After news broke of a groundbreaking transplant of a pig’s heart into a human body, it was reported that the elderly transplant recipient had a criminal record. Their assault charges from 34 years prior to the transplant became the subsequent headline, demonstrating how our culture latches onto criminality as a permanent mark on someone’s reputation.

This branding of ex-cons as criminals for life seeps into the job and housing markets, education and the right to vote. Until we adopt forgiveness of criminality into our culture, criminal justice reform will remain slow and lack a rehabilitative focus.

Public Opinion of Ex-Convicts

Survey data collected in 2019 and 2020 showed how Americans feel about formerly incarcerated people. Overall, people believe that those with a criminal record should expect less, from owning a car or home to enjoying their job to traveling. Five million formerly incarcerated Americans live in the United States. That’s five million Americans who people believe should limit their goals and dreams.

Included in those millions of Americans are my parents, who are wonderful people who I look up to for their hard work, honesty and parenting. They raised me to work hard and strive for success. They also both spent some time in prison for mistakes they made in their twenties, a piece of information that they long hid from me and don’t talk about — ever.

I think about how hard my parents have worked to have a beautiful home and provide a good life for me. I think about how proud I am of their successes. It breaks my heart that many Americans would want them to expect less than a good life for themselves and their family. My connection to this hostility towards formerly incarcerated people makes this issue personal to me and, simultaneously, makes me hesitant to talk about it.

That same survey also showed that most Americans not only want to limit the aspirations of formerly incarcerated people, but the aspirations of their children as well. Those who thought formerly incarcerated people should expect less were 23% less likely to think that children of former criminals should attend good universities compared to children of non-incarcerated people. Our culture writes off people who have committed crime, almost refusing to acknowledge how much people can change when given an opportunity. It also writes me and many other children off.

The Difficulties of Life after Prison

Our inability to forgive a criminal record even after punishment seeps into the way we treat people when they leave prison. Across the U.S., more than 44,000 statutes and regulations target formerly incarcerated people specifically. Of those rules, 1,300 apply to housing, creating effective legal housing discrimination against people based on criminal records across the country.

Additionally, many employers hesitate to hire people with a criminal record. As a result, 60% of inmates cannot find work within a full year of leaving prison. Writing this piece, I had the opportunity to speak with former Utah inmate Edgar Montero. Montero currently lives in Costa Rica after getting deported from the U.S. upon leaving jail and is familiar with trying to find work after incarceration. Each and every time he has applied to work with a U.S. company, “they check my criminal history in the U.S., and they always deny me.”

Educational barriers for formerly incarcerated people further limit options for success after prison. One report from Georgetown University explains how a lack of prison-based college programs, limited financial aid options and many more restrictions keep higher education largely unavailable to those with a criminal record.

Formerly incarcerated Americans also get excluded from engaging in civic life by a number of laws around the country that exclude people with felonies from voting. This makes it difficult for people with a criminal record to even change the rules that allow for discrimination against them.

The Effects of a Broken System

Sadly, this phenomenon perpetuates criminality. Community support is absolutely essential for rehabilitation after prison. For instance, a formerly incarcerated person who can’t find work within eight months of leaving jail has a 33% chance of going back to jail. That number only goes up the longer they can’t find work, reaching 50% at one year and 70% after three years. A 2020 Marshall Project survey found that most people in prison believed that affordable housing and living wages could have kept them out of jail. Our belief that people with a criminal past should expect less and policies that limit their opportunities only perpetuate a cycle of recidivism.

This focus on recidivism also doesn’t show us how our bias against people with a criminal record affects communities of color, keeps poor people poor and essentially strengthens social divisions. It simply demonstrates that if we do not like crime, the best approach is to give people other options through social opportunity.

We cannot expect people to turn away from crime if we take away all options for survival without crime. And we cannot give them those options until we change the way we view criminality in America. If we truly want rehabilitation and less crime, we need to ask formerly incarcerated people not to expect less, but to expect more.

k.cushman@dailyutahchronicle.com

@cushman_kcellen

The post Cushman: Rehabilitative Justice Won’t Happen Until We Learn to Forgive appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Podcast Staffer Ally McCoy gives an overview of the first LA Times Festival of Books since the pandemic. Listen to learn more about the history of the event, the programming of the festival and hear interviews with participants. 

The post Rhythm & News: The Festival of Books is back and better than ever appeared first on Daily Trojan.

Coachella is nothing without its performances. No, I’m not talking about the headliners’ sets or the indie bands on the Mojave or Gobi stages. The best performances lie within the outfits found throughout the fields and around crowds. Onlookers can usually expect some reference to Bohemian-chic styles, with lacey dusters, chunky vintage leather belts and some ridiculous Panama hat — all of which will never be worn again beyond the weekend. Some festival-goers take a more rave-like approach to their weekend’s outfits, opting for neons, fishnets, face gems and glitter — so much glitter. Nonetheless, there was always a cohesive aspect to Coachella guests’ fashion choices, as each Instagrammable outfit appears to complement the next.

So, where did this cohesiveness go when the infamous festival took a three-year hiatus? As attendees regrouped over the past two weeks in the desert for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, it became apparent that the universality of the ‘uniform’ completely vanished. 

Never before has the “dress code” been as ignored or tossed aside as this year. While some underlying trends tethered groups together, the pictures scoured across social media portrayed an ultimate clash in fashion reality: festival-goers in bright mesh matching sets, nearly naked attendees, over-the-top glam and accessory wearers and some that opted out of the performance aspect altogether. 

In any sense, here are some of the biggest trends to come out of this year’s Coachella that you should incorporate into your next festival fashion escapade:  

Less is more

More than anything, one of the best breakthroughs to come from this year’s festival is the prominence of casual outfits. 

Influencers and celebrities known for their ostentatious fashion came to the grounds this year dressed in noticeably tamer hues and less dramatic styles. For instance, Kylie Jenner briefly appeared in jeans and a leather jacket, while Devon Lee Carlson decided on a sports tee and a baggy skirt. Casual dressing is the quickest way to opt out of a music festival that has evolved into a twisted costume contest. This, of course, is not to bash dress-up lovers everywhere, but rather, spread some relief to those exhausted from matching influencers’ standards year after year. As this casual movement grows, perhaps eventually Coachella culture will recenter itself as a whole to the original point of the festival: the music.  

Monochrome mania

For starters, monochrome reached new heights this year. Whether it was Emma Chamberlain’s all-red ensemble (complete with platform Jeffrey Campbell cowboy boots) or Vanessa Hudgens’s fuschia fantasy, monochrome was a sure way to not go unnoticed on the festival grounds. Influencer Bretman Rock even utilized the one color look two days in a row, stepping out in a pure baby blue Chanel set, soon followed by a neon green Ottolinger pairing for day three. While bright monochrome outfits were typically reserved for festivals such as Electric Daisy Carnival, these past weekends have proven that anything goes at Coachella now, in the best way possible.

Pearls are more fun

Pearls are the unlikely rebellious choice to fight the Boho-chic standards that the majority adheres to at the festival. While the safer, more predictable choice in accessories typically revolved around crystals and layered pendants (which almost always teetered on cultural appropriation), pearls usher in a new wave of desert jewelry. Although most pearls were seen in necklace form, some guests utilized them as embellishments for their denim sets and even restructured the pearls for their own unique corsets, concocting the perfect mix of Victorian Age drama and music festival freedom. 

Hopefully, these trends guide you in the rest of your festival adventures in 2022 or inspire you to break the mold of fashion norms in any setting. But, hey, who am I to tell you what to wear?  

The post Coachella’s unspoken dress code trends appeared first on Daily Trojan.

Netflix has been releasing plenty of binge-worthy shows and captivating movies throughout 2022. “Metal Lords”, is a movie centered around three teenagers and their involvement with metal music. The comedy was written by D.B. Weiss, the writer and director of the “Game of Thrones” series. Tom Morello, famously known as Rage Against the Machine’s guitarist, was an executive music producer for the film. Both of these great minds are metalheads and are deeply fond of the music scene. Seeing the involvement of these individuals made for a promising film that hopefully wouldn’t let the metal community down.

The movie follows three high school students who are all socially awkward in their own right. The story is from Kevin’s perspective, a novice drummer who was given a double bass drum kit by his best friend, Hunter, to start a metal band. Hunter is a guitarist and is the main metalhead of the group. He’s deep into the scene and is always seen wearing metal merch. The last of the trio is Emily, a Scottish student who’s an experienced cellist and has anger issues.

The movie kicks off with Hunter and Kevin trying to practice a song written by Hunter. Kevin, only a marching band drummer, has no experience with a complete kit. In fact, he isn’t at all familiar with metal or its culture. Kevin starts practicing with a drum kit given to him by Hunter and sees Emily, a girl he knew from Marching Band practice, playing the cello. He sees her as a talented individual and wants her to join the band. However, Hunter is against the idea of having a cellist. After Hunter finds out about a “Battle of the Bands” event his school is hosting, he signs up for the competition. In order to prepare Kevin, Hunter gives him a list of songs from iconic metal bands. This is what sends Kevin spiraling down a rabbit hole of metal culture. Kevin decides to share the same list with Emily, which sends her on a path to learning about the music. The plot develops from here on out into a story about high school bonds, dealing with negative emotions and struggles, and how impactful music can be to an individual.

The film features a lot of great homages to metal artists and culture. Bands like FEAR, Celtic Frost, Iron Maiden, and Meshuggah are among many bands that are referenced throughout the film. The literature and nerd culture that became a part of metal can also be found throughout the movie. Certain scenes show books like “Inferno” by Dante Alighieri and games like Dungeons and Dragons. The former alone inspired plenty of songs like “Demons Gate” by Candlemass or “Charon” by King Diamond. The fantasy genre itself inspired a style of metal dedicated to it known as power metal. The soundtrack carries iconic songs from bands like Black Sabbath and Metallica. Both do a great job catering to the metal audience and acknowledging its roots. It even features a whole scene with cameos from the genre’s icons like Rob “Metal God” Halford.

The film pulls no punches when it comes to making fun of behaviors and misconceptions that plague the metal community, internally and externally. One such example is how it’s riddled with people who are pretentious about subgenres and artists in different genres. Hunter is the prime example of a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of these folks. He has an aggressive outlook on life and prides himself on being someone who only goes against the grain. If something isn’t “metal” to Hunter then he just doesn’t like it. Hunter even goes as far as being unnecessarily nasty towards others who have different tastes or are part of the “status-quo”. Then, there’s a bassist who tries out for Hunter’s band that mindlessly plays notes and focuses more on the “stage elements” within the genre. The bassist situation serves to poke fun at the misconception that metal doesn’t require any actual talent to be played. It’s safe to say that the bassist didn’t make the cut.

“Metal Lords” might not appeal to older metalheads as much as it would to younger members of the community. After all, the movie is centered around a Gen Z perspective more than a Gen X or millennial perspective. The bullying and high school mannerisms are different from past times. Certain parts of the movie might be hard to watch for older folks because of its cringe-inducing humor. That’s not to say that it’ll have the wincing effect on a younger audience but it might be more relatable.

What the movie might lack in age relatability, it makes up for with the genre’s nostalgia. There’s a sequence where Kevin starts practicing his drums to “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath. The scene essentially shows how he’s getting better at the drums over time but it doesn’t stop there. Kevin stops dressing the way he originally used to. The colors in his wardrobe start changing, he starts wearing boots, then starts wearing band shirts. The music didn’t just become part of his practice sessions, it became a part of him. That specific scene perfectly encapsulates the process a lot of people in the metal community went through. Once it sticks, it’ll stick for life, or at least long enough to impact you as a person. It’s not until you’ve gotten completely sucked into that culture that you realize how much it’s affected you.

While Kevin’s personal growth is spot on for a lot of metalheads, it’s not all the film has to offer. “Metal Lords” shines by portraying why people become infatuated with heavy music in the first place. It’s implied that metal became an outlet for Hunter ever since his mom left his family. Kevin, a shy and non-confrontational individual, slowly gains confidence through his improvement in drumming skills and metal music’s “bringing truth to power” attitude. It’s also implied that Kevin doesn’t really get much emotional support from his parents since they’re working around the clock. Emily has a loving family but struggles with a condition that makes her prone to angry outbursts. What everyone in the cast shares is being a sort of “outcast” within their highschool’s society. The niche culture gave Emily an opportunity to be accepted by welcoming people. Everyone goes through a transformation of character. This motley crew of misfits respects the reasons why metal became so huge in youth culture from the 80s to the present. It’s composed of people who’ve gone through troubles in life, who feel out of place, and who desire to be part of something bigger than themselves. At the end of the movie, everyone ends up growing into a better version of themselves.

Ultimately, “Metal Lords” might present issues for older audiences who fell in love with the metal genre with some of its awkward humor. However, the movie does as much justice as it can to the metal scene within its hour and 48 minute runtime. It delves into today’s generation of high school culture, along with the new bloods present within the metal community. It carries a vibe that is reminiscent of Jack Black’s “School of Rock” and “Superbad”. While the film isn’t as impactful as these classics, it’s a great film for a casual watch. It is ultimately charming and carries underlying themes of individuality, companionship, dedication, and personal growth. It’s worth the watch for fans of the music and for anyone looking for a couple of laughs.

On the stage of the Tabernacle, Claire Cottrill, better known by her stage name Clairo, was wrapped in light. Her mostly teenaged audience gathered under the painted eaves of the concert hall, some shouting “I love you” and others waving handmade signs.

Cottrill concluded her “Sling” tour in Atlanta on April 16 and 17. I attended the performance on the 16, excited at the prospect of seeing Cottrill in such a small venue. 

The first few notes of “Bambi” drifted in. The album’s opener sounds like spring — like life beginning.

“I’m stepping inside a universe/ Designed against my own beliefs,” Cottrill sang. Her voice was strikingly clear, though soft and delicate like the hazy light that shone on stage.

I remember writing my first album review on “Immunity,” Cottrill’s debut studio album, for my high school newspaper, sequestered in a small-town Massachusetts bedroom similar to the one in which she might have grown up. I kept the record on repeat for weeks. From my seat in the Tabernacle audience, I could see a certain communion in the faces of the people around me, gazing at Cottrill as if she raised them herself.

For two hours, Cottrill invited her fans into her universe. Dreamy animations played on a projector screen behind the band. Several glowing cocoon-like props were placed around the stage; beige fabric stretched over organically shaped wire cages.

Cottrill had a quietness that hypnotized the audience. Concertgoers clung to her movements: her shift from a keyboard to guitar, from electric guitar to acoustic, from folk-inspired “Sling” tracks to bedroom pop off “Immunity” and her earliest EP, “diary 001.”

Courtesy of Adrian Nieto.

Between songs, speaking with her soft voice into the microphone, she turned her head to look up at the lower balcony on stage left. Both of her parents, she said, were in the audience. Cottrill was born in Atlanta, grew up in Carlisle, Massachusetts and spent lockdown in Atlanta with her parents.

Looking out into the crowd at a different, more lively Atlanta than the city she’d spent quarantine in, Cottrill looked at home. She wore jeans, a blazer, white sneakers and an Atlanta baseball cap over a ponytail. 

Performances of “North” and “Bags,” both tracks from “Immunity,” were upbeat but powerful in their own right. 

Cottrill’s live renditions of “Harbor” and “Alewife” were nothing short of heartbreaking; the latter is a song about Cottrill’s mental health struggles as a young teen while the former laments a one-sided relationship. The adolescent audience, swaying and somber, was clearly connecting. 

The theme of the evening was contrast; Cottrill’s set was a mix of her early and current work that told a poignant story of her growth, maturity and coming of age. Her subdued songwriting style on “Sling” adds a rich depth to early tracks like “Pretty Girl,” which went viral on YouTube in 2017, kick-starting Cottrill’s rise to fame.

She swayed across the stage to “Pretty Girl,” one of the few songs in the setlist lively enough to dance to. “I could be a pretty girl/ Shut up when you want me to,” the crowd sang along, smiling through the words.

“Blouse,” a dreamy ballad featuring background vocals by Lorde, is the mature older sister to “Pretty Girl,” brooding and awash with contemplative intimacy. Cottrill explores the same themes of superficiality with sober wisdom: “Why do I tell you how I feel/ When you’re too busy looking down my blouse/ It’s something I wouldn’t say out loud/ If touch could make them hear, then touch me now.”

Cottrill was a modern-day Mitchell onstage: vintagely current. Her music’s edge came with a softness: the boldness to be quiet, the confidence that people would listen.

“Sling” injected Cottrill’s usual bedroom pop with folk-inspired flair. As she sang wistfully into the microphone, it was clear Cottrill had grown up. During those two blissful hours, she migrated from keyboard to microphone stand, channeling peace and healing. Cradled in the belly of the Tabernacle, holding her acoustic guitar, she showed us “Sling.”

The post Clairo wraps ‘Sling’ tour in Atlanta with mesmerizing show appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

Horoscopes can be applied to your sun, moon and rising signs.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18) 

Sit in your discomfort, Aquarius. Forced positivity is often worse for you than letting yourself feel the negative emotion. 

PISCES (Feb. 19 – March 20)

Go with the flow, Pisces. Let yourself be pulled by the currents of life in new directions you may not have imagined. 

ARIES (March 21 – April 19)

Learn to let go, Aries. Your time is too valuable to spend around people who do not match your energy.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20)

Connect with others through pain, Taurus. Healing is best done in groups, so lean on those around you.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20)

It’s all about networking, Gemini. Use your competence in talking to people to further your professional connections.

CANCER (June 21 – July 22)

See things upside down, Cancer. If something seems negative in energy, look at it from a positive perspective. 

LEO (July 23 – Aug. 22)

Spice things up, Leo. In your romantic connections, show them how much you care — try something new. 

VIRGO (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)

Speak to be heard, Virgo. You deserve to be listened to as well as you tend to listen to others, so push for that. 

LIBRA (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)

It’s OK not to be OK, Libra. Just because you’re not being productive doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of love.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)

Put yourself out there, Scorpio. Loosen up, and be who you want to be without holding back for fear of being judged. 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)

Do a trust fall, Sagittarius. It can be difficult to let people into your heart, but it’s necessary to nurture your life. 

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19) 

Communication is key, Capricorn. Don’t beat around the bush when it comes to expressing your feelings.

Reach Hailee Stegall at entertainment@collegian.com or on Twitter @stegallbagel.

Watch The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Online Free Streaming at Home Here’s How

Nicolas Cage Movie! Here’s options for downloading or watching The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent streaming the full movie online for free on 123movies & Reddit, including where to watch the anticipated Nicolas Cage movie at home. Is The Unbearable Weight available to stream? Is  watching The Unbearable Weight on Disney Plus, HBO Max, Netflix or Amazon Prime? Yes we have found an authentic streaming option / service.

As well as being highly received by critics, the action movie, which parodies several of Nicolas Cage‘s past works along with the eccentric actor, hosts a star-studded cast. Pedro Pascal, Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, Neil Patrick Harris, and Demi Moore are just some of the big names that appear on-screen alongside Cage. In the film, the meme legend  plays a fictionalized version of himself — Nick Cage — who begrudgingly accepts a $1 million offer to attend a wealthy man’s birthday party. However, when the CIA get in touch and inform Cage that the man (Pascal) is actually involved in a sinister drug cartel operation and kidnap plot, the ageing actor is forced to be the action hero for real this time.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cage said the idea of him playing a fictionalized version of himself had been floating around for years. He turned down the movie “three-to-four times” until Tom Gormican, who wrote and directed the film, sent him a letter. The movie’s journey to the big screen was a long one, so let’s make things simpler by breaking down how exactly you can watch it!

When Will The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Be Released?

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent first premiered at the 2022 South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival on March 12 to an overwhelmingly positive critical reception.

Conversely, the rest of the theater going public will be able to see the film just over a month later on April 22. The film will open on an already crowded weekend at the box office with the Dreamworks Animation talking animal caper The Bad Guys and Robert Egger’s Viking revenge epic The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

How to watch The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent?

Fans of Nicolas Cage can catch the ironic comedy exclusively in theaters starting April 15 (aka TODAY!) with a wide release slated for April 22. You can buy tickets through Fandango or at your local movie theater (like the good ol’ days). If your theater doesn’t have tickets just yet, wait until the wide release date on the 22nd before complaining!

Where to Watch The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Online?

Right now, the only place to watch The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is in a movie theater when it opens on Friday, April 22. You can find a showing at a movie theater near you here. After the movie’s theatrical run, you will be able to purchase The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent: 2022 on digital platforms like Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and Where to Find Them is available on HBO Max and for those with a premium subscription to Peacock. In addition, the film can also be found on VOD platforms such as Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Vudu, Google Play, and YouTube.

Is The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent on Hulu?

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent may be on Hulu or Disney+ eventually—but you’ll have to wait. Last year, Disney made a deal with Universal Pictures to bring Spider-Man and other Universal Pictures titles to Disney’s streamers, Disney+ and Hulu, after the movies are released on Netflix, beginning with Universal Pictures’s 2022 release slate. The deal will bring Universal Pictures’s titles, such as The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent to Disney platforms for their Pay 2 windows, which should be a little over 18 months after the movie opens in theaters. Therefore, you may see The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent on the Disney streaming platforms around September or October 2023.

Is The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent on Amazon Prime?

While Amazon Prime does not host ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,’ its vast video library will not let you down. Use your Prime membership to watch gems like ‘The Big Sick‘ and ‘Little Miss Sunshine.’ If you enjoy films where the narrative is driven by quirky family members, you will enjoy the aforementioned titles.

Will The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Be on HBO MAX?

No. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a Universal Pictures movie, not a Warner Bros. movie. Also, HBO Max will no longer be streaming theatrical movies in 2022. (Last year, Warner Bros. opted to simultaneously release its theatrical slate on streaming, meaning HBO Max subscribers could watch movies like Matrix Resurrections at home. This year, however, Warner Bros. theatrical movies will have a 45-day theaters-only run before moving to HBO Max.)

Is The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent 2022 On Netflix

Not right now—but it will be someday. While you certainly won’t see The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent on Netflix before it releases on video-on-demand, last year Universal Pictures signed a deal to bring the studio’s 2022 film slate to Netflix during the “Pay 1 window,” which used to be 18-months after the film’s theatrical release, but could be even sooner, given that most theatrical windows have been reduced from 90 days to 45 days during the COVID-19 pandemic. So it’s possible you will see The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent on Netflix in 2023.

In other words, it may be a while before The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is available to stream at home. If you want to catch the new Mark Wahlberg movie ASAP, you should try to see The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent in theaters.

What is The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent About?

Going simply by the trailers and marketing, The Massive Weight of Unbearable Talent looks to examine the existential despair of an actor as prolific as Cage through the lens of a darkly comedic, ball-to-the-wall action flick. Although movies about down-on-their-luck actors who are forced to confront their own legacies is nothing new, the fact that this one centers on Nicolas Cage of all people, playing himself, is what makes it so exciting.

The Daily Californian

Campus members advocate for fully clean energy in Earth Day rally

Justin Wang/Staff

The UC Green New Deal coalition has gathered community support for a proposal in support of decarbonization of energy and transportation systems and other sustainable practices.

Campus community members gathered to observe a UC systemwide Earth Day climate rally on Friday, which is also World Earth Day, and called on the UC system to be proactive on climate-friendly policies.

In 2019, students, faculty and staff members formed the coalition UC Green New Deal, or UC GND, in response to campus climate protests, according to Ashi Mishra, a campus sophomore and co-director of the campus coalition. The coalition aims to call on the UC system to take “concrete and integrated” actions to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis, according to a press release from UC GND.

“We believe the administration has not been taking enough action towards promoting a more equitable transition towards clean energy,” Mishra said.

In October 2021, using input from community stakeholders, the UC GND Coalition Building Working Group approved a platform outlining recommendations and funding possibilities for the UC system, according to a UC GND policy platform proposal. The proposal calls for several key actions, including decarbonization in energy and transportation systems. It also seeks to address issues of environmental and worker justice and advocates for sustainable practices in construction, waste and food systems.

As of press time, the coalition has collected more than 1,600 signatures for an online petition to the UC Office of the President, UC Board of Regents and the chancellors of the 10 UC campuses. The rally was the first time the coalition publicly advocated for the petition, Mishra said.

At the rally, ASUC Senator Jason Dones’ office offered pots and seeds for planting and decoration as a “tangible reminder” for the campus community to take care of the Earth, according to Loren Jones, the office’s campus community director.

“It has been a while since we are in one place with like-minded people fighting for similar goals,” said Britney Wu, a campus sophomore and vice president of communication of the Sustainable Development Goals Undergraduate Research Group.

According to the campus’s Clean Energy Campus initiative website, UC Berkeley maintains the oldest energy infrastructure in the UC System. The UC system is currently advocating for $1.6 billion in state funding, with campus requesting that $365 million go to replace the current 30-year-old natural-gas-burning cogeneration plant.

At the moment, the plant supplies 90% of campus energy, according to the Clean Energy Campus website, and only has less than 10 years of usable life left.

Since 2015, the campus Office of Sustainability and UC Berkeley’s Clean Energy Campus initiative had been looking into more than 12 options before it finally narrowed them down to the current plan of a fully clean-energy microgrid, according to Kira Stoll, chief sustainability and carbon solutions officer and director of the Office of Sustainability. Stoll said the grid would be run on 100% clean electricity and supported by other renewable energy sources and storage.

If the budget proposal is approved, campus plans on developing one central plant located on North Field; the Clean Energy Campus systems and power distribution network would be fully operational by 2028, heating and cooling campus buildings, Stoll said.

The result of the budget proposal will come as early as mid-June, Stoll said, adding the energy infrastructure would be operational for at least 50 years. Stoll added the office will continuously work with scientists and the campus community to make the system adaptable for technological advancement in the future.

Apart from the current energy proposal, students at the rally also brought up other options, including the use of biodiesel and nuclear energy.

Garrett Pohlman, a campus senior and member of the Biofuels Technology Club, said the club hopes campus will consider the use of biodiesel. He added that the club turns waste cooking oil from the campus dining halls into biodiesel for use and is running a 50-gallon reactor at the Richmond Field Station.

In the meantime, Chris Forsyth and Alex Griffin, student advocates for nuclear energy alternatives, said small modular nuclear reactors should be taken into consideration in order to reach campus’s goal of 100% zero emissions from heat and electricity by 2032.

Stoll said campus intends to provide opportunities for collaboration with students on meeting campus’s sustainability goals. According to the campus proposal, the North Field development would offer those opportunities for research and collaboration.

“(It is) an opportunity for ongoing collaboration and learning and research,” Stoll said. “With that intention, we will keep the opportunities open.”

Contact Winnie Lau at wlau@dailycal.org, and follow her on Twitter at @winniewy_lau.

The Daily Californian

I’ve now made it a goal to actually go out with my roommates and enjoy the revival of spring.

The Gopher baseball team had one of their best weekends from their starting rotation this season, but didn’t have much to show from it. Starters Sam Ireland and Aidan Maldanado lasted seven innings each while J.P. Massey went six on Saturday.

Gophers take series opener

Penn State got out to the early lead with a triple in the top of the first to get the game started, but Minnesota was quick to answer. Another run in the bottom of the second inning gave Ireland some cushion.

The Nittany Lions tied the game in the top of the fifth before the Gophers exploded for four runs in the bottom of the frame. Ireland settled in for his final two innings of the game and grabbed four more strikeouts before being pulled going into the eighth.

Reliever Tom Skoro came in to close the game and in his second inning of work had bases loaded with no outs. Penn State managed to get just one run across in the top of the ninth as Minnesota held on to a 7-3 win in the opener.

Eighth inning collapse ties series

It was a pitcher’s duel for the second game of the series in the first half between Massey and Penn State starter Travis Luensmann. The Nittany Lions broke the 0-0 tie in the top of the sixth inning with a solo shot.

Ronald Sweeny was able to get the Gophers on the board in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI on a groundout to first. Unfortunately, the tie wouldn’t last for long.

Penn State exploded for six hits to score four runs and break open the game in the top of the eighth. Minnesota used three different relievers in the inning as Noah DeLuga was charged with the loss and two of the runs.

The Gophers couldn’t get much going in their final two turns at the plate and the Nittany Lions tied up the series 1-1 after a 5-1 win.

Gophers blow lead with another eighth inning fiasco

Penn State got to Maldanado early with a pair of runs in the top of the first, though one was due to an error with two outs. Kyle Bork hit a three-run home run during a four-run first inning to put Minnesota out in front.

The Nittany Lions and Gophers each grabbed a run in the middle innings as Maldanado completed seven frames before leaving with a 5-3 lead.

Freshman reliever Noah Rooney came in for the eighth and got two quick ground outs to start the inning. Back-to-back walks ended Rooney’s day and Josh Culliver came in to try and pitch around the jam. On a full count, Penn State retook the lead with a three-run bomb.

The Gophers had a threat in the ninth, but couldn’t get one across to tie and Minnesota fell 6-5 and lost the series.

Up next

The Gophers have a pair of mid-week games against South Dakota State on Tuesday and St. Thomas on Wednesday. Minnesota then travels to Michigan to face the Spartans in a three-game weekend series.