Department Of Education Elimination
ucation work and needs back to the states.”
President Donald Trump recently signed Executive Order 14242, “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities,” which was part of his effort to dismantle the Department of Education (D.O.E.).
Trump’s E.O. was not out of the blue. During his campaign, he stated, “One thing I’ll be doing very early in the administration is closing up the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and sending all education and ed -
In a conversation with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Trump said, “The U.S. had a horrible education ranking at the bottom of developed countries while spending the most.” Earlier this year, Linda McMahon, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, reaffirmed, “Colleges and universities are not preparing students to succeed in the modern workforce. The costs of higher education are quickly outpacing the value of the degree students receive.”
The U.S. was ranked “sixth in reading, 10th in science, and 26th in
math among 81 countries” in a National Center for Education Statistics report. Additionally, spending on elementary and secondary education was “38 percent higher than the average” out of 38 developed countries. Opponents further argue that higher education institutions are focused on promoting left-leaning agendas rather than preparing students for the workforce. According to Chalkbeat, “The department has also sided with more progressive approaches to education and to civil rights enforcement,” but there is little evidence that the U.S. education system is inherently left-leaning.
This is not the first time the D.O.E. has come under scrutiny. Since its conception in 1987 under President Johnson, “almost every Republican presidential candidate paid some lip-service to [the] idea” of dismantling the department, Time Magazine reported.
During Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign in 1980, the former-president argued that the D.O.E. was a “crazy quilt of wasteful programs,” and tried to cut budget funding to its office.
This article continues on pg. 2.
Big Poet Give Gets Even Bigger
Piper Guinn NEWS EDITOR
Whittier College holds a day of giving each Spring, the Big Poet Give, with the goal of raising funds from alumni, parents, and friends of the College. While donors are able to give to the College year-round, the Big Poet Give is designed to bring in a large sum in just 24 hours. This year, the Big Poet Give will be taking place on April 9, with the theme “Ten years. Let’s rock,” a reference to the iconic rock located on lower campus.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Big Poet Give is on track to bring in its biggest donation total yet, partially due to the success of President Kristine Dillon’s administration. The President, who was inaugurated last Fall, has already made notable contributions to the College. These include several partnerships with local high schools and rising new student enrollment numbers, among other achievements.
Donations raised from the Big Poet Give are primarily used for the Whittier Fund, which provides money for scholarships, clubs, academic programs, and athletics.
Kelli Bronson, the current Director of Giving for the College, explains, “[Whittier Fund] scholarships are unrestricted. Our money that we
raise during the fiscal year, we immediately turn back out. So if we bring in $5,000 for a certain scholarship fund, we immediately award that money back out to students.”
This does not include recent scholarships under the Whittier Works umbrella, a project that President Dillon recently unveiled to improve student success and opportunity. “That’s completely separate,” Bronson clarifies, “but [still] a great program.”
Donations to the Whittier Fund are calculated at the end of each fiscal year, which runs annually from July 1 to June 30. This year, the overall fundraising goal set by the College is $7 million.
Currently, donors have brought in $4.7 million with two weeks to go before the Big Poet Give. “We
are trending 129 percent ahead of last year,” Bronson notes.
Since 2020, a combination of low enrollment numbers following the COVID-19 pandemic and poorly-received budget cuts under the previous administration led to a period of lower-than-average donations. However, in 2024, the College was able to bring in $100,000 more than the year prior—doubling its donor base—and Bronson is confident that this year the College will come back stronger than ever. Bronson states, “We’re not really doing anything differently from what we have done in years past. What is different is that our donor support pool is feeling very good about the College.” In addition to promising enrollment data and
confidence in President Dillon, the College’s recent athletic success is a “vote of confidence.”
Although the prior administration made substantial cuts to athletics on campus, “the basketball teams this year did really well. That garners support from our alumni. The fact that our alumni raised money to reinstate Football and Men’s Lacrosse also shows promise, according to Bronson.
By April 9, the College is hoping for at least 700 new donors. In addition to individual donations, numerous alumni and organizations pledged to match certain contributions. For instance, the SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union promised to match financial contributions from faculty and staff up to $5,000.
While Bronson clarifies, “We do not solicit donations from students,” two events will be held on campus on April 9 to raise awareness for the Big Poet Give. The College will have a table set up outside the Campus Inn, providing information for faculty and staff. They also plan to host an alumni board Zoom party to increase donations.
Students who would like to learn more about the Big Poet Give and the Whittier Fund can go to https://givingday.whittier.edu/ , or find the College on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
World Recap
• On Wednesday, President Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on any cars and car parts imported into the U.S. Expected to take effect on April 3, these tariffs will impact almost half of all vehicles and 60 percent of the parts in vehicles sold in the U.S., according to The New York Times. U.S. trading partners, including Canada and Mexico, will also be heavily impacted.
• Israeli forces resumed militiary strikes on Gaza last week after nearly two months of a ceasefire agreement, prompting Islamic Jihad gunmen to return fire this week. In what the BBC deemed the “largest anti-Hamas protest in Gaza since the war with Israel began,” Palistinians took to the streets, voicing dissatisfaction with Hamas’ leadership.
• Ukraine and Russia agreed on Tuesday to cease fighting in the Black Sea after three years of conflict in the region. President Volodymr Zelensky of Ukraine told The New York Times reporters that it is “too early to say that it will work,” and the truce contained substaintial caveats. Moscow insisted that restrictions imposed by Western nations be removed from agricultural exports, which is a complicated process. Both nations have since accused the other of breaching the truce.
• Plans to launch military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen were leaked to Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief for the Atlantic, hours before the bombs went off on Monday. Top national security officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accidentally included Goldberg in a secure text chain, an occurance President Trump later downplayed.
• Sent from the U.S. Agency for International Development to Congress on Monday, a spreadsheet detailed the Trump adminstrations plans for various foreign aid programs. Funding for Gavi, which adminsters vaccines to children in developing countries, would be terminated under these plans. According to The New York Times, 75 million children could lose access to vaccines, and the estimated death toll is more than 1.2 million.
Sara Martínez CO-HEAD COPY EDITOR
The executive branch took its first steps toward dismantling the D.O.E.
Courtesy of AP News
Last year’s Big Poet Give was a success for the College.
Courtesy of Whittier College
D.O.E. On Chopping Block
Cont. from pg. 1.
Under Trump’s administration, the D.O.E. initiated its “reduction in force” earlier this month. According to its website, the department terminated $881 million in funding research and shrunk the workforce from 4,133 employees to 2,183. This includes “600 employees who accepted voluntary resignation opportunities.”
The executive branch cannot effectively shut down the D.O.E. without congressional approval. The legislature is responsible for setting the federal budget, which grants Congress the power to defund departments, not the President.
To abolish the D.O.E. entirely, Republicans “would need to get
adds Matt Barnum, an educational reporter with the WSJ. According to Thomas, the most Trump and his administration can do is “starve the department of resources.”
Some resources have already been “starved” as a result of the drop in D.O.E. employees. NPR found that at least 240 employees from the department’s Office for Civil Rights have been laid off and half of its 12 offices have closed down. This restricts the O.C.R.’s ability to “ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation,” which is its stated mission.
Cuts to federal grants and programs such as Title 1, which provides financial support to low-income families, are also at risk.
60 votes under the current Senate rules to eliminate the department,” explains national political reporter Ken Thomas. This “would require that they would get some significant Democratic support,” as Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate.
A Wall Street Journal poll additionally showed that “60 percent of voters were against abolishing the Department of Education. So, it’s a tough thing to do politically,”
“Project 2025 has called for phasing out Title I funding over a period of time, so that could mean cuts for high-poverty schools.” Barnum states, referencing the conservative movement to radically restructure the federal government. “Now, [Republicans] argue that Title I isn’t effective.”
Funding for Title 1, as well as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, have not been directly affected. However, “the Trump ad-
ministration has fired every attorney responsible for helping states and school districts understand how they can and cannot use their federal K-12 money, and who raise red flags when a state or district appears to be in violation of these funding laws,” according to NPR.
Financial aid for higher education faces uncertainty, as well. The Office of Federal Student Aid (F.S.A.) lost over 320 employees and is expected to lose up to 727 total workers, NPR reported. As a result, “the office could soon struggle to perform even basic functions.”
According to ABC News, the F.S.A. handles $1.6 trillion in loans for 43 million people. Trump announced last week that the Small Business Administration (S.B.A.) “will [now] handle all of the student loan portfolio.” However, the S.B.A. plans to “reduce its workforce by 43 percent.” Trump did not clarify how the S.B.A. would manage more loans with less employees.
Trump adds, “special needs and all of the nutrition programs and everything else,” would now be managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. Regarding other programs, such as “Pell Grants, Title 1, funding resources for children with disabilities and special needs,” Trump clarifies, “They’re going to be preserved in full and redistributed to various other agencies and departments that will take very good care of them.”
According to Student Borrower Protection Center Executive Director Mike Pierce, relocating programs in this manner is “illegal, unserious, and a clear attempt to distract the public from the fact that Trump has broken the student loan system and is actively cheating millions of borrowers out of their rights.”
These efforts have already affected Whittier College’s federal funding. “Most of the cuts were science-related,” College President Kristine Dillon explains, “but they were pipeline programs [...] related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
While the future of the D.O.E. remains uncertain, funding for and federal employment within the department remains at risk.
THE QUAKER CAMPUS STAFF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
AnnA GAber
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New Pathway For Whittier Union HS
Whittier College established a new partnership with students from the Whittier Union High School District (WUHSD), which includes seven high schools. The participating high schools are California High School, Pioneer High School, Frontier High School, Santa Fe High School, La Serna High School, Sierra Vista High School, and Whittier High School.
In a statement released to the student body, President Kristine Dillon claimed that, “By working together, we are opening new doors of opportunity for students and ensuring they have the academic and financial information and support necessary to reach their full potential.” She further stated, “This partnership is a testament to our dedication to nurturing the next generation of leaders.”
In addition, WUHSD students who plan to attend Whittier College will be automatically considered for the John Greenleaf Whittier scholarship, which ranges from $20,000 to $36,000 in financial aid.
Students will also be eligible for the International Baccalaureate Di-
ploma–a $36,000 award granted for a four-year term–as well as the fouryear renewable Gateway Scholarship of $2,500.
The Whittier Civic Scholars Program will “support a cohort of 10 newly admitted students from WUHSD and other students who live in Whittier with a $5,000 scholarship from the City.
“A $5,000 matching scholarship from Whittier College,” will also be provided, as clarified in a statement to the student body by Gillian Frew, the spokesperson of the College and assistant director of the RW Jones Agency.
“This partnership with Whittier College is a tremendous step forward in supporting our students beyond high school,” said Whittier Union High School District Superintendent Monica Oviedo. “By creating a clear and supported pathway to higher education, we are empowering our graduates to achieve their academic and career goals while strengthening the bond between our institutions.”
Whittier College welcomes all students that are a part of the WUHSD partnership who choose to further their education with the rest of the campus community.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Submissions may be emailed to qc@poets.whitttier.edu in .doc or .docx format. Submissions must include the author’s name and year of graduation or position at the college in the signature. Letters are due by Monday at 5 p.m. to make it into that week’s issue. Submissions should be no more than 500 words. Submissions will undergo the same editing process from our production pipeline if selected. All stories must follow the same journalistic standards.
Due to the high cost of publication, members of the Whittier College community are permitted three copies per issue. Additional copies may be purchased with prior apporval for 50 cents each by contacting the Quaker Campus. Newspaper theft is a crime, and those who violate the three copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution.
The Quaker Campus does not change material posted on online articles once they have been published in the paper — with the exception of an error being found. Only then will a correction be made to the online version. The Quaker Campus is a publication of Whittier College. Columns and Signed editorials do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Whittier College or its affiliates.
Priscilla Corona STAFF WRITER
Courtesy of whittier DAily News Scholarship opportunities grow for local high schoolers.
Linda McMahon serves as Secretary of Education under Trump.
Courtesy of slAte
Senator Strives To “Make California Golden Again”
Piper Guinn NEWS EDITOR
California—the nation’s leading economy and the world’s fifth largest—is home to 39.4 million people, nine national parks, 1.7 million private sector businesses, and an incalculable quantity of sunbeams.
Americans have long flocked to the Golden State in search of “perfect” weather and promising industry.
However, in the aftermath of COVID-19, which exacerbated economic uncertainty globally, California witnessed a noticeable decline in population. The Los Angeles Times reported an exodus of 573,000 Californians since 2020.
“California is no longer the preferred destination it used to be,” says Hans Johnson, a demographer at the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. The cost of living is higher in California than almost any other state. The World Population Review estimated that California is third in cost of living nationwide, as well as third in cost of groceries, and fourth in housing cost.
Tony Strickland, the newly-elected state senator representing California’s 36th district, was raised in the Simi Valley, has built a career in politics, and is now determined to address these issues and “make California golden again.” Strickland was inaugurated on Tuesday, March 11, marking his second nonconsecutive term in the state senate.
Strickland is a Whittier College alum—class of 1993—who served as the mayor of Huntington Beach prior to his legislative inauguration. During his time at the College, the California native founded the Richard Nixon Republican club, served on the statewide college Republican board, and played on the basketball team.
After graduating with a degree in Political Science, Strickland “ran five campaigns in five years” before winning his own campaign in 1998, becoming “one of the youngest
members ever elected” to the state assembly, the lower house of California’s legislature. “I was 28 years old representing most of Ventura County and part of the San Fernando Valley,” Strickland details.
The Whittier alumnus was first elected to the state senate in 2008, winning a competitive seat in Cali-
Strickland argues, “California doesn’t have a revenue problem, they have a spending program.” For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, California faced a $27 billion deficit, the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office (L.A.O.) estimated. That deficit is expected to grow to $55 billion for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, primarily
fornia’s 19th district. Strickland’s first term was “an uphill battle,” given that he was a Republican candidate running in “a district that Barack Obama won by 13 points.”
Strickland lost reelection in 2012, but he is returning to Sacramento with a thorough action plan, this time representing a more conservative district. “My focus today is getting back to the basics of government,” the Senator states, something he feels the current political leadership has strayed from.
“We have the highest taxation in the country, and [the budget] has tripled in ten years, and we’ve lost population,”
Strickland comments, echoing Johnson’s concerns. “We don’t have triple the services, so what we need to do is be more efficient with the money we do have, and have more oversight.”
because annual total spending has grown at a faster pace than normal.
To sustain its growth in annual spending while simultaneously addressing the deficit issue, the Legislature proactively developed a roughly balanced budget for 2025-2026. According to the L.A.O., the Legislature proposed “$11 billion in spending-related solutions and $15 billion in all other solutions, including $5.5 billion in temporary revenue increases and a $7 billion withdrawal from the state’s rainy-day fund, the Budget Stabilization Account (B.S.A.).”
The State Senator is particularly critical of California’s current infrastructure, as well as transportation and public safety. “We need to stop spending billions of dollars on a train to nowhere,” he says, referencing the ongoing proposal to construct an intrastate bullet train. “One of the first bills” that Strickland is working
on would use the money allocated to the project “to lower the gas tax” statewide. “That’s number one.”
The second issue Strickland hopes to address is healthcare. The L.A.O. reported that California spent $73.4 billion on health and human services in the last fiscal year, a value that is projected to increase by $27.3 billion by the 2028-2029 year.
Strickland adds, “We’re paying healthcare to the tune of $10 billion” to provide resources for undocumented immigrants. According to the Western Center on Law and Poverty, any immigrant who meets the requirements for Medi-Cal—the state’s health insurance program for low-income people—is able to apply, as of Jan. 1, 2024.
“Democrats and the governor are picking priorities, and they’re prioritizing people that have come into our country illegally over people who immigrated here legally, people that are citizens,” argues Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones.
“Immigrant workers and families deserve access to care,” Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas counters. “There are tough choices ahead, but we will not roll over and leave our immigrants.” While undocumented immigrants receive an average of $8.5 billion from Medi-Cal statewide, they contribute about the same in state taxes, according to CalMatters.
Strickland emphasized a need to “fund public safety, [and] fund our community college and university system.” The State Senator, who was appointed as the lead Republican on transportation in the legislature, also called for investment in “infrastructure and water storage,” noting, “We have a crumbling transportation system.”
Spending on general obligation bonds—debt issued by the state to fund infrastructure, transportation, and other large projects—are forecasted to grow modestly between now and the 2028-2029 year. The education and public safety sectors received $20.3 and $18.3 billion re-
spectively last year, and are expected to maintain their funding year-overyear or experience marginal growth.
On energy and the environment, Strickland comments, “I’ve worked really hard for alternative energy […] I talked about wave energy 15 years ago when no one else was talking about it.” However, he feels that alternative energy is “not 100 percent reliable.”
He further argues that Governor Gavin Newsom’s mandate requiring all vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035 “is unrealistic. The energy grid cannot support it, and consumers are not buying the cars.”
According to Ballotpedia, California has often been viewed as a nationwide champion for climate action and sustainability, consistently spending more on related issues than any state. However, the state budget for natural resources is forecasted to fall from $10.3 to $4 billion by 2028-2029. Similarly, environmental protection spending is expected to drop from $2.3 to $0.1 billion—almost nothing.
Strickland’s proposal is reminiscent of President Donald Trump and tech-billionaire Elon Musk’s effort to slash the federal bureaucracy. The Senator is pushing for a similar game plan where he would “audit each agency.”
Overall, Strickland feels “the federal government is on the right track,” and has a good feeling about his party overall. The culture of the Republican Party is changing, evidenced by Trump and Musk’s anti-bureaucracy initiative. “There’s no doubt there’s been a shift–and I would say it’s a positive one. President Trump has made the Republican Party the party of the working class.”
Although he faces a Democratic supermajority in Sacramento, Strickland is confident that he “ha[s] the skill set to turn this state around […] I find common ground when there is common ground to be found, but I’m also willing to fight.”
Dual Housing Development In Uptown
Earlier this month, the City of Whittier announced two major townhome development plans— the Comstock Place and 7336 Painter Ave. These projects are in line with the City Council’s ongoing proposal to expand development in Uptown.
The Comstock Place will be constructed on the corner of Philadelphia Street and Comstock Ave., at 12826 Philadelphia St. Recently, the City of Whittier signed with M.W. Investment Groups to construct the 24-unit townhome.
The project was originally a 52unit apartment building, but the plan was updated to preserve five mature ficus trees. Now, the project proposal is a 24-unit, three-story townhome with 59 parking spaces.
On the preservation of the ficus trees, city resident Conny McCormack comments, “This is what a win-win situation looks like. These
two streets have these canopies that are so invaluable to the community.” McCormack is the head of the Save Our Trees campaign, which is aimed at preserving the historic ficus trees in Uptown that the Council voted 3-1 to cut down.
At 7336 Painter Ave., plans for the developer Olson Homes to construct 40 townhomes were also approved. These townhomes will be on the corner of Painter Avenue and Mar Vista Street, directly across from the Whittier Courthouse.
The project will include two-, three-, and four-bedroom units and private parking for residents. All the businesses on this street will be removed, some of which include Uptown Wellness Center, Unstoppable Fitness, American Help Group.
On the @whittierinformed Instagram page, many Whittier residents expressed their frustrations, concerns, and hopes in the comment section of one of the account’s posts.
User @jesakairie shares, “So annoying. I wish they’d focus more on single-family homes in Whittier,” expressing frustration with neighborhoods being overcrowded and the focus on mass expansion of the city in a few months.
With the expansion of housing, there will be more traffic in the streets of Whittier, but the City of Whittier did not want to allow the Metro bus line to expand because of traffic concerns.
User @jehayland takes note of the irony between these proposals. “It’s a shame that the plan to bring the Metro out to Whittier was killed. People complaining about traffic yet some of the same folks […] likely pushed to keep the Metro out.”
Another user, @mamahye, raised their concerns for the jobs that will be lost as a result of the project at 7336 Painter Ave. They state, “Poor decision Whittier… What about the businesses that are leaving?”
Other residents detailed why they moved to Whittier. User @brains.a. la.mode comments, “Moved here because I loved the small-town charm and the small businesses. Starting to look like what I wanted to get away from[…] They’ve been known to make decisions like this without first seeking city resident input.”
However, some residents were optimistic about the proposals.
@ravashingredhead expresses, “Looks like it’s going to look so much better!! That corner has looked old and run down for YEARS, no matter what business has gone in there.”
As Whittier continues to grow, many are calling for more community engagement and thoughtful planning that preserves historic elements— such as Uptown’s ficus trees—and honors the city’s small-town roots.
Paola Ruiz STAFF WRITER
Rendering of the proposed “Comstock Place” complex
Courtesy of whittier DAily News
Tony Strickland hopes to eliminate government waste.
Courtesy of the Voice of oc
What’s up,
Whittier?
Stay up to date on events! For further info, visit https://whittier.campuslabs.com/Engage/
Chair Massage
• Thursday, March 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Naylor Portico (Deihl Hall Patio)
Spring Health Fair Event
• Thursday, March 27 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• Villalobos Hall
Third Space Thursdays: Self Expression
• Thursday. March 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Upper Quad
My Neighbor Totoro Movie Night
• Thursday, March 27 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Deihl Hall 004 (Basement)
Mess Night Gala 2025
• Thursday, March 27 at 6 p.m.
• Villalobos Hall
Welness Coalition Meeting
• Friday, March 28 from 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Online Game Night
• Friday, March 28 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Ball Hall LLC
Planner Night
• Friday, March 28 at 8 p.m.
• Stauffer Hall Main Lounge
Pet Therapy
• Tuesday, April 1 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Founder Hill Lawn (in front of Deihl Hall)
Linear Regression in Excel
• Tuesday, April 1 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m.
• LIS in Wardman Library
Bug Club Meeting!
• Tuesday, April 1 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Campus Courtyard
GoBabyGo! Build Event
• Tuesday, April 1 at 5:30 p.m.
• Villalobos Hall
Crochet Workshop
• Wednesday, April 2 at 12 p.m.to 1 p.m.
• SLC 111
Planner Party
• Wednesday, April 2 at 12 p.m.
• Ettinger Lounge
Bach Poet Musicale
• Friday, April 4 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• Memorial Chapel located next door to the Shannon Center
KPOET Spring Festival
• Friday, April 4 at 12 p.m.
• Campus Courtyard
Dreaming Big At The Greenleaf Review
Jayden Garrett STAFF WRITER
Every Spring semester, the College’s literary and arts journal—The Greenleaf Review (GLR)—publishes a new issue where the student body can enjoy the works of their various peers. Produced in the Editing and Publishing Emerging Media course with Professors Joe Donnelly and Michelle Chihara, the GLR is a collection of short stories, poetry, artwork, photographs, and various other projects created by Whittier College students to give a voice to the community.
This year brings the theme of “Fever Dream”, and is currently being lead by third-year Paige Meyer-Draffen, better known on campus as PMD.
When asked why she chose to return to the GLR after particpating in the 2022 issue, Meyer-Draffen explains that although she enjoyed her experience, she felt as if it wasn’t enough to satisfy the creative hunger she had for the GLR. According to her, she feels that it “hasn’t quite yet fully maximized its potential.” It is that same drive and confidence in the journal's vision that she and the rest of the team share that has helped form the GLR into the literary juggernaut it is today.
It’s this kind of long term commitment and loyal devotion that transforms the GLR from a simple “literary journal” into a well nurtured passion project cared for deeply by the entire team. When asked what motivated her to join in the first place, Meyer-Draffen shares about her time at KPOET, the campus radio station, and how
the ability to provide a platform to others through it was so fulfilling to her that when she realized that the GLR had that same potential to provide a platform (but also include talents such as smaller writers) she couldn’t help but lunge towards it.
Meyer-Draffen comfortably feels “at home” in her position at the GLR, and is extremely zealous to work alongside the rest of the staff. Noting that while the team is small in numbers it allows for each of them to be loud in expression, which personally has her thrilled to see just how each individual chooses to contribute.
The hype behind the nationally renowned GLR isn’t misplaced either, winning second place for “Outstanding Literary Arts Journal” from Sigma Tau Delta in 2022 and being labeled a “Superior Collegiate Arts and Literary Magazine” by the National College of Teachers of English in 2024.
While thinking about how she and the rest of the team will evolve the GLR after two back-to back-award winning issues, PMD says that she’s simply excited to continue putting out her best work. She understands that those awards weren’t earned by simply chasing after them, but instead by committing to the GLR’s mission statement which is “amplifying the many voices of Whittier College."
Meyer-Draffen hopes to achieve many things by the end of her time at the GLR and has two true goals in mind: To craft a well polished and truly reflective representation of Whittier and grow closer to the team as most are underclassmen who according to her
are “the kids of the future.”
When the team was deciding this year's theme Meyer-Draffen confirms, “I feel as if the theme ‘Fever Dream’ resonates with this weirdly grotesque absurd time period that we’re currently in.” She goes on to add that at what at first feels "Like small horrible patch of time that’d we’d have to weather out is slowly becoming our everyday reality. A sensation of a horrible, horrible, strange feeling akin to a fever dream."
Reflecting on the current progress for this year’s issue, Meyer-Draffen confides,“I’m very proud to be a part of this legacy and I hope the dreams Whittier College shares with you weird you out a little, in a good way!”
The GLR is currently open to public submissions, which may include short fiction, joruanlism,
nonfiction prose, poems, screenplays, art, photography, and music.
So please do not miss this opportunity to make your voice heard.
The window for the “Fever Dream” installment of the GLR will be closing on March 27 at 11:59 p.m. With staff like Meyer-Draffen who not only understands the GLR's mission statement, creative finger print and community importance, I must inform you that you are not only doing yourself a disservice, but also to those around you by not taking part in and reading the GLR. You will rob yourself of the opportunity to show your loved ones something truly fantastic. If you yourself are a creative who yearns to be recognized please remember…
SUBMIT! SUBMIT! SUBMIT! TO THE GREENLEAF REVIEW
Honoring Women's Month With WLA
Priscilla Corona STAFF WRITER
There have been recent developments within the Google Calendar app that have erased some holidays of importance. One of those holidays happens to be Women's History Month and International Women’s Day.
According to NDTV, outraged women all around the nation have spoken out against this act. However, in response to the protests, the official Google site claims that along with other cultural observances, such as Pride Month and Black History Month, they have decided “to no longer acknowledge the important events [following] a change in policymaking from the California-based company”
While this act may not be as heinous as many believe it to be, the importance of Women's History Day and Month is necessary for our nation to recognize. Originally, Women's History Month was recognized as Women's History Week and was declared as such March 8, 1980, and was issued by President Jimmy Carter.
Nearly half a decade later and as part of Women’s National History Month Whittier College, along with Women’s Leadership Asso-
ciation (WLA) hosted their own International Women's Day event, where members of WLA and those who wanted to be in support of Women's day and History Month held the event at the Campus Courtyard.
Despite the rainy weather, the event was full and busy with students eager to participate in the included activities. There were bouquet-making stations, as well as donuts and cookies being served and offered by the WLA.The International Women’s Day event was decked out in poster boards, depicting different subjects regarding women in history, where read-
ers could learn about female roles in honor of World War I activism. Readers were also able to learn about queer women, such as singer Chappell Roan and Sylvia Rivera, a transgender Drag Queen, who was an American activist and spoke out in support of gay liberation. Womens safety and Title XI protocol and regulations were present; teaching readers when and how to make a Title XI report. Another actvivity at the event was women’s trivia, ranging from subjects such as: pop culture and sports, women's history, women’s anatomy, women’s economics, and other miscellaneous questions.
Later in the month, WLA collaborated with the Black Student Association (BSA) and Program Board to tie into Women’s Month by having a flea market where vendors came together to sell and celebrate Women's Month. Vendors like Jasmine's Cravings—a small business run by second-year Jasmine Barajas—and the Queen of Lemonade were in attendance, selling sweet treats and delicious thirst quenching lemonade.
As for the Google Calendar removing Women's History Day and Month, we hope that with the recent backlash, they will reconsider their actions.
Courtesy of The Greenleaf review
Let the GLR into your mind.
The WLA sought out to teach about Women's Month.
Courtesy of the WLA
CAMPUS LIFE
Iconic Characters Compete At Sportsfest
Atticus Chaidez STAFF WRITER
Sportsfest is back and better than ever! On Monday March 24, students and faculty alike piled into Club 88 to witness the spectacle that is Sportsfest. Sportsfest is a 33-yearold tradition at Whittier College that was started by Ken Kelly all the way back in 1992.
What is Sportsfest? Well, as you can probably guess, it has to do with sports and competitions. But what else? Well as a first year, I had this same question going in along with many others. What sports would they be playing? How is it formatted? How many teams are there? Who will the teams consist of? And are they playing for a prize or simply for bragging rights? All of these questions were answered as the opening ceremony began.
As this year’s teams went one by one onto the stage to introduce themselves, lots of spirit was shown, as that’s what teams would be given points on—spirit. First, there was the First-Gen Success led by firstyear Leonardo Hernandez. Then there were the defending Sportsfest champs, the Senatorial Slayers who were led by third-year Ashley Seger. The third team, led by second-year and Women’s Lacrosse ca ptain Peyton Vannatter, were the Power Puff Gang. Fitted with vibrant and colorful wigs, the team with sugar, spice, and everything nice looked ready to make some noise.
The fourth team was made up of professors from the Kinesiology Department, aptly named the
Kinetic Force. Led by Dr. Ann Hickey, the Kinetic Force were sporting jerseys with the names of star players on the back. Then came the OSE Shore (pronounced like Jersey Shore) led by Jessica Rodriguez, equipped with the iconic New Jerseyan accent. The sixth team called, Claimed It, was led by third-year Paige MeyerDraffen, also known as PMD, with a theme of cartoon characters who, according to Draffen, "were actually Black all along." This team lineup ranged from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Marceline and Jake the Dog from Adventure Time. The seventh team up was Nacho Cheese, captained by thirdyear Women’s Lacrosse player Arabella Cullen.
The next team on the stage was perhaps dressed the flashiest.
Captained by third-years Izzy Brookshire and Emily PerezMedina, Dressed 2 Kill was fitted with the iconic Kiss makeup, and equipped with blowup electric
guitars. The ninth team, The Golden Team, kept it simple, and was captained by fourth-year Casandra Avila. The tenth and final team was representing the Palmer society, aptly n amed P almer I nc., b y second-years Yaneli Rosales and Nico Miranda. The theme of their outfits, as you can probably guess, was Monsters Inc.
Now, with all the captains and teams introduced, it was time for the games to begin!
For the first game, teams were to recreate a classic Vine or meme within a 10-minute time frame. Teams chose their Vine or meme from a providd list, and after each team had chosen one, it was off to film. Some teams took no more than two minutes, while others took the entire 10 minutes. The next game was one of my favorites, a lipsync battle. Teams would be called up randomly and have to give their best lip-syncing performance to an iconic pop song. While every team performed amazingly, Claimed
It ended up having the most dazzling performance. As their captain performed “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston, PMD jumped up on one of the tables, shocking the entire audience and garnering loud cheers from everyone there.
Then there was another music based game; a member from each team had to guess what song was playing. A rather quick game, Claimed It was able to claim this game as well by guessing "Yesterday" by The Beatles. After that, it was time to move outside where teams would engage in more physical games. The two standout games that took place were the “Don’t drop the
egg!” relay race and the tug o’ war games. First-Gen Success won the relay race after a close race while Claimed It proved their dominance once again in tug o’ war.
After a group photo at Whittier’s iconic Rock, students went back to Club 88. As a reward, awarded participants were able to indulge in the ever so delicious Domino’s pizza. Then, it was time to announce the winner of Sportsfest. Due to their outstanding performance throughoug the event, Claimed It officially claimed it! After winning Sportsfest, they got a cool, nifty trophy as an award along with the right to brag about their victory whenever they feel like it.
Building Bridges Of Identity And Mental Health
Allara Baker STAFF WRITER
On March 3, as part of a collaboration between the Asian Student Association (ASA), Global Poets, and the Counseling Center, the Bridging Cultures event t ook place at Ettinger Lounge. After a long, busy, and occasionally s tressful y ear, t he event’s goal was to provide a safe place, as well as a voice for Whittier College’s multicultural student body.
Being able to talk about their culture and their experiences, whether they are exchange students or just willing to share their background, students were able to converse well with one another and make connections that they hadn’t made before.
Hosted in the cozy back bench corner of Ettinger Lounge, various snacks and boba were served and provided by Chillin. As a way to bridge cultures in a literal sense, each attendee was given their own thumb tack to pinpoint their place on the world map, and talk about where they were from. When all together, it was noted how close some students were to others in terms of geography on the map.
Briefly after getting to connect, a trivia Kahoot game was hosted, about several countries. The
students got quite competitive with each other. As the questions ranged from well known facts to slightly more obscure, they were able to learn a lot more about the different cultures and traditions of not just their own cultural backgrounds, but others as well.
Event organizers allowed the space to be open for students to introduce themselves formally, talk about where they were from, and what the experience has been like moving to Whittier. They reiterated that there has been a noticeable shift in the way students of multicultural backgrounds have been able to communicate with one another and build friendships on campus.
When it comes to student
engagement and involvement, ASA wants their multicultural members, especially those who are exchange students, to feel like they have each other, and that there isn’t any fear or pressure in terms of being able to feel at home and expressing themselves freely while at Whittier.
“With different affinity groups, we’ve seen a lot of low attendance among students. They may feel like they’re not Asian enough or not Black enough to participate in certain events, so we wanted to have this space to sort of overcome those barriers and acknowledge how confusing at times it can be to navigate our multicultural identities,” claims ASA President and event organizer, Anh Tran.
Many students opened up about their struggles with homesickness, differences in how they were raised, background in religion, as well as the misconceptions or first impressions others have about certain countries and their identities.
As they settled into the discussion, more felt comfortable sharing their stories about familial expectations, the differences in how emotions or phrases are expressed culturally, what it means to convey certain emotions and actions, and how other backgrounds have wideranged perspectives on the same topics. Some also noted that, beforehand, they hadn’t noticed the cultural overlap between those who
were surrounded by more traditional or more conservative environments and beliefs growing up. Now, they are able to fully understand and gain a unique perspective on the experiences of the different lives and views of their peers.
When deciding to attend Whittier, students realized the ways in which expressions and rules were conveyed differently on campus. This allowed them to learn how to adapt over time and feel more comfortable with being able to communicate with others in ways that are separate from what they were generally used to. Not just with other students, but with faculty and professors as well. However, when bringing up the sanctions back home, students struggled to get used to the challenge of maintaining different ways of presenting oneself. With the stories and experiences shared amongst one another, did a bond begin to strengthen between their multicultural identities as they began connecting with each other regarding common interests, personality traits, and personal experiences. The night had overall been a success. Despite the struggles and new challenges that have emerged, one thing can be for certain: the bridge that brings our multicultural student body together will always be there, whenever they need it.
The ASA helps build bridges and bonds about identity.
Courtesy of Global Poets
Claimed It claims victory at Sportsfest.
Courtesy of Paige Meyer-Draffen
Icons competed against their fellow icons.
Courtesy of the OSE
OPINIONS
Is Having Kids In Today’s World Selfish?
Most of us are probably familiar with the phrase, “all children deserve parents, but not all parents deserve children.” It’s a long debated question of who’s ready for children and who’s not, and most importantly, is it selfish to have children in the first place?
“Selfish” is a harsh word. But is it truly irresponsible to have children when you’re knowingly not
ready? Let us consider the world we live in today, contemplating the long-term effects and difficulties of raising a child in this economic environment.
In a 2023 piece published on Medium, writer Travis Zane explains how, “According to the Brookings Institute, as of 2015, it will cost the average family in the United States over $300,000 to raise a child to the age of 17, which does not account for the astronomical costs of higher education.” Perhaps it isn’t always as
easy as one might think.
But also, consider why people want kids. Netizens (citizens of the internet) on TikTok have openly debated whether having children is considered selfish. One TikTok user, @cierralikeseggs states, “I feel like [the] majority of times when I ask people why it is they wanna have kids […] it’s always a very deeply selfish, narcissistic reason.”
Choosing not to have children is also very popular among the Gen Z generation. One Gen Z individual, in an article written by Tracy Swartz for the New York Post says, “I don’t fault people for having children, but the reasons are selfish,” she added. “People want […] to be a better parent than theirs were or because they want a ‘minime.’ Having a child is inherently selfish.” With this evidence, it’s safe to assume that most of those who choose to have children do so for their personal gain.
However, some people may even believe that having pets over
children is selfish, so it’s hard to draw the line between which living organism has a better purpose in life. According to a 2022 piece by Jill Filipovic, the Pope has been heard stating that “Having pets instead of children is a denial of fatherhood and motherhood and diminishes us, takes away our humanity.” Whether people decide to parent children or pets, both deserve proper protection and parenting.
That said, we all know that children are not easy to raise. They go through many stages of life that most of us are not ready to face head-on. Does that still make people selfish for wanting to have children for their own personal gain? Yes, I think it does, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We are human; it is our nature to do things beneficial to ourselves.
While the subject of children may draw great debate, it is reasonable to say that if you choose to have children, be prepared for the conversations that are certain to
Today’s So-Called “Sustainable” Fashion
Unsustainable Clothing Sporting A Climate-Conscious Mask
Growing up, my dad managed a big box department store, which meant my weekends were filled with one hour of selecting the most aggressively neon clothing that the juniors section had to offer. My parents’ frugality seemingly vanished at the opportunity to stack a “buy one, get one free” deal on top of the 25 percent employee discount. During my first year of high school, my dad left the lucrative department store management business, and for the first time, I was free to shop wherever my heart desired. At the same time, I was on a quest for popularity and, if I was lucky, a guy’s attention—as is the case for most 14-year-old girls.
As a result, my primitive desire to ascend the social ladder materialized through my fashion choices. Soon, it was a weekend at American Eagle, and I was saving up chore money to buy one pair of leggings from Lululemon. My army of junior apparel was shunned to the back of an already full-to-bursting closet for the sake of my public appearance.
However, I quickly determined that having the newest jeans from Aeropostale was so “middle school.” What the most popular girls in school were doing—and therefore what I should be doing—was breaking the bank at Goodwill, Savers, and Buffalo Exchange. While walking down the aisles at Goodwill, I stumbled upon a new obsession—$1.99 men’s T-shirts, extra-large, with humorous graphics like “My favorite people call me Poppy” splayed across the chest. My daily uniform was transformed into a Goodwill tee selected from my pregnant closet at random and paired with one pair of Lululemon leggings.
As I became less concerned with popularity and allowed my personal style to evolve, what I found comfort in was the creativity thrift shopping provided me. Instead of head-
ing to Goodwill in pursuit of the most out-of-pocket graphic tee on the rack, I ventured deeper, pulling out vintage corduroys and collared tops that lent themselves perfectly to layering. I rejoiced in the individuality of each piece, refreshed by the idea that I was now so distinct from the girls I once mimicked. I was obsessed with building a wardrobe unlike anyone else.
My love affair with Goodwill is not unique—thrifting has become a sport among young people. According to the Seattle Times, 83 percent of Gen Z—people born between 1997 and 2012—are open to shopping secondhand, and global profits among secondhand retailers have increased by more than a third. The financial services company Capital One further reported that 64 percent of Gen Z prefer to look for an item secondhand before buying it new.
The popularity of thrift shopping among young people exploded online during the COVID-19 pandemic, largely thanks to TikTok, where thousands of users boasted their uniquely vintage finds. In addition to social media trends, this popularity can be attributed to a variety of factors, including budget concerns and a generational push for sustainability. Not only is thrifting cheaper than buying firsthand, but it also comes at a much lower environmental cost. ThredUp—an online secondhand retailer—estimated that buying clothing that is used rather than new actually reduces your carbon footprint by 82 percent on average.
Clothing production is an incredible resource and water-intensive practice. For instance, the United Nations Environment Program found that one pair of jeans exhausts 1,000 gallons of water— the equivalent of driving 69 miles. Furthermore, Earth.org reported that 92 million tons of textile waste are produced each year—exacerbat-
ing the fashion industry’s environmental impact.
In addition to in-person thrift stores, online platforms like ThredUp allow users to buy secondhand items from home. Another platform, Depop, has become popular among young people as a way to not only make purchases, but also sell unwanted clothing. The outdoor publication Switchback reported that, in 2021, Depop made $32 million in profit, and in 2023, nearly doubled their annual revenue.
The affinity for thrifting among Gen Z gives way to a curious conundrum—we have not stopped shopping; we are just getting our clothes somewhere else. Although I was shopping secondhand during my fashion revolution, my clothing consumption remained unnecessary and rampant. I could not fit everything in one closet anymore; I began using my brother’s room to store my winter clothes. Every time I go back to my parent’s house, it seems like I donate enough to clothe a tiny army, yet my closet is still full.
At some point—whether it was due to a lack of expendable income or a genuine change of heart, I’m not sure—I stopped consuming.
I started to make a conscious effort not to buy something unless I needed it. Most of my clothes are years old, and almost none were purchased firsthand. The last time I went shopping was in September when I went to the Goodwill bins to buy jeans because I was down to only one pair.
While thrift shopping is a viable alternative to buying new clothes, it has its complications. Because young people can make money selling used clothes on Depop or in vintage stores, it has become an everyday side hustle to purchase new clothing for the purpose of reselling it as “secondhand.” Similarly, low-income families often rely on Goodwill bins, which have become congested with resellers. What used to be a refuge for low-income families has become a watering hole for eyeliner-wearing teenagers waiting to pounce the instant new bins are rolled out.
This isn’t sustainable: this is the overconsumption of wearing a climate-conscious mask. Coupled with the frowned-upon nature of repeating outfits online, secondhand shopping has become a threat of its own. “Secondhand platforms
Dear Poet,
How do i find the motivation to complete my work for midterms?
-A Procrastinating Poet
Dear Poet,
A lot of us are feeling the end-of-the-semester slump. Some of us are having major, major senioritis, even those who are not even seniors. So many of these recent days have been filled with contemplating whether or not to skip class.
There is also so much work from said classes and, honestly, not enough time to do it, especially if you are taking a million classes like I am.
But have no fear! I have some techniques to help you get over this slump. Here are some good ways to stop procrastinating and get some of that work done because you need to try not to fall behind. The last thing we need is for you to fail a class because you’re turning your assignments in late.
So, if you are genuinely ready and willing to complete your work and catch up on everything, all you need to do is…
Sincerely,
A Poet (and, yes, a hypocritical one at that, I’ll admit)
such as Depop and Vinted, see users repeatedly buy something, wear it once, and sell it again, at minimal economic loss,” explains Jennifer Cartwright in a Varsity article. “If the item can’t be sold again, its next destination may be a charity shop. But charity shops often don’t have the capacity to accept every single donation, especially if the quality is low. If this is the case, at best the item will become lost in a wardrobe, at worst, it will end up back on the route to landfill.”
It is not a secret that we are at a critical intersection for the environment. According to Earth.org, if we continue down our current trajectory of consumption, the global textile industry will double its carbon footprint by 2030. We can cut down waste by majorly restricting new purchases, but this must be coupled with mindfulness when it comes to secondhand shopping. Thrift shopping as a social media trend will likely fade with time, but the impact of our actions lasts forever. Just like how I didn’t need 50 t-shirts in 2018, I don’t need two closets today, and you don’t need that dress with the Hello Kitty face.
Thrift shopping and second-hand fashion has become a threat of its own. Courtesy of hbr
Priscilla Corona STAFF WRITER
Courtesy of nypost
Many believe that with the current state of the world, having kids may not be the smartest choice.
Piper Guinn NEWS EDITOR
Timothy Mead: Baseball Extraordinaire
Olivia Nuñez SPORTS EDITOR
Unless the elevator in the Science and Learning Center (SLC) is functioning, there is a bit of a trek to Room 322C, where Whittier’s new Sports Management Professor Timothy Mead sits in his office, surrounded by Angels’ red and pictures of baseball legends. He greets a Monday morning visitor with a firm handshake and a ready smile.
Dressed in a pale blue button-down shirt and blazer, Mead settles into his chair. Eyebrows raised, smile wide, Mead readily displays the charm that propelled him to the heights of the Anaheim (now Los Angeles) Angels organization.
Originally from Athens, Greece, Mead attended school in Southern California where he grew up rooting for the Anaheim Angels. He graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 1980, with a bachelors of science degree in Communications. Throughout his four years he took part in various sports in management positions, “[...] when I was at Cal Poly Pomona and in the SD office and working with the baseball team, the women’s basketball team and the field hockey team.”
Though Mead was a “scrappy player” in high school, he knew that he was probably not going to make it professionally, “I loved it. I wanted it, and I was realistic enough to know that all those people around you were a little bit better, so [I had to] find another way to be around it.”
Mead initially began his career with the Angels in 1986 as an intern in the Public Relations Department shortly after graduating from Cal Poly. Just five years later, he was promoted to the director of media relations, and then to Assistant Vice President of Media Relations in 1991. Mead went on to spend four seasons as Assistant General Manag-
er (1994-97) under former GM Bill Bavasi, a position that allowed him to work closely with the players and garner lots of love from Halos fans.
Perhaps the most memorable of his accomplishments in Anaheim is his handling of the media during the Angels’ postseason appearances through the years of 2002 to 2014, most notable, their World Series win in 2002. He rests his elbows against the desk as he recalls that moment in his career, “When you get to watch a team come together and a group perform and win, I enjoy it because there’s really no business associated with it. It’s just the purity of the sport.”
The stars of this particular team were household Angel names like Garret Anderson, Darin Erstad, Troy Glaus, Tim Salmon, Adam Kennedy, David Eckstein, and rookie John Lackey which all consulted with Mead before addressing the public. While Mead was a cherished member of the Angel’s community and part of their past success, he surprised the Angels community when he decided to step down as the Vice President in charge of communications after 40 years in Anaheim.
It was a difficult decision but one he felt was right for him at the time. “I had the perfect job for me, I grew up an Angel’s fan, and when I started with them as an intern in 1988, I kind of had to pinch myself and then you just go on and the years go by very, very quickly. Forty sounds like a lot to you, but it’s a very short period of time when you’re in the midst of it,” Mead says, leaning forward with his hands on his desk and a rueful grin on his face.
Mead decided to leave the sunny streets of Orange County for the cloudy skies of Cooperstown, New York where he served as President of the Baseball Hall of Fame 2019. This is the “Mecca” of baseball, a
place where baseball lovers could learn about the games’ best players and the most memorable moments. Mead’s shoulders visibly relax as he sinks into his chair, remembering the satisfaction he experienced in his new position, “I have a little bit more time, a lot more time to kind of focus on a lot less certainly the business of sport, but the pleasure
Former major league baseball executive Fred Claire reached out to Mead in hope he would continue to give back, but this time in the classroom. Claire served in numerous roles for the Los Angeles Dodgers like General Manager from 1987 to 1998 and continues to be a pillar in Whittier College’s Athletics Department, tasked with
to and continuously repeats their name to emphasize that he is giving them his full attention. It is this sense of respect and consideration that has helped him settle into this new teaching position. “When you look at some of the great teachers that have messages that resonate again through the decades, they’re coaches. I said this early on in class:
“One of the greatest things you’ll take away from [...] being around sport[s] is the friendships, the relationships and the experiences.”
of sport. I love human interest stories. And you know, not having to worry about some of the things you have to worry about when you’re in the front office all of the time.”
Mead addressed the public once again in 2021, when he stepped down from the Baseball Hall of Fame. Though his experience at the Hall of Fame was short, Mead says it was just as sweet, “I would, never in my wildest imagination, [had] thought I was gonna be part of a major league organization for 40 years or that I would wind up in, you know, Cooperstown in the Hall of Fame for two years. So I looked at that as a blessing that you have a thanks to repay. Part of that is sharing things that you’ve experienced from a different perspective.”
Mead remains a pillar in the Southern California community as he is a member of the board of directors for the Ronald McDonald House in Orange. He also assists other charitable groups and programs such as Amigos de los Niños, the Sunburst Youth Academy, and the Gang Reduction Intervention Program (GRIP) in Orange County. Before teaching a course at Whittier College, Mead served on the advisory committee for the sports management program at Long Beach State and the Dean’s advisory board for the College of Communications at Cal State Fullerton.
introducing a sports management major on campus. “He asked me if I’d be interested in [...] teaching a course. And if Fred Claire asked you to do something, you kind of stand up very proudly because he thought to direct that question your way,” Mead says, voice booming and arms outstretched.
Mead had little teaching experience, but he did have a clear approach to the kind of course he wanted to instruct, “My wife taught for 28 years or so in elementary school but really it being a non-elective course, my goal was to try to introduce the folks in that class to the sports community a little bit.”
While his expertise is baseball, Mead chooses to highlight other opportunities within sports’ departments, such as the front office and other administrative positions he worked in for 40 years. Mead is also aware of the fact that most of his students will not go on to become baseball managers.
For that reason, he simply chooses to highlight the power of sports in every day life, “It’s just simply participation in sports is important, what it does to kids keeping them off the streets, teaching discipline, passion, failure, success, reliance on other people. There are so many benefits to sports.”
Mead is a gifted orator, his eyes lock into whomever he is talking
you get to do things as a coachslash-teacher with athletes and, you know, professors or high school teachers or elementary school teachers can’t do [that].”
Whittier’s extensive athletic community has allowed Mead to personalize lesson plans and highlight certain guest speakers, like Jim Abott, a legendary pitcher, as well as address sports’ influence on life itself, “One of the greatest things you’ll take away from you or being around sport is the friendships, the relationships and the experiences. You’ll have a chance to win or lose or do different things over the course of your career, but those relationships and experience the highs and lows together, uh, it just will help you in so many areas for the rest of your life.”
Mead now allows himself to reflect on his successful career and spend more time with his family which was ultimately his primary motivation for settling down in Southern California again. Along with his wife, his son and his dogs, he works on elevating his new position as an instructor.
“I’m just approaching it hopefully in a way that they can take a few things out of this course, not just about sports, but about people and decision making and thoughts and and things that you need certain skill sets that will help you the rest of your life.”
Timothy Mead bounces from baseball to education.
Photo Courtesy of The Orange COunTy regisTer
Photo Courtesy of Amalia Jiva
Poet’s Sports Schedule:
Softball vs Williams College
@ Whittier, Calif.
• 12:30 & 2:30 p.m.
• March 28
Baseball at Pomona-Pitzer
@ Claremont, Calif.
• 3 p.m.
• March 28
Men’s Tennis at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges @ Claremont, Calif.
• 4 p.m.
• March 28
Men’s and Women’s Track & Field at SCIAC Quad Cup Final
@ TBA
• All Day
• March 29
Baseball vs Pomona-Pitzer
@ Whittier, Calif.
• 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.
• March 29
Softball vs St. Olaf College @ Whittier, Calif.
• 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
• March 30
Women’s Water Polo at California Institute of Technology
@ Pasadena, Calif.
• 7 p.m.
• April 2
Women’s Water Polo vs University of California, Merced @ Whittier, Calif.
• 3 p.m.
• April 4 Baseball vs Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges
@ Whittier, Calif.
• 3 p.m.
• April 4
Softball at University of Redlands @ Redlands, Calif.
• 3 p.m.
• April 4
Men’s Tennis vs California institute of Technology @ Whittier, Calif.
• 3 p.m.
• April 4
Men’s Tennis at California Lutheran University @ Thousand Oaks, Calif.
• 10 a.m.
• April 5
Women’s Water Polo vs University of La Verne
@ Whittier, Calif.
• 11 a.m.
• April 5
Baseball at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges @ La Verne, Calif.
• 11 a.m.
• April 5
Women’s Lacrosse vs California Lutheran University
@ Whittier, Calif.
• 11 a.m.
• April 5
SPORTS Attendance Imbalances For Women
Olivia Nuñez SPORTS EDITOR
When Title IX was enacted in 1972, women were given the opportunity to partake in collegiate sports and have a space in what was previously a male-dominated field. Little girls were able to look forward to participating in sports while simultaneously receiving a higher education, creating a new environment on campuses nationwide. Title IX promoted equality and prohibited sexual discrimination, yet a pattern of disparity continues to permeate surrounding attendance and viewership of women’s sports in comparison to men’s sports.
This issue translates to the professional world with the development of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and its recent viewership success that still fails to surmount that of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The NBA racks in about $10.58 billion in revenue, while the WNBA just scratches the $200 million surface. The average salary for a men’s basketball player is just shy of $12 million, whereas the highest paid woman earns $252,450, a shocking discrepancy that continues to be a source of debate in professional sports. Furthermore, the average attendance for an NBA game is 18,324 patrons while WNBA games can expect around 9,195 on a regular night.
In a similar manner, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has mirrored this discrepancy in revenue and viewerships with men’s basketball making about $1.2 billion and averaging 4,455 guests for a regular season game and around 20,059 people attending during the playoffs. Women’s basketball, on the other hand, makes
$2.3 million in revenue and averages 1,358 for regular season games and 7,183 for playoff matches.
Women’s basketball has seen a shift in numbers at the highest level, and this was especially apparent in the 2024 NCAA Championships.
According to the NCAA website, “For the first time, the women’s title game drew more viewers than the men’s, averaging 18.7 million viewers on ABC and ESPN and peaking at 24 million viewers. This made the game played between No. 1 seeds Iowa and South Carolina the mostwatched women’s college basketball game on record, as well as the most watched basketball game, men’s or women’s, since 2019.”
Iowa’s phenom, Caitlin Clark, who now plays professionally in the WNBA, was a large catalyst for this growth in viewership, but nonetheless, the league subsequently reaped the benefits. While there have been wins in the Division I field, that pattern has failed to trickle down to the Division III level, and Whittier is no exception to the rule.
Women’s Basketball player and fourth-year Lorita Salloom took notice of this growing issue in her final year, “I noticed a disparity since the beginning of the season, honestly. Since our first game it’s really never been as full as the men’s games.”
The Men’s Basketball team had a
strong season and managed to make the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) tournament, although they did not make it past the semifinal game. However, the Women’s Basketball team took the SCIAC by storm during the 2024-25 season, putting together arguably the most successful season in program history. With newly appointed Head Coach Kristen Dowling at the helm, the women won the conference title, made a deep playoff run and racked SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the Year accolades for fourth-year Rhe Nae Leach and Coaching Staff of the Year. Despite this historic run, the women felt the pang of low attendance late in the season, “Honestly, it was a little discouraging to see that there still weren’t as many people coming, but I don’t want that to deter from the fact that we still did amazing, regardless. Hopefully it just influences more people to come in the future.” Most often, success is a driving force for participation, and attendance is often dependent on how often a team wins. “I think there’s still a disparity because it’s very common to think women are not as good as men at any sport really. I think people place women’s sports in a lower category but, at this point, that really couldn’t be farther from the truth. Women’s sports are
exploding and it’s really awesome to see. Specifically to Whittier, I think there just needs to be a way to get more people to come to games.”
Momentum is an essential catalyst during a game, especially in the playoffs where the crowd’s cheers can get into the visiting team’s head and uplift the home team. Salloom denotes this as a crucial aspect of the game, “I think attendance is definitely important! People who come to games to specifically support you are a big drive in our momentum and energy. We love a good crowd who loves us.” The Poet Pit often erupts in a “Dub C” cheer that usually instills fear in any opposing team, the echo of pride creating a more exciting atmosphere for the women to play in.
In the days leading up to the Women’s playoff run, President Dillon put out a special notice for faculty and staff to attend a pre-game celebration in order to promote their conference title. While this was a good start, Salloom offers another way for the women to receive recognition, “I think social media influence could definitely help, or just having a more active and lively campus with clubs and the staff being more involved in getting people to come. Like maybe giving weekly reminders like ‘go to the Women’s Basketball game this week’ or something like that.”
In light of Women’s History Month, this issue’s stagnant presence across the country brings to light another way women’s collegiate sports can continue to grow. Salloom concludes with a request for people to simply show up, “I want people to notice that we did amazing this year and it’s something totally worth showing up to! We love the support and the energy an audience brings and we definitely need all the momentum we can get!”
Water Polo Treads Through New Season
Atticus Chaidez STAFF WRITER
Starting the season on the road at a tournament at California Baptist University in Riverside, California, the Women’s Water Polo team has had a rough bout. The tournament itself had the team in purple losing in blowout fashion to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I schools of Fresno Pacific University and San Jose State University—with the final scores of both games being 7-22 and 6-23 respectively.
Following the tournament, it was time for the Poets’ home opener against Austin College. Second-year Kayla Arias and Thirdyear Paula Fernandez stand out as notable performers with each player netting a hat trick in the game. In a hard fought game, the Poets were unable to bring home the win as Austin College held them to a single goal in the fourth quarter. The final score of the home-opener ultimately landed in Austin College’s favor with a score of 11-12.
Since the heartbreaking loss to Austin College, the Poets have
been winless, with games ending in near blowout fashion. Things would soon turn in favor of the Poets during their game at the University of Redlands.
On March 8, the Women’s Water Polo team entered the Thompson Aquatic Center with a chip on their shoulder. They began the game strong, posting five goals in the first quarter and ended up entering the third quarter with a 9-4 lead. The Poets took that lead and ran away with it. In the second half
of the game, they posted five more goals to secure the win. Arias posted a dominant performance, burying five goals during the game and helped lead them to their first win of the 2025 campaign. With a final score of 14-10, the Women’s Water Polo team earned their first win of the season.
Arias, who transferred to Whittier from Fullerton College, has cemented herself as one of the Poets’ offensive weapons and was named SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the
Week for her huge performances against Grove City College and the University of Redlands. Throughout that time, Arias netted 10 goals in total, five in each game to lead her team in both wins, the first two wins of the season for the Purple and Gold. Her performance was one of dominance and consistency, showing the team might have a bright future ahead.
Since the game at the University of Redlands, the Poets have again gone winless. However, that’s not to say they’ve been playing bad. The next three games following Redlands had the Poets losing to Virginia Military Institute by just three goals. The game following at Occidental had the team lose by a single goal. Then, a two-goal loss to La Verne following that game. Sometimes hard fought battles aren’t rewarded.
After an 18-4 blowout loss to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, the Poets currently sit at seventh in the SCIAC standings with a record of 1-5 while their overall record is 1-16. With seven games left in their season, the Poets have a chance to turn their heartbreaking losses into nail-biting wins.
Courtesy of TONY/ACTIONWESTPHOTOGRAPHY
During Women’s History Month, basketball attendance shows disparity.
Courtesy of TONY/ACTIONWESTPHOTOGRAPHY
The Poets continue to
Plaskett Powers The Poets’ Baseball Squad
Olivia Nuñez SPORTS EDITOR
Joe Plaskett straps his purple and gold batting gloves tightly around his wrists before stepping into the batter’s box, his bright red bat hoisted above his head like a weapon of mass destruction. His ivory white sliding mitt sits menacingly in his back pocket, its wear and tear apparent from just how much Plaskett gets on base.
The third-year baseball player from Fremont, California has been at the forefront of the action for the Poets this season. He often finds himself either scoring runs or hitting them in. While he is an everyday starter in the outfield, the batters box is where he excels. The Poets have struggled with consistency over the first half of their season, but Plaskett has not wavered in his approach and has been Coach Rizzo’s cleanup hitter for the better part of the season. He identifies his role in light of the team’s standing, “I feel that even with the strong competition on the way, we can turn this season around and take a fifth spot in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings to make the playoffs. My role just like every other player in this team is to continue to pass the bat to the next guy so we can score runs as well as playing good defense to ensure the score against us is minimal.”
He burst onto the statistics leaderboard this season with his aggression at the plate and extra-base hit strength. He has left the yard not only showcasing a pull-heavy drive, but opposite field power that makes him a hard person to pitch to. Plaskett shares a new mentality that has allowed him to hunt the pitch that will get him the best outcome, “[...] instead of reacting to any pitch coming my way, I waited for the fastball and took the off speed pitch until a two-strike count. I was trying to make things
at the plate as simple as possible, especially since this is such a complicated game.”
Plaskett faded into the background in his first two years as a Poet with names like Lew Rice and Teige Barrett usually taking center stage. While he put up decent numbers, he was not the widely-feared player he is now. This is something he worked to overcome during the off-season, “The main things I have changed with my swing which allowed me to hit the ball harder and more consistently
was to focus on moving my head as little as possible. Every swing I took I kept my head on the point of contact for a second after each of my swings. Also when I hit, I imagine myself reading a book in order to keep a still head and straight.”
Plaskett’s name pops up on various of the SCIAC leaderboards as one of the most productive members of any team. He currently sits fourth in hits with 30, sixth in home runs with seven, sixth in ops with 1.221, and eighth in runs batted in with 27. Among the Poets,
he leads in most categories with a wide margin separating him from his teammates, but putting the team first is how he identifies success, “I had a few goals statistically at the beginning of the season but my main goal I’ve been striving for is to give my team the best possibility of winning. Going into the second half of the season and being 6-14, I’ve been reflecting on ways in which it could have worked better and even though there’ve been a few successes, there is still more which can be done.”
In February, Plaskett was named to the D3baseball Team of the Week, highlighting his merits for the weekend of the 21st, “[...] 11 hits (20 AB) in five games for a .550 batting average. He hit two doubles and four home runs (1.250 slugging percentage) as he drove in seven runs. He scored five runs.”
Plaskett continues to cement himself as a key to their success, “The main factor which allows me to have success at the plate is having confidence even through struggles. Remembering all of the work I put in, especially if I have been getting unlucky or have not gotten a hit in a while, is a huge key to keeping a strong mental game. Baseball is a game of failure, and when I came to realize that and stopped being so hard on myself for every single failure I had, it allowed me to elevate my game to the next level.”
Dual-Sport Athletes Have Double The Fun
Olivia Nuñez SPORTS EDITOR
Being a student-athlete in college is a feat only some can boast as it requires time-management skills, and an ability to balance a schedule that leaves little to no time for rest. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, only six percent of high school athletes go on to compete at the collegiate level, with only about two percent of those athletes receiving athletic scholarships. Those who participate in sports at Whittier College do it without motivation, as Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships. Self-motivation and pure passion are the driving force behind these athletes and there are few who even participate in two sports on campus.
Dual-sport athletes at the collegiate level are a rarity due to the demanding nature of simply participating in one sport. However, the Division III level of competition allows many on campus to be part of a completely different team during the same school year.
Second-year Marton Thuroczy’s primary sport is Water Polo, but he took the opportunity to participate in Swim and Dive during his off season. These two sports are similar in terrain and training, which made joining Swim an easy decision for him, “The two sports kind of go hand in hand. Every water polo player started out with swimming, that’s what gives you the foundation to be great later on. I started swimming when I was around five to six years old, and then I transitioned
into water polo when I was 10 years old. I really was just looking to build up my conditioning for the next polo season, and to have fun. The fact that I broke a school record is just the icing on top.” Thuroczy refers to the 800M relay he was a part of during the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) tournament, where he and three other teammates set a new bar for future Poets. He alludes to the fact that Whittier is a DIII school as he reflects on how he was able to juggle both sports, “If Whittier would be competing at the DI level, it wouldn’t have been possible. DI swimming is way too fast for me and I wouldn’t even stand a chance. Competing in DIII gave me the chance to join the swim team and actually see some success.”
Julianna Hodgson is a potent
member of the Women’s Soccer team, garnering SCIAC First-Team All Conference accolades. She is currently in her final year as a Poet, though she decided to try Lacrosse during her second-year at the College, “Some of my other soccer teammates were playing so I thought I’d give it a try because it was very similar to soccer. I also thought it would be good to keep me in shape for the offseason of soccer.” Despite being unfamiliar with the sport, Hodgson gave herself grace as she navigated a completely different set of skills, though it was easier for her to accept errors as a beginner, “I also placed a lot of pressure on myself while playing soccer since I’ve been playing all my life, so lacrosse would be something where I wouldn’t be as concerned about my performance.” Hodgson denotes an-
other motivating factor for partaking in another sport, “I also wanted the opportunity to meet new people.”
The coaches and staff also provide lots of flexibility with dual-sport athletes as they realize it is a hard task to be locked in for two seasons. Together with teammates, Hodgson denotes communication and time-management as keys to success, “A lot of my teammates have the same classes as me, so we’re able to study together on the way to games which is very helpful. The coaches are all very supportive of me playing both sports which makes it easier and manageable. While I’m in the lacrosse season, I’m also able to go to Spring training for soccer if I’d like.”
Third-year Mya Rodriguez did not join her teammates on the lacrosse pitch, but rather in the pool. Rodriguez is participating in her
first season on the Water Polo team where she will be a goalkeeper, the same position she plays for soccer. Due to a smaller roster this season, Coach Preslav Djippov reached out to Rodriguez via social media. “I played in high school, which was about three years ago. They saw I played Water Polo on my Instagram and asked if I could jump in for fun and to help them out.” While she has overcome the adversity of re-learning the sport, Rodriguez is not as eager to participate in water polo again, “I would not [participate] again because water polo is one of the hardest sports in the world and it takes a lot of mental work and physical work.” The experience was an eye-opening one for Rodriguez and did allow her to appreciate the work other athletes are doing as well, “Water polo players don’t get enough credit. My teammates don’t get enough credit; they are ballers for choosing this as their main sport. I didn’t realize how hard they work. It’s a completely different grind from soccer, for sure.”
Fellow soccer player and thirdyear Camille Verlich is also playing Women’s Llacrosse and echoes the sentiment, “I love playing Lacrosse and have made many friends and countless memories that I will cherish forever.” The College’s tight-knit athletic community has created an environment for many athletes to get to know each other, creating a camaraderie that allows the sports to integrate. Being a dual-sport athlete has allowed these individuals to experience all the College has to offer.
Third-year Joe Plaskett leads the baseball team in almost all offensive categories.
Courtesy of TONY/ACTIONWESTPHOTOGRAPHY
Fourth-year Juliana Hodgson is one of Whittier’s dual-sport athletes. Courtesy
The QC Staff
Suggests:
Lexis Brattain ASST. SOCIAL MEDIA
Want to know what our Asst. Socia Media recommends this week? Read on!
Food:
I would say I am more on the basic side when it comes to my favorite foods (as I am notorious for being picky), but my go to has always been acai bowls. Specifically from this place in my hometown, Blue Bowl They have everything you can think of to put on top and it always reminds me of summer and being outside. I typically reach for granola, strawberries, and cacao nibs on mine!
I have always been a girl for reality tv or drama shows and recently I have been watching The White Lotus. This show is basically a murder drama based on multiple The White Lotus resorts around the world. It’s the perfect mix between drama, out of touch people, and mystery haha!
Music:
My favorite music genre has always been indie. I recently have gotten more into the artist Bon Iver. He has the perfect sound that can be for any mood and just reminds me of summer and fall!
Hobby:
As much as I love lounging around, I don’t do very well sitting still. So my favorite hobby I would say is definitely anything outdoors or health related! You can find me either at the gym, on a walk, hiking, paddleboarding on the Newport back bay, or at my family’s river house!
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Chappell Roan Is Giving Country
Allara Baker STAFF WRITER
Country music as a genre has always been a very divisive subject in terms of preferred kinds of music, or the ultimate testament of whether someone claims to listen to every genre really. While the overall aesthetics and sentiments expressed in what many would consider modern country songs very much highlight the caricature of the Southern, family-oriented, dominant white male, the origins of country itself are far more rooted in African-American jazz and the Southern blues.
This begs the question, what messages have evolved from these origins? Well, when we look at its array of topics from passionate songs of love and heartbreak to the importance of family, the sentiment represents American values.
Occasionally, there is a beer or a pickup truck lyric squeezed in there.
Evolving from Dolly Parton to Carrie Underwood, feminist anthems became a key topic within the genre and it created an equal playing field in regards to romance where you could have both an anthem of revenge and an anthem about sex.
This brings us to Chappell Roan’s latest single, "The Giver", pop-country song about how women can please other women just as much as men. And the song also promotes this message of taking on a "man's task", Roan depicts herself in various jobs that are usually male-dominated.
Roan rejects the masculine stereotypes and modernities that are associated with country boys and their abilities to satisfy, claiming that she doesn’t need a pickup
truck, the image associated with the facade of material wealth and toxic masculinity in order to impress a woman.
While Roan is not shy to expressing her sexuality, as it’s a major part of her discography, she combines both her background of growing up in Missouri, and her identity as a lesbian drag queen. This creates a slightly satirical, but overall clever take on country’s anthems of sex and romance and give it a sapphic twist.
It’s debatable what kind of elements of country attract people to listen to it, but "The Giver" brings a different take to the table. However, it is not certain whether others can accept a country song about queerness and women's empowerment in terms of sex. Being “The Giver” and “A Taker” in the context of a "sapphic" relationship is a key part of the song.
While the song itself is a de-
parture from her usual bedroom pop songs and queer anthem ballads, it still has the same exact roots that show Roan's acceptance and relationship with her identity and background. Her upbringing is something that many queer youth had experienced in the Midwest, and she’s been vocal about wanting to create a space for that audience specifically. She’s expressed it as something she’s wanted to tackle for a while. “I love myself so much that I took a leap into a pretty painful part of my past in the Midwest and made a song of joy,” she says in an interview with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly Podcast. Heavily inspired by Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, and “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy” by Big and Rich, Roan set out to heal a part of herself by making a country song.
“I think I have a special relationship to where I’m from because of country music, and [I] honor that part
of myself by making a country song […] I’m gay and yes, I am ultra pop, yes, I am a drag queen who can also perform a country song.” Roan said in an interview for Apple Music.
While Roan’s tongue-in-cheek double entendres mixed with the banjo and the fiddle that has defined so much of country’s sound are an interesting combo, the appeal of the song itself mostly lies in its carefree vibes and the message of self-expression and joy that has always been a staple of both her music and overall aesthetics. “It makes me feel a certain type of freedom that pop music doesn’t let me feel. I think it’s interesting and I had to do it."
"I had to do it for myself to know what it is actually like to write a country song and perform it next to ‘Casual’ or next to ‘My Kink is Karma’ or next to ‘Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl’. I just had to do myself justice,” Roan says in the same interview.
Producing Leaves A Mark On Music
Elias Loya COPY EDITOR
When a painter, sculptor, or any other type of artist completes their work, they usually leave their mark on that piece. This serves as a calling card, so that anyone who lays their eyes on that work knows exactly who created it. In the same way, music producers have calling cards, also known as producer tags. Some of the most famous examples of these tags include “If young Metro don’t trust you, I’m gon’ shoot you” (Metro Boomin), “Yo Pi‘erre, you wanna come out here?” (Pi’erre Bourne), and Pharrell’s four-count lead into a song. Despite some tags being among the most recognizable parts of those songs, some people tend to think they can be disruptive, out of place, or just downright annoying. I, however, think the producer deserves just as much credit as the music they tag.
But how can a calling card be just as important as the song itself?
For starters, producers use tags to claim their work; handling beats, composition, mixing and mastering, can be very time consuming and difficult, so producers use their tags to signify that it is theirs.
To add onto this, it helps prevent others from stealing those beats, with the tag acting like a wa-
termark. By creating and utilizing a producer tag, producers not only define what their work sounds like, but it also establishes a sort of standard for the listener to expect. Producer tags establish identity, and the more they are used, the more the listeners begin to associate particular sounds with that producer, creating a sense of consistency.
Last but not least, producer tags can actually add to the song itself. For instance, songs like “Magnolia” by Playboi Carti, “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1” by Kanye West, and “Drop It Like It’s
Hot” by Snoop Dogg all feature tags that are so well timed and integrated that many people can associate those tags with said songs, or vice versa.
Producers spend too much time working on their tags rather than actually being good producers. Or at least that’s what some people tend to think. It’s understandable to find them annoying, disruptive or unfit for the song. You could even argue that they make the song feel more generic or unnecessary due to an already established reputation. Overall though,
the most important apect about producer tags is that they act as a cultural signifier. You know what to expect, people can’t steal it, and producers continue to up their reputation and sonic prowess.
Producer tags have become an integral part of music culture, helping shape the sounds and identities of some of the biggest names in the industry.
As music continues to evolve, so do the ways producers leave their mark, ensuring their work is heard, remembered, and respected—as it should be!
Courtesy of HBO
T.V Show:
Courtesy of Blue Bowl
Chappell Roan pays homage to her roots in new single.
Photo Courtesy of Ryan Lee Clemens
What is your favorite producer mark?
Photo Courtesy of CandidCareer
Courtesy of Getty Images
& ENTERTAINMENT
Disney's Pleakley Remodel Is A Drag To Fans
Priscilla Corona STAFF WRITER
Over the past decade Disney has worked to produce more live action movies with recent major hits such as Mufasa: the Lion King (2024) and past hits like Maleficient (2014) and Aladdin (2019). And now we have more pruductions to look forward to such as the new Lilo and Stitch (2025) film.
Initially announced back in February of 2018, the release date was set for August of last year, with a teaser trailer portraying and unveiling the live action CGI Stitch.
The first trailer has since been released, depicting the films iconic characters, including Lilo, Nani, David, Jumba, and Pleakley, who was portrayed to not have his iconic flamboyant personality.
In the original 2002 film, the character of Pleakley was one that hadn’t been seen much in children's cartoons, with the exception of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck in Looney Tunes. While Pleakley was depicted as male, he was known for his recurring expression through feminine interpretations such as cross-dressing and playing into the role of the characteristic and stereo-
typical damsel in distress.
His persona was well carried by Disney through all four cartoon films and cartoon series. However, since the release of the new trailer,which debuted March 12, there was one scene in particular that fans took notice of.
The scene portrayed Jumba, Pleakley’s partner in crime, and
Pleakley in disguise as human forms depicted in male attire. What's wrong with this depiction is that it takes away from the fluid gender and creativity Pleakley was known for in the early 2000’s.
His free and flamboyant nature inspired many during that time period, so much so that fans have taken to social media platforms such
as TikTok to express their disdain in Disney’s decision to “de-twink-ify” Pleakley’s character.
Netizens, or frequent users of the internet, have even gone as far as to claim, “we lost a diva” as a method of boycotting of the movie.
The Lilo and Stitch movie is still set to release on May 23rd of this year. While I don’t believe that it
was Disney’s attempt to erase the free wilded spirit of Pleakley, I do hope , despite the uproar from fans, that they are able to somehow incorporate the Pleakley we know and love.
And of course everyone, is entitled to their own opinion and we encourage readers to watch and enjoy the film for themselves. Paid advertisment
Disney fans are outraged by unpromising new look of Pleakley.
Photo Courtesy of disney
America Is Not United For Animation
Emma Galvan CAMPUS LIFE
Recently, fans of the Wallace and Gromit film franchise were given wonderful news as the City of Preston, Lancashire honored creator Nick Park with a bronze statue of the iconic character, Feathers McGraw. The statue was celebrated alongside an opening for a new cinema and leisure complex, as well as honoring Park and his legacy with the franchise as Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024) was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards. This is not the first time that Park was honored for his characters, as a Wallace and Gromit bench and statue was also built in Preston in 2021 in honor of his Oscar-winning film, The Wrong Trousers (1993).
Animation is a form of art, but it has also faced mockery from critics for appearing “child-like.” However, animation is fluid, with numerous examples of animated TV and film that act as a realm of escapism, but can also highlight mature themes such as death, war, and mental health. So, for Wallace and Gromit, a predominantly clay animation franchise, to earn numerous statues throughout England, it serves as another step forward to the long road ahead for animation appreciation. Newbury, England is also the home of the Paddington Bear Statue, having been built last October to showcase the animated film version of the iconic book character. The statue is one of 23 that were spread throughout Newbury in honor of creator Michael Bond and the recent installment of the film franchise Paddington in Peru
(2024). Back in March, the bench was damaged and stolen by two men, resulting in the public being upset at the thieves for destroying “a lovely addition to Newbury." Ultimately, the two were arrested and the police are ensuring that the statue will return to its original quality.
England is clearly dedicated to honoring animation and its creators, but it is nothing compared to Latvia’s love for the animated film Flow (2024). Having been released last year, Flow quickly gained the hearts of Latvian viewers as it became the most viewed film of all time for the country. Compared to the typical U.S. blockbusters that dominate the box office, Flow is an independent film made with a free-to-download art program, Blender, and is known for its lack of dialogue for the animal characters. The movie was an instant hit among many animation fanatics and the film soon claimed two Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best International Feature Film, with the movie winning Best Animated. In response to their first ever Oscar win, Latvia held a ceremony for director Gints Zilbalodis upon his return, and installed a temporary statue to the film’s iconic cat character. Currently, the Rīga sign at the foot of the Freedom Monument—a memorial for those who were lost during Latvia’s struggle for independence—now has a 3-D sculpture of the cat and will stay there until April 1, when it will be moved to the Town Hall Square.
But what happens when animation from a specific country impacts another? That’s where the famous anime Dragon Ball Z comes into focus. Dragon Ball Z is a well-be-
loved Japanese manga and animated series created by the late Akira Toriyama, and premiered in 1986, spreading popularity worldwide. However, it’s never been as popular as it has been in Latin America, where the iconic protagonist Goku is seen as a symbol of hope. According to ScreenRant, the lead character is seen as a person of strength and courage while still maintaining family values, all of which are integral parts of Latin American culture and traditions. Alongside the appreciation for family relationships, Latin American countries also found relatability in the story and character arcs, including Goku rebelling against an oppressive government in the Red Ribbon Army arc.
After Toriyama's passing last March, many fans were devastated because of the love they had for the creator and his craft, including Latin America. The devastation eventually caused a rumor to spread due to YouTuber Justin Whang joking how “The Mexican Cartel have agreed to a temporary ceasefire in honor of Akira Toriyama.” Although it was never proven true, the impact Dragon Ball Z brought to Latin American countries is still felt and appreciated to this day.
When compared to their international neighbors, the U.S. treats the craft of animation like filth.
(Yes, we have statues of iconic cartoon characters like the Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse statues in Disneyland, but that’s truly one of the few examples we can find). While other countries dedicate statues to wellknown animated series and characters, the U.S. has had a lackluster record of commemorating anything to animation. One instance of this
American animation is not as succeseful as foreign animations.
is when a meet-and-greet event for beloved Australian animated series Bluey was held in Las vegas. According to Fox5Vegas, the event was promised to be an opportunity for young fans to meet Bluey and Bingo alongside face painting and desserts. However, over 3,000 people were instead greeted with amateur costumes and a lackluster experience than they were promised.
You would think that taking the advantage of a popularized show would be the right move to make, but that’s never the case with the U.S., because they simply don’t care. There have been multiple instances where animation is labeled as being just for children, including the 94th Academy Awards.
While presenting the award for Best Animated Feature, the presenters boasted about the nominated animated films being a distraction for children and something for only families to enjoy. It’s not just filmography where anima-
QUAKER CARTOONS
tion is underestimated. Even nostalgic cartoons from our childhood like Looney Tunes, Courage the Cowardly Dog or The Powerpuff Girls will never be as appreciated or remembered in the U.S. because they’re believed to be a thing of the past. That’s why we’ll never see a statue of Bugs Bunny, despite the character’s well-known name in popular culture, because “he’s only intended to be enjoyed by children.” Animation can change a person’s life for the better, where we still can remember characters who make us smile and laugh even into our adult years. And with new cartoons such as Bluey hitting well with popular culture, it’ll only be time before they are solidified into the group of classic and memorable cartoons.
But, when we witness other parts of the world building statues of characters we love dearly, it begs the question: why can't we do the same? When are we going to give these animated characters their dues?
Photo Courtesy of CBr