Los Angeles LOYOLAN The
Soccer player Bastien Oberli reflects on his journey from Switzerland to LMU. Page 15
September 18, 2019
W W W. L A L O Y O L A N . C O M
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
Your Home. Your Voice. Your News. EST. 1921 V O LU M E
98
| ISSUE 4
LMU ranks No. 64 in the nation
Students and faculty speak on the University's prestigious ranking. Molly Jean Box Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan
Photo: Owen Markham | Loyolan
The University was ranked as the 13th "Most Beautiful Campus" in the 2020 Princeton Review. "The most beautiful place on campus for me has got to be the freshman Bluff looking out on the city of L.A.," said Josh Seaman, a sophomore computer science major.
Out of the 399 schools in the National Universities category, LMU was recently ranked No. 64 in the 2020 U.S. News & World Best Universities Report. The University received an overall score of 59/100 from the publication. "LMU ranks among the top universities in the country for service learning," said LMU alumna and Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Lane Bove. "[It is] a reflection of our students’ commitment to become global citizens, putting their knowledge into action and working to meet the world’s greatest needs." In a post published by the LMU Newsroom, President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D. attributed the University’s designation as one of the best colleges in the country to its commitment to academia, student creativity and global impact. See Ranking | Page 2
Students given three weeks notice of canceled study abroad program Students were left without housing or classes, and faculty in Argentina were left without jobs. Sofia Hathorn Asst. News Editor @LALoyolan
Casa de la Mateada (CASA), a study abroad program in Córdoba, Argentina, was canceled for the fall semester. The cancellation means the 12 students from LMU, Saint Louis University and College of the Holy Cross, as well as the two alumni leaders signed up for the program, will no longer spend their fall semester abroad in Argentina. The program will also not be open to students in the future. The students were informed in an email by Study Abroad Advisor Pamela Underwood that the University had canceled the program. The email stated that the “proper infrastructure” of the program didn’t meet standards of “providing students with a safe and high-quality study abroad experience.” The program was supposed to begin on Aug. 10. The email came on Thursday July 18, three weeks before the group was supposed to depart. This left students unregistered for classes and without housing
just weeks before the semester began. “It was hard finding the classes that I needed,” said Naila Vasquez, a sophomore psychology major and CASA student. "Some [classes] I got in the day before school started.” The CASA students for the fall semester sent a letter to LMU administration with a list of requests following the cancellation, according to John Lopez, a senior computer science major and CASA student. The requests focused on full financial reimbursement, including scholarship money, fees and no additional housing costs beyond what the students had already budgeted for Argentina. In a statement to the Loyolan, Roberta Espinoza, the vice provost for global-local initiatives, wrote that the Study Abroad Office has been working with the students to provide them with help to meet their individual needs. However, the only reimbursement the students received was for their plane ticket, according to Lopez. Lopez said that he received a scholarship to study in Argentina, but now will not get any of that money, as he cannot study abroad in the future due to his status as a senior. The CASA program has been in effect
for six years. Students took classes at La Universidad Católica de Córdoba and practiced CASA's mission of community, accompaniment, spirituality and academics, according to Mary Schell, a CASA alumna from 2018, who was hired as a community coordinator for the fall 2019 semester. The program, according to its students, was a deeply meaningful and transformative
experience. “CASA was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life, but it was also one of the most beautiful and rewarding,” said Schell. In 2015, the program was suspended for the fall semester due to the “economic stability in Argentina,” as previously reported by the Loyolan. See Study Abroad | Page 2
via Mary Schell
CASA students of the 2018 spring program smile as a group. One of the program's alumna, Mary Schell, described it as "beautiful and rewarding."
Page 2
NEWS
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
LMU rises in rankings
Ranking from Page 1
The University was also ranked as the 13th “Most Beautiful Campus” in the 2020 Princeton Review. In the past, the school has received recognition as the No. 7 “Most Amazing College Campus” in 2016 by Best Colleges and made it on the list of the “50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America” by Condé Nast Traveler in 2018. Additionally, the the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering was ranked No. 13 for the “Best Science Lab Facilities” in the 2020 Princeton Review. Junior environmental science major Lexi Neary, who has spent much of her time at LMU and part of her summer working in the labs, agrees completely with the school’s prestigious ranking. What stands out to Neary about the science labs available to students at LMU is not only the efficient
workplace they provide, but also the aesthetics of the amenities. “[The science labs are] amazing— they’re pristine. They have the newest updated technology ... But also just how open and bright they are is not normal at all for a lab,” said Neary. The College of Communication and Fine Arts ranked No. 2 for its theatre arts program in College Factual. “Every single person in the program, whether [they are] a professor or student, is passionate about the work that they are doing,” said Brittany Huie, a junior theatre arts and communication studies double major. As reported by the LMU Newsroom, Executive Vice President and Provost Thomas Poon spoke on LMU’s ranking as No. 64 in the nation. “This ranking reflects what we have always known: Any conversation about the best universities in the country must include LMU,” said Provost Poon.
Cancellation hurts community Study Abroad from Page 1
Espinoza’s statement cited “financial sustainability, student safety and the current and ongoing volatility of Argentina’s economy” as reasoning for the closure. CASA was difficult to run due to the distance and differing intercultural needs of the two schools, according to Douglas Christie, the chair of Theological Studies and founding CASA faculty director. In early 2019, the Provost’s office implemented new conditions regarding CASA, including reducing it to a one-semester program, according to Christie. These conditions, Christie said, “doomed the program.” In the spring, CASA director and LMU alumna Vivian Valencia was laid off after she had recruited a full cohort of students for the fall. A new director was never hired, according to Valencia. The decision to close the program was made by LMU administration, with minimal communication with CASA faculty both at LMU and in Argentina, according to Christie.
“The people who knew the most about resolving issues, because we had been doing it for many years, weren’t at the table,” said Christie. Rubén Martínez, an English professor and CASA faculty director in 2017, described the cancelation as a “betrayal.” “I have not had a more profound experience of LMU’s mission than what I participated in [in] Córdoba through the CASA program. That is LMU’s mission. The fact that the program was cut, I think, was a betrayal of our mission,” said Martínez. He went on to say there was no transparency from the Provost’s office when the decision was made. “We may never know the real reason why the program was suspended ... I’m not sure what political game is being played, but that’s not the way a university like ours is supposed to run,” said Martínez. Martínez also stressed that due to the ongoing economic and sociopolitical issues between the United States and South America, LMU should be growing
programs in Latin America, rather than cutting them. CASA’s closure has left a hole in the communities that were a part of the program in Córdoba. “The biggest hurt has been to the communities. It has been devastating,” said Valencia. “[The communities] have opened up their homes and their hearts to us, and we leave on our own terms? ... Regardless of our contributions or collaborations, that here, in Latin America, sends a bigger message.” The closure also means that those working in Argentina for the program are now out of a job. This was a “huge blow” for the faculty, due to Argentina’s unstable economy, according to Martínez. Since the cancellation, 30 CASA alumni have written letters to the Provost regarding their positive experiences with the program, according to Christie. They hope to get the program running again. “How do we advocate for it back?” asked Lopez. “Because it sucks that my group couldn’t go, but I still want this program to be around for the future.”
OPINION
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
Page 3
Give all candidates your attention EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Managing Editor News Editor Asst. News Editor Asst. News Editor News Intern Opinion Intern Opinion Intern Life+Arts Editor Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor Sports Intern Bluff Editor Asst. Bluff Editor Copy Chief Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Digital Editor Asst. Digital Editor Asst. Digital Editor Digital Intern Digital Intern Design Editor Design Intern Design Intern Design Intern Cartoon Editor Staff Cartoonist Staff Cartoonist Staff Cartoonist Photo Editor Asst. Photo Editor Asst. Photo Editor Photo Intern Photo Intern Video Coordinator Video News Producer Video Producer Video Producer Video Producer Video Intern
Jacob Cornblatt Shannon Tormey Kayan Tara Isabella Murillo Molly Jean Box Sofia Hathorn Grace McCauley Sally Dean Cristobal Spielmann Sammi Su Miles Thomas Jameson O’Neil Alexander Hutton Nicholas Rossi Andrew Dazé Jordan Boaz Megan Leberknight Lucie Bolzan Carly Holm Caleb Sng Sara Romano Erin Ambrose Jack Noble Adrian Leung Gigi Toma Darissa Pham Anastasia Glushneva Jessie Glassberg Alena Copeland Aurora Schnurr Michaela Galeski Christian Boggs Ellen Na Jacob Johanson Harrison Klein Alyssa Reece Maeve Sullivan Owen Markham Gülen Çelik Gloria Ndilula Maddie Cindrich Cassie Esparza Kayla Austefjord Austin Good Brooks Lalley Ellis Senger
BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager Asst. Business Manager Advertising Manager Ad Designer Ad Intern
Gia Lee Lauren Rechner Hayden Regalado Juliane Johnson Matthew Hendrickson
Distribution Manager Petros Hadjikyracou Distribution Intern Matthew Hendrickson Distribution Intern Mirabella Efstratis Student Media Coordinator Veronica Manz Director of Student Media Tom Nelson
M
ake Liberals Cry Again,” reads one popular (unofficial) bumper sticker of Trump’s 2020 campaign. “I’m anti-Trump because I’m anti-stupid” reads another bumper sticker, this time for the left. Politics in this country are radically aggressive right now, not only between the left and the right (as shown by the seemingly innocuous bumper stickers), but also within the parties themselves. The most recent Democratic debate, for example, was filled with “gotcha” moments between candidates. Take the one that news outlets went crazy over: Joe Biden referring to Bernie Sanders as the president. “The president thinks — my friend from Vermont thinks…” Biden said, laughing at his own gaff. The moment was funny, but should it have been one of the major stories coming out of this debate? With 10 candidates on the stage last Thursday, the presidential hopefuls threw new and exciting ideas around constantly. These are concepts that may define the country for decades to come, yet the media is reporting on the silly Biden mix-up and the controversy around Yang’s $120,000 giveaway. That is not to say that these moments are not important. They are. These people may represent the United States on a global scale in the future. But these relatively minor moments are not nearly as important as the core beliefs of the people on that stage. Though entertaining, the framing of elections as a boxing match is not what we need to prosper as a country. Trump—in the early stages of the Republican primaries—was a heavyweight fighting featherweights. He threw out lines that, although wildly offensive, gained media coverage. In 2015, it seemed like every day featured a new funny Trump story. “
“Look for someone ... who will represent all people of this country.”
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.
Do you have an opinion that needs to be heard? Email editor@theloyolan.com to contribute to next week’s issue!
Board Editorial Jacob Cornblatt Editor-in-Chief
Kayan Tara
Managing Editor
Shannon Tormey Managing Editor
Board Editorials represent the voice of the Loyolan. They are written in collaboration by the Executive Editorial Board.
We need less parking on campus Speck and Spielmann
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 next thing we knew, Trump was president of the United States. His master manipulation of the media helped him gain a valuable asset for wannabe presidents: air time. But Americans aren’t stupid. We saw what happened. We now see why voting for the candidate who says “funny” lines and “tells it like it is” may not be the best choice. Maybe this is why Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are popular in the polls. These are two people who won’t give in to the media’s desire for a political boxing match. These are two people who focus on policy over anything else. Voting for candidates who focus on policy over one-liners is a step in the right direction, but it’s not the end-all-be-all. As voters and citizens, we need to pay attention to more than the person we like. It’s easy to become enraptured by one candidate, but we must remember that there are 10 people on that stage. Sure, not every one of them has an equal chance of winning, but they are people who will have an important voice in politics over their career. On the other side of the aisle, Republicans aren’t even allowing for dialogue. South Carolina, Nevada, Arizona and Kansas have cancelled their primaries and caucuses, putting Trump’s competition at a major disadvantage. This is censorship by these states’ Republican parties. They are trying to suppress the voice of representatives speaking out against Trump. No matter what side of the political spectrum you are on, it is your responsibility as a voter to pay attention to everyone running for president. Look for someone whose goal is not to make liberals cry or proclaim themselves to be anti-stupid; look for someone who will represent all people of this country (not only those who support them).
Cristobal Spielmann Opinion Intern @LALoyolan
A
sk students around campus and you’re likely to get the same response — when it comes to parking, we need more of it. “I think there should be more parking,” said Immanuel Portus, a sophomore film and television production major. “It just gets congested, and a lot of people visit the campus all the time, and they don’t want to park [off] campus.” However, when it comes to issues like congestion, more parking might be the last thing we need. In fact, our campus would be better off having less parking. An argument can be made that if we built more space for cars on campus, that would eliminate traffic jams. On the contrary, more parking would only intensify the congestion seen during big on-campus events, according to a concept called Braess’ paradox. Braess’ paradox describes how adding an extra link to a network (when the things using said network are able to choose their own route) can potentially reduce the performance of said network. In layman’s terms, more roads can sometimes mean more
traffic in already congested areas, as described by The New York Times. The reason why this happens, as explained by CityLab, is simple: if you build more roads, more people want to use them and more traffic piles up. The same logic also applies to parking spots.
An analysis by Chris McCahill of the State Smart Transportation Initiative and three University of Connecticut scholars found that an increase in parking spaces per resident from 1960 to 1980 correlated with an increase in car use. See Parking | Page 4
Photo: Gülen Çelik | Loyolan
Green transportation, like bicycles, can help combat traffic congestion and pollution on campus. More parking lots for cars would only worsen these problems.
OPINION
Page 4
EDQ
Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
The Me Too movement is not over Smiling Sally Sally Dean
Opinion Intern
T
@LALoyolan
he Me Too movement may have started in 2017, but the problem started long ago. Women have long faced sexual misconduct and without massive cultural and societal change, they will continue to. The movement gained traction in 2017 with the original exposé on Harvey Weinstein in The New York Times. Women took down powerful men with their words and stories and started to create real change. There have been thousands of stories of different people sharing their traumas, but for this article, I will focus on three cases with the woman as the accuser and the man as the accused. Antonio Brown, a successful NFL wide receiver, was recently accused of sexual assault and rape by former trainer, Britney Taylor, as reported by CNN. He denies every allegation and believes that this is a “money grab” on the accuser’s part, according to the statement released by Brown’s lawyer. The Patriots and NFL have started their investigation into the allegations and for the meantime, Antonio Brown will remain an active player until further notice, reported by USA Today. Taylor’s lawsuit may or may not be a plot to manipulate Brown for money, but it still needs to be taken
seriously and investigated like any other crime. She shouldn’t be accused of trying to exploit Brown without evidence of that being true, just as much as Brown shouldn’t be falsely accused of assault if he is innocent. Only 2-8% of rape cases are falsely reported, which is the same percentage for falsifying all types of crime, according to Resilience, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting sexual assault. Brett Kavanaugh is a supreme court justice who was accused of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford in 2018. She was scrutinized for not fully remembering the details of the assault, and some people like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) tried to use her lack of details as evidence that her accusations were false, as reported in the Hill. Donald Trump personally attacked her motives and questioned her memory at a rally in Mississippi, according to The New York Times. The focus is often on the victim to provide the details of the event to prove it occurred, but in most cases people who have experienced trauma are unable to recall such details. Memory doesn’t work as a perfect recorder; there are gaps and holes, and especially in cases of trauma, victims often remember less due to a narrow focus on the assault, according to a video from Vox. In Ford’s case, there was a long period between the assault and the hearings; people argued that she had bad intentions based on timing, or that she couldn’t remember because
of how long ago it was, according to The New York Times. In either case, women have the impossible task of proving the assault occurred without a doubt to ensure punishment or justice. But sometimes, they don’t even have the time to prove the action occurred because the statute of limitations has expired.
“Women have the impossible task of proving the assault occurred without a doubt to ensure punishment or justice.” California passed Assembly Bill 1619 last year to extend the statute of limitations for sexual assault from two to 10 years, as reported by ABC 10. I spoke with Nicole Gillette, a sophomore film and television production major and asked her about her thoughts on the expansion of the statute of limitations. “I think it’s important that women have the time to come forward on their own terms and aren’t limited [by the law].” Brock Turner was convicted of three felony charges in 2016; the crime has a maximum sentence of 14 years, but
he only served three months of his six month sentence, reported by The New York Times. Turner was a college student at the time and committed the crime after a college party. According to the Guardian, the judge gave him a lighter sentence to minimize damage on his life; but what about the person he raped, her life and her aspirations? In September 2019, Emily Doe identified herself as Chanel Miller in a recent “60 Minutes” special. Her life was forever altered by one night, one choice that someone else made — but the perpetrators in rape or sexual assault cases avoid time in prison with only around five out of 1000 perpetrators doing time according to RAINN. When guilty men don’t face consequences, we are telling boys that these horrendous acts are okay and that women are worthless in the eyes of the law. Experiencing assault is a life-altering occurrence — it shapes so much of your life and your world. Most women aren’t able to simply move on from their traumas, especially as 94% of women who experience rape have some form of PTSD, according to an article published in the McGill Journal of Medicine. The Me Too movement has helped turn the tide. Victims, in some cases, have been able to get what they deserve. This is the beginning. We still have a long way to go.
This is the opinion of Sally Dean, a sophomore political science major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Tweet comments to @LAloyolan or email comments to editor@theloyolan.com.
More parking on campus would worsen traffic problems Parking from Page 3
That increase in car use will likely entail other changes in campus infrastructure to turn the University into a car-oriented school. Maybe some students are already aware of Braess’ paradox and would subconsciously choose to use their car less often, but those students would be in the minority. Meanwhile, the majority of students would be happy to drive around on campus only to complain about even slower traffic. It also goes without saying that more parking opportunities on campus will cause more pollution. When students have the option of driving their car from place to place, there’s no incentive to use greener transportation like a bike, skateboard or their feet for the same purpose. Not only would we be emitting more carbon from burning gasoline, but future students would be wasting resources when they buy new cars. The various processes that go into making rubber and metal for these cars lead to a huge carbon footprint on top of driving, as detailed by
Mike Berners-Lee and Duncan Clark in The Guardian. And where would we make space for these new parking spots? The University would either have to pave over green areas like Sunken Garden, replacing a carbon sink with heat-absorbing asphalt, or demolish housing and force more five-person dorms. Given how much LMU invested in the new freshmen housing projects in East Quad, the former seems more likely. All of these consequences would only come about if most of the student body was overtly pro-parking. Thankfully, the consensus on campus isn’t unanimous. “I live off campus so I just have a lot of parking lots that I can park in. I think it’s pretty easy,” said Wilson Chatham, a sophomore engineering physics major. I understand why someone might not be convinced that we need less parking on campus. If you need to transport a bunch of film or research equipment to off-site locations, green transport like buses or bikes might not be the best option.
But a large-scale push for more parking for individual vehicles isn’t just irresponsible in terms of the health of our campus; it would actively worsen whatever concerns students had in the first place. The best solution for students is to embrace the resources on campus like the
Cycling Lion and use your bike whenever you’re just traveling in the Westchester neighborhood. Only use your car when it’s absolutely unavoidable, and if you get to that point, be sure to carpool with some friends. If students are going to lobby for changes in campus
transportation options, let’s lobby for changes that really benefit our community.
This is the opinion of Cristobal Spielmann, a sophomore environmental science major from Brentwood, Tennessee. Tweet comments @LALoyolan, or email editor@theloyolan.com.
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
Page 5
New executive order leaves Turnovers lead to vapers dazed and confused LMU morale boost Constitutional rights are being stripped away. Hear what vapers have to say. Jordan Boaz Rightless
Americans are keenly aware of the Second Amendment — the “right of anyone, regardless of mental illness, previous criminal record or malicious intent, to bear AR-15s, shall not be infringed.” But lesser known is the 18+ Amendment, stating that “all persons, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender, shall be allowed a right to vape without interference.” Unfortunately, this right is being infringed upon, and it’s important for Americans to stand together and fight back for their inalienable right to vape. Last week, the president of the United States (nicknamed “Pheen” by vapers) signed a groundbreaking, illegal executive order banning products essential to the vaping community. The discriminatory practice disproportionately affects the poor teenagers. Vee Aper, a junior criminal justice major, says she is having an “existential crisis” over the situation. “We’re calling him President Pheen because now he’s just as bad as one,” she explained. “I mean, he is so into protecting our other rights, so I just don’t understand why this one isn’t protected, too. I guess I’ll just go buy a gun instead.”
Others agree. “I’ve got to make the most of my rights while I still have them,” said senior political science major Ju Ul. “If my right to vape can be taken away, what’s next? I’m headed to buy my rifle this afternoon, right before I head to the Vapers’ Rights March.” The National Vape Association (NVA) blames the ban on its inability to bribe state representatives. “We used to have a good stronghold on redleaning representatives,” they said in a statement released last Friday. “But it’s been truly hard to compete with the NRA. The
reps who used to take our money have sold out to the NRA instead. We sincerely apologize to the vapers in this country. We’ve let you down.” For those looking to take further action, there will be over 800 marches and protests across the country in upcoming weeks. To see more of the Bluff go to laloyolan.com/the_bluff/
Jacob Johanson | Loyolan
Donald Trumpfinally made his decision to ban vape products instead of guns ... and vapers everywhere are up in arms.
The Hurricanes wear chains and LMU eats turnovers. Alex Hutton Emergency Quarterback
It all started in 2017 when the University of Miami football team introduced the Turnover Chain for players to wear on the sidelines after creating takeaways. Since then, turnover celebrations in the college game are becoming increasingly elaborate, props from necklaces to thrones to belts and even pencils. This season, LMU’s football team is taking things to another level with their prop: the Turnover Turnover. The concept is simple: every time an LMU player records an interception or forces a fumble, a team manager on the sideline will, with the help of an EasyBake Oven, quickly assemble and bake a blueberry turnover. The player is then required to eat it as quickly as possible, with the hope being that he can finish the entire thing before the defense has to take the field again. The whole LMU football program is excited about the Turnover Turnover. “We know we’re pretty late to this trend,” said head coach Mike Elliott. “But we wanted to wait until we had an idea that we knew literally no other team was doing and we believe we’ve accomplished that.” The Turnover Turnover made
its debut last Saturday when junior cornerback Eli Gibson picked off a pass in the second quarter of a 77-0 loss to Southwestern North Dakota State Tech A&M. “It was cool to be the first person to try it,” Gibson said. “I mean, it didn’t taste very good, but it would have looked really bad if I hadn’t eaten it.” Of course, eating a pastry
mid-game was probably not the best thing to do in the interest of Gibson’s individual success, which he acknowledges. “I felt sluggish,” he admitted. “It’s probably part of the reason I got burned for a 55-yard touchdown on the next possession.” However, Elliott was quite quick to dismiss the importance of trivial issues such as defensive performance. “I’m not worried about it,” he said. “Losing games by 77 points is a small price to pay for your turnover prop being discussed on social media.”
Christian Boggs | Loyolan
LMU’s #11 is awarded a turnover for his late game turnover.
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.
Page 6
editor’s pick
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
Discussion regarding crisis in Kashmir
Photos: Gloria Ndilula | Loyolan
Faculty and students discuss the current crisis in Kashmir, a region in India that was recently stripped of its autonomy by the Indian government, according to the BBC. The South Asian Students’ Association hosted the teach-in discussion on Monday, Sept. 16 to raise awareness and educate students about the situation. The meeting was cosponsored by Asian Pacific Student Services, the Office for International Students and Scholars, Muslim Student Life and ASLMU.
COME JOIN US • Engage with 90+ recruiters from LADWP, Ticketmaster, Millennium Space Systems, Teach for America, and more • Learn what hiring managers are looking for and explore what jobs and internships might be a good fit • Make connections with professionals and alumni working in your field of interest Learn more at » careers.lmu.edu/careerexpo. Tag us on social #LMUCAREEREXPO #LMUCAREERS
Scan the QR code to download the Career Fair+ App before Expo to view featured employer listings, an interactive floor plan, event details, and more!
BYE BYE BUY
FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO OWN AT SEABLUFF IN THE HEART OF PLAYA VISTA, The last attached flats and townhomes with up to 2,016 sq. ft. of contemporary indoor/out-more living, from the Low $1 Millions. Schedule a time to visit one of our designer-curated models today.
FURNISHED MODELS OPEN DAILY | SEABLUFFPLAYAVISTA.COM | (323) 714-2879
All information subject to change. Models do not reflect ethnic preferences and housing is open to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, handicap or national origin. Not an offer or solicitation to sell real property. Offers to sell real property may only be made and accepted at the sales center for individual New Home communities. TNHC Realty and Construction Inc. DRE #01870227. September 2019.
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
Page 10
laloyolan.com
GALLOWS
By Harrison Klein, staff cartoonist
By Jacob Johanson, staff cartoonist
ALL-LIFE CRISIS
Check out more Loyolan cartoons online now! Visit LALoyolan.com/cartoons and catch up on your favorites!
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
life+arts
Page 11
LMU-born business returns to campus Peachy Keen Swim aims to disrupt the swimwear industry. Sammi Su
Life+Arts Editor @Sammi_Susu
Peachy Keen Swim presents an alternative, eco-friendly, all-inclusive option for women of all shapes and sizes. This LMU-born business venture made its first campus appearance last Friday on Whelan Lawn. The company was formed by three Lions: Summer Morgan and Delaney Drexler (both ‘18) and Leah Sullivan, a senior entrepreneurship major. The three first formed their idea as a group project in their entrepreneurship class in spring 2018. Together, they aim to create an allinclusive, women-empowering swimwear line that is “rooted in body positivity and women empowerment,” said Drexler. “Our goal is to find a way to disrupt the fashion industry, to make it more inclusive — especially in the swimsuit genre,” Drexler continued. They create bikinis for women of all shapes and sizes, encouraging women to wear bikinis as long as they wanted to.
Another problem they want to tackle is the common practice of outsourcing the production process to foreign sweatshops. Sullivan explains, “most of our clothes come from overseas sweatshops. We live in this time where fast fashion is booming.” Sullivan said that fast fashion is a practice where companies make as much as they can without caring about quality. Sullivan describes fast fashion as “the Forever 21s and Zaras of the world. These [swimsuits] are made in overseas sweatshops where the workers are not guaranteed safety and fair pay. We wanted to create a company that aims to empower women.” She said, “We knew we needed to start with the women who make the clothes and our empowerment could shine through every step of the process.” With their direction decided, they faced the challenge of creating a product that would keep them from being fast fashion. Morgan mentions that their biggest challenge was in creating the design for the product. During the process, they went to dozens of stores that sold swimsuits, tried them on and conducted surveys and interest polls to create their product. The result? An
Photo: Alyssa Reece | Loyolan
Peachy Keen Swim Social Media Intern Valentina Artunduaga (‘18) smiles next to the company’s stand on campus last week. The company, started by three LMU students, focuses on making swimwear for every shape and size.
adjustable, comfortable, bodyempowering bikini suit that will be available in three colors: red, white and black, with sizes ranging from XS to 5XL. The top is designed with a back band, modifiable up to eight inches, that can be worn as a cross back or a normal bikini strap. The wide straps are meant for extended comfort for those who may be uncomfortable with halter tops. As for the bottoms, they
kept the design high-waisted due to popular demand. The bottoms also have shaping and smoothing functionalities that would still be comfortable for long-day wear. Present at the Peachy Keen promotional event were the cofounders, Morgan and Drexler, and Valentina Artunduaga, an international relations alumna of the class of 2018, who is now the social media intern for the Peachy Keen team. In
the future, the team hopes to expand the line to create more styles and sizes to truly become all-inclusive. With whopping success during their kickstarter campaign, Peachy Keen Swim is ready to take on the fashion industry. To join their campaign, visit their webpage and get your perfect match today.
life+arts
Page 12
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
Open Mic, our home of artistry Jordan from Bluff
Jordan Boaz
E
Asst. Bluff Editor @LAloyolan
very Monday at 8 p.m. in the Living Room, Mane Entertainment presents Open Mic Night, an evening of creativity and performance where students can showcase their own unique talents. Brion Dennis, a sophomore finance major, is in his second year working for Mane Entertainment. “90% of [the performers] should be stars. They’re all so incredible,” he said. Open Mic has seen almost every type of act. Stand-up comedians, bands, solo acoustic performers, singers singing to a track, dancers, slam poets and drag queens have all taken the stage. While there are a few regulars, most weeks [have] an entirely new lineup of artists. “We have a lot of people who come [and] it’s their first time ever performing in front of a crowd,” Dennis said. “It’s very easy because here everyone’s so welcoming.” Some, however, are extremely “loyal open mic-ers,” according to Dennis. One of these performers is Cori DeTurk, a sophomore screenwriting major. DeTurk has been a performer since she was 6 years old, but she took up the ukulele at 11. She has now expanded her musical repertoire to include a soprano ukulele, a baritone ukulele and a banjolele. During her freshman year,
Photo: Owen Markham | Loyolan
Cori DeTurk smiles at the audience during her performance at Open Mic. The weekly event in the Living Room, put on by Mane Entertainment, offers aspiring artists a chance to showcase their abilities to an audience of their peers.
she was trying to keep up with Open Mic by writing and performing a new original each week, but this year she has been incorporating covers as well. DeTurk is an avid songwriter and approaches the art in a unique way. Her songs often lack repetition, verses or choruses, as she is a selfdescribed folk artist. “I love lyrics. I love words. I think I was born to be a rapper but something went wrong ... I really care more about word flow and rhyming and alliteration and
just a good rhythm. I never think of structure first. Sometimes, a chorus happens and sometimes it doesn’t,” she said. She also incorporates unique instruments into her tracks, including the kazoo, recorder and xylophone. She frequents Open Mic because of the community she has found there. “They are so supportive … If you mess up or lose your place, the audience will immediately start cheering,” she said. “Everyone’s rooting for you … There’s a lot of ‘you got this’ energy.”
YoYo Nosa takes Falla The artist discusses her musical journey and her future aspirations. Molly Jean Box
Assistant News Editor @LALoyolan
YoYo Nosa, the next LMU R&B legend (along with band Curbside, the co-champions of the Singer-Songwriter Showdown), are set to open Fallapalooza this year, sharing the stage with popular rapper and singer T-Pain. Last week, we sat down with Curbside. This week, we talked with YoYo Nosa, a neo soul pop artist who blew the crowd away with her sound. Molly Jean Box (MB): Can you tell me a little bit about your sound? YoYo Nosa (YN): I am a neo soul pop artist. I started studying soul music and jazz music when I was about 5 years old. Some of my influences are Etta James [and] Amy Winehouse. I recently started getting into the neo soul genre when I was 10 because it incorporated new elements of R&B into that old soulful sound that I was used to. MB: Where does the inspiration for your songs come from? YN: Everything that I write is based off of my experiences. I believe in telling a story if it’s
true to yourself. So, usually, if I go through something sad or something really exciting or I’m experiencing something new, I’ll channel it into a song. MB: You’re going to be opening for T-Pain. How does it feel? YN: Honestly, it feels great. I feel like it’s a win. Especially because when I first came to LMU, I really had the intention of getting my Soul Good EP out there. I feel like this is one of the wins since I’ve been here at LMU. MB: What does this opportunity mean to you? YN: It means a step toward the next level. To me, the next level would be getting my music to a platform where more people can hear it. I love going to networking events and meeting all kinds of people. I’m really just looking for more exposure with my music. MB: What did you think of the other winner of the competition, Curbside? YN: Actually, they’re really cool. I like their sound, I think they’re really onto something. At first when I saw [them], I thought I was gonna get BROCKHAMPTON vibes, but this was new — this was innovative. So, I’m really excited to be performing alongside them. MB: You had a sax player [on stage with you]. Why did you choose to do that? YN: I just met Patrick three
weeks ago. He had told me that he wanted to play for me and [that he] really liked my music. So, one day, I went over to his room, and he was playing sax to my music. I just thought it was really cool; and I was really appreciative of the fact that he did that. So I asked if he wanted to play for the SingerSongwriter Showdown. MB: What are you most excited for and what are you most nervous about? YN: Mostly, I’m excited to be on a bigger stage or a bigger platform. Most of the stuff that I’ve done has been like showcases or open mics, in front of more intimate crowds. This will be one of the [biggest] crowds I have performed in front of. I’m not really nervous about anything. I don’t really get nervous anymore. I’m very go with the flow. MB: Is there a message behind your music? YN: I think the main message of my music is to stay true to yourself and staying true to your experiences [by] not allowing them to necessarily transform you, but allowing yourself to reflect and then transform. I hope that people feel empowered. With T-Pain and Curbside in the lineup, Fallapalooza will take place on Sept. 29 at Sunken Garden.
Dennis, like the audience, has a lot of faith in the performers. “It literally feels like I’m seeing someone who’s a star that’s about to be born,” he said. DeTurk believes that Open Mic is suited for students of all talent levels and abilities. “It’s a great place to experiment,” she said. “Open Mic is the best place to go if you’re nervous about performing.” Stop by the next Open Mic Night to enjoy the experience of friendship and support that both Dennis and DeTurk believe is an integral part of the night.
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
editor’s pick
Page 13
Sacred Ark gives Torah new home
Photos: Alyssa Reece | Loyolan
A beautiful new Holy Ark (“Aron HaKodesh”) now resides in Malone 201. The Ark holds the sacred Torah scroll, the scripture of the Jewish faith. The Ark is opened during sacred prayers and to remove the Torah to read during services. This remarkable object was handcrafted by Elisha Schaefer (son of LMU professor Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaefer) and Josh Greer over the course of three years. You can visit the Holy Ark from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, or on Wednesdays until 7:00 p.m.
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
SPORTS
Page 15
Oberli thrilled by latest stop on soccer journey A free kick goal is only the beginning for men’s soccer’s new midfielder. Alex Hutton
Asst. Sports Editor @LALoyolan
When junior midfielder Bastien Oberli stepped into a free kick in the 31st minute of LMU’s match against Oral Roberts on Friday, Sept. 6, a lot was going through his mind. He thought about a free kick he missed in the team’s match against Virginia Tech a week prior. He wanted to score for his parents, who were watching from the Sullivan Field stands. He felt the heat but was confident he could convert. Having played soccer for as long as he has, he knew what he was capable of in the moment. Oberli hails from Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where he began playing at a young age. His father played at the semi-professional level and was friends with several pros. Through those connections, Oberli developed his love of the game. “Since I stepped on the field for the first time, I just loved it,” he said. “I never stopped playing.” In Switzerland, Oberli was shaped by a variety of soccer experiences. He played for the Academy team of Neuchâtel Xamax FCS in the Swiss Super League. He also played for the U15 and U17 Swiss National Teams, which gave him his favorite memories of his career. “Playing for the national team was the biggest thing in my life,” Oberli said. “Playing for your country —
Photo: Owen Markham | Loyolan
LMU junior midfielder Bastien Oberli (22) looks for the ball in a match against Loyola-Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 8. He joined the LMU team after time in North Carolina and Switzerland.
that’s something big. Now I know how to handle the pressure.” It wasn’t long before he had to choose between going pro and going to college. Playing soccer in the United States appealed to him and although he was aware it would be a challenge, he was willing to take it on. “When I heard about college soccer, I was like, ‘Okay, let’s try it,’” he said. “I will go there. I will learn a new language. I will get a degree and, if I play well, maybe go and play pro.” He was interested in attending LMU, but because he primarily speaks French, he needed to take an English test to determine which colleges he could go
to. His score wasn’t high enough to get into LMU. After looking over his remaining options, he zeroed in on Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. “The coaches really wanted me and I think that was really important for me,” Oberli said. “Going to a new country, it was a new language. I needed to go somewhere I knew the coaches would like me and would play me.” Over the course of his freshman and sophomore seasons, Oberli played in 34 matches for Campbell and registered three goals and nine assists. However, by the end of sophomore year, he felt that a shakeup was
necessary. He wanted to get a change of scenery. “I spent two years in North Carolina — that was interesting, that was good,” he said. “But I wanted to go to a big city and [also] maybe to a better school, soccer-wise.” LMU met those qualifications and the Lions came back on Oberli’s radar once he entered the transfer portal. When the program learned of his interest, the coaches were excited. They watched video of him at Campbell and in Switzerland and believed he’d make a strong addition to the team. “[We] really liked what he was doing,” said head coach Paul Krumpe. “[We] decided he was somebody we could definitely use.” After Oberli arrived, he found the transition to a new school and integration into a new team to be easy. He bonded with many of the players, including senior midfielder Gaetan Roux and junior forward Francis Avoce, both of whom speak French. Now that he has settled into campus life and found a role within the Lion offense, Oberli couldn’t be happier with his decision. “I think LMU is the perfect place for me,” he said. “Living in California is like a dream.” In just his second game in California, Oberli stepped into that free kick, curved the ball past the Oral Roberts goalie and found the net. He celebrated with his teammates. His parents, who flew in from Switzerland, did the same in the bleachers. It was his first goal as a Lion. If his tenures in Switzerland and North Carolina are any indication, there is much more success to come.
SCORES UPDATE M. Water Polo M. Soccer
W W W. L A L O Y O L A N . C O M
12-11 L
vs. UC Irvine
1-0 W
vs. UC Davis
W. Soccer Volleyball
3-1 L
at Texas Tech 3-1 L at Nebraska
LION SPORTS
SPORTS
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
Your Home. Your Voice. Your News. EST. 1921 Page 16
September 18, 2019
Pintens looks to step up in second year compete nationally ... then you do start to get that recognition.” Looking towards his sophomore season as athletic director, Pintens is excited for the future. New changes include the project inside Gersten Pavilion, which, when finished, will include a new floor, lights and painting. Additionally, a Hank Gathers statue, which will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of LMU men’s basketball legend Hank Gathers, will be constructed. Pintens also admitted on the record that LMU basketball players will wear the now-leaked throwback jerseys for a game this upcoming season. Finally, Pintens hopes that his Lions
Athletic Director Craig Pintens plans to bring a more passionate environment to LMU sports. Jameson O'Neil Asst. Sports Editor @LALoyolan
This past summer, LMU Athletic Director Craig Pintens had a lot on his plate. After capping off his first year at the University with a historic NCAA Tournament run in baseball, the Wisconsin native had just a few days before he began the national search for a new head baseball coach. Just a few days after the Lions’ tournament exit, 11-year head coach Jason Gill had left the program for USC. Pintens spent a major part of the summer searching for a replacement, and on July 2, LMU Athletics announced assistant coach Nathan Choate would take the position. While this was a hefty responsibility for the first-year athletic director, Pintens is not new to the world of athletic administration. Pintens arrived at LMU in 2018 after working as senior associate athletic director at the University of Oregon, where he served a seven-year tenure, according to LMU Athletics. And in his first year here, Pintens oversaw major accomplishments in a number of sports. In the fall, women’s volleyball defeated U.S. No. 1-ranked BYU to earn themselves a spot in the NCAA Tournament. In the winter, men’s basketball registered a 22-12 season, the most wins for the team since the 1989-90 season. The men's and women’s team both qualified for postseason tournament competition. In the spring, the women’s beach volleyball team won the West Coast Conference (WCC) Championship, the University’s first conference championship of the academic year. This feat was replicated by the baseball team the following month, giving the Lions their second conference championship of the year and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Despite all these high marks, Pintens says there’s even more that he can do, like continuing to build a culture. “A buzzword in college athletics is culture,” commented Pintens. “Everybody talks about it. In fact, there's been funny memes created when a coach is hired, [as people] try to [count] how many times somebody says culture in one press conference — it’s funny, but it’s true.” Despite its overuse, Pintens says he really believes that LMU can build a special culture around athletics — and with culture comes one of the most important aspirations of the athletic department: winning. Now with his first year complete, Pintens says what he has learned the most is not actually on the field of play, but outside of it. “The thing I learned the most is the passion that people have for LMU,” said Pintens. “There is a lot of passion for athletics here — I would say in some cases, it’s
"We have to do a better job of connecting with campus, and with the campus community."
Photo: Gloria Ndilula | Loyolan
LMU Athletic Director Craig Pintens speaks in his office about the upcoming year. Pintens has begun his second year in the position for LMU and hopes to build off last year's feats.
dormant. And so we have to find a way to wake some of these people up and get them back and get them involved ... We can do that because I think everybody who is affiliated with this school loves this institution, and that is a really special thing.” Pintens understands that some students see LMU as a school without a big sports culture or a lack of pride in athletics.
"There is a lot of passion for athletics here — I would say in some cases, it's dormant." Sophomore physics major Andrew Bruneel commented, “I think the sports culture at LMU could be a lot better. The only team that really gets support is the basketball team, so there are a lot of sports that go unnoticed." "I know there is an issue with student attendance at all athletic events," said junior international relations major Jack Palen. "I feel
like LMU isn’t branded as a sports school, but rather as a film or arts school." But Pintens hopes to change this. “Students create [a passion for athletics],” said the director. “We can't manufacture that — that has to really begin with our students, and we have to provide a great atmosphere for them at our games.” Pintens hopes the department can build a welcoming and prideful environment to encourage the school to support its athletic teams as they aspire to improve. And to increase fan support and move LMU into the mainstream college sports conversation, Pintens knows a lot of work needs to be done. “You have to win at a high level in sports that are nationally recognized [and] have a lot of national coverage,” said Pintens. “And when you do that, you start to get the benefits that are associated with that — whether that's a bigger fanbase [or] more students coming to games, all those things kind of factor in. I think we have to continue to lay the groundwork and make sure that we provide the resources for our programs [so] that they are able to
continue to compete nationally and hopes that will drive fundraising for enhanced facilities. But Pintens knows there are still improvements the department could have made. "We have to do a better job of connecting with campus, and with the campus community,” he noted. “Our biggest flaw is not doing a good enough job of really connecting with faculty and staff ... I'm not sure that everyone that is here understands what we have.” What LMU Athletics has may be affected in the future with the passing of a recent California bill. Last Wednesday, the California state legislature passed Senate Bill 206, which would allow college athletes to "earn money from the use of their names, images and likenesses," according to the L.A. Times. Gov. Gavin Newsom has 30 days to either sign the bill into law or veto it. "I think it's a very interesting topic and it's very complex," said Pintens. "It's not as easy and cut and dry as people say. I do believe, in any given year in college athletics, there are a handful of student athletes who really would have an opportunity to probably make a profit off of their name, image and likeness. I don't believe that number is as significant as people believe," he said. Overall, regardless of the national politics of the NCAA, Pintens knows that the LMU athletic program can attain significant success. “I always feel like there's a lot more we can do,” said the director. “So to me, there's a few things that we did well over the course of the year, but in my mind there's so many more things that we can improve on. That's the exciting part for me.”