Pepperdine Graphic 2-14-19

Volume xLVIII | Issue 15 | PEPPERDINE-GRAPHIC.COM | february 14, 2019

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2 MORE SEXUAL CRIMES REPORTED totaling

5 IN THis SEMESTER

Kaelin Mendez | Photo Editor Spreading the Love| A sign hangs in front of campus, signed by students, faculty and staff. SGA encouraged the community to sign multiple posters sharing God's love to contrast the hate spread by the church group protesting.

Other efforts to share love included wearing orange apparel, to show Pepperdine spirit and unity during this time.

see a2 for more

CHURCH GROUP PROTESTS PEPP kay iu w o ng a s si g nm ent edi tor emily t enc er g ues t contr i bu tor

Editor's Note: PGM is committed to not name the group of protestors.

PGM decided to omit the group's name from coverage so as not to give this group unwarranted publicity.

Four protestors from a church group picketed outside Pepperdine's main entrance on Seaver Drive on Monday morning from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The demonstrators held up signs with slogans such as "God sent the shooter" and "Christians caused abortion by winking at divorce, remarriage & 'gays'" while singing songs with anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-media themes.

University officials were aware of the group's plan to protest outside campus and were in contact with local authorities to prepare for their arrival. The university stated in a press release Thursday that they stand firmly against “the group’s message and practices of hatred and hostility."

Around a dozen students came to see the protestors during the 30 minutes they were demonstrating.

Some students talked to the protestors directly, while some just went to watch.

There were no counter-protest efforts from Pepperdine students.

Nine deputies from the Lost Hills Sheriff 's Station came to campus to "make sure everything

went peacefully," Deputy Heather Parks said.

Parks said the protestors contacted the station and requested their presence along with the university.

"Our sole purpose of being here is really to protect their rights, as well as anybody else's rights that wanted to be involved in this protest," Parks said.

SGA and the Office of the Chaplain hung up three large banners that read “God LOVES. Period” outside the entrance signs to the campus Monday morning. The posters were filled with signatures from community members who signed their names as a sign of solidarity against the protestors' messages and beliefs about

Pepperdine.

After Pepperdine administrators sent a press release Thursday to notify the community about the protest, students put up a display on the Freedom Wall Saturday that called for more support from the university for the LGBTQ+ community on campus – a group that the protestors are known for criticizing and speaking harshly against.

Monday morning, the display was covered over by papers that were arranged in the shape of a cross. The papers featured slogans such as "Promote love, not sin" and "Tolerance ≠ Love."

Pepperdine Law School student Marisa Martin said she has heard about the group in the past through vari-

ous media platforms and went to the protest Monday to hear why they believe what they believe.

"I know there are always two sides to every story so I just wanted to get their side and talk to them in general," Martin said. "I just really wanted to [...] converse with them to see if are they truly just like us or are they the type of people the media portrays them to be."

After talking to one of the protestors, Martin said she believes they both came away "with a new experience." "[One of the demonstrators] was very powerful in what he believed in," Martin said. "I personally don't agree with all of the things, but he said it in a normal man-

ner. He was very respectful to me."

Juniors Nathan Heard and Noah Racey said they went to the protest because they wanted to see how the demonstrators would visually show their beliefs.

"I think it's interesting to capture the mood and see for yourself the energy of people who are, you might say, this crazy, this hateful, this fanatic about something," Racey said. "I didn't want to give them any attention, didn't want to be too loud about it, but I wanted to see what was going on for myself."

Heard said he wore orange to the protest and around campus Monday to show unity with other community members

SEE protest, A3

Pepp students involved in PCH car crash At least 11 Pepperdine students were involved in the crash, including members of the Men's Basketball Team and Dance in Flight.

Earlier that evening, the Men's Basketball Team won against University of San Diego and Dance in Flight concluded their final performance.

Nearby hospitals treated students for various injuries. Of the students who sustained serious injuries, all are in stable condition.

The Graphic continues to report on the cause of the incident.

ar ac eli c r escencio g new s pr oduce r madel eine carr new s edi tor Students are still recovering from an multiple-vehicle crash on PCH late Saturday, Feb. 9.

LA County Sheriff's deputies arrested one male suspect on suspicion of driving drunk.

The crash happened at 11:21 p.m. at 19812 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu between the restaurants Cholada and Duke's.

Deputies have not confirmed the number of vehicles involved, but witnesses estimate up to six.

this week in SGA

1.

the waves report

SGA approved the funding of new floor in the Firestone Fieldhouse weight room. The project will take place over the summer and be completed by fall semester.

fri: 3-5 FT

Stopped Traffic | Cars back up on Pacific Coast Highway after a car accident involving multiple vehicles halt both lanes of traffic late Feb. 9. The accident involved at least 11 members of the Pepperdine community, including players on the Men's Basketball Team and dancers in Dance in Flight.

LA County Sheriff's deputies arrested one male suspect under suspicion of driving drunk.

Courtesy of Maggie Davis

2.

SGA talked about working with the library to increase hours on the weekends and funding a sound masking project with a design and construction team.

AR AC EL I.C R ESC ENC IO@PEPPER DINE.EDU M ADEL EINE.C AR R @PEPPER DINE.EDU

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SGA discussed changes to the Oasis Noodle Bar in the Cafe. SGA is working with the Food Committee to offer new or different options of noodles.

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sun: 2-3 FT

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THE DPS REPORTS

Embrace the bad

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

1 mary cate long m a n ag i n g e di t or When you were a kid, did you ever play the classic “keep the beach ball underwater” game?

I did. For some reason it was such an irresistible yet impossible challenge: to fully submerge this bloated, flashy ball under the water for as long as possible.

I would jump onto it from the diving board, try to balance my weight sitting on it or perhaps attack by swimming below, attempting to drag it down into the pool’s depths.

Despite my valiant and strangely determined efforts, I never was successful for long. After all, a beach ball is a beach ball and the one thing they do best is buoyancy.

A little bit older now, I still play the beach ball game, but in a much different (and less fun) way. I am generally a both positive and busy person, which results in a tendency to stuff negative feelings beneath the surface.

I don’t think I’m the only one either.

At Pepperdine, there is an overabundance of sunshine and schedules.

Driven, pretty people flutter around campus talking about the internship they just landed or maybe their modeling gig in Hawaii last weekend. Many people here are actually really kind, as well as driven and attractive. But behind the flawless resumes and white smiles, every person has less-than-Malibu-perfect emotions and situations.

I think a lot of us try to stuff these things down because we either don’t have time to deal with the bad things, or maybe because we are too scared.

However, not one of us has the capacity to indefinitely ignore the negative aspects of life. The harder you fight to keep them down, the more violently they break through the surface.

Thankfully, I learned a valuable lesson in my childhood pool game days that I can share with you now: the only way to truly win the beach ball game is to let the ball float to the surface, hold it in your hands for a moment and, when you’re ready, let it drift away. The sun will wither it without any help from you, if you give it a chance.

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2/2/19 11:48 p.m.

Crimes: Alcohol-Related/ Non-Criminal - Individual(s) Drinking or Intoxicated on Campus// Alcohol-Related/Non-Criminal - Possession of Alcohol on Campus // Assault/Battery - Sex Crimes - Sexual Battery // Assault/Battery Simple Battery or Fighting // Disorderly Conduct // Drug-Related - Possession of Drug Paraphernalia // Drug-Related - Possession of Marijuana Location: Seaside Hall

2 NEW CASES OF SEXUAL CRIME REPORTED m a de le i n e c a r r ne ws e d i t o r These are the fourth and fifth sexual crimes reported this semester (see incidents 1 and 3). The first report, published in the Jan. 24 edition of the Graphic, was one of “forcible rape, including date rape and sexual battery.” According to the report, the event took place Jan. 15 and was reported to DPS on Jan. 16. The second report, published in the Jan. 31 edition of the Graphic, was one of “sexual battery.” According to the report, the event took place Jan. 14 and was reported to DPS on Jan. 25.

The third report, published in the Feb. 7 edition of the Graphic, was reported Jan. 28 but took place Oct. 10, 2018 and was a case of “sexual battery.”

2/7/19 1:37 p.m.

Crimes: Larceny/Theft Grand Theft of Property Location: CCB

All three incidents are “under investigation,” according to the university. The Feb. 2 report has been forwarded to the Office of Community Standards, according to Alex Forero, the university’s Public Relations manager. While sexual assault is “any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient,” sexual battery is “an unwanted form of contact with an intimate part of the body that is made for the purposes of sexual arousal, gratification or abuse,” and can include intimidation or threats, according Drescher (North) to Her Campus at VCU.

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2/7/19 4:58 p.m.

Crimes: Assault/Battery Sex Crimes - Sexual Battery Location: Lausanne Campus 2/8/19 12:13 p.m.

Crimes: Larceny/Theft - Theft from Building, Burglary Location: E. Pengilly House

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2/8/19 12:13 p.m.

Crimes: Alcohol-Related/ Non-Criminal - Possession of Alcohol on Campus // Drug-Related - Possession of Marijuana Location: J. Pengilly House

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Alumni field (South)

UPCOMING EVENTS THIS SEMESTER What: me n ’s basketball vs. pac ific when: 3/ 2 Wher e: fire s tone fieldhouse

Wh at: cur ator talk: paul mar tineau Wh e N: 3/4 Wh e re : sur fboar d r oom

What: the impor ta nc e of giving Whe N : 3/5 Whe re : weisman m u s eu m

W hat: j es s i c a l ang danc e W he N: 3 / 5 W he r e : s mot hers t heat re

W hat: f i ndi ng b al anc e W he N: 3 / 6 W he r e : el k i ns au di t ori u m

c onvo c re dit and other e ve n ts this we e k

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What: c e le br ation chapel When: 9 a .m. and 10 a.m.

Wher e: a m ph i theater

Wh at: spanish chapel Wh e n: 10:10 a.m.

Wh e re : stauffer chapel

What: ger man chap el Whe n: 10 a.m.

Whe re : stauffer c hap el

What: guita r r ecital #5 When: 3 p.m.

Wher e: ma lib u public libra ry

Wh at: wellness week chapel Wh e n: 6 p.m.

Wh e re : fir eside r oom

What: black is not a monolyth Whe n: 7 p.m.

Whe re : Fir eside R oom

Wh at: ar tist talk and demo: gibson/mar telli Wh e n: 6 p.m.

Wh e re : sur fboar d r oom

What: out of many fai t hs : r eligious diver sity and the amer ican pr omi s e Whe n: 5 p.m.

Whe re : elkins aud i t ori u m

WEDS. 20

W hat: wednes day c hap el W he n: 1 0 a. m.

W he r e : f i res t one f i el dhou s e W hat: c hi nes e c hap el W he n: 1 1 : 05 a. m.

W he r e : c c b 3 4 0

THURS. 21

W hat: arab i c c hap el W he n: 2 : 3 0 p. m.

W he r e : P L C 1 04 W hat: women’s b as k et b al l vs. pac i f i c W he n: 7 p. m.

W he r e : f i res t one f i el dhou s e W hat: di e f l edermau s W he n: 7 : 3 0 p. m.

W he r e : s mot hers t heat re

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PROTEST: Pepp responds to hate F R OM A 1

against the group’s rhetoric.

“I think the university responded really well because they said it is better to not go and give them the attention, but if you do go, here are some ways to show solidarity like wearing orange,” Heard said.

SGA encouraged Pepperdine students and staff to wear orange Monday to “visibly stand in opposition to hatred” in an email from SGA President Austin Welch to the student body Friday.

“We wanted to stand in unity and in solidarity with our community because what a lot of what [the protestors] do is wear black to protest funerals for fallen veterans or soldiers, as well to these events,” Welch said. “We didn’t want to associate or be anything similar to them, so we decided blue and orange, we’re Pepperdine, so we’ll do orange because that stands out.”

KAYI U.WONG@ P E P P E R DINE . E DU EMI LY.TENCER@ P E P P E R DINE . E DU

Signs of the Times| Protesters carried around signs, containing messages targeted at the LGBTQ+ community and deragatory speech. Some of the posters read “GOD’S WRATH IS REVEALED,” and “NO SIN ENABLERS GO TO HEAVEN.” One of the signs said “GOD SENT THE SHOOTER” and referenced two Bible verses underneath, Ezekiel 5:17 “Plague and bloodshed will sweep through you, and I will bring the sword against you” and Amos 3:6 “When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?” Students also came and spoke with protestors, asked them questions or chose to watch from afar.

Photos by Kaelin Mendez and Milan Loiacono

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Music Strong unites Thousand Oaks as hley mo w r eader n ew s as si stant The Thousand Oaks community united around a night of music and love Feb. 10 to benefit Borderline survivors and families of victims.

“Nov. 7 didn’t change 12 families [or] 140 young college kids,” Tim Hagel, Thousand Oaks chief of police said during the concert. “It changed a community and brought us together.”

On Nov. 7, 2018, 12 individuals lost their lives at Borderline Bar and Grille after a mass shooting took place, injuring countless more.

The Music Strong Borderline Victims Benefit Concert raised money for the 12 families who lost loved ones and also for survivors of the event, many of them college students.

Thousand Oaksbased music producer Mikal Blue of Revolver Recordings organized the concert, bringing together various artists he’s worked with like Colbie Caillet, Jason Mraz, Rita Wilson and more. All proceeds from the concert went directly to the victims’ families and survivors of Borderline through the Ventura County Community Foundation, according to the venue’s website.

“Every performer this evening has gracious-

ly offered their time to help this community,” Blue said during the concert. “It took Jason Mraz two minutes to respond to my email [to be part of the concert].”

Bank of America even donated the venue, the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, free of charge for the event.

Borderline victims’ families, including that of Pepperdine freshman Alaina Housley, had the opportunity to meet the artists before the show.

Some artists like Wilson and Pablo Cruise chose to celebrate the lives of those who died, playing upbeat songs and encouraging the audience to dance along.

Others, like Drew Ryn, Christian Lopez, Dalton Cyr and Mraz, sang slower, more soulful pieces focusing around love and loss.

“This town has dealt with so much this year,” Mraz said. “I want to thank you guys for coming here and for supporting this purpose.”

Country singer Annie Bosko invited Borderline line dancing instructor Kristal Lynn Konzen onstage to dance to her hit “Crooked Halo.” Bosko said she saw a video of Konzen dancing to her song on YouTube which led her to performing “Crooked Halo” live at Borderline years ago.

Brian Hynes, the owner of Borderline Bar

Courtesy of Arik Housley Voice of Song | (from left to right) Alex Housley, Arik Housley, Jason Mraz, Hannah Housley, freshman Alicia Yu and freshman Lauren Drake before the Music Strong Borderline Victims Benefit Concert Feb. 10. The concert raised money to support Borderline shooting survivors and the families of those lost the night of Nov. 7. 2018. and Grille, spoke during the concert, thanking Blue and the performers for the event. Hynes said the bar “meant everything” to him.

Lorrie Dingman, mother of victim Blake Dingman, also spoke.

“Tonight we’re here to honor these unique individuals, all very special people, the people that we loved,” Dingman said. “Not just the names on the news, but 12 very real people that have left very real holes in our daily lives. We also celebrate every per-

son who was there that night – people who have experienced things no one should ever witness. We honor you, we lift you up and we pray that you will each boldly live your lives to the fullest in honor of those that we have lost.”

Hagel said he thought of an idea “to spread kindness” while talking to the Housley family. “[What] came to my mind quickly was the spirit of pay it forward,” Hagel said. “If we each picked 20 people in the next year to just say

hello to … all you do is just say, ‘Hi.’ 36,000 contacts in a year. And what if just one of those persons that y’all said hi to, what if one person was having a really bad day and by you saying hi to them, it changed the face of history?”

The Housleys created Alaina’s Voice to spread kindness and remember victims of gun violence. The organization centers on the motto, “voice of song, voice of strength, voice of spirit, voice of change.”

“We know that this

loss has been felt not just by us but it’s been felt by this whole community, by you,” Dingman said. “We know that you are with us, we know that you grieved with us, we know that you prayed for us, and with all my heart we thank you.”

ASHL EY.M OW R EADER @PEPPER DINE.EDU

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Returning to a new school

“

Fall abroad students talk about coming back to ‘Bu a s hl ey mo w r eader new s as si stant Coming back to Malibu after abroad can be rough, but this year’s abroad students came home to a Pepperdine that was different than the one they left behind in September.

“Being back is so weird,” sophomore Alexis Hixon said. “It’s like a completely new campus.”

Students studying abroad fall semester said they felt the impact of the Borderline Shooting and Woolsey Fire from a distance, which for many, like sophomore Christina Stratton, came at an inopportune time.

Stratton was a part of the Florence program fall semester, which was on a travel break during Nov. 7. Stratton said she was traveling in Paris when she heard the news.

“We were seeing our home flashing on televisions in Paris ... to say it puts a damper on the trip sounds entirely selfish, because it did a lot more than that, but it did,” Stratton said. “It really changed the trajectory of the rest of the semester.”

Sophomore Kimberly Yeung spent fall semester in Heidelberg and said she heard the news immediately as it happened.

“

Coming back to campus was weird and uncomfortable at times. While I was abroad I remembered a few times when I wanted to be back in Malibu because it was something familiar. It wasn't quite what I expected.

Alexis Hixon Sophomore

“Even thinking about it now brings back the gut wrenching feeling in my stomach that I felt that day that I received the news of the shooting,” Yeung said. “It was

scary, heart breaking and concerning hearing of everything that was happening and not knowing if our friends and family were OK.” Hixon also went abroad to Florence and said she was in Austria when she first heard the news.

“It was definitely hard to be away from everyone since we all felt pretty helpless,” Hixon said. “But for me personally, it was not even comparable to what my friends back in Malibu went through.”

Since returning, students have faced different challenges when it comes to readjusting to campus life.

“Coming back to campus was really weird and uncomfortable at times,” Yeung said. “While I was abroad I remembered a few times when I just wanted to be back in Malibu because it was something familiar.

It wasn’t quite what I expected.”

Stratton said she felt a lot of social anxiety on campus, as it felt as though everyone had already established their own routines without her.

“Moving back to campus in the middle of the [school year] was much harder than I expected,” Stratton said. “Actually, the transition back to Malibu was harder for me than the transition to Florence.”

Hixon said it has been weird, as she did not know the freshman class or junior class.

“I like it because I’ve been able to meet lots of new people,” Hixon said. “But I also miss the familiarity.”

But Stratton and Hixon said it has been easier the longer she’s been back on campus.

“It’s okay,” Stratton said. “I adjusted. That first Monday was the hardest but it’s been getting easier.”

Hixon, Stratton and Yeung expressed a change in their social circles this semester compared to their freshman year.

“I reconnected with some of my friends from freshman year as if nothing changed, and I’m also made some new ones,” Hixon said. “But I definitely miss my friends who are abroad.”

Yeung said it was hard to say goodbye to her Heidelberg family knowing she wouldn’t see any of them until her junior year.

I love Malibu, and I know this is where I'm supposed to be this semester, and it's just transitioning back into it and establishing my own routine.

Christina Stratton Sophomore

“It was odd to walk around campus and not recognize any-

one,” Yeung said. “All of my friends from my close circle freshmen year are abroad in different countries. So I definitely had to make some new friends.”

Stratton is on the executive board for Kappa Alpha Theta, which she said has been something she enjoys investing her free time into.

“The sorority has been really great for me coming back,” Stratton said. “Because even though there was a whole class of my peers who were gone, there’s girls who are younger than me and girls who are older than me who have, I felt like, been waiting for me with open arms. That’s been my

sense of constancy.

Despite everything else that’s changing, I know that those 50 girls are still gonna be there for me.”

But while so much of the Pepperdine community has been impacted by the tragedies of the past semester, Stratton said campus feels the same as it did her freshman year.

“I love Malibu and I know this is where I’m supposed to be this semester, and it’s just transitioning back into it and establishing my own routine,” Stratton said.

Yeung said while the transition has been difficult, she knows Malibu is where she is supposed to be.

“Every day I’m here

I miss being in Heidelberg but I keep reassuring myself that Malibu is where God has me right now and there is a wonderful reason for it,” Yeung said.

For students looking to do a semester abroad in the fall and Malibu year two in the spring, Hixon said it is important to know yourself.

“It is definitely challenging, but it can also be hard to be in another country for a whole year,” Hixon said. “The most important thing is being flexible and able to be friends with different people.”

ASHL EY.M OW R EADER @PEPPER DINE.EDU

Courtesy of Christina Stratton When in Rome | Sophomore Christina Stratton (above) throws a euro into the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy. Sophomore Alexis Hixon (below) jumps in front of Mt. Etna in Sicily. Both students spent their fall semester studying abroad in Florence, Italy, and said they enjoyed their time in Florence and the various places they traveled, like Paris, France, and Salzburg, Austria.

Courtesy of Alexis Hixon

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PERSPECTIVES WHAT

PGM

STAFF

⇧ THINKS about Celebrity Influences

Ally Armstrong | Assistant Art Editor

STAFF EDITORIAL

Celebrities are not voices of truth

In today’s instant society, it is unquestionable that celebrities and influencers alike hold power to sway the opinions of a crowd.

With Malibu being a celebrity hot-spot, our campus and community are no exceptions to this influence. It is everyone’s responsibility, however, to educate themselves on such publicized matters in order to discover their personal beliefs.

Many celebrities boycotted this year’s Super Bowl, and their fans followed suit.

CBS and the NFL were initially set on Rihanna headlining the Super Bowl halftime show until she declined their offer due to the recent Colin Kaepernick controversy, according to US Weekly.

On Super Bowl Sunday, Rihanna posted a sketch of Kaepernick kneeling in her Instagram story with a caption reading, “For those of you who thought I was watching the super bowl … we beefin’.”

Rihanna is arguably one of the most influential musicians throughout the past decade, so it comes as no surprise that numerous fans joined in on the Rihanna rant agreeing that they, too, were no longer interested in watching this year’s

Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl had the lowest TV and streaming viewership in a decade, sitting at 100.7 million, according to The Washington Post. The Post also cited support for Kaepernick as a possible cause for the drop.

But was it the Kaepernick controversy that fueled their boycott, or was it simply their adoration of ‘Queen RiRi’?

The influence of celebrities is known as the Angelina Jolie Effect, named after the actress who influenced women by writing an editorial piece in 2013 for The New York Times to get BRCA gene testing to check for breast cancer, according to UK doctor Zara Aziz in a BBC article.

Research found that the number of breast cancer tests increased among women, but it did not mean the right women were targeted, according to BMJ. Other celebrities have had this effect: Ben Stiller influenced a UK man to get tested for prostate cancer because of an essay he wrote, according to Dr. Aziz. Dr. Aziz also said Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham have inspired gluten-free diets among women, and Rihanna and Prince Harry inspired followers

to get HIV tests.

Kylie Jenner’s tweet from last year is a prime example of celebrities’ significant influence. In February 2018, Jenner tweeted about Snapchat’s growing irrelevance after its unfavorable new app update. This tweet quickly caught wind and went viral, as most posts from Kardashians do, receiving over 300,000 likes and 70,000 retweets. According to the Guardian, Snapchat Inc. lost around $1 billion in market value within the following week.

Sometimes, people can easily fall under the influence of a flick of a celebrity’s finger, influencing followers through their eating habits, style trends, materialistic possessions and more.

Most importantly, celebrities have the power to motivate what people think and gain support through social media.

Why do celebrities have this power? Should they have this power? Why do people let them?

It seems as if the borders between fan and fanatic have blurred.

Many people idolize these celebrities, and in turn, idolize their perspectives, failing to recognize what they actually believe.

It is vital to acknowledge that celebrities are

still people. They still make mistakes like average people and are not exempt from biased behavior. So, do they have the credibility necessary to justify our infinite praises?

Their following may be high, but their knowledge on every matter may not be. In a recent article published

by VICE, Kanye West explains why “being famous isn’t the same as knowing what you’re talking about.” Kanye makes it clear that he knows near to nothing about politics, yet he still chooses to voice his opinions based on his personal feelings on the matter.

As fans, people need to check celebrities’ credibility.

Celebrities’ statures do not guarantee them voices of truth, and in many cases, they wish they weren’t so heavily observed and praised to begin with. Justin Bieber told NMA that he often finds himself depressed from constantly being in the spotlight.

While celebrities are out in the spotlight to be voices of activism and role models, it does not mean they are authorities on their valued issues. Celebrities use their significance to an advan-

THE 'BU YORKER

tage on social media, but this status does not necessarily mean they desire a strong backing.

Living in the Malibu community where celebrities reside just minutes away from campus, it is imperative to keep this in mind before following the footsteps of the famous. Instead of asking celebrities about the world, why not ask the world?

Seek out a variety of sources such as: The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and BBC news, among others, before deciding on a stance or perspective to adhere to.

Search the internet for various credible sources, but don’t let one source suffice. Better yet, utilize the Pepperdine Libraries InfoGuides online or walk into Payson and search the magazine rack. Librarians are great resources as well and can help research the library database to find reliable sources on a variety of subjects.

Additionally, add the human aspect to research. Start a conversation on campus about trending topics and hear what diversified perspectives fellow students and professors offer.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Caitlin Roark | Art Editor

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

CONTACT US

1.

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2.

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STAFF LIST M anag i ng Ed i to r m a ry c ate l o n g So c i al M ed i a M anag er m a d i so n n i ch o l s P i x el Ed i to r ella gonzalez o nl i ne p r o d u c er o m a r m u r ph y G New s p r o d u c er a r ace l i c r e sce n c i o c o py c hi ef rya n h a r d i n g s p ec i al ed i ti o n ed i to r ch a n n a ste i n m e tz as si g nm ent ed i to r k ayi u w o n g New s Ed i to r Madeleine Carr Ass i stant New s Ed i to r r o wa n to k e New s As si s tant a sh l e y m o w r e a d e r S p o r ts Ed i to r sa m fi n n e ga n Ass i stant Sp o r ts Ed i to r s K yl e m c ca b e k a r l w i n te r P er s p ec ti v es Ed i to r ga r e n ko soya n P er sp ec ti v es ass i stant a r e e ya ku n awa r a d i sa i L i fe & Ar ts Ed i to r k at n a n ce as si s tant L i fe & ar ts ed i to r julia donlon l i fe & ar ts seni o r r ep o r ter c a r o l i n e e d wa r d s L i fe & Ar ts As si s tant pi pe r w r i g h t P ho to Ed i to r Kaelin mendez as si s tant p ho to ed i to r m i l a n l o i ac o n o Ar t Ed i to r c a i tl i n r oa r k ass i stant ar t ed i to r a l ly a r m str o n g C o py ed i to r s k i l e y d i ste l r ath makena huey ga b r i e l l e m ath ys adv er ti s i ng d i r ec to r b e n h u ya r d Adv er ti s i ng m anag er ca r o l i n e h e r r o n D i r ec to r o f P ep p er d i ne G r ap hi c M ed i a E l i z a b e th Sm i th As si s tant D i r ec to r O f P ep p er d i ne G r ap hi c M ed i a Co u r te n ay Sta l l i n g s 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.”

FEBR UA RY 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 | PE RS PE C TIVE S | P E P P E R D I N E G RA P H I C ME D I A

Dedicate time to your health Ga r e n Ko s oya n pe rs p e c t i v e s E d it or The Freshman 15 is a term referring to the belief among college students that the experiences of a first-year college student lead to a weight gain of about 15 pounds. The unfamiliar sources of stress that incoming college students face, including course work and moving out from home, attribute much to this sudden weight gain.

People often blame entering new social environments that promote unhealthy eating and drinking habits for the Freshman 15. However, studies suggest that college students are simply less active compared to their time in high school.

Students should not neglect their health and well-being throughout any time in their college careers. As important as classes, family and friends are to the student, failing to adopt a healthy lifestyle will only jeopardize his or her potential ability to fully enjoy and utilize these experiences. Pepperdine shares this concern over the health of their students and encourages them to take advantage of the many opportunities for pursuing fitness on campus.

In high school, many students are required, for class credit, to take part in physical activity at some level. For many in college, this requirement is no longer in place.

With this lack of obligation, students tend to neglect the

Food is vital to life. It fuels students’ endeavors, enhances celebrations and serves as the centerpiece to social gatherings. However, food is a resource that is heinously mishandled.

Of all the food produced in the United States, 30 to 40 percent ends up discarded instead of consumed. This means that U.S. colleges waste 22 million pounds of food each year, according to Tanja Srebotnjak’s article published by the Huffington Post on Aug. 24, 2016.

These numbers are staggering, and they have far-reaching implications.

Food waste is one of the main propagators of climate change. “From an environmental perspective, food requires substantial amounts of water, energy and land to produce,” according to Srebotnjak.

Moreover, when discarded food ends up in a landfill and is burned, it produces immense amounts of methane.

Methane is one of the most harmful greenhouse gases, even surpassing carbon dioxide. “If food waste were a country, it would be the

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G a b r i e l l e M at t h y s Copy Editor

Caitlin Roark | Art Editor need for exercise. Unfortunately, without exercise, students are missing out on a crucial opportunity to detach from the very same stress inhibitors they claim to be the source of their inactivity.

Exercising is important for long-term mental and physical health. “Exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol.

It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators,” according to an article published in 2013 by Harvard Health Publishing.

While it is understandable that students are overwhelmed by the stress of college and hence incorporate little to no time for exercise, it is important to realize that exercising is vital to the reduction of that stress.

If improved health alone

isn’t incentive enough to exercise more, collected data seems to support the theory that active students perform better in their college courses.

“Students [at Purdue] who used the gym at least seven times a month had an average GPA of 3.06,” Amy Patterson Neubert wrote in an article published

by Purdue University on April 15, 2013. Those who attended the gym more frequently were often correlated with a higher overall GPA. Pepperdine University has a variety of options for students seeking to become active on campus, both in Malibu and abroad. Students can engage in a multitude of recreational activities that can appease people with different approaches to a fitness lifestyle. For those abroad, affordable gym membership options are available within walking distances, such

as the Ethos gym located in the backyard of Pepperdine’s London house. Pepperdine staff are great at notifying students of these fitness options and recreational facilities often offer student and short-term visitor discounts.

Students should prioritize their well-being and, in turn, ensure their long-term success. High stress levels lead to a multitude of health issues down the line, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and lead many to “stress-eat,” contributing to weight gain and more potential health risks. It is important to save time throughout the day to take care of yourself. Even a short walk around the beautiful Malibu campus a few times a week will contribute in momentous ways toward a healthier lifestyle.

GAR EN.KOSOYAN@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Reduce consequences of food waste

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world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases,” according to Tia Nelson’s article published by USA Today on Sept. 21.

Food waste is not only detrimental to the environment, it is also expensive, and college students are not exempt from these costs. When a university purchases food, there is an economic impact on students, regardless of if they have a meal plan or not.

When students decrease the amount of food that they waste, it “reduces cost for food purchase and garbage pick-up, which helps keep tuition increases under control,” according to Srebotnjak.

Therefore, reducing food waste saves students money.

Food waste is also unethical. Throwing away millions of pounds of food is especially erroneous in light of the fact that many Americans — students in particular — are uncertain of when they will be able to eat next.

Food insecurity exists on college campuses across the nation, and Pepperdine is no exception, according to Rachel Ettlinger’s 2018 Currents Magazine article. There are Pepperdine students who are unable to afford three meals a day, leaving them with no choice but to face hunger.

Fortunately, people are taking measures to combat this issue, accord-

ing to Judith-Daly Brister-Knabe’s recent article “Groups Work to End Food Insecurity on Campus” published by the Graphic on Sept.

26. These initiatives include an end-of-thesemester meal point drive, during which students with leftover meal points can donate them to students in need.

While these rectifying measures are encouraging, Pepperdine students still waste food. One glimpse at the dirty dish conveyor will attest to this.

Additionally, over the course of any given semester, hundreds of pounds of prepared food will go untouched and wasted, according to Cassandra Stephenson’s article published by the Graphic on April 9.

These two issues — food insecurity and food waste — are symptomatic of the state of the U.S. “The incongruence of food insecurity alongside food waste on American campuses is but a microcosm of the issue nationwide,” according to Ashni Mathew’s article published

by Move for Hunger on July 16, 2016.

Fortunately, students have agency in reducing food waste. Simple steps, such as investing in Tupperware or a Green Box can go a long way in decreasing one’s food waste.

Ally Armstrong | Assistant Art Editor Additionally, students could set aside one night each week to get creative about incorporating leftovers into a meal.

As an institution, Pepperdine should consider going tray-less. Surprisingly, “trayless college dining decreases food waste by 25 to 30 percent — ultimately reducing the cost of waste removal, water, energy, and cleaning supplies to clean the trays,” according to Mathew’s article.

Pepperdine students can also get plugged in with the Food Recovery Network on campus. This club does many things to reduce Pepperdine’s food waste, such as coordinat-

ing the end of the year food drive, distributing leftover Starbucks to the homeless and organizing several recoveries after catered events.

As Stephenson’s article delineates, there has been a big push to decrease food waste, both on Pepperdine’s campus and in Southern California in general.

Food wasted on college campuses has both ethical and environmental consequences. When students and universities are intentional about decreasing their food waste, the positive impact is far-reaching.

C AR OL INE.AR C HER @PEPPER DINE.EDU

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and with it comes the first day of rehearsals for the 2019 edition of Songfest. This time-honored tradition that has been going on for almost 47 years is a huge part of Pepperdine’s identity. While participating in Songfest is no small feat, the experience that it brings is something that all students should live before they graduate.

Songfest is a considerable time commitment, but the payoff is worth it. Practices from 10 p.m. to midnight are late, but the friendships forged in those night hours can be stronger than any others formed on campus.

“It was incredible to be so welcomed and so loved immediately,” Shyann Ford from Eta Theta Tau said in Sofia Telch’s article “Lights, Camera, Songfest takes the stage for 46th anniversary,” published by the Graphic on March 21, 2018. “It’s just the most enthusiastic, excited, energetic people you’ll ever meet on campus — they all get in one room and we just have such a good time and you can tell there’s nowhere else we would rather be.”

Songfest is also a great way to stay active with a fun group of people.

A year study from the University of Brighton in the UK shows that “dancing burns about 600 calories per hour … about the same or more than going for a swim or a run for about the same amount of time, according to Jennifer Stahl’s article “Why Dancing is the Best Exercise,” published on Jul. 26, 2017

by Dance Magazine. The article went on to reference studies that showed dancing to “improve mood, lower stress, boost energy, curb anxiety, slow cognitive decline [and] increase confidence.”

Putting together a stage production and perfecting it in three weeks is also an impressive accomplishment that students can look at on performance week and be proud of. The performances are proof that students can come together and create amazing things as long as they have a positive attitude and put their hearts into it.

As a member of Gamma Ghkkkkket Sigma and Friends, Songfest is an event that I look forward to every year. After the curtains closed on last year’s final performance, I was already excited for our next performances — those that will be going on next month. Please join me and other Songfest participants at Elkins at 10 p.m. Thursday and make this year the best one yet!

GABBY.M ATHYS@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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Courtesy of Eliahs Sumpter Sumpter’s Staples | Eliah Sumpter poses by a lake wearing some of his favorite fashion items. Sumpter said his go to outfits include a studded black leather jacket, gray ASOS Chelsea boots, a black leather fanny pack, an American flag printed light denim jacket and black distressed jeans.

Fashion Week inspires students Jul ia Donlon Li f e and ar ts assista n t e dit or New York Fashion Week, an event where fashion designers and brands display their latest collections in runway fashion shows to buyers and the media, began last Friday, Feb 8.

The most well-known fashion weeks are held in the ‘fashion capitals’ of the world: New York, London, Milan and Paris. These collections influence trends for the upcoming fashion seasons.

Some designers showcasing this week include Amelie Wang, Brandon Maxwell, Christian Siriano, Jonathan Cohen and Naeem Khan.

Celebrities and fashion enthusiasts alike come together to take part in this huge event.

The Kardashians are sure to be in attendance, as well as Halsey, Lupita Nyong’o, Emma Roberts, Amanda Seyfried and Bella Hadid, just to name a few.

A few fashion-forward Pepperdine students shared their thoughts on Fashion Week and what fashion means to them.

“Fashion is really important to me — it’s my number one source of expression,” freshman Eliahs Sumpter said. “I take

Courtesy of Reagan Zimmerer Zesty Zimmerer | Zimmerer smiles for the camera. Her favorite fashion staples are Acne Studios lime green suit, Gucci oversized boxy sunglasses and a pair of vintage Levis.

fashion inspiration from GQ and Highsnobiety, and if I ever feel myself getting bored with my outfit selection, I also go to Instagram for inspiration.”

Sumpter suggests that if anyone is looking to get into fashion, they should start by watching fashion vloggers on YouTube.

“This is a major source of inspiration for me,” Sumpter said. “Some of my favorites include Sangiev, PAQ, ToThe9s and Drew Scott. I also suggest thrift shopping, which is my absolute favorite pastime.

Eighty percent of my wardrobe is thrifted.”

Senior Reagan Zimmerer said she is always so inspired after any Fashion Week.

“I love seeing the runway shows, but sometimes it’s even more interesting to see what the people attending the shows are wearing,” Zimmerer said.

Zimmerer said she believes that fashion is her way of expressing herself every single day.

“To me, it is an art that I am able to walk around in all day long,” Zimmerer said. “My clothing makes me confident, it makes me unique, it makes me, me.”

Zimmerer said she takes a lot of inspiration from influencers such as Courtney Trop (@ alwaysjudging), Reese Blutstein (@double3xposure) and Maria Bernad (@maria_bernad).

“I am also very inspired by a lot of my friends and their own styles and quirks,” Zimmerer said.

“I am very lucky to have such a diverse and creative friend group who constantly challenges me to be as experimental as possible when it comes to anything artistic, including fashion.”

Zimmerer said her advice for anyone trying to spice up their wardrobe is to take risks.

“Buy the printed sweater instead of the plain one,” Zimmerer said. “Go vintage shopping and find something that no one else has. Most importantly, wear what makes you happy and don’t worry about what others think of it.”

Sophomore Joseph Hebel said he gets a lot of his inspiration from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s and believes that fashion is a way to express himself.

“I just love how, especially in the ‘70s, the clothing was just a way to express themselves,” Hebel said.

“I also take inspiration from my brother because he’s got some good stuff, too.”

Hebel says he is intrigued by the fashion he finds on campus.

“I feel like the fashion on campus is very diverse,” Hebel said. “Everybody has their own thing they like to wear and show off.”

Hebel said his advice for anyone trying to spice up their wardrobe is to just go for it.

“Get that stuff you wouldn’t see anybody else in,” Hebel said. “Wearing that wild stuff that makes people think, ‘What the hell are they wearing?’ is the best.”

“Fashion can be a conversation starter and a great way to get to know someone, and in the same way, it can be an art form in itself,” junior Bailey Soudelier said. “I’ve always been really inspired by Erté and Basquiat, but some of my biggest fashion icons are Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Ezra Miller and Lupita Nyong’o.”

Soudelier said her advice for anyone wanting to spice of their wardrobe is to take risks.

“Don’t be afraid of mixing color and pattern,” Soudelier said. “If you think your outfit is too bold then it’s probably perfect. Wear things you wouldn’t normally, and invest in one really good pair of black boots.”

Soudelier said she is excited about Caroline Hu’s collection.

“She is showing for the first time this year … she spans the bridge between using delicate design and fabric but in a utilitarian context in a really interesting way,” Soudelier said.

Soudelier is also waiting for Christian Siriano to do something groundbreaking and Marchesa “will probably blow us all away with their ingenious use of ruffles.”

For more info on all that is going on this week check out NY Fashion Week’s website.

Courtesy of Bailey Soudelier Soudelier’s Styles | Souldelier stands by a painted mural. She said she loves wearing white 501’s, her mom’s vintage Doc’s, a denim jacket that’s been collecting pins for years, a pair of purple platforms and silk scarves.

Photo by Julia Donlon J U L I A . D O N L O N @P E P P E RD INE.EDU

Hebel’s Staples | Hebel shows off his patterned jacket. He said his favorite fashions are Checkered vans and crazy/fun

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PEPP E R DINE GR A P HIC M E DIA | L IFE A N D A RTS | F E B RU A RY 1 4 , 20 1 9

Gender ratio effects students in the classroom P iper W r ight Life and ar ts assista n t Most students at Pepperdine know that the ratio of males to females is unbalanced. In fact, it is talked about so much that it has become a running joke among the students. But at what point does it become an issue in the classroom?

According to the 2018 Pepperdine Admission facts for Seaver College, the undergraduate student body is 60 percent female and 40 percent male. Naturally, this leads to a gender imbalance in the classrooms. Women being more prominent on campus is not just present at Pepperdine, however. According to an article by The Atlantic, “In 2015, 72.5 percent of females who had recently graduated high school were enrolled in a two-year or four-year college, compared to 65.8 percent of men.”

Jacob Fields, a senior PR major, is used to the unbalanced classrooms.

“I have a digital strategies class which is about three guys, and my PR capstone is two guys,” Fields said. “My junior year was when I really started getting into PR classes, and that’s when I had the first class where I was the only guy. It became a pretty common occurrence from there on out once I started getting more into the PR major.”

Fields said it took some time to get used to the ratio.

“When I was not used to it, it definitely, I wouldn’t say it affected me per se, but it was something I noticed,” Fields said. “Now, it’s just normal.

Maybe I’ll notice it on the first day, but I’m just used to it. It definitely doesn’t bother me.”

Zachary Nickels, a senior IMC major, also said it took some time to get used to the shift from the General Education classes to major classes in terms of gender ratio.

He said in about one-fourth of his junior and senior year classes he was either the only guy or one of two or three.

“But obviously [in] the General Education classes, you get a healthy mix, not necessarily 50-50, but there are at least four or five other guys in there,” Nickels said. “I grew up basically being surrounded by girls, so it didn’t really phase me too much.

It was kind of normal until I realized — like wait, I’m the only dude in here. It’s a little weird. But it didn’t affect me too much because I’m used to it. I go to Pepperdine — that’s just what you get.”

Nickels discussed the downside of classes that are primarily dominated by females and the differences it can cause in class discussion. Nickels recalled examples from his graphic design class where he was the only male student and the professor was a female. He said they would often do projects or have topics on fashion, and he would feel out of place.

“Obviously, diversity is a great thing, and I’m often one of the only voices that has the male perspective,” Nickels said. “Diversity of thought is always great — having different perspectives — because I feel like once it

turns to ‘what’s a guy’s perspective?’ it just turns to me.

And I am just one person, and I don’t represent all males.”

Fields said the gender ratio has helped him grow as a person and become more comfortable in the classroom.

“I’m kind of a shy person as it is, but I think as I have progressed through my major and gotten more used to having these dominantly female classes, it has actually made me more comfortable in terms of discussion and my willingness to input my opinion on a question,” Fields said. “It has probably contributed to my ability to work with the opposite sex in a professional environment in the sense that I could always be in groups of girls before and it never was a barrier, but now I feel like I almost work better in female-dominated groups. And I feel like it’s just a product of my situation.”

Jon Michael Raasch is the only male senior Journalism major.

“It definitely affects how I act in the classroom,” Raasch said. “I think there is a camaraderie that men find with other men in the classroom or workplace and that women find with other women, and I think that there is a missing component in the camaraderie aspect, but that’s not really why I’m there. I’m in class to learn.

I’m in class to be growing professionally and academically. I have two capstones; in both of those classes, out of 20 students I’m the only male, including the teacher.

Raasch did an internship last summer with CNN and out of the 9 to 13 people that worked on his floor, he was the only male.

“Though the numbers may seem like they are stacked against me, I don’t think that it is necessarily non-representative of the real world,” Raasch said. “I think that there are definitely more female-dominated parts of the media industry. I am glad to have gotten some education on how to deal with being the only man in the workplace.”

The Pepperdine gender ratio leads to many different effects that are present within the classrooms. However, in some cases, male students say it can be seen as less of an issue and more of an opportunity for growth for both the males and females experiencing the unbalanced classroom setting.

“It is really good to make yourself uncomfortable or put yourself in extraneous situations because you learn more. I’m being tested in a different way than I would be if I had a class with all men. Having something that pushes you in that regard is good,” Raasch said.

P I P E R.W RI G H T @P E P P E RD I N E . E D U

Infograph by Makena Huey

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Music column: bands, fans and bandwagon fans M ic hell e o k inedo g u es t w r it e r I have been through many music phases in my life, from my love of anything featuring Hannah Montana to my fifth grade obsession with “hardcore rap,” aka Drake. However, music has always been a constant that I haven’t been able to shake, indicating to me that my passion for music was and is not a “phase.”

I am a singer, songwriter and producer. My goal for this column is to not only review and discuss known music and artists but also to shed a light on some of the musical talents we have here on this very campus.

As you have may have noticed, the title, “bands, fans and bandwagon fans,” is in all lowercase. This is because I believe that each portion of the title has an equally important part to making this column whole.

The “bands” part of the title refers to bands and artists that I am familiar with and will be reviewing and recommending to you all.

I have a very distinct music taste, and I am comfortable with the box I have created. With that being said, the “fan” part of the title refers to my journey to appreciate all types of music. I want to evaluate and interview fans of genres of music that I would never normally listen to and learn how to appreciate that type of music. Who knows? One of these fans could introduce me to my new favorite artist or song.

Lastly, I need to address the “bandwagon” portion

of my title. Before I dive into it, I am aware that the term “bandwagon fan” is strongly associated with sports, as Urban Dictionary defines it as: “a fan of a team simply because they are the reigning champions/have the most championships/ doing the best at the moment. The second these fans notice that their team is starting to do poorly, they’ll jump ship and hop on the bandwagon of a different team that is doing well.”

I have been called a “bandwagon fan” because I am a fan of the Golden State Warriors basketball team but unlike the Urban Dictionary definition, I plan to be a fan regardless of their wins and losses.

Back to music — the “bandwagon” portion of the title refers to the student artists I will be highlighting in this column. My hope and goal is that most, if not all, of the readers will become “bandwagon fans” and supporters of the student artists I’m promoting. You never know who the next big musician will be!

Photos by Lawrence Liu

M IC HE LLE .O K INED O @P E P P E RD I N E . E D U

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Pepperdine balances two track teams due to Title IX Judit h- Daly Brister-Knabe s taf f write r

Head Track Coach Robert Radnoti created an all-women’s indoor track team to compete with Pepperdine’s Division I peers and fulfill Title IX regulations in 2016. Now three years later, the 2019 indoor track season is in full swing.

“I think it’s really helped our women’s team,” Radnoti said. “It comes down to wanting to create a complete year-round running program.”

It also alleviates Title IX pressures, Radnoti said.

Title IX requires that university funding for athletics be apportioned in accordance with student-gender ratios, Radnoti said. At Pepperdine, this means that it is statistically more difficult for males to make it onto the track team than females because Pepperdine’s student body is about 60 percent female. This means that 60 percent of the track team must be female. Adding an all-female indoor track team allows for extra funding for male athletes running outdoor track, Radnoti said. Men are not allowed onto the indoor track team.

“It kind of hinders me because I’ve done indoor track my whole life and I can’t do it here,” said Brandon Davis, sophomore mid-distance runner.

Some of the female runners like freshman Alexa Ortega said they are grateful for the extra running time, but wish the men could enjoy it too.

“I really love indoor,” Ortega said. “I think it’s a really good experience to kind of shake your nerves out before getting into outdoor. I think it’s absolutely necessary … I think it’s kind of unfortunate that our men don’t have that same experience because I know I would not feel as confident going into outdoor if I didn’t race indoor.”

The differences between indoor and outdoor track are minute, Radnoti said. Indoor tends be a smaller track and hosts shorter distances. The indoor season also begins a few weeks earlier than the outdoor one, giving the women more meets earlier in the year. Other than this, they are fundamentally the same sport.

Universities throughout California create all-female indoor track teams to build up the male rosters for the

Photo by Judith-Daly Brister-Knabe Malibu Running | The men’s and women’s distance teams, as well as the women’s sprints team, share the four lanes of Stotsenberg Track. outdoor track season, despite the fact that the state of California generally doesn’t have indoor tracks. Indoor track athletes therefore must travel

why we have to go places.”

The Pepperdine indoor track team travels to Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho and Washington. In Seattle last year, Radnoti took his team to visit the Space Needle. Meanwhile, the men stayed at home in Malibu.

“We kind of just stay in California,” Davis said. “We don’t really go anywhere else.”

Indoor track at the university level is not an exclusively female sport and many larger schools like USC and UCLA can afford to bring men to the indoor meets.

“I think it’s kind of weird that we don’t bring the men,” Ortega said. “I know it’s because of our Title IX requirements, but all the other schools bring their men.”

Not all women on the track team get to compete in indoor track because the travel is so expensive, junior hurdler Katie O’Malley said. About 14 to 16 women come, making for a more competitive atmosphere, but there are benefits to indoor and outdoor track, O’Malley said.

“I actually think [the] indoor season is where the sprinter girls and the distance girls really get to build relationships and bond,” O’Malley said. “[But] outdoor, you know, the whole team goes. The men’s team is there. it’s much more of a whole track team dynamic, which is also really cool.”

There is very little probability that Pepperdine indoor track will open to men anytime soon, Radnoti said.

Even with the addition of the indoor track team, spots for male athletes are sparse.

“We still have limits on the men’s side that are unfortunate because I have to cut men each year and I wish I didn’t have to,” Radnoti said.

As of now there are 30 women on the track team (both indoor and outdoor) and 15 men. Many of the men and women also run for the cross country team in the fall. This gives a few women triple athlete status as they technically compete in three sports: cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.

across state lines to compete – at the expense of their athletic programs.

“Now in California, there’s not any indoor tracks,” Radnoti said. “That’s

JUDITH.BR ISTER -K NABE@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Men’s Basketball wins a thriller over San Diego Ky le M c c ab e a s s i s tant spor ts ed itor

Pepperdine Men’s Basketball completed a season sweep of the San Diego Toreros on Saturday at Firestone Fieldhouse, winning 70-67. The game came down to the last two and a half seconds, when freshman Kessler Edwards scored the game-winning basket.

This was the second time the Waves beat the Toreros in a close game this season, having won

“ We told ourselves we need to turn it up and bring more intensity, and I think that is what we did.

Kessler Edwards, freshman forward

76-71 on Jan. 12. Colbey Ross’ 10 assists moved him into 10th place alltime in school history.

The largest lead for either team came midway through the first half, when Pepperdine went on an 11-3 run to make the score 23-16 with 9:13 left. That was when the Waves’ lead began to slip away.

“We let down defensively, but we turned the ball over,” Head Coach Lorenzo Romar said.

“We had too many turnovers down the stretch the first half, and that changed the game.”

The Toreros slowly fought their way back into the lead at 28-27 with 4:10 remaining.

San Diego brought that one point lead into the locker room at halftime, 32-31.

“We thought our defense could’ve been better in the first half,” Edwards said. “We told ourselves we need to turn it up and bring more intensity, and I think that is what we did.”

Pepperdine’s defense helped keep the game close for the entire second half, with neither team ever leading by more than six. With only 19 seconds remaining in the game, the Toreros hit a three point

shot to go up 67-64.

Eleven seconds later, sophomore Colbey Ross drew a foul beyond the arc, giving him three free throw attempts.

He made the first and missed the second to cut the San Diego lead to two. Ross said he intentionally missed the final free throw, and sophomore Jade Smith grabbed the rebound and was fouled with seven seconds remaining.

Smith made his first free throw and missed the second but collected his own rebound. Smith passed the ball to Ross who found Edwards open under the basket.

“I just threw it up because I know [Edwards] is 6‘8” and I knew if I threw it up to the rim he would go grab it and finish the layup,” Ross said.

“I knew something good was going to happen from that play.”

Edwards jumped up to catch the pass, landed and laid the ball off the glass for the game-winning basket.

“I knew it was coming,” Edwards said. “I knew I had to score it. So I just gave him a pump fake and finished it.”

With their second win of the season over the Toreros, the Waves improve to 5-6 in the

West Coast Conference and 12-13 overall, while San Diego falls to 5-5 in the WCC and 16-9 overall. “[This matchup was] more intense because they had something to prove to us,” Ross said.

“That the first one was a fluke.”

Both teams’ WCC rankings remain the same — Pepperdine at No. 8 and San Diego at No. 5.

“San Diego is a solid team,” Romar said.

“They’re not going

to give you the game, you’ve got to take it.

They played well enough to win the game, it’s just that we made more plays than they did at the end.”

Romar said he believes sweeping the Toreros will have an impact on the team going forward.

“For the next games coming up, we’re playing Saint Mary’s, San Fran[cisco], and then Gonzaga,” Ross said.

“Those are three of the toughest games we’re

going to have to play this year, so I think it is going to build confidence into those games.”

Pepperdine will go on the road for those San Francisco, Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga games before returning to Firestone Fieldhouse to take on Portland Feb. 23 at 5 p.m.

K YL E.M C C ABE@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Photos Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics

Photos Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics Young Leaders | Sophomore Colbey Ross (left) and freshman Kessler Edwards pose on media day. Ross leads the team with 18.6 points per game and while Kessler leads the team with 23 blocks on the season.

F E B R UA RY 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 | S PORTS | P E P P E R DINE G RA P H I C ME D I A

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Hira Naveed leaves legacy on the Waves sam finnegan spor ts edi tor

Since the early days of swinging a golf club, Naveed has accomplished a plethora of accomplishments. Her most notable accomplishment was being the top 17-year-old competing in the 2015 Aaron Baddeley International Junior Championship.

Naveed has been with the Waves since Spring 2016, but Naveed said her golf career started way before she became a Wave. She knew it was in her future.

Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Naveed first picked up a golf club at the age of 9 and seriously began to pick up the sport at age 10.

“I went to the golf course with my dad one day, so we were just hitting balls and I started hitting them really well,” Naveed said. “One of the professionals at the golf course came up to my dad and asked, “How long has your daughter been playing for?’

My dad said, ‘She literally just started hitting five minutes ago.’ The professional then said that I could be really good and that my dad should get me involved in the sport.”

A few months passed after young Naveed was discovered by the professional at the golf course when she asked her father if she could begin playing golf.

“A couple months later, after I turned 10, I said to my dad, ‘Hey Dad, remember when that guy said I was really good? Can I go and play?’ He agreed and bought me my first clubs,” Naveed said.

Golf has become a passion, a lifelong sport and a career goal for her, Naveed said. She said she appreciates the individual aspects of the game, as well as the hard work that is required to become a top-notch golfer.

“An interest in golf grew for me, so I decided to stick with

it and do well at it,” Naveed said. “It is an individual sport, so it is all on you. You do all of the hard work and you get all of the rewards.”

Her hard work ethic, dedication to the sport, and sheer athleticism caught the attention of Head Coach Laurie Gibbs.

Naveed said her decision to attend Pepperdine was all thanks to Coach Gibbs.

“It came down to the coaches like my head coach, Laurie Gibbs,” said Naveed. “She’s a great person and saw talent in me and the potential to go on and be a really great player on the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) tour. She has helped me throughout everything, whether it be my professional life or my personal life.”

Coming from Australia, Naveed completely adjusted her game to play golf courses in the United States. Golf courses differ from Australia and the United States in many aspects, she said, such as the type of grass, the hardness of the fairways and greens and the layout of the courses.

“It is a completely different game in Australia and a completely different game over here, because over here the greens are softer so the ball lands and stops, whereas in Australia the fairways and greens are hard,” Naveed said.

“It is a different type of game altogether since you have to control the ball in different ways.”

The competitiveness of golf in the United States is also significantly different than in Australia, but that has not stopped Naveed as she is the first player at Pepperdine to make it as an individual to the national championships in spring 2018. Naveed seems to thrive in such a competitive atmosphere as she is ranked No. 3.

Naveed said her fondest moments of playing golf at

and Sheridan Davis Photo Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics/Ron Hall International Phenom | Naveed is one of several international students on the Women’s Golf team. The team’s next tournament is Feb. 25 in San Luis Obispo.

Pepperdine involve her teammates and the hard work they all put in every single day.

In 2017, the Waves won the Ron Morre Intercollegiate in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

Naveed said this was a very special win for the team as it was the first time the whole team was successful in a few seasons.

The Women’s Golf team is a very diverse team with players from all over the world: Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand and the United States.

Naveed loves how the team comes together to share meals representing each team members home culture.

“Diversity on the team has helped all the girls to get different perspectives and there is so much more respect on the team,” Naveed said.

As a senior, Naveed said she hopes to leave a positive legacy behind for her teammates to follow in the years to come.

Naveed said she wants her matically advance to Q-Series. teammates to be strong golf “If you get straight to Q-Seplayers. ries you have temporary sta“Be very confident in your- tus on the LPGA and you have self and confident in the fact full status on the Symetra that even if you are different Tour, which is the tour below from other people, you should the LPGA,” Naveed said. “You never let that get to you,” Nav- have to go through the Symeeed said. “You should always tra tour to get to the LPGA. My be proud of who you are ... goal would be to finish this Don’t let the outside environ- season in the top five and go ment affect you, just be who straight to Q-Series.” you are and be proud of who Hira Naveed said she looks you are.” to represent the Waves as As her final season with the she plays in the ISPA Handa Waves rapidly comes into the Women’s Australian Open this picture, Naveed said she is not week at The Grange Golf Club, leaving behind her golf career in Grange, South Australia. when she graduates.

The Pepperdine Women’s “Female golfers who finish Golf team will begin their in the top five of the nation are spring season at the Bruin invited to automatically pro- Wave Invitational in San Luis ceed to the final stage of the Athletics Obispo, California on Feb. 25Courtesy of Pepperdine and Calvin Wood qualifying school,” Naveed 26. said. “Qualifying school consists of stage one, stage two and qualifying school.”

Naveed said her ultimate SAM .F INNEGAN@PEPPER DINE.EDU goal for this season is to auto-

Photo Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics/Jeff Golden Grip It and Rip It | Naveed tees off in a recent tournament. Naveed, an native of Australia, is currently playing in a tournament, the ISPA Handa Women’s Australian Open, in her home country. Athletics Courtesy of Pepperdine

//The Graphic

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Febr u ary 14, 2019

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pep p e rd in e - g ra p h ic.co m

SPORTS

Photos by Milan Loiacono Jumping for Joy | (Top left) Outside hitter Kaleb Denmark reaches back for a swing. (Top right) Middle blocker Kevin Vaz (No. 22) and setter Robert Mullahey (No. 18) leap high over the net for a block. (Above) The Waves bench jumps during a Pepperdine serve to distract the opponent.

Men’s Volleyball sweeps No. 9 Stanford at home kar l winter AS SI STANT SPORTS E D ITOR Redshirt senior outside hitter David Wieczorek’s career-high .737 hitting percentage led national No. 5 Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball to their second sweep of a Top 10 opponent in three days.

The Waves beat No. 9 Stanford on Friday by set scores of 25-21, 25-22 and 25-21 to open Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) play with another victory, following their sweep of No. 7 Brigham Young Feb. 6.

“Handling [BYU and Stanford] in three sets is a testament to how hard we’ve been training,” Wieczorek said.

“It’s a great confidence booster and we’re hungry to get even better.”

Wieczorek, a fourth-year starter, amassed 14 kills on only 19 swings with no errors. Seniors Michael Wexter and Kaleb Denmark also contributed double-digit kills (with 12 and 10, respectively), while redshirt sophomore setter Robert Mullahey added 34 assists and seven digs.

“Big players make big plays, and [Wieczorek] makes a lot of them,” second-year Head Coach David Hunt said.

The Cardinal led by as many as three

points in each of the first two sets before the Waves battled back, but the third set was a wire-to-wire victory for Pepperdine. Middle blocker Kevin Vaz made perhaps the biggest play of the night, registering a solo block to end the match and earn a roar of approval from the crowd at Firestone Fieldhouse.

“Our coach looked at me and told me to commit with [Stanford’s] middle and follow what he does, and I did exactly what he said, so he should get more credit than I do,” Vaz, a graduate transfer originally from Paris, said. “I just executed.”

Stanford was coming off three losses, having been swept twice by No. 2 Hawaii and narrowly losing a five-set match at the hands of No. 4 UCLA. However, Pepperdine was also hungry. Following a difficult loss at No. 3 UC Irvine Jan. 27, the team was ready for the return to the friendly confines of Firestone Fieldhouse.

“We went down to Irvine, and we felt like we let one slip away from us,” Hunt said. “Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t, but [the guys] got back in the practice gym, focused on the stuff we needed to focus on, and we got better.”

With the three consecutive wins Senior Max Chamberlain got in on against No. 12 Cal State Northridge, the action with a tip kill and an ace BYU and Stanford, the Waves remain early in the third set, and the Waves undefeated with a 6-0 record at home. never relinquished their hold on the Their next eight matches will all be match, leading by as much as 13-7 in away from Malibu. the closing set.

“It’s going to be a challenging road, “Anytime you get a win is good, Photos Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics and we know conference play is not go- whether it’s in three, four or five,” ing to be easy, so defending our home Hunt said. court is definitely one of the biggest Despite tough losses at Loyola-Chithings we take pride in,” Vaz said. cago and Irvine and the long upcomStanford gained an advantage early ing road stretch, Hunt said he is proud on the Waves’ home court, leading 15- of his team. The Waves now sit at 8-2 12 in the first set behind strong play overall and 2-0 in conference play. from senior outside hitter Jordan Ew“We were figuring ourselves out ert, but Denmark keyed an 8-1 Pepper- early in the year, and now we’re startdine run with a kill, block and ace. ing to hit our stride,” Hunt said.

Ewert finished with 11 kills to lead The road stretch will be critical, as the Cardinal, but Stanford only hit it includes four MPSF matchups, in.284 as a team, while the Waves fin- cluding one with No. 4 UCLA, and a ished with a .370 hitting percentage tournament in Honolulu that includes as a team. a date with No. 2 Hawaii.

Wexter closed each of the first two “I think we feel like after 10 days, 12 sets for Pepperdine with clutch kills, days, however long it was that we’ve but it was timely plays by Wieczorek been home, I think we feel like we left that caused Stanford to take two time- in a better spot than when we got here, outs in a tight second set. and that’s a good feeling,” Hunt said.

“I try to set the standard by working hard,” Wieczorek said. “I like the ball in crunch time and I just want to show the guys that I can take some of the K AR L .W INTER @PEPPER DINE.EDU load off their backs.”