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ISSUE 8
VOLUME 70
BY MEGAN MADRIGAL ASST. NEWS EDITOR
To celebrate Black History Month at California Baptist University, Community Life and the Black Student Union (BSU) collaborated to host a variety of events, including a new gala held on the evening of Feb. 8 in the Community
FEBRUARY 17, 2023
Life Lounge. Students were encouraged to attend wearing semi-formal attire while enjoying food, music, raffles and the company of others. The successful organization of the gala stemmed from the attendees’ interaction with cultural food, music and more. It represents more than just a community, but a convergence
of generations of people. “Events such as the Black History Month Gala provide an opportunity to showcase African American culture, through spoken word, music, food and fellowship,” said Charles Lee-Johnson, associate dean of the Division of Social Work.
SEE BHM GALA | PAGE 4
Emily McGinn | Banner Photos by Josselyn Guillen and Hannah Okamoto | Banner
Perspectives shift as COVID numbers fall, mandates end BY CONNOR RYAN NEWS EDITOR
Photos by Josselyn Guillen | Banner
Students enjoy the carnival festivities on the first night of Homecoming weekend. The carnival on Feb. 10 featured rides, a mirror maze, food trucks and games, followed by a basketball game and alumni gatherings on Feb. 11.
Homecoming weekend brings Lancers together Perspectives, pg. 8
As the world moves through 2023, “COVID-19” has become a phrase uttered far less often by the public, even though it was considered a universal threat not even a year ago. Testing sites across the country have either decreased their hours or shut down. Masks are no longer required in most public and private establishments, and the occasional cough heard across the room no longer instills fear in people’s hearts. The pandemic is over. Kind of. “In my opinion, COVID-19 has simply become part of our everyday experience, much like illnesses like the cold or flu,” said Dr. Chase Porter, professor of political science. “Due to a combination of widespread vaccination and infection, the virus is not nearly as deadly as it was at the beginning of the pandemic. It’s now very common to get COVID and to get it multiple times.” The main reason COVID has become less of a talking point
is that people are not as affected in their daily lives as much. People have not only developed stronger immunity to the virus due to constant exposure, but vaccine technology has become more sophisticated. Long gone are the days when people were concerned about getting blood clots after taking the vaccine. Now, scientists look toward protecting against new strains and creating better ways to administer shots. “The latest approved vaccine on the market in the U.S. is the mRNA-based bivalent booster, which targets both the original strand of COVID and the omicron variant,” Porter said. “One goal for vaccines includes wider development of a vaccine that can be delivered intranasally rather than through an injection. According to NBC News, there are 117 of these in development, with five approved in different countries and 20 more in clinical trials.” Audrey Smith, junior creative writing major, argues that in addition to improvements in the medical field, the media has
played a massive part in how the public perceives the virus. Both sides of the political spectrum have used television and social media to voice their opinions. “I definitely think [COVID] has been used to try painting a picture of the other [political party],” Smith said. “Republicans will complain that Democratic efforts to give government support are ineffective, and Democrats will complain that Republicans aren’t doing enough to address the issue.” “Not only have these parties pointed out each other’s flaws, but they also have switched their opinions on multiple occasions,” said Andrew Winslow, junior creative writing major. “The Trump administration came up with the vaccine, and of course that made it evil for the Democrats, but as soon as Biden gets into office and starts endorsing it, they flip sides,” Winslow said. “All of a sudden, Democrats are all for it and Republicans are all against it.”
SEE COVID-19 | PAGE 2
PODCAST BOOM DYING
TICKETMASTER
After serving as a popular form of entertainment during the pandemic, the podcast boom wanes.
Ticket issues through Ticketmaster raise questions about monopolies in the industry.
Pinterest still serves as a helpful tool for inspiring creativity and building boards.
News, pg. 2
B&T, pg. 11
A&E, pg. 12