Pepperdine Graphic 09.15.23

Remembrance Ceremony

‘One Nation Under God’: Pepperdine honors the 22nd anniversary of 9/11

On the cloudy morning of Sept. 11, 2023, Pepperdine faculty and students honored guests joined together to commemorate those who lost their lives on 9/11 in front of Pepperdine’s annual Waves of Flags display.

This year Pepperdine held the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony with remarks from President Jim Gash, Director of Student Veteran Affairs Eric Leshinsky and honoree actor-producer Chris Pratt. Pepperdine has held annual 9/11 ceremonies since 2002.

“We’re the United States of America,” Pratt said “When we are one nation under God, we are indivisible. Let us never forget that lest it be lost. To the heroes and the victims of 9/11 and their families, we salute you. To the next generation, we need you. God bless America.”

The display features 2,977 flags, one

for each of the lives lost on 9/11 and one flag for each country that lost a citizen. The Waves of Flags display has been a nationally recognized Pepperdine tradition since 2008. Pepperdine Alumni Ryan Sawtelle (‘09) and Chris Garcia (‘11) first brought the idea to Former President Andrew K. Benton in 2006, and 18 months later, it became a reality, according to previous Graphic reporting.

Lauren Cosentino, vice president for Advancement and chief development officer, opened the Remembrance Ceremony. She said, although what is being remembered on this day is somber, attendees could also be reminded of this school year’s chosen theme of light.

“That light shone in acts of heroism through the police, the fire crews, the rescue workers and also the co-workers, the neighbors, and friends, all sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, wives and husbands and mothers and fathers who ran toward the darkness

that morning and gave their lives to help others,” Cosentino said.

Cosentino took this time to ask all active-duty military and first responders to stand for applause.

Active-duty military sits in the audience of the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Sept. 11. Lauren Cosentino asked for all active-duty military and first responders to stand.

Tim Spivey, associate vice president for spiritual life, followed with a prayer over the ceremony.

“This is a day etched into the fabric of our nation’s history,” Spivey said. “A day when tragedy and heroism intertwined, forever changing the course of our lives in our world.”

Pepperdine remembrance ceremony speakers stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance on Sept. 11. Caruso School of Law student Samantha Jones recited The Pledge of Allegiance.

Hung Le, senior vice chancellor for alumni affairs, read scripture from

Romans 12:9-10. He said to let God’s light of love shine through the darkness of hate.

“Let this memorial be a reflection of God’s light in and through us,” Le said. “The light on the hill, calling the world to goodness, to peace, to freedom and to hope.”

Leshinsky, an Air Force veteran, said though darkness and evil had their way that day, shortly after, there was unity.

“Millions joined together in prayer for the lost and the injured,” Leshinksy said. “Priority shifted back to the basics to what matters most: family, friends, God.”

Our world is still full of darkness, but the light will always shine through, Leshinsky said.

Gash said one of the reasons Pepperdine chose Pratt as the keynote speaker was because of a post Pratt made to Instagram in 2022 after he saw the dis-

Ava Heinert News Assistant

Mary Elisabeth | Photo Editor

Skyler Hawkins | Lead Designer

Sept. 16

Worship Summit

The Summit is Pepperdine’s annual Christ-centered worship summit hosted at Firestone Fieldhouse. Tickets are free, but registration is required. Dinner begins at 5 p.m., and worship begins at 7 p.m.

Sept. 20

Founder’s Day Celebration

Pepperdine will celebrate it’s 87th academic year this Founder’s Day. Join President Gash at 10 a.m., at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Sept. 23

Women’s Volleyball vs. LMU

Both teams will compete for the annual Pacific Coast Highway Cup. This will be the second game in-conference.

Oct. 6-8

Waves Weekend

Pepperdine’s Student Programming Board will organize a weekend for families and students to come together and enjoy campus activites. Blue and Orange Madness will involve a carnival and a basketball game.

Good News: Piano and art creates ‘Personal Awareness’

Timothy Gay Life & Arts Staff Writer

While I spent the summer break mostly at home, I put together and released my SoundCloud project “Personal Awareness (Piano Project No. 3)” as Timothy Ryan on May 9.

“Personal Awareness” is not only the third project I’ve put out on the platform but also my favorite. It’s the most I’ve pushed myself instrumentally, artistically and conceptually.

The instrumental project consists of 12 tracks — 10 original piano pieces and two collaborations with producers Ionnic and BLZN D9. I posted all songs individually on my YouTube channel before re-recording and compiling them into a project on SoundCloud.

I’ve always banged on the piano in my home as a child, but I didn’t start taking professional lessons until age 11. Saxophonist Kenny G’s music inspired a lot of my compositions because of his ability to carry a whole song with just his instrument.

The purpose of creating these SoundCloud projects is to give my listeners a new perspective on my music by hearing it in an album format. Instead of easily throwing the songs together in the track list, I deeply thought about the order to create a story and satisfying listening journey.

I decided on the title “Personal Awareness” because of how important I believe it is to be mindful of our thoughts, feelings, outlooks and the dayto-day decisions we make. It’s another phrase for internal self-awareness.

The musical journey of “Personal Awareness” begins with “Exhalation” and “Liberation,” which have underlying messages of releasing stress and freeing yourself from imperfection. It then follows with a piece about coming to a new self-realization, “Awakening” — an interpolation of “Together with Shauna” from the Nintendo 3DS video games Pokémon X and Y.

The second-to-last track, “Dreams,” is the most popular and my personal favorite on the project. It’s an inspirational piece that expresses the idea of continuing to pursue your passions despite encountering bumps along the way.

“Personal Awareness” ends with the saddest track and is most synonymous to the title,

“Internal.” The piece explores the struggle of feeling mentally beat down but still wanting to hold onto hope.

What I hope people take away from the creation of this project is that we all should be using our minds to benefit ourselves and others.

When you allow yourself to become personally aware, you open yourself up to more opportunities for growth and creativity than ever before.

timothy.gay@pepperdine.edu

Highlighting bad parking on Pepperdine’s campus

The “Personal Awareness” covert art features a self-portrait in front of a piano-infused brain painting. Because it was a piano-based project and the title involved the mind, I thought this was the best representation.

Art by Timothy Gay

Baseball field parking lot to open while construction continues

The University opened the top two lots of the baseball field parking lot, the Enhanced Parking and Storage Project, on Aug. 21. The lower level lot will open in September, wrote Andrew Clark, director of administration for the Department of Planning, Operations and Construction, in an Aug. 15 email to the Graphic.

Meanwhile, construction in Rho Lot in preparation for the parking garage of The Mountain at Mullin Park will continue until the expected completion date in fall 2024, Clark wrote. The University plans to close the entire Rho lot in early spring 2024 to carry on with construction.

Despite the partial closure of Rho, Clark wrote there will be enough parking for all students, faculty and staff on campus with all three of the

Enhanced Parking and Storage Project’s parking lots combined.

“This fall, there will be more parking available on campus than before we started the Enhanced Parking and Storage Project, even when considering the closed portion of Rho Parking Lot,” Clark wrote.

Sam Hubbard, junior and Lovernich resident, said she’s happy to see the Enhanced Parking and Storage Project opening to students.

“I feel like we have extra space because, last year, it seemed like there was no room for anybody,” Hubbard said.

Later this fall, the size of the construction zone in Rho will increase, Clark wrote. Access to the Rockwell Towers Parking Lot will shift from North Towers Road to a temporary access road in Rho.

“This temporary access road will allow us to complete necessary work along North Towers Road,” Clark wrote.

This fall, construction to Rho has included site work needed to begin constructing the parking garage, Clark wrote. The University has relocated many utilities as well as demolished first-year housing, including Krown Beta Residence Hall, and is now installing temporary supports to allow the mass excavation needed for the parking garage.

The University plans to close Rho entirely in the spring, but there will still be plenty of parking spaces, Clark wrote.

When the University removed 83 parking spaces from Rho to begin constructing The Mountain’s parking garage in March, parking on campus became increasingly difficult for students, according to a previous Graphic report.

Despite Clark’s affirmation that there will be enough parking for everyone on campus in spring, Hubbard said closing Rho will make parking on campus more inconvenient. She

said she will most likely have to park near Drescher when the lot closes.

“It’s not really a very accessible way for us [students] to get to our cars, especially if it’s a hike all the way up to them,” Hubbard said.

Jacob Eminger, junior and commuter student, said living off campus makes parking on campus easier for him.

Eminger said he hasn’t had much trouble finding parking on campus as a commuter student. He said because of his 8 a.m., classes, he arrives on campus before most other students.

When Rho closes completely, Eminger said Seaside and Lovernich residents will be affected most as Rho is a primary source of parking spots for those students.

“I don’t know if it [the closure of Rho] will affect me very much because I park on the other side of the school,” Eminger said. “I’m sure the kids that live in Seaside will start parking in the law school parking lot or further up Drescher.”

To have more coherent parking policies until The Mountain’s parking garage opens, the University is developing a parking plan. The University will share the plan with the community in the coming weeks, Clark wrote.

millie.auchard@pepperdine.edu

New mailing system makes package retrieval easier for students

Millie Auchard News Assistant Editor

Tall, discreet lockers stand at the Drescher Graduate Campus and by Banowsky Hall. The lockers are shiny and beige, blending in with the wall behind them. These lockers are the new package retrieval system on campus which give students 24/7 access to their packages.

introduced the smart lockers to create a more convenient way for students to access their packages, McGuire said.

“We wanted to be proactive in trying to provide the best experience possible to our students,” McGuire said.

The previous package retrieval system often involved long wait times at the Student Mail Area or Central Receiving and limited access to Mail Services based on its business hours, 9 a.m., to 4 p.m., senior Sherlene Wei said. Wei hasn’t received any packages through the smart locker system yet, but she said the lockers are a step in the right direction.

“I like that they’re [the University is] trying to make it [package retrieval] more convenient and accessible,” Wei said.

Through the new system’s Package Concierge app, students can track their package’s location and go to their assigned locker to retrieve their package, Mail Services wrote in an Aug. 12 email to the Pepperdine community.

McGuire said the University also wanted to add the lockers to decrease foot traffic at Mail Services’ operations pad.

Two students input their information to the Package Concierge system to retrieve their packages Aug. 23, at Banowsky. Senior Sherlene Wei said the lockers make package retrieval more convenient and accessible for students.

dent workers],” McGuire said.

The Package Concierge Smart Lockers opened to students Aug. 21, replacing the former system of retrieving packages from the Student Mail Area in the Lighthouse or Central Receiving, said Meghan McGuire, director of campus operations. The University

As for student workers in Mail Services, McGuire said the University will not need as much of their support as they have in the past.

“With not carrying packages to the Lighthouse anymore, there’s a little bit of a reduced need down there [for stu-

Junior Ashley Reyes said she has worked for Mail Services since fall 2022. She said her role as a student mail worker hasn’t had any significant changes since the introduction of the lockers. However, adjusting to the new system has been a challenge.

“A lot of students are coming in actually and asking questions [about the lockers], and because I’m not very fa-

miliar, it is new,” Reyes said. “[It] just makes everything so much more difficult.”

McGuire said company couriers will now carry the packages directly to the lockers instead of to Mail Services, where they were previously distributed to the Student Mail Area.

Millie Auchard News Assistant Editor

Views of the Enhanced Parking and Storage Project which, opened in August 2023. The parking lot has been under construction since September 2021.

Millie Auchard | News Assistant Editor

We wanted to be proactive in trying to provide the best experience possible to our students.

Meghan McGuire Director of Campus Operations

Millie Auchard | News Assistant Editor

A space made for ‘Unfiltered’ conversations

Rachel Flynn

News Staff Writer

Unfiltered is a new weekly discussion meant to bridge the gap between all secular and sacred questions, said Falon Barton, the campus minister for the University Church of Christ Malibu. Barton is also a former editor for the Graphic.

The purpose of the group is to better love the Lord, the community and creation. Unfiltered is hosted on Thursdays at 6 p.m., at the on-campus home of University Church campus minister Falon Barton, Barton said.

“This [Unfiltered] will be very controversial,” Barton said. “It won’t be prescriptive; it will be engaging the diversity of our spiritual lives.”

Unfiltered is a recent replacement for the weekly gathering, The Table, which was popular with the student body. The Table took place weekly at the Brock House, beginning after the inauguration of President Jim Gash in 2019, according to previous Graphic reporting.

President Jim Gash informed the Pastoral Care and Oversight Council that Student Campus Ministries would not be receiving funding to continue hosting The Table, Barton said. A donor had been funding The Table and had decided to discontinue their contribution, Barton wrote in an Aug. 28 follow-up email to the Graphic.

The set intention of Unfiltered is to be “honest, transparent and candid.” Students looking to have their questions answered regarding faith and the world now have an outlet to engage with, Barton said.

Barton said she began asking students what was most meaningful about The Table to incorporate what they felt they needed most in a new weekly small group.

“What I heard from a lot of students is that they wanted a place to talk honestly and candidly about their faith,” Barton said.

During Unfiltered, Barton, taking on a facilitator role, opens up the group for discussion after everyone has shared a meal together, she said. She

encourages students with any interest in Christianity and spirituality to bring their unanswered questions to the table.

Senior Jackie Ferrari said she is excited about Unfiltered becoming a place where students can come and have open conversations.

“I’ve been wanting more space like this to make more community,” Ferrari said.

There is no set schedule for what topics will be discussed in the weeks to come, Barton said.

“My goal is for it to be about the things students care about the most,” Barton said.

Sophomore Sidney Brown said she was drawn to Unfiltered because of the opportuni-

ty for students to choose a topic and talk it through — even if it is challenging to navigate.

Brown said what interested her in attending Unfiltered was “the concept of talking about things that other college students were struggling with.”

Multiple students raised the topic of mental health for discussion as they sat together in the backyard of Barton’s on-campus home.

Ferrari said she is interested in discussing Christian persecution, the LGBTQ+ community and mental health. Other students expressed interest in opening a conversation about climate change, science from a Christian perspective and discipleship.

Barton directed the student’s attention to quotes printed on slips of paper spread across tables in the backyard. She instructed the students to choose a quote they felt the Lord was speaking through.

The purpose of Unfiltered is for students to encounter the Lord through exploring conversation in a safe environment, Barton said.

“I hope that it’s really meaningful,” Barton said. “I hope it’s a space for diversity of thoughts and diversity of experience.”

rachel.flynn@pepperdine.edu

‘Deli’cious: Students react to new food in the Lighthouse

Pepperdine opened Cutting Board this semester, a new customizable deli option that sits tucked away in the Lighthouse, according to an Aug. 28 email from Business Services.

Students said the service is friendly, the food is new and fresh and it is always delightful to have new food options on a campus that lacks an abundance of them.

“The deli stands out not only for its creations but also for its flexible hours because it’s a convenient choice for students like me who sometimes need a meal outside of the traditional lunchtime window,” senior Madison Garcia said.

Senior Kaila Crouch said she has ordered from Cutting Board at least three times since the start of the semester. She said she enjoyed the egg and avocado sandwich most, but what really stood out to her was the friendly service.

“Everyone is so kind, and I will go back,” Crouch said. “I was happy with the service, and it’s a good thing to get and save for later if your classes are close together and you are unable to eat at the moment.”

Crouch said, while the deli is a bit pricey — with the waves club at $11.50 — it is to be expected considering the quality, taste and prices of other dining options on campus.

Junior Dora Csonge said she tried the new deli for the first time during New Student Orientation and agreed

that it was a bit overpriced, comparing it to a sandwich she could get for less at Whole Foods with more variety. Still, she said it is always exciting to have a new food option on campus, and even though she has an apartment with a kitchen, she will stop by the deli again when she is too busy to cook.

“Pepperdine, overall, just needs more variety of food, but I will return to it because it’s still the best and most customizable option at Pepperdine,” Csonge said.

Although she is grateful for Cutting Board, Csonge said she misses the food trucks and restaurants Pepperdine had on Main Campus and in the Caf during the 2021-2022 school year. Now, her favorite food on campus remains the sushi in the Caf and anything from Starbucks.

Garcia said she tried the deli on the first day of school, and little did she know, this would lead to a new daily routine. She said she has settled into a routine of getting the same sandwich

every day — sourdough bread, garlic aioli mayo, creamy avocado spread, turkey, provolone cheese and a medley of fresh veggies.

“What inspired me to try it was the enthusiasm of two close friends from my economics class,” Garcia said. “Their excitement was so compelling that I couldn’t resist.”

Sophomore Emily Liang said, overall, she wishes Pepperdine had a more diverse and authentic range of food on campus, but the deli is a step in the right direction.

“I will definitely return to get the sandwiches, but I do hope it can close a little later instead of 3 p.m.,” Liang said.

While Cutting Board is brand new,

students said they are fascinated to follow and see how long it lasts. Formally named The Sandbar, the University revamped and renamed the Lighthouse in August 2021, according to the Pepperdine website. Students said they are interested in how successful the deli becomes, due to the fast turnover this space has had in the past few years.

“The Lighthouse has seen quite a transformation from the Jamba Juice days to Boba, to the açaí bowl craze, and now it seems the deli has emerged as the crown jewel of Lighthouse dining experiences,” Garcia said.

Photo courtesy of Hali Orefice

Students discuss topics they are curious about at the first Unfiltered meeting Aug. 24. University

Church of Christ Leader Falon Barton will hold weekly meetings at her home.

Beth Gonzales

News Editor

Lindy Smith | Staff Photgrapher

Senior Sioban De Cleir eats a sandwich from Cutting Board on Main Campus on Sept. 4. Cutting Board offers students customizable options.

It seems the deli has emerged as the crown jewel of Lighthouse dining experiences.

Madison Garcia Pepperdine Student

Two weeks in Malibu

Millie Auchard Assistant News Editor

Over the past two weeks in Malibu, the Pepperdine community gathered at multiple events, including Rock the Brock on Aug. 30, The Return on Aug. 31, Malibu Chili Cook-Off from Sept. 1-4, and Waves of Flags set-up Sept. 2. A photo gallery provides a look into these gatherings.

Mary Elisabeth | Photo Editor Seniors Maci Brown and Sophia Kouretas jump for joy at Rock the Brock on Aug. 30. Award-winning vocalist Ricky Lucchese accompanied the DJ with his trombone at the event.

Riley Haywood | Staff Photographer

A volunteer carries a flag at Waves of Flags setup Sept. 2. Every September, Pepperdine honors the lives lost on 9/11 with flags.

Mary Elisabeth | Photo Editor

Junior Helena Mekuanint paints junior Everett Baker’s face at The Return on Aug. 31. Students from all the abroad programs gathered to eat and play.

Perse Klopp | Staff Photographer Seniors Ashley Abaya and Elijah Gatling dance in the crowd at Rock the Brock on Aug. 30. At Rock the Brock, seniors connect before the start of their final year at Pepperdine.

Perse Klopp | Staff Photographer

Malibu Chili Cook-Off attendees spin on the Vertigo ride Sept. 1. The Cook-Off has taken place for 41 years, according to the Malibu Chili Cook-Off website.

Perse Klopp | Staff Photographer

Merry-go-round riders whiz around at the Malibu Chili Cook-Off on Sept. 1. All proceeds from the Cook-Off benefited the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, according to the Malibu Chili Cook-Off website.

REMEMBRANCE: Community gathers for 9/11 ceremony

From A1

play while driving down Pacific Coast Highway and decided to stop.

Gash presented Pratt with a retired flag from one of the previous Waves of Flags displays.

Pratt wanted people to know part of the reason he spoke was because of his care for his country and those whom 9/11 affected. He said he is a deeply patriotic person who feels Americans must unite as a country.

“I want to speak here because I wanted the opportunity to honor the victims and their families along with people that stepped up, that walked in and ran in, that gave their lives,” Pratt said.

Pratt said he hopes the victims and

their families feel honored this day, and remembering 9/11 can expand the minds of young people beyond their personal slice of the world.

Students said they appreciated this event and felt its impact.

“It is of the utmost importance to commemorate this tragedy and pay tribute to the sacrifice and strength of all those who were affected,” junior William Thompson said.

Junior Allexa Larson said Pratt’s speech made her feel hopeful that Americans can come together with strong faith foundations they want to share with others.

The number of Americans who do not share the collective memory of 9/11 is increasing, Pratt said.

“They [the Americans who do not have memory of 9/11] were too young,” Pratt said. “They were not yet born. For them, the ceremonies commemorate a history for which they are now a generation removed.”

Service men and women put themselves in harm’s way to serve Americans and to provide hope, Pratt said. He said they serve without reservation.

“I may have played a guardian in the movie, but they [service men and women] are the true guardians of our communities and our country,” Pratt said.

Pratt said the United States is more divided now than ever before.

“Do you remember national unity,” Pratt said. “Do you know what that feels like?”

Pratt said the 9/11 effect was a time of national unity –– a time when Americans turned to faith and one another. He said Americans must rekindle the unity felt after 9/11 and keep it alive in themselves and their communities.

Pratt said he felt called to be at the ceremony Monday; if he were 20 in this day and age, he would want someone to ignite his patriotism in a new way.

“And I say this gently to those who are immersed in their own worlds who think their country doesn’t need them,” Pratt said. “It is your torch to

carry. Your country needs you.”

Joe Ramirez, a United States Marine who attended the ceremony and is also a Pepperdine Graziadio Business School alum (‘11), said this ceremony was emotional for him. He said Pratt’s message was important for the new generation to hear.

“The nation needs you,” Ramirez said.

Gash gave his remarks directly following Pratt. He called the Pepperdine community to love one another and never forget. The good of all humanity means picking up the broken, Gash said.

“It means breaking chains and mending hearts. [It] means hating what is evil, and holding fast what is good,” Gash said. “It means loving each other with mutual affection.”

The ceremony ended with Pratt and junior Colton Cherry, who lost his father Stephen Cherry in the Twin Towers on 9/11, staking the final flag in the ground.

The two walked together holding the flag, and as the sun peaked out on this overcast day, they placed the flag in a bed of flowers.

Mary Caufield |

Photo Editor

Eric Leshinsky gives special remarks during the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Alumni Park on Sept. 11. Leshinsky is the director of Veteran Affairs at Pepperdine and a United States Air Force veteran.

Pepperdine Ambassador’s Council restarts application process

Samantha Torre Managing Editor

PAC is an organization made of student volunteers who represent the University, working underneath Advancement and closely with the President’s Office.

The University placed PAC on a pause for the 2022-23 academic year, according to previous Graphic reporting. PAC members and Advancement did not agree on the reason for the pause, as members said the reason was a disagreement over changes to the future of PAC, whereas, Advancement wrote the pause provided a chance to re-envision the organization.

“What I hope to do is to continue with the incredible service tradition of PAC, and the tradition involves students who love Pepperdine — students who can represent Pepperdine to our outside constituents as well as our inside family,” Hung Le, senior vice chancellor, said.

This will be the 33rd PAC, and Le said he will be one of the PAC advisers and is still learning the role.

“This is my 34th year working at Pepperdine,” Le said. “So, I’m very familiar with PAC and its impact and its contribution to the University.”

When Le was a student (1983-87), Pepperdine used the term “student ambassador” for the first time, he said. For Pep-

perdine’s 50th anniversary, the school had entered a float into the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, also known as the Rose Parade, and the eight students Pepperdine chose to ride that float became known as student ambassadors.

In the 1990s, former SGA president Christine Grimm formalized the role, and PAC was born, Le said.

The Application

Le said Advancement is looking for applicants “who can share their love for Pepperdine” and share the University’s story from a student perspective.

The requirements to apply for PAC include a 3.0 GPA, junior or senior standing, good standing at the University and involvement in at least three clubs or organizations, according to the website. The application form can be found on the website and includes short answer questions as well as an optional faculty/staff recommendation form.

Le said he encourages students to apply and also encourages faculty and staff to prompt students to apply and serve.

This year, Resident Advisers and Spiritual Life Advisers can apply for a position on PAC, Le said. In the past, PAC’s weekly meetings occurred Wednesday mornings — the same time as the Housing and Residence Life class periods. Instead, PAC will

try to find a time when everyone can meet.

“Well, when we do that [have a nonnegotiable meeting time], we say the most important thing about PAC is that one-hour-aweek meeting, and I’m thinking that’s not the most important thing about PAC,” Le said.

For Le, the most important thing about PAC is allowing qualified, willing students a space to share their stories, he said.

know Pepperdine on a deeper level.”

“I hope to connect the council members to some really wonderful people who will serve as mentors for them,” Le said.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our students to really be blessed by some really, I hope to be, meaningful relationships.”

Information Session

The information session for PAC began with time for prospective applicants to mingle with both one another and members of Advancement, and Advancement provided refreshments. Then, applicants sat down to hear from Advancement staff regarding what PAC is and what to consider when applying.

nities that come with being on PAC and events applicants can look forward to.

“This group is going to teach you the ways to go and be the best representatives of yourself and this place [Pepperdine] in those [official] settings,” Gehrels said.

Senior Ryan Marumoto said he heard about PAC from friends who had participated in the organization in the past and learned about the application from the emails PAC sent. He plans to apply for the 2023-24 academic year.

Junior Isaac Bonilla said he also heard about PAC from a friend who previously served on the council and enjoyed hearing from former members of PAC about representing the University.

The goal is still to have 20 members serve on PAC, Le said. The time commitment will be around 15 hours per month.

“I’m hoping for students who are involved throughout their college experience, who are articulate, who have compelling stories to tell, who have a heart of service and who want others to know about Pepperdine,” Le said.

One goal, Le said, is to showcase Pepperdine students and allow PAC members to “get to

“To be the group that restarts PAC is really special of an opportunity to build off of a legacy of so many people who have come before you guys in this group,” James Gehrels, Seaver alumnus (‘17), former PAC member and the director of the Waves Athletics Fund, said. “The blazers mean a lot; the name PAC means a lot.”

Le said a committee of staff, faculty and alumni will be reviewing applications, and the goal date to release decisions is Sept. 29.

Lauren Cosentino, vice president for advancement and chief development officer, spoke about the mentorship opportu-

“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.”

Junior Lyndon Johnson said her parents are Pepperdine alumni, and her father spoke highly of PAC. Hearing from a former PAC member was helpful, she said.

“I wanted [from the information session] more depth and detail about what this year’s program would entail,” Johnson said. “How much of a time commitment [PAC is], the benefits of the program. I think I got it.”

sam.torre@pepperdine.edu

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Phone: (310) 506-4311

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Pepperdine University

24255 Pacific Coast Hwy. Malibu, CA 90263

The blazers mean a lot; the name PAC means a lot.

James Gehrels Seaver Alumnus ‘17 and Former PAC Member

Photo courtesy of Sharon Stevens

Lauren Cosentino, vice president for Advancement and chief development officer, speaks at the PAC information session in the Fireside Room on Aug. 29. Cosentino spoke about mentorship opportunities through PAC.

PERSPECTIVES

THE PGM STAFF

Executive Editor

Abby Wilt

Managing Editor

Samantha Torre

Special Edition Editor

Marley Penagos

DEI Team

Editors:

Joseph Heinemann

Marley Penagos

Assistant Editor: Madison Luc

Advertising Team

Ad Director: Victoria Snapper

News Team

News Editor: Beth Gonzales

Staff Editorial: Add/drop window needs to change

Editor’s Note: PGM staff members decide on the topic of a Staff Ed together. The staff as a whole provides opinions and content included in this Staff Ed to provide thoughts and shed light on solutions for happenings at Pepperdine.

Imagine you have one week to decide whether a three-month part-time internship is a good fit for you. Would you feel rushed? Would you feel worried about the time commitment?

Now, imagine it could potentially cost you upwards of $2,000.

That’s how many students feel about the add/drop period at Seaver College. At Seaver College, undergraduate students have only one week to commit to a three-month-long semester of classes, and their money is on the line as well.

Students Face Difficulties

The add/drop period can be especially difficult for first and second years or students who haven’t gotten into the rhythm of their major yet. Because of the one-week timeframe, students often cannot build a schedule they’re confident in. Many of these students are constantly meeting new professors with different expectations and different workloads.

Syllabus week causes further complications for students. Noted in many syllabi is the potential for the syllabus to change. Because of this, many students cannot get a good understanding of the class format in the brief window of time they’re given. If a student switches into a class in the middle of syllabus week, they

may only have one period to figure out if they should dedicate their time and money to the course.

While having to make this important decision, students also have to take into account their other commitments like jobs and internships. Many majors, such as English, require such internships to graduate, which puts them at a higher priority in the student’s minds.

Alongside all of this, the fact that the add/drop deadline is set on a Friday rather than the following Monday limits how much students can mull over their $2,000 decision. If a student makes the wrong call and has to withdraw from a class, they both lose money and receive a permanent mark on their transcript. This can be a costly mistake, especially when classes cost $2,070 per unit. Alongside this, there is a $150 withdrawal fee.

Possible Solutions

While it can be easy to point out problems, there are a number of possible solutions that could give students more breathing room at the beginning of the semester.

The most clear solution for Seaver College is to mirror the business school, Graziadio. The add/drop period for Graziadio students enrolled in 14-week courses is two weeks compared to Seaver’s one.

It makes sense that adding more students later on could complicate class schedules for professors. Extending the drop deadline to two weeks while keeping the add deadline at one week could resolve some of those potential problems. Students could then save money and not get stuck with a W,

for withdrawal, if they need to drop out later on.

Another solution could be changing the end of add/drop to Sunday or the following Monday to give students a couple of extra days to think about their classes and schedules.

Looking to Other Colleges

To provide some examples from schools that are in the greater L.A. area or are like Pepperdine in size, we looked at Pomona College, Gonzaga University, the University of Southern California and the University of La Verne.

Pomona and USC offer an add/drop period of two weeks. Pomona’s lasts between Aug. 28, and Sept. 11, according to the Pomona Office of the Registrar.

Gonzaga has a similar schedule to Pepperdine but extends drop an extra halfweek. Add lasts from Aug. 29, to Sept. 6, and drop lasts until Sept. 8.

The University of La Verne mirrors Pepperdine but allows more grace for students who add or drop late with a fee of $50 with the instructor’s approval.

Thinking back to that three-month internship, how nice would it be if students had more time and resources to make the decision that was right for them? With just a few changes, the add/drop deadline could feel the same, and students could be more confident in their commitment of time and money.

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Utah mystifies as the last expanse

Maximilian J.S. Pohlenz Life & Arts Assistant and Sports Assistant

Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.

If one seeks excitement, they shall find it in New York. If it is adventure, California. But, if one pursues enlightenment, it lies waiting in Utah’s desert.

The names of cities and structures in Utah are of the Old Testament variety: Moab, Enoch and Zion, the Devil’s Garden and the Fiery Furnace.

In seemingly cloudless skies, lightning ripples across in surreal fashion. To the common traveler, weather on the interstate does not function according to natural laws but rather divine will.

Even the plants radiate an energy — a vibration. A loosely mythical sense in my mind cannot help but acknowledge that the plants have a consciousness. A particularly judgmental Sand Sage once gave me a glare after I played too loud a song. Its California cousin, the White Sage, is far more polite, with sweet-smelling shoots that hum in the wind and love music of all kinds.

This is the last expanse. The last bit of Mother Nature that has not been tamed or flooded or damned.

This feels like God’s country in the most vivid use of the term.

There is a road that passes through this portion of the state: Interstate 70.

It starts at the edge of Green River, which is more a collection of gas stations than a town. Outside Green River, there is a sign that reads: “No services next 106 miles.”

Driving West, I-70 crosses the rocky barren of the Colorado plateau. In the distance, huge stone shelves hang over the horizon like a foreboding remnant of some long-forgotten ancient people.

South of I-70 is Arches National Park, where tourists in gym shoes organize lines to gather Instagrammable content at the Delicate Arch. Elsewhere in the park is the aforementioned Devil’s Garden. Hikers far enough on the trail will find a sign that reads: “Caution. Primitive trail. Difficult hiking.”

I was with friends, they drove, and I slept through it. When I was alone, I felt as if I was dreaming.

Then, the climbing is done. I-70 crosses over the Tushar Mountain, reaching its terminus. Behind: a vast, gaping canyon. In front is Interstate 15, running north-south. North is Salt Lake City and ski resorts. South is Zion National Park and the beginnings of the Mojave Desert.

There is greenery now and towns whose billboards assure they are a viable destination for travelers — Beaver, Utah is the most notorious culprit. But the greenery is of the fraught, arid kind, and the towns are specks on the seemingly ethereal horizon.

At the Southwest edge of Utah, I-15 passes the outskirts of Zion National Park. I stayed in Zion for two nights in a campsite on the Northern edge of the park.

Elevation at the Northern edge of Zion is almost 8,000 feet above sea level, according to the National Park Service.

It’s the kind of elevation that wakes the ill-adjusted — such as myself — up in the middle of the night, gasping for air that is too thin. The hills and rock formations are notable in the sense that they bear a striking resemblance to dragons that have settled down for a millennia-long rest.

Beyond Zion, I-15 bleeds into the northern corner of Arizona and her great canyons and winding roads. Beyond that lies Nevada and the Mojave.

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and

You can feel it even in your fragile machine of plastic and low-grade steel as it hurtles down at 85 miles per hour on and around the sweeping turns of I-70. Up and down anticlines that have witnessed millions of years of mortality.

Your tongue sticks to the roof of your mouth when the window is down because there is no moisture in this air. Even with companions in the car, nothing seems to drown out the deafening silence.

Finally, it creeps up on you — the sense that those layers of engineered plastic that make up your car are the only thing that lay in between you and sheer, utter nothingness.

I’ve done this drive twice. Once with two old friends, once by myself. When

Las Vegas’ neon signs are far removed in geography from the midsummer’s dream of the barren land that is Utah. And yet, even beyond Nevada, on California’s coast, if one listens quite carefully, one may still hear a rather polite White Sage preaching the word of God’s country.

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Fiona Creadon Perspectives Assistant Editor

SIBLING ADVICE

TransparencyItem:Thisisanadvice column that rotates writers and is basedonnewtopicseachweekThis istheopinionandperspectiveofthe writer.

Hey Waves,

College is an adjustment in many ways — which I am sure many students are getting used to now — but one adjustment that I did not expect was how my relationships with my younger sisters were going to change. I was so focused on what Pepperdine was going to feel like when I finally arrived that I failed to consider the fact that my relationships at home were going to change too.

My life was evolving every day, and evidently, theirs were too — even if I was not there with them to see it. It was at this moment I realized I had underestimated how significant proximity is to being involved in peoples’ lives, and my level of effort was going to have to change if I wanted to continue to feel as connected to them as before.

Being at school for a lot of the year means I do not have the benefit of being effortlessly involved in my sisters’ lives through family dinners and driving them around anymore. I have to make a conscious effort to call them or text them to hear about what is going on on a daily basis.

I recognize not every person feels the same about the level of involvement they have to put into their relationships with their siblings. In theory, it can sound rather trivial because you’ll eventually see your siblings during the holiday break or over the summer, so it is easy to feel OK not talking to them for long periods.

At one point, I may have agreed with that until I read an article in The Atlantic titled “The Longest Relationship of Our Lives,” which explored the uniqueness of the shared experience of childhood. It made me realize that these very well may be some of the most important relationships in my life and certainly deserve the basic effort of keeping in touch.

So, with this personal anecdote, I advise readers to make an effort to check in with their loved ones, whether that be siblings or parents or both. For those fortunate enough to have a sibling, do not take it for granted because there is nothing else quite like it.

P.S. To Grace and Charlotte, I love you endlessly, and I would be lost without you.

With care,

Jackie Lopez | Art Editor

There are no trees that bear fruit — those who witnessed Genesis know what happens when they offer humankind an apple.

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Prioritize respect in fandom culture

Adri Sahakian Perspectives Staff Writer

Transparency item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.

Entertainment media adds spice to life, with the constant releases of new movies, television shows, books, music, video games and more. The world feels less lonely when relating to the lyrics of a song or stirs feelings of delight when finding a new fictional character from a book to obsess over.

This summer made my head spin with all the content that was provided for us — from Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” to the long-awaited release of “Barbenheimer.”

It feels great to find a piece of media that speaks to one’s heart and soul, and that brings immense joy to life. But it’s an even better feeling to find a group of people who share the same amount of love for that source of entertainment.

I recall the first time I logged onto Tumblr, scrolling through content for a movie I had just seen. Excitement pumped through my heart knowing there were others who shared the same enthusiasm as me — I felt seen.

This group of people is a fandom — short for fanatic domain. A fandom is “the fans of a particular person, team, fictional series, etc. regarded

collectively as a community or subculture,” according to Oxford Languages.

Participating in fandom culture creates relationships with others and increases self-acceptance, according to Science News Explores. People form strong connections with one another because of similar interests.

With that sense of belonging and interaction, there’s an increase in a person’s well-being. Fandom also promotes creativity; people make all sorts of fanart, fanfiction and cosplays.

Joining new fandoms feels like a jolt of electricity every time. There’s new content to fall in love with, new information to learn and, of course, there are tons of people to meet — from

newcomers to old timers — and bond with over similar interests. I like to say my life is just me jumping from one obsession to the next.

With such intense enthusiasm and passion found in a fandom, feelings of possessiveness, entitlement and superiority start to escalate, according to ReelRundown. This ends up creating a heavily toxic environment for everybody.

Fans harass and belittle each other for their choices in favorite characters and ships and for not having been educated on every single piece of information there is to know.

I’ve had my fair share of toxicity from the Marvel fandom coming from

close friends. They’d tell me I wasn’t a “true fan” for only having seen a small handful of the 32 films, not even mentioning the television shows and short series that exist as well. They’d shut down my interest in a particular ship or character, as I wasn’t allowed to have favorites if I hadn’t seen it all.

It’s hard to continue participating in a fandom when people are not giving others the respect they deserve. As the Golden Rule says, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” Forcefully shoving opinions down people’s throats only frustrates and turns them away.

The point of fandom culture is that there’s no right answer to anything; everyone’s opinion is a valid one — unless it’s morally incorrect, which is a discussion for another time. People can hold different opinions and just learn to coexist with one another.

Respect is something that needs to be prioritized in communities, and fandoms are no exception. When holding respect for one another, people are able to hold open discussions with one another. They are told that they are seen and valid in their preferences. Communities become more welcoming to everyone — the long-term fans and the newbies. There just needs to be awareness of this diversity in a fandom. Let this be a reminder that people are valid for loving their interests, but they shouldn’t invalidate others for loving theirs. Keep coexisting.

Don’t believe everything you hear or see online

Kylie Kowalski Perspectives Staff Writer

Transparency item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.

From magazines in grocery store checkout lines to billboards in Times Square, celebrities are everywhere.

Eyes are drawn to the TikTok that explains why Taylor Swift is rerecording her albums, and hands reach for the magazine with a photo of Beyonce and Jay Z’s new $200 million Malibu mansion. Biological forces allow humans to subconsciously shift their positive feelings about a celebrity to whatever that celebrity’s view is on a topic or issue, according to LiveScience.

The biological and psychological forces that draw us toward celebrities include classical conditioning, self-conception, cognitive dissonance, the halo effect and herd behavior, according to LiveScience.

Due to the halo effect, human brains mistake success in one field, like Ryan Reynolds’ distinguished acting career, with success in other fields, according to LiveScience. This is why his fans are likely to support his finance management recommendations through his app, Mint.

Celebrity attraction has long helped companies promote their products through those with fame. It has also helped them create their own brands.

Some marketers have also shifted gear to promoting influencers rather than big celebrities because it is cheaper and simpler, and influencers tend to display a more relatable persona, according to Forbes.

Two examples of platforms with deceptive information include podcasts and TikTok.

Podcasts

In the age of endless content, it can be difficult to determine if information is deceptive.

About half the adults in the United States — 49% — said they have listened to a podcast in the past 12 months, according to Pew Research Data.

The same survey said the top two reasons people listen to podcasts are for entertainment and education.

The term podcast is a portmanteau, or a combination, of the two words: “iPod” and “Broadcast,” according to Brittanica.

Podcast listening apps joined the radio as a way for listeners to receive entertainment and education on the go or while completing other tasks.

With such a wide variety of podcasts on various topics, the line can occasionally blur between educational content and entertainment.

Celebrities do not always have the credibility to give advice or recommendations. Sometimes, they do it to connect with their audience; other times, they do it for a sponsorship.

However, a unique feature of podcasts as opposed to radio is that anyone has the ability to create one.

There are 4,211,152 podcasts, according to Podcast Index. Because it can be difficult to determine useful information, it is essential for listeners to think critically to determine if the information they are hearing is credible or not.

For example, what one podcaster might say isn’t always true for the listener.

Many websites, like QuillBot, help readers learn how to determine if something is credible or not, and this can be applied to podcasts to rule out bad advice.

TikTok

Influencers have become celebrities, and a large source of their revenue comes from influencing their viewers.

TikTok has become a platform where influencers who have gained popularity are able to sell their own advice on how viewers can do the same.

For example, many finance “experts” on TikTok sell guides that teach others about finances.

Paxful, a financial cryptocurrency trading platform, determined that about one in seven videos created by finance TikTok influencers is misleading in some way. These financial influencers promote financial decisions and create financial “guides” that users can buy. They also give advice without including a disclaimer.

The company also determined that “FinTok” investor influencers have over nine million followers collectively, and yet over half — 52% — have posted at least one misleading finance video, according to CBS.

As a young adult, I have found it difficult to differentiate advice from the truth, especially when it comes to my favorite podcasts and TikTok creators.

It is important to be skeptical of headlines or “clickbait,” and compare with other sources to ensure credibility, according to Citizens Clean Elections Commission.

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Adri Sahakian | Staff Artist

Social media hurts relationships

Fiona Creadon Perspectives Assistant Editor

Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.

Oh no! You opened Snapchat and saw that all of your friends were at a party that you hadn’t heard about. Yikes! Your partner liked another person’s scandalous Instagram post.

These are just a couple of the complicated ways social media and relationships intersect. There used to be a time when it was only possible to know what someone did or thought through word of mouth.

Now, Gen Z lives in an age when it’s possible to stumble upon a partner seemingly publicly lusting over someone else or experience FOMO — fear of missing out — about friends hanging out. These are things that would not have come to light if people did not post everything they do on social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat.

As a generation, Gen Z puts a lot of stock in what other people think about the way a person presents themself online and quickly forms opinions about others based on their social media presence, according to data found in

an article in Cosmopolitan. How many likes did I get? Who liked my post? Who commented? Whose posts are my friends or significant others liking and commenting on?

I don’t think people are naturally born to think what other people post online is significant. Older peers and friends pass down the idea that what a romantic partner or friend does on social media indicates how they feel about a person.

This mindset is a vicious cycle of projecting insecurity from person to person to try to feel better. The most harmful element of this is it puts confidence and validation in a fleeting form — and even worse — it is contingent on the opinions of others.

There are a multitude of ways to feel upset with these made-up metrics created on social media that do not have meaning in any other context, according to Kimberly Panganiban, a licensed marriage and family therapist.

I don’t think there is necessarily one simple answer to how to keep posts online from causing hurt feelings, but the easiest place to start is internally. That could be in the form of a social media hiatus or intentionally steering the conversation away from social media when with friends.

Over-sharing has become so easy with the increased accessibility to social media platforms that all the challenges associated with the compli-

cated nature of navigating social media have become normal.

Some examples of this are the hurt feelings that can occur when social media reveals friends leaving you out of plans or partners being active on social media while you are still waiting on a response from them — all without knowing the circumstances. Social media undoubtedly affects people's emotions, according to a New Yorker article about Facebook usage.

What I have found to be true most often when dealing with social media is that everything lacks context. Despite how transparent posts may seem, they are almost always curated with the purpose of making an individual feel cool, relevant or interesting, according to an article on “Social Media and the Curation of Identity: Taking a Closer look at Influencers.”

So, even if you agree that posting is more about the person whose account it is than anyone else, it is still un-

derstandable to feel hurt or upset by what you see online. You can express these feelings to a partner when their behavior has hurt your feelings and set boundaries as necessary.

Friends can clue into how it felt seeing them hanging out without receiving an invitation. I don’t think people are trying to hurt each other’s feelings — at least most of the time — so, sometimes, vulnerability in this situation goes a long way.

Communicating feelings can offer a perspective that friends or partners had not considered before and save a lot more hurt in the long run. If they are not receptive to the conversation, it might be a friendship or relationship worth re-examining.

fiona.creadon@pepperdine.edu

Create balance for introverts

offered his view on expanding the variety of ministry frameworks.

Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.

Dealing with intense social interactions is hard for introverts. While communication is essential to life, it can be more exhausting for some people than others based on individual differences. Yet, introverts are still competent as long as there is flexible accommodation.

Introversion is “the state of being turned inward or upon oneself or itself,” and one’s preference or orientation to their thoughts and reflections, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. On the other hand, extroversion indicates the tendency to gain gratification through social engagement.

Being introverted doesn’t equal being unwilling to engage with the community or care less about interactions. Introverted people can feel drained and exhausted after navigating their social lives, whereas extroverts draw energy from it, according to Psychology Today.

Spending time alone recharges introverted people and prepares them for further social activities.

Professor of Psychology Steve Rouse teaches Personality Psychology. He said introversion and extroversion are not categorical differences but dimensional differences.

Rather than believing that either side is inherently better, we should recognize that both sides of the continuum have their strength and weaknesses.

“An introverted person tends to be more likely to focus on the other person’s interests and needs during a conversation,” Rouse said. “And that is very beneficial because it can build collaboration.”

Oftentimes, the U.S. culture values assertiveness and confidence — two attributes of extroversion. Extroverted, more conscientious and less agreeable men

start to have a higher annual income in their 30s, according to a 2018 study on Labor Economics.

“Within the United States, extroversion is more valued than introversion is, even if people don’t overtly recognize that,” Rouse said. “If we look worldwide, though, those assumptions are not held in every culture.”

Additionally, the need to recharge doesn’t always undermine professionalism. Alumna Katai Mutale ('23), Campus Ministries Coordinator of the Hub for Spiritual Life and a Relationship IQ program intern, shared her experience coping with introversion at work.

Mutale said her two positions involve her favorite aspects of communication: interpersonal and spiritual. Yet, she occasionally feels drained.

“As an introvert, I feel most recharged when I’m by myself,” Mutale said.

In the morning, Mutale said she stayed in the chapel to recharge. To balance the exhaustion from work, she uses breaks and less busy hours to reflect and prepare.

Director of Campus Ministries Cameron Gilliam

Gilliam said one-on-one paired mentorship with a faculty or staff presents alternatives to convocations for those who prefer smaller groups.

“If there is some social anxiety that has normally precluded someone’s ability to talk about the weightier things that are going on in their life, a format like one-on-one could maybe unlock some of that ability to have those kinds of conversations that they wouldn’t otherwise,” Gilliam said.

It is important to recognize our characteristics and intentionally adapt them if necessary. Rouse said the responsibility to adjust communication styles falls on different sides of the conversation. For introverts, it is learning to push through discomfort and assert their views.

On the other hand, “The responsibility for extroverted people is to evaluate their presence in a conversation,” Rouse said.

For the leader of the conversation, especially in formal settings, Rouse said their responsibility is “to not assume that every person is going to feel as equally comfortable speaking up” and to check in on each individual.

“We all need people in general," Mutale said. "It’s just people have different ways to relate to that.”

Satisfying one’s social needs is critical to a balanced mental state, regardless of whether the extent is high or low. Instead of viewing introversion as a barrier to success or excluding introverts from communication positions, institutions should enhance flexibility to help individuals adapt to reach their full potential.

Mary Palumbo | Staff Artist

Jackie Lopez | Art Editor

Laury Li Perspectives Staff Writer

Rant: college students should not have pets

Fiona Creadon Assistant Perspectives Editor

Transparency Item:The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.

Disclaimer:This opinion does not apply to service animals or licensed emotional support animals.

It is no secret that pets can provide a lot of emotional support for people, and college can be a very taxing time for mental health. However, being a pet owner is a significant undertaking — one people often underestimate.

Dogs and cats are generally the pets college students most frequently adopt, which certainly can provide companionship for their owners but also require a significant amount of work to maintain. If you are a responsible pet owner, you will not only consider your animal’s physical well-being but also its emotional well-being.

Generally, animal rights groups, like People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), do not recommend that you leave your pet alone — whether that be in a dorm, apartment or house — for large chunks of the day as this can cause separation anxiety, a lack of mental stimulation and potentially dangerous situations.

Dogs, especially, are highly social creatures with a natural inclination toward companionship and socializing, which makes them great companions for us, according to National Geographic. We owe them that same level of involvement in return, and one thing that college students do not have is time to spare.

College is also often the first time that students are completely respon-

Rave: students should bring their pets to college

Wilt Executive Editor

Transparency Item:The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.

sible for themselves, and the amount of time it takes to care for a pet is significant when you already do not have a lot of free time in the first place. What happens if you spontaneously decide you want to go on a weekend trip with friends or have a late night out at a party? A vibrant social life is a significant part of college for many people, and the responsibility of a pet can hinder that.

Another consideration that students often do not make is the expenses that come with pet ownership. No one wants to think about the worst-case scenario, but pets can unexpectedly get sick and need veterinary attention. Most students are not in a position to maintain an emergency fund for the unforeseen medical expenses that can pile up.

It is irresponsible to take on the responsibility of a pet when you are not in a position to get it the care it needs should it become injured or sick.

I have been a life-long pet owner — I’ve had dogs, cats, horses and turtles — so, I completely understand the innate desire to have a pet. But, I also know how much work it takes to give them the quality of life they deserve, and for a variety of reasons, college students are not in a position to do that.

Pets are scientifically proven to make individuals happier and lower stress and anxiety, lower depression and lower blood pressure, according to the Help Guide, a website dedicated to improving mental health. Why shouldn’t we enjoy those health benefits in college too?

If you know me, you know I love my dog Daisy. She lives in my apartment with me, makes daily trips to the newsroom with me, goes on walks to the Country Mart, participates in my sunset walks on the beach and overall makes my roommates and I excited to come home to her.

Pets bring a sense of normalcy and home to college, even if you’re miles away from home. Daisy has been with me since I was 8 years old, so having her with me makes me feel like I’m at home in a normal routine.

Pets often require more work, but someday we are going to have to balance work, children, spouses and the real world — and that’s never an excuse for not having a dog. College shouldn’t be either.

College is a good time to learn how to take care of yourself, but it’s also a good time to learn to care for something else. Even though pets might cause you to have to run home between classes or not be able to be gone for hours on end, the pros of having a pet outweigh the cons. I would never trade having Daisy for having more freedom to be away from home.

Plus, most people like pets. My roommates and friends are constantly asking if they can take Daisy outside or

play fetch with her if I’m not home.

There’s a reason universities bring emotional support animals to campus during finals week or after a tragedy. They lower stress, calm students down and reduce anxiety, according to Emory University. By just owning a pet at college, students can enjoy all of those same health benefits everyday.

If a student is stressed about an exam, they can take a few minutes to pet their dog. If a student needs time to unplug and go outside, they can take the dog for a walk. If a student just wants to have a laugh, they can start playing fetch with their dog or teach their dog a new trick.

Having a pet in college has made me feel more independent and responsible and has brought so much joy to my last year of college.

I know it’s not feasible for everyone between roommates, campus life and time management, but if a student can, I’d highly recommend bringing a pet to college.

Jackie Lopez | Art Editor Jackie Lopez | Art Editor

LIFE & ARTS

Seniors share sentiments about final year

Emma Ibarra Life & Arts Staff Writer

The start of the school year can be exciting for some and nerve-racking for others as a new chapter begins. For seniors, the start of the fall semester marks the end of their final year at Pepperdine.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Class of 2024’s first year at Pepperdine, many seniors graduating this coming spring have had a rather untraditional collegiate career.

With fewer than three years in Malibu or on international campuses, members of the Class of 2024 said they have learned to appreciate each and every moment of their undergraduate experience.

“Most of us finished our senior year of high school online and started college online,” senior Leslie Rodriguez said. “It’s a full circle moment to finally be so close to getting a graduation.”

Many seniors expressed their excitement for the new school year despite their college careers coming to an end. Rodriguez said she enjoys the reconnection that comes with back-toschool season, especially after returning from studying abroad in London over the summer.

“I love getting to see all my friends and even meeting new ones from classes or who were abroad last year,” Rodriguez said.

Likewise, senior Mia Boyd said her favorite thing about coming back to Pepperdine is seeing everyone back on campus after a long summer.

“The first few weeks of school are so optimistic and provide a really good

opportunity to see the people you missed over the summer while classes have yet to ramp up,” Boyd said.

Similarly, the start of the semester revives Pepperdine after students desert campus at the end of the spring. Senior Jess Kovie said she enjoys running into friends and professors around school after the summer.

“Campus is so dead over the summer, so it’s really nice to see it come back to life again,” Kovie said.

away too quickly, and I want to savor every moment with the people that I love here before we all move on to our next steps,” Kovie said. “I have a tendency to take the little things for granted, so I’m really trying to be intentional about quality time.”

Other students agreed, sharing their worries about life post-graduation. However, seniors said it’s important for students to take a step back and breathe every now and then. Thanks to Malibu’s beach-front location, many seniors can find solitude in enjoying the ocean and beaches nearby.

“Sometimes I just go to the beach, put one AirPod in and play my beachy playlist and just lay there listening to the sounds of the waves,” Rodriguez said. “It’s super relaxing.”

In the spirit of peacefulness, Boyd said she prioritizes mental health while in school by taking breaks and relaxing.

are thrilled for what comes ahead.

“I’m most excited about getting to celebrate these last core memories and traditions at Pepperdine with my best friends by my side,” Rodriguez said.

The final year of a student’s collegiate career may evoke a plethora of emotions, but Pepperdine seniors said they are prepared for whatever may come next in their lives.

After syllabus week ends, the stresses of senior year may start settling in for some students. Students said the possibilities of life after graduation, whether that’s entering graduate school or the workforce, may supply seniors with many anxieties.

“The year is just going by too fast,” Boyd said. “I am in my existential crisis era about what I want to do after undergrad, and I think there is a lot of pressure on college students to have a particular ‘passion’ or ‘dream job’ they are pursuing, and I find that to be largely unrealistic.”

Kovie said she faces similar anxieties surrounding her final semesters as a student on campus.

“I’m worried that it’s going to slip

“I love to go on long walks while listening to podcasts, light candles, test out new recipes and get lots of sleep to unwind and de-stress,” Boyd said. “I am a big reader of both novels and the news, so I try to make time for that outside of my required reading when I am able to.”

Kovie agreed and said she spends a lot of her time reading and napping to aid relaxation from the strains of school, though she looks forward to her final year.

“I’m really excited about all of the moments I intend to spend with my favorite people,” Kovie said. “I’m excited for one last year of game nights, pool days and sleepovers with my best friends and girlfriend.”

As seniors soak in their final semesters at Pepperdine, students said they

“As grateful as I have been for my experience at Pepperdine, I am incredibly psyched about how big and uncertain the future is,” Boyd said. “Although it is scary to commit to a particular path, it’s also incredibly exciting to know that you have the whole rest of your life ahead of you and that you have more opportunities to explore the world.”

Mary Elisabeth | Photo Editor

Top left photo: Sophomore Madi Fish, senior Brian Dyke. Bottom left: junior Faith Webster and Amanda Gehringer. Right: Students laugh while relaxing in front of Payson Library on Sept. 5. Students said they value the friendships they return to after summer ends and school begins.

The year is just going by too fast.

Mia Boyd Senior

I’m most excited about getting to celebrate these last core memories and traditions at Pepperdine with my best friends by my side.

Leslie Rodriguez Senior

Ways for new students to ease first-year jitters

Samantha Wareing Staff Writer

It is normal to feel a mixed bag of excited and nervous feelings of anticipation about what the first year or what the entire college experience might look like.

“Be open to saying yes to everything,” said Michael Sugimoto, junior and Student Government Association student body president. “Everyone during the first two weeks of school is super excited to meet everyone and make friends.”

Sophomore Jessica Schuchman said she met each of her friends during NSO week and they have been “a huge support system” for her.

“Pepperdine has such a welcoming and kind community,” Schuchman said. “Everyone’s open to making new friends.”

Resources for Students

New students can calm firstyear nerves by using the resources available on campus. Lean into the Pepperdine community. Houston Mallette, junior guard on the Men’s Basketball team said the best resource is “the people you’re around.”

“You’re able to impact and be impacted by more people on a daily basis,” Mallette said. “Students, friends and faculty are willing to gather in times of need to help and support you.”

The Counseling Center offers many mental health resources,

including individual and group sessions. These may be useful because there is so much change to encounter during college.

Another aspect of Pepperdine’s community students can lean into is the professors.

Schuchman encourages new students to take advantage of office hours. She said each of her professors is incredibly open to answering questions for students. The professors sign up to be a resource for their students.

Pepperdine offers many spiritual resources as well. The Hub for Spiritual Life, an on-campus spiritual organization located in the Lighthouse, is a place one can go to have a conversation about faith. Every Wednesday night in the Amphitheatre in Lower Mullin Square, the Hub hosts The Well, a worship night for the Pepperdine community to attend.

“I came to campus not a very spiritual person,” Sugimoto said. “The Well, through the Hub, opened the door for me to find my own relationship with faith.”

Clubs, Activities & Events

The calendar of events is full of activities for students to participate in. If students find themselves looking for things to do, many said they find a sports game to go to.

“Going to basketball games with friends is a fun thing to do,” Sugimoto said. “Big crowds with lots of noise and passionate Waves make these athletic events

a place to be.”

The Board, a student-led organization, hosts many on-campus events. Some of their annual events that are a huge hit include the Blue and Orange Madness carnival — which takes place in mid-October — the Winter Wonderland in early December and the Pacific Sounds Music and Arts (PSMA) Festival in late March. Sugimoto and others said these events are a blast to go to with your friends and definitely something to look forward to.

There are a plethora of student organizations and clubs to get involved in for one to engage in their interests and find new interests. Many of these are listed on Peppervine, which is a

website that students use to find clubs and sign up for student events. A handful of the student organizations are Intercultural Affairs (ICA) clubs, where students can celebrate their heritage and other cultures on campus.

Off-campus Resources

Because of Pepperdine’s close proximity to Los Angeles, there is much to do and many places to shop off campus. Many students enjoy exploring the Malibu community as well. Schuchman said she enjoys spending time with friends in Malibu Country Mart, and Mallette said he enjoys studying at Whole Foods on the high-top tables near the juice

bar.

Schuchman and other students said they enjoy shopping at Malibu Country Mart, Pacific Palisades and Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Some off-campus coffee shops to study and meet a friend at include La La Land Kind Cafe, Philz Coffee and Alfred Coffee.

“Change is OK,” Sugimoto said. “Don’t worry if the friendships you make your first month of school do not last or you don’t get the class that you want. Change is part of college and part of life.”

samantha.wareing@pepperdine.edu

New students catch Riptide’s waves at NSO pep rally

Alexandra Speck Staff Writer

Riptide’s presence was undoubtedly spirited at the Aug. 15 pep rally Pepperdine Athletics hosted for New Student Orientation (NSO). Riptide, dressed in their signature orange jumpsuits, organized songs, games and general school spirit for the new Waves. While Riptide’s primary responsibility is leading the student section at sporting events, Pepperdine welcomes their energy and cheer at key start-of-semester celebrations.

Madelyn Brizzee, junior and veteran Riptide member, shared her personal love for the NSO tradition. Riptide’s orange gear caught her eye during her own first-year pep rally, and she said the members looked like they were enjoying themselves at the event.

“I really [wanted] to be part of the fun,” Brizzee said. “The pep rally is really important for new students because it gives you that first insight into sports at Pepperdine.”

Sophomore member Rylie DiLellio shared Brizzee’s appreciation for the pep rally and said it is a significant demonstration of the Pepperdine community.

“Riptide and rally crew are the first that [new students] see of us working together as a whole, as a school,” DiLellio said. “I love being on it because being a part of that community is so special.”

The pep rally is a favorite event because it ushers the semester in for new students and introduces them to Riptide, said Rosato. Willie the Wave, sports teams and Riptide are all included,

thereby linking Riptide to the broader athletics community and fanbase.

While the NSO pep rally is Riptide’s fall debut, the organization continues to make waves throughout the fall semester. Junior Jenni McMahon said Brizzee first introduced her to Riptide during their first-year chemistry class. She asked Brizzee about Riptide after recognizing her donning the orange jumpsuit and cheering at the traditional Blue and Orange Madness celebration, which rings in the fall sports season.

“That just looks like you’re having a blast,” McMahon said.

McMahon joined Riptide at Brizzee’s beckoning and said she immediately

found the organization as exciting as she had been expecting.

“[Riptide’s] a really fun thing to go to and be part of,” McMahon said. “It makes you feel like you are leading something that matters.”

Riptide’s strong internal bonds complement its mission to generate spirit within the broader Pepperdine community, McMahon said. She said she and Brizzee will often get ready for games together, pulling spirited Pepperdine gear and blue and orange accessories from her designated Riptide collection.

Riptide’s cohesive and spirited image is largely thanks to the students themselves, Rosato said.

“Our rally crew leaders take a lot of initiative there,” Rosato said.

Riptide members shared their goals for the impending fall sports season, with both students and management focusing on increasing membership.

“For the upcoming semester, we’re looking to continue to grow,” Brizzee said. “That definitely means we want more members. Anyone in any class — freshman, sophomore, junior or senior — can join.”

Sports fans and regular game attendees willing to lead the crowd in chants should consider signing up, Brizzee said.

“What we’re really looking for is just someone who loves sports and sporting events and is really excited about sharing school spirit,” Brizzee said.

Rosato echoed Brizzee’s call for increased Riptide membership and said the organization is actively recruiting future dedicated members.

“We want to see them come to a bunch of games and have fun at those games,” Rosato said. “[Riptide members] get those students that come to games excited about being there.”

Members can sign up for games that complement their schedules, Rosato said. Riptide’s flexibility allows members to devote themselves to their chosen game days and show up with the utmost energy.

Riptide’s Instagram, which has been sharing content from past events and NSO since Aug.15, offers a glimpse into their duties and dress.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Schuchman

Sophomore Jessica Schuchman (right) spends time with sophomore Marina Fay, a friend, on Ralphs Beach in Spring 2023. Schuchman said she has found many things to do off campus with her friends.

Photo courtesy of Sofia Shah

Riptide members Jenni McMahon, top left, and Madelyn Brizzee, top right, pose at the Aug. 15 NSO pep rally at the tennis courts. Orientation leaders joined the rally team for the event.

Students address the pros and cons of technology

Timothy Gay Life and Arts Staff Writer

Students said technology has done good for society because it connects people all over the world. However, they also see the way it can damage one’s mental health.

“It’s harder for [mental health to not affect] younger generations because they grew up with tech and social media,” senior Andres Landaverde said. “Insecurities and envy of other people’s lives are fed a lot more.”

Because of how close people are to a phone or laptop, Landaverde said it’s easy for them to get most of their entertainment from technology.

“There’s so many different apps like Netflix, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok,” Landaverde said. “It’s just so much to choose from in your pocket.”

To be productive in society, Landaverde said having a phone and computer is needed. While he believes he could survive without it, he thinks society forces humans to depend on it.

Senior Jacob Dugan said he believes the amount of consumption of technology isn’t always beneficial because of the

addicting and dependent nature of social media. He said it could delay socialization if people rely too much on it to connect with others as opposed to meeting people in person.

“[Social media] makes people more isolated socially, and, it increases people’s dissatisfaction with reality if they’re comparing themselves to other people,” Dugan said.

Landaverde believes technology has made forming in-person relationships with others more difficult. He said it’s easy for people to conform to using it if they feel uncomfortable in a social setting.

“If you don’t know people in a room, your immediate inclination to alleviate that stress is to go to your phone,” Landaverde said.

While technology provides the opportunity to find distractions from boredom easier, senior Conan Sharp said it causes humans to act before thinking.

“People want stimulus and to be able to do something at all times,” Sharp said. “Having a phone lets you do that, but it makes you more impulsive.”

The use of technology has decreased attention spans, Dugan said, because the shortform content different media platforms offer makes it hard-

er to pay attention for a longer amount of time to something else.

“Now that we’re so inundated with [Instagram] Reels and TikTok and everything, it’s hard for me to sit in an hourand-a-half lecture and focus the whole time,” Dugan said.

Landaverde has seen how online creators have done a great job keeping users engaged in their short clips but also how the constant entertainment is detrimental to the younger generation simultaneously, he said. While Landaverde said he believes businesses would be less productive if technology didn’t exist, he said he thinks humans would be happier without it.

“People would have higher attention spans, friendships would be deeper and in-person social anxieties would be lessened,” Landaverde said.

Sharp understands why some people might say technology has done more harm than good, but he said the opposite.

“Without technology, we wouldn’t be anywhere where we are right now,” Sharp said. “We’d still be having to go to the library to learn everything, but instead, we can just go on our phone or laptop.”

However, Sharp said tech-

nology is bettering people’s ability to create new things due to the internet’s wider access for learning and inspiration.

“If people use [technology] the right way, then they’ll be able to create something when they’re a lot younger,” Sharp said. “They’ll be exposed to new information a lot sooner than they ever would’ve.”

CEO of Tesla Elon Musk’s biotechnology startup, Neuralink, plans to implant brain chips into people so they can connect to computers, according to CNN. While Landaverde said it’s inevitable for there to be more technology in the future, he is against the idea of putting it into human bodies.

“I want to have kids, but I’m nervous to see what kind of world they’re gonna grow up in because of that tech,” Landaverde said. “I’m not looking forward to it.”

Sarah Rietz | Staff Artist

With the new technologies that will come in the future, Dugan said whatever humans gain from it should be distributed equally among all.

“Since the start of the internet, it seems like those technologies have been used to consolidate power and money for billionaires,” Dugan said. “Technology is getting so good that we’ll have less need to work, and we have to figure out how we’re gonna be as a society with less things to do.”

timothy.gay@pepperdine.edu

First-year housing advisors enhance student experience

Amanda Monahan Life and Arts Staff Writer

Housing and Residence Life at Pepperdine allows students to have a living experience on campus throughout their time here in Malibu. However, the inhouse Resident Advisors and Spiritual Life Advisors who reside in first-year housing find themselves with vastly different roles in comparison to other HRL members, students said.

The role of an RA is to guide students and develop relationships with them as they navigate their college experience, according to Pepperdine’s community website. Similarly, SLAs work to foster an environment that inspires spiritual growth among students in their living community while also being a guiding hand to create a religious presence.

“There is a much higher level of involvement and connection [in first-year housing],” said Rachel Anderson, senior SLA in DeBell. “You get to know every single one of your residents and connect with them in such a beautiful way.”

Together, the two RAs and one SLA in first-year housing serve as a “triad” for all residents in their respective buildings. By enforcing rules, creating a welcoming community, decorating common rooms and scheduling house social events, both RAs and SLAs alike integrate their roles into their everyday lives, students said.

Noelle Alderton, a senior RA in DeBell, said she describes her triad as a Venn diagram.

The triad nature creates a supportive and community-oriented environment

for all residents in first-year housing, Alderton said.

“We all occupy such different spaces of life and have such different characteristics and traits, but we all overlap so beautifully,” Alderton said.

Before taking on the role, sufficient preparation and applications are involved, junior Miller RA Anthony Lima said.

Lima said students need to record videos and attend an interview before beginning their duties in order to give HRL a deeper glimpse into who they are and how they might grow into their roles. Once the process is complete, those ac-

cepted move in early before first-year residents arrive on campus.

For junior Miller SLA Nathan Lee, every moment of the role is absolutely worth it, he said.

“Whether it is academically, spiritually, emotionally or socially, we are just here in any way for first-years as they are exposed to this new chapter of life,” Lee said.

Although an SLA’s primary role is to serve as the guiding hand for residents’ journey with Jesus, they often find themselves connecting with them in all aspects of life, Lee said.

Jumpstarting a college experience is

no simple task; from moving in to figuring out how the dining hall works, there are so many “new” things about being a first-year on campus, first-year Adam Ron said.

Ron, who moved to Malibu from Provo, Utah, said he vividly remembers his first week here at Pepperdine.

“My RA, Pasha Hashemi, was extremely helpful in various circumstances,” Ron said. “Most notably, I remember, on the first day, he provided me with a map of the campus and his phone number in case of any difficulties.”

Despite all on-campus housing including HRL team members, those in first-year housing find themselves in a particularly different role.

“We all have the same goals of community connection,” Alderton said. “But everything else is entirely different. You live among freshmen, you are responsible for community building, there’s a much bigger time commitment and the boundaries really blur a lot more.”

However, both Alderton and Lima alike said this concept makes sense to them, as the progression of years leads to a decreased reliance on community leaders.

Anderson said any student considering becoming a part of HRL should absolutely do it.

“It is so fulfilling to be connected with people in their hard times and their high times,” Anderson said. “People come to you when they’re struggling, and you get to watch them come out of it in a victory.”

Photo courtesy of Noelle Alderton

(From left to right) Rachel Anderson, Noelle Alderton and Emma Monte share big smiles in front of DeBell on Aug. 15. The three said they were excited to meet their 50 new residents.

Students celebrate girlhood

Yamillah Hurtado Life & Arts Editor

Barbie’s plastic world came to life in June, when the “Barbie” movie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, debuted worldwide.

After its record-setting debut, the Barbie movie made audiences reflect on femininity and the patriarchy, students said. Women at Pepperdine resonated with its message on girlhood. Senior Alina Sanchez said the film made her proud of being a girl and everything that comes with it.

“Girlhood is strength despite those adversities and insecurities and everything that we have to face and the dayto-day that no one ever talks about,” Sanchez said.

The “Barbie” Movie

Greta Gerwig’s film has earned $1.03 billion worldwide, making Gerwig the first solo female director with a billion-dollar movie, according to CNN. The pink-splattered film boasted a star-studded cast with Margot Robbie as Stereotypical Barbie, Ryan Gosling as Ken, Michael Cera as Allan and America Ferrera as Gloria.

In the film, Barbie leaves Barbie Land and enters the real world in hopes of preventing further malfunctioning — having cellulite and thoughts of existential dread. She embarks on a journey to find the girl who is playing with her, and in turn, finds herself.

A reason for the film’s blockbuster success is how it taps into the beautiful yet harsh reality of what it’s like to be a woman in today’s society, students said.

Junior Caroline Speed said she had been looking forward to seeing “Barbie” ever since it was announced. With all the promotion the film’s marketing team had been doing, Speed said she knew she was going to love the movie. Despite the ambiguity of the plot, Speed said she was thrilled to show up at the theaters with her family and best friend all dressed in pink.

Seeing a diverse audience in the theater all appreciating a film about girl-

hood was moving, Speed said.

“It felt like a community experience, which is cool,” Speed said. “I’ve never felt that connected to random people in a movie theater.”

As excitement for Barbie built up in the weeks leading up to its release, Sanchez said she was especially looking forward to the summer movie because of the energy Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling bring to their films.

Senior Sara Lopez Martinez said she was less thrilled and questioned the productivity of a movie that seemed to idolize white women and push forward a brand so heavily connected with the idea of the perfect woman.

“Going into the movie, I didn’t know what to expect,” Lopez Martinez said. “Coming out of the theater, I was so, so, so in love with the movie.”

With mixed outlooks on the movie before going to see it, there was one thing these students had in common — they all left with a deeper message than expected. The film going beyond just surface-level topics and addressing the topic of feminism head-on was a pleasant surprise, Sanchez said.

“[The film] really touching on that topic of the controversy behind Barbie really shows a lot about Mattel, shows a lot about the creators of Barbie and how they wanted to expand beyond that and go deeper,” Sanchez said.

In covering the complex topic of feminism, Lopez Martinez said Gerwig was responsible in her display of the feminine experience and giving a voice to a diversity of women.

“It’s really complicated trying to execute something so dense because when you talk about people of color and diversity and womanhood all together, it can get really complicated, especially because women are definitely complex and divine figures,” Lopez Martinez said.

While Speed said she loved playing with Barbies, the dolls’ lack of diversity always bothered her. She said she was upset the dolls weren’t a representation of what she and the women around her looked like. When Speed saw a diverse range of women on the big screen, she said she was shocked.

“It was super cool to see, and it definitely made me appreciate the goals of what they [the filmmakers] were trying to do,” Speed said.

Barbie Embraces Femininity in All Forms

Barbie’s love for all things pink, playing dress up and throwing dance parties with her girlfriends symbolizes hyper-femininity. For students who identify as girly, “Barbie” brought comfort to that side of them, they said.

Growing up with a fascination for shopping, dressing up and getting her nails done, Speed said she was excited to see a movie devoted to girly things. Speed said she embraced all the more obvious things that come with girlhood but has recently found an appreciation for the community aspect of it.

“We always just have a connection to other women and find ways to lift other women up,” Speed said.

Each Barbie in the movie has their own way of embracing their femininity along with their careers and passions. Growing up with only brothers, Lopez Martinez said she grew up as a “tomboy,” less in tune with her feminine side. Once she started college, she took steps to connect with and express her girlhood in a way she couldn’t before.

“Being at Pepperdine, I have a lot more girlfriends now. And just having girl nights too and movie nights and stuff like that,” Lopez Martinez said. “It [College] definitely helped sort of elevate that desire that I was looking for within myself.”

A part of the movie that resonated with the community aspect of girlhood for Speed was when Barbie sees an older woman for the first time and tells her she’s beautiful, and the woman responds with “I know.” Speed said she couldn’t believe the scene was on the verge of being cut from the movie, which she found out from interviews with Gerwig.

“The fact that she [the older woman] had that self-worth and really embraced her beauty was really cool to see,” Speed said. “It [the movie] really did appeal to all women of all ages showing we are all beautiful.”

Another scene that stuck out to Speed was the monologue scene where America Ferrera’s character, Gloria, describes all the expectations placed on women and the hardships they cause. Speed said hearing the monologue brought her comfort.

“I felt like no one was ever able to

put into words before, like, being a woman in that experience in that way,” Speed said.

Insecurities and Joys of Womanhood

During her existential crisis, “Stereotypical Barbie” showed audiences that even a “perfect” doll can feel insecure in their body. Lopez Martinez said the transformation into “Depression Barbie” resonated with her because it emphasized female feelings of lack and insecurity.

“Learning how to be comfortable within your own skin — I think that is one of the biggest challenges you will experience as a woman,” Lopez Martinez said. “As anyone else, we all have insecurities.”

Along with the insecurities women face, Sanchez said a female perspective on the world helps unite women and create beautiful friendships. Sanchez said her female friendships are like no other because of the special bond women have.

“Womanhood — that’s what I like about it is we connect in a different way that men don’t understand or like other people don’t understand,” Sanchez said.

One of Speed’s favorite parts of being a woman is being comfortable with empowering other women, she said. Whether it’s women supporting each other in the workforce or complimenting each other in a crowded bathroom, Speed said she is grateful for all the opportunities to lift women up.

Students saw the film as a conversation starter and said they hope male figures in their life watch and reflect on the film’s message, they said.

“Feminism is prevalent in everyone’s lives because we all have a woman in our life,” Sanchez said. “We are one or we have a mother, we have a sister, we have friends. So, I think really understanding just humans at their core, and this is just let alone women, is really important in your day-to-day and how you live your life.”

jacqueline.lopez@pepperdine.edu

Mary Palumbo | Staff Artist

Jackie Lopez Art Editor

Shohei Ohtani advances to historic feats

Nick Shea Sports Staff Writer

Transparency Item: The Hot Shots section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.

Ohtani’s story began on the shores of Japan, where he played in the Nippon Professional Baseball League, garnering attention as a young player with both pitching and hitting capabilities. It wasn’t long before Major League Baseball organizations took notice and Ohtani’s talents beckoned him to the grand stage.

Seven finalists were in contention to acquire Ohtani — Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers — according to MLB.com.

At 23-years-old, Ohtani decided to sign with the Angels. Because he was younger than the 25-year-old age requirement for international players, Ohtani was subject to limitations on amateur players outside of the United States.

“While there has been much speculation about what

would drive Shohei’s decision, what mattered to him most wasn’t market size, time zone or league but that he felt a true bond with the Angels,” Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, said in a statement in 2017.

“He sees this as the best environment to develop and reach the next level and attain his career goals.”

Baseball’s rich history includes names like Babe Ruth, Cy Young, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Each of these players has etched a legendary narrative into the diamond, but who is the greatest?

Ohtani is putting together a compelling case that he is en route to becoming the greatest of all time, even surpassing Babe Ruth, who is regarded as the best, according to ESPN. com.

In the 674 games he has played in the MLB, Ohtani has hit 160 home runs, surpassing Ruth by one, according to SB nation.

In Ruth’s first 455 innings pitched, he recorded a record of 35 wins and 18 losses. In the same number of innings, Ohtani has a record of 35-19, according to HowTheyPlay.

com. A key distinction to keep in mind is that Babe Ruth pitched and hit exclusively in different phases of his career, according to Radical Baseball. During Ruth’s career, it was the norm for pitchers to throw 150-200 pitches a game, meaning about half of his at-bats were against tired pitchers, according to HowTheyPlay. However, in today’s game, it is becoming increasingly rare for players to see a pitcher the third time around the lineup as they are facing fresh arms still throwing 100 MPH in the later innings, according to Bleacher Report.

In the 2023 season, Ohtani is putting together arguably the best single season anyone has ever witnessed. As a batter: .305 BA / .409 OBP / .666 SLG, a 1.075 OPS with 44 HR. As a pitcher: 3.14 ERA in 132 IP, with 167 K’s, according to Baseball Reference.

Wins

Above Replacement

(WAR) is a comprehensive metric that quantifies a player’s overall contribution to their team’s success by comparing their performance to a hypothetical replacement-level player, according to MLB. com.

Achieving the highest Wins Above Replacement (WAR) while exclusively serving as a designated hitter without contributing to the team’s defensive efforts is a remarkable feat. Not only are these stats leading baseball this year but this is one of the best hitting seasons in the past 100 years, according to Fan Graphs.

These numbers alone could very well produce unanimous support for Ohtani’s AL MVP candidacy. Now, combine this with his stats on the mound, and you start to see the greatness unfold. He leads the league in Average against,

is fifth in strikeouts per nine innings and is fourth in pitching WAR, according to ESPN. com.

Historical WAR:

Prior to Ohtani’s UCL tear, he was on pace for 11.4 WAR, according to MLB.com.

Since the beginning of AL/ NL history, there have only been 13 times when this level of WAR was exceeded. Most of them were during times of poor hitting, ultimately making it easier for hitters to separate themselves, according to MLB.com.

Ohtani continues to achieve milestones in uncharted territory, and his case for being the greatest of all time is only becoming stronger.

nicholas.shea@pepperdine.edu

PGM NFL 2023 week two predictions

Joseph Heinemann Assistant Sports Editor

Transparency Item: This is the opinion and perspective of the writers.

Sunday, Sept. 17, at 1: p.m., PDT

Chargers at Titans

Chargers: Joe, Hunter, Max, Gabrielle

Titans: Tony, Justin, Samantha, “Kind of rude of the Chargers to leave San Diego with nothing but the Padres.” - Tony

“I mean, if the Chargers can lose to the Dolphins.”

- Aubrey

“The Chargers’ logo just looks like a fuzzy headband, and I am a woman of taste.” - Samantha

“The ‘fuzzy headband’ logo is actually cool, in my opinion.”

- Gabrielle

“I second the fuzzy headband support.” - Max

Sunday, Sept. 17, at 1:05 p.m., PDT

49ers at Rams

49ers: Joe, Tony, Hunter, Samantha, Max Titans: Justin, Aubrey, Gabrielle

“Anytime I hear ‘the 49ers,’ all I can ever think about is Scooby Doo, Where Are You, Season 1, Episode 4, ‘Mine Your Own Business.’”

- Tony

“Rams are not LA! But they are better than Niners!”

- Justin

“Honestly, it pains me to root for either.” - Aubrey

Sunday, Sept. 17, at 1:25 p.m., PDT

Jets at Cowboys

Jets: Joe, Justin, Aubrey, Max, Gabrielle

Cowboys: Tony, Hunter, Samantha,

“Aaron Rodgers is just Him man.” - Justin

“Can the Cowboys finally get revenge against ARod for 2014? I hope. #DezCaughtIt.”

- Hunter

“I do not like the Cowboys.” - Max

“You know you can trust a quarterback when he goes on Ayahuasca retreats in the offseason.” - Joe

Commanders at Broncos

Commanders: Joe, Justin, Hunter

Broncos: Tony, Aubrey, Samantha, Max, Gabrielle

“South Park is one of my favorite shows, so I’m throwing the Broncos a bone here.”

- Tony

“Tony, I wouldn’t admit that over my dead body.” - Hunter

“I am nothing if not loyal to the orange and blue.” - Aubrey

“The Commanders might have a W for a logo, but all they’re going to be is catching L’s.” - Samantha

Sunday, Sept. 17, at 5:15 p.m., PDT

Dolphins at Patriots

Dolphins: Joe, Justin, Aubrey, Hunter, Samantha, Gabrielle Patriots: Tony, Max

“When it comes to the Patriots, just think of me as a British soldier circa 1776.”

- Samantha

“When it comes to Patriots, think of me as John Hancock signing the Declaration of Independence.” - Tony

“When it comes to the Patriots, think of me as the British army. Except, in my version, the Patriots don’t win.”

-Aubrey

Monday, Sept. 18, at 4:15 p.m., PDT

Saints at Panthers

Saints: Tony, Joe, Justin, Hunter, Samantha, Max, Panthers: Gabrielle

“I’m not Catholic, but go

Saints!” - Joe

“The Panthers were my high school mascot. Go Panthers!” - Gabrielle

Monday, Sept. 18, at 5:15 p.m., PDT

Browns at Steelers

Browns: Aubrey

Steelers: Joe, Tony, Justin, Hunter, Samantha, Max, Gabrielle

“No one else seems to be supporting these guys, and I think they deserve someone having a little faith in them. Plus, brown used to be my fourth favorite color.” - Aubrey

“Human Decency for the win!” - Hunter

“The way none of us can think of anything funny to say here is making me laugh.”

- Samantha

Shohei Ohtani vs. Babe Ruth

Design by Jackie Lopez | Art Editor

Pepperdine Athletics completes trip to Panama

Justin Rodriguez Sports Assistant

In July of 2023, Pepperdine Athletics completed its first mission trip to Panama.

Led by Jordan Holm, assistant director of athletics and chaplain, with help from Jenna McPherson, assistant director of business operations and special events, the event consisted of various volunteer activities with an emphasis on church work.

“Everyone coming out of the trip would say that it was life-changing for them,” said Emily Hellmuth, women’s volleyball outside hitter. “In a way, some [are] on different levels, but everyone felt change after.”

The Plan

Holm said he had been wanting to plan a mission trip at Pepperdine because his prior role at Belmont University had him planning and orchestrating similar events. With the idea in mind, he took it to Athletic Director Steve Potts, and to his excitement, he said Potts was fully onboard.

The idea jumped all the way up to President Jim Gash, who said the vision of this trip allowed student-athletes to unite together while serving others.

“I love seeing student-athletes from various sports coming together to serve in this way,” Gash wrote in a Sept. 8 email to the Graphic. “The trip showed Pepperdine at its best.”

From there, Holm’s next step was to figure out the logistics.

“It starts in terms of trying to find a place to go,” Holm said. “Who can host us and who obviously can be safe with what we’re going to do.”

Luckily for Holm, he said the place found him.

“It so happened that I was just talking to a colleague’s husband,” Holm said. “He was like, ‘Oh, when I was a student-athlete a couple years ago, we went to Panama with this organization.’ So, I reached out to them, and it just kind of felt right.”

Holm said multiple local missionaries in Panama provided them with shelter, with home base being Casa Paraiso.

That was all Holm said he needed, and eventually he and fellow student-athletes landed in Panama to extend a helping hand to the Panamanians.

Holm also said he implemented the use of a theme verse for the trip, 1 Peter 3:15, which says, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Holm said he chose this verse because it spoke to this group of student-athletes who went on this trip to Panama.

“[1 Peter 3:15] speaks a lot to really my encouragement of being able to go share the Gospel,” Holm said. “To go share with not just words, but with our life.”

The Experiences

Six student-athletes accompanied Holm and McPherson. They were Men’s Volleyball opposite hitter Jake Olsen, Women’s Soccer midfielder Caroline Coleman, Men’s Volleyball owpposite hitter

Eli Crane, Men’s Basketball guard Majok Dengand, Women’s Volleyball outside hitter

Emily Hellmuth and Alexandra Browne, Women’s Swim/ Dive breast stroke and freestyle swimmer.

Browne and Hellmuth said they went on this trip to extend their hands to the Panamanians, but they said they also extended their hands deeper into their faith.

For Hellmuth, she said what she discovered was passion.

“Panama lit a fire in my faith and a passion I’ve never felt before,” Hellmuth said.

For Browne, she said the experience expanded her faith.

“[My faith] grew exponentially,” Browne said. “I went on this trip and found all these people that love God, and I was like, ‘This is amazing. I

want to be like that too.’”

Hellmuth said this experience allowed her to enjoy life and have fun. She said she realized she was living her life way too seriously but learned a lesson while watching a little 5-year-old who was full of life.

“I learned so much from a little 5-year-old of how he’s living his life,” Hellmuth said. “Just unapologetically so loud, so rambunctious, so much energy. Just to be free and to still be a kid.”

Browne said she felt her perspective of the world widened, fueling an already growing passion while making her a lot more grateful as a person.

“I want to go into nursing,” Browne said. “So, it honestly gave me even more of a reason to go into that because I just really want to help people and especially the people that don’t have as many resources.”

Browne said she found appreciation in the relationships she was building along this journey.

“I thought that was really cool — just every night building these relationships with people that I have literally never talked to in my life was really special,” Browne said.

Holm said he changed too, having come to a realization about his own faith.

“One of the coolest things was we were able to see that

this God, the God that we serve here, is the God of the world,” Holm said.

Future Dreams

This was uncharted territory for Pepperdine; however, for Holm, this was right in his area of expertise. Speaking from years of experience, Holm said he found an importance in relationships.

“I am a big believer in sustaining relationships like this for as long as we can and for as long as that makes sense,” Holm said. “I would love to, if everything works out from the organization down in Panama, to continue this for as many summers as we can.”

For the athletes, it was clear this experience was beneficial for them and could potentially be beneficial for future Pepperdine athletes.

If given the opportunity, both Browne and Hellmuth said to take it.

“Get out of your little bubble. Get out of your routine,”

Hellmuth said. “There’s no feeling like it, and I wish I could go back every day.”

For Holm, he said he hopes to start a new Pepperdine tradition with Casa Paraiso curating an importance of mission and faith services to not only those in need but to Pepperdine’s Waves.

“Truthfully, my prayer is that this is the beginning of a legacy and tradition that Pepperdine student-athletes will experience every year,” Holm said.

His prayer has a good chance of being heard, as Gash wrote he shares his sentiment with a donor already expressing interest in funding these trips annually.

“I’m hopeful that this will continue and will become an annual tradition,” Gash wrote. “We believe that these trips can be life-changing for those who participate and that they also make a lasting impact on those who are served.

From left to right: Coleman, McPherson and Browne pose for a picture after a long walk through a jungle. Hellmuth snapped the photo and said she wanted to capture the moment because the jungle felt so big and was just surrounding them.

From left to right: Emily Hellmuth, Majok Deng, Jake Olsen, Alexandra Browne, Jordan Holm, Jenna McPherson, Caroline Coleman and Eli Crane. Six student-athletes pose with Holm and McPherson on July 10, in front of a local church.

From left to right: Holm and Crane smile while on a 40-minute canoe ride through a river in Panama. This ride took them to visit an indigenous tribe.

Photo courtesy of Emily Hellmuth

Photo courtesy of Emily Hellmuth

Photo courtesy of Jordan Holm

Women’s golf looks to continue success

Joseph Heinemann Assistant Sports Editor

After placing eighth in the NCAA tournament the previous year, Pepperdine Women’s Golf looks to achieve even more this year. The athletes said they wish to build on success and work on their personal improvement.

Last year, Pepperdine Women’s Golf made a run at the NCAA national championship, placing eighth in the final. They started their season Sept. 11, at the Branch Law Firm Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Members of the team said they wanted to take another shot at the title. At the NCAA tournament May 22, Pepperdine was only eight overall points away from fourth place and 24 points away from first.

“We know that we can make it to Nationals and actually do well in Nationals against the top teams,” sophomore Jeneath Wong said. “Going forward with that this year, and we’ve got the confidence now. We just need to be able to execute that.”

Head Coach Laurie Gibbs said the team had many takeaways from 2022 and was learning throughout the year. Gibbs wants the team to take the season one step at a time.

“They didn’t get ahead of themselves,” Gibbs said. “We knew what we wanted to do. We knew we had goals, but they knew that it was one tournament at a time, and we really did it as a team.”

Despite the team having placed first in six total tournaments, most of the difficulties revolved around executing consistently on the links, Gibbs said. One of the roughest tournaments for the Waves was at the Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes, California, where the team placed ninth out of 16, Feb. 14.

“We were just not finishing the way we thought we could, at least from a coach’s standpoint,” Gibbs said. “We have all the talent and the same players, but I thought it was good as well because we really learned a lot. For me, as a coach, I know we can step it up a little bit.”

The Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) recently awarded Wong and Senior Lion Higo All-American honors. As the following year begins, the duo looks to replicate

their success, Higo said.

“[I’m] trying to get back again, get my college ranking up as well as my world ranking,” Higo said. “I had a good scoring average last year. Trying to beat that again this year would be nice.”

The team was especially excited for the year given their previous success, Higo said.

“From a team standpoint, making it to Nationals again would be nice now that it’s in Carlsbad next year,” Higo said.

“That would be exciting to have a home crowd.”

The NCAA Championship tournament will take place May 17-22, 2024 in Carlsbad, California. The WGCA has the Waves ranked 15th as a team in the country, according to the WGCA.

The University of New Mexico is hosting Branch Law Firm Dick McGuire Invitational. The Lobos are unranked by the WGCA but still received three votes in the preseason poll, according to the WGCA.

“I’ve played a lot during the summer, which is nice just to keep our play going,” Higo said. “Just because, sometimes, it can get a bit hard when you take a huge break from tournaments.”

tournament, especially when it’s 36 holes,” Higo said.

Gibbs said the team has one new freshman this year, Helen Chu, who is mixing in well with the team.

“They all really are inclusive,” Gibbs said. “They all really support each other. We have two seniors, Kalieya and Lion. Both of them will be leading our team in many different ways.”

The Women’s Golf team plays at the Palos Verdes Golf Club, and all of their tournaments are open to spectators. While, historically, golf at Pepperdine hasn’t garnered a large student audience, there’s still plenty of time to change that, Gibbs said.

On Feb. 4, the Waves are playing in the Therese Hession Regional Challenge at the Palos Verdes Golf Club.

Compared to other sports, endurance can play a huge role in the success of a collegiate golf team with the number of tournaments the team plays, Wong said.

“This semester is not as hectic, but we still have to be able to maintain our mental strength as well as physical strength to be able to sustain ourselves throughout a whole

“We do have a local [tournament],” Gibbs said. “It’s really cool to have students come out and watch some of the best college players in the world.”

Photo courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics

Senior Lion Higo finishes a swing during a tournament in the 2022 season. Alongside Jeneath Wong, the WGCA gave Higo All-American honors in 2022.

Photo courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics

Jeneath Wong finishes a swing in during a tournament in the 2022 season. Wong had four top-10 finishes in the 2022 season.

We have all the talent and the same players, but I thought it was good as well because we really learned a lot. For me, as a coach, I know we can step it up a little bit.

Laurie Gibbs

Head Coach, Women’s Golf

Johnathan Flint: The wave who won’t break

Nina Fife Sports Staff Writer

Habits. It’s all about habits.

That’s what senior cross country and track star Johnathan Flint said he credits all of his success to. The habits he built over the past four years as a Wave student, athlete and community member are what helped him become such a presence in the Pepperdine family.

“Since I began running, I don’t think I have skipped a single day,” Flint said. “For school as well, the biggest things are habits and holding myself to something that I don’t want to break. I have expectations for myself and how I do things.”

Flint’s expectations are high, as he is coming off a terrific junior campaign. He gained academic recognition on the WCC’s All-Academic first team, WCC Commissioner’s “Gold Honors” Honor Roll, and CSC Academic All-District honors, capping it all off when he won Wave of the Year, according to Pepperdine Athletics.

Flint as a Leader

“One thing that makes him stand out is his leadership among the team,” Head Coach Lauren Floris said. “He does a really good job leading by example both on and off the course.”

Flint’s teammate, senior Nathaniel Lerch, said among the program, Flint is known for displaying exemplary lead-

ership qualities that encourage his squad to do well in the classroom and be good citizens of Pepperdine.

“He’s always setting the example,” Lerch said. “He’s always making sure everyone stays on top of everything so that nobody slips up. We both believe that there is a very big balance between academics and running, but he always goes one step beyond.”

Evolution into a Top Runner

As he enters his senior year, Flint said he will continue striving to be the best version of himself, just like he’s been doing since he first started running. He began long distance running in eighth grade and hasn’t stopped since.

He was Pepperdine’s No. 5 runner as a freshman on an upperclassmen heavy team in 2021, according to Pepperdine Athletics. Floris said Flint really embraced his future and took it into his own hands to get better.

“As a sophomore, he really stepped up during the second half of the year to train with our top three guys,” Floris said. “He really took a leap of faith in himself that he could do that.”

Flint said his powerful determination helped him etch his name in Pepperdine Track and XC history, earning topfive time spots in the 1,500 and 10,000 meters in only his sophomore year, according to Pepperdine Athletics.

Flint continued to drop time in the 5,000 meter the follow-

ing year, earning season best times in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters during his junior season, according to Pepperdine Athletics. This was the same season in which he posted the ninth fastest 8K time in WCC history at the conference’s Cross Country Championships last fall.

Community Involvement

While Flint is competing at a high level, he said he is also heavily involved in Pepperdine’s community.

relationships with athletes across all sports.

“Waves Leadership Council facilitates Athlete Chapel. So, you have three bases now [in which] you’re really connected to these people,” said Flint. “We’re all students, we’re all athletes, we’re all believers, and that creates a lot of commonality.”

While Flint said he appreciates the aspect of bringing supporters out to athletic events through WLC, he is most fond of the community projects they do as well. He said, for example, one event is making Christmas stockings for local shelters

This year, WLC is working to bring awareness to athletes’ mental health at Pepperdine; one of Flint’s main goals as president.

“Part of his growth has been accepting that things aren’t always perfect, but he can persevere, push through and have a great senior year,” Floris said. “I know he wants more out of his senior year, and I trust that he’ll be able to do that.”

Flint said he has his eyes set on some extraordinary aims before he closes his fourth year. Flint’s goals for his final season include breaking a school record, along with earning All-Conference honors. As he trains for these feats, Flint is hoping to leave Pepperdine feeling satisfied with himself.

“Most of all, I want to feel like I poured everything into this,” Flint said. “I don’t want to feel like I left stuff on the table when I’m finished.”

“He’s interconnected throughout the whole athletic department and beyond,” Lerch said. “He’s the President of the Waves Leadership Council super involved with that. Every week, he’s at Athlete Chapel; sometimes he speaks, and I know he’s just a big presence.”

Flint said he takes a lot of pride in his involvement. He said Waves Leadership Council has helped him establish many

“Mental health is relatively a new thing that people have started looking at in the past five or ten years, especially in athletics” Flint said. “We want to be the ones that bring that to Pepperdine athletics, because I know a lot of these athletes, and I care about a ton of them.”

Senior Season

While Flint will continue fulfilling academic and religious roles throughout his senior year, he said the main focus this fall will be as the senior cross country captain. Floris said Flint expects big things for himself for the upcoming season.

Flint begins this journey with the Pepperdine’s Waves Invitational on Sept. 9. Notable events include the WCC Championships, which will be held in Malibu this year Oct. 28, with the NCAA Championships closing the season Nov. 18.

Photo Courtesy of Johnathan Flint Flint poses during media day for the Cross Country and Track Team. He will be running throughout September, with three cross country meets spanning the month.

Photo Courtesy of Johnathan Flint

Johnathan Flint runs in the Men’s 8K at the UC Riverside Invitational on Sept. 18, 2021. Flint has been setting records during his career both at Pepperdine and conference wide.

We’re all students, we’re all athletes, we’re all believers, and that creates a lot of commonality.

Johnathan Flint Cross Country and Track Runner