QUAKER CAMPUS November 9, 2023
The voice of Whittier College since 1914
Volume 22— Issue 6
Athletics Cancellation: One Year Later Jonathan Bermudez ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Mental health resources will be accessible to homeless people.
Courtesy of la times
Newsom Announces New Homeless Plan Meylina Tran CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR
On Oct. 10, Governor Gavin Newsom announced new action plans in his ongoing efforts to combat and address California’s homelessness problem. These new plans add to Newsom’s pre-existing multi-billion dollar approach to tackle the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness. One such plan involves moving people in need of assistance into affordable housing funded and provided by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
California is home to nearly a third in grants for the Homekey proof the nation’s homeless popu- gram—a statewide effort to sustain lation, which was exacerbated by and rapidly expand housing for the COVID-19 pandemic and the persons experiencing homelesslabor market slowdown. Forbes ness, as well as for those who are predicts that the employment rate at risk of homelessness—in order could rise from 3.7 percent to 4.8 to build at least 700 housing units. percent—or nearly two million peo- These housing units will be built ple—by the end of next year. How- through nine developments in ever, as Newsom states, “The state’s Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, homelessness crisis has been decades San Diego, Visalia, Modesto, and in the making. While there’s more San Buenaventura. work to be done, we are challenging Furthermore, this announcement the status quo with new, innovative builds upon a previous $736 milsolutions to get Californians off the lion investment made to address statewide homelessness “through streets and into housing.” Newsom’s newly released tactic the acquisition and construction of involves allocating $179.7 million See Homelessness page 2.
How Expensive is CA Cost of Living? However, a study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco indicates that nine out of 10 people experiencing homelessness blamed housing costs for their state of living. California holds the US largest homeless population of around 161,548, or 27.89 percent, of the total homeless population in the country. For comparison, California’s homeless population is nine times greater than that of Oregon’s, which is about 17,960. Several Californians, especially families and those living paycheck courtesy of shrm foundation to paycheck, have to work multiple Inflation in California is affecting the cost of living. jobs at a time in order to be able to Bureau of Economic Analysis, the afford food and maintain a home. Anna Gaber HEAD COPY EDITOR average annual cost of living in CalThe current minimum hourly With a population of over 39 mil- ifornia is around $47,915, which wage in California is $15.50. Even lion people — with 10.5 million is mainly made up of housing and when all necessary bills have been being immigrants, California is the utilities, health care, non-restaurant paid (e.g. rent, gas, electricity, wafood, gas and energy, and “other ter, insurance), it is unlikely that most populous state in the US. there will be any leftover money However, California’s gas, food, personal expenditures.” Specifically in regards to housing, to set aside for savings, let alone to transportation, health care, and housing prices have made it the sec- the California Association of Real- spend on clothing, going or eating ond most expensive state to live in tors reports that the median hous- out, hobbies, holidays, etc. Wages have increased over the in 2023, with Hawai’i taking first ing price in California is “forecast to decline 8.8 percent to $758,600 in years, but they have not kept up place. The disproportionate difference 2023, following a projected 5.7 per- with the productivity of workers, between California’s wages and cost cent increase to $831,460 in 2022.” nor do they meet the cost of living. The most significant consequence The Employment Development of living has caused countless residents to become homeless or expe- of the high cost of living is home- Department has resources available lessness. that pertain to housing and recievrience financial disparity. According to the World Popu- Homelessness is caused by a myr- ing food stamps for needy families lation Review, the average income iad of reasons, including addiction, and individuals at edd.ca.gov/en/ of a California resident is roughly substance abuse, and mental health about_resources. $77,393. And, as indicated by the and medical issues. The Worst of Wars: Who Do Celebrities Support? Articles: Opinions: A&E: Cozy and Cool Fall Outings
It is almost the one year anniversary since Whittier College announced the discontinuation of three sports programs. On Nov. 12, 2022, Whittier College announced that Men’s Football would be terminated— with the addition of Men’s Lacrosse, and Men and Women’s Golf, after football was a part of athletics for 135 years. The College states that the reasoning was due to statistics that showed the decline of youth playing tackle football, and also the intent being to protect students from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This was a heavily reported story to come out of Whittier College at the time, causing an uproar in the community, most notably from alumni who formed the group Save Whittier College in response to the sports’ cancellation. The decision was reported by NBC, Los Angeles Times, Fox 11 and the local Whittier Daily News. Students who were in the sport programs had to find other colleges to transfer to. Poet Caroline Valle was quoted in the LA Times saying that, “Not getting a proper reason from the College, I feel like I’ve been tossed aside.” A lot of the students in the program were not properly informed of the cuts. “When we dropped these sports, it was a difficult time for all of our students whether they were student athletes or non-student athletes because of the impact athletics has on an institution, especially a small institution like us,” says Rock Carter, Director of Athletics. Carter has been the Director of Athletics since 2019 and remembered the challenges he faced after the loss of the sports. “There were definitely some fires that had to be put out,” he said. He recalls that people were angry, but not just the students but more so their parents. Carter reports that he had spent a lot of time answering questions and concerns and tried to give the best answer he could, but his knowledge of the school’s intentions was limit-
ed and he admits it still is. Carter and the Athletics Department had to prepare and keep the students and parents of the athletes informed but he admitted that the institution and its integrity became a question. Carter says, “It doesn’t even stop at athletics, people were talking about the school, how long is Whittier going to be around. Is Whittier in as bad shape as they say it is?” The Athletics Department had to not lose its hold. Carter says his coaches and Department did a great job at keeping things together. “We had to build the trust again,” says Carter. He shares that the athletic department was disappointed to be put in that situation. He assumed that the Administration knew their decision was going to have backlash but considers it a disappointment for everyone. “The games were always well attended, and our patrons and fans had nothing but good things to say about the game day experience, I don’t think it was a thing anyone saw coming,” said Jack Goodwille, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications. Goodwille remembers being shocked for the Men’s Lacrosse team as they had a roster of 45 players, the college maximum. According to the College, the Athletics Department is still going strong. With 18 sports teams still at Whittier College, Carter assures that there is nothing more important than doing the best for the athletes still here. Goodwille says that, although the anniversary is approaching, the Department is only looking forward, and not to the past. “We have a great thing going here,” says Goodwille before praising volleyball athletes Analise and Brenna Kusleika for receiving athlete of the year. “There is one of two ways you can respond to getting punched in the face. You can fight back, or stay down for the ten count, [Whittier College] got up and we fought back,” says Goodwille.
jacob perez / quaker campus Multiple sports programs were cancelled last year.
Index:
News — 1, 2, 3 | Sports — 4,5 | Campus Life — 6, 7 | Opinions — 8, 9 | Features — 10 | A & E — 11, 12