Los Angeles Loyolan January 13th 2016

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Student found dead on campus

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Find out the Loyolan’s top picks for the Grammys and Academy Awards.

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The CFP might be the perfect, imperfect solution for college football.

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Controversial mural image replaced with symbol of solidarity

Ryan Bradford was a freshman political science major at LMU. Ali Swenson

Editor-in-Chief @LALoyolan

A male student was found dead in the afternoon of Monday, Dec. 14, in a car in the parking lot behind the freshman residence halls, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

The student has since been identified as first-year student Ryan Bradford, a political science major from Hockessin, Delaware. He worked in Campus Ministry and Student Leadership and Development. Bradford was 18 years old.

“According to the coroner, the student’s death was consistent with suicide,” said Jeanne Ortiz, dean of students and vice president for Student Affairs.

In response to the student’s death, University President Timothy Law Snyder sent an email to the LMU community on Dec. 15.

“Ryan has forever earned a place in our hearts and minds,” read Snyder’s email.

“His name will be added to the student memorial near Sacred Heart Chapel, which honors those students who died during their time at LMU.” Two memorial services were held on campus for Bradford. One took place on the evening of Dec. 15 in Huesman Hall Chapel. A second was held on the evening of Dec. 16 behind Sacred Heart Chapel.

To read more about Bradford’s life, see Page 2.

Caroline Burt | Loyolan

After much controversy and discussion, the image depicting blackface on the mural in the Malone Student Center was removed and replaced with a piece of artwork and a community notice was posted. From this issue, Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT), made up of campus administrators, addressed this issue. BIRT will be addressing any further problems regarding bias situations such as the blackface image. The replacement image, depicting a fist inside a heart, was first presented at the rally, signifying love and solidarity amid racial injustice worldwide.

New EIC to take Lions return to start the new year helm at Loyolan In February, Karis AddoQuaye will take over the Loyolan as editor-in-chief.

Michael Busse Executive Editor @LALoyolan

Caroline Burt | Loyolan

Students continued on their regular routes through Palm Walk when they started the new year and the spring semester on Monday.

The sun may be setting on one editorin-chief (EIC)’s time at the Loyolan, but a rising star was chosen to take her place.

Senior psychology major Ali Swenson will hand over the student publication’s reigns to sophomore sociology major Karis AddoQuaye next month.

After a year at the Loyolan tackling sensitive issues, current Interim News Editor Addo-Quaye hopes to continue the Loyolan’s commitment to amplifying the voices of many different communities at LMU. “There’s already a direction toward increasing the diversity of the content in terms of including more interculturalfocused pieces and issues like race and gender and different religious and ethnic backgrounds,” said Addo-Quaye. “Approaching topics like that is something we’ve already been doing and something

that I have done with my own writing. I hope to usher that further along and reach out to more communities on campus.”

The child of Ghanaian parents, AddoQuaye’s large family shaped her perspectives on the importance of interculturalism. She has relatives all across the world: from England and France to the East Coast of the United States. She even spent the winter break in Ghana for her cousin’s wedding.

“I have also learned so much about the value of ... looking at things from an international, intercultural perspective,” Addo-Quaye said. “It’s how I’ve always looked at the world; it’s my heritage.”

Addo-Quaye, a Las Vegas native who recently added a women’s study minor, was chosen after multiple interviews with the Loyolan staff, Director of Student Media Tom Nelson, and Swenson, and with Senior Vice President of Student Affairs, Lane Bove.

“Karis is in an interesting position because she’s a little bit younger than a normal Editor-in-Chief. Normally, they’re juniors; Karis is a sophomore,” noted Nelson. But Addo-Quaye’s youth is not a drawback, he added. “Because of that, See EIC | Page 4

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NEWS

‘LMU is missing out on having him here’ Ryan Bradford was a freshman political science major at LMU. Ali Swenson

Editor-in-Chief @LALoyolan

During fall orientation at LMU, Ryan Bradford’s group was asked to write down five words that described who they believed themselves to be. Then, they were asked to cut their lists down to one word — a single, primary identifier to which they belonged.

When students shared their single word, some emphasized religion, values or culture. But just one student in the room proudly shared that his sexual orientation was his primary identity. That student was Bradford.

That story makes freshman biology major Blake Colton smile.

“I was so happy to see that he found somewhere that he could do that,” said Colton, Bradford’s freshman roommate in Doheny Hall. Bradford taught him about being proud, Colton said.

On Dec. 14, Bradford was found alone and unresponsive in his car on campus. The 18-year-old freshman political science major from Hockessin, Delaware was pronounced dead that evening.

Memorial services were held in Huesman Hall Chapel and behind Sacred Heart Chapel on

Dec. 15 and Dec. 16, respectively.

Colton and Madelyn Starr, a freshman undeclared major, were close friends with Bradford.

They remember him as reserved, but playful — quiet, but sassy. He loved Nicki Minaj and YouTube drag persona Miss Coco Peru.

He had a record player, and a collection of Julie Andrews music on vinyl. On Snapchat, he was known for lip-syncing videos to Adele, Beyonce and Lady Gaga.

He was up for anything — even 1 a.m. car rides to get ice cream.

Bradford studied abroad in Germany in high school after hosting a German exchange student. He was also thinking about minoring in German, according to Colton and Starr.

“Ryan definitely made an impact on me and the Doheny community,” said junior accounting major Jeff Walker, who was Bradford’s resident adviser. “He was a bright light in our hall.”

On campus, Bradford worked in Campus Ministry, with nondenominational Christian community The Well. He also worked closely with Director of Leadership Programs and LGBT Student Services Anthony Garrison-Engbrecht in Student Leadership and Development.

His sense of humor, courage and way of actively seeking community stood out to Garrison-Engbrecht.

“One thing we want to see in our students is the steadfastness of being able to build their

via Blake Colton

Ryan Bradford was a freshman political science major at LMU. Students and faculty members continue to remember him and mourn his loss about a month after his death, which occurred on Dec. 14. identity and become the best version of themselves,” said Garrison-Engbrecht. “I think he was actively doing that.”

As a student, Bradford was engaged with ideas and interested in moral issues, according to Associate Professor of Middle Eastern History Najwa Al-Qattan, who taught him in “Politics and the Veil.” Though

he was admitted to a hospital for six days in November, he returned to class with a passion for the material, both in journal entries and in office hours.

“I really do feel grateful and lucky that I got to meet him,” said Al-Qattan. “Every semester there are a few students … who make your job as a teacher, as a professor, worthwhile in the way that they seem to love ideas and to kind of blossom in the classroom. And he certainly was one of those students.”

Though Bradford went through many struggles in his

first semester at LMU, including coming out to a family that wasn’t accepting of his sexuality, his focus was always on nurturing his relationships and caring for others, according to sophomore film production major Austin Bruns, a friend.

“Beyond anything, he was so giving,” said Bruns. “I was there for him for a lot. But he didn’t take that lightly. He was very grateful and very giving. LMU is missing out on having him here.”

To read opinion coverage about Bradford and his legacy at LMU, turn to Page 8.

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via Blake Colton

Note from the Editors: We would like to remind our readers of the following information: According to the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, warning signs for suicide include talking about wanting to die, looking for a way to kill oneself, talking about feeling hopeless, feeling trapped or being a burden to others, withdrawing or feeling isolated and increasing the use of alcohol or drugs. The Dart Center suggests if someone exhibits these warning signs, do not leave the person alone. Remove any firearms, drugs or sharp objects and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. On LMU’s campus, contact Student Psychological Services (SPS) at (310) 3382868. In the event of an emergency, call Public Safety at 222 from a campus phone or (310) 338-2893 or call 911. Other information can be found on SPS’s website at studentaffairs.lmu.edu.

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BURNING QUESTIONS

This issue, News Intern Gillian Boss Thissat issue, Managing down with Editor Dan Raffety sophomore film and sits down with Head television production Coach Max Good, major Jen Bohnert head coachatofRooster the who interns LMU’s men’s basketball Teeth Productions. team to talk about the upcoming season.

News Intern @LALoyolan

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Rooster Teeth Productions is an Austin and Los Angeles-based production company that produces a wide range of content, from comedy gameplay, live action shorts, podcasts, anime and machinima, which is basically filming using a video game environment. They are most popular for their popular series, “Red vs. Blue,” which is the longest running web series. They are also a huge presence on Youtube, with millions of subscribers over their various channels.

What do you do there and how did you get involved?

I was an intern for Funhaus, which is the channel that is based out of their L.A. offices. I mostly worked on photoshopping various images to be used in videos, as well as doing some editing work.

What’s the most challenging part of your work?

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Since one of my main jobs was doing photoshops for videos, one of the big challenges was figuring out how to make images that matched the story they were telling, being a funny image, and matching the kind of photoshops that are made for the videos.

Also, some of the images I had to make were really random and obscure, so it was difficult finding the right images to put together.

Let me tell you, figuring out a way to combine an image of a “Die Hard” Blu-Ray and a cucumber is not easy (no context needed).

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LMU has banned hoverboards to prevent possible f ire hazards.

Julia Campion

What is Rooster Teeth Productions and what is it most known for?

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Hoverboards banned for safety purposes on campus

Who do you look up to or what inspires you?

I look up to a lot of people in my family. Everyone in my family is very driven and is always aiming high, so being surrounded by so many people who have such passion in whatever they do gave me great examples of why you should work hard in whatever it is that you’re doing.

If you could do something and not be arrested for it, what would you do?

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I would probably sneak into the Oscars. I probably wouldn’t be physically capable of talking to anyone out of pure shock, so I’d just stare.

LMU announced on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 that students were temporarily banned from riding their hoverboards anywhere on campus after Friday, Dec. 18, 2015. When students arrived back to campus for spring semester, the decision became permanent and will be in effect until the safety issues surrounding hoverboards are resolved.

The Department of Public Safety, Student Housing, Student Affairs, Risk Management and the University’s General Counsel made the decisions, all of which were concerned with the risk of fire hazards that could result from the use of these gadgets.

There have not been any incidents on LMU’s campus, but other universities and media reports of hoverboard fires influenced the ban.

DPS Chief Hampton Cantrell discussed his concerns with the safety level of the different school buildings and ensuring a safe environment for students.

“We conferred over a couple of days before the decision was made.

Our concern was the safety of campus building structures in light of the fire risk,” Cantrell said.

LMU is not the only campus that is going through this process. California State University, Chico, the University of Arizona, the Universi-

MORE QUESTIONS

On the other hand, Jade Kaiser, freshman theatre arts major, thinks differently.

“They cause a distraction. People actually hurt themselves and I’ve seen them fall off multiple times. I think that the regulations are necessary. It has almost become a toy to bring to class,” Kaiser said.

DPS reported that there have been no complaints sent to them from students. They plan to keep hoverboards permanently banned unless they are later given a reason to do otherwise.

“We will continue to evaluate general hoverboard safety. For example, perhaps there are certain models that are safer than others that can be considered appropriate for a campus environment,” said Cantrell.

Doug Moore, associate vice president of risk management, explained that LMU doesn’t take fire hazards lightly.

“Any device that poses a fire hazard in residential buildings or elsewhere on campus is a too big of a risk. We can’t risk student safety because of faulty hoverboards.”

New international relations major and minor offered The poli sci department welcomes a new addition to degree offerings.

Sydney Majd News Intern @LALoyolan

Interested in pursuing a career in international relations?

In Fall 2016, the political science department is offering internaDo you find that the film and tional relations as a major and gaming industry is particularly minor. male-dominated in your According to the LMU admisexperience? sions website, international reThe way that the video game and film industry is now, it is almost a lations is “the study of international conflict and cooperation.” given that, as a female, you are going to be in the minority. HowThe website describes how stuever, in my experience with Rooster Teeth, I never felt left out or dents interested in this subject discriminated by the mere fact that I [am] a female. I do think that are “seeking a holistic underthere is a lot of discrepancy in terms of representation in those standing of international issues industries by women, but as times change, I feel that women are and transnational problems.”

The new major and minor were making strides for equality and representation in those industries. I established to give students inam lucky to not have faced any persecution in the industry beterested in international relacause of my gender, but that is definitely not representative of all tions the chance to study many women in the industry today or of what jobs I may pursue in the different economic, political future. and social issues throughout the world. Associate Chair of the Want to read more Political Science Department Ramos proposed this questions with Bohnert? Jennifer idea and explained her view that Check them out at this was a well thought out addito the department. She exlaloyolan.com. tion plained that this new major and

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ty of Connecticut and the University of Alabama are just a few schools that that have banned hoverboards and have played a huge role in influencing LMU to do the same.

According to an article fromABC News on Jan. 7, the lithium batteries in hoverboards can explode and have caused 28 fires in 19 different states. More than 30 universities nationwide have banned hoverboards on their campuses thus far.

Major U.S airlines are also banning hoverboards.

LMU students’ opinions vary on campus depending on the influence that hoverboards have had on their everyday lives. For some students, the rise in popularity and accessibility of hoverboards has increased their desire to purchase them. Others view the gadgets as an inconvenience.

“I rode my hoverboard everyday within the confines of my dorm and occasionally to pick up my laundry. I think it’s a bad idea to ban them because people have paid a lot of money to acquire these hoverboards. It made everything easier,” said freshman undeclared major Aga Widjojo.

minor have been several years in the making and they were carefully designed to reflect what will best serve students in their lives beyond graduation.

“We sought to address the need for a more comprehensive international curricular experience that would better prepare our students to be active and engaged citizens and leaders in the world,” Ramos said.

She hopes that this change will also lead to overall improvement in the department. “I imagine that it will lead to an even more dynamic department, with not just more majors, but more interdisciplinary programming and courses that engage our students and faculty regularly on pressing world issues,” said Ramos.

Through the major, students will gain aptitude in a foreign language. They can also study abroad and even participate in an international-focused internship.

Sophomore political science major Cleopatra Gray is interested in this new program. “I’m partaking in a UN-affiliated organization internship in the summer, and I feel like I could use that gained knowledge later on in my career and in the new major offered. I’m extremely ex-

cited about potentially minoring in international relations.”

This major and minor is primarily geared toward students interested in pursuing worldly topics such as global health, human rights, international law, peace and security studies and international economics.

Some of the courses that will be offered for the major and minor are “Latin American Politics,” “International Security,” “The Future of the United Nations,” and “Politics of the Global Economy.”

Freshman communications major Nicole Mejia is optimistic about this addition for the department.

“I’m very interested in human rights and world peace and think it’s great to see the political science department adding more opportunity to go into a career in those subjects.” Mejia continued, “I’ve talked to numerous political science majors who I know are very interested in adding this new major and minor.”

For more information on adding this major or minor, contact the Political Science Department or visit admission.lmu.edu.

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New editor-in-chief interested in ‘amplifying the voices of many different communities’

EIC from Page 1

she’ll bring a little bit of a different perspective. … I think that she’ll bring some new ideas.”

Despite being a relatively fresh face at the Loyolan, Addo-Quaye brings with her four years of high school journalism experience. Even though she signed up for journalism in high school because all of the art classes were full, she found an immediate connection. That connection was demonstrated in her time at the Loyolan and throughout the application process.

“One thing that has always really impressed me about Karis is that she is a big-picture type of thinker. With journalism changing so much we need someone who can think in a big kind of way and not be afraid to make big decisions,” said Swenson, who will transition to a senior editor position at the Loyolan while continuing her internship at the Los Angeles Times. “I also think that her commitment to telling the stories of everyone on campus and every community on campus is admirable and much needed.”

Addo-Quaye will be joined in leadership by two new managing editors: sophomore marketing major Gracie McManus and junior humanities major Chris-

tie Calucchia. McManus brings her attention to detail as a former copy editor, while Calucchia brings her experience working in the Loyolan’s Opinion section.

The incoming executive board will hire a new staff in the coming weeks.

“I’m really excited to work with the new, incoming staff, with hiring coming up in February. I’m excited to refresh and have people who are learning like I was just a couple of semesters ago. I’m excited to be on the other end of that, to hopefully be that good leader and that positive resource,” said Addo-Quaye.

“I’m excited to see where the Loyolan can go.”

Before Addo-Quaye takes on the responsibility as editorin-chief, current EIC Swenson continues to make a huge impact at the publication.

Swenson became editorin-chief last February after holding several positions in the Loyolan’s News section and taking a semester off to study abroad. At the time, she had one major goal in mind: Furthering the Loyolan’s evolution toward being a digital-first publication.

“Our community consumes a lot of its news digitally. I think catering to this with online journalism is a responsibility we take on because of our role

at LMU,” Swenson said in a December 2014 interview. “It’s also a great opportunity to grow and revitalize our content.”

During her time as EIC, Swenson has overseen the Loyolan’s transition from printing twice a week to printing weekly, with a larger emphasis on producing daily content for the publication’s website. With the end of her tenure in sight, Swenson is happy with the progress that has been made.

“I’m proud to say our third year in our three-year digital-first transition has gone well,” said Swenson. “We’ve implemented a lot more video content than we had last year, namely our 100Lions segments online,” referring to the Loyolan’s weekly segments featuring individuals exploring what it means to be an LMU Lion.

While the Loyolan moved deeper into the digital world, Swenson also has led a staff eager to investigate deeper into many hot-button topics, including race, sexual assault and homelessness. Along the way, the publication picked up a nomination for a Gold Crown Award, a prestigious honor given by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

“In this past 12 months under Ali’s leadership, it’s been, from

a journalism standpoint, one of the best years the Loyolan has had in terms of the type of journalism that’s being produced, the quality of it and also the cul-

ture of the staff,” said Nelson.

“It’s been a really, really great year.”

via Karis Addo-Quaye

Sophomore psychology major Karis Addo-Quaye will replace Ali Swenson as editor-in-chief of the Loyolan in February.

New Harmony food station at Lair caters to vegan and vegetarian populations Harmony will be replacing the Lair’s BeWell Station, adding new vegan options.

Amanda Lopez Staff Writer @LALoyolan

Attention vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free eaters. Have you ever found it difficult to find meal options on campus that fit your needs or preferences?

Harmony, a brand-new food station at the Lair Marketplace, his an effort to address that problem. The station has been introduced for those looking to satisfy their plant-based diets and lifestyles.

Harmony replaced the BeWell station in the Lair and will rotate its menu items every week. A few of this week’s Harmony selections include stuffed poblano peppers, fajita vegetables, Mexican pozole, sofrito black beans and chipotle vinaigrette.

All of the menu items offered at Harmony are vegetarian and gluten-free, but many are also vegan. According to Ray Dennis, associate vice president of Auxiliary Management and Business Services, the menu display monitors at the food station have been updated as well, making it is easier for visitors to decipher whether a meal fits their dietary needs.

Dennis explained that the decision to introduce Harmony

and offer more vegan-friendly meal options stems from a number of different factors. He said LMU Hospitality’s annual survey found that 7.5 percent of the LMU community identifies as vegan or vegetarian. As a result, LMU Hospitality felt LMU’s dining should incorporate more options for those who fall within these categories.

“LMU Hospitality is committed to meeting the dining needs and evolving preferences of all our students, employees, visitors and community at large,” said Dennis. Harmony “will be another accomplishment that

sets our world-class offerings apart from others and shows our commitment to the whole person.”

Ultimately, the results of the annual survey, feedback from the Community Advisory Council (CAC), the Residence Hall Association (RHA) and a vegan class project all influenced LMU Hospitality’s decision to replace the BeWell station with Harmony’s wider selection.

They decided to replace BeWell out of all of the food stations at the Lair because it was the least utilized station.

One student who is particularly

excited about Harmony is senior communication studies major Jesse Fallon, a vegetarian who has struggled to find meals that would suit her needs in the past. Last semester, Fallon helped create a petition asking Sodexo to open a vegan food station on campus. The petition was created in a class along with senior communication studies majors Sean Eckhardt, Hannah Short, Lindsey Markel and Madison Thomsen in an Advocacy and Activism course taught by communication studies Professor Therese Edwards.

Talia Baugnon | Loyolan

The Harmony food station serves a variety of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options every week. Vegans and vegetarians, who make up 7.5 percent of the LMU community, will now have many different meals offered to them.

“We all agreed that our campus was lacking in options for vegan students especially, which we felt was wrong,” said Fallon on the group’s decision to focus their semester project on LMU’s food options.

Throughout the semester, Edwards challenged her students to advocate for a specified social justice issue throughout the semester, asking them to produce measurable results.

The students petitioning for a vegan food station gathered over 300 signatures from the LMU community. Fallon was surprised at how receptive vegan and non-vegan students were to their petition, and found that every person she talked to supported their ideas.

Although the students did not present the petition directly to Sodexo, Fallon is still grateful that LMU Hospitality made the decision to implement Harmony so that LMU’s vegan and vegetarian communities will have more options.

“I believe it’s important because, as tuition-paying students, we should be guaranteed that our dining experience suits our dietary/ lifestyle choices 100 percent,” she said. “The animal agriculture industry has an extremely detrimental effect on our environment and our health. For these reasons, everyone should be encouraged to at least try [a] diet that is more plant-based.”

For anyone interested in trying out the Lair’s latest meal options, Harmony is now open for business.

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Students react to Obama’s final SOTU address

Information Compiled by Karis Addo-Quaye, Interim News Editor; Graphic: Ashley Ma | Loyolan

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Board Editorial Ali Swenson Editor-in-Chief

Michael Busse Executive Editor

Christie Calucchia Managing Editor

Sarah Litz

Managing Editor

Gracie McManus Managing Editor

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

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OPINION

Obama’s address calls students of global imagination into action LION

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n Tuesday, President Barack Obama entered hostile territory to give his final State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress.

In the wake of domestic shootings, the looming threat of terrorism, stagnant wages and a global migration crisis, Obama asserted a vision of America that many wish they could believe: one where we are Americans first, instead of being defined by our race, religion or sexuality; one where “opportunity and security for our families, a rising standard of living, [and] a sustainable and peaceful planet for our kids” are within our reach.

The President’s optimism, let alone the action he hopes that it will inspire, may seem unrealistic in today’s political climate. The pendulum has swung far away from the hope that swept Obama into office in 2008; now, politicians of both parties are riding a strong tide of anger and fear.

Obama stressed topics in his address such as funding cancer research, strengthening our economy, assisting the middle class and defending America’s position in the world. It’s easy for viewers to nod their heads and wait for politicians to turn these ideas into action. But the President proposed a different strategy to conclude his address: the American people must make the difference.

“The future we want,” said Obama, “is in our reach.” But he offered a caveat to that promise, continuing: “It will only happen if we work together.”

In saying this, Obama was not simply addressing the ultra-partisan atmosphere in Congress. He was making a specific plea to the American people to take responsibility for making our politics reflect the “the goodness and decency and optimism” in us rather than the anger and fear. To do this, Obama said, we must get involved to such a great extent that it would fundamentally

change the way politics works.

In order to achieve the change many of us so desperately wish to see, we must ambitiously explore what the idea of a government by and of the people really looks like. According to President Obama, “It is not easy. Our brand of democracy is hard.”

“Whatever you may believe,” Obama said, “whether you prefer one party or no party, our collective future depends on your willingness to uphold your obligations as a citizen. To vote.

To speak out. To stand up for others, especially the weak, especially the vulnerable, knowing that each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, stood up for us.”

In a similar way, our Jesuit-rooted education at LMU asks us, as Lions, to involve ourselves in our community, to work together for a more inclusive society.

As President Obama prepares to leave office, seniors at LMU begin their final semester of college and prepare to leave the Bluff. In his speech, President Obama asked four questions: How do we give everyone a fair shot or opportunity in a new economy? How do we make technology work for us and not against us? How do we keep America safe in the world without becoming its policeman? How do we make our politics reflect what’s best in us and not the worst?

Graduating Lions should ask themselves these same questions not only as American citizens, but as students who are uniquely equipped to face the world and start answering these questions.

How can our education at LMU help shape the economy, technology, safety and politics? How can we influence the world? How can we take a step off the Bluff and into our futures? Let this semester be a time to reflect on how each of us can work together to answer these questions.

Letter to the Dear Editor,

EDITOR

We, the members of the Parking and Transportation Office, were deeply distressed and disappointed by the Loyolan’s inclusion of the satirical article titled “LMU Parking and Transportation office overrun by baboons” in its Dec. 9, 2015 edition. The reference to baboons was demeaning and racist and should never have been published. While we believe that the intention of the article was satire, the text and accompanying photo used racist imagery.

There is a long history in this country of African Americans being compared to or depicted as apes. Most insidiously, southerners in the pre-war south portrayed Blacks as apes and used this distinction to justify the practice of slavery and the associated inhuman treatment of millions. Modern attitudes have not changed as much as we might hope; a Google search will reveal thousands of images of the Obamas depicted as monkeys.

After speaking with the Loyolan editor, we understand that the full history of the racist depiction of Blacks as apes was unknown to the editor and staff. The editor has assured us that moving forward refinements to the editorial process are being implemented to include a more educated and culturally sensitive review of content.

While we are sympathetic to the ignorance and/or lack of cultural awareness that led to this article being published, the response of the Loyolan was disheartening. When this issue was brought to the Loyolan’s attention, printed copies should have been immediately removed from all newsstands and the article completely removed from the web rather than simply changing the animal depicted in the online edition.

We are hopeful that the promised revisions to the Loyolan editorial process are successful in preventing this from happening in the future.

Sincerely, Coby Wagman and the LMU Parking and Transportation team

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OPINION

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Can LMU students really have it all?

J.K. Ramblings Julia Marzovilla

Asst. Opinion Editor @juliamarzovilla

A

s undergraduates in this day and age, we are constantly going places.

It’s not uncommon to see a hurried student running from class to class or to an on-campus job.

Students today are no longer going to school for only academics; involvement out of the classroom has become equally if not more important to the modern college student. Having an abundance of possible activities and clubs on campus makes universities appealing to prospective students in recent years because — let’s face it — most students want things to list on their resume. However, the pressure of both schoolwork and extracurricular activities is causing more harm than good.

There are very few times in life when an entire day — classes, jobs and extracurricular activities — are located within one square mile of your house like it is for students living on campus. Naturally, students take advantage and get involved in all aspects of college life. However, how possible is it to be an active member of all your activities? Is there, at some point, a time when you have to decide to let one activity go in order to fully enjoy the other?

As much as college is about the academic experience, it is also a time of social and personal exploration. The majority of students at LMU are involved in at least one on-campus organization outside the classroom: roughly

one third of students are involved in Greek life alone, according to LMU’s Student Affairs website.

LMU offers a host of opportunities — there are 140 student-run clubs — for students to get involved in.

Having a job is not only offered, it’s encouraged, so much so that not doing something outside of the classroom is considered odd.

The University invests time and money in fairs like Clubfest 2.0 on Alumni Mall and Third Thursdays on Hannon Field to flaunt these programs and encourage students to join.

Involvement on campus allows students to have a more varied social experience, which, for many students, leads to a more positive campus experience. Also, in a time of an unstable job market for college graduates, being involved in as many different aspects of campus life as possible bolsters your resume and sets you apart from other applicants. But all of these activities come on top of a rigorous course load, and it can be difficult to manage it all.

“Having three jobs on campus and being involved in Greek life makes it difficult to manage good grades and a social life. I find myself constantly making sacrifices in order for school and work, such as not going to my sorority’s social events. Even though I have learned to balance the three, it all can be overwhelming at times,” said sophomore film production major Bailey Morgan.

If students are encouraged to join more than one activity and be as involved as they can, each individual student organization should be sensitive to the idea that their members are heavily involved outside of their respective offices.

Overlapping meeting times

between different organizations can lead to students having to pull away from their activities, which in some cases can lead to fines or pay cuts. Students often end up getting penalized for that same involvement. While it is impossible to caters to every student’s specific need, accommodations should be made when necessary as long as they do not directly impede the student’s quality of involvement or the organization’s ability to function properly and efficiently.

The removal of Convo hour has made this balancing act all the more difficult. The hour slot served as many clubs’ meeting times, as well as a time for students to meet with professors without running the risk of interfering their other involvements. The bi-weekly break in the middle of the day gave students muchneeded time to relax from their busy schedules and simply enjoy hanging out with friends or eating lunch. By removing Convo, LMU has not only taken away one of the aspects of campus life that makes our campus unique, but has also caused a crunch in many student’s schedules.

So, what’s a student to do?

The answer cannot be to be less involved. Rather, work with your advisers, bosses and the leaders of your various clubs and organizations to make sure that, should there be a reason to miss work or a meeting, it’s planned and adjusted for. This leads to a more organized semester with fewer bumps and slip ups.

Lana Miller, a freshman psychology and communication studies double major said, “With work, I could work anywhere between 10 to 20 hours a week. I love my job and my managers are all

Hannah Kim | Loyolan

The old adage “quality over quantity” can be usefully applied to the busy lives of many students at LMU. very understanding and encourage us to place our academics first, always. Still, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t in over my head.” The work, therefore, can be managed if bosses are willing to compromise.

However, overlaps in meeting times are sometimes unavoidable.

Should this occur, it’s up to the student and the adviser to work together in order to alleviate the issue. Students should not be forced to do less. Rather, students should be encouraged by those they work for to perform to the best of their ability in all regards.

This is especially important as we move forward into the spring

semester. Rather than packing your schedule chock-full of different activities, limit yourself to a few that you are interested in. Not only will it allow you to be more heavily involved in several activities rather than slightly involved in many — the classic expression “quality over quantity” applies well here — but it will allow you to be more passionate about the activities you do choose to partake in.

This is the opinion of Julia Marzovilla, a sophomore English major from New York, New York. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email comments to jjones@theloyolan. com.

Reflecting on Harry Potter and privilege The Kristening Kristen Trudo

Alumna Contributor @LALoyolan

T

he Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) brought me here —some 1800 miles from my home in California to this place where leaves actually change and fall from the trees when October arrives. JVC brought me here to La Salle Middle School where I walk with 90 students whose life experiences have been vastly different from my own. I am learning every day about St. Louis, community and privilege.

It was the first read-a-thon of the school year at La Salle. About a hundred of us gathered in the gym — blankets and pillows everywhere. I decided on “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” — it felt nostalgic and warm, somehow. Yet I was struck by the realization that I have yet to find a student who likes Harry Potter.

As my mind worked, I began to wonder about the privilege of using your imagination. If, perhaps, the act of picking up a book and traveling to a different world is an invitation that is not truly given to all.

I’ve never been in a place where I could not share a mutual love for the stories that defined my childhood reading experience. It would be easy to

chalk up my ongoing “survey results” to a general dislike for reading. Except that one of the students who said no to Harry Potter had told me how much he loved reading. Another talked about his favorite book, which was about an African American teen living in a homeless shelter, a father in jail, an emotionally unavailable mother and a girlfriend he doesn’t feel he measures up to. The book was called “Tyrell.”

“Tyrell” made sense to him.

So I wondered about Harry Potter, and what it would be like for a young black boy, born into poverty and violence and tragedy, to read about an elevenyear-old whose life falls into place overnight; all because he was lucky enough to survive the misfortune that killed his parents. Harry, who only had to travel to Gringotts to claim “mounds of gold coins. Columns of silver. Heaps of little bronze Knuts.” Harry, who quickly learned that the wizarding world was just waiting to rescue him all because he was the Boy Who Lived.

This is not the world my students know. They know the announcements at the end of the school day to “be extra careful” because there were gunshots only a few blocks away. They know the headache that follows a night with no dinner and the shame of succumbing to tears at school because the hunger

Shaine Becker via Flickr Creative Commons

It may be harder for kids of poverty to enter imaginative worlds when reality is constantly confronting them. is overwhelming. Eventually, they know the story of getting accepted into a university that they have no means of paying for when the following September arrives.

This was not the world I grew up in, despite our shared complexion, because I could huddle behind my babysitter’s couch and read Harry Potter, never having to worry about going hungry that night. That lack of worry meant that my imagination could journey to Hogwarts: that I too could sit nervously below the Sorting Hat. I say these things not to claim that an entire demographic

doesn’t like Harry Potter. Or even to say, definitively, that the reason my students don’t like it is because they cannot begin to fathom such a turn of fate. What I am saying is that I wonder how the experience of reading might be different for them if their lives weren’t constantly occupied by tragedy. I wonder if they, too, could sit behind the couch, imagining that the worst of their problems included losing a Quidditch match or learning how to properly execute a spell.

I wonder if the invitation to have your life changed by a book is truly universal, or if that opportunity is only given to those

who walk through life without the loads that my students are so often asked to carry. And I wonder if we will ever enter a world in which their ability to survive tragedy — and continue to live — will be deemed as aweinspiring as the unlikely survival of a one-year-old wizard whose life fell into place a decade later on a random day in July.

This is the opinion of Kristen Trudo ‘10, an alumna from Rancho Cucamonga, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email comments to jjones@theloyolan. com.

OPINION

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What Ryan Bradford has left behind O’Round the Clock Olivia Round Opinion Intern @LALoyolan

T

his is not the tale of Ryan Bradford. This is the tale of those he left

behind.

All we have now are the questions he left us, the lessons he taught us and the love we wish we could have given him.

On Monday, Dec. 14, 2015 at 8:37 p.m. I texted my best friend back home.

“It was him.”

We knew Ryan was struggling with depression. In his life, it seemed as though there was never a rainbow after the storm.

Only more rain. More dark clouds hovering over him, darkening his thoughts, dimming his light and making him feel all alone.

If that’s all Ryan knew — those dark clouds and even darker thoughts — who can really blame

him for wanting an escape?

But I would argue that in his death, he didn’t find that escape.

While I do believe his soul is in a much better place, his earthly body eternally remains what it once was: dark and alone, which is far less than Ryan deserves.

via Olivia Round

Ryan Bradford’s death is a reminder to love the individual human being.

He deserves a rainbow: the most calming, radiant, beautiful sight this world has to offer. He deserves it, he deserved it, but he will never get it.

Not here on earth.

Because here in this world, on this planet, in this country, we lack a love — a love of the individual.

We focus so much on majorities, minorities, groups, races ethnicities and sexualities that we forget to appreciate the overwhelmingly beautiful thing that is the individual human being.

Ryan got lost in that same crowd. When he came out to his family and friends, maybe we only saw him as gay. Or maybe we only saw him as a student ir white or a member f the middle class, but we failed to see him as Ryan.

So, in his honor, may we now see a little of Ryan in everyone we encounter. May we see him in our parents, our friends, our teachers and in strangers.

via Olivia Round

With Bradford’s death, we should strive to make sure everybody feels love.

Smile at the self-conscious girl, talk to the shy boy, call a sick family member, write a letter to an old friend. Do something to spread a little love because our world could never have enough.

This is the opinion of Olivia Round, a freshman communication studies and Spanish double major from Missoula, Montana. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email jjones@theloyolan.com.

A call to arms in the war on loneliness Five Letter Words Lacey Marie Smith Contributor @LALoyolan

I

lost my first close friend to loneliness in August. No one can prepare you for that phone call. I grieved quietly; I was physiologically alive, but withdrawn, dormant, broken.

I busied myself, surrounded myself by people every minute I could and hid. And yet, my own loneliness would wait for me— when I crawled into bed, in the middle of a party, listening to a lecture—and it lingered.

“She’s gone, but I’m fine,” I told myself. But I am not fine.

Then, on Monday, Dec. 14, I did something I never want to do, ever again. I was a first responder to an apparent suicide on our campus. I knew then and I know now that, as an EMT, I am trained to determine death in the field, to look for the right signs.

But on Dec. 14, all that went out the window. All I could see was someone who had picked up a book I had dropped in the library, near the stairs, on the third floor, on a Thursday in November.

Like my friend in August, he was alone, and that reveals a disturbing paradox about living on a college campus. Despite being surrounded by so many people, it is not only possible to be lonely, but it is easy.

College can breed an insidious loneliness, cultivated under the pretense of community and masked by the facades of social media.

We receive pieces of paper in the mail, after all, informing us that we now belong to a community of distinction. We arrive on campus and spend the next four years in this “community” searching for the actual community — the people, the relationships, the emotional and intellectual connections — that will enrich and provide meaning to our lives. It’s easy

to believe that our acceptance letters are tickets tracking seems too tight here togetherness, that the “Congratulations! You’re in!” ensures we will always feel like we belong. On the contrary, in the collegiate structure of fluctuating interests and acquaintances, we can lose our initial sense of belonging just as quickly as we artificially gained it. A piece of paper does not guarantee community.

To top it off, social media creates the impression that everyone else belongs to ideal communities.

Online, our acquaintances and friends are consistently surrounded by other friends, beaming, laughing and having the time of their lives — or at least they seem to be, right? It leads us to believe that we must be alone in our loneliness. And this loneliness, bred by a college environment, can be lethal. One in 12 college students will make a suicide plan this year and over a thousand will follow through, according to the American College Health Association.

I realize now that it sounds like I’m waging war on college and community and the internet and all things good, so, please, let me state for the record that I have found the most influential, heartening, hilarious and compassionate community I could have imagined at LMU. Not only did I find it, but this community has made me a better student, a kinder person and a more generous friend.

So, perhaps the problem of loneliness in college isn’t college itself, but rather how we approach the idea of loneliness today.

My theory is that the problem lies in assuming we are lonely when we are alone. We are the first generation that has grown up with the opportunity for constant engagement in some form of external human interaction. This means we can always be “connected” to others. But I don’t know if that has allowed us to fully develop

1 in12

college students will make a suicide plan this year

Over 1,000

students will follow through with those plans

Resources for struggling students are available 24/7 For AN ON-CAMPUS emergency, call Public Safety at

For STUDENT PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES after hours, call

A National Suicide In a Prevention LIFE-THREATENING Lifeline can be EMERGENCY, CALL reached at

(310) 338-2893 (310) 338-2868 1-800-273-TALK

9-1-1

The SPS office is located on the North side of Burns Recreation Building

SPS is open

8a.m.-5p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday INFORMATION FROM Student Psychological services, the department of 8a.m.-7p.m. on Wednesday public safety and the American college health association INFORMATION COMPILED BY Lacey smith and OLIVIA ROUND, GRAPHIC BY XIAN WONG | LOYOLAN

Combating loneliness can start by learning to be you own best friend, being outgoing to others and being kind. relationships with ourselves in the same way our parents did when they learned to spend time with their thoughts and enjoy their own company.

I do know I’m tired of waking up in the middle of the night, terrified that the next time I show up to an EMT call, it will be for someone I know personally, lying there, motionless. So this is my call to arms in a war on loneliness. I have three requests: 3. Be your own best friend.

You don’t have to take yourself to dinner, but, please, find space in your day to selfengage. Take time that isn’t organized by a professor, a friend, a sorority, a sports team, Netflix, administrative chores, homework or your roommates.

Take time to think, to theorize.

Invent inside jokes with yourself.

Ensure that at the end of the day, you go home to someone who loves you and someone

who cares about you making it to tomorrow. Make that person you.

2. Be friendlier with people than what may seem socially appropriate. We are so “cool” now. Maybe afraid of standing out or maybe determined to make our disinterest look effortless.

It’s such an odd collective code and I totally and completely find myself falling into it. Break that pattern. Introduce yourself to the people in your classes.

Make eye contact with people in passing. Build the community that the acceptance letter says you belong to. Your hello may be the reason that someone decides to stay. Someone else’s hello might become your reason.

1. Be kind. My grandmother once said that it’s easy to be kind to strangers and much harder to be kind to the people you are closest to. She’s my grandmother so I automatically believe her,

but I also feel the accuracy of her sentiment. I forget that the people who we most frequently support are also the ones we can quickly and flippantly destroy.

And if, at the end of the day, loneliness finds you, please know that the feeling is not forever. Loneliness will move on. However, should you need help giving loneliness a nudge, there are resources available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Call, show up, talk, do whatever it takes. Gather friends or family and invest your efforts and your time into your own army. Please wage war on loneliness. Wage it and win.

This is the opinion of Lacey Marie Smith, a senior health and human sciences major from Thousand Oaks, California. She serves as an EMT on LMU’s campus and was a first responder to the apparent suicide on campus on Dec. 14. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email jjones@theloyolan. com.

OPINION

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New Year’s resolutions that you can keep For Christie’s Sake Christie Calucchia Managing Editor @LALoyolan

I

t seems that around this time every year, we make the same empty promises to ourselves.

We resolve to live healthier, save money and be happier. However, with such vague resolutions, we are rarely able to follow through on any of them and end up canceling gym memberships, spending money on all of the same trivial material things and pursuing happiness in no different of a way than the year before.

For 2016, let’s challenge ourselves to change the way we look at a new year. Yes, a new year is a fresh start, but instead of promising lofty and unrealistic changes, let’s vow to make specific, attainable commitments to ourselves that are unique to our aspirations.

Here are some suggestions on how to keep the inspiration going long after January: 5. Think of an experience that you’ve been dying to try and challenge yourself to take steps towards actually doing it.

Whether you see yourself skydiving, traveling to a foreign country or volunteering for a cause you care about, there

are small steps you can take to begin to make your dream a reality. It can be as small as starting a savings account to put towards an activity and aiming to put a certain amount of your paycheck towards it each month.

If volunteering is on your bucket list, sign up to help at least one day at the beginning of the year and if it’s something you’re passionate about, commit to increasing your time spent there.

4. Vow to invest in yourself one way or another this new year.

That can mean anything from spending the time it takes to get an A in a tough class to splurging on something like a new mattress or nice coffee maker that will really make a difference in your day to day life. Whether it’s making a physical purchase or spending more time with friends or family members who you know you’ve long neglected, invest in what will benefit you and others this year.

3. Instead of promising to go to the gym seven days a week or starting some crazy diet, work on small goals that will change your lifestyle over time.

Learn to cook a new healthy meal once a month. Try out a new sport or exercise class every couple of weeks. Small changes like these will lead to larger overall lifestyle shifts, which are necessary for building a healthier lifestyle in the long run.

Mikey Baretto | Loyolan

It is time to stop making unrealistic expectations for change and start thinking of easier ways to better yourself.

2. Rather than promising to make new friends and create new relationships, maybe we should try spending some time nurturing the relationships and friendships we already have.

While it is intuitive to focus on all things new at the start of a new year, it is easy to take friends and family and loved ones who have been around year after year for granted. Maybe 2016 is the year we take the time to appreciate the people who have been there for us time and time

again. While making friends and new relationships is vital to a fulfilling life, it is even more important to keep the friends and relationships we do have strong; you never know when you’ll need them.

1. Lastly, when happiness is the goal, it is paramount to focus on you.

What makes you excited?

What makes you inspired? These are the things to put our energy into this new year. And, while I know I said not to make vague promises to yourself when it

comes to new year resolutions, being true to yourself will be my one exception. There is nothing more powerful and life changing than giving yourself the opportunity to live your life on your own terms. So this year, own whatever it is that sparks your soul and ignites you with the drive to keep going all year long.

This is the opinion of Christie Calucchia, a junior humanities major from Las Vegas, Nevada. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email jjones@theloyolan.com.

“Affluenza” is a symptom of classism Matt at Bat Matt Gaydos

Asst. Opinion Editor @mattagaydos

E

very time I hear the word affluenza, I cringe. In my opinion, it is a word that represents a lot of what is wrong with our country. Originally, academics who were critics of consumerism devised this word.

Its original definition, as stated in by John de Graaf in his book “Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic,” is “a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more.”

The problem I have, though, is with the most recent definition of affluenza. In 2013, a wealthy teenager named Ethan Couch killed four people and injured two in a drunk driving incident.

Couch’s legal team then concocted a new use for the word affluenza to help their client. As reported by CNN, they describe daffluenza as a condition caused by the lack of limits established

by Ethan Couch’s rich parents.

The verdict at Couch’s trial was that he was a teenager in need of rehabilitation. The judge sentenced Couch to 10 years of probation with no jail time.

This devastated some family members of the deceased who wanted justice for the deaths of their loved ones.

Now, the word has reemerged into the media’s vernacular

following Couch’s sentence.

Couch’s probation does not seem to have been particularly effective. As CBS recently reported, Couch and his mother chose to flee the United States to avoid the consequences of Couch violating his probation after a recent video of him playing beer pong appeared on the Internet.

Now, in headline after headline, Couch is continuously referred to as the “affluenza teen.”

The media does not realize that by continuing to use affluenza with the meaning invented by Couch’s legal team, they are perpetuating the use of the word with that meaning. As any good communication studies major could tell you, the SapirWhorf hypothesis theorizes that language has a strong influence on how we behave as a culture.

Therefore, by allowing the word to seep into our vocabulary, we are giving the word power.

And our country cannot allow affluenza to gain any sort of legitimacy as an excuse for the reckless actions of the rich.

This would play into the increasingly obvious pattern that there is a different standard for the upper class compared to the rest of America. As Bernie Sanders pointed out on Twitter on Jan. 9, and on many other occasions, the CEOs of companies that have contributed to many of our economic problems have gotten away with relatively little punishment.

Yet, a young person caught with marijuana gets a police record.

On a frequent basis, young people of the lower class, particularly

McLevn via Flickr Creative Commons

The existence of affluenza as an excuse for reckless behavior shows classism is on the rise in America. those who are minorities, face jail time for drug possession rather than more lenient sentencing for rehabilitation. This is unacceptable when someone like Ethan Couch can get away with killing four people just because he was raised by rich parents. It

shows that classism is becoming an increasingly deep-rooted issue in American society.

Our country is founded on values of equality. Because of this, we must address the problem of classism, or else America could end up becoming

something reminiscent of an oligarchy.

This is the opinion of Matt Gaydos, a freshman communication studies major from Palos Verdes, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email jjones@ theloyolan.com.

laloyolan.com Page 11

MANLY PANDAS

By Hannah Kim, Staff Cartoonist

By Ellen Czinski, Cartoon Editor

StudentS are automatically charged for

parking@lmu.edu - 310.338.1681

Department of Parking and Transportation

For more information visit www.lmu.edu/parking.

• Students who do NOT want to be charged for parking must opt-out of the automatic fee by the January 15, 2016 deadline. o After the deadline, refunds will be provided in accordance with the University’s tuition refund calendar.

• Students who have or plan to bring a vehicle must register online to avoid being issued a parking citation.

• To opt-out or register a vehicle, visit LMU Park found on the MYLMU portal.

parking each SemeSter

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life+arts

Oscars Predictions

3. “The Martian”

With awards season in full swing, we’re all constantly reminded of the numerous great movies we still have yet to see before the Academy Awards take place on February 28. Nominations for the awards will be revealed early Thursday morning, but until then I’ve compiled a list of my picks of frontrunners for this season. So be sure to take advantage of syllabus week and hit the theaters while course work is at an all time low.

From "Gravity" to "Interstellar," space-based films have consistently done well in the past award seasons. Ridley Scott's "The Martian" will certainly be no exception to this year's 88th Academy Awards. The film provides a different scope to the classic space adventure category. When astronaut Mark Watney is mistakenly presumed dead, he's left behind after a raging space storm threatens a mission on Mars. NASA then has to decide between ensuring the safety of the other astronauts or taking the risk to save Watney's life.

5. "Inside Out"

2. “The Big Short”

Disney/Pixar does it again. A frontrunner for best animated feature film this year, Pete Docter’s “Inside Out” tells the story of 11-year-old Riley as she and her family move from the Midwest to San Francisco. The movie focuses on Riley’s emotions – Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust – as they work to help her navigate through this new change in her life.

With an all-star cast and still bitter members of the middle class, "The Big Short" was destined for high box office numbers. The film, based on the 2010 novel with the same name, has been praised for providing a real yet comedic approach to a very difficult situation that affected a lot of the population.

“I felt ‘Inside Out’ was a very well done movie. It had a very comical and unique take on the emotions we feel everyday. Definitely targeted for a younger audience, but a good movie nonetheless,” sophomore economics major Cameron De Boer said.

4. “Mad Max: Fury Road” The fourth installment in the Mad Max franchise, “Mad Max: Fury Road” takes viewers on an post-apocalyptic chase as Mad Max (Tom Hardy) and Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) ruthlessly fight to keep a group of female prisoners from the dictatorial rule of Immortan Joe. The film certainly doesn’t fall short of providing great thrilling action, and subsequently offers a visually appealing display set against the deserts of apocalyptic Australia.

“The plotline was great because it didn’t stray much from the classic ‘Mad Max’ films. Once again, the franchise produced a great action thriller set in a different type of apocalyptic setting,” said sophomore mechanical engineering major Alex Bourgeois.

Image via Global Panorama on Flickr

"'The Big Short' did a great job of explaining how and why the U.S. economy collapsed in 2007. It takes a complex topic and mixes it with humor to make you laugh, get educated and get angry," said sophomore marketing major Michael Mariscal.

1. “The Revenant” Will Leo finally win an Oscar? "The Revenant" stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a 19th century frontiersman seeking revenge against a former confidant. The film was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu – director of last year's best picture, "Birdman" – and employs an intensely sculpted image of revenge opposite committed performances from both DiCaprio and Tom Hardy.

This is the opinion of Elliot Britt, a sophomore management major from Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email ebritt@theloyolan.com

AWARDS SEASON 2016

Grammys Predictions

Awards season is already underway, and that means one thing for me: anticipating disappointment at the Grammys. The voting Academy sometimes seems biased towards the most pop, radio-friendly songs in many of their decisions.

The nominations are packed with plenty of the usual suspects (cough, Taylor Swift), but it also includes some interesting variety that gives me hope for this year's prospects. Here are my predictions and hopes for the Grammys on Feb. 15 this year.

5. Best Music Video: TIE between A$AP Rocky's "LSD" and Kendrick Lamar's "Alright"

Image via Wikipedia Commons

“To Pimp a Butterfly" includes some of Kendrick's greatest songs to date. If the album is a tale of finding purpose in life's struggles, "Alright" is a moment of hope within the chaos. Kendrick finds hope that, despite everything life throws at him, "we gon' be alright." Of course, considering the unfortunate events of 2015, these lyrics have a deeper, more solemn significance. The rampant abuse and hate inflicted upon black bodies filled the news and incited protests throughout the year. It's a sense of hope that this struggle can be reversed.

Song of the Year is awarded based on songwriting, and the tale Kendrick spun in "Alright" deserves recognition. Considering the artistry of the song itself and its massive political significance, "Alright" undoubtedly deserves this award.

2. Album of the Year: "1989" by Taylor Swift

I truly couldn't decide between these two. A$AP Rocky's video is as close as you can get to an LSD trip through a computer screen. Kendrick Lamar, on the other hand, forces the viewer to hold a magnifying glass to the inherent racism and violence against black men in America. I don't want to spoil anything else about the videos — watch them yourself to get the full experience.

Okay, so there are plenty of other contenders for this spot, but Swift is a Grammys darling — she's won seven Grammys over the course of her career. I was a Taylor hater for a long time, but I have to admit: 1989 is a pop masterpiece.

"Blank Space," "Style," "Shake it Off," "Bad Blood" and "Wildest Dreams" all topped the charts throughout 2015. Senior English major Mary Densmore said, "Taylor Swift used to annoy me, but 1989 is full of so many songs that I can't stop going back to." As much as I want to hate Swift, she did put together an album guaranteed to play on repeat in your head.

4. Best New Artist: James Bay

1. Record of the Year: "Uptown Funk" by Bruno Mars

I believe Bay is more than deserving of this award, and that's not just because of my biased love for British men. Hailing from Hertfordshire, England, Bay is the latest in a long line of British artists to conquer the states. His first full-length album,"Chaos and the Calm," has taken him on tour around the world. I got the chance to see him at Outside Lands in 2015, and I know now that he's worth the hype. His soulful voice that accompanies lyrics about heartbreak, love and everything in between make him impossible to ignore. Senior English major Erin Hayes said, "I've seen James Bay live three times now, and he's been better each time."

Let's be honest, even if you started off hating this song, it's impossible to stay away from it for long. It was everywhere in 2015, and I personally did not mind.

Just as a refresher, according to the Grammys website, record of the year awards the performing artist, producers, sound engineers and mixers involved in the recording of the song. There were a lot of different components of this song that made it this catchy — from the doo-wop chorus to the jazzy horn section. Bruno may be a pint-size force to be reckoned with in the music world, but "Uptown Funk" was a huge production and everyone involved deserves to be recognized. Just try and sit still while you're listening to it.

3. Song of the Year: "Alright" by Kendrick Lamar

This is the opinion of Kelsey Mangan, a senior English major from San Jose, California. Tweets comments to @kmaaaan_ or email kmangan@theloyolan.com.

Graphic by Kevin Chan | Loyolan

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Golden Globes show glimpse into the future Dancing Lee-murs Eric Lee

Life+Arts Intern @LALoyolan

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his past Sunday, the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles hosted the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards. A night filled with A-list celebrities and raunchy banter, the event honors the best in film and television as voted by members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom was a site for excellence in the entertainment industry, as well as a look toward the future in media.

The event kicked off with a hilarious — some would call it brutal— monologue by four-time host Ricky Gervais, beer in hand. His notoriously blunt sense of humor spared no one, as every celebrity from Charlie Sheen to Jennifer Lawrence faced the heat of his night-long roast of Hollywood.

It’s nothing any attendee wasn’t prepared for, however, as the host has shown his capacity for relentless banter in three previous award shows.

“I think Ricky Gervais is my favorite part of the Golden Globes.

He doesn’t hold anything back and that makes the jokes even more hilarious,” said sophomore marketing major Kit Johnston.

Aside from the banter and the comedy, there was room for mo-

ments of important recognition in both film and television.

Theo Kingma, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, made remarks about the importance of film and television, saying that they provide opportunities to “shine a light on violence and injustices.”

The night saw a hugely important recognition — particularly for the achievements of women in the entertainment industry. In 2015 , many female actresses spoke out about opportunities for and discrimination against women in film. The ongoing issue of equal pay among male and female professionals in the entertainment industry was brought to the forefront when Jennifer Lawrence took a moment at the microphone to make some choice remarks about the gender wage gap. Moments like this suggest that awareness of social justice in the world of entertainment is steadily growing and making a strong presence. Perhaps this is a glimpse into the future of film and television.

The Golden Globes were also a glimpse into the future of media. Ten years ago, nominations for television networks solely belonged to companies on traditional network and cable television such as ABC and FX. This year, networks that primarily operate on internet platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Video led the number of nominations with eight and five respectively. With internet-based platforms beating out traditional

Ellen Czinski | Loyolan

Another (possible) glimpse into the future? Leonardo DiCaprio winning. He won a Globe, but he still has to face the 2016 Oscars. Over the course of his 36-year career, he has famously been nominated and snubbed for five Oscars. television networks in nominations, it seems that the world of entertainment is making a drastic shift in technology and distribution.

“The amount of popular shows emerging on platforms like Netflix is a sign of the future. People want to choose what they watch whenever they want. That’s where all the creative talent is going into,” said sophomore film and television production major Elijah Cooper.

It’s true­— the future of creative content is coming. The distinct line that separated film and television has now become more complex than it used to be. Nominees

such as “Orange is the New Black” on Netflix and “Casual” on Hulu indicate that the compelling format of the miniseries is becoming a powerful force in Hollywood.

This year’s Golden Globes foreshadowed the possibility of online content taking over audiences.

With the craze of binge-watching becoming so popular on college campuses like LMU, it’s easy to see how the world of media is changing all around us.

Highlights of the night included Sylvester Stallone winning best supporting actor in a motion picture for his role in “Creed” upon returning to the Golden Globes

after over thirty-five years, as well as Denzel Washington receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award, which recognizes exceptional contributions to the entertainment world.

Awards to the best television shows belonged to “Mr. Robot,” “Mozart in the Jungle” and “Wolf Hall.” Awards for the best films belonged to “The Martian” for comedy and “The Revenant” for drama.

We’ll have to wait to see if the Oscars provide as much insight into the future of entertainment.

This is the opinion of Eric Lee, a sophomore film/television major from Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email kmangan@theloyolan.com.

From faculty members and students to graduates and presidents, find out the talents, diversities and personalities that make up our University.

Watch the stories of 100 people who represent the heart and soul of what it means to be an LMU Lion at www.laloyolan.com/100Lions Do you know someone who has the heart of a Lion? Send an email to editor@theloyolan.com

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The magnetism of Netflix’s ‘Making a Murderer’ The Maria Problem Maria Nelson

Asst. Life+Arts Editor @mnnelson_

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he internet has lost its mind over the newest Netflix original documentary series “Making a Murderer.” The real life whodunit, which was released in full on the site on Dec. 18, follows the legal battle faced by Steven Avery who (spoiler alert) was wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years for committing rape, exonerated based on DNA evidence and then charged with a gruesome murder shortly after being released.

The series, which has been critically acclaimed for its detailed reporting by writing and directing duo Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, has spurred a fervor of internet buzz. From articles dissecting the “strange-core” personal style of Wisconsin lawyers circa 2004 to endless Reddit threads bemoaning the irritating voice of Manitowoc County district attorney Ken Kratz, viewers are watching and discussing the series with just as much enthusiasm as “Serial” or “The Jinx” garnered before it.

Remarkably, the ten-part documentary series is composed of archival footage, which was filmed as the various events of the trials unfolded over a ten-year period.

The first person accounts of these emotional murder trials are what sets the series apart from its true crime predecessors. End-

via Synthesis Films

Netflix’s new documentary series “Making a Murderer” has made waves amongst viewers, exploring the legal battle of Steven Avery, who was imprisoned for murder. Throughout the series, viewers get to explore the case as well as its emotional toll on Avery, and his family. less footage of trials, police interrogations and personal interviews work to describe the opacity of the American legal system. There are heartbreaking moments that detail the extreme effects that denying a person the presupposition of innocence can have.

While this aspect creates a totally immersive experience for the viewer — you are right there with the Avery family as evidence comes in, as well as in the courtroom as testimonies are made — it is also the major weak spot for the series. Of-

tentimes the footage is agonizingly dull and the recorded phone calls Avery places from prison are played nearly in their entirety; while intimate, they do little to further the plot.

The series absolutely leans in favor of Avery’s innocence, yet the show’s creators maintain that this was never their initial intention.

“We had no interest in whether or not Steven Avery was innocent ... What we were really looking at was the American criminal justice system,” said Ricciardi in a recent

interview with Time magazine.

Perhaps the most compelling element of the series is not the personal struggles of one man forced to face a clearly corrupt legal system, but the realization that corruption itself is a systemic ailment of the Wisconsin justice system.

“Who better than a police officer would know how to frame somebody?” asks Avery’s defense attorney, Jerry Buting. This question keeps you pressing that “play next episode” button over and over again in order to try to make sense of the

endlessly intertwined relationship between Avery’s lawyers, the prosecuting district attorneys and the local police force. The show’s pure “bingeability,” to steal a word from Atlantic writer Lenika Cruz, is precisely what has brought “Making a Murderer” to the cultural forefront of the moment.

This is the opinion of Maria Nelson, a senior communication studies major from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email mnelson@theloyolan.com.

“Joy” uses a mop to tell a story of empowerment Khaki Jackie Jackie Galvez Life+Arts Intern @LALoyolan

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very year the holiday season brings winter blockbusters to theaters across the country, offering a way to escape both the cold weather and family craziness that often comes during this time. This past Christmas included the release of “Joy,” a semi-biographical film starring Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro about a woman in the early 1990s who rises from insignificance to make a name for herself as a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur.

On the surface, “Joy” is a story about family, determination and the desire for success as they apply to the talented woman, Joy Mangano, for whom the movie is named. Throughout the film, we see Joy, portrayed by Lawrence, working tirelessly to patent and produce her self-wringing mop called the Miracle Mop, an invention born after an experience in which she cut herself on broken glass while cleaning a wine spill.

Looking more deeply into “Joy” reveals a whole different dimension to the film, one of female empowerment that speaks to the audience on a poignant level. Rather than rely on a romantic plot or dramatic action scenes to move the story along, “Joy” portrays a woman who

does not work to please a man or any superior except herself. Joy is self-determined, self-dedicated and self-made, providing a powerful message for women around the world in places where they are silenced and treated as second-class citizens.

When we see Joy — someone who is repeatedly mocked by her peers, regarded as nothing more than an incompetent housewife by her father and treated like a servant by her mother — we also see a woman who rises up to face every challenge. We cannot help but be inspired by her immense strength, independence and ability to achieve her highest goals despite all odds.

A trait that Joy does not possess is selfishness. The drive to continue her entrepreneurship stems from her desire to provide for her broken family, particularly her young daughter, Christie.

Interestingly enough, Joy does not hope to gain fame or fortune from her business endeavors like many of her adversaries in the movie, nor does she manipulate or shortchange others to advance her business pursuits. Instead, Joy views the Miracle Mop invention as a means of salvation — a way for her to provide for her children, follow her passion, pull her family out of debt and, most importantly, rise above the lack of expectation and confidence imposed upon her since childhood.

Throughout “Joy,” we see a young woman who fights for justice within her corporate endeavors, and stops at absolutely nothing to achieve her goal.

While this movie does not quite reach the level of popularity

via 20th Century Fox

David O. Russell’s new film, “Joy,” tells the story of an intelligent, hardworking housewife-turnedentrepreneur named Joy Mangano, and features themes of female empowerment and achievement. or production value that Lawrence’s blockbuster hits usually do, it’s an important film in its own right, sending a message of empowerment and determi-

nation to audience members of all ages. It reminds us that the greatest successes in life are the ones that stem from selflessness and yield the most joy.

This is the opinion of Jackie Galvez, a freshman biology major from Glendora, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email kmangan@theloyolan.com.

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Events to help you take cover from El Niño The Lowdoon Nicole Muldoon Life+Arts Intern @LoyolanArts

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he cloudy, rainy weather has made its way to L.A. and it looks as if, for the next few months anyway, it’s here to stay. If you’re not one of those spinningand-gallivanting-in-the-rain types, don’t be dismayed. There are still plenty of things to do in L.A. throughout the next few weeks that don’t require you to brave the downpour.

5. LACMA’s Rain Room When: Until Sunday, March 6 Where: LACMA Price: Student general admission $10, Rain Room upgrade $15 I know, it may seem pretty contradictory to avoid the downpour by exploring a museum exhibit dedicated to rain, but the falling water in LACMA’s Rain Room, originally installed by Random International, is quite different from the rain falling outside. Though nozzles spray water from the ceiling of the exhibit’s dark room, sensory technology turns off the nozzles where each person walks, ensuring that no one actually gets wet. Though tickets are currently sold out, LACMA still recommends signing up via email since additional blocks of tickets to this

can’t-miss exhibit may become available.

4. Guitar Center’s Drum-Off When: Saturday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.

Where: Club Nokia Price: $17 - $22 The people at Guitar Center have been combing the aisles of their stores for the next great drummer, and have narrowed down rock star hopefuls to just five talented musicians. The chosen five will get to showcase their talent onstage at Guitar Center’s Drum-Off, competing to be named the best undiscovered drummer. The night will also feature performances by several renowned drummers, including Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters, Mike Mangini of Dream Theater, Robert “Sput” Searight of Snarky Puppy and Gil Sharone of Marilyn Manson.

3. Respect!: Otis Redding and the Revolution of Soul Opening When: Thursday, Jan. 21 Where: Grammy Museum Price: $25 Otis Redding, frequently regarded as the King of Soul, is one of the most influential figures in soul music. Though his career was short-lived due to his untimely death in 1967, he still managed to make an incredible impact on the music world. Thus, the Grammy Museum has recently created an exhibit to honor this soul legend.

The new exhibit will open to the public on Jan. 22, but attendees of the special grand opening of the exhibit the night before will get to be in the company of members

via DesignMilk Filckr Creative Commons

Need a respite from chilly El Niño climes? Take a trip up to LACMA to experience the museum’s indoor rain room. of the Otis family, as well as other special guests.

2. Museums Free-For-All When: Saturday, Jan. 30 Where: SoCal Museums Price: Free On Jan. 30, 30 museums in the So-Cal area are opening their doors to the public, completely free of charge (although some specific museums are only free on Sunday). Some participating museums include the California African American Museum, California Science Center, Getty Center, LACMA, The Museum of Contem-

porary Art (MOCA), the Museum of Tolerance and the Natural History Museum. Though paying for the museum visits won’t be an issue, deciding which of the 30 museums to visit definitely will be.

1. The Contenders by MoMA When: Until Wednesday, Jan. 20 Where: Hammer Museum Price: $15 The Contenders is the Museum of Modern Art’s annual film exhibition held in Los Angeles which features their choices for the most groundbreaking, influential films from the past year. A specially-

selected film is screened each day of the exhibition, and a Q&A with the film’s director or stars often follows each screening. This year’s picks include award nominees “The Martian” and “Spotlight,” as well as destined-to-be-cult-classics such as “Tangerine” and “The Look of Silence.”

This is the opinion of Nicole Muldoon, a sophomore English major from Highland, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email nmuldoon@ theloyolan.com.

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Women’s basketball wins early WCC games The women’s basketball team went 3-2 in conference over the winter break.

Daniel Palladini Asst. Sports Editor @LoyolanSports

The women’s basketball team celebrated the holidays on court when they clinched some early wins in the West Coast Conference (WCC).

The Lions started off the Christmas break against the Portland Pilots on Dec. 21, winning 62-52. Freshman forward Cheyenne Wallace had a breakout game with 24 points in 25 minutes of action. She shot 8-13 from the field. Sophomore forward Bree Alford also added her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. LMU held the lead for most of the game over Portland, but slowed down in the fourth as the Pilots made their final push. Nonetheless, the Lions managed to hold on. LMU finished with 14 steals as a team and caused Portland to commit 21 turnovers.

The Lions were not as successful in their second game, on Dec. 23. They lost to Gonzaga 66-59.

The lead switched back and forth the entire game, but LMU never trailed by more than 10 in the game. Junior guard Leslie LopezWood led the Lions with 16 points.

Gonzaga took the lead at half-time and ran with it as Georgia Stirton led the Zags with 14 points. Gon-

zaga was a force on the boards as well, earning 56 rebounds as opposed to the Lions’ 34.

As the Lions looked to start off the New Year with a win, they took on Pepperdine at home on Jan. 1.

This was the first game of 2016 and it was also the game in which Lopez-Wood broke the program’s all time three-pointer record. Not only did the Lions get the win, but Lopez-Wood was also able to break the record, and the team earned a 79-69 win over Pepperdine. Cheyenne Wallace led the way with 17 points off the bench along with 4 blocks, and Sophie Taylor had a double-double scoring 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Alford contributed with 11 points and 7 boards. Even though many of LMU’s players had double-digit points, they did not have a great shooting percentage. The Lions only shot 38 percent from the field while Pepperdine only shot 33 percent. Even though Pepperdine did give LMU a fight in the fourth quarter, the Lions were never behind in the game. Lopez-Wood’s record-setting shot came at the 8:02 mark of the third quarter. Her 171st career three-pointer passed Renayh Young, who played for the Lions from 2007-10.

In their first WCC road game, the Lions went up against Saint Mary’s College Gaels on Jan. 7.

In a highly intense game, including a big third quarter, LMU came up short as Saint Mary’s grabbed the lead, ending at 72-57. LMU struggled shooting again as they shot 29 percent from the field and 28 percent from three. The Gaels shot 32 percent from the

Megan Karbowski | Loyolan

The women’s basketball team has fared well so far in conference play, earning a 3-2 record in the West Coast Conference. The team has averaged 64 points per game against WCC foes and next take on the USF at home.

field and 47 percent from three.

Saint Mary’s just had too much firepower and the Lions hurt themselves by shooting so poorly.

Scoring 15 points, Lauren Nicholson led Saint Mary’s and got 10 rebounds. Devon Brookshire of the Gaels added 14 points as well.

Closing out their winter break, the Lions took on the University of the Pacific Tigers on Jan. 9, in a game that turned out to be closer than expected. LMU finally shot well from the field with 44 per-

cent. Pacific only shot 22 percent, and the Lions held them to only making one out of 12 three-pointers in the game. Senior guard and forward Sophie Taylor was one of three Lions scoring in double figures, with 15 points along with 14 rebounds. Alford added 13 points and 11 rebounds and Deanna Johnson also contributed 12 points.

With the Lions finishing up at two wins and two losses during the winter break, their total record is now 7-9 overall and 3-2 in the

WCC, which is fifth place in the standings. The Gonzaga Bulldogs are at the top of the conference (5-0). The University of San Diego is second, followed by BYU and Saint Mary’s in that order.

The WCC is starting to get intense, so look for the Lions to make a run for first place in the conference. The next game will be on Thursday, Jan. 14, against University of San Francisco in Gersten Pavilion.

Tough start could have upside for men’s team The Hart Beat Ryan Hartnett Asst. Sports Editor @LoyolanSports

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espite back-to-back nonconference wins to kick off winter break gameplay back in mid-December, the men’s basketball team lost five games straight and finished its first month of conference play at 0-5 in the West Coast Conference (WCC). I am not sure how the team made it onto the naughty list this year, but Santa was extra harsh with his coal delivery, because no team deserves that type of start to conference play.

The Lions deserve some slack as they are competing in the WCC, which was ranked the 10th hardest conference in the country by Bleacher Report back in November. During their first five matchups of conference play, the Lions played three teams that are currently in the top five of the WCC. Gonzaga University is a powerhouse every year. Saint Mary’s College is playing some top-notch ball and making a name for themselves. Pepperdine entered the season with high expectations and is performing quite well.

LMU is the underdog in a powerhouse conference and this rough start to the season should not be viewed as a disappointment.

Rather, it is an opportunity for the Lions to bring something new to the table for the remainder of conference play and maybe even upset some of the big dogs.

I would not make these type of statements if I did not have faith that the Lions can, in fact, deliver upsets. Despite the record books showing the Lions going 0-5 over the past month, they played some

close games and also had some unusually poor defensive performances that were not consistent with their non-conference performances.

Consistent and reliable defensive outings are going to give the Lions a fighting chance as they embark on the remainder of conference play. In the five games the Lions have played so far, the largest deficits they faced had occurred when other teams outshot the Lions by almost 20 percent from field goal range. They lost the conference opener to the University of Portland as the Lions shot 36 percent overall, and Portland finished with shooting 50 percent from the field. Gonzaga shot 60 percent from the field in game two of the season while LMU shot 40 percent. Saint Mary’s shot 48 percent from the field in the fourth game which was enough to top the Lion’s 36 percent from the field.

In a tough two-point loss to the University of the Pacific, the Lions shot 36 percent from the field while Pacific hit 45 percent.

As other teams outshoot the Lions, a stronger defensive performance will give LMU the edge they need to win some games in this conference. The Lions fell to Pepperdine by three points in overtime and two points to Pacific. These are games that the Lions should be winning by doing a better job of containing three-point plays from other teams as well as preventing them from scoring.

Offensive performance is pretty consistent for the Lions as junior forward Adom Jacko, junior guard Brandon Brown and redshirt sophomore guard and forward Steven Haney shared the top scorer position throughout this season. All three players are averaging over 11 points per game, shooting above 70 percent from the free throw line, averaging

more than 27 minutes per game and have 12 or more steals on the season. These guys are dominating the floor this year, but when they are having a bad game, the whole team suffers. More players need to step up offensively and a more consistent performance is required from these three players as they continue to perform at the highest level. These factors will give the Lions a fighting chance, but without success from the top three players as well as a strong supportive cast performing well offensively and defensively, the Lions will continue to underperform in this tough conference.

Head Coach Mike Dunlap said in an interview with LMU Athletics after the loss to Pacific, “[The] game is about making shots, and we didn’t hit our shots. Pretty simple. You will see it in every postgame quote out there. If you can’t hit shots, you can’t win games.”

The Lions have the ability to compete with these top teams in the WCC. They have proven that they are athletic and have several players with talent. Inconsistency from individual players has not allowed the Lions to play together as one team with all players producing their best output. When this team works together as a unit, and all players are at the top of their game, the Lions could do some severe damage and surprise this conference.

I’d like to see senior forward Marin Mornar get some starting play as he is slightly outperforming the new transfer junior forward Sharmar Johnson, who has started every game this season.

Although both players are averaging around 19 minutes of floor time, Mornar adds some stronger offensive skills, as he boasts around seven points per game as well as adding a three-point ele-

Dustin Tan | Loyolan

Junior guard Brandon Brown (left) played well for the team over the break, despite poor team results. He averaged 12.8 points in the five WCC games.

ment that Johnson has not shown this year. A starting position may encourage and give Mornar the chance to perform at an even higher level. Mornar also offers a strong defensive force down low as he has totaled 18 blocks this year compared to Johnson’s two.

Mornar is also doing a slightly better job rebounding the ball defensively this year as he has racked in 43 defensive rebounds compared to Johnson’s 39.

A strong presence down low is crucial to the Lion’s success as they stack up against teams such as Gonzaga, who have two 7-foottall players and two more players clocking in at 6-feet-11-inches.

Johnson at 6-feet-seven-inches

and Mornar at 6-feet-eightinches both play key roles for the Lion’s success defensively as conference play continues. It would be nice to see Mornar get a chance to start as he plays his final season during his fourth year on the basketball team at LMU. Mornar has played a valuable role coming off the bench during his time at LMU as he played in all 31 games last season, but now it is his time to get a starting role and change the pace for the Lions.

This is the opinion of Ryan Hartnett, a freshman recording arts major from Fullerton, California . Tweet comments to @LoyolanSports, or email jsullivan@theloyolan.com.

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Home teams take Divisionals NFL from Page 24

Smith passing for 190 yards and the leading rusher, Spencer Ware, running for 67 yards, but it was more than enough to take down the Texans, who have never lost a Wild Card round in franchise history. However, the Patriots are a whole different animal.

The Patriots, led by quarterback Tom Brady, are still the favorite to represent the AFC. They are 7-1 at Gillette Stadium this season and Brady is 21-8 in playoff games. However, the Patriots are limping into the postseason. After starting the year 10-0, they finish 2-4, with three of the losses coming against teams who missed the playoffs. But in the end, Brady will be Brady and Bill Belichick will coach an amazing game, so it will be a close battle. If the Patriots defense can keep the Chief’s numbers as low as last week, they have a good chance of winning.

Prediction: 35-27 Patriots NFC No. 1 Carolina Panthers versus No. 6 Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks barely made it out of their game against the Minnesota Vikings. Despite generating almost zero offense all day, the Vikings had a chance to kick a game-winning field goal at the end of the game, but missed to lose 10-9. The Seahawks have now made it to the Divisional round of the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. Their next opponent is a beast that is new to the big stage and looking to make a name for itself: the Carolina Panthers.

The Carolina Panthers had the best record in the NFL this year, finishing with a 15-1 record.

Cam Newton, one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league, leads the team. The Panthers also had 10 players make the Pro Bowl, more than any other team in the league.

Their one loss came on the road to division foe Atlanta Falcons in Week 16. In their 15 wins, they

outscored their opponents by nearly two touchdowns and have scored 31.25 points per game in the regular season. This electric offense will have to outscore Seattle.

The Seahawks had a season unlike most of their recent successes. They started 4-4 before their bye week and were close to not making the playoffs.

However, they finished 6-2 to secure their fourth straight tenwin season; they also stepped up their offense. In their first eight games, they scored nearly 21 points per game. They also scored 32 points per game in their last eight. This will be a high scoring affair, for sure.

Prediction: 38-30 Panthers NFC No. 2 Arizona Cardinals versus No. 5 Green Bay Packers: The Packers had an easy win against the Washington Redskins, defeating them 35-18. Aaron Rodgers did not have a strong game, only passing for 210 yards, and Eddie Lacy and James Starks combined for 116 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Kirk Cousins, on the other hand, had a good game in his first playoff start for the Redskins, passing for 329 yards and a touchdown, but could not get the offense started.

The Packers will face a familiar foe in their next game.

The Arizona Cardinals had a great season, finishing 13-3. That record is typically good for a one seed, but not in a year where the Panthers go 15-1. A renewed Carson Palmer has led this team and has a shot to win his first Super Bowl. The Cardinals faced the Packers in Week 16 and defeated them 38-8. I see no different outcome and, unlike last week, I see all of the home teams winning this weekend’s games.

Prediction: 30-21 Cardinals

This is the opinion of Jack Sullivan, a senior communication studies major from Las Vegas, Nevada . Tweet comments to @LoyolanSports, or email jsullivan@theloyolan.com.

Keith Allison via Flickr Creative Commons

All-Pro quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots, a perennial powerhouse, are poised to earn yet another trip to the AFC Championship game in 2016.

SPORTS

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CFP makes for best option for imperfect system Tim Time from Page 24

While expansion to eight teams still seems like a logical next step for the playoffs, at very least just to try out, this somewhat unusual bowl season caused experts and fans alike to have some second thoughts about expansion. Take Iowa for example, who went undefeated through the regular season.

The Hawkeyes remained in the Top 4 for the entirety of the polls until losing closely to MSU in the conference title game. However, Iowa was not selected for the playoffs, which some saw as a mistake.

Expansion would have allowed the Hawkeyes to prove themselves, as their bowl game against Stanford would have been the de facto quarterfinal game. However, like many of the bowl games, including Alabama’s thrashing of MSU, the Hawkeyes were all but run-out of the Rose Bowl by Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey and company. To me, and most definitely to the committee, neither the Hawkeyes, Spartans or for that matter even Oklahoma — who lost decisively to Clemson after a surprisingly successful regular season — made any sort of case that the playoffs should be expanded, or that they even should have been selected to the Top 4.

North Carolina, Baylor and LSU all found themselves in contention

for a possible playoff spot at times throughout the season, and in all three cases the teams were plagued by injuries. Without these injuries and an eight-team system, each of the three would have had an opportunity to win. At their best, all three was arguably the best team in the country at some point this season. The North Carolina-Baylor bowl game would have made an exciting matchup for fans if the stakes were even higher.

However, depth is a virtue of championship teams that the playoffs demand, and rightfully so.

Ohio State, last year’s champions, won impressively despite having their 3rd-string quarterback in Cardale Jones and injuries their along offensive line. This set a precedent that the best team must be complete. The elegance of having a four team system is that it has so far yielded the most complete, and therefore the best, football teams. Ultimately, is the goal.

Perhaps college football isn’t ready to expand to an eight-team playoff just yet. The system is young and imperfect, but teams continue to adjust to the new format and learn what it takes to win it. A four-team playoff has less potential than an eight-team playoff.

With eight teams, the fans would have four more fantastic football games to watch and those in

the business would stand to make

Daniel Hartwig via Creative Commons

Stanford, led by Heismen Trophy runner-up running back Christian McCaffrey, did not make it to the final 4 of the college football playoff. Many fans think that because of the CFP system, teams like Stanford can’t get in. millions of dollars. It would create even more match-ups between top-flight teams that fans before could only ask “What if they played?” Certainly, in the overwhelmingly grand spirit of college football, eight teams would flat out

be more fun for everyone.

Unfortunately, it looks like it will take some time for the CFP to escape its current infancy stage.

Again, the move to a playoff system was a huge step in the right direction in itself. Eventually, the committee may vote to expand the

playoff-field to eight teams, but that decision will most likely not come within the near future.

This is the opinion of Tim De Vries, a freshman undeclared major from Lake Oswego, Oregon. Tweet comments to @LoyolanSports, or email jsullivan@theloyolan.com.

Saban’s valiant onside kick call turns into win for ‘Bama Action Jackson Jackson Tave Sports Intern

T

@LoyolanSports

he Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Clemson Tigers 4540 in the second installment of the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. The win secures Alabama’s 16th National Championship in program history.

Alabama’s Heisman-winning running back, Derrick Henry, made his presence known early, with a 50yard explosion for the first touchdown of the game. Henry recorded at least 100 rushing yards in a first half for the third time in his career.

The running back also tied the game at 14 with his second touchdown, following an interception by Clemson quarterback, Deshaun Watson.

Both defenses took over for the remainder of the second quarter, as the first half came to a close with a 14-14 deadlock.

In the second half, Alabama struck first to take a 21-14 lead off a 53-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Coker to wide receiver O.J. Howard. Clemson found a way to answer, however. Following a field goal on their next drive, their defense would force three straight Alabama punts. Watson led the Clemson offense down the field for a 60-yard touchdown drive to take a 24-21 lead, which would hold through the end of the third quarter.

Entering the fourth quarter lead, Clemson was confident, as they had won 51 straight games when leading after three quarters.

Following three straight punts, Coker rekindled the Alabama offense on a 3rd and 11 play from their own 44-yard line. With a fourthstraight punt looming, Coker hooked up with wide receiver ArDarius Stewart for a 38-yard gain

and a first down to keep the drive alive. Kicker Adam Griffith capped off the drive with a 33-yard field goal to tie the game. Alabama head coach since 2007, Nick Saban, would then make the gutsy, uncharacteristic, game-changing call that everyone has since been talking about.

Griffith, set to kickoff to Clemson, executed the perfect chip, putting the ball in the air to a wideopen Marlon Humphrey (Alabama defensive back) who hauled it in just inside the numbers to recover the kick and maintain possession.

Saban, notorious for his stone cold coaching football teams that run the ball hard and play hard defense, completely surprised the Clemson special teams squad on this trick play.

“The reason that we did it was because the score was 21-21, we weren’t stopping them very well on defense … so I thought we needed to do something to change the momentum of the game,” Saban said in a post-game interview with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt. Saban was right; Alabama’s defense was struggling to contain Watson, and if his goal was to shift the momentum, he accomplished it.

Alabama scored on the second play of the following drive on another big touchdown by O.J. Howard, who caught the pass from Coker for a 51-yard touchdown to take a 31-24 lead.

Clemson, scrambling to answer ,quickly entered the red zone on their next possession in just 26 seconds. They failed to get into the end zone, and settled for a field goal to cut the lead to 31-27.

Quickly erasing the score, Alabama’s Kenyan Drake returned the kickoff 95 yards into the end zone to extend the lead to 38-27.

Now down two possessions, Watson and the Clemson offense took the field for virtually a mustscore drive. Watson took the Tigers on a 75-yard touchdown drive, but

Alabama_thatlostdog compliments via Flicker Creative Commons

The University of Alabama’s “Million Dollar Band” performs at halftime of a game. Alabama was challenged all game but a few tricks here and there and some geat play from both sides propelled them to win the championship. failed on the two-point conversion, the stretch. Overall, Clemson’s Alexander. Alexander accumulated which would have made it a one- defense held up well, but they got 3,565 rushing yards over the course punched in the mouth with the big of his four-year career at Alabama. score game.

Alabama again answered with a play, as four of Alabama’s five of- Henry broke that record in just three touchdown to go up 45-33, this time fensive touchdowns were plays of 50 years.

After Monday night’s win, AlaDerrick Henry, recording his third yards or more.

Two of those scores can be at- bama has now won four out of the touchdown of the game.

Pressed for time and down two tributed to the game’s MVP, O.J. last seven College Football Chamscores, Watson again quickly led the Howard, who hauled in touchdowns pionships. With that said, every Clemson offense down the field for of 53 and 51 yards. Howard finished recruiting class at Alabama signed a touchdown to cut the lead to five. the game with 208 yards receiving by Nick Saban has won a national With just 12 seconds left, Clemson’s in addition to his two second-half championship. Monday night’s game solidifies the recent success of failed attempt at an onside kick al- touchdowns.

Despite the big pass plays out- Nick Saban and Alabama Football as lowed Alabama to kneel on the ball shining the star running back, a true dynasty. to seal the victory.

Clemson managed to hold Der- Henry managed to make headlines This is the opinion of Jackson Tave, a rick Henry to just 27 yards in the in the second half when he broke sophomore finance major from Wall, New second half, but it was the big play Alabama’s all-time career rushing Jersey. Tweet comments to through the air that hurt them down record, previously held by Shaun @LoyolanSports, or email jsullivan@theloyolan.com.

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Expansion to eight is not the answer Tim Time Tim De Vries Sports Intern

@LoyolanSports

T

he college football season has once again come to a close, and has done so in relatively familiar fashion.

Alabama managed to continue its dynasty despite their customary, annual early loss — which experts always seem to think will derail their season. Clemson emerged as a powerhouse in a similar ascent to Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) counterpart Florida State within the last few years. Good teams won and lost on trick plays, turnovers, special teams miracles and incredible strokes of luck. College football brought everything to this season that it promises every season.

The same storylines persist and, in some ways, they never change.

This is great in some respects.

The passion and excitement that we, as fans, have an opportunity to experience brings us back each and every year expecting the same energy and excitement as years past, when so many lasting memories were made.

That being said, the lack of change leaves some people,

including me, wanting more. Two years ago, the introduction of the College Football Playoff (CFP) seemed to be a stroke of genius.

Gone was the controversial Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and we finally had a chance to pit the best — or so the committee will have us all believe — teams in the nation head-to-head for college football’s top prize.

As a whole, the CFP is a far better system than the BCS. And in the first two years of its existence, the selection committee has done an admittedly very good job. Although the AlabamaMichigan State playoff game left much to be desired — Bama won 38-0 — and although there were many who felt that Stanford may have been a better choice in retrospect, the Spartans were still probably the right choice at the time of selection.

They had just captured a Big 10 championship by beating reigning champion Ohio State, who had set a precedent in favor of the Big 10 with a dominant Championship season in the inaugural year of the Playoff.

The larger point of the argument is that regardless of whom the committee selects as the final four teams, there will always be speculation and doubt

both before and after the bowl season. Did the committee really choose the right teams? Who got snubbed? Who didn’t deserve their bids? The phenomenon is the same with the NCAA basketball tournament, and was the same with the BCS. It’s the nature of the media, it’s the nature of the sport and the people surrounding it.

More specifically, it’s the nature of those in support of teams left on the outside looking in.

So, how do we make it better?

One answer, and what seems to be the obvious and easy one, is to just let in more teams— expand the playoff and give more teams an opportunity to prove themselves as the best. An eight-team playoff, as opposed to the current four-team system, would only mean extending the post-season an extra round. In most years, including 2015, it is relatively easy to make a case for eight teams who deserve to have a shot at the national championship. They may not necessarily be a favorite to win, but they’ve earned the right to be in the conversation. In theory, there’s “nothing to lose.” In reality, however, this has already proven to pose its own problems.

See Tim Time | Page 20

Daniel Lin via Flickr Creative Commons

Clemson’s undefeated record this season proved that they were a top and obvious choice to play in the College Football Playoff Championshp.

Road teams rule Wild Card round Sully Speaks Jack Sullivan

HOW DO YOU PUT A PRICE ON BROTHERHOOD? Actually, these days it’s easy to answer that question. Just show up, write a check, and someone says you are now a brother in their fraternity. But, other than something to put on a resumé, what have you actually gained? A lot of new friends? Chances are, five years from now, you won’t even remember most of their names. And, most of them won’t remember yours.

Alpha Delta Gamma has been on campus longer than all other LMU fraternities combined. We’ve seen all the flavors of the month come and go. Why are we still around? Because we’ve always sought out young men who understand that life’s truest, most lasting rewards often come from exploring the path less traveled. They also understand that anything worth being part of is worth working for, rather than something someone hands you.

If that sounds like what you’re looking for, we invite you to come meet our active brothers at our upcoming rush events. Even if you’ve never seriously considered joining a fraternity, we’d enjoy meeting you, telling you more about us and our history at LMU, and why real brotherhood, once earned, is something no one can put a price on.

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Sports Editor

T

@LoyolanSports

he NFL playoffs have kicked off — and already with plenty of excitement — whether it was blowout victories or last second thrills.

Thus far, each of the four Wild Card games brought fans to their feet. In a league where home field advantage is valuable, the most interesting story is that the home team has lost every game.

With the divisional round games coming up this weekend, there will be four more matchups that are sure to entertain.

Here is a preview of this weekend’s playoff games.

AFC No. 1 Denver Broncos versus No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers defeated their division rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, 18-16 in a defense-focused game. The Bengals trailed 15-0 entering the fourth quarter, but scored 16 unanswered points using backup quarterback AJ McCarron.

The Steelers were able to kick a field goal in the final minute of the game to secure a win and advance in the playoffs. The Steelers cannot afford to play as poorly against the Broncos.

The Broncos were able to grab the number one overall seed in the final week of the regular season. But not only do they have the home-field advantage, they have a resurgent Peyton Manning to worry about.

Manning had been sidelined with an injury ever since Week 11 with a partial tear of the plantar fasciitis in his left foot. However, he came off the bench in their last game to have a comefrom-behind-victory over the San Diego Chargers. He has since been named the starting quarterback for the playoffs.

Many critics had written off Manning, saying that he should retire after this season. A strong postseason could silence those critics, or give Manning the perfect goodbye to his NFL career.

The Steelers are not only facing problems from Manning, but from their own quarterback, too.

Ben Roethlisberger was injured against the Bengals, which led to limited throwing ability in the game. Antonio Brown, the star wide receiver for the Steelers, also suffered an injury. They have already won one playoff game on the road, but it will be difficult for them to repeat against the Broncos.

Prediction: 31-17 Broncos AFC No. 2 New England Patriots versus No. 5 Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs absolutely throttled the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round. The Chiefs had won 10 straight games to end the regular season with an 11-5 record. They have continued that run into the postseason, starting the game with a kick return for a touchdown and eventually beating the Texans 30-0. The Chiefs did not put up massive numbers, with Alex See NFL | Page 19