Los Angeles Loyolan Nov 28th 2018

W W W. L A LO Y O L A N . C O M

Los Angeles LOYOLAN The

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

OP

E. OM .

H ICE UR YO R VO S. W U YO R NE U YO

V O LU M E 9 7 ISSUE 13 ION IN

Opinion Intern Phillip Nieto, voices his opinion on the controversy surrounding the migrant caravan.

See page 5

EST. 1921

Community left in limbo after hoax Investigation into university crisis processes and protocols is still ongoing.

Kayan Tara

Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan

The LMU community is still recovering from the Friday, Nov. 9 incident, when a prank-gone-wrong resulted in an LAPD active shooter response, as previously reported by the Loyolan.

Three weeks later, there remain sentiments of anger, confusion and frustration among students to whom the Loyolan has spoken.

Statements from President Snyder to the community following the incident highlighted the steps the University will take to prevent further failures in communications. The independent law firm Musick, Peeler & Garrett has been hired to investigate University processes and protocols from an “external, impartial perspective,” according to Snyder.

On a Tuesday, Nov. 13 meeting with the Loyolan, Erin Bossen, a senior director of public and media relations, said the University hoped to have results from the investigation within a weeks time.

Bossen informed the Loyolan at the time of publication Tuesday, Nov. 27 that the University does not have the results of the ongoing investigation as of yet.

As part of the University’s response, a test was conducted of the LMU Alert System and the LiveSafe app at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 16. Community members

received email, text and phone call alerts.

The community was invited to provide the Department of Public Safety (DPS) with feedback regarding improving LMU’s emergency response. During the active shooter hoax, DPS sent out their first alert at 6:51 p.m., almost an hour after LAPD received the 911 call on Friday, Nov. 9 stating that LAPD investigated the threat and no evidence of an active shooter was found, as previously reported by the Loyolan.

After the test of the system, it was concluded that 99 percent of all contacts were successful. 7,468 (72 percent) of the 10,377 phone voice calls sent out were received by 10:01 a.m. 2,169 notifications through the LiveSafe App were successfully delivered and 138 failed, as reported in a link provided in the email sent out by the University on Monday, Nov 19.

“Of course students are still shaken up and alarmed by this incident. Many students reached out to me directly to thank Megan and I for writing our letter because this wasn’t their first incident with an active shooter,” said Shannon O’Kane, a sophomore theatre arts major. “Mass shootings are becoming a normalized part of the media. I do not want to be a casualty of an active shooting because my university failed to alert me of a threat to my safety.”

LMU held a town hall meeting on Thursday, Nov. 15 to address the failure of the emergency management response where President Snyder stated the steps the University is taking to address their lack of response, as previously reported by the Loyolan.

See Hoax shooting | Page 2.

Parking on campus

Men’s basketball undefeated

First NCAA ranking system puts LMU at number 10 in the nation.

Alex Hutton Sports Intern @LALoyolan

After several consecutive losing seasons, the LMU men’s basketball team had its best start in program history at 7-0. LMU placed tenth in the first inaugural National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rankings, and thirteenth out of 353 in the second release.

The 7-0 mark, highlighted by wins over UNLV and Georgetown and a 4-0 record in the Jersey Mike’s Jamaica Classic, is the best start in program history. The Lions

Emily Sullivan | Loyolan

As of Monday, Nov. 26, the Department of Parking and Transportation has blocked off several parking spots behind North Hall, with signs stating violators will be cited and towed.

were ranked 10th nationally in the first NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings of the 2018-2019 season, released on Monday. According to the official NCAA website, NET is a new ranking system introduced by the NCAA this season to determine the strongest men’s basketball teams in the country and aid in seeding for the NCAA Tournament. It replaced the similar but less comprehensive Rating Percentage Index (RPI). The NET focuses heavily on road wins and statistics, such as point differential and strength of schedule, to determine the quality of a team's record.

In contrast to the run-and-gun teams that have made LMU famous, this team is winning with defense, having allowed more than 64 points in a game only once.

See Basketball| Page 10

NEWS

laloyolan.com Page 2

5

“I do not want to be a casualty” BURNING QUESTIONS

This week, Asst. News Editor Molly Box sat down with Father Allan Deck to discuss honoring lost loved ones, his favorite movie and life as a Jesuit father at LMU.

Who are you and what do you do at LMU?

1

I am the rector of the Jesuit community, which means that I oversee and try to coordinate, in some way, the presence of the Jesuits here on campus, which includes a few Jesuits that work in ministries beyond LMU. We have two that work in promoting vocations for the whole province of the Jesuits. We have about 22 Jesuits who are involved in teaching or administration at the University.

Hoax Shooting from Page 1

The town hall also allowed comments from the audience, with questions asked from students, parents and faculty.

Concerns addressed included emergency procedures for LMU’s other campus sites, speed of social media notifications and the opt-out option of LMU’s safety app, LiveSafe, as previously reported by the Loyolan.

Most members of the community the Loyolan has spoken to still demand answers concerning how the University would respond to an active shooter threat in the future.

In the letter to the president and the chief of DPS on the night on Nov. 9, students O’Kane, and Megan Leberknight, a sophomore psychology major and copy editor at the Loyolan, stated they were alarmed and angry by the University’s lack of communication in response to the potential threat of an active

shooter. O’Kane stated she received a response from Michael P. Wong, the vice president for Campus Operations, apologizing for the University’s response time, which O’Kane said did not give her much confidence.

O’Kane acknowledged that the University recognized its mistake and is working toward making sure this does not happen again.

Going forward, O’Kane stated she wants to see the University’s list of emergency steps to prove they are able to promptly respond to an emergency and alert the students, even if there is only a possible threat.

Assistant Chief Danny Martinez is leading the department on an interim basis, and President Snyder stated at the Town Hall meeting that DPS has reviewed its training and protocols and has “confirmed their readiness.”

ASLMU also addressed Public Safety’s mishandled, delayed response to the incident in

its weekly senate meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

A petition was created by senior theatre arts and marketing double major Alexandra O’Hara demanding LMU alert systems be re-examined. O’Hara stated that while she is glad that the situation was addressed, she does not like that students still do not know what measure would be taken if there were to be another active shooter threat on campus.

O’Hara also stated she would love to see an actual action drill or procedure for active shooter scares in the future.

“I feel a bit uneasy with the way in which the situation was handled, as well as the lack of information we have been given that directly explains what will happen in the future,” said O’Hara. “I know many of my friends are unhappy with the way in which the situation was handled and still feel unsafe on campus, which is a shame.”

How was November significant for the Church in honoring the All Souls tradition?

[All Souls] is important in the Catholic tradition but also in [other] popular religious traditions. There is a recognition of the continuity between this life, which we will live for whatever years we are given, and something beyond it. We live therefore in relationship with all those that have come before us [and] those who will come after us. In November, we remember those people, starting with our loved ones, our parents, grandparents and friends who have died, but really going beyond that to view it as living in connection with the contributions and the memory of our loved ones. Nov. 1 is All Saints Day and Nov. 2 is All Souls Day. We look at everybody who has ever existed.

2

What is your favorite aspect of this tradition?

3

Because I am from Mexican background—my mother was from Mexico—I love the fact that the Catholic practice has been combined with a regard for the spirits that have lived before us; that is very strong in Latin and Central America. That combination and knowledge of it has grown, particularly in the western United States due to the growing [amount of] Latino people, specifically the Mexican people that are coming to this part of the world.

4

What is your favorite part about being a Jesuit father at LMU?

Over and over again, you meet people who trust you and who are seeking goodness and truth and beauty in their lives and they think you have something to offer them. It is always a very humbling experience and a beautiful [one].

What is your favorite movie and why?

5

“The Knights of Liberia.” It is the story of a woman in the streets of Rome who has suffered and who discovers the ultimate beauty in life in loving something that is beyond yourself.

Want to read even more questions with Father Deck?

Check them out at laloyolan.com.

Emily Sullivan | Loyolan

From left to right, President Timothy Snyder, Vice President and Provost Thomas Poon, Dean of Students Terri Mangione and Vice President of Campus Operations Mike Wong, all answered questions and concerns at the town hall meeting on Thursday, Nov. 15.

Social Justice

#weallbelong Page 3

An insight on ‘The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson’ Read by Raven Raven Yamamoto Social Justice Intern @LALoyolan

T

he Netflix original documentary by David France “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” was shown by the department of African-American studies in celebration of Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20. This was a way to remember one of the most influential transgender women and members of the LGBT movement to date.

Marsha P. Johnson was an African American transgender woman and prominent LGBTQ+ rights activist, known best for being one of the first people to resist the police on the night of the infamous Stonewall riots. Johnson, alongside fellow transgender woman and activist Sylvia Rivera, was also known for being a founder of the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), a group dedicated to helping homeless queer youth.

“The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” follows Victoria Cruz, a member of the New York City LGBTQ Anti-Violence Project, and her journey investigating the case of Marsha P. Johnson’s suspicious

via Netflix

Victoria Cruz is the prime investigator in David France’s documentary “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson.”

death in 1992. The police had initially ruled Johnson’s death a suicide, but the public was never convinced. Johnson’s death has been a topic of controversy for decades, prompting questions of what really happened to her.

As a transgender woman and a person who has seen several cases of violence against trans women like Johnson’s go cold throughout her career, Cruz made a final attempt with this documentary to get justice for Johnson 25 years later, before she retired.

“If we can’t bring justice for Marsha, how can we bring justice for all these other unsolved cases?”

Cruz asked in an interview.

Through interviews with Johnson’s family, her roommate Randy Wicker, her best friend Sylvia Rivera and other prominent people in her life, it became evident that there was something questionable about the manner in which the police dealt with Johnson’s death.

Cruz was refused interviews by the police officers who handled Johnson’s case. It was also

discovered that there were errors in recording evidence that could have led to a proper investigation following her death. On top of all of that, Johnson’s autopsy file was nowhere to be found.

As the documentary progressed, Cruz’s journey shifted its focus to transgender people and how they have been historically placed in the background of the gay rights movement, often being forgotten despite having always been at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ+ equality.

“We were the ones that stood at the forefront and fought the cops off and we’re the ones that didn’t mind getting our heads bashed in,” Rivera said in an interview, where she recounted her involvement with the movement.

Additionally, the film juxtaposed Johnson’s case in 1992 with the case of Islan Nettles, another African American transgender woman who was killed in 2013.

The documentary ends with the verdict of Nettles’s case; the court declared that her assailant, James Dixon, would serve a mere 12 years in jail as opposed to the maximum sentence of 25. The examination of Nettles’s case alongside Johnson’s conveyed the struggle to get justice for trans women both then and now, showing how the violence and hatred towards trans people has been never-ending.

Overall, “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” serves as a reminder that we must not only remember her, but every transgender person who has died at the hands of hate. We owe it to them to know their names and seek justice for them when no one else will.

This is the opinion of Raven Yamamoto, a sophomore journalism major from Kahului, Hawai’i. Tweet comments @LALoyolan, or email bdeleon@theloyolan.com

Remembering Native Americans on Thanksgiving

OPINION

laloyolan.com Page 4

Board Editorial Kellie Chudzinski Editor-in-Chief

Sami Leung

Managing Editor

Emily Rawson Managing Editor

Xochitl Pasten Managing Editor

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

LMU’s new brand should reflect our shared identity Last month, the University unveiled their proposed new visual identity. This includes a redesigned ceremonial mark, a University seal, a spirit mark and an athletics mark. Students past and present had serious concerns about the new designs, and we at the Loyolan agree that they are far from a comprehensive image.

This is our university. As students of LMU, our voices deserve to be heard about issues relating to the university we have decided to spend years at, especially in the process of rebranding. The logos for our institution should reflect the values we actively seek to uphold by being men and women with and for others.

According to the official University page, the project aims to create a more uniform and digital-friendly design that will be used across the University.

Before Thanksgiving, LMU placed an ad in the print issue of the Loyolan. The ad read, “Community engagement on our proposed visual identity was off the charts. Nearly 2,000 of you shared your thoughts and perspectives. … As expected, your feedback was mixed. What came through loud and clear? You care.”

While it is affirming to learn that the University has listened to the feedback of students, alumni and parents that was given through their feedback form, we must demand that it is not only taken into consideration but that it is reflected in the changes that are made. If the students are not proud of how their university is presented off the bluff, the marketing initiative has failed.

Many of the students’ comments were overwhelmingly negative in response to the proposed visual identity. The student body shared many of their opinions regarding the proposals, and many gave feedback to the

Loyolan directly, through social media posts and in a detailed letter to President Snyder and Provost Poon, signed by over 200 students.

Students voiced most concern over the new ceremonial mark (seal) and spirit mark (lion).

We at the Loyolan urge the University to listen to the feedback of the LMU community — both good and bad.

Logos are often first impressions and represent a university’s identity. LMU needs to listen to students on this campus because not long ago, we were the prospective students the new logos seek to find. Students were clear: they found the proposed new designs childish and unreflective of the values, culture and history this University has. Some even likened the designs to those of a for-profit college.

The University’s ad in the Loyolan further stated, “We now move from feedback to refinements. Stay tuned for updates at the end of the year.” There should not simply be refinements to the proposed logo, but an open discussion with the community on how they can be improved to reflect the students and LMU’s Jesuit and Marymount values. That discussion surrounding the logos should continue even after proposed refinements are made, because the LMU community of students and alumni is at the very core of LMU’s identity.

The large and critical response we saw from our community is more than what may be dismissed as simply an aversion to change.

People may naturally resist change, but the problems that were vocalized about these new logos are much deeper. Our voices must be heard and represented in the new identity the LMU administration seeks to establish. We must demand that our feedback be at the heart of the changes.

“If the students are not proud of how their university is presented ... the marketing initiative has failed.”

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Managing Editor Managing Editor News Editor Asst. News Editor Asst. News Editor Asst. News Editor News Intern News Intern News Intern Opinion Editor Asst. Opinion Editor Opinion Intern Opinion Intern Opinion Intern Life+Arts Editor Asst. Life+Arts Editor Life+Arts Intern Life+Arts Intern Life+Arts Intern Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor Sports Intern Sports Intern Sports Intern Sports Intern Social Justice Editor Social Justice Intern Social Justice Intern Bluff Editor Asst. Bluff Editor Bluff Intern Bluff Intern Copy Chief Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Asst. Digital Editor Digital Intern Digital Intern Design Editor Asst. Design Editor Design Intern Cartoon Editor Staff Cartoonist Cartoon Intern Cartoon Intern Cartoon Intern Photo Editor Asst. Photo Editor Staff Photographer Staff Photographer Staff Photographer Staff Photographer Video News Producer Video Coordinator Sports Video Producer Video Intern Video Intern Video Intern

Kellie Chudzinski Sami Leung Emily Rawson Xochitl Pasten Kayla Brogan Kayan Tara Isabella Murillo Molly Box Austin Woods Sofia Hathorn Sofia Acosta Jennifer Lee Alex Myers Daisy Bolin Phillip Nieto Rebecca Singleton Jacob Cornblatt Ally Boulas Troy Salmans Cormac Dolezal Caroline Iglesias Matthew Rodriguez Miles Thomas Alexander Hutton Armen Shrikian Jameson O’Neil Cori Carpenter Robyn De Leon Raven Yamamoto Isabella Lucero Amanda Nahin Thomas Richmond Jordan Boaz Andrew Dazé Shannon Tormey Megan Leberknight Maeve Reilly Edward Kershaw Kassandra Cuellar Lucie Bolzan Caleb Sng Sara Romano Jack Noble Gigi Toma Adrian Leung Diana Raynes Allison Crawford Jessie Glassberg Christian Boggs Abby Pollak Ellen Na Lianlen Joy Distor Gabrielle Ouellette Lauren Holmes Jason Muñoz Emily Sullivan Alex Farrell Taylor Cohen Alyssa Reece Cassie Esparza Olivia Schlosstein Jermaine Johnson ll Kayla Austerfjord Austin Good Michael Lalley

Humanitarian view distorts caravan Phil in the Blank Phillip Nieto Opinion Intern @LALoyolan

A

ndrew Klavan and Michael Knowles, some of the Daily Wire’s most controversial conservative speakers, sat cross-legged and laid back in their seats before nearly 200 students in St. Robert’s Auditorium on Nov. 7. Knowles casually said into the microphone, “I’m going to go out on a limb. I oppose it. I oppose those undocumented hordes of illegal aliens trying to pour into our country and subvert our immigration laws.”

Knowles referred to the migrant caravan that originated in Central America and has marched through the borders of Mexico and is now heading toward the United States. Not only do I agree with Knowles’ statement, but I concur that the United States has no legal obligation to let in these noncitizens posing as asylum-seekers.

“My overall stance on this humanitarian crisis is that we should view it as such. We must look at this issue as a human issue in that these people are fleeing away from the dangers of their country,” said Camila De Pierola, president of the proimmigration empowerment group,

RESILIENCE. “The fact of the matter is that these people are running from the violence and threats within their community — not trying to perpetuate it in the U.S., as President Trump believes. We should treat these refugees with compassion and understanding.”

When it comes to the issue of the

Caravan, let’s review some facts first.

Last month the Washington Examiner reported that nearly 75 percent of the migrants making up the caravan are adult men, according to a senior Border Patrol official.

See Migrant caravan | Page 5

BUSINESS STAFF Advertising Manager Hayden Regalado Asst. Business Managers Alena Copeland Nicole Castro Advertising Intern Nicole Giuliano Business Intern Duc Vo Ad Designer Juliane Johnson Distribution Manager Petros Hadjikyracou Distribution Staff Leah Daniel Distribution Intern Ella Bond-Gledhill Student Media Coordinator Veronica Manz Director of Student Media Tom Nelson

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

The Loyolan accepts unsolicited letters from students, faculty, staff and alumni, and press releases from on-campus and offcampus organizations, but cannot guarantee publication. The Loyolan reserves the right to edit or reject all submissions, including advertisements, articles or other contributions it deems objectionable.

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

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

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

Photo via The Washington Post

Thousands of migrants are walking towards the U.S. Border to claim asylum.

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

OPINION The U.S. reserves the

laloyolan.com Page 5

right to refuse entry

Migrant caravan from Page 4

The Mexican Ambassador to the United States, Gerónimo Gutiérrez, recently told NPR that many of the migrants within the caravan are “very violent.” According to the Washington Times, Guatemalan authorities have had to save seven migrant children who were being smuggled through the caravan by human traffickers. Mexican authorities have had to arrest and deport two migrants who were a part of the caravan who were wanted for murder. A video from Noticias Telemundo shows hundreds of migrants in the caravan violently tearing down the border walls between Mexico and Guatemala.

The Left and the mainstream media often use what I consider as moral convictions to bully Americans into supporting policies that would let undocumented migrants into the United States.

Whether it’s Steve Schmidt from MSNBC comparing the migrant crisis to slavery, or Chris Cuomo from CNN claiming, “[there are] more mothers than monsters” in the caravan, the argument of emotion over facts is an appeal the Left makes far too often. To them, you’re racist or xenophobic if you think the nation-state has the right to choose who can and cannot come into the country.

The fact is a majority of the caravan is full of single men who’ve been described by Mexican officials as “unwelcome” as well as several documented cases of human smuggling occurring within the caravan. This is just scratching the surface. Who knows what other plethora of criminals and underbelly may be hiding within this caravan. The idea that we must, as a nation, wholeheartedly and without question accept these migrants into our homes is not only ridiculous, but dangerous. The United States should, and will, use its proper legal authority to block this caravan from entering this

Christian Boggs | Loyolan

There is no way to know exactly who these people are if they circumvent the proper immigration channels.

“Nearly 75 percent of the migrants making up the caravan are adult men.” country; thus ensuring that our immigration laws are not subverted.

Not too long ago, the mainstream media was barking at us to not worry about the caravan. According

to CNN’s Anderson Cooper, the caravan was not a threat to the United States and was over “a thousand miles away from the nearest U.S. point of entry.” Yet less than two weeks later, nearly 1,000 migrants arrived at the U.S. border in Tijuana. According to the mayor of Tijuana and reports from on the ground journalists, members of the caravan are no longer welcome in the border state.

As reported by Fox News, the Department of Homeland Security claimed that nearly 500 criminals traveling in the caravan have recently arrived at the San Diego border. Thousands of Mexican citizens are now protesting the arrival of the caravan, even going as far as to demand that their government deport these “migrants” back to Honduras. It’s an issue of security and sovereignty.

“The argument that many Democrats pose is not about empathy... It’s about power.”

The nation state should have the right to decide who can and cannot enter its borders. Mexican citizens understand this concept, why shouldn’t we?

On Sunday, Nov. 25, hundreds of these so-called migrants stormed the San Diego area border and attempted to cross illegally into the United States. Border patrol officials reported, and video evidence shows, that mostly male caravan members threw rocks at U.S. border agents and then proceeded to use women and children as human shields when agents responded to these attacks with tear gas.

These aren’t the telltale signs of “loving migrants” coming to make our country a better place. Invaders act like this; not immigrants.

The argument that many Democrats pose is not about empathy or compassion. It’s about power, as Tucker Carlson puts it.

A study from Yale shows that there are nearly 22 million undocumented immigrants who are currently living within the United States.

The Democratic platform indicates that they want to make the path to citizenship easier for all 22 million of these undocumented immigrants.

According to the Pew Research Center, unauthorized immigrants tend to vastly vote and side with Democrats on nearly every issue.

The real reason Democrats and the Left want migrants like the ones in the caravan to enter the U.S. is for more votes. More votes equals more power. Nothing more, nothing less.

They will use every buzzword in the book to condemn arguments against mass immigration and simply label it as racist and xenophobic. It should be up to us to cut through the noise and see these perspectives for what they really are — sensationalism.

This is the opinion of Phillip Nieto , a freshman political science major from Fresno, California.

Tweet comments @LALoyolan, or email jlee@theloyolan.com.

laloyolan.com Page 6

THE UNDECLAREDS

By Abby Pollak, Staff Cartoonist

CHARACTERS WITH CHARACTER

Check out more Loyolan cartoons online now!

Visit LALoyolan.com/cartoons and catch up on your favorites!

By Gabrielle Ouellette, Cartoon Intern

Start Your Legal Career in Under 1 Year • Daytime and evening programs • Offered in Westwood and DTLA • Taught by Judges, Attorneys,

and Legal Professionals • ABA-Approved Paralegal Program • Financial Aid Available

APPLICATION DEADLINE JANUARY 3

Find Out More uclaextension.edu/paralegal Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

20253-18

life+arts

laloyolan.com Page 7

Thanksgiving movie season is not over yet Cormac ‘n Cheese Cormac Dolezal Life+Arts Intern @cormacdolezal

A

lthough Thanksgiving may be over, it isn’t too late to get in the Turkey Day spirit. With the Hallmark Channel already shoving Christmas movies down our throats, some people may long for a change of pace in the holiday movie department.

Thankfully, Thanksgiving has the perfect solution to this problem. Unbeknownst to many, the turkey-based holiday has a plethora of fantastic movies, each one better than the last. So, sit back, heat up those leftovers and watch some of these Thanksgiving classics.

“Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow” I’ve got two words for you: Thanksgiving puppets. This 2015 television movie has everything you could ever want from cinema: a bunch of puppets from the Jim Henson company, a plot based around Thanksgiving and an above-average performance by Mary Steenburgen. And if those don’t seal the deal, the film is also narrated by Ludacris. How insane is that?

“Free Birds” Do you ever see those ads for strange offbrand animated movies and wonder what happens to them? Well, “Free Birds” is one of those. Starring Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson and Amy Poehler, this film was adored by a group of people, but absolutely hated by a much larger and much more vocal group of other people. Regardless of public opinion, I have never seen an animated film bogged down with so much original, Thanksgiving lore that it makes it hard to

follow the plot. However, I would be lying if I didn’t say I loved every single minute of it.

“ThanksKilling” As far as the greatest horror movies of all time goes, you can’t even have the discussion without mentioning “ThanksKilling” multiple times. Starring a homicidal turkey named Turkie, the film delivers lots of blood, cheap laughs and nudity within its first seconds.

Critics called the film “an unwatchable abomination,” and I really couldn’t agree more. However, for those who do tune in, there is a subplot based around race relations in America. No joke.

“Jack and Jill” Adam Sandler plays two siblings who

come together for a Thanksgiving dinner.

Needless to say, whoever pitched the idea of Adam Sandler playing not only the male lead of a film but the female lead as well needs to be fired from Hollywood, shamed by their family and then given a Nobel Peace Prize because this film is absolutely fantastic. It was nominated for a record 12 Razzies (the “Worst Of” film awards), including Worst Actor and Worst Actress for Sandler. Additionally, it is widely considered to be one of the worst movies of all time. Perfect for a post-Thanksgiving rewatch.

“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” The only watchable movie on this list, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” is an

absolute classic. While it may not be as good as “A Charlie Brown Christmas” or “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” this movie truly deserves to be adored. I can still remember trying to convince my mom to make buttered toast and jelly beans for Thanksgiving dinner just like Snoopy did.

She did not take my advice.

So the next time you are flipping through the Hallmark Channel, just ask yourself, could I be watching a movie with a turkey in it?

This is the opinion of Cormac Dolezal, a sophomore film and television production major from Woodsbury, MN. Tweet comments to @cormacdolezal or email comments to jcornblatt@theloyolan.com.

Movieclips Trailers via Youtube

“Free Birds” is just one of many Thanksgiving movies to entertain the family while avoiding a month of Christmas movies on TV.

laloyolan.com Page 8

life+arts

laloyolan.com Page 9

It’s time to un-Scrooge your Christmas Push the grinches away with a 39-and-a-half foot pole.

Jordan Boaz Basically Santa There’s nothing like a ho-hoho, jolly ol’ time of a Christmas season. On Nov. 1, bring it on: roll out the lights and the wreaths, the pies and the cookies, the parades and the music. No snow, no matter — it’s Christmas in our hearts.

And we’ll let the fun carry on until Jan. 1. Two months of celebrating, shamelessly gaining that holiday weight, shopping joyfully and humming those Christmas tunes.

But, of course, the life of the holiday spirit can be sucked up the chimney pretty quickly when it comes to the Scrooges.

You know who I’m talking about — the ones who choose to fight the fact that Nov. 1 is, in fact,

the beginning of Christmas. The ones who throw a red bulb onto their porch light and claim they’ve decorated for the holidays. The ones who find the Jewish radio stations just for the season because, as they so jollily grumble, “Not every damn song should be about Christmas!”

They carefully pick out their clothing, making sure their sweaters aren’t mistaken for the “ugly-Christmas” kind, though they usually are anyways. Red and green are out; giving off the wrong impression is a very real fear. Their gift-shopping is done entirely online as to avoid the relentless shopping lines and the music the stores are playing. They even refuse to shop using the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, just purely out of spite.

Some may say their hearts are simply three sizes too small. Others say they’re full of unwashed socks, have brains full of spiders and carry garlic in their souls. It doesn’t matter

the wording — these people, socially speaking, are deemed scroogey, spirit-killing grinches.

Students at LMU are offering solutions on how to combat this grinchy spirit. They have re-written “The 12 Days of Christmas” to be “The 61 Days of Christmas.” Now, not only can one imagine receiving dancing ladies and hens, but also half-off tuition coupons, lifetime supplies of ice cream from Salt & Straw and “42 brand-name clothing items” on Christmas’ 42nd day. A holiday club has started meeting daily under the tree at Regents Terrace. Secret Santas are campuswide, and if you have yet to join, consider this: the most popular gift is a fake ID. And if you, yourself, are a Scrooge, it’ll be hard to last long: carolers will be at your door singing and providing sneaky snowman brownies bound to boost your mood.

Just be careful of eating too many ... and don’t hold LMU liable. It’s all in good spirit.

Ellen Na | Loyolan

One of the many Christmas Scrooges tries to delay the holiday until November has come and gone.

No-move move revamps dating rates by 35 percent Acting inanimate has never been so effective in modern dating.

Andrew Dazé Will Not Move

Lianlen Joy Distor | Loyolan

Nonchalantly humming, looking ahead, this guy makes the folks swoon.

Guys — swiping right is so passé, especially when it seems no one is matching with you. The conception of Tinder, Bumble and other dating apps have caused sexual contact for Americans aged 18-25 to decrease by 68-70 percent.

It’s speculated that Boomers and Gen X will have had more partners than you. Quit striking out like Machado in the World Series and follow science.

Dr. Phil Allus, leading sociologist on the matter, refers to his studies as, “The sexual revolution of 2010s.” Broken down into simple steps, what has been dubbed as the “No-move move” is applicable to even the most dense dummies in town. Step one: befriend your

prospect. Strike up conversation, get their name and number but don’t give any indication of interest. Step two: spend time with them without showing any ulterior motives. Take them to a movie and enjoy it, but don’t put your arm around them. Go on a dinner date with them, drop them off at their place and wish them a good night.

Before we get to step three, it must be made clear that not showing interest is not synonymous with being a jerk.

People don’t like jerks, and if they do, that’s a red flag anyway. Step three: continue step two until your desired results. After a while, the person naturally starts to question your motive. This is a sign for you to continue as you have. “Why isn’t he making a move on me?” they may ask themselves, or “Is it something I said?” Playing this wildcard is like throwing a flash-bang into a bear’s den in the winter. The bears are used to their system by now­­— nothing

can really faze them. But here you come with your “No-move move” discombobulating them, leaving them asking where, why and how to get to the bottom of it.

Soon enough, in a confused frenzy, if the person you want wants you back, they will give you signals that will confirm that they are into you. Or, more commonly, throw themselves at you as if you were made of grilled cheese. The key word to associate with the “No-move move” is quality time.

The more quality time you clock in, the higher your chances of success.

If you’re tired of Gramps rubbing his glory days in your face, ditch the dating apps and try the scientifically-proven way to get the person of your dreams to be the person in your arms. It is equal parts genius and simple.

The art of filling a space and requesting nothing in return leads to unparalleled success, as research has shown. Who knew that you only needed to play it cool?

The Bluff is a humorous and satirical section published in the Loyolan. All quotes attributed to real figures are completely fabricated; persons otherwise mentioned are completely fictional.

SPORTS

laloyolan.com Page 10

basketball start Changes pay off for Men's Pederson this season season 7-0 for first time Cross Country from Page 12

native was forced to make some modifications to his training to boost himself to the next level.

“I upped my mileage a little bit,” said Pederson. “I hit my first 100-mile week in September and my overall weekly mileage was really high. We also did workouts a little bit earlier this year [with] more tempo work which worked more on strength, and I consider myself more of a strength runner.”

The changes paid off, as Pederson made his way to the national meet in an unusually deep and talented field of individuals at the West Region meet. The people who qualified from the region took up four of the top six places in the race. In previous years, the majority of top spots were filled by runners on qualifying teams.

“The race was just crazy," said Pederson. "Looking at all those guys with about a kilometer to go, luckily I had something left. I was able to throw up a 4:27 [minute] last mile."

That final surge propelled Pederson's season to continue for one last meet.

With the cross country season now over, both the men and women will prepare for the track and field season.

The Lions typically compete in their first meet in February.

As for team goals, Pederson wants to see the group dominate the 5,000-meter distance.

“I’m hoping we can get at least five guys sub-15 [minutes] in the 5K,” said Pederson. “That's pretty much the goal we have every single season.”

As for personal goals, Pederson has set a high bar for himself for his final months as a Lion.

“Individually, I’d like to go subfourteen [minutes] in the 5K,” he said.

Pederson would be only the second in program history to accomplish that feat. He also said he would like to run sub-3:45 in the 1,500 meters, which converts to just over four minutes in the mile.

And, as he accomplished this past cross country season, Pederson is again set on qualifying for the regional and national meets, this time on the oval.

Even with such high expectations being set for one person, Pederson does not view running as a oneperson feat.

“It’s an individual sport in a sense, but I think the people you surround yourself with have a lot to do with your success,” said Pederson. “Being happy doing what you love—which in my case is running—and having people around you who support you, that’s what makes the biggest difference.”

Basketball from Page 1

Head Coach Mike Dunlap praised the defensive effort as a key to the strong start.

“We’ve been hard to score against,” Dunlap said.

“When our offense fluctuates and sometimes we go through dry spells, our defense has been able to hold the line until we find a way to score.”

Dunlap also highlighted the role team chemistry has played in the early-season success. Over the summer, the team took a trip to Australia to tune up for basketball season and to build a sense of family and camaraderie within the program.

“Even beforew we started this journey, the trip to Australia this summer really helped us,” Dunlap said.

The team has been winning despite the absence of sophomore forward Eli Scott, who has not played this season due to illness.

Scott was expected to be one of the team’s centerpieces, so numerous players have had to step up and fill the void.

“We have a lot of guys contributing this year,” junior guard Erik Johansson said.

Thus far, the team has been led by senior guard James Batemon, the Lions’ only selection to the preseason All-WCC team. Batemon leads the team in points and assists. In addition, freshman forward Dameane Douglas has had a strong start to his college career, earning four starts and impressing Dunlap with his play.

“The development of Dameane ... having a [6-foot-7-inch] wing in there that’s coming along as a freshman has really helped us,”

Dunlap said. Dunlap also cited the consistent improvement of junior center Mattias Markusson, who has increased his scoring and rebounding averages from last season. He singled out the defensive work of senior guard Jeffery McClendon, who is seventh all-time in school history with 1.76 steals per game.

“To me, [McClendon] is the best defensive player in the WCC,” Dunlap said. “He’s one of the better defenders in the country.”

At the same time, Dunlap acknowledged that a 7-0 record is only achieved by a team-wide effort.

“You can kind of mention every player in terms of their strengths,” he said.

Even though this team is off to the best start the Lions have ever seen, the players are far from satisfied. The program has not had a winning season since 2011-2012 and finished with a record of 11-20 last season. Everyone involved is aware of the level of effort necessary to reverse both of these trends, particularly after closer than expected wins over Florida A&M and Central Connecticut.

“We can improve in all areas,” Johansson said.

“We have a lot of work to do in order to keep up what we’re doing, but also to get better.”

Johansson said that the focus for the team is to take things one game and one day at a time.

“Today’s another day to work on your game and work on the team. I think that’s the most important thing," Johansson said.

The Lions continue their season on Thursday, Nov. 29 when they host the Bethesda University Flames at Gersten Pavilion at 7:00 p.m.

SPORTS LOS ANGELES LOYOLAN | November 28, 2018 | laloyolan.com

SCORES UPDATE

M BASKETBALL 71-63 W

LION

vs. Florida A&M

SPORTS

VOLLEYBALL

3-0 W

vs. BYU

W BASKETBALL 60-53 W

vs. UC Davis

Follow us on Twitter @laloyolan for up-to-date scores.

Page 12

Pederson records historic running season

After finishing 103rd in 2017, Pederson earns third place a year later.

Jameson O'Neil Sports Intern @LALoyolan

Senior cross country runner Koby Pederson became the first man in program history to qualify for the Nov. 17 NCAA National Championship by finishing third overall in the NCAA West Region Championship on Nov. 9.

In the regional championship, Pederson tackled the 10,000-meter course in 29 minutes, 44.1 seconds, breaking the school record in the distance set by Weston Strum in 2012 at 30:30.0. By finishing in the top-four of individuals on nonqualifying teams, Pederson received a bid to the national meet.

“That was probably the greatest feeling and accomplishment of my running career thus far,” said Pederson. “I knew I was going to do well, but I even surprised myself with how well I did. It was crazy to see myself make it to the national stage.”

The impressive finish at the West Region Championships was one of many strong performances for Pederson this fall. To open his final season as a Lion, he competed in the Capital Cross Challenge in Sacramento on Sept. 29, where he placed second overall and first for collegiate out of 267 total

runners. Pederson tore through the 8,000-meter race in 24:06.0.

Pederson won the Santa Clara University Bronco Invitational in Sunnyvale, California out of 176 total competitors on Oct. 13. Pederson dominated the 8,000-meter course, breaking the tape in a time of 23:57.1.

At the West Coast Conference Championships in Provo, Utah on Oct. 27, Pederson finished in 18, running 24:22.7 across 8,000 meters, using the race as a tuneup for the more important regional competition that came two weeks later. Pederson came prepared for the West region, coming up clutch with his third place performance and earning his bid to the Nov. 17 NCAA National Championship in Madison, Wisconsin. There, he clocked a 30:53.8 in the 10,000-meter race earning him 127th place in the nation.

While the list of Pederson’s accolades this season are all individual performances, Pederson credits those around him with pushing him to get to this point.

“Yeah, my successes were my own, but there’s also a whole team effort with my coaches and my teammates and family,” said Pederson. “I've trusted the program and a lot of people have put their faith in me. It all worked out my senior year.”

And while it all worked out this final season it was not without effort. The Southern California See Cross Country Page 10

via LMU Athletics

Senior cross country runner Koby Pederson (right) became the first man in LMU program history to reach the NCAA National Championship. At the NCAA West Regionals, Pederson finsihed third overall.

Volleyball qualifies for the NCAA Tournament

via Loyolan Archives

After finishing with a 20-9 record in the 2018-2019 season, volleyball gears up for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015. Head coach Aaron Mansfield became the first coach in LMU history to bring the Lions to the tournament in the second year of their tenure. Senior outside hitter Sara Kovac and junior setter Tess Reid were named to the All-WCC team.