Los Angeles LOYOLAN The
Board Editorial: why we need to be angry at the state of the environment and the future of the planet. Page 4
September 25, 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 5
Peeping Tom reported near campus This is not the first report made by students concerning Peeping Toms in the Westchester area. Sofia Hathorn and Grace McCauley Asst. News Editor and News Intern @LALoyolan
LMU students reported an intruder in the backyard of their home in the Westchester area on Sept. 16. According to Natalie Farrell, a junior communication studies and dance double major, she and her roommate were sitting on an outside patio when Farrell saw their security light go on. She said she then saw a man appear suddenly out of the bushes near their home. He fled once he saw Farrell. “I’ve never felt unsafe in my house, especially since my house is so close to campus. But I guess it’s still important to be vigilant no matter what … I definitely want to be more mindful of my surroundings,” said Farrell. See Peeping Tom | Page 2
President Snyder signs DACA letter to Congress Colleges and universities across the country are standing with their DREAMer students. Grace McCauley News Intern @LALoyolan
LMU joined the list of colleges and universities who have signed the American Council of Education's (ACE) letter urging Congress to pass protections for DREAMers. DREAMers is the term used for undocumented people who have qualified for this status under the Development, Relief, and Education for Minors Act (DREAM) and have lived most of their lives in the United States, according to World Relief. This means that often they were young children or infants when they arrived in the United States and had no say in the means of their immigration status, according to World Relief. On Aug. 29 President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D. tweeted, urging members of Congress to pass legislation for DREAMers under the now rescinded DACA policy. Snyder urged colleagues to sign a letter to Congress. In the letter, the ACE called for “bipartisan legislation” that would enact
“permanent protection for DREAMers.” “Recently, on Twitter, I called on my colleagues to urge Congress to pass legislation to protect our DREAMers,” said Snyder to the Loyolan. “I am resolute that we not wait to tie their futures to some mammoth immigration reform bill. This divisive tactic leverages creative, loving, honorable human beings—and their families—as negotiating tools.” President Snyder emphasized that the University has a “steadfast” commitment to supporting DREAMers. “As we approach the second anniversary of the rescission of DACA and await arguments in the Supreme Court, the higher education community must remind Congress of the benefits our country has experienced: DREAMers contribute to our communities and they strengthen our economy in ways profound,” said Snyder. “They represent what is best about America — the country in which they have been raised.” In the wake of recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, DREAMers have been detained by officers regardless of their status, according to The Atlantic. See DACA | Page 2
Page 2
Letter to Congress asks to protect DREAMers DACA from Page 1
President Snyder responded to this by stating that he has informed the “general counsel” and “senior leadership” to protect undocumented students on campus “to the fullest extent of the law.” Snyder also referred to the Immigration FAQs on LMU’s Public Safety page. The page states that if an ICE or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer is seen on campus, it should be reported to DPS. In response to the issue of whether or not DPS is obligated to work with or help immigration officers,
“When you have [undocumented students] on your campus and they are a part of your community then you have to stand up for them,” said Diaz. the page states: “LMU is required to comply with its legal obligations. LMU is not required, and its policy is not to work voluntarily with ICE or CBP officers to apprehend and remove individuals alleged to be unlawfully in the United States.” If students are presented a warrant or a subpoena, they are instructed to tell the officer to first contact DPS, according to the LMU Public Safety Immigration FAQs. Desiree Diaz, a junior journalism and communication studies double major and president of Resilience, spoke about how her organization relates to this. Resilience is an immigration awareness and advocacy group. Their main mission is to educate students and the broader community about advocacy regarding immigration
and allyship for immigrant students. Diaz has concerns with and feels that LMU hasn’t made its procedures clear enough. While Diaz is not undocumented, she understands the fears and pressures of everyday life when you are undocumented in today’s climate. “When these things come up, when they aren’t just things you read about, when they become applicable to your life ... it becomes very real ... think about that from immigrant students’ perspectives ... this is something that is very real to them. It affects the way that they live their lives,” said Diaz. “When you have [undocumented students] on your campus and they are a part of your community then you have to stand up for them ... they can’t always do it for themselves because of that fear. That fear that something will happen to them, that fear that an ICE officer is going to come onto campus and the only thing that they could possibly do is direct them to DPS. That’s not enough,” said Diaz. Diaz recommends anyone interested in making a change to get involved on campus. “So much of education and so much of social movements come on the backs of people of color and that’s kind of the atmosphere that we have here for a lot of things,” said Diaz. She believes that half the issue is getting students to care more and get more involved. However, she urges the administration to make it easier to keep students informed. “Blow up my email box ... send out things that are informative ... have people like President Snyder speak on this constantly,” said Diaz. For students looking to get involved with immigration reform on campus, Diaz’s organization, Resilience, meets every other Wednesday, in St. Robert’s Hall 246 at 8 p.m. Their next meeting is on Oct. 2.
NEWS
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
Memorial service held for Jordan Lindsey
Photo: Gloria Ndilula | Loyolan
Family and friends attend the memorial service held for Jordan Lindsey, who passed away over the summer. The service took place at the student memorial Ad Astra Per Aspera, where a plaque bearing Jordan’s name has been added.
Another report surfaces of Peeping Tom near campus Peeping Tom from Page 1
Farrell then called LAPD as well as LMU’s Department of Public Safety (DPS). LAPD conducted an investigation which included checking for signs of entry, such as opened locks or slashed screens, and retracing the trespasser’s steps to see how he was able to get into the yard, according to Farrell. This yielded nothing, but there was “not much more [the police could] do,” said Farrell. This incident comes as one of multiple reports made by LMU students of Peeping Toms over the past several years. In one incident in 2017, a suspect was caught on camera after looking into the windows of a student home, as previously reported by the Loyolan. However, this did not lead to any arrests. DPS and LAPD held a joint forum in November of 2017 in response.
In a statement to the Loyolan, Chief of DPS Danny Martinez (‘82) said that since the surrounding Westchester neighborhood does not fall under the jurisdiction of DPS, students are encouraged to call 911 or LAPD. “While the law requires LMU to defer to the LAPD in the event of an off-campus crime, students are encouraged to make a second report to DPS,” said Martinez. “Campus officers work closely with the LAPD and will be able to provide additional support.” Martinez emphasized that if a student sees a Peeping Tom while in their home, they should call the police immediately and “communicate a sense of urgency.”
Loyola Marymount University
Resource Fair @
OPEN HOUSE for prospective undergraduate students
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 2:00–4:00 p.m. Club organizers, register with Jonna German by Friday, Sept. 27, 2019 for a reserved spot to showcase your club to prospective freshman and transfer students on one of the biggest days of the year. Contact: jonna.german@lmu.edu (310) 338-6019
@LMUadmission
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
NEWS
Page 3
OPINION
Page 4
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
Get angrier about our climate
I EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Managing Editor News Editor Asst. News Editor Asst. News Editor News Intern Asst. Opinion Editor 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 Cartoonist Cartoonist 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 Cristobal Spielmann Sally Dean 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
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.
Do you have an opinion that needs to be heard? Email editor@theloyolan.com to contribute to next week’s issue!
n his 1697 poem “The Mourning Bride,” William Could we be more aware and involved? Could Congreve wrote, “Heaven has no rage like love we be louder with our opinions? Our leaders to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman must respond effectively to the issue of climate scorned.” Sixteen-year-old environmental change, but we must also take responsibility activist Greta Thunberg is an angry young woman for our actions. This responsibility includes reminding us all that we, too, should be angry acknowledging the scientific facts that prove about the state of our planet. climate change exists and could cause our In an extremely powerful and hard-hitting environment to get to an irreversible point address at the U.N.’s Climate Action Summit in “beyond human control,” as Thunberg mentioned New York City on Monday, Thunberg outlined how in her speech. the older generation has failed us and continues to National Review writer Rich Lowry and Daily Wire do so, as they are only podcaster Michael interested in “money Knowles, among and fairy tales of others, have accused eternal economic Thunberg of being growth.” brainwashed and Thunberg not only mentally ill. This spoke with conviction unfortunately proves about the betrayal that people’s response she feels, but also to this push for presented important accountability often facts that are proof has to do with where of the irreversible one stands on the consequences of political spectrum. climate change The environment already affecting our should not be a planet. partisan issue. It Our leaders in must go beyond California and at LMU the boundaries of Ellen Na | Loyolan political are active pioneers leanings. Greta Thunberg speaks at the U.N.’s Climate Action Summit, and changemakers We need to turn when it comes to reminding us all we must take climate change seriously. This the conversation applies not only to current leaders, but also future leaders. the environment. to how we can California Gov. Gavin Newsom used his platform collectively help our planet survive catastrophic on Monday, at the opening ceremony for Climate and irreversible damage. Week in New York, to address California’s response The message Thunberg has for us cannot and to environmental concerns. He criticized the way should not be ignored. It serves as not only a wake-up that President Trump and the federal government call for the older generation of policy makers, but are dealing with the issue. California is known also a vital reminder to us, future leaders, who will for its renewable energy, emissions reduction and inherit this Earth with all its ailments. electric vehicles, as reported by the Los Angeles Encourage those around you to watch Times. Thunberg’s three-minute impassioned speech, Our university prides itself on its focus on the get involved when and where you can and keep environment with its sustainability program, yourself and those around you accountable for renewable energy and student-run organizations your actions and their effects on the environment. like ECO Students. But we must ask ourselves—as As Thunberg said, “The world is waking up. And individuals, as residents of California and as members change is coming, whether you like it or not.” of the LMU community—if we are doing enough.
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.
How should we manage campus wildlife? Speck and Spielmann
Cristobal Spielmann Opinion Intern @LALoyolan
Raccoons aren’t really as lovable as Rubin from “Gallows” by Loyolan staff cartoonist Harrison Klein. Not only are raccoons a “primary carrier of rabies,” but they can also spread roundworm
infections and the potentially fatal disease leptospirosis, according to the Humane Society of the United States. See Wildlife | Page 5
A
new 60-foot-tall nesting pole for ospreys (a type of fish-hawk) was dedicated along the Bluff on Sept. 10. This is an opportunity for the ospreys to have a nursery and for LMU students to study the birds’ behavior. But while we’re gawking at the more exotic creatures from the wetlands, it might be worth looking at the animals on campus that have made their homes in more humancentric habitats. LMU has to be more educated about the environment we share with other species. There are many different animals on campus like crows, rabbits and lizards; however, those specific species don’t really throw a wrench into how most students operate on a day-to-day basis. One species students do encounter on campus, though, is the raccoon. “There are always one ... or two raccoons hanging in front of McCarthy at night,” remarked Camille Bautista, a sophomore animation major. “My friend calls them Bonnie and Clyde.”
Harrison Klein | Loyolan
Unlike Rubin from “Gallows,” real-life raccoons aren’t so innocent. LMU has to be more educated about the environment we share with other species.
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
OPINION
Page 5
Learning to live with raccoons on campus Wildlife from Page 4
“Raccoons can get vicious, and they’re also not like mice, where they’re very small; they’re pretty big creatures,” commented Bautista. There’s no way to rid campus of this kind of wildlife. LMU can’t have a campus full of trees and bushes while also being free from any animals happy to have those plants in their environment. “We have this idea that there’s the urban world and there’s nature. We’re the only species that looks at landscape that way,” said Eric Strauss, a professor of biology at LMU and the executive director of the LMU Center for Urban Resilience, in an article for CityLab. Strauss’s argument also holds true for our campus, which has a unique mix of gardens and trees blended with streets and sidewalks, perfect for humans and non-humans to be intertwined in the community. “LMU’s wildlife is part of what makes our campus unique,” said Brittnee Wadlington, a facilities management associate at LMU. “In fact, there are many academic courses and research centers that focus on wildlife around our campus.” While this line between the wild and the University might be blurred, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t steps both students and the administration can take to understand how we should and should not interact with our furry friends. For instance, LMU could change how it handles trash. The common format of most trash receptacles on campus seem ripe for raccoons and other animals to steal garbage from. It has a big flap on top of the design and easily unlockable door for taking out the can itself at the bottom of the design. On the University’s end, these designs can be improved with better locks. Securing the doors with bungee cords at night can prevent easy entry, as recommended by New England Today.
Granted, these kinds of precautions aren’t guaranteed to always work, but it’s a step up from our current system of a scavenger buffet. Students can do their part by being more responsible with their trash. Far too often, I see the trash cans near the Lair overflowing with paper plates and plastic forks because some people couldn’t be bothered to take their garbage somewhere else. When you have trash in hand, find the right place to put it away and don’t stuff it where there isn’t any room left. If you live in Hannon or Tenderich and have a compost bin nearby, one useful tip, as highlighted by the Toronto Wildlife Centre, is to freeze your compost so as to reduce smells that might attract raccoons.
As for taking late-night walks on campus, I’d try to stay clear of any
When we mold our school around the fact that humans are not the only species
“LMU can’t have a campus full of trees and bushes while also being free from any animals happy to have those plants in their environment.” unlit and planted areas. Raccoons like dark and quiet spaces, according to Nuisance Wildlife Rangers, so walking into the alley-like nooks of some campus apartment buildings or by the trees near the Habit is a good way to run into them.
that live on campus, we can expect to see a ecologically conscious community that values life even in the least likely of places. This is the opinion of Cristobal Spielmann, a sophomore environmental science major from Brentwood, Tennessee. Tweet comments @LALoyolan, or email editor@theloyolan.com.
Page 6
editor’s pick
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
eSports club hosts ‘Smash’ tourney
Photos: Jacob Cornblatt | Loyolan
The LMU eSports Club hosted their first “Super Smash Bros.” tournament of the semester last Friday, Sept. 27. Dozens of students brawled on their Nintendo Switches in a nearly four-hour competition. Club president Joey Nimmers-Minor (pictured bottom left), a senior biology major, said, “eSports is just such a largely growing part of entertainment right now ... I just hope to create a community.” The club will host more tournaments this year. See page 16 for more on the eSports club.
Ellen Na | Loyolan
A special section of the Los Angeles Loyolan
A special section of the Los Angeles Loyolan
Harrison Klein | Loyolan
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
Page 11
Darn Things Kids SAy
By Ellen Na, cartoonist
GALLOWS
UNNECESSARY JAPES
By Harrison Klein, cartoonist
2017 Classic!
By Cameron Woodard, former staff cartoonist
Check out more Loyolan cartoons online now! Visit LALoyolan.com/cartoons and catch up on your favorites!
Page 12
EDQ
Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
Aliens team up to aid humans in Area 51 raid Aliens Exist. Blink-182 said it, History channel aired it and the Area 51 raid proved it. Jordan Boaz
Raid Participant
The brilliantly planned American raid on Area 51 was not organized by Americans alone. While there is no evidence of Russian interference, it would be truly shocking that the same group of people that chose the U.S. president were the ones that could organize such a thought-out attack. It was fishy for a reason. The attack was not planned by just Americans or even just humans. A significant number of aliens were brought to the table to have a say — and they made a huge difference. With alien help, the Area 51 raid was both an inside and outside job. Over 1 million Americans stormed the site, including representatives from various companies who joined in to sell their merchandise and market their products. Kool-Aid had the biggest corporate presence, with over
100 naked Kool-Aid men and women helping storm the site. While the U.S. Air Force has done a great job in shutting down all media coverage of the raids, it doesn’t mean they could stop the raid. Al Ien, one of the aliens who helped to organize the raid, spoke to the Bluff about the raid’s successes. “Despite the lack of coverage,” it said, “the raid was far more successful than we would have ever imagined. On behalf of all imprisoned Area 51 aliens, I would like to thank those who helped organize for our freedom.” The aliens will be returning to their home planets, which they have declined to discuss in detail. However, the raid proved several vital things: Americans can be smart and work together, citizens can overpower even the most secured parts of the government and aliens exist. It wasn’t a bad weekend for anyone except government officials. They, to quote Ien, “were a little relieved to see us go. I think they had more pressing prisoners than aliens to worry about. Something about the border.”
Ellen Na | Loyolan
Many people, aliens and companies joined together to raid Area 51, including many Kool-Aid representatives. The end result was mass carnage and enlightenment.
Gentrificationopoly reveals Earth proven healthy L.A. residents’ pain Most drinking water is in the polar caps. Shouldn’t we try to melt them?
Because more than half of your salary SHOULD be going to rent.
Jordan Boaz Climate Change Denier
Andrew Dazé
Lives in a Shoebox
Parker Sisters is one of the most recent companies attempting to spearhead the revolution against the social problems of the U.S. The recent buzz around “Ms. Monopoly” paved the way for the board game company’s newest release “Gentrificationopoly,” the L.A. rent-based board game dubbed as “the game where no one from Los Angeles can afford to live here.” The game feels familiar to Southern California locals. It mimics the style of regular “Monopoly”, but with some of L.A.’s most iconic and prestigious real estate. From Beverly Hills, to The Grove to even the homeless encampments adjacent to the L.A. River, everyone can be pushed out of their residency due to rent inflation. “Our goal with this new version of Monopoly is to make sure everyone feels the pain of being each other,” said Parker Sisters’ public relations spokesperson Mon Ebags at the game’s release press conference. “We really think we could solve the housing problems with this.” The rules are eerily similar to the current housing crisis in L.A. Each player’s goal is to exploit their residents using the excuse of the climbing demand of living in the City of Angels. By building extremely dense, deceptively “luxurious” high-rise apartments, you rake in the dough, laughing
Jacob Johanson | Loyolan
Kids across the nation are left unsatisfied with Gentrificationopoly. Rules of building codes and the manifesto make it a dense read.
when other players land on your properties and pay ridiculous amounts due to lack of rent control. “You can charge anything,” claimed Mon Ebags with a wink, “Who’s to say the rent even has to be monetary?” If a player “donates” money to the in game government it will allow that player to deprive residents of parking as long as they are within one property of public transit. This allows players to build more units on each property along with charging for monthly parking for the parking structure you also own. Naturally, bringing in new residents from out of state with their wealth is a bigger priority than taking care of the generations of locals in the city. Each player has a foreclosure team at their disposal to kick out the current tennants. Usually it’s a struggling family of six who has lived at that property for over three decades in favor of a DJ, their dog and
their significant other who can pay triple the current rent due to a trust fund. A notable new tactic is the foreign investor rule. A player can purchase a suburban property, demolish the existing structures and erect their own structures—often to the limits of the suburban building size codes—and leave them completely empty. The property owner can then claim this property as their residency, resulting in tax breaks, as well as providing the opportunity to host foreign, non-related occupants and allowing them to benefit from our public amenities. “We believe by releasing this game, it will bring awareness to the Los Angelenos playing it,” said Mon Ebags. “When was the last time anyone even played a full game of regular Monopoly? It’s always ‘too long’ to play. We don’t expect you to really play it, so we included a manifesto in each game box to help highlight some of the problems L.A. faces today.”
Despite numerous climate strikes happening across the globe this week, the earth is happy and healthy. This weekend, thousands of people across continents linked up in solidarity in an effort to initiate new environmental policies around the globe. But what they overlooked was massive: the fact that the Earth is totally and completely fine. Sure, it’s on fire, and the sun gives us cancer and the air isn’t actually safe to breathe, but all it takes is a look around to know that there is really no issue. Just think about it: succulents flourish in dorm rooms, trees continue to grow and, even though plastic grass is replacing real grass, there is real grass in some places, probably. All you have to do to soothe your racing (and burning) heart is take a nice deep breath of fresh(ish) air and leave it to the leaders to handle the situation. The United States of America, the most powerful country in the world, has assured its citizens that there is nothing to fear. If even the director of the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) is expressing no concern, there is no reason we should either. After all, leaders know best. Deni Er, the head of the EPA, did not approve of the climate strikes because “the only real issue with the climate is that my air conditioning is broken.” The director has previously stated that “if the planet gets hotter, all we need to do is install more AC units and spend more days at the pool,” before adding that they “hate the snow anyway.” The president agrees that there is no true environmental crisis, instead placing the blame on China and calling the whole thing a “big, huge, big, huge, big, big, huge hoax. Huge.” While some do not believe that the director of the EPA or the president of the United States are trustworthy, one only needs to run a quick fact check to discover that the theory is wrong. Nearly 2% of what the president says has factual basis. Therefore, one of the 50 times he has called the climate crisis a hoax, he was telling the truth. Global warming is all a big scam and he’s proved it. So, before it becomes your time to stop, drop and roll away from the fires just take a nice dip into a sea of plastic and relax. Nothing is wrong. Everything is fine. America said so.
Ellen Na | Loyolan
Despite common misconception, Earth is happy and healthy according to Deni Er, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency.
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.
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
life+arts
Page 13
I Am That Girl tackles social & gender issues The organization seeks to empower women and fight for equality through conversations. Jordan Boaz
Asst. Bluff Editor @LALoyolan
L
MU’s club I Am That Girl began in 2015. The organization, based on Alexis Jones’ book “I Am That Girl: How to Speak Your Truth, Discover Your Purpose, and #bethatgirl,” has been growing stronger. This year, the club has over 70 students enrolled in their LEO page. Lila Roades, a sophomore history major, is this year’s copresident. In an effort to increase inclusivity, she helped to re-write the mission statement to call the club “a safe space for women and underrepresented genders.” The club focuses on having empowering conversations around social media, self-confidence, goal setting, future planning, academics, self-care, relationships and spending. Additionally, they focus on raising awareness about energy usage, intersectionality, sexual harassment and ways members can overcome gender-based obstacles. Roades believes the club offers students a space to be “heard and validated.” Last year, I Am That Girl had a meeting on rape culture where men from LMU were invited to listen to women speak about their experiences. According to Roades, this was one of the most powerful moments the
club has had, as it facilitated valuable discussions. This year, they hope to get more involved with service work focused on women. “We get really deep into issues that affect us every day. It’s just really refreshing to go and have people who understand you and want to listen to you,” she said. For Roades, “that girl” is “someone who lifts up other women, empowers other women and is confident in herself.” Isabella Lopez, a sophomore theatre arts and management double major who has been in I Am That Girl since her freshman year, agreed. She said “that girl” is “someone who inspires you to be better and encourages you to get out of your comfort zone and [be] really confident.” Her favorite part of the club is the sense of community that comes with vulnerable conversations. Both women also acknowledged that some words, such as the word “feminism,” can bring with it negative connotations. “There’s a lot of women who don’t want to use [the word] because they don’t want to be like, ‘Oh, I’m a crazy feminist,’” said Roades. “And also, on the flip side of it, feminism can become this term that’s used for white, straight women … We do have to be careful to really define what we mean.” According to Roades, feminism is the “complete equality of all genders.” In an ideal world, Roades believes people should experience no political, social or economic barriers to achieving what they want to achieve. “Feminism is good for everyone,” said Lopez. “People shouldn’t be freaked out
via I Am That Girl Instagram ( @iamthatgirllmu)
On their Instagram, I Am That Girl posts inspirational and powerful images. I Am That Girl seeks to empower women by creating a bond between its members and facilitating conversations.
... No one [should have] to compromise themselves due to gender roles,” she said. Feminism can be as simple as standing up for yourself and everyone feeling comfortable sharing their emotions, according to Lopez. Roades assured those scared to join because of social connotations: “You will have such a strong community [as a feminist] that it’s really not going
to matter that there are a few people on the sidelines saying that feminism isn’t important,” she said. Both Lopez and Roades encouraged women and gender non-conforming students to give I Am That Girl a try, as the club does its best to be empower and encourage students to speak up in a safe environment. They currently meet on Tuesdays from 9-10 p.m., in St. Robert’s Hall 355.
life+arts
Page 14
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
Alumni return to the Bluff
Photos: Maeve Sullivan | Loyolan
Alumni Weekend took place last week. Crowds of alumni came back to campus to celebrate their alma mater. Several generations turned out at the weekend barbecue, with activities ranging from pretending to surf on an inflatable wave to taking pictures with Iggy the Lion.
Live more sustainably with ECO club ECO students engage in protests, awareness and community. Jordan Boaz
Asst. Bluff Editor @LALoyolan
L
MU’s Environmentally Conscious and Organized (ECO) Students club has already been working hard this year on increasing sustainability on campus and personally in their everyday lives. Alice Tiffany, a junior environmental studies major and environmental science minor, is this year’s ECO Students club co-president. ECO Students evolved from a club previously known as Fossil Free LMU. In alignment with the previous club’s goals, ECO Students is currently focused on getting LMU to stop investing in tar sands, which are harmful to the planet, according to Tiffany. In response to the pressure on LMU to invest more responsibly, the University created the Responsible Investment Advisory Committee. ECO Students has presented to the committee about tar sands, according to Tiffany. Additionally, they hope to push LMU toward being
a zero-waste campus. In their attempts to increase sustainability, they have been working with ASLMU’s director of sustainability, Sierra Barsten. The club isn’t all serious, however. While activities are centered around environmentalism, they can also be fun for those involved. For example, ECO Students has done clothing swaps, beach clean-ups, bonfires, sold succulents and watched Wall-E. They also participated in protests, including last weekend’s environmental strike. “There [are] a lot of really passionate people,” said Tiffany. “ECO Students is one of those places that really fosters that passion.” She believes that the environmental community on campus is “tight-knit” and that the group has a possibility to make substantial change. Tiffany also stressed the importance of finding a healthy balance between personal and political sustainability. “It’s really important to make political change and to make change at an institutional level,” she said. The club is working toward doing exactly that. They also teach people to
reduce, reuse, recycle and refuse. Refusing includes saying no to excess packaging and choosing not to purchase products that were sourced unethically. Plastic is resource-intensive before it even makes it into consumer hands, so members of ECO Students try to avoid it when possible, according to Tiffany. People “do have power as consumer[s],” said Tiffany, so sustainability is worth a try in every reasonable circumstance. While she recognizes that consistently making conscious choices can be inconvenient, she encourages people to “weigh that annoyance against the greater good.” She emphasizes that what is at stake is so much more important than the inconvenience of a fleeting moment. “We should invest in a way that is in alignment with our Jesuit values,” Tiffany said. Join ECO Students, read their online proposal or sign their divestment petition to help them push LMU to do just that. ECO Students meets every other Wednesday at 8 p.m. in St. Robert’s Hall and is seeking new members. More information about the club can be found on their Instagram page, @ecostudentslmu.
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
laloyolan.com
The
case
Rossi Possi
for
SPORTS watching
American
Nick Rossi
Sports Intern @LALoyolan
I
n a little less than a month, we will be approaching the two-year anniversary of the U.S. men’s national team’s crushing 2-1 defeat to Trinidad and Tobago. The loss prevented America from qualifying for the 2018 World Cup and was viewed by many as U.S. soccer’s lowest point in its over-100-year existence. Beyond the immediate World Cup qualifying implications, the Trinidad result reaffirmed many doubts that soccer would never make it in the U.S. and that we would never be good enough at it. Many American sports fans dislike this beautiful game and our nation’s place in it. They dismiss the game for being too low-scoring, for players flopping too much and for our country being far from the best at it. Many of these assumptions about soccer are uncalled for. Soccer is actually a very exciting game filled with genuine emotion. The passion displayed by both fans and players of the sport is what truly sets it apart. Go to a Mexican national team match at the Rose Bowl
Photos via Wikimedia Commons
Former United States men’s soccer forward Clint Dempsey (8) has been a prominent figure in the men’s national team’s recent success. In addition, the women’s team excelled in 2019, winning their fourth World Cup.
and I guarantee you will be impressed at how intense of a sporting experience it is. Or even travel a short distance from campus to a Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) home game and the electric atmosphere will captivate you. Although the notion of the game being low-scoring has some merit, there are plenty of high-scoring, exciting matches and teams to go around. LAFC has scored 78 goals in the 31 matches they have played so far this season. Saturday morning,
eSports club excited for new room in Burns eSports from Page 16
“Right now eSports is absolutely a growing, globalized form of entertainment,” said Nimmers-Minor. “Just as curling is a competition, [there’s a] very minimal amount of physical exertion. You still need to practice, you still need to compete, you need to have that same mentality as if it’s a sport.” Although not currently recognized as a club sport, the club is hoping, by the spring semester, to convert an unused room in the Burns Recreation Center into a meeting space where teams can practice and
play matches against other schools together, in a shared space. As for the future of eSports at LMU, NimmersMinor would like for eSports to receive further recognition and have it be considered a major college sport here on the Bluff. “I hope that within the next decade or so, we can start offering scholarships or something of the sort to students who are coming in looking to play eSports because eSports is becoming a career choice,” said Nimmers-Minor. See Page 6 for Super Smash Bros. coverage
Manchester City scored eight goals in a single English Premier League match. Another beautiful thing about soccer is that there really is no off-season. The world’s most popular leagues in Europe run from August all the way through May. As soon as those conclude, international tournaments kick off in June and July. Major League Soccer, America’s primary league, plays from March through November. If you are an American soccer fan, you have
games to watch year round. There is no waiting for months on end for your favorite sport to return to action. Despite what most of our country and the world may lead you to believe, Americans are actually very good at soccer. This past summer, the U.S. women’s national team famously won its fourth World Cup title. En route to the trophy, they went undefeated in the game’s most competitive tournament as practically the entire country
Page 15
soccer
threw their support behind the team. No one else in the world can claim four World Cups, making our women the most successful in the world. Despite the dominance of American women, many try to detract from the American women’s standing in the sport by pointing to our men’s team. From the way most people talk about the men’s team, you would think they are one of the worst in the game. In reality, the U.S. men’s national team is currently ranked 21st in the world by FIFA. This is out of a possible 210 teams. So, out of all the 200-plus countries that have national teams, the United States of America ranks in the top 10% of them. In the grand scheme of things, Americans are very good at soccer. I am aware the game has a long way to go before we hit the same heights as the European and South American juggernauts of soccer; but there is no denying the game in our country and our skill in it has made major strides over the past couple of decades.
This is the opinion of Nick Rossi, a junior AIMS major from Orange, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email comments to mthomas@theloyolan.com.
SCORES UPDATE M. Soccer
W W W. L A L O Y O L A N . C O M
2-0 W
at CSUN
W. Soccer
4-2 L
LION SPORTS
vs. UCSB
M Water Polo Volleyball
18-10 W
at Fresno Pacific 3-1 W at Butler
SPORTS
EDQ Find us @LALoyolan
Your Home. Your Voice. Your News. EST. 1921
September 25, 2019
Page 16
eSports continuing to grow on campus The club aspires to gain recognition as being a casual yet competitive gaming club. Miles Thomas Sports Editor @LALoyolan
With most LMU fall sports having already kicked off, the LMU eSports club started their season with a mission to play video games competitively and for fun, while also legitimizing eSports itself as a real sport. Many of these players grew up playing video games as their favorite hobby, which led them to join the eSports club and becoming part of a shared community of competitive and casual gaming. “I’ve been playing video games for a long time, especially [on] PC. My parents are big PC gamers so I kind of grew up with that. So for me it was very much something I just enjoyed,” said sophomore biology major Bella Rementeria. Rementeria is also a member of the executive board for eSports club, serving as the event coordinator. Alongside her on the executive board is tresurer and junior math major Nico Marino, who has been a member since his freshman year, seeing the club’s growth and evolution on campus. “We’ve grown to have more competitive teams where we play other schools for the main games like
via eSports club
The eSports executive board members gather during a club meeting. The eSports club is hoping to have their own room in the Burns Recreation Center this coming spring.
'League of Legends,' 'Hearthstone' and 'Overwatch,'" said Marino. “We’ve also tried to set up game nights once a month and then we have tournaments for '[Super] Smash Bros. Ultimate' and some other games just to increase the amount of people that can interact with us.” The executive board for the club is led by their president, senior biology major John “Joey” Nimmers-Minor. Nimmers-Minor also serves as the captain of the varsity "Overwatch" team within the club. He has been a member of the club since
his freshman year and has been passionate about the community the club has created. The eSports club competes with other schools through Tespa, an organization focused on collegiate competitive eSports. The club has multiple teams for competitive video games, but also wants casual gamers to be a part of it. Video games have been a hot topic in the media lately, with some like President Donald Trump arguing that gaming causes violence, according to NBC News. Rementeria is determined
to shed the negative labels surrounding video games. “[Video gaming is] in a weird state because a lot of people look down on people, to a degree. Like they see studies where video games cause violence or video games are bad. They kind of look down on people who play them,” said Rementeria. Nimmers-Minor explained further that one of the club’s main goals is to focus on eliminating this stigma surrounding video games. He wants eSports to be recognized and respected as a legitimate sport and form of entertainment. Despite the noise, eSports club has remained focused on their mission to create a place for people to meet and talk about gaming, while also focusing on casual and competitive play in video games. “It’s always been one of our missions to erase that stigma around people who play video games. There’s the stereotype of sitting at home or in their moms' basement playing video games until 5 in the morning,” said Nimmers-Minor. “Not only are we people who enjoy video games but we’re students — we’re growing adults. There’s so many more aspects to everyone in that club besides playing video games. But that’s the one thing that glues us together.” When comparing eSports to other, more recognized sports such as basketball and soccer, the club is looking to fight back against people who claim that eSports is not a real sport. See eSports | Page 15
Q&A with men's soccer goalkeeper Jacob Jackson The sophomore won the West Coast Conference Player of the Week award on Monday after six consecutive shutouts. Jameson O'Neil Asst. Sports Editor @LALoyolan
Men’s soccer goalkeeper Jacob Jackson, a sophomore political science major, was named West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Week on Monday for his performance for the week of Sept. 16. The California native from Escondido has played a significant role in the Lions’ success this season, with the squad notching a 5-1-1 record so far this fall. Across the six games he has played, Jackson has allowed no goals on 74 shots faced in 560 straight scoreless minutes. Asst. Sports Editor Jameson O’Neil sat down with the goalie to discuss his individual accomplishments, as well as the aspirations for the team for the remainder of the season. Jameson O'Neil (J.O.): Catch me up from the beginning of preseason to the first game — how has training gone so far? Jacob Jackson (J.J.): We started preseason very well. We actually come two weeks early for captain's training. Preseason started ... and then we actually took a trip, as a whole team, down to Chula Vista [to] the Olympic training center facility. Our team actually bonded a lot there — we got to know one another really [well]. We had some up[s] and downs during training, but overall it was a fun experience ... And the first game with Santa Barbara, we were all very excited to finally get back on the field, me included, coming back from an injury. This really is my first year playing college soccer so I was really excited to be back, and I think just the team in general was excited to be back. New year,
Photo: Owen Markham | Loyolan
Sophomore goalkeeper Jacob Jackson kicks the ball out in a match. He has not allowed any goals yet this season.
new team, new faces — so we were really excited for the start of the season. J.O.: What has been the overall focus going into this season? What is this season’s primary message? J.J.: We have three real big ones that we keep talking about throughout the team — win the WCC, win a national championship [and] then to be the best student athletes we possibly could be. Those are the three goals of the entire year. J.O.: You’ve recorded six straight games with no goals allowed and 560 straight scoreless
minutes — both of which are program records. What have you done to accomplish these feats? J.J.: One of our talks that we usually get from the coaches — and something I really believe in — is doing your job. I think that's what I've done very well is just doing my job, being the last line of defense [and] being the guy that has to make the save. But my team ... drives me to perform every day and try my best every day. Without them, I don't know if I could achieve what we've been achieving or what I've been achieving. J.O.: How is it determined which player starts at goal? J.J.: None of us actually know until game day. We have four really good goalies. Any one of us can start, so every day is a battle. All four of us are great friends [and] all four of us are very close; it’s a very good goalkeeping group. But again, every day's a competition, and they push me, and I hope I push them every day. And we get better. Any one of us can play at any time. J.O.: For how long in your soccer career have you been playing goalie? J.J.: I've actually been a goalie my entire life, since I was little. I started playing soccer when I was four officially in indoor, and I've played in goal since then because ... I don't know why. My parents told me they have a picture of me running to the goal in my first indoor soccer game as a little kid — I went straight to goal. I guess it just stuck with me. J.O.: What's the focus for your upcoming games against Cal Poly and Cal State Fullerton? J.J.: We take every team the same. We prepare early, we prepare smartly [and] we make sure we got everything touched on. But we're just preparing like it's another game — that's just how it is. We don't look at rankings ... we just keep on playing. It's just another soccer game.