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The Student News Site of Biola University

The Chimes

The Student News Site of Biola University

The Chimes

The Student News Site of Biola University

The Chimes

The second covering of Jesus

Volunteers and staff for the Student Missionary Union hand painting the two-story tall sign that would later cover the Jesus Mural on Bardwell Hall.
The Jesus Mural was hidden by a black tarp for this year’s Missions Conference, but it is not the first time this was done.
Katie Ragains, Photo Editor March 28, 2025

The somewhat controversial The WORD (or “Jesus Mural” as the students call it) was covered with a black tarp by Student Missionary Union (SMU) staff this year as a part of the theme for Missions Conference. This took place just two days ahead of the 95th annual Clyde and Anna Belle Cook Mission’s...

CMA building’s topping-out ceremony marks second big construction step

CMA topping-off ceremony on Mar. 27, 2025
Biola celebrates topping-out ceremony for new CMA building with worship and gratitude
Olivia Kam, News Editor March 28, 2025

On Mar. 27, the Biola community gathered at the construction site for the new CMA building. Many donors and faculty were present, including Tom Halleen, founding dean of the Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts and President Barry Corey. The ceremony began with David Vazquez, vice president of university...

Thirty-minute power outage affects Biola’s campus

The fifth floor of Horton Hall was shrouded in darkness during a 30-minute campus-wide power outage that disrupted regular activity on Mar. 27, 2025.
Blackout affected lights, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, elevators
Hope Li, Olivia Kam, and Isahi Minero March 27, 2025

The power went out for half an hour across Biola’s campus on Mar. 27, affecting overhead lights, automatic sliding doors, air conditioning, Wi-Fi and elevators. “The protective relay for campus power failed, causing our campus main breaker to trip,” said Biola’s chief of Campus Safety and...

Snyder building construction remains on schedule, set to complete May 2026

The Snyder School construction begins to take shape just 8 months after the groundbreaking Mar. 26, 2025.
The new CMA building is still on track eight months after groundbreaking despite weather and fundraising challenges
Olivia Kam, News Editor March 27, 2025

It has been eight months since the groundbreaking of the Cinema Media Arts (CMA) new Snyder Building. With construction nearing the one year mark, progress has been made amid changing weather, nearby wildfires and occasional earthquakes. CMA offered the opportunity for students to sign the metal beams...

Beloved Biola and Torrey alumnus passes away

Cameron Huelin and his wife, Allie Wells
Family members and Torrey community mourns and commemorates Cameron Huelin, Biola 2024 alumnus
Olivia Kam, News Editor March 27, 2025

Cameron Huelin, a 2024 Biola business major and Torrey Honors College alumnus, passed away on Mar. 18, 2025. The Torrey community held prayer services for Huelin after he discovered he had a malignant brain tumor in the fall of 2022. He met his wife, Allie Wells, a 2023 biology and pre-medicine Biola...

Biola Missions Conference name change honors the Cook legacy

President Barry Corey (far right) announces the renaming of Missions Conference and honors the Cook family onstage on Mar. 19, 2025. Pictured left to right: Laura Botka, Ken Botka, Tyler Botka, Jamie Cook, Craig Cook, President Barry Corey
Biola Missions Conference renews the legacy of its seventh university president with a historic name change.
Emanuel Gomez, Staff Writer March 24, 2025

Biola University’s 95th annual Missions Conference commemorated the legacy of former university president Clyde Cook by renaming the conference in his honor. This name change also comes after the recent closure of the Cook School of Intercultural Studies in the summer of 2024. Current President...

Missions Conference breakout highlights

Breakout session in Calvary Chapel
Highlights of a few breakout sessions from Missions Conference 2025

Biola’s Missions Conference 2025 invited missionaries from all around the world to speak at this year’s breakout sessions. Here’s some highlights from a few breakouts. “THE NINEVEH PROTOCOL AND THE GREAT ADMISSION” In a breakout session on Mar. 19, a missionary talked about how God slowly...

Missions Conference 2025 day two and three recap

John Mark Comer speaking in session six of Missions Conference
Worship, discipleship, and the call to mission

Day two of Missions Conference 2025 dawned with worship from orchestra and a medley of global voices singing praise together. SESSION FOUR Yasmin Pierce from Circuit Riders spoke on the importance of living as a Christian called to daily ministry compelled by love instead of duty or obligation. “Living...

Missions Conference 2025 day one recap

Phone prop on podium as a reminder of the "Called" Missions Conference theme
A bold awakening at the 2025 Cook Missions Conference
Emanuel Gomez, Olivia Kam, and Shelby LaPorte March 22, 2025

Wednesday, Mar. 19 marked the first day of the 2025 Cook Missions Conference at Biola University. The line to Chase Gymnasium swelled with anticipation, stretching past Fluor Fountain to the Biola Library, and the room was quickly filled with Biolans. Tim Kim, resident director of Alpha Hall, offered...

Couple found dead near Biola’s campus in apparent murder-suicide

Couple found dead near Biola’s campus in apparent murder-suicide
Authorities confirm no threat to Biola’s campus as investigation continues
Olivia Kam, News Editor March 19, 2025

On Saturday, Mar. 15 a couple was found dead in their home about a mile away from Biola's campus. According to Whittier Daily News, the Sheriff's Department received a call early that morning. The couple's neighbor was believed to have been the caller. "Rhonda Alder, 56, died from a gunshot wound...

Jesus mural veiled as Missions Conference sparks conversation with “What if you never heard?”

A black tarp covers over the infamous Jesus Mural at the center of Biola's campus two days before SMU's Missions Conference begins. March 3, 2025.
SMU builds anticipation for Missions Conference by covering the Jesus mural two days in advance.
Emanuel Gomez, Staff Writer March 17, 2025

Biolans awoke this morning to an unexpected campus development: the landmark Jesus mural is gone. All that remains is a black veil with a single question: “What if you never heard?” The Jesus Mural, a 40-foot tall depiction of Jesus Christ by American mural painter Kent Twitchell entitled "THE...

Biola Chimes Recognized at 2025 ACP Spring National College Media Conference

The Chimes team at the CCMA conference. from left to right: Katie Ragains, Jasper Zastrocky, Patricia Yang, Clarissa Jocelyn, Michael Longinow, Joseph Abboud.
Student journalists at the Chimes secured three first-place awards
Emanuel Gomez, Staff Writer March 13, 2025

Student journalists from Biola University’s student-run news publication The Chimes were recognized at the 2025 West Coast Convention of the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) on Saturday, March 8. They came home with three first-place awards: Best Newspaper Website (for universities with less than...