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‘New Threads’ LMU’s Asst. Director of exhibit challenges Media Relations Erika conventions by using Johnson shares stories yarn for art. from her NBA days. Page 10 Page 14
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Line shuttle L.A. Archbishop Green service to end in May receives degree Commuters who use the shuttle report frustration with the permanent closure. Kayan Tara
Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan
Jason Munoz | Loyolan
Archbishop José H. Gomez was honored by President Timothy Snyder (left) and Paul Viviano, board chair of LMU’s Board of Trustees (right) on Tuesday night.
The LMU bus shuttle that provides transportation for LMU community members between campus and the Aviation/LAX Station on the Green Line will permanently stop operation at the end of May. Resources supporting the shuttle will be repurposed to support a new shuttle line beginning in June that will connect the Westchester campus to LMU’s new Playa Vista facility, according to an email from the University to regular riders of shuttle. Commuters using the LMU shuttle are being offered a 100 percent subsidized Santa Monica Big Blue Bus tap card which will enable them to get from the Aviation/ LAX station to LMU, according to the email. While University officials told the Loyolan that “roughly 30 students, faculty and staff ride the shuttle daily,” regular users of the shuttle service dispute that claim. According to Jayne A. Mas, the assistant director at the Student Health Services (SHS) and a daily shuttle user, the number is closer to 67. Regular shuttle riders said that they compiled a list of those who ride on a
regular basis, which prompted Patty Castañeda, the safety and compliance investigator at LMU, to question the original number of 30 provided by Parking and Transportation. Castañeda believes the University’s count excluded contract employees who work for Sodexo and Ricoh. Riders of the LMU shuttle were emailed about two on-campus “Town Hall” meetings earlier this month, hosted by Parking and Transportation, to discuss the elimination of the Green Line shuttle service. A Loyolan reporter who requested to attend the first of those meetings was turned away despite their designation as “Town Halls.” Mas said that several riders expressed their discontent about the ending of the service at those meetings. Castañeda told the Loyolan that she felt communication between the riders of the shuttle and Parking and Transportation has been “extremely lacking and some riders are still finding out from other riders, not Parking and Transportation, that [the shuttle] will discontinue.” Castañeda also said that at the first meeting, Gary Bolton — director of Parking and Transportation and Mike Wong, LMU’s Associate Vice President of Administrative Services — stated that Parking and Transportation paid $115,000 per year for the shuttle, but the $300,000 per year cost of the new Silicon Beach campus shuttle created a budget issue. See Metro | Page 3
Snyder presents Archbishop Gomez with honorary degree Archbishop Gomez was given an honorary Doctor of Human Letters degree from LMU. Kayla Brogan
Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan
José H. Gomez, the archbishop of Los Angeles, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Loyola Marymount University. The award is in recognition of his “dedication to social justice and the future of Catholic education,” according to a press release from LMU. President Timothy Snyder introduced Archbishop Gomez and presented him with the honorary degree. Archbishop Gomez spoke about his background as an immigrant and the value of education. The event also included a panel consisting of Dr. Jeanne Ortiz, Dean of Students, Dr. John Sebastian, vice president for mission and ministry, and Archbishop Gomez that discussed the role of the Catholic University in the 21st century. LMU chose to award the archbishop due to his commitment to carrying out LMU’s highest values and dedication to public service. He is a founder and member of the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders. He “plays a leading role in the Catholic Church’s efforts to promote immigration reform, and advocates for the leadership of Hispanics and women in the church,” according to the event’s press release. “As a Mexican immigrant with a high profile in the religious and civic communities at a time of rising
nationalism and racism, he is uniquely suited to be a voice for the voiceless,” said Fr. Allan Deck, rector of the LMU Jesuit community and scholar of pastoral theology and Latino studies. Father Deck added that the archbishop has also been a leader in the pro-life movement. “Among the bishops, he has pioneered the conviction that comprehensive immigration reform is a decidedly pro-life issue … ” Gomez stated that he hopes to add balance to the “hierarchy of values” that he believes have misdirected the pro-life movement, Fr. Gomez said. Archbishop Gomez served as the vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and oversees the nation’s largest Catholic archdiocese. The ceremony was held in University Hall’s Ahmanson Auditorium on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. “As a Latino, Archbishop Gomez is thus tied to the earliest history of Catholicism in what is now the U.S. He writes and speaks much about this history, which is important for us to recover, as we both critique, celebrate and tackle the challenges of our present reality,” said Cecilia Gonzalez-Andrieu, associate professor theological studies. She said that we must embrace the history the archbishop makes present to us. “He is someone who champions human rights and takes our experiences here to the world giving us visibility,” GonzalezAndrieu said. “And calling attention to what the Christian Gospel requires of us as we protect the most vulnerable. I am delighted that we are honoring our Archbishop’s work this way.” See Archbishop | Page 2
via Alex Kirby
Rajiv Uttamchandani was one guest speaker at this year’s Advocacy Teach-in on Saturday.
Advocacy Teach-in challenges students to think globally Guest speakers and workshops pushed students to advocate for social justice issues. Sami Leung
Interim News Editor @LALoyolan
Opening with a video detailing graphic information about the abuse of Rohingya women, guest speaker Rajiv Uttamchandani challenged his audience to “focus on the solution, not the problem” at the annual Advocacy Teach-in on Saturday morning. Uttamchandani, an astrophysicist and Founder and Chairman
of the International STEM Society for Human Rights, spoke passionately to students in the Life Science auditorium on human rights abuses happening around the world, especially gender basedviolence. The International STEM Society for Human Rights aimed to use modern science and technology to address human rights issues. Uttamchandani said he was inspired to pursue solutions for social justice after seeing needless violent acts committed against women and children in India, his native country. “When you talk about technology and science, you think about what we’re able to achieve,” said Uttamchandani. See Advocacy | Page 3
laloyolan.com Page 2
Archbishop Gomez honored Archbishop from Page 1
Gonzalez-Andrieu said she believed that the archbishop is a champion for youth and education as well as a defender of the inalienable human rights of immigrants. Like Pope Francis, he advocated for and helps immigrants and refugees. “Archbishop Gomez is not only the leader of the largest archdiocese in the country, but he’s also actively involved in the issues that are most important for our country,” Amir Hussain, professor of theological studies said. Hussain added that he spent a day with Archbishop Gomez in October at a USC summit for homelessness where the Archbishop provided “his voice and input into how religious communities can best help the homeless.” Hussain also believed that the Archbishop is deserving of this honorary degree from LMU.
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BURNING QUESTIONS
This week, Interim News Editor, Sami Leung, sat down with former football player Ryan Leaf, a recovering substance abuser and speaker on LMU’s campus on Feb. 13.
1
How did you end up at the Transcend Recovery Community?
Green line shuttle closure to affect LMU community Metro from Page 1
the new Silicon Beach campus shuttle created a budget issue. According to Bolton, Parking and Transportation is taking feedback from the Town Hall meetings to explore the possibility of alternative solutions to the concerns voiced by current shuttle riders in the hopes of continuing to facilitate the use of public transportation. “The Silicon Beach shuttle will ensure that the members of the LMU community who park on the Westchester campus are able to utilize the facilities at the Playa Vista campus without additional parking costs or added environmental and traffic impact,” said Bolton.
Tom King, the assistant director of student engagement at the Center for Service and Action, said that for shuttle riders, the shuttle became more than just a commute. “I have met many amazing staff, faculty and students on the shuttle. We are a definite community,” King said. He believes his commute time will increase and thus affect his work. “I have heard from many that they will probably have to drive to work now, so the decision to stop the shuttle seems to contradict LMU’s commitment to sustainability,” King said. Two weeks ago the Loyolan reported that five stations along the Green Line, including the
Aviation/LAX Station (the Green Line station closest to campus) will be temporarily closed, due to construction by Metro, beginning Jan. 26 and lasting through to April 7. “[Riding the shuttle] one gets the opportunity to get to know folks across campus well. So well, in fact, that for several years we met once a month for a social lunch in the Hill,” said Jeanne Ortiz, dean of students and vice president for Student Affairs. “We are a community and listening and understanding experience of the riders is an important part of developing a win-win solution that meets the needs of the University and the riders.”
With Transcend and the Focus Intensity Foundation, I sought treatment here in Los Angeles when I got out of prison, which was in Malibu. I found my way to Christian, who is our [Chief Operating Officer], and asked for a job and was offered one at one of the houses where I drove guys around and was really early on in it, and he had a bigger vision. Transcend was looking for an arm in the profit side to the more non-profit side and it just fit. The rest is history.
Can you tell me about Transcend Recovery Community and what they do?
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We’re more than just one center, we have seven here in Los Angeles, two in Houston and New York. Our bread and butter is sober living, so that’s usually the transition between what happens when you’re based in treatment and inpatient facility to the transition process, but we do also offer outpatient and detox to help with that process. It started out with one little house and has blossomed into something pretty special. We’re able to help a lot of people, somewhere around 119 heads throughout this country that help people deal with substance abuse and mental health issues.
What will you be talking about during your appearance at LMU?
3
It’s mostly going to be my story. It’s not a testimonial of what you should do and what you shouldn’t do, the idea of somebody who should have never made it to the NFL, but did. Someone who should have never stayed alive from being a drug addict, but did. I think the perseverance, the adversity, the choices that we make, how they rule our world. Simple decisions. That’s the substance of the speech.
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with Leaf? Check them out at laloyolan.com.
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Resources supporting the Green Line Shuttle, pictured above, will be repurposed to support a new shuttle connecting the Westchester campus to LMU’s new Playa Vista campus, beginning in June.
Advocacy Teach-in brings global human rights issues to campus Advocacy from Page 1
“It doesn’t take too much of a stretch of the imagination to say that maybe we can apply a fraction of that intellect into addressing domestic abuse, into addressing sexual violence, child marriage and the rape and assault of young boys and girls.” Uttamchandani is also involved in the development of such programs as Protect H.E.R, H.E.R Rescue, H.E.R Academy, H.E.R Bazaar and H.E.R Democracy which further work to end violence against women and children. “It was nice to see so many people devoting their Saturday morning to learning about how to be a better advocate for the causes and issues they hold close to them,” Christina Reburn, a junior health and human sciences major, said. “I’m excited to take all of the information I learned about how to advocate and apply it to advocacy efforts.” One hundred-fifty people
attended the Teach-in, according to Pam Rector, the director of the Center for Service and Action (CSA). After Uttamchandani’s talk, the audience was then invited to walk to St. Rob’s to attend various workshops to further the social justice conversation. “Global issues are often connected to U.S. interventions and policies so there are ways to be an advocate in the U.S. that call on our duties as global citizens,” said Rector. “Seeing students participating passionately in an event that starts at 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning says that there is an interest in social justice issues.” The workshops focused on immigration issues facing Muslims and those from El Salvador, according to Rector. The topics included “Disability and Mutuality: Creating Inclusive Spaces,” “Student Activism in a Digital Age,” “Advocating Against Islamophobia” and “Being a Student and an Activist.”
“I thought the event was really informative, and I learned a lot from the keynote speaker,” Carolyn Strossman, a sophomore marketing major, said. “I think it’s really cool because I’m a part of Espérer service organization and one of our main focuses is human trafficking, and it was interesting to see how it all intersects and how we can inspire change.” Uttamchandani will be hosting a walk on Feb. 24 starting in Hilton to address the escalating crisis faced by the Rohingya in Burma. Over 600,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh to escape the violence, according to BBC News. The walk, meant to call attention to the crisis and push for action by the International Criminal Court, will be televised by CNN, according to Uttamchandani. Check out social justice takeaways on page 4.
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Reflections from AB Haiti Victoria Beckham Victoria Arevalo Contributor @LALoyolan
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his past winter break, I traveled to Haiti as part of LMU’s Alternative Breaks (AB) program. I’d traveled internationally before, but I had never visited the Caribbean, nor was I aware of the region’s history. Before the trip, my knowledge on Haiti and its culture was slim to none. All I really knew was that they experienced one of the worst natural disasters in the region over the last 200 years, with a 7.0 earthquake that killed over 300,000 people and injured many more. For many years, I remained ignorant about what was going on throughout the world, but learning about Haiti and its history truly changed my perspective. AB trips encourage participants to critically examine the root causes of unjust conditions, inequality and oppression while promoting “service and cultural exchange on the local, national and international level through handson, community based learning,” according to LMU’s student affairs website. This approach also pushes students to examine their own privilege and their own role in the larger issues at hand. We’re not volun-tourists. Rather, we strive to become active citizens. While some people and organizations may have good intentions, oftentimes, they don’t truly know what the people they work with need; instead they provide “band-aid solutions” to a much greater, more complex problem. AB participants generate and execute a post-trip action plan with their group to create real social change in their communities, as they become allies and advocates of their specific issue. Every week for an entire month, my group and I met for two hours to learn more about Haiti and the social justice issues our trip focused on: sustainable agriculture, food justice and the impacts of the garment industry. Through documentaries, readings and discussions, we began to better understand what was happening in Haiti and the significant impacts that certain industries have had on their people. We also came to understand the country’s current conditions from a historical context. Although Haiti is now one of the poorest countries in the Americas, it was surprising to learn that it wasn’t always that way. Haitians used to be able to sustain their own people with their own food. The original inhabitants, the Taino people, lived on the land until the Spanish and French invaded the island. Now, almost all the indigenous peoples of Ayiti have vanished, though elements of their culture are still preserved by the Haitians. What was most surprising was that in 1804, Haiti became the first colony with African slaves to gain their independence. Haitians were the catalyst for the independence revolutions thereafter. If it wasn’t for their courage and strength, many of us might not have had the freedoms we do today, a perspective
I never learned in school. After weeks of studying and learning about Haiti, I was ready to visit this historically significant,yet forgotten country. After reading so much about Haiti, I was eager to experience first-hand life there. The values of alternative breaks — simplicity, social justice and solidarity — were the backbone of our trip. From arrival to departure, I tried to put these values in practice as much as I could. It’s no secret that I am addicted to my phone, but I promised myself that I was going to be present throughout the whole trip and detached from the outside world. Appearance is also very important to me — sometimes too important — so I packed as lightly and as simply as I could. That meant no curling irons, no makeup and no “extra” outfits — which, if you know me, it is what I’m known for. Our accommodations were very simple. We actually stayed in four different locations, allowing us to compare and contrast the variety of living situations people experience in different parts of Haiti. One of the organizations we
We were fortunate enough to have been invited to a Vodou ceremony, where we learned to respect and appreciate other religions. For some practicing Haitians, Vodou, a religion with roots in Africa, is among the only things that wasn’t stripped away from the enslaved Africans who were brought there against their will. We toured downtown, and even got an insider look at the reality of the garment industry and factory workers. We met with a factoryworker union and an advocacy group that have been fighting for factory workers’ rights. We also worked with another organization called Groundswell International. Through their partnership with Partenariat pour le Development (PDL) help provide educational assistance to aid small farmers’ success and financial independence. Their goal is to get the local population managing their own developmental process, while still being conscious of environmental issues such as land management and scarcity of water and seeds. With them, we were able to get a deeper look into the
via Victoria Arevalo
For many Lions like Arevalo, AB trips allow a connect the communities and people affected with the social justice issues students learn about at LMU.
worked with was the “Na Sonje Foundation,” which translates into “we will remember.” One of the foundation’s objectives is to contribute to the restoration of the country’s collective historical memory by revealing the impact of the history of colonization, the slave trade and the genocide of Native American peoples. It was through this foundation that I met a little girl named Rose, who played a crucial part in my experience. While in Haiti, we had the opportunity to get to know many of the locals on a deeper level. There was Weka, Najee, Ti Fa, Papy, Routson, Dieny, Yaya, our Belgian friend Dirk — among others — and, of course, our leader, Carla. Through them, we were able to get an insider perspective on how Haitians think and feel about their country, as well as what they believed the problems were and solution should be. Throughout the trip, we had community days where we had breakfast with the locals, visited gardens and had culture and language lessons. We made coffee and even peanut butter from scratch. We were fortunate enough to spend New Year’s in Haiti, which was also their independence day, breaking bread together and sharing pumpkin soup in celebration.
Haitian agricultural industry by visiting local farms, plantations and schools of agronomy. As cliche as it may sound, this trip truly made me want to turn my whole life around and reevaluate my priorities. I am now a more conscious citizen and plan on using everything I learned in Haiti for the better. Having the opportunity to listen and understand their situation, I will now—to the best of my ability—advocate for the most oppressed and marginalized, and get involved in our government’s foreign policies, as they have had a significant impact on these people. My AB experience is by far the best decision I have made in my entire life, and it has been lifechanging for other Lions, too. I encourage every single LMU student to participate in an AB trip if they are able to. It’s one thing to be a tourist in a country, but to be able to experience and be part of their culture and community is priceless. I left a piece of my heart in Haiti, and I promise that we will meet once again. Ayibobo. Amen. This is the opinion of Victoria Arevalo, a sophomore communication studies major from Los Angeles, California. Tweet @LALoyolan or email comments to editor@theloyolan.com.
OPINION
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Recently students at LMU and around the on campus, the ways fatigue and mental health can country have been reporting experiences of fatigue. manifest physically should also be considered. The common feelings of fatigue and tiredness are If you think are you experiencing fatigue don’t some that college students know well, but does it ignore your symptoms as possibly temporary. have to be this way? With class, midterms, work, Some students are taking advantage of internships, organization involvment and other opportunities to de-stress and simplify their commitments, fatigue can feel like a permenant workload. Featured in the New York Times, state rather than a temporary condition. a psychology class dedicated to living a more A study from the University of Virginia Tech satisfying, happier life is the most popular class found that there are four types of fatigue often ever offered at Yale. The class has nearly oneassociated with college students. These stem from fourth of all students at Yale, 1,200 people enrolled. stress, or a mix of physical or mental illnesses from Psychology professor Laurie Santos,who teaches the flu to chronic depression and the course said that the anxiety. “Students must class will be able to “[seed] According to the study, the most change” through the dedicate time to social common form of fatigue experienced changing of habits such as among students is physiological – due their mental health “students showing more to lack of sleep, being overworked procrastinating and happiness” gratitude, and overstressed. Physiological less, increasing social fatigue it is just one type of fatigue connections.” affecting college students, others are physical and An Oxford University study also found that physiological, and mixed a combination of any positive thinking can help sufferers of fatigue types. The duration of fatigue, may vary and can overcome it. be acute and last less than a month or can become While not all universities can or do offer courses chronic and last more than three. such as Santos’, it is the core of her lecture that can The study cited over-commitment as a problem be observed by students every day. “To see real with students getting treatment. “[Rest and change in their life habits, students have to hold cutting back on activities] is a bitter pill to swallow themselves accountable each day, ” Santos said. in a time where the over-committed and busy Santos asks her students to perform regular acts of student is considered by society to be a successful kindness and in everyday situations to reconsider student.” Some patients prefer a “quick fix” such what satisfaction they are getting from their as one diagnosis, responsible for all symptoms, actions. This includes encouraging the class to or a pill to fix the problem rather than changing enroll on a pass/fail system to not seek satisfaction behaviors that have negative effects on the body. and gratification with high grades. With record numbers of students seeking help Students must dedicate time to their mental for mental health, anxiety and stress, in 2015 the health and happiness outside of class and work Association for University and College Counseling time, to beat fatigue. Franklin University has five Center Directors found that 73.1 percent of tips for students: Eat, sleep, hydrate and exercise, university counseling centers reported an “increase prioritize your most important work and only in the severity of student mental health concerns” focus on 3-5 tasks or assignments at a time, pick on their campuses. While efforts have been made your most energetic hours and do your hardest to increase accessibility to mental health programs work then, take short breaks to reset yourself, try
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OPINION
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Logan Paul is only publicly charitable Touchdown for Brown Jessie Brown Opinion Intern @LALoyolan
L
ogan Paul, in response to the negative feedback received from his Aokigahara Forest suicide video, has recently uploaded a new video entitled “Suicide: Be Here Tomorrow.” In this video, he pledges to donate one million dollars to suicide charities and discusses what you can do to help friends in need. The problem with this video is that it is obviously a desperate attempt to save his image — had he not screwed up and faced public outrage/backlash with the first video, it is reasonable to assume that he would not be donating any money. A celebrity reputation expert, Eric Shiffer, put it this way in an article by In Touch Weekly: “Would he have given a million dollars to suicide prevention had this not happened? Absolutely not.” The expert goes on to explain that if he genuinely wanted to give money to these types of organizations, he would have done it without making a publicity stunt and broadcasting it on his main channel. Paul has received 22 million views on this video and 48 million views on his apology video, “So Sorry.” The money he has made off of this scandal is undeniable and seems to foreshadow a grim tone for his YouTube channel. What makes Logan Paul so frightening, even more so than vloggers such as Jake Paul, is that he is a clever evil. He puts out a lifestyle model of recklessness in the name of adventure, coating his idiotic behavior with surface level messages of self-love and positivity. His core audience of young teens views this content as acceptable behavior, even though his content is primarily created for the shock and entertainment factor in order to obtain more views. When he majorly screws up, it just means more publicity, and all he has to do is donate to get back into good standing with his subscribers. The power and negative influence that this one individual has on millions of teens is quite alarming. The problem with our media today is it is so easy to
Logan Paul via Youtube
After he released a controversial video of a dead body in a suicide forest in Japan, Logan Paul publicly apologized. become engrossed in this type of meaningless content. The Internet, and consequently YouTube, is out there for anyone to use at any time and it is virtually impossible to censor kids of all ages from viewing YouTube videos. Even if you somehow set up restrictions on your computer, kids are tech-savvy and can usually find a way around it. Because of the accessibility of videos, they pervade our daily lives and stop us from living our lives more fully. We become so inundated with social media, memes, vines and texts that we take hours to complete the simplest of work. These distractions have grown out of control and have caused productivity to suffer greatly. We need to teach the younger generation and, in turn,
convince ourselves that these types of clickbait videos are unimportant and not worthy of our attention. There are ultimately more significant experiences to be had than learning about somebody’s latest breakup scandal on the Internet. We can stop giving these figures power by not engaging in their content.
This is the opinion of Jessie Brown , a freshman film and television production major from Houston, Texas. Tweet comments @LALoyolan, or email editor@theloyolan.com.
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Underground vape ring busted by DPS The newest vape trick is hiding from Public Safety while still vaping. Jenny Lee
Vape Queen Many students and local vape enthusiasts now have to find another place to puff the night away with the closing of LMU’s secret underground vape bar in the basement below The Cave of Sacred Heart Chapel. Rumor has it Brother Joe was there handing out snacks. Public Safety uncovered the bar after receiving a hot tip from an anonymous source visiting the Bluff late Sunday night. The bust took place during the legendary Vape Olympics, where vape afficionados annually showcase their vape tricks in front of the only people who care. Jamie Cloud, a rising star in the vape scene, was the reported favorite in the phattest cloud competition. The source reported that they saw “mad clouds” rising from
somewhere beneath the chapel that evening. Expecting religious miracles, Public Safety went in to investigate and reported being assaulted by O’s coming at them from every direction. When asked for comment, the Head Public Safety Officer Earl Johnson simply sighed. “I honestly miss cigarettes. At least they looked cool doing that.” The source also reported that a group of students, who they didn’t recognize, offered a pull on their vapes to the point where the source was coerced into committing the act. “I didn’t think students even vaped any more. My daughter’s in high school and she makes fun of people who do that,” said Public Safety Officer Sherry Garcia. “Oh my god. Wait. Do you think she vapes? Little punk.” Public Safety forced a number of people outside the basement and confirmed that several students, mostly freshmen and some locals, were in attendance. Rumor around campus is that there were even a couple resident ministers and professors who were escorted out as well. “I just hate that I’m seeing all
these people I respect sneaking around in God’s house,” said Louis Darling, a sophomore biology major, who explained that he is a devout Catholic.
“I hate to think that while I’m attending mass, there are people disrespecting God one cartridge at a time right below my feet.” The campus’s official policy
on vaping is one of tolerance. The reason the bar had to be shut down is because they had not properly registered the basement.
Abby Pollak | Loyolan
#Vape4lyfe students and some locals were found vaping in an unregistered room underneath The Cave.
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Crazy Cat Lady
Graded an A for ‘ffort
Giving overly harsh professors low marks on RateMyProfessor may seem like a safe, satisfying form of vengeance, and a way to rightfully get back at them without scary confrontation or adult conversation. Aside from warning other students about the perils of pop quizzes, the reviews bear no real consequences for careers, but this doesn’t mean they’re without fallout. Former economics professor Clifford Heeley can attest that negative RateMyProfessor reviews led to the collapse of his love life. “We had a happy marriage. No, we had a blissful marriage. Okay, so we got along,” Heeley said. His wife, Alla, grew up in the Soviet Union, where teacher admiration was enforceable. “Then she started dropping these little lines that I made things too confusing or I’d get impatient easily. Meaningless gripes, but still annoying. Occasionally I would shut myself up in my home office if I wanted to avoid hearing them.” Heeley was notorious for answering student email questions with the auto-reply: “check the book.” “Alla started telling these nasty jokes at dinner parties, how I would fall asleep grading papers and my drool would stick the pages together. That happened once!” Heeley figured out the inspiration for these complaints at a couple’s therapy session. He recounted, “She told the shrink
LMU’s Bluff is about to see many more furry, friendly faces. In response to a marked increase in student stress, LMU’s Administration for Student Satisfaction (A.S.S.) has decided to build a pet adoption center in the middle of campus. The building is set to be located near the library so that even if students are unable to adopt a pet, they can watch the pets from library windows. “This has been a long time coming,” A.S.S. Chair Yasmin Golden said. “We keep bringing in the same puppies to campus, so why not allow the students to actually adopt them?” The policy of no pets in residence halls has been swiftly
removed after A.S.S. put public pressure on the University to take students’ mental health more seriously. Now you only need the consent of all occupants in the room to adopt a pet. Pets available include dogs, cats, birds, dogs, rabbits, snakes and dogs. “I’m so excited for this shelter,” Richard Yorkshire, a freshman environmental science major, said. “I’m going to adopt five puppies right away. Hopefully my roommates will be on board, but if not, who cares?” The center will also provide free pet food for those who don’t have the money to spend on extra food. A.S.S. hopes that this will help alleviate some of the damaging effects of stress on the student body. Studies have shown that time with beloved pets can lower a person’s stress levels. However, there have been no studies yet as to how unpleasant smells can affect a student’s work habits.
Chloe Cunningham | Loyolan
Usually, teacher evaluations aren’t also Dear John letters. I sometimes threw chalk when frustrated. I’ve only done this to my idiotic intro-level students who wasted my office hours. They had to have written about it online, those little undergrad brats. They shouldn’t commit to something without expecting to face hard work.” Heeley blames receiving tenure for worsening his marriage. “She said I was getting defensive when she pointed out anything I did wrong. I have no idea what she was talking about. I overheard Alla on the phone telling her sister she
shouldn’t visit if I was around. I once remarked she was 10 minutes late, and she began this tirade about how harsh I was being.” Heeley began to tear up as he finished his story. “One night, I came home to an empty house. All her clothes were gone and so were our suitcases. Stuck to the door of my study was a note reading, “I wanted to like this and you destroyed my love for this marriage. You’re a smart man, but you have no idea how to talk to people. Also, the questions on your midterm are nothing like the homework.”
Aurora Occelli | Loyolan
Bork Bork! Bork. Bork Bork. Bork! Bork Bork, Bork Bork, Bork.
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.
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life+arts
Laband’s ‘New Threads’ exhibit opens
Just Jacob Jacob Cornblatt Life+Arts Intern @LALoyolan
I
f you’ve been on campus this week, you may have noticed that the trees outside of the Dunning Courtyard are covered with yarn. This is the culmination of a new exhibit here at LMU called “New Threads: Perspectives in Contemporary Fiber Art.” The showcase is two-fold. The first half is a group exhibition featuring the works of 18 artists. The artists focused on technology, traditions, gender roles and the body and their work is featured inside of the Laband Art Gallery. The second half involves the aforementioned yarn. A group of self-proclaimed “guerilla knitters” named Yarn Bombing Los Angeles (YBLA) transformed the concrete filled Dunning Courtyard into a vibrant garden. The garden, of course, is made entirely out of yarn, and is filled with intricate, stunning details. “YBLA is ‘taking over’ our courtyard just outside the gallery; they will be expanding the physical impact of this exhibition so that anyone can enjoy it at any time,” co-curator Karen Rapp explained. “It makes sense to celebrate the intrinsic community-based affinities of the fiber arts by inviting YBLA and our own LMU
knitting collective, ‘Iggy’s Yarnsters,’ to lead art-making workshops in the courtyard during the run of the show. This is an opportunity for our students to be part of something humanizing ‘IRL’” (in real life). Co-curated by Laband’s own curator Karen Rapp and independent curator Sam Lee, New Threads opened on Jan. 27 and will close on March 17. Between those dates, there will be an abundance of events for everyone to attend. The first event since the opening will be on Feb. 7 and Feb. 14 from noon to 1 p.m. Titled “Drop-In Knitting with Iggy’s Yarnsters,” the kid-friendly and free workshop intends on teaching you how to knit or crochet. Supplies and food are given, and you will walk away having made your own hand warmers. On Feb. 17, YBLA will come to LMU for a public yarn bombing session. There will be an informal public knitting session where Dunning Courtyard will be transformed once again. This event is from noon to 3 p.m. If you can’t make any of these but still want to see the exhibition up-close, student-led tours are available. The dates for those tours can be found on Laband Gallery’s website or on their building. There will also be a walkthrough with the artists behind “New Threads” on March 15 from 5-6 p.m. You can also explore the work on your own Monday through Saturday at Laband Gallery. The art comes from artists of all different backgrounds — some are local, but others are national and international — but all focus on the use of textiles. “‘New Threads’ takes textile arts at its entry point and
Emily Sullivan | Loyolan
attempts to broaden our perceptions and expectations of artists who work in fiber. The show is very eclectic and ranges in scale, medium and particularly in the diversity and length of artistic practices,” Rapp said. “Many of the artists are critiquing the effects of our digitally driven world through fiber arts.” All 18 of the artists (Miyoshi Barosh, Chili Philly, Ben Cuevas, Lindsay Degen, Jasmine Delgado, Grant Levy-Doolittle, Bruce Yonemoto, James Gobel, Lorenzo Hurtado Segovia, Aubrey Longley-Cook, Mara Lonner, Diane Meyer, Jor dan Nassar, Mark Newport, Robb Putnam, Erin M. Riley, Consuelo Jimenez Underwood and Margo Wolowiec) worked tirelessly on their projects to put them on display. Along with “New Threads,” LMU’s College of Communications and Fine Arts recently opened Mikos Makerspace in the Burns Fine Art building. Makerspace is a new creative lab for studio art students to work with a variety of 2D and 3D art forms, including textiles. The work these artists have done should be seen by all students at LMU. Entrance is free and the gallery is only a short walk from any point on campus, so make an effort to support your fellow lions and see their talents.
This is the opinion of Jacob Cornblatt, a freshman film production major from Gaithersburg, Maryland. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email comments to tgage@theloyolan.com.
Images captured from LMU’s Burns Fine Arts building in the George A. V. Dunning Courtyard just outside of the Laband Art Gallery, where the exhibit is being held.
life+arts About Agapé: LMU’s newest service organization
laloyolan.com Page 11
Midnight in Paris Paris Shepherd Life+Arts Intern @LALoyolan
S
ervice organizations contribute a great deal of social justice to LMU’s campus, as well as to the surrounding Los Angeles communities. Each of these organizations commit to different types of service, some of which include homelessness, women empowerment, conservation of the world and those around us and education. Depending on each organization’s specific type of service, they engage in a variety of special projects to spread awareness at LMU and volunteer at various service sites around L.A. Just last year, a new service organization by the name of Agapé was founded by Meghanne
Clark a junior mechanical engineering major. The word, Agapé — which translates from Latin into selfless love — complements the organization’s belief that acting selflessly is one of the most important ways to help those who are suffering from mental illness. According to junior political science major Ginny Laskodi, this organization was founded due to the apparent need for another on-campus mental health advocacy group. Laskodi is currently Agapé’s vice president of membership. Agapé currently has three placement sites where its members do their service. The first of these is Free Arts, which uses art to heal children that have suffered from abuse. The second placement site is called Safe Place for Youth and is located in Venice. Its goal is to be able to provide immediate and lasting solutions for homeless youth.
Lastly, Our Lady of Victory is a Catholic school in Compton, where Agapé’s members are starting several after-school art programs. Once implemented, the hope is that they give the students there an outlet to deal with any hardship that they may have been facing. Laskodi noted that it was difficult finding placement sites that related to Agapé’s specific focus, which is being an advocate for mental health. However, she is excited to work with the three that they have found. Agapé also plans to advocate for mental health on-campus by scheduling discussions with panelists who specialize in various mental health related issues. “Students should join Agapé if they feel a strong passion leading them towards serving an incredibly vulnerable and overlooked community,” said Laskodi. Laskodi is excited to get new members because that means
that Agapé will be able to make more of an impact on campus. She is also looking forward to meeting dedicated students who want to make a change on and off of LMU’s campus. Junior theater and multimedia arts double major Kate Bianco is Agapé’s director of marketing and on-campus service. Bianco shared how grateful she was for the support that they received from every member of the service organization community. “Not only have they made us feel so welcome, but they have answered our ceaseless questions about everything from organization constitutions to how to run a general meeting. We are so grateful for the endless support they have given us,” said Bianco. Agapé is an all-gender inclusive organization that currently has eight members and is hoping to add approximately 30 more. Since it is such a new service
organization, all members will have a hand in its development. These members will also have a huge role in deciding what the organization is and does in the future. For example, traditions, off-campus service and on-campus advocacy will be decided upon in part by incoming members. As you can see, Agapé plans to make its mark on and off of LMU’s campus by channeling selfless love into all of their volunteer work. Applications to join service organizations are due today at 5 p.m. However, if you feel called to serve later, the application opens back up again next spring.
This is the opinion of Paris Shepherd, a junior communication studies major from Ventura, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email comments to tgage@theloyolan.com.
via Agape
Agape’s executive board on MLK’s Day of Service pictured from left to right: Joe Coleman, Kate Bianco, Ginny Laskodi, Loren Johnson, Meghanne Clark, Tanesha May and Marin English.
life+arts
laloyolan.com Page 12
Alumna finds purpose in new denim company
Matthew Suyetsugu via D’Ana Smith
LMU alumna D’Ana Smith (‘17), pictured top left and center, recommends, “Appreciate what you have around you and appreciate LMU for what it is. The community isn’t the same elsewhere.”
What’s Up Hutch Cory Hutchinson
Asst. Life+Arts Editor @lajollahutch
O
ne of the most common questions students ask once they graduate is: Now what? We spend four years taking classes, doing internships and participating in groups on campus, and those four years end up going by pretty quickly. Hopefully, by the time we graduate we have a job set up, a place to live and a purpose to work towards. LMU alumna D’Ana Smith (‘17) immediately jumped on those questions after graduating and now owns her own denim company supporting a good cause, Purpose Denim. Cory Hutchinson (CH): Tell me about Purpose Denim. What are the defining aspects of your company? D’Ana Smith (DS): Purpose is a locally-crafted premium denim company. Everything is made here in L.A. — all of the materials, resources and everything involved in the making of the denim. I chose denim because I grew up with a mom who was very trendy and I would always steal her distressed jeans way before they were in style. I always grew up knowing that if you’re comfortable in what you’re wearing, that’s the best accessory that you need. So, I knew that I wanted to make something that I really believe in and I wanted my efforts to go towards a charitable cause. I thought, at first, I could
contribute towards different causes at the start of each quarter, but I went back to the foundation of the company — my mother and her influence. Then, I realized that I wanted 10 percent of all my proceeds to go towards single mothers in need. Personally, my parents are married, but my father is a workaholic and both my parents own their own businesses. Yet, she was also able to stay at home and she never missed anything that was a part of my life. The company is kind of an honor to my mom and a thank you to her, but also to give back to the other moms who don’t have that opportunity. There are a lot of super-moms out there who don’t own their own companies — they can’t be at home with their kids, and there are a lot of moms out there who are struggling. Homelessness in L.A. amongst women is at the highest rate and most of those women have children, so I wanted to be able to help moms who are in a similar situation, but mostly different. CH: What inspired you? How did you come to the idea for Purpose Denim? DS: It was an idea that I had for a while, I started thinking about it in my sophomore year of college, but I thought, since I love jeans, it would be cool to start my own denim company. I always knew I wanted to call it Purpose Denim because, growing up, my mom instilled in me that, for everything you go through, God has a purpose for you and we all have a purpose here on this earth. So, the name has always been there, but it’s the actual process
of putting the irons in the fire that took some time, because I didn’t know exactly what it was that I wanted to do. So, then, I moved into fashion and realized I was getting warmer in terms of getting closer to what I wanted to do. The thing about fashion, though, is that it’s an industry that’s really tough, but I didn’t like the people I was surrounded by [within the industry]. So, I took a break, and after my presidency in Alpha Phi, I decided to get an internship that I really enjoyed, so that’s when I started working at The Giving Keys company. I was so in love with this company and I loved being there, but there was no growth in the company. As I was applying to graduate school, I sat down with my boss at the time and he told me that I needed to not be a part of somebody else’s day dream, but to focus on my own, and something just clicked in me. As much as I loved the job, I quit a week later and I decided to take the company that I knew I wanted to start and put all of my efforts into that. I went into graduate school at University of Southern California (USC) knowing that it offered a lot of great opportunities, but I trashed all of the internship emails and decided to focus on my company. CH: I imagine being in school still and trying to run your own company can be a lot, because you’re balancing two very different worlds. Is it one of those things that becomes a welcomed challenge? DS: Yes, it’s definitely one of those things that takes up a lot
of time, but I also know that it’s incredibly beneficial. I believe in myself and I know that my company will be great, but I also know that things happen. So if, for whatever reason, Purpose doesn’t turn out to be what I hope, I know that I have this master’s degree and that I’m opening myself up to a network of people that will be great resources — either for Purpose or whatever professional sphere that I choose to go into. If nothing else, I’ve created an incredible foundation of people that surround me, but yes, it’s definitely a challenge. I wasn’t really ready for graduate school, but I got in and I told myself that I was going to make it work, so that’s how I’ve come to the place that I’m at now. CH: Reflecting upon where you were at LMU and the things that you were dreaming about, what do you think was the most practical lesson you learned — either in or out of the classroom? DS: At LMU, I learned the importance of community and the people that you surround yourself with — not necessarily related to Purpose, but just for life in general. I noticed that, in my classes at USC, there’s nothing quite like the community at LMU. While the classes at USC are just as small — if not smaller — the way that you walk into the library or the coffee shops at LMU is not the same at USC. The biggest learning curve, however, was my time as the president of Alpha Phi. It made me realize that every failure or misstep is nothing but a lesson learned. Instead of looking at
those moments as a setback, it’s important to see them as a stepping stone. I was the first black president that LMU’s chapter of Alpha Phi ever had, and so I faced a lot of racial issues and adversity in being different. I believed more in the acceptance of everyone rather than making a really pretty recruitment video, so I dealt with a lot of backlash, but I learned that even if you’re different and you have to push the envelope for change, it’s okay. You don’t have to always be cushy and accepted by everyone, but if you’re fighting for something that involves the greater good of other people, then it’s worth it. CH: What’s the most important piece of advice you have for current students at LMU — whether they’re thinking of starting their own business, just getting their bids from rushing Greek Life or thinking about their future in any way? DS: Be open. Be open to exploration, to your mind changing and to trying things and maybe failing at them because you never know until you try. You never know what is right for you if you don’t give yourself the allowance to try and do new things. I think we’re always so set in our ways — whether it’s recruitment, freshman year or picking a major because you wanted to do a certain job — that we don’t open ourselves up to opportunities that might be available.
To see the full interview, visit laloyolan.com/purpose_denim
PHOTOGRAPHY
This week in review: Jan. 31
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Hayden Blaz, Matt Goddard & Jason Munoz | Loyolan
Erik Johansson and Mattias Markusson play in the game against University of San Diego on Jan. 27, the Lions fought hard but lost 89-82. Jasmine Jones plays in the women’s basketball game against Pepperdine University on Jan. 25, the Lions won 75-60. Abel Valenzuela Jr., Ignacio Rodriguez and Habibi Simjee speak at a panel on the current status of DACA and immigration reform as whole, “The Fight for DACA: Implications for Inclusive Advocacy.” President Timothy Law Snyder speaks at the ceremony presenting Archbishop of Los Angeles Jose H. Gomez with an honorary doctorate of humane letters.
SPORTS
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Johnson speaks about transition to LMU Johnson from Page 16
“To grow up watching it on TV and going to the games, then to actually see it up close and be a part of making things happen was really cool.” However, that’s not to say challenges did not arise. “A lot of people think ‘oh that’s so cool you worked in the NBA, you’re living the dream!’ but really so much goes into it. It is a lot of work and people don’t realize that I was working, some days, 16 to 18 hour days. I would get in the office at 6:30 a.m. and I wouldn’t leave until 1:30 a.m.,” Johnson said. “You also take work home with you a lot and you’re never really off the clock when you’re in PR and communications. So managing that [work and life] balance was challenging.” But those long hours and hard work also led to memorable moments, such as the time she met Kobe Bryant. During her time in Milwaukee, where she wrote and edited game programs, Johnson wrote a story about Bryant for his last season in the NBA, entitled “20 Years of Kobe,” which was about his career, but specifically against the Bucks and in Milwaukee. Despite growing up as an avid Celtics fan — rival of Bryant’s team the Los Angeles Lakers — Johnson grew to “respect [Bryant] completely.” After a Bucks/Lakers game, Johnson got to interview Bryant and give him a copy of the story and congratulate him on his 20 year career. Bryant thanked Johnson and asked if she would like him to sign a copy.
“It was a really cool moment to be able to have your work pay off and show your respect to someone like that,” Johnson recounts. After the four years she spent in the basketball world, Johnson said she went through a rough year before coming to LMU in September of 2017. Johnson said she was laid off from her NBA job, her grandfather and dog died, all within a month. Johnson then decided that she “needed a change.” “I had always wanted to live in California, and two of my best friends live in L.A. so I was like ‘you know what? I’m just going to move and figure it out once I get there,’” Johnson said. “I lived with one of my friends until I figured out what I wanted to do and I was job hunting everyday, but I didn’t want to just jump into any job. I wanted it to feel right and be a good fit with a nice environment and positive coworkers — so when I saw the LMU job posting it just seemed perfect.” Her job at LMU is similar to her role in the NBA, except with a multitude of sports, not just basketball. Here, she is in charge of men’s soccer, cross country, women’s basketball, track and field and softball. She travels with the women’s basketball team and is on site for every home contest, writes all the game previews and recaps, runs most of the social media accounts and is in charge of statistical equipment. Johnson stresses the importance of networking for anyone who wants to go into the communications or PR world. She said when she was
via Erika Johnson
Before becoming the assistant director of media relations, Erika Johnson spent time in the NBA meeting legends such as Kobe Bryant.
switching careers she went onto LinkedIn and searched everyone who “basically had [her] dream career with different teams in the NBA.” She reached out to them and requested a brief informational interview about their experiences and “what they did to get to where they are.” She still keeps in touch with those people to this day.
Johnson also said that for anyone who wants to go into the communications or PR world to “keep that passion.” “It’s not going to be easy because so many other people are striving for the same thing, but if you have that passion and enthusiasm and you reach out to people and show your eagerness and interest in how others got
to where they are, and learn about their path, then people are going to be interested in helping you and seeing you succeed,” Johnson said.
Eagles and Patriots gear up for rematch Super Bowl from Page 16
via Wikimedia Commons
Quarterback Nick Foles (9) will lead the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII. He fills in for the starter Carson Wentz after a season ending injury.
Super Bowl 13 years ago in 2005 for Super Bowl XXXIX, where Brady and the Patriots defeated the Eagles 24-21. That win marked the Patriots’ third Super Bowl victory in four years and their second straight championship. They would not win another one until the 2014 season in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks. Now with almost entirely different rosters, they look to once again beat the Eagles for their third Super Bowl in four years and their second straight championship, as the Eagles will seek revenge, attempting to prevent the Patriots from finding themselves at the top of the Super Bowl wins ladder and make history for themselves. Will Nick Foles have enough magic left in him to spur a dramatic, movie style upset victory over the Patriots? Will the Eagles defense be able to contain Brady and his group of offensive weapons? Or will Brady get the job done again? It would be Belichick’s eighth and Brady’s sixth title. If the Patriots win the Super Bowl,
Brady will have the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history. After much thought, I believe the game will be an exciting one and will go as follows: The Eagles and Patriots will play a close, defenseoriented contest. The Patriots defense will frustrate Foles early on in the biggest game of his career. The Eagles’ defense, however, will make it difficult for Brady and the Patriots to score frequently, as they forced four turnovers against the Vikings in the NFC Championship game. The Patriots will score first with a field goal in the first quarter and again in the second quarter with a touchdown to receiver Danny Amendola to start with a 10-0 lead. The Eagles offense will struggle early, but will kick a field goal in the middle of the second quarter to get themselves on the board. With the closing of the first half, the Patriots will score on a field goal, but will not make it in the end zone due to the Eagles tough defense putting pressure on Brady and preventing a touchdown before the half. At halftime, the Patriots lead the Eagles 13-3. Into the second half, The
Eagles will score a touchdown off of a run from running back Jay Ajayi and will force a Brady turnover and then make a field goal making it a tied game, 13-13. Brady will find his way into the end zone with the help of his trusted tight end Rob Gronkowski, leading the Eagles 20-13. Foles and the Eagles will march down the field to score yet another field goal. The Eagles will then rally defensively, stopping the Patriots from putting the game away with only a few minutes remaining. The Eagles will put together their best drive of the game, charging down the field to score a touchdown off a strike from Foles to wide receiver Nelson Agholor to take a late 23-20 lead. With only seconds remaining, the Patriots fail to get down the field in time to tie the game, leading to an uplifting Eagles victory. Final score 23-20.
This is the opinion of Miles Thomas, a freshman commnications major from Los Angeles, California. Tweet comments to @ LALoyolan, or email tdevries@theloyolan. com.
SPORTS
SCORES UPDATE
W. WATER POLO 14-2 W
LION
vs. Chapman
SPORTS
W. BASKETBALL 67-53 W
at San Diego
M. BASKETBALL
89-82 L
vs. San Diego Follow us on Twitter @laloyolan for up-to-date scores.
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LOS ANGELES LOYOLAN | January 31, 2018 |
LIONBITES WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Marking their third consecutive win, LMU women’s basketball (14-7, 6-4 WCC) defeated the University of San Diego (129, 5-5 WCC) on Jan. 27. This win marked Head Coach Charity Elliott’s 250th with the Lions. Junior guard Andee Velasco scored five points, and redshirt junior guard Gabby Green and freshman forward Jasmine Jones had four points a piece in the opening quarter to give LMU the lead. At half, LMU led 29-28. Senior guard Makenzie Cast shot five-of-six from the field and three-of-four from three, and scored a total of 15 points – 13 of which came in the second half. The Toreros posted 20 turnovers by the end of the match, as the Lions won 67-53. MEN’S BASKETBALL LMU men’s basketball suffered yet another loss – their fifth in a row – after battling against University of San Diego (15-7, 6-4 WCC) on Jan. 27. USD scored 12 straight points early, leading the Lions to a 34-14 halftime deficit. LMU scored nine early in the second half to make it a 55-44 game with 13 minutes left in the contest. Junior guard James Batemon took home 25 points and four assists, while freshman forward Eli Scott added 18 points in the 89-82 loss. WOMEN’S WATER POLO LMU women’s water polo showed strength this weekend as they went undefeated at Cal Baptist’s single-day mini-tournament. In their first game, against Claremont, the Lions scored all 11 of their points in the first three quarters. Sophomore driver Abbey Grosse was the first to find the back of the net, and junior two-meter Morgan Molloy scored the next three. Sophomore two-meter Serena Zafiris began the third quarter with a pair of goals en route to the 11-5 victory. In their second match of the day against Chapman, the Lions did not allow any goals in the first half and took an 8-0 lead by the end of the first half. LMU scored 10 goals before the Panthers could even get a single point. Junior driver Katie Hungerford scored three goals; Molloy, Zafiris and junior driver Hana Vilanova also took one apiece. LMU won 14-2. WOMEN’S TENNIS The LMU women’s tennis team (1-1) earned a 5-2 victory over Cal Poly (0-1) at home this Sunday at the LMU Tennis Center. In the doubles competition, Cal Poly and LMU split the first two decisions. Veronica Miroshnichenko and Eva Marie Voracek, ranked no. 10 in the ITA rankings, earned a 7-5 win at the top spot. Siobhan Anderson and Anna Romeka were also able to come out victorious, as they outlasted MacKenzie Worsnop and Abigail Bacharach, 7-6 (4). LMU swept courts one, two, and three in singles competition. No. 29 Miroshnichenko handily defeated Susanne Boyden at No. 1 singles, finishing her opponent, 6-0, 6-2. Additionally, Voracek, ranked No. 107, also earned herself a straight-set victory, 6-4, 6-2. Anderson was the first Lion to get herself a singles victory 6-1, 6-2, at No. 3 singles.
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From fan to frontline woman Asst. Director of Media Relations Erika Johnson reflects on her time working in the NBA Izzy Berrent Sports Intern @LALoyolan
Many people often fantasize about working in the NBA – for Erika Johnson, LMU’s assistant director of media relations, that fantasy became reality. Majoring in exercise and health sciences at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Johnson went into personal training right out of college, followed by a stint in the Special Olympics where she coached volleyball and basketball, which then inspired her to work at a private school for students with dyslexia and individuals who have special needs. Although Johnson enjoyed her time in these fields, after teaching for a year she decided to step back and think about what she was passionate about, which included “networking, writing, being in a crazy environment and problem-solving.” Having been a long-time basketball and NBA fan, she decided to pursue a career in the communications and public relations field. “I [started off with] an unpaid internship with the [Boston] Celtics’ D-League team in Maine, called the Maine Red Claws,” Johnson said. “I’m from Maine originally, so I did that for a summer just to see if I liked it. I ended up really liking it, and from there, they offered me a seasonal position for one year, so I worked a year in the minor leagues for the NBA.” After her season with the Red Claws, Johnson got hired as the communications assistant for the Utah Jazz — which was the first step to getting her “foot in the NBA’s door.” From there, she was hired by the Milwaukee Bucks and spent two seasons with the team. Johnson credited her strength in networking as her ability to move from the minor leagues to the NBA. While working in the D-League, she reached out to the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat and asked to shadow the teams.
Emily Sullivan | Loyolan
LMU assistant director of media relations Erika Johnson parlayed an unpaid internship with her local D-league team into memorable PR stints with the Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz. “I got to see some really good, up close and personal experiences firsthand from just reaching out and constantly being eager,” Johnson said. Once working in the league, Johnson was the main point of contact for visiting teams, something she says “just created a platform [for me].” The main responsibilities assigned to Johnson in Milwaukee included maintaining the team’s game notes — a document that held all of the statistical information about the team, such as team averages, and information on players or
the team — which needed to be updated after every game. Additionally, she worked at maintaining press clippings and sent them out to everyone in the organization. She also coordinated media availability times for player interviews, and was responsibile for editing and writing game programs. Johnson said her time in the NBA, being able to go from fan to front-linewoman, was a “very surreal” experience. See Johnson | Page 14
Teams chase history in Super Bowl LII Miles Per Hour Miles Thomas Sports Intern @LALoyolan
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he Super Bowl is upon us, as the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles will battle it out in Minneapolis, Minnesota in what will be a historic Super Bowl game regardless of the outcome. The Patriots will seek to win their sixth Super Bowl championship, tying them with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl titles in league history, while the Eagles are looking to win their first ever Super Bowl title in their franchise’s history. The Eagles, led by second year head coach Doug Pederson, a former NFL quarterback who has lead his team to achieving a third ranked NFL offense in points scored. Additionally, and especially in the playoffs, the Eagles have relied heavily
on their defense, ranking third in the NFL in yards allowed per game and fourth in points allowed per game, as this defense only surrendered 17 points in the two games they played in the playoffs against the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings. While both teams were the number one seed in their conferences heading into the playoffs, the Eagles have played the underdog role in each playoff game they have participated in due to the season ending injury to their star quarterback Carson Wentz late in the season. However, backup quarterback Nick Foles has stepped in and played admirably, throwing three touchdowns in their last game against the Vikings. The Eagles have completely embraced their underdog identity, where players and fans have donned dog masks throughout the playoffs, symbolizing their underdog role when most analysts and fans did not give them a chance in each of their playoff wins. The Patriots of course are led by quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill
Belichick, who are 5-2 overall in the Super Bowl together. Brady has won MVP of the game four times. At the age of 40, Brady has not slowed down yet; he has guided his team to a second place ranking in points scored per game. Brady, in his eighth Super Bowl appearance, has more appearances than any player in the history of the NFL and more than the entire Eagles roster combined according to NFL research. Brady will also be the oldest quarterback to start in a Super Bowl game. The Patriots, like the Eagles, sport a strong defense, ranking fourth in yards allowed per game and fifth in points allowed per game. The Patriots were picked by many to win this year’s Super Bowl even before the season started, adding to their status as heavy favorites entering the contest. The Eagles will once again have to play underdog this weekend against the Patriots, who are currently a four point favorite. These two teams met previously in the See Super Bowl | Page 14