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Volume xLiX | Issue 6 | october 3, 2019

Sexual Assault Communication See A4

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Student with Disability Speaks Out Against Discrimination Ma ri a Be l e n I t u rra l d S ta ff W r ite r It’s minutes before job training starts and senior Mackenzie Mazen is frantically driving her Ford Escape around Smothers parking lot trying to find an empty spot. Convinced there has to be something left, she engages in the all-too-familiar race to the last available spot.

After circling the lot a few times, she settles for a less-than-ideal spot and accepts that she will have to walk. Where many would sigh with relief, Mazen is fraught with anxiety.

She has a broken meniscus because of her Ehlers Danlos syndrome, which makes walking long distances particularly difficult.

“I remember that day, specifically, because I was in a lot of pain,” Mazen said.

Her regular selection of spots, the handful of accessible-parking spac-

es, were currently full.

“All the other spots were taken,” Mazen said.

“There was a maintenance vehicle parked in one of the spots.”

This was the first of many times Mazen noticed vehicles unlawfully parked in accessible parking spots.

“After that, it happened again,” Mazen said. “It’s happened several times since then.”

She said she reached out to DPS on multiple occasions, but the problem continued.

Mazen, who said she was tired of dismissive responses and persistent abuses, took it upon herself to document infractions whenever she saw them. She recently displayed her findings on the Freedom Wall in efforts to raise awareness on the issue after what she felt was a long period of non-action on behalf of the administration.

“After I put the Freedom Wall up, the head of DPS emailed me that

night and asked if I wanted to have a meeting,” Mazen said.

The Issue Mazen reported to have witnessed nine offenses over the course of 14 months, six of which did not come from students.

“The university has been the biggest repeat offender,” Mazen said.

Written in large font across three panels of paper on the Freedom Wall read, “Hey Pepperdine, disabled people exist on campus, and the abuse and misuse of disabled parking spots is only hurting us and making us feel like we do not belong.”

In this sentiment, she is not alone.

Tomas Martinez, professor of psychology, said the campus is currently filled with barriers and limitations that effectively keep people from coming here.

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CBD, medical marijuana remain illegal at Pepperdine, despite Farm Bill James Moore News Assista n t CBD products and medical marijuana are not allowed on Pepperdine’s campus, despite the fact that cannabis products derived from hemp are legal at both a state and federal level.

The state of California passed the Adult Use of Marijuana Act in 2016, which opened the doors for the legal growing, distribution and use of marijuana in California. Until recently, federal law dictated that all forms of marijuana were illegal. With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which federally legalized certain types of marijuana derived from hemp, conflicts have arisen that are problematic for institutions — such as Pepperdine University — throughout the country.

“Because Pepperdine receives federal funding, we have to follow federal law,” Associate Dean of Students Sharon Beard said. “While some forms of CBD are legal, we don’t want it to be confusing for our students. We believe that it is simpler and more straightforward to just not allow any CBD to avoid issues with federal funding.”

Pepperdine receives funding from the federal government and therefore must comply with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989.

To adhere to the act, schools must not

t h is we e k i n SGA

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recognize any forms of illegal drugs on campus. The 2018 Farm Bill brings the federal legality of CBD into question.

A November 2017 report by the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence defines CBD, or cannabidiol, as “one of the naturally occurring cannabinoids found in cannabis plants.” The report differentiates CBD from THC (another cannabinoid prevalent in marijuana) by saying that THC is the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, where as CBD is not psychoactive.

“CBD is generally well-tolerated with a good safety profile,” the report concluded. “Reported adverse effects may be as a result of drug-drug interactions between CBD and patients’ existing medications.”

Maura Page, director of Housing and Residence Life at Pepperdine, wrote in an email, “The residence life staff is trained to know the policies on campus, including the policy on Alcohol and Other Drugs.”

On page 22 of the Pepperdine Student Handbook, part eight of the section titled “Regulations and Sanctions Regarding Alcohol and Other Drugs” details the following: “The possession or presence of any amount of a controlled substance, as defined by federal law (which includes marijuana and related products, in-

SGA passed a resolution to add a $1,200 photo booth to the general fund for Waves Weekend.

Fri: Fri:3-5 2 ftft

Natalie Rulon | Creative Director

Forbidden Flower | Products like lollipops and oil are common forms of legal CBD. Pepperdine banned CBD on campus. cluding CBD) is prohibited on or off campus.”

Beard said if the university were to allow the legal forms of CBD on campus, there would be potential complications.

“We don’t want to be in the business of having to make a distinction between the two, since it does cause some confusion,” Beard said.

Beard added that the university is still looking into the research of marijuana to see if there can be parallels

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SGA passed a resolution to light the Phillips Theme Tower on Nov. 7 from dusk until dawn to honor Alaina Housley .

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between their marijuana policy and their alcohol policy.

“We’re really trying to see if it’s ever going to be possible for someone to use marijuana responsibly, similar to how students can drink off campus as long as they’re not becoming intoxicated,” Beard said. “We haven’t seen the research on someone using marijuana without becoming high, though.”

However, the World Health Organization report concludes that users of

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SGA discussed conducting interviews this week for the director of diversity and inclusion position.

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P E P P E R DINE GR A P HIC M E DIA | N E W S | O CT O B E R 3 , 20 1 9

THE DPS REPORTS

Go Greek!

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

Hadley Biggs n e ws a s s istant Greek life has developed a negative stigma.

There always seems to be headlines about a chapter being disbanded from a university due to various reasons. Yet there are more benefits to Greek life than negatives.

Coming to Pepperdine from Arkansas, I was worried about making friends. It was scary to move halfway across the country knowing virtually no one.

For me, Greek life was the way to ease my nerves. After rush, I automatically had 70 new friends.

The women in my chapter invited me to do everything with them.

Before I knew it, I always had someone to sit in the Caf with me or to study in the library with.

Greek life has a number of other benefits.

“Greek life is linked to high grades and community service,” Thom Patterson wrote in his article “What to know before pledging a fraternity or sorority,” published Aug. 22, 2018 on CNN. Greek life encourages students are to keep their grades up and to focus on their academics. Some chapters have an officer position dedicated to ensuring the academic success of their members.

At the end of the year, Pepperdine Panhellenic hosts an awards banquet, and one of the awards is the highest chapter GPA. This is a coveted award.

Delta Delta Delta, my sorority, was the most recent winner of this award.

Another benefit to Greek life is the connections it brings.

When I was in Washington D.C. two summers ago, I was able to connect with someone at an organization that I was fond of just because we both were members of the same sorority.

“Networking might be the most obvious factor of such a large body of people,” Taylor Sienkewicz wrote in her article “How to Use your Fraternity and Sorority Affiliation to Further your Career,” published Oct. 5, 2018. “While you connect with your peers and build relationships in that way, you also are able to connect with alumni.”

As you advance in your college education and your career, these connections can become increasingly valuable for landing interviews, listing references or getting letters of recommendation.

Greek life has been a transformational aspect of my college career. It has helped me develop in many ways, but it has also given me invaluable friendships.

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09/26/19 8:55 a.m.

Crimes: Larceny/TheftPetty Theft of Keys Location: Firestone Fieldhouse

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09/28/19 2:47 p.m.

Traffic Related: Hit-andRun, Non-Injury Accident Location: Drescher Campus Parking Structure

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09/28/19 11:04 p.m.

Alcohol Related: Possesion of Alcohol on Campus Location: Feltman White House

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09/27/19 1:51 a.m.

Alcohol Related: Drinking/Intoxication on Campus Location: Huntsinger Academic Center

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09/29/19 12:17 a.m.

Fire/Hazards: Gas Leak, Outside Location: Seaside Residence Hall

UPCOMING EVENTS THIS SEMESTER What: v e r sa-style dance co mpa n y WheN: 10 /5 Wher e: s mother s

What: the great global internship bake-off When: 10/10 Where: drescher campus

Wh at: blue a nd orang e madness Wh e N: 10/11 Wh e re : fir est one f i el dhouse par kin g l ot

W hat: red c ros s b l ood dri ve W he N: 1 0/ 1 9 w he r e : Howard a. Wri g ht C ent er

W hat: J ob s hadow day W he N: 1 0/ 3 0

c onvo c re dit and othe r e ve n ts this w e e k FRI. 4

What: A t &t Case Competitio n When: a ll day Wher e: d r escher campus

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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

What: “campaign Management and Political Strtegy” davenport discussion with jim bognet When: noon Where: spp 175

wh at: W. Davi d b ai rd distinguishe d l ec t u re: an evening with as t ronau t r ichar d ar n ol d Wh e n: 5 p.m.

Wh e re : elkins au di t ori u m

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W hat: s u rf c onvo W he n: 7 a. m.

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W hat: c ommu ni t y c hap el : i nc reas i ng you r s p i ri t u al pas s i on W he n: 7 p. m.

W he r e : f i res i de room

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HADLEY.BIGGS@PEPPERDINE.EDU

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O C T O B E R 3 , 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

DISABILITY: Pepp addresses accessible parking FROM A1 “If we want disabled people on this campus, we have to be open to accommodating them,” Martinez said. “We seem to be discriminating against people with disabilities.”

Martinez, who contracted polio nine months after birth, has always had to pay close attention to accommodations wherever he goes. He said he has witnessed many things change since the start of his career at Pepperdine in 1979, but he finds improvements in accommodations have been very slight.

Sitting in his office, wheelchair by his desk, he said accessible parking remains the biggest issue.

“Three years ago, I actually fell and broke my neck,” Martinez said. “I got spinal cord surgery, and I had difficulty walking, so I started using a wheelchair around here. Handicap parking has become a battle for access. There are more handicapped people than there are handicap spaces.”

The problem only seems to be getting worse.

“I don’t know if it’s happening more frequently or if I just notice it more frequently because my health is deteriorating,” Mazen said. “I’m depending on these spots more and more.”

Like Mazen, students with disabilities have come to genuinely depend on what few blue parking spots exist on site. The seemingly innocent action of parking in a blue spot — as someone without a disability — has threatened other’s abilities to go about their daily lives.

The problem persists, Mazen argued, because of the lack of real consequences to said behaviors. Offenses that should result in a $250 fine — the minimum penalty as per California state law — instead result in a $40 ticket.

It also continues, she said, because many ignore the sheer size of the community of people with disabilities on campus.

“There’s 170 students [with disabilities],” Mazen said. “Each one of those students is a human being with a family, with friends and with medical issues and needs.”

Mazen said her main goal is to raise awareness among the student and administrative bodies, in hopes that some sort of institutional change will follow.

“There are disabled people on campus and a lot of [their] illnesses can be fluid,” Mazen said. “If you don’t see it, it doesn’t mean it’s not there. Everyone knows how hard college is, but no one thinks about how hard college is when you’re sick.”

By speaking up, Mazen said she seeks to help people understand that not all disabilities look the same. She strives

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to change the fact that the word “disabled” inherently conjures up images of wheelchairs. Not all physical disabilities require the daily use of a wheelchair.

Until a recent meeting with DPS representatives, Mazen said she considered administrative bodies to have been “quite dismissive.” Both Mazen and Martinez repeatedly mentioned that there is a latent need for putting words into action.

“They have been hearing,” Mazen said, “but I don’t know if they have been listening.”

Taking Action Mazen’s efforts to voice her concerns to the administration began before she went abroad as a sophomore. She said she reached out to Michael Feltner, dean of Seaver College, in the spring of 2017 by sending him a video filmed on a GoPro. The video documented her movements around campus when she had to use a knee scooter to aid her mobility.

“He responded, and I replied [to his email] and sent him ideas that I had and he said he was going to share my message with his peers in construction and facilities,” Mazen said. “There was no follow-up from that until spring 2018.”

Feltner declined to be interviewed for the piece but provided the following statement: “Seaver College is fully and broadly supportive of the Office of Student Accessibility and does everything possible to support the success of all students. For students with a disability, this means that we comply fully with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Further, we do our very best to be both proactive and responsive to student needs.”

Mazen and Martinez both mentioned that they feel that the university is doing the bare minimum. Mazen said push buttons for doors are constantly malfunctioning, that accessibility services are in need of maintenance and that some ADA-compliant infrastructure is not fit for use in practice. “[They] are making accommodations,” Mazen said. “But are those accommodations practical, are they working and are they functional?”

Both Mazen and Martinez also mentioned how some ramps are too steep to go down on wheeled devices — such as chairs or knee scooters — and how going up most of them is impractical and abnormally strenuous.

Mazen said her Freedom Wall post managed to grab the attention of bodies that she had previously deemed relatively unresponsive.

“It’s my last year of undergrad here,” Mazen said. “If I don’t speak up now, who’s to say anyone after me will speak

Courtesy of Mackenzie Mazen The Face of the Movement | Mackenzie Mazen spoke about her experience as a Pepperdine student with a disability and is asking the community to address accessability awareness. up. I don’t want someone to have to go through this all over again.”

Recent Developments Mazen has since met with Dawn Emrich, head of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Eric Barnes, captain of Public Safety, and Sandra Harrison, executive director of the Office of Student Accessibility (OSA) to discuss the issue.

Harrison, who described herself as a longtime “ally and advocate for people who are marginalized,” said she has found “Pepperdine staff to be responsive to student need.” She does, however, see room for improvement pertaining to staff training.

“Like most of the world, people assume that others are abled,” Harrison said. “We need to find more ways to educate the community to the disabilities represented among us, including staff, faculty and students.”

Both Mazen and Harrison said they have found DPS to be “engaged, concerned, and responsive” as they proposed sustainable solutions for what may have at one point seemed like an ineradicable problem.

Mazen said potential solutions proposed by officials included taking offenses to the disciplinary board where students could lose parking privileges on campus for violations and holding a

disabilities awareness week.

“Ms. Mazen’s post on the Freedom Wall raised awareness throughout our community to the importance of accessible spaces being available at all times,” Emrich wrote in an email.

“Public safety officers routinely conduct parking and traffic enforcement throughout campus for campus violations, such as an expired campus permit, and those included in the California Vehicle Code, such as parking next to a red curb or in an accessible space without a placard.”

Although Emrich did not comment on specific solutions to current problems, Mazen’s remarks suggest the issue is on the road to recovery.

“The meeting went really well,” Mazen said. “Authorities were responsive.”

All parties offered positive post-meeting remarks.

“I believe the Freedom Wall really pushed people into caring,” Mazen said. “Hopefully these changes will be implemented university-wide.”

For now, her request is simple.

“I just want people to care,” Mazen said. “If not for me, then for other disabled people.”

BEL EN.ITUR R AL DEC HIR IBOGA@PEPPER DINE.EDU

CBD: Expert clarifies federal law, Farm Bill FROM A1 CBD do not get high.

“To date, there is no substantive evidence as to whether CBD [or hemp-derived medical marijuana] is likely to cause THC-like psychoactive effects,” the report states.

Associate General Counsel for Pepperdine, Nada Moeiny, deferred comment, writing in an email, “Pepperdine’s Office of the General Counsel generally does not comment on legal matters involving the university.”

Robert Mikos, a professor of law at Vanderbilt University, wrote a widely-used textbook on Marijuana law entitled “Marijuana Law, Policy, and Authority,” in 2017. There is a section in the book dedicated to the

“

Pepperdine is not unusual. I cant think of a single college right now that will accommodate medical marijuana...

Robert Mikos professor of law at Vanderbilt University

regulation of marijuana on school campuses.

Mikos affirmed the university’s interpretation of the law.

“Before the Farm Bill, federal law defined marijuana as cannabis plants and anything extracted from the cannabis plant, which would include CBD extracts.” Mikos said. “With the Farm Bill, the federal government made a legal distinction between different cannabis plants based entirely on the amount of dry-weight THC.” Mikos said any cannabis that contains below 0.3% dry-weight THC is classified as hemp, while plants that contain more than 0.3% are classified as marijuana. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, cannabis derivatives that are classified as hemp are federally legal, while marijuana remains a controlled substance.

However, Mikos said when it comes to enforcement, the federal government typically defers to state law.

“The federal government really isn’t enforcing the federal ban against people that are acting in compliance with state law,” Mikos said. “Federal prosecutors care what state law says. However, if they want to, the federal government can go ahead and impose a lot of sanctions on people for possessing something, even if they’re allowed to under state law.”

Despite this, Miko said Pepperdine’s stance on CBD and medicinal marijuana is the status quo at universities around the country.

“Pepperdine is not unusual,” Mikos said. “I can’t think of a single college right now that will accommodate medical marijuana [or CBD] and will let students or faculty or staff possess and use the drug on campus, even if state laws allow it.”

Mikos said the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 is part of a larger act, unironically called the Higher Education Act.

James Moore | News Assistant Only Good Vibes | Malibu’s Cafe de la Plage offers juice shots infused with CBD on their menu alongside coffee drinks, tea and ice cream.

“Colleges like Pepperdine get a lot of their money from the federal government,” Mikos said. “The federal government can put conditions on that money.

One of the conditions is you have to keep a drug-free campus, and that means you can’t allow drugs that the federal government finds illegal — even though the federal government isn’t enforcing that ban anymore.”

JAM ES.M OOR E@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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Sexual assault incidents reveal need for increased communication at schools Anastassia kostin S TAF F w RITE R

As the Pepperdine community has seen an increase in sexual assault reporting, an online survey of 45 students conducted in spring 2019 showed only 44% of students reported they knew the process of reporting a sexual assault.

There were two reports of rape and three reports of fondling in 2018, according to Pepperdine’s 2018 Campus Safety and Fire Safety report.

There was an increase in reported sexual assault crimes in 2019 as seven reports of sexual misconduct were filed during the spring semester. Pepperdine defines sexual misconduct as “forcible rape, including date rape and sexual battery” and “sexual battery.”

One survey response read, “I was one of the seven [victims]. It’s a misguided and ill-informed process.”

Less than two weeks into the fall semester of 2019, another sexual assault occurred Sept. 5, according to the daily crime log report.

At Pepperdine, while each complaint is investigated in a timely manner, all complaints are unique, which makes the timeline for each case different, La Shonda Coleman, associate dean for Student Affairs and Title IX coordinator, wrote in an email.

“When a person files a formal Title IX complaint, they are informed about reporting options and are provided interim support, like counseling and other available resources,” Coleman wrote.

The Title IX office immediately initiates an investigation into the complaint and generates a report. The investigation is conducted by the university and is independent of a law enforcement investigation. The Title IX office forwards this information to the Office of Community Standards for assessment and resolution, Coleman wrote.

Though this process may be confusing to students who have not been victims of sexual assault, it is nevertheless important for students to understand their reporting options and the resources that are available.

Yet, only 28% of students responded that they knew of the seven assaults, according to the poll. The problem may be a lack of conversation and updates surrounding the topic, despite the fact that nearly two-thirds of all college students experience sexual harassment, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

The university’s Daily Crime Log lists recent crimes on all Pepperdine campuses. However, the

log only includes all reportable crimes and fire incidents for the past 60 days, meaning that any incidents of sexual assault from earlier days are no longer be available for the public to see. Additionally, some information may not yet be loaded into the system when someone is looking.

The Clergy Act The Jeanne Clery Act is a federal consumer protection law that requires colleges and universities on or near the campus(es). to report these crimes within two business days in a daily crime log and include the incidents in their Annual Security Report.

“It is a law that’s designed to promote transparency and accountability between students and employees and the institutions of higher education that they either attend or work at,” said Laura Egan, senior director of programs at the Clery Center.

Communication at Pepperdine

Pepperdine, along with other institutions, releases an Annual Security Report on its website in accordance with the Clery Act. “Included in these reports are incidences of sexual violence, intimate partner or dating violence and stalking, among other forms of campus crime,” Tori VandeLinde, training and technical assistance specialist of the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, wrote in an email.

Additionally, campus climate surveys are sent out to students to measure incidents of sexual violence, intimate partner or dating violence and stalking on campus.

They also measure how students perceive the help and support available on campuses.

However, these surveys are not mandatory for schools to send out, and schools are not required to share the results with the student body, Tori VandeLinde wrote.

There are two organizations at Pepperdine that play large roles in raising awareness on the prevention of sexual violence and providing support.

The Title IX Prevention Education Committe consists of faculty, staff and students that work collaboratively to create and implement awareness raising, primary prevention efforts and support, and the Student Wellness Advisory Board (SWAB).

Pepperdine’s Title IX office hosts campus-wide trainings, presentations and student programming to educate students about sexual assault, Coleman wrote.

Despite these efforts, only 25% of the students surveyed indicated they felt adequately informed about sexual assault incidents at Pepperdine.

Timely warnings that are sent out to students via email only need to be sent out when there is a continuing danger to the campus community. The last timely warning Pepperdine sent out was on March 14, informing students of a groping incident concerning non-Pepperdine student Jonathan Pope.

Some students said timely warnings are not enough.

“It doesn’t help us once it already happened,” junior Justin Rorick said.

Student Awareness

Only 44% of students surveyed indicated they were aware of the process of reporting a sexual assault.

Pepperdine recommends the LiveSafe app to students to increase safety measures. This app allows an individual to submit tips to Public Safety, request medical or security escorts and look out for friends using the SafeWalk feature. However, LiveSafe is geared toward general crime and not specifically sexual assault.

Another possible solution to raise awareness for sexual assault is the Callisto app, which helps to empower survivors, provide reporting options and allow disclosure in a way that feels safe.

Sexual assault survivors wait an average of 11 months to report their assault to their colleges, according to the Callisto’s 2017-2018 Impact Report. Callisto allows student users to immediately write and record their experience in a private, time-stamped record. Its unique matching system connects victims of the same perpetrator to identify repeat offenders.

Callisto writes on its website that “survivors can securely and anonymously store information about their perpetrator in Callisto.” Its success, however, depends on how college campuses adopt the software.

Currently, Callisto partners with multiple universities, including Pomona College, Stanford, Loyola Marymount University and the University of San Francisco.

Victims who used Callisto were six times more likely to report their assault to their school or the police than survivors who did not, according to Callisto’s 2017-2018 Impact Report.

When it Happens When a sexual assault takes place, it is important to protect the victim,

especially considering the fact that an American is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds, according to RAINN. “On the one hand, information is good to let victims know that they need to report,” said Mandy Rose, assistant attorney general at Washington Attorney General.

“On the other hand, what occurs in the media and when the public gets their hands on information is public shaming of the victims and a lot of misinformation.”

Rose recalled a case she chaired regarding a school teacher in which the victim was publicly humiliated on social media, despite the fact that much of the information was based on missing facts and assumptions, making “life very difficult for the victim.”

Another important aspect that makes rape the most underreported crime is the traditional way sexual assault information is communicated, Rose said.

“Traditionally it seems it’s not common to communicate about the sexual assault at all or in very limited ways,” Rose said.

“This is why assaults are many times not reported until years later.”

Those who experience sexual assault may not recognize it as such or self-blame and hide this information from their family and friends, according to Rose.

This emphasizes the importance of reporting sexual assaults that people hear of or witness.

Jane Smith* reported a sexual assault she witnessed while studying abroad.

“Three of us reported the incident together,” Smith said. “What prompted us was we wanted justice for the victim and not reporting it wasn’t an option, especially once finding out this wasn’t his first offense at Pepperdine.”

She recalled meeting with the program administrators, who called Pepperdine’s Title IX office.

She and the other students who reported the assault then had individual phone calls with La Shonda Coleman.

Despite the steps it took to report the assault, Smith said there was a lack of communication to other students, and she said she found the faculty’s reasons for dismissing the perpetrator unsatisfactory.

“Students were not notified right away [when] he was banned from campus for about a week before he left,” Smith said.

Another student involved in reporting the assault, Jane Doe*, recalled the abroad staff saying post-incident that men and women should not stay in the same hotel

rooms.

“I was like, ‘Wait, that’s not the issue,’” Doe said.

“If it’s someone from my friend group, I should be able to trust them.”

Whether reporting for oneself or someone else, there is the emotional cost for all involved despite the legal system providing victims with victim advocates, Rose said.

“I kept thinking, ‘I could’ve done more,’” Doe said.

At schools like Murray State University, the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is a model of a collaborative group of individuals who respond to instances of sexual violence by working together.

The members of the group include the MSU Police Department, University Counseling Services, MSU Women’s Center and the Purchase Area Sexual Center, according to the Murray State website.

The SART model has become the standard for responding to adult and adolescent victims of sexual assault, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

This approach is unique in that it balances two distinct sets of needs — those of the sexual assault survivor and those of the criminal justice system.

However, one major challenge for SART is determining the metrics by which to measure their effectiveness. The impact of SART on prosecution rates is difficult to determine due to the low number of studies and the complex number of factors that determine whether a case is prosecuted, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

The Aftermath – Communication to Students UCLA made the list as the No. 1 Most Dangerous College in America in 2011 due to a total of 49 violent crime incidents in one year, with 12 of those forcible rapes, according to Business Insider.

UCLA Senior Pakizah Fatimah said she felt like more could be been done to prevent sexual assault on campus.

“There have been sexual assaults but there is no direct communication [to students],” Fatimah said.

“It’s like the school tries to drown the whole scandal.

It definitely feels like the school isn’t transparent because we don’t receive any emails about stuff like that.”

Other schools that have dealt with repeated sexual assault scandals, such as Baylor University in 2012, have taken more active approaches to addressing improvements in the University’s Title IX processes.

On its “The Facts About the Sexual Assault Crisis at Baylor” webpage, Bay-

lor released Findings of Fact and Recommendations for Improvement documents following the Pepper Hamilton investigation.

The latest sexual assault scandal involving the Baylor University football team happened the year before senior Alexandra Plank came to Baylor. Her first year at the school dealt with a lot of the aftermath that resulted after those involved were fired.

“I think people feel more open to report things to Title IX,” Plank said. “Every teacher has to put the Title IX office and phone number on their syllabus, and at freshman orientation we all had to watch a video about consent. We also had to take an online survey.”

Though Plank said she believes Baylor is trying harder to make the university a safer space, there are still improvements to be made, including increased communication of information to students.

“There was something this year where The Lariat [school newspaper] reported on three cases of sexual assault in the dorms and Baylor didn’t tell people about it, and people were mad,” Plank said.

The school addressed the issue after The Lariat reported on it, which Plank said she believes was due to legal issues.

What’s Next?

Knowledge is key to preventing sexual assault, which is why communication about sexual assault cases is an important aspect of these often-complex issues, according to research by NCBI. “Besides complying with all federal and state laws that regulate how information is shared about incidents of sexual assault, our Christian Mission affirms our commitment to safety, equity and response in these matters, without compromising privacy,” Coleman wrote.

Coleman said Pepperdine actively works to prevent sexual violence and other forms of gender-based harm through prevention education, policy and coordinated response efforts. Additionally, all members of the university share in the responsibility to foster safety and support for those impacted by gender-based harm, Coleman wrote.

Though sexual assaults have and will continue to occur, “Even one occurrence of gender-based harm is one too many,” Coleman wrote. *Names changed to protect students’ privacy NASTASSIA.KOSTIN@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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Holocaust survivors share their stories over bread c hanna su llivan ne ws e dit or

Two Holocaust survivors shared their extraordinary experiences with Pepperdine students as everyone kneaded, braided and baked traditional Jewish bread, Challah.

Pepperdine’s Glazer Institute held the event Wednesday, Oct. 2, in the Fireside Room for students to gain insight on Holocaust survivors Lya Frank and Michele Rodri’s complex journeys during Hitler’s reign with the Nazis in World War II. Rodri shared that the most difficult part about being forced away from home was being without the love of her friends and family, as well as her freedom.

“Until you lose your freedom, you don’t know what it is,” Rodri said. “To be able to do what you want, whenever you want ... With freedom, you have the possibility to do so much good in the world.”

Junior Shaya Aguilar said this event was an opportunity she felt she could not miss. From it, she said she took away Rodri’s message on freedom.

“What she said about freedom is something I’m really going to hold on to,” Aguilar said. “I’ve never had my freedom taken away in that sense, so it’s important to recognize that every day we are free is an opportunity to stand up for those who don’t have that freedom. It’s something I want to be more intentional about.”

“

“Until you lose your freedom, you don’t know what it is.”

Michele Rodri holocaust survivor

Passing these stories down to a new generation was a goal of the event, Glazer Institute’s Program Coordinator Monica Welsh said. The official title of the event, “L’Dough V’Dough,” is a play on the Hebrew phrase “L’Dor v’Dor,” or “from generation to generation.”

“This event is very rewarding,” Welsh said. “It’s a beautiful thing for the survivors to share their stories with the students because what happened to them, it’s unbelievable. You need to hear it in person.”

Frank agreed. She said she chooses to share her story to let future generation know that it is not only something one can read in a book.

“It’s important to me that young people know what can happen and what did happen,” Frank said. “Also, what should never happen again.”

In the face of injustice, Rodri urged the students to never look away.

“I hope you all take something away from this: if you see something wrong, speak up,” Rodri said. “If you don’t, you are just as guilty as the perpetrator.”

The baking of the Challah bread, typically eaten on Jewish holidays and Shabbat, represents trial and reunion for many survivors, Welsh explained. “[The making of the bread] is a symbolic gesture for the Holocaust survivors, of them having to go their separate ways during that trial of their life,” Welsh said. “Then, no matter how many twists and turns — like the bread is breaded — in the end, they all come back together for healing.”

The Glazer Institute will be hosting their next “L’Dough V’Dough: Baking with Holocaust Survivors” on Wednesday, March 11, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room.

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Extraordinary Women | Lya Frank (L), Monica Welsh (M) and Michele Rodri (R) smile post-baking bread. Survivors Frank and Rodri spent their afternoon sharing their stories and baking with students.

Photos by Channa Steinmetz | News Editor CH A N N A .S T E I N ME T Z @P E P P E RD I N E . E D U

Braided Bread | The Jewish Challah bread represents the trial and union of Holocaust survivors. Each student baked a loaf of their own.

Healthy strategies help students survive burnout Alex neis news assista n t

As midterm season approaches, students may be in danger of experiencing “burnout.”

Burnout can result when a student is unable to manage their work with a healthy balance. Vice President for Student Affairs Connie Horton discussed burnout and strategies students can employ to avoid it during this especially busy time in the semester.

What is Burnout? “[Burnout can be defined as] being tired emotionally, physically, etc. due to stress, resulting in less motivation or energy to study or perform,” Horton said. “Students may have overbooked schedules, be prone to procrastination, may be getting sick, may not have a sustainable, balanced approach to their life.”

Pepperdine students face the challenge of balancing schoolwork with extracurricular activities, work and social life.

“Balancing work, rest and play is important,” Horton said. “Those who don’t work are likely to have trouble academically. Those who don’t rest are likely to get sick, have trouble concentrating, etc. Those who don’t add some ‘play’ and relaxation will create a life that doesn’t feel sustainable.”

A Culture of Busyness Students may get burned out when they have multiple responsibilities and duties. Junior Millie Viera says staying busy seems to be a feature of the Pepperdine identity.

“I feel like it’s just the status quo,” Viera said. “If someone were to not stack their schedule, they may feel that they’re behind [everyone else].”

The pressure, Viera said, comes from a student’s peers rather than from the university.

“If anything, [the university’s] rhetoric is more focused on ‘taking time for yourself’ and ‘focus in,’ but when you are surrounded by so many peo-

ple that you know personally who are doing so much, there is a social pressure to succeed and commit in order to have that same status as your peers,” Viera explained.

Horton’s 8 Tips for Wellness and Success Horton offered some personal advice and encouragement to students facing burnout: 1: Remember your purpose. Why are you at Pepperdine? What are your big goals? It is easier to keep persisting when you remember the “whys.”

2: Check yourself for irrational/ unhelpful thoughts, perfectionism, all-or-nothing thinking, future forecasting, etc. that can drag you down or make you want to avoid the work. Correct them with rational thinking like high standards with grace and one step at a time.

3: Remember you can do hard things.

4: Work in smaller chunks of time with small rewards between, like stretching or calling a friend.

5: Don’t overcaffeinate; it adds to anxiety.

6: Take care of your body. Exercise a bit. Get enough sleep. Eat well.

“

“I feel like it’s just the status quo. If someone were to not stack their schedule, they may feel that they’re behind [everyone else].”

Millie Viera Junior

7: Rely on positive supports, friends, family, church community and professional help (e.g., Counseling Center or Student Success Center) as needed.

8: Give time to attend to your faith, allowing for time meditating, praying, reading, appreciating creation to give you perspective and help you settle.

You are more than your performance.

Meet with a spiritual mentor if you need help knowing how to connect faith with life.

Solutions for Students Student Affairs offers programs to help students remain motivated and healthy. Their stated intention on their website is to “attend to physical, emotional and spiritual well-being and development.” Horton shared examples of what students can access for each of these needs.

“Physical well-being is addressed through Student Health Center with preventive medicine such as flu shots and treatment of illness and Campus

Recreation with fitness classes, intramurals, workout options, nap-ercize,” Horton said.

Pepperdine students may choose not to take advantage of Pepperdine’s wellness resources while still managing their busy schedules in a healthy way. Some students turn to hobbies, sports or leisure time to ease the stress of a heavy workload.

Junior Jackson Mullen said he experiences relief from stress by time spent outside with his friends.

“We’re right across from the beach,” Mullen said. “It’s nice to have a place to get away to where I can relax and enjoy a sunny day with my friends. That’s one way I deal with burnout.”

Spiritual well-being is addressed by the Office of the Chaplain and Spiritual Life Programs, which offer spiritual mentoring, pastoral counseling and club convos. Horton said to look out for new programs coming soon as a part of Pepperdine’s new resilience program, RISE. AL EX .NEIS@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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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 Caitlin Roark | Art Editor New s Ass i stants v e r n i e cova r r u b i a s 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 If the ranking determines a One Stanford study looking ed i to r degree’s value, then shouldn’t at the ineffectiveness of U.S. Ali levens the ranking be based on News rankings, summarized sp o r ts c o py ed i to r factors that actually matter

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M ed i a more valued and remembered Co u r te n ay Sta l l i n g s than a committee’s percieved

STAFF EDITORIAL

Rankings should not exclude student experience in calculations

Earlier this month, U.S. News & World Report published the 35th edition of Best Colleges in which Pepperdine University was ranked 50th, four spots lower than the previous year. While being one of America’s top 50 universities is a great thing, the method in which U.S. News conducts and determines the rankings is systematically flawed.

Carnegie Classification is the leading resource for “recognizing and describing institutional diversity.” Ranking committeees have been using the Carnegie Classification system to determine America’s top universities since 1970.

Retention and graduation rates, faculty resources and expert opinion make up 75% of the national rankings.

While all of those are important factors when deciding where to attend college and when looking at the success of a school, it leaves out essential voices and real experience.

Instead, the rankings should include current student opinion and experience.

The criteria provided by the U.S. News Report for rankings insufficiently measures Pepperdine’s eminence. Case in point, when students talk about their university the things they mention about it — like faculty-student relationships, abroad experiences,

friendships and co-curricular opportunities — are not included in the ranking.

Classification and ranking systems for colleges and universities perpetuate a society of status-conscious individuals because the rankings are the result of face value factors.

The most organic and honest way to choose which university to attend or which applicant to hire is to listen to what students, faculty and alumni have to say about their individual experiences.

“Alumni giving” accounts for 5% of the ranking and is subsequently the only current determination for reports to “measure student satisfaction.” This form of measurement seems obscure considering the degree of student satisfaction is coming from how much one is able to economically contribute. To include the entirety of student satisfaction on such a small percentage of the ranking system and entirely on monetary contribution is superficial.

Rankings have a greater effect on the students at a university than one may think.

For many, these rankings determine the worth of one’s degree or provide employers with preconceived notions about an applicant just by reading the name of their school.

national ranking.

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Caitlin Roark | Art Editor

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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Trauma taxes everyone Cam ry n Go rdon p e rs p e c t i v e s assistant

Traumatic events happen every day, and there is no doubt that experiencing trauma has an impact on one’s mental and physical health. What happens to those who don’t experience traumatic experiences firsthand?

Are the responses of those people negated or wrong?

When trauma changes the course of a person’s life, it can be hard to navigate and understand how and who such events impact. The effects of stress from violence within communities or disasters across the world can produce intense emotional duress, agitation, restlessness or anxiety, leading to secondary traumatic stress.

Within the past year, two traumatic events happened at Pepperdine: the Borderline Shooting and the Woolsey Fire. While most students were on or near the Malibu campus as these events unfolded, a portion of Pepperdine’s community watched from

thousands of miles away. This left many Pepperdine students struggling to figure out where and if their emotional duress fit within that of their peers back in Malibu. This left many students, including myself, asking, “am I allowed to feel, too?”

Secondary traumatic stress is the “emotional duress that results when an individual hears about the firsthand trauma experiences of another.” Each year more than 10 million children in the United States experience some variation of trauma such as “abuse, violence, natural disasters or other adverse events,” according to The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).

Ninety-one percent of young people today, specifically the 15 to 21-year-olds of Generation Z, are believed to have experienced “one emotional or physical symptom of stress in the past month” in comparison to 74% of adults overall, according to the American Psychological Association.

If looked at closely, in the lifetime of 15 and 21-year-olds, America’s youth has seen seven of the 10 most deadly episodes of gun violence in American history, was born into the War on Terror, battled the

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

Madeline Duvall | Assistant Art Editor debilitating effects of ecological collapse and so much more. With these events consuming the lifespan of millions over the course of the last few decades, it is to no surprise that Generation Z has accumulated the worst mental health of “any generation,” according to TIME. With the existence of information technology and social media, news of adverse events, disasters and violence allow for trauma to be shared among millions of users instantly. This unrestricted access to information enables secondary traumatic stress to spread so far between peoples that it is virtually “impossible” for researchers to “quantify [the number] of people who aren’t di-

rect victims,” according to U.S. News.

Last school year, the use of social media was vital for Pepperdine students who were studying abroad. In times of stress, social media quickly becomes the only way for many to obtain information.

However, as users post breaking news to social media, accurate information immediately can be very difficult and can contribute to secondhand stress.

For those who suffer from secondary traumatic stress, there really is no rule book on what to do or how to handle it.

While trauma is not exclusive to a certain population of people or victims, it is important to understand and respect those who have

been direct victims of trauma. The easiest way to do this is by not placing oneself at an equal emotional level of those whom trauma directly impacts. This can be done by practicing more sympathy, rather than empathy.

If one does find oneselves struggling with secondary traumatic stress or any related symptoms after a traumatic event, reach out to a professional. In terms of preventative care for oneself, try limiting time spent on social media platforms.

Share this advice with friends who may be struggling as well and remind them that their feelings are valid.

C AM RYN.GOR DON@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Pepp unmasks micro-aggression acts

Anitiz Muonagolu s ta f f w r i t e r The Black/African American student body experienced a micro-aggression this semester on campus. During the Theatre Department’s casting of “Ragtime,” a professor involved with the upcoming show handed out flyers to students with dark skin to recruit performers for the show. Students of color later voiced their feelings of confusion and belittlement as to why a Pepperdine professor would single them out in this way. This instance shows how far Pepperdine has to go in dealing with and communicating issues of marginalized groups on campus.

A micro-aggression is a comment or action that subtly and often unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a marginalized group.

Addressing these comments through communication and understanding should be done to help others learn about another culture and keep a positive atmosphere of love and respect.

Micro-aggressions on campus, like the “Ragtime” incident, can be connected to racism of the past. Take, for instance, the death of Larry Kimmons who was shot and killed by a Pepperdine security guard March, 12 1969. The shooting happened at Pepperdine’s South LA campus, and the officer received nothing more than a $500 fine for ending a young Black student’s life.

Change meal points

Kimmons’ death encouraged “White flight,” when Pepperdine chose to move from Los Angeles to Malibu, according to David Baird’s 2016 book ”Quest for Distinction: Pepperdine University in the 20th Century.” White flight is the phenomenon of White people moving out of urban areas, particularly those with significant minority populations, and into suburban areas or fringe areas.

The killing of Kimmons was an act of blatant racism and aggression that will sadly taint Pepperdine’s history. However, Pepperdine’s White flight was a micro-aggression, since instead of actually dealing with the issue, Pepperdine distanced itself from it.

Another highly marginalized group sometimes greatly overlooked on campus is international students. Pepperdine data shows that international students account for around 10 to 14% of the entire student body and stretch from about 45 different countries.

International students experience micro-aggressions in the form of neo-racism which is “discrimination on the basis of cultural difference or national origin rather than by physical characteristics alone and appeals to ‘natural’ tendencies to preserve group cultural identity,” according to Professor Jenny J. Lee in her article “International Student Experiences of Neo-Racism and Discrimination,” published by the Higher Education Journal in 2015.

International students are then forced into a cone of silence and feel domestic students and faculty are above retribution, Lee wrote. When these acts become routine, students of diversity can then

Caitlin Roark | Art Editor become numb to the subtle acts of violence.

Marginalized groups owe it to themselves to speak up against these acts of ignorance.

Change and progress are forces that propel those brave enough to communicate its message.

Being brave doesn’t require a person to start marches or speak to high levels of administration. Being aware of our comfort level and telling others the feelings we harbor about issues is how progress starts.

Be open. Be honest. Enlighten those on the issues and feelings of those who are part of the minority so that they can be expressed and seen in the majority.

So what can Pepperdine do next? Well, progress starts with everyone coming together to voice, listen, learn and discuss these issues of micro-aggressions on campus. This can be in the form of students-of-colorled convocations, making SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity), the voluntary faculty diversity training program, mandatory and even

simply taking to time to listen to friends of different backgrounds.

By banding together, Pepperdine can continue to grow and to fight prejudice and micro-aggressions against the minority.

The notion of not feeling loved or accepted on a Christian campus centered on the love of Jesus is a quandary that needs correction. Micro-aggressions are small and can spiral into larger issues of racism, discrimination and self-loathing. Yet, by beginning conversations and starting to speaking to others one-onone or in small groups can blossom into an entirely new atmosphere of acceptance and tolerance on campus. And just maybe, the entire world.

ANITIZ.M UONAGOL U@PEPPER DINE.EDU

At the end of the semester, it is common to face one of two problems. Problem one features having an abundance of meal points, while problem two is the complete opposite.

A good solution would be for Pepperdine to implement a system in which meal points are connected to students’ bank accounts. This would reduce the number of meal points that go to waste at the end of the semester as well as give students financial power.

They would have increased control over their financial system. This method would mean that they could plan how they eat in an organized manner, and never have to endure the horrific experience of not being able to afford breakfast during finals week or even worse, fainting due to starvation during a trek up one of Pepperdine’s many hills.

This system would allow students to keep the money that is left over and put it to better use. Laura Pappano, an award-winning journalist, described how “with less than three weeks left in the spring term, [the student, Asia Suarez] would need to eat seven meals a day to use up the remaining 131 swipes on her food plan” at her school, in a 2016 New York Times article, “Leftover Meal Plan Swipes: No Waste Here.”

The author highlights the ridiculousness of this amount when she states how even an athlete who works out constantly and eats a lot will find that $2,541 dedicated to just meal points is too many. This shines a light on the struggle that many college students, including those at Pepperdine, experience.

Even when the average person buys a gym membership, if they do not use it all, they will not receive a refund.

And unfortunately, consumers cannot question this because before they pay for something, they are able to read the terms and conditions, which makes it a legal and ethical transaction.

This may evoke a negative reaction among students due to the fact that many people enter Pepperdine without any knowledge of how much food they will consume or even the amount they will spend.

College is the first time the majority of teenagers leave the comfort of their homes and enter an unknown environment.

However, an argument that could be made against this new system is the question, “Can all students handle their finances effectively?” For this reason, this system could be optional.

Many people are not exposed to meal plans until they actually enter college.

This means beforehand, most students would most likely be unaware of what amount would be deemed too little or too much.

Therefore, if students decided to begin their college experience with Pepperdine’s meal plan, by the end of the semester, their familiarity with the food prices would have increased, and it would now be up to them whether they choose to start the new meal plan bank account system.

ANITA.OKOR OAF OR @PEPPER DINE.EDU

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Sustainability minor promotes a holistic perspective on climate change v er n ie covarrubias news a ssista n t The Sustainability minor at Pepperdine incorporates classes across five of Pepperdine’s eight divisions, making it the largest multidisciplinary academic program in the university’s history.

“The goal of program is to turn out students who can think holistically about sustainability-related challenges around the planet,” Christopher Doran, the minor’s founder and Religion professor, said.

The five divisions through which the minor tackles environmental issues are: Natural Science, Communication, Religion and Philosophy, Social Science and Humanities. Doran started the program in 2015. There are 44 students enrolled as sustainability minors this semester.

Doran said the program aims to help students think about environmental challenges as more than just science-focused or political-focused problems.

“People don’t realize that it’s all of those things: science, economic, political — it’s how we think about culture,” Doran said. “All of these things shape not only how we understand what the problem is but also the types of solutions that might be conceived, addressed or imagined.”

Students use what they learn in the minor beyond the classroom in on campus efforts such as the GreenTeam’s projects and campaigns.

Why Multidisciplinary Matters Doran said the participation of various academic divisions is critical to the sustainability minor’s excellence.

“This is how you actually get to addressing world problems,” Doran said.

“By throwing a bunch of disciplines together and using them.”

The issue of climate change, Doran said, is a global and pressing one.

“Regardless of nuclear war, regardless of Brexit, regardless of impeach-

ment hearings, the laws of physics are going to continue,” Doran said. “The climate is going to continue to change.

So, the planet that we are participating in now is going to look nothing like it does today in 10 years, 20 years, 30 years from now.”

The environmental impact will cause challenges of obtaining freshwater and growing food for island nations and places near deserts, Doran said. These issues lead to world and military conflicts.

Political Science Prof. Chris Soper said crossing academic divisions is important because of the complex nature of climate change.

“It seems to me that most of the important issues that we are facing, including environmental ones, are issues that don’t lend themselves to simple answers,” Soper said. “They require a diverse perspectives. I think that’s one of the real strengths of this program.”

International Studies and Languages, Fine Arts and Business Administration are the only Seaver College divisions that do not have classes participating in the program. Doran said he hopes to see that change in the near future.

“There’s been a changeover of divisional deans and some have had different priorities,” Doran said. “But we are shooting our calls about collaboration, and I’ve had multiple conversations with individuals about trying to figure out which classes would make the most sense. So we’re hopeful about that.”

On-Campus Efforts The GreenTeam is a student-run organization that hosts events and campaigns with the goal to catalyze students for environmental action, according to the group’s website.

Petra Sikosrki, GreenTeam president and Sustainability minor, said she is able to apply what she learns in the classroom in her daily life and beyond.

Courtesy of Christopher Doran Sustainability Abroad | Students pose at the Kaikoura coast, summer 2019. The New Zealand summer program gives students the opporunity to study environmental issues related to the Christian faith.

“The minor focuses more on the ethics and thought behind sustainability rather than the practicality and applicability of it in the industry,” Sikorski said. “But I think it equips you with the tools to go into the industry and apply it to real-life scenarios.”

At Pepperdine, Sikorski said she applies what she has studied through outreach to different groups on campus.

“Sustainability works within the system that already exists, and we need to better form relationships with the dining center, administration, Starbucks and professors,” Sikorski said.

The GreenTeam partners with these organizations to educate them on issues of consumption and how to best raise awareness, Sikorski said. They also help out where they can, such as by providing all of the vegan desserts for Pie with the Pi Phis.

The group plants a garden that, upon harvest in the spring, provides vegetables for the farmer’s market every other Tuesday.

The GreenTeam invites students to a gardening day Oct. 19. The organization will provide all of the crops and tools to help plant, as well as lunch afterward. For more information, follow the GreenTeam’s Instagram. Any major or minor can participate or join the club.

Sikorski said looking forward, she hopes to see Pepperdine take more action.

“If the new administration and President Gash can look at the sustainability program and its increasing enrollment as a sign that we — like Greta Thunberg and others around the world — realize that the time is now to start climate action,” Sikorski said, “then, the university would be really smart to invest more of their time and resources into the program.”

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

October 3, 2019

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LIFE & ARTS

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Together, PIT flies as it adds new members Emily Sh aw Li f e & Ar ts A SSISTAN T The Pepperdine Improv Troupe, also known as PIT, welcomed six new members to the performance group this academic year.

Comprised of two directors leading 15 student players, PIT entertains the Pepperdine community with its exciting and interactive monthly shows. Junior Indy Wilson, student co-leader of PIT, said the troupe develops versatile improv skills like vulnerability and the ability to engage an audience.

The new members are seniors Elissa Croslin and Cayla Brady; sophomores Alexander Kolm, Haley Powell and Lauren Burton; and freshman Cat Masterson.

Croslin wrote in an email that she wanted to be a part of PIT since she transferred to Pepperdine during her sophomore year.

“I think [PIT is] a great, supportive community that has fun and gets to make people laugh; you can’t get much better than that,” Croslin wrote.

Break a Leg | Cayla Brady (left) and Sydney DeMaria (right) perform in Elkins Auditorium Sept. 20. This perfromance marked PIT’s first show of the 2019-2020 season.

Auditions PIT holds auditions at the beginning of each school year. Fifth-year Evatt Salinger, student co-leader of PIT, said all PIT members from previous years have to re-audition, with the exception of the two student leaders.

Lauren Drake, a sophomore starting her second year in PIT, said PIT generally looks for students who are supportive, good listeners and ready to have a fun time.

“What a lot of people think is that improv, in order to succeed, you just need to be really funny and you need to just

come up with really clever, really weird stuff,” Drake said. “But it’s counterintuitive. If you’re trying to do that, you’re not doing it the right way.”

Salinger said the improv troupe accepts a cast of 15 people, and there is no experience required to audition. This year, PIT had about 32 people audition.

Wilson said PIT has about 30 to 60 people audition each year. The auditions consist of an initial group audition and then a call-back in the span of one day.

“The audition is a fun workshop setting, so even people that don’t

Photos Courtesy of PIT PIT Stop | Members of PIT host their annual open student workshop on April 14 in CCB 140. Students interested in joining PIT learn and develop valuable improv skills. get into PIT still, we hope, learned a lot and had a lot of fun throughout the day,” Salinger said.

Team Building and Integration of New Members Salinger said after PIT

had its first rehearsal Sept. 15, it had its first show Friday, Sept. 20.

“Three new members who had never rehearsed with PIT before were thrown immediately into a show, and that happened last Friday, and it went really, really

great,” Salinger said.

Brady was one of the new members who performed at PIT’s first show this year.

“My first PIT show was definitely nerve-wracking, but that’s where you rely on the other people performing with you for confidence,” Brady wrote in an email. “They’re all so supportive and kind and want to make you feel comfortable every second you’re on stage.”

Masterson was another new member who performed at PIT’s first show this year. She said she was involved in an improv group in high school.

“It was really scary because the people who would come to our shows in high school was maybe 30 people and here it was 200, and I was not expecting that,” Masterson said. “But it was so nice because ... the crowd was so excited and was laughing at everything, so it made you feel really good ... [and] gave you adrenaline to keep going.”

Wilson said she and Salinger are making a conscious effort this year to continue fostering a sense of SE E PI T, B 2

Book Review: David Epstein’s ‘Range’ teaches lifelong lessons Jam es Moore New s Assista n t “What are you expecting to do with a _____ degree?”

This question has ruined many-a-Thanksgiving-dinner for undergraduates. It implies more than an innocent interest in a student’s career goals. It’s an accusation: “You are studying something I don’t find useful.”

Thanks to David Epstein and his new book “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World,” undergraduates now have an answer to this age-old question. In a society where it’s unacceptable to have a major that doesn’t “pay well” or “make sense,” Epstein provides hard data for why learning how to think can be much more lucrative than merely learning what to think.

“Range” is a nuanced social commentary disguised as a self-help book. Epstein is frustrated; he thinks the status quo of specialization was arrived at without any thoughtfulness or meaningful debate.

Details from his personal life elucidate where his sympathies lie. A Columbia graduate who majored in Environmental Science and Astronomy, Epstein was writing for Sports Illustrated as a journalist just a few years later. In 2019, he published “Range,” a book that has little to do with environmental science, astronomy or sports. Yet, the book is clearly the result of all his diversified experience.

Why is Generalization Useful?

Though it may not seem like it when scrolling through a LinkedIn job board, careers that will grow in the next 50 years require more generalization and less specialization.

Epstein defines two classifications of problem-solving: “wicked” and “kind,” which come from psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Gary Klein.

“Kind” problem-solving is repeatable — it’s “down to a science.” Epstein cites golf and chess as “kind-world” problems, as someone who plays 10,000 hours of chess will be exponentially better than someone who has played 10 hours.

However, since there is a limited scope of possibilities for “kind” problems, it’s feasible to make a formula for a computer that mimics the repeatability of these fields.

Epstein writes about the master-chess player who famously lost to IBM’s Watson.

In short, the job market is shrinking for “kind-world” problem solvers, leaving a lot of room for those who know how to navigate the “wickedworld.”

“Wicked” problems are problems that have no formula. Innovators of science break rules.

They are the people who look at something from a different perspective for the first time, according to Epstein. He writes about Nobel laureates, who are “at least 22 times more likely to partake as an amateur actor, dancer, magician or other type of performer [than the general public].” This, Epstein asserts, is no coincidence.

Scientists who exercise the creative parts of their brains are much more adept at seeing scientific problems in a fresh light. Great knowledge coupled with creative problem-solving abilities gives rise to scientists who change the world.

The Problem with Experts The modern world is science-driven. However, Epstein argues that humans often depend too much on data

Courtesy of American Program Bureau David Epstein | Author for opinions, when opinions require interpretation of data.

It’s easy to think that as long as someone has an expert on their side, they’re foolproof.

Perhaps this is the case some of the time, but Epstein points out how there are times in which experts look so narrowly for facts that they miss the underlying truth of the situation, sometimes with calamitous consequences.

This sentiment is affirmed when Epstein speaks with Arturo Casadevall, a prolific scientist whose discoveries about fungus led to the foremost treatment of AIDS we have today. New York City’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine hired Casadevall to reform its curriculum.

Unsurprisingly, he’s trying to give medical school students more range by incorporating classes like “philosophy, history, logic, ethics, statistics, communication and leadership.”

Casadevall said he thinks scientists today are not taught how to think, merely what to think: “You have people walking around with all the knowledge of humanity on their phone, but they have no idea how to integrate it. We don’t train people in thinking or reasoning.”

Courtesy of Penguin Random House Publishing Key to Success | David Epstein is an investigative reporter and author who released his second book, Range, in May. His book cover shows a key ring which represents how people should have multiple keys, or skills, to succeed in the professional world.

Implications for Higher Education While reading “Range,” one can’t help but see the parallels between the data Epstein uses to argue his case and modern education.

In high school, students are supposed to have a passion.

That’s what colleges want to see. Then the student gets to

college, and if they’re not specialized already, they sure will be by the time they’re forced to pick a major.

Even after college, employers exercise the archaic idea that the best person for their organization are those who have taken the most classes in their field.

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Phyllis Yu Sta ff write r Peter Parker, also known as “Spider-Man,” wants to take a break from his busy hero schedule and just be a teenage boy for once. He is ready to get the girl, but once again duty calls in Europe. Does teenage boy Spider-Man really have what it takes to replace Iron Man? Tom Holland is back for another adventure in “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” which hit the big screens July 2 and made its DVD debut Oct. 1. The events of the film take place in the aftermath of “Avengers: Endgame,” where many well-known heroes are no longer a phone call away.

Finally, the much-anticipated sequel to “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” will now be available on Blu-ray and DVD, which means that Tom Holland fans can watch the film as many times as they want from the comfort of their home. In the DVD and Blu-ray format, viewers will have the opportunity to watch a new short film, “Peter’s ToDo List,” and enjoy many other featurettes, according to DenofGeek.com.

On the surface level, “Far from Home” is a humorous, action-packed film involving Peter Parker and his friends.

At the start of the film, the 16-yearold superhero is just a boy who wants to take a break from being a hero. His only goal at the moment is to confess his feelings to his crush, MJ (Zendaya Coleman) during their class trip to Europe.

The only obstacle in his normal teen life is the charismatic Brad (Remy Hii).

However, things do not go as he plans,

Photos courtesy of Sonay Pictures Just Hangin’ | (left) The official poster shows Spider-Man hanging from a web under a bridge. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on Oct. 1. (right) Marvel Cinematic Universe stars, Zendaya Coleman (MJ) and Tom Holland (Peter Parker), stand together as they shoot the first “Spider-Man: Far from Home” post-credit scene. as Europe needs Peter’s assistance in taking on the elemental monsters that are threatening the peace of the world.

On a deeper level, this film digs into the concept of truth found in grief, trust, the individual and the perspective of the public.

The reality of grief is emphasized throughout the film, as the loss of Iron Man has drastically affected the lives of many, and especially Peter, who grapples with the grief of losing his trusted mentor. As the hand-picked successor of Iron Man, Peter then realizes the cost of trust, catalyzing the main conflict.

On top of that, throughout the film, Peter struggles with his identity as both a superhero and a normal teenager. From the start, he questions his

capability of being a hero people can depend on, and his doubt continually grows while he struggles to live up to Iron Man’s reputation.

However, as the film progresses, Peter’s character develops, and he slowly comes to terms with his identity.

All the while, it is obvious to viewers that Spider-Man’s true identity is Peter Parker. It is surprising that all of Peter Parker’s friends were not aware of his double life, even though it did have a comedic effect.

Within this world that was desperately “looking for the next Iron Man,” truth is questioned, and appearances become deceiving.

Is young Peter qualified to take on the responsibilities of Iron Man? Is he good enough to become the next hero

of mankind? What even are the characteristics of a true hero?

“Spider-Man: Far From Home” is an enticing film perfect for the whole family to watch. Its plot is simple and straightforward. Unfortunately, there can only be so much said and done in 2 hours and 9 minutes, making the plot seemed rushed at times.

Not only is this a visually stimulating film, according to the LA Times, but it is also one that holds meaning by questioning the credibility of public perceived truths.

However, with its beautiful visuals, action-packed heroicof scenes intelPhotos courtesy Sonyand Pictures lectual questions, it keeps the audience captivated the entire time.

PHYL L IS.YU@PEPPER DINE.EDU

PIT: Troupe unites the Peppp community with humor FR OM B 1 “PIT is just my favorite part of Pepperdine, and it feels like a family — a really safe space for growing and learning and getting to play,” Wilson said.

Both Salinger and Wilson have been involved in PIT since they were freshmen. “[PIT is] a relaxing and comfortable place to take risks and to laugh and enjoy each other and entertain people,” Salinger said.

Drake echoed Salinger and Wilson’s sentiment.

“PIT was the first community that I really felt comfortable in last year as a freshman,” Drake said. “It’s … a safe space and … a place where you can really just let go of everything else and just play … — a place of rest and a place of joy.”

Drake said the sense of family within PIT adds to its success on stage and behind the scenes.

“We say ‘together we fly’ as a joke, but honestly, it’s the best way for us as a team to really bond and become a strong ensemble, both in shows and then when we see each other and support each other,” Drake

said. “You have to feel like everybody’s got your back or else no one would trust each other and everybody would be trying to get the spotlight.”

Drake said Brian Jones, the co-director of PIT, is an alumnus of PIT as well. Allen Simpson, the co-director and piano player for PIT, was the director of the troupe when Jones was a member. “[PIT] is such a cool community of people who just love PIT so much that they come back,” Drake said.

Upcoming Shows and Opportunities In addition to the monthly Friday shows, Salinger said PIT plans to add more intimate Sunday night shows. These will provide students with the opportunity to experiment with performing other types of genres such as improvised interpretations of musicals or plays and improvised standup comedy.

“Our shows are for the student body,” Wilson said. “We’re stressed college students. We just need a moment to laugh and improv is so rewarding because the audience is mak-

ing it up with them. So if anyone hasn’t come to a PIT show, they need to get in there.”

If students are interested in joining PIT but are nervous about auditioning next year, Salinger said PIT has open student workshops during the second semester of every school year, where people can rehearse with PIT and see what it is like.

PIT members and students interested in joining PIT rehearse together at the open student workshop.

PIT’s next show is Saturday, Oct. 12 at 4:30 p.m., in Elkins Auditorium during Waves Weekend.

Wilson said it is open to all families and alumni. At this show, alumni of PIT perform with the current members of PIT, and families of students get to come and see what PIT is about. “[I’m] really excited about the cast,” Salinger said. “After the first show, it’s clear that the new members are going to be stellar.”

E MI LY.C.S H A W @P E P P E RD I N E.EDU

EM ILY.C.SHAW @PEPPER DINE.EDU

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures Showtime | The PIT schedule gives the time and date of each show. Every show begins at 8 p.m. in Elkins Auditorium, except for the Oct. 12 show, which begins at 4:30 p.m.

RANGE: Author helps improve readers’ professional development F R OM B 1

Hiring based on past coursework might be fine for an entry-level position where all a business wants is someone who’s not going to screw up irrevocably. But if these companies were looking for innovators, they would’ve missed out on David Ogilvy (who didn’t attend college), Seth Godin (a Computer Science major) and Tim Ferriss (an East-Asian studies major). Perhaps this model of hiring is why the average American will have 11

jobs before the age of 50, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What’s particularly striking is research from Kiwi researcher and academic James Flynn, who specializes in IQ. Colleges, especially liberal arts colleges, often tout their success at having students “think critically” by putting them through a core curriculum of different subjects. Epstein writes that according to Flynn, though, this is not the case. “’Even the best universities aren’t developing critical intelligence,’ he told

me. ‘They aren’t giving students the tools to analyze the modern world, except in their area of specialization. Their education is too narrow,’” Epstein writes.

Flynn does not mean that every computer science major needs an art history class, but rather that everyone needs “habits of mind that allow them to dance across disciplines.”

Flynn’s research supports his opinion. He cites a study in which he gave a critical thinking test to seniors at America’s top state universities. They found that there was no correla-

tion between GPA and “broad conceptual thinking.” This might be surprising at first, but upon further inspection it’s rather intuitive: If a student is learning something from a specialist, they are going to get a one-dimensional understanding of the subject.

Specialists often lose sight of the whole picture.

Take the MIT physics graduates who didn’t know how to power a light bulb with a battery as an example.

They had spent so much time on the high-minded physics concepts that they forgot the basics. This,

while humorous, is also quite scary.

Oftentimes, scientific innovations come from a re-remembrance of fundamental principles of science. How many innovations are we missing out on as a result?

This isn’t to say specialization isn’t necessary. If someone gets a tonsillectomy, they shouldn’t care whether or not the surgeon has read “Nicomachean Ethics”; they should want somebody who went to med school and has done a lot of tonsillectomies before.

There’s a place for specialization in society, but Epstein believes it has taken too big of a place in institutions. With technological innovations, the world is going to need innovators, people who can bring a lot to the table. It is these people, people with range, who will be able to take scientific innovation and use it to change lives.

As biologist E.O. Wilson said, “We are drowning in information, but starving for wisdom.”

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Fresh Face: First-year prepares for a life of service Rowan Toke

Li f e & Art A ssista n t e dit or First-year Jakub Mierzejewski organized the Sept. 20 climate strike at the Malibu Pepperdine campus. He also planned the strike at the entrance to the Malibu Bluffs Park on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) later that day. This day also marked the beginning of the weeklong global climate strike that ended Sept. 27.

Mierzejewski, who was born in Poland but grew up in Chicago, Illinois, said he has always been passionate about climate change.

It was not until 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg first went on strike in 2018 that he realized how important it is for people to make their voice heard about such an important issue, Mierzejewski wrote in an email.

Mierzejewski said he was already interested in sustainability in high school. He was involved in the UNICEF club and the sustainability club. He also has always been interested in how the natural world came about.

“I’m really passionate about climate change because I feel this generation, my generation, is the most likely to make change and is more prominent in the way that we handle the climate crisis,” Mierzejewski said.

Mierzejewski wrote that he came to Pepperdine because of the holistic education and the mission statement, which he already lives by.

In addition to helping the planet and other people through volunteering, Mierzejewski wrote that he finds his purpose in standing up for what he believes in. Because his values are so closely aligned with those of Pepperdine, Mierzejewski knew Pepperdine was the right university for him.

Now that he has settled in, Mierzejewski said he hopes to get involved with Pepperdine International Programs (IP). He applied to the summer Fiji program because he said it is a great educational opportunity and a mission trip.

Mierzejewski said he would also be interested in attending the East Africa summer program.

Photos courtesy of Jakub Mierzejewski Demonstrators | (top) Jakub Mierzejewski and his friends protest against climate change on PCH Sept. 20. (below and bottom) Protesters rally on Alumni Park in front of the 9/11 Memorial with different signs on campus.

Art by Madeline Duvall In American politics, Mierzejewski said people have conversations about climate change but never actually experience extreme climate change firsthand. By attending international programs, Mierzejewski said he could help people, learn what they go through and experience extreme climate change firsthand.

“I think that firsthand experiencing climate change for me would be important in my journey to raise awareness for it because here in Malibu, and just in the United States in general, we tend to be more isolated and not actually experience climate change firsthand,” Mierzejewski said.

At Pepperdine, Mierzejewski’s interest in climate change led him to major in Biology and minor in Hispanic Studies and Sustainability. Similarly, he said these majors and minors led him to organize the climate strikes on campus and in Malibu Sept. 20.

Mierzejewski said his goal with the climate strikes was to raise awareness and make students’ voices heard. He organized them because he said he believes that the best way for people to make their voices heard is to strike and be seen in the community.

During the climate strike on campus, Mierzejewski said students came and made signs, and the Pepperdine Green Team had a table cloth that students could to sign to show their support.

Mierzejewski spoke to the students who walked by about the impact of climate change. Associate Professor of Religion Christopher Doran brought two of his classes to support the strike.

After the strike on campus, Mierzejewski said the group of about 30 people went to the entrance of Malibu Bluffs Park on PCH to continue the strike.

Mierzejewski said Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner, the mayor of Malibu, attended the strike with his wife, along with his successor, Karen Farrer.

After graduating from Pepperdine, Mierzejewski said he plans to go to medical school to be a physician and a surgeon, which has been his goal since before he can remember.

Mierzejewski said he believes Pepperdine is the place for him to begin his venture into becoming a physician or surgeon.

“Along with being a physician in the future and being really passionate about climate change, ultimately my

place here on earth and my meaning that I found is that I use my privilege and my abilities to help other people,” Mierzejewski said.

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W. Volleyball remains undefeated in WCC

Al i l ev e ns ass i s tant sports e d itor

Utilizing their homecourt advantage, the Pepperdine Waves secured a solid 3-1 victory over the Santa Clara Broncos on Saturday, advancing to a 2-0 record in conference play.

Not only did Pepperdine come into the match with a recent win streak against the University of San Francisco, but the visiting Broncos were shut out, 3-0, by Loyola Marymount Uni-

versity in their previous match.

“Today we just tried to focus and start off strong, especially in the beginning of the set,” sophomore libero Madison Shields said. “[We thought about] just being focused and disciplined.”

After accumulating an initial lead in the first set, the Waves set out to establish their quick-hitting and digging game against the Broncos.

The first set was in favor of the Waves when senior middle blocker

Push the Limits | Middle blocker Tarah Wylie deflects an oncoming Bronco tip Saturday.

Tarah Wylie went behind the serving line and showed no mercy. Her five consecutive serves got the ball rolling with a 9-3 lead. Wylie finished the match with three aces.

“I thought we’ve been making plays over the last two matches, but I thought it helped us to have a good start in the first set against Santa Clara today,” Head Coach Scott Wong said.

The Waves quickly finished the starting set with 15 kills, winning 25-20.

Pepperdine hit the ground running in the second set with a 7-2 run, forcing Santa Clara to call an early timeout.

The Broncos came back swinging, though, and would not let the Waves get away this time.

With quick tips and fire behind their hits, Santa Clara swayed Wong into swapping who was on the floor, subbing in sophomore middle blocker Rosie Ballo and freshman outside hitter Kayleigh Hames.

“I think the players that came in … did a real nice job for us,” Wong said. “Maybe it helped Santa Clara think a little bit more of what’s going on on our side of the net, maybe not, but I saw a little momentum change, and I think it helped us in the third set.”

Despite tying the score seven times and changing the lead five, the Waves came up short 20-25.

“We’ve been talking

a lot about being good during crunch time and to make plays,” Wong said. “Santa Clara played some great volleyball in the second set. They served really tough and put us in some uncomfortable situations.”

The ending of the second set bled into the third. The Broncos fought tooth and nail, continuing to tie up the score six times.

A switch clicked when senior outside hitter Hannah Frohling pounded it into the floor, tying Richard Photos by Courtesy Ali Levens of | Asst.

SportsDavis Editor the set 14-all. Capitalizing on two hitting errors Hit It Off | (left) Outside hitter Shannon Sculmade by the Broncos, the ly slams down one of her eight kills against Waves got their spark a Santa Clara blocker. (right ) Middle blocker back.

“I think we picked up Rosie Ballo extends her hand over the net for our communication and a tip in the second set Saturday. talked aboutCourtesy even theof Pepperdine Athletics Sheridan Davis littlest things,” sopho- really set up kind of the and also contributed to the more opposite hitter Ra- ease of the rest of the team’s 25-19 victory. chel Ahrens said. “When match.”

“I think [freshman you do that as a team, The final set began setter Isabel Zelaya] did it works well. You work with kills by Frohling have some trouble findwell together, and you’re and technical errors on ing my right side and all on the same page, so it the other side of the connecting, but today looks awesome.” court, leading to an al- worked so good,” Ahrens Seven kills and two most identical start as said. aces later, Pepperdine de- set one.

As the Waves prepare feated Santa Clara 25-21 The Broncos managed for their first road conand was ready to stomp to get within two points ference match against the Broncos out in four. early on, but that was San Diego on Oct. 3, “It’s not so much the as close as they got. The Wong said the team beginning of match- seven serves adminis- needs to get better over es, but it’s a middle and tered by junior outside time to have success. end of matches,” Wong hitter Shannon Scully “We have to get betsaid. “I thought we did assisted in establishing a ter in a lot of things,” a nice job against San whopping 10-point lead Wong said, “[like the] efFrancisco, game three, over the Broncos. ficiency in our offense and [made] some great “I think we were serv- [and] defense [and] just plays — and then the ing really well today,” not giving up easy plays same thing today, in San- Frohling said, “and [San- [or] easy points. The one ta Clara game three, we ta Clara is] a really good thing we have focused made some really crucial serving team.” Frohling a lot on is being great plays to break open the ushered 19 kills this in critical times, and I middle of the match. It match. [think] we’ve done that.” was all those plays that Five of Ahren’s 14 kills AL I.L EV ENS@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Pac-12 won’t have a CFP team once again aust in h all staf f w rite r

It has been 1,006 days since the Pac-12 scored a point in the annual College Football Playoff.

The Alabama Crimson Tide’s rout of the Washington Huskies on New Year’s Eve 2016 was the self-proclaimed Conference of Champions’ last taste of playing on college football’s biggest stage.

Despite having a handful of promising teams this season, the Pac-12, or collection of 12 Division I teams along the Western United States, will again be absent in the four-team race. Recruiting, coaching and failure to produce a frontrunner are the biggest reasons college football fans won’t see their favorite West Coast teams play against the powerhouses of the past few years. Here’s a look at a few of the top teams in the Pac-12 and some of their glaring problems.

Exhibit A: The USC Trojans It’s not because J.T. Daniels got hurt. It’s not even because unknown-turned-overnight sensation Kedon Slovis got hurt. USC’s biggest problem comes from outside the field, and it’s Head Coach Clay Helton.

Helton has a 35-19 record at the university.

Twenty of those wins

were largely because of future first-round pick Sam Darnold, and Helton currently has a record of 8-9 since Darnold left the school with two years of eligibility remaining. It doesn’t help that his contract buyout is reportedly $15 million, meaning the university would have to swallow that if they fired him.

Right now the Trojans are 3-2 and down to their third-string quarterback after Daniels tore his ACL and meniscus in the season opener. After a masterful performance the following week vs.

Stanford, Slovis suffered a concussion the week after that in the first quarter of the Utah game. That left the Trojans with one scholarship quarterback on the roster, redshirt junior Matt Fink.

Fink, in similar fashion to Slovis, was dazzling in his first real game experience as he beat an at the time 10thranked Utah team that was the conference’s best shot at making the playoff. Fink followed up the outing with a disappointing 28-14 loss versus Washington, where he threw two interceptions in the red zone.

With Slovis cleared to return to non-contact practice this week and USC entering their bye week, the quarterback should be set to return Oct. 12 at Notre Dame, currently No. 9 in all of college football. Expect the Trojans to go 5-2 for

schedule with Washington and USC. If they go undefeated for the rest of the year, they have a slight chance to make the playoff.

It seems extremely unlikely, considering Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Clemson and Oklahoma could all lose a game and still be voted in over the Ducks.

Exhibit C: The Cal Bears (and Their Short but Sweet Cinderella Story)

Natalie Rulon | Creative Director the rest of the season, which is admirable, but it’ll be the loss to BYU that gives the Trojan faithful the biggest headache as it changed the landscape of the season far more than the injuries.

Exhibit B: The Oregon Ducks USC’s biggest problem is one of Oregon’s biggest strengths — the head coach. Mario Cristobal has asserted himself as a force in the conference after going 9-4 in his first season. Perhaps Oregon’s biggest challenge this season was their first game of the season, a neutral site contest versus the Auburn Tigers. The Ducks lost on a last-minute touchdown after leading the entire game.

While Auburn has climbed from No. 16 to No. 7 in the country

since then, they are not serious contenders in the SEC that boasts Alabama, Georgia and LSU. Why does this matter for Oregon? Because they lost to a team that will probably end up going 8-4 while the Ducks could compete for the Pac-12 Championship.

This creates an undeniably bad look for Oregon and the rest of the Pac-12, just like how Auburn beat Washington to start the season last year, only for the Tigers to finish 7-5 while the Huskies were a three-loss Pac-12 Champion. Winning the conference didn’t matter for the playoff selection committee because they couldn’t hold their water out of conference.

Oregon could be on the exact trajectory. They sit at No. 13 in the latest ranking, but they play the Cal Bears on Sunday and have two tough road games remaining on the

Cal was a team that almost nobody saw coming. They were unranked in the preseason and were down to UC Davis in the first quarter of their season opener.

After beating Davis, they traveled to Washington, who was No. 14 in the country.

The night game kicked off at 7:30, suffered a weather delay for 2 1/2 hours, resumed at 10:30 and then ended around 1:30 a.m. The time wasn’t the most shocking part; it was how the Bears were able to beat the Huskies off a last-second field goal.

After beating Ole Miss two weeks later, they exploded into the rankings, landing at No. 15, and many analysts thought that they were a legitimate contender.

The hype train stopped at the station Saturday vs. Arizona State, when starting quarterback Chase Garbers suffered an upper-body injury that will have him miss

the rest of the season. Cal couldn’t hold off the Sun Devils, and their chances of winning the Pac-12 have vanished. It was fun while it lasted.

Exhibit D: The Washington Huskies For Cal, beating Washington will be the highlight of their season. For Washington, losing to Cal might end up being unforgivable. Beating USC on Saturday is their only significant win.

Their two biggest games the rest of the season are Oregon and Utah, and they’ll play both in their home stadium.

Aside from the one loss, Washington’s offense has been sensational. Georgia transfer quarterback Jacob Eason is completing 71% of his passes with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. If they win out, their situation is the same as Oregon. They have a slight chance, and it’s only if one of the top five teams loses a shocking game.

Ultimately, the Pac-12 will not have a playoff contender in this year’s crop. It’s not because of an anti-Pac-12 agenda, or that the committee favors the Alabamas and Clemsons of the world. Their on-the-field product continues to be inferior, and until that’s corrected, the conference will continue to strive for the Rose Bowl, not the College Football Playoff.

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Courtesy of Ricky Davis Sweet Victory | Senior Ashley Lahey plants one on her championship cup during the Oracle/ITA Masters trophy presentation at Malibu Raquet Club on Sunday afternoon. Lahey defeated UCLA redshirt senior Jada Hart in the final to claim the championship trophy.

Senior becomes first Wave to win Oracle/ITA Masters Kar l W inter staf f w rite r

In the five years that Pepperdine has co-hosted the esteemed Oracle/ ITA Masters tournament, no Wave has ever won a title of any kind.

That changed early Sunday afternoon at Malibu Racquet Club, as Pepperdine senior Ashley Lahey dominated the women’s singles final 6-3, 6-0 against UCLA redshirt senior Jada Hart.

Lahey said the keys were “play[ing] loose” and “swing[ing] free.”

“There’s so many nerves you have to deal with in a final,” Lahey said. “I just didn’t want to put that kind of pressure on myself.”

Lahey, the 14thranked player in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) preseason national rankings, defeated two national top 10 players and a top five freshman en route to the title.

New President of Pepperdine University Jim Gash even attended Lahey’s quarterfinal, semifinal and championship match victories.

“Ashley [Lahey] was unbelievable,” Gash said.

“I don’t think there’s a person in the country that could have beaten her today.”

Hart was ranked No. 9 in the country, but Lahey broke four of Hart’s final five service games and held all of her own service games, winning the match in a brisk 62 minutes.

Lahey’s serve was nearly unstoppable and her forehand was solid, but she said the best part of her game was mental.

“My confidence just kept getting going up and up, and [Hart’s] confidence started to go a little bit down,” Lahey said.

“Usually, we have really long grind matches together, so it was interesting today to actually pull through that quickly.”

The tournament brought the top players (one man, one woman) from each NCAA Division 1 athletic conference to Malibu. Essentially, Pepperdine Athletics partners with Oracle, the ITA and Malibu Racquet Club to kick off the fall tennis season with a high-caliber meeting of top competition. Since 2018, each player in the tournament also plays in a rare mixed doubles draw.

As host, Pepperdine received a few automatic entries to the tournament, so fifth-year senior Jessica Failla, the No. 32 women’s player in the country, joined Lahey in the women’s draw, and sophomore Corrado Summaria entered the men’s field. It was the collegiate season-opening tournament for each of the three Waves.

“We were really appreciative of the opportunity that we had with a wild card because of Pepperdine co-hosting the event,” Men’s Tennis Head Coach Adam Schaechterle said. “I thought [Summaria] did a really good job of taking advantage of the opportunity.”

Summaria, who entered the Masters unranked by the ITA, destroyed No. 63 Zdenek Derkas of Fresno State in straight sets Thursday and then upset No. 16 Hady Habib of Texas A&M 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 on Friday at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center.

The Italian battled in the quarterfinals Friday afternoon but fell 7-5, 6-3 at the hands of No. 23 Alex Brown of Illinois. “[Summaria] has been

much more consistent this fall in his practice habits, and his work dayto-day has been really consistent,” Schaechterle said. “His match play reflected that.”

Summaria and three Pepperdine Men’s Tennis teammates will travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the ITA All-American Championships, which begins Oct. 5 with qualifying rounds. It will be the season opener for returning No. 1 singles player and senior Adrian Oetzbach. Additionally, three Waves, including two freshmen, will travel to the Aztec Fall Invitational.

“We have four or five players that are playing very well,” Schaechterle said. “They all take confidence from [Summaria’s] performance, beating one of the top players in the [Southeastern Conference] in the second round.”

Like Summaria, Failla cruised through her Thursday first round match at the Oracle/ITA Masters, crushing Liberty’s Kalani Soli 6-1, 6-1 at Pepperdine.

In the second round, Failla met Georgia sophomore Katarina Jokic,

the No. 1 ranked player in the nation. Though Failla held close at the outset, she fell 6-3, 6-2.

“We were actually excited that she was going to get to play [Jokic],” Women’s Tennis Head Coach Per Nilsson said.

“We both thought after the match that [Failla] played a little timid; she needed to go after it a little bit, and that was the difference in the match.”

Despite the loss, Nilsson said he is excited for the remainder of the season for both Failla and Lahey in their final year in the blue and orange.

“This is the first time in the fall that [Lahey and Failla have] come in healthy, and that’s a big change from the past,” Nilsson said. “We’re able to get off to a good start training, playing some good matches, and I think that’s going to be a big difference.”

Lahey, who was the 2018 NCAA Championships Singles runner-up as a sophomore, certainly started off her season on the right foot, as she even avenged her 2019 NCAA Round of 32 loss in this tournament.

Lahey defeated No. 4 Alexa Graham of North

Carolina, who defeated Lahey in May in Orlando and earlier Friday in mixed doubles, in straight sets in the quarterfinals. “[Graham] is an amazing player,” Lahey said.

“To play her again, I knew I had to be ready. I think I prepared pretty well for that match. When I got out there, I just fought for every point.”

Lahey beat UCLA freshman Abbey Forbes in straight sets in Saturday’s semifinal at Malibu Racquet Club to become the third female Wave to make the Oracle/ITA Masters final, following Luisa Stefani in 2016 and Evgeniya Levashova in 2018.

She was the first Wave to leave with the big trophy.

At 5 feet 11 inches, Lahey is an intimidating figure on the court, but post-match, the 19-yearold senior was all smiles.

“I want to go out and enjoy every second of being on court,” Lahey said. “This is my final year with an incredible team with an incredible coaching staff at an amazing university, and I just want to enjoy that.”

K AR L .W INTER @PEPPER DINE.EDU

Photos Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics

Photos courtesy of Jacob Dye Laser Focus | (Left) Fifth-year senior Jessica Failla looks across the court at her opponent during the Oracle/ITA Masters Tournament at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center; (Right) Sophomore Corrado Summaria strikes a forehand hit during a tournament match at Pepperdine.