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Community responds to mudslides Recent rain in the now bare Montecito hills caused a mudslide that has killed 20. Sami Leung
Interim News Editor @LALoyolan
Mudslides running through Montecito, California have killed at least 20 people, with four still missing, at the time of publication. “I do have friends there, one lost their house,� said Sarah Rasmussen, a sophomore screenwriting major. “I know two people that died, not personally, but it was one of my dad’s coworkers and his daughter. My dad is fine, he’s coping well, it was another surgeon who worked in the same building as he did.� The mudslides began Tuesday morning and destroyed an estimated 65 homes, according to CNN. About 1,400 people are without power and the freeway US 101 is currently blocked, with officials hoping to have it opened by next Monday, according to the L.A. Times. “The 101 has been closed and many people who have to go home to L.A. have to drive to the 5 and loop down, making the drive five hours instead of the normal two hours,� said Benjamin Lin, a junior actuary major at the University of California, Santa Barbara. According to Civil Engineering and Environmental Studies professor John Dorsey, the mudslides were caused by the heavy rain runoff. The Thomas Fire had previously destroyed the vegetation on the hillsides of Montecito, letting the rain mobilize the top layers of bare soil down to the houses below. “It’s so bizarre, you don’t ever think of a mudslide as being so harmful,� Rasmussen said. “With the fire, people get more apprehensive and anxious about dying from smoke, but you don’t expect people to die in a mudslide. People don’t
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Small illnesses can Club rugby’s Charlie quicky become worse if Briddle opens up about you ignore your health. coming to the U.S. Page 7 Page 20
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Recreational marijuana still prohibited Despite the legalization of marijuana in California, LMU’s policy remains the same.
fire perimeter 40-60%
Kayan Tara
20-40%
Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan
0-20% The likelihood of a debris flow is based on a peak 15-minute rainfall intensity of 24 mm/hr.
MANDATORY EVACUATIONS Montecito
the landscape will further change. “I don’t see the weather system predicted for this weekend will be the heavy rain-maker that the last one was,� Dorsey said. “Forecasts from the National Weather Service indicate that if any rain does make it to Southern California, it will be light, and showery at best.�
When Californian voters passed Proposition 64 on Nov. 8, 2016 by a margin of about 56 to 44 percent, California became the fifth state, along with Washington, D.C., in the United States to have approved legalized recreational marijuana. From Jan. 1, 2018 Californians were able to legally purchase recreational marijuana in stores and dispensaries. The implementation of the change to California law was anticipated since the November 2016 election. While twentyeight states have legalized some form of medical marijuana, the drug remains illegal under U.S. federal law, therefore making the use of cannabis in any form still prohibited on LMU’s campus. “While California law has changed,� said Jeanne Ortiz, the dean of students and the vice president for student affairs, “it is essential for students to understand that there is no change in University policy regarding marijuana. The University has to comply with federal laws related to what has been defined in the statutes as illicit drugs.� The Federal Controlled Substances Act criminalizes possession and distribution of controlled substances, including marijuana. Thus, marijuana in any form is prohibited on all University property, leased buildings, housing, parking lots and at all University events, according to Ortiz. While California has changed its law on the use of cannabis, colleges have their own
See Mudslides | Page 3
See Marijuana | Page 4
VOLUNTARY EVACUATIONS
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Montecito
Mud Slides Information compiled by Sami Leung, Interim News Editor; Graphic by Diana Raynes | Loyolan
realize how severe mudslides can be, at least I didn’t.� More rain fall is predicted by Thursday night, which could hamper recovery efforts, according to the L.A. Times. Although the expected rain level is far below what the area saw last week — between a tenth and two-tenths of an inch of rain — officials are worried how
Electrical system replacements result in power outages Power outages cause confusion on campus; facilities reports issues as being fixed. Sami Leung
Interim News Editor @LALoyolan
Emily Sullivan | Loyolan
EspĂŠrer holds Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Week EspĂŠrer Service Organization will be holding a series of events this week to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking and explore “the intersectionality of human trafficking with immigrationâ€?, according to their Facebook page. The above picture features Ulualo Coleman, Jared Gencarella and Fatima Beck participating in a Silent Protest that took place from 12-3 p.m. in front of Hannon Library. There will also be a panel on Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. to discuss the impact of immigration on human trafficking, a documentary screening and discussion on Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. and a Benefit for Hope in Jan. 19 in UHALL 1000 at 7 p.m.
A series of power outages affected various resident halls and academic buildings on campus this past week. According to students in affected Tenderich hall, students were notified of the emergency maintenance and planned outage, after the power went out on Jan. 8 at 10:30 p.m. The power outages were caused by a deteriorated insulation cable along one of the underground voltage lines, creating an electrical arc in one of the utility vaults which caused a power outage in sections of Burns Fine Arts, according to Martin Alvarez, executive director of Facilities Management. Because of the extreme danger of electrical arcs, the section of Ignatian Circle between Burns Arts Center and McKay Hall, connecting Leavey Road and Loyola Blvd., was blocked off on the night of Jan. 8. To make repairs and ensure safety, there was an immediate shutoff of the power
to Burns Fine Arts, Communication Arts, McKay Hall, Gersten Pavilion, Tenderich Hall and Leavey Center at 10:30 p.m., with power being restored at 1:00 a.m. An LMU community alert, received by students at 10:31 p.m. alerted of the outage. “Nobody knew what was going on. Sitting in the pitch black, silent and not moving, we heard screams from other apartments,� Jared Fembleaux, a sophomore screenwriting major and resident of Tenderich, said. “It was something you would expect out of a horror film. It wasn’t until a few minutes after the first of our group got the email explaining the power outage.� Around the same time, the transformer located in North Hall had an unforeseen failure. Temporary power was brought from a nearby building. “Even with our preventative maintenance and inspections, the transformer’s failure was unexpected,� Alvarez said. “We found nothing to suggest potential failure.� The power shutdowns on Jan. 9 affected Sullivan residence hall and other academic buildings, including Loyolan offices, and were due to “emergency repair to the electrical grid,� according to an email from Facilities Management. See Facilities | Page 3
NEWS
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BURNING QUESTIONS
This week, Asst. News Editor Kayla Brogan sat down with senior theatre arts major Melissa Green to discuss her play “Goldenrod,” which was recently awarded the Kennedy Center Playwriting Award.
Give me a quick summary of your play “Goldenrod.”
Rain causes mudslides Mudslides from Page 1
More than 21,000 people evacuated from Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, according to NPR. Mudslides can reach speeds up to 35-50 mph and can carry boulders the size of cars. California is no stranger to mudslides, with several mudslides reported in 2006, 2012 and 2015, according to the National Weather Service. “To our students who have been directly impacted by the mudslides, please seek support from your fellow Lions and our on-campus resources,” said Hayden Tanabe, ASLMU president and a senior business management major. “ASLMU offers their hopes and prayers to all involved and desires to be of support with the restoration process moving forward.”
1 Power outage affects students
It’s the story of this woman who comes back home to her family— which is now just her mother and her sister—and is trying to confront this huge tragedy in her past that she blames on her mother. It is this very intense family drama, but there is a lot of humor in it. For me, they are a very real family in the way that they hate each other.
What is your writing process like?
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I wish you could explain it to me, honestly. Ninety five percent of it is just writing a lot and hoping some of it sticks. For me, one of the biggest struggles with writing is just getting it on the page. I think that is very common with a lot of people, is getting past these mental blocks of “oh it has to be perfect on the first go.” And so I try as much as possible to just keep writing for as long of a period as I can until I feel like I have nothing left to write, and then go back and say, “that was good, that was good, that was terrible.” Pick what I like, and throw away what I don’t.
What was your greatest challenge in creating this play?
3
Facilities from Page 1
The shutdown was scheduled from 10:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. “I was really surprised by the power outages and I felt that LMU did not warn those affected well,” said Hayden Regalado, a sophomore business management major and advertising manager at the Loyolan who lives in a Tenderich apartment. “We all received the email after the power went out, and they said it was planned so that was odd.” To fix the North Hall transformer, a planned power outage will occur
via ABC News
Over 21,000 people evacuated in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
within the next few weeks to install a new transformer. This will be onetime event, and no other building will be impacted during this project, according to Alvarez. “Ideally we would have had more of a notice that it was happening, so hopefully in the future we are notified sooner,” said Blain Dillard, a junior marketing major. The email asked for residents of the affected halls to unplug any electronic devices during the outage to prevent any damage from restarts. Candles are still prohibited
from use in dormitories on campus. “I guess its good that the University sent out an email explaining to us what was going on, they just failed on getting us that email early enough to warn and prepare us for what was about to happen,” said Fembleaux. “Typically, there are two types of power shutdowns—emergency and planned,” said Alvarez. “The recent incidents were all emergencies. The next phase of power shutdowns are planned in order to make the necessary repairs.”
Actually, this play was for a class. I was in Kelly Younger’s full-length playwriting class in the English department. The goal is to write a full-length play in one semester. The challenge with that is really just like finding the energy to keep pushing through ‘till the end, and not getting caught up in “this isn’t perfect.” I like to keep telling myself there’s going to be another draft. I find that that is the only way that I can push all the way through. Just remind myself, I can edit this later.
Are you working on any other pieces right now?
I have things that I am writing, yes. I am directing a show [at Del Rey Players, the student run theatre at LMU] right now. I’ve adapted from three of Shakespeare’s plays. There is a pretentious title for it, but I would like to call it a literary medley. I take a scene from “Hamlet,” “Julius Caesar” and “Titus Andronicus” and I mix it with a modern monologue. It is all about this political exhaustion and apathy that we saw after the 2016 election. Really the purpose of the play is to energize people and to make sure that they vote.
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Any advice for younger writers?
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Write constantly. That is something that every author and writer tells younger writers – just keep constantly writing. It is way easier said than done. I think another thing is, everyone is struggling, no one knows exactly what they are doing. No one’s first draft is perfect. No one’s first draft is even good, everyone has a terrible first draft. If your first draft is good then you did something wrong along the way.
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Crews blocked off part of Ignatian Circle next to Hogan Hall during the power outage. The next phase of power shutdowns are planned in order to make necessary repairs, according to Facilities Management.
NEWS
laloyolan.com Page 4
Single-serve coffee discouraged on campus Staff members push to eliminate single-serve coffee machines and pods. Matthew Williams Contributer
@LALoyolan
Faculty and staff argue that single-serve coffee systems go against LMU’s campus wide goal of sustainability. Faculty and staff at LMU are pushing the University to ban single-serve coffee systems such as Keurig and Nespresso. Ray Dennis, associate vice president of auxiliary management and business affairs; Trevor Zink, assistant professor of management and Bill Stonecypher, manager of facilities and waste management are advocating for a discontinuation of these systems across LMU. Single-serve machines such as Keurig and Nespresso operate using a pod system, allowing for immediate service. The pods are usually made of plastic or aluminum to create a single cup of coffee for the consumer instantaneously. While LMU has no official policy specific to single-serve coffee systems, it does have a goal of becoming a sustainable campus, according to campus sustainability officer Ian McKeown. According to Zink, Stonecypher and McKeown, single-serve coffee systems are not sustainable. Some appreciate these singleserve coffee pods for their convenience. Brew time is much quicker on these systems in
comparison to other methods of making coffee. “I was impressed by the quality of the coffee and the convenience,” Kala Seal, a finance and computer information systems professor, said when speaking about his experience with single-serve systems. “Keurig cups are absolutely not recyclable,” said Stonecypher, referring to the plastic #7 the majority of pods are currently made of. Keurig has set a goal to use the more recyclable plastic #5 in making their pods by the year 2020. However, these pods are still not compostable or reusable, and many will still not be recycled, according to Business Insider. Keurig also offers the “Grounds to Grow On” program for an office setting. It is only available in the lower 48 states and is limited to pods sold in affiliation with Keurig and costs the consumer $49.75 to request the smallest sized recovery bin. Other recycling programs like Terracycle’s Waste Box can cost $70 to $118, and the process of burning the returned cups for fuel is not an ideal solution, according to NPR. Keurig does not currently offer a recycling for individual Keurig use. Instead of using a Keurig or other pod systems, Stonecypher promotes the use of systems like drip pour-over, or French press, where the waste is, at most, only coffee grounds and a paper filter. “We are able to compost coffee grounds from traditional machines, but Keurig does not offer this option,” Stonecypher said, explaining that the grounds from individual pods are not compostable because such a small amount remains after use.
Marijuana still prohibited at LMU
Marijuana from Page 1
drug policies under which the possession or use of illegal drugs such as marijuana could result in disciplinary action ranging anywhere from having to attend treatment programs to being dismissed from the academic institution. Institutions under the University of California system, California State University system, as well as community and private colleges do not allow marijuana on university grounds, according to The Sacramento Bee. “Marijuana, in all of its forms, remains prohibited on LMU’s campus,” said John Orozco, the director of Judicial Affairs. “[It will remain this way] as long as it continues to be a Schedule I drug federally. As a university that receives federal funding in various forms, LMU is obligated to defer to federal law, such as the Drug Free Schools Act.”
As mentioned in a previous Loyolan article, with certain members of the current Trump administration siding against legalizing recreational marijuana, the debate of its legality under U.S. federal law continues. In April 2017, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions made statements strongly against the use of marijuana and has rescinded the Obama era guidelines, known as the Cole memo, which eased federal regulation of marijuana, according to CNBC. This decision could cause a greater struggle for those in the cannabis industry, who are already heavily reliant on cash and detached from banks. While a more regulated market would theoretically encourage financial institutions to bank cannabis businesses, Sessions’ decision on Jan. 4 freezes bank activities for such businesses, as reported by CNBC.
Keurig, Nespresso and other single-serve machines are also inefficient in energy use compared to drip and other coffee making methods, according to Dennis and McKeown. Green LMU officer and ASLMU vice president Mara Ley is working on a project called “Life Cycle Assessment” to determine the entire lifecycle impact of different coffee systems on the environment. She says the wattage used by single-serve systems is significantly higher than other systems. According to Professor Zink, the process to create the pods also requires an immense amount of energy, amounting to a third of the total environmental impact of using a single-serve coffee system. When comparing the pod
system to a filter system, Zink found the environmental impact to be far greater when using pods. Even when people do not use a full pot of coffee in a drip system and throw out the remainder, the impact is still far less than using a pod system. The single-serve system may have a financial impact as well. LMU’s controller’s office does not keep data on single-serve coffee spending on campus, but, according to Time Magazine, pods “cost two or three times more per cup compared with traditionally brewed coffee.” An average coffee drinker will spend $400 more per year if they use a single-serve system over another method, according to Time Magazine. “Keurig coffee is not always fair trade,” said Dennis. Sparkletts,
LMU’s main beverage supplier, only offers fair trade coffee and does not offer single-serve coffee pods. Professor Seal estimated 15 to 20 pods are used per day in the single-serve machines in his office to make coffee. In an academic year, this would add up to around 2,400 pods in one office, based on the usage estimates provided by Seal. Stonecypher said, “Keurig is not an environmentally or financially responsible option.” He urges people to avoid using singleserve systems, opting instead for drip or French press. Stonecypher, Zink and McKeown all hope LMU will enact a policy which adheres to its mission of being sustainable. One that pushes campus use of non-single serve coffee systems.
via PX
Single serve coffee systems such as Keurig and Nespresso operate using an individual pod system.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
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By Karis Addo-Quaye, Social Justice Editor and Robyn De Leon, Asst. Social Justice Editor, Graphic by: Aurora Occelli | Loyolan
OPINION
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Letter from the editor Kellie Chudzinski Editor-in-Chief
Letters from the Editor are written by the Editor-in-Chief, Kellie Chudzinski a junior communication studies major.
We all need to participate in the campus conversation Last semester, the Loyolan covered the Snapchat that spread around campus, the ASLMU Senate meetings and solidarity rally that followed. For anyone that missed our earlier coverage, in short: A Snapchat circulated among students, depicting a group of students on a campus tour with MEChA de LMU. The caption read “just me and all of my peers... oh wait, these are lower socioeconomic minority students that LMU busses in for tours and uses affirmative action to get them in later.” The username associated with the Snapchat was not shown in the photo. Students alleged online and at ASLMU Senate meetings that former Senator at Large Katie Porter was responsible. Porter denied all allegations. She later would resign from the senate due to what she called a “toxic environment.” For obvious reasons, the photo and caption angered many groups on campus that felt those responsible should be held accountable. Other students felt it was handled incorrectly among the student body, with campus largely singling out one person, with no concrete evidence. I’m not here to arbitrate the incident or place blame, but to discuss the Loyolan’s role reporting and suggest how the campus can begin to move forward. This issue features two pieces related to the initial incident, a Letter to the Editor and a response from departments addressed in student demands. While the Loyolan’s role in reporting the events may come into question, I stand by the Loyolan’s coverage of the initial incident and the events that followed. Recently, I have reflected on the words from
our Lion’s Code, “I will own the actions of my mind, I will join the discourse, I stand in faith, I am a Lion.” In becoming Lions, we all agreed to join the discourse of the LMU community, and participate with each other. Unfortunately, this is not the first incident of its kind on campus, and it will undoubtedly not be the last. As a community of students, that live, work, play and are educated together, it is imperative that we continue the conversations with each other, even if we disagree. Some will be ideologically in line with our views and will be easily agreeable. Other conversations will make us uncomfortable, frustrate us and get under our skin. But each will still teach us and show us a new perspective and worldview different from our own. We all will learn something, that may be recognizing our own shortcomings or how to implement change for community growth. But we have to participate and listen to each other. As we move forward, I recognize that many communities on campus are still processing and moving on from the incident and events related. So, as we reflected on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this past weekend, I am struck by his words from “Strength to Love” and what we can do to continue his mission of disrupting actions of injustice in order to bring about positive change. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy…” King wrote. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
“ In becoming Lions, we all agreed to join the discourse of the LMU community, and participate with each other.”
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OPINION
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Your health is important, don’t take shortcuts Touchdown for Brown Jessie Brown Opinion Intern @LALoyolan
K
yler Baughman, a 21-year-old healthy bodybuilder who did not receive the flu shot, recently died from influenza after not realizing the severity of his illness and pushing himself to continue training. According to an article by the Washington Post, his mother said that he died of “organ failure due to septic shock caused by influenza.” she said. She believes that, like many of us, he unfortunately thought the flu was no big deal. His family is still in shock from the tragic news. According to an article by Time, deadly cases of the flu are “mostly limited to the very young, the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions, such as respiratory illnesses, but … a very small percentage of otherwise healthy people do develop serious complications.” The Washington Post article cites, as many as 650,000 people die from respiratory illness related to the flu each year, a number that has slowly been increasing over time. “The flu season in the United States typically starts in October and ends in May, peaking between December and February,” according to the Centers for Disease Control an Prevention. The influenza A subtype H3N2 and influenza B virus have been particularly bad this year, and have set the record for highest number of confirmed flu cases in 2017 for Australia, the Washington Post reported. During this turbulent time of sicknesses, it is important to remind ourselves that our health should always be the number one priority. Particularly at colleges and universities, students’ pursuit of excellence often causes health to become a secondary concern. The academic system sets up an expectation for students to just push through classes in order to not fall behind, however, this mindset can be destructive to one’s health and even causing death, as with the case of Baughman. It can also become detrimental to other students’
Kay Reilly | Loyolan
Students need to stop throwing their health under the bus. Many don’t understand the true risks of only treating the flu with tea and tissues. health; going to class spreads the illness and perpetuates the cycle. Emailing a professor or calling in sick for a work shift is not only okay, but it is a necessity, even if you do not think your teacher agrees. The importance of being in tune with one’s body and understanding what one needs cannot be emphasized enough in our fastpaced culture. Visiting the doctor when abnormal symptoms arise is paramount and crucial in maintaining good health Dr. Peter Shearer of
Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City told Time. As the article states, “A doctor can treat you with Tamiflu, an antiviral medication that can mitigate some symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness.” It is never too late to get the flu shot, and while vaccinated people may still become sick, they are statistically less likely to have severe cases. When it comes to your health, shortcuts should never be taken. A fever and body aches should always be treated, and basic health and hygienic practices
such as washing your hands, staying hydrating, covering your cough, eating properly and exercising should always be implemented. We must also have conversations about subjects such as influenza and other viral infections — spreading awareness about the importance of treating these viruses properly. This is the opinion of Jessie Brown, a freshman film and television productionmajor from Houston, Texas. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email editor@theloyolan.
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OPINION
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THE STRUGGLE IS REAL
By Christian Boggs, Staff Cartoonist
THE UNDECLAREDS
By Abby Pollak, Staff Cartoonist
UNNECESSARY JAPES
By Cameron Woodard, Staff Cartoonist
SMUG SUNDRIES
By Kay Reilly, Staff Cartoonist
Check out more cartoons online at
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and catch up on your favorites!
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Sign away your child, get an education Rumpelstiltskin provision will reduce educated family sizes. Thomas Richmond
Worth Public School Tuition The congressional tax code overhaul makes it less favorable to donate to colleges, no doubt adversely affecting the price of attending a private university moving forward. However, forensic accountants working in the Student Accounts department have uncovered a stipulation, known as the Rumpelstiltskin provision, within the bill’s nearly 1,100 pages that’ll keep attendance costs down. Students willing to waive all custody rights of their firstborn child as a charitable pledge will be able to enroll free of charge. As binding and consequential as the agreement is, it’s extremely succinct — the contract can be leafed through in 15 minutes. Prospective student Mary Delarge
said, “I’m amazed how easy it was to pawn off a future human being. I had to make more visits to the animal shelter and go through more paperwork to adopt my puppy.” Much more thorough are the numerous medical screenings necessary prior to endorsement. Applicants must be in pristine physical health without any present conditions or history of diseases that would prevent volunteering a rosy-cheeked baby. Economists are mixed on the long term fiscal benefits, as it would mean not being able to claim a dependent for years worth of annual income tax returns. Allie Lindbergh of Student Accounts is a rare voice of unequivocal optimism for the provision’s compensatory traits. “Signers shouldn’t forget they’re excused from tens of thousands of tuition payments, not to mention avoiding all child rearing costs,” she said. There were concerns about exactly how many expectant families would take advantage of the savings — this being a Catholic institute and all — but so far it’s
Professor requires a $1000 textbook
My Big Fat Greek tragedy of almost being swindled out of $1000. Casey Lee Cliff Notes Aficionado January is terrible. You’re fat from overeating over break, classes are resuming and it’s sometimes warm during the day but cold at night — causing you to wear at least two outfits. On top of it all, tuition payments and textbooks. There I was, sitting in class on syllabus day, trying to pay attention, when my professor said “Two textbooks are required. This one can be found for $20 dollars,” and a sigh of relief came across the students. “The other textbook though is the only textbook used in California for this subject,” economics professor Benjamin Richmond added. “It’s no longer in print though, so used copies sell for $1000.” “No way could a textbook be $1000,” said economics major Sean Bean. “The supply and demand graph wouldn’t make sense in that case.” The class quickly became a
been a win for LMU, a win for the students and a win for the coal factories where they’re raised.” The Rumpelstiltskin provision was scribbled in as a footnote by an undetermined congressional aide working deliriously late into the night on last-minute changes to the compromise bill. It is dubious whether it was written as a genuine tax revision but, regardless of its intentions, will nonetheless be enforced as national law. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office refused to assess how much taxpayer money would be saved by this measure, citing that monetary value cannot be placed on a human life. The Secretary of Education saw no fault, considering it a shrewd and cost-effective way of ensuring equal access to higher education as an extension of the “school choice” policy. She promised to have her accountants run the figures immediately. Legal action will be taken against those who undergo pregnancypreventing surgeries such as vasectomies, sterilizations or abortions after collecting a child-
neglect voucher. Just like student loan payments, this will likely follow
people’s lives until their mid-40s.
Christian Boggs | Loyolan
An artist rendering of alumni family portraits after new student loan codes.
discussion over the economics of a thousand dollar textbook and how a college class could require such an abomination on American capitalism. “This textbook will only be used three times this semester for class discussion,” Richmond chimed in. “It won’t be graded unless you don’t cite your knowledge from this book. In that case, you will automatically lose two letter grades.” An all out rebellion was about to commence as many students glared at the professor, some started sharpening their pencils to dangerous points. I witnessed this entire scene while scrolling through Reddit. One student ran out of the class crying. Another followed, swiftly mumbling about dropping the course, while others were already pulling out their American Express cards. Finally, as tensions rose to dangerous levels, Richmond regained control of the class in one final statement before letting us go. “If $1000 is too much for you, you are allowed to download the Kindle version of the book which only costs $20. Have a nice rest of your day!”
Aurora Occelli | Loyolan
Textbooks eat your money faster than a student without LION dollars. The Bluff is a humorous and satirical section published in the Loyolan. All quotes attributed to real figures are completely fabricated; persons otherwise mentioned are completely fictional.
life+arts
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What to expect when thrifting: a beginner’s guide Midnight in Paris Paris Shepherd Life+Arts Intern @LALoyolan
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he first time I stumbled into Arc Foundation Thrift Store in Oxnard, I remember being impressed by the variety of its contents. I also remember being taken aback by how different it looked, as well as how it smelled inside, compared to all of the other stores I had shopped in up until this point. I liked that nothing on the shelves looked as though it went together, and how finding two of the exact same things was a rarity. The best way to describe what I was seeing and smelling would be to call it an extraordinary mess that would take hours to sort through. If any of you have spent time shopping in a thrift store, then you know exactly what I mean by this. To be honest, I have never found anything worthwhile in a secondhand store without having to put some effort into looking, which is one of the most rewarding or — depending on the day — frustrating parts of thrifting. Although this way of shopping often requires more effort than typical retail, don’t let it discourage you. I have included some tips to enhance your thrifting experience, while also saving you some money that many of us don’t have to spend on clothes. 5.) You’re going to want to go into it with a plan. I spoke with an avid thrifter, sophomore marketing major Anushka Tyagi, about her
thrifting experiences, and she echoed this sentiment. “Either you have to go in knowing exactly what you want and what you’re looking for, or not. But if you don’t, you’re more than likely going to buy things that you’ll never wear,” Tyagi said. 4.) Be selective with what you choose to purchase. I cannot tell you how many times I have bought clothes from thrift stores that I have — to this day — never worn. I don’t know if my poor decision-making was brought on by sheer hopefulness that I would wake up one day and want to wear that awful garment that I had picked out, or if it was the low cost that made me more willing to go through with it. Either way, buying clothes that you know you will never wear is a waste. My rule of thumb is that if you’re having trouble pairing it with other clothes you already have or if you’re having second thoughts, don’t buy it. It will sit in your closet forever, or at least until you decide to clean out your wardrobe and said-garment ends up back at Goodwill. With that being said, the reason why thrift stores have so many low prices is because the clothes are used. This too has to be taken into consideration. I’m all for taking someone else’s waste and making it into something new, however, you should avoid purchasing some articles of used clothing. I would advise against purchasing undergarments, swimwear, shoes and hats. My number one reason for this is that all of these items are much harder to disinfect, which is why I have always stuck to purchasing clothing that is easily machine washable. Making sure to wash clothes that have been
purchased at a secondhand store is another tip that I cannot stress enough. 3.) Wash everything. Ideally, donations would be washed before being donated; however, I have spent some time in donation sorting centers, and often that it not the case. The items in thrift stores that are marked for sale have been sorted through, but that does not mean that they have been thoroughly cleaned. Do yourself a favor and wash any and all clothing purchases before wearing them. 2.) Try things on. Key to having a successful time thrifting is to make sure the clothes fit before purchasing them. I’m aware that having a fitting room in a thrift store is almost unheard of, so you will most likely have to try on your finds under or over the clothes that you came in wearing. I combat this real but slight inconvenience by wearing dresses or skirts and non-bulky tops to go thrifting in. I also make sure to wear a pair of spandex shorts underneath, because it makes trying on the bottoms that I’m interested in buying much easier. I usually look for a spot in the store that is both out of the way and close to a mirror. As uncomfortable as this may sound, I have found trying on potential purchases this way to be worth it, because I know that they look good before spending money on them. Nothing’s worse than going home and trying on a thrift store find that you’re super excited about, only to discover that it isn’t flattering or that it doesn’t fit you the way you thought it would. Most thrift stores do not allow
you to return the purchases that you’ve made, so if I were you, I wouldn’t be embarrassed trying something on under or over your clothes. This is a common practice among thrifters, so I can guarantee that you’re not going to be the only one doing it. 1.) Be realistic. The final piece of advice that I have for you is to go into thrift stores with the expectation that you’re not going to find something every time. Sure, it’s always a bummer going into a store hoping to find exactly what you’re looking for and ending up leaving empty handed, but that’s the nature of the game. Tyagi also mentioned that one of the reasons she likes thrifting is because it forces her to not buy whatever she sees. Each time she goes, she finds herself really having to look. “Sometimes I even have to dig through a lot of the clothing in order to find something that I like,” Tyagi said. It’s never a good practice to buy something for the sake of not leaving empty handed, because that means you’re settling. As I’ve mentioned before, you can’t let this discourage you, because finding exactly what you’re looking for in any type of store is never guaranteed. If you ever find yourself in this type of situation, my advice is to congratulate yourself on not compromising, as well as saving a little money in the process. For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved thrifting. I love that the majority of things I buy are one of a kind. I also like to distract myself by thinking about who might have owned or worn whatever I’m buying. Not only is there a uniqueness to every one
of my past purchases, but a lot of the money spent in thrift stores goes towards worthy causes. Some causes include funding for local animal shelters and support for battered and abused women. The way I see it, thrifting not only saves me money on clothing, but it also provides a way to create less waste by recycling items that were previously used, as well as supporting a system that provides resources for those who may not be able to afford clothes right off the rack. Be sure to keep in mind that thrifting is not for everyone, and that’s okay, because there are plenty of other ways to shop. However, if you do decide to try it out, happy thrifting! Here are a few of the best thrift stores near LMU, according to Yelp: Goodwill Southern California Retail Store (1.4 mi) 7600 S Sepulveda Los Angeles, CA 90045 Pepe’s Thrifty Shop (1.4 mi) 4577 S Centinela Ave Los Angeles, CA 90066 Love The City Thrift Store (2.4 mi) 4325 Sepulveda Blvd Culver City, CA 90230 Out of the Closet (3.5 mi) 214 Lincoln Blvd Venice, CA 90291 UCLA Thrift Shop (5.6 mi) 11271 Massachusetts Ave Los Angeles, CA 90025 This is the opinion of Paris Shepherd, a junior communication studies major from Ventura, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email comments to tgage@theloyolan.com.
life+arts LMU alumnae turned ghost-hunting podcasters
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via Anne Hecker
Just Jacob Jacob Cornblatt Life+Arts Intern @LALoyolan
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n 2011, two girls met at LMU, quickly learning that they shared an obsession with the paranormal. Throughout their time at school, they swapped and bonded over ghost stories. Now, seven years later, Corinne Vien (‘15) and Sabrina Deana-Roga (‘15) are taking both the podcast and paranormal scene by storm with their podcast, “Two Girls, One Ghost.” The podcast, which started in August 2017, has 24 episodes to date. Vien and Deana-Roga spend around an hour every week discussing the ghost stories surrounding a topic of their choice, which could be anything from hotels to Christmas. The show currently sits at a perfect 5.0 on iTunes with 378 ratings. “Sabrina and I had grown up in tune with the paranormal,” Vien said. “Whenever we’re together, we spend time telling ghost stories.”
When Vien moved to Boston over a year ago, she and Deana-Roga became worried about becoming longdistance friends. They discussed creating a podcast as a way to keep in touch, and thus, the show was born. What people seem to love about “Two Girls, One Ghost” is how Vien and Deana-Roga take genuinely terrifying stories and intertwine them with their humor and charm. “We want our viewers to be comfortable hearing our stories and telling their own,” Vien said. “We come with a psychological perspective,” DeanaRoga said, explaining how they add humor into the show’s blood-curdling content. “We often critique how the spirits behave, telling them, ‘you should have done this instead.’” Vien herself actually majored in psychology with a minor in theatre arts, and Deana-Roga double majored in theatre arts and screenwriting. Both women have a love of entertaining from their time studying at LMU. They use their education in their respective fields to keep the podcast fresh and entertaining, but they couldn’t do it alone. When creating the podcast, the hosts asked their friends from LMU to help improve and add to the show.
“One of the things that’s so great about LMU is that it helps you create a network — it’s not competitive,” Deana-Roga said. They asked their peers to help with multiple things throughout the creation of “Two Girls, One Ghost.” Most notably is the theme song by Arms Akimbo, a group formed by LMU students in 2015. With every new episode, “Two Girls, One Ghost” becomes increasingly popular. As more and more people listen to the show, the hosts receive more and more emails. “We really want to take the time to respond to everyone’s stories,” Vien said. “And one week, that meant responding to 65 emails.” Vien and Deana-Roga are living proof that the friendships you make at LMU are not only helpful, but also lifelong. They used their time here to foster a relationship that later created a unique and popular show. “The podcast reminded me about how amazing LMU is,” Vien said. This is the opinion of Jacob Cornblatt, a freshman film and television production major from Gaithersburg, Maryland. Tweet comments to @ LALoyolan or email comments to tgage@theloyolan.com.
life+arts
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Ansari and Franco allegations disturb students What’s up Hutch Cory Hutchinson
Asst. Life+Arts Editor @lajollahutch
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ho knew the Golden Globes award show would be trending long after its curtain call? Well, a lot of people in the entertainment industry had a nagging suspicion that the fight against sexual assault was far from over. With new allegations claiming James Franco and Aziz Ansari to be the most recently accused aggressors in this tragic chain of violence and abuse, many people are saying that time is actually not up. Men in Hollywood have continued to take advantage of their positions of power only to turn around and deny the allegations made. Many men showed their support the night of the Golden Globes by wearing black, boasting the Time’s Up pins and voicing their support during acceptance speeches and red carpet interviews, but there’s a double standard present. These men can stand up to voice their support for victims, but they do nothing about the instances of sexual assault that they know about. It’s better for their image to appear oblivious.
Both Franco and Ansari responded to the allegations against them in ways that acknowledged the feelings of the victims and threw out a passionate and performative air of support for the movement, exposing men in Hollywood that are taking advantage of men and women in vulnerable positions. Both Ansari and Franco directly addressed the incidents, but did not directly address their alleged actions. Allegations against men such as Louis C.K. and — of course — Harvey Weinstein have turned out to be true, so it’s possible that the present allegations need to go through the trials of time and justice to yield a definitive answer. Turning to the faces of LMU, students had their own opinions to share on the instances of these recent allegations. In response to Franco’s allegations, sophomore environmental science major Mia Chai said that she’d been familiar with Franco’s reputation for a while, due to circulating rumors that he had been involved with 18-year-old women. “I’m disappointed with Ansari, but with everything that came out last year, I’m not surprised at all,” Chai said. “I’m just sad that we have so little Asian representation, and one of the only big actors is letting the community down.” Chai also commented about
how disappointing it is that Hollywood keeps rewarding sexual offenders, such as Franco winning the Golden Globe over Jordan Peele. Junior communication studies major Catherine Ha said, “I’m really sad that this is going on. Every time I watch the news or go on Facebook/Instagram, something new comes up about rape and sexual misconduct.” Ha said that she’s appalled at the accused men for abusing their power, she empathizes with and commends the courageous women for standing up for themselves. “Most of the time these victims are forced to leave or quit their job because of their work environment.” Aside from the disappointing nature of the situation, Ha also shared her sentiments on the dangerous reality of the problem. “I’m so disgusted, but I’m also worried for myself now. I fear about my safety when I go out, go to work and etc.” Ha said that she’s always very cautious when interacting with people due to the unpredictability of strangers today. “It’s time like these men realize that women are no longer silencing themselves,” Ha said. “I hope and pray that these victims will find justice and that these horrible men go to jail for their actions.” Similar to Ha’s sentiments, senior communication studies major Meredith Kurey said, “It is
very saddening that our society has come to this tipping point. There are new accusations every time I go on social media, and you know there are so many instances in other fields, but the entertainment industry just has the spotlight on it.” Kurey believes that these kinds of things happens everywhere, and it’s something that needs to change. Hopefully, change does come soon for the well-being of all people. Despite all of the issues of sexual assault, coercion and responsibilities of individuals in influential positions, a resolution to the problem has yet to be crafted. Of course, the common sense answer is for everyone to treat each other with respect and care, but that’s placing a lot of responsibility in the hands of people who have a good chance of ignoring their conscience. Some people want more amicable celebrities to take up political positions, whereas others say that’s absolutely not the answer - we just need more serious and educated politicians who have the common good in mind. This also seems like one of those utopian scenarios that is more of a rarity to come across. This past week, Oprah Winfrey met with Reese Witherspoon and other Time’s Up founding members to discuss how the movement can keep up its
momentum, what actions the women can further take to continue raising money for the legal defense fund and what they can do to hold the aggressors of this toxic moment in time accountable for their actions. While these influential figures do their hard work, we can do our part by donating to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund and using our voices and platforms to call out those who are abusing their positions of power. So, the positive side of this whole matter is that everything that each person is doing to combat inappropriate behavior is actually incredibly beneficial. Each dollar raised, aggressor identified and case won takes us closer to a world where this kind of thing is intolerable in all forms. There isn’t a voice that’s too small or an action that’s not enough, and there are a lot of individuals who are fighting for the same cause — sort of like a grand domino effect. The important thing to keep in mind is that change needs time and patience, not just action and increased demand. This is the opinion of Cory Hutchinson, a sophomore sociology major from Palm Desert, California. Tweet comments to @lajollahutch or email comments to tgage@theloyolan.com. via Flickr Creative Commons
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PHOTOGRAPHY
This week in photos: Women’s basketball, LAFC soccer scrimmage, MLK day of service and Esperer’s silent protest
via Kate Bianco Jason Munoz, Hayden Blaz & Emily Sullivan | Loyolan Clockwise from top-left: Women’s basketball played University of San Diego on Jan. 13, the Lions fought hard but ended the game at a close loss of 54-60. LMU Black & Gold lions had their first scrimmage of the year on on Jan. 11; they were given equipment and jerseys to play with by LAFC. Students participated in the annual MLK day of service at Ascension Catholic Elementary School on Jan. 15. Jared Gencarella particpates in Esperer’s silent protest as a part of their Annual Human Traficking Awareness Week. Lion Pride performed on the sidlelines at this saturday’s game against University of San Diego.
SPORTS
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Men’s basketball needs an identity to progress Big Time Timmy Jim Tim De Vries
Sports Editor @LALoyolan basketball team is almost always a work in progress, their development a journey. As with any journey, before you can figure out how to get where you want to go, you must first know where you are and how you got there. As we near the midway point of the West Coast Conference (WCC), this has been LMU’s biggest obstacle on that journey. At 1-5 in the conference and 6-11 overall, the young Lions are in the midst of a development process that has fallen behind schedule, as the team is still figuring out precisely what type of basketball team they are. Simply put, they haven’t found their identity yet. Coming into the 2017-2018 season, certainly nobody expected LMU men’s basketball — comprised of an almost entirely new roster — to find instant success. There were always going to be growing pains. Many were hopeful that an athletic roster with depth would give Head Coach Mike Dunlap a wider range of options to build his team with. During the preseason — the experimental phase, if you will — rotations ran as deep as 10 players,
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and a mixture of playing styles emerged for the young Lions with varying levels of consistency and success. At times, they use their length and athleticism to play pressure defense, create turnovers and get out in transition, favoring the frenetic pace of junior guards James Batemon and Jeffery McClendon. During others, they play in the half-court, with four perimeter players trying to create space for sophomore center Mattias Markusson and freshman forwards Eli Scott and Zafir Williams to work inside — in turn creating room for forward Steven Haney to catch and shoot on the perimeter. If the Lions have a tempo they prefer to play at, it has yet to become apparent. Ideally, this team should run and gun. Fast-paced play has been a staple of both Dunlap-coached teams and LMU basketball as a whole, for longer than any current student has been here. Relative to its conference opponents, LMU plays relatively high-scoring games. Despite placing in the bottom half of the conference in both offensive and defensive field goal percentage, they are the third highest-scoring team in the conference. They have a propensity to play fast, and perhaps that should be the focus on the offensive end moving forward as they try to right the ship. As much as pace has favored
Emily Sullivan | Loyolan
Junior guard James Batemon shoots a free throw in LMU’s recent matchup against Gonzaga. Batemon is one of the handful of athletic guards on the roster that would benefit from an up-tempo style of play. the Lions, it has also hurt them in the form of turnovers, a lamentable byproduct of an up-tempo scheme. The decision-making and ensuing action has yet to catch up to the speed and crispness of conference play, another sure sign of LMU’s youth. On the defensive end they’ve varied the looks as well; this is by design though. Mixing schemes is a staple of Dunlap’s defensive philosophy. By keeping team’s
off-balance and using their newfound athleticism, LMU has managed to record 7.3 steals per game, good enough for second in the conference. It’s not time to hit the panic button yet. The team has 14 games left in the conference season. As far as results, they haven’t really fallen short of anything yet. Those surrounding the team know that this fact doesn’t represent what they are capable of becoming as a team.
While it’s unlikely that LMU will have any real shot of contending for the conference title, Dunlap and company will still want measurable growth by the end of the year. If that’s the case, they’ll need to figure out what kind of basketball team they want to be, sooner rather than later. This is the opinion of Tim De Vries, a junior mechanical engineering major from Lake Oswego, OR. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan, or email tdevries@ theloyolan.com.
SPORTS
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Patriots and Vikings play Super Bowl favorites Gettin’ Bizzy Izzy Berrent
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Sports Intern @LALoyolan
hen the New England Patriots defeated the Tennessee Titans; the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Pittsburgh Steelers; the Minnesota Vikings defeated the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Atlanta Falcons, the Conference Championship games were decided as the Patriots vs. the Jaguars (AFC) and the Vikings vs. the Eagles (NFC). Here are my picks for how the remainder of the season will play out. AFC: New England Patriots vs. Jacksonville Jaguars If you have followed the NFL this past season, it is clear that the New England Patriots have been the best team in the league. They are proven winners with four Super Bowl rings under head coach Belichick. Patriots’ quarterback, Tom Brady — a three-time Super Bowl MVP — has the skills and poise to take home another ring. The Jacksonville Jaguars, on the other hand, have been unquestionably horrible. In the past 10 years the Jaguars have won 60 games and lost 116 (a 34 percent win average) – compared to the Patriots 139 wins and only 37 loss (a 78 percent average). However, despite their past, this season for the Jaguars has been successful. When they hired former Giants head coach, Tom Coughlin, as the team’s executive vice president of Football Operations in 2017, the Jaguars went 10 and 6. This turnaround had much to do with the Jaguar’s strong defense: in the regular season they were ranked number 2 for total defense.
The Patriots are favored to win by a whopping nine points, but if there is a team that has a chance to conquer Brady and the Patriots, the Jaguars have a shot. The only way to beat the Patriots is to get pressure on Tom Brady, and the Jaguars have the defense to do it. Despite the Jaguars having a strong 2017-2018 season, I’m going to have to play it safe and pick the Patriots to advance to the Super Bowl. Although I would like to see the underdogs reign supreme, I think the Patriots — especially under Head Coach and General Manager Bill Belichick — have proven their talent in the past and will not have major difficulty doing it again. NFC: Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles The NFC match between the Vikings and Eagles seems to be more evenly paired, with Minnesota being favored by threeand-a-half points. The Vikings are coming off an emotional high from their last game against the New Orleans Saints, where they managed a literal last second win as third-string QB Case Keenum threw a 35-yard pass to give wide receiver Stefon Diggs a 61-yard touchdown. This game will be the battle of the backup quarterbacks: Keenum for Minnesota and Nick Foles for Philadelphia. This might pose a challenge for both teams, obviously, because neither player is supposed to be the team’s starter. My pick for this game is going to have to be the Minnesota Vikings. Not only are they coming off of an incredible last minute win to boost their spirits, but if they win the match against the Eagles, they will become the first team in history to play a Super Bowl in their hometown. I think the adrenaline and motivation of potentially
playing a championship on their home turf will motivate the Vikings to move onto the Super Bowl. Super Bowl LII In my mind, Super Bowl LII is going to be the Patriots vs. the Vikings. This sets up a quarterback battle between Brady — one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL — and the Vikings’ third-stringer in Keenum. Because of the importance of the quarterback position in the NFL, I’m going to have to go with the Patriots. As I said before, I would prefer to see the underdog win and will be rooting for the Vikings to take home the trophy. However, based on the past success of the Patriots under Brady’s QB leadership, it seems likely that they will be adding yet another ring to their fingers. This is the opinion of Izzy Berrent, a freshman marketing major from Los Angeles, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan, or email tdevries@theloyolan.com.
Graphic by Diana Raynes
Youth Leadership Program inspires new club LAFC from Page 20
via Eduardo Pablin
The men of the Black & Gold Lions gather on Drollinger Field for their first scrimmage of the spring semester.
lessons he learned from LAFC’s Youth Leadership Program (YLP). Pablin grew up in South Central, L.A., and thanks to LAFC and the YLP he stayed out of trouble and learned some valuable lessons. “It gave me direction and purpose,” said Pablin. “It showed me that we all have a duty to use our gifts and talents for the betterment of others.” Pablin felt obligated to use his talent of bringing people together and the things he learned at YLP to help create an organization to help the Los Angeles community. “The main purpose of the club is to use soccer to promote community and service to the students at LMU,” said Pablin. “What my club wants to do is to teach kids the values of integrity, discipline and community through soccer.” As a result of his experiences, Pablin wants to help younger children realize their potential. With the help of the soccer teams at LMU, he plans on bringing four elementary schools, one for each month of
the semester, to campus and running a full soccer clinic for them. “A lot of people tend to forget the impact that you have on little kids,” said Pablin. “I was one of 22 Youth Leaders responsible for creating and running soccer clinics for youth ages 6-17 in the gang torn community of South Central.” Affectionately called “Mr. Hairy” by the kids he helped while in the program, Pablin spoke about how a person of his age was able to influence kids and to see the help and goodness it brought them. “I’ve come to learn and believe that younger kids are going to look up to the next generation before they hear from the real grown adults,” said Aviles. Aviles continued saying that it’s important for young adults to go out and be leaders because kids look up to them. “I feel that bringing something like this, in which they can express themselves through a sport is something people don’t do,” said Pablin. “We just want to provide that sort of mentorship.”
SPORTS
SCORES UPDATE
W. SWIMMING 134-123 W
LION
vs. Pepperdine
SPORTS
W. BASKETBALL 60-54 L
vs. USD
M. BASKETBALL
75-71 L at USD
Follow us on Twitter @laloyolan for up-to-date scores.
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LOS ANGELES LOYOLAN | January 17, 2018 | laloyolan.com
LAFC visits student fan club on campus
LAFC staff visits LMU campus for fan club’s first meeting. Matt Rodriguez
Asst. Sports Editor @LALoyolan On Thursday, Jan. 11, the Black & Gold Lions, a Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) student based fan club, held their first meeting of the semester on Drollinger field. They laced up their boots and got to work. Passing the ball around, as members trickled in one by one, they waited for their special guest. As time went on some began to grow restless, simply wanting to play soccer. After 45 minutes, their special guest arrived, ready to play. Patrick Aviles, LAFC’s head of supporter relations and a representative from their sales department joined the club for the scrimmage. “A big part of LAFC’s DNA is impacting the community,” said Aviles. “There are nine [professional] teams, we want to be the first club in L.A. That really
means not what you do on the field but what you do in the city.” The Black & Gold Lions is dedicated to using soccer as a vehicle for change. Before they started their scrimmage, the Black & Gold Lions gathered in a circle to hear Aviles speak. He started off by gifting the club a soccer starter kit, with training jerseys, practice goals and soccer balls. He said that he admired what the students were doing, using soccer as a means to help others. Aviles finished saying the club has the support of LAFC, promising them speeches from himself, scouts, trainers and other executives. When asked why they decided to support this particular fanbase, he said “I think a lot of it had to do with Eduardo and his experience in youth leadership and his desire to give back to the community.” The president of the Black & Gold Lions, sophomore marketing major Eduardo “Lalo” Pablin, wanted to continue with the
Hayden Blaz | Loyolan
See LAFC | Page 18
Patrick Aviles, (third from left) the head of supporter relations at LAFC, kicks the ball around with the Black & Gold Lions.