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Chronic Illness Group celebrates 10 years of student support LMU’s Chronic Illness Group hits 10 years, and is still one of the few groups of its kinds. Olivia Round Managing Editor @LALoyolan
With the start of the new semester, LMU’s campus has seen students walking quickly from class to work to meetings, stopping in their paths only long enough to say a quick hello to friends they haven’t seen in a while. Schedules are exchanged, plans to meet up are shared and complaints about homework are already on the tips of everyone’s tongues. But for some students, coming back to school means more than just earlier mornings and busier social schedules. It means having to navigate an environment that was not necessarily built for their success. For Samantha Geier, a senior environmental science major, this means everything —from getting dressed to filling gas in her car to rolling around campus to cooking a meal—can pose extra challenges. Geier was diagnosed with spina bifida, which she says “primarily affects the function/strength of [her] legs.” As a result, she almost exclusively uses her wheelchair to get around. While this can cause some physical obstacles, like having to go out of her way to use a ramp into a building, Geier also has to account for chronic pain management which “is another factor that can slow [her] down sometimes and is less predictable than accessibility.” For Alexa Buerger (‘17), who was diagnosed with Celiac disease her freshman year at LMU, one of the biggest challenges of a chronic illness is adjusting to having
What is a chronic illness? A chronic disease is one lasting three months or more, by the definition of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Chronic diseases generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication, nor do they just disappear.
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Senate resolution to increase diversity efforts A new ASLMU resolution will allocate $2,000 a year for “undeserved communities.” Kellie Chudzinski Editor-in-Chief @LALoyolan
Examples of Chronic Illnesses
Arthritis Asthma Celiac Disease Crohn’s Disease
Cystic Fibrosis Depression Diabetes EDS
Epilepsy Heart Disease HIV/AIDS IBS Lupus Multiple Sclerosis Schizophrenia Ulcerative Colitis
“Overall, I hope we can move towards creating an open dialogue about chronic illnesses/disabilities so that students, faculty, and staff are more comfortable asking questions and therefore become more aware of their impact.” Samantha Geier, senior environmental science major Information compiled by Olivia Round, Interim Managing Editor; Graphic by Diana Raynes | Loyolan
your “energy levels, mood and quality of sleep at the whim of your illness.” Managing the stress of her disease quickly became the most difficult part. Buerger explained that while many students could pull all-nighters, and eat anything they wanted to keep focus on school, her situation was different.
“I was a full time student and worked 20 hours a week as a personal trainer until I graduated — if I dared sacrifice a sense of balance I was sure to pay for it, and my body would begin to shut down,” said Buerger. “So in a sense this was the See Chronic | Page 3
Last semester, the ASLMU Senate passed a resolution “in support of increasing diversity efforts at LMU” following a controversial Snapchat that circulated on campus, the organization said. The resolution, that passed Thursday, Dec. 14, will designate $2,000 to pay for the transportation of students from “underserved communities” to campus, from ASLMU University Affairs budget. The resolution stated that the views expressed in the Snapchat photo to be different from ASLMU and recognized that the Snapchat is not an isolated incident. It also cited other instances of discrimination on campus that had been “rooted in racism and classism.” The Snapchat depicted children on a campus visit with MEChA and referred to them as “lower socioeconomic” minorities that LMU would admit later through affirmative action. Students have alleged that former Senator at Large Katie Porter is responsible for the photo. Porter resigned from her position on the senate on Dec. 13, and had previously denied claims she created the Snapchat during the ASLMU senate meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Senator At Large Melissa Cedillo and Chair of University Affairs Christopher See Resolution | Page 3
NEWS
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Chronic Illness Groups raises awarness and support Chronic from Page 1
biggest obstacle but also the biggest blessing. I managed to stay busy but also learned the importance of doing so in a healthy manner. That was where CIG came in.” In an effort to help assist students like Geier and Buerger who suffer from chronic illnesses, LMU’s Chronic Illness Group (CIG), one of only a handful in the country, was founded ten years ago by Lorianne HarrisonReyes and a student at that time, Caitlin Lopez. The group’s mission statement reads: “Chronic Illness Group (CIG) is for LMU students who need resources, peer support, education and social experiences with peers who are experiencing similar circumstances.” The group operates under their five C’s: Companionship, Coping, Challenge, Change and Choose. All of the members of this group have different illnesses, yet have common experiences with stress management, relationship management, academics, medication fatigue, dealing with doctors, additional paperwork, brain fog etc. when attending university. The goal of the group is to work together “on how to use coping skills and tools to deal with situations to navigate life and college life,” according to Harrison-Reyes. “Chronic medical conditions — including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and depression —” can affect people of all ages, classes and ethnicities, and “cause more than half of all deaths worldwide,”
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according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Chronic illnesses/diseases are most often controllable but not usually curable. There are some exceptions to this, such as certain types of cancers. “Many chronic diseases have genetic components, which raise disease risk in certain people or populations. The environment can also contribute to risk, and so can lifestyle choices, including your diet, physical activity, and whether or not you smoke,” according to NIH. A chronic disease is one that lasts three months or longer, according to a definition given by the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Many of the people diagnosed with chronic illnesses end up living the remainder of their lives with that illness. “Some, [however],” said Harrison-Reyes, “are blessed and go into remission. Remission is when the disease is dormant in your body and not active.” Someone without a chronic illness is what members of the CIG would call “normal,” according to Harrison-Reyes. “As I share with them,” she said in an email to the Loyolan, “What is normal?” “No one is ‘normal”, we all live with something. We all have abilities, gifts and disabilities or challenges in some way. It is about becoming your best self and aware of who you are body, mind and spirit. Learning to live a full and thriving life with your gifts and abilities,” said Harrison-Reyes. Kimmy Smith (‘16) an alumna who was once in CIG said that a lot of the times, someone
dealing with a lot of pain because of a chronic illness can look completely healthy. This can pose challenges for students as they try to advocate for their needs and convince other people to believe their struggles are real. “But the thing with struggling with a chronic illness is that a lot of time it is dealing with something so complex and painful some of the times that someone who has never experienced it may never understand what it is like,” Smith said. “Even if they really are trying, I think it is just really something that a lot of the time you have
to be in that situation to really understand it.” Geier is currently “in the process of writing a resolution for students with disabilities that incorporates much of the feedback” she has received from other members of the CIG. The group hopes that the community can become more aware of its students so they can continue to support and understand their needs. “[If] you have a friend who has a chronic illness, I think taking the time to educate yourself on what it is is a good thing to know but also it is a really thoughtful gesture, saying ‘I want to go be a part of this
with you,’ so they don’t feel so alone in it,” said Smith. The group brings in speakers to assist with the group’s education. Some of these speakers have included Healing Drum Circe, Nutrition Education, Aromatherapy, Guided Meditations, Acupuncture and others. For those interested in joining the group, you can reach out to Harrison-Reyes at lorianne. harrison-reyes@lmu.edu to get the group’s information and meeting times.
via Loyolan
Samantha Geier, a senior environmental science major and member of CIG, works as an ally and advocate for her peers, hoping to see improvements within LMU’s community in terms of accessibility and open dialogue.
ASLMU follows up on diversity concerns Resolution from Page 1
Reynoso co-authored the resolution, signed by Cedillo, Reynoso and ASLMU President and Vice President Hayden Tanabe and Mara Ley. All ASLMU members will also be required to attend events that bring students from underprivileged communities to campus, such as MEChA de LMU’s Annual High School Conference, El Espejo mentoring and other cultural events also included in the resolution. Students at the Senate meeting on Dec. 13 focused heavily on asking for the release of the names involved with the Snapchat, exSenator Porter and creating change on campus following the incident. The resolution was discussed at the open Senate meeting Dec. 13. Cedillo introduced the resolution as tangible change on campus, following the Snapchat. After multiple questions from students regarding releasing the names involved in the Snapchat, Senator at Large Brenda Quintanilla addressed the crowd regarding the amount of information senate has on the situation and the people involved. “We all have the same level
of information as you do,” Quintanilla said. “I can’t tell you any names, because I don’t know any names.” Senate originally planned to share the articles of impeachment written for Porter by Quintanilla, Cedillo and fellow Senators Michael Del Santos and Vandalena Mahoney, at the Dec. 13 meeting, but Porter resigned before the proceeding began. At the meeting, Tanabe shared that he had been in contact with other people and groups on campus to best address this situation. Last semester students gathered at a solidarity rally on Regents Terrace in response to the Snapchat and alleged involvement of an ASLMU senator. Megan Trudo, senior marketing major, compiled a list of demands including Porter’s impeachment, a university process to “hold the people committing these injustices accountable” and new training for ASLMU representatives and the Department of Public Safety to release the footage of Regents Terrace on Nov. 30 between the hours of 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lauren Holmes | Loyolan
Senator at Large Brenda Quintanilla speaks at ASLMU meeting, Dec. 13.
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Lauren Holmes | Loyolan
Audience members participated in the ASLMU meeting, held at the Hill.
Social Justice
Read more about Time’s Up on pg. 10
Justice for New Years’ Resolution By Robyn De Leon, Social Justice Assistant Editor
Not only does the new year bring a fresh semester, but it also gives everyone another shot at checking off resolutions from their lists that they could not complete last year. Here are some social justice inspired resolutions:
Use metal straws.
Take ‘No Suck’ November–led by junior biochemistry major and ASLMU director of environmental responsibility, Dillon Rinauro—further and use a metal straw all year. Not only is it healthier for you because they are free of toxic chemicals like BPA and phthalates according to Health with Food, but they are also good for the environment. Plastic straws are notorious for polluting the wild life. They get caught on animals or eaten by them, which then in turn effects humans who consume animal products. Bamboo and glass straws are safe, too.
Use your own mug when possible.
Students can use their own mugs at the Lion’s Den to conserve plastic and paper. By doing so, students will also receive a 25 percent discount. Invest in a reuseable water bottle too, which you can refill at various stations around campus.
Use reusable bags. When shopping for groceries, as many college students do, the amount of
paper and plastic bags used can add up. Paper makes up almost half of landfill volume and plastic makes up almost 28 percent of it, according to The Environmental Literacy Council. Try to prepare ahead of time and bring your own reusable bag. Not only will you minimize the usage of paper and plastic bags, but you will also save yourself 10 cents for every time you buy a bag.
Carpool.
Los Angeles is a big city with a lot of traffic, which results in a heavy amount of pollution from the sheer number of cars on the road. Why not save the earth one car at a time while bonding with your friends in the process? Just crank up Beyoncé while you sit on the 101.
Pick up trash around campus.
LMU prides itself on our beautiful and spotless campus, thanks to the hardworking facility management. To keep up the clean trend, picking up trash, even if it's not your own, is a good habit to adopt. Also consider working with Heal the Bay, an organization LMU partners with to go to local beaches for clean up days.
Do more service work.
Check out service clubs like Environmentally Conscience and Organzied Students (ECO), an eco-friendly organization or El Espejo, a mentoring prorgram for the Latino/a community. Service organizations also offer various service opportunities. All Org Night is Jan. 23, which is when all service organizations meet up to introduce themselves and their mission.
Attend protests.
There are always rallies and protests going on campus and in L.A. The next big protest in the community is the L.A. Women's March on Jan. 20, that advocates for reproductive rights, ending violence, LGBTQIA rights, civil rights, immigrant rights, workers' rights, disability rights, Indigenous people’s rights and environmental justice.
Consider thrifting. Thrifting offers many benefits to the community and to
yourself. Americans waste an average of 80 pounds of used clothes per person, according to The Balance. By thrifting, you reuse clothes that would otherwise be thrown out and end up in the landfills. Thrifting is also a good way to make a statement in opposition to labor trafficking in fashion industries. If thrifting is not possible, shopping from ethical companies is also a good route to go. Some examples of ethical clothing companies are Reformation, Patagonia, Rag & Bone and Levi, according to Huffington Post.
Love yourself.
Self love is an important component of social justice. Students should take care of themselves first so they can help others. Some ideas, as illustrated in our Self-Love for Activist article, are to unplug from social media, take breaks and to spend time on what you love. For more ideas, contact Center for Service and Action. If any students are struggling, reach out to Student Psychological Services (SPS) (310)-338-2868 for help.
Overall, be a student who lives by the Lion’s code and Jesuit values of social justice.
Graphic by Allison Crawford | Loyolan
OPINION
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Using the past to fuel the future
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For many, the past year was one journey here, the Loyolan is proud to of struggle, growth and searching serve as your home, your voice and your for understanding. Last semester, news at LMU. campus watched as fellow Lions fought To returning students, 2017 is over, but government policies for their citizenship the last four months of this academic and that of other DREAMers. There were year will bring exciting changes and disasters, natural and man-made, that opportunities for growth. At the Loyolan, threatened our homes and our families. we hope to continue to encourage The LMU community continued to rally engagement with one another and the together. As we think of those we lost world around us. This new year brings last year, we hold their memory and look new opportunities to challenge ourselves forward. and our peers. The Loyolan strives to cover To seniors, thank you for the stories and events that sticking with the Loyolan “As we think since your first years at matter to you, our audience. of those we We want to write stories LMU. Good luck on all about the people, issues, lost last year, internship, job, graduate struggles and successes we all and service program we hold their school experience together. applications you may memory and be submitting in the Whether you’re new to The Bluff, have been here as long look forward.” upcoming months. The as you can remember or are Loyolan will be reporting beginning your final chapter on senior events all the way at LMU, welcome to 2018. This time of the until commencement in May, to help you year, many students look forward to Greek make your last semester at LMU one you life and service organization recruitment, won’t forget. while a number of student organizations And to all our readers, thank you for your are finding their footing again with continued support. The Loyolan will begin newly elected e-boards. Whether or its seasonal hiring and training period not you believe in making New Year’s through February to welcome new staff to resolutions, opportunities for personal the editorial team and sustain our mission and professional growth are abundant on of accurate, relevant and responsible campus and in the community. reporting. We continue to strive to be your To new students and transfers, welcome home, your voice and your news. to LMU. You’ll find that our campus As we continue our goals of amplifying the is home to people who are passionate many voices and perspectives on campus, about academics and social justice, contributions and letters to the editor are experienced faculty and mentors that will always welcome at editor@theloyolan. teach life lessons beyond the classroom com. We at the Loyolan wish the LMU — and of course — beautiful L.A. sunsets community a happy and prosperous new overlooking the Bluff. Throughout your year.
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Debating the ethics of Coachella Jenny from the Block Jennifer Lee
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Asst. Opinion Editor @LALoyolan
eyonce. The Weeknd. Eminem. What do all these artists have in common? They’re all Grammy award winning artists? Well yes, but that’s not what I’m getting at. They’re all performing at the one, the only, Coachella music festival this upcoming spring. This year’s lineup announcement was met with resounding applause. The internet is talking about how baller the headliners and preceding performers will be. Every single one of my friends who has talked about it has spoken the same phrase: “It actually looks really good. I would be down.” Music festivals have the potential to be exhilarating and intoxicating on so many levels. Obviously, I don’t have to sell them to you. And that’s not what I am here to do. I am here to speak on the issue of privilege and the seemingly irrelevant but difficult choices that privilege can create. Recent reports have been floating around about the man behind Coachella, Philip Anschutz, and his connections to anti-LGBT organizations and politicians, including Alliance Defending Freedom, Family Research Council and National Christian Foundation, according to Rolling Stones. The CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group has denied such claims since they were made by the LGBT rights organization Freedom For All Americans last year. Anschutz told Rolling Stone that he would never tolerate discrimination in his company and within the organizations that he funds. He further specified that he would cease all funding to any organization that was revealed to support the limiting of See Coachella Ethics | Page 6
Christian Boggs | Loyolan
Phillip Anschutz, has been tied to ant-LGBT organizations but denies claims.
OPINION
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YouTube star takes clickbait too far Touchdown for Brown Jessie Brown Opinion Intern @LALoyolan
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ouTube star Logan Paul recently shared a now-deleted video in which he shared offensive and distasteful content about his discovery of a suicide victim in Japan’s Aokigahara forest, one of the places with the highest suicide rates of developed countries, according to an article by the New York Times. His inappropriate comments and laughing demeanor triggered many negative reactions that prompted Paul to make an apology video, which received 32 million views. One can’t help but theorize that Paul specifically went to Japan in hopes of finding a body to get more views. Clickbait titles that exaggerate true events of the content are becoming increasingly popular on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. These borderline lies have increasingly influenced the face of our politics and the stature of journalism. This negative trend was created in part because of monetary incentives for views, comments and likes, as social media influencers have begun using these mediums to make revenue. Clickbait has also sparked debates over free speech and the responsibility of media and how far a person should be allowed to exaggerate. Logan Paul, other vloggers and comedian Instagram stars have large audiences, inspiring and
influencing millions of young teens — their primary audience — to live a certain lifestyle. Paul’s ignorant video of the Aokigahara forest and other stories send messages that this type of behavior is okay, which has the potential to have far-reaching clickbait for our future generations. This trend to post material that is created solely around the idea to get someone to engage with the content has led social media platforms to be inundated with garbage that pushes factual truth to become a secondary concern. Not only are many clickbait articles nonsense, but they are also a waste of time and inhibits individuals from exploring potential passions. According to an article by Statistca, the daily amount of time spent on social media by internet users from 2012 to 2017 has risen from 90 minutes to 135 minutes, with the most popular social media network worldwide being Facebook, where clickbait is ruthless. 2018 is the year to leave behind insignificant material. It’s time to move on and not glorify stupidity or promote disrespect. Instead, we should focus on meaningful subjects and explore the extent and potential of human heroism. In the case of Paul, another fitting goal is to be more aware an educated with cultural difference to prevent the ignorant motivations of clickbait videos like his. Speaking from personal experience, it’s easy to open an app such as Instagram and just scroll mindlessly on the search page for 45 minutes, but we need to stop and take a moment to become aware of our actions.
Via Wikimedia Commons | Luigi Novi
Paul should have known better than to disrespect millions of people using click bait in the name of views. I think it’s important at this point to reiterate that clickbait content is not inherently evil, when used properly as a tool, to compel people to look at your material, and it can become a major asset to journalism and other forms of media. As an article by the New York Times comments, in this new digital age, “the challenge in a competitive news environment is writing headlines that grab the reader’s attention while maintaining our
Can you separate the man from the show? Coachella Ethics from page 5 the LGBT community. When asked about his funding toward a particular anti-gay extremist group, a spokesperson reported that they have ceased funding, according to Rolling Stone. In this political climate, I believe it’s fair to suggest that we may never know the full truth of the situation. Every side has a different story and news organizations can only do so much to uncover the truth. But if we’ll never know for sure if he supports anti-gay organizations, does that mean we should sit idly by while the truth is debated? Absolutely not. Let’s be people of action. People who examine the effect they have on the world around them. People capable of change. Let’s posit for the moment that these allegations are true, that the money Anschutz makes off of Coachella ticket sales contributes to the funding of organizations that work toward restricting the rights of your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers. Is it ethical for someone who is pro-LGBT to participate in the experience that
is Coachella? Is it ethical for the artists who perform at Coachella to promote ticket sales? Let’s break this down a bit. Anschutz does not directly discriminate or harm anyone. According to his words, he aims to be inclusive within his company, and there are no allegations suggesting otherwise. So the discrimination and harm that he is contributing to is indirect, and therefore many could argue as not his fault. The groups can decide what they want to do with the money, and if they hurt people with the money it’s not Anschutz’s fault. But I think this reasoning is absurd. I think a helpful parallel can be drawn between physical and emotional violence in this case. Let’s say you give someone a weapon, thinking that they are going to use it for something innocent and then, boom— they use that weapon to break someone’s arm. In this case, it is not your fault. You didn’t know they were going to break someone’s arm. They acted unpredictably. Anschutz, meanwhile, was not blind to the actions of the
anti-gay groups. The Southern Poverty Law Center described The Family Research Council as extremist over a year ago and I find it hard to believe that they know more than him and sooner than him. If you give someone a weapon knowing their intentions, you are not without fault. Rather, you become an accomplice. By the transitive property, buying tickets to Coachella is doing the same thing, except on a different scale. It doesn’t seem like Anschutz had bad intentions, what with his donating to a Christian group after all, but I believe it is our duty, as supporters of LGBT rights, to practice extreme caution when choosing who we support and why. We need to support people who will make the world into the accepting place we need it to be. If you want to go to Coachella you have to decide if a world full of people like Anschutz is what we need right now. This is the opinion of Jennifer Lee, a junior screenwriting major from Sacramento, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email editor@theloyolan.com
standards.” Content only becomes destroyed when clickbait becomes the primary reason for a creation. According to research by the Pew Research Center, 59 percent of Instagram users are of the age of 18-29. Because college students are the primary age group that puts out this type of social content, it is our responsibility to put out substantial material. We need to stop engaging with shallow click bait posts and not comment or like them because, ultimately,
even writing negative comments gives these posts more influence. With the short time we have on this earth, we deserve to spend time engaging in more important activities. Ultimately, try to think before you mindlessly click, and spread awareness to make sure your friends do the same. This is the opinion of Jessie Brown, a freshman film production major from Houston, Texas. Tweet comments to @ LALoyolan or email editor@theloyolan.
䐀漀 琀栀攀 䴀愀最椀猀⸀ 䜀伀 䰀䤀伀一匀匀
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THE UNDECLAREDS
UNNECESSARY JAPES
FOREVER FAIL
2017 Classic!
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By Abby Pollak, Staff Cartoonist
By Cameron Woodard, Staff Cartoonist
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life+arts
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Cameron Woodard | Loyolan
Following Oprah Winfrey’s Cecil B. DeMille Award win, change is being called for within every industry for every person facing abuse and women in Hollywood are echoing the call, Time’s Up.
Students react: Oprah’s Golden Globes speech What’s Up Hutch Cory Hutchinson
Asst. Life+Arts Editor @lajollahutch
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ollowing the Harvey Weinstein scandal that rocked the entertainment industry, sexual assault claims and lawsuits have been popping up in the news almost every week. From news anchors like Matt Lauer to politicians like Roy Moore, some powerful women are teaming up to say, “Time’s up.” There’s no more room for the mountain of lies that’s been created and perpetuated by men in positions of power for decades. Although scandals are being exposed weekly, it’s still not enough to just point out the aggressor. There has to be further action taken that goes beyond just admitting there’s a problem. There has to be appropriate justice that’s dispersed amongst the aggressors, there has to be reform in social ideologies on how these matters should be discussed and dealt with and there absolutely must be a zero-tolerance policy for any person who makes another feel disadvantaged or powerless. The men and women championing the Time’s Up movement, collectively started by some of Hollywood’s most influential women, recognize
this and are striving to achieve these things — beginning with the industry that covers it up the most. The individuals supporting this movement are seeking justice through legislation, fighting for gender equality and helping to provide financial stability to make instances of genderbased violence less frequent and less normalized. Aside from the incredible efforts of influential figures on social media to make the movement known, almost all attendees at the Golden Globes wore black and Time’s Up pins to stand in solidarity with the victims of abuse, and every red carpet interview was centered on the idea of creating necessary change for those who’ve been taken advantage of. The point of Time’s Up is not only to point out the abuse and coverups in the entertainment industry, but to defend the woman who is “employed in agriculture who has had to fend off unwanted sexual advances from her boss, every housekeeper who has tried to escape an assaultive guest, every janitor trapped nightly in a building with a predatory supervisor, every waitress grabbed by a customer and expected to take it with a smile…,” as the founding letter for the movement states. Sunday night’s Golden Globes award show was the opportunity for the figures of the industry
to set the record straight. The movement has begun by letting men know that it’s time for action to be taken and that silence is no longer an option. With strong supporters like Eva Longoria, Rashida Jones, Nicole Kidman, Sarah Jessica Parker and many more on an extensive list of influential figures, the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund is raising an incredible amount of money to support every woman who has been affected by instances of sexual assault. During the Golden Globes, Oprah Winfrey accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Award and gave a powerful and chilling speech about the dreams of a young Winfrey, the efforts of her hardworking mother, the tragic loss of abuse victim Recy Taylor, the support owed to the women of every industry and the hope for a brighter future where no one ever has to say, “Me too.” Her speech not only elicited a roaring standing ovation, but had fans praying for an Oprah 2020 presidential campaign. While she may not be running for president, we can still take away powerful lessons from the words she passionately gave us to shape the future she described. Senior communication studies major Kingsley Karr said, “I thought Winfrey’s speech was something that we wouldn’t have seen even a few years ago, because there wasn’t really an opportunity
for women to be able to speak as open and honestly as more people were last night.” Karr shared his affinity for the speech, as it spoke to a lot of the values he holds for people in advantageous positions. “It’s great that there’s a platform now where those who’ve been powerless can start to gain back some control,” Karr said. Sophomore English major Jaida Macklin said, “There were so many inspiring moments during Winfrey’s Golden Globes speech.” Macklin’s favorite moment was Winfrey’s opening anecdote about how it felt to be a black child watching a black actor be celebrated and appreciated, which highlights the importance of representation of black people and other people of color in media. “Seeing faces that look like yours succeed is such an indescribable feeling, especially in a country with such a horrible history when it comes to people of color,” Macklin said. Aside from feeling inspired by Winfrey’s speech, many people are also feeling empowered — especially the film students at LMU. Sophomore film and telivision production major Jamie Kolbrenner said, “As a woman who will one day be in the entertainment industry, it was so exciting to see Oprah’s speech.” Kolbrenner felt that Winfrey spoke the truth of what so many in the audience in that room and at home believe: “That
harassment of women in any industry needs to end now. Time’s up. #OprahforPresident.” Personally, I would say that another celebrity is not the solution to the White House and all of the problems associated with the current administration, but the message Winfrey shared with the world still holds a great deal of relevancy. Perhaps a politician will feel inspired by Winfrey’s speech and start acting in the best interest of the people — as a democracy is supposed to be run. Beyond the entertainment industry, this can be an opportunity for any executives, supervisors and people in powerful positions to be more responsible with the authority they hold. The discourse around assault can be much less controversial because it’s a fact — not a secret — and there can be positive change that begins from being transparent. As Winfrey stated in her speech, the one shared quality that all resilient people she’s interviewed had was that they never gave up on the idea of hope for a better future. Staying hopeful can be the first step in achieving the kind of world that Winfrey hopes we can live in. This is the opinion of Cory Hutchinson, a sophomore sociology major from Palm Desert, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email comments to tgage@theloyolan.com.
life+arts
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45 percent of LMU students have no 2018 resolution Just Jacob
Jacob Cornblatt Life+Arts Intern @LALoyolan
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ew Year’s resolutions are often treated pseudoseriously. Those who make a resolution tend to have an understanding with themselves that, chances are, they will break it. Today it’s more of an accomplishment to actually go through with a New Year’s resolution than it is to lose weight, go to the gym or read.
Knowing this, I became curious about how LMU students treat their resolutions. I assumed that most students have already broken their self-promises, but then I realized that we are in Los Angeles, the healthiest place on Earth (or so my East Coast mind tells me). I stationed myself at two different spots on campus (the Lair and the library) to poll passers by on their resolutions. I asked upwards of 50 students and found an unexpected result: 45 percent of Lions did not even make one. Why would nearly half of the
student body not participate in the annual tradition? It could have to do with the fact that when telling me they had no resolution, students smiled or laughed. Their lighthearted look at the concept of resolutions may indicate that the tradition is losing value. This wouldn’t be surprising, as New Year’s resolutions have become merely a meme around the Internet. Pictures flood social media around Dec. 31 of every year, pointing out how quickly people’s goals will be broken. Not every goal is treated as a joke, though. Of those asked, 37
percent had followed through with their resolutions. A few people did clarify that this was likely temporary — concluding their answers with “for now”— but they have kept them nonetheless. That 37 percent becomes 70 percent when the sample is limited to those who actually set a resolution in the first place. The other 30 percent of this new sample had quickly broken their resolutions. The good thing about New Year’s resolutions, though, is that they don’t have to be the only goals you set for yourself
this year. If you are in the 45 percent who don’t have a resolution or the 18 percent who broke it, remember that you can always set a new goal. It’s not too late to become the best you — you just can’t say “new year, new me” when you start.
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.
life+arts
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5 basic fitness tips to fit the new year Midnight in Paris
ew year, new me. Sound familiar? I guarantee that this phrase was heard, voiced and definitely
that sticking to them is much harder than making them — and I’d rather not start my year off with that looming disappointment. However, this year I did decide to set a goal for myself that involves fitness. Last year was filled with almost everything except for exercise, and I wanted to take the time this year to change that. I’ve always envied those who seemed to love exercising until I
the sake of my health. I have found that not all exercise was created equal, and that the only way to get myself up and moving is by taking my health seriously and treating it like a class I wouldn’t want to miss or a job that I know I can’t be late for. In order to move forward with my goal of getting in shape, I have put together a few tips for myself that I hope you find motivating.
thought of while welcoming in 2018 because it is symbolic of change. Celebrating the New Year allows for this kind of idealism, which is the promise of a better, brighter future. I am not one who usually makes New Year’s resolutions; I’ve found
came to the realization that most people don’t really “love” exercising. Rather, they are more keen on seeing the results that come from engaging in it. So, I’m going to continue to dislike all things involving exercise with a fiery passion, but I’m going to engage in it for
Luckily for all of us wanting to better our health, our campus offers free gym access to all LMU students as well as health-concious food options. If lifting weights doesn’t thrill you, there are plenty of other options available to help you to start moving.
Paris Shepherd Life+Arts Intern @LALoyolan
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There is also an array of classes offered at the Burns Recreation Center that are printed out on flyers at the center’s front desk. Not to mention, LMU has an easily accessible trail towards the main campus entrance. With all of the exercise options that LMU provides, I am confident that you will be able to find one that works for you.
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.
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New year, new Sodexo: Lair to undergo 30-day, full body renovation challenge Students are excited to see pictures of the Lair’s new look in 2018. Sami Leung Still on Winter Break Sodexo has had enough of the old Sodexo. The prison food supplier and proud LMU caterer posted a picture of the Lair on their Instagram page last week, with the caption, “Our kitchens and food supply will be replaced and upgraded in the coming weeks #newyearnewlair.” According to Sodexo representative Kris Swollo, this announcement came after about 10 minutes of planning and was inspired by all the other posts of other school cafeterias claiming to be upgrading their facilities. “New equipment, new suppliers, even new sauce dispensers that won’t always be empty,” said Swollo. “We’re
turning over a new leaf. We’re gonna really start caring about what we put into our students.” The process of removing all the old equipment will take a couple weeks. Sodexo will also need to pay for the new equipment and the labor it takes to put all of this into place. “This trend of universities resolving to upgrade their facilities for the new year needs to stop,” said Sarah Smalls, a senior communications studies major. “We all know these never stick.” Sodexo has modestly responded to comments on its Instagram with encouraging comments to those who wish to follow in their inspiring footsteps. As of now, Roski and Iggy’s Diner are also scheduled to be upgraded as soon as the Lair is finished, and that could be as late as next year. “Yeah, on second thought, this is a lot more difficult and a bigger commitment than we originally thought,” Swollo said. “Don’t hold your breath on this one.”
Abby Pollak | Loyolan
Sodexo has released an ideal goal for them to strive for, and everyone is excited for Sodexo’s life changes.
The Bluff is a humorous and satirical section published in the Loyolan. All quotes attributed to real figures are completely fabricated; persons otherwise mentioned are completely fictional.
SPORTS
laloyolan.com Page 14
Men’s basketball struggles with turnovers Men’s basketball drops the sixth straight game after committing 12 turnovers. Matt Rodriguez
Asst. Sports Editor @LALoyolan
In the West Coast Conference (WCC) 2017-2018 preseason poll the Lions were chosen to be the last place team. In the first four games of conference play the Lions have fulfilled that prophecy losing all four games earning them second to last place in the WCC. The Lions currently have a 5-10 record, with a six game losing streak. It has been a month since the Lions have won a game. Turnovers have been a serious issue for the Lions. The Lions have the most turnovers overall, 230, and the most turnovers per game, 15.3, according to the WCC website. In the last six games, the Lions turned the ball over 87 times. So far this season, the Lions have had doubledigit turnovers in every game except for two, where they turned the ball over nine times. Although the Lions have the third highest scoring offense in the league, 74.7 points, the Lions are second to last in scoring defense, allowing 78.5 points per game. This can be attributed to turnovers, as they allow the opposing team to get into a fast break and score for easy points. Even with their struggles with turnovers the Lions have some stand-out players on offense with redshirt senior guard Steven Haney, junior guard James Batemon and freshman forward Eli Scott. Haney has continued to be a sharpshooter for the Lions, leading the team in three-point field goals made, 39, and three-point field goal percentage, .398. The sharpshooter’s success earned him the honors of the eleventh
highest three-point field goal percentage and with the second most three-point field goals made. With 12.6 points per game Haney is the eighteenth highest scorer in the WCC. Batemon has filled in the starting point guard position excellently, with 4.9 assists per game, ranking him fifth in the WCC in assists. Not only does he lead the Lions in assists, Batemon also scores 17.5 points per game, the team high and the fifth highest in the WCC. He also hustles on the defensive side with 1.5 steals per game, the fifth highest in the WCC. He is also eleventh in the league in assists/turnover ratio with 1.4. However, in that same list he has the second highest turnovers per game with 3.5. Scott has proved to be the jack of all trades for the Lions, averaging 12.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. In the WCC, Scott ranks sixteenth in scoring, sixth in overall rebounds, third in offensive rebounds and eleventh in defensive rebounds. Scott’s ability to rebound, especially on the offensive end, has created numerous second chance opportunities for the Lions. However, he is part of the Lions’ turnover issue, giving the ball away 3.4 times per game. The Lions have two players who are playing stellar defense with junior guard Jeffery McClendon and sophomore center Mattias Markusson. McClendon leads the WCC in steals per game with 1.8. Although defense is his forte, he still contributes across the board, with 4.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Markusson has stepped into a larger role this season averaging 25.5 minutes per game compared to 7.2 minutes per game last year. The added minutes have allowed him to display his shot blocking ability with 0.9 blocks per game, the ninth best in the league.
Emily Sullivan | Loyolan
Junior guard James Batemon (5) has been stellar for the Lions this season, leading the team in scoring and assists. Unfortunately, he also leads the team in turnovers per game.
Future lies in free agency for young Lakers Lakers from Page 16
Magic Johnson, has been to clear cap space with the team in hopes of signing two max contract free agents this summer. Lakers players such as Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson, who are both restricted free agents this summer, would likely be dealt in this scenario. Additionally, Johnson has made comments saying that almost everyone on the team is expendable. This appears to have caused trouble amongst the players, as a team practice was cancelled in order for some players to have a team meeting to vent frustrations with the management in their roles and direction of the team. The Lakers do not appear to know what they want to be right now.
If Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka plunge the team in order to potentially sign max players such as Lebron James, Paul George and DeMarcus Cousins, they are taking a big risk by potentially gutting the team of assets in hopes of maybe signing not only one, but two star players. If the Lakers fail to sign any star players, they will not only be left without certain solid players who were given up to free money, but also will face a difficult offseason as the team does not own a first round draft pick due to a previous trade, unable to further improve the team with young assets for the future. The Lakers’ struggles have been difficult for the team, but the team faces additional drama with the outspoken father of
Lonzo Ball, Lavar Ball, claiming that Lakers head coach Luke Walton has lost the support of his players, saying in an ESPN interview “You can see they’re not playing for Luke no more,” Ball said, “Luke doesn’t have control of the team no more. They don’t want to play for him.” With the team struggling on the court, these off court distractions are not helping a young team grow and learn to win with each other, as it is not clear who is in the team’s long term plans, if they are going to keep their coach and who the team will try to bring in next summer and who will be replaced. With all the dysfunction occurring in the Lakers organization, as well as the lack of recent success on the court, why would LeBron James,
who the Lakers see as their top priority in free agency, want to join this team and leave behind the Cavaliers, a team he has taken to the finals three years in a row? The Lakers should instead focus on developing the young players they have instead of alienating the players making them question if they are going to play for the team tomorrow or not because of trade rumors. The Lakers should still look to sign players in the offseason, but Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka are too confident that their grand plan is going to succeed, where if it fails, it could set the franchise back even further. The Lakers’ problems are fixable, as the team needs to find a way to get rid of these off court distractions and let the players grow together on the court. The
idea of signing a star player in free agency is intriguing, but the Lakers have not signed a superstar player in free agency since Shaquille O’Neal in 1996, with recently failed attempts in the past few years of signing Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge. This may not be the team that makes the playoffs for the first time since 2013, but if the team improves down the stretch, and starts winning games and improving on the 26-56 record they had last season, then the hope of a strong, young Lakers team in the future is a possibility.
This is the opinion of Miles Thomas, a freshman communication studies major from Los Angeles, CA. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan, or email tdevries@ theloyolan.com.
SPORTS
SCORES UPDATE SWIMMING
LION
253-41 L
W. BASKETBALL
vs. UCSD
SPORTS
77-67 L
at Gonzaga
M. BASKETBALL
85-66 L
vs. Gonzaga Follow us on Twitter @LALoyolan for up-to-date scores.
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LOS ANGELES LOYOLAN | January 10, 2018 | laloyolan.com
Women’s basketball wins three of first four in WCC The Lions currently rank second in the conference after falling to Gonzaga. Tim De Vries Sports Editor @LALoyolan
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hrough the first three games of the West Coast Conference (WCC) women’s basketball season, just two teams entered last weekend undefeated in conference play. Those two teams — LMU and Gonzaga (GU) — squared off with one another on Saturday, Jan. 6. A 14-0 start from GU forced the Lions to play from behind for the duration of the game, eventually falling by a final score of 77-67. After suffering their first conference loss of the season, LMU fell to 3-1 — tied with Saint Mary’s College (SMC) for second in the conference. Because the Lions defeated SMC in their WCC opener, the team currently holds the tiebreaker over the Gaels. The team’s recent success in conference comes on the heels of an 8-3 preseason. Through 15 games, this has been the best start for an LMU team under current head coach Charity Elliott, both in conference and as a whole. In each of the last three seasons, the Lions’ record through four games of conference play has improved by a game from the previous season. Slow starts followed by strong second quarters are
quickly becoming a habit for the Lions, who have trailed by at least seven points early in each of the last three games. Where they have faltered out of the gates, they’ve made up for it in the second quarter. In second quarters during WCC play, LMU has outscored their four opponents by a combined score of 77-47. In all three of their victories, the Lions held the lead at halftime. Some of the most efficient defense in the conference and balance on offense has enabled LMU to hold those halftime leads, propelling them to their second-place ranking. The Lions rank first in the conference in opponent threepoint percentage, and are tied with BYU for the lowest opponent field goal percentage in the WCC at just 37 percent. In last week’s win over Santa Clara, the Broncos were held to just 15 percent shooting from behind the line. Though they’ve struggled away from the rim, venturing inside hasn’t proven to be an effective solution for the Lions opponents either. LMU is averaging 3.9 blocks per game, good for second in the conference. Junior forward Bree Alford and junior guard Gabby Green have anchored LMU on defense, with Alford collecting 11 steals and 11 blocks to date and Green posting 38 steals and 19 blocks in just fifteen games. Green leads all players in the WCC in steals, and is tied for second in average steals per game.
Jason Munoz | Loyolan
Junior guard Andee Velasco (11) has been a key component in LMU’s balanced approach, leading the team in assists. As a whole, LMU has handed out more assists than any other team in the WCC.
Not only have the Lions forced their opponents to miss a high volume of shots, but they’ve limited the number of second chances as well with stellar rebounding. LMU’s 639 rebounds in 15 games puts them atop the conference in total rebounds. More rebounds means less opportunities to score for the opponents, who have already found trouble doing so with the chances they’ve had. Paired with their staunch defense, the Lions boast one of the most balanced offenses
in the WCC as well, reflected in their assist tally, which also currently tops the conference. Junior guard Andee Velasco has been the key facilitator for LMU, dishing out nearly five assists per game on the season, a number which she has eclipsed in each of her last three outings. Although many of Velasco’s assists come by way of baskets by junior guard/ forward Cheyanne Wallace and Green, the ball has been spread more evenly than first glance might indicate. Five players on the roster, including Wallace,
Green, and Velasco herself, average more than eight points per game. Despite their recent loss to GU, the fast start for LMU means they’re ahead of their projected pace. Currently tied for second, the Lions currently clock in three spots higher than their projected finish according to the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll. They’ll have an opportunity to take the next step towards accomplishing this feat when they face University of San Francisco on Thursday night.
Lakers struggle due to issues on and off the court Miles Per Hour Miles Thomas Sports Intern @LALoyolan
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ith a record of 12-27, the Los Angeles Lakers are currently in last place in the Western Conference and hold the third worst record in the entire NBA. The Lakers continue to drop games despite the impressive play from Lakers rookies. Forward Kyle Kuzma, averaging 17.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and the improved play of second year forward Brandon Ingram, with 16.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and star rookie guard Lonzo Ball, averaging 10.2 points, 7.0 assists, and 6.9 rebounds per game. Despite solidly ranking 15th overall in total defense rating, it is the offensive side of the ball where the Lakers have especially struggled. The team ranks last in the league in three point percentage and free throw percentage, while also ranking 28th as a team in total offensive rating. Along with poor offensive rating, the Lakers also commit the second most
turnovers per game, trailing only the Philadelphia 76ers in this statistic. Much of the team’s struggles can be contributed to the young roster. The main rotation consists of eight players who are under 25 years old. The Lakers also lack contributing veteran players who can help the younger players learn how to win games. In the summer, the Lakers traded away former number two overall pick D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for a late first round draft pick, which would eventually be used to draft Kuzma and one time All Star center Brook Lopez. Lopez however is not playing like he was with the Nets. Averaging 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this season compared to his career averages of 18.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, putting the Lakers in a position where it is up to the younger players to lead and win games in the NBA. Additional struggles from the team seem to stem within the locker room as well, as it is reported by multiple sources including ESPN and Lakers Nation, that players are frustrated with how current president of basketball operations See Lakers | Page 14
Christian Boggs | Loyolan