February 2, 2012

Thur fri

sat sun

65˚- 47˚ 70˚- 49˚ 70˚- 50˚ 69˚- 52˚

ESTABLISHED 1921 February 2, 2012 Volume 90, Issue 28 Your Home. Your Voice. Your Newspaper.

Loyola Marymount University

www.laloyolan.com

University’s retention rate remains above mean National report determines that LMU’s retention rate is higher than the national average.

By Margo Jasukaitis Asst. News Editor

portal, though [it was] during their off season, so it’s not like the portal needed to be up … and problems where search results are either irrelevant or nonexistent.”

When contacted in regard to these issues, Kathleen Flanagan, vice president for Communications and Government Relations, responded with the statement that, “We have reviewed all of these mechanisms and have not found any tickets or problems reported by anyone for

The percentage of LMU students who return for a second year on the bluff is higher than the national average of students who return to their respective universities for sophomore year. According to American College Testing’s (ACT) 2011 report, “National Collegiate Retention and Persistence to Degree Rates,” the national average of students who return to the same private, four-year universities where they started their freshman year is 69 percent. According to a report published by the University last October, LMU’s average retention rate for all students from the first to second year since 1999 is 88.4 percent.

LMU’s report, titled “Official Statistics: Undergraduate Freshmen Retention Rates,” is prepared annually by the Office of Institutional Research. Bryce Mason, director of Institutional Research and one of the coauthors of the study, explained retention data is collected by examining which students are registered in classes for each semester. “Every term that goes by at the University, that after a certain amount of time has elapsed into the term, we take a picture of the computer database. That gives us the key pieces of information in that database about who’s registered in classes,” he said. “We know which students are new freshmen, and then we can check in future terms to see if they’re

See Web | Page 5

See Retention | Page 4

Devin Sixt | Loyolan

Last night’s Poetry Lounge begins Black History Month celebration

The Office of Black Student Services (OBSS) and Campus Ministry hosted last night’s student poetry reading, which was emceed by spoken word artist Marc Marcel (above). Event organizer and senior communication studies major Tiffany Hunter said that the Poetry Lounge was a “great way for students to come and express themselves and their personalties.” The Black History Month festivities continue at today’s Convo kickoff on Alumni Mall. For a calendar of selected Black History Month events, see Page 3.

LMU responds to website complaints

University reacts to student reports of broken links, server errors and expired pages.

By Zaneta Pereira Asst. News Editor

Out of 35 students surveyed by the Loyolan in the Lair yesterday morning, 29 reported having problems with www. lmu.edu or MyLMU in the past month.

Specifically, 27 students singled out broken

links, 21 students highlighted problems with the search tool and 18 students reported issues with broken links and server errors.

One of these students, freshman economics major Charles Riley, said, “Often when I do a search on lmu.edu, the results are either broken links or old pages that have yet to be updated.”

Freshman civil engineering major Aisha McKee also had issues with the site and said, “I’ve had problems with the housing

Students to explore faith FAW kicks off today The Office of Black Student Services (OBSS) and Campus Ministry will host Saturday’s retreat.

By Jay Lee Asst. Web Editor

Imani means “faith” in the Swahili language, and faith is the central topic of the student-led Imani “Faith” Retreat that will take place on Saturday, Feb. 4 in Sullivan Lounge.

LMU’s Office of Black Student Services (OBSS) and Campus Ministry will team up to create the Imani “Faith” Retreat from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The theme of this year ’s Imani “Faith” Retreat is “getting free from the demands, expectations, and intimidations of life,” according to the Black History Month 2012 program. In celebration of Black History Month, the Imani “Faith” Retreat aims to help students renew their faith in a personal day of prayer, fellowship, faith and food.

“I think the [Imani “Faith” Retreat] is the foundation of Black History Month, to be honest with you, and that is why I plan it at the very beginning of the month. I believe that it’s necessary to connect as an LMU

DEAR RYAN, A&E Editor Kevin O'Keeffe writes a love letter to America's heartthrob, Ryan Gosling.

A&E, Page 11

family, and I think the connection comes from the foundation of God, just like our mission and focus in the Catholic tradition,” said Dr. Gail Buck, director of OBSS. “When they leave, they feel a stronger bond. That stronger bond is typically through their faith.”

Faith is a significant component of African-American culture and history, explained junior political science major Akala Francis, an OBSS fellow and a student organizer of the event.

“When you think about black history, you think about Martin Luther King [and] he was a minister. … In black history, there has been a faith component, there has been church involvement so this kind of embodies that aspect.”

Approximately 25-35 students will meet in Sullivan Lounge in an effort to bond through faith and fellowship, according to Aundrey Page, a junior business and psychology double major, outgoing president of the Brothers of Consciousness, vice president of the Black Student Union and a student organizer of the event. The event will start with breakfast, prayer and icebreakers.

Once the students are acquainted, they are encouraged to share their

See Retreat | Page 3

The Loyolan presents its 10th annual First Amendment Week (FAW) in an attempt to raise campus awareness.

By Laura Riparbelli Managing Editor

The Onion

The Onion’s Editor In Chief Joe Randazzo (top) and Staff Writer Daniel Mirk (bottom) will deliver their keynote presentation next Tuesday.

Index Classifieds.............................5 Opinion...............................6 A&E...................................11 Sports..............................20 The next issue of the Loyolan will be printed on Feb. 6, 2012.

Thirty percent of Americans are unable to name any of their First Amendment rights, according to the First Amendment Center. In order to ensure that LMU students are not a part of that 30 percent, the Loyolan is hosting its 10th annual First Amendment Week (FAW), kicking off today at Convo.

“The concept behind First Amendment Week is to put on a few creative, fun and possibly even intellectually-stimulating events so that students not only know what is protected, but also have a little context about how they are important to democracy,” said Tom Nelson, the director of Student Media.

In order to demonstrate this connection, a variety of activities have been planned beginning today through Feb. 9. One of these events, “Food for Freedom,” will allow participating students on Feb. 7 to give up their freedom of expression

See FAW | Page 2

GO LIONS! GO! GO! GO LIONS! LMU Cheer aspires to dispel the misconceptions surrounding the sport.

Sports, Page 20

News

February 2, 2012 Page 2

Loyolan hosts annual First Amendment Week FAW from Page 1

in exchange for a slice of pizza.

“Students come and temporarily sign away their First Amendment rights in exchange for free pizza. Our friends from LMU’s improv group Laser Squad Bravo will step in and mess with the crowd so they can experience what it’s like to have some of their freedoms restricted,” said Angelica Cadiente, the Loyolan’s public editor and a junior business major.

The idea that Americans enjoy the right to speech, religion, assembly, petition and press is not one that exists globally. This notion, according to event organizers, plays a role in the reasoning behind the annual event. Freedom of religion within the United States has unique importance at LMU, according to Nelson.

“In terms of freedom of religion at a university that places such a high value on its Jesuit and Marymount traditions, protection from the government establishing

a religion and protecting people’s right to practice their faith is particularly significant,” said Nelson. “And in terms of understanding the importance of free speech or free press, one only needs to look at how people are fighting, and not particularly successfully at times, in Egypt and throughout the Middle East against their own governments for certain rights that we, as Americans, sometimes take for granted.”

Richard Palin, a senior business major, finds that a week like FAW sheds light on rights that often go unnoticed.

“These events are great and remind us of the rights that we have that so many countries do not. It’s easy for us to take those rights for granted because we think they’re the norm, but they’re really not,” said Palin, who also attended last year ’s keynote given by John Legend. “First Amendment Week is one of the more meaningful events that this University has.”

The 2012 FAW keynote

Clarification

address will be delivered

by Editor in Chief Joe Randazzo and Staff Writer Dan Mirk from The Onion news organization, a satirical newspaper and website, on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. in Burns Back Court.

“Part of the goal for First Amendment Week is to have events that entertain as well as inform. Having spent a little time on the phone with Joe and Dan, I can assure you that these guys from The Onion are straight-up funny, so they have the entertainment part covered. If they were better looking and could sing, they’d have to be considered serious show-business triple threats,” said Nelson.

Free FAW T-shirts will be distributed today in Lawton Plaza during Convo and the Loyolan’s bobblehead giveaway will be handed out at tonight’s men’s basketball game against Pepperdine University. The Loyolan will also be hosting “Open Mic Night” on Monday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. in The Living Room to promote the importance of freedom of speech.

In the Jan. 26 issue of the Loyolan, the article “Number of transfer student applicants continues to rise” states that there were over 1,600 applicants for fewer than 800 spots at LMU. Though there were just under 800 applicants admitted, only 339 of these applicants were actually enrolled.

www.laloyolan.com

PROVOST CANDIDATE

SPOTLIGHT NAME: Dr. Patricia Fleming SCHOOL: St. Mary’s College

Dr. Patricia Fleming was the fourth provost finalist to speak with the University. Fleming addressed the LMU community in a question and answer session in the Von der Ahe Welcome Center on Monday, Jan. 30.

QUOTES: “I was attracted to this aspect of higher education because I could see many of the underground concerns in my field of research that were similar to higher education, such as the creation of sound policy, the treatment of persons or groups with fairness and equity and the use of transparent processes.”

“Transparency is rooted in a respect for stakeholders by being as fully open as possible to students, staff and faculty about matters in which they have a significant stake. I have seen the negative consequences in the failure to do this.”

“Using equity rather than merely equality in decision making is important to me.”

“I have a firm belief in the structures that an institution has, because we can have good intentions, but if we don’t set up opportunities to act on those intentions, then what happens is morale takes a hit.”

Today’s provost finalist interview with Dr. Luis Fraga will be the last.

Finalist Dr. Cheryl Schrader was supposed to speak on Feb. 6 but has since removed her name from consideration. For access to Fleming’s application materials, including a video of the open forum, visit lmu.edu/provostsearch. *See the Feb. 6 issue of the Loyolan for a recap of the last finalist’s interview.

Graphic: Dol-Anne Asiru | Loyolan; Quotes compiled by Adrien Jarvis

News

www.laloyolan.com

February 2, 2012 Page 3

AAAA recognizes scholarship recipients

The African American Alumni Association host its 10th annual scholarship fundraiser.

By Kasey Eggert Multimedia Intern

LMU is one of the most successful universities in the nation at graduating African-American students, according to a study released by The Education Trust in 2010, which ranked LMU 13th in the country.

Organizations like the African American Alumni Association (AAAA) have been a key factor in the University’s success.

AAAA will celebrate its commitment to providing scholarships for students with its 10th Annual

Scholarship Fundraiser and Distinguished Achievement Awards on Saturday, Feb. 11.

The event will honor AAAA’s scholarship recipients with a semiformal full-course dinner and reception in Roski Dining Room, starting at 6 p.m. It will feature a silent auction and cash bar, with all funds collected going to the AAAA Scholarship Fund. Every year, LMU also matches two to one each dollar AAAA awards in scholarships for up to $150,000, according to AAAA’s website.

“The [AAAA Fundraiser] is an opportunity for all the alumni to meet the students and to showcase their wonderful abilities and talents,” said Alumni Relations Assistant Adrianne Chivers, who is also a leading member of the AAAA. “It is a great benefit for our students that participate. It really

enhances the college professional experience – the students really get a hand of professional networking. ... We let everyone know about our students prior to the fundraiser, and people really do enjoy coming to meet them and networking,” added Chivers.

The event also has three honorees: U.S. Representative Karen Bass, Fr. Gordon Bennett, S.J. and Executive Vice President of The Annie E. Casey Foundation Ralph Smith.

AAAA was founded in 2003 by a group of alumni that wanted to have an association similar to Black Student Union. They wanted to develop a way for alumni to the get in touch with each other that could double as a service to the student body.

The AAAA Scholarship Fund was created to provide financial assistance to undergraduate

LMU students who achieve academically and actively support their community. It has provided thousands of dollars in scholarships to current students on campus, helping students stay at LMU. Ricky Randle, a senior communication studies major, is one student who has been able to remain at the University thanks to financial support from AAAA. “The main way AAAA has impacted me is financially, and [it] was a major factor of why I was able to stay at LMU. Knowing that someone is giving money back to students who are trying to reach their dreams is the best motivation for me to get involved,” said Randle, who will be honored as a scholarship recipient at the event.

“Just having the alumni network has been really great for me. I am in contact with many professional

able to share the struggles that we’re all going through and just be a testimony to someone else, because you never know what people are going through.”

Elizabeth Ducksworth, a junior psychology major and OBSS fellow, will be attending the retreat. “I expect to get insight from other people’s experiences.”

“Oftentimes, I think people

see a community of black people and think we’re all in the same boat, and we’re not.

We’re so different, and that’s the beauty of any community is the diversity of thought, appearance, of background, of anything,” said Buck.

Page summed it up when he said: “The Imani ‘Faith’ Retreat is an awesome way to focus on yourself, others and your connection with

your spirituality. It’s a great way to get away for a day … to really take some time to reflect on why you are here and what is your purpose.”

The Imani “Faith” Retreat will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4 in Sullivan Lounge from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register by visiting www.lmu.edu/ obss and clicking “Events,” followed by “Black History Month 2012.”

Retreat allows students to share struggles Retreat from Page 1

experiences and burdens. Just like the soul food served the retreat is supposed to promote comfort and relief from the “demands, expectations and intimidations of life,” Page said.

Jelecia Smith, OBSS’ office manager who was also involved in organizing the event, said she likes “being

Month Black History CALENDAR

MONDAY

FEBRUARY

12

Sunday The Bacchae of Euripides 4 p.m.

Strub Theater

19

Sunday Sigma Gamma Rho’s “Hats and Heels” 3 p.m.

Hilton 300

10 Friday

13

14

11

Sankofa Fashion Show

Saturday 9th Annual AAAA Scholarship Fundraiser

7 p.m.

The Living Room

5 p.m.

Roski Dining Hall

15

16

Monday Documentary “The Naked Option”

Tuesday Valentine’s Day Café

Wednesday Standing Up for Justice

Thursday Black Men’s Tribute

7 p.m.

Marymount Institute

7 p.m.

The Hill

7 p.m.

Marymount Institute

7 p.m.

Hilton 300

20

Monday

21

Tuesday Sweet Potato Pie Social & Bone Marrow Drive 4 p.m.

The Hill

22

Wednesday

23

Thursday Black Women’s Tribute 8 p.m.

St. Rob’s Auditorium

Information from: The Office of Black Student Services

lawyers. It’s not all about the contacts, it’s about the relationships that are built,” said Ezrah Bryant, a senior history major who is another scholarship recipient that will be honored. “AAAA has really transformed my life here at LMU and has made my experience that much better.”

Koyya Lewis, a junior athletic training major and scholarship recipient, said, “I am so grateful to have [a scholarship]. The fundraiser that we have every year brings a lot of donations and meeting the alumni first hand is amazing. I am truly thankful to get scholarship money in order to come to LMU.” To RSVP for the event, register online at the AAAA website by Feb. 3. Tickets are $100 per person and $75 for recent alumni (’01-’11).

- Additional reporting by Adrien Jarvis

News

February 2, 2012 Page 4

www.laloyolan.com

University recognized for effective retention efforts

Lorianne Harrison-Reyes

Director of Residence Life, Lorianne Harrison-Reyes (right) is a mentor to Jessica Lopez (left), a freshman engineering major in the First to Go Program, a program that helps guide students through college.

11 Burning Questions with the director of Residence Life

This issue, Asst. News Editor Brigette Scobas talks with Lorianne Harrison-Reyes about her experiences on campus as the director of Residence Life and how she spends her time off campus.

1. What does your position as director of Residence Life entail?

Under the Student Housing umbrella, I oversee all of the Residence Life staff [including] the resident directors, the assistant directors, the associate director, the program coordinator for the Resident Housing Association (R.H.A.) and the program assistants and all of the student staff [including] resident advisors, program assistants, R.H.A. and the front desks.

2. What made you choose this career path?

The funny thing is I started off in [a] radio/film/television [major] when I first started school … but I got bitten by the student-affairs bug. I got involved with my hall government, I got involved with the student activities office and I became an RA, and I absolutely loved it. I realized I could get paid for working with people in a way that I really enjoyed. … I changed my major from radio/film communications into communications/leadership.

3. What are the biggest challenges you face in your position?

One of the things I love about my job is every day it’s different. ... I really look at challenges as a positive. Even if a student is in crisis, I’m there to help that person. … We don’t have a 9-5 job. … It’s a lifestyle, and I absolutely love it. … It’s something you need to embrace.

4. What is the Chronic Illness Group and your role in the group?

It is a group of college students who have chronic illnesses. When I first came here this was something I wanted to start. … I’m the staff moderator with Katie Arce from the Health Center, and Caitlin Lopes [a sophomore communication studies major] is the student moderator. … It’s an opportunity for students to talk about coping, choices [and] challenges that they face with a chronic illness going to school. I was diagnosed with a chronic illness in college, and I really wish I had some type of group like this.

5. What is your favorite building on campus?

I’d say I have two. One is Sacred Heart Chapel. I got married there in 2005. … Before I moved to Leavey 6, I lived in “little Leavey” [by McKay], and it was kind of a little oasis in the middle of campus. ... My husband also proposed to me there.

6. How have you seen the University grow and change over the past 13 years?

We’ve added so many housing facilities over the years, and I’ve been really blessed to be a part of that. We’ve added over 1,200 beds, approximately, since I’ve moved on campus. ... We’ve been able to add our themed communities, our living-learning communities and learning community and work collaboratively with other departments.

7. Where would you like to see LMU go in the future?

I think we are headed in the right direction. Looking at our Strategic Plan with President Burcham, he’s really focused on the students and their education and how to make the University better for the students.

8. What has been your favorite part of the LMU Centennial celebrations?

I’ve had three favorite parts. [The first two are] the Centennial Ball, and what followed was Keep the Ball Rolling. Students who went to the basketball games, the Ball and stayed here at LMU, went to the event. It was neat to see everyone come together at midnight and have pancakes and just hang out until two in the morning. … The Ball was just phenomenal and I wish more people could have gone. … The other one is the [Rose Parade] float. I was able to go in August to do the float [drive and fire drill] test. Doing that with 12-14 students was a once in a lifetime event.

9. What do you hope the new LMU provost will embody?

We have a strategic plan, but there is not a pathway for some things on how we are going to meet those goals. … I think that the person who comes in really needs to embrace the community and the individuals in the community and the contributions that those individuals make and see all the strengths that those in the community have to give.

10. What has been one of the oddest housing experiences you’ve encountered?

One night I went grocery shopping and the next morning I was going to make Hershey Kiss cookies for the facility assistants and a squirrel broke in [the screen] and ate all of the Hershey Kisses with nuts. We have a challenge with animals on campus.

11. Is there an Academy Award-nominated movie that you would like to see win or a movie you have recently seen that you enjoyed?

I loved ‘The Help.’ I watched it with my mentee. … I hope that they get some [awards] because they did a really good job.

still enrolled.”

For the most recent cohort of freshmen returning for their second year, Mason and Ryan Johnson, the study’s other author, report a 91.9 percent retention rate between the Fall 2010 semester and Fall 2011.

This is the highest rate of return since the class of 2007 entered as freshmen in 2003 (they too returned at a rate of 91.9 percent for their sophomore year).

This high level of retention from freshman to sophomore year is a testament to the effectiveness of University programming and retention efforts. Anthony GarrisonEngbrecht, who works in the Office of Student Engagement, Retention and Transition, said LMU has focused a lot of its retention efforts on the freshman class. “We want to provide opportunities for first-year students to get engaged,” he said.

“We know that working on campus is a retention factor, being a part of an organization – Greek Life, service org recruitment – those are all retention factors. We want to build a campus community that’s inviting and welcoming, particularly to outof-state students so they can feel like this is their second home.”

Garrison-Engbrecht’s focus on out-of-state student populations stems from the increased difficulty of transition for that particular student group compared to those who are from California. “[Los Angeles] is a different world,” said Garrison-Engbrecht. “I can only

imagine what it would be like to come here. … There’s a different culture, a different scene, there’s an aspect of ‘keeping up with the Joneses.’ What does that look like to out-of-state students, and how do we make them feel at home?”

While the transition into college life for out-of-state students and in-state students can take different forms, the retention rates across all demographic groups are relatively equal. “The differences [in retention rates] are not particularly great among various ethnic groups,” said Mason. While there are slight variations in the percentage of students retained to their second year across sex and ethnic groups, the discrepancies are less than one-tenth of a percent, a difference Mason does not deem to be statistically significant.

Despite this level of parity in the data across all groups, GarrisonEngbrecht says the Office of

Student Engagement, Retention and Transition “really beefed up [its] out of state programming Additionally, LMU has received national honors for its ability to retain and graduate AfricanAmerican and Latino students.

According to Celeste Durant, the director of Communications and Media in University Relations, “The Education Trust recognized the top 11 universities for graduating Hispanic and African-American students. LMU was among the top universities nationally.”

This type of recognition acknowledges LMU’s retention efforts, highlighting just how successful the University is at retaining students for second, third and fourth years. “LMU has a pretty high retention rate,” said Garrison-Engbrecht. “But there’s always room for improvement.

Eighty-nine, 90 percent, that’s pretty good, but we could be at 100.”

LMURATES RETENTION

90 88 86

% returned

Retention from Page 1

84 82 80 78 76 74

for sophomore year

for junior year

for senior year

Graphic: Dol-Anne Asiru | Loyolan

News

www.laloyolan.com

February 2, 2012 Page 5

CBA presents lecture Students urged to on the Madoff scandal report web issues Author of “The Wizard of Lies” discusses issues of crime, faith and trust.

By Christopher James News Intern The scandal involving Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme has affected many people and enlightened the world to the precautions one must take when investing one’s money.

Madoff was arrested in 2008 and charged with securities fraud after confiding in his sons that his investment fund was a scam. On Tuesday night, Diana B. Henriques, the author of “The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Truth,” came to LMU as a part of the Paul A. Grosch lecture series sponsored by the College of Business Administration.

As a senior writer for the New York Times and a successful author whose book landed on the New York Times bestseller list, the College of Business Administration believed that students would benefit from Henriques speaking on campus.

“She was the only person allowed to interview Madoff in prison, so we ... learn[ed] a lot more about the man, his victims and the lessons learned from the scandal [by hearing Henriques speak],” said Natalie Drdek, communications manager for the College of Business Administration and one of the planners of the event. “It’s not every day you get the opportunity to hear someone of Ms. Henriques’s caliber speak in person.”

As a part of her lecture, Henriques spoke of the universal things she has learned from deeply immersing herself in the intricacies of Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. “The Madoff scandal has persuaded me that every one of us invests as a leap

Employment SUMMER DAY CAMPS Counselors, Instructors for swimming, horses, beach activities, sports, arts & crafts, nature, ropes courses, archery and much more. Camps located throughout the greater Los Angeles Area. www.daycampjobs.com Child Care: After school for 2 great girls, 12yo and 15yo.

Pick-up from school, assist with homework, take to activities. For more info email jmcgill@ha.ucla. edu or call 310-422-5377.

Summer Day Camp San Fernando and Conejo Valleys.

Counselors, instructors for horseback riding, arts & crafts, swimming, rock climbing, petting farm, music & drama and more. Make a difference this summer! (888)784-CAMP www. workatcamp.com

For Rent 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

of faith. ... That’s why we are so fascinated with the crime,” Henriques said.

“To me, Bernie Madoff is a symbol of corporate greed and a reminder of how much destruction can be caused by a single person,” said Drdek. “His downfall is an important lesson for all who work in the financial industry – or any industry for that matter – on how critical it is to maintain a high level of moral conduct.”

The themes of faith and trust were heavily discussed at the event, as Henriques found that people’s trust in Madoff was what made his Ponzi scheme grow to the extent it did. One of the biggest questions the event posed was, “How do we monitor and police the people we trust?”

Placing trust in the right places was a main part of the night because, as Henriques noted, “once we trust [people like Madoff], we don’t see the red flags popping [up] around us.”

Henriques also spoke of her interviews in the prison with Madoff and how his demeanor was shaped from each of her meetings. “In August of 2010, [his remorse] didn’t feel authentic even though he said the words,” said Henriques.

Upon further meetings and after the suicide of his son in 2010, Henriques saw a change in Madoff.

“The things he was saying seemed less stilted and more generous,” she said. “I am somewhat optimistic [for him and his remorse].”

Another point brought up in the lecture was the subject of whistleblowing and how the actions that could help prevent more Madoff situations from happening have negative consequences reinforced by society. “The Madoff case forces us to ask why our society condemns the actions that could have saved us all from all the events of the Madoff scandal,” said Henriques.

The event seemed to provoke interest in some of the students in attendance. “Everything was really interesting,” said Marie Grace Alban, an executive MBA student.

“The comments with [Madoff], how she talks back and forth with him and still keeps in correspondence with him, was really interesting.”

Henriques herself sees the merit in coming to schools such as LMU to speak to students. “I think it is essential that people understand how complicated money and emotions are together. They are tied together in a little bow,” said Henriques.

“Sessions like these expose you to the real world applications of these abstractions.”

There are things that college students can do to ensure some stability in their financial futures. “If you just invest for the long haul and put a little money away in a safe public mutual fund, you are going to save money, and it is going to grow. It is not hard, it just takes some self-sacrifice,” Henriques advised.

Web from Page 1

Henriques spoke about the unique insights she gleaned as a result of being the only person allowed to interview Madoff in prison.

[these] … issues.”

Specifically, in terms of the issue with the search function, Flanagan reported: “The search function has been functioning normally with no reported outages. We utilize the industry standard Google Search Appliance and the system does not show any downtime.” A report generated

by Flanagan’s office indicates a total of 44,140 distinct searches for the month of January, a number which is “not unusual” in terms of average traffic on the website.

Flanagan explained that LMU’s website is hosted on a content management system so that the website as a whole is made up of a variety of content that is individually authored and maintained by hundreds of authors across the various University departments.

Dr. John Dionisio, a professor of computer science, provided some insight into the kinds of issues that could face a website the size of LMU’s.

“The webpages you see on LMU’s [website] don’t actually exist as files. They are built dynamically from a database, and every url and every link on the site goes through the content management system … which consists of multiple parts, any of which can be broken … or in a state of flux,” he said.

Due to the way a content management system works, Dionisio explained that having a multitude of authors creating content at the same time could lead to links appearing broken, when in reality they are still

Attic Salt: LMU’s Interdisciplinary Journal is accepting submissions now!

Send us your stories, poems, essays, papers, science projects, math proofs, plays, photography, drawings, or anything else to submissions@atticsaltlmu. com.

Deadline extended to Feb. 5, 2012! And check out our website at atticsaltlmu.com.

HOME GAME on THURSDAY February 2 @ 8:15 p.m. versus CSU-Long Beach!! FREE BUS @ 7:00 from Hannon Field. SENIOR NIGHT!!! Honoring the last home game of their LMU career: Travis Amick, Bobby Arnold, Kevin Keomanee, Pat McBride, Dylan Milo, Tyler Payne, Kalei Tipon, and Steve Vollkommer. Admission is free to all LMU cardholders. http://www. lmuicehockey.com

Abbey Nelson | Loyolan

Classifieds

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 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 Tutor Wanted Intro Psychology and English conversation partner For Adult ESL student. $11/hr Manhattan Beach. email :drgmelnick@yahoo.com

FIRST AMENDMENT WEEK KICKOFF! Join the Loyolan TODAY, February 2 as we kick off First Amendment Week. If you’re there first (or if you’re just very, very persistent) you could even get your hands on a free limited-edition 2012 First Amendment Week t-shirt!

February 2nd Convo hour -Lawton Event Plaza (next to the Library)

$2,100k. WHY PAY RENT: Rents are continually going up.

Buy well maintained 7 Town Houses in Playa Del Rey with attached garages and patios.

Annual Income $150k. 6% Return cash on cash with huge upside potential. 310 301 1897.

FOOD FOR FREEDOM! What happens when students temporarily trade their freedom of expression for a few slices of delicious Fresh Brothers Pizza?

Trust us (and our friends and cosponsors from Laser Squad Bravo) when we tell you it is absolute mayhem. Join the Loyolan on February 7th to see this for yourself.

February 7th -- Convo hour -Sunken Garden.

On Campus

LMU ICE HOCKEY FINAL

For Sale

MEN’S BASKETBALL BOBBLEHEAD The only thing better than watching our basketball team defeat the-schoolwho-shall-not-be-named-fromMalibu is watching our team utterly embarrass the-schoolwho-shall-not-be-named-fromMalibu AND going home with your own limited edition 2012 Loyolan bobblehead!

Tonight, February 2nd -- 7:30 p.m. -- Gersten Pavilion.

Na Kolea Lu`au ... March 31...Lawton Plaza...4:00 PM...

SAVE THE DATE !!!!!!!! Good Food, Great Entertainment, Unforgettable Fun! More details to follow.

THE MIC IS YOURS! February 6th is the First Amendment Week edition of Open Mic night, co-sponsored by Mane Entertainment and The Loyolan. Go ahead: complain about something, rave about someone, try

in the process of being created or updated. “This is only one possible scenario. There’s also the possibility of problems with the content management server itself … everything ranging from the database server being slow because someone’s doing something that’s slowing it down to someone tripping on a wire. …

To the outside world it’ll seem as if the link’s broken,” he said.

“There’s so many things that could go wrong that it’s very hard to generalize. … If you think about it, even Twitter sometimes gives you the fail whale [and] even Facebook sometimes can’t be reached,” Dionisio added.

Additionally, Flanagan stressed the importance of reporting errors encountered on the website, something which only two of the students surveyed had done. “Students will find answers and resolutions to their issues if they contact the departments in question,” she said. The contact link on the footer of all LMU.edu sites, the help feature in MyLMU and tickets that can be opened up by email (helpdesk@lmu.edu) or over the phone through the ITS Help Desk (x87777) are all, “added service[s] to assist, advocate for and ultimately resolve issues from any web visitor,” Flanagan said.

“While [the Web Office is] not directly responsible for fixing these issues, we are happy to see them through to resolution and are now in the process of addressing the ones reported … by contacting the departments involved,” Flanagan said.

a haiku, do some improv or just surprise us. We like surprises!

Monday, February 6th -- 8 p.m.

-- The Living Room.

THE ONION Explores First AMENDMENT You won’t want to miss it on February 7th when the editor in chief and a writer from the satirical newspaper/ website The Onion provide their hilariously witty take on the First Amendment. Laugh until The Onion makes you cry! Sponsored by / The Loyolan. (Valid OneCard required for entry.)

Tuesday February 7th -- 6 p.m.

-- Burns Back Court

Opinion Student Editorials and Perspectives

February 2, 2012 Page 6

Board Editorial

Letters to the Editor

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

Appreciating the First Amendment

S

tarting today during a convo kickoff event in Lawton Plaza, the Loyolan is hosting its 10th annual First Amendment Week (see “FAW kicks off today,” Page 1) featuring the editor in chief and a staff writer from The Onion news organization as the keynote speakers next Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Burns Back Court.

Every year the Loyolan uses First Amendment Week to raise awareness about the privileges that the First Amendment provides this community.

More specifically, the Loyolan celebrates the fact that the University administration does not exercise its right to prior review. Instead, the University views the Loyolan’s freedom of press as a right and not a privilege. This allows the Loyolan to address the controversial issues this community faces (such as ecstasy use and gay rights issues) without screening and amending the content to appease a particular audience.

Other private institutions around the nation aren’t so lucky. The Collegian, the student newspaper at La Salle University – a Catholic college in Pennsylvania – is an example of a student newspaper subject to prior review. The newspaper made national headlines when they attempted to publish a story regarding a professor’s

www.laloyolan.com

alleged hiring of strippers for an extra credit seminar. When the university told the students that the story could not run without a lawyer reviewing it and could not be placed above the fold, the editor in chief decided to leave everything above the fold blank except the words “See below the fold.”

Hopefully, the Loyolan will not be forced to face similar incidents, because the University allows the paper full access to First Amendment protections.

Being able to utilize the freedoms provided by the First Amendment on campus is instrumental in preparing students for the world off campus. This doesn’t just give them an accurate representation of one of the most important amendments in the Bill of Rights, but it sheds light on how to take advantage and make use of the First Amendment in the greatest way possible.

So, when you’re wandering around campus during the Loyolan’s 10th Annual First Amendment Week, enjoy the free pizza, T-shirts and entertainment, but also appreciate the fact that you attend an institution that is committed to fostering a true understanding of what it means to have the freedoms of speech, press, assembly, petition and religion.

Re: “Unusual number of marijuana arrests occur” (January 23, 2012, Page 1) Dear Editor, Captain Brian P. Johnson, LAPD Pacific Division’s patrol commanding officer points out an eye-opening fact that cannibas (marijuana) legal action can have a negative effect on students’ futures. What Johnson is really saying is that cannibas prohibition is more harmful than the plant itself. It’s time to end cannibas prohibition before it harms anyone else.

Stan White LALoyolan.com reader Dillon, Colorado

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.

LMU named an A+ school for B students

In a recent article published by US News & World Report, LMU was named an “A+ option for B students” – that is, a school that’s great to go to if you’re an average student. The statistic is more than a little insulting, and the Loyolan has to question exactly why US News chose to compile such a list. LMU strives for academic excellence as well as diversity in our areas of study, and a “study” like this that suggests otherwise can only damage LMU’s reputation. Bad form, US News & World Report.

San Francisco International introduces yoga relaxation rooms Need to get a little “downward-facing dog” in during your layover but don’t want to look like an idiot doing yoga in the middle of an airport? Today, San Francisco’s airport is introducing a room dedicated entirely to yoga – reportedly, the only one in the world. Flying can be a stressful experience for anyone, so the chance to stretch and meditate is much appreciated. The Loyolan hopes that the room will catch on – LAX could use a little relaxation too!

The things that John and Tom taught me

A

lthough I added the major only this year, and consider myself primarily an English major (apologies to any of my philosophy professors who might read this), I still get general questions about why I chose to study philosophy. But about half the time, I get a comment to the effect of “I can’t stand Don’t Quote philosophy” Me and become

By Joseph Demes e x t r e m e l y Asst. Opinion Editor disheartened.

However, these moments of frustration often prompt me to recall my early beginnings with the subject matter.

I was about eight years old when I received my first copy of a “Calvin and Hobbes” anthology, for no apparent reason other than my grandmother wanting to spoil me. My collection grew as the years progressed, and although a good half of the jokes went over my head, I understood that there was something going on between the panels. I suppose I was too young to get at the heart of these unspecified matters and was content to mentally dogear the pages for later.

Recently, I found myself probing the history of the comic strip and its author, Bill Watterson, and I came upon his commencement address to the 1990 graduating class of Kenyon College, his alma mater. Among the subject matter in the speech is Watterson’s reticence to allow comic syndicates to commercialize his

characters. Watterson remarks that much of his struggle with his stance was an ethical one and “to make a business decision, you don’t need much philosophy; all you need is greed, and maybe a little knowledge of how the game works.” That statement ought to be a sharp poke to any business major reading this (especially since LMU offers a course on business ethics).

That personal anecdote and this speech have a purpose other than tangential sentiment, and I will get back to it later.

W h i l e it is depressing for me to h e a r p e o p l e say that they “hate philosophy” or that they “just don’t get it,” I would hope that these are just poorly expressed formulations of a larger underlying question: “Why do philosophy at all?” In response to this, Gary Gutting, professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, argues that we have to differentiate between whether we are accepting or rejecting foundational philosophy.

He elaborates, in a New York Times article from Jan. 25 titled “Philosophy – What’s the

use?”, that foundational philosophy deals with things we might consider to be fundamental principles of our existence, such as whether there is such a thing as a common experience of the sensible

world.

If we reject the idea that we must consider the origin of beliefs on subjects, Gutting believes we can do the same with “substantive beliefs on controversial questions of ethics, politics and religion,” and assume that the origin of these commonplace beliefs do not need philosophical justification. This does not, however, excuse such matters from work that Gutting thinks “we might call ‘intellectual maintenance,’ which itself typically involves philosophical thinking.”

Say you are a business major.

It is one thing for someone to say that y o u ought to consider where ethics c o m e from and another very different statement to ask someone to contemplate what ethical practices are. But the latter is philosophy, just oriented to that field. There are going to be questions of ethics and philosophy in any major, and for good reason (especially now for communication studCartoon by Jackson Turcotte | Loyolan ies and political science majors, considering that

First Amendment Week is fast approaching [See: News, p. 1]).

Contemplating these issues is recognizing the human aspect of any field of work.

In Watterson’s case, the philosophy he engaged with was of a more personal nature. He dealt with ideas of true vocation and fulfillment, in contrast to the possibility of signing his intellectual property to a syndicate that would turn his passion into “work,” whereby his creative act might become focused solely on profit. His characters were similarly ideologically charged and scrutinized their world with unfiltered thought. I think this is, in part, why I was enthralled with Watterson’s strip. I recognized the merits of such a line of thinking because it was so unlike the earnest acceptance of thought that most kids my age demonstrated (though back then I wouldn’t have been able to put it in such terms).

I suppose this is why I don’t understand how people say they “can’t stand” philosophy.

When I hear that, it sounds like a cop-out. That statement denies the natural state of one’s humanity, of existing as a rational being. Critical thinking isn’t a “job.” It’s a natural activity. No one ever said philosophy was easy, and it is just the same with living. But the rewards of purposefully and thoughtfully engaging in both are monumental; Watterson certainly thought so. To quote Calvin: “It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy ... let’s go exploring.”

This is the opinion of Joseph Demes, a junior English and philosophy double major from Clayton, Calif. Please send comments to jdemes@theloyolan.com.

www.laloyolan.com

Opinion

February 2, 2012 Page 7

Which came first: the money or the happy? stressful, there’s not much more the extra income can do for happiness.

For all of the students who share my philosophy and have found themselves stressed and overburdened, this one’s for you. (For the guy in my

Introduction to Ethical Decision Models business class that chose money and success as his number one and two most important values over family and friendship, this one’s really for you.)

Money is great, and yes, when you have limitless opportunities, money can indeed buy you happiness. But the fact that you won’t be happier after more than $75,000 a year is a blaring call to relax. I know there are students who are here to eventually make millions of dollars and those that push themselves to the limit to ensure their future success. But perhaps that is not the best way to look at life. More money does

not equal more happiness. Enough money does.

And here’s where it gets even crazier. Hard work may not even

be the best way to get there. We’ve had it backwards the whole time. Happiness fuels success.

A study done on Harvard undergraduates by Shawn Achor, author of “The Happiness Advantage,” found that the most successful students were not the ones who did everything, but rather, the ones who took care of themselves. Those who indulged in their hobbies and spent time with their friends found life more enjoyable and ultimately found productivity easier. Achor has spent years studying happiness and potential at Harvard University, and his findings point towards positive psychology.

This new strain of psychology advocates that “when we are positive, our brains become more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient and productive at

Submit your finest academic work to

work,” according to Achor. When we are reinforced by happiness, our work is better.

According to science20.com, Mark Seligman “founded” positive psychology when he became the president of the American Psychological Association in 2000.

Ever since, positive psychology has spread, a n d its effectiveness has been evident in the workplace. Traditional managers like to bring down the iron fist, believing that pressure and deadlines are the way to increase productivity. However, as discussed in the Psychology Today article by Ray B. Williams, “Wired for Success,” more workers are suffering from high-stress levels than in 2009. Positive psychology “demonstrates research that shows that having a healthy sense of control over one’s life, work and environment is important for well-being, and the absence of it results in anxiety, depression and lowered performance,” says the article.

What craziness is this?

Some may call in common sense, but then why do I know so many people my age suffering from ulcers? What this tells us is that higher performance can come from happiness. Happiness does not have to be the ultimate result. Pushing oneself to the limit may not be the best way to achieve the productivity that one presumes

Salt

I

live by the words “money buys you happiness.” And as a business major, I’ve found myself surrounded by others who feel the same way. This mantra is the engine behind my overextension of self.

It’s gotten to a point where “me time” is an impossibility, but I don’t care because the eventual payoff is a life without any Run ‘n Tell Dat worry – a life of unlimited

By KimTran riches.

Opinion Editor As much as those cheesy Facebook status quotes and inspirational sayings want to deny it, I am right.

Money can buy you happiness. A 2010 study conducted by Daniel Kahneman, the 2002 winner of the Nobel Prize in economics, and Angus Deaton, past president of the American Economic Association analyzed poll data from the Gallup Organization of more than 450,000 Americans who measured their day-to-day well-being in order to gauge their overall life satisfaction. And yes, happiness levels increased as income increased. That is, until about $75,000. Once yearly income reaches $75,000, the level of happiness plateaus. Anyone earning more than that does not get much happier.

What does this mean? Obviously money is not the only source of happiness, and while it is a significant part of happiness, when one’s basic needs are satisfied and the thought of going out to eat isn’t

Attic

We Want to Publish Your Work Send us your stories, poems, essays, papers, science projects, math proofs, plays, photography, drawings, or anything else!

Submit to submissions@atticsaltlmu.com

by February 5th, 2012 **Now accepting multimedia work as well visit www.atticsaltlmu.com for more information

will generate happiness. In fact, a study published the Harvard Business Review and conducted

by Gretchen Spreitzer, professor of management and organizations at the Michigan Ross School of Business, and Christine Porath, assistant professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, found that workers who “thrive” showed 16 percent better overall performance and 125 percent less burnout than their peers.

Furthermore, they were even 32 percent more committed to the organization and 46 percent more satisfied with their jobs. Satisfaction and happiness at work also led to fewer missed days of work and fewer doctor visits – a win-win.

Why not take this philosophy to our schoolwork? While not all of us are in the workforce, we should still strive to be thriving students, not hardworking-to-thepoint-of-burnout students. If we begin to take care of ourselves first, our success will soon follow.

So the next time you feel like you need a break, take it. After all, only so much money can buy you happiness, and why not be happy first?

Graphic by Alberto Gonzalez | Loyolan This is the opinion of Kim Tran,a sophomore marketing and communication studies double major from San Jose, Calif. Please send comments to ktran@theloyolan.com.

LMU’s Interdisciplinary Academic Journal

February 2, 2012 Page 8

C

Opinion

Bisexual and the City

ynthia Nixon, the actress best known for playing lawyer Miranda Hobbes on “Sex and the City,” has been receiving quite a bit of flack recently after a New York Times Magazine piece publicized her new role in a Broadway production of “Wit.” The article left readers less fascinated by the fact that she sports a newly-shaven Over a Glass head for the role than by the

By Amanda fact that she Kotch told the publiOpinion Intern cation that she is, in fact, gay by choice.

Nixon is quoted as saying: “I gave a speech recently, an empowerment speech to a gay audience, and it included the line ‘I’ve been straight, and I’ve been gay, and gay is better.’

And they tried to get me to change it, because they said it implies that homosexuality can be a choice ... I understand that for many people it’s not, but for me it’s a choice, and you don’t get to define my gayness for me.”

“I’ve been straight, and I’ve been gay” refers to Nixon’s early personal life. She is currently engaged to Christine Marinoni, a woman with whom she has an 11-month-old son.

However, Nixon has two older children, fathered by a man she was in a long-term relationship with but never married.

Nixon’s comments were met with backlash from many gay rights activists, and one can see why. Activists have worked long

and hard for decades to combat the idea that sexual orientation is a choice, that one has the ability to choose to be physically attracted to a member of the same sex any more than one has the ability to choose to be attracted to a member of the opposite sex.

In a follow-up interview on Jan. 24 with Kevin Sessums of The Daily Beast, when asked to clarify her sexual orientation when in a relationship with a man and then with a woman, Nixon responded, “I don’t pull out the ‘bisexual’ word because nobody likes the bisexuals.

Everybody likes to dump on the bisexuals.”

After more backlash, Nixon retracted the statement on Jan. 30, to LGBT magazine The Advocate: “I do, however, believe that most members of our community – as well as the majority of heterosexuals – cannot and do not choose the gender of the persons with whom they seek to have intimate relationships.”

Nixon should be well aware of the large influence celebrity has in our society. How she chooses to identify herself, sexually or in any other respect, is certainly her own choice.

Yet in a country where the gay community does not have total confidence that personal freedoms will be respected, Nixon should have realized the effect her words would have on a world less accepting of the differences of others.

As the lawsuit against Proposition 8 makes its way through the appellate process, the “born this way” argument has been central for those working to grant same-sex couples the right to marry, adopt children and share equal benefits.

The U.S. Supreme Court recognizes religion as grounds for equal

protection, so why not sexuality?

If the argument can be made that one’s religious affiliation is not set in stone, that one cannot be told, by the government or anyone else, to divorce Allah and live by the Torah, the same can be said for sexual orientation. If and when someone decides to make a change, for personal reasons, does the switch from Christianity to Buddhism, or from a man to a woman, make the new commitment any less valid?

The nature versus nurture debate needs to be retired. We now know that biology and sociology both have an effect on sexual orientation. The question is how much each factor contributes, and in what way.

But doesn’t the notion of bisexuality naturally imply there is a choice?

After all, it is the ‘B’ in LGBT. If the term is recognized, then the ability to choose must also be recognized as an inherent part of that.

In the end, the fact that it might be a choice really should not matter.

Perhaps it is for some, it’s not for others. Bisexuality, and all sexuality, is a complex and individualized thing.

Karin Klein sheds some common sense on the matter in Los Angeles Times article, “How Cynthia Nixon’s “gay by choice” might play in court” saying: “The complicated, perhaps never-knowable question of precisely how people come to be different from each other is a small one compared with the question of why there seems to be so much determination to deprive some of those people of basic rights that in no way harm other people.”

This is the opinion of Amanda Kotch, a sophomore art history major from Huntington Beach, Calif.

Please send comments to akotch@theloyolan.com.

www.laloyolan.com

Have an opinion? Want to write about it?

Contact Opinion Editor Kim Tran at ktran@theloyolan.com

Loyola Marymount University

Loyolan Staff

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 Devin Sixt Jay Lee Casey Kidwell Thomas Finnigan Kirsten Dornbush Michael Giuntini Jennifer Bruner Andrew Sabatine Amber Yin Erin Mallea Isabella Cunningham Brianna Schachtell Tom Nelson

Loyolan Editorial Policy

Editor in Chief Managing Editor Public Editor Assistant Managing Editor Incoming Editor in Chief News Editor Assistant News Editor Assistant News Editor Assistant News Editor News Intern Opinion Editor Assistant Opinion Editor Assistant Opinion Editor Opinion Intern A&E Editor Assistant A&E Editor Assistant A&E Editor Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Design Editor Design Specialist Cartoon Editor Multimedia Intern Multimedia Intern Photo Editor Assistant Photo Editor Assistant Online Editor Online Intern Business Director Assistant Business Director Assistant Business Director Business Intern Director of Marketing Ad Sales Representative Ad Designer Advertising Intern Advertising Intern Director of Student Media

The Los Angeles Loyolan, a studentrun campus organization, publishes a twice weekly newspaper for the greater LMU community. The first copy is free of charge. Additional copies are $1 each. Paid, mailed subscriptions can be purchased through the Business department.

The Loyolan accepts unsolicited letters from students, faculty, staff and alumni, and press releases from oncampus and off-campus organizations, but cannot guarantee publication.

The Loyolan reserves the right to edit or reject all submissions, including advertisements, articles or other contributions it deems objectionable.

The Loyolan does not print consecutive articles by the same author that repeat/refute the initial arguments.

Opinions and ideas expressed in the Loyolan are those of individual authors, artists and student editors and are not those of Loyola Marymount University, its Board of Trustees, its student body or of newspaper advertisers. Board Editorials are unsigned and reflect the opinions of the Executive Editorial Board. Guest editorials are by invitation of the Executive Editorial Board and reflect the views of the author.

All advertisements are subject to the current rates and policies in the most recent Advertising Rates and Information materials.

The Los Angeles Loyolan is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the California College Media Association.

Arts & Entertainment Film, Literature, Music, Restaurants and Theater

www.laloyolan.com

February 2, 2012 Page 11

A letter to Ryan Gosling, national treasure D

ear Ryan Gosling, I have a confession to make. As a major fan, it’s embarrassing for me to tell you, but I feel like being honest with you. After all, what’s a little awkward admission between imaginary friends like us?

Here’s the truth: I don’t like “The Notebook.”

More than It’s K-OK!

By Kevin O’Keeffe that, I don’t think you’re A&E Editor very good in it.

I know. As a fervent Gosling fanatic I should have been fanning myself over your heartthrob performance as Noah Calhoun. But I thought you were just OK. You had chemistry with your co-star and onetime girlfriend Rachel McAdams, yes, but it was definitely less than your best.

But that’s all in the past!

You’re back now with incredible performances in movies such as “Drive” and “The Ides of March,” and you were smoldering and stellar in equal measure in “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” You’ve captured the hearts of the nation and the attention of critics who hold you up as the actor of your generation.

It’s so funny to think of you as the boy who was in the “Mickey Mouse Club” revival as a mouseketeer. You’ve risen above the exploits of your co-stars Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears, both of whom haven’t quite had the careers we expected. You’ve become a massive star

with one of your most morally ambiguous roles – Stephen Meyers in “The Ides of March.” It’s not easy to make politics sexy, but you succeeded.

For me, the role that I’ll hold dear to my heart is your performance as Driver in “Drive.” An absolute knockout, you were especially impressive with sparse language and a towering presence. You sold the romance with Carey Mulligan and the violence against the gangsters with equal talent. Every movement was a well-choreographed dance of power. It sealed the deal – you clearly had the talent to fit the devastating movie star looks.

You’re so much more than your performances, too! You’re an Internet sensation with plenty of blogs dedicated to your image. You set the media world on fire when you broke up a street brawl and it was captured on video. You’re wanted by many, adored by most – what more could a man want?

You’re standing at the edge of your career – on one side, sevAssociated Press eral devastatingly good perforActor Ryan Gosling (pictured above in “The Ides of March”) rose to prominence in 2011 with roles in “Drive” and mances; on the other, a future of success and fame. You’re des“Crazy, Stupid, Love.” His public persona and film career both caught fire thanks to his charisma and talent. tined to be not only a heartthrob, in your own right, an A-lister in love with a sex doll. In a role tine.” Your performance as Dean but a legendary actor, and I have who set Twitter aflame with the that could have been downright Periera felt lived-in and was tru- no doubt that you can live up to mere notice that you wouldn’t be creepy in the wrong hands, you ly arresting. Your chemistry with your promise. attending the Golden Globes. were charming and wonderful.

Michelle Williams was magnetic, Let’s just agree to disagree on Personally, my love for you Unfortunately, a dark period both attracting and repelling. that performance in “The Notestarted with your performance in soon fell upon us, and you wait- Your total willingness to commit book.”

“Half Nelson.” Your only Oscar- ed for almost three years before to the role was impressive. I was Love, nominated performance stands gracing us with your on-screen smitten with your talent. as one of your best – as drug presence once again. We were Then came the triple play of addict and junior high teacher forced to rely upon a lesser Ryan 2011. You turned America on as Dan Dunne, you were deeply af- (Reynolds, that is) to fuel our na- the suave ladykiller who is brofecting, with real gravitas and tion’s collective need for a heart- ken by Emma Stone in “Crazy, This is the opinion of Kevin O’Keeffe, a humanity. You only kept that roll throb.

Stupid, Love.” You fit the role sophomore screenwriting major from going with “Lars and the Real The drought ended when just as well as your suits fit you Austin, Texas. Please send comments Girl” as Lars Lindstrom, a man you gifted us with “Blue Valen- – perfectly. You followed it up to kokeeffe@theloyolan.com.

| 2012 Loyolan |

| BOBBLEHEAD | | giveaway |

lmu.edu

Get your own Iggy Bobblehead at GERSTEN PAVILION FEB. 2 7:30 p.m. at the LMU v. Pepperdine Game Los Angeles

OYOLAN

Arts & Entertainment

www.laloyolan.com

February 2, 2012 Page 13

Vaudeville roots inform professor’s art show Faculty Q&A

By Khayla Golucke Staff Writer

P

rofessor Rubén Martínez is a man of many talents and interests. As the Fletcher Jones Chair in Literature and Writing in the English department, he not only teaches interdisciplinary classes and non-fiction writing workshops, but also works to create symposia and graduate seminars. On top of all his work for LMU, Martínez has a growing presence in the Los Angeles art community, his hometown. He recently premiered his own variety show, “Variedades,” last year during a residency in Echo Park involving over 30 local artists, actors, musicians and poets. The subject of the show even prompted National Public Radio to interview him recently regarding the drug war in Mexico and its presence in the arts, as well as

Rubén Martínez

its relevance to his own production.

Staff writer Khayla Golucke talks with Martínez more about the show and how he became involved in the arts while working at LMU. Khayla Golucke (KG): What kind of education do you have in writing and the arts?

Rubén Martínez (RM): “I am what they call an autodidact, or selftaught person. I went to UCLA and Santa Monica College very briefly, but when I graduated high school there was a civil war going on in my mother’s home country, El Salvador. So it was very difficult for me to imagine myself in school while this evil was going on in a country I had spent a lot of time in when I was a child. I was already writing and I

Rubén Martínez

Martínez teaches interdisciplinary and writing classes at LMU. He is involved with the L.A. arts scene with his show “Variedades.” knew I wanted to be a writer, so instead of going to school I just wrote everywhere.”

KG: How did you first develop that interest in writing?

RM: “I have always performed.

As an artist, I started doing poetry readings and spoken word when I was very young. Then I worked in performance art, theater and oneman show type of stuff. The deep roots of it are my grandparents. They were musicians who played Mexican folk music and opera, so when I was a kid, my imagination was swept up with the idea of being on stage and playing music. Also, my mother was a poet, and my father was in the film business, so I just grew up in a family where the idea of performing and the arts was very strong.”

KG: Where did the idea for “Variedades” come from?

RM: “‘Variedades literally translates to ‘varieties,’ so it is essentially a variety show with its roots in vaudeville. My grandparents were in Mexican vaudeville in Los Angeles in the 1930’s, and when I was a kid they had a huge scrapbook of playbooks, photographs and other memorabilia of their time performing in the theaters downtown, so that genre is something I always gravitated towards. I’ve also worked in a lot of different media. I’m a musician, writer, journalist, teacher and critic, and I was looking for a way to wear all those different hats on stage. ‘Variedades’ was what I came up with.”

KG: What is the show essentially about?

RM: “Well, the theme changes.

There’s always a subtitle to ‘Variedades.’ The first one was called ‘The Road to Los Angeles, and the artists told how they or their families came

to L.A. through music, poetry and conversation about immigration.

Other issues we have done are the drug war, anarchism and its roots in L.A., and L.A.’s connection to the desert, which is a lot like the class I teach at LMU.” KG: How did you decide on the theme for each show?

RM: “It’s all very subjective and influenced heavily by my own experiences and interests. My grandparents and I are immigrants who lived in the desert, so the show we did about immigrants was totally personal. They also rubbed up against the radical political history in L.A. in the 1900’s themselves, and that influenced the anarchism show. The drug war theme was political as well as personal, since I’m a recovering addict, and there is a drug war in Mexico. As a Mexican-American, I feel like I can’t deny my responsibility as an American citizen to speak out about how drug consumption here is affected by the drug violence over there.”

KG: What is your role in the performance?

RM: “I’m the host. I give a monologue, and I have a band, then I introduce each act and perform my own material, like songs or spoken word in the show at some point. We also collaborate within the show between artists. For example, a band will play a groove while someone does spoken word.”

Martinez will be taking “Variedades” to Stanford, Calif. in the spring, Mexico City in the summer and to larger stages in L.A. in the fall. His book on living in the desert, titled “Desert America,” will be released in June 2012.

John P. Daly, S.J. Summer Scholarships for Cultural Immersion Study in Korea June 23—July 7, 2012

Find out how you can go!

Information Session Thursday, February 2 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Hilton 302 Application Deadline February 10, 2012 Center for Asian Business College of Business Administration Phone (310) 338-7594 / Website: http://cba.lmu.edu/cab

WeHo vegan fare underwhelms Green Leaves T Vegan here are certain foods from your childhood that you have a level of affection for simply out of nostalgia, not any actual gastronomical pleasure. Things I would count in this category are ketchup, grilled cheese sandwiches made with Kraft American Cheese (shudder) and scrambled eggs. The latter is something I only half-heartedly miss, but not enough to Veggie actually try Ventures 2.0 vegan-izing

By Luisa Barron any egg dishes myself.

Asst. A&E Editor So upon seeing an all-day breakfast section on the menu at Green Leaves Vegan, a little restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd. in the middle of West Hollywood, I went for it. The menu has a wide variety of burritos, tofu scrambles, appetizers, soups, salads, wraps and burgers. I ordered the organic, gluten-free pancakes with a tofu scramble topped with soy bacon bits and soy cheese. At under $8 for a full plate of food, it was a decent price.

Unfortunately, it’s a sit-down restaurant rather than a take-out, casual place. Although I’m one to think that the only time it’s acceptable to make you sit and wait for your food, as well as tip your waiter, is when there’s also a fully

8351 Santa Monica Blvd.

West Hollywood, CA 90069 Hours: Open daily 11:00 a.m. – midnight

easy part – I could easily trick my cousins into eating vegan pancakes as long as they didn’t watch me cook them.

The tricky part? Fake eggs.

Giving this tofu scramble a quick glance, I couldn’t quite tell the difference – but then I took a bite. It was a pleasant enough consistency – chewy and egg-y. There were some spices and veggies thrown in there for good measure, along with a small hunk of soy cheese. To be honest, the tofu and soy cheese on my plate were probably among the other things (like tempeh bacon and fake chicken cutlets) that are stocked in one particular part of the refrigerated section at Whole Foods which I always feel compelled to stop and look at, but have never actually bought. I know and accept that I’m not a good enough chef to deal with ingredients like those – plus they honestly look gross in the packaging – but I’ll try other people’s attempts at cooking with

Luisa Barron | Loyolan

The pancake plate came with a big tofu scramble with soy cheese and soy bacon bits, as well as a non-dairy butter flower to adorn the plate. stocked bar, I went with it. So while I waited, I ruminated on why some vegan places insist on touting their ridiculous spelling of “eggs” and “cheese” as “egz” and “cheeze.” If there was anything to ever knock me out of this vegan experiment, horrible misspellings would probably be it.

The food arrived promptly. My first impression was this: My cousins would probably think this is gross. That is to say, it’s the kind of food you come to expect once you start going vegan, but a meatdevouring Texan would probably not approve.

The pancakes looked perfectly acceptable. In fact, the non-dairy butter came in an adorable flower shape. (Hey, it’s all about the little things.) The pancakes were light and fluffy, and the pair of mediumsized ones was a perfect portion.

Then again, the pancakes were the

them.

I was definitely satisfied by the meal but not astounded in any capacity. The bacon bits gave me a bit of a shudder because of their unnatural pink color and saltiness.

But since eggs are really only a protein-packed vehicle for other flavors, I didn’t miss the real thing much at all.

Green Leaves Vegan is the sort of place I’d go to if my friends wanted to grab a bite down the street and there were no other options for me.

While it’s decently priced with good food for vegans, I’m not sure it’s the kind of place that would appeal to people who typically eat meat and dairy. Namely, my cousins, and probably you.

This is the opinion of Luisa Barron, a junior screenwriting major and philosophy minor from Houston, Texas. Please send comments to lbarron@theloyolan.com.

For the Record In the Jan. 30 article “Lights in the Sky: a band of brothers,” Jonathan Farrar was mistakenly referred to as a sophomore. He is actually a senior.

February 2, 2012 Page 14

Arts & Entertainment

www.laloyolan.com

Online shopping for beginners Y

ou know you have a million and one homework assignments you should be doing, but instead you are on the computer hoping something will catch your eye to help you better procrastinate. For some, that diversion is Fisching for F a c e b o o k ; others, it is Sense Hulu; and

By Jackie Fischer for me it is A&E Asst. Editor online shopping.

I don’t know what makes the concept of being able to go online and shop so appealing.

Maybe the fact that I have no form of transportation to go … anywhere, or maybe it’s that I don’t have to move out of my bed to spend enough money to make me only able to eat at The Lair until my next paycheck comes.

Whatever the case, it’s always a good distraction from doing more important things.

But, as fun as online shopping may be, the chance of ending up loving everything purchased tends to be low. Not just because the model wore it a heck of a lot better than it’s looking on me in the mirror right now, but because it’s too tight here or too loose there, with too much fabric on the side. We’ve all had those moments of sheer regret for that purchase that was all wrong.

They key is to know what items should and shouldn’t be purchased online. For my family, the biggest issue with our online purchases is that when they don’t work out, we never find the time to return anything. So we are stuck with this heap of clothes that no one wants that are brand new, and we end up giving them to the Salvation Army. I have nothing against Salvation Army – it’s just the idea of buying something and then not using it that drives me crazy.

The article of clothing that’s most difficult to buy online is a good pair of pants. Unless you have bought the same pants previously, so you know how they fit, what they look like and your size, the chances that you will like your pant purchase are low. The key is to either stick to what you are familiar with, buy pants that are made of a stretchy material, or if you have the money, purchase two pairs for size reasons and hope that

one works out and return the other. (Big tip: Always, always, always check the inseam length because I can’t tell you how many times it has screwed me over because I am so short.)

If you still don’t understand the risk of buying pants online, think of it this way – buying pants online is like going on a blind date with someone your friend set you up with by showing you the hottest picture they could find of them on Facebook.

They could be gorgeous, and you could have a great time and start dating, but the chances of that are slim. That is like lucking out with picking out that perfect pair of pants online.

Other items can be just as challenging to pick out – for instance, shoes. There is hardly any trick for picking them out for men or women online. Steve Madden’s idea of a size eight shoe is not the same as Nike’s, or Sperry’s or Toms’. So, the best advice I have is to forget trying to buy shoes online unless you are 100 percent certain the shoe will fit because it is just too complicated.

There are some things that are really hard to go wrong with when shopping online, like jewelry and other accessories.

It’s really hard for a necklace or bracelet to look different on a person than in a photo, and unless you have an abnormallysized wrist or neck, you should be just fine. The same usually goes for shirts as well because of the limited amount of size options. If you are a small, you are usually a small everywhere in the same department, if you are a large, you are a large everywhere in the department. It’s pretty self-explanatory.

Shopping online has its perks, like not having to get out of bed to buy a new outfit or not having to waste gas on driving to the mall, but there are cons to this newer method of shopping.

Nothing will ever compare to getting dressed, going to the mall, hand selecting an item and trying it on at the store.

Procrastination might just be one of the leading causes for online shopping in college and a big reason for regretful purchases. Regardless, online shopping can be tricky, so make sure that your purchase is worth it before you waste the money on shipping for an item you just might return.

This is the opinion of Jackie Fischer, a freshman communication studies major from Sacramento, Calif. Please send comments to jfischer@theloyolan.com.

Check out “ROAd to the GoLD,” A&E Editor Kevin O’Keeffe’s blog about the Oscar Race!

Only at laloyolan.com!

www.laloyolan.com

Arts & Entertainment

Dance students explore their IMPULSE to move Dance Preview

By Raeesah Reese Staff Writer

I

MPULSE, described by its flyer ads as a “sudden, involuntary inclination prompting to action” is the driving concept behind the upcoming LMU dance program event. Students will have the chance to witness their peers express creativity through the art of dance when they come to the event in St. Robert’s Auditorium on Sunday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m.

The show is meant to encourage its dancers to embrace the “inclination [they] usually have in a sparking moment of creativity,” freshman dance major Kenzie Cochran said. Cochran will be dancing in freshman dance major Sean Chong-Umeda’s piece, titled “Home.” Umeda’s work is one of the many eclectic dance pieces that have been choreographed by students.

“The idea behind IMPULSE is that anybody can choreograph. Incoming freshmen, sophomores, juniors, graduating seniors – the door is open,” Cochran said.

Nineteen choreographers and 36 dancers have come together in rehearsals to create a show that will display several dance styles including contemporary, modern, jazz, hip hop and more. This is the greatest aspect of the event according to Cochran, as there is room for an “infinite amount of creativity.”

Sophomore dance major Grace Goodwin sought to push her creativity to greater heights when she took on the director’s role in the event, along with co-director Taylor Forsee, a senior dance major. Goodwin will perform in sophomore dance and history double major Rachel Benzing’s piece “Shout,” as well as sophomore dance and graphic

Loyolan Archives

Dancers from last year’s IMPULSE (above in rehearsal) gave their all in the program’s second year. This year’s participants hope to continue in that tradition. design major Jenny Soleto’s piece set to the song “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye. Forsee will perform a self-choreographed piece titled “Hopelessly Devoted.”

Goodwin will also get the chance to share her work when 11 sophomores dance to the song “Sweet Disposition” by The Temper Trap.

Her inspiration for the piece was the idea of personal freedom and understanding why people are afraid of showing who they truly are.

“The dance is high energy and athletic,” Goodwin said. “Throughout the piece, the dancers represent their individual moments of freedom through different movement motifs and partner work.”

The two student directors not only did work with fellow students to produce the show, but they also had the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Holly Johnston. A visiting

professor to LMU’s dance and theatre arts department, Johnson is also the artistic director of Ledges and Bones, a contemporary dance company based in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. She serves as the faculty facilitator and works closely with the students to ensure that the event will run smoothly.

She cherishes the process of preparing the work for an audience.

“It is incredibly important that students have a place to speak and be heard,” Johnston said.

While some may not know a lot about the art form, Johnston encourages all LMU students to attend. “They will find something powerful in a show that is full of surprises,” Johnston said.

Admission is free, but guests are encouraged to make a $5 donation that will go to Good Shepherd Center, a shelter for battered women and children.

February 2, 2012 Page 15

Sports

February 2, 2012 Page 16

www.laloyolan.com

Lions hoping to improve performance Women’s basketball looks to win consecutive games for the first time this season.

By Michael Goldsholl Asst. Managing Editor | Sports Editor It was over a month ago, but the memory still lingers in the minds of the Lions.

Having just forced the University of San Francisco (USF) Dons into a five-second violation with two seconds left, the women’s basketball team had one last attempt

to send the New Year ’s Eve game into overtime. The ball was inbounded to freshman forward Ashley Lovett, who was open under the basket, and she went up for a layup.

The shot attempt blocked, game over and the Dons left Gersten with a 61-59 victory.

“It’s on their mind,” said Head Coach Julie Wilhoit.

“They talk about it and relive it. They wanted to see it again, they wanted to watch the video again. My biggest suggestion is to not be so geeked up. … Keep it bal-

Standings

W. Bball

West Coast Conference Team No. 23 BYU No. 20 Gonzaga San Diego St. Mary’s Pepperdine LMU San Francisco Santa Clara Portland

WCC 8-1 8-1 6-2 7-3 5-4 2-7 2-7 1-7 1-8

Overall 20-3 19-3 15-5 16-7 10-10 6-15 4-18 8-13 8-15

anced and be confident. We have come so far since that game.”

“It’s definitely something that pops up,” said redshirt senior forward Courtney Collishaw. “You just have to realize that you’re going to make mistakes, and you have to learn from them. The game shouldn’t have been that close in the first place, so it didn’t comew down to that last shot.”

However, the Lions, who have won two of their last three West Coast Conference (WCC) games, have put that on the back burner and are focusing on what they need to do tonight to avoid a repeat of their last game against USF and capture their second consecutive road victory.

“We’re a different team at this point, offensively and defensively,” said Collishaw.

“We just have to take the game seriously and get after it. We’re building off of our last win, we just have to get it done.”

“I always think a good offense leads to good defense,” said Wilhoit. “We’ve been executing our offense better, and that’s because they are understanding it better. We just have to focus on what we’ve been doing well, which is executing our offense and playing good team defense.”

The Lions will focus on putting the stop on the Dons’ senior point guard Rheina Ale, who is averaging a team-high 14.1 points per game, while shooting 40.2 percent from deep.

“Their point guard is someone we have to focus on, and we’ll have to work on shutting down her as well as the inside,” said Collishaw.

“On top of that, switching on defense, help side defense.

Defense is the main factor.

When the defense is there, the offense always comes.”

The Lions are coming off of an eight-point win over the University of Portland on the road, in which redshirt junior forward Alex Cowling scored 30 points, and she sits in fourth place on the program’s all-time leading scor-

er list. She is currently 52 points behind former teammate Renahy Young (‘11), and is 152 points behind the all-time leader, Bryn Britton (‘02).

Despite Cowling’s success offensively, Wilhoit wants to see the Lions spread the wealth and get other players going offensively as well.

The Lions are tied with USF for sixth place in the WCC standings, as both teams come into the matchup with a 2-7 record. The game tips off tonight at 7: 30 p.m. in San Francisco, Calif.

Sports

www.laloyolan.com

February 2, 2012 Page 17

PCH rival Pepperdine comes to Gersten Men’s basketball looks for second straight home win in rivalry rematch.

By John Wilkinson Asst. Sports Editor When LMU beat the Pepperdine University Waves 68-58, on Jan. 12, it was an important victory for the men’s basketball program, not just because it was over a rival or moved the Lions to 3-1 in the early conference season, but also because it marked the first time since 1998 that

any LMU team had won a game in Pepperdine’s Firestone Fieldhouse.

The win in Malibu was part of a strong West Coast Conference (WCC) start for the Lions. Starting with a 5-3 record in the first half of the conference season, the Lions jumped into the top half of the WCC standings. After beating University of Portland 62-59 on Saturday night, the Lions are 6-3 in the WCC and 13-9 overall.

With the entire team healthy again after multiple early injuries, LMU is being led by four top players who all average in double digits. Redshirt senior Drew Viney is

Standings

M. Bball

West Coast Conference Team No. 18 Saint Mary’s No. 24 Gonzaga BYU LMU San Francisco San Diego Portland Pepperdine Santa Clara

WCC 10-0 7-1 6-3 6-3 5-5 3-6 2-7 2-8 0-8

Overall 21-2 17-3 18-6 13-9 15-9 8-13 5-17 8-13 8-13

a team leader in both scoring and rebounding at 15.9 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore point guard Anthony Ireland scores over 15 points per game as well, while redshirt juniors Ashley Hamilton and Jarred DuBois are averaging 12.3 and 10.6 points per game respectively. Hamilton also adds 5.3 rebounds per game as well.

“We’re working to earn respect in this league,” Hamilton said. “We have to keep winning games and keep showing that we are a top team.”

Pepperdine, sitting at 2-8 in the WCC and 8-13 overall, is currently second to last in the conference standings.

“Everyone in our league is tough.

I think our league has ascended to the point where there’s no sure wins.

That’s why you play the game,” LMU Head Coach Max Good said. “There are no sure wins in this league, you better show up … every team has to get your upmost respect.”

The Waves are strong on the boards, averaging 3.2 more rebounds per game than their opponents. Part of the Lions’ success in Malibu was winning the rebounding battle 41-40.

“We’ve got to keep them off the boards more,” Good said. “You can’t defend and hope the other team misses; you’ve got to make them miss. Then when we secured rebounds and got our running going, we were much more comfortable.”

Despite controlling the glass in the first meeting, the Lions, on average, are not as strong on the boards as the Waves. LMU averages just the slightest edge over its opponents, pulling down 36 rebounds to opponents’ 35.9 per game. “We are very quick and fast. We don’t stand tall

Kevin Laughlin | Loyolan

Redshirt senior Drew Viney (pictured last Saturday against Portland) had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds when LMU beat Pepperdine by 10 points on the road earlier this season. in stature, and we aren’t necessarily that bulky,” Good said.

Pepperdine’s leading scorer is Taylor Darby, the only Wave averaging in double digits at 11.9 points per game. Second-leading scorer Corbin Moore adds 9.7 points per game while also being the team’s leading rebounder at 8.5 boards per contest.

Saturday’s win over the Pilots was the Lions’ first WCC win at home after losing their first three to WCC leaders St. Mary’s College, Gonzaga University and Brigham Young University. LMU is 6-7 overall at home this season.

“We’ve got to find a way to be con-

sistently good at home,” Good said.

This week, LMU was selected to play in another nationally televised game on ESPNU. Part of the Sears BracketBusters series, LMU will host Valparaiso University on Friday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.

Tonight’s game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Prime Ticket. LMU’s current four-game homestand will conclude on Saturday when the Lions host the San Francisco Dons at 7 p.m.

“We’re not scared of anybody,” Viney said. “We’ll go into any game on any night ... and we’ll play anybody and play hard.”

W. Tennis from page 20

the Lions before West Coast Conference (WCC) play starts in March. Just in the next two days, LMU takes on the No. 4 UCLA Bruins at the Los Angeles Tennis Center today at 1:30 p.m. before returning home to host No. 44 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Friday at the LMU Tennis Center at 1:30 p.m.

“They’re both ranked and have both already achieved a high level of success in their past and currently to start their seasons, so we’re in a situation where we are playing the best possible teams,” Sanchez said. “We are doing this in order to test ourselves, and being at the beginning of the season, we want to go out and be competitive.”

Sophomore Maya Jin added, “We’ve been practicing really hard lately. We have some injuries now, so the [players] are resting, but we hope to be healthy and ready for the competition.”

As the Lions continue battling during their stretch of non-conference play, both Pironkova and Sanchez believe the new mix of players can compete at a highly competitive level.

“We are playing really competitively,” Pironkova said.

“We haven’t won a match yet, but I think the girls are drawing conclusions after each match, and hopefully next time we aren’t going to make the same mistakes.”

“If we’re competitive then that means we are in a situation to win,” Sanchez added. “Win points, then win games, then win sets, then the match.”

Lions lose four, gain confidence thing and that was to win it,” Sanchez said. “In order to win it you have to be competitive, and those were the stages we were trying to set, and unfortunately, the stage that we did set we didn’t finish the way we wanted to.”

The sole match win for the team came at the No. 5 singles spot, where senior Elisaveta Pironkova battled to a 6-1, 5-7, 10-7 victory over Klaudia Malenovska. Junior April Bisharat and senior Ashley Anderson dropped similarly tough matches at the No. 1 and No. 3 singles spots respectively, with Bisharat losing 10-5 and Anderson 10-8 in third set tiebreaks.

“The girl I played was just trying to put the ball back, and my game is a lot more aggressive, so I tried to finish the balls as early as possible,” Pironkova said.

Sanchez was also happy with Bisharat’s competitive performance, coming into the season as a member of the 2011 All-WCC First Team Singles team and All-WCC second team for doubles. “[Bisharat] just started to establish her role, and I think she came to the surface to where she showed a little bit of what she’s potentially destined to be historically here as a member of the women’s tennis program,” Sanchez said. “So we’re looking forward to her doing the same and actually better than last year.”

However, this will not be the only ranked contest for

February 2, 2012 Page 18

Sports

www.laloyolan.com

Rivalry should produce huge home effort

Pepperdine matchup tests Lions on the court and fan support in the stands.

T

here was no need for anyone to worry about the men’s basketball team failing to pick up a home West Coast Conference (WCC) win in its first three chances. The three losses came against the three teams that were favored to be the conf e r e n c e ’s elite when the season began: Brigham Wilks World Young UniBy John Wilkinson v e r s i t y, Gonzaga Asst. Sports Editor University and St. Mary’s College. The Lions knew, and their fans should have known as well, that while they competed hard in those games and had chances to win, there should be no shame or distress in the early 0-3 WCC home record.

That doesn’t mean it wasn’t nice to finally get that first home “W” against University of Portland on Saturday night. LMU knew it needed a win in front of its home fans, not so much for the team’s confidence, but to earn the confidence of its fans.

Even if it wasn’t a cause for concern at the time, a loss to Portland would have allowed doubt to creep in. Instead, LMU went out and put a stop to the skid, doing what a good team does: taking care of business at home.

With the monkey off its back, the focus for the Lions now turns to stringing together a home winning streak on the back half of this four-game homestand. If the Lions could be 3-3 at home by the end of this weekend, it would put them in a strong position at 8-3 in league play.

Part of defending your homecourt comes from a strong sense of pride and confidence at home.

The Lions have credited part of their success on the road (5-0 in WCC road games) to an all-for-one or us-against-the-world mentality that they take on when they are isolated away from home. That is great, and it shows a strong focus and competitive edge this team has developed, but now it is time for the Lions to start feeling that way at Gersten Pavilion.

After the 5-0 start in road WCC games, LMU Head Coach Max Good called one of the team’s strengths on the road a “bunker mentality.” In these next two games, LMU fans need to make Gersten Pavilion a bunker of its own, one where the Lions feel confident and visitors shouldn’t expect to leave with a victory. A few weeks ago, LMU went into Pepperdine’s gym, a place no LMU squad had won since 1998, and picked up a 68-58 victory. You can bet that the Waves would love to get revenge on their rival’s home floor.

Sure, I get it, it’s a 7:30 p.m. tipoff on a Thursday night; you probably want to go out and party, enjoy your college experience. Of course L.A. comes with a million things to explore and experience when going out, but what is a truer college experience than cheering on a sports team? If you want to “pregame” something on a Thursday night, how about you make it an actual

game. For every kid that wore a sweatshirt of his or her hometown college sports team or rooted for USC football, this is your chance to get excited for a rivalry game and get behind a competitor. If you have ever whined about LMU’s lackluster sports, you need to be at this game or find something else to complain about.

Hell, if the whole school spirit thing isn’t enough for you, you’ll get a free Iggy the Lion bobblehead and “#GOLIONS” Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Cup T-shirt. Even with my strong aversion to any use of hashtags in non-Twitter context, that is a pretty good haul of free stuff for any college kid.

I do not mean this to be an attack on the LMU fans. Support has been much better this year with Gersten, at times, rocking in a way not familiar to many of us.

“We want to win at home, we want to win at home for the fans.

The fans have been coming out to the games, they’ve been awesome,” Ashley Hamilton said leading up to the game against Portland.

However, at times, crowds have been subpar at critical moments.

Sure, Pepperdine may be in second to last place in the conference, but it is a critical rivalry game, and there is no room for a more than halfempty house at tipoff like there was when nationally-ranked St. Mary’s College visited. All I’m trying to impress on you is that if ever there was a time to support this team as fervently as possible, it’s now.

The tired phrase goes that you can throw out the records when rivals meet, but for all of its overuse, there is a reason people keep saying it. Rivalries are one of the best things about sports, giving every team a couple games charged with a little extra animosity and

passion. Of course there have been plenty of recent instances of rivalries gone too far. Xavier University and University of Cincinnati’s on-court brawl earlier this year demonstrated the worst of rivalries boiling over. Despite incidents like that, I firmly believe rivalries like the one shared between LMU and Pepperdine – animosity bred by proximity and history – are a healthy part of sports. The only

thing as disappointing as a rivalry gone too far is one with no teeth at all.

The game itself should have plenty of fireworks: a hungry Pepperdine team that sits in eighth place in the WCC, hoping to derail the momentum of rival LMU who has surprised many by hanging with the conference’s elite. Here’s to hoping that the environment tonight matches the game’s potential.

but they have tremendous talent. Look for them getting a significant amount of playing time.”

The Lions finished last season with a 26-9 record, 13-1 in conference, with the only loss coming to the Tritons in the championship game.

“We looked past our conference last year,” said Benedetti. “We have to take one day at a time and worry about our conference first before thinking about any goals after that.”

No one quarter was a weak spot for the Lions last season, outscoring their opponent in all four frames, and outscoring all of their opponents 396 to 256 overall.

The Lions are once again faced with a stacked schedule loaded with some of the nation’s top-ranked teams, including both the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country, Stanford University and UC Berkeley, respectively.

The Lions could not handle the top two teams from

the Bay Area in the California Speedo Invitational over the weekend, as the Lions lost to the Stanford Cardinal 17-2, but rebounded to play competitively in an 8-6 loss to the Golden Bears of UC Berkeley.

“Despite the tough loss against Stanford, I was very impressed with our team,” said Colton. “To be able to bounce back after that beat down and come back and hang with Cal [UC Berkeley], the whole game says a

lot about our team. I know we can play with anyone in the country.”

The Lions will have plenty of opportunities to play perennial powerhouses, facing UCLA, USC, UC Irvine and UC San Diego.

Even with the losses, the Lions find themselves with a 2-2 record, with wins over conference rival CSU Monterey Bay and a non-league match against PomonaPitzer with a combined score of 30-8.

Kevin Laughlin | Loyolan

With another televised game, LMU students have a chance to show their school spirit and support the confident basketball team.

Team chemistry better than ever Women’s Polo from Page 20

many on the team are learning to like.

“The team chemistry is unbelievable,” said Flacks. “The fact that everyone is working together is going to help us gel as a team.”

The Lions also added two freshmen who are likely to see significant playing time, even with all of the senior talent.

Colton said, “They are still trying to learn the system,

Loyolan Archives

Senior 2-meter All-American Kimberly Benedetti (pictured above in a game last year), led the Lions in goals last season with 64 and will be looked to as one of the primary leaders on the team this season.

Sports

www.laloyolan.com

Q1: Who is going to win the Super Bowl?

February 2, 2012 Page 19

Q2: Bill Belichick (NE) or Tom Coughlin (NYG)?

Patriots. I thought New York would upset Green Bay, but Belichick. In my opinion, he’s the best current MICHAEL GOLDSHOLL their Cinderella-run’s lifespan is going to fizzle sooner MICHAEL GOLDSHOLL coach in all of American professional sports.

ASST. MANAGING EDITOR ASST. MANAGING EDITOR Spygate or not, he’s a winner. rather than later.

Coughlin did more with less, taking a team that needed a As a San Francisco 49ers fan, I would pick anyone to NATHAN DINES NATHAN DINES Week 16 win and victories over the NFC’s top two teams beat the Giants at this point, no matter how much I ASST. SPORTS EDITOR ASST. SPORTS EDITOR for a surprising rematch of the epic 2007 Super Bowl. detest the Patriots.

The New York Football Giants, just because everyone Bill Belichick all the way. He knows all the best spy DAN RAFFETY else is going with the Pats. 27-23 Giants. equipment out there, and he’s not afraid to use it.

DAN RAFFETY ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

JOHN WILKINSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Patriots. Boston has had too much recent success, but I JOHN WILKINSON don't think that the Giants' great pass rush will be ASST. SPORTS EDITOR enough to slow down a determined Tom Brady.

Q3: Tom Brady or Eli Manning?

Belichick. Him and his cutoff hoodies creep me out, and he may have tried to cheat before, but I know better than to doubt Belichick. Coughlin seems to get his guys pumped for the playoffs, but he's not inspiring confidence in me.

Q4: Are the Patriots and Giants the two best teams in the NFL?

On paper, no. Green Bay and New Orleans were both better Brady. There is no one better than Tom Terrific in MICHAEL GOLDSHOLL pressure-cooker situations. If you hate him, you’re MICHAEL GOLDSHOLL in that respect. When it comes down to coaching and experiASST. MANAGING EDITOR ASST. MANAGING EDITOR ence, there’s no one better than the Pats and the Giants. just in denial.

Even with a banged-up Gronkowski, you cannot doubleHands down, the 49ers should be in the Super Bowl this NATHAN DINES NATHAN DINES team all of Brady’s offensive threats, and I would take year.

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Brady over Manning any day of the week.

Hell no. Pats had one of the worst defenses, and the Eli has 15 fourth-quarter touchdowns; Brady is a DAN RAFFETY DAN RAFFETY Giants sucked for a large portion of the season, but here future Hall-of-Famer. Edge goes to the man married ASST. SPORTS EDITOR ASST. SPORTS EDITOR they are. to a supermodel.

JOHN WILKINSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Brady. I have gained a lot of respect for Eli this year with stats that challenge those of his brother, but I can't see him knocking off Brady and the Pats again.

JOHN WILKINSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

No. That's not a bad thing, it's just how playoffs work.

Any good team can beat another good team when it's all on the line.

Cheer works on campus image Cheer from Page 20 and a lot of thought and time goes into making them. “We have to hit all the aspects of competition. … Stunting is very important, and based on how much skill we have, it’s not necessarily the most difficult [stunts], but the most clean,” said Ahn. “We also need to dance, have formation changes, level changes and small bits of tumbling. Transitions are a huge part. … The final aspect is to put out a solid cheer with pompoms and signs.”

During practices, the squad typically works on refining their skills. “We aren’t working on anything specific, just all around,” said Gray. “There is always room for improvement.”

Outside of practices, the cheer team is working on something even more important to them than their skills: their reputation.

“I think [the LMU community] doesn’t see us as athletes in general. They see us as part of the band and spirit squad, but I think that is a huge misconception,” Gray said.

“We really do work hard to earn a spot on the team. We do more than stand on the sidelines — we’re athletes. We have study hall, we do weights, we have the game aspect and the competitive cheer. Most people think games are all [we do]. Basketball games are just practices for us,” said Stadell.

When asked if she thought the squad should have more opportunities to perform, the opinions are split. “[I] 100 percent agree,” said Gray. “This year and last year are transition years to become more competitive.”

Ahn was on the other end of

the spectrum. “For cheerleaders, you have to understand it is not necessary to compete, but to add atmosphere to the games. …

We already have a good foundation. … There are only like three or four competitions throughout the country, and you don’t want to go to competitions when our goal is to be there for our women’s and men’s basketball teams,” she said.

Off the mats, the cheer team spends a lot of time together having fun. “We do dinners and hangouts outside of cheer. This is the closest team we have had so far,” said Stadell.

In addition, cheer does community service. “We try to do service like Relay for Life and cheering at the Think Pink 5K. We like to do [service] with the athletic community, like beach cleanups and Midnight Mission on Skid Row,” said Gray.

As the team continues to become more competitive, they are hoping that the tryouts for the 2012-13 cheer squad will bring in strong team members.

“You have to be able to do a standing back handspring … there are bases, top girls and back spots and we try to take ‘x’ amount of each based on skill level and tumbling ability,” said Ahn. In addition, the captains are looking for people who can blend with the rest of the members. “[We] definitely want someone who is well-rounded in cheer, stunting, tumbling, dancing, someone who is a leader, good showmanship and positive attitude,” said Stadell.

The members of LMU cheerleading are working to demolish the stereotypes of cheerleading and to become more than just the spirit team on the sidelines.

www.laloyolan.com

Lion Sports

The secret life of LMU cheerleaders

Tennis ready for competiton The women’s tennis team prepares for a challenging season of non-conference and WCC play.

SPORTS FEATURE

The LMU cheer team wants to prove it’s more than just a stereotypical spirit squad.

By Nathan Dines Asst. Sports Editor

By Emily Wallace Copy Editor We see them at Madness and basketball games. They pump up the spirit at games and then seem to just disappear. Like most things in life, there is a lot more to the LMU cheerleading squad than the majority of the school thinks. Stereotypical conclusions are drawn about cheerleading, and LMU’s squad wants to shatter these misconceptions. As the squad works to increase skill level and decrease cheerleading fallacies, the members are hard at work each week.

So what does the 19-person squad do when they aren’t at basketball games?

“We practice three times a week and do weight training two times a week,” said junior Co-Captain Kelsey Gray.

“As we get closer to competition, we practice more.”

The competition Gray is speaking of is the USA Nationals for cheerleading, which takes place in March. It’s a twoday competition that begins with preliminary rounds and ends with finals. “[Kelsey’s and my] freshman year, we got third [at USA Nationals] and then last year, we did a stunt group that I was involved with, and we got second,” said junior Co-Caption Nicole Stadell.

As skilled as the squad is, not all of the members have cheerleading backgrounds. “All of us were either cheerleaders or gymnasts, but there is a surprising number of people that didn’t do cheer until college,” said Stadell.

Creating routines for the USA Nationals is up to Head Coach Brian Ahn,

February 2, 2012 Page 20

Associated Press

Super Bowl stage set for 2008 rematch Tom Brady (left) and Eli Manning (right) will square off in Sunday’s Super Bowl game as the New England Patriots look to avenge their 2008 championship loss to the New York Giants. To see the Loyolan Sports editors’ thoughts on the matchup, turn to Page 19.

See Cheer | Page 19

The game of tennis is as much physical as it is a test of mental fortitude. With that in mind, the graduation of four seniors from the 2011 women’s tennis team could have caused major problems for this season. However, the team, featuring a mix of returners, five freshmen and the leadership of a veteran head coach entering his 37th season, is ready for the challenge.

“We have a nucleus of some new players, some returning players, basically some players that need to get to know each other and get behind each other,” said Head Coach Jamie Sanchez. “We need to establish our own identity, and basically, we are going to do that with every competition.”

The first true match test of the spring season came last Saturday as the Lions traveled to Rhodes Tennis Center in Long Beach, Calif. to take on No. 38 Long Beach State. Of the five freshmen that have helped transform the roster this year, three got the chance to play in Long Beach.

“We’ve got five freshmen, and out of those five freshmen … we’ve got quite a bit of talent,” Sanchez said.

“In our plan in regards to leading into competition, we’re just trying to get them so they are more comfortable and calm in those competitive situations.”

Despite the 6-1 loss, LMU kept the matches close, with three singles contests heading to a third-set tiebreak.

“When we went into the match, we were in the match to do only one

See W. Tennis | Page 17

Water polo ready for redemption With a revamped roster, the women’s water polo team strives to lead the conference.

By Dan Raffety Asst. Sports Editor The No. 11 LMU women’s water polo team is ready to get back in the water after a bitter defeat at the hands of UC San Diego (UCSD), who beat the Lions 13-11 in the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championship game last season.

This was the first time since 2008 that UCSD won the final conference game, and only the Tritons’ third conference championship win in the past 11 seasons.

The Lions return three All-Americans from last season’s roster — senior driver Casey Flacks, senior 2-meter Kimberly Benedetti and junior driver Erin Manke. These players provided not only much of the scoring, but leadership as well on last season’s team. They are expected to do the same with this year ’s squad that is trying to return to the top of the WWPA after a disappointing finish to a great last season.

Benedetti dominated the scoring column for the Lions last season, racking up 64 goals in 35 games. She did, however, take 110 shots on the year giving her a shooting percentage of .582. She also led the team last year with 90 kick outs.

“She finally has a supporting cast,” said Assistant Coach Cara Colton. “Because there are players around her that can shoot, she could get some more open looks than she has in the past.”

Flacks contributed to the Lions’ offensive attack, scoring 38 goals in 35 games and racked up a shooting percentage of just under 50 percent.

She also recorded 35 assists on the year and came second on the team in kick outs with 65.

Colton said, “Flacks is involved in every play. She outworks and outhustles everyone in the pool. She may not always lead the team in stats, but she is the one giving her all on every single play, and it really makes a difference.”

Manke is also returning to the team. She led the Lions in assists a year ago with 56 and was second on the team in field blocks with 13.

The Lions will also debut senior All-American utility transfer from CSU Northridge Whitney Delgado to the roster who helped the Matadors with 76 goals, 40 assists and 30 steals last season.

“She is a great shooter on the perimeter,” said Benedetti of Delgado.

“Not only does she have the physical tools, but she has the smarts to play high-level water polo.”

The Lions have some dramatic changes to this year ’s roster as opposed to last. They downsized their roster from 24 to 17, a move that

See Women’s Polo | Page 18

Loyolan Archives

The women’s water polo team looks to rebound after a 2011 championship match loss against UC San Diego. Despite losing two of their first four games, the Lions are currently No. 11 in the nation.