Pepperdine Graphic 10-24-19 by PGM-PepperdineGraphicMedia

Volume xLiX | Issue 7 | october 24, 2019 PPE

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Caruso pledges $50 MILLION To Law School Li n ds E y S ulli va n Staf f Wr i t e r

ALEX NEIS NEW S ASSISTAN T The Student Government Association (SGA) passed a resolution Wednesday, Oct. 23, that denounces hate speech and homophobia on campus. Senior Sen. Daniel Iturri, who said this particular issue motivated him to get involved in student government, brought the resoluion forward. “One of the main reasons I got into SGA is because I wanted to make a difference in the way queer students perceive Pepperdine and the way Pepperdine interacts with queer students,” Iturri said. The resolution states that “SGA denounces all forms of hate speech against queer students by actively establishing a more inclusive environment on campus for the LGBTQ+ community.”

In addition to the support of SGA members, two students also attended the meeting to show their support for the resolution. “I came because I’m aware of the history of the LGBTQ+ community on campus,” junior Juan Carlos Hugues said. “I think it’s a great thing to finally honor the sacrifices that these people have made by coming to an institution where they’re really not accepted, persistently trying to normalize their lives here on campus.” Iturri addressed several instances of homophobic comments on the Freedom Wall that, Iturri said, made queer students feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. “Most recently, homophobic remarks were written on the ‘Think before you sign’ display,” Iturri said. “This is one problem that prompted me to present this reso-

lution.” Iturri said he has seen homophobia and hate speech posted on the Freedom Wall before this, and that as far as he can tell, it has gone without response. “If no one else was going to say anything, then I felt I had to do it,” Iturri said. According to the resolution, “SGA must take a firm stance against hateful rhetoric and make queer students feel safe on campus.” Iturri clarified that the resolution does not limit students’ right to free speech on the Freedom Wall and that the university will continue to allow it to be used an open space for conversation. In addition to addressing specific instances of hate speech, Iturri

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ADMINISTRATION HOLDS OFF ON NEW FOOD OPTIONS KAyiU WONG ONLI NE PRODUCE R Students’ dreams of not having to drive through the canyon for Chick-fil-A sandwiches and nuggets are on hold. In an email sent to the student body Oct. 11, SGA President Meredith McCune wrote that the university’s administration is not considering the topic of adding Chick-fil-A as an external food vendor on the Malibu campus at this point in time. The announcement came one week after SGA created a petition on Change.org that asked students to sign in support of opening a Chick-fil-A franchise on campus. The petition has garnered over 1,000 signatures since it was created Oct. 2. No Additional Food Options In Near Future University President Jim Gash wrote in an email statement to the Graphic that the administration is working to secure a new dining services contract as Pepperdine’s contract with Sodexo

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Courtesy of Juan Carlos Hugues

Food Controversy | Juan Carlos Hugues advocates for students to look into Chick-fil-A’s values. SGA then retracted their original petition to bring Chick-fil-A on campus. ends on Aug. 1, 2020. Because of this, the university “is not exploring, adding to or subtracting from the dining options currently offered and will not be doing so at any time in the near future,” Gash wrote. Gash assured that students will be involved before the administration changes Pepperdine’s food services. “Before any decisions about changes to the dining options are

SGA discussed adding an Apple Wallet feature to Pepperdine ID Card Services.

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made, those tasked with managing food on campus will engage in extensive discussions with our students about the food choices that are most desirable and of interest to our students,” Gash wrote. “This discussion will not be driven by petitions, but by dialogue.” The administration is still in its early stages of securing a new

Rick J. Caruso, law school alumnus of 1983, donated $50 million to the law school Wednesday, Oct. 23 and will help raise an additional $50 million in endowment funds over the next decade. The law school will be renamed the Rick J. Caruso School of Law in honor of the gift made through the Caruso Family Foundation. “This is a gift to us,” Caruso said. “This school changed my life. It gave me an opportunity; it disciplined me. It is just an honor to be able to do the same for others.” For decades, Caruso and his family have been committed to helping underprivileged students pursue their educational goals. “These are young, brilliant people that have big dreams but are not given the opportunity,” Caruso said. The funds will be used to provide student scholarships for those who otherwise could not afford to go to law school and provide loan forgiveness for those who have graduated from law school with debt and are interested in public service careers that are not as financially rewarding, President Jim Gash said. Carmen Izquierdo-Oliva, first-generation college grad and current law student, said she is especially excited for the opportunities this gift will bring to other students like herself. “I think that this donation will help a lot of underserved students like me who are first-generation and are truly seeking opportunities to represent underserved communities,” Izquierdo-Oliva said. Caruso’s gift will be beneficial to students like Izquierdo-Oliva, who hope to go directly into fields of public interest and may need other methods of paying off student debt outside of their income, Izquierdo-Oliva said. Izquierdo-Oliva shares her experience as a first-generation law student with the audience. “Coming from an immigrant family, it is hard to separate yourself from wanting to help these communities,” Izquierdo-Olivia said. “Growing up you see your parents struggle, you see your family struggle, and that’s kind of just instilled in you [to] want to help.” Natalie Burkholder, second-year law student and mother of two, said she is hopeful for what the donation will bring to the future of the law school. “I could not be more grateful for people like Mr. Caruso,” Burkholder said. “As a person who worked very hard to get here on scholarship, this is just very near and dear to my heart and makes opportunities so much more tangible. I would love to see my children attend Pepperdine and hopefully Pepperdine Law someday, so this affects people for generations to come. The funds will also be used to hire two new faculty members to support faculty scholarship research, prepare students for the bar exam and help them find jobs afterward, Gash said. “The Caruso family has been generous with our institution for a number of years,” Gash said. “To have the Caruso’s name affiliated with Pepperdine is just a huge boost to our local and national reputation.”

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SGA discussed installing water bottle filling stations in the freshman dorms.

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SGA planned for constitutional review, during which they will revisit unclear sections of the constitution.

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THE DPS REPORTS

Take a deep breath

Karl Winter s ta f f writ e r The part of the semester where school gets difficult has arrived. Midterms, projects, essays and homework dominate late nights and weekends. “Oh no, I actually have to try now?” Yes, unfortunately, you do. Or we pay the price. Additionally, we have athletic seasons well under way (intramural, club, and Division 1), theatre productions, parents visiting and philanthropy events for fraternities and sororities. This is the part where you sacrifice your sleep and mental health to do it all at once. If you’re feeling overcommitted, this is your reminder to take a step back. Fear of missing out (FOMO) is always present in college, but your friends won’t dwell on it if you tell them that you need to go do some schoolwork or go to sleep early. Speaking of sleep, that 45-minute nap between classes — the one that you took because you stopped functioning and were falling asleep in class anyway — isn’t really cutting it. Keeping sleep schedules consistent, and going to sleep before midnight, is critical. More sleep at night, and less naps, is the best way to truly stay rested. Get in a good routine before you’re so far gone that you’re either addicted to caffeine or sleeping though alarms. More important — if you’re overwhelmed, take a breath. Skip an event. Read a book that you actually wanted to read. Pray. Think. Then you can go and attack the rest of the day. It is important to remember that you are in college not only to learn and get a quality education, but also to remember that one grade will not make or break you. I wish I took my own advice on this, rather than consuming about 32 ounces of coffee per day and spending my Sundays in Payson (once it finally opens). If you’re at that level, it’s likely that you’re in too deep. Let’s make a conscious effort to change, together.

Check out pepperdine.edu/publicsafety for the DPS Reports every week

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10/10/19 7:26 p.m. Crime: Traffic Related, Traffic EnforcementReckless Driving Location: Main Lot

10/14/19 5:48 p.m. Crime: Traffic Related, Hit and Run (Non-Injury) Location: Benton Way

10/16/19 2:37 a.m. Crime: Vandalism Location: Firestone Fieldhouse

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10/17/19 1:54 a.m. Crime: Drug Related, Possession of marijuana on campus (adult) Location: Fifield House

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10/17/19 10:07 p.m. Crime: Alchohol Related, Posession of Alcohol on Campus (Minor) Location: Rockwell Towers

UPCOMING EVENTS THIS SEMESTER What:jo b shadow day WheN: 10 /30 What:a rt HISTORY PAR TY WheN: 10 /30 Wher e: WEISMAN MUSEUM

What: GRAZIADO FIRST FRIDAY INFORMATION SESSION When: 11/1 Where: drescher campus

Wh at: P EACE, HOP E AND JUSTICE WEEK Wh e N: 11/4

W hat: EX EC U T I VE S P EAK ER S ERI ES : MART HA T U MA W he N: 1 1 / 5 w he r e : DRES C HER C AMP U S

W hat: F ederal i s t S oc i et y p res ent s Dani el S u hr W he N: 1 1 /7 Where: CLASSROOM A

c onvo c re dit and othe r e ve n ts this w e e k FRI. 25

What: C e l ebr ation chapel When: 10 am Wher e: ampitheater

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What: spanish chapel When: 10 a.m. Where: stauffer chapel

wh at: Ger ma n C hap el Wh e n: 10 a.m . Wh e re : Stau f f er C hap el

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W hat: c ommu i t y c hap el : I am b rave W he n: 6-7 p. m. W he r e : b p c 1 90 W hat: c hi nes e c hap el W he n: 1 1 : 05 a. m. W he r e : c c b 3 03

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W hat: Hal l oween harves t W he n: 8: 3 0 p. m. W he r e : l aw l i b rary W hat: C ome As you art W he n: 6: 3 0 p. m. W he r e : wei s man mu s eu m

KARL.WINTER@PEPPERDINE.EDU

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O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 | N E W S | P E P P E R DIN E G RA P H I C ME D I A

SGA: Resolution protects LGBTQ+ students FROM A1 said queer students will feel safer if SGA affirms their right to be their true selves without fear of discrimination. Although he anticipated that the resolution would pass, Iturri was surprised that so many SGA members were vocal in their support of the idea. “I did not expect so much support for it; a lot of people were speaking in favor of it,” Iturri said. “People tend to be more quiet when controversial issues come up, but I was really happy to see everyone speaking in favor of it.” Junior Mary Buffaloe was the other student who

Alex Neis | News Assistant In Session | SGA meets to discuss Daniel Iturri’s resolution. Members heard Iturri’s presentation and shared their support for the idea.

attended the meeting. “I came as a gay student who is concerned and sometimes doesn’t feel safe on campus, and to support Daniel,” Buffaloe said. Buffaloe also contributed to the resolution by creating posters, sponsored by SGA, to be posted on main campus in an effort to demonstrate their support of the LGBTQ+ community. Iturri said he plans to use the resolution in conversations with university officials to demonstrate that queer inclusion should be a priority. “If this resolution is passed, I will use it to show university officials that the student body cares deeply about the queer community and wishes to see further inclusion and acceptance from the administration,” Itirri said in his presentation of the resolution. Iturri said he met with Maura Page, director of Residence Life, to discuss ways in which HRL can be more inclusive of queer students. While Iturri said he hopes the resolution will make LGBTQ+ students feel more welcome at Pepperdine, he recognizes that the university still disapproves of LGBTQ+ relationships. According to the Code of Conduct, “Pepperdine University affirms that sexual relationships are designed by God to be expressed solely within a marriage between husband and wife ... all members of the university are expected to avoid such conduct and to respect this understanding of sexual relationships.” “I know there are administrators and people in the church who haven’t met LGBTQ+ students and don’t really understand them,” Iturri said. “That’s why I want to use this resolution, which the entire SGA approves, to say, ‘Look! Students care! People that are in the Church of Christ, women, men, people of color, everyone agrees with this.’ [The administration] should at least recognize that.” A L E X .NEIS@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Courtesy of Juan Carlos Hugues Hate on the Wall | On Wednesday, SGA passed a resolution to denounce hate speech such the note shown above. Homophobic comments were anonymously posted on the Freedom Wall.

FOOD: Plans for Chick-fil-A on campus fried FROM A1 dining services contract. In a email to the student body Oct. 10, the administration wrote that a university committee is “reviewing various companies, including Sodexo, to determine whether it is best for the university to select a new dining services partner or retain our current provider.” The university will determine a list of finalists by Nov. 22 and will select the final dining service partner by Dec. 11, according to a timeline released by Pepperdine Dining Services. Because discussions regarding Pepperdine’s dining services are just starting, McCune wrote that “until a proper plan and timeline has been established, then the topic of bringing an external food vendor onto campus has been paused.” McCune wrote that SGA realizes the Chick-fil-A petition was “created prematurely.” In an email statement to the Graphic, McCune wrote that the SGA representative who created the petition “now understands that sending out a survey with a greater variety of food options would have been better, because it would have allowed the student body to specifically comment on what external vendors would be best if brought onto campus and why.” Student Responses to SGA’s Chickfil-A Petition Freshman Camryn Gardener was one of over 1,000 students who signed SGA’s petition in support of bringing Chick-fil-A to campus. “I signed the petition because Pepperdine is lacking food options, and it would be great to have another option on campus,” Gardener said. Junior Christopher Jerabek said he also signed the petition to show his support for adding more food vendors on campus. “The Caf is fine for like the first week on campus, but it gets old really fast — same thing with the HAWC and Starbucks,” Jerabek said. “It doesn’t have to be adding just Chick-fil-A, but it is important to have diversity.” Pepperdine junior Juan Carlos Hugues created a petition titled “think before you sign” in response to SGA’s petition. Hugues said that the petition was meant to highlight how opening a Chick-fil-A site on campus could marginalize LGBTQ+ students.

Courtesy of SGA

Courtesy of Juan Carlos Hugues Petition on Petition | Top: SGA created a petition to bring Chickfil-A on campus. Bottom: Senior Juan Carlos Hugues created an anti-petition in response. “Chick-fil-A has had a history of donating to organizations that do not support same-sex marriage and fund conversion therapy programs,” Hugues said. “Having a Chick-fil-A franchise on campus would be a symbol of hatred on campus because it would be constant reminder to LBGTQ+ students of the history this organization has had against their own human rights.” Hugues said he created the petition after a friend asked him how he felt about the SGA initiative as a LGBTQ+ student at Pepperdine. “His question of ‘What do you think?’ made me feel like I had to be more vocal about how I feel because the status quo here is heterosexual,” Hugues said. The petition garnered 106 signatures. Senior Adrian Manzo said he did not know about Chick-fil-A’s affiliation with anti-LGBTQ+ groups until he saw Hugues’ petition. “It definitely surprised me and shifted my viewpoint from being supportive to having it on campus to being completely against it being here,” Manzo said. Manzo ultimately signed the “think before you sign” petition after reading up on past criticism and controversies

related to Chick-fil-A. “If we want be more inclusive and more caring about other groups, then we need to take into consideration that bringing Chick-fil-A to campus would not have been a good thing for everyone, just the majority,” Manzo said. “When you start catering to the majority compared to smaller groups, that’s when you start having discrimination and inequality.” Hugues also posted a display on the Freedom Wall on Oct. 10 with posters that read, “Put your money where your conscious is, Pepperdine” and “We need to take a stand for students who feel marginalized by Chick-fil-A’s presence on site.” Hugues said he knows students who signed SGA’s petition may not have done so with intentions to attack or criticize LGBTQ+ individuals. He said his efforts were simply to inform people about Chick-fil-A’s past donations to anti-LGBTQ+ groups and to highlight how LGBTQ+ students felt about the topic of having Chick-fil-A on campus. “I do not condone people who eat Chick-fil-A at all,” Hugues said. “I believe we are all for bringing food options on campus. But I think we can all compromise with one thing that benefits all communities at Pepperdine because if we are an inclusive and diverse community, then we should do

things that work for everyone and not just for the majority of students.” Hugues met with SGA representatives to express his concerns and said SGA was receptive to his comments. “The freshmen senators I presented my petition to saw where I was coming from,” Hugues said. “I think they are reconsidering how [the initiative] may not be the best path and how there may be a better path where everyone is included on campus, and that was reassuring.” McCune wrote that SGA responded to Hugues’ concerns “by emphasizing SGA’s inclusion initiative to ensure that all students feel accepted and included in SGA policies and discussions.” Hugues’ petition has stopped collecting signatures online. SGA’s petition is still active on Change.org, but McCune stated that SGA will not be considering any petitions or resolutions related to adding on-campus food options any time soon. Pepperdine currently has two external food franchises on campus, Jamba Juice and Starbucks. Sodexo secured both vendors for Pepperdine.

K AYIU.W ONG@PEPPER DINE.EDU

O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 9 | N E W S | P E P P E R DIN E G RA P H I C ME D I A

Credit card scams target younger audience Anastassia kostin G u es t Contrib ut or Credit card fraud is not only one of the fastest-growing types of fraud but also one of the most difficult to prevent. IT Senior Client Tech Analyst Sara Fernandez does not frequent gas stations, notorious for credit card skimmers, because she has an electric car. So when she opened her personal email to find 20 “Thank you for purchasing Starbucks cards” notifications, she was shocked. “The first thing I thought is, ‘It’s my husband’s [card] because he goes to gas stations,’” Fernandez said. When Fernandez’s bank said it was her card, she started tracing back her steps. “Everyone said, ‘What gas station did you go to?’” Fernandez said. “I’m like, ‘I didn’t.’ So I can’t even pinpoint it.” Though most of the purchases got denied, about $155 still went through. In total, the scammer tried taking over $1,000 from her card. Later, Fernandez saw a notification on her Apple Watch asking Fernandez whether she wanted to add a tip to her Starbucks order. “I haven’t used my points for Starbucks in forever, I have like 840,” Fernandez said. “What someone had done is got into it and used all my points. They bought Starbucks cards, they have my email and now they have my points.” What worried Fernandez the most, she said, is that her bank card was attached to her Starbucks Rewards, meaning the scammer had access to her card information. Fernandez’ story is all too familiar for Daniel Miranda, current banker at Bank of America and former Chase banker.

“Fraud is literally the most common thing that happens at Chase and Bank of America,” Miranda said. “It’s not unusual for somebody to commit either check fraud, credit card fraud or debit card fraud.” When a credit card fraud claim is made, a client will be given temporary credit within the first 12 hours while a bank performs its investigation, which may include going through camera footage and examining signatures, Miranda said. While most investigations take between 6 and 10 days, banks are legally given 90 days to complete an investigation. “Banks have departments that do investigations and try to go after the criminals,” Miranda said. “We work with law enforcement to go after people who are committing the fraud to prevent future incidents from happening.” After the bank conducts the research and determines the fraud to be legitimate, clients get to keep the money even if the bank cannot get the money back, Miranda said. Credit Card Scammers Target Millennials

Better Business Bureau (BBB) CEO Steve McFarland said the Los Angeles office alone receives 400 consumer complaints daily. The majority of them are imposter scams. “It was our number one type of scam in California in 2018,” McFarland said. Card-not-present fraud is a type of credit card scam where the scammer attempts to make a fraudulent credit card transaction while not possessing the physical card, as in Fernandez’s case. Since 2015, when EMV chip technology

first emerged, McFarland said there has been a huge spike in online versus in-store purchases. “How it changed the game is now these crooks that are looking for numbers and phishing for your information has gone off the charts,” McFarland said. College students are especially at risk of being targeted by fake credit card companies touting low rates and low fees as well as fake online apartment and rental applications that seem “too good to be true,” McFarland said. Students are also at risk of applying for credit card reports at non-licensed and non-accredited credit firms, scholarship and grant scams and part-time employment scams, McFarland said. “Most employment applications don’t include bank information or credit card information but the scammers are including that and kids are filling them out,” McFarland said. McFarland said the Federal Trade Commission and the BBB completed two separate research projects, both coming to the conclusion that millennials are 25% more likely to report losing money to fraud than people 40 and over. “People may think that the elderly and seniors are being scammed more often than millennials, and it’s just the reverse,” McFarland said. “So yes, the volume of scams, especially credit card and mobile scams, has been taken over by students and millennials. However, when seniors are scammed, it’s typically for more money.” Another way scammers are taking advantage of college students is finding documents with information that should have been shredded, including credit card infor-

mation, applications for apartments and leases, bank statements and tax reports. “People love to go through the trash, especially at dumpsters around colleges, because they probably don’t have access to a shredder,” McFarland said. With increasing costs of school-related expenses, it is more important now than ever that students protect the funds they have, McFarland said. “[Students] do need ways to be able to get grants, scholarships and anything they can to be able to supplement their income because of the cost of housing in California and schools,” McFarland said. “Guess what? Crooks know it. They’re putting out these fake applications and students are putting their banking and card information on these applications.” Prevention One practical tool for reporting and tracking scams in a particular zip code, as well as warning consumers about possible scams, is BBB’s Scam Tracker. “Law enforcement uses this tool all the time, so they’re always contacting us and the FDIC,” McFarland said. Looking into a bank’s insurance policies is also a form of prevention. Banking with a larger bank such as Chase, Bank of America, U.S. Bank, Key Bank or Wells Fargo means one is covered under FDIC insurance. This protects clients against fraudulent charges and keeps an individual’s money secure if a bank suddenly went bankrupt, Miranda said. “People like that aspect of knowing that if something goes wrong with their account that the bank has their back,

whereas banking with a Credit Union, for instance, they’re not insured by the FDIC,” Miranda said. One way banks are combating fraud is chip technology, which recognizes the type of card used, whether that is a debit or credit card. If it is a debit card, the card reader will prompt the person to put their pin in. If choosing between a debit and credit, Miranda recommends using a credit card because it uses the bank’s money instead of one’s personal money. “Most credit cards have cash back features so you’re really getting more of the credit card anyway,” Miranda said. In June, Bank of America cards started experimenting with a new card feature where the Card Verification Value (CVV) number changes automatically every four hours on a digital screen on the back of the card. With money transferring apps like Venmo, Apply Pay, Google Pay and Cash App, Miranda said there is a decrease in credit card fraud claims since people started linking their cards digitally to applications like Apple Wallet. “When you upload your card to your Apple Wallet, you have to use biometrics to allow purchases to go through, so either fingerprint or facial recognition,” Miranda said. However, although each transaction made through Apple Wallet generates a unique security code, it is still possible for scammers to hack into people’s phones and get access to bank information, McFarland said. Especially with the rise of online shopping, it is important to only shop on secure sites, McFarland said. In 2019, it is estimated there are

about 1.92 billion digital buyers worldwide, according to Statista. “Check to make sure that you see the secure site mark at the beginning of the website that you’re shopping on,” McFarland said. General awareness of one’s finances also goes a long way, Miranda said. “The biggest thing of prevention is knowing where cards are,” Miranda said in reference to people that have lost cards but still have them linked to Apple Wallet. “It could not be a big deal but also somebody could have that card.” Miranda also recommended downloading one’s bank app and checking it daily as well as setting up text or email alerts on one’s phone to be notified anytime a transaction exceeds a certain amount. “When I’m helping people set up their new accounts, I guide them on how to set up alerts,” Miranda said. “That’s how much of a big item it is for me.” McFarland stressed the importance of reporting lost cards or fraudulent charges immediately because the sooner one reports credit card fraud, the better the chances of getting their money back. “Banks have this rule that after 60 days, we can’t promise that we’ll get you that money bank,” Miranda said. “If you report it within 60 days, it’s pretty much a guarantee.” While fraud will never go away, it is important to take the right precautions with one’s finances as scammers turn to more sophisticated ways of theft, without needing access to the physical card.

NASTASSIA.KOSTIN@PEPPER DINE.EDU

SGA announces first director of diversity James Moore New s A ssista n t

SGA appointed Junior Christian Abad as their director of diversity and inclusion on Oct. 9. Abad is the first student to hold this office, a new position offered by SGA for the 2019 school year. SGA leadership said they felt a need for this position after discussions with the student body, members of Intercultural Affairs (ICA) as well as the University Diversity Committee. The main role of the director of diversity and inclusion will be to be an intermediary between the student body and the school’s organizations that focus on diversity, SGA leaders said. “We are forming a position for a director of diversity and inclusion because in the past, students have expressed a desire for SGA to connect directly with the Intercultural Affairs (ICA) Office,” SGA President Meredith McCune wrote in an email. McCune wrote that the new position is a result of student voices reaching out to SGA. “Students have expressed a need for greater transparency and communication between many different types of stu-

Courtesy of Christian Abad New Office, Familiar Face | Junior Christian Abad, SGA’s new director of diversity and inclusion will connect SGA with organizations focused on diversity. dents and their student representatives on SGA,” McCune wrote. “We envision the director of diversity and inclusion to provide a crucial perspective from underrepresented groups at senate meetings and support SGA members to make policies with an inclusion mindset.” Abad has taken several classes offered by the Intercultural Affairs office. He said he is particularly passionate about how cultural acceptance

can lead to a better-functioning workplace and college environment. “[One of the things I learned] from these classes is that you can see in businesses, 35% of people do better when they’re understanding of each other’s backgrounds and races, whether it’s socio-economic or religious or racial.” Abad said. “It really matters a lot.” SGA’s Vice President of Administration Natalia Escobedo said another key role for the

new position is to be in frequent contact with the University Diversity Committee. “There’s a senior Diversity Inclusion Committee and also the University Diversity Committee and those are all faculty committees,” Escobedo said. “[The director of diversity and inclusion] will be functioning as a student representative on both of these committees, so that’s a very big deal to have a student voice in the room.” Abad said he has a few goals in mind for his first year on the job and is particularly looking forward to his work with ICA. “I want to work closely with ICA because they’re involved with the cultural clubs,” Abad said. “I want to be able to talk with them a lot and see where they’re struggling, or see where [SGA] can help.” Escobedo said SGA looked for a candidate who would help shift the perspective of leadership. “By literally offering this person a seat at the table, we’re able have them tell us, ‘Hey, let’s take a step back: have you thought about the disabled community on campus? Have you thought about this community or that community?’” Escobedo said. Abad said one of his main

goals for the year is to embrace diversity on campus. “Appreciating diversity is about using our differences to find a good way to solve specific issues, to grow and to relate back to them,” Abad said. “It’s not attacking a person that you know or don’t know, because people feel emotional toward where they grew up or where they’re from. It’s mostly just about listening.” Abad said he believes recognition of native peoples from Malibu will be a step in the right direction for Pepperdine students. “Honoring our land, and giving recognition to the Chumash people, who were here before us would be really beneficial,” Abad said. Abad said he wants to work on closing the gap between student athletes and the rest of the student body. “There’s always been sort of a divide with athletes and students,” Abad said. “All the athletes work hard and practice hard. I think, especially for things like Blue and Orange Madness, being there for them and supporting them really helps [the student body] become a whole.” Jam es.M oor e@pepper dine.edu

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Dean Holmes transitions out of Pepperdine b rianna willis sta ff write r

David Holmes, associate dean of curriculum and general education at Seaver College, will start as the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, on Jan. 1, 2020. While Holmes has left an impact on students, families, faculty and staff throughout his 26 years here at Pepperdine teaching in the Humanities and Teacher Education division, he said Pepperdine has also left an impact on him. “I think Pepperdine has really modeled for me what it means to be a liberally-educated person in the sense of liberal arts,” Holmes said. “To be a person who’s been educated in liberal arts and because of your Christian perspective, you are about embracing everyone that God would embrace, but you’re also about engaging in disagreement and injustice in responsible and respectful ways.” Journey to Pepperdine “I grew up in South Los Angeles so I was familiar with the old Pepperdine campus,” Holmes said. “I was just a high schooler around the time Pepperdine left to come [to Malibu].” It wasn’t until 1993 that Holmes began as a visiting faculty member at Pepperdine while pursuing his Ph.D. in English with an emphasis in rhetoric and literature at the University of Southern California. Holmes said he had the ability to partake in an Irvine Fellows program that allowed him to teach a few classes at Pepperdine with benefits. After the fellows program and receiving his Ph.D., Holmes continued at Pepperdine while working on tenure track. He received tenure in 2003 and became a full professor in 2008, Holmes said.

Time at Pepperdine

Holmes has taught a variety of classes including courses on literature, rhetoric and film and courses such as first-year seminar, Great Books, English composition, rhetorical theory, composition theory, topics in literature and introduction to African-American studies. But Holmes said one of his favorite classes he was able to teach was for Professor Joi Carr’s multicultural women’s literature class. “We argued across political disagreements, ethic disagreements and so on, and there was no bitterness, and there was no shouting each other down,” Holmes said. Holmes’ former students said he was a thoughtful and insightful professor. “I respected his opinion of my work greatly and always strived to demonstrate a certain level of mastery in my classes,” Sheean Hanlan, a Pepperdine 2019 alumna and editorial assistant for Holmes upcoming book, wrote. “I felt that in his own demonstration of mastery of his subject, he expected it from his students.” Influence Outside of the Classroom Holmes not only influences his students at Pepperdine, but also other faculty and staff members like Professor Lorie Goodman at Pepperdine. “He always makes me think, we will talk about what he’s working on and what I’m working on and he always inspires me to do more, to do something else and to add on,” Goodman said. “He’s very inspirational to me.” During Holmes’ time here at Pepperdine, he has played a role in a number of groups on campus including Black Student Association, rhetoric-related clubs, a co-sponsor for Crossroads and a mentor for the Posse Foundation. Holmes and his wife were the faculty family in 2006 for a semester in the

London International Program. “When you’re a faculty family, the students connect with you – well, most of the students connected to my wife, which is understandable,” Holmes said. “But there was one student in particular who basically said to my wife and me, you’re in a way like the parents I never had.” Holmes said the special moments at Pepperdine have been when he’s connected with students like they were his family. From students giving him a hard time, to ragging and bagging on him, to calling some of his students “daughter.” God’s Influence on Holmes’ Next Journey

Holmes is a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. He said he has been preaching since he was 15 and is passionate about the Church of Christ history. “God has interrupted my own plans with His own,” Holmes said. He did not know that he was going to be leaving Pepperdine, but Holmes said he believes this is God’s doing. Lipscomb University first approached Holmes about the position nearly two years ago, then again one year ago. Finally, they reached out again about six months ago. It wasn’t until this last time that Holmes decided to apply. “The reason why it was attractive is because we have a granddaughter who lives in Chicago, and Chicago is about an hour-and-a-half flight from Nashville,” Holmes said. However, Holmes said that is not the only reason why Lipscomb is attractive for him at this time. “But there’s something that’s exciting to me about Lipscomb because it represents for me, the integration of my faith, and scholarship and professionalism,” Holmes said. As a civil rights researcher, Holmes

Courtesy of David Holmes

explained that he is excited to be in the South where most of civil rights comes from. “Even though I am not from the South, I feel a connection to the South through my research,” Holmes said. Holmes explained that both he and his wife are Los Angeles natives, but his wife has been wanting to leave Los Angeles for at least 12 years. “All of those things I just mentioned, plus family, represent the package that is taking us down there,” Holmes said. Holmes said this transition will be difficult for Holmes, faculty and staff, as well as students. Holmes explained he is a crier and thinks this transition is going to be harder for him than he thinks. “It’s been a difficult decision because Pepperdine has helped me to grow, not only as a teacher and as a scholar, but I believe as a Christian,” Holmes said. “Even the challenging moments at Pepperdine have sort of brought me up to a different level of spiritual development.” The Dean’s Office is holding a celebration for David Holmes on Friday, Dec. 6, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. BR IANNA.W IL L IS@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Genesis Lab introduces new technology

of us using VR and laugh at how big and clunky the headsets were,” Lara said.

v er nie covarru bias news assista n t

The gadget-filled space, with floor length windows that face the second floor of Payson Library, is home to Pepperdine’s center for emerging technology: the Genesis Lab. Open since fall 2017, the Lab offers classes, one-on-one training and free use of virtual reality (VR) technology, 3D printers and eSports gaming systems to students. The Lab added the latest in VR to its collection this semester. “The Lab is intentionally open ended,” Genesis Lab Director Landon Phillips wrote in an email. “It is structured as a place to foster creativity, learning, networking and socializing. For example, you could come to a workshop to learn about a cool new skill like cooking with molecular gastronomy, coding or 3D model making.” Librarian for Emerging Technology Anna Speth said the Lab has experienced tremendous growth since its opening. “We’ve seen increased usage all of the time,” Speth said. “It’s gone from just us and our student workers, to there being visitors in here at almost all times. We’ve gone from having maybe two classes a month to at least one class a week.” In terms of technology, the Lab constantly gains new additions. “Every year, we try and add one major new piece of tech to our repertoire,” Phillips wrote. “Since opening, we’ve added a vinyl cutter for making custom stickers and T-shirts, additional 3D printers, and we have expanded our VR offerings.” The Lab started off with one HTC Vive VR headset and one Oculus Rift VR headset. Both brands of headsets are fully tethered to computers, which Speth said make for high resolution images. “Our newest offering for VR is the Oculus Quest,” Speth said. “This is a standalone headset, meaning it doesn’t have to attach to a computer so it is portable.” Speth said last month they acquired the Oculus Quest headset, which was

VR in Higher Education

Vernie Covarrubias | News Assistant Cutting Edge | The Oculus Quest is the lab’s most recent addition. The headset is completely untethered to a monitor. released in June to provide students with a more immersive experience. “We also are building out our support of creating VR content,” Speth said. “Right now, there’s a big emphasis on that. It sounds really complicated, but you can take a couple of different routes.” The first route is Unity Game Development, a software that all of the computers in the Lab support. “It can be technically challenging,” Speth said. “But it’s really fun and there’s a lot more you can do with it, which does take some time.” The second route is a 3D camera. The Lab has two of these for students to check out. “It has lenses on both sides, and it automatically stitches the two pictures together so that you have a complete shot,” Speth said. “You can just upload the video straight to YouTube, YouTube supports 360 video, and then you’ve created VR content.” Students in the Lab From chemistry, nutrition and art classes, to individuals working on their “passion projects,” students of various majors have utilized the Gen-

esis Lab to create outstanding work, Speth said. “This semester alone, we’ve had a nutrition class come in and 3D print the different organs from the digestive system,” Speth said. “Then in class, they reunite them.” Senior Olivia Lara said she is undertaking the task of learning how to use Unity for her art class project. “I’ve never worked in virtual reality before,” Lara said. “I just decided to start experimenting with it, and so I think what I’m going to try to do is create a mini world.” Lara said her vision for the project is an explorable fantasy world, full of forests, castles and other objects she feels represent her essence. “So you hold two controllers with your hands,” Lara said. “It’s really cool because you can shrink the world to make it super small or you can make it really big so that the castle is right in front of you, and you have to look up at it.” Lara said although VR is still relatively new and developing, she predicts it will be a big part of the next generation. “I feel like years from now, our kids are going to be looking back at pictures

“[The Lab] is one of the vanguards on campus that embraces cutting edge tech and puts it directly in the hands of students,” Phillips wrote. “Without taking risks and trying new things, we run the risk of becoming complacent and stagnant in our teaching, which won’t properly prepare students for the real world.” The importance of familiarizing students with VR specifically, Phillips wrote, is its applicability in any industry. “When the tech first came out, no one would think that ‘motion pictures’ would help convince you what brand of detergent to buy,” Phillips wrote. “But now video content is a part of our everyday lives and classrooms.” Speth said VR allows the user to experience a uniquely empathetic reaction. “It’s really impactful way to get any point across,” Speth said. “There’s a lot of documentary work being done with VR on, for example, the refugee crisis, or taking people inside solitary confinement, or to different places where environment is deteriorating like the coral reefs or the Amazon Rainforest.” Speth said she predicts the impact of VR will continue to grow as the technology continues to evolve. “Even if you can’t build a VR application from scratch,” Speth said, “having been in the headset and knowing how it feels can be really helpful in giving you an edge as you enter the workforce.”

V ER NETTA.C OVAR R UBIAS@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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The Graphic

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PERSPECTIVES STAFF LIST ex ec u ti v e ed i to r a l l i so n l e e M anag i ng Ed i to r madeleine carr So c i al M ed i a M anag er sava n n a h w e l ch P i x el Ed i to r k i l e y d i ste l r ath o nl i ne p r o d u c er k ayi u w o n g G New s p r o d u c er m a r i sa d r ag o s c o py c hi ef ga b r i e l l e m ath ys c r eati v e d i r ec to r n ata l i e r u l o n New s Ed i to r ch a n n a ste i n m e tz New s Ass i stants v e r n i e cova r r u b i a s Caitlin Roark | Art Editor James Moore Alexander neis S p o r ts Ed i to r k yl e m c ca b e ass i stant sp o r ts ed i to r Ali levens sp o r ts c o py ed i to r on the basis of sexual However, SGA’s petition b rya n t l o n e y orientation. was not asking for supP er s p ec ti v es Ed i to r Students who signed port to add more exterm a ry m a r ga r e t dav i s SGA’s Chick-fil-A penal vendors; it asked for P er sp ec ti v es ass i stant tition may not have support for one specific c a m ryn g o r d o n known about the comfood choice. Signing a L i fe & Ar ts Ed i to r pany’s past donations petition that advocated g i a n n i c o c ch e l l a to organizations with for just one specific food as si s tant L i fe & ar ts anti-LGBTQ+ records. vendor disregarded the ed i to r Nonetheless, this situapolitical implications r o wa n to k e tion serves as a remindand exclusion that L i fe & Ar ts as si s tant er of the importance to supporting Chick-fil-A E m i ly Sh aW at least educate oneself could have brought. l i fe & ar ts c o py ed i to r to understand why Moving forward, makena huey something is controstudent leaders should l i fe & ar ts d esi g ner versial and how it could remember to consider M e l i ssa L o c k e negatively impact othhow certain initiatives p o d c ast d i r ec to r ers. may marginalize miKaelin mendez When the counter-pe- nority groups before Ar t Ed i to r tition to SGA came to publicly advocating for c a i tl i n r oa r k light and the Freedom significant changes on as si s tant ar t ed i to r s Wall display called for campus. When bringin a l ly a r m str o n g students to be aware of to light differing points m a d e l i n e d u va l l Chick-fil-A’s past before of view surrounding a ab r oad c o r r esp o nd ents signing SGA’s petition, campus initiative, stua sh l e y m o w r e a d e r students had a respondents have a responsibilsawa ya m a k awa sibility not only to be ity to consider minority adv er ti s i ng d i r ec to r mindful of the perspecperspectives. so n i r u saga r a tives of those who disAsking questions and Adv er ti s i ng m anag er agreed with Chick-fil-A’s educating oneself is the m aya m cd o w e l l values but to try to learn best way to be conscious D i r ec to r o f P ep p er d i ne and consider this point of how influential deciG r ap hi c M ed i a of view prior to signing sions at Pepperdine may E l i z a b e th Sm i th SGA’s petition. have a negative impact As si s tant D i r ec to r O f Some students may or be exclusive to certain P ep p er d i ne G r ap hi c have just signed SGA’s student groups. M ed i a petition to show supCo u r te n ay Sta l l i n g s

STAFF EDITORIAL

Pushback on petition reminds us to be mindful of other voices

The Student Government Association (SGA) recently released a petition asking students to support opening a Chick-fil-A franchise on campus. The initiative garnered over 1,000 signatures and made the student body enthusiastic about the prospect of having more food options at Pepperdine. However, not all students resonated with this idea. One student created a counter-petition to raise awareness about how having Chick-fil-A on campus could marginalize LQBTQ+ students because of Chick-fil-A’s history of donating to organizations with records of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. There was also a display on the Freedom Wall calling for students to be aware of Chickfil-A’s past donations to anti-LGBTQ+ groups and to take a stand with those who would feel distressed by Chick-filA’s presence on campus. Although SGA’s petition for Chick-fil-A

seemed harmless, this situation brings to light the importance of being mindful of how certain large-scale initiatives could marginalize students. SGA’s initiatives were rooted in good intentions as they were simply trying to fulfill students’ long-time requests for more food options on campus. However, they should have been more aware of how advocating for only one specific food company limits the ability of students to provide valuable feedback on such a large topic like expanding Pepperdine’s dining selection. The topic of adding more food options on campus is something most students would support and be excited by, so it is admirable that SGA is listening to student desires and working to bring them to fruition. Nonetheless, SGA also has a responsibility to be conscious of the consequences of advocating for a controversial cor-

poration. This responsibility should become prioritized above rushing into implementing plans that positively appeal to many students. Similarly, students have a responsibility to consider the implications of signing a petition or supporting a certain initiative before being in favor of it. Students may not have signed the petition with intentions to attack, criticize or belittle LGBTQ+ students, but being aware of how Chick-fil-A’s controversial history could indirectly harm others was necessary to ensure that students would not be marginalized. Being conscious of the history and company values of a corporation is imperative when making these influential decisions. In 2017, Chick-fil-A donated $1.8 million to corporations that openly oppose LGBTQ+ rights. In addition, the company’s policies do not provide employee protection against discrimination

port for diversifying the food options on campus.

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

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

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Turn to self-help at Pepp One in 10 undergraduate students seriously considered suicide while at Anitiz Muonagolu Pepperdine, s ta f f w r i t e r according tp data collected biannually via student surveys in Spring 2019 by Connie Horton, vice president of Student Affairs. Pepperdine needs to be a safer space for those battling thoughts of suicide or even Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) through communication, education and awareness on these subjects. The human mind is constantly juggling the daily aspects of life. At times it gets cluttered and the lack of major health awareness and resources contributes to acts of suicide and self-harm incidents. Luckily, Pepperdine has the Counseling Center, which has 15 offices to accommodate students’ ever changing mental needs such as group therapy, one-on-one counseling and more. Improving this safe atmosphere on campus requires the student body and staff to know the signs of suicidal thoughts and the warning signs of NSSI, and to be aware of programs that support those who experience these emotions. It also requires the community to let those who are feeling these emotions know that they have a campus of love and support. Some major signs of possible suicidal thoughts include extreme mood swings, isolation, recklessness paired with anxiety, talk about wanting to die and feelings of hopelessness, according to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It’s imperative for members of the Pepperdine community to stay vigilant to and aware of these signs and remember to be understanding and compassionate to those who express those signs. “Stay engaged or don’t ignore and do not assume that others will say something,” Horton said. NSSI can be seen in many different ways. Women tend to show physical cutting marks while men typically hit or burn

themselves, according to the National Library of Medicine. This is even more true for those in the LGBTQ+ community and White people, as explained by the National Library of Medicine. If anyone portrays these examples, never be afraid to reach out, or use and support the options on campus. For example, the Student Care Team is available anonymously through the LifeSafe app, Horton said. Also, recommending the Counseling Center or offering to go with others is a great way to help those who may be harboring these thoughts. “Friends are the number one referral to those who enter the Counseling Center,” Horton said. Pepperdine also announced its new program RISE, Resilience Informed Skills Education, to help with understanding issues such as suicidal thoughts, clinical depression and non-suicidal self-harm to the Pepperdine community. Moreover, it’s meant to remind students and faculty that no one is alone and everyone is growing to help others with their needs. Finally, anyone who feels crippling depression, suicidal thoughts or feels ostracized should remember that there is an

Cam ry n Gordon p e rs p e c t i v e s assistant

The crippling weight of student loan debt sits on the shoulders of 45 million people in the United States, according to Forbes. Totaling a whopping $1.5 trillion and counting, student loan debt in 2019 is the highest it has ever been, and it keeps climbing. Student loans do not solely affect the most recent generation of Americans: in fact, the current crisis is one that reaches from Generation Z all the way back to the Baby Boomers. It is imperative that the American government find a way to cap tuition rates for all universities or subsidize or cancel student loan debt in the United States in order to free generations of people from inescapable debt. In 1980, the average annual cost of attendance at a public fouryear university was $9,438, according to Business Insider. Today, the average cost of tuition at a public university is 260% higher, totaling $23,872. For Pepperdine stu-

Caitlin Roark | Art Editor entire campus willing to love and accept anyone who seeks it. Using Pepperdine’s resources and reaching out helps move others out of that darkness so they can feel loved and accepted. In the words of Vice President Horton, “Be the person that you would need. You can make a difference by being a part of community. We are in this together, and we are a community that rises together. Most importantly, with a collective effort, you can rise above and come through the darkness.”

AJ.M UONAGOL U@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Caitlin Roark | Art Editor al student loan debt entirely (a personal favorite), canceling up to $50,000 of debt for each person by taxing 2% on the top 1% (not a bad option) and lowering interest rates on student loans, the conversation is here to stay. Right now millions of young people across the country share the same struggle — life is impossible to live while carrying student loan debt. With the pressure of debt looming above, alltime high tuition rates, low career salaries and the uncertainty of economic security threaten the future of America’s private institutions and the future of the Ameri-

Stop stealing in fashion

a n i ta O k o r o a f o r s ta f f w r i t e r

Time to make student loan debt disappear dents, those numbers may seem astronomically small considering that tuition here is about $71,562 per year. The cost of college tuition in the U.S. has increased eight times faster than the cost of wages, as stated by Forbes. Between 1989 and 2016, when tuition increased 260%, the median wage went from about $52,000 to $59,000. This wage is equivalent to the cost of one year at Pepperdine, off-campus. Terrifying, right? With one-third of the 45 million people with student loan debt owing an average of $40,000, it isn’t a surprise to also find that student loan debt negatively impacts the American economy. This hovering deficit impacts everything from the ability to own a home to starting a family, which in turn harms the country’s economic growth. Recently, the discussion of student loan debt has surfaced in the political sphere. Making its way to the center of the 2020 Presidential Debates alongside other top topics like healthcare and immigration, the student loan crisis is finally being discussed at length. With some candidates considering long-term options like eliminating the nation-

can economy. The student loan crises directly affects Pepperdine and Pepperdine students. The ability to pay back loans is not economically synonymous with living. Tuition rates are too high, student loan debt is out of control and, aside from a conversation, neither issues are addressed. In order to secure a future of success for the individual and the country, voters need to elect leaders who will take action. Affordable living is not a partisan issue. It is time for voters to use their voices to demand change. Reach out to local represen-

tatives, support 2020 candidates who strive to make this issue a top priority and join organizations determined to tackle student debt. As college students, this issue directly impacts us all – let’s start acting like it.

C AM YR N.GOR DON@PEPPER DINE.EDU

The fashion industry used to be a place where designers would creatively think of designs with the hopes of coming up with a collection that has an unusual quality to it. However, now it seems that instead of companies taking time to formulate distinctive clothing concepts, they prefer to just purloin others. It is time for consumers to become more informed and actively take a stand against this type of behavior. One of Pepperdine’s core values is integrity. Therefore its students need to appreciate the integrity of the original designers by making a conscious effort to purchase from honest brands rather than deceitful copyists. In 2015, after Balmain had its Spring/Summer fashion show, the popular internet garment shop Nasty Gal began selling a white jumpsuit that resembled Balmain’s jumpsuit which Taylor Swift wore to the Billboard Music Awards. And to negatively intensify things even more, Nasty Gal claimed that Taylor Swift’s outfit was their creation. “How is this fair?” is a common response to this. In fact, how is this ethical or legal? According to The Fashion Law, “Trademark law ...protects a designer’s name or logo.” This fact is evident in Pepperdine’s case, for example, as no other companies are permitted to sell merchandise with Pepperdine’s mark. However, “this protection is not without limitation since trademark law only protects the names/logos, etc., and not the underlying design.” But the complication which arises is that “for a design to be protected by trade dress,” within the fashion world, the brand has to prove that customers “link the appearance of the product with a single source, and thus, the appearance of the design serves a source-identifying feature.” This is evident in items such as the Hermes Birkin bag, which is well known by even just its nickname: Birkin. The most likely solution for this matter would be patent protection, which provides a brand with exclusive rights for its design. Sadly, gaining patent protection is an expensive, lengthy process that most fashion companies prefer not to undergo. This would be even harder for upcoming designers, who have tight budgets. In the coming years, the percentage of designs that are exact imitations of others must decrease. Students can use social media to support these companies. They should not be afraid to voice their opinions by writing reviews or even creating posts expressing their disgust at the issue at hand. The individual posts will develop into a collective voice that would force these online stores to pay respect to designers, who work diligently to produce avant-garde collections.

ANITA.OKOR OAF OR @PEPPER DINE.EDU

P E P P E R DINE GR A P HIC M E DIA | N E W S | O CT O B E R 24 , 20 1 9

Courtesy of Atlantic Records Cover Boys | A R I Z O N A band members David Labuguen, Zach Hannah and Nate Esquite pose for their new album, “ASYLUM.” The New Jersey-based trio headlined at Pepperdine’s annual concert during Waves Weekend, performing their most well-known songs for students.

Q&A with Waves Weekend concert headliner A R I Z O N A G ian ni Cocchella Li f e & Arts E d itor

Emily Shaw Li f e & Arts ASsista n t Electric-indie pop band A R I Z O N A headlined the Pepperdine Waves Weekend annual concert Oct. 12. The band’s three members, including Zach Hannah (vocals), Nathan Esquite (guitar) and David Labuguen (keys), are originally from the East Coast and have created music together since 2015. With over a billion streams on various platforms, A R I Z O N A has created worldwide waves through its ingenious brand, according to its website. A R I Z O N A has produced several hit songs, including “Oceans Away” and “Cross My Mind.” The band recently released its second album “ASYLUM” Fri-

day, Oct. 11 prior to performing at the Waves Weekend concert. In an effort to learn more about the electronic dance-pop group that headlined the Waves Weekend concert, the Graphic sat down with A R I Z O N A to discuss its journey to stardom and learn more about the band.

How did you get started, and how did you come up with the name A R I Z O N A? David: Well it starts with friendship, and it ends with iced tea. Zach: We’ve been making music for a long time together. It was just [us] hanging out most of the time and making music, and at some point, it turned into us producing and writing for other artists together, and we continued that for

a while. It was something that we did for years and years, and we always knew that we loved making music and creating stuff together. [One day] we wanted to have fun on our way, so to speak, and for us, that was staying up late one night making songs just for fun, but we didn’t know it was gonna be like a band. We just made some stuff, and it was fun. What do we call [the band] if we do put [our music] out on SoundCloud or something, and Nate was wearing an Arizona iced tea hat. He just pointed to the hat and said ‘Arizona’, and we laughed and we had a good time about it. We wanted to just have fun and it wasn’t really about the name. So that’s kinda how A R I Z O N A became the name of the band and carries that part of the story for us. Did you always know that you wanted to perform and produce music?

David: I think we all saw ourselves as more behind the scenes people for a while, but Nate grew up in bands but was going to school for production, and [Zach and I] were writing and producing. Zach: It was the obvious thing, that’s for sure. We always made music together, but it wasn’t like for ourselves, so when we did do it for ourselves, it was sort of a joke, and we were kind of giving up on it all, and it just so happened that those couple songs that we made on our way out turned out to be this.giving up on it all, and it just so happened that those couple songs that we made on our way out turned out to be this.

SE E A R I Z O N A, B 2

New Malibu restaurant offers fresh take on French classics Mar ia B elen Itu rralde NEW S ASS ISTAN T

Standing behind the bar in the sun-drenched space of his newly-opened restaurant is Nicolas Fanucci, methodically daubing a bread roll with butter before carefully placing it on a sizzling-hot pan. He is making what is arguably the restaurant’s most celebrated dish thus far: lobster rolls. Beside him is his wife, Fazilet, dressed in an apron, punctiliously preparing salads and assembling plates, making sure each one is perfect for dispatch with what can only be described as motherly care. Behind the register is their son Lucas, exhibiting a cheery disposition, ready to take customers’ orders. The Fanuccis are the family behind the new restaurant on the block: Nicolas Eatery. Nicolas Fanuccis’ former food truck restaurant has ceased to be an eatery-on-wheels and has officially begun serving food in a perma-

nent space located in the Malibu Sands Center. The much-anticipated restaurant opened Sept. 7 and offers a fresh, organic, uncomplicated fare. Nicolas Eatery is not the first restaurant in California to offer healthy, organic food. It would be nearly iniquitous, however, to file it under the “Just Another Follower of the LA Health Craze” category. Fanucci’s restaurant does not follow a trend but rather the fundamentally human tradition of cooking together at home. “We designed it, and we made it based on what we do at home,” Fanucci said. “Everybody is around the kitchen when we cook [at home], and the food here is really what [our family] makes.” The open kitchen was intentionally designed to give this feeling of homeyness, Fanucci said. The bright space, reminiscent of easy and happy summer days, provides for the perfect setting in which to enjoy the simple yet meticulously crafted dishes. Both the physical

Milan Loiacono | Currents Editor Modern Take | The restaurant’s interior design aligns with the modern, oceanic atmoCourtesy of Penguin Random House Publishing sphere that people love Malibu for. space and the tastefully simple fare reflect a sort of elegant-meets-casual character that seems to pair perfectly with Malibu’s vibrant personality. The small menu features a variety of dishes including a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, roasted chicken served au jus, lobster mac and cheese, dover sole meuniere, steak au poivre, a plethora of salads and onion soup that Fanucci said follows the recipe his

family makes at home. Apparently unmissable, however, is the lobster roll, which merited a congratulatory handshake from a customer who claimed it was “the best lobster roll [she] ever had.” The roll, served on a pillowy bread roll with crisp edges, is topped with champagne sauce and asparagus, providing for the most opulent of meals for under $20.

Food Photography | A hungry customer reaches for some crispy, warm french fries. Patrons can also enjoy their fresh salads and SEE N i co l a s, B 3 a variety of other French-inspired cuisine.

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Top 10 meals Pepp students should order from the Caf Aut umn Bryant S taf f write r

The Waves Cafe is one of the most popular spots on campus to grab food. From beautiful ocean views to the encouragement of off-thephone communication, it’s truly a place where students can come to hang out, study and, most of all, eat. There is a large variety of food options offered at the Waves Cafe, also known as “the Caf,” a result of “a different freshly prepared item at each meal,” according to its website. With the extensive meal selections available, one may ask: How should I spend my meal points? Ask no longer. In no particular order, here are the top 10 things to order from the Caf. 1. Sushi is definitely a popular choice among Waves. Veggie rolls, California rolls, chef’s special and many more are offered to the left of the beverage refrigerators, giving students the opportunity to indulge in a California favorite.

2. Oasis Pizza is another area that attracts the eyes (and mouths) of students here at Pepperdine. With lots of variety, the pizza bar allows students to order their own pizza with whatever toppings they’d like. Stressed about exams? Splurge on a p i n e a p pl e - p e p p e r o n i - g a rlic-tomato-basil deluxe, or create something completely unique. 3. The new pasta bar, Semolina, is already making waves in the Caf. A recent move-in, it offers penne and elbow noodles and various toppings to make a different dish every time. 4. Taco Tuesday? More like Taco Every Day. The Taqueria is here to fulfill your taco desires. It’s a new addition to the Caf, replacing last year’s ramen bar, and it’s already been very well-received. Some positives are its consistency and late hours. 5. Craving stir fry, but can’t make it in the dorm without starting a fire? No worries. Peking Plate offers safe and delicious stir fry available right in the Waves

Cafe. Another favorite, students love Peking Plate for its customization and f lavor. 6. For students with dietary restrictions, the Caf has food to accommodate — one example of this is the vegan bar. The main dish always changes, and the food is usually centered around a different culture each week to give students a greater variety of cuisine. 7. The salad bar is a great option for students looking for quick, simple ways to eat healthy. Students love the fresh and colorful nature of the foods offered. It’s easily a popular pick, among the highest of students surveyed. 8. There are two great f lattop meals that are often overlooked. One of these are the burgers, available with a variety of toppings. There is also a new option, the meatless “impossible burger,” perfect for vegetarians as well as students who are passionate about health or simply curious to try something new. 9. The other tasty f lattop meal that deserves a place

Autumn Bryant | Staff Writer Dinner Time | Students enjoy the daily offerings at the Waves Cafe while admiring the ocean. The Caf is known for its social scene and wide array of cuisine. on this list is the quesadillas. They offer variety as well and are served with and without chicken. It’s a great choice for a meal that is both warm and comfortable. 10. The Caf also has a selection of food for students earlier in the day, with different breakfast options ready to eat. Early risers adore the order-your-ownomelet. Similar to the customization of other foods, like stir-fry, omelets are a

good, protein-filled way to start the day. Regardless of this list, everyone’s tastes are different! Any Pepperdine students can visit the Waves Caf to determine their very own top 10 Caf meals. If they’re curious, these meals would make for great student-suggested starting places.

AUTUM N.BRYANT@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

Photos by Milan Loiacono | Currents Editor Deadly Games | In the poster for ‘Ready or Not,’ the main character cries while hiding from her in-laws on the night of her wedding. In the movie, the family chooses to play hide and seek after the wedding ceremony, but the main character does not know that.

ARIZONA: Waves Weekend Concert headliner opens up FR OM B1 What inspires you and what fuels your music? David: When we go and play shows, I think a lot of people come up to us, and they tell us how the music has influenced their lives. In like a really similar but different way, making the music does something for us on like a spiritual level. Being able to create is therapeutic, and being able to create together is this therapeutic catharsis type of thing. I think that that sort of connection is a big part of why we felt like we wanted to do this in the first place. Zach: It felt better knowing that you can come together with your best friends and create not for a particular reason or a purpose. You’re not aiming for anything, you’re just using your friendship as a way to get things out of you and onto a canvas, so to speak — to turn experiences that you have, negative or positive, just into something that’s productive and good that can go serve a purpose somewhere. But for us, the purpose was always just what the music did for us, and it

just so happens that it does that for the listeners as well, but it’s a two way street.

Nate: It was this massive six-person inflatable unicorn boat with cupholders.

What are some of the biggest challenges that you’ve had to overcome?

Zach: We blew it up before the set and then during one of the songs, we literally jumped in this unicorn and set sail. I had the US of AZ flag, and at every single point [I was scared] between getting into [the float] and getting back on stage. I was terrified. I wasn’t sure if I was gonna make it in and then I did, [but] on my face, upside down. Then I basically cried inside for six minutes while I finished the rest of the set with joy, fear and adrenaline. That’s probably the pinnacle of A R I Z O N A thus far.

Zach: There’s so many challenges that present themselves every day that I feel like there’s not particularly one group of small things you can name. But I think maybe one of the biggest things for us has been accepting where we are and accepting that this is what we do now. It’s OK to be vulnerable in creating and being the people that are sending [and creating] the message and carrying that responsibility. Knowing that that’s something that we do every day now and that there are people out there that it affects, [we keep] that in the forefront of our mind, rather than letting that slip to somewhere else. What has been your greatest achievement thus far as a group? David: Not breaking up yet. Zach: We crowd sailed in a huge unicorn, thanks to Nate, at Hangout Fest.

Do you have a favorite festival that you’ve performed at? David: Hangout Fest. Zach: I love Hangout. David: Imagine if there was a festival down there on the beach. That’s what Hangout is, and every stage is by the water. And there’s an artist area that has its own private beach, which is really nice. They definitely, at least from the artist point of view, take care of us so

well. So that’s probably our favorite. That’s one we tell everyone about.

David: We have roundup, a little prayer and then [we] get out there.

Nate: I would have told myself about the no shoes thing earlier.

Is there anything on your bucket list that you’ve been able to cross off over the years together?

If you could go back in time and talk to yourself when you were in college what advice would you give yourself?

Zach: Yeah, you would have told yourself to stop wearing shoes earlier.

David: My first time in Europe was on tour with these guys. I turned 28 on that tour. It was awesome, so that’s definitely like a bucket list kind of moment. It was our Euro trip moment. Zach: This whole thing is a bucket list. Like, who gets to experience some of these things? It’s and fun and difficult and challenging. I think [A R I Z O N A] definitely crossed off a lot of stuff for us. Do you have a routine or ritual before performing? Nate: Zach likes taking naps. Zach: I like taking naps and playing Rocket League [a video game], not always in that order. Sometimes I’ll switch it up; sometimes I’ll play some Rocket League and take a nap. David: I stretch. Nate: I take off my shoes.

Nate: I was still wearing shoes in college. Big mistake.

Zach: I don’t even know if you could talk to that guy. Me in those college Are there any plans years, at that age, was that you currently have just so dead set on mak- for the near future? ing it work, doing something, figuring it out, David: We just released that I don’t even know if a new album. It’s called there is any advice that “ASYLUM.” That haphe would take. I think pened yesterday, so a Courtesy of Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures that’s possibly what little bit of sleep is commade it so difficult at ing up next. But in all times for me, but also seriousness, after today, what got us here was we’re actually going to that weird sort of tun- Mexico to play a show. nel vision. [We’re] playing a festival down there. David: I think I would tell younger me that it’s Zach: We’ve already OK to take every once started working on alin a while to recover bum three, so we just and that there’s years released album two oband years ahead, so it viously. We’re getting doesn’t have to happen a head start and gontomorrow. I would tell na kick it into gear and my younger self that the start working on the big steps are made up of third album between all the little steps put to- now and maybe spring gether. and then once we’re done ... Nate: I was pretty chill in college. David: We’re hoping to tour heavy in spring. Zach: Nate’s been Nate. Nate’s always been a GIANNI.C OC C HEL L A@PEPPER DINE.EDU rockstar. I mean you’re looking at Nate, dude. EM ILY.C.SHAW @PEPPER DINE.EDU

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Photos courtesy of Warner Bros Jokin’ Around | The picture of Joker cackling circulated worldwide after the Oct. 4 premiere. Viewers criticized the movie for its portrayal of mental illness and praised it for its performances. Its domestic total is $247.2 million and it is the seventh highest grossing movie of 2019.

Spoiler-free ‘Joker’ review: a divisive descent into madness AUst in Hall S taf f Writ e r

Buildup, comparisons and controversy — “Joker,” directed by Todd Phillips, is perhaps one of the most unique and original comic book movie adaptations to date. It’s not a reboot, it’s not a sequel, and it’s not connected to any origin story from DC Comics, America’s largest and oldest comic book company. The film’s main character, Arthur Fleck, is both a protagonist and antagonist. Joaquin Phoenix, the star of the film, serves as both. This is a Batman movie without Batman in it, which still doesn’t feel real only seven years removed from the Christopher Nolan “Dark Knight Trilogy.” There are times in the movie when the viewer wants to root for him and others when the viewer’s skin crawls in response to Fleck’s decisions. One of the most important parts of the film is its setting. It stays true to comic book Batman and Joker’s well-known hometown of Gotham City, but the movie serves it up in a completely different way. “Joker” doesn’t take place in modern-day; it’s set in 1981. In “The Dark Knight Trilogy,” Gotham looked completely different depending on the scene.

That Gotham had an industrious downtown with Pittsburgh-style plants and factories, contrasted with crime-ridden suburbs across the city bridge known as The Narrows. There are no clean or highscale parts of this Gotham in “Joker.” The film takes place during a garbage strike, with streets lined with trash and buildings and subways covered in graffiti. Windows are barred. Sunlight is absent throughout the majority of the film. The location suffocates the viewer and is almost a character in itself. The film is chock-full of incredible performances. Phoenix’s effort is already generating Oscar buzz. He lost 52 pounds for the role, and his shirtless scenes are painful to watch. He’s in every scene and doesn’t just live on the screen, but dominates it. One of his best attributes is his laugh. It’s constant, unpleasant and maniacal. He often grabs his throat or coughs, almost to show how people shouldn’t laugh like that. It’s uncomfortable, but in the right way. The other performances in the film are excellent. Zazie Beetz shows versatility in playing the next-door-neighbor and potential love interest. Robert De Niro nails his character, Murray Franklin — a beloved, Johnny Carson-es-

que late-night talk show host whom Fleck idolizes. Frances Conroy plays Penny Fleck, Arthur’s elderly mother. Perhaps the most surprising performance was Brett Cullen’s Thomas Wayne. Instead of being a doctor, as he is in the original comics, he is a politician running for Gotham City Mayor. As Bruce Wayne’s father, he’s one of the only other comic book characters in the film, and the movie portrays his character well. One of the biggest discussions leading up to the film’s release was its influences. In the “clown prince of crime’s” 79-year publication history, comics have never definitively explained his origin. The most notable attempt is the comic “Batman — The Killing Joke” from 1988. It was the first story that depicted the Joker as a struggling comedian before his life of crime. There are subtle nods to the classic comic, but the biggest influences are two Martin Scorsese films. “Taxi Driver” and “The King of Comedy” have massive impacts on “Joker.” Both films’ main characters struggle with mental capabilities and differentiating reality from imaginary. Without spoiling those movies, the nods are apparent as the main character’s psyche starts slipping away. De

Niro’s casting as talk show host resembles Jerry Lewis’ character in “The King of Comedy.” An extremely difficult comparison to make is Phoenix’s performance with Heath Ledger’s in 2008. Without avoiding the comparison, it’s worth mentioning how different the interpretations are. The beauty of Ledger’s Joker is its ambiguity. Nobody knows how Ledger’s Joker got his infamous scars and at the same time, viewers are OK with it. His adversarial relationship with Batman is what makes his character so strong. It’s a balance that works in its respective universe, but Phoenix’s Joker is playing in a completely different ballgame. With Phoenix, there is no hero for him to antagonize. His biggest threat is society, which isn’t exhausted in the film to the point of it being a cliche. This film is not a comic book movie. It’s part drama and part character study, and every decision that Fleck makes is pivotal to the plot. Ledger’s Joker in “The Dark Knight” is different; every time he is on the screen, it’s for a reason and extends the plot. What the “Joker” doesn’t do is glorify violence. While the film contains violence, the movie takes these scenes seriously and deci-

sions have big consequences. The film isn’t always a comfortable watch. It’s challenging and more thought-provoking than many recent films with comic influences. This movie made unchangeable decisions that not all viewers will like. It’s worth a watch for not only fans familiar with the character but also people who want an original take on the Joker.

AUSTIN.HAL L @PEPPER DINE.EDU

NICOLAS: Family-run restaurant expands to Malibu storefront FROM B1 The goat cheese salad, simple and extraordinarily fresh, was too tempting to ignore. Doused in champagne dressing and generously dusted with goat cheese, it is surprisingly filling and will leave one wanting to come back the next day — or the next meal — for more. The same applies for the impossibly crispy house-made fries, arriving in a heap of golden goodness and existing as reason alone to return. The dishes at Nicolas Eatery stand out, not by their complexity but by the quality of each ingredient and the careful execution of every dish. Fanucci and his family attend to each of their customers like they would a long-lost family member, honoring them with the best ingredients and the warmest hospitality — and a 15% discount for Pepperdine students. The journey to opening day, however, was all but simple. Faced with Woolsey Fire evacuations, which temporarily displaced the family from its Calabasas home, and elusive permits, Nicolas Fanucci said he saw no option but to adapt. “Our first choice was to give up the project and do something else,” Fanucci said. “Our second [choice]

was to figure out a way to survive.” The family opted for renting a food truck to get started until the permanent space was settled. The community’s response was outstanding. “The local people of Malibu were super supportive,” Fanucci said. “They kept coming back and helping us out with our business.” Nicolas Eatery is now open, with plans to inaugurate a rooftop bar early next year. The delightful array of plates of artful simplicity and the near-familial welcome (and, yes, the student discount) will undoubtedly have patrons coming back.

B E L E N . I T U RRA L D E CH I RI B O GA @P E P P E RD I N E . E D U

Photos by Milan Loiacono | Currents Editor Head Chef | Well-known restauranteur and owner Nicolas Fanucci works his magic at the stove. Fanucci and his wife are known in the culinary community and Nicolas Eatery, which opened September, is their most recent venture. The restaurant is already known for their lobster rolls, airy setting and beautiful food.

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Fresh Face: First-year hopes to educate Pepp community on T1D Rowan Toke

Li f e & Art A ssista n t e dit or First-year Destin Kvidera said she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was just 5 years old. “Ever since then, I’ve really focused on just getting people educated more about [diabetes] because it’s not something that people know a lot about,” Kvidera said. Kvidera, who is from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, said she became heavily involved with education on diabetes throughout high school. She started working with Beyond Type One (BT1), a nonprofit organization, during her freshman year. BT1 aims to change what it means to live with diabetes, according to its website. Kvidera said it does a lot of projects related to education on diabetes and is dedicated to educating the public. Kvidera said she had the opportunity to work with BT1 on one of its social media campaigns called #LiveBeyond during her sophomore year of high school. People submitted their stories of how they lived beyond their diagnosis, and BT1 featured one face and story every day on its Instagram. With her story, she said she “tried to get people to see that your diagnosis doesn’t confine you to anything.” As an Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) major, Kvidera said the social media campaign meant a lot to her. “I work really hard on my social media and stuff to post things to make people more aware of issues going on, like things with insulin prices and access to medical devices and health insurance issues,” Kvidera said. “Those things aren’t really talked about a ton, and they have a really big impact, especially for kids that are college age because that’s when you’re starting to transition into adulthood and become more independent.” During the summer before starting school at Pepperdine, Kvidera said a podcast about Type 1 diabetes called Ask Me About My Type 1 featured her on their “Back to School” episode.

Madeline Duvall | Assistant Art Editor “I did it with my roommate, and we talked about just living with Type 1 in college and what kinds of things to expect or what things people may be worried about,” Kvidera said. “That’s another conversation people don’t really have a lot.” Kvidera said she was grateful that her roommate, first-year Bella Jacobellis, was willing to sit down with her to talk about that topic, especially because she does not have Type 1 diabetes. “Nothing was off-limits topic-wise,” Kvidera said. “I’m hoping to open up people’s eyes to some other things that they may not realize comes with having Type 1.” Kvidera said she plans to continue educating people on diabetes while attending Pepperdine. “I would like to teach people more about the [condition] in general, and also show people how they can support and uplift the people that they know who are affected by Type 1,” Kvidera wrote in an email. Kvidera said she is part of Pepperdine’s Student Wellness Advisory Board (SWAB). Since November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and Nov. 14 is

World Diabetes Day, Kvidera said she hopes to plan something with SWAB. Kvidera said she is also involved in Pepperdine’s Green Team. “I’m really interested in just learning more about sustainability because I’m still learning a lot about that myself and that’s something that I’m becoming more passionate about,” Kvidera said. Kvidera said she also enjoys taking the Dance in Flight (DIF) community classes. “I’ve been dancing since I was really little and with that I’ve really been focused on healthy living and just promoting [wellbeing],” Kvidera said. After graduating from Pepperdine, Kvidera said she hopes to use her degree in IMC and work with a nonprofit organization either related to Type 1 diabetes or the general health system. “I think it’s super important to give people resources that can help them live a more normal and regular life,” Kvidera said. “Even though [having diabetes] really does help develop you as a person in your character, it shouldn’t confine you and restrict you in what you do.” R OWAN.TOK E@PEPPER DIne. EDU

Photos courtesy of Destin Kvidera Living Beyond | (top) Kvidera’s promotional picture for BT1 that was used in a social media campaign when she was 14. (below) Kvidera poses in front of the Roman Colosseum in Rome, Italy. Kvidera said she greatly enjoys traveling in other countries. (bottom) Kvidera smiles in a hallway of an art museum.

Courtesy of Focus Features Royalty | The official poster for the 2019 “Downton Abbey” movie shows the cast. During the movie, the members of Downton Abbey prepare for the unanticipated arrival of the royal family to their English estate. The movie comes after the beloved series ended in 2015.

‘Downton Abbey’ returns to the big screen with a royal visit R ac e Dalton Staf f W rit e r When Julian Fellowes announced the “Downton Abbey” movie, fans of the original series were more than thrilled. This extended episode of the original series was everything fans could have wished for. The movie allowed newcomers to fall in love with the series for the first time and the original fans to fall in love with the series all over again. The beginning of the film is very reminiscent of the start of the original series: an important message being passed around in an urgent manner. The Crawleys receive a

letter from Buckingham Palace, asking them to prepare for the royal family’s upcoming visit to the castle as quickly as possible. While all of this is going on, an inheritance battle between Maggie Smith’s Dowager Violet Crawley and newcomer Imelda Staunton’s Lady Maud Bagshaw ensues. Dowager Crawley’s son is Lady Bagshaw’s cousin, and she believes he should inherit Maud’s estate. However, Lady Bagshaw instead wants to give her estate to her servant, which sparks a feud between them. Former butler Carson comes out of retirement to help prepare for the

royal family visit, and a rivalry begins between the Downton staff and the royal family’s staff. Carson has always been rigid, so it is nice to see him not follow his own moral code due to his loyalty to the rest of the staff. The movie then follows all of the characters as they struggle to get the castle ready in time for the visit while dealing with these specific problems. Although the movie has several other plots and subplots that move swiftly, it still maintains a solid rhythm that does not feel rushed. The movie’s cinematography was well done and made the setting

even more beautifully shot than the series. The same setting, a similar soundtrack and the return of most of the cast helped create a sense of nostalgia and sentimentality, which were the most successful factors of the movie. All of this helped to create an atmosphere where fans could reconnect with their favorite characters while also allowing people who are unfamiliar with the show to be able to connect to the story. “Downton Abbey” allows its viewers to return to a simpler time when they first encountered the series. From the picturesque castle setting to the first notes of the

theme song building up the familiar atmosphere, fans can flashback to when they originally chanced upon the show. These seemingly minor details evoke the nostalgia and sentimentality its audience craved when the initial announcement for the film came. The characters also have the same chemistry among each other since the show ended. This is a refreshing aspect that solidifies the movie’s use of familiarity to create the nostalgic feeling. The film’s actors all have wonderful performances in reprising their characters. Smith still has the same quick wit in playing Dowager Vio-

let Crawley, furthering the nostalgia. Although it is disappointing to not see Lily James reprise her role, the additions of Imelda Staunton and Tuppence Middleton are a breath of fresh air. Arguably, if one is not a fan or has not seen a single episode of the original “Downton Abbey” show, one will not understand the movie as much. However, it still is an exciting movie that may garner new fans and spark curiosity for the series. “Downton Abbey” was released Sept. 20 and is currently playing in theaters. R AC E.DALTON@PEPPER DIne.EDU

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Photos courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics Photos Courtesy Pepperdine Athletics Get Hype | (Left) Men’s Head Coach Lorenzo Romar teaches the crowd a cheer as a player shoots a three. (middle) Freshman Majok Deng launches over President Jim Gash during the dunk contest. (right) Women’s Head Coach Kristen Dowling smiles through her introduction.

Blue & Orange Madness kicks off hoops season kar l winter s taf f writ e r

Both Pepperdine basketball programs launched their 2019–2020 seasons Oct. 11 in Firestone Fieldhouse with a display of bright lights and thrilling theatrics. Though still about a month away from their true home openers, the introduction of the teams excited a large crowd of parents and students at the annual Blue & Orange Madness spirit rally. “We have a fun style of basketball that we play, and I think the fans will love it,” junior point guard Colbey Ross said. “The more we win, the more the fans will come, but if the fans start coming now, it will definitely help us.” The Graphic had the chance to commentate the festivities and have conversations with Ross, Women’s Basketball junior guard Mia Satie and both head coaches — Lorenzo Romar and Kristen Dowling. New Faces Dowling, who returns to Pepperdine after seven years at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, and her coaching staff are entering

their first year in control of the program. Coming off a season in which the women’s program won its first and second postseason games ever, Dowling took the reins from Delisha Milton-Jones, who took a job at Syracuse. “I’m so grateful to be back,” Dowling said. “Pepperdine had a great year last year ... we return a lot of players, so we’re incredibly excited for the future.” Two members of the 2018– 2019 women’s roster transferred elsewhere and three graduated, including West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Year Yasmine Robinson-Bacote, but seven new Waves will see the court this year: three graduate transfers, a sophomore transfer, a true freshman and two redshirt freshmen. Additionally, redshirt senior guard and former AllWCC honorable mention player Paige Fecske will return to the court after a season hampered by injury. “We return a lot, but we also added a lot of experience, so we’re very grateful for that,” Dowling said. Dowling said she hopes

to implement an aggressive, up-tempo style of play that will complement the team’s speed. “I’d say the biggest adjustment would be the style of play we’re playing this year,” Satie said. The men also hope to play up-tempo, as exhibited by their fast-paced offense and three-point shooting dependence in 2018–2019, though they have more continuity on the roster. “The things that took us several weeks to teach in the beginning last year, we’re already doing,” Romar, who enters the second season of his second stint in Malibu, said. “The familiarity with our concepts and philosophy is very evident.” However, the men also have three incoming freshmen, one transfer, one walk-on senior and two redshirts who will join their fellow Waves on the court this season. From a versatile, “high basketball IQ” player in redshirt junior forward Keith Smith to a “European-style” center in Czech freshman Jan Zidek to a “high-energy guy” like freshman guard Sedrick Altman, Ross said he is excited about the new talent for the men’s team in 2019–2020. National Hype

Replicating arguably the best season in program history will not be easy for the Dowling’s women’s program. The WCC Coaches Poll picked the Waves to finish tied for sixth in the conference a year after they finished tied for third, but Dowling said the team is hungry to return to its 2018–2019 level of success. “If we give it our all, the results are going to come,” Dowling said. “Honestly, we’d much rather be the hunter than the hunted.” On the other hand, the men’s team has garnered a significant amount of national attention in Year 2 of the Romar era, coming off a 6-10 WCC performance but a 10win overall improvement from 2017–2018 to 2018–2019. The WCC coaches picked the Waves to finish fourth in the conference after they finished eighth in the 2018–2019 regular season but advanced to the conference tournament semifinals. ESPN college basketball analyst Andy Katz has been high on Pepperdine, calling them a “WCC sleeper” and routinely listing them as “under consideration” for his Power 36 list of the top teams in the country. Romar said the hype can help drive his players entering the season. “I think [the hype] adds moGet Dunked On | Sophomore forward Andre Ball clears tivation,” Romar said. “We hasophomore teammate Jay Yoon and two other team- ven’t done anything yet ... but Courtesy Pepperdine Athleticsit does make our guys see how mates on his first dunk of the of 2019 Blue & Orange Madness slam dunk contest. others perceive us, and then

Shoot for the Moon | Redshirt senior Paige Fecske fires a three-pointer during the contest. that can give you a little more with a bang. confidence.” In the final round, freshman Katz also had high praise for guard Majok Deng brought Ross this summer, calling him President Gash onto the court Courtesy of Pepperdine one of the “most entertainingAthletics as a prop. It Calvin was clear what and Wood and productive guards in the Deng was about to attempt. West.” “This is bold right here,” Ross, who conference coach- Ross said as President Gash es named to the preseason All- stood blindfolded beneath the WCC first team and is on pace hoop, praying. “You’ve got to to break Pepperdine’s all-time complete this one.” scoring and assists records Deng made it look easy, this season, said he knows that leaping over Gash as the crowd his coaches and teammates roared its approval. trust him, but he downplayed Deng became the second the hype. consecutive freshman to win “Rankings can be a good the Blue & Orange Madness thing, but they can be a bad dunk contest, defeating dething as well,” Ross said. “We fending champion Kessler Edjust try to stay levelheaded wards and another high-flying throughout it all and just show sophomore, 6-foot-7-inch Anwhat we can do.” dre Ball. Dunk Contest and Shooting Contest Though the announcement of Waves Court King and Queen, half court shots for reduced tuition (one of which glanced off the rim) and multiple dance performances interested the Waves Weekend crowd, the slam dunk and shooting contests were by far the highlights of the night. Sharpshooting junior transfer Skylar Chavez, who led the state of California with 28 points per game in junior college, started the party by draining a few three-pointers while Romar addressed the fans. “Skylar [Chavez] can really shoot the basketball,” Romar said. “[He] has a beautiful jump shot, but he can create his own shot.” Then a team of Fecske, AllWCC senior guard Barbara Sitanggan and new president of Pepperdine University Jim Gash won a shooting contest that concluded with Fecske nailing a half-court shot on her second attempt. “She practices that,” Satie said when Fecske’s shot found the bottom of the net. “She’s a bucket.” The longest competition of the evening was the dunk contest, which also concluded

What’s Next Basketball season in Malibu truly begins Saturday, Nov. 9 when the men’s team plays 2019 NCAA Tournament team UC Irvine in their home opener. The women’s team has an exhibition game against Division II Biola on Tuesday, Oct. 29 prior to their true home opener Nov. 10 against Cal Poly. Both the men’s and women’s teams open their seasons on the road against Pac-12 opponents on Nov. 5: the men at Cal-Berkeley and the women at Washington State. The men will also play USC and Arizona on the road during the non-conference season. As an intriguing season of Waves basketball nears and both teams anticipate daunting schedules in and out of the WCC, Colbey Ross has a message for Pepperdine fans. “Come out and support us,” Ross said. “Whoever comes out to the games, we appreciate them no matter what.” The new leader of the women’s program echoed Ross’ sentiment. “We need your support,” Dowling said. “We need our students’ support. We need our community’s support.” K AR L .W INTER @PEPPER DINE.EDU

October 24, 2019

The Graphic

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SPORTS

Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics Party Like it’s 2005 | Redshirt senior Chris Dilworth celebrates in Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool in the game against the University of Southern California on Saturday. The Waves defeated the Trojans for the first time since 2005 by a score of 13-12.

Water Polo conquers the Trojans Nadia Amirmokri s taf f w rite r

In a back-and-forth scoring game Saturday in Malibu, No. 6 Pepperdine overcame No. 4 USC in a 13-12 match, beating the Trojans for the first time since 2005. USC started off hot, beginning with a 3-0 goal streak with help from sophomore goalie Nic Porter. Trojans had a tight defense, forcing the Waves to make more long shots and passes so as to adapt to the aggressive style. “At first, we started off slow — we knew who we were supposed to shut down, but we weren’t

shutting them down,” junior center Coleman Carpenter said. “Then we found our ideal match ups and started to stop the individuals that we needed to, which caused their offense to crumble.” The first quarter was just a warm up. Senior Mate Toth scored Pepperdine’s first goal end of the first period. “It’s all about the communication,” Carpenter said about the team’s mentality. “We need to always stay focused on how to continue scoring and maintaining being up as a team.” In the second quarter, the team began to pick up.

The Waves forced multiple turnovers, leading to offensive fast breaks that allowed some scores. Pepperdine maintained their composure throughout the match. “Even if we miss shots, we don’t try to force plays to happen if they aren’t natural,” Carpenter said. “If we are doing what we are supposed to be doing, like our drives and plays, then as long as you’re patient, you will have the shot. We have the skills to make it happen — we just need to do it correctly.” Right before halftime, redshirt senior Marko Asic scored from the back-left side through two defend-

the week, as that meet is more traditional.” Air quality from nearby fires forced the meet to be postponed for athletes to compete solely Saturday, Oct. 12. The 8:30 a.m. start time did not deter the Waves Swim and Dive team from competing with motivation. Sophomore Paulina Holmberg finished sixth in the one-meter dive with 204.70 points, followed by freshman Olivia Stotz with 172.05 points. In the three-meter dive, Stotz placed fifth with 176.75 points. Holmberg trailed closely with 172.20 points. This was Stotz’s second time competing in the three-meter dive. She plans to do more difficult three-meter dives at future meets. “My front two and a half on three meters [was my best dive] because I

… went straight up and down,” Stotz said, “It was cleaner than usual. I think I’m competing better on three-meter than I have on one-meter.” The swimming portion took off at noon. The Waves’ first medal of the day was their second-place finish in the 200-yard medley with a time of 1:48.52, consisting of freshman Caroline Eckel, freshman Graphic staff writer Emily Morton, freshman Sarah Hamilton and junior Amy Griffin. Pepperdine had two swimmers in the top five in the 200-yard freestyle race. Junior Sammie Slater tied for second (1:55.20) and freshman Mackenzie Hamlett placed fourth (1:56.93). “[I tell myself] that I need to kick more,” Hamlett said. “Then I need to push through it, especially in the longer distance races with those signs — it’s just get to the next number.” Freshman Caroline Anderson earned fourth place with a time of 2:09.38 in the 200-yard butterfly. Morton also placed fourth in the 200yard breaststroke with a time of 2:25.47. “I focused on just different stuff — making sure that what I’m working on in practice is influencing my racing here,” Morton said. “Right now I’m really trying to have

ers, bringing the score to 7-5, with USC only two goals up. “It’s all about patience,” sophomore utility player Jake Gordon said. “Be patient and find our opportunities, wait for them to make mistakes and capitalize on them.” The Waves tied the game 8-8 in the third quarter. Not only was the offense firing up with Toth’s scores, but redshirt sophomore goalie John Claude Marco had some major saves. This included blocking a crucial penalty shot at the end of the third quarter, keeping the Trojan’s lead 8-6. “We were all on the

same page that we were going to win this game,” Carpenter said. “So when put to the test, all of our starters stepped up to the plate — everyone that went in for the last two quarters, they went in going to win the game.” Fourth quarter started off with a bang. Redshirt senior center Chris Dilworth’s second of three goals snuck by Porter after the Trojan goalkeeper initially blocked the shot. Not long after, Dilworth scored again, giving Pepperdine their first lead, 10-9. Asic increased the lead to 12-10, and sophomore attacker Balazs Kosa, leading scorer of

the season, scored a penalty shot, making it 13-10. With 1:29 left, tensions were high, teams inching for the win. USC had possession and managed to score within the last minute, which brought the score back to 12-13, Pepperdine leading by one. However, Waves ended the last 10 seconds of the match holding the ball, taking their record to 17-5. Make sure to support the Waves at their next home game, Nov. 2, against San Jose State. For more updates and information on the team, make sure to follow their Instagram @peppwaterpolo. NADIA.AM IR M OK R I@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Freshmen lead Swim and Dive to third-place finish at home ali l ev e ns ass i s tant sports e d itor What was supposed to be a two-day tournament at the Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool turned into third-place finish at the condensed version of the 10-team Malibu Invite. The two visiting Division-I teams, California Baptist University and Texas Christian University, challenged the Waves in the lanes. Following an astounding victory, 217-66, at the PCSC Relays on Oct. 4 and a 60-66 loss at the home opener to San Diego State University, the Pepperdine Waves hoped to rise above the Lancers and Horned Frogs. “San Diego State is a very good team and our goal was to race them hard,” head coach Joe Spahn wrote. “We were more focused on the Malibu Invite during

Freshmen Phenoms | Freshman Jenna Sanchez competes in a breaststroke race.

Photos by Ali Levens | Assistant Sports Editor Making Waves | Freshman Caroline Anderson takes a breath while competing in the Malibu Invite on Oct. 12. a focus on good under waters and good stroke technique. And just really, really trying to like race the person next to me.” Morton swam a 2:04.66 200-yard backstroke, barely missing the school-record time of 2:04.38. “I was really close to school record,” Morton said. “I’d like to be under; it was less than half a second, so to get that to get that next week would be awesome. I’m … making sure I’m keeping my stroke long.” Hamlett continued to place high in the freestyle races, earning fourth in the 500-yard with a time of 5:10.71. Next in the 100-yard butterfly, Hamilton’s fifth-place finish was just shy of a minute, 59.31. “The girls swim really well in just about ev-

erything,” Spahn wrote. finish, which included “As a whole we need to freshman Jenna Sanchez, sharpen up our speed, freshman Nohea Lileikis, but that comes later in Williams and Griffin. the season.” Of the three D-I teams, In the 100-yard races, the Waves received third Griffin’s freestyle place with 148.50 points, Photos53.23 Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics was good enough for a falling short to winner fourth-place finish. Eck- TCU and runner-up Cal el and freshman Jasmine Baptist. Williams placed fourth “I was very pleased to and fifth, respectively, do so well,” Spahn wrote. in the backstroke. Eck- “We were not focused on el’s 59.97 preceeded Wil- the score of the meet. [We liams’ 1:00.02. were] more focused on “My best stroke is [the] the races themselves.” backstroke because, honWomen’s swim and estly, that’s the struggle dive’s next competition of the best times,” Eck- was at San Diego State on el said. “Plus, I love it so Oct. 18. They fell to both much. [The 100-yard] Boise State University just seems like the per- 43-252 and the hosting fect distance for me.” school, 80-207. The next In the final individ- day, the Waves posted a ual race, the 200-yard loss against the UniversiIM, Morton grabbed her ty of San Diego, 113-185. second individual silver Catch the Waves in with a time of 2:09.24. action Nov. 1 at the Cal The 200-yard freestyle State East Bay meet in relay wrapped up the Davis, California. AL I.L EV ENS@PEPPER DINE.EDU meet with a second-place