January 26, 2012 by Los Angeles Loyolan

ESTABLISHED 1921 January 26, 2012 Volume 90, Issue 26 Your Home. Your Voice. Your Newspaper.

Loyola Marymount University

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University to celebrate Mission Day today LMU historian Kevin Starr will speak at “The DNA and Mission of LMU” event at Convo.

By Brigette Scobas Asst. News Editor

Justin Vitug | Loyolan

“A Time to Break Silence” celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Tuesday’s interfaith commemoration included performances by the University’s gospel choir,“LMU Voices of Joy,” according to the LMU newsroom website. For freshman business and economics double major Caitlin Dickson (second from left) this was her first performance as part of the choir, and she enjoyed,“seeing people in the audience smiling and really getting into the music.” Both the Office of Black Student Services (OBSS) and Campus Ministry hosted the event, which took place in Sacred Heart Chapel during Convo hour.

Students, faculty, staff and administrators are invited to celebrate and partake in the University’s annual Mission Day events today, focusing on the history and future of LMU in relation to the centennial. This year, the Mission and Ministry Office and the Bellarmine Forum come together to package today’s presentations. They include a keynote address by California historian and author of “Loyola Marymount University: A Centennial History” Dr. Kevin Starr, followed by a roundtable discussion later in the afternoon. The keynote address, “The DNA and Mission of LMU,” will be held at 12:15 p.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel, with a luncheon to follow in the Sculpture

See Mission Day | Page 5

The Onion set as First Amendment Week keynote Staffers from The Onion news organization will speak on the rights that protect their satirical writing. By Tierney Finster News Editor

“America’s finest news source” is coming to LMU. Humorous media source The Onion has been chosen as the keynote speaker for the Loyolan’s First Amendment Week (FAW) this year. The goal of FAW is to emphasize the value of the First Amendment while also raising awareness on campus about the extent of the freedoms that

the First Amendment fosters and protects. The Loyolan will host the Feb. 7 Onion event in Burns Back Court at 6 p.m. According to the Loyolan’s Editor in Chief Kenzie O’Keefe, The Onion’s daring satirical style exemplifies the rights that the First Amendment provides. “Satire is witty and entertaining because it pushes boundaries. Sometimes that offends people, and because of the First Amendment, The Onion can employ satire without worrying about who might take offense and try to shut them down,” O’Keefe said.

Certain members of the Loyolan staff began working on this year ’s FAW in the spring of last year, according to O’Keefe. The Loyolan’s Public Editor Angelica Cadiente said that The Onion was selected out of a long list of possible contenders. “We picked The Onion because of the obvious connection it has to the First Amendment. It says something about how incredible it is that we can publish uncensored, humorous or satirical things about any topic,” Cadiente said. The Onion was originally founded in 1988 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The newspaper, according to

The Onion’s website, began as a oncea-week, student-targeted publication and expanded its audience in 1996 with the launch of TheOnion.com. The website enabled The Onion to reach a strong national and international audience, and currently averages 40 million page views a month. The Onion also includes a variety of video series, including a mock morning show called “Today Now,” and a popular sports section. In 2011, Time Magazine named The Onion Sports Network one of their “50 Best Websites of 2011,” and referred to the site’s content as “too true for comfort.”

See The Onion | Page 2

Wetlands restoration presents unique opportunity LMU community members will contribute to the recently-approved restoration of the Ballona Wetlands. By Zaneta Pereira Asst. News Editor

Few students are aware of the fact that less than 10 minutes away from the LMU campus lies the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, a 600-acre area that is all that remains of the Ballona Wetlands complex that once covered over 2,000 acres and stretched from Playa del Rey to Venice. On Jan. 20, 2012, the Los Angeles Times reported that the state of California had approved spending $6.5 million towards the restoration of the wetlands. While the restoration is still in early stages of planning, the article reports that “the question of how drastically to alter the existing landscape in

order to revive … the Ballona Wetlands is polarizing conservationists who fought for three decades to protect the site from the sort of development that ate up most of it.” LMU associate professor of environmental science Dr. John Dorsey, a member of the restoration project’s Scientific Advisory Committee, explained, “There’s a big difference in opinion in terms of what’s going to happen out here.” Specifically, Dorsey outlines the plan favored by the restoration project, and said, “The alternative that a lot of people are looking at, and [which] the science advisory board likes, involves putting more water into the wetlands and taking down the levee walls. It would do some serious relandscaping to allow a lot more water in on Area A and in Area B; they would literally reshape Ballona Creek. It wouldn’t be a straight

LIKE, TOTALLY OBFUSCATING INTELLIGENCE A&E Editor Kevin O'Keeffe argues that LMU students favor the rule of cool over sounding smart.

Opinion, Page 6

See Wetlands | Page 4

Abbey Nelson | Loyolan

The Ballona Wetlands are located just a few miles from the LMU campus. The wetlands were once the the property of Howard Hughes and are slated for a $6.5 million restoration.

Index Classifieds.............................5 Opinion...............................6 A&E...................................11 Sports..............................16 The next issue of the Loyolan will be printed on January 30, 2011.

REMEMBERING A SOUL ICON Contributor Jackson Souza reflects upon the impact of Etta James.

A&E, Page 11

January 26, 2012 Page 2

News

Onion keynote speaker promises ‘a laugh a minute’ The Onion from page 1 “As with all great satire, the fact that The Onion is fictitious doesn’t mean it’s not real,” the Times’ Harry McCracken wrote. The Onion’s Editor in Chief Joe Randazzo will speak on campus along with staff writer Dan Mirk next month. “The Onion has been around for almost 25 years, and this is a well-honed show. It’s going to be tailored to your event, and we’re going to do some original things, but it will be 25 years of jokes and experiences,” Randazzo told the Loyolan. Mirk simply promised to inspire “a laugh a minute” from the audience and said that students should expect “a night of laughs and fun.”

O’Keefe emphasized that The Onion is one of the most topical keynote speakers that the Loyolan has brought to campus for FAW. Last year’s keynote speaker was R&B recording artist John Legend. “Though the speakers may not have the celebrity status of last year’s speaker, they interact directly with the First Amendment on a daily basis and they’re sure to be hilariously entertaining,” O’Keefe said. The Onion will be the ninth FAW keynote speaker in LMU history, joining the likes of past keynotes Karl Rover, Bill Maher and Seth MacFarlane. Randazzo and Mirk will speak on Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. in Burns Back Court. Admittance is free and by OneCard only.

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PROVOST CANDIDATE

SPOTLIGHT NAME: Dr. Molly Easo Smith

SCHOOL: Manhattanville College Dr. Molly Easo Smith was the second provost finalist to visit the University on Monday, Jan. 23. Smith addressed the LMU community in a question and answer session in the Von der Ahe Welcome Center.

QUOTES:

“I think education is a call to human excellence and is only possible through nurturing and developing the whole person.” theonion.com

The Onion, “America’s Finest News Source,” features satirical news stories on its website (pictured above).

“If we are to think about men and women for others, teaching more than anything else seems to me the quintessential act of men and women for others through that intergenerational commitment that we make as teachers and scholars.” “I envision the provost as providing leadership not only to the University community, but also beyond to the greater Los Angeles area, the nation and the world.”

Information Technology Services works to fix student wireless network The student wireless network has been down since around 2 p.m. Tuesday, according to Information Technology Services (ITS). ITS told the Loyolan that the outage was campus-wide and, as of Wednesday evening, the department was still working to eradicate the problem. Los Angeles Fire Department helps staff member trapped in elevator On Jan. 24, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) received a report of a staff member trapped in an elevator in Malone. Both Facilities Management and the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) responded to the call. LAFD and Facilities Management were able to get the staff member out and the elevator will be labeled out of service.

“LMU’s core values, traditions, geographical location, things you describe as a kind of remarkable coordination of tradition, time and place, positions the University, I think, to live its purpose of men and women for others most fully.” For access to Smith’s application materials, including a video of the open forum, visit lmu.edu/provostsearch. *See the Jan. 30 issue for a recap of the next finalist’s interview. Graphic: Dol-Anne Asiru | Loyolan, Quotes compiled by Adrien Jarvis

Dol-Anne Asiru | Loyolan

News

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January 26, 2012 Page 3

Number of transfer student applicants continues to rise NEWS ANALYSIS

Transfer student applicants face unique challenges. By Margo Jasukaitis Asst. News Editor

Over 1,600 people applied for what would ultimately be less than 800 spots on LMU’s campus last fall. The pool of applicants for admission as a transfer student to LMU was the largest its ever been, according to Director of Admissions Matthew Fissinger. “[It’s] the most we’ve ever had; it’s a record,” Fissinger said. “We’ve done really well with transfer students in the past couple years.” The acceptance rate for transfer students, however, hinges on the acceptance rate for the University’s incoming class. According to Fissinger, President David W. Burcham and his cabinet meet before the beginning of each year and determine admission target numbers. “Most commonly, the target is 1,250 entering freshmen and 350 transfer students,” said Fissinger. “We always try to come close to that total target of 1,600 new students.” According to Fissinger, however, the number of applicants who are high school seniors accepted for admission the fall of their freshman year has the potential to influence the number of transfer students who earn admission. In the case of the pool of applicants for the fall 2011 semester, 1,288 students accepted their admission to the University as freshmen, according to Fissinger. In light of this, the Office of Admissions “put the brakes on transfer admissions. … When it looked like the freshman class would be 38 larger than the target, we tried to adjust the transfer enrollment so we still came close to the total target [of 1,600],” said Fissinger. Striking such a balance between enrollment of incoming freshmen in the fall and enrollment of transfer students has its roots in both budgeting and provision of resources to individual students. “To really oversimplify it, it’s a question that is driven on the one hand by revenues – how many students do we need to have enrolled in order to ensure we can pay all the salaries and keep all the lights on and do all the stuff the budget funds,” said Fissinger. “On the other hand, you want to be very conscious of the limits of the University’s resources. … How big do you want the classes to be? What kind of access do you want students to very comfortably have to faculty and student services?”

Balancing these two facets of are ready to start school midway University operations, however, is through the academic year. But for only one consideration involved in transfer students, often that’s an extending admission to transfer attractive time.” students at LMU. Transfer According to Gutto, transfer applicants must provide transcripts applications for the current spring from their previous institutions semester increased 9 percent, of higher education in order for totaling 478 applications in all. Of the University to confirm the these 478, the University accepted student has taken courses that can 164 and enrolled 125. satisfy LMU-specific graduation “The application volume has requirements. increased, the quality is strong,” These credits, however, do not Fissinger said. necessarily have to come from Part of this increase in application other four-year universities. “LMU volume and quality can be attributed does accept transfer credits from to the University’s increased focus community and junior colleges,” said on the transfer student experience. Alice Gandara, articulation officer “We’ve made a decision to focus and and transfer services manager in have someone in the office whose the Office of the Registrar. “As primary responsibility is transfer a matter of fact, we have formal students and that process,” said transfer agreements with 33 out Gutto, who became the Office of of the more than 100 community Admissions transfer coordinator colleges in the state of California.” three years ago. Tom Gutto, assistant director of “There are a lot of different Admissions and transfer coordinator, factors that go into why a student said LMU receives about 55 percent transfers,” Gutto said. “But they of its transfer applicants from local all end up with a diploma, [and] it community colleges. “Santa Monica never says ‘transferred in after a College is definitely the number year or two;” It just says LMU.” one transfer two-year institution,” To Gutto, this idea that a student he said, adding, “El Camino, who only pays for two or three years Marymount Palos of LMU tuition Verdes, Pasedena graduates with “Students that get a degree of the City College and Glendale same value as a here are just so College also four-year student provide a high who has paid grateful.” number volume approximately - Tom Gutto, $200,000 of applicants.” to Assistant Director of Admissions attend The stipulations LMU and Transfer Coordinator since placed on what their will and will f r e s h m a n not be accepted year is not as as transferable credits from problematic as some people may community and junior colleges to think. “[Transfer students] pay in LMU become complex when the other ways. They’re never going community or junior college at to have that four-year continuous which the course was taken is not experience. There’s something that one with which LMU has a formal can be said about starting your transfer agreement. Gandara said, college career and never having “Some community college courses to transfer,” he said. “I think that are not accepted by this system, but they’ve worked just as hard in a are accepted by the CSU [California different way to earn their degree. State University] system and may … They’ve gone through so many transfer to LMU.” hoops just to get here,” he said. “From out-of-state schools, the As a result of the increased community college courses that number and intensity of obstacles transfer to LMU are those that to entry for transfer students, Gutto are baccalaureate level. That is, reported he finds students who they are accepted for degree credit transfer into the LMU community at regionally-accredited, four-year are often more excited, committed institutions that are comparable and involved than their traditionally to our UC campuses here in matriculated counterparts. California,” she continued. “Students that get here are just so While students seeking admission grateful,” he said. to LMU as a transfer submit their Ultimately, the goal of Gutto, as transcripts from previous years well as the many other University of baccalaureate-level work at staff who work in Transfer Services, community and junior colleges, is to enhance and facilitate the transfer applicants also apply transition process for transfer to LMU mid-year, according to students onto LMU’s campus. Fissinger. “We help them assimilate into the “We don’t bring in many freshmen community,” Gutto said. “So they’re in January,” he said. “That’s not a not thinking like they’re transfer good time for most people. … You students, but [like] they’re Lions.” don’t have many freshmen who

NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS

FOR TRANSFER

ADMISSION

1800 1600 1400

11 Burning Questions with Greek Council’s Vice President of Men’s Recruitment

This issue, News Editor Tierney Finster talks with Dane Vaughn, Greek Council’s vice president of men’s recruitment, about overseeing this week’s fraternity recruitment events. 1. What does men’s recruitment entail? It’s basically just the process of organizing all the fraternities to come together in one week and have events for the guys rushing each day. As the week progresses, the guys figure out which fraternity they want to rush the most and if they actually want to pledge and join one. 2. How did you become head of men’s recruitment? The president of my fraternity brought it to my attention. I applied through Greek Council and interviewed with the past Greek Council executive board, and then they presented it to the Greek Council as a whole, which includes delegates from each fraternity and sorority. 3. What made you interested? I was interested in becoming part of a governing body for all of Greek Life, not just my fraternity. I wanted to give back to Greek Life and my fraternity by leading this larger body. 4. How many guys are going through recruitment? Between 100 and 200 men are registered, but a lot have participated in recruitment without registering. So it’s a little hard to tell. 5. How does fraternity recruitment differ from sorority recruitment? It’s much less structured. Sorority recruitment involves Rho Chis, who put the girls in alphabetical order and lead them through the different sororities in lines. Fraternity recruitment is much different. Guys can go to whatever fraternity they want and talk to whoever they want once there. It’s all about guys just having conversations. 6. Why do you think this difference exists? Does one system work better than the other? We’re not sure that it does work better, and we’re actually thinking of adding a little bit of structure to fraternity recruitment. We’re thinking that it may do good to add one day where all the guys going through recruitment have to interact with each of the fraternities since there are only six. In choosing which guys to give bids to, I think our process is a bit more cohesive. I know that the girls all vote individually, and that the results are then put into a computer. [Fraternities] all talk about it together and really build the fraternity’s opinion. 7. What advice would you give to the guys that are going through recruitment? Choose who you really want to focus on for the rest of the week and go all out in rushing them. 8. What makes a potential recruit memorable? The guys already in fraternities have a bunch of basic questions that they ask. What stands out is when guys can have a normal, substantial conversation once these questions are asked. To be really present is to be memorable. 9. What was your recruitment experience like? I rushed spring of freshman year, and I’m a sophomore now. One of my friends from high school was in a fraternity and told me to check it out. I didn’t think I was a typical frat guy at all, but I think joining is the best decision that I’ve made at LMU so far. I think it’s given me so much opportunity, a lot of new friendships and the chance to assume some leadership positions. 10. For the people who receive bids from fraternities, what’s the next step before becoming an official member? Well, each fraternity has its own pledging process. Typically there is a gap between when one receives a bid and when one becomes an official member. It involves the fraternities’ teachings, study hours and certain events. At that point, the new guys exist alongside the fraternity until they are initiated.

1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0

Devin Sixt | Loyolan

Sophomore business major Dane Vaughn says joining his fraternity is the best decision he’s made at LMU.

Fall 2007

Fall 2008

Fall 2009

Fall 2010

Fall 2011

Information from: the Office of Admissions Graphic: Dol-Anne Asiru | Loyolan

11. What advice would you give to guys who don’t end up getting a bid during this round of recruitment? I first say to analyze if the fraternity you wanted is really right for you. If you think it is, then you have to think about the rushing process and what you brought to the table during it. Either way, I would recommend that you come out again next year and check out all six.

January 26, 2012 Page 4

News

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Wetlands restoration planning is underway Wetlands from Page 1 line, it would be more of a gentle s-shape.” According to the Los Angeles Times article, this proposal has been met with criticism from those who believe that “funds would be put to better use on more delicate improvements, such as using volunteers and schoolchildren to plant native vegetation or buying up surrounding property to use as a buffer zone.” Specifically, the article quotes Kathy Knight, conservation chair of the Sierra Club Airport Marina Group, who said, “We are opposed to industrial-scale habitat conversion, including bulldozing that destroys current ecosystems.” For Dorsey, the best alternative seems to be one in the middle of these two extremes. “While I certainly don’t want to see bulldozers either, I can certainly see the benefits of letting a lot more water in and trying to bring it back to a lot more natural system.” Restoration Ecologist and Project Manager of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission (S.M.B.R.C.) Karina Johnston told the Loyolan, “The Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project has been designed to build off the successes, and learn from the challenges, of previous coastal wetland restoration projects.” The S.M.B.R.C. is working alongside the California Department of Fish and Game as well as the California State

Coastal Conservancy. Johnston points out the amount of preparation and research that has gone into the planning of the restoration, highlighting not only the work done by the agencies but also, “some great partnerships with LMU to conduct … surveys, including Dr. John Dorsey, Dr. Gary Kuleck, Dr. José Saez, Dr. Philippa Drennan, Dr. Jim Landry and many more … including vital help from LMU students throughout the last three years.” Dr. Jeremy Pal, professor of civil engineering, is just one of the LMU faculty contracted to do research on the wetlands. Specifically, he was asked to study the impact of climate change on the proposed restoration alternatives. Pal found that: “Sea level rise would have a significant rise on the restoration alternative,” and demonstrated the detailed planning process by describing how his findings have resulted in alterations to the 2008 plan. “Now we have a 2011 version of the alternative that has been adjusted to meet the impact and conditions of sea level rise,” he said. Whatever alternative the restoration project chooses to pursue, Dorsey, Johnston and Pal were all in agreement that the restoration process would have an incredibly positive impact on the immediate area once completed. According to Johnston, “this restoration will increase public access significantly, provide a valuable educational resource and

provide an opportunity for the community to reconnect with the natural environment in an urban setting.” Indeed, the educational opportunities afforded by LMU’s proximity to the wetlands have not gone unnoticed. Dorsey routinely takes his classes to the wetlands. He described them as “a huge learning laboratory,” and many LMU students have taken advantage of the chance to carry out research in the wetlands. Senior environmental science major Matthew Waterworth and senior natural science major Courtney McCammon both began doing research in the wetlands through classes they took with Dorsey, and also worked closely with S.M.B.R.C. Currently, both are working on individual senior projects grounded in research on the wetlands. Both students highlighted the importance of the wetlands to the LMU community. According to Waterworth, “Many of the animals we see on campus rely on the wetlands as a place to find food and shelter from human intervention; many migratory birds also use the wetlands as a crucial rest stop in order to continue their journey.” Additionally, McCammon highlighted the impact the restoration project could have for LMU students as “the restoration of the wetlands is going to bring a lot of opportunities for LMU students if they are interested in helping in the efforts, doing research and community involvement.”

All Photos: Abbey Nelson | Loyolan

The plan favored by the restoration project involves taking down the levee walls, which met criticism by local environmentalists due to the potential impact on the animals and plants inhabiting the wetlands, (pictured above).

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Employment

Classifieds

EXPERIENCED BABYSITTER NEEDED Must Have Car: LMU & Loyola Law Alum needs babysitting help periodically for infant son. Periodic week nights or weekend days. In adorable & safe El Segundo near Main Street. Must be good with babies, drive own car, have references, and like dogs. Hourly pay based on experience. Call (310) 463-0020

For Rent LMUHomes.com (Park Hill home) Westchester / Playa Del Rey Area - Spacious 4 bed, 2 bath home, plus an office, plus a laundry room. Move about freely in this wonderful floor plan that flows from a welcoming marble entry way - to a spacious living room and dining room with fireplace. Granite kitchen counters, hardwood floors, crown molding accents, and recessed lights throughout. Front entry has a cozy patio with furniture, plus a private courtyard and BBQ off of the living room. Includes all of the appliances $4195 / mo 310-8908770 LMUHomes.com (Dunbarton home) Westchester - Kentwood Area: 4 bed, 3 bath home, plus laundry area & two car garage. Floor plan flows gracefully from a marble entryway onto refinished hardwood floors, large picture windows light up living, dining room, kitchen plus adjoining granite eating area. Large yard with lush landscaping and trees. Walk to class $4295 / mo. 310890-8770 Kentwood House for Rent $4300 4 large bedrooms/3 bathrooms available 3/1, North Kentwood, all appliances/ laundry, garage, quiet street - Sign lease by 3/1 for May and get 10% off first 6 months. Call to see (310) 216-2057

News

Room for rent near LMU Immediate vacancy for a room in a house in Westchester. Rent includes all utilities. Ideal situation for a grad student looking for a quiet place to call home. No smokers or pets. (503) 799-1040

Services fun sitter needed Tues and Fridays from 3pm to 7pm to play with 2 boys (ages 6 and 4). Must have experience, be energetic, and have driver’s license. Please send photo and resume. larnahartnack@gmail.com

On Campus Na Kolea Lu`au...March 31...Lawton Plaza...4:00 PM... SAVE THE DATE !!!!!!!! Good Food, Great Entertainment, Unforgettable Fun! More details to follow.

January 26, 2012 Page 5

Mission Day provides ‘big picture reflections on LMU’ Mission Day from page 1 Garden. “LMU into the Future” a Bellarmine Forum roundtable, will be located in the Von der Ahe Suite in the William H. Hannon Library at 4:30 p.m. According to Fr. Robert Caro, S.J., vice president of Mission and Ministry, both events seek to bring the community together to not only celebrate but to reflect upon LMU’s mission identity as a Catholic-Jesuit University. Caro, who worked with a Mission Day Committee to plan today’s address, contacted Starr about a year ago in hopes that he would speak today. “We wanted an appropriate speaker for LMU’s centennial year, and who better than the person who has spent several years researching in the archives to produce the first real history of the University?” said Caro. Camille Werstler, a senior art history major and student representative on the Mission Day Committee, said, “I can assure you … that the keynote address given by Dr. Starr will be a worthy contribution to this year ’s series of centennial events.” “Mission Day has become a tradition here, and this year ’s speaker has promised to live up to the expectations created by … previous speakers,” said Caro. The speaker for last

year ’s Mission Day was Sr. Terezinha Cecchin, R.S.H.M., the general superior of the Religious of Sacred Heart of Mary. Dr. K.J. Peters, an English professor and one of the co-organizers of the Bellarmine Forum, created the Bellarmine Forum Roundtable in the afternoon so panelists could have more time to expand upon Starr ’s address and primarily focus on the question raised by Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, S.J., the superior general of the Society of Jesus. The question they will be reflecting on is: “What kind of universities, with what emphasizes and what directions, would we run if we were re-founding the Society of Jesus in today’s globalized world with all its lights and shadows?” The panelists include Board of Trustees member Sr. Mary Genino, R.S.H.M., English professor Dr. Paul Harris, philosophy professor Sr. Mary Beth Ingham, C.S.J. and theology professor Fr. Thomas Rausch, S.J. “We are thrilled to expand Mission Day beyond its typical responses,” said Peters of the roundtable forum. Harris said, “I am humbled and honored to be on a panel with three such distinguished people who have served LMU and inspired many faculty with their wisdom for a long time.”

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Peters hopes many students will attend and ask several questions at the event. “We believe we are shaping a certain type of educational experience but we don’t know until we hear from [the students],” said Peters. “The students are the ones who inhabit this space, they are most heavily invested and they care the most to what happens to their alma mater.” “The lecture and roundtable will provide big-picture reflections on LMU in the context of its mission – the kind of reflection that most of us are too busy to undertake most of the time, but that makes us appreciate more intimately the mission and the tradition from which it comes,” said Harris. With Starr ’s address reflecting on the history of LMU and the panel discussion looking to the future, those involved with the planning of Mission Day expect participants to gain a lot from the events. “Mission Day opens our minds and spirits and encourages us to think about how LMU can continue to embody and express its mission in the most creative ways,” said Harris. “If we don’t do the hard work of carrying the Ignatian imagination forward, then it might not get done,” said Peters. To RSVP for the event, visit lmu.edu/missiondayrsvp.

Check out laloyolan.com for News Intern Chris James’ coverage of Service Organization Recruitment and the upcoming Charity Ball.

Opinion Student Editorials and Perspectives

January 26, 2012 Page 6

Board Editorial

Board Editorials represent the voice of the Loyolan. They are written in collaboration by the Executive Editorial Board. Laura Riparbelli Managing Editor

Kenzie O’Keefe Editor in Chief

Angelica Cadiente Public Editor

Adrien Jarvis Michael Goldsholl Asst. Managing Editor | Sports Editor Incoming Editor in Chief

Kevin O’Keeffe A&E Editor

The importance of transparency

he University provost, as described on LMU’s website, “provide[s] leadership and support for advancing the distinctive nature, culture and heritage of LMU as a Catholic university.” As LMU searches for its next provost, the committee hopes to identify an individual who will be an integral, influential part of the University community as well as a big part of the relationships between the University and the greater Los Angeles and Jesuit communities. Finding the right person for the job is vital as the person selected will directly impact community life and serve as a face for the University. Therefore, the Loyolan would like to commend the provost search committee and the University for creating such a transparent search process for the provost position. First, the committee narrowed down the applicant pool from 94 to six (now five, after one candidate, Cheryl Schrader, accepted a position at a different institution) finalists. Now, as the search committee considers the final candidates, the entire community is invited to attend open forums with each candidate where individuals are allowed to pose questions for the candidates to answer candidly and on

the spot. Videos of the entire forums are uploaded on myLMU after each candidate visits. Additionally, each candidate’s application information is available on the site. The Loyolan’s recap of the candidates’ forums can be found in the issue directly following their visits [see “Provost Candidate Spotlight,” Page 2]. In order for transparency to be effective, the community needs to seize the opportunity it provides, and it seems as though the LMU community is doing so. At both open forums so far, a substantial crowd has shown up and posed questions to the finalists about how they would function as provost. The topics raised are clearly reflective of important issues on campus, and the candidates’ answers have illuminated both their abilities and deficiencies. Additionally, it gives those responsible for the final decision a sense of how the finalists would interact with the community and act if chosen. Transparency allows for more voices to weigh in on the search for LMU’s next provost. The Loyolan believes that this will yield the best candidate and hopes this change in process is indicative of similar efforts to strive for transparency in future University decisions.

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Letters to the Editor

Re: “The slow and depressing decline of American Idol” (January 23, 2012, Page 12) Dear Editor, Wow. Kevin O’Keeffe sure has a negative bias toward a show that has consistently been a great launching pad for fabulous young artists. Year after year the top four or five or six contestants parlay their Idol notoriety into great to nice post Idol careers. True fans of the show know this and thus are devoted followers. Obviously O’Keeffe’s focus is way too narrow. Charlie Bergstedt LALoyolan.com reader San Francisco

We’d Like To Hear From You: Loyolan Letters Policy

Letters@theloyolan.com The Loyolan welcomes letters to the editor. All submissions must include the author’s first and last name, phone number, e-mail address and year in school or relation to the University (i.e. alumnus, professor, etc.). Submissions should be typed and no more than 300 words.

Rule of Thumb

The Loyolan’s Executive Editorial Board weighs in on current topics of discussion.

Google and your privacy Far and long after the publishing of George Orwell’s “1984,” the idea of Big Brother watching us is rising high with the fast progression of technology. According to a post on Google’s official blog on Tuesday, Jan. 24, “If you’re signed in, we may combine information you’ve provided from one service with information from other services.” Just when we thought Google was our best friend, it has to go and essentially give us an ultimatum: Join us and forego your privacy, or wither in a lack of instant knowledge and satisfaction.

Would you like some beer with your coffee? Frappuccino, iced caramel latte and Budweiser: One of these is not like the other. Soon, however, people will have the opportunity to buy all three at Starbucks. According to the Los Angeles Times website, four to six remodeled locations of the coffee shop in Southern California will begin serving beer and wine by the end of the year. It’s great to see expansion and added options at the coffee shop icon, but those who use the shop as a place to escape the wildness of college life in the interest of working productively may need to find a different study location.

The nonsensical stigma of sounding smart

n a creative writing class last semester, I was charged with the task of listening in on others’ conversations in everyday life. Once I was able to move past the creep factor in the assignment, and open my ears to LMU’s student body, a fact soon became clear: A lot of students at this school, despite their obviGrinding ous academic Gears prowess, manBy Kevin age to sound really stuO’Keeffe pid. Students A&E Editor d i s c u s s Shakespeare in the classroom and Jersey Shore on their way out. In so many ways, LMU is a very different environment than other universities. Not only in California, but nationwide. The people are friendly. The campus is gorgeous. The sun is omnipresent. The food is, well, Sodexo. But one thing about LMU that’s so fascinating is the limited emphasis on academia, not by the school itself, but by its students. It’s a sweeping generalization to say that LMU students are, on the whole, less focused on classes than students at other schools. You don’t even have to travel out of the city to find a school with more academicallyoriented students. But what is rare is to see is a school with so many incredibly intelligent students who seem afraid of being seen as too smart.

Where does this stigma against sounding intelligent in a conversation begin and end? LMU is, of course, a smaller school with respected professors and diversity in areas of study, so it’s not necessarily the environment. Additionally, students come from all areas and walks of life at LMU, so background can’t be blamed either. There is, of course, an aliveand-well party scene at LMU, but it really isn’t comparable

thing bigger than that. For all of LMU’s fantastic qualities, it isn’t inherently the most independent experience. The school’s enrollment is fairly small, and it is located in Westchester, a slice of suburbia in direct contrast with the glamour of Beverly Hills and the grit of downtown. Additionally, LMU is going so far as introducing a parking fee next semester, so it’s easy to stay at school instead of explor-

sphere. With this comes a high school attitude about academics – despite most students being quite smart, the conversations on campus rarely reflect that, simply because it isn’t “cool” to be smart. It’s a simplistic explanation, yes, but one that seems to hold water. To an extent, I do think this is a reflection of the greater carelessness of our generation. In theory, however, the students who progress from sec-

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to the similar scenes at state schools. So, we’re back to the drawing board once again. It’s possible that this aversion toward appearing educated doesn’t arise from one particular aspect of LMU’s student body or environment. It’s also possible that the shame in sounding intelligent is simply a reflection of our generation’s general apathy towards academics. But I think it’s some-

ing L.A. All of this leads to LMU fostering more of a boarding school aesthetic, rather than a fully realized college experience. The recent announcement of a Homecoming court election (as discussed in Asst. Managing Editor Michael Goldsholl’s article, “Fast times at Loyola Marymount High” on Jan. 19, 2012), has only highlighted the high school atmo-

ondary education to universities are those who are interested in academics and intelligent discourse – something that I do think accurately describes much of LMU’s student body. But it’s that high school atmosphere and attitude that only succeeds in fostering an environment where sounding too smart or focusing too much on school is, quite simply, uncool. Students can be heard discuss-

ing world issues in the common room between classes and there’s a greater sense of social awareness. At LMU (a school supposedly devoted to social justice) it’s sometimes upsetting to see what lengths student groups must go to in order to change the conversation and get students talking about real world problems. It’s a shame, too, because at so many universities, the focus on the academics is considered “cool.” There are undoubtedly multitudes of exceptions to this within LMU’s student body. Being a student of the School of Film and Television, I know how passionate film production majors in particular can be and how dedicated to their craft they are. But when given the class assignment to listen in on others I was shocked at how dim some of the students on this campus sound. It’s clearly a signal that some are trying too hard just to cover how brilliant they are. I’m well aware it won’t happen overnight, but for those that don’t want to show off their superior intellect or world awareness for fear of seeming too smart, remember that you’re out of high school now. You aren’t going to be kept from sitting at the cool kids’ table if you can hold a conversation about international politics or explain Simpson’s Paradox. In fact, some might even respect you more for it. This is the opinion of Kevin O’Keeffe, a sophomore screenwriting major from Austin, Texas. Please send comments to kokeeffe@theloyolan.com

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Opinion

January 26, 2012 Page 7

Reading for classes and . . . entertainment?

hen was the last time you read something just for fun? It could be anything – fiction, nonfiction, poetry, short stories, plays or even transcripts of your favorite TV shows (I do this sometimes for MTV’s “Daria” and people wonder why I’m literally ‘ROTFL’). A 2004 study by the National Endowment B y Ebehireme for the Arts revealed that Ihoya the rate of Contributor literary reading – which encompassed reading or listening to any novels, short stories, plays or poetry during leisure time – done by 18- to 24-year-olds in the United States declined by 28 percent between 1982 to 2002. In a 2007 study by the same organization, researchers stated that 74 to 80 percent of college freshmen to seniors read zero to four books on their own during the school year. There are many concerns about the decline in American reading culture and its implications. However, when we are swamped by our own daily deadlines and tasks, all the voices calling for more reading seem to have very little to do with us. After all, we do enough reading as it is with assigned material, and we are literate enough to write the paper due next week. So why should we read?

Well, firstly, reading is fun. Good books can be great stress relievers, especially midway in the semester when schoolwork starts taking its toll. There’s nothing like Tina Fey’s hilarity in “Bossypants” or John Green’s general awesomeness in “Paper Towns” to make one’s troubles seem faraway. A n d what about the social value of reading? I’ve had many interesting conversations with people about what makes Stephen K i n g scary and the merits and demerits of the “ Tw i l i g h t ” series sparkling vampires. The more you read the more things you’ll have to talk about on dates, at meals and in conversations with random strangers. If you’re not yet convinced, I still have one card left to play. You know that job that you’re looking forward to after college? The one that’ll give you lots of money and/or fulfillment? Well, reading can help you get it. According

to The Conference Board’s 2006 report titled “Are They Really Ready to Work?”, 87 percent of employers considered reading comprehension a very important skill for four-year college gradu-

ates to have, and 90 percent had the same opinion about writing. These are two skills that voluntary reading helps to hone. It may still seem a bit daunting to go buy a 500-page book

on Amazon and start reading. However, leisure reading does not have to be too time-consuming or expensive. Start with libraries. Our very own William H. Hannon Library has a popular reading collection featuring many works on the New York Times Best Sellers list, including Snooki’s book, “A Shore Thing” and the highly praised “ 1 Q 8 4 . ” Recently, a children’s literature section was opened, so you can stop by take a walk d o w n memory lane or check out some recent young adult books like the series “The Hunger Games.” Getting a free card at the Los Angeles Public Library would also be a good idea, since it has a branch off of Loyola and Manchester. There are also a number of online book swap communities, and deals in bookstores both physical and online. As for finding time, I’ve found that it is possible to do a lot of leisure reading and still take care of

other commitments. You can do some reading while sunbathing in Sunken Garden (or anywhere else), when you’re having a meal alone, during spring break or on those weekends when there seems to be nothing to do. It could also be useful to have a book handy for all those times you may find yourself waiting in the doctor’s office, on bus rides, in the bathroom or during that hour between classes that you never really do anything useful with. Audio books are also very good for when you’re working out and e-book readers make it easier to access a large number of books without having to worry about their weight or size. Last Wednesday I attended a talk by English professor Dr. Kelly Younger, playwright of “Why Wyoming” and “Off Compass” and alumnus of LMU. His talk was a part of the Alumni Author Series going on this semester at the William H. Hannon Library. When asked to give advice to aspiring writers, he said something along the lines of “just read anything and everything you can get your hands on.” I think this doesn’t just apply to future writers though, but to all of us. With that, I’ll leave you while I finish off The Orphan Master’s Son (I’m getting better skin already!), and maybe we’ll run into each other on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at the next Alumni Author Series event with Denise Hamilton. Graphic by Jackson Turcotte| Loyolan This is the opinion of Ebehireme Ihoya, a sophomore economics major from Kaduna, Nigeria. Please send comments to ktran@ theloyolan.com.

Opinion

January 26, 2012 Page 8

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Where do you get your news?

Loyola Marymount University

Loyolan Staff

Michael Kelleher

Sam Schulz

Entrepreneurship Major

English and art history double major

“Yahoo! online.”

“NPR [National Public Radio] and KCRW [89.9 FM].”

“Reddit.”

Summer Salazar

Kevin Dowd

Narine Esmaeili

Dance Major

Entrepreneurship Major

Political science and sociology double major

“Facebook and the New York Times.”

“Facebook.”

“The Huffington Post online.”

Sophomore

Freshman

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Elliott Bulard Freshman

English Major

Senior

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Kenzie O’Keefe Laura Riparbelli Angelica Cadiente Michael Goldsholl Adrien Jarvis Tierney Finster Margo Jasukaitis Zaneta Pereira Brigette Scobas Christopher James Kim Tran Joseph Demes Anna-Michelle Escher Amanda Kotch Kevin O’Keeffe Luisa Barron Jackie Fischer Michael Goldsholl Nathan Dines Dan Raffety John Wilkinson Kayla Begg Hailey Hannan Lexi Jackson Emma Movsesian Lucy Olson Emily Rome Emily Wallace Dol-Anne Asiru Alberto Gonzalez Jackson Turcotte Kasey Eggert Melanie Bolanos Kellie Rowan Jay Lee Casey Kidwell Thomas Finnigan Kirsten Dornbush Michael Giuntini Jennifer Bruner Andrew Sabatine Amber Yin Erin Mallea Isabella Cunningham Brianna Schachtell Tom Nelson

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Oscar nominations yield surprises and disappointments for prognosticators E

very year, Academy Award prognosticators (those who attempt to predict the awards) eagerly await the morning of the nominations and what surprises they might bring. For the past years, surprises have not come. All the dark horse candidates remain at the fringe, and the usual suspects are nominated. This year’s It’s K-OK! By Kevin O’Keeffe nominations, announced A&E Editor Tuesday morning, brought something different to the table. There were shocks aplenty and snubs across the board, from the craft categories all the way to Best Picture. Some front-runners were shut out of their races. It was Christmas morning for wannabe Oscar psychics, but for some, all that awaited them was a lump of coal. Despite the strength of silent French film “The Artist,” Martin Scorsese’s 3-D epic “Hugo” actually led the overall nomination count thanks to its high tallies in the technical and craft categories. “Hugo” was nominated for Best Picture and Scorsese for Best Director, but it was shut out of the acting categories. “The Artist,” however, saw nominations in both Best Picture and Best Director and also won plaudits for stars Jean Dujardin in Best Actor and Bérénice Bejo in Best Support-

Associated Press

“The Artist,” which stars Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo (left to right), is a silent film made by French director Michel Hazanavicius. The movie scored 10 Oscar nominations, including those for Best Picture and Director. ing Actress. There was much speculation coming into this year’s announcement of how many films would be nominated for Best Picture thanks to a new rule that permits anywhere between five and 10 films to be nominated based on voting percentages. Most severely underestimated the range of the new rule – while some predicted somewhere between six and eight films to be nominated, there were nine titles read, including critical darlings like “The Tree of Life” and traditional tearjerkers “War Horse” and “Extremely Loud

and Incredibly Close.” The acting categories were not without shocks. While frontrunners Brad Pitt for “Moneyball,” George Clooney for “The Descendants” and “The Artist” star Dujardin were included in the Best Actor field, Leonardo DiCaprio was not shortlisted for his impressive work in an otherwise mediocre movie, “J. Edgar.” In Best Actress, voters preferred “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” star Rooney Mara to precursor award favorite Tilda Swinton from “We Need to Talk About Kevin.” The Best Supporting Actor race,

which many Oscar prognosticators saw as a two-man race between Christopher Plummer for “Beginners” and Albert Brooks for “Drive,” got a little bit smaller today as Brooks was left out of the nominations altogether. It was only Best Supporting Actress that went exactly as most predicted, though some might consider “Bridesmaids” star Melissa McCarthy managing a nomination for such a broad comedy a massive shock in and of itself. Personally, I always see the Oscar nominations as something of a game rather than an actual honor.

The Academy so regularly snubs the films most worthy of nominations (it was heartbreaking to see Michael Fassbender and his film “Shame” snubbed, as well as the lack of recognition for Charlize Theron’s “Young Adult” performance), so it’s not worth sweating over what does and doesn’t make it. Think, instead, of the strategy behind it all. Who are the phantom members behind the Academy and why do they vote the way they do? Will they stand by the classic directors like Steven Spielberg for “War Horse,” or will they be ambitious and nominate an up-and-coming auteur Nicolas Winding Refn for “Drive”? Ultimately, the awards don’t matter – they’re just fun to think about and follow, kind of like sports for the arts and entertainment nerd inside everyone. The show itself is always a blast, too – even at its worst, it’s certainly not the worst way you can spend a Sunday night. So follow along this Oscar season and hear everyone bicker over what film deserves what honor. Fight for “Moneyball” if the Brad Pitt-starring baseball drama captured your imagination. Argue that Octavia Spencer was vastly better than Jessica Chastain in “The Help.” When all is said and done, you still have the movies you love and the actors you appreciate. No Academy can take that away from you. The Oscars will air on Feb. 26th at 4 PM ET. This is the opinion of Kevin O’Keeffe, a screenwriting studies major from Austin, Texas. Please send comments to kokeeffe@theloyolan.com.

The younger generation remembers Etta James T

he strobe lights and pounding “four-on-thefloor” kick drums of an EDM concert would hardly be the place most of us would imagine Etta James to belong. In her final few years with us, however, she had successfully entered the contempomusic Rhythm and rary world from Views e m e r g elecBy Jackson Souza ing tronic giContributor ants Pretty Lights and Avicii to established chart-toppers such as Flo Rida. The distinguished “Queen of Soul” passed away last Friday at age 73, after an ongoing battle with leukemia. Sadly, most of us LMU students, sequestered in a world of processed vocals and instruments, have not even the faintest inkling of who Etta James is. My grandmother introduced me to the sultry sounds of Etta James only a few weeks before her passing. After shuffling through songs on the CD that she gave me, I quickly identified “At Last” and “Something’s Got A Hold On Me,” both heavily sampled in modern hip hop and dance music. I started to wonder if James would appreciate her music being recycled in this way, but now after her death, I believe that it is important to perpetuate and add to James’s timeless and unique musical styling, not only because it makes for good lis-

tening, but it also honors her memory as an important contributor to music. For those of us who had never known James, personally or through her music, we must start with her timehonored single “At Last.” A staple for occasions celebrating love, “At Last” has brought James into the very personal moments of our lives, and there she should stay. In other hits like “Stop the Wedding,” James invokes sorrowful, longing feelings about love and loss and should serve to highlight how she could bring her “burningdown-the-house” style of song to communicate any critical emotion. The fiery blues songstress is cited as a key influence for many musicians across genres. Beyoncé expressed her condolences concerning the legendary singer on her website, stating that “James was one of the greatest vocalists of our time. I am so fortunate to have met such a queen.” Soulful singers like Adele, P!nk, and Christina Aguilera also cite James as a heavy influence on their styles but have avoided mimicking what made and still makes Etta stand out from others. They have chosen to add to the gritty, edgy foundation that James provided in their own unique and timeless ways. Without trying to replicate the success of others, all of these artists take a unique and different spin on James’s work, from sampling her music to singing it in all of its bluesy glory. This, I believe, is what is

Associated Press

James, who passed away at age 73, influenced dozens of artists, including Beyoncé, who played her in the film “Cadillac Records.” so important to keeping Etta James’s musical work and memory alive: the process of honoring but not mimicking her influence. From the dance floors of Los Angeles clubs to the stages of music festivals around the world, Etta James will be sorely missed, not only for her lasting contributions in the realm of music, but to everyone that she gave “a feeling that [they] never, never had before.” A good feeling. This is the opinion of Jackson Souza, a freshman communication studies major from Sacramento, Calif. Please send comments to kokeeffe@theloyolan.com.

Alberto Gonzalez | Loyolan

January 26, 2012 Page 12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Convo planner talks‘Gossip Girl’ and drinks at the Den Student Profile By Sonja Bistranin Staff Writer

This issue, Staff Writer Sonja Bistranin talks to Showcase Events Manager Evanne Drucker of Mane Entertainment (ME) about event planning, Reese Witherspoon and guilty pleasures. Sonja Bistranin (SB): How do you even begin to plan an event? Evanne Drucker (ED): Lucky for us, there’s a team of us. There are five different managers, and we all have specific events we’re in charge of, and it’s a team effort. For me, we do the Convo events so you usually start planning it two to three months ahead of time, and it’s difficult. To get people paid you have to have contracts signed and vendor sheets filled out. But it kind of starts with going off ideas and brainstorming as much as you can. The most important thing about getting the idea set in stone ahead of time is we have a graphic design team that will make the flyers, and you can base everything off of that. SB: Do you have a lot of say in the events you put on, or is there a certain formula you have to follow? ED: Especially with me personally I have such free range with what I can do out at Convo, I basically get to pick everything that we do. I mean obviously for ME overall there’s a certain amount of concerts, there’s a certain amount of comedy shows and a certain amount of all those different things, but all the managers get to pick the talent that they bring or pick the vendors that they choose. We still haven’t even completely set in stone what we’re doing for February’s Convo. It’s on

Valentine’s Day so that will be fun. But there are certain things ME has branded itself into doing every year. Like the last Convo of the year is a petting zoo that comes out, and that’s kind of set in stone, but other than that we can do what we want. SB: Do you have a favorite event you planned so far? ED: Probably the favorite Convo I planned so far was the very first one of the year, which was “Cool Down at Convo.” We brought the shaved ice truck and it took every inch of my effort to get that because the University has such strict codes with bringing off-campus food, especially if it’s a truck. Not only do you need things like health permits but you need the insurance and all this stuff. It was such a mess.Many people came out and enjoyed it – because a food truck is so visible – it drew such a crowd! That was probably my favorite so far. But I’m also really looking forward to March because we’re bringing an inflatable. We’ll probably bring some sort of obstacle course. I’m pretty excited for that one. SB: What’s your favorite part about working for ME? ED: The people I work with are amazing, and I think it opened my horizons for who I could get to know on campus. All of us are such a closeknit group, so it’s really rewarding. There are people from freshmen to seniors that I can say I would hang out with in a heartbeat. Even when you know it’s going to be a hard day at work I know I can come into the office because people who are going to support me are here. SB: If you could pick any artist to come to Convo, who would it be? ED: Probably Maroon 5 or John Mayer, something fun. I mean, obviously you could be like, “I want Kanye to come!” and that would be super fun too, but I would rather

have a band. Maroon 5 is really awesome, and I’ve actually seen them a couple times, and they’re really fun. SB: Do you have a celebrity looka-like? ED: I’m very flattered by this and I don’t really see it myself, but people have told me multiple times that I remind them of Reese Witherspoon, and it’s pretty flattering. I’ll take it. I’m a big fan. SB: What’s your favorite drink at The Lion’s Den? ED: An iced or hot non-fat latte. If it’s late at night, I get a tea. The Moroccan mint tea is my fave. SB: Do you have a guilty pleasure? ED: “Gossip Girl.” I can’t live without it. And I’m pretty big on “Pretty Little Liars.” It’s so bad, it’s good. And then Justin Bieber. SB: Do you think your majors relate to your job? ED: I don’t think I ever really considered event planning until I took part in it here. So now that I’ve actually experienced what it’s like and seen what it is, I think I’m way more interested in it. Like, to the point where I’m actually considering what I can do because both my majors kind of tie in together with the people skills, and I don’t want to have a desk job the rest of my life. I think I kind of want to go into event planning, like weddings or something like that. Something fun. You don’t do the same thing every day, which is the best part about it. SB: What’s your favorite class so far at LMU? ED: This is going to sound so nerdy, but I’m super into my AIMS class right now, which is Applied Information Management Systems. It’s all about computer systems, and I really like it. I didn’t expect to like it at all, so I’m really happy about that.

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Arts & Entertainment

January 26, 2012 Page 13

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ still holds up decades later as a true classic film O

ur current home city, Los Angeles, has a culture all its own where m o v i e s and Hollywood rule. So coming from smalltown Pennsylvania, I have some catching up to do. Living for 20 years without The Motion Hollywood Picture down the Project road, I skated through By Kellie Rowan without seePhoto Editor ing some of the most classic movies of our time. So now I’m taking the reins, ignoring what the critics and my friends have been saying for years and finding out for myself which ones are really the classics and which are a bit overrated. Here begins a semester-long journey with one girl, eight movies, a lot of popcorn and an open mind, which will conclude with my long-awaited master list I can finally stack up against all of yours. The first stop on my adventure was “It’s a Wonderful Life,” directed by Frank Capra and released in 1946. The film features James Stewart as George Bailey, the owner of a loan company who feels trapped in his small town and frustrated with what he believes is an unsuccessful life. At the moment he is about to take his own life, his guardian angel Clarence, played by Henry Travers, appears and gives him his wish

to see what the world would have been like without him. The ending proves why this film tops the American Film Institute’s 2006 “The 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time” list. When the town that he has protected for years comes together to help George with his financial crisis, he sees that his life, in fact, has been very successful because he is surrounded by family and friends that love him. The moral of the story is summed up in a note that George then receives from his guardian angel that reads, “Remember no man is a failure who has friends.” While the amount of awards a movie has won seems to be the main criteria for many groups that rank movies, such as the American Film Institute, I don’t find that nearly as important. In my opinion, there are a lot of factors that can contribute to which films win those awards. Going into a movie, I personally would look for outstanding actors who give life to characters I can relate to, if the director was able to make me feel the way he intended and how interesting the story line is. “It’s a Wonderful Life” delivers on all three of these. The first thing I thought about when the movie ended was how attached I felt to the characters because of the acting. Stewart arguably had the most work to do with George Bailey, who is an emotionally complicated character, but even the actors with smaller roles stepped up and made sure their characters had a recognizable personality. I thought this movie really excelled in using ac-

LMU Wine Classic to be held Sunday Event Preview By Luisa Barron Asst. A&E Editor

alling all winos who also happen to like football – the 31st annual LMU Wine Classic will be held this upcoming Sunday, Jan. 29 so as not to conflict with the Super Bowl the following weekend, according to Alma Bachrach, the project lead on the event. All proceeds from the event, featuring a great deal of alumni who have started their own wineries since graduating, will fund LMU student scholarships. The event was started back in 1971 by Art Carroll, class of ’61. “Art Carroll was looking for a way to give back to his alma mater. The event has grown in stature over the years and is now considered one of the premier wine tasting events in California,” Bachrach said. Forty-four different wineries will be in attendance. “The unique aspect of the event is that we require either the owner or the winemaker to be present. In this way, attendees may have a direct dialogue with the principals of the winery,” Bachrach said. According to Bachrach, there is a strong following for the event with about 1000 annual attendants. While there is a great deal of wine available for all to try, attendees will only be served an ounce of each type of wine, “enough to examine color, aroma

and taste,” according to the LMU Wine Classic event page online. It is more of a tasting event than a tailgate, as attendees are encouraged to “pour out excess or even to spit the wine into the buckets provided,” according to the website. “This enables you to enjoy distinctions among the varietals presented which could easily be lost due to the effects of alcohol or palate fatigue. Professional tasters often avoid swallowing the wines they examine.” “The event has evolved to the point where many of the wineries present have been supporters for several years,” Bachrach said. These include wineries that are owned and run by alumni, such as St. Francis Vineyards & Winery, run by Chris Silva, class of ’86; Steve Brutocao, class of ’86 of Brutocao Cellars and Stewart Cellars’ James Stewart, class of ’03. “For me, what sets the Wine Classic apart is the opportunity to give something back to my college. There are so many wine events all over the country, [but] this one is unique in that it helps to fund scholarships for [students at LMU],” Stewart said. In fact, the event has so grown in popularity since its inception that “each year we have a waiting list of wineries that request to be considered for the tasting,” Bachrach said. Tickets are available at $95 per person, and anyone over 21 is welcome to attend. The event will take place in Gersten Pavilion from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29.

Associated Press

James Stewart (right) stars as George Bailey, a man at a crossroads in his life, who gets a visit from his guardian angel in “It’s A Wonderful Life.” The film was originally released in 1946 and is widely considered a classic. tions to speak to a character, not just dialogue, and giving even smaller people in the town their place in the movie. George Bailey might have been the star, but by the end, I felt like I knew the whole town. While each actor excelled on his or her own, an entire cast needs to mesh well to-

gether if the director ’s vision is to come to life. I like to think afterward, “What did that director want me to feel during that movie?” With some movies, it is a simple feeling like fear or happiness, but this one was more complicated. I think that is what makes it so great. Capra takes you on an emotional

roller coaster, but in the end I believe he wants you to feel self-worth. This movie is one that makes you look at your own life and those moments when you might have been right there with George feeling like you don’t matter. In a very non-cheesy way, this film reminds us all that we are here for a reason. The moral of the story is accomplished so well because of the way the story is set up. It doesn’t jump to the conflict too early but builds up to it through showing you a character ’s entire life. We watch George grow up and go through so many stages of life, so by the time he is at that conflict, we really know him. If we were not given the background, we would not be able to connect with him or put ourselves in his place, and the point of the story would fail. This movie delivered in every way I would expect of a true classic. When I saw the film was very old and in black and white, I was worried that it would feel outdated, but this story is one that has truly lasted and will undoubtedly continue to stand the test of time. It is an inspirational movie that will remind you how wonderful life is. If you have not seen this like I hadn’t, I can definitely say now this is a must-see. If you miss this film, your list of favorite movies might just be missing something. This is the opinion of Kellie Rowan, a junior studio arts major and animation minor from Yardley, Pa. Please send comments to krowan@theloyolan.com.

January 26, 2012 Page 14

Tara Erdmann

Sports

Former LMU cross country and track star Tara Erdmann was selected for Aviva International match in Scotland. For the second time in her storied career, track and field and cross country redshirt senior Tara Erdmann has been selected as a member of Team USA. This Saturday, she Photo: LMU Athletics will represent her country in the 3000-meter event at the 2012 Aviva International Match in Glasgow, Scotland. Last March, Erdmann was an NCAA All-American in the same event. The Aviva International Match displays five countries competing against each other, with one man and one woman in each event battling for points towards the overall team score. During the summer of 2010, Erdmann also ran for Team USA, earning a bronze medal at the North America, Central America & Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Championships. Compiled by Nathan Dines | Asst. Sports Editor

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Decades of dedication Andel from Page 16 Andel was drawn to LMU and St. Mary’s sports in 1960 because of the schools’ connection with Mother Mary. He remembers the good and the bad times of LMU sports over the years, and he does his best to attend every home LMU basketball and baseball game. Andel even remembers the prowess of the successful Lions’ football team. “It was a big disappointment when the team left,” Andel said. “They should have never dropped it.” Although he may not have seen the 1990 men’s basketball team that made the historic run in the NCAA Tournament after Gathers’ tragic death in person (Andel was unsure if he only saw that season

on television back in Chicago), he has been around to see other important alumni play their sports on the bluff. Andel remembers watching both C.J. Wilson, current starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, and Rick Adelman, current head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, during their respective careers at LMU. He is a fan of the current basketball and baseball teams as well, and enjoys sitting down and rooting on the teams. “In some respects, if he’s been here since 1960, he exemplifies a lot of people that have sort of been on a roller coaster ride that everybody in college athletics who’s a fan for that long with their team has experienced,” Husak said. “He has come up to the press box on occasion after the game and

Devin Sixt | Loyolan

Since his move from the south side of Chicago in 1960, Jim Andel has been a dedicated fan of both LMU and Saint Mary’s sports teams.

has talked highly of the team and its efforts to win or lose,” said Assistant Sports Information Director Tyler Geivett. “His excitement and enthusiasm is a welcome sight and sound at the baseball field during games.” However, there is more to the man than just sports. Andel lives in nearby Venice in a pickup truck. But true to his character, he does not let his homelessness bring him down. “It’s not bad really, I don’t have to pay any bills,” Andel replied with a smile when asked about his living situation. “I guess I chose to go that route.” Andel is a single man with no children or other relatives in California, and for years he has traveled back and forth from Southern California to his native Chicago. Andel enjoys movies and has a soft spot for musicals, and is always on the lookout for free screenings at local libraries and museums. No matter what the circumstances though, Andel always comes back to the teams he has dedicated over half his life to support. And in an era when many of the teams have not lived up to past expectations, that dedication is even more captivating. “It’s up to the students, if they want to come to the games they should,” Andel said. “When you have a losing season, that’s when you really need to have the support.” “He’s seen the good years and he’s seen the years that haven’t been quite so good, and to be able to still come back and stick to it and be supportive and be loud and be proud is wonderful,” Added Husak.

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Sports

January 26, 2012 Page 15

St. Mary’s set to visit Gersten Pavilion M. Bball from Page 16 really looking forward to it,” sophomore Anthony Ireland said. The 5-2 conference record LMU that has amassed is good enough for fourth place in the WCC. The visiting Gaels are undefeated 8-0 in conference play and have only dropped two games all season. LMU is coming off a road win over the last-place Santa Clara Broncos on Monday. With WCC scoring-leader Kevin Foster missing for the Broncos, LMU once again took care of business on the road, beating the Broncos 74-62. Ireland was honored with both the WCC Player of the Week and CollegeInsider.com National Player of the Week awards after

scoring a career-high 27 points in last week’s road win over BYU. Ireland is tied with redshirt senior Drew Viney for the team lead in scoring with 15.9 points per game. Redshirt juniors Ashley Hamilton and Jarred DuBois both also average double-digit scoring at 12.5 and 10.3 points per game, respectively. “We have no individuals on our team. It’s a team game, and we all know it,” said senior LaRon Armstead, who is averaging nine points per game this season. “Everybody has each other’s back. Whoever scores, we score as a team, it doesn’t really matter. Our defense holds each other accountable. We’re pretty confident right now about everything going on.”

Hamilton, DuBois, Armstead and Viney have all missed time this season because of injuries. Monday’s game against Santa Clara was only the second time all season that Good has had an entirely healthy squad at his disposal. “I think we can compete with a lot of people on a given night when we have our full complement of players,” Good said. One of the nation’s top teams, St. Mary’s, enters tonight on a ninegame winning streak dating back to a Dec. 22 loss to No. 6 Baylor University. The Gaels are led by the duo of guard Matthew Dellavedova and forward Rob Jones. “They’re arguably two of the five best players in the league,” Good

said. “You know, when one team has two of the five best players, you should be pretty good.” Dellavedova averages a teambest 15.8 points per game as well as a conference-leading 6.5 assists per game. “They do a very good job of spreading you apart and picking apart the defense,” Ireland said. “They’ve got Dellavadova, who is a hell of a point guard,” he said. Jones, who formerly played at the University of San Diego, averages a double-double every game with 14.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest. “They’re so good fundamentally and they have great basketball IQ,” Good said. “They’ve got experience and they’re very confident.

They’ve got a lot of chutzpah, they really do. They’re not arrogant, but they’re very confident which is what you want to see in your team.” Tonight’s game marks the first of a four-game home stand for the Lions. “I hope we have a great turnout [tonight], and I think we probably will,” Good said. “[We] don’t think we’re unbeatable, but we think we can play with anybody on a given night.” Despite the tough home schedule, Armstead said the Lions know that “winning in front of our home fans is big, because … it gives them hope that we’re going to win again so it brings them back. … Protecting home court is really big for us.”

Men’s basketball statistics

Kevin Laughlin | Loyolan

Sophomore point guard Anthony Ireland was named WCC Player of the Week, in addition to CollegeInsider.com’s National Player of the Week.

Points Per Game:

Rebounds Per Game:

Assists Per Game:

1. Anthony Ireland (15.9 PPG ) 1. Drew Viney (15.9 PPG) 3. Ashley Hamilton (12.5 PPG)

1. Drew Viney (5.6 RPG) 2. Ashley Hamilton (5.1 RPG) 3. Godwin Okonji (4.2 RPG)

1. Anthony Ireland (5.2 APG) 2. Jarred DuBois (2.6 APG) 3. Ayodeji Egbeyemi (1.0 APG)

Raff’s Rap! Visit laloyolan.com/sports to read Asst. Sports Editor Dan Raffety’s column on the recent Major League Baseball steroid controversy.

Lions confident they can improve M. Tennis from Page 16 This is the second perennial powerhouse the Lions have faced in as many matches, losing to the nation’s top-ranked team, the University of Southern California, 7-0 on Sunday. Despite the losses, Sceney was delighted with his team’s ability to play hard against tough competition. “We created opportunities for ourselves, but we need to take that next step. It was a tough two-game stretch, but we showed a lot of heart in our ability to push with some of the nation’s top teams,” said Sceney.

Bjerke added, “We had some tough losses today on the court, but the fact that we kept it close gives us confidence as we move forward.” The Lions will travel to Las Vegas, Nev. to participate in a tournament hosted at University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). They will face off with New Mexico State University, as well as UNLV on Saturday. “We have a much deeper team this season, and although we have lost two in a row, we have the confidence that we can play with anyone,” said Bjerke. “I’m excited for this weekend.”

Justin Vitug | Loyolan

Junior Nicholas Bjerke was defeated by No. 12 Pepperdine’s Sabastian Fabselow 6-4, 7-5 yesterday at the LMU Tennis Center.

L ion Sports Lions gear up to host first-place Gaels

January 26, 2012

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Page 16

Fourth-place men’s basketball hopes to bring strong road play home against No. 20 Saint Mary’s. By John Wilkinson Asst. Sports Editor Approaching the midpoint of the West Coast Conference (WCC) schedule, the men’s basketball standings are beginning to take shape, and LMU finds itself fighting to prove it truly belongs in the conference’s upper tier. With an undefeated 5-0 record on the road in conference play, the “road warrior” Lions have shown they can succeed away from home. Gersten Pavilion, however, has not been as kind, with LMU dropping its first two WCC home games. Tonight’s 7 p.m. game presents the biggest challenge thus far as LMU welcomes conference-leader No. 20 St. Mary’s College. “We’re very comfortable on the road. We’re self-contained, and we’re all focused and we’ve got a saying ‘we’re all we’ve got.’ When we’re on the road, it’s like us against the world,” LMU Head Coach Max Good said about the Lions success on the road. Scheduling has not made things easy for LMU at home though, with the Lions’ first three home games all coming against the conference’s top three teams: losses to Gonzaga and Brigham Young University (BYU) as well as tonight’s contest with firstplace Saint Mary’s. “We need a win for the home crowd. It will be a good test for us, but we are

See M. Bball | Page 15

Kevin Laughlin | Loyolan

LMU Head Coach Max Good (pictured above right in a game earlier this season) said that the Lions can“compete with a lot of people on a given night when we have our full complement of players.” LMU takes on Saint Mary’s tonight ,which is 8-0 in conference play and nationally ranked this season.

Fifty years of commitment and never a dull moment SPORTS FEATURE

James Andel, longtime fan of LMU Athletics, reflects on a life laden with sports. By Nathan Dines Asst. Sports Editor It is no easy task becoming a dedicated Loyola Marymount University sports fan. Some rode the high of the Hank Gathers/Bo Kimble run-and-gun offense into a 21-year NCAA Tournament drought. For others, the cancellation of a storied football team killed any inkling of school spirit. And for most, the commitment died with their graduation, transfer or maturation after LMU in the heart of a professional career. But for every compelling sports story there is at least one exception that beats the odds. In this case, his name is James “Jim”

Andel, an LMU sports fan for 51 years and counting. “I’m one of the old-time fans. I go back, way back, until 1960 at least,” Andel said. Anyone who attends the basketball games, especially the women’s contests, is familiar with Andel. Seated in the vacant student section, Andel becomes emotionally involved in all the games. He has been known to get animated and raise his voice from time to time, but with no malicious intent whatsoever. “[Jim] frequently comes to games where we don’t have huge crowds, so he can be heard, and he is pretty much upbeat,” LMU Athletics Director Dr. William Husak said. “He adds what I think is a great perspective to the game, for fans to go ahead and be able to see someone like him really get into it.” “I like to play defense, and I don’t like to lose,” Andel said, explaining his reasons for getting emotional in the stands. Born on Jan. 27, 1941 in the south side

of Chicago, it was clear from a young age that Andel had a passion for sports. “I always wanted to be a professional baseball player,” Andel said. While his dream did not pan out, Andel was constantly immersed in sports, playing in baseball and basketball leagues in his free time. He was, and still is, a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan, and reminisced about attending games as a boy with his mom. “My mom used to take me to the games, even though she was a [Chicago] Cubs fan,” Andel recalled with a laugh. An only child raised by his single mother, Andel struggled in school. He graduated from high school in 1959, but was given some interesting advice from the local priest regarding his future. “When I graduated from high school, the Father [of my church] told me not to go to college because my grades were really bad,” Andel said. Andel disregarded the advice for one summer, though, taking classes and re-

ceiving a diploma in a commercial course. The following year, in 1960, Andel made the decision to move to Southern California. The move would bring him closer to LMU, but the departure from Chicago was not related to sports at all; pulling a well-worn copy of a Lennon Sisters album from his bag, Andel pointed to the second sister from the left: “I came out because of her, Peggy Lennon of the Lennon Sisters,” Andel said. “How long have I had a crush on her? Since 1956.” Although he never met her personally, Lennon was the reason Andel left his hometown. Throughout the decades since 1960, there have not been a lot of constants for Andel. He has bounced between odd jobs, working at McDonald’s, a Veteran’s Administration hospital and a Venice church to name a few. But the one constant has come in the form of sports. “I just love the games,” Andel said.

Despite a valiant effort, men’s tennis could not defeat rival No. 12 Pepperdine University.

ton, who faced off against New Zealand-native junior Finn Tearney, and frustrations emerged. The match ended in Wilton losing 6-2, 6-1. Throughout the match, Wilton lost his composure on multiple occasions after long rallies ending in drop shots and drop vollies that gave Tearney crucial points to seal the victory. Court Two played home to Bjerke against junior Sebastian Fanselow in an up-and-down match highlighted by multiple lead changes, but it eventually ended in a Pepperdine victory 6-4, 7-5. Bjerke led the second set 4-2 and looked to force a third set, but Fanselow rallied to win. Bjerke, who was visibly disappointed after a tough loss, said, “We played a really good team today. When you have opportunities, you have to take advantage, keep your foot on the gas and play until the match is won.” With the Lions down 6-0, and fac-

ing back to-back shutouts, sophomore Daniel Simko defeated freshman Kento Tanaka-Tamaki 7-6, 6-7, 7-5. “There are opportunities in practice to put more game-like pressure on the players. We can’t fold when we get under pressure,” said Head Coach Brad Sceney. The rich rivalry that extends 19.1 miles between campuses was evident in the way these two teams played. Many of the Pepperdine players shouted after every point or LMU mistake. The Lions currently trail the Waves 7-4.5 in the Pacific Coast Highway Cup, a points competition between the two West Coast Conference Schools. “They are a very vocal team, and we knew that coming in, it’s just how they play and they feed on that energy,” said Bjerke.

See Andel | Page 14

Second straight loss stumps Lions By Dan Raffety

Justin Vitug | Loyolan

Daniel Simko won the only match against Pepperdine, recording a 7-6, 6-7, 7-5 victory.

Asst. Sports Editor Despite high emotions and tough matches, the Lions could not upset the No. 12 Waves at the LMU Tennis Center as the Lions fell to Pepperdine 6-1 for their second consecutive loss yesterday. The defeat began with three tough doubles matches in which LMU lost 8-4, 8-6 and 9-7. “We played pretty well in doubles [against Pepperdine],” said junior Nicholas Bjerke. “We wanted that momentum to carry into our single play.” Singles play was highlighted on Court One by sophomore Alex Wil-

See M. Tennis | Page 15