Volume 22-Issue 3 | Sept. 28

QUAKER CAMPUS

Restrictions Loosened Amid COVID Pandemic

Emily Henderson EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FEATURES EDITOR

CI Workers: What Comes Next?

Nia Hurley STAFF WRITER

Sarah Licon NEWS EDITOR

Last year, a 28-day strike, organized by Campus Inn workers and the Whittier Student Workers Alliance, or WSWA, brought the worker’s struggle to the very forefront of the College’s conscience. The strike, remembered by many students as a time of “confusion,” according to second-year Evan Josten and “togetherness” according to fourth-year Marli Rodriguez, was the longest in United Here Local 11 history, according to WSWA Co-Chair Arlo

Tinsman-Kongshaug. During the strike, many workers did not feel supported by the administration, although many did feel supported by the student body, Tinsman Kongshaug affirmed. The workers who engaged in the strike did so through the local union, Unite Here Local 11, and the strike prompted the Spot to fully close for some of its duration.

The Campus Inn, thanks to the majority of students boycotting, was mainly empty. In a Quaker Campus article, Anthropology Professor Dr. Ann K. reported that during the strike, the number of students served at the Spot decreased to about 40 a day, as op-

posed to 400-500 students. The strike was catalyzed when Campus Inn workers reached out to Tinsman-Kongshaug, because they were being paid far less than the statewide industry standard, at 17 to 18 dollars an hour. After 28 days of 12 hour picket line shifts, Bon Appetit finally raised the CI worker’s pay.

The Cafeteria workers came to a partial agreement with Bon Appetit in April, the company that contracts them, and have received the six dollar pay raise and overtime pay they went on strike for, but still are denied the pension they requested.

According to WSWA Co-Chair ArSee CI Workers on pg. 3

DACA Deemed “Unlawful”

intended to create “conditional permanent resident” status, which is valid for up to 10 years, that would protect DREAMers – as well as other DACA beneficiaries – from deportation. The Biden Administration has continually pushed to uphold and strengthen the DACA program since the Obama presidency.

Another wave of COVID-19 hit Los Angeles County, with a 11.99 percent increase in positive cases in the last seven days. Whittier College currently has five cases on campus (one employee and four students), all in isolation either on or off campus, as stated by the COVID-19 Task Force Associate Director Lisa Newton. She continues stating that this is a “typical representation of [Whittier’s] caseload.” With this, on Aug. 29, Interim Dean of Students and Vice President Henry Gee sent out an email to the College community dictating some guidelines for staying healthy during the upcoming academic year.

In terms of reporting cases, students, faculty, and employees of the College are not required to complete a health screening, but all are still “required to report a COVID-19 test result or diagnosis.” This complies with the Los Angeles County Department of Health regulations. This can be done through the Student COVID-19 Report Form, which will then provide steps on what to do next. The College states that they will “conduct contact tracing and will notify students of exposure to positive cases,” and “will prioritize high-risk groups and settings.” In regards to group settings, organizations no longer have to ask for permission to curate events and activities for the purpose of COVID-19 tracking.

out fever-reducing medicine AND [have symptoms that are] resolved or are mild and improving.” Residential students that test positive for COVID-19 will be assigned Wanberg Hall for isolation under the Student Health and Wellness Center. Meals will be arranged, and “reasonable efforts” will be made for people who need accommodations. If a student does not wish to isolate on campus, they will be “required to relocate” to an off-campus location option at the student’s cost within four to six hours of the initial test result. Options were not given.

Masks are still optional at Whittier College, the only time they are required is 10 days after an individual tests positive or has been exposed to COVID-19. The College does state in their email that “Masking may be reinstated in the event of COVID outbreaks.”

For the fall of 2023, nationwide, residents can now get up to four free at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, courtesy of the CDC and the Biden-Harris Administration. Results with the tests are available within 30 minutes, and can be “used for testing whether you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines or not.” You can then report the result at makemytestcount.org Tests are limited to one order per residential address, and orders will start the week of Oct. 2, 2023. You can start ordering tests as early as Sept. 25. If you would like a test, you can fill out a special USPS form at special.usps.com/testkits or call at 1.800.232.0233.

Anna Gaber HEAD COPY EDITOR

On Sept. 13, Judge Andrew Hanen of the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) – an administrative relief created during the Obama Administration to protect immigrant children from deportation –unlawful. He deemed that DACA violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which permits administrative agencies the power to propose and establish regulations, and grants US federal courts to oversee all action taken by these agencies.

The ruling will not affect any current DACA recipients as they can

still apply to renew their immunity. New applicants, on the other hand, will be denied. Current recipients must have entered the US before turning 16 years old and have been under 31 years old as of June 15, 2012. They must also have lived in the US for at least five years and be clear of criminal convictions.

The Obama Administration established DACA in 2012 in order to protect immigrants who were brought to the US as children from deportation, as well as to provide “DREAMers” – immigrants who were brought to the US as children and have also been enrolled in the US education system – with work permits. The DREAM Act is short for the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act;

In 2021, the same judge – appointed in 2002 by then President George W. Bush – declared the DACA program unconstitutional because “it had not been subject to public notice and comment periods required under the federal Administrative Procedures Act.”

There are nearly 600,000 individuals currently enrolled in the DACA program. If they wish to stay in the US under DACA’s wing, “Dreamers” must renew their applications every two years with a renewal cost of $495. The filing fee includes the cost of background checks, a work permit, and fingerprinting. DACA also grants its beneficiaries the option to legally travel to countries outside of the US with no need to obtain a visa. Although current recipients of the program are shielded.

This article has been condensed for print. If you woud like to read the full article, visit medium.com/ thequakercampus

As for testing, the College is now billing students five dollars for a COVID-19 test purchased on campus. Last year, these tests were free. Students can get them at “the Student Health & Wellness Center or, in the coming days, through the campus wellness kiosks located on the Ground Floor of Wardman Library and Harris Residence Hall,” states the email. The College reinforces the regulation that asymptomatic individuals exposed to a case should test between three to five days after the latest exposure, and wear a mask for 10 days. The College also states that they “no longer require testing for symptomatic individuals,” as well as for those who are unvaccinated. The COVID-19 primary vaccination and booster is no longer required by the College, but they do strongly recommend getting it– with an updated vaccine available this autumn.

In the matter of isolation, students, faculty and staff who are diagnosed with COVID-19 are required to isolate themselves “regardless of vaccination status, history of infection, or lack of symptoms” for three to five days. After the fifth day, the individual is “required to submit proof of a negative test result to end isolation,” and “be fever-free for at least 24 hours with-

An updated COVID-19 vaccine has been widely released, starting the week of Sept. 12. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that receiving a vaccine can “restore protection and provide enhanced protection against the variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States.” While most people can get the vaccine for free at their local CVS or Walgreens, people who do not have health insurance or have insurance that does not cover the cost can still get the vaccine at their “state, local, tribal, or territorial health department; and pharmacies participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program.”

Most healthcare providers will provide the vaccine for free. But, people with Kaiser Permanente have been experiencing hardships, namely with not being able to get the vaccine until Sept. 28, or having to pay $155. This is due to the end of the national COVID-19 public health emergency back in May, which made “many Kaiser members not eligible for free shots at non-Kaiser Permanente sites.”

This article has been condensed for print. If you woud like to read the full article, visit medium.com/ thequakercampus.

Emily Henderson / Quaker Campus

DACA is challenged by Supreme Court.

manuel ngan / ap getty images

CI workers share mixed feelings on the strike.

Where Did Whittier’s Work Study Go?

House of Representatives that is responsible for passing appropriation bills along with its Senate counterpart—most recent draft for the 2024 fiscal year may be involved.

This bill was released on July 13. It includes a total of $57.1 billion in funding formally approved by Congress, $22.5 billion (28 percent) less than 2023. These financial cuts affect numerous education programs, including failure to provide an increase for the maximum Pell Grant award for the first time since 2012, the elimination of funding for the English Language Acquisition—removing vital academic support for five million English learners nationwide—and the elimination of funding for Federal Work-Study, jeopardizing the academic careers of over 600,000 college students.

body. “For our new students,” Aldama says, “we offer a majority of them a Federal Work-Study Award, given they have the need. For our returning students, we look at if the students used this award in the last year or two and if they have not, we do not re-award it.”

Aldama then clarified that because work-study is an earned award and not an award that is freely given—such as a grant or a federal subsidized loan—the Office of Financial Aid looked at whether or not a student got a job on campus to earn those work-study funds. If records show that the student did not earn the work-study funds, then Financial Aid determined that they would not receive a Federal WorkStudy Award for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Whittier College has been giving out less Financial Work Awards, which are a part of students’ financial aid package for the 2023-2024 academic year, as opposed to previous years.

As part of the Federal Student Aid program, Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs to undergraduate and graduate students who present sufficient financial need. The program not only allows students to earn money to help pay for educational expenses (i.e. daily living expenses, textbooks, etc.), but it also encourages students to engage in community service work. Students who participate in the Federal Work-Study program—whether they work on-campus or off-campus—can also benefit them with the development of skills necessary for any professional sphere that they pursue.

To be eligible for Federal WorkStudy, a student must be at least a part-time undergraduate, graduate, or professional student at a participating college or university; and the student must also display financial needs based on a number of factors, such as household income, the size of the family, how many members of their family are enrolled in post-secondary education, etc. Furthermore, in order to be eligible for

a work-study award, students must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

According to the Whittier College website, more than 85 percent of students receive some form of financial aid. Financial aid packages combine a variety of sources: Whittier College grants, scholarships, federal grants, loans, work-study, and state scholarships or grant funding. Despite the high number of students eligible for financial aid, the number of returning students who have not received work-study for the year has increased.

As per a poll posted to the Quaker Campus Instagram, 40 percent of students reported not receiving work-study as part of their financial aid package in comparison to 60 percent of students reporting that they did. When asked if they had received work-study as part of their financial aid package in previous academic years, 71 percent of participants responded in the affirmative. Although a majority of participants

answered “yes” to both questions, there was still a small number that reported receiving no additional aid. Furthermore, 88 percent of participants confirmed that work-study eligibility does affect them financially. One anonymous student expressed how important receiving work-study is to them: “It helps me pay tuition and anything else I might need for the school year.”

Julie Aldama, the Director of the Office of Financial Aid, spoke to the Quaker Campus about these recent issues. Part of the reason why the College gave out less work-study this school year in comparison to past school years is because “The federal government has reduced the amount of Federal Work-Study to all colleges.”

Although the reasoning behind the federal government’s decision to reduce the amount of Federal WorkStudy to all colleges is unknown, it is possible that the United States House Committee on Appropriations’—a majority Republican committee of the United States

The decision to cut the Federal Work-Study program is a result of the House Republicans attempting to lower spending limits than the agreed upon debt ceiling agreement, which President Biden negotiated with Speaker Kevin McCarthy on in June.

The GOP bill, if passed, would go against the Biden Administration’s promise to make postsecondary education more inclusive and affordable. On Mar. 9, Biden submitted his budget request for the Department of Education to Congress. He specifically requested a $625 million increase over the fiscal year 2023 for Student Aid Administration to support student loan borrowers, which would ensure the continued distribution of Federal Work-Study awards.

However, this is not the first time the GOP have attempted to either eliminate or restrict the Federal Work-Study program. In 2017, House Republicans proposed that graduate students be excluded from the distribution of Federal WorkStudy funds.

As of Sept. 14, the proposed bill has not gone into effect. The House and Senate have until Jan. 1 to pass all 12 appropriation bills.

Because of reduced funding, Whittier College’s Office of Financial Aid was tasked with deciding how to distribute the Federal WorkStudy awards to the eligible student

QUAKER CAMPUS STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Emily hEndErson

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FEATURES EDITOR

Emily hEndErson

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This year (23-24), the Office of Financial Aid awarded 271 students with work-study. The Quaker Campus is unable to determine what percentage of the total Fall Semester student body that number represents. Of those 271 students, 188 have accepted the award.

All of this comes a month after the Biden Administration launched the SAVE Plan, which will make student loan repayments more affordable for millions of borrowers. Without work-study funds to supplement living expenses, educational expenses, etc., many low- and moderate-income students may not be able to afford postsecondary education, rendering the plan ineffective.

Aldama, however, offers hope. “When a student is not reoffered work-study on their renewed awards and this year would want to work,” she says, “I have no problem reinstating it for them, granted we still have funding to offer.” Aldama suggests that any eligible student interested in receiving a work-study award contact her at jaldama@whittier.edu as soon as possible.

If you have any questions regarding work study or financial aid in general, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at fao@whittier.edu or via telephone at 562.907.4285

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Submissions may be emailed to qc@poets.whitttier.edu in .doc or .docx format. Submissions must include the author’s name and year of graduation or position at the college in the signature. Letters are due by Tuesday at 5 p.m. to make it into that week’s issue. Submissions should be no more than 500 words. Letters should be well-proofread, as they will not be edited. Letters that fall outside of these guidelines will be returned to the author with a request for revision.

Due to the high cost of publication, members of the Whittier College community are permitted three copies per issue. Additional copies may be purchased with prior apporval for 50 cents each by contacting the Quaker Campus. Newspaper theft is a crime, and those who violate the three copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution.

The Quaker Campus does not change material posted on online articles once they have been published in the paper — with the exception of an error being found. Only then will a correction be made to the online version. The Quaker Campus is a publication of Whittier College. Columns and Signed editorials do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Whittier College or its affiliates.

MEYLINA TRAN CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR

Federal work study is affected by a GOP bill passed by Republicans. sarah licon / Quaker Campus

“[Work-study] helps me pay tuition and anything else I might need for the school year.”

-Anonymous Student

CI Workers continued from pg. 1 -lo Tinsman-Kongshuag, Cafeteria workers have worked 30 years or more with the company and had no money to retire. Bon Appétit only establishes a 401k for workers, enabling them to save money for retirement, though most workers have little to no disposable income due to their below-average pay, rendering the 401k useless.

The pay raise has allowed the workers and Bon Appétit to come to a “temporary, partial agreement,” according to WSWA media statements, and further negotiations will continue in October. While the WSWA social media account states that “the current agreement is a huge victory for everyone working at the CI and Spot,” the workers’

CI Workers Contd.

the “job before the job,” and that she is using her paychecks to help finance her education and student loans. Despite the tension that the strikes brought between striking workers and those who crossed the picket line, she acknowledges that the cafeteria is staffed with “good people,” who “lead by example,” and inspire other workers to “bust their ass[es].”

Though this worker has had many struggles, such as working 12 hour days during the strikes, she shares that she does it all for her son, and uses him and his future as a motivator during long, hard days.

sizable pension before retirement. This employee says that the workers “weren’t hired with pensions,”and that pensions are for professionals like “teachers.” The employee, however, shared that she is pleased with the wage raise, and feels that she now makes a livable income, largely due to “side hustles” supplemented by the pay raise.

When asked whether the strike benefitted the workers, CI worker Daisy Estrada states, “Oh yes. It did. A lot. We’re very happy we won. We’re glad to [have helped] everybody else...”

future retirement plans remain in jeopardy.

According to the WSWA, “Working without a pension is not sustainable in the long term,” and “If necessary, workers may have to strike again to win the pension.” While the WSWA reports that workers can “now breathe easy knowing they have a wage that meets their living costs,” but the battle has yet to be won.

The success of the strike preceded the success of the Adjunct Professor negotiations–where adjunct professors, united under the Services Employees International Union, negotiated for better pay and more transparent communication from the school. The rally, organized as a protest prior to the negotiations, would have become

the second demonstration to occur on campus this year.

Now, with a new academic year in full swing, Cafeteria Workers are still affected and working in the aftermath of the strike.

One CI worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared a nuanced perspective on the strikes, saying that they did very little for the workers as a whole. This worker also mentioned that, for her, this is

Despite her view on the strikes, she says that they were a great example of community, and student involvement, saying, “This is college. You’re in charge of your community,” and that the strikes brought many students together.

Due to the lower number of students, the worker shared that higher wages and pensions felt impossible, as the school simply has less and less disposable income each year. In regard to the topic of pensions, this worker shared that many of the cafeteria employees are “in their forties,” and therefore would be unable to put together a

Fellow Campus Inn worker Hector Silva shares similar sentiments, stating, “I mean, I feel that we won, that we got what we wanted. And we didn’t get everything we wanted, but we didn’t expect to get everything. But we got the majority of what we really, really wanted.”

Estrada and Silva both agree that student and staff involvement were beneficial in the strikes’ outcome, calling it a “group effort.”

“I want to say thank you to the students..and the staff too,” Silva says, with Estrada echoing those acknowledgments.

“I don’t work here for Bon Appétit, Silva continues, “I work here because I see everyone here. It’s like a family.”

In regards to upcoming negotiations, while a date has not been revaled, Silva calls himself “optimistic” and is“hoping for the best.”

Workers prepare for negotiations in October.

Courtesy of Labor 411

“I mean I feel that we won, that we got what we wanted. And we didn’t get everything we wanted, but we didn’t expect to get everything.”

-CI Worker Hector Silva

Men’s Water Polo is Splashin’ the Score Boards

16 at 4:30 p.m, the Whittier College Poets will have a game against Long Island University, when another on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. against the University of Redlands. Finally, the Poets will face Pomona-Pitzer on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m., and the California Institute of Technology on Nov. 3 at 11 a.m.

Women’s Soccer at Caltech

Sept. 27 – 4 P.M. @ Pasadena, CA

Men’s Soccer Vs. Caltech

Men’s Water Polo encourage all tosupport them!

Anna Gaber

COPY EDITOR

The Whittier College Men’s Water Polo team has started off the season with a game against a challenging opponent, UC Irvine on Sept. 9 in Redlands, CA.

The Poets took a loss with the score of 2-21 at the away game, starting off the 2023 season on a rather sour note. But don’t lose hope because this is just the beginning of a long 2023 season, with many more exciting matches to come.

With scores of 10-22 against Air Force, 3-20 against CSU Fullerton, 6-25 against Concordia University Fullerton, and 7-16 against Occidental College, the team has had an overall losing streak of 0-5. Last year, in 2022, the Poets won 11 out of 30 games, making this 2023 season an important one for the success and progress of Whittier College’s Men’s Water Polo. Some athletes that have especially splashed the boards with favoring scores so far include fourth-year center Ben Ramans, second-years Alberto

Seva and Brody Haney, first-years Julien Breck and Dylan Zeledon, and third-year goalie Kenshiro Matsuzawa.

Some important upcoming home games the Poets will be seen playing will include one against Biola University at 1 p.m. and one against McKendree University at 7 p.m. on Sept. 28. Another against Augustana College will take place on Oct. 1 at noon, and another against the University of La Verne will take place on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. On Oct.

Away games include matches against Pomona-Pitzer on Sept. 29 at 1:40 p.m., University of California, Merced on Sept. 29 at 5:40 p.m., Fresno Pacific University also on Sept. 30 at 2 p.m., California Institute of Technology on Oct. 7 at 11 a.m., Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m., California Lutheran University on Oct. 21 at 11 a.m., Chapman University on Oct. 28 at 11 a.m., and finally University of La Verne on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m.

Although the Men’s Water Polo team has not won any games yet, they have no doubt been giving their all. All Whittier College community members are strongly encouraged to come to each game to show their support for the team.

Poet Volleyball Found Guilty for Killing the Preseason

Deanna Outten STAFF WRITER

On Sept. 1, 2023, the Whittier College Volleyball team won their first game of the preseason, with a win of 40 kills against St. John Fischer University. This particular game compares closely to their performance last year during their 2022 season, as they also took home a victory in their first game of last season. During the Pacific Coast Classic Tournament, players like Riley Degroot stole the show with 18 kills, 16 digs, and two service aces.

Three games later, they made another victory against Whitworth on Sept. 8 during the College’s annual invitational tournament. Riley Degroot once again took the spotlight with 16 kills, followed by Sofia Zazueta with 12 kills, along with Brenna Kusleika and Xenia Villagomez with eight kills each. Five hours after winning their second game of the preseason, the unstoppable team won again against Pacific Lutheran University, with a total of 51 kills during the entire game. The team has now won four games so far, including their last game over the weekend in San Antonio, TX, against Southwestern University.

During their last 2022 season, the team won five games overall, with past Poets Volleyball players passing down the torch to newcomers, like Degroot, who is a third-year transfer, and two first-year student volleyball players, Mia Rogers and Brenna Kusleika, who play the role of the sports most essential position of offense.

This year’s captain, Analise Kusleika, the sister of Whittier’s new additional first-year offensive player, had a few words to say regarding the team’s progress during this year’s preseason.

“I think the preseason has been

Poet Volleyball reaches for the stars this season!

a battle, but a fun one,” she states.

“It’s taught us not only about each others’ tendencies on the court but off the court too. I’m really pumped to play volleyball with these girls for the next couple of months. I love them and how competitive and strong they are,” stated Kusleika.

The team has thus far played in locations such as Claremont, CA, San Antonio, TX, and its home location, the Graham Athletic Center. Their last three games took place in San Antonio, TX, and were the last games of the 2023 Poet volleyball preseason.

“Last year’s preseason felt longer, but maybe that’s just because we didn’t get a chance to travel outof-state like this year. The travel tournament was a super cool overall experience, even though it was

taxing,” says the captain.

Unlike last year, the team this preseason played in Texas for the Trinity Falls Tournament. Whittier lost two of the three games but nevertheless left with one victory. Once again, the first-year Poet Riley Degroot led the team to a win with 15 kills, and players such as Mia D’Amato also contributed to the win alongside Xenia Villagomez and Sofia Zazueta. The team ended the victory game with a total of 59 kills that day, as they won against Southwestern University by coming back on top during the second half.

The girls hope to make it to the finals this year as, unfortunately, they were unable to last year during the 2022-2023 season. Whittier College’s newest member, Brenna Kusleika, states, “My hopes and wishes

for the season are obviously to win the conference and to go to the NCWA playoffs in any type of capacity,” adding, “It would be great to make it to the final two but to just be there, in general, would probably be the ultimate goal.”

With their season officially starting last Friday, the team had their first match on Sept. 22 against the Pomona-Pitzer Colleges.

“I think if we work cohesively and rely on each other, we stand to do really well,” says the captain.

The team is hoping to have more support from their fellow Whittier College students this season, as she adds a final statement expressing, “hopes everybody comes out to the volleyball games —they’re gonna be fun.”

Sept. 27 – 7 P.M. @ Whittier, CA

Men’s Water Polo Vs. Biola University (Calif.)

Sept. 28 – 1 P.M. @ Slade Aquatic Center, Whittier CA

Men’s Water Polo Vs. McKendree University

Sept. 28 – 7 P.M. @ Slade Aquatic Center, Whittier CA

Men’s Water Polo at Pomona-Pitzer

Sept. 29 — 1:40 PM @ Haldeman Pool Claremont, CA

Men’s Water Polo Vs. Westcliff UniversityGary Troyer Tournament

Sept. 29 — 4:20 PM @ La Verne Aquatics Center La Verne, CA

Men’s Water Polo Vs. McKendree UniversityGary Troyer Tournament

Sept. 30 — 10:30 AM @ De Mandel Aquatics Center Los Angeles, CA

Women’s Soccer at University of Redlands

Sept. 30 — 11 AM @ Redlands, CA

Men’s Water Polo Vs. Ottawa University Arizona - Gary Troyer Tournament

Sept. 30 — 2 PM @ De Mandel Aquatics Center Los Angeles, CA

Women’s Volleyball Vs. California Institute of Technology

Sept. 30 — 6 PM @ Graham Athletic Center Whittier, CA

Men’s Soccer Vs. University of Redlands

Sept. 30 — 7 PM @ Whittier, CA

Julia Centeno / Quaker Campus Courtesy of Whittier College

HEAD

Men’s Soccer Pushes the Limit

Sept. 16, the men’s soccer team was close to winning the match, but in the 84th minute, the Tigers scored a goal and tied with our team. Despite facing difficult opponents, the team does not give up easily.

Alejandra Ortega STAFF WRITER

Whittier College’s Men’s Poet Soccer team has had a successful 2023 season thus far. The team has played six games, taking home three Poet victories and three losses where they

were only one point behind their opponents.

The team has played three Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) qualifying games. They have lost two of them, and won one of them. It’s clear that when the team is

at its full potential, they are a force to be reckoned with, evident by their winning game against the University of La Verne on Wednesday, Sept. 20, which was a great success with Poets taking home the victory of 4-0. The first-

year goalkeeper, Breckon Robirds, turned away 11 shots from the La Verne team, which placed Whittier in the lead. Third-year Jazey Zavala was also given recognition in the game for being able to keep up with Captain Lawrence Dydell and putting pres-

sure on La Verne’s defense.

The game recap comments on the team’s losing games include an observation of the team losing energy throughout the game. During the game against Occidental at Memorial Stadium on Saturday,

In their first SCIAC game at Memorial Stadium against Pomona-Pitzer on Sept. 15, the team gave their all throughout the entire game and did not relent. Captain Saar Swanson spoke about his team’s chemistry after the game, stating optimistically, “our team is very close, which allows us to enjoy ourselves while competing and demand the best out of each other.”

Overall, it is obvious that the Men’s Soccer team continues to push for success and progress with the continuation

of their 2023 season, and they are having fun doing it. Their next home game is scheduled to take place on Sept. 27 against the Caltech Beavers, which should be an interesting one to watch. As always, students are encouraged to attend games and show some school spirit for our Men’s Poet Soccer Team, and a recognition and appreciation for our fellow classmates, as their hard work continues, matters more than ever during the kick off of this Fall sports season!

Although the Men’s Poet Soccer Team has faced some tough losses so far, they have yet to run out of fuel and Whittier is holding strong while looking forward to the continuation of the 2023-2024 year.

Captains Ben and Brody Test the Waters for Water Polo

Alejandra Ortega STAFF WRITER

The Whittier College Men’s Water Polo team is looking to take this season one step at a time. This year, the team is made up of a majority of first-year students who are new to the collegiate sports scene. Team captains Ben Ramans and Brody Haney are ready to take the newcomers under their wings and show them the ropes.

Ramans is the only fourth-year on the team this season and is committed to leaving behind a legacy. He has seen what a disciplined team is capable of and is ready to show his teammates the way to success. “I came in on a year when the guys [who taught me to play collegiate water polo] won an actual championship by two goals,” he says with pride. “They took on a national championship team from division one to a two-point game.” Ramans believes his final season will not be an immediate comeback to the team’s former glory, but it will be a year for progression and improvement.

Ramans and Haney both have had long, athletic careers in water polo and carry a tremendous love for the sport. In fact, Ramans even coaches his former clubs back home in Los Altos from time to time, and for Haney, playing water polo is his happy place. He says that when he’s in the water, he’s “not thinking about anything else. [I have a] clear

brain. It feels good.”

But, it’s clear that above their love for the sport is their love for the team.

Both captains want to be guides and role models for the team’s newest members.

“I see myself in them for sure,” says Ramans, adding, “I’m just trying to help them on a path to not make the same mistakes I made my freshman year and sophomore year.”

Although he is only a year above the rest of the team, Haney desires to be the best possible leader for them. “I want them to just know that they have someone who’s always there for them and will always have their back.”

Despite both Ramans and Haney’s optimistic attitudes and Poet pride for their

sport and the current season, the Whittier College Water Polo team has been hit hard in recent years. Ramans has had two different coaches since he was recruited. He speaks out about his uncertainty surrounding the team’s future, especially after the college’s cancellation of the Poet Football, Men’s Lacrosse, and Golf programs in 2022. “I didn’t think I was gonna have this season going into this year,” Ramans goes on to say, “[my goal] right now honestly is to just have as much fun as I can.” Haney agrees, stating, “This team was put together by my coach in a month just to save the program. So, this year is gonna be tough,” Ramans ends soberly.

Although the water polo captains are two grades apart,

both are on the same page about the ways they lead their team to victory. Both admitting that they give their teammates a lot of tough love. Ramans describes himself as “blunt and forward,” while Haney describes himself as “mean” in the pool. Ramans gave a reason for this technique by saying, “I don’t really have a ton of upperclassmen who kinda know our standards. I have to take on a big role of being the only upperclassman to show people the expectations we have for this team.”

Ramans intends to leave the team with high expectations for Whittier Water Polo and does not want to ever witness the program crumble, expressing that,

“I’m trying to set an example of what Whittier is. I’m trying to create a new identity for the school and carry on the traditions to show them we were a good team.”

Haney is committed to continuing the legacy of the team, stating, “Me and the coach, we’re working right now with a lot of different guys from areas where water polo is a lot more popular.” He says suddenly with an excited look, “I think that we’ll be a problem next year for SCIAC for sure.”

For now, the focus of these two captains is on the formation of close and strong relationships with all members of the water polo team and bringing

awareness to the sport and the 2023 Fall sports season. Together, Ramans and Haney hope that people will come out to watch and support their future games and cheer them on.

“We really appreciate your support in any way possible. It’s an interesting and fun watch,” says Haney. When asked about their match against Occidental College on Wednesday, Sept. 20, Ramans says, “I think we will be ready. We’re just gonna have to put our game face on. Show people that Whittier is back.”

There’s no doubt that this year’s Whittier College Water Polo team will be nothing but determined, thanks to their strong-willed captains. This school spirit and love for the game of water polo seems to be something that has been ingrained within both Ramans and Haney for their whole lives. Ramans mentions that he picked it up from his mom, who “worked to put herself through private school” and later “[worked] a full-time job while trying to take care of my two brothers.” Haney took a big breath before giving thanks to his dad for “always [being] there for my mom and I no matter what.”

Haney states on a final note, with regards to his teammates, that “patience is key.” But after spending this time with the Whittier College Water Polo 2023 team captains, there is no doubt that persistence is the name of the game.

Men’s Soccer has won three games at home so far.

The capitans of Men’s Waterpolo are excited about the new season!

Tony Leon / aCtionwestphotography Com

Tony Leon/aCtionwestphotography Com

Calendar is subject to change. To learn more, visit whittier.campuslabs.com/engage.

Sweet Games

• Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m.

• Stauffer Main Lounge

Thalian Open House Barbecue

• Thursday, Sept. 28 at 5:30 p.m.

• Ball Hall Patio

William Penn Society Open House

• Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m.

• SLC 510

Mid-Autumn Festival

• Friday, Sept. 29 at 4:30 p.m.

• Campus Courtyard

Open Mic Night: Emo Nite

• Friday, Sept. 29 at 5 p.m.

• Club 88

Long Beach Kayaking Adventure

• Saturday, Sept. 30 at 10 a.m.

• Alamitos Bay

Build-A-Brand: Headshots

• Monday, Oct. 2 at 10 a.m.

• OSE Conference Room & Campus Courtyard

Study Abroad Fair

• Monday, Oct. 2 at 10:30 a.m.

• Campus Courtyard

Build-A-Brand: Networking with a Purpose

• Tuesday, Oct. 3 at noon.

• OSE Conference Room

Cheap Book Sale

• Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 12:30 p.m.

• Hoover Patio

Movie Night with the Thalian Society

• Thursday, Oct. 5 at 5:30 p.m.

• Club 88

Where Words Once Were

• Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, Oct. 5, 6, & 7 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m.

• Shannon Center

Homecoming Musicale

• Friday, Oct. 6 at 12 p.m.

• Memorial Chapel

Ball Hall Movie Night

• Saturday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m.

• Ball Hall

Hadestown at the Ahmanson Theatre

• Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m.

• Ahmanson Theatre

Graduate School Fair

• Wednesday & Thursday, Oct. 11 & 12 at 11 a.m.

• A.J. Villalobos Hall

Outdoor Flu Clinic

• Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 1:30 p.m.

• Deihl Hall at Naylor Portico

M.E.C.h.A Throwing a Party? You Betcha!

Emma Galvan COPY EDITOR

On Sept. 15, the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) announced that they would be collaborating with Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlán, or M.E.C.h.A., to throw a Latinx Pachanga Dance Party after the Latinx community dinner from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. to commemorate the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month and to celebrate Mexican Independence Day.

M.E.C.h.A. hosts weekly meetings every Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. According to second-year Vice President Johnny Serbin, the OEI’s mission is “to spread the word about Latinx culture and help people understand that we’re more than stereotypes, and make people see more [of who] we are.”

M.E.C.h.A. was originally created during the Chicano Movement as part of the larger Civil Rights Movement that occurred

during the 1960s, as explained by third-year Galilea Landa-Posas, the co-chair of the Whittier College branch of M.E.C.h.A. The organization was “born out of the need to advocate for the rights of Chicanx and Latinx students to have a dignified learning experience.”

Mexican Independence Day is one of the many attributes to Hispanic Heritage Month. Whilst celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Landa-Posas also views it as a double-edged sword between acknowledging the struggles of the Latinx community, and exploiting those struggles for profit, “then ignoring them and their struggles the rest of the year.”

According to the Associate Director of the OEI, Francisco Gomez, “Jenny Guerra, our previous director, started planning the cultural dinners before she left and the office was asking, ‘How do we recognize these communities?’ She suggested that we do the Latinx dinner on Sept. 15 to kick off the month and invite the Latinx clubs

to join in [...] as a first generation, it means a sense of pride and validation about being able to be seen in a country where now my people are being attacked, for me it’s a call to action as well to tell people that we matter.”

At the Latinx community dinner, both Interim President Kristine E. Dillon and Gomez expressed their pride with the College’s impact on the Latinx community, and as Dillon claims, “The influence is very strong and you don’t need to stop and appreciate it any more, but I do.” After their speeches, Poets and faculty enjoyed classic Latinx cuisine, such as enchiladas de rojo and pollo y papas de salsa verde with tres leches as a dessert. The courtyard was buzzing by the time seven o’clock hit and the dance commenced.

The guests were greeted into Club 88 by streamers at the entrance, after which they immediately saw the dance floor packed with students partying.

Despite its quiet and awkward

start, the dance became festive as attendees danced to the variety of Hispanic music played from the DJ booth. The photo booth quickly hit popularity especially with male students, who took various “romantic” photos together while other friend groups were allowed to take selfies around the neon pink streamers. Dances grew more fun as time went on and the DJ, fourth-year Shelby Silva, started playing classic, well-known Hispanic music, such as Gasolina by Barrio Fino, which was a crowd pleaser.

The party was a success! While some students wished that their fellow Poets had joined the celebration, most enjoyed the dance, stating that the dance opened their minds to different perspectives and different cultures, ultimately drawing the College community closer.

CAAS Has Got Your Back

Emily Henderson EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FEATURES EDITOR

Underneath the hustle and bustle of the Wardman Library lies a room where Lofi music drifts in and out of the ears and the low mumble of students and tutors alike fill the air.

From Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m, the scribbles of a pencil and the cheers of a difficult problem successfully solved give an energy that one can only find in this office. If any student is feeling anxious about their studies and wants some extra help, then come on down to the Center for Advising and Academic Success (CAAS)!

Professionally managed by Director Jessica Hernandez ‘19, As-

sociate Director Samantha Casanas ‘20, and Assistant Director Tatiana Leguizamon, CAAS is a collaborative tutoring space that “empowers all Whittier College students to become successful, self-directed, and collaborative lifelong learners” by providing the students with “the tools and skills they need to succeed here at Whittier and beyond.”

The Academic Success Program is the conglomeration of all of their services for students who are either in academic distress or “who just feel they need additional academic support.” The Center oversees tutoring, specifically for writing and other courses that “do not have a quantitative focus.” There are also services specifically designed for athletes, with the Student-Athlete Peer Mentors and Academic Coaches who “have been recommend-

ed by a faculty and/or coach who work individually with a peer in need to work on skills such as time management and organization.” The Center also hosts a plethora of workshops for academic success, in collaboration with other organizations on campus.

Along with tutoring, CAAS also hosts programs to help students explore their majors in the Fall semester, with the “Declare Your Major Day” happening in the Spring semester. The annual Exploring Majors event is a favorite of the Center, providing undecided students with a space to meet different faculty and fellow students from all academic departments. This year, CAAS has made the event into a week-long celebration called Exploring Majors Week, where they will, “highlight a different academic division from Oct. 3-5 with some treats courtesy of ASWC Senate for those who participate.” Each day will showcase a different academic department, with Oct. 3 being the Social Sciences, Oct. 4 being the Humanities, and Oct. 5 being the Natural Sciences, all happening in the Upper Quad from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. If you would like to participate in the event, you can RSVP on the Engage website.

The CAAS office has also gotten a little fuller this year, with the ad-

This article has been condensed for print. If you would like to read the full article, visit medium.com/ thequaker campus. dition of the Quantitative Success Center (QSC). The QSC was founded in January of this year, thanks to an award of $350,000 from the Fletcher Jones Foundation. The Center is designed to help focus students on “the collaborative educational process between faculty and students while contextualizing quantitative concepts and operations.” While CAAS and QSC do share the same office, they are two separate programs with the QSC having services that are directly related to quantitative subjects like math and physics. But CAAS management states that due to the two organizations sharing the office, they are working “collaboratively with one another.”

There are currently 25 student employees working in the office, and CAAS would “not be successful if it weren’t for them.” CAAS leads with the motto that “Students Lead Success,” since the students are the ones working hands on to make sure their peers can succeed.

If you have any questions, you can email the Center at caas@ poets.whittier.edu or call them at 562.907.4816.

This article has been condensed for print. If you wold like to read the full article, visit medium.com/ thequakercampus.

The night was kicked off with the Latinx dinner.

Students learn by helping each other.

Courtesy of WCtheROCK

Courtesy of WCtheROCK

Project SISTER and Woman of Iraq Under Siege. V-Week intended to highlight “Topics that were either hush-hush or limited to sex ed-

mock Olympic event that had students competing in various–and questionable–sports. Pillow Polo, essentially a pillow fight, was the

Mona Kai, a tropical-themed week, finished by a Luau. Some (casual) decorations included a manmade bamboo hut–built by members of

ture Department recalls some of his favorite events and organizations over the years that include a guest appearance by American filmmak-

But another less-important but probing question still remains: will the College ever host another Erotic City? Maybe time will tell.

A Space Just For Us: A New LGBTQ+ Support Group

Allara Baker STAFF WRITER

Active since Sept. 5, a support group for LGBTQ+ students and residents in the Whittier area was launched by fourth-year Caitlin Rainey and Program Manager for the Center for Engagement with Communities Patricia Pint. The group meets every Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Pint’s private practice in Whittier.

Pint is a licensed therapist that has been working with the LGBTQ+ community for over 20 years. “I was the mental health provider for the city of Whittier’s only LGBTQ+ Center, which closed in 2015 due to lack of funding,” she said.

Pint ran multiple support groups there, and ultimately wanted to run a group for those who identified within the queer community, but lacked the proper support from their families.

“I found having the social support was most important since many people that identify as LGBTQ+ didn’t know other queer people or

came from families that did not allow them to be ‘out’ and therefore lacked both primary and secondary support,” Pint said.

Rainey, the founder of the group, worked with Pint through the Peer Health Educator program. She came up with the idea for the group after learning that Pint had previously run an all-female support group.

“I worked with Patricia Pint this summer through this Peer Health Educator program, and I met with her. So now we started an LGBTQ+ support group to bring people from campus and off-campus, and give them a new place to meet and talk to other people,” Rainey said.

“We started advertising a couple weeks ago, and we had our first session on Sept. 5. We wanted to get the word out to the queer community on campus and see if anyone was interested in meeting other queer folk and discussing things that they’ve been through,” she added.

Rainey’s goal is to create a net-

work of young adults within the Whittier College community to talk and support one another. The group started off relatively small in members, but attendence has been consistent each week.

“We’re trying to create a network of young queer adults, so we have quite a few people coming now, which is nice,” Rainey added. “We mostly have conversations, but we also talk about resources in the area, and how we can support each other.”

For Rainey, the importance of having a support group on campus is so those within the community can exist in one space, feel seen and heard, and be able to support each other through their meetings.

“As a queer community, we need places where we can just exist and not have to explain ourselves to other people, just talk to each other and build that sense of community. It’s nice to have, especially close to our school,” Rainey said. “Meeting with others, whether that’s on- or off-campus. So that it’s not a hassle

for the students who have recently graduated or have their own careers.”

“The thing I love the most,” Pint said, “is feeling that I can provide a safe space—in order for those relationships to develop and flourish—

even if it’s just a better relationship with oneself.”

If you have the chance and are looking for a safe space to be yourself and meet other queer people, then be sure to stop by one of their meetings!

The Class of ‘07 turns Whittier into Erotic City.

LGBTQ+ spaces are a necessity.

Courtesy of The Acropolis

Courtesy of The BosTon review

CAMPUS LIFE

Sigma Tau Delta Crafts A New Year

Chelsea Bartilad COPY EDITOR

On Monday, Sept. 18, Sigma Tau Delta started the semester off by hosting a T-shirt Making Party— their first event of the year!

Inside Hoover Room 005, students received t-shirts, and art supplies for their designs. While chatting and laughing amongst themselves, students were creating their own t-shirt designs, painting, coloring, and enjoying the food and music. “It was very chill and everyone was really nice and friendly,” recalls first-year Breanna Brasher, “it was cool to see everyone’s artistic skills.”

Not only did this allow students to get to know each other, but also

to learn more about Sigma Tau Delta.

Sigma Tau Delta is an international English Honor Society that promotes interest in English lan-

are entitled to so many opportunities.” Some of these opportunities include scholarships, internships, and opportunities to publish a student’s work. The society also pro-

submit their own creative works, including poetry, short stories, and photography. Alongside the Editing Emerging and Publishing Media class taught by Professor Joe Don-

sists of fourth-years Meylina Tran as the President, Emily Henderson as the Vice President, Sarah Licón as the Secretary, and Alejandra Ortega as the Treasurer. Faculty advisor Professor dAvid pAddy expresses his pride for this year’s E-board. “They’re very active in leadership,” he states, “they’re a very passionate and vibrant group.”

guage and literature. Since 1985, Sigma Tau Delta has been a part of Whittier College as the Upsilon Sigma Chapter. “What’s great about it,” says Administrative Assistant Angela Olivas, “is that it’s been in existence for so long and members

Letter to the Editor

To the Staff of the Quaker Campus,

As a new member of library staff, I’m excited to see Wardman Library getting the recognition it deserves! Our library is a beautiful space and we librarians are knowledgeable, approachable, and excited to help students succeed. I encourage everyone to stop by— even if you feel like libraries aren’t your kind of place, or maybe even aren’t “for you”, I can promise you that this one is.

I’d also like to invite students to come check out the Special

Collections and Archives! This collection of rare books, interesting artifacts, and historical papers is open to students for the first time in four years and can used for research projects or plain old curiosity. It is open every Tuesday from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. via the elevator in the Faculty Alcove (ask staff if you’d like directions!) or by appointment if you email me at pharris@whittier.edu.

I’ll see you in the stacks!

Paige Harris, Special Collections Librarian, Wardman Library

vides lifetime membership, allowing alumni to attend and participate in events throughout the country.

Members also take part in publishing the College’s student-run literary journal, The Greenleaf Review, where students are encouraged to

nelly, students participate in the production of The Greenleaf Review every spring semester. “This allows students to take their creativity and express themselves regardless of their majors,” Olivas describes.

This year’s Executive Board con-

Students that have completed at least two upper division English courses and have a 3.5 GPA in English are eligible to join Sigma Tau Delta. Tapping ceremonies are held at the beginning of each semester. For more information, please contact Angela Olivas ( aolivas@ whittier.edu ) and dAvid pAddy (dpaddy@whittier.edu), and visit the Sigma Tau Delta website.

E-board knows how to throw a party.

The archives are where Whittier secrets are kept.

Chelsea Bartilad / Quaker Campus

Courtesy of WCtherOCk

“They’re very active in leadership, they’re a very passionate and vibrant group.” -dAve pAddy

Students embrace their creative sides.

Meylina Tran / Quaker Campus

Is The Suicide Hotline Enough?

Nia Hurley COPY EDITOR

As humans, we all are both gifted and cursed with distinct, unique privileges, with contrasting exteriors and interiors, but despite the subdivision rampant in our species, we all shape something valuable in common: life. Despite our universal admiration for life and societal desperation for youth, the United States and the rest of the world is facing a continuously growing, life-threatening crisis - suicide. Worldwide, an estimated one million people die from suicide annually, and suicide is among the top three leading causes of death for those between 15 and 44 years old. With other important health issues rising, what do we as a society and global community do?

The answer is simple: talk to someone. Nine out of 10 times, anyone who has ever struggled with their mental health will know full well that any person you share your suicidal ideations with will instantly suggest you see a therapist. And if finding a therapist doesn’t work, to a hotline you go. But what do we know about the efficacy of something as garishly named as a ‘hotline’? According to The New York Times, the first suicide hotline was created by Bernard Mayes, a “multifaceted Anglican priest,” in 1961, in San Fransisco’s Tenderloin District, as a response to the city’s “high suicide rate.” During this time the rate was about 20 deaths per year at the Golden Gate bridge, versus 244 per day annually in San Francisco currently.

In 2023, we have the federallybacked 988–commonly known as the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline— launched in early 2005. People in need are told to call this hotline whenever, and wherever, for free. The idea of expanding Mayes’ missionary work on a federal level sounds helpful and efficient. In practice, however, it becomes a lot more difficult to properly execute.

In 2022, NBC News shared the story of Natasia Pelowski, whose depression surged during the pandemic and ended up bringing her to attempt suicide, leading her to call a state suicide hotline. In her moment of crisis, on the edge of a hotel balcony, they put her on hold.

15 minutes later, she hung up. Remarkably, Pelowski had the inner strength and fortitude to save her own life, without the help she so desperately needed.

Not all who call the hotline have the perseverance Pelowski displayed during her crisis, and for many,

a 15 minute hold can signify just what a suicidal person least needs to realize; that they are alone. The difference between having just 200 national call centers for the 300 million plus folks living in the US, versus attempting to meet demand, is not numerical, but rather infinitesimal, with the capacity to save hundreds of thousands of lives either leveraged, or wasted. This, like many matters of its scope, depends upon how much our federal and state governments truly care about ending the plague of suicide. The government has currently established the National Suicide hotline with the Biden-Harris administration making an investment of one billion dollars to support it, and the California state government has created the Office of Suicide Prevention to coordinate and align statewide suicide prevention efforts. But, this is still not enough.

In order to finally make a dent in the ever growing number of peo-

ple gone forever due to suicide, there must be significant change in how our government funds the national hotline. In order to truly reduce suicide rates, we need to talk about it. Awareness must also be raised and the taboo must be lifted. Suicide is a great equalizer, but in a competitive, distrustful and polarized society, we need to bring each other together more than ever before. Let us unite to end suicide in an effort to save lives and to also remind us that we–as the human race–are always more similar than different.

On campus, students can make appointments with the Counseling Center by calling their number at 562.907.4239 or emailing them at counselingcenter@whittier.edu. The center offers a variety of sessions that are available both virtually and in-person for free, that can be signed up for online. And they are open every week day. Furthermore, if a student feels they are in immediate danger they can call Campus Safety at 562.907.4211. Students can also reach out to their RAs if they dorm, peers and professors, as well as call the National Suicide Hotline at 988, or the RAINN National Sexual Assault hotline at 1.800.656.4673. To find more information about other potential resources, the College has numerous listed on their website.

This article has been condensed for print. If you would like to read the full article, visit medium.com/thequakercampus.

Enrique Tarrio, Are You Proud Now?

Leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection, and there is no better deserved sentence. For those who don’t know what happened on Jan. 6, a mob of former President Trump’s supporters gathered in front of the Capitol building to protest against a – in their minds – rigged election. By 11 a.m. they had all gathered in front of the Capitol building alongside the police who were outnumbered. And by 2 p.m., they were breaking windows and trying to get inside the Capitol to bring chaos. During the riot, a woman named Ashli Babbit was shot and killed by an officer. The riot was a spectacle of stupidity and destruction, and the person they blame for the majority of the cause is Tarrio and the Proud Boys.

Tarrio and the Proud Boys are a fascist group of “children” who like to play dress up. It didn’t take them long to try and do something foolish. Videos of the Proud Boys parading around, spreading hate, and trying to provoke those who disagree with them so they have a reason to fight and cause chaos are all over the internet. These tactics and messages they try to spread only reflect the type of leader Tarrio is. They claim they want to take

down President Joe Biden because he “stole” the election, implementing the idea that his presidency is corrupt. Yet their role model, their supreme leader, Donald Trump, is the most corrupt politician the US has had in recent history. This man they look up to was too much of a coward to even join the insurrection. He allowed his so-called admirers to attack the Capitol and threw everyone under the bus as soon as the insurrection failed. The Proud Boys were front and center for it. They were willing to lend their “skills” to take down the supposedly corrupt government. Just like the rest of the scrum, they were without a leader. Tarrio was arrested before the riot for burning a Black Lives Matter flag.

Surely, the Proud Boys and the other insurrectionists finally felt a sense of purpose in life now that they were attacking the Capitol, and taking down the “evil” politicians. This was their big moment. The way they imagined it, the American children were going to read about this in their textbooks in a chapter called “How America Was Saved From the Corrupt Liberals,” but it was all a delusion. They were fooled into believing they were doing the right thing. All their “hard training” was for nothing. Their military gear was never put to use. They were not the heroes of their story. They were losers, but that’s what they’ve always

been. Joseph Biggs, who recorded himself during the insurrection, denied he was an insurrectionist when CNN tried to interview him. Tarrio also denied allegations of encouraging his followers to storm the Capitol during a CNN interview. Now that they are facing repercussions for their actions, they want to switch their allegiance.

The argument that a lot of conservatives are using is that the events that unfolded on Jan. 6 are no different from the Black Lives Matter protests. The idea is that they both were rioting for injustices. They broke things and caused chaos. These conservatives ask, “Why do BLM protesters get away with it? Why aren’t they getting harsh sentences?” The differences are pretty obvious.

BLM has expanded as a result of the death of George Floyd, a man who was killed as a result of police brutality. It was a breaking point for Black Americans. Besides this, BLM never attacked or raided the Capitol building. Proud Boys, however, rioted over the false allegations of the elections being “rigged” and decided to attack. Floyd’s murder was not a conspiracy like the “rigged” election. It happened and it was recorded. But in terms of the socalled “rigged” election, there was no proof to back this claim. They believed a lie and are now paying the price. They are cowards and they deserve everything that comes to them. If you ask me, the sentences aren’t as harsh as they could be.

Dear Poet,

I think this guy I was seeing gave me herpes, but he won’t take an STD test. What do I do?

Sincerely, A Diseased Poet

Dear Poet,

First, I’d like to say that I’m so sorry that happened to you. Part of being a sexually responsible partner is to inform your partner or person you are (or plan on) having sex with, about any STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) you may have. If you are sexually active, you should be testing regularly to make sure you don’t have any STDs to ensure that you are not passing anything onto your sexual partner. The guy you were seeing is irresponsible, and no one should be sleeping with him!

Don’t feel ashamed! This is unfortunately just a part of life and it will pass. Herpes does not only get passed through sexual interactions, but it can also be transferred by just kissing someone. I know, scary, right? Nonetheless, it’s important you know that it happens and it’s important for others to know not to judge. Use a condom during sexual intercourse in order to prevent the spread of an STD. If your partner doesn’t want to use a condom due to some non validated excuse,

KICK THEM TO THE CURB!

I want you to know that you have resources available to you on and near campus. You can visit the Health Center on campus to get treatment for your herpes. You can reach out to them by calling their number at 562.464.4548 or send them an email at healthservices@ whittier.edu They’ll be happy to help you out. Another resource here in Whittier is the Planned Parenthood on Greenleaf Avenue. You can make an appointment with them on their website for testing and treatment. Most importantly, make sure you take your medications and check in with a doctor if things don’t get better. In the meantime, make sure you’re not passing them on to anyone else so be careful and also be truthful if you are planning on staying sexually active soon!

I hope this was helpful and I hope you feel better soon!

All the best, A Poet

P.S. You should also google the legal repercussions in California for not informing a partner that you have (or may acquire) an STD

What happens when your life is put on hold?

Courtesy of Time magazine

Jonathan Bermudez STAFF WRITER

Boyhood to Adulthood: Skateboards to Sports Cars in L.A.

Shelby Silva A&E EDITOR

This article was originally published in Poetinis.

Apollo Franco’s thin, long fingers grip the rotating leather steering wheel while the tires of the midnight blue Ford Mustang screech and form a cloud of smoke. Dozens of people, mainly in black and white clothing and baseball caps, gather around the spinning sports cars while Nipsey Hussle’s songs blast from the booming speakers. The energy is high and the temperature is low somewhere in Mid City, Los Angeles on a Friday night when the crescent moon shines on the glossy coats of the cars. Franco’s eyebrows furrow while he skims the open pavement to calculate his movement and space with the crowd inching closer to record. Just a few feet away from Franco’s Mustang is Vincent Luna’s obsidian Dodge Challenger, matching the speed of Franco. Luna glances at the crowd and at Franco with a bright smile on his face revealing dimples on his cheeks. The clouds of smoke start to cast a veil around the parking lot making it hard to discern the silhouettes of the crowd. The crowd’s screams grow rowdier when a white Camaro and gray BMW pull up behind Franco and Luna while they rev up their engines. Franco’s green eyes glance at the rearview mirror and he smirks a bit while he mutters, “Fuckin Tony and Benji.”

Franco’s 2016 Mustang V-6, Luna’s 2014 Challenger SXT, Antonio (Tony) Guerrero’s 2012 Camaro LS, and Benjamin (Benji) Castro’s 2012 BMW 335 roll up next to a green Mexican food truck in Koreatown. After staying at the car meet for around an hour, they all decided to leave early when it too packed and rowdy. This is the first time they are getting up from their leather seats after a couple of hours of being behind the wheel. They all “dap” each other up while talking about the car meet and staring at the menu.

Guerrero adjusts his black LA cap and says, “That dumbass in the white Toyota 86 was pissing me off man! He kept getting too close to every car.”

Luna chuckles and responds, “Why do you think his shit is all fucked up from the sides?”

Castro goes up to get his carne asada burrito and tamarindo-flavored Jarritos before telling Franco his order is ready. Franco makes his way to his car with some tacos al pastor and a large horchata. He leans against his car and Guerrero starts cracking up while telling Luna, “Look at Franco’s dry ass tacos. He never puts any salsa on them.” Franco clicks his tongue and says, “Shut the fuck up, you always say that shit.” “You already know he doesn’t like any spicy shit. Just eat your tacos, Tony,” Castro adds. Luna starts to reminisce about the times they were teenagers skating around Koreatown, “Remember that one stand we used to always go to after skating a few blocks down from here? The quesadillas were fucken good.” “Remember when Tony ate shit trying to eat while jumping the stairs,” Franco comments after sipping on his horchata. “Man, fuck you!” Guerrero says in between bites. “Damn. That was a while ago, huh?” Castro says to them and they all nod in agreement. “Good times, huh?” Luna asks. “Good times and bad times,” Franco responds while looking down the empty main road.

Franco and Luna are cousins who ended up living at each other’s houses for some periods during their childhood. Luna and his mother, Sonya

Flores, lived with Franco’s family in a one-bedroom apartment in Koreatown when Luna was seven years old. Luna and Franco became close during that time when they would play Super Mario Bros on the Game Boy and Street Fighter on the PlayStation II. Eventually, Luna and his mother moved out, but they would visit Franco’s house often over the years. Luna and Franco would watch Spider-Man films, the Dragon Ball series, and scary films like Paranormal Activity while eating peach

times. Some of the gear included the design of a Cup of Noodles or the face of Fernandez on a Tapatío bottle because he liked eating that. He was one of the figures that popularized the skating scene in Los Angeles. However, he primarily contributed to the exposure of skating culture. The skating community who watched videos of professionals like Paul Rodriguez on YouTube were more focused on expanding their skills. It was a time when everybody wanted to be a skat-

buses and subways to take to go somewhere. He was hella rowdy, though, when people on the streets would insult us. Skaters have never had a good reputation, so a lot of the older generations would grimace at us or yell at us to go to school.” Franco chuckles before saying, “That shit was funny, especially when they would try to call the cops on us or chase us. Benji and Tony were cool though because Benji would film videos of us and another homie of theirs back then would edit

The lights of the liquor stores, laundromats, and food stands are blurry, probably from going over the speed limit on the streets in Franco’s Mustang around 9 p.m. Yesterday, they did some donuts in an empty parking lot near downtown, but it was not a huge event for just anyone to come. “Mostly now, we like to cruise around. I feel like we have mellowed down a bit. After all, we are older, ya know,” Franco admits.

Now Franco is 23 years old, making him the youngest one of the group while Luna is the eldest of the group at 26. Both Guerrero and Castro are 24 and their birthdays are just three days apart in October.

rings and Little Debbie treats.

When Luna reached his early teenage years and Franco was a pre-teen, Luna brought Franco the film Lords of Dogtown to watch on his PSP. After they watched the film several times, they asked their mothers to buy them skateboards to learn how to skate. They watched skateboarding videos on YouTube to learn how to do tricks such as pop shove its, kickflips, backflips, and crooked grinds. Franco mentions, “It was cool seeing how many stairs I could jump. I remember practicing every day.” “We would spend hours trying to increase the number of stairs we could jump over and we had lots of videos of our failures and successes,” Luna adds.

Sonya Flores recalls, “These boys

er. Guerrero and Castro were among those teenagers in Los Angeles who became skaters. Both of them were neighbors growing up and attended the same schools together. Castro says, “Tony and I would always play tag, soccer, basketball, and other games with some kids from the apartment in the parking lot and we suddenly started seeing a lot of skaters passing by the gates more often. We ended up watching some cool videos of guys skating on Instagram and we decided to give it a try.” “When the skating scene was at its peak, the skating parks would be packed all the time and it was rare to go more than 10 minutes on the street without seeing any skaters. We would bring our boards to school where they ended up becoming banned because

our videos.”

“We still skate together or by ourselves, but not as much as we used to,” Franco admits.

When they got their licenses and their first cars, they discovered a new level of independence that became part of their identity. Before Franco’s parents separated, his father used to take him to American Muscle car shows and races as a young child. He used to cruise with Franco in his 1971 Chevrolet Camaro and blast rock n’ roll music. In his childhood home, Franco had dozens of toy cars and there were models and pictures of American Muscle cars on the walls and cabinets. Castro grew up close with his uncle who was into the Lowrider culture popular in East Los Angeles and his uncle would

The guys are all gathered on the beige couches in Castro’s childhood home in East Hollywood eating diced fruit that Castro’s mom, Esmeralda Avila, served them. “We know people in car crews, but we are not interested in forming a crew or joining one. I feel like they make their crew their whole life and we got other things going on. We still value education and financial stability, and we want to give back to our mothers and family, especially since many of us are the only male figures at home or are the eldest ones. This is fun, but we know we have to work for the future we want to have. We need to be focused and consistent with our goals,” Castro reveals while eating a piece of mango.

“We knew people who went to the takeovers on the First Street bridge, but we’ve been arrested too many times, so we weren’t tryna get caught. We have gotten a few speeding tickets and have gotten our cars taken away from the police, too,” Guerrero laughs while shaking his head and holding a piece of melon.

Luna laughs and tells Guerrero, “Shut the fuck up. You just ain’t slick like that.”

“But yea, it’s cool to race and you get that adrenaline rush that makes you feel like you’re in an action movie you would watch growing up, but sometimes we take a step backward to ask if this is helping my future out,” Luna adds.

“We know we can’t be wild and reckless all the time, but we can still have fun,” Franco admits while eating watermelon.

were crazy. They still are actually, but they would come home at night with bruises, cuts, dirty clothes, and shoes that would wear out too often. I knew it was dangerous for him to be around other kids who would just go out to skate in the streets. I worried about him, but I had to work two jobs to pay for rent, so I could not be observing him all the time.” Flores was not the only mother who was worried about her child’s whereabouts and safety. In fact, hundreds of other teenagers in Los Angeles would go out to skate in the streets.

The early 2010s was the time when skateboarding was at its peak for their generation. Teenagers started to grow out their hair, wearing beanies and skate brands. They would wear Vans, Nike SB, Emerica Baker, Girl, and Thrasher apparel. This was also around the time when the skating figure, Steven Fernandez, emerged from the streets of Compton to fame in Los Angeles. He gained attention from skating brands, famous figures, and several teenagers, especially girls. He became known as “Baby Scumbag” after partnering up with Dirty Ghetto Kids (DGK) and was also known as “Lil Cloud”. He was associated with the brand Honey Co. and DGK gear, which people bought and sold out at

the school hated skateboards, but we loved them,” Guerrero comments. With Franco living in Echo Park, Guerrero and Castro in East Hollywood, and Luna in Koreatown, they were all bound to end up crossing paths on the streets. “We ended up meeting each other when my cousin and I were skating somewhere in downtown with over a dozen random skaters. I remember the stairs were perfect to practice because it was spacious and empty most of the time. I think it was near the Staples Center. Anyways, we ended up being chased by a few security guards who were fed up with skaters skating near there,” Luna recalls as his dimples emerge. “We didn’t know our way around downtown since it was sketch as fuck, but we saw Tony and Castro who looked sure of where to go to lose the guards so we ended up following them,” Franco adds. “I remember thinking who the fuck were these guys following us, but we were more worried about the angry guards,” Guerrero comments while he lets out a goofy laugh. Castro recalls, “When we were sure we lost them thanks to Tony, we ended up smoking weed together before eating Yoshinoya. Tony knew his way around these streets so he’s always the person we follow when we are being chased. He even knew what

take him on cruises and bounce on the streets. Both Guerrero and Luna mention that they were most likely influenced by the shows and films they would watch about racing cars. “I think many kids grow up liking toy cars and they like the idea of going fast. A movie that was also really cool to watch was The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” Guerrero adds. “Paul Walker was cool as fuck. The first few movies from the series were cool so that probably influenced us when we were younger, but we could never actually ride like them when we were younger,” Luna says.

These young men no longer have long, shaggy hair and are no longer covered in fresh bruises and wounds. They all do, however, have a few scars on their legs and arms that seem to be fading. Now, they have fresh fades, buzzcuts, clean clothes, and expensive shoes like Jordans that are taken care of to keep them looking new. Now, their mothers grip the handles above the windows and pray while they are in their sons’ cars. “We don’t need to go to any roller coasters when the scariest one is being in the same car as him,” Flores says while laughing.

Something that has not changed is their smoking habits. The strong scent of weed in Franco’s car was proof of that.

“You’re going to have to sell that Challenger for a minivan soon anyway, huh?” Guerrero asks the soon-to-be-father, Luna.

“I’ll still beat you in a race with that minivan you fucker,” Luna responds to Guerrero before the guys chuckle.

Castro’s six-year-old little brother, Xavier Castro, walks up to the coffee table surrounded by the guys to grab a piece of mango while he holds two Hot Wheels cars in the other hand. Guerrero ruffles Xavier’s hair and asks him, “You wanna race cars like us, too?” “No, I wanna be a police,” Xavier responds. “Aw nah, he wanna ride with 12,” Tony jokes and munches on some watermelon. Xavier looks at Guerrero with a puzzled look in his big brown eyes while he eats mango. “It’s all good, little man, as long as you don’t give me any tickets alright? We cool,” Guerrero bumps his tiny fist and laughs. Xavier leaves to the living room before coming back with his box of toy cars. Everyone takes a car from the box and they race them on the wooden floor to see which one reaches the farthest. Franco got a red Pontiac Firebird, Luna got a white Corvette, Guerrero got a green Camaro, and Xavier got an orange Chevelle. They placed their cars on the floors making sound effects for the noises while Xavier counted down, “Ready, Set, Go!”

In the early 2010s, skateboard culture was all the rage. Gina Ferazzi / Los AngeLes Times

“It’s cool to race and you get that adrenaline rush that makes you feel like you’re in an action movie you would watch growing up, but sometimes we take a step backward to ask if this is helping my future out.”

- Vincent Luna

Emily Henderson EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Want to know what our Editor-In-Chief is recommending this week? Read on!

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Post-Apocalyptic Play:Where Words Once Were

Lucy Campbell SPORTS EDITOR

The Department of Theatre, Film, and Communication Arts at Whittier College has conducted and performed many significant and noteworthy productions over the years, earning it an aproppiate and prominent reputation for flair.

In July, the department announced the five excellent productions they plan on presenting during the 2023-2024 academic year, which include All in the Timing & Time Flies, Catch Me If You Can: The Musical, The Annual Spring Film Festival, and finally, Where Words Once Were

Book: I’m currently in my dark academia era and simultaneously reading The Secret History by Donna Tart and Babel: Or The Necessity of Violence by R.F. Kuang. Both incredible novels about murder, obsessive friend groups, murder, and well, academia.

The first of these plays to be publicly shown by the department, Where Words Once Were, written by Finegan Kruckemeyer and directed by Professor of Theatre and Communication Arts Jennifer S. Holmes, is in full swing, already having had the first production meeting with the crew on Friday, Sept. 2.

courtesy of IMdb

TV Show: I finally finished season five of What We Do in The Shadows (Hulu), and this season cements three things for me. One, that Guillermo De La Cruz is one the best characters in television right now. Two, that Harvey Guillén deserves an Emmy. And three, that Matt Berry deserves an Emmy as well.

Although the department acknowledges that it is relatively early to say, the play is nonetheless scheduled to run at the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts here on campus in the Robinson Theater on Oct. 5, 6, and 7 at 7:30 p.m. and again on Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. Attending guests can purchase a $15 general admission ticket, and attending alumni can purchase a $10 alum-

ni admission ticket at the door. If you are a current Whittier College student, you can purchase a $5 ticket at the door and RSVP through the Whittier College Engage website.

This production is 70-minute one-act play that takes place in a post-apocalyptic time where the

protagonist, Orhan, explores the power and significance of language and its capacity to transform the world. Without giving too much away, the play centers around the idea of the weaponization of language and how it can be seen as a danger or threat to society with violent implications

that demand restrictions and bans on the words spoken by all civilians.

Ali Amaya is part of the cast in this play and reveals, “Where Words Once Were is an amazing play that showcases the importance of language. In this dystopian society, there are only 1000 words permitted at a time, and if you use an erased word, then you get erased. I play Angela, the narrator, and she’s such an interesting and fun character. I’ve never played a role like her where I get to interact with the world around me while breaking the fourth wall. Unlike most narrators, she has a lot of freedom and emotions and opinions that I get to play around with on set which is an awesome experience. I’m really excited for others to see it, and I think it will leave an impact on all who see it to be grateful for the words we have and to use them wisely.”

Ultimately, it should be interesting to see how the department directs and produces this exciting new Whittier College production, as the use of words, or lack thereof, will add a unique and intricate element that pushes past the ordinary structures and expectations of not only play design but also of acting. So mark your calendars because the first Oct. 5 show is approaching quickly, and you do not want to miss opening night for this profound and outstanding production, Where Words Once Were.

Poets, Come Celebrate Hispanic Heritage!

Emma Galvan COPY EDITOR

these events are welcome to allies of the community and every student is encouraged to come!

courtesy of The local fixture

Food: I’ve been obsessed with the chai lattes at Local Fixture recently. Perfect autumn vibes.

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the US celebrates the Latinx community for all that they have contributed: gastronomy, the arts, and especially culture. Originally, Hispanic Heritage week, starting on (Sept.15 or 16) became a month established by Representative George Brown Jr. and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968. Currently, we are in the middle of the 55th Hispanic Heritage celebration!

As someone who is Latina, I am proud to show off my culture. Festivals and celebrations are held every year and here are some of the incredible events to consider going to this month!

Starting on Oct. 7, The Shops of Santa Anita will be throwing a celebration with live painting and Robles art, Aztec dancing, and mariachi music performances from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. California Pizza Kitchen, Chick-Fil-A, and Dave & Busters will be participating in this event, and if anyone spends $50 at any of these four locations, they will get a DIY Dia De Los Muertos tote bag.

JULIA CENTENO / QUAKER CAMPUS

Listening: I’ve been repeating GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo like every person in the world right now. Favorites on the album are “all-american bitch”, “ballad of a homeschooled girl,” and “pretty isn’t pretty.”

Check out all the reccomendations!

Starting Sept. 26 in Villalobos Hall there will be a “Thriving Authentically : Latinx, Careers, & Culture” event in collaboration with M.E.C.h.A. Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlán– is an organization on campus that encourages Latinx students to pursue higher education. This is an event where you can learn more about the culture of the Latinx community and see how we thrive!

On Oct. 4, also in Villalobos Hall, there is an event that explores the Latinx identity and heritage! For further details and updates, check out the Office of Equity and Inclusion Instagram page. All of

Additionally, you can rush to Santa Monica on Sept. 26 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to watch Half Brothers, a comedy about a Mexican businessman and his half -ibling who is American. Afterwards there is a Q&A with the writer, Edurado Cisneros, where you can ask him anything about the film or his inspiration!

Then, there is the best of both worlds! On Sept. 29 until Oct. 7, for $30 you can attend the 15th annual Hola México Film Festival. The festival will showcase the latest acclaimed films from Mexican filmmakers, featuring 20 short films and over 20 feature films. On the final day, Oct. 7, the festival will throw a closing night screening and a concert in downtown LA. at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes and host an awards ceremony for the best film, including best short film.

Now, if watching a movie or attending a festival isn’t your thing, how about a free concert? Or even better, two free concerts! Ovation will have a free CONGANAS concert where a group of musicians that play Latin Jazz, R&B, Pop, and Soul music will perform on Oct. 8 at the Center Courtyard from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Ovation will also hold another free concert where Mariachi Romanza will perform on Oct. 13!

Finally, on Oct. 5, there will be a roundtable discussion panel hosted by HOLA LA from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Marsh, West 5th St. The event will highlight Hispanic professionals in the business industry and hold a discussion for the public to talk and learn from their experiences. The panel is an opportunity for

students interested in networking to talk and learn from professionals over appetizers at the beginning of the event.

This month is one of festivity and joy, whether it is to attend shows, festivals, or learn some dance moves. Students and staff can enjoy themselves and learn about the Latinx community. These events are just the tip of the iceberg for what is in store for SoCal to experience, so keep a look out for future events. Have fun, learn, but most importantly, remember to support the Latinx Community and explore our culture and ways!

This article has been condensedfor print. If you would like to read the full article, visit medium.com/ thequakercampus.

Courtesy of Deborah Eckloff

ULF ANDERSEN /GETTY IMAGES

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Cheers To The Writers Guild of America!

Gabriel Ramirez FOR THE QC

After 148 days, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached a tentative agreement as of Sept. 24. The Guild has expressed concern to ensure specific wording before putting the agreement to a vote. Members have been told through a official email from the WGA assuring that the agreement has been reached “with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.”

The WGA has advised members to stop all strikes as of 12:01 a.m. PT on Wed. Sept. 27. The final agreement went public Tuesday night, where it is then up for member ratification. The WGA states that the deal is worth up to $233 million.

The three-year deal includes higher pay, with a five percent increase in the first year, a four percent increase in the second year, and 3.5 percent increase in the third year. This also increased weekly rates for staff writers and story editors. There is also the addition of the “Writer-Producer” tier, with a 9.5 percent increase. Residuals will also be seen for foreign streaming services, depending on viewership. Speaking of viewership, writers will receive a bonus based on streaming

viewership in the first 90 days. Streaming services also agreed to “provide the Guild, subject to a confidentiality agreement, the total number of hours streamed, both domestically and internationally, of self-produced high budget streaming programs.”

The agreement also speaks on writer’s rooms, specifically the addition of minimum staffing sizes. If a series has six episodes, the room needs a minimum of

three writers. If it has seven to 12 episodes, it has a minimum of five writers. And if the series has over 13 episodes, the room will have six or more writers. For all series, three people will be Writer-Producers.

In terms of Artificial Intelligence (AI), there will be regulations in place. The deal states that “AI-generated written material is not considered literary material, source material or assigned

material under the MBA. AI is not a writer under the MBA.” The studios also must disclose to a writer if there has been any AI usage in any material.

President Biden weighed in and expressed his approval for the mediation between the WGA and the major studios saying, “There simply is no substitute for employers and employees coming together to negotiate in good faith toward an agreement

Crossword Puzzle

that makes a business stronger and secures the pay, benefits and dignity that workers deserve.”

The WGA negotiating committee said in a Sunday night message to its members, “We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional — with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.” Board member, David Slack took to Twitter to write, “They didn’t break us. They couldn’t trick us. They can’t do without us. We held strong together as one union to demand our fair share. And that’s why we won.”

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) is still on strike and has expressed that they will not yield their strike in the name of the agreement made with the WGA. If you would like to help those who are on strike, you can contact the Entertainment Community Fund. Formerly the Actor’s Fund, this group provides a “calendar of workshops, support groups, online resources, and emergency financial assistance to support the unique essential needs of all who work in performing arts and entertainment.” If you have interest in donating, you can at www. entertainmentcommunity.org, underneath the Support Our Work tab.

WGA members reach a tentative deal with the studios. Courtesy of GETTY IMAGES

- WGA Board Member David Slack