Spartan Daily Vol. 161 No. 41 by Spartan Daily

WINNER OF 2023 ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS PACEMAKER AWARD, NEWSPAPER/NEWSMAGAZINE NAMED BEST CAMPUS NEWSPAPER IN CALIFORNIA FOR 2022 BY THE CALIFORNIA COLLEGE MEDIA ASSOCIATION AND CALIFORNIA NEWS PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Volume 161 No. 41 SERVING SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934

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GRAPHIC BY ALICIA ALVAREZ

SJSU talks limit on graduation tickets By Lamar Moody STAFF WRITER

Graduation season is approaching but guest tickets are limited. Seniors are scrambling all over campus to find extra tickets at all costs. Fall 2023 Commencement is set to take place Dec. 18-19 at the Provident Credit Union Center, according to a San José State website. Each registered student may claim six tickets for guests after they have registered for their ceremony, and the tickets are only valid for the ceremony that is listed, according to the same site. According to the same site, between both days of commencement, there will be five different graduation ceremonies. To attend multiple ceremonies, guests must buy separate tickets for each event. Biological sciences senior An Pham said she is

graduating this semester, and thinks the graduation ticket limit makes sense and seems fair. “Think about a concert,” Pham said. “The venue has a seat limit so obviously there has to be a ticket limit. Giving each student the same amount ensures fairness and order in a fairly big event.” Pham said it's also about logistics and crowd control. “The school needs an estimate of how many people will show up to prepare for parking, lines and hiring enough staff for the event,” she said. “Imagine a staff only able to handle a thousand people but then five thousand show up. How chaotic would that be." Forensic science senior Adriana Loya said she is going to graduate at the end of the semester and she doesn't agree with the limited number of tickets available. Loya said guests

shouldn't even have to buy tickets. She said the university should figure out a way to have the graduation ceremony at a

from college,” Loya said. “I'll be the first in my family to graduate from a university.” Loya said she has the

Imagine a staﬀ only able to handle a thousand people but then ﬁve thousand show up. How chaotic would that be. An Pham

Biological sciences senior

bigger venue so everyone can bring all of their loved ones. She said she understands that there is a livestream link for family and friends to watch the ceremony from home, but she thinks watching from a computer link isn’t the same as being there in person. “I come from a huge, tight-knit Mexican family, therefore they all want to see me graduate

theory of it being a safety issue and a hazard being the reason why there is a limit on tickets. She said "It’s a good thing that some students are willing to give their colleagues’ family an opportunity to attend the graduation by selling or giving away tickets. She said however, I don’t agree with students going overboard charging a fortune for extra tickets. “Depending on the

cost, I don’t mind buying tickets from other students who may be selling their extra ones because I want all my loved ones there to celebrate this accomplishment,” she said. SJSU Alumna Tania Torres said she wasn’t fond of the limitation on tickets when she graduated in 2018. Torres said she was fortunate that her family and friends were willing to drive or fly to attend her graduation, but were unable to attend because of the limit on tickets. “I graduated in a city that my family isn’t from, and plus I have so much family so I do think it's unfortunate that there is a limit on graduation tickets,” Torres said. Torres said it’s understandable that there is a limit on how many people can attend each graduation ceremony. She said however it’s “complete B.S.” for

students who don’t need all six tickets to be overcharging people and trying to make a profit at a really important moment in a person’s life. Torres said she can understand that there are many students who want to take the opportunity to make money, but she doesn’t like it. “It says a lot about your character to try to capitalize financially based on a really important milestone in people’s life,” Torres said.

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SJ discusses housing and community safety By Melany Gutierrez STAFF WRITER

The San José community and San José City Council discussed future legislative efforts and priorities of the administration for 2024 on Tuesday afternoon. Planning out what sort of strategic support will be provided to continue to improve the harmonious safety and livability of the city. Sarah Z arate, director of the Office of Administration, Policy

and Intergovernmental Relations said the office published a report summarizing all the work the administration has actively done since July 2023. “Our work is about partnerships, networks and collaboration,” Zarate said. Zarate said since July, working with both internal and external teams, the city of San José received over $390 million in various forms of federal, state and regional funding.

She said the office is currently tracking over 395 state and federal bills, many of which, the city of San José has taken an active position on. Zarate said the office is hoping to jump into new project endeavors striving from the success they gained passing the city-sponsored bill Assembly Bill 645. Assembly Bill 645 is a bill involving the implementation of automated speed CITY COUNCIL | Page 2

MELANY GUTIERREZ | SPARTAN DAILY

City councilmembers discuss agenda items at a weekly meeting on Tuesday at City Hall.

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023

Students talk journaling experiences By Dominique Huber SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Filipino American people from all over the U.S. gathered over Zoom on Tuesday to learn about journaling and discuss their shared experiences in a workshop called “Heal the Hyphen” held by LEAD Filipino. Leadership Education Activism and Dialogue (LEAD) Filipino is a nonprofit organization based in San José that dedicates efforts to uplifting Filipino American communities, according to its website. Organizer and author Jacklyn Joanino-Sipat, a senior development officer for the city of San José, led the workshop based on her published journal titled “Heal the Hyphen: A Guided Journal for Filipinos Who Grew up in the Diaspora.” Joanino-Sipat led the group through guided meditations, individual journaling time, and group shares on prompts from her journal. “There’s this feeling that by being Filipino American . . . that you’re in between or not quite fitting in one world or the other,” JoaninoSipat said. “The journal is meant to explore the questions that help us feel more whole and comfortable with being a combination of all the things that we are.” One of the prompts JoaninoSipat presented in the workshop was a question about participants’ connections and experiences with the Philippines. Sonia Menchavez participated in LEAD’s 2022 Awareness in Action summer program and said she had a profound experience when she

CITY COUNCIL Continued from page 1 enforcement through a speed safety system pilot program, according to a California Legislative Information website. Zarate said the Office of Administration, Policy and Intergovernmental Relations aims to help the administration identify the top legislative priorities that best align with potential policies in the legislative program for the upcoming year. The legislative priorities that the administration hopes to focus on for 2024 are based on policy work, budgets and the anticipated strategic support available, according to a Nov. 17 memorandum from the city of San José. Supporting Unhoused Residents and Increasing Affordable Housing Supply This priority plan category will focus on supporting and increasing flexibility in affordable housing and housing services, according to a Nov. 6 memorandum. It will also focus on local control of land use and ensuring that all communities of color and low-income communities have access to safe and stable housing, according to the same document. An estimated 764 children

SCREENSHOT BY AALIYAH ROMAN

Jacklyn Joanino-Sipat presents slides to the audience during the Heal the Hyphen digital event held by LEAD Filipino on Tuesday evening.

went to the Philippines for the first time in 2016. “It was life changing for me to go back to the Philippines,” Menchavez said. “I spent a while in my 20s traveling all over . . . for so long I looked outside of myself for cool cultural stuff but it was a turning point for me to realize that my own culture is beautiful, the land is beautiful.” Menchavez said she has been journaling for years and was interested in attending the workshop and find ways to connect it to topics around her Filipino American identity. The workshop was designed for exactly that, along with the purpose of helping attendees feel more grounded and giving them a space to connect to themselves and their Filipino ancestors, according to an

Eventbrite description. “It was really interesting to me as part of the healing journey,” Menchavez said. “It’s nice to have a welcoming, open space to grapple with things together and journaling is a nice medium too.” Joanino-Sipat said creating opportunities like this for Filipino Americans to come together and unpack their shared experiences is an important part of healing. A significant portion of the workshop was spent in breakout rooms and large groups where participants were encouraged to speak about everything from the clash between the cultures they grew up with and how they connect with their ancestors. “If we can begin healing and opening some of these conversations and giving opportunities to connect

and young adults are homeless department is prepared to in Santa Clara County, meet at the roundtable to according to a Nov. 2023 article pragmatically brainstorm. by the Mercury News. “We want to get the word

with others . . . that would be a really beautiful thing,” Joanino-Sipat said. Social work grad student Olivia Aquino said she recently moved away from her Filipino American community and appreciated having the chance to be virtually surrounded by people who understand and relate to her at the workshop. Aquino said she doesn’t usually journal on the topics discussed in the workshop but felt relieved to talk about them and looks forward to writing about them on her own in the future. “What was special about this event was that (the other participants) put words to my own experiences,” Aquino said. “Being presented these questions from the context of ‘What does it mean to be Filipino to you?’ is something I have

been needing to revisit.” Aquino said a big part of her Filipino identity is being in a community with other Filipinos, especially in the United States which is a very individualistic society. She said attending events where she is around other Filipinos helps her heal from the harm that is caused by being a part of the American system of capitalism. “It is these moments where we are in a community where I feel the most me, where I feel my ancestors'’presence the most, and where I feel Filipino because who are we but community?” Aquino said. Follow the Spartan Daily on X (formerly Twitter) @SpartanDaily

Commission with the goal in the ability to create a safe of reducing and eliminating community can be reduced. traffic and transportationThis priority plan will be related fatalities and increasing implemented in San José’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. Candelas said despite the priority plan’s goal being mitigating the negative impacts of city issues on residents, some residents still have concerns. Councilmember David Cohen requested a motion to push voting on many of the topics within the priority plans until late December or January He believes such a big report Domingo Candelas describing each topic warrants councilmember more organization and more time to study and discuss it safe and equitable mobility amongst each other council for residents, according to a members and constituents. website by the Association of “I appreciate the effort and Bay Area governments. advocacy and I look forward to Councilmember Domingo the conversation that we will Candelas said he hears and have in the future, knowing that understands public outcry there will be agreements and for different forms of safety disagreements,” Cohen said. enforcement in San José and he looks forward to working with, supporting and bolstering different city departments like the San José police department to collectively foster a safe community. “I think this is huge and can’t be underplayed,” Candelas said. “When we talk about funding for the retail theft prevention and state dollars that bolster our local dollars, to make a difference in our community, I think that's where we have that Follow the Spartan Daily magnification effect.” on X (formerly Twitter) Candelas said he believes @SpartanDaily proactive teamwork hindrances

I think this is huge and can’t be underplayed. When we talk about funding for the retail theft prevention and state dollars that bolster our local dollars, to make a difference in our community, I think that’s where we have that magnification effect.

The legislation aspect of the plan involves current bills such as Senate Bill 1557 and House Bill 3238, aiming to expand and strengthen low-income housing tax credit, which Mayor Matt Mahan has signed a support letter for, according to the same Nov. 17 memorandum. Councilmember Sergio Jimenez said the housing crisis is one of the most important ongoing issues in San José and deserves legislative attention in hopes of finding tactical solutions. “This is a very big deal, I really do think that it’s going to remove the key barriers for folks getting into housing, which I think is very important,” Jimenez said. Rachel VanderVeen, assistant director of the housing department for the city of San José, said the housing

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EDITORIAL STAFF

The Spartan Daily prides itself on being the San José State community’s top news source. New issues are published every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday throughout the academic year and online content updated daily. The Spartan Daily is written and published by San José State students as an expression of their First Amendment rights. Reader feedback may be submitted as letters to the editor or online comments.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR MATTHEW GONZALEZ MANAGING EDITOR JILLIAN DARNELL PRODUCTION EDITOR ALICIA ALVAREZ NEWS EDITORS IRENE ADELINE MILANEZ ALINA TA A&E EDITOR ALEXIA FREDERICKSON SPORTS EDITOR MAT BEJARANO SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR BOJANA CVIJIC

out to everyone that we have a forum ready to go communicate in and come up with solutions,” VanderVeen said. Enhancing Community Safety Enhancing community safety is a priority plan for 2024 that aims to support funding and policy change that helps to reduce crime and foster safety in all San José neighborhoods, according to the same Nov. 6 memorandum. The plan advocates reducing violence as a whole on the streets by implementing traffic safety, further funding pedestrian and bicyclist safety through infrastructure projects and supporting Vision Zero. Vision Zero is a government-based program by the Metropolitan Transportation

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023

I-House serves up Coﬀee Night EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Students poured coffee and ironed Perler Beads at San José State’s International Houses’ dining room during a weekly “Coffee Night” event on Tuesday. Coffee Night, which is sometimes themed, is meant to serve as a relaxed social gathering to bring together I-House residents, alumni and visitors according to an SJSU webpage. Kuyik Ef f iong, engineering graduate student and the I-House’s head resident, said the gathering has been a staple at the residence, and that one of his fondest memories of the I-House tradition came during a karaoke-themed event. “Just seeing everyone be so comfortable, be able to sing … you know there’s some people in a big group setting you’ve not seen them talk at all and then you hear them sing and it’s like ‘OK, I see you, I see what you do,’ ’’ he said. Mary Wang, graphic design senior and German exchange student said the event has not only given her the opportunity to connect with her housemates, but also with the broader SJSU community. She said people often invite their friends over for Coffee Night, and it presents a nice forum to extend her connections outside the house. “You get to meet a lot

of different people, invite friends from their classes and it’s a nice way to hang out with people outside the house that you meet in classes,” Wang said. International business junior Kai Lim said while he doesn’t live in the I-House, he enjoys coming to the residence and talking to people from various countries and gaining insight on different cultures. Lim, a self-proclaimed “social animal” also said it’s simply in his nature to put himself out there, and that he thrives in socially engaging environments. In addition to conversation over a cup of joe, attendees were also able to design their own Perler Bead crafts. The beads, which are made out of plastic, are fusible and formed on pegboards and ironed to finalize the creation, according to an article by Craft Warehouse, a website offering tips on how to better a person’s arts and crafts skills. Lim said having additional activities to do alongside peers can help catalyze conversation. “When you have an activity … I feel like conversations happen when people are doing something else,” he said. “Like when they’re playing sports or when they’re doing drawings or making friendship bracelets or the other things … they (I-House resident advisers) always do something alongside coffee.”

MATTHEW GONZALEZ | SPARTAN DAILY

Kuyik Eﬃong, engineering graduate student and the International House’s head resident pours milk into the cup of one of the event's attendees.

Kuyik Effiong said the themes and activities for Coffee Nights also take into account the novelty of being in a different country, and overall progression of the semester. He said the first few Coffee Nights had SJSUcentric Jeopardy games that gave I-House residents some knowledge on what San José has to offer, while the last couple of will be

CLASSIFIEDS 2

SUDOKU PUZZLE

6 8 9 6 8 3 2 1 7 4 9 6 9 2 5 1 3 8 5 1 2

9 6 7

like Coffee Night and its internationally inspired pancake breakfast that he said has been held for nearly 40 years, are ways the community tries to broaden its connection with students living outside the residence. Follow the Spartan Daily on X (formerly Twitter) @SpartanDaily

JOKIN’ AROUND Have you heard about the restaurant on the moon?

1. Commercial-free network 4. With Picchu, a place in Peru 9. Creature known for its keen vision 14. Grain in a Salinger title 15. Where van Gogh lived for a while 16. With less moisture 17. Old cloth measure 18. What all manual products need to work 19. Doomed one 20. Classic sports film 23. Very old 24. Oil-rich peninsula 27. Loser to VHS 28. Visited Davy Jones' locker, in a way 31. "Song ___ Blue" (Neil Diamond hit) 32. It comes before a dropped name 35. Spaghetti recipe word 37. "Norma ___" (1979) 38. William Faulkner work 41. Money player 43. Sources of problems for prima donnas 44. Restorative resort

ACROSS

a ‘let’s see’ approach at first, we’re going to create the environment and we’re going to let those Effiong also said conversations and those in addition to giving c o m m u n i t y - b u i l d i n g attendees activities to do (activities) happen and a setting for people to organically,” Effiong said. interact with one another, “Because that is the best the event is also meant to way (to) have an event give SJSU students a break where everyone can always from the fast-paced nature let their hair down.” of college life. Effiong said major “We always try to take events held at the I-House,

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1

more study oriented, helping students prepare for finals.

The food is great but there's no atmosphere.

By Matthew Gonzalez

45. Handle without care 47. Word with bug or misty 49. The better part 53. Piercing, as a sound 55. Muse of lyric poetry 58. Donkey or ox, e.g. 61. Pirate's potables 63. Fur trader John Jacob 64. The six of "Little Nellie Kelly" 65. Boleyn and Rice 66. Hopeless 67. Steak partner 68. Opera villain, often 69. Does a database chore 70. Timothy Leary stash DOWN 1. Built before shipped 2. Credit for a crossword constructor 3. Jukebox verb 4. Norman Lear show 5. Smokey the Bear's nightmare 6. Fissures 7. Drover's charge 8. Superpower until 1991 9. Poe or Degas 10. Starbucks emanations 11. A Supreme Court justice 12. "Enter the Dragon" star

13. Be imperfect 21. Tarzan's swing 22. "The Gross Clinic" painter 25. Words with jiffy or pinch 26. Wine improver 29. It voids warranties 30. Easter preceder 33. Obsolete preposition 34. Marx colleague 36. Tip of a pouring spout 38. Some whiskeys 39. Baby in blue 40. One who assigns an identifying word 41. Parliament VIPs 42. It's a bit of cheer 46. Feudal lords 48. More skillful 50. Trying experience 51. They can be hot, cold or dry 52. Became taut 54. Stock-acquisition aid? 56. German craft 57. Ottoman Empire inhabitants 59. Starts a paragraph, electronically 60. Capital of Norway 61. Social one's gift 62. Genetic initials

SOLUTIONS

NOVEMBER 28

E W E R I D E A A Z T E C S A ME D E L I N E A T O S Y MB O L F O R C A R B O N A N Y L E T B O L O Y E S M A N A D O R A J A V E R A G E G R A D E T E E D S O T Y O K E L A L G A S C O L D B E L L N O R MA L E O O R E O S P E E D O F L I G H T Y E T D N A H A S B R O Y E T I T O W E E L R O MA N O N E H U N D R E D C R OW D T A O S U G L I A R E N A S U R E E S S E

9 3 1 6 4 5 2 7 8 8 1 7 4 9 6 5 2 3 1 6 2 7 8 9 3 5 4

4 8 6 2 5 7 7 3 2 1 8 9 5 1 9 3 6 4 6 5 4 9 2 3 8 2 3 5 7 1 1 9 7 8 4 6 9 7 8 4 3 5 3 4 5 6 1 2 2 6 1 7 9 8

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OPINION

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023

COUNTERPOINTS

GRAPHIC BY ALICIA ALVAREZ

Is boycotting necessary for social change?

Alexia Frederickson A&E EDITOR

Boycotting is essential for social change, you can sacriﬁce your McChicken to stop supporting genocide. It has become increasingly apparent to me that many Americans don’t care about genocide as long as they’re able to ignore it and stay “comfortable.” Since Oct. 7, more than 11,100 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, most of whom are women and children, according to an article by the Washington Post. That is one out of every 200 people in all of Gaza, according to the same article. Imagine if within a month, one out of every 200 people in San José were killed by airstrikes and bombings. The number of people dead in that scenario wouldn’t even be half the amount of the real Palestinians who have died in this conflict.

I want to see people put money where their mouths are.

This is a full-on genocide, being carried out by a country that is directly receiving aid from a large number of U.S. based companies. Because of this, the boycott, divestment and sanction Israel movement, BDS for short, has gained nationwide attention as a part of larger pro-Palestinian protests in the U.S., according to an article by Vox. BDS has listed several companies including Starbucks, McDonalds, and HP as companies it is urging people to boycott, according to the same article. Pushback against these boycotts is simply complacency in genocide. There is simply no reason to support any of these companies when there are alternatives to almost every brand imaginable. I’ve been boycotting the companies

listed by BDS and going out of my way to support Palestinian-owned businesses since I became aware of BDS last month, and my life has not changed in a significant way at all. I plan to keep boycotting these companies indefinitely, and I urge everyone to do the same. I find it both disheartening and disgusting that so many people are willingly ignoring the genocide in Gaza to focus on their own comfort. While hundreds are dying in airstrikes every day, the world is turning its back on Palestine because it makes us uncomfortable. Now is simply not the time to turn away from the violence happening in Gaza, because that is exactly what facilitates a genocide to happen in the first place. I want to see people put money where their mouths are. I’ve long been tired of people telling me that they don’t care Chick-Fil-A supports organizations that lobby in support of conversion therapy because “there’s no way my single order could support that!” Conversion therapy is harmful emotional therapy used to try to “cure” or “repair” one’s sexual orientation or gender identity, That’s funny, because everyone who supposedly believes this and continues to eat at Chick-Fil-A is probably thinking the same thing, and Chick-Fil-A is still getting that money to support anti-LGBTQ+ organizations every day, according to a website from the National LGBTQ Task Force. I’m a transgender person living in a country that is becoming increasingly keen on supporting bills and legislation that seeks to directly harm transgender people and remove us from public life. It does not make me confident that so many Americans seemingly don’t care about genocide if it’s not happening to them. If you support a Chick-Fil-A, you might as well donate a few bucks to your local anti-LGBTQ+ organization, just to get ahead of the curve. Any amount of money given to support genocide is still support of genocide. I’ve had to deal with the fear of the idea that my existence will be eradicated every day, but Palestinians are living in that reality. I can’t even imagine what it is like for the thousands of Palestinian children whose homes are currently being bombed daily, constantly at risk of losing everything that matters to them. But I’m sure they would love a Venti Frappuccino right now.

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Angel Santiago STAFF WRITER

Boycotting is a waste of time, allow me to enjoy my coffee and Happy Meal in peace.

Nobody should legally pressure you to boycott anything just because one person did something or said something that provoked a protest. If a boycott happens, not only will it affect the store, but it will also affect everyone else. If people want to boycott McDonald's or Starbucks, please do that away from me. All I want is to eat my McChicken and drink a large iced vanilla latte without being bothered.

have misleading information or just want to say whatever they want. Boycotting is a waste of time for everyone. What if Starbucks orders a bunch of delicious food to sell and all of a sudden people refuse to buy it? It was just a waste of time and money because in order to buy the food, they had to use my money to order it. I just find it one of the dumbest things that can ever happen because of a boycott that will only last a couple of days or so. I think it would be better if the product is no longer available to the public rather than having to temporarily shut down. Why? Well by the end of the day, everyone would be using the same crap once again. The last thing that I want is to have someone give me the side eye while I enjoy my food because it makes me very uncomfortable. I really don’t like having to talk about politics and war when I am enjoying my food during a lovely day. If people want to talk to me, then they will have to wait until I am done eating my food. I understand boycotting is a form of freedom of speech, but not to the point where people are going to stop temporarily and go back to doing the same thing all over again. It really pisses me off how people are against certain companies at first, for about a week or a month and

It really pisses me off how people are against certain companies at ﬁrst, for about a week or a month and once it stops, they go back to their normal routine and buy their red cup with a gingerbread latte or caramel macchiato.

All I want is to enjoy a nice day with my food and use public transportation without having people saying “You need to stop supporting this group. Do you want to make people feel uncomfortable?” If people just want to rant without any appropriate and solid information, then I am going to leave and mind my business. Unless the boycott has a reasonable explanation behind it to convince me why I should join in and stop using a product, I won’t be partaking. If no one can give me three good reasons why I should boycott something that I really like, then they

once it stops, they go back to their normal routine and buy their red cup with a gingerbread latte or caramel macchiato.

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OPINION

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023

COUNTERPOINTS

‘Mean Girls’ versus ‘Clueless’: which is better?

Maya Benmokhtar STAFF WRITER

Nothing compares to the nostalgia ‘Mean Girls’ brings me.

“Mean Girls” is more than just a chick-flick, it is the ultimate chick-flick and the epitome of my transition from being a teenager to becoming an adult. “Mean Girls” is a popular teen comedy film directed by Mark Waters. “Mean Girls” was released in 2004, which resonates more with younger audiences due to its closer proximity to modern times compared to “Clueless,” released in 1995. Determining whether “Mean Girls” is a better movie than “Clueless” is subjective and depends on personal preferences. While both movies made significant cultural impacts, “Mean Girls” has remained a staple in pop culture generating memes, references, and a dedicated fan following. Its influence has extended beyond the film itself. The movie follows the story of Cady Heron, played by Lindsay Lohan, who navigates the complex social dynamics of high school after transferring from homeschooling in Africa.

The “Mean Girls” storyline is so relatable to teenagers and young adults entering high school and even college. “Mean Girls” has transcended its status as a movie and has become a cultural phenomenon. Its influence extends to memes, references in popular culture and its ongoing relevance in discussions about bullying and social dynamics. The film humorously dives into themes of cliques, social hierarchy, peer pressure, and the impact of gossip and rumors on teenage life. The Plastics designed a book where each page was designated to an individual at their school, where they would write rumors, slander, etc. With memorable quotes, iconic scenes, and witty writing, “Mean Girls” has become a cult classic, resonating with audiences for its comedic portrayal of high school life. Regardless of the “Mean Girls” movie being released over 19 years ago, it is still a hot topic. Most people have heard the saying “On Wednesdays we wear pink,” a motto I live by to this day originating from the “Mean Girls” movie. My love for the “Mean Girls” movie might stem from finding elements of the film relatable, enjoying its humor and iconic characters, or appreciating its underlying messages about teenage life and selfempowerment. The film's enduring popularity is a testament to its ability to resonate with audiences on various levels. If you are also a fan of “Mean Girls,” hang tight because there is a new movie to be released on Jan. 12, 2024 and the official trailer is currently out on Youtube. My first impressions of the trailer, it seems this movie is a remake of the original. The storyline follows that of the 2004 movie, with slight changes. Since I adored the first movie, I am eagerly anticipating the sequel to see where the story goes next. The characters and storyline in the

I’m convinced that they are called The Plastics because they look like literal Barbie dolls. The Y2K (2000s) , pink, mini skirt outfits, hair and makeup will always receive a five-star review from me.

Cady finds herself entangled in a group called "The Plastics," led by Regina George, played by Rachel McAdams. I’m convinced that they are called The Plastics because they look like literal Barbie dolls. The Y2K (2000s) , pink, mini skirt outfits, hair, and makeup will always receive a five-star review from me. The Plastics are the popular girls in school known for their beauty, status and somewhat toxic behavior. First of all, Regina George is drop-dead gorgeous and her character is part of the reason why I’ve rewatched this movie over 10 times. The Plastics are memorable and have become iconic figures in pop culture. Their personalities and quirks add to the film's appeal. As Cady infiltrates this clique for research purposes, she becomes increasingly enmeshed in their world, leading to conflicts, betrayals, and revelations about the true nature of friendships and relationships in high school. Having experienced four years at the same high school, I can spot many similarities with Cady’s experience. There were “cliques” and constant drama, talks about the new person, or “Who is dating who?” all year round.

original film left me wanting more. I have high hopes that the sequel will exceed the original in terms of storytelling, character development, and any other aspects, making for an even more enjoyable experience. It's the anticipation of revisiting a beloved story that fuels my excitement for the upcoming sequel. I will be heading to the theaters on the day of its release in my all-pink “Mean Girls” pajama set and I am seriously hoping it does not disappoint.

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Dominique Huber SENIOR STAFF WRITER

‘Clueless’ is one of the most memorable aesthetics for coming-of-age films.

“Clueless” and “Mean Girls” are both quintessential chick-flicks that have maintained their status as staples on my rewatch list for years. I love them both for many reasons, but there are some things that “Clueless” simply does better than “Mean Girls.” Both of them are fashion and romance – integral factors of enjoyment for any coming-of-age teen rom-com. “Clueless” is a 1995 movie set primarily in Beverly Hills. It follows main character Cher and her group of wealthy, teen friends through their troubles with romance, friendship and identity. While “Mean Girls” and “Clueless” each represented the iconic styles of two very different eras, the “Clueless” costume designer and wardrobe department inarguably did a better job. The costume designer for “Clueless,” Mona May, has worked on a number of popular ‘90s and 2000s movies, and for good reason. “Clueless” was May’s big break, and the iconic yellow plaid outfit she designed for Cher’s first day of school was a top-selling Halloween costume all over the world for 20 years after the movie’s release, according to one Forbes article. Every single outfit in the movie was so cute and flattering to the characters as individuals. From the workout sets, to the party looks, to the everyday casual wear of the rich and beautiful ‘90s teens, the outfits in “Clueless” will beat out those in “Mean Girls” every time. There are some really cute outfits in “Mean Girls” too and as a lover of pink, they will always have a special place in my heart. That being said, a number of the outfits in “Mean Girls” were unmemorable at best, while most, if not all, of the “Clueless” outfits were uniquely beautiful and timeless. Not to mention the unforgettable opening scene of the movie where a program on Cher’s computer picks her outfit for her. And let’s be real, most of us would kill for Cher’s revolving closet. I’m a huge romance fan and when it

comes to sweet, exciting love stories, “Clueless” is a much better provider than “Mean Girls.” Besides that of the main couple, Cher and Josh, there are three other romances that are developed throughout the movie that leave viewers smiling and sighing wistfully. At the beginning of the movie, Cher and her best friend Dionne are shown playing cupid for two of their single, middle-aged teachers. What follows is a montage of shared coffee, long talks on school benches and kisses by cars that ultimately lead to a beautiful wedding for the unlikely lovebirds. Another romance in the movie is the one between Dionne and her long-time boyfriend Murray. Their relationship is sometimes troubled, but it is shown that they have a deep love and care for each other. It is so beautiful to see their bond revealed layer by layer throughout the movie. Of course, we can’t forget the story of Tai and her crush-turned-boyfriend Travis. Tai was the new-girl-turned-popular in “Clueless” who Cher and Dionne took under their wings as a friend and mentee, and Travis was the friendly burnout-skateboarder who was nowhere near their social status. These two met early on in the movie and had an immediate connection, which was essentially forbidden by Cher and Dionne. Tai and Travis have small moments of connection and longing throughout the movie, and end up together in a sweet, accepting relationship that anyone with a heart would root for. From forbidden love, to childhood sweethearts, to second-chance romance, “Clueless” features a variety of love stories that keep me coming back to it. The romance plots in “Mean Girls” were definitely interesting, but didn’t have me rooting for them or giggling and kicking my feet by any means. Regina and Aaron, her on-and-off boyfriend, were messy as hell, and so were Cady and Aaron. The only other romance I can think of in the movie was between Janice, the social outcast and personal enemy of Regina George, and Kevin Gnapoor, the captain of the mathletes. While it was really funny at times, I didn’t get that

And let’s be real, most of us would kill for Cher’s revolving closet. feeling that every romance fan chases from them, or any other couple in the movie. Overall, I have a deep love for both “Clueless” and “Mean Girls.” I’ve definitely watched each movie at least three times by now, and they’re funny and comforting every time. At the end of the day, if I was stuck on a deserted island and could only choose one to bring with me, I’d definitely choose “Clueless” just so I could look at Paul Rudd’s ’90s baby face LOL.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2023