2012

George Lucas, owner of one of the most successful independent production companies of all time, sold out to Walt Disney Studios on October 30, 2012. Lucasfilm, responsible for the legendary Star Wars and Indiana Jones sagas, is now under new ownership and an abundance of new movie plans have already been announced. Following the completion of the deal, the plan to film Star Wars Episodes VII, VIII, and IX was revealed. These movies will expand upon the already–completed storyline of Episodes IV–VI in ways which could ruin the overall experience of the saga.

Berkeley prides itself on being one of the most diverse cities in the nation, where people of many different ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and — to a certain extent — socioeconomic statuses come together. It’s true that Berkeley’s diversity is an impressive reality that has lent the city a wider variety of cultures and perspectives. At the same time, we’ve all heard of the “Berkeley Bubble”: the idea that as citizens of Berkeley, we lead politically sheltered, separate lives from the rest of the country.

Although art forms of all types (music, visual, cinema) often include broader social and political messages, artists have no responsibility to include said messages in their work.

Since prehistoric cave painters decided to decorate the walls of their archaic dwellings, art — both visual and performance — has been present in every society. Art can be an investment in status; during the Renaissance wealthy families such as the Medicis and monarchs like Louis XVI spent vast amounts to patronize the work of a wide variety of artists they deemed talented.

After being hired as head soccer coach for the girls’ varsity team, George Hopkins, a coach with eighteen years of scholastic and collegiate coaching experience, was suddenly let go. Having left the team after last season, Suzanne Sillett returned to coaching to replace Hopkins. The nature of Hopkins’ departure, however, isn’t absolutely clear.