QUAKER CAMPUS february 22, 2024
Volume 22— Issue 10
The voice of Whittier College since 1914
Uptown Trees' Fate Decided Whittier Faced
With Flooding
Meylina Tran A & E EDITOR
Whittier plans to remove the ficus trees on Greenleaf Ave. Priscilla Corona STAFF WRITER Roughly 10 weeks ago, on Dec. 12, 2023, a decision was made by the Whittier City Council to put the Greenleaf Promenade Plan into action, a plan that has been in the works for years, which includes the cutting of mature ficus trees along Greenleaf Ave. This plan is said to stretch over three blocks, from Hadley to Wardman St., removing a total of 113 trees. On Feb. 20, a recent town meeting on the matter began with City Manager Brian Saeki opening with a presentation including the plan and the details which included images that showed the Uptown district in 1883. It was not until the 1960s when the first ficus trees were planted. On Oct. 1, 1987, the Whittier Narrows Earthquake struck, causing the city to think about the reconstruction of Uptown Whittier. In 2006, the Uptown Whittier Specifics plan was processed and approved in 2008, which prompted the discussion plan for the ficus trees on Greenleaf and Philadelphia St. While going through each section of what the plan included, Saeki mentioned what trees would replace the ones standing and stated that, “What we found to be most interesting in this section is the requirement to replace a mature tree with a 15 gallon tree. That's in the specific plan, absurd in our opinion, I think
keith durflinger / whittier daily news
we would all agree that is absurd.” Later in his presentation, he noted that instead of 15 gallon trees, they will be using a 24-72 inch box replacement instead. While there were roughly 50 speakers who spoke up and gave their opinion on the matter, there were two notable sides to this discussion. Some argued that the plan was necessary and that it was what the public needed, while others shared the same anger as the last meeting, arguing that this was not necessary and urged the Council to rethink their decisions. In a previous meeting on Jan. 23, the city councilmen made it clear that they would not be answering questions or taking any comments related to the Whittier Promenade Plan. That did not stop residents from making public comments displaying their anger and frustration for all to see, stating that the problem was that the council voted to implement this plan in the middle of December while people were distracted by the holidays. However, “they underestimated how [much] Whittier people care about trees and they tried to sneak this plan through during Christmas season,” Zolnekoff states in an interview with reporters. Zolnekoff mentions that, “The mayor was rather flustered, they were surprised, they were shocked and all these people showed up to tell them that they were making a mistake.” A mistake
indeed as over 200 people showed up to that meeting. During the interview Zolnekoff warns that, “City Hall is going to try to spin things tonight to make them look good. Reality is, they have not done anything to make themselves look good physically with the ficus trees, other than give them a trim here and there for the last 20 years.” According to Zolnekoff, when the Promenade Plan was originally discussed, the estimated cost was around $2.9 million and is now it is estimated to cost $20 million. Zolnekoff stated that 20 years ago he proposed that every other tree, or every third tree get removed. However, he claims that the Council ignored his idea and thought it simpler to remove 113 trees in all. “We have had city councils for the last 20 years who have been spending enormous amounts of money planning on Greenleaf, but not actually physically making changes on Greenleaf…There has been a…lack of leadership in our City Council for 20 years…If they had implemented their own plan, and done something with the trees for the past 20 years on a mass scale, we wouldn't be in a crisis today. [It feels like,] they've just spent more money on planning and right now it looks like $800,000 has been spent just on planning.” For more information about the visiting Uptown Whittier as it undergoes the Beautification Plan visit cityofwhittier.org.
City Council held a meeting concerning the fate of the trees on Feb. 20. Let's Talk About Trouble Funk — 10 Articles: Features: A & E: Mey & Em's Big Picture Breakdown — 12
sarah licon / quaker campus
Beginning early morning of Sunday Feb. 4, Los Angeles County experienced an unprecedented amount of rainfall—dubbed by meteorologists as an “atmospheric river”—which resulted in the catastrophic flooding of many LA County areas, including Whittier. With a combined average wind speed of 30 to 50 mph, approximately 8.72 inches of rainfall, and multiple flash flood warnings and flood advisory notices issued across Southern California, California Governor Gavin Newsom was forced to issue a State of Emergency by midday Feb. 4. Newsom advised all California residents to avoid non-essential travel during the peak of the storm on Sunday and Monday, either by vehicle or on foot. Conversely, Whittier College issued neither a statement about the ongoing storm nor a warning about potential flooding until 10:47 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 5, when the Dean of Students office declared that their office would work remotely after it experienced flooding. At 5:06 p.m. on Monday, Whittier College addressed the community in regards to the flooding, stating, “Due to anticipated continued heavy rain in our region overnight and into Tuesday, February 6, Whittier College will pivot to remote classes tomorrow [...] The campus will remain open and operational, including dining services, library, and housing.” Although in-person classes resumed on Wednesday, Feb. 6, the rainfall that swept down into the basement of Hoover forced a majority of the classes originally located there to relocate elsewhere. Flooding in the basement of Hoover is not an uncommon occurrence due to the location of stairs leading directly down into the basement from the outside. The College has made attempts to combat the near-constant flooding of the Hoover basement by installing a blockade of sandbags around
the perimeter of the stairway entrance and right in front of the double doors. These preventive measures, however, have not proven to be effective. In the aftermath of the flooding, centrifugal fans were placed at the entrance of the basement and in the preceding hallway to encourage air circulation and dry the carpets. As of now, the blockade of sandbags that were installed around the perimeter of the stairway entrance have since been removed. Turner Residence Hall also experienced flooding in the laundry room due to a ceiling leak. Residential Life issued a warning to all Turner residents via email: “There is a ceiling leak near the laundry room. The floor is flooded; please do not go into the laundry unless you absolutely have to, the floor is very slippery.” A follow-up email regarding the resolution of the ceiling leak, however, was not issued. Paige Meyer-Draffen, Co-Manager of KPOET Radio, commented on the how the flooding that occurred in the lower campus courtyard affected the KPOET office,“It stank, and truly—shoutout to Facilities for getting on it, but it did linger for a few days because [...] KPOET has no ventilation. There’s no windows that open; there’s one door, so we had to keep the door cracked and use a box fan to air it out [...] That was pretty rough.” NBC News reported that California is expected to experience another stormy week as two atmospheric rivers hit Northern California on Friday, Feb. 16, and Southern California on Sunday, Feb. 18, respectively. Flood watches in Southern California will go into effect from Sunday evening until Wednesday. As of now, the College has not shared an action plan in the event of further flooding. The Quaker Campus reached out to the College’s Facilities team in regards to how they plan on combating future heavy rainfall, but—as of yet—have not received an answer.
sarah licon / quaker campus Flooding has prompted the College to take precautions.
Index:
News — 1, 2, 3 | Campus Life — 4, 5, 6 | Opinions — 7, 8 Sports — 9 | Features — 10 | A & E — 11, 12
NEWS
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Feb. 22, 2024
Where are the CI Negotiations?
Negotiations were expected to take place in October 2023. 28 days before management agreed Sage Amdahl MANAGING EDITOR to renegotiate workers’ contracts. However, now, 10 months later, As returning students may remem- those negotiations have yet to be ber, and new students may have completed. likely heard, the end of the 2022Why is that? 23 academic year was marked by According to Aidan Moore, a month-long strike among Bon co-leader of WSWA, UNITE Appétit workers, shutting down the HERE Local 11’s resources and College’s cafeteria and cafe. This oc- representatives have been spread curred when the workers at Whitti- thin by the ongoing strikes at dozer’s dining services — the Campus ens of hotels in the LA area. Local Inn (CI) and the Spot — reported 11 represents thousands of workers that they were repeatedly denied in the LA area, including workers at liveable wages and certain amend- 62 hotels that have gone on strike ments to their working conditions within the last few months — of by Bon Appétit management. those 62 hotels, 28 are currently on In an article published by Quak- strike or picketing, and 34 are in er Campus, Mayra Macias explains, negotiations. “A lot of us live check by check[…] Due to this massive movement, Every time I go to the grocery store…I’m scared I’m not going to have enough [money]!” Others stated that they needed to work two jobs, such as Joseph Naronhu, who claimed that this was necessary in order to “live better.” The strike was organized and led by the CI workers and the Whittier Student Workers Alliance (WSWA), assisted by UNITE HERE Local 11 — the union representing Bon Appétit workers. It lasted for a total of
emily henderson / quaker campus one of the shop stewards who previously represented the College Bon Appétit staff in contract negotiations, Mayra Macias, was offered a job assisting with Local 11’s hotel action. The other shop steward found employment elsewhere and has since left the College, resulting in the current stagnation in contract negotiations. Now that 34 hotels represented by Local 11 have reached the negotiating stage and ended their strikes — with success on the near horizon for the others — Macias is expected to return to Whittier College soon to continue assisting with the negotiation process for Whittier staff. Despite the halt in negotiations, Bon Appétit staff are not seeking to
“[Recently, relations between management and workers have been] calm and friendly." -WSWA Co-Chair Aidan Moore
FEATURES EDITOR Chelsea Bartilad
DEPUTY EDITOR Alissa Portillo
A&E EDITOR Meylina Tran
MANAGING EDITOR Sage Amdahl
PHOTOS EDITOR Julia Centeno
NEWS EDITOR Sarah Licon
HEAD COPY EDITOR Anna Gaber
OPINIONS EDITOR Jonathan Bermudez
SOCIAL MEDIA Meylina Tran
SPORTS EDITOR Lucy Campbell
ASST. SOCIAL MEDIA Chelsea Bartilad Ashley Seger
CAMPUS LIFE Alejandra Ortega
FACULTY ADVISOR Joe Donnelly
sarah licon / quaker campus The negotiations were halted by the hotel strike.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
QUAKER CAMPUS STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emily Henderson
go on strike again. Moore states that gan, the end appears to be near. the current contract negotiation is- For a recap of the 2023 strike, visit sues between Bon Appétit staff at medium.com/thequakercampus. Whittier College and management are largely the result of “small issues here and there” and that relations between management and workers have been “calm and friendly.” 10 months after the negotiations be-
STAFF WRITERS Estasia Mcglothlin Piper Guinn Allara Baker Paige Meyer-Draffen Kayla Cazares Olivia Nunez Cara Delos Reyes
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 Tuesday at 5 p.m. to make it into that week’s issue. Submissions should be no more than 500 words. Letters should be well-proofread, as they will not be edited. Letters that fall outside of these guidelines will be returned to the author with a request for revision.
COPY EDITORS Emma Galvan Chelsea Bartilad Ashley Seger Sara Martinez
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.
PHOTOGRAPHERS Nune Papikyan Jacob Perez Cartoonist Nemi
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.
Feb. 22, 2024
NEWS
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2024 Election: What Whittier Students Think
Most students who participated in the survey plan to vote in November.
Sarah Licon NEWS EDITOR With election season in full swing, political discourse is hitting college campuses. According to the Campus Vote Project, voting outcomes among college students moderately increased after 2014, but had heavily increased by 66 percent during the 2020 Biden and Trump election. Per the Project, young voters make up the smallest fraction of the American population and are least likely to interact with political campaigns, as campaigns are more likely to target older populations. But what does this mean for Whittier College students? Through a Quaker Campus sur-
vey sent out to the student body, a portion of students weighed in on their opinions about the upcoming election. According to the survey, 82.8 percent of respondents (with the exemption of political science courses) have not discussed the upcoming election in their respective classes. On the topic of the primary elections on Mar. 5, about half of respondents were aware of the upcoming primary elections, with 52.8 percent stating that they knew exactly when the primary elections were. Yet, 47.8 percent indicated that they did not know when the primary elections were. When it came to the actual voting process, a good majority of respondents were under the age of 18
Courtesy of PPIC
during the 2020 election, but 95 percent of respondents plan to vote in the 2024 November presidential election. Another result revealed that a slight majority of students at 52.2 percent received election information through social media, including platforms such as TikTok and X, with another 47.8 percent sharing that they were informed through major news outlets. Despite differing knowledge
about election dates, Inside Higher Education argues that politics influence students’ education nationwide. In a study conducted last spring, it was discovered that one in four prospective college students reported that college location plays a crucial role in their decision-making process. Students who identified themselves as conservative reported that they were less likely to choose universities in California and New York, while left-leaning students avoided colleges in the South and Midwest, where residents were more likely to vote Republican. They were also less likely to attend school in an area where they disagreed with the state’s decisions about reproductive rights. According to a 2021 study preRoe v. Wade appeal, the issues a majority of American college students were concerned about regarded climate change, gun control, racial equality, and student loan debt, along with college affordability. Recently, protests against violence in the Israel-Palestine war have caused local universities, includ-
“As students we should be up- to- date with elections and when [...] to vote so we can [do] the best of our abilities [to] make the difference we want to see."
-Anonymous Student
ing UCLA and Chapman, to hold rallies and protests. Last semester, Sephardic American Mizrahi Institute (SAMi) hosted a vigil for all the victims of the Oct. 7 massacre. In the next few months, a discussion series called “Palestine in Context: Understanding the Issues” will be hosted in Hartley House by the Whittier Student-Worker Alliance (WSWA) and Asian Student Association (ASA). Just last week, KPOET wrote letters to Congress calling for an Israeli ceasefire in Gaza. On a Likert scale of five, ranging from apolitical to very politically aware, a majority answered a three, rating themselves as somewhat politically aware. But when it comes to students being informed about election updates, all respondents agree that more students should be upto-date with election dates and have increased political involvement. “As students," answered an anonymous student, "we should be up-to-date with elections and when [...] to vote so we can do the best of our abilities [to] make the difference we want to see." Another student stated that voting defined college students’ futures by placing people in office who “represent [them].” Another discussed how it influences the economy. But when it comes to student voting, Whittier College is yet to provide resources for election.
Courtesy of Kpoet
CAMPUS LIFE
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Feb. 22, 2024
What’s up, Release Your Inhibitions With The Greenleaf Review Whittier?
Stay up to date on events! For further info, visit whittier.campuslabs.com/engage/ Massage Therapy • Thursday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. • Student Health & Wellness Center Clothing Swap Social • Thursday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. • Campus Center Courtyard Jobs for Justice: Immigration and Economic Policy • Thursday, Feb. 22 at 12:30 p.m. • Hartley House and Online Celebrating Trouble Funk & Professor Doug • Thursday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. • Club 88 Uptown Flea Market Walking Tour • Saturday, Feb. 24 at noon • Harris Courtyard Craft Hour • Monday, Feb. 26 at 11 a.m. • Ettinger Lounge Meet the Psychology Advisors • Monday, Feb. 26 at 12:30 p.m. • SLC 201 Succulent Potting Tabling • Monday, Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m. • In front of the SLC Planner Party • Monday, Feb. 26 at 4:30 p.m. • In Front of The SLC Palestine in Context Series • Monday, Feb. 26 at 4:30 p.m. • Hartley House Create Your Own Lava Lamp • Monday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. • Turner First Floor Lounge Fellowship Application Focus Session • Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 4:20 p.m. • First Floor Wardman Library PHE Open House • Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. • PHE Office Konane • Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m. • OSE Conference Room STEM Homework Hangout • Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. • SLC, Room 313 Write a Love Letter to Yourself • Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. • Ball Hall Main Lounge
Emma Galvan COPY EDITOR
Every Spring semester at Whittier College, a certain class is offered to students to show their full potential in the world of art and literature. This class is called “Editing and Publishing Emerging Media,” and it is home to The Greenleaf Review! Published every Spring, The Greenleaf Review (GLR) is Whittier’s own art and literary journal, where students are invited to submit their best poems, artwork, photography, and small forms of writing for everyone to see! Meylina Tran stands as this year’s Editor-in-Chief, with Ashley Seger and Jonathan Bermudez, standing as co-Managing Editors. Alongside the assistance from Xandros Capus as a Production Manager, there are a series of section heads to help Tran with creating this year’s Greenleaf Review. A few of these section heads are Giselle Amador, leading the poetry section, and Nadia Miller leading the art team. Lexi Brattain is this year’s Marketing Manager, and Carla Camilotti is the Head Social Media Manager. Though she is not in a leadership position, Ilani Avila, who participated in last year’s issue, is returning this semester as a copy editor and a member of the art team, and will be providing input from experiences last year. The theme for this year’s issue was recently announced on Wednesday, Feb. 14, by The Greenleaf Review through student emails
and Instagram. The theme is “Catharsis,” as inspired by Avila’s vision board with her group. “Catharsis” is centered around the concept of breaking social normality, releasing repressed emotions, and exploring self-expression against all odds. The theme was determined slowly, according to Camilotti, because there was a pattern in groups of “going against the norms.” The team believed it’d be a great idea for students to convey their definition of breaking societal normalities through works of poetry, artwork, and prose. After winning the Sigma Tau Delta 2022-23 Literary Arts Journal Award, let’s see what the current GLR team is doing to ensure this year’s issue will be another success to add to the collection. So far, the team has revealed that it has been a rocky start to production. According to Camilotti, “There are a lot of different people, different opinions, and different mindsets, so coming together to
create one single issue is hard because everyone wants to show their art in different ways. They have different designs and themes in mind. If someone disagrees, then you have to figure something out, but then someone else will disagree. It’s hard; I’m sure we can do it, and I’m excited to do it for the end result because I know it’s going to be good and people are going to be excited, but it’s still tough.” Both Avila and Camilotti are grateful and happy to be part of the team, both explaining how this will reflect the College in a positive light with the showcasing of talent from students to voice discontent with traditional normality. Especially in terms of gettimg exposure on the internet, “the social media team has a lot of exciting videos we are going to shoot. We just need to find the time to do so, but it’s going to be great!” Camilotti affirmed. So be on the lookout for more posts from the social media team in the coming weeks!
Courtesy of The Greenleaf Review
“Catharsis” is the title for the 2024 Greenleaf Review.
The team is hopeful for the future and the journey over the next few weeks. They want to target a larger audience beyond Whittier students, aiming for parents or other students from colleges and universities all over the world to be reading this issue. You can submit your work to thegreenleafreview@gmail.com with your name, a short description, and a response to a simple question in a few words: What keeps you up at night? Once submitted, the team will look at it blindly and will determine whose pieces will make this issue. Who knows, maybe it will be your work that ends up getting published! On the contrary, Avila explains that the art team has been wanting to experiment more with abstraction and connection: “We are looking for art and literature that play off of each other cohesively so we can show off how talented our Whittier College students are while getting to showcase a bit of our skills by enhancing the experience of how their work is consumed.” To keep track of the journal, you can find them on Instagram at @the.greenleaf.review or on TikTok under the same username. Let’s see how the Poets can break through social barriers and show their true selves in front of everyone when The Greenleaf Review gets released later this Spring! This article has been condensed for print. If you would like to read the full article, you can at medium. com/quakercampus.
Whittier Welcomes the Lunar New Year Sara Martinez COPY EDITIOR
The United States and much of the Western Hemisphere follow the Gregorian Calendar, which was first proposed by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. Under this calendar model, the year ends in December and begins in January, with a leap year occurring every four years. But, did you know that approximately 11 cultures do not celebrate New Years on Jan. 1? In fact, many Asian cultures, including China, Vietnam and South Korea, follow the Lunar calendar and recently welcomed the New Year on Feb. 10. This New Year is celebrated as the year of the Dragon, based on the legend of the Zodiac, and here on campus, in collaboration with the Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Asian Student Association hosted their annual Lunar New Year Luncheon on Feb. 13 in the Upper Quad. As part of this year’s celebration, Poets were welcomed to enjoy Asian cuisine, culture, grab a lucky red envelope and even enter a raffle with prizes that included tea and a plush dragon stuffed animal. This year’s menu included teriyaki chicken, gyoza dumplings, egg rolls, fried rice, and a very refreshing dragon fruit seltzer. Dessert was also on the menu and included strawber-
ry rice crispy treats and traditional fortune cookies for those seeking wisdom, and lucky numbers for those who were thinking about buying a lottery ticket. With the sun out and shining, hundreds of students and faculty attended the celebration and filled up all the tables by noon. Interim President Kristine Dillion was seen welcoming students waiting in line for their meal. As anticipated, a free photo booth was available for Poets to
capture their college memories, along with a table to write wishes for the new year. Once all the seats were filled, the main performance began. The Dragon Dance is a Chinese traditional folk dance indispensable to Lunar New Year celebrations across the globe. The group of seven performers broke a sweat by first demonstrating incredible martial arts moves which included backflips, nunchucks and even the worm! The group then joined under a red and yellow
The Lunar New Year Luncheon educated and entertained students.
dragon, dancing around each table spreading good luck, prosperity, and success, all attributes associated with the year of the dragon. After the performance, Poets were welcomed to take pictures underneath the towering dragon and were also encouraged to stay and continue the celebration. As a warm breeze blew the red strings, the wishes of the Poet community were raised high to the sky, uplifting spirits and the New Year’s blessings.
Jacob Perez / Quaker Campus
CAMPUS LIFE BSA’s Finest: Jamey Duncan-Whitt Feb. 22, 2024
Alejandra Ortega CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR
Jamey Duncan-Whitt walks into the Quaker Campus office with an umbrella in hand, wearing a hoodie and green rain boots. “Hey, is it okay if I doodle while we talk?” she asks. “It helps me stay focused.” She sets down a journal, with a bundle of markers and highlighters, sitting in front of a desk in a black office chair. The California rain beats against the window and the splashing from the cars on Painter St. can be heard. She sits upright and attentively with a pen in her hand. Duncan-Whitt, an English major with a third-year standing, is this year’s Secretary for the Black Student Association (BSA). The organization’s mission is “to create an empowering experience in the Whittier College community by serving as the primary advocacy organization for Black students. To represent Black students in political matters and to act as the chief liaison between Black students and the College’s Administration.” They recently hosted the Bl a c k Hi s t o r y Mo n t h L u n cheon on Thursday, Feb. 1. Duncan-Whitt’s experience in BSA is aligned with the organization’s mission to be a safe space for Black students and allies. “Everyone just bonds and brings everyone in,” she says with a smile. “It could be your first time coming or it could be your millionth time at a meet-
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ing, and you will immediately be welcomed in. You never feel like an outsider.” Duncan-Whitt’s association with BSA started when she was invited into the organization by Professor Doug Manuel. “He was like, ‘There’s a BSA meeting. You better be there!’ And I was like, ‘What’s BSA?’” After joining, Duncan-Whitt decided that this was an organization that she wanted to help grow and support. They briefly mention that there are so many wonderful people in BSA that they could not do without. They lean back comfortably in the office chair. “I love this. I just get to talk about my friends.” They go on to name Paige Meyer-Draffen (PMD), President of BSA, and Justin Holoman. A huge smile has found its way onto their face. “Those are some of the people who make BSA amazing,” she says. It’s due to this welcoming community that Duncan-Whitt decided to take on a leadership position in BSA. “Just knowing how much I got out of BSA in the two years I’ve been here, I wanted to be a part of making us bigger and finding more people.” She looks up at the ceiling thoughtfully and says, “It’s very different for me. You can ask anyone who knows me. I’m not a leadership type of person. So the fact that I said ‘I’ll be secretary’ means that I care a lot about what happens with BSA.” Duncan-Whitt associates community and collaboration strong-
Duncan-Whitt is one of the many representatives of BSA.
ly with BSA. Which makes sense, noting that they transferred from across the country. “I’m originally from Chicago,’’ they laugh as they tap a pen on the desk. “I say that because everyone thinks that the place I transferred from is the place I’m from.” When asked if there was any sort of BSA at their former university, she laughs nervously, “Oh no! There might have been a Black student union. But there was in no way, like the level of outreach from the Black students that there is here.” She reflected for a moment and
Alejandra Ortega / Quaker Campus
added, “That is why I also felt so strongly about being in BSA because being an art student at a majority white school in a state I was not from is very, very polarizing and isolating. If there was a BSA, they were not doing what our BSA is doing.” Duncan-Whitt hopes BSA will soon become a household name on campus. “We’re hoping to build membership,” she says while waving a pen in their hand. “We’re hoping to just collaborate more with other groups on campus to get BSA’s name out there because it’s not even that we have a hard time getting our
events out there; most of the time people find out about BSA through word of mouth.” They add, “If there are any Black students, non-Black students, or allies on campus, who are like, ‘I think this would be very cool,’ or I heard about this thing,’ please tell us! We will definitely try to make it happen.” If you’ve been thinking about joining BSA but avoided it because you don’t know anyone, Jamey Duncan-Whitt has an open seat for you right next to them. She’s ready to talk to you about your favorite subjects. But more importantly, they are ready to listen.
When You Need a Friend, Call a Met Jonathan Bermudez OPINIONS EDITOR
some encouragement, I cannot get out of bed for class’ or whatever; if I call anyone of [her sisters], they will run,” she said. She brought up the term “lean on your sister” as something that you will hear a lot among the female societies. Each member is paired with another student called an “Accountability Sister”. The Accountability Sister is someone who is part of the similar department as you who checks up on you to see how your grades are
doing, how classes are, and if there is anything that needs to be done so you can excel in school. “[The Mets are], at the end of the day, an extracurricular, and you’re here for an education to get your degree so we want to make sure none of our sisters lose sight of that,” said Everand. Although they focus on academics and creating meaningful relationships with each other, the Mets also focus on community ser-
When the Vice President of the Metaphonians, Sophia (Sophie) Everand, lost her father to brain cancer last year, her sisters in the Metaphonians were there to support her. She recalls that two of her sisters in the Mets were the only ones who showed up for her at her father’s funeral. “I had no friends that were there, it was all my dad’s friends and my mom’s friends,” Everand said. She said it warmed her heart to see her sisters there because “they didn’t know my dad, they didn’t know him like that, they didn’t have to be there.” Before, and after her father’s death, she received much support from her sisters. When she first found out about her father’s diagnosis, she would get frequent check ups even if she was trying to self isolate. This is the type of bond that is formed in the Mets. Support for one another emotionally, but also academically, is part of the core values of the Mets, but Everand believes that the sisterhood of the Methophonians is what stood out to her the most when she was deciding to pledge. “I know at the end of the day if I need someone to take me to go eat, if I’m having a rough day, I’m like ‘I need The Mets are dedicated to building community.
acts of community service, no matter the gender they support. The dedication and time to help the community and each other is what the Mets look for in candidates. While one requirement is to be a student who identifies as a woman, Everand looks for those who are willing to dedicate themselves to the Mets. “I try to look at people who do have time for it because it is a big commitment so I’m not going to go rush after people who I know already dedicate their time to a sport,” she said. She laughs trying to explain that they look for people who also vibe with the group for how “unprofessional” it sounds, but she explained that they are essentially recruiting people to join a friend group, “We want to make sure they are comfortable with us, we’re comfortable with them, and they reflect our values as well.” Everand holds the Mets dear to her heart and wants people to join for the right reasons. “I definitely would encourage people—whether it’s Mets or any society,— to join it because you’re going to get something out of it, and even if you go with the Mets or the As [Athenians], you’re ultimately joining that whole community of societies and that makes it special,” said Courtesy of The Metaphonians Everand.
vice outside of school. Most community service they do revolves around supporting other women. “We’ve done service projects to get middle school girls ready for high school and we’ve done gardening for a women’s home,” Everand said. More recently, they participated in a walk in Long Beach to bring awareness to human trafficking. Though they participate in events that uplift women, Everand notes that the Mets love doing all
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CAMPUS LIFE
Feb. 22, 2024
KPOET Celebrates All the Boos
KPOET hosted many energetic performances. Meylina Tran A & E EDITOR It began, as many things do, with a declaration of love. “You were made in a lab,” Darron Peltekian—the boyfriend of KPOET Radio’s co-manager Paige Meyer-Draffen (PMD)—recited, “and I was built in a forge.” Met with lovesick coos and raucous applause for the happy couple, KPOET’s Haunted Valentine Open Mic began with that romantic spark igniting in the air. Club 88 was decked out in the nostalgic-driven alternative style that this year’s KPOET team has become known for, with a lovey-dovey flair to set it apart from what they’ve done previously. Pur-
ple and black streamers hung from the entrance, greeting guests as they entered. Against one wall was a pink and black kissing booth for guests and couples to post in front of. A craft table of classic monstrous images saying cheesy Valentine’s slogans stood guard at the back end of Club 88 whilst a battalion of edgy Sanrio characters defended the stage. Halloween decorations—black cobwebs and hanging ghosts—were recycled for the event with red paper hearts taped all over for the romantic effect. Once the cheering subsided, Peltekian graciously introduced the next performer: second-year Evan Josten. With his mottled, hot pink electric guitar and ‘70s rock star swagger, Josten—after noting that
Meylina Tran / Quaker Campus his guitar had been twice-tuned— stunned the audience with a moody rendition of the Foo Fighters’ “Everlong.” Although the twice-tuned guitar drowned out his vocals, Josten’s performance was the energizing precursor to his impromptu karaoke performance of Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak’s “Leave the Door Open,” which he sang with KPOET broadcaster and third-year Sean Frank. But they weren’t the only (nor the first) to storm the karaoke stage. Frank was joined by KPOET co-manager Emily Perez-Medina for “Airplanes” by B.o.B., featuring Hayley Williams, following a spirited rendition of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” by third-year Sara Martinez and fourth-year Sarah Licon. Licon
returned to the stage later on with third-year Jonathan Bermudez for a passionate cover of Weezer’s “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here.” It ended with Bermudez confidently declaring, “You’ve been Weezed!” which was met with audience delight. The karaoke, however, was simply a way to pass the time until the next scheduled performer— class of 2023 alumna Hailey Garcia—arrived on the scene with her crew, wearing Shy Guy masks. Despite the clear nerves, through tears and shaky breaths, Garcia powered through two poems—“‘love’” and “love”—bravely revealing the trauma and insecurities she has faced— and is still facing—thus far. The vulnerability Garcia shared in the sister poems cast a spell of silence over the audience as everyone listened intently. This silence carried over into the next performance. Garcia’s boyfriend, Christian, of the band Anshin—who had performed at a previous open mic back in April 2023— took the stage with his hot rod red electric guitar and Shy Guy mask secured over his face. After a strong rendition of The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight,Tonight,” Christian was joined by his friend Atticus for an unrehearsed yet incredible cover of Radiohead’s “No Surprises.” As the KPOET team set the stage for the next performance, Perez-Medina commandeered the mic to promote the College’s
award-winning art and literary magazine, The Greenleaf Review, which is now accepting submissions until Mar. 22. Soon after, PMD reclaimed the mic to introduce fourth-year Ezdras Meraz-Lerman, who, as PMD put it, is “gonna tickle that ivory.” And tickle he did, powering through John Legend’s “All of Me” in spite of the broken piano key. Meraz-Lerman took the missteps lightly, however, cracking jokes in between lyrics. His third song—”Love of My Life” by Dave Matthew and Santana—had him relocating off-stage. Seated in an armchair with his acoustic guitar in his lap and fake candles surrounding him, Meraz-Lerman serenaded a veritably packed room as guests trickled in through the open door from the Campus Inn to see what all of the commotion was about. The closing performance was intimate. Finally, Atticus surprised the crowd by returning for an unexpected, unscheduled performance on the aforementioned broken piano. After a pretty good cover of Radiohead’s “Creep,” Atticus closed out the night with a series of songs by The Smiths—”Heavenly Way to Die” and “I Won’t Share You”—and “If You Leave” by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. This article has been condensed for print. If you would like to read the full article you can at medium.com/ quakercampus.
The Many Adventures of AOKP Emma Galvan COPY EDITOR
You may have seen a certain group of people around campus; maybe they’re dressed in costumes, some with wooden weapons in their hands, or wearing elf-shaped ears. Well, have no fear Poets; they are the Arthurian Order of the Knights of Pendragon (AOKP), a larper club that has been part of Whittier since the 1980s! AOKP is a club on campus that does live-action roleplay that creates and works on stories set in the fictional kingdom of Warwick. The club is led by third-year President and King, Crow Caton. Their roleplay in the fantasy kingdom comes with a system for combat with certain rules to ensure that players are safe as they “fight” with their foam weapons, along with a system for characters to level up, grow, and learn. They have regular in-character meetings every week to tell stories of what their characters are up to and their development over the course of the previous week. “We are a very tight-knit group, honestly. If someone joins, generally, they become part of the close friend group, and many times it can feel like a family. It just depends on how well you mesh with our people,” says Caton. There is also no requirement for how much a member must know about larping prior
to joining; “We’re here for you to learn; we don’t want anybody to be afraid because they feel like they are at a disadvantage.” From Feb. 8 to Feb. 10, AOKP held a series of events to, as said by Caton, recruit more people to join the club. These are the only events AOKP will have this semester that will be available for non-members to participate in. Their first event was a Moonlight Picnic on Feb. 8, originally set in the Upper Quad at 8 p.m, but quickly switched over to Hoover 104 due to the bitter coldness and slight sprinkling that occurred at the beginning of the event. The moonlight picnic is a semesterly event where the AOKP members are dressed in their costumes and fluctuate between in-game and outof-game. Essentially, the Moonlight Picnic is for new members interested in AOKP to ask questions about the rules, characters, and what the club has to offer. This is also for the current members to “check your vibes,” as Caton says. Next came Game Night on Feb. 9. Hosted in Hoover Room 104 at 7 p.m., the event was primarily for members and alumni to play games together, but outsiders were also invited to relax. With a row of tables across the room, each one had a different game going on, stemming from multiple rounds of five-minute games or games that
went on for a solid two hours! As the event went on, so did the pile of games that were brought over, such as Uno, chess, Cathedrals, or D&D-inspired board games. Soft music played, first from the computer near a projector before being transferred to a student’s laptop due to the increasing volume of conversations, of which there were a lot! Not a single table had a lone person that could not play. If anything, there would be only one person to relax or wait for their opponent to return, making for an overall enjoyable experience for everyone For their final event of the weekend, the club orchestrated a Casino Night, though there was no actual betting in any of the games! With servings of pizza and garlic bread, the larpers transformed Hoover 005 into a mini speakeasy of their own, including a small mock-up bar of sodas and drinks, with the option to garnish your drink with a heartshaped strawberry. Games such as blackjack, poker, etc. were played, whether the members chose to play in-character or just as themselves. There was also a competition as the event was going on. Casino Night, much like Moonlight Picnic, is also semesterly but switches themes every time, so look out for what next semester’s theme will be! If you think you’re a good fit for AOKP, then hurry up and sign up. According to Caton, the set re-
AOKP hosts various events. quirements are, “You must come to recruitment events to let [AOKP] know you’re interested, and we reach out to you; we want to make sure that we know who’s interested.” Given the limited number of events for the semester, as said previously, students must attend meetings soon to become part of AOKP! As President Caton puts it, “Everyone is welcome [to attend] as long as you’re a genuinely kind person and you enjoy playing with other people and being collaborative. We really strive to take care of our members and make sure that everyone has a
Courtesy of AOKP safe and comfortable playing environment. That is something really important to me. We are a safe space for people, for nerds.” If you want to reach out to the club itself for more questions or to seek interest, you can contact them through their Engage page, visit their Instagram account @aokp_ warwick, or email at JOINAOKP@ gmail.com! This article has been condensed for print. If you would like to read the full article, you can at medium.com/ quakercampus.
Feb. 22, 2024
OPINIONS
Whittier Feeling Under the Weather Priscilla Corona STAFF WRITER
Have you been blown away by the weather this year? I know I have! Lately, there have been ongoing discussions about our recent weather within the last few years. We’ve experienced warmer summers reaching up to over 100 degrees fahrenheit in the Whittier area! With increased fluctuations in temperatures the most speculated reasoning is climate change. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “Climate change can affect the intensity and frequency of precipitation. Warmer oceans increase the amount of water that evaporates into the air.” They also stated, “When more moisture-laden air moves over land or converges into a storm system, it can produce more intense precipitation—for example, heavier rain and snow storms.” And as we have seen, there has been an increase in rain in recent years—with rainstorms lasting up to April or May, causing flash flood warnings within our campus and neighborhood. The real question is: Is Whittier built and prepared for harsh weather conditions? I say no; there are major defects to our city. While the Uptown district of Whitter (including the College) is primarily known for its scenery and architecture, even a blind eye can spot out the “flaws” in the structure of our city. I use the term “flaws” very loosely in this statement as I want to elaborate that these “flaws” are not at fault of the designers nor the people of Whittier.
It is important to consider that compared to other states, California does not experience natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and snow storms (except in some locations, mostly southern and northern parts). What California is most known for are the earthquakes, with social media jokes going as far as to glorify the fact that Californians do not pay much mind to earthquakes, while jokes about our rain issue ridicules that fact that we are not prepared/ cannot handle rain storms. It is part of California code to build buildings to withstand earthquakes. According to the State of California Seismic Safety Commission (SSC), “California has some of the most modern and earthquake-resistant buildings in the world…” When we compare that to building designs to withstand rain storms, there are a few flaws. To note, most homes and buildings in California do not have basements unlike other states who are known for having them for tornadoes and hurricanes; but because California does not experience those, the design is unnecessary and costs more money. Another thing to note is that while it is raining, it becomes more hazardous to drive, especially in California where, “oil can build up on roads for months before it rains,” as stated by Fowler Helsel Vogt. LA County plays a big role in that factor, Whittier included. In the beginning of the 2023-24 Fall semester California experienced its first “hurricane” where cities all over dealt with heavy rain, thunderstorms, and the promise of a hurricane. To greet the new year
Whitter was also met with a recent rain storm which left the College no choice but to shut down and go online for the first time due to weather conditions. Once the rain passed, buildings such as, the basement of Hoover, the KPOET office and the Dean of Students office (located in the Campus Center building) were left flooded, causing an inconvenience to students whose classes were either canceled, kept on zoom or relocated for the time being. Flash flood warnings were being issued all throughout campus, warning students to stay off the roads if possible. I mentioned earlier that the Uptown district of Whittier is famously known for its architecture and originality for its Victorian houses. These are multi-million dollar historic homes of which the foundation and original structure are protected by Whitter under the Historic Preservation program which denies the homeowner to
make any alterations to the house that will ultimately destroy its authenticity – unless it is to make repairs. While the thought of preserving these homes seems monumental, “historic homes are also more vulnerable because of the materials used to build them and how they were built. Historic homes were often built with materials that weren’t as insulated as we find in modern homes today” stated the BL3 Plumbing & Drain Cleaning blog. While the integrity of our campus does not determine Whittier to be unfit for harsh conditions, this does open a broader picture to the state of California as a whole. A significant difference from our drought seasons from a decade ago is comparble to the quantity of rain we have now, whether that is a direct fault of climate change or not, it is evident that Whittier, LA County, and California could benefit from some kind of renovation in the near future.
Courtsey of Whittier Daily News Whittier was not ready for heavy rain.
This Is Not Your Home, Dick Sarah Licon NEWS EDITOR
Whittier College is known for several things: its small campus, the uncertainty of whether it will exist in the coming years, its unused green spaces, and its dilapidated infrastructure. And while students familiarize with this side of Whittier, Whittier’s notoriety rests in the hand of another person. Not its namesake, abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier or famed poet, Jessamyn West, but rather Johnny Poet’s unlikely competitor as WC mascot: Richard Nixon. With its mismatched architecture, Whittier straddles a fine line between modernity and old, progressive and stagnant. Following the installation of the SLC in 2017, Whittier may finally be shedding its old roots, and perhaps, Nixon’s name along with it. From several dedications throughout campus, to founding a still-existing club, and being the namesake for a notso prestigious scholarship, Nixon is embedded into the identity of Whittier College, an identity the college actively promotes and capitalizes from. While there is no mention of Richard Nixon on the College’s homepage, his nominal mention
requires minimal digging. Erected in the North Lawn, gleaming from the sun, is a plaque, reminiscent of a headstone, in honor of Nixon’s contributions to the College. Perhaps one of Whittier’s most vibrant art pieces, the mural on the side of Villalobos Hall, titled “Poets’ Wall,” a Nixon campaign button, barely visible, is pinned to the chest of John Greenleaf Whittier. So what were Nixon’s contributions to the College? At Whittier, Nixon foreshadowed his career as student body president and straight-A student, with involvement in several extracurriculars, including the debate and football teams, as well as leading founder of the Orthogonian Society, Nixon then graduated from Duke University in 1934 before he was elected as a member of the Whittier College Board of Trustees. A staunch Republican, he took surprisingly progressive steps by implementing the Environmental Protection Agency (hence our very own EPA Day), cancelling the Vietnam War draft, and assuring a treaty that would limit nuclear warfare. Nixon’s foreign policy with communist governments were praised, particularly the US relationship with China, an agreement the Nixon Fellowship Program at Whittier prides him on.
Nixon needs to be forgotten. The fellowship’s intention, which is to “honor alumnus Richard Nixon,” encourages students to mimic Nixon’s “successful legacy in domestic and foreign policy,” and to “develop leadership skills…and experience the rewards inherent in a career dedicated to the public good.” But was Nixon’s career dedicated to the public good? I don’t think so. His career is marked with controversy. The Watergate Scandal marks one controversy the President was entangled with. In several 1971
Courtesy of AP Photo / stf recorded phone calls, Nixon reveals some of his true colors. In a phone call with then-California governor Ronald Reagan, Nixon agrees to Reagan’s racial slurs while discussing foreign policy in Africa but “is probably close to the truth.”
This article has been condensed for print. If you would like to read the full article, visit medium. com/thequakercampus.
7 Ask a Poet, a Poet Answers
Dear Poet, How do I come out? -A Closeted Poet Dear Poet, Thank you so much for trusting me with this question! However, your coming out is going to be based solely on you. You can decide how big or small you want this to be. I can offer a couple of guiding points for you to consider. First, you don’t have to come out to anyone. You can totally just be your most authentic self and everyone is going to have to accept it. Full stop. But maybe you have some close friends or family members that you want to confide in. In this case, feel free to just tell them over a cup of coffee. They might have questions and you can answer whatever you feel comfortable answering. If they are not comfortable with you and your newfound queerness, then they can suck a stick. Remember that if love fails, then it was never really love. I do have to say, you should be wary of people having a negative reaction to you coming out. We live in a tough world, so if you have a hunch that the person you are coming out to may not react well, you might want to tell them in a public area. When others are around, it can allow the person you are coming out to possibly not react as largely (especially if it’s negative). It’s also always good to have others around in case something goes wrong. And in the case of something really bad happening, you might want to set up accommodations for yourself. If you have family or friends or others that accept you, hang out (or even live) with them for a while. Community and family is what you make of it. If the situation you are in is dangerous, the Los Angeles LGBT Center provides services, including mental health, legal, and housing. If you would like more information about the Center, you can email them at webmaster@lalgbtcenter. org. But no matter what happens, just know that you are NOT the one at fault here. You do not have to change, the other party does. You are beautiful and natural the way you are. Now unfortunately, I am not an expert on coming out and I can only offer you so much advice. If you’re reading this and you’re thinking, “none of this is helpful,” then here are some resources I can offer you. The Trevor Project has a “handbook” on coming out that has guiding questions and also breaks down some big ideas in the world of gender identity and sexuality. It might help you clear up some ideas you have on coming out. Dear Poet, no matter what way you want to do this, coming out is your decision. Do it however you want. Thank you for coming out. The world is so much better with you and your queerness in it. All my best, A Poet
OPINIONS The Super Bowl: A Win For Swifties 8
Feb. 22, 2024
Ashley Seger COPY EDITOR Super Bowl LVIII had a whole new demographic of viewers this year. Chiefs and 49ers fans geared up to cheer on their respective teams, but as the Chiefs made their way to their overtime victory, they had another fan base behind them. The Swifties. Taylor Swift’s hardcore fan base recently joined in on the tailgate parties and jersey wearing most veteran NFL fans know and love. So while the Chiefs had an amazing season, much of their publicity has been focused on team member Travis Kelce’s new pop star girlfriend. Many NFL fans have had contrasting opinions on Taylor Swift’s presence at the Chiefs’ games, but what is the actual impact of Swift’s new relationship and screen time? Viewers have found that Swift is only shown on-screen for around 46 seconds per game and was only shown for 55 seconds of the four hour and 18 minute long Super Bowl event. Though, NFL fans have expressed annoyance with her presence “taking over the game.” These fans may be frustrated, but the truth is that Taylor Swift has brought a whole new group of viewers to NFL games, bringing in more profit for everyone. Apex Marketing Group found that Swift’s new found association with the Chiefs and the NFL has added around $330 million in brand value, and the NFL had its highest viewership among women since it began tracking in 2000. Nora Princiotti, a staff writer for The Ringer and a Taylor Swift fan
Courtesy of Getty Images Taylor Swift was shown on screen for an estimated 54 seconds during the Super Bowl. said, “I think what it means for the NFL is a real presence of this kind of hyper-femininity that’s really rare in such a, you know, normally macho, masculine environment.” While there is now a spike in female viewership, and girls inspired to watch the NFL, what does this mean in the grand scheme of things? Swift’s attendance at the Chiefs’ games this season has led to increased revenue, viewership, and social media following for the team and the league as a whole. So why do so many male NFL fans dislike her presence so much? My simple answer would be misogyny; many men don’t want a successful woman—and her primarily non-male fanbase—coming into a space that they have dominated in the past;
but there is much more to this than women watching football. During the 2020 election Taylor Swift openly endorsed Joe Biden by posting a picture of homemade “Biden Harris 2020” cookies. While Swift was still incredibly famous in 2020, it is clear that her impact and fan base has only grown since then. Last fall Swift encouraged her followers to go vote, which was immediately followed by a surge in voter registration. The majority of Taylor Swift’s fans are Gen Z and Millenials, and young voters typically have the lowest turnouts in the box office. Many of her fans will simply participate or learn about something just because she mentioned it, and voting is no exception. Because of this, members of the Republican party worry Swift’s
endorsement of Biden and encouragement for fans to vote in the 2024 election could alter the results, and they’re probably right. Many even claim Swift is some kind of Pentagon plant that Democrats are using to sway the 2024 election. While their theories are far out, I do think it’s fair to be in fear of her impact. After watching how Swifties jumped to support the Chiefs and began watching football just by seeing Taylor at a few games, what else would they do because of her? Apart from voting, she could encourage fans to even become more aware of politics and global issues as a whole. Her impact is not something to be undersold. Her voice in not only the election but in other global crises could quite literally change the tides. Many
the horrible actions of the Mitski crowd, but there have been many multiple cases of artists who had items tossed at them. This includes Cardi B’s viral response to a drink being thrown at her in the middle of a song, yet she received backlash for responding in anger even after being a victim of assault. Concert etiquette is quite simple; it is the social and standard behavior agreement between three parties: you, the artist, and the people around you. Often the silent agreement is this: you arrive at the performance, you sit down, you
watch the opener, you watch the singer perform numerous songs as you clap and cheer after every one, and you’re done. There’s nowhere in that silent agreement that you scream at the artist that they’re your “mommy” or scream at openers to hurry up. I love music as much as the next person, but when it comes to the opportunity to meet my favorite artists in person, I never once thought to do something to interrupt an experience for others. So why do audiences still do this? Why are audiences not aware of
proper concert etiquette? The most popular reasoning for the decline in mannerisms is the lack of social boundaries. Significantly now that we are able to roam around freely, we can attend concerts after nearly two years, of not being able to, but it was always there. Especially in terms of lingerie and bras being thrown at artists, especially male ones. Stemming all the way from the 1970s with Tom Jones and Elvis, fans would be tossing their underwear and hotel keys at the artists, and it has been a tradition since then, though due to
Swifties have encouraged Taylor to speak up on issues such as the Israel-Palestine conflict in hopes she could help the call for a ceasefire; but with silence thus far it’s hard to know if all she will be encouraging her fans to do this year is attend “The Eras Tour.” She is often criticized by activists for her failure to use her platform and her excessive use of her private jet, using an estimated 8,300 tons of carbon emissions in 2022 alone, which is around 1,800 times that of the average person. On the other hand, she is criticized by members of the Republican party for using her voice, as those who don’t agree with her opinions would much rather her just stick to writing music. At this point, it is a gamble whether or not Taylor will speak about the election, or any other global issues, but if she does, it is sure to be momentous. Taylor Swift speaking up about the 2024 presidential election and endorsing Joe Biden once again could save this country from another term with Donald Trump, and many Trump supporting NFL fans fear that reality. Swift’s association with the NFL has only made people aware of her true power as a global icon. This election season Swifties won’t only be on the edge of their seats waiting for what Swift’s next “surprise song” will be, but also her thoughts on the 2024 Presidential election. Will Taylor use her platform to share her opinions? Can her vote for Biden win him the election?
Mitski Is Not Your Mother Emma Galvan COPY EDITOR
Music is one of the biggest staples of entertainment in our modern time. Whether you listen through the radio, Spotify, or Apple Music, music has been a source of entertainment that everyone can enjoy and can give somebody the opportunity to make a name for themselves in what they enjoy. These artists all come from their own humble beginnings and grow such a fanbase that they are able to tour around the US, showcasing the best of their best. Or at least, that’s how it was. Recently, Mitski has been going on tour after a brief hiatus; everything was going well. That was, until the crowd started yelling “mother is mothering” repeatedly in the middle of her performance, alongside numerous people in the audience who were meowing loudly in the crowd at random points during the show. This led the singer to cancel the rest of her show due to how upset she felt about the yelling while she was trying to sing. The incident caused a widespread number of videos on TikTok about the callout, mostly in disgust and disappointment at what the fans were doing. However, Mitski is not the sole perfomer who has dealt with this type of audience; if anything, what she experienced was the least an audience has done. Not pushing aside Mitski has publicy expressed that being called “mother” makes her uncomfortable.
the pandemic the tradition seemed to have died down. But then it returned with fans throwing bras at Drake. Say what you will about the him, but you can’t deny that the news circulating about his fans tossing bras during his shows and how the sizes kept increasing wasn’t bit concerning. He is not the only one, even female artists like Billie Eilish get lingerie thrown at her! This article has been condensed for print. If you would like to read the full article, visit medium.com/ thequakercampus.
Courtesy of Julia Drummond / New Yorker
Feb. 22, 2024 Poet’s Sports Schedule:
SPORTS
All Good Things Come in C’s:
9
Swim Captains Coltrin & Cooper
she says. One coach that stood out FEATURES EDITOR the most was her best friend’s father. “So it was just like, ‘Oh, I get Born in Florida and raised in to hang out with my best friend Phoenix, Ariz., fourth-year Grace every day,’ and then he became a Cooper started swimming at a huge supporter of me,” Cooper young age. “Those were the top continues with a smile. two states for drowning,” she reAlongside their coaches, the calls with a chuckle, adding, “So captains agreed their teammates my parents put me in swim les- are another essential support syssons at eight months [old], and tem. “One of the main reasons when I was seven, I was like, ‘Oh, I’m enjoying swimming is the this is fun,’ and I just continued.” team itself,” Coltrin says with The following year, she began pride, adding, “It’s like waking up swimming competitively. and having a team look forward to Similarly, third-year Nick hanging out makes it a thousand Coltrin also began the sport at a times easier actually to go to pracyoung age. Hailing from Liver- tice and enjoy swimming.” more, Calif., the captain started With practices starting early in Courtesy of WCPOETS.COM swimming competitively at seven the morning and ending late at Swim and Dive has one of the longest seasons of all poet sports teams. years old. “I stuck with [swim- night, having a strong support sysming competitively] until around tem builds an important foun- the coach of both teams, the me it, I was like, ‘Yes, I want it.’” middle school, there I took five dation. This close family dynamic men’s and women’s swimming With their friendly demeanyears off just to try something helps the teams power through practices are held together, al- ors and confident attitudes, both else,” says Coltrin. He explored intense practices. Being one of the lowing both teams to spend captains are able to form connecother sports, such as water polo, sports with the longest seasons, time and connect with each tions with their teammates while surfing, and even lacrosse. But the team held practices at the end other. “We don’t get time apart. understanding their coach’s goals despite his time off from the wa- of August in preparation for their That creates this tight-knit com- for the team. ter, Coltrin’s love for swimming first meet in October. munity, and it’s just fun,” ColBoth captains share similar continued throughout his time as goals. “We really wanted to crePractices are held every morn- trin exclaims. a student. ing from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., either Originally, Coltrin had no ate an environment where not Looking back at who has sup- swimming or lifting weights fol- plans on being swim captain in only do people love being in the ported them throughout their lowed by swimming. After classes, college, explaining that, “I kind water, but [also] genuinely enjoy swimming journeys, Coltrin the swimmers head back to the of got thrown into it.” During being together,” Cooper shares. reflects, “I would say my big- pool every Tuesday and Thursday Coltrin’s second-year, no male With the season coming to a gest supporter was definitely my afternoon for another three hours third-years or fourth-years were close, both captains are able to mom. She pushed me the hard- of practice. left on the team. “By default,” lead their teams to a strong finest, in swim and sports in generCooper points out that since Coltrin says, “I had to do it.” ish. Their upcoming competition al because she was an athlete. I they have swimmers from differFor Cooper, being in a lead- for the SCIAC Championships is think she wanted to push that on ent grade levels, each swimmer ership role was nothing new. from Feb. 22 to Feb. 25. Be sure because it’s important to be a part brings their own level of experi- She was also the swim team to come and show your support! of something.” ence to the team. “When we say captain in high school and was For Cooper, it was her ‘team,’ we mean both [Men’s and a pool manager over the sum- This article has been condensed coaches that helped her contin- Women’s swim],” emphasizes mer. “I’ve always kind of been for print. If you would like to ue swimming. “I had some really Cooper. placed in leadership positions,” read the full article, visit medium. great coaches when I was young,” According to Michael Jafari, she says. “So when Jefari offered com/the-quaker-campus. Chelsea Bartilad
Women’s Tennis vs Lewis & Clark College @ Whittier, CA • 9 a.m. • Feb. 17
Women’s Swimming and Diving at SCIAC Championships @ ELAC - Los Angeles, CA • TBD • Feb. 22-25
Men’s Swimming and Diving vs SCIAC Championships @ ELAC - Los Angeles, CA • TBD • Feb. 22-25
Baseball vs Chapman University @ Whittier, CA • 2:30 p.m. • Feb. 23
Women’s Tennis vs Westmont College (Calif.) @ Whittier, CA • 3 p.m. • Feb. 23
Track and Field at Mt. SAC Ron Kamaka Open @ Walnut, CA • TBD • Feb. 24
Baseball at Chapman University @ Orange, CA • 11 a.m. • Feb. 24
Poet Baseball Takes the Mound
Women’s Lacrosse vs Claretheir sluggers making the this reflection, saying that mont-Mudd-Scripps College @ Emily Henderson ABCA/Rawlings DIII even though the team EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Whittier, CA All-Region Team, five of started out slow initially, • 11 a.m. their players earning aca- they turned it around in The sun is shining, the • Feb. 24
Men’s Tennis vs Westmont College (Calif.) @ Whittier, CA • 1 p.m. • Feb. 24
Women’s Water Polo vs University of Toronto @ Tina Finali Tournament - OC HS/Cal Lutheran • 2:20 p.m. & 5 p.m. • Feb. 24
Softball vs York College of Pennsylvania @ Whittier, CA • 3 p.m. • Feb. 25
birds are chirping, the demic all-district distri- the middle of the season, grass is freshly mowed, bution awards, and the ultimately ending with a and the air has a mix of entire team earning the strong finish. “It was good sweetness and a hot dog ABCA Team Academic for us to have more than Courtesy of TONY@ACTIONWESTPHOTOGRAPHY.COM smell. That can only mean Excellence Award, which, triple our wins from the one thing—baseball season according to Coach Mike season before!” he contin- The team scored a total of 377 hits in the 2023 season. can do that, we will put years past,” states Rizzo. Rizzo, is the 17th straight ues. is here. R i z z o s a y s , “ D e - ourselves in a position to “Pitching has been our The Whittier Base- season to do so. ball team had a great 2023 Coach Mike Rizzo fensively, [the team] im- secure one of the top four Achilles heel, but 2023season, with a final record reflects on the previous proved as well, and that spots in the conference–” 24 has me very optimisof 14-25, with a team av- season, stating that the will continue to be a ma- That conference being the tic,” Rizzo adds. “This is erage of .282. The team team saw “tremendous jor emphasis as we look SCIAC Post-Season Tour- a veteran team that got a scored 251 overall runs improvements.” He notes to start the 2023-24 sea- nament, which is one of taste of winning last year, and 377 hits, earning that Maximus Beber was son.” The Purple and Gold the top NCAA Division II and they appear to be very them seventh place in the “outstanding, logging baseball team is con- baseball conferences in the hungry for the upcoming SCIAC finals, with a con- over 67 innings on the s i s t e n t l y l o o k - nation. Even though Rizzo season,” Coach Rizzo conference record of 9-15. mound, 4-6 overall and ing to improve their says they have their work cludes excitedly. The Purple and Gold Pitching also served well 3-4 in SCIAC, which in- game this season, with cut out for them, he thinks last season, with two shut- cluded a spell where he Coach Rizzo adding that the team has “the talent to baseball team’s next home game is Friday, Feb. 23, threw over 20 consecutive there is more consistency do so.” outs and six strikeouts. The pre-season is vs Chapman University Along with some in- scoreless innings (Red- through all phases of the credible stats from last lands, Occidental, and game. “Our immediate proving this to Rizzo and at 2:30 p.m. Go out and goal is to improve in all fac- the team, with their “over- support America’s (and season, the team also Caltech).” Assistant Coach Cam- ets of the game: pitching, all depth on the mound Whittier’s) favorite pasa c q u i r e d m a n y a c c olades–-including three of eron Vollmer continues hitting, and defense. If we [is] much better than in time.
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FEATURES
Feb. 22, 2024
Let’s Talk About Trouble Funk
Sara Martinez COPY EDITOR
It’s Monday morning, 15 minutes past eight on the second floor of Hoover Memorial Hall. Faculty and professors slowly arrive at their offices, ready to begin the fourth week of the Spring semester. All offices are open except room 208. Although the door is closed and the room empty, students familiar with the professor who occupies its walls are accustomed to the cheer and laughter that usually fills the room, spilling into the hallways for all to hear. It is the office of Professor Douglas Manuel II, a professor in the Department of English Language and Literature. A published author and poet, Professor Manuel, or Doug to his beloved students, recently returned from a week-long book tour to promote his latest poetry collection Trouble Funk. When asked about his childhood, Manuel eagerly clears up the assumption that he comes from an urban existence. Born and raised in Anderson, Ind., a small Midwest town between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Manuel chuckles as he reminisces about the landscape: “A corn field is only a 20 minute drive away almost everywhere you are.” Although he grew up in the Midwest, Manuel was familiar with the feeling of being “a Black body in almost all white spaces.” He straightens his back as he talks about how both his father and older brother fell victim to the crack epidemic of
the ‘80s. “The loss of the auto jobs which leads to the loss of the middle class is something which I always tell my students, leads to the crack epidemic, and it haunts everything I write about.” Manuel emphasizes his choice of the word “victim” when discussing this aspect of his childhood, since most people characterize people of color as “addicts” rather than victims: “I feel as if the kind of empathy that we afford people from that community, we should also afford to people from Black and Brown communities who fell victim to crack.” Despite being raised in this type of environment, Manuel decided to head to college. First, he studied at a small liberal arts college in Indiana, where he struggled. After transferring universities, he changed his major to Creative Writing, which he says happened after he found his community. The sense of community not only had a profound impact on his academic career, but also on his teaching style. “That’s one of the reasons why I teach the way I do, sharing so much and having students pair up in their homie systems, and have them sharing and caring, building a community, making sure nobody falls through the cracks.” Students who have had Manuel as a professor know this fact well. He is always asking about their lives, their academics, and about simple things like how their day is going. At Arizona State University, Manuel earned a BA in Creative Writing. He later earned an MFA
in Poetry from Butler University before finally receiving PhDs in English Literature and Creative Writing from USC. When looking back at his academic path, he humbly mentions the influences that guided him, “That’s all because some mentors believed in me, gave me props.” He goes on to mention his partner, who encouraged him to continue his career in higher education. “She was brilliant,” he explains, “She thought that we should get PhDs and I remember that I had such an imposter syndrome that I didn’t even think about it as an option.” Shortly after receiving his PhD, Manuel came to Whittier to read excerpts from Testify—his first book—in Professor Barnstone’s poetry class. He was then offered to apply as a professor under the Bayard Rustin Fellowship Program, which brings us to the present. Trouble Funk, as mentioned, is Manuel’s second poetry book. Testify was published just as Manuel was finishing his PhD at USC, and he remarked how the writing style in that book is similar to poets such as John Berryman and Sylvia Plath. Testify was written in the first person, based on personal experiences that shaped him. With his second book, he took a different approach, “In Trouble Funk, I was more interested in my father and mother’s relationship and how they fell in love and what that says about Black America, so one of the key differences is the second book is written in third person.” Manuel decided to change the
to study something STEM-related but was not sure where. Ultimately, she chose Whittier so she could focus on mathematics for the first three years of her education and then shift gears to engineering. Lugo also noted the small size of the school as a positive factor. “That sounds exactly like what I need to be doing,” she added. Lugo grew up in Pico Rivera and lived there until age 10, when she moved in with her grandparents in West Covina. She had an active imagination from a young age, leading her to a love for reading. “I was such a bookworm. I remember that I read the Harry Potter series in two or three weeks,” she quipped. Despite her fondness for literature, Lugo never enjoyed English as a subject. Because she preferred answers to be black-and-white, she was drawn to math; it just made sense to her. “I loved being challenged in a way that I could grasp,” she explained, “By my senior year of high school, I ran out of math courses to take,” she said, smirking slightly. At Whittier, Lugo has enjoyed all her classes and professors, but a couple have stood out, such as African-American Literature with Professor Douglas. “You could tell he was super into the material of what he was teaching,” Lugo remarked fondly. She also recommended Professional Writing with Professor
Jonathan Burton as a course that anyone would benefit from. “As much as I hate writing, I walked away with so much,” she admitted, almost sheepishly. Perhaps Lugo´s skill sets extend beyond what she is willing to admit. One such skill set is Lugo´s ability to foster empathetic relationships with the people around her. With this ability, the path to Head RA seemed laid out in front of Lugo, though she didn’t realize it. She was asked to be Head RA at the end of her second year, but Lugo has been in a leadership role since her first year, when she filled in for one of the other RAs. She had the responsibility of checking first-years out of their dorms, despite being a firstyear herself. This task is rarely given after less than a year at Whittier, so Lugo evidently displayed exemplary potential. She went on to become a summer RA in Wanberg, and in her second year she was the Care RA for upper campus. “I was basically a mental health RA,” she said, elucidating the features of the position. She added, “We dealt with people who went into isolation for COVID.” Lugo is set to finish her Mathematics major and receive her Bachelor of Arts from Whittier this Fall. After finishing her Bachelor’s, she imagines herself moving to Northern California, but cannot imagine leaving the state, especially since all
Live, Laugh, Lugo
Courtesy of Alfred haymond Support Doug Manuel’s new book Trouble Funk! perspective also because he felt that don’t be afraid to say hello. For he was too critical of his parents, Manuel, there is always time to talk specifically his father, in the first with students, and take advantage book. He mentions how his views of the opportunity to foster a welhave changed and so has his tone, coming community for all to thrive which readers can certainly feel in in. He will probably be wearing his Trouble Funk. signature blue beanie, just like the The next time you catch Pro- one Jimbo Jones wears in The Simpfessor Manuel walking in Hoover, sons, and smiling as always.
Piper Guinn STAFF WRITER
On an average day, one might find Head Resident Advisor Isabella Lugo baking carrot cake for her residents, diving into the moist layers of pastry and frosting, and going over weekend plans while the scent of cinnamon and sugar wafts through the upper campus. One Thursday, she sat in the Ettinger Lounge, a popular study spot for students. Dressed in a matching set of green velvet skirt and tank top, Lugo appeared effortlessly poised, crossing her legs in a delicate manner. When she speaks, her eyes carry years of laughter. When talking about herself, Lugo does so with light-hearted precision: she knows her strengths but does not boast about them, coming off as accomplished, but not prideful. Anyone who has met her would undoubtedly describe her as driven, with big dreams and a bigger heart. It’s no surprise she was chosen for the position of Head RA, but she is so much more than a job. Lugo, a third-year, is part of Whittier College´s 3-2 engineering program. This program gives students the opportunity to receive a Bachelor of Arts from the College and a Bachelor of Science from a separate university. The distinct ability to receive a more streamlined, scientific liberal arts education sets graduates of this program apart in the professional world. She knew she wanted
Isabella Lugo has many ambitions. her family is still here. Before this, Lugo hopes to complete the second part of the 3-2 program and obtain her Bachelor of Science from Cal Poly Pomona. Her career goals aren’t set in stone, but she mentioned an interest in the deep sea. “When I say aerospace, everyone thinks of the sky and rockets,” she laughed, “I want to be able to develop the devices that go underwater to explore the oceans.” Her research interests are focused on our world rather
Courtesy of isabella lugo than others, as she feels a connection to the ocean. In fact, Lugo considered studying marine biology in high school because the sea was not only fascinating to her, but also intimidating. She wanted to learn more about the things that scared her, demonstrating a will to face her fears that few posses. This article has been condensed for print. to read the full article, visit medium.com/the-quaker-campus.
Feb. 22, 2024
The QC Staff Suggests:
Chelsea Bartilad FEATURES EDITOR
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Mexican Film & Litfest Comes to Whittier Paige Meyer-Draffen
Want to know what our Features Editor recommends this week? Read on! Music: I’ve been listening to Kali Uchis’ latest album ORQUÍDEAS on repeat for the past two weeks. It’s very refreshing, sensual, and alluring. Each track adding its own uniqueness to the album, especially “No Hay Ley Parte 2,” “Dame Beso // Muévete,” and “Tu Corazón Es Mío.”
Courtesy of Pitchfork
Webcomic: Although I haven’t kept up with the recent chapters, I really enjoyed reading My Little Bookstore. It’s a Korean webcomic that’s about a freelance TV writer who comes across a bookstore, which rekindles her dream of becoming an author. It’s a cute story with a nice message along with a love triangle and some celebrity drama along the way.
STAFF WRITER
From Feb. 6 through Feb. 8, Whittier College hosted two of the most decorated women in the International Film and Literature industries: Tatiana Huezo and Jennifer Clement. Huezo is the director of many documentaries and films that primarily focus on women’s experiences in Mexico and South America. She has been honored with accolades such as the Berlinale Documentary Film Award in 2023, a win for the Next Generation Award from Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards in 2021, and Best Director at the 2017 Ariel Awards. Along with being the first female president of PEN International as of 2015, Clement is also the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Canongate Prize, and countless other honors. Clement notably writes about the once hidden experience of Mexican and South American women whilst living under male-oriented and male-facilitated violence. The festival was held in Hoover 100, where Huezo’s films El Eco and Prayers for the Stolen (El Noche de Fuego) were viewed on the first and second evening, respectively. Furthermore, on Thursday evening (Feb. 8), Clement provided a read-
PHOTOGRAPHER
TV: I binge-watched the first two seasons of Abbott Elementary last year after finding out Tyler James Williams was a part of the cast. But looking past the childhood icon, the series is a mockumentary that makes subtle commentary on social issues regarding underfunded public schools, while not losing its humorous charm. Season three is currently airing so I’d give it a watch!
Courtesy of ABC
Food: I’ve had an endless supply of sweets thanks to Valentine’s Day and the multiple birthdays following it, but nothing compares to Porto’s Red Velvet Cake Round. Not only does it look nice, but it also tastes so good. The food coma was worth it.
Courtesy of Porto’s Bakery
ing and an open Q&A from works such as The Promised Party, Prayers for the Stolen, and Widow Basquiat. Huezo’s adaptation of Prayers For the Stolen brought viewers into the dense and rocky jungles of Mexico, following Ana and her best friends, Luz and Maria, through their adolescence as Ana and her mother navigated living under the threat of cartel violence. The almost too bright, blood red poppies that the women of the village were harvesting opium from radiated off the screen—a stark contrast to the thick greenery that surrounded them. Moments of childhood joy and the steps throughout girlhood were tightly interwoven with the suspense of cartel trucks rolling by residential areas. The novel Prayers for the Stolen was based on the anecdotes Clement had heard quietly spilled out across a kitchen counter deep in Mexico. Clement’s inspiration for the novel was also sparked by the imbalance she noticed in the amount of coverage women in Mexico were granted in newspapers, literature, and films. “There were no stories about women, or the violence men committed against them,” Clement lamented. “Women’s jails were far from city centers and rarely had visitors.” This brought Clement to spend years researching and investigating the lost stories of women
in Mexico, Gurrerra, and countless stretches of South America. Most notably, the women who hid their daughters from the cartel in rabbit burrows, and who substantiated villages because of the epidemic of violence tearing men away from communities. Clement recalls how one of the women in these communities described living in solitary female colonies: “Vivir sin hombres es como dormir sin sueños.” Living without men was like sleeping without dreams. People lost pieces of their communities, their families broken by the threat of violence and imprisonment under corrupt governments. Financial survival depended on finding work across the border. Stories about women, and particularly the theme of girlhood, is prominent in Clement’s collection of works. She found that there was a plane of existence where girls and immigrants disappeared to as both parties were met with violence. The connections between Ana and her closest friends were illustrated in a refreshing light; they were girls who played in lakes and streams, and tried to match their thought wavelengths through humming, perhaps experiencing a spark of a psychic connection with each other. Even in developmental moments like stealing a beetroot to use as lipstick, or having their hair cut short for
Franklin in the Spotlight Nune Papikyan
Courtesy of Bookstr
11
On Feb. 16, 2024 the Peanuts special, Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin, released, creating a long awaited spotlight for the comic strip’s first Black character, Franklin Armstrong. Before diving into the special, it’s important to understand why Franklin is such a significant character. In the wake of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, Harriet Glickman, a school teacher from Los Angeles, wrote to Peanuts creator Charles Schulz on April 15, 1968, encouraging him to include a Black character in his comic strip. Schulz was hesitant at first because he was worried it would be “patronizing.” After a few more exchanges, Glickman convinced Schulz, leading to Franklin finally debuting on July 31, 1968. His first appearance was in a comic strip where Charlie Brown lost his beach ball, and Franklin finds it and hands it back to him. They only exchange a few lines, one of which included Franklin noticing Charlie Brown’s sandcastle, which is evidently crooked. However, Franklin then made his animation debut in the 1972 film: Snoopy, Come Home.
Returning to the most recent 40 minute special, Franklin is finally given the spotlight. The special delves into the concept of his first appearance and adds much more to it. First of all, we learn Franklin’s last name. His full name is Franklin Armstrong, chosen by Schulz out of respect for fellow cartoonist Robb Armstrong, who created Jump Start, a comic about a Black family. Armstrong was also one of the leading writers of the new special. The special continues by expanding on Franklin’s introduction. We learn that he is an army kid who moves around often. Because of this, he’s had a hard time making friends. When he finally enters the town where the Peanuts characters are based, Franklin states, “One thing was for sure: there was a lack of variety in this place,” adding to his anxieties of moving to another town. The first person he encounters is Linus, who is tending to his pumpkins, preparing for the arrival of The Great Pumpkin. The meeting doesn’t go too well as Franklin follows his grandfather’s written advice on how to make friends and misunderstands the situation. He feels distraught.
the first time, the girls endured everything together, and found peace in each other despite the horrors of the community’s circumstances. Clement hosted an open reading and Q&A about her latest work, The Promised Party. In The Promised Party, Clement intertwines supernatural and poetic elements into her personal experience growing up in Mexico City, and does the same with topics like gun violence, girlhood, and romantic relationships. Her dedication to her prose speaks to the complex and somber epidemics that she immerses the reader in. This article has been condensed for print. To read more, visit medium. com/the-quaker-campus.
Courtesy of IMBD They shed light on rural Mexico.
great John Coltrane.” The conversation continues when the boys bond over a shared enjoyment of baseball, where the topic of how the sport used to be segregated is brought up. In the moment Charlie Brown says, “Wow, a kid can really learn a lot hanging around with you, Franklin.” The soapbox car race begins well, but in an act of self-sacrifice, Charlie Brown and Franklin do not win the race. As they finally make it past the finish line, everyone cheers them on. Finally feeling the weight of having to make new friends over and over again be lifted off his shoulders, in the gratifying final moments of the episode, Franklin is invited to sit with the others at a table in a pizza restaurant.
The special continues with the next scene beginning at the beach, a nod to his original appearance. Franklin then meets Charlie Brown. For the first time since Franklin moved to this town, he finally has a friendly conversation. The special continues with the introduction of a soapbox derby. Franklin pairs up with Charlie Brown to create the best soapbox car the neighborhood has ever seen. Julie Hinds writes for USA Today, “While race isn’t addressed directly, the topic emerges as the boys get to know each other. When Charlie asks Franklin what kind of music he likes, Franklin says he is a fan of Stevie Wonder, Little Richard and This article has been condensed James Brown. Then he plays a for print. To read more, visit merecord by a new favorite, jazz dium.com/the-quaker-campus.
Courtesy of Apple TV+ / Bossip Franklin has had a tumultous history in the Peanuts universe.
12
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Feb. 22, 2024
Mey & Em’s Big Picture Breakdown
Meylina Tran A&E EDITOR
Emily Henderson EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
This conversation has been edited for concision and clarity. For most people, January is that bleak time of year when Christmas magic dies and new year’s resolutions are broken. But for film buffs, January means the beginning of awards season, and now that Oscar nominations have been released, things are starting to get serious. Meylina: I’m Meylina. Emily: And I’m Emily. M: And we are going to be discussing the 2024 Oscar nominations. Okay, let’s start off. Emily, how were the movies? Did you enjoy them? E: You know, the movies are back. M: The ones that you watched? E: Hey! Alright, disclaimer before we get into any of this: I am a fake cinephile. I’ve only watched a couple—a handful of the Best Picture nominees. But I know about the films; I know in my heart and in my soul about them. M: I want to go through every film nominated, and I’m going to ask Emily if they watched them. E: I’m so sorry. M: Anatomy of a Fall. E: Half of it. And I’ve been really liking it. I think it’s really good. It’s very meticulous, and the way… who’s the director? M: Justine Triet. E: Justine Triet…she knows what she’s doing. M: You’re gonna get so f*cked up over the second half. E: Oh really? I’m excited. M: I watched it by the way. I watch movies. E: Sorry. M: I’m the cinephile here. — Anyway, Barbie. You did watch Barbie. E: I did watch Barbie, and I did not necessarily enjoy it. I think it’s fun. I think it’s a good summer, fun movie, and I think we should have left it at that. M: I watched it in theaters when it came out, so when I watched it, it felt like a really big thing. And it felt really great. I do agree with you that some of the technical things, especially the writing, is a little weaker. E: The writing’s weak. We both love Greta Gerwig so deeply— M: I did my whole thesis on her. E: Exactly. So, she does really well…what I was explaining to Meylina is that in a lot of her films, she takes snippets of someone’s life and puts them together to create a full story. And that works really
well for something like Lady Bird, and it works extremely well for Little Women. For Barbie…you’re creating this whole new world for Barbie. It’s a whole new idea, and you have to give a full story. M: She should not have written Barbie with Noah Baumbach. I know that they’re married now. Congratulations on your marriage. E: And your children! M: And your two children, but— Okay, The Holdovers. E: I love The Holdovers dearly. I don’t say the phrase an “instant classic” for a lot of things because I don’t think some movies are worth that. But I truly think The Holdovers is an instant classic Christmas movie. I think you’ve described it as
Scorsese is for the fathers out there. I’ve seen clips of Lily Gladstone’s performance. I think she is so deserving. I can listen to her talk every single day. M: Okay. Maestro. E: Oh my god. *groans* Maestro. M: I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: I think if Maestro stopped after the first half hour, it would win an Academy Award. E: A beautiful short film. I think Bradley Cooper can be a really great director. M: I think he is a very good director. I’ll say that. I’ll go on the record. I think he has visions. And he’s good at executing the visions, as we’ve seen in the first half hour
Emily did not watch movies, but Meylina did.
very tender. M: It’s an incredibly tender film. E: It holds itself to such a calibur of care that I don’t see in a lot of movies. M: I feel like it’s made by people that actually like movies and that’s why it’s good. E: I knew it was going to be when they did the retro Warner Brothers logo. That was really fun. I love Dominic Sessa. I will defend you. — Da’vine Joy Randolph, I think, is the heart of that film. And then, Paul Giamatti is obviously…it’s Paul Giamatti. M: I was watching it, and I thought that she would do more. She was great with what she did. It just felt so secondary. E: That’s valid. She is kind of… she’s an accessory in a lot of ways to those two men. M: And I know that the relationship between Sessa and Giamatti is the center point of the whole movie, and she’s their third, but it’s…I don’t know. Anyways.
of Maestro. It’s just…the rest of the film is so bad because it doesn’t know what it wants to focus on. E: It doesn’t. It doesn’t know if it wants to focus on him being an artist, about their relationship, about his queerness? It goes all over, so everything is so surface level. M: I know that Bradley has said in a few interviews that the film is supposed to focus on their relationship. E: It does focus a lot on that relationship. But, I didn’t learn anything about Maestro that I didn’t know previously. Other than their relationship, it’s a very stereotypical film about the great muse! I think Carey Mulligan’s performance is incredible. M: She’s good in that movie. E: It’s insane. Especially with what she’s given. Going back to the directing standpoint, there’s a single shot in that movie where it’s Carey Mulligan in the shadow of Maestro— M: I like how you only call him “Maestro.” E: Killers of the Flower Moon. E: I truly cannot remember his M: You haven’t watched it. name. E: I need to. I think my dad would M: Leonard Bernstein. love this movie. I think Martin E: Leonard Bernstein. I’m so sorry.
— Again, in the black and white, but it’s an incredible shot. Sometimes, guys, directors don’t need to write their own films. I think you can be good just as a director. M: Did he write it? E: I don’t know. I might be lying. E: Oppenheimer. M: I love this movie. E: Will win Best Picture. It’s such a shoe-in. And it’s a deserved award—I didn’t watch it—It’s a deserved award. M: I will say, as somebody who did watch it, it does deserve the award. It’s so good in theaters. I know that people make fun of Chris[topher] Nolan for being like, “You have to see this film in IMAX.”
Best Actress for? M: La La Land. E: That’s right. I knew that. E: Let’s talk about our snubs. What are we upset about? M: I know your number one. E: Asteroid City Nation, we have lost so intensely this year. I am in this war. I based my entire senior thesis on Asteroid City and Wes Anderson. M: Has he ever won one? E: He’s only ever been nominated. M: I think they’re going to do the thing where it’s like, “He’s an old guy, it’s time to give him his Oscar.” E: Just do it now! — He did get nominated for The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. And he will probably win for that. M: But that’s such a pity award. That one was fine. E: I liked it. I personally also wish Jason Schwartzman got the Best Actor nom. I don’t think he could’ve won, but I think his performance…he does a lot of comedy and I think the drama performance is a new era. Schwartzman Nation, the Schwartzman Renaissance is here. M: Can I tell Schwartzman Nation that I don’t think he’ll ever be nominated? E: He’s never going to be. M: Okay. I wasn’t sure if that would be controversial. E: No, I know. I just have dreams.
E: We need to talk about your Courtesy of NBC News number one snub as well. Charles E: True filmmaker. That’s why I’ve Melton in May December. been holding off on watching it be- M: *screams* Hey, guys? You know cause I want the big IMAX experi- how last year the Academy loved ence of it. — I think Cillian Mur- Asian people? What the f*ck? Hey, phy is also a shoe-in for Best Actor. guys? I’m so upset. I think 1) the M: Do you think so? I think it’s be- Academy was really cowardly for tween him and Giamatti. Because not nominating May December in all of the awards that I’ve seen, it’s anything—have you seen that? either been Cillian or Giamatti. But E: Not yet. But it was nominated in I do think Cillian has the leg up. I Original Screenplay. M: That’s a pity nomination. If love you Cillian Murphy. E: I love you Cillian Murphy. I anything’s ever given a Screenthink a lot of the time, they’ll nom- play nomination and nothing else, inate someone for a drama rather that’s a pity nomination. — Anythan a comedy. Even though The ways. Charles Melton changed my life. On top of that, speaking Holdovers…we can go into genre. M: Hey! Hey! The Holdovers: Fun- of Asian people that the Academy does not like anymore: Greta Lee ny, not a comedy. in Past Lives. Hey, that also kind of changed my life. Are we the same M: Poor Things. person? Kind of. — Hey, guys? E: Haven’t seen it. I’m speaking to the Academy now. M: I’ve seen it. E: Even just watching trailers and Everyone else, close your eyes and clips, this is so up my alley. I love stop reading...Why do you hate weird shit, I love weird movies. I Asian people? Can I get in the room? think we need to make more weird Please, for the love of god. E: Oh my god. movies. M: I think if, for some reason, Lily M: I’m coming down from my soap Gladstone didn’t win Best Actress, box. it would go to Emma Stone. Which is…She already has one, she doesn’t This article has been condensed for print. To read more, visit medium. need another one, but— E: What does Emma Stone have a com/the-quaker-campus.
Courtesy of Nemi