The No. 4 Gophers men’s hockey team got dominated by No. 5 Minnesota-Duluth Friday night in a 5-3 loss, marking their second loss this season as they now hold a 3-2 record.

“Give all credit to Duluth,” Gophers head coach Bob Motzko said. “Our battle level was at a D- minus tonight and theirs was at an A. Then, we chased the game…I’m really disappointed with our older guys because they needed to have much better tenacity in the game. [But also] to pave the way and show our young guys.”

The Bulldogs outplayed the Gophers in the first period. Blake Biondi got them on the board early, just 1:53 seconds into the game. Then just over six minutes later, Quinn Olson curled his way around the top of the right circle as he fired a shot into the lower-left corner of the net to put the Bulldogs ahead 2-0.

The Gophers could not find ways to possess in the offensive zone for the first ten minutes of the period as the Bulldogs continually shut down their rushes. It was not until halfway through the period that they recorded their first shot on goal, courtesy of junior forward Ben Meyers.

Although the Bulldogs outplayed the Gophers for much of the first period, senior forward Blake McLaughlin got tripped up by Connor Kelley after gaining the offensive zone through some nifty moves. Then, Minnesota made the most of their man advantage.

Sophomore defenseman Mike Koster, after receiving a pass from junior Bryce Brodzinski, one-timed the puck into the lower left side of the net to cut the Gophers’ deficit in half with just 1:07 remaining in the period. Koster’s goal on the power play marks his first this season as the assists went to Brodzinski (3) and McLaughlin (7).

In the second period, the Bulldogs controlled the pace of play like they did in the first. They would add two more goals in the first half of the period, one at the 17-minute mark from Owen Gallatin and the other at the 10-minute mark from Wyatt Kaiser.

With just minutes remaining in the second period, the Gophers capitalized late yet again. This time sophomore forward Mason Nevers fed sophomore counterpart defenseman Brock Faber at the point, who found freshman forward Matthew Knies in the slot.

Knies’ backhand shot found the back of the net to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 4-2. Knies’ goal marks his third this season, and Faber’s and Nevers’ third and first assists, respectively.

“I know we made it 4-2 and we had a little life, but they just are a world-class defending team,” Motzko said. “When you’re just on your heels, it’s not a fun game.”

As the third period got underway, the Bulldogs had the first answer as Casey Gilling capitalized on the two-man advantage with 12:27 seconds remaining in the game to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 5-2.

However, the shorthanded Gophers quickly had a response of their own. From the neutral zone, McLaughlin fed a nifty pass to senior Grant Cruikshank just before he crossed the blue line to send him in on a breakaway.

Cruikshank pulled the puck from his forehand to his backhand, then slipped the puck through Bulldogs goaltender Ryan Fanti’s legs to cut the Bulldogs lead to 5-3. Cruikshank’s goal marks his first in a Gophers uniform as McLaughlin (8) and junior Ryan Johnson (2) tallied the assists.

Although the Bulldogs outplayed the Gophers for much of the game, the Gophers had a solid third period, outshooting Minnesota-Duluth 11-6.

However, the total shots on goal in the game favored Minnesota-Duluth at 23-21, while they also led in faceoffs at 30-21.

“I think they just outworked us tonight,” Cruikshank said. “It was pretty simple. They are a veteran team. They’ve played in a lot of big games. They play the same way for 60 minutes. I think it was a little bit of a wake-up call for us tonight.”

Freshman forward Rhett Pitlick made his collegiate debut, while sophomore defenseman Carl Fish played in his first game this season.

The Gophers will travel to Duluth, Minn. to take on the Bulldogs (4-1) in the second game of the home-and-home series on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at Amsoil Arena.

Protests continued outside the Sigma Nu fraternity house Friday, two days after the University placed the Sigma Nu fraternity house on interim suspension following multiple drugging and sexual assault reports. 

Starting at 12 p.m., students covered the walls of the fraternity with signs reading “Abolish Greek Life,” “You are complacent,” “I believe you” and “President [Carol] Folt, why the fuck are you not doing anything?” 

“Walk into this building remembering the trauma you caused all of them,” one protester wrote on the ground outside Sigma Nu.

Andrea Ortega, a sophomore majoring in law, history and culture, joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority in August but dropped today. According to Ortega, the sorority told her to not talk about the incident. Following the recommendation from the sorority and other issues , she no longer wishes to contribute, financially or otherwise, to an organization that “protect[s] these men.”

Ortega also said Greek life does not realize the significance of the sexual assault reports.

“I just don’t think that they’re really realizing how important it is,” Ortega said. “They think it’s just gonna die down in like a week or so.” 

Around 1:30 p.m., protesters marched down the Row to the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house — commonly known as PIKE — where a student, Alyssa Delarosa, chanted through a megaphone until fraternity brothers left the house and addressed protesters. 

Carrying a megaphone, Delarosa, a junior majoring in psychology, led the protesters to Pike after hearing stories from multiple women outside Sigma Nu about drugging at other fraternities, specifically at Pike.

Following a discussion between the protesters and Pike, fraternity members joined protesters outside of Sigma Nu, bringing a ladder to hang up signs and talk to the protesters.

When members of Pike first left their houses to talk to the protesters, Delarosa said she was surprised. However, she said “it’s very telling” that the members only left their house once protesters were outside.

“It had to take me basically embarrassing them and calling them out on my little megaphone for them to be willing to do that,” Delarosa said. “We were there all day — we were there from like 3 p.m. to past midnight yesterday. They didn’t come out.”

In interviews with the Daily Trojan, members of Pike said they were not aware of what happened at Sigma Nu before the DPS email and that they will do “everything in [their] power” to stop an assault from happening again. 

In an Instagram post, @abolishgreekusc criticized the University’s response to the allegations that they said “place the burden of preventing rape on the survivor, not the rapist.” The organization also said that, while there will be calls for reform over the next few weeks, abolition is needed.

“We reject those calls for reform and their characterization of the problem; the solution is more simple,” the statement read. “We call for abolition. No more ‘taskforces,’ no more aimless DEI efforts, no more ‘statements regarding X.’ We want you gone. And we want it now.”

A representative for the Abolish Greek life movement said the group aims to address the broader scope of Greek life and the “horrid behavioral tendencies” it allows.

“Even if this house gets kicked off the Row, the issue is the system,” the representative said. “It’s not a question of whether or not you have a certain population of bad apples within the system: It’s the structure itself that creates an environment where horrid things like this can happen.”

Emma Gronstad, a junior majoring in computer and electrical engineering, said that, because fraternities are not punished enough, the problems with assault are “swept under the rug” after the initial reaction. Gronstad also criticized USC’s email about the suspension and assault.

“One thing that really sticks out to me is that the USC email is like ‘Oh, hey, here’s how to not be assaulted.’ I think that was honestly a really insensitive message to send, especially during a time when, you know, the seven girls who reported probably all received that message,” she said. 

In a statement posted on Instagram Friday, the USC chapter of Sigma Nu confirmed that the fraternity suspended a student accused of sexual assault.

Multiple members of the Sigma Nu — including the president and vice president — did not respond for comment.

DPS referred the Daily Trojan to the Los Angeles Police Department, which said no arrests have been made.

Students remained outside the Sigma Nu house at the time of publication. A vigil, as well as a walk from USC Village to Sigma Nu, began at 6 p.m.

Lois Angelo and Sasha Ryu contributed to this report.

The post Protests continue for second day after sexual assault reports appeared first on Daily Trojan.

Economic inequities, a lack of affordable housing and an unequal quality of life. These problems are what drove Alex Wan sto run in the upcoming Atlanta City Council race.

“It just feels like everything is broken right now,” Wan said. “In the last four years, we’ve absolutely slid backwards.”

The Young Democrats of Emory hosted Wan at a Q&A in White Hall on Oct. 14 to discuss his candidacy. With less than 20 people in attendance, Young Dems president Eden Yonas (22C) called the event an “intimate town hall.”

Yonas said that she wasn’t discouraged by small numbers.

“These kinds of elections come down to the very last vote,” Yonus said. “If I can get four or five people to pay attention, that matters.”

Wan, the first Asian American and openly gay man to serve on Atlanta’s city council, represented District 6 on the council after being elected in 2009. He stepped down in 2017 to run for city council president, but lost to Felicia Moore, who is currently running for Atlanta mayor. In his time as a council member, he focused on fighting against Georgia anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and supporting low-income people. 

Wan decided to enter politics after working at Jerusalem House in 2009, a non-profit housing program for homeless citizens affected by HIV/AIDS. He noted that his work volunteering in the community felt too slow, and that he felt motivated to enact real policy change. Wan ran for his first term in city council after being involved in Invest Atlanta, an economic development agency. 

Now, Wan is the executive director of Horizons Atlanta, a program that aims to bring high quality educational programming to low-income students when school is not in session. If elected, Wan said that he wants to bring the program to Emory. 

Wan said he wants to focus on infrastructure, stabilizing neighborhoods and accelerating economic opportunity to approach this issue. He said access to public transportation, road improvement, public education and a focus on small businesses are essential to minimizing the class divide. 

Wan also emphasized that honest conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion need to be “woven into all the city’s processes.” In a conversation about addressing inequalities, Wan got personal, sharing that the Atlanta spa shootings in March occurred only a mile away from his house. 

“This has been a tough year,” Wan said. “I think it just really unearthed a lot of angst, frustration, fear.” 

During the Q&A section of the event, Yonas asked Wan about gentrification. The candidate described himself as a legacy resident since he’s lived in the city for 25 years. Wan said that even if new residents  are good for economic growth, he believes Atlanta should provide a sustained source of funding to protect legacy residents and property tax relief so people don’t lose their homes.

He also emphasized that the city has to be disciplined around developers sticking to their agreements about providing housing for citizens with various incomes.

“Improvements in the community should benefit everybody” Wan said.

The Young Democrats of Emory have brought in several city council candidates for informal Q&A’s with students this semester. Candidate for city council president Doug Shipman (95C) visited campus on Sept. 28 and Moore, a mayoral candidate, will come on Oct. 27, according to Yonas. Yonas said that these events are part of an intentional goal of the club to encourage students to be politically informed. 

“I wanted to bring people that we’re going to be on the ballot for this election because I wanted to get Emory students face to face in a way that you may not be able to get a presidential candidate,” Yonas said.

Young Dems treasurer Jack Miklaucic (23C) said he attended the event to inform his vote in the upcoming election. 

“The more engagement we can get on Emory’s campus, the better for students here,” Miklaucic said. 

In response to Miklaucic’s question about affordable clean energy, Wan detailed a clean energy plan that would attempt to achieve 100% clean energy in Atlanta by 2035.  Wan also wants to get kids in Atlanta schools familiar with the recycling process so they will bring that knowledge home.

Wan also spoke about “Cop City,” a controversial police and fire training center approved by the city council last month. 

Wan said public safety is the most essential service the city council should provide. In his opinion, the city council should provide resources and “help drive the strategy of how those resources are deployed.”

Wan said police positions need to be filled in order to facilitate officers building relationships with the community. He emphasized that the council’s role in this would be pushing administrators to revolutionize policing. 

While Wan said he disagrees with how the issue was brought to the public, he believes the facility needs to be built and “probably would have voted for it.”

Wan also addressed concerns about increasing crime rates in places like Buckhead. He said that around 15 requests from the Buckhead secession coalition to meet with current Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms were declined. 

“I am hopeful that the new mayor, whoever he or she is, they’ve all said that they would change that dynamic,” Wan said. “I think that’s step one.”

The post City Council candidate Alex Wan talks infrastructure, crime at Young Democrats event appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

UH soccer knocked off a nationally ranked opponent for the third time this season on Thursday night, defeating No. 23 Memphis 1-0. | Courtesy of UH athletics

Houston soccer got back on track Thursday night with a 1-0 win against American Athletic Conference rival and 23rd ranked Memphis at the Carl Lewis International Complex.

The first half started with pressure from both sides, as each side was able to earn a corner in the first eight minutes.

Despite a few great chances from both sides, neither team was able to find a goal in the first half.

The Cougars (11-4-2) recorded three shots while the Tigers (10-3-2) had five to end the half.

The second half started just like the first, with both sides putting on the pressure early.

After 44 minutes of play in the second half, the game winner came in the 89th minute from UH redshirt freshman forward Nadia Kamassah off a blocked kick in the box from Memphis senior goalkeeper Elizabeth Moberg, earning her sixth goal of the season.

The match finished 1-0 as the Cougars ended their two game losing streak.

The Cougars finished the match with 13 shots, with four of them coming from team-leading redshirt senior midfielder Mia Brascia.

The Tigers finished the match with five shots on goal, with all five of them being saved by redshirt freshman goalkeeper Mikaela Gracia, earning her eighth clean sheet of the season.

UH soccer looks to carry this momentum into the next game as they host Cincinnati on Sunday.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“UH soccer takes down No. 23 Memphis” was originally posted on The Cougar

‘Bancroft, Barrows, Boalt and Berkeley’

In season two, episode eight of “The Sopranos,” Tony Soprano’s daughter Meadow is admitted to UC Berkeley but is prevented from attending by her traditionalist Italian, mob boss father, who considers it a school for indoctrinating students with wayward social values.

As a 10-year-old watching what is considered to be the most influential American television show of all time, I didn’t understand the context of Tony’s derision toward the school I attend today. But now I know that he was alluding to UC Berkeley’s reputation as one of the most liberal and socially progressive places in America.

Probably like most new admits, when I first arrived on campus in fall 2019, I was overwhelmed by its natural beauty and architectural splendor. Not only was I at my dream school, I was also in a safe haven as a South Asian student from suburban Michigan. At UC Berkeley, there was no shortage of people who looked like me and shared a similar cultural background.

As I gleefully trotted from what was formerly Le Conte Hall to Hearst Field Annex, Doe Library to the Campanile, the former Barrows Hall to Kroeber Hall, before finally arriving at the Bancroft Library, I didn’t have the slightest idea of the history behind these names uttered daily by students. It didn’t occur to me that such a prestigious and progressive institution in the 21st century could bear the markings of a racist, post-colonial legacy.

Only later in UC Berkeley’s very own classes did I learn that this university, like numerous others across the country, bears the vestiges of deeply racist and problematic educational agendas. The namesakes of these iconic and beautiful buildings were bequeathed to them by wealthy, bona fide ethnonationalists. UC Berkeley itself is named after an Irish slave-owning bishop.

I feel extraordinarily privileged to attend one of the best universities in the world. I’m aware that I’ve defied stupefying odds to be among the few in attendance at an elite school such as UC Berkeley. I grew up two miles from the trailer park where Eminem dined on his mom’s spaghetti, and am now among the ranks of some of the smartest and most influential people alive. Who am I to bemoan the historical injustices this school was founded upon?

Still, when I pass under Sather Gate on a daily basis, as a South Asian I almost feel I am tacitly renouncing something core to my identity. Beyond the symbolic entryway of Sather Gate stands an array of grand Greco-Roman and neo-Classical buildings that reflect European ideals of knowledge and philosophy, named and funded by prejudicial and elitist Californians of the 19th century. Despite their malicious hostility to students who looked like myself, I’m sometimes forgiving of this fact because their discriminatory perspectives may have been the result of living in an era of ignorance. But my historical relativist sympathies grow exceptionally feeble when I read about some of the despicably defiant and racist statements made by the progenitors of these buildings and of this school. It’s all a Google search away.

Colonial epistemicide — the uprooting of indigenous knowledge — trespasses, in a much more egregious way, upon the lands of my parents and grandparents. The preeminence of the English curriculum in schools throughout South Asia have students knowing lines of Jane Austen and Shakespeare, but little of the Mahabharatha or the Gitanjali. 

My frustration burns when I speak in my mother tongue of Malayalam to graduates of those schools who’ve immigrated here, and they respond to me in English. Western subversion has people perceiving English as the intellectually superior language, and UC Berkeley is part of this legacy of subversion. On this indigenous land that the campus occupies and across much of the “educated” world, we speak a language endemic to a tiny island floating off of the Western coast of Europe.

In an ironically roundabout way, many of my anxieties as a person of color at UC Berkeley are addressed by the intellectual tools that the school has provided me with: knowledge about the nature of colonial states and universities as portals for colonial knowledge and, most importantly, the understanding that things aren’t static but instead amenable to change if there’s a conscious impetus for it.

I’m not sympathetic to the camp that regards taking a pry bar to the names of these buildings as a trivial pursuit undertaken by “hotheaded libtards.” Architecture is a reflection of who it was designed to be used by. Removing these names is the least UC Berkeley can do to atone for the immoral bedrock upon which it was constructed. Nonetheless, it’s a start.

Our campus is gorgeous and I’m awed that I have the opportunity to admire its beautiful Greek columns and busts of Roman deities, snapping pics in front of the Venetian bell tower for Instagram simply on my walk to class. However, when I do pause to appreciate the way the light at dusk falls onto these Athenian buildings, I’m also reminded that these seemingly insignificant aesthetics and names are actually symbols of an enduring legacy of colonization. It’s through this bittersweet lens that I can take a step toward decolonizing my own education.

Thinking back to the Sopranos, maybe if Meadow had attended Berkeley, she could’ve explained to her ethnonationalist father why he shouldn’t feel aggrieved by sentimentalist monuments of Christopher Columbus being torn down.

Moideen Moidunny writes the Friday column on being a person of color at UC Berkeley. Contact the opinion desk at opinion@dailycal.org or follow us on Twitter @dailycalopinion.

The Daily Californian

It’s Family and Friends Weekend! Today on East to West, we cover the second Boston mayoral debate, the upcoming Family and Friends Weekend, Boston Halloween events and more. Click here to stream this episode of “East to West” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your streaming platform of your choice. FEATURING: Veronica Thompson, Mia Parker, Sophie Jin WRITTEN BY: Veronica Thompson, Mia Parker, Sophie Jin EDITED BY: Mia Parker BASED ON DFP PIECES BY: Olga Benacerraf, Lauren Rowlands, Madhri Yehiya, and Jit Ping Lee MUSIC: Acid Trumpet by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3340-acid-trumpet License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Backbay Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3408-backbay-lounge […]

‘It’s (Not) All in Your Head’ program developed by DoSomething members will provide tools to help students with pandemic-related trauma and shine a spotlight on the importance of mental health support for students in schools

NEW YORK, October 22, 2021 – DoSomething.org, the largest organization exclusively for young people and social change, announced a new program, “It’s (Not) All in Your Head,” today with The Allstate Foundation. This program created by young people for young people through a virtual hackathon will provide youth with opportunities to explore diverse and youth-friendly mental health resources and activate them to advocate for additional funding for mental health resources in their schools and communities.

“We are thrilled to partner with The Allstate Foundation again to educate youth about the importance of owning their mental health,” said DeNora Getachew, CEO of DoSomething.org. “Young people have been clear about the need for additional mental health resources to help them navigate this disrupted time. We are excited to elevate this youth-created program to provide diverse resources to ensure that students who have experienced pandemic-related trauma have the support they need to thrive in schools.”

In high schools, counselors who serve students of color predominantly must serve 34 more students each year than a counselor who serves fewer students of color. At least 27 states are shortchanging students of color, students from low-income families, or both (The Education Trust, 2019). Coinciding with World Mental Health Day – which is on October 10^th – this program lets students take the lead in highlighting the importance of providing diverse mental health resources. Students and schools will share materials that directly address racial inequities for students of color accessible via a QR Code, text, or a URL embedded in the flyer. Students will also be provided materials to encourage them to advocate for mental health in their schools and districts.

“Youth are the leaders of tomorrow, and their wellbeing is our priority. We are dedicated to empowering them with the skills and resources to be compassionate leaders in society and amongst their peers,” said Laura Freveletti, Senior Program Officer for The Allstate Foundation. “We are so proud to partner with DoSomething and the inspiring young people who created this campaign to increase access to mental health resources in schools and to help young people lead the change they want to see in their communities.”

This partnership results from a recent hackathon that aimed to challenge young people to solve various societal issues, including mental health.

“I’m really grateful for the chance to participate in this hackathon and to have the opportunity to put my team’s mental health initiative into action. Slowly mental health is being talked about more and it’s important to have both short-term and long-term solutions to reinforce these conversations,” said hackathon team member Madeleine Yu-Phelps. “Mental health issues can manifest in a number of ways particularly in school, and so by having a direct way to seek help, a small ripple effect in bettering mental health support and education is already being made.”

One out of every four adolescents suffers from mental health issues – ranging from anxiety to depression (Prothero, 2020). Many of these same students report being more likely to ask for help if their school provides mental health services. Through this partnership, DoSomething and The Allstate Foundation are equipping youth with the resources they need to own their mental health and activating them to advocate for equitable mental health access short- and long-term.

Learn more at www.dosomething.org/us/campaigns/its-not-all-in-your-head.

About DoSomething.org
DoSomething.org is the largest organization exclusively for young people and social change. We’re activating 5 million young people (and counting!) to make positive change, online and off, in every US area code and in over 131 countries. When you join DoSomething.org, you join something bigger than yourself.

About The Allstate Foundation
The Allstate Foundation advances equity so that everyone can thrive. The Foundation champions SEL and service-learning programs to empower youth to build the just, equitable and healthy world we all deserve. In partnership with nonprofit organizations, the Foundation creates a continuum of this programming to support youth in school, after school, at home, and in their communities.

Media Contact
Roni Marsh
Allison + PR
dosomething.org@allisonpr.com

SGA senate speaker David Paul Hilton’s resignation during Wednesday night’s meeting will be effective Nov. 3. | Courtesy of UH

The Speaker of the Senate, David Paul Hilton, has resigned from his position in the Student Government Association as of Nov. 3, he announced at the biweekly SGA meeting on Wednesday. 

Hilton shared his resignation during the closing remarks at the meeting, citing the manner the special election is being conducted and how, as well as treatment of his senators by the justice department for his departure. 

“The Senate, as adults, is fully capable of making its own decisions as it did when presented with the testimonies of multiple cabinet members and their experiences,” Hilton said. “My senators are not children who are being manipulated or conducting dirty work, but are doing the job that they were put here to do.”

Also in his resignation speech, Hilton added how an entire website was created against him and a few other senators, saying the website called him “corrupt and evil.”

Comments were made by the justice department during the meeting, specifically by Nadiia Hutcherson, the attorney general.

“I think it goes without saying what the definition of impartiality is,” Hutcherson said. “But I think we can hopefully all agree that impartiality does not mean that you have to be on the other side of attacks on someone’s character, and things like that silently.”

In the last two weeks, senators issued grievances towards the justice department’s recall special election code. 

During the meeting, the Senate passed a resolution to amend the election code to allow students to either advocate for or against recalling Arsalan Darbin in the special election, overturning a clause in the election code that previously disallowed this. 

While the amendment passed, the SGA Supreme Court issued an opinion statement saying that this was unconstitutional since this election a special election, and not a regular election.

In response, other cabinet members, like director of external affairs David Ngyuen, said the SGA is going through a tough era with the handling of the special election and the attacks members are making on one another. 

“It has been very, very disappointing and disheartening just to see how broken SGA has become,” Ngyuen said. “Although this was inevitable, these are definitely indeed dark times that we are experiencing. It just feels like corruption has plagued this organization, you know, attacks on each other on the mishandling of our democratic processes and is very concerning.” 

The Senate will now nominate the next Speaker of the Senate, and a vote will take place on Hilton’s successor at the next SGA meeting on Nov. 4. 

Voting for the election will take place on GetInvolved from Oct. 26 through 27. 

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“SGA senate speaker resigns during another heated meeting” was originally posted on The Cougar

Our Take: 4 Stars

It is hard to think of a film in recent memory with as much hype surrounding it as Denis Villeneuve’s new film “Dune.” Originally scheduled for a Nov. 2020 release date, it feels like audiences have been waiting forever to see the star-studded adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel. But on Oct. 22, the wait is finally over.

While it is easy to give in to the hype of the film, there have also been reasons for concern. Despite one of the most talented collections of actors working today and a director that can seemingly do no wrong, many believe that a good adaptation of “Dune” is impossible.

Acclaimed director David Lynch adapted the novel in 1984 to generally unfavorable reviews, and since then there has been a stigma around the story. One of the seminal works of science fiction literature, and a defining novel of the twentieth century, Herbert’s work is complex and detailed and in many ways, one that a single film could not possibly do justice.

But it is also a work with such grandeur and spectacle that it begs to be seen on the big screen.

Director Denis Villeneuve had called it a life-long dream of his to adapt “Dune” into a feature film, and, with an incredible array of science fiction films, like “Arrival” and “Blade Runner 2049,” under his belt, he is perhaps the best working director to helm the project.

Villeneuve’s involvement in the project became a big draw to many actors and is part of the reason the film has such an all-star cast.

Stars of the film talked “Dune” with the Technique at a roundtable hosted by The Daily Bruin.

“I wanted to work with Denis, first and foremost,” said Timothée Chalamet (“Call Me by Your Name”), who stars in the film as Paul Atreides. Villeneuve and the crew crafted an atmosphere greatly conducive to greatness. “[It was] a total dream come true, I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Zendaya (“Euphoria”), who stars opposite Chalamet as Chani, knew she had to get involved when she saw the cast.

“It felt like such a no-brainer. You have such a dream team of people that you could possibly work with,” she laughs. “I saw the cast being assembled and I was just like ‘I just want to get in the room, have a shot at it.’ So, I pursued it quite aggressively.”

The film follows the conflict between two powerful Houses in the galactic empire: the noble House Atreides and the cunning House Harkonnen.

The incredibly talented Chalamet steps into the starring role as Paul Atreides, the son of Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac, “Inside Llewyn Davis”) and Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson, “Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation”), and the heir to House Atreides.

Young Paul is forced away from everything he has ever known when his family is given control of the desert planet Arakkis and must take over the mining of mélange, a spice used for just about everything in Herbert’s world. On this new and nearly inhospitable planet, Paul faces danger around every corner and will be forced to become who he was always meant to be.

The film is very long, over two and a half hours and some parts are very slow and retrospective. While the plot is always interesting, and the masterful performances and direction doesn’t hurt, the pacing feels off in some moments, and it does drag on occasion.

Nevertheless, the soul of the film and its incredible craftsmanship make up for any drawbacks in the pacing and dialogue.

The film is visually spectacular, with every frame perfectly constructed.

Villeneuve approaches the film with such attention to detail and with such an attitude of reverence that the work is truly a sight to behold.

The visuals in this film are movie magic and unmatched in size and splendor.

On top of the visuals, the cast, described by Chalamet as “some of the strongest and most talented actors working right now,” pull the audience into the film and truly commands their attention. It is a sight to behold and definitely something to experience.

But the most powerful aspect of the film is how relatable it is, despite its scale and its other-worldly setting and storyline. Themes of honor, duty and family are ever-present throughout the film and helps the audience connect with Paul and with the story.

The film balances its cosmic scale with some surprisingly grounded and human moments that provide a different kind of life into the film. Villeneuve and the rest of the cast and crew went to great lengths to help audiences connect with the story, especially younger audiences.

While the presence of Chalamet and Zendaya bring a youthful energy to the film, there is more to it than that.

The film is essentially a coming-of-age story told through a larger-than-life adventure. Paul, a handsome, rich, powerful and incredibly gifted royal, becomes a surprisingly relatable figure in Chalamet’s hands.

In the film, we see the beginning of Paul’s growth into manhood, a story that any young person can see themselves in. Paul struggles to understand who he is and what his place is in his family, his community and the universe.

“I think those are things all of us struggle with when we’re at that age and we don’t know who we are and we’re trying to find ourselves, find our voice, our identity …” Chalamet said.

In many ways, movies are so powerful because we can relate to them, and the fact that an audience, and particularly a new generation of “Dune” fans, can relate so well to this is an incredible thing. Perhaps Paul’s journey to find himself will uplift and inspire young audiences everywhere.

Content warning: This article contains references to sexual assault and violence. 

Editor’s note: The story will be updated with statements from LAPD and IFC. The Daily Trojan also reached out to the USC Sigma Nu chapter for a statement but did not hear back in time for publication. 

Students gathered outside Sigma Nu on the Row Thursday after the University put the Sigma Nu fraternity house on interim suspension because of drugging and sexual assault reports.

The interim suspension was announced in a communitywide email sent by the Department of Public Safety Wednesday night. Sigma Nu is forbidden from hosting social events at its house and holding any events or activities, according to the email. 

Following the email, multiple incidents of drugging and assault were reported to DPS ranging between Sept. 27 to Oct. 20. At the time of publication, the DPS crime log had seven different reports related to drugging — six at Sigma Nu, while one was at an undisclosed location.  

The protest addressed long-standing problems with Greek life, protesters said, including complacency, racism and misogyny.

“I think it’s ridiculous. I don’t think [USC has] said anything of substance,” said Finley Davis, a senior majoring in political science and Spanish. “Even the houses on the Row, even sorority houses aren’t saying anything. It’s more about protecting themselves and the institutions that they’re a part of than it is actually protecting the people who are harmed by them.”

Quinn Pettit, a junior majoring in environmental studies, said the issues in Greek life are systemic and the culture allows sexual assaults to occur more frequently. 

“There is a greater issue, and it’s that the entire system allows for sexual assault … in Greek life more than in most other situations,” Pettit said. “There’s a reason behind that, and it’s that the system allows for men to take advantage of women.”

In a statement to the Daily Trojan, the University wrote that it provides a “fair, thorough and timely resolution process.”

“USC takes reports of sexual assault extremely seriously and has a coordinated response team designed to promptly respond,” the University wrote in a statement to the Daily Trojan. “While we are unable to discuss the specifics of this matter due to student privacy laws, we are unequivocal in our commitment to fostering a safe environment for all of our students, faculty and staff.” 

However, Pettit said the University should work more to address the sexual assault incidents beyond suspensions.

“I think it’s absolutely unacceptable that this behavior continues and that the system allows for it to happen,” Pettit said. “I feel like the University is not doing enough about it. Canceling parties is not going to make up for lifelong trauma that somebody is going to experience.” 

A junior majoring in business administration, who wanted to remain anonymous because of the sensitive nature of the topic, said she knows many people — including herself — who have been sexually assaulted. The student said she hopes there will be more accountability beyond the interim suspension in place. 

“If there’s someone in the house that sexually assaults someone, then why are you only on interim probation,” the student said. “You should be expelled and kicked off the Row — like that doesn’t make any sense. There’s just not enough accountability.”

In a statement to the Daily Trojan, the Sigma Nu Fraternity headquarters wrote that it will work with the University’s investigation and is “concerned” by the allegations.

“The Fraternity will determine its further actions based upon the investigation. Sigma Nu Fraternity remains committed to responding appropriately to all matters of confirmed misconduct,” the email read.  

After Sigma Nu’s suspension, multiple fraternities canceled parties and mixers scheduled for this weekend, according to information obtained by the Daily Trojan.

Sigma Nu is not the first fraternity put on interim suspension by the University.

In 2018 and 2019, the University suspended Sigma Alpha Mu, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Phi Sigma Kappa and Pi Kappa Phi for hazing allegations.

It also suspended Pi Kappa Alpha for alleged drug use, as well as Sigma Delta Alpha and Tau Kappa Epsilon because of prior investigations related to hazing. 

In 2013, the National Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity officially banned the Sigma Phi Epsilon California Beta Chapter “for up to five years” after reports of sexual misconduct. The chapter does not currently exist at the University.

While the University lifted Phi Sigma Kappa and Sigma Alpha Mu’s suspensions after a month, Pi Kappa Phi lost University recognition the same year because of a hazing investigation. In 2019, the University stopped recognizing Theta Xi after a separate hazing investigation.

The investigation into Sigma Nu is ongoing. The Daily Trojan reached out to DPS for a comment but was referred to LAPD. 

Sasha Ryu contributed to this report. 

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