Los Angeles LOYOLAN The
EST. 1921
Immigration wall set up for Immigration Awareness Week
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See the LMU community’s response to the shut down of Club Penguin.
Baseball wins third straight WCC series
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Isang Bansa hosts PCN LMU’s Filipino culture club Isang Bansa held their 26th annual culture night in Burns back court. Sami Leung
Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan
Jonathan Kokotajlo | Loyolan
A border wall was set up by members of RESILIENCE and allies for Immigration Awareness Week on O’Malley Lawn, according to Bri Ortiz, former Loyolan News Editor and a freshman communications and Chicana/o studies double major. Other events include a Solidarity March today at 2:30 p.m. on Alumni Mall and a First Generation Community Celebration on April 6 at 6 p.m. in the Hill. Check out the Loyolan’s Special Section “City of Deportees” starting on pg. A for a more in-depth look at the human experience of immigration in L.A.
LMU’s Filipino culture club Isang Bansa (IB) held their 26th annual Pilipino Culture Night (PCN) to celebrate Filipino culture and showcase various performances from members of the club. The event was held on April 2 at 2:30 p.m. in Burns Back Court and was entirely student-run by IB, which was established in 1990. “The event was important to the community because it helped people learn more about Filipino culture,” Lani Ginoza, a freshman marketing major, said. “My favorite part was the Biyabg Bagong dance because it told a story and it was really colorful and exciting.” The event featured a play titled “IB There For You,” which follows the story of a freshman at LMU who joins Isang Bansa and finds a home with his IB family. The play culminated in the freshman performing in his own PCN. There were also performances showcasing modern and traditional Filipino dance and song by members of the club. Various cultural foods were presented at the event as well. See PCN | Page 3
Sigma Chi’s “Derby Days” kicks off Sexual Assault Awareness month Events like “Walk a Mall in Their Shoes” and “Take Back the Night” encourage openness. Silvia Velasquez News Intern @LALoyolan
The Iota Omega chapter of Sigma Chi fraternity at LMU kicked off their week-long philanthropy event, Derby Days, with “Walk a Mall in Their Shoes” on Monday, April 3. The event, which is nationally known as “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” is typically a group of men walking in heels to spread awareness for sexual assault. The crowd gathered in front of Sacred Heart Chapel where Briana Maturi, who oversees the LMU CARES program, gave a brief speech and explained the slight name change to the event: “We understand that gender violence can happen to any gender identity,” Maturi explained, “This is a great way to symbolize what it’s like to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and to really stand up for victims of sexual assault.” She then encouraged the crowd to grab shoes and signs before walking down Alumni Mall. The group, which drew around 50 or 60 people, was a mixed crowd of students, alumni and staff. Larry Daves, program
coordinator for Greek life, was among the men participating in the march. He expressed how awesome it was to see the men of Greek life eager to be involved in spreading sexual assault awareness. “We’re trying to raise awareness with these facts that are kinda scary and then advocate for people to step up and discontinue the sexual abuse that kind of surrounds college campuses,” said junior biology major, Jordan Detamore, who put together the whole event. “[The] big focus of the whole week is to spread awareness about sexual assault […] we kind of kick off Sexual Assault Awareness Month,” Detamore continued. According to a post on the chapter’s Facebook page, the funds they raise will go towards supporting the Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center, Build a Miracle Foundation and the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. The event also gives sororities the chance to win money for their own charities by participating in events such as Home Run Derby & Dunk Tank happening today from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Derby Dash on Thursday from 9-11 p.m. Both events are taking place at Sunken Gardens. Take Back The Night, an event which will feature speakers and a candlelight vigil, will take place at Burns Back Court tonight from 8:30-11 p.m. According to the LMU Events website, this event will give students the “chance to stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual assault.”
Silvia Velasquez | Loyolan
“Walk a Mall in Their Shoes” was held on Alumni Mall to raise awareness for sexual assault.
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NEWS is Neil Gorsuch? E. OM R H ICE. U YO R VO S. W U YO R NE U YO
Who BURNING QUESTIONS
Gorsuch’s Supreme Court Judge nomination causes controversy in the Senate. Austin Raymundo News Intern @LALoyolan
This week, Asst. News Editor Babak Abrishamchian sat down with Chris Cobb, who works as an LMU engineering professor and a contractor for NASA on the James Webb Space Telescope.
What work do you specialize in engineering, at LMU and at Northrop Grumman (NG)?
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I graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from LMU which is a pretty general degree that prepares you to do anything in a wide field. At NG, I specialize in mechanical design integration, which is another way of saying I make sure that big complex designs can be designed in pieces and when those pieces come back together at the end, they will fit together. I do this through management of the 3-D model database and the creation of engineering drawings to control interfaces.
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How did you begin working on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)? Luck of the draw. I got a job at NG through an adjunct professor at LMU who works there and the opening that was available was on this science altering project, lucky me.
Neil Gorsuch, 49, an appellate judge on the Federal 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, was nominated by President Donald Trump on Feb. 1 of this year to fill the vacancy left by deceased conservative Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia. Scalia was arguably one of the most conservative Supreme Court Justices within the past few decades. Gorsuch’s constitutional philosophy of textualism, the interpretation of the constitution by its legal wording, could in turn replace Scalia’s hardline conservative seat with a more moderate one. One of Gorsuch’s appealing traits to moderate conservatives is his consistent legal record. In his career, Gorsuch has been involved in over 2,700 cases, of which 97 percent have been decided unanimously and in 99 percent of the cases, he voted with the majority. “He’s a judge’s judge,” said Neal Katyal, attorney and chief advocate of the Supreme Court during the Obama administration. “In this world we are
in, what I care most about is a judge who’s going to be independent from the executive and call it like he sees it.” Yet, Gorsuch’s nomination has come against stiff opposition by Senate Democrats. Democrats have enough votes to impose a filibuster, a procedural tactic used to delay and derail voting on a policy nomination. Senate Republicans have responded to the Democrat’s opposition by threatening to trigger the “nuclear option.” This would allow Senate Republicans to rewrite rules reducing
the number of votes necessary to confirm Gorsuch from 60 to 51. “They can choose to go nuclear or they can sit down with Democrats and find a way forward that preserves the grand traditions of this body,” said Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat minority leader. Gorsuch is the youngest Supreme Court nominee in the past quarter century. Justices are on a life tenure, so if Gorsuch is confirmed, his rulings will continue to have an effect for years to come.
Christian Boggs | Loyolan
Gorsuch is President Trump’s pick as the new Supreme Court judge.
How do you contribute to the development of the telescope? I started working back in the preliminary design phase, and back then I worked to make sure that all of the hundreds of different organizations who are responsible for different pieces, that they were all working in the same sandbox. I worked to make sure that Team 1 didn’t build a square hole while Team 2 built a round peg. As the project matured and hardware was built, I designed the installation requirements to ensure that the technicians who actually assemble this beast do so according to the design requirements. Then the fun part — I got to be on the floor, dressed in a clean room suit right next to this incredible hardware, working with the technicians to troubleshoot and verify that everything was done properly.
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How has working on JWST impacted your lectures at LMU? First and foremost, it gave me everyday professional experience doing the concepts that I am teaching to these students. So I can teach these concepts well, because I apply them everyday on a complex mission. But also it has helped to me to energize and encourage the students. I pull up the live “Webb” cam and show the students what the hardware looked like at that very moment and talk about the science behind it. The students light up and ask question after question wanting to more about it. And that makes it so rewarding for me to see.
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Do you think this will have a big impact on NASA’s search for exoplanets habitable by humans?
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Absolutely. JWST has in it’s toolbox many of the tools we currently use to find exoplanets indirectly. But for the first time we will have the capability to directly image exoplanets. Even if it’s just a dot we would for the first time have an image of an exoplanet and we can learn a great deal from that.
What is the most exciting part of working on JWST?
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The knowledge that I am helping create something that will change humanity’s understanding of the universe and as a bonus, the enthusiasm I see other people exhibit when they hear about this project. It’s a feeling you can’t get from any other project.
MORE QUESTIONS
Want to read more questions with Cobb? Check them out at laloyolan.com.
Preview Day 2017 Student Engagement Fair A showcase of LMU’s clubs and organizations Sunday, April 23, 2:30 - 5 p.m. Show incoming students what Lion pride is all about! In order to attend, you must register your club with Brittany Melvin – bmelvin@lmu.edu *Sponsored by Undergraduate Admission, please register by April 12.
NEWS
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Awareness for those on the autism spectrum LMU tackles stigma against autism with events throughout April. Kayan Tara News Intern @kayantara
The month of April is dedicated to raising awareness for people with autism and the issues surrounding it, according to the Autism Society. Additionally, the United Nations has designated April 2 as “World Autism Awareness Day.” The Autism Society launched nationwide efforts in the United States to promote autism awareness in schools, universities and workspaces. These initiatives help to create a society that is inclusive and supportive for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the hope that they can live self-determined, equal and high quality lives. Since 2008, the group Autism Speaks has organized a campaign called “Light It Up Blue,” to raise even more awareness about the prevalence of autism around the country. Additionally, in honor of World Autism Awareness Day, both the White House and the Empire State Building were gleaming in blue throughout the evening in support of the cause. For the month of April, LMU psychology professor Dr. Sabine
Huemer’s class on autism has been preparing and organizing events as a part of LMU’s Autism Awareness Week. An estimated 0.4 to 1.7 percent of college students have autism and 80 percent of college students with autism either drop out or fall behind in their coursework despite their adequate cognitive abilities, according to a previous Loyolan interview with Dr. Huemer in November 2016.
Huemer said the goal is to raise awareness for autism and that it affects children and adults alike. The event also highlights the achievements of LMU students with autism. “Autism is everywhere. In autism, your brain just works a little different. Some things are harder, like sensory integration and social communication, while other things may be easier. Be aware that you may judge
people for certain behaviors without knowing they have autism. What we all can do: Understand, Love, and Accept.” The department of psychology, organized by Huemer and her psychology autism class has several events, talks and classes throughout the year that help tackle the stigma against autism in the hopes of creating an environment here at LMU that is supportive,
Riis Irving-Peterson | Loyolan
Art created by children with autism is on display in University Hall from April 4 to 11 for autism awareness.
Pilipino Culture Night celebration
inclusive and understanding. “I have learned a substantial amount of information regarding autism [from Huemer’s autism psychology class] that includes: different types of therapy, comorbid diseases, research and developments, and neuro diverse movement. As a result, our class has planned several events during Autism Awareness month to help promote awareness in order to break barriers, decrease negative stigma, but most importantly, educate,” stated Andrew Rodriguez, junior psychology major. “I’m thrilled to be apart of this amazing opportunity to spread love, knowledge and positivity in our LMU community with my colleagues and professor.” Kicking off Autism Awareness Week on Tuesday, April 4, Huemer’s psychology class held an event on Alumni Mall where there was a display with autism facts and figures to help the LMU community better understand autism. On Tuesday, April 4, Tom Iland spoke at the event “Breaking Barriers,” where he discussed his own personal experiences with autism while having graduated college and maintained a career as a CPA. The event “Art and Autism,” features works of art from people on the autism spectrum, and will be on display for viewing from April 4 to 11 in University Hall 1000.
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Want to shoot for Photo? Megan Karbowski | Loyolan
Pilipino Culture Night featured Filipino-inspired modern and traditional dances and shows by members of the club.
Contact Photo editor Sophie Broide sbroide@theloyolan.com
OPINION
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Look at the faces of immigration Board It’s an issue that presents a very entire country. Los Angeles alone is home to about Editorial realImmigration: and pressing reality for so many people in 1 million immigrants — half of California’s total Tor Marom
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Jackie Galvez Managing Editor
Isabel Ngo
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Board Editorials represent the voice of the Loyolan. They are written in collaboration by the Executive Editorial Board.
this country, state, city and campus. Trump’s controversial proposal to build a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico during the past presidential election campaign is manifesting itself today as the current administration takes concrete steps toward acting on those promises and sentiments. Heightened fears pervade immigrant and undocumented communities in light of the renewed focus on deportations and stricter immigration restrictions. However, this is no new issue. Former president Barack Obama’s administration oversaw the highest number of deportations of any sitting president, seemingly in contrast to the value for immigrant rights Obama publicly heralded. Unmet promises of pro-immigration reform were at least countered by a dedication to protecting Americanborn children of immigrants, with measures such as the DREAM Act and DACA, which the current administration has already begun challenging. Still, families have been severed and the livelihoods of individuals and entire communities have been threatened as a result of these deportations. Many lack the resources to make navigating the long and complicated processes to gain legal immigration status any more attainable. Concerns over the worldwide migrant and refugee crises have increased, yet debates yield inconclusive answers about how best to approach the growing numbers escaping religious persecution, political turmoil, economic difficulty and environmental crises. All, however, share a common pursuit toward better lives and opportunities for themselves and their families. Immigration is what began and has grown this nation, allowing it to progress in comparison to both its own history and the rest of the world. There are more than two million undocumented immigrants who live in California, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. That’s a quarter of the undocumented immigrant population in the
undocumented population. The culture, innovations and perspectives that immigrants contribute — regardless of how they entered into the U.S. — cannot be denied. Just last week we celebrated a holiday dedicated to the civil rights achievements of Cesar Chavez, a Chicano workers’ rights advocate and the son of immigrants who spent much of his childhood working in harsh conditions as a migrant farm worker in California. Even on this campus, we’ve been embroiled in the controversy; from the defacement of MEChA’s wall installation during Immigration Awareness Week a year ago to the strong student reaction to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol’s recent presence on campus, this is our issue too. We at the Loyolan recognize that immigration is neither new nor can it be ignored. It’s a conversation demanding our immediate attention, participation and action, especially given the University’s call for compassionate Jesuit values, global imagination and social justice in its mission statement. Even Pope Francis publicly called the U.S. immigration situation a “humanitarian crisis.” This global problem confronts our own community here on the Bluff. That’s why the Loyolan is running this special section “City of Deportees,” which includes a documentary series by senior film and television production major Antonio De Loera-Brust that details aspects of the immigration crisis in Tijuana. Find out more in the insert in the middle of this issue and by visiting laloyolan.com/cityofdeportees. We hope that you take the insights shared in this special issue and documentary not only as a challenge to your perspectives but as an empathetic light to shine upon the lives that are too often kept in the dark. We hope that as men and women with and for others, you walk alongside those you meet and engage with the stories you encounter here and elsewhere. We hope you see humanity in their faces and hear sincerity in their words.
“This is our issue, too.”
Don’t invalidate hypocrites too quickly A Sam Dunk Samantha Davis Asst. Opinion Editor @LALoyolan
I
hate to be the bearer of bad news, but hypocrisy isn’t immoral, nor is it a very good reason to disregard what someone’s telling you. Annoying? Yes, definitely. But immoral? Not quite. In fact, hypocrites are usually right – we just hate to admit it. Okay, maybe hypocrites aren’t usually right, but the very fact that someone is being a hypocrite doesn’t automatically make them wrong. If someone tells me not to do or say something, and
then turns around and does that very same thing, I’m not sure how inclined I’d be to adhere to their advice. But why do we have this mindset? Is it ego? I’m not sure. It’s easy to look at hypocrites and disregard their comments entirely. We do it all the time, but it’s high time we take a step back and realize that this instinct isn’t necessarily doing us much good. Take myself for example. I consider myself to be a feminist. However, I’m an imperfect feminist in a number of ways. One way I’m told that I fail in my dedication to the feminist struggle is that I listen to rap. Rap and hip-hop continually come under fire for misogynistic lyrics, in addition to a whole
host of other issues such as homophobia and violence, topics with which intersectional feminists are also concerned. People often ask me how I can listen to music that continually puts down and objectifies women. My answer is that I like it. While I’d prefer it if my favorite genre didn’t often refer to me in derogatory ways, I still listen to Wu-Tang Clan like it’s my job. Obviously, I draw the line somewhere – right around where Tyler, the Creator raps about raping pregnant women or when Eminem raps about beating women. Am I a hypocrite? Do I hold people around me to a different standard than I do for musicians? Yes. But does
Ashley Ma | Loyolan
Just because we may not always like listening to hypocrites, that doesn’t make their points worth ignoring right away.
the fact that I listen to rap music make me any less of a feminist, or render the claims and arguments I make any less valid? No, it doesn’t. I’m not going to say the world isn’t black and white because I find that statement to be overused and annoying, but I will say that the world is not simple. Think back to high school, when our parents and other authority figures told us not to drink alcohol or stay out too late. We’d roll our eyes – how could someone tell us not to drink when they themselves drink? How could someone tell us not to stay out too late when we were all aware of the shenanigans they pulled when they were our age? None of that made what they said any less valid. It’s almost instinctive to go to that place, to invalidate someone’s claims due to their character or hypocrisy. It’s hard to look past hypocrisy and internalize what’s being told to you. More often than not, we’re quick to judge the person who’s relaying information to us and forget to take what they’re actually saying at face value. It’s not easy to overlook the person and focus on what’s being told to you; but it is the message that’s important.
This is the opinion of Samantha Davis, a sophomore philosophy major from La Cañada Flintridge, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan, or email csontag@theloyolan.com.
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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. The Los Angeles Loyolan is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the California College Media Association.
OPINION
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Trust the power of time and you’ll find a purpose Clay by Clay Clay Sontag
I
Opinion Editor @LALoyolan
am the oldest child in my family — and say what you want about being the youngest or the middle child, but there are definitely some perks to being the first-born. One of the things I love most about having younger siblings is watching my two sisters travel through life’s madness before my eyes. Right now, that means I get to help my sister Kayla figure out her college plans — and doing so really put things into perspective for me as I near my junior year at LMU. Right now is the season of making college decisions. Lions on our campus know this quite well considering the sudden increase in college tours for potential LMU students. But as I see tour groups pass by and I talk to Kayla about her future, I am brought back to the questions that kept me up at night before move-in day freshman year: How will I make friends? Will I find my home here? Who will I be? To some extent, I can say that I’ve found concrete answers to these questions. To another extent, I can’t say I’ve been met with closure. I’m starting to think closure is a myth, if I’m being honest. But one thing
Clay Sontag | Loyolan
Clay Sontag and his high school friend, Sami Petrucci, imitating The Breakfast Club on their last day of high school. I can say for sure, however, is that finding your place in college is an ongoing process rather than some gift delivered to you on your first day. That won’t happen here, and that probably won’t happen anywhere. But you know what? That’s okay. I’ll give you an example of how things went for me. When I showed up to this campus, I had no intention of joining Greek Life. I never had anything against it, but it just wasn’t on my radar — spoiler alert: I found myself rushing earlier this semester. As of this week, I am a member of the Delta Sigma
Phi Fraternity after an eight-week pledging process and I could not be happier that I went through with it. I could bore you with why I ended up doing something I never thought I’d do, but that’s not important. The important thing is that I kept myself open. I never closed myself off from opportunities racing down the sides of my peripheral vision and that made all the difference. The more you allow yourself to experience, the better off you are. Now, going into my junior year, I walk around campus with people to greet, hands to shake and places to be. The campus that used to feel
like a big mystery to me suddenly feels more intimate. You know that saying about how time heals all? That’s certainly true, but time also builds all — at least everything that’s worthwhile. Trusting the power of time in college is key. Two dorms and a major-switch later, I am writing this less lost than I was when I got here. It doesn’t sound like much but — trust me — feeling like you’re wandering through life plagues more college students than you might think. I remember long nights, staying up with my friends in high school and attempting to predict what we had
ahead of ourselves in college. The night before my best friend Sami moved into NYU, we even snuck onto our school track at midnight to reflect and look ahead. Never in a million years could either of us guess what college would actually have in store for us, and both of us are still finding our way. When I talk to Kayla now, and I’m sure I’ll go through this again with my youngest sister Chloe two years from now, I want to express to her all of the things I’ve mentioned here — but it’s not always comforting. I know this might shock you, but saying that you’ll be less lost after two years of college doesn’t always help people sleep at night. The quicker you expect a journey and not a destination, the more you’ll be okay with what I’ve had to say here. And the more you’ll learn to love the ride. To all the freshmen out there, I hope you know that your time here will change you for the better. And if you even feel a little less lost than you did yesterday, then congratulations: You’re on your way.
This is the opinion of Clay Sontag, a sophomore screenwriting and psychology double major from Smithtown, New York. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan, or email csontag@theloyolan.com.
LMU Student Special
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OPINION
OPINION
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Immigrant domestic violence survivors need justice Here’s the Dil-Emma Emma Lane
Asst. Opinion Editor @LALoyolan
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our undocumented women in Denver, Colorado recently dropped domestic violence charges due to fear of deportation. According to Denver City Attorney Kristin Bronson, the women didn’t want to appear in court because Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers had been seen outside of the Denver Courthouse waiting to arrest a different undocumented individual. This incident reflects the increased sense of alarm felt by the immigrant community in response to the Trump administration’s harsh rhetoric and anti-immigrant agenda. In 2013, President Barack Obama extended the Violence Against Women Act to protect undocumented people living in the United States. This legislation prevents women from being deported when coming forward with domestic violence charges. But as the Trump administration pushes for increased deportations and stricter immigration policy, it seems these protections are not enough to support undocumented women. The Denver cases show the
extent to which undocumented people have been dehumanized in the United States. The safety of these women is threatened no matter what they choose to do: face abusive spouses or potential deportation. It’s disgraceful that their pursuit of justice could be met with another threat. When we use terms like “illegal” to describe migrants, we are allowing constructed laws to dictate someone’s identity. While residing in the United States without documentation may technically be illegal, why is this isolated action used to define an immigrant’s whole person? Immigration laws change drastically over time, as do definitions of citizenship. For example, President Ronald Reagan’s 1986 immigration reform offered amnesty to any immigrant who entered the country before 1982, as told by NPR. One bill had the potential to suddenly redefine the legal status of millions of people. Our use of these terms and structures to describe immigrant identities dehumanizes them, and causes us to overlook the injustices they face. While immigrant survivors of domestic violence still struggle to achieve justice, general efforts to combat this issue have increased in recent years. Many colleges
Ava Arshadi | Loyolan
Domestic violence is illegal, but the immigrants who experience it are not. and universities, including LMU, promote awareness of these issues as they’ve garnered more and more attention. The LMU CARES program advocates for healthy relationships through online resources and seminars. Belles Service Organization holds Domestic Violence Awareness month every October, putting on events to educate students and empower survivors. We all recognize domestic violence as a problem, so what makes circumstances different for undocumented women? Why aren’t they afforded the same empathy we feel for those of legal status? We can’t qualify our opposition to problems in society. We can’t say, “I’m against domestic violence but only in certain circumstances.” To create change, we must learn how social justice issues affect others,
rather than only understanding our own experiences. For me, combating domestic violence means educating myself on the ways it affects communities of color, undocumented individuals and LGBTQ+ people — not just straight, white, cisgender female college students. This isn’t to say that one experience is less valid than the other, but it does mean that to fully understand an issue, we need to realize who it disproportionately affects, and why. Migrant women are particularly vulnerable in domestic violence situations. Abusers have additional ways of controlling their spouses — they can prevent them from learning English, destroy residency or travel documents, threaten to contact ICE agents or misrepresent legal matters, like claiming their spouse will face
deportation if she comes forward. While escaping domestic violence situations is complex and dangerous for all survivors, migrant women in particular deal with significant barriers. Resources should be provided to alleviate these challenges, rather than allow them to persist. Often, accessing any government services is a concern for undocumented individuals and their families. Some migrants are deterred from signing up for healthcare coverage, for example, due to fear of deportation. While ICE has confirmed that any information disclosed through healthcare registration will not be used against migrants, this statement provides little comfort as communities face the agenda of the current administration. Ultimately, it’s our responsibility to extend our understanding and empathy to groups on the margins. We cannot allow constructed borders and laws dictate a person’s value. Rather, we must prevent the dehumanization of migrants and ensure they’re able to live with the same sense of safety that we’re afforded.
This is the opinion of Emma Lane, a junior English major from Portland, Oregon. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan, or email csontag@theloyolan.com.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE
Q&A: Alumna talks autism awareness Recent LMU grad Niya Wright shares how ASD inspired her family. Karis Addo-Quaye Social Justice Editor @LALoyolan
Editor’s Note: This is ashortened version of the orignal article for print. To read the full article, visit laloyolan.com. In light of Autism Awareness Week and the several events being held across campus this week, one LMU alumna’s personal experiences living with her younger brother Nassan, who has grown up with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), sheds a personal insight into the world shared by those with ASD, their families and their communities. Niya Wright (‘16), who graduated just last year as a communication studies major, has a unique perspective as the daughter of the founder of Nassan’s Place. Her mother started the non-profit after recognizing a gap in community awareness and a lack of resources available for those from her hometown of East Orange, New Jersey whose lives are impacted by loved ones with ASD. The service organization community at LMU has raised money for the organization in multiple instances, most notably being the All Org Talent Night held in spring semester of 2015. KA: Tell us a bit about who Nassan is and how he’s grown up in your family’s dynamic over the years. How has the ASD posed challenges and brought blessings into your life? NW: My little brother Nassan was diagnosed with autism when he was 2 years old. My life never was the same after that. Nassan has taught me so much about patience, understanding and the importance of compassion for other human beings. He is such a sweet boy who has grown and matured so much. When Nassan was younger, he was
violent, suffered from epilepsy and didn’t know how to complete daily tasks such as putting on his clothes and brushing his teeth. It was hard for our family to see Nassan in so much pain and since he is nonverbal, he could never express how he was feeling. As Nassan has gotten older, it has affected the family dynamic greatly. Nassan needs constant day-to-day care and there are many sacrifices that we each have had to make in order to help Nassan live a better life. My little sister and I never hung out with friends or did after school programs in middle school because we had to come home and help watch Nassan until my mom got home. And my mom has sacrificed the most in order to help Nassan in his day-to-day life. She monitors his medication, ensures he attends his weekly therapy and even created a nonprofit that has recreational programs to support autistic children and their families. My mom saw that there were no services in our community to support Nassan so she wanted to be a part of the solution, not the problem. The biggest blessing Nassan has given me and my family is compassion. Nassan might be different than the average child, but he is the sweetest boy and I love him more than words can express. Just because someone is different from you does not mean you can’t respect and love them.
KA: How did Nassan’s Place begin and what were the organizations goals back then versus now? In other words, how has the mission of Nassan’s Place grown over the years? NW: Nassan’s Place began because my mother, Nadine, could not find affordable recreational services in our inner city of East Orange. She so desperately wanted to take my brother to the movies or skating, just as every child is allowed to do, but the wondering eyes of others made it hard for her. So Nassan’s Place’s mission is to provide affordable recreational and educational services for families and children affected by autism.
via Niya Wright
Wright’s mother, Nadine Wright-Arbubakrr, pictured above with her son Nassan, founded Nassan’s Place to help those with ASD in her community.
When she first started five years ago, she had the sensory friendly movie days and skate days where families could come and the theater or skate park was rented out that day just for them so they could feel safe and comfortable. And as time passed and she listened to what the families needed, she started having a monthly support group with provided daycare for the children. Autism is a life changing diagnosis and support from your family and the autism community is key in helping families live productive lives. My mom also hosted a six week swim lesson with the kids because the highest rate of fatality among autistic children is water-related,
but so many people cannot afford the swim lessons. My mom is an amazing collaborator and works with the community to create programs that these families need. The biggest goal my mom has had since the beginning of Nassan’s Place is to open up her own center to house the necessary programs the families need and to one day open centers like it all over the country. KA: Given LMU’s events for Autism Awareness Week, what do you think the LMU community should know about how they can help support and bring positive awareness to the ASD community?
NW: I think it is awesome that LMU is hosting events during Autism Awareness week. The best thing the LMU community can do is be open and get involved. Be open to learn what autism is and how it affects a person and their family’s day-to-day life. Be open to empathize with an autistic person during a meltdown in a public space because they are not often in control in those moments. It does not mean they have bad parents or they are a bad person, they just need you to be patient with them. And once you educate yourself, you must use what you’ve learned to educate people. When you’re with your friends, ask them if they know what autism is or if they know someone with it. And don’t judge anyone for not knowing or possibly asking an insensitive question. Many people don’t mean to be rude, they just don’t know how to approach the situation. Maybe a group of people can host a screening of a documentary about autism and have a Q&A after with a professor who is familiar with autism, a student studying it and a person with a personal connection, too. You can also volunteer at local organizations that help provide services for autistic people. So just get out there and educate yourself and then get involved in educating others and helping those affected by autism. KA: Is there anything else you’d like readers to know? NW: Nassan has taught me to appreciate every blessing in life and not to take anything for granted. We so often don’t appreciate certain moments in life as much as we should. Nassan helping to bring the groceries into the house or putting on his own shoes is such an accomplishment. It makes me think about how I take for granted the ability to speak since I know he cannot. Nassan has still never said “I love you,” and I know my mom would give anything to hear her baby boy speak. But he has progressed so much from when he was diagnosed that I have hope!
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BOTTLES & CANS
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CITY of DEPORTEES page B
What the wall means to me: My time in Tijuana One student builds a bridge of understanding between a border wall. Antonio De Loera-Brust Contributor @LALoyolan
When I was 10 years old I lived in Germany, not too far from Berlin in what had formerly been the Communist East. That’s the first time I saw pieces of the Berlin Wall, like the one we have here on campus across from the Lair. What still strikes me the most is seeing how one side turned the ugly symbol of repression into a canvas for the creative energies of a city under siege and how the other side stood blank and clean, as the guards would shoot whoever approached. The lesson stuck with me: The art and graffiti side was free, the side with the guards was not. That’s the first thing I noticed when I first saw the U.S.-Mexico border wall on a De Colores trip in 2013. The Mexican side of the wall is alive with colors, political statements, murals and art. The American side feels hostile to all who approach it, even those living in the United States.
“The art and graffiti
side was free, the side with the guards was not.” On the American side there’s a tension and a fear of the unknown that the wall is supposedly protecting us against. My problem has always been that the other side for me is not unknown. I am now a De Colores trip leader and am thus fortunate enough to visit Tijuana regularly. The welcome that every LMU group receives when they arrive is overwhelming in its genuineness and love. Is this what we built a wall to defend against? As a Mexican-American, of course the bond I have to Tijuana is a bit deeper. When I first visited Tijuana it felt familiar, with sounds and sights that evoked family. Every time I go back it’s like visiting a hazy memory, like rediscovering a favorite childhood spot that I’d forgotten about. Everywhere there is evidence that this is where my people came from. I recognize my own ancestors in every stranger I meet. Is my country then walling itself off from my own family? To whom do I owe allegiance? Growing up in the U.S., I was always made to feel Mexican by my Anglo classmates. But when visiting Mexico, it was my cousins who called me gringo. Given this cultural dilemma, I have a special affinity for the border, a place where despite the best efforts of U.S. government policy, the lines are blurry, cultures are fluid and groups of people are in flux. For me, America does not begin where the border patrol agent allows you in. Tijuana is the real beginning
of America; it’s the doorstep. It’s where American dreams begin. It’s also where they become nightmares. For the past four years, I have met countless deportees in Tijuana. Hearing these stories provides a sense of closure for me; deportation had always been presented to me as a form of death. People were removed from our communities by a raid and we never knew where they went. Tijuana is the other side of that story. Thousands are deported every year and left in Tijuana with nothing but the clothes on their backs. For them, life as they knew it has ended and now they must build a new one or risk the desert to return to their old one. For me it makes the most sense to think of these people as a sort of American exile community. Like I did when I was a kid, what marks them in Tijuana is their Americanness; they aren’t used to Mexico. They come from Sacramento, Salinas, Watsonville, Bakersfield and Los Angeles. I often recognize the street names they tell me when I ask where they were living. They are taken from America because they are Mexican and only after deportation do they discover how much they had become American. Where the countries meet is where my identity and I feel most possible. It is also where I am always struck by the hostility that the United States — the country I am from and the country that I love — has towards people who look like me, sound like me, have names like mine. I reflect on my family’s own history of migration and how well it turned out. I have a brother at Harvard. I’m graduating from the LMU School of Film and Television in May. Who can tell us the American Dream is dead? We lived it. Yet every time I go to Tijuana, I see how many people tried like my parents and were struck down. Unless I lie to myself and tell myself that I am somehow better than they are, I cannot ignore the unfairness of the situation. If a wall was built because there were Mexicans who tried to become Americans, then how do those wall-builders feel about my father who did exactly that? How then do they feel about me?
“Unless I to lie to myself and tell myself that I am somehow better than they are, I cannot ignore the unfairness of the situation. ” This spring I produced a series of videos for the Loyolan, “City of Deportees,” taking advantage of the knowledge and affinity I have for Tijuana. For me the biggest goal is to show my peers what the border looks like on the Mexican side. I feel the short documentaries don’t entirely do justice to what it
via Antonio De Loera-Brust
Stills from across the border in “City of Deportees” show the humanity and variety of backgrounds shared amongst those who reside in Tijuana, Mexico, united by a common aspiration for the American Dream. feels like to live in the shadow of a wall pointed against you, with promises of another one on the way. But I hope that they do help increase our understanding of the effects of the immigration policies that are done in our name. All of this is happening only a few miles away, in a part of the border that LMU students are more likely to fly over on their way to a spring break vacation than to actually visit. It is unthinkingly easy for Americans to go to Mexico on a whim and without paperwork. Imagine if Mexicans had the same rights in this country. I am of course as biased as they come on this issue, for the simple reason that the laws as they stand have declared many people I care a lot about, illegal. If the laws were always enforced, my life would be made poorer by the loss of some of
the people who most enrich it. This is an objectivity-crushing bias, and yet I would argue that anyone who does not have a similar tie to those most affected can similarly make no claim to objectivity, biased as they are by distance. I do not hide that I want the laws to change, and until such time I do not wish to see these unjust laws enforced. I hope that regardless of our other views we can come together to change these laws. I hope that everyone on this campus can realize that they share it with undocumented people already. Is it really that bad? Did America come to an end? All of our lives on campus are bettered by the contributions of every single person here. It’s tragic that some had to climb the wall and cross the desert to get here, but I’m glad they did.
Every night, I pray for the people crossing. I pray for them to make it; I pray those doing their jobs and enforcing the laws fail to catch them. I pray God gives the Border Patrol a flat tire, faulty night vision and dead batteries and the migrants good instincts, fast legs and the courage to sustain the crossing and a long life of fear ahead in a country that does not welcome them. Every morning I wake up and I wonder how many of the people I prayed for made it. This is the opinion of Antonio De Loera-Brust, a senior film and TV production major from Davis, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan, or email editor@theloyolan.com.
To view the documentary and read additional articles, visit laloyolan.com/cityofdeportees.
CITY of DEPORTEES page C
A conservative’s opinion on immigration in America
One student argues that immigration is a careful balancing act Joseph Bellavia Asst. Opinion Editor @LALoyolan
I
mmigration is a topic that we cannot stop talking about, and rightfully so. Our media covers it, our president tweets about it weekly and our citizens argue and debate about it every day. Everybody has an opinion on the topic, but more often than not, the opinion from the right is vilified by the American public. As one of the few conservative thinkers at the Loyolan, I have the ability to represent a voice on this campus that is not often heard. So many people judge or generalize what conservatives think or believe about certain issues. This may be because of who is in the White House at the moment — someone who is extremely crass and outspoken on certain topics, such as immigration. The Republican Party is not a platform that I, and many other conservatives, subscribe to and believe in wholly. I think it is important for the students of LMU to know that, so it felt right for me to give my opinion — as a conservative — on immigration in the United States. Immigration is an issue that cannot simply be swept under the rug. Politifact reported that there are an estimated 820,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records in the United States. These are people who abuse our broken immigration system and use it to their advantage. These people
via Antonio De Loera-Brust
The U.S. immigration system is broken. The border wall separates family members, and doesn’t necessarily prevent criminals from entering. cannot be allowed to stay in this country. In fact, they cannot be allowed in to begin with, and that is why I am for tightening our borders. As adamant as I am on my last point, I won’t argue that illegal immigrants are stealing jobs from Americans or that they’re only bringing drugs and crime into the country. That is simply not true. Illegal immigrants do contribute to American society. According to Forbes, “two-thirds of illegal immigrant adults in 2014 [have] been in the U.S. at least a decade.” These are immigrants who live here and contribute to society without committing any violent crimes worthy of deportation. I do not think that these men
and women should be deported; however, I do believe that there is nothing wrong with the American people wanting to reform the country’s immigration system and tighten its borders. Donald Trump ran his campaign on the promise to solve the immigration crisis in America. He continues to promise that he will build a wall around the U.S. and Mexican border. I’m a conservative, and yet, I know that the wall that President Trump wants to build is ridiculous, not because it is an act of hatred — as many countries protect their borders with walls — but because it would fail to accomplish anything. While Mr. Trump and the American people argue about what
is right and wrong, immigrants are dying while attempting to illegally cross the border; men, women and children. According to The Guardian, the U.S. border patrol has found “more than 6,000 bodies [around the border] since the 1990s.” The goal of the American people shouldn’t be to let all illegal immigrants in, and it shouldn’t be to lock them all out, either. The goal should be to find a way to ensure that immigrants without criminal records can enter this country legally and safely. The immigration process is slow and inefficient, resulting in undocumented immigrants cutting corners and finding any way into this country that they can.
They do so by committing felonies to obtain false identification and spending every day of their lives in fear of deportation. I — and many other conservatives — are not unsympathetic to immigrants as so many believe us to be. We do not all just blindly follow what the Republican Party or Donald Trump says, and people immediately jumping to that conclusion is unfair. What we see is a problem that needs fixing, and that is something that everyone can agree upon. This is the opinion of Joseph Bellavia, a sophomore screenwriting major from Monmouth Beach, New Jersey. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan, or email editor@theloyolan.com.
CITY of DEPORTEES page D
BEHIND THE SCENES
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n February, senior film and TV production major Antonio De Loera-Brust came to the Loyolan with an idea: to write a piece on the immigration crisis in Tijuana based on his experiences on De Colores trips. In collaboration with the Loyolan, De Loera-Brust created a documentary to showcase the faces of immigration on one of his many trips to Tijuana, which is part of this special section, “City of Deportees.” Along with De Loera-Brust, several members of the Loyolan — from Managing Editor Matt Gaydos to Social Justice Editor
CITY of DEPORTEES Part I:
CITY of DEPORTEES Part II:
Karis Addo-Quaye to Senior Editor Janine Leano — came together to create this multimedia package investigating the immigration situation in Tijuana. We chose to release “City of Deportees” in this issue because this week is Immigration Awareness Week at LMU. Below are synopses of each part of the “City of Deportees” documentary series, which you can find online with the rest of this special section at: laloyolan.com/cityofdeportees.
In the first part of this documentary series, we learn about Casa del Migrante, a shelter that has served around 250,000 people since being founded 30 years ago. As the director of the program, Father Pat Murphy guides us through the purpose and ideology behind the organization. Originally founded to help migrants attempting to cross into the United States, Casa del Migrante has spent the last 10 years servicing a group made up mostly of deportees as a result of the mass deportations that began in 2007 and still continue today. We meet an anonymous deportee who had spent the past 35 years living, working and paying taxes in the United States, but has now been separated from his family who remains on the other side. Fr. Murphy touches on the importance of faith and community, as many who pass through Casa del Migrante do their best to pay it forward once they find themselves back on their feet. Between May 26, 2016 and January 26, 2017, the program has helped 2,000 refugees from 34 different countries, a majority of whom are from Haiti. While most end up unable to enter the U.S., they choose to remain in Tijuana as it is still safer and holds more opportunities for them than their home nations. Fr. Murphy sums it up best when he says that the American Dream has become the Mexican Dream for many. While running for office, President Trump gave a Memorial Day speech in which he stated, “Illegal immigrants are taken care of by this country better than our veterans.” In response to this statement, part two of this documentary series focuses on deported U.S. veterans. Hector Barajas served in the 82nd Airborne division of the U.S. Army as a legal permanent resident from 1995 until 2001 when he received an honorable discharge. Barajas was deported in 2004, and then again in 2010 after attempting to re-enter the U.S. illegally. He talks about his hopes to reunite with his daughter, and earn a second chance at finding work and being with his family. Next we meet Luis Vargas Salazar who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1980-1983. He received a Certificate of Recognition from former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, which states that “the people of this nation are forever grateful.” Salazar, like countless others, was deported and separated from his family on the other side of the border. Barajas speaks to the fact that many deportees do not choose to go to the United States in the first place, but are brought there as children and raised as Americans. Salazar had spent nearly his whole life in the States for 50 years before being deported two years ago.
CITY of DEPORTEES Part III: Along the border of San Diego and Tijuana, Friendship Park was dedicated by former First Lady Pat Nixon in 1971 as a place where family members from both sides of the wall could meet at the fence between nations. The fence was fortified into a “fenced corridor” in 2009, now restricting the contact previously allowed and keeping family members too far apart to touch. Here we see many families gathered to see their loved ones, among them a mother who was deported in 1990, pulled apart from her six children. She sings a song at the border wall with others playing guitars, and by the end of the song starts weeping for her children. “Until you actually live here, you can’t understand what is life at the border,” Murphy said. He speaks to the beautiful mesh of cultures in Tijuana and the accepting nature of the people there, who do not discriminate even when faced with 20,000 Haitian refugees. Murphy said that there may be “many attempts to tear down the bridges and just build a wall […] but I think there’s something deeper here […] there’s a connection of the heart.” All photos via Antonio De Loera-Brust
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Campus disappears from the face of the Earth Students woke up dazed and confused after the loss of campus. Casey Lee
Asst. Bluff Editor Students did not wake up in their regular dorm rooms on Friday, March 32. Sometime in the middle of the night, LMU vanished from Westchester, leaving a 142-acre blank space near LAX and students on front lawns and in random houses. Students who managed to find each other spread throughout the neighborhood agreed that they knew LMU existed at one point, but have no memory as to where it went. With no campus for students to go to, classes were not available and professors were no where to be found. In an effort to find LMU, Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers — who somehow survived the disappearance — recruited themselves as professional investigators. President Timothy Law Snyder has disappeared as well.
Images via Google Maps, Graphic: Kevin Chan | Loyolan
A Google Maps search confirmed that the school had disappeared, now beyond the reach of technology. DPS asked people in the neighborhood if they had any idea where LMU may have vanished to. Local long time resident and neighbor Elizabeth Snitch said she saw some mischievous students running around the
back gates with cardboard boxes. DPS determined this incident was just students trying to build shelters to sleep in — an alternative to the uncomfortable mattresses provided by the University in the past.
Snitch added that she has seen people with “sketchy backpacks” walking towards campus almost daily and at nearly the same time every day, although DPS confirmed them to be just students going to class. Snitch has since been written
off as an unreliable source. The DPS investigators decided to look further, teaming up on their Segways in search for LMU. They had no luck finding anything, as their Segway batteries died about a mile up the road. One possible answer to this missing campus case is that the collective willpower of the entire student body to no longer have class could have caused the campus to simply vanish. Other scenarios proposed by concerned students include a Harry Potterstyle memory potion deposited in all coffee supplies to campus, or just a freak meteor accident. “The loss of University Hall was our main starting point,” Chief of DPS Marlin Dory said — wearing black paint under his eyes and a bandanna tied around his head. “We’re looking into different possibilities. But for now, any tips on LMU’s whereabouts must be reported to DPS because we’re a little out of our element. Finding missing bikes is one thing; a missing campus is a whole other beast.”
Students protest proposed changes to ‘Mulan’ Motivated students marched against possible changes to beloved film. Sami Leung Bluff Editor
A small but passionate group of students took the streets last Thursday to protest the changes that could be coming in the newest of lazy, remade movies from Disney: “Mulan.” Recent comments from director Niko Caro insinuated that the new movie would not be exactly like the original, and students and fans were not okay. “Honest to god, I volunteer myself to sing ‘I’ll make a man out of you,” Hannah Larhoah, a junior film and television production
major, said. “I know all the words, and I bet whoever they cast is going to mess it up.” The group proclaimed that this was a movie worth fighting for, and they were going to continue protesting until the production studio agreed to bring honor to the original ‘Mulan’. Fans were also protesting the fact that Mushu would not be a real dragon and that the antagonists in the show would not be an authentic army of horse riding mercenaries recruited from Asia. “Disney needs to get down to business,” Larhoah said. “But at the same time bring us an authentic version of Mulan. I’m talking genetically engineered dragons, maybe train some crickets to hop around with Mulan. That’s not such a difficult demand for Disney.”
In addition to the protests, the students have even tried making their own version of Mulan to show Disney how its done, which will be released sometime next week. It will feature the students from the protest with battle scenes filmed in Sunken Garden. However, some students have their own ideas as to what they want to add to the movie. “Now that Disney has the rights to Star Wars, I don’t see why they can’t add a few lightsabers to the fight scenes,” Ben Leon, a freshman philosophy major, shrugged. “I feel like it would help the movie reach a whole new audience and add an element of danger. Or maybe even add a wookie as her sidekick or something.” The live action Mulan will come out in 2018.
Emily Noriega | Loyolan
LMU students took to the streets to protest alleged Mulan changes.
Community mourns the loss of Club Penguin A new club has been started on campus in rememberance of the Club. Casey Lee
Asst. Bluff Editor Club Penguin was an integral part of many of our childhoods, similar to the likes of Neopets, RuneScape and Farmville. But just the other day, Club Penguin was shut down due to a lack of traffic, thus shutting down a part of our childhood as well. LMU has been a little less happy recently because of this, and some students have turned to drastic ways of coping with their loss. A group of seniors were seen walking around campus in penguin outfits to pay their respects. One of the largest demonstrations came from Patrick Stewart, a junior civil
engineering major who started a candle light vigil for students to say their goodbyes and have some closure. “Club Penguin defined who I am. The biggest help to me was their strict ban policy, which made me a nicer person,” Stewart stated when asked why he created this candle light vigil. “I’m a civil engineering major because of that game. I was always amazed with the engineering perfection with which the iceberg was made. One of my biggest regrets in life is not being able to tip that iceberg.” Students mourned the loss of their meticulously decorated igloos, where many pre-teen party memories were made. They also acknowledged the loss of their beloved puffles; some students had upwards of 10 - 15 puffles that were left to die with the game. Next we asked sophomore mathematics major Megan Pereira about her thoughts on the
shut down of Club Penguin. “It sucks!” Pereira said. “I was still a very active member.” She was then banned from the candle light vigil for using foul language. A new club has been started on campus called the Club Penguin Club. Student Leadership and Development officially designated it a cultural club as though there is no applicable category for the cult-like culture surrounding the game. “We’re a really unique, diverse group of people,” Stewart said. “I believe we’re filling a hole on campus that needed to be filled.” On April 11, the Club Penguin Club will be hosting their first cultural event called “Tip the Iceberg” where people can embrace their Club Penguin alter ego. The event will consist of music, fishing, dogs dressed as puffles, and of course, a socalled “untippable” iceberg. Hannah Kim | Loyolan
Club Penguin fans have found a home in the Club Penguin Club on campus.
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.
life+arts
laloyolan.com Page 14
Get ready — It’s time for Philosophy with Philip Glass half Phil Philip Brazelton Life+Arts Intern @LALoyolan
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hat happened to the days of serious contemplation and philosophical writing? It seems to me as though interest in philosophy has started to taper off, particularly in younger generations. I believe college students should incorporate philosophy into their lives. The schooling system is foolish in its belief that knowledge in subjects such as geometry and theology will develop more well-rounded individuals. The part of my conscience that plays devil’s advocate says it is my hate for geometry and my loathing for organized religion that makes me say this. However, well-rounded individuals are born of experience, that is to say practical experience and scholarly experience. While I do believe it is important for students to read and discuss literature as well as learn algebra, I’m surprised by the schooling system’s general disregard for philosophy, especially logic, a major source of book-smarts. Philosophy is much too valuable to not be taught. I was never introduced to any philosophy or philosopher in elementary or middle school. Most high schools don’t even have philosophy courses, and for many students it’s not until college that we begin to learn about it. For me, it wasn’t until junior year that I was formally taught philosophy. My high school English teacher introduced the class to the Problem of Evil, metaphysical thought and most notably Albert Camus’ “The Myth of Sisyphus.” At this point, imagine a happy junior year Philip.
Ashley Ma | Loyolan
If the complexity of philosophy is too much to fathom, don’t be afraid. Simply take a moment to understand how the school of thought affects us. These class discussions and these teachers wanted to teach it, philosophy. It’s not like you can could be so much more if more lectures fascinated me and they couldn’t. just slip Plato’s “The Republic” in time was spent productively incited an excitement in me more What I realize now is that the between a “Magic Schoolhouse” contemplating rather than meaningful than most other English teacher I had junior year book and expect everything to unconsciously inputting useless things in my life. Since it was an showed the class that we were in turn out fine. information into your brain. English class, the philosophical a cave, of which at the time many To my fellow LMU students: Better this advice comes discussions were often cut short. of us were unaware. While there Do not let the experience of not from a hypocrite and not a Looking back, I’m astounded wasn’t enough time in the class wanting to take philosophy as a professional philosopher — it’s that it took so long for me to be to lead us to the exit, if I were core requirement scare you away less condescending that way. acquainted with such lines of allowed only one valuable idea to from pursuing philosophical Hey, we’re in this together. complex thought. take away from the class, I would lines of thinking. Hopefully, this column makes I’m not basing this in empirical choose that gift of philosophy The best advice I can offer philosophy a little less scary, a fact, but rather personal he gave me, which was more you is this: put down your lot more interesting and opens experience — if you put my word valuable than any other. damn phone. It prevents you up the door for discourse. to the test I think it would fare I guess it really starts at home from seriously reflecting Did you like this article? well. I truly don’t think there and is dependent on parents to on your life. It prevents you Check out more of “It’s time are elementary/middle school introduce their kids to something from questioning. It allows for Philosophy with Philip” in teachers out there that could as complex as philosophy. But you to comfortably pseudo- future issues of the Loyolan. readily teach philosophy. So while then again, we’re trapped: Most communicate your way through thousands of students go on to of these hypothetical parents an artificially created bubble of This is the opinion of Philip Brazelton, get their teaching credentials only took a basic, semester- users that flock to the blue light a freshman communications major from without studying philosophy in long philosophy class and their as an escape from rationally San Jose, California. Tweet comments depth, their students will go on knowledge is limited. Kids and dealing with existential dread. to @LALoyolan or email comments to tgage@theloyolan.com. to do the same. Because even if teens need to be guided through Your reality – no – your existence
Personal style is like an Cory’s Content Cory Hutchinson
Asst. Life+Arts Editor @LALoyolan
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ately, I’ve noticed that people work really hard to have a perfect Instagram aesthetic, like a black and white grid or alternating color patterns — even posting three related pictures at a time to give a cohesive look. But the reality of a perfect Instagram aesthetic is that it takes a great amount of time and effort to achieve it. People typically plan that out and spend minutes or hours editing pictures they’ve taken so that they know what to post and when. For some high profile users, that’s kind of their job so that sponsors keep giving them free merchandise or pay them for advertisements on social media. But for others, there’s not really an end goal besides having a beautiful Instagram feed. This sounds like a complaint, but I have zero qualms with it because I spend about as much
time picking out clothes or building extensive ASOS carts online. For me, my style is like my Instagram feed — it has to be planned out and there’s a cohesive theme. I find myself going for neutral color palettes — greys, whites and blacks — with the occasional blue, burgundy, military green or pink thrown in there. That color scheme almost seems like a requirement to live in L.A., but it works for me and my pale complexion. From there, it’s all about how the clothes fit, if they’re distressed or flowing, and if they fit my personality. I don’t really like tight fitting clothes because I like to be comfortable, so I usually buy a size up in normal clothing or go for oversized clothing. Typically, I go for a little edge with ripped jeans, distressed tees, frayed hemlines and anything that looks like I paid way too much for it — although I usually find myself shopping at H&M and ASOS. As for the shoes, well Chelsea boots, Doc Martens or Converse usually do it for me. It’s almost as if I’m trying to look like I don’t put too much effort into what I wear, but
that’s a straight up lie, so don’t be fooled. As for the little details, there’s a lot I can do with those. R i n g s , b ra c e l e ts, necklaces, watches and other accessories can be fun to pair with what I wear because that can also go a few different ways. I typically like unique pieces of jewelry like my silver f e a t h e r ring from a Navajo trading post in Arizona or the Louis Riis Irving-Peterson | Vu i t to n
Instagram feed
Loyolan
lock necklace I got from a small vintage store in Palm Springs. They’re different and they make people double take almost everywhere I go. Otherwise, basic styles made from gold or silver usually go well with what I wear — and I always wear my Daniel Wellington watch. Honestly, by evaluating my style, I could either look like I’m getting ready to fly to New York or spend a day shopping around Venice. That’s what’s fun about it though — I get to change things up every now and then with new styles and colors or I get to have a coherent look for as long as I want. The downside of that is I get bored very easily and end up looking for new finds constantly.
A good way to combat that is to only buy one new article of clothing and find as many outfits with that one piece as possible or to go back to stuff you’ve had for a long time to see what you can mix and match. Of course, there are plenty of times when I wear things that just aren’t my style and it’s usually because I’m too lazy to put something stylish together. Obviously, I’m late everywhere I go because I’ll put on about six outfits before I pick the right one. So, I either plan ahead or just throw my hands up and say, “Screw it.” Yet — as long as you know what you like and where to get it from — you can easily put together an extensive selection of pieces that make your personality shine through what you wear, kind of like those perfectly planned Instagram feeds. Whatever your style is, own it and above all else, be yourself. This is the opinion of Cory Hutchinson, a freshman sociology major from Palm Desert, California. Tweet comments to @ LALoyolan or email comments to tgage@ theloyolan.com.
life+arts
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LIFE+ARTS
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By Taylor Gage, L+A Editor, Graphic by Kevin Chan | Loyolan
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Clues Across 1. A feeling you get when you realize you have an essay due tomorrow and you forgot. 2. What you say when your parents ask how school is going. 3. What finals are, also the opposite of heaven. 4. What you do in response to the feeling you get from 1 across. 5. Superior to jeggings.
6. What LMU will charge you if are late on any payment. 7. A state of being that will incur a tardy. 8. Slang for feeling bitter. 9. I can’t wait for the summer, I’m going to get so 10. Every seniors dream day– set to come true this May.
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Clues Down 2. Examples of this are: Delta Zeta, Pi Beta Phi, Alpha Phi, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Sigma Phi and Phi Delta Theta. 5. The Catholic identity of LMU’s founders. 7. The most popular on campus meal spot. 11. Opposite of before.
7 12. An alternative to coffee. 13. The season school begins in. 14. Important to the game of golf. 15. The housing selection theme of 2017; “This is ” 16. What you'll likely need and end up paying off for the rest of your life.
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Best practical jokes of April Fools Day 2017 Young & Jaided Jaida Macklin
Asst. Life+Arts Editor @LALoyolan
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ell, another year has passed and we’re back to everyone’s favorite holiday, April Fools Day. Random fun fact: In Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Frenchspeaking areas of Switzerland and Canada, a common April Fools tradition known as April Fish, involves people sticking paper fish on the backs of unaware fools. Though none of them involve fish, below are the 10 best pranks that major companies played on us poor civilians this past weekend. 10. KFC’s Smart Bucket Break me off a piece of that. From their ad, it’s pretty difficult to decipher what the actual features of The Bucket are. The Bucket described by KFC as “the first ever voice-activated delivery and smart dining device from KFC” and looks similar
to Amazon’s Alexa — but in bucket-form. Honestly, what could ever go wrong when you mix chicken and technology? Even if I don’t completely understand its capabilities, I trust it wholeheartedly.
9. Amazon Echo with Petlexa They call her the Pet Whisperer. You’ve probably heard of Amazon’s Alexa, but what about her sister, Petlexa? Designed for animals, Petlexa communicates with your pets, helping them with their everyday needs such as ordering sushi or keeping note of how many steps they’ve ran on their treadmill. 8. Airbnb’s Humanless Hosts “They’re so lifelike, you’ll completely forget they’re not human.” The Humanless Host, Airbnb’s new innovation, will make you never need a human companion — at least until the battery dies. Just make sure you clean up after yourself once your trip is over. They’re mechanical, not maids.
7. Subway sandwich-flavored ice cream cones Pretty please with a pepperoni on top? Subway introduced their new salty treat this week, the SUBzero Ice Cream, which is as they say “your favorite sub in an ice cream.” I mean, who wouldn’t want a saucy meatball scoop or a zesty chipotle chicken cone?
French Vanilla and Hazelnut; the new flavor is in, and it’s piping hot: coffee-flavored CoffeeMate creamer for all you coffee consumers. Try saying that five times fast. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if this actually became a thing. Besides, college students need as much coffee as we can get.
6. Virgin Australia’s fluffy flight attendants Honestly, I would trust my life in the paws of a dog before any human. Since the beginning of 2017, dog employment rates have been steadily rising as there are more jobs created for them now more than ever. A major portion of this increase is due to Virgin Australia’s new initiative to hire doggies as flight attendants. Just press the dog bone button above your head, and your friendly aerial cocker spaniel or golden retriever will arrive with a comfy blanket or a light snack. There might be a little drool on it, however.
4. A Hot Topic dating app A goth girlfriend is only three miles away. Find that emo-tional connection you’re looking for on Hot Topic’s new dating app designed to connect all the blackwearing, angsty people in the world.
5. Coffee-flavored CoffeeMate Creamer Just drink the creamer. Goodbye
3. Google Gnome Do people still have regular gnomes? Google, the undefeated queen of April Fool’s, has struck again this year with the jokes. Similar to Amazon, in an ad released on April 1 Google introduced the brother to Google Home, Google Gnome. It caters to all of its humans outdoor requests from what the weather is to turning on the hose.
2. “All Stuf” Oreos No joke, I would buy this, a box of Oreo’s with only the creme filling. Oreo’s has recently answered the calls of many desperate fans and released their best Oreo cookie variation yet, one without any cookies. I’m just waiting for them to release the Double Stuffed version. 1. PornHub’s new “automatic video sharing” policy Block your mom right now. For frequent PornHub viewers, this is more scary than funny. On April 1, PornHub pretended to invoke a new policy where they automatically share PornHub users viewing activities on their Facebook feeds. After fans clicked a button labelled “WTF, reverse this now!” it was revealed that the website was cleverly participating in the world wide holiday that is April Fools. This is the opinion of Jaida Macklin, a freshman communications major from Chicago, Illinios. Tweet comments to @ LALoyolan or email comments to tgage@ theloyolan.com.
Humanz marks the return of the Gorillaz Taykin’ It Easy
Taylor Gage
Life+Arts Editor
@LALoyolan
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he year is 2017. The Gorillaz have been AWOL since 2011, and the world has fallen apart. A favorite of the early 2000’s, (and the Most Successful Virtual Band ever, according to the Guinness Book of World Records) the politically charged, and nearly impossible to emulate, alternative rock virtual band has been missed by the world and fans alike. It’s unlike them to stay quiet in such turbulent times, and fans have been left feeling like there was just so much more to be said and sung, aside from just missing their infectious tunes. It seemed creators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett agreed that the world needed more Gorillaz, as it was recently announced that they will make an imminent return. After dropping several new singles to preview the new album, “Humanz,” the Gorillaz’ fifth album is set to be released on April 28, and we could not be more excited. The first track from the album to be released, “Hallelujah Money,” came out on the eve of President Trump’s inauguration — a sure sign that the Gorillaz are still taking a stance on politics and other issues in their music. While Albarn has come out to say that the album won’t be exclusively and extensively about today’s political climate, he does say that some inspiration has been drawn
via Flickr Creative Commons Virtual members of the band Gorillaz created by Damon Albarn from left to right: 2D, Russel Hobbs, Noodle and Murdoc Niccals. from the shifting culture, which is something to be expected from such a vocal group. In an interview with BBC1, Albarn stated, “The album came from this dark fantasy that came into my head the beginning of last year, which was imagining the weirdest, unpredictable thing happening that changes everything about the world. How will you feel on that night? How will you go out – will you get drunk, will you stay at home, watch TV, talk to people?” “I suppose we were imagining Donald Trump,” Albarn continued, “The album’s not about Trump at all, but it was imagining that happening, in a way, that was our dark fantasy. And, unfortunately, it became reality. It’s a party record, a club record. But it’s got this weird darkness about it.” That weird darkness is why people have come to love them in the past and is why this album is so highly anticipated. The other singles that have dropped since, “Saturnz Barz,” “Andromeda,” “Ascension” and “We Got the Power” are all very distinct with different collaborators but still all retain this similar feeling of darkness, stoking the fire to the hype. As is common for the band, there are many collaborators scheduled to
appear on the album, 24 official ones and many more unofficially. They come from all areas of the music spectrum, new and old, hip hop to jazz and pop. The official list features Vince Staples, De La Soul, Danny Brown, Kelela, Grace Jones, D.R.A.M., Anthony Hamilton, Mavis Staples, Kali Uchis, Benjamin Clementine, Savages’ Jehnny Beth, Rag’n’ Bone Man, RAY BLK, Kilo Kish, Imani Vonsh, Carly Simon and Brandon Markell Holmes and many more. The overwhelming mass of voices and collaborators on the album contribute to the eclectic and bizarre vibes that can already be heard on the few singles available, meaning there is truly something for everyone. The album features 14 songs on the standard album and 19 on the deluxe; in their typical style, it also features interludes, narrations and story lines done by “Rogue One” actor Ben Mendelsohn. It’s accompanied by a visual album, cartoons and artistic works, which is not a huge surprise to Gorillaz fans, as they have been doing that long before Beyonce dropped “Lemonade.” They have, however, upped their visual storytelling game. Gone are the days of the band using loosely drawn cartoons —
replaced with the dawn of a new age of interactive and well developed fantasy worlds. They use these worlds to mirror our own in order to comment on society. I spent about an hour on their virtual reality version of the single, “Saturnz Barz (Spirit House),” on YouTube, absolutely mesmerized by the world they’ve managed to create. There are even hints of more to come. It’s possible, even, that the whole album will be incorporated into one VR storyline, which would be absolutely amazing. It’s insane to me that after all these years, the world of the four animated characters and members of the virtual band — 2D (lead vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar and vocals), Noodle (guitar, keyboards and vocals) and Russel Hobbs (drums and percussion) — still capture my attention the way they always have. Their worlds, style and story influence the music industry with every new hit, single and album. Albarn has managed to create a longstanding virtual band with basically only his own vision that comments on the world’s state better than any one individual could. The Gorillaz have also even announced their own festival, Demon Dayz, for a fully immersive
Gorillaz experience. It will begin on June 10 in Margate, England and of course, Gorillaz will headline it, for what will be their first major live performance in seven years. It’s been rumored that all the collaborators on the album are expected be in the lineup. This would make sense since, according to many sources and leaked YouTube videos, there was already a secret sold-out concert in London where all the collaborators came in some form (digitally or in person) to perform the entire album from start to finish. This secret show will go down as a historical concert I think we all wish we could have been a part of. Good luck with the wait until the end of April, and keep an eye out for any announcements about a possible U.S. tour. If they’re truly back, as it appears they are, I expect a worldwide tour is just around the corner for those of us that can’t make it to Demon Dayz in England. Long live the Gorillaz, and happy listening.
This is the opinion of Taylor Gage, a sophomore studio arts major from Napa Valley, California. Tweet comments to @ LALoyolan or email comments to tgage@ theloyolan.com.
life+arts Aja’s Angle Aja Hoggatt Copy Editor @LALoyolan
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ollege can be difficult. From moving to a new place to making new friends and balancing school with extracurriculars, students can sometimes forget physical and mental health. This can lead to problems such as loneliness, depression, addiction and much more. However, there is a new group on campus that wants to help students who may be struggling. To deal with these difficulties, LMU previously had a To Write Love on Her Arms group on campus that was started in 2012, but as students graduated it eventually came to an end. Feeling that that is a group that LMU needs, this year, Parisa Loftis, a senior theatre arts major has worked to bring the group back. “When we come into adulthood, we’re discovering who we are, and sometimes we might fall off the path of being in good health. It’s our first time juggling multiple things, juggling relationships,
school, if you’re playing a sport, extracurriculars, living off campus for the first time. That’s a lot to take, and if you don’t remember to keep a healthy mindset, you can fall to selfinjury, depression, addiction, so many things.” Loftis hopes that the group can help students struggling with these changes. While the group is called To Write Love on Her Arms, it is a group that supports both men and women and anyone is welcome to join. According to their website, “To Write Love on Her Arms is a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, selfinjury, and suicide.” The group is particularly relevant to LMU and the Jesuit goals on campus. Loftis says that since so much of the Jesuit belief is to create a whole person, they are focusing on academics, body, and the spirit. They are also paying specia attention to what kind of love they bring to what they do and themselves. LMU’s chapter was approved this spring and participated in Club Fest; however, the group will start being more active in the fall.
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Loftis does not see it launching to the extent that she wants it to until next year, which is unfortunate seeing as how this is her last semester at LMU. Though she will no longer be at a student at LMU when the group does go into full effect, Loftis is proud that it is back on campus. “Knowing that I left something here, that there was an organization focused on mental health feels good to me.” Currently there are eight people currently involved in the group. Next school year, they hope to recruit more members and have more events. Loftis is hoping to have one event before she graduates, sharing that there are plans to have a screening of the “To Write Love on Her Arms” film on April 20. Be sure to look out for To Write Love on Her Arms at Club Fest in the fall to get involved.
This is the opinion of Aja Hoggatt, a senior English major from Los Angeles, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email comments to tgage@theloyolan.com.
SPORTS
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Softball looks to turn over a new leaf in WCC Big Time Timmy Jim Tim De Vries
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Sports Editor @LoyolanSports
y splitting Monday’s doubleheader with UC Santa Barbara, LMU softball brings their overall record to 15-22 and closes the book on their nonconference campaign for 2017. A year ago, LMU finished 32-21 overall, and was projected to finish second in this year’s West Coast Conference (WCC) standings. After a breakout season a year ago, the Lions were thought to be the up and coming contenders to three-time reigning champion Brigham Young University (BYU). Despite a less-than-spectacular non-conference record, the Lions still have an opportunity to become the team everyone thought — and perhaps BYU feared — they might be. Although more than 60 percent of their schedule has passed, WCC play doesn’t begin until this weekend, meaning the Lions will have a golden opportunity to turn over a new leaf when they take on the Cougars this weekend at home. By the numbers, LMU has done all of the things this season that they might have expected to do in order to be competitive. However, the nature of the game of softball dictates that numbers don’t always tell the whole story. For the most part, the Lions have been statistically sound. On occasion — perhaps a few more occasions than head coach Sami Strinz-Ward would have liked — the Lions have
fallen victim to the big inning. In losses against top competition this season, it is common to look at the inning-by-inning box score and see a crooked number. A 3-0, 4-0, 5-0 and so on inning swings the momentum in the favor of the opposing team, and has often hamstrung LMU’s ability to win games that they are plenty capable of winning. Once again, the Lions have a chance to turn over a new leaf. LMU has been hitting .270 as a team, and has an offensive lineup that, when functioning at its best, is one of the most dynamic, explosive offenses in the conference. With runners in scoring position, LMU is hitting .292. Sophomore catcher and outfielder Irma Sanchez has been a welcome addition, hitting .316 and bringing unprecedented power to the leadoff spot, blasting three home runs thus far. Sanchez is followed by a powerful heart of the order, highlighted by two-time WCC Player of the Week, senior outfielder Amanda Dirks. Dirks is hitting a team-high .343, good enough for top five in the conference. Dirks has also hit five home runs and driven in a teamhigh 21 runs. Junior first baseman Aria Pogni is hitting .317, often in the sixth spot in the lineup. All-WCC infielders junior Alicia Brown and senior Alex Finie haven’t performed to their statistical standards, but both have performed well enough to command attention from opposing pitchers. In short, the Lions have shown that they possess the offensive pieces to compete with anyone, but they cannot afford to
Jonathon Kokotajlo | Loyolan
Sophomore catcher Irma Sanchez (18) has added a weapon at the top of the order for the Lions, hitting .317. continue to let the bats go quiet while the other team scores. They have the firepower, they just need to return fire. A 15-game WCC schedule lies ahead for LMU, along with a clean slate and the opportunity to exceed everyone’s expectations. The window is still open for LMU. The Lions have fallen short when they
haven’t responded to the big inning — when they haven’t responded to adversity. For the Lions, the 15-22 record they hold and the mistakes they’ve made to earn it is the adversity they face now. They have the talent, and now — by striving to be more consistent — they have the opportunity to turn over a new leaf
Junior Kiana Harpstrite (14) passes University this past weekend. “It’s too early to bury the season. The season went how I thought it would, just taking time to develop and to get better,” Witt states. “The patience and the work ethic have to be there. They have shown
the ball ahead to a teammate in LMU’s 8-1 victory over Santa Clara
for a successful WCC campaign. First pitch against BYU is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, April 7 at Smith Field. This is the opinion of Tim De Vries, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Lake Oswego, Oregon. Tweet comments to @LoyolanSports, or email tdevries@theloyolan.com.
Water Polo sitting strong with four to play SoDo Mo-Jo Johanna Knight
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Sports Intern @LoyolanSports
MU women’s water polo has only four games left this season, and is sitting strong ranked No. 4 as they look forward to the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) Tournament. LMU women’s water polo head coach, Kyle Witt, made it clear that the season is far from over, even though the Lions only have four regular games left before moving into tournament play. They still have time to change the game and rankings. “My favorite memory, my favorite game hasn’t happened yet. The season won’t be defined for another four weeks,” Witt said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to have a favorite memory April 25.” Witt also went into detail about how the championships and the tournament at the end of the regular season is a big focus for the Lions all throughout the season. In GCC Tournament history, the LMU women’s water polo team was declared tournament champion in 2014 and 2015, but have yet to take the title since, giving them the chance to leave their mark again this season. San Diego State took the tournament title in the 2016 season. Witt went into more detail about how the structure of the
tournament and how opponents are determined for each match. “Everyone plays everyone in the conference one time. The first place team gets a buy in the conference tournament, and then after that it’s just like any other tournament,” Witt said. LMU will play against California Baptist, Azusa Pacific, UC Irvine and Concordia before moving into the first round of the GCC Tournament on April 28. Witt also stated that the game against California Baptist will determine who will get the third seed in the tournament. According to the GCC Tournament schedule, the tournament will be held April 28 through April 30, all at Santa Clara University. As of now, it is clear that LMU’s first game is on April 28, but it is unclear who their first opponent is. Coach Witt gave insight to who the Lion’s toughest opponents will be going into the tournament, and some highlights from the season. “Our toughest opponents is ourselves. We’re on the right track,” Witt said. “Also, whoever we are playing on that day.” Witt then went on to describe that the Lions focus on whoever they are playing on that day because each team is different from the next, and with different teams, comes different strategies. Coach Witt gave some final insight on how he thought the regular season went over all.
Megan Karbowski | Loyolan
that they have that. The results ranges. The conference title will get to determine the success of the season or not.” After the GCC Tournament, there is the NCAA championships
held May 12 through May 14 at Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis, IN. LMU’s first game in the NCAA tournament is on May 12 and the opponent is still TBA.
smile. snap. share.
See your posts at lmu.edu/lmu17
SPORTS
SCORES UPDATE SOFTBALL
LION
7-1 L
4-0 L
W. TENNIS
vs. UCSB
SPORTS
BASEBALL
15-6 W
vs. Pacific
vs. UCSB
W. W. POLO
6-3 W
vs. Santa Clara
Follow us on Twitter @loyolansports for up-to-date scores.
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LOS ANGELES LOYOLAN | April 5, 2017 | laloyolan.com
Baseball completes series sweep against Pacific Can You Dignum? Andrew Dignum Sports Intern @LoyolanSports
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coring a combined 28 runs during a weekend sweep, LMU baseball (1810, 7-2 WCC) toppled West Coast Conference foe University of the Pacific (11-15, 2-7 WCC) by the scores of 8-7, 5-4 and 15-6. Combined with the series win against BYU last weekend, and with wins against UC Irvine and CSU Bakersfield this past week, the series sweep against Pacific gives the LMU Lions a well-deserved seven game winning streak. They now sit in second place in the WCC standings. However, without the help of freshman reliever Braydon Salzman, the Lions’ winning ways may have had come to an end in the first game of the series, as the Lions entered the ninth inning leading by the score of 8-2 with the Tigers refusing to let this stand as the final score. On three hits and two errors, Pacific pushed the score to 8-7 before Salzman struck out Pacific’s third baseman Kevin Sandri with a runner threatening in scoring position. Despite the frantic finish, the Lions played a complete game against the Tigers. They jumped into an early lead when Jamey Smart and Nick Sogard each had an RBI. In the contest, Smart finished the game 1-for2 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Sogard contributed two hits, one walk, one run and one RBI. The Lions’ pitching staff also put forth an impressive effort, keeping the lead for the entire game.
The Saturday game featured another dramatic ninth inning finish, with shortstop Nick Sogard completing a 4-2 LMU comeback win with a walk-off sacrifice fly. In the spotlight of LMU’s ninth inning rally was Billy Wilson, who ripped a game-tying two-RBI triple into right centerfield to give Sogard the opportunity to win the game. With the win, the LMU baseball team tallied its second walk-off win of the season and its eighth victory in one-run games. Senior left-hander Brenton Arriaga pitched an effective 6.0 innings of four-run ball, ultimately keeping the Lions in the game until their bats woke up in the seventh inning. Jamey Smart and Cooper Uhl’s RBI singles in the seventh inning jumpstarted LMU’s offense, which went on to score three more runs in the ninth, winning by the final score of 5-4. LMU totaled its highest offensive output of the season with 15 runs in the final game of the series. Senior left-fielder Jimmy Hill III was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, a run scored and three RBI. This offensive onslaught led LMU to its seventh straight win and its first sweep of the season. On the day, Cory Abbott put forth another stellar outing on the mound for the Lions. He recorded eight impressive strikeouts while limiting the Tigers to three hits and one run over 6.0 innings. He now leads LMU in wins with a 5-1 record and 2.84 earned runs average. In addition to the strong performances from Hill and Abbott, LMU welcomed another stellar performance from senior Phil Caulfield. He went 3-for-4, knocked in two runs and scored once. In total, five LMU batters had multi-hit games and four batters had multiple runs batted in.
Megan Karbowski | Loyolan
Sophomore outfielder Nico Decolati (28) struggled this weekend against University of the Pacific, but still has the fourth highest batting average at .296. Needing a big rally, the Tigers scored five consecutive WCC series win against Santa runs in the seventh inning, but freshman Clara University April 7 through April 9. Braydon Salzman and sophomore Codie Paiva As the series against Pacific has shown, the Lions’ combination of dominant pitching shut the door on the Tigers in the eighth and and dangerous hitting make them a tough ninth innings. LMU will continue its stretch of home opponent to face in the WCC. games this week against UC Riverside This is the opinion of Andrew Dignum, a freshman this Tuesday April 4, at 6 p.m. The Lions finance major from Menlo Park, California. Tweet comments to @LoyolanSports, or email tdevries@ will then try to walk away with their third theloyolan.com.
North Carolina wins sixth National Title Matty Light
Matthew Rodriguez Asst. Sports Editor @LoyolanSports
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here will be no game winning threes this year. After losing in the very last seconds of last year’s NCAA Tournament Championship, the University of North Carolina is crowned the champion of the 2017 tournament. In a hard fought game against No. 1 Gonzaga University, North Carolina became the fourth team in NCAA history to win the tournament after being the runner-up in the previous year, edging out their opponents in the final seconds 71-65. North Carolina’s head coach Roy Williams grabbed his third national title, joining legendary coaches, John Wooden, Mike Krzyzewski, Adolph Rupp, Bob Knight and Jim Calhoun, as one of six coaches to win three NCAA titles. A feat not even his predecessor, the legendary Dean Smith, could achieve. The game was by no means a pretty one; it was marred by bricks, missed free throws and questionable officiating. Officials slowed the game down calling a total of 44 fouls, 22 on each team. This resulted in both teams’ big men struggling with foul troubles thus hindering each offense. Nonetheless, Carolina prevailed with outstanding defense in the closing seconds as senior forward Kennedy Meeks stuffed redshirt junior Nigel WilliamsGoss which allowed junior Justin Jackson a wide open dunk with 11.4 seconds left, icing the game for the Tar Heels. Each team played intense defense throughout the entire game. The Bulldogs displayed their No. 1 defense by keeping their
opponents to 14.8 percent from beyond the arc and 35.6 percent overall. Unfortunately, this was not good enough to defeat the crowd favorite Tar Heels. In the final 100 seconds of the game, the Bulldogs allowed the Tar Heels to go on an 8-0 run, which ultimately sealed the game and solidified Carolina as the winners. Each team struggled on offense, but with Gonzaga’s big men, redshirt senior center Przemek Karnowski, redshirt junior forward Johnathan Williams and freshman forward Zach Collins, struggling with foul trouble, the Bulldogs had to rely heavily on their exterior game. Being constantly subbed on and off the court destroyed any rhythm for Gonzaga. They also lost one of its major weapons when Collins fouled out with five minutes left in the game. If he would have stayed in the game the Bulldogs would not have to resort to Karnowski, who was struggling the entire game. Karnowski went for 1-8 overall and failed to make shots that he would normally make. On the other hand, North Carolina’s big men came in clutch in the final seconds of the game. Senior forward Isaiah Hicks powered his way through the key to make the hook shot that put UNC up 68-65 and on the other end, Meeks got the crucial block to ice the game for the Tar Heels. Meeks and Hicks grabbed a total of seven offensive rebound creating second chance opportunities. This is where UNC beat Gonzaga, scoring six more second chance points, 20-14. North Carolina took advantage of Gonzaga’s foul trouble, capitalizing in 40 points in the paint compared to the Bulldogs 18. It would be negligent to forget about the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, junior guard Joel Berry II. Berry struggled with ankle injuries the entire
Graphic by Chloe Cunningham, Information Complied by Matthew Rodriguez
tournament but put everything aside in order to help his team to win the sixth NCAA title in school history. Berry led all scorers with 22 points, while also recording six assists, and draining all of North Carolina’s four three-pointers. All in all, this year’s NCAA Championship game topped off a historical run by each team. Gonzaga made it to the program’s very first NCAA Championship and solidified themselves as a team to be feared. North
Carolina redeemed themselves this year, becoming the fourth team in NCAA history to win the national title the season after finishing as the runner-up. Each of these teams deserved to be in the championship but unfortunately for Gonzaga, the Tar Heels rose victorious. This is the opinion of Matthew Rodriguez, a sophomore political science major from Milpitas, California. Tweet comments to @LoyolanSports, or email tdevries@theloyolan.com.