QUAKER CAMPUS
Oct. 10, 2024
Palestine in Context Faces Backlash from Alumni
Piper Guinn NEWS EDITOR
This Monday marked the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel, which led to a violent conflict centered in Gaza and marked a dramatic escalation in the decades-long struggle between Israel and Palestine, one that is threatening to conflate into a regional war. The death toll in the region, primarily affecting Palestinian citizens, stands around 42,000, according to AP News, and continues to rise as civilians demand a ceasefire and international leaders scramble to mediate.
To provide a safe space for students “to participate in critical discussions but also receive credit at the same time,” Whittier College offered the course titled INTD 190: Palestine in Context: Apartheid this year. This Fall semester, the course is focused on Apartheid, and next semester will shift its focus toward Settler Colonialism, both in the historical context of Israel’s relationship to Palestine. The course is taught by Dr. Rebecca Overmeyer-Velázquez—a professor of Sociology—and Dr. Irfana Hashmi—a professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies.
Recently, though, some have raised concerns about the course and its implications for inclusion at Whittier College. Jennifer Lowe, who graduated from Whittier in 1994, takes issue with the INTD 190 course as a Jewish alumnus.
“The title is loaded with misinformation,” she says, shaking her head. “[It] presents a certain slant without there being fact.” Lowe—a mother of two college-aged students—fears that young people “don’t understand the history of the region,” and that Whittier is allowing a biased narrative to be presented.
An email sent by alumni to President Dillon and the Board of Trust-
A new course addresses the relationship between Israel and Palestine.
ees and forwarded to the Quaker Campus, signed by “Save Whittier,” argues that the class “focuses solely on a single source,” making it “biased and inconsistent” with the College’s tradition “to foster in students an appreciation for the complexities of the modern world.”
“Save Whittier” is the alumni group the came together to “share information about the leadership crisis at the college” during former President Linda Oubre’s tenure.
The Fall portion of the course is based primarily on Amnesty International’s 2022 report: “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity.” Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that focuses on international violations of human rights. The websites MediaBias/FactCheck and AllSides both place the NGO to the left on the political bias spectrum but agree that its sources are credible.
The 2022 Amnesty report accuses Israel of “territorial fragmen-
tation; segregation and control; dispossession of land and property; and denial of economic and social rights,” which together “amounts to Apartheid” against Palestine. Apartheid, originally used in the context of segregation in South Africa, is the explicit oppression of one racial group by another, and is a violation of international law.
The course is based around the Amnesty report “because of [its] long history of advocacy for human rights around the world” and “the depth and breadth of the evidence,” according to a joint statement from the professors. However, the professors also include “supporting documents, which represent a wide range of Israeli Jewish, Palestinian, and international perspectives.”
The professors mention Israeli human rights organization B’tselem as a primary source to illustrate the arguments made by Amnesty International. An International Court of Justice ruling from this July is another important text for the course. The ICJ found Israel guilty of mea-
Whittier Experiences Increase in Student Enrollment
the 2024-25 year. Last school year, the College had 225 new students and 813 total enrolled.
This Fall semester at Whittier College, students new and old are roaming the campus, making new friends and catching up with old ones. Societies are pledging, and the Poet MoWheel is popping up to engage the new student population, which is up from last year.
According to Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Management Ken Woods, Whittier College has seen a 28% increase in enrollment since Fall of 2023, with 290 new students coming in this year. 16 percent of these are first-generation college students, and 28 percent are transfer students.
In total, there are 768 students enrolled at the campus for
Students new and returning hail from many diverse backgrounds. Whittier College is a Hispanic-serving institution, and 50 percent of current students are Hispanic or Latino. 16 percent of the student population is White, 5 percent are Black, and an additional 5 percent are Asian.
Of the new student population, 57 are international. An additional 69 are from out-of-state, and the other 165 come from California.
“I am very optimistic as we continue to grow our student population,” Woods states, “We were running about 58 percent ahead in admitted students as compared to last year,” until the “delay [of] FAF-
SA became an issue.” In 2023, the FAFSA did not become available until December of the same year, causing many delays for students, especially for those that needed the financial support sooner to determine where they will possibly go to school. This caused issues regarding enrollment at many colleges around the world, but Whittier College pulled through.
Woods cites the “enrollment team, athletics, faculty,” and “student Ambassadors” as “all contribut[ing] a great deal—from on-campus events to attending college fairs and high schools.” Ambassadors “call[ed] prospective students and sen[t] hand-written notes” to connect on a personal level. As Woods puts it, “It was truly an effort by a full village.”
Courtesy Of Whitter College
sures that “impose and maintain separation between Palestinians and Israeli settlers” in the West Bank.
Some alumni have further expressed concern that the course does not “reveal the depth of Hamas’ penetration into international humanitarian organizations” and instead “places the blame for all the horrible injustices done to the Palestinian civilians solely on Israel” in their email. Lowe agrees, “What I fear is happening at Whittier is indoctrination rooted in antisemitism.”
Because of the direct focus on Apartheid and the depth of historical study required, the professors “don’t actually discuss the current genocide very much unless students bring it up,” according to their statement. The primary goals for students enrolled in “Palestine in Context: Apartheid” are to “engage with literature, research, and theories, engage productively with peers from diverse intersectional backgrounds,” and “assess the effectiveness of actions taken against this particular system of Apartheid.”
Johnna Gaines, a first-year enrolled in the class, sees the situation differently: “The way that the class is run gives a lot of opportunities for discussion.” While the course is “definitely focused on the lives of the Palestinians,” Gaines agrees that the readings and documentaries shown, “give an Israeli perspective as well.”
In their statement, the professors noted, “There could easily be different negative reactions by students,” but so far, they say, “we have not encountered this.” Gaines adds, “The professors would listen to feedback,” if a student had an issue.
Similarly, Whittier College President Kristine Dillon states, “If [the administration] were to hear from students that a particular course was causing harm […] we would take steps to support those students and review the course in question.” The President further expressed her confidence that Professors Overmeyer-Velázquez and Hashmi “provid[e] students with a nuanced understanding of both the present conflict and the com-
plex history of the region,” and has had multiple conversations with the instructors regarding their course.
Alumni have further expressed concern about Jewish representation on campus, claiming in their email that the College “discontinue[d] the fully funded program in Judaism and Jewish Studies, returned the endowment provided for Jewish Studies,” and disbanded the Jewish Student Union. Upset at this state of affairs, Lowe says, “As a Jewish student at Whittier, it felt like a very inclusive environment [where there were] very open-minded approaches to all religions.”
Fourth-year Carly Mandell, who identifies as Jewish, says she has not experienced any animosity and has “always felt fine being on campus, except for when someone graffitied a swastika on Stauffer” a few years ago. Mandell says she has experienced harassment “more on social media than anything.”
The aforementioned email closes with three requests. First, it “call[s] upon Whittier College to rescind the decision made by former -President Linda Oubré to cancel the program in Jewish Studies and reinstate the program immediately.” According to President Dillon, “Whittier has never offered a Jewish Studies program, although courses on Judaism as well as other world religions have long been offered by the Department of Religious Studies.”
Second, the email “call[s] on Whittier College to “replace the one-sided, biased class INTD 190 with a class that presents a wide spectrum of Palestinian and Muslim perspectives.” The professors contend that the course is based on a variety of credible voices.
Professor Hashmi finds it important to “reflect on one’s positionality deeply” in her teaching approach while “uphold[ing] a commitment to fairness, thoroughness, and critical analysis.” Professor Overmeyer-Velázquez says that the discipline of sociology includes “an ethical commitment in intellectual endeavors,” but is dependent upon “reliable data and sound argumentation for the benefit of society.”
Finally, the email “call[s] on President Dillon to issue a clear statement denouncing Hamas and showing her commitment to peace, tolerance, and equality by protecting Jewish students on campus from harassment,” citing the College’s obligation to prevent discrimination under Title IX.
In response to alumni, President Dillon has already “thank[ed] them for sharing their concerns, acknowledge[d] how sensitive this subject can be, and affirm[ed] my commitment to academic freedom and inclusive, constructive dialogue on campus.” The President elaborates, “the College does not endorse any specific geo-political stance; rather, we strive to give students opportunities to critically engage with different perspectives.”
The voice of WhiTTier college since 1914 VOlume 23 — Issue 4
Nadia Miller GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Students Compare Vance’s Advances to Walz’ Waltz
Piper Guinn NEWS EDITOR
Getting young people to pause their busy schedules to engage in politics is notoriously difficult. According to Our World in Data, 16 percent fewer Americans aged 18-34 voted in the 2020 election than Americans over 34. However, on Oct. 1, students put down their textbooks and headed over to Hoover Hall to watch the CBS Vice Presidential debate. Attendees shared their opinion on Republican nominee J.D. Vance and Democrat nominee Tim Walz.
This debate watch party was hosted by the Department of Political Science and Associated Students of Whittier College (ASWC) Senate as part of Whittier College’s Civil Discourse series. All eyes were on the big screen in Hoover 100, watching two Midwest vet-
ing the white working-class to a very dark place,” Vance supported the former president in the 2020 election. After Trump lost that November, Vance was one of the many voices on the far-right repeating the false claim that the election was stolen, and has since admitted to fabricating information for media attention in a CNN interview.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is the running mate of current Vice President Kamala Harris.
Prior to his political career, Walz was a high school football coach, earning himself the nickname “Coach Walz.” He ran and was elected as Minnesota’s 41st governor in 2018 after serving six terms in the House of Representatives.
As governor, Walz passed milestone legislation on issues such as gun control, free lunch for students, free and reduced tuition for
President Evan Josten, “He showed a lot of class and was very respectful.” His strategic attack pinpointed the shortcomings of the Biden-Harris administration, drawing attention away from Trump’s flaws.
Early on, Senator Vance attributed the wars in Gaza and Ukraine to the fact that Harris was in office when both conflicts began. Following a question from the moderators on Iran and Israel, Vance quipped, “Governor Walz can criticize Donald Trump’s tweets, but effective, smart diplomacy and peace through
erans parley on issues ranging from immigration to democracy.
This past July, J.D. Vance, a senator from Ohio, was chosen as former-President Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2024 presidential race. Elected for the first time in 2022, Vance is new to the U.S. Senate. However, he has been a prominent conservative voice since publishing Hillbilly Elegy in 2016, a memoir that honed in on Vance’s humble Appalachian upbringing.
Despite criticizing Trump in a 2016 interview conducted by National Public Radio (NPR) as “lead-
college students, and women’s reproductive rights. However, like Vance, he has faced backlash during his career. In 2020, Republicans criticized his “delayed response” in sending the National Guard to dispel “violent” Black Lives Matter protests in Minneapolis, as noted by The New York Times.
Students agreed that, during the debate, Vance was able to tone down the “radical” persona with which he has been branded. “I don’t know if Vance got new voters, but I think he appealed more to people who didn’t like him,” says ASWC Vice
strength is how you bring stability back to a very broken world.”
U.S. dependence on foreign energy and the rising cost of living were other topics Vance highlighted: “If Kamala Harris has such great plans for how to address middle class problems, then she ought to do them now.” The Senator also blamed Harris for millions of undocumented migrants who have crossed the Southern border. Associate Professor Sara Angevine, a faculty member in the Department of Political Science, notes, “Every topic, Vance has brought it back to the border.”
THE QUAKER CAMPUS STAFF
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Vance’s performance, while skillfully played, did not convince students that his days of crying “stolen election” were in the past, and some had nothing good to say about him. Fourth-year Kai Umeda, who believes Harris will win the presidency in November, passionately projected, “Vance has done nothing but lie about Harris.”
When Vance referred to “millions of illegal immigrants” as wreaking havoc in his home state, CBS’ Margaret Brennan clarified: “Springfield, Ohio, does have a large number of Haitian migrants who have legal status [or] temporary protected status.” To this, a stunned Vance objected, “I thought you guys weren’t going to fact check.” Shortly after this, both microphones were muted by the moderators, as the candidates began an unproductive argument.
Aside from this rocky muting and a few other body blows, the discourse “felt like a civil and relatively restrained conversation,” BBC News states, especially compared with the two prior presidential debates. Personal attacks were mostly limited to the presidential candidates rather than the men on stage. Walz in particular began the night with a dialed-up “Minnesota nice guy” attitude. Josten notes, “[Walz] did not attack Vance as much as he could have, and at times was too honest. There were many missed comeback opportunities.”
Despite remaining cordial, “Coach Walz” made some questionable plays of his own. The Minnesota governor “got off to a shaky start,” as NPR puts it, stumbling over his words at times. During the discussion on gun control, Walz noticeably misspoke.
“I’m friends with school shooters,” he accidentally stated. After this fumble, students and faculty looked around Hoover, awkwardly
laughing, “Did I hear him right?”
Just as Vance’s responses tended to circle around to immigration, Walz’s answers had a high probability of coming back to his accomplishments as governor. “By the end, I’d heard enough about Minnesota,” Professor Angevine jokes, “but Walz had a good style.” Josten agrees, “He could’ve spread his examples out to critical swing states like Wisconsin or Minnesota.”
Walz found his footing during the conversation on abortion, and passionately took a stand against democratic corruption at the end of the night. When Vance evaded a direct confirmation that he will accept the results of the 2024 election even if Trump loses—instead delving into a tale of Harris threatening democracy by censoring media content—Walz retorted, “That’s a damning non-answer.” Both candidates had strong moments on the stage, and watch party attendants were evenly divided on the “winner” of the debate. “As often happens during a political debate, both candidates frequently twisted the questions to their advantage,” Professor Mike McBride sighs, torn on who he believed took home the prize.
Regardless of debate performance, Walz appeals to Whittier students more than Vance. Umeda says, “Walz was passionate and touched on issues [students] really care about, like abortion and gun control.” The fourth-year adds, “Walz being on the ticket does give Harris an edge up in the polls.”
After the debate, Josten delivered a brief message to attendees: “Go vote, and vote in an election center if you can. If you are not registered to vote, I can help you.” To further exercise political and civil liberties, keep an eye out for future events in Whittier College’s Civil Discourse series.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Courtesy Of PBS Walz and Vamce show off their debate skills.
Courtesy Of Piper Guinn / Quaker Campus
Congresswoman Sanchez Revisits Whittier
Sara Martínez A&E EDITOR
Congresswoman Linda Sanchez of California’s 38th district spoke to the Whittier College community last week regarding her Congressional career. The event was sponsored by the Department of Political Science and Religious Studies, with the Department Chair of Political Science, Dr. Sara Angevine, moderating the event. The event, held in Villalobos Hall, had an estimated 100 attendees from students and faculty alike.
Before Sanchez spoke, Mirah Messias, an employee with Bon Appetit, gave a welcoming thanks to the Congresswomen. “A few years ago, the Bon Appetit employees decided to unionize. When our contract expired, we went on strike. After 27 days, we won a great contract that included a pen-
sion, better healthcare, and a pay increase. This wouldn’t be possible without Sanchez’s support.” Messias’ words were reaffirmed afterwards by President Dillon, who introduced Sanchez to the audience. Dillon first thanked Sanchez for her continued support and multiple visits to campus by adopting her to the Poet family, before giving a brief summary of Sanchez achievements, such as being the co-founder of the Congressional Labor Caucus and co-coach of the Congressional Democratic baseball team. When Sanchez took to the podium, she made clear her intention for visiting Whittier. As the Congresswomen for the 38th district, Whittier is one of the 13th cities under her representation. With the upcoming election, her visit was in part to motivate the young student population to vote, noting, “Voters
18-25 are least likely to turn out and vote, and half of the problem is our [politicians] fault.” Sanchez was 33 when she first ran for Congress back in 2002, and she was popular among young voters. For this reason, Sanchez decided that moving forward, she would designate part of her campaign budget towards reaching out to young voters.
Sanchez also shed light on her inspiration to run for Congress and the importance of government “as a tool to improve our lives.” Growing up the sixth out of seven children, Sanchez watched her immigrant parents struggle to care for their children, but never gave up. “I remember my parents used to pay for our medical expenses in cash because we didn’t have insurance.
“Imagine paying for seven children’s doctor visits, athletic injuries, and illnesses?” Overcoming finan-
cial adversity, Sanchez went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Berkeley and law degree from UCLA. Beginning her career as a labor lawyer, Sanchez has always been advocating on the behalf of the working-class. Later on, she ran and was elected into Congress, where she currently serves on the House Committee of Ways and Means, which is the chief tax-writing committee in Congress: “We work on taking in revenue for important things that can be transformative for people such as headstart programs, and healthcare.” As a Latina congresswoman, Sanchez understands the importance of inclusive participation in government. According to her, there is a saying in Congress: “If you don’t have a seat at the table, chances are, you’re on the menu.”
After Sanchez’s speech, the microphone was open for students
and faculty to ask questions, which ranged from political processes— such as single issue bills and dismantling of the filibuster—to more serious topics, such as the stakes of the 2024 presidential election. According to Sanchez, it is a “consequential election cycle,” and while she “feels hopeful,” she is also “scared to death” of the outcome. Despite this stark emotional contrast, Sanchez was optimistic when speaking about the Democratic nominee for Vice President, Tim Walz. “I cannot think of a more decent, hard working person, than Tim Walz.” At the end of Sanchez’s visit, the Department of Political Science thanked everyone for attending, and reminded everyone to go out and vote next month. Now that President Dillon has “adopted Sanchez into the Poet communtiy,” students can keep an eye out for her return.
El Rancho Students Join Poet Community
Michelle Cortes STAFF WRITER
Access to higher education has become increasingly hard to attain as the years progress. “The average tuition and fees at private ranked colleges has climbed by about 5.5 percent over the last year,” U.S. News reports. Adjusted for inflation, this rate is still 2.5 percent., and other costs, “such as housing, food and textbooks […] can run thousands of [additional] dollars a year.”
The rise in overall cost of higher education in the U.S. has made it challenging for many Americans to attend college. Graduating with a degree is even harder.
In Pico Rivera—Whittier’s neighboring city—only 14.5 percent of people aged 25 and older have attained a bachelor’s degree, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
To alleviate the stress of achieving a degree, reduce financial barriers, and provide a harmonious transition to college, some institutions have developed partnership pipelines and assistance programs. Whittier College has recently partnered with Pico Rivera’s El Rancho High School and created their own educational pipeline to increase these students’ access to higher education. The agreement was made official on Sept. 5 in front of El Rancho High School.
“Doing this work with our
local schools just makes sense. It’s our backyard, these are the kids that grew up with Whittier,” says Ken Woods, Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Management at Whittier College, in a statement to Whittier Daily News
A mere 10 minutes away from the College, El Rancho High School’s geographic proximity to the Quaker-founded campus is one reason for its collaboration.
Whittier College has also made a conscious effort to promote this collaboration to increase enrollment. Last year, the College saw a 30 percent increase in new student enrollment, according to their website. However, in years prior, the College struggled with enrolling new students.
By facilitating admission and attendance among local students, that percentage could keep rising and follow the short-range strategic plan presented by President Kristine Dillon, which looks to “restor[e] its enrollment to roughly pre-pandemic levels within three to four years.”
The pipeline Whittier College and El Rancho High School created is quite different from some of the College’s prior programs. For instance, the Poet Pledge Scholarship—launched in May 2024—offers “a four-year full-tuition scholarship to seniors” who demonstrate financial need in the surrounding areas of Whittier.
The partnership with El Rancho does not do this; instead, it ensures all El Rancho seniors admission to Whittier College and provides access to unique scholarships. For instance, admitted students automatically receive the Gateway Scholarship—a 2,500 dollar award—as well as a 1,000 dollar award once their FAFSA or California Dream Act is complete.
El Rancho seniors must still follow many of the traditional procedures that come with any college application, which includes submitting a writing sample and official transcripts. Students must also meet Whittier’s academic requirements to be accepted into the program.
If all requirements are met, seniors at El Rancho will be entitled to the various privileges at hand.
In addition to guaranteed admission and scholarship opportunities, admitted students have access to financial aid and scholarship workshops hosted by the College. Through this pipeline program, the looming financial weight of college becomes less egregious for El Rancho High School seniors who are looking forward to joining the Poet family and obtain their degree.
Courtesy Of Whitter College
President Dillon signs pipeline program with El Rancho High School.
Courtesy Of House.gov
The Congresswoman advocates for young people and minorities.
Courtesy Of Professor Sara Angevine
Linda Sanchez address students and faculty on elections and participation.
What’s up,
Whittier?
Stay up to date on events! For further info, visit https://whittier.campuslabs.com/Engage/
Fall Hiring Summit
• Thursday Oct. 10 from 11:10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Club 88
Third Space Thursdays: Gather & Games
• Thursday Oct. 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Upper Quad
DIY Air Dry Clay Trinkets
• Thursday Oct. 10 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Turner Lawn - First floor
Student Theatre Production: Priscilla Dreams the Answer
• Thursday-Saturday Oct. 10, 11, amd 12 at 7:30 p.m. amd Sunday Oct. 13 at 2 p.m.
• Shannon Center for the Performing Arts
Knitting Night with Dr. Bowen
• Friday Oct. 11 at 5 p.m.
• SLC 111
Board Game Night With a Harry Potter Movie Marathon
• Friday Oct. 11 at 6 p.m.
• Ball Hall LLC
Transfer Tuesday's
• Tuesday Oct. 15 at 12:30 p.m.
• Ortiz Lounge Graduate and Professional Schools Summit
• Tuesday Oct. 15 and Wednesday Oct 16 from 11 a.m to 1:30 p.m.
• Villalobos Hall
Chair Massage
• Thursday Oct. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Naylor Portico (Deihl Hall Patio)
Bi-Weekly Fiber Arts Club Meeting
• Thursday Oct. 17 at 12:30 p.m.
• Founders Hill
Land & Legacy Acknowledgement
• Thursday Oct. 17 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Peace Garden (Next to SLC)
Full Body Massage (cupping and hot stones) for 30-60
minutes
• Thursday Oct. 17 at 12:30 p.m.
• Student Health and Wellness Center
Black Poetry Day
• Thursday Oct. 17 at 5 p.m.
• Wardman Hall
3v3 Basketball Tournament
• Friday Oct. 18 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Harris Amphitheatre
CAMPUS LIFE
It's Time To Party Like It's 2017
Darreionna Roche STAFF WRITER
On Sept. 19, the College celebrated the 2017 Ethiopian New Years in Club 88. The event was organized and planned by the Ethiopian Association, led by first-year President Christian Andualem and first-year Vice President Atnasya Yohannes Fanta. Together they made a night of fun, education, and celebration happen in a short amount of time with the help of the Ethiopian community on campus.
Ethiopian Ne w Ye ars, al so known as “Enkutatash” is a holiday that corresponds with both Ethiopia and Eritrea New Years. On the Ethiopian calendar—Ge’ez calendar, which is 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar—the holiday occurs “Meskerem 1,” which for the Gregorian calendar is Sept.11. The Ethiopia Ge’ez calendar serves as the official state civil calendar, and as Eritrea’s unofficial customary cultural calendar.
In addition, Ethiopia calculates time differently from the rest of the world. The day begins at 6 p.m. not 12 p.m. The day is divided into half at 12 hours respectively starting at 6 am and ending 18:00 a.m. The Ethiopian calendar months start from September/October through August and have their own unique names that consist of Meskerem which is the 1st month) and end with August Nehasse, which is the 12th month.
The Ethiopian calendar even has a 13th month, Pagume, that serves as the brief transition from the old and New Years.
This year Ethiopia is celebrat-
ing 2017! It is 2017 according to the culture because the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar has different dates for the birth of Christ. The Gregorian calendar places the birth of Christ between 1 B.C. and 1 A/D, while Ethiopian Orthodox calendar sets it seven-to-eight years later while following the calendar of Christian Bible, with September being considered the first month of the year due to belief that God created had the Earth in September.
important export commodity, and according to Andualem and Yohannes Fanta, “it is very strong and really good” (President Christian & Vice Atnasya). Soon after, the audience learned a few of many Ethiopian ethnicities and their traditions, stemming from clothing, food, and lifestyle. The culture that stands out the most in Ethiopia is Hijra as they don’t speak, eat, or dress like the rest of the world. They are old fashioned and not
But the College’s celebration did not have all the practices, but instead started the night with the history of Ethiopia and acknowledging the estimated 25 students of Ethiopian culture radiating on campus. With appreciation for the large crowd there to learn and celebrate, the event was labeled as the biggest Ethiopian celebration at Whittier. Soon after came a presentation that stated how Ethiopia has 81 nationalities/ethnicities, flags, and languages making it the most diverse country in the world. Attendees were then taught how Ethiopia’s economy is vital on their supply of coffee and is a major resource for income for millions of individuals and is the most
aware of the world around them, instead choosing to thrive from their uniqueness.
But lets not forget about the delicious Ethiopian food! Ethiopian food consists of health benefits, cultural significance, and a unique eating experience! Ethiopia is especially special for its spices making a blend of flavor, a few spices are cardamom, cumin, and turmeric, that also happen to be some antioxidants. Ethiopian feasts are served family-style on one big platter, and you help yourself, the audience was served Injera with Tibs and Dorowot, two types of Ethiopian stews! Followed by a Coffee Ceremony given by (insert who participated) and dancing and rejoicing
by all on the dance floor.
The excitement and happiness were present from many students! According to Todeese, a student of Ethiopian identity who attended the event,“We’re here to celebrate diversity and inclusion incorporated in our culture. This is another celebration from Whittier replicating the same feelings you get from every event like the community dinners at the start of the school year, the feeling of belonging and being welcomed!” She also goes on to gush about the traditions, “We get to bring out traditional clothing and show who we are and feel safe to embrace that and be appreciated for who we are. Ethiopia is so diverse and there is not one culture upon it and that is beautiful. No matter what tradition we celebrate individually, some of us are Christian, Muslim, etc. But we are all united no matter our ethnicity. This is a day of joy just like celebrating any holiday for anyone, we can all relate to it, and food! Our diversity of different regions of the country lies in dishes. The fact everyone is excited gets me excited, we have been anticipating this since the moment it was thought of bringing to Whittier. Different cultures want to come and invite other people who have never heard of Ethiopia, Africa. We are now building our own community like the Latinx first did, and the Lavender community, and so on. Thank you, Whittier College, for letting this happen and to all the school community and President Dillon. You don’t know how happy I am.”
This article has been condensed for print. To read more, visit medium.com/the-quaker-campus.
Whittier Celebrates Art and Pride
Priscilla Corona STAFF WRITER
Following the grand opening of the LGBTQ+ Center at 7639 Painter Avenue, joy arose within the LGBTQ+ community in Whittier. To celebrate the new center for all to come and learn, the College hosted the third-annual Whittier Pride: Arts and Film Festival/Flea Market on the Northern Lawn on Sept. 21 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Housing and Residential Life hosted a small excursion where students could meet and gather by Harris A and walk down to visit the flea market. Students were encouraged to go on their own if they could not meet up with the group.
At the event there was an abundance of vendors, featuring a wide variety of designs and products ranging from clothing, ceramic decorations, jewelry and tons more. Along with the vendors, multiple public health advisors were giving out forms and advice for young adolescents looking for assistance in housing, mental or physical health, and overall looking for a safe and inclusive space for all.
The new and welcoming LGBTQ+ Community Center in Whittier offers empowerment, belonging and support. Their mission is to provide a safe space “through
advocacy, education, and compassionate care.” For more information and a list of the programs they offer, look to their website.
St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church, located at 7215 Newlin Avenue has the St. Gerard Room, which provides a space for family members and individuals of the LGBTQ+ community that could be confused about the community and would love to learn. They typically meet the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the church. You can check out their website for more information about what else they have to offer.
Nearby the church is Rio Hondo College, where they are the host of the Pride Scholars Program. The program offers support for student success, holistic support, host events and social gatherings, as well as help with financial aid and scholarships for LGBTQ+ students who are struggling financially.
Outside of the Whittier area, the Free Mom Hugs organization made an appearance with eager women offering hugs, pride flags, pins, candy, and stickers of all sorts for free to anyone who stopped by their table. Located in all 50 states, the Free Mom Hugs organization “[affirms] the LGBTQIA+ community as an important part of [their] society. [They] believe [members of the LGBTQIA+ community] deserve full equality and freedom of expression. "The foundation of everything we do is motivated by unconditional love,” as stated from their website.
various watercolor prints of Steven Universe and Animal Crossing characters.
A few of the vendors who were featured at the flea market specialized their work in the Pride community such as I-Wear By Raqui-LLC; a Black- eyewear artist who has worked and designed glasses for RuPaul, the famous drag queen. Another artist, who goes by the name of Sappho Jewelry, designs jewelry inspired by historical and contemporary LGBTQ+ references, with her featured jewelry piece being on the Ode to Sappho. Sappho was a romantic poet who was born on the Island of Lesbos and wrote poetry depicting her love for women, and is presumed to be where the term “lesbian” comes from. Other vendors included Grace Kraft, a storyboard and comic artist for the official Steven Universe comic series, who specializes in watercolor art and sold
Along with all these vendors and service groups was a food truck for La Michoacana which served aguas frescas of all sorts of flavors. Flavors included fresa con leche, pina colada, and watermelon for everyone to enjoy while under the sun. While attendees were sipping their drinks, they were able to sit down and listen to indie bands playing songs on a mini stage that were presented by one of the organizers of the market.
Although the weather was slowly rising, more and more students and people of Whittier came to support these artists and vendors all afternoon. Many smiles were seen throughout and many found themselves piling bags onto other bags to support all their purchases. While it is unknown when the College will throw the next Pride Festival, students should still stay tuned for any information in the future and are satisfied.
Pride goes all out at WC Priscilla Corona/Quaker Campus
Darreionna Roche/Quaker Campus
It's now 2017 for Ethiopia!
CAMPUS LIFE
Jessica Jacobs Inspires Whittier With Unalone
Allara Baker STAFF WRITER
On Sept. 17, award-winning author and poet Jessica Jacobs visited Whittier College at the request of Professor Tony Barnstone, and held a reading event at the Bonnie Bell Wardman Library for her book, Unalone. Jacobs is a well known author, namely for her fresh and unique perspective on the Book of Genesis. One of her poetry books, Take Me With You, Wherever You’re Going, as well as her other works have won several awards, including Library Journal's Best Poetry Books Of The Year, The Devil's Kitchen & Goldie Awards.
As a queer Jewish woman, Jacobs' personal collection of published work reflect her own experiences with religion. She’s received many accolades for her ability to draw out meaningful introspections for all the challenges in life, using texts like the Genesis and the Torah in order to find the answers to the questions she’s been asking all her life.
She is also the chapbook editor for the Beloit Poetry Journal and the co-founder of SunJune Literary Collaborative, as well as the founder and executive director of Yetzirah, a national nonprofit literacy organization for Jewish poets.
Through Jacob’s unique outlook on the world, which she has reflected in her pieces, her discussions about her means of inspiration ended up turning into its own interactive activity by the
end of the night. She encouraged students in attendance to think up new ideas when it comes to writing, by giving them prompts to expand upon and write their own pieces about.
Unalone as a work traces all the way back to the Garden of Eden from the Bible to ask itself how we as people have differed from the way that the earth originally made us. It treats the subject of humanity's relationship with the Earth like that of a mother to a child. “I am trying/ to warn you. I send wrong weather, drain/reefs of their color, let whole species/go extinct. Yet you go on./ Enough. Too much,” the Earth says in the poem, "And The Ground Opens Its Mouth As If To Speak."
Taking this quote and turning it into an interactive imagery activity, Jacobs had students and faculty envision themselves as earth people, newly-born and suddenly feeling everything in their body. Many felt refreshed by the imagery that they had come up with while others, despite being surprised by how much they had written, were still confused about the overall concept of the prompt and the process of continuing to unfold their own stories.
This event allowed staff and students to be inspired and feel immersed in their own stories through Jacobs’s vivid scene painting, while helpig them find their inner writer.
In an interview with Red Canary Collective, Jacobs dives deeper into the complexities of the narrative shown in Unalone and what it means to further establish ourselves
as human beings in the context of the Book of Genesis and The Torah.
As Jacobs explians, “Poets like Alicia Ostriker and Eleanor Wilner, and Christian poets like Marie Howe engaged midrashically [seeking underlying meanings] with the biblical text. They taught me how to have these conversations and to look at what could be seen as very Orthodox men’s stories as stories that are mine as well, that I can engage with and find myself within.” She claims in response to whether she sees her book as creating a gate in the barriers set by religious proscriptions.
Jacobs is very fascinated with the barrier between words and the worlds we build within them. “As writers, we create worlds with our language, and that is so powerful. Though, it could also be very
dangerous and very destructive if we don’t do it with care and intention.”
She relies on this power to allow herself to see different points of view through her textual inspirations and what would allow her to create something new out of it.
“I think that’s really what I was striving for in reading these texts and doing the study: to see what worlds were created within me that then also woke up memories and helped me to maybe see other parts of history that previously had felt very distant from me. And then how could I take these new understandings and through my poems, give them to a reader?”
Her close connection to her culture is a large part of how she treats her identity. Being a Whitepassing Jewish woman, forced to pose as heterosexual, and the
privilege that has stemmed from parts of her appearance in her upbringing are a large part of why she wants to provide a relatable space for readers through different means.
“I want to do outreach and have a beautiful cross-pollination within different groups of people. I also don’t want to hide who I am, as someone who passes as White—though there was a time in this country when Jewish people were not seen as White—" Jacob concludes, "as someone who easily passes as Christian and who passes as straight.
I am at a point in my life where I have a lot of privilege, and part of how I want to use that privilege is to openly claim the identities that make me different and then see how I can help people.”
A MAJOR (Not Minor) Day For the Departments
Sara MartÍnez A&E EDITOR
On Wednesday Oct. 2, the Center for Advising and Academic Success (CAAS) held an “Exploring Majors Day,” which provided a space for students to interact with different academic departments and their respective professors. This interaction allowed Poets to picture themselves following certain career paths based on their interests in various majors. The event was originally scheduled to take place in the Upper Quad but was moved to Villalobos due to extreme heat.
Although the event began at 11:30 a.m., different departments such as Chemistry and Religious Studies got an early start on setting up their tables. Aside from minimal decor, departments made sure to include brochures with course information, major and minor requirements, and even courses available to take in the Spring 2025 semester.
As soon as students began to arrive and check in, all departments were ready to share what their majors and minors could look like as a chosen career. Department chairs and associate professors would ask students about their interests and likes before sharing the different opportunities available in careers
based on their passions. Other departments, such as the Music Department, provided students with specific information about the many services they offered, such as private lessons.
Even though the event was mainly designed to connect students with all the academic disciplines Whittier has to offer, the Center for Career and Professional Development was present as well. At the event, the Career Center offered support for Poets with respective career paths and also promoted the many services they have to offer for those who are maybe still wondering about what they wanted to pursue in the future. Their table also provided information on other services they offer, such as help with finding post-graduate jobs.
The Registrar's Office was also present. Located in Mendenhall, the Registrar's Office assists students with important processes, such as registration, declaring a major/ minor, assistance with holds, and even withdrawing from courses. According to Student Data Specialist Brianna Mendez, the process of declaring a major is not a difficult process. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Registrar's Office modified their procedures to make it more accessible to students. Poets can easily go online and submit the
correct forms depending on what they wish to do, and according to Mendez, “We have forms for anything and everything.” Though students are not required to come to the office, the Registrar’s Office encourages them to come visit, ask questions, or even enjoy a piece of candy.
Halfway through the event, Villalobos was full of students, primarily first-year and second-
years, looking for what major interested them. Amongst them was international first-year student, Naomi Truneh Wondwossen who says, “Honestly, I was happy with the event’s turn out [variety of departments]. Today's event helped me explore my interests, and I even found a department I was interested in, the Whittier Scholars Program [WSP].” For students like Wondwossen, the Exploring Majors
Day helped connect one’s passion with the right department, while also providing important process and career support.
We hope that more students found similar success, and if Poets were able to find the right match, they are heavily encouraged to contact the Registrar’s Office and Center for Career and Professional Development for more information on next steps.
Professors introduce students to Whittier's departments. Sara Martinez /Quaker Campus
Jacob promotes her new book to students.
Photo Courtesy of Jewishbookcouncil
Diverse Perspectives Shared on Palestine
Paola Ruiz STAFF WRITER
Priscilla Corona STAFF WRITER
Recently, Whittier College has hosted various events to approach the conflict between Israel and Palestine. These events are also a way for the College to provide a safe space for students to academically engage in the situation. The events included lectures by professors and professionals as a way to inform students about the conflict. The focus of the lectures varied from Israel to Palestine, from conflict awareness to cultural awareness. The range of cultual events and historical lectures at Whittier College allows students to understand and appreciate different perspectives.
On Wednesday, Sept. 24, Dr. Gary Gilbert—an Associate Professor at Claremont McKenna College— gave a speech at Whittier College titled “From Herzl to Hamas: Tracing Key Moments in the Israel-Palestine Conflict.”
main problem, according to Dr. Gilbert, is the competition of claiming the same land that once belonged to Jewish Israelis and Palestinian Arabs. He then moved on to discuss Israeli independence in 1948, and Nakba, where the State of Israeli displaced thousands of Palenstinians and caused an intensification in conflict. When speaking on Nakba, Dr. Gilbert explained how many Palestinians lost their homes, land, belongings, while also facing suppression of identity and culture. More than half of the Palestinian population was displaced, causing them to seek refuge in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and the West Bank in the State of Israel.
After his lecture, Dr. Gilbert opened the floor for students and faculty to ask questions based on his lecture. Some key issues that were touched upon in the Q&A were: the status of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Palestinian refugees' right of return, and the
Dr. Gilbert also noted that a two state solution is currently the best option for Israel and Palestine, but not the only one: “I believe that the Israelis and Palestinians should separate, and for each to have a national home of its own to fulfill their own national identity, on their own terms.”
"...You can learn a lot [...] but [you] can't do it when people are shouting."
A professor of Religious Studies, Dr. Gilbert specializes in courses on Jewish communities from the Greek and Roman periods. The event was hosted by the Office of Equity and Inclusion as part of their Civil Discourse series, and supported by the Departments of History, Political Science, and Religious Studies. Dr. Gilbert began his speech by dating the conflict between Israel and Palestine back to the early 20th century, centering the conflict over land and identity. The
question of Palestinian statehood.
Dr. Norden—a professor of Political Science and the event’s organizer—and Dr. Hashmi—an associate professor of Religious Studies at the College—added their own knowledge during the question period. In response, Dr. Gilbert provided historical context on Hamas, explaining how it was created as an alternative to the Palestine nationalist organizations in power in the late 1950s.
Two days after Dr. Gilbert’s talk, an event titled “Palestine Nights” took place at Villalobos Hall, sponsored by Hartley House and the Department of Religious Studies. The focus of the event was to highlight the diversity, art, food, and culture of Palestine. Palestinian guest speaker Nisreen Malhis gave a presentation which highlighted the historical story of these concepts by taking us on a journey through famous Palestinian towns such as Bethleheim and Gaza. As she spoke, Naser Musa, a highly talented musician, played the Oud, a traditional Palestinian instrument, as a special
treat for Poets. Acclaimed composer, and arranger, Musa has collaborated with artists such as Shakira, Beyonce, and also contributed to the soundtrack for Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ
Shortly after the event began, the seats were filled with students and Religious Studies professors with an interest in the topic. Attendees quickly loaded up their plates with traditional Palestine cuisine and began chatting. The food available included hummus, baklava, and za’atar. During Mahlis' presentation, she discussed various city's art and heritage, landscape before and after attacks from Israel, and culture surrounding the areas, including traditional Palestian embroidery, which were on display for students to admire.
When it came to student reactions, third-year Benjamin Banks shared, “It is good to be uncomfortable. If you stay in your own bubble you will never grow or learn anything in life or from an academic standpoint.” Fourth-year Gessica King backed up with, “I want to keep an open mind and see all sides of the situation.” One comment
that stuck out to Professor Norden was, “The conflict is between right and right […] each side believed it was right and each side had good arguments in favor.”
Dr. Gilbert thinks it is important for students to engage in civil discourse, stating, “I think being able to sit down with people— particularly people with whom you disagree—you can learn a lot from it, but [you] can’t do that when people are shouting.” Professor Norden agrees, “You have to be able to sit down and really be willing to listen and to be vulnerable and express your opinions in those kinds of environments, but in a respectful way.”
As the conflict continues and more news is spread throughout the media. Students are encouraged to attend the Civil Discourse series to gain more knowledge on topics within Whittier and around the world, as well as cultural events and dinners. The College plans to host another Palestine Nights in the spring semester, and will cotintue to host events that embrace diversity and explore multiple perspectives on relevant issues.
Gilbert and Malhis come to campus to talk about Palestine. Paola Ruiz/Quaker Campus
Lucy Campbell/Quaker Campus
Moving Up the Campus With dAvid pAddy
Nadia Miller GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Have you ever met someone who is so excited to talk about something they just can’t hold it in? Well this is how Professor dAvid pAddy talks about the different genres of books in his new office in Wardman Hall, pointing to and from his shelves in the new office. Having moved from the English Department to the Whittier Scholars Program (WSP), he got to move from one office to another. Though he says his old Hoover office still has plenty of books.
pAddy has been teaching at Whittier College for the last 30 years, as he says, “a long, long, long time now.” Having studied Interdisciplinary Studies as an undergraduate student, the Whittier Scholars Program (WSP) motivated him to apply for the position. The program allows students to design their own major with the assistance of an advisor that goes over courses that fulfill certain requirements. It’s designed for students who want to major in something Whittier doesn’t provide. Journeying back to before college, pAddy did not quite know what he wanted to study and as a first-
pAddy now
generation student, he was still figuring out what to do. Luckily, a parent of a friend recommended the Interdisciplinary Studies major at Western College in Miami, Florida. Seeing how the program functioned (similarly to the College’s WSP), pAddy decided that it was right for him, he recalls, grinning as he remembers how lucky he was to have someone who knew him so well at that point. He laughs as
he reminisces, “You’re weird, that school would be filled with weird people, you should go find and hang out with other weird people.”
When going into Graduate school, pAddy was applying for everything; he just could not choose one thing to focus on. Ultimately, he ended up choosing to study English and Literature. When applying his studies at Whittier College, pAddy even tries to use what he studied as
an Interdisciplinary Studies major to help him. He tries to get in the nitty-gritty details and think about things in a different light. As he states, “You want all these angles on things to get to the complexities of life.” He really tries to bring outside knowledge of topics to classes. “You have a really abstract difficult novel, okay let’s look at some paintings, some modern art. How might this be an analogy?” he describes. He enjoys learning what students are interested in and getting them to see those other “angles.”
One of pAddy’s recent courses he taught in the English Department was his Horror! class. He enjoyed getting to have fun with the material–smiling as he said so–knowing the students enjoyed the class as well. “Everyone is on board. You know what you were in for.” Way back when the College offered paired classes, he taught a contemporary drama class with a Sociology gender course whihc he describes by saying “one of my favorite experiences.” Now that he is in the WSP Department, it will be intriguing to see what courses he teaches now. In particular, he beamed at the thought of getting to work with so many more students.
When asked about the switch, pAddy claims–with a soft smile–, “It was about time,” leaving it at that. Having been teaching at the college for numerous years, it seemed about right. The position opened and pAddy was willing to take it. Now he has a wonderful new office up in Wardman. So any student who would like to visit—new and old— “just have to come up a hill to find [him] now,” he says ecstatically.
With this new switch, pAddy is delighted about the new opportunity to help more students. While he will miss the energy of reading novels in English courses—though he may even have more time to do so—getting to reach more of the community is exciting. With the help of Associate Director Scott Creeley, he seems to be fitting in wonderfully.
With nothing to dislike about Interdisciplinary Studies–gasping as he listened to his gut feeling–he cannot wait to help WSP students figure out what exactly they want from their major.
To all the English students, he is more than happy to chat. The English Department still has the support of this wonderful, funloving professor.
Introducing the President of ASA: Ahn Tran
EMMA GALVAN CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR
After a long day of classes, the Ettinger Lounge is slowly filling up with students ready to order food from The Spot or study with friends. One of these students is fourth-year Anh Tran, seating herself in one of the three purple booths that are next to the huge whiteboard already being drawn on by other students. While drinking a cup of mocha coffee, she is donning on her signature pair of black glasses while wearing a red wool sweater and a long bronze-colored heart necklace pressing against her chest.
Tran, after some nervousness, leans forward to talk due to the long distance between the table and the couch. Slowly getting comfortable, she begins to tell the story of how she went from being an ordinary international student to a beloved friend, RA, and President of the Asian Student Association(ASA). Born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Tran started studying abroad in the U.S. during her junior year of high school. “I won a scholarship,” Tran confides while twiddling her hands that had various types of rings on each finger, “and I really enjoyed the education I received here.”
While she was abroad, Tran lived in Michigan which led to her decision to attend Whittier College, “It was a very cold place. My home country had a very tropical climate, very warm, sunny year-round, and [we] never [have] a winter or fall.”
After a brief laugh and looking to the side to recall her memory, Tran explains, “I was freezing in Michigan, I was like ‘I need to go somewhere similar to how my home is’ and California is something like that for me. [It is] very sunny and has a very diverse culture and life. That’s why I decided to go to a school in
California and especially a small liberal arts school.” Lo and behold, she stumbled upon Whittier while doing research, choosing to apply with the intention to study Biology with a focus in a pre-BA track.
As soon as she stepped foot onto campus, ASA in need of members and decided to attend their meetings. Smiling fondly, Tran recalls, “The whole E-Board [executive board] was basically fourth-years during my first year, so that was my first exposure to them. It was casual meetings, getting to know the E-Board, and when I headed into my second year, they all graduated so no one actually continued because there was a gap during the COVID years. I was one of the only first-years that were continuing the club. So I was like ‘I would love for ASA to come back alive’ and I reached out to the OSE (Office of Student Engagement) to see if I could reactivate the club and that’s how I became the president of the ASA.” Although she did not have a lot of leadership experience, everything was settling in perfectly with help from the OSE, “I was really fascinated about continuing that space for APIDA students.” Even if she was
afraid of getting ahead of herself and as more students were coming into the Ettinger Lounge, Tran still remained cheerfully talking about her club, “At first I was really nervous, but it was one of the first leadership positions that I [had]her. I was nervous about my English skills because I was still an international student, and how I could lead this space.”
Self-assured, Tran establishes, “I [got] more confident as it goes, the experience of leading the club has granted me these skills and leadership needed for the opportunities I had in my third- and fourth-year. “It was a great foundation for me to connect with people on campus and learn from them and eventually get better in my faith in myself and how I can encourage people.”Outside of the ASA, Tran was also a Peer Health Educator (PHE) for two years—having recently stopped at the end of her third year—as well as being an RA for the last two years. Though her biggest position this year is being the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisor for the Office of Equity and Inclusion, someone who helps the office with program development and supports the creation of
future events. “It is a new position and I recently just got accepted,” Tran affirms that she had been working with the OEI in the past in terms of facilitating events for ASA such as the Lunar New Year Luncheon. Adjusing her sitting position to appear more relaxed, she verbalizes her appreciation for the OEI, “I really like their mission in trying to embrace culture and diversity while providing political awareness on campus for POC [people of color] students. That motivated me to apply and I’m really glad to be part of their team right now.”
Throughout her years at Whittier, Tran’s favorite memories have been the times spent with close friends that she did not expect to have because of the limited resources that are given to transfer students. “I have formed a lot of great friendships because of my situation,” Tran happily confirms, “People are very willing to help me with holidays. I get invited to local events and family events of my friends, I stay with them during Thanksgiving and Christmas break. I would not have had that experience otherwise if I didn’t go to a closeknit community like Whittier.” To feel welcomed, especially so far from home, is something she deeply treasures Some of her mentors include Professor Hector Valenzeula who has been helping with her love in science and encouraged her studies in Biology. Another one is PHE supervisor Doctor Rebecca Eberle-Romberger, who influenced Tran’s passion for healthcare in physical and mental health
After trying to recall what truly inspires and motivates her, Tran ultimately decided on her family. “I often think about how my mom and dad won’t get this opportunity in their lifetime. They have not had the opportunity to travel to a different country to pursue [education].
They are working, going to school and taking care of their family all at the same time.”
Looking very determined and nostalgic for her home, she confides, “I think the opportunity [the College] gave me is what keeps me going. Being a first-generation college student and woman of color motivated me to influence other people to have the same courage as I have to carry out the work that they would think is very impossible to do. I was the same with ASA, I was very timid about ‘am I capable enough? Am I American enough to be in an Asian club that is located in America?”
After a brief pause in unveiling the truth, she confesses, “The viewpoint of Asian-American is different from Asia so I was very unconfident in my ability to study the culture. I overcame that with my family and their unwavering support, thinking about how they would not have this opportunity if they didn’t sacrifice for me.
”Now all of Tran’s hard work is about to pay off as she is nearing the end of her final Fall semester as a Poet. She is currently preparing her senior thesis on bacteria by being inspired from her Microbiology course while trying to identify unknown bacteria and guessing correctly.
Once she leaves Whittier, Tran intends to take a gap year by working “clinical hours in volunteer to prepare for my resume.” She is hoping to enhance her experience before applying to [physician assistant] PA school.
With a last laugh, Tran shouts out ASA for being a huge part of her life and is excited to spend the last few months doing more fun events this year. “It has been some of the most special memories I have on campus as my little community. Thank you [all] so much.”
dAvid
recides in Wardman Hall
Courtesy of Whittier College
Meet the president of the Asain Student Association Courtesy of Anh Tran
OPINIONS
It’s Okay To Say, I Love You, Man...
Jonathan Bermudez MANAGING EDITOR
As I get older, my circle of friends has become smaller. We’ve either grown apart or gotten so busy that we forget to update each other on our lives. This is especially true for men and has been typically referred to as a “Friendship Recession” according to Jill Suttie’s 2023 article, “Why Friendships Among Men Are So Important.”
According to Suttie, the percentage of men who have close friends keeps growing smaller. But why only men? Well, I believe that, unlike most women, men have a more challenging time forming relationships.
Friendships between women oftentimes appear more empathetic and nurturing than your average male friendship. Additionally, traits such as these seem to be more normalized by society for women to present, as it feels more acceptable for them to tell each other “I love you” as opposed to men. Although I do not conform to the identity of a man, I believe that the root of Jill Suttie’s “Friendship Recession,” does indeed come from how we as men have been raised to conform to the constructs of masculinity.
In elementary school, I would consider myself pretty popular amongst my classmates. I think it was mostly because of how my ADHD kept me from being calm, so I was always cracking jokes, making funny references, and doing impressions of various characters and people. In fact, I was so popular that I got the nickname
“JB,” because they didn’t want anyone to associate me with the other kid named Jonathan in our class. The nickname even caught on with my teacher. I had a group of good friends in the class who I hung out with the most; we played online video games together, hung out at each other’s houses, and invited one another to all of our birthday parties. But everything changed when we got to middle school.
We all branched out and found different interests. They all got into sports, and I was the class clown rooting from the sidelines. I eventually found new friends who were more similar to me and who I would become in my older age, but it wasn’t the same core group that I had once been a part of. We didn’t hang out after school or invite each other to our birthday parties, and because they had a different video game console than me, we couldn’t play together either. Regardless, I made them laugh, and they made me laugh, so there was no need to try to find another group to fit myself into.
I think that because middle school was so new for us, and because of the belief that middle school requires us to be more mature and independent, the innocence and intimacy we had once encountered within our friendships in elementary school became looked down upon. Due to middle school being such an intense and grueling time for young kids, I had always gone along with it. I got rid of all my toys and started trying to act more grown up.
I think that this was the beginning of my understanding of toxic
Women’s friendships tend to be more intense than that of men’s.
masculinity, something all men eventually face at some point in their lives. Me and my friends would make fun of each other’s appearances and clothing, calling one another offensive terms such as “gay” whenever we caught one of us doing something remotely feminine. This kind of attitude and relationship between us continued pretty much into high school, and was just something that took place within my friend group. In fact, almost all of the boys at my school acted this way as well.
Once again, my group of friends changed with time, along with the things we did and the ways we spoke to one another. My high school friends and I hung out after school at our local Burger King, Denny’s, or even our local burger place, Socal Burgers. We hung out at the movies, and played music at each other’s houses–we did that a lot. My high school friend group felt like what having friends was supposed to feel like, how it was supposed to be, and has left me with a lot of good memories togeth-
er. However, just like all young school friendships, they change over time and when it is finally time to move on to the next phase of life. Once we all graduated, we went our separate ways. We still try to keep in contact, but it’s not the same as when we were still in high school.
But what changed? I believe that many of our views shift the moment we became adults. Transphobia, homophobia, and misogyny are just a few reasons why I had to cut my contact with some of them. I think it’s incredibly tough these days to find men who share opinions and beliefs that align with your own. In my experience, the friendships I have made with women have been far more passionately against subjects rooted in hate, which is why I have been able to become closer to women than men. Even though I can not say that I am super close with many of the friends I have at the moment, I am still glad that I am surrounded by those who have similar values as me.
The Balance and Art of Peer Pressure
Elias Loya COPY EDITOR
Peer pressure, you’ve heard of it before. Sometimes, it’ll push people to do things that go entirely outside their moral codes; they’ll find themselves doing outlandish activities or dressing in a particular way to avoid being alienated from their social group. The desire to fit in is one hell of a drug. However, many people seem to skip over the idea that this peer pressure or influence is not wholly negative and that it could also have some upsides to our own lives. Before we dive into how peer pressure can be both positive and negative, it must be defined and set into context.
Peer pressure is an instance in which an individual is affected or influenced by one or more other individuals within the same age group. At its core, it is a complex social phenomenon that impacts many individuals, regardless of age or societal role. Due to its nature of revolving around decision-making and changes in behavior, it is seen most notably during the adolescent years; teens often have a difficult time with emotional regulation, and coupled with the tendency to
gravitate towards immediate satisfaction over prospects, they are much more susceptible to the influence of their peers. The desire to “fit in” is a major driving factor in following through with what one is being pressured to do, to the point where even the presence of one individual can change the reward response within the brain and increase risk-taking tendencies.
Overcoming peer pressure is common for many growing up, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to combat it. One of the best ways to avoid these kinds of social situations is to set boundaries and understand that you can say “no.” It’s important to realize when something or someone makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. This leads me to my following helpful tip: surrounding yourself with people who make you feel safe, heard, cared for, and, most importantly, accepting your true authentic self. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice the essence of what makes you, you, to fit into a friend group that doesn’t appreciate you. It is easy to assume that peer pressure is an opposing force within the social ecosystem. Still, there is a way to make it positive and beneficial, and part of it lies
in the definition of “peer pressure.” At its core, peer pressure centers around the idea of being influenced by your peers. Individuals within their social circles can directly impact how the learning environment is seen. Thus, they can positively influence their friends’ grades and how they interact with and engage with the material being taught. With their continued influence, your social circle could also provide moral support, help you overcome your fears, create tighter and more in-
timate bonds, and even inspire and push you to reach your full potential.
After considering both the positive and negative impacts of peer pressure, it’s clear that these influences can be both beneficial and harmful. The key takeaway is the importance of balance; It’s crucial to prioritize your well-being while also being there for your friends and classmates. By doing so, you can redefine the concept of peer pressure in a world where conformity often reigns.
Dear Poet,
As a senior, how do I deal with falling for a freshman?
Sincerely, A Conflicted Poet
Dear Poet,
When you first get to college, the experience of being surrounded by an entirely new community filled with people from all over the world and of all different ages can be exciting. But, when you think about it, a lot of the people we tend to meet in college typically would have never crossed our paths in the first place if it wasn’t for our pursuit of a higher education. And, because we are exposed to so many new people, the chances of falling for someone at least once during our time at college increases significantly. Whether it be based on looks, how well they speak in class, or even just getting to know one another through class projects or school clubs, I think it’s safe to say that a good amount of students commonly fall victim to crushes either younger or older in age.
My advice would be to first ask yourself, “What do I want from this person? Is it something not too serious, or is it something I can see myself wholeheartedly pursuing long term?” Then, I recommend you keep in mind the reality of the situation, which is that they are a freshman, and may be less emotionally mature than you, and you may find that you deserve someone more ready. I mean think about it, they literally just got out of high school, so they very well may be experiencing independence for the first time ever, an independence that you have had for quite some time now. You also have to look at how society and the public treats these sorts of things, as age gaps in relationships are often treated as a hot-button topic. Take Leonardo DiCaprio for example, he is constantly made fun of for dating people younger than him. And don’t get me started on Al Pacino. But of course, you are free to do whatever you want, and you are both adults who can make your own decisions. Legally, that is.
Regardless, I hope this advice helps, and just remember, as long as you understand and take into consideration just how dramatic this age gap between you two is, falling for someone in college is completely natural, and even expected. Good luck!
Sincerely, A Poet
Courtesy of ShutterStock
Poet’s Sports Schedule:
Women’s Volleyball at California Institute of Technology
@ Pasadena, Calif.
• 6 p.m.
• October 10
Men’s Water Polo vs Cuesta College @ Riverside, Calif.
• 10 a.m.
• October 11
Men’s Water Polo at California Baptist Univ.
@ Riverside, Calif.
• 2:30 p.m.
• October 11
Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving at Univ. of California, Santa Cruz
@ Santa Cruz, Calif.
• 10 a.m.
• October 12
Men’s Water Polo vs Univ. of Redlands
@ Whittier, Calif.
• 11 a.m.
• October 12
Women’s Soccer vs Chapman Univ.
@ Whittier, Calif.
• 7 p.m.
• October 12
Men’s Soccer at Chapman Univ. @ Orange, Calif.
• 7 p.m.
• October 12
Men’s Water Polo vs Occidental College @ Whittier, Calif.
• 7 p.m.
• October 16
Men’s Cross Country at Pomon-Pitzer Invitational
@ Claremont, Calif.
• 9 a.m.
• October 19
Women’s Cross Country at Pomon-Pitzer Invitational
@ Claremont, Calif.
• 9 a.m.
• October 19
Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving at MPSF Open Water Championship
@ Long Beach, Calif.
• 10 a.m.
• October 19
Men’s Water Polo at Pomon-Pitzer
@ Claremont, Calif.
• 11 a.m.
• October 19
Women’s Soccer at Univ. of Redlands
@ Redlands, Calif.
• 11 a.m.
• October 19
Women’s Volleyball vs Chapman Univ.
@ Whittier, Calif.
• 2 p.m.
• October 19
SPORTS Valiant Volleyball Women Stick Together
Piper Guinn NEWS EDITOR
The Whittier Women’s Volleyball team “pride[s] [them]selves on playing a version of volleyball that is gritty and tough,” says fourthyear Captain Analise Kusleika. Currently ranked fifth in the conference, the ladies show what Poet pride is all about time and time again. They headed into this past weekend 2-1 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) and 9-4 overall, thanks to strong players and a united team. Soon after an unfortunate defeat in the season opener against Cal Lutheran University, the ladies took home two consecutive wins against the Universities of La Verne and Redlands.
Throughout the season, several players have received recognition for standout achievements. Fourthyear Xenia Villagomez had a stellar performance in the team’s game against La Verne. She was subsequently named SCIAC Athlete of the Week for her efforts. A middle blocker from Corona, CA, Villagomez snagged 12 kills and finished the game with a percentage above .500. In the following match versus Redlands, second-year Mia D’Amato was recognized as an “offensive
weapon” on the College’s website, helping the team to a 3-1 victory. Kusleika notes, “The greatest contributors are the unselfish players. Players that play for others are always welcome,” on the Poet lineup.
The Poets put up a good fight on home turf against the undefeated Athenas from Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) on Friday, Oct. 4, but came away 0-3. Despite a passionate effort from Whittier, CMS narrowly defeated the women with a final score of 26-28. The odds became
more challenging as the match continued, as they lost 14-25 in the second set and 19-25 in the third. On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Purple-andGold ended 1-3 at Pomona-Pitzer with a final score of 1-3. After a tight loss of 25-22 in the first set, the Poets cinched a win of 25-23 in set two. Whittier ended the match, scoring 20 and 12 points in the third and fourth sets, respectively. Despite less-than-opportune outcomes against CMS and PP, Whittier had moments of strength throughout.
Against Pomona-Pitzer, the Poets came out on top in terms of kills (19 by fourth-year Riley DeGroot), digs (17 by DeGroot), and blocks (7 by first-year Emilia Graham).
Regardless, the team did not give up over the weekend and morale remained high, with teammates and fans cheering for the ladies on the court. “We fought hard against CMS and PP but fell short,” says Kusleika. “I was happy to see a strong presence at the net and scrappy plays from our back row, but we’re going to have to turn it up if we want to finish conference on top.”
Women’s Volleyball will continue to rise against the odds, giving their all and showing their love for the sport. After a tough weekend, Kusleika knows the team will “show up to the following practice determined to work out the mistakes we made and improve for the next match.”
Kusleika adds, “If we play our way the rest of the season, I think we will be successful.” Despite competing in her final season as a Poet, she feels excited to “look around at practice and see a bunch of talented, awesome women who will keep the program flourishing” for years to come. The Poets will look to bounce back in their next match at home versus California Institute of Technology on Thursday, Oct. 10.
A Winning Rampage in the Water
Olivia Nuñez SPORTS EDITOR
Constantly treading water, holding onto a large ball, and defending against large bodies are all aspects of water polo that make it one of the most difficult sports to participate in. Incredibly dynamic games are made up of four quarters, each eight minutes long, though the clock stops when the ball is not in play, creating a longer overall match. Despite the grueling games, the Men’s Water Polo has found early success amidst a highly charged pre-season lineup.
The Poets have seen lots of changes since they won the Division III championship in 2019. Last season was viewed as a rebuild by many, with Head Coach Preslav Djippov bringing in a horde of new faces every year, including Assistant Coach Robert Echeverria. Now having extra support from someone with different experiences, the Poets are burgeoning, introducing young and experienced players in the hopes they will grow together as a team.
In a preseason poll on the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s (SCIAC) website, Whittier was predicted to end in fourth, which is much higher than their eighth-place result in the 2023 season. Part of the reason for this jump are the updates to Whittier’s roster, featuring 12 newcomers in addition to key returners.
In the current five weeks of play, Poets have already received Athlete of the Week honors three times, despite it being early in the season.
The first of these athletes was
Loronzo Angelucci, a first-year international student from Italy who was named Defensive Athlete of the Week for Sept. 23. Angelucci, a goalie, earned the title by stopping 10 shots while surrendering just three goals in a 14-3 victory over Austin College. He saved two penalties and held the opposition scoreless for over 20 minutes through the middle chunk of the match. The first week’s accolades displayed just how successful this team can be with first-years and transfers introducing themselves in an undeniable way.
The week of Sept. 30, first-year and international student Noah Bigara from South Africa received Offensive Athlete of the Week for his performance against the University of La Verne and Grossmont College on Saturday afternoon. In a pivotal SCIAC weekend, he notched a career-high six goals, two assists, and two drawn exclusions to lead the Poets to 2-0 win
in conference play. His efforts were crucial in a close third quarter in order to stifle the Leopards’ drive.
Most recently, goalie and fourthyear Kenshiro Matsuzawa earned Defensive Athlete of the Week on Oct. 7 marking a historic feat, joining Angelucci as the first batery to receive the award in the same season. Matsuzawa continues to be a daunting obstacle in front of the goal posts, with 37 saves in three starts, which all resulted in wins. Almost half of those blocks came in the 15-9 victory over Biola University, where the fourth-year had a 15-save effort.
This past weekend, Oct. 4 and Oct. 5, the Poets participated in the Gary Troyer Tournament, where they faced non-conference DIII teams as well as a formidable DI program at California State University, Long Beach.
The first game began in the pinnacle of the heat on Friday against
a top competitor in Augustana College, who traveled from Illinois only to fall narrowly against the Poets. The men fell behind in the second half, but with the help of Brody Haney’s power play in the third quarter, the Poets came out on top. In a growing theme, the Purple-and-Gold continues to pull out a win at the very end despite where the game seems to be going.
The Poets faced perhaps the most competitive team in Long Beach State’s 10th-ranked team who showed a different level of play. Despite the large margin, the men managed to score in the double digits. First-year international student Marton Thuroczy from Hungary led with a hat trick–three goals scored in one frame of play–and two drawn exclusions (free throws granted by the other team’s offense), having converted on three of five shots.
In another non-conference game on Saturday, the Poets started their scoring early against Connecticut College. It was a tough backand-forth match where first-year Zander Montoya was able to establish himself in the second quarter with a dominant counter-run. Though it was not a SCIAC opponent, it was important for the team to display their power against a tough program, showing they have a place in the regional polls.
The final game resulted in a larger scoring gap against Penn State-Behrend, a nine-point margin where the Poets seemed to cruise in the second half. Under the direction of Coach Djippov and Coach Echeveria, the men look to live up to the season’s high hopes!
Courtesy of TONY/ACTIONWESTPHOTOGRAPHY.
Women’s Volleyball looks to get over midseason bump.
SCIAC Makes FloSports Livestream Destination
Olivia Nuñez SPORTS EDITOR
If you go onto the Whittier College Athletics website and search the event schedules, you might see immense changes if you try to watch any Poet sport this year. Before, it would take you to the school’s livestream where anyone could watch any game for free. Now, it will redirect you to a new website called “FloSports,” a platform for viewing Whittier’s Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer and Men’s Water Polo, as well as any upcoming Winter and Spring sports. This is a conference-wide implementation that will affect Poet fans’ access moving forward.
FloSports is a sports live-streaming platform that was developed in 2006 as a global independent sports media company that covers professional sports, as well as collegiate athletics. It has become prominent in Division I athletics as a method of national streaming, though it has slowly trickled down to Division II institutions and smaller Division III conferences. For that reason, FloSports decided to launch a new platform, FloCollege, which has plans to invest its earned money into NCAA programs such as Whittier’s.
Mark Floreani, FloSports CEO commented in a public statement,
FloSports introduces FloCollege, SCIAC’s new streaming service.
“We believe the launch of FloCollege is a watershed moment for college athletics at a time of massive transition. There is no single platform that is serving today’s athletes and member institutions at the DII and DIII level with live event streaming, editorial, and social like we are planning. We are looking forward to working with our partners to make this a sustainable model for growth in the years ahead that can provide critical funding to many
of these smaller institutions.”
One of those smaller institutions includes Whittier College, which, in addition to all the other Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), will participate in this subscription service. Athletic Director Rock Carter explained that the decision was collective and had active participation from all of the Athletic Directors, Administration, and Commissioner from the conference in order to come to a consensus. Carter states,
“We were trying to seek a little bit more visibility, [...] raising the standards of what the expectations are as individual institutions.” The plan was introduced and developed about a year ago, but finally came into fruition this Fall semester.
According to the website, “FloSports plans to invest more than $50 million into FloCollege to support rights fees, production, content, product technology, and marketing. The direct investment in conference rights will help member
institutions apply funding towards their own broadcast and production capabilities to further enhance the quality of coverage across all sports, ensuring parity and inclusivity.”
One of its setbacks might be the fees that come with a subscription, something Director Rock Carter has a ready response for, “The conference was given an allotment of money as well that is all going right back into the student-athlete experience and athletics.” According to the FloSports website, the different subscriptions can either be “$19.99/month or $107.88/year ($8.99/month).” So, parents who usually view games from out-ofstate might feel more at ease knowing the school’s intention is to improve their child’s overall experience.
As the program continues, the funds will be applied to the Communications Department of Athletics in order to get more workstudy participation, with students manning cameras and working all angles in order to create a better viewing experience. In a conversation with President Dillon, Carter pointed out a very important factor, “Having the subscription will help with [student involvement] and it all comes back to us, too. All of us can seek to get to a better level of streaming.”
For more information on FloSports, you can visit the Whittier College Athletic page.
Back & Better Than Ever: Gonzalez Returns
Emma Galvan CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR
Wrapped in various types of athletic tape and always sporting a brace around her right knee, Women’s Soccer Captain Avery Gonzalez is easy to spot on the field.
When Gonzalez was playing what seemed to be a usual game of soccer, she did not expect to be getting the worst injury of her life. Her worst nightmare came true when it took her out of commission for a whole year.
But now she is back on the field and on Sept. 23, was able to score not just the first goal for her team but also the winning goal earning the score of 2-1 in Whittier’s favor. The goal was a result of a double-assist with the support from third-year Alanis Cervantes and first-year Aleena Galvan who set the ball up for Gonzalez to shoot.
Everything felt like a “dream control” according to Gonzalez, giving credit to her assists that helped secure the win, “My teammate Lani did an amazing job fighting for that ball and luckily I was in the right spot at the moment to head it in. At that moment it felt surreal!
For those who may not know, Gonzalez was a transfer student who stepped onto the Whittier grounds in the 2022-2023 school year and joined the team thanks to fellow player and fourth-year Layla Taylor. The player soon went on to play multiple games for the Poets, gaining numerous victories
and even earning the title of team captain for the ‘23-24 season. Everything was going well, until the middle of the season when Gonzalez had her incident. “I basically stepped really hard with my right leg and my cleat got caught in the turf. So when I was trying to turn back to get the ball, my knee twisted which resulted in me tearing a
part of [my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament],” Gonzalez explains, “One week later I tried to shoot the soccer ball again, thinking I was I was okay to play again and that was the moment I tore [it] completely.”
The road to recovery was one of the hardest challenges Gonzalez has overcome. She was forced to sit out for the rest of the season and watch
her teammates compete. However, when looking upon the journey, she claims, “I definitely surprised myself in how strong I was both physically and mentally. The setbacks and challenges were super rough but with support from friends, family, teammates, Whittier staff, and of course, my physical therapist, I wouldn’t have gotten through this.”
Although they were missing her leadership, the team still stayed by Gonzalez’s side and did everything they could to help her—including purchasing a Lego set—and frequently visited to check in on her progress. Despite missing a season, Gonzalez was granted the title of Captain once more for this year’s roster and is honored to have that trust from the coaching staff to play and lead the Women’s Soccer team to success with her fellow captains. Alongside her goals for success with her fellow teammates, Gonzalez has some personal goals herself that she hopes to accomplish before the end of the season. According to her, a primary goal is to “be easy on myself with how hard I push myself while also challenging myself to finish and excel in every opportunity that is given to me and work 100% in anything I do.” With the help of her wonderful teammates, this moment of her scoring for the first time in a year will resonate with Gonzalez for many years to come, “I finally get to play the sport I love again and I can never be happier! That will be a moment in my heart forever.”
The Women’s Soccer team’s next game is expected to be a home game and they will be battling against Chapman University on Saturday Oct. 12. In her final season, Gonzalez is eager to make the most out of the opportunity to be out in the field again and lead the Poets as they battle through the crucial point in the season.
Courtesy of TONY/ACTIONWESTPHOTOGRAPHY
Captain Avery Gonzalez bounces back from an ACL injury with winning goal.
Courtesy of FloSports
The QC Staff
Suggests:
EMMA GALVAN CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR
Want to know what our Campus life Editor recommends this week? Read on!
Music:
Fans of Greek Mythology will go crazy over Epic the Musical, I know because I’m one of them. This adaption of The Odyssey has been living rent-free in my mind. Yes it’s released in “sagas” so you’ll have to be patient between every release like I have but trust me, it’s worth it!
Web Comic:
Cards is a Webtoon done by a dear friend of mine so it felt right to talk about it. If you’re a fan of fantasy, war stories, romance, and openly LGBTQ+ characters, then this will be your jam. It’s very fun and hilarious with one-liners while balancing the sadness of the story. Read it soon before season 2 comes out next year!
Snacks:
When I’m in my dorm and wanting a small bite at 1 am, Keebler Club Crackers are always my go-to. They’re very addictive and surprisingly cheap! Get the mini version though, somehow they taste better than the original but don’t let that stop you.
TV Show:
I can’t cook for my life but I still love judging food like I’m Gordon Ramsay himself. Yes, Hell’s Kitchen has 23 seasons with highs and lows, but it got my mom and I through the pandemic. However, it can be really dramatic at times so be warned.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Reign of Sequels in Hollywood
Allara Baker STAFF WRITER
As the ever shifting realm of cinema evolves over time, there’s been a jarring shortage in films that are generated off of original ideas and concepts. While some of these films have done exceptionally well in terms of ratings and revenue, the current state of remakes, sequels, and reboots in the film industry is drawing new attention. Frequent franchise installments has critics wondering what will become of the film industry when all that’s left are recycled concepts.
The recent release of films such as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, is an example of a sequel that has been called into question especially because of the 36-year gap between the original, Beetlejuice
The issue with this does not exactly fall on the amount of time taken to make the film. Concepts for sequels are usually conceptualized early on. In the case of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the sequel was pitched in 2011 before being shelved in late 2019 due to conflicting issues with development. With that in mind, the real issue with timing for sequels is that these films seem to exhaust themselves before any initial trailer makes itself known to the general public. The first trailers for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice were not released until early 2023.
Even without an official an-
nouncement, the very idea of an Incredibles 3 or a Toy Story 5 does not really seem to appeal to long-time fans right off the bat, not because they’re initially bad concepts, but because they simply aren’t anything new.
The two examples above, both upcoming installments to a franchise where audience members felt it was unecessary, make it seem that all movies need a sequel in order to stregthen the first installments narrative and concepts. More so, it feels strangely outdated, as in the case of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
When Toy Story 5’s plot line and concept art was revealed, fans did not find the storyline, stated to revolve around the toys going against the current hold that technology has on young children, intersting nor exciting. While not an initially bad concept, it’s time and place in the franchise itself does not seem to make a solid argument as to why this should be a story that warrants another film to the franchise.
Sequels also rely on the audience being already attached to the characters and familiar with the settings in order to gain traction, because the attention that it garners is unlike that of an original film with a unique concept. Which is why it can sometimes get away with an inconsistent plot or unoriginal ideas because in their eyes, they have a lot less to lose from this decision.
This also applies to the streaming world as well. There has been a significant lack of time between the big screen to the home theater. Most movies head straight to streaming platforms after only spending a couple weeks in theaters. Once they arrive on a streaming service, the main thing that’s going to grab someones attention is an already established franchise.
It’s seen as much more beneficial for studios to make a Harry Potter series or another Lord Of The Rings installment instead of actually having original material to dip into and work on. But that is not always
a good idea most of the time.
With these new live action remakes or sequels, audience members rarely experience an evolution in something that was once beloved. At times we tend to get a regression that doesn’t line up with the concepts and ideas in their much older first installments.
This gamble only leads to the inevitability of something failing to satisfy or holding up well, and paling in comparison to its predecessor. While the film industry will never get tired of recycling ideas, the projects they release are usually met with criticism for the lack of originality solely for the sake of keeping the industry running. And later down the line, are unable to be regarded as films that can stand on their own in terms of impact.
Ultimatley, although sequels have the opportunity to build off from the success of the first film’s ideas, utilizing the same story beat, sequels often take an intelectual short cut that sacrifices creativity.
Music Artists Wary Of TikTok "Fans"
Olivia Nuñez SPORTS EDITOR
Imagine you discovered this band that seemed to speak to you when you were in the throes of your high school existence. They’ve been part of your soundtrack as you enter different phases in life. You continue to listen to them at an age where you work hard and earn enough money to finally see them in concert. You splurge, you get tickets in the pit, and mark the date in a calendar with stars and hearts months prior to the day.
It finally comes and you get there five hours before, responsibilities to the wind, to ensure a closer proximity to the stage. However, you find hundreds of other people had the same idea. It doesn’t matter, though, because you’re there ready to sing your lungs out surrounded by people who love this band as much as you do. At least that’s what you think.
The lights go out, the crowd roars at the sheer anticipation and just as the band is about to go on the stage […] and all you see is a person’s phone screen in front of you and hundreds of phone screens so bright you can barely see the artists.
That has been the case for almost all of the concerts that I’ve been to this year. Concert culture has been dominated by social media, primarily TikTok, as something aestheticized and simply something to post about rather than actually experience. It’s jarring to stand in
a crowd and find that no one else knows any of the songs the same way that you do. In those moments you wonder, why even come at all?
I caught the concert fever after seeing Wallows perform at the Shrine in 2022. They were a group that resonated with the kinds of things I was experiencing, apart from the fact that I was in love with all three members–Braeden Lemasters (my personal favorite), Cole Preston and Dylan Minette. Since then, I’ve been to countless different concerts with countless different genres, each experience different than the one before. There is always one common factor, though: I seem to be the only one singing.
An example of this is the controversy surrounding music artist Steve Lacy, who quickly realized during his concerts that those in the crowd only knew the chorus of his hit song, “Bad Habit" which blew up on TikTok. In a common practice of remaining quiet so the crowd can sing the lyrics, Lacy pointed his
mic out into the crowd and heard crickets. His response on X, “TikTok is insane because why would you go to a whole concert solely for a hook???” has resulted in many denouncing the social media platform’s influence on concert culture.
TikTok has been useful for skyrocketing certain artists’ fame, often to a spectrum of extreme almost overnight popularity. A Kent Wired article refers to this phenomenon saying, “[TikTok} isn’t necessarily bad for those musicians, but what happens to other artists? Much of the reason behind fans getting tickets to both Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo is due to a select few or even just one of their songs gaining a following on TikTok. These followers then rush to buy tickets to these musicians’ concerts just to hear their one or few songs and nothing else.” The artist I looked forward to all year was Wallows, who performed at the Kia Forum. My cousins, sister, and I arrived at the venue before
parking even opened and were one of the first fans to get in line after purchasing (arguably) too much merch. As we piled into the general admission area, we figured people were as big of fans as we were, but found that the girls in front of us simply went to record the entire time, only singing their most popular song, “Are You Bored Yet?”
I don’t regret any second of any concert I attended this year because of the catharsis I experience every time, but I’d be lying if I said the environment didn’t disappoint me. Maybe I sound like a hater and maybe there are benefits to artists gaining an audience through TikTok, but I would definitely say that I don’t understand this new etiquette.
It seems out of touch to me, to simply go to a concert to record songs you probably won’t ever look back on after you post them. Maybe go to a concert you’ll actually enjoy from start to finish and be in the moment!
Courtesy of Ella Bain/Webtoon
Courtesy ofWalmart
Courtesy of Jorge Rivera-Herrans
Courtesy of tvinsider
Concerts are becoming full of "one hit" fans
Photo Courtesy of Kate Walker
The film industry's sequels takeover
Photo Courtesy of Disney Pixar
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Colin Farrell Waddles Into Batman Spin-Off
Jonathan Burmudez MANAGING EDITOR
When Colin Farrell was revealed as the Penguin for Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022), it was a big surprise for the franchise's fan-based audience. The transformation that Farrell went through quite literally turned him into a different person. He said in an interview with Sky News that during the production of the movie, he went out to get Starbucks in full prosthetics and no one recognized him.
Not only did Farrell become a whole new person, but fans of The Batman were presented with a new version of the Penguin. Being one of the oldest villians in Batman’s rogue gallery, the Penguin is known for being very comical, donning a top hat, an umbrella that turns into a gun, and, of course, walking like a penguin.
Tim Burton’s Batman Returns (1992) gave us a new look at the Penguin, portrayed by Danny DeVito. Burton’s Penguin was a snarly, cannibalistic take on the classic villain, but Reeves' leaned more into the character’s gangster origin than Burton. And it was a smart approach.
Farrell’s Penguin is incredible due to its unique approach. Only having a few scenes in The Batman, he was a player in its success, especially during the intense Batmobile chase between him and Batman. So when the announcement came out that the Penguin was getting his own spin-off, the anticipation was
brutal. But now the show is here and it is far beyond anything I ever expected.
The show takes place weeks after The Batman (2022) ends, Penguin is exhausted and trying to figure out what his next move is now that his boss is dead. Without spoiling what happens, the show takes a dramatic turn and sets up the series' plot almost immediately.
This big shift shows how different the series is from the movie. The show has a lot more violence and
gore compared to its PG-13 counterpart, and I think the change in rating makes the stakes a lot higher in the series than in the movie. You never know which direction the show is going towards, which gives the show and exciting edge.
The tone of the show differs from the movie. The Batman was a dark noir type of film, whereas The Penguin is more like a crime show inspired by The Sopranos, or The Wire. You have the Penguin in the middle of Gotham’s crime families,
the Falcones and Maronis, who now intend to claim Gotham for themselves after the events of the movie.
After the death of Carmine Falcone, head of the Falcone family, new leadership is in question.
Cristine Milioti, mostly known for her role as Tracy in How I Met Your Mother, plays Sophia Falcone, the daughter of Carmine. She makes an unexpected return to Gotham right after the death of her father. Milioti's presence is strong in every scene, and she knows how to be in-
timidating. Her character feels unpredictable, but also very calm and collective, which makes her character all the more terrifying. She fits perfectly in the world of Gotham, and I look forward to seeing where her character goes.
Clancy Brown, known for the voice of Mr. Krabs in SpongeBob, appears as Salvatore Maroni, the rival boss to the Falcone family. Then there is Rhenzy Feliz, who voiced Camilo in Encanto, as Victor Aguilar, a street kid who involuntarily becomes the Penguin’s driver. Though there are only three episodes out so far, these characters have already shown a lot of development and don’t feel one-dimensional.
There's so much opportunity but also so much unpredictability about where these characters are going to end up.
The show is supposed to lead into The Batman's second film, although the film is not slated to come out for a couple more years. It’s refreshing to see continuity done right in a franchise. With all these spin-off shows, it’s hard to keep track of what is happening, for example, all the Disney+ shows that are part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
There’s too much going on, and a lot of them are either a hit or a complete miss. But this show feels like a success. The Penguin is what happens when the franchise is treated right, and I recommend the show to any fans of Batman and crime dramas.
Flippers in the air for Penguin Spin-off!
Photo Courtesy of Macall Polay / HBO
Courtesy of Lexi Brattain