Quaker Campus Volume 25, Issue 5

QUAKER CAMPUS Oct. 29, 2026

Index:

The voice of Whittier College since 1914

Volume 25 — Issue 5

News — 2, 3 | Campus Life — 4, 5 | Opinions — 6 | Features — 7 | Sports — 8, 9 | Arts & Entertainment — 10, 11, 12

NEWS

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Oct. 29, 2026

Bitter-Sweet Farewells & New Beginnings: Xenia Selina Lin COPY EDITOR As of Wednesday, Oct. 7, the Dean of Students (DOS) and Vice President of Student Life, Xenia Markowitt had announced her retirement through an email sent to the entire student body. Markowitt started at Whittier College in July 2024 after succeeding Henry Gee, who served in an interim capacity for the 2023-24 academic year, shares the Rock. When she joined the College, she brought with her over 20 years of experience working in higher education. Her focus at the College has always aimed to enhance the student experience and create new programs to ensure students felt included within their campus community. Markowitt did just that at the College; she brought EdSights and Poet Post to the community so students could have access to quick and easy resources throughout their college experience. Markowitt was introduced to the College through a mutual friend and colleague between Dillon and herself. She recalled, “...A mutual friend and colleague of myself and the President

[…] wrote me and said, ‘If you are looking for a position, you should see what Kristine Dillon is doing at Whittier.’” After seeing the work done by Dillon, Markowitts ultimately became interested in applying for a job at the College. The work that she would eventually do would help support student wellness, especially by providing mental health resources. She emphasized the importance of mental health, especially in the post-COVID era, and the stress that can come from changing legislation and elections in recent years. Her beliefs are reflected in her establishment of improved communications and collaboration between several departments in the school centered around Student Wellness, as well as bringing the Edsights texting platform as additional support for students and the weekly Poet Post emails that help to connect the community. Edsights, known to students as the Johnny Poet Smart Bot, was highlighted at the State of the College Address by Dillon who stated that, “It allows us to connect with students and hear from students before they are ready to reach out to someone on campus.” Dillon went on to show that 96 percent of students opted in

to the texting service and that 45 percent of students actively engaged with it. During her time here, her most memorable memories include the Light of Learning ceremony for the incoming first-years. Markowitt noted, “I thought it was a very special moment when all the new students light the candle for the new year [...] and for the seniors when they light the candle again before they graduate.” Another part that she loved about the College community and the students she has worked with is that the students here do not see her as someone they should distrust, and instead see “someone who will work with them and get what they need.” She truly valued the connection between the faculty and students, and understood the importance of how that affects student comfort on campus during their formative years. In the email sent out by President Dillon’s to the student body on Oct. 7, it disclosed that Markowitt would be retiring to spend time with and take care of her daughter and grandson, as they are expecting her baby granddaughter to join the family next month. “Starting late October until her retirement at the end of

December, Xenia will use FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) as well as work remotely; she will be on campus Wednesdays. Dr. Rebecca Romberger, Assistant Vice President for Student Wellness will be the primary contact on campus for anything that cannot be covered remotely,” shared Dillon. As the College bids goodbye to a contributor who has unconditionally advocated for its students, Markowitt would also like to remind them of an

important message. “I think the best thing to encourage is for students to be bold,” she stated. “It’s one of the few times when you will be given lots of time to read and study and think [...] it’s a moment to seize and gain a transformational experience.” This sentiment, along with the legacy that Markowitt will leave behind in her retirement, will continue to stay with Whittier College students to support and shape future generations to come.

the school has been doing to prepare for El Niño. The Pacific Ocean’s El NiñoSouthern Oscillation (El Niño) is arguably the most influential climate driver on Earth, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). For the United States, this usually results in warm and wet winters. Ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean becoming warmer by 0.5 degrees Celsius for a period of at least five months, is an important

aspect of the formation of an El Niño, according to NOAA. These factors often result in large storms with hazardous conditions, such as excessive rain and flooding. Despite the El Niño winters in Southern California being associated with more rainfall, this storm influences weather patterns around the world, and its impact is not limited to heavy rainfall and major storms. For Whittier College students, a rainy winter could mean more than just remembering to bring an umbrella to class.

With El Niño strengthening in the Pacific, the rain it brings this winter may affect students’ commutes, campus activities, and everyday routines. Despite the effects of El Niño starting to show, there seemed to be a lack of understanding and worry around preparing for it. When one student on the College football team was asked how he was preparing for the upcoming storm, he replied, “I am not, this is the first I have heard of it.” He however, did have previous knowledge of what an El Niño

is, despite not knowing it was occurring. He adds that he had not noticed any difference around Whittier with the weather. When asked, another student, who frequents the beach and surfs, stated that, “Waters have been getting warmer.” He adds that waves are getting bigger, but he did not think it was all due to El Niño. He did notice that it was much easier for his friends back home to catch fish because of the warmer waters.

Courtesy of Whittier College Dean of Students Xenia Markowitt is stepping down.

Strap Into Your Rainboots, Incoming El Niño Bella Lechuga FOR THE QC Ryan Dominguez FOR THE QC Aaliyah Kois Jacobs STAFF WRITER I am sitting in the office of Campus Safety, and the fans are running in every corner pushing stuffy air around. These past few weeks have remained consistently hotter than normal. The heat feels ironic, given that I came here to talk to them about what

THE QUAKER CAMPUS STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emma Galvan

A&E EDITOR Emma Cianciola

DEPUTY EDITOR & MANAGING EDITOR Penelope Turgen

CO-HEAD COPY EDITORS Yen Tran Daniel Gomez

NEWS EDITOR Paola Ruiz OPINIONS EDITOR Tralee Jacobs CO-SPORTS EDITORS Maia Chaidez Jayden Borgna CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR Jamie Calderon FEATURES EDITOR Xochitl Hood

SOCIAL MEDIA Jamie Calderon STAFF WRITERS Steven Lopez Rhodree Gonzales Ernesto Hernandez Sam Cuellar Aster Hjelm Aubrey Proano-Keeler Chase Byer Kaila Mitike Angelica Lavorin Calista Cameron Aaliyah kois Jacobs

COPY EDITORS Kaj Behr Aaliyah Mallory Selina Lin GRAPHIC DESIGNER Abbie Almanza CARTOONISTS Tallahassee Quontology PHOTOGRAPHERS Karen Martinez Aguilar Maryam Zorba Bhoomi Kapadia Lee Rivera Kara Schutz WEB DESIGNER Malena Lodi FACULTY ADVISOR Joseph Donnelly

Cont. on pg. 3

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 Monday at 5 p.m. to make it into that week’s issue. Submissions should be no more than 500 words. Submissions will undergo the same editing process from our production pipeline if selected. All stories must follow the same journalistic standards. 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.

Oct. 29, 2026 El Niño from pg. 2 According to NOAA's Oct. 2026 outlook, El Niño is strengthening and California could experience wetter-thanaverage conditions this winter. While it is still difficult to predict exactly when and where the biggest storms will hit, preparing ahead of time can help students avoid some of the problems that come with heavy rain. On Sept. 21, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency declaration in preparation for a potentially record-breaking El Niño season, which may bring severe weather into the state. This will allow state organizations to coordinate and prepare for emergencies by providing essential supplies and hastening the protection of people against such risks as flooding, landslides, coastal erosion, and power failures. Even though there is no assurance that the El Niño season will bring a particularly wet winter, officials are trying to convince Californians that the risks need to be taken seriously. The College’s Campus Safety was asked what students could do to prepare and whether students should be worried. They said that the best thing to do is stay prepared for any situation, “Anything we do not know can be a potential emergency.” The school is not worried about it at the moment, but it

NEWS

supplies, and a plan for power outages can help if a storm causes unexpected problems. Keeping a rain jacket, waterproof shoes, and a portable phone charger on hand can make a difference during a long day on campus. You should always keep a first aid kit on hand either in your car or dorm. Students who drive should check their tires and windshield wipers, leave extra

time for their commute, and avoid driving through flooded roads. El Niño could also affect students who enjoy spending their free time at the beaches. Popular spots in Long Beach and Orange County may experience high surf, beach erosion, and temporary closures during periods of rough weather. Recent reports have documented sand loss along parts of the Southern California coast following storm swells. However, these changes cannot all be blamed on El Niño, since individual storms, tides, and other ocean conditions also play a role. Students planning beach trips should check surf advisories and beach conditions before heading out, especially during periods of strong waves or high tides. Staying informed is as important as being prepared. Students should keep an eye on official Whittier College announcements for updates about campus operations, classes, and safety procedures during severe weather. Checking local forecasts and city emergency alerts can also help students make safer decisions before leaving home. While there is no need to assume the worst, it is worth taking a few precautions before winter storms arrive. A little planning can help students avoid unnecessary stress, stay safe, and keep up with campus life when the weather gets rough.

second MacKenzie Scott gift. The Board of Trustees gave $2.7 million, a 100 percent effort of donations by its members. Over $4.5 million came from the College’s Faithful Friends. The rest of the donations came from Poet Give (over $500 thousand) and support from the Whittier Fund (over $2.7 million). With over 2,000 donors and 315 first-time donors, the College has a community of support that Dillon shares as the backbone of the school’s success. And according to her team’s growth projections, the College is set to exceed fundraising goals in the next two years. Dillon also emphasized the importance of sports on campus, and proclaimed that Poet athletics is about more than competition, it is about building community and connections. In an effort to contribute to building community, Dillon announced the return of Women’s Lacrosse after its departure last year and the beginning of a new sport on campus, Women’s Flag Football. According to Dillon, it is the fastest growing sport in California and will open the College up to a wide array of new prospective students. Athletics is not Dillon’s only plan to bring in prospective students. Their newest initiative is the Whittier College Promise, which is meant to work with Whittier Works to give more to

students. The first part is the Golden State Guarantee, a promise to cover tuition for California residents with a 3.5 GPA or above whose families make less than $100,000 annually. This promise is meant to open the door to students who are kept away from the school by the high price tag. The second part is the "FourYear" Graduation Guarantee, a contract with full-time first-year students. It serves as a promise, to prospective students' parents, that the college will work with the students so they can finish their degree in four years, so long as the students do their part. The third part is the "TwoYear" Transfer Guarantee, a similar plan to the "Four-Year" one. It promises students from California community colleges, that transfer with a matching Associates Degree, that they can graduate in two years if they keep up their end of the contract. Dillon ended the State of the Address with a look at the College’s new slogan “Illuminating Potential.” The new branding is meant to highlight the purpose-driven, future-ready education grounded in mentorship, collaboration, and real-world learning. As the College trends upward to a better future, Dillon’s speech echoes a hopeful sentiment heard across campus.

As El Niño approaches, students should start preparing for anything. is always good to stay vigilant. Staying up to date on the weather is important, especially for Whittier College students. Even a few days of bad weather can make getting to class difficult with commuters having to deal with traffic, flooded streets, and dangerous driving conditions. Students living on campus may face slippery walkways and disruption to outdoor activities.

Students living in residence halls should also know who to contact if they notice leaks, flooding, or other maintenance issues. For on-campus issues, students can contact Campus Safety (562.907.4911) or Facilities (562.907.4261) to report any problems. There are a few simple ways students can prepare before the rainy season gets worse. Having a flashlight, basic emergency

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Courtesy of NOAA

Where is Whittier College Heading Now? Jamie Calderon CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR

On Friday, Oct. 23, amongst the slew of homecoming events, Whittier College President Kristine Dillon, delivered her third State of the College Address in the Ruth B. Shannon Center. Before a crowd of alumni, faculty, students, and board of trustee members, Dillon discussed the direction of the college. She touched on enrollment, donations, athletics, student life, and plans for the future. Her presentation titled “A College On The Rise” meant to highlight the slow crawl the College has made over her tenure to establish itself. She described the school as being in year four of her short-range strategic plan with new goals and plans. Her four-part plan for this upcoming year is as follows: enrollment stabilization and student success, philanthropy as a bridge to sustainability, community partnerships and p l a c e - b a s e d o p p o r t u n i t y, organizational effectiveness and financial resilience. The effort to stabilize enrollment is a massive feat. In accordance to the college numbers, Fall 2026 applications were up 107 percent and Undergraduate Enrollment was up by 104 students. Dillon attributed part to our increased

Jamie Calderon / Quaker Campus President Dillon shares her plan for this academic year. student-athlete body, with 68 of the new undergraduate class being student-athletes. However, Dillon says that much of the success comes from the Whittier Works program, an initiative that aims to ensure the College’s graduates leave with education and career experience.

The College has found much success, with a large portion of that success coming from the ability to find financial backing from donors. In the 2025-2026 financial year, the school raised $22.5 million. The largest single gift in the College’s history, 13 million, came from the school’s

CAMPUS LIFE

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Oct. 29, 2026

What’s up, Get Your Fright On With Media Council Whittier?

Stay up to date on events! For further info, visit https://whittier. campuslabs.com/Engage/ Red Cross Blood Drive • Thursday, Oct. 29 at 10 A.M. • Villalobos Hall Don't Get Spooked by Student Conduct Tabling Week • Thursday, Oct. 29 at 11:30 A.M. • Campus Center Courtyard CAAS Workshop: MidSemester Reset • Thursday, Oct. 29 at 12:35 P.M. • SLC 204 Poet Pantry • Thursday, Oct. 29 at 12:30 P.M. • Campus Center, Room 141 Pet Therapy • Thursday, Oct. 29 at 3:30 P.M. • Dezember House Patio Halloween Fair • Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6 P.M. • Campus Center Decision Making Seminar • Friday, Oct. 30 at 3 P.M. • SLC 510 Dia de Los Muertos Luncheon • Monday, Nov. 2 at 11 A.M. • Upper Quad Pet Therapy • Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 1 P.M. • Founder's Hill Lawn

Jamie Calderon CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR Halloween has come to Whittier College! Program Board returns again with the Haunted Carnival, Peer Health Educators will hold pumpkin painting, and various Residential Advisors (RAs) will hold Halloween movie nights for the College’s residents. But on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. the Campus Center will be haunted by Media Council for the third annual Halloween Fair. Media Council is the official collective of the four media clubs on campus. The Acropolis, the annual yearbook publication, is led by President and third-year Jamie Calderon. KPOET Radio is the student-led radio station, run by President and third-year Edgar Soriano. The Quaker Campus (QC) is the student-run newspaper, headed by Editor-In-Chief and fourthyear Emma Galvan. And Video Production Studios (VPS) is a club that focuses on producing studentmade films, ran by President and third-year Jayden Garret. The talented members of these clubs have come together to put together a frightening night of fun for the poet community, kicking off the “Halloweekend” and rounding off festivities on campus. “We have been super excited to put on a big event for all of campus to enjoy! I hope that we can at least convince even one person on campus that at the Acropolis, and other media clubs, there is a place

just for them that they'll always be welcomed and appreciated!” states Acropolis Social Media Manager and third-year Sam Cuellar. The Acropolis will be bringing the frightening fun of memories to the party with a free photobooth and custom-made frames for students to commemorate the night. They will also host a relay race that will have participants work together in teams to solve a clue-style murder mystery for a candy prize. KPOET Radio will continue to bring the jams to campus with a live band to set the spooky tone for the night. Their team will also act as the master of ceremonies for the costume contest. The contest will be divided into three categories: Scariest Costume, Top Group/Duo, and Most Creative with four special guest judges: Dr. Johanne Hash, Ken Woods, Amalia Jiva, and Coach Jabari Lewis. Each category winner will win a candy treats and bragging rights so it’s sure to be terrifyingly fun. The QC will host a pumpkin carving contest for candy prizes for those without costumes and without detective skills. They’ll also be decking the haunted halls with spooky decorations to make the Campus Center come to life. And VPS will be playing spooky movies to entertain guests that are afraid of competition, but not slashers. “I hope that it really pulls in not only the arts crowd but gets some of the other sectors of

Courtesy of Media Council An invite to haunt the Campus Center. campus familiar with all the bold and spend time in community personalities that Media Council together,” Acropolis Secretary houses. I’d like to promote more and second-year Aliyah Mallory intersectionality of campus comments are her hopes for this identities between students and I event. feel like this could be a great first The event will run from 6 step to doing so,” Garret states. P.M. to 9 P.M. so make time to These clubs have worked all head down to the Campus Center. semester long to bring the event Bring your costumes, join a relay together, and spent long meetings, team, carve a pumpkin, and try for and even longer nights preparing a prize. and gathering supplies, which Bring a friend and enjoy the they hope will culminate into a spooky atmosphere or ake a trip to shockingly good time. the photobooth and enjoy the free “I hope they have fun. I hope treats. Start your “Halloweekend” they’re able to relax after midterms with a bang with Media Council.

Physics Strategy Workshop • Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 5:30 P.M. • SLC 418

Whittier's Finest in Film Gather Uptown

Poet Pantry • Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 12:30 P.M. • Campus Center, Room 141

Aster Hjelm STAFF WRITER

Chamber Hiring Fair • Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 3:30 P.M. • Villalobos Hall Poet Pantry • Thursday, Nov. 5 at 12:30 P.M. • Campus Center, Room 141 Pet Therapy • Thursday, Nov. 5. at 3:30 P.M. • Dezember House Patio Vet Week: Flag Raising Ceremony • Monday, Nov. 9 at 8 A.M. • Whittier College North Lawn Vet Week: Top Gun Movie Night • Monday, Nov. 9 at 5:30 P.M. • Campus Center Courtyard Open Mic for Students and Faculty-Read Poems or Sing Songs! • Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 6 P.M. • Wardman Library Poet Pantry • Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 12:30 P.M. • Campus Center, Room 141 Fellowship Info Sessions • Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 5 P.M. • SLC 101

The city of Whittier hosted its second annual Whittier Comedy Film Festival held at Starlight Village Cinemas on Oct. 18. For only ten dollars, students from the College could attend the all-day event featuring showings of acclaimed films, student produced shorts, independent shorts, and independent films. What really brings this event together are the Q&A’s at the end of each showing with the directors, crew, or actors attached to the project. After the showing of Predator (1987), a popular science-fiction horror film, actor Richard Chaves came out to speak on the behind the scenes of the project and talk a little bit about his own life. He later posted on Instagram “[...] I can’t forget all the film students and young filmmakers I met and spoke with.” Student shorts were also shown throughout the day, including f i l m s l i k e An o t h e r Go a n d Blood Brother. While this event featured indie filmmakers, it also highlighted local student projects, offering introductory opportunities to dive into the film industry one film festival at a time. First-year David Torries said “I was intrigued and impressed that a

film festival could be so connected to my college and allow me to explore something I want to dip my toes into in the future.” Founder and Director Frederic Zermano and Co-director Patti McCarthy, they brought together an impressive table of stars, including Patrick Warburton, Frazer Smith, William Ostrander, and Richard Chaves. Warburton, known for his roles in The Emperor’s New Groove, Family Guy, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and plenty more, warmly welcomed fans to come speak to him at the event. Many attendees got their picture taken with him, including the crews behind some of the student films shown at the festival. Pr i o r t o t h e f i l m m a k e r awards, Ostrander did a Q&A after the showing of Stephen King’s Christine (1983). While the theatre was packed, it still offered an intimate and engaging environment for the audience to learn more about the background of both the film and the actor. Both Predator and Christine were perfect watches for this time of year, and felt like a once in a lifetime experience getting to speak with people who were a part of these timeless productions. In the evening, the Comedy Hall of Fame and Filmmaker Awards was held in Theater 2. Presented by Warburton, Smith,

Ostrander, and Chaves, the brief induction ceremony began. Notable awards such as "Best Drama" and "Best Comedy Feature Film" went to This Moment and Wilma, Wu, and a Stripper Named Lorraine. While this festival celebrates both accomplished and up and coming filmmakers, it also

supports Whittier’s community. Families, students, business owners, members of associations and coalitions all came together to attend this event. This is just one of many reminders that Whittier has a remarkably committed and tightknit community. Not only on campus, but throughout the city.

Kara Schutz /Quaker Campus Lights up at Whittier Village Cinemas for the festival.

Oct. 29, 2026

CAMPUS LIFE

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Face the Masters Monster: Grad School Jamie Calderon CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR

Every fall, ambitious seniors are tasked with an impossible question: do I apply for graduate school? While not every senior looks down the barrel of a Masters or a PhD, those that do face a whole new kind of beast, a graduate school application. While the requirements can seem endless, there is sunlight at the end of the tunnel, and it’s the degree you can earn. According to a 2024 report by the Council of Graduate Schools, across 536 institutions they received 6,015 applications with 2,412 of those applicants receiving offers of admission. It’s a selective process with a lot of effort and heartbreak. But for those brave enough to take on the challenge, the Quaker Campus has compiled a guide of advice, prospective graduate school applicants to prospective graduate school applicants. Most graduate school applications comprise of seven big components: an unofficial transcript, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, letters of recommendation, a personal statement, a writing sample, a statement of purpose, and a curriculum vitae/resume. But a lot more goes into a graduate school application, and that’s the scary part. The truth is a lot of research is needed to find the right school for you, some programs can run for as long as five or six years and require residency. It’s not about just the school,

it’s the professors you’ll work with, what benefits the programs can give you, and even the city you’ll be in. Most preparatory programs will encourage you to start looking two years before you plan to apply, but don’t let that scare you. It’s truly never too late to decide to go to graduate school, you just need to be sure that you have what you need. Our guide is meant to help you understand what you need to have to put your foot in the door and apply, but the process will take a lot of work, we just want to make the haunting task approachable. An Unofficial Transcript: Seems simple enough but if anything, a transcript requirement should remind you that undergraduate classes matter. Even if you spend your last semesters taking classes outside your major to fulfill the credit requirements, those classes matter just as much as classes for your major. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in getting to the finish line that we forget that every step in the race matters. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores: Not every program requires your GRE scores! For some lucky ducks, you won’t have to worry about taking this test, but you should always check what your dream schools require. A general GRE test, as of this year, runs about 250 dollars and takes about two hours to complete. But the scores are good for five years giving you time to apply and reapply. There are specific tests for certain programs so be sure you take the right test! But

there are plenty of test prep resources to help you prepare for this big step so it’s not a jump completely into the deep end. Letters of Recommendation: All schools have different requirements, but it’s best to be overprepared. Curate relationships with professors throughout undergraduate. Show up to class, be an active participant, engage with them outside of class, read their research, and talk to them about it. Most professors would love to help guide you along the way if you express interest so don’t be afraid to reach out. A Personal Statement: If there’s one important thing to remember about this, it’s to check what the requirements are for each school. Some schools require more than others and it’s best to walk in knowing than blind. But as a student of Whittier College, you have access to a great resource for this, the Writing Center! Amalia Jiva and the consultants at the Writing Center can help you with your personal statement to make sure you have a great balance of personal and academic to make you a stand out applicant. Writing Sample: Some schools require one, some require two or more, either way this is a simple task. By the time you complete undergraduate, you will have plenty of options to choose from. What’s important is to make sure that your samples align with the kind of work a research student does and shows off your skills in a constructive way. These are just so

the programs can see what kind of writer you are. A Statement of Purpose: Your Statement of Purpose is where you state your research interests, what makes you a good applicant for the program, what skills you have, and how you align with the school's values and goals. Another situation where you should be careful about the requirements for each school. But another situation where you can visit the Writing Center for help to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward on your application. Curriculum Vitae (CV) and/or Resume: All undergraduate students, regardless if they plan to attend graduate school or not, should have a regularly updated cv and resume. Though they are pretty similar, they both do different things and are equally important. CVs typically have a focus on your research, academic achievements, and publications. Resumes typically focus on positions and skills and can apply to most jobs. Other Requirements: A Diversity Statement and proficiency in more than one language. These are more loose requirements, not every school or program requires a diversity statement, but those that do are looking to see that you understand how academia works as a complex network of conversations and how your work helps broaden the scope of research in the field. The proficiency is more to see if you need to take certain courses during

got a ticket for a free envelope. Olivas and Gutierrez mentioned how they were worried that current students did not understand that Homecoming was something that they can go to. According to them, there has been a trend of recent graduates not showing up to homecoming. Olivas said, “I hope to see recent grads maintain the tradition of homecoming.” The hope is that recent graduates will come to see Homecoming as a reason to come back and make connections with current students. Speaking of current students, those that did go had almost nothing but positive things to say about the event. Sebastian Cadena, a thirdyear transfer student majoring in Business Administration stated, “I really liked and enjoyed it [...] the way it was hosted was really good.” Even freshmen such as Gabriel Brown, a Biology major, enjoyed their time with this year's Homecoming events. Brown noted that it was, “A big event [...] a lot of returning alumni which was good to see.” Although Brown did have one negative in regards to finding their way to the Poet Fest stating, “It took me a second to find that area Poet Fest [...] If they had a few more signs it would have made a little more sense.” A business professor who attended Homecoming mentioned

Class of '96 alumni party it up in the fan zone. how they appreciated the large noting how it went well and was showing at the State of the College filled with alumni, faculty, and Address with so many people filling students. Everhart appreciated the the room. event saying, “It was good to hear Other than the festivities and from the President of the College how well put together they were, speak not only about academics and the professor shared that, “I’m athletics but also on grants and how always so surprised how supportive the college is spending its money.” the alumni are, especially for such a Everhart was also there on small school like ours. They are the Saturday, helping with recruitment ones who are really supporting our for the cross country team. He school. It is important to extend our mentioned how although he was thanks.” only there for part of the day, the Director of Institutional Coaches were there since 8 a.m. Research and Effectiveness Don There were also a large number Everhart had more to say in regards of prospective students there that to the State of the College Address, day, the most Everhart had seen at

your programs. Some schools and programs require proficiency in more than one language to prove you are a diverse learner and researcher. But it doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be admitted. For others though, graduate school is scary not because of the amount of work to get there but the price tag. Even many of the QC’s editors share concerns over the price of the education. Editorin-Chief and fourth-year Emma Galvan expresses, “Honestly, the main reason I am scared about grad school is the finances.” A sentiment shared by News Editor and thirdyear Paola Ruiz, “I am worried about not being able to pay for my tuition.” And the truth is we can’t give advice to make the money problem go away, it’s a fear we all have. But we can offer some reassurance, choosing to go to graduate school is about more than doing the next thing on the track. It opens up opportunities that you can’t access without a Master’s or a PhD. And beyond that, the experience to extend your knowledge and abilities is a huge positive. Graduate school is daunting, it’s a vulnerable process to get there and most students don’t know where to start. Hopefully you learned something about what you need to get the application in, but if you need more help, you can always visit the Center for Career and Professional Development for advice and help. There are tons of resources waiting for you!

Welcoming Home Alumni and Football Daniel Gomez HEAD COPY EDITOR

Since Febr uar y of 2026, the Department of Alumni Relations has been working hard to put together this year’s Poet Homecoming Weekend. Homecoming is an event where alumni are welcomed back on campus for reunion gatherings, tradition sharing, and to connect with current students. Assistant Director of Development Angela Olivas, and Director of Alumni Relations Ana Gutierrez provided some insight on what they hoped to achieve and what they helped put together. The two remarked that there were no major changes this year apart from the first football Homecoming game in six years. To honor the occasion, they put together a blind box envelope with a collection of four pins to be sold at and commemorate the event. The pins were created on campus through Professor of Art Jenny Herrick’s senior art class, where the top four pin designs were chosen. The pin designs featured a football helmet labeled WC 2026, a varsity jacket with WC logo and gold button, a simple gold button with Whittier College in purple, and a cute purple heart with an image of Deihl hall in the center and a squirrel resting atop the heart. All alumni who had preregistered

Jamie Calderon / Quaker Campus one of these recruiting events. Everhart talked about how well the whole event went especially, when Chuck Hill came in and talked with the prospectives about how students can arrange research with professors. This year's Homecoming proved to be as successful as had been hoped, being able to bring together previous, current, and prospective students together in the Poet spirit. If you happen to see Olivas and Gutierrez make sure to give them and their team a huge thank you for the level of effort and care put into bringing Homecoming to life.

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OPINIONS

Oct­. 29, 2026

Your Front Yard Terrifies the Tikes Celeste Baumgartner STAFF WRITER

each year. These evolutions raise an intriguing question: in our hunt for thrills, have we pushed the boundaries of Halloween beyond joyful celebration into something genuinely haunted? In my view, cheap scares and gore are essential to the holiday spirit. Growing up, I spent the whole year waiting to be scared. Strolling down the dark streets in a sparkly costume, the anticipation grew heavier with every single house. There is joy to be found in a little fear, even as a young kid. Monsters, ghouls, and blood are all a part of it. Despite my established opinions, I took to the streets of

Whittier to fully understand the depths of the question. During my neighborhood stroll a full spectrum of decor was revealed. Front lawns held everything from beloved characters such as Hello Kitty charmingly dressed in a witches costume to towering, 10 foot skeletons looming over the streets. I found myself wishing for something a bit darker. To me, Halloween is at its best when it makes your pulse race. Huge skeletons are striking, but they aren't necessarily frightening! As I walked through the arrangements of cute and creepy, I felt confident in my opinion. While some may believe that decor

For many, Halloween is undeniably the most anticipated time of the year. Its roots stretch back around 3,000 years ago to the Celtic festival of Samhein, a sacred time marking the end of harvest and the welcoming of winter, a time that was previously associated with death and famine. In Celtic culture, it was believed that on Halloween the boundary between the living and dead worlds are blurred, allowing spirits to pass through. These spirits brought mischief with them, bringing the traditions of dressing up (to fool the spirits) and adorning our homes with jack-o-lanterns and other lights. These traditions should sound familiar as they have been passed down through countless generations, paving the way for the holiday we all know and love. However, as the celebration has evolved from a sacred time of year to the frightfully-famous holiday, the atmosphere has undergone a dramatic shift. Haunted houses grow increasingly intense, films push limits, and Kara Schutz/Quaker Campus neighborhood houses grow darker A glimpse of the horror on Whittier Streets.

has crossed a line into unnecessary horror, I feel that Halloween in Whittier is sitting right where it is supposed to be—too cutesy, if anything! The neighborhood decor was more-than-safe for younger members of the community. While having a cheerful pumpkin-Bluey resting a few houses down from a grueling 10-foot-Jack Skellington might feel like a visual rollercoaster, the holiday has always been a mix between the cozy and uncanny, the lighthearted and macabre. Halloween has transformed into a season that defies one’s definition, bridging the gap between innocent childhood wonder and a fears filled night. Whether you are trick-or-treating in a glowing costume, bracing yourself inside a spine-chilling haunted house, or deciding to stay inside with a warm drink and a movie this year, there is enough room for you under the autumn moon. After all, the true spirit of Halloween isn’t within the decor, scary or not. It's in bringing the community together before the winter chills set in.

"What's Wrong With My Costume?" Aubrey Proano-Keeler STAFF WRITER­­

As the weather begins to cool, students focus less on swimming suits and more on costumes. Since the origins of the holiday, costumes have always played a major role in the celebration of Halloween. But as people choose their costumes, there needs to be an awareness that our costumes may have an effect on others. Oftentimes, offensive costumes fall under cultural appropriation and racist stereotypes that continue oppression of marginalized communities. Some of the most common types of offensive costumes are dressing as an Indigenous person, Romani person, geisha, blackface, and hateful historical figures or groups. To understand why these costumes are so harmful is to understand what cultural appropriation is and how it’s connected to said costumes. Cultural appropriation is when members of a majority group adopt cultural elements such as traditions and clothing belonging to minority groups in a disrespectful, or stereotypical way. The Indigenous regalia that are turned into costumes are deeply spiritually significant, with headdresses having to be earned and worked for by the members of the tribe to wear them in the first place. The selling of Indigenous attire to non Indigenous people is a result of cultural appropriation, commodification, and colonization. Dressing as a caricature of a Romani person for Halloween is cultural appropriation as well, often this type of costume is called a ‘gypsy’ costume, but the

term is a slur used against Romani people. The Romani people have faced dehumanization, cultural appropriation, and racism in Europe since the Middle Ages. This costume furthers that dehumanization and lets businesses that often don’t have any Romani members profit while the actual community is under a human rights attack across Europe. A geisha is a profession originating in Japan, the word geisha itself meaning “artisan” with the job focusing on entertaining clients through dancing, singing, performing the tea ceremony, playing the samisen, among other things. This profession takes countless amounts of time, effort, and is a major part of Japanese culture. The U.S.’s influence on geishas can’t go unnoticed either. At its peak, Japan had roughly 80,000 geishas, but after World War II that number was almost entirely depleted. This and the fact many geisha costumes are sexualized ties into a variety of other issues. Blackface originated in the U.S. during the 1830s from minstrel shows with white performers darkening their faces. These shows often portrayed Black Americans as ignorant, hypersexual, lazy, and prone to thievery. In its origin it was meant to dehumanize and further oppress the Black community during the enslavement era in the U.S. In the present blackface has been widely discouraged but there’s still been instances of it in our media. Hateful figures and groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and Hitler are obviously horrible costume picks. Yet there was an incident in El Paso, Texas where a group of individuals dressed as the Ku Klux Klan allegedly for a Halloween

party. There’s never an appropriate or justifiable reason to dress up as groups or people dedicated to killing and oppressing others. Despite the growing awareness of what costumes aren’t appropriate, or just flat out racist, companies are still determined to sell them to make money. But which companies and businesses should you avoid to not support these decisions? A major costume controversy of this year was the Target clown costume. It blew up on the internet in August, with many critisizing it's “Minstrel-like” design. While the costume was pulled from stores after public outcry, the design being approved in the first place says a lot. Major companies such as Spirit Halloween have also come under controversy for selling costumes seen as generally ignorant at best, but racist at worst. Such as selling “Afro Mullets” as costumes or sexualized Indigenous costumes. Despite the major backlash and multiple petitions, Spirit Halloween has done little to make changes on what costumes they sell. Lesser known companies to avoid are Maskworld, JJ’s Party House, Pure Costumes, Morphsuits US & More, and Kreepy Halloween, to name a few. Amazon also doesn’t have the best track record as they still sell offensive costumes to this day. With as many companies selling these types of costumes it leads to the question: “Can I buy a Halloween costume ethically?” and the answer is absolutely! You can always buy secondhand from thrift stores, create your own costume, or do research behind the companies you’re considering buying from! But should we have to jump through hoops just trying to buy a one time costume ethically? If there wasn't a major public outcry

from the internet, petitions signed, and stocks hurt, how far would these companies go? Even looking at the way Halloween costumes themselves are handled by companies makes you question the ethics of it at all. The vast majority of these costumes are put in landfills after you wear them just to rot away for hundreds of years, as they’re realistically made of 90-100% polyester. Not even mentioning the intense sexualization of the majority of costumes geared towards women or that the majority of these costumes are made in sweatshops across the world. But looking at the decisions these companies have made since 2025, can we say it’s incidental? When Trump got reelected, Target, Walmart, and Amazon all rolled back their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and sided with the administration. Former generations hoped we would have ended racism, cured the planet of pollution, and made each generation smarter than the last. Instead, we're having to ask major companies to stop selling racist costumes that should have never been produced in the first place. Despite this, there should still be joy in the holiday. When we live in a time of fascist uprising, racism, police brutality, and increasing unlivable conditions (economically and otherwise) we deserve a moment of joy. Let's be sure to do so ethically and avoid companies that continue to promote racism. Overall, be sure to do research on your costume to make sure you aren’t harming anyone. Be safe and have a Happy Halloween!

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Dear Poets, With Halloween coming up, what are some things I should look out for? Just, how do I stay safe this Halloweekend? - A spooky Poet Jane: Go out, have fun and do all the small things you find on the floor! For next Halloween, you will know what to tolerate and how much of it! Be sure to always carry some Narcan with you as you, never know what that white powder may be! Free drinks? Take them as well as long as no bubbles are brewing! You should not have to spend $20 on a shot of Tequila when you can get one for free, know your worth! Be young, wild, and free! Halloween is on a weekend for a reason; get all the party favors that you can and get all the phone numbers while you are at it. You never know when you need to contact someone from Chapman University. Jerry: You want to stay safe? Don’t leave your room. Don’t stray from the four walls of peace and private sanctuary where nothing can pop out at you. No one can follow you. No one can steal your Halloween candy. No group of kids will heckle you and say “Your costume is stupid Jerry!” “What are you supposed to be Jerry?” You won’t have to defend yourself by saying: “I’m me from another dimension where I have lots of friends!” You won’t get the punching reply: “Your costume doesn’t work because you still don't have any friends!” And no one will laugh at you as they run away with your basket. Actually, even if you stay in you may still be haunted. I know I am. What was the question again? Johnny: The main thing you gotta look out for: who is throwing a genuinely good party? Go with several friends, that way you have people there that you know and trust and can watch each other’s back. Now, I cannot stop you from participating in drinking or smoking, but I can advise you on the best ways to be as safe as possible. Avoid taking drinks from anyone, in fact after having one drink have either some soda or water in between. It prevents a hangover, you run less risk of blacking out, just as long as you are of age. As long as you have good company, you will have people there to look out for you in case you feel uneasy or uncomfortable. - The Poets

Oct. 29, 2026

FEATURES

7

He Did Not Come to Play: Jae-min Lim Calista Cameron STAFF WRITER At 5 a.m., when most college students are still asleep, first-year Jae-min Lim is already getting ready for lacrosse practice. The sun has yet to rise, but by 6 a.m., he is on the field, beginning another day as a student-athlete thousands of miles away from home. “I'm really excited and looking forward to hit the field,” he says. It is a fitting attitude for someone whose journey has taken him from a high school team in South Korea, to international competitions, and now to a growing college lacrosse program in California. Lim first picked up a lacrosse stick during his freshman year of high school. He quickly discovered that lacrosse offered everything he loved about sports: speed, physical contact, strategy, and the challenge of getting past a defender. But what truly made him fall in love with the game was not just what happened on the field. It was also the relationships he built with his teammates. “We were the weakest team at that point because most of us were freshmen. But it ended up being an advantage to be a veteran team with great brotherhood later,” he explains. Despite the team's difficult start, the players grew close and developed a strong bond. He stated that they were "the best friends ever." The team that had once

finished last eventually won the South Korean high school championship. “That makes me really, like, motivated and fall in love with lacrosse,” Lim adds. The turnaround showed him what could happen when teammates believed in one another and put in the work. It also motivates him to pursue lacrosse at a higher level. During his senior year, Lim represented South Korea at the 2025 World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship, held on Jeju Island. “It gave me some pride and confidence,” he comments. Before graduating, Lim also earned an opportunity to play for South Korea’s men’s national team, taking another significant step in a career he had never expected to develop so quickly. His decision to study in the United States added to the unexpected-train which lacrosse introduced to Lim’s life. With limited opportunities to play lacrosse at a collegiate level in his country, he wondered about life in the States. Then Whittier College entered the picture. A few weeks before South Korea’s highly competitive college entrance examination, the College's Head Coach, Todd Francis, contacted Lim after seeing his recruitment form. Despite the challenges, Lim decided to take the leap. Lim sent additional details and a highlight video that his friends helped

him create. After completing his entrance examination, he received an acceptance letter and scholarship offer. One of the biggest differences he noticed was the diversity of Southern California. Growing up in South Korea, he was not used to being surrounded by so many different backgrounds and identities. At the College, he appreciates how naturally people interacted despite their differences. “I realized that everyone is different and that's not a matter or something,” he explains. “Guys here don’t care about it. I love that.” Academically, Lim is still exploring his options. He is considering international relations and business while working toward a future that allows him to use his degree and remain involved in lacrosse. He hopes to continue playing after graduation, potentially return to the national team, and help develop younger athletes in South Korea. He wants to bring home the knowledge and coaching experience he gains in the U.S. to help create better opportunities for future players. He knows that will require more support for the sport. During high school, his team would practice on a sandy field rather than a dedicated lacrosse field. “When it’s dry, if I run once, the sand comes up,” he recalls. “After practice, when I have a meal, like lunch or something, I could feel the stone in my mouth.”

Lim is forging his own path at Whittier. The memory highlights some of the obstacles facing lacrosse players in South Korea. Lim believes better facilities, equipment, and financial support would allow more athletes to develop their skills and compete at a higher level. Behind that ambition is a deep appreciation for the people who helped him get this far. His family supported him emotionally and financially, while his friends helped create the highlight video that introduced him to Whittier. His coaches also helped turn an unexpected opportunity into a reality. Although he misses his parents, his sister, and Korean fried chicken, Lim stays connected

Courtesy of Jae-min Lim

with his family through FaceTime and continues to make the most of his experience at the College. He hopes to succeed academically, contribute to the lacrosse program, and make the people who supported him proud. Now, thousands of miles from where his lacrosse journey began, he has another opportunity to help build something. He hopes to take what he learns back to South Korea, opening doors for the next generation of players who might one day follow in his footsteps. For Lim, the dream has always been bigger than the game. Lacrosse gave him a reason to take a chance on himself. Now, he hopes to use that chance to make the path easier for others.

Jamie Calderon / Quaker Campus

SPORTS

8 Poet’s Sports Schedule:

SPORTS EDITOR

Location: Claremont, CA • 9 A.M. • Oct. 30

Women's Cross Country vs SCIAC Championships Location: Alaya Park, CA • 10 A.M. • Oct. 30

Swimming and Diving @ Mt San Antonio College Location: Walnut, CA • 10 A.M. • Oct. 31 Men's Water Polo vs Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges Location: Whittier, CA • 11 A.M. • Oct. 31 Football vs California Lutheran University Location: Whittier, CA • 1 P.M. • Oct. 31 Women's Volleyball Caltech Location: Pasadena, CA • 2 P.M. • Oct. 31

@

Women's Soccer vs University of Redlands Location: Whittier, CA • 5 P.M. • Oct. 31 Men's Soccer vs ClaremontMudd-Scripps Colleges Location: Whittier, CA • 7:30 P.M. • Oct. 31 Men's Basketball @ UC San Diego Location: La Jolla, CA • 7 P.M. • Nov. 2 Women's Volleyball University of Redlands Location: Whittier, CA • 7 P.M. • Nov. 3

Who Says Violence is Bad For You? Maia Chaidez

Men's Cross Country @ SCIAC Championship Meet

vs

Women's Basketball @ Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Location: San Luis Obispo, CA • 6 P.M. • Nov. 5 Football @ University of La VerneLocation: La Verne, CA • 1 P.M. • Nov. 7 Women's Volleyball @ Occidental College Location: Los Angeles, CA • 4 P.M. • Nov. 7 Visit wcpoets.com/calendar for the full sports schedule!

Oct. 29, 2026

It was revealed last week, on Oct. 19, that Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback Jalen Hurts would be missing the remainder of the season due to blood clots in both of his lungs. Since the announcement, the story has only gotten more and more bizarre as more details are revealed. Hurts has been receiving care for these blood clots in the form of blood thinners, but there’s one thing that has caught the attention of the public: Hurts played with a blood clot. A superficial blood clot was found in Hurts’ calf on Oct. 10, just a day before the Eagles’ game in London versus the Jaguars. Despite that, he was cleared to play. Hurts flew halfway across the world, either knowingly or unknowingly, with a blood clot in his leg, then after being officially told that there was a blood clot in his leg, was still cleared to play. Even after that, he then had to fly back to the States. On Oct. 14, a follow-up ultrasound was performed and it was revealed that Hurts has suffered Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and bilateral pulmonary emboli (or, blood clots in his lungs). The good news is, the Eagles’ medical staff says that he’ll make a full recovery. But to zoom

Courtesy of Fox News Football is a contact sport and player safety should be a priority. out for a second, how did it get into the Hurts’ care, and that the this far? NFL told the NFLPA they would Hurts reported an injury on not be reviewing the case. Allen Oct. 8. When the initial ultrasound Sillis, the NFL’s chief medical was performed in London on Oct. officer, stated, “The notion that 10, doctors stated it was DVT, there’s external factors that any of to which, if untreated or newly our physicians would put a player diagnosed, it’s recommended you in harm’s way—that’s nonsense.” don’t fly. The Eagles’ medical staff And perhaps it is nonsense, gave the okay, but was it okay? but it’s pretty justified nonsense I’m a far cry from a medical considering this wouldn’t be the expert, however, why risk it? first time (and I doubt the last time) This is MVP and Super Bowl the league puts its image ahead LIX champion Jalen Hurts, the of players’ health. For nearly two quarterback and face of your decades, the NFL denied any link franchise. Why risk possibly between football and CTE (chronic permanently ending his career traumatic encephalopathy, a by having him play in London, degenerative brain disease) in its as well as flying back over? Was own scientific papers and attacked it really necessary? Surely there’s independent researchers who said some major wrongdoing here. otherwise. I’m not the only one with A 2016 House committee concerns. The NFL Players report found the NFL improperly Association (NFLPA) remarked pressured the NIH to redirect that it has not been made aware of $16 million away from a Boston any NFL-sanctioned investigation University CTE study. The league

rejected those accusations, but the same year an NFL executive would admit that there is a link. There’s also the Guardian Caps, a lightweight foam pad that fits over your standard football helmet. It reduces the cases of concussions, head trauma, and overall injury. Why wouldn’t you want to wear one? Props to the NFL for doing the bare minimum and making it mandatory for players to wear Guardian Caps during practices. But for actual games? Feel free to keep that ugly piece of headwear off—who cares if it helps to prevent concussion. In Week one of the 2026 NFL season, only 23 players wore Guardian Caps, which was around the same as the 2025 average, according to The Athletic. The NFL, if they truly do care about player safety, could grandfather in making Guardian Caps mandatory, similar to how the NHL introduced helmets and then visors to said helmets. But it’d be sacrilege to admit, on any level, America’s favorite sport causes lifechanging injuries. Now for the million dollar question: does the NFL hate its players? Maybe “hate” is a strong word, but when they see the Hurts situation and don't investigate, while making certain protective gear optional, it’s hard to say player safety is a #1 for them.

Which Poet Will be First to the Finish Line? Caden Harley FOR THE QC Austin Henry FOR THE QC

Ethan Silber FOR THE QC

Students of Whittier College have been asking the same question since 1998: "Which of the College’s athletic teams will win the next championship?" The four biggest men's sports teams on campus include football, baseball, basketball, and soccer. The male sports division is currently a topic of discussion due to their repetitive losses, whereas in comparison to their female counterparts who have been excelling in their leagues. In the fall of 1998, the College’s football team won their last SCIAC conference championship; since then nobody has won their championship game. After talking with Athletic Director Rock Carter, he shares that he is, “Unsure, but I see potential in all of these teams.” This raises the question of which team is going to win a championship first? Students across campus have been talking about the different sports programs and its diminished school spirit. In an interview with three Women’s Lacrosse players, whose program was reinstated recently, one says, “There is not enough school spirit. If we were winning more championships there would be more.” On campus, students also tend to joke about the status of

the sports teams. Another student was asked what he thought about the sports teams, “I know them as Shittier.” “Who is going to get it done?” Whittier College students surveyed and the responses varied; several students voted for soccer and basketball, while baseball and football only received one vote. The results showed that there was no single sport that had large support. Even though women’s sports have seen success as of late, the College campus still carries the stigma that the sports teams here struggle due to the larger teams failing to obtain a trophy at the SCIAC. The College’s football team has high stakes, as alumni and donors have given money and support to the program, therefore, the football team may feel obligated to perform. Expecting a brand new team to go all the way to the championships is a tall ask. In 2019, the football team won their last game until their season started up again in Fall 2026. As of now, the Poets have won only one game so far and lost five. Head Coach, Cory White, is remaining hopeful that the team will turn this season around, to a championship before other sports. As stated before, the football team last won their SCIAC in 1998; since then, they have only had one winning season in 2006. This amount of failure really makes you question if the new program has really changed or if it’s still the

same old football program of the past. On the other hand, the Men’s Basketball team has struggled to get above a .500, a 50 percent win/loss ratio. By comparison, the team showed improvement from last year and looks to have a good momentum leading into this next season. During a conversation with Assistant Men's Basketball Coach Mark Jensen, he comments, “We have almost our whole starting lineup returning, along with a good freshman class.” This is a great sign for the Poets leading into this upcoming season and shows that basketball has a good chance to be the one to get it done. Recently the College put on its Midnight Madness, an annual event that gets all the teams together to get excited about the upcoming Women's and Men's Basketball seasons. The enthusiasm for the season can be truly felt by the fans. There was a great turnout and tons of energy, with great performances by the cheer and dance team. In 2025, the Men’s Soccer team was one seed away from making the playoffs. So far, in this season they have 3-5-1. There is promise shown in these games, but the rest of the conference games are yet to be determined. As compared to last season where it looked as though they started off strong and struggled towards the end. This begs the question, can they remain consistent throughout this season?

A player on the Men’s Soccer team suggests, “If I had been playing, then we would be doing a lot better.” The player shares a feeling of disconnect with his team because of its failure to perform or obtain a winning championship. Over the last few years, the Men’s Baseball team has been graced with talented and successful players, however, the team has only had one winning season in the last ten years back in the 2018 season. Last season the team had four players bat over .300, and exceptional batting average, despite struggles showing potential. This still brings up questions about possible issues in this upcoming season. Questions arise regarding teamwork and whether it allows all players to unify their talents together. Teamwork is essential in team sports and the chemistry on the field will show in the wins and losses. If they cannot work together as one, their season could be in serious trouble. The teams at the College have the potential to be great and even win multiple championships throughout divisions like football, basketball, soccer, and baseball, who are all competing for the SCIAC trophy. Each team has their own personal strengths and weaknesses, some harder to overcome than others. Students, alumni, staff, and coaches all look forward to the future of these teams and have only one question in mind, “Who is going to get it done?”

Oct. 29, 2026

SPORTS

9

Homecoming: We Home-Came, Saw, and Conquered Whittier Athletics shows up and shows out for Homecoming.

Jayden Borgna SPORTS EDITOR

W h i t t i e r C o l l e g e ’s 2 0 2 6 Homecoming was about more than just winning games. It was the first Homecoming since football returned, making it a big moment for the College, especially for alumni who got to come back and be part of it. Even though football lost, the weekend showed how sports can bring people together and create a stronger connection between students, athletes, alumni and the community. Homecoming week included several of the College’s athletic teams competing and representing the school. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, Women’s Volleyball played the University of La Verne, losing 3–1 in sets. On Wednesday, Oct. 21, both soccer teams faced Caltech. Women’s Soccer won 2–0, while Men’s Soccer earned a close 3–2 victory. Both wins helped bring some excitement to the week leading up to Homecoming weekend. On Friday, Oct. 23, Women’s

Poet Pride is contageous leading up and throughout homecoming weekend. Volleyball faced Vassar College for their senior night, and came away with a 3–0 win. Men’s Water Polo also competed during the weekend, giving fans another opportunity to show their support for the College’s athletic programs. Saturday, Oct. 24, was the biggest day of the weekend, with the football team taking on the University of Redlands. The end score was 69–14 with a Redlands victory, but the game was still

important for being the team's first Homecoming game. Having football back gave alumni another reason to come back to campus, reconnect with old friends, and support the school. Even though the team did not get the result they wanted, the meaning of the game went beyond the final score. Women’s Soccer wrapped up the week on Sunday, Oct. 25, against UC Santa Cruz, losing 3–0. Although the team came up

Courtesy of @poets_volleyball

short, it was another display of the College's team spirit with many coming to show their support. One of the biggest parts of Homecoming is seeing alumni return to a place that holds so many memories for them. There was a Men’s Basketball alumni game that took place on Saturday, Oct. 24. For some, it means seeing old teammates and friends, while for others, it is a chance to see how much the College has changed.

Sports play a big role in creating those memories, and being able to come back and watch the teams compete helps keep that connection alive. Homecoming gives current student-athletes a chance to see how much the college means to the people who came before them. Having alumni, families and students come out to games reminds athletes that they are part of something bigger than just their individual teams. It brings different generations of Whittier students together through a shared love for the school. Despite the results of the recent games, Homecoming was able to show how it is about more than just the scores. It was about bringing people together, supporting studentathletes and building a stronger sense of community. Football’s return made this year especially meaningful, but every team that competed helped make the week special. No matter the score, Whittier College Homecoming showed that sports have the power to connect people and give them a reason to return.

Sad When it's Over, but Happy That it Happened Men's Soccer season is coming to an end.

Courtesy of TONY / ACTIONWESTPHOTOGRAPHY

Men's Soccer prevailed despites the challenges within the season.

AJ Ceja

STAFF WRITER

Whittier College Men’s Soccer is nearing the end of its 2026 campaign, with an overall record of 5-5-6 (five wins, five losses, and six ties) and a SCIAC record of 4-4-2 (four wins, four losses, and two ties.) They currently sit fourth in the standings and are making one final push toward the playoffs, hoping to secure their first playoff berth since their last appearance in 2019. In the last two games of the season, the Poets face Occidental College, whom they tied with earlier this season, and ClaremontMudd-Scripps, whom they upset

1-0 in their conference opener. The Poets have faced many challenges throughout this season; however, as they approach the final stretch, the team is focused on finishing strong and earning an opportunity to compete in postseason play. Head coach Shea Harwell gave some insight on his team’s preparation throughout the year, as well as the hurdles that they have overcome. Harwell explained that one of the biggest changes he has implemented into the program this year is his “second-team program.” He was able to do this by recruiting heavily, garnering a roster of almost 40 men. In comparison, NCAA Division I only allows a maximum of 28 players on a roster. This size

is almost double what a typical roster would look like. The numbers allow Harwell to play as many of his players as possible; he scheduled nine extra games to give his athletes opportunities to compete and develop throughout the year. This gives Harwell an opportunity to tinker with lineups and see his players in action, but it also gives his athletes the opportunity to go out there and compete for minutes. He was very keen on this idea at the start of the fall and proudly said, “We essentially started this second-team program, where we would have nine secondteam games scheduled for this season. This opportunity lets guys get to play and compete, who traditionally just wouldn’t get the

chance.” This new system allows for a deeper pool of players to use during the long fall season. This became especially important because injuries have significantly affected the roster. Harwell said that 12 players were unavailable at one point in the season, including four players who suffered season-ending injuries. Those absences forced other players to step into larger roles to keep the Poets writing through the season. Harwell said some athletes performed well enough in those games to work their way into the main lineups. As the Poets prepare for their final two matchups, Harwell emphasizes the importance of “being where your feet are.” Last

year, the Poets were in first place with two games remaining, and unfortunately, they dropped the last two games of the season, missing out on the top seed and losing a playoff spot entirely. The Poets have an opportunity to jump into the mix, and Harwell is focused on the now. Harwell says, “We’re trying to show some growth and put ourselves in the best possible position. Most of that is not just focusing on the future and being completely as present as possible.” The Poets will look to put Harwell’s poetry into motion with two games of the regular season remaining. Harwell and his athletes will look to close out the season with an opportunity to play for a SCIAC title.

10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The QC Staff

We Concur That"She's The Best."

Suggests:

Staff Recs from The Quaker Campus Spooky Season here! The Quaker Campus has decided to share their innermost scariest thoughts with you, regarding who they would love to be haunted by! Emma Galvan (Editor-In-Chief) “I want to be haunted by Lord Byron, this romantic poet I learned in class. He sounds like such a loser and created the ‘woah is me’ male stereotypes a.k.a the Byronic hero. I just want to ragebait him all day long and poke fun at how much of a chud he actually is.”

Courtesy of Poetry Foundation

Paola Ruiz (News Editor) “For sure my favorite ex-boyfriend, if he were to haunt me I would enjoy it. It would be the opposite way, he would be the one being haunted by my incredible stalking skills. He knows where home is, if he ever needs to find me.”

Courtesy of Joe

Jamie Calderon (Campus Life) “My failed test scores. This semester has got me down and I need a push to study. Maybe my own failures will scare some sense into me.” Tralee Jacobs (Opinions Editor) “If I have to be haunted, I want it to be by Isabelle from Animal Crossing. She’d easily be the friendliest, most helpful ghost around. Plus, hearing her cheerful Animalese gibberish at 3 a.m. sounds way better than dealing with standards eerie booing and groaning.”

Chase Buyer STAFF WRITER

After feeling the rush, being one of the girls, and a sold out SWEAT Tour with Charli XCX, self-proclaimed ‘love junkie’ Troye Sivan offers up his most entertaining, vulnerable work to date on his fourth studio album, She’s the Best. A sister album to 2023’s Something to Give Each Other, Sivan prefaced that “[the album] essentially picks up where the last one left off,” in an interview with Perfect Magazine. Keeping this in mind, She’s the Best compensates for her sister album's shortcomings by upping the ante of her dancepop desperation predecessor. With heavy anticipation, album rollout began mid July when fans could follow the private Instagram spam account @royeriban. The account, which mainly consists of thirst traps and random photos, helped build a world around the incoming era. Additionally, to build hype, fans could join a mailing list to receive voice memos and texts periodically. The rare chance of responses to fan messages from Sivan himself offered a unique way to garner sign-ups. The era officially kicked off with the release of the album’s title track. Accompanied by a music video starring Nicole Kidman and Sasha Colby, the song is a love letter to all the women present in Sivan’s life. Lyrically, the single goes into extensive detail reminiscent of CAKE’s “Short Skirt / Long Jacket” and Beck’s “Loser” while propped against a crowded, sample heavy beat like TV Girl’s “Taking What’s Not Yours.” Towards the end of the song, an uncredited vocal from Charli XCX can be heard again and again with the lyrics, “She’s the heartbeat bumpin’ in my chest, she’s the best, she’s the best.” An official album announcement followed shortly after. The album cover, which features NYC-based model and photographer Anna Boda halfexposed, smoking a cigar, was quickly met with online backlash due to its suggestive nature. This isn’t the first time Sivan’s creative

choices have landed him in the X hot seat, however–Something to Give Each Other infamously features Sivan smiling in between the legs of an anonymous nude male. Sivan’s absence from his own album cover mirrors other popular work such as DJO’s The Crux, Charli XCX’s Music, Fashion, Film and Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR Más FOToS. Adding to the chaos of its rollout, the second single of She’s the Best was a complete genre change: "Party". With a talk-singing style chorus that repeats the whole time, the song’s saving grace is a sample of Madonna’s “Music.” As any sort of sample from Madonna’s catalog is notoriously hard to obtain, a level of trust and proof of stardom is assumed. Speaking of writing "Party" in an interview, Sivan highlighted how much the song had changed from initial demos. After hearing it in full, She’s the Best surprisingly gives a masterclass of storytelling in music. Overall, the album is an ode to the queer experience and the modern dating scene. It’s important to understand where the aforementioned sister album ‘left off’; and there’s no better place to look than Sivan’s acceptance speech for Album of the Year at the 2024 Arias. Something to Give Each Other, which stemmed from an “incredible, incredible connection” with a one night stand, thematically questioned intimacy and aftercare. Months after its release, Sivan was able to thank this connection for his impact after running into him at a bar in Melbourne, with the man stating the album had actually helped him with his own breakup. A newfound sense of hope for real love laid the groundwork for She’s the Best. Rather than leaning into the cliche of ‘the right person will come along,’ it’s almost as if Sivan decided that maybe we just aren’t looking hard enough or testing out as many options as we should–the process of elimination seems to be his forte. Narratively, Sivan teeters between casual and yearning, with feminism and masculinity also being in focus. There’s a clear pattern; intense attachment issues and unrequited love turn into

Troye Sivan the diva that you are.

obsession. Pleasure, as Sivan learns, doesn’t always mean happiness; and neither does commitment. One track in particular, "I Do This For You", sums up this cycle perfectly with the outro, “find hot singles in the Los Angeles area, sit around, talk […] sorry for descending into some type of hysteria, I’m just a little lonely.” There’s also lots of backtracking; going back to exes, even in the midst of something new. In the track "Embarrassingly", the lyrics,“you still come to meet me in my mind, you’ve been out my life for twice the time” ring true to this structure. Generally, tracks sound like a mix of a video game OST (Mario Kart’s “Coconut Mall” being a prime example), concept in the esque of Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism, and a hint of TV Girl’s Who Really Cares in lyrical nature. Foundational tracks from Sivan’s discography are "Silly," "How to Stay with You," and "Angel Baby" because of their raw and honest nature. The lyrics of She’s the Best

Courtesy of GamesRadar

Daniel Gomez (Head Copy Editor) “I want to be haunted by my failures in life. I must not forget what it is I strive to achieve and why. I may never change the past, but I can change how my future looks.” Lee Rivera (Photographer) “Barbara because she is awesome. I think Barbara would make an amazing ghoul.” Sam Cuellar (Staff Writer) “Seeing others' success and my own downfall. I need to remember that I got to lock in and not be quitter.” Don't smoke, kids.

Courtesy of Cultured Magazine

Oct. 29, 2026

Courtesy of W Magazine

play an important part in driving forward story; there’s this consistent over-explanation of details, similar to Taylor Swift, in that if any singular detail is missed, the whole moment would fall apart. A picture is painted. The joy of the album is frontloaded, with the b-sides leaning into desperation–such as the lyrics “I just wanna play, any boy, any girl” in the track "Troye Meets World." Since the release of the album, Sivan has taken to social media to share visualizers for each individual track, furthering world-building. One visualizer in particular, for the song "Cowboy," gained virality due to the cameo of Tucker Pillsbury, known professionally as Role Model. There’s irony as Pillsbury embodied the persona of “Saint Laurent Cowboy” during his Kansas Anymore era. The video mirrors Sivan’s music video for "One of Your Girls," in which he infamously dressed in drag and danced around actor Ross Lynch. Generally, disregarding its rocky start, She’s the Best has garnered positive attention. In the beginning, the media questioned Sivan’s sexuality, with people calling the era his “straight era.” However, after the full album release (and clarification from Sivan that he still identifies as a gay man), narratives changed to only summing up the album as “queer.” Sivan, clarifying the album’s title in relation to its story, stated that he strayed from titles like “Le Boy” in the first place to hinder unfair generalization. Overall, She’s the Best serves as Sivan’s most coherent work; there’s something for every listener to take home. Contrary to its sister, the bluntness of it all only makes the album more relatable, thus digestible. No matter what man breaks Troye Sivan’s heart, there’s always a woman to back him; and that’s why she really is the best.

Oct. 29, 2026

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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From Comic To A Big Screen Near You, Clayface Daniel Gomez

heal people. After a few months of treatment, Hagen is looking normal again. *SPOILERS BELOW* What follows next is an hour of horrific body horror as Hagen’s cells become replaced by nanomachines Clayface is a movie that depicts that change his bodily structures the downfall of a popular actor depending on his desires and struggling with self identity sense of self. The movie is filled into a man giving in to his own with many close up shots staying negativity, leaving him a monster. painfully long as sharp objects cut The film starts with Matt Hagen, into flesh and flesh that refuses to played by Tom Rhys Harries, obey Hagen’s body as he tries to being chauffeured while having remain in control of his humanity trouble rehearsing his lines about while caving in to his dark desires. Director James Watkins took confessing his character’s love. care to ensure a great amount of He stops rehearsing to ask his prosthetics and practical effects chauffeur if he really has kind to help carry the visceral feelings eyes, the chauffeur answers yes. He we feel watching these horrific arrives at a talk show with the host mentioning how there are so many moments happening to Hagen. In an interview with On Matt Hagens how can he know the real him, then begs him to repeat a Flim, With Kevin McCarthy, famous line from a past movie “I’m JamesWatkins and Rhys talk about coming after all of you. And hell’s the plane scene and how there was some genuine concern by some coming with me.” Hagen then makes a bad on set about how Harries might decision which leads to crime lord hurt himself using live scissors to Markos Szabo, (David Dencik), cut the prosthetics. The heavy use cutting up his face and ruining his of prosthetics only helped enable public and personal life. Hagen Harries in his acting abilities. then flees to the Gotham slums Hagen was twisted and deformed he grew up in where he discovers against his will for most of the film, Dr Caitlyn Corr, (Naomi Ackie), reflecting in his acting choices. More horrifying than the body and her treatment research to

HEAD COPY EDITOR

horror throughout the movie is the end where we see Hagen’s sick and twisted personality. Killing Dr Corr’s fiance and confessing his love to Dr. Corr by saying he can be anything or anyone she wants him to be. Showing a twisted sense of longing for Dr. Corr after the emotional bond they developed throughout their time together and how he never truly understood love beyond just another role for him to play. The movie continues to make

call backs from the start of the movie to showcase how Hagen changes throughout the film. From his struggle to showcase love, the kindness behind his eyes, to the talk show host asking who he really is and the quote he recites. It is subtle but he bows slightly toward Dr. Corr before leaving after his first meeting with her. The same bow he makes at the very end of the movie when Dr. Corr can no longer trust if who she is interacting with is really who they are or just Hagen

Clayface disturbs and creeps out viewers.

in disguise. James Watkins did a phenomenal job in attempting to showcase the relatable horror of having your life ruined and trying to fix it only for everything, including your sense of self, to slip away. If this is the level of quality to expect from the DC Universe in the coming years then I will find myself buying more tickets to watch them as they come out in theatres rather than waiting for them to come to the home screen.

Courtesy of New York Times

"So Long Folks," In Memory Of Eric Bauza

Steven Lopez STAFF WRITER

On Oct. 25, Eric Bauza, the voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird, and other iconic cartoon characters, passed away suddenly at his home at the age of 46.In an Instagram statement, Bauza’s family announced his death: “From the Family of Eric Bauza: Eric Bauza, Emmy Award-winning voice actor and the modern voice of iconic Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, along with dozens of other beloved cartoon characters, has passed away suddenly. More details to come.” The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later confirmed his cause of death as hypertensive cardiovascular disease, a heart disease caused by high blood pressure. Born on Dec. 7, 1979, in Toronto, Canada, Bauza's voice acting career began in early 2000, when he got his first role on the Nickelodeon show The Ripping Friends. His breakthrough role was as Stimpy on the Nickelodeon show Ren & Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon. From there, he landed roles such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylvester, Tweety Bird, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Marvin the Martian, and other Looney Tunes characters from 2011 until his death, with roles in The Looney Tunes Show (2011-2013), He would join other Looney

Tunes projects which include, Looney Tunes Cartoons (20202023), Animaniacs (20202023), Space Jam 2: A New Legacy (2021), Tiny Toons Looniversity (2023-2025), and Coyote vs. ACME (2026). Outside of Warner Bros., he voiced Belly Bag in Uncle Grandpa 2013-2017), Luke Skywalker in LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles (2014), The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special (2020), and LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian (2026), he eagle Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly Brothers in DuckTales (2017- Bauza played a key role in everyone's childhood. 2021), Baby Fonzie in Muppet lit up every room he was in, and [your] loss and can’t even believe Looney Tunes Shorts, we were looking madly for the next Babies (2018-2022), CopyCat I’m thankful for every time I was I’m reading this.” Warner bros. elevision Mel Blanc. Mel Blanc was the in Hamster and Gretel (2022- in one of those rooms with him.” Gravity Falls creator and Group Chair Channing Dungey guy who did all the original 2025), among the rest of his 400 voice roles, in a career stretching voice actor Alex Hirsch wrote, issued a statement honoring voices for these characters. “The only thing bigger than Bauza: “Eric Bauza was a unique And it was nearly impossible nearly 25 years. Following the announcement Eric’s talent was his heart. He voice talent who brought joy and to find someone who could of his death, various actors was so genuine and generous laughter to millions around the do all these characters and not have shared their condolences with his time and made every world. During his 15 years at make it sound like somebody in the comment section of the room he stepped in brighter. I Warner Bros. Animation, he was doing an impression…and I still have voice memos he sent the voice of Bugs Bunny and just remember seeing this movie Instagram post. Phineas and Ferb creator me on my phone as Bugs & Daffy Duck among countless and going, “Oh my gosh, it’s and voice actor Dan Povenmire Daffy. I can’t believe this is real.” other characters[…]He followed Eric. It’s Eric Bauza. He’s the commented, “Oh my god! This Jim Cummings, the voice of in the footsteps of giants like guy! He’s our new Mel Blanc!” is devastating! I was just thinking Winnie-the-Pooh, wrote, “I am Mel Blanc. Eric said that He went on to say, “He was just about him this morning and at a loss for words. Such a kind carrying on the legendary legacy this guy that if you knew him, of the Looney Tunes was among you loved him. He was just the what a huge upturn his career has young man” Hunter Peterson, a voice the greatest honors of his life,” nicest person you would ever had with the success of Coyote actor known for Honkai: Star Dungey’s statement added. “In work with, and this immense vs ACME. and what a great guy he is and how happy I was Rail and Raid: Shadow Legends, addition to his incredible talent, talent, and he was really, his star that he was getting recognized wrote, “I am at a loss for words. Eric was a treasured part of our was on the rise…" He continues, "I just love for his immense talent. I am We have lost an utter icon.” animation family. Our hearts go the fact that somebody as nice, speechless.” Jess Harnell, voice of Alejandro Sabb, known for out to his loved ones.” In a video published to as just genuinely kind and nice Wakko Warner on Animaniacs, Dragon Ball Legends, My Hero wrote, “One of the greats, and Academia, Genshin Impact, and YouTube on Oct. 26, Dan as Eric was getting the success I’m not just speaking about his known on Twitch as the VTuber Povenmire stated that, “...when that he deserved[…]This one talent. Eric’s love and kindness CyYu, wrote: “I’m so sorry for I was at Warner Brothers doing really hurts.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Oct. 29, 2026

Poet Playhouse

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