This February, we are introducing the Quad’s monthly Daily Bruin Roundup, a recap of the previous month’s Daily Bruin articles you should have read (but maybe didn’t), touching on campus, local and national events.
We’re one month into 2017 and Donald Trump’s presidency has only just begun.
January was a month of change, to say the least. My 2017 began with shots and champagne, and now, mostly thanks to President Trump, the next four years of my life will be a never-ending hangover. Hopefully the latest goings-on at UCLA the last four weeks will distract us from my emotional hangover.
The Study reigns supreme
The Study at Hedrick, which opened Jan. 8, is a gold mine for the poor souls that live at the top of the Hill with no consolation prize for making the trek. Complete with bougie food and a beautiful set up, The Study is everyone’s favorite Hill location to hang in because trips to Powell and Charles E. Young Research Library for a decent spot to study is even more laborious. Even though it can be a walk all the way to Hedrick, it’s almost always busy on weekday/weekend afternoons and will likely gain popularity, especially because Bruin Cafe is no longer late-night.
Trump’s executive order, and its ripple effects on campus
In case you’ve been living under a rock, people are in an uproar over Trump’s ban on Syrian refugees and restricted travel for citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Here on campus, the ban hits close to home for international students and researchers. The UC system has since voiced its intentions to support affected students and will release further information regarding assistance if the ban stays put.
Protests, protests, protests
Both at UCLA and the city at large, marches and protests dotted the month of January like chocolate chips in a Mrs. Field’s cookie. Spurred by the Trump presidency, second-year student Jaya Loharuka turned to activism, and still others protested Gabriel Piterberg’s return to campus during week one.
The Women’s March here in Los Angeles was motivated by rejection of Trump’s misogynistic values and a presidency of which many disapprove. USAC provided bus transportation to the march for UCLA students who wanted to voice their opinions. Students also flocked to LAX over this past weekend to protest Trump’s immigration ban, which affects scores of UCLA students and other affiliated academics.
UCLA men’s basketball team takes L’s
To Bruins everywhere, this is particularly painful. The previously No. 2-ranked UCLA men’s basketball team has fallen to No. 11, and the road ahead into February is no easy feat – they will rematch against teams they lost to, including Oregon, Arizona and USC. Hopefully the Bruins can pull out a few W’s, so we can all avoid tears on our midterm study guides. However, the UCLA women’s basketball team is showing some serious girl power.
Diversity in Hollywood improves yet remains lacking
Although the triumph of “La La Land” at the Golden Globes and its predicted victory at the Academy Awards has people critiquing its blinding whiteness, other bright spots within entertainment still shine through, such as the diversity in Star Wars casting. Industry publications Variety and The Hollywood Reporter both deemed this year’s Academy Awards nominations “Moonlight,” “Lion,” “Fences” and “Hidden Figures” diverse enough to retire the 2016 hashtag #OscarSoWhite.
Nevertheless, criticism of diversity within Hollywood remains. Going into February, hopefully the impact of diverse casting within the popular Star Wars series will encourage other filmmakers to follow suit. Movies like “I Am Not Your Negro” and “Growing Up Smith“ coming out in February feature casts that are primarily African-American and Indian, respectively, which will reflect Hollywood’s continued push for diversity. However, these are my weekend plans currently: buying as much popcorn as the Westwood Target supplies and watching every Stars Wars movie ASAP.
Here’s the Quad’s first month of 2017 in review. Optimistically, protests and continuous opposition will start to wear down President Trump, who hasn’t taken a liking to objection, reflected in Monday night’s firing of the acting attorney general who didn’t support his immigrant ban.
On the entertainment front, let’s hope that the Academy Awards chooses to honor movies with casts that feature people of color like “Moonlight” and “Hidden Figures” with more than just nominations, and Black Lives Matter-influenced “Formation” wins Song of the Year at the Grammys. In addition to “Formation,” UCLA students will squeal with joy over an award for “Malibu” by Anderson .Paak. After the rollercoaster of returning from winter break and entering the Age of Trump, I’m sure we’re crossing our fingers for a less politically turbulent February.