Los Angeles Loyolan January 30th 2019

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"Surviving R. Kelly" raises the question of how much art should be separated from life.

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SigEp questions University

Educator Michelle Young from the University of Virgina welcomed as new dean.

Molly Jean Box Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan

In 2020, LMU will welcome a new dean of the School of Education, Michelle D. Young, with the outgoing dean, Shane Martin's move to Seattle.

Young currently works as the executive director of the University Council for Education Administration (UCEA) and is a professor of educational leadership at the University of Virginia.

Young discovered her love of education growing up in a family of educators. “My mother was a teacher, my grandfather was a superintendent, my aunt was a school librarian,” Young said. “Education is fundamental to our society. It touches everyone. It brings communities together. It enables other parts of our society to function.”

In addition to teaching educational leadership, Young also serves at UCEA. According to their website, UCEA is an association of multiple universities dedicated to preparing and bettering educators for the benefit of their students and schools. Young has worked with UCEA since 2000, and has built upon the organization's development tools, resources, networks and partnerships.

“I am very proud of what UCEA has become,” Young said.

See New Dean | Page 2

SigEp and alumni raise concerns over University's handling of probation.

Kellie Chudzinski Editor-In-Chief @LALoyolan

After releasing their official response to the measures put in place by the University, fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp) received support from the Greek community, other students and alumni.

Members of the fraternity, as well as alumni, voiced their concern over about how the University handled the situation, leading to the fraternity being placed under “interim responsive measures.”

The fraternity was placed under "interim responsive measures" in early January, previously reported by the Loyolan. These measures include being prohibited to recruit and other sanctions

placed against the organization that are in place through fall 2019 and will be reviewed at the end of spring.

Materials provided to the Board of Regents included information from the University stated, over the past nine semesters, the University has received 23 allegations of sexual or interpersonal misconduct by members of fraternities on campus, according to a board member.

Thirteen of those allegations were against SigEp members, according to the anonymous board member. Ten allegations were made against members of other fraternities. The board member, who spoke with the Loyolan, was concerned over campus safety with no sanctions being placed against other fraternities, he said.

Alex Gavia, president of SigEp, claimed instances of open deception by Student Leadership and Development (SLD).

Gavia believes that the way LMU handles

fraternities that have members who commit misconduct needs to be more transparent.

Gavia and a Board of Regents member, an advisory board of the University, who asked to remain anonymous, raised concerns over University conduct and transparency.

The board member believed that students should be able to expect honesty from school officials. Gavia echoed the concerns. He said SLD was deceptive during interactions with the fraternity, including not interviewing members of the fraternity before claiming they had a culture that caused concern.

Gavia also said, in addition to the “interim responsive measures” put in place by the University, that SigEp has put their own measures into place to try and fix problems raised by LMU. See SigEp | Page 2

Longest government shutdown in history ends The shutdown left several thousands of federal workers without one months pay.

Sofia Acosta News Intern @LALoyolan

Although the government shutdown is over, a three-week deadline for the continuing resolution may lead to a national emergency.

The shutdown's implications still loom over federal workers and the general public.

On Jan. 25, President Donald Trump signed

a bill to reopen the government for three weeks, ending the government shutdown that lasted 35 days — the longest in history, according to the New York Times.

The shutdown began on Dec. 22, closing over half of the federal government. It left hundreds of thousands of federal workers on furlough, receiving informal documents of debt acknowledgments instead of actual pay.

Although technically functioning again, it will take time for the government to resume normal operations, as reported by

the New York Times.

The shutdown began when negotiations were rejected for the border wall. Trump stayed persistent, requesting $5 billion in funding over the course of the shutdown until the temporarily resolution was agreed upon.

Federal officials must now resume work after the shutdown, but it is a tedious process to organize after 35 days of no operation, as “roughly a quarter of the federal government was affected directly by the shutdown,” according to Vox.

Congress passed a bill that was signed by Trump to allow back pay to federal workers on Jan. 16. However, the business implications still remain.

Federal contractors, such as security guards, janitors, cafeteria workers, etc., are excluded from the back pay guarantee, according to Vox. Business Law Professor Arthur GrossSchaefer argued that the economic implications will continue to last long after the shutdown is eradicated.

See Shutdown | Page 3

Interfaith celebration & prayer breakfast

Kayla Brogan | Loyolan

via reivax, Wikimedia Commons

The Lincoln Memorial, as shown above, was one of the many buildings closed during the shutdown.

An interfaith celebration and prayer breakfast to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was hosted by the Office of Campus Ministry and the Department of Ethnic and Intercultural Services on Thursday, Jan. 24. The keynote speaker, Rev. James M. Lawson Jr., an activist and leader during the Civil Rights Movement, shared his experiences with the audience.

NEWS

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LMU releases edited logos for marketing initiative

via LMU MarComm

Marketing and Communications (MarComm) debuted their proposals for new logos as part of their visual identity redesign initiative in October. Now, after synthesizing feedback and taking it into account, MarComm unveiled their revisions of the former proposals. For instance, the redesigned ceremonial mark is now divided into quadrants, as opposed to the triad on their initial proposal. Additionally, the angel symbol (representing Los Angeles) from the previous ceremonial mark, which was absent from the proposal, is present once again.

Campus welcomes SigEp responds to University new education dean New dean from Page 1 “It positively impacts programs, the field and people who make UCEA what it is.”

In a press release published on Jan. 9 by LMU’s newsroom, Executive Vice President and Provost Thomas Poon said that he is “thrilled that she will be joining LMU to build upon our School of Education’s national reputation for excellence and chart its ambitious course for the future.”

While discussing her move to LMU, Young said that she was thrilled to be offered the dean’s position after a process of careful consideration by the search committees and leadership team in charge of finding an educator to replace Martin.

“I am looking forward to getting to know the LMU community,” Young said. “I am looking forward to working closely with a group of exceptional university colleagues who are unabashedly committed to equity, social justice and high quality educational experiences for all students and adults.”

In addition to her accomplishments in the classroom, Young has also worked on six books and has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Young said that the publications she has worked on share a main focus of how school leaders and policies can cultivate

quality and supportive experiences for their students.

“The books, journal articles, chapters and other manuscripts that I have published reflect my strong commitment to equity and quality as well as my desire to provide concrete examples and ideas for fostering positive change,” said Young.

Young has spent 22 years working on bettering the educational community and said she is delighted to bring her work to LMU. “LMU is a high impact institution with a commitment to engaging in the broader community with purpose, to educating the whole person and to using research to make a difference for students, schools and their communities,” Young said.

Young will officially begin her career at LMU on June 1, 2020, according to the press release.

Young will be replacing current Dean Shane Martin. Martin started off as a counselor in the LMU residence halls in 1992 and will now continue his work at Seattle University as its new provost. Until Young’s official start at LMU in 2020, Associate Dean of School of Education Mary McCullough will act as interim dean.

SigEp from Page 1 Director of Student Leadership and Development, Andrea Niemi, said that the decision to place SigEp under responsive measures was “made in the best interest of the organization and the campus community,” after the University reviewed concerns about SigEp. “LMU will continue to hold all student organizations accountable and require corrective action when necessary,” Niemi said.

SigEp claimed that the fraternity had an agreement with Niemi to allow the fraternity to comment on the allegations and measures against them before the University. Niemi, the organization claims, broke this agreement when she provided comment to the Loyolan last week for the story, “SigEp on probation.”

Niemi did not directly respond

to requests for comment on this possible agreement but said that she included the SigEp president on her response for comment over email.

SigEp declined to comment at the time of the last article and were aware that Niemi commented.

Niemi said that the University and SigEp are both trying to achieve “an excellent chapter of” SigEp. In their statement, SigEp said the fraternity does not support or accept sexual or interpersonal misconduct, and that the fraternity expels members who are connected to that behavior, which the statement called “repulsive.”

Members of SigEp protested outside of a Board of Regents meeting on Jan. 22. In the statement on their Instagram, SigEp explained the purpose of their silent protest was not protesting the measures

placed on them by the University, but was to protest the “deliberate deception and lack of due process” the organization claims they experienced.

In an email to the Loyolan, Niemi said that SigEp is not on probation, but have been placed under interim responsive measures, being unable to recruit as well as no social functions with alcohol and permanent cancellation of SigEp’s date event Mob Days, as previously reported by the Loyolan.

Lane Bove, Senior Vice President of Student Affairs, stood by a letter to SigEp alumni in which she said she explained the measures put in place and said she is confident the University acted with professionalism.

Mission Day speaker aims to find common ground in polarizing discourse

Alyssa Reece | Loyolan

via LMU Newsroom

Michelle Young will be taking over as the new dean of the School of Education after working at the University of Virginia.

Dr. Julie Hanlon Rubio (above), professor of social ethics at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, gave a talk on Friday, Jan. 25 in Sacred Heart Chapel. She discussed how we can engaged in different dialogues with respect to better understand divisive issues in a world marked by conflict and distrust. ASLMU, The Office of Mission and Ministry, Ethnic and Intercultural Serices, Student Affairs and BCLA all collaborated to host this talk, which also featured a lunch reception.

NEWS

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BURNING QUESTIONS

This week, News Intern Austin Woods sat down with LMU IT member Jeffrey Schwartz, whose son was exposed to E. coli earlier in the year, about how the community offered support.

1

How did you find out about your son’s exposure to E. coli?

We were out of town for Thanksgiving with family and he had some stomach issues which we initially thought were stomach flu. After about 48 hours, when it didn’t get better, we took him to the hospital for what we thought would [involve] IV fluids and maybe some medicine. He quickly declined in condition and was admitted to the hospital. After a number of tests, we were told the next day that there was an E. coli diagnosis.

2

How did the LMU community get involved?

I was working with my supervisors to coordinate my absence. They were wonderful and explained to me that they were fully supportive of any time I needed away. I was overwhelmed by what they did in my absence, not only picking up the slack that I left by not being here for work, but also the blood drive that was led by Crista Copp, my supervisor in ITS.

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How did your son recover after this exposure?

We were at the hospital for four weeks. They didn’t have to be cautious when giving him the treatments after the donations were cleaned and processed by the hospital.

It was truly an incredible community effort and very impactful.

Want to read even more questions with Schwartz?

Check them out at laloyolan. com.

CURes student research project affected by shutdown Shutdown from Page 1

“Trust is the basis of an economy ... there are people that work for the government, and have trust in the government,” said Gross-Schaefer. “These people have now been forced out to other places because of this shutdown.”

The shutdown restricted economic growth, left 1.5 percent of the country’s labor force in limbo and affected federal workers in every state, according to The New York Times.

Research by students has also been hindered by the shutdown. The Center for Urban Resilience (CURes) is funded by LMU, but many projects for students are also funded

by The National Parks Foundation and by the California Fish and Wildlife Service.

A specific and pressing on-campus project involves working with the shorebird California Least Terns, a federally endangered species. The Terns’ natural habitat has been slowly disintegrating from

beach grooming. Despite the protectional procedures set in place, American crows now pose a threat as they prey on the chicks.

Student researchers at LMU have been working to develop protocol to help protect the nesting habitats, but the project is run

by The National Parks Foundation.

“The National Parks Foundation has a representative ... he works with us at CURes and he has to basically verify anything that we want to do,” said Ian Wright, a junior biology major working on the project.

“We have come up with more protocol for aversion tactics, but we can’t add that protocol until [the representative] comes back to work.”

Normally the protocol process is approved and signed within one to two business days.

“The progression of our research is halted because of the government shutdown,” said Wright. “We tried to add the protocol two and a half weeks ago

and we still haven’t heard anything back ... because we know [the representative] can’t do anything until the government is back and running properly.”

Time-restricted situations can have detrimental repercussions in the case of research.

“If [approval isn’t given by] March, we are not going be able to get the crows out of the site,” said Wright. “Therefore, the Least Terns are going to be under more of a threat of extinction.”

The effects of the shutdown continue to loom over workers as the reopening is temporary. If the three weeks pass and no resolution takes place, Trump “said that he was ready to renew the confrontation or declare a national emergency to bypass Congress altogether,” according to a New York Times article.

Although the reopening of the government seems to be a victory by the Democratic party, the imminent possibility

of a national emergency will further the damages to businesses and other workers.

“It is possible that the shutdown could have lasting effects on [foreign] investments also,” said Gross-Schaefer. “America has been seen as one of the more stable countries ... this shutdown has undermined that.”

The second-longest government shutdown lasted 21 days under President Bill Clinton, according to The New York Times.

A “bipartisan, bicameral committee” has been assigned negotiations on the border wall efforts for the Homeland Security Department under the Feb. 15 deadline, according to The Washington Post.

“The shutdown only hurts people and was being used as a political tool,” said GrossSchaefer. “There must be a bipartisan way to protect the people.”

House Democrats plan to introduce a bill today, Wednesday January 30, to stop a government shutdown from reoccurring.

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Get involved on campus this spring with service related events

via Loyolan Archive

The Advocacy Teach-In is hosted annually by the University’s Center for Service and Action (CSA).

Social justice and service opportunities are plentiful this February Raven Yamamoto Social Justice Intern @LALoyolan

Jan.29-Feb.6: Service Organization Recruitment Do you love service, social justice and community-building?

Consider joining a service organization this semester, as this week marks the start of LMU’s service organization annual recruitment period. All 10 service organizations, each with their respective social justice focus, will be hosting recruitment events during this time in search of new members.

Be sure to follow their respective social media outlets or keep an eye out for their fliers around campus so you don’t miss them.

Feb. 1: #WORKITOUT Summit LGBT Student Services (LGBTSS) is hosting a seminar dedicated to “embracing equitable, diverse and inclusive workforce development.”

The event is open to faculty and students and will be held at the Life Sciences Auditorium from 4:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 2: Advocacy Teach-In at the Crossroads LMU’s Center for Service and Action (CSA) is hosting its annual Advocacy Teach-In, a day dedicated to identifying effective tools for social justice advocacy in everyday settings. CSA will also be bringing in various non-profit organizations to speak to students and faculty about what it means to be an advocate.

The event is available to anyone and will be hosted on St. Rob’s Lawn from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Feb. 9: Live Scan Session (Fingerprinting) The Center for Service and Action will also be facilitating Live Scans, better known as fingerprinting or background checks, to students who need them to volunteer at nonprofit agencies. These live scans will be offered at a discounted rate at CSA at 12 p.m.

Feb. 11: Heal the Bay Volunteer Orientation Passionate about environmental justice and cleaner beaches?

Attend Heal the Bay’s information session to find out more about their different programs for volunteers and Los Angeles water issues. The session will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Heal the Bay’s headquarters in Santa Monica.

OPINION Accuracy, relevancy, responsibility

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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.

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With the president of the United States naming journalists as the “enemy of the people,” being a journalist at any level comes with its challenges. When the media is slandered by the most powerful figure in the nation, it can intimidate journalists and prevent us from doing our full job of informing the public and being a watchdog to persons in power.

As journalists, we have the responsibility to present information that is accurate and fair, reporting with integrity to keep the public up to date on news that is important.

Social media has ensured that we are constantly exposed to news right as it breaks.

This accessibility means that journalists are responsible for directly informing the public in not only a timely, but also a factual manner. While this responsibility can seem like a burden to some, we enjoy the opportunity to tell these stories, to be the voice for the voiceless.

The concept of “fake news,” propelled by Trump, has found its way into our national discussion on the state of our media. And yet, during this turbulent time for the media, there has been a spiked interest in journalism among university students. Universities have recorded increases in enrollment in journalism majors, some seeing a rise of interest up to 19 percent. Our own university opened a journalism major for the first time this past fall. Interest in the field of journalism among students tends to increase during high pressure times in America, where the press—for better or worse—is at the center of the storm. The Nixon Watergate era also led to more public interest in journalism as the industry saw a rise in investigative journalism that covered the government more critically, as stated in the New York Times.

We are lucky enough to live in a country where the right to a free press is granted to us

in the Constitution by the First Amendment.

Yet, one in three Americans can’t name any of the rights guaranteed in that amendment. In an effort to inform the public on one of their most important rights given to them by the Constitution, the Loyolan will be putting on events in February, including an event titled “Challenging Speech: Do Trump, technology and bad actors undermine free speech and thought, and threaten democracy?” hosted

by John Nockleby, director of Journalist’s Law School and Civil Justice Program at Loyola Law School. These events aim to empower and inform students about free speech in this political atmosphere.

Being a sstudent journalist comes with the responsibility of ethical journalism.

In your reporting, strive to be accurate, relevant and responsible. Support other student journalists who may be facing censorship by their universities.

Exercise your rights of free speech to bring attention to important issues concerning your campus and communities. We at the Loyolan believe it is important to act on these rights to make an impact with your voice.

Every American is granted freedom of press, speech, religion, petition and assembly. We cannot take these rights for granted and should utilize these freedoms even more when they are threatened. As students, you have the unique opportunity to engage with us, your local newspaper, on what you want to see in our paper. As our slogan states: “Your home, your voice, your news.” We are always accepting contributions and want to hear about your experiences on campus and what you want to see reported on. Take advantage of your First Amendment rights while on this campus, where your input will be reflected in our coverage.

“We cannot take these rights for granted and should utilize them even more when they are threatened.”

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Board Editorial Kellie Chudzinski Editor-in-Chief

Sami Leung

Managing Editor

Emily Rawson Managing Editor

Xochitl Pasten Managing Editor

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

OPINION

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Celine Alvarado loves women and herself CA: I really do feel connected to the idea of a lesbian Asian because that is who I am at the core. I do wish that there were more resources for queer women of color, especially with queer Asians because we don’t really see that a lot at LMU. There are a couple of Facebook groups, but that’s still not much. Being a queer woman of color is a really complicated relationship as I do feel that distance from Asian culture because I have that queer factor and it’s something that I need to work through. But also being a queer women of color is very rewarding because I know myself more. I think with a lot of cultures that have gone through years of colonization, you feel that connection to your precolonial ancestors. It is who we were supposed to be if Spain didn’t come.

At that same time though, you do feel that isolation just because you don’t really see a lot of queer Asians around in your daily life.

Myers for Hire Alex Myers

Asst. Opinion Editor @LALoyolan

C

eline Alvarado is an empowered lesbian who has a deep understanding of her own queerness. The senior communication studies major who is the president of LMU’s GenderSexuality Alliance took time to tell me how she understands herself in relation to a heteronormative world.

Alvarado’s interview is part of the Queer Lions Series, exploring queer experiences on campus. Visit visit laloyolan.com/special_issues/ queer_lions/ for more.

Alex Myers (AM): What does it mean to be queer for you?

Celine Alvarado (CA): Being queer just means accepting who I am and that I love women. Loving women is like a really big part of who I am and I shouldn’t be shameful for that. It’s just living my best life, I guess, by being me and not being afraid of any backlash.

AM: How does your faith tie into your sexuality?

CA: They’re two separate entities in my life. Faith does play some part in my life, as I do have some belief [in] some God. If they teach us that God created us for who we are then that means God made me gay and he still loves me regardless of that.

AM: How do you stay true to yourself in your daily life?

CA: I listened to an audio book called “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k,” which talks about how you pick and choose what f***s you

Alyssa Reece | Loyolan

Alvarado serves as the president of LMU’s Gender Sexuality Alliance and advocates for intersectional inclusion. want to give and there’s a tendency for a lot of people to give too many.

I think sometimes you need to be selfish and stop approaching life how you think others would want you to live it. Being queer, you kind of still feel that ostracization from society even though the influences do not feel direct. You feel yourself separate because the culture is heteronormative; it’s something you can’t relate to, nor can you relate to a lot of people. I find that a lot of support in queer people because we do need each other for that love in a world that still looks down on us.

own queerness and greater queer issues?

CA: I think it’s allowing me to really dive into the community part of what it means to be queer. For a lot my life there were many internal struggles where I was trying to figure myself out and once I realized that I’m a lesbian, I wanted to give back to my community. GSA makes me thankful for the community we have because it’s very supportive and we really do emphasize mindfulness, self care and good mental health because we’re all dealing with issues.

AM: How has being president of Gender-Sexuality Alliance helped you understand your

AM: Do you think that lesbians are not as well represented in the media as gay men are?

CA: As a whole I think there are more LGBT issues that are being represented now than ever.

However, I do wish that there were more lesbians in media because there are a lot of gay men on TV and the entertainment industry, which is really great, but there needs to be a wide array of representation. I do wish that there were more lesbians and relationships between women because there’s a lot of negative connotation with lesbians. I think having lesbian relationships on TV will debunk a lot of myths and help out a lot of questioning women who are trying to work out their identity.

AM: What does it mean to be a queer woman of color for you?

AM: Do you feel accepted in the Asian American community as a lesbian?

CA: I think because I don’t interact with the Asian American community as much, I can’t really gauge. However, I think it’s really rewarding just being myself and being annoyingly, openly lesbian.

This might be just me getting in my own head, but I feel like I do get a little judged from my community for being so open. Asian American culture is very straight, so being able to break that mold is empowering, but it’s also kind of scary too because it’s like breaking new territory.

This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan email comments to jlee@theloyolan.com.

OPINION

The press is not the enemy of the people Myers for Hire Alex Myers

Asst. Opinion Editor @LALoyolan

T

he word confusion can barely describe the reaction to what has unfolded with the viral controversial video of Covington High School student Nick Sandmann’s stare-off with Native American elder Nathan Phillips.

Many news networks sprinted to get the first story out about the incident as the video was posted all over social media. However, many news sources did not have the full context of the video when first reporting the incident. The Black Hebrew Israelites posted the full, nearly hour-long video a day after the two-minute clip went viral, which is crucial in analyzing the incident and getting the full story.

Today’s journalism is based on viral videos, which means that every major news network must race to see who can cover the story first. As a journalist, trying to cover a story based on one video and a bunch of angry tweets makes it extremely difficult to report accurately. When the video was first released, it was only the short clip of the stare down and the full video was not released until a day later.

There is no question that the reporting initially done on the incident was inaccurate.

An example of this was the misconception that the Covington high schoolers approached Phillips. On the contrary, Phillips approached them in an attempt to create peace between the high schoolers and the Black Hebrew Israelites who were throwing racial and homophobic slurs at the indigenous rights group and the high schoolers, according to an interview Phillips did for Democracy Now. However, misreporting this does not mean that this is an example of fake news, even though President Trump deemed it as the evil capacity of fake news on Twitter.

Being right is more important than being first and even though rushing to report on an event sometimes does lead to inaccurate reporting, news networks are trying to report with the best sources they have in the shortest time possible. This is not fake news; this is rushed news that has no agenda other than releasing information.

To add to the confusion, more information about the people involved in the video is released days and even weeks after. For example, Marine Corps Spokesperson Yvonne Carlock later reported that Phillips was not actually a Vietnam veteran but stationed in California as

Abby Pollak | Loyolan

Social media can confuse and divide us on issues and polarize our thinking.

a refrigerator technician for most of his service during the time of the Vietnam War. This information is important because both sides of the argument will try to use it to defend their claims. People who support the high schoolers could have used this fact to label Phillips as being dishonest and unclear because they could say that he was falsely implying that he was a Vietnam veteran. On the other hand, people who thought the Phillips was a Vietnam War veteran could use his status to increase the amount of disrespect the high schoolers were giving to him.

Also, the Covington boys were not as innocent as their defenders portrayed them to be. A source on Twitter posted a video of the boys yelling “build that wall” and provoking people walking by before they got into contact with Nathan Phillips, which shows that even though they were provoked by the Black Hebrew Israelites, they are not all innocent.

Wearing a Make America Great Again hat is a political statement because it represents the support of a presidential candidate. A person wearing a hat supporting our president is implicitly supporting his endorsement of a pipeline that infringed upon Native land. If you think that a white high schooler wearing a Make America Great Again while smirking at a Native American elder is not disrespectful, then I have no way of debating with you.

At this point, the situation is being painted to the public through bits and pieces of sources which leaves it up to you whether or not you think these high schoolers are in the right.

Nevertheless, the reporting on this event is not fake news; it’s reporters who work hard daily to get the truth out in order to inform the public.

This is the opinion of Alex Myers, a senior philosophy and French major from Edmond, Oklahoma. Tweet comments to @ LALoyolan or email editor@theloyolan.

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WHAT’S IGGY UP TO IN

20 19?

2015

2018

2017 First 500 students in attendance at the men’s basketball game will get a FREE limited-edition Loyolan Iggy bobblehead.

Thursday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. at Gersten Pavilion

2019?

life+arts

laloyolan.com Page 10

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t is nearly impossible to attend LMU and not know the names William H. Hannon and Eugenie B. Hannon. The LMU library—one of the most important landmarks of any campus—is named after the former, while an apartment complex on the other side of campus is named after the latter. The name Hannon is everywhere at this university, so let us take a dive into the lives behind the names.

William H. Hannon was born on Oct. 2, 1913 in Los Angeles, according to the Hannon Foundation website. Hannon’s father was a rancher, and his mother Eugenie was a homemaker. Though his family got by financially, they did not have nearly the fortune that would come to be synonymous with their surname.

Though he passed away in November of 1999 at 86, Hannon’s foundation continued to give to his alma mater. In 2009, the foundation supported the beautiful library that has now become a symbol of LMU. Hannon is just one of the many people who donated his earnings to something he loved. It was because of Loyola’s generosity that he was able to live the incredible life that he did; he returned the favor by allowing future students to experience the school he adored.

When the Great Depression hit in 1929, money was tight. The Hannon Foundation said that Hannon’s parents would send him on tours of the 21 missions of California.

These missions were, according to the California Missions Foundation, Franciscan expeditions from Mexico

under Spanish rule. For Hannon, these sparked an interest in not only California’s rich history, but also the religious figures involved.

One of these figures was Father Junipero Serra, a founder of the California missions and the first land developer in the state.

He served as a hero for Hannon, so much so that Hannon fought for the Catholic Church to declare him a saint. According to the Hannon Foundation, the process for Serra’s sainthood has begun.

Prior to graduating from Loyola High School in 1933, Hannon looked to Loyola University for his higher education. His family had no money to spend on college, so Hannon and his mother arranged a meeting with Loyola’s president at the time, Rev. Hugh C. Duce, S.J. In this legendary meeting, Hannon promised Duce that if he were allowed to attend Loyola, he would pay back his tuition as soon as he got a job. The president agreed, and, as the Hannon Foundation website said, “William’s college education began on a handshake deal that would result in his lifelong dedication and support of his alma mater.”

After graduating, Hannon briefly served as an intelligence officer for the United States Army. Though he did not work for long, he was awarded a medal for his work on the Manhattan Project, which led to the creation of the atomic bomb.

Hannon’s life was only just getting started. At 24, Hannon began working at Fritz B. Burns and Associates—the same Burns that LMU’s recreation

center is named after—who developed the Westchester area out of thousands of acres. According to the Hannon Foundation, Burns and Associates also developed Southern California locations such as Playa del Rey, Panorama City and Ontario.

As apparent in his obituary in the LA Times, Hannon’s most important work was done with Burns. Outside of just developing major areas, the two built and sold homes specifically for GIs coming home from World War II. Though he later served as president of the Fritz B. Burns Foundation, Hannon left Burns and Associates in his later life to pursue real estate independently.

Over the years, Hannon earned a fortune for himself. As he promised, William H. Hannon paid back Loyola University for his education, and with it, he donated incredibly large sums of money.

His first major contribution to the school was an apartment complex, which he named after his mother. Next to it, a field was named after her as well. Hannon also served as an Honorary Trustee and a Regent Emeritus of Loyola Marymount University.

This is the opinion of Jacob Cornblatt, a sophomore film, television, and media studies major from Gaithersburg, MD. Tweet comments to @ jacobcornblatt or email comments to jcornblatt@ theloyolan.com.

Photo: Lauren Holmes | Loyolan

The William H. Hannon Library is a landmark of LMU, and it is in many ways a “thank you” to LMU from a man who once could not afford to pay his tution.

eleventh annual

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM abstract submissions d u e f r i d ay , f e b r u a r y 8 t h for more information, please visit our website www.lmu.edu/symposium

arts showcase friday, march 22nd burns fine arts center symposium saturday, march 23rd university hall

life+arts

laloyolan.com Page 11

Sitting down with LMU band The Old Ways Cormac’s Back

Cormac Dolezal Life+Arts Intern @cormacdolezal

T

he Old Ways is an LMU-based rock band made up of Alfredo Hernández, senior political science major on guitar, Thomas Pribyl, junior finance major on drums, John Darrouzet IV, junior film and television production major on lead vocals, Alex Alford, junior film and television production major on guitar, Aison King, senior animation major on bass, and Charles Berg, junior music and math double major on keys. On Friday, they played a show to over 60 people.

Cormac Dolezal (CD): So why don’t you tell me how you guys originally got together?

Alfredo Hernández (AH): I had a band in high school, which was kind of the basis of a few songs, but we never had a singer. So, starting, I guess, my sophomore year of college I thought, okay, I’m just going to steal one of the honors first years that can sing to be in my band. Then I met John, and so John and I ... it just became a hassle to coordinate and go down to the valley …

John Darrouzet IV (JD): We never [went to the valley].

AH: Yeah, we never did it. And so I was just like let’s re-form the band here, do you know anyone who plays bass? And so he brought Aison on. And then we were like do you know anyone who plays drums? And so that was kind of the original four members of the band and then, after about a few months

of playing together, we decided we wanted to add some keyboard in there so we eventually added Charles in.

CD: So I understand you guys have an EP coming out pretty soon, could you tell me a little bit about it?

JD: I think a lot of it is figuring out what sort of sound we want to put out. Do we want it to be more rock focused or like our old stuff which is a little slower and a little more jazz influenced.

Alex Alford (AA): Yeah it is really important, the importance of this release is really ... important.

It’s our first big project that we’ll be giving out, so it is kind of going to mark us as a band.

CD: Do you guys have any influences that you look toward?

JD: I think we’re all over the board for that— AA: Steely Dan! TP: Steely Dan is a main thread.

AH: There’s a few main threads: Steely Dan, the Strokes, Led Zeppelin. What has made our sound our sound is that each one of us just plays how we normally play, we don’t conform our play-style to anything specific. We are not trying to sound like anyone else, we are just playing our songs how we would play them.

JD: We were gonna play another 45 minute set last night, but it, of course, got shut down. We have an hour and a half of original music, it’s just so difficult to find songs to cover because our influences are so different. I want to cover a sad boy Mumford and Sons song, and he wants to cover Kid Charlemagne or whatever it’s called.

AA: My magnum opus, my dream is [to] get this band to

cover Accidentally in Love by the Counting Crows because people would lose their minds if we played that live.

AH: From the get-go, I heavily restricted us from playing covers.

JD: But I think the good thing is, we have so many prolific songwriters, we are never at a loss of new songs or riffs. So in one sense, it’s really great because we can always draw from what we have and also really bad because we always have a huge backlog of songs.

AK: We have a Google Drive of ten different tracks that we have just not touched.

AH: I think one thing for sure is when the band first started it was just me writing and now Alex has really started up as well, and now he is putting his stuff in there. So now Alex and I pop off a song at least every two weeks, so there’s a new demo that gets added.

JD: One thing that’s cool from my viewpoint in songwriting is Alfredo or Alex will send a demo with kind of a [placeholder] name, and I’ll take it and create like the theme for the song. That’s how we did Idaho, Song 72, Recycled and Human Race. There’s just a lot of songs, where I’ll be like “Oh, that’s a fun little word to play with.”

CD: So I understand you guys have another show coming up?

AK: We’ve got one right now, but we are working on a couple.

AK: The one that’s pretty much settled is we are gonna play the concert put on by the RECA students, I think it’s Feb. 22. As you know, we had a show last night. We had two sets and the cops rolled up during the second one, so we have a whole set of music that nobody got to hear. So our plan for the RECA show is to finish out that set.

via Jack McGill

Lead vocalist of The Old Ways, senior political science major John Darrouzet IV, plays at a show.

AA: And sprinkle in a couple bops from the first set.

CD: So how would fans of the band go about listening to your music?

AK: We only have two songs released right now, so keep an eye out for the EP. But we are on almost every major streaming platform, so Apple Music, Google Music, Spotify.

AA: Deezer. And we’re also on TIDAL. AA: And the best way to listen to our music is to come to a live show because there [are] six minutes of music on Spotify, but you can hear an hour and a half if you go to a live show.

AH: Plus I feel like what we bring live doesn’t ever get fully translated well enough to our studio stuff because the live shows are kind of a marvel to behold, and at least talking with the people from last night, what a lot of people love about us is how much fun we have

playing our music.

AA: You know Jim Morrison from The Doors once said that a concert should be a religious experience, and that’s not what we are aiming for, but it’s definitely a great communion between people.

It’s a great come together.

TP: And our shows definitely have Catholic undertones.

AA: Definite Jesuit themes.

You can follow The Old Ways on Instagram and Facebook. Their unnamed EP is due out sometime in the coming spring.

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.

Student’s prediction for upcoming Oscars Totally Troy Troy Salmans Life+Arts Intern @salmansta12

O

scars season has begun and the 2019 nominations have just been released.

In less than a month from now, on Feb. 24, the year’s top actors, actresses, directors and musicians will take the stage for one of the year’s most anticipated events.

With the nominations officially out, movie lovers everywhere are excited to see their

favorites take home the awards. Some watch the Oscars for the hosts, some watch for the hype but most watch for the love of film and the creativity, technique and advocacy that goes into the films we adore each year.

There is a whole culture around the Oscars as many watch religiously every year, planning big events with their family or friends. Katherine Meyer, a sophomore marketing major, is one of those fans. While she is not a film major, her love for film goes all the way back to childhood, as she has watched the Oscars with her family ever since she was little. Every year, she watches each nominated film in the month before the big night.

Lianlen Joy Distor | The Loyolan

The 91st Oscars Ceremony will be held on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. PST.

Troy Salmans (TS): What do you do for the Oscars annually?

Katherine Meyer (KM): Every year my family throws a huge Oscar viewing party so I’ve always had a love for this time of year.

We all cast our Oscar predictions before the show and bet on who we think will win.

Now that I’m in my second year at LMU and have an apartment here on campus, I carry on that tradition with all of my friends, throwing my own party. For me, the Oscars have always been a way for me to bond with my family and now it is something I get to do with my friends, and that is really special to me.

TS: Who has been your favorite Oscars host?

KM: Ellen was probably my favorite host thus far; she’s always so funny I can’t get enough of her. But, I did really love Jimmy Kimmel’s first time hosting in 2017. It was a great show, but tough Oscars for me, even with my families big party — I knew it was my last awards at home before leaving for college. I love when comedians or talk show hosts host because they bring a lot to the show and, honestly, put on more of a show in general. Since Kevin Hart is no longer hosting this year, I am excited to find out who it will be.

TS: What is your favorite Oscar category?

KM: The Costume Design category has always been one of my favorites because I respect the amount of work that goes into creating the perfect looks for every character in a film. Fashion in a film is an expression of a unique art form, it represents the time period, genre and who the character is all in just perfectly decided pieces of clothing.

It plays a huge part in characterizing the people within the film.

TS: Who has your vote for animated feature film and why?

KM: Easy, “Incredibles 2” all the way. I don’t have to explain why, it just is.

TS: Who has your vote for Best Picture and why?

KM: I’m rooting for “The Favourite” to win Best Picture. I love Emma Stone and I think everything about that film is so well done. The entire cast was excellent and I am obsessed with 18th century England and the whole time period the movie takes place in. Some might not understand the comedy in the movie, but it is absolutely hilarious, the comedic play on old English manners is pure gold.

TS: Who is your favorite actor or actress nominated this year and why?

KM: Emma Stone is such a talented actress. Besides being literally stunning, she is brilliant. She is hilarious in The Favourite.

It is crazy to have watched her change from the girl in “House Bunny” to becoming an Academy Award winning actress. She has grown so much and truly perfected her acting skills and it is a gift to watch her work.

She has my vote all the way for Actress in a Supporting Role.

If you haven’t already looked at this year’s Oscar nominations, you have just about four weeks to cast your own votes and prepare for the night. Who knows who will be hosting this year, but no matter what, it is guaranteed to be a great show.

This is the opinion of Troy Salmans, a freshman film production major from Boston, MA. Tweet comments to @salmansta12 or email comments to jcornblatt@ theloyolan.com.

life+arts

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‘Surviving R. Kelly’ spotlights survivors Always Ally Ally Boulas

Asst. Life+Arts Editor @allyroseboulas

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“

gnition” is a college party anthem. Whether it’s being blared out at from club speakers, over the aux cord at a house party or sung along with friends in the car, R. Kelly’s 2002 hit is hard to escape.

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t know at least some of the words, but up until this January, many people didn’t know the story behind the R&B singer and the charges he’s faced.

The six-part docuseries from Lifetime, “Surviving R. Kelly,” chronicles the allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct that have followed Kelly throughout his decades-long career. While he hasn’t been found guilty of any of the allegations in a court of law, music journalist and producer of the documentary Dream Hampton (stylized as dream hampton) set out to shine a light on the women who have spoken out against Kelly over the years and gather their testimonies in one place.

The prevalence of abuse in the entertainment industry is alarming, and begs the question: can art truly be separated from the artist? Should it be?

The women in “Surviving R. Kelly” believe that it should not be seperated from the artist. So does Kelly’s former record label, RCA, who have reportedly terminated their contract with him, although they have not yet made a public statement. Some LMU students agree, like senior theatre arts major Emma Whitley.

“I think it can be difficult, especially for media you love, but I think it’s important to tie the art to the artist,” Whitley said. “By buying their books or music or watching films they’ve directed, you’re directly giving that person your money. If someone has committed something as serious as sexual assault, they don’t deserve your money.”

The docuseries chronicled harrowing allegations against Kelly that started before he became a household name. More notable documented cases seem to have begun in 1994, when it’s reported that R. Kelly married fifteenyear-old Aaliyah and falsified her birthdate so that she appeared to be of legal consenting age to marry him. Just a few months earlier, Kelly had produced and helped write Aaliyah’s debut album — eerily titled “Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number.”

In 2002, a video surfaced of Kelly having sex with a girl who was allegedly underage. He became the subject of intense police scrutiny and was indicted that same year on 21 counts relating to child pornography. Even in the midst of the video’s release and his indictment, he released the now infamous and always catchy “Ignition (Remix).” It immediately shot to second place on the Billboard 100 chart and remains one of his biggest hits to date.

In a 2008 hearing related to his child pornography charges—all of which he was found not guilty of by a jury—prosecution witness Lisa Van Allen told the Chicago Sun Times that the reason the charges were dropped was because of the celebrity that shrouded him from harm.

“Star power. Definitely,” said Van Allen. “I came forward. I told the truth. That’s basically it. That’s all I could do.”

For a while, it seemed like nothing could stop R. Kelly. During his meteoric rise in the ranks of music, he called himself the “Pied Piper of R&B” — drawing connections between himself and the fairy tale figure whose music lured children from their homes.

He won multiple music award wins and even recieved victory before a jury in the face of video evidence of an alleged crime. It seemed like nothing could keep Kelly down.

But the past few years have seen a change in culture that hadn’t existed in the ‘90s, when Kelly illegally wed a teenager, or the 2000s, when one of his most popular songs was released at a time that he was suspected of being a sexual predator. The #MeToo movement has sparked a nationwide outrage against prolific abuse in all branches of the entertainment industry, and particularly how being a celebrity protects powerful individuals from their crimes. This movement also catalyzed Kelly’s downfall.

In 2017, BuzzFeed News published a bombshell article by journalist Jim DeRogatis describing how Kelly groomed young women and would eventually house them in his Chicago and Atlanta estates in an alleged “sex cult.” According to former girlfriends, he exercised total control over every aspect of their lives by limiting their phone usage and exposure to the world, and forbade them from interacting with any men besides himself. He allegedly filmed all of their sexual encounters and showed the videos to his male friends. He made the

women feel special until he had complete control.

Lifetime’s docuseries closes on this terrifying chapter in Kelly’s long history of alleged abuse. Several women are still living with him in Chicago and Atlanta, cut off from their families and friends and either unwilling or unable to leave.

While Kelly still has many supporters, and while no legal action has been officially taken against him since his case in 2008, this documentary shines light on the stories often covered

up, or disbelieved.

“Surviving R. Kelly” is a powerful docuseries that illuminates women’s testimonies that have been buried over the years. And it forces us to confront the question many have spent the last few decades of Kelly’s career refusing to answer — can an artist be separated from their art, or is it a part of them?

This is the opinion of Ally Boulas, a senior theatre arts major from Sacramento, CA. Tweet comments to @allyroseboulas or email comments to jcornblatt@ theloyolan.com.

Lean-Op via Flickr

R. Kelly is the subject of a Lifetime docuseries examining the waves of sexual abuse aligations that have come against him over the years.

A mom’s journey from acceptance to activism This mother’s struggle with her son’s sexuality led to something great.

Sara Cunningham as told to Alex Myers

Sara Cunningham is a mother, writer and gay rights activist who is trying to educate conservative religious communities through her organization Free Mom Hugs, which consists of LGBTQ+ affirming parents and allies. Cunningham drew national attention when she posted on Facebook that she would volunteer to be a stand-in mom at any same sex wedding where the couple’s parents refused to attend.

She was inspired to post this after hearing countless stories of LGBTQ+ youth being disowned by their parents, which went viral on many news sources such as NBC, CNN and BBC. Before being an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, she had difficulties accepting her son’s sexuality, which lead her to write How We Sleep at Night: A Mother’s Memoir, sharing her experience reconciling her faith with accepting her son. The rights to Cunningham’s book were bought

by Jamie Lee Curtis after her viral post caught the actress’ attention.

The memoir is going to be scripted.

The following is Cunningham’s personal account of how she came to find Free Mom Hugs and write her book.

I really thought that I was okay with people being gay until it was my son. I wrestled with my faith because I had absorbed this idea that being gay was the ultimate offense and if I believed that my son was going to burn in hell, then I needed to fight for him. I prayed and, with every good intention, shamed him to get rid of his personal diaries and check himself at the door in our church and our home, but it harmed him.

It took me some searching and time to accept him for who he is because I needed to hear from someone who shared my faith that it’s all right to search this matter out, and by doing that I got educated. It was a journey that took me from the church to a pride parade without losing my faith.

There were a lot of pivotal moments in my journey. When I was depressed in my bed after hearing the news that my son is gay, he came into my room and laid beside me and asked if I was going to be okay. I said that I just had to figure things out and he responded, “I understand that, but I need you to know that I’ve sucked it up for 21 years and I need you to suck it up now and be my mom.” That got me out of my bed, of my own self-

loathing and self-centeredness.

It took me seeing him living authentically as a healthy and happy man to see past my own fear and ignorance.

At the time when our son was coming out to us, I thought I was the only mom in Oklahoma with a gay kid. I found a private online Facebook group for moms like me and I discovered that we all had the same story of feeling like we had to choose between our faith and our child.

The Facebook group is making a difference and I’m just doing things

through Free Mom Hugs, such as offering LGBTQ+ educational resources, that I wish someone would have done when I was trying to figure this out. There are too many resources out there now, no matter your stance historically, scientifically and Biblically, to not have a better understanding. It’s time for good and educated people to say enough is enough.

I wrote about my experience coming to terms with my son’s sexuality and learning to embrace him in How We Sleep at Night: A Mother’s Memoir. The last

chapter in the book was inspired by standing at the Oklahoma City Pride Festival in 2014, where writing my book and creating Free Mom Hugs stemmed from, as it was my first encounter I had with a beautiful spirit-filled community.

I fight for the LGBTQ+ community because I see what they go through and find strength to stand with them because they are stronger than me. When people get educated, that will be the key to real change. For any parent struggling, I’m giving you permission to search the matter now.

via Free Mom Hugs

When Sara Cunningham’s son came out to her as gay, she struggled to accept him. Now, she runs an organization called “Free Mom Hugs,” which educates people about and fights against LGBTQ+ issues.

laloyolan.com Page 13

Being rich: much harder than being poor Crying about being broke?

Quit. Logic explains why richness is so much harder.

Jordan Boaz

Broke and Happy

Recently, much attention has been brought to the negative effects of capitalism, noting a growing wage gap between the rich and the poor. Advocates for the impoverished view this wage gap as a disadvantage for those who get less and less of the money, but arguably, this wage gap is not hardest on the poor — it’s hardest on the rich. Without money, it’s hard to realize how tragic living a rich lifestyle really is. The stress the rich must bear is much worse than most could possibly handle. Many of the rich crave food stamps and the simple, happy lifestyle that accompanies them.

Here are just a few of the daily struggles the rich must face:

Constant companionship: Everyone wants to be friends with the rich! The amount of dinner parties they must feel obligated to attend, the number of ‘round-the-world friends they must fly to just to be polite, the number of people wanting to take selfies with them, the number of followers their Twitter must upkeep... any normal person would burn out on a life with so many friends.

Higher Taxes: Though taxes are finally being raised on the poor thanks to the new presidency, the rich have notoriously had to pay most of the taxes. How unfair that they must give to a country that has given them such a difficult life.

Weight Gain: When you’re rich, you feel as though you simply have to add that $1.99 side of guacamole or order the steak and lobster every time you eat out, right before you order each dessert so you can test each of them. And these restaurant outings, of course, all take place on a classy rooftop restaurant

in New York City, and you have to buy a new all-fur jacket (your last one has a loose strand) and new Gucci shoes you don’t even like just to get into the place — absolutely tragic.

Pressure to Donate: Everyone feels obligated to your rightfully inherited bucks. Charities will be expecting you to help them, at which point you must act as though you care about charities and don’t envy the simple lifestyle of the less wealthy.

Overwhelming Choices: Dinner tonight in Paris or Florence? Which of the 12 red heels to wear with your Rodeo Drive dress? Drive the Bentley to the beach, or take out the Lamborghini? Nobody would be able to handle such a surplus of options without having a mental breakdown.

Stop romanticizing the rich lifestyle. The poor truly have it made: less people crowding them, taxes that come right back to them and skinniness as a basic given since they can’t possibly buy too much food. Instead of feeling

pressure to donate, they get everyone else’s money, and they never have to make hard choices; they take what they’re handed,

like that sleeping bag that shields more rain than cardboard and the leftovers of the woman walking to her limo in the red Gucci heels.

Lianlen Joy Distor | Loyolan

A young boy is overwhelmed with the busy and demanding lifestyle that comes with having large amounts of money.

Robot teachers to replace meat teachers If your teacher looks smoking hot, its because they’re low on cooling fluids.

Andrew Dazé

Totally Not a Robot

Metal versus meat: who will come out on top?

Ellen Na | Loyolan

Artificial intelligence is taking more and more jobs from us inferior humans by maximizing efficiency while reducing costs. From McDonald’s workers to truck drivers, the trend tends to show robots on the rise and people on the fall. While this may be the computer science or science fiction fan’s fantasy, it has many tugging at their collars in fear that they’ll be

getting replaced by our robotoverlords sooner than later.

In an attempt to stay ahead of the game, we here at the Bluff have predicted the next set of jobs to get canned by cans. We believe teachers will be out the door soon in favor of binary buckets and bolts.

While teachers are outraged by the predictions, students have other feelings.

Sophomore Rob Otte claims, “Robot teachers are a sign of the future among us. I can’t wait for unbiased, efficient lectures that don’t waste anyone’s time.” It is worth noting that all of this was said without Otte moving his lips at all as smoke came out of his back side.

Junior Bri Nary sympathizes, “It’ll be sad to see my favorite teachers go, though it will save mother earth to airdrop my assignments rather than turning in a hard copy. Also, up to date grading in real time will be very beneficial.” As Bri left the interview a nut fell from out of her skirt and she leaked a trail of oil.

Teachers’ jobs may be in jeopardy, but let’s hope it won’t ever come to a point where students have to give up our meat tubes to robot students.

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.

Page 15

Bolden leaves behind a lasting legacy Senior forward Sarina Bolden reflects on LMU soccer career.

Jeramaine Johnson II Staff Writer @LALoyolan

With the end of the 2018 LMU women’s soccer season came the end of a distinguished college career by senior Sarina Bolden.

She ended with 18 career goals, the fifth-most in program history.

Immense talent and a competitive attitude has cemented Bolden as one of the best soccer players in LMU history. It has also brought her an international array of opportunities.

Bolden was recruited by LMU during high school. Throughout most of her club soccer career, she played with girls who were a year older than she was. That allowed Bolden to get noticed

by LMU women’s soccer head coach Michelle Myers, who was recruiting older players.

“I wouldn’t have known that she was the youngest player on the team if I hadn’t looked at the roster,” said Myers. “She was always as good, or better, than a lot of the players on that team.”

Myers was so impressed that she offered Bolden a scholarship. The Milpitas High School star had less than a week to respond. “I think I made the right decision coming

via LMU Marketing and Communications

In her four year career, senior forward Sarina Bolden recorded 18 goals, the fifth-most in LMU history.

Bolden represented the Phillipines women’s national team at the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. to LMU, my experience here has been great,” said Bolden. Although she was highly talented, there was still an adjustment period going from high school to Division I. “There was a bit of a shock during those first practices and games,” she said. “The girls are a lot bigger and the game is more fast-paced.”

Bolden adjusted quickly. She went on to start six games during her first season, scoring her first goal in a match against a No. 6-ranked

Penn State. She went on to start every single game for the Lions during the remainder of her career, and continued making big plays.

“She was an impact player, always looking to make her mark,” said Myers. Following her sophomore season, she earned All-WCC first team and National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-West region selections.

Bolden’s strong play and competitive drive allowed her to

become a leader on the team. “She was one of those players that always brought a lot of energy when she was around,” said Myers. First year centre-back Jordan Robinson credits Bolden as always being a positive source of inspiration. “She motivated the team to do better when we were down,” she said.

“Being around someone with that much drive and determination helped to instill that same mentality within myself.” Bolden’s energy on

the field was matched with a fun spirit in the locker room. “Before games, she would always pump us up with a performance to a song,” said Robinson. “She’s a really fun person outside of the field, but on the field she’s a beast.”

Bolden’s strong play at LMU eventually allowed her to gain international attention. Richard Boon, former head coach of the Philippines women’s national soccer team, invited the 22-yearold to tryout for the team. Since her mother is Filipino, she was eligible to play for the team. She was then named as one of the members of the Philippines national team that participated at the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Playing for this team granted Bolden the opportunity to use soccer as a tool to travel the world.

“It was fun because I want to travel the world one day, and I got a taste of that,” she said. She traveled with the team to the Philippines, Japan and Jordan in less than two months. In terms of soccer, she was grateful for the opportunity to play soccer at such a high level. “Being able to experience [high level play] showed me that it was something I would want to keep pursuing because of the opportunities it can bring me,” she said.

For the full LALoyolan.com/

article,

visit

Professional tennis player’s journey to top LMU athlete The sophomore that sacrificed her ranking for a college degree.

Miles Thomas Asst. Sports Editor @LALoyolan

Putting her professional tennis career on hold, sophomore LMU women’s tennis player Veronika Miroshnichenko has experienced success and growth since coming to play for the Lions in collegiate tennis.

Miroshnichenko, a finance major, spent her early childhood in Moscow, Russia and Ukraine.

Despite becoming LMU’s firstever Division I All-American in women’s tennis, she did not initially love the sport. Miroshnichenko’s mother, a former professional volleyball player, was the one who introduced her to tennis when she was six years old.

“I didn’t really like it in the beginning. Then, as I was getting into competition more and I was playing against different players in and outside the country, I fell in love with the sport,” Miroshnichenko said. “Once I started to develop an interest and competing for more, I was looking up to Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer, all those great legendary players.”

After finding her passion for tennis, she left home to train at the Cañas Tennis Academy in Miami, Florida, living there for over three years while attending the K-12 International Academy.

At the tennis academy, her head

coach was Guillermo Cañas, a former professional tennis player who himself achieved a top world ranking of No. 8 by the Men’s Tennis Association during his professional career.

Miroshnichenko’s experience of being coached by a successful tennis professional helped her improve as a tennis player and grow as a person.

“One of the greatest players in the world was my coach,” said Miroshnichenko.

“That was probably the breaking point; that’s what prepared me for pro tournaments and college tennis right now. I definitely became more mature after I moved there.”

Miroshnichenko turned her focus towards her professional career, achieving a world ranking of 620 in the Women’s Tennis Association by the time she had enrolled at LMU in 2017.

However, her professional career did not go as she intended, as she did not perform as well as she hoped in professional play. While her setbacks as a professional prompted her to shift her attention as an athlete, Miroshnichenko and her family believed it was important for her to earn her undergraduate degree while also continuing to play at a high level of competitive tennis.

“You don’t really get this back at home,” said Miroshnichenko. “You either go and play professional tennis or you go and study full time. Here, I’m glad that I have this amazing chance to do both.”

Through a friend’s

recommendation, as well as communicating with LMU head coach Agustin Moreno, Miroshnichenko found her way to the Bluff last season. In her historic first season, she went 2410 overall in singles while playing No. 1 singles for the Lions. She also had a 23-8 doubles record with sophomore partner Eva Marie Voracek, as well as WCC AllTournament honors for doubles.

Although she is not playing at a professional level, Miroshnichenko sees positive differences in playing collegiate tennis. She is able to be more emotional and rely on her teammates as opposed to being completely alone on the court.

The change in this style of tennis from professional to collegiate, while not her original plan, has been a positive experience for Miroshnichenko.

“I lost my ranking when I came here, but I knew that was a sacrifice that had to be made in order for me to proceed in my life,” said Miroshnichenko. “I accepted that and I moved on, so now I’m happy that I can achieve things here.”

After her career at LMU, Miroshnichenko hopes to get her professional career back on track, as well as bring her family over to stay in the United States in the future. Her time at LMU, however, comes with the responsibility of being a student as well as an athlete, as she must work hard in the classroom, practice and balance her schedule on a daily

via LMU Marketing and Communications

Sophomore Veronika Miroshnichenko finds happiness in playing competitive tennis and going to school after putting pro career on hold. basis. She credits her time as a professional player for her ability to organize her time as both an athlete and a student.

“I feel like doing pro-level tournaments before helped me to organize myself as a tennis player, But coming here and also being able to do both—study and play tennis at the same time — is helping me to also improve on and off the court,” said Miroshnichenko.

Her achievements in her first year at LMU included being named WCC Singles Player of the Week on March 13, 2018, attaining a spot on the first team All-WCC, WCC co-freshman of the year, in addition to her AllAmerican selection. These are accomplishments she is proud of not only as a tennis player, but as a female student-athlete.

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LOS ANGELES LOYOLAN | January 30, 2019 | laloyolan.com

Gipson pursues greatness for LMU basketball

Confidence helps sophomore Chelsey Gipson meet her potential.

Armen Shrikian Sports Intern @LALoyolan

Sophomore guard Chelsey Gipson stepped on campus at LMU determined to win games and become the best player she can be for the LMU women’s basketball program. Gipson, a four-star recruit and Los Angeles native, came out of high school ranked as the No. 53 prospect in the country

by ESPN Hoopgurlz. She is committed to staying home in Los Angeles and playing for the Lions after a standout high school career.

As the youngest child in her family, Gipson grew up playing sports against bigger and stronger competition. She would go to the park daily to play basketball with her older brothers. Gipson was never afraid to play against the boys and competed in flag football in middle school.

“A [coach] came up to my elementary school and wanted to start a boys’ team and they asked who [the best player was], and they all pointed at me, knowing that I was a girl ... but I guess none of the guys were good, so they just pointed at me and that's where it started,” said Gipson.

Gipson’s high school career is highlighted by her accomplishments: being named to the L.A. Times All-Star team, earning back-to-back All-City Player of the Year (2016-2017) and receiving the John Wooden Award.

Gipson explained how she was recruited to LMU. “I just felt wanted and I loved the coaches,” said Gipson. “[I] came to a couple of practices [at LMU] and it just felt right.”

LMU women’s basketball Head Coach Charity Elliott described how important it was for the LMU coaching staff to maintain strong relationships with Gipson and her high school coaches throughout the recruiting process.

“I think she saw the family environment — about how we were going to really be able to support her, help her and give her an opportunity to showcase herself on the floor and in the classroom,” said Coach Elliott.

As a freshman at LMU, Gipson battled injuries and competed in 20 games, averaging 5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Gipson has returned to a bigger role within the team as a sophomore, and through 16 games played, she averages 16.2 points, shooting 40.4 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from the threepoint line.

“Her stepping up is very crucial for us," said redshirt senior

Sophomore guard Chelsey Gipson (white) in an exhibition match with Point Loma, has become an elite offensive threat who has earned the trust of both her coaches and her teammates on and off the court. forward Bree Alford. “We trust her ... if we need a three, she's going to knock it down any day.”

Gipson has gained the trust of her coaches and teammates on the court. Injuries and graduating seniors have created an opportunity for her to carry the scoring load as a sophomore. Coach Elliott praised Gipson for her ability to get to the rim and her shooting ability.

Gipson has worked hard to become a better player and had the opportunity to work with NBA Hall of Famer Steve Nash. Gipson recently appeared on an episode of Nash’s YouTube series, “Give and Go,” where the two-time NBA

MVP worked with Gipson to finetune her basketball skills. “[Working with] Steve Nash was a great opportunity,” said Gipson. “He's really helped me on getting my shot off quicker as a guard and being more effective with my ball handling.”

On Saturday, Feb. 2, the LMU women’s basketball team will host a game against San Diego at Gersten Pavilion as part of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. “It means a lot to me personally, not even with just basketball, but just being in college and doing things that I know a lot of people don't think girls can do, that guys

can,” said Gipson. “[It] shows how tough we are and our ability to do what men can do.”

Gipson explained that this year’s team is very tightly knit and that she is determined to win a championship for the five seniors: Bree Alford, Andee and Bianca Velasco, Gabby Green and Josie Buckingham. Gipson will surely do her part to take them as far as they can go this season. The future is bright with Gipson at the helm of the LMU women’s basketball team.

“She's got so much Godgiven ability. Now it's [time to] embrace that role and run with it," said Elliott.

training session. And I had a blast out-running or out-training the other athletes.”

It took her time to adjust to the tempo at which volleyball is played, but once she was able to do so, she excelled. At Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Slattery was one of the stars of the team — playing varsity for

make. She chose LMU for a variety of reasons.

“I loved LMU because of the culture of the volleyball program.

It is very growth-focused and it values learning,” Slattery said. “As for the school itself, I obviously loved the location, being close to my family, and knew the academics were great as well.”

with her kills dropping to 294, placing her at third on the team.

Nevertheless, Slattery knows that her time at LMU isn’t about volleyball numbers, but instead about developing as both a player and a person, which is a process she thinks all athletes go through.

“I’ve been very lucky at LMU as a female collegiate athlete ... The

her best, Slattery said, come from within, even though there are others helping her.

“I hold myself to a high standard and push myself, as I know my coaches do too,” Slattery said.

That mentality was rewarded this past season, both for Slattery and for the Lions as a team.

Slattery recorded a career-best 371 kills, second most on the team.

LMU posted a 20-9 regular season record, highlighted by a straightsets win over BYU, ranked No. 1 in the country at the time. For their efforts, the Lions received a bid to their first NCAA Tournament since 2015, where they reached the second round.

“This season was incredible in many ways,” Slattery said.

“Overall, I am so proud of the team for the things we accomplished.”

Slattery is already looking forward to next season and it is possible that she will be the team’s offensive focal point. She has high expectations for herself and the Lions, and she aspires to meet all of them.

“I expect us to be even better than we were last year,” she said.

“This will be my last indoor season so, for myself, I expect to have a lot of fun, play loose and absolutely dominate on the court. As a team, we just lightly touched our capabilities last season. I cannot wait to see what we accomplish next season.”

via LMU Marketing and Communications

Work ethic main focus for volleyball's Slattery The junior outside hitter expects nothing but her best possible performance.

Alex Hutton Sports Intern @LALoyolan

Savannah Slattery started playing the game of volleyball at age 10 and she never looked back.

Slattery, currently a junior marketing major and an outside hitter on the LMU volleyball team, can still remember how she got her start in volleyball and what made her fall in love with it.

“The speed of the game is what first drew me to the sport,” she recalled. “I loved how fast-paced the game was and how I had to be focused in the entire time.”

It proved to be a dramatic change of pace for Slattery, who was a softball player before she got into volleyball. However, even when she was new to the sport, the Malibu native was determined to work as hard as she could to improve her volleyball skills and general athleticism. Slattery said that she has enjoyed the opportunities throughout her life to prove what female athletes are capable of doing.

“I have always loved being a woman in sports,” she said. “I remember ever since I was young, when I started fully working out, I was always the youngest and sometimes the only woman in my

via LMU Marketing and Communications

Junior outside hitter Savannah Slattery (3) found her love for volleyball after first being a softball player. This past season, Slattery recorded a career best 371 kills for the Lions, placing her second on the team. three years and helping the team make the postseason each year.

According to LMU Athletics, Slattery led the team in kills in both her junior and senior years of high school, earned all-league honors during both of those seasons and captained the team during her senior year.

Soon, colleges were recruiting her and she had a decision to

Slattery’s choice to attend LMU has paid off during all three of her seasons thus far as a Lion. As a freshman, she finished second on the team with 330 kills and served as the team’s offensive leader in several matches. She was also able to win the 2016-2017 LMU Female Freshman Athlete of the Year award. Her sophomore year saw a slight statistical drop-off,

challenges I face on a regular basis, I believe, are challenges both men and women face,” she said. “Like staying on top of everything to have good time management, and consistently being in a good headspace, even when things aren’t going smoothly outside of my sport, so I can still perform at my best at all times.”

The times when she performs