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V O LU M E 9 7 ISSUE 18 RT &A S "Is [on-campus] housing worth the hefty price tag?" Page 14
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"Black excellence" celebrated
LMU CARES provides new web resources LMU's educational program goes online to provide better help to students. Austin Woods News Intern @LALoyolan
Kayan Tara | Loyolan
African Student Association hosted a kickoff event to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month on Friday, Feb. 1. Students participated in the music, dance and booths set up by African and African-American vendors.
"Black excellence" celebration hopes to spark "yearlong conversation." Kayan Tara
Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan
This year, Black History Month celebrations at LMU kicked off with several booths offering food, clothes and jewelry on Lawton Plaza. Hosted by the African Students Association, the event, at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 1, attracted many attendees. LMU celebrates the historical and cultural contributions of African Americans through a wide array of educational and entertaining events throughout the month of February. The LMU theme for this year’s Black History Month is "Black Excellence," according to Dr. Nathan Sessoms, director of Black Student Services. “It is important to celebrate black History Month because, for centuries, black history in America has been taken away from us and
diluted and mangled by other oppressors,” said Jaida Macklin, a senior English major. “Having this month is a time for us to reflect and having spaces like [the events LMU has] to celebrate being ourselves.” The annual celebration of Black History Month, also called African American History Month, highlights the achievements and contributions of African Americans in the United States. It is also celebrated annually in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. “The breadth and depth of Black history is far too expansive to be celebrated in 28 days," said Sessoms. "This is a yearlong conversation that we should be having — particularly, given our current national climate. Black history is American history. [Every month] is an opportunity to continuously educate ourselves." Today, on Feb. 6, an event called “Black Academic Excellence: Challenges and Solutions” was held in the Von Der Ahe Welcome Center at 6:30 p.m. Followed by a pre-basketball game celebration at the Lair to
be hold on Thursday, Feb. 7, at 5 p.m. According to Kapri Washington, a junior English major, "Celebrating black history month is necessary — not only because it is a reminder to African-Americans of the sacrifices their ancestors made for their freedom, but also so that the contributions that black people have made to the world are never forgotten." The theme announced by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History for 2019's Black History Month is "Black Migration." According to their website, “the movement of people of African descent to new destinations and subsequently to new social realities” is the main focus. Black History Month was first celebrated nationally in 1976, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced that the second week of February would be dedicated to recognizing African Americans in American history, as reported by PBS SoCal. See Black history | Page 3
After identifying this need among students, a committee of staff members came together to look into existing tools and what other universities offer. Eventually, the committee discovered a company called Grit Digital Health — which specializes in providing articles, videos and other forms of media to universities — to work with LMU CARES to connect campusspecific information and resources. “Let’s say a student is on there and they’re looking for ways to get motivated to exercise,” Maturi said. “They might read an article or watch a short video. This content is all in one space, but the links might say to check out a fitness class at the Burns Rec Center or to get involved in an intramural sport.” LMU CARES had been working with Grit Digital Health on LMU CARES Online since the summer of 2018 until the start of the spring semester, when they decided it was fit for release. The website will also be consistently updated. As LMU expands resources, LMU CARES will work with Grit Digital Health to make sure the LMU-specific content of LMU CARES Online is updated. Furthermore, Grit Digital Health also consistently releases new articles and videos of its own. Every student already has an account, as it is connected with their MyLMU logins. Maturi recommended that students begin by logging in and starting with the “reality checks.” See LMU CARES | Page 4
Chinese New Year events
Alyssa Reece | Loyolan
Megan Yip (left), a sophomore screenwriting major, and Meilan Loh (right), a sophomore finance major, paint traditional Chinese masks to welcome the new year together. "It was fun to make the masks ... to learn about the importance of each individual mask," said Katie Cadyabe, a freshman political science and Asian-Pacific studies double major.
LMU LA Career and Professional Development
SPRING SIGNATURE EVENTS Join fellow classmates, accomplished alumni, and deans from the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts and the School of Film and Television as Career and Professional Development kicks off this spring’s signature event series!
CAREER CHATS #lmucareerchats
Wednesday, February 6 | 7 – 9 p.m. | Roski Dining, University Hall Career and Professional Development and Dean Robbin D. Crabtree of the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts invite you to attend a celebration of liberal arts education. Connect with alumni thriving in a variety of industries:
PATHWAYS IN ENTERTAINMENT #sftvpathways
Thursday, February 7 | 7 – 9 p.m. | Roski Dining, University Hall Join Dean Peggy Rajski and School of Film and Television alumni in a conversation about bridging the professional gap between graduation and meaningful employment in the entertainment industry. Connect with alumni from a range of companies, including:
RSVP on: lmu.joinhandshake.com/events
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NEWS
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Pop culture impacts activism USC’s Henry Jenkins discusses pop culture: fandom to activism. Molly Box
Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan
The journalism department hosted guest lecturer from University of Southern California provost professor Henry Jenkins to discuss the role popular culture plays in politics. On Feb. 4, the journalism department hosted a brown bag forum with Jenkins as its guest speaker. He has worked on 17 published books and maintains a blog called Confessions of an Aca-Fan. The goal of the brown bag forum was to give students and faculty the opportunity to understand the role that popular culture plays in the political and civic world. During his talk, Jenkins said that the two things that shaped his attitude about integration and
race growing up were Martin Luther King Jr. and the hit TV show “Star Trek.” “Watching Martin Luther King [Jr.] talk about his dream was really a powerful experience for me,” Jenkins said. “Star Trek was even more so because we have this vision of a future society that was diverse and inclusive, at least by the standards of American television in the 1960s.” Jenkins described the impact of seeing main characters of different races on his community. “I had a friend growing up who was Japanese-American, and Sulu was the only Asian-American character he had seen on television at all. We had a Russian character on board the enterprise amidst the Cold War,” Jenkins said. “Spock, as an alien character, was seen as a stand-in for many people, because he was arguably one of the mixed race characters on American television.” “We form our identities in part by drawing on and imitating popular culture,” Jenkins said.
“It’s an important part in how we decide who we are and how we fit in the world.” Jenkins also presented other examples of popular culture that have had an impact on people’s civic and political lives. Jenkins described medical television shows, such as “New Amsterdam” and “The Good Doctor,” as representations of what a good healthcare system might look like. According to Jenkins, on these medical shows, patients are treated regardless of their ability to pay, nurses and doctors come from racially diverse backgrounds and it is overall a more inclusive version of society. “Overall, I can see more clearly how pop culture has impacted our lives more so on a political and social level,” said Haley Harbuck, a freshmen communications major, who attended the brown bag forum. Jenkins also listed the movie “Black Panther” as a feature in popular culture that made a great impact. Jenkins described the movie as a way for people
to imagine what a better world would look like, with the fictional African country Wakanda being an uncolonized, advanced and equal society. Jenkins described how the Black Lives Matter movement utilized “Black Panther” to connect with voters and get their message across by organizing voter registration drives at screenings of the movie. “People [are] taking on identities, performing roles, reworking and remixing ‘Black Panther’ into things that touch their own everyday lives in one way or another,” Jenkins said. “In turn it becomes a basis for political activism.” Jenkins compared this process of film-to-fandom-to-activism as being evident in the “Black Panther” franchise to that of “Superman” as icons for the Dreamer movement. Jenkins believes that Superman is a person whose parents sent him away to a new world in search of a better life while his own society was in crisis. “At a certain point he goes out and fights for
truth, justice and the American way of life,” Jenkins said. Jenkins said that the conversation about popular culture in politics is a vital one to have amongst young people, as they are the ones leading many of the movements, and who utilize popular culture the most. “[Young people] need to hear that [their] work [is] valued and respected. They need to learn from other movements they may not be paying attention to and they need a language they can use to justify to other people the work that they do and why it matters,” Jenkins said.
“It’s important that we take care of each other at LMU” Black history from Page 1
According to Kyra Pearson, professor of communication studies, living in a time that is still very precarious for African Americans, people of color, immigrants and LGBTQ+ people, it is vital that these communities and their experiences are recognized to better understand the connections between historical and current systems of oppression. “It’s also important that we take care of each other at LMU, Black Lives Matter (BLM) events can remind us to do. Ideally, these opportunities for conversation
and caring can be woven into our daily lives beyond the month of February,” Pearson continued. There are over 20 LMU events on campus this year in observance of Black History Month. Students can access the Black History Month events by joining the OBSS portal in LEO. Those interested can also find more information at lmu.edu/obss.
Molly Box | Loyolan
Evelyn McDonnell, associate professor and director of LMU’s journalism program (left), and provost professor at University of Southern California, Henry Jenkins (right), at the Journalism brown bag forum on Monday.
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BURNING QUESTIONS
This week, news intern Sofia Hathorn sat down with LMU’s new Director of Study Abroad, Lisa Loberg, to discuss her love for travel and advice for students looking to study abroad.
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What will be your responsibilities as director of study abroad?
What made you passionate about study abroad?
What advice would you give someone preparing to go abroad?
One of the main goals is to make study abroad experiences accessible to all students. We really want all students to study abroad. Here at LMU, the University has made it part of the college experience, so it’s just really up to the student to step out and say, “yes, this is something I want to do.” We’re also looking at study abroad programming as a whole to make sure we are reaching diverse places and are providing a wide array of experiences.
I think it’s the transformation I see in students. I know that I had that experience myself, and it made me want to keep traveling and exploring the world. I feel that when students study abroad, they often have no idea what kind of transformation awaits them, so I love to see that before and after. When students can really engage with another culture, they have the opportunity to not just be a tourist, but to be a student.
I would say it’s so important to use studying abroad as a way to really engage with another culture. Be prepared [for the fact] that you are going to be challenged, and that is an important part of the experience. It’s not meant to be easy, but it is incredibly rewarding. Want to read even more questions with Loberg Check them out at laloyolan.com
Personalized care now offered on MyLMU LMU CARES from Page 1
These are three confidential assessments that will question students on things such as career goals, mental health and feeling as if they belong on campus. Based on the assessment you take, the content you see on LMU CARES Online will become more personalized.Campus Awareness Resource Education Services (LMU CARES) has recently released an online component for student use called LMU CARES Online. According to their website, LMU CARES is an organization that works to provide information on policy, resources and support regarding sexual and interpersonal misconduct. This new website is intended to provide students with support in issues such as academic success, belonging on campus, physical and mental wellness, relationships and many other topics relevant to college life. Briana Maturi, the director of LMU CARES, played a major role
in the launch of LMU CARES Online, from its conception to its implementation. “Many students felt that they needed a little bit of extra support on campus that didn’t rise to the level of wanting or needing to seek out resources at Student Psychological Services,” Maturi said.”But [they still wanted] that extra support that they could get 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help them be more resilient and successful. That need is where LMU CARES Online came out of.” However, Maturi stressed that LMU CARES Online should not be used in place of any sort of real-life resource that a student may need. “It cannot replace a counseling or therapy session, nor should it,” she said. “Anybody who feels a need for therapy or counseling should seek out Student Psychological Services (SPS). However, all students, regardless of what’s going on in their life, could always use a boost. It’s a great
chance to give your brain a moment to focus on yourself for a minute.” Brae Barber, a freshman international relations major who works for LMU CARES, has become familiar with the new online component and has been involved in promoting it through setting up tables on campus. “I think it’s a good outreach tool,” Barber said. “I was impressed by the array of topics they have available and all the different resources.” Barber also acknowledged that LMU CARES Online has its limits and is intended to provide more of an extra level of help. “For people who feel like they don’t need something like a counselor, this is a good tool to help you with different things,” Barber said. “Or, if you are seeing a counselor or therapist, this acts as a good supplement.”
Lunar New Year celebration
Alyssa Reece | Loyolan
From left to right, Michael Quileza, a freshman finance major, and Meilan Loh, a sophomore finance major. The event was planned by Dr. Yu Li, Chinese program coordinator and assistant professor of modern languages and literatures. “It’s crucial for us to have an intellectual and emotional home for our students,” Dr. Li said.
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Act now: 5 lessons from the advocacy teach in here today,” Dr. Bradley said. “When you are in a position to exercise a certain amount of power, then it is your duty to fight for freedom and it is your duty to win.” There are times where it can seem hard to take a side on an issue when it doesn’t necessarily affect you. But it’s important to remember that the people that are affected don’t have that choice. The choice to be neutral on a social justice issue is a product of privilege because the fight against
Read by Raven Raven Yamamoto Social Justice Intern @LALoyolan
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he University’s Center for Service and Action (CSA) hosted its fifth annual Advocacy Teach-In event on Feb. 2, where associate professor and chair of African American studies, Dr. Stefan Bradley, gave a keynote address about the importance of active social justice advocacy. 5. Be an accomplice, not an ally. The title of Dr. Bradley’s talk was, “I need an accomplice, not an ally,” centered around the differences between the two when it comes to being an advocate for social justice. “The good allies say, ‘I am sympathetic to your plight. I wish you well and when it becomes convenient, I will work on your behalf,’” Dr. Bradley explained. “But accomplices say ‘I’ll make sure you’re well. I will make sure you’re well because I’ll be struggling and suffering with you.’” In other words, to be an ally is not enough. While it is important to voice your support for oppressed communities, whether it be vocally or on social media, it is impossible to make change happen doing that alone. Saying you stand with the oppressed is different from truly doing so. You risk nothing by calling yourself an ally, but you risk everything by embodying the role of an accomplice in the fight for freedom by sacrificing your own. 4. Pray with your feet. On the subject of taking action, Dr. Bradley explained the importance of what he referred
Remember that you are there to learn rather than teach and to listen rather than tell. 1. The time to act is now. The time to become the accomplices and the freedom fighters people deserve is not tomorrow but today. Today is when you should educate and empower yourself with knowledge about social justice issues that affect the people in your own community. Today is when you abandon your title as an ally.
“ When you are in a position of power, then it is your duty to fight for freedom and it is your duty to win.” social injustice continues even when you pretend not to see it.
Kellie Chudzinski | Loyolan
Dr. Stefan Bradley is the chair of African American Studies here at LMU. to as “praying with your feet.” “We have to be with the people that we claim we want to serve,” he said. “If we are not eating the same tear gas that they are eating, then we shall never know what we are fighting for.” Praying for victims of social injustice is not enough. Don’t just sit around and retweet photos of a community’s protest, march with them in the streets. If you truly want to make a difference,
don’t sit on the sidelines. Get on the field. Use what resources you have available to be an effective accomplice and make no excuses 3. You can’t be neutral on a moving train. Dr. Bradley also addressed the idea of being neutral when it comes to social justice advocacy and wanting to choose somewhere in between being an accomplice or an ally. “We are privileged being in
2. The people you serve don’t need you. Dr. Bradley brought his talk back to the University’s level, commenting on the way our various student organizations should be doing service with the greater Los Angeles community. “Sometimes we have a sense that we’re doing a favor to the community when we work with them,” Dr. Bradley said. “These people have survived the worst of America, the worst of oppression, the worst of poverty. They were surviving without you [for] a long time. What you can do is ask for what the people need and be ready to take instruction.” The idea that you are a savior to the people you serve is not only dangerous but egotistical. It is important to remember your place as a guest in the communities you serve.
“Some of you believe ‘Well I’ll work on freedom when I graduate,’” Dr. Bradley said. “[But] the people who are working against freedom are working right now.” If fighting for freedom was easy, everyone would do it. It’s up to you to decide whether or not you will accept the challenge of being on the frontlines. “I, for one, choose to be an accomplice if the crime is getting free,” Dr. Bradley concluded. “And I hope you’re with me.”
This is the opinion of Raven Yamamoto a sophomore journalism major from Kahului, HI. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email comments to bdeleon6@theloyolan. com
OPINION
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Board Editorial Kellie Chudzinski Editor-in-Chief
Sami Leung
Managing Editor
Emily Rawson Managing Editor
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Black History Month and the struggle for recognition February is a month of pink hearts and red valentines, but most importantly, celebrates black history. As described by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), Black History Month was first initiated by Dr. Carter G. Woodson as “Negro History Week” in 1926, and later expanded to an entire month in 1976. Having realized in his studies that the positive contributions of African Americans in American history were largely undocumented and understudied, Woodson hoped that the launching of an annual campaign would call attention to this issue and encourage further study. Woodson’s plans were not an immediate success, and the cause for recognition and further study of black history has not gone unopposed. On LMU’s campus, our own dedication to African American studies was initiated not by the administration, but by brave students of the University who wanted to address the fact that they, as black students, felt unwelcome on campus — victim to stereotyping and racial generalizing. As we celebrate Black History Month again this year, it is important to recognize the significance of this month as the victory of countless individuals who advocated for the rights and recognition of African Americans. These individuals who contributed to the richness of the American dream. We must also remember that their work is not yet done, and we must continue fighting for racial justice and recognition. In 1967, a historically large class of 13 African American students entered LMU. According
to Professor M. Keith Claybrook, an LMU alumnus and professor in Cal State Long Beach’s Department of Africana Studies, those students entered the campus at a time when students, faculty and staff were divided over the idea of introducing black history classes. Some members of the community even expressed outright aggression toward African-American students and insensitivity to their complaints. In the fall of 1968, the students urged the University president to found an African American studies department, but the University president refused. A new University president was appointed in the academic year of 1969 and, in time, LMU saw change. Progress was made towards building a department of AfricanAmerican studies, and the Office of Black Student Services was founded in 1969, according to their website. More information about student advocates during the 1960s and the following generations will soon be published in the Loyolan’s upcoming three-part video feature, “Generations of Activism.” The video series will include commentary by Claybrook and by the chair of LMU’s African American studies department, Professor Stefan Bradley. Bradley also gave the keynote address, “I need an accomplice, not an ally,” at last week’s Advocacy Teach-in. For more information on this event, see our Social Justice section on page 5. LMU’s Office of Black Student Services will also host a variety of events in celebration of African American culture and history. We can all say we’re allies, but to really become advocates we must first understand the experiences of our peers and learn from them.
“Our own dedication to African American studies was initiated by brave students of the University who wanted to address the fact that they, as black students, felt unwelcome on campus.”
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Border walls are not uncommon Phil from the Future Phillip Nieto Opinion Intern @LALoyolan
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he left would have you believe that President Trump’s proposed border wall will be an ineffective and expensive waste of government spending. “I think it’s a waste of money. It just fans Trump’s illusions. No, I am not going to support $5 billion or money for a wall ... if you want to do border security intelligently and cost-effectively, you don’t do it with a wall,” said Senator Bernie Sanders during a CNN interview. Senator and presidential hopeful Kirsten Gillibrand went on ABC News to concur that Trump’s, “idea for a wall is ineffective and it’s not going to make us safer.” Democratic Congressman Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, according to Politico, even goes as far as to classify Trump’s proposed wall as an “ineffective medieval border wall that is a fifth-century solution to a 21st-century problem.” Listening to these prominent liberal voices, you’d probably think that walls are a tool of the past, an obsolete fossil that countries no longer use. Currently, there are 77 border walls (or fences) in dozens of nations across the world including Turkey, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Macedonia,
Finland and Slovenia, though purposes for the separations vary. Nearly all of them have been successful in doing one thing: decreasing illegal border crossings. For example, the Israeli government has reported that the fence along their sourthern border with Egypt, with the help of immigration legislation reform, has decreased illegal immigration dramatically. In 2012, the
number of illegal immigrants coming into Israel from their Egyptian border was roughly 10,431 people. Three years after the construction of a border fence the number of illegal immigrants dropped to only 28 people, according to MiDa. The combined effort of both immigration reform and border barriers effectively eliminated illegal immigration. See Border wall | Page 8
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LOYOLAN EDITORIAL POLICY The Los Angeles Loyolan, a student-run campus organization, publishes a weekly newspaper for the greater LMU community. The first copy is free of charge. Additional copies are $1 each. Paid, mailed subscriptions can be purchased through the Business department. The Loyolan accepts unsolicited letters from students, faculty, staff and alumni, and press releases from on-campus and offcampus organizations, but cannot guarantee publication. The Loyolan reserves the right to edit or reject all submissions, including advertisements, articles or other contributions it deems objectionable. The Loyolan does not print consecutive articles by the same author that repeat/refute the initial arguments. Opinions and ideas expressed in the Loyolan are those of individual authors, artists and student editors and are not those of Loyola Marymount University, its Board of Trustees, its student body or of newspaper advertisers. Board Editorials are unsigned and reflect the opinions of the Executive Editorial Board. Guest editorials are by invitation of the Executive Editorial Board and reflect the views of the author. All advertisements are subject to the current rates and policies in the most recent Advertising Rates and Information materials.
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A police car patrols the grounds at the 109 mile long Hungary-Serbia border barrier.
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OPINION
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OPINION
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National security should not be an issue of morality
Border wall from Page 6
The border fence that Hungary erected in 2015 to stop the massive flow of illegal migration has successfully reduced illegal border crossings by 99.7 percent. As reported by RT America, the number of illegal border crossings dropped from 391,000 people in 2015 to only 1,184 in 2017. While all these nations are smaller geographically than the United States, there are examples of border wall barriers working and evidence that it could work here in the United States as well. The double layered fencing located in the San Diego Yuma sector has seen illegal border crossing drop by nearly 95 percent since its construction in the 1990s, according to US Border Patrol statistics. If the arguments of the wall being ineffective and a waste of money don’t convince the public, another issue that is often brought up is racism. “I join the similar calls made by my colleagues today, and I demand that the president end his temper tantrums and quest for a racist and xenophobic wall,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar on the house floor. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi declared, “The fact is, a wall is an immorality!” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Trump, during a speech in the Senate Chamber, to abandon his wasteful and useless quest for a border wall. According to the left wing leaders, walls are racist. Last year, Democrats agreed to pay for the border walls in Jordan and Tunisia. In 2018, Democrats in
along its borders.” Apparently, it isn’t immoral for other nations to have walls — just us. Famous leftist donor George Soros, who supports open border policies, surrounds his Hampton estate with a fortified stone wall. What a racist and immoral man, right? Are Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer going to demand that all the money that Soros has given the Democratic Party over the years be refunded? Probably not. Left-wing idol, and former presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton has routinely classified Trump’s border policy as “cruel,” yet cocoons herself behind an 8-foot wall that’s secured by armed secret service agents. We, as American citizens, should be able to protect what we find valuable just as the wealthy elite protect what they find valuable. Neither one is immoral. The only thing that’s immoral are the false accusations of racism made by the fortified elite against those who dare to ask the question: shouldn’t we be allowed to have walls, too? Whether it’s Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, George Soros or the Clintons, our virtuous liberal elite all have one thing in common. They don’t want walls because they already have their own — to hell with the rest of us.
Abby Pollak | Loyolan
Democrats will agree to pay for the border wall in Tunisia, but not one is America. Congress agreed to vote for the Omnibus Bill which grants on page 394, “Up to $500,000,000 of funds appropriated by this
Act for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide may be used
to provide assistance to the Government of Jordan to support the armed forces of Jordan and to enhance security
This is the opinion of Phillip Nieto, a freshman Political Science major from Fresno, CA. Tweet comments @LALoyolan, or email jlee@ theloyolan.com.
WHAT’S IGGY UP TO IN
20 19? IGGY SPREADS
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First 500 students in attendance at the men’s basketball game will get a FREE limited-edition Loyolan Iggy bobblehead. Thursday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. at Gersten Pavilion
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Darn Things Kids SAy
CHARACTERS WITH CHARACTER
THE UNDECLAREDS
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Reflecting on living in first-year dormatories Totally Troy Troy Salmans Life+Arts Intern @salmansta12
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or most, living in a dorm or on a college campus at all is an experience that lasts for only a couple of years. Many people never experience what it is like to live in a dorm. Even without air conditioning and private bathrooms, it is a luxury that not everyone is so fortunate to have. I asked three freshmen to describe their own freshmen dorm and why it was the best or the worst. None of them mentioned any problems. They didn’t talk about the fact that their dorm hall might not have an elevator or that their room was too small, or even that their room may have flooded and now smells. No one mentioned the lack of air conditioning or communal bathrooms. However, each of them focused on the same thing: what the community dorms offer and what it is like to live on campus. Bailey Katler, a freshman management major recounted her love for her dorm by saying, “I love the community and how friendly and helpful everyone is and also how close it is to a bunch of stuff on campus.” We all know that the dorms lack a great deal of comfort and what we believe to be necessities. It is so easy to pick out the flaws in dormitory life and hate on the experience because of the negative. Yet, in 10 years we won’t remember that there
weren’t elevators in Rosecrans or sinks in the Del Reys, we will remember the people we met and community we made living on campus. That is why it is special. That is why living on campus is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Catherine Ebbitts, a freshman health and human sciences major said, “The strong community and friendship that Del Rey South offers makes it the best place to live on campus.” Once you move off campus, into houses and apartments, things do change. There is no more surrounding of community. There aren’t halls filled with students your age and easy access to classes and the entire campus outside your door. There are obvious positives to living off campus, but for freshmen and sophomores, it is important to take advantage of their convenient location and closeness to their peers. “We have the best community and everyone is such good friends. People all around campus come to Rosecrans to hang out and it’s so fun,” said Cole Melton, a freshman biology and business double major. Don’t get caught up in the hype of how bad the dorms are or all of the negative rumors surrounding living on campus. There will be positives and negatives to almost anywhere you live in your life. Take advantage of the community that is here and enjoy it while it lasts. This is the opinion of Jacob Cornblatt, a sophomore film, television, and media studies major from Gaithersburg, MD. Tweet comments to @jacobcornblatt or email comments to jcornblatt@theloyolan. com.
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On-campus housing is nothing but problems Always Ally Ally Boulas
Asst. Life+Arts Editor @allyroseboulas
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orm life is an integral part of the college experience and at a school like LMU, where 94 percent of first-years live on campus according to the Student Housing website, it’s an almost universal part of being a Lion. Students have been living on campus since the mid-20th century, when the only housing options were Sullivan and Huesman, both originally built in 1947. And while the tradition of Lions living on campus goes back seven decades, is the experience worth the hefty price tag? Traditional dormatories, like Rosecrans, Whelan, Desmond, the Del Reys, Sullivan, Huesman and Doheny cost students $10,090 per school year, according to 2018/2019 statistics. And the cost only goes up from there: living in suites like McKay, Rains and McCarthy will run you approximately an extra $300 per semester, and living in an on campus apartment like the Leaveys, Hannon, Tenderich or O’Malley will cost approximately $1,500 more per semester. Once you factor in the cost of meal plans—which are required for students unless they live in an apartment on campus—the price could climb up to around $13,200 to $16,710 per school year, varying per plan and residence hall. This is above the national average of $10,089 per year for room and board at private schools as reported by a study done by the College Board. LMU is located in an idyllic location in one of the most
expensive cities in the country, and so this price hike may not seem unbelievable, but some students are dissatisfied with what they get for their money. “Even though it’s convenient to live on campus, I don’t think that the expense is worth it,” said Emma Whitley, a senior theatre arts major currently living on campus in Leavey 4. At the end of the fall semester, a toilet leaked in her oncampus apartment and flooded the place. “And for the price we pay, I do think that we should have updated appliances, showerheads, sinks and furniture, but I’m afraid that if we demand that then the price of housing will only continue to increase.” Senior screenwriting and theatre arts double major Maren English, who has lived on campus all four years, thinks that a larger maintenance staff could help solve some of the issues that come with living in the dorms. “I think we need more maintenance staff keeping things working more regularly, they seem understaffed,” English said. When English and her roommates moved into their Leavey 6 apartment, they discovered issues all over. “The door lock was broken, the outlets in the bedrooms and the kitchen don’t work, the freezer door handle was broken; the blinds were broken, the sink was stained and really gross and we had to bleach it ourselves and the hot water wasn’t working,” she said. “[The apartments] are a good size, they aren’t super tiny, it’s just that the state in which they give them to people is kind of whack.” That isn’t to say that on-campus life has been entirely about broken blinds and outdated appliances —
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Leavey 6 is one of the most expensive housing buildings on-campus, yet students find problems when they arrive. many students have had wonderful “There have been floods, the water really helpful for me when I first experiences with the residential [coming from the kitchen sink] came here to live on campus and housing staff throughout their smells disgusting, and parking is be surrounded by people. The years living on campus, and one outrageously expensive but there community was really amazing, staff member in particular has isn’t even enough space.” I loved being able to walk outside made a lasting impact on English. Olivia Sikora, a senior English and see someone I know,” English “I really appreciate having all the and theatre arts double major who said. “I think that it allows support staff. My resident minister lived on campus for three years, friendships to form more easily. freshman year was super cool, she also remembered having problems I could sleep in later because I made everyone Jello,” English said. with the kitchen sink in her didn’t have to drive. In that regard “Her name was Sister Jo, I still O’Malley apartment last year. “Our it’s really nice. But it’s a really talk about her when I give tours to water tasted like garlic, even with expensive way to make friends.” prospective students because she the Brita filter,” Sikora said. “I think With the housing applications was so cool.” the experience living on campus for the upcoming year now open, Whitley also expressed that she is worth it for making friends and many Lions are considering values the community aspect of connections. But otherwise I’m making the move off of the Bluff. on-campus life, but for Whitley at really happy being off campus And for those undecided, it might least, the support system that on- because I’m paying about the same be helpful to weigh the benefits of campus housing provides doesn’t price as I did to share a room and having a tight-knit community justify other conditions of the [on-campus] apartment with six against having updated appliances residence halls. “I just think that girls, but now I have my own room and potentially more living space. the amenities and the furniture and and own bathroom and just all the bathrooms that we are paying around nicer facilities.” so much for are not worth the English also thinks that the This is the opinion of Ally Boulas, a senior arts major from Sacramento, CA. money, especially when appliances community created by living theatre Tweet comments to @allyroseboulas and parts of the apartment are on campus, especially her first or email comments to jcornblatt@ broken or in disrepair,” she said. year, is second to none. “It was theloyolan.com.
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Ten things we want in the new dorms Jolly Ole Jacob Jacob Cornblatt Life+Arts Editor @jacobcornblatt
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uesman and Sullivan, two of the oldest housing facilities on campus, are being torn down and replaced with large new dormitories. Though this is frustrating for students living on campus next year, as some will have to squeeze three people into two-person rooms, the new buildings offer LMU an opportunity to give future students a more comfortable living situation. There are specific aspects of housing that students have been vocally displeased with, and also some areas where they want to see general improvement. Here are 10 things that LMU students want in new dormitories. 10) Views On such a beautiful campus, it is a shame when your window overlooks garbage cans or bike racks. The location of the new dorms—if positioned well—can give students a stunning view of the flagpole area, Doheny Hall and the Van Der Ahe area. Not every view can be perfect, but hopefully most windows will be able to offer students a nice sight.
9) Consistently good water pressure Every person who has lived in the dorms knows that there is always at least one shower that barely works. The same goes for the sinks and the water fountains. In these new buildings, hopefully this will not be the case, and all showers will be created equally. 8) Vending machines This is a small, but important one. At 3 a.m., when everything on campus is closed, you need somewhere to go for a chocolate bar or energy drink. Most buildings already have these, but either they do not always work or are only on one floor. Students can benefit from more of these. 7) Study rooms Study rooms, especially in freshman housing, are becoming a thing of the past. So many students are coming to LMU that the school is using study rooms as overflow housing. I never had a study room on my floor, but there are many times that I wish I did. Let these make a comeback for the next generation of Lions. 6) Colored walls One of the great aspects of the Hannon Apartments is that there is a single blue wall inside the living room area. This may sound sarcastic, but it is not; the blue wall helps to eliminate the monotonous white walls that surround every
other room. Having a colored wall in the dorms may boost the aesthetics of the living space. 5) Community kitchens Kitchens offer people with specialized diets a place to prepare their own food. In addition, cooking is a valuable skill that people can learn from their peers. Kitchens are a place for bonding as well as cooking. This will also help reduce the number of people who own clandestine toasters and water boilers. 4) Laundry room Some on-campus housing facilities have laundry rooms, but some (like the Del Reys and Hannon) do not. If students are going to pay for laundry, let it at least be only an elevator ride away as opposed to a building away. 3) Projectors The DejaView Theater is leaving LMU with the construction of these new buildings, but that does not mean that the moviegoing experience has to. Putting a projector and a screen in the common rooms instead of a TV allows for larger format screenings for residents of the building. This means more movie nights and more bonding. 2) Shelving LMU dorms have more wall space than students know what to do with. Putting a shelf or two on the walls fills up this space
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LMU plans to replace the freshman dorms Huesman and Sullivan. while providing students an extra the largest room possible, so this area to either put their clothes or should be a number one priority decorate their room. Small things for LMU. In two years, when the new like shelves can elevate a room dorms are built, we will see how tremendously. many of these items made it into 1) Larger rooms Could it have been anything else? the building. I know that nothing Some buildings (like the Del Reys) can ever be perfect, but following have large rooms, but others are the list above will get LMU pretty not so fortunate. Most buildings close. have fairly wide hallways; bringing in these hallways just a bit on both sides will greatly increase the size of the rooms while only negatively affecting the hallway — but when This is the opinion of Jacob Cornblatt, a sophomore film and television studies major is the last time you heard someone from Gaithersburg, MD. Tweet comments to complain about a hallway being @jacobcornblatt or email comments to slightly thinner? Students look for jcornblatt@theloyolan.com.
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Canada builds border wall to keep out U.S. Among the news you missed this week: border wall up. Jordan Boaz
Seeking Asylum A five meter tall, one meter thick wall separating Canada and the United States has officially finished undergoing construction. The wall, built by Canada, is a “precautionary procedure” to protect Canadians from Americans. “America will be paying,” said Liam Moose, the high-ranking Canadian official who initiated the 8,891 kilometer (5,525 mile) wall along the border of the U.S. and Canada. “We’re protecting ourselves from them, what they have turned into. It’s only fair that they pay. And they will.” Amidst all the chaos that has characterized the United States over the past year, the controversy over the wall along the border of Mexico has perhaps been the most prominent. But while the U.S. government required a recordbreaking government shutdown
to compromise about the wall, Canada seemed to have things more together. “Americans can’t quite seem to decide if Mexican immigrants are actually a problem,” Moose continued. “But we had no trouble deciding that Americans need to keep out.” Canada’s government quickly and unanimously came to the decision just 36 hours after Donald Trump was elected into the presidential office. “We had a budget just for this,” said Moose, “So we didn’t need to compromise our universal healthcare or any of our humanitarian projects. We called the budget ‘America Gone Wrong.’ And here we are. But we’ll be getting all that money back soon enough. America will back right down.” Among the main reasons the wall went up? Criminal leadership. “America turns their perps into presidents, judges, movie stars — we can’t have that here. Being so close to America was becoming toxic for us.” They also were worried about the danger that so many Americans may begin bringing into Canada. “Americans have this tendency to shoot random
people. Like, all the time. Forget the drug lords, we’re just trying to keep our schools safe,” said professional hockey coach and politician James Maple. When questioned about the prospect of Americans stealing Canadian jobs, Maple laughed. “That’s an American scare tactic. Canada? We only look at the facts.” Unfortunately, the thousands of Americans who have began to look for asylum in Canada can no longer find it. Americans who aren’t satisfied with the dictatorial turn their country is taking, Americans who simply can’t afford to pay for basic healthcare, Americans who fear dying inside their schools — they’re trapped. If only Canada could see the humanity of the thousands who are wishing to escape their dreadful living conditions instead of grouping them all into a stereotype. But no can do. “Canada has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems,” Moose rationed. “We’re not dealing with America anymore.”
The latest sickness is something a little shady Groundhog Day springs a whole new kind of infection. Amanda Nahin She’s Sick
It’s that time of year again — everybody’s getting sick with who-knows-what illness. But the latest ailment is something straight out of Peter Pan. Since
this past Groundhog Day, people have been losing their shadows. While the whole thing might sound a little shady, the truth is, it’s a startling reality. Ever since Punxsutwaney Phil emerged from his burrow and did not see his shadow on Feb. 2, shadows have been going missing. Approximately 13,000,007 cases of Shadowless-ness have been reported all over the United States since the 2nd. It is important to be
understanding in these times of utter tragedy. Imagine the lonely life, walking down the street with no one to follow you along the way. Some people have even gone as far as to name their pets Shadow to gain back a little bit of what they’ve lost. The lines at the student health center have been out the door. But the waiting is pointless because no matter how severe the illness, without an appointment you’re out of luck. If you manage to get one of the coveted appointments concerning your health, the friendly practitioners are likely to prescribe a dose of sleep and a whole lot of nothing helpful. “I don’t wanna go to sleep. I’ll lose the only shadows I have left, the ones I keep under my eyes,” said Slim Shady, a sophomore sociology major. Turns out the missing shadows aren’t being stolen like Peter Pan’s, it’s simply this change of weather that’s making everyone lose their shady selves. Doctors believe that once the sun comes out, those suffering from Shadowlessness will soon see their shady partner reappear. Concerned students are being encouraged to come out of the shadows with their illness. If you or a loved one has looked down to find no one following them, have them call our health center at 310-NO1-H3LP5.
Christian Boggs | Loyolan
Canada beat the U.S. to it. Confused Americans wonder what could possibly compel a country to want to keep them out.
Smoke products to be sold at LMU Take the batteries out of your smoke alarm. LMU is blowing O’s. Andrew Dazé
Convicted Vapist LMU’s C-Stores are slated to start selling smoke products later this spring. In order to support American agriculture during the international trade wars and tariff increases, it was suggested that LMU start selling America’s oldest cash crop — tobacco. In a freshman dorm C-Store experiment there was an interesting new product in stock: chewing tobacco. “We placed it in the freshmen dorms with the most baseball/softball players and the most farm -raised students,” said Marl Burrough, the head of purchasing for LMU’s C-Stores. “By testing the sales on our key demographic, we are able to predict that tobacco will be the highest selling product on campus
by the end of 2019.” Needless to say, inventory went quick. All sorts of tobacco products are projected to be sold at the C-Store including cigarettes, tobacco, dip, those long cigarette holders from black and white photos, nicotine gum, tobacco gum, cigarette juice, tobacco tea, the list goes on. The University is mulling over rewriting their cannabis rules if the tobacco store turns over profit, which would make LMU the first marijuana friendly campus in America. Go Lions! Come out to the LMU vs. Gonzaga (Gonjaga) basketball game for an Iggy bobblehead and an Iggy pipe (only guaranteed to the first 250 fans in attendance). In unrelated news, life science professor Dr. Blak Lung aims to prove tobacco use undeniably leads to multiple new cancers. Who knows what his control group will be? Best of luck to you, Dr. Lung.
Ellen Na | Loyolan
Lianlen Joy Distor | Loyolan
Students are finding themselves without shadow and are calling in sick.
Meet and greet with Iggy under the bleachers at the Gonzaga game.
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
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Women’s basketball prepares for postseason Hut Hut Hutton Alex Hutton
Sports Intern @LoyolanSports
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he LMU women’s basketball season has been filled with ups and downs, but the team hopes that two big wins in the past week can propel the team to a strong finish in the final month of the regular season. “We know what we can do when we play together and we play the right way and we all do our jobs,” head coach Charity Elliott said after Saturday’s 83-57 win over the University of San Diego. “We’ve learned a lot this weekend.” In addition to the San Diego victory, the Lions pulled off a narrow upset win over BYU, ranked No. 25 in the country at the time. The coaches and players know how important that win was and want to use it as momentum for the rest of the season. “BYU was a big game for us,” sophomore forward Jasmine Jones said. “I think [that game] was a confidence builder. I think you just keep building your confidence [and] doing what the coaches have in place for us to be successful.” The BYU game, decided by just three points, was particularly promising due to the struggles the team has had winning close games
this season. LMU had lost two games by a single point this season and dropped two more in overtime, including one in triple overtime. Pulling out the victory against the Cougars, particularly after blowing a late-game 14-point lead, demonstrated a resiliency that will tremendously benefit the Lions the rest of the year. The team’s perseverance and toughness has also been tested injury difficulties, most notably to redshirt senior guard Gabby Green. Before the season began, Green was expected to be one of the team’s most important players. However, she has appeared in just 12 of the Lions’ 23 games this year due to injuries. In those 12 games, she has averaged 14 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.8 steals, leaving an enormous hole to fill when she is not in the lineup. Elliott stressed the importance of playing as a team when a key contributor, like Green, misses games. “[Even with] a player of that caliber, you can’t do it with one person,” Elliott said. “We don’t need one person to do what Gabby does. Let’s all just do a little bit more, let’s all just be a little sharper, let’s all make sure we’re on the same page.” With seven games remaining on the regular season schedule, the Lions currently sit in sixth place in the West Coast Conference (WCC) standings with a 6-5 conference record. They will face teams that
via Loyolan Archives
Sophomore forward Jasmine Jones (20) averages 11.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Senior guard Andee Velasco (11) averages 6.2 points and 4.5 assists. Junior guard Cierra Belvin (35) leads LMU in steals with 39 total. are currently at the top of the conference standings as well as teams that are at the bottom, but must treat every game as equally difficult and important to their record and standing. Elliott and her players were aware of the challenge that lies ahead of them, and they repeatedly focused in on several key aspects of their performance, with intensity being at the forefront. “We just need to play every game like we played against BYU,” sophomore guard Chelsey Gipson
said. “We just competed, we were aggressive, so we just need to play like that all the time, because we can do that every game.” Multiple members of the team stressed the importance of playing as a single cohesive unit rather than individually. “I think we’re now just finding a little bit of that chemistry, which is really hard to build when there hasn’t been consistency,” Elliott said. “And I think we’re taking steps in those directions.” “We all feed off each other,”
redshirt senior forward Bree Alford added. “I can’t really do anything without my team, so just us being together and just doing what each person needs to do with their role, we should be great.” The Lions’ next game is a road matchup with the Santa Clara Broncos on Thursday, Feb. 7.
This is the opinion of Alex Hutton, a sophomore journalism major from Oakland, CA. Tweet comments to @ LALoyolan, or email mrodriguez@ theloyolan.com.
Batemon rises to the challenge in big games Batemon from Page 20
However, Batemon still finished with 27 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Batemon has been known time and time again to relish the spotlight against bigger programs in the role of the underdog. Yet, when Batemon was ready to graduate from Riverside University High School in Milwaukee, WI, he had not piqued the interest of any Division I basketball programs that he felt comfortable with. Batemon served as team captain his junior and senior seasons in high school, and felt he deserved more than the options he had at the time. He finally made the decision to attend North Dakota College of Science, a two year junior college. “Basketball is a mentally draining sport. So there were nights that I felt like I might not want to do it anymore,” Batemon said. “I had to think about my family and the support system I had leading up to that point. That is what keeps me going. I play for my family and I play for the love of the game.” Batemon kept this support system in mind, and in his two years at junior college, he was a two-time All-American point guard and finished second all-time in points scored. His experience at North Dakota College of Science gave him a new outlook on basketball and life as a whole.
“Going to North Dakota College helped give me a different perspective on basketball and on life, that you have to work a lot harder for things in life — they’re not given to you,” Batemon said. “So I felt ready to work.” Batemon’s game is far from one-dimensional. He sees the floor well and does a great job of getting his teammates involved, by averaging 3.7 assists per game, which is seventh overall in the WCC as well. Capitalizing at the free throw line is yet another strength in his game, as he sits at seventh overall in the WCC in free throw percentage, at 83.4 percent. Batemon has been wreaking havoc on the defensive end as well, ranking first in all of the WCC, bringing in 1.7 steals per game. James Batemon is without a doubt one of the most complete players in the WCC. Be sure to check out all of the Lions’ games this year on The W.tv as they are currently in an uphill battle as No. 6 in the WCC. The Lions and head coach Mike Dunlap are confident that they can make the most of their season with Batemon at the helm.
via Loyolan Archives
Senior guard James Batemon (5) is averaging 16.6 points and 3.0 rebounds with 3.7 assists per game. He also leads the Lions in free throw percentage (83.4 percent), assists (86) and steals (39) in his second and final season at LMU.
SPORTS
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Men’s basketball finds identity with defense Armen Hammer Armen Shrikian Sports Intern @LoyolanSports
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he LMU men’s basketball program (16-7, 4-5 WCC) has exhibited considerable improvement, transforming from a perennial conference cellar dweller to a competitive team with a new identity anchored by the No. 12 ranked defense in the country. With 16 wins, this will be the first season since 2011-2012 that the Lions will end with a winning overall record. After finishing last season with an 11-20, 5-13 West Coast Conference (WCC) record, the program appears to be progressing with better player development and recruitment. One of the biggest improvements from last season has been the team’s 10-1 record at Gersten Pavilion, compared to the 7-7 home record the year before. The biggest reason for LMU’s successful season has been their defense, allowing opponents an average of just 62 points per game. Head coach Mike Dunlap explained that the two biggest improvements he hopes to see in the second half of the season are limiting the number of turnovers and improving three-point shooting. The Lions are ranked
No. 199 overall in the country with 309 total turnovers, an average of 13.4 per game, and No. 286 in three-point shooting percentage, at 32.1 percent, according to NCAA Division I team statistics. “Our defense is one of the best in the country, so we want to keep improving there and see if we can get inside the top 10 in the country,” Dunlap said. Every team is destined to face adversity throughout any season, and how a team responds to obstacles is a crucial component of the team’s chemistry. Dunlap commented on the team’s ability to overcome injuries throughout the season. The Lions began the season without sophomore forward Eli Scott, who missed two months due to mononucleosis, and senior guard Jeffery McClendon, who missed a month because of a torn fascia in his foot. Despite a strong defense, the Lions have struggled against conference opponents, most notably due to their struggles on the offensive end. The Lions’ overall field goal percentage sits at 45.5 percent, ranking No. 137 in the nation, and No. 296 in scoring offense at 68 points per game. “I want us to be able to score more points and so we’re putting an emphasis on that, as we did with today’s practice,” said Dunlap. “And then, second is that
I want [the team] to be fresh, so you have to shorten your practices and you also have to have them feel good about who they are.” The Lions’ leading scorer, senior guard James Batemon, averages 16.6 points per game and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting 41.7 percent from the field, 28.2 percent from three and 83.4 from the free throw line. Batemon also leads the Lions with 39 steals, 86 assists and a free-throw shooting percentage of 83.4. “We’re stopping teams and keeping them under 50, 60 points. But [offensively], some games we go on little scoring slumps and won’t get enough ball movement and stuff like that,” said Batemon. “[We need to be] more consistent on the offensive end, because our defense is top in the country.” Batemon shared that the victories against high profile programs, such as Georgetown and UNLV, helped the team gain confidence early on in the season. Other players who are producing for the Lions at a high level are junior center Mattias Markusson, forward Scott, freshman guard/ forward Dameane Douglas and sophomore guard Joe Quintana. Markusson currently averages 11.1 points and seven rebounds per game with a team-high 15 blocks. Since returning to the starting lineup after being out for two months, Scott averages 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game
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Junior center Mattias Markusson, (14) in a 72-53 game against CSUN earlier this season. while shooting 56 percent from the field. Douglas averages 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 70.6 percent from three, making 12 of 17 three-point attempts. Quintana averages 7.8 points per game and is second on the team with 32 steals. “[We] just want to finish the second half of the season strong [by] getting as [many] wins as we can going into the [WCC] tournament, so we can get a good seed and come out strong at the WCC tournament and try to win that,” Quintana said. With seven games left in the regular season, the Lions look
to gain some momentum before the conference tournament by winning the remainder of their conference matchups. After suffering a tough loss last weekend at BYU when they surrendered a halftime lead, the Lions will return to Gersten Pavilion on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. against conference rival San Diego (15-8, 4-4 WCC).
This is the opinion of Armen Shrikian, a senior journalism major from Newport Coast, CA. Tweet comments to @ LALoyolan or email comments to mrodriguez@theloyolan.com.
ELEVENTH ANNUAL
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS D U E F R I D AY , F E B R U A R Y 8 T H For more information, please visit our website: www.lmu.edu/symposium
ARTS SHOWCASE
Friday, March 22nd Burns Fine Arts Center
SYMPOSIUM
Saturday, March 23rd University Hall
SPORTS LOS ANGELES LOYOLAN | February 6, 2019 | laloyolan.com
SCORES UPDATE 67-49 L
M Basketball
LION
at BYU
SPORTS
W Water Polo
17-19 L
vs. Hawaii
W Basketball
83-57 W
at San DIego
W Water Polo
8-9 L
at UCLA
Follow us on Twitter @laloyolan for up-to-date scores.
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Batemon guides LMU to its best start in school history Senior guard James Batemon becomes LMU's leader following transfer. Hunter Paterson Contributor @LALoyolan
Senior guard James Batemon led LMU to its best start in school history earlier this season. Since league play has begun, Batemon ranks fourth among all guards and seventh overall in the WCC, with 16.6 points per game. “I always had the NERF hoops," Batemon said. "[My father] was the first one to put a ball in my hands because that was his dream.” Batemon’s father started him on this path, but he left to do all the heavy lifting to get to this point in his career. Batemon came to LMU in 2017 ready to work and to stand out, averaging 18 points per game, four rebounds per game, four assists per game and one steal. He did his best to lead the team to a 15-15 record, where they lost in the second round of the West Coast Conference (WCC) playoffs to BYU. But in this first season alone, he was named to the WCC All-Tournament team
after scoring 29 points in the team’s win over Portland and 27 points in the quarterfinals loss against No. 7 Gonzaga. Batemon shot 50 percent from the field and 83 percent from the line for the tournament. Though LMU dropped their first game of the season to UCLA recently, the Lions have had some of their bigger wins in recent school history. On Nov. 10, the Lions went to Las Vegas to take on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebels. Batemon dominated and led the team to a 61-50 win against a very well-established program in just their second game of the season. The domination by Batemon consisted of 27 points, two assists, two rebounds and three steals. Just two games later, the Lions met Georgetown, one of their most challenging opponents this season, at the Jamaica Classic in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The Hoyas have two of the top high school recruits on their team: James Akinjo and Mac McClung. The two are known nationally and had offers to play at essentially every Division I school in the nation. See Batemon | Page 18
via LMU Lions
Senior guard James Batemon (5) leads LMU in scoring with 16.6 points per game, ranking seventh in the West Coast Conference.