IT’S GAME TIME.
ESTABLISHED ESTABLISHED 1921 1921 February 27, 14, 2012 2013 September Volume Volume91, 91,Issue Issue30 7
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University reacts to Pope’s resignation
LMU Catholics join the rest of the world in reflecting on Pope Benedict XVI’s decision. By Zaneta Pereira News Editor
Liana Bandziulis | Loyolan
LMU singers perform at Sacred Heart Chapel as part of Black History Month The Sacred Praise Chorale of Faithful Central Bible Church performed Monday, Feb. 11, as a part of “The Lasting Presence of the King James Bible in the Music of the Black Church: A Concert with Guided Commentary.” Dr. Diane White-Clayton (far right), lecturer in the Theology and African-American studies departments and Jason Darden, an ecumenical and interfaith campus minister, served as facilitators. To read Staff Writer Hayley Lobel’s article on this event, see A&E Page 12.
Catholics around the world are still processing Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement last Monday that he would step down as head of the Catholic Church, the first time a sitting pontiff has voluntarily done so since Celestine V in the 13th century. The 85-year-old Benedict cited his age and deteriorating health as his reasons for stepping down, explaining the decision in his resignation Associated Press speech: “I have come Pope Benedict XVI to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to the adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.” According to the Feb. 11 Reuters article, “Pope resignation leaves Catholic world in shock,” the pope will step down at 1900 GMT (10 a.m. PST) on Thursday, Feb. 28, and the office will remain vacant until a successor is chosen. The same article indicated that the new pope is expected to assume office by the start of the Holy Week on March 24, according to Vatican officials. Surprise was the general tenor of reaction
See Pope | Page 4
LAPD responds to assault and alleged guns An “unfounded” sexual assault and firearm report caused two LAPD and DPS investigations on Monday. By Allison Croley Asst. News Editor
Twelve Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers were on campus investigating two different on-campus incidents on Monday, Feb. 11, according to Department of Public Safety (DPS) Chief Hampton Cantrell. In a statement released to the Loyolan at approximately 9:50 p.m., Cantrell said that LAPD was investigating a sexual assault that occurred over the weekend. No charges were pressed and no one was arrested, according to Cantrell. However, during the investigation, DPS received a tip from a female student who claimed that she overheard someone talking about possession of firearms in her apartment building located in the “Leavey region,” according to
HOTTER AFTER DARK Read about dating, bars and Valentine’s Day in the Loyolan’s Nightlife section.
Nightlife, Page 8
Cantrell. Cantrell said that both LAPD and DPS searched the room of the alleged weapon holder and found not firearms, but pellet guns. DPS confiscated the pellet guns, and since then, DPS officers have questioned the students about the pellet guns found in their room. Both LAPD and DPS closed their investigations for both cases that night. The sexual assault case was deemed “unfounded,” according to Cantrell, but the students in possession of the pellet guns were referred to Judicial Affairs. Cantrell could not say how Judicial Affairs would handle the situation, but noted that the LMU Community Standards 2012-13 states in section four of the Student Conduct Code that “use, possession or storage of any weapon on campus” is prohibited. Section three of the Student Conduct Code defines a weapon as “any object or substance designed to inflict a wound, cause an injury or incapacitate, including, but not limited to all firearms, chukka sticks,
See Incidents | Page 3
Kevin Halladay-Glynn | Loyolan
Ash Wednesday marks beginning of Lent Students filled Sacred Heart Chapel yesterday to celebrate Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Christian tradition of Lent. Fr. Allan Figueroa Deck, S.J., S.T.D. (above), celebrated the 7:30 a.m. service.
Index Classifieds.............................4 Opinion.........................5 Nightlife...........................8 A&E.................................9 Sports.............................16 The next issue of the Loyolan will be printed on Feb. 21, 2013.
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LOVE IS IN THE AIR Learn about the best places to go and things to do for your Valentine’s Day date.
A&E, Page 9
February 14, 2013 Page 2
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OVERHEARD
@ LMU
From the mouths of LMU students, tweeted by you to @OverheardatLMU, drawn by our cartoonists every week. THIS WEEK’S SUBMISSION
Photos: Leslie Irwin | Loyolan
Improv comedy troupe presents Valentine’s show “West Side Comedy in LA,”a local improv troupe, put on a Valentine’s Day dinner show yesterday night in the Living Room. The event, which was sponsored by Mane Entertainment, drew approximately 20 audience members.
Cartoon: Georgia Henderson | Loyolan; Graphic: Kevin O’Keeffe | Loyolan
For the Record The Jan. 11 article “New Italy study abroad program focuses on religion” incorrectly referred to Dr. Saba Soomekh as a theological studies professor. She is actually a Jewish studies professor.
N ews Alleged weapon did not www.laloyolan.com
February 14, 2013 Page 3
trigger ‘timely warning’ Incidents from Page 1
explosives, pellet guns, knives, projectile launchers, and chemicals such as mace or tear gas.” When asked why DPS withheld a campus alert, Cantrell said that they didn’t consider the incident an “ongoing threat.” He noted that because they knew who the student was and the location of his alleged weapon, “there was no threat at all.” According to the Administration Division and DPS Policies and Procedure Manual, there are two types of alerts: emergency notifications and timely warnings. Emergency notifications are triggered by “the confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation that poses an imminent or impending threat to the campus,” according to the manual. This includes but is not limited to earthquakes,
gas leaks, active shooters and explosions. Timely warnings are “issued as soon as pertinent information is available for any Clery crime … that is reported to [DPS] or [LAPD], and is considered by LMU to represent a serious or continuing threat to campus,” according to the manual. DPS Captain Cristina Martin said that the alert of a student’s pellet gun did not trigger either of these responses because no crime had been committed and the location of the students and weapons were known. Regardless, students were uneasy about not knowing why a significant number of LAPD officers were investigating on campus. Bradley Chee, a junior communication studies major who is a resident in the O’Malley Apartments, tweeted about LAPD’s presence on Monday
night. When contacted by the Loyolan, he said he could not get into Leavey Circle after grocery shopping with his roommate. He added that he saw people being evacuated from the O’Malley Apartments, who reportedly told Chee that LAPD officers went in with “shotguns and rifles.” He noted that DPS seemed very “vague” about the situation, which concerned him. Chee was not allowed back into the O’Malley Apartments until approximately 9:11 p.m. According to DPS, they sent an email to students, faculty and staff at 10:21 p.m. about LAPD’s investigations of both the sexual assault and the air soft guns. However, some students reported that they did not receive the email at Wednesday’s ASLMU. – Additional reporting by Adrien Jarvis, editor in chief.
LMU Department of Public Safety Alert Policy Emergency Notification
:
• • • • •
Outbreak of communicable disease Earthquake Gas leak Terrorist incident Armed intruder/active shooter
• • • •
Bomb threat Civil unrest or rioting Explosion Chemical or hazardous waste spill
Events such as a power outage or a string of larcenies are not defined by the Clery Act as an emergency or dangerous situations, and therefore do not require notification for compliance purposes
Timely Warning
:
• • • •
Criminal homicide Sex offenses Robbery Aggravated assault
• • •
Burglary Motor vehicle theft Arson
Information from DPS Policies and Procedures Manual; Graphic: Stephanie Schiller | Loyolan
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Despite his accomplishments in and out of the classroom and on and off the basketball court, Armstead (left) remains modest when speaking of his journey.
11BURNING QUESTIONS with a former LMU basketball player
This issue, Sports Editor Nathan Dines sits down with LaRon Armstead to talk about his LMU basketball career and his current role on and off the court at LMU. 1. How did you make the ultimate decision not to pursue professional basketball? That decision came probably about two months after I graduated [last year]. ... What was better for me: to stay in school and gain a degree that would be forever, or go play basketball, get some money and come back and still have to get a degree? 2. I know you are still involved with the sport today, but was it tough to pass up on the opportunity? That decision wasn’t hard, really. ... I just feel like that foundation of school and education is what gets people further in life than sports. At the end of the day, the ball stops. And what are you left with? A degree or no degree? Education or no education? 3. I read the Feb. 9 article on you in the LA Times. What does it mean to you and your past to have your story out there in a public setting like that? It means a lot to me, simply because my story isn’t for me. It’s for the millions of kids and people that are just like me and were just like me, and the kids that are down in those neighborhoods and trying to get out. 4. In what ways do you feel you matured the most? I think the way I think has changed drastically. I used to think that the world was so small, that the only thing in the world was my community and nothing else existed. When I came to LMU, it opened me up to so many things: different people, different cultures, different lives. I became open-minded. 5. Have you gotten any feedback from the article? If so, what has been the most interesting response? Most of it is just how inspiring and touching the story is. One lady wrote that she was lost for words and that doesn’t happen [very often]. That kind of caught my attention, because she’s a writer, I think. 6. Has there been anything negative, maybe from your neighborhood or friends you grew up with? Not necessarily negative; a lot of people are supportive. Nothing really negative came from it. 7. How were you approached to give the motivational speeches at schools and southern California YMCAs? People just came up to me. I think it started in high school, … but I really don’t know how it happened. I think it came from someone just saying, “Would you like to tell your story?” As simple as that, and I said yes. 8. Were you daunted at all by the prospect, or were you excited to share your story and help motivate other people? I was kind of scared and nervous, because I don’t feel like I accomplished a lot in my life. I was so afraid to speak in front of people – not because of the actual thought of it, but it was more of being accepted. I didn’t want [them] to feel sorry for me – I’m sharing my story because it needs to be heard. 9. What would you say is the most important message an audience member can come away with after hearing your speech? Anyone can make a U-turn in [their] life. If things aren’t looking up or looking good, just stay positive and stay on the course and take action. 10. What is it about the sport that keeps you passionate? It’s the love of the game. I love the feeling of when you win. But also, I love that you can learn from when you fail, and that can make you even better in life. Because of basketball, you can take so much from off the court and into your real life. 11. What is your biggest focus when working with the middle school team? Just trying to help them develop their characteristics and help them develop as young men. [I] try and teach them life lessons that, when things aren’t going well on the court, it’s OK. Just stay positive. I’m more into developing them as people, which will help translate to basketball.
To read the extended version of “11 Burning Questions,” visit the News section of laloyolan.com.
News
February 14, 2013 Page 4
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Community awaits selection of new pope Pope from Page 1 to the news of the Pope’s resignation. Prime Minister Mario Monti of Italy called Benedict’s decision “immense and unexpected,” according to the Feb. 11 New York Times article “A Statement Rocks Rome, Then Sends Shockwaves Around the World.” LMU assistant professor of theological studies Dr. Cecilia González-Andrieu described a similar feeling, saying, “There really is no precedent to this, so it was one of those reactions where ‘blown away’ is a good description,” she said. However, she added, “I felt a lot of gratitude. There is something very good about knowing your limits and not wanting to deceive the community.” Bishop Gordon Bennett, S.J., who is the Peter Faber, S.J. Fellow in Pastoral Theology and Ignatian Spirituality at LMU, has known Pope Benedict XVI personally for several decades. He was also very surprised, but expressed his appreciation for the motivation behind the pope’s resignation. “I know that [Benedict] has that kind of strong character and [his resignation] is in that vein. He realizes that the Church needs a strong leader, and he doesn’t feel that’s him anymore,” Bennett said, praising the pope’s decision as one “made with great humility and great honesty.” Junior studio arts major Allie Shorin, who is currently studying abroad in Rome, Italy, said that she hasn’t noticed a major upheaval in the city life. She did note that “many Italians these days are what we call ‘Christmas-Easter’ Catholics. … Perhaps if there was a pope resignation 50 years ago, there would have been more public outcry or show of concern. As of now, life goes on in Rome.” According to the aforementioned New York Times article, Christian Terras, the founder and executive editor of Golias, a religious review near Lyon, France that has been critical of the Roman Catholic
Church, described the pope’s resignation as “a departure that is paradoxically modern for a pope who was so conservative.” However, LMU associate professor of theological studies Fr. James Fredericks, Ph. D. countered Terras by saying, “We should expect a fundamentally conservative man to do something that hasn’t been done in 700 years. Remember, the great anti-Communist Richard Nixon was the one to go to China and meet with Mao [Zedong].” In reflecting upon Benedict’s time as pope, Fr. Dorian Llywelyn, S.J., associate professor of theological studies at LMU and director of Catholic studies, said that he was “initially cautious” when the pope was elected due to his reputation as “God’s Rottweiler.” However, in the end he said he admired Benedict’s “courage, vision, his intellectual acumen and his clarity. For Pope Benedict, it is – and always has been – all about his service to the Church, not about his ego. Popularity does not necessarily equate with truth. Or virtue, come to that.” Bennett and González-Andrieu both acknowledged the difficult circumstances Benedict faced having to follow the widely popular Pope John Paul II, who died in 2005. Bennett stressed the fact that Benedict “had to follow a legend.” Similarly, González-Andrieu referenced the fact that Benedict has been referred to as a “transitional figure.” According to her, this in many ways sums up Benedict’s papacy since, as she believes, Benedict “has been that, a figure of the 20th-century helping us into the 21st, but not quite stepping fully into it. The next pope will be our 21st-century pope.” Fredericks expressed a more critical view of Benedict’s papacy. According to him, “Benedict could be remarkably undiplomatic. He said and did things that are hard to explain at best. For example, he welcomed a Holocaust-denying fanatic [Bishop Richard Williamson]
back into the Church who had once been excommunicated. Benedict could bend over backward to mollify disloyal conservatives while calling into question the work and the ideals of progressives.” Fredericks also stressed Benedict’s fundamentally conservative nature and the fact that, as pope, Benedict favored a strategy of building a Church that was strongly controlled from the center so that it could “stand in opposition to the world as a critic, especially on matters like abortion, homosexuality and even artificial birth control.” However, Fredericks highlighted the fact that, even though the press focused mainly on Benedict’s stance on sexual issues, as pope, “Benedict also continued a long tradition of popes criticizing capitalism. … I think his criticism of contemporary economic systems is much more important and more interesting.” As the Catholic Church moves forward with the process of choosing a new pope, several focuses have emerged. For junior communication studies major Monica Rosales, she said, “It is important to choose a pope that is open-minded about the recent developments in our society. They have to be able to modify their claims to be relevant in our society today.” Bennett reflected on both the spiritual and administrative roles of the pope and expressed his desire that the new pope be both “someone who is a faithful servant of the Gospel” and also “a little bit more imaginative in reorganizing the bureaucracy of the Church.” A major issue that dogged Benedict’s papacy was the priest sexual-abuse scandals within the Church, which Benedict is accused of having helped cover up. “This pope had a great opportunity to finally address the decades of abuse in the Church, but at the end of the day, he did nothing but promise everything, and in the end he ultimately delivered nothing,” John Kelly, a member of the support
Associated Press
Pope Benedict XVI is the first pope to voluntarily resign the position in over 700 years. He will step down on Feb. 28. group Survivors of Child Abuse, is quoted as saying in the Feb. 11 New York Times article. Fredericks also touched upon the issue of the sex-abuse scandal. “The Church needs to be always vigilant to protect children. The children come first, not the reputation of the priest,” he said. “If women with children were in a position of power in our local churches, then the problem of priests who abuse children would have been handled much differently.” The possibility that the new pope will be elected from Latin America or Africa, where about 40 percent of the world’s Catholics currently reside, is something that is the subject of much speculation. González-Andrieu said she, “would love to see a new Holy Father chosen from those parts of the world where the Catholic Church is growing – Latin America, Africa, Asia. The truth is that what is most important is not where he is from, but who he
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wants to know and love.” However, history has shown that speculation prior to the Papal Conclave – the meeting of cardinals in the Sistine Chapel during which the new pope will be elected – usually is unfounded. Fredericks echoed this view, citing an Italian saying: “The one who enters the Sistine a pope comes out a cardinal.” Ultimately, Llywelyn noted that the most important thing to remember is that “Jesus promised to be with his Church until the end of time. … The Church has had good times and bad times, good popes and bad popes, and that she [the Church] is still here.” – Additional reporting by Asst. News Editor Casey Kidwell and News Intern Jenna Abdou. To read Managing Editor Kevin O’Keeffe’s Opinion article on the opportunities he hopes the pope’s resignation will bring, see Page 5.
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Board Editorials represent the voice of the Loyolan. They are written in collaboration by the Executive Editorial Board. Kevin O’Keeffe Managing Editor Joseph Demes Opinion Editor
Adrien Jarvis Editor in Chief Dan Raffety Asst. Managing Editor Jenna Abdou News Intern
Brigette Scobas Asst. Managing Editor Zaneta Pereira News Editor
Physical appearance is personal
W
hat does it say about modern society when a film critic feels comfortable referring to an actress as a “female hippo” and “tractor sized” in a published film review? These terms are only a sample of the personal barbs the New York Observer’s critic Rex Reed directed at actress Melissa McCarthy in his Feb. 5 review of her new film, “Identity Thief.” Reed’s review prompted widespread criticism on the Internet, with one commenter on the Observer’s website calling it “a horrible, misogynist crapfest of a review.” Numerous bloggers and columnists also spoke out against the unnecessarily personal nature of Reed’s remarks about McCarthy’s weight, specifically because they were stated in a forum where the topic at hand was completely unrelated. With the LMU FitWell Center sponsoring various events this week as a part of “Body Image Awareness Week,” the Loyolan feels that this is the perfect time to draw attention to the fixation our society has on physical appearance, regardless of the context. In dismissing McCarthy as “a gimmick comedian who has devoted her short career to being obese and obnoxious with equal success,” Reed ignored McCarthy’s diverse career, including her recurring role on “Gilmore Girls,” where her character’s weight was rarely referenced. Moreover,
while McCarthy has used her weight as comedic fodder on occasion, such as when hosting “Saturday Night Live” and starring in the TV show “Mike and Molly,” her actions are no different than that of overweight male comedians like Kevin James, who Reed has not called out in a similarly disparaging fashion. Because we live in L.A., LMU students are particularly aware of the pressures to conform to a certain idealized body image. In fact, the unhealthy eating and excessive workout habits these pressures prompt can often lead to serious health concerns. According to the American College Health Association’s semi-annual survey of 95,712 students, 44 percent of college women and 27 percent of college men are dieting to lose weight. Although Reed’s response to McCarthy’s appearance is specifically concerned with the way women are publicly perceived, the Loyolan recognizes that being body critical or conscious is a genderless issue. As Body Image Awareness Week continues, take a moment to reflect on the discourse surrounding weight and appearance that we’ve been socialized to view as acceptable and consider the steps we can take to be comfortable with our own bodies. Let’s make sure that everyone recognizes physical appearances are personal and not up for criticism or judgment.
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Adrien Jarvis Kevin O’Keeffe Brigette Scobas Dan Raffety Zaneta Pereira Allison Croley Casey Kidwell Jenna Abdou Ali Swenson Joseph Demes Anna Escher Allie Heck Christopher James Chelsea Chenelle Mary Grace Cerni Nathan Dines Sam Borsos Kevin Cacabelos Michael Busse Katherine Douthit Maddie Flager Ryan Johnson Chanel Mucci Lucy Olson KiMi Robinson Jenny Yu Tyler Barnett Mercedes Pericas Stephanie Schiller Sydney Franz Jackson Turcotte Liana Bandziulis Leslie Irwin Kasey Eggert Sarabella Muise Michael Rainey Kirsten Dornbush Jennifer Bruner Michael Giuntini Allayah Beamon Melissa Carver Ryanne Haymer Harrison Geron Genesis Contreras Sabrina Budhrani Charles Riley Callie Douthit
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Loyolan Editorial Policy The Los Angeles Loyolan, a studentrun campus organization, publishes a twice weekly newspaper for the greater LMU community. The first copy is free of charge. Additional copies are $1 each. Paid, mailed subscriptions can be purchased through the Business department. The Loyolan accepts unsolicited letters from students, faculty, staff and alumni, and press releases from oncampus and off-campus organizations, but cannot guarantee publication. The Loyolan reserves the right to edit or reject all submissions, including advertisements, articles or other contributions it deems objectionable. The Loyolan does not print consecutive articles by the same author that repeat/ refute the initial arguments. Opinions and ideas expressed in the Loyolan are those of individual authors, artists and student editors and are not those of Loyola Marymount University, its Board of Trustees, its student body or of newspaper advertisers. Board Editorials are unsigned and reflect the opinions of the Executive Editorial Board. Guest editorials are by invitation of the Executive Editorial Board and reflect the views of the author. All advertisements are subject to the current rates and policies in the most recent Advertising Rates and Information materials.
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Pope’s resignation: Opportunity for change
C
hange can be a good thing, but how can you say that when the supposed reason for the change is anything but good? It’s pretty grim to celebrate someone’s allegedly poor health, but Monday’s announcement that Pope Benedict XVI is stepping down from his position – the first voluntary resignation in over 700 years, according Grinding to the article Gears University By Kevin O’Keeffe “reacts to Pope’s Managing Editor resignation” appearing on Page 1 of this issue – isn’t what I’d call “bad news.” It’s the perfect time for major transition and progression for the often socially conservative Roman Catholic Church, which is, in my opinion, quickly losing touch with young people like myself. Many in my demographic were baptized Catholic, myself included, but quickly became disillusioned with the Church’s outmoded teachings on the role of women in the church and, especially in my case, homosexuality. The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger took his place as the head of the Church in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II, and since then has managed to remain frighteningly stagnant on social issues, particularly about gay men and women and their relationship to the Church. As recently as last Christmas, according to the Huffington Post article “Pope Benedict Takes Anti-Gay Marriage To New Level In Christmas Speech
Associated Press
Pople Benedict XVI has been handling sex abuse cases in the Church since Pope John Paul II was acting head. Above, Benedict XVI is pictured shortly after rulings in March 2010 regarding a priest accused of molesting approximately 200 boys in Wisconsin. On Family Values,” Pope Benedict XVI called homosexuality a “manipulation of nature.” “People dispute the idea that they have a nature, given to them by their bodily identity, that serves as a defining element of the human being,” Pope Benedict XVI continued. “They deny their nature and decide that it is not something previously given to them, but that they make it for themselves.” For the patriarch of a multinational organization to say something so startlingly archaic is, in my opinion, a sign that the Church itself is completely behind the times for most of the Western world. Additionally, there’s Pope Benedict
XVI’s inactivity in properly responding to the Church’s sex abuse scandals. According to the Guardian article “Pope Benedict ‘complicit in child sex abuse scandals’, say victims’ groups,” the Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) considers the pope’s lack of transparency about sexual abuse by clergymen to be “terrible.” The general accusation against Pope Benedict XVI, according to the same article, is that despite his knowledge of clerical sex abuses, he has, for the most part, done little to respond to them. As the article quotes SNAP Executive Director David Clohessy as saying, “He knows more about clergy sex crimes
and cover-ups than anyone else in the Church, yet he has done precious little to protect children.” Though all the details in those cases are still being scrutinized, there’s no doubt in my mind that it is all yet another sign that the Catholic Church needs to become more progressive and more transparent. While the Catholic Church is proud of its traditions, they won’t mean much if membership in the Church dwindles – and according to the Slate article “He Didn’t Finish What He Started,” that’s exactly what’s happening. In my opinion, the Church is in a position to make the biggest sweeping reform since the Second Vatican
Council started in 1962. Vatican II changed the spoken language of the Mass from Latin to a colloquial tongue as part of an attempt to make the Church less imposing and more a part of traditional family life. However, it could be argued (as the aformentioned Slate article does) that it wasn’t enough to keep younger people involved. A more drastic shift in the Church could occur should a more progressive figure become pope, wherein things like homosexuality would be brought into a more contemporary context. However, I’d bet that’s not going to happen. In January of this year, according to the Reuters article “Pope Benedict names new cardinals who’ll choose successor, mostly Europeans,” the retiring patriarch named an additional 18 conservative European cardinals who will participate in the papal election process. This decision raised the number of Europeans among the 125 cardinal electors to 67. This means that instead of a more diverse choice from another continent, we’re likely to see yet another conservative European. Still, if I could implore the Catholic Church to do one thing, it would be this: Consider Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation as an opportunity to appoint someone new and different. Progress as an organization. Move beyond where you were and into present day. The Church is quickly losing touch with our generation, and things aren’t going to get any better if the next pope stays the course. This is a changing world, and now is the time to move along with it.
This is the opinion of Kevin O’Keeffe, a junior screenwriting major from Austin, Texas. Please send comments to kokeeffe@theloyolan.com.
February 14, 2013 Page 6
Opinion
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Lunch money theft speaks to bigger issue
O
ne would think that with a high rate of childhood hunger and poverty in our country, school districts would place a financial emphasis on this tragic situation. The last thing we’d expect is for them to transfer funds from departments that supply the poorest kids with cheaper school lunches. In an outrageously upsetBanAnnaGram ting occurrence, “state By Anna Escher officials identiAsst. Opinion Editor fied more than $158 million in misappropriations and unallowable charges that Los Angeles Unified School District drained from its cafeteria fund over a six-year span,” according to a Feb. 6 report by Jim Sweeny, which was written for the California Senate Rules Committee. But the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) was not the only culprit. The report details the crimes committed by a dozen districts in California, including those in San Diego, Santa Ana, San Francisco and Compton. Funding that was intended to go toward supplying low-income children with free and reduced-price school meals was instead redirected toward payments such as the installation of lawn sprinklers and the salaries of the districts’ television stations and financial managers, among other costs the school districts were struggling to cover. The aforementioned report also summarizes a case study in which, “despite strict rules on what food service funds can be used for, the district’s top administrators were using the
Information compiled from California Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes; Graphic: Sydney Franz | Loyolan
revenue to help balance an everstrained budget, to cover more than the program’s share of costs in some areas and unrelated expenses in others.” Funds should ideally not be clandestinely and illegally misdirected at all, but the last place they should be drawn from is food service programs in schools that support poor and hungry children. The fact that these acts were committed by the California school districts is baffling, but also indicative of misplaced priorities within California’s education system. This problem has resulted from years of budget cuts for schools. The Feb. 6 Capitol Weekly article “Schools grab millions of dollars from poorest students’ food funds” reported that in reference to these cases in which the school districts dipped into the food funds, “the funds involved were supposed to
be spent primarily on free and reduced-price meals that experts say are frequently the best and often the only complete meals that many low-income children receive in a given day.” The LAUSD proved to be the worst offender, with its cumulative $158 million that was drawn from food funding throughout the past six years. The same article also reported that “the California Department of Education recently ordered eight districts to repay nearly $170 million to their student meal programs. But these cases may represent only a fraction of a larger problem.” Granted, education-related spending is a highly complex topic, especially in this time of financial crisis in America. But from a student’s perspective, the misdirecting of school lunch funding towards something like making a school
look more aesthetically pleasing with lawn sprinklers is just about the most wasteful, despicable act an organization could commit. I’m not an expert on the state of California’s expenditures, but I know enough to see that this is wrong. You don’t need to attend a Jesuit institution, with its mission for education of the whole person and the development of men and women for others, to understand the immense injustice that is occurring. The misappropriation of these funds is despicable because it is essentially depriving those that depend on their schools for meals creates an environment that implicitly teaches a self-serving mentality, where those children learn to distrust institutions that are supposed to exist for their benefit. The schools essentially tell students that they care more about their economic functioning than
the well-being of individuals whom they are supposed to educate. Once that idea takes hold, it can easily be applied to individuals. And in the end, it wrongly and unfairly instills a generational mindset of “me first.” Childhood hunger is one of the most heartbreaking issues in America. It is also an obstacle in a student’s development that can be improved through general knowledge of nutrition and philanthropic initiatives that provide families with access to affordable, nutritious food. The hunger relief charity Feeding America reported that “16.7 million children lived in food insecure households in 2011.” This means that approximately onefourth of American children live in households in which it is a financial struggle to put food on the table. It is not compassionate, or ethical, of school districts to take money away from programs that are fighting to improve these statistics and provide children with access to reliable, nutritious meals. The correlation between having enough to eat and academic achievement for children is a strong one, and it is imperative that the organizations governing education in California value this link and recognize it within their expenditures. Education is vital to American quality of life as well as to the economy. Access to nutritious, balanced meals is integral to a student’s development and success in school. It is counterintuitive and reprehensible for school districts to be illegally diverting millions of dollars away from where it is most needed: the facilitation of the wellbeing of California’s low-income and food-insecure youth. This is the opinion of Anna Escher, a senior communication studies major from Stanford, Calif. Please send comments to aescher@theloyolan.com.
Opinion
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February 14, 2013 Page 7
Putting tests to the test:The mental hurdles
B
y most traditional definitions of the term, I’m not what you’d call a ‘good student.’ I go out drinking when I should be going to the library; I wallow in bed when my schedule reads “class”; and up until two weeks ago, I thought office hours were some sort of myth, like Bigfoot or Manti Te’o’s girlfriend. When I finally B-Leigh Dat do sit down at By Brian Leigh a computer, Staff Writer my time is spent dawdling through Reddit threads instead of studying and, to be completely honest, that usually only happens as an in-class alternative to note-taking. I’ve also spent six straight semesters on the Dean’s List. I know how that comes off, but I swear I don’t mean it as braggadocio. I mention it to preface a sincere and honest call for action. There’s a breakdown in the grading system that allows charlatans like myself to succeed, and I desperately want to find where the weak spot is. To start, we have to define the nature of grades themselves. In an ideal academic world, what purpose would they serve? Are they meant to measure IQ? Effort? Some sort of in-between? What exactly are we supposed to be looking for? I like to think grades should reflect a person’s aptitude for success in a given field. In the ideal world alluded to above, employers should theoretically be able to hire college students on their grade point average and nothing else. That’s obviously not realistic, and if it were, the resulting state of affairs
would raise its own unique set of problems. But I think that’s the general direction in which we should be heading. Does the current, test-driven model move us toward that ideal? I’m hard-pressed searching for a way to say yes. And a recent New York Times article about this very subject agrees with me. The piece, published Feb. 6 and titled “Why Can Some Kids Handle Pressure While Others Fall Apart?,” mentions a genetic study done on ninth-grade students in Taiwan. Researchers identified one specific gene, Catechol-o-methyltransferase (COTM), which removes dopamine from the prefrontal cortex of our brains, essentially better regulating neural activity and mental function. Students who have the slow-acting variant of the gene, on average, have IQs that are 10 points higher than those who don’t. But there’s a kicker: When stress is induced – like the kind taking a heavily weighted test provides – that cognitive advantage doesn’t just disappear, it reverses itself entirely. Dopamine overwhelms the prefrontal cortex, and the gene can’t remove it fast enough. In taking the Basic Competency Test for Junior High School Students, an exam that determines the academic fate of Taiwanese adolescents, students with the slow-acting enzyme – despite their marked IQ advantage – scored 8 percent lower than those without it. As the Times piece shrewdly points out, “It was as if some of the A students and B students traded places at test time.” So, what does that mean for you, me and the rest of us college-aged students here in America? A lot, actually. The results of this study pinpoint a serious, verifiable flaw in the test-driven system we’ve been
Jackson Turcotte | Loyolan
taught to adopt. Scholastic sociopaths like myself can get higher grades than we deserve, while kids who better understand the material – those who are probably better suited to thrive in the working world – continue to potentially underperform. Given the purpose of grades I posited earlier, that outcome simply can’t be accepted. They aren’t performing the one explicit function I’ve outlined. Any company that values GPA in its hiring process is using a metric system that’s not a completely accurate tool. So what if I was born with a genetic disposition that helps me think clearly on my history midterm? How does that help me in the real world? And much more saliently, how does it hinder those without it?
We need to improve the way we measure academic success – not to stop scoundrels like me, but to aid my diametrical inverse: the kid who genuinely learns the material but can’t manage his or her stress level during exams. Because of continued poor exam performance and its subsequent effect on his or her grades, that individual might never realize his or her potential. As William Blackstone once wrote, “It’s better that 10 guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.” The system needs to be tweaked if 10 slackers graduate cum laude, but not with the same sense of urgency. If there are deserving scholars graduating with straight Cs, however, the whole darn thing needs an overhaul. I don’t have a specific plan for
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how to improve the current model. I admit how much stronger my argument would be if I did, but these are matters for people much smarter than myself. That being said, someone needs to find a better option for quantifying scholastic success. Otherwise, futures will continue to be determined, in part, by the arbitrary strength of a hormone in someone’s frontal lobe. I don’t beat the system because I’m talented, smart or special. I beat the system, it seems, because I’m genetically disposed to taking tests – regardless of whether or not I’m actually learning. That’s an alarmingly beatable system. This is the opinion of Brian Leigh, a senior screenwriting major from Glen Head, N.Y. Please send comments to jdemes@theloyolan.com.
Nightlife
February 14, 2013 Page 8
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Dorm dating: No car, no money, no problem I Ali’sdating tips
n a city where status and wealth are worn on the sleeves of red carpet gowns, and extravagant villas line a coastline of privately owned beaches, the idea of putting yourself out there into the dating scene without much more than half a dorm room to your name can seem unthinkable. Ali’s Tally After all, By Ali Swenson much of News Intern our dating culture, especially surrounding Valentine’s Day, is rooted in the expectations of luxury. We bury ourselves in the belief that to court or be courted requires expensive clothes or impressive foreign cars – even when we’re still in college. Shows like “The Bachelor,”
while entertaining, endorse a false reality that worthwhile dates must include shopping sprees on Rodeo Drive or helicopter rides. And though I often feel like I’m part of a minority on this campus for being sans vehicle and having to monitor my debit card spending, I know that I’m not alone. Our age group is notorious for being low on dispensable cash and high on hormones. Therefore, I think it’s my duty as a carless and decidedly thrifty resident of Del Rey South to offer dating ideas for those of you who want to celebrate the season of love without blowing too much money and whoa are also carless. I speak from experience when I suggest that some of the best times I’ve had with new people as a freshman have been remarkably easy on the wallet. As an alternative to spending money at an up-
ANNA ESCHER’S Best bars near LMU*
1.
It’s likely one of the reasons you chose LMU was for its location in the heart of Los Angeles. It’s also likely you have experienced some of the diverse nightlife that exists around us. Since I turned 21, I have been stumbling around in heels investigating what our area has to offer. Hopefully my findings will bring new direction to your own nightlife exploration.
American Junkie, Hermosa Beach
Shuffle past the slightly intimidating bouncers at American Junkie in Hermosa Beach and feel the Top 40 hits vibrate through your chest. Look up and be entertained by their music video counterparts on medium-sized screens placed around the high walls of the bar. You might even notice a few photographers shifting between the two typically crowded dance floors. Expect to meet Hermosa Beach locals and slightly older-thancollege-age bar hoppers in this popular destination. American Junkie will typically charge a cover fee for men on the weekends, which is why this bar is more popular on Thursday nights. However, if you’re a woman, the bouncers here have a weakness for big smiles and the batting of mascara-heavy eyelashes.
RATING: 3/5 vodka sodas
2.Main on Main, Santa Monica
A $25 cab ride down Lincoln Boulevard will take you to the Venice/ Santa Monica area where you’re almost always guaranteed to have a good time due to the proximity of the few bars worthy of one of your more upscale outfits. Main on Main attracts a college-friendly crowd and emits a slightly bourgie atmosphere – that is, if you’re willing to stand in a line that usually translates to a 15 to 20-minute wait. Inside, you’ll be surrounded by lounge-style seating and slightly overpriced drinks. Expect a $5 cover charge on weekends.
RATING: 3/5 gin and tonics
3.The Victorian, Santa Monica
My personal favorite bar is The Victorian wine bar on Main Street in Santa Monica. You can’t miss it, as it is a Victorian-style mansion gone wine bar enclosed in a small, lit up forest. The lines to get in usually don’t pose too much of an inconvenience, and once inside you’re rewarded with two floors of live music. The basement is a dark red atmosphere that is a weekend home to live bands and a generally young, attractive crowd with a thirst for a larger variety of drink options and a more authentic, personal vibe. Top 40 is replaced with live jazz and rock cover bands. Take in the raspy voices of live singers and saxophone melodies audible from the top floor, or follow the crowd downstairs to the lounge bar. This bar has a unique atmosphere that won’t bother your tasteful ears with the music you hear every day on the radio. Again, a college-aged crowd, but one in which men outnumber the women. This bar is most popular on the weekends and doesn’t usually charge a cover.
RATING: 4/5 glasses of merlot
4.Prince O Whales, Playa del Rey
Say you aren’t in the mood to venture farther than a few miles outside the back gates. No worries: Playa del Rey has a few hidden gems, one of which is a dive bar on Culver Boulevard called Prince O Whales, or more commonly known among LMU students as POWs. Walk into this dive bar on a Tuesday night, and if you’re brave – or have enough drinks in your system – partake in karaoke. Karaoke makes POWs a popular place to visit on Tuesday nights.
RATING: 2/5 cans of PBR *This is the opinion of Asst. Opinion Editor Anna Escher. Please send comments to aescher@theloyolan.com.
Photos: Flickr Creative Commons; Graphic: Stephanie Schiller | Loyolan
scale restaurant, have a picnic on the bluff. A picnic avoids the stuffy pretentiousness of a fancy restaurant environment while letting you and your date get to know each other on LMU’s sunny campus. Feel like you aren’t spending any money by taking a stroll to Mendocino Farms for sandwiches (they take Flexi) or grabbing Crimson Lion eats via Tapingo. Find a table at the Bird’s Nest or settle down at the Tongva Memorial near the Leavey apartments where you can hear your voices echo. If all these don’t appeal to you, explore campus for your personal perfect picnic spot. Have a public transportation adventure. I’ve become very aware that many native Angelenos avoid the bus like they’re allergic, but really? A transportation system that can get you to Venice Beach and Santa Monica for a single dollar is literally right outside of our front gates. Catch the Big Blue Bus on Lincoln Boulevard with your date and you can be hitting the beach or watching the street performers at Third Street Promenade in less than a half hour. Who knows? You might meet some really interesting people in the process. Spend a day at the farmers market. One of Playa Vista’s best-kept secrets is its Saturday farmers market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., which occurs less than a mile away from campus at 6500 Seabluff Drive. Buy fresh fruit or just enjoy the local culture with your date without spending a cent. Go thrift shopping. Take a cue from the modern-day Casanova Macklemore himself: thrift shopping can actually make for a surprisingly fun date. With Goodwill just down the street in Culver City, a casual jaunt to the thrift store can be a good way to get to know your date through a lighthearted day popping tags. There’s something to be
as a freshman on a budget
1. As an alternative to
spending money at an upscale restaurant, have a picnic on the bluff.
2. Have a public
transportation adventure.
3.Spend a day at the farmers market. 4. Go thrift shopping.
Stephanie Schiller | Loyolan
said for the simplicity of getting to know each other without the distraction of extravagant material displays. And for those of us that might be a little lacking in funds, we should recognize that we can
still have fulfilling lives in the dating sphere and otherwise. This is the opinion of Ali Swenson, a freshman psychology major from Seattle, Wash. Please send comments to aswenson@theloyolan.com.
A different kind of Valentine H aving a tough time finding that ‘perfect someone’ this Valentine’s Day? Bored with the ‘same old same old’? Do you feel like the opposite sex just isn’t cutting it anymore? This Valentine’s Day, I challenge all straightidentifying, single Lions to try something new: experiment Grinding with the same Gears sex. Sure, you By Kevin O’Keeffe may have Managing Editor never thought about it before, and it might not be your cup of tea. But maybe, just maybe, the idea has been there for a while, gestating in the back of your mind. You might be a lady harboring a girl crush on Mila Kunis. Or, maybe you’re a bro who secretly loves Ryan Gosling movies – or just Ryan Gosling. Regardless of your past relationships, there’s no better time than now to shed your inhibitions and give experimentation a shot. Here are my top tips for all you single ladies and gents who are just a little bi-curious.
1. Don’t restrict yourself to experimenting at LMU. Take it from a guy who’s attempted to date among the approximately six openly gay men on our little campus: You’re better off away from the bluff. If you’re of drinking age, heading to the bars around UCLA and USC can reap some long-term rewards. Then again, if you’re bar hopping and only queer for the evening, why on earth are you wasting your time anywhere besides West Hollywood? Eleven, Micky’s and Gym Sportsbar are all distinctly different but great bars with different styles, meaning curious guys will be able to survey several different flavors of dude. Ladies, your bar options are unfortunately slimmer, but you can try out the Palms Bar for an all-lesbian experience. Then again, girls can also go to pretty much any non-gay bar and find at least a dozen drunk women looking to get Sapphic. Y’all will be fine. 2. Master the eye language. Despite what you might think, not every homosexual is trying to get into your pants. So, you’ll have to learn the lingo, but lucky for you, it’s all in the eyes. Ladies, I unfortunately can’t speak to this as well for you as I can for men, but the biggest tip I can give is
to never approach someone before locking eyes across the room. Why? It’s actually universal to all sexualities: Think about if someone you weren’t interested in was trying to make eye contact with you. What would you do? That’s right, you’d turn away. So, if the eye contact sticks, that’s your signal to dive in. Don’t worry about the chase – if you’ve kept up eye contact, he or she is definitely interested. Go for the gold. 3. Above all else, have an open mind. Like I said, experimenting isn’t for everyone. Some people just aren’t into it. For others, it requires an openness that can be difficult to muster. But if you’re interested in trying things out, make sure to really commit to it. Flirt it up and have a good time. Worstcase scenario, you wake up in the morning and think, “Well, never doing that again.” At least you tried something different. And maybe, just maybe, you wake up with the number of someone wonderful you might never have expected to date. That’s the kind of dream most people would kill for on Valentine’s Day. This is the opinion of Kevin O’Keeffe, a junior screenwriting major from Austin, Texas. Please send comments to kokeeffe@theloyolan.com.
Arts & Entertainment Film, Literature, Music, Restaurants and Theatre
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February 14, 2013 Page 9
T he Lo y o l a n’s
VALENTINE’S GUIDE
Great Valentine’s Day plans no matter what you’re into.
Charm your date with a ‘love pie’ W
ant to make love in under 30 minutes? With just a quick trip to any Ralph’s supermarket – or Bristol if you have that extra Flexi – you can easily make this diabetes-inducing love pie for your significant other. You will need: 1 package of mini graham cracker pie crusts 1 jar of organic crunchy peanut butter (It’s specific, but the mixture of crunch and oil gives organic By Monika crunchy the most satisfying texture.) Fowle 1 quart of your faContributor vorite ice cream flavor (Although strawberry ice cream will look the most appropriate, since it’s pink.) 1 box of Grape-Nuts 1 container of Hershey’s chocolate shell ice cream topping The graham cracker crusts are going to serve as the base of this love pie, so set aside how ever many you want to make. (Let’s hope it’s only one.) Then, spread the crunchy peanut butter on the bottom and sides of the crust. Next, fill the crust with whatever flavor ice cream you desire. Let it get slightly soft so you can mush the ice cream to make a flat surface. Sprinkle the Grape-Nuts on top, about a tablespoon, and put the whole thing in the freezer. Leave it in there for about 20 minutes – just to let the ice cream re-harden. When that’s done, take out the pie and driz-
Flickr Creative Commons
Make your date a sweet one and follow Monika Fowle’s love pie recipe. zle the chocolate shell on top into a heart shape. If you want to get really fancy, put some red berries decoratively around the chocolate heart shell – two thin slices of strawberry work well for this. As always, whatever creative twists you want to add are completely fine. I have sometimes made this dessert using my own crust. To make your own, simply crush graham crackers and mix with softened butter – just enough so that the crumbs hold together. One of my friends who is allergic to peanut butter has used marshmallow sauce in place of the peanut butter. On the other hand, if you love peanut butter, try using the Reese’s shell topping, or peanut butter and chocolate ice cream, to keep the theme consistent. This is the opinion of Monika Fowle, a freshman graphic design major from Menlo Park, Calif. Please send comments to cjames@theloyolan.com.
Fantastic romance movies for everyone
D
inner and a movie seems to be the most classic of all Valentine’s date night activities. There are great special screenings happening on Valentine’s Day that will not only make your date swoon, but will also ensure that you aren’t dragged to whatever catastrophic Nicholas Sparks adaptation slithered its way into theaters. “Casablanca” The classic romance is a surefire tearjerker. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) is grumpy, curChris Culture the mudgeonly bar By Christopher owner whose life is thrown into a James tailspin when the A&E Editor love of his life, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), comes into his bar fleeing Nazis with her new beau. With a fantastic script, great acting and enough chemistry to fuel another decade of romances, there is no better way to spend Valentine’s Day than cuddling with your significant other during “Casablanca.” The film will be playing at the American Cinematheque at the Aero at 7:30 p.m. and at the Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre at 7:30 p.m. today only. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Eating a croissant and drinking her coffee, Audrey Hepburn’s Holly Golightly stared into the window at Tiffany’s and created one of the most indelible images in film history. Don’t let the chick flick exterior of the film fool you, guys.
Warner Bros.
“Casablanca” was named the greatest love story by the American Film Institute.
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is a real charmer and features Hepburn’s landmark performance. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” will be playing at the Egyptian Theatre at 7:30 p.m. and ArcLight Beach Cities at 9 p.m. tonight. AMC Dine-In Theatre Marina 6 Want your dinner and movie to take place at the same time, but you don’t want your romantic meal to consist of popcorn and Milk Duds? The newly renovated AMC Marina 6 now serves dinner and drinks as you watch the movie, making getting up to grab something a thing of the past. The menu, which includes everything from burgers, seafood, Mexican food and a fully stocked bar, is only one button on your seat away. This is the opinion of Christopher James, a junior screenwriting and marketing double major from Lodi, Calif. Please send comments to cjames@theloyolan.com.
Great Valentine sites no matter the date
N
o other holiday can bring out emotions ranging from grief to ecstasy and everything in between quite like Valentine’s Day. Here are some great, last-minute date options in the area regardless of who you choose to spend it with. Disneyland Resort If you are lucky enough to have an annual pass, or are in the mood to spend some cash for Valentine’s Day, then Disneyland is definitely UnPOPular the place to be. From Feb. 11 to Opinon Feb. 17, the park By Chelsea will be decked out Chenelle in hearts, flowers and banners that Asst. A&E Editor proudly announce “True Love Conquers All.” Disney’s most famous couples, such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, will all be out for some magic photo ops. Every day, the Opera House on Main Street will have two evening showings of “Lady and the Tramp.” End the night with a romantically lit dinner at Blue Bayou to really impress your date. Late Night Art at LACMA The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) will stay open until 9 p.m. tonight. You and your date can enjoy the museum’s modern, South and Southeast Asian, Islamic and European collections as well as the Stanley Kubrick exhibition. If you’re in for a
Flickr Creative Commons
The “Happiest Place on Earth” is also one of the most romantic sites. more solemn evening, the museum offers a limited edition “Love Hurts” tour, which will guide you through works inspired by heartbreak. LACMA is free for members and $20 for the general public. (Therapy sessions not included.) Santa Monica Pier As cliché as it may seem, the simple old-school vibe of the Santa Monica Pier is definitely a hot spot for lovers and friends. What is more romantic than a walk on the beach, sharing an ice cream and a brilliant sunset? If you really want to up the ante, hop on the Ferris wheel and officially melt your date’s heart. When the beach gets too chilly, walk over to Third Street Promenade and grab a bite to eat at one of the many ritzy restaurants. This is the opinion of Chelsea Chenelle, a sophomore art history major from San Diego, Calif. Please send comments to cchenelle@theloyolan.com.
Mixyourdateupwith Valentine’s concerts
W
here love notes, chocolates and roses fall short, music can fill in as a wonderful medium for expressing love. Fortunately, Los Angeles is filled with music venues and vibrant culture for an exciting Valentine’s Day evening. Here are some musical opportunities in L.A. that are perfect for an amorous night out. An Evening of Romance at the Philharmonic The magnificent Walt Disney ConSound Check cert Hall is throwing a Valentine’s By Mary Grace Day concert of epic Cerni proportions. Take Asst. A&E Editor this opportunity to experience the extremely talented L.A. Philharmonic orchestra. Bask in the sounds of Mendelssohn, Mozart and Strauss for a classy date. There will also be a post-concert reception where you can enjoy chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne. Tickets range from $18 to $172. Downtown L.A.Art Walk Music, art and delicious street food take over Downtown L.A. the second Thursday of every month during the famous L.A. Art Walk. This definitely won’t be a low-key Valentine’s evening, but this event is perfect for the adventurous couple. The best part about the art walk is that admission is absolutely free – think Third Street Promenade on steroids. Check the Art Walk website for parking, events and more details.
Associated Press
The Walt Disney Concert Hall hosts a performance specifically for Valentine’s Day. he Vaccines at the Fonda This understated ‘50s-style venue in Hollywood is intimate and fun. The Fonda Theatre is a great classic L.A. venue. The Vaccines are a hip indie act that love to sing about lost love and just having a grand ole time with the ones you love – a perfect combination for the L.A. music sleuths. Look on Songkick.com for tickets. Power 106’s Valentine Crush at the Nokia Theater T.I., Ne-Yo and RaVaughn will be performing at this year’s Power 106 Valentine’s Crush. The Nokia is settled at the glamorous and glitzy L.A. Live in beautiful Downtown L.A. The popular R&B crooners are sure to put on a good show. Win tickets every hour by listening to Power 106. This is the opinion of Mary Grace Cerni, a sophomore communication studies major from West Covina, Calif. Please send comments to mcerni@theloyolan.com.
February 14, 2013 Page 10
Arts & Entertainment
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‘Walking Dead’ executive talks zombies to LMU Screening Recap By Paul Morgan Contributor
L
MU’s school of Film and Television (SFTV) played host to talking “Dead� Monday Night. Glen Mazzara, former showrunner and executive producer of AMC’s Emmy-award winning “The Walking Dead,� visited to screen and discuss the highly rated show as part of SFTV’s Monday Night series of screenings. Mazzara spoke to the development of “The Walking Dead,� its three-season arc
Associated Press
Glen Mazzara, executive producer of AMC’s hit show “The Walking Dead,� held a Q&A Monday with LMU’s SFTV.
and the moods that he hoped to achieve through it. He also asked students which of them planned on being writers, and doled out wisdom to them, comparing the writing and re-writing process to a band in a recording studio. “When you think about your favorite band in the recording studio, how many takes does a band do when they record?� Mazzara asked. His point was to illustrate that, no matter how good a draft seems to a writer, it can always get better. Mazzara spoke about how he can go through up to 20 drafts before an episode is done. Paul Chitlik, assistant professor of screenwriting at LMU, introduced Mazzara to the students and explained Mazzara’s accomplishments in the television industry. Afterwards, Mazzara presented episode seven of season three of “The Walking Dead,� and then re-screened the episode with his own commentary and explanations about the writing/producing process of each scene. Students then asked questions about the origins of the show and the development of characters. Mazzara, an animated man with a slight New York accent, spoke about his show with great affection. He reveled in some of his favorite scenes, shots and emotional moments, and even spoke about how embarrassed he
AMC
The third season premiered Sunday, Feb. 10. According toTVbythenumbers. com, it drew 12.3 million viewers, which was the show’s largest audience.
Stumped? Check out the answers for this week’s puzzle on laloyolan.com.
was that his contract mandated that a Hyundai be used in certain episodes. Referencing a driving scene, he said, “God, this scene would have been so much cooler if they were riding horses instead of a Hyundai.� Senior film production major Jessica Nicholas attended the screening and said, “‘The Walking Dead’ gives a whole other dimension to
zombie stories, and really explores how people would react in that sort of situation.� The atmosphere at the screening was one of excitement. Junior film production major Preston Altree was elated to hear Mazzara speak. Having just shot his junior film and expressing interest in movie makeup and prostheses, Altree said, “I’m
a big fan of zombies in general, but on top of that, we have one of the great minds who made ‘The Walking Dead’ an Emmy-winning success to talk about them with us.� “The Emmy Award is really a testament to the quality of the show,� added senior theatre arts major Jackson Kendall. “The quality of the content speaks for itself.�
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February 14, 2013 Page 11
T h e lif e o f a f ilm s tu dent B e h i nd t he sc enes of making a shor t f i l m
Film Feature By Christopher James A&E Editor
W
hile not all students are a fan of group projects, imagine the reaction if a project requires students to raise thousands of dollars in order to shoot a short film. This endeavour not only involves a costly budget, but also many people in both the cast and crew to make the student’s vision come alive. From pre-production, to filming, to editing in post-production, LMU’s School of Film and Television requires that each film production major complete all the stages of making a short film, whether documentary or narrative, to gain practical experience of filmmaking upon graduating from LMU. Film production majors can choose to either undergo their production in the fall or spring semester of their junior year, or even in their senior year. Junior film production major Joe Slavin is one such student who opted for an earlier start on his project. The most difficult part of filming his project, Slavin said, was “finding ... something that people would want [to watch] and selling them on it.” However, finishing and screening the film made all the difficulty worth it for Slavin. “It’s a constant battle back
and forth, wondering if your film is good or bad,” said Slavin. “I remember sitting as it played, not watching anything on the screen and just looking around, trying to get the vibe in the room. It was absolutely thrilling to hear [at the end] that everybody for the most part liked it.” Some students, such as junior film production student Matt Furtado, are in the middle of planning their films. Furtado’s film is stuck in pre-production as he ensures every detail is ready for his upcoming shoot. “It is so easy to fall behind schedule [on the actual shoot days]. You want to take all the time to be careful about everything, to do a bunch of takes and get everything perfect, but you don’t always have time for perfect. You have to settle for good enough,” said Furtado. “But if you have good people helping out, you can get it settled pretty good.” Not every student filming this semester is knee-deep in pre-production. Junior film production major Andrew Odeh just finished his second week of filming this weekend, and is about to enter the editing bay for post-production work. Collaboration has been a force propelling Odeh’s project forward. “The thing about LMU is that we can collaborate with like-minded individuals who are also from the film school. This collaboration is the key
Jessica Jacobs
While some students shot off campus, junior film production major Andrew Odeh filmed part of his short film in the Thomas P. Kelly Student Art Gallery.
Jessica Jacobs
Junior film production major Andrew Odeh’s film is about“a young filmmaker who begins to lose his sight,“said Odeh. “The question is asked, how does a person respond when everything a person knows in life is turned upside down?” for allowing any of these productions to flourish,” said Odeh. “From the creative side to the managerial side, you find people who have a true interest in one thing or the other and that is how this production gets going.” For these films, students are required to raise their entire budget on their own. Some productions, such as Odeh’s and Slavin’s productions, cost around $3,000. Other student films cost more than that. Furtado has begun his fundraising effort with a goal of $5,500. When asked how he has begun fundraising, Furtado said, “It is all through my Indiegogo page. You set it up and tell people what your project is, ask for donations and, hopefully, you get enough to cover your budget, because film is expensive.” Narrative film is not the only type of film that students working on their theses can do for their junior year. One possible class offers students to film their own short documentary, something that appealed junior film production major Neil Hilken. “I am doing my 350 documentary on Ryan Yamashita,
Joe Slavin
Junior film production major Joe Slavin’s film “Spray” focuses on graffiti as a means of self-expression as a young woman uses a spray can to convey art. a senior entrepreneurship major at LMU who started his own skateboard shaping company, Yamashita Boards,” said Hilken. “It is going to show the entire process of what it takes to shape a skateboard while uncovering what it took for Yamashita to start his own business and what his motivation and passion for the craft is.” While some may think that filmmaking requires simply filming action on a camera, film production majors have learned the many different levels and difficulties associated with the art. “The average person has a very simplified [sense] of how filmmaking works. They don’t understand how much work has gone into it,” said Furtado. “You have to plan every little thing and raising money is no easy task. People don’t
realize it is actually hard.” Yet passion seems to outweigh such discouragements. Film, according to Hilken, “allows me to incorporate both visual images and sound to create an emotional experience that has never existed before.” Filmmaking may not be for the faint of heart, but some students, such as Odeh, are optimistic for students looking to move forward with their interest in film. “All I can say to people who are interested in doing something like this is you have to be true to your own voice and true to your own vision,” said Odeh. “You can’t duplicate something that has already been done because I think the opportunity to create an artistic production with an artistic result is something that is so astonishing.”
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Neil Hilken
Narrative short films are not the only type of films that students are allowed to make. Junior film production major Neil Hilken (left) made a documentary short film on Ryan Yamashita’s (right) company for his junior-level project.
Contact incoming Asst. Managing Editor Jenna Abdou for more info at jabdou@theloyolan.com
February 14, 2013 Page 12
Arts & Entertainment
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Choir harmonizes history with Scripture Music Spotlight By Hayley Lobel Staff Writer
S
acred Heart Chapel was filled with the sound of music on Monday night as students, faculty and the LMU community and local residents were brought together by a gospel concert celebration in LMU’s Sacred Heart Chapel. As a part of Black History Month, in partnership with the William H. Hannon Library, a large choir gathered on Monday, Feb. 11 in Sacred Heart Chapel to celebrate the use of Scripture in song. “The Lasting Presence of the [King James Version] KJV in the Music of the Black Church” is the third of four events that LMU is promoting related to “Manifold
Greatness: The Creation and Afterlife of the King James Bible,” an exhibition currently on display in the Hannon Library. Outreach Librarian Jamie Hazlitt said that the concert was a “spiritual celebration of the KJV by a community for whom the KJV is at the heart of worship.” The concert featured the Sacred Praise Chorale of Faithful Central Bible Church under the direction of Dr. Diane White-Clayton (“Dr. Dee”), a vocalist, pianist, composer, lecturer, preacher and teacher who formed the group back in 2006. With guided commentary by Reverend Jason Darden, the ecumenical and interfaith campus minister here at LMU, the event captured the lively spirit which Dr.
Liana Bandziulis | Loyolan
The lively Dr. Diane White-Clayton encourages the audience to sing and clap along to traditional choral gospel music inspired by the King James Bible.
Liana Bandziulis | Loyolan
The Sacred Praise Chorale of the Faithful Central Bible Church pays close attention to the direction of Dr. Diane White-Clayton (at piano) as they engage the audience with a rendition of “We Shall be Changed.” Jeffrey Siker, the event’s organizer, hoped to evoke. Siker, a professor in the theological studies department who initially proposed the idea for the concert, said that the event was the perfect “intersection of two great traditions: the AfricanAmerican community and the King James Version of the Bible.” According to Dr. Siker, “the aim of the concert was to highlight the significance of the KJV in African-American tradition.” The concert highlighted the language of the King James Bible through worship music, and audience members rose to their feet as the Sacred Praise Chorale sang a variety of songs, such as “Bless the Lord” and
“We Shall be Changed.” The chorale’s songs evoked many emotions from the audience, with some songs bringing audience members to tears, while others moved them to stand up, clap and sing along to the upbeat melodies. After the concert, senior theological studies major Alexander Abassi was moved, saying, “From the sounds of the gospel choir to the spirit of the Sacred Heart Chapel, audience members were able to rejoice in a beautiful night of singing, clapping and sharing in the faith of the Lord.” This is the third of four total events related to “Manifold Greatness.” The last event will take place on Feb. 22 in the Hannon Library. Students and faculty are en-
couraged to see the traveling exhibition, which celebrates the 400th anniversary of the first printing of the King James Bible in 1611. “Manifold Greatness” highlights the dramatic history behind the production of this book, its influences on English and American literature and its further impact on culture and society in the present day. For even more photos of the event titled, “The Lasting Presence of the KJV in the Music of the Black Church,” and to read News Intern Ali Swenson’s preview of Black History Month, including a schedule of events, visit laloyolan.com.
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Sports
February 14, 2013 Page 13
LMU men’s golf team finished 10th among 12 teams at the Farms Collegiate Invitational at the Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. on Tuesday. Junior Tyler Torano led the team, shooting an LMU-best 74 on his final round, helping him finish with a final score of 231, tying him for 31st overall.
Men’s basketball Head Coach Max Good and his coaching staff have offered a scholarship to junior Chris Sandifer from Gardena, Calif. Sandifer, a 6-foot 5-inch shooting guard plays for Junipero Serra High School. Sandifer holds another offer from the University of Colorado, according to Rivals.com.
LMU ATHLETICS NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE PAST WEEK
LMU junior closer Bret Dahlson has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year watch list. Dahlson’s 11 saves last season were the second most in LMU baseball history in a single season.
The LMU club hockey team did not garner an invitation to the American Collegiate Hockey Association Regionals after losing the West Coast Hockey Conference game last Saturday to Northern Arizona University. This year’s team posted its best record ever at 16-6-2.
Men's club rugby plays a non-conference game against the University of Colorado Buffaloes this Saturday at Sullivan Field at 1 p.m. The Lions are 2-1 this season with wins over Arizona State University and Cal Lutheran University. Chris Delgado | dd
Information compiled by Kevin Cacabelos, asst. Sports editor; Graphic Mercedes Pericas | Loyolan
February 14, 2013 Page 14
Sports
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NBA Warriors swap swag for sleeves The Golden State Warriors recently debuted their new sleeved uniforms.
L
et’s talk about swag: athletes either have it or they don’t. In my imagination, athletes are superheroes and their jerseys are the costumes they wear when fighting crime and saving the world. A s w a g g y athletic uniform a l l o w s players to feel a sense of pride and confidence, comparable Sam’s Slam to iconic By Sam Borsos superhero uniforms Asst. Sports Editor like the ones worn by Superman, Captain America and Iron Man. These outfits seem to flat out say, “I’m going to kick your ass, and I’m going to look good while doing it.” And then, on the contrary, we have jerseys that are the opposite. They might remind us of superheroes like the Incredible Hulk or Thing from the Fantastic Four. What happened to all the swag? The Golden State Warriors are now in that second category after debuting their new sleeved basketball jerseys, designed by Adidas. According to the Warriors’ official website, the uniforms claim to be 26 percent lighter than their current uniform, adding that “Adidas developed this innovative system to allow for optimal performance on the court
while providing fans with a new and unique apparel option.” The uniforms are also environmentally friendly, made out of 60 percent recycled material. Photos of the fresh look are already online, and the Warriors will compete in them for the first time against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, Feb. 22. My question is this: How do you find the right balance between comfort and style? Along with seemingly half of the LMU population, I’m from the San Francisco Bay Area, and anyone who knows me knows that the Warriors are the only NBA team I ever talk about. I sleep in my David Lee jersey T-shirt pretty much every night. I waited in line for over an hour during winter break to get my game day Stephen Curry bobblehead doll before
Stephanie Schiller | Loyolan
the Warriors’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies. I love this team, but even I’m not so sure about these jerseys. First of all, why didn’t anyone tell me that the Warriors turned into a soccer team? I like the idea of changing up a uniform, but I also appreciate tradition. Basketball doesn’t have the type of uniforms that will ever need sleeves – keep it on the soccer field. The Warriors’ website says, “The adizero short sleeve jersey allows for maximum movement in all phases of the game, equal with that of a traditional tank basketball jersey.” But if the players can get the same amount of movement with or without the sleeves on, why wouldn’t you just design it without them? I suppose that Adidas is trying to set the trend by creating a “modern” look, but I’m not feeling it at all. I can’t get the nightmare image out of my mind of the Warriors warming up for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014. I think I could live with this new look if it wasn’t almost all yellow. I understand that we take pride in living in the Golden State, but it’s too much to handle along with the sleeves. If blue were to be the dominant color, the whole look would have been much more pleasing to the eye and a little more subtle. But don’t even get me started on the pinstriped shorts. The current Warriors’ uniforms are just fine – a classic blue jersey, with a big gold circle in the middle, highlighting the blue outline of the Golden Gate Bridge inside the circle. Maybe they could have taken the Brooklyn Nets approach
Lions to play Pepperdine M.ball from Page 16 lineup, as transfer sophomore guard Chase Flint is expected to return after missing the past 10 games with a stress reaction in his left shin. “I’m really excited, I just can’t wait to get back and play,” said Flint. “I mean, I just look for the open man, shoot if I’m open and try to make the simple play and make my teammates better.” Averaging just 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists through the first 14 games of the season, Flint’s numbers may not pop out the same way junior point guard Anthony Ireland’s 20.3 PPG do; however, his team values him for his effect on the game beyond the box score. “We certainly hope [he will return tonight], if today’s any indication,” said Head Coach Max Good. “He gives us order, and he’s just a terrific passer. He’s truly a total team player. The only thing he cares about and gets great joy from is seeing his teammates do well, and you don’t see that that often.” Referring to Pepperdine as an “annoying” place to play, Good tried to simulate such an atmosphere during practice on Tuesday, looking to get the Lions in the mindset of playing through whatever obstacles arise during Thursday’s contest. “The bottom line is that we have to go to Pepperdine,” said Good. “Last year, it took us one hour and 40 minutes to drive [19.1] miles. That in itself is annoying. Sometimes
we try to simulate it and make it as tough as we can in practice, because they’re not going to like the calls on the road – there’s just a lot of things that happen on the road, they’re just not in their comfort zone. So, we constantly try to prepare them to play out of their comfort zone.” The Lions expect to face yet another game of zone defense, which has exploited their dearth of consistent shooters. And without an off-season between now and the start of tonight’s game to improve their collective shooting ability, they will be forced to attack the zone from a different angle. “The last game against Gonzaga, their defense just completely shaded his [Ayodeji Egbeyemi’s] side,” said Scholl. “If people just read the box score, they’ll think, ‘Oh, Deji didn’t really do much,’ which he didn’t. But they just shaded his whole side with the zone. They let everybody else [go] on the other side and they tried to take Anthony [Ireland] away too, but as we know, Anthony [Ireland] is creative, and his shot-making ability allowed him to create on his own shots for 30.” Defensively, LMU will be faced with shutting down Pepperdine’s potent perimeter players, redshirt senior Lorne Jackson (14.4 PPG) and sophomore Jordan Baker (11.3 PPG). Baker torched the Lions for 17 points in the game’s first 17 minutes when Pepperdine came into Gersten Pavilion and beat LMU, 60-57, on
Jan. 24. “Their guard play is their strength,” said Scholl. “Both Jordan Baker and Lorne Jackson are playing great and played very well up in the win at Portland for them. The guards are the concentration for us, and with that being said, they’ve also had a lot of success with their freshman forward Will Davis, who did a good job against us last time. Those key guys are going to be the focus for us.” LMU’s third-leading scorer, junior guard Ayodeji Egbeyemi, has been nursing a groin injury this week, but is expected to play in tonight’s game. While the return of Flint will provide more depth to the Lions’ backcourt, Good said that Egbeyemi has to play, as he was critical in holding Baker to just four points in the second half following his 17-point outburst in the first 20 minutes of play. “He’s got a groin pull,” said Good. “We need him Thursday, because Jordan Baker had 17 points against us in the first half and in the second half, he only had [four] points when we put Deji on him.” Tonight’s game tips off at 7 p.m. PST in Pepperdine’s Firestone Fieldhouse. It will cap a three-game stray away from Gersten Pavilion, with the Lions returning for a homestand this weekend, hosting St. Mary’s College on Saturday. “We know how we can play. We just have to do it,” said Flint. “I think we’ve been discouraged. We’re 1-10. I mean, who wouldn’t [be]? But once we get that first win, we’ll be fine.”
when designing their new uniform, which includes a sleek black and white design – nothing over the top. Or, if they were going to include pinstripes, take advice from the New Orleans Hornets, who have them on both the shorts and the jersey top to keep consistency. The Warriors need to wake up and smell the coffee that these jerseys just don’t work. However, though the design could have executed the design a lot better, I’m proud to root for the team that’s trying something bold. My favorite part about rooting for the Warriors is that they not only think about their game, but also their fans’ loyalty. They not only want to do this for innovation, but also to give Oracle Arena some fresh new gear. Maybe I’m too attached to the Warriors I know and
love, but I’m not ready for this new uniform to be worn by my favorite superheroes. It might just take some time getting used to it, but right now it doesn’t feel like home to me when I look at the photos of the Warriors in these strange, modern jerseys. It’s awesome that they’re trying something new, but I wish innovation didn’t mean looking like a soccer team. But hey, if these sleeved jerseys turn out to be the magical element to helping the Warriors climb from second to first in the Pacific Division, I won’t say another word. Instead I might just think to myself, “Gooooal!” This is the opinion of Sam Borsos, a freshman undecided liberal arts major from Palo Alto, Calif. Please send comments to sborsos@theloyolan.com.
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S ports Lions lead off against Utah for first series
February 14, 2013 Page 15
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Baseball from Page 16
count on quality pitching and solid defense every single time we take the field.” One of the question marks for the Lions coming into this campaign is filling the corner infield spots, which saw two of its starters from a year ago graduate from LMU. The Lions infield this season may be more of a musical chairs act than a solidified option for Gill, as three of the four infield spots are open for competition. According to Gill, senior infielder Joey Boney has virtually secured the shortstop role, but senior infielder Cullen Mahoney, who played much of last season at second base,
could see time at other positions. “Whatever the best unit we can run out there is the unit we will go with,” said Mahoney. “We have some good athletes who all understand that. I think it’s a blessing as opposed to a curse.” Gill said he agrees with Mahoney. “In this case, this is a positive for this team,” said Gill. “We have guys who are athletic enough to play multiple positions, and we will mix and match as the season goes on.” The outfield is pretty much set in stone. Redshirt senior outfielder Zac Fujimoto will man center field, Lowenstein will play left field and sophomore outfielder Tanner Donnels will play in right field.
The Lions’ pitching is definitely the strength for this team coming into the season, as not only do they return two of their three starters from a year ago, but also promote Griffin to the starting role and have a bullpen that is experienced and capable of filling many different roles. Sophomore pitchers Colin Welmon and Trevor Megill, each coming off strong seasons as the team’s ace and number-two starter, respectively, said they are looking to replicate and improve upon their successes. “It’s all about throwing first-pitch strikes,” said Megill, who is scheduled to start Saturday versus the University of Utah in the team’s
first series. “I try and start off every inning with that first-pitch strike and get the leadoff man out. That’s about all I can do.” According to players and coaches the team’s chemistry and the improved work ethic improved this offseason. “We had more guys that were here every day, putting in the work that needs to be done in order to compete on the highest level,” said Megill. “I think the 5 a.m. weight sessions helped us a lot.” Although Gill notices his club’s increased chemistry, he is quick to note that the true test of his team’s chemistry will be seen as the season moves along.
“Things are easy and fun right now. We haven’t faced any adversity yet,” said Gill. “The key will be when people are fighting for playing time and we are in the midst of our schedule. That will be the true test.” The schedule is not favorable for the Lions, as not only do they play 30 of their 51 games on the road, but many of their tests are against top competition. The team will travel to the University of Oregon, Pepperdine University, CSU Fullerton and UCLA, all of whom made postseason play last season. The Lions will begin their season tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Page Stadium against Pac-12 representative University of Utah.
Preferring the uniform nature of track over cross country’s unpredictable characteristics, Strum is more than ready to begin competing for LMU after a redshirt season. “It feels amazing to wear the LMU letters. It didn’t feel right
having to run with the ‘unattached’ next to my name,” Strum said. “I’m excited to represent LMU.” Strum is already off to a promising start. The junior set another school record last weekend at the Husky Classic in Seattle, running the 3000-meter in a time of 8:10.22, an LMU best on an indoor track. “I was surprised with the result. I didn’t think I’d run that fast,” Strum said. “After the race, Coach asked me, ‘Did you know what you just ran?’” Not only does Strum want to qualify for regionals, he has his eyes set on nationals and wants to set a personal best in the 5000-meter. He ran a school-best 14:04 last spring in that event, but this year wants to get his time all the way down to 13:48. Another runner to keep an eye on is Strum’s roommate and the team’s number-two best runner, junior Kevin Joerger, who focuses on longer distances. Joerger finished with a personal best of 32:12 in
the 10K at West Regionals in cross country. “[Joerger] is looking really strong. He did so well at the end of cross country despite being injured at the beginning. It says a lot about his ability,” Strum said. On the women’s side, all eyes are on Shea. The senior advanced all the way to the national championship in cross country last fall after placing 11th at the NCAA West Regionals. Like Strum, Guerrero thinks Shea has a real chance at qualifying for regionals, even though she has not run competitively on a track in nearly two years. Unlike Strum, Shea could not even run unattached because of a stress fracture in her sacrum, a bone at the base of the spine on the lower back. “It will feel awkward, and I’ll be a little hesitant starting out, but I’m anxious to see what I can do after being off the track for two years,” Shea said. Not only does Shea want to perform at a high level for herself this
season, but she also realizes what is at stake for her team and the program as a whole. “For the program and its future, we need to make it to regionals to attract attention and continually attract recruits,” Shea said. The team’s first significant meet is at the Ben Brown Invitational on Saturday, March 9. By this time, LMU runners will have had a couple weeks of training completed. “That’s the first weekend we’ll come out with all our guns blazing to see where we stand,” Guerrero said. After their meets in March, Guerrero and his runners have the Mt. SAC Invitational taking place in mid-April circled on their calendars. By this time, runners will be peaking, records will be falling and hopefully for Guerrero and his team, qualifying times for regionals will be set. “We’re starting to get to that next level,” said Shea. “The motto is to arrive right on time.”
Track has eyes set on regionals in April Track from Page 16 Strum currently unofficially holds LMU’s records in both the 1,500-meter and 5,000-meter and is poised to make them official this spring.
LMU Athletics
Senior Sheree Shea returns to the track for the first time since her sophomore year. She is coming off of a nationals appearance in cross country in the fall.
LMU Class of 2013 goes 100% Green Commencement
Lion Sports IT’S GAME TIME.
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February 14, 2013 Page 16
Lions to Baseball ready for postseason run face rival Waves
The Lions return all but three starters from last year’s team in Jason Gill’s fifth year at LMU.
By Dan Raffety
Asst. Managing Editor
Men’s basketball travels to Malibu to avenge early season loss to Pepperdine.
By Michael Goldsholl Staff Writer
The men’s basketball team has just six conference games to MacGyver a turnaround for its tumultuous season. Stuck in the midst of an eight-game losing streak and positioned next to a 1-10 record in the West Coast Conference (WCC) standings, the clock ticks faster with each passing week. “I think they are doing a great job of playing through [the losses],” said Associate Head Coach Myke Scholl. “We have a very resilient team. I think, after that 30-point shellacking from Gonzaga University, if there was any time the team was going to throw in the towel or look to do that, it would have been after that. And our team absolutely did not. They’ve come out into practice. Every time they’ve been resilient, ready to work and ready to play.” Tonight, the Lions will make the 19.1-mile trip up Pacific Coast Highway to face off with the currently seventh-placed Pepperdine University Waves (11-13, 3-8). Although the Waves hold the momentum from a weekend-capping overtime victory against the University of Portland on Saturday, the Lions will receive a boost to their
See M. Bball | Page 14
Loyolan Archives
The 2013 Lions feature a combination of returning starters (including senior outfielder Matt Lowenstein pictured above) with junior college transfer talent to a team that was picked fourth in the WCC.
LMU baseball is back in action. After a sixmonth off-season, the Lions are returning with not only higher expectations than ever before in Head Coach Jason Gill’s time in Westchester, but a club that returns all but three starters from last season. The Lions’ biggest strength coming into this season may be the experience that fills the roster. Senior catcher Colton Plaia and senior outfielder Matt Lowenstein have returned to the Lions for their senior campaigns, looking to cement a legacy and give their collegiate baseball careers one last ride. Plaia was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 33rd round of last year’s MLB First-Year Player Draft, but decided to return to LMU for his senior season. He was named to the College Baseball America’s top 100 players, ranked at number 98. He led the team with six home runs last year and has been integral in the success of the Lions’ pitching staff. The club has finished in third place in the West Coast Conference (WCC) for the last two seasons and thinks that this could be the year it breaks into postseason play. “It’s a little different because this is the first full year that every guy on this roster was recruited by Coach Gill,” said senior pitcher Aaron Griffin, who will fill in as the club’s third starter after being in the bullpen for much of last season. Gill reiterated his emphasis of pitching and defense as his philosophy for winning in an ever competitive WCC. “We may not score multiple runs every game, but we can always
See Baseball | Page 15
Standouts Strum and Shea lead Lions LMU track returns two standout upperclassmen coming off of redshirt seasons. By Kevin Cacabelos Asst. Sports Editor
LMU Athletics
Junior Weston Strum returns to the track after redshirting his sophomore season. Strum broke LMU’s 3,000-meter indoor record last weekend with a time of 8:10.22.
Expectations are high for LMU’s track team, but even higher for two individuals who were not even competing for the team last spring. Enter junior Weston Strum and senior Sheree Shea. Strum took a redshirt last year to give him another year of eligibility, while an early-season stress fracture injury forced Shea to take a medical redshirt season. However, a year of competition off the track for Strum and Shea has not resulted in tempered goals. Instead, the bar is set even higher for Strum, Shea and their teammates to run faster. “We’re evolving every year. Three years ago, I wasn’t having the conversation about expecting and setting the standards of having our runners meet the regional meet,” Head Coach Scott Guerrero said.
Returning to competition after a successful season in cross country, LMU and its coaches are pushing to qualify as many of their runners as possible for the NCAA West Regionals Championship meet in Texas at the end of April. Posting a top-48 time in the West region guarantees a runner a spot in the regional competition. If a runner is fast enough to place in the top 12 at regionals, they have the good fortune of competing at the NCAA National Championships in Oregon come June. In the history of LMU track, the school has never had a male qualify for regionals. “Weston [Strum] has to be our best shot,” Guerrero said. Strum enters the spring after a successful cross country season in the fall. He ran the fastest times for LMU at both the WCC Cross Country Championships and at the West Regional meet, setting personal records in both races. Though Strum took a redshirt season last year, he competed unattached and actually set personal records in the 800-meter, 1,500-meter and 5,000-meter races.
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WEEKLY UPDATE
The LMU women’s basketball team (9-15, 3-8 WCC) (2-9). Both St. Mary’s and BYU are in the top-three teams will host the University of San Diego (USD) (16-8, 8-4 in the WCC. WCC) tonight in Gersten Pavilion at 7 p.m. This will Redshirt senior forward Alex Cowling has led the team in conclude a three-game homestand for the Lions after points per game this season, averaging 15.5 overall and The LMU women’s tennis teamopponents began Santa season last15.6 Friday at Westmont College, Jakub follows Eisner,with while Rivera lost in a tiehosting West Coast Conference (WCC) in WCC play. Junior guard Hazel Ramirez their 2013 campaign with a 7-0 sweep but saw their match postponed due to breaker in the second set. Clara University andUniversity Gonzaga University week. LMU 12.6 points per game overall and 13.8 in LMU WCC play. over Concordia at thelast LMU poor weather. struggled again on Sunday, los- Junior guard Hazel Tennis this pastthe Saturday. The Lions host Long Beach State Uniing 5-2 to host university, Iowa. Senior splitIntheaCenter games, defeating Broncos, 71-50 on Feb. 7 Ramirez also leads in 3-pointers with a .333 percentage dominating fashion, the Lions versity this Friday at a 1:30 p.m. start Nicholas Bjerke and Rivera recorded the Ramirez ranks in the top and losing the Bulldogs 70-56 on Feb. 9.sets. time at theoverall .350Center. in conference play. Lions’ sole victories against the Hawkwon everytosingles match in straight LMU and Tennis Junior Miya and freshman Kristine struggled on Pavilion eyes. this Bjerke 10 in the WCC in total The Lions areJin currently seventh in the WCC, just twoOn the men’s LMUside, has anLMU 8-4 record in Gersten season.defeated Iowa sophomore Kouyoumjian highlighted Saturday’s the road, dropping both matches to Il- Matt Hagan in straight sets, while Rigames Jin behinddefeated Santa Clara and the University of Portland, time the Lions the Toreros Diego, USD back for two straight wins assists, steals and play. Concordia freshman linois StateLast University andmet Iowa at thein San vera battled Ellie Johnson 6-1 and 6-0, while KouyUniversity of Iowa over the weekend. Ilafter dropping who are tied for fifth with a 5-6 record in conference play. prevailed 88-78 in overtime. The TorerosDominic have wonPatrick. five outthe first set to freshman minutes played. oumjian defeated freshman Caitlyn Uzzi linois State swept LMU. Theyand have6-1 fiveingames left incollegiate conferencematch. play. After Sophomore of theirFelix last sixVan games,Kann defeatingand Portland,The Pepperdine, 6-0 her first Lions’ season continues next SunJin also shined in face doubles play University with freshman Cristobal Rivera both started day, Feb. 3 for a 10:00 a.m. match on the tonight’s game, they will Pepperdine Santa Clara, San Francisco and WCC last-place Pepperdine. teammate, junior Claudia Razzeto, beat- strong, winning their first sets, but both road against University of Southern Cali(1-10), St. Mary’s College (8-2), Brigham Young They a close to BYU last weekfornia. with a final score of ing freshman Elizaveta Ignatova and were unable to had finish withloss victories. Van freshman Mona Piller 8-1 in doubles play. Kann dropped his following three sets University (7-3) and the University of San Francisco 53-48. The team was supposed to begin their to Illinois State freshman
Hustlinʼ Hazel
– Compiled by Sam Borsos, asst. Sports editor
Graphic: Mercedes Pericas | Loyolan