Pepperdine Graphic 04.14.2023

relative to the past few years,” Dean of Seaver College Michael Feltner said.

Within the total amount listed on Pepperdine’s website, there are indirect and direct costs. Direct costs include tuition, housing and food. Indirect costs are University estimates including transportation, books and personal costs, according to Pepperdine’s website.

Including indirect costs, Pepperdine predicts the price will be $93,578 for a student living on campus, according to Pepperdine’s website.

“At this moment, I don't see a reason why tuition possibly has to be raised with the amount that they're already getting,” sophomore Tobias Taylor said.

Rise in Tuition

One to 11 units will be $2,070 per unit, 12-18 units will be a flat rate of $32,995 per semester and anything above 18 units will be $2,070 per unit.

Pepperdine raises costs for 2023-24 academic year

flat-rate tuition of $66,490, according to U.S. News & World Report.

“It is not an inexpensive operation to run a campus in Malibu and to run six global campuses,” Feltner said.

Reasons for the Increase

The University increased the prices of tuition, housing and food to continue to deliver a high-class education for students, Feltner said, while also working through the effects of inflation.

“The external environment changed dramatically,” Feltner said. “We’ve seen inflation that was very modest to low suddenly increase pretty dramatically over the last year and a half to two years.”

Inflation rates peaked at 9% in June 2022, but have decreased since then, according to Forbes.

Feltner said 80% of Seaver's revenue is from tuition, meaning the University is heavily tuition dependent.

“I wish I could say that tuition didn't need to be where it was at,” Feltner said. “But it does.”

Seaver also places a high priority in investing in the University, Feltner said, including its two biggest projects — the Mountain at Mullin Park and the new Chateau d’Hauteville in Switzerland.

“While none of the Mountain dollars are coming from tuition, it does symbolize that we’re investing heavily in the University,” Feltner said.

Donors are funding the Mountain, according to the Mountain’s website.

Taylor said he didn't know where tuition money went because the University does not explicitly break down where tuition goes for students.

“It [tuition] honestly is used to try to fix the parking issue that they have,” Taylor said. “If they believe that it is something different, I am all ears to really finding out what the tuition is being raised for.”

Financial Aid

The University offers four main types of scholarships for students — merit based awards, scholarships through the Churches of Christ, private scholarships and grants and departmental scholarships, according to Pepperdine’s Financial Aid Brochure.

The University awarded $154.4 million worth of scholarships in 2022 and $135.6 million worth of scholarships for 2021, according to Pepperdine’s 2021-22 audited financial statements.

Ramirez wrote as the tuition goes up, the amount of financial aid assistance for students will also go up.

“As our endowment grows, more scholarship will become available to our students,” Ramirez wrote.

However, the set financial aid the University grants a student at the beginning of their time at Pepperdine does not change.

“The aid awards for students do not change over time,” Feltner said.

Sophomore Faith Webster said her scholarships were one of the reasons she decided to come to Pepperdine — but now she is still paying more than

2018-19 $53,932

2019-20 $55,892

2020-21 $58,002

2021-22 $59,702

2022-23 $62,390

2023-24 $65,990

she agreed to when she committed to the University.

“I was able to come to Pepperdine because I got X amount of scholarship,” Webster said. “If I didn’t get that, I wouldn't have been able to come to Pepperdine. But that was based off of the total cost two years ago.”

Students Reactions

Students said the tuition increase is disheartening because when they started at Pepperdine, they agreed to pay a much lower price.

“It discourages a lot of people who are on the fence of knowing if they’ll be able to afford it,” Taylor said.

Taylor said, even though there are grants and loans, it isn’t guaranteed a student will receive them, so it is hard to know how to afford the University with an increase in tuition every year.

Webster agreed and said she would like to know the exact breakdown of what her tuition goes toward, especially when it keeps rising.

“If they're increasing it [tuition] by $8,000, what are we paying for?” Webster said. “Also, why has it increased that much?”

abby.wilt@pepperdine.edu

Abby Wilt Managing Editor

Good News: Spend a night under the stars

Picture this: You wake up to your alarm playing some random song in your ears at 2 a.m. You stick an arm out of your sleeping bag and turn it o . You don’t have the rain fly on your tent, so your barely-open eyes can faintly see some stars above you.

While it may seem like a bad way to wake up — far too early, probably cold and definitely uncomfortable — it really is the start of something incredible.

You stumble out of the tent, grabbing a chair and your camera. Hopefully, you won’t step into an ant nest this time. You avoid any bugs in the area, place the chair down and sit back to look at the massive open sky.

As your eyes adjust, more and more stars appear, and eventually, you can see the Milky Way stretch across the sky. It looks like a faint cloud of dust to your eyes, almost more present when you don’t look directly at it. While it might not seem like much right now, your camera will tell a di erent story.

And so, you set up your camera and choose the part of the sky you want to photograph. As the camera shutter begins to click open and close, you relax in the chair and take in the beauty of the sky.

This is an ideal night during Milky Way season, which occurs between February and October when the Milky Way core is visible at night, according to Capture the Atlas.

Technically, all the stars we see in the

sky are part of the Milky Way, but the Milky Way core is the densest region of nebulas in our sky and a common target of astrophotographers, according to Astronomy.com.

I love being out in the wilderness on these beautiful nights. The lights of the city fade away, and more and more stars cover the sky.

You never know what you might find. Some nights, you can watch the sky turn around the north star; other times, it is best to focus on the Milky Way stretching across the sky.

One night, you might watch the moon glow orange during a lunar eclipse, Jupiter and Saturn almost touch during the Great Conjunction, or Comet NEOWISE travel through the sky with streaks of white and blue following it.

There are so many stars, so many galaxies and nebulae. So many possibilities of di erent things to look at, and I never get tired of looking at them.

Being out under the night sky brings me so much joy. It is hard to find any other situation that shows just how small we truly are. The more stars you count, the more seem to appear.

Under the night sky, perched on top of a hill, everything else fades away. It becomes just me and the vast expanse above. Milky Way season is here: I am going to spend many nights out under the stars, and if you are looking for an opportunity to get away, I recommend you do too.

lucian.himes@pepperdine.edu

The stars spiral around the north star above Mt. Hood, Oregon, on July 25, 2020. The windless night allowed the stars to reflect in the still waters of Trillium Lake.

Lucian Himes

Photo Editor

Lucian Himes | Photo Editor

The Milky Way core glows above Big Sur, California, on July 10, 2021. From the top of Plaskett Ridge, I had an opportunity to see the stars and nebulae close to the horizon with much less atmospheric distortion.

Lucian Himes | Photo Editor

Doran Climate Fellow promotes climate activism

Terra Hernandez

Mallory Finley, senior Economics major and Sustainability minor, said she has a passion for sustainability and believes climate change is an important world issue.

Finley’s interest in sustainability led her to apply for the Chris and Amy Doran Climate Fellowship. The Seaver Dean’s Office awards the Doran Climate Fellowship to one senior who is committed to mitigating the effects of climate change, according to the Dean’s Office website.

“[Climate change] exacerbates every other issue,” Finley said. “All of the global conflicts we’re seeing are made more extreme by climate change.”

Finley presented her research April 5, in the Biggers Family Courtyard during the Climate Calling conference. The Climate Calling conference seeks to explore the effects of climate change and the community’s responsibility to mitigate it, according to their webpage.

Recipients of the fellowship partner with a faculty member to carry out a project to educate the Pepperdine community about the effects of anthropogenic, or human-caused, climate change, according to the Dean’s Office website.

Chris Doran, professor of Religion and the founder of the Sustainability minor at Pepperdine, established the Doran Climate Fellowship with his wife Amy in 2021 to put climate change at the forefront of the community’s mind, he said.

“My wife and I believed that if we could help with a small scholarship for students to do research on the climate, it could encourage other com-

munity members, both outside and inside the University, to think about climate change and sustainability issues a little bit more seriously,” Doran said.

Doran said anthropogenic climate change is an issue that matters greatly to him due to its detrimental effects on the environment, people and animals.

Anthropogenic climate change is change that occurs to the planet’s climate due to the burning of fossil fuels, aerosol use and land alteration due to agricultural events and deforestation, according to the Energy Education Center at the University of Calgary.

“Anthropogenic climate change is the number one issue facing the planet that we share with eight billion people and trillions of creatures,” Doran said. “We’re seeing the impacts of climate change already on marginalized communities, like women and children.”

Finley said she applied for the Doran Climate Fellowship because it aligned with her path of study in the Sustainability program.

“I’ve taken a lot of classes with Dr. Doran, and I really appreciate a lot of what I’ve learned in the Sustainability program,” Finley said. “It’s a good way to apply the things I’ve learned and become passionate about.”

As part of the requirements for the Doran Climate Fellowship, Finley said her research project focuses on use of the community garden.

Her research question revolves around how involvement in the community garden impacts students’ personal values and attitudes towards food justice and climate change, Finley said.

The community garden is located next to the Intramural Field and is open for all members of the Pepperdine community to plant and grow foods and vegetables, according to the Sustainability Services website.

Finley said she has seen garden participation grow since she became the inaugural Doran Climate Fellow.

“During COVID, everything had to shut down, and students couldn’t access the garden because we weren’t on campus,” Finley said. “I was trying to reintroduce the garden as something students can use as a resource, because a lot of students who started at Pepperdine after COVID didn’t know it exists.”

Doran said he has enjoyed seeing use of the community garden improve under Finley’s tenure as Climate Fellow.

“In the past, students have been in and out of the garden and not fully supportive because of time constraints and things that come up,” Doran said. “It’s been a step in a new direction to make the garden more student-focused and student run.”

Two classes — ADV 475:

Advertising Copywriting and Layout with Anastasia Triviza, visiting professor of Graphic Design, and Kate Parsons’, adjunct professor of Digital Art, digital art first year seminar class — utilize the community garden as part of their curriculum, Finley said.

Students in ADV 475 create a creative advertising campaign for the community garden, Triviza said.

The amount of people that attend each event at the community garden ranges from 5 to 30 participants per event, Finley said. There are about 5 to 10 consistent users of the community garden, Finley said.

Events that Finley held at the community garden this year included planting workshops, garden and compost upkeep and guest speakers, Finley said.

Finley said she partners with Green Team, Pepperdine’s Sustainability club, and the Food Recovery Network, a student-run club that collects leftover food from the Caf and Starbucks to fight food waste and host gardening events.

Recently, Finley partnered with Green Team and the Food Recovery Network to host a field day, according to a post on the garden’s Instagram page from March 22.

Finley said assistant professor of Biology Helen Holmlund served as an adviser for her research. Holmlund helped her develop a research proposal and organize community garden events. Additionally, Finley and Holmlund hold weekly meetings to discuss the progress of her research.

Holmlund said she has seen the community garden improve due to Finley’s work.

“Mallory has greatly increased student awareness of and involvement in the garden, Holmlund said. “She organized and hosted over 10 events in the garden this year, including a variety of outside speakers and workshops.”

Aside from giving back to the Pepperdine community, Finley said her experience as the Doran Climate Fellow has provided her with valuable career skills.

“It’s allowed me to step into a leadership role and hone a lot of skills that maybe didn’t come as naturally to me in the past,” Finley said. “It’s also helped me learn how to articulate my knowledge to those who don’t have any prior knowledge about sustainability.”

terra.hernandez@pepperdine.edu

News Assistant

Photos courtesy of Mallory Finley Greg and Shannon WarWar, owners of WarWar Family Farms, an organic family farm located in Moorpark, California, help plant produce at the community garden March 19. The community garden is the focus of this year’s Chris and Amy Doran Climate Fellow Mallory Finley’s research project.

Tomatoes grown in the community garden sit in a bowl Oct. 14. Garden users harvested the tomatoes to save their seeds.

Saffron blooms at the community garden Nov. 3. Saffron is the red thread of this flower.

Senior Shea Tomlin and other students smile while planting carrots during the fall planting event at the community garden Nov. 4. Planting events allow crops to bloom before the next season arrives, according to the community garden’s Instagram page.

Pre-law society seeks to provide more resources for undergrads

Alicia Dofelmier

Sophomore Allison Ferguson and Brian Link, assistant professor of Business Law, are working together to start a new pre-law society at Seaver College to assist pre-law students with their future plans. They said they hope to start the society in early 2024.

Pre-law doesn’t mean someone has to be a lawyer, Link said. It is for any undergraduate student who is thinking about applying to law school. The current resources available for prelaw students are faculty mentorship, professors, an undergraduate certificate in Conflict Management and books in the library.

“I decided to help start the pre-law society because, as a pre-law student, not enough resources are readily available for students who want to pursue that as a goal,” Ferguson said.

As she looked at different clubs to join, Ferguson said she noticed Pepperdine has a pre-medical society but not a pre-law society.

“I don’t know a ton about resources, but my biggest resource personally was just professors,” senior Skyler Danley said.

Ferguson said the steps she took to get a motion passed to instate a new

society involved talking to Student Government Association and InterClub Council.

“There are many different groups working toward the same goal of having more pre-law resources, which will hopefully leave the Pepperdine campus with a stronger pre-law emphasis,” Ferguson said.

spring 2024 — in the fall, Ferguson said the plan is to make sure all paperwork is taken care of — to get more people involved in the society. They are in the process of filling out the paperwork with ICC to make this happen, Ferguson said.

SGA wants to represent all student voices on campus, said Michael Sugimoto, sophomore and upcoming SGA president.

“We wanted to advocate for students interested in law school, which is why we formalized a statement so that we can address the lack of support for prelaw students,” Sugimoto said.

ICC wants to reinstate the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity because of how much demand there is for it on campus among students, Gabriella Dardano, president of ICC, wrote in an April 5 email to the Graphic.

Danley said the new pre-law society will benefit students who want to go to law school.

them get to law school and how best to go about once you get to law school,” Danley said.

Link said the society can host dropin reviews for the LSAT, host alumni panels and offer students a place to share successes and frustrations.

“Being a student-run entity, which will be close to the students is going to be useful when it comes to ascertaining what the students themselves want out of a pre-law experience at Seaver,” Link said.

Ferguson said she hopes to see the new society have strong pre-law resources.

“I hope we have the resources so that Seaver is able to give me and other students the right resources and strong foundation to really do well in our postgrad careers,” Ferguson said.

Link said he encourages any interested students to look out for more information as it becomes available or to contact Ferguson or himself.

Link and Ferguson’s goal for the society is to table at Tide Pools in

“It will be nice to have a group of like-minded individuals going over what they’ve learned together to help

News Assistant

Emma Ibarra | Staff Photographer

Panelists at the Pre-Law Panel engage in conversation with pre-law students March 9, at BPC 191. Pre-law students had an opportunity to network with the panelists after the panel ended.

We wanted to advocate for students interested in law school, which is why we formalized a statement so that we can address the lack of support for pre-law students.

Michael

Sugimoto Sophomore

Emma Ibarra | Staff Photographer

Two panelists shake hands at the Pre-Law Panel on March 9, at BPC 191. Event participants learned about law school, according to the official event description.

Vivian Hsia | Art Editor

Staff Editorial: Graphic reaffirms values

Staff

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.

The Graphic strives to maintain trustworthy relations with the Pepperdine community. From implementing a diversity tracker to making the staff more personable and relatable, Pepperdine Graphic Media has been taking steps throughout the year to increase transparency and foster stronger connections. There’s more to be done, and PGM is ready to tackle the challenge.

At the beginning of fall 2022, we wrote a staff editorial about our goals for the academic year. Now, as we look back we are stopping to reflect on our year and look toward our goals for the future of PGM.

One of the ways PGM has worked to build trust is through the implementation of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion tracker. This tool measures the diversity of PGM’s sources, staff and content allowing for regular assessments and adjustments to improve representation.

We have also started using transparency items and editor’s notes more frequently to inform our audience on what type of content they are reading.

An editor’s note is an explanation about an element of the story that could be

THE PGM STAFF

Managing Editor

Abby Wilt

Special Edition Editor

Beth Gonzales

Pixel Editor

Addison Whiten

DEI Team

Editor: Marley Penagos

Assistant Editor:

Anitiz Muonagolu

DEI Staff:

Joshua Evans

Advertising Team

Ad Director:

Sahej Bhasin

Advertising Assistants:

Mary Karapetyan

Kilian Pankowski

Christabel Tanu

News Team

News Editor: Samantha Torre

Senior Climate Change

Reporter: Ali Levens

Assistant Editors: Anezka Liskova

Millie Auchard

News Assistants:

Terra Hernandez

Alicia Dofelmier

Alex Clarke

Nick Shea

Digital Team

Digital Editor: Christina Buravtsova

Assistant Digital Editor:

Enya Dinca

Digital Team: Chloe Chung

Rachel Yao

Copy Team

Co-Copy Chief:

Alec Matulka

Co-Copy Chief: Yamillah Hurtado

Sports Copy Editor: Aubrey Hirsch

Perspectives Copy Editor: Faith Siegel

GNews Team Producer:

Gabrielle Salgado

Crew: Caitlyn Garcia

Photo Team

Photo Editor: Lucian Himes

Assistant Photo Editors: Sammie Wuensche

Brandon Rubsamen

misinterpreted or confusing.

A transparency item is pointing out to readers what the section entails, and clarify if the piece is news or opinion.

Additionally, PGM has taken steps to make the staff more personable through short video profiles called “Beyond the Byline” and featuring them on social media. We also filmed a “Behind the Scenes of Production” for viewers to take an inside look at our production process.

Some further steps PGM is taking to make the staff more visible is by including bios and photos of the team on its website and social media platform. This helps readers to connect with the people behind the stories and feel more invested in the stories they are reading.

PGM is also going to implement a QR code in popular on-campus locations for students and the community to pitch stories for PGM to write about.

Making our newsstands visible, accessible and enticing is another goal we strive to achieve. An interactive map of all PGM newsstands will be available on our website in the foreseeable future.

We believe this will allow for greater community involvement and gives people a platform to share their perspectives and experiences.

Readers are always encouraged to provide feedback for the Graphic or the University through letters to the editor or by reaching out to us via email. We also welcome guest contributors to write for us and submit opinion pieces.

The Graphic has also gone to several organizations to

give brief presentations called “News Talks” to inform the community on news literacy and receive feedback on the Graphic.

While we are striving to increase transparency and trust with the Pepperdine community, we expect Pepperdine to do the same for us. For the 2023-24 academic year, we would like to continue to build relationships with Pepperdine’s administration, faculty and staff.

There are Pepperdine students behind every aspect of production: writing, design, photos, art, advertising, social media and editing. As such, we expect to be able to have access to our administration like every other student does.

PGM is committed to continuing to build trust with the Pepperdine community and welcomes feedback and suggestions, more can be found on our About Us page. If an individual has any concerns or questions on an article, we appreciate the feedback and commit to staying honest, unbiased and factual with all of our reporting.

We appreciate you for supporting our content, and you can stay in touch with the Graphic on our social media platforms for the summer.

News Staff Writers:

Lauren Dionyssiou

Brooke Derrington

Life & Arts Team

Life & Arts Editor:

Tanya Yarian

Life & Arts Assistant Editor: Jackie Lopez

Life & Arts Assistant: Lauren Goldblum

Life & Arts Staff Writers:

Milena D’Andrea

Emma Ibarra

Perspectives Team

Perspectives Editor:

Emily Chase

Perspectives Assistant

Editor: Victoria La Ferla

Perspectives Assistant:

Madison Luc

Perspectives Staff Writers:

Chris Shon-Andrews

Arik Chu

Faith Oh

Laury Li

Alexia Urdinola

Hope Lockwood

Sports Team

Sports Editor: Jerry Jiang

Sports Assistant Editor:

Joseph Heinemann

Sports Assistants:

Tony Gleason

Max Pohlenz

Jaan Jafri

Sports Staff Writers:

Staff Photographers: Colton Rubsamen

Emma Ibarra

Lydia duPerier

Denver Patterson

Ashley Paulsen

Mercer Greene

Design Team

Creative Director: Haley Hoidal

News Designer:

Lisette Isiordia

Perspectives Designer: Will Fallmer

Life & Arts Designer:

Skyler Hawkins

Sports Designer: Betsy Burrow

Art Team

Art Editor: Vivian Hsia

Staff Artists: HeeJoo Roh

Autumn Hardwick

Stella Engel

Sarah Rietz

Podcast Team

Podcast Producer: Joe Allgood

Abroad Team

Abroad Correspondents: Mary Elisabeth

Audrey Geib

Fiona Creadon

Graeson Claunch

Hunter Dunn

TikTok Team Producer: Alex Payne

Graphic

While we are striving to increase transparency and trust with the Pepperdine community, we expect Pepperdine to do the same for us.

Graphic Staff

Abolish grades

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

For many college students, time and energy is devoted to earning high grades. Grades, among other factors, are the key to success for graduate school and ultimately leading into the workforce. However, grades are reductive — they do not paint a full picture of a person.

Grades are used to calculate a student’s value. However, people amount to more than their college GPA.

A grade does not capture a person’s full potential but serves to limit their perceived ability. Grades are used to measure one’s worth by universities, by peers and by the students themselves — honors like the Dean’s List reward students with high GPAs.

Over-emphasizing the importance of grades can wreck a student’s mental, physical and spiritual health.

Students stay up late to get homework done. Poor grades cause sleepless nights filled with stress. Guilt and shame over unfulfilled expectations continue to gnaw at and fray one’s self-esteem, and students begin to drift away from God, idolizing academic achievements.

To nobody’s surprise, 75% of students despise school, according to a

Stop banning books

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

Banning books must stop. It’s that simple. Banning books has a history in America. The earliest known book ban in 1627 banned “New English Canaan” in Quincy, Massachusetts, according to Harvard University.

Since then, establishments, administrators and people of authority have banned thousands of books, and the American Library Association estimates 2,571 books were subjected to banishment in 2022 alone.

Literature is the foundation of creativity and soul-growing experiences, so what does this mean for the future of freedom to create? Freedom of expression? For art?

Banning books is a damning phenomena. It suppresses creativity, suffocates consumers of art and literature. Book banning blocks parts of artistic history that need to be shared.

“Those advocating a ban complain typically that the book in question contains graphic violence, expresses disrespect for parents and family, is sexually explicit, exalts evil, lacks literary merit, is unsuitable for a particular age group, or includes offensive language,” according to The First Amendment Encyclopedia.

While the intentions behind book banning are for protection and doing what is supposedly right, there is a line of censorship that gets crossed when a book is banned that smothers art for what it is — a human right to express.

Literature is a snapshot of history, a window into a different time.

Literature is racy and scandalous, heart warming and heart breaking.

survey study by Yale researchers.

In addition to harming students’ health, grades are also inefficient motivators for learning. External incentives and rewards, such as grades or paychecks, are less effective than intrinsic motivation, such as a natural curiosity or desire to learn, according to the American Psychological Association.

Grades inhibit a student’s natural desire to learn, and students must find a love for learning within themselves, according to educator Rodney Nillsen.

While teachers can cultivate a love for learning by giving students freedom to tap into their natural curiosity, interests and passions, grades are a barrier to true education. The objective of one’s learning becomes to pass a class and to achieve a grade, not to better oneself and sharpen their mind. A student’s mentality is completely altered.

“People who possess the character strength love of learning are motivated to acquire new skills or knowledge or to build on existing skills or knowledge. They feel good when they are learning new things,” according to psychologist Ben Dean.

Because students’ futures rest upon achieving grades, they are afraid of failure. This fear shapes an anxious, dread-filled learning environment. Students cannot embrace the classroom if they are not given the freedom to make mistakes. Instead, students procrastinate and show decreased effort as excuses for poor work, according to a study by educator Andrew J. Martin.

Learning shouldn’t be a chore. Rather, “education is learning because you want to know. Because you’re curious. Education is learning because you need to know,” according to Jacqueline M. Kory-Westlund in a TEDx Talk.

Instead of a proper measure of one’s

Literature is every part of good and bad; targeting books based on criteria that makes up entertainment and art today is wrong.

The most notable books that are banned are probably ones that you’ve read, your kids read or you’ve heard about at least 10 times in your life.

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is No. 27 on CBS’ banned book list. It was targeted for how it “portrayed sexuality, drug use, and suicidal content,” appearing eight times on the 2021-2022 banned books list.

It was also turned into a film in 2012; it has an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and is beloved by many young adults today.

The banning of this book is flawed. It is about so much more than sex, drugs and suicide, there should be an appreciation for darker stories — a raw telling of life experiences.

“Beloved” by Toni Morrison is the No. 17 book; this classic 1987 American novel by one of the most revered writers in history is inspired by a tragic real-life story of a woman fleeing slavery in Kentucky in the 1850s. It is graphic, violent and truthful.

Despite this honest snapshot into real history and prejudices, CBS reported the book was on 11 book bans in schools in 2022.

These schools are sheltering their children from real events, honest history.

Another story among the CBS banned books is “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson, chronicling Johnson’s life growing up as a queer, Black man on the East Coast, the book can serve as a great guide for anyone struggling with their sexuality and/or race.

The book was banned in over 29 school districts because “of its LGBTQ content and for being sexually explicit,” according to NPR. LGBTQ+ and sexual content are aspects of literature that should be celebrated as art.

While I don’t think middle schoolers should be reading graphic sex scenes, there is no reason why

understanding of course material, a grade is an assessment of how well a student can take a test. Grades simply teach students how to be good test takers, according to Harvard Business Publishing.

Furthermore, the use of grades and standardized tests tends to favor wealthier students who have greater access to tutoring and test-prep resources, according to a study by Ezekiel J. Dixon-Roman, Howard Everson and John J. Mcardle.

A genuine desire to learn can help students learn better. I love asking questions, and when I understand how to apply what I learn in school, I am filled with satisfaction.

What is the solution? Without a doubt, education communities need to advocate for change. Educational policy makers and admissions committees must deemphasize the importance of grades.

Educators can embrace new methods of teaching if they want students to love learning.

Students too, can change their perspective on grades. Ignoring one’s grade may be a bold move, but students will find freedom in learning — and achieve the grades they want, too.

While grades are a product of today’s education system and are unlikely to disappear anytime soon, individuals can make a conscious choice to stop their fixation on grades.

madison.luc@pepperdine.edu

someone shouldn’t have access to a book if they choose to read it.

There are heavy themes that are explored within Johnson’s story. It covers topics students and young adults encounter on a daily basis; it is not necessary to ban a literary retelling of someone’s life because the people in charge are uncomfortable.

I believe the people who ban books don’t do it for protection. It is because they are uncomfortable with themes, afraid of tough conversations and don’t like pushback and confrontation about things they believe are correct.

As a Journalism major and creative writer, I hate the idea of censorship, dislike the notion of being creatively controlled and I absolutely despise banning books.

The dictatorial ways need to stop. It starts with books, what’s next?

Creativity and freedom of speech are at jeopardy if people continue to allow books to be banned. There are great resources people can utilize to help.

Book banning needs to end — literature needs to be free.

Vivian Hsia | Art Editor

Vivian Hsia | Art Editor

Emily Chase Perspectives Editor

Madison Luc Perspectives Assistant

Everyone should be open to therapy

Yamillah Hurtado Co-Copy Chief

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

As college students, it can be easy to neglect our mental health. When we are expected to focus on our academics, jobs, future careers and social lives, it can feel impossible to allocate time to take care of our mental well-being.

Thirty-six percent of young adults in the United States experience mental health concerns — the highest rate in the country — according to Forbes Health. It’s important, now more than ever, to highlight the efficacy and necessity of therapy.

Therapy is essential for college students because they are expected to balance several different responsibilities while they experience one of the most transitional and developmental periods of life.

Our brains can change in structure and function when we undergo external stressors. In the same way, therapy can modify our brains into a healthier state, according to a Mental Health America article.

As someone who was once apprehensive about the idea of going to therapy, I understand the concerns people may have regarding it.

It may seem scary to invite a stranger into the most vulnerable and intimate parts of yourself. Although, the fact they are a stranger may be the very reason why it’s the most beneficial. Therapists provide an unbiased, objective viewpoint backed by scientific

research — something you can’t always get from friends and family.

Maybe you feel like there is nothing ‘wrong’ in your life, or you don’t struggle with mental illness, so there is no need for therapy. But therapy is valuable to everyone, regardless of their mental state.

“Developing healthy coping skills isn’t only appropriate for individuals struggling with a mental illness,” according to a BetterHelp article. “All humans face difficult challenges in life that may seem overwhelming at times; anyone can benefit from learning to handle them effectively.”

Maybe you want to avoid your feelings, whether out of fear or feeling like you don’t have the capacity to confront them.

Maybe, with the stigma around therapy, you are scared it will make you look weak. However, allowing others to help you and guide you is a sign of maturity and one of the bravest things you can do.

It takes strength to realize you need help. It takes courage to let someone in.

Maybe you believe you are above therapy and you don’t need it because you can help yourself. But, “there’s no substitute for a skilled counselor using evidence-based treatment methods,” according to a Calm Clinic article.

Whatever preconceived ideas of therapy or apprehensions toward therapy one has are valid. Yet, I hope you can push them aside and give therapy a try.

Before you search for a therapist, first assess what you would like to work on. From there, you can decipher what type of therapy best suits your needs; there are seven different thereapeutic approaches that can be used.

Therapy is something where you get what you give. It takes vulnerability, honesty, effort and application of the tools given in order to see results.

I started therapy in 2019 and went for four months then stopped because I felt I wasn’t making progress and believed it wasn’t working.

In reality, I wasn’t doing the work outside of my therapy sessions to change my unhealthy behaviors.

It took me two years, when my mental health was at an all-time low, for me to go back to therapy. And I have stuck with going to therapy every two weeks for the past year and a half.

Therapy has provided me with a system of accountability. My therapist gives me homework, and in the following session, she checks in to see if I’ve completed it and if I found it helpful.

“This is a very impactful part of therapy that not only provides the reward of accomplishment but also sets you up for continued success,” according to BetterHelp. “Accomplishing goals contributes to healthy self-esteem and increased confidence.”

Even though, at times, I feel like I have nothing important or ‘heavy’ to say, even just telling someone the events of my week or how I’m doing feels good and is helpful.

When I am experiencing more complex feelings, therapy has allowed me to understand the source of them and provides options on how to manage them. It has also allowed me to work toward being more loving and gracious toward myself.

“Having a healthy relationship with yourself is essential to having healthy and full relationships with others,” according to BetterHelp.

Going to therapy allows me to be more empathetic toward others and

the struggles they go through. Through learning how to understand my own emotions, I have learned how to be more understanding toward the emotions of others.

At times it can feel like I haven’t made any progress in improving my mental health, but when I reflect back, I can see that I have.

“For most people, therapy isn’t much of a ‘quick fix’ for a specific issue as it is a tool to increase your resiliency so that you’re better able to cope with the many challenges we all face throughout life,” according to Mental Health America.

For anyone who may be struggling with their mental health or need a support system, I encourage you to give therapy a chance.

If you are in need of or want to go to therapy, a good place to start is through the Pepperdine Counseling Center. You can call 310.506.4210 or email student.counseling.center@ pepperdine.edu to schedule an appointment.

yamillah.hurtado@pepperdine.edu

BIG WAVES COMIC

BIG WAVES COMIC

Art by Vivian Hsia | Art Editor

Written by Luke Franklin | Guest Contributor

Stella Engel | Staff Artist

LIFE & ARTS

Seniors enjoy food, music Senior Sunset and community at

Senator Natalie Schneider said SGA wanted to celebrate the past four years of memories.

Students claimed their spots on Alumni Park as the night went on. Along with food, SWAB handed out donuts and notebooks to students. Junior Cassie Kinnear, SWAB’s Healthy Bodies Co-President, said they also passed out cards with information on post-college feelings and depression, along with encouraging thoughts for seniors.

Tanya Yarian Life & Arts Editor

Senior Sunset brought graduating seniors together at Alumni Park on April 7 for an afternoon of food, merch, music, community and a classic Malibu sunset.

The Student Programming Board hosted Senior Sunset in collaboration with the Student Government Association (SGA), the Student Wellness Advisory Board (SWAB), the Student Alumni Association (SAO) and the Seaver College Career Center. Over 250 seniors registered for the event, according to Campus Groups.

Board Event Planner Kelly Chu said she led the planning of the event and wanted to invite as many campus organizations as possible to give seniors giveaways and free goodies.

“I wanted to create a very nostalgic yet fun experience for our seniors,” Chu said. “We put this event on every single year just so it wraps up the arc from freshman sunrise, so that you end it with senior sunset.”

As seniors checked in, campus organizations set up tables at Alumni Park with representatives from SGA, SWAB, SAO and the Career Center. Board members handed out tickets for food — either for Lily’s Malibu or SunLife.

SGA gave out free, blue “Class of 2023” sweatshirts to seniors as they checked in. SGA Senior

SAO passed out stickers and brought a photo booth where students could pick out props and have their photo taken with friends. The Career Center shared resources with students and also provided a fun game — students could spin a wheel for a chance to win gift cards or other gifts.

Students said this event was a nice way to spend time with friends, watch the sunset and close out the soon-to-end school year.

Senior Emily Castillo said she enjoyed the free merch. As a commuter student, she does not stay in Malibu often to watch the sunsets. She said she is going to miss the views and her friends when she graduates.

“Ever since I’ve been here, since I’ve transferred, I’ve never felt out of place,” Castillo said.

Similarly, Schneider said she will miss the convenience of seeing her friends on campus.

“I just love being on this sunny, nice open campus where I get to see so many smiling faces every day,” Schneider said. “So that’s gonna be my big thing that I’ll miss.”

Chu said they combined the Coffeehouse, a time for student performers, with the Senior Sunset. Senior Nick Barron, who attended Senior Sunset and was the first to sing at the Coffeehouse, said he loves music and wants to keep performing and writing music.

“I’ve been spending so much time doing work and thinking about jobs,” Barron said. “And I’m really happy the Board put this on to spend time with friends.”

Barron said he was glad both events came together

and his favorite part was performing, enjoying time with friends and free Lily’s.

“I’m really glad I came [to Pepperdine] and I’ve met some really cool people and some people I wanna really stay in touch with for the rest of my life,” Barron said. “And I’m just really excited for the next chapter as well.”

Seniors and friends Landry Hendrick, former member of the Graphic, and David Guzman wanted to support the senior class and spend time with friends. They both said they enjoyed the student performers.

“I’m definitely gonna miss the small school vibes, just seeing everybody on campus and definitely the view, I’m gonna miss that a lot,” Guzman said.

Chu, who has been on the Board for two years, said she joined the Board to help others find their communities and is going to miss the welcoming community at Pepperdine.

“The Board helped me find my community my freshman year,” Chu said.

Seniors look over their shoulders at Senior Sunset at Alumni Park on April 7. SGA passed out class sweatshirts as students checked in for the event.

Sammie Wuensche | Assistant Photo Editor

Sammie Wuensche | Assistant Photo Editor Seniors pose for a picture in their senior sweatshirts during Senior Sunset at Alumni Park on April 7. The Board combined Senior Sunset with Senior Coffeehouse.

Sunset Senior

Seniors play cornhole at Alumni Park. Seniors also listened to student performers, took pictures at the photo booth and campus organizations gave out free gifts.

Seniors (left to right) Elizabeth McLaughlin, Katelyn Hudson, Sophia Sullivan and Sheridan Schroeder pose for a picture during Senior Sunset at Alumni Park on April 7. Board Event Planner Kelly Chu said she wanted to create a nostalgic and fun event for seniors.

Seniors pose for a picture. Students enjoyed free merch, music and food.

Seniors smile and look up at the camera on Alumni Park at Senior Sunset on April 7. Students said the event was a great time to spend with friends.

Sammie Wuensche Assistant Photo Editor

A brighter future: First-generation college students share their experiences

Yamillah Hurtado Co-Copy Chief

Going to college may seem, to some, like a normal part of growing up. For first-generation college students, it can mean something so much more, students said.

With 18% of the Seaver College population being first-generation students, according to the Pepperdine website, the community is a minority on campus. Despite this, first-generation students said they’ve made a home here at Pepperdine.

Senior Lauren Chivers — a former member of the Graphic — like many first-generation college students, said she takes a lot of pride in being first-gen and appreciates all that she has gained from her college experience.

“I’ve been really grateful to be a first-gen student; it’s always meant a lot to me,” Chivers said.

Lauren Chivers Strives to Honor Her Parents

Chivers said she has always dreamed of receiving degrees and furthering her education.

“I love school, I’ve always been such a little nerd,” Chivers said. “I really liked being in the classroom and so I knew I wanted to keep going to school. It’s something I’ve always believed in for myself.”

As a first-generation college student from the Bay Area, Chivers said neither of her parents had the opportunity to go to college but instilled in her a gratitude for school.

“I remember being in elementary school and knowing that me being in school was so exciting for my parents,” Chivers said.

Graduating from Pepperdine is Chivers’ way of honoring the sacrifices her parents made for her to receive a higher education, she said.

“Being a college student, for me, has always felt like a stepping stone to the rest of my future,” Chivers said. “It has always felt like something I was doing to honor my family. I would not be here without my parents.”

When Chivers was applying to colleges, she said she realized the financial privilege of some of her classmates in comparison to herself.

Attending a private high school, Chivers said many of her classmates had resources that were not afforded to her. However, she said she wasn’t worried because she wanted to go to a college that saw her excellence without the help of external factors.

“I wanted to go somewhere where they would appreciate the authentic, unpolished me,” Chivers said. “I knew that I didn’t want a bot to fix my essay so I could be the best possible applicant. I just wanted a school that really saw me for me.”

Chivers’ journey of being a college student has not been easy. When school feels difficult, she said she reminds herself that she is blessed to attend a university.

“I have things to give the world and my parents have set me up to believe in myself so much that I don’t want to

squander that opportunity,” Chivers said.

First-generation students said their families, specifically parents, are a huge source of motivation for them.

Zachary Garcia Hopes to Serve Others

As a first-generation student, first-year Zachary Garcia said he hopes to make his family proud.

Garcia is a first-generation college student from Los Angeles. Garcia’s parents, he said, migrated to the United States from Guatemala in the 1990s for a better future.

Pursuing higher education was something Garcia always wanted to do, he said. Growing up around immigrant families and children of immigrants, Garcia said he was surrounded by a community that built each other up and pushed each other toward a brighter future.

“Basically, my whole life I’ve seen the difficulties that we’ve all gone through as this new generation, these new pioneers for our families,” Garcia said.

Being the youngest of four children — who all went on to higher education — Garcia said he felt pressure from the successes of his siblings.

“Now that I’ve been given more resources, more financial knowledge on things and how to go on with certain things, especially with higher ed, I do believe that the public pressure does follow me,” Garcia said.

Despite this pressure, Garcia said his family motivates him to be a better student and finish college successfully.

“The opportunity to make

your parents proud — that’s what pushes me,” Garcia said.

Being a first-generation student allows him to have empathy toward others with similar backgrounds, Garcia said. He hopes to serve others in the way he was supported when preparing for college.

“I really want to help others, especially those who may not have had the same opportunities that I have,” Garcia said. “It’s a privilege for a first-generation student to share what they may have learned from the past.”

Stephanie Abad Made a Way

For this same reason, senior Stephanie Abad chose to be a First Wave Ambassador her last year at Pepperdine.

The First Wave Ambassador Program is a University program under the Student Success Center where first-generation students serve the first-generation community through academic mentoring and community building, according to the website.

Abad got involved with the ambassador program because she said she felt lost during her second year of college and wanted to make sure other first-gen students felt supported throughout their college journey.

“A lot of first-gen students experience [hardship when asking] for help,” Abad said. “You feel like you can do it alone and a lot of first-gen students feel like they have something to prove so they won’t ask for help.”

As graduation approaches, Abad said she will be the first

in her family to get a college degree. Being raised by immigrant parents who had limited education, Abad said she thought higher education was unattainable.

Being a First Wave Ambassador has been a beneficial experience for Abad. She said it means a lot for her to be able to share stories and support others with a community of students who come from similar backgrounds.

“Sharing stories has also helped me feel more comfort and feel more at home,” Abad said.

At the First-Generation Spring Banquet on April 6, Abad received the First-Gen Trailblazer Award. She said the award honors a student who “made a way when there wasn’t,” and she said, to her, that is the meaning of being a first-generation student.

“It means you saw your situation and you decided to change it in a way that no one before you has,” Abad said. “And that doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it means that it’ll be worth it.”

Abad said she is so grateful for the resources she found at Pepperdine for first-generation students and encourages other first-generation students to get involved as much as they can and push through.

“I [want] all first-generation students to feel encouraged that it is possible, and although we might feel different than our peers or we might feel we [are] at a disadvantage, it is still possible,” Abad said.

From left, senior Lauren Chivers, senior Stephanie Abad and first-year Zachary Garcia pose for pictures on campus. These first-generation college students share their experiences, the pride they said they feel and the obstacles they’ve overcome.

Emma Ibarra | Staff Photographer

Pepperdine film professor Joi Carr shares her journey

Tanya Yarian Life & Arts Editor

An author, professor, singer-songwriter and a woman in leadership are just a few words to portray her, said Joi Carr, professor of English and Film.

From singing in her mother’s fashion shows to receiving her first professional acting gig at 12 years old, Carr is now in academia and producing music.

“Studying and learning has always been such a joy for me and it included my artistry too,” Carr said. “So it all makes sense to me and it all feels like it’s just one thing.”

Academic Career

Carr said academia was always in her life — her father had a law degree and an architectural degree. She knew as a child she wanted to get a PhD and now has one in English, Literature and Film Studies from Claremont Graduate University.

“I’ve been able to study so many rich

subjects and I feel like the synthesis of them all is now coming together for me in my professional career, as a professor, and then also in my life as an artist — what I do outside of the classroom setting as a scholar and as an art practitioner,” Carr said.

Junior Holly Jackson said she took World Cinemas and African American Film, Literature, Poetry and Music with Carr. In the African American Film, Literature, Poetry and Music class, Jackson said Carr shared various works and taught the students how African Americans have contributed to today’s culture, art and studies.

Jackson said the World Cinemas course allowed her to understand, as an actor, that people can produce similar stories in the world of cinema in different languages.

“Dr. Carr was able to broaden my perspective on film and broaden my perspective on what it means to be a creator and to be an artist,” Jackson said. “And she introduced me to films that I would have never ever watched if it wasn’t for her.”

Jackson said despite having some non-film majors in these classes, Carr made them feel like they belonged.

“She caters her teaching to each individual student in a way that what she is teaching is going to be valuable and matter for you, and you’re going to be able to take those lessons that you are learning and put them out back in the world,” Jackson said.

Jackson encourages non-film major students to take a class with Carr if they are interested. Even though she completed her Film Studies minor, Jackson said she still sees Carr occasionally.

“It’s like a beam of light every time I see her, it’s like a spark of joy,” Jackson said.

Along with the several books Carr has published, she said she is writing “Voice: African American Women and Vocation,” which she plans to release in November. She argues that vocation is about one’s journey and who one is becoming. She interviewed 30 women, one of them being Chaka Khan.

“[They are] some incredible women who have cut paths that are unique, and I am exploring their lives as exemplars

toward what I’m discussing related to voice, the idea of journey and agency,” Carr said.

Carr said she is also writing “John Singleton: The Soulful Auteur,” which looks at John Singleton’s filmography and includes guest authors for each chapter.

For the semester, Carr is a visiting professor and scholar at Harvard Divinity School. Along with teaching graduate students, she said she is also writing “Movies, Myth, Culture and Me,” which highlights the importance of thinking about what one is consuming.

“I’m busy on the art side of things, but it’s all one thing for me,” Carr said. “It’s just me showing up as an artist and as a creative in the space of academia, as an author, as a singer-songwriter, as an actor, as a leader of curriculum.”

Work in the Arts

Carr said she is an active member of SAG-AFTRA as an elected convention delegate and an alternate board member for their local and national boards. She wrote she is also a member on the National EEO and Women’s Committees and has served as vice chair of the Los Angeles Local EEO and L.A. Host Committees.

Some of her experience in music includes singing background vocals for David Lee Roth and producing Willie Norwood’s last album, “I Believe.”

She has eight solo albums, and Carr said she is working on her ninth album. She also attended the GRAMMYs on Feb. 5.

As the producer of the Engage Symposium for Pepperdine’s Institute and the American Film Market, Carr said she has led many interviews with music and entertainment icons. Carr said Pepperdine’s annual event — the Engaged

Symposium sponsored by the Institute for Entertainment, Media and Sports — developed the event this past year at the Loews Hotel on Nov. 3.

Carr interviewed Cedric the Entertainer in a keynote conversation along with speaking to Deon Taylor and Roxanne Avent. Carr said she enjoys the audience’s responses to these conversations.

“After the conversation with Cedric and we’re leaving the venue, people stopped me to thank me for having a transparent conversation about the [entertainment] industry,” Carr said. “They expressed that they felt like they’ve been inspired. Some people say it felt like church.”

Carr said she enjoys the audience’s responses to these conversations. At one of the past events, Carr said she received an email from a woman in South Africa who was inspired to continue filmmaking after Carr spoke with a panel of all women filmmakers.

Carr’s Love for Students

Carr said she hopes to expand her field of content and wants to mentor and coach more students.

“The mentoring and the one-on-one relationships and developing students and learning from them is where my greatest joy comes from,” Carr said.

Junior Mary Paige Rowsey took World Cinemas with Carr in spring 2022 and Women and Film in fall 2022.

“The way she goes about teaching is very hands-on,” Rowsey said, “There’s a lot of responsibility on the student to do it, but she also does a good job of explaining it.”

Rowsey said Carr is caring and intentional. Carr would bring snacks, food and movie tickets for class activities resulting in a welcoming classroom environment.

“That just makes her classes more enjoyable, and that also just shows a professor is going the extra step to ensure that you feel cared for and feel like you have a place,” Rowsey said.

Carr said she loves meeting students in their first semester at Pepperdine and witnessing their growth.

“What I really enjoy is getting to know them [students], listening to them, learning about their needs, learning about their journeys, and finding ways to support them,” Carr said. “And be a bridge to knowledge and resources.”

Being her “whole self,” as a woman, artist, Christian and scholar, is what Carr said she loves.

“What I do I love and that’s my reward and my joy,” Carr said.

Joi Carr and Cedric the Entertainer speak on stage at the Engaged Symposium on Nov. 3. At this event, Carr also interviewed Roxanne Avent and Deon Taylor.

From left to right, Joi Carr, Cedric the Entertainer, Roxanne Avent and Deon Taylor pose for a photo at the Engage Symposium on Nov. 3. Along with the Engaged Symposium, Carr has also hosted a Pivot Series where she speaks with scholars.

Joi Carr, professor of English and Film, takes part in the Engaged Symposium on Nov. 3. Carr spoke with Cedric the Entertainer and said she asked him about his work as a producer.

Photos courtesy of Joi Carr

Pepperdine play raises awareness on gun violence

Tanya Yarian Life & Arts Editor

Co-Copy Chief

Content Warning: This coverage story includes the topic of gun violence.

“I should be writing my college essay, not my will.”

These are the words on one of many banners that hung above the Smothers’ stage during “Americana: A Murder Ballad” — a play about the effects and nuance of gun violence in American schools.

First debuting at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland in summer 2022, the Pepperdine Theatre Department brought “Americana: A Murder Ballad” to the Smothers’ stage April 5 for its U.S. premiere.

With the audience sitting on the stage, the characters put on an immersive, emotional and thought-provoking performance.

“I am grateful for the courage of this cast and their willingness to share this intense journey with each other,” wrote Cathy Thomas-Grant, director and professor of Theatre, in the play’s program.

Background of the Play

Alumna Haley Powell (‘22)

served as the choreographer of the production and senior Cole Wagner was the assistant director.

The play is an original piece written for the University’s Theatre program, according to the play’s program. The show was originally set to debut at the University in spring 2020 but was postponed due to COVID-19.

Senior Penny Devlin, who played Number 3/Frankie, said she was honored to be part of an original show.

“It’s something I never thought I would get in a college career,” Devlin said.

“So to be able to do that at my age is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The Storyline

As the lights dimmed, the Writer — played by junior Jackson Murrieta — walked on stage and performed a monologue to set the scene of the play.

The monologue is followed by the rest of the cast coming onto the stage to perform a murder ballad — a ballad with lyrics describing the event of a murder.

Each character, Number 1 to Number 11, breaks out into a ballad detailing the events that lead them to become a school shooter.

From the high school jock to the quiet girl, every character

has traits that conform to or defy the stereotypical profile of a school shooter. As each character goes through their own storyline, the audience sees how anyone has the potential to become a school shooter as well as a victim of gun violence in modern American society.

Upbeat melodies and cheery facial expressions slowly turned into somber tunes and fearful looks as the characters’ nightmare of a school shooting continued.

The characters are referred to as both a name and a number; the name is given when they take on the role as a school shooter while the number signifies their identity as a victim. The numbers symbolize the ever-increasing number of victims of gun violence in American schools. Three of the characters are referred to as “Unknown Number” to demonstrate the seemingly never-ending cycle of gun violence and its stream of victims.

“It seems that we will try anything and everything to keep our children safe from a school shooter, except strengthen common sense gun laws,” Thomas-Grant wrote in the program.

The Audience Talk-Back

At the end of the play, the cast and crew held an audience talk-back to allow space for conversation and reflection on

the issue of gun violence in America.

With the debut performance being in Edinburgh, Scotland, an audience member asked the cast and crew about the differences of the audiences’ reactions in Edinburgh and in the United States.

“They [audience in Scotland] think it’s a fairytale,” Powell said in the audience talk-back.

The reality of gun violence in Scotland does not compare to that of the United States. The last school shooting in Scotland took place on March 13, 1996 in Dunblane, according to The New York Times. The last school shooting in the United States took place March 27 at The Covenant School in Nashville, according to The New York Times.

Since 1999, there have been 377 school shootings in the United States, according to The Washington Post.

Included in the program is a list of all the schools affected by gun violence since the preparation for the spring 2023 production of the show. Before the start of each show, the cast and crew stand in a circle and say the names of The Covenant School shooting victims, said junior Kayla Bryant — who played Number 1/Pearl — in the audience talk-back.

Senior Haily Watson said she was a student at Pepperdine when the Borderline shooting

happened, and she was a friend of Alaina Housley — who was a Pepperdine student and one of the 12 victims in the Borderline shooting.

Watson said she knew Housley; they were both in choir together.

Watson said this was a necessary story to be told and commended the cast and crew for their vulnerability in telling it.

“This story is censored a lot. It’s taboo,” Watson said. “It’s something that a lot of people argue about, fight about. It was just seen as black and white. You can’t ignore it, you can’t fight it. It’s there in your face, and you have to decide what you’re gonna do with that.”

The audience, cast and crew said they hope this play inspires more conversations surrounding the issue of gun violence in the United States.

“[I hope the audience can learn] how we can better prepare ourselves and how we can educate ourselves and each other, and how we can protect each other,” Devlin said. “I think that’s the biggest thing.”

Lucian Himes | Photo Editor

The cast of “Americana: A Murder Ballad” perform on stage at Smothers Theatre on April 3. The cast and crew said in the audience talk-back they hope this story stimulates more conversations on gun violence.

Yamillah Hurtado

Students highlight their hometowns

Home — a word that conveys much more than a geographical location. Students shared how many of their hometowns extend far beyond the shores of Malibu and encompass the beauty of a diverse network of cultures.

O’ahu, Hawai’i — A Tropical Paradise

Junior Kala’i Kiaaina said she was born and raised in the small-town community of Hawai’i Kai on the island of O’ahu, Hawai’i. Kiaaina described her home culture as one that emphasizes community and said each person is connected by the aloha spirit. While the word “aloha” is a formal expression of greeting and farewell, it also represents “the coordination of mind and heart within each person,” according to Hawaii Travel Guide.

“I’m so grateful for the childhood that I had because the [Hawaiian] culture there is very kind and warm and hospitable,” Kiaaina said. “So growing up in it, I really appreciated that I was always surrounded by a loving environment.”

Before moving to Torrance, California, at the age of 10, Kiaaina said she attended a small, private school called Kamehameha, a school specifically for those of Hawaiian descent. She said part of what makes Hawai’i so special is not many people speak the language, making it a sacred part of Hawaiian culture.

“Hawai’i has such a special place in my heart and I think it always will, even if I’m not living there, so I do think my roots are in Hawai’i,” Kiaaina said. While grateful for her childhood in Hawai’i, Kiaaina said she values the diversity of her home in California.

“You’re kind of in this bubble a little bit, so coming out to California and experiencing different cultures has shaped me as well [as] being able to learn and working alongside people of all different backgrounds,” Kiaaina said.

Kiaaina said she hopes everyone has a chance to experience the Hawaiian culture. She recommends visiting the North Shore of O’ahu to experience the island in its most raw and unindustrialized form.

developing rapidly, Sin said up until 2010, her hometown remained mostly rural.

Growing up in Cambodia, Sin said the culture is extremely family-oriented and she was constantly surrounded by family, both blood-related and those not biologically related to her. In contrast to America’s individualistic culture, she said Cambodia projects a relaxed and stress-free environment where an emphasis on community flourishes.

As part of the one percent of Cambodia’s population that professes a Christian faith, according to the Cambodian Embassy, Sin said she attended a private Christian international school, unlike many students in the predominantly Buddhist culture.

“It was a good support system to have even though I did go to church, because I was able to have another outlet in terms of my faith,” Sin said. “I didn’t feel forced to go, instead it helped to nurture my faith.”

Sin said her immediate family still lives in Cambodia while many members of her extended family immigrated to the United States during Khmer Rouge — a brutal genocide in Cambodian history, according to the University of Southern California.

which Sin said is a must-see for travelers. Originally created as a Hindu temple, she said it is now associated with Buddhism.

She also recommends visiting some of the country’s hidden off-shore islands to experience white sand beaches framed by jungles and vegetation.

Lima, Peru — Where the City Meets Nature

Senior Cristobal Delgado spent the majority of his life in the metropolis of Lima, Peru. Encompassing a diverse network of cultures, Delgado said Peru is home to some of the earliest Latin American cultures, making it a unique melting pot.

Delgado said he attended an international school and grew up speaking both English and Spanish, immersing him in both American and Peruvian culture.

“There was a constant level of exposure to international cultures in general,” Delgado said. “Although it was the American School of Lima it was a place that really celebrated all culture.”

quality of food and variety of cuisines. Peruvians are known for their seafood dishes, particularly ceviche. Traditional Creole dishes such as lomo saltado (stir-fried steak with rice) are also popular, given the blend of native cultures that make up the Peruvian population, Delgado said.

He said Peru is full of rich ancient culture visitors can experience through some of the many sites that the country is known for. In addition to visiting Machu Picchu — the country’s main tourist attraction — he recommends exploring Barranco — the bohemian district of Lima — the beach of Mancora and the Amazon rainforest. The diversity of Peru’s topography makes it a popular tourist destination for visitors to experience the native culture and colorful terrain.

Students said they are grateful for the sleepy town of Malibu which contains the beauty of the Pacific Ocean and the warm, enviable climate of California.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia — A Fusion of History and Tradition

Senior Merica Sin is from the small, urban capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. While the country today is now

“It was a very devastating time for Cambodia,” Sin said. “My parents lived through it and I always heard their stories about it growing up so I feel very connected to it.”

Cambodia is home to the world’s largest religious temple, Angkor Wat,

One of the most unique aspects of Peru is its variety of microclimates, including the Amazon rainforest, highlands and coastal desert. Located along the coast, Delgado said Lima is not only the capital but also the hub of the country. As a bustling city, he compared it to Los Angeles.

Delgado said one of the things he values most about his home culture is the

Culture provides an integral part of our identities. Students said the connection they feel to their hometowns and family remains strong, despite a large geographical divide.

Photo courtesy of Merica Sin

Senior Merica Sin (far right) and her family gather for a family photoshoot wearing their national Cambodian clothing in front of the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia in May 2019. Sin said Angkor Wat is the largest religious temple in the world.

Lauren Goldblum Life & Arts Assistant

Emma Ibarra | Staff Photographer Kiaaina smiles and poses for a picture at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law on March 16. Kiaaina said she is grateful for the chance to experience the culture in both California and her native home in Hawai’i.

Photo courtesy of Merica Sin

The white sand beach of Koh Rong sparkles under a blue sky in 2018. Sin said Koh Rong is located on the island of Sihanoukville, a 30-minute boat ride from Cambodia’s main beach town.

Photo courtesy of Kala’i Kiaaina Junior Kala’i Kiaaina smiles and poses for a picture with her parents, grandparents, brother and sister in Kaneohe, Hawai’i in July 2021. Kiaaina said she shares a special relationship with her grandmother who taught her about the native Hawaiian culture.

Hawai’i has such a special place in my heart and I think it always will, even if I’m not living there, so I do think my roots are in Hawai’i.

Kala’i Kiaaina Junior

Students ponder long-distance relationships

Faith Siegel Perspectives Copy Editor

It’s 9 a.m.

A cell phone rings, jolting sophomore Logan Ludwig awake to begin the day in Malibu. Across the world in Florence, his girlfriend, sophomore Rylie Bjork, waits for him to pick up the phone while she prepares for bed.

Such differences were typical for Bjork and Ludwig when she studied abroad in Pepperdine’s Florence program fall 2022 and he stayed in Malibu.

“It was hard at first, but we got pretty used to it and got on a schedule,” Bjork said. “I would kind of know when he would wake up and we’d be able to talk, mostly in the afternoon and into the night for me and the morning for him.”

Long-distance couples can span from cities to continents apart. No matter the distance, students said they find benefits and detriments in these relationships because of the lack of physical presence.

of long distance, they don’t try because they’re afraid it’s going to go poorly.”

Kuo and her boyfriend Dylan Coleman have been dating for almost three years, yet she said they only see each other for about three weeks out of the year. Their relationship started over quarantine in Pennsylvania, and they decided to keep dating when she moved to Malibu and Coleman moved to Louisville, Kentucky.

First-year Elle Rollyson also started a relationship in her hometown, Westerville, Ohio, but said she was more hesitant when making the decision to continue long distance. The relationship eventually ended after about two-and-a-half months of dating.

“I had always heard of it not working, and I think there’s just a stigma around it that it’s just not going to work,” Rollyson said. “I didn’t want to invest myself into something that was not going to work out anyways.”

Peers, too, doubt the potential of going long-distance, especially with relationships that started in high school, senior Sebastian Griego said.

Griego knows these criticisms of long-distance personally, as he and his girlfriend Kaley Phan met their senior year of high school and have been dating for more than three years. He spends his weekends with her at the University of California, Los Angeles, Griego said.

fraction who travel to a number of diverse locations means that many may leave a partner behind.

“I have some friends that were kind of starting to date, and then they’re going abroad, and they cut it off,” Ludwig said. “It’s, I would say, unheard of to keep it alive.”

Bjork and Ludwig met in their junior year of high school and have been dating for about three and a half years. Studying abroad led to their transition to long-distance in fall 2022. Since they had been dating for so long prior, doing long-distance was a “no-brainer,” they both said.

In spring 2023, Ludwig went to Europe for the Barcelona program, while Bjork remained in Florence. There are still hundreds of miles between them, but they both said they see each other every two to three weeks and enjoy traveling together on weekends.

Emphasis on Consistent Communication

Keeping in touch, even with the small things, can help partners feel more connected, Haer and students said.

“I liked calling him at the end of the day and getting to talk to each other about every detail of our day and everything we miss,” Bjork said. “We’re living two separate lives when we were long-distance.”

tance ultimately helped them realize they were not the right people for each other.

“I don’t think that the distance was a sole factor [in our breakup],” Weinstock said. “It was just a revealing cause in something that already existed.”

This insight is not unusual; distance can bring clarity.

“Long distance introduces challenges; it doesn’t necessarily make a relationship go bad,” Haer said. “If a relationship is healthy and good, that’s going to become apparent in person or through distance.”

meeting new people or being with his friends. Bjork being abroad allowed him to branch out more, Ludwig said.

Additionally, one can focus more on academics. Kuo’s partner being further away helped boost their productivity, Kuo said.

Communication is key to keeping a long-distance connection strong, students said. Overcoming stigma, communication conflicts and differing time zones may seem unmanageable at times, and for some, it does not work out. However, distance can also lead to academic, social and personal success.

Stigma Around Distance Relationships

In the United States, the relationship culture believes close proximity and frequent face-to-face contact are needed for a relationship to succeed, Katheryn Maguire wrote in a 2010 Journal of Applied Communication Research article.

“TV and movies make long distance seem impossible,” senior Sabrina Kuo said. “Every time I talk to friends when they go through breakups because

Despite the stigma, relationships like Griego’s and Kuo’s are fairly common; about 25% to 50% of college students’ relationships are long-distance, Maguire wrote in the article. Going long-distance can support healthy relationship development, said Kelly Haer, executive director of the Boone Center for the Family. Long-distance relationships allow for increased verbal communication, which helps determine if a partner is trustworthy and reliable.

Touch can blind people to red flags in a relationship, so distance allows partners to get to know, trust, rely on and commit to a person before developing physical intimacy, Haer said.

Finding time for verbal communication, like phone calls, can be a challenge, especially when differentiating time zones are factored in, Haer and students said.

International Programs and Long-Distance

The prevalence of International Programs at Pepperdine contributes to the frequency of long-distance relationships, students said. Eighty percent of students study abroad, according to the International Programs website. This large

On the other hand, when communication fails, so can the relationship. First-year Ashleigh Weinstock said she experienced a lapse in communication with her now ex-boyfriend.

“I expected more open communication than we had, and for it to be more like it was when we were in person, whereas I think he expected a little more of a shift away from that,” Weinstock said.

After going back to having a strictly platonic relationship, Weinstock said going long-dis-

Senior Mirielle Cox and her fiancé, Princeton junior Shane Patrick, are living examples of this. They met during their senior year of high school and said they have been going strong despite their coast-tocoast separation.

“I wouldn’t say that it’s because of long-distance that we have a good relationship,” Cox said. “It’s just that we have a strong enough relationship that can survive long-distance.”

Balancing Between Autonomy and Connection

While being in a long-distance relationship can produce many stressors, the time apart allows for more time and energy to be put toward personal development, Sara Mietzner wrote in a College Student Journal article.

Despite their nine-hour time difference in the fall, Bjork said going long-distance for three months strengthened their relationship and allowed her to fully experience being abroad.

“I got to form really good friendships and see a lot of cool places,” Bjork said. “So, we kind of just were able to find our own independence, which I thought was really cool, and also have each other whenever we needed to talk.”

Ludwig said when he and Bjork spend time together, it is normally just the two of them, meaning he spends less time

“We both have the chance to do our own thing,” Kuo said. “When we weren’t long distance and we were just starting to date, we spent all of our time together and weren’t as productive as we could have been, so now, we’re both able to just focus on our own lives and just prepare for the future.”

The distance between partners can be wide and cause obstacles to arise, but those who maintain successful long-distance relationships gain many skills while growing personally and as a partner, Mietzner wrote.

“I loved just knowing that I always had him at the end of the day, even though we were so far apart,” Bjork said.

Sebastian Griego and his girlfriend Kaley Phan hug at the L.A. Museum of Natural History in March 2022. Griego said he sacrifices weekends on campus to spend time with Phan.

Senior Sabrina Kuo and her boyfriend Dylan Coleman pose in the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah during their limited time together in July 2021. Kuo said that long distance is definitely worth it.

Rylie Bjork and Logan Ludwig enjoy the sunset in Barcelona in January. The couple said they love traveling around Europe together.

Mirielle Cox and her fiancé Shane Patrick smile in Malibu in March 2021. Cox said respect, commitment and trust are key in upkeeping a successful long-distance relationship.

Photo courtesy of Rylie Bjork

Photo courtesy of Sabrina Kuo

Photo courtesy of Mirielle Cox

Photo courtesy of Sebastian Griego

Hot Shots: Sports perpetuate a culture of toxic masculinity

Yamillah Hurtado Co-Copy Chief

Picture this.

A group of kids are playing a game of kickball.

One boy goes up to kick the ball and kicks it out of the field. He runs as fast as he can to home plate. He scores. All of the kids on his team cheer loudly and proudly for him.

Then, another boy goes up to kick the ball. He’s nervous; there is pressure to do well. He kicks the ball, but it doesn’t go very far, and an opposing player catches the ball before he can even run to first base.

He looks down in disappointment while the opposing team laughs and yells, “You kick like a girl.”

This is just one example of the toxic masculinity that permeates sports and is instilled among children, specifically young boys.

Toxic masculinity is the cultural idea that, to be a man, you must be strong, dominant and aggressive, if you show emotional vulnerability and respect toward others, you are weak, according to Green Hill Recovery.

Boys learn these messages at a young age through the men around them, peers, media and sports, according to The New York Times.

Coaches, as well as sports leagues, are responsible for upholding these harmful messages and standards for what manhood and masculinity mean, according to Global Sports Matters.

In sports history, there has been a multitude of instances where coaches have exerted abusive language and behavior onto athletes as a means of shaping them to be successful in their sport.

One instance of this was when

former Indiana University Men’s Basketball player Neil Reed alleged ex-Coach Bob Knight choked him during a 1997 practice. Reed spoke up about Knight’s abuse after another former Indiana player Todd Jadlow came forward with allegations against the coach.

“The very same game, when I stood up, he grabbed me by both sides and told me, ‘You’re a [expletive] senior, and you need to lead these guys,’ and he left bruises,” Jadlow said in an interview with the Indianapolis Star.

Multiple former Indiana basketball players came forward with allegations and after 29 years of working for the university, Knight was fired in 2000.

Despite the magnitude of allegations against Knight, some in the sports industry and sports fans bullied the athletes who came forward and excused Knight’s behavior as a coach just trying to shape his team to be the best athletes they can be.

A.J. Guyton, who played for the Hoosiers alongside Reed, publicly defended Knight when allegations came out.

“In order to become an All-American, you’re going to be challenged by a coach that pushes you to the limit,” Guyton said, according to a Desert News article. “It’s all a process of a boy becoming a man.”

In addition to suffering abuse from coaches, teammates and fans, athletes also feel pressured to prove their machismo by being emotionally guarded and tough, according to Global Sports Matters.

There is a “common belief that conflict, aggression and toughness are core to both manhood and success on the court,” according to Global Sports Matters.

When athletes get injured, they feel

the need to ignore their pain and are encouraged to continue to play, despite the potential for further injury. This proves their true athleticism by showing they are willing to sacrifice their body for the team. Coaches, teammates and fans praise athletes when they push through their pain and are deemed weak if they don’t.

“Tolerance of risk and injury is reframed and legitimated as a means of impressing coaches or as a way of establishing identity and kudos within peer groups,” according to Sociology of Sport Journal.

The competitiveness that inevitably comes with sports pushes athletes beyond their limits, and if they don’t reach success in the form of winning or receiving acclaim, their manhood is at stake, according to The Journal.

To cope with these feelings of emasculation, athletes can tend to exert violent and aggressive behaviors — fueling the endless cycle of toxic masculinity, according to The Journal.

“The perceived threat athletes feel to their masculinity as they play their sport or attempt to express themselves can lead them to feel insecure, compare themselves to teammates, and set overly high expectations for themselves,” according to The Journal. “Consequently, athletes are more likely to continue to spread toxic masculinity amongst each other.”

Highlighting the harm of toxic masculinity and the role sports play in sustaining it in no way is a claim that sports as a whole are bad or that all male athletes obtain toxic behaviors. It is simply an effort to increase awareness of toxic masculinity and spark a conversation surrounding a topic that poisons American culture.

This issue is systemic, and the major sports leagues within the country —

the NFL, NBA and MLB, to name a few — must enact change.

“If [a] league can make a diehard fan or aspiring [athlete] out of a child, they have a commodity to which they can sell this brutal masculinity for as long as they can keep him hooked,” according to Global Sport Matters.

Just as sports leagues have the power to uphold toxic standards of manhood, they have as much power to redefine what it means to be a man and change the narrative.

In the same way, change can start with us. It can begin with society teaching boys that being loving, emotional and supportive are not barriers to their success but rather stepping stones and that material success isn’t everything.

Coaches, fathers, brothers and mentors can teach boys about kindness, friendship, love and empathy as well as sportsmanship, athletic skills and technique.

Good Men in Sport is an initiative that works toward teaching male athletes positive and healthy masculinity. They have programs for both collegiate athletes and coaches to learn about the impact of “traditionally held aspects of masculinity, sexual consent, inclusion, and race issues,” according to their website.

“We felt that it was important to reach into this world and help young athletes understand how being a good man and a good person can leave a stronger legacy than anything that they accomplish on the field or court,” wrote John Izzo, Good Men In Sports founder, on the website.

Sports breed toxic masculinity, but the cycle doesn’t have to continue.

Vivian Hsia | Art Editor

Pepp soccer storms forward

The fall 2022 Women’s Soccer season ended with an overall record of 9-4-5 and a conference record of 3-3-3 for the Waves.

With the loss of seven seniors, players said they find themselves stepping into new roles and responsibilities during the team’s spring season as they prepare for the fall 2023 season.

“There’s something happening with this group that I think is really healthy, really beautiful in terms of team bonding and chemistry,” Head Coach Tim Ward said. “As far as individuals stepping up, I expect them all to take the next step.”

The Co-Captains

Co-captain and junior midfielder Skylar Enge said she was an attacking midfielder — a midfielder that focuses on aggressive scoring moves — coming into college. This spring, Enge said she’s a holding midfielder — a far more reserved and defensive position.

Graduating seniors, Enge said, along with new formations the team is experimenting with, is the reason her role as a midfielder has changed. Enge said her position on the field, however, is not the only thing that changed. With the loss of experienced seniors and fifth years, Enge said she found herself thrown into responsibility.

“It’s definitely been a big transition, having them leave,” Enge said. “Now, our class is stepping up.”

Both Enge and her co-captain, junior midfielder Tori Waldeck, have similar leadership styles they have applied to their positions, Enge said.

“Tori [Waldeck] and I both are leaders through action,” Enge said. “We’re two people that work pretty hard and show our devotion to the team and the program.”

A traditionally silent leader through action, Enge said one of her biggest transformations has been becoming more vocal as a leader.

“But everyone on our team really respects all of our seniors’ voices, so it hasn’t been too tough a transition,” Enge said.

Both Enge and Waldeck are grateful their teammates entrust them with not only being vocal on the field but also communicating with the coaching staff via their weekly meeting with the coaches, Enge said.

“Now being one of the oldest and being a captain, I’m growing into my responsibility,” Enge said. “Trying to help our team transition to a new team and find our identity and prepare for the fall.”

The Upcomers

For both freshman midfielder Tatum Wynalda and freshman goalkeeper Harlee Head, soccer has been a constant in their lives.

“Soccer has just been in my blood,” Wynalda said.

During her first season with the Waves, Wynalda appeared in 18 games for 869 minutes of play. Wynalda said this play came with its own challenges.

“The talent, the size, the speed — it’s just, it’s a whole different environment,” Wynalda said. “[This] was really exciting but very eye-opening and challenging as well.”

Wynalda said, despite these challenges, she felt driven to make the most of the opportunities given to her on the field.

Head appeared in four

games for a total of 232 minutes of play during the fall season before suffering a lower back injury, Head said. She was the youngest among ex-

perienced goalkeepers such as redshirt freshman Taylor Rath, who had spent two years prior at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and junior Ellie Sommers.

“I was put in a very tough position,” Head said. “Because they were the same age. So, they were more competitors rather than I was with them.”

This season, Rath and Head are the team’s two keepers. However, despite the nature of the situation, Head said she has developed a strong bond with Rath.

“Ever since the beginning, Taylor’s been there and has always been supportive,” Head said. “[She’s] always wanting me to do my best.”

Wynalda said she believes future success derives from the mutual trust and support found within the program.

“We truly believe in each other and love each other and trust each other,” Wynalda said. “In a way, that’s unlike any other program.”

Forward Together

Though Wynalda said she looks forward to moving toward a big sister role with the incoming freshmen in the fall, she also feels she is still at the start of her journey with the Waves and has much to learn.

“Sky and Tori — they’re just the captains that lead by example,” Wynalda said. “Constantly working and pushing each other and themselves. It’s just a really great thing to look up to.”

Enge, who said she is starting to realize just how little time she has left with the team, has found a deeper appreciation for the community as a whole.

“I’ve learned throughout the years that, yes, the soccer is a big part,” Enge said. “But, the program is about so much more than playing soccer. And that’s what’s actually going to be your biggest takeaway.”

maximilian.pohlenz@pepperdine.edu

Photos courtesy of Tatum Wynalda Women’s Soccer breaks out a huddle Nov. 5, at Tari Frahm Rokus Field. Junior midfielder Skylar Enge said the team’s dynamic has allowed her to push herself during practices.

Max Pohlenz Staff Writer

Photos courtesy of Tatum Wynalda Women’s Soccer meets after a practice Nov. 5, at Tari Frahm Rokus Field. Head Coach Tim Ward said the team showed a lot of promise going into the spring season.

There’s something happening with this group that I think is really healthy, really beautiful in terms of team bonding and chemistry.

Tim Ward Head Coach

Freshman forward Melina Livadas pushes forward April 2, at Tari Frahm Rokus Field. Pepperdine lost 2-0 against USC.

Photo by Colton Rubsamen | Staff Photographer

Pepperdine athletes use faith to play for a higher purpose

Tony Gleason Sports Assistant

Whether they are on the court or in the classroom, Pepperdine athletes said their faith impacts everything they do.

Student athletes at Pepperdine said their faith has an influence on both their athletic careers and lives as a whole. They said their faith allows them to play for a higher purpose, which helps them to worry less when on the court or field.

“My faith is the one and most important thing in my life,” said Tori Waldeck, Women’s Soccer junior midfielder/forward. “There’s other important things — family, friends, school for sure — but I put the Lord above everything else. If I didn’t put the Lord first, I wouldn’t be the athlete I am today.”

Jake Olson

Jake Olson, Men’s Volleyball freshman opposite hitter, said while he grew up in a Christian household, faith started to play a larger role in his life five months ago. Olson said, since then, his life has started to change for the better.

serves as a source of motivation.

“It’s led me to be able to have the success I’ve had as an athlete,” Hellmuth said. “I would have burnt out, lost hope, gotten too upset with myself, gotten too mad at the sport of volleyball, but it’s what keeps me going.”

Additionally, Hellmuth said playing for a higher purpose helps her play at her highest level while on the court.

“When you’re trying to get to the next level constantly and trying to push yourself past your limits constantly, it gets really hard,” Hellmuth said. “If you don’t have something else to play for than just yourself, it gets really hard to perform your best.”

Tori Waldeck

While she grew up in a Christian household, Waldeck said it was around her junior year of high school when faith started to have a much larger impact on her life. Since then, Waldeck said she tries to praise God in everything she does.

“Just as he does stuff for me, I have to be willing to reciprocate that,” Waldeck said. “Read the word everyday, be in the Bible, go to Church, go to Bible studies or just constantly worship Him in everything I do.”

Waldeck said she wasn’t specifically looking for a school with a religious environment during the recruitment process because most Division I schools aren’t religious. She said she is grateful, though, she was able to end up at Pepperdine because the Women’s Soccer Head Coach Tim Ward is also a believer.

“I was blessed enough that Pepperdine does have a religious aspect,” Waldeck said. “It’s not like I will stick out because we pray before or after games; [Ward] brings up verses and brings up Bible stories and relates them to life in general.”

ing that from the Lord helps me just play freely and openly.”

Greater Cause

One common theme between these athletes and their journeys with faith is, when they are on the court or field, they are playing for something greater than what is on Earth. Hellmuth said her faith helped her realize she doesn’t play for herself, which helps her after a tough game.

for God to honor Him,” Waldeck said. “When I have a hard game, I know He’s not going to be disappointed in me because, every time I step on the field, I give it all I got for Him.”

Olson said one Bible verse that means a lot to him is Romans 8:28, which states, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

Olson said this line has stuck out to him because it helps him keep a positive mindset about his future.

“Some of it I can’t fully see now, but the joy and peace I have in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ — I can’t even express it,” Olson said.

In terms of his athletics, Olson said his faith helps him remain calm and not get too frustrated when on the court.

“It helps me keep a level mindset,” Olson said. “I still have some old habits of getting frustrated. Every time I remind myself of the love that Jesus had for me, it gets rid of that really quick.”

Emily Hellmuth

Emily Hellmuth, Women’s Indoor Volleyball freshman outside hitter, said athletics and religion have been intertwined her whole life.

Hellmuth said her faith has played a big role in getting her to where she is in her athletic career because her faith

Waldeck also said her faith helps relieve her of stress, which allows her to focus on performing to the best of her abilities.

“In today’s culture, we put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect, and I’m not perfect,” Waldeck said. “Know-

“The promises that, even if I don’t play well or if I’m in a tough situation, that I don’t play for myself, and I don’t play for the glory of this world,” Hellmuth said. “I play for the glory of God and for Him, and He blessed me with these abilities.”

Similarly, Waldeck said playing for this greater cause helps her to not worry any time she steps onto the field.

“As I step on the field, I’m playing

anthony.gleason@pepperdine.edu

Photos by Colton Rubsamen | Staff Photographer

Junior midfielder Tori Waldeck (20) comes together with her team in a scrimmage against the Japanese All-Star Team on March 12, at Tari Frahm Rokus field. When she steps on the field, Waldeck said she plays to honor God.

Some of it I can’t fully see now, but the joy and peace I have in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ — I can’t even express it.

Jake Olson

Freshman Opposite Hitter

Freshman outside hitter Emily Hellmuth (10) goes for a block in a game against Gonzaga on Sept. 28, at Firestone Fieldhouse. Hellmuth said her faith has helped her get to where she is in her athletic career.

As the 2022-23 academic year wraps up, the athletic season finished strong with multiple teams having powerful finishes. The Graphic’s photo team captured some of the highlights of the season.

Photos by Graphic Photo Team Design by Betsy Burrow