April 26, 2012

ESTABLISHED 1921 April 26, 2012 Volume 90, Issue 45 Your Home. Your Voice. Your News.

Loyola Marymount University

www.laloyolan.com

Peace activist Sicilia visits LMU Study abroad acceptance rate dips Increased competitiveness cited as reason for enforcing caps due to “record” applications to program.

By Kevin O’Keeffe Managing Editor

Nestor Pimienta, as they relayed stories and sentiments of their ties with Mexico, concluding with Sicilia’s call for an end to the violence. He emphasized the shared responsibility both the U.S. and Mexico have in the ongoing struggle for peace.

On the United States’ responsibility, Sicilia said, as translated by an interpreter, “What I do hope [from] the people in the U.S. and the government, especially in the coming elections, is to have a consciousness to be aware of the pain that my country is suffering. And for that pain, the U.S. has a great responsibility.

They’re behind the consumption of drugs in the U.S. and the reality of the weapons sold to

Hundreds of students apply to study abroad at LMU every year, but this year saw a record number of applicants to the programs. While the deep pool of applicants indicates a growing interest in studying abroad, the extra level of competition meant more students were denied for the Fall 2012 semester.

“Our office was able to accept 85 [percent] of the Fall 2012 study abroad applications,” said Director of Study Abroad Jack Hobson.

Those students who won’t be able to study abroad in the fall reacted with a mixture of disappointment and frustration.

“I was bummed,” said sophomore business management major Lauren Flinn, who applied to and was denied from the London program. One of only two cities where there currently is an official LMU-sponsored semester programs, London is competitive due to the number of internships offered.

“There are a tight number of internship seats available, so what’s available is available,” said Hobson.

“In Bonn, [however], it’s on-site capacity. … That location can only take a certain number of LMU students at one time.”

See Activist | Page 2

See Study Abroad | Page 4

Jon Rou | LMU Photo

Poet and peace activist Javier Sicilia (center of front row) processes with students, faculty and community members from Sacred Heart Chapel to St. Rob’s Auditorium yesterday. Crosses and images of those who lost their lives as a result of drug-related conflict in Mexico were carried by the attendees during the march. To see more photos from the event, visit the Loyolan’s Facebook.

Javier Sicilia speaks about peaceful means of combating drug cartel violence in Mexico.

By Weston Finfer Web Editor

How do you explain a governmentallyprovoked massacre responsible for the death of 60,000 innocent lives? Or more importantly, how do you prevent the continuation of such atrocities?

Poet and peace activist Javier Sicilia visited LMU yesterday to share his views on the current drug cartel violence plaguing Mexico.

Approximately two hundred students, faculty and community members were in attendance for Sicilia’s testimony for peaceful protest in his quest to end the detrimental “War on Drugs.” A processional was led from Sacred Heart Chapel to St. Rob’s Auditorium in which attendees carried crosses and images of those deceased as a result of cartel activity, responding “presente” to each name called out that the war extinguished from physical presence, but not erased from memory.

English professor Ruben Martinez curated a panel consisting of LMU Spanish professor Alicia Partnoy and LMU English professor Sarah Maclay, along with junior political science and urban studies double major

Parking meetings elicit varied responses University neighbors and staff continue to debate the issue of parking at meetings.

By Casey Kidwell Asst. News Editor

The buzz has yet to die down.

The parking debate regarding the recently established fees continued during two seperate events this past week.

On Thursday, April 19, the LMU Neighborhood Advisory Committee met in a heated debate about the effects the costs have on LMU’s surrounding neighbors. About 20 audience members faced a board of nine people ranging from students to LMU Chief of the Department of Public Safety, Hampton Cantrell.

For an hour and a half, Clarence Griffin, LMU director of Community and Local Government Relations, responded to numerous complaints

from the Westchester residents in the audience about the vents on top of U-Hall, students jumping the fence to get on campus, off-campus parties and mainly the repercussions of the parking fees.

Nate Kaplan, a representative from Los Angeles Councilman Bill Rosendahl’s office and member of the board said, “There’s already students parking on residential streets. We’re concerned [the fees] will spike staff and students parking on residential streets.”

The fees Kaplan is talking about were officially revealed via an email sent out by LMU President David W. Burcham on March 6. Beginning Fall 2012, visitors will be charged either $2 per twenty minutes or the daily maximum of $10 for parking.

Students, faculty and staff, however, will not be charged until the spring semester. Students will be charged $670 a year and faculty $696 a year

SO THEY THINK THEY CAN DANCE Two LMU senior dance majors are set to perform in the American College Dance Festival.

A&E, Page 10

See Parking | Page 6

Abbey Nelson | Loyolan

ASLMU President and Vice President sworn in Junior business marketing major Bryan Ruiz (left) and junior sociology major Vincent Caserio (center) were sworn into office as ASLMU president and vice president respectively by President David W. Burcham at yesterday’s Crimson and Blue awards ceremony. For a list of the Crimson and Blue award winners, see Page 2.

Index Classifieds.............................5 Opinion.........................7 A&E................................10 Sports..............................16

The next issue of the Loyolan will be printed on May 3, 2012.

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN Pitchers Colin Welmon and Trevor Megill lead the Lions despite their statuses as freshmen.

Sports, Page 16

News

April 26, 2012 Page 2

STUDENT SERVICE & LEADERSHIP AWARDS 2012 AWARD RECIPIENTS

Male Student Athlete of the Year

Edgaras Asajavicius

Female Student Athlete of the Year

Casey Flacks

Student Employee of the Year

Katie Convoy

Fr. James Loughran, S.J. Award

Ambassador of the Year

Denisse Contreras

Fatima Murrieta

Greek Man of the Year

John Wilkinson

Greek Woman of the Year

Claudia Garcia

Fr. Donald P. Merrifield, S.J. Award

Greek Scholar of the Year

Katie Kinney

Stephen Walden

Adviser of the Year

Tom Sharp

Student Organization of the Year

Fr. Robert Graham, S.J. Award

Pi Beta Phi

Ana Lopez

University Program of the Year

Aundrey Page

The Tower Yearbook For an extended list of winners, see laloyolan.com

CRIMSON & BLUE AWARDS Outstanding Social Justice Event

El Espejo Overnight Outstanding Cultural Event

Pilipino Cultural Night – Isang Bansa Outstanding Special Event

Lip Sync – Greek Council Outstanding Philanthropic Event

All in for Alzheimers – Sigma Phi Epsilon and Lambda Chi Alpha.

Outstanding Service Event

National IMPACT Day – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Outstanding Spiritual Event

Fiesta de Navidad – Ignatians Service Organization Heart of a Lion Award Winners

Greg Kamradt, Jorge Casillas, Jr., Heather Lougee, Amanda Dahlstrom

Information: ASLMU and Student Leadership and Development; Graphic: Joanie Payne | Loyolan

www.laloyolan.com

Sodexo employees agree on contract

New agreement to result in higher wages and eliminate pay disparities.

Over a year after Sodexo workers voted in favor of unionizing, an agreement has been made with Sodexo over the details of their new contracts. The formal proceedings of the ratification and specifics of the contract will be announced 8 a.m.6 p.m. today in the Lair, but more affordable healthcare, wage raises and more rights in the workplace all appear on the new contract.

“I’m so happy,” said philosophy graduate student Sophia Pavlos, president of Students for Labor and Economic Justice (SLEJ). “I’m seeing members of my community having better jobs, having more just jobs, falling in line with what the University stands for.”

The agreement on terms of the contract comes as a relief for involved Sodexo employees involved. In April 2011, the vote among Sodexo employees to unionize was passed 108 to 18, and the negotiations of the specifics have taken until now.

Sodexo employees have been a union since then, but haven’t seen benefits until now.

Healthcare was a chief concern Sodexo employees had before the unionization and was a focal point of the contract. Formerly, Sodexo employees were accountable for 40 percent of their healthcare, whereas the new contract only obligates a 20 percent contribution. Daniel Rodriguez, a Sodexo employee and part of the committee that negotiated the contract, noted the vast improvement over the former health plan, which only around 20 percent of the workers had.

Overall, Rodriguez was pleased

with the final version of the contract.

“It’s our first contract ever. … I think it’s really great,” he said. He added that higher wages were exciting as well. “We’re actually going to get the biggest raise we ever got. … Now the raise for the contract is 65 cents, so that’s a big win.”

Not only were higher wages another victory for proponents of the contract, but it also eliminates disparities in pay for workers of equal experience and promises higher pay for more experience.

A grievance procedure is another new addition to the contract, a process to deal with issues they might encounter in the workplace.

“Before they might have been passed off or ignored,” said Pavlos.

“Now there’s going to be a process through which those issues get dealt with. They’re going to have more rights on the job and that will allow them to have more power in the workplace and more representation in the workplace.”

The contract, if ratified today, will be effective for the next three years, but will also include benefits not received last year. Retroactive benefits, such as a pay raise due in October for many employees that was withheld due to contract negotiations, will now be evident.

“It’s very important for a campus to be attentive of all members within its community,” said Pavlos about the contract’s relation to LMU’s student body. “[Campus workers] are such a vital and important part of our school.”

“A union doesn’t really function without a contract,” said freshman communications major Sara Scherk, also a member of SLEJ. “It’s the document to which you hold the corporation accountable to do what it’s going to do for the union. They’ve had a union for a year but haven’t seen the benefits. These are the benefits.”

regulate drugs currently deemed illegal. “Or at least the lighter ones.

If you do that, the hard drugs, the consuming and production of them will probably be reduced. You can control it just like alcohol,” he said.

He backed up this idea with the statistic: “In Mexico, 400,000 people a year die of old age, disease and other causes. The ones that die from drugs are 400 out of that total of 400,000. To protect those 400, we have 60,000 dead, 20,000 disappeared and 250,000 displaced. And a terrorized country.”

The role that the citizen must take is an active one if justice is to be restored. Sicilia dictates that those desiring to make a difference must be persistent in pressuring the government.

“Tell the government that its responsibility is a grave one, that its responsibility is the dead, that its responsibility is for this war

we have in Mexico and the jails here in the U.S. filled with people who possessed a small amount of marijuana. We have to change that policy. We have to understand that we can’t make drugs an issue of national security. No, it has to be an issue of public health. The other thing we have to change is gun control. All kinds of weapons are completely legal in the U.S. Drugs kill me, but weapons kill the others. And those weapons are legal here and entering Mexico illegally to arm the criminals. Or they enter Mexico legally to arm the military. The prohibition of drugs and the freedom of weapons installed a war in my country.”

In a reflection on the importance his embodiment as a poet lends to the protest movement, Sicilia said, “Poetry destroys the univocal and unilateral discourse of politics and puts back in the center of political life the human being.”

By Jacob Stone News Intern

Procession remembers victims of drug cartels Activist from Page 1 the cartels and behind the foreign policy of combating the drug cartels with military might. This country has invested about $2 billion in that effort, with the arms that are legalized in this country going into Mexico illegally, arming the drug cartels and starting a war. And we have to ask them to change that foreign policy because our country is being destroyed.”

Recently named TIME magazine’s “Person of the Year” for being a significant figure of protest, Javier Sicilia directs his efforts through the Movimiento por la Paz con Justicia y Dignidad, monumental in its response from citizens who are fed up with the destruction of their society. They unite under the slogan “Hasta la Madre!,” translating as, “We’ve had it up to the mother,” invoking the sacred rank mothers hold in

Mexico and the excessive harm cartel activity has caused for familial and societal stability.

As the leading voice of criticism against Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s War on Drugs, which uses military force to attempt to ease drug cartel activity, Sicilia believes the strategy of fighting violence with violence has only proliferated the effects this war has had on innocent lives. Describing the situation in Mexico, Sicilia said, “There are armies in the streets and that has made an army out of organized crime. Sixty thousand dead is a war. A country where there is territory being occupied by the criminal organizations, that’s a war. A terrible war, because it’s an economic issue. There’s not even a political idea to defend, just defending the power and economic order.”

The decline of the world’s economy acted as a catalyst to

increases in the kidnapping and murdering of innocents.

Sicilia says economics are “the fundamental base in all of this.

When the economy becomes the absolute, when everything is only about production and consuming, when the human beings and the natural order of things are beset by this economic order, the human beings are no longer human beings but now just resources to maximize capital. The human being becomes an instrument of this order and what criminal organizations do is maximize that and take it to a perverse end, exploit it and kidnap what’s human to sell and to ransom, to mine people’s bodies for organs, just for a product that’s called drugs. That’s all economics; that’s a perverse product of what’s already perverse in the economy.”

As for a potential solution to ending the violence, Sicilia proposed that the government

Jon Rou | LMU Photo

Jon Rou | LMU Photo

Activist Javier Sicilia speaks as a part of a panel with LMU professors and students about peaceful means to end drug-related violence in Mexico. The panel took place in St. Rob’s Auditorium after the procession from Sacred Heart Chapel mid-day yesterday.

Faculty, staff and students, including President David W. Burcham (center), gather on the steps of Alumni Mall to listen to a poem before proceeding to St. Rob’s Auditorium.

N ews Kappa Sigma aims to overcome bad blood

April 26, 2012 Page 3

www.laloyolan.com

Fraternity responds to being passed over in the expansion process.

By Kevin O’Keeffe Managing Editor

The latest phase of Kappa Sigma’s ongoing attempt to gain recognition from LMU came to a close this month. Though the group was one of the 12 parties who petitioned for the opportunity to present on campus as part of LMU’s search for two new fraternties, Kappa Sigma was not one of the six finalists.

“Kappa Sigma was considered in this process. They just didn’t make [the] cut this year,” said Assistant Director of Student Leadership and Development and Greek Adviser Dan Faill. Members and alumni of the fraternity were frustrated and disappointed at the news.

“The obvious choice would have been to allow us to come on campus,” said junior political science major Austin Wermers, the current president of Kappa Sigma at LMU. “We’re already established, we’re a large group of guys, but for some reason, LMU doesn’t even give us the chance past letting our headquarters turn a packet in.”

Comments on the online version of Loyolan Asst. News Editor Casey Kidwell’s April 19 article “University to add two new fraternities” posted by former Kappa Sigma presidents alumnus Ryan Monahan (’10) and senior political science major Ryan Burbank stated that the motivating factor behind not allowing Kappa Sigma on campus, as told to members in the past, was a lack of resources on campus. Now that the University is looking to expand, according to Wermers, Kappa Sigma

members are left wondering why they aren’t being considered.

According to Wermers, Kappa Sigma’s headquarters sent the packet required of all fraternities seeking the chance to be part of the search process in on time, but the group was not selected to present themselves on campus.

“There was never a promise made, nor was there the expectation of us jumping to the top of the list,” Monahan said. “We had been given the indication ... that if we tried to adhere to requests made by [Faill], we would be given a fair opportunity, which … I don’t believe occurred.”

“None of our groups received preferential treatment,” Faill said.

Kappa Sigma’s failure to progress to the next level of consideration is the latest in a string of events that have kept the fraternity off LMU’s campus – at least officially. Since being colonized in 2007 by Kappa Sigma’s national headquarters, the group has battled University officials over their lack of recognition.

“The truth is, we had guys in the beginning of our chapter that really ruffled the feathers of the University,” Wermers said.

“I think the school was unhappy with the way the chapter was founded initially, whether that is justified or not,” Monahan said.

“And because of this, there have been many times that personal feelings have gotten in the way of doing what would be best for the school and its students.”

Faill alluded to the same problems during the fraternity’s inception.

According to Faill, the problems date to before he arrived on campus and began work as the Greek adviser.

The problems center around not violating the size cap, on which the Greek Council had previously decided, according to Faill.

“The initial comment was – from the students, mind you – that we should hold off on any more new groups until we find out what our ideal size is,” Faill said. “Rather than patiently waiting, the national organization said, ‘Well, we’re just going to go ahead and colonize you group of 40ish guys and put you through our new member process.’

So in terms of a working relationship, as a national organization to go against University wishes and, really, student body wishes, is not the best way to build a good, collaborative rapport.”

After initial tensions, including one at 2008 Delta Gamma Anchor Splash where a member got into what senior studio arts major and former president of Kappa Sigma Stephen Smith called a “hostile” disagreement with Faill, recent presidents have made the effort to improve relations with the school.

“We did better [with our relationship with the University], but it ended up fizzling out a little bit,” said Smith,. “We did a decent job of getting back to where we were, but we didn’t get much further.”

Continued tensions surfaced at the 2010 Anchor Splash synchronized swimming competition, where, according to Smith, members of Kappa Sigma were prevented from competing in the event under the registered name of Kappa Sigma and were required to re-enter with a different team name.

In order to conform to the University’s standing policies, Kappa Sigma ceased pledging firstsemester freshmen.

“I had a conversation with one of their chapter advisers … probably three years ago, where he said, ‘Well, we want them to take first-semester freshmen … [but] why would a fraternity that’s ... registered on the

Loyolan Archives

At the 2010 Anchor Splash (pictured above), Kappa Sigma was required to re-register under a different name due to their unrecognized status, according to Smith (center). campus be an advocate for you when just want to make sure that if there you’re breaking the rules?” Faill said. are new organizations coming onto “That conversation was brought up campus that they reflect well on the in the expansion process.” campus.”

The expansion process was Echoing that sentiment while considered by members of Kappa speaking about the decision of Sigma to be a new opportunity for which six groups would move on recognition. “It’s really disappointing in the expansion process, Faill said on our end, trying to follow the school that the expansion committee, rules … only for the University to “which students sat on, … said they send, essentially, a one-sentence wanted groups that would respect letter saying, ‘You didn’t make the LMU’s wishes and the policies and cut,’” Wermers said. procedures already in place.”

Speaking about the letter he sent For now, Kappa Sigma members to the fraternities not chosen to are content with their position, if move on, Faill said, “Of the six not disappointed with the lack of finality. chosen, five have already called me “I feel like a lot of people in our … to ask what they could improve chapter are okay with where we’re upon. … Kappa Sigma is the only at,” Smith said. “But we do want a one that did not reach out.” solid answer.”

According to Greek Council Monahan said of official status, President and junior marketing “It is ... the end goal. It always has major Joe Dzida, the idea of been, and ... it always will be.”

Kappa Sigma becoming part of the “I feel like a lot of it is, ‘Oh, you University one day is possible. “I guys messed up doing this,’ … and see absolutely no reason why they it’s frustrating,” Smith said. “We shouldn’t be considered [in the can’t change the past. We can just future] … but they also need to show try to better the future, and I think that they deserve it,” he said. “We that’s what we’re trying to do.”

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News

April 26, 2012 Page 4

www.laloyolan.com

Applicants unaware of limit for study abroad Study Abroad from Page 1

Laura Riparbelli | Loyolan

Laura Ling (left) told Loyolan Senior Editor Laura Riparbelli that the hardest part of being in captivity for five months was “being away from my family.”

11BURNING QUESTIONS

with a former North Korean prisoner

This issue, Senior Editor Laura Riparbelli sits down with journalist Laura Ling who opened up about her 140 days in captivity and rescue by President Bill Clinton.

1. You’ve covered all sorts of harrowing topics – from the drug cartels in Mexico to going undercover in Myanmar – and have seen a lot of inhumanity. Do you think you’ve become desensitized?

A lot of times people see that Mexico footage and they ask, “How are you so able to keep your composure?” ... Every time I watch that stuff, I still get chills. I don’t know if I’ve become desensitized because I still feel for those people every time I watch or think about them.

2. What was the most difficult part about being in captivity for nearly five months?

It was being away from my family. It was thinking about the stress that my situation was having on them.

3. Were you and fellow journalist Euna Lee housed in the same facility?

Euna and I were separated. It turns out that we were held in the same facility, but they never told us that. It was almost like one of their tactics was to keep us wondering about each other’s fate. ... I think we each had an idea that we were being held somewhere close, or even in the same facility, but we never knew for sure, so it was a big source of worry.

4. You were sentenced by the North Korean government to 12 years of hard labor. Did you ever think you would actually be sent to a labor camp?

I obviously always held out hope that we would never get sent to a camp.

But they definitely tried to manipulate us mentally to sort of let us know that that reality was coming upon us, so I was very fearful [of that].

5. You’ve mentioned before that you eventually bonded with your captors on a human level. Can you expand on that?

At the end of the day, I think that no matter where we’re from, we are all human and we all want the same things. And so it was, I think, that we each had put up these barriers when we first came in contact with each other and then those barriers started to crumble and we were each able to see each other for the human beings that we are.

6. North Korea was using you as a bargaining chip in order to gain recognition politically. If this had happened today, in 2012, do you think your situation would be the same?

I do think that, during the time period, it was one of the most tense times between the U.S. and North Korea. North Korea had conducted a satellite launch and nuclear test. … I think that it was probably better that I was held during that time than under the current leadership because so little is known about their new leader, and I think that there would be a question of him wanting to prove himself and how he might try to prove himself.

7. How would you describe that plane ride back to Los Angeles?

It was incredible, exhausting, so many different feelings all at once. I’m sitting, I’m in a plane with the 42nd president of the United States who just rescued us. It was sort of out of a movie.

8. This story was huge. Did you have any idea what a media storm this had become?

No, I didn’t. I had no idea that our story had gotten as much attention as it did. I was locked in a room on the other side of the world and I had no idea. It was actually pretty difficult when I did get home, because I got off that plane and there was all this media attention. I wasn’t prepared for that. I had gone over there to report on a story and then I became the story and that was actually pretty hard to deal with.

9. Immediately after the plane landed, you gave a press conference. Was that surreal?

It was nerve-wracking, it was surreal. But it was also nice to be able to express my gratitude to so many people who had sent their thoughts and prayers to us. So it was actually really wonderful to be able to do that.

10. Now you have a one-year-old girl. Do you now think twice before going on these dangerous assignments?

Telling untold stories is vital, but I sort of have a different lens now when I approach stories and certain topics because I have a daughter [and] she’s my number one priority. These stories need to be told and there are great journalists out there doing it.

11. Do you feel like there’s unfinished business in North Korea?

We never got to make the documentary that we set out to make. Yes, I think that more awareness definitely needs to be raised. I try to do that but there are also great organizations like LINK that work right here on the LMU campus that are doing such great work.

To find out about Laura Ling’s reaction to President Bill Clinton’s arrival to rescue them and to listen to audio clips from the interview, visit laloyolan.com.

Bonn is where sophomore sociology major Brad Davis was hoping to go in the fall before receiving his rejection letter.

“I was upset by the fact that I was going to miss out on the opportunity to study abroad,” said Davis. “That was my biggest letdown, that I might miss out on the chance to do so. For me, personally, spring semester doesn’t work … [so] I am at this point no longer able to study abroad.”

The study abroad application process, which calls for students to submit recommendation letters, a transcript and a statement of intent, scores all students on the same criteria as evaluated by faculty members.

“I specifically asked for a sitdown meeting to find out why I was not accepted, what about my application it was, and all I was told was that it was very competitive,” Davis said. “They were very polite, and they were very nice, but it was kind of pointless … because they refused to release that information, which I don’t really understand.”

According to Flinn, students weren’t informed of any potential cap going into the process.

“Before I applied, I didn’t really know, but I heard that more and more people had applied and I met with the director,” she said.

“He said that only 25 students get in.”

Speaking as to why students aren’t informed of a limit, Hobson

said, “We don’t necessarily know how competitive a program is until students apply. Whether there is or is not a cap may not even be an issue. If we’ve got a maximum of 30 seats, we may only have 22 applicants. It’s a moot point.”

Students like Flinn and Davis are now managing the fallout.

While Flinn plans on applying for another program in Spring 2012, Davis said he is still trying to figure out next semester.

“At this point, I have no idea where I’m living next year,” Davis said. “I signed up for classes, but the classes I’m now taking are basically just filler classes so that I have enough credits to stay on track.”

For his part, Davis is primarily frustrated with the lack of communication. “They sent out two emails, saying it was very competitive and to come up with a plan B. I think what they should have done is have rolling admissions or something like that,” he said. “I am still trying to pull something together; however, it’s past the deadline for so many things. It’s very difficult to find a program that’s still accepting applications.”

Hobson said that for all students, preparedness for the worst is important. “All study abroad applications are inherently that: applications,” he said. “It’s never a guarantee of an acceptance when a student applies. And we always encourage students to go ahead and just in case get housing and courses set

up.”

To help prevent issues like these in the future, Hobson said the study abroad office is introducing a new online application system.

“The software is called StudioAbroad,” Hobson said. “It is an entirely online system. … The application itself will automatically [be] populated from their student records, so they won’t have to get a transcript or anything. … It will make the student process so much better.”

The program will go live in August for students applying for the Spring 2013 semester.

However, Hobson recognizes the true problem. “Students need more options and programs,” he said. “We’re addressing that, so we’re in the process of finding new partners that will fulfill curricular and geographic needs.”

While Davis is frustrated that he likely won’t be able to go abroad next semester, he still recommends the experience.

“I don’t want to come off saying that the Study Abroad Office has screwed me over and they’re out to get students, or that they don’t care about students,” Davis said. “I do encourage anyone and everyone to study abroad. … It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“We really want to send as many students as we possibly can,” Hobson said. “It’s what we do. My team here, we’ve all studied abroad. We know the transformative abilities it has in someone’s life. We believe in it deeply.”

www.laloyolan.com

News

April 26, 2012 Page 5

Students protest Cal Grant reduction at rally Students to speak on why the Cal Grants should not be cut.

By Jay Lee

Asst. News Editor

Under the current proposed California state budget for 2012-2013, Governor Jerry Brown calls for a 44 percent reduction in the maximum amount for the Cal Grant award for independent/private universities – from $9,708 to $5,472. Approximately 825 LMU students rely on Cal Grant Awards, according to LMU’s website.

LMU, in partnership with the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU), will host a rally in protest of the budget cut tomorrow from 11:50 – 12:50 p.m. in Robert B. Lawton, S.J. Plaza Amphitheater next to Hannon Library.

AICCU’s purpose is to represent “the unified statewide voice of California’s private, non-profit … universities for state and federal policy issues,” according to its website.

Francis Villalpando, assistant director of state and federal government relations at LMU, said the rally will kick off with opening remarks by President David W. Burcham, followed by some words from the event moderator, ASLMU President Art Flores. Several legislators have been invited,

and assemblyman Steven Bradford will be there. There will also be student speakers.

According to Kathleen Flanagan, vice president of communications and government relations at LMU, it is essential that Cal Grant Awards are not reduced. The timing of the proposed cut could not be worse for incoming LMU freshmen for the 20122013 year, Flanagan said. If students depended on the Cal Grant Award to afford an LMU education, then students are out of luck if the grants are cut – students may not be able to afford LMU, nor will they be able to switch to a different college because most college deadlines are already past.

“A lot of these students are minority students,” Flanagan said. “One of the basic Jesuit tenets is the importance of diversity in higher education.”

For the 2010-11 year, Cal Grant Award recipients consisted of 10 percent Asians, 14 percent blacks and 47 percent Hispanics or Latinos, according to information given to the Loyolan by Flanagan.

Flanagan said the Cal Grant Rally is significant because it allows students and faculty to voice their concerns on the reduction before the reevaluation of the proposed budget in mid-May. The budget will be finalized on June 15.

Freshman business major Christian Rodriguez will be a speaker at the event. He urged students to attend because he believes it is a chance for the

students’ voices to be heard in front of legislators and because it is important that the state government sees the proposed reduction is an important issue for private school students.

If the proposed budget cut is accepted, Rodriguez’s college education is at stake.

“I won’t be able to come here anymore,” Rodriguez

said. “It would cause a lot of unnecessary strain on my family to try and come up with the rest. … I’m pretty much paying for college on my own.

If they [reduce the grant], all my chances of staying in college [are done].”

Students from other universities will also be present, including students from USC, Mount St. Mary’s

College and Biola University.

In conjunction with the rally, LMU also supports AICCU’s Students First Alliance, aimed at raising awareness of the proposed budget cuts.

If you wish to sign a petition in order to protest the cuts, go to Signon.org/sign/maintainthe-maximum.

For more information about the rally, go to Lmu.edu/savecalgrants.

Associated Press;]

Demonstrators protest the proposed educational state budget cuts in San Francisco on March 1, 2012.

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April 26, 2012 Page 6

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Wong says that increase in parking fees is a possibility Parking from Page 1

to purchase their parking permit for on-campus parking.

LMU’s neighbors in the Westchester community foresee these fees negatively affecting them in the upcoming years. Pat Lyon, Westchester/Playa del Rey neighborhood council member, said, “What’s hard to swallow is that in the Master Plan, it was said that LMU would not be expanding its footprint, but with students parking in the neighborhood, you’re expanding your footprint.”

Other neighbors joined Lyon in fighting for their chance to argue outside of their allotted time slot at the meeting on Thursday. With talks of establishing a parking district in the surrounding Westchester community, Griffin encouraged audience members to engage in neighbor-to-neighbor discussion and education regarding this issue. “Inform and educate [your] neighbors about the importance of having permit parking,” he said.

However, Ron Dutton, a Loyola Boulevard resident who has lived there since 1962, was not accepting of Griffin’s suggestion.

While Dutton said that the University has been “supportive” since he moved into his home on Loyola Blvd., he argued that if the parking district is established, the students will not be the only ones incurring fees.

“I’m going to have to be paying to have someone park in front of my house. You people didn’t do the necessary homework to get funding for parking,” Dutton said.

Frances Christensen, another Westchester resident, agreed with Dutton, saying, “I don’t know how intelligent people could have come up with this Master Plan.”

The recent moratorium that has been placed on establishing the

parking district in the Westchester area by the city has left some neighbors awaiting its acceptance and others dreading it. While the meeting on Thursday, April 19 was rife with infuriated neighbors, on Tuesday, April 24, about 10 LMU faculty and staff met in Ahmanson Auditorium for a parking/town hall meeting that was much less emotionally charged.

Associate Vice President of Administration Services Mike Wong, a member of the parking committee, presided over the meeting and fielded questions from the audience for an hour regarding the effects of the parking fees on faculty and staff.

Wong revealed that, while the fact that LMU will be charging for parking coming the 2012-2013 school year is set, what’s flexible is charging for part-time faculty and staff.

However, Wong said that the cost to build the parking structure “doesn’t change. So if we give a discount for part-timers, the rest of the population’s [permit] costs may go up.”

Of the faculty and staff present at the meeting, a few of them

inquired about paying for parking based on salary. Wong said it had been considered in the parking debate and the committee is “trying to be fair in considering what people make.”

Regardless of where tweaks are made to the established parking fees, as Wong said, the costs do not change. While the building process is 18-24 months, the borrowing process is 30 years, he said.

On paying for parking, Wong said that the “goal isn’t revenue raising, it’s cost covering. At the end of the model it zeros out.

That’s why it’s $696 [for staff], we tweaked out the last $4 when we realized we didn’t need it.”

While the atmospheres in these two meetings could not have been more different, neighbors, faculty and staff were given the opportunity to voice their concerns and have any questions regarding the parking fees answered. At the faculty and staff town hall meeting, an audience member brought up the reaction of neighboring Westchester residents when posing a question to Wong.

“No matter what we do, the neighbors will get us,” Wong said.

RO Q AT T H E R AC ES

Dean of College of Business Administration reappointed Dennis W. Draper has been reappointed as dean of the College of Business Administration. Under Draper’s deanship since 2007, the undergraduate business program was ranked by US News & World Report for the first time. Business Week and US News ranked the MBA part-time program in the national top 10 and 12, respectively.

Denim Day focuses on sexual violence education and prevention This past Wednesday, a survivor of sexual assault came to campus to speak in Malone 460 for Denim Day. Denim Day originated from Italy, where a driver instructor raped an 18-year-old girl. He was convicted of rape and sentenced to jail. However, he appealed the case, and it reached the Italian Supreme Court and eventually he was released. The Chief Judge argued that since the girl wore tight jeans, she must have helped remove them and thus consented to sex. Patricia Giggans, executive director of Peace Over Violence, started Denim Day in L.A. in 1999.

Opinion Student Editorials and Perspectives

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BOARD EDITORIAL

lmu

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

Michael Goldsholl Managing Editor

A

Adrien Jarvis Editor in Chief Brigette Scobas Human Resources Coordinator | Asst. News Editor

A year of LMU in review

s the 2011-12 academic year comes to a close, the Loyolan wants to take time to reflect back on the University’s centennial year. For LMU and the community, a year that will surely be remembered for more than just the “LMU at 100” banners along Lincoln Blvd., is coming to an end. In light of this, the Loyolan would like to highlight what worked well for the University, as well as changes LMU should explore for the future.

LMU’s 100th year was generally a great success, with celebratory events encouraging the community to embrace the centennial spirit. From the 1911 Centennial Ball to the special year-long Bellarmine Forum, every department of the University and every facet of the community has been committed to making the most of this special occasion and taking that energy into the new year. The student body spirit has long been called into question, and this year-long LMU focus helped bolster pride in ways that the Loyolan hopes will translate into the next academic year.

Additionally, the Loyolan would like to congratulate President David W. Burcham on a successful first full academic year in office. Holding a high position is never an easy task, but he did it with grace and poise, successfully overseeing the centennial celebration and making a concerted effort to appropriately manage the budget and keep rising costs at a minimum. Plus, selecting a provost to help balance the external and internal duties of running a university sets LMU up for a great future.

However, things at LMU this year weren’t all similarly successful. Communication errors seemed to be at the center of the most prominent issues arising around LMU’s campus. Incidents from the continued disconnect between the University and its Westchester neighbors to administrative surprises like the sudden cancelation of the De Colores

I

Kevin O’Keeffe Managing Editor

service trip caused the University to suffer – and the Loyolan hasn’t seen much improvement as the year winds down. It is the job of the administration to make members of the community part of the process, but then it is also the duty of the Westchester community and students to be active participants and respond to the administration about decisions.

The Loyolan calls for a greater focus placed on proactive and transparent communication when next year rolls around, as well as a spirit of collaboration not only between students and administrative officials, but between the University and the surrounding community. The Loyolan is aware that communication is a two-way street and challenges students to make their voice heard at events like parking forums (see “Parking meetings elicit varied responses,” Page 1) rather than letting such opportunities go to waste. Similarly, the Loyolan hopes that the administration will hear these concerns – best exemplified by the recent petitions regarding the parking fees (see Letters to the Editor, Page 8) – and work with the community to find the best solutions.

This University is filled with administrators, students, faculty and other community members who love LMU, wanting nothing but the best for its growth. In order to make LMU the best that it can be, all members of the community need to do their part, and progress only comes through communication and feedback.

April 26, 2012 Page 7

Loyola Marymount University

Loyolan Staff

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The Loyolan wants your feedback. Comment on the online version of this Board Editorial and let us know what you would like to see change at LMU. Then watch the Loyolan’s executive staff discuss what the Loyolan did well and can improve upon in this week’s online roundtable and add your thoughts about what you’d like to see out of the Loyolan.

The postmodern university and the Jesuits

n the midst of the economic recession, LMU has been able to cope quite nicely with the shrinking pockets of the students. This is demonstrated by the unveiling of two extremely costly additions – the William H. Hannon Library and the renovation of the Charles Von Der Ahe (VDA) building – that have set the precBy Spencer Daly edent for Contributor the modern academic world. It is for this reason that I believe LMU has thrust itself in the 21st century and created a precedent for the future evolution of education – a future that I call “The postmodern university.”

Very simply put, the postmodern university, as I use it here, refers to higher education in the 21st century. A century characterized by the fluidity of mass media, of shared information and instant knowledge, the postmodern university attempts to fit itself in the fast-paced world.

Because of this, LMU had to turn itself into a business.

The question that I ask is, “Why is this shift happening now?” I don’t want to assume, but I do feel like it is because our president is the first to wear a suit and tie versus a cassock.

With this, I am interested in exploring the economic prowess and efficiency of LMU and how

this renovation to a profit-driven system is shaking the very foundations of LMU, ultimately uncovering a fundamental problem at the core of LMU. This problem is, “where does Jesuit ideology lie in the postmodern university?”

Before this question can be answered, let’s address the nature of the University as a business.

The fact of today is that a university is a business. This is neither good nor bad – it’s just a fact, and with this comes the profit system of a business. The basic principle

lutely complicit with its demands.

When it says to pay tuition, you pay. When it says to register for the alert system, you register, and if any friction arises (you can’t pay your tuition on time, your loan is denied, etc.), then the system cannot accept you. This may sound bad, but in reality it isn’t. This is simply business. You pay for your product, and if you don’t pay, you don’t get your product. Business is business.

With this, I want to point out that LMU is a business, and a

is to make more money than you spend. If this doesn’t happen, then the university ceases to function.

Simple. However, this means that in order for LMU to run smoothly, all of its subjects must be abso-

business system naturally lacks grace. This may not be a problem for secular universities, but it does give rise to a problem at LMU. The dilemma is while LMU and the postmodern university is

driven by profit and a system with minimal finesse, it is also guided by Jesuit principles which exemplify grace. Here the question is again asked, “Where does Jesuit ideology lie in the postmodern university?” I ask the question because I know it is a difficult one, for in the question is a paradox. How can Jesuit ideology (grace) and economic ideology (without grace) be reconciled?

I am not trying to say that LMU is doing something wrong, but instead I am trying to point to this dilemma that lies in the term

is balance. It would be unrealistic to have a Jesuit university that didn’t concern itself with profit.

If this was the case, many of the academic resources we have now wouldn’t exist – conversely, it is impossible to have a postmodern LMU without Jesuit ideology guiding its progress. I feel that recently, the balance has been in favor of an economic agenda, and because of this, with each passing year, the Jesuits have receded and withdrawn to the chapel and habit, taking with them their definitive ideological presence.

This article is not about answers, but questions, and because of this you may ask the question: “So what?” While this is a fair question, the answer makes itself quite clear. The purpose of this article, the answer so to speak, is to bring light to the problem that LMU will face in the upcoming years, and to encourage students to be aware of where University decisions are stemming from.

Is development (for example: the library, the VDA building, the Centennial National Day of Service, etc.) being driven by an economic agenda or Jesuit ideology? The postmodern LMU is beginning to break the seam between its ideology and its agenda. And I hope, for the sake of LMU, that we can recognize this and always Nadine Jenson | Loyolan push for a harmony and bal“Jesuit university,” where at once ance between LMU’s administrathere is an unforgiving monetary tion and LMU’s Jesuits. system, driven by numbers, under This is the opinion of Spencer Daly, a senior the jurisdiction of a faith that calls English major from Thousand Oaks, Calif. for infinite forgiveness.

Please send comments to ktran@theloyolan.

I would argue the solution here com.

April 26, 2012 Page 8

Opinion

www.laloyolan.com

Usefulness of majors: a useless statement

P

ointless, failure, not-goinganywhere-in-life.

Never have I been told these things based solely on my choice of majors, and this is rightfully so. I’ll admit that I make the old standby jokes about communication studies majors, as I know others do about those who study English and philosophy.

I’d also like to think, however, that underneath the superficialDon’t Quote ity of titles and common concepMe

By Joseph Demes tions, the general population Asst. Opinion Editor here at LMU understands what we choose to study does not supremely and irrevocably dictate a rigid career path – especially those who will be graduating in a mere nine days (congratulations!).

Sometimes I wish more individuals outside of academia held this mentality.

The Daily Beast released an editorial article on April 23, titled “The 13 most useless majors, from philosophy to journalism,” detailing findings from a 2009-2010 Georgetown University study on unemployment and earnings statistics of recent college undergraduates, experienced undergraduates and those with graduate degrees. Needless to say, the article was able to lump in every “soft” major, from the fine arts to English, and even a few surprising ones (architecture, journalism and hospitality management) into one large heap of so-called uselessness.

First off, how credible does it make a news source look when it

knocks off journalism as “useless”?

Way to throw “film, video and photographic arts” in there too – it’s not as if a photographer took all those Associated Press photos for the slideshow that the entire article is centered around. I don’t know where these writers went to college, but they’re certainly not making

the antithetical “20 most useful college majors,” which detailed both far more specific majors, such as management information systems, and mainly focused on the sciences and applied fields: business, engineering and the like. There are two massively flawed correlations the article makes. To put it simply, they

nation (See the April 26 infographic “Princeton Review Recognizes LMU Professors” on Page 4) wasn’t really showing us how we might apply our studies to a field directly apart from philosophy. I suppose it didn’t matter that I almost finished the questions within the suggested time parameters, even while he

Jackson Turcotte | Loyolan

themselves and other journalists look good with those kinds of damning statements. And in any case, the unemployment rates diminish vastly for those not fresh out of college or with a graduate degree – for English majors with graduate degrees, it’s only 3.9 percent, according to the same Georgetown study.

It’s also worth noting that on May 8, 2011, The Daily Beast released

are: The only good jobs are the ones that pay well right out of college; and, whatever you major in determines your worth as an employee.

So, I suppose that when I was given LSAT test questions as part of my philosophy homework in Symbolic Logic, Professor Brad Stone, who was recently nominated by the Princeton Review as one of the 300 best professors in the

was lecturing step-by-step for each problem. Apparently, according to the Daily Beast, what I can be is either a writer and author or a postsecondary teacher. Nothing more, nothing less.

Maybe that’s a moot point in my case, since I want to teach at the college level, but only ostensibly. I could very well, at some point, come to the conclusion that teaching isn’t

right for me, and try to get into law school. No outside influence determines my being a teacher, as much as any career is not relegated to a permanent sphere in virtue of one’s major. The conclusions of the implicit argument made by the articles doesn’t account for the variable of change and intellectual potential of students. It seems to me the article merely assumes that either college students are ignorantly choosing majors or willfully demoting themselves to mediocrity.

Certainly, the former assumption can’t be correct. With the massive inundation of college statistics that are readily available to prospective students (and their worried, possibly overbearing parents urging them to maybe get a minor or double major in business – sorry, Mom), we have the resources to be well-informed of what we’re getting ourselves into. As for the latter, I suppose there is a certain version of truth to that statement. I started working at the Loyolan because I wanted to see if journalism was the way I want to make my living; I learned it’s not. It’s also why I’m doing research with a professor this summer; I’m testing the waters and involving my major in different ways.

The air of finality surrounding post-graduation life is just an impression, not the whole truth.

Investing wholly in publications like these only does one so much good, insofar as being told you might not make six figures right away is helpful. Any job earns a living, but not all amount to a vocation. Besides, there’s always law school.

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

Opinion

www.laloyolan.com

Defending Ann

I

t turns out the glass ceiling isn’t quite broken yet for women in the political realm. While one might look at the success of Michelle Obama as a public figure or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s success in the last Democratic primary as signs that sexism in politics is on its way out, it only took one comment Grinding Gears about a presiBy Kevin O’Keeffe dential candidate’s wife to Managing Editor throw all that into question once again.

Earlier this month, according to a USA Today article from April 12 titled “Hilary Rosen says Ann Romney never worked ‘a day in her life,’” Hilary Rosen, a Democratic strategist, made a comment on CNN about Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann, and her status as a stay-athome mom.

The comment started a political wildfire, and after initially standing behind her stance that Romney had not worked “a day in her life,” Rosen backed down. President Barack Obama publicly distanced himself from the comments, stating that there is no harder job in the world than being a mother. All was well – Ann Romney picked up a couple approval points and Opinion columnists online and in print had something to talk about for that news cycle.

However, things didn’t stop there.

The next day, comedian and “Real Time With Bill Maher” host Bill Maher took a nasty shot at Romney jokingly ‘clarifying’ Rosen’s statements. According to the April 16 Boston Globe article “Bill Maher’s slam on Ann Romney poses dangers for Obama,” Maher said “What [Rosen] meant to say, I think, was that Ann Romney has never gotten her ass out of the house to work.”

The comment was crass, but Maher’s whole comic persona is that of a jerk. It’s a shtick that is, quite plainly, unfunny, but the comment didn’t cut any deeper than the original one. Of course, being Maher, he couldn’t resist following up with further cracks at Romney’s expense.

“No one is denying that being a mother is a tough job; I remember I was a handful,” Maher said, according to the April 16 Fox News article “Bill Maher facing bipartisan criticism over Ann Romney remarks.”

“But you know there is a big difference between being a mother, and

that tough job, and getting your ass out the door at 7 a.m. when it’s cold, having to deal with the boss, being in a workplace, or even if you’re unhappy you can’t show it for eight hours.”

That single statement is dripping with so much sexism it makes my head spin. And it’s not just sexist, either; it also manages to cram elitism and a healthy dose of egotism in there as well.

Maher, whose show airs once a week for half an hour on HBO, doesn’t really know what a “tough job” is either – and if he knows what it is, he hardly works at one.

Not only that, but why exactly does a “tough job” matter more simply because you start earlier, you deal with being managed and have to disguise your unhappiness? What of any of that goes towards worthiness? It’s a flawed argument from the start.

However, what’s ugliest about Maher’s statement is exactly how sexist and hateful it is. The phrase “I remember I was a handful” is full of condescension – as if raising a child is all about when children make a mess in their room or won’t brush their teeth. Not only that, but Maher addresses the statement about being a mother in general, not about being a stay-at-home mom.

The two ideas are completely different; again, his argument becomes more and more flawed.

The icing on the cake, however, is the comparison between being a mother and a nine-tofive job. I was raised by a working mother (who was stellar both at home and in the workplace, it should be noted), but many of my friends were raised by stay-at-home moms, wonderful women who gave their lives to supporting their children. It is endlessly demanding and emotionally draining. There are up days and down days. But it is an incredibly fulfilling ‘job’ and incredibly worthy of respect. Just because it isn’t a desk job doesn’t make it worth anything less.

The idea that Maher would imply such speaks to how ignorant he is of how much stay-at-home-moms do. It’s more than just dealing with kids like him who were ‘handfuls.’

It’s a commitment and a choice millions of women in this country have made. Ann Romney isn’t out of touch because she’s a stay-athome mom. Maher is out of touch because he can’t see what contributions those mothers make.

“That single statement is dripping with so much sexism it makes my head spin.”

This is the opinion of Kevin O’Keeffe, a sophomore screenwriting major from Austin, Texas. Please send comments to kokeeffe@theloyolan.com.

April 26, 2012 Page 9

Letters to the Editor

Re:“Petition protests parking fee for staff” (April 16, 2012,Page 1) Dear Editor, I want to thank the Loyolan for extending support for the petition to exempt part-time staff and contracted workers from paying for parking (April 16). As one of the authors of the letter, I would also like to clarify a few points.

While your editorial quoted correctly from the March 6 email from Senior Vice President for Administration Lynne Scarboro about faculty and staff earning less than $35,000 being given a one-time raise to cover half the cost of paying for parking, you left out the sentence before that: “Some full-time faculty and staff will receive a permanent, one-time salary increase.” It was the fact that part-time staff and contracted workers were not mentioned at all in regard to this benefit that prompted my colleagues and I to write the petition.

It is not yet clear that the Parking Advisory Committee has completed its work on this question, and so I remain hopeful that a more equitable approach to accommodating those in the community with the least ability to Re:“University to add two new fraternities”(April 19, 2012,Page 1) Dear Editor, In regards to your story published April 19 (“University to add two new fraternities”) I must ask why Kappa Sigma was not among the six finalists. As a former President of Kappa SigmaΣ Pi-Beta (the LMU Chapter), I can attest that since our chartering in 2007, we have maintained steady growth, participated whenever possible in the events and philanthropies of our fellow Greeks and have demonstrated a chapter-wide commitment to the Lion’s Code through our mandatory 35 hours of community service per semester. Furthermore, our national organization is one of the strongest in the country, with both an excellent inter-chapter support system in the greater Los Angeles area and a network of over 175,000 living alumni nationwide.

What’s more,we have been patient in our efforts,seekRe:“11 Burning Questions with a student living with arthritis”(April 19,2012,Page 2) Dear Editor, Despite the risk of overstepping a boundary, I address this letter not only to the editor,but to all Loyolan readers.

Many of you may have read “11 Burning Questions with a student living with arthritis”, and I’m that girl. It was jarring to see myself under that headline because it is probably the least accurate way to describe me. I’m rarely at school because of work (sorry,professors),and my arthritis is the last thing I broadcast. Moreover, a lot of effort goes into living beyond that title. I hadn’t been the “student with arthritis”since grade school.

People are not reduced to whatever statistic they fall under. Be it a medical condition, weight, culture, color, accent, religion or sexual orientation – people are people. I am not my condition, and my condition is not who I am.

pay can be found.

I would also like to make clear that another important petition regarding exempting part-time faculty from paying parking fees has been circulated. The reason that the petition that my colleagues and I wrote did not mention part-time faculty was because of the existence of this separate petition on their behalf. [Access link in the online version of this letter].

I would certainly urge your readers to read it and consider signing it. I have also had conversations with colleagues who are concerned about the parking fees situation of interns from other academic institutions who do unpaid work at LMU as part of their internships; surely this is another group that should be considered for exemption from the payment of parking fees. There are probably other constituencies in the LMU community that are in need of consideration as well.

Thank you again for your support.

Robert A.Hurteau,Ph.D,Director Center for Religion and Spirituality

ing the advice and opinions of numerous school officials (and Mr. [Assistant Director of Student Leadership and Development and Greek adviser Dan] Faill in particular) each year so as to better our relationship with our school.

As a chapter, we firmly believe that we do bring a new aspect of Greek Life to LMU, and we pride ourselves on offering a fraternal experience unlike any other.

In past years, we were told that our off campus status was in large part due to a lack of resources and facilities at LMU. With this next phase of the expansion process now beginning, it would seem that such shortcomings have been addressed, and LMU is ready for a broader Greek community.

All I ask is that LMU give the men of Kappa Sigma Pi-Beta a chance to show their passion for their University, the Greek community and their fellow Lions in general. I promise you,you will not be disappointed.

Ryan H.Burbank Senior political science major The point is what we can do about it. Our generation is too-often stereotyped as unable to make a real difference, not caring or too busy. Well, I have an opportunity to rise above that. I’m currently building a team and invite everyone to join me on May 19 for a 3-mile walk in Santa Monica. [To join the team visit] www.losangelesarthritiswalk.kintera.org/walkitout. Help me stand up against arthritis while celebrating our ability to do so.

I confess that after reading the“11 Burning Questions” article, I was insecure and hesitant to face my peers.

My arthritis is no secret, but it was a feeling of vulnerable exposition I’m not used to. But maybe that’s what it takes. I want to thank the Loyolan, especially [News Editor] Zaneta [Pereira], for the piece in last week’s issue.

Spreading awareness is critical, and then comes the call to action. My goal is not to highlight my condition to the community,but to gain as much support as possible.

Ana Villafane Senior music major

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

Letters@theloyolan.com The Loyolan welcomes letters to the editor. All submissions must include the author’s first and last name, phone number and email address and year in school or relation to the University (i.e. alumnus, professor, etc.).

Submissions should be typed and no more than 300 words.

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

April 26, 2012 Page 10

Dance Feature

By Khayla Golucke Staff Writer

D

ance program head Patrick Damon Rago is taking two LMU dancers to the American College Dance Festival (ACDF) competition, where he competed during his graduate studies in the summer of 1996.

After performing at the festival at the regional level last month, a duet with senior dance majors Paul Vickers and Charles Roy was selected to be performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, marking the third time in four years that an LMU piece has been given this honor.

ACDF’s official focus is “to support and promote the wealth of talent and creativity that is prominent throughout college and university dance departments,” according to their website. They do this by holding 11 regional conferences around the country that include three days of workshops, panels, performances and master classes. Colleges in each region may bring one to two dances to perform and be critiqued, allowing for each school to get honest feedback from professionals outside of their program. Every other year, a few pieces are selected from the gala to be shown at the ACDF in Washington D.C. Rago, who has rarely missed a festival for the past 21 years and now serves on its board of directors, believes that the mission of the festival is an immeasurable asset to his dancers.

“I believe that we have a great program, but it’s good to see other high-quality college dance programs and

see the these are the people our dancers are going to be auditioning with after they graduate,” Rago said. “At the same time, ACDF tries to downplay the idea that it’s a competition and create a supportive environment.

Other students from other schools were surrounding these boys, with very little jealousy, just so happy and congratulatory.”

This is both dancers’ second time performing at ACDF. For Roy, it will be the second time he gets to participate in D.C., as the first was his sophomore year in a dance titled “Close(r),” choreographed by part-time faculty member Mike Esperanza. This year, Roy’s experience has been shaped by the fact that he is a senior and looking at the festival as a career-building opportunity.

“My last experience [at ACDF] was so striking to me as a person that being able to go back and experience it again with a smaller cast and after graduation will be stimulating in such a

different way. I think it will allow me to marinate into my career,” Roy said.

Vickers said performing the duet with Roy twice during the weekend was one of the greatest challenges and exciting parts of his experience.

“It was amazing to have the opportunity to perform in the gala, because it’s different to have performed once and then perform again for the same audience,” Vickers said.

“Exploring the piece enough to make it different the second time around, we were able to find new meanings within the work by having to do it twice for a similar audience.”

Attesting to how important the national festival can be for these dancers, Rago explained that choreographer Keith Johnson asked to work with the dancers after he saw them take his class at ACDF last year. Johnson, who is a faculty member at California State University, Long Beach, met Rago at a modern dance company in

Photos: Damon Rago

Charles Roy lifts Paul Vickers as a part of their practice for the American College Dance Festival, where they represent LMU on a national platform.

Salt Lake City, Utah, and since then, the two have remained close friends. Rago hired Johnson to choreograph a piece for Vickers and Roy for the faculty dance concert last fall. While the dancers had never worked with the choreographer before, the finalized piece has been met with much critical acclaim since its first performance during the fall. The success of the piece is owed as much to the dancers as to the subject Johnson chose to express, according to Rago.

“It’s a combination of his innate brilliance as a choreographer, the way he crafts dance. … He’s just a natural, he’s gifted. The performance that Paul [Vickers] and Charles [Roy] have been able to achieve really hits home with people,” Rago said. “The dance also has a theme that is challenging. For me, it’s about a relationship between two men that has, like any relationship, its struggles and issues. It’s rather inyour-face. It makes the

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audience feel vulnerable and raw when they see [the dance].”

Vickers’ experience with the festival has been that many other schools underestimate the type of dancing that LMU is capable of performing.

“I think it’s important to be a presence [at ACDF] because a lot of times other programs have an image of what we are,” Vickers said. “It’s nice to go there and kind of shake up what they believe us to be by being very open and supportive and inclusive of the other artists, rather than being so into ourselves.”

Rago welcomes the surprise factor that comes when LMU performs at the national festival, especially in terms of audience feedback.

“I get excited when people see our work, and we surprise them with work that’s from a small Catholic school but is really cutting edge,” Rago said. “We support bringing in people who are edgy and exciting, and every time we go we keep surprising people.”

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Arts & Entertainment

April 26, 2012 Page 11

Nostalgia no longer: The ’90s aren’t ‘All That’ O

ver half a year ago, ’90s nostalgia was at a fever pitch. Nickelodeon launched their block of programming from the decade, designed to celebrate the shows my generation held so dear to our hearts. Magazines like Entertainment Weekly posted tributes to different aspects of the era to their websites every week. It It’s K-OK!

By Kevin O’Keeffe was so popular that for Managing Editor the first “It’s K-OK!” ever in October, I wrote about how the ’90s really were “All That.”

With the recent financial failure of “American Pie” sequel “American Reunion” and the underwhelming performance of “Titanic’s” 3-D rerelease, combined with the blockbuster success of ’80s reboot “21 Jump Street,” however, it looks as though ’90s nostalgia is on its way out of pop culture supremacy as other eras fight for the spotlight.

There were stirs of backlash even in the early days of the ’90s renaissance – mostly critics who said that most things in the period were very trite and wouldn’t stand the test of time.

While the defenders of the ’90s fiercely fought back, the truth is those critics were probably far more correct than we’d like to admit. The ’90s were, more than any other decade, the one where

fads became incredibly popular.

As a ’90s kid, I loved all these things, but I also have personal connections to all those things.

Sure, when the A*Teens’ “Upside Down” comes on at a party, I’m the first one to jump up and start the lip sync. But I can’t defend the song as being particularly good – more the “Call Me Maybe” of its day than a “Somebody That I Used to Know,” speaking in 2012 terms.

And while *NSYNC’s Justin Timberlake might’ve been fun in his cute, still-dating-Britney sort of way, 2000s Justin gave us “FutureSex/LoveSounds,” a forward-thinking piece of pop art. Then again, he also gave us “Friends with Benefits,” so take it with a grain of salt.

As far as the relative failures of “American Reunion” and “Titanic 3-D” are concerned, both can be explained away in other terms. “American Pie” was controversial and raunchy when it was first released, but hasn’t Judd Apatow single-handedly

Stockholm Records

A*Teen’s 2001 album “Teen Spirit” caused an uproar with ’90s tweens.

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neutralized the shock factor of that series? And while our hearts might go on for “Titanic,” why would you pay premium 3-D prices for a movie you can see for free on TNT frequently?

It would be the equivalent of a “Mean Girls” rerelease: It’s a great movie that paying 2012 prices for just isn’t worth it.

Even with all these signals of ’90s nostalgia’s untimely demise, there are some signs of life that remain. Witness: The revival of boy bands in the form of British groups One Direction and The Wanted. For quite some time, “The X Factor” judge Simon Cowell has been trying to sell the world on the idea that musical groups are on their way back into fashion. Even before that, Diddy was trying to make it happen on “Making the Band.”

We miss you, Danity Kane.

Every facet of the ’90s won’t be remembered with equivalent fondness, and so much of what’s interesting is either oversaturated (like “Titanic”) or has been replaced by something even more extreme (like what happened to “American Pie”). But influences and aspects of every decade have formed the current pop culture landscape – and the ’90s are no exception.

So yes, the ’90s may prove themselves to have been a trivial era filled with silly things and collectibles that we’ll never be able to sell. But the influences of the decade are hardly gone. Years in the future, our children and grandchildren will find “Hey Arnold!” on Netflix or dig up our Britney Spears CDs. They will most certainly think the ’90s were weird. And we’ll agree, all the while beaming with pride.

This is the opinion of Kevin O’Keeffe, a sophomore screenwriting major from Austin, Texas. Please send comments to kokeeffe@theloyolan.com.

Images: Universal, 20th Century Fox & Paramount Pictures

“American Reunion”and“Titanic 3-D”relied on ’90s nostalgia.However,their soft box office returns shows people aren’t as eager to return to the ’90s.

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April 26, 2012 Page 12

Arts & Entertainment

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Chester French’s ‘Black Girls’ ‘ain’t objectifying no one’ C hester French has a thing for black girls. The Los Angelesbased band released “Black Girls,” the candid first single off its sophomore album, along with a visually stunning video directed by Italian photographer Francesco Carrozzini last week. Shocking to some viewers and refreshing to others, “Black Girls” has stirred up more Totally conversation t h a n Tierney

By Tierney Finster controversy in its direct A&E Editor discussion of American racial relations.

“This ain’t no fetish / Ain’t objectifying no one,” Chester French vocalist D.A. Wallach sings in the track’s opening.

With the following line, “I reject your deconstruction of my taste,” Wallach turns to critics, who like myself, might question the underlying desires and inherent problems associated with this idolization of black beauty. One look at Wallach and his Chester French band-mate, multiinstrumentalist Max Drummey, exacerbates these concerns for the skeptical reviewer: Chester French is two young, white guys.

The sexual objectification of black women by white men has a historical legacy longer than any Chester French song.

Slave owners raped their female slaves, white men ogled sexually carnivorous portrayals of black women in the Blaxploitation films of the 1970s and Halle Berry won an Oscar for her performance in “Monster’s Ball,” a 2001 film that featured an explicitly degrading sex scene with white actor Billy

Bob Thorton. However, “Black Girls” does not continue in this same tradition of desire.

“Max and I wrote the song over the course of about two years. We felt it was an important song to write considering that both of us are in interracial relationships, and that both of our girlfriends are the products of interracial relationships. It’s close to home,” Wallach explained in an interview with the Loyolan. Drummey continued to call the song’s lyrics

“directly and obviously honest,” free from what Wallach referred to as a “career agenda.”

“People map a lot of things on to race in culture. Changing the race of any person in a context changes how people perceive it,” Drummey said. It is the very fact that Drummey and Wallach are both white, Ivy-League-educated men that make their exaltation of black femininity so powerful.

Both men are aware of their social position, and of how people

Associated Press

Drummey (left) and Wallach expect their first full-length album since 2009’s “Love the Future” to be released in early June.

like themselves are partially responsible for the perpetuation of the white standard of beauty that still pervades American culture today.

“Over the course of my life, I’ve seen so many black women feel insecure about their beauty, or who have felt undesired in certain ways. It was meaningful to do a song that, from our perspective, celebrates their beauty,” Wallach said.

What “Black Girls” doesn’t celebrate, it challenges.

Carrozzini’s video features a sexual struggle between two women, one white and one black.

Wallach describes the video’s black star, model Jodie Smith, as “fairly dark-skinned” and announced that the choice to feature two women in the video speaks to larger issues of categorization, not some pornographic fantasy.

“It’s really about categories and the way that we categorize each other as humans, whether that’s based on beauty, sexuality or anything else. ... Coming from where we sit, the idea was to provoke people to rethink their categories, to make them ask, ‘Is this objectifying? Is this fetishizing?’” Wallach explained.

Smith and Danish costar Rie Rasmussen are the video’s faces of interracial love.

However, the dynamic between the beauties also represents the subversion of conventional and exclusionary definitions of beauty. Rasmussen and Smith’s features are deeply contrasting and yet simultaneously, totally complimentary. Their sexual interplay is powerful, and the true beauty of the video exists in their union more so than in either of their individual characteristics.

The video caused me to wonder how this cohesive feminine vitality was ever divided by racial

politics in the first place, but also instilled in me the hopeful expectation to see more of these positive depictions in mainstream media.

The video, deemed by many websites as “not suitable for work (NSFW),” is sure to leave plenty of viewers with their mouths agape.

I didn’t really know what to think when I first watched it, but it is exactly this uncertainty that makes it so interesting to me. As Wallach stated, it is in this tension “where we see people really thinking through something that they hadn’t before.”

Drummey highlights the aesthetic value of the song along with its larger message.

“The whole thing is about positivity and fun. If people want to take [‘Black Girls’] seriously and have conversations about it, that’s great. Only positive things will come as a result of good dialogue,” he said.

Wallach spoke on the balance that he and Drummey try to achieve in writing for Chester French: “On one hand, we are trying to make music that makes people think and that brings them to critically revisit their assumptions about the world. At the same time, our first goal is to make it fun, to make a song that’s really beautiful or catchy, infectious to a certain degree.”

“Black Girls,” with its light and well-orchestrated pop rock sensibility, is definitely fun.

Watch the video, presented by Karmaloop TV on YouTube, and consider the song’s final question: “Where’s all the love for black girls?”

This is the opinion of Tierney Finster, a sophomore screenwriting major from Los Angeles, Calif. Please send comments to tfinster@theloyolan.com.

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Sports

April 26, 2012 Page 13

Only unpredictability is for certain After 66 games, the NBA’s top playoff teams are dissected by the numbers.

N

early 66 games later and I’m ready to start asking Curious George for answers about the upcoming NBA postseason. Dating back to before the season began on Christmas Day, I thought it was all but a Two Plus the Foul given that DuBy Michael Goldsholl Kevin rant would Managing Editor be the league’s unquestionable MVP and the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat were locks for the NBA Finals. But even if that still happens (nothing’s out of the question right now), surprise teams such as the Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs and even the Phoenix Suns are a testament to the fact that sports hold no guarantees (unless you’re betting that there will be at least 10 new “NBA Memes” about LeBron James’s receding hairline and/or lack of championship rings over the next 24 hours).

I could waste the next 900 words (give or take 200) on prediction word vomit, but considering the lesson I’ve learned, I think this commencing column would be bet-

ter suited heading in a different direction. Because let’s be honest: Even if you do think I have a better shot at making correct predictions than LeBron does at usurping Troy Polamalu as the next poster boy for Head & Shoulders, you’re still left with nothing other than my opinion.

So to educate you, the just as uncertain and wondering fan – here are five nuggets of information you should consider when you decide to play the role of resident ESPN anchor at a local sports bar this weekend: 27.2 – The average age of the San Antonio Spurs 14man roster. While everyone is calling them old and washedup, there are nine other NBA teams (including the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks) that have “older” rosters than the Spurs. No, they don’t mirror the Sacramento Kings’ fountain of youth, but they have the perfect blend of “been-there-donethat,” players – Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Stephen Jackson – and guys who want to have “been there and done that” such as Kawhi Leonard, DeJuan Blair, Danny Green and Tiago Splitter. Throw in the shocking three-pointer skills of Matt Bonner and the versatility of Boris Diaw and so you have a championship contender. Maybe they’re headed for the 2012 NBA championship, or maybe they have already peaked and are about

to get dropped by a No. 8 seed for the second-consecutive year, but if I’m any of the other seven Western Conference playoff squads, the Spurs are just as scary – if not more so – than Kevin Durant and the OKC Thunder.

17-9 – Chicago’s record without reigning MVP Derrick Rose. I’m not allowed to capitalize or italicize words for emphasis, so let me say it one more time: Of their 26 games sans their superstar guard, the Chicago Bulls have captured 17 wins and remained in strong contention for the league’s best overall record. It may not be the most unfathomable record a team has amassed without its star player, but for a team that was forced to give big minutes to C.J. Watson and poor John Lucas III (the guy LeBron

“Defense will always and forever win championships.”

James jumped over) in Rose’s absence, that says a lot about the rest of the team.

Another side note: The Bulls also have the best road record in the league at 23-9, so although they’ll likely have a one-game advantage over nearly every team they face in the playoffs, even if they drop one at home, they’ve proven they can be almost as successful away from the United Center as they can in it (25-

7).

16.3 – Oklahoma City’s league-worst per game turnover average. Since the 199900 season, only one team – the Boston Celtics in 2007-08 – has been among the top-10 league-leaders in miscues per game. The Thunder, while one of the best and most talented teams of the last decade, still has a great barrier between it and the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

1 – Only one of the 16 playoff teams, (the Denver Nuggets) is giving up triple digits in points per game (101.2).

The score first, play defense later is a thing of the past.

Defense wins championships and the teams of the NBA are seemingly starting to figure this out. Every single championship team of the previous 10 seasons has been one of the top-10 defensive teams in the league (in terms of opponent’s field goal percentage) – and that stat will hold its ground for quite a while. +.500 – For the first time since 2004-05, all eight Eastern Conference playoff teams have clinched a record that is at least one game above a .500 winning percentage. It would be that the last time it happened, the Spurs won the title – so that means they’ll win it this year, right?) Now, this won’t really help anyone with their predictions or sound any less hoops-illiterate, but it’s at least indicative of the fact that the Eastern Conference is no longer that much worse than its big brother Western

Conference.

Right now, six (Chicago, Boston, Oklahoma City, Miami, Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers) of the top 10 defensive teams in the league are championship “contenders” (I use the quotation marks because Dallas really isn’t, but they automatically make this list as the defending champions). Defense will always and forever win championships.

Scoring points is great, but if you let your opponent score just as frequently as you do, you’re out of luck.

Okay I lied – I have a couple predictions for you. One: (First, some background information) Kobe Bryant needs exactly 38 points to reclaim the spot as the league’s leading scorer. Kevin Durant does not play tonight, while Kobe is expected to suit up in a season-concluding matchup with the Sacramento Kings (whom Durant dropped 32 points on this past Tuesday). Kobe being Kobe, he will go into this game with this number in mind, and to show Durant that this is still his house, he’ll get it.

Two: I predict that two teams – one from the Western Conference and the other from the Eastern Conference – will meet in the finals and one of those teams will win four out of seven games.

And that team will not be the Charlotte Bobcats.

This is the opinion of Michael Goldsholl, an English major from Santa Barbara, Calif. Please send comments to mgoldsholl@theloyolan.com.

April 26, 2012 Page 14

Sports

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Student emphasized in student-athlete SPORTS FEATURE Despite busy schedules, LMU student-atheltes put priority on academics.

By Emily Wallace Copy Editor

At many universities, questions have been raised about student-athletes and the academic advantages they are given. Common sterotypes include assignments being excused, grades inflated and schedules manipulated in order to get an athlete the easiest classes possible.

From an outside perspective, it may seem like these privileges apply to LMU athletes as well. Spend a day in the life of sophomore volleyball player and natural science major Betsi Metter, however, and you will realize it’s quite the opposite.

“I usually have pretty full days from going to weights early in the morning and I have class until 10 at night because practices are in the middle of the day,” she said.

Sophomore baseball player Bret Dahlson has a similar schedule, balancing classes and practice in his 18hour day. “In the fall, we had weights at six in the morning and on those days I usually wake up at like 5:15 a.m. and I wouldn’t go to sleep until like 11 p.m. so there are definitely long days.”

Though student-athletes are often recognized by the LMU community, the behind-the-scenes of a student athlete’s life is not quite as glamorous.

“It’s definitely a challenge. It takes a lot of time management. Just figuring out your schedule and what open time you have to do homework and

get everything done beforehand,” Metter said about balancing school and sports. For all the procrastinators out there, being a student athlete wouldn’t exactly be convenient.

“Last-minute” isn’t in their vocabulary.

“You want to send emails [to professors] to just not get on their bad side because they’ll still get pissed at you if you don’t. ... So it’s all about communicating and … definitely telling them a week in advance,” Dahlson said.

But being a full-time student and

athlete can take its toll on the players. “We’re doing our sports, we’re competing, we’re mentally and physically drained through our sport,” Metter said. “It’s very taxing on our bodies and even our mental ability.

I’ve found lately that if I lack some sleep my focus isn’t completely there, so it’s a challenge.”

Many coaches are sensitive to the fact that schoolwork comes first and it’s not always possible to be fully committed to a sport and schoolwork at the same time. Swimming Head Coach Bonnie Adair is one of these

Kellie Rowan | Loyolan

Senior first baseman Kelly Sarginson rounds the bases on a homerun.

She proactively communicates her athletic schedule with her professors.

flexible coaches. “[Swimmers] miss an occasional practice and even if they have a really big test that they are stressing about, I’ll say ‘sleep in’ or ‘only come to half the workout if you want to just use it as kind of a stress relief or skip altogether,’” she said. “I will find some way to adjust our schedules so that they can get caught up with their schoolwork, that’s number one for me and always has been.”

Missing practice is not as detrimental as missing class though, and student-athletes are forced to do this a lot. To go about this, each athlete gives a sheet of paper stating the days of class they anticipate missing to his or her professor. In addition to this, senior softball player Kelly Sarginson takes a proactive approach with her schedule.

“I try to look at the syllabus and see if there is anything that I am going to miss. If I am, I try to find a time that I can make it up,” she said.

Professors work with the athletes, typically without much difficulty, according to the athletes. Junior swimmer Stephanie Hess said, “The teachers are actually really helpful, especially to student-athletes. They are really available for office hours and meeting after class.”

Though professors may be accommodating, “privileges” are not awarded to athletes, according to Sarginson. “I’ve never had a professor that was like ‘Oh you are a student-athlete? I’m going to make this so easy.’ It’s usually the opposite.

They usually expect a lot more out of you.”

Students have a lot of misconceptions, including teachers making class easy for athletes. “I think they think that athletes just get whatever they want, but there is a lot of work put in both on the athlete’s side and

the professor’s side. So I think people think, ‘Oh, they just get to take [tests and quizzes] later!’ But it’s not like we have extra time to study,” said Metter about the matter.

Dr. Jane Yamashiro, an American cultures professor at LMU, shatters this stereotype of special treatment for athletes. Rather than make exceptions for student-athletes, she keeps her course fair for everyone.

“I expect [student-athletes] to do what every student does. … I offer extra credit for [students] that have missed days for whatever reason and that is something that a student-athlete can do to try to make up [days missed]. And I offer that for everyone.

I don’t offer any accommodations for student athletes.”

A minimum GPA is set for each team as well to make sure that each student is academically performing up to par. “Our minimum is 2.75, but I like to have everyone over that,” said Adair. “Most of our girls are over 3.2 but a few will get below that 2.75 and we keep them in study hall.”

If an athlete is struggling academically, he or she can go to the Athletic Academic Center directed by Matt Casana. Many athletes take advantage of this program and some teams even require that players go to study hall.

“They give you so many resources to use. They bring in tutors. If you are struggling, all your really need to do is ask for help,” Dahlson said.

Though their days are full and a lot is expected out of them, Sarginson, Dahlson, Metter and Hess all love being student-athletes and wouldn’t change it if they could.

“I would never wish otherwise. I love it and it keeps me busy. …I love everything about volleyball, athletics and this atmosphere. I would never give it up,” Metter said.

Ferrari gives personal postseason awards Ferrari’s Finest from Page 16 Verlander Performance given to freshman pitcher Colin Welmon for his excellence on the mound as a first-year player. Starting pitcher Justin Verlander won the 2006 Rookie of the Year (ROY) award after coming up through the Detroit Tigers organization. As a freshman, Welmon has been the Lions’ Friday starter all season. At one point this year, he threw 25 straight innings without giving up a run and over 38 straight innings without issuing a walk. He was also named to College Baseball 360’s Primetime Performer

list. I expect greatness from Welmon down the road.

I would also like to present the Ferrari’s Finest Tina Thompson Scorer award to Alex Cowling of women’s basketball. Thompson is the all-time leading scorer for the WNBA, who played college and some professional ball in Los Angeles. Cowling became the program’s all-time leading scorer this year, averaging 22.2 points per game on her way to 666 points. Like Thompson, Cowling has the ability to score at any time and take over games. I see some WNBA success coming for Cowling as well.

Next up is Ferrari’s Finest Messi-like Moment given to freshman midfielder John McFarlin. Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona have sure helped soccer popularity in America.

Undersized goal-scorers are often compared to Messi. Back in October, the 5-foot-6-inch McFarlin recorded the highlight of the season with his game-winning header to end a pivotal conference match with Santa Clara in overtime. This was McFarlin’s first collegiate goal, which came against a team from his region that told him he was too small to play Division I soccer.

Now, I would like to present the

details

Ferrari’s Finest Hunter Mahan Finisher award to Tyler Torano.

Mahan is the only player in golf to win two separate tournaments on the PGA Tour in 2012, and Torano is only the second golfer in LMU history to win two individual men’s titles in the same season. These clutch performances helped earn him the honor of WCC Men’s Golf Player of the Month for February. Torano also posted the lowest LMU score at the conference tournament, helping the team to a sixth place finish.

Finally, I would like to present the Ferrari’s Finest Babe Ruth Slugger award to senior shortstop,

Sam Fischer. For the LMU softball team, Fischer really was the Queen of Crash this year, filling her name throughout the national statistic rankings as well as the LMU record books. Fischer is now the single-season and career leader in homeruns for LMU softball, with her last regular season home at-bat coming in the fashion of a walk-off grand slam.

I swore I thought I saw her call the shot, too.

This is the opinion of Ray Ferrari, a freshman communication studies major from Eugene, Ore. Please send comments to ndines@theloyolan.com.

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Sports

Differences define relationship Pitchers from Page 16 “I chose LMU because it was close to home, I loved the coaches and I wanted to help the team as soon as I could.”

Megill was also recruited by a Pac-12 representative, the University of Oregon, but decided on LMU because of the better fit.

His teammates would agree. Infielder junior Joey Boney made the simple comparison: “One is really mature; one just isn’t.” He went on to cite an example of Megill’s first Division I college practice, in which Megill was texting when he should have been on the field.

“I think he was texting his dad,” Boney said. “But still, he was texting during practice. Who does that?”

Megill was given the nickname “sloth” by his teammates and Megill thinks it fits quite well.

“I’m a goober,” Megill said. “I don’t take things too seriously and try not to let things bother me that much.”

This contrast has helped the Lions’ starters create a bond together as they are roommates whenever the team goes on the road.

“Colin and I are very different,” Megill said. “He’s a lot smarter than I am, but he’s a really nice guy and we get along really well.”

Welmon appreciates having Megill as a resource on the team.

“We get along great,” Welmon said. “We play a lot of video games together when we are on the road.”

Despite his relaxed approach on life, Megill has delivered on the mound as well, earning an ERA of 3.22 and leads the team in strikeouts with 51.

Megill is quick to point out that his demeanor completely changes

when he is pitching.

“I don’t talk to anyone when I’m pitching,” Megill said. “I get in the zone.”

The transition from high school to collegiate baseball has been manageable because of the team’s ability to make both Welmon and Megill feel a part of the community. “[Junior] Matt Florer has been a big help for me,” Megill said. “He has taught me all the pickoff moves, signs and team lingo.”

Welmon echoes the appreciation he has for his teammates.

“Just because we are freshmen doesn’t mean we aren’t a part of the team. Yes, we have to clean up the field and stuff, but that’s normal.

We are lucky because we get a lot of playing time as freshmen, but we lead by our actions and play on the

field. We are one group and our age really doesn’t matter,” Welmon said.

The Lions just came off one of their biggest victories of the season, defeating No. 8 CSU Fullerton 6-5 on Tuesday to even the season series with the Titans at one apiece and giving the team momentum heading into the rest of the WCC schedule.

The Lions face a pivotal threegame series at Gonzaga University this weekend in Spokane, Wash. starting Friday at 6 p.m. The Lions will play their second game of the series Saturday night in primetime at 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPNU. Megill is scheduled to get the start. LMU Baseball last appeared on national television in 2005 when it hosted Pepperdine University in the WCC championship series.

April 26, 2012 Page 15

Men’s basketball Sophomore guard Anthony Ireland has been named to the 2011-12 All-Jesuit team.

Kevin Laughlin | Loyolan

Sophomore Anthony Ireland finished the 2011-12 season with 548 points, placing himself 23rd all-time in school history.

Kellie Rowan | Loyolan

Freshman starting pitcherTrevor Megill is known for his carefree personality off the mound. Yet on the mound he is all business, leading the team in strikeouts.

Sophomore guard Anthony Ireland received an honorable mention in the National All-Jesuit Men’s Basketball Team, adding to the accolades of his standout sophomore season. Ireland averaged 16.1 points per game, including a 27-point outbreak at Brigham Young University on January 19. That same week, he received West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Week honors. Ireland was recognized as WCC Player of the Week again after the team defeated St. Mary’s College and Valparaiso University in the week of February 15. Ireland scored 16 points against the Gaels and 19 points in the ESPN BracketBusters game against Valparaiso University.

Additionally, Ireland was also named a first team all WCC selection this past season. Ireland ranks 23rd all time at LMU in points scored in a single season with 548 points and was second in the conference in minutes played averaging 36-and-a-half minutes per game.

Ireland also received LMU Athlete of the Year at this year ’s Iggy Awards.

Compiled by Dan Raffety | Loyolan

www.laloyolan.com

Lion Sports

Wilkinson reflects on his passion

Ferrari’s finest awards After the recent Iggy Awards, Ray Ferrari examines LMU athletes through a professional sports lens.

Senior John Wilkinson caps his Loyolan sports writing career with a final column on his love for sports.

T

M

y favorite anecdote about my love for sports is how at a young age I became conscious of the idea of sports media. As soon as I realized that there were people who got paid to watch sports games and talk about them, I was immediately interested; that sounded like the best job ever.

I then proceeded to bring a tape recorder with me to subsequent Arizona Diamondbacks Wilks World baseball games and record my own play

By John Wilkinson by plays, listening to Senior Editor them later at home: The humble beginnings of a career that even now is still in its infancy.

Over time, I realized that speaking live or being in front of the camera wasn’t exactly for me, and I switched to grappling with written words. Through my time at LMU and the Loyolan, I have learned how beautiful and powerful sports writing can be and started to work my way towards being the writer I aspire to be some day.

The great thing about sports, and more specifically sports writing, is that, at their best, the articles are rarely actually about sports. The sports stories that stick with us are those that transcend the box scores or cold hard facts.

The same goes for pretty much the entire genre of sports movies. Kevin Costner has made a career of out of romantic comedies and dramas disguised as sports flicks. When certain films send a guy or gal to tears every time, it is hardly because the sporting play on screen was executed so beautifully; rather, it is due to the underlying camaraderie of triumph, romance or failure.

I’ll never forget visiting the actual “Field of Dreams” from the Costner movie sharing that name. Playing a pickup game there had no specific sporting value, but it held personal value, for what that place meant and the emotions tied to it.

I think that is what most people don’t understand about sports fanatics. We aren’t simply crazy people obsessing over children’s games – well, yes we are, but we do it because it isn’t just about the game.

It is about the people we watch the games with, where we watch them and how we relate to the competition and athletes.

In my time at the Loyolan I have been blessed to write about everything from the excitement of victory to the emptiness of defeat and the tough lessons of death. All of those experiences have made me a better person, no matter how difficult. Sports as an element of culture helps us deal with so many things that would be difficult or impossible to grapple with otherwise.

The people of LMU Athletics and the stories I wrote about them have challenged me to grow and get better. Reporters never cheer on the job, but it was impossible not to ride the emotions of those stories and plenty of other great people I got to meet, interview and write about.

After my experiences over the last four years, I could easily go back and assure my young self that this really is the best job I could imagine. Forget the low pay and that list calling journalism the fifth-worst job in the world; I spent the last four years (and hope to spend plenty more) watching sports, meeting amazing people, writing about what it meant and getting paid for it. Pardon my cheesy closing simile, but that sounds like a grand slam to me.

This is the opinion of John Wilkinson, a senior screenwriting and political science double major from Phoenix, Ariz. Please send comments to jwilkinson@theloyolan.com.

April 26, 2012 Page 16

Kellie Rowan | Loyolan

Senior Casey Flacks wins Player of the Year Senior Casey Flacks (above) was named the Western Water Polo Association Player of the Year, leading seven teammates to earn postseason honors. This season, Flacks became the program leader with 141 assists (46 this season), along with 22 goals and 42 steals.

See below for Flacks’ response to the award and the last stages of her career as a Lion.

Overall, this award really is about the team and my ability to play to my strengths. It has truly been a dream come true to finish my four years off with this team.

This award represents far more in that I owe it to the incredible and talented teammates that helped lead me to my success. I am surrounded in the pool by teammates who work hard and push me everyday. Without them, I would not be the same athlete that I am and this award is in large part due to them and they deserve just as much recognition. I am looking forward to the upcoming weekend and hoping to bring home a Conference Championship.

This season, the team has proved not only to ourselves but to others that we can compete amongst the best. For the 2011-2012 year, we have put in hard work, dedication and time, and the team camaraderie is one of the best in all four years.

The only thing that would make this season more fitting is to win the Conference Championship and compete for an NCAA championship. There is no other way I would want to finish this season than for the team to go out on top. It is something I have strived to do in my four years here at LMU and if there is any team that can make this happen, it is this one. — Casey Flacks

he seventh annual Iggy Awards were held at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott on Monday, April 23 to celebrate the athletic achievements of LMU’s student athletes during the 2011-12 centennial season.

Men’s Soccer Associate Head Coach Mathes Mennell hosted the evening, presenting six main “Iggys” to some of LMU’s most accomplished competitors.

The Strength and Conditioning awards went to redshirt freshman Eric Brunter for Ferrari’s Finest soccer and sophomore Taylor Scioscia for volBy Ray Ferrari leyball. Senior water Staff Writer polo players Edgaras Asajavicius and Casey Flacks were awarded with the Student-Athlete of the Year awards. Joe Ferretti and Brianne Medved earned the Freshman Athlete of the Year awards for water polo and soccer, respectively. Newcomer Athlete of the Year went to junior Cullen Mahoney for baseball and senior Whitney Delgado for water polo. Senior LaRon Armstead was awarded Most Improved Athlete of the Year for basketball and sophomore Betsi Metter for volleyball. Sophomore Anthony Ireland and redshirt senior Tara Erdmann received Athlete of the Year for basketball and cross country/track and field, respectively.

Because of this ceremony and this being the final regular Loyolan issue of the school year, I thought I would take this as an opportunity to give out some additional accolades. There were just too many great sports stories on campus this year to limit them to a three-hour banquet.

Like the NCAA would say, most of LMU’s athletes will be going pro in something other than sports. For some Iggy Awards snubs, I thought I would give out my own set to those athletes who remind me most of one of the pros.

Here are my own six Ferrari’s Finest Awards.

The first award will be Ferrari’s Finest

See Ferrari’s Finest | Page 14

Freshmen starters impress SPORTS FEATURE Colin Welmon and Trevor Megill lead the Lions’ starting rotation despite being first-year students.

By Dan Raffety Asst. Sports Editor

It is typically not desirable to be a freshman.

Freshmen starting pitchers Colin Welmon and Trevor Megill defy this entrenched logic by leading the 2012 Lions as the top pitchers on the staff. Thanks in large part to them, the Lions are two games above .500 and in third place in the WCC standings with a 7-5 record.

Welmon is typically the Friday starter, matching up against the opposing teams best pitcher, and leads the Lions into their first game of a three-game series. So far this year, Welmon has delivered with a 5-3 overall record, posting a 3.71 ERA. In 63 innings of work this season, Welmon has struck out 42 opposing batters while only allowing seven walks. Aside from his overall record and statistics, Welmon’s presence on the mound is what impresses his teammates.

Senior third baseman Alex Guthrie said, “He is such a mature kid, both on and off the mound. He is able to keep things together even when it begins to unravel on him.”

“When I’m off the field, I’d say I’m 50 percent serious, 40 percent fun and joking and 10 percent kind of in my own zone and not focused on everything else,” joked Welmon.

“When I’m on the mound, though, I’m all

Abbey Nelson | Loyolan

Freshman starting pitcher Colin Welmon leads the Lions’ rotation. He has struck out 42 opposing batters, while only allowing seven walks on the season. business.”

Welmon is from Tustin, Calif. and went to Foothill High School where he was named All CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) in 2009 as well as his team’s most valuable player. USC, UCLA and Santa Clara University all recruited Welmon. Welmon also played with Lions freshman infielder David Edwards at Foothill High School.

“I knew I wanted to stay close to home and the coaches here are incredible,” Wel-

mon said.

On the complete opposite side of the spectrum is Trevor Megill, the Lions’ second starter, typically throwing on Saturday games. Technically, Megill is slated to be a high school senior, but because of the Orange County Charter High School requirements, he was able to graduate early and join the Lions for the 2012 campaign.

See Pitchers | Page 15