Pepperdine Graphic 11-5-2021

THE PEPPERDINE GRAPHIC VOLUME LI | ISSUE 8 | NOVEMBER 5, 2021 | PEPPERDINE-GRAPHIC.COM | FOLLOW US @PEPPGRAPHIC

‘DON’T TOUCH MY KID KID’’

Moms protest vaccine mandate near pier ASHLEY MOWREADER MANAGING EDITOR EMILY SHAW NEWS EDITOR A group of Malibu moms took to the pier to protest vaccine mandates in schools, hoping to draw local support and instigate change.

Started as a local anti-mandate group, Cali Free moms meet weekly since the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District began conversations about requiring the COVID-19 vaccine in schools, group founder Jennifer Posey said.

“We have to speak for those who don’t have a voice,” Posey said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Oct. 1, mandating students eligible to be vaccinated receive the COVID-19 vaccine before the start of the next term — Jan. 1 for SMMUSD. While Malibu schools have one of the highest vaccina-

tion rates among LA County schools, according to Malibu Times reporting, not everyone is on board.

“The tipping point was when the governor said that everybody, all the kids in school, were going to be forced to be vaccinated,” Cali Free group member Laure Williams said.

“That’s where we drew the line.”

Several moms interviewed said they were vaccinated themselves but were against the vaccine for their children — raising concerns about long-term side effects.

Posey said she is not anti-vaccine but that she and other group members are against the requirement for their children.

“The parents need to have control over their children — we should have the option,” Williams said. “Whatever you do to me, don’t touch my kid.”

The group gathered at 10 a.m., on Wednesday, Nov. 3, and remained at the pier for several hours, Malibu Pier em-

ILLUSTRATION BY ALI LEVENS | CREATIVE DIRECTOR, PHOTOS BY EMILY SHAW | NEWS EDTIOR A gathering of people raise their signs outside the Malibu Pier to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates in schools. Members of Cali Free, a local anti-mandate group, said they came out to speak against the mandate. ployees said. Kiana Hearnes, a pier employee, said she didn’t mind the protest so long as it remained peaceful and didn’t disrupt operations.

Posey said the general support from fellow protestors and those driving by and honking — in accordance with HONK IF YOU LOVE FREEDOM — signs was “fantastic” and provided a sense of community support.

LA County Sheriff’s deputies arrived to the scene around noon. Officers said they were called to monitor traffic violations, as some protestors were standing on the road.

While the moms organized the event as part of a larger Southern California walkout against Newsom’s mandate for public schools, some protesters came for their own reasons.

Malibu City Inspector Raul

Vasquez attended the protest with his daughter, Delila Vasquez, after hearing about it via YouTube.

“I’m happy to be here; there’s a lot more people than I expected,” Raul Vasquez said.

At 11:45 a.m., there were about 40 people protesting, including children and a few dogs.

Raul Vasquez protested the mandate in the name of personal medical freedom, he said.

“The U.S.A. is supposed to be the home of freedom,” Raul Vasquez. “The government and big pharma are ruining this country.”

As a city employee, Vasquez faces his own vaccine mandate and said he’s working to get a religious exemption to avoid being vaccinated.

Vasquez, while not a local herself, said she’s standing for similar reasons — individual

liberty. She carried a sign stating, “I am informed, I do not consent.”

“I’m not really here for anyone else but myself,” Delila Vasquez said. “I’m proving to myself I really do stand for this — that we shouldn’t be mandated.”

Ian Jameson is a San Fernando Valley local, just stopping by the Malibu protest on his way to the next anti-vaccine mandate event in Santa Monica. Jameson wore a Bernie shirt and carried a “Vaccines Are Death” sign, which he displayed to the oncoming traffic.

Jameson said he’s hoping people do their own research regarding the vaccine and stop listening to “media outlets funded by big pharma.”

ASHLEY.MOWREADER@PEPPERDINE.EDU EMILY.C.SHAW@PEPPERDINE.EDU

Pepp undergoes another cycle of WSCUC evaluation WILLIAM BACON STAFF WRITER After a week of community members interviewing with Western Association of Schools and Colleges officials, WSCUC will release a report with its evaluations of Pepperdine by mid-March 2022, said Kevin Worthen, the chair for the WSCUC team.

WSCUC held meetings with groups of students Oct. 21, in which interviewees voiced their experiences and provided suggestions on how Pepperdine can

W H AT ’ S AHE A D THE WAVES REPORT

improve on items such as student inclusivity.

WSCUC finalized the virtual visit by listing their commendations for the University, along with recommendations on how Pepperdine as an institution can improve.

“Every so often, we as an institution have to undergo a reaffirmation of the accreditation process,” Seaver Dean Michael Feltner said. “This process consists of a group of peers from around the country who have been trained to come in to look at our processes and determine

whether it is appropriate to reaffirm our accreditation.”

Accreditation stems from WASC Senior College and University Commission, which decides if Pepperdine is eligible to access federal funds and disburse student financial aid, Feltner said.

WSCUC visits within 10 years of the last cycle, with the most recent visit to Pepperdine occurring in 2012.

WSCUC evaluation also included Pepperdine’s headquarters for the Graduate School of Education and Psychology as well as the Graziadio School of

Business in West Los Angeles, along with the graduate campus in Irvine.

On Sept. 30, the WSCUC team visited Pepperdine’s West Los Angeles and Irvine campuses and conducted interviews with the campuses’ respective deans, students and faculty, wrote April Marshall, Hispanic Studies professor and co-chair of the WSCUC steering committee, in an Oct. 17 email to the Graphic.

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PE R S PE C TI VE S

LI FE & ART S

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Whiten A2- Addison reminds students of

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Perspectives Editor AJ Muonagolu invites Pepperdine to write for the section.

the drivers of B2- Meet Pepperdine’s infamous

Crew Joe Allgood B7- GNews shares why “Shoeless” Joe

Programs A6- International sees higher-than-usual

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Perspectives Assistant Sawa Yamakawa provides a solution for improving Pepperdine’s rankings.

fashionistas share their B4- LA favorite trends and resale

the importance of the Freedom Wall.

application numbers.

FRI: 1-2 FT

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shuttles.

SUN: 1-2 FT

finds.

MON: 1-2 FT

Jackson deserves a spot in the hall of fame.

Tennis dominates B10- Men’s the ITA Southwest

Regional Championship.

TUES: 1-2 FT

(DEEPSWELL.COM)

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The Fine Print: Freedom Wall

THE DPS REPORTS

CHECK OUT PEPPERDINE.EDU/PUBLICSAFETY FOR THE WEEKLY DPS REPORTS

1 3

2 THIS WEEK 4 IN SGA

10/26/21 9:27 a.m.

Crime: Drug Related Possession of a controlled substance Location: Drescher Apartments

10/29/21 11:10 a.m.

Crime: Traffic Related Hit and run Location: Seaver Drive

10/31/21 9:04 p.m.

Crime: Alcohol Related Possession of alcohol on campus (adult) Location: Drescher Apartments

10/31/21 10:52 p.m.

Crime: Assault/Battery Simple battery or fighting Location: Phillips House

ADDISON WHITEN LIFE AND ARTS ASSISTANT

ADDISON.WHITEN@PEPPERDINE.EDU

THIS WEEK IN SGA

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Students can join SGA committees, including the Health & Wellness Committee or the Accessibility Committee.

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SGA Townhall will be held Tuesday, Nov. 9 in Mullin Town Square.

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Melissa Meija has stepped in as senior class president after Nicolas Armenta received medical leave.

U PC OMING E VE N TS MON

TUES

WHAT: #Jamii C areer Webinar Series: C areer Transitions for Militar y-Connected Community WHERE: Vir tual WHEN: Noon HOST: C areer Ser vices

WHAT: Native American Heritage Night: Meet Kaitlin Cur tice WHERE: Fireside Room WHEN: 6 p.m.

HOST: Intercultural Affairs

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COVID-19 numbers and new guidelines

Pepperdine’s Freedom Wall has been a hub of controversy over the years, from issues of LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination to this fall’s abortion debate.

When a serious issue that directly affects the lives of others is discussed on the Freedom Wall, the memes and jokes posted next to — or on top of — those deeply personal statements demean them.

Students should use the Freedom Wall however they see fit (hence its name), but there should also be a consideration for what message is conveyed when people tack up something supposedly funny next to a student’s personal call for reproductive rights and bodily autonomy, for example.

I never want to inhibit someone’s free speech — I love to talk! What I am saying is, in exercising your First Amendment rights at the Freedom Wall, maybe take a moment to consider the context of any discussions already going on there and what you want to add to them.

As the initial controversy around the abortion discussion died down, other images and messages began appearing on the Freedom Wall. These posts either made jokes about the debate happening on the wall, tried to redirect the conversation or were unrelated entirely.

While some of these images were kind of funny — like a photo of a cat with cream on its face — others made attempts at comedy that failed to be humorous and instead made light of the issues that were deadly serious for both sides.

The funniest post I’ve ever seen on the wall is a set of Instagram DMs from March 2020. Someone wrote they think there’s a person in Towers with “coronavirus symptoms,” and they received the most inappropriate response to this concern possible — “Yooo what.” These made me laugh when I first saw them, and now looking back, they are even more funny knowing these people definitely were right to be “lowkey scared.”

All this to say, funny things on the Freedom Wall are awesome and welcome! The Diablo sauce packets that were tacked there last week were humorous, and they were not tacked up over an existing discussion or making light of something important to people.

The Freedom Wall is just that — free — but it should also be a place of awareness and consideration of what your SpongeBob meme could meaningfully add to a discussion that matters deeply to people.

TWEETS AND MEMES OF THE WEEK

WED 10

WHAT: World Vision Vir tual Info Session WHERE: Vir tual WHEN: 6 p.m.

HOST: Pepperdine Accounting Society

THURS

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NO SCHEDULED E VENTS

WHAT: Pepperdine Musical: “Mamma Mia!” WHERE: Smothers Theatre WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

HOST: Center for the Ar ts

Pepperdine

Malibu

California

United States

cases*

cases

cases

cases

deaths*

deaths

deaths

deaths

135 686 4.9M 46M ZERO 11 72K 749K 87% Nov. 3 | There is no more modified quarantine for vaccinated students.

students vaccinated

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*Numbers since August 1

Subscribe to thepeppgraphic// PLUG The Graphic IN: // PLUG IN: FOLLOW Pixel Newsletter ( S c a n a n d s c ro l l to th e b o tto m o f th e p a ge)

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WSCUC: Evaluators judge Pepp campus FROM A1 WSCUC Students

Interviews

and

WSCUC evaluations for Seaver College and the graduate schools changed since the COVD-19 pandemic began, with all tasks and interviews shifting onto Zoom, Marshall wrote.

During her student interview process with the WSCUC team, Tamie Daniels, SGA senior class senator, said two accreditation team members asked the students questions about their experiences at Seaver College.

“Overall, this is an important process for students to be aware of and to be able to voice their concerns and share their experiences with the team,” Daniels said.

Students also had the option to email the WSCUC committee, Daniels said.

SGA President and senior Chase Johnson said members of student government, and students from each academic division by nomination from divisional deans, had the opportunity to undergo an interview with WSCUC staff by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

“We don’t have legitimacy without our accreditation, so this is a very important process that we do go through to get the accreditation that gives legitimacy to our degrees,” Johnson said. “So it’s important to not be understated.”

Johnson and Daniels said student involvement is crucial

regarding the WSCUC cycles.

“It’s vital for the accreditors to see the effectiveness, not only on papers and spreadsheets but through conversations with students, to see how our students are actually being transformed by their education here,” Johnson said.

The WSCUC process is also important to determine whether the University’s quality of education is comparable to other schools in the region, Daniels said.

The accreditation process is valuable for students to not only share their perspective but also for students’ financial aid, Daniels said.

“The accreditation team determines if Pepperdine can get federal aid disbursed through the Department of Education, which is something that impacts a lot of students,” Daniels said.

Accreditation allows universities to be eligible for state-funding, according to the Accreditation and Higher Education Act. Student Conversations with WSCUC Students such as Daniels said they want more diversity regarding Pepperdine’s curriculum.

“I requested that Pepperdine wholeheartedly commit to the fostering of global citizens by incorporating more diverse voices and perspectives in its curriculum,” Daniels said.

Pepperdine’s student-led LGBTQ+ representing organization, Crossroads Gender and Sexuality Alliance, called

for all staff to complete SEED — Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity — training, Crossroads wrote in an email to WSCUC. “Students deserve respect, students deserve kindness, students deserve more than what we have received,” Crossroads wrote in an email to WSCUC. Pepperdine’s Commendations and Recommendations At the end of the WSCUC virtual interviewing and spectating process, Worthen gave five commendations and recommendations for Pepperdine.

Pepperdine’s adherence to WSCUC’s predetermined set of themes determines reaffirmation of accreditation, according to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. This leads to a report development and recommendations regarding Pepperdine’s institutional progress, said Worthen.

These themes include: meaning; quality and integrity of degree programs; knowledge sharing and program reviews and assessments, according to the OIE. The five praises the WSCUC team shared include: Pepperdine’s adherence to vision of community, collaborating with the OIE by focusing on student-learning outcomes to make better informed decisions regarding student success, shifting style of assessment to focus on curriculum, developing visual reports on student performance and group environments and having strong financial leadership that embraces strategic planning, Worthen said.

One of the five recommen-

WILLIAM BACON | STAFF WRITER The sun sets over the Malibu campus Nov. 3. The WSCUC team completed their virtual visit to Pepperdine on Oct. 22, and will release a report with its evaluations by mid-March 2022. dations the WASC team had for Pepperdine was to create a clear definition of “diversity, equity and inclusion” that aligns with the University’s mission with the full participation of campus constituents, including the Board of Regents and senior leadership, Worthen said.

“Develop an integrated, actionable plan and accountability mechanism to create a more inclusive environment that addresses equity and inclusion issues identified by campus constituents,” Worthen said.

The other four recommendations include developing codification of shared governance between administrators and faculty to receive more input; develop purposes for knowledge sharing and related protocols; address misconceptions regarding assessment of student learning in Pepperdine; and create stronger integration

of student achievement reports and program outcomes, Worthen said.

Marshall wrote she believes the WSCUC accreditation processes allowed community members at Pepperdine to take time to reflect on the University’s strengths and areas for improvement.

“This process has been a self-study, and it helped us think more deeply about accomplishments and challenges, as is the case in all of higher education,” Marshall wrote. “I am grateful to the WSCUC Steering Committee for their hard work and the larger Pepperdine community for supporting our ongoing efforts related to accreditation generally and this reaffirmation more specifically.”

WILLIAM.BACON@PEPPERDINE.EDU

Clubs host ‘My Culture is NOT a Costume’ event SIERRA MOSES STAFF WRITER Seven of Pepperdine’s identity-based organizations worked to spread information about the negative effects of particular Halloween costume choices in a collaborative effort to educate students one week before the celebration of the national holiday.

Pepperdine’s Black Student Association, Feminist Club, Hawaii Club, Indigenous Peoples’ Club, Japanese Student Union, Latinx Student Alliance and Crossroads GSA hosted the “My Culture is NOT a Costume” event Oct. 25.

Each of these identity-based organizations presented common forms of cultural appropriation expressed through Halloween costumes, as well as the harmful effects of these costume choices.

“A lot of people don’t understand the full extent of their costumes and the history behind them,” said junior Samantha Ortega, Japanese Student Union board member. “This [discussion] was important because it educated people on how their costumes represent more than just a one-day event.”

The main focus of the evening centered around how Halloween costume choices are often examples of cultural appropriation. This then led to a broader discussion about the appreciation of tradition and history.

President of Hawaii Club Hana Shim presented the audience with facts about the history of Hawaii traditions and the misrepresentation of the hula.

Shim called attention to the typical yet inaccurate hula costume, which often incorporates a grass skirt and a coconut bra. Shim juxtaposed this misrepresentation with the traditional Hawaiian hula, which is created using cloth or a ti leaf skirt.

This [discussion] was impor tant because it educated people on how their costumes represent more than just a one-day event.

SAMANTHA ORTEGA, Japanese Student Union member Shim also discussed the misunderstandings surrounding the use of tattoos in Hawaiian culture. She said tattoos are more than an arbitrary expression because they hold significant meaning.

“Hawaiian history isn’t really discussed in Pepperdine classrooms,” Shim said. “I know that a lot of our student

body have a lot of misconceptions about what Hawaiian culture is and what Hawaii is, and this [event] was an opportunity to share the history.”

Ethan Barragan, vice president of the Latino/a/x Student Alliance, discussed at the event the lack of understanding within U.S. society surrounding Día de los Muertos — The Day of the Dead.

Many will participate in the traditional face painting for the holiday without knowing that it is done to honor the loved ones who have passed, Barragan said.

Barragan also spoke about the cultural appropriation that takes place when clothing that is often worn within the Latinx community — such as sombreros or ponchos — is worn beyond the point of appreciation in order to exaggerate a stereotypical look.

“It was important for LSA to be at the event because it’s important to dispel the dominant narrative of what it means to be Latinx in the United States,” Barragan said.

At the event, Crossroads GSA representatives presented the audience with information about how those who identify as transgender are often used as a point of humor and mockery — a hurtful and degrading representation for those who identify as transgender.

Crossroads GSA’s presentation also noted the importance of understanding that much of queer culture stems from Latino and Black cultures.

Joseph Heinemann, the financial officer for Crossroads GSA, said because Crossroads GSA does not represent one specific ethnic group, the club wanted to participate in the event to support the other culturally based organizations while offering an educational aspect.

“Bringing more identity-based club collaboration to normalcy would be such a wonderful thing,” Heinemann said.

“Identity-based clubs are often doing things within their own identity groups, and what’s really great about these different collaboration efforts is you get to talk and be with people of other different backgrounds.”

Each of the seven organizations addressed the audience with different presentations, but they all worked to show how appropriation negatively affects a group of people by ignoring the significance behind tradition.

The evening concluded with Teen Vogue’s video “My Culture is NOT a Costume,” which reiterated the need for a greater sense of respect and understanding for various cultures.

“I’d love to see this event on a broader scale, and I’d love to see other organizations trying to spread the message that we are trying to spread,” Barragan said.

“It’s important that Pepperdine addresses issues of diversity, equity and inclusion — we see Pepperdine’s culture changing as we see demographics shifting.”

SIERRA.MOSES@PEPPERDINE.EDU

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SWAB hosts Stick or Treat vaccine clinic WILLIAM BACON STAFF WRITER Students lined up outside the Student Health Center to get their flu shot just a few days before Halloween on Oct. 28. The Stick or Treat event led to 242 students vaccinated against the flu, according to the SHC, kicking off a series of flu vaccination clinics for the month of November.

Stick or Treat is an annual event held by the Student Wellness Advisory Board, providing free flu vaccinations to help Pepperdine students stay healthy during flu season. The event included ramen and Halloween-related activities for newly vaccinated Waves.

“It’s obviously always important to get your flu shot, from a public health perspective,” said senior Jessica Hinnes, co-president of SWAB. “It’s important to do everything you can to protect yourself from getting sick and to keep yourself healthy.”

This year’s Stick or Treat included tabling with other clubs, Hinnes said. The Nourish and Pre-Medical clubs gave away healthy treats

and flu-season wellness kits, respectively. A masseuse was also present giving free massages.

Free food and club activities drew students like firstyear Evan Pallis to the event.

“I saw a bunch of posters, and then I heard ‘free ramen,’” Pallis said.

The free ramen and proximity were deciding factors in Pallis getting the flu vaccine on campus instead of at a clinic like CVS, Pallis said.

Pallis also said events like Stick or Treat are important for students who live on campus and need accessible vaccines. “[SWAB] provides opportunities for students who don’t have transportation to get vaccinated when they might not have been able to,” Pallis said.

Junior Thomas Bidewell also said SWAB’s on-campus event is key for vaccine accessibility.

“Given the number of people that were here, I don’t think as many people would’ve gotten vaccinated,” Bidewell said.

On-campus flu vaccination events, in general, are necessary because having more people who get vaccinated

DANE BRUHAHN | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR A student receives their vaccination at the Student Health Center on Oct. 28. Afterward, they received punch cards to use throughout the event as they got free ramen, candy and massages. on campus means less illness for Pepperdine’s student population, sophomore Niamh Rolston said.

Students experienced some sickness during the fall semester already. Thompson and Rolston said they were ill during the midterm period from non-COVID related reasons.

Hinnes said that this year, it is especially important to get vaccinated against the flu.

“There are so many similarities between the flu and COVID symptoms,” Hinnes said.

Hinnes also said there are oncoming flu vaccine clinics around campus.

“There’ll definitely be

more opportunities to get your flu shot. And you can always call the Student Health Center and get your flu shot for free at any time,” Hinnes said.

WILLIAM.BACON@PEPPERDINE.EDU

H O P E F O R WA R D D A Y

Planting Seeds of Kindness

Monday, November 8, 2021 11AM–1PM Joslyn Plaza

In remembrance of Alaina Housley, this drop-by event will feature music, treats, and resources from student organizations, University departments, and Alaina’s Voice Foundation to focus on spreading hope and kindness.

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Pepp deliberates GE curriculum LIZA ESQUIBIAS NEWS ASSISTANT Potential reforms to the General Education curriculum are on the horizon at Pepperdine.

After five years of discussions within the University, the GE Review Committee will come together to debate and finalize the proposed changes this year.

The GE curriculum at Pepperdine looks almost identical to the curriculum 35 years ago, said Paul Begin, associate dean of Curriculum and General Education.

With examples of how other universities have improved their core curriculum, calls from Pepperdine students and faculty for change intensify — prompting the University to take action toward making the student experience more well-rounded and inclusive with three goals in mind, Begin said.

“One, although it’s important to have a big GE at a school that’s liberal arts college, we think it’s a little too big at this point,” Begin said. “Two is to give students more choice, so to have it be less prescriptive and more of students choosing the type of knowledge they want to acquire with some parameters around it. Three is to address diversity in a way that is more meaningful than we’re currently doing it.”

The Proposal In 2001, Pepperdine removed physical education from GE requirements and added a two-unit Fine Arts course instead. This was the only change to GEs since 1986, and Begin said a core curriculum transformation is overdue.

In creating a final pitch, Begin said the GERC received and analyzed faculty input. Virtually no one, he said, believed the curriculum should stay the same — in fact, the majority agreed that “modest” or “substantial changes” were necessary to provide students with a top-level education.

Tuan Hoang, Great Books professor and GERC member, and Begin both said, with the proposal, Seaver College would require fewer GE courses. They said their hope is for students to use the extra time in their schedule to explore other passions.

“The idea behind it is, even if you wouldn’t take another major or minor, the thematic categories can help you create a track of your own interests,” Hoang said. “There is more coherence about the contents of your choosing.”

Begin said there are five targets the GERC intends to address: reading and writing, scientific and quantitative reasoning, problem solving through critical thinking, diversity and religion.

The committee’s proposal

for the new GE curriculum divides into three categories, Begin said: Foundations, Connections and Skills.

“Foundations” is 21 units of essential classes — some relate to Pepperdine’s Christian mission — and includes two new courses called Foundations of Knowledge and Enduring Questions. Begin hopes faculty from different divisions can step out of their field to teach GEs in this category, he said.

“Connections” is 30 to 40 units students pick, which can also fit into one of the two themes the GERC laid out course lists for — Social Justice or Religion and Society.

Requirements would include a class from each of these course categories: Human Experience, Language and Culture, U.S. Experience, Global Experience, Fine Arts, Laboratory Science and Quantitative Reasoning.

One of the classes in these categories must meet the diversity requirement.

“Skills” is 0.5 to 2 units that move students closer to real-world proficiency, with courses such as Career Preparation and Inclusive Leadership.

Under the newly proposed core curriculum, there would no longer be a Humanities requirement or first-year seminar, and REL 301 would become an integrative capstone course. In addition, rather than 63 to 74 GE units, there would only be 51 to 61 units required.

The New Cultural Competency Requirement For first-year students beginning the fall 2021 semester, Pepperdine incorporated a cultural competency requirement — but did not add new courses — into the curriculum beginning this semester, Begin said. The chosen class must fulfill three of five goals, including learning to value diversity, establishing an understanding of one’s own cultural identity and understanding how to use cultural competence in society.

The challenge, Begin said, is it is hard to find already existing classes that meet these goals.

The skills students learn from the cultural competency course, however, should be beneficial no matter what career field they enter, Begin said.

“That’s basically saying, if you take one of these classes, you can walk into where you’re working and be the person to say, ‘We have this inequity in our office and here’s how we need to address it,’” Begin said.

Begin said this requirement shows Pepperdine’s dedication to listening to students’ needs, but he is unsure that existing classes will truly teach diversity.

The proposed new GE curriculum, Begin said, would be a more definite way to ensure students are learning diversity.

Schools Provide Guidance

When it comes to the creation of a new GE diversity requirement or reshuffling of course requirements, local schools can provide a model for reorganization and implementation of core curriculum.

Loyola Marymount University updated its core curriculum in 2013, and Santa Clara University and the University of San Diego Loyola made changes in 2017 — all implementing a new diversity requirement.

LMU and SCU focus on diversity within the United States, with SCU emphasizing intersectionality in their courses.

SCU offers “Experiential Learning for Social Justice” and three “Cultures and Ideas” classes — in addition to the one required diversity course — for students to educate themselves on people who live different lives on both a local and international level, said Andrew Ishak, director of the Core Curriculum at Santa Clara University.

The social justice GE course at SCU brings students into the surrounding community where they engage with those who come from less-privileged backgrounds, Ishak said. When reflecting on the impact of the course, he said it prepares stu-

dents to enter the world, not only as motivated workers in their field but also as citizens who better understand those around them.

LMU teaches Studies in American Diversity which is part of the first phase of GEs, said Anthony Perron, director of University Core Curriculum at Loyola Marymount University. The class teaches about race, gender and class in the United States, and students take the course in their first or second year, Perron said.

“Every year we do a survey of students at different levels of the core just to get their perspective on what their experiences have been in the core,” Perron said. “They often report that the Studies in American diversity course they have found particularly important to them and enriching.”

When reimagining GEs at USD, the University reduced course requirements and instead focused on allowing expansion of interests for students.

“Sometimes it feels like an exploration is a distraction,” said Amanda Petersen, director of Core Curriculum at the University of San Diego. “I personally like to think that that’s

actually the purpose of our education is to have that exploration.”

Petersen said USD continues to add new courses to the approved list as a result of a positive impact on students who are varying their course load — particularly through minoring in a different department from their major.

“Employers are really interested in that,” Petersen said.

“It shows students have lots of breadth and they’re not just focused on one thing, and that they have applicable skills and ways of thinking that can help them in the workplace.”

All three schools incorporated student feedback into their core curriculum review, directors said. Petersen said USD even gave a student a vote on the committee.

“We always had a student representative, and we really wanted to honor their participation and engagement,” Petersen said. “So it felt like making them a voting member was a way to really honor that dedication.”

LIZA.ESQUBIAS@PEPPERDINE.EDU

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2022-23 IP applicants face competitive odds

MISSION STATEMENT

First-year Rebecca Barish always wanted to go to Switzerland and said she believed studying abroad in Lausanne would be the perfect opportunity. After a strenuous application and weeks of waiting, Barish learned Oct. 15 that IP waitlisted her for the Lausanne 2022-23 academic year program.

IP’s waitlisted students hold hopes of getting into their first, second, third or even sixth choice of programs, while accepted students work with family and advisers to create plans for their future abroad.

“I’m just very hopeful that I’ll be able to go, and if I don’t, it’s not the end of the world,” Barish said. “But that’s an opportunity I want to take advantage of, that I want to experience and to be able to experience with friends I’ve made. It’s a special experience — you cherish that forever.”

This year, 1,010 students applied before the priority deadline, wrote Greg Muger, director of Malibu offices for International Programs, in a Nov. 2 email to the Graphic.

In 2019, 818 students applied to academic year and summer programs.

On average, IP accepted 30% of students into their first-choice programs in past years, which, using 2019 numbers, is approximately 245 out of 818 students. IP has not yet calculated data regarding final acceptance numbers for this year, Muger wrote in an Oct. 22 email to the Graphic.

The second round of decision day was Oct. 29, Muger wrote, and the number of students who drop their program or apply after the priority deadline will determine the number of second-round admitted.

This year, IP admitted 131 students in the second round. After Oct. 29, IP will admit students on a rolling basis.

Eligibility criteria for studying abroad include having a 2.5 GPA, Muger wrote, and students cannot be under probation, suspension or expulsion.

IP gave special considerations to applications this year due to the suspension of many programs since March 2020, Muger wrote. Since March 2020, over 20 program offer-

ings were unable to run due to the pandemic.

“Above and beyond what I shared about our admissions criteria, we did take into account whether a student was accepted to a previously suspended program in our IP priority application decisions,” Muger wrote.

Waitlisted Students Decide On Next Step Barish is not the only student facing disappointment.

This year, IP waitlisted 25.6% of applicants, Muger wrote — approximately 258 students.

Despite the waitlist, there are programs with room.

“From a capacity standpoint, we could have accepted all waitlisted students to a study abroad program given all our program offerings,” Muger wrote. “As a result, it’s important for students to be open to as many study abroad opportunities as possible.”

Muger wrote there are many options available to waitlisted students and strongly recommends students apply to other programs and terms through the Application Change Request form. Students who complete this form will remain on the waitlist for their original choice if not accepted into the new program.

After receiving the news, Barish said she spoke with friends who also applied to study abroad, and she would have been happy getting into her second choice, London, or third choice, Florence.

Barish said she did not fill out the Application Change Request form, however, because the other two cities she wanted to visit, Florence and London, both had long waitlists.

In a Nov. 2 email to the Graphic, Muger wrote, while waitlists change daily, the academic year programs with longer than usual waitlists are Lausanne, Florence and London.

Washington, D.C., was not an option for Barish because of major requirements, and she said she did not feel comfortable in the remaining academic year programs.

“I personally made the choice not to go to Heidelberg or Buenos Aires just because of the history of antisemitism there, and I’m Jewish, so it’s

SAMANTHA TORRE | NEWS ASSISTANT EDITOR Outside Pepperdine’s International Programs office is a map displaying the locations students can explore through study abroad programs. This year, 1,010 students applied before the priority deadline, wrote Greg Muger, director of Malibu offices for International Programs. like I wouldn’t feel comfortable going there regarding my safety,” Barish said.

As of Oct. 29, Barish is still on the waitlist, she wrote in an email to the Graphic.

First-year Michael Sugimoto said he applied to Florence for the 2022-23 academic year as a part of the Global Fellows program.

In his conversations with other waitlisted students, Sugimoto said there was discouragement about the selection process.

“Overall in the students who did get waitlisted, there was a level of frustration,” Sugimoto said. “Obviously I know due to COVID and just the high number of applicants, this year was hugely competitive, and I know not everyone was going to get in and the spots are limited, but there was a lot of frustration.”

First-year Liam Zieg applied to London for the fall 2022 semester. Zieg said he felt frustrated when IP waitlisted him because he thought he was a qualified applicant.

“Our goal is for all qualified applicants to be able to study abroad,” the IP office wrote in an email to waitlisted students.

After receiving his decision, Zieg said he met with Ron Cox, associate dean of International Programs, and received clarification on what the email meant when referring to “qualified students.” This meeting helped remove some of his initial anger, he said.

“It made me feel better about my application, but I was still feeling like, ‘Oh, maybe I

should have had more,’” Zieg said. “So it’s making me feel insecure about my application, but in both of my meetings, they assured me that I didn’t do anything wrong and that my application was good.”

Zieg said he will stay on the waitlist and is considering participating in a Semester at Sea type of program. Since filling out the Application Change Request form does not hurt his chances of getting into London, Zieg also applied to Heidelberg.

“Another big thing that I’m working on is transferring,” Zieg said. “I know that sounds so dramatic, but it was one of the biggest reasons why I came here, and if I’m not able to experience it, then why am I here?”

Students Receive tance Letters

Accep-

First-year Jaden Kim said IP accepted him into his second choice, Heidelberg, over his first-choice option, Florence.

“It’s like a rush of excitement,” Kim said. “I’m actually gonna go be able to study abroad. There’s not much disappointment. I didn’t get into my first choice, but I felt grateful I was given the opportunity by school to go study abroad.”

First-year Talia Miller applied to the Buenos Aires program for the academic year.

Miller said she received an acceptance letter from IP and is excited to live in a homestay.

“It was really important to me to actually be able to not just go somewhere like a tour-

“Pepperdine Graphic Media (PGM) is an editorially independent student news organization that focuses on Pepperdine University and the surrounding communities. PGM consists of the digital and print Graphic, a variety of special publications, GNews, Currents Magazine, social media platforms and an Advertising Department. These platforms serve the community with news, opinion, contemporary information and a public forum for discussion. PGM strengthens students for purpose, service and leadership by developing their skills in writing, editing and publication production, by providing a vehicle to integrate and implement their liberal arts education, and by developing students’ critical thinking through independent editorial judgment. PGM participates in Pepperdine’s Christian mission and affirmations, especially the pursuit of truth, excellence and freedom in a context of public service. Although PGM reports about Pepperdine University and coordinates with curricula in journalism and other disciplines, it is a student (not a University) news organization. Views expressed are diverse and, of course, do not correspond to all views of any University board, administration, faculty, staff, student or other constituency.”

ist and be able to actually live and interact with people there and form relationships,” Miller said.

After receiving her acceptance, Miller said she called her parents and told them her results and spoke with her academic advisers. Miller’s advisers were congratulatory; however, sharing the news with friends is more difficult.

“With peers, it’s like a mixed response, because there were a lot of waitlists and rejections this year,” Miller said. “And so, it’s a little awkward getting in and then talking to people who didn’t get in.”

First-year Anneliese Cady said she applied to BA because she is a Hispanic Studies minor, and IP accepted her for the full academic year.

“I was hopeful before the email came in, because I heard it was less competitive than the other places, but I was still scared I wasn’t gonna get in,” Cady said. “So I was just really excited when I found out that I got in.”

Her parents, Cady said, knew one of the main reasons she chose Pepperdine was because of the University’s study abroad programs, and they were in full support.

“I love traveling internationally,” Cady said. “I’ve been in the country multiple times, and it’s just so life changing, and it’s one of those experiences I feel like I could never get tired of because there’s always something new to see and to explore.”

SAM.TORRE@PEPPERDINE.EDU

Email: peppgraphicmedia@gmail.com

CONTACT US

SAMANTHA TORRE NEWS ASSISTANT EDITOR

peppgraphicadvertising@gmail.com Phone: (310) 506-4311 Address: Graphic Pepperdine University 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy. Malibu, CA 90263

N OVEMBER 5, 2021

The Graphic

PEPPERDI NE- G R A P H I C .C O M

PERSPECTIVES

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YOU should join our Perspectives team

ANITIZ MUONAGOLU PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

P

eople think they have to have experience in professional writing and journalism to join a news organization, but that simply is not the case. No matter your interests, apply to the Graphic for spring 2022 — and more specifically, apply for Perspectives.

An organization is more multifaceted than people realize. I mean, not everyone who works at a hospital is a doctor. Not every personnel member practices law in a law firm.

The same works for journalism — more specifically, the Graphic.

More people need to dabble in journalism and the multitude of ways it allows people to interact with the community. And those who want to contribute should join the Perspectives section.

The world is full of dialogue about societal issues such as racism, discrimination and political ideologies like immigration and policy formation. These topics are so vast that, at times, it can be taxing to keep track of or understand all of them adequately.

Participating within an organization designed to inform the public about newsworthy issues keeps you informed on the latest developments and provides that outlet to understand and question what is going on.

News organizations consist of many moving parts, from journalists with their own beats — the coverage of news they specialize in — to designers, advertising sales and analytics. Everyone in a newsroom is more in tune with what’s going on in the community around them because we gather to discuss those very things.

Pepperdine is a melting pot, with students coming from all backgrounds — ethnically, spiritually, financially or even sexually. Students should have an outlet to learn, discuss and question the various, ongoing aspects of human life, whether they are political, societal or otherwise.

Now, I can hear someone asking, “But what would be the best part of the Graphic to join to stay connected with the community?”

It’s simple: Perspectives.

As discussed in a past Graphic article, Perspec-

PERSPECTIVES

VIVIAN HSIA | STAFF ARTIST

tives allows others to discuss their views of the world.

The viewpoint can range from policies that affect specific groups to more widespread experiences, like being a college student.

Perspective articles complement reporting, which means not only are writers informed on the latest news, but they are thinking critically and expressing its effects on themselves and their communities.

Moreover, no subject is exhausted because each person is different. Five people could write about one topic in five highly nuanced ways that inform the public about an issue while providing context and greater insight.

But, why specifically the Graphic’s Perspective section?

Here at PGM, the Perspectives section works to create articles that reflect a world filled with variation and hunger for change. This can include reporting on activism like the Women’s March this past October to more humorous or introspective articles on Dasani

The Perspectives section gathers in the Graphic conference room, discussing important issues.

water and the MET Gala.

Furthermore, because of the nature of topics and the writing, Perspectives knows each other on a closer level: We know each other as individuals through articulation of our beliefs in the section. It’s intimate.

Perspectives can be controversial. It can be emotional. It can be breaking news. It’s fluid.

It creates unparalleled content because the people part of it are one of a kind.

As we sit across our conference table, we discuss, we ponder and we laugh together on the myriad of areas that affect our lives and the world around us.

Applications opened Nov. 1, so don’t be shy.

Join PGM. Join Perspectives.

AJ.MUONAGOLU@PEPPERDINE.EDU

AN INSIDE LOOK Managing Editor Ashley Mowreader Special Edition Editor Rowan Toke Digital Editor Karl Winter Copy Chief Bryant Loney GNews Producer Christina Buravtsova Creative Director Ali Levens Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Editors Anitiz Muonagolu Emily Shaw Business Director Inez Kim Advertising Director Sahej Bhasin Head Podcast Producer Kyle McCabe Pixel Editor Abby Wilt Photo Editor Ryan Brinkman Art Editor Samantha Miller News Editor

Emily Shaw Perspectives Editor Anitiz Muonagolu Life & Arts Editor Beth Gonzales Sports Editor Alec Matulka News Assistant Editor Sam Torre News Assistant Liza Esquibias News Staff Writers William Bacon Graeson Claunch Sierra Moses Abroad Correspondent Reagan Phillips Perspectives Assistant Editors Sarah Best Emily Chase Perspectives Assistant Sawa Yamakawa Perspectives Staff Writer Christian Parham Perspectives Copy Editor Ryan Bresingham Life & Arts Assistant Addison Whiten Life & Arts Staff Writers

Lydia duPerier Holly Fouche Tim Gay Yamillah Hurtado Stella Zhang Life & Arts Copy Editor Yamillah Hurtado Sports Staff Writers Malia Bambrick Joe Doonan Jerry Jiang Austin LeDe’ Sports Copy Editor Whitney Bussell Assistant Photo Editor Dane Bruhahn Mercer Greene Staff Photographers Ashton Bell Ella Coates Chloe Chan Landry Hendrick Denver Patterson Brandon Rubsamen Assistant Art Editor Leah Bae Staff Artists Autumn Hardwick Vivian Hsia

Brian Zhou Design Assistants Kaitlyn Davis Lillian Fong Mariah Hernandez Emilia Lekhter Zoe Macarewa Ivan Manriquez Rachel Marek Podcast Producers Joe Allgood Celine Foreman Anitiz Muonagolu Karl Winter Digital Assistant Editor Ryan Bough Social Team Sofia Longo Christian Parham Abby Wilt GNews Crew Joe Allgood Hunter Dunn Alex Payne Sofia Reyes Gabrielle Salgado Maria Tsvetkova

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor must bear the writer’s name, signature, class standing, major, address and phone number (except in some circumstances determined appropriate by the Graphic). Letters must be fewer than 300 words and will be edited for syntax, grammar and brevity. Letters can be mailed to student publications or emailed to peppgraphicmedia@ gmail.com.

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Time to kick Chick-fil-A to the curb SARAH BEST ASSISTANT PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

T

he University has long tried to push messages of LGBTQ+ inclusivity while maintaining traditional Christian values of marriage being between a man and a woman. With anti-LGBTQ+ companies like Chick-fil-A providing free products to the Pepperdine community, statements of inclusivity seem to lose their value as a result.

Though Pepperdine claims to have an all-inclusive campus that encompasses the LGBTQ+ community, one can only wonder why the University continues to allow Chick-fil-A — a notoriously anti-LGBTQ+ corporation — to regularly serve students on campus.

“Inspired by the call of Christ, Seaver College rejects racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, bullying, ableism, intolerance, hatred, or any other perspective or practice that devalues another human being,” according to Seaver College’s Inclusion Statement.

The University explicitly “rejects homophobia” yet continues to allow a homophobic company to distribute its products on campus. The popularity of Chickfil-A on campus even prompted the Student Government Association to create a Change.org petition in 2019 to bring the fast-food company permanently to campus.

It is no wonder why a Christian university would promote having Chick-fil-A — a famously known Christian corporation, so much so that it is closed on Sundays because of the founder’s faith. However, it is for selfish reasons that petitions like this have started, as those who initiated it are clearly not thinking of the implications it means for their LGBTQ+ peers.

The Chick-fil-A petition was started in the name of advocating for better food options on campus, yet SGA denies any role in it.

“SGA hasn’t been involved in conversations to sell Chick-Fil-A products on campus,” SGA President Chase Johnson wrote in an Oct. 25, email to the Graphic.

The petition, which SGA created in October 2019, has existed throughout Johnson’s time as an SGA e-board member, both as vice president of finance and president from 2019 to now.

While Johnson claims SGA does not sell Chick-fil-A on campus, he did affirm the organization has given it out.

“With regard to SGA giving out Chick-Fil-A, I personally recognize the immense popularity among students and appreciate the excellent service provided by the catering team at the Westlake Village location,” Johnson wrote.

On SGA’s Instagram under the highlight titled “Events,” multiple posts show blatant advertising of the distribution of the chicken sandwiches. By using slogans like “Plenty of CFA on campus” and even pushing for the Class of 2025 to “Vote for CFA,” it is clear SGA is not shy about its relationship with the company.

Additionally, the “First Board Newsletter of the Semester” was sent by the Student Programming Board in an email Aug. 30. The newsletter noted that “+Merch & Chick-fil-A sandwiches w/ @pepperdinesga” would be distributed to commence the school year.

Every year, students pay a $252 Campus Life Fee — an unavoidable cost that inherently funds SGA’s budget. Considering SGA is using student money without approval to fund Chick-fil-A distribution on campus, it would be beneficial for SGA to address their concerning relationship with the company and acknowledge the harm it causes LGBTQ+ members of the Pepperdine community.

Chick-fil-A has earned a consistent anti-LGBTQ+ reputation due to its donations to organizations like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), according to the Chick-fil-A Foundation website. FCA is a sports foundation built upon principles of traditional Christian values, such as marriage being exclusively between a man and a woman.

“We believe God’s design for sexual intimacy is to be expressed only within the context of marriage, that God created man and woman to complement and complete each other,” according to FCA’s statement of faith.

Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, previously donated to anti-LGBTQ+ organizations like the Marriage and Family Foundation. Cathy also extended his charitable outreach to non-profit organizations such as Exodus International, which promotes the idea of conversion therapy, according to Vox. Conversion therapy operates on the assumed belief that LGBTQ+ individuals can essentially remove their same-sex feelings.

Dan Cathy — Chick-fil-A’s current CEO and son of Truett Cathy — shares like-minded values regarding same-sex marriage and his intolerance for the LGBTQ+ community as explained in a 2018 interview.

“I personally express a view of support of the Biblical definition of marriage,” Dan Cathy said.

SAMANTHA MILLER | ART EDITOR Chick-fil-A weighs more on the symbolic Pepperdine balance than the LGBTQ+ community does.

Like Dan Cathy and the FCA alike, Pepperdine hypocritically holds the same stance on marriage — all while preaching messages of inclusivity to LGBTQ+ students and staff.

“Pepperdine University affirms that sexual relationships are designed by God to be expressed solely within a marriage between husband and wife,” according to the University’s Sexual Relationships Statement.

Messages of inclusivity only go so far when Pepperdine continues to allow an anti-LGBTQ+ corporation on a supposedly LGBTQ+ friendly campus. Upholding the traditional Christian value of acknowledging exclusively heterosexual relationships should not come at the cost of further actively marginalizing LGBTQ+ members of the community.

This decision to prioritize mediocre chicken sandwiches over the protection of Pepperdine’s LGBTQ+ community symbolizes a deeper connotation within the University. It demonstrates how the comfort and sense of belonging for marginalized groups like the LGBTQ+ community don’t outweigh the desire for Chick-fil-A to be on campus.

The University should either stop Chick-fil-A distribution or stop espousing messages of inclusivity to marginalized groups that become undermined entirely when anti-LGBTQ+ companies continue to conduct business on campus.

SARAH.BEST@PEPPERDINE.EDU

DPS, let Pepp students ride their own sets of wheels

EMILY CHASE ASSISTANT PERSPECTIVES EDITOR With more students on campus and less parking available, it has become increasingly more difficult to get around in a timely and efficient manner. DPS should change the regulations to make campus more accessible and easier to get around.

Pepperdine University, otherwise called Stepperdine, is known for its incredible-looking campus and even more incredible number of steep pathways.

Students expect a workout on a daily basis when they are simply walking to classes, and sometimes they are late.

To become more timely and less tired, students should be able and encouraged to use electronic or wheeled transportation — scooters, skateboards, bicycles and more — to get around this spacious campus.

“Riding skateboards, roller skates, scooters (e.g., ‘Razors’) and roller

blades is prohibited anywhere and anytime on campus,” according to the Student Vehicles Policy in the Student Code of Conduct.

Pepperdine University is 830 acres in size, according to U.S. News. A campus of this size is typically found in a suburban wonderland outside of a big city. Pepperdine is wedged into the mountainside parallel to Pacific Coast Highway.

This prime spot makes for great views, great hills, great pictures and great calves.

Although, it would make sense to allow students to transport via something with wheels for quicker trips.

Students are at risk of being late for classes simply because they are out of breath from walking up a ginormous set of stairs and need a water break. Students shouldn’t be penalized if they’re not the most avid fitness gurus or live farther from main campus.

This concept could also make campus facilities more accessible for all students. Many times, students don’t want to go to certain events or visit specific parts of campus because of distance or shuttle schedules.

With the implementation of a policy allowing small transportation devices, there is a possibility of increasing student interest, visitation and involvement.

As noted in other Graphic articles, there are many students who lack accessibility, so having their own transportation can allow them the autonomy to have an accessible campus experience.

Additionally, for the 2021-22 academic year, admissions at Pepperdine greatly increased, while parking decreased by about 200 spots. This provides an extraneous amount of stress and hassle when it comes to figuring out how to arrive at classes, meetings and events on time on campus.

While students are allowed to ride bikes around campus, the idea of a compact, personal mode of transportation is important.

“The beauty of this compact piece of the vehicle is that you can virtually park them anywhere,” Yulu Bike wrote in a 2018 article on Medium about why students should ride bikes on campus.

The idea of this is great — a student can carry their wheeled or motorized transportation device practically anywhere, being of no obstruction to other vehicles or community members.

Pepperdine’s Department of Public Safety is clearly putting these rules in place to provide and maintain “a safe and secure environment,” as stated on DPS’ website. This particular rule has become a nuisance and a topic of debate among students, specifically among

those living on campus.

Such a high influx of people on a once desolate campus environment leads many to question the ease — or lack thereof — in which people are getting around.

There must be a change in the nature of campus transportation. Amid the hills and stairs, there are occasionally unpunctual shuttles and limited parking spaces. Pepperdine must enact a policy to permit students to have a better, more efficient mode of transportation around campus.

By doing so, there could be a reduction of the overwhelming number of cars jammed in parking lots. Pepperdine could create spaces for storage areas for these devices, which would lead to a safer and less congested campus environment.

DPS, allow students to ride their own personal transportation machines and gadgets. Let the responsibility of safety and possessions be in the students’ hands — not yours.

Therefore, do not keep this rule in place any longer. Update the system and update the regulations because, just maybe, students will be a little more on time and a little less exhausted.

EMILY.CHASE@PEPPERDINE.EDU

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The pandemic and technology has complicated dating

ALICE HAN GUEST CONTRIBUTOR Among all the interactions the pandemic changed, romantic interactions — or more specifically, the world of dating — have transformed the most.

Although dating can resume the return to normal due to reopenings, it is unlikely that it will be back to what it once was due to the pandemic and technology.

Prior to the pandemic, flings and hookups were common occurrences, especially through the convenience of dating apps, according to LiveScience.

Although these apps were convenient, they also became fairly monotonous, according to Vox. Singles would repeatedly and briskly sift through their options, make shallow conversations and aim to meet in person as quickly as possible — a habit that eventually made dating seem dismal for some.

The constant use of dating apps contributed to the “gamification” of contemporary relationships, where a user would constantly seek feelings of excitement and short-term pleasure associated with finding a match online, according to Megan McClintock.

Consequently, the popularity of dating apps, especially Tinder, was slowly declining, as swiping inherently made people feel lonelier in the end, according to the Business of Business and PNAS. Since the beginning of the pandemic, however, the world of dating transitioned to online.

LEAH BAE | ASSISTANT ART EDITOR Two individuals are going on a date online. COVID-19 has changed dating a lot.

People became increasingly selective and deliberate about who they are reaching out to on dating apps.

About 52% of dating app users said they were aiming for more intentional dating rather than simple hookups, according to a survey conducted by Singles in America in 2020.

Those who previously undervalued “date night” began to see the significance of it while being less inclined to tolerate toxic online dating behaviors such as ghosting, according to Insider.

During the pandemic, Bumble has seen a 26% increase in the number of messages sent on its platform, while Tinder saw conversations rise between 10% to 30%.

FaceTime or Zoom dates became occurrences

among singles and couples, which can encourage people to connect as they really got to know their dates. Online dates can be a convenient way to assess a single’s personality and communication skills without needing to risk one’s health or invest much time.

However, budding relationships fizzled out due to new couples being unable to meet and have new experiences together, according to Verywell Mind. Despite being convenient and cheaper, numerous individuals have found it hard to advance their relationships.

On the other hand, planning in-person dates in the midst of a pandemic was a difficult task, especially with some places closed or reopening with strict regulations still in place.

With the world opening back up, singles and couples are now able to meet up. However, this is slowly allowing the dating scene to revert back to what it was before the pandemic: mere flings and hookups.

Post-pandemic, there is more relationship turnover — during the pandemic, there was an innate obligation of needing to be with someone, according to WebMD. People are now keeping their options open, according to New York Times.

With singles craving social contact and excitement, it may ultimately be difficult for hopeless romantics to find their perfect matches. Funnily enough, it seems like some singles might be missing the craziness of 2020 now that the need for dating exclusively has disappeared.

For those who are seeking an exclusive and secure relationship, it may be helpful to remember that romance and the possibility of love are always present.

Have patience, do not be afraid to express freely and — if it feels right — don’t be afraid to embrace it.

ALICE.HAN@PEPPERDINE.EDU

A reality check for Pepperdine’s rankings

SAWA YAMAKAWA PERSPECTIVES ASSISTANT

F

or the second-consecutive year, the U.S. News & World Report ranked Pepperdine University No. 49 in Best National Universities. But what does that mean?

Although it is impressive that Pepperdine maintained its top 50 position, the static standing signifies the University has a lot of potential to raise its ranking.

To climb the ranks, Pepperdine should take advantage of its small class sizes by providing more meaningful learning environments.

U.S. News uses nine main factors to determine its rankings each year.

These factors include graduation and retention rates, social mobility, graduation rate performance, undergraduate academic reputation, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, average alumni giving rates and graduate indebtedness.

Pepperdine maintains its ranking by scoring exceptionally in notable categories such as Best College for Veterans, Undergraduate Teaching and Study Abroad.

Pepperdine currently shares the No. 49 spot with five other universities, such as Purdue University and Northeastern University. Juxtaposed to these other schools, Pepperdine is neither the best nor the worst in any of the nine categories.

Pepperdine, however, is ranked No. 175, according to Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education’s 2022 College Rankings List.

According to this WSJ ranking, Pepperdine is slotted significantly lower than its neighboring schools, such as Loyola Marymount University and the University of California, Los Angeles — evaluated at No. 90 and No. 27, respectively.

Moreover, all five other schools ranked at No. 49 on the U.S. News list placed higher than Pepperdine on the WSJ list.

The reason for Pepperdine’s downfall in this particular ranking is due to its resources score. In determining resources scores, WSJ and THE examine three factors, including the amount of money the University spends on teaching per student. Pepperdine did not receive a score in this entire category.

The website does not specify why WSJ could not evaluate Pepperdine’s resources score, but it explains that the data regarding university spending can be found on The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

Unfortunately, Pepperdine’s page on IPEDS does not have data for this section, which may be the reason for its poor ranking. Providing this data could improve Pepperdine’s ranking significantly.

Pepperdine can also better its ranking by focusing on its engagement score — another category the University scored poorly on. The engagement score is evaluated on the students’ overallability to think critically, apply interdisciplinary knowledge beyond classrooms and present new ways of thinking by reconsidering their own beliefs.

To improve, Pepperdine can implement a more problem-posing style of education in classes instead of the traditional banking model. These learning styles, developed by Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, explain different methods of learning in classrooms.

The banking model explains teaching is like a banking transaction — it is a one-way conversation. The role of the

VIVIAN HSIA | STAFF ARTIST Willie the Wave climbs up the ranks to No. 49. Pepperdine needs to constantly improve and reach new heights in the rankings. students is to regurgitate the information given by the professor. Freire argues this learning style limits students’ creativity, as they are fitting in a worldview controlled by the professor.

On the other hand, the problem-posing style describes a learning environment where both professors and students are the learners — both parties learn new worldviews by engaging in real-world discussions.

All parties contribute to the learning process, as they bring their own perspectives. Freire explains how this model encourages students to gain transferable knowledge and skills from a dynamic learning environment.

The banking model is more evident in K-12 education, as there is an emphasis on obtaining factual information.

However, in higher education, the problem-posing method should be put at a priority because it nurtures autonomous strengths such as intellectual agility — the ability to detect and evaluate multiple perspectives, digest changing factors and devise new solutions.

Classes in Elkins, such as Humanities General Education sequences, mainly adopt the banking model of

education. This may be hindering students’ overall ability to develop critical thinking skills.

Instead, Pepperdine could reevaluate its curriculum — such as taking advantage of its student to faculty ratio — to adopt the problem-posing approach, even in GE classes. This new approach could potentially lead to the improvement of Pepperdine’s ranking overall.

College rankings are somewhat subjective and may not be a true representation of institutional prestige. People must view these rankings with a grain of salt. However, should Pepperdine continue to boast its top-50 position, they must also indicate how the list only evaluates national universities.

Liberal arts colleges, which successfully execute problem-posing methods in their curriculums, are not included on the list Pepperdine likes to boast.

Pepperdine should not just feed information in their favor. Marketing is one thing — but the reality is another.

It is crucial to notify stakeholders so the Pepperdine community can continue to strive for academic excellence and a better position on the podium.

SAWA.YAMAKAWA@PEPPERDINE.EDU

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Busy Bees — Pepperdine students must find balance

CHRISTIAN PARHAM STAFF WRITER

“I

’d love to meet today, but I’m just too busy.”

“I’m so overwhelmed.”

If one spends any time walking around Pepperdine’s campus, it is likely they’ll hear these as shared complaints among students.

For fall 2021, 33% of Pepperdine students are enrolled in 17 or more units, according to Pepperdine’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness. This significant commitment to classes — in conjunction with extracurriculars, jobs and the adjustment to being back in-person — leads to many schedules being extremely booked.

With all these commitments, Pepperdine students should manage their stress by finding outlets, spending time with friends and learning how to find a balance between work, school and life by establishing boundaries.

First, outlets are important components for managing a busy schedule.

Having other spaces and hobbies allows

one to recharge from the demands of school.

Fortunately, there are plenty of them on campus for students, ranging from Fraternity and Sorority Life to identity-based organizations. Additionally, there are groups specifically for hobbies, such as Art Club.

Spending time on an activity you enjoy can improve your health and wellbeing, according to Head to Health, an Australian mental health organization. People with positive outlets are less likely to suffer from stress, low moods and depression.

These positive outlets can provide safe spaces for one to find community and express themselves. However, it is important to balance them to make sure they serve as sources of relaxation rather than stressors.

Second, spending time with friends is an important way to help manage stress.

Unfortunately, for many students, that gets placed on the back burner far too often.

Whether one is introverted or extroverted, spending time with others is an important part of mental, emotional and cognitive development.

As social creatures, it is important for people to maintain friendships in conjunction with their academic and professional pursuits. One can still be successful while creating relationships with those around them. In fact, a study

by Taylor & Francis showed that friends make you better on the job and help you earn money. This shows the importance of having friendships and working at the same time — it can help you get better results.

It is many people’s first instinct to spend less time with friends when confronted with a busy season. Despite this, the study concluded finding a balance of both friends and work seems ideal for both mental health and academic and career success.

Some simple ways to do this could be grabbing coffee with a friend for 30 minutes — pro tip: order ahead on Grubhub — or working with friends in a study room.

Also, with Thanksgiving Break around the corner — Nov. 24 to 28 — there is the opportunity to catch up with friends from Pepperdine and from home. It is important to use some of this time to recharge alone and with loved ones.

Finally, finding a work-life balance is important through setting boundaries.

Boundaries are the limits and rules we set for ourselves within relationships or activities. They are necessary always, but especially when trying to balance a busy schedule.

Through creating boundaries, one holds space to have responsibilities while also having time to rest and relax.

Instead of saying yes to everything,

SAMANTHA MILLER | ART EDITOR A student’s schedule is balanced like a Jenga tower. Students need to find balance in life, or it may come crashing healthy boundaries establish limits and respect one’s own time and energy.

In everyday life, this may look like telling friends no to finish an essay or deciding not to take an extra shift at work to catch up on sleep.

Boundaries look different from person to person. Establishing them in one’s own life may seem difficult at first but will help in successfully managing a busy schedule.

While Pepperdine students are still packed with things to do — even during a pandemic — these tips will help in adding balance to their busy schedules, ultimately leading to healthier lifestyles.

CHRISTIAN.PARHAM@PEPPERDINE.EDU

Pepperdine needs stronger COVID-19 response plan to slow transmission

O

JOSHUA EVANS STAFF WRITER

n the surface, Pepperdine has an impressive array of tools to battle the spread of COVID-19 on campus. Within this arsenal of masking, testing and quarantine protocols, there are still fine print loopholes and issues with mask compliance and vaccine hesitancy among students that can fuel the virus’ spread.

Pepperdine administration announced Sept. 10, that the true percentage of the student population vaccinated against COVID-19 is lower than first reported. Pepperdine’s vaccination rate among students is 86% as of Oct. 27— not the 96% the University previously claimed.

Pepperdine’s student population is 14% unvaccinated against COVID-19.

This cohort is sizable, as they make up higher than one in 10 students. This group of unvaccinated students provides ample fuel for the spread of the virus on campus.

Since Aug. 1, there have been 128 cases of COVID-19 reported among Pepperdine students and staff.

There is also the loophole that vaccinated students are given extra privileges the unvaccinated are not. Pepperdine permits vaccinated students who tested negative and who report no symptoms to attend classes — even when their roommates recently test positive for COVID-19.

It is possible for a vaccinated student to carry the virus and be symptomless because most vaccinated cases of the virus are asymptomatic, according to the World Health Organization.

In residential housing, people with shared rooms live together without

VIVIAN HSIA | STAFF ARTIST Two individuals incorrectly wear their masks, allowing for COVID-19 transmission. Pepp needs to take more precautions. masks, making virus transmission more likely. If a roommate tests positive, both roommates should quarantine — but that logical protection measure is not school policy for vaccinated students.

Studies in the United States, Singapore and the United Kingdom find vaccinated people who catch Delta SARSCoV-2 can carry the same quantity of virus inside their noses as unvaccinated people. Breakthrough Delta SARSCoV-2 cases aren’t rare.

Research published on Oct. 29, in the Lancet, a journal on infectious diseases, shows vaccinated people with COVID-19 are nearly as likely to transfer COVID-19 to their household contacts as the unvaccinated.

Pepperdine admitted 77% of their COVID-19 cases this fall semester were among vaccinated students, according to the Oct. 6, President’s Briefing.

Moreover, there can be a time lag in testing positive. Some people may feel fine but can still be carrying the virus.

The Delta variant is intensely contagious like chickenpox, and the current COVID-19 vaccines are not perfect matches for fighting it.

There is also the issue of false negatives on COVID-19 tests and the scary reality that not everyone carrying COVID-19 may be testing positive. Scientists discovered some people may be getting a COVID-19 toe condition but not testing positive for the virus.

Students are supposed to wear masks in classes, but some students still are not wearing them appropriately. Some professors even bring masks to class for students who forget to bring theirs.

Pepperdine rules about masking in classes are clear, but professors remind students to wear them correctly due to some students attempting to snub the rule.

The University even hired students to remind their peers about the mask rules.

New student Health Ambassadors walk around Pepperdine’s public spaces, like the library, to remind people about mask rules.

Also, even within the existing masks rules, there are loopholes that allow people to take off their masks in some classes for periods of time. Pepperdine Chief Business Officer Nicolle Taylor confirmed Oct. 27, the school’s mask policy still allows masks to come off for drinking in classes.

To fully combat COVID-19 on campus, it would be more ideal for professors to ensure all students appropriately wear their masks for the entire time they are in class.

Potential super spreader events are also unmasked periods at some clubs, performances, practices and sports events.

There are times and situations students are excluded from wearing masks inside in public spaces, including “if you

are actively eating or drinking, for some situations with NCAA athletics, or some fine arts, practices and performances,” Taylor said.

Taylor says drinking and eating are shorter-term situations, and the expectation would be that students put their masks back on when they are finished.

When a student is wearing a mask inappropriately, professors, Health Ambassadors and other fellow students need to speak up about it to enforce appropriate mask-wearing. It should not just be paid staff encouraging masking but everyone supporting each other in these health safety measures.

Also, encouraging professors to provide more frequent outdoor breaks during lectures would provide safer venues for students to remove their masks and drink.

Tightening the loopholes that still exist in Pepperdine’s COVID-19 virus containment strategy could keep the community much safer by halting the virus’ spread on campus. Yet, the hardest loophole to change is some students’ negative attitudes toward mask compliance.

There is also the further challenge of some students’ off-campus behavior and how that potentially brings the virus to campus.

“From social media, I see a lot of posts from students not wearing masks at off-campus indoor locations and out at indoor large group events,” Pepperdine junior Claire Copeland wrote in an email. “This grey area is also a loophole for exposure that still puts any students they have contact with at risk. Masks are not a school uniform you should stop wearing on weekends.”

Being vaccinated does not mean you, your vaccinated friends and family are bulletproof against COVID-19. For your own safety and the health of others, please wear your masks to indoor classes, club meetings and events and support others in making this lifesaving choice.

JOSHUA.EVANS@PEPPERDINE.EDU

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The Graphic

PEPPERDI NE- G R A P H I C .C O M

LIFE & ARTS

ADDISON WHITEN LIFE AND ARTS ASSISTANT EDITOR

ALI LEVENS | CREATIVE DIRECTOR This parody of the Malibu welcome sign explains Pepperdine students interacting with celebrities Living in Malibu as a college student is a unique ex- while in Malibu. perience. Proximity to both the beach and a major city, Los Angeles, as well as its stunning natural beauty are some of the things that make Malibu a one-of-a-kind college town.

One unusual aspect of being a Malibu resident is the presence of celebrities in town. The opportunity to meet famous people sets apart Waves from most college students who would have to go to an event like a concert to see

them, junior Shelby Schering said.

“Here you’re able to literally just go for a walk or go to the store and you might end up seeing someone, which is super fun,” Schering said.

Schering works at SunLife Organics, known for its smoothies and acai bowls and a favorite spot for many stars.

Over the course of her three years working there, she’s seen numerous famous people, such as Jonah Hill, Cin-

dy Crawford, Noah Centineo, Patrick Dempsey and so many more that Schering said there’s no way she could list them all.

“At this point, I’ve lost track of who all I’ve seen and who all I’ve met,” Schering said. “I have to ask my friends because they remember more than I do.”

This fall semester, Schering had her most notable celebrity encounter at work when she served Harry Styles at the front register. Schering said

meeting him was nerve-wracking but also something she will remember forever because she is a big fan of his. Despite her excitement, Schering did what she always does when famous customers come in — remain professional as if nothing is different.

“I definitely had a moment with Harry where I had to excuse myself to the back so I could calm down,” Schering said. “But, genuinely, I did stay pretty calm, and I still had to ask him ‘Oh, can I get a name for your order?’”

Sophomore Emily Piccirillo had her own experience with Styles last spring. While her family was visiting in Malibu, they went to Howdy’s for lunch, she said. She later discovered Styles also ate there that day — only 20 minutes after them.

“I was so mad about that,” Piccirillo said. “That’s the only time I’ve ever been angry about missing someone.”

Like Schering, Piccirillo has an extensive list of celebrities she’s seen in Malibu, and even some of the same sightings as Schering, such as Centineo, Hill and Dempsey.

One day last spring, Piccirillo said she was out to eat at Lily’s with friends when Centineo cut in front of them in line. He turned around, they realized it was him and had a surprisingly ordinary conver-

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sation about it, Piccirillo said.

“It was weird because it was such a normal conversation,” Piccirillo said. “We didn’t say, ‘Oh my god, you’re Noah! Can we take a picture?’ He just had a normal conversation with us, which I think is really interesting.”

Piccirillo is from McKinney, Texas, far from any constant celebrity sightings, so she loves to tell her friends and family back home when she sees stars. Sharing her stories is exciting, but Piccirillo thinks people who don’t live in Malibu overestimate just how often A-listers are seen by the average Pepperdine student.

“All my friends when they come to visit they’re like, ‘I want to see a famous person,’ but you can’t just go out and expect to see someone,” Piccirillo said. “I feel like it’s better if it happens randomly.”

Both Schering and Piccirillo have numerous celebrity sightings under their belts, and their best advice for people who spot stars in Malibu is to leave them alone because they live here too and are just going about their daily routines.

“For a lot of people, when you see celebrities, you want to go up and talk to them, but they really are just normal people,” Piccirillo said.

ADDIE.WHITEN@PEPPERDINE.EDU

Body and Soul: Appreciate the farmers market LIZA ESQUIBIAS NEWS ASSISTANT I know a place is special when I remember everything about it — the scents, the sounds, the colors.

Located on Civic Center Way adjacent to the Whole Foods mart — run by nonprofit organization Cornucopia — Malibu Farmers Market is an outdoor space occupying a quaint library parking lot every Sunday, and it is a perfect spot to enjoy quality time with friends or family.

Local farms and businesses set up stands, and there is never too much of a crowd; the farmers market is a true hidden gem of Malibu.

I visited the farmers market for the first time in mid-September when I wanted to cook dinner with fresh seasonal ingredients. As I walked up, vendors waved me into the small but open space, and I felt an immediate sense of joy.

After making my first purchase of a dozen eggs from Malibu local Kaliko Orian — owner of Omma’s Garden — she told me her first farmers market experience was in 2015, when she sold her eggs. Now, Orian said she feels connected to the authentic, communal nature of the Malibu Farmers Market and the happiness she sees it bring so many people — including herself — every week.

“We’ve got music, we’ve got placement data, we have all kinds of dif-

ferent food vendors — and it’s nice,” Orian said. “It’s a nice thing to do on a Sunday afternoon.”

The farther I walked, the deeper I got into a more intimate sphere of Malibu I never expected. I felt inclined to find stillness and appreciate everything the market had to offer.

I loved the different hues of the fresh vegetables, which still had roots attached. The vibrancy of the red Honeycrisp apples sparked a glimmer in my eyes as the words of casual conversation surrounded me. My mind quieted all sound and, for a few breaths, I felt completely present.

I admired the local business owners whose smiles widened every time someone made a purchase.

A candle business that mixes Eastern-inspired and moderns aromas called Sholeh Fragrances, run by Khashayar Nattagh and his mother, displayed small bottles full of leaves used to create the candles for passersby to “scent test.” As Nattagh described to me the process of candle-making and his passion for the farmers market, he said it is somewhere people go to be mindful about what they put in their bodies and who they buy from.

“If you’re buying melons from here, the melons weren’t shipped from, say, Peru, and that leads to a lot less usage of fuel and greenhouse emissions,” Nattagh said. “It’s a celebration of good quality, high-quality natural food.

People come together on that behalf,

LIZA ESQUIBIAS | NEWS ASSISTANT Fresh, seasonal produce sits on display at the Malibu Farmers Market. Many local farms and businesses have sold their products here every Sunday for several years. and I think that’s cool.”

My heart fluttered as I strolled past the flower stand — slowing my step to take in the moment — and the air blew the sweet aroma of roses my way.

I observed others staring too, all of us tilting our heads as we appreciated the combinations of pink roses, white tulips and yellow sunflowers the florist was arranging.

The day was hazy, and there was a warm breeze. The air picked up salt from the nearby ocean, and I could smell hints of the beach. The sun peeked through the clouds of the otherwise gray sky and reflected shadows of the tents onto the pavement, prompting me to glance up at the

signs reading: “LOCAL.” With every purchase I made, a handshake followed, and our eyes met as I promised I would return the following Sunday and every Sunday after that. After my bag began to overflow with groceries for the week, I found a quiet seat in the shade and took out a handful of strawberries.

At this point, I closed my eyes to capture the memories to hold in my mind like photographs. I realized I was afraid to forget the ambiance this place exuded — one that is peaceful and tender.

LIZA.ESQUIBIAS@PEPPERDINE.EDU

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Pepperdine faculty reminisce on childhood LYDIA DUPERIER STAFF WRITER Pepperdine faculty’s childhood dreams of being professional athletes and movie stars — President Jim Gash and professors take a walk down memory lane to reminisce about their adolescence.

More often than not, students recognize faculty as their job title rather than who they are in their personal lives. Taking a step away from the seriousness of their roles as academic leaders, faculty compare their childhood aspirations to their professions today.

“I think this is important because too often we as a society tend to look at people in positions of leadership, as only their job, as opposed to who they are, what matters to them and their backstory,” Gash said.

Biology and Natural Science Professor Thomas Vandergon has always felt attracted to nature. Vandergon grew up in a suburb of Minneapolis, with five siblings. Some of his favorite memories from childhood were riding bikes and exploring the woods behind his home with his brothers and sisters.

Vandergon said he was quite the mischievous kid — he would find and keep salamanders as pets in window flower boxes and bring home lost cats.

“I loved animals, I loved wildlife, but I didn’t think about being a biologist when I was a kid,” Vandergon said. “I did know though, that by the time I was in high school I kind of wanted to be Jacques Cousteau.”

The childhoods of Pepperdine’s professors were diverse — while Vandergon enjoyed being outside, Communication Professor Jaz Gray preferred the spotlight.

Entertainment has always

been a passion for Gray. Gray said the movies she grew up watching with her family sparked her dream of being in the spotlight.

“When I was a kid, I wanted to be an entertainer,” Gray said. “I wanted to be a singer, actress, model and I had really big dreams of being in the entertainment industry as onscreen talent.”

In her youth, Gray performed in local theaters and modeled. She was involved in American Girls Live and took the role based on doll Addy Walker, who comes from fictional stories about a 9-yearold girl born into slavery and escapes to freedom with her mother during the Civil War. Gray said that when her birth defect, arteriovenous malformation, began affecting her physical appearance, some of her childhood dreams of being on camera were no longer a possibility. Hollywood’s skewed view of beauty may have prohibited her from being on screen, but she was still determined to fulfill her ambitions.

Gray pursued a career on the executive track to work behind the scenes in the entertainment industry and now uses her experiences to teach.

“I would tell my younger self that you don’t have to fit into what is ‘normal’ in order for people to love you and appreciate you and that even if you are not the smartest or the most outgoing,” Gray said. “You are still valuable because you are created by God, and you are here for a purpose.”

Gash said Jesus, family and sports influenced his childhood the most. Gash grew up in Santa Rosa, Calif., with three siblings who he calls his “builtin best friends.” Family was incredibly important to Gash

from a young age — he and his siblings were all involved in competitive sports and spent most days practicing and attending each other’s events.

“We were outside until it was time to come home to have dinner — we played a lot of sports, rode bikes, collected football and baseball cards,” Gash said. “It was a lot of skinned knees and dirty clothes because we were just kids who were constantly on the move.”

In addition to sports and family, Gash said faith played a crucial role in his upbringing. Every Sunday, he and his family would attend church, no

matter what. Sometimes, Gash said, there would be sports events on Sunday morning, and so their family would have their own version of church at home, then go to the game.

Gash said his first dream was to be a professional athlete.

As he got older, he then aspired to follow in his parents’ footsteps and be a school teacher, but this changed when he decided to major in finance on the track to work in business.

Having so many ambitions, Gash said if his younger self could see where he is today, he would be shocked.

“When I was younger I really

liked to have fun and to be with people, and I got serious about academics later on,” Gash said.

“But the fact that I ended up going to graduate school and then on to lead an institution would have been a surprise to my younger self.”

Though professors and presidents of universities appear to most as just that — they, too, lived childhoods very similar to that of their students.

LYDIA.DUPERIER@PEPPERDINE.EDU

PHOTO COURTESY OF THOMAS VANDERGON Prof. Thomas Vandergon stands in front of his childhood home at 4 years old. This is the same house where Vandergon often found garter snakes to bring home to his mom.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAZ GRAY PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM GASH Prof. Jaz Gray sits as she gets her photo taken at Young Jim Gash strikes a pose for the camera. Gash said he lived on a only 7 months old. Gray grew up in Memphis, street with other kids whom he often played outside with, and his parents Tenn., with a younger sister. considered him a good kid with a big personality.

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Wheels on the bus: Drivers share life on and off the bus BETH GONZALES LIFE AND ARTS EDITOR Hopping on and off the Pepperdine shuttles is something a student will most likely find themselves doing at some point, whether late for a class or taking lunch to Heroes Garden — and the drivers behind Pepperdine’s shuttles have cruised through it all.

The Campus Operations and Business Services Department runs Transit services and shuttles operate every day of the week. Shuttle services pride themselves on providing on-time arrival, accurate GPS tracking and safe transportation, according to Pepperdine’s Community website.

“Transit Services is like a vine that intertwines the whole University,” according to the website. There are eight fulltime drivers on staff who run Blue, Orange and off-campus routes.

Shuttle drivers have helped community members from all walks of life — from students to alumni and parents to other visitors. They work in all circumstances like fire or a pandemic.

Regardless of who is on campus, there will always be drivers on duty to take care of the community who lives here, driver Nicholas Ditolla said.

“My favorite part is you guys, the students,” driver Michael John said. “I am a very social person and I love to meet and talk with people.”

Each shuttle driver said engaging with students throughout their day makes their loops around campus more meaningful.

“We get a million ‘Thank yous,’ and those kinds of things really make our day,” John said. “It may sound like a small thing, but it’s not; it says something about the students in general and that’s why we enjoy working here. Driving is something we have a skill for, but it is not why we are here.”

Meet the Drivers Following a 40-year career in entertainment as a stunt person for films, John has driven Pepperdine shuttles for two years. John got his commercial driving license in college at Loyola Marymount University as part of a summer job driving for a sports camp.

After years of owning his own school bus business, John still puts his talent to use for this post-retirement job.

“I can’t even scratch the surface, I’ve done a lot of things,” John said. “This [job] came up when I was looking for something to do.”

A shuttle driver of four years, Al Hamm spent much of his career in the LA public transportation system but was drawn to working at Pepperdine when he witnessed the Christian environment —

MERCER GREENE | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR A Pepperdine student rushes to board shuttle “Wave 5.” Students utilize the shuttle system during the week for many reasons: to get to class, to get back to their dorms or to avoid taking the stairs. something that is important to him.

“That [LA transportation] is a little different because you get different routes daily and this is an obstacle course,” Hamm said. “I was looking for a job and had the license to drive. I am a Christian and felt like this was a good Christian-based community — that’s what led me to it.”

‘Wheely’ Busy When they are not driving, John is teaching ski classes in Big Bear, Calif., Hamm is playing sports and Ditolla is visiting the oldest Bob’s Big Boy in Toluca Lake, Calif., on a Friday night for a car show — as he calls himself a “motor head” — in true driver fashion.

Ditolla is also a guitarist and said he loves to play his favorite music on the shuttle for all to hear, such as Nirvana, Alice In Chains and The Rolling Stones.

“My favorite part about my job is that I love to share music; I am a guitar geek,” Ditolla said. “Students will share music with me and they will turn me onto a band that I have never heard of before and end up really liking.”

From March 2020 to July 2021, many shuttle drivers worked for different departments such as Mail Services or Warehouse Services — John said this made all his colleagues closer than ever before.

As students reutilize shuttle services for the fall, drivers are ecstatic to meet new faces and revisit familiar ones.

“It has been rewarding; it’s been good to have people back and it’s not such an isolated campus,” Hamm said. “Being

able to do something different and see different people has been great.”

More than the Loop Hamm said pre-COVID, the shuttle drivers drove many different events, such as taking certain clubs or organizations to off-campus destinations — such as a Dodgers game Hamm transported students to and has fond memories of.

Now, the drivers still enjoy working events whether they are on or off campus.

Ditolla said he loves working with the Center for the Arts because he immerses himself in the show experience as much as he can while providing a service to performers.

“Rather than getting a five-minute, tiny little interaction with students, I actually get to carry on conversations,” Ditolla said. “Sometimes, as a driver, you get to enjoy theater events as well because you are just in downtime when the show is going on so you can sneak in the back and listen in.”

The day in the life of a shuttle driver includes aspects the average student may not think about. Hamm said, during a typical three-hour shift, shuttle operators drive the same route at least 18 to 20 times.

“It honestly never gets boring; I’m just not a person who gets bored in life,” John said.

“My favorite part, which really makes it interesting, is that I’ve almost got 100 names now. I’ll soon start the second hundred names of students I know.”

John said the route is made more interesting, but not easier, when people park poorly and drivers have to navigate the road. Ditolla said shuttles

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICHOLAS DITOLLA Shuttle driver Nicholas Ditolla (left) plays guitar with his band “Seventh Freedom” in Tarzana, Calif. Ditolla said his career started as an ambulance driver, and he has driven Pepperdine shuttles for seven years. have even crashed and, around six months ago, he had an incident where a construction crane rotated into the side of his bus.

Shuttle driver pet peeves mostly center around student awareness of shuttle presence — such as parking in shuttle stops, stalling in front of the HAWC stairs and not letting people exit the shuttle before entering.

Enjoying the Ride Despite the challenges, as the drivers reflect on their journeys, they said they are all thankful for one thing — the Pepperdine community.

Hamm said he loves watching students go from their first day to graduation day. Helping someone get to class on time makes Hamm happy because he initiates a small change in someone’s educational journey.

“I’ve seen students hap-

py after passing their exams, coming on and being cheerful and that’s always a bonus — really being able to see people’s journeys,” Hamm said.

Pepperdine is a university that is ever-changing, and shuttle drivers recognize their significance in students’ lives and vice versa — and hope to be here for a long time to come.

“I love education and you guys are the future,” John said.

“I don’t want to just sit here while people get on and off, I’ve never been that way in my life. I think we are all here to be encouraging in any way we can be. It is the community aspect, it’s not just social. I mean people care about one another here and that is the difference.”

BETH.GONZALES@PEPPERDINE.EDU

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Exploring serenity with crystals, spirituality LIZA ESQUIBIAS NEWS ASSISTANT Spirituality does not have a single definition; rather, people tend to use the term to reference what ties their beliefs to their actions. Everyone has different reasons why rituals of peace are meaningful in an often chaotic world.

While many may associate spirituality with religious ideals tied to a deity, others see spirituality solely concerning one’s affinity with their soul. Tarot cards, sound baths, crystals and meditation are all methods of connecting to a deeper sense of self — one that invites introspection and self-love, said Melissa Eliyahoo, a Malibu tarot card reader.

“I believe at the core of everything — the core of all of the success we want in our lives, the relationships, the family, the abundance of the dream home — it all comes back to self-love,” Eliyahoo said.

Tarot Cards Every Sunday at the Malibu Farmers Market, Eliyahoo sets up a “self-love” tent decorated with crystals and tarot cards.

Eliyahoo offers free tarot card readings every Sunday to welcome love into the lives of others, she said. She said tarot cards give insight on the past, present and future while bringing messages from what believers describe as higher powers.

“These cards are a way for us to connect more with the other dimension and with the other world — with the angels and the guides,” Eliyahoo said.

“A lot of the time it can be hard for most people to receive those messages because we’re so much in our thinking mind.”

In a reading, Eliyahoo sits down with a client, cleanses the air with sage and has them close their eyes to detach from outside distractions. Once in a peaceful state, Eliyahoo has her client pick a random card they feel drawn to from the deck, and she interprets the meaning.

With this wisdom, Eliyahoo said people are able to understand their own identities and purposes in the world.

“In school, we were never taught how to love ourselves,” Eliyahoo said. “Most of us go through our lives really not loving ourselves — we’re looking out there for love and we’re looking in all the wrong places thinking it’s out there when the truth is it’s within.”

Sound Baths Dana Austin is a holistic sound healer who works with Malibu clients. Austin said she began attending virtual sound baths in spring 2020 and quickly decided she wanted to heal others in the same way it healed her.

“A sound bath is really a sensory experience,” Austin said. “It’s a bath for your senses, essentially, and it really taps into whatever the person is going through at the time — whatever they need support with it taps into that realm.”

Austin often does sessions on the beach — one of her favorite locations is Zuma — allowing clients to connect to nature while absorbing the vibes of the sound bath, she said. Austin also has an “Ocean Drum,” which she said recreates the calming sounds of waves and puts a person’s mind at ease.

“You learn how to play the bowls and you learn about different instruments and modalities — then you turn it into your own,” Austin said. “It’s the same thing with whoever you’re working with; it’s their own experience. So, for each sound healer who’s out there, they have their own vibe, their own energy, their own personality.”

During a sound bath, Austin has her client lay down with their head facing the materials, and she creates vibrations by running a mallet along the edge of the crystal bowls. The sensations the sound evokes within the mind and body are

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLES WONG Sound healer Dana Austin sets up a sound bath session in Santa Monica.

Austin said she hopes her clients leave with a deeper connection to their souls. supposed to unlock hidden emotions and be restorative to the soul, Austin said.

“It’s the different notes and notes that are played together that are effective,” Austin said. “It’s also different alchemies of the bowls, and there’s something with the notes of the bowls that are also tapping into a different vibrational level where you’re able to go into a deep meditative state.”

After the sound bath is over, Austin said journaling, replenishing the body with water and remaining in silence are essential to allowing oneself to fully absorb peace and go through the steps of healing.

“Sound baths and sound healing is a safe space for someone to explore and tap into what they need,” Austin said.

Crystals Another kind of spiritual healing is through grounding elements of crystals. Eliyahoo said crystals carry and exude energies that connect a person to Earth — similar to touching a tree or the sand.

“Crystals have come from underneath the Earth for thousands of years,” Eliyahoo said.

“They’re holding onto this really powerful, sacred wisdom and knowledge and energy.

When we start bringing crystals into our lives, we’re able

LIZA ESQUIBIAS | NEWS ASSISTANT Melissa Eliyahoo shows her “I AM LOVE” tattoo.

She said she wanted to remind herself of the importance of looking for love within oneself. to bring that energy into our lives and we’re able to become more present — we’re able to connect. It’s just another really beautiful and powerful tool.”

As someone who experiences anxiety, sophomore Izzie Agee said crystals have brought a sense of tranquility over them during times when they felt uneasy or stressed.

“I used to sleep with an amethyst worry stone under my pillow because I was having some wicked dreams and nightmares,” Agee said. “It actually did help and a lot of it has also helped with my self-confidence.”

Pairing meditation and crystals, or sound baths and crystals, Austin said, provides a crowded mind with the opportunity to have a sacred and grounding moment with the

soul — one that is not necessarily quiet or conventional, but uniquely meaningful.

Agee said an important part of self-care and discovering one’s own spiritual path is meditation — which looks different for everyone. In their own experience, Agee said one should use meditation to acknowledge thoughts rather than clear their mind.

“What I see as meditation isn’t sitting in a quiet room,” Agee said. “It’s going outside, going to the beach here in Malibu and sitting and messing with the sand and really contemplating things. I like being alone when I do it, or I also like having friends there talking about life and talking about the big questions.”

LIZA.ESQUIBIAS@PEPPERDINE.EDU

Y2K trends come back, resale culture takes off BETH GONZALES LIFE AND ARTS EDITOR Eyes flutter open. Hit Snooze. Finally, get up. Get dressed. But, is it as simple as that? For students and LA locals — fashion is much more than clothes. It’s an understanding of who someone is and how they can adequately portray it.

Trends make their way back around, affecting individual styles in different ways — such as those who handcraft garments, professionally style, work in retail, sell on Depop or simply just have a heart for the art. Either way, crazes and online “thrifting” have changed the current contemporary

fashion scene for adolescents.

“It is a projection of what is on the inside,” said Natalie Smithson, LA stylist, FIDM graduate and Brandy Melville manager. “I have found that fashion has helped me make friends. Wearing an outfit that expresses who I am has sparked up conversations with others who also appreciate the same style.”

Smithson said she believes fashion connects people with themselves and others.

“It is a projection of what is on the inside,” Smithson said.

“I have found that fashion has helped me make friends. Wearing an outfit that expresses who I am has sparked up conversations with others who also ap-

preciate the same style.”

The community is embracing the comeback of trends such as “Trashion” — model off-duty style emphasizing pattern mixing — Smithson said, and wearing multitudes of rings, hair clips, bootcut jeans and more.

Sophomore Ellie Mezhlumyan began her fashion story her senior year of high school and now regularly sells on Depop, an app where people sell their trendy clothes.

“I started finding fashion influencers on Instagram and just seeing what kinds of trends they would follow and what kind of pieces they would put together,” Mezhlumyan said. “I started to realize it’s so much

more creative than you think.”

Mezhlumyan said she defines her style by how comfortable she is. She loves shopping at Aritzia for her favorite fads, such as claw clips and flare bottoms — in both jeans and leggings.

After Mezhlumyan graduated high school, she started selling her clothes on Depop because she loves interacting with customers and finding her old clothes new homes, she said.

As Depop sellers, Smithson and Mezhlumyan said Depop can be hit-or-miss, and items usually go un-sold after being up for 48 hours with no interactions.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIA LANDIS Natalie Smithson styles a model for a Jeffery Campbell shoot in August. Smithson said this is her favorite shoot.

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Payson’s ‘SIS’ examines sisterhood HOLLY FOUCHE STAFF WRITER New semesters mean new stories for Payson Library.

Through the years, the library has created vivid displays of art and history, each unveiling different perspectives on distinct themes and concepts.

This semester is no different, as the library presents “SIS,” a new look into the aspects of Black sisterhood presented

by Los Angeles native Rikki Wright.

Pictures of real-life sisters deck the walls of the Payson Exhibit Gallery as Wright takes viewers on an escapade that explores sisterly bonds. Throughout the exhibit, she captures compassion and competition, love and envy, and other dualities that make up the DNA of sisterhood.

Students stroll through the exhibit gallery, exploring an often overlooked side to sibling relationships. With each picture capturing a distinct aspect of sisterly relationships, Wright illustrates not only girl power but also the powers of strong spiritual bonds.

Wright shows the ever-reaching grasps of sisterhood through pictures, a short film and blackboard demonstrations. She captures the challenges and benefits of sisterhood — dis-

playing how the power of love transcends race, age and bloodline. Using the urban landscape of Los Angeles as a backdrop, Wright captured the essence of Black sisterhood. Many of her pieces feature pairs of Black sisters, serving as a reflection of her own story.

Wright has two older sisters and often creates work regarding the concepts of sisterhood — it is one of the elements that helped her evolve as both an artist and a person, according to Wright’s website. Many of her works center among women of color, examining the various ways in which a community emphasizes ideas of strength, beauty and concepts of both femininity and masculinity.

After losing her mother at a young age, Wright began her lifelong search for examples of both femininity and motherhood, often capturing and imagining different possibilities through her photography.

Although many students used the exhibit as a place to study, some found inspiration within Wright’s work, examining each picture and relating them to personal struggles.

Sophomore Anita Watterson, one of the guests at the exhibit, said she was able to relate to it, as she recalls memories with her own sisters.

“I just think it’s amazing

CHLOE CHAN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Wright’s photos featured in the Payson Library’s latest exhibit, “SIS,” hang on the walls. The exhibit allowed guests to view kinship in a new light. how she’s able to tell a story like this,” Watterson said. “It’s like they were having a conversation with me in my head.”

Watterson said the exhibit was relatable and enjoyable because she was able to see topics such as rivalries, self-comparison and friendship from a different viewpoint.

“I think when other people see the exhibit, they’ll start to understand all the different elements of sisterhood and get an idea of how having a sister impacts your world,” Watterson said. Sophomore Sophia Lang said it provided a new look into what it means to be and to have a sister.

“A part of me wanted to see it for myself,” Lang said. “I passed by it a few times when

heading to my classes, but I wanted to spend a few minutes and enjoy it.”

Part of the exhibit that resonated with Lang the most was seeing girls of different backgrounds embracing each other, showing that sisterhood is a bond that goes beyond race, she said — and can often form through long-lasting friendships.

Junior Madeline Taylor said she loved how Wright emphasized that sisterhood isn’t defined by genetics or family history, but instead a strong spiritual bond between friends.

“It was amazing to see how Rikki [Wright] captured what it meant to be a sister while showing that it doesn’t have to do with being biologically related

CHLOE CHAN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Photos from Wright’s exhibit display sisterly relationships. The LA native reflected on her past with her two sisters. or sharing the same house, but instead sharing a connection that looks past people’s backgrounds and beliefs,” Taylor said.

Through her distinct perspective of sisterhood, Wright created a collection of photographs that not only confronts kinship but reveals its challenges.

The exhibit will close Nov. 7, letting the Payson Library archive it and continue to tell vibrant and thought-provoking stories for years to come.

HOLLY.FOUCHE@PEPPERDINE.EDU

TRENDS: LA fashion explores garment creation FROM B4 When shopping, figuring out true Y2K and vintage designer retail can be tricky, and Smithson said to always use discretion.

“To weed out the truthful Depop sellers from the scams, you have to scroll through tags for a long time and find hidden gems,” Smithson said. “Always look at their Depop rating.”

First-year Myers Mentzer started sewing and hand-embroidering at age 5 when her grandmother taught her — she went on to start her own business at 12.

Inspired by her mom who owns a resale business, Mentzer said she grew up in vintage stores.

“She cultivated that [creativity] in me I think too, because, just being able to take something and make it your own, was just something that was really important to me,” Mentzer said.

Mentzer describes her style as “fun” — from glitter and lace, to her favorite pair of hot pink shoes, she lives in color.

Mentzer’s favorite new trend, she said, is the crochet craze — bucket hats, sweaters and more. Mentzer said she tracks the newest trends by watching what comes out of New York Fashion Week. Mentzer said she started her business by making wallets, but as she grew an interest in upcycling clothes, she started designing and embroidering her own sweatshirts.

“I was in Dallas, and I saw a sweatshirt that said ‘Malibu’ — it was coming up on two years ago — and because I wanted to go to Pepperdine, I thought ‘This would be really cool to be able to get this sweatshirt,’” Mentzer said.

“Then, I said ‘Well, I bet I could make

PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIA LANDIS

PHOTO COURTESY OF MYERS MENTZER

(Left) Smithson shows off her styling abilities in a shoot for Jeffery Campbell in July. Smithson had one week to put together eight outfits and sewed three. (Right) Mentzer upcycles clothes she finds at thrift stores, such as these jeans. She stitched andsewed a piece with many layers of different denim. this’ and I just started to experiment.”

Smithson holds an associate’s degree in Merchandising Product Development and learned every step, she said, from producing a garment to trend forecasting.

“It’s easy to rush an assignment and do OK, but if you want to get something out of it you need to put in the work,” Smithson said. “Learning every step in how to produce a garment made me feel prepared for any fashion job. I make patterns and sew my own clothes and bags still.”

Even possessing the talent to make a garment from scratch — or make an existing piece more unique — styling,

Smithson said, is simply just seeing a vision.

“It’s transformed into my dream job,” Smithson said. “I style shoots based on whatever mood board they give me. I feel like I have a natural eye for knowing exactly what aesthetic they are trying to convey and how to convey it effectively which is very important. If it’s not styled correctly then people won’t get the vision or want to buy the items.”

Senior Hattie Pace worked at Anthropologie, had a summer internship with Raven + Lily — a sustainable fashion brand — and now works at Free People.

“I’ve always been drawn to the fashion merchandising sort of worlds, be-

cause it’s truly art that you can wear and I’ve always very much appreciated that,” Pace said. “It’s also a people’s job — we get to talk to a lot of interesting people.”

Pace describes her style as sticking to the basics. Basics, for her, include creams and neutrals with details including dainty jewelry and pops of color — all styled in flattering and balanced silhouettes. “‘I could be from anywhere,’ is kind of the goal that I’m looking for,” Pace said. “I like mixing everything, I kind of want to be mysterious like ‘Ooh is she from the city? Is she from the country?’

Basically, little inspiration pieces from everywhere.”

Pace said she works retail because she delights in helping customers and connecting with co-workers. Pace chose Free People specifically because she finds the store to be artistic.

“This piece makes me feel a certain kind of way, this piece makes me feel artistic or confident or flirty or whatever, it is something I think, [Free People has] a little more than the average store,” Pace said.

Selling on Depop, working in retail, styling and creating all contribute to the world of glamour and self-love, students said. Fashion gurus, like Mentzer, recommend finding an honest style — content people will read in Vanity Fair and Vogue years from now.

“You don’t want to walk around campus and everything be the exact same,” Mentzer said. “If there wasn’t any difference, then what’s really the point of us all being here together?”

BETH.GONZALES@PEPPERDINE.EDU

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BalletX brings vulnerability to the world of dance YAMILLAH HURTADO LIFE AND ARTS COPY EDITOR Dance allows performers to express themselves and their emotions freely, and BalletX takes this to the next level.

BalletX is a Philadelphia-based ballet company that crosses boundaries. The renowned ballet company performed on the Smothers Theatre stage Oct. 14. The show consisted of four pieces — all unique in their stories and techniques. The dances consisted of a classical ballet routine, a groovy hip-hop routine and contemporary pieces.

Christine Cox, co-founder and artistic director of BalletX, said her vision for the company was to create a ballet that incorporated different genres of dance.

“You can look at it as we have a palette of all different kinds of paint and we bring in artists to create pictures, moving pictures, moving works of art,” Cox said.

Her hope for the show, Cox said, was for audiences to interpret the dances in their own ways. Cox also wanted the audience to feel the passion and emotion expressed through their movements.

“When an audience member experiences the pieces, they will dive into their own narrative,” Cox said. “It’s really about the exchange that hap-

pens between the audience and the dancers.”

The first piece of the night was a youthful dance titled “Increasing,” choreographed

by Matthew Neenan. The dance mimicked the energy of childhood through the carefree movements of the dancers.

Dancer Andrea Yorita said this piece perfectly captures the feeling of joy.

“It’s really nice to open with that, coming back from this crazy year and a half of feeling so dark and restricted,” Yorita said. “It feels like we can spread our legs and run and feel that joy again.”

Yorita has been a part of the company for nine years — this is her tenth season.

Being classically trained, Yorita said she felt confined in a box of what a dancer should be, which led to a path of perfectionism as a performer.

However, when she found BalletX and discovered how diverse and progressive they are, she was immediately drawn in.

“The thing I loved about BalletX is that everyone was so different,” Yorita said. “I was seeing real humans on stage.

Watching them move and interpret the same movement differently because of their life experience is what drew me to BalletX and I think that still holds true for me.”

The last piece, “Steep Drop, Euphoric,” choreographed by

CHLOE CHAN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The dancers of BalletX carry one another across the stage with elegance during the last piece of the night, “Steep Drop, Euphoric,” in Smothers Theatre on Oct. 14. Dancer Andrea Yorita said this piece is her favorite to perform because it is both physically and emotionally challenging.

Nicolo Fonte, is Yorita’s favorite to perform.

“Steep Drop, Euphoric,” is a contemporary piece with elegant movements that emphasize the importance of vulnerability in dance and expose the dancers’ hearts, Yorita said.

“It really pushes you physically, also emotionally,” Yorita said. “It’s a nice journey that I feel like as a dancer, feels great to go on, and I think as an audience member, it’s a nice journey for them to go on as well.”

For audience member Justin Pham, this was the highlight of the night. Pham attended because he is friends with dancer Alexandra Policaro — the

two met while studying dance at the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance.

“I specifically really connected with the last piece on pointe, and I love the use of staging, it was really awesome,” Pham said.

Audience member and firstyear Alina Arabia said she was excited to watch the ballet the minute she saw the promotional banners in front of the CAC. Arabia said she’s always loved ballet and felt connected to the performance.

“The pure emotion from each of the dancers in every single piece,” Arabia said. “You could tell that they really cared

about the performance that they were giving. From headto-toe, every single part of their body was just exuding that emotion and passion.”

Connecting with the audience is what motivates both Cox and Yorita to continue their work within BalletX and in the world of dance, they said.

“There is something that audiences leave [with] that is a lasting impression,” Cox said.

“What I hope the lasting impression is, is they feel some sense of love, some sense of joy and rapture.”

YAMILLAH.HURTADO@PEPPERDINE.EDU

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Hot Shots: Joe Jackson a shoe-in for Hall of Fame JOE ALLGOOD GNEWS CREW As a Chicago White Sox fan, I was disappointed watching my team fall to the Houston Astros in the ALDS on Oct. 12, but that’s a discussion for another time. Instead, let’s delve into the White Sox’s past. I mean, waaay into their past.

Bluntly stated, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Jackson’s involvement in the “Black Sox” Scandal is questionable, as well as the fact he has served his time — if he is guilty.

Now you might be asking, “What’s the ‘Black Sox’ Scandal? Who is Joe Jackson? And where did his shoes go?” Allow me to explain.

First, why “Shoeless”? The story goes that, as a teenager, he shed a pair of uncomfortable baseball spikes before a game and continued to play, even hitting a base clearing triple.

Now that that’s cleared up, let’s move from shoes to Sox, or more specifically, “Black Sox.” In 1919, the Chicago White Sox had a stellar season, finishing first in the American League and advancing to the World Series. After two World Series wins, they were hoping to make it three.

Or were they?

The White Sox lost, which was strange because they were the favorites going into the series, and then the odds turned against them — the betting odds, that is.

Rumors began to swirl in the baseball world that the White Sox were involved in a plot to throw the series. A year later, sufficient evidence emerged to indict eight of the players on nine counts of fraud.

Jackson was one of these players.

Nowadays, fixing games is unheard of, but in Jackson’s day, it was incredibly common.

There were already multiple cases where officials suspected teams of throwing games or even World Series, and game fixes date back to 1865, even before the MLB was founded in 1869.

Of the eight players initially indicted, seven went to trial by grand jury, including Jackson. All were acquitted after a deliberation of three hours, largely on the basis of insufficient evidence.

Multiple witnesses claimed Jackson was never involved, including teammate Eddie Collins and Jackson’s biggest critic, Hugh Fullerton.

It wasn’t until 1927 that the first Commissioner of Baseball, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis (what a name) imposed Rule 21(d). The rule prohibits any player from bet-

ting any sum or being involved in illegal bookmaking. Punishments range from suspension to being “permanently ineligible.”

This rule wasn’t put into place until eight years after the “Black Sox Scandal” and seven years after Jackson’s career ended. Even if he was involved, Jackson did not break any rules.

In addition, there was hardly any indication that he was involved. Jackson’s series stats were fantastic; “Shoeless” Joe hit .375 — the highest average between the Sox and the opposing Cincinnati Reds — he had the only home run, scored from first on a single and committed no errors. All better than his performance in the 1917 World Series.

Overall, Jackson’s talent for America’s pastime was evident from the start. By the age of 21, he was drafted by the Philadelphia A’s. In his first season, he had a .408 batting average and had drawn praise from greats such as Ty Cobb and the legendary “Babe” Ruth.

In 13 years and 1,332 games, Jackson held a career batting average of .356, the third-highest ever. For reference, that’s better than the first 13 years of both Derek Jeter and “Babe” Ruth’s careers.

Though Jackson couldn’t read, he could hit a ball.

Cracking out 1,772 hits in his

SAMANTHA MILLER | ART EDITOR A cartoon drawing of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson stares intently into the distance. Jackson has been barred entry to the Hall of Fame for his part in the “Black Sox” scandal of 1911. career, he averaged 216 per season.

In 1911, he had his best season, banging out a whopping 233 hits. Ichiro Suzuki holds the record for most hits, an astronomical 262 in 2004.

The 1911 season was only 154 games rather than the usual 162 of today.

The Society for American Baseball Research calls Jackson “the greatest natural hitter in the history of the game.” All stats make him a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame (no pun intended).

Finally, Landis banned the

offenders from baseball for life. In Landis’ statement, he famously ruled “regardless of the verdict of juries.”

Jackson died in 1951; he has long since served his life sentence.

Multiple figures have advocated for Jackson, including the greatest hitter of all time, Ted Williams. Jackson did all this just to be snubbed from the Hall of Fame, even over 100 years later.

JOE.ALLGOOD@PEPPERDINE.EDU

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W. Soccer receives new locker room MALIA BAMBRICK STAFF WRITER In the midst of their best start in program history, the No. 13 Pepperdine Women’s Soccer team recently received a surprise: new locker room facilities.

Once a dorm for upper-level and transfer students, the Eden House transformed part of its dorm space into the soccer team’s new locker room.

“I think this locker room is really important for our team’s unity and chemistry,” senior defender Trinity Watson said.

“It was another reminder of how we are entitled to nothing but grateful for everything.”

The new locker rooms exist in two different suites inside Eden House. The Waves use the upstairs suite, while their opponents use the one downstairs. The layout includes lockers inside two of the dorm rooms while they use the third as a treatment room for anything they might need.

Redshirt senior forward Calista Reyes said the common area is where they watch film and have team talks before and after games. It also includes showers and a bathroom, which has made their space more functional.

The Eden House was formerly the center of a sustainability project intended to house first-year and sophomore Sustainability minors.

It ended up, however, becoming a place to house transfer and upper-level students as of 2018.

The Waves (14-2-1) have never had their own locker

DENVER PATTERSON | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Women’s Soccer has had a very impressive season, maintaining their top 20 ranking since the start. Midway through their season, the team found out they were receiving a new locker room. room; rather, they had been using the baseball team’s visiting locker room to prepare for games, but it was only accessible during soccer season.

“Getting the experience of our previous locker room — which was the baseball dugout — versus this, is truly insane,” junior forward Alex Hobbs said. “It honestly feels like our team has a new home base.”

Several players said they expect their new locker room to serve as a place for the team to join together, enjoy as their own and continue to grow.

Other teams, like Women’s Basketball and Women’s Indoor Volleyball, have their own bathroom with showers to get ready, but the Women’s Soccer

team has never had that.

“I’ve been here for five seasons, and I didn’t expect to see it during my time here, so to have it during my final season felt really special,” Reyes said.

“This is our first true locker room that we’ll have access to year round.”

They now have everything they need in one area, rather than before when they only had a place to put their stuff before games. The Waves players said, with this opportunity, they are very excited to have a full time space of their own.

This will now allow them to spend even more time together and create an area that they have access to whenever they want, Hobbs said.

“I had my fair share of post-practice classes, and I was never able to shower — always going to one or two classes all sweaty,” Hobbs said. “I know the team is extremely grateful for the new locker room, and I am excited for what’s to come next for our program.”

After witnessing construction of a new locker room, players said they started to get the idea the construction team had been building it for them.

“We had our speculation, but our coaches convinced us that it wasn’t for us, so we had no idea,” Hobbs said.

“We were all shocked when we found out; people on our team literally teared up.”

The Waves players said they

were appreciative to even have had a locker room before, but this new edition will make the experience of being on the team more memorable.

“We were grateful regardless because we always had one during season; there were things in the other locker room that we made our own,” Reyes said. “A wallpaper from our 2017 WCC Championship, special seasons and our core values — but with our new one, I think it will be massive being there year round, dedicated to soccer.”

Not only is this beneficial for the players already on the team, but this could also be a potential driving force for recruiting future Waves.

“Our teams culture this year is truly special, and having our own space where we can all be together will only add to our building chemistry,” Hobbs said.

Reyes and teammates said they are hopeful it will serve as a place for the team to continue to grow together during an already impressive season.

“It’ll create a sanctuary for the team,” Reyes said. “Having a space for special moments, talks and memories is so important in a program’s culture. It feels like a reward for the program’s hard work all these years.”

The Waves will be finishing off conference play with a game Saturday, Nov. 6 against BYU.

MALIA.BAMBRICK@PEPPERDINE.EDU

Opinion: PGM Picks NFL Week 9 JOE DOONAN STAFF WRITER It’s Week 9 of 2021-22 NFL season, and the true contenders are starting to differentiate themselves atop of the league. With Digital Editor Karl Winter still ahead in the PGM game pick standings, the rest of the staff will look to have a big week.

In Week 8, one of the big stories was Jets quarterback Mike White, who made his first career start, threw for over 400 yards, and led the team to an upset win over the Bengals. Aaron Rodgers also led the short-handed Packers to a win over the Cardinals in one of the most thrilling games of the week. Additionally, there were several important divisional results, including the Steelers outlasting the Browns, the Titans beating the Colts in overtime and the Saints upsetting the Buccaneers.

Week 9 has several games between Super Bowl contenders, as well as between teams in the wild card playoff hunt. The Packers will travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs, the Browns and Bengals will clash in a divisional battle, and the Rams will host the Titans — who just lost star running back Derrick Henry to an injury, likely for the rest of the season.

The 2021-22 NFL Picks leaderboard remains close, with Karl holding the lead. However, there were changes in the standings — thanks to a 10-5 week — Sports Editor Alec Matulka moved into second place. Creative Director Ali Levens rose into third after a 9-6 week, moving staff writers Joe Doonan and Austin LeDe’ into fourth and fifth, respectively.

they are, so I think that the Patriots will get the job done. Also, they beat the Chargers and that was really impressive.” — Alec

New York Jets (2-5) at Indianapolis Colts (3-5) (Thursday, Nov. 4 at 5:20 p.m., PDT)

“I like the Bills. The Jags are not good. I don’t know why the mouth of the Jaguar is blue.” — Ali

Colts: Joe, Austin, Alec, Ali, Karl

Green Bay Packers (7-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-4) (Sunday, Nov. 7 at 1:25 p.m., PST)

“It’s hard to pick the Jets, even though they looked quite good last week, and the Colts are coming off a heartbreaking loss, so they’ll be desperate.” — Austin New England Patriots (4-4) at Carolina Panthers (4-4) (Sunday, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m., PST) Patriots : Joe, Austin, Alec, Ali, Karl “I’m still beefing with the Patriots because they didn’t stop the Cowboys from scoring in the overtime game, but I feel like I’ve been burned a few times saying the Panthers will be better than

Buffalo Bills (5-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6) (Sunday, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m., PST) Bills: Joe, Austin, Alec, Ali, Karl

Packers: Joe, Ali, Karl Chiefs: Austin, Alec “I was impressed by the win last week but also how happy Aaron Rodgers seems is concerning for everyone else in the league. He loves playing with a chip on his shoulder. I feel like it’s gonna be his last season in Green Bay the way he’s talking, but man, he’s on a mission.” — Karl

JOE.DOONAN@PEPPERDINE.EDU

ALI LEVENS | CREATIVE DIRECTOR Digital Editor Karl Winter maintains his place as No. 1 in the Graphic staff’s NFL Picks table. With Alec in second, Ali and Joe look to bridge the twoto-three-game gap.

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Water Polo drops final home game JERRY JIANG STAFF WRITER No. 9 Pepperdine Men’s Water Polo (13-9) lost to No. 6 University of the Pacific (98) 12-10 on Oct. 23, snapping their seven-game win streak on Senior Day. The Waves recognized a total of nine seniors, which included two redshirt seniors and two redshirt juniors. The senior class includes goalies John Claude Marco, Spencer Tybur, centers Nicolas Fincher, Jake Gordon, utility Coleman Carpenter, and attackers Michael Dakis, Sean Ferrari, Matt Outcalt, Balazs Kosa and Max Sprute.

Pacific is a thorn in Pepperdine’s side in recent memory.

Pepperdine has a 14-18 record since 2005 and remain on a five-game losing streak against Pacific, with a recent 14-9 loss during the MPSF Invitational on Sept. 18.

“They got a lot of really great shooters,” Head Coach Terry Schroeder said. “They play a very disciplined game.

They’re very skilled; they’re a very talented team for sure.”

Pacific came out the gates aggressive, firing four shots in the first four minutes of the game, with two successfully going in the net.

The Waves responded with two goals of their own. Sophomore center defender Nico Tierney got the Waves on the board at the 5:10 mark. Freshman attacker Clay Kaneko found an opening on the left side and squeezed in a goal, assisted by Tierney.

“We’ve got some great shooters too,” Schroeder said.

“Our centers are strong — our centers didn’t produce as much today — but that’s gotta be a big part of our game going forward.”

The Tigers ended the quarter with a goal by junior attacker Matthew Hosmer off a power play, concluding the

first quarter with a score of 3-2.

The Waves came out of the second quarter charging with offense. Tierney got on the board less than a minute into the quarter. The Waves swung the ball around the perimeter, forcing the Tiger’s defense out of position and Tierney found the bottom of the net.

Sophomore attacker Jake Howerton and sophomore attacker Christian Hosea both scored critical goals in the second quarter, providing the Waves with a 3-0 scoring run to get back in the game. The Waves remained aggressive throughout the game while they attempted a total of 31 shots.

“We gotta get our centers back into the game offensively,” Schroeder said. “We have an equal number of good shooters and people who can put the ball into the cage.”

With the game tied at five apiece at the half, the third quarter proved to be the turning point. The Waves committed six of their 13 exclusions in the second half, providing the Tigers with an ample number of power plays.

“It’s just water polo, it happens,” Kosa said. “It’s such a subjective sport, so we can’t do anything about it. We could’ve been a little less hard on them, but it’s water polo.”

The Waves struggled with their offense in the third quarter, as Pacific outscored them 6-2. Hosea responded with a goal at the 6:35 mark and found success on the right side. The third quarter ended with a tally of 11-7.

“They came out of half time with a little more energy. That was a death quarter for us. We went down 6-2; we got beat that quarter,” Schroeder said.

“And we had a goal at the end of the quarter on a six on five, that was a real turnaround.”

With the Tigers holding a sizable lead, the Waves found

RYAN BRINKMAN | PHOTO EDITOR Senior attacker Balazs Kosa readies a shot against University of Pacific on Oct. 23. Kosa was one of the players recognized during Senior Day festivities. themselves playing catchup for the rest of the game. The Waves tried to mount a furious comeback in the fourth, scoring two of their three goals within minutes of each other.

Hosea found the opening on the left side as the Waves drew a rare power play, assisted by Howerton, with the score at 12-9.

The Waves had several opportunities to organize a comeback. Marco launched a pass the length of the pool after noticing Ferrari got ahead of the defense. Ferrari quickly turned around and missed a close shot after the Tigers recovered defensively.

Several possessions later, Ferrari played aggressive defense, read the passing lanes and gobbled up a steal. Ferrari found himself ahead of the pack in a transition opportunity and fired a shot that missed the goal.

Those missed opportunities would tell the tale of the game. The Waves were unable to capitalize on several power

plays, and with time running out, the Waves did not find their stride. Ferrari managed to score a goal as the clock expired, but by then, the game was already over.

“Sometimes it’s just the day,” Ferrari said. “The ball just sometimes bounces off the post and goes out. I can’t really hang my head on it — I just gotta keep getting better and practice it, and next time, in a bigger situation like the GCC championship, we’ll be making those. Just stay the course, keep working hard and they’ll go [in].”

The team had been riding a seven-game win streak, with impressive wins against UC Irvine, Concordia University Irvine and No. 2 California.

Given that Senior Day was full of emotions, Kosa said he’s been grateful for the opportunity playing at Pepperdine has given him.

Ferrari said he hadn’t given much thought to the possibility of coming back and using his fifth year as the season

comes to an end.

“I love this sport, I love this team, I love this family and it’s definitely going to be hard for me to step away,” Ferrari said.

“But I haven’t made up my decision yet. I’m just trying to give what I can each and every day of this season.”

The Waves close out their regular season on the road with three Gold Coast Conference games left and five game in total. For the team, Schroeder said every game moving forward will be equally important as they fight for the final standings.

“All this is preparation for our tournament,” Schroeder said. “At this point in the season, the tournament is the only thing that matters. Ultimately, we gotta be ready to play three good games that tournament.”

The Waves lost to San Jose State 11-9 on Oct. 30 and are currently 1-2 in conference play.

JERRY.JIANG@PEPPERDINE.EDU

UP C OMING ATHL ETIC E VEN TS SUN

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WHAT: MBKB @ RICE WHERE: HOUSTON WHEN: 5 P.M., P ST

WHAT: WBKB @ UCL A WHERE: LOS ANGELES WHEN: 7 P.M., P ST

WHAT: W TEN @ ITA NATIONAL FALL CHAMPIONSHIP S WHERE: SAN DIEGO WHEN: ALL DAY WHAT: MTEN @ ITA NATIONAL FALL CHAMPIONSHIP S WHERE: SAN DIEGO WHEN: ALL DAY

NO GAMES :(

WHAT: W VB @ BYU WHERE: PROVO, UTAH WHEN: 6 P.M., P ST

WHAT: XC @ NCA A WEST REGIONAL WHERE: SACR AMENTO, CALIF. WHEN: 10 A .M., P ST

WHAT: MWP @ UC SANTA BARBAR A WHERE: SANTA BARBAR A , CALIF. WHEN: NOON, P ST

WHAT: MBKB VS IDAHO STATE WHERE: MALIBU, CALIF. WHEN: 7 P.M., P ST

WHAT: W VB @ SAN DIEGO WHERE: SAN DIEGO WHEN: NOON, P ST

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N OVEMBER 5, 2021

The Graphic

PEPPERDI NE- G R A P H I C .C O M

SPORTS

I TA

RYAN BRINKMAN | PHOTO EDITOR

Sophomore Pietro Fellin hits a series of shots during the ITA Southwest Regional Championship on Oct. 23. Fellin lost in the final of the tournament to teammate Andrew Rogers.

Rogers wins ITA Southwest Regional Championship ALEC MATULKA SPORTS EDITOR Pepperdine Men’s Tennis hosted the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Southwest Men’s Regional Championship at Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center on Oct. 22-26. The tournament featured 14 schools from California, Arizona and Hawaii.

While no Pepperdine doubles team made it further than the quarterfinals, graduate student Andrew Rogers and sophomore Pietro Fellin played in the finals in the 128-player singles draw.

Rogers beat Fellin 2-6, 6-0, 6-4 to claim the title.

“You win championships off depth,” Rogers said. “To have two guys from Pepperdine in the final is phenomenal.

It really shows our depth, and it shows that we can win at every spot.”

Results of the Tournament Eight of the nine players on Pepperdine’s roster played in the tournament, the exception being junior Robert Shelton, who is recovering from a hand injury.

“I think when you have a tournament that has the entire team competing individually, it’s always difficult to have one consistent theme,” Head Coach Adam Schaechterle said. “But I think overall, the [tournament] showed how much the boys are developing and the growth we’re making as a team.”

Pepperdine featured four pairings in the 64-team doubles draw. Freshman Linus Halldin and senior Daniel De Jonge, as well as Fellin and Rogers, both lost their first matches 8-5 after first-round byes.

Senior Enrique Rico and junior Eric Hadigian won their first two matches, before falling 8-2 in the Round of 16 to USC’s Bradley Fyre and Peter Makk.

The Pepperdine pairing to find the most success was senior Tim Zeitvogel

and senior Corrado Summaria, who won their first three matches 8-0, 8-2 and 8-6, before losing in the quarterfinals to UCLA’s Patrick Zahraj and Giacomo Revelli.

“What was really impressive was how Tim [Zietvogel] and Corrado [Summaria] got their [first] doubles match done 8-0 at 9 in the morning,” Shelton said. “It’s always good to get a bagel for breakfast at that time.”

All eight players appeared in the 128-player, single-elimination singles draw as well, which meant the team had to recover from their morning doubles matches and take to the court again in the afternoon.

“We’re all used to playing doubles and singles, both from junior tennis and other tournaments,” Halldin said. “I think it’s fun to play both. I think sometimes if you play a lot of singles, it can get kind of boring. [Doubles] makes it almost like a different game.”

Hadigian and Summaria lost their first round matches 6-2, 6-2 and 7-5, 6-2, respectively. Halldin and Zeitvogel rode first-round byes and second-round wins into the third round but fell at that hurdle.

De Jonge, who received a firstround bye, and Rico, who did not, both reached the Round of 16. Rico lost to Rogers 6-2, 6-2 in what was the first all-Pepperdine match of the tournament.

“It’s hard, because you see them every day,” Rogers said, of playing a teammate in a tournament. “It’s always tough, but it’s just a part of tennis.”

It would not be the last all-Pepperdine match, though. Rogers and Fellin met each other in the final Oct. 26, and played a grueling three-set match. After losing the first set 2-6, Rogers catapulted himself back into the match by winning eight straight games. Rogers won the second set 6-0, and carried his momentum to a 6-4 third-set victory.

“It’s always nice to get hardware,” Rogers said. “This is my fifth year in

college, and I haven’t won a single fall tournament. To do something like this is something I can take a lot of confidence from, but there’s still a lot of things I need to improve.”

Although Rogers ended the day victorious, he and several other players praised Fellin for his performance in the tournament.

Schaechterle said Fellin worked tirelessly to improve his game in the offseason, going so far as to fly to New York — without Pepperdine funding — to play the M15 Ithaca, NY tournament Oct. 4-10.

“Pietro [Fellin] played a phenomenal tournament, I want to give a lot of credit to him,” Rogers said. “He’s made some big strides this fall.”

In reaching the finals, both Rogers and Fellin qualified for the ITA National Fall Championships in San Diego from Nov. 4-7.

Hosting the Tournament The Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center is not a novel spot for the ITA Southwest Regional tournament, as Pepperdine previously hosted the event in 2018 and 2019. Schaechterle said this consistency of the venue is unusual in the case of ITA tournaments.

“It’s something that brings a lot of pride for the team, and for the entire University,” Schaechterle said. “I think it speaks to how committed the University is to tennis. As a coach, I love being a place where attendance matters, and tennis is a big time sport here.”

The lack of travel time and their familiarity with the courts were advantages Pepperdine carried into the tournament, several players said.

“People are coming from Arizona, other parts of California, even Hawaii,” Shelton said. “So people have to go pretty far, and we’re lucky to be right on campus.”

With matches going on at the same time side-by-side, noise was a constant

factor. Screeches from players sliding on the hard-courts, back-and-forth thuds from tennis rackets, aggressive “C’mon!”s from fired-up teammates — these are all parts of the college tennis experience.

“That’s something I’ve never really experienced before,” Halldin said. “It’s really loud. It’s not always the best type of manners, sometimes it’s out of those manners. I think for sure that can bother you, and you just have to really stay calm and not think about it. It makes it a special atmosphere.”

Looking Forward to the Season Men’s Tennis released its 2021-22 schedule Oct. 21, and will begin the new season away against Stanford on Jan. 21. The season finishes April 23, when the Waves are scheduled to battle Santa Clara in Malibu.

Calling the schedule challenging would be an understatement, Schaechterle said.

“I’m thrilled and proud that we are able to go home and away with some elite programs, I think it speaks to their respect for Pepperdine tennis,” Schaechterle said. “I am concerned that we might have bitten off more than we can chew. So that’s definitely on my mind, but I have so much confidence in the guys.”

The team is using fall tournaments like this to ready itself for the difficult road ahead, Schaechterle said. Several players said the team’s expectations for the season are high.

“We’re going to have a really good team this year,” Halldin said. “We’re going to play really tough teams where we have great, great opportunities as well. I’m looking forward to it. We’ve been doing a lot of on-court [practice] and a lot of fitness; I think we’ll be really ready by January.”

ALEC.MATULKA@PEPPERDINE.EDU