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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

Politics Rundown: Biden pushes to ease student debt

Politics Rundown: Biden pushes to ease student debt
In light of COVID-19, many financial aid plans are being explored for Americans.
Maria Weyne and Natalie Willis April 5, 2021

As of April 5, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau began pushing to temporarily end home foreclosures until 2022, given the pandemic at hand. President Joe Biden has also begun looking into canceling student debt after pausing loan payments as part of COVID-19 relief, according to USA Today. On...

Biola plans for in-person spring commencement

Biola plans for in-person spring commencement
The commencement ceremony will be held on three separate days to adhere to health and safety protocols.
Bethsabe Camacho, Deputy News Editor April 3, 2021

On April 1, University Events sent an email to graduating seniors informing them that their Spring 2021 Commencement ceremony will be held in person. After the previous semester’s graduation was held via drive thru, the university has found a way to give their students an in-person experience while...

April sheds light with autism awareness month

April sheds light with autism awareness month
Understanding is necessary to identify, diagnose and empathize with those who are neurodivergent.
Addison Freiheit, Staff Writer March 31, 2021

Unless you or someone you know has autism, you were likely unaware that April is Autism Awareness Month. Don’t worry—you are not alone. Forty-one percent of participants rated their knowledge of autism as weak during a 2017 study by Neurosciences Journal. But as approximately 1 in 54 children are...

President Biden’s first press conference rundown

President Biden’s first press conference rundown
Joe Biden faces low approval ratings over his approach to gun violence after mass shootings.
Natalie Willis, Editor-in-Chief March 29, 2021

On March 25, President Joe Biden detailed his goals involving COVID-19, vaccine distribution and immigration in his first presidential news conference. The conference took place three days after 10 people died in a mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado, but Biden sidestepped a question addressing his plan...

‘Are we Asian Americans your neighbors?’

‘Are we Asian Americans your neighbors?’
The overall hate crime rate in major cities has decreased, but Anti-Asian crime has risen by nearly 150%.
Maria Weyne, Bethsabe Camacho, and Natalie Willis March 26, 2021

“It's a whole nother thing when it's your race going through it,” said senior business major Sena Lee. “Because our culture is to suppress emotions to not speak up, to put your head down, and don't make a ruckus, it's really hard for us to deal with the pain right now. Because we can't justify...

Washington D.C. should be granted statehood

Washington D.C. should be granted statehood
Taxation without representation is unjust and undemocratic.
Evana Upshaw, Opinions Editor March 26, 2021

Washington D.C. is home to our nation’s capital—the seat of power in the United States. But beyond the historical monuments, museums and granite buildings live about 705,000 people. Residents in the district have regular families, jobs and lives—and there are in fact more people living there than...

Biola announces reopening for Fall 2021

Common Grounds interior
After a year of remote learning, Biola announces its reopening for the upcoming semester.
Maria Weyne and Natalie Willis March 25, 2021

On March 25, Biola Internal Communications sent out an email to all non-graduating students regarding future plans for Fall 2021. President Barry Corey announced that students will be allowed back on campus for fully in-person housing and instruction by Aug. 30.  BIOLA RETURNS  Along with in-person...

Pandemic relationships: we were not made to live socially distanced

Pandemic relationships: we were not made to live socially distanced
Technology is saving the limited relationships we have amid social isolation.
Addison Freiheit, Staff Writer March 24, 2021

Everything has changed with the onset of the pandemic, but our relationships have changed most of all. Many of us have spent months solely in contact with those in our household. Loneliness quickly became an unfortunate reality as small talk and peripheral conversations disappeared. Despite the difficulties...

COVID-19 update: possibility of new FDA-approved vaccine

COVID-19 update: possibility of new FDA-approved vaccine
AstraZeneca could be the fourth vaccine approved by the FDA for Americans.
Bethsabe Camacho, Deputy News Editor March 22, 2021

A total of 127 million vaccines have been administered in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID Data Tracker. In upcoming weeks, a potential fourth vaccine will be filed for approval for emergency authorization. POSSIBILITY OF NEW FDA-APPROVED VACCINE? New...

Racism is not a virus—it is much more sinister.

Racism is not a virus—it is much more sinister.
Our language matters when we talk about topics as serious as racism and white supremacy.
Evana Upshaw, Opinions Editor March 22, 2021

We have now officially seen COVID-19 ravage the world for an entire year, claiming lives and livelihoods that no one consented to give. And it spread like wildfire from person to person through one of our most basic human needs: social interaction. COVID-19 is a virus that has caused a pandemic. On the...

Biola expands on-campus engagement opportunities as LA County moves to red tier

Biola freshmen Jessica White, Laura Dahl, and Stephanie Wilkerson reunite after the winter break while eating lunch together in the cafeteria.
Most summer courses remain online, but more students will be allowed on campus.
Natalie Willis, Editor-in-Chief March 19, 2021

On March 19, Biola announced in an email newly permitted on-campus activities following a downward trend of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles county, moving Biola and surrounding areas to the red tier.  SLOWLY REOPENING CAMPUS LIFE  While residential housing will not be expanded for the spring semester,...

COVID-19 update: Biola to vaccinate its frontline workers

COVID-19 update: Biola to vaccinate its frontline workers
Moderna begins testing their vaccine on children and counties loosen their restrictions.
Bethsabe Camacho, Deputy News Editor March 16, 2021

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 111 million COVID-19 vaccines have been administered—now making up 21.7% of the total U.S. population. The U.S. is currently administering over 2.7 million shots a day.  The goal according to President Joe Biden is to have enough vaccines...