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Senior Makeen Yasar's program was created to help expose high schoolers to opportunities in the health field.
April 24, 2019
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Beach volleyball wins championship
via Tracy Prichard
The women's beach volleyball team clinched their first ever WCC championship over rival Pepperdine in a 3-2 match. See page 16 for coverage of the win.
LAX, UCLA exposed to measles Five measles cases were reported in L.A. from April 1 to 13. Isabella Murillo News Editor @LALoyolan
Several sites close to campus have been identified by the Los Angeles County Health Department as possibly exposed to measles. LAX airport, UCLA and California State University, Los
Angeles were all named by the Health Department, according to a report published on April 22. A restaurant in La CaĂąada Flintridge and a restaurant in Glendale have also been named as possible sites. The earliest exposure was reported on April 1 and the last was on April 13. The L.A. Public Health Department says there is currently no risk of infection at those locations, but it could take up to four days for the first symptoms of a rash to appear
after exposure. People without the measles immunization have a 90 percent chance of contracting the disease within 21 days of exposure. Public health officials have found the five measles cases are mostly due to unvaccinated patients and are encouraging all those missing their second vaccination doses to contact their doctors, according to the report.
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Overnight programs subject to budget cuts Small reductions to the budget will be made in order to meet restrictions. Grace McCauley News Intern @LALoyolan
Recently, the admissions office decided to make financial cuts to the Black, Latino and Asian Pacific Islander (API) prospective students’ overnight programs. These overnight programs offer prospective students an opportunity to spend time at LMU and get to know the community. Matthew Fissinger, the assistant vice provost for admissions, weighed in on the recent cuts. He believes that what is happening is not really a budget cut, but rather working within the funds that the University has given the admission department. Fissinger emphasized that the experience and number of students able to attend hasn’t changed. The only changes made have been to elements such as catering, giveaways and t-shirts. “This was not a decision that reflected dissatisfaction or any unhappiness with the overnight program,” said Fissinger. Abby Manullang, a freshman communication studies major, who has hosted two students for the API overnight, spoke on issues she saw this year within the overnight program. “There were little various budget cuts we had to do like
… t-shirts and other stuff like that,” said Manullang. She is worried about future budget cuts, because many students choose to come to LMU based on their overnight experience. “I think this is a super important event … if they did continue to cut funding from the admissions standpoint, that [would be bad],” said Manullang. Fissinger stated that other admissions initiatives, such as Open House, were bigger this year than they have been in the past, and took up more of the budget. “We’re just being very extra careful to try to make sure that at the [end of the fiscal year], we come in within the Instagram via @platypusperiwinkle budget that the University has allocated to us,” said Fissinger. Students during the 2019 API overnight. This program, as well as the black and latino overnights, will face budget cuts. Maddie Chang, a prospective student, spoke on the issue. “When [I] think of LMU, I personally think of rich white kids,” said Chang. She explained how important these Valencia was a member of overnights are for minority Emilio Valencia has been pornography, an officer at the students and making them feel charged with a felony LAPD media relations division the Agape service organization, told the Loyolan. according to the current Agape included as a community and and released on bail. Valencia posted a $100,000 bond president, Raven Yamamoto. family at the University. hours after his arrest. His next court The 2019 Tower Yearbook also “The event was structured Jacob Cornblatt date is May 7 at 8:30 a.m. lists him as a member of the in a way where you’re never Editor-in-Chief Felony possession of child Animation Club. He previously alone doing nothing. You’re @LALoyolan pornography charges typically served as a copy editor at the always interacting with new Emilio Valencia, a junior carry between 16 months and 3 Loyolan from March 2017 to people, which is great. You feel so welcome because screenwriting major from San years in a California state prison for September 2018. The Loyolan reached out [you’re together with] a group Jose, was arrested on April 16, a first offense, according to Shouse according to the Los Angeles California Law Group. Any person to Valencia by text and email of people that [are] in the County Sheriff’s Department convicted of possession of child for comment. As of time of same boat as you,” said Erin Barron, a prospective student (LASD). He was charged with pornography is subject to being a publication, he had not responded. felony possession of child registered sex offender for life. on the overnight.
Student arrested in connection to child pornography charges
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BURNING QUESTIONS
Senior Editor Sami Leung sat down with Tom Ford, co-director of the Coastal Research Institute, who teaches environmental science part-time.
Can you explain some of the work you’ve done with the kelp forests?
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We’ve got the biggest project in the world happening off the coast of L.A., restoring kelp forests. The work that we’ve done … has now become an international model on how to do this work, and we have teams that are testing out our methods in Norway and British Columbia.
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What other projects are you working on?
One of our projects in Santa Monica has increased the height of the beach almost a full three feet in two years ... We’re also spending time trying to see what’s going to happen with the various creeks and rivers in the Santa Monica mountains after the large wildfires.
Share your news tips, photos and videos with the Loyolan
editor@theloyolan.com
What is the Coastal Research Institute and what kind of work does it do?
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We have lots of students and faculty working on trying to inform us on what’s happening in the water and along the coastline. That involves physical work, mapping [and] surveyor work ... We’re conducting microplastics research … to come up with a proper method to actually measure that stuff ... We’re collecting sap out of kelp plants [and doing] a lot of work in the wetlands and the dune systems.
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What’s your proudest accomplishment?
I am proud of a lot. Perhaps most importantly, I’m very proud of the people that I had a chance to work with. The proudest accomplishment is finding really smart, dedicated people that want to do the same thing that I’m doing. Helping them achieve those results is probably what I’m most proud of.
What’s the biggest environmental issue facing humanity?
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It falls under the convenient wrapper of climate change ... I think what we are least prepared for as a society is to deal with the tens of millions of people who, over the next 150 to 200 years, are going to have to find refuge from the effects of climate change. This is going to test our governments and us as people in ways that I don’t think have ever been challenged.
SUMMER SESSIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO
What can students do to protect the environment?
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A couple key things that can make a big impact: evaluating your diet and reducing your consumption of meat, specifically beef, can make a big impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and, hopefully, slow some of the rate of deforestation that we see clearing land for cattle. How you move around—your transportation—is another big player.
Do you believe LMU is a “green” school?
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I do ... I think [there are] a lot of opportunities to make this campus even greener than it is. But, everybody here should be duly proud of all the efforts that the administration has in place here, and the effort of the students to make sure LMU is not having an undue impact on the environment.
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What’s your favorite sea creature?
The ocean sunfish is one that I often think about. They are remarkable. “Mola Mola” is the name for them — they’re amazing.
Want to read even more questions with Ford? Check them out at laloyolan.com.
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We need a better compost system Mighty Maddy Madison Chang
Social Justice Intern @LALoyolan
LMU should devote more time to further developing our compost system and making it more transparent and comprehensive. Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed. In this method, waste can be redirected to recycle its nutrients to enrich soil. According to Green Matters, when people compost, the amount of trash going to the landfill is reduced and plant growth is increased. Before the process begins matter must be collected, which is a very difficult process, especially at a university such as LMU. Although our university is quite small, with approximately 6,500 undergraduate students, there is still a portion of waste that can be redirected to compost that isn’t being tapped into because of the lack of convenient accessibility to compost. A large reason why the University may not be composting to our fullest potential is because there are not enough bins specifically for compost. We should invest in more compost bins for each floor of the residential halls as well as each dorm room, not just the Hannon and Tenderich apartments. While compost can develop unpleasant odors, LMU can provide bins with a lid to students in residence halls. Students can also place their
compost in the freezer to eliminate the smell. Compost can be picked up along with the trash and recycling that is collected daily. LMU should make composting more accessible, but they should also work to make students more aware of what is and isn’t compostable to increase the efficiency of the system. American University in Washington D.C. has one of the best waste management systems, according to Best Colleges. American University’s sustainability site contains several pages with updates about their progress to being a zero-waste campus, opportunities for all students living on and off campus to compost and information to educate students of what can and can’t be recycled. Meanwhile, Green LMU’s website mentions comprehensive composting programs, but they do not go into detail of how the system works, or how to compost on campus. The University should improve their Sustainability Initiatives website by being more obvious and clear about compost to further increase awareness. If the University provides students with the resources and the students implement the habits to efficiently compost, we can become a much more environmentally friendly campus.
This is the opinion of Madison Chang, a freshman screenwriting and environmental studies major from Union City, California. Tweet comments @LALoyolan, or email bdeleon@theloyolan.com
Makeen Yasar is working to end health disparity Health program, founded by Yasar, that exposes students of color to health-related fields is now in Westchester high school. Raven Yamamoto
Asst. Social Justice Editor @LALoyolan
Senior health and human sciences major Makeen Yasar is the founder of the Umoja Health Project, a program dedicated to exposing high school students, particularly students of color, to opportunities in health-related professions. “Umoja” is the Swahili term for “unity,” indicative of the project’s mission to unite underrepresented communities in their fight to combat health disparity in Los Angeles. The Loyolan sat down with Yasar to find out more about the project. Raven Yamamoto (RY): Why is it important for minority communities to be represented in medical and health professions? Makeen Yasar (MY): Even though representation and diversity are only a part of the solution, it’s still a big factor [in] helping eliminate health disparities. Currently, the healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing job industries in the United States, if not the fastest. From jobs ranging from doctors, nurses, trainers and physiologists, to technicians, bioengineers, researchers and insurers, it’s projected that there will be over two million new jobs in the next 10 years. For underserved communities, these careers provide empowering opportunities that give people meaningful and secure employment. Oftentimes I feel like the underrepresentation, although the result of systemic barriers, is also perpetuated by intimidation. Studying in the sciences
Sciences Magnets, and a community health initiative [ran] and developed completely by LMU students. The program at Westchester educates sophomore and junior high school students on the allied health professions and health education, academic and college preparedness and civic engagement. The program operates as [an] after-school and lunch program where we host workshops teaching students about health issues, as well as hosting a tutoring space for students to get ahead in their work. So far we’ve had anatomy and physiology workshops in the health and human sciences labs, workshops on food advocacy, nutrition and are currently planning a field trip to Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, which is a major health professions school that has also offered to give students conditional acceptance if they bring their transcripts and SAT scores. RY: Where do you see Umoja in five years? What goals or milestones do you hope to have accomplished by then? MY: In five years, I think I’d like to see the framework of the health exposures program replicated at other schools across Crenshaw, South L.A. and Inglewood, via Makeen Yasar with other universities like USC and community colleges Makeen Yasar is the director and founder of the Umoja Health having their students take part in leading the work. I’d also like to see Umoja used as a vehicle that trains Project. undergraduate students on advocacy and social justice is hard and I feel like a lot of students are discouraged so that they, along with our team, could challenge from trying to get into the field because they perceive institutions to change policies and deconstruct it as unattainable or for a “certain type” of person, systems that don’t support us. It’s a lot to hit in five especially in environments where they don’t always years, but I’m more excited than nervous. Growing feel valued or supported. up I was always taught by my father a lesson from the RY: What is Umoja Health Project specifically Prophet Muhammad: “Whosoever of you sees an evil doing to achieve its mission? [or injustice], let [them] change it with [their] hands.” MY: Currently, the Umoja Health Project operates as This version of the article has been edited for length. To read the rest, a health exposures program at Westchester Enriched visit laloyolan.com.
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Fight religious intolerance by engaging with others
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On what was supposed to be one of the most joyful days in the Christian religion, terror struck those attending Easter services in Sri Lanka last week. As students at a Jesuit university that values acceptance, dialogue and social justice, we at the Loyolan denounce religious intolerance and will continue to fight for equality. Over 300 people died in a series of suicide bombings around Sri Lanka on Sunday. Believed to have been committed by ISIS, the bombings are yet another example of the danger of religious intolerance and its prevalence in the world today. Between last month’s massacre in a New Zealand mosque and last October’s mass shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue, hatred and subjugation of different religions are taking innocent lives. Even so m e gove r n m e n ts, such as China’s, are institutionally punishing citizens who practice minority religions. We not only mourn the loss of these victims, but we also demand justice and tolerance. Not agreeing with someone else’s beliefs does not excuse violence and a blatant disregard for human life. Easter is a Christian holiday that stands for hope. However, it is not only Christians who feel the horror of this attack. This attack is bigger than hate against a certain group — it is a reminder that we cannot let our differences divide us.
“This attack is bigger than hate against a certain group — it is a reminder that we cannot let our differences divide us.”
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LOYOLAN EDITORIAL POLICY The Los Angeles Loyolan, a student-run campus organization, publishes a weekly newspaper for the greater LMU community. The first copy is free of charge. Additional copies are $1 each. Paid, mailed subscriptions can be purchased through the Business department. The Loyolan accepts unsolicited letters from students, faculty, staff and alumni, and press releases from on-campus and offcampus organizations, but cannot guarantee publication. The Loyolan reserves the right to edit or reject all submissions, including advertisements, articles or other contributions it deems objectionable. The Loyolan does not print consecutive articles by the same author that repeat/refute the initial arguments. Opinions and ideas expressed in the Loyolan are those of individual authors, artists and student editors and are not those of Loyola Marymount University, its Board of Trustees, its student body or of newspaper advertisers. Board Editorials are unsigned and reflect the opinions of the Executive Editorial Board. Guest editorials are by invitation of the Executive Editorial Board and reflect the views of the author. All advertisements are subject to the current rates and policies in the most recent Advertising Rates and Information materials.
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Environmental toll of construction Speck and Spielmann Cristobal Spielmann
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We need to try to understand and accept one another despite differing opinions and values. The LMU mission statement states that L.A. “brings into sharp focus the issues of our time and provides an ideal context for study, research, creative work and active engagement.” It also encourages students to “enrich our educational community and advance our mission, which is part of the promotion of justice.” L.A. is one of the most religiously diverse cities in the U.S., according to USCDornsife. In thinking about these two aspects of our University’s mission, we need to engage and connect with people from different religions in hopes that we can fight religious intolerance. Our campus gives us the chance to do this. The Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, for example, offers an annual Interfaith Forum. LMU also offers classes, such as “World Religions in L.A.,” which require engaged interactions with multiple religious groups. Off the Bluff, L.A. is packed with interfaith organizations, such as the Pluralism Project and the Interfaith Alliance. To combat religious intolerance and the violence that comes with it, we need to act on an individual level. Educate yourself about other groups through dialogues, immersive experiences and fighting the separations that can form between us.
Opinion Intern @LALoyolan
t’s hard not to see East Quad without thinking of what we will lose. Last December, LMU announced that two new student residence halls will replace Huesman and Sullivan Halls in Fall 2020. The new halls boast over 600 beds to accommodate larger class sizes in the future. “People have been taking doorstops as souvenirs and the letters from the front door,” said freshman film studies major and Huesman resident Augustus Bell. “Most of us are saying ‘good riddance,’ and ‘finally, this place is going to be no more.’” It’s understandable why students might be happy about this change. Huesman has been around since 1947, and structures built during the Truman administration do not meet modern needs for more high-density housing. While there is plenty to be excited about in terms of this new green project, there are still other environmental concerns as to how it will impact our campus. The University has certainly prided itself on being a green school, and it has the credentials to back it up. LMU was ranked 19th by an environmental organization, the Sierra Club, in the category of “The Top 20 Coolest
Schools 2018.” The University has been a leader in several green initiatives like the recycling program and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Designed by Steinberg Hart, the new housing project was funded through the selling of Green Bonds through the California Educational Facilities Authority. This make LMU the first university to do so. Ideally, more students on campus reduces the need for large-scale commuting and the burning of fossil fuels with cars. The buildings will also likely follow LMU’s current standards for sustainable living as seen by other buildings, such as water conservation and solar thermal energy.
Unfortunately, there are some major environmental downsides to this project, namely noise pollution from construction equipment. Without proper sound barriers, this will be a major problem, especially for quiet studying. However, local and state ordinances regarding hours for construction do exist and have some level of protection in mind. It’s probably assumed there will be similar protections on campus. A more concerning loss is the Lion’s Garden, LMU’s community garden by Sullivan Hall. It not only provides fruits, vegetables and herbs, but also allows the opportunity to practice gardening skills and be involved with fellow students. See Huesman & Sulivan | Page 7
Ellen Na | Loyolan
The environmental destruction from tearing down Huesman and Sullivan needs to be considered before any serious ground work can be started.
OPINION
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Dems need to call out anti-semitism Oh man Omar
William Donahue
Contributor @LALoyolan
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hen the blue wave hit Washington last November, I was disappointed that Republicans lost the House. However, I kept an open mind, and—with the rest of the country—I watched the green, new incumbents hit the floor with great interest. I wanted to see if the new generation would reach across the aisle to talk and break the tyranny of party politics rather than deny and virtue-shame. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the results. America was instead met with racist agendas and unrealistic ideologies. Over the past two years of Trump’s presidency, Republicans have tried to reach across the aisle and compromise; they were met with hostility and Democrats who would not budge. Champions of the progressive left, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (A.O.C.) and Ilhan Omar, have risen to the national stage for their extreme backlash against Republicans. Rep. Omar’s recent comments have prompted me to shed light on the hypocrisy of the current Democratic party. Allegations of incest and immigration fraud, on top of her extreme antisemitic views, have failed to tarnish
the pristine record of the SomaliAmerican from Minnesota’s 5th district. Her most recent comment referring to the events of 9/11 as, “some people did something,” have prompted national outrage. Now, the left’s current platform is predicated on diversity, equality and political correctness. I can get behind that; equality for all people is something that conservatives can relate with and historically have fought for. Rep. Omar
does not, neither do the Democrats. That scares me. The hypocrisy shown by the left discredits everything in their cause and has led me to conclude that their agenda is: all lives matter, unless you’re white, male, conservative or Jewish. The leftist movements of the 21st century have demonized white men, especially white men who identify as conservative. Rep. Omar’s ties to Islamic terrorist
groups are evident. Before you write me off as Islamophobic, here is a fact: she has huge ties to CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which has relations with Hamas. The co-founder and Executive Director of CAIR, Nihad Awad, had this to say at a conference in Florida at Barry University in 2004: “the Ikhwan [Muslim Brotherhood] must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging’ its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God’s religion is made victorious over all other religions.” I should note that Hamas is the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood (the parent organization of Hamas, al Qaeda and ISIS) which, “seeks to implement sharia (Islamic law) under a global caliphate,” according to the Counter Extremism Project. Yeah, those guys, the guys that “did something,” that ran planes into the twin towers on 9/11, they were part of the Muslim Brotherhood, and so is Hamas. They are not “some people;” they’re Islamic terrorists. They wish to wipe Israel off the map and hate Western ideologies. Hamas is designated as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” by the U.S., Israel, Canada, the E.U., Japan, Jordan and Egypt.
Jacob Johanson | Loyolan
Criticism of Ilhan Omar’s anti-semitic comments are not incitements of violence, and liberals need to stop deflecting genuine criticisms of a public figure in office.
See Ilhan Omar | Page 7
Sodexo’s current dining hours are inadequate Vejas’ Reflections Vejas Vasiliauskas Staff Writer @LALoyolan
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t’s 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday. You have just woken up for a grueling day of studying, but first, you think it would be a great idea to get breakfast. Finding your refrigerator and freezer as empty as they were last night, you head over to Starbucks, only to find that it doesn’t open until 11 a.m. Hmmm, why not head over to the Lair? Oh, right, no chance of that either, as it does not open until 8:30 a.m. I really appreciate the fact that LMU offers its students many dining options, and that some establishments, such as The Habit, stay open as late as 2:30 a.m. However, the reality is that, although there is a relatively short window of time in which nothing is open, this is still a very common complaint among students. I, too, have experienced this when trying to decide where to eat with friends in the early morning and feel that it can be particularly problematic when we need to get on with our subsequent weekend activities. “I feel like they assume everyone sleeps in until noon or something, and that’s not true,” said Ashley Rietmann, a sophomore biology major. “I try to go to Starbucks [in the morning but] I always forget it doesn’t open until 11 a.m. on weekend days, which seems so late.” When asked if Starbucks could be opened earlier on weekends, Terry Buttler, a Starbucks employee, said yes. “I feel like it would be a good opportunity for Starbucks to stay open for students living on campus and visitors who come to look at the campus.”
It is fair to say that students can look at the dining web page before deciding where to eat for the weekend but I believe, as Rietmann pointed out, that most students will not think to do so — I know that I certainly don’t until I arrive at the closed establishment. Typically my first reaction before checking the site is to see if there are any workers lurking around so that I can ask them when the establishment in question is due to re-open, but in most cases, there are none in the area. I also believe that the dining web page should be clearer about the weekend hours for the Lair Marketplace. For most establishments, such as The Habit and the combined Pizza Hut/1788 Sandwich Bar, the hours are much more defined, but the site fails to mention the fact that on Saturday afternoons there is an interval between lunch and dinner during which the Lair is closed for several hours. Finding meals is even more difficult during the short breaks when the school is still open to residents unable to go home. On March 9, the Saturday before the beginning of Spring Break, the Lair was only open from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and The Habit from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Throughout the week, the Lair was completely closed, while Starbucks, Einstein and Caribou Cafe and The Habit had rather sporadic hours. “I was affected by the break hours since it made it harder for me to get food later in the night,” said Patrick Utz, a junior electrical engineering major and an RA. Utz, like many other residential advisors, was required to stay on campus over Easter Break so that he could remain on duty and make himself available for the remaining residents of his hall. Students need to be able to study as late as they need to, without having to stress about meals.
I firmly believe that if Sodexo were to make sure that at least one establishment were open at any given time during the 24-hour period, students would be much happier and less anxious about where their next meal is going to come from. This is the opinion of Vejas Vasiliauskas, a junior English major from Manhattan Beach, California. Tweet comments to @LAloyolan or email comments to editor@theloyolan.com.
Harrison Klein | Loyolan
More dining options need to be given to students who have to stay on campus over break and on the weekends.
OPINION We cannot forget our green pledges EDQ
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Huesman & Sullivan from Page 5
Community gardens by themselves also have plenty of benefits, especially for urban areas that might suffer from food deserts. These gardens could also be environmentally beneficial in comparison to commercial farming, though the circumstances would have to involve a lot of smart urban planning. This could be accomplished by incorporating green infrastructure (a topic I’ve previously written about), providing an area for biodiversity to thrive and halting sprawl that could encourage runoff pollution. If the garden was not threatened by the construction of new housing, maybe LMU could have increased the functionality of the garden through those guidelines. It is imperative that our community has clear communication with the administration to ensure that our collective goals of an environmentally progressive campus are met and that those goals aren’t greenwashed, especially if features like the Lion’s Garden are at risk. Specifics on how this new project will uphold Green Bond Principles and other environmentally conscious guidelines must be declared upfront, so the community can check for inconsistencies and compromise for ways the measures can be improved in order to get closer to our initial goals. This is not an argument against highdensity housing; more high-density
housing is the best solution against a lack of affordable housing. “Not In My Backyard” (NIMBY) complaints over aesthetics can’t stand up to the real benefits of high-density housing like an increase in labor productivity, a reduction in traffic and being less environmentally destructive than lowdensity housing. NIMBYism is antithetical to environmentalism in all the worst
ways, and projects meant to further green causes shouldn’t be tripped by irrational reactionaries. Still, this project does not offer any answers as to where some of our existing environmental and social hallmarks will go. If it does, those answers haven’t been made clear. We need a garden. We need green infrastructure. We need a community. That’s not incompatible with the project.
If we silently assume green promises will materialize, there won’t be any accountability as to whether we’ll continue to be a model for other schools or if we’ll just sign off green-sounding ideas while ruining our previous successes. This is the opinion of Cristobal Spielmann, a freshman environmental science major from Brentwood, Tennessee. Tweet comments @LALoyolan, or email editor@theloyolan.com.
Ilhan Omar should not be given a pass Illhan Omar from Page 6
So, you may be thinking, the association between CAIR, Hamas and the greater Muslim Brotherhood are undeniable, but where does Ilhan Omar fit into this? I’m not going to insinuate that she is an undercover operative or something crazy like that. But, she does do fundraising events for CAIR, as seen this year, where she was the keynote speaker. Some members of certain chapters, such as Zahra Billoo, director of the CAIR San Francisco chapter, have donated to Omar’s election campaigns. Her campaign has also received funding from political action committee CAIR-CA. Even if she is not implicated with CAIR’s affairs, the evidence proves she has aligned herself with them economically. So, my question is: why is the Democratic party continuing to endorse a candidate with obvious ties to a group that supports Islamic terrorism and anti-Semitism, and why have they appointed her to a position on the House Foreign Affairs Committee? Despite Omar’s anti-American and anti-Jewish affiliations, the Democrats apparently think it is wise to appoint her to a committee that can directly influence American foreign policy in the Middle East. What really prompted this opinion piece was the Democrats' response to President Trump’s tweet following Omar’s comments at a recent CAIR fundraiser where she said, "some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties,” in reference to 9/11. The Democrats responded to the video Trump posted on Twitter (which does not once call anyone to arms, but simply puts her words over clips of the 9/11 terrorist attacks) by saying it was an incitement to violence. Pelosi has been quoted as saying, “I
don’t think that the congresswoman is anti-Semitic. I wouldn’t even put those in the same category,” and in the same interview when referencing the Democratic party as a whole, “It has no taint of that in the Democratic Party.” Elizabeth Warren, A.O.C. and other progressives are furthering this claim of incitement to violence and turning the story back on conservatives.
Turning a blind eye to what is happening in your party is not only dangerous, it is hypocritical. You can dress up a donkey to look like a zebra, but at the end of the day it’s still a donkey — an anti-Semitic donkey.
This is the opinion of William Donahue, a freshman political science major from La Verne, California. Tweet comments to @LAloyolan or email comments to editor@theloyolan.com.
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Darn Things Kids SAy
GALLOWS
By Ellen Na, staff cartoonist
By Harrison Klein, cartoon intern
Check out more Loyolan cartoons online now! Visit LALoyolan.com/cartoons and catch up on your favorites!
2017 Classic!
FISHBLUB By Mikey Barreto, Staff Cartoonist
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Jesus started a rock band on Easter If your forever-dream is to rock out with Jesus, then get ready to rock. Andrew Dazé Holy Homie Jesus Christ raised from the grave, razed the minds and melted the faces of his audience when he debuted his new death metal band, G.O.A.T.s at Coachella. I was fortunate enough to get an exclusive interview with Jesus after his life-changing set closed Coachella, where he performed miracles in front of the masses. Sunday’s two hour set was a direct response to Kanye West’s Church of Kanye which also took place at Coachella. “Jesus walks. He’s come to show up Yeezus and make people go to church on Easter Sunday,” said band member Satan about Jesus. I thought their debut concert was going to be at Coachella, but Satan
said they “had a debut in Paris at the Notre Dame Cathedral. You know how that went down.” When asked what piqued his interest in starting a death metal band, Jesus explained, “I spent three days in hell with this guy [Satan the drummer] and we realized that this eon-long battle between good and evil must come to an end before it goes out of mainstream life for good.” The name “G.O.A.T.s” is a doubleentendre where the acronym G.O.A.T. stands for Greatest Of All Time and goat also symbolizes the supposed physical form of the Antichrist. Jesus is the lead guitarist and vocalist and Satan is on the drums with backup vocals. They opened with the song “Fallen Angels” and finished with the song “Stairway to Heaven” as Jesus ascended. “It was all me, no special effects. I started an earthquake when I hit the splits and Satan killed a girl before I brought her back to life. To end it all I turned
everyone’s sweat into Gatorade,” Jesus explained. The band is on global tour until the end of the Easter season and
they will be back for Advent to drop their Christmas album. Randomly occuring stigmata may appear after their performances.
Abby Pollak | Loyolan
Jesus rocks out on his 666 string during his Coachella set. It was lit.
? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ??? ?? ?? ??? ? ? A? (SUPPOSEDLY) ? EASY GUESSING GAME BY JORDAN ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?BOAZ? ? ? YOU’VE PROBABLY DONE THESE THINGS, BUT CAN YOU GUESS WHAT THEY ARE? ANSWERS BELOW. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??? ? ? ? ? ?21 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?3 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 4 ? ?5 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ? ?? 6 ? ?7 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ?? ? ? ?? ?? ? ? ? ?? ? ?? ?? ? ?? ? ?? Purchase a professional stabbing service with the goal of complete impalement of a specified area of the body. Allow our own hands to slap each other repeatedly and noisily as a sign of approval.
Remove protective layer in an attempt to conform to conventional beauty norms. Attribute sounds to humans as a permanent means of identification.
That body part used for food consumption and chatter? For some reason, it also gets smooshed up against other people’s faces. Arrange colors and lines across surfaces because it looks cool.
Stare at dead, graffitied trees for the purpose of acquiring pleasure or knowledge.
Graphic: Allie Crawford | Loyolan
1. Get a piercing, 2. Clap, 3. Shave, 4. Name, 5. Kiss, 6. Art, 7. Read
The Bluff is a humorous and satirical section published in the Loyolan. All quotes attributed to real figures are completely fabricated; persons otherwise mentioned are completely fictional.
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‘Insta-worthy,’ but is it worth it? Sammi Side Up
Sammi Su
Life+Arts Editor @laloyolan
O
n the 71st floor of U.S. Bank Tower in the center of downtown Los Angeles is a restaurant best known for its aesthetics and attention to detail. 71 Above is on the must-go list for food lovers and adventurous people, alike. The high-end restaurant offers a three course meal for a set price of $78 (additional charges may apply for add-ons). After hearing about 71 Above for months from various food blogs and
Sammi Su | Loyolan
Evening view from the 71st floor of U.S Bank Tower.
downtown LA-centric blogs, I felt like I just had to visit this popular “must-try” food spot. Over the break, I went with a friend and we each ordered a meal. For the first course, I had a dish called farm egg, the second course, the steak tartare, and the third course, rib-eye. The farm egg has the appearance of a sunny side up egg, and it consists of chorizo, crispy potato chunks, topped with a creamy “egg” made of Raclette (a type of semi-hard cheese), finger lime and cilantro. With a surprisingly bland look, this dish gave off a nostalgic breakfast-type feel that didn’t have too powerful of an impact taste-wise, but definitely presents a unique take on this dish. Next, the steak tartare is made of minced wagyu sirloin, plated in a circular dish seasoned with piquillo, Marcona almond, caper, yolk and paired with a thin slice of crostini. Although I’ve tried tartare at other locations, it definitely startled me when they brought out practically raw wagyu sirloin on such an odd-looking plate. The taste though, was a blast of flavor which was balanced out by the vegetables and seasoning. Finally, there was the rib-eye, cooked in medium rare (standard) paired with broccolini and seasoned with smoked soy and grilled onion jus. The rib-eye looked beautiful and was very juicy. One thing that I did find disappointing was the texture, which was a bit too chewy and hard to cut with the utensils provided.
Sammi Su | Loyolan
Three course dishes with six to seven options for each course are served at the restaurant. The first combination consisted of the farm egg, steak tartar and rib-eye.
As for my friend, she had the oyster for the first course, octopus for the second and by the waiter’s recommendation, young chicken for the third course. Personally, I felt like oyster was the most “worth-it” of all the dishes, with two palm-sized poached oysters in a creamy sauce and topped with a touch of uni and caviar. She let me try one of the plump oysters, and I felt like their texture wasn’t inconsistent, which is my usual complaint with this dish. Following up, the second dish was called octopus. As with all the other dishes with very general names, I was surprised to see a salad served with octopus. Served in a Japanese-inspired bowl, the octopus is diced into smaller chunks and mixed with shelling beans, bacon bits, puffed wild rice and various other vegetables. The freshness of the herbs in the dish helped balance out the heaviness of all the oysters from before, which was refreshing. Lastly was the young chicken — a baby chicken decorated with baby carrots and seasoned in a chanterelle purée paired
with a soft, crunchy brioche. While normally I’m skeptical toward ordering chicken at high-end places, especially one with such a high price tag, the waiter was very engaging and strongly recommended giving it a try. Needless to say, the young chicken felt like finding a diamond in the rough. It was a delectable choice for those who aren’t up for a heavy dinner. My one complaint with this restaurant would be the overall normality of the ingredients, especially the farm egg and young chicken. However, the creativity behind some of the dishes accounted for the lack of ingredients commonly found in other restaurants of its type. With the exception of the oyster, steak tartare and rib-eye, there weren’t that many dishes that call for the set price. Overall, the food was creatively presented, but it taste-wise did not leave as much of an impact as the restaurant boasts.
This is the opinion of Sammi Su, a freshmen marketing major from West Covina, CA. Tweet comments to @ laloyolan or email comments to editor@theloyolan. com.
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Coachella combines faith, music Cormac ‘n Cheese Cormac Dolezal
Asst. Life+Arts Editor @cormacdolezal
T
he Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was held in the Coachella Valley of Indio, California from April 12-14 and 19-21. As with every year, the famous desert festival featured performances from a number of prominent music acts. This year’s headliners included Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino and Tame Impala. Billie Eilish, Weezer, Khalid and many more also performed throughout the two weekends. The concert was a massive hit both critically and financially. Although reports for this year are still coming in, last year’s Coachella grossed $114,593,000 according to Pollstar, and that number is only expected to grow. As successful as the festival was, it wasn’t without plenty to talk about. Spread across a series of high holidays including Easter Sunday, Passover and the infamous 4/20, this year’s Coachella had a diverse set of expectations from people on what the weekend should look like. For those hoping to find a little religion while still enjoying a Coachella selfie or two, there was plenty to do.
On Easter Sunday, Kanye West hosted a “Sunday Service At The Mountain.” As with anything Kanye West does these days, his Sunday Service had a number of people talking. West performed several gospelinfused songs to an audience of excited listeners willing to make the journey up the mountain. West featured familiar songs such as “Jesus Walks” and “Ultralight Beam,” as well as his new song “Water.” Approximately 50,000 people were in attendance including Chance the Rapper, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner.
one and “Church Socks” on the other went for $50. West has been criticized by some for using a worship service as a means of making money with several people referring to him as a “Prophet for Profit” on Twitter. Comparatively, others found the service to be quite motivational. “I would definitely say I appreciate his energy and how empowering the service was,” said William Kaiser, sophomore journalism major and Coachella attendee. “He did a great job of having the choir join him while performing
“Spread across a series of high holidays including Easter Sunday, Passover and the infamous 4/20, this year’s Coachella had a diverse set of expectations from people on what the weekend should look like.” Additionally, West was selling his own religion-themed merchandise titled “Church Clothes.” Sweaters labeled “Holy Spirit” and “Trust God” went for between $165 and $225, and socks with the words “Jesus Walks” on
some [of] his songs like ‘Fade’ and ‘All Falls Down’ and using them as songs of encouragement as well as incorporating messages based in faith values.” Kanye’s performance wasn’t the only one that has been considered holy
this past weekend. In a surprising turn of events, Justin Bieber performed live for the first time in two years in a return that can only be described as “biblical.” He joined Ariana Grande for her second weekend set, performing his song “Sorry.” Bieber has been out of the limelight for a while, keeping himself busy with his new wife, Hailey Bieber. After the performance, he promised the adoring crowd that a new album would be coming soon. Regardless of what you personally think of Coachella and its performers these past two weekends, I think we can all agree that they are definitely not afraid to keep things interesting. It seems like everyone is talking about the festival despite very few actually attending. For one of the biggest music events in the world right now, that’s exactly what the people behind Coachella should be shooting for.
For more Life+Arts stories, head to laloyolan.com, or find us on social media @LALoyolan
This is the opinion of Cormac Dolezal, a sophomore film and television production major from Woodbury, MN. Tweet comments to @cormacdolezal or email comments to editor@theloyolan.com
Music Industry Society to host an industry panel Representatives from Epic Records and more will appear. Donna Borges Life+Arts Intern @donnaborgess
LMU’s Music Industry Society is hosting “A Day of Music” this Sunday, April 28, complete with a panel of music industry professionals and a free concert by Los Angeles based musician Holladay. The event is also co-sponsored by KXLU 88.9 FM and KLMU online radio. The “How to Get Started in the Music Biz” panel will feature professionals from a variety of music entertainment companies. The event will take place at The Hill in Malone from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lily Catrone, junior marketing major and co-president and founder of the Music Industry Society, explained that the professionals will be talking about how they got started in the music business, as well as giving tips to students for getting started now. “Our panel will include Dylan Brewer, marketing
director at Epic Records, Brian Frank, owner of BFrank Management, Jazmin Vargas, artist manager at mija mgmt, and Chrystal Anderson, marketing assistant at Goldenvoice,” Catrone said. This is the perfect opportunity for students who are interested in a career in the music industry to hear directly from professionals about how to find a path to the music business. Following the panel, there will be a concert by Holladay, a queer Latinx artist, in
the Living Room beginning at 2 p.m. Holladay will be featured on KXLU’s latest live compilation with their song “Una Canción Para Ti Y Para Mi (Baby Boy).” Both events are free and open to the public. The Music Industry Society is a relatively new club on campus and so far they have hosted professional speakers as well as company visits to iHeartRadio studios and Paradigm Talent Agency for its members.
The Music Industry Society via Facebook
This hypnotic advertisement is for a music industry panel hosted by the Music Industry Society. The club is relatively new on campus.
life+arts Lions embarked on Easter adventures EDQ
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Emma the Engineer Emma Averill Life+Arts Intern @laloyolan
W
hile Easter break wasn’t the longest break we’ve had this year, several students decided to make the most of it. Some traveled to new places, while others revisited their hometown and favorite locations. For some, the break served as a great opportunity to get closer to friends through travel and fun experiences. Jose Camacho, a freshman studio arts major, spent Easter break at Yosemite National Park with 12 of his friends. Originally, the group planned on going to Joshua Tree National Park, but at the very last minute they decided to go all the way to Yosemite. “The idea was to have an unofficial bonding trip between some of the new members of the Ignatians service organization and the older members. The trip also helped deepen some existing relationships, since some people on the trip aren’t part of Ignatians but still made the experience so special,” Camacho explained. As incredible as the park was, the car ride there was no stick in the mud. The group made several stops at antique shops, Taco Bell and to see cows along the road. Camacho especially loved driving along the mountains and feeling so grateful for the beauty of nature.
via Jose Camacho
Jose Camacho and his friends journey to Yosemite National Park. This was part of the Ignatian experience, which focuses on interpersonal relationships between students.
Camacho also cherished sharing the experience of camping with his friends. “Some people on the trip had never been camping before and it was so much fun watching their reactions to it.” The trip also allowed him to get closer to his friends and have deep talks. As such, he felt this trip was a great exercise in spirituality, friendship and stepping outside of comfort zones. Sophomore electrical engineering major Megan West also took advantage of Easter break to explore a national park or two with friends. “Most of my friends and I are out of state, so we’ve never had the chance to explore the southwest before,” West explained. She and several of her
friends are from the East Coast. “So, we decided to take a road trip to visit the Grand Canyon over Easter break.” The group started the road trip by driving to Las Vegas, Nevada and seeing a Cirque du Soleil show. After, they drove to Zion National Park in Utah for a beautiful hike in the canyons. Finally, the group traveled to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. “It was breathtaking,” West said. “We did a hike a mile or so down into the canyon and back up. It was slightly terrifying but also beautiful.” The group stayed in a nearby town, then drove to the Hoover Dam in the morning before heading back to campus. West said this was “a beautiful trip all around, which made up for the
fact that we crammed five people in a small car.” However, national parks weren’t the only ways LMU students bonded with each other over break. While some students traveled and immersed themselves in nature, freshman political science major Riley McCoy decided to go home for Easter break — taking some of her new LMU friends along with her. A lot of her friends aren’t from Southern California and weren’t able to go home for break. McCoy is from San Diego, which is only a couple hours from campus. So she decided to drive home with a couple of friends for the break and show them around the area. For many in the group, this trip was their first time in San Diego. The group visited La Jolla Beach, the San Diego Zoo and Old Town. McCoy was excited to show her friends where she was from and felt the trip was a great way to get closer to her new friends. “I loved taking them to my favorite Mexican restaurants in Old Town. Showing them all the places I’ve been going to my entire life was like giving them a bit of how I grew up,” McCoy told me. “We also went to Wings-N-Things, a popular wing chain in SoCal that a lot of my friends had never heard of before. Overall it was a great time.”
This is the opinion of Emma Averill, a freshman civil engineering major from Porter Ranch, CA. Tweet comments to @laloyolan or email comments to editor@theloyolan.com.
Page 14
SPORTS
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Herman embraces his role as fan favorite Herman from Page 16
He then played in the Under-18 Championships in both 2011 and 2012 . Herman’s national team experience also provided a stepping stone for the next portion of his path to LMU. In 2012, he joined Canarias Basketball Academy (CBA), a basketball program in the Canary Islands in Spain that has trained dozens of college basketball players. Although he didn’t know at the time, Herman’s road to LMU began when he entered CBA. LMU’s head coach, Mike Dunlap, was friends with CBA director and founder Rob Orellana, who told him about Herman. Dunlap, in turn, began the recruiting process. But before that, Herman learned about LMU while at CBA. Richard Petruška, a former NBA player who was one of Herman’s coaches at CBA, played for a season at LMU. Petruška talked about LMU and piqued Herman’s interest in the school and the program. “He told me that [LMU] was the best year of his life,” Herman said. “I was like, ‘Okay, I like that.’ That played a role.” Herman was also drawn to LMU because of the weather, the academics and the fact that it was his mother’s
favorite of all the schools he was considering. Once he arrived, he began to adapt to American basketball. “As a freshman, I had to adjust to what coaches wanted,” Herman said. “The physicality of the game and the pace of the game [were] different.” “I think Petr found the pace to be quick,” Dunlap added. “Time helped more than anything.” Gradually, over the course of his first three years at LMU, Herman found his place in the program and entered the 20172018 season hoping to be an important part of the team as a senior. But he damaged cartilage in his leg and needed surgery. He missed the majority of the season. After he was granted another year of eligibility, he began the rehabilitation process. Although the rehab period was lengthy and tedious, Herman came out of it feeling like a changed person who had a new perspective on life as an athlete. “It really helped me a lot to understand the body process,” he said. “I appreciate it more [now].” He was ready to go by the time the season started, and he served as a contributor for one of the best teams in LMU basketball history. He carved out niches as a pick-and-roll defender and a smart offensive player who provided a spark off the bench.
Brian Gilmartin via LMU Marketing and Communications
Petr Herman (11) secures a rebound against Gonzaga. Herman returned from an injury to become a key contributor and a fan favorite during the 2018-2019 season.
That offense was the catalyst for fans to throw energy behind him. Supporters began showing up to games with cutouts of his head. After every dunk, basket in the post and big play, the cheers from the Gersten Pavilion crowd were unmistakable. “PE-TR HER-MAN! (Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.) PE-TR HER-MAN! (Clap, clap, clapclap-clap.)” Now that Herman’s time at LMU has concluded, he and
Dunlap are both beginning to reflect on his collegiate career. Dunlap noted that Herman often made his biggest mark off the court as a recruiter and a mentor to homesick players. “When I would ask [players] who has the greatest impact on the team, all of them would say Petr does,” Dunlap explained. Herman speaks of his career in terms of what the program and the sport have meant to him. “This place has been like my
home for five years,” he said. “Overall, basketball has given me so much. [There are] so many things that I appreciate about it.” Regardless of where he goes next, he’ll bring with him the memories of his journey through the Czech Republic, the Canary Islands and the arena in Los Angeles that chanted his name. To read the full article, visit laloyolan.com/sports.
Chemistry leads beach volleyball to victory Volleyball from Page 16
“It took a lot of preparation. The way [the] girls started preparing way back in the fall ... took a lot of focus and grit. In that [last match], I never saw anyone show body language like they were fatigued, even though I knew they were,” said Mayer. “They just continued to go point-by-point and play really good volleyball. I was really blown away by how the girls competed all day.” By helping them develop into better players and get a grasp on a winning mentality, Mayer and the rest of the coaching staff have gotten the team to achieve the highest honor in the WCC. He saw how the team improved from the start of the season to now, noting that the team used to play safer and feel the pressure that they overcame in the championship. “We made lots of mistakes and we made lots of errors, but that didn’t seem to affect us. It looked like when the pressure was on—which, [the] pressure is always on—we were playing to win. We wanted to make the plays [and] we wanted to be the more aggressive team ... When you start to do that, you earn the right to be confident.” The players praised the coaching staff highly, with Prichard mentioning the gratitude the team has toward the coaches on the team.
“As a team, we are so incredibly thankful for our coaches and give them all the credit for our victories,” said Prichard. The players also attributed their success this season to their team chemistry, in addition to their intensive training. Their hard work, strong chemistry and championship mentality were factors that Slattery believes contributed to the team’s ability to make history for LMU. “We might have been training hard every single day physically, but we also took the time to build chemistry, and I have never felt as close to all the girls as I do this year,” said Slattery. “The difference of this year from the last is [that] I truly believe that everyone believed we could win and trusted that we put in the work. We deserved this title.” The close connection that the players have with each other was a big reason why this team was the one to achieve history for LMU. Prichard saw how they pushed each other in practice constantly, which allowed them to reach heights surpassing every LMU beach volleyball team before them. “Our LMU beach volleyball team is a family, and we are constantly pushed to be the best versions of ourselves,” said Prichard. “In this kind of environment, winning championships feels rightfully deserved.”
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SPORTS
Page 15
Hembrick wins Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholar Award Senior rower Ma’at Hembrick won the award for her academic and athletic performance.
we know that it pays off at the end of the season.” Hembrick has almost completed a degree in health and human sciences, a major within the Seaver College of Science and Engineering. The rower has lofty personal goals for herself after graduation. Hembrick is looking to become an obstetriciangynecologist, a doctor who specializes
Nick Rossi Sports Intern @LALoyolan
Earlier this month, senior women’s rower Ma’at Hembrick was recognized for her academic and athletic excellence with the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sport Scholar Award. The award is given to one member of each individual college sport nationally, with Hembrick winning the award in the category of women’s rowing. The Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award is named after famed tennis icon Arthur Ashe. The award is meant to recognize students who have shown dedication to both academic and athletic performance. Hembrick has managed to balance both her life in the boat and life in the classroom in exemplary fashion during her time on the Bluff. However, through all this, she still remains humble and grounded in her achievements. “I’m just very grateful to be recognized because it is such a prestigious award, said Hembrick. “I’ve been familiar with Arthur Ashe since I was a kid because I used to play tennis. It hasn’t really hit me yet.” Members of the crew team wake up nearly every morning at the crack of dawn to either work out on campus or row in Marina Del Rey. This type of schedule can become very taxing on a student’s mind and body. However, Hembrick powered through. She excelled as a rower while also maintaining a high grade point average. The rower admitted that despite the success she has had, she still finds it difficult to balance her sporting
“I’ve been familiar with Arthur Ashe since I was a kid...It hasn’t really hit me yet.”
via LMU Marketing and Communications
Ma’at Hembrick (center) pictured here rowing alongside her crew teammates. Beyond her life on the water, Hembrick has shined in the classroom during her time at LMU.
responsibilities and her school work. “I’m still not too great at it — it’s really hard. It’s a balance between taking stuff day-by-day and [getting overwhelmed] with all you have to do, and also trying to plan ahead as much as possible. So I try to just stay as grounded as I can,” she said. Hembrick also firmly believes that the skills developed in sports are applicable in other areas of life. The
skills learned on any respective playing field help athletes get ahead in areas outside of sports where these skills are transferable. Commenting on what sports have taught her, Hembrick stated, “[They] definitely taught me discipline and being able to do something even when you really don’t want to do it. For practice, we have to get up at 5 o’clock every morning. We don’t want to, but
in delivering babies. “As of now, I want to go to medical school in the fall and, with that, become an [obstetrician-gynecologist]. The purpose of that is to one day open my own clinic,” said Hembrick. “I want to have an entire women’s clinic for low socioeconomic groups in my community ... I want to take everything I have learned at this school about community and service and take that back to my community.” Matching the high aspirations of Hembrick, the women’s crew team has high hopes for themselves as their season nears its conclusion. They will head to Sacramento this weekend to compete in the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Championships. On May 18, the Lions will participate in the West Coast Conference. If the Lions can pull off a first-place finish there, they can earn a spot at the NCAA Rowing Championships for the first time in program history.
SCORES UPDATE
W W W. L A L O Y O L A N . C O M
Beach Volleyball
3-2 W
Men's Tennis
4-0 W
vs. Pepperdine
at San Francisco
Baseball Softball
4-6 L
LION SPORTS
SPORTS
at Saint Mary's
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11-7 W
at Santa Clara
April 24, 2019
Page 16
Beach volleyball wins first WCC championship The Lions defeated topseeded Pepperdine for the first time to win the title. Miles Thomas Sports Editor @LALoyolan
Last Saturday, the LMU beach volleyball team (2711) defeated the top-seeded Pepperdine Waves in the West Coast Conference (WCC) Championships, claiming LMU’s first ever WCC title for beach volleyball. The Lions beat Pepperdine twice to capture the conference championship, with the first win against the Waves being the first victory against Pepperdine in program history. The Lions came into the tournament not being favored to win, with Pepperdine holding the top seed in the championships and a No. 6 ranking in the nation, compared to LMU’s No. 11 national ranking. LMU started the WCC championships going 2-0 on Friday, sweeping Pacific 5-0 and defeating Saint Mary’s 4-1. The Lions would go on to face the Waves three times in the conference championships on Saturday, losing the first match to Pepperdine in a close 3-2 affair.
The beach volleyball team celebrates their win over Pepperdine in the final match of the WCC Championships. The Lions brought home their first conference title in its eight-year program history.
The Lions then had to go against Saint Mary’s once more, breezing to another 4-1 win before taking on Pepperdine in a rematch in the next round. The Lions' historic 3-1 first win over Pepperdine set up a
rematch in the finals for the title of WCC Champion against the rival Waves. In a close match, the Lions, led by winning pairs senior Sara Kovac and sophomore Jessie Prichard, graduate student
Megan Nash and sophomore Reka Orsi Toth, and senior Veronica Nederend and junior Emma Doud, came out with a 3-2 championship-clinching victory. Nederend and Doud were the pair to secure the win
for the Lions in the decisive fifth, capturing the Lions' historic first conference championship. For many of the Lions, this championship has been long in the making, with their ultimate goals from the beginning of the season being realized on Saturday. With the team excited over their first championship, there is also optimism for future success of the program. “This championship means more to me than just a [championship] ring,” said junior Savannah Slattery. “It stands for all the hard work we have put in on and off the court ... This is only the start.” Coming into this season, the Lions were called “the best team ever” by head coach John Mayer, in comparison to past beach volleyball teams that he had coached at LMU. The Lions backed up his high praise by making history for the program with this being Mayer’s first WCC championship as a collegiate head coach. Mayer, a former professional beach volleyball player himself, was impressed by the performance the team put up over the weekend and noted what the team did right to claim the championship. See Volleyball | Page 14
Herman lives out basketball fantasies The senior concludes LMU career following international journey. Alex Hutton
Asst. Sports Editor @LALoyolan
It’s a dream that countless young athletes have: to become the fan favorite, to have hundreds or thousands of pairs of eyes glued to you every time you touch the ball, to have the crowd chant your name when you make a big play. For LMU senior forward Petr Herman, that dream actually came true. A small group of devoted fans emerged early in his collegiate career and, soon enough, their excitement carried over to the rest of the LMU fanbase. “It’s obviously a great feeling,” Herman said. “Those guys are amazing, so it’s always a lot of fun.” It was the latest step in a basketball career that has taken Herman all over the world. He grew up in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, and it was there that he learned how to play
basketball and developed his passion for the sport. “My dad introduced me to it,” Herman recalled. “It’s always been my primary sport because I had a lot of friends [who played], and I just liked the environment and the sport itself.” He was thrown into the fire almost as soon as he began playing, regularly going up against boys who were two years older than him. “I had to work a little harder than everybody because I had to match up with them,” he said. “That was my addiction.” Herman’s mindset became clear: put in the maximum effort and the product on the floor will develop over time. This mentality drove him during his years as a youth basketball player and followed him to the Czech national program. He was invited to join the program in 2010. Herman, who was 15 at the time, quickly became a key player, participating in the FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship in the same year he joined the team. See Herman | Page 14