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Kellie Chudzinski Editor-In-Chief @LALoyolan
The fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp) has been placed on probation by the University due to concerns over the fraternity’s “culture and climate,” the Loyolan has learned.
While under probation, the chapter is temporarily prohibited from recruiting new members and engaging in social functions with alcohol. The “interim responsive measures” by the University also include the permanent cancellation of the SigEp date event MOB (Men of Brotherhood) Days and other educational and chapter development initiatives, according to Director of Student Leadership and Development Andrea Niemi, who oversees Sorority and Fraternity Life. The annual MOB Days social events occur over a week. They include each member
choosing a “mob wife” and engaging in events with their partner and their team, earning points to win. Restrictions placed on the chapter will be reviewed at the end of the Spring 2019 semester and will extend through Fall 2019, according to Niemi. Alex Gavia, president of SigEp, told the Loyolan that the organization will be releasing a statement shortly.
See SigEp | Page 2
Via Snapchat
Members of Sigma Phi Epsilon participated in a silent protest on the fourth floor of University Hall outside of the Board of Regents meeting. One of the signs said, "university misconduct?"
Report: DPS response "inadequate" DPS chief removed after investigation finds problems in emergency response. Sofia Hathorn News Intern @LALoyolan
An investigation report of the Nov. 9 active shooter threat and actions of the LMU Department of Public Safety (DPS) was released by LMU Communications on Dec. 17. The report looked into DPS's response during the incident and LMU’s emergency notifications procedures. The report stated that during the night of the incident there were too few DPS staff on campus to respond effectively.
Additionally, the DPS contracted security guard force and DPS staff were inadequately trained to “secure the campus during a critical incident," according to the report. Los Angeles Police Department's feedback was that the response and support of DPS was "inadequate, reducing response capabilities," as written in the report. According to LMU's Emergency Communications Action Plan website, the University has “initiated responsive actions to address the investigation findings and improve future emergency responses.” Changes include retraining and testing DPS staff on their ability to send alert notifications. DPS also conducted a successful test of the system on Nov. 16, and will continue with monthly tests.
According to the investigation, DPS notified 911 quickly and effectively, which brought LAPD on campus. However, DPS failed to properly use their emergency mass notification system, Blackboard Connect. Despite DPS policy stating that the authority to activate Blackboard Connect is given to the ranking DPS staff on campus, "the onsite DPS staff did not initiate efforts to issue a campus alert,” according to the report. Ten minutes after the initial 911 call, offsite DPS management attempted to initiate Blackboard Connect. However, they were unable to do so due to a number of issues, including DPS staff not having the correct login information and inadequate understanding of the system See Investigation | Page 2
Students rush into greek life recruitment Students attend Greek Life events in hopes of receiving a bid. Sofia Acosta News Intern @LALoyolan
Spring recruitment for Sorority and Fraternity Life (SFL) is now underway and, as one of the most prevalent student leadership opportunities on campus, Greek life has claimed a large aspect of campus life. The long weekend, from Jan. 19 to Jan. 21, was filled with an abundance of Greek letters, scavenger hunts put on by sororities and multiple fraternities gathering on Sunken Gardens for their official open house, kicking off recruitment. Recruitment itself varies from house to house within Greek life. SFL includes
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For near campus eats, check out our review of Tocaya Organica Mexican Restaurant. Page 7
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SigEp on probation Due to "developing culture" and other concerns, SigEp is on probation through 2019.
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three groups: Collegiate Panhellenic Council (CPC) sororities, InterFraternity Council (IFC) fraternities and the United Greek Council (UGC) culturally-based organizations. “For prospective students, the process can be an anxious one. It’s only a weekend long, but it is a busy one and [it] can be stressful,” said Emily Schukai, Delta Zeta's vice president of membership and junior communication studies major. With 22 groups to explore and sort through, the task may seem intimidating. Members of Greek life suggest taking the time to find the one that fits best. “At Beta Theta Pi, we have three pillars: Gentleman, Friend and Scholar. So, a man of principle,” said Michael Dennehy, senior See Recruitment | Page 2
Loyolan Archives
Students celebrate on Delta Zeta Bid Night in 2016.
Jesuits accused of sex abuse
The 11 Jesuits all worked at LMU at some point in their careers. Isabella Murillo Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan
Over winter break, Jesuits West Province revealed in a press release the names of priests and brothers who had been accused of sexual assault, 11 of whom had worked at LMU in the past 50 years. The priests were found to have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of "minors and vulnerable adults," according to a letter sent to students' emails from the Office of the President, naming all 11 priests. The names of the priests and the years they were active at LMU are as follows: • Arthur Falvey, 1937-1939, 19401947 (deceased 1966) • Gabriel Menager, 1946-1954 (deceased 2009) • Thomas Sullivan, 1947-1948, 19781992 (deceased 1992) • Thomas O’Rourke, 1949-1956 (deceased 1993) • John Ralph Moholy, 1949-1964 (deceased 1997) • Joseph Dondero, 1950-1951, (deceased 1997) • Edward M. Stretch, 1953-1954, (deceased 1970) • Eugene Maio, 1962-1967 • Patrick McNamara, 1964-1968 (deceased 2001) • John Moniz, 1984-1991, (deceased 2008) • William Farrington, 1987-2003 Of the 11 priests, nine are deceased and two are still alive. Most recently working at the University was William Farrington, who served his tenure for 16 years, from 1987 to 2003. The Loyolan published an article on Farrington when the accusations were first made public in September 2012, via a letter sent out to graduates of Bellarmine College Preparatory — a high school where Farrington worked in San Jose, CA. Following the letter, the University held an investigation to see if any of the abuse took place while the priest was working at LMU, which the Loyolan also reported on. Two lawyers were hired to conduct an investigation and interviewed 17 people at the University; the investigation concluded that no abuse occurred while Farrington was at LMU. In the weeks following, the Loyolan published two board editorials calling the University to stop evading the issue and to support victims. At Gonzaga University, following the reports on sexual abuse scandals in Jesuit institutions, two Jesuits resigned when it was revealed the school had set up at least 20 "safety plans" for Jesuits with substantial sexual abuse allegations and housed them near campus, according to the Gonzaga Bulletin. The letter that LMU sent to students on Dec. 7 outlined support systems for people affected by the news, including LMU CARES services. See Accusations | Page 2
NEWS
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Sigma Phi Epsilon members protest probation SigEp from Page 1 Members of SigEp held a silent protest in U-Hall on Tuesday outside of the Board of Regents meeting. Members of the organization held signs with varied messages, such as “University misconduct?” The members also handed packets to the board members as they entered their meeting. Information in the packets contained information that has yet to be disclosed by the fraternity. The Loyolan obtained a letter to SigEp alumni from Senior Vice President of Student Affairs Dr.
Lane Bove. Bove wrote in the letter that the University became concerned about the “developing culture” of SigEp on campus, through concerns expressed by Sorority and Fraternity Life, the Title IX Coordinator and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Responsibility. Bove continued to say that there was evidence of reportedly inappropriate behavior, conduct cases and other issues brought to the University’s attention. A member of SigEp said, “We
didn’t rape, one guy did,” in a Snapchat message to a member of another fraternity. “The second the guy leaves the school LMU decides to f*** us over.” The same member of the fraternity said SigEp dropped the member accused of sexual assault once the chapter became aware of the incident and claimed the University took no action. Students who are rushing fraternities were notified on Friday that SigEp will not be recruiting this semester. When recruitment
began, students viewed SigEp as a “top house” that they were hoping to join, according to a freshman recruit the Loyolan spoke to, who asked to remain anonymous. The student also said that students were disappointed to find out the fraternity was restricted and were left wondering about the circumstances that led to the status. In her letter, Bove encouraged the members of SigEp to “refocus” on the values and pillars of their national fraternity, including the fraternity’s “balanced man”
mission. The balanced man program relies on five values: equal rights and responsibilities, continuous development, accountability, living the ritual and mentoring. Last semester, SigEp’s advisor Fr. Fulco stepped down from his role with the organization as he took a health leave from the University, the Loyolan previously reported. A new advisor has since been appointed.
Names of accused Jesuits released Accusations from Page 1 President Snyder emphasized LMU’s zero tolerance policy on sexual misconduct and urged victims and those affected to seek help, as well as report any abuse they experience. Snyder signed off with: “As the Church continues to seek forgiveness from all those who have been hurt by this betrayal of pastoral care, LMU strives to be an emblem of what the Church can be a
community where clergy and laity collaborate in service of faith through the promotion of justice, and where all persons are always safe.”
via Tower Yearbook
From left to right, accused Jesuit priests and brothers, Reverend Thomas O’Rourke, Reverend Edward Stretch and Brother Bill Farrington. The three Jesuits were all substantially accused of sexual abuse.
Greek life recruitment season begins Investigation concludes Recruitment from Page 1 Beta Theta Phi’s executive recruitment chair and senior marketing major. “We have our own culture, so [it’s important] if you fit in well, but also you must be able to speak on [our three pillars].” In order to qualify for recruitment, students must have a 2.5 GPA and at least 12 credits completed. Sororities each have their own national values that can be found on their respective websites. “Each chapter has their own new member and active member dues that they let potential new members know about during recruitment orientation,” said Schukai. “Our recruitment is a values-based recruitment and so every organization has their own personal values they will put out there, and during the process we’ll be looking for women who match them.” For UGC, there are five sororities and three fraternities with varying recruitment processes, referred to as intakes. These occur throughout the semester. Fraternity recruitment processes have already begun and span the
For the Record In the Tuesday, Jan.16 issue: The “Laband opens ‘Confess’” article image depicted as Laband Gallery was the Lisa Sette Gallery. In the “When Women Came to Loyola” article the photo associated with the article stated that 2018 marked the 15th anniversary of merging Loyola University and Marymount College. The year 2018 marked the 50th anniversary.
course of 10 days. It began with an open house for all of the fraternities and continues with more events that become increasingly exclusive and separated by house. The final few events are by invite only. “There are some unspoken rules about fraternity recruitment that can kind of make or break some things,” Dennehy said. “For example, some fraternities really don’t like when [prospective members] say the word ‘frat’ instead of ‘fraternity.’” There are seven CPC sororities and Jan. 23 is the first day of recruitment, beginning with orientation. “Keep an open mind about all the organizations and trust the process,” Schukai said. “Don’t be intimidated by the stereotypes of sorority and fraternity life because, at LMU, the culture is pretty different than other schools and a little more low-key.” The events allow prospective students to get to know the different SFL organizations and, in turn, allow each house to get to know these potential new members. “This is a kind of weird social setting that no one is used to. It is not really an interview, but it kind
of is, so it is a unique dynamic,” said Christian Shiffra, a sophomore economics major and recruitment chair for Phi Delta Theta. SFL watches over the recruitment processes and ensures that there are no conflicts of interest to make sure everyone has a fair chance of joining and getting recruited. Members of Greek life suggest rushing for the experience, even if students are unsure of joining a house. “I had a really positive experience at recruitment. It is definitely a good experience to expand your social circle and get out of your comfort zone,” said Nick Rossi, secretary of Phi Delta Theta and a sophomore AIMS major. A reoccurring piece of advice emphasized by members of both sororities and fraternities was for potential new members to maintain honesty throughout the whole recruitment process. “[It’s] just better to be as authentic as possible and remain true to yourself as you enter each party during recruitment,” Schukai said.
Investigation from Page 1 with “some staff lacking any familiarity with the system,” according to the report. Technical difficulties caused the Blackboard Connect mobile phone app to be interrupted by notifications, which caused the alert login process to start over. The first successful login into Blackboard Connect was 50 minutes after the 911 call and the first alert message was sent one hour and 20 minutes after the 911 call, according to the report’s timeline. The first message was incomplete, so the full alert was not sent out until one hour and 30 minutes after the 911 call. During this period, DPS Chief Hampton Cantrell missed repeated calls and did not become aware of the incident until 6:40 p.m., over an hour after the initial 911 call. Cantrell was recently removed from his duties at DPS. Interim DPS Chief Danny Martinez is currently leading DPS while LMU searches for a new chief. “Ensuring the safety of the LMU community is at the core of the University’s response to this incident,” said Martinez.
The report was issued after the LMU community expressed concern about the lack of an effective and timely emergency alert during the incident. A petition calling for the DPS alert system to be re-examined garnered over 5,000 signatures. Amelia Gorman, freshman psychology major, said, “I really hope the report helps [DPS] see what went wrong and fix it for the future.” LMU hired the law firm Musick Peeler & Garrett, and the security consulting firm Franklin Global, to conduct the independent investigation of the incident. The investigation included interviewing DPS staff members and reviewing their training, experience and DPS operations. “The sharing of personal perspectives from students, parents, faculty and staff has reinforced the critical nature of DPS’s role in communication during emergency situations,” said Martinez. “Feedback from the LMU community will be used to guide our decision-making process moving forward.”
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Human Trafficking Awareness Week
By Raven Yamamoto, Social Justice Intern
This year for their Human Trafficking Awareness Week, Espérer service organization is putting a special focus on the LGBTQIA+ community. Espérer's goal is to raise awareness not just about human trafficking, but how the issue specifically affects the LGBTQIA+ community. The service organization has three remaining events this week to educate the LMU community about the widespread issue and how people can prevent it. Espérer will also be selling t-shirts throughout the week to raise money for human trafficking survivors. Graphic: Allie Crawford | Loyolan
Schedule of events 1/23: Human Trafficking Awareness Art Gallery Marymount Institute, 5-9 p.m. Students and faculty will be able to view visual art pieces from their classmates surrounding the intersection between the LGBTQIA+ community and the issue of human trafficking. They will also be able to buy these art pieces and those proceeds will go towards Espérer's cause. 1/24: Trafficking Prevention Workshop Sullivan Academic Center, 7-9 p.m. Students can learn tips for preventing human trafficking and how to spot signs of it in individuals. 1/25: Benefit for Hope Hilton 100, 5-8 p.m. Students can watch their fellow Lions perform in a talent show based around the theme of hope, bringing this week of advocacy to an end on a high note.
OPINION
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Board Editorial Kellie Chudzinski Editor-in-Chief
Sami Leung
Managing Editor
Emily Rawson Managing Editor
Xochitl Pasten Managing Editor
MLK’s legacy and lessons The life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were celebrated nationally on Monday, Jan. 21 — which would have been less than a week after his 90th birthday if he were still alive. Our campus will be recognizing and celebrating his life with the Interfaith Prayer Breakfast on Jan. 24. While his impact and legacy have undoubtedly led to positive change in America’s racial relations, it’s important to remember that King was not always a beloved person across America. During his life in the national spotlight—working to bring attention to racial inequality, the troubles of capitalism and anti-war activism— he was widely hated. The long-time director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, called him the “most dangerous man in America,” and outlets that are now held as liberal pinnacles, such as the New York Times, TIME magazine and others, described his message as “demagogic slander.” Nevertheless, the teachings of King are still imperative today, as the world we live in continues to be dominated by divisions. We remember King through his teachings and by exploring three key lessons from him, in his own words, that we believe are important today. 3. “[Society] decided to worship at the shrine of the god of nationalism.” - 1953 King warned against the sentiment of nationalism, though he did not live to see the current rise of that ideology in the U.S. and abroad. Nationalist parties are on the rise, with the president of the United States embracing the label himself. Nationalists tend to focus on their nation to the extent of reimmigration, become hostile to international treaties—a notable example being Trump’s withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Paris Climate Accords—and favor economic protectionism, according to the Financial Times. We need to make America welcoming to all and continue to be a leader in global relations. Being
cautious of the rising nationalist sentiment is key. 2. “All life is interrelated, that somehow we’re caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.” -1965 We are all connected; we must never forget that. For us to succeed as a country, all of us must succeed. The widening wage gap is such that America’s top 10 percent make more than nine times the income as its bottom 90 percent, according to 2015 statistics from Inequality.org. The disparity of wealth distribution in the United States sustains a continual imbalance of resources among the people. We cannot cherry-pick with whom we want to be connected, or keep success among the few. Social, economic and educational success must be available to all. 1. “The fact is that capitalism was built on the exploitation and suffering of black slaves and continues to thrive on the exploitation of the poor – both black and white, both here and abroad.” -1967 Capitalism, by its nature, tends to promote corporate and individual greed, regardless of the moral good. To craft a better future for our nation and our world, our government needs to limit capitalism with regulations that advocate for workers’ rights, laws that prohibit large companies from raising prices unnecessarily, advisory bodies that disband powerful monopolies and community support with insurance systems that are intended to prevent the poor from being trampled by corporate enterprises. The American ideal of the “self-made individual” who has climbed their way to the top does not apply to all working class Americans striving to provide for their families. To create equality in the modern world, regulations and laws are needed to aid the poor, rather than exploit them in the name of capitalist ambition.
“We remember King through his teachings and by exploring key lessons from him.”
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Blind loyalty will never be patriotism Myers For Hire Alex Myers
Asst. Opinion Editor @LALoyolan
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atriotism in its basic form is defined as “love for or devotion to one’s country,” according to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. However, the term has been misconstrued by many to mean blind loyalty. Let’s be frank, patriotism today is used to disguise greed and nationalism. It is obvious by where our nation’s priorities are that there needs to be a redefining of what it means to be patriotic. The true patriot is not the one who demands that everyone blindly obeys and respects the president, but insists on constantly questioning everything the government puts out on the table because they love this country so dearly. I believe that patriotism has been associated with leaning more towards right-wing politics and supporting Trump, but that needs to change to being focused on a love for one’s country — and by no means only mean leaning right. President Trump, in particular, has skewed patriotism to mean supporting causes that do not work in America’s favor and are based on his evaluation. It means supporting the construction of a $5.7 billion wall that has been proven to be ineffective in stopping people from migrating to the United States of America; the Cato institute noted that building a wall would not stop people from building tunnels because “from 2007 to 2010, the Border Patrol found
more than one tunnel per month, on average.” Patriotism also means despising the idea of universal health care when 28.9 million Americans under the age of 65 are uninsured, according to the Center of Disease Control, while applauding a $717 billion military defense bill. The irony is that most Trump supporters voted for Trump because “they related to changes in the party’s positions on issues related to American global dominance and the rise of a majority–minority America,” not because they actually know what it means to love and devote themselves
to this country, according to a study done by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. How can we say that it is patriotic to support the military industrial complex when we can’t make it a point that every American is insured? In the case of President Trump, supporting the wall does not make you somehow more of a patriot because you believe it’s defending our country from “violent” illegal immigrants.
See Patriotism | Page 5
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LOYOLAN EDITORIAL POLICY The Los Angeles Loyolan, a student-run campus organization, publishes a weekly newspaper for the greater LMU community. The first copy is free of charge. Additional copies are $1 each. Paid, mailed subscriptions can be purchased through the Business department. The Loyolan accepts unsolicited letters from students, faculty, staff and alumni, and press releases from on-campus and offcampus organizations, but cannot guarantee publication. The Loyolan reserves the right to edit or reject all submissions, including advertisements, articles or other contributions it deems objectionable. The Loyolan does not print consecutive articles by the same author that repeat/refute the initial arguments. Opinions and ideas expressed in the Loyolan are those of individual authors, artists and student editors and are not those of Loyola Marymount University, its Board of Trustees, its student body or of newspaper advertisers. Board Editorials are unsigned and reflect the opinions of the Executive Editorial Board. Guest editorials are by invitation of the Executive Editorial Board and reflect the views of the author. All advertisements are subject to the current rates and policies in the most recent Advertising Rates and Information materials.
Lianlen Joy Distor | Loyolan
We need to question our government to ensure that they have our best interests at heart.
The Los Angeles Loyolan is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the California College Media Association.
OPINION
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Don’t let party loyalty and selfishness overtake patriotism Patriotism from Page 4
The CATO Institute found that the native homicide arrest rate was “about 46 percent higher than the
“The true patriot... insists on constantly questioning everything the government puts out on the table because they love this country.” illegal immigrant homicide arrest rate.” What is patriotic about demonizing one group of people
escaping violence from their home country in order to make better lives for themselves? Not to mention that the government shutdown issued over this wall has left 4,760 federal workers applying for unemployment in the last week of December 2018, according to the Department of Labor. Evidently supporting the wall and Trump’s understanding of patriotism is, in my opinion, the antithesis to true patriotism. If Trump was truly patriotic, then he would have checked his ego at the door of the White House and made sure that there was not a government shutdown and recognized that immigrants are essential to the American economy. Ironically, he has employed many immigrants himself in constructing and managing his hotels, according to NPR. I believe patriotism should be loving your country so much that you are willing to help foster the safest, healthiest environments for everyone who
shares the same soil as you.
“Patriotism should be loving your country so much that you are willing to help foster the safest, healthiest environments for everyone who shares the same soil as you.” Greed does not benefit this country, and as President John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what
your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” I suggest that Trump follow Kennedy’s words of advice and starts to look out for people who actually need the support by using $5.7 billion to take care of them, rather than promoting ignorance. According to our article “The power of 5.7 billion dollars,” the money used to build the wall could be used to feed every homeless person in America for three and half years. According Merriam Webster’s dictionary, nationalism is “loyalty and devotion to a nation especially a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others,” as we discussed in “The U.S. Reserves the Right to Refuse Entry.” This is a destructive and divisive ideal to back a nation that was founded on the grounds of supporting all people. A nationalistic president that believes in promoting his ego at
the cost of immigrants, federal workers and other nations cannot truly call himself a patriot.
“What is patriotic about demonizing one group of people escaping violence from their home country?” This is the opinion of Alex Myers, a senior French and philosophy double major from Edmond, Oklahoma. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email jlee@theloyolan.com
life+arts
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Alumnae form female-led film network In a new era of activism, LMU alumnae formed a film network dedicated to women. Caroline Iglesias Life+Arts Intern @urban_cuban
In the past few years, the women’s rights movement has been revitalized through movements like “#MeToo,” “Time’s Up” and the annual Women’s March, born out of the frustration women feel when faced with inequality. In the midst of this climate, LMU’s very own alumnae and female filmmakers Meredith Yinger (‘15) and Natalie Perez (‘15) felt called to action to create the She TV Media online network in order to promote female voices in film. “You have to create the content you want to see be made,” said Yinger — and that is just what she did. Located in El Segundo, CA, She TV Media is a network created to
“raise up the female voices through film,” with the goal to create content that tells untold, diverse and empowering stories for different outlets and companies. Although Yinger and Perez were friends from college, they went their own ways to work in the television industry before their convergence into She TV Media. Yinger is an independent filmmaker, host and entrepreneur. Perez is a Los Angeles based cinematographer and filmmaker. However, it was their work in the real world industry that brought them together and stimulated their passion of giving minorities a voice. Yinger described her experiences while working in the film industry. “I experienced sexism and sexual harassment myself. It was there [and] it was really obvious, but nothing was [being] done about it and it wasn’t really frowned upon,” Yinger said. Yinger also expressed that when she was in the works of developing the idea for She TV Media, Perez had told her that she had experienced similar injustices and was fed up as well.
via She TV Media
After graduating from LMU, alumnae Natalie Perez (‘15), left, and Meredith Yinger (‘15) , right, created She TV Media, a network focused on female voices in film.
via She TV Media
The promotional photo for “Scars Unseen,” a documentary produced by She TV Media. In May, She TV Media will be celebrating its one year anniversary, with big things in the works. Its latest work in production is “Scars Unseen,” a documentary that consists of the stories of six different men and women who have suffered from domestic violence and aims to “illuminate the power of healing, destigmatize victimhood and encourage open communication about the causes, treatment and prevention of domestic violence abuse,” according to the network’s website. From Jan. 29 to Feb. 28, Yinger and Perez invite you to join the movement of “uniting one another through the power of story” and participate in their “Scars Unseen” campaign. The campaign aims to raise funds and draw attention to these issues so that it may lead to eventual change; and you can be part of the movement too. By simply logging onto She TV Media’s website, you can join the “Scars Unseen” movement and donate to the cause. The project focuses on starting a conversation about the prevention and root causes of this issue, and doesn’t exploit the gruesome details of these stories. Yinger and Perez are examples of what this world needs to strike a conversation and fight the injustices of the world. They are doing it in the most prominent way possible — their platform on social media. She TV Media should serve as an example to other content producers with the way that it champions diverse voices
and social issues. When I asked Yinger what her hopes were for She TV Media, she had nothing but big and bright visions. Her hopes for the network are that one day it becomes “like a Netflix for women, by women, with a social justice cause.” And with their combined determination and passion, they could very well reach that goal. It is with your help that they can reach these levels of success and help change minds. This campaign can help jumpstart the process so that one day women will no longer have to march for the fight against misrepresentation and our government will no longer have unequal female representation. Recently, media has been at the forefront of social movements, such as “#MeToo” and “Time’s Up,” and can be important in raising awareness of issues like domestic violence and female empowerment, which have been largely underrepresented. But content creation is only half the battle: it is up to viewers and consumers to truly bring about change. If you want to support LMU’s alumni community, as well as promote femaledriven stories, consider supporting “Scars Unseen” and She TV Media.
Students aim to improve L.A. roads Totally Troy Troy Salmans Life+Arts Intern @salmansta12
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id you know that the average L.A. driver pays an extra $900 a year in wear and tear on their cars due to potholes, road cracks and other hazards riddling the streets of the city? Aside from vehicular damage, potholes and other road obstructions significantly increase traffic in the already jam-packed streets and freeways. What if there was a way to decrease traffic, provide safer streets and save drivers money? Here at LMU, three engineering students have set out on a project to help workers find and fix hazards in our streets and reduce bumper to bumper traffic time. The team was able to use Google’s #TensorFlow, an open-source machine learning platform. Their success was featured on Google’s short film series #SearchOn. Juniors Alejandra Vasquez, Ericson Hernandez, both electrical engineering majors, and Casey Johnson, a computer
engineering major, quickly became fascinated by a newer field of engineering known as machine learning. I got the chance to interview Hernandez after Google released their short film last week to learn a little
more about their early stages, passion and project. “Alejandra, Casey and I knew we wanted to get hands-on experience in the field so we reached out to our professor, Dr. Lei Huang, who told us about a
via Google
LMU students Alejandra Vasquez, Ericson Hernandez and Casey Johnson collect data on road conditions using a GoPro camera.
project her senior student was working on regarding digital image processing,” Hernandez said. “We decided to pick up where he left off and created a research project regarding road crack detections.” Their goal was to find a project that could directly impact the L.A. community and attempt to tackle real-world problems. L.A., being a driver’s city, can use all the road development help it can get. The first thing the team needed was data. Their research process began with collecting data “through the GoPro camera mounted on the car,” according to Hernandez. From there, the videos were converted “into single images and [classified] as either dangerous road cracks or safe road.” With the help of Google’s #TensorFlow, the team created a unique model; Hernandez said that “the machine learning happens as the computer processes our images and our classifications, and develops an algorithm that will learn what a road crack is and analyze pictures for road cracks. As more data comes in and we classify it, the algorithm should become more and more accurate.” The team’s main goal of their
project is to design a system that detects potholes and quickly passes road hazard data to construction companies and autonomous driving developers to create safer road conditions. However, aside from the team’s main goal, Hernandez holds a personal passion and motivation for the project. “It’s important to me because the death rate related to motor vehicle accidents is significantly high and I’d like to ensure a safer world for all,” he said. Vasquez, Hernandez and Johnson are using tools and opportunities to make our city a safer, better place. Fixing hazardous roads and creating safer streets is their small contribution to a bustling metropolis that needs all the roadway help it can get. Next time you are driving and see a filled pothole or remarkably clear street you can thank these three students (and of course, the construction company).
This is the opinion of Troy Salmans, a freshman film and television studies major from Boston, MA. Tweet comments to @salmansta12 or email comments to jcornblatt@theloyolan.com.
life+arts
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A flavorful, modern take on Mexican food Jolly Ole Jacob Jacob Cornblatt Life+Arts Editor @jacobcornblatt
L
ocated just minutes away from LMU’s campus in Playa Vista is a hidden treasure of the LMU area: a trendy, reasonably priced and excellent Mexican restaurant called Tocaya Organica. Tocaya Organica offers a variety of salads, bowls, burritos and chips, however it is their tacos that separate them from other local shops. The atmosphere of Tocaya Organica immediately captures the senses of any guest who walks through its doors. From the outside, the restaurant is modest, but from the inside, it is an Instagram influencer’s dream. Decorated with a blue-grey aesthetic, the restaurant feels modern and inviting. The open ceiling gives an airy, open feel, and the succulents on the wall add freshness. I took a seat by the large windows, enjoying the natural light. You order at a counter near the door before grabbing a seat, where your food is brought to you. The menu is full of mouth-watering items — when you are hungry, it is nearly impossible to pick what to eat. The tacos contain a variety of toppings, but the protein and cheese is up to you to choose; luckily, for those who have problems choosing, there are chef-recommended options. I tried all four tacos with the recommended proteins and cheeses: the Cali (avocado, onion, salsa, achiote chicken and manchego), the Barrio (roasted tomato salsa, avocado, diced red onions, cilantro, carne molida
W
hether it be the sparkling view of L.A. from the Bluff at night or the somewhat depressing view of U-Hall on a Monday morning, LMU is no stranger to taking a person’s breath away. However, nothing holds a candle to the stunning
and jalapeno jack), the Tulum (charred bell pepper, red onion and habanero, arbol salsa, grilled pineapple, chicken tinga and queso fresco) and the Baja (shaved cabbage, sweet chipotle sauce, cilantro and vegan chipotle crema, halibut and jalapeño jack). Left with just the bases, the tacos are gluten free and vegan. Tocaya Organica also offers selections that follow the principles of the Keto Diet. These four tacos were as flavorful as the best L.A. street tacos, and each one tasted completely unique. The Tulum was my favorite: the chicken tinga, a shredded chicken, was spicy, but not overwhelming. The grilled pineapple complemented this spice with a hint of sweet, tied together with a mild, creamy cheese on top. The other standout taco was the Barrio. Despite the jalapeño jack, this was one of the least spicy tacos. The avocado, onion and cilantro were basic taco ingredients, but it was in the beef that the Barrio became a world of its own. The meat was juicy, exploding with flavor when it touched your tongue. The other ingredients—specifically the avocado—were there more to accentuate the carne molida than to add their own flavors, so when they all come together, the texture and taste went beyond the average taco. I also ordered the tostada salad, which ended up being the sleeper hit of the meal. Above a crispy corn tortilla were black beans, shredded romaine and butter lettuce, tomato, diced red onion, corn salsa and citrus dressing. For a protein, I ordered carne asada, and for a cheese, I ordered manchego. From the first bite of salad, I was taken by the variety of the flavors. The salad was perfectly mixed: I couldn’t see all the ingredients, yet I had no problem tasting
piece of American architecture known as Doheny Hall. Located right across from the Lair and Jamba Juice, Doheny Hall holds a legendary status among LMU freshmen housing. Its signature fountain in front is an absolute must-have picture opportunity.
each one. It was refreshing, due to not only the citrus dressing, but also the fresh ingredients. The combination of the flavors was different for each forkful, which made each bite taste new. Every aspect of the salad, from the sweet corn bursting with flavor to the tender carne asada rich with spices, complemented each other flawlessly. The guacamole, a must-have side, was dreamily smooth and topped with pomegranate seeds and lime pepitas. I was a skeptic about the pomegranate seeds, but once I tried them I was hooked. Though sweet, they added more depth to the flavor,
bringing out hints of lime. The pomegranate seeds and lime pepitas acted to create a more complex flavor while also lending itself to a more unique texture. Tocaya Organica is the best restaurant in the Playa Vista area. It has high quality food for a reasonable price and offers so many items that it requires revisiting. Their “modern organic Mexican” options are filling, beautiful and— most of all—absolutely delicious. This is the opinion of Jacob Cornblatt, a sophomore film studies major from Gaithersburg, MD. Tweet comments to @jacobcornblatt or email comments to jcornblatt@theloyolan.com.
via Sophie Isbell
The “modern organic Mexican” food of Toyaca Organica in Playa Vista is some of the best food near LMU. They offer street-style tacos, guacamole, tostada salads and more.
But as much as people admire Doheny’s beautiful, eggshell white walls, very few actually know the history behind them. It was through Carrie Estelle Doheny’s passion for the Catholic faith and education that she eventually became a benefactor of
LMU. As a result of her generosity, the University named Doheny Hall after her. Located right next to Huesman Chapel and home to a portion of the University’s Honors students, Doheny Hall continues to cherish both faith and education, two things that were very important to the late Carrie Estelle Doheny. I would like to think that Doheny would be proud of the hardworking students who call her building home. Before you can get to know the dorm building, you have to get to know the person behind the building, Carrie Estelle Doheny. Born in Philadelphia in 1875 to German immigrants, Carrie Estelle Betzold, she moved to Los Angeles at 15 years old. While working as a telephone operator, Betzold met Edward L. Doheny, a prominent oil tycoon and the inspiration for the protagonist of Upton Sinclair’s novel “Oil!,” which was the source material for Paul Thomas Anderson’s film “There Will Be Blood.” The two married after a brief courtship, thrusting the now Carrie Estelle Doheny into a position of wealth and influence, according to the Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation. Carrie was a devout Catholic with a deep compassion for the less fortunate within her own community. She would fund the construction of a church and a hospital during the early years of their marriage, naming both buildings after St. Vincent de Paul.
After the death of her husband in 1935, Doheny continued to focus on her philanthropic work. In 1949, Carrie Estelle Doheny would, with the help of her personal advisor Reverend William G. Ward, create the Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation. It is through this foundation, as well as her other philanthropic work, that Doheny continues to spread her love for the people of Los Angeles. Even today, the Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation continues to contribute to various humanitarian efforts. It supports multiple organizations including the Little Sisters of the Poor, a group that serves low income elderly people in the Los Angeles area, the Outreach Concern, a non-profit that provides counseling to students with emotional issues, and the Union Rescue Mission, a group that has served tens of thousands of individuals experiencing homelessness on Skid Row with faith and understanding. As LMU students, it can be easy to take our campus for granted. By educating outselves on the lives and stories of the people whom our buildings were named after, we can become more appreciative and grow just a little closer to our school and its history. This is the opinion of Cormac Dolezal, a sophomore film production major from Woodbury, MN. Tweet comments to @ cormacdolezal or email comments to jcornblatt@theloyolan.com.
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Darn Things Kids SAy
By Ellen Na, Cartoon Intern
By Lianlen Joy Distor, Cartoon Intern
LEO’S LMU EXP
CHARACTERS WITH CHARACTER
By Gabrielle Ouellette, Cartoon Intern
Check out more Loyolan cartoons online now! Visit LALoyolan.com/cartoons and catch up on your favorites!
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R.I.P. to our New Year’s resolutions If you’re still keeping up with your resolutions ... we don’t believe you. Jordan Boaz
Eating Ice Cream
As a fellow resolution maker, I bring to you a resolution timeline. If it isn’t the most accurate thing you’ve read this year, then go ahead and sue. Jan. 1: We all have high internal energy and motivation. Gyms are packed despite the hangovers. Leftover sweets are thrown out because there isn’t a place for them in the new year. We’re losing weight. We’re pumped. We’re ready to go. Jan. 8: Going strong. We think we might be able to keep these resolutions up! Really, the whole year. We can do it. Jan. 15: Okay, we cheated a little, but we were tired and work started back up. It doesn’t matter that much, we’re mostly back on track. It’s totally fine.
Jan. 22: We’re back in the swing of things. Resolutions have been pushed to the back of our minds, but really, this pile of papers on our desks and the “Friends” reruns on TV need to be prioritized. Feb. 1: The free month at the gym has expired, and it’s getting cold. Really, isn’t it time for a well-deserved break? We allow hot pockets and gummy bears to accompany us to the couch. Also, we might as well embrace the Superbowl food while we can. Feb. 8: We start to think that maybe we can start the resolutions back up this summer. But for now, we’re going to keep devouring our heart-shaped chocolates. It’s fine. The rest of February: Occasional guilt when breaking resolutions, but no move to fix it. March and beyond: The resolution has faded, as has our guilt about it. It’s life as we like it: warm, comfortable, cheesy and sweet. If I had suggestions, or even thought that the situation called
Christian Boggs | Loyolan
At least she showed up. Looking at the weights while on the floor holding ice cream is better than nothing at all. Don’t fight it — you aren’t count heading up your porch built to live a life of hard work stairs as exercise. It’s okay — and unbreakable rules. You’re R.I.P. to the resolutions is not an meant to flick crumbs off R.I.P. to you… quite yet. It may take your bed-sheets after eating a few years off your time, though… chips straight from the bag, but hey — no worries. meant to fill that fro-yo cup to overflowing and meant to
for suggestions, I would provide them. But really, it’s no use. Giving up on our resolutions isn’t only likely, it’s inevitable. And the people for whom gym life is a lifestyle, not a resolution, will be relieved — they’ll have the gym back to themselves.
Stenography major offered starting this fall I promise, none of it is quite as boring as it sounds. Andrew Dazé
Fast Flippin’ Fingers
Graphic: Lanlen Joy Distor | Loyolan
Students should define stenography before declaring it.
The LMU Teachers Association (UTA) has voted on the next major to be introduced in the Fall of 2019. With overwhelming majority, the winner is stenography, beating out video game development and zoology. Stenography is used largely in the courtroom and executive meetings where things must be transcribed from speech to text. Sarah Blanders, spokesperson
for UTA, showed excitement for the verdict. “The teachers have really taken note of students’ strengths to find which major could serve as a segway to professional life,” she said. “You are all typing so vigorously on your computers during lecture it only makes sense to further train those interested in stenography.” One of the courses within the major that is gaining a lot of clout is American Sign Language (ASL). When coupled with stenography, a special “Ear to the Hearless” pin and certificate are awarded. This grants those who have earned it access to many opportunities to work with those hard of hearing.
Blanders advertises the major by saying, “Put those dexterous fingers to work! You’re so good at typing while teachers talk, you must be taking copious notes. Get paid to do that.” Applications for the stenography major open at the end of the spring semester and will be admitting a handful of fastfingered individuals into the program. Get those words per minute above 200 for a fighting chance!
The Bluff is a humorous and satirical section published in the Loyolan. All quotes attributed to real figures are completely fabricated; persons otherwise mentioned are completely fictional.
SPORTS
laloyolan.com
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Coach Dunlap achieves 400th NCAA win
Mike Dunlap becomes first coach in LMU history to earn the feat. Jameson O'Neil Sports Intern @LALoyolan
As the final buzzer sounded in LMU’s 76-64 home victory over Portland this month, fifth-year Head Coach Mike Dunlap officially notched his 400th NCAA win as a head coach, the first LMU coach to do so, according to NCAA Career Statistics. Yet, despite leading players to so many victories over the course of head coaching in several different leagues for 30 years, Dunlap said that it’s winning itself that has been the most challenging element to manage this year. “The biggest difficulty for me has been teaching our guys how to handle winning,” said Dunlap, whose team just came off a 74-70 win over Pepperdine on Saturday. “This is a program that hasn’t won a lot for decades. It’s a place where it’s foreign to the players to know how to double-down on winning and carry it in a way where it keeps them hungry and where they also push back on all the compliments.” The Lions started the 2018-19 season off hot, notching eight straight wins, making it the best
start in program history. Since that point, however, Dunlap’s group has cooled off a bit, with the team losing five of their past 11 games, including three losses to West Coast Conference teams. Regardless, this year’s Lions (14-5) are on the path to achieve one of their strongest seasons in school history. LMU will be tested in their next two matchups, as they visit San Diego on Jan. 24 and Santa Clara on Jan. 26 before returning home. “Both will be tough games,” said Dunlap. “The key point for us is we cannot have 14, 16, 18 turnovers and expect to win. These are seasoned teams that know how to slow the tempo down and they know who to go to, so we have to defend. We have to be able to take care of the ball and rebound.” This awareness of his team’s needs and weaknesses is a skill Dunlap has picked up in his tenured career as a head coach, which includes time at Cal Lutheran University (NCAA DII and III), the Adelaide 36ers (Australia’s National Basketball League), Metro State University of Denver (NCAA DII) and the Charlotte Bobcats (National Basketball Association). “The most important thing I've learned in my career is to avoid overreacting, no matter what circumstances are thrown your
via LMU Lions
After a rocky first four seasons at LMU, Head Coach Mike Dunlap has turned the tide of the program this year. way,” said Dunlap. “Every coach has This toughness is exhibited in the as opposed to [isolation] ball. two things in any given day that he team's stellar defense. As of Jan. This creates more of a balance,” couldn’t see coming ... I look back at 21, LMU ranks 15th in the nation he said, “We aren’t depending on what I overreacted to and I’m much in scoring defense based off of just one guy that night to carry calmer now.” opponent points per game. the team.” Dunlap is leading the strongest In addition to strength, the He realized that his team is not Lion team since his arrival. At this development of this group through built to play an up-tempo game, point in the season, Dunlap’s Lions rigorous practices and workouts has but instead to play strong defense are just one win away from tying been of substantial importance. and take smart shots on offense. He his strongest season at LMU, 15-15 “We have fierce practices,” believes that playing in this style in 2017 — with 11 games still left in said Dunlap, whose focus for provides the most opportunities for the schedule. this group is centered primarily improvement, if the team is pushed Dunlap thinks this group’s around decreasing turnover to their fullest potential. work ethic and attitude are rate and improving defensive “The work is in front of us day contributing factors toward their rebounding. He added that in and day out — it’s my job to get success this season. the men need to increase their them out of their comfort zone,” “We recruit toughness,” he said. ball movement, which Dunlap said Dunlap. “There’s a degree of “We recruit from good programs has tried to improve through discomfort in that, but nobody and we’re fortunate to have a team implementing “drills that make that’s ever been great at anything that is built this way.” them dependent on each other stays in their comfort zone.”
Douglas expected to be key part of team's future Douglas from Page 12
“I had already signed to Loyola, thankfully, because it was a bad injury,” said Douglas. “I tore a couple things in my ankle. But [I recovered by] just fixing it, getting it right. And then when I came here, I worked on it a lot. I've got my ankle brace and Keith [Ellison] is a great trainer, he's helped me out a lot.” High profile cases—such as Brandon Roy and Greg Oden, whose careers ended because of knee and foot conditions after numerous surgeries—suggest that athletes who have suffered significant injuries struggle both mentally and physically when recovering from injury. As a result of the difficult recovery process, athletes can become more hesitant to put their bodies on the line and can struggle to return to the same level of athleticism. “I'm athletic, so I'm trying to dunk on people. I would say [the injury affects how I play] like a little bit, but I know I need to play as hard as I can,” said Douglas. Douglas has impressed fans this year with his unique athleticism and energizing dunks. However, fans shouldn’t get too excited yet because, according to Douglas, he has yet to fully heal from his injuries suffered last year. “This summer, I did a lot of rehab on my ankle, getting it back right,” said Douglas. “Just getting healthy is the main thing I'm doing and, still, I'm like 90
percent [healthy], so [I’m still] rehabbing it.” Douglas is roommates with the team’s only other freshman, forward Ivan Alipiev — the sharpshooter from Sofia, Bulgaria. The two have a strong bond on and off the court. “We are always together. Like wherever we go, we're always together, no matter what,” said Alipiev. Ivan praised how much Douglas contributes to the team’s success and how he has improved his three-point shooting from where it was at the beginning of the season. However, Alipiev claims that Douglas' greatest strength is in his effort. “His main thing is rebounding and hustle; that's the thing he does the best, for sure,” said Alipiev. “He's leveling up every month, more and more, and I'm really proud to see him do that.” With unlimited potential comes high expectations. As a freshman in the starting lineup, Coach Dunlap's goal for Douglas is to win the WCC Freshman of the Year award. Dunlap understands the effort required of Douglas and believes he has the tools to achieve that goal. Although Douglas would probably agree with Coach Dunlap’s goal, Douglas’ focus is on school first. “My first goal is to get my degree," Douglas said. "I just want to be a great leader, on and off the court.”
SPORTS
SCORES UPDATE
M Basketball
LION
74-70 W
vs. Pepperdine
SPORTS
M Tennis
4-3 L
vs. Fresno State
W Basketball
95-86 L
at Pepperdine
W Tennis
5-2 L
at Oregon
Follow us on Twitter @laloyolan for up-to-date scores.
Page 12
LOS ANGELES LOYOLAN | January 23, 2019 | laloyolan.com
Young Douglas plays for the love of basketball After a disastrous injury, freshman Dameane Douglas is happy to play. Armen Shrikian Sports Intern @LALoyolan
Whether on the gridiron, the baseball diamond or the hardwood courts, Dameane Douglas has always garnered attention for his jaw-dropping athleticism. The son of former NFL wide receiver of the same name, Douglas was a threesport athlete who, despite his father’s preference, is now playing the game he loves the most — basketball. As a true freshman, Douglas has been given an opportunity to create his own path to stardom after recently being placed in the starting lineup for LMU’s men’s basketball team. “I was playing football, basketball and baseball until my senior year, but I knew basketball was my love, so it's the thing I wanted to do,” said Douglas. “[I wanted to] be in the gym at night and in the morning; I wanted to do something that I love, so that's why I picked basketball.” Since arriving at LMU, Douglas has seen his role continue to increase within the men’s basketball team. “I'm just happy [I get to] help my team win,” said Douglas. “I'm
just really thankful that Coach Dunlap and the team trust me ... to be in the starting lineup and play big minutes.” Douglas has done exactly that, helping the team achieve their greatest start in program history. At 6 feet and 7 inches, Douglas has all of the physical tools needed to become a star. Head Coach of LMU men’s basketball Mike Dunlap discussed how he was originally interested in recruiting Douglas because “his athletic ability was superior, so you could see that right away.” Coach Dunlap shared that what makes Douglas a great player on and off the court is his parents. Dunlap mentioned how, during his recruiting visit, he was impressed by Douglas’ parents due to their organization and prioritization of academics. Just as important as the talent of a young individual is the family who raised them, and the example that has been set by their parents. Douglas mentioned that having a father who had dealt with the college recruitment process himself made it easier for him to focus on what truly matters when selecting a school. “My dad and I have a really good relationship and he's just been in my life since [the day I was born]. So I just appreciate him for that, because I know a lot of players don't have their fathers in their
via LMU Lions
Freshman guard/forward Dameane Douglas (13) has gained the trust of his teammates and coaches in his first season at LMU, including a prominent role in the starting lineup this season. lives,” said Douglas. “Since I was literally five years old, he was my basketball, baseball and football coach — he was tough on me.” Although Douglas' father was disappointed that his son wouldn’t be following in his footsteps by playing football, he ultimately would learn to understand and appreciate his son’s love for basketball. “[My father] played basketball in high school, but you know he's all football. But he started to get more into it,” said Douglas. “He
taught me how to work out. He tells me what I need to work on, off the court. He's watching in the stands, so you know after the game he'd be telling me what he thinks I did good, and whatever he thinks I did bad and what I need to work on.” Douglas understands his father’s initial disappointment about his decision to quit football in order to focus on basketball and is grateful for his father’s support in helping him achieve his goal of becoming a
Division I basketball player. “I respect him a lot and [his acceptance] of my choice to play basketball—because I was a lot better at football and baseball— and I decided that I just wanted to focus on basketball,” said Douglas. Douglas’ journey to LMU hasn’t been easy. He has had overcome significant obstacles to play college basketball, including a serious injury during his senior year of high school. See Douglas | Page 11
Mostly international roster looks to make LMU history Women's tennis looks to build off of their best finish in LMU history. Miles Thomas
Asst. Sports Editor @LALoyolan The women's tennis team has nine players, seven of whom are international students representing six different countries. While other teams at LMU have representation from other nations, the women’s tennis team is unique in that it is the only team where a majority of the active roster is comprised of international players. The women’s team finished last season with a 17-6 overall record and a 7-2 record in the West Coast Conference. Last season saw them tie for second place in conference standings and their strong season earned them their highest ranking in program history, finishing at No. 55 in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association team rankings. Being an international student can come with challenges, including a difference in play style. Players have had to adjust to playing and training with a full team, where before they were practicing and playing on their own. Arriving from Australia, junior Siobhan Anderson found being an international student-athlete in America to be a growing experience for her and her teammates.
“At times it's hard, as there can be culture clashes,” Anderson said. “Being able to relate to each other and support each other through it made the transition a lot easier.” Because most of the players are international students, they share experiences of adapting to living and playing in the U.S., which has contributed to the team's strong bond. “Everybody can relate to everyone's problems either in school or practice,” said German born sophomore Eva Marie Voracek. Sophomore Veronika Miroschnichenko, from Russia, was last season’s No.1 singles player on the team and was the first-ever LMU Division I AllAmerican in women's tennis program history. When speaking about the transition of playing in the U.S., Miroshnichenko came to a similar conclusion, citing her teammates as a key part of her transition to living and playing in the United States. She also was paired in doubles with Voracek. “It was a little bit of a challenge to adjust myself to be more of a team player rather than a single, individual one. Then it started becoming easier and easier each time I would step up on the court with the girls,” Miroschnichenko said. “It was a quick adjustment ... the girls made it easy to adapt to the environment and be a part of the team.”
via LMU Lions
Sophomore Veronika Miroshnichenko was named a Division I All-American last season, the first time in LMU history. Most of the team's members found the U.S. to be the only country that allows them to compete at a high level and get a degree simultaneasly, which could contribute to the large representation of international athletes. They are able to live and study in the U.S. while at the same time not having to sacrifice tennis. “I wanted to be able to play tennis as well as get a college degree. I couldn’t do this back home — the pathway was either go pro or play competitive college tennis,” said Anderson. "After a bit of research and talking to [coach] Agustin, I just had a good feeling that LMU was the right fit.” LMU head coach Agustin Moreno is in his fourth season as head coach, where the players believe his style of
coaching has led to their success on and off the court. “He’s trying to make us work as hard as we can. We like him as a coach — we really respect him and appreciate all the work he puts in,” said Miroschnichenko. “I’m sure dealing with so many different international players, [when] our mentalities are different, it is challenging for him to get everyone together and be on the same page, but he is very supportive of us.” As the season continues, the team currently sits with a 0-1 record, losing their first game of the season at Oregon. Despite the loss, the team’s goals and desire to win remain high with multiple team members agreeing to have one another's backs and fighting
to achieve the high goals that they have set for themselves, including a potential trip to the women's tennis championships. If achieved, it would be the first time in program history. Despite traveling to America, far away from home, playing tennis in a new environment and overcoming the obstacles that come with being an international student and an athlete, the Lion still manage to hold an appreciation for one another. The team will see if these experiences can translate to another successful season, building off of last year’s historic run. "It's a team everybody can rely on and that makes it so special," said Voracek. "We are all willing to fight for this team and nobody gives up."