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Los Angeles LOYOLAN The

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SEXUAL ASSAULT

V o LU M E

93

| ISSUE

34

It happens here, too

Hannah Kim and Ellen Czinski | Loyolan

First-person feature: parents of Departments a rape survivor tell their story address sexual assault policies The parents of an LMU student who survived a rape last semester tell her story with the hope that the case will be solved.

Parents of an LMU Student Guest Columnists @laloyolan

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following story was written by the parents of the survivor of the alleged rape in the early morning hours of Nov. 1, 2014 on the 8700 block of Yorktown Avenue.

The case is still unsolved. The parents asked the Loyolan to share their daughter’s story in the hopes that by telling it, the perpetrator will be found. They hope other students will learn from their daughter’s experience.

O

n Halloween night of 2014, our daughter dressed up and went out with her girlfriends, like so many other LMU students were doing that night. She and her group had been to a couple of parties throughout the course of the evening

before returning to campus to drop off some friends and decide where the night should take them. The girls decided to head out to an off-campus SAE party they had heard about.

When they arrived at the party at 12:10 a.m., fewer than 50 people were there. They decided to make it a brief visit.

She felt safe. After all, she knew a lot of the people, and it seemed like everyone there was an LMU student. There was a sign on the garage announcing that the house was equipped with security cameras. Thirty minutes later, when she got up to use the restroom, the first one she found was locked. Testing another door, she walked into a dimly lit room, only to find out it was a garage, and that a much larger man had followed her in. He was white, in his early 20s, with brown shoulderlength hair. He was wearing a white top hat, white shirt and dark pants. She did not know this person, and he would not let her turn around. She noticed four other people in the garage, two guys and two girls, who quickly dispersed, walking out and leaving her alone with the stranger. She tried to leave. He wouldn’t let her. In fact, he physically forced her to stay. That’s when she was raped.

See Parents’ story | Page 2

One year after the launch of LMU CARES, campus leaders discuss the program’s gains and future goals.

Zaneta Pereira Senior Editor @zanyzaneta

About a year ago , on April 28, 2014, the Loyolan published “Campus combats sexual assault” by Zaneta Pereira. The article below includes sections from that article that have been reprinted as well as updates on the information that has changed since last April.

Sexual assault on university campuses is an issue that is not going away.

Over 100 universities are currently under investigation for violating federal laws on the handling of sexual violence reports. Campus sexual assault reports continue to dominate the headlines, and Rolling Stone magazine’s mishandling of its discredited campus rape story has been a topic of conversation around the country.

Here at LMU, this year has seen an increase in sexual assault reports on campus, an ongoing investigation into an alleged rape at an off-campus Halloween party as well as the first full year of the LMU Campus Awareness Resource Education Services (CARES) program.

See LMU CARES | Page 2

Graphics: Shelby Albrecht | Loyolan

Special Yorktown sexual assault investigation continues

laloyolan.com Page 2

LAPD and DPS are working together on a student’s sexual assault case.

Julia Sacco News Editor

@_juliasacco_

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and LMU’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) are continuing their investigation of the alleged rape of an LMU student that took place in the early morning hours of Nov. 1, 2014, on the 8700 block of Yorktown Avenue.

At this time, LAPD detective Deann Maltos informed the Loyolan that there are “no solid leads.” However, there have been multiple suspects and a long investigation for this case.

According to DPS Chief Hampton Cantrell, “LAPD and LMU DPS are working very closely together on this case and share information wherever it is appropriate.”

DPS encourages tips from the LMU community and hopes to receive information that will narrow the investigation.

“The case is still open. We have talked to a number of students about

what happened in the home and right now we have not determined who was the perpetrator,” Cantrell said. “At this point we are hoping that students come forward with information or give something on our tip line to help move this investigation forward.”

LAPD has taken other measures to continue this open investigation.

As part of the process, the survivor has received a DNA test, the results of which can range depending on the nature of the incident.

“It could be that DNA detected male or female, or that there was none detected. Some results cannot be detected enough to be a conclusive sample,” said Maltos. “In this case there was a conclusive sample.”

The survivor’s DNA testing did not match any suspects’ profiles. However, Maltos confirmed that it was not unusual for a sexual assault case to go this long without a suspect, and still eventually be solved.

“Just because there hasn’t been someone identified yet, doesn’t mean there will never be,” Maltos said.

On Feb. 9, LAPD sent out a community alert to the area surrounding the Yorktown sexual assault with a sketch of the suspect.

According to the alert, “[The] sus-

pect was described as a white male in his early 20s with brown shoulderlength hair, approximately 6’00” height and 170 pounds. He was wearing a white top hat, white shirt and dark pants.”

The victim was attending an offcampus Halloween party on Yorktown Avenue allegedly hosted by members of a former colony of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity.

The fraternity, which was not officially recognized by LMU, [had an unsanctioned house where they frequently held off-campus parties.]

Since then, the unofficial colony of SAE has been closed and disbanded as of Jan. 23.

It is uncertain whether the perpetrator of this case was a member of this disbanded colony or a LMU student at all.

“At this point we have not positively identified [the perpetrator] as part of the LMU community,” Cantrell said.

LAPD and DPS will continue to work collaboratively on this investigation.

“In our line of business, we are always optimistic that we will find the person and that it is just a matter of time,” Cantrell said.

Maltos has some advice for people

who are involved with or hear about a sexual assault crime.

“Once someone is made aware of a sexual assault crime, they should notify the police of the location of where the crime occurred and collect evidence if possible,” said Maltos.

“The University takes issues of sexual and interpersonal misconduct very seriously and has a long-standing commitment to the safety of our students and campus community,” said Sara Trivedi, LMU’s Title IX Coordinator. “In addition to updating policies and procedures, in the past year LMU implemented University-wide educational programs for faculty, staff and students regarding sexual and interpersonal misconduct.”

The educational program Trivedi referred to is part of LMU CARES, an initiative aimed at training members of the LMU community to handle and discuss issues arouund sexual assault, including consent, available support services, bystander intervention and prevention. “Increased education and awareness has led to increased reporting which provides an opportunity for those who have experienced sexual or interpersonal misconduct to access support services and obtain important information about their rights,” said

Trivedi.

Students can go to either DPS or LAPD with any report of sexual assault, and call 911 in the instance of an emergency. To report additional information on this sexual assault case, contact Operations-West Bureau Sexual Assault Detail at 213-4730447 or use the DPS Tip Line on their website publicsafety.lmu.edu.

cia Coffelt noted that there has been an increase in reporting cases of sexual and interpersonal misconduct. This, they both believe, is not a result of increased incidences but of students being more aware of their rights and resources and feeling more comfortable with the system to come forward.

However, data is currently being gathered to assess the effects of LMU CARES. Maturi explained, “At the end of Code Certified, all participants complete a brief learning outcomesbased assessment asking them about consent, hurdles to intervention and University support services. Over the past two weeks, we have sent a followup survey to participants to assess what they have retained after Code Certified. We also sent a random sampling of surveys to students who have not done Code Certified to see if our other efforts (ads in the Loyolan, posters, social media, etc.) have had an educational impact on the student body.”

“Currently we are on target for giving our students the best care and resources that are out there,” added Coffelt.

At LMU, there are three major departments that deal with reported cases of sexual assault on campus – the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Judicial Affairs and Student Life. We sat down last April with officials from these departments to discuss the policies and protocols in place at LMU. There have been no significant changes to the policies in the last year.

Intake and investigation When a student reports an incident of sexual assault to DPS, “the first thing we do is make sure their support system is in place,” Coffelt said. The support system is typically a Residence Life representative who is there to support the student through DPS’ process.

“Residence Life will be there to really

be that support to the student, to make sure that they are getting connected with whatever resources they need for the next step,” said Maturi.

This process entails taking a statement, gathering facts and often the publishing of a report that a sexual assault occurred. DPS Chief Hampton Cantrell explained that this is not out of disrespect for the student’s privacy, but because “we have a responsibility to notify the campus community if we believe that a sexual assault occurred and that there is a possible safety concern.

That is a [Jeanne] Clery [Act] requirement of us, but we would do it anyway.”

Because sexual assault is a felony, the Los Angeles Police Department is also

the responsibilities of DPS, after which Judicial Affairs deals with the incident.

Associate Dean of Students and Chief Judicial Officer Francesca Piumetti said she understands the judicial process can be “confusing.” As a result, she stressed that in cases of interpersonal and sexual misconduct, all parties involved are assigned both a Student Affairs Resource Administrator (SARA) and a judicial adviser.

The role of a SARA is to serve as “a neutral person to pull the student in and say, ‘Here are all of your resources.’”

Piumetti explained, noting that the student is also not required to talk or even meet with the SARA. On the other hand, the judicial adviser focuses on guiding students through the judicial process.

Additionally, Maturi noted this year that “over the summer, a change was made to the judicial process so that in misconduct cases, both students involved are allowed to choose an adviser from off campus, either an attorney or a parent.”

In terms of the judicial process at LMU, cases of sexual assault are handled by two judicial officers – one male and one female – and cases vary significantly in terms of who will be asked to talk to Judicial Affairs, apart from both the complainant and respondent.

In all cases, however, Piumetti noted that “the complainant will never have to confront the respondent in the process.”

This investigation will be separate from any LAPD efforts and will always aim to be as sensitive as the student wishes. In cases where a student reports an incident but doesn’t name a perpetrator, Judicial Affairs believes “it is important that the student remain in control and that they can tell us whatever they are ready to tell us, absolutely.

But we have a responsibility to make sure that we’re looking into things,” Piumetti said.

Ultimately, Judicial Affairs will reach a decision on the incident. This decision may be appealed by either party and, if there is an appeal, it will be heard by the Student Conduct Committee.

“I think that LMU is a community; I think that we’re a community of accountability, and I think that it’s absolutely critical that students understand that [sexual assault is] a violation of the student conduct code. And, if in fact students are found responsible, they’re held accountable. … LMU’s a place where you can go and report this and feel as though it’s a community that responds to this issue,” said Piumetti.

Assisting in recovery According to Maturi, the aim of the LMU CARES website is to make a difficult period somewhat easier in order “to not feel like students have to memorize [resources], but to know that LMU CARES is a resource that is out there for them.”

“We want students to be aware, we want students to come forward and we want students to understand what’s available to them. We want students to report [and] to understand what that means,” Piumetti said, summing up the overall goals of LMU CARES. Sexual assault cases are difficult, and everyone involved in dealing with them at LMU recognizes that fact. Despite this, the University’s aim is to provide help and resources wherever possible.

“If you’ve experienced something like a sex offense, we all understand that we can’t put you back together right away, but we can take the facts and perhaps assist in pointing you to the places where you can get the resources that will perhaps assist you in a recovery,” Coffelt said.

via LAPD

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) released this sketch of the suspect, sent on Feb. 13 (above).

LMU CARES ‘a one-stop portal’ for students LMU CARES from Page 1

One year of LMU CARES “To think about where we’ve come in a year is really incredible,” said Special Assistant to the Senior Vice President of Student Affairs and Director of LMU CARES Briana Maturi.

LMU CARES, which Maturi described last year as “a one-stop portal” that provides information about the University’s support, resources, policies or protocols in any issue of sexual or interpersonal misconduct, has not only provided resources online at lmu.edu/ cares but also introduced an LMU-specific bystander intervention program and conducted “Code Certified” workshops for the LMU community.

According to Maturi, these workshops “provide us with a framework for education … and for talking about consent, talking about bystander intervention and talking about services – all related back to our mission.”

Since September, 36 percent of the student body has been code certified as well as 100 percent of Division I athletes, Greek organizations and service organizations and 73 percent of the first-year class. In total, more than 2,300 students have completed a workshop.

Another new addition was the creation of the LMU Confidential Resource Administrators. These four individuals – Alexandra Froehlich, Patrick Furlong, Lorianne Harrison-Reyes and Rich Rocheleau – are LMU staff who “may speak confidentially with students regarding incidents of sexual misconduct and interpersonal misconduct without automatically triggering a University investigation into the matter,” according to the LMU CARES website.

Both Maturi and Assistant Chief of the Department of Public Safety Patri-

“LMU’s a place where you can go and report this and feel as though it’s a community that responds to this issue.” notified.

Both Cantrell and Coffelt agreed that chronic underreporting of sexual assaults on university campuses is a key issue. Cantrell explained, “A lot of the education and awareness pieces are about encouraging victims to come forward and report these incidents, and the feeling is that if the process is frightening, if it’s too difficult, if it appears to be unfair that victims are not going to come forward, they won’t report; they won’t feel comfortable and so a lot of the work being done is to clarify the process, to make it easier to report.”

As a result, a key goal DPS and LMU CARES share is to increase students’ familiarity with the processes in place at LMU. The judicial process Initial intake and investigation are

REPORT

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Parents of survivor seek justice for daughter From Parent’s story | Page 1

Once he was done, he ran out of the garage. So did she, running straight for her friends. Between the fear in her eyes and the marks on her neck, her friend guessed what had happened and asked if she had been assaulted. Barely able to speak, our daughter said, “Yes.” It was a rape. A forcible rape that could be seen in the marks and bruises all over her body.

Based on the look of the bodily trauma alone, he could have killed her.

Her friends told people living in the house – yes, the now infamous unsanctioned SAE house on the 8700 block of Yorktown Avenue – but no one seemed to want to help. No one dialed 911. They didn’t do anything.

She and her friends returned to their home. Our daughter was in shock. One friend called her mother, who suggested taking our daughter to the ER, where she was then transferred to the Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center. The police took down her report, and evidence was collected.

It haunts our family.

It is a nightmare for parents to know their child has been subjected to such pain and suffering and to imagine our daughter fearing for her life. It haunts us more to know we were not called to be by our daughter’s side. Had she been hit by a drunk driver or robbed at gunpoint, we feel there is no doubt we would have been contacted. Yet authorities left the burden of contacting us in the hands of our daughter – a rape victim deeply traumatized and shamed by the evil abuse of another. She was not of sound mind to communicate or make decisions, and we should not have found out about the rape 48 hours after the fact.

Rape is a violent, damaging crime and it is time we treated it as such. Our daughter did nothing wrong that night, and anyone who helped the rapist get away or is withholding his name is at fault. We need to treat this crime like every other. We need to place the blame on those who choose to do it and those who cover it up.

However, we are extremely grateful to her friend who took the initiative to contact her own mother and get our daughter to the Rape Treatment Center. That way, when the rapist is caught, he will be held fully accountable in court.

working together toward justice.

With only 50 people at the party, I am guessing no more than half were men. At a party hosted by SAE, whose motto is “The True Gentleman,” perhaps many thought a suit was an appropriate choice. After all, Halloween is the time to dress up as the things you are not. But, of these men, how many were wearing white?

And of all of the men in white, how many were in a white top hat with a white shirt, dark pants and shoulder-length brown hair? We wondered: How hard could it be to catch him?

We were initially told that our summary was verified and that men who were at that party fitting the descriptions would likely come forward and volunteer DNA swabs in order to clear their names. These young men had a lot to lose, being juniors and seniors. Yet it is our understanding that not one person came forward, just like no one helped the night it happened. In fact, we have heard that individuals who knew a rape occurred had the audacity to

people who feel power through another’s lack of control, pain and humiliation. It is a small percentage of people who rape, butmy research shows that more often than not, they are repeat offenders.

‘HER VOICE IS HER POWER’ We are, and always have been, very proud of our daughter and her choice to attend LMU. She has made the most of what this university has to offer and will always continue to succeed. This person did not take her power or agency away from her. He tried, but her soul is kind, her heart is pure, and her voice will never be silenced. Her voice is her power.

After choosing to pursue her attacker, not only has a Loyolan writer shared her own heartfelt story [see page 5], but other victims have also come forward about being sexually assaulted.

Because of our daughter’s courage, and the courage of others, an LMU alert was able to go out and warn other potential victims.

We need the people who attended this party to step up and be real adults, come forward and tell the truth. We need them to show half the courage our daughter has shown. Anyone who was at the party who has not been interviewed by LAPD – contact them and contribute to catching this rapist.

We cannot comprehend why a person would rape. But we also cannot comprehend why anyone would want to help him hide. If “brotherhood”

THE INVESTIGATION Then the investigation began.

LMU’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) and LAPD started

to do if a rape occurs, both for the victim and their friends.

Have facilitated community discussions. Screen the film “The Hunting Ground,” which is a must-see for everyone interested in learning more about rape on college campuses.

No one is ever prepared for rape, but if there is prior knowledge and planning, it can help.

LAPD, for its part, must get the rape numbers down by getting the arrests and prosecutions up. After our daughter’s attack, we looked up some statistics that broke our hearts. According to our research, over 58 rapes occurred in 2013 within the Pacific Division, which is the area surrounding and including LMU, but there were only seven arrests. Over 60 rapes occurred in 2014 with only six arrests. We cannot stop this epidemic unless we look at the statistics, admit this is happening and begin documenting them properly. Of the seven sex offenses reported in the LMU crime log in the month of December after our daughter’s rape, our daughter’s appears to be the only instance reported on the Crime Stat for the Pacific Division area. Though the victims found the courage to come forward and tell Public Safety, they chose not to file a report with LAPD. And these are just the ones we know about.

We feel that there is no way to deny that rape on college campuses is an epidemic that threatens the livelihood of bright, young students. No college will find a cure until we properly acknowledge it; treat the victim as we would a patient and treat rape as an invasive disease. Let’s start by catching this one, and set a precedent that this cannot happen to our students. It is time to hold people accountable.

All students, especially survivors like our daughter, deserve to feel safe on their campus and to walk around free of shame, unshackled from the burden of someone else’s violent tendencies.

“Her soul is kind, her heart is pure, and her voice will never be silenced. Her voice is her power.”

“It haunts our family. It is a nightmare for parents to know their child has been subjected to such pain and suffering.” contact our daughter’s friends to see what the course of action would be. A warrant was even put out in order to rule out someone who was at the party and had made a statement on social media, but the statement could have been a way to keep us from the actual attacker. As for the security camera sign, according to LAPD investigators, there are no real cameras on the premises.

Our words serve to shed light on an issue within the community – that sometimes rape does happen where the victim does not know the attacker. That victims are not always incoherent. That alcohol is not always a prominent factor, and that victims do not have to be completely incapacitated for rape to occur. That many victims freeze and cannot fight back when being attacked. They freeze to prevent further injury or possibly death.

After much research, it is our opinion that this perpetrator has done it before, has become more aggressive as he continues and will rape again. Learn about rape.

Learn about consent. Rape isn’t about sex; it’s about power. It is a crime committed by heartless

she could help find the person who dared to do such brutal damage to another human being.

Whether she knew you or not, please don’t make her stand alone. You all have the power to speak up against rape and those who perpetuate it in speech or action. We are coming forward to show you that you can, too.

Maybe you choose not to speak because you heard a different story, or do not think what you

know is important. But any little piece of information is helpful.

And perhaps after hearing our story, you will make the right choice.

NOT ALONE To other victims who came forward, we think of you often.

We sincerely hope you have taken advantage of the free assistance offered by the Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center.

The Center has been the biggest support for our daughter and for us as parents, as we go through this in our own ways, but always together. We hope that you know it was not your fault, and we hope you know that you are not alone.

We would like all victims of sexual assault, especially those who have not come forward, to know there are people who care and can help. This is not something you ever should have to handle alone.

What are the preventive steps LMU and LAPD can take? After going through this, we have a few suggestions that could help the next victim and their family.

First of all, just as students sign forms to grant parents access to academic information, so should they have a form where students mark whether to contact their parents if they are victims of a crime. This way, students will not have to make big decisions while overwhelmed with shock.

The forms would give families a chance to talk about it, and would give peace of mind to many that if something like this occurs while their child is away, they would be notified. Allow the families to support the victim, and if the victim chooses, allow the family to advocate for them from the start so they can focus on healing and moving on with the positive parts of their life.

While we continuously provide information on how to prevent rape, it is time to provide adequate education about what

“Rape is a violent, damaging crime and it is time we treated it as such. Our daughter did nothing wrong that night.” is standing united under the same beliefs, then prove to your community and to us that rape and terrorizing others is not one of those beliefs. The public knows, thanks to Facebook comments left on news articles from the coverage in December 2014, that people know who it is.

SAE members claimed it was not one of them, but the party was invite-only.

To everyone who was at the party, we do not understand why you have not come forward. Our daughter would be at anyone’s side in a heartbeat, especially if

This is the opinion of a rape survivor’s parents, whose names have been withheld. Loyolan staff verified the details in the piece to the extent that they could be factchecked and corroborated by third parties. However, some details referenced could only be known by the parties involved in the case and could not be independently verified.

Email comments to editor@ theloyolan.com.

Illustration: Ellen Czinski | Loyolan

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SPECIAL

‘I didn’t realize my actions had consequences’ A perpetrator of sexual assault, who committed the crime as an LMU student, seeks to make amends.

much fresh off whatever drug. And they come and detox.

That’s an interesting job. I love it and I hate it at the same time.

But, you know, I learned coping skills. I had to learn a lot of coping skills. One was with the steps. I went to a lot of theraAli Swenson py about it. I have a journal I write in a lot. I had to take action, Editor in Chief pretty much, to work through it instead of just sitting there @aliswenson and thinking about it all the time.

And then [in Alcoholics Anonymous] there’s the amends.

John Doe (name has been changed) was a senior It’s the ninth step, and you’re making amends to people, screenwriting major at LMU in December 2013. At the people you’ve harmed in the past. And this girl is definitely time, he was an alcoholic and he was failing his classlike, probably number one on my list. I was working with my es. His whole life was about to change. In one night, sponsor and I called Judicial. I asked … if I could break the one choice would soon cause him to be suspended Ali Swenson (AS): On the night of the incident, did non-communication I had with her, if I could make amends from the University and lead him on a path of recovery to her. [Judicial Affairs] had to say no, unfortunately. I realyou recognize that you could be committing a crime? and self-discovery for the next year and a half. This John Doe (JD): No, absolutely not. I was also pretty drunk ized when he said no, it became a living amends. So instead choice would cause him to realize the reality of what and … no. That never really came across my mind because I of making direct amends to her, my amends to her now is to sexual assault is and what it isn’t. It would push him had never really been in a situation like that. Looking back on make living amends by not doing that to another woman. into recognizing that he needed to change many of his it, I didn’t realize my actions had consequences. When I was Being respectful to women. Treating women with dignity behaviors. drunk, I just never ever had a thought of ‘I’m going to be in and being responsible as a man not to ever emotionally or This is John’s story. A summary of his story will be physically or psychologically trouble.’ It kind of took all followed by a Q&A the Loyolan conducted with John abuse a woman. That’s my living those fears away. That’s this past Sunday. All stated events of the story come “Instead of making direct amends amends I try to carry every day in what alcohol always did. directly from John’s words in an interview with the day-to-day life.

AS: When you found to her, my amends to her now Loyolan.

AS: Did you think LMU’s out about the suspenJohn went over to a guy friend’s apartment one night. His handling of the case was fair sion, what were the is to make living amends by not friend’s girlfriend came over, too, with her roommate, Jane and appropriate? terms?

Doe (name has been changed). The four got drunk together. doing that to another woman.”

JD: Yeah, I do. I’ve come to reJD: I was suspended for According to John, he and Jane started holding hands and alize that LMU very easily could a semester, but it was in flirting as the alcohol flowed and as the night went on. have just seen the case and … just the middle of the semesEventually, the four went back to John’s friend’s girlter … I was almost suspended for like a year because it went said, all right, he’s expelled. Because prior to that, I was also friend’s apartment, which was next door. By that point, Jane halfway through one semester and halfway through the next. not doing well in school. I just basically wasn’t doing well in was tired and she had decided to go to sleep. John was okay And those terms were: I was legally not allowed on campus. every part of my life. They could have easily … said, ‘Okay, with this. “I was like, okay, fine, she’s pretty drunk,” he said.

I was not allowed communication with the girl. And there this guy’s out. He’s a nobody. He’s obviously, maybe, a detri“I’m going to let her go to sleep. I was fairly drunk.” would be a hearing in November [to decide] whether I would ment to our society.’ I don’t know. But no. They sat down and Then, the friend’s girlfriend came up to John. She told be reinstated or not. When I got reinstated, there were more they listened to me. And they made their choice and it was to him that Jane wanted him to sleep next to her in the room. terms. Like … I wasn’t allowed to live on campus. I had to at- suspend me when they very easily could have expelled me.

He went to the room and Jane let him in. He walked to the AS: Before this incident, how aware would you say tend two AA meetings a week. I still wasn’t allowed to talk bed, asked Jane if she was sure, and she said yes. John says to the girl. And I think there was some other probation I got you were in terms of what sexual assault is? What kind he didn’t know at the time that Jane was so drunk she was of education about sexual assault had you gotten? through the school, not through law enforcement. blacked out.

JD: Men who I thought committed sexual assault were AS: In applying to other universities, did you have to “So I got in the bed and things happened,” said John. “I either A, like perverts, or B, just kind of sociopaths or psyinclude information about this incident? started kissing her first and, you know, moving progressively JD: Not yet. If it does come up, I would explain it. I would chopaths or really terrible human beings that would try and to where drunk people go. And she kept claiming, ‘Just do it. focus on … where I went after it. You know, what I did in the dehumanize women in this horrible sexual power-controlJust do it. Just do it.’ And eventually, right when we started year off. How I grew from it and how I was able to confront it. ling way. I was thinking of the extreme. That was my image having intercourse, she screamed, ‘Don’t!’ Like, ‘Get out!’

AS: Tell us how you grew from it. What did you do of what sexual assault was. From my experience, I quickly She just screamed and I stopped and I freaked out and I learned it’s not just that. For me, it was a girl who was waiting during that year off. pulled out immediately.”

JD: What really helped was I until marriage and waiting until she found the right guy and John fell asleep after that. was already sober. So I started unfortunately, it was a night she got drunk and hooked up “Instead of blaming her for In the morning, he realdoing the 12 steps of Alcohol- with a guy and she was blacked out and had no idea what she ized that Jane was not next ics Anonymous. And there’s was saying and wasn’t able to give consent. And the guy took having me suspended, blaming to him; she had moved to an inventory process, where all that away from her. Something that she had held onto the couch in the night. He LMU for having me suspended... we go through all our resent- dearly. And ... I don’t really know if it’s about forcing yourself thought the morning was ments and all our fears and onto a woman or a woman forcing herself onto a man at this awkward, but he and his it’s like, well, what was my part?” sexual lives. I had a lot more re- point. I think it comes down to consent and if they are coherfriend went and had breaksentments toward myself, es- ently able to give consent. I think it comes down to that. fast like any morning after AS: Why did you want to share your story with the pecially in this situation. I was very shocked and it was very a drunken night. He did not think too much of the incident. hard for me to grasp how I could have done this. Even though Loyolan?

Later, John found out that Jane had apparently been a virJD: One, it’s not what my image of sexual assault was. It’s I had been honest, it was very difficult for me. You know, to gin. “That made me really uncomfortable,” he said. “That’s a A, talk about it. And B, it was difficult to just accept the fact not just that. And I would like to share that with any other huge moment for a woman, I feel, and you know, to be drunk that I had done this. And that was probably one of the hard- college student or really any other human being. It comes and to lose it was just … I don’t know. That should have just est things I had to do in this past year, to accept that I had down to consent and being able to say it. Two, I thought it been saved for a more special time rather than just a random done it. And so what I had to do was take a pen and paper and would be healthy for me. Because it is something I still carry drunken hookup.” around. And as much as I … I don’t really talk about it a lot. write out my part of the situation.

That night was one of John’s last runs with alcohol and Instead of blaming her for having me suspended, blaming Talking about anything, I’ve learned over the past year and a drugs. Shortly after, he entered into Alcoholics Anonymous LMU for having me suspended, blaming this and blaming half, is good. Because the longer I keep it inside, the longer I (AA), becoming sober thereafter. that, it’s like, well, what was my part? My part, I was drunk. obsess about it, the more I freak out about it, the more anxiIn mid-February, the LMU Department of Public Safety My part, I was selfish in the situation. I was afraid. And also I ety I get, until it’s pretty much controlling my life. I think just (DPS) called John. They told him there was a sexual assault did have sex with her. That was also my part. I had to let go of talking about it is helpful. You see sexual assault cases more charge against him. [my] attachment to anger, and let go of the attachment to the than ever in the news. The more we are educated about it, “I was completely shocked,” said John. “Because that’s disappointment in myself, the self-pity I had and the guilt the more we learn about it, the more we can learn from each something I don’t think I ever would have done. Sober, and the shame. And I also had to let go of my pride. Like I was other and our past experiences, the better we can probably I would never have taken advantage of a woman. I just saying earlier, I was an honors student, 3.9 in high school. find a solution to this issue. wouldn’t have done it.”

And I had to let go of my pride.

A student in the LMU Honors Program, John was worried And then I started working. I got a job actually at Coffee for his future. But in hearings with Judicial Affairs, he chose Bean. I worked there for about nine months. And now I work to be completely honest. at a detox center. So I work with people who’ve come pretty “They asked, ‘Do you think she gave consent?’” said John. “It was the first time in my life that I was every really truly honest. Because seeing all this information, something within me was just like, there’s no way she could have given consent to this whole thing. Even though she did claim, you know, ‘Just do it.’ There was no way after that amount of alcohol and being that drunk; she probably didn’t have any idea what she was saying.”

Judicial Affairs made its decision on March 19, 2014, suspending John from LMU for a semester. Though he was readmitted to LMU through an appeal process in November of that year, he has not yet returned to the University.

Ali Swenson | Loyolan

These are the hands of a former LMU student who committed a sexual assault while intoxicated in December 2013. The Department of Public Safety received a sexual assault charge after the incident, and he was suspended for a semester.

Report

laloyolan.com Page 5

It happens here: an open letter Chenelle Nº5 Chelsea Chenelle

Senior Editor

This article has been reprinted for this special report. It was first published on Nov. 8, 2014.

I

t was fall of my freshman year.

I finally felt like I had a grip on the sprawling landscape of San Francisco. I had bulked up my wardrobe with scarves and jackets, ready to take on the foreign weather. I carried with me the hopes of my family – I was the first to make it to college. I carried my own aspirations. Most importantly, I carried the possibility of a fresh start as a burgeoning young woman in the city of my dreams. But those hopes and that naïve sense of possibility were taken away from me the night I was raped. I was left empty, my humanity stripped from me, alone in a sea of skyscrapers.

But this is not about me. This is about you. This is about the victim, the survivor, the one who refused to remain silent. The person behind the LMU alert – the reason I am writing.

The reason I have to keep wiping my tears off my keyboard. The person who brought my reality back to me and forced me to confront it for the first time in four years.

I don’t know you and I likely never will. I don’t know your situation. But I do know that heavy feeling you get when you leave the comfort of your home. The complete uncertainty of your every movement.

Or worse, the fear of turning any corner, even in your own space, because you no longer know who or what could be creeping just around it. And I’m sorry that this has become part of your reality.

It haunted me for a while.

There will be people who tell you, “I understand.” But they don’t. No one can truly understand, especially when you cannot even understand it yourself. While you will come to

process it on your own terms and understand it as much as humanly possible, no one’s experiences are the same. I am not here to tell you what to feel. I am here to help you know that new feelings will arise, and while they have arrived out of an abnormal situation, the things you feel are as natural as night giving way to day.

I wish I could tell you things will be all right, but that’s a lie. Things

activities such as unwanted kissing, touching, intercourse or any other sexual act performed without consent.

PACT5, a national organization dedicated to sexual assault awareness and prevention, explains that consent must be both informed and mutual. In order to properly give consent, both parties must be completely aware of what is occurring and both must mutually agree to engage in the act. These two factors are essential to consent, and the absence of either one of them can constitute a sexual assault.

Analyzing the trends A research study conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice found that approximately one in five women are sexually assaulted during their college careers. Even though many other studies confirm this statistic, it is only an estimate. It could be skewed due to the high amount of sexual assaults that have gone unreported in the past.

Even though there is a different story behind each sexual assault, there are several patterns seen among the majority of cases.

The White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, which was established in January 2014, found that in 75 to 80 percent of sexual assault cases, the victim knows the person who committed the act. Many cases of sexual assault are considered to be “incapacitated assaults,” meaning that the sexual abuse occurs while the victim is drugged, affected by alcohol or has passed out.

“Colleges and universities need to face the facts about sexual assault,” Vice President Joe Biden said shortly after the release of the

report. “No more turning a blind eye or pretending it doesn’t exist.

We need to give victims the support they need, like a confidential place to go, and we need to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

In regards to the actual amount of sexual assaults that have been reported, the number continues to rise: In the last decade, forcible rapes on college campuses have increased by 49 percent, according to an analysis by the NPR Investigative Unit of Data from the Department of Education.

An article published by TIME magazine, titled “Report sees surge in sex crimes on college campuses,” noted, “The federal Department of Education report looked at assault data up to 2011, when 3,300 forcible sex offenses were reported on campuses across the U.S. That was up from 2,200 reported sex assaults a decade earlier.”

Even though there’s an increase in numbers, this does not necessarily mean that there have been more sexual assaults on college campuses. This increase may simply mean that more cases are actually being reported, a result of greater attention placed on the topic. The creation and implementation of rape prevention programs and sexual assault awareness campaigns have given people the opportunity to share their stories, thus loosening the stigma that has existed around sexual assault for so long.

Responding to the trends The establishment of the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault in 2014 was followed by the creation of the Not Alone campaign, which

survivors are unable to do: bring attention to the reality of rape, especially on a campus that likes to gloss over the harsher realities of college life. It doesn’t happen here.

We have an awareness program. It’s different. Bullshit.

We all have our reasons for not going to the police – access, ability, terror or persuasion – having to choose between safety and justice.

But somehow you were not fazed, and in an insane moment of courage, you decided to say it does happen here and it is not OK. Eighteen year-old me would not even refer to what had happened as rape. But today, she is overjoyed by your emotional endurance. An endurance I have yet to build up to.

Don’t walk alone at night. Don’t flash your cell phone. Don’t call attention to yourself. But we never did, did we? Tell us something we don’t already know. Prevention is important, but prevention isn’t a solution.

Things will get hard, then they’ll get better – then they will get worse than ever before. People will ask questions, even though the answers to those questions are none of their business. People will tell you this or that, whatever they think you should do next or how to get over it. Shutting out the never-ending cacophony of voices around you is impossible, so try to take it all with a grain of salt.

Yet, just when you think you’re at your wit’s end, and when all hope seems lost, remember this letter.

Remember that there is not only me, but a sea of people you will never know, with histories you will never uncover and stories that will never be told, all irrevocably affected by the actions you chose to take. No matter how the situation came to light, thank you for not standing down. We all stand alongside you, silently, endlessly shouting “enough is enough,” because you opened the door for our voices to be heard.

takes a stand against sexual assault. The campaign provides numerous resources for anyone affected by sexual assault, and provides information concerning crisis services, Title IX rights and how to file a complaint.

President Barack Obama expresses the primary idea behind the Not Alone campaign on the main page of the website.

“Perhaps most important, we need to keep saying to anyone out there who has ever been assaulted: You are not alone. We have your back. I’ve got your back,” he said.

Other nationwide programs and

campaigns include NOMORE and Where is Your Line? movements.

There has also been a widespread increase in the amount of programs implemented on college campuses. LMU in particular recently created LMU CARES in order to educate students about sexual and interpersonal misconduct and prevention.

Despite the growing trends in sexual assaults on college campuses, programs such as these are devoted to putting an end to sexual assault once and for all.

“But this is not about me. This is about you. This is about the victim, the survivor, the one who refused to remain silent.” aren’t all right and I cannot say when or if they ever will be. But don’t do what I did. Don’t fake a smile for your parents. Process it. Confront it.

Do whatever you can to know justice.

You’re a hero to me, and that’s not a sweeping claim meant to liven your day, although I hope it does.

You have done what so many other

This is the opinion of Chelsea Chenelle, a senior art history major from San Diego, California. Email comments to cchenelle@ theloyolan.com.

Sexual assault ‘a national cause for concern’ The government is taking steps to end sexual assault on college campuses.

Amanda Lopez Asst. News Editor @AmandaLo_

It’s no secret that sexual assault has been a widespread problem, specifically on college campuses.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, sexual assault is the most underreported crime committed on college campuses, which has sparked a national cause for concern.

While there is often a stigma associated with sexual assault, a greater focus on the statistics and numbers behind it all has provoked a nationwide conversation that demands an end to this problem.

Despite the fact that the reported number of sexual assaults continues to grow, research shows that substantial steps have been taken to mitigate the problem.

Programs implemented by the government and by universities specifically have aimed to alleviate the stigma associated with sexual assault.

Sexual assault defined The federal government has played a primary role in defining what exactly constitutes sexual assault. The U.S. Department of Justice finds that “sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.”

This includes but is not limited to

Graphic: Xian Wong | Loyolan

Graphic: Ellen Czinski | Loyolan

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ME .

HO UR OICE O V Y .

WS UR YO R NE U YO

laloyolan.com Page 6

Former LMU freshman passes away abroad Harrison Greenberg, a freshman at LMU in Fall 2014, passed away on April 6.

Ali Swenson Editor in Chief @AliSwenson

Nineteen-year-old Harrison Greenberg, a student enrolled at LMU this past fall but not currently attending the university, passed away on the night of Monday, April 6, while on vacation in Thailand, according to news reports.

According to The Beach

Reporter, Greenberg’s family issued a statement saying that Harrison “suffered a tragic and sudden choking accident” on a trip to Thailand during a four month internship in China.

This past fall, Greenberg was a freshman management major at LMU. The son of Skechers owners Wendy and Michael Greenberg, he was from Manhattan Beach.

Freshman entrepreneurship major Ryan Verbiest knew Greenberg as “the kind of kid who fed off everyone’s energy.”

“He was always so enthusiastic and doing something to amuse the people he was with,” said Verbiest. “He had this great appreciation for the little things in life that made

each moment with Harrison even better.”

Other students also remember Greenberg in a positive light.

Freshman finance major Abby, Zimmerman said Greenberg “always surrounded himself with kind, good-hearted people. He was very involved with his family business at an early age.” She added, “I admired his dedication and strong work ethic.”

Students who would like to seek counseling or confidential resources can reach Student Psychological Services at 310338-2868. The Loyolan will update this story online and provide information about any memorial arrangements as it becomes available.

8

BURNING QUESTIONS

This issue, News Intern Karis AddoThisQuaye issue, sits Managing down Editor Dan Raffety with junior sociology sits down with Head Lauryn De La major Coach Max Good, Torre, whoofplans head coach the to breakmen’s records in soccer LMU’s basketball team to talk about juggling. the upcoming season.

1

What made you interested in soccer juggling?

Here’s the connection I made: Passion comes from the root word suffering. We all have a passion; mine’s soccer. You have to be willing to undergo a few obstacles to be able to pursue what you love, and in the end it just makes you stronger. Heck, I’ve had four surgeries. So honestly, juggling was just a New Year’s resolution. I woke up January 2 and decided I was not going to be limited by my injuries and set out to break 500 juggles that month, and slowly that target number just kept growing...

2

What is your personal record, and have you broken any world records?

On March 11, I set my [personal record] at 2,163! Has this broken any world records... ask me in September.

3

How did you get involved with the L.A. Galaxy?

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I was just doing my daily routine of juggling at Playa Vista park.

A soccer coach saw me, and a few weeks later mentioned a small-sided game over in Manhattan. I went with the intent to just play some soccer with some of the pros; by the end of the event I gained the title “Queen Juggler” after beating three of the L.A. Galaxy pros, Baggio Husidic, Alan Gordon [and] A.J. DeLaGarza.

I was invited out to opening game and offered a job post-match.

Quite surreal!

UP BUILD 4

What do you currently do with the Galaxy?

I am a youth soccer coach! It varies each week; one day I could be running a camp, the next doing drills at [StubHub Center] with some elite athletes, or, like this week, I am running small-sided games and evaluating players for try-outs.

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Do you plan to try to break your record?

Every time you juggle, you have to carry the aspiration that “I’m going to break my record today.” It’s really just a mental game; the juggling part is easy. I am more so toying with new ambitions now, like juggling for a whole 52:19. That number is the length of Taylor Swift’s 1989 album! I also waged a bet with A.J. DeLaGarza six weeks ago, so we are finally rematching this week!

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Who is your favorite soccer player and why?

Robbie Rogers! I admire his strength; he’s the first openly gay male athlete to play in a pro-match in the U.S. Fun fact, we had the same knee and ankle injuries, ironically enough in the same year. I got to meet him earlier this year, and it was a pure fangirl moment for sure. We compared our surgeries down to the tee of how our docs repaired the bone. He also gave me some reassuring advice on how to mentally and physically undergo [the] rehabilitation process!

Do you have any other hidden talents?

7

I don’t see it as much of a talent, but a weird quirk. I haven’t met anyone else who could do it yet. I have paralysis in my bottom lip, so I can move it like a wave.

8

If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Adventurous, trustworthy, dreamer.

MORE QUESTIONS

Want to read more questions with Lauryn?

Check them out at laloyolan.com.

news

laloyolan.com Page 7

Campus addresses LMU approves special mental health stigma payout for Loyola Law Students hope to create a safe environment for expression and support of mental health.

Anna Sugiura

Asst. News Editor @anna_sugiura

Mental Health Dialogue Week made its debut for the first time in LMU history this week.

Presented by ActiveMinds and sponsored by ASLMU and LMU Student Housing, the week aims to help students start conversations about mental health and well-being.

The week kicked off on Monday, April 13, with a lecture

by Stan Collins, a mental health and suicide prevention expert.

With more than 14 years of professional experience, Collins informed the attendants of some of the warning signs of suicidal individuals while giving tips on how to talk to someone who might be contemplating suicide.

On Tuesday, April 14, “How are you feeling?” took place during Convo in Lawton Plaza.

A chalk wall invited students, staff and passersby to write how they “really” felt. The objective of this event was to promote the acceptance of one’s feelings by expressing them.

“This [week] is important because mental health problems are so prevalent in our society, and yet they are very rarely talked about comfortably,” said Ally Abbott, a sophomore psychology and biology double major. “The stigma around mental health makes it harder for people who need help to seek out the resources that are available to them.”

Also on Tuesday in Seaver Hall was the Mental Health Awareness Panel, where students and professors of the psychology department discussed how students could increase awareness on campus.

A video address from former Los Angeles Laker, NBA Champion and mental health awareness advocate Metta World Peace was also presented during the panel.

“The main goal of this week is to increase the visibility of mental health issues and address the stigma that surrounds them,” said Grace Wakelee-Lynch, a sophomore political science major. “We want to create space for an ongoing campus-wide conversation about mental health so that students who need help can access the resources they need and our community can be a supportive, non-judgmental place for all our students to succeed and find a home, regardless of their mental health.”

Mental Health Dialogue Week will continue today, with a Dinner and Dialogue event in Malone Student Center at 7:15 p.m. and on Thursday, April 16, with the Mental Health Resources Fair at Convo on St. Robert’s lawn.

“I believe that mental health is just as important as physical health, and that we all need to take care of our mental wellbeing,” said Emma Spiekerman, a sophomore psychology major and public relations chair of ActiveMinds. “Whether it’s figuring out ways to destress, talking with a therapist or seeking treatment for a more serious issue, we want students to feel as though they can reach out for help without experiencing stigma, fear or judgment.”

ActiveMinds is a non-profit organization that empowers students to speak openly about mental health in order to educate others and encourage them to seek help. By creating a chapter at LMU, they hope to raise awareness while providing students with resources regarding mental health and mental illness.

“If this week gets people to reach out and talk to SPS or seek outside help, then we’ve done our job,” said Spiekerman.

For more information on mental health, contact LMU’s Student Psychology Services at 310-338-2868. To learn more about how you can get involved with ActiveMinds, e-mail them at activemindslmu@gmail. com or visit their website at activeminds.org.

Loyola Law School restructures in order to continue attracting quality students.

Zaneta Pereira Senior Editor

@zanyzaneta

Law school enrollment has seen a dramatic decline in the last five years.

Since hitting its peak of 52,488 in 2010, enrollment at U.S. law schools has steadily fallen, plummeting to 37,924 this year, according to the American Bar Association. Law schools around the country have adopted various strategies in order to deal with this 27.7 percent decrease.

Loyola Law School (LLS) has seized this opportunity to restructure and intentionally get smaller. LMU has also approved an approximately $20 million special payout from the University’s endowment towards student scholarships at the law school.

Senior Vice President for Business and Finance Thomas O. Fleming, Jr. explained, “The special payout follows a definite plan. It’s not just ‘take $20 million and divide it by five.’ It’s an incremental thing, and it’s reviewed each year as part of the budget process. So while a payout has been approved for next fiscal year, the finance committee will be kept fully informed, and we won’t do the payout until toward the end of the fiscal year.”

Fleming also noted that, when thinking about how to deal with the situation of falling applications to the law school, it was clear that they “didn’t want to disadvantage the undergraduate education.

I know that some universities are basically asking their undergraduate tuitions to take care of their funding levels as they resize their law schools.”

LLS Dean Victor Gold stressed the specific value of funding student scholarships. “Because the applicant pool nationally has declined, there are two strategies you employ to keep the quality of your students high. One is to cut enrollment, so you don’t have as many students. The other is offer really good scholarships. It’s a very competitive market because every good law school is doing the same thing,” he said.

Gold also noted, “The other part to scholarships is mission,” and pointed to the specific scholarships LLS offers to those with a demonstrated interest in public interest law, as well as those from less represented ethnic groups.

In addition to the focus on

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scholarships, Gold explained, “Like most good law schools, we’re responding by getting smaller. We are reducing enrollment, and have been for a number of years, but the target which we’ll hit in about two years is a total enrollment cut of about 25 percent.”

Although Loyola Law School is not cutting research support for professors or faculty salaries, these are some strategies that are being employed by other law schools.

Instead, LLS is also gradually reducing the size of the faculty and staff in order to match the smaller student body.

Despite the low enrollment rates, University President David W. Burcham stressed the positive aspect of the situation. “Law schools around the country are sort of encountering a crisis, and crisis equals opportunity. And if there was ever a time to seize … to make an opportunity to invest in the law school, now is the time, because others that aren’t in the fortunate position that LMU is in aren’t going to be able to do it. So we think we will be able to really leverage this,”

“Our law school is very important to LMU. It brings a lot of favorable reputational assets to the University” Burcham said.

In terms of the impact the LMU endowment could have on the operations of the Westchester campus, both Burcham and Gold explained that the effects would be negligible. Fleming said, “The relative differential is relatively small in terms of a percentage of even raw dollars. When we did some modeling it was just a small number. ... Probably the swings in the markets would have a greater impact on the endowment payout,” while Burcham said the numbers presented to the Board and to him indicated that “the impact will be negligible and virtually imperceptible in terms of the payout from the endowment.”

Additionally, Fleming noted that no money given specifically by a donor would be going to this payout. Instead, the money would come from the accumulated

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earnings of the endowment over many years. The specific amount of the special payout will also be disclosed in the footnotes to the financial statements, which are public information and accessible to the public on the LMU website.

“Law Schools and Industry Show Signs of Life, Despite Forecasts of Doom,” a March 31 article in the New York Times business blog DealBook, noted, “The top global law firms ranked in that annual AmLaw 100 survey experienced a 4.3 percent increase in revenue in 2013 and a 5.4 percent increase in profit.

Bigger firms are hiring. Above the Law, a website for lawyers, recently reported a rising trend for lateral moves for lawyers in New York.”

At LLS, there is also hope in this year’s enrollment numbers. In fact, 71.9 percent of LLS’s Class of 2014 were in full-time, long-term jobs that required a J.D. or for which a J.D. was an advantage, as of the middle of March – roughly 10 months after graduation. This number is 11 points better than last year, which was 11 points better than the year before it. “These are big leaps in just two years,” Gold said.

Gold noted that the vast majority of Loyola Law School graduates were also employed, just not specifically as lawyers – some of them were working in business, attending graduate school, working part-time or had not yet passed the bar.

While the improving job market may certainly have an impact on these gains in employment, LLS has also instituted a variety of programs to help its graduates find jobs. Gold explained that “every member of the faculty has been asked to work their networks” to help find jobs for graduates, and that LLS has also started an incubator program, which helps graduates who want to start their own law practices get going, as well as a “bootcamp” program aimed at small and mid-sized law firms that has LLS professors prepare graduates to work in the specific area in which the firm works in.

Ultimately, Fleming noted that “law schools are important, and our law school is very important to LMU. It brings a lot of favorable reputational assets to the University, which benefits all of us.”

Ignatian’s Service ORGANIZATION’S ALL ORG TALENT NIGHT is this April 23rd, 2014 at 10pm in Ahmanson 1000. Tickets will be $5 before the event, and $7 at the door. All funds raised go directly to Nassan’s Place, a nonprofit centered out of New Jersey focused on providing care and support for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. For questions, please contact Tilly Rudolph at ig-

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Board Editorial Ali Swenson Editor in Chief

Michael Busse Executive Editor

Carly Barnhill Managing Editor

KiMi Robinson Managing Editor

Sarah Litz

Opinion Editor

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

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When it comes to sensitive topics, sound journalism is important LION

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s a student-run publication, it is our duty to inform you about your campus – no matter how difficult the subject matter may be. We work hard to make sure these stories are not only covered, but covered correctly.

When reporting on sensitive topics, we can learn from other journalists’ mistakes. In recent news, Rolling Stone magazine retracted the article “A Rape on Campus” by reporter Sabrina Erdely on an alleged gang rape at a University of Virginia fraternity. Shortly after the initial article was published last November, The Washington Post and many reporters began to question the events described in the article, as well as Erdely’s reporting methods. The article soon became a topic of national discussion regarding how to report on sexual assault allegations without harming survivors or others involved.

To figure out how the inaccurate article reached publication, Rolling Stone reached out to Steve Coll, dean of the Columbia School of Journalism (CSJ), to assemble a team to dissect what went wrong.

They assessed the article and Erdely’s reporting in “Rolling Stone and UVA: The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism Report.”

Will Dana, managing editor of Rolling Stone, explained in an editor’s note on the published report, “This report was painful reading, to me personally and to all of us at Rolling Stone. It is also, in its own way, a fascinating document – a piece of journalism ... about a failure of journalism.”

In this case, journalism did fail at every stage of the process. From the reporter to the fact-checkers and editors, each stage skipped necessary steps to produce a piece of sound journalism.

Though the original article was written with the intention of creating a dialogue about sexual assault on college campuses, it was instead met with backlash and has since been discredited.

The CSJ report explained, “Because questioning

a victim’s account can be traumatic, counselors have cautioned journalists to allow survivors some control over their own stories ... Yet it does survivors no good if reporters documenting their cases avoid rigorous practices of verification. That may only subject the victim to greater scrutiny and skepticism.”

Instead of uncovering a shocking story of an alleged rape on UVA’s campus and shedding light on the issue of sexual assault, Erdely’s article tarnished the reputation of a UVA fraternity and the university’s administration, and it may have since prevented victims from speaking out, in fear that they would be dismissed. All articles that cover sensitive subjects like sexual assault should be met with the utmost journalistic integrity to stand up for not only the survivor’s story but the stories of all survivors, while taking steps to make sure the story is factually accurate in its entirety.

This week, the Loyolan has focused many articles around the University’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is co-sponsored by LMU CARES and Jewish Student Life. The purpose of uncovering these stories is not to offend students, invoke fear or stir up controversy. Rather, we want to explain that sexual assault can happen anywhere, even here.

At the Loyolan, we have taken every precaution to cover these topics with journalistic integrity, allowing survivors to maintain control over their personal accounts while still verifying their stories.

After a story is written, our copy editors, section editors and executive board all review the articles, raise questions and concerns and check facts before the story moves to print.

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opinion

laloyolan.com Page 9

Clothesline Project at LMU starts dialogue For Christie’s Sake Christie Calucchia

O

Opinion Intern @LALoyolan

ftentimes, the most difficult subjects are the ones that need to be talked about the most. Sexual assault and violence are complex and multifaceted issues, and the voices of those affected need to be heard. One of the most important parts of creating change in how our culture understands and reacts to sexual violence is starting a dialogue and creating a space where victims feel supported and advocates are motivated to stand up for those who do not feel they can stand up for themselves.

As a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, LMU CARES and Jewish Student Life have encouraged students to participate in the Clothesline Project, which is a display of shirts decorated by students, faculty, advocates and survivors of sexual assault and other acts of gender-based violence. The project will be on display at Palm Walk until Friday, April 17, with the intent of raising awareness of sexual violence on campus.

The color of each decorated shirt is representative of a specific issue. For instance, white shirts are decorated for those who have died from violence, and purple shirts are decorated for those who have been

attacked because of their sexual orientation. Additional information about the symbolism of each shirt can be found at tables that are set up at Convo on Thursday this week; at the table, you can speak to volunteers and decorate a shirt.

Meghan Jonikas, a senior health and human sciences major and chair of the Clothesline Project, has a personal connection with the project. After learning that UCLA participated in the project in a talk given by a representative from the Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center, Jonikas was inspired to do more.

“I had a few friends who experienced sexual assault and rape, so seeing after the actual experiences happen, how people treated them, got me really motivated to do something because I just noticed how they were really victim-blamed,” Jonikas said.

It is unfortunate that it has become a social norm within our culture for people to deny victims who come forward and share such sensitive and heartbreaking experiences and not give them our full support. It is not uncommon for those brave enough to report assault to be blamed for what happened to them. This is why it is so important to create a safe environment where victims can feel protected and not fear the backlash that comes from reporting offenders and incidents.

LMU CARES is doing its part to combat the negative aftermath that can follow victims of sexual and gender-based violence by forcing

Talia Baugnon | Loyolan

Handmade shirts that line Palm Walk recount experiences of sexual assault and gender-based violence. our community to address the issue and start a dialogue concerning prevention and advocacy. The decorated shirts seen on LMU’s campus this week are impossible to miss as you walk along Palm Walk, and the personal stories found in each of the messages and illustrations are extremely impactful.

Claire Gower, a sophomore psychology major, saw the display on campus for the first time last year.

“It was one of the coolest things that I’ve ever seen on this campus,” she said. Gower’s sentiments are surely shared by many of us who will pass by this scene on our way to

class this week as well as the many visitors to LMU during this time of the year.

Jonikas remembered a high school student who walked by the clothesline during a campus tour and was moved by the display. The girl spoke with Jonikas and her volunteers and made a shirt reflecting her own experience with rape, which Jonikas said was “really powerful.” Jonikas remembered the visitor’s reaction: “She was like, ‘Wow I can’t believe this school is doing this. This is really cool.’”

Reactions like this from visiting high schoolers shows why events like this are so important. The connection and support felt by this one student means so much and proves that talking about these intense issues can make a difference.

According to Jonikas, the number of people who have reported assault has increased nationwide in this past year, with many of these reports coming from people who

had experiences in the past and recently decided to come forward because they have just now begun to feel that they are really supported on campus.

The Clothesline Project is a positive and welcomed response to the increasingly prevalent issue of sexual and gender-based violence, especially on a college campus. This month dedicated to awareness of the issue is only the beginning of a movement towards a culture more focused on the health and safety of victims of abuse, instead of a culture that perpetuates the blame of victims. Creating a dialogue is the first step in what should be a continuing effort by students, authorities, victims and community members everywhere.

This is the opinion of Christie Calucchia, a sophomore humanities major from Las Vegas, NV. Tweet comments to @LoyolanOpinon, or email slitz@theloyolan.com.

Want to write for

Opinion?

Contact Opinion Editor Sarah Litz at

slitz@theloyolan.com

opinion

laloyolan.com

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5 things seniors must do before graduating D = mc2 Devin Feldman Senior Editor @d_fman

W

e have, like, three weeks left, seniors. And while some might be polishing thesis projects, starting thesis projects or not having thesis projects, others will be spending their time simply enjoying their final moments on the Bluff. To best enjoy your last days here before it’s weird that you’re still around for some reason, I recommend taking part in as many of these five activities as possible: 5. Meet President Burcham and shake his hand: Not only is he going to be moving on from his position as president of LMU, but you will also be moving on as a student at LMU. So basically, this is your last time to look President Burcham in the eye while giving him a firm, but not too firm, handshake. I mean, you can shake his hand after this, but then he’ll just be David.

4. Go to a basketball game… oh, wait: Basketball season is over? Great, totally missed this one. I guess that leaves baseball, softball and maybe a few other sports. Maybe go to a game, maybe don’t; maybe pretend like you have school spirit; maybe continue on with your loserly, sports-less life.

3. Eat at the Lair one more

Flickr Creative Commons

Seniors, now is the time to seize every opportunity to complete your LMU bucket list before the big day comes around: graduation. time: A few motivational factors exist which inspire this one. First, nostalgia and stuff is always good.

Maybe grab a couple of friends and drop $10 on entrance to community table like back in the good ol’ days. You can bask in the shimmering glow of that one light that’s for some reason above a moving fan while you eat food that really isn’t as bad as everyone likes to pretend it is. Second, you can gamble on food poisoning which will surely get you out of that stupid night class. If you don’t feel like going to the Lair, consider going to Burns Rec and not re-

racking any of your weights. Ahh, just like old times.

2. Ride your bike (or skate, scooter or blade) in the dismount zone: I’m not even sure if the dismount zones are actively being patrolled now that Public Safety doesn’t have their sorta-Segways to get them around. All the better. Do what you’ve wanted to do your entire time here and just freakin’ cruise through on your way from U-Hall to St. Rob’s. Play the whole, “But please, officer, I’m a senior.

I’m graduating soon!” if you get caught. And if you don’t get

caught, just enjoy the convenience and joy derived from cutting through the middle of campus on some sort of wheeled contraption.

I recommend blading through campus, honestly. Not because it’s faster or more convenient, but because I just want to blade.

1. Do not, I repeat do not, slide down the letters: I would very much not recommend you honor the age-old tradition of sliding down LMU’s Bluff letters.

It’s very dangerous, harmful to the white paint and really not fun.

Also it’s against the rules, and “breaking the rules is bad.” Not

to mention, this whole tradition started back when students were served food on lunch trays, so said trays were used as vehicles. We no longer have these trays, so I have to recommend you don’t use a couple thick pieces of cardboard, maybe an old skateboard deck or go bareback as you plummet into relatively dense brush.

This is the opinion of Devin Feldman, a senior communication studies major from Aurora, Oregon. Tweet comments to @LoyolanOpinon, or email dfeldman@theloyolan.com.

opinion

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Being off my phone left me more than all alone Litz Blitz Sarah Litz

Opinion Editor @SarahLitz93

I

don’t like to admit to failure, but there’s no sense in hiding it – I failed.

From April 6 to April 10, I challenged myself to not check my phone while on campus. That meant no messaging during class, no texting while walking to class and certainly no checking social media throughout the day. I tried to live the social life of a normal college student, but instead of feeling socially fulfilled, I felt more isolated than ever from my peers and was pushed far out of my comfort zone, all because I wasn’t on my phone.

Monday and Tuesday were the hardest days. I couldn’t stand not having a distraction or something to do between classes.

Basically, I ended up forfeiting my own experiment and had to look at my phone. I had to see who texted me and if there were no texts, I had to check my email or Facebook. I just couldn’t say “no” to my phone, and my phone won those days.

On Wednesday, I put my phone on airplane mode so that I wouldn’t receive any text or social media notifications.

Honestly, I’m not sure what was worse ­­ – not knowing if I was missing something or thinking that nobody was talking to me. Either way, I knew that something had to change with my phone habits.

With a little will power and constant reminders, on Friday I finally won. I left my phone at the bottom of my bag and kept it there. I told myself to walk to class with dignity, to smile at the people I happened to briefly make eye contact with and to go ahead and strike up a conversation.

But I didn’t make eye contact with anyone, because they were all on their phones. I didn’t smile at anyone because I couldn’t make eye contact. I didn’t talk to anyone because there was no one to talk to.

In this tech-centric world that we’ve constructed, we are constantly connected and constantly in each other’s lives – so connected that without a cell phone in front of me, I couldn’t

Flickr Creative Commons

The more time that you spend on your phone simply means less time you spend in the real world with real people and real experiences. connect to the people physically around me. While technology has created a new way to communicate and make the world much smaller, my world has become socially driven by a technological device in my hand.

According to Harlan Cohen and Cynthia Jenkins, authors of “The Naked Roommate’s First Year Survival Workbook: The Ultimate Tools for a College Experience with More Fun, Less Stress, and Top Success,” technology creates a fifth wall.

Cohen and Jenkins state, “The Internet, cell phones, IM, video games and electronic devices you plug in or charge create what is known as the fifth wall of technology. Physically you might be on campus, but mentally and emotionally you’re somewhere else.”

That’s where I’ve been – physically on campus and walking to classes, but mentally in the world of my cell phone to ensure that I am “connected” to my friends. In this process, I’m not communicating with my real friends right in front of me.

Jordan Walker, a freshman film and television production major, said, “I browse my phone to make myself more connected to people through Facebook because I have nothing else to do. I feel isolated from the physical social surroundings around me.”

Junior English major Nancy Le

explained, “I try not to be on my phone when I’m at school, just so I’m more present in the moment and what’s occurring around me.

Sometimes it’s awkward though, especially if I’m walking alone.”

Our cell phones have defeated us as a generation. According to Matt Swayne of Penn State News, “When [college students] receive texts, the temptation to check their texts and send messages back is much greater than the urge to pay attention to their present situation.”

As a generation, we have failed.

The greatest technology cannot be the replacement for the real world right in front of us. And my week of limited technological interaction is only one story.

Looking around campus, we have all succumbed to the power of this fifth wall of technology where we are becoming unable to communicate in the present.

This is not a healthy way to live.

I’m not going to accept my initial failure. Each week, I’m going to work on spending less time on my phone and more time in the real world. It’s great

to be connected, but who knows what opportunities I’ve missed because I’ve been too worried about the virtual world on my phone. So next time you see me awkwardly walking in U-Hall completely out of my comfort zone, don’t be afraid to join me in the real world, because trust me – you won’t be alone.

This is the opinion of Sarah Litz, a junior English major from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Tweet comments to @LoyolanOpinion, or email comments to slitz@theloyolan.com.

MINOR IN CATHOLIC STUDIES Complete your core requirements. Deepen your faith.

. . . is an academic, interdisciplinary minor program designed to expose students to the study of the intellectual, social, cultural, and spiritual expressions of Catholicism. . . . is grounded in Vatican II’s discussion of the Church in the modern world, with its focus on human culture, dignity, and justice. . . . welcomes students and professors from any religious background and/or faith commitment and viewpoint. . . . offers opportunities to study abroad in Europe and Latin America, as well as scholarships for minors.



CATH 1010.01, .02: New Testament Contexts – Prof. Judy Siker



CATH 1020.01, .02: American Catholicism – Prof.

Paul Monson



CATH 1060.01, .02: God and the Good: An Introduction to Christian Ethics – Prof. Nicholas Brown



CATH 1500.01, .02: World Religions in Los Angeles – Prof. Arik Greenberg



CATH 1998.01: World History to 1500 – Prof.

Anthony Perron



CATH 1998.02: Philosophical Inquiry – Prof. Scott Cameron



CATH 3021.01: History of Christianity from the Middle Ages to the Present – Prof. Charlotte Radler

 CATH 3100.01: Ethics – Prof. Elizabeth Murray  CATH 3231.01: Catholicism After Vatican II – Prof. Paul Monson  CATH 3232.01, .02: U.S. Latina Theology – Prof.

Cecilia González-Andrieu  CATH 3240.01: Water, Word, Wine – Fr. Marc Reeves  CATH 3998.01: Ethics for Service Organizations – Prof. Gretchen Gusich  CATH 3998.02: The Crusades – Prof. Anthony Perron  CATH 4900.01: Seminar in Catholic Studies – Prof.

Barbara Rico  CATH 4998.01: Pacifism and Peace Movements – Fr. Thomas Buckley

: Study abroad in Peru as part of CATH 3998: Faith and Business: An Intercultural Approach. Contact us for more details about this exciting opportunity!

For more information on the Catholic Studies minor, please contact Interim Director Barbara Rico at brico@lmu.edu or 310-338-2844, or visit our website at bellarmine.lmu.edu/catholicstudies

opinion

laloyolan.com Page 12

4 Google searches to get your life together Keepin’ up with Jones Jackie Jones

Asst. Opinion Editor @jackieeejonesss

“S

o what do you plan to do after graduation?” is a question every college student has been asked at some point in their college career.

Whether you are an undecided freshman or a jobless senior, you do your best to change the subject when a distant relative asks you about your life plans. Because the question is unavoidable, there comes a point when we resort to the world’s greatest search engine to answer this question for us. Here are a couple of different phrases you may enter in the search box that may or may not help you get your life together.

4. “Internships in Los Angeles”: It’s that time during your college career when some lame summer job at a restaurant or in retail does nothing for your resume. You’ve decided to begin looking for internships that may help you find your future career.

Don’t know what you’re doing once you graduate? Well, your internship search and hopeful acceptance will help in deciding whether you love something or hate it.

3. “How to write a cover letter”: Now that you have found internships to apply for, you

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With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, it’s time to start figuring out what to do this summer in the real world. realize that they all demand cover letters. Too bad you have no idea what a cover letter is or how to write one. Then, another Google search begins, and once you figure out how to write one, you use one general template and only change the name of the companies and the positions for each letter. You then wonder why you never hear any responses.

2. “Grad schools” or “MBA programs”: Remember when it was such an accomplishment to receive your LMU acceptance

letter and know that you were going to college? Well, now, our bachelor’s degree is basically just another high school diploma, and it seems the only people who are taken seriously in the working world are those with master’s degrees. Unfortunately, this forces you to Google search graduate programs and question even further what to do with your life.

1. “Which careers can ____ majors go into”: At this point, you just want to find a good

enough answer for what you plan to do after graduation when that distant relative or any friend from home randomly runs into you. The nice part about your undergraduate degree is that your major really does not have to relate too closely with your career.

But because everyone assumes all history majors will be teachers and all biology majors will be doctors, try to find other routes people with your major have taken.

The truth is most people don’t know what they’re doing after they

graduate. So the next time you are asked this annoying question, just politely answer how you plan on exploring different options with the classes you take and the jobs and internships you experience so you can better find out what you are passionate about. You’re a college student — if you have your life together at this point, are you really experiencing the challenges college life has to offer?

This is the opinion of Jackie Jones, a junior English major from La Habra, California.

Email comments to slitz@theloyolan.com.

"Raised in Captivity"

written by Nicky Silver & directed by Kayla Kaufman opens on April 16!

The show runs April 16-19, 23-25 at 8:00pm in Del Rey Theatre!

The cast includes Dylan Froom, Cameron Hawkins, H Maddie Maloon, Cameron Tagge, and KatieLiz Robbins RSVP to our Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1544764432451370/ Link to tickets: http://bit.ly/1rrmWa0

Del Rey Players: call 310.338.5466 for your $5 tickets!

Joseph B. Hellige Executive Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs Cordially invites the LMU Community to join him in honoring the Class of 2015 for their academic achievements, leadership, and service to the university and community at the

Academic Awards Convocation Thursday, April 16, 2015 Ceremony at 3:00pm Sacred Heart Chapel

A reception celebrating our students will follow in the Sculpture Garden.

laloyolan.com Page 14

FISHBLUB

L.A. Addiction

By Mikey Barreto, staff cartoonist

By Madison Brown, staff cartoonist

Check out Loyolan Cartoons online, now via Tapastic! Go to tapastic.com/cartoons to catch up on your favorites!

life+arts

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“The Hunting Ground” sparks campus dialogue The Maria Problem Maria Nelson

Asst. Life+Arts Editor

“I

@mnnelson_

thought if I told them they would take action, but the only action they took was against me.”

This one statement can be used to describe the plight of university students who were victims of sexual assault on their college campuses. These stories are profiled in the 2015 documentary “The Hunting Ground,” which will be screened at U-Hall 1000 at 7 p.m. tomorrow as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The critically-acclaimed film unflinchingly portrays the national epidemic of sexual assault on college campuses and the widespread institutional cover-ups of these crimes. Many women depicted in the film were shamed into silence by the very officials who were designated to protect them.

“I went to the Dean of Students office, and she said, ‘I just want to make sure that you won’t talk to anyone about this,’” reveals one Harvard graduate in the film’s trailer. “The Hunting Ground” renews the voices of these silenced victims.

The film was created by director Kirby Dick and producer Amy Ziering, the duo behind the 2012 film “The Invisible War,” a documentary exposing the shockingly similar sexual assault coverups in the United States military.

They said that “The Hunting Ground” arose from the reactions of college students following screenings of “The Invisible War.” “Every time we showed ‘[The] Invisible War’ on campuses, somebody would come up to us and say, ‘actually, this happened to me here,’” Ziering stated during a recent interview on Good Morning America.

Infuriating statistics are exposed throughout the film, including the fact that many college-aged offenders face little to no repercussions for their actions, leaving them free to roam campus and assault again. According to the film, less than 8 percent of male students commit over 90 percent of on-campus sexual assaults and are likely to be repeat offenders.

“It’s just like in the military; these crimes are committed by a small percentage of men, [though] most men are not rapists … it’s a small percentage of men who are committing these crimes, and committing them over and over. So repeat offenders are really the core of this problem,” Dick said in a Democracy Now! interview.

One of the most disturbing revelations in the documentary is that many of these assaults are not isolated incidents — the film argues that there is no college, no matter the level of prestige, that is adequately protecting its students from rape and sexual assault. From UC Berkeley to Yale, the problem of rape culture and victim shaming is pervasive.

Though the topic is heavy and can seem insurmountable, “The Hunting Ground” does more than state the problem; it works to open a conversation around sexual assault on cam-

puses everywhere. The efforts of victims-turned-activists Andrea Pino and Annie Clark are documented by the film as the women tour college campuses across the country. They spread the word about students’ rights under Title IX, a civil rights law passed in 1972 asserting that “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

This law can be a tool for sexual assault victims to fight against the institutions that cover up the crimes committed against them Title IX supports the agument that when a student feels unsafe on campus, a rigorous course of study cannot be successfully completed. Similar groups like Know Your IX and End Rape on Campus are working to help victims understand their rights and take action against neglectful campus administrations.

Because of efforts like “The Hunting Ground,” progress is being made with regard to the issue of sexual assault on campus. Now, up to 95 schools are currently under investigation by the Department of Education for sexual assault-related Title IX violations.

These investigations are proof that as this issue gains media attention, more dialogue will occur and hopefully inspire justice. “I think it’s awesome that people are spreading awareness about the issue [on campus],” sophomore biology major Will Fuchs said. “I’ve seen a lot of activity about it on social media.”

Thankfully, the issue of campus sexual assault seems to be widely addressed at LMU. “We are screening [the film] the first week it’s available,” said Tracy Tiemeier, associate professor of theological studies and faculty co-chair on the Committee on the Status of Women.

“Our real hope is to facilitate a cross-campus discussion about how the broader issue of campus sexual assault is important for LMU,” Tiemeier continued.

The screening is a joint effort between women’s studies and theological studies with oversight by the Committee on the Status of Women. Following the film, there will be a panel discussion, which will include a student, a faculty member, a staff member from LGBT student services and Briana Maturi, who oversees LMU CARES. More information on the screening will be available as it is organized.

The most important takeaway from “The Hunting Ground” is that regardless of who you are or what you have experienced, you have the right to a safe education, no matter what.

This film is a call to action.

Ending sexual assault on campuses is up to all of us — students, faculty, families, presidents, administrators trustees — and everyone has a part in the solution to eliminating campus rape culture.

This is the opinion of Maria Nelson, a junior communications studies major from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Tweet comments to @ LALoyolan or email mnelson@theloyolan. com.

Flickr Creative Commons

“The Hunting Ground” portrays the mistreatment of sexual assault on college campuses. LMU is hosting a screening of the film on Thursday, April 16 at University Hall 1000 at 7 p.m. as a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

life+arts

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Mane Entertainment brings big names to LMU The Lowdoon Nicole Muldoon Life+Arts Intern @LoyolanArts

M

ane Entertainment is the primary source of the biggest events on campus, including celebrity Q&As, musical performances and guest speakers.

But in the next few weeks, LMU’s best party planners are stepping it up big time.

The dramatic and strangely engrossing “The Bachelor” reality series is a favorite guilty pleasure of many, including myself. Andi Dorfman, star of season 10 of “The Bachelorette,” will be sharing bits and pieces of her reality on Thursday, April 16, at 8:30 p.m. when she visits the Living Room for a Q&A session. Students will have the opportunity to ask the television personality any burning questions lingering from her stint on “The Bachelor,” from her time as “The Bachelorette” or from the recent announcement of her split from ex-fiancé and “The Bachelorette” contestant Josh Murray.

Senior events manager for Mane Entertainment Sara Baczewski, a senior communication studies major, says students should expect to find out a lot about Dorfman.

“We are hoping to learn about ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The Bachelorette’ and to get the full story behind her experience on the show,”

Baczewski said. “We are also hoping to learn about how her life has changed since she has been on the show, and how her attitude towards love has changed.”

Freshman business marketing major Olivia Longpre, an avid watcher of Dorfman’s season of “The Bachelorette,” said, “I’m so excited to see Andi. I loved following her journey on the bachelor and the bachelorette, and I have so many questions to ask her” The other big name coming to campus is Los Angeles-based artist Andy Grammer, who will perform in the Living Room on Tuesday, April 28, at 8:30 p.m. Grammer’s career began not too far from LMU’s campus on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, where he serenaded shoppers as a street performer hoping to be discovered.

Baczewski is expecting Grammer to deliver an amazing performance.

“Grammer is going to be doing a solo acoustic show, where he plays his guitar and uses a loop pedal to layer over himself,” Baczewski said.

“I’m super excited to see him perform live.”

Grammer is sure to inspire students when he performs. A local who made it big, he embodies the notion that hard work and talent can take you great places. Junior psychology major Elijah Humphrey is one those inspired by Grammer.

“I got really excited [when I heard Grammer was performing],” Humphrey said. “His song ‘Keep Your Head Up’ was actually my favorite song for a little while

Flickr Creative Commons

Former “Bachelorette” star Andi Dorfman will be visiting the Living Room for a Q&A event on Thursday, April 16.

Singer-songwriter Andy Grammer will also be gracing the Living Room stage this on Tuesday, April 28. and got me through a rough patch in high school. So hearing he was coming reminded me of what that song meant to me and how happy it made me feel.”

Uakea Jose, a freshman psychology and communication studies double major who will be acting as a manager for Mane Entertainment in the upcoming semester, described what Mane goes through

to nab big names like Dorfman and Grammer.

“Our senior events manager reaches out to these performers professionally so that we can bring them in to entertain our students,” Jose said.

After attending the exciting Andi Dorfman and Andy Grammar events during the next couple of weeks, be sure to thank one of your

friendly neighborhood Mane Entertainment employees for always providing such wonderful study breaks.

This is the opinion of Nicole Muldoon, a freshman psychology major from Highland, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email kmangan@ theloyolan.com.

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English professor writes book of healing poetry Main Mang Kelsey Mangan Life+Arts Editor @kmaaaan_

T

he topics of yoga, spirituality and illness intermingle in LMU English professor Lucy Wilson’s new book of poetry, “Wind on Water: Poems on Healing Arts and Songs of Love.”

The collection of poems loosely focuses on coping with anger, love and the environment.

Wilson is an experienced professor in both modern literature and poetry writing at LMU and wrote a book on female Caribbean writers. However, “Wind on Water” is her first full book of poems.

“I was never a poet. That’s why this is so weird,” Wilson said.

“This is a nice blossoming.”

The process of writing the book was quite natural for Wilson; she spoke of it being an easy start.

“One day as I was doing yoga ... I just had this indescribable urge to write a poem. I got a pen

and a paper and I sat back down on my yoga mat and I wrote the first poem in the book. It was like pulling a plug out, and all of this poetry started coming out of me,” said Wilson.

Wilson occasionally writes of inspirational people in her poems, including LMU’s own Bob and Helen Singleton, an LMU associate professor in economics and a graduate school alumna, respectively. The pair risked their lives as Freedom Riders over 50 years ago, and Wilson writes about them as exceptional individuals who put themselves in danger for the greater good.

Anyone who has taken an English class with Wilson knows that she’s never been one to shy away from difficult topics. She challenges students to confront things that make them uncomfortable through poetry. Wilson challenges herself to do the same, as one of the things that she writes about is her longtime struggle with Parkinson’s disease.

Junior English major Mary Densmore spoke of Wilson’s open attitude, saying, “She read us a poem she wrote about Par-

Mo Haley | Loyolan

English Professor Lucy Wilson wrote a poem with her LMU students and other professors in mind. Her book of poetry is currently on sale at LMU. kinson’s called ‘Monster Mash’ in class last year. It was so well written; it’s cool to see that she handles it in such a great way.

I’m excited to see what she has to write about in all different topics in her new book.”

Wilson has a very spiritual outlook on life. She studies aspects of many different religions, such as Taoism and Buddhism,

and cites ancient texts like the “Tao Te Ching” as her creative inspiration.

“Since I got sick, I started taking an interest in things more spiritual and examining my behavior in different contexts: as teacher, as friend, as wife. It’s changed me,” said Wilson.

Junior English major Noah Gardner spoke of Wilson’s posi-

tive influence on the LMU community, saying, “I really like Wilson as a professor. I had a great intro to poetry class where she gave us a lot of time to work on our poems and share with everyone. I took like three more classes after that. I’m glad she published her poems. She’s always eager to share with her students and now she can share her poetry with everyone else.”

Wilson hopes that her poems — from those about love to those about illness — can positively influence the lives of students at LMU and beyond.

“Everything seems to have changed a bit with this little gift I’ve got. I feel like I have to share it,” Wilson said. “If I could write something that could change someone’s outlook in a positive way, that would be the best.”

“Wind on Water: Poems on Healing Arts and Songs of Love” is now on sale at the LMU Bookstore.

This is the opinion of Kelsey Mangan, a junior English major from San Jose, California. Tweet comments to @kmaaaan_ or email kmangan@theloyolan.com.

Do Something hosts second benefit concert Concert’s proceeds will benefit young cancer patients.

Emma Spiekerman Staff Writer @LALoyolan

LMU’s Do Something club will host its second annual People for Peace benefit concert this Saturday, April 18, at Roski Dining Room at 5:30 p.m. The concert will feature student performers, including a DJ and multiple singers. All of the funds raised from the event will be donated to the Michael Hoefflin Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that provides emotional and financial support to childhood

cancer patients and their families in the Santa Clarita valley.

The Do Something club chose the Michael Hoefflin Foundation as the recipient of their fundraiser when Lauren Togneri, a junior civil engineering major and an executive board member of Do Something, suggested it to the club.

“They personally supported my family in 2007 and have always been a foundation I wanted to give back to. When we were selecting a foundation, it was the first to come to my mind. As an executive board we agreed it was a great foundation for the benefit concert,” said Togneri.

The Michael Hoefflin Foundation provides ‘Kare Kits’ to newly diagnosed patients, which in-

clude blankets as well as grocery and gas cards to help families in their times of need. The foundation also organizes family outings throughout the year to allow for fun distractions.

“This organization stood out to us because of the work that it does to make the lives of the families comfortable during a difficult period in their lives,” said Nazeli Ekimyan, a junior English major who serves as president of the club.

“I believe that it’s important for LMU students to pay attention to the topic of cancer because it hits close to home for so many people. Millions of people are diagnosed with some sort of cancer each and every day, and the diagnosis can take a toll on

everyone in their lives,” said Ekimyan.

Oftentimes, people are completely unaware about the difficulty of opening up to peers when they are diagnosed. “We are all a part of this fast-paced adult lifestyle, but if we just make it a mission to knowingly do one good thing each week, the world will be a happier place,” said Lauryn De La Torre, a sophomore sociology major who serves as the service coordinator for Do Something. “Whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist, there’s no negative. You will get to hear some great music by your own LMU colleagues and support a great cause!”

Throughout the academic year, Do Something has run several

drives on campus to collect jeans and socks for homeless shelters and individuals in need and has donated blankets and towels to animal shelters.

The club is dedicated to encouraging young adults to create awareness and fight for issues that are in need of attention, and focuses on causes that the individual members care about the most.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the event is open to both LMU and non-LMU students.

Anyone interested in performing can contact lmudosomething@ gmail.com. Tickets are $8 presale or $10 at the door, with all proceeds going to the Michael Hoefflin Foundation.

Doers Do CSULB Summer Sessions 2015

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California State University, Long Beach College of Continuing and Professional Education SS_LMU2v_Ad2_S15.indd 1

Lorinda Owens

3/16/15 9:24 AM

life+arts Social justice redefined for all age groups laloyolan.com Page 18

Book publishing company founded by LMU student, Delta Books, takes on social justice issues through art with “Tommy the Dinosaur. “ Emma Spiekerman Staff Writer @LALoyolan

There’s a new face of social justice at LMU, and its character is cuter than Barney and more fun than the “Land Before Time.”

His name is Tommy the Dinosaur, and he’s the main character of a children’s book series from the new publishing company founded on campus named Delta Books.

Delta Books is the brainchild of John Ruffaine, a senior business entrepreneurship major, and the result of a project for his entrepreneurship classes. Delta, a Greek letter which means change, aims “to promote awareness for social justice issues around the world” and “to inspire and create social change” for children ages three to eight and their parents, Ruffaine explained.

The books cover a range of relevant issues, and the team plans to create multiple books on several topics.

“We started with homelessness. We’re moving to gender equality and environmental injustices — there’s so many different issues you can write about,” said Christine Salero, a senior marketing major and the co-marketing director of Delta Books. Every book includes a letter to parents and discussion

questions following the story.

Each aspect and detail of Delta Books has been thoughtfully chosen to be inclusive and socially conscious. Taylor Litonjua, a senior studio arts major and the art director for Delta Books, explained, “We decided to use animals as our characters so that when the various social justice issues are presented, race would not be the focus of the issue. The colors we choose for all of the characters and their outfits are very intentional.”

In their first completed book, “Tommy the Dinosaur and the Invisible Walrus,” Tommy visits the park and finds a walrus that only he can see, but no one acknowledges this walrus. It is soon made clear that the walrus is homeless. Tommy decides to make him a sandwich, and the walrus thanks him for the meal, and even more importantly, for the simple recognition.

Recently the team read the book to kindergarteners from Delores Mission Elementary.

“From the second page, when you’re introduced to Benny the homeless Walrus, they shouted out, ‘Oh he’s homeless!’ So they went along with the story, and they understood everything,” Salero said. She hopes to continue with the project, testing to see how children from different areas react to the stories.

The idea for the company formed when Ruffaine combined his “passions for not only social justice but business and art” to begin the conversation between parents and kids about these complex subjects. Through “fun and engaging stories,” Ruffaine believes Delta Books “can make

via Delta Books

Delta Books’ “Tommy the Dinosaur” makes social justice issues approachable for younger generations. these issues really understandable for children, because they are the ones who are going to be leading the next generation.”

In response to parents who are worried about educating their children about social justice at such a young age, Ruffaine said, “There’s this mentality that we can’t talk to our children about

these issues. Because when you get down to the root of things these are just people who are affected by these issues.”

During a launch party at Roski Dining Room on Wednesday, April 29, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Delta Books will begin its Kickstarter campaign with food, drinks, music, games and enter-

tainment.

If you’d like to support and get updates from Delta Books, like “Tommy the Dinosaur” on Facebook and follow Delta_Books on Instagram. There is a Twitter account for kids called @TommyTheDino and one for parents called @delta4parents.

life+arts

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Update your playlist with these five picks The LowDoon Nicole Muldoon Life+Arts Intern

From singles to soundtracks, some great artists have recently released amazing tracks just in time for our countdown to summer. Here are five songs, in no particular order, that’ll help you get through this week.

5. Passion Pit – “Where the Sky Hangs” I have loved singer-songwriter Michael Angelakos’ band Passion Pit since my freshman year of high school. I initially grew to like the band for its upbeat synthpop melodies — ­ as well as, admittedly, Angelakos’ adorable good looks.

But the beautiful lyrics are what made me absolutely fall in love with the band. Each word is intertwined with plenty of buzzing synth and ringing bells.

The group recently released the single “Where the Sky Hangs” in anticipation of their new album, “Kindred.” The track features a pop/R&B melody and completely entrancing bass lines, showcasing the growth of Angelakos’ songwriting abilities. “Where the Sky Hangs” made me fall in love with Passion Pit all over again.

high-pitched voice beautifully carrying the song’s melody. The song is a cute summer anthem that is perfect for those upcoming summer break road trips that we’re all looking forward to.

3. Jamie xx – “Loud Places (ft.

Romy)” Jamie xx — producer and member of English indie pop band The xx ­­ — collaborated with fellow band member Romy Madley Croft for his side project’s newest single. Though the track features The xx’s signature dreamily hypnotic atmosphere, the singalong chorus and unique sound effects — including a surprisingly catchy loop of silverware clanging against a glass — definitely make the soulful song sound distinct from past releases from The xx.

2. Tame Impala – “’Cause I’m a Man”

4. Grimes, Bleachers – “Entropy”

Kevin Parker’s psychedelic rock group just released the first single from their upcoming album, “Currents,” proving that their new music will be as fuzzy, dreamy and reminiscent of the 1970s as ever. The band’s newest release sounds like classic psychedelic Tame Impala, with a bit of ‘70s funk mixed in. Parker’s mesmerizing voice, the hypnotic guitars and the bluesy bass all combine to create a soothing and spellbinding track. The track is so relaxing and carefree that it almost makes me forget that finals week is coming up fast.

Wonderfully eccentric R&B/ synthpop artist Grimes teamed up with Jack Antonoff’s indie pop band Bleachers to collaborate on a quirky, new pop song for an episode of the HBO show “Girls.”

The track features Bleachers’ signature indie pop instrumentals, with Grimes’ entrancing,

1. Best Coast – “Heaven Sent”1 If anything will get you pumped for summer, it’s Best Coast. The California surf-rock duo, led by the effortlessly cool Bethany Cosentino, has gained popularity for music that’s perfect for the beach.

elevate YOUR IDEA

With only three more weeks left in the semester. it is suddenly time to start thinking about your upcoming summer anthems. Update your warm-weather playlist with these five staff song picks.

The band’s latest track — released to promote their new album “California Nights” — still has the group’s signature summery sound, but the heavy drumming, distorted guitar riffs and guitar solo make it rougher around the edges than anything

else they’ve released.

The song still sounds like the good old Best Coast sound, just Best Coast with a little bit of “American Idiot”-era Green Day thrown in. The beachy track is definitely making me excited for their new album, as well as the

quickly break.

approaching

summer

Every business started with a GREAT idea This is the opinion of Nicole Muldoon, a freshman psychology major from Highland, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email kmangan@ theloyolan.com.

Annual Elevator Pitch Competition

Presentations on Thursday, February 26 in HIL 300 @ 7:00 PM

$1,000 Grand Prize & other cool prizes To Enter:

email one page to officers@LMUES.com detailing your idea (and illustration if applicable).

Semi-finalists will be notified by February 18.

sdays 7:30 - 1pm ne ed W m 0p :3 10 am ys 7:30submissions due by 10:00 PM on MondaIdea

Monday, February 16, 2015 Powered By

sports

laloyolan.com Page 20

Lions lose in a nail-biter Baseball | from Page 24

“You can’t say too much to a group of young men that just fought so hard to try to win a game that didn’t go our way,” said Gill. “It’s not like we didn’t play well. We left some guys on base, and we had some opportunities to win that game a handful of times … it’s not fun to lose when you’re up by two in the ninth.”

On Friday during the second match of the series, LMU was behind 4-1 until the bottom of the ninth inning when a pinchhit RBI-double from freshman infielder Jamey Smart gave the Lions their second and final run of the game.

“We have a good amount of young guys that are contributing, so that’s always nice when you have people come in and make an instant impact,” said Welmon.

LMU won the final game of the series 8-2 with the majority of its runs coming after the fourth inning, when the score was tied 2-2. Doubles from freshman left fielder Billy Wilson and senior second baseman David Edwards got the Lions’ momentum going in the bottom of the fifth, pushing LMU ahead of the Cougars 3-2.

The rest of the game was smooth sailing for the Lions, with one run in the fifth, three in the sixth, one in the seventh and one in the eighth.

“The first two games were pretty tough, but on a positive note, we

came back and won a big game on Sunday,” said Fletcher. “We have a lot of perseverance this year … we’re pretty tight knit.”

Freshmen pitchers Sean Watkins and Cory Abbott, who tossed six and two innings respectively, contributed strong performances to the Lions’ victory. Watkins allowed two runs while striking out two, and Abbott struck out a batter and induced a double play while the Cougars had the bases loaded.

When asked what made the Lions so successful in the last game of the series, Welmon said, “I think we just started to play more like ourselves. We get into trouble when everyone starts trying to be something special.

All we need to do is trust the work we have been putting in. We’re a really good team, but we’re just a little inconsistent right now. If we can find a way to maintain some consistency we’ll have a lot more games like that.”

LMU is now 21-15 overall and 9-6 in WCC play. The Lions will face University of the Pacific for their next WCC series on April 17 at Page Stadium.

“Every team in our conference is tough,” said Gill. “But I think these guys are ready to break out …

I think we’re going to get hot. I’ve been telling them that for probably four or five days now and thinking it for three weeks. It’s time—when the weather warms up, so do the Lions.”

Educating athletes about sexual assault is crucial

Tori Talks | from page 24

were held against him for allegedly sexually assaulting a female student at FSU in December 2012. One month after the woman’s allegations, Winston was not found guilty and all charges were dropped.

There are at least nine other NFL players, such as Abram Elam, a former free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs, who have been drafted in recent years despite committing sexual assault.

While prosecutors found no binding evidence to charge Winston, the NFL’s overall attitude seems to reveal ambivalence toward shady pasts and shoddy investigations and an emphasis on the revenue the athlete can bring to the league.

The NFL seems to believe that if the players were not convicted, then the allegations were false to begin with. While I don’t know whether every NFL player accused of sexual assault committed the crime, I do believe that the NFL should conduct more intensive investigations so as not to perpetuate the notion that being a star athlete provides immunity.

When victims find the strength to share their stories with authority figures, we often witness sympathy for the aggressors and intense scrutiny for the survivors. For example, freshman quarterback

Treon Harris from University of Florida was accused of sexually assaulting a female student in October 2014. In a letter documenting Harris’ account, the defendant’s lawyer went so far as to describe the victim as a “sexual aggressor” rather than the survivor she could have been. Following the release of the letter, the victim dropped all charges, leaving the case and all allegations to the unknown.

Evidently, when victims are placed under pressure and receive ridicule from legal officers and media outlets, they often no longer feel confident in continuing with the case proceedings and sometimes retract their initial claims. In doing so, the questions revolving the accuracy of the case remain unanswered and potential violators are released back into the initial environment, thus making recurring incidents possible.

What’s worse about incidents involving star athletes is the apparent influence of universities on silencing victims in attempt to protect athletes’ reputation. It appears that in some cases, the message to athletes who take advantage of their role within the community is, “Don’t rape. But if you’re a great athlete, someone will get you off.”

I will repeat: not all athletes are sexual aggressors who abuse the

power and privilege provided to them by universities and peers.

However, there are those few who believe they’re untouchable and can ruin the lives of others.

For those who do commit sexual assault, they are often presented with overwhelming support from friends and media outlets to move on and push past the event as though they didn’t justcommit a crime against another human being.

Athletes are role models, whether they act like it or not.

They have influence within our society on the way in which we act, speak and sometimes even the way in which we think. Athletes need to educate themselves on the cases currently in the media and find ways to affirm that only a small sect of their athletic community abuses their influence. When athletes hear their fellow team members talk about violating another person, they should inform one another of the immorality of their actions.

Athletes should use their influence within the community as a voice for those forced into seclusion. They should aid in the movement to stop rape and sexual assault.

This is the opinion of Victoria Lucien, a freshman English major from Los Angeles, California. Tweet comments to @LoyolanSports, or email editor @theloyolan.com. editor@theloyolan.com.

LION SPORTS

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Playing general manager for the Lakers

via MCT Campus

Kobe Bryant, arguably the greatest Laker of all time, has had to suffer through two straight losing seasons as the Lakers try to rebuild their team.

While the Lakers will likely bounce back soon, the 20-year veteran will probably not be around for the next time his team makes the playoffs.

keeper, and perhaps the most important player on the roster, is rookie forward Julius Randle. The No. 7 selection in the 2014 draft broke his leg in the Lakers’ first game, effectively setting a tone for the most disheartening and grueling Lakers season ever. But broken bones aren’t as big of a deal as tendon or ligament damage; just look at how quickly Paul George has bounced back after a more severe broken leg. I’m not a doctor yet, but let’s assume Randle is back to full strength by training camp. He will be just 21 years old at the start of next season, and standing at 6-foot-9-inches and 250 pounds, Randle has ideal size and strength for the power forward position. His jump shot and playmaking ability are pluses, and he is a voracious rebounder. With an entire year off to refine his handle and shooting, Randle should be ready to contribute next year. As far as the Lakers are concerned, he’s their Four of the Future.

Besides Randle, the only other current Laker that should figure into the long-term plan is Jordan Clarkson. The rookie guard has come on strong as of late, given more playing time. If he’d been playing like this all year, he may have been a Rookie of the Year candidate. Clarkson can score with the best of them, and has shown promise in terms of playmaking and grabbing steals. He’s probably more of a shooting guard that can create for teammates rather than a point who can score. As he continues to improve, he should be the team’s

sixth man or shooting guard of the future.

The rest can go. Some of the others have shown flashes of promise, but the team isn’t looking for role players. That includes fan favorite Nick Young, who has clashed with Coach Byron Scott.

And that includes Coach Scott, who for some reason does not believe in three-pointers. Scott is a good coach if you’re trying to lose like the Lakers have been this year.

Not if you’re trying to win.

Who to get The two biggest holes to fill are the point guard and center spots, though an upgrade at the wing wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

What the Lakers really need is talent. Besides star power, these Lakers need defense. This year’s squad was one of the league’s worst defensively, but even in the future, Clarkson and Randle don’t project as great defenders. Clarkson is too skinny, and Randle isn’t quick enough laterally. The draft is the best place to find those things.

The Lakers will likely have the No. 4 pick. By that time, clear-cut superstars Karl Anthony-Towns, Jahlil Okafor and Emmanuel Mudiay will likely be off the board.

This leaves the Lakers with three reasonable choices: point guard D’Angelo Russell, forward Justise Winslow and center Willie CauleyStein. They all have their question marks, and a full analysis would be a whole other article. Winslow is my personal favorite, and he’s the one with the highest ceiling,

but he also has the lowest floor.

Russell addresses the need for a point guard and might be a star one day, but he plays the league’s most athletic position without having that explosiveness himself.

Cauley-Stein may never be a good offensive player, but he will be an offense-destroying defender and is the safest pick for a Lakers team that can’t afford to whiff on this one. His ability to hit the mid-range jumper, block shots and defend the pick and roll make him an ideal defensive anchor and a perfect fit next to Clarkson and, more importantly, Randle.

This means the Lakers need to address their point position. The league is full of great point guards, so nabbing one in free agency shouldn’t be too difficult, especially for the Lakers. Just please, for the love of basketball, don’t sign Rajon Rondo. The dream here? Russell Westbrook. He’s a UCLA kid who might just want to step out of Kevin Durant’s shadow. More realistic free agents might be Ty Lawson or Reggie Jackson, though.

Even with all of the front office drama and ineptitude, the Lakers will probably be good again in three or so years. People just want to play for the Lakers; they always have and they always will. But it’s better to follow a plan, preferably mine, than to hope for charity from the NBA’s free agent stars.

This is the opinion of Andrew Rezk, a senior psychology major from Rancho Cugamonga, California. Tweet comments to @LoyolanSports, or email editor@theloyolan.com.

Athlete SPOTLIGHT luke bohuslav Sport: Men’s Tennis

Class: Sophomore

Major: Finance

Hometown: Orinda, California

Q: At what age did you start playing tennis, and what got you interested in the sport? Q: What is the toughest obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your tennis career at LMU? A: I think I was around 5 years old when I first started playing. My dad loves tennis and he has played his A: Last year I had a couple tough losses, but that just kind of made me want to get better whole life, so he was the one who got me into it. and not have to be in that same position again. Also, I hurt my back this fall. I strained it, so I was out for a week or two, nothing too major. I’ve been pretty fortunate to be healthy Q: What has been your most memorable moment this season? for the most part.

A: My most memorable moment was probably when I won against Yale. I played three sets and clinched the match for the team, so that was fun.

Q: What are your favorite pre- and post-match meals?

A: The night before matches, I like to eat spaghetti and meatballs. That’s a big thing for me.

And then after, if it’s a good match, we usually go to Chipotle or something.

Q: Who is your best friend on the team and why?

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

A: Well, everyone is really close, and we all spend so much time together, so it's kind of hard to say one A: London, England. Just because I’ve never been there before, and there is a ton of stuff to guy in particular. Next year, five of us are going to be living together in a house, so that will be really fun. do and see.

Q: Do you have a favorite athlete?

Q: Do you plan on continuing to play tennis after you graduate?

A: I follow tennis the most, but I don’t know if I have a favorite tennis player. I’m a big sports fan in general though, so right now I like Steph Curry. He plays basketball for the Warriors.

A :Probably not. It’s really tough to make a living professionally playing tennis, so I’ll probably look for something else in the finance job industry.

Information compiled by Presley Quon, Sports Intern; Graphic: Xian Wong | Loyolan

LION SPORTS

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Spieth gains world’s attention with Masters win Learn from Lauren Lauren Eagan Asst. Sports Editor

@LoyolanSports

M

ost 21-year-old LMU juniors are enduring heavy coursework, finding internships, planning their offcampus housing situation for next year or figuring out whether they should stay at Treasure Island or the MGM Grand when they go to Vegas.

However, these are not the same experiences Jordan Spieth is going through as a 21-year-old who just won the most prestigious golf tournament in the world.

On Sunday, Jordan Spieth won the 79th Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Spieth took home the win with 18-under par for the tournament. No one has ever finished lower than 17-under since the tournament’s establishment in 1934. He additionally became the first player to lead the competition wire-to-wire since 1976 and fifth overall.

His competitors on the green this past weekend included some of the best golfers in Masters history, such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Dustin

Johnson and Justin Rose.

Spieth surpassed Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose by four shots, with Rory McIlroy concluding solo fourth after a six-under 66 alongside Tiger Woods.

Spieth finished with a two-underpar 70 to win with a 72-hole score of 18-under 270 that matched the mark Woods set in 1997.

The Dallas native began his collegiate golf career at the University of Texas in 2011. As a first-year student, Spieth not only helped his team win the NCAA Championship, but was also named to the All-Big 12 Team, named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year and was a first-team All-American.

Midway through his sophomore year, Spieth dropped out of school to play professionally and compete in the 2012 U.S. Open.

Spieth’s success is catching the world’s attention because the young athlete brings a certain charm and class to the course that we haven’t seen before. Those who have come across Spieth describe him as an honorable and respectful figure.

In an interview with the New York Times, Clair Peterson, the tournament director for the John Deere Classic, described Spieth, saying, “Jordan is such a gentleman.

He’s someone who remembers those who have helped him along the way.

MCT Campus

Jordan Spieth (above) finished with a two-under-par 70 to win with a 72-hole score of 18-under 270 that matched the mark Woods set in 1997. He is the fifth player ever to lead the competetition wire-to-wire.

He’s mature beyond his years on the course, but off it he’s so kidlike. He hasn’t lost that.”

In light of his son’s accomplishments, Spieth’s father, Chris, explained to USA Today how his son’s life will not be defined solely by his golf career: “As great a game golf is, it’s still a game. He has that perspective. It’s not changing a lot of lives in significant ways. What’s really most important to him is outside of golf, and that’s helping people that have different types of needs. He wants to make a difference

in other ways in life that are bigger than the game of golf.”

After winning the Masters title, Spieth revealed to the media that his autistic 14-year-old sister inspires him and has made him realize there’s a lot more to life than just winning titles. Spieth told CNN, “She’s an incredible sister, my biggest supporter. She is somebody who you can watch and then reflect on the big picture of life and understand that all these frustrations in a day, or in a round of golf, are really secondary.

We wouldn’t have that realization

without her.”

Spieth’s humble composure on the course and his commitment to his family is inspiring for all young athletes, especially collegiate players.

In addition to making golf history, Spieth has also proved that age is just a number for student athletes seeking to be successful.

This is the opinion of Lauren Eagan, a freshman economics major from Seattle, Washington. Tweet comments to @LoyolanSports, or email leagan@theloyolan.com.

Want to shoot for Photo?

Contact Photo editor Caroline burt at cburt@theloyolan.com

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Health Policy & Management

Designed for emerging health leaders Mount Saint Mary’s University now offers a graduate degree in Health Policy & Management. The Master of Science in Health Policy & Management is a two-year evening program, designed for emerging leaders who wish to champion effective health policies, promote efficient care systems, and guide change in their communities by applying evidenced-based knowledge.

The Health Policy & Management program is a valuable resource for: Health Advocates & Policy Makers Epidemologists, Nurses & Physicians Health Administrators & Managers State & Community Social Workers Insurance Managers Health Economists & Consultants If you missed us yesterday at LMU’s Health Professions Career Fair, please contact us for information on how to waive your application fee for Fall 2015!

LEARN MORE TODAY msmu.edu/graduate | 213.477.2800

SPORTS LIONBITES SOFTBALL Despite winning the first game of the threeday series, the LMU softball team fell to University of San Diego this past weekend.

With junior centerfielder Meghan von Behren earning the solitary run of the first game of the series, the Lions held a slight lead against the Toreros. But LMU’s lead did not hold as the Lions dropped the second game.

The Toreros hit the field, earning the first run of the game at the top of the first inning.

The Lions responded at the bottom of the second with one run by sophomore catcher Courtney Moore. Unfortunately, LMU was unable to pull through and lost 4-2. The Lions ended the series on Sunday with a 3-1 loss. Junior shortstop Stephanie Maciel earned LMU’s lone run at the bottom of the fourth inning. USD ended its streak at the top of the sixth, earning its final two runs of the night. USD improved 26-17 overall and is 5-1 in the WCC, while the Lions dropped 2124 overall and are an even 3-3 in the league.

WOMEN’S TENNIS The women’s tennis team fell to No. 55 University of Portland in the final home match of the season. Freshman Anna Romeka earned No. 3 in the singles competition, while obtaining the same spot in the doubles competition with sophomore Jessica Perez. Romeka won 6-2 in the first set, but fell 7-6 in set three.

She defeated Portland’s Sophie van der Aarssen in the tiebreaking match 10-4.

Junior Kristine Kouyoumjian earned No.4 in singles for the Lions. Portland took the match with a final score of 5-2. The Lions are now 3-18 overall and 0-7 in the WCC.

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Lakers need big changes The Rezk Report Andrew Rezk Sports Editor

@LoyolanSports

T

he Los Angeles Clippers are going to win 56 games this year. The Lakers?

Probably just 21. As someone who grew up watching the Shaq and Kobe Lakers, I never thought the day would come when the Clippers would more than double the Lakers’ win total. To make matters worse, the Lakers have close to no foundational pieces on their roster and will give up their draft pick next year as a result of the terrible Steve Nash trade. I’m not necessarily a Lakers fan, but this has to stop. It just isn’t the same NBA when the purple and gold aren’t contending for a title. As Kobe Bryant is in the fourth quarter of his career, the Lakers have to look toward the future and rebuild. With the regular season coming to a close and the draft on the horizon, let’s play general manager for a day.

Who to keep This, unfortunately, will be a short list.

Moving forward, the team has to focus on youth and potential. The most obvious See The Rezk Report | Page 21

SCORES UPDATE W. SVBALL

LION

4-1 W

W. TENNIS

SPORTS

BASEBALL

8-2 W

SOFTBALL

vs. BYU

5-2 L

vs. Portland

vs. Santa Clara

3-1 L

vs. San Diego

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

Page 24

LOS ANGELES LOYOLAN | April 15, 2015 | laloyolan.com

Athletes must be held accountable in sexual assault investigations Tori Talks Victoria Lucien Sports Intern

@LoyolanSports

N

ineteen percent of all sexual assault crimes among colleg students are committed by male athletes, which accounts for only 3.7 percent of the male population on college campuses at large, according to the National Coalition Against Violent Athletes. The organization also reports that one in three sexual assault incidents on college campuses are committed by student-athletes.

Society often promotes the idea that rather than deterring someone from sexually assaulting another, the victim should simply find ways to avoid such an encounter—as though that’s an option for the victim to consider. As seen on our very own campus, women are taught to take care of themselves and their fellow female friends to ensure that an aggressor does not take advantage of them. While this advice is useful, it would be even more useful to instill in sexual aggressors, both men and women, advice on the dangers of violating another person. In the case that an athlete sexually assaults a victim, the media has, at times, gone so far as to dehumanize the victim to the point that they recede their initial claim altogether. I will acknowledge, however, that there are occurrences in which individuals create false claims with the intent to ruin the life of another. Nevertheless, when an athlete is accurately charged with a sexual assault allegation, the media will go through great lengths to diminish the credibility of the

via MCT Campus

Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston (above) is praised as an ideal NFL draft candidate, yet he was claimed to have sexually assaulted a female student at FSU in December 2012. victim and force them into the shadows.

Athletes accused of committing sexual assault against another individual are often depicted as victims and speculation remains about how the case will affect their futures rather than achieving justice for the victim.

Florida State University (FSU) quarterback Jameis Winston is likely to be one of the first players picked in the NFL draft later this

month. With some comparing him to New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning after starting and winning 26 football games last season, as well as highly sought-after pro-style offensive maneuvers, Winston has all the makings of a successful draft candidate. Except for the fact that charges See Tori Talks | Page 20

Baseball loses series vs. BYU The Lions gave up their lead in the final two frames, allowing BYU three runs.

Presley Quon Sports Intern

@LoyolanSports

The LMU baseball team lost its three-game West Coast Conference (WCC) series against Brigham Young University this past weekend, losing 5-3 on Thursday and 4-2 on Friday.

Although the Lions pulled through with an impressive 8-2 win on Saturday, this marks the first series they have lost in WCC play since the beginning of the season. Up until this point, LMU had claimed series victories against Santa Clara University, Pepperdine University, Gonzaga University and St. Mary’s College.

The Lions had the chance to take Thursday night’s game, but gave up their lead in the final two frames, allowing BYU three runs. These runs were vital points for the Cougars that would tie the score and send the game into extra innings.

Until the top of the eighth inning, LMU was ahead 2-0, with senior pitcher Colin Welmon tossing seven shutout innings and striking out nine batters. After remaining scoreless for the majority of the game, BYU’s sudden comeback came as a surprise to players, fans and coaches alike.

“I think we were all a little shocked,”

Caroline Burt | Loyolan

Freshmen pitchers Sean Watkins (above) and Cory Abbott, who tossed six and two innings respectively, contributed strong performances in the Lions’ single victory on Saturday against Brigham Young University.

“I don’t think we played too bad the said Welmon. “I think that everyone first game,” said Fletcher. “We kind of thought up until the end that we were had some tough breaks though.” going to win at some point—or at least The Cougars scored two runs in the that we’d find a way.”

At the bottom of the 11th inning, LMU 12th inning to win the game 5-3. When asked what he said to the team after had a promising chance to win the game when a single by sophomore shortstop the heartbreaking loss, Head Coach David Fletcher put runners at the corners Jason Gill recalled being at a loss for with only one out. However, the Lions words. could not capitalize on the opportunity.

See Baseball | Page 20