Biola’s Student Government Association (SGA) released its election results in an Instagram post last Saturday, Feb. 15. According to the results, the undergraduate student population elected two senators of 10 total senator spots, and did not meet the 10% threshold of votes to elect the candidates for president and vice president, Faith Ising and Josiah McCracken.

In this episode’s interview with Hope Li, The Chimes’ opinion editor Isahi Minero identifies problems and offers solutions regarding SGA’s current elections process and the lack of student participation in running for office and voting. Their conversation regarding SGA’s next steps in hiring a new president and vice president was recorded before SGA posted its 2024-25 Statement & Voting Statistics on Instagram, which provided expectations for the hiring process, explanations of SGA’s constitution and a request that students pray for the current president and vice president as they begin the process.

For more details about this week's headlines: LAUSD cellphone ban, FireAid charity concert, humpback whale briefly swallows man, Delta jet flipped over in Toronto, South Korean AI data center. Our international headlines are written by Izah DeFigh.

Find more stories at The Chimes’ website.

Dear friend,

Last weekend Biola’s Conservatory of Music presented the musical “She Loves Me.” In the story two lovers who correspond through anonymous letters become coworkers at a perfumery without realizing it. The musical follows their path to realizing each other’s identity as “dear friend” and the assumptions and distrust that each must conquer along the way. The show's production ran for four nights from Thursday to Sunday evening, double-casting a few of the lead characters. In a crossover with our sister podcast Biola Backstage, Thomas Rahkola interviews a few of the lead actors from “She Loves Me,” including senior Jessica Moses, junior Luke Bona, and sophomore Zion Viana. For the full version of the interview or for similar behind-the-scenes of Biola theatre and CMA productions, check out the Biola Backstage podcast.

With Biola’s housing forms opening on Monday, February 17th, students can find their application at the housing page on Biola’s website.

For more details about this week's headlines: Trump’s steel tariffs, Israel–Hamas ceasefire tensions, egg prices skyrocket, Valentine’s Day rose imports

Find more stories at the Chimes website

Every year, Biola University’s Student Government Association (SGA) holds elections for a new president and vice president as well as new members of the Senate. The Senators represent each residence hall with senators to represent commuters, too.

In this episode, host Reagan Glidewell interviews the president and vice president candidates Faith Ising and Hillary Ramirez about their campaign and mission for the 2025-2026 academic year. Ising served as a Senator for Sigma Hall while Ramirez served as a campaign manager for the current SGA president and vice president. They dive deep into their mission to be “led by His light” through a campaign focused on servitude and transparency within the Biola community.

More information about this week’s headlines: “Crash the Superbowl” commercial; She Loves Me tickets; Los Angeles protests; tariffs; Border patrol; AI Action Summit; M23 Rebels

Last April, the Senate passed legislation that would ban TikTok in the U.S unless its owners agreed to sell the platform. After the app’s parent company ByteDance filed a First Amendment lawsuit challenging the ban, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of the ban two days before it was set to take effect. TikTok failed to secure a deal in time and the platform went dark on Jan. 18. However, it returned the next day after then-President-elect Donald Trump announced he would pause the ban, with a pop-up message that read, “​​Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!”

According to an executive order signed on the day of President Trump’s inauguration, the ban has now been postponed for a 75 day period. In this episode, Thomas Rahkola interviews Biola students senior Anjoli “Jo” Person, freshman Eve Harter, freshman Matthew Jonker and sophomore Sarah Kim to get their perspective on the app and the U.S. government’s efforts to ban it.

For more details about this week's headlines: Collision above Reagan National Airport, Torrey Oxford, ICE raids, White House attempts to freeze grant spending

In June of 2023, Biola University President Dr. Barry Corey released an internal email statement announcing the closure of the centralized Division of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) and the opening of the decentralized Unity in Diversity Advisory Council. In an internal email last Thursday, the president introduced Talbot chair and professor of theology Dr. Uche Anizor as his co-chair to lead the council. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to disband all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

In this episode, host Reagan Glidewell interviews junior psychology major Ashley Newman about her letter to the Office of the President published in The Chimes last Friday, and the implications of a decentralized D&I office at Biola. Last academic school year, Newman served as the Vice President of D&I for Biola’s Student Government Association (SGA). She shares her perspective as a student who worked closely with Biola’s D&I division and explains the concerns she included in her letter. They mention Biola’s Unity Amidst Diversity statement and 2021 Strategic Diversity Plan.

More information about this week’s headlines: Biola University clubs; Sudan famine; President Biden pardons

Last week, numerous fires sprung up across L.A. county. The Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires have burnt over 60 square miles, forcing thousands to evacuate and causing over $250 billion in damages. For more information about the wildfires, see the Los Angeles Times’ Wildfires Map and its ongoing coverage of the fires.

In this episode, host Hope Li interviews Chimes news editor Olivia Kam about her most recent Chimes article about ways the Biola community can support those affected by the fires in the greater Los Angeles County. They mention a GoFundMe created to support Rosemead Psychology professor Tania Abouezzeddine after the Eaton fire, which has raised 190% of its $15,000 goal.

More information about this week’s headlines: South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol detained; Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Newscaster Jake Russo brings news of an attempted airport heist in Chile, the death of two US citizens traveling across Mexico and news regarding North Korea's Kim Jong-un's family.

Newscaster Alexis Marion brings news of a German coup, NASA sending astronauts back to the moon and Maryland's TikTok ban in government agencies.

SOURCES
German Coup
NASA
Maryland
Theme Music