February 9, 2012

ESTABLISHED 1921 February 9, 2012 Volume 90, Issue 30 Your Home. Your Voice. Your Newspaper.

Loyola Marymount University

www.laloyolan.com

Recession influences collegiate motivation NEWS ANALYSIS

Students seek return on their college investment by landing well-paying jobs after graduation.

By Zaneta Pereira Asst. News Editor

Devin Sixt | Loyolan

Onion staffers make use of their First Amendment rights during FAW keynote Dan Mirk (left) and Joe Randazzo (right) delivered a presentation in the typical staricial style of The Onion last Tuesday night in Burns Back Court. The presentation included Onion headlines, video clips and commentary from both men as they drew upon their experiences to illustrate the importance of the First Amendment. For the full story and more photos, see Page 2.

Students able to view themselves as new race

Ethnic and Intercultural Services (EIS) brings the Human Race Machine to campus.

By Christopher James News Intern

Individuals in the University community have been given a new opportunity to put themselves in the shoes of others. The new Human Race Machine from Ethnic and Intercultural Services (EIS), available on the first floor of U-Hall outside the Lion’s Corner Cafe, enables anyone to sit and view a representation of themselves as different races, including African, Middle Eastern, Asian, Latino and others.

Sophomore modern languages major Farah Kerawala stepped inside the Human Race Machine and felt that it, “shows you that everyone is the same, just the color is different.

We should try to see each other in a different

perspective. We are all the human race.”

The participants enter the machine, sit in the chair and have the machine take a picture once his or her face is lined up in an oval that appears on the screen. Students are instructed to not show teeth or have hair covering their foreheads to ensure the best quality transformation. Once a picture has been decided on, a variety of race options are presented, so the student may select which race they would like to see themselves as. Besides changing the actual skin color of the student’s face, the machine also contorts the face to make it fit best with the new race it has been assigned.

The booth comes equipped with a share feature, so participants can broadcast their experience in the Human Race Machine. Features like these serve to further discussions about race and identity, as Lead Director of Ethnic and Intercultural Services, Maria Elisa Grandone said, “We want to spark

Food

See Race | Page 3

Abbey Nelson | Loyolan

Numerous students have taken a moment to try out the recently installed Human Race Machine in U-Hall, and Lead Director of EIS Maria Elisa Grandone reported that responses to the experience have been “excellent.”

TLC and LGBTSS will explore the “intersectionality” of various identities at “Leave it on the Floor.”

By Brigette Scobas Asst. News Editor

After being rained out on Tuesday, Food for Freedom has been rescheduled for today on Lawton Plaza outside the William H. Hannon Library.

Graphic: Dol-Anne Asiru | Loyolan

WHEN NUMBERS LIE

Opinion, Page 6

See Education | Page 5

Event to explore issues for Freedom of race and sexuality today

Students will have the opportunity to trade their First Amendment rights for free Fresh Brothers Pizza during Convo today as a part of the Loyolan’s 2012 First Amendment Week.

Asst. Opinion Editor Joseph Demes questions why Claremont McKenna College felt compelled to lie about SAT scores.

Why do students go to college? This question lies at the heart of UCLA’s “American Freshman” poll, which was released two weeks ago and demonstrates a key shift in the attitudes of undergraduates. On Jan. 26, 2012, the LA Times reported that, of the approximate 204,000 incoming freshmen at 270 four-year colleges and universities that were surveyed, “85.9 percent of first-year students across the country said that being able to land a good job is a very important reason for attending college.”

Tonight’s Black History Month event not only focuses on raising awareness of black history, but also on sexuality as it pertains to black culture. Co-organizers of “Leave it on the Floor” Anthony Garrison-Engbrecht, the director of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Student Services (LGBTSS) and OffCampus Student Life, and Ashley Patterson, the program coordinator of The Learning Community (TLC), are hoping Seaver 200

Index Classifieds.............................5 Opinion...............................6 A&E...................................9 Sports..............................16 The next issue of the Loyolan will be printed on Feb. 16, 2012.

will be filled tonight at 6 p.m.

According to Garrison-Engbrecht, the event is a collaboration and celebration of a unique culture.

“We’re not ever just one thing,” said Garrison-Engbrecht. “[The event] is not just talking about Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) issues … [but] what it is like to be a black gay man or black lesbian woman and how it affects your friends, family and how people interact with you. … There’s a huge intersection between race and sexuality.”

“We’ll highlight the concept of intersectionality,” said Patterson. According to Patterson and Garrison-Engbrecht, intersectionality, between sexuality and race will be referenced

See Identity | Page 5

HOCKEY HEADS TO VEGAS LMU’s club hockey team goes to the playoffs for the first time in conference history.

Sports, Page 16

February 9, 2012 Page 2

Keynote address ‘pushes the limits’ The Onion delivers the Loyolan’s First Amendment Week keynote address.

By Kasey Eggert Multimedia Intern

Over 100 students, faculty and guests picked up bobbleheads and T-shirts on their way into Burns Back Court Tuesday night for the Loyolan’s First Amendment Week keynote address featuring Editor Joe Randazzo and Senior Writer Dan Mirk of The Onion.

The Onion, self-proclaimed to be “America’s finest news source,” is known for its satirical news articles and videos. Randazzo and Mirk started off the presentation by giving a brief history of The Onion, chronicling the news source from its beginning as a print publication to its expansion into radio and video broadcasts. Mirk explained that The Onion was “like CNN, but good and on steroids.”

“We are pushing a limit on how far the limits can be pushed,” added Dan Mirk.

Randazzo and Mirk then delivered a slideshow of print articles and video clips from The Onion, with each collection focusing on the expression of a specific freedom protected under the First Amendment.

Photoshopped pictures and satirical headlines accompanied the articles shown in the presentation.

Randazzo and Mirk began their address by showing a slide that gave a definition of the First Amendment.

The Onion representatives added their own little twist at the end of the slide, adding after the naming of the freedom to petition, “which no one ever gives a s*** about, anyway.” The duo’s use of profanity continued throughout the presentation, a nod to one of their opening jokes, “The First Amendment lets you say whatever you want. So, f***.”

According to Mirk and Randazzo, The Onion consists of a group of writers that creates hundreds of headlines each week, and then votes on their favorite ones through five rounds of editing. Mirk and Randazzo stressed that they try to make a clear satirical point with each and every headline and story they run.

If an article targets a victim or simply is not funny, they will not publish the story.

“They weren’t trying to push the envelope to be outrageous, they tried to be on the right side of things and to make a point,” said junior business major and Loyolan Public Editor Angelica Cadiente. “I like the fact that they are able to connect to the reader in a humorous way in

News

topics that they feel strongly about.”

While Mirk, Randazzo and the other writers and editors at The Onion push the limits of their First Amendment rights, they clarified that not all types of speech are, in fact, protected. Treason, defamation, copyright violation, fighting words and false advertising are not protected, but under the umbrella of satire, The Onion is able to get away with a great deal.

Of the headlines presented in the speakers’ slideshow, “Justin Bieber found to be cleverly disguised 51-year-old pedophile,” “Victim in fatal car accident tragically not Glenn Beck” and “Taco Bell launches new ‘morning after’ burrito,” were met with the most laughter.

While much of what The Onion publishes is protected under the First Amendment, Mirk and Randazzo explained that some stories are occasionally met with the threat of legal action. For example, once The Onion wrote an article about Michael Bay, titled “CGI team creates realistic Oscar for Michael Bay.” Bay threatened to sue The Onion, and while the publication and famous director resolved that particular issue, The Onion later published another article titled “Michael Bay signs $50M deal to f*** up ‘ThunderCats.’”

After concluding their presentation, Mirk and Randazzo answered questions from the audience before Cadiente and senior English major and Loyolan Editor in Chief Kenzie O’Keefe concluded the evening.

“A lot a people thought The Onion’s take on the First Amendment was hilarious. I think a lot of people were really shocked by how blunt and sometimes crass some of the jokes were, but that shows the whole point of the First Amendment. People are entitled to free speech,” O’Keefe said.

“We had a good crowd come out, and everyone seemed to be enjoying the presentation and getting a lot out of it. I thought the speakers addressed the First Amendment really well. The work they do has such a natural tie to the First Amendment that I wasn’t worried about them not being able to make a connection,” said Cadiente.

“It seemed like all the people that showed up had a really good time and left knowing a lot more about the First Amendment. I considered The Onion a success when I looked out over the audience and I saw people enjoying. It made me feel like the outcome of their presentation was exactly what we hoped it would be,” said O’Keefe.

- Additional reporting by Margo Jasukaitis.

Devin Sixt | Loyolan

Attendees at Tuesday night’s First Amendment Week keynote address learned about the five rights protected under the First Amendment.

Albert Alvarado | Loyolan

The Loyolan’s Open Mic Night, which took place Monday night in The Living Room, kicked off First Amendment Week.

www.laloyolan.com

Correction

The Feb. 2 article“University’s retention rate remains above mean”incorrectly stated that Anthony Garrison-Engbrecht and the Office of Student Engagement, Retention and Transition coordinate LMU’s out-of-state retention efforts. The Office of First Year Experience and Engagement & Assessment Coordinator AJ LaPan actually do so.

Can you spot the mistakes?

Apply to be a Copy Editor for the Loyolan.

Contact Incoming Editor in Chief Adrien Jarvis at ajarvis@theloyolan.com.

www.laloyolan.com

News

February 9, 2012 Page 3

Race machine seeks to ‘spark conversation’ Race from Page 1

conversations all over campus.”

At the beginning of the session, the screen greets the user by saying we are all part of one race – the human race. When asked about the goal and message about the Human Race Machine, Grandone said, “Race is a social construct and depending on your ethnic and cultural heritage, your experiences would be different, but we are all a part of one race. The main goal is to start the conversation with our students about issues that

matter to them.”

The Human Race Machine will be available for use through Friday, Feb. 10, according to sophomore psychology major Anna Cho who works the EIS table next to the Human Race Machine.

EIS installed the machine with the intent to create a broad discussion about race from those who are not involved with the group’s regular events. “We have had empowerment sessions, cultural events and ethnic celebrations that are very well attended and valued by the LMU community,” said Grandone.

“We wanted to reach out to a group that may not participate in some of our discussions.

Taking a picture that changes your ethnicity is a way to start a conversation that might not have happened,” she said.

After using the feature, there is a sign-in list where users provide their name information, reactions, and the race that they actually identify with. An estimated “50 or more people a day ... use it,” said Cho. EIS has been receiving student reactions relating to the experience of using the Human Race Machine. “[The

response has been] excellent.

Many are very intrigued by the experience and have created the conversation about issues of race,” says Grandone.

EIS was not the only group involved in bringing the Human Race Machine to LMU’s campus. “ The Division of Student Affairs has strongly supported the event.

Under the division, we had the Ethnic and Intercultural Services Department in collaboration with Housing and Student Leadership and Development [helping out],” says Grandone “We are also thankful to the Office of Black Student Services, Intercultural Affairs and Academic Affairs for their support.”

News

February 9, 2012 Page 4

www.laloyolan.com

Kairos retreat calls students to go in with ‘an open mind’ A group of 35 students will depart to Lake Arrowhead on a retreat this weekend.

By Casey Kidwell Web Intern

Devin Sixt | Loyolan

This is the last issue for exiting Editor in Chief Kenzie O’Keefe who will miss the “constant contact with interesting people” while at the Loyolan.

11 Burning Questions with the Outgoing Loyolan Editor in Chief This issue, Incoming Editor In Chief Adrien Jarvis talks with Outgoing Editor in Chief and senior English major Kenzie O’Keefe about her experiences at the Loyolan.

1. How did you become involved with the Loyolan initially?

It was literally the first week of freshman year. I like to take pictures ... so I walked into the office with my SLR [camera], and told them I wanted to be a photographer. ... Within a few days, I was out shooting events as a Loyolan photographer.

2. What drew you to the position of Loyolan Editor In Chief (EIC)?

It was a long and tangled route toward becoming EIC. Initially, I got involved with the paper through photo, and it just got to a point where I loved the Loyolan so much that I was trying to become as involved as possible. I was taking on so many different responsibilities, so I guess I sort of emerged as a leader and found myself in the running for the position.

3. What’s the craziest moment that has happened to you while being EIC? I think the craziest one was last spring when I ran the LA Marathon on a Sunday morning in the pouring rain and then needed to go to Loyolan production for the usual eight hours afterwards. I got to production, started working, and the power went out. We tried to do the paper by the light of people’s cell phones. We were just waiting it out for the power to come back on, and eventually we had to call the paper for the night. I went home, got about five hours of sleep, got up, had to call the printer, figure out the business side of things and got the paper out a day late.

4. What is one thing that you know now that you wish you knew when you started?

I think the biggest thing is to always rise above the madness and to not sweat the little things. ... Journalism is nonstop and any time spent fixating on failure is time not spent proactively working toward the future.

5. What’s the most interesting interview you have ever done?

Just because of how powerful they were, my interviews with some of the veterans on campus following veteran student Clay Hunt’s death, were the most interesting.

6. What are your after-graduation plans?

I am flying to Maine on June 15 to begin a five-month hike of the Appalachian Trail. It is 2,100 miles from Maine to Georgia. I am doing it with my roommate Erin. We are going to be backpacking ... [and] walking about 12 miles a day for five months. We are in the process right now of looking for some type of grant to do an art project about the experience afterward.

7. What will you miss most about being EIC and working at the Loyolan?

What I think I will miss most is the constant contact with interesting people at the University and having the credentials to call anyone up to talk about situations. In terms of actually just being in the office, I think the people and constantly being involved in the discussions of what we are doing, where we want to go and how we are going to do that. ... When all is said and done, I wouldn’t be able to be here if I didn’t love it.

8. Who do you hope will play at College Fest?

Celine Dion ... because her showmanship can unite all sorts of people. You can’t not love Celine. Who doesn’t love her? I saw her in Vegas, and she did a duet with a hologram of herself. I would love to see that at College Fest.

It was ... magical.

9. Name three things no one knows about you.

I guess the one that I always use, so a lot of people might know about it now, is that I have two fake teeth. In high school, the extracurricular I was most involved with was musical theater. ... I wish I had a secret tattoo or something. [Editor’s note: O’Keefe could not think of a third thing.]

10. What’s the best snack you eat in the office consistently?

The snack I eat in the office the most is probably Bibimbap Bowls from Trader Joe’s. But mostly I just drink Folger’s [coffee] and constantly eat blueberry and chocolate chip muffins from The Lion’s Den. 11. How would you describe the Loyolan’s staff in one word?

Dedicated. ... I constantly am surprised at how willing people are to go so above and beyond of what is expected and what has been laid out for them in their job descriptions. We don’t have a journalism major here, the majority of people aren’t getting class credit or paid anywhere near [what they should be] for the work they are doing, yet even when people don’t have to be in the office, they are. Everyone keeps the paper in mind when they leave the office.

According to Scripture, the word “kairos” is the Greek term for “momentary time.”

Past LMU attendees and leaders, however, have explained “kairos” as “God’s time.” This weekend, Feb.1012, 35 retreatants, seven student leaders, a Jesuit, one staff member and Campus Minister for Outreach and Publication Christine Nangle, will experience their own weekend of God’s time.

This is the eighth Kairos Retreat at LMU, and Nangle’s sixth. “When it first started it was heavy recruitment, [but] now it fills up quickly,” said Nangle.

Though Kairos is religiously affiliated, Nangle emphasized that students do not need to be Catholic to attend.

“Kairos is based in Catholicism but [is] open to students of all faith backgrounds,” said Nangle. “I use language like ‘God’ and ‘Christ,’ but I tell the students to feel free to put in whatever name they use.”

Nangle prepares for each Kairos extensively with the help of student leaders. Out of 32 applicants this year, seven students were chosen.

“I am very intentional about selecting leaders from different organizations on campus so that every attendee can find at least one person they can relate to,” Nangle said.

One of the leaders for the upcoming retreat, junior psychology major Emily Sheppard, first experienced Kairos as a participant. “Kairos meets you where you’re at,” said Sheppard. “It allowed me to reflect on where I was in life at that time.”

Nangle added that there are “a few surprises along the way that help make the experience more beneficial,” including a switch in location

for each Kairos. This retreat will be in Lake Arrowhead at Pinecrest Christian Center.

“I try to be intentional about it having a beautiful chapel at the location,” said Nangle.

No matter the location, senior theology major Ray Camacho, who was a retreatant and is now a leader, feels that “Kairos tells you to shut up and listen.” He added that he was inspired to be a Kairos leader because “leading puts you at a point where you have to be an example.”

Previous Kairos Seven retreatant Miranda Ordonez, a

freshman business and dance double major and Jen DiVittorio, a Kairos leader and junior psychology major, both emphasized that Kairos participants should go in with an “open mind and no reservations.”

Nangle said that she hopes this weekend’s participants build a “better relationship with God, themselves and their peers,” during the retreat.

For students interested in participating in future Kairos events, contact Nangle at cnangle@lmu.edu.

All photos: Brigette Scobas | Loyolan

Previous Kairos leaders (top photo) and Staff Leader Adrian Cuevas of the Office of Annual Giving, sophomore studio arts major Gina Hirose and junior screenwriting major Lauren Gancayo (bottom photo) participated in the last Kairos Seven retreat in Pasadena, Calif.

News

www.laloyolan.com

February 9, 2012 Page 5

Success in the workplace key goal for freshmen Education from Page 1 As noted in the article, this is “the strongest response to that question in the 40 years it has been asked and is sharply higher than the 70.4 percent reply in 2006, before the recession began.”

Indeed, the recession is often highlighted as a key motivator for students to enroll in college. Students pursue an undergraduate degree in order to be more competitive in the job market.

This is the case for freshman business and economics double major Caitlin Dickson, who stated that her hope is that college will teach her the skills she’ll need to “succeed in the workplace.”

For Eric Young, the director of Recruiting and Student Outreach at LMU’s School of Education, the recession may also factor in students’ goals considering the increasing cost of higher education. This may shift the focus of college from learning to earning. With the inflation rate for higher

education rising far above the general rate of inflation, Young explained that, “It’s getting really expensive to go to college and ultimately people are looking for a return on that investment. You have to borrow all this money, and the practical reality is how are you going to pay it back?”

Bryce Mason, director of Institutional Research at LMU, offered insight into this issue revealing that, “In line with the Census Bureau’s most recent 21 percent national estimate of the proportion of 25-29-year-oldbaccalaureate earners who also held a master ’s or higher, a recent study of similarly aged LMU baccalaureate graduates showed about 22 percent had earned advanced degrees.” The remaining 78 percent, therefore, entered the workforce after their undergraduate degree, as Dickson plans to.

As a recruiter, Young also found a similar mindset in the students who chose to pursue a graduate degree at the

School of Education. Part of it he states, is because “we’re selling a very pragmatic, endfocused model of education.”

Therefore, those who apply are generally looking for a qualification that will lead directly to a job.

According to Young, applicants to LMU’s School of Education are numerous in large part due to the perception of education as career with a large amount of stability. Similarly, data published on LMU’s website by the Office of Institutional Research for the Fall 2008 through Spring 2011 terms indicates that job-focused majors such as business administration had 14 percent of all students drop out of the major by three years, compared to more broad, academic majors like liberal arts, which saw drop rates of 84 percent.

As John H. Pryor, managing director of UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute, which conducted the survey, said in the LA Times article, “Like everybody in the country … students are reacting to a time of recession.” As times get tough, the focus shifts to stability and success in the workplace.

The LA Times article reported that current freshmen are more studious than past years with those surveyed reporting that they “studied or did homework for six or more hours a week as high school seniors rose to 39.5 percent, up from 34.7 percent in 2009.”

All photos: Shaina Julian | Loyolan

Event highlights concept of “intersectionality” Classifieds Employment

On Campus

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Loyolan Classifieds

Identity from Page 1 through a historical background talk and various video clips, including one from comedian and actress Wanda Sykes and another from the 1990 movie “Paris is Burning.” Afterwards, a sevenperson discussion panel will respond to the films, sharing personal experiences and answering anonymous questions that audience members will submit via index card.

Garrison-Engbrecht and Patterson thought Black History Month would be a good time to collaborate on a program that brings the two offices together to further conversation.

“We do a lot of [talking about homosexual black students] within TLC, but I don’t know that the larger commu-

nity is talking about what it means to be LGBT and black,” said Patterson.

Therefore, Patterson, along with Garrison-Engbrecht, thought this event would provide more awareness and support of the topic, whether someone identifies as LGBT, black or neither.

“Our students are ready to be challenged on their perceived notions or their misunderstanding,” said GarrisonEngbrecht.

“Conversations about [the topic] help us understand human experience and how to interact with each other.”

Akala Francis, a junior sociology major who is planning on attending the event, said, “I think it is an issue that’s really important to society.

There’s a lot of stigma that

comes with it [and] I hope to get a better understanding of the LGBT community and learn how to better help individuals and groups.”

“People can be more aware and open to having these conversations on campus and not just sweeping different things under the rug,” said Patterson.

If students cannot attend this event and need support or want more information on this topic, visit the LGBTSS office on the fourth floor of Malone.

Patterson wants to spark more conversation around LMU since, according to Patterson, LMU is welcoming to all people and sexual orientations. “Hopefully the conversation doesn’t end at the event,” she said.

Public Safety forum today Students, faculty and staff are invited to an Open Forum with the Department of Public Safety, LAPD and Judicial Affairs today during Convo in Malone 112.

Blood drive seeks to break record of 674 pints The spring blood drive will take place on Feb. 14, 15 and 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in St. Rob’s Auditorium. Interested community members can sign up via email or with service organization members.

Strategic Planning update The revised draft of LMU’s Strategic Plan has been made available for viewing via a link to all Lion email accounts. Students, faculty and staff can also review a summary of the feedback incorporated into the second draft of the plan online. LMU’s Strategic Planning Steering Committee is hosting two open forums to discuss the newest draft of the plan.

The sessions will be on Feb. 14 and 15 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Collins Center.

Opinion Student Editorials and Perspectives

February 9, 2012 Page 6

Board Editorial

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

Laura Riparbelli Managing Editor

Kenzie O’Keefe Editor in Chief

Michael Goldsholl Asst. Managing Editor | Sports Editor

T

Angelica Cadiente Public Editor

Adrien Jarvis Incoming Editor in Chief

Kevin O’Keeffe A&E Editor

The law is no place for H8

he U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Proposition 8 (“Prop 8”), the 2008 voter-approved California Ballot initiative that defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, in a 2-1 vote on Tuesday.

The court upheld Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker’s 2010 ruling, declaring the voter-approved ban unconstitutional and concluded that it “served no purpose other than to ‘lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians.’”

Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the Ninth Circuit wrote, “Proposition 8 operates with no apparent purpose but to impose on gays and lesbians, through the public law, a majority’s private disapproval of them and their relationships.”

The Loyolan adamantly agrees with Reinhardt. Regardless of how one feels personally about gay and lesbian couples, Prop 8 is problematic because it attempts to use the law as a vehicle for advancing

an agenda that discriminates against a group of people for nothing other than their sexual preferences for a same-sex partner.

Though the decision overcomes a significant roadblock on the path towards marriage equality in California, the battle for universal marriage rights is far from over.

The ruling does not take effect immediately, and proponents of Prop 8 will likely submit an appeal to the Supreme Court.

On a larger scale, the court’s decision does little in the way of setting a legal precedent for an eventual universal right to marry – the language in the decision is focused on California rather than the greater United States.

The Loyolan is glad that progress is being made and that California is at least one step closer to eradicating our country’s unfortunate historical tendency to classify subsets of its population as second-class citizens. Hopefully other states and the country at large will soon follow suit.

www.laloyolan.com

Rule of Thumb

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

Think before you tweet CNN’s Roland Martin was suspended from his job yesterday for homophobic comments posted on his Twitter account, including one that promoted violence against men who were “hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad.” While it’s easy to think of tweeting and Facebook status updates as being less serious due to their on-the-fly nature, they are still public statements and are going to be taken seriously when they cross a line. It’s easy to be raw and uncensored on the Internet – but people who are should be prepared for the ramifications. Thumbs down to Martin’s indiscretion.

Airport security simplified for select fliers A new program is making check-in at LAX a lot smoother, but only for certain American Airlines fliers. The “PreCheck” system, currently active in seven airports and about to expand to 28 more in the United States, removes several restrictions in the airport security process. These fliers will not have to take their laptops out of their bags or remove their shoes and belts. The program does require registering ahead of time, however, so while it’s a nice thought, it won’t save us all from airport security stress just yet.

LMU provost search opens up for opinions The open forums with LMU’s provost candidates may be over, but the chance for those in the community to give feedback on the candidates is still available. On LMU’s website, students and faculty can share their opinions of the candidates and be a part of the selection process. With interaction like this, the best candidate is bound to be selected. Step up and let your voice be heard.

Numbers don’t lie, but we shouldn’t do it for them A

n old friend of mine, now a junior at Dartmouth College, visited me during the first week of the semester. He came with me to my men’s club volleyball practice, and one of the players asked him what SAT scores he had earned to get accepted to Dartmouth.

Later on, we both Don’t Quote l a u g h e d Me about the

By Joseph Demes q u e s t i o n , b e c a u s e Asst. Opinion Editor who cares?

Apparently, however, there are people who do care a great deal about these scores even after the the days of high school standardized tests are long gone.

Recently, Vice President and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid of Claremont McKenna College Richard Vos admitted to submitting inflated student SAT scores to publications such as U.S. News & World Report since 2005. According to a New York Times article, published Jan. 30 and titled “College says it exaggerated SAT figures for ratings,” scores from the critical reading and math sections had been “generally inflated by an average of 10-20 points each.”

In the case of those students admitted in September 2010, their “combined median score of 1,400 was reported as 1,410 ... while the 75th percentile score of 1,480 was reported as 1,510.”

Claremont McKenna President Pamela B. Gann has notified college ranking publishers of the inflation

and taken further investigative legal action within the administration, while Vos has resigned from his position and took sole responsibility for the affair. The obvious question still stands: Why go to such lengths for rankings?

Currently, according to U.S. News & World Report college rankings, Claremont McKenna is considered the ninth-best liberal arts college in the nation, but in light of this scandal, it remains to be seen if the ranking will still hold.

According to a Feb. 6 Associated Press article by Justin Pope, “As colleges obsess over rankings, students shrug,” the popular personal finance website Kiplinger has removed Claremont McKenna from its list entirely. It had previously ranked 18th on its list of private colleges (based on economic value for education).

Bob Schaeffer, a ranking critic from FairTest interviewed by Pope, speculates that the motivation for such unscrupulous methods is an underlying result of competitive psychology, creating the difference between being able to say: “‘We’re a top 10 school,’ [or] ‘We’re 11 t h or 12th.’”

Though these rankings may not have an outright influence on a student’s decision to attend a college, it does create a clever and nearly undistinguishable difference between the academic prestige of a college and

the more general numbersbased rankings that we see on newsstands every year and that college advisers in high school may have flung at us with fearful importance.

So, back to the original question of “Who cares?”

Simply put: the administrators who run schools and make a business out of our education. But if work creates ideologies, as Karl Marx asserted, the calculating of faceless administrators behind imposing doors and titles has certainly informed an ideology that education is only worth its tangible results.

Consider LMU, where roughly 1,300 undergraduate students are enrolled in the College of Business Administration (CBA), constituting roughly 22 percent of the total 5,797 undergraduate population (according to general statistics on both the LMU webpage and the CBA webpage).

Although 1,898 students are reportedly enrolled in the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts (only about 600 m o r e than the CBA), there are far m o r e majors offered t h a n the six offered in the CBA. The kicker is that people (and parents I’ve talked to) will always ask you what you can do with a degree in humanities besides go to law school, but always nod understandingly to those future, upstanding members of capital-B business.

“The obvious question still stands: Why go to such lengths for rankings?”

Graphic by Alberto Gonzalez | Loyolan

In any case, the fact that these numbers are promoted and demonstrate a clear concentration of priorities only illustrate the “show-me-themoney” mentality that ultimately fueled Vos’ behavior.

Numbers may seem to speak for themselves (and to eager, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed freshmen), but Claremont McKenna has demonstrated that those numbers can be meaningless and even have a hand in reducing the reputation of a university.

If anything, this event should reveal something very sad about the state of affairs

surrounding higher education: It has become a business and a pawn of economy, rather than an environment emphasizing the pursuit of intellectualism.

The latter principles are what colleges were founded on and meant to foster, and I believe they still ought to, whether it be in the classroom or in board meetings.

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

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Opinion

February 9, 2012 Page 7

What’s in a name: ethics and the X-47B

T

he element of anonymity is a powerful force. It often causes people to act in ways they normally wouldn’t if they knew their names were going to be attached. U.S. military drone attacks were halted in Nov. 2011, and started again Jan 10, 2012.

This month, the official introduction of the new military drone, the X-47B, brings Till the AM the ethics of

By Anna-Michelle lethal warfare to the Escher forefront. The Asst. Opinion Editor X-47B is an autonomous military plane perfected by the U.S. Navy that operates with on-board computer systems instead of a pilot, making this aircraft a breakthrough in military warfare.

Operating under a budget of $813 million, the Navy has been developing the Northrop Grumman X-47B, which has the ability to be launched from an aircraft carrier, refuel itself and land back down on a carrier. Although it does not yet have the capacity to open fire, it is a military drone designed for combat, a destructive weapon, and it has no legal chain of accountability behind it. Although the X-47B is not slated to go into active service for another decade, it joins a class of militaryplanes that have been

developed to open fire on civilian populations, and brings war ethics into question.

Some valid benefits have been accounted for regarding military robotry. Autonomous drones are cheaper to manufacture than piloted planes, and the prospect of having less U.S. soldiers in combat is another plus. Why put human life in harm’s way when a robot can take the risk instead?

Additionally, robotic drones are free from human error, programmed to have rapid reaction times that surpass human physiology. The Air Force’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Flight Plan states that its vision for the drone is also “teaming with … our allies, academia and industry to capitalize on the unique combination of attributes UAS provide: persis-

tence, connectivity, flexibility, autonomy and efficiency.” Despite the potential good this warfare advancement could do in terms of reducing U.S. military casualties and even the amount of tax dollars spent on war, the ethical implication of handing over such a profound amount of power to a machine

becomes controversial.

In a Jan. 26 Los Angeles Times article, titled “New drone has no pilot anywhere, so who’s account-

able?” by W.J. Hennigan, computer scientist and robotics expert Noel Sharkey stated, “Lethal actions should have a clear chain

of accountability. This is difficult with a robot weapon. The robot cannot be held accountable. So is it the commander who used it? The politician who authorized it? The military’s acquisition process? The manufacturer, for faulty equipment?” Sharkey also compared the development of autonomous planes to the introduction of mustard gas in World War I, as well as atomic weaponry used in World War II. Any time there is an advance in technological warfare, the laws of combat must be rewritten. This is one of those times where controversy over life, death, war and responsibility comes into the picture.

The notion of not having any accountability for violent actions sheds light on some of humanity’s darkest

moments.

Although ultimately physically harmless, the Miligram Experiment proved that people will inflict pain and potentially death on others by administering electric shocks when they are told that they would not personally receive any consequences.

Internet bullying serves as

another example of how our confidence becomes inflated when we act without consequences. For some reason, when our identities are attached to a mere screen name or headshot, we feel more at ease with saying the audacious and harmful things we might not normally say in person. If courage from anonymity and Internet bullying contributed to the suicide of Tyler Clementi in 2010, in which the Rutgers University student’s roommate acted behind his back and posted a sexual video of Clementi online, imagine the same concept of courage from anonymity applied to lethal military drones with no direct human contact, and the damage that could and has already been done to civilian populations. If the commander behind the actions of the plane cannot directly see the damage they could inflict and aren’t experiencing the environment in which combat is taking place, they could do more harm than intended. It’s easy to get caught up in violence when ithe consequence doesn’t seem real.

The truth of the matter is that open fire from the cockpit of a drone in battle is different from pressing command. Furthering the development of military robotry could potentially become an outlet for the darker side of humanity.

Graphic by Alberto Gonzalez | Loyolan This is the opinion of Anna-Michelle Escher, a junior communication studies major from Stanford, Calif. Please send comments to aescher@theloyolan.com.

Opinion

February 9, 2012 Page 8

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William Husted

Gloria Lee

Zach Sousa

Kate Coffey

Undeclared major

Mechanical engineering major

Film and television production major

Animation major

Freshman

“Sending my secret crush an anonymous Valentine.”

Junior

“I’m having dinner with my babe.”

Freshman

Freshman

“I’m keeping it lowkey, just hanging out with friends and having fun.”

“I’m watching ‘The Notebook’ with some friends.”

Graphic by Kim Tran | Loyolan

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Loyola Marymount University

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February 9, 2012 Page 9

‘The Little Dog Laughed’ is relatable but uneven Theater Review

By Khayla Gholucke Staff Writer

“T

hat’s how one wins – by shutting up.” Uttered by the brash, no-nonsense Hollywood agent Diane in “The Little Dog Laughed,” the latest production from the Del Rey Players, this blunt statement seems to sum up in just a few words how the shallow power players of Tinseltown are known to operate. Aspiring to get to the top of the entertainment industry herself, Diane is determined to make sure her client, pretty boy and rising star Mitchell, keeps quiet about his “recurring case of homosexuality” in order to raise both of their profiles. Through hilarity and heartbreak, Diane manipulates her way to what she believes is the perfect ending – one fit for the final scene of a Hollywood blockbuster.

In the tough, fast-speaking role of Diane is freshman English and theatre arts double major Rachel Rios, whose many monologues are full of sarcastic comments about the everyday challenges of her job.

With such long, wordy speeches, it would be easy to lose jokes and become short of breath, but for the

Kensie La-Ayane | Loyolan

Ellen (Brooke Radding) lounges with her boyfriend Alex (Dallas Mogensen) in a Los Angeles nightclub setting in the Del Rey Players’ production of “The Little Dog Laughed.” most part, Rios powers through them with the confident demeanor of a headstrong talent agent. The audience is introduced to Diane at the very beginning of the play, and her personality comes at the audience fast, calling for perfect

timing and delivery that seemed to challenge Rios at first; however, she eventually came into a better rhythm. While at certain points in the show I would have liked to see her get even more animated and crazed over not getting her way, Rios still played the powerful role consistently with her slightly evil tone and ever-present sassy smirk.

Even in scenes with other characters, she still makes herself the center of attention, being the most commanding and selfish character in the play.

Another ultimately self-centered character is Mitchell, played by senior theatre arts and sociology double major Cameron-Mitchell Ware.

His portrayal of the character’s continuous struggle with admitting his sexuality is equal parts funny and moving. While his good comedic timing and flamboyantly-delivered lines are sure to get great laughs, the real applause goes to the way Ware portrays the vulnerable side of Mitchell. These glimpses into the more troubled side of the actor makes it even more affecting when he eventually suppresses his true

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self and gives in to the lure of fame and fortune.

The tense relationship between Mitchell and Alex, the callboy he ends up falling in love with, played by sophomore theatre arts and dance double major Dallas Mogensen, is definitely the most realistic relationship in the show.

Watching the couple’s relationship evolve is sure to be a relatable experience for many audience members who have been uncomfortable with themselves in a relationship. While at first I wondered why I couldn’t sense any chemistry between the two actors, as the play and their relationship progressed, it became obvious that the two started out just as many other couples do – awkward and shy with each other, until they gradually become more comfortable. While the script didn’t allow the two to convey their true feelings to each other out loud, the actors did a great job of showing their mutual love through their physicality.

The show’s additional drama comes from Alex’s girlfriend Ellen, whom he gets pregnant, leaving

Mitchell jealous and hurt. Played by freshman theatre arts and communication studies double major Brooke Radding, Ellen is the epitome of a New York City socialite. Radding seems very relaxed in the role, and her clear, assured delivery creates an enjoyable dialogue with the audience during her monologues. Unfortunately, her relationship with Alex is not as believable, probably due to the fact that Mogensen had a hard time establishing the difference between his obviously gay callboy character and his supposedly straight attitude outside his job. Their relationship seemed more of that between a girl and her gay shopping buddy rather than her boyfriend, so when he dumps her for Mitchell, there’s no real shock factor involved. While Mogensen struggled in distinguishing his character’s dual personalities, his demeanor around Mitchell and his battle within himself over the growing love for him was extremely heartbreaking.

Even though the set was minimal and a little uneven, it allowed for most of the focus to be on the actors. Whether a pointed directorial choice or not, the simple lighting, sound, costumes and set design were just enough to entertain but not distract from the acting and the characters’ relationships. Indeed, it seems that the goal of the cast and crew was to make the story feel realistic and relatable, whether any audience members have ever dealt with questioning his or her sexuality or not. What really makes this show hit close to home is that everyone has been faced with instances where it is hard to be true to themselves. In L.A. especially, it’s been highly regarded that the ideal Hollywood ending will always lead to happiness, but as these complex characters show, sometimes the quest for a traditional happy ending means you have to give up what you truly love.

This is the opinion of Khayla Gholucke, a freshman dance and English double major from El Paso, Texas. Please send comments to kokeeffe@theloyolan.com.

Battle of the Bands ends this Wednesday Event Preview

By Brandon Cudequest Staff Writer

W

ith one round down, Mane Entertainment’s (ME) Battle of the Bands is well under way. In fact, it’s just about over. This year, the event will only go through two rounds of competition, with three different bands performing at the grand finale. Mojo Stone, Eventually and The Barefoot Bandits have shown musical promise and have all moved on to the second and final round of this year’s Battle of the Bands.

“All three of these bands have performed at Mane Entertainment’s Open Mic event, as well as around campus. You could say they are all regulars to the LMU music scene,” said senior communication studies major Tiffany Hunter, who is also ME’s signature events manager.

The rule for the Battle of the Bands is simple – at least one of the band members must be from LMU. For the finale, each band is allowed to perform three songs for a total of 15 minutes, and then the audience votes on the winner.

“It’s my job to communicate with the artists and let them know the rules. The last thing we want is for a band to be disqualified. On top of the event’s rules, it is important that the bands keep it appropriate and abide by the community standards,” said junior film production major Dan Fromhart, the event’s organizer.

The three bands remaining will then be ranked based on the num-

ber of votes. The winners will be able to choose from a variety of prizes, including a PA system, a recording package and a vocal mic.

“Showcasing student talent is very important, and that’s why Mane Entertainment puts on events like the Battle of the Bands,” Hunter said. “I think The Living Room is a great platform for student artists to get familiar with performing in front of friends and strangers alike. We also just like to give those student artists a place to play their music.”

Though no event is without its kinks, the staff at ME is hoping for a smooth show and a large crowd.

“We really do work as a team to make sure everyone is aware of the event and what is going on and we work hard to communicate with all the contestants so they understand what is going on from our side in terms of event planning, and that we can best accommodate them in preparing for the show,” Hunter added.

L.A. Girlfriend was eliminated in the first round of the competition, which was held on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

The three remaining bands – Mojo Stone (folk/rock), Eventually (pop) and The Barefoot Bandits (rock) are busy practicing and fine-tuning their songs for the finale.

“We had a pretty good turnout for the first round. There was great energy in The Living Room. I think what is great about this year’s Battle of the Bands is that there is a variety of musical sounds, which is a relief because fewer bands applied for the competition this year,” Hunter said.

The finale will take place on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. in The Living Room.

February 9, 2012 Page 10

Arts & Entertainment

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‘Bacchae’is a new take on Greek tale Theater Preview

By Luisa Barron Asst. A&E Editor

“T

his is not your grandfather’s Greek tragedy,” Professor Kevin Wetmore said of the theatre arts program’s production of “The Bacchae of Euripides.” The version used for this stage adaptation was written for a London version in 1973, by none other than LMU’s President’s Marymount Institute Professor in Residence Wole Soyinka. Wetmore, who is directing this run, said, “It only makes sense to perform one of his plays here.”

Euripides’ ancient play itself is based on the mythological story of Pentheus, king of Thebes, and his mother Agave, who are punished by the god Dionysus because they refuse to worship him. As a Greek tragedy, the story employs a full chorus on stage, several characters of both godly and royal descent, as well as the classic bloody ending – hence the tragedy.

Despite the story being ancient, Wetmore said, “The themes of the play strongly resonate both with LMU’s mission and with the challenges facing our society today. … It is a play about the conflict between the forces of oppression, whether social, political or cultural and the forces of creation, celebration and communion.”

Rechard Francois, a sophomore political science and theatre arts double major, who plays Dionysus, agrees. “The language is gorgeous and tells quite the interesting story from both a historical perspective

and one of today,” he said.

Junior theatre arts major Nelia Miller, who plays the leader of the slave chorus, also commented on the language of the play. “The best part of working on this play was [the] opportunity to experience the creative process from all angles. The script itself is a work of art, so script analysis was really engaging,” she said.

Much like the ancient Greek tragedies performed in their original incarnations, this production will involve not just speaking in a classical style, but dancing and drumming as well.

“For me, I’d say one of the most difficult parts of putting on this show so far was the language,” said sophomore theatre arts major Julian Garcia. “The language and the writing is very intelligent and contains deep subtext to it. Which is great, [but] it’s hard speaking in a way that we don’t speak today. And not only that, but understanding each and every part of it, really going into the depths of the dialogue, the play on words, the alliteration, the meaning, the articulation,” Garcia said. He is playing Pentheus in the production.

Another cast member, freshman theatre arts major Keeley Miller, who plays Agave, acknowledges the difficulty in bringing an ancient Greek play to the stage. “Also, the African influence [from Soyinka’s Nigerian heritage] on this Greek classic has been a challenge too, but I think through rehearsals it’s become one of my favorite parts, because we’ve incorporated African dancing and drumming. We have an incredible choreographer who

Kevin Halladay-Glynn | Loyolan

“The Bacchae of Euripides” takes a typical Greek tragedy and infuses it with modern music and dance.

One such artistic moment prominently features sophomore theatre arts major Mara De La Rosa (center). has really taught us to be free on stage with the dancing,” said Miller. “’The Bacchae [of Euripides’] features all original music and choreography that blends elements of African, Asian and Western cultures.

It’s also challenging sometimes to find the relevance in a 2,500-yearold play, especially for audiences perhaps more used to the speed and pacing of films,” Wetmore said.

He mentioned the extra pressure of having to impress the author of the play knowing he will soon see the production. “We hope we have done Professor Soyinka proud with this play,” Wetmore added.

“The Bacchae of Euripides” will be performed in Strub Theatre on Feb. 9-12 and Feb. 15-18. The show on Sunday, Feb. 12 will begin at 4 p.m. with all other shows starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 available through the Central Ticket Agency located in Burns Rec Center or by phone at (310) 338-7588.

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Arts & Entertainment

February 9, 2012 Page 11

‘Jurassic Park’ falls short of classic status

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his is, at the end of the day, a film city. I’m a girl who knows next to nothing about film. So I have some catching up to do. Here continues a semesterlong journey with one girl, eight movies, a lot of popcorn and an open mind.

Rarely does a Steven Spielberg film disappoint in any asThe Motion pect. From Picture “E.T.” to Project the “IndiBy Kellie Rowan ana Jones” Photo Editor series, his directing is known to take films to a new level. But what happens when Spielberg makes a great film and forgets to complete it in one movie? “Jurassic Park” is what. Not much can be said to criticize the acting, special effects or overall story, but when a film is designed to be a part of a series as much as this one was, the ending is what ultimately suffers.

This movie is set on the fictional island of Isla Nublar near Costa Rica where billionaire John Hammond, played by Richard Attenborough, has teamed up with geneticists to create a theme park featuring real-life dinosaurs. This was accomplished by cloning DNA preserved in insects that were fossilized in amber. To endorse the park and its mission against skeptical lawyers, Hammond invites a paleontologist and paleobotanist, Dr.

Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler, played by Sam Neill and Laura Dern. While on a tour of the park with Hammond’s grandchildren, the park’s system fails, turning off all power and deactivating all gates, leaving Grant to look after the kids with some dangerous dinos on the loose. They must pull their resources together to get the system working again before the dinosaurs destroy them all.

Being a big computer graphics nerd myself, the first thing that jumped out at me during this movie was the quality of the visual effects. To be able to bring dinosaurs to life in such a believable way is a great accomplishment, especially for a film released in 1993.

Spielberg really went above and beyond in making this work by having such strong interactions between the dinosaurs and the humans to make it seem like they were coexisting in the same time period.

Visual effects are something that can impair older movies for modern viewers because they advance so rapidly, often leaving behind the ones from long ago as obsolete. Though it’s 2012, I think that this film can still hold its own in the ring against the likes of “Avatar.”

Another great part of “Jurassic Park” was the overall idea behind it. Spielberg invited us on a journey, asking: “What if we did live at the same time as the dinosaurs?” It is a “what if” some of us may have wondered about before and through his directing ability that allows Spielberg to let us live out something we will never actually be able to. He is also

able to back up something seeming nearly impossible with credible scientific facts, making it seem plausible enough for the movie to make you at least a little afraid. By combining a little sci-

ence with a little adventure and a splash of romance, Spielberg ends up with a well-rounded movie that can appeal to almost any moviegoer.

The last thing I really enjoyed about this movie was the skill of the actors, especially the children who, despite being so young, accomplished their roles incredibly well. Acting is not an easy thing to do, and to act like you are terrified of a dinosaur that is not actually there is difficult on a whole other level. The actors would have to imagine themselves actually being put into this situation and then be so convincing about it that we believe them and are scared for them. I thought all of the characters did this well, but Joseph Mazzello and Ariana Richards who played Tim and Lex did it best.

How much easier could it be to incite fear than by throwing innocent children into the mix?

They did not disappoint.

My one gripe with the movie: Up until the very end I was loving every action-filled moment, and with all this anticipation and build up, I could not wait to find out how they saved the world from the dinosaurs taking over. But I never knew, be-

cause it never happened. The movie ends with an extremely disappointing scene where they merely fly away from the island in a helicopter, leaving the island and its new inhabitants unresolved. To me, this screams that this movie was designed with sequels in mind. While a cliffhanger is certainly a great strategy for someone creating a series, it felt to me like this movie could not stand on its own as a classic as a result of this. To have to watch two more movies to have a fulfilling ending makes it feel incomplete and like a bit of a letdown.

Don’t think I have anything against Spielberg. I don’t believe his genius could ever be questioned, and this movie was undeniably groundbreaking in so many ways. I enjoyed all of the action and adventure and will admit I jumped a few times because I was so into the movie I was getting scared myself. But because of that ending, I just can’t call it a favorite. It might belong on a list of the best series of all time along with the likes of “Star Wars” and “Harry Potter,” depending on how the second and third movies rank. But as one movie on its own, it should have answered some of the questions that the plot created.

I guess I will just have to wonder what happened to “Jurassic Park.”

Or I could just watch the sequals.

Graphic: Alberto Gonzalez | Loyolan This is the opinion of Kellie Rowan, a junior studio arts major and animation minor from Yardley, Pa. Please send comments to krowan@theloyolan.com.

February 9, 2012 Page 12

Sports

Crew trains, creates bonds Rowing from Page 16

Thames acknowledges some common misconceptions people have about the sport. “I think a lot of people don’t know that much about [rowing] and they oversimplify it a lot. They think we just sit there and row, but there is a lot more technique. … There is a lot more of a mental aspect and technique adjustment,” said Thames.

For those who think the sport is simply an arm workout, BreitReed clarified by saying, “There are moving seats in the boat and rowing is primarily a leg sport. [People] don’t realize this. They think it’s just an arm sport – you use your whole body and everything hurts [the next day.]”

This full-body workout isn’t easy either, even with multiple people in the boat, according to Paradiso.

“You burn upwards of 1,000 calories an hour,” he said.

“I probably eat 5,000 calories a day. Vons is suffering because of me,” added BreitReed.

Additionally, while in the water, the team is lead in a unique manner. A coxswain is the leader of the team and is essential to a winning team. “Coxswains are extremely important. They are like an assistant coach. I’m running practice from the launch, but [my direction] goes through the coxswain to the team,” said Paradiso. “An old coach told me that a coxswain can’t add speed to a boat, but an unconfident coxswain can detract speed from a boat.”

BreitReed attributes the win

against UCLA last semester to an LMU coxswain. “We won the race because our coxswain was better than UCLA’s,” he said.

The team practices six mornings a week in addition to two days of weight training in the afternoon and mandatory workouts on their own. “My friends and I say that rowing is our major and school is our minor,” said BreitReed.

All this time together also translates to hanging out outside of the boat and gym. “It kind of becomes your fraternity,” said Paradiso.

Thames added, “We always do extra practices together, and we are with teammates for most of the day.”

LMU rowing is looking to add new members to the team in the future. “It would be great to have a bigger team and moving forward, we will try to recruit more people on campus, but for now the guys are just working really hard, getting ready for the first races,” said Paradiso.

This season, the team will be traveling across the country all the way until early June. “We are traveling to Sacramento, Seattle for Opening Day Regatta and then Camden, New Jersey for the national championship,” said Paradiso.

Despite early hours and extensive training, Paradiso believes that it’s a great experience for the men.

“The guys get really into it and are friends with college teammates for life,” said Paradiso.

The Lions are next in action March 3 against the University of Southern California at the Jane Browne Bove Boathouse at 8 a.m.

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February 9, 2012 Page 13

BASKETBALLTONIGHT Lions face No. 6 NAU with conference title on the line MEN WOMEN Opponent:

Tonight’s Opponents Opponent:

At the University of Portland Pilots (6-18, 3-8 WCC); Portland, Ore. 8 p.m.

At the Santa Clara University Broncos (9-15, 2-9 WCC); Santa Clara, Calif. 7 p.m.

Last time they met: When the two teams met on Jan. 28, LMU escaped with a 62-59 victory thanks to redshirt junior Jarred DuBois’ late threepointer.

Last time they met: LMU earned its first WCC win on Jan. 21 with a 64-54 win over Santa Clara. Alex Cowling’s team-high 21 points led the Lions.

WHO TO WATCH Portland sophomore Ryan Nicholas averages 11.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

Senior Alyssa Shoji leads Santa Clara in scoring with 14.8 points per game in a team-high 33.9 minutes per game.

LMU COACH’S QUOTE “Portland is always a tough team to play against because they will change defenses a lot and they try to keep you from running. And obviously, we are at our best when we run.”

— Head Coach Max Good.

“There are three tiers in the conference … and we’re at the top of the third tier. We got a chance to play a team from the second tier against Pepperdine on Monday and showed that we can be competitive against the teams in the second tier.”

– Head Coach Julie Wilhoit.

PLAYER’S PERSPECTIVE “[We] opened up that gap a little bit to give us a little more cushion going into the conference tournament,” redshirt senior Drew Viney said after the Lions beat University of San Francisco last Saturday.

“Now we need to close out some games … and we’ll be in good shape.”

“They are one of the best three-point shooting teams in the nation, and definitely in the conference. We have to make sure we take that away from them, and make sure that all of the ones that they do get off are contested,” said redshirt junior forward Alex Cowling.

POTENTIAL X-FACTOR Rebounding. Portland and LMU are sixth and seventh, respectively, in the conference with almost identical rebounding margins. Whoever wins the rebounding battle will have an edge.

LMU will miss redshirt senior Courtney Collishaw who tore her ACL this week and will be out for the rest of the season. Collishaw appeared in all 23 of LMU’s games, starting 18 of them while averaging 3.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

Graphic: Dol-Anne Asiru Compiled by John Wilkinson | Asst. Sports Editor and Michael Goldsholl | Sports Editor, Asst. Managing Editor

Hockey from Page 16 our team really turned it around.”

Starting November off with a disappointing 10-1 loss against the University of Oregon, the Lions saw improvement in their gameplay, boasting a 4-4 record in November and December and 3-2-1 to close out the regular season in January and the first week of this month.

“The morale of the team lightened up, and I don’t know how we lightened up, but it was more of a relaxed feeling, and I think that’s what we needed,” senior defender Dylan Milo said. “And for some reason, that relaxed feeling helped us, and so the last eight games or so we’ve done really well.”

The team saw a culmination of its efforts to finish the year on a high note in its last two regular season games. Rebounding from a hard-fought 5-4 overtime loss to University of Nevada – Las Vegas (UNLV) on Jan. 21, the Lions enter this weekend’s tournament on a two-game winning streak. LMU defeated Long Beach State 5-4 last Thursday, and followed that win up with a convincing 8-1 victory over crosstown rival UCLA. In last Thursday’s contest, LMU honored its eight seniors in the final home game of the regular season. Three of the

five goals came off the stick of a senior, and the team held on despite a late rally that cut the Lions’ lead from three goals to one. With the win, LMU clinched the third seed in this weekend’s WCHC tournament.

“It was a big win for us, and it was great to get a victory on our senior night,” said senior defender Bobby Arnold.

The following day, the Lions took advantage of the Bruins, answering a scoreless first period with five second period goals and three more to close out the victory. Junior wing Nicholas DelBuono and senior forward Kevin Keomanee-Dizon led LMU with three points apiece, with DelBuono recording two goals and one assist and Keomanee-Dizon with one goal and two assists.

“We were supposed to play UCLA in our home opener but they canceled on us, so that was a little bit of a revenge beating by us,” GoecknerZoeller said. “UCLA is the team that’s local so we have a pretty good rivalry with them going back to our first year when they swept us. As much as you play for the western region supremacy, around here you kind of want to be the top team in L.A.” With the momentum of back-to-back wins guiding the team, the Lions are preparing for this Saturday’s first round matchup against No. 6 NAU. “We’re going to have a short

bench, but I feel any team with a short bench plays harder,” Milo said. “We’re just looking for the effort this upcoming Saturday. We want everybody to play their hardest. It’s our last two games of the season, so we’re just looking for that great effort and we’d love to beat this team again.”

“NAU is a very good team.

We need to show up, play our game, have good puck possession and keep the puck in the offensive zone and we’ll have a good shot to win that game,” Goeckner-Zoeller added.

The Lions are not only playing for a chance to beat the sixth-ranked team in the western region, however. As the first year of the WCHC tournament, LMU is looking to secure its place in history as the first conference tournament champions.

“Not many students know that we have a hockey team, so I feel if anyone was to see that we have a title from a tournament, within the hockey division, people are going realize we have a team that is doing really well,” Milo said. “It’s great for the whole program in general.”

If the Lions win their game on Saturday, they will play either No. 14 Cal State Fullerton (CSUF), No. 15 CSULB or tournament host and ninthranked UNLV on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. for the chance at WCHC glory.

LMU adds sand volleyball Women’s sand volleyball becomes LMU’s 22nd intercollegiate sport.

LMU boasts a location closer to the beach than almost any other university in the country. This week, LMU announced that it will become one of nearly 20 schools in the country to field an official women’s sand volleyball team. The team will be coached by current indoor women’s volleyball Head Coach Tom Black and begin competition in just over three weeks.

The LMU team will be comprised of five doubles teams that will compete in best-ofthree game matches. Black’s coaching staff will be the same as the staff that coaches indoor, with the addition of newly-hired volun- LMU indoor and sand volleyball teer coach John Mayer. Mayer will join both Head Coach Tom Black. the indoor and sand volleyball staffs.

“The training benefits of adding the program are immense as our student-athletes are able to play more,” Black said in an interview with LMULions.com. “The format of the sand game will allow more contacts for each player and force them to read the play as it develops.”

Other local schools that support sand volleyball programs are Pepperdine University, the University of Southern California and Long Beach State.

“Adding sand volleyball is a major recruiting advantage for us at LMU because it has the potential to lure top recruits who want to play both sand and indoor volleyball to our campus,” LMU Athletic Director Dr. William Husak said to LMULions.com.

Sand volleyball became an official Division I sport in August 2011. The inagural season schedule is still being put together, but play will begin on the weekend of March 2.

Photo: LMU Athletics Compiled by John Wilkinson | Asst. Sports Editor

Sports

February 9, 2012 Page 14

www.laloyolan.com

A weekend of the world’s best soccer

Four big soccer games need not go unnoticed This Friday and Saturday.

I

’m told it’s a little bit of a harsh crash back to reality the week after the Super Bowl.

The buildup and anticipation around the year’s biggest sporting event has peaked and you’ve stepped down from the precipice only to realize that’s it – football season is over.

This is all hearBend it like Zaneta say for

By Zaneta Pereira me. As an interAsst. News Editor national student from India, Super Bowl Sunday was just another Sunday for me. But while I may not understand football as a sports fan, I can sympathize with that empty feeling that the end of the season brings. Allow me, therefore, to provide you with an alternative, a distraction of sorts to get you through this. Allow me to make a case for the other football – for soccer.

I’m fully aware that soccer is not the easiest thing to sell in this country – and yes, I have caved and decided to call it soccer, when in Rome and all that jazz – but it is only the world’s most popular sport. I could wax lyrical on the beautiful game, but suffice it to say that it’s undoubtedly a sport everyone knows and understands, which makes it easy to get into.

If you’re even vaguely interested in world soccer, this weekend is the perfect time to start watching. In just two days, you can take in four

Associated Press

Wayne Rooney of Manchester United has returned from injury, converting two penalty kicks in last Sunday’s 3-3 tie against rival Chelsea. big games in Europe’s top leagues as well as a continental battle in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Manchester United F.C. vs.

Liverpool F.C. Feb. 11 at 7:45 a.m.

Manchester United vs. Liverpool is, according to veteran United midfielder Ryan Giggs, “probably the most famous fixture in English foot-

Lions need to maintain focus Two Plus the Foul from Page 16 But this year, the difference has not been the big wins against UCLA or St. Louis University – rather, it has been the team’s ability to stay composed in the games they are supposed to win. The Pepperdines, the San Diegos and the San Franciscos. Still, amid all of their wins, there’s a layer of unpredictability that remains.

This could be created by a posttraumatic response to years and years of let down, which means that I won’t believe it until I see it.

What causes concern (in my mind at least) is the fact that by being the “surprise” team in the WCC, the Lions have painted a huge bulls-eye on their backs, and you better believe that all of the teams whose hearts they cut out so far this year will be gunning for them more so than ever if they get to match up against LMU in the WCC championships. (You listening, San Francisco?)

When the tough surely gets going, the Lions are going to find themselves in a pressure cooker that is even more suffocating than a 19-point, secondhalf deficit to the USF Dons.

This is what worries me. It’s not a mentality of pessimism, but rather an anticipation of reality eventually setting in. WCC teams are seeing what the Lions are capable of at full form and they are going to develop scouting reports accordingly. The Lions aren’t going to be able to fly under the radar all the way to the conference championship – it’s just not going to happen.

While Gonzaga and Brigham Young University might not

be heads and shoulders better than the Lions anymore, they still have the discipline and experience that will keep them grounded and focused in a playoff game. The Lions, on the other hand, are just beginning to figure that element of basketball out. They’ve shown that they can do it, but ultimately, it will come down to them maintaining all of that and continuing to do what has proven to be the key to victories and their game-by-game growth.

Opposite of where my feelings were at the beginning of the 2011-12 men’s basketball season, I have a great deal of faith and slowly increasing expectations for the team (not that it cares anyways).

However, before the Lions can even start thinking about a conference championship or the WCC tournament for that matter, six games (including the BracketBuster game against Valparaiso University on Feb. 17) remain on the Lions’ regular season schedule. But this is for the fans, the supporters and the doubters, who are suddenly putting all their chips on the Lions to go all the way and saying that “this is finally the year.” It might be, but the Lions need to focus on maintaining their composure, defending the basket and playing with discipline. If they do this, and do it well, the victories will continue rolling in, and the Lions could very well ride that wave all the way to great, uncharted territories. Regardless, that remains a massive “if.”

This is the opinion of Michael Goldsholl. Please send comments to mgoldsholl@theloyolan.com.

ball.” These are the most successful English teams of all time, and while Manchester has been on the ascendency recently, winning their 19th Premiership title last year to surpass Liverpool’s record of 18, recent meetings have shown that Liverpool is still a force to be reckoned with.

Despite sitting seventh in the table while Manchester United is in sec-

ond place, Liverpool held United to a 1-1 draw previously this season and knocked United out of the Football Association (FA) Cup late last month.

Yet, United cannot be discounted either. Having been knocked out of the FA Cup, the Carling Cup and the Champions League, the Red Devils are focused on the Premiership and their electric comeback against Chelsea last week will boost morale.

Adding a new dimension to the rivalry is the return of Liverpool striker Luis Suarez following his ban for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, and speculation is already swirling around the pre-match handshake.

Expect hard-tackles, physicality and, above all, entertaining, attacking, English soccer.

Real Madrid C.F. vs. Levante UD Feb. 12 at 3:30 p.m.

Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid is unquestionably one of the top soccer teams in the world and, along with domestic rival Barcelona, are highly favored to win the Champions League this year. Yet the beginning of the 2011-2012 La Liga season presented the world with a very unfamiliar sight – Levante, the team that finished 14th in the 2010-11 season, sat in first place above both Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Levante was Real Madrid’s first loss this season and despite the fact that they are currently back on top of the table while Levante sits in fourth place with a 23-point gap, this game is going to be a matter of honor for the capital club.

The Real Madrid squad features five of Spain’s World Cup winning internationals and former FIFA Ballon d’Or winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká. Levante, however, has the advantage of having beaten them this season and the psychological advantage of a David-and-Goliath victory.

Expect a desire for revenge, skill and above all, beautiful, free-flowing Spanish soccer.

Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayer Leverkusen Feb. 11 at 9:30 a.m.

The German Bundesliga is the most attended soccer league in the world and is rising in prominence due to the emergence of fresh talent and the ascendency of the German national team.

Saturday’s match pitches the top two teams of last season against each other in what promises to be a competitive encounter. League leaders Dortmund are the favorites going into the game, but Leverkusen will take strength in eking out a draw from their last league encounter as well as their continental success in making it into the Champions League Round of 16.

Expect teams fighting for key points, tactical plays and above all, clean, efficient German soccer.

Zambia vs. Ivory Coast – Africa Cup Final Feb. 12 at 2 p.m.

It’s the premier tournament in Africa and the continent’s eyes will be focused on the final, ensuring an electric atmosphere from some of the sport’s most vibrant fans.

Zambia has been a major surprise of the tournament with their in-form attack propelling them through the competition, and defeating the highly- rated Ghanaian team in the semifinal will only have buoyed their spirits. In stark contrast, Ivory Coast is very much the tournament favorite and can count world-class players like Didier Drogba, Yaya Touré and Salomon Kalou among their ranks.

Expect vuvuzelas, patriotism and above all, lightning-fast, athletic African soccer.

This is the opinion of Zaneta Pereira.

Please send comments to zpereira@theloyolan.com.

Injuries plague softball Softball from Page 16 “We’re coming in hot to start the season this year. As a team, we’re trying to take it one step further and get that ring,” added junior starting pitcher Molly Medeiros.

The Lions are loaded at the top of the lineup. It starts with junior outfielder Danielle Smith, who led the team in batting average last season with an outstanding .384. She’s followed by senior sluggers Fischer and Kelly Sarginson.

Sarginson is coming off a club record-breaking 18-home run performance in 2011, and is hitting alongside Fischer, who was second on the team in batting average, home runs and RBIs last year.

“Our lineup looks strong right now,” said Ferrin. “We

are preseason favorites for a reason.”

Despite the emphasis on the Lions’ offensive weapons, Ferrin does not shy away from the importance of a solid pitching staff.

“You can have eight great fielders but without pitching, the team is no good,” said Ferrin. “Good pitchers can make a mediocre team look awfully good.”

Medeiros will enter the circle this year as reigning PCSC Pitcher of the Year. She is coming off a breakout season that included a solid 16-8 record an ERA of 2.01.

“I’m working on coming back strong, improving and not going backwards,” said Medeiros. “I’m working with some different pitches and want to be able to mix it up more this year.”

Loyolan Archives

Senior shortstop Sam Fischer leads the Lions’softball team into a season where they were picked in the preseason to win the Pacific Coast Softball Conference.

But Medeiros can’t toss it over the plate every inning. If there’s one thing that’s slowing down the Lions at this point, it has to be the health factor. Plagued by a series of offseason injuries, Ferrin is concerned about having enough pitchers and catchers to start the season on the right foot. Ferrin is unsure at this point of who will be fulfilling those duties.

“As of right now, two of my top three pitchers are out along with my top two catchers … so I’m not feeling too great about that,” said Ferrin.

Those injured at the moment are junior catcher and first baseman Olivia Alvarez, sophomore catcher Kathryn Dutton, sophomore pitcher Stevie Goldstein and junior pitcher Dana Waldusky.

They are expected to be back healthy and game-ready within a month.

“I’m mentally prepared to go whenever I’m needed,” said Medeiros. “Injuries are tough, but we all have each other’s backs.”

“Not many teams can take out two starters and be as good as they want to be,” said Ferrin. LMU has all of its key players back from a team that won its division the previous season. If everyone can get healthy in time, the Lions are favored to win the division for the second straight year.

“I think we’re going to be really good this year,” said Fischer with a smile. “I’m excited to finally see it put together and watch it all play out.”

The softball team begins the 2012 season this Friday at 9 a.m. against Boise State in the UC Davis tournament in Davis, Calif.

Sports

?

What is the most embarrassing thing you have watched on Netflix and why?

?

Who should win the Grammy for best album: Adele, Rihanna, Foo Fighters or Bruno Mars?

?

If you could have any act perform at College Fest, who would it be and why?

Men’s lacrosse

Sport: Club baseball

MATT TYMSTRA

Sport: Men’s rugby

“I watched nearly a whole season of ‘Friends’ one Saturday night while everyone else was going out. I definitely felt like the cool kid that night.”

“I watched a documentary about the importance of makeup with my sister. ... It was a terrible documentary.”

“Adele. She has stellar pipes.”

“Definitely Adele. She’s got a very nice voice.”

“Adele ... each of her songs has stories behind them that tell you about her as a person.”

“Foo Fighters are pretty kickass. Adele does have a beautiful voice, but the Foo Fighters are just awesome.”

“Fleetwood Mac. They would surely get the party going.”

“Wiz Khalifa, because it would be the epitome of fun while still being completely out of control.”

“Lady Antebellum.

They have a lot of positive songs, and I always hear them on the radio. They would be a good fit.”

“Collie Buddz. It’s a little dirty reggae. He loves the crowds, he’s a great performer and he would love performing for college kids.”

“Something outrageous yet totally stupid. If it’s a boy, I’m thinking ‘Juice Monster,’ and if it’s a girl, then ‘Hot Beef.’”

“Something Italian and unconventional: I’ll go with Giuseppe.”

“Booki: a baby version of Snooki. My question is, how long did it take her to know she was pregnant?”

?

What should Snooki name her baby?

Sport:

SOPHOMORE

Sport:

Men’s ice hockey

GREG ESHOM

HENRY HARRIES

SOPHOMORE

ASK AN ATHLETE

SENIOR

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KEVIN KEOMANEE-DIZON

SOPHOMORE

www.laloyolan.com

February 9, 2012 Page 15

“Anything but Snooki.”

“I’ll admit I’ve seen my fair share of romantic movies like ‘The Notebook.’ The sad part is [that] I actually watched it recently.”

“It’s a toss up between ‘Tangled’ and ‘Glee’ ...

‘Tangled’ was especially adorable.”

Information compiled by Dan Raffety | Asst. Sports Editor; Graphic: Dol-Anne Asiru | Loyolan; Photos: LMU Athletics

Mayweather and Pacquiao: Get it together Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao still do not agree to fight.

J

ust do it.

Oh how I wish this Nike motto would be true in the sport of boxing. Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will be fighting in matches a couple of months from now, but they won’t be fighting against e a c h o t h e r.

On May 5, Floyd M a y KC at the Bat weather

By Kevin Cacabelos Jr. will f i g h t Staff Writer Miguel Cotto and on June 9, Manny Pacquiao will fight against Timothy Bradley Jr. After another round of failed negotiations these past few weeks to make this monumental fight happen, fans of the sport will have to wait even longer. What will happen sooner? Dr. Dre releasing Detox, or Pacquiao and Mayweather stepping in the same ring? These guys are worse procrastinators than your typical college students.

I profess I’m not an intense boxing fan. Growing up, I always watched the occasional big fight with my family, and usually I’d be engaged with and enamored by the stories of those boxers. However, those boxers and story lines have faded quickly. But the 42-0 Mayweather and the 54-3-2

Associated Press

Manny Pacquiao (right) defeated Miguel Cotto (left) in 12 rounds in November 2009. Cotto will face Floyd Mayweather this May instead of the much-anticipated Mayweather-Pacquiao fight.

Pacquiao are at their primes and have the name recognition that a casual fan like myself is familiar with. I’m struggling to name any other significant active boxers not named Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao or even Miguel Cotto.

The point is Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are the faces of the sport of boxing. They represent the sport and all that it is about.

They are the Kobe and LeBron, the Djkovic and Nadal and Tim Tebow of their sport.

When you think boxing, you think of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Boxing will survive if these two fighters don’t fight, but at the heart of all sports is competition, and not showcasing the sports’

two greatest competitors on the same stage hurts the integrity of boxing.

Though the Mayweather verses Cotto bout seems somewhat attractive, it just will never be as good as the fight that we want to happen. The two fighters and their camps are robbing themselves of a signature moment. Tiger Woods has his majors, Tom Brady has his Super Bowls, while Michael Phelps has his gold medals.

What do these two fighters have?

A refusal to step up and prove their greatness.

I’m not going to take a side and point fingers at whose fault it is. Failed negotiations have been a factor on both

sides.

The fight could have possibly pocketed each fighter up to $40 million, according to sources close to both of them.

So the money issue is figured out. Does it really matter if one of these guys gets a little more than the other? Who cares if it’s “fair” or not? Both of these guys are set for life.

I’m betting both of them have one goal left in their careers: to be considered the best. The old sports adage sums it up: “To be the best, you have to play the best.” These two can continue to beat up other opponents, but the longer they do this, the suspense for this super fight will soon turn into a lack of interest for two scared boxers. And more importantly,

for them at least, the boxing match will lose them money and simply won’t bring in as much cash as it once could have garnered them. I want to see Michael Jordan in his prime; I don’t want to see him play for the Washington Wizards. These two fighting five years from now is way different from them fighting right now.

After announcing his fight against Cotto, Mayweather tweeted: “I’m fighting Miguel Cotto on May 5 because Miss Pac Man is ducking me.”

Mayweather also told BoxingScene.com that Pacquiao rejected the $40-million offer.

Pacquiao’s manager, Michael Koncz, then told the LA Times the same day that it was Mayweather who rejected the deal.

That’s the story of another round of disappointing talks.

Past negotiations have failed because of blood testing and money disputes.

Here’s my solution: agree to blood tests before the fight and immediately after. And then, agree to split the profits.

Simple. Right? Now all this agreement needs are two signatures.

Those two signatures won’t ever happen because both fighters feel entitled to certain privileges and are not willing to sacrifice anything. Pacquiao and Mayweather need to put aside their greed and pride and agree to box each other for the love of the sport. Everyone would be a lot happier.

Please, I beg you Mr. Pacquiao and Mr. Mayweather, just do it.

This is the opinion of Kevin Cacabelos. Please send comments to mgoldsholl@theloyolan.com.

www.laloyolan.com

Lion Sports

Softball set with high expectations

Lions face tough road ahead

The softball team enters 2011-12 season picked to finish first in the conference.

Despite an 8-3 start, the men’s basketball team remains unpredictable.

I

By Ray Ferrari Contributor LMU softball ended the 2011 regular season about nine months ago on an eight-game win streak, clinching the Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) Coastal Division title with a 16-4 league record. Shortly after, the Lions’ hopes of an NCAA playoff birth were swept away by Portland State in the conference championship series. But now the softball team is back, returning 18 players and feels confident heading into the start of the season Friday.

Thanks to the return of so many varsity players as well as LMU’s success rate over the past decade, the Lions were voted the favorite to win the conference in the preseason PCSC coaches’ poll. Head Coach Gary Ferrin, who is returning for his 18th season as LMU skipper, says this might be his best team yet.

“We are as good as we can be at this point, but not as good as we will be,” said Ferrin. “I feel our program has progressed every year. I don’t like to take steps backwards.”

This three-time conference Coach of the Year has led the Lions to three conference championships since the foundation of the PCSC in 2003.

Looking for a fourth in 2012, Ferrin likes what he sees early on.

“We’ve practiced well, we’re ready to go and are as good as we can get without facing any real competition,” said Ferrin.

With expectations high, anything short of a championship will be a letdown for this veteran ball club. Still bitter from how last season ended, the Lions are out for revenge and glory this year. “I really want to beat Portland State and win conference my senior year,” said senior shortstop Sam Fischer. “It wouldn’t be as sweet if we didn’t have to beat them to do it.”

See Softball | Page 14

February 9, 2012 Page 16

Devin Sixt | Loyolan

Women’s tennis comes up short at home The women’s tennis team was knocked off by the University of Hawai’i at home on Wednesday afternoon, losing 4-3. Sophomore Miya Jin (above) lost her singles match but looks to rebound after a recent 4-6, 6-4, 6-8 heartbreak against No. 44 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

t’s odd – with each passing game and each Lions’ victory, I find myself questioning whether the men’s basketball team is on some fantastical Cinderella ride, or if they are actually for real. At 8-3 in conference play and their two wins against top-25 teams still ringing loud and clear in everyone’s ears, the Lions seem more enigmatic than ever.

They came into the year projected to surprise no one and waddle around the lower half of Two Plus the Foul the conference

By Michael Goldsholl standings – a welldeserved predicAsst. Managing Editor | tion, considering Sports Editor their tumble down the West Coast Conference (WCC) after being picked to finish second in the conference the previous season. However, this year, graced with low expectations, the Lions have found a way to succeed and have been playing the type of basketball that their talent is capable of playing. They competed with Gonzaga University until the end and played St. Mary’s College extremely close throughout the game. Despite playing inconsistent basketball, they have won all of the games they should have against weaker conference foes – something that they have failed to do in years past, getting swept by PCH rival Pepperdine University and dropping gimmes to the University of San Diego.

See Two Plus the Foul | Page 14

More than just a 6 a.m. wake-up call SPORTS FEATURE

A close-knit bond is created among the members of the men’s rowing team.

By Emily Wallace Copy Editor It’s 6:30 a.m. While most LMU students are still sleeping, the men’s rowing team is already practicing in Marina del Rey. This may seem tedious to some, but Assistant Coach Tom Paradiso knows this is a prime time to practice. “It’s the best water of the day. … In the marina, we share

a waterway with sailboats and powerboats. … Most people don’t go sailing for pleasure at 6 a.m. and the water is the calmest, and it is before the wind picks up,” he said.

The team also appreciates the early-morning practices.

“I find that it makes my day more productive because it wakes [me] up and gives structure to [my] day,” said senior Bo BreitReed.

His teammate, sophomore Quin Thames, agreed. “It’s a great way to start the day. It’s funny to talk to people who wake up at 10 [a.m.] and [I say,] ‘Oh, I’ve been up for four hours,’” said Thames.

See Rowing | Page 12

LMU Athletics

Even though they have to to get out of bed before the sun comes up six times each week, members of the men’s rowing team appreciate the benefits of hitting the water early.

Hockey takes winning streak to Las Vegas Despite a slow start, the LMU hockey team is headed to the first-ever WCHC tournament.

By Nathan Dines Asst. Sports Editor

Photo: Al Tipon

The LMU club hockey team will lose eight seniors after this year, including assist leader (20) Kevin Keomanee-Dizon (third from the left) and goalie Tyler Payne (far left, 4-2 record this season).

This weekend in Las Vegas, Nev., the LMU club hockey team has the chance to claim another championship, 75 years after the Lions’ last hockey title in 1937.

For the first time in West Coast Hockey Conference (WCHC) history, the WCHC is holding a conference championship. The seven-team conference is made up of California, Arizona and Nevada schools, and LMU is the only unranked team in the Ameri-

can Collegiate Hockey Association’s (ACHA) western region.

The team had a tough start at the beginning of the year and went a combined 2-6-1 from Sept. 30 through the month of October, including a pair of defeats to current No. 1 Arizona State University (ASU), two losses to Northern Arizona University (NAU) and a two-game split with the University of Southern California (USC).

But the team managed to turn its season around in November.

“We actually kind of had a slow start to the year. We had a tough schedule up front thinking we would come out scoring and we didn’t,” General Manager Tyler Goeckner-Zoeller said. “At about November, though,

See Hockey | Page 13