Los Angeles Loyolan February 15th 2017

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For some people, Valentine’s Day is just Feb 14th.

Should the Monday after the Super Bowl be a national holiday?

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LMU expands campus into Playa Vista

LMU’s new campus will hold graduate programs for the School of Film and Television.

Justine Biondi Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan

LMU will expand its campus into Playa Vista, further strengthening its relationship with Los Angeles as the University of Silicon Beach, President Timothy Law Snyder announced via email last week on Feb. 9.

The upcoming LMU Playa Vista Campus will be located at 12105 West Waterfront Drive — four miles away from LMU’s bluff campus — and will open fall semester of 2018.

Occupying approximately 50,000 square feet, the new campus building will house LMU’s graduate programs for the School of Film and Television (SFTV).

The new campus also offers space for academic and creative programs, as well as events and activities associated with LMU. To make commuting easier for students and faculty, LMU will offer a free shuttle service traveling back and forth between the two campuses. Students may drive themselves, but the shuttle is recommended for conveniency.

President Snyder said in his email that while LMU anticipates the SFTVs graduate students as being the main occupants for the campus, the University is open to other uses for the space that

Riis Irvine Peterson | Loyolan

The news of the Playa Vista Campus — located four miles away from the Bluff ­— was announced last Thursday by President Snyder via email.

may help LMU benefit from the Playa Vista tech environment.

“Mindful of these new opportunities, I asked our deans to engage our faculty and discuss how we might reimagine or relocate our offerings and scholarly contributions,” President Snyder said in his email.

Playa Vista is one of Silicon Beach’s focal points for technology, creativity and innovation. President Snyder believes the campus expansion will inspire this innovation and compliment

LMU’s global imagination.

Surrounded by diverse businesses, trendy restaurants and countless opportunities for growth and success, the new campus aspires to enhance LMU’s relationship with Playa Vista and Silicon Beach.

“We have longstanding strategic relationships and industry partnerships within the Playa Vista community,” President Snyder said on the LMU website. “As we continue to strengthen immersive and interdisciplinary

opportunities and career pathways, our students and faculty members benefit from being embedding in Playa Vista’s culture and vibe.”

Several students at LMU, particularly those in the SFTV undergraduate program, expressed excitement about the upcoming Playa Vista campus and understand the decision to expand the campus.

“I wasn’t surprised to hear LMU was See Playa Vista Campus | Page 3

Betsy DeVos inspires conversation on education The newly elected Secretary of Education has caused uncertainty within LMU. Jaqueline McCool News Intern @LALoyolan

In a tie vote broken by Vice President Mike Pence, Betsy DeVos was confirmed as Secretary of Education on Jan. 17 by the Senate. This was the first time in history that the vice president was required to break a confirmation tie.

According to the Atlantic, DeVos has been a long-time supporter of charter schools and voucher programs to offer choice to families on where their children attend school no matter the type (public, charter or private), while also opposing regulation of charter schools.

The Center for Public Education describes charter schools as having “the regulatory freedom and autonomy from state and local rules (in terms of staffing, curriculum choices, and budget management) they receive in exchange for having their charter reviewed and renewed (or revoked) by the authorizing agency every few years.”

DeVos has been criticized by many on the left side of the aisle for her lack of experience in education. According to the Washington Post, DeVos garnered national attention when she seemed unfamiliar with the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), which “requires public schools to provide free and

appropriate education to all students with disabilities,” the Washington Post reported.

Several members of the LMU community had opinions about DeVos’ confirmation. The Dean of the School of Education Shane Martin said in a statement to the Loyolan, “There were legitimate questions about [DeVos’] vision for the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) that came out during the confirmation process that have yet to be fully addressed.”

Katherine Munson, a junior special education major, fears DeVos’ lack of experience will negatively impact her career and the students she hopes to teach.

“I am not going to lie, it is really upsetting and concerning to come this far as a special education major, have your entire teaching future in front of you and then know that someone as ignorant as Betsy DeVos could change everything in the education system,” Munson said.

However, Munson remains positive for her future students. “While DeVos might not know anything about education, fortunately there are so many dedicated, phenomenal and knowledgeable people higher in the [DOE] who can hopefully help her make these really important decisions when it comes to our children’s education,” Munson said. “In an odd way, [DeVos] is almost motivating a lot of my education peers to truly be the best teachers possible for our students.”

Alumna Claire Zirbes (‘16) was a student teacher at Westchester High School during her time at LMU. She fears

defunding or dismantling the DOE will leave only private or religious schools, cutting out a significant group of students from adequate education.

“Where will all of these students go? What will happen to the families that do not have the funds for a private education? What about the separation of church and state? It is part of our rights as Americans to have equal access to a public education,” Zirbes said.

According to the Atlantic, there could be complications with President Donald Trump’s proposed $20 billion federal voucher program, as 40 of 50 states do not allow direct government funding to go to religious schools.

Zirbes, who is now teaching at a private middle school, acknowledges those institutions may be in a better position based on DeVos’ expected changes to See DeVos | Page 4

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BURNING QUESTIONS

This week, News Editor Bri Ortiz sat This issue, down withManaging Rena Olk, Editor Dan Raffety a freshman studio sits down with Head arts major whose Coach Max Good, mother was a voice head coach oféthe actress in ‘Pok mon’.

LMU’s men’s basketball team to talk about the upcoming season.

When did you know that your mother was the voice actor for Ash Ketchum?

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I always have gone to work with my mom, so I never really questioned anything she did or had an epiphany that she voiced a boy. I think it hit me a little more once we started traveling around to comic book conventions. Just seeing people’s reactions and amazement when my mom would whisper something in their ear as Ash was pretty cool and made me realize the significance and impact the show had on so many people.

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Do you like ‘Pokémon’? Why or why not?

Of course I like ‘Pokémon’! I think I’m a little obligated to like it! But I think it’s a great show. One thing I really loved about it though wasn’t the show itself, but the studio, 4Kids, where it was recorded. Every Friday they had Bagel Friday, and there would be tons of bagels all over the place! It quickly became one of my favorite days to go to the studio.

What is your favorite ‘Pokémon’?

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My favorite ‘Pokémon’ is definitely Charizard. It’s so practical! If you get lost in the woods, you can use its tail to keep you warm.

If you’re stuck in traffic, you can just fly over it all.

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Were you able to voice anything pertaining to ‘Pokémon’? How was that experience?

Actually I was the voice of Sentret on ‘Pokémon’! I was in the studio one day and they needed a voice, so my mom recommended that I did it! It was really fun, so when you see Sentret, that’s me! I was also in this movie called ‘Boy Who Wanted to be a Bear’ as the little girl bear. I couldn’t read at the time, so my mom stood in the booth with me and read me my lines. When the movie came out, we invited some of my friends from school and held a screening at this pizza place, Two Boots. It was so fun.

What was your favorite childhood cartoon growing up?

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Well, I feel a little obligated to say ‘Pokémon’, but I definitely watched it before school. It was actually the only cartoon I was allowed to watch in the morning! Other than that, I watched a ton of cartoons. ‘Scooby-Doo’, ‘Spongebob’ and ‘Captain Planet’ were definitely three of my favorites though!

How do you like LMU? What is your favorite part about it?

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I love LMU so far! All my classes have been super interesting and challenging. The campus is so beautiful and I love being by the beach. I grew up in New York City, so living by the beach is incredible!

MORE QUESTIONS

Want to read more questions with Olk? Check them out at laloyolan.com.

LMU expands campus to community of Playa Vista Playa from Page 1

expanding because there’s only so much room on the Bluff,” Rachel Obering, a senior film and television production major said.

“I think LMU is in the perfect location for film and television students and expanding will only draw more students here.

I personally am in favor of this because I love the film industry and want as many students to be able to study film as possible.”

President Snyder advocates that the new campus will strengthen LMU’s connection with Silicon Beach and immerse students in the opportunities offered there. Along with increasing the square footage of the campus, this addition will further connect LMU students and faculty with Playa Vista businesses and partnerships.

“I think it’ll be a great way

for LMU to expand connections and grow relationships with the companies and businesses that have been quickly moving into the Silicon Beach area,” said Erin Honigman, a senior English major.

LMU advocates global imagination and immersion — two concepts that this expansion hopes to embody.

“Our LMU Playa Vista Campus supports our shared mission and vision by engaging our individual and collective creativity, by extending our global reach through our Silicon Beach partnerships, and by opening new possibilities for interdisciplinary and immersive learning opportunities for our students,” President Snyder said in his email.

Employment

President Snyder will continue to update the LMU community on new information regarding the Playa Vista Campus. There is also a “LMU Playa Vista Campus FAQs” page on the LMU website for further information on the project.

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Sodexo’s new dining plan aims to offer more variety The Lair will be offering specialty food stations to students once a week.

Sami Leung

Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan

Sodexo is starting an initiative to offer new food options by temporarily replacing preexisting stations at the Lair Marketplace with a themed pop-up restaurant. There will be a new pop-up once a week on campus and they will continue until next year, according to Veata Betton, Sodexo’s marketing coordinator at LMU. “The pop-up restaurants inspiration came from the students,” Betton said. “The objective is to surprise the students with some variety.

There are some students that are not able to leave campus to try new exciting dishes, so our idea was to bring some of these dishes to the students.”

The first of the pop-up restaurants was a Noodle Soup station in place of the Stir Fresh station that appeared on Feb. 8.

The station offered rice and ramen noodles to go with various

vegetables in a beef or chicken broth. Other restaurants will replace nearly every station at the Lair in the future, with themes ranging from jambalaya and chilaquiles to a risotto bar and more, according to Betton.

“I think it’s pretty good to have some change. But it would be better if we had more vegetable choices [at the Noodle Soup Station],” said Yue Wang, a sophomore graphic design major. “And it was really salty, like saltier than my soul.”

Sodexo plans to implement different pop-up restaurants throughout the semester and will advertise the stations on their social media accounts.

“I believe that this program is a fantastic way to introduce new and out of the ordinary items to students’ dining experiences” said Hayden Tanabe, a junior business major and president of RHA. “I appreciate the effort toward expanding the dining options, if only for a day, to keep things different and exciting.”

However, some students are worried that the pop-up restaurants might infringe on different students’ dietary restrictions.

“I think it was a mistake for them to replace the [Stir Fresh] station because there are limited gluten-free options at

DeVos and DOE DeVos from Page 1

the DOE. However, Zirbes said, “the enrollment rates would exponentially increase due to the displacement of public schools by private schools.”

One scenario posited by Aaron Pallas, a professor of sociology and education at Teachers College, Columbia University, supports Zirbes’ projection.

“As traditional public schools wither and close, more and more families are drawn to the unregulated private sector,” Pallas wrote in a post published on the Herchinger Report, the Washington Post reported. However, the scenario he finds more realistic is that “homeschooling increases at a much faster rate than private and charter school enrollments,” and by 2020, more than 75 percent of students will be enrolled in public schools.

According to NPR, higher education may be one of the facets of the DOE changed by DeVos, with the Higher Education Act up for reauthorization. The three main issues that DeVos can influence are, according to NPR, “the role of for-profits, college costs and

enforcement of Title IX (which governs sex discrimination, including sexual assault cases).”

LMU Dean of Students Jeanne Ortiz told the Loyolan that it was difficult to anticipate the impact of DeVos’ role in the DOE before she has started in her position.

As far as how the hypothetical elimination of the DOE could affect LMU, Ortiz said, “Dissolving any federal department could affect the University in terms of regulatory requirements. For example, the Office of Civil Rights is responsible for the implementation of Title IX. Any incoming administration could make a decision regarding future of the implementation of this legislation or any other.”

Sophia Pruett, a senior education major, said that she hopes some good will come from DeVos’ new role. “With DeVos as the Secretary of Education, I hope that public, private and charter schools all feel a stronger sense of determination and urgency to take action for the overall improvement of the education system.”

Jason Munoz | Loyolan

Sodexo’s pop-up restaurants will provide students with specialty stations once a week in the coming semester. the Lair,” said Aurora Occelli, bean heritage, African American for students, with three different packages of chocolate a sophomore studio arts maheritage and campfire commujor. “They’re always out of nity table. The Lair also surcovered strawberries availprises students with special able for pre-order in the weeks gluten-free bread and bagels, treats celebrating food-related leading up to the holiday. so stir fry is usually my go-to.” national holidays, such as naFuture pop-up restaurants Sodexo has a history of providing its students with many tional popcorn day, national will be advertised by Sodexo on different food options from varcheese lover’s day and nationtheir Twitter, Facebook, Snapious cultures through its weekly al cream cheese brownie day. chat and Instagram accounts. community table themes. PreSodexo also sponsored sevvious themes include Cariberal Valentine’s Day options

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Board Editorial Gracie McManus Editor-in-Chief

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

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Award shows need to be diverse

With the Grammy Awards airing on Sunday and the Oscars coming up on Feb. 26, award season is in full swing once again. However, as seen in last year’s #OscarsSoWhite controversy, audiences are increasingly holding award shows accountable for social movements and issues such as representation of women and people of color. These long-awaited specials are no longer the entertainment escapism that audiences are used to. Award show voters, administrative board members and industry stars are now being criticized for failing to take initiative to include underrepresented groups, as they should be.

Another problem, in the case of the Academy Awards, is the direct connection between the chances of a film winning an award and the milliondollar film marketing campaigns movies use to attract award voter attention. These “For Your Consideration” campaigns are catered to elitist Hollywood voters — including the Academy and Hollywood Foreign Press — who receive advance screenings of films in the running for an award, often complete with perks that “sell” the film through exclusive dinners for voters, chances to meet the talent and expensive swag bags.

Unlike mainstream movies, independent films — and often those that do try to bridge the gap between underrepresented groups and entertainment media — do not always have the luxury of a multimillion dollar budget for marketing campaigns. With Oscar nomination campaigns estimated to cost upwards of $10 million, according to the New York Times, smaller productions are dealt a huge disadvantage when competing for prestigious awards, despite their quality being as good or even better than stereotypical Oscar gold.

In contrast to last year’s whitewashed slate of Oscar nominees, 2017 has been a remarkably strong year for films with black directors, creative teams and casts, including Best Picture Oscar-nominees “Moonlight,” “Fences” and “Hidden Figures.” Six out of the 20 actors nominated by the Academy are black, three of which are in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category — Viola Davis (“Fences”), Octavia Spencer (“Hidden Figures) and Naomie Harris (“Moonlight”).

LION

There are also several men of color up for nomination, SPORTS including Denzel Washington (“Fences”) and Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight”).

However, there is need for change in the actual hiring and casting of films in Hollywood to adequately represent this country’s demographics. According to Vanity Fair, “There were 305 films eligible this year. If hiring reflected the U.S. population, Oscar voters would have weighed 150-plus films directed by women, 45 directed by blacks, 50 by Hispanics and dozens of movies by directors who are AsianAmerican, [LGBTQ+] individuals, people with disabilities and members of other minorities.” Vanity Fair noted that the real numbers were much smaller, which reflects a greater issue with the filmmaking industry as a whole. We cannot continue to only highlight the stories of white people, especially when there are so many other diverse stories that need to be told. We determine what is important based on the movies we produce and watch.

But not all is lost; there are some positive steps being taken to increase diversity, at least in the Academy. In response to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, the Academy pledged to bring in new, diverse voting members in January 2016 and made progress on the resolution last March, welcoming members who belong to underrepresented groups — including women, African Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans — to its Board of Governors.

This inspires hope, but we as audience members and media consumers need to pay attention to the unequal economic and cultural distribution integrated into art and entertainment on a larger scale, holding the industry to the responsibility it has in speaking for and to our communities. And as a prominent film school, the School of Film and Television (SFTV) should emphasize the value of stories written by and about minority groups in America, and students should make an effort to cast actors in their films who are representative of our community and the greater United States. The industry may be longstanding and hard to change, but this new generation of young filmmakers can change the Hollywood narrative to be much more inclusive.

“We cannot continue to only highlight the stories of white people...”

LETTER TO THE EDITOR I am writing in response to the article from the Feb. 8 edition of The Loyolan titled: “My experience as a minority on LMU’s campus,” by Zachary Hayes.

I understand what it is like to be Hayes’ definition of a minority. Before LMU, I was a liberal in Tennessee. It was hard being surrounded by people I did not agree with; however, I did not complain in the newspaper about the lack of liberals in Tennessee. Instead, I listened to others, learned from their viewpoints and challenged those I did not agree with. This is in contrast to Hayes’ approach.

We attend a university in California, so it is no surprise that the majority of LMU students are liberal. However, that does not mean it is the administration's job to spoon-feed students conservative viewpoints in the name of diversity. Hayes argues that LMU is not inclusive because it does not support the conservative minority. However, LMU stands in solidarity with actual minorities because being a minority is not a choice and being a conservative is. Should LMU tell professors to never state their opinions unless they are

equally liberal and conservative to protect students who feel underrepresented?

Obviously not.

The responsibility of political diversity falls on the students. Hayes assumes that LMU students cannot think critically about a professor's opinions. Hayes also assumes that this under-representation of conservative views will lead to the formation of “intolerant radical leftist groups” at LMU. Both of these assumptions are incorrect.

Instead of implying that students are not conservative because they do not understand the issues, understand that people may not agree with your views for various reasons. If you want to expose your fellow students to conservative viewpoints, then do it. It is not the administration's job to engage the community with a conservative viewpoint; it is yours.

Sincerely, Devin Kellet Political science ‘19

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OPINION

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Why we need to prioritize national unity Cup of Joe Joseph Bellavia Asst. Opinion Editor @LALoyolan

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wrote an article a couple weeks back titled “Inauguration Day riots prevent national unity,” which outlined the rioting that took place on both Inauguration Day and the days since President Trump’s election. It explained how this senseless violence — of rioters, not peaceful protestors — is unacceptable and only further divides us as a nation. I received some comments on the article doubting the need for national unity, and they inspired me to write an article about why it’s so important in today’s society.

The United States of America is a country that was built upon the idea of a free and equal union. The Preamble of the Constitution outlines the idea that we as a people can believe in what we wish to believe, and even if we disagree, we should never let that dissuade us from working towards a “more perfect union.” With rioting and violence being committed against those wuth whom we disagree, it seems that many have lost sight of that undeniable truth.

When I asked for national unity, I didn’t mean that the American people should just

Madeline Mary | Loyolan

The current political climate may encourage division, which is all the more reason we must come together. think alike regardless of our differences. I meant that we as a people should look past our personal feelings and look towards a better future for this country. Regardless of how you feel about President Trump, hoping for his failure is not a legitimate stance. The citizens and politicians of the United States cannot just ignore each other. They must compromise to continue the success and wellbeing of this country. The point of unity is to accept that we may not always get what we want, but we continue to move forward as one.

Some argue that Republicans rejected anything former President Obama put forward when he was first elected, and that Republicans protested with racist imagery — for them to be the ones calling for unity is quite hypocritical. In one sense, it is hypocritical. However, I don’t think that this point is effective as an argument against national unity. If anything, it is an argument promoting it.

Look at how the political gridlock affected the Obama administration.

Republicans rarely compromise with Democrats on any terms, and

in the Explorations course, “The Zionist Idea,” is support for the establishment of a Jewish state in the land of Israel. The post also failed to include the fact that Jews have been living alongside native Arabs in the region since biblical times, or that Jews have experienced documented discrimination and persecution for the last 1,000+ years.

The European and Russian immigrants fleeing persecution in the late 1800s and early 1900s were not “colonizers.” The “colonizers” were the British (not mentioned in the post) who created the Mandate of Palestine following their victory in World War I. There was no mention of the atrocity that was the Holocaust, only that in the 1930s: “With Hitler’s rise to power, immigration grew and began creating conflict within Palestine.” We should not have to explain the callousness of this statement.

The description of the 1947 UN Partition Plan (which the post fails to identify by name) makes the ridiculous claim that it was made “under the pressure of the Zionists,” when it was actually created by a UN committee.

More importantly, the Arabs rejected this plan. If they had not, they would have had their own Palestinian state, alongside Israel, since 1947.

Arab armies did not enter “the conflict after Zionist forces had committed 16 massacres.” They invaded Israel immediately after Israel declared

independence in May 1948, with the intention of destroying it and its people.

The post did not extend its timeline beyond 1967 — except to inaccurately claim “Palestinians and Israelis continue to fight over the land in Gaza […] a territory that was supposed to become a Palestinian state with the Oslo Peace Accord of 1993.” The Oslo Peace Accords were to be a framework for future peace negotiations that failed to come to fruition due to failures on both sides of the conflict. Also, Israel withdrew fully from the Gaza Strip in 2005. Currently, the Palestinians living there are governed by the terrorist group, Hamas.

As members of the LMU community who believe in promoting dialogue between groups with differing beliefs, the “alternative facts” presented by your post reiterate the importance of remembering and adhering to our University’s mission: the encouragement of learning, the education of the whole person and the service of faith and the promotion of justice.

The following LMU students are equally concerned about the timeline: Sarah Markowitz, Dru Milligran, Delaney Englert, Alex Weisz, Erica Tietz, Nicole Jaffe, Sarai Bogoratt, Maraky Alemseged, Leah Spitz, Jack Hicks and Yvette Hakimi.

In response to the ‘Palestine and Israel conflict’ timeline Letter to the Editor Holli Levitsky

Contributing Professor @LALoyolan

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tudents, faculty and staff were extremely alarmed by the inaccuracies of the “Palestine and Israel conflict timeline” graphic published by the Loyolan last Wednesday, Feb. 8. In the current political climate, it is more important now than ever before to ensure the validity of every journalistic claim and to consider every viewpoint before publishing statements like those included in the post. The author omitted crucial facts and left out necessary contextual and other details that would help your readers understand an extremely complex and sensitive issue.

Moreover, to sum up the conflict in this way shows ignorance at best, intent to harm at worst. To add to the disturbing nature of the post, a quick Google search turned up a nearly identical post elsewhere — and yet no citation was offered.

We would like to highlight, and correct, some of the most flagrant inaccuracies — although we understand that we are unable to include everything that should be said. We encourage the entire Loyolan staff to further their education on the subject.

Zionists were not, and are not, Jewish extremists. Zionism — taught at LMU

This is the opinion of Holli Levitsky, a professor of English and the director of Jewish Studies at LMU. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan, or email mgaydos@theloyolan.com.

because of that, very little of what Obama had promised was actually accomplished. Even though Republicans hold the majority in Congress at this point in time, they won’t be able to pass everything that they want. This doesn’t mean Democrats should simply block everything that they can. Both the House and the Senate need to be willing to compromise for any part of this presidency to be considered a success.

Four years of total failure from Washington should be the last thing the American people want.

Democrats should not take on

the role that Republicans did in 2008 and 2012; they should work toward compromise.

What is also important to consider is what a lack of unity can do to society on a more civilian level. When Obama was elected into office many were quick to throw out racial slurs as a method of protest. This was clearly an unintelligent and rather ineffective way to have their voices heard — similar to rioting. It divided conservatives and liberals further than ever before. Because of that, it is rational to believe that this lack of cooperation may have impacted the now very unstable social relations of Americans.

Should this sort of division and promotion of instability be allowed to continue further, or should we work toward accepting one another? The choice seems rather obvious to me.

The fact of the matter is, you can point fingers at whoever you would like. Both conservatives and liberals made it extremely difficult to achieve unity on any terms during the Obama administration. This country, as powerful as it is, is extremely fragile at this moment in history, and in times of division, we have failed in the past. That alone is reason enough to fight for unity.

This is the opinion of Joseph Bellavia, a sophomore screenwriting major from Monmouth Beach, New Jersey. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan, or email mgaydos@theloyolan.com.

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Why do we care so much about Valentine’s Day? A Sam Dunk Samantha Davis Asst. Opinion Girl @LALoyolan

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’ve never been on a date in my life; not unless you count the two or three awkward dates with my seventh grade “boyfriend” of a month, dates in which our parents dropped us off and picked us up from the movies and we barely talked.

Whenever I tell people that I’ve never been on a real date, much less had a boyfriend, I get a host of responses. Most people are just surprised, seeing as I’ve been alive for nearly two decades and having had at least one date in 19 years seems to be the norm. They ask me, “What about like, group dates?” No. “A blind date with someone you never saw again?” Nah. “Not even a bad one?” Nope. My name is Samantha Davis, I’ll be 20 years old in July, I have two dogs, I like rap music and I’ve never been on a date. Honestly, I couldn’t care less.

Whenever Valentine’s Day comes around, there are two things that I hear people say: Either they’re complaining about the holiday and how

much it sucks seeing couples being, well, couples, or they’re declaring their independence and won’t shut up about how liberating it is to be single.

Throw in a few comments about corporations making up holidays to get us to buy stuff and be mindless consumers or whatever — another thing I couldn’t care less about — and you’ve got yourself a holiday folks!

Then there’s always that one comment along the lines of, “I just don’t get Valentine’s Day. Why do you need a special day to show someone you love them?

Why not do it all the time?” That always gets me. Do these people think that couples ignore each other all year until February 14 comes around, get all spruced up for one night, drink a lot of wine, eat chocolate, be romantic and then not show affection for another year?

Then, there are those of us who are ambivalent about Valentine’s Day. We’re stuck between those who gush about how cute it is and those who spend every waking moment on February 14 in a bad mood.

The only part about Valentine’s Day that I have much of an opinion about is that once it’s

over, all the chocolate at Ralph’s will be on sale. I have equal disdain for anti-Valentine’s Day proclamations and events, or those who make somewhat introspective but nonetheless annoying claims about how romance and monogamy are social constructs forced upon us by society. Yeah, that’s all true, but let’s be real. Everything is a social construct, and of all the ones that exist, is romance really the one that deserves our spite?

Perhaps I’m devoid of whatever it is that makes people so into this holiday or despise it with such fervor.

But seeing couples be cute on Valentine’s Day doesn’t make me upset that I myself am not in a relationship, nor does it make me feel empowered as a modern woman to be single. While I normally encourage people to be informed and have opinions about things, Valentine’s Day is an exception. To me, Valentine’s Day is just February 14.

This is the opinion of Samantha Davis, a sophomore philosophy major from La Canada Flintridge, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan, or email mgaydos@theloyolan.com

Cameron Woodard | Loyolan

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By Hannah Kim, Staff Cartoonist

FOREVER FAIL

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SOCIAL JUSTICE

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BSS screens Netflix’s ‘13th’ for panel event Panelists and attendees discussed issues related to mass incarceration.

Karis Addo-Quaye Social Justice Editor @LALoyolan

Participants at last Saturday’s screening of Ava DuVernay’s critically acclaimed Netflix documentary “13th” engaged in discussion about mass incarceration and the prison industrial complex. The event, sponsored by Loyola Law School’s chapter of the National Black Law Students Association and Black Student Services (BSS), was followed by a panel discussion with LMU faculty and leaders from the greater Los Angeles community.

Following the film, the panelists Claudia Sandoval, assistant professor of political science, Marc Pitre, a clinical assistant professor from the School of Film and Television, and Yusef Omowale, the director of the Southern California Library, deconstructed elements of the documentary. Omowale works to “[document and make] accessible histories of struggles that challenge racism and other systems of oppression so we can all imagine and sustain possibilities for freedom” as stated on the Southern California Library’s website. Sophomore philosophy major Kendra Dawson, who is also the president of LMU’s Chapter of the National Black Law Student’s Association, moderated the panel.

The discussion explored the film’s political, socioeconomic, historical and cinematographic relevance to the criminal justice system in the U.S. today — particularly as it pertains to black and minority communities.

Sandoval commented on how “seeing things sewn together” in a narrative allows people to “respond to story” and make sense of large and complex societal issues. Pitre also brought up how the advent of widespread technology, such as smartphones, “brings the tragedy to the fore.” Both the film and the panelists discussed video evidence from third person witnesses in high and low profile cases of police brutality.

via Black Student Services

These videos have surfaced increasingly on social media in recent years.

The documentary highlights examples of media’s impact on civil rights movements during the 1960s.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and other leaders of the time used the violence against activists shown on television as “a medium of technology [that confirms] your experience such that your basic humanity can be recognized,” Jelani Cobb, Columbia University journalism professor, said in the film.

Van Jones, another of the commentators in the film, said how “the difference now is that someone can hold up [a smart phone], get what’s going on, put in on YouTube and the whole world has to deal with it. It’s not the protests. It’s not the brutality. It’s the fact that we can force a conversation about it.” This was followed by a short compilation of witness, security camera and dashcam footage showing deadly incidents of police brutality from the past several years, including Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Samuel DuBose, Freddie Gray, Jason Harrison and Philando Castile, among others.

“Ideological control,” according to Sandoval, produces the systems

of oppression that we see today.

Concerning the reconstruction of the prison system specifically, Sandoval insisted that “narrative and rhetoric [are] fundamental” to maintaining these oppressive systems and that this extends beyond the black community to Muslims and immigrants in today’s society. “Reconstruction begins in the words we chose to describe people [and] ... the stories we choose to tell about people,” Pitre said.

The panelists also discussed how prison systems as they currently exist in the U.S. are not designed to be rehabilitative, temporary institutions. This, Sandoval explained, is evident in how dysfunctional those who go through the system become.

Many, she said, are less likely to successfully reintegrate themselves into society, returning instead to prisons. This feeds the private prison industry’s supply of inexpensive labor, a particularly prominent topic in the film.

Omowale brought up some criticisms of “13th” itself, suggesting that it reproduced only certain elements and perspectives of incarceration. He brought up a lack of diversity of those represented in the

film (i.e. the experiences of women and transgender individuals and immigrants, among others). He also noted how certain groups’ voices are limited, and how that translates into unequal democratic abilities when such limitations exist in the filmmaking and other media industries.

Omowale also noted misinterpretations people may have of disproportionate incarceration rates, such as in the South — which has a lower rate of incarceration but a greater poor white population. The film doesn’t address this adequately, he argued, and “displays this situation as a natural disproportionate rate.”

Sandoval agreed with these issues of representation and misinterpretation, while still emphasizing to the audience how, “to be critical [of the film] does not mean we devalue [it].”

As the panel opened up into a question and answer session, Omowale posed a question to those in attendance: “Is it radical to free all [people in the prison system]?”

He went on to challenge perceptions of innocence by asking who determines guilt and innocence in both the public opinion and the U.S. judicial process. For example, clarifications about Trayvon Martin carrying Skittles or the small stature of Redel Jones in the media are emphasized to justify the outcries of injustice and to assert a victim’s innocence.

Omowale argued, however, that the idea of “innocence” should be eliminated altogether when valuing human life, because the idea itself is so relative.

One audience member asserted the need for holding media accountable in these instances, especially when it leads to the criminalization of those who cannot easily defend

themselves. “The dehumanization of these images comes from criminalization that comes not just from the state, but the media,” the audience member said.

Lack of intervention from those witnessing and recording these incidents of police brutality and harassment was another discussion topic brought up by Sandoval. Pitre shared these sentiments and emphasized the need to maintain humanity in all the victims. He recalled the different but similarly inherently unjust attitudes in arguments that suggest what women wear justifies any sexual harassment that might be directed toward them.

Omowale and the other panelists ended the event by emphasizing the need for community partnerships and for support in combating the systematic injustices faced by black people and other minority communities in the U.S. While this event was promoted for Black History Month, there is another related event that is not part of the Black History Month calendar. Interrogating Incarceration: Mercy and the Prison-Industrial Complex, takes place today from 11:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. in Ahmanson Auditorium. The Universityhosted event hopes to explore how the idea of mercy – as instructed in Catholic philosophy and in line with Pope Francis’ teachings – works in the incarceration system in the United States. Panelists for the event include Andrew Dilts, a political science assistant professor, recent alumnus Francisco “Franky” Carrillo (‘16) and Ella Turenne, an artist, educator and activist.

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Bonn study abroad students present films Darin’ Arun Arun Gulati

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Contributor @LALoyolan

here’s really no way to sum up “How was studying abroad?” in any one word, phrase or sentence. Now that we’re back at LMU, it’s something we are asked all the time. Often times during casual conversation, we can offer anecdotes or cool photos, but it seems like nothing can truly capture the experience.

Luckily for the 16 of us who studied this fall through the School of Film and Television (SFTV) study abroad program in Bonn, Germany, we have something that comes close. Over the course of the entire semester, amidst wandering around Europe and spending time with our host families, we were tasked with making a 10-minute documentary short. While the truth of the matter is that studying abroad is an indescribable experience, I’ve never been happier to have a legitimate, tangible relic from my time in Bonn — something that can truly speak for my four months overseas, a product of what I was doing and how I was feeling.

We spent months developing our projects, a process that started during a pre-production class taken in the spring 2016 semester at LMU. Once in Bonn, we researched topics, scouted locations, met new people and practiced our craft through cinematography, editing and

directing classes. We attended one of the world’s biggest broadcasting conventions and an inspiring documentary film festival. We met potential subjects who we couldn’t even talk to because of the language barrier (that was a difficult hurdle to overcome). Then, finally, during a freezing week in early November, classes officially ended and we broke for shooting week. Armed with cameras, a wide array of audio equipment and translators (for some of us), we went to work.

The final films clearly speak to our incredibly wide range of interests and styles; from elderly priests in Malta to restaurant owners in Italy and hip-hop dancers in Belgium, our subjects were diverse and distinct. My own experience was probably less stressful than some of my friends because I centered my documentary on a middleaged couple who makes violins in Bonn. Since I wasn’t traveling far and my subjects spoke English, I had a relatively straightforward shoot. But for many of us — including myself — this was our first major project for SFTV, and the expectations were colossal. I put a lot of pressure on myself to deliver something I felt that would accurately represent my abilities and experience.

Finally, after spending our last month editing instead of having class, our cuts were due. The films were finished. The process concluded with a lavish screening at a local Kino (or cinema) in front of 300 people, in which six of the

Cartoon by Hannah Kim | Loyolan

16 films were chosen to play. Mine was lucky enough to be chosen, but — being an awful public speaker — I absolutely dreaded giving a speech afterward. Nonetheless, it was an awe-inspiring moment that I will likely never forget.

On Feb. 3 and 10, SFTV hosted two screenings of all 16 documentaries here at LMU. Seeing them projected on a big screen in front of a large audience again (and likely for the last time) was a bittersweet, nostalgic experience; for many of us, it was the last stop on a nearly yearlong road of development. I found myself instantly recalling

so many moments from last semester watching all the films.

We all can still recall the stresses of pre-production and the even worse stresses of post-production — long nights editing, staring at a computer screen for hours, color grading and messing around in Pro Tools to fix our audio. But in a way, my film doesn’t belong to me — it belongs to all 16 of us. My friends and professors were there the whole way: they gave me advice about the structure, comfort when I was still looking for a subject and guidance on how to improve my cut.

In the end, our films became

more than just student projects.

Not only are they vehicles for us to express ourselves as artists and people, but they are artifacts of the study abroad experience as a whole.

SFTV’s Semester in Bonn program is absolutely one-of-a-kind; a unique package that blends European art, culture, travel, personal discovery and creative expression. And, in my opinion, the films speak for themselves.

This is the opinion of Arun Gulati, a sophomore film and television production major from Seattle, Washington. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email tmarom@theloyolan.com.

life+arts

laloyolan.com Page 11

Best and worst styles at the Grammys Cory’s Content

Cory Hutchinson

Asst. Life+Arts Editor @LALoyolan

O

n Sunday, the 59th Annual Grammy Awards had many people talking music, Beyoncé versus Adele and — most importantly — the red carpet fashion. As always, there were some beautiful looks that had our eyes glued to the screen and made us dream of a Michael Costello original.

However, this year’s red carpet was filled 50/50 with stunning outfits and questionable ensembles ranging from sentiments of originality and beauty to wondering if it can even be called red carpet.

So, here’s a list of my top three personal favorites and passes from last night’s red carpet.

Favorites: 3. Maren Morris Speaking of Michael Costello, how beautiful did first-time nominee Maren Morris look in that Costello dress? The moment Morris stepped onto the red carpet, I was in awe. I hadn’t heard her music before, but her look made me do some Spotify searching. The intricate lace design and the deep purple color of the dress – paired with

accents of white in her accessories – instantly earned a yes from me.

2. Solange Knowles Gucci, Gucci, Gucci is all I could think when Knowles literally shined on the red carpet in a beautiful gold Gucci dress. I know everyone was talking about Beyoncé’s god-like performance and outfit, but can we take a moment to drool over this Knowles sister? Last year, I got into Knowles’s music, but now I’m a fan of her fashion and taste for flare.

1. Laverne Cox Now, let’s talk about the incredible Laverne Cox. She was a heart-stopper in a custom Bryan Hearns dress with its offthe-shoulder detail and amazing cutouts. This “Orange is the New Black” star has always been an inspiration for the LGBTQ+ community but also has been an understated fashion icon in her many public appearances. I have no doubt she’ll look just as beautiful on her next red carpet.

Passes: 3. Giuliana Rancic Someone call the “Fashion Police,” because it looks like one of the hosts of the renowned Joan Rivers show didn’t read the handbook. I liked the color

via Flickr Creative Commons

Many stars looked incredible on Sunday, but Giuliana Rancic, Halsey and Katy Perry could’ve used new stylists. and details of the dress by Celia Kritharioti, but that ruffled collar at the top did not do Rancic justice, especially paired with that pinned up hairstyle. Rancic normally kills it on the red carpet, but I guess everyone has their off-year. At least she wore those stunning Louboutins.

2. Halsey I loved Halsey’s debut album just as much as the next person,

but her blue two-piece was not my favorite. I understand wanting to go for the comfy choice – you’ll often find me wearing running shorts and a hoodie – but the blazer and the pants could’ve used some tailoring and maybe a bralette to go underneath, at the very least.

1. Katy Perry Katy Perry will always be a magnificent firework in my

heart, but that Tom Ford gown looked like it needed an astronaut helmet to go with it. Also, when she said it was a gown, I thought, um, girl, where? I seriously thought she threw a shimmering top over a pink shag-rug-like skirt, but I guess Tom Ford wanted to go for an unflattering outer space moment.

This is the opinion of Cory Hutchinson, a freshman sociology major from Palm Desert California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email to tmarom@ theloyolan.com.

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Weekend of fun for visiting LMU families Taykin’ It Easy Taylor Gage

Asst. Life+Arts Editor @LoyolanArts

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his weekend hosted a plethora of events, and Family Weekend influenced most of them. There were many family-oriented events, luncheons and tours designed to show parents what it’s really like here at LMU. There were also special talks and an appearance from President Timothy Law Snyder himself. Open invitations and special rates were offered for other regularly scheduled campus events such as the basketball game against the Univeristy of Portland and Open Mic Night.

Some students and their families chose to attend these events, and some just used the weekend as an opportunity to see their parents and hang out. “[My parents] just came down to spend time with me; we did not go to any school events,” said Rebecca Hauptman, a sophomore psychology major. “I got to have one-on-one time with both parents, which doesn’t usually happen since I have three other busy siblings.”

Hauptman’s experience is unique but not unlike others. Anthony Lopez, a sophomore studio arts major, also opted out of LMU’s

planned events to spend more time with his parents. Originally from Tustin, his parents made the drive out here not only to see Lopez, but to celebrate their anniversary.

“They liked Family Weekend a lot last year, and they normally don’t come up to see me on the weekends because they’re busy with work [...] And it was their anniversary, and this was the perfect way to celebrate that,” Lopez said.

For Lopez it was all in the small things where he found joy with his parents: “I got to do the tiniest things like get some groceries for my dorm, and I got to go shopping; that made all the difference. They spoiled me a little; we went out to restaurants and stuff, and the best part is that they got to meet my brothers [from the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity].” Lopez had the chance to show off his involvement in Greek life as Delta Sig threw a barbecue to honor and welcome the many parents who came down.

Other fraternities and sororities threw similar alternate activities for their families. Phi Delta Theta held Phi Fest this weekend which gave families, especially ones with small children, something to do for Family Weekend.

Lopez said his family, like many others, is busy, and he’s not sure when he’ll get to see them again, so he was grateful for the chance to see them this weekend. “They don’t have any plans to come up

Riis Irving-Peterson | Loyolan A child enjoys Phi Delta theta’s Phi Fest at Lawton Plaza on Sunday, Feb. 12, which featured a petting zoo. again anytime soon, but I’ll try to go down to see them at least once before spring break to see them and my friends and pets,” Lopez said.

No matter how you chose to spend family weekend, it was an opportunity to welcome and celebrate the families who have brought us to LMU, and for that it was a success.

This is the opinion of Taylor Gage, a sophomore studio arts major from Napa Valley, California. Tweet comments to @ LALoyolan or email comments to tmarom@ theloyolan.com.

Hearts beat on for ‘Passing Solo’ Eye of the Tygre

Tygre Patchell-Evans Life+Arts Intern @LALoyolan

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his past Friday, “Passing Solo,” a one-woman show starring Nancy Cheryll Davis, was performed at 8 p.m. in Murphy Recital Hall. Originally put on in 1997 and revived this year by Towne Street Theatre, the production provided an important commentary on the challenges of living as a black woman in 1920s America.

The one-woman show was adapted from the novella “Passing”

by Nella Larsen. The production was directed by Nancy Renée and sound designed by Nathaniel Bellamy and Ken Cosby. Davis is the winner of the NAACP Best Actress award for her performance in the original version of “Passing” as well as being a critically acclaimed actress, director and producer.

She is also one of the founders of Towne Street Theatre, Los Angeles’ premiere African American theatre company.

The play opened up to the sound of a heart beating and a display of definitions of words that were integral to the theme, such as race and white-passing, on a screen onstage. The entire performance was seamlessly assisted by soundtracks and background visuals and was concerned mainly with the idea of passing as white.

The setting was 1920s Harlem, where many places were segregated.

Davis played both Irene Westover Redfield and Clare Kendry Bellew, two black women who were able to participate in societal gatherings reserved as white-only, due to their light-skinned appearance. The play addressed the implications of what it meant to pretend to be someone else in order to get ahead in an unfair racist society.

Davis impeccably differentiated the characters of fun-loving Clare, who married a white man who was under the impression she was white, and the more thoughtful Irene, who was internally struggling between wanting to remain friends with her

childhood acquaintance Clare and not wanting to have to lie about who she was.

Before the show started, I had the chance to talk to some audience members about what brought them to the performance. Sam Johnston, a freshman undeclared major, was attending the event for a class and said he was “excited to see a great performance.”

Ciara Rose Freeman, a freshman communication studies major was attending “in honor of Black History Month,” and because “it would be interesting to see how one woman can play multiple roles.”

The performance was cosponsored by LMU’s College of Communication and Fine Arts, the English and African American Studies departments, the Office of Black Student Services and the Office of Ethnic and Intercultural Services. Because the on-campus event shared a specific story of black history, it was great to see some people showing up to learn.

Simeon Phillips, a senior marketing major said, “I know the play’s about black history, and I came to support it.” However, he was disappointed by the turnout and pointed out it was “unfair many events on campus were scheduled at the same time.” Phillips was referring to those who were unable to attend and missed an important opportunity to learn about black history.

Take advantage of opportunities like this one throughout Feburary, as well as through the rest of the year to learn about this history. During the post-show talkback session, Davis pointed out that these societal ideas and white washing are still a problematic reality of how “to be accepted in society” today.

The performance was entertaining and thought provoking, and if you didn’t have a chance to see it you should check out the original novella, as suggested by Davis, as well as attending other events for Black History Month.

This is the opinion of Tygre PatchellEvans, a freshman communications major from Victoria, Canada. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email comments to tmarom@theloyolan.com.

laloyolan.com

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How to guarantee an unforgettable first date Catch me if you Chan Kevin Chan Design Editor @LALoyolan

V

alentine’s Day may have already passed, but don’t feel down if you’re single and still ready to mingle. Now you have 364 days to practice for next year. Lucky for you, as the resident Bluff dating guru, I’m here to give you some essential pointers on how to pull off the perfect first date!

6. Never a Dull Moment A boring date is a bad date.

Instead of just dinner, try something more adventurous, like skydiving! Your date will appreciate being simultaneously pushed out of a plane and out of their comfort zone, especially if you surprise them with the activity. Unfortunately, your date won’t be able to communicate said appreciation during their plummet towards Earth, so just assume what you’re hearing are screams of joy.

5. The Frugal Date This is an opportunity to show your date your sophisticated, yet fiscally responsible, taste in food.

Don’t order anything off the menu, but keep asking for refills

Emily Noriega | Loyolan

The Bluff is here for you in case you have trouble coming up with a first date they’ll never forget.

of bread while you “deliberate over the main courses” for the next hour — bonus points if it’s garlic bread. The fragrant aroma of raw garlic will leave a lasting impression on your date and your mouth.

4. The Parent Trap Nobody likes dealing with a dysfunctional family, so why not show your date how wonderful your family is. Start by inviting your parents to tag along and ask

your date unwarranted personal questions. If you want to keep things really interesting, invite your grandparents to come along to cast quick judgments on your budding romance. This will surely indicate to your date how committed you are to your family and to your new yet undeclared relationship.

3. Make Every Moment Count If you ever find yourself stuck

during a lull in conversation, you should show your date just how responsible and studious you are by doing the homework you brought along with you. Focus 100 percent of your energy on your studies. If your date asks what you are doing, demonstrate your impressive multitasking skills by trying to converse and write an essay at the same time.

They will admire your dedication to academics over everything else, including the date you are on.

2. Culture Shock One of the easiest ways to break down barriers between you and your date is to find something you have in common.

Try making references to your favorite movies and TV shows, but give no context as to where they’re from. If your date indicates they don’t understand what you’re quoting, keep repeating the reference. It will only get funnier to them each time you say it, and your date will enjoy the feeling of being clueless in the presence of such a cultured person.

1. The Resumé If all else fails, pull out your phone and show your date pictures from any previous relationships you’ve been in.

A picture is worth a thousand words, but these pictures will leave your date speechless. They will enjoy hearing about how you broke up, and how you still have lingering feelings for your last ex. Before your date is over, be sure to take a selfie with them for your portfolio.

This is the opinion of Kevin Chan, a junior studio arts major from Los Altos, California. Email comments to mgaydos@theloyolan.com.

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.

laloyolan.com Page 14

SPORTS

SPORTS

laloyolan.com

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Should Super Bowl Monday be a national holiday?

Action Jackson Jackson Tave Staff Writer

@LoyolanSports

W

hen you think about it, New Year’s Day and the Monday after Super Bowl Sunday are not all that different.

The overwhelming majority of the country was gathering with friends and family the previous day, eating and drinking to celebrate an occasion. Typically, Americans need the day to attend to the consequences of their actions from the previous evening. The only significant difference between the two days is that Americans do not have the day off after the Super Bowl.

Research conducted before this year’s Super Bowl by Workforce Institute at Kronos suggested that 16.5 million Americans will miss work the day after the Super Bowl, with 34 percent of workers 21 years and older calling in sick to nurse a hangover, or Super Bowl Fever.

Those who do show up to work are lethargic to say the least.

“Super Bowl Monday is really just not a fun day; everyone is groggy and it’s hard for anyone to focus,” said Christian Galven, a junior marketing and economics double-major. “Making it a holiday would solve most of the issues.”

The Kraft Heinz Company, an American multinational food corporation comprised of the famous Kraft and Heinz brands, claimed that this reduction in

productivity costs the country $1 billion in revenue each Monday after the Super Bowl.

Kraft Heinz made headlines a week ahead of this year’s Super Bowl when the company’s Heinz brand launched a marketing campaign called “Smunday,” in hopes of making the day after the Super Bowl a national holiday. In addition to orchestrating a petition on Change.org, Kraft Heinz gave all salaried employees in the United States the day off after Super Bowl LI. Kraft Heinz’s petition has only received about 70,000 of the desired 100,000 signatures, but the company has reported that signatures are still coming in, and suggests that it will continue to fight to give Americans the day off after Super Bowl LII in 2018.

“With the recent studies suggesting around 16 million people miss work the day after the Super Bowl, it makes complete sense to make it a national holiday,” Neil LeVecke, a junior economics major, said. Coincidentally, Super Bowl LI was the first Super Bowl to ever include an overtime period. Kraft Heinz employees must have been grateful to have that day off given a longer-than-anticipated game; but it is certain that more people across the country would have loved to be in the same position.

Super Bowl Fever effects are also typically heavier on the East Coast, where the game starts at 6:30 p.m. instead of the West Coast’s 3:30 p.m. due to the time difference.

People are awake until at least 10:00 p.m. on the East Coast, watching the game and celebrating the

Mkey Barreto | Loyolan

Approximately 16.5 million Americans miss work on the Monday after Super Bowl Sunday. Should it be a holiday? occasion with friends and family.

Unfortunately, they are not able to make the most of their celebration because they face the looming task of going to work on what many call the worst Monday of the year.

Although the signatures have not added up as Kraft Heinz may have hoped, Americans will continue to show support if the company keeps on with this movementbased marketing campaign. Even

if it amounts to nothing, Kraft Heinz managed to generate their own Super Bowl marketing buzz without shelling out $5 million for a 30-second commercial.

This is the opinion of Jackson Tave, a junior finance and economics double-major from Wall, New Jersey. Tweet comments to @LoyolanSports, or email rhartnett@ theloyolan.com.

ENGLISHEDUCATIONAL STUDIES

EDUCATION SPECIAL EDUCATIONWRITING FOR THE SCREEN

HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION

CATHOLIC

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

EDUCATION

HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING EXECUTIVE MBA

MBA

THEOLOGICAL READING STUDIES INSTRUCTION

BIOETHICS CIVIL ENGINEERING

MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY ACCOUNTING

FILM AND TV PRODUCTION

ADMINISTRATION AND LEADERSHIP DOCTORATE IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

SECONDARY EDUCATION

COUNSELING SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY LOYOLA BILINGUAL EDUCATION

LAW SCHOOL

PHILOSOPHY

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EDUCATION YOGA STUDIES

TEACHING MATHEMATICS WRITING AND PRODUCING FOR TV

LMU Graduate Open House Saturday, February 18, 2017 Loyola Marymount University RSVP at graduate.lmu.edu

SPORTS

SCORES UPDATE M. TENNIS

LION

7-0 L

W. BBALL

8-1 L

W. WPOLO

at Cal Poly

SPORTS

SOFTBALL

vs. Ole Miss

71-56 L

at Portland

10-3 L

vs. Long Beach St.

Follow us on Twitter @loyolansports for up-to-date scores.

Page 16

LOS ANGELES LOYOLAN | February 15, 2017 | laloyolan.com

Continuity is key for LMU Baseball in 2017 Big Time Timmy Jim Tim De Vries

Asst. Sports Editor @LoyolanSports

F

riday afternoon will mark the beginning of a three-month gauntlet of a schedule for LMU baseball as they begin a three-game College World Series qualifier against the University of California, Santa Barbara. Between now and May, the Lions will play 54 games, including 12 games against opponents from the Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference (SEC), and 13 games against teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last season.

Notable non-conference matchups for the Lions include a three-game series at Arizona State University, four games at Washington State University and home matches against the University of Tennessee, the University of Washington, the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California.

In the West Coast Conference (WCC), they will be looking to improve their position in the conference standings over last year’s sixth-place finish. LMU finished one game behind the University of San Francisco with a final conference record of 13-14. The Preseason Baseball Coaches’ Poll projects the Lions to finish in seventh in the WCC and 37th in the nation, so they’ll have plenty to prove. The top four teams at the end of the regular season qualify for the WCC Championship Series, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The University of San Diego is projected to finish atop the conference despite missing the WCC Championship a year ago.

LMU will look to Preseason All-WCC

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Senior infielder Spencer Erdman (24) adds another bat to the lineup alongside Caufield and Decolati. He batted .290 with 19 RBIs last year. senior infielder Phil Caufield to be the cornerstone of the lineup. Caufield batted .309 — and .379 in WCC play — on his way to a first team All-WCC selection as a junior in 2016. He also scored 27 runs and stole eight bases last season.

Sophomore outfielder Niko Decolati returns for his second season after a breakout freshman year in which he finished third on the team in batting average, hitting .306. Decolati was selected to the Freshman All-WCC team, with a .306 batting average in 2016, as well as 33 runs batted in (RBIs), four home runs, six doubles and two triples. He was second on the team last year in multi-hit and multiRBI games, and was the only Lion to record five RBIs in a game.

On the mound, LMU returns left-handed reliever Kyle Dozier, who led the team last season with a .84 earned run average (ERA).

The team also returns its entire starting rotation save for pitcher J.D. Busfield, who made a team-high 13 starts for the Lions a year ago. This year, the starting rotation will likely consist of senior righthanded pitchers Blake Redman and Tyler Cohen, junior right-hander Cory Abbott and senior left-hander Brenton Arriaga.

Sophomore right-hander Codie Paiva also started one game last season, and could be used as a fifth starter. Last season, LMU posted a team ERA of 3.83, good for third in the WCC. Continuity is key in any sport, and the Lions have the good fortune of returning a

large portion of their notable roster from last season. The pieces they lose, however, are big ones. With Busfield and offensive leader Cassidy Brown no longer with the team, the pressure falls on the young shoulders of Decolati and the experience of Caufield, along with the remaining pitching staff to pick up the slack. For LMU, how they perform under this pressure will ultimately be the difference between the projected seventh-place finish, or a shot at the WCC Championship Series.

This is the opinion of Tim De Vries, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Lake Oswego, Oregon. Tweet comments to @LoyolanSports, or email rhartnett@theloyolan.com.

No.1 Gonzaga University defeats LMU 90-60

Megan Karbowski | Loyolan

LMU men’s basketball faced off against the top team in the country Gonzaga University last Thursday. The Lions struggled with self control as they had 31 fouls compared to Gonzaga’s 13.