Pepperdine Graphic 2-21-19

Volume xLVIII | Issue 16 | PEPPERDINE-GRAPHIC.COM | february 21, 2019

WE'RE ON A BREAK! THE NEXT ISSUE COMES OUT MARCH 14, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND US ONLINE

'die fledermaus' hits smothers theatre feb. 21 & Feb. 23 @ 7:30 p.m.

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Photos: 1. Batsell baxter (1937-1939) 2. Hugh m. tiner (1939-1957) 3. M. norvel young (1957-1971) 4. william s. banowsky (1971-1978) 5. howard a. white (1978-1985) 6. david davenport (1985-2000) 7. andrew k. benton (2000-2019) 8. jim gash (2019-)

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MEET PEPPERDINE'S 8TH PRESIDENT: JIM GASH

Jim Gash is the Board of Regent’s chosen finalist for Pepp's eighth presidency which will go into effect Aug. 1. His selection is the product of a long series of interviews, public town halls and speeches to determine the university's successor to President Andrew Benton’s presidency. The community received the news of Gash's se-

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lection via email Feb. 14 at 11 a.m., marking 11 months since Benton's announcement to step down from presidency.

“My world revolves around Pepperdine,” Gash said.

Gash, who graduated from the School of Law in 1993, will be Pepperdine’s first alumnus president, but his connection with the university doesn’t stop there.

He has also played the role of full-time faculty

and administrator.

“The fact that I had a chance to study [at Pepperdine], as well as teach and administrate here, gives me a deeper understanding and appreciation for the life of students here,” Gash said.

Currently the Pepperdine Law School’s associate dean for Strategic Planning and External Relations and a law professor, Gash has worked for Pepperdine University in some capacity since

1999.

Even his family life points Gash back to his Pepperdine roots. Gash said his grandfather once worked for Pepperdine, both his parents and his wife are alumni and all three of his children are either currently enrolled or recently graduated from Seaver College.

The president protemp said this vast range of experience in different roles of Pepperdine

life affords him a unique benefit in leading the community.

“I will immediately understand the various aspects of someone else's perspective, because I’ve seen Pepperdine from that angle as well,” Gash said.

Gash said his number one goal in his presidency is to continue the legacy of “leadership, achievement and faithfulness” set before him.

Gash compared suc-

ceeding Benton to being handed the leadership of an eight-time Super Bowl-winning NFL team after the coach retires: a lot of pressure, but an exciting opportunity.

“It’s exciting because it presents a bigger challenge,” Gash said. “That’s initially how I feel, like ‘How can somebody achieve what President Benton has achieved in the amount of time he has done?’ and taking

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What to expect from Give2Pepp madiso n nichols soci al medi a ma n age r Tis' the season for giving at Pepperdine, but this year Give2Pepp is not just asking for donations. They want Champions.

“These are the people who ... are so passionate about Pepperdine and they want to share these reasons, take part in this day and really add and contribute to the day from wherever they are around the world,” Seaver Class Giving Officer

Tierney Anderson said. “These are the people who go out of their way to explain why one should give to Pepperdine.”

In its third year, Give2Pepp is adding a new feature to the annual 37-hour campaign that allows any member of the community, donation or not, to submit a selfie video that highlights “what you love about Pepperdine,” a “Give2Pepp thank you tribute,” or a video announcing “Today is Give2Pepp.” Selected videos will be compiled into a short vid-

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eo that Give2Pepp creates and showcases on social media and their website.

More example videos can be found on Give2Pepp’s website and social media outlets.

More goals for 2019 Give2Pepp Give2Pepp reached 3,233 donors in 2018 from as close as Malibu, stretching to as far as Malaysia, as noted on the 2018 Stats posted on the Give2Pepp website. For 2019, the Pepper-

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dine Fund office aims to beat this number.

“This year we are really trying to make it a peer-to-peer campaign,” Anderson said.

“Instead of us [The Pepperdine Fund] just sending out an informal letter about Give2Pepp, we will have these familiar faces that are talking about why they give to Pepperdine and why they are excited about Give2Pepp.”

VP Public Relations for Student Philanthropy Council Hannah Parkin said students

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are more willing to give with the peer-to-peer campaigning.

“We have so much more success, and everyone is so much more excited to give when they see their friends at the table,” Parkin said.

But success in the eyes of Give2Pepp is not based on how many zeros come after the dollar sign.

“Our focus for Give2Pepp is donors, not dollars,” Anderson said. “It’s all about participation that day.”

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P E P P E R DINE GR A P HIC M E DIA | N E W S | F E B RU A RY 21 , 20 1 9

Wanted: rain boots

ashley mowreader n e ws a s s i s ta n t “Bring your rain boots to Malibu,” said no one ever.

As a native Washingtonian, I own a pair of bright yellow rain boots perfect for splashing in all of the puddles that accumulate on the side of the road or for trekking through grass and mud. They’re perfect in the Seattle weather and are an essential part of my wardrobe.

But here? Pepperdine forgot to add rain boots to the packing list for move-in day. Malibu is not designed for rain and Pepperdine is the perfect example of that.

Puddles grow on the road, the sidewalks, the stairs and even the middle of Mullin Town Square, and it feels like the designers of Pepp never stopped to consider that campus might get wet every once in a while. Seaver Drive turns into a waterfall as water races down the hill in search of a storm drain, collecting at the crosswalk by the HAWC. The other day, I watched as a groundskeeper used tubes to drain water that had collected on Lower Dorm Road into an improperly located storm drain.

I have neglected to prep for Pepp puddles and find myself drenching my sneakers on the daily while navigating a soaked campus.

So the next time you’re packing for school, don’t forget your beach towel or bikini, but throw in some wool socks, a windbreaker and an umbrella. You’ll appreciate some beanies and extra hoodies when your hair and jackets get soaked walking to your 8 a.m., and navigating campus will be much easier with a good pair of shoes with thick soles that can survive the rain.

It may seem illogical to bring your rain boots to the ‘Bu, but pack them anyways. You’ll thank me later.

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

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Crimes: Larceny/Theft Petty Theft - Misc.

Location: Tyler Campus Center

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2/12/19 9:02 a.m.

Crimes: Trespassing Location: Thorton Administration Center

Drescher (North)

2/13/19 11:18 a.m.

Crimes: Traffic-Related Hit and Run, Non-Injury Accident Location: George Page Lot

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2/13/19 12:23 p.m.

Crimes: Larceny/Theft Petty Theft - Misc.

Location: Communications & Business Center

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2/16/19 12:26 p.m.

Crimes: Alcohol-Related/ Non-Criminal - Possession of Alcohol on Campus Location: Seaside Residence Hall

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Alumni field (South)

UPCOMING EVENTS THIS SEMESTER What: me n ’s basketball vs. ge o rge m a s o n when: 3/ 12 Wher e: fire s tone fieldhouse

Wh at: songfest Wh e N: 3/13 Wh e re : smother s theatr e

What: ted x P epperdi ne univer sity Whe N : 3/13 Whe re : fir estone f i el dhouse

W hat: Art l ec t u re f eat. anu radha vi k ram W he N: 3 / 1 4 W he r e : wei s man mu s eu m

W hat: g u i tar rec i tal # 6 W he N: 3 / 1 5 W he r e : mal i b u p u b l i c l i b rary

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

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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: die fle der maus When: 7:30 p.m.

Wher e: s m o ther s theatr e

Wh at: cur ator talk: paul mar tineau Wh e N: 6 p.m.

Wh e re : sur fboar d r oom

What: italian chap el Whe n: 3 p.m.

Whe re : stauffer c hap el What: The impor ta nc e of giving Whe n: 6 p.m.

Whe re : weisman mu s eu m

WEDS. 6

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 W hat: f i ndi ng b al anc e W he n: 7 p. m.

W he r e : el k i ns au di t ori u m

THURS. 7

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: L ec t u re: tab at ha j ones j ol i vet, l arry donnel l k i mmons memori al l ec t u re W he N: 6: 3 0 p. m.

W he r e : s u rf b oard room

ASHLEY.MOWREADER@PEPPERDINE.EDU

peppgraphic Graphic //The PLUG IN: // PLUG IN: Plug in:

@PeppGraphic

peppgraphic TheIN: Graphic peppgraphic The Graphic //The Graphic PLUG

@Peppnewswaves

peppgraphic The Graphic The Graphic The Graphic

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

GASH: Meet Pepp’s new pres F R OM A 1

has done?’ and taking that as inspiration, but also a challenge to follow in his footsteps.”

Gash said Benton’s love for students is the number one thing that he hopes to incorporate into his leadership.

“The life of the student is at the highest level of importance for me,” Gash said. “The Brock House is going to be the people’s house like it’s been for Andy [Benton]. That house will be full, early and often, of students.”

Along with taking inspiration from Benton’s legacy, Gash said his second goal is to reach even higher still for the

future of Pepperdine. He said he is eager to apply his personal experience and ideas to further the university.

“I want to hit the ground on August 1st running,” Gash said.

Gash said he has a vision of more scholarships for students as well as an improved student fitness center and athletic complex. However, some of Gash’s most unique ideas stem from his time spent in developing countries.

Gash traveled to Uganda more than 20 times with Pepperdine students and alumni in legal justice reform efforts, according to Gash’s profile on the Pepperdine Law website.

In 2015, Gash published his book, “Divine Collision,” about

his experiences defending a convict unfairly accused of murder.

Based off his experience, Gash said he believes the university could benefit from digging deeper into the developing world, including the idea for a possible new abroad program.

“I would love to explore opportunities to have Seaver students study abroad in the developing world,” Gash said.

“I believe in the transformative power of studying abroad and really seeing more of what God has created and the diversity of his creation, in geography, in culture and in people. I think it can be even more transformative to do so in a place that is even less fa-

miliar.”

At the end of the day, Gash said he hopes to accomplish all of his presidential goals by being in touch with the community.

“The presidential search process has involved a lot of me talking, so what I’m eager to do is to have a lot of me listening,” Gash said. “I really want to hear the collective wisdom and vision of a group of very talented people – students, faculty and staff – about what Pepperdine can do to fulfill its mission and its place in Christian higher education.”

“

The fact that I (had) a chance to study as well as teach and administrate here give(s) me a deeper understanding and appreciation for the life of students here.

Jim Gash, President Elect

M ARY.L ONG@PEPPER DINE.EDU

GIVE: Annual fundraiser starts soon FR OM A 1 The Importance of Donors So why focus on donors, not dollars?

“Pepperdine’s alumni giving rate directly affects our national U.S. News & World Report ranking,” Anderson wrote in an email.

U.S. News & World Report measures the academic quality of each school on statistical indicators that fall under eight categories: social mobility, first-year student retention and graduation of students; reputation; faculty resources; admissions selectivity; financial resources; alumni giving; and graduation rate performance. These categories are then put into comparison based on the percentage of students expected to graduate and those who already graduated, as noted on the U.S. News & World Report’s website.

“The percentage of alumni giving serves as a proxy for how satisfied students are with the school,” according to the U.S. News and World Report website. “A higher average alumni giving rate scores better than a lower rate in the ranking model.”

“Give2Pepp provides a single day for alumni of Seaver College and all four graduate schools to come together in support of their alma mater as we continue to work towards increasing the number of our alumni who give back to Pepperdine,” Anderson wrote. “Current undergraduate seniors are included in their alumni count.”

Although the 2019 ranking indicator shows that some factors will be weighted differently this year as compared to 2018, alumni giving remains at 5 percent of the overall total score for a school’s ranking.

Some of the weighted factors that changed from 2018 include out-

comes (increased from 30 percent to 35 percent), expert opinion (decreased from 22.5 percent to 20 percent) and student excellence (increased from 12.5 percent to 10 percent). Further changes can be found on the U.S. News and World Report 2019 Best Colleges page.

“With the donor goal, we are encouraging students especially to give five dollars,” Parkin said.

“It’s not a huge amount that we are asking students to give, and I think that ‘Pepperdine Passions’ is really where that comes into play. The five dollars is being directed to exactly where you want it to go: your abroad program, your academic division.”

Student Giving Anderson and Parkin both agree that if they are able to push the fact that Give2Pepp allows individuals to direct their donation to whatever program or department they want – to their Pepperdine passion – then people will be more willing to participate in the campaign.

“So, it’s not just a small drop in this big bucket where you have no idea what’s happening with it,” Anderson said. “It’s going to the fund that you want it to go to. I think that is what really helps people kind of open up to that idea of giving.”

From the student perspective, Parkin said because of the wide range of interests at Pepperdine, Give2Pepp has the ability to improve everyone’s experience at Pepperdine by making a direct impact with their “gift.”

“We always joke by saying ‘you don’t want your five dollars going to something that you don’t really know or will ever see. You will want to impact whatever has impacted you on this campus’,” Anderson said. “So, we call it ‘giving to your Pepperdine Passion.’”

The implementation of Pepperdine Passions has been a “big positive” for

Courtesy of Pepperdine Fund Office Cheque, please | President Andrew K. Benton smiles with students holding a large check representing the money raised in the 2018 Give2Pepp event. The check total of $403,800.18 was raised by 3,233 supporters including alumni, parents, current students, friends and other individuals.

“

Give2Pepp because it has increased student participation in the giving process, Anderson said.

Give2Pepp provides a single day for alumni of Seaver College and all four graduate schools to come together in support of their alma mater as we continue to work towards increasing the number of our alumni who give back to Pepperdine.

Tierney Anderson, Seaver Class Giving officeR

“I think it’s really exciting to see the whole student body come together for one day and be very passionate about giving back to Pepperdine,” Parkin said.

While students seem to understand the importance of giving to their passions, many agree that alumni should feel

the same way.

“I think it is important for for alumni to give because it’s a way for them to help improve things that they wish were better when they were here – A way to give back to what helped them get to where they are now,” junior Shea Corwin said.

But students are not only giving. They are also getting involved.

“It’s so amazing to see all the people who are excited to volunteer, who are not even apart of SPC [Student Philanthropy Council], but they very much just want to help out and be apart of this amazing giving day,” said Parkin.

The Student Philanthropy Council plans to hold tabling events at various locations throughout the event in order to reach the widest range of students possible, Parkin said. Their reach is so far that Give2Pepp also has representatives around the world who manage the campaign in their abroad houses.

Give2Pepp and Pepperdine Strong Despite the noted excitement surrounding Give2Pepp, Anderson said there have been some concerns for this year regarding whether or not the donations made to the Pepperdine

Strong fund would impact donor’s attitudes for Give2Pepp.

“That is definitely something that our office has been thinking about,” Anderson said. “We are encouraging these people who did give back to Pepperdine Strong, and who did make a difference in the fall with that specific campaign, to consider being a part of the donor family again and giving back during those 37 hours so we can count them as a donor during that day.”

The Pepperdine Strong fund was created after the Borderline shooting and Woolsey Fire tragedies that took place on Nov. 7 and 8. As stated on the campaign’s website, “funds will enable Pepperdine to respond quickly to our community in this time of crisis, providing needed support for the students, faculty, and staff directly impacted by these events.”

The Pepperdine Strong Fund has raised over $480,000 and has over 1,700 supporters, according to their website.

“With Pepperdine Strong, we saw a lot of young alumni giving to that fund, which was really neat to see,” Anderson said. “So we would like to continue to educate them [current students] on those Pepperdine Passions and continue to get them interested in seeing

where they can give back, and keeping that momentum going of the generosity and support.”

Where it all started Anderson said Give2Pepp started back in 2016 in the Pepperdine Fund office. After observing other universities have success with university-wide giving days, the office decided to try it out at Pepperdine.

Angela Kappas, the Give2Pepp Project Manager, played a major role in getting Give2Pepp started, Anderson said.

Kappus is the direct contact for those interested in becoming Give2Pepp Champions, as stated on Pepperdine’s Giving Page Website.

But why the 37 hours?

“The 37-hour duration was chosen to honor our founding in 1937 and also to give Pepperdine friends in every time zone a chance to participate,” as stated on the Give2Pepp website.

Gifts can be made online, over the phone, in person, mailed or through Venmo.

The event will commence at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 5, and will run till 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6.

M ADISON.NIC HOL S@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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F E B R UA RY 2 1 , 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

Officials discuss Pepp’s alcohol policy m ary c at e lo n g manag i ng edi to r

News flash: No alcohol is allowed on campus.

Students may not know , however, that there is one exception to that rule, or that Pepperdine was considered a party school not too long ago.

Pepperdine’s alcohol policy does not allow drinking on campus for a myriad of historical, religious and community-centered reasons.

However, unlike some other Christian universities, the policy yields to allow responsible alcohol consumption off-campus for students who are over the age of 21. From the one policy exception to the Pepperdine’s party school past, here are the basics on Pepperdine’s dry campus alcohol policy.

“

We have an alcohol policy because we care about you, not because we're trying to take away your fun.

Mark Davis, Dean of student affairs

Pepp’s Dry Campus “The consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages or possession of empty containers is prohibited on University property or at any University-sponsored event or activity, regardless of the student’s age,” according to the Pepperdine Student Code of Conduct.

Dean of Student Affairs Mark Davis said Pepperdine has had its “dry campus” policy since its founding in 1937. However, whether the university enforced no alcohol on campus in the past is a

different story.

“When I first came to Pepperdine, in my first year in this role as Dean of Student Affairs, [which] was 2002, I was shocked when I came in,” Davis said.

Davis said he found a campus where binge drinking rates were higher than the national average, according to a national Harvard study of university drinking that he cited. This study prompted Davis and his team to lead focus groups and studies of their own to find the source of the problem.

“What we found was that we were a party school,” Davis said. “The [Resident Advisors] RAs were the ones showing people where the parties were off-campus.”

Soon after, Davis said Pepperdine tightened up their alcohol policy and developed a more comprehensive rather than punitive approach: a standard alcohol violation warranted mandatory visits with the Counseling Center and an online educational program, as well as probation.

By 2004, the Harvard Alcohol Study noted a drop in percentage of Pepperdine students who participated in binge drinking from 50 percent to 32 percent, according to a report by Davis.

Today, Pepperdine lies below the national average, Davis said.

Although continuation of the historical and religious norm is a factor, Davis said there are also several other reasons that Pepperdine continues to uphold a policy that bans all alcohol usage on campus. One major incentive is safety.

“Our concern for that is not just to regulate individual behavior, although that is important for character development, but because drunkenness is often associated with community concerns such as sexual assault or driving under the influence,” Davis said.

Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Community Standards Sharon Beard said banning alco-

hol on campus negates distractions from the learning environment that a college campus ought to be.

“Most of our on-campus students are not of age,” Beard said. “But even for those who are of age, we don’t see how alcohol in our community can enhance the educational experience.”

While it is true that most of Pepperdine’s on-campus students are under the age of 21, there are several older residents living in places like George Page and Drescher. Davis said residents such as these of “mixed” age ranges are another reason that the dry campus policy is helpful: it is difficult to stay consistent between different punishments across age groups.

“Partly in respect to the freshman who are wanting to try to follow the law, it can be really hard when the people right next door are able to drink,” Davis said.

Guide to Alcohol Off-Campus for Minors In accordance with national and California law, underage students are not allowed to drink alcohol off campus.

“Colleges and universities that accept federal aid are required to enforce the Drug-free Campus Act,” Davis said. “So we are not allowed, of course, to allow alcohol ... for anyone under 21.”

However, Davis dispelled a common myth that some students hold: that underage students are not permitted to be in the presence of alcohol either.

“You can be around alcohol off campus,” Davis said. “We just ask you to follow the law and to be responsible.”

The bottom line: although one could get in trouble being in the presence of alcohol on campus, underage students could go to parties where alcohol is present without fear of punishment, as long as they resist the temptation to drink.

As RA of White house, part of junior Lexi Johnson’s job is to enforce Pepperdine’s alcohol policy in freshman housing.

However, Johnson said she does not believe most RAs are intentionally sniffing out rule-breakers.

“I want to make sure [residents are] safe, but I’m not a hound dog waiting for them to come home at two [a.m.],” Johnson said. “There definitely are RAs that do that and those are crazy stories. But essentially, it’s if you see it, you say something about it. But we’re not outright looking for people breaking the rules.”

Guide to Alcohol Off-Campus for 21+

Courtesy of Unsplash Pouring a Glass | Students who are over the age of 21 are allowed to enjoy an alcoholic beverage off-campus. However, alcohol is never permitted on-campus, especially in residence halls.

Responsible drinking is permitted for students over the age of 21 years old off campus, Davis and Beard said. However, drunkenness is not.

“Drunkenness, on or off campus, is not consistent with the moral

standards of the University and may result, minimally, in University probation on the first offense and suspension on the second offense,” according to Pepperdine’s Student Code of Conduct.

The line between “drinking” and “drunkenness” can be difficult to define, Beard said. Technically, drunkenness is measured as 0.08 on a breathalyzer, but there are also other determinations when considering this limit.

“It is one of those more difficult things to define when you don’t have a breathalyzer, but if you’re feeling the effects of the alcohol and starting to lose control, then I would say you could know that you are drunk,” Beard said.

Johnson said while her job is pretty straightforward in freshmen housing, RAs in mainly upperclassmen residences, such as Drescher, have a more complex job in regards to enforcing alcohol violations.

“If I was an RA in Drescher, the only reason I would be giving citations for alcohol would be if there is alcohol within one of the apartments or if the student is obviously drunk,” Johnson said.

“Whereas with freshmen, if there has been any drinking whatsoever, I would still have to do something because they’re still under 21 and they are on campus.”

Johnson said, according to her RA training, an of-age individual would basically have to be “belligerent” to receive a drinking citation on campus.

“For example, if I go out and come back stumbling and yelling, an RA will come up to me,” Johnson said. “But if I have a glass of wine or whatever and go back to my room and live normally, there is no problem with that because I’m 21 and I’m doing it responsibly.”

The One Place Where Alochol is Allowed on Campus The one exception to the dry campus policy applies to a narrow subsection of the Pepperdine population: staff and faculty. Beard and Davis said faculty housing is the only place that alcohol is permitted on campus.

Davis said this exception is evidence to the fact that Pepperdine does not mean to cast alcohol in a “sinful” or “evil” light.

“We’re not anti-alcohol and there’s no problem with a faculty member making their own decision about what to drink,” Davis said.

What Happens When Someone is Caught For a first-time alcohol policy offender, sanctions are typically predictable, according to the “Standard Sanctions” page of the Student Code of Conduct website. The website includes a chart of particular minimum punishments associated with certain violations.

Beard said the disciplinary process begins

“

Our concern for that is not just to regulate individual behavior, although that is important for character development, but because drunkenness is often associated with community concerns such as sexual assault or driving under the influence.

Mark davis, Dean of student affairs

with her at the Office of Community Standards.

“Typically, I receive reports from an RA or Public Safety [officer],” Beard said. “So, it’s sent to my office and I then review the report to see if there is enough information to charge the student. Then, I set up a meeting with the student.”

Beard said a fourmonth probation is the standard sanction for first-time alcohol offenses, such as possession of alcohol on campus or returning to campus drunk.

“The standard sanction that we issue … for first time alcohol violation is university probation and alcohol assessment with our Counseling Center and an online education program,” Beard said. “When students are on probation that means their status with the university is tenuous and any other violations would result in suspension. [Probation] means that you can’t hold certain leadership positions and it does impact the IP experience.”

Beard said if a student only meets with her, probation is the highest punishment he or she would be able to receive. However, if she determines the case to be more severe, Beard said she sends the student’s case before the Student Disciplinary Committee to decide.

Upon reviewing the case, this committee is capable of issuing more severe punishments, such as suspension or expulsion.

Consequences of Getting Caught Two prominent consequences associated with some alcohol violations are Pepperdine’s potential right to remove financial aid and/or prohibit participation in international programs.

“Every student who has accepted a scholarship, loan, fellowship, grant-in-aid or any other financial assistance by the University or the state is deemed to have agreed to observe the rules and regulations of the University,” accord-

ing to the Forfeiture of Financial Assistance page of the Student Code of Conduct website. “In such cases students who have accordingly violated the Student Code of Conduct may forfeit their financial assistance.”

An alcohol policy violation can also ultimately lead to the inability to participate in Pepperdine International Programs (IP), Davis and Beard said.

However, this is a decision on the part of the IP office rather than their own divisions.

“International Programs decided … that it’s a privilege to go overseas and we really need … to have students who have demonstrated their ability to follow rules, even if they don’t agree with them,” Davis said. “If Pepperdine students can’t demonstrate their ability to follow the rules of the house on campus, then let’s give the privilege to someone else.”

However, an alcohol violation resulting in the standard sanction of probation does not mean that studying abroad is off the table indefinitely.

“Once the student is off probation, they can fully apply and attend one of the programs,” Beard said. “It’s not taken away forever.”

The Future of the Alcohol Policy It may not come as a surprise, but Davis said Pepperdine plans to continue upholding its dry campus policy. However, just as clarifications were recently made to the Good Samaritan Policy fall 2018, efforts are in motion to update the alcohol policy at large.

The Office of Community Standards reviews the policy every year to see if revisions or clarifications should be made, Beard said. The main goals in regard to this year’s work on the policy are to make it as clear as possible, dispel commonly held myths and continue to build trust within the community, Davis said.

The distinction between “drinking” and “drunkenness” will receive some attention as well as changing language to portray the reasoning behind the policy, Davis said.

“We have an alcohol policy because we care about you, not because we’re trying to take away your fun,” Davis said.

“This is a policy that we think helps a certain environment that I think most students at Pepperdine want on campus.

And then it’s more about safety, community and well-being off-campus.”

M ARY.L ONG@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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P E P P E R DINE GR A P HIC M E DIA | N E W S | F E B RU A RY 21 , 20 1 9

Malibu reinstates dinners for the homeless ashl ey c hav ez g ues t contr i bu tor

Darren Chapman has been waiting to move into housing since 2015.

He sleeps in his car every night.

Chapman relies on food stamps and disability checks to get through each month. He showers in a hotel room the few times he can afford one.

His Jack Russell Terrier, Daizy Ma, is well-fed and well-loved. This is Chapman’s life, and he said he does what he can to make it work.

“I see the sunset and wake up and see the sunrise,” Chapman said. “I don’t mind, I’ve got my dog as my best friend.

There’s nothing more you can really ask for.”

Chapman is just one of the many people who attend the weekly meals put on by the local Malibu religious groups.

Our Lady of Malibu, United Methodist Church, Malibu Presbyterian, St. Aidan’s Episcopal and Malibu Jewish Center are a few of the communities that contribute to the weekly meals by either hosting, volunteering or providing food, volunteer Ellen Cerniglia said.

Cerniglia said she has been a longtime volunteer at the weekly meals, is a member of the Community Assistance and Resource Team (CART) and attends Our Lady of Malibu. CART partners with the churches to help coordinate the meals and provide

resources for Malibu’s homeless community.

The Rev. Paul Elder Provides Twice-Weekly Lunches

The Meals Stop The weekly meals have been going on for over a decade, longtime volunteer Danny Shea said. However, around six months ago, the city of Malibu requested that the dinners to stop.

Church and community volunteers used to prepare all of the food in a potluck style and hosted the Monday night dinners at United Methodist Church.

“Back when we used to be here [before the dinners were asked to stop] there were a lot of [homeless] people showing up and people in the community started to get worried,” Cerniglia said.

Malibu residents complained to the city of foot traffic and an influx of homeless residents from Santa Monica, Cerniglia said. Malibu began to look into these complaints and decided the best course of action was to end the dinners.

“The city was getting complaints, the Malibu [Lost Hills] Sheriff ’s Department was getting complaints, and they had to ‘do something,’” volunteer Carol Moss said. “There was really nothing they could do but stop the dinners.”

After a six-month hiatus, the dinners were brought back to the Malibu Courthouse around October, Cerniglia said.

However, the meals there were brought to a halt because of complica-

Ashley Chavez | Guest Contributor Helping Hands | Volunteers serve meals to the homeless outside of the Malibu Public Library recently. The Malibu effort to provide dinners to the homeless started up again in October after a six-month pause due to community complaints. tions and legalities with the preparation of dinners, along with the destruction and evacuation from the Woolsey Fire.

In January, the meals were back to their old schedule and now Monday night dinners are being hosted at the United Methodist Church once again. Cerniglia said a security guard sits outside of the building – hiring him was a requirement to appease the city of Malibu and ease their worries over the gathering. He said it is good to start reestablishing a schedule and consistent locations so the homeless community can know when to expect their meals.

The current schedule consists of Monday night dinners hosted by volunteers from several different groups, Tuesday and Friday lunches outside the Malibu Public Library with the Rev. Paul Elder of St. Aidan’s Episcopal and Wednesday dinners

on Zuma Beach hosted by Malibu United Methodist. All of the Malibu religious groups will have a chance to contribute or host, as a more regular schedule is being solidified after the break.

Community Assistance and Resource Team (CART) Carol Moss is a grandmotherly woman tasked with one goal: to better the lives of Malibu’s homeless community.

Moss created CART four years ago to work with the homeless, provide them with community and work together to better their lives. She works closely with the local religious groups to ensure the weekly meals are occurring and needs are being met.

Moss explained the city’s thought process behind the initial cancellations of the dinners. There used to be two consecutive dinners

which would result in a large number of homeless people spending the night. Breaking up the days that provide dinner helped to prevent this issue, Moss said.

“People are so hungry, it’s basic,” Moss said. “Let them know they’re cared for, respected, give them a little community and TLC.” In addition to food, CART will provide sleeping bags and other basic resources for the homeless community.

Twice annually there is an eye clinic, and once a year the Homeless Connect Day, where showers, haircuts and DMV consultations are available.

Moss is trying to put together an art exhibit made by members of the homeless community, which will include a forum. She said she hopes this forum can help alleviate some of the concerns that the community has over the meals.

Elder takes it upon himself, on behalf of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, to provide lunches to the homeless community outside of the Malibu Public Library on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Elder and his volunteers also give out basic toiletries and sleeping bags.

This lunch program has been going on for years and was continued throughout the ban on the dinner meals, Elder said. One volunteer said there were once 180 homeless in Malibu, including those living in cars and RVs, and that number has since been reduced to 140. There are social work representatives offering their resources, in addition to church members, present at these twice-weekly lunches.

The Dinners Return The Malibu dinners are getting back on a regular routine and the homeless community said they are noticing the efforts. Last week there were only two people at the Monday dinner, and this week there were over fifteen, Cerniglia said.

“Some people don’t understand until you get something taken from you completely ... and you can’t have it back,” Chapman said. “You need to start fresh somewhere.”

ASHL EY.C HAV EZ@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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PERSPECTIVES PGM STAFF IS NOT

NAMING HATE

⇧ because...

Caitlin Roark | Art Editor

STAFF EDITORIAL Pepp Must Unite Against Hate

This year, Pepperdine has shown more than ever that our community can unite and support each other in love through the hardest of times. This spirit of solidarity was demonstrated again through Pepperdine’s response to the group of protesters who picketed outside the university Monday, Feb. 11. How our community responded to the church protesters should set the precedent for responding to hate groups in the future. Pepperdine’s approach to hostility should always be to stand in unity.

Though it may seem counterintuitive, choosing not to respond was Pepperdine’s best response to the protest.

Counter-protesting or addressing the group directly would have given the protesters undue attention and further emphasized their inflammatory rhetoric, as the group thrives off reactions from counter-protesters and media coverage.

After the protest, the group even tagged @PeppGraphic on Twitter, perhaps hoping to draw another reac-

tion from Pepperdine students. Instead, by signing the “God Loves.

Period.” banners and wearing orange, students gave support and attention to the unity of the Pepperdine community rather than the antagonistic nature of the protest.

Those who have read our coverage on the group know of PGM’s decision not to name the group as to not give them unwarranted publicity.

This group, while small in numbers, receives national coverage for its inflammatory messages and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. We as an organization choose not to name the protesters in order to focus attention on the harmful actions, not on their organization. We reported on the event because of its significance and relevance to our community, but we do not approve of the group’s beliefs and therefore will not recognize or highlight its name.

One of the pillars of Alaina’s Voice, created in honor of freshman Alaina Housley, is remembering the victims and not perpetrators of violence. In choosing

not to name those who have committed crimes or acts of hate, Alaina’s Voice seeks to change the narrative of giving recognition to shooters in the media by remembering those who were affected by gun violence instead. In the same way, PGM chooses to stand with the Housleys and the Thousand Oaks community by not naming a group who claims that “God sent the shooter.”

Although the university chose to respond as a whole with love and peace, Pepperdine does not speak for every student, staff or faculty member. Controversial moments like these naturally incite differing opinions, but remembering the importance of handling differing views with civility is essential.

In response to the protesters, students put up a display on the Freedom Wall last week to call for more support from university administration for LGBTQ+ individuals on campus — a group that the protesters have criticized and demeaned in the past. This display was then covered over a few days later with papers arranged in the

shape of a cross and slogans such as “Promote love, not sin” and “Tolerance ≠ Love.”

The Freedom Wall was created for sharing different voices in a peaceful and respectful manner, and it is important to keep this at the forefront. In the past week, the Freedom Wall has turned into a battleground between those supporting LGBTQ+ rights and those in opposition.

It would be easy to let this display divide us, but we have a larger responsibility to civil discourse and cohesion as a community. Pepperdine Waves Debate took this upon themselves to host a discussion about LGBTQ+ support systems on campus in order to give people a space to share or listen to differing opinions. Events like these are important in contributing to ongoing discussions and giving platforms to voice differing opinions in a healthy way.

Though there is a group responsibility not to highlight hateful rhetoric, there is also an individual responsibility to respond to differing

THE 'BU YORKER

opinions with civility.

But this doesn’t mean ignoring the consequences of hateful rhetoric or ignoring the plight of those who are directly affected by hate.

While it can be easy to respond with humor or make light of a protest, this reaction also draws attention to their harmful message whether you intended to or not.

As last week’s protest taught us, choosing to respond with a spirit of unity and community should continue to be the message at Pepperdine. This was not the first visit of this particular church group, nor will it be the last controversial group to come to Pepperdine, and therefore students should remember this event in the future.

Throughout times of controversy and debate, it is important to stay rooted in what we know to be true — we are all part of the Pepperdine community and therefore united as one. Pepperdine should continue to stand against those who protest and spread hateful messages and to stand in solidarity with one another.

LETTERS TO THE 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.

SGA passed a resolution to fund a portion of Late Night Breakfast put on by Student Affairs scheduled for Sunday, April 23 from 9:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Waves Cafe.

2.

Caitlin Roark | Art Editor

Graphic Pepperdine University 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy. Malibu, CA 90263 310-506-4311

3.

peppgraphicmedia@gmail.com peppgraphicadvertising@gmail.com

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.”

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Stand up to hate crimes Ga r e n Ko s oya n pe rs p e c t i v e s E d it or Several Armenian students at Pepperdine responded in disbelief to reports of Turkish flags hanging from their alma maters. “When I first saw the pictures of the flags on my school, I couldn’t believe it ... I couldn’t believe that in this day and age, people would do such a stupid, childish and hateful thing like this,” wrote sophomore Shant Ganoumian via an email interview. In 1915, the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey) began a murderous campaign now known as the Armenian Genocide, which killed over 1.5 million Armenians. This atrocity is one that Turkey continues to deny.

These incidents of hate crime in the United States have been on the rise for the past few years, leading many to wonder what steps need to be taken in order to reverse this dangerous trend. Such deliberate actions of hate should not be countered with equal vileness, as this would ensure the country will be thrown into chaos. Rather, people should seek routes that aim to degrade the ignorance that usually fuels this hatred.

Pepperdine’s unity in the face of hate and tragedy should serve as a model for moving forward.

Pepperdine defines “hate crime” as, “Crimes manifesting evidence of prejudice based on gender, race, religion, sexual

C ar o l i ne AR c her sta ff w r i te r

Ally Armstrong | Assistant Art Editor orientation, disability, or ethnicity.” With this classification, it becomes apparent as to why the Trump presidency has seen such an increase in hate incidents. From mocking a reporter with a disability to pursuing a ban on individuals from Muslim-majority nations, President Donald Trump’s reckless behavior seems to be sending a message that such conduct is tolerable.

This increase in hate crimes can be attributed to the lack of strong opposition from leaders in the nation. “Presidents from Ronald Reagan in the 1980s through Barack Obama would take public stands against hate crimes. President Donald Trump ... hasn’t done so,” according to the Southern Poverty Law Center in a recent article.

In the rare instances of condemnation, President Trump

would still hesitate from placing the blame on perpetrators. Following the tragedy in Charlottesville, Trump said there was blame on “both sides” concerning the violence that led to the death of Heather Heyer, despite the fact that the murderer was a member of the alt-right.

In the face of such unwarranted hate, it can be difficult to compose oneself and construct a peaceful response. The first step, in any case, should be to report the incident. The FBI gives credit to about 1,000 police departments who are now choosing to report hate crimes, hence allowing for a more in-depth analysis of the significance of this issue.

Reporting such an issue brings awareness to a topic that needs to be brought to the attention of leaders. Once leaders are made aware of how prevalent

these crimes are, they can then begin to consider serious courses of action.

Students also shouldn’t hesitate to report incidents of hate they witness or experience to the Department of Public Safety. Counseling services are available for students as well.

Pepperdine students should continue to show their strength through unity and by bringing awareness to hate issues they perceive on campus.

“The best we can do as students is spread awareness and educate as many people as we possibly can,” Ganoumian wrote.

The Freedom Wall should be utilized by students to voice their concerns as well as spreading awareness to the student body. A continued, unified effort will always prevail against hate.

GAR EN.KOSOYAN@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Defy Trump’s regressive views C a mry n G o r d o n S ta f f W ri t e r The Donald Trump presidency has taken America by storm, affecting communities across the nation. The Pepperdine community is one of many directly affected by the reckless policy changes and lack of effective leadership that President Donald Trump possesses.

The campus is now riddled with students who are worried about the future of the country. In the past 24 months, Pepperdine University has been challenged by threatening fires and massive changes in immigration policy exposing students to the corruption of the presidency and the harmful policies of the Trump administration.

The negative consequences of Trump’s policies on Pepperdine reference the recent struggles of the Woolsey Fire where many students were displaced due to the imminent threat our campus was in, yet Trump made the proposition of raking leaves to

Promote the Body Project j

reduce fires without taking any action to put the Malibu community at ease.

President Trump has continued to induce stress within the Pepperdine and Malibu communities as he threatens to cut off federal relief aid to California for wildfires, greatly affecting the reconstruction of cities affected by the November blazes.

President Trump has taken advantage of America’s most vulnerable populations, driving many into states of economic and social mania. This is especially clear in his most recent attack on American democracy — the government shutdown. The antics of the shutdown depleted the economic expansion that was once considered a highlightable Trumpian achievement, costing the U.S. $11 billion, and brought new fears upon victims of the California wildfires as President Trump’s remarks on halting disaster relief were unveiled.

Taking a look back on the past 24 months, there has been considerable damage to the reputation of America as a legitimate democracy.

Whether the president is declaring war on hu-

man rights, rolling back efforts to combat climate change or enabling racism, his decisions have created chaos that radiates embarrassment and resistance from within.

Since the election of President Trump, the role of the United States as an international superpower has consistently weakened due to the president’s continuous impulsive decisions on foreign policy. As Trump spends his time firing insulting tweets at governments worldwide, his unsupervised role on social media has jeopardized the United States in its position as a legitimate power.

Donald Trump poses the country’s gravest

national security threat.

His continual attack on the free press, rejection of foreign advisories and impulsive decision-making has exposed a divided America as the next target for the world’s most dangerous enemies.

As students representing Pepperdine University, it is our duty as rising leaders to be educated on the damaging effects of uncontrolled and impulsive power; to protect the deeply-rooted values of democracy, patriotism and freedom that make America great.

Under the presidency of Donald Trump, there has been a legitimate attack on what those values mean. Whether President Trump is

supported by some or deeply loathed, it is important to recognize that many of America’s precious values have been falsified and used as weapons.

At Pepperdine University, students are taught to be the strength that people can rely on, the change that will lead to equality and the servant that restores humanity. Take the time to research current and future government leaders, reach out to your Congressional representatives if you want to see change, but most importantly, vote. Pepperdine University students need to be prepared to take on the important role as voters.

C AM RYN.GOR DON@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Pepperdine’s branch of the Body Project is back in session. Throughout the semester, five peerled groups will meet for a pair of two-hour sessions, which will promote positive body image and equip women to cope with societal pressures.

The Body Project is preventative in nature, intended to establish a favorable sense of selfesteem among girls and women across the United States. It is touted by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) as one of the most reliable and effective eating disorder prevention programs in the United States.

The Body Project has the potential to create a culture-shift on campus.

Pepperdine students are often preoccupied with their body image, according to Makena Huey’s recent Currents Magazine article published Feb. 3.

The Body Project can provide a healthy way to address these thoughts.

Testimonials on the Body Project’s homepage affirm that group sessions equip participants with lasting skills to improve their self esteem.

Pepperdine’s community needs to foster conversations about the highs and lows of body image.

When students are willing to discuss their own issues with body image, it prevents isolation in those who are struggling, according to Nicole Spafford’s article published by the Graphic on Nov. 9, 2017.

While this program is aimed at female audiences, men should also heighten their awareness.

“Men also face pressures ... and we need to make sure the body-positive movement fights against those too,” according to Caroline Olney’s article published

by Greatist on Feb. 28, 2017.

Although problems with body image are not the only cause of eating disorders, it is worthwhile to address them. The United States has seen a rise in eating disorder rates and this makes preventative measures essential, according to Julia Naftulin’s article published by Insider on Jan. 23.

For students who are concerned about their relationships with food, another resource on campus is the Eating Disorder Treatment Team.

The Body Project is an invaluable resource to the Pepperdine community.

Students should take advantage of the opportunities it provides by signing up for a session. To sign up and receive more information, students can email peppbodyproject@ gmail.com.

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

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LA county preps for rainstorms c ar l ie o t t gu es t contr i bu tor More rainstorms are expected, but many students may not understand the risk of flooding, mudslides and falling rocks that comes with the rain.

“I don’t think a lot of people are that concerned,” sophomore Morris Chen said about potential mudslides. “Unlike the fire, it’s not like you can see it ... it doesn’t happen until it happens, and when it happens, it’s too late.”

A few semesters ago, the prediction of rain would cause Pepperdine students to anticipate a day off. Now, students prepare to make the trek to class from their dorm room up in the Drescher Campus, their freshman suite or commuting from off-campus, regardless of how gloomy it looks outside.

LA County officials issued an evacuation warning Jan. 15 during the rainstorm from Jan. 14-17. Some students who lived off campus also lived in areas under evacuation. Pepperdine sent an email to on-campus students asking for volunteers to house evacuated students. This is similar to an email sent Nov. 9 requesting students to house those evacuated due to the fires.

For those living off-campus, additional care is necessary as city officials could issue an evacuation. The storm from Jan. 31 - Feb. 2 did not bring as much rain – almost 1.5 inches – compared to the over 2 inches of the storm of Jan. 14-17.

The Graphic published an article after the last rainstorm detailing some of the changes Pepperdine made around campus, including additional fencing and blockades.

Some streets and parking lots were closed due to their close proximity to land that had burned.

“I personally have been trying my best not to park on the hillsides just because that’s like the most vulnerable place with mudslides and falling trees,” Chen said.

The biggest danger with rainstorms was not the steady rain predicted for the majority of this storm, but the mudslides the rain could cause, Fire Captain Armando Bonilla said. The issue for major mudslides is from a heavy continuous downpour of rain. On Feb. 2, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood advisory.

The LA County Fire Department does not take prospective natural disasters lightly, Bonilla said.

To prepare, the county consults a Fire Behavior Analyst who is part of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group to determine the danger of fires.

The aftermath of fires

Carlie Ott | Guest Contributor Rainy Days | Rain pools on Pepperdine’s campus during a recent stormy afternoon. Weather such as this has caused mudslide warnings and road closures. has an immense impact on flooding. For rain, which has flooding and mudslide implications, the fire department looks into the potential safety hazards for the community in advance.

“We try to know the forecast as soon as possible,” Bonilla said. “We are in contact with our fire behavior analyst. We are in contact with the national weather service.”

Bonilla is a fire captain at LA County Fire Department Station 88 located behind the Malibu Colony Plaza. Because of the canyons potentially closing due to mudslides and boulders falling, Bonilla said the fire station coordinates in advance with other fire stations to elevate staffing levels to what is needed.

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“We analyze the weather beforehand,” Bonilla said. “We increase additional staffing levels beforehand; we ramp it up with our strike teams.”

The danger shifts with the increase of firefighters in Malibu. As they focus on different potential emergencies around the Pacific Coast Highway, they leave their normal station area more vulnerable, Bonilla said. However, this is normal for high-risk times such as fires or rainstorms, so the stations prepare for this with increased staffing all around.

“People know they are the first to be called,” Bonilla said about the emergency response teams from other areas. “We [also] work with the lifeguard to patrol around

the area.”

LA County Fire has a winter safety preparedness section on their website, which lists various ways to prepare for the upcoming storms.

These include having sandbags around areas of highest mudslide concern, preparing a go-bag and planning a safe place for pets to stay in case of an evacuation order.

Around campus, impacts of flooding and mudslides are not overly obvious. Freshman Meagan Jaycox said she has hiked up to the cross, one of the highest accessible points on campus, since the last rainstorm.

“I didn’t notice any loose boulders,” she said.

“I noticed they did have some sandbags out in one area, and there was a

lot of mud that had come down.”

Some sandbags are placed around the highest risk areas on campus as well as impermanent walls at the base of Drescher. Other parts of campus have netting down to hold the dirt in place.

Even after the rain has cleared out, the potential for mudslides or falling rocks and trees persists.

The amount of time it takes for mudslide potential to decrease cannot be easily determined as the lack of plants to hold the dirt in place is common after the fires, Bonilla said. The level of saturation of the dirt also plays a large factor as well as the grade of the hill.

NWS Los Angeles tweeted a graphic Jan. 30 predicting total rain accumulations would range from .5 to three inches throughout LA from Jan. 31 - Feb. 2. The heavy rains, which totaled roughly 1.5 inches in Malibu, impacted the canyon roads into Malibu – Malibu Canyon Road, Las Virgenes Road and Kanan Dume Road – during the last storm. Each road was closed for periods of time throughout the storm from Jan. 31 - Feb. 2, but all roads were cleared by Monday, Feb. 4.

The length of time it takes for a hill to no longer be susceptible to mudslides is “more about what the hill can handle,” Bonilla said.

C AR L IE.OTT@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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Photos courtesy of Ina Bobis

Hitting the High Notes | Adrian Patiña, Joseph Hebel and Andrea Hupman practice during a “Die Fledermaus” dress rehearsal. The opera will be sung in the traditional German with super titles, however the scenes with dialogue will be in English.

‘Die Fledermaus’ debuts in Smothers P iper w r ight li f e and ar ts Assista n t

The all-student cast of “Die Fledermaus” will be presenting the traditional German opera in Smothers Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Emma Ujifusa, a junior Music Education and Vocal Performance major, plays Adele — the chambermaid of the two main characters.

“She is a character that helps drive the plot,” Ujifusa said. “It’s a whole comedic revenge story. It’s kind of ridiculous and wouldn’t actually happen in a span of 24 hours, but it’s a fun little lighthearted revenge story.”

The dialogue of the production will be in English, while the singing will be done in the traditional German.

“I think it’s pretty common to do that on college campuses just for accessibility purposes,” Ujifusa said. “I think it’s hard to do the music in English just

because the translation doesn’t work out. We sing in German, and there is a projector that has word-for-word translation on the spot as we’re singing.”

Joe Hebel, a sophomore Theater Music major, plays Eisenstein, a main character in the show.

“It’s all these crazy turns,” Hebel said about the plot of the show. “It’s wild. It’s a good time though.”

Ujifusa said casting for the show was in the fall, so the Fine Arts Division and its students have been working on the show for a while.

“I think a lot of people would be surprised at how much they would enjoy it,” Ujifusa said.

There isn’t much opera in the area and though opera isn’t as popular as it has been in the past, “it’s still beautiful music and beautiful storytelling,” Hebel said. “And it’s nice to share that with the Pepperdine community. I know the older community loves to come and see it because they don’t want

to have to go all the way down to LA, but it’s great for Pepperdine students to get a taste of it as well. Come see the opera!”

“It is a privilege to work with our talented and dedicated students on an operetta that has stood the test of time,” Keith Colclough, assistant professor of Music and director of opera, wrote in an email.

“Die Fledermaus” is no easy task for the students to conquer, however. The extreme difficulty of the language and music poses a few different issues for the students.

“We are singing all of the music in German and several of the roles stretch the singers’ voices to the extremes of their vocal ranges,” Colclough wrote.

“Also, the style of 19th-century German operetta is rather different than the music most of our students grew up listening to, so we have to adjust the musical language our students use to emote. Finally, our singers have to compete with a 48-piece orchestra without mi-

crophones, meaning that even though it feels natural to look at your colleagues onstage, everything has to be sung toward the audience so the voice can be heard in the hall.”

Colclough wrote that “Die Fledermaus” is a comical opera full of “witty intrigue and infectious waltzes.” Colclough added that the show explores social issues such as “social hierarchy, fidelity and responsible alcohol use.”

“College is an unmatched opportunity to explore new art forms, hobbies, and academic subjects,” Colclough wrote.

“An opera ticket in LA costs between $70 and $200, so this is a bargain right on campus. The cast has been working on this show for five months, and it is a substantial achievement. Most importantly, it should be a fun night with beautiful music.”

Tickets cost $10 for students and $20 for all other attendees.

They are available to buy at the Smothers Theatre box office or online. For additional informa-

“

tion about the show, visit the Center for the Arts website.

An opera ticket in LA costs between $70 and $200, so this is a bargain right on campus. The cast has been working on this show for five months, and it is a substantial achievement.

Keith Colclough, Director PIPER .W R IGHT@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Practice Makes Perfect | The cast prepares for Thursday’s opening night performance. They have been working on “Die Fledermause” for the past five months.

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FEBRUA RY 2 1 , 2 0 1 9 | L IFE A N D A RTS | P E P P E R D I N E G RA P H I C ME D I A

Spring students adjust to life abroad in Buenos Aires Gr ace Wood s taf f writ e r

For many Pepperdine students, studying abroad is an essential aspect of the college experience. Studying at one of Pepperdine’s seven abroad locations during sophomore year almost resembles a rite of passage for students, and each international program seems to have its own distinct culture.

According to the Pepperdine International Programs website, “85% of [Pepperdine] students study for the full academic year.” This statistic may cause students to feel like studying abroad for the entirety of sophomore year is the best and only option for an international experience. However, students may choose to study abroad for only one semester. Sophomore Hope Horn chose to study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina during the second semester.

“I’m a Chemistry major focusing on biochemistry, and I’m also minoring in Spanish, so schedule-wise it wasn’t really possible for me to come to B.A. for a full year,” Horn said. “I had to fight in order to even get a semester here.”

While the liberty to attend an abroad program for a semester may be a better option for students unable to commit to the full year, those studying abroad during the second semester might find it difficult to adjust to life in a new country after spending fall in Malibu. Factors like culture shock, time changes, new classes and new faces may contribute to this obstacle.

“It was hard to transition from Malibu to B.A., especially since I had such an amazing first semester there,” sophomore Sophie Rodriguez, who is studying abroad for the spring semester, said. “Coming somewhere brand new where [the students] have already been around each other for a long time was definitely a little weird.”

For Rodriguez, the pace of life in Buenos Aires is a factor that has required adjustment after being in the U.S. first semester. “[The Argentine people’s] sleeping and eating schedules are the biggest difference to me,” Rodriguez said. “I like being in control of my own meals,

Photo courtesy of Anthony Delucia and Sydney Griffith Wandering BA | Students in the BA program walk the streets together. They said the culture is very different compared to the U.S. so it’s weird eating dinner at like 10:30 p.m., going out at 1 a.m. and then sometimes staying out until the early morning on the weekends.”

Students studying abroad in the spring semester might adapt easier if they have frends studying for the full year to show them around and teach them about cultural norms. For sophomore Logan DiLullo, helping the new students is something that comes naturally.

“For me, as a full-year [student], I wanted to be able to help the new people,” DiLullo said. “Even though the shock and not knowing what to do is fun for a little bit, it can get overwhelming, so just being a friend to show people around and help them experience the culture in a positive way is something that I love to do.”

When it comes to adjusting to life in the city, Horn has experienced a lot of helpful guidance from the students

who were in B.A. in the fall. “[The full year students] have told me where to go, where not to go, what methods of transportation are the best,” Horn said. “They’ve invited me out to different restaurants or to parks … They’ve been really welcoming to me and have been helpful, too, with adjusting to classes and the new teachers.”

Being a full-year student in Buenos Aires comes with the advantage of having more knowledge of life in the city.

DiLullo said she has two pieces of advice for students arriving in Argentina for the first time: “Try to go to as many new places as you can. You’ll be able to know B.A. a lot better if you go and do things on the weekends or make a point to go to new places, even if it’s just for lunch or something. My other advice is even if your Spanish isn’t great, speak as much of it as you

can because you’ll make better relationships with the Argentines that you meet.”

Pepperdine’s Buenos Aires program is unique in that students are required to live in a homestay with a local Argentine family hand-picked to match their preferences. The homestay can also aid students in the assimilation process by providing exposure to new foods, language immersion and background on cultural events and practices. Full-year student Clare Costa has learned to appreciate the homestay experience in Buenos Aires.

“It’s been really amazing to be welcomed into a home,” Costa said. “The Argentine people are very family-oriented, so having a dinner to come home to every night where I can sit, relax and have a conversation lets me focus on something else other than school, [which] is really rewarding.”

Costa’s homestay family has also helped her become accustomed to the Argentine way of life.

“My family helps me with my Spanish all the time, and they give me a lot of advice about life in B.A.,” Costa said.

“They also have really helped me get into the culture; one of the first weeks I was here, my homestay brother had his First Communion and the family invited me to go with them. They really welcomed me with open arms, and it was cool to see the culture in practice.”

Despite the initial difficulty of moving to a new country, Rodriguez expresses admiration for her new classmates and friends in the program.

“The group [in Buenos Aires] is amazing because the program attracts really outgoing, adventurous people, and I can’t wait to get close with them,” Rodriguez said.

While recognizing the challenge that comes with leaving what is known and comfortable behind in the U.S., Rodriguez looks forward to the rest of her time in South America.

“I go through waves of homesickness, which I think is pretty normal during any period of transition, but at the end of the day, I always feel just over-the-top happy to be in B.A,” Rodriguez said.

GR AC E.W OOD@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Ditch Payson and try these coffee shops kat nanc e l if e & ar ts s ecti on e d itor The convenient study rooms, a brand new Starbucks and an irresistible ocean view might make you never want to leave Payson Library again. However, packing up your textbooks and heading to some new scenery might help boost your motivation and your GPA. When asked by Education Weekly, Psychologist Robert Bjork said that a change of scenery could increase both your concentration and retention levels, giving you better results after a day’s worth of studying.

Bjork suggests that simply moving to a different room could be beneficial in stimulating the brain.

OK, so if not the library, where else is there to study?

Thankfully, Santa Monica and Los Angeles are in no shortage of aesthetic coffee shops perfect for doing just that.

Cruise down the PCH toward Santa Monica for your first coffee stop: Bodega Coffee Bar. This newly created coffee spot resides on Broadway Street just minutes away from the beloved Santa Monica Pier and beach.

Its modern yet cozy interior creates an ideal en-

vironment for working or taking a needed study break. Walk right in and approach the mosaic wooden counter to order one of their hand-crafted drinks and a bite to eat — try the breakfast burrito if you’re really hungry. The bar offers free WiFi all day, but don’t be alarmed if they kick you out at 5 p.m.

Bodega turns into a wine bar from 5 p.m. onwards.

Wish you were hanging on the beach under the warm Australian sun instead of studying? Well, the Aussie-inspired Great White coffee shop may give you the best of both worlds.

Great White is a Venice hole-in-the-wall; look closely for their white, stenciled shark sign or else it can be easily missed. However, once inside, the hanging plants and aesthetic setup will be sure to catch your attention.

The spunky shop is known for its blue acai bowl that has caught the eyes of many Instagram food connoisseurs.

Their coffee is equally delicious — order the chai tea for a sweet pick-me-up.

With a location

nearly adjacent to Venice beach, Great White welcomes in sandy feet with open arms.

The final destination for a coffee fix is Dinosaur Coffee, located on Sunset Boulevard.

The co-creator of Cards Against Humanity and his wife founded this cute and minimalistic coffee parlor. Their bar offers plenty of space for laptops, textbooks and papers galore, making it the perfect place for studying.

The white walls with wooden accents are pleasant to the eye but won’t drag the attention away from your homework. Dinosaur is open

daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., so if you decide to make the trek to LA, you can get comfortable and stay for awhile.

Although Payson Library is a great place to study, it can be beneficial for your work ethic to go out and explore new places. Who knows?

You may find a new favorite study spot along the way.

KA T I E . N A N CE @P E P PER DINE.EDU

Photos by Kat Nance

Photos Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics

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Photos Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures Photo Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

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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 21 , 20 1 9

Q&A with LA–based creative: Suede Silver liza blake

staff writer W hether you have heard his California beachside-infused tunes, seen his works of ar t or even witnessed different posters with his signature around campus, Los Angeles native and Pepperdine University alumnus Suede Silver is the newest creative to make his mark on the West Coast.

After graduating from the university, Silver embraced his creativity and became a multi-genre ar tist who isn’t afraid to def y all odds with innovative techniques and a hunger for thinking outside of the box. Inspired by legendary groups like The B eatles and The B each B oys, Silver is constantly searching for his nex t wave of creative success.

Get to know the independent creative as he embarks on the road to making his upcoming conceptual project, “Manic Drive.”

LB: W here are you from? How did you get your star t as an ar tist?

Suede Silver: I grew up in Pasadena, so not too far. Local, I guess. As far as being an ar tist, I star ted playing my dad’s guitar that he used to leave around when I was 10. Even at the age of 6, I was always pretending I could play guitar. My mom even told me that before I could talk I would sing “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley. I think there’s still VHS footage out there somewhere.

LB: How did you grow up?

SS: Luckily, I grew up with cer tain circumstances that enabled my creativity. B oth my parents are very suppor tive. There’s always instruments around, and my dad is an ar tist so I can pick his brain and ask him how to do stuff.

LB: How has being from California shaped the ar tist you have become?

SS: I think a lot of my ar twork, especially my music, is very sunny and happy. I love the ocean, surf ing and classic California aspects, but I love The B each B oys and The B eatles. The B eatles was the f irst record I ever got, and I begged my grandpa for one and I think he gave it to me on tape. I just love that kind of music–it ’s so classic and iconic.

LB: W hat about your f irst band, The Graves?

SS: It was a band I formed with my brothers, and it was really good and helped me get on my feet as far as writing and recording songs. It actually did really well, but a couple years in everyone was on a different page.

I was really into it because it was my thing, and they weren’t as into it because it was my project, which I didn’t realize at the time.

It eventually f izzled out, which is f ine because I think it ended up being for the better.

“

My whole goal for this year is to make any project I was passionate about in the moment and do it as well and as quick as I can.

Suede Silver

Photos courtesy of Kara Tyler

Photos courtesy of Suede Silver Suede’s Shades | The Los Angeles-based artist has honed in on his craft and creativity since graduating Pepperdine. Silver discussed what to expect from his upcoming record.

LB: How did Pepperdine University play a role in your career development?

SS: W hen I was focused on The Graves, the band took up more of my time and because of that I would do less school. Then when it f inally came to a stop, I thought to myself, “I’m either going to do music full time or f inish my education.” I applied to schools on the beach in California and one of them was Pepperdine.

It ended up being a really refreshing ex perience coming out of the band. It wasn’t toxic or any thing, but it ended up making music something it wasn’t supposed to be. Coming here, there was no attachments to music or ar t or anyone even. It ’s a sweet par t of how “Suede Silver ” was star ted because I was just doing this for myself and it turned into what I’m doing now, which is super fun. Ultimately, it ended up being a really cool transition.

LB: In what ways did the Pepperdine community specif ically shape you as an independent ar tist?

SS: I had thought about doing a solo project for a long time, and I just kind of stuffed it away while I was dealing w ith the band, but when I was here I got busy really quick. I was a Business major, Classical Guitar minor and an R A. B eing so busy here helped me star t my music with a clean slate. B efore I was making

solely indie-pop, surf, beachy music, but once I took a couple years to no t even focus on music at all, I star ted branching out into some hiphop beats, a lo t more ex perimental rock and even some country songs. It helped me be a lo t more diverse in the genres I was interested in.

LB: You are in the midst of making a new album, “Manic Drive.” Can you f ill us in on what fans can ex pect?

SS: My whole goal for this year is to make any project I was passionate about in the moment and do it as well and as quick as I can. A par t of that concept was “Manic Drive,” which was originally a song I wro te. Then for Christmas, I wro te my girlfriend a bunch of quick songs and sent her a CD, which is so classic, but after I was like, “ W hoa, these songs actually turned out really tight.” After giving it some thought, I came up with this concept to have it feel like you’re taking this journey in a car. The songs are really cool, def initely no t a pop hits thing, but I’m so excited to see how it turns out.

For more updates on Suede Silver, follow him on all social media platforms: @SuedeSilver. Check out his website for more information and even a chance to say hey!

LIZA.BLAKE@PEPPERDINE.EDU

Sweet Sounds | Suede Silver poses with his guitar. He started playing guitar at the age of 10 and fell in love with music at a very young age.

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Photos Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures Photo Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Photos by Julia Donlon

Taking the Time | Coffee Monday promotes taking the time to have coffee with someone new. The movement was created to cultivate an atmosphere of inclusiveness and inspire deeper relationships. This column will occur every Monday.

New Column: Coffee Monday with Julia Donlon jul ia do n lon L if e and ar ts ass ista n t E dit or Co f fe e M o n d ay i s a m ove m e n t t h a t I started in 2017 to c u l t iva t e a n a t m o s ph e re o f i n cl u s ive n e s s a n d h e l p i n s p i re d e e p e r re l a t i o n s h i p s. E ve r y M o n d ay, I ge t t h e p r iv i l e ge o f l i s t e n i n g t o wh a t p e o pl e a re p a s s i o n a t e a b o u t , wh o t h ey l ove a n d wh a t m a ke s t h e m , t h e m — a l l ove r two c u p s o f c o f fe e .

D u r i n g a we e k ly o n e h o u r c o f fe e d a t e , I s p e n d time with someone a n d s h a re h i s o r h e r s t o r y w i t h t h e re s t o f t h e wo rl d , h o p e f u l ly e n c o u ra g i n g eve r yo n e e l s e t o t a ke t h e t i m e t o h ave c o f fe e w i t h s o m e o n e n ew. I a s k ea ch p e rs o n t h e sa m e q u e s t i o n s a d d i n g n ew o n e s h e re o r t h e re d e p e n d i n g o n t h e i r i nt e re s t s a n d p a s s i o n s.

I h ave d e c i d e d t o b r i n g t h i s m o ve m e n t t o t h e

G ra ph i c t h i s s e m e s t e r in hopes of sharing m o re o f o u r ve r y ow n Pe p p e rd i n e c o m mu n i ty.

B e i n g i nt e n t i o n a l w i t h yo u r re l a t i o n s h i p s i s s o i m p o r t a nt b e cau s e i t l ea d s t o l i fe - l o n g connections and helps b u i l d a s u p p o r t ive a n d l ov i n g c o m mu n i ty.

T h i s c ol u m n w i l l o c c u r we e k ly o n l i n e a n d w i l l s h owca s e a n i n d iv i d u a l’s passion, purpose, i nt e re s t a n d s o u l .

C h e ck o u t t h e Co f fe e M o n d ay ’s s o c i a l m e d i a ( I n s t a g ra m , T w i t t e r a n d Fa c e b o ok ) @ t h e c o f fe e m o n d ay a n d t h e i r we b s i t e w w w. t h e c o f fe e m o n d ay. c o m fo r a l l o f t h e i r i nt e r v i ews a n d ch e ck o u t t h e G ra ph i c ’s L i fe a n d A r t ’s S e c t i o n t o fol l ow o u r we e k ly c ol u m n .

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Photos by Milan Loiacono Team Huddle | Setter Robert Mullahey (No. 18), outside hitter Michael Wexter (No. 1), middle blocker Max Chamberlain (No. 13) and the Waves celebrate a point Feb. 8 against Stanford at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Men’s Volleyball looks to build on first-half success Ky le M c C ab e A s s istant Spor ts Ed itor

Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball finds themselves ranked No. 4 in the nation halfway through their season. The Waves sit at 10-2 with 11 games remaining in the regular season.

Pepperdine’s strong play has them ranked higher than any other Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) team in the national poll.

Last season, the team finished with an overall record of 15-8, putting them at No. 3 in the MPSF behind Brigham Young and the University of California, Los Angeles.

“I think there’s a difference from last year,” redshirt senior David Wieczorek said. “We’re definitely more feisty, and we’re definitely more mature.”

The MPSF’s preseason coaches’ poll projected the Waves to finish this season No. 3 again behind BYU and UCLA. The national coaches’ poll currently has UCLA at No. 6 and BYU, who the Waves swept earlier this

season, at No. 9.

“I think we do a really good job of handling adversity and when other teams play well,” Wieczorek said. “We’re a gritty, feisty group that plays hard and competes well.”

Wieczorek is one of Pepperdine’s key players who is having a great season. In the same week, he was named the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I-II National Player of the Week and the MPSF Offensive Player of the Week.

“I’m not a very good self-promoter … but I think [my season] is going well,” Wieczorek said. “I’m just trying to work hard and be the best player I can be.”

Another Wave who has found early season success on the court is fifth year graduate student Kevin Vaz. Vaz started playing volleyball after his family moved from Paris, France to Miami, Florida, in 2008, but has plenty of experience from his time playing at Irvine Valley College and Cal Baptist University.

“[Vaz] has brought a lot of fire to the team, a lot of energy,” redshirt sophomore Robert Mullahey said. “He’s a really big trash talker in the gym, even when he can’t really back it up. He’s a really great competitor, and it’s a lot of fun to go to battle with him.”

Despite leading the team in blocks and being fourth in points and fifth in kills, Vaz said he believes he can improve. “[My play] could be better,” Vaz said. “I don’t think I’ve reached my full potential.”

As a setter and second-year starter, Mullahey also plays an important role on the team. He played in all but five sets so far this season, helping him lead the team in sets by 363.

“I’ve been working on a lot over the summer and in the fall,” Mullahey said. “I’m stoked with how things are turning out so far.”

Continuing this level of success will not get any easier for the Waves in the second half of the season. In 5 out of their last 11 regular season

Triple Threat | Outside hitter David Wieczorek (left), middle blocker Kevin Vaz (center) and setter Robert Mullahey (right) reach over the net to attempt a block Feb 8 against Stanford.

games, the Waves will play teams currently ranked in the nation’s top 10. They also play No. 2 Hawaii Mar. 9 in the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Invitational tournament in Honolulu, O’Ahu. Pepperdine plays UCLA Feb. 27 on the road and March 27 at Firestone Fieldhouse.

They defeated BYU and Stanford at home this

season, but play both on the road, March 14 at Stanford and March 16 at BYU. The Waves get a home rematch against UC Irvine March 23.

The Waves know they will need to continue to improve to finish the year as strong as they started.

“We need to continue to get sharper,” Vaz said. “We definitely have

the tools, but we need to keep sharpening to be as efficient as we can be.”

Wieczorek echoed Vaz’s sentiment.

“If each guy can make a little change in their game … to get better at something they’ve been working on,” Wieczorek said. “We’re going to be a great team.”

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

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How to win your March Madness bracket challenge kar l w int er a s s istant s por ts e dit or I shouldn’t be writing about this. After at least 12 years of filling out brackets, running my own March Madness bracket pools and watching quite a bit of college basketball, I’ve never won a single thing during March Madness.

Some years I’ve overthought my picks, some years I’ve picked mostly randomly and some years I thought I had a perfect balance ... and then my championship team lost in the first round (that would be you, 2013 Georgetown Hoyas). However, given my wide range of failures, like Edison and the lightbulb, I’ve learned quite a bit along the way.

So, without further ado, here are my tips to approaching your bracket for the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Tournament: DO: Pick Unfathomable Early Upsets.

A 2016 report by Davidson professor Tim Chartier found that 76 percent of upsets (a team seeded lower than No. 9 beating a team seeded above them) throughout the tournament since 2002 come from teams seeded 10, 11 or 12.

However, while these teams have a better chance of making it to the Sweet Sixteen and beyond, teams seeded 13, 14 or 15 have actu-

ally won 57 first-round games since the NCAA men’s tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 (it is now 68 teams), based on a 2018 Jack Johnson article on betfirm.com combined with the 2018 tournament results.

Statistically, that means that one or two teams seeded lower than 12 will win a first-round game each year, so make sure to pick at least one wild game. Last year, a No. 16 seed even upset a No. 1 seed for the first time in history.

DON’T: Pick an Underdog to Win the National Title.

While Cinderella teams and upsets run rampant in the first two rounds of the madness, bracket challenges are won and lost in the Elite Eight and beyond. Big upsets get less and less likely later in the tournament. Since 1985, 30 of the 34 national-championship winning teams have been seeded No. 1, 2 or 3 in the tournament, while No. 7 Connecticut in 2014 is the only national champion since 1997 to be seeded lower than No. 3.

DO: Pick the ACC. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is both currently and historically the best conference in men’s college basketball.

Since 1985, the ACC is the only conference with a double-digit number

Image courtesy of the NCAA of national champion teams, and ACC teams also have the best winning percentage against other conferences in the tournament, according to an October 2018 Daniel Wilco article on the NCAA website.

There are currently six ACC teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, tied with the Big Ten for most in college basketball. Three of those ACC teams (Duke, Virginia and North Carolina) are in the top 8, while the Big Ten only has one team (Michigan) in the top 8.

DON’T: Pick the West Coast.

Not only is the Pac-12 Conference the worst of the “Power Five” conferences in terms of historical inter-conference winning percentage in the tournament, according to the Wilco article, but there are currently zero Pac-12 teams in the

AP Top 25. In fact, there had blue or orange as need to be better than are only two schools lo- their primary school everyone else. cated west of Kansas in color, compared to only After “championship the Top 25: Gonzaga of nine championships for week,” when conference the West Coast Confer- every other color com- championship tournaence and Nevada-Reno bined. ments take place and Courtesy Athletics of the Mountain Westof Pepperdine Between 1986 and teams punch automatic Sheridan Davis Conference.

2017, blue and orange and tickets to the tournaNevada could be an schools also had the best ment, a selection cominteresting sleeper pick two winning percent- mittee will reveal the to win a few games, but ages against other col- March Madness brackthe Wolfpack have never ors, according to Wilco’s et on Selection Sunday, reached the Elite Eight March 2018 article. If it which occurs this year in the school’s history. comes down to colors on March 17. A different Gonzaga did reach the for you, go with the or- committee will reveal national title game in ange and the blue. the women’s bracket the 2017, but still has troufollowing evening. ble shaking the label of DON’T: Expect to Though neither Pepa team who tends to fall Win. perdine team has an exshort of its billing in the tremely strong chance tournament. Pepperdine You have a in 9.2 to make the Big Dance men’s basketball faces a quintillion chance of this season, each one stiff test at Gonzaga to- picking a perfect brack- could do so by winning night. et, according to USA To- the West Coast Conferday. Those who are most ence tournament March DO: Pick Blue and Or- confident in their brack- 7-12 in Las Vegas. The ange Teams. et tend to be most dis- Pepperdine women, appointed. Your bracket currently fourth in the If you enjoy simply will inevitably be bust- WCC, play the Pacific Tipicking teams based ed, more than likely af- gers tonight in Firestone on color scheme, Pep- ter one or two days of Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. perdine’s school colors madness. Don’t worry, are the way to go. Since bracket pools are grad1985, 25 nationalCourtesy cham- edofon a curve: you Athletics don’t Pepperdine and Calvin Wood pionship teams have have to be great; you just K AR L .W INTER @PEPPER DINE.EDU

Photos by Susanna Gallup Swing into Spring | (Left) freshman Daria Kuczer prepares to deliver a serve. (Right) Jessica Failla (left) and Anastasia Iamachkine (right) work together to defeat a Cal doubles team.

Women’s Tennis tastes first home defeat of the season Sawa Yam ak awa s taf f w r i te r

The No. 7 Pepperdine Women’s Tennis team fell 4-3 to University of California, Berkeley on Saturday at Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center.

Due to poor weather conditions, the match against Arizona State one day prior was postponed. This was the Waves’ first match after returning to Malibu from ITA National Team Indoor Championships.

Despite displaying solid performances in both singles and doubles, the Waves tasted their first home defeat of the season.

In the doubles match, the Golden Bears upset the No. 1 ranked doubles pair in the

country, junior Ashley Lahey and sophomore Evgeniya Levashova, 6-3 on court one.

On the second court, No. 12 ranked duo Jessica Failla and Anastasia Iamachkine beat the No. 22 ranked Bears, Anna Bright and Jasie Dunk, 6-3.

However, this was the Wave’s only doubles win as Dzina Milovanovic and Daria Kuczer’s senior and freshman pair was unable to secure a victory against the Bears on court three. Cal clinched the doubles point on this match.

With the Northern California opponent having a onepoint advantage — a valuable point from doubles matches that eventually went towards the overall team winning score — going into the singles, the Waves struggled to stop

the Golden Bears’ momentum.

Out of six singles matches, Waves performed at a high caliber and secured three wins coming from Adrijana Lekaj, Iamachkine and No. 52 ranked redshirt junior Failla.

Pepperdine took a 2-1 lead for the victories earned in the first two singles matches on courts four and six by Lekaj and Iamachkine, respectively.

Junior Lekaj added a win to the Waves by striking a strong victory against Katerina Stloukalova with a pair of 6-3 wins on court four.

Having won the doubles several hours prior, freshman Iamachkine followed Lekaj’s success as she executed and delivered a powerful win over Hana Mraz (6-3, 6-2), reaching the double-digit singles win

mark with 11 for this season.

The Bears, however, responded on courts five, two and one. There was an upset on court one as Cal’s Julia Rosenqvist defeated last year’s NCAA singles runner-up, Lahey, as she clinched the overall match.

Despite knowing that Pepperdine had lost overall, Failla earned a well-deserved win on court three. It was a tightly contested match for Failla who fought No. 92 Anna Bright. Failla fought hard until the final set where she won with a 7-4 tiebreak (3-6, 6-3, 7-6).

The Waves’ loss against the Bears was only their fourth home loss in the last four seasons.

“I knew they were a good

team,” Levashova, the No. 13 ranked player, said. “They played really well. It was a tough day but we can definitely improve.”

In spite of their bitter defeat, Levashova said that their goal for this season remains the same as the Waves look poised to win the national title later in May. “We want to win the NCAA championships,” she said.

The Waves are now 13-9 in singles and 7-3 in doubles play. On Feb. 22 and Feb. 24, the Waves will take on the Michigan Wolverines and the Northwestern Wildcats.

SAWA.YAM AK AWA@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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SPORTS

Photo courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics/Jeff Golden Just Keep Swimming! | Senior Juju Chan takes a breath while competing in the breaststroke in a relay at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.

Women’s Swim & Dive break records in conference championship Aust in Hal l staf f w r i ter

The Waves had a consistent four-day tournament and broke multiple records in the process. In a transition season for the Waves, Joe Spahn was named as the head coach in April and went through this season with a small roster. The Waves concluded the season with their best finish since the 2007-2008 season.

On the first day of the PCSC Championship, the Waves set the tone and earned two school records. In the 200 medley-relay, senior Juju Chan, sophomore Trinity Ishikawa, sophomore Amy Griffin and freshman Haley Bergthold finished with a time of 1:45.72 and set a new Pepperdine Swim and Dive record. The previous record stood for over 20 years.

Chan said that breaking the record was a terrific experience.

“It was amazing,” Chan said.

“I wanted to finish my senior year with a bang and getting to set a relay record with some of my best friends was the most rewarding experience.”

Junior Khloe McCarthy broke the second record of the day in the 1,000-yard freestyle.

McCarthy won her heat and took third place overall in the event with a time of 10:26.94.

The Waves followed up their showing with a strong day two. They finished with 420 points total and were in third place before day three.

The most successful race for the Waves on day three came in the 100 breaststroke, where Chan finished in second place, swimming a time of 1:04.39.

Their performance kept them

at third place behind Cal State East Bay and Fresno Pacific.

The Waves broke two more records on the fourth and final day.

The first was in the 400-meter free-relay. Again it was Griffin who swam the race with senior Caroline Boone, sophomore Sammie Slater and sophomore Paige Brackett.

They finished in second place and posted a time of 3:28.56, beating the previous record from 1999.

Chan set a record once more in the 100-meter individual medley, where each swimmer swims 25 meters of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. She posted a time of 1:00.39, which beat the previous record by nine-hundredths of a second. She took first place in her heat and ninth overall in the event.

Chan said this season is unique compared to previous ones.

“This season has been different in so many ways,” Chan said. “Overall this team has grown so much this past year.

We’ve learned to love working hard and reaping the benefits of doing so. We’ve also kept a positive mindset through all the struggles we’ve faced this year which is something that we’ve struggled with in past years.”

Chan is one of nine seniors on the team and this is their best finish in the PCSC Championship. She said this group of players stands apart in many ways.

“This is the best group of women that I have ever had the pleasure of training with,” Chan said. “Each one of us has grown this year and become

better versions of ourselves by proving to ourselves that hard work pays off. We are also the closest knit team that we have ever been in my four years here, which is the biggest blessing.”

Chan attributes much of the teams’ success to Coach Spahn.

“We always say ‘Joe [Spahn] is our fearless leader,’ which is the truth,” Chan said. “Everything that we have gone through this season, he’s led us through and made us that much better. He has turned this into a program that competes fiercely and with purpose.”

With their performances this season, junior Anna Riekhof and Chan qualified for the CSCAA National Collegiate Invite and will compete in Ohio next month.

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Photos Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics

Spring Sports | *Neither Golf nor Track have any events on campus. Track returns to action March 2 at the Long Beach Opener. Men’s Golf takes on the Southern Highlands Collegiate March 3-5 and Women’s Golf plays in the Juli Inkster Invitational March 18-19.