ESTABLISHED 1921 November 12, 2012
Volume 91, Issue 18
www.laloyolan.com Your Home. Your Voice. Your News. loyola marymount university
Unofficial fraternity colonizes off campus The new chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon has 33 members, including ASLMU’s president. By Kevin O’Keeffe Managing Editor
A letter sent to the greater Greek community on Oct. 29 announced that a new chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), the secondlargest fraternity in the country, has colonized off campus at LMU. The letter was sent by senior accounting major Nick Mecham, the new chapter’s vice president. The roster of SAE members sent to the Greek community by Mecham lists 33 active members, including ASLMU President Bryan Ruiz, who also serves as the chapter president of SAE. Ruiz, a senior marketing major, was one of the three original students who contacted the SAE national organization about forming a chapter at LMU, which he said led to his role as president. Vice President for Men’s Recruitment for Greek Council Dane Vaughn, a junior entrepreneurship major, called Ruiz’s role as SAE president “very interesting,” and indicated that it might make any ASLMU collaboration with Greek Life and Greek Council awkward. “He’s expected to represent the student body in a very diplomatic sense ... and the actions of SAE haven’t exactly been diplomatic,”
See SAE | Page 2
Albert Alvarado | Loyolan
Flag football competition raises money for two philanthropies Sophomore business major Matt Burchill (far right) and junior theological studies major Evan Ferchau (second from right) were among the many students who competed in Alpha Phi sorority’s annual “Capture A-Phi” event yesterday in Sunken Garden. The event raised money for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Alpha Phi Foundation.
LMU first in alumni CSLA 2012 donation participation EXIT POLL RESULTS Director of Annual Giving says
Over 175 LMU students distributed anonymous exit poll surveys in 50 randomly selected Los Angeles precincts as part of LMU’s Center for the Study of Los Angeles (CSLA) 2012 Exit Poll.
In the presidential election, for whom did you vote today?
22%
Mitt Romney Barack Obama
78%
In the presidential election, for whom did you vote today? Mitt Romney
26%
Barack Obama
BY GENDER Mitt Romney
74%
18%
Barack Obama
82%
MALE FEMALE For more of the findings from the exit poll, visit laloyolan.com.
Joanie Payne | Loyolan
HOLIDAY WITHOUT A HOME Contributor Anthony Pico discusses making ends meet after leaving foster care and the crisis he faces when LMU goes on break.
Opinion, Page 5
donors “designate their gift” to one of 350 areas on campus. By Jenna Abdou News Intern
LMU has the highest alumni participation rate in the West Coast Conference [WCC], with 20 percent of alumni giving back, according to the September 2012 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges Issue. Santa Clara University came in second with 18 percent, and Gonzaga University ranked third with 17 percent of their alumni having donated. Kathleen Autwater, a junior history major and the lead caller at LMU Alumni Relations, attributes LMU’s recent success to “alumni recognizing that LMU is a really great school.” “The more you enjoy something, the more you want to give back,” Autwater said. The Director of Annual Giving and ‘93 alum Kevin Delaney shared that when “interacting with alums from various decades, ranging from the class of ‘43 to the current graduating
Index Classifieds.............................4 Opinion.........................5 Coffee Break.........................7 A&E................................8 Sports..............................12 The next issue of the Loyolan will be printed on Nov. 15, 2012.
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class, everyone who has been a part of the LMU community reflects on the common themes of the friendships made on the bluff and the interactions that students have with faculty.” According to Delaney, alums are asked to make an annual commitment to LMU during Alumni Relations’ fiscal year, beginning June 1 and concluding May 31. Alumni donations are always unique to the donor. “We allow people to designate their gift to the area they are most passionate about on campus. Whether it is their area of study, the Belles service organization or the Athletics department, there are 350 designations available to alums,” said Delaney. The designation program is often an incentive for alums to give back to the bluff as they know their donation will directly and immediately impact current students. Sarah Gilson, a senior communication studies and Spanish double major, reflected on this notion, saying, “I love talking about LMU because it has made such a positive impact on my life, and I love knowing
See Donations | Page 3
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November 12, 2012 Page 2
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ASLMU president’s dual roles elicit concern
SAE from Page 1
Vaughn said. Dan Faill, the assistant director of Student Leadership and Development and Greek adviser at LMU, echoed Vaughn’s feelings, saying, “I am a little concerned that someone who’s supposed to voice the interest of the institution and the student body would not only join but become the president of an underground, unregistered group.” Ruiz made clear that ASLMU was his priority in an interview with the Loyolan, also saying that he can perform both jobs because SAE is unrecognized by the University and is completely off campus. “I think a lot of people, whether that’s leaders here on campus, students or administration, have a lot of off-campus involvements. And they do those well and keep those separate,” he said. “People have families and go home for God’s sake, and do a good job, ... so I can confidently say [the roles can be separate].” Alexandra Froehlich, ASLMU adviser and assistant director of Student Leadership and Development, said her expectation is that Ruiz’s work as ASLMU president will take precedence. “I will trust that [Ruiz] will not let his work for the undergraduate student body be affected by his commitments.” However, Faill said that the real issue is Ruiz’s dual presidencies. “It’s the hearsay that you can’t serve in a leadership capacity of another student organization … and be president of ASLMU, for that whole conflict of interest,” he said. Froehlich said, however, that she reviewed the bylaws and saw nothing specific about such a provision. The bylaws only dictate that the president must “administer ASLMU in a manner
REACTIONS TO SAE’S COLONIZATION "We're a brotherhood, and we believe in each other." - Bryan Ruiz, president of both ASLMU and SAE "This is not the first time that SAE specifically has – the term used across the nation is ‘crashed campus.’" - Greek Adviser Dan Faill
ΣΑΕ
"It is the official stance of the LMU Greek Council that Sigma Alpha Epsilon ... neither be admitted nor recognized ... in the Greek community." - LMU Greek community
"It's been a huge benefit to me and to every guy in it." - SAE Vice President Nick Mecham
consistent with the best interests of the undergraduate student body and the University and be held accountable to the students for proper conduct.” “All student leaders live complex lives,” Froehlich added. “What is critical is their ability to be self-aware and make congruent decisions with regards to the commitments in their lives.” Requests for comment from Director of Student Leadership and Development Andrea Niemi about such a provision, as well as about SAE’s colonization in general, were not returned by the Loyolan’s print deadline. Last Friday, a response to Mecham’s letter from the Greek community – signed by all 16 fraternity and sorority chapters on campus and Joe Dzida, the president of Greek Council and a senior marketing major – made clear that they oppose any sort of recognition for SAE. Members of an SAE interest group attempted to gain University recognition as part of last spring’s expansion process. This process was first requested by the SAE interest group in Spring 2011, according to Mecham. However,
according to Faill, the idea that the expansion was a direct result of the interest group’s request is “not the case at all.” Despite being chosen as one of the six finalists allowed to present an information session on campus, SAE was not chosen to be colonized on campus; the two open spots instead went to Delta Sigma Phi and Phi Delta Theta. Upon learning of that decision, according to Mecham, the members had a choice to make: either abandon SAE in favor of joining one of the new organizations, as recommended by Greek Life, or continue with colonization off campus with the national organization. “It was [a] pretty quick [discussion],” Mecham said. “SAE was the only thing we wanted to do. After a year, it became something we really identified with.” According to Faill, Greek Life first learned of plans to colonize off campus from SAE’s national organization in a letter from their Director of Expansion in midSeptember. The letter said that “after careful consideration by our national extension committee and our Supreme Council, we
Joanie Payne | Loyolan
have decided to move forward and recognize this group of students, formally starting a colony of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, comprised of men that attend [LMU].” “This is not the first time that SAE specifically has [nationally] ... ‘crashed campus,’” Faill said regarding the national organization’s pattern at other schools. “The fact that the University told them ‘no’ and they’re going to move forward is not uncommon for them.” The colonization was met with some disquiet in the community, according to Faill. “A majority of chapter leaders have expressed their concern this happened in the first place,” Faill said. “They also feel it is disrespectful to the two organizations that were chosen for expansion.” “We don’t think it’s fair or respectful to them for SAE to colonize and kind of steal their spotlight and ... potential new members,” Vaughn agreed. Mecham said that the members of SAE’s intentions were not to diminish any participation in the new organizations. However, in his letter, Mecham stated that “given the history of other off-campus
organizations,” concern about SAE was “justified.” One such off-campus organization is Kappa Sigma, a chapter colonized in 2007 that has unsuccessfully fought for University recognition ever since, including during last spring’s expansion process. “We in Kappa Sigma support their decision to do what they want to do,” said Austin Wermers, a senior political science major and Kappa Sigma’s current chapter president. “I believe that SAE has just as much right as any other fraternity on campus to be on campus.” The SAE saga bears more than a few similarities to Kappa Sigma’s first colonization, according to Faill. “Both groups were told ‘no’ from the LMU Greek Council and LMU administration. Both national organizations opted to disregard the University’s decision and move forward with their own process.” The letter sent from the Greek community last Friday mentioned Kappa Sigma as an example, expressly denying that organization recognition as well. In summary, Vaughn said, “It’s very much the same story.” However, Mecham said that a ban against the rushing of any first-semester freshmen, an LMU Greek Life policy Wermers said is not currently adhered to by Kappa Sigma, will be written into SAE’s bylaws and cannot be changed by future members. For Mecham, the SAE experience has been worth any tumult or confusion. “It’s been a huge benefit to me and to every guy in it,” he said. “That’s why we stuck with it for so long.” Ruiz summarized the colony’s decision to move off campus despite the University’s protestations by saying, “We completely respect the school’s decision, but at the end of the day, we’re a brotherhood, and we believe in each other.”
VISIT laloyolan.com FOR MORE ABOUT SAE, INCLUDING: A TIMELINE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SAE AND KAPPA SIGMA
INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATIONAL SAE ORGANIZATION'S
HAZING SCANDALS
DOCUMENTS FROM SAE AND THE LMU GREEK COMMUNITY
Then, voice your opinions by voting in our poll, tweeting at us @LALoyolan and posting on our Facebook. Joanie Payne | Loyolan
On-campus events promote and feature the arts
Steven Douglas | Loyolan
Liana Bandziulis | Loyolan
LMU’s annual Kristallnacht Commemoration event last Thursday featured a talk by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin as well as various student dance performances (above). Telushkin’s talk focused on the lessons the world can learn from Kristallnacht.
Rodd Naimi, a senior finance major (left), participates in SPEED READ, Pi Beta Phi sorority’s philanthropy event to raise money for First Book, a nonprofit organization that promotes literacy. The event took place last Thursday during Convo and consisted of a fast-paced relay race.
News
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November 12, 2012 Page 3
‘Passionate’ callers inspire high alumni donation rate Donations from Page 1 that the conversations I’ve had with alums have led to contributions to the programs on campus that I love.” Gilson is also a coordinator at Alumni Relations and believes the phone calls made to alums are a major contribution to LMU’s high donation rate. “I honestly think that our Phonathon program is exceptional, and that directly correlates to the increase in alumni donations. Our callers are passionate about LMU, and the alums respond to that,” Gilson said. “I also think that it has a lot to do with the fact that LMU is an amazing place and people graduate from here with wonderful memories, and they give back so that future classes can have those experiences as well,”
continued Gilson. Autwater, Alumni Relations’ lead caller, explained that the highlight of her job is “connecting with so many different people about the school that we all love.” “Talking to alums is the best opportunity to make great relationships and get advice from people who have done it all before,” said Autwater. According to Delaney, Alumni Relations truly believes that every donation makes a positive impact on the LMU community. Donations begin at one dollar and increase from there. The department understands that each alum is at a different stage in their life, and Delaney encouraged people to realize that “everyone makes donations that feel right for them.” Only a month after receiving the honor, Delaney said,
“Now the real work begins; we have to stay number one.” Delaney also outlined Alumni Relations’ goals for the future. The department wants to educate alumni about how they can help current students with President David W. Burcham’s recent announcement of the scholarship initiative. Delaney explained that Alumni Relations wants to express the importance of this opportunity for both current students and alumni. Another goal is to expand the support for faculty research. Although “staying number one” is great motivation for the Alumni Relations group, their utmost goal “is to make sure that we provide the best opportunities for students who come to LMU,” said Delaney.
U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT BEST COLLEGES ISSUE 2012 ALUMNI PARTICIPATION IN THE WEST COAST CONFERENCE
1 LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY 20% 2 3 4 5
Santa Clara University 18% Gonzaga University 17% Brigham Young University 16% Portland University 14%
Jennifer Abe
Abe said that she is currently enrolled in Spanish 102 at LMU. When discussing her upcoming move to Argentina, without hesitation, she said that language is her biggest concern.
11BURNING QUESTIONS
with a soon-to-be resident of Argentina
This issue,Assistant News Editor Casey Kidwell sits down with Associate Professor Jennifer Abe to talk about how she’s feeling about her upcoming move to Argentina. 1. Where did inspiration for this new study abroad program in Argentina come from? A few years after the murder of six Jesuits and two women in 1989 during El Salvador’s civil war, Santa Clara University began a unique study abroad program in El Salvador called the “Casa de la Solidaridad.” Last year, a “Casa Network” was formed between SCU, USF and LMU. USF began a program in the Philippines last fall and next fall, LMU will begin a Casa program in Córdoba, Argentina. 2. What is your favorite class you have taught or teach at LMU? I love the special studies classes I get to teach. These cover a variety of topics but are often interdisciplinary and involve an engaged learning experience. This spring, [Professor] Doug Christie and I will teach a course that includes an alternative break which involves a five-day stay at a monastery in Big Sur and three days at a Catholic Worker community in Guadalupe, Calif.
Joanie Payne | Loyolan
3. What made you decide to move to Argentina to teach this study abroad class? This program is very important to LMU because it addresses the Jesuit vision of teaching students into a well-educated solidarity. We were invited to not just teach a class, but to help establish a program. We jumped at the opportunity to live there for three years. 4. How is your family feeling about the move? We have five kids, including two sets of twins. So, depending on who you talk to, you’ll receive very different answers. But mostly they’re excited. The boys are not so excited, but it doesn’t matter, they’re going regardless. And the girls are so excited. 5. Where’s your favorite place you’ve traveled thus far in your life? That’s so hard. I mean, I went to Italy for the first time this summer and that was mindblowing. But it was also mindblowing to go to Nicaragua with my students a couple years ago.
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7. Have you ever been to Argentina before? I went in May, loved it. It confirmed – well it wasn’t a confirmation; we had no idea we would end up going. But I really fell for the place. 8. How will this study abroad program differ from the others at LMU? Students in this program will spend two full days a week working in a praxis community. Actually, not working really, it’s more becoming a part of the community. The central idea of this program is accompaniment, so it’s just learning how to be with these people, the community becomes your teacher. The rest of the time they’ll be taking classes with the Jesuit university there. 9. Why would you tell students to take part in this program? You can travel a lot of different places but [with this program] it’s almost like you put a pause button on your life. You get to look up and live more simply, it’s very intentional living and it’s an emphasis on spirituality and trying to understand what it means to live in different cultures and differences in income. You get to live it, not just learn about it in a classroom.
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10. What is one American amenity that you are nervous about leaving behind? I heard they don’t have peanut butter. I’m not sure, but that would be hard.
Alignment with current California licensure requirements Professionally active faculty who teach from personal experience A curriculum that integrates spirituality and values A blend of the theoretical and practical elements of psychology For more information, visit www.apu.edu/mft/.
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6. What is one thing you are most nervous about with this move? Language. I’m taking Spanish 102 with the students here. When you’re older it’s harder to learn and I’m not worried about the kids so much but you know ... I’ve always wanted to learn, but it’s going to be an immersion.
11. What food are you looking forward to trying the most? Argentinians and their relationship to meat. They’re hugely famous for their meat, but you know we’re trying to eat more balanced, so I’m not sure how we’re going to come back.
Azusa, CA 91702 13920
To read the extended version of 11 Burning Questions, and find out what Abe hopes to take away from her experience, visit the News section of laloyolan.com.
News
November 12, 2012 Page 4
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CSA director wins prestigious regional award NEWS FEATURE Pam Rector manages to stay passionate about service amidst her “hectic schedule.” By Kimberly Smith Contributor
Twelve years ago, LMU’s Center for Service and Action (CSA) received a million dollar grant from the Hilton Foundation and used the grant to build the presence it has on campus today. Pam Rector, director and founder of CSA, views this as a key success in a career filled with community service.
“The Madonna Della Strada Award is given from the Los Angeles Regional Council of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, and that’s a group that I’ve been volunteering [with] for about eight years, so it’s nice after all those years to be recognized for my work with them and my work in the community,” said Rector when asked about recently being named a recipient of the award. The award is given to two recipients from Ignatian Volunteer Corps and is named after Santa Maria Della Strada, which was the first church that St. Ignatius and the early Jesuits created to serve the poor in the center of Rome. The award is meant to honor lives
that reflect the Ignatian values of service, working and educating toward a just society. Rector plans to use this award to continue to drive her work in service, saying, “I do what I do because it’s a passion of mine, not because I’m going to get recognition. But it is nice to have that recognition, and I think it just fuels you to keep going forward.” While describing her hectic schedule, Rector explained the extent to which she leads a life and career in dedication to serving others. “When I leave my desk at the end of the day, I am usually in a mad rush to pick up my daughter from school. I feel like I go from
Liana Bandziulis | Loyolan
Pam Rector told the Loyolan about how she uses her recent award to “drive her work in service” and continue to live a life that “reflects Ignatian values.” She also discussed her passion for her job.
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work to mom, so that’s my shift, and when my daughter goes to sleep I pick up the email that happened during the day. So that’s the general pattern,” Rector said. In terms of living a life that reflects Ignatian values, Rector said, “I really do feel that we are called to be servants and we are called to be of service to others, we are called to be in solidarity with others. I really like the Greg Boyle [an American Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy Industries] concept of kinship, that we are meant to belong to each other and that we are there for each other.” Rector was previously a counselor and administrator in the Los Angeles Unified School District and worked in the Lennox School District, which serves an inner-city Latino community made up of mostly immigrants and shift workers. Due to her experience working in Lennox, LMU’s El Espejo Program, which is now in it’s 19th year as a mentoring program between LMU and Lennox Middle School, is something that Rector holds close to her heart. “When I was a counselor at Lennox Middle School, a student from LMU approached me about starting a mentoring program, so we started that collaboration 20 years ago,” said Rector, adding that El Espejo was one of her favorite aspects of LMU’s Center for Service and Action. Rector found her way back to LMU after graduating from LMU in 1977, when she took a yearlong absence from her work in the Lennox School District to discover what next step she wanted to take in her career. “It seemed like the right position at the right time,” she said. Rector’s career at LMU began in the office of Educational Partnerships in Community, which was an office under Career Development Services that involved internships and
community service. “It was kind of awkward. Internships is one thing and community service is another, and they didn’t work well together,” Rector said. In 2000, CSA was born and Rector began her current role as director. Rector’s dedication to CSA has influenced and impacted many students here at LMU, including the student workers at CSA. Sophomore psychology major Richard Kelsey, a Community Based Learning student coordinator for CSA described Rector as “very passionate about what she does here. She’s all over the place, she’s always trying to stay involved.” Yet Rector’s dedication to service is not the only facet of Rector that Kelsey admires, as he added, “She’s just downright hilarious. She is so fun to talk to and so easy to get along with.” Senior entrepreneurship major Lauren Okimoto, another student worker at CSA, said she admires Rector’s work with the office. “I really admire her passion and drive to be here and work for CSA, to be in charge of everything that goes on here,” Okimoto said. Rector said she loves the environment at LMU, especially the “peace and tranquility” that she feels while walking through campus. She said, “I think working here has taught me that anything is possible and a good idea can be brought to fruition. It just takes a little work, a little collaboration and negotiation. Together we can accomplish almost anything.” Rector has no problem waking up for her days in the morning. “Oh, I love my job I always say I think I have the best job on campus. I love the opportunity to support students in what their passions are, to hear about what they’re doing and just watch things unfold that they are planning, thinking and dreaming about,” she said.
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BOARD EDITORIAL
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
lmu
Board Editorials represent the voice of the Loyolan. They are written in collaboration by the Executive Editorial Board. Kevin O’Keeffe Managing Editor
Adrien Jarvis Editor in Chief
Dan Raffety Asst. Managing Editor
T
Re: “What’s needed now: the next 100 days and the next four years,” Nov. 8 Dear Executive Editorial Board,
Brigette Scobas Asst. Managing Editor
I am writing to you to express my disappointment in your evaluation of the President of the United States’ long – and shortterm – goals. While you wish for continued creation of jobs and for the economy to display signs of improved growth, nowhere in your assessment do you make mention of the “fiscal cliff.” This is the combination of sequestration due to the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the expiration of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010. The fact that this is arguably the single most important event occurring over the next 100 days, yet it makes no appearance in this piece, is concerning. It is additionally worrisome that in the piece “Students reflect on Obama’s re-election,” no student comments on the issues facing Obama, nor do they set performance metrics for his second term. Aside from the economy, I am surprised that nowhere in the article, or in the rest of the publication, do you make mention of the drone attacks in Yemen that occurred less than 24 hours after Obama was re-elected. While this could have resulted in a engaging discussion regarding Obama’s tone for his second term, the Loyolan Editorial Board has simply chosen to focus on the issues they feel immediately impact them. If the Loyolan stresses to “be well-informed and use that knowledge to make the right decision” (taken from the article), it must make its readers aware of all the facts. As lovingly as the Loyolan may support Obama, they must learn to openly criticize and question his choices. Only then can we hope for the exchange of intelligent ideas.
Joseph Demes Opinion Editor
@LMU: Think before you post
witter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr. Ring a bell? These social media sites rule our lives. Like it or not, social media as a whole has ingrained itself within our generation. Our parents’ and grandparents’ demographics are affected by the revolution, even for those who can barely use a computer. Not only do sites like these spread information to a massive number of people in seconds, but they also provide instant gratification for the sender. Barack Obama was re-elected president of the United States on Tuesday, Nov. 6 in a rather intriguing election, in terms of the popular vote. Throughout the day and into the night, people spent most of their time on Twitter and Facebook, with 32 million tweets about the election and 23 million tweets sent after the first polls closed, making this the most tweeted about political event in United States history, according to Twitter Government and Deccan Herald. People ran to computers, tablets and even smart phones to engage in social media dialogue. Or was it really just a monologue? We at the Loyolan are just as much a part of the social media revolution as the next LMU student, and we were just as present online on Nov. 6. We think it’s great to express opinions online, both in favor of and in opposition to the results. However, while you have every right
to express these views, it’s disappointing how many people reverted to hate speech, commenting about skin color and religion instead of providing quality rhetoric in political discourse. Saying in a tweet that Obama is not a quality leader for the nation because of his skin color is neither an educated nor mature remark. It makes you sound ignorant. We welcome opposition here at the Loyolan. We support different opinions and respect them, but we encourage others to make them informed opinions; share your thoughts with concrete evidence as opposed to reverting to nonsense. What’s the implication? Everything you post is collected on the World Wide Web and stored forever. When you make hateful and uneducated claims, it reflects poorly on both you personally and on your political affiliation. Any and all credibility is lost. When applying for a job, if a company searches a name and an inappropriate and discriminatory rant about a candidate comes up, does that equal a recipe for a good hire? Absolutely not. Again, we respect your opinion whether you identify as a Democrat, Republican, Independent, Green Party or any other party supporter. But just know that using social media as a platform for inappropriate and discriminatory comments makes you look like a fool, and will not bode well for you in future endeavors.
We’d Li
Brandon Cudequest Junior Recording arts major The Lo
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, 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.
Homeless for the holiday A
s the holidays near, most students at LMU will begin thinking about the joy or burden that comes with returning home. But for students like me, it represents an extreme vulnerability and stirs up emotions of fear, dread, loneliness and abandonment. Over the summer, for the first time in my life, I was truly homeless. I had manBy Anthony Pico aged to scrape together enough Contributor money and good enough grades to be accepted to a summer study abroad program. This meant I would only be around Los Angeles for a month or so for any job, so no one would hire me. While some amazing people let me stay in a guest room or on their couch, I felt guilty accepting their help. Growing up, I was taught to take care of myself. I kept thinking it wasn’t bad, that I was just having prolonged sleepovers at my friends’ houses, some sort of couch surfing vacation. It was a terrible feeling, begging my friends for places to stay, even going so far as to sleep in my car a few nights just to not be a burden on them. I don’t have a family to depend on; I grew up in foster care. My adoptive mother died of cancer when I was 14 and my family disowned me. My biological mother was a drug addict while my biological father is facing over 300 years in prison for interstate drug trafficking, murder and other crimes related to being a member of the Belizean Bloods. According to Casey Family
Programs, roughly 70 percent of children in foster care wish to obtain a higher education degree, yet only 7-13 percent will enroll and less than 2 percent will actually graduate with a degree. Along with those numbers, LMU’s Financial Aid Office states there are less than 10 students identified as former foster youth enrolled on campus. Beating those odds, I attended Oxford University during the past summer, where I was able to relax and focus on my studies because I knew where I was sleeping every night and would return to LMU when the program ended. But after I ran through my savings and had to take out loans to make ends meet, it became very clear that my life was in shambles. When I returned to LMU, I started fretting more and more until I was paralyzed with fear and depression over my future. While many students are worried about what they will do to pass the time over the holidays, I have been panicking and trying to set up a good job for the month we have winter break. I’ve sat and listened to peers complain about how annoying it is that their family is sending them on an all-expense-paid vacation yet again, or that they can’t stand their parents wanting them home for the holidays, and I bite my tongue each time. It’s not their fault; they don’t know how I long for a family to belong to, that I am struggling to make sure I have enough money to pay my bills each month, how their worst inconvenience would be a blessing to me. I feel guilty and angry at myself for being jealous of my peers. There are so many other people who are worse off than me. Who am I to complain? So what if I have to decide between paying for my car
insurance or my cell phone? Both of these are luxuries. If I don’t find a source of income over winter break, I will start having to consider selling my car, my safety net, that I saved up for years to buy. Worse yet, the day I graduate will be the day I return to the real world. If I don’t have a job set up, I am going to truly be homeless. I will not be able to begrudgingly call my parents and ask to move back home or beg them to help with rent. If I mismanage my finances, I cannot call and ask someone to give me more money to cover expenses. Being dangeld by these realities over the edge of a figurative cliff overwhelms and paralyzes me. I have been blessed by friends and a community that have been there for me in the past, and I am grateful for what they have done and continue to do for me. But what about the other students on this campus in simliar circumstances, with nowhere to turn? Last January, when I asked a student housing office employee if there are special guidelines for foster youth at LMU, their answer was, “No, but it does break our heart when we hear they have been living in their cars.” Granted, this was just one person’s response – but that is unacceptable. We need yearround hosing for these students, increased financial support and a removal of the stigma associated with having survived abuse and neglect. To build a better future, we need more support programs that recognize and honor what these students have gone through while ensuring they have a solid future once they graduate.
This is the opinion of Anthony Pico, a junior philosophy major from San Francisco, Calif. Please send comments to jdemes@theloyolan.com.
November 12, 2012 Page 5
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Opinion
November 12, 2012 Page 6
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Love it or hate it, UGG season has arrived
A
s fall sets in and sweater weather approaches, UGG boots have been making their yearly re-emergence, dotting the crowded walkways by morning and haunting the dorm hallways by night. Not even the midday spike in temperature can will those furry companions away (seriously, though, 78 degrees is not UGGappropriate What the Heck weather). But this return of By Allie Heck arguably the Opinion Intern most comfortable shoes on the planet brings about the divided opinions. “UGG boots might be the worst things ever,” said freshman undecided sciences major Kelly Cote. While this might seem like a bold claim, Cote is not alone in his opinion. It appears, through years of observation by yours truly, that people either have an unusually aggressive stance against UGG boots or absolutely love them. If you know me, you know which category I fall under: I unabashedly and wholeheartedly admit to my love of UGG boots. I can’t help it, and in accordance with most things that I wear and do, I really don’t care what other people think. But as much as I appreciate my fuzzy friends, I totally get it. I have many moral stances including but not limited to fedoras, hair feathers and mirror faces (you know, those faces you make in the mirror when you think
Jackson Turcotte | Loyolan
you look fly). So, I understand. At the same time, I don’t go around yanking hair feathers or calling girls out on their duck faces that they thought were free from criticism in the public restroom or any other reflective surface for that matter. So, please refrain from pushing your unwarranted hatred toward my favorite boots on me. Much to my dismay, there are some valid arguments against the continued wear of UGG boots. While they appear to be ridiculously comfortable, they might be the source of future foot pain. “Because these boots are warm and soft, young girls think they are giving their feet a break. In fact, they are literally breaking their
feet,” Dr. Ian Drysdale, head of the British College of Osteopathic Medicine, told the New York Daily News in their March 17, 2010 article “Wearing UGG boots for long periods of time ruining women’s feet, experts say.” It turns out that you’re not supposed to walk, stand or do any sort of athletic activity for an extended amount of time in UGG boots, as it can lead to flattening of the arch. In addition, those cheaper (and less comfortable) knock-offs are even worse due to the lack of heel support. But sleep soundly, my fellow UGG-obsessed girls and boys; a simple orthotic insert made to fit your foot can solve this issue. Foot and ankle injuries aren’t
the only reported problems with We’d Li UGG boots. No, as my mother would say, “there’s a fungus among us,” and that fungus is Theinside Lo of your cozy configrowing dantes. Aside from the smell, the threat of bacteria and fungus is nothing that the occasional disinfectant spray can’t cure, according to podiatrist Dr. Robin Ross. Honestly, the fact that I just had to use the phrase “aside from the smell” is making me reconsider my obsession. (Totally kidding.) So while most pressing issues with UGG boots have been solved or at least trivialized, the only thing holding me back from wearing UGGs exclusively for the rest of my life, aside from temperature,
is any remaining dignity that I might have. “It’s a classic example of sacrificing form for function,” said Cote. It goes without saying that UGG boots are not the ideal fashion statement, but they started as a practical shoe meant for surfers; function was always the main point. In 1978, Brian Smith introduced the sheepskin boots to the growing surf counterculture in Southern California. According to UggAustralia.com, as the general population began to accept the casual, laidback lifestyle that accompanied the sport of surfing, UGG boots gained some serious footing, so to speak. In addition, according to NY Daily News, UGG has reinforced that their products are meant for comfort, not performance. And while I agree that UGGs are not the most stylish things I choose to put on my feet, I have to point out that most things I wear on a day-to-day basis aren’t meant to please people, but rather to make me comfortable and feel dope. After all, I was voted “most likely to be mistaken for a hobo” in my high school yearbook; popular opinion regarding my clothing flew out the window right around the time I wore a tie-dyed onesie to a house party. So, next time you see me frolicking through the lawn in my cozy UGG boots whilst you shiver in your normal shoes, let it be known that I’ll pick function over form on most days and UGG boots over almost anything else every day of the year. This is the opinion of Allie Heck, a freshman business major from Dallas, Texas. Please send comments to aheck@theloyolan.com.
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Odd Turtle
Appealing Adventures
Signs of Improvement
Page 7
By Jackson Turcotte, Cartoon editor
By Emily Crosby, contributing cartoonist
By Georgia Henderson, staff cartoonist
Arts & Entertainment Film, Literature, Music, Restaurants and Theatre
November 12, 2012 Page 8
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Students for Justice screen Palestine conflict film
Event Preview By Mary Grace Cerni A&E Intern
P
eople often go to the movies to shut out the issues of the outside world, but for LMU’s newest social justice club, the LMU Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), the theater is not so much a forum for escapism as it is a medium for activism. In an effort to raise awareness of issues surrounding the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, SJP is hosting a free screening of the documentary “Slingshot Hip Hop” at the DejaView Movie Lounge on Tuesday, Nov. 13. The interactive event will also feature an open discussion session where members of SJP will answer questions about the film and reflect on their own first-hand experiences with the conflict in Palestine. One of the founding members of SJP, junior screenwriting major Raeesah Reese, said she hopes that students who attend the event “will not only learn more about the conflict itself, but [through the people in the film] also see the humanity of the struggle.” The documentary looks at the issue from a nonviolent perspective, examining art, humanity and the seemingly endless struggle in Palestine as it gives a voice to the side of the conflict that Reese said “goes under the radar.” The conflict between Israel and Palestine is a dense and complicated issue. The film, “Slingshot Hip Hop,” gives viewers a humanistic view of the struggle from the ground level. The film follows the stories of the young Israeli rap group, DAM, and other rappers living in the West Bank and Gaza who use music as
Digibeta
The documentary “Slingshot Hip Hop” uses rap music to illustrate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The film will be shown at Deja View Movie Lounge on Nov. 13 to promote discussion about the issues. a form of nonviolent resistance against the Israeli government. SJP member Linda Tenerowicz, a junior political science major, said that the film examines an issue that “many people think of as a foreign problem” and makes it relatable. According to Tenerowicz, “The movie is a really great narrative about a side that doesn’t get exposed very much, [the rap group’s music] is a very nonviolent resistance to occupation and oppression, and I think it’s really relatable to the LMU community because we’re all about the same age as the people in the film, [people] who are using music to make their voices heard to the global community.” The film shows how rap music in Israel and Palestine can be
and is continually used as a powerful instrument for awareness and change. “I think that the proliferation of music is a great way to use the power of voice for a good cause,” said Tenerowicz. The mission of DAM is singular: to achieve justice through peace. According to Reese, “When DAM formed this group, they had the idea that they wanted to resist against the occupation or oppression that they felt, but in a peaceful way and in a creative way. ... They wanted to bring people together through music ... to get their voices heard in different countries to rally support for their cause.” According to Campus Recreation Specialist Katherine Seamands, the DejaView Movie Lounge is a perfect resource for
Del Rey Players assemble play in 24-hour event It’s 7 a.m. on Saturday Nov. 10, and “The Devil With Corduroy Overalls” is well under way. The ground is littered with Five Hour Energy bottles. There are people curled up in sleeping bags next to drills and open paint cans, and the theater reeks of paint fumes. It’s difficult to believe that in 12 hours, the space will be transformed and a play will have been born. This is the idea that has become the Del Rey Players’ 24 Hour Play. The 24 Hour Play is a piece that 15 or so students participate in. They sign up with the Del Rey Players and they have 24 hours, from 10 p.m. on Nov. 9 to 10 p.m. on Nov. 10, to create a play from concept to execution. There are only five rules. “One, we have 24 hours. Two, we have to use materials already in the Del Rey Theatre. Three, sleep as much as you need, as little as you have to. Four, challenges must be obeyed. Five, it must be completely new,” said senior theatre arts major Thomas Wickbolt, the artistic director of the Del Rey Players. -Ranier Barrett, contributor For a full version of the article on the “24 Hour Play” as well as more photos from “The Devil With Corduroy Overalls,” visit laloyolan.com.
Photos: Liana Bandziulis | Loyolan
groups like SJP to make their presence known on campus. “I try the best I can to accommodate students who want to use the space to have those conversations that they feel are important [for the LMU community to hear],” said Seamands. SJP hopes that the film will be an effective proponent for the nonviolent aspect of the Israel and Palestine conflict, according to Reese. “Most people will have their perceived ideas that all Palestinians are fighting against this violently and that all Israelis are oppressive when that’s not true,” said Reese. “It’s a complex situation. ... There are people that are trying to promote a just peace.” The SJP hopes to educate students on issues that are not con-
fined to the borders of Israel and Palestine. When asked about how the conflict directly affects us students here in California, Tenerowicz said, “It does seem like we’re worlds away, but every year our tax dollars go towards supporting a military force that imposes oppressive policies on a people. ... That consciousness needs to be addressed.” Reese also stressed that just because the issues are not conspicuously present in our everyday lives does not mean that our choices as U.S. citizens do not affect other nations. “Our freedoms are tied to other people’s freedoms. If we give our government the agency to continuously support a government with oppressive policies, then that’s giving them the license to stifle our freedoms as well,” she said. This documentary event is just the beginning for SJP, who, through their activism, hope to educate students and give them a voice. LMU students should care about these issues because, according to Reese and Tenerowicz, it is our job to care. When asked why LMU should be concerned about the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, Tenerowicz said, “As we are a Jesuit school, we pride ourselves on fighting for social justice and human rights. ... If we are educating ourselves entirely, we should be aware of the social injustices that are going on at a global scale. We should use our education and our talents to make global change and make a difference in the global community.” For more information about this event, email lmusjp@gmail.com. Watch the trailer for “Slingshot Hip Hop” in the online version of this story at laloyolan.com.
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Arts & Entertainment
November 12, 2012 Page 9
Saldana casting raises question of racism in film
D
oes one’s creative license diminish one’s responsibility to know history? Some would say yes, while others would strongly disagree. There has been a rising controversy surrounding director Cynthia Mort’s choice to cast actress Zoe Saldana to play the role of music legend, Nina Simone. This controversy Nothing but goes deeper than a simple ‘Nett By Tyler Barnett misjudgment in casting. It A&E Intern delves into the issue of colorism in the media and how the dichotomy of beauty in America structures Hollywood casting. Simone was a dark-skinned black woman whose powerful lyrics, pride in her identity and sultry voice earned her the title of the “High Priestess of Soul.” Saldana is a woman of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent whose skin tone and physical features bear no similarity to Simone’s. One reason why this is a problem is that this casting choice takes away from Simone’s realness, her authenticity and the one thing that made Simone’s music so powerful: her identity. Her identity as a woman who took pride in her dark skin, her wide nose and her full lips is key in understanding why the casting of Saldana is seen as a gentrifi-
Photos: Associated Press (left); Flickr Creative Commons (right)
Despite her Mesoamerican heritage, Zoe Saldana (right) has been cast as musician Nina Simone (left). This casting reflects what seems to be a pattern of racial transparency in film, where dark-skinned actors are traded for fairer ones. cation of Simone’s image and life to be made suitable for the big screen. Simone’s features were often seen as contradictory to what was acceptable in mainstream society, where women with fairer skin were glorified and marked as the standard of beauty. Much of her evolution as an artist and passion behind her music were rooted in her struggle as a dark-skinned woman in the entertainment industry. With an abundance of black women who could have played Simone such as India.Arie, Lauryn Hill or Viola Davis, the question on my mind is: Why Zoe Saldana? Why go through the lengths of attempting to make
Saldana look like Simone rather than picking someone who is more aesthetically accurate? These questions bring up the true root of this controversy, which is the implication that Saldana was picked because she is more aesthetically fit to the Hollywood mold. I think Saldana is a wonderful actress, but this role is not for her. After seeing the pictures of Saldana made up in a prosthetic nose, afro wig and darker skin, it seemed as though she were depicting a caricature rather than an actual embodiment of who Simone was. This reminded me of the minstrel shows in the 19th century where white
actors dressed up in ‘black face,’ which was a dark and exaggerated makeup used to depict an insulting parody of black people. The use of black face on white actors implied that black people were not even good enough to play themselves and allowed for the public degradation of blacks in society to be made mainstream. Mort casting Saldana to play Simone mimics this same process. Simone is being fictionalized rather than being accurately portrayed. Although I do not think that Mort’s casting of Saldana was done with bad intentions, I think that it was careless and reveals her
ent stories taking place in 21st century Western America. In one story, a rich neighborhood in New Mexico gets hit with drug addiction. In another, Native Americans hunt Mexican immigrants along the border, race wars erupt in Texas and gentrification sweeps California. Having lived in all of these regions, Martinez wanted to express “how the West is a reflection of the entire country and why it is a harbinger of its future.” Martinez believes that the Southwest has become an area of growing influence in American culture. One instance he wanted to highlight was “why the desert West was a pivotal factor in the 2008 and 2012
elections. In undergoing rapid demographic change, several Western states have shifted from ‘red’ to ‘blue.’” Many critics say Martinez is one of the first authors to show this region of the United States any real respect. In addition to various newspapers and magazines praising this work as a piece of literature, it offers reportage “beyond the simple binaries of the immigration issue or the drug war. Rather than just addressing the staple issues of the southwest, Martinez addresses topics that do more than scratch the surface” according to the Los Angeles Times’ Aug. 12 review. This corner of America, the subject of Martinez’s work, can
be used to illustrate many issues that are nationally relevant. Martinez said, “[The book reflects] how the new West personifies income inequality and the chasm between the 1 percent and the 99 percent.” Ruben’s book discusses topics like race, class and representation, and students will be able to hear and discuss his position on these issues. Martinez will be available afterward to answer any questions. Jamie Hazlitt, the outreach librarian for the William H. Hannon Library, said of the event, “This provides an opportunity for our community to hear Professor Martinez, an award-winning journalist and highly regarded member of the L.A. literary scene, discuss his book, ‘Desert America,’ in person.” Martinez was recently a featured speaker at the Library Foundation of Los Angeles’ popular ALOUD series. “We are thrilled to be able to host him as a part of our Pub Night series,” Hazlitt said. Living in Los Angeles, some feel that there are always new areas for dialogue within our multiethnic melting pot community. Ray Andrade, an LMU alumnus and library assistant,
disconnection with the history of blacks in the media. Skin tone has been paramount in the history of blacks in America both on and off the screen. The presence of dark-skinned black people, especially women, is nearly nonexistent outside of shows and movies that feature an all-black ensemble cast. Dark-skinned black actresses have struggled for years to find roles in Hollywood that do not demean their character or cast them as a stereotype. The role of Nina Simone is dignified; it is the role of a woman who had strength, talent, self-respect and was a pioneer in the music industry as well as in the civil rights movement. For this role to be given to a woman with a more ‘Hollywood-ready’ look is not only insulting to Simone, it is insulting to the black actresses who identify with the same struggle that Simone faced of being marginalized and discriminated against in society. I am not saying that Saldana does not identify as a black woman or that she does not deserve to play the role of a strong and dignified woman. However, as a woman with fairer skin chosen to play this role, her place in this film perpetuates the idea that only those who can fit in with what is seen as more palatable in the media can gain acceptance and acquire success in the entertainment industry. This is the opinion of Tyler Barnett, a sophomore studio arts major from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Please send comments to tbarnett@theloyolan.com.
Author blends history and politics at LMU Event Preview By Dwayne Logan Contributor
T
he wild southwest is making its way to LMU. Ruben Martinez, Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair in Literature and a writing professor at LMU, will be speaking about his latest book, “Desert America: Boom and Bust in the New Old West” at the latest Faculty Pub Night in William H. Hannon Library at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13. His most recent work, “Desert America,” is about the devastation following the economic boom that first opened up the West and tells differ-
details
Metropolitan Books
Martinez discusses the politics of the Southwest in his latest book “Desert America.”
mentioned, “Ruben [Martinez] has been instrumental in bringing LMU and members of the community together to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Los Angeles.” All Faculty Pub Nights are free and open to the public. Light snacks and refreshments will be served. Copies of the author’s work will be available for purchase and signing at the event.
Alberto Gonzalez | Loyolan
S ports Lions fall to 1-1 after poor shooting night November 12, 2012 Page 10
M. Basketball from Page 12 The Lions were only out-rebounded by seven boards (38 to 31 total), but SMU grabbed 14 offensive rebounds for 12 second-chance points. Despite turning the ball over a team-high five times, junior point guard Anthony Ireland was all over the box score, totalling a team-high 17 points, a game-high 11 rebounds and five assists. Redshirt senior forward Ashley Hamilton also chipped in 16 points (11-13 from the foul line) to go along with seven rebounds but four turnovers. Junior guard Ayodeji Egbeyemi also knocked down four 3-pointers for the Lions, who converted seven of 24 attempts from beyond the arc, finishing with 14 points and four rebounds. While the Lions struggled to put points on the board, missing 31 of their 46 attempts, their defense held
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SMU to similar shooting numbers: 22 of 56 from the field for 39.3 percent and just nine 3-point attempts. “Our defense was really good for much of the game,” said Good. “We need to rebound the ball defensively better, so that we will get more fastbreak baskets.” Both the Lions and the Mustangs benefitted from getting to the charity stripe, as the Mustangs got to the line 30 times on 22 LMU fouls and LMU attempted 29 on 17 SMU fouls. “Our defense picked up, but we missed a lot of easy buckets,” said Levy. “We fouled too much, though.” Ireland and Hamilton were mainstays on the court, both playing all but two minutes of the 40-minute contest. Good didn’t search too far into his bench, as only nine Lions saw court time, and only seven played more than three minutes. “We just need to get the freshmen ready. They haven’t been able to
practice, so we just have to get them ready,” said Good. Junior forward Godwin Okonji and sophomore transfer guard Chase Flint both fouled out with a combined two points, two rebounds and two assists. SMU was led by redshirt junior guard Nick Russell, who scored a game-high 19 points on 6-15 shooting (seven for eight from the line). All five SMU starters finished with double-figure scoring numbers. Now 1-1 on the young season, the Lions will have six days off before their matchup with CSU Bakersfield in Bakersfield, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. “We just need to keep working on being better defensively and improving our ball movement, because that will lead to better shot selection,” said Good. “But I didn’t have any problem with their effort tonight. I thought they worked their tails off.”
Steven Douglas | Loyolan
Alongside Anthony Ireland,junior guard Ayodeji Egbeyemi (second from right) has been leading the Lions in scoring,with 34 points over the first two games.
LMU celebrates Senior Night with a win Volleyball from Page 12
Albert Alvarado | Loyolan
Redshirt junior outside hitter Kathleen Luft (21) led the Lions’upset of rival No. 24 Pepperdine, recording 24 kills in the team’s four-set Senior Night victory.
After capturing the first set, the Lions hit a rough patch and allowed Pepperdine to take set two. Even though the Lions hit a .222, the Waves upped their game with a .308. “We knew that most of the errors were on our side so it was kind of just like a mental check, like ‘Let’s get refocused and start this third game strong mentally,’” Crouse said. And the Lions did just that. Although each team had taken a set, the rest of the match was on LMU’s side of the net. Freshman setter Hannah Tedrow made hustle plays throughout the match, and contributed 52 assists, 10 digs and two
kills on the night. “That’s what we’ve been seeing in practice the past month,” Black said. “We talk about working hard, and working uncomfortably hard and we try to get on that edge a lot. That’s the kind of stuff we see in practice, so it was good to see it on the court now.” After their win on Thursday, the Lions played a non-conference match against CSU Northridge, capturing the match in five sets. LMU lost the first two sets but came back to win the next three in a tight finish by scores of 14-25, 1825, 25-22, 25-13, 16-14. The Lions were led by Luft, who contributed 17 kills, and sophomore outside hitter Caitlin DeWitt, who had 15. The key moment of
the match was in the fifth set tied at 14-14; junior defensive specialist Betsi Metter served an ace to allow LMU a 15-14 lead. On the next play, the Matadors hit a swing out to hand the Lions the match. After the Pepperdine match on Thursday, Black reflected on the match and what it means for the rest of WCC play. “We got better from tonight, and we need to keep doing what we’re doing and building on each day,” said Black. “The choices we make are going to determine how it looks.” Next up for the Lions is another WCC match in the Bay Area against Santa Clara University (20-8, 9-4 WCC) on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m.
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Sports
November 12, 2012 Page 11
Women replace graduates with young talent The women’s swimming team brings in 11 new athletes to fill nine spots. By Andrew Moore Sports Intern
After having nine seniors graduate last year, the women’s swimming team had plenty of roster spots to fill for this upcoming season. They were able to do so by adding nine freshmen and two transfers – one sophomore and one junior. Only a few years ago, LMU left the Pacific Coast Swimming Conference (PCSC) to join the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). This transition, as well as integrating 11 new athletes, hasn’t been too hard for the team, though it has come with some difficulties. Redshirt junior Rachel Dekar said about the transition, “This is the biggest class since I’ve been here. I think that whatever happens, there’s going to be challenges, but there’s also a lot of big opportunities.” Being in a more competetive division than last year, having 11 new players will change the dynamic of the team. According to Dekar, “Bringing in the big group that we have this year gives us the opportunity to really change our culture and get more intense.” Dekar also said it is the up-
perclassmen’s responsibility to “integrate them in well and let [the new teammates] know what the expectations are.” Dekar believes that having a large influx of newcomers made it easier for them to buy into a new culture. According to Head Coach Bonnie Adair, she felt her upperclassmen knew they had to step up and set the standard, not only by competing well but also by being vocal leaders. As for the newcomers, they came here with the intention of helping to change the culture. Freshman Kristen Clarno said, “We’ve tried to have a more positive attitude this year.” According to sophomore transfer Isabel Casso, this is partially due to the “family vibe” that has been established through team building exercises. Everyone on the team has been able to bond together not only because of the significant amount of time they spend together during practices and events, but also time spent together out of the pool. Assistant Coach Joanne Reierson noted that at the beginning of the year, the team had scheduled events such as hikes and dinners to help everyone get familiar with their new teammates and to integrate a collective atmosphere. They also do activities off campus together, such as community service projects. On
LMU Athletics
Redshirt junior breaststroke swimmer Rachel Dekar (above) thinks there will be“a lot of big opportunities”for the women’s swimming team this year. Sunday Nov. 11, they did the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) 5k Walk around Dodger Stadium, which raises money and awareness for Diabetes. The team also has a “big-little” program with each upperclassman having an underclassman to take care of and serve as a mentor. They under-
stand the adjustments many of the freshmen are having to make and can give advice and ease the transition. Because of this, Casso feels everyone has been able to get along really well and find their place on the team. “Everyone has found their niche here,” Casso said.
The family atmosphere she mentioned eased Casso’s transition to LMU, she said. Dekar also said as a captain she feels “good pressure” in taking on a leadership role in meets and in training. Despite this pressure, Dekar believes this team can do exceptionally well. “As a team, we’re really trying to advance to another level,” said Dekar. Though they are young, Adair is not daunted and thinks the team is capable of big things. Adair said, “It’s definitely a challenge when a third of your team in being replaced, especially when you had nine very solid leaders in the group that graduated. So there’s been some growing pains, and we’ve had some challenges with some injuries and illnesses, but last week we’ve had one of the best dual meets we’ve ever had in beating USD.” After a dominating win, Adair has her team focused and ready to continue to compete at a high level. She feels the team is well on pace, especially considering all of the new swimmers they have. “I think that sparked everybody,” said Adair. “We’re finally starting to gel and the rest of the season is ahead of us.” The women’s swimming team’s next home meet is on Jan. 11, 2012 at Burns Aquatics Center.
Lions play spoiler to SCU Women’s basketball
Chris Delgado | Loyolan
Junior forward Christian Alvarado (above) hit in a header and later knocked in another goal for his first goals of the year. The Lions won 4-2 against St. Mary’s. M. Soccer from Page 12 make a sliding save to end the game. The 0-0 draw extended the Lions unbeaten streak to four games. This result eliminated the Broncos’ chances at a WCC title. Zero goals allowed also marked the first career shutout for freshman goalkeeper Paul Blanchette. “It’s great. It was a team effort and it was a good result for us. I don’t know how to describe it. I just stay relaxed no matter what’s going on,” said Blanchette. While defense was key in the first game, offense was plentiful in the second game. After 110 minutes with no score Friday, the Lions scored less than five minutes into the game against Saint Mary’s on Sunday. Off a long ball from sophomore defender Craig Nitti, junior forward Christian Alvarado flicked a header over Gael freshman goalkeeper Lucas Champe-
nois. A dominating first half that yielded only one Gael shot left the Lions a 1-0 lead at halftime. Things got interesting early in the second half when a St. Mary’s counterattack in the 53rd minute saw four Gaels streaking down the field with only two LMU defenders back. The Lion defense deflected a shot by Gael senior forward Conroy Cunningham but the misdirected ball still found the back of the net over a diving redshirt junior goalkeeper Billy Thompson. Thompson entered the game late in the first half for the Lions after Blanchette left the game with an injury. Then in the 61st minute, an LMU cross sent Alvarado leaping into the air. A Gael defender then dragged the Lion striker to the ground, prompting a yellow card and a penalty kick. Nitti then buried the penalty kick for his third goal of the season to give the Lions a 2-1 lead.
Continuing the offensive show two minutes later, Alvarado took the ball all the way down the field on a breakaway. With teammates on either side, Alvarado took the shot himself, sending the ball off the left post and into the net for his second goal of the season. “It felt really good. It was something that I needed. I think what got to me was that third one I should’ve had,” Alvarado said. Alvarado was referring to another foul in the box that gave the Lions a second penalty kick. Seeking a hat trick, Alvarado took the shot but missed off the crossbar keeping the score at 3-1 in favor of LMU. Up by two late and thinking it couldn’t get any better, the contest then ended in storybook fashion with redshirt senior defender Mitch Boland scoring in the final minutes of his last collegiate soccer game. Boland has been the anchor for the Lion defense and the main source of veteran leadership all season. Including an assist earlier, he had three points on the day. “I can’t really ask for anything better than that,” said Boland. “We knew we were just playing for pride and we just really wanted to get the win. It was good to put one away at the end and definitely fun to celebrate with the family and friends. I will never forget it.” A late Gael goal ended the game at 4-2, but the story did not end there. Tension between the two teams that dates back to last year reached its tipping point when the Lions’ postgame celebrating was interrupted with a fight breaking out at midfield. Sophomore midfielder Juan De Rada received a red card for “violent contact,” making it two years in a row with LMU red cards received in the final match of the season. Throughout the game, seven total cards were given out and play stopped for injuries three times. “We have something against this team, and it felt much better to beat them 4-2 and send them home very sad,” said Alvarado. The season ended for both teams Sunday, sending the Lions to 6-10-4 (4-5-3) and dropping St. Mary’s to 9-5-5 (5-4-3).
The Lions lose their first game of season 79-51 against UTEP after shooting 28 percent from the floor.
Leslie Irwin | Loyolan
Redshirt senior forward Alex Cowling (3) led the Lions with 14 points against the University of Texas at El Paso in Saturday’s loss. The LMU women’s basketball team dropped its first game of the season against the University of Texas at El Paso Miners (UTEP) 79-51 behind turnovers and a cold shooting performance in their ninth straight season opener road game. The Miners (1-0) came out hot, scoring the game’s first 13 points, until redshirt senior forward Alex Cowling scored the Lions’ first points with 16:17 left in the first half. The Miners never looked back. The Lions (0-1) shot 28 percent from the floor and never took control of the contest. Cowling was the team’s leading scorer with 14 points, but only shot four of 16 from the floor, along with making five of six free throws. Junior forward Melinda Gomez added 11 points for the club and junior forward Mackenzie Kerins chipped in 10 points off the bench. The Miners countered with three players in double digits. Their highest scorer finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. UTEP also dominated the Lions on the boards, out-rebounding LMU 53-39, including 22 offensive rebounds. LMU turned the ball over 11 times in the first half, as the Lions struggled to find rhythm in their offense. They did not turn UTEP mistakes into easy buckets, as planned by Head Coach Charity Elliott. The Miners led the Lions 45-24 heading into the locker room and the Lions’ closest margin was 13 points. There was more of the same in the second half, including a 17-4 run by UTEP to start the second half of the action, including a stretch where UTEP led 62-28. The Miners defeated the Lions last season at Gersten Pavilion 68-48, making it the second straight season UTEP has dominated LMU in women’s basketball. The Lions were 3-9 in 12 road games last season. They have 15 road games this season, including one tonight at 5:30 p.m. against New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, N.M. – Compiled by Dan Raffety, asst. managing editor
www.laloyolan.com
Lion Sports
Men finish unbeaten in last five The men’s soccer team ties, pulls out a 4-2 victory to complete the season 6-10-4. By Ray Ferrari Staff Writer
The LMU men’s soccer team finished their season in style, with class and pride. After a disappointing 1-5-1 start in WCC play, the Lions ended the fall on a five-match winning streak. In the final weekend, a Friday tie with Santa Clara University spoiled the Broncos’ hopes of a conference championship and a 4-2 Sunday victory over Saint Mary’s College provided a finish to the season. Before Friday, both LMU opponents had an outside chance at first place, but the Lions played the spoiler on home turf. “It’s fun being a spoiler and that’s all we’ve really had this half, but we’ve also learned some lessons and improved quite a bit,” said Head Coach Paul Krumpe. There was very minimal action in the first half against Santa Clara. With only one shot on goal for LMU and only two for Santa Clara, an uneventful period led to a 0-0 score at halftime. The second half was much the same, with neither team able to get on the scoreboard. In the second overtime, the intensity finally heated up a bit with both teams getting a shot on goal late in the match. The Lions’ best chance to score came in the final minute when the Broncos pulled senior goalkeeper Larry Jackson on an offensive attack. But when LMU regained possession in the final seconds, the Lions had a promising counterattack with the keeper sprinting back to the box. The Broncos slowed down the Lion attack just in time for Jackson to get back and
See M. Soccer | Page 11
By Michael Goldsholl Staff Writer
Dubbed the “Road Warriors” by last year’s Loyolan beat writer John Wilkinson for coming away with key victories away from Gersten Pavilion, the men’s basketball team was unable to capture a win in Dallas, Texas last night. The Lions kicked off a string of five consecutive road games with a loss to Southern Methodist University (SMU), falling to the Mustangs, 73-58. “Our guys played really hard. Effort wasn’t the question at all,” said LMU Head Coach Max Good. “I think [SMU] was riding an emotional
Lions upset rival No. 24 Pepperdine
Women’s volleyball has a succesful weekend, winning both contests, including Senior Night. By Sam Borsos Sports Intern
points in any team’s favor. LMU drew six fouls in the first eight-and-ahalf minutes, putting itself in the bonus for the rest of the half. However, the Lions quickly saw SMU’s lead increase to nine by the end of the first half, 35-26. LMU cut the Mustang’s lead to as little as six points in the second half, but SMU refused to relinquish control of the game, extending the lead back to double digits with 3:39 to play and never looking back. Other than their 29 free throw attempts (21 makes), the Lions couldn’t catch a break, missing 15 of their 46 field goal attempts and turning the ball over 14 times for 12 SMU points. “We gotta have more assists than turnovers,” said Assistant Coach Jason Levy to KXLU radio after the game. “We had 14 turnovers and only seven assists and that was a negative.”
The LMU women’s volleyball team (1711, 7-7 WCC) won twice this week, first upsetting No. 24 Pepperdine (18-9, 7-6 WCC) on Thursday at Gersten Pavilion and then defeating CSU Northridge (18-9) in a nonconference game on Saturday, Nov. 10, in Northridge, Calif. Thursday was Senior Night, and the Lions honored their only senior, middle blocker Kenna Crouse. Crouse has spent four years on the team. During her 104 matches and 344 sets throughout her LMU career, the 6’1” Coto de Caza, Calif. native has racked up 208 blocks and 580 kills. Of her four years, this season has seen her best hitting percentage with a .247. “It’s really emotional. It’s been a journey,” Crouse said. “It’s been nothing but growth and progress over the past four years and I’ve loved every minute of it. It’s been hard, there have been days that have been rough, but I would not change anything.” The Lions captured this monumental match in four sets 25-14, 21-25, 25-19, 25-22. This match not only broke a 36-match losing streak to nationally-ranked opponents for the Lions, but also marked the first time that LMU has beaten Pepperdine since 2006. “Pepperdine is a great team, a great program and our rival, so obviously it means a lot,” LMU Head Coach Tom Black said. “Beyond that, every win in this conference is worth its weight in gold. It’s big for us on so many levels. We want to enjoy it tonight but then we’ve got to move on. We have some important steps ahead.” The Lions came out with unmatchable energy in the first set, hitting an incredible .419 against the Waves’ mere .028. LMU was on point on offense and defense; the Lions had 17 digs to Pepperdine’s 14 and earned 19 points to the Waves’ 10. But more than just the statistics, LMU came out with passion, diving for every loose ball and making sure that every offensive attempt was smart. “We’re always like that in practice,” redshirt junior outside hitter Kathleen Luft – who racked up 24 kills – said. “We call it LMU volleyball. When we play that way, we get the job done. I think we were tired of not finishing games like this so we just made up our mind to do it.”
See M. Basketball | Page 10
See Volleyball | Page 10
Chris Delgado | Loyolan
Redshirt senior Mitch Boland (2) finished with three points in his Senior Day finale, with an assist and a late-game goal in Sunday’s 4-2 win over Saint Mary’s.
‘Road Warriors’ fall short in Dallas Despite a decisive victory in its opener, the men’s basketball team drops the first of five on the road.
November 12, 2012 Page 12
wave because it was Larry Brown’s first game as [their] coach. ... It was just frustrating.” The loss comes on the heels of a 108-49 home win over Division III Pacifica University on Friday, Nov. 9. However, the Lions faced an increase in competition, as SMU plays in the Conference USA, which includes the University of Memphis and the University of Southern Mississippi (both 2012 NCAA tournament teams). “It was an obvious step up in competition,” said Good. “And that’s not to take anything away from [Pacifica’s] program. They fought hard, but for us, it was like going from reading the ‘Three Little Pigs’ to reading ‘Crime and Punishment.’” The Lions stayed neck and neck with the Mustangs, who are coached by hall of famer and former NBA and NCAA champion Larry Brown, through the first 11 minutes of play, as the scoreboard never tipped more than five
CROSS COUNTRY UPDATE Regional Championships
The Lions went up to Seattle, Wash. this past Friday, Nov. 9, looking to make an impact in the NCAA Cross Country West Regional Championships, and hopefully send some players to nationals. They succeeded, and now senior Sheree Shea will be heading to the NCAA Cross Country National Championships. Shea came in 11th overall in the race and finished with a time of 19:54.62 in the 6,000 meter race. Her time wasn’t only good enough to place, but also marked Shea’s best time of the year in that event and helped to push the women’s team to a 13th-place finish. If Shea can shave some more time off, she might be in position to place highly at Nationals. Junior Weston Strum led the men’s team as he placed 45th overall to lead the Lions as they came in 19th as a team. Strum recorded a time of 30:30, which marked a personal and season best in the 10,000 meter
race. Strum and Shea weren’t the only runners to set personal records, however, as several others also had personal bests. Senior Caroline Draper had a personal best of 21:11, for 63rd overall. Redshirt senior Cassandra Salazar came in 84th with a personal record of 21:25. Sophomore Daniel Gibson had a personal best in the 10,000 meter race with a time of 31:15. Junior Kevin Joerger was right behind him with a time of 31:19 to mark his personal best. Finally, freshman Michael Duncan finished the course with a time of 32:25, coming in 137th overall. The cross country team is done with meets for the year, but Sheree Shea will have her final race at the National Championships on Saturday, Nov. 17, in Louisville, Ky. – Cruz Quinonez, asst. Sports editor Graphic: Joanie Payne | Loyolan
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY PAST
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
PERFORMANCES
2007
Laura Mickelson
Time 21:15.8
2008 2010 2011 2012
Tara Erdmann
Time 21:01
Tara Erdmann
Time 20:44
Tara Erdmann
Time 19:51.3
Sheree Shea
Time TBD