to gather. Within Orange County, antisemitic flyers were being distributed as residents discovered them across their neighborhoods. Some of the flyers were also seen on cars parked near Harwood Street and Chapman Avenue. Rising tensions at Chapman University emerge as students
and faculty respond to the recent Israel-Hamas war. Chapman postponed an ‘American Islamophobia’ author’s speech at a symposium until next spring. Khaled Beydoun, the keynote speaker and a law professor at Arizona State University, worried some officials at Chapman as having Beydoun speak in the current climate could be seen as insensitive and unsafe. Dean of Students Jerry Price affirmed the university’s role in supporting students who are impacted by the war. “Our job is just to unconditionally support our students
Trigger warning: Sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, rape In 2021, there was one on-campus rape reported. However, last year, there were six — a 500% increase. And that only includes the ones that were reported to school officials. On Sept. 29, Chapman University emailed its Annual Security & Fire Safety Report to the Chapman community, which details the occurrence of a wide variety of crimes, including hate crimes, criminal offenses and sex offenses in 2022. According to the Office of Residence Life and First-Year Experience (RLFYE), student safety is their top priority. “We are committed to providing a secure living environment, addressing concerns promptly, promoting community standards and offering support services for students,” said RLFYE Assistant Dean of Students Juan Tinoco. However, some statistics from the report indicate that the Orange campus is becoming less safe, especially for female students. Last year, there were eight reported stalking incidents, and Public Safety’s daily crime and fire log indicated that by the first week of this semester, there had already been one reported rape. Because of the ongoing issue of violence against women on campus and in general, Chapman Public Safety teaches a self-defense course that includes education and awareness called Rape Aggression Defense (RAD). RAD is a non-credit comprehensive women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance while progressing to the basics of hands-on defense training. Students may sign up for the class by completing the waiver liability form, automatically placing them on an enrollment list for
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Greek Life at Chapman | Pi Kappa Alpha By Anastasia Kuplinova, Video & Podcast Editor, and Justin Yoon, Podcast Editor
In this podcast, we sit down with Ivan Coronel, a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha (πKA) fraternity at Chapman University, to discuss Greek life on campus. Ivan shares his personal experience as a member of the fraternity, highlighting the benefits of joining a fraternity as well as addressing common misconceptions about Greek life. Tune in to gain insight into the social and philanthropic aspects of Greek life at Chapman University!
Vol.106, No. II
POLITCS
Analysis | House finally elects new Speaker after weeks of chaos, upheaval
Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson was recently elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives after three weeks of vacancy in the position. By Grace Song, Politics Staff Writer
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ith the House of Representatives still facing pressing issues, including a consensus on budgetary legislation to prevent a looming government shutdown and aid to Israel and Ukraine, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson was elected as the 56th House Speaker on Oct. 25 with a unanimous Republican majority. With previous Speaker Kevin McCarthy ousted nine months after his elected speakership and the following three-week vacancy of the speakership, Johnson’s victory came with a 220-209 vote. The previous speaker candidates who ran and dropped out from the speakership included House majority leader Steve Scalise and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, along with Tom Emmer, the majority whip and representative of Minnesota’s sixth district. Prior to his elected speakership, Johnson represented Louisiana’s fourth congressional district, which includes the state’s northwest and western regions. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016. Johnson was also the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference in 2021. Fred Smoller, an associate professor of political science at Chapman University, offered his insight on the new speakership. “One interpretation is that Mike Johnson is a wonderful piñata,” Smoller said. “He is very socially conservative, anti-women’s rights, anti-LGBT community, and most importantly, a climate change denier. He (also) believes Donald Trump won the election.” Although Congress narrowly passed a stopgap spending bill on Oct. 1 to avert a government shutdown, Congress has until Nov. 17 to appropriately find a consensus on budgetary spending on the 12 appropriation bills in order to avert another shutdown. Johnson was among a majority of Republicans who opposed the stopgap spending bill. As he recently campaigned for speakership, Johnson suggested that he would support a temporary measure for government funding to continue through January or April to allow more time for all 12 appropriation bills to pass.
Photo courtesy of WikiCommons
Fowler School of Law professor Thomas Campbell commented on the importance of the speakership role in carrying out congressional duties and responsibilities. “Individual appropriation bills have to be passed every year,” Campbell said. “It’s going to the government to operate, and they have not been. And so, government funding will shut down within two weeks. That was the most critical reason for having to fill the speakership and then also provide aid to Israel and aid to Ukraine.” The White House recommended Congress pass $105 billion in aid to Israel and Ukraine as well as other national security needs. The measure includes $14.3 billion for Israel and $61.4 billion for Ukraine, including funds for Taiwan and U.S. border security. Campbell predicted Johnson’s efforts to handle aid to Ukraine and Israel after his elected speakership. “The bill will pass because the Democrats are overwhelmingly in favor of both the aid to Ukraine and Israel... So, that’s the first test and perhaps the greatest test that Speaker Johnson will have if the Republicans don’t favor the united bill,” Campbell told The Panther. Before he was elected as speaker, Johnson voted last month to cut off aid to Ukraine. On Oct. 29, after his speakership, Johnson said that he expects the House to advance a funding bill to support Israel, despite President Joe Biden’s funding aid package for both Israel and Ukraine combined. Chapman associate history professor William Cumiford shared his thoughts on Johnson after expressing consistent polarization and disagreement within the House of Representatives. “We have hope; that’s about all we have got right now,” Cumiford said. “We have to see how things unfold, so hopefully this new leader will be able to bring the factions together. It didn’t work with Kevin McCarthy. It took 15 votes back in January and then, that still didn’t work. It didn’t last out the year. So, will this new person be able to do this?”
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From P1
Tensions soar across college campuses amid ongoing Israel, Hamas war By Grace Song, Politics Staff Writer
the best we can,” Price said in an interview with The Panther. “So, I think there are times it’s easy for some students to feel as if that’s not the case, so we’ve been trying to go out of our way to let students know it is the case and try to help them trust that.” On Oct. 10, President Daniele Struppa sent an email to students and faculty regarding the university’s commitment to build an inclusive and empathetic community. Struppa also provided campus services and resources for students impacted by the Israel-Hamas war. “These events are deeply tragic, and we must further an environment of empathy, understanding and respect for one another, even when faced with deeply polarizing global events,” Struppa said. “I encourage each of you to lean on the resources available to you, including Fish Interfaith Center and Health and Wellness Services.” Shayk Jibreel Speight, the director of Muslim life and a chaplain at the Fish Interfaith Center, commented on available resources students impacted by the war can use. “We offer spaces for students whether they be Muslim or Arab, non-Muslim or Arab, whatever their denomination might be,” Speight told The Panther. Several student organizations on campus, such as Chapman Hillel, Chapman Democrats, Chapman’s Students Supporting Israel and Chapman’s Students for Justice in Palestine, are addressing the recent war. Some have released a statement regarding their stance on the issue. On Oct. 9, Israeli and Palestinian flags were planted around the Atallah Piazza and then shortly removed. Recognized student organizations are allowed to post flyers on approved locations on campus and create exhibits as well. However, Price sent an email to explain that students are required to schedule a space reservation in advance when placing exhibits on campus. “The policy is in place so that impromptu exhibits don’t disrupt the plans for students groups and departments who have already reserved that space (or adjoining space),” Price said. “Understandably, the groups of students who displayed the flags last week were not familiar with this distinction, so Chapman staff removed the flags and returned them to the students involved.” In late October, Israeli flags and flyers were planted in Attallah Piazza and were later replaced with Palestinian flags and flyers. On Oct. 27, Chapman’s Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences hosted an “Ask the Experts: Israel-Hamas Conflict” panel, which underwent controversy in the days leading up to the event after some last-minute changes were announced to the panelists.
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Vol.106, No. II
POLITICS
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Analysis | Trump’s lawyers turn against him in election interference case
One by one, Trump’s lawyers and other close personnel have been taking plea bargains in his election interference case. By Nicole Kavros, Politics Editor
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Photo courtesy of WikiCommons
onald Trump is facing multiple incriminating charges in the Georgia election interference case against him — and now his legal team is switching sides. Following Trump’s unsuccessful attempt at reelection in 2020, it is alleged that the former president conspired to tamper with the election results, specifically in Georgia. After a narrow loss, a new state law required a hand recount of the votes. The uncounted ballots changed the margin of Trump’s loss but still left Biden leading in the state. Trump and 18 of his allies were then accused of engaging in criminal activity in an attempt to overturn the election results. But now, his accomplices are turning on him. “The common practice in a case like this is, you start at the bottom and work up,” Chapman law professor Denis Binder told The Panther. “So you get those at the bottom to flip, and then you hope to build a case as you go farther up the ladder. And, the whole goal here is to get Trump.” The prosecution team on the case were aiming to crack Trump’s inner circle. Once they got the first one, more began to follow. Trump supporter Scott Hall was the first co-defendant to plead guilty on Sept. 29. He was facing seven felony charges for interfering with voting equipment and data in Georgia. The plea deal included a $5,000 fine, 200 hours of community service and a written apology to Georgia residents. Soon after Hall came Trump’s lawyer Sidney Powell on Oct. 19, just four days before her trial would’ve started. She was sentenced to six years of probation and a $6,000 fine, and she was also ordered to give Georgia residents a written apology. Powell had been one of the most vocal election fraud believers, giving several public speeches where she conspired about Trump’s loss. The next day, fellow Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro also pleaded guilty. He would’ve gone to trial the next week alongside Powell, facing seven criminal charges, but he only pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy under his plea deal. He also gets to keep his law license under this deal, whereas some of the other charges would have resulted in him losing it. Chesebro faces five years of probation.
Most recently, a third lawyer took a plea deal on Oct. 24. Jenna Ellis pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting false statements and writings after continuously supporting Trump in his accusations of election fraud. She was sentenced to five years of probation, a $5,000 fee and 100 hours of community service and, like Powell and Hall, must write an apology letter to Georgia. “Since they pled guilty, they’re stuck with that,” Binder said. “They’re stuck now, it doesn’t matter what happens to Trump. If they pleaded guilty, that’s it. And, if they have to testify in any of the cases, the fact that they pleaded guilty can be used against them.” The prosecution team striking up plea bargains with defendants can be harmful to the case against Trump and the other 14 co-defendants. All four of the allies who took the deal also agreed that they would hand over any and all documents related to the case, and they will also be inclined to testify against any of the defendants. Trump is also facing legal consequences in New York for falsifying documents to cover up hush payments made during a sex scandal. He faces 34 charges in this case. In Florida, he has 37 charges against him, all relating to the classified documents he illegally took home with him to Mar-a-Lago, his Florida home, following the end of his presidency in 2021. On a federal level, Trump is also being charged on four counts for his involvement with Jan. 6 and the attack on the Capitol. But, the Georgia case may be the most damaging. 19 people in total are listed on the indictment. Trump faces the most charges of any other defendant in the case. Some of the charges being held against him are for falsified documents, soliciting public officers, influencing witnesses and election fraud. “I think it was mainly a targeted attack. (Judge Tanya Chutkan) went there knowing that she wanted to look for something in particular, instead of looking at the case as a whole. I think she was just looking at ways that she could scare Trump’s attorneys and indict him as soon as possible,” Sisk said. The case is set to go to trial on March 4 of next year.
“The common practice in a case like this is, you start at the bottom and work up. So you get those at the bottom to flip, and then you hope to build a case as you go farther up the ladder. And, the whole goal here is to get Trump.” -Denis Binder
NEWS
Vol.106, No. II
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Metrolink offers unlimited free rides pass for students through March
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From P1
Metrolink unveils a new Student Adventure Pass that grants students free rides all across Southern California.
Chapman releases 2023 security, fire safety report, showing increases in rape, stalking cases
By Natalie Paul, Assistant News Editor
By Tatum Foulger, News Staff Writer available classes. When a report of sexual misconduct is made, the Title IX office immediately takes action. “We reach out to the student and meet with them, along with an advisor if they wish, to walk through the process, provide information about supportive measures and gather information so (they) can understand which policy and process (or policies and processes) might be applicable,” said Colleen Wood, Chapman’s Title IX coordinator and the associate dean of students. Chapman University has two sexual misconduct policies, which were changed and implemented last year. The Student Policy on Sexual Harassment Prohibited by Title IX applies to on-campus
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Jack Sundblad
n email sent out Oct. 4 to frequent student Metrolink riders detailed that all students would have access to a new and free student pass. This new offer went into effect Oct. 9 and will extend until March 2024. The Student Adventure Pass through Metrolink offers students free access to the entire Metrolink system. All students have to do is make an account through the Metrolink app with their school email and then verify their email. Within 24 hours of creating the account, the pass will appear in the user’s app. Darren Kettle, the CEO of the Metrolink system, explained in an Oct. 5 press release how this rider pass will make a difference for students who use the train system and who may begin utilizing it now due to the new pass. “As a parent with three kids currently attending college, I know firsthand that getting an education isn’t cheap, so this Student Adventure Pass is a game changer for many families across Southern California,” Kettle said in the press release. “The great thing about this program is that students of any age and level qualify for it, as long as they have valid student identification.” When a student uses the train, they have to activate the pass and then show their student ID to validate the pass when scanned. The pass can be used as frequently as the student would like since it is unlimited. It can be used on both weekends and weekdays. The pass was made possible by a grant from the Low Carbon Transit Organization Program. Out of the total percentage of Metrolink users, according to the Metrolink press release, 17% are
students. The goal of this program is to help raise that percentage of student passengers. Junior film production major Ali Nuño often uses the Metrolink to go home to visit her family. When she found out about the pass, she was very excited to no longer pay for the cost of having to travel back and forth. “I think that this is super beneficial to students because many are doing their best to save money, and this student pass will really help,” Nuño said. “I hope that other students that use the Metrolink often know about this because it makes traveling so much easier.” With the help of the pass, students are now able to travel throughout the Metrolink system for free. The Metrolink trains stretch across six counties of Southern California, including Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego and more. A map of the system can be found on the Metrolink website. Kaylee Scott, a junior psychology major, has thought about taking the Metrolink to go to major cities in Southern California and is now taking the benefits of the pass into account. “Now that Metrolink is offering students rides for free, I have considered taking the train to either Los Angeles or San Diego,” Scott said. “This would be more convenient since I won’t have to worry about parking or driving there.” On the Metrolink website, a How to Ride section is available which offers detailed information on using the Metrolink for people who may not have experience using a train system.
“I think this is super beneficial to students because many are doing their best to save money, and this student pass will really help. I hope that other students that use the Metrolink often know about this because it makes traveling so much easier.” -Ali Nuño
“We are committed to providing a secure living environment, addressing concerns promptly, promoting community standards and offering support services for our students.” - Juan Tinoco offenses. In contrast, the Student Policy on Sexual Harassment Prohibited by Senate Bill 493 applies to offenses that take place off-campus. However, even if a victim comes forward, the school might not have the authority to start an investigation against the victim’s wishes. “In the vast majority of cases, we can respect a student’s desire for the university not to investigate and simply provide them with the support they seek,” Wood told The Panther. “This is not the case if the incident involves a university employee.” If a student has been a victim of a sexual offense on or off campus and would like to keep their identity hidden, they can anonymously submit a report to the Title IX office. However, Wood says it is used infrequently. “Students can come forward and get support without sharing much information,” Wood said. “This may be a more valuable route for students — but I support students doing what is best for them.” If a student wishes to report instances of sexual misconduct, they can contact the following Chapman staff members: Colleen Wood, the assistant dean of students and lead Title IX coordinator titleix@chapman.edu Lauren Lockwood, program coordinator for student affairs llockwood@chapman.edu Dean of Students Office: (714) 997-6721 Public Safety Department: (714) 997-6763 Office of Human Resources: (714) 997-6686
NEWS
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Chapman’s Survey of American Fears releases results for ninth year Released in mid-October, the survey showcases the top 10 fears in Americans for 2023.
By Laila Freeman, News Editor
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esults are in for the annual Chapman University Survey of American Fears (CSAF). Spearheaded by sociology professor Christopher Bader back in 2014, this marks Chapman’s ninth year conducting this survey. Here are the top 10 American Fears in 2023 which include the percentages of those who are either afraid or very afraid of these categories: 1. Corrupt government officials 60.1% 2. Economic/financial collapse 54.7% 3. Russia using nuclear weapons 52.5% 4. The U.S. involved in another World War 52.3% 5. People I love becoming seriously ill 50.6% 6. People I love dying 50.4% 7. Pollution of drinking water 50.0% 8. Biological warfare 49.5% 9. Cyber-terrorism 49.3% 10. Not having enough money for future 48.0% The CSAF is conducted by the Ludie and David C. Henley Social Sciences Research Laboratory with the help of Social Science Research Solutions (SSRS), a market research firm. The survey is sent out online via the SSRS Opinion Panel to American adults. Data collection began on March 27 and concluded on April 4. 2,189 potential participants were recruited at random, and 1,014 people completed the survey. Fear of corrupt government officials remains in the number one slot (60.1%) since 2015. Senior Henley Lab research fellow Mateo Guerrero is in his third year of contributing to CSAF, and he states that the fear of corrupt government officials keeps stealing first place because it is a fear Americans have regardless of political party for both Republicans and Dem-
ocrats. While the dread of Russia using nuclear weapons reigns in the third spot since 2022 (52.5%), the new second place fear of economic/financial collapse (54.7%) rose from its eighth rank last year, with a 1% fear percentage increase. “I would say (the rise in fear of economic/financial collapse) is related to an overall evaluation of the state of the economy, inflation and fears over a looming recession,” said Ann Gordon, the associate dean in the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. “And, it’s also impacted by events such as bank failures like what we saw with Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.” Gordon, who is also the director of the Henley Lab and co-principal investigator for CSAF, also works with Wilkinson associate professor Lemuel “Ed” Day on CSAF. “We’ve noticed over time that the top 10 list, in particular, is really sensitive to the news cycle and economic news has been at the top of the list and was especially around the time that the survey was being taken,” Day said. Located in Wilkinson College’s Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art is a digital art installation that brings these fears to life. The art piece titled, “Pareidolia,” pulls from news data that aligns with the survey results and displays the correlating images and text onto four screens. As the news cycle
Photo collage by Renee Elefante
continuously updates, the art generates new visuals. The CSAF team is currently in the planning process for next year’s survey. “I would imagine that in the fear survey coming up, we’re going to see everything in the top 10 above 50% again because that’s where we’re at in the news cycle right now,” Day said. “And, all the macro events are particularly hideous at the moment.” Guerrero stated that every summer, students who conduct research for the survey are welcome to pitch ideas or questions they deem relevant for the upcoming survey. Most questions stay similar from survey to survey because of relevancy and in order to maintain consistency. Guerrero is hoping to present the CSAF results at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research in April 2024.
Wilkinson College welcomes new Asian American Studies minor professor
Vivian Yan-Gonzalez, the assistant professor for the minor, is already making notable contributions to Chapman University through her passion for her work. By Brandon Samuel Leonard, News Staff Writer
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ne of the new professors for Chapman’s Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is Vivian Yan-Gonzalez, an assistant professor for Chapman’s Asian American Studies minor. Yan-Gonzalez, a California native, studied at the University of Southern California as an undergraduate before attending Stanford University for her doctoral degree in history. Prior to coming to Chapman, she also spent a year as a postdoctoral research associate at the Department of Asian American Studies at the University of Illinois. “It’s exciting that Chapman University is developing ethnic studies courses and programs, particularly with its location in the heart of Orange County where ethnic and racial minorities and immigrants are rapidly changing the community,” Yan-Gonzalez said. “And, I know that students have been deeply involved in pushing for the creation of these programs for a very long time.” Yan-Gonzalez says that she was drawn in by the opportunity to help contribute to the Asian American Studies minor. Her research thus far has focused largely on 20th century politics of Chinese and Japanese American conservatives and Republicans in California, and she believes Orange County is a vibrant
spot for Asian American politics in particular. “It’s surprising to look back on this now, but when I grew up in Orange County in the 2000s, we often felt embarrassed about our ethnicity and tried to avoid being seen as ‘too Asian,’” Yan-Gonzalez said. “For instance, I had that experience — a sort of classic moment many Asian Americans have had as well — of opening my lunchbox at school and some other kid saying, ‘Ew, what is that?’ So, when I went to college, I had internalized that attitude, and I had no particular interest in Asian American studies.”
Stephanie Takaragawa, the program director of the Asian American Studies minor and an associate dean at Wilkinson College, had nothing but praise and recommendation for any students interested in getting involved in the minor through Yan-Gonzalez’s courses. “Dr. Yan-Gonzalez brings a unique historical and political science perspective to Asian American studies through her work on politicians, and her digital humanities approach,” Takaragawa said. “Her Asian American media class is quite popular, and students are introduced to issues of Asian American representation and self-representation through multimodal forms.” Senior theater performance major Jerry Zou,who is currently in Yan-Gonzalez’s Asian American Media course, was drawn to the minor more or less out of coincidence, trying to find a minor that seemed interesting out of the many offered by Chapman. “I think one of the greatest attributes Professor Yan-Gonzalez provides to the minor is challenging these first-year students, who just moved on from high school, to elevate their critical thinking abilities and confidence to speak up in class discussions,” Zou said.
Emi Thomas
Vol.106, No. II
NEWS
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New campus center at the Rinker campus officially sees grand opening
The new 52,000-square-foot campus center at the Rinker campus saw a grand opening late October after being open for several months. By Brandon Leonard, News Staff Writer
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Don’t let the bedbugs bite: Infestations in Paris, Las Vegas By Tatum Foulger, News Staff Writer
Studies show bedbug infestations are currently on the rise globally.
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Emi Thomas
tudents now have much more to look for- the beginning, I could tell the difference the building ward to at the Rinker Health Sciences had made to the campus,” Kilzi said in an interview Campus with the addition of a new cam- with The Panther. “Since that time, the building has pus center. While its opening was celebrated on June not gotten any emptier, but rather busier, being a 28, a much larger grand opening for the community place for all students to go to.” is set to occur on Oct. 25. The additions to Rinker mark a period of growth The campus center has many amenities for stu- and improvement all across Chapman University’s dents, such as the Paws Café for lunch and dinner campus, with such projects as the Killefer building options, the Panther Store with books and clothing, renovations and donations to other schools in the the Panther Pantry for food, a prayer room and other university like the Argyros School of Business and various amenities. All of these options can be found Economics and the Fowler School of Law. in a 52,000-square-foot “I envision that this building. building is just the be“When we had our student celThe new building has ginning to future adbeen especially benefi- ebration, the building was just ditions and will pave cial to students in Chapthe way to further acbarely starting to open, and man’s Crean College of commodate students’ from the beginning, I could tell Health and Behavioral needs,” Kilzi said in Sciences and the School the difference the building had an interview with The of Pharmacy, which is Panther. “For example, made to the campus. Since that located at the Rinker there may be an extime, the building has not got- pansion in the labs in Campus. During the June 28 ten any emptier, but rather busi- the future, providing opening, both Kara Ito, students more research er, being a place for all students a third-year doctor of opportunities, or even physical therapy student, more simulation rooms to go to” and Brenda Kilzi, a firstto provide more prac-Brenda Kilzi year doctor of pharmatice for patient interaccy student, spoke at the tion.” event to express their hopes for the building. Both Kilzi and Ito expressed that Rinker expan“Ever since the day the campus center opened, I sion has been a massive step forward for students have been using the facilities every day,” Ito said. “I on a campus that already puts plenty of attention am notoriously known to ‘live at Chapman’ since I into creating a welcoming environment for students. complete all of my studying there and usually spend With several construction projects currently taking up to 12 hours on campus.” place across campus, incoming and returning stuAmong the aforementioned facilities are also dents to Chapman will be seeing plenty of new those made to appeal to students, such as large and spaces no matter what their educational interests numerous student rooms. These include workrooms may be. for student organizations complete with their own “I believe this is a great example of how a facilmeeting spaces and lockers. Other amenities avail- ity can elevate the experience and perspective for able to students include laptops that can be checked students and faculty,” Ito said in an interview with out, wireless charging packs, food preparation and The Panther. “The addition of a center dedicatstorage spaces and couches, which Ito expressed she ed to students’ needs has made Chapman Rinker often naps on. Campus feel more like a community than a work “When we had our student celebration, the environment.” building was just barely starting to open, and from
Online videos show bedbugs crawling over metro seats, travelers with bites covering their arms and hotels shutting down over reports of infestation. This raised the question of whether bedbugs are on the rise. Bedbugs began being reported in Paris when the city was hosting Fashion Week from Sep. 25 to Oct. 3. Media attention was at an all-time high, with several videos of vermin on public transport being posted to social media. However, while some French politicians have made comments like “no one is immune” and “there is an urgent need to act,” others have assured “there is no reason for general panic,” which begs the question: has the media sparked widespread fear over an issue blown out of proportion? Maybe, but it’s not just in Paris. According to a study in the Annual Review of Entomology, there’s been a “global resurgence” in bedbugs since the turn of the century, including in several U.S. cities that are mostly densely-populated areas such as Chicago, New York City and Philadelphia. Since this time last year, several Las Vegas hotels on the strip reported bedbug sightings and guests being bitten, the most recent being in June at Planet Hollywood. The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) takes action when a report is made. “When we receive a report of bedbugs in a hotel room, a complaint is generated, and an environmental health specialist follows up with the facility management,” Jennifer Sizemore, the SNHD chief communications officer, told the Panther. “They typically take quick action as they do not want a persistent bedbug issue.” According to the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), there have been no reports of bedbugs in the county in the last year. However, the agency does have suggestions to avoid infestations. These include checking sleeping areas for signs of bedbugs, like their skins from molting and rust-colored spots from bedbug droppings, according to OCHCA Director of Environmental Health Christine Lane. When reports are made, Environmental Health will first conduct an investigation. Approved manners of bedbug removal include both chemical and non-chemical methods, such as using pesticides and steam cleaners. The agency considers it critical to contact a pest control operator licensed by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Structural Pest Control Board and follow their recommendations. Although bedbugs may not be a global epidemic just yet, Paris serves as a reminder that it could happen anywhere. Pests don’t discriminate.
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FEATURES
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Production company American High creates content from shared high school, college experiences
@americanhighshorts and @collegelifeshorts provide positive and relatable content about the crazy and awkward situations students find themselves in throughout high school and college. By Izzy Betz, Feature & Entertainment Writer
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oticing a huge hole in the film landscape, Chapman class of 2013 film production alumnus Will Phelps and his creative partner Jeremy Garelick decided to set their sights on producing high school-centered content. After acquiring screenplays and establishing the company, the duo faced the biggest thorns in a filmmaker’s side — locations and transportation. Their logical next step: buy a school! Once a place of education, the 100,000-square foot building located in upstate New York now serves as the location for 75% of their movies as well as storage for equipment, props and costumes. In 2023, American High launched TikTok channels @americanhighshorts and @ collegelifeshorts which have garnered over one million followers and 81 million likes combined. “It’s cool to have a big follower count. I grew up when YouTube was just starting,” Phelps said. “When I was in middle school and high school, I was making YouTube videos that nobody was watching, and it was before doing YouTube stuff was cool. So to get our YouTube Play Button in the mail was like, ‘I got a YouTube Play Button. That’s cool.’” On Oct. 11, The Panther sat down with Phelps and members of the American High team to talk about their social media stardom, film production endeavors and why high school stories appeal to audiences of all ages. A large majority of the crew and some recurring American High Shorts actors live in a house across the street from the high school deemed “The Frat House.” After their first film “Banana Split” in 2018, they struck gold with “Big Time Adolescence,” starring Pete Davidson and Griffin Gluck, which released the following year.
After being showcased at the Sundance Film Festival, the film was acquired by Hulu, who secured American High an eight-movie deal, which has recently been reupped. After witnessing little growth on Instagram in 2022, even with the help of marketing agencies, Phelps came to the realization that it’s not just about strategy, but content. He came up with the idea to create shorts for social media and recruited actors from Syracuse University. A couple of them were brought to American High and began shooting as many sketches as possible over the course of four days. They would post one of those videos a day and come back every few weeks to film more. In January 2023, they posted “Alpha Dads At Their Sons’ Game,” and everything changed. They began bringing in other actors and internet celebrity guests such as Ben Palmer and Nake Meeker. Once the Writers and Actors Guilds’ strikes began, they decided to focus on making sketches since they couldn’t write or film movies. They aren’t looking back now. Why start a production company specifically about high school? Isn’t that such a small part of the human experience with an even smaller target audience? The American High believes it’s both a scary and exciting part of life that people of all ages can relate to. “We think (the high school experience) res-
Photo courtesy of American High
onates for two reasons,” Phelps said. “For one, it’s the last shared common experience. Everyone had to go to high school. After college, everyone’s life goes in so many different directions. But in high school, everyone had to go through it and deal with all those weird things that happened. The other reason is because it was when everyone had their first experiences. It’s the first time you’re driving a car or having a girlfriend or boyfriend. It’s a world of firsts.” Grace Reiter, a comedian and actress you have likely seen on the majority of American High Shorts, credits her comedic talent and career partly to being “a product of what it’s like growing up on the internet.” “Our generation grew up on YouTubers,” Reiter said. “So I was always like ‘Oh my gosh, I want to be on Disney Channel’ or ‘I want to be a super famous YouTuber.’ I wanted to be like them. We grew up on that influencer stuff — like it wasn’t a weird thing, and it’s not a new thing.”
Kapamilya is a second family for Filipino Chapman students
Kapamilya, Chapman’s Filipino-American student organization, cultivates a space for Filipino students to gather and for all Chapman students to learn more about the Filipino community. By Maya Caparaz, Feature & Entertainment Writer
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hen junior broadcast journalism and documentary major Czerena Bayle attended her first meeting of Kapamilya — Chapman’s Filipino-American student association — her freshman year, she felt homesick that week, especially being away from her home all the way in Hawaii, where she lived in a tight-knit community. But when she entered the room, she found that it was filled with Filipino students like her. All of the executive board members welcomed her. Bayle knew after that meeting that she had found a group that felt like a home away from home. Bayle is now Kapamilya’s president, leading the general and executive board meetings of the club. “After that (first meeting), I knew I wanted to keep going to Kapamilya meetings, and I knew I wanted to be part of that community,” Bayle told The Panther. Kapamilya promotes a sense of community
among Chapman’s Filipino students and opportunities to get in touch with and celebrate their culture, as well as introduce Filipino culture to the rest of the Chapman community. The word, “kapamilya” comes from the Filipino language, Tagalog. “Pamilya” means family, while “kapamilya” more specifically refers to any people — blood relatives or not — who share a close bond. The club hosted a special slate of activities throughout October in honor of Filipino American History Month, which recognizes the history of Filipino Americans and their contributions to society. Bayle says that after each club meeting, she wants the members to feel like they are a “kapamilya.” “The main point of Kapamilya is to create a sense of community at the Chapman campus,” Bayle said. “What I hope a lot of my club members take away is that they will always have a safe space within Kapamilya, and they have a space where they can embrace the culture and learn,
but they can also build their own little families.” The club meets on Wednesdays at the Argyros Forum in Room 119A from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. During general club meetings, the cultural chair teaches a short lesson about an aspect of Filipino culture and/or history. Then, the club members engage in various activities that allow them to socialize and get to know each other better. While there are other clubs for Asian students at Chapman, Angeles believes that Kapamilya is valuable because it highlights the culture of the Filipino-American community and gives a space for Filipino students to come together. “We have a lot of other Asian cultural clubs, but I think it’s important to specifically have a Filipino club,” Angeles said. “Our club gives the space for those who want to learn more (about Filipino culture) and those who share the same culture to come together and learn more (about) and be proud of our own culture.”
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Chapman Ouroboros Magazine offers space for creative expression, validation for imaginative writers
The fiction magazine, dealing predominantly in fantastical subject matter, works to give students a space to write creative stories they are passionate about that explore genres not often held in high esteem. By Cameron Scherer, Features & Entertainment Writer
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n a day and age where studies in the arts can be looked down upon and creative career paths cause eyebrows to raise, Chapman Ouroboros Magazine stands proudly in the face of naysayers. The magazine, founded by class of 2021 history and creative writing alumnus Collin Brown in 2019, offers students an outlet to express their creativity surrounding genres and ideas that may not be often illustrated. Across six issues, beginning in the fall of 2020, the medium has published content surrounding fantasy, horror, science fiction and mythology. Senior creative writing major Sam Wilson, who serves as the magazine’s managing editor, joined the organization due to his passion for the weird. He felt that the magazine acted as an outlet for stories about lesser-displayed topics and genres. “I think Ouroboros serves sort of the niche interest of speculative fiction and fantasy. It offers a place where those things can really shine on their own,” Wilson told The Panther. “(Ouroboros’ past work) really just spoke to it being such a welcoming place for odd stories and weirdness and pushing the bounds of what fiction can do.” For senior creative writing major Joie-May Silvers, the magazine’s third (and current) editor-in-chief, joining the organization was in part determined by a desire to break away from what may be considered societal normalities and embrace one’s oddness.
Thumbnails courtesy of Joie-May Silvers, photo collage by Emily Paris
“I was really drawn to the magic and the weirdness and the love of being who you are without judgment,” Silvers said. “I’ve always felt most comfortable in the weird, and I’ve always wanted to cultivate things that aren’t the norm. I guess, because in society, we’re so stuck on a certain image of ourselves. Ouroboros is really about breaking down that image.”
Reading from the magazine’s Chapman webpage, Silvers explained the background of the publication’s name. The ouroboros, a creature that eats its own tail, represents the unification of something’s beginning and end. Applying that concept to the magazine, Ouroboros offers readers the ability to continuously return to its content with — as Wilson described —
different voices and members constantly contributing in all areas of the publication. Silvers and Wilson both believe that Ouroboros offers reaffirmation of a future to students who may have had their career paths and creative passions squandered by those who doubt such fields are financially sound or those who look down upon literary topics that deviate from what may be considered “conventional.” To Wilson, Ouroboros allows students to garner respect for their work and passion regardless of their career status. “I think it’s really interesting how writing and creative writing and creative industries aren’t usually seen as places with big futures,” Wilson said. “I think something like Ouroboros that focuses directly on emphasizing and elevating the beautiful work that people are doing in those fields in a very small way is important…so that you don’t feel like you have to be a major name in the world of science fiction and fantasy writing in order to be respected.” Upcoming events the organization is orchestrating include the release of the magazine’s October zine this Halloween and a launch party that coincides with the magazine’s fall issue release on Dec. 1. Students interested in learning more about the magazine can visit the organization’s Instagram page and Chapman webpage or visit the magazine’s website and Discord server.
How a Chapman alumnus turned his final project into inclusivity in the wedding industry
Chapman alumnus Frank Shaver-Burgess shares how his final project in graduate school catapulted him into the wedding industry and earned him OC Queer Activist/Philanthropist of the Year.
By Taylor Bazella, Assistant Features & Entertainment Editor
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ompleting a final project for your master’s program doesn’t always lead to attending New York Bridal Fashion Week, but for Frank Shaver-Burgess, an alumnus of Chapman’s leadership and development program, the two happen to directly correlate. “(I) had a class called Leadership, Diversity and Equity, where we had a final assignment where we had to identify an issue of concern out in our community that needed some leadership attention from a diversity and equity standpoint,” said Shaver-Burgess, who graduated in 2021. Shaver-Burgess carefully considered what would be the most impactful project to pursue and quickly realized a problem he was facing in his own, newly engaged life: the lack of LGBTQ+-friendly wedding vendors in Orange County. He felt if he didn’t spot same sex couples on a vendor’s website, there was always the fear of being turned away because of his sexual orientation. “I was looking at vendors, and I didn’t see a whole lot of representation of couples that looked like me and my future husband: two men,” Shaver-Burgess told The Panther. “I thought, ‘Well, maybe I’ll do something around that experience.’ And so what I did for the final assignment was create an online Instagram wedding directory for queer couples in Orange County looking to get married.” After the project was completed, Shaver-Burgess’ career quickly took off. His own wedding planner at the time pointed him in the direction of former non-
profit organization National Gay Wedding Association. Here, he quickly joined the board of directors and was guided to pursue a career in the wedding industry by the president of the association. Upon ultimately deciding that wedding planning was the route he wanted to take, Shaver-Burgess told The Panther why it was so important to him to be available to queer couples living in Orange County specifically. “To me, it was important (to) just start in my own backyard, so Orange County, because that’s where I live,” Shaver-Burgess said. “That’s where I spend all of my time. I thought, ‘Well, let me see if there’s a need and a market for a planner like me to fully support and market towards LGBT couples.’ And I found that there was there was definitely that, so I thought, ‘Okay, let’s give it a try.’” In 2022, an online community of voters in Orange County nominated and ultimately chose Shaver-Burgess to win OC Queer Activist/Philanthropist of the Year. “I thought, hopefully that (the queer-friendly wedding directory) is going to make a difference and even if it touches just one person and one person finds value in it, then all of this will have been worth it,” Shaver-Burgess said. “So to see it on a grander scale, like an official award, that just really brought it to the next level of, ‘Okay, this (is) the work that I’m doing. This is worth the time, the energy, the investment.’ I’m so happy to be doing it.” In addition to his valiant efforts to create a wel-
coming space fo LGBTQ+ couples, Shaver-Burgess brought attention to the prevailing skepticism some may have about ongoing societal issues. “I think it’s easy for some people to think that today in 2023, these issues are not an issue or (ask themselves), ‘Is this really happening in our neighborhood?’” Shaver-Burgess said. “Once I identified there is a lack of representation, at least from the vendors that I was seeing, that proved to me at the time there’s still something that needs to happen here.” After graduating in 2021 and launching his official wedding planning business and receiving his OC accolade in 2022, the past few years have moved quite quickly for Shaver-Burgess, but he wouldn’t change a thing about it. “It felt like it happened in the blink of an eye,” Shaver-Burgess said. “I mean, truly, it felt like it was just yesterday that I was struggling to figure out what I (was) going to turn in for this final project and then to see what it’s become and what it’s turned into and now having my own wedding planning business — like all of that space in the middle, just feels like it happened so fast. Really, it’s overwhelming. It’s humbling. It’s all of those things mixed into one. But more than anything, I’m just so proud of the way that it’s taken off.” To hear more about Shaver-Burgess’ story or to access his wedding services and resources, visit his website at https://www.eventsbyfrank.com/services.
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Chapman professor tackles conservation, sustainability through research in forests around the world Associate professor of biology Gregory Goldsmith sat down with The Panther to discuss his on-the-ground work in forest ecology, his passion for education and his recent publication in the prestigious science journal Nature.
By Nicholas De Lucca, Features & Entertainment Editor
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way from the precisely trimmed bushes and meticulously designed flower arrangements outside of Chapman’s Memorial Lawn, Gregory Goldsmith spends his time in forests all over the world, under thick canopies of vegetation where vines are endless and treetops touch the clouds. As a plant physiological ecologist, Goldsmith embarks on extensive field campaigns in the depths of forests to study how plants function in relation to their environment. His escapades can last anywhere from two weeks to eight months, sometimes traveling with a group as small as three or as large as 30. His research has taken him to Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Brazil, Singapore and more. “What I love about working in tropical forests is that any day, around any corner that you turn, there’s the possibility that you discover something new,” Goldsmith said. “We know so little about what lives here on planet Earth, and there’s so much work left to be done just to find and describe all of the planet’s biodiversity. There’s an enormous privilege in knowing that you could be someone who finds something new, and that could lead to something being saved or lead to ways in which that knowledge helps the planet at large.” In August, Goldsmith’s latest research, titled “Tropical forests are approaching critical temperature thresholds,” was published in Nature — one of the most prestigious and reputable science journals in the world. The study was conducted along with 17 co-authors including Chapman associate professor Dr. Joshua Fisher, and it was also funded by NASA, Department of Education and Training — Australian Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council, the latter of which is based in the U.K. Their study analyzed how close tropical forests are to reaching critical temperature limits due to changes in the climate. When plants reach these limits, their ability to produce sugar through photosynthesis stops, and they experience a sort of “heatstroke.” Goldsmith and his peers utilized both on-the-ground equipment and NASA thermal imaging to measure the temperature of leaves and reach their conclu-
sions. “The part that’s exciting about Nature (journal) is that you have the opportunity to tell the story to broader audiences in ways that one doesn’t have in other journals…” Goldsmith said. “Usually, you may get some press attention for an interesting study, but Nature brings with it a platform to communicate science to a much broader audience.” After growing up in a suburb outside of Boston, Goldsmith attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where he graduated with a bachelor’s in bi-
ology and environmental studies. He credits a trip to the Barro Colorado Island in Panama under an undergraduate research fellowship as a turning point in his career. He later earned a doctoral degree in integrative biology from the University of California, Berkeley in 2012 and took part in two post-doctoral research associates — one at the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford and one as a Marie
Photos courtesy of Drew Fulton and Gregory Goldsmith
Curie Fellow at the Paul Scherrer Institut in Zurich. He has published over 60 studies in his field. “I saw ecology as an excuse to have a career that involved being outdoors and being in nature,” Goldsmith told The Panther. “I also saw ecology as holding enormous potential to help explain the things that we see in the world around us and to use that information for the sake of things like conservation and making the environment a more sustainable place for the organisms that are there and the people that interact with it.” Although he still gets his hands dirty in forest soil, Goldsmith found a greater purpose in the classroom when he came to Chapman in 2017 as an assistant professor of biology. He now serves as an associate professor of biology and the assistant dean for research and development in the university’s Schmid College of Science and Technology. “I’ve always seen teaching as the way in which I can empower the people around me to do great things for the world,” Goldsmith said. “I’ve never felt that the next research study that I do will fundamentally be the thing that transforms how we relate to the environment or conservation. I’ve always thought that the multiplicative effect of teaching 20, 50, 100 or 200 students, and empowering them to reach their full potential, was the way in which I was most likely to affect change in the world around me.” Goldsmith spoke to The Panther about his passion for education and how historically, science and engineering education has systematically excluded certain identities from participation. In 2017, he became the director of the Grand Challenges Initiative (GCI), which introduces a variety of incoming science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors to a two-year project tackling a pressing issue. Goldsmith is currently researching the best educational methods to ensure equitable and inclusive educational experiences for all students who want to study ecology. His publications are available to view at http://www.gregrgoldsmith.com/publications. html.
Page —— 11 ENTERTAINMENT King of comedy Judd Apatow returns to Chapman University
Vol.106, No. II
On Oct. 25, the comedic filmmaker joined Chapman professor Jill Condon and an audience of students for a conversation about his career and the advice he has for aspiring filmmakers. By Molly Rose Freeman, Features & Entertainment Writer Photo Courtesy of Gustavo V.
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udd Apatow may be one of the most influential comedic filmmakers to fill theaters with roars of laughter, but the acclaimed writer, producer and director might have also trailblazed the modern phenomenon of podcasting, or so he claimed to an audience of Chapman students. There is some truth to that claim, as he was one of the first individuals to get famous people to sit down and talk with him for an extended period of time. While attending high school in Long Island, New York, Apatow hosted a show called Comedy Club on his school’s radio station. But at the age of 16, his methods for booking guests weren’t always the most ethical. “I would call their publicists. I would say, ‘I’m from WKWZ Radio, can I interview Jerry (Seinfeld)?’ and I wouldn’t say I was 16,” Apatow said. ”Then I would show up at his door, and he would look at me like, ‘Oh God’… Everyone was very nice, but it was a way for me to basically (ask) people, ‘How do you do it?’” On Oct. 25, Apatow returned to Chapman University for a Master Class to return the favor and let students know how he did it. The Master Class was moderated by Chapman professor Jill Condon and followed a screening of his 2015 romantic-comedy film “Trainwreck.” Apatow had previously been part of the university’s Master Class program in 2021, which was conducted over Zoom as a result of the pandemic. After the radio show, Apatow went on to befriend a young Adam Sandler. The two came up together in the world of comedy. It was not without struggle, of course, but they were willing to work hard and have confidence in themselves in a way that “only young people can.”
“I think when you’re young, you think anything is possible,” Apatow told The Panther. “You’re almost genetically built to have the courage to try things. You think you’re gonna make it. … I think it’s important that you’re in that head, but I always tell people the key is to not quit, because almost everyone quits… It’s the lunatics who refuse.” Apatow gave thanks for his grandfather’s drive and ability to be a “hustler,” which he believes made him more driven in turn. His refusal to give up has certainly led to a fruitful career, despite some setbacks. For instance, he struggled for years to get “Superbad” and “Bridesmaids” made — both of which he produced and helped write. Instead of scrapping the projects, he and his partners simply kept refining the scripts until they were as good as they could be and waited for the right moment. Apatow’s can-do attitude is likely part of what led to him being one of the few filmmakers to make a project (“The Bubble”) during quarantine, in as safe a manner as possible. The film follows a group of actors trying to make a movie in the midst of COVID-19 — ironic, right? It stars Pedro Pascal, Karen Gillan and Apatow’s wife and daughter, Leslie Mann and Iris Apatow, respectively. The director always gets a kick out of casting his family. Apatow, a writer, director, producer and comedian, seemed excited to be sharing his wealth of knowledge with students, even staying past the standard end time to make sure as many students got their questions answered as possible. Those in attendance certainly seemed to have gotten a lot out of the experience and enjoyed getting to hear from him. The Panther spoke with William Altermann, a sophomore film and television production major, about the most
valuable thing he learned from Apatow. “His advice on (how) people who do make it are the lunatics because they want it really badly (was the most valuable thing I learned),” Altermann said. “Even if you don’t think you’re gonna make it, keep pushing yourself to make it because you’re a lunatic, and that’s gonna make you the best that you can be and succeed in your career.” Over the course of his 25-year career, Apatow has secured 19 wins and 45 nominations across various award shows, including the Critics Choice Awards, the BAFTA Awards and the Primetime Emmy Awards. He has been the driving force behind several hit comedies — “This is 40,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up” to name a few — but even with all that, he still views his impact on the world of film as a “maybe.” Throughout his career, Apatow has always tried to boost young comedic talent. In the spirit of this, he has produced a few projects coming down the pipeline. One, in particular, is comedy group Please Don’t Destroy’s upcoming film “Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain,” out Nov. 17.
Review | Taylor Swift’s old music never goes out of style
In a mission to own her entire discography, award-winning artist Taylor Swift re-released her most popular album, “1989,” on Oct. 27, which included five new songs in addition to her 2014 hits. By Taylor Bazella, Assistant Features & Entertainment Editor
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t 13 years old, I gave a speech on Taylor Swift’s album “1989” to my speech and debate class in middle school, detailing the best and worst parts of each track. I researched the album for months, spending every waking moment listening to the upbeat tunes in order to fully immerse myself in the album. Nine years later, in my college apartment, I bought blueberry donuts, blue champagne and shamelessly set up blue decorations in order to fully appreciate the experience of the re-recording of “1989.” Upon my first listen, I was brought back to being an awkward 13-year-old singing “Bad Blood” with my entire chest. I have always been impressed by Swift’s ability to reignite the nostalgia with her re-recordings while also making subtle changes to showcase the ways in which she has evolved as an artist. Her latest release of “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” is no different. “1989” was originally released Oct. 27, 2014, exactly nine years prior to the release of the re-recording. “1989” was Swift’s true turn to pop, after the media had criticized her for being “too country” in her four previous albums. Compared to her prior works which feature gut-wrenching ballads of heartbreak and acoustic songs about first loves, “1989” shifts to a more sarcastic and light-hearted tone, while still keeping her signature autobiographical narratives. On Nov. 16, 2020, Swift first announced she would be re-recording her music after Scooter Braun, her old producer, sold the rights to Swift’s masters. In an effort to own her own music in its entirety, she began to re-release her old music, dubbing them “Taylor’s Version.”
On the day of its release, Swift became the most listened-to artist in a single day in Spotify history, and she even broke the record for the most streamed album in a single day with “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” The announcement came after Taylor Swift’s final show of the U.S. leg of The Eras Tour on Aug. 9. Accompanied by months of vague hints from Swift herself, fans felt confident that Aug. 9 would be the day Swift announced the re-recording of her album “1989.” Similarly to her previous re-records, Swift included an additional five vault tracks (unreleased songs), making the deluxe album 22 songs long. The sheer title of “Slut!,” which is the first vault track, had fans excitedly speculating what the song would be about as soon as the track was announced. What many thought would be an upbeat party anthem turned out to be a love song. Swift sings: “And if they call me a slut / You know it might be worth it for once,” which references the media at the time and their relentless efforts to bog down Swift for her dating habits, thus the title. Two of Swift’s new vault tracks in particular have fans grasping at hints on who they could be portraying. In my personal favorite addition to the album, “Now That We Don’t Talk,” Swift sings: “You grew your hair long / You got new icons,” which is thought to reference her breakup with Harry Styles due to his wavy locks and new tattoos after their separation. In “Is it Over Now?” lyrics read: “If she’s got blue eyes, I will surmise that you’ll probably date her / You dream of my mouth before it called you a lying traitor / You search in every model’s bed for somethin’ greater, baby,” which reference’s Styles’ rumored infi-
delity and following relationships. The nearly five-minute pop ballad, “Say Don’t Go,” pairs classic, gut-wrenching lyrics with an upbeat tune, making the song perfect for any solo shower concert. Swift writes: “Why’d you have to (Why’d you have to) / Make me love you? (Make me love you) / I said, ‘I love you’ (I said, ‘I love you’) / You say nothin’ back.” These lyrics tell the story of a one-sided love affair in which Swift is given the short end of the stick in her relationship. Of the 16 original songs on the “1989” album, fans have been vocal about which re-recordings have lived up to the authenticity of the originals and which ones just sound too different. While some fans are quick to criticize the difference in production of upbeat songs like “Style,” others are swooning at the rawness of songs like “You Are In Love.” Despite being one of my least favorite albums of Swift’s prior to the re-release, I still went in with an open mind. And to my surprise, I enjoyed the album more than 13-year-old me ever did. Where some fans reject the subtle differences in her voice, I embrace them. I love the way her voice perfectly squeaks in “I Know Places” and how her vocal maturity is showcased in “Clean.” While listening to the album on repeat may have annoyed my middle school self, college Taylor is constantly eager to get in her car and crank the re-record to max volume. With only “Reputation” and her self titled album, “Taylor Swift,” to re-record before officially owning the rights to all of her music, Swift is surely on the way to making her wildest dreams come true. Rating: 4 out of 5 Paws
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Video game ‘Sect Machina’ is a product of perseverance
After nearly getting scrapped on two different occasions, a group of video game minor students released the demo version of their video game “Sect Machina.” The game is set in a world overtaken by spiders, and users play as the last remaining butterfly. By Nicholas De Lucca, Feature & Entertainment Editor
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ometimes a TikTok video is all you need to get the creative juices flowing. In search of an idea for his video game minor thesis project, senior English major Fabian Bautista would find his inspiration through a mindless scrolling session on the social media platform. Alongside his creative partner Victoria Taurizano, the two would open their apps to starkly different videos: one playing music from the CyberPunk 2077 soundtrack (a video game set in the high-tech, dystopian future), the other featuring a praying mantis going toe-to-toe with a welding laser. The simultaneous playing of these videos would find a beautiful cohesion in Bautista’s mind. “It looked like the grasshopper was fighting this robot, and I started thinking, ‘What if a bunch of bugs were in Cyberpunk (2077)?’” Bautista told The Panther. “I kept thinking about it, like what if they were in mech suits? It kept snowballing and snowballing. It was like a giant lightning strike of the perfect elements coming
together in the most random ways.” After a year of assembling a creative team, endless nights of coding and overcoming having their project nearly axed twice, Batista and Taurizano’s brain-child resulted in the video game “Sect Machina.” Players of the game take on the role of Mona, the last butterfly remaining in a
world overtaken by spiders. Bautista described it as a mix between “Hollow Knight,” “CyberPunk 2077,” “Metroid” and “Castlevania.” The game was awarded Most Polished Game at the GameSig IEEE competition at California State University, Fullerton in April. Bautista recalled how their project nearly met its end twice. The first came after Bautista had to take some time off due to a personal issue, which led to the group nearly dissolving. The second came during the interterm between the fall and spring semesters in 2023. A change in the curriculum shifted the emphasis of the video game minor to individual coding skills instead of a group game — meaning many of the collaborative thesis projects would have to be finished on the student’s own time. Bautista and Taurizano had to push to keep “Sect Machina” alive, eventually being afforded the opportunity to pursue the game as an independent project for credit. “I remember staring at a wall and telling (Taurizano), ‘We didn’t go down the first time, we’re not going down here…’” Bautista said. “It did always feel like we were at odds with Chapman. It was an underestimation of me and (Taurizano’s) leadership skills because no matter what, we made sure our team never crunched, and we always made sure our team was happy.” Aaron Grossmann, a first-year graduate stu-
Screenshots by Nicholas De Lucca
dent in the creative writing program, served as one of the writers for “Sect Machina.” He explained how users will go from location to location as Mona “bashing baddies with a baseball bat.” Since Mona suffered a near-fatal wound during the spider’s coup, her health bar is consistently dropping. Players must find ways to acquire charges that will temporarily heal Mona’s cybernetic heart. Senior creative writing major Willoh Tyler knew she wanted to join the “Sect Machina” team after hearing Bautista and Taurizano’s initial pitch. She would serve as a narrative designer and assistant producer, praising the passion of the team and the intimate work environment they fostered to ensure each individual could adequately contribute. “I really liked being part of the person-centric approach — really talking with people about what they can do,” Tyler said. “It wasn’t just, ‘We need you to do this by this time.’ We’re students. We’re a group of human beings working on a piece of art. I feel like in some places, it feels like you’re cogs in the machine meant to print out products for money. This was more about our passion and our commitment to the idea that we want to actualize. That’s a very human thing — not a machine thing.” After 12 months, the demo version of “Sect Machina” was launched for free on Steam.
Video | A place to create and nurture friendships –– as well as your garden: The Potting Shed by Carlisle By Lisa Wong, Video & Podcast Editor
The Potting Shed by Carlisle is undoubtedly a staple in Old Towne Orange. For Chapman students, Orange residents, and even Southern California tourists – The Potting Shed is a place to not only satisfy your gardening needs. It’s a place to get trinkets for your home, to learn how to make pressed flower art or sip wine and paint. It’s a place to create and nurture friendships – as well as your garden. In 2020, The Potting Shed moved to its current location at 10 Plaza Square. This past year, they expanded their store with a second floor. Jack Carlisle is a known figure in the Orange community. When he’s not advising customers on succulents and water-wise plants, he’s a part of the Orange Chamber of Commerce, Orange Home Grown, and other civic organizations. On October 6, 2023, The Potting Shed was recognized as the Small Business of the Year at the annual State of the City event.
Vol.106, No. II
OPINIONS
Opinion | How to watch the news without getting overwhelmed
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Opinion | Changing my outlook on change
By Greta Cifarelli, Copy Editor Illustration by Yana Samoylova
By Emilia Cuevas Diaz, Opinions Editor
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o be completely honest, I don’t know. I have no idea how to watch the news without getting desensitized and overwhelmed. So far, I just keep going and hoping that I don’t stop caring. But it’s hard. Let’s face it. It is so difficult to keep up with the news of the world and not want to just… stop. Look at everything that is going on right now: the Ukraine-Russian war is still going on, all the human rights issues in Israel and Palestine, protests in Iran, just global warming as a whole, all the laws against queer people popping up, the rising hate crimes. I could keep going on and on and on and on… No matter where I turn, the news all seem to amount to the same. Injustice and oppression. People in pain. Thousands, if not millions, dead. And it would be so easy to just turn off my phone. Just tuning out the news and putting on Netflix would be so easy. Scrolling through Instagram instead of through news stories would require minimal effort. In fact, reading the news as though it’s one thing requires more effort than just not being informed. So why don’t I? I keep asking myself that question. Every time I get overwhelmed, everytime I want to just ignore what’s happening in the world, everytime I feel the urge to just turn it off but don’t, I wonder why that is. It makes no sense. But it does. I think it’s important to be informed. I think it’s important to know what’s happening in the world. And I think if I don’t know what’s happening, there’s nothing I can do to change anything. And I can’t fathom a more hopeless thought than that. So I keep going. I keep watching the news and seeing all the reports on the pain, the injustice, the suffering, the deaths… I keep up to date with what’s going on with the small hope that maybe, I’ll be able to do something about it. But that’s never enough to keep me going. The chance that maybe somewhere along the way, I might change
something? That’s difficult to hold onto. So if that’s not it, then what helps me? What keeps me from just completely disengaging? What stops me from just turning my phone off? Well, I talk about it. I talk with my friends, I talk with my family, I talk with my therapist, I talk to whoever wants to have those conversations with me. And in those talks, I give myself space to process everything: the news themselves yes, but also my emotions, my anxieties and the sense of dread I’m usually left with. Then, once I’ve given myself space to explore my own feelings, the conversations change. They are no longer about how the world sucks and everything is bad, but they start shifting into conversations of hope. Conversations of action. Conversations about how to change things instead of just letting them happen. And that makes it so much easier to handle. So no, I don’t really have a how-to guide on how to watch news without feeling overwhelmed. But I do have this: give yourself space, acknowledge the feelings and emotions and find people to help you process them. I promise that once you get out of that doom and gloom mindspace, things start looking slightly better. And that’s all it takes to make you feel like everything’s not lost, and maybe we can still change things.
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othing ever stays the same. You get a blank slate every day. Or, if you share the pessimistic outlook I did growing up, the rug gets ripped out from under you just as you start to get your footing. Clearly, I don’t like change. Change is a disease that attacks people who crave routine. For as long as I can remember, college sounded like the worst place to go. Not because I didn’t like to learn or lacked aspirations for a career that required higher education, but because I would have to venture into a scary, unfamiliar world. I had an outstanding senior year of high school: I loved writing for my high school newspaper (shoutout Redwood Bark), I loved my makeshift prom and graduation party and I loved my town. The COVID-19 pandemic was still in full swing, and I had become codependent on my support system of 17 years. In a flash it was the end of orientation week. I sat outside Dodge with my mom, begging her to take me home with her. I will never forget the utter despair I felt. But the following day, I decided to take all the advice I had accumulated from family at home to make friends. I threw myself into student organizations, I chatted with people in classes and I sat down with random people at the Caf. And then I blinked — and I will chalk my first semester up to fight or flight instincts — and I began associating this small Orange County town with positive memories: the beach, the Orange Public Library and day trips to LA. Slowly, I started referring to Orange as home, at first by accident, and now because it is. Then, this summer, I experienced Orange in a way that shifted my framework. I lived here completely alone for the summer, and this place I knew so well did what things always seem to do no matter how much I try to stop them — change. As my friends left to go home for the summer, I cursed myself for letting myself stay here. I let myself mope, as I always did, but instead of allowing fight or flight to enter, I stood still. I thought of Winnie the Pooh saying, “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard?” And how lucky am I? How lucky am I to have made such strong connections here that I didn’t want to say goodbye? How lucky was I to remain so close to my family and childhood friends? How lucky am I not yet to say goodbye to my college town, my roommates or sorority sisters, my co-editors at The Panther, or friends I made through clubs and other networks?
Vol.106, No. II
SPORTS
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Cole Cooper breaks Chapman 8k record for cross country
Photos courtesy of Cole Cooper
Cole Cooper (right) ran for glory as he snatched up the school record for the 8k event at the Oct. 14 Highlander Invitational meet. By Caleb Otte, Sport Staff Writer
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t was a record that sat on senior political science and business administration double major Cole Cooper’s goal board all summer. He dreamt of breaking it every day while he trained. Finally, at the Oct. 14 Highlander Invitational meet, Cooper crossed the finish line and gained the honor of having the fastest 8k time in Chapman’s cross country history. The Highlander Invitational is a cross country event, which included 26 schools ranging from the NCAA Division 1 level all the way down to the junior college level. The previous record, held by Cooper’s teammate and best friend Gil Bothwell, a senior majoring in business administration, sat at 25:25.3 and had been in place since last season. The new record now stands at 25:25.1, which is just two-tenths of a second quicker. “Cross country is a grind, both mentally and physically, and we all know we need each other to dig deeper than we can alone,” Bothwell told The Panther. “We want to beat each other; but at the same time, we want the guy next to us to be at his best. I knew from the start that my record was under threat with the group we have this year. And as much as I wanted to break it myself, I’m glad it was Cole.” Cooper, however, is not going to rest on his laurels when it comes to his recent achievement. “It’s motivation, for me, in the next two races to drop it further if I can because I don’t want (my teammates) to catch me anytime soon,” Cooper said. “Two-tenths of a second is not a big enough gap for me.” Even though cross country is an individual sport, Cooper wants people to
know there is still a large team aspect to it. Chapman set a team 8k record, which is calculated by averaging the team’s individual times in the event, as well with an average time of 26:27, six seconds faster than their previous best. He believes that the team truly motivates one another to be their best selves on and off the course, and records such as this will only push him and his teammates to improve. “This is definitely the fastest, most dedicated and even just the best team culture I’ve ever been a part of here at Chapman,” Cooper said. Cooper has certainly played a large part in making this cross country team a truly special unit. “As a senior, having a leadership role, I can kind of help curate the culture and the team that we wanted to build,” Cooper said. “(The seniors) all tried to build something that we’ve wanted to see, that we didn’t get when we were underclassmen.” His rollercoaster sports journey is what truly makes this accomplishment even more impressive. It is a record that Cooper wanted for years, worked hard for and it finally paid off in the end. “Watching Cole this season in his final year has made me so proud both as his teammate and close friend,” Bothwell said. “We came into Chapman together as roommates, and I have seen him grow in many ways, both on and off the field. It wasn’t always an easy road, but he was a man on a mission this past year and deserves all the success that has come his way.” Cooper and the team will be hoping to piggyback on their success, going into their last two meets of the season. With the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships on the horizon, Chapman’s cross country team has never been in better hands to achieve their end of season goals.
Vol.106, No. II
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Vol.106, No. II
SPORTS
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A love for the ocean, surfing comes together in the Chapman community
The Chapman Surf Club not only teaches members how to surf, but also how to protect the resources that help them surf.
By Ingrid Lee, Sports Editor
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ith just a board, wetsuit and the unpredictability of the waves, the Chapman Surf Club has brought together athletes from many different backgrounds. Specifically, it attracted Will Lamb and Henry LoDestro, two surfers coming from places in which surfing was considered abnormal. Lamb, a sophomore majoring in public relations and advertising, discovered the surfing community back at home in Massachusetts. Starting at an early age, Lamb continued his passion into college, happy to find people at Chapman with similar interests. “It’s been cool, (being) surrounded by a good group of people that are passionate about surfing and a love for the ocean, which is really cool. It’s what I was looking for: just nice, genuine people,” Lamb said. And, Lamb definitely found the right people to fuel his passion for surfing. Among the many surfers, Lamb got to meet LoDestro, another surfer who also wanted to connect with the surfing community. Senior LoDestro, who is majoring in communication studies, found his passion for surfing at Santa Monica College. He credits his fascination with board sports like snowboarding and skateboarding to have led him to take advantage of a beginner’s class in surfing. Despite coming from the Bay Area, the uniqueness of surfing is what made him want to continue. “Surfing is one of the more elusive,
Photo courtesy of Will Lamb
exotic-type of board sports,” LoDestro said. “You’re going out into the ocean (and) you need someone to guide you if you have no experience in the ocean. I never had that person to guide me until I went to community college and took that (surfing) class.” The Chapman Surf Club has debated in the past on starting a professional surf team. However, it would take many competitive surfers to even start a team, whereas many surfers like LoDestro choose to only surf for fun. But, in addition to surfing for the adrenaline rush, it is also a time to reset and take a mental break. LoDestro even considers it to be synonymous with activities like meditation. “When I go and surf, it’s like washing off the week, washing off the day, even,” LoDestro told The Pan-
ther. “Sometimes, I feel like my brain is a big whiteboard with a bunch of scribbles on it, bunch of notes and ideas. Going and surfing is like taking a snapshot of all that and erasing it and starting with a blank slate.” In addition to the mental reset, there’s also a tradeoff: the physicality of the sport. LoDestro claims surfing takes on a different type of demand compared to his past sports, such as soccer and baseball. “It’s very demanding on the body, very demanding on the mind as well. You cannot be absent-minded and surf,” LoDestro said. “You have to be very focused on what’s at-hand and very conscious of every single movement, of maximizing your efficiency in the water and maintaining your energy and your breath. It is not an easy sport.” But even with these challenges, the surfing community at Chapman still have a common interest: their appreciation for the ocean. “It’s my safe place,” Lamb said. “I can go there, I can go surf (and) I can be on the water, escape from reality and be by myself. Take a break, a breather; it’s a nice, calming, relaxing feeling.” In addition to teaching new members the basics of surfing, they also hope to help others understand the beauty of the environment and be able to connect with nature. To learn more about club meetings, follow the Chapman Surf Club’s Instagram to get more information on how to join and stay involved.
Eight consecutive wins brings more to the pool for men's water polo
Chapman University's men's water polo team wins more than just an eight-win streak. The team will be participating in this year's Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) on Nov. 17 and 19.
By Ingrid Lee, Sports Editor
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inning can mean a lot of things to different people, but qualifying for the SCIAC playoffs is another level. To the Chapman men’s water polo team, their consecutive eight-win streak meant more than just victories. Seniors Hudson Pak and Everett Prussak have noticed a significant difference among their teammates, all thanks to their multiple wins. Despite breaking their streak after a devastating loss to Pomona-Pitzer in double overtime, Prussak and Pak noted many benefits that still came with their past wins this season. Pak, a captain studying business administration, saw an immediate change in the team since the start of the season. The men’s water polo team started off playing against multiple Division I schools, including Princeton University. Through these matches, Pak and the team already knew what areas needed improvement coming fresh into their new season. “Being able to come back, work on what we needed to work on shown by the Division I teams and fix that for playing teams that are more of our skill set, our area is definitely a lot of fun,” Pak said. Prussak, a senior studying computer science, credits the eight-win streak to be a fix in defense. After suffering losses to Princeton and Claremont Mudd Scripps (CMS), Prussak noticed how the team flipped a switch and began
Photo courtesy of Hudson Pak
training together as a unit. “After our CMS loss, we noticed that there is a big hole in our defense, and the last few weeks were really focusing more on our defensive aspect of the game: running more drops, running correct coverages and pressing; just a lot more out of counterattacks and a lot more defense as well,” Prussak told The Panther. To get where the team is at now was something that took almost four years to achieve. Pak recalls the lack of leadership and drive among his teammates in the beginning of his Chapman journey with the water polo team. However, the commitment to the sport brought the community together and strengthened
the bond and desire for something to gain. In addition to improving team morale, the eightwin streak also gave the team an incentive to want to come to practice with an open mindset. With a common goal in mind, the team has been consistently showing up for practice, both physically and mentally. “It’s satisfying to come to work everyday and realize some wins out of that. It’s not just coming and working every day and being like, ‘Oh well, we lost,’” Pak told The Panther. “It gets us ready for the next practice and being able to show up and be even more focused. What we are doing in practice is really coming out in games, and I think that's adding focus to the younger guys.” Head coach Eric Ploessel has also seen a significant change in the team’s mentality. After setting themselves up for success to secure a spot in the playoffs, the team itself has jumped into action to try and improve among themselves. “This group has a lot of amazing leadership, and that’s really a big difference right now,” Ploessel said. “For the past few years, our younger players have led us in a lot of stats. Now, they are older and understand what it takes to win in this conference. They have played together awhile and understand what each other can do and have a great relationship out of the pool.”