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Chapman University’s independent student newspaper since 1926.

05/19/2024

The Panther is hiring for the Fall 2024 semester! Application available on our home page.
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To apply, please submit a completed application, 2-3 samples of relevant work and a resume to [email protected] by Friday, May 24 at 11:59PM.

05/19/2024

Have a great summer, Panthers! Congratulations to all those graduating, and see all continuing students next fall!

05/17/2024

Chapman announces early stages of new on-campus Student Success Center. Story by Natalie Paul. Photo by Simrah Ahmad.

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On April 4, an email was sent out to Chapman University students, faculty and staff detailing that a new Student Success Center was in the early stages of development for the Orange campus. The email also explained that input from students was encouraged to help create the vision of the project.

Students were told to fill out a form over the following week that asked questions such as “What services or resources would you expect to find at a new Student Success Center?” and “What are some obstacles on the Orange Campus that currently impede student success?”

Brad Petitfils, Chapman’s vice provost for undergraduate education and student success, is helping lead the project. Petitfils explained what the early visions currently look like for the new center.

“The conversation about this building started about two years ago as part of the new strategic plan, and at that time, to think about what would go into this type of a building,” Petitfils told The Panther. “We know that it will never be all the things that we imagine because we just don't have that much space.”

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/news/chapman-announces-early-stages-of-new-on-campus-student-success-center

05/17/2024

Smiles all around: Chapman alumni host monthly stand-up gigs. Story by Molly Rose Freeman. Photos courtesy of Maddie Ogden.⁠
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There’s not much Sam Bailey won’t do in the name of comedy, especially when he has an audience. ⁠
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“One time during a show, I tried to chug three Mexican cokes in a row,” the 2022 alumnus told the Panther. “I did not succeed, but the effort is what counts.” ⁠
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Bailey’s noble effort is a true testament to the lengths that Chapman grads will go to put on a show and get some good laughs. ⁠
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In 2023, Bailey, and another class of ‘22 pal launched a monthly stand-up comedy show that involves multiple comedians, including multiple Chapman grads. Despite the show being a success and a great way to learn on the job, Bailey was initially hesitant. ⁠
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“My good friend Graham Byrne had been pitching it to me for a while. At first, I didn’t want to start the show until we were more experienced,” Bailey said. “But then, I came to the conclusion that doing the show was the best way to get that experience.”⁠
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The show, called Rock and Roll Comedy, usually happens on one Thursday every month at about 8 or 9 p.m. in Ghengis Cohen. Specific details can be found on the Rock and Roll Comedy Instagram page. Bailey encourages current Chapman students to not only come out and watch, but also throw their own hats in the ring. ⁠
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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/features/smiles-all-around-chapman-alumni-host-monthly-stand-up-gigs

05/16/2024

Opinion | Open letter about the inclusion of ASL in public schools’ language curriculum. Story by Shea Higa. Illustration by Yana Samoylova.

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Dear Keith Hayashi, Superintendent of the Hawai’i Public School System:

In the early stages of schooling, students are introduced to the American Sign Language (ASL) as the alternative voice used by those who have lost the privilege to hear. As a former student of the Hawai’i Public School system, I can proclaim that this introduction was indeed just that: an introduction.

At most, we were taught the language's alphabet. My memory of how to sign those 26 letters is blurry, and there is no argument that knowing just the alphabet does nothing to aid in understanding and communicating with those who are deaf. Due to this, a barrier is created between public school students and the deaf community of Hawai’i, therefore producing a need for ASL to be included as a language course offered.

In the United States, there are about 1,000 schools that offer ASL as a foreign language course, despite the fact that it is the third most-used language in the country, which accounts for 2.9% of the population. If anyone had the desire to learn beyond the ASL alphabet in the state of Hawai’i, it would not be possible for them, as the state does not have one of the 1,000 schools offering ASL language courses. This deprives any individual of acquiring knowledge about the language while in the public school system and forces them to look elsewhere to learn.

During my time in high school, I worked in the customer service industry, and once in a while, this particular customer would come into my workplace. He would never speak while ordering and would, in turn, come prepared with a written note regarding what he wanted. It became clear that he was deaf and didn’t understand my spoken words.

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/opinions/opinion-open-letter-about-the-inclusion-of-asl-in-public-schools-language-curriculum

05/14/2024

Rabbi Cassi Kail joins Chapman University as the new Director of Jewish Life. Story by Rosemary Wright. Photo collage by Emily Paris, photo courtesy of Rabbi Cassi Kail.

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Rabbi Cassi Kail has loved supporting those she has shepherded as a Jewish religious leader for the last 13 years.

“I love serving the community — being able to meet people where they are,” Kail said.

Now, She will be using this invaluable experience to lead Chapman’s faith-based Jewish organizations as the school’s new Director of Jewish Life.

Although Kail appreciated her time serving as a congressional Rabbi in New York for over a decade, she shared that she felt it was time for something “different.” While she valued counseling her congregation and leading rituals, she now feels she is more needed elsewhere.

“As I look at the world right now, especially after Oct. 7, there are so many Jewish students who are struggling on college campuses, and I really felt called to be on a college campus,” Kail said.

With so much unrest in the greater religious community, Kail has goals of continuing to foster an environment on Chapman’s campus where Jewish students feel fully supported.

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/news/u0pavaaxf10kpw3g0qj7yezh5fhtuk

05/14/2024

What you can do with a little space like this | Orange Home Grown. Created by Lisa Wong.

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Nestled on the outside of Chapman University on North Lemon Street is a small plot of land tucked in between residential homes — where families, college students and grade school science classes come together to nourish rows of fruit, edible flowers, a composting station and fresh seeds that will soon sprout into yummy produce.

The Orange Home Grown education farm, which started in 2016, is a place where anyone can come to learn how to grow food from dirt to table! Volunteers ranging from years of experience to those who have just stepped foot into the garden can all come together to be a part of this ‘self-sustaining cycle,’ as Farm Manager Doug Turner describes it. Every part of the farm is self-sourced — from the dirt to the seeds to the variety of produce.

When Orange Home Grown first started this farming space, they were amazed by how many people didn’t know where their food came from, a majority of which were younger people. So, they set out on a mission to educate the Orange community on what it means to have access to sustainable food.

Through youth food literacy programs, partnering with various organizations and community groups, as well as inviting schools to come work on their farm, the team at Orange Home Grown have continued to plant seeds of food knowledge in every visitor that steps on their dirt!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDEzQ1A7-Vk&list=PLgkOaMt7HBc_wkZ9y3pG6JYFOfRtdNft-&index=7&ab_channel=ThePantherNewspaper

05/14/2024

Orange Film Fest goes where no festival has gone before. Story by Benjamin Price. Photo courtesy of Alex Salomon.

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On April 20, the USS Enterprise took a pit stop in Santa Ana when “Star Trek: The Next Generation” actor LeVar Burton swung by the second edition of Orange Film Fest (OFF), a festival showcasing the best in student film from Chapman and other schools across southern California.

After a successful first year, OFF founder Derrick Davidian had larger ambitions for where he saw the fest going from there.

“The biggest goal was to expand the festival to not (just) Chapman students, and to reach other universities across southern California,” said the senior strategic and corporate communication major. ”This year, we had submissions from Loyola Marymount University, USC and Cal State Long Beach. We saw Notre Dame and also the New York Film Academy. So, I would say that (this year) was a great success.

After all 12 selected shorts were screened, it was time for awards, and this year’s special speaker, Burton, was interviewed by senior screenwriting major Jackson Spiner. Spiner also moderated the conversation with last year’s special guest, “Weird Al” Yankovic.

“What’s nice is this year with (Burton) and last year with Weird Al, they’re such lovely, personable people that it made my job so much easier because the conversation could just flow,” Spiner said.

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/features/orange-film-fest-goes-where-no-festival-has-gone-before

05/12/2024

Beyond the court and behind the camera with cast and crew of ‘Challengers’. Story and photo illustration by Benjamin Price.

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The creative kernel for the 2024 film “Challengers” occurred as writer Justin Kuritzkes turned on the 2018 US Open. He became suddenly taken by how intensely cinematic the sport was. In particular, his fascination settled on the dynamic between coaches and players within the game.

Tennis forces someone who could be so invested in a person’s success to be separated by a net or to watch from the crowd. He settled on a question that then forged the central conflict of the newly released film: What if you have to talk about something happening beyond the net about the person on the other side of it?

“Challengers” follows Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a tennis superstar and two of her contemporaries, Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor). Art and Patrick are friends in their own right and compete for Tashi’s affection on and off the court. Her flourishing career is cut short by an injury she sustains while she’s in college. In that moment, she chooses Art and goes on to become his coach and his wife. Years later, Patrick and Art find themselves on opposite sides of the net, Patrick re-emerges in Tashi’s life, and so, the dysfunction only continues.

As for how the project got set up with producers, Kuritzkes’ agent reached out to Amy Pascal and Rachel O’Connor, who promised Zendaya’s involvement, which got them Kuritzkes’ creative blessing. Pascal and Rachel O’Connor both worked with Zendaya on the most recent Spider-Man trilogy. With Pascal onboard, Kuritzkes felt confident the film would come to fruition.

“That was the moment the movie felt real for me,” Kuritzkes said.

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/entertainment/2kl6uu0wxui3z0h6eeidf0144jz2pm

05/10/2024

Opinion | The Westernization of yoga. Story by Kendal Roney. Illustration by Yana Samoylova.

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Since the beginning of time, transcultural interactions have had a direct impact on how a society functions.

Transculturality is a process of cultural transformation due to the emergence or loss of cultural components through exchanges. From beliefs, languages and cultural practices, the way we are stems from the world around us. It’s vital to understand the places where cultural phenomena took place and where they are now. Cultural competence allows us to connect with individuals on a deeper level, and diversity guides our minds into new ways of thinking. But in those exchanges, sometimes we lose some parts.

Modern-day yoga is built on something more substantial than what is practiced in the Western world. History reveals itself in an unwavering manner that proves the cultural significance of yoga, which has become a transcultural phenomenon.

The word “yoga” is derived from “union”, which means “to yoke”, which connects to religious ties. It is known as an ethical, mental and physical practice that liberates the consciousness to undergo the transformation of self-realization. The practice was created to control the senses of the body, not to perfect it. Yoga began to spread along the Silk Road about five centuries BCE. And each place it passed, it evolved to fit that particular culture.

Yoga truly arose when it was brought back to life after India gained independence from the British in 1947. As the country gained independence, nationalism and interest in Indian culture rose.

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/opinions/opinion-the-westernization-of-yoga

05/10/2024

Opinion | Resistance in the 21st century. Story by Ana Romanczuk. Photo collage by Emily Paris.

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As social media use has widened across the world and gained traction and popularity, activism has been reimagined in new and transformative ways.

Women, in particular, have made use of social media as an outlet for activism throughout the world in order to confront specific issues and demand change. Due to an increase in social media use, there has also been an increase in activism seen on these platforms. These social media campaigns are not only being launched by non-profit corporations, but also people with smaller platforms or public figures who took part in social movements such as the Me Too movement in 2017.

Open Global Rights noted that there are several different means for activism such as a call to action to the public or advocating for specific issues. An example of this are the women and girls around the globe who have taken to social media to advocate for their rights. Social media and the internet provide a unique access point for women globally to partake in conversation and activism, as it is widely accessible, fairly low in cost and can reach a large global audience.

While there are benefits to social media as a method of activism, there are also limitations, such as a lack of consistent internet access in specific countries and regions. Social media as a form of resistance is particularly relevant in areas such as the Middle East, North Africa, India and other regions of the world, likely due to differences in accessing outlets for expression.

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/opinions/opinion-resistance-in-the-21st-century

05/09/2024

You can’t spell SWE without ‘we’: Society of Women Engineers uplift women in STEM. Story by Taylor Bazella. Photo collage by Emily Paris, photos courtesy of the Society of Women Engineers club.

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Before officially committing to Chapman, junior software engineering and peace studies double major Daisy Fernandez-Reyes was a STEM scholar at Orange High School. She was paired up with a professor at Chapman, Franceli Cibrian, to conduct research, and through this, she was able to discover the Fowler School of Engineering. She quickly became passionate about what they had to offer.

“I really liked seeing that these professors were so committed to helping us go for that education,” Fernandez-Reyes said. “The professor I worked with did a lot of work with children with disabilities and children with autism and ADHD, hyperactivity. I really was interested in doing work like that. I just didn't know there was potential for that in computers and engineering. I think that was definitely a huge motivator for me, especially when I finally came to Chapman.”

Fernandez-Reyes went on to become the Vice President of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) on campus — a position that she has since given up but proudly served. SWE is an international organization focused on supporting, uplifting and advocating for women in various engineering fields. Although their goal is to help women engineers, SWE advocates for any person in an underrepresented community, and even men can join the organization. Rather than hosting weekly meetings, the club prefers to put on bigger events for its members.

“For certain events like socials, people can get food and they can socialize. We do those a lot in collaboration with other clubs because we believe in strengthening those bonds between the clubs,” said SWE president Yanelly Mego, a junior software engineering major. “We have held workshops before. We also had a guest speaker before too.”

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/features/you-cant-spell-swe-without-we-society-of-women-engineers-uplift-women-in-stem

05/07/2024

Chapman Palestinian student organization launches Gaza solidarity encampment on campus. Story by Kiana Kalahele, Renee Elefante and Jiya Kathuria. Photos by Emily Paris and Renee Elefante.

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Chapman’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) officially launched a Gaza solidarity encampment on May 2. According to a joint Instagram post in collaboration with Chapman Democrats, the encampment is located outside of Wilkinson Hall in a grassy area on campus.

The encampment began early in the morning on May 2 and is estimated to run until the university “decides to divest,” according to Dariush Norton, a member of SJP who has been helping to organize the encampment.

SJP stated via an Instagram post that its goals for the encampment are to get campus administration to meet its demands, which include calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, divestment of all funding and connections to brands that support occupation in Palestine. Additionally, SJP is pushing for financial transparency of where tuition money is spent and rejection of the Military-Industrial Complex (MIC).

The agenda for day one of the encampment started with a “know your rights training” followed by a “de-escalation training” session. Faculty members and students spoke, banners were made and attendees participated in games and activities throughout the day.

Fred Smoller, an associate professor of political science at Chapman, was one of the faculty members who spoke up. Smoller is Jewish and has traveled to Israel with students in the past.

“I know (the encampment for Palestine) seems awkward,” Smoller told attendees. “You’re setting up tents; that’s not what we usually do. You’re taking a stand. I’m sure people are saying, ‘Why are you doing this?’ ‘Why are you making noise?’ They may criticize you, they may spit at you, they may make you feel uncomfortable. But hold on to your moral compass. Hold on to what we know is the right thing to do.”

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/politics/chapman-palestinian-student-organization-launches-gaza-solidarity-encampment-on-campus

05/07/2024

Chapman SJP holds weekly walkouts on campus in light of recent cross-country college protests. Story by Kiana Kalahele, Nicole Kavros and Jiya Kathuria. Photos by Jiya Kathuria.

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Some students at Chapman have been getting more politically active on campus in light of recent walkouts that have been organized by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).

Three walkouts have occurred so far on campus on April 18, April 24 and May 1. Students who participated had the opportunity to protest, chant, make posters and call for Chapman to divest from “all weapon manufacturers and institutions that aid in the occupation of Palestine,” according to an April 15 statement posted by SJP.

According to Myth Moos, a junior philosophy and psychology double major who is on the executive board of SJP, the walkouts will be happening weekly until the end of the semester.

“(These walkouts) will be a good test to see if Chapman students are willing to put in the work week after week versus just showing up once, and I have confidence that they’ll do so,” Moos said. “So, I think the upcoming walkouts will be better than the ones we had last week.”

Participants in the April 18 walkout marched inside Argyros Forum, by the Keck Center for Science and Engineering and near the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and the Digital Media Arts Center. Some of Chapman’s peace studies classes also participated in the walkouts, which included chants calling for divestment and a ceasefire for Palestine.

“I think it’s just important that students continue to show up and show out and voice their opinions,” Moos told The Panther. “We need to make sure that the school hears our voices the same way we need to make sure the country hears our voices.”

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/politics/chapman-sjp-holds-weekly-walkouts-on-campus-in-light-of-recent-cross-country-college-protests

05/05/2024

Opinion | The cost of our joy was their trauma. Story by Emilia Cuevas Diaz. Illustration by Yana Samoylova.

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Trigger warning: child abuse, sexual assault

We talk about child actors in our producing classes at Dodge.

It’s part of a class lecture, so we sit and we listen as the professors tell us all the hoops we have to jump through and all the restrictions we have to abide by if we want to have a child actor in our films.

Mostly, we talk about child actors in the context of student films, since that’s what we are working on for the class. We mostly discuss that if we choose to hire a child actor, we are signing on for a lot of rules and restrictions that, as a student film, we might not be able to afford.

We are warned against using minors in our films if possible because doing so would mean reduced hours of work, the need to get a studio teacher, having to deal with the parents and many more complications.

And sure, we touch on the role of child actors in bigger productions too, but in the classes I’ve taken, we are mostly interested in the student films we are working on at the moment.

The reality is that for years, I don’t think we as a society really thought that much about child actors in general. Sure, they got a lot of attention because they were famous, but I don’t think we ever truly thought about what it meant for children to be put in that position. They were just sort of part of Hollywood.

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/opinions/opinion-the-cost-of-our-joy-was-their-trauma

05/05/2024

Chapman SSI holds IDF soldiers event amid conflict on campus. Story by Tatum Foulger. Photo by Emily Paris.

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Disclaimer: Due to safety concerns, the identities of the three soldiers who came to speak have not been disclosed by the Chapman chapter of Students Supporting Israel.

On May 2, Chapman’s Students Supporting Israel (SSI) organization hosted three former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers to speak on campus. The message: no amount of persecution can break the Jewish spirit.

Though not active duty members of the IDF, the former soldiers, who all grew up in Southern California Jewish communities, spoke highly of the military institution. The soldiers, whose identities had been protected by SSI for their own safety, voluntarily enlisted because they felt it was their duty to protect their fellow Jews. The first soldier to speak at the event is a Chapman alumnus who served in the IDF from 2013 to 2016 in the tanks division, while the following two speakers, who grew up together, trained as snipers.

Photography and recording were strictly prohibited at the event.

In speaking on the morality of the IDF, the final speaker detailed the moment he was wounded during combat and took shrapnel to the neck from a bomb near the West Bank. As a result, he spent several weeks receiving medical care before returning home.

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/politics/chapman-ssi-holds-idf-soldiers-event-amid-conflict-on-campus

05/03/2024

Opinion | Normalize the abnormality of deafness. Story by Bridgette Mayse. Illustration by Yana Samoylova.

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Remember silent films from the 1900s? Imagine watching one without closed captions.

Did the actor say olive juice? No, probably “I love you.” Both phrases look identical, and the movie has dim lighting, so you can never be 100% certain. As the actor turns his head, everyone laughs, but you are unsure why. You can no longer see his face and are now incapable of even attempting to read his lips. With great frustration, you unwillingly crucify all hopes of learning what joke was stated.

This hopeless predicament is the striking reality for deaf individuals.

Deaf people are expected to understand and utilize oral communication despite lip-reading's immense difficulty, which is depicted by this anecdote. This lack of consideration for the needs of those incapable of hearing is propagated by the ignorance of Deaf culture.

Deafness must be accepted. Its abnormality should be celebrated.

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/opinions/opinion-normalize-the-abnormality-of-deafness

05/03/2024

Recent events prompt tensions between Israel, Palestine supporters at Chapman. Story by Kiana Kalahele, Nicole Kavros and Jiya Kathuria. Photo collage by Emily Paris.

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An April 12 speaker event hosted by Chapman’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) has recently contributed to the rise in political activism seen across campus over the past few weeks.

The event featured actress and TikTok influencer Maya Abdallah, who SJP chose as a speaker since she is a “big Palestinian advocate,” according to Myth Moos, a junior philosophy and psychology double major who is on the executive board of SJP.

“We had reached out to invite (Abdallah) to speak on campus because she’s a big Palestinian advocate, especially on TikTok,” Moos told The Panther. “She’s very outspoken on the topic, so we thought she’d be a great speaker to come to campus, and she had just spoken at Fullerton earlier this month.”

In an email sent to Chapman Jewish student organizations that was later shared in a Students Supporting Israel (SSI) Instagram post, President Daniele Struppa and Dean of Students Jerry Price stated that they had received “many emails and calls” expressing concerns about Abdallah.

“We understand your concerns about the troublesome statements this speaker has made in other forums, including antisemitic tropes, a denialism of Jewish history in the Middle East and of the atrocities on Oct. 7,” Struppa and Price wrote in an email sent to Chapman Jewish student organizations.

Struppa and Price continued: “It goes without saying that the speaker is not being hosted by the University; student organizations are hosting the speaker. Furthermore, this person only speaks for herself, certainly not Chapman or our student body. While we were not involved in the selection of the speaker, please rest assured that we have a thoughtful, comprehensive safety and security plan to ensure that the event proceeds without incident.”

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/politics/recent-events-prompt-tensions-between-israel-palestine-supporters-at-chapman

05/02/2024

Destroying nostalgia: The surge of toy movie adaptations. Story by Izzy Betz. Photo collage by Simrah Ahmad.

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What do you think a movie adaptation of the game UNO could possibly be about? A possessed set of cards. An animated adventure with the Plus-four card as the villain. An intense duel over Uno’s controversial double-stacking rules. Now try this exercise with a Magic 8 Ball. How about Hot Wheel or Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots?

After the success of the “Barbie” movie last year, Mattel is expanding its slate with over 40 more projects based on their toys. That’s right… 40. Some films in development include a live-action Hot Wheels franchise with Star Wars director J.J. Abrams set to produce, an UNO action-heist-comedy about Atlanta’s hip-hop andrap scene with Grammy-nominated rapper Lil Yachty and a Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots film with “Fast and Furious” actor Vin Diesel.

Film students are no strangers to intellectual property (IP) adaptations like short stories, video games or toys made into movies and T.V. shows. However, this massive boom in the post-Barbie era isn’t the news they wished for. While students and smaller filmmakers struggle to fund their original passion projects, large studios are emptying their bank accounts into toy movies — but why?

“The only projects producers are picking up are ones that are already attached to existing franchises and IP. You are guaranteed an audience. You’re guaranteed seats in the theater. You are guaranteed tickets sold. If you do something that is completely original, you’re starting from square one — and you’re at the risk of losing money.”

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/entertainment/destroying-nostalgia-the-surge-of-toy-movie-adaptations

04/30/2024

Put on your dancing shoes: Students host prom for class of 2024. Story by Taylor Bazella. Illustration by Yana Samoylova.

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What sounds better than an evening with live music, vendors, photo ops and snacks alongside all your best friends from college?

For senior creative producing major Mackenzie Holmes and senior film production major Sydney Denman, the answer is nothing. Back in January, the duo began to float around the idea of throwing a prom event for their fellow class of 2024 peers.

“We really wanted to throw something to get everyone together and have a celebration of the past four years, especially because our first year was kind of weird with COVID and stuff,” Holmes said. “We only really got three years of school together, so we just wanted to do something that was nice. You know, it's a party, but it's also a celebration of the artists at our school.

The evening’s theme is Nostalgia Night, with a “prom aesthetic inspired from classic movies,” and will take place on May 4 at The American Legion in Orange. Students can expect DJs, tarot card readers and even some special guests at the event. Everyone is encouraged to dress in a prom theme.

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/features/put-on-your-dancing-shoes-students-host-prom-for-class-of-2024

04/29/2024

‘Project Vesperi’ takes Chapman students on a one-way trip to Venus. Story by Cameron Scherer. Photos courtesy of the “Project Vesperi” team.

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Dr. Evelyn Roth, the protagonist of video game “Project Vesperi,” finds contention when encountering fellow astronauts stationed on the desolate planet of Venus. Tensions are heightened on a mission to determine the fate of humanity.

Luckily for the creatives and crew behind “Project Vesperi,” collaboration and camaraderie were at the forefront of their efforts. Across two years of meticulously crafting the video game, they relied on the help of each other, their production crew and Chapman’s film and engineering schools.

The schools came in handy when, across six days in the summer of 2022, “Project Vesperi” co-developers Brandon Hill and Trevor Gore, along with their cast and crew, filmed 83 pages of motion capture for the video game. After filming was completed, Gore and Hill, both game development programming minors, used the initial steps of “Project Vesperi’s” development to satisfy their theses for the minor.

“Before we walked into a room and tried to get people to come on board, they were gonna look at me like (Gore) did and go, ‘What the hell are you talking about? There’s no way you’re gonna have 83 pages of motion capture. Where are you gonna do that? How are you gonna do that? So, it was important to us that before we walked into the classroom, we were gonna have that done, out of the way. We had answers, not questions.”

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https://www.thepanthernewspaper.org/features/project-vesperi-takes-chapman-students-on-a-one-way-trip-to-venus

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Episode 72 | Discovering your passion and where to go from there Podcast by Lisa Wong. Graphic by Sukhman Sahota Link in bio for full podcast episode

Episode 71 | Student Involvement Fair Podcast by Abby Little and Lisa Wong. Graphic by Sukhman Sahota

Episode 63 | Maintaining plant-based diets on Chapman campus. Created by Shannon Stanton, Podcast Editor. According to The University Network, 14% of college students in the U.S. are vegan or vegetarian. For Chapman’s population of plant-based eaters, the university dining hall offers a vegan station with rotating meal options in addition to other food shops on campus. In this episode of the Panther Pod, editor Shannon Stanton talks with vegetarian Madie Manalo, a screenwriting major, and vegan Zoey Hughes, a freshman creative producing major, about the challenges of having a plant-based diet on campus and tips they have to eat well.

Chapman sophomore roller-skaters glide through campus. Created by Vivienne Ayres, Video Editor. Sophomores Alden Ianelli, a communication studies major, and Abby Luhrs, an art history major, talk about their introduction to roller-skating and how it has stirred conversation on Chapman campus.

Episode 62 | Chapman transfer students reflect on campus culture shock. Created by Abby Little, Podcast Editor. According to 2020 statistics from CampusReel, 19% of students at Chapman University are transfer students, or individuals who pursued some form of higher education at a different institution before coming to Chapman. While those who come to Chapman starting out as freshmen in the fall might receive an orientation week and unique bonding experience surrounded by other brand new faces just like them, not every transfer student is guaranteed the same introduction and integration into campus life. Podcast Editor Abby Little talks with transfer students Hazel Thurston – a junior creative writing major, and Rolando Sanabria – a sophomore political science and strategic and corporate communications double major – to share their experiences coming to a brand new school and give advice on how to make the best of your time while here. Link in our bio for full episode! 💬 Transfer students: how was your transition to campus?

Episode 61 | Disney’s dilemma: a history of racism, politicism, commercialization. Created by ABBY LITTLE, Podcast Editor. The Walt Disney Company is one of the largest media conglomerates to exist today. Covering mediums from animated movies, theme parks, cruise ships, vacation clubs and beyond, the corporation is known for creating magical experiences for their guests and viewers through the content they create. Though Disneyland, one of the company’s many properties, is known for being the “Happiest Place on Earth,” the company is not free from socio-political controversy.

Episode 59 | Behind the teleprompter with Chapman News’ four executive producers. Created by Abby Little, Podcast Editor. Every Friday at 12 p.m., viewers can tune in to watch the only live broadcast news program Orange County has to offer: Chapman News. As part of Dodge College’s broadcast journalism program, Chapman News is an entirely student-run production broadcasting from a fully outfitted studio. Podcast Editor Abby Little talks with Chapman News executive producers Payton Bell, Adrienne Mitchel, Kinsley Rolph, and Emma Sexton to discuss their first semester running the show and their future career goals.

Episode 58 | Deep Dive: Collegiate a cappella. Created by Shannon Stanton, Podcast Editor. Most college students know about the musical style of a cappella from the hit film trilogy “Pitch Perfect,” but for some Chapman students, the world of a cappella is a part of their daily lives. To learn more about the history of a cappella and what being in one of these ensembles is like, The Panther Pod talked to Men of Harmony singer Spencer Gonzalez, a senior business administration major, and Valentyna Simon, a sophomore psychology major and assistant music director of The Chaptones.

Episode 55 | Deep Dive: full vs staggered releases for streaming services. Created by Abby Little, Podcast Editor. The standard of weekly-released television was disrupted in the early 2010s with Netflix and its full-release strategy. Since then, binge-watching has increased, and the debate over which release method is better has become more of an active discussion. In this episode, Podcast Editor Abby Little compares the two methods and analyzes their success rates across different streaming services.

Episode 54 | Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation in Florida. Created by Shannon Stanton, Podcast Editor  Florida’s proposed “Don’t Say Gay” bill passed in a 69-47 vote in the Florida House. It will now move onto the Florida Senate. The bill states that “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may noy occur in kindergarten through grade 3.” President Biden criticized the bill for being anti-LGBTQ+, while Florida Governor DeSantis supported the bill for giving parents a say in their child’s education. In this episode of The Panther Pod, Podcast Editor Shannon Stanton shares her opinions on the bill and talks to freshman creative producing major and Florida native, Izzy Betz. Link in our bio for full podcast.

Episode 53 | Finding the best chai latte in the city of Orange. Created by Abby Little and Shannon Stanton, Podcast Editors Chai, a spiced tea originating in India, has gained popularity as a latte in the past few years. This week, The Panther Pod compares chai lattes from different shops near campus to find the best one, so that you don’t have to. Link in our bio for full story.