Pepperdine Graphic 2-7-19

Volume xLVIII | Issue 14 | PEPPERDINE-GRAPHIC.COM | February 7, 2019

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Pouring Down | Rain soaks Mullin Town Square during a recent winter storm in Malibu. Storms such as this can cause mudslides on nearby roads.

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The possibility of rock and mudslides during winter rainstorms, escalated by the Woolsey Fire, has made safety around the Malibu campus more concerning and increased speculation about Pepperdine’s decision-making process during severe weather.

Pepperdine Provost Rick Marrs said on days in which Malibu is threatened by rain, mudslides or other natural hazards, three senior administrators decide whether or not the campus will be closed: President Andrew K. Benton, Executive Vice President Gary A. Hanson and Marrs. Their

Puddle Jumping | Extensive rain forms puddles along Alumni Park. During these storms, administrators try to make a decision regarding school closure before 5:30 a.m.

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decision is then delivered to the student body via email and text by the Public Relations department.

The decision lies between erring on the side of safety and making certain that the university meets accreditation requirements, which ensure that students are able to receive federal financial aid, Dean of Seaver College Michael Feltner said.

"We make a decision around 5:30 [a.m.] specifically about whether the campus will be open or closed, and that decision is disseminated pretty quickly so people can adjust accordingly," Marrs said.

Marrs said the three leaders gather information regarding road conditions in the early hours of the morning from the National Weather Service, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and other local Malibu and Los Angeles authorities. Marrs said “how accessible campus is” is the primary factor in the decision.

“The practice has been, if there are are road closures so that we are down to only one way to get to the campus, we typically would close,” Marrs said. “If you have two or more ways to get to the campus, we’re open.”

There are five main routes to reach Pepperdine’s Malibu campus. Provost Marrs suggested that two of these routes must be open for campus to remain open.

Once the decision regarding the physical accessibility of campus is made, academic administration, like Feltner,

decide whether campus will be "fully closed"or utilize "remote administration tools," Feltner said.

“In all cases, we want people to prioritize their personal safety,” Feltner said.

Although Marrs said the final judgment regarding campus closure is made around 5:30 a.m., commuting students like junior Jalen Frantal have had a different experience.

“In the past ... they don’t let us know until 7 [a.m.], and a lot of people are already getting ready or on their way to school,” Frantal said.

Frantal travels south on Kanan Dume Road, the largest of the canyon roads, from his off-campus apartment to Pepperdine. Despite the fourday storm Jan. 14 to 17, Kanan Dume remained open as a route to campus.

“Sometimes they’ll close two of the four lanes because there’s rocks or some mud residue,” Frantal said.

The road did close all four lanes Saturday, Feb. 2, for approximately 20 hours due to debris and flooding. Topanga Canyon Road, Malibu Canyon Road and parts of Pacific Coast Highway (between Broad Beach Road and Las Posas Road) have all been closed due to inclement weather at some point in 2019 already.

Professor Gerard Fasel travels east on Pacific Coast Highway from his Ventura home to campus and he said his travel has been "a little hectic" with the recent rainstorms.

“I don’t feel threatened,"

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In all cases, we want people to prioritize their personal safety. michael feltner, dean of seaver college

Fasel said. "I have blown out a couple tires in the past . . . driving down right there by Point Mugu, with the rocks falling.”

Fasel said he does "use something remotely to get information to the students" if necessary. Frantal said remote administration of classes is “a pretty good alternative” to keeping the campus open for class.

Feltner and Marrs said the capability to remotely deliver classes is a reliable way to provide flexibility for professors and students. This “remote administration” includes professors being able to hold a digital class meeting via web conference platform Zoom, deliver an assignment or materials via Courses (or similar technology) or even hold class if they and their students live on campus.

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IP Dean finalists to hold forums next week madeleine carr news editor Pepperdine announced the three finalists for Dean of International Programs on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Two of the candidates come from the Pepperdine community – Ronald Cox, associate dean of International Programs, and Charles Engelmann, director of Pepperdine's Shanghai program. The third candidate, Beth Laux, is the director of Learning Abroad at University of Utah.

Each candidate will spend a day interviewing and attending faculty and student forums in the Fireside Room.

Laux's will take place Feb. 12, Cox's on Feb. 13 and Engelmann's on Feb. 14. Each of the forums will take place

from 2:05 to 2:50 p.m. on the designated days.

"International Programs are critically important to Seaver College and the college experience," Dean of Seaver College Michael Feltner said.

"The [IP] dean is responsible for delivering the international program experience, and so they ultimately are responsible for the quality of the international experience for over 80 percent of Seaver College students."

Feltner said the role of the IP dean is significant for several areas of students' development.

"Delivery of academic program, the student life experience, the service opportunities, the cultural enrichment activities – all of those contribute to the educational, the spiritual growth [and the]

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developmental experience of students," Feltner said. "So whoever the next dean of International Programs is, ultimately they have the responsibility of ensuring that this important part of the Seaver College educational experience is successful for our students."

The search for these candidates began in the fall of 2018 when current Dean Charles Hall announced he would be stepping down from the position at the end of the academic year. Hall has been the dean of International Programs for over 13 years. After a year-long sabbatical, Hall will return to teach sociology at Pepperdine.

"We've been blessed in IP to have amazing leadership ... through the 14 years of leadership that Dean Charles

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Hall has provided," Feltner said. "The next dean is going to have the tremendous opportunity to stand on [the previous deans'] shoulders and build from that platform, but also to bring their unique skill set, their unique vision and experience and look at ways we can leverage where we're at to grow and become even more successful in the future."

Students and faculty can give their opinions on the candidates following the forums in an online survey, which will remain available until Feb. 21.

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P E P P E R DIN E GR A P H IC M E DIA | N E W S | F E BRU A RY 7 , 20 1 9

Appreciate what is around you

ryan harding c o py c h i e f Sometimes I forget the beach exists. I’m so caught up in running from my internship to my classes to my job to club meetings to Payson that I never look up to recognize the beauty around me. I never slow down for a second to just remind myself how lucky I am to go to school somewhere as beautiful as Malibu.

I, like many other students, often fall into the trap of filling every second of every day with various activities organized with the sole purpose of building a resume. It’s hard not to in a place with as many opportunities as Pepperdine. But while that 4.0 GPA and endless extracurriculars may seem like the best ways to entice a potential employer, they leave little to no room for self-care, fun or an intentional appreciation of our environment. As Socrates said, “Beware the barrenness of a busy life.”

When my friends invited me to watch the sunset at Zuma on Sunday, I almost said no in favor of homework and chores. But once I saw the sky shift orange over water so blue that it literally seemed to glow, I couldn’t believe that I had even considered staring at a book in my room instead of soaking in the wonder just outside my door. In those moments, I felt peace for the first time in weeks.

Staying busy can feel like a necessity for success, but there’s so much more to life, and Malibu, than work and school. There’s a whole magnificent world of beauty waiting beyond your commitments. All you have to do is lift your head and see it.

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

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Crimes: Assault/Battery Sex Crimes - Sexual Battery Location: Knott House

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1/30/19 10:46 p.m.

Crimes: Alcohol-Related/ Non-Criminal - Individual(s) Drinking or Intoxicated on Campus // Alcohol-Related/Non-Criminal - Possession of Alcohol on Campus Location: Peppers House 1/31/19 4:20 p.m.

Crimes: Traffic-Related - Traffic Enforcement Reckless Driving Location: Seaver Drive Booth

Editor’s Note: This is the third sexual crime reported this semester. The first report, published in the Jan. 24 edition of the Graphic, was one of “forcible rape, including date rape and sexual battery.”

(North) According toDrescher the report, the event took place Jan. 15 and was reported to DPS on Jan. 16. The second report, published in the Jan. 31 edition of the Graphic, was one of “sexual battery.” According to the report, the event took place Jan. 14 and was reported to DPS on Jan. 25. The most recent report, mentioned in this edition, was reported Jan. 28 but took place Oct. 10, 2018. All three incidents are “under investigation,” according to the university. While sexual assault is “any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient,” sexual battery is “an unwanted form of contact with an intimate part of the body that is made for the purposes of sexual arousal, gratification or abuse,” and can include intimidation or threats, according to Her Campus at VCU.

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Crimes: Larceny/Theft Petty Theft - Misc.

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UPCOMING EVENTS THIS SEMESTER What: o ut o f many faiths: re ligio us div e r sity and the a m e ric a n pro mise when: 2/ 19 Wher e: e lk in s

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What: die fleder m au s Whe N : 2/21 Whe re : smother s t heat re

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

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

Wh e re : stauffer chapel

What: m e n ’s volleyball v s. s ta n fo rd When: 7 p.m.

Wher e: fire s tone fieldh o us e

Wh at: date-onomics Wh e n: 5 p.m.

Wh e re : fir eside r oom

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What: chr istopher park ening guitar students i n concer t Whe n: 5 p.m.

Whe re : sur fboar d room What: 2019 Golden k ey r eception with AKB Whe n: 6 p.m.

Whe re : Fir eside R oom What: Chr isitan M i ng l e Whe n: 8 :15 p.m.

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W he r e : c c b 3 4 0 W hat: wi red f or l ove W he n: 7 p. m.

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F E B R UA RY 7 , 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

Lecture discussing ‘Deported Americans’ comes to Pepp r o wan t o ke a s s is tant new s edit or Pepperdine Libraries is bringing Beth Caldwell to give a lecture in the Payson Library Surfboard Room on Thursday, Feb. 7 at noon. In the lecture, Caldwell will discuss her recently published book, “Deported Americans,” which explores the life of numerous people who grew up in the United States but were deported to Mexico.

Caldwell is a former public defender in LA County and a current professor of Legal Analysis, Writing, and Skills at Southwestern Law School. She has done an analysis of the legal, social and political aspects of the United States Deportation Policy. With over 100 interviews with Dreamers in Mexico, Caldwell formulates a narrative story of these people

while exploring the consequences of deportation and what it means to be American.

This lecture is the second of the Women in International Studies Lecture Series that began in the fall of 2018, bringing one speaker to campus every semester.

Professor Felicity Vabulas, who organizes the lecture series, wrote in an email that it “aims to expose students to cutting edge research in international studies, create a dialogue about the arguments presented and inspire students regarding various topics they can study themselves.”

Vabulas understands that women in research still face a “glass ceiling” and hopes to help crack it by giving women researchers a platform to share their work and inform students, she wrote.

Unlike other lecture

series that are aimed at a specific groups of people on campus, Vabulas wrote this lecture will be beneficial to all students for multiple reasons.

“First, it’s an opportunity to hear cutting-edge research that has recently been published in book form, from the author herself,” Vabulas wrote.

“Second, this topic is extremely relevant to our current events.”

Vabulas wrote this lecture is especially beneficial to Pepperdine students because it is crucial for California residents to understand the lives of immigrants here.

“California is home to more than 10 million immigrants — about a quarter of the foreign-born population nationwide,” Vabulas wrote. “In 2016, 27 percent of California’s population was foreign born, about twice the US percentage (and the per-

cent is even higher in Los Angeles).”

Overall, Vabulas wrote she believes this lecture will help students to continue the conversation with friends and family.

“I also expect students will learn legislative and judicial reforms to mitigate the injustices suffered by the millions of U.S. citizens affected by deportation,” Vabulas wrote.

Caldwell’s book “examines the far-reaching effects of deportation on individuals, families and communities,” Director for Library Programming and Public Affairs Alice Tsay wrote in an email.

Tsay wrote she believes Caldwell’s experience as a public defender and researcher will heavily influence her lecture.

Similar to Vabulas, Tsay wrote she believes that lecture will be beneficial to all students.

“I think all students and community members who are committed to being informed and engaged citizens will find Professor Caldwell’s talk of interest, whether or not they agree with the argument she makes,” Tsay wrote.

Tsay wrote she thinks this lecture is aligned with the mission of the Pepperdine Libraries.

“At the Pepperdine Libraries, we feel that it’s critical for all students to encounter diverse viewpoints from experts who have deep scholarly knowledge about contemporary issues,” Tsay wrote.

Freshman Melinda Colbert said she is very interested in Women’s Studies and feels “like this series will help empower young women.”

Colbert said she hopes lectures such as these will help young women

realize how much influence they have on current events.

“These sorts of things are real and happening and we have a moral obligation to understand what is happening in the world around us,” Colbert said.

Even though Colbert said she does not know much about US immigration policy, she “feel[s] like this a good way to learn more about it while supporting women.”

Overall, Colbert said she hopes this series makes more Pepperdine women interested in Women’s Studies, and that this lecture helps educate people on immigration policy.

“We have the power to change the world,” Colbert said.

administration of classes.

Feltner said the system was “wildly successful” because the school was able to carry out a week’s worth of instruction without losing class days.

“With the fire, we found out pretty quickly that, especially Seaver [College], developed a protocol where they could deliver [classes] remotely,” Marrs said. “That came out of the fire because I don’t think we’d ever had the campus closed quite that long.”

Marrs and Feltner agreed the remote delivery of classes during the

Woolsey Fire was a great success and a necessary arrangement. The WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the accreditation organization that accredits Pepperdine, would not have allowed the eight class days in which the Malibu campus was closed to simply be lost. “[The accreditors] were very supportive, but they also let us know that they watch closely class dates, delivery and all that sort of thing,” Marrs said.

The WSCUC requires each credit-hour of a class

in a semester to have 15 hours of in-class engagement and 30 hours of outside-class engagement with the material, Feltner said.

“The accreditors generally have shown a willingness to exert some leeway if it’s a one-day closure,” Feltner said.

While Seaver College opted to attempt remote delivery of classes during the fire, the Pepperdine School of Law, which is accredited by the American Bar Association, added days to its semester to make up classes, Marrs

said.

Feltner said the risk of the school losing its accreditation, and some students therefore losing their federal aid, was “not a position that [he] or anyone at Pepperdine was going to allow to occur.”

Accreditors aside, Feltner and Marrs agreed that Pepperdine professors are now fully prepared for inclement weather situations.

“They went through an orientation about what [remote delivery of classes] looks like, and I think they all have the capability,”

Marrs said.

Despite this capability, Feltner said Pepperdine is committed to providing a face-to-face learning experience whenever possible.

“That we can use tools to engage on a short-term basis probably gives us some flexibility, but it doesn’t change our imperative to try to provide what we view to be the Pepperdine experience and the Seaver College experience to students,” Feltner said.

R OWAN.TOK E@PEPPER DINE.EDU

PREP: Pepp explains weather policy F R OM A 1 “We are going to try to use remote administration if at all possible, but just as we did during the Woolsey Fire, we are going to make sure that we give great latitude to our faculty in terms of how they will choose to use that directive to engage their classes,” Feltner said.

The situation of campus inaccessibility during the Woolsey Fire helped the university to revolutionize the system of remote

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F E B R UA RY 7 , 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

Firefighters reflect on Woolsey Dani Mast en G ues t Contr i bu tor

Jill ian Jo hnso n G ues t Contr i bu tor

Thousands of firefighters battled the Woolsey Fire last November while they also faced personal loss and destruction from the flames.

The Woolsey Fire started Nov. 8. Four people died and 1,600 homes burned in the fire. In Malibu, 670 structures were lost. To fight Woolsey, firefighters worked around-the-clock. Jeremy Collings, who works for the Los Angeles County Fire Department station 125, said firefighters found it challenging to balance everything. One firefighter lost his home and some firefighters were worried about the safety of their homes and families.

“We are part of this community,” said Chadwick Pansini, a firefighter who works for the LA County Fire Department Station 125 in Calabasas.

“It’s hard when you see someone who you have interacted with and it’s your job to protect their homes and you couldn’t.”

The Challenges of a Large Scale Brush Fire Pansini said he has been with the county for a year and a half, but although this was not his first brush fire, it was one of the biggest brush

Photos by Dani Masten Packed and Ready | Firefighter gear lines the walls of the fire station 251, ready in case of emergency. Between helmets, masks, boots and layers of coats, it is essential that each firefighter has each piece of his or her gear. fires he has been involved with.

On the morning of Nov. 9, Pansini reported to work at 6 a.m. and did not leave until 1 a.m. the next day.

“Driving into work Friday morning, I could smell the fires,” Pansini said. “Although I couldn’t see the fires, I knew we were going to have a day ahead of us.”

Collings said he worked five days straight with a couple of “cat naps.”

“The fires got really bad really quick,” Collings said. “I worked in Westlake fighting fires for two straight days.”

Pansini said about 90 percent of the calls were medical and five to 10 percent were structures catching on fire.

“In the first two days

of this fire, we had well over a year’s worth of experience of structure fires [than] you would normally see just in two days,” Pansini said.

Pansini said, when it comes to brush fires, the three things that drive it are the weather, the fuel that it burns through and the terrain that it is in.

“Wind was the most difficult part of it,” Pansini said. “Your resources get stretched really thin and it is impossible to make the perfect call.”

The Personal Losses of the Firefighters Pansini said not only did he find this difficult, but the most challenging part about fighting the Woolsey Fire was losing his own home. However,

the support he received from other firefighters at his station was “incredible.”

“I’m very bummed that I lost my house, but the guys here have made it good and [have] made it much easier to deal with,” Pansini said.

He mentioned a few things that he lost in the fire, including his guitar and a few surfboards.

“If anyone was going to lose their home, [it’s] best that it happen[ed] to me,” Pansini said.

Though not all homes and structures were able to be saved, Pansini said the support that they received from the community was “fantastic.”

“We are really happy with just a smile and a wave if that is what they want to do, but they bring us stuff and it’s great and it makes us feel good,” Pansini said. “The table just grows and diminishes and grows and diminishes.”

Pushing Through Their Personal Lives

Big Red | A firetruck waits for the next call in the station. During the Woolsey Fire, most if not all, of the trucks were in use due to the large number of fires and various structures that caught on fire.

Swiftly Sleeping | At LA Fire Department station 125, firefighters slept whenever possible, as the large number of fires kept them busy throughout the day. They would take breaks or rest here (above) in the station.

Along with receiving medical calls, the fire station received calls from the public regarding the status of the fire.

“Phones have been going off the hook from questions from the public, which is good but it doesn’t really give you a chance to rest,” Pansini said. “But they need to vent and talk, so you got to be there for them.”

Both Collings and Pansini said when they were out in the field fighting the fire, they were not thinking about how they were feeling in that present moment.

“It is what it is,” Collings said. “We kind of go on autopilot.”

Panisini said they don’t want these fires to happen, but it is what they are trained for.

Collings said he found it challenging to fight the Woolsey Fire while making sure his family was able to evacuate.

“Not only was I dealing with fighting fires, but I was dealing with evacuating my own family,” Collings said. “Whenever I had a second, I would call my wife and tell her, ‘You have to leave.’ Hearing that the fire was in my neighborhood while I [was] on the other side of town was challenging.”

Collings said the fire hit too close to home.

“I grew up in Agoura and seeing everything that I grew up with on fire and my family and friends involved in it was the hardest part,” Collings said.

Student and Front-line Firefighter For Pepperdine senior Cris Anzo, the fire also hit close to home.

He also takes on the role of Fire and Life Safety officer on campus to conduct fire prevention inspections.

“I usually work 40 hours a week, so I’m a full time student and staff,” Anzo said.

Anzo said he was on the main Pepperdine Fire crew, fighting on the front lines and working as an engine operator for the patrol.

“Our job was assessing the main threat at that current time and wherever there was a flame we went to go get it, and once we put those flames out, we evaluated the next major threat, and went and hit that area,” Anzo said.

Anzo said fighting his

“ Not only was I dealing with fighting fires, but I was dealing with evacuating my own family. Whenever I had a second, I would call my wife and tell her, 'You have to leave.' Hearing that the fire was in my neighborhood while I (was) on the other side of town was challenging.

get it done,’” Anzo said.

“But once we got past that, everything was pretty smooth. We have a good crew, we know each other well and we spend most of the day reviewing our assignments and jobs so that when it came time, we were able to move quickly.”

Anzo said although many students were worried about the proximity of the fire, he was confident in their crew because he was educated on their preparedness.

“I was nervous, but I trusted the plans we had and our training,” Anzo said. “I know there was a lot of miscommunication that day but I knew that Pepperdine was prepared and that we were ready, so I trusted the school and the policies we had.”

The Concerns of a Student Firefighter Anzo said he was mostly concerned about his fiancee, who was also on campus during the fire.

“She was volunteering with the Health Center in the first aid set up they had there in the Fireside Room in the Caf,” Anzo said. “She works for the Health Center, so she was helping them out, but I was still worried about her.”

Since he is a full-time student, Anzo said he not only had to focus on fighting the fires and his fiancee, but also on his academics.

“My worries came more from school, like ‘When am I going to have time to catch up on homework and the online classes?’” Anzo said.

Anzo said during this whole experience, he didn’t have time to contact his family until the worst had subsided.

“I was on the incident from day one and not until Sunday was I able to get a hold of them,” Anzo said. “You know, it was back-to-back. We were always dealing with something.”

Support From the Community

Working Through the Initial Shock

Without the support of his family, the one thing Anzo said helped him continue on was the whole Pepperdine family lending their support to him and his team.

“Just knowing that the community would do anything for us really [helped],” Anzo said.

“As far as food and those kinds of things, that was great because you get really hungry and thirsty on the front lines, so knowing that Pepperdine was willing to freely feed us was really nice.”

Pepperdine set up a fund called the Pepperdine Crisis Response where people can donate to help support the students and faculty that were impacted by the fire.

Anzo said their first engagement was one of the most challenging parts, but their team quickly overcame any feelings of shock. “[There was] the initial shock of ‘All right, this is it, this is what we trained for. This is our job, let’s

JIL L IAN.JONSON@PEPPER DINE.EDU DANIEL L E. M ASTEN@PEPPER DINE.EDU

JEREMY COLLINGS, LA FIRE DEPARTMENT STATION 125 first on-campus fire on the front lines was a completely new and personal experience for him.

“Honestly I was like ‘Wow, OK, this is it,’” Anzo said. “This was my first campaign fire, meaning at this large of a scale – and the first fire I fought on campus – so it just really hit home like, ‘Wow, this is it, here it comes.’”

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Pepp protests or calls to action?

Pres Search Committee and students respond to Freedom Wall display M adiso n Nic ho ls s o c ial m edi a m anage r As Pepperdine awaits the upcoming announcement of the university’s 8th president, search committee members Marnie Mitze and Connie Horton are confident about their committee’s five chosen finalists, and what each individual will bring to the community. However, an anonymous display posted on Pepperdine’s Freedom Wall expressed that some students believe the candidate pool is lacking diversity.

“Yet, 100 percent of our presidents have been White and male, which is not reflective of our student body,” the display states. “Shouldn’t at least one leader of our community over the past 82 years be a little more representative of our community?”

The demonstration also notes that in 2016, Pepperdine was ranked the 11th most diverse university in the country and lists the 2017 demographics of the student body: 56.9 percent female, 40.1 percent male, 43.3 percent white, 14.1 percent Non-Resident Alien, 11.6 percent Latino, 10.3 percent Asian, 6.8 percent Black, 9.3 percent race unknown and 3.9 percent two or more races. These percentages can be confirmed on Pepperdine’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness’ website.

The display offers a call to action for the Pepperdine community to engage in civil dialogue about how much the faculty and administration are representative of the student body. However, not all students said they felt it was necessary given the specific qualities, skills and experience that are needed for this role.

“Race is not the ultimate factor in this decision because, when it comes down to it, whoever is the most qualified candidate is the one who deserves the job,” sophomore Justin Riorick said. “Qualities like experience and skills are more important in this circumstance because it it such a high-level position.”

Riorick said he is a supporter for diversity within his community and this campus. However, he also believes in having “an even playing field” for all candidates regardless of his or her skin color.

“This is a presidential position, so we should hire the person who is right to lead our school,” Riorick said. “It’s that simple.”

Vice President and Chief of Staff Marnie Mitze is a member of the

Maddie Nichols | Socialand Media Freedom of Expression | Students post signs to Pepperdine’s Freedom Wall to express themselves theirManager ideas. Past presidents’ photos were posted Jan. 10 alongside photos of the 2019 presidential candidates to show a lack of racial diversity. search committee for Pepperdine’s 8th president. When asked about the consideration of diversity among the selection of finalists, Mitze said diversity is not the only factor the committee must consider for this position.

“We are always looking for diversity amongst all our pool of candidates,” Mitze said.

“There are also certain requirements of the president like academic leadership and being an active member in Church of Christ.”

“ One of the biggest issues in lack of diversity is simply not just at Pepperdine, but everywhere, and we have to continue to work in developing new leaders and PhD candidates from underrepresented backgrounds Marnie Mitze, Vice President and Chief of Staff

Pepperdine strives to continue increasing the diversity on campus, which has allowed the university to be able to recruit and welcome new students from all over the world each year, Mitze said.

“Faculty, on the other hand, they come and stay 25-to-30 years,” Mitze said. “The opportunity to replace and hire in more diverse faculty, for example, is much

more restricted simply because of the lack of turnover.”

Mitze also noted that because of the small percentage of people in the world who hold a PhD, Pepperdine is competing with universities that hold much larger endowments and have the same mission of diversifying their faculty.

Only 1.5 percent of Americans have a professional degree among all races and both genders, according to the US Census Bureau 2017.

The Bureau defines professional degrees as “degrees beyond a bachelor’s degree, including law (e.g. JD, LLB), medical (e.g. MD), veterinary (e.g. DVM) and dental degrees (e.g. DDS).”

The report also found that, within the professional degree percentage, about 56 percent are men and about 44 percent are women. As for race, about 83 percent of individuals with professional degrees are White, about 0.6 percent are Black and about 0.4 percent are Hispanic (of any race).

In addition, the report says about 1.9 percent of Americans have a doctorate degree, across all races and both genders. Of this percentage, about 59 percent are men and about 41 percent are women. As for race, about 75 percent are White, about 0.7 percent are Black and about 0.7 percent are Hispanic (of any race).

“One of the biggest issues in lack of diversity is simply not just at Pepperdine, but everywhere, and we have to continue to work in developing new leaders and PhD candidates from under-represented backgrounds,” Mitze said.

What a Pepperdine President Must Embody The role of president of Pepperdine University is different from that of the president at other

universities.

“The next president must ‘get’ Pepperdine,” Connie Horton, vice president for Student Affairs and member of the Presidential Search Committee, wrote in an email.

Because of Pepperdine’s high standards and values, it is important that the next president lives up to the Christian mission and integrity that the university represents, Horton wrote. And Mitze agrees.

“This is a premiere position in that Pepperdine University is one of the only top rated universities in the country where there is both a strong commitment to academic excellence, as well as [being] unabashedly and unapologetically Christian,” Mitze said.

Students, such as sophomore Sara Smith, acknowledged President Benton’s efforts to engage with students and said they wished the new president would follow suit.

“I hope the new president will be on campus with us and show his face in the library every now and then, like President Benton did,” Smith said. “I feel like students appreciate getting to know the leaders of our school.”

Often referred to as “The Students’ President,” President Andrew Benton’s genuine concern and care for his students is a quality that both Mitze and Horton said they are looking for in the upcoming presi-

dent.

“In my role as vice president for Student Affairs, I have appreciated how much President Benton genuinely cares so deeply about students,” Horton wrote.

“He is supportive of the work of Student Affairs because he really wants students to experience community and to be physically, emotionally and spiritually supported.”

“I think he set the bar really high in that regard,” Mitze said.

But there’s one particular quality of President Benton that Mitze hopes the next president lives up to.

“I just hope they can play rock and roll guitar, but I am kind of doubtful about that one,” Mitze said. “And I don’t think that was one of the criteria we required in the position description.”

Cary Mitchell). I do think we have had something to contribute.”

For the first time in the history of Pepperdine, the search committee decided to add two faculty members and one administrator to their team. Mitze, a Regent member of the search committee, says the decision to include non-regent members on the committee has offered new insights into the presidential search.

This decision also aligns itself with the university’s current journey of an overall remodeling after the events of November 2019.

“Things change; the way universities work, shared governance, and as Pepperdine evolves into a much more sophisticated and academically excellent institution, we move forward,” Mitze said. “If you don’t change, you don’t grow.”

Being on the Search the Committee

How can students get involved?

While being the president is a tough job, choosing the right person to fulfill this position is not so easy either.

However, both Horton and Mitze view the job as rewarding.

“I have greatly appreciated the opportunity to serve,” Horton wrote.

“I have enjoyed getting to know the Board of Regents members who are on the committee and am so grateful for their dedicated service to Pepperdine. I’m glad they added the three of us non-Regent members (me, David Holmes and

As students continue to express their opinion on diversity matters among the five finalists, Horton said students did have the opportunity to get involved and still do.

“Students had an opportunity to complete the ‘pre’ survey, attend the Town Hall, the student interview session and the post-interview survey,” Horton wrote.

“I hope many students will choose to do this with each of the on-campus candidates.”

M ADISON. NIC HOL S@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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PERSPECTIVES WHAT

STAFF LIST

PGM

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 about k ayi u w o n g Civil Discourse 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 tening. Most importantK yl e m c ca b e ly, one must maintain a k a r l w i n te r level of respect throughP er s p ec ti v es Ed i to r out the dialogue. Withga r e n ko soya n out respect, civil dialogue is unattainable.

P er sp ec ti v es ass i stant As Pepperdine stua r e e ya ku n awa r a d i sa i dents, we must be willing L i fe & Ar ts Ed i to r to create more opportuk at n a n ce nities for civil dialogue as si s tant L i fe & ar ts on campus to further the ed i to r notion that such disjulia donlon course will not be abandoned. Students should l i fe & ar ts seni o r create more town halls r ep o r ter and host events that c a r o l i n e e d wa r d s provide a space for those L i fe & Ar ts As si s tant on campus to openly pi pe r w r i g h t express their opinions P ho to Ed i to r while also allowing for opposition to respectfulKaelin mendez ly disagree. as si s tant p ho to Student groups on ed i to r campus, such as the m i l a n l o i ac o n o Pepperdine Debate team, Ar t Ed i to r offer opportunities for c a i tl i n r oa r k students to engage in civass i stant ar t ed i to r il dialogue actively. The Perspectives section of a l ly a r m str o n g the Graphic also invites C o py ed i to r s students who are pursuk i l e y d i ste l r ath ing a platform to voice makena huey their opinion. ga b r i e l l e m ath ys These simple acts adv er ti s i ng d i r ec to r of engagement lay the b e n h u ya r d foundations that humanize the people and beliefs Adv er ti s i ng m anag er we label as opponents. ca r o l i n e h e r r o n With the humanization D i r ec to r o f P ep p er d i ne element in play, respectG r ap hi c M ed i a ful civil dialogue will E l i z a b e th Sm i th follow.

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

STAFF

⇧ THINKS

Caitlin Roark | Art Editor

STAFF EDITORIAL

Construct Opportunities for Civil Dialogue

The announcement of Ben Shapiro’s visit to Pepperdine came with a plethora of reactions, from praise and excitement to anger and frustration. In the midst of this potentially tumultuous time, various Pepperdine student groups united in order to organize a respectful yet stern response to Mr. Shapiro’s visit.

Rather than protesting his visit, students asked Shapiro questions in a display of civil dialogue, an interaction that led to him saying on national television, “All of us are willing to have discussions; we had one last night over at Pepperdine where a lot of the student groups ... decided that instead of boycotting me they would show up and ask questions...”

As the country grows ever more divided, the prevalence of civil dialogue and mutual respect is dwindling. The longest-ever government shutdown revealed this country is in desperate need for accessible avenues of discourse and understanding.

Civil dialogue enables people to move past ad hominem arguments and instead allows them to explore the reasoning behind people’s thoughts

and opinions. Only from there can people formulate thoughtful responses in opposition to certain viewpoints.

Civil dialogue is critical to democracy because this form of government counts on discussion and debate to continue the system. In one of the online texts Pepperdine uses in Public Speaking, a chapter titled “Origins of Public Speaking” by Peter A. DeCaro teaches students that “rhetoric, public speaking and democracy are inextricable” and that “as long as there is rhetoric, and public speaking to deliver that message, there will exist democracy.”

In other words, communication is key to creating a world in which civility and understanding are utilized to find resolution to pressing issues. Difficult topics such as politics and social activism need to be discussed to be improved and expanded. If people avoid these emotionally-charged subjects, not only will those tensions remain, but so will the systems that foster those feelings.

Only through respectful and mindful discussion can people move on from the status quo they see themselves in and

progress toward the future they are hopeful for.

Pepperdine students are embracing the possibilities of civil dialogue through their involvement on campus. During the fall semester of 2018, former Congressmen David Jolly and Patrick Murphy visited Pepperdine to discuss bipartisanship and the desperate need for it to be implemented in Congress and across the country. Pepperdine College Democrats and Republicans hosted the event together as a sign of support for the message of the Congressmen. Throughout the event, the Congressmen stressed the importance of engaging in respectful discourse and being open to hearing the opinions of others.

Civil dialogue can function as a key to preventing violence, both on an individual and state level. iDebate Rwanda, a debate team that Pepperdine’s Debate Team regularly invites to campus, formed in response to the genocide Rwanda experienced in 1994. One of the main causes Rwandans and genocide scholars have identified as leading to the genocide in their country was dehumanization. “It started with the dehumanization of a

specific group of persons,” said Adama Dieng, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, during a UN press briefing.

The agenda’s driving division aims to degrade the humanity of its opponents. The rhetoric goes far beyond offending some people; it fuels hysteria that convinces others that violence is the only way to interact with whom they perceive as adversaries. To prevent future violence and halt further division, students must adopt platforms that allow for civil dialogue.

The initial step is one in which people become conscious of the bubble of bias they surround themselves in. People and discussions that support a certain belief create little opportunity for diverse opinions. Hence, enduring a certain level of discomfort is crucial to ensuring successful discourse.

Hearing is not the same as listening. Simply hearing the opinion of others rather than actively trying to understand their positions will result in a stagnant discussion.

Asking questions and offering counter examples are a few effective ways of executing active lis-

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MISSION STATEMENT “Pepperdine Graphic Media (PGM) is an editorially independent student news organization that focuses on Pepperdine University and the surrounding communities. PGM consists of the digital and print Graphic, a variety of special publications, GNews, Currents Magazine, social media platforms and an Advertising Department. These platforms serve the community with news, opinion, contemporary information and a public forum for discussion.

PGM strengthens students for purpose, service and leadership by developing their skills in writing, editing and publication production, by providing a vehicle to integrate and implement their liberal arts education, and by developing students’ critical thinking through independent editorial judgment. PGM participates in Pepperdine’s Christian mission and affirmations, especially the pursuit of truth, excellence and freedom in a context of public service. Although PGM reports about Pepperdine University and coordinates with curricula in journalism and other disciplines, it is a student (not a University) news organization. Views expressed are diverse and, of course, do not correspond to all views of any University board, administration, faculty, staff, student or other constituency.”

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Promote cultural awareness Ga r e n Ko s oya n pe rs p e c t i v e s E d it or Despite the rhetoric of the recent administration promoting an isolationist and even xenophobic agenda, the country is still growing increasingly more diverse. Some Americans may feel quite overwhelmed trying to connect with the array of cultures. In these instances, it is important to back away from intimidation and instead embrace avenues of heightened cultural awareness.

Pepperdine University models the progress of the country, becoming a campus that grows more diverse with every new academic year. The Fall 2018 admission and enrollment data revealed that more than half of enrolled students are of an ethnicity other than White. This is an impressive number, especially considering that nearly 75 percent of those enrolled are domestic students. Students should feel emboldened by these statistics and embrace opportunities of cultural engagement.

Luckily for Pepperdine students, there are many incredible opportunities that provide students with authentic cultural experiences. Student groups such as Rotaract International host bi-weekly events that bring students together in celebration of a particular culture.

Those in attendance get to taste traditional food, listen to music and even watch dances that all define that week’s culture.

International Programs undoubtedly play a huge role in encouraging global and cultural awareness at Pepperdine.

Events such as GlobalFest, which was put on during Global Learning Week, provide yet another avenue from which students can directly interact with other cultures and in turn expand their cultural literacy.

Behind all these events, there is a common denominator: student input.

Students should not only be willing to attend events that provide unique information on various cultures, but also make an effort to be cultural educators of their own.

Everyone belongs to different cultures and with that has a vast background of history to share.

The survival of culture in the modern world relies heavily on the ability, desire and willpower of those belonging to that particular heritage. Events such as GlobalFest would not be possible were it not for the enthusiasm of students belonging to certain cultural backgrounds to teach their peers about their backgrounds.

Peeling back the political turmoil that plagues the division, it becomes clear that an underlying fear of the unknown is fueling conflicts. From the unreasonable demand for a border wall to an increasingly

Caroline Archer S ta f f W r i t e r

Caitlin Roark | Art Editor more isolationist foreign policy, the U.S. seems to be driving itself further away from cultural awareness. Cultural understanding might be the key to shining a light on the root causes of these divisive issues.

We must be willing to take risks, explore other cultures, ask questions and openly share our knowledge with others.

Pepperdine students, as well as many college students across the country, have a unique opportunity to have direct interactions with students and staff from all around the world.

Using this advantage to expand one’s comprehension of culture will give students an edge in their future careers. In a world that is growing ever more connected, relatability with people of various backgrounds will allow for more pleasant and successful interactions in terms of social and business

aspects.

Pepperdine students should feel motivated to host events that celebrate their culture, promote events that celebrate others and most importantly continue allowing for our campus to be open to this freedom of expression.

Intimidation is natural when approaching any situation that one is unfamiliar with.

However, instead of embracing the hesitation that develops, students should approach with curiosity. Many are proud and excited to share their culture with others and their willingness to teach should be met with a willingness to learn.

GAR EN.KOSOYAN@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Unpaid internships sabotage students

c am ry n g o r do n staf f wr it er

Built on pillars of experience, the working world is a networking pool meant to promote those with elite experience while drowning others who may lack a namesake headlined résumé.

For job-seeking college students trying to stay afloat, unpaid internships may be the only way for many to reach their goal.

Unpaid internships have quickly transitioned into unpromised, unequal and unknown territory.

At Pepperdine University, the push for students to engage in professional careers is alive and well.

While providing on-campus career events, résumé building workshops and international internship programs, the university is driven to assist students in their search for careers. Pepperdine has worked meticulously to construct a system for helping students obtain internships making it the only reason many can pursue ambitious careers in London, Shanghai and D.C. Through this, Pepperdine is furthering the conversation on the effectiveness of unpaid internships in cre-

ating successful futures.

Internships are required for success, and when they are unpaid, many can feel as though it is exploitation. Students take these internship positions hoping that exposure in the professional workforce will open doors of opportunity, but instead are faced with 30-40-hour uncompensated work weeks that result in deadend positions.

Unpaid internships place an economic burden on many students. Students of lesser privilege are often left to take out loans, risking their entire financial future on loaned hope. Students of lower socioeconomic statuses are heavily disadvantaged in this area as failure to obtain an internship limits future career opportunities.

The National Association for College and Employers, NACE, is an organization focused on the development and employment of college-educated individuals. “Understanding the Impact of Unpaid Internships on College Student Career Development and Employment Outcomes,” NACE’s December 2016 research study, documented the negative impacts of unpaid internships.

This study confirmed that employers who choose not to pay their interns are less likely to rehire past unpaid interns

Embody a responsible consumer

Caitlin Roark | Art Editor as full-time employees, consequently impacting the many college students who take internships seeking promised positions after graduation.

Unpaid internships have demanding expectations that often flood into other aspects of a student’s life. In internship programs that require work experience and full-time class schedules, like Pepperdine’s Washington, D.C. program, the demands of work can interrupt academic obligations, placing students in difficult positions. These demands can be having to find second or third jobs to pay for basic needs, increasing stress and lowering the value of the internship experience.

Though it seems as if

the negative aspects of unpaid internships outweigh the positive, it is subjective to the person who is applying, as unpaid internships require an extensive amount of consideration.

The internship system has indoctrinated college-educated students to actually consider and accept uncompensated positions that involve performing tedious, and often times entry-level work.

Unpaid internships should be examined closely before any decisions are made. Prioritize one’s financial situation and ensure that it is something that is truly worth not getting paid for because in this day and age, hardly anything is.

Furthermore, it is

important for Pepperdine to use its platform to inform its students on these realities that can affect their future. If truly driven to prepare students for a future of success, that also means preparing them to face reality. Any information on how to be successful when faced with the challenge of unpaid internships can help many navigate their way to successful careers.

Students everywhere need to be aware of the sacrifices that unpaid internships have attached to them. Interns need to be compensated for their work in order for students to achieve success in their academic, professional and economic futures.

C AM RYN.GOR DON@PEPPER DINE.EDU

The desire to make a difference is a common thread that runs through the hearts of many college students. However, in the face of a massive and systematic world, doing so can seem like a lofty and unattainable goal.

Despite this, students have a remarkable capacity to spark change. Students can make a significant difference by shopping with ethical standards. By being responsible consumers, students can combat global injustice.

An ethical consumer is a one who only purchases items from companies who treat their employees fairly and do as little harm to the environment as possible.

It can be difficult to discern which products are actually sourced ethically. So what should students pay attention to when choosing what to purchase?

Examples of highly trusted labels include Fair Trade Certified, COSMOS Certified, Cruelty Free or USDA Organic. Any product with one or more of these certifications is usually a safe bet, according to the Ethical Consumer’s article “How to shop ethically,” published on May 30.

The global economy tends to fixate on profits, and this mindset incentivizes exploitation. All too often, businesses make choices to make the most money, regardless of what it costs workers or the environment.

Big brands are interested in finances; this gives consumers power, according to Julie Irwin’s article “Ethical Consumerism Isn’t Dead, It Just Needs Better Marketing,” published by the Harvard Business Review on Jan. 12, 2015. By making knowledgeable purchases, students can reverse the destructive trends of mainstream businesses.

Economic trends show that “the onus falls to consumers to demand accountability from companies that are outsourcing labor,” according to Kathleen Ebbitt’s article “How to be a responsible consumer,” published March 18, 2015

by Global Citizen.

The ability to shop ethically is a privilege. It implies that the consumer has the means to make choices based on something other than price and convenience. With this in mind, students should do the best they can.

Responsible consumption has the ability to “transform profit-oriented business into purpose-driven enterprises,” in the words of Simon Mainwaring’s article “The New Power of Consumers to Influence Brands” published by Forbes on Sep. 7, 2011.

With their ethical choices, students are empowered to be difference-makers on a global scale.

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

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ICC searches for new pres

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The Inter-Club Council (ICC) is accepting applications from all undergraduate students for its presidential election. With the application deadline approaching on Sunday, Feb. 10, leaders said they are still hoping to receive more applications.

Senior Grace Wisbey has held the position of ICC president since she was elected in the spring of her freshman year. ICC helps clubs with monetary assistance, liability knowledge and booking rooms [for events], Wisbey said.

“ICC operates within student activities in conjunction with the Student Programing Board, Student Government and soon-to-be the Student Wellness Advisory Board,” Wisbey said.

Since ICC is a student-run organization, it serves to bridge the gap between the students and Pepperdine’s administration.

“ICC acts as an interim between the administration of Pepperdine who supports student-led clubs, but doesn’t have the capability to be as hands-on, [and the clubs],” Ansley Waller, ICC’s graduate advisor, said.

Wisbey said she and

Courtesy of Grace Wisbey The Team | The members of the Inter-Club Council smile for a photo at the Spring Culture Fest Club Fair. From left to right: Grace Wisbey, Ansley Waller, Jared Maguire, Gabby Yu, Lizzy Kovach and Ashia Davis Waller, who are both leaving after this year, will miss working with ICC. “It can be very rewarding, but it can also be very exhausting, so we are ready to leave Pepperdine, but we feel very confident that we will leave ICC in good hands,” Wisbey said.

In the years that Wisbey has been president, she and her team have thought about what makes a good ICC president.

“What I’m looking for in a successor is someone who is passionate because this job isn’t glam-

orous,” Wisbey said. “You do it because you love students and helping students find communities.”

Wisbey said she is aware of how tough this position can be because she has experienced it.

“It would have to be a student who is passionate, organized and is able to get up and say something that a lot of students might not want to hear,” Wisbey said.

The president’s job is to relay Pepperdine politics to the greater student body, Wisbey said.

“You have to be able to take adversity in stride,” Wisbey said.

Lizzy Kovach, junior and ICC vice president of finance, said organization is key to being a successful president.

“I think it needs to be someone who is very organized and has a good idea of how to manage people, manage meetings and manage money,” Kovach said.

Kovach said she has seen these skills in Wisbey and hopes that her successor has them, too.

“Grace [Wisbey] has done a really great job with all of those [responsibilities] and with being the liaison between ICC and a lot of different cam-

What I'm looking for in a successor is someone who is passionate because this job isn't glamorous.

You do it because you love students and helping students find communities.

Grace Wisbey, ICC President

pus organizations,” Kovach said.

Kovach said she thinks Wisbey’s successor needs to have those same networking and leadership qualities.

“The president has the weight of ICC on his or her shoulders at all times,” Waller said.

Waller echoed what Wisbey and Kovach said, adding the president needs a lot of initiative. “[He or she needs to] really step up the plate and

never assume that someone is going to do a task for you,” Waller said.

ICC begins with an open application process, Wisbey said. They will interview all of the applicants and then choose three or four to give a three to five minute speech about their goals and vision in front of the Student Organization General Council, made up of one representative from each ICC-approved organization.

The candidate who received the most votes will be publicly announced right after the election on Feb. 20, should he or she chose to accept the position, Wisbey said.

Wisbey said her vision for ICC would be for someone to see what ICC has done in the past three years, acknowledge it and keep moving forward.

“We want it to be better than we left it,” Wisbey said. “[Our goal for ICC is] for each of the 88 approved ICC Student Organizations to feel like they have a safe place to come and ask questions.”

R OWAN.TOK E@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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Connected in Dance| Dance in Flight company members wear all white and strike a pose to promote this year’s performance. Members and choreographers have practiced since September in preparation for the upcoming debut of Dance in Flight that will be held in Smothers Theatre.

Dance in Flight debuting in Smothers k at i e n a n c e l ife a n d a r ts s e c tio n e dito r Pepperdine’s dance company, Dance in Flight (DIF), will debut its annual spring performance this Thursday, Friday and Saturday night in Smothers Theatre.

This year’s DIF theme is “These Four Years,” referring to the time students spend in college.

DIF Student Director and senior Reagan Zimmerer wrote in an email that “These Four Years” is meant to depict everyone’s differing college experiences.

“This year, the pieces in the show are something each choreographer has personally dealt with or felt in their time in college,” Zimmerer wrote.

“Whether it was an event or their emotion, the dancers are conveying their experiences into the pieces on stage. We all go through this transition into adulthood in our own individual ways, finding who we are and what our purpose is, but as a collective being as well. We heal, feel, thrive and live together. This show is very personal to the entire cast; we hope the audience will be able to feel that connection.”

There will be 15 full pieces debuted at this year’s showcase.

Company and choreographer auditions took place this past September, and practices have been held regularly since. The performers and choreographers are students of various grade levels, backgrounds and interests.

DIF Assistant Director and senior Michael Mossucco said he chooses to dance because of its potential to inspire others.

“I dance to invigorate others,” Mossucco said. “Dance is so potent in its ability to disseminate ideas and change perspectives.”

A different passion fuels freshman Megan Villaverde’s fire for dance.

“I dance because it’s a great medium to tell a story and get ourselves moving,” Villaverde said. “Dance is its own language where it can translate to different meanings for different people based on aspects like music or style.”

...there are so many amazing dancers to see.

It will be a show to remember. megan villaverde dif company member

Villaverde said show attendees can expect to see exciting and relatable performances take the stage this week.

With styles ranging from contemporary, to tap, to jazz, to hip hop, it will be a show that can entertain a variety.

This is Villaverde’s first performance with the DIF company. She said she is overwhelmed with excitement about the upcoming debut.

“I’m most excited to show people what we have been working on,” Villaverde said.

“The choreographers have created pieces that are dear to their hearts, and I’m glad we have a chance to tell their story on stage.”

Besides it being one of the most wellattended events at Pepperdine, with soldout performances annually, Villaverde said there are plenty of reasons to attend.

“People should come to see and experience dance in its various forms,” she said. “We have worked so hard to make this happen, and there are so many amazing dancers to see. It will be a show to remember.”

Tickets for DIF cost $10 with a Student ID or $20 for general admission and can be purchased through the Smothers Theatre Box Office. Performances will run daily at 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 7 through Saturday, Feb. 10. There will be a matinee show on Saturday at 2 p.m.

K ATIE.NANC E@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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Art by Caitlin Roark

Social Media might be more of a vice than a pastime Julia Donlon l i f e and art s a ssi sta n t e d ito r

When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thing that you do? Make some coffee, check your phone or finish up some last-minute homework?

When you’re walking to your next class, what do you do? Smile at those passing by, check your notifications or enjoy your surroundings?

If you said “check your phone” for more than one of these scenarios, you might be giving in to a habit that leads to unhappiness.

Checking your phone while hanging out with family or friends is undermining the enjoyment of face-to-face interaction, according to research done in Nov. 2017 for the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. In this study, researchers had more than 300 people share a meal at a restaurant with friends and family members. Participants were randomly assigned to keep their phones with them on the table or to put them away. When phones were present, participants felt more distracted, which reduced how much they enjoyed spending time with their family or friends.

Another 2018 study done at San Diego State University found that people who spent a lot of time doing activities such as playing computer games, using more social media, texting and video chatting were less happy than those who spent their time on non-screen activities like sports, reading newspapers or magazines and face-to-face social interaction. Participants who were the happiest used digital media for less than an hour per day.

A survey of 60 Pepperdine

students regarding social media addiction revealed that some are feeling the negative effects of social media such as feeling that their social media profile defines them or feeling worse about themselves after social media use.

Junior Buddy Kennedy said he was addicted until he deleted his social media three months ago. Now he said he spends drastically less time on his device.

“We are an extremely visuallystimulated generation,” Kennedy said. “There is also the pressure to uphold relationships, support friends and stay in the know through keeping up with the feeds. I found it more exhausting than rewarding.”

Graduate student Steven Matkins said he thinks that there is a correlation between wanting others to think we are doing better than how we are actually doing and the rise of depression and anxiety among our peers.

“We don’t have a proper outlet to express how we actually feel about things and feel pressured to always be happy and smiling and whatnot, so we internalize negative emotions and overexpress positive ones,” Matkins said.

Matkins said he knows people who can’t go a day without using their phones or looking at their social media, going as far as freaking out when the wifi is out. He said he wonders what they did before social media became popular.

“You cannot brag about having one of the most beautiful campuses on Earth and simultaneously disassociate yourself from it via social media,” Matkins said. “Beauty is something experienced, not just seen.”

What can we do to break these habits?

Tchiki Davis, Ph.D., wrote that there are simple ways to break your phone addiction including turning off notifications for everything that is non-essential, defining for yourself what you consider to be an important call or text and deciding what you will give your attention to. To help with this, social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram have recently introduced a new feature where you can set a limit to the amount of time you

spend on the app. A reminder will pop up on the screen to alert you once the set time limit is reached.

For more tips on how to reduce your phone use, visit Tchiki Davis’ 2018 article on Psychology Today’s website.

J U LI A. DON LON @PE PPE R DI N E . E DU

Infograph by Makena Huey | This information was collected by posting the survey on Pepperdine class pages, the Pepperdine Theatre Department page, the Graphic social media pages and by sending it directly to Pepperdine students.

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

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ReelStories film festival celebrates 10 years

Photos Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Julia donlon life and arts assistant Editor ReelStories celebrated it’s 10th Anniversary last Friday, Feb. 1st. at Pepperdine’s Mullin Town Square. The night ended with an award ceremony where Ifeanyi Ezieme’s film Focus took all four awards including Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Audience’s Choice. His film “Focus” explored the topic of a student who sold Adderall on campus in order to pay for some of his schooling.

J U L I A . D O N L O N @P E P P E RD I N E . E DU

Photos courtesy of Tim Horton Photos courtesy of Tim Horton

Image Courtesy of Visit Films

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Photos Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures Photo Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures Art courtesy of James Moore

Pepperdine Student Players debut Spring Showcase piper w r ight li f e and ar ts assista n t The Pepperdine Student Players is a brand-new, student-run theater company designed to showcase students’ abilities. Students in the company wrote, directed and performed seven short pieces in the PLC mini-theater Friday, Feb. 1, Saturday, Feb. 2 and Sunday, Feb. 3 for their debut showcase.

Junior James Moore, the artistic director of the spring showcase, said the theater company is “a space where it all comes from the students.”

“If you see a Pepperdine Student Players production, it is the voice of your fellow students and peers because it is all self-generated,” Moore said.

“It is written by us, designed by us and directed by us. Because it’s smaller and we have less experience than a play being directed by professors, we are able to bring our voice to the forefront a little bit more.”

Moore said that after the Theater Program casts the main stage shows, there are approximately 20 actors who end up not having any roles for the semester.

“We wanted to create the company for those people to have a space to keep practicing when they didn’t have any work to do,” Moore said.

The Pepperdine Student Players hosts weekly workshops that specialize in playwriting, acting, designing and directing for the company members. Most of the short plays, like the ones presented in the Spring Showcase, come out of the workshops. The

company is based around the students. Members can put in as much time and effort as they want based on their semester workload, Moore said. “[Pepperdine Student Players is] a cool way for students to come together,” cast member freshman Clara Fermanian said. “Let’s say you’re not cast on one of the main shows, you still have the opportunity to come every Thursday and act for two hours among your peers. Putting this show together has given us the opportunity to have the whole performance atmosphere, even though it’s not in the Lindhurst or Smothers. And it’s open to students of all majors, anyone is welcome, and it’s a cool way to stay involved even if you’re not a Theater major.”

The company manager, junior Marysol Estrada, wrote a play and directed another that was performed in the showcase. Estrada, along with James Moore and junior Christopher Jerabek, served as the stage manager for this production.

“Our mission is to produce completely student-run things, to prepare us for the outside world where teachers aren’t in charge of everything and to give us the sense that we can do it ourselves,” Estrada said.

The Pepperdine Student Players is putting on another show next month — an original play called “Stay Because...” by junior Nate Bartoshuk. The play is about what comes after graduation and how students will make it in the “real” world.

The company held a pitch meeting last semester for anyone who had written a show that they wanted to submit for

The Debut | Cast members stand after a performance of the Spring Showcase, (left to right) Elissa Croslin, Christopher Jerabek, Caleb Babcock, Marysol Estrada and Aidan Turner. the company’s first full-length production, Estrada said.

“We had a reading, so the company was able to vote on which one they wanted to perform this semester and ‘Stay Because...’ won,” Estrada said.

Pepperdine Student Players is not just a company for majors in the arts.

“We encourage people who acted in high school or have that passion but don’t want to pursue it as a degree to come and show us what they have,” the executive produc-

er of the spring showcase, Christopher Jerabek, said.

The main focus of the company is for students to be able to share their work. ”I just think it is valuable that students are being able to put out their work,” Jerabek said. “I think that’s the best thing that we’re doing.

We’re giving students an opportunity to act and perform but also an opportunity to create and that’s something that the main theater program doesn’t have so much oppor-

tunity for. We’re giving the support to the creators in our student body that otherwise, they wouldn’t really have and I think that’s the most valuable thing we’re doing.”

PIPER .W R IGHT@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Coming Together | Many cast members of the Spring Performance Showcase pose for pictures while practicing their pieces last weekend. They will be hosting a full-length play in March as well as more “showcases” in which many short pieces will be performed every semester.

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Photo courtesy of Jeff Golden/Pepperdine Athletics

Photo courtesy of Stephen Photos Wandzura/Pepperdine Courtesy of PepperdineAthletics Athletics

Going Pro | (Left) Senior Michelle Maemone evades a Brigham Young defender. (Right) Senior Hailey Harbison gains control of the ball and dribbles down the field.

Two Waves selected in NSWL draft

sawa yam akawa s taf f w r i t e r

Two Pepperdine Women’s Soccer players are celebrating their success after hearing their names announced at the National Women’s Soccer League Draft 2019 three Thursdays ago. Senior defender Hailey Harbison is a first-round selection for North Carolina Courage, while senior defender Michelle Maemone will join Utah Royals FC as their third-round pick.

The teams announced their selections Jan. 10 at the draft in Chicago, Illinois, but only Harbison was present, with her mother and childhood coach, at the venue.

“I was honestly shocked because I didn’t expect to get drafted in the first round,” wrote Harbison, the draft’s No. 9 selection, via email.

Maemone, on the other hand, was in Malibu watching the draft on her phone in between her classes.

“I was watching it to hear my teammate’s name,” Maemone, the captain of the Women’s Soc-

cer team, said.

However, she did not need to wait long before her coach video called and notified that she, too, had been selected as No. 23 out of 36 players selected.

Harbison and Maemone are the fifth and sixth Waves soccer players in history to be selected to play professionally.

Maemone, however, said she was not planning to enter into the draft until her coach and teammates encouraged her to do so.

“I was thinking, ‘How is anybody going to even know me?’”

Maemone, who only entered the draft two days prior to the event, said. “I was not expecting it. I am completely humbled and thankful for the opportunity. I want to make the most of it.”

Both players said they were passionate about soccer ever since they started kicking the ball at a young age and knew they wanted to become professional players one day.

“Being a pro soccer player has been my dream since I started playing,” said Harbison, who

earned All-West Region and AllWCC honors all four seasons.

Influenced by her two older siblings, Maemone said she dreamed of playing professionally ever since she first stepped on the pitch.

Their teammates were equally as excited as the pair. Both players said they were overwhelmed by the messages they received from their friends and coaches.

“The team was super excited for me,” Maemone said.

Their teammates seem to be the most crucial aspect for their success, as both players said that playing four years as Waves left them with many unforgettable experiences.

“Traveling to Costa Rica with my team and everything we got to do and experience there together was one of my favorite memories [that] I’ll never forget,” Harbison wrote.

Maemone agreed.

“Wins and losses will stick with you, but it’s the friendships that last,” Maemone said.

Although they were able to accomplish their childhood

Apply for a $2,500 UCU scholarship.

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dreams, they both said that they faced several setbacks throughout their student-athlete careers.

Harbison said she tore her ACL at the end of her sophomore year, which resulted in her sitting out her junior season.

Similarly, Maemone said she, too, tore her ACL twice during high school. Although injuries kept them off the field for several months, the two made their comebacks, thanks to robust support from their coaches and teammates.

“It was hard, but I had a lot of people help me get back to playing,” Harbison wrote. “I just had to remember what I was doing it for.”

Maemone, who leads the athlete chapels, said she saw a silver lining in her injuries since they renewed her appreciation for the sport.

“Being taken away from soccer changed my mentality, and those were two pivotal years of my life,” she said.

Moreover, Maemone said her last season as a Wave reminded her of how much she loves

soccer and her team. She said soccer allowed her to give back to her teammates and coaches who supported her for so long.

“I am so grateful for what Sheridan Davis soccerand brought into [my] life,” Maemone said.

Maemone said leaving Pepperdine, the ocean-view and her life-long friends may not be the easiest move, but having lived in California all her life, she is excited to explore a different culture in Utah.

“I get to be close to my family, play pro soccer and experience something new,” Maemone said. “[It’s] the best of everything.”

Just like she did at Pepperdine, she said she is willing to make a positive impact with whatever role she is given.

“I want to look further than just starting and be the best team player,” Maemone said.

Both soon-to-be pro players said their ultimate goals are to make the U.S. National Team.

“My goals are to keep getting better and learn more every day,” Harbison wrote.

SAWA.YAM AK AWA@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics and Calvin Wood

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Women’s Basketball gets back on track, sweeps homestand kar l w inter a ss i s tant spor ts e dit or Sophomore forward Monique Andriuolo’s career-high 14 points led four scorers in double figures as Pepperdine Women’s Basketball annihilated San Diego 88-65 Thursday, Jan. 31.

The Waves set the tone early at Firestone Fieldhouse and then carried the momentum into Saturday’s home game against BYU, in which they upset the 25th-ranked Cougars 79-65.

“It was good to get back to our winning games,” Andriuolo said following the San Diego game. “I think we needed this win to get us rolling.”

Following close road losses to Saint Mary’s and Pacific the previous week, the Waves fell to 5-4 in West Coast Conference (WCC) play, so it was critical to bounce back on their home court.

“It was our first game back at home after a tough road week last week,” sophomore guard Rose Pflug said. “We’ve struggled this season a bit with coming out strong ... so that was just a main point for our team today, to come out on fire and try to get a lead early.”

The team did exactly that, jumping out to a 29-13 lead after the first quarter and shooting 80 percent to San Diego’s 33 percent in the opening period. Senior forward Yasmine Robinson-Bacote scored 11 of her 14 points in that first quarter.

“I think that when we play at home, for some reason, the basket seems bigger ... ” firstyear Head Coach Delisha Milton-Jones said. “Tonight we also did a good job of executing.”

Pflug went on a tear in the

second quarter, scoring nine of the Waves’ first 11 points in the period, as the lead was stretched to 46-23 midway through the quarter. All 11 Waves in uniform saw the court by halftime, and seven of them scored. By the end of the game, 10 of the 11 players had put up at least one bucket.

“It was definitely good to see everyone getting an opportunity to play their game and free themselves up,” Milton-Jones said.

The Toreros only had eight players travel for the game, and they had four players in double figures, led by Leticia Soares’ 17 points. San Diego made a run in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 52-40, but that was as close as they would get.

Pepperdine closed out the victory, finishing with an impressive shooting line of 57 percent from the field, 62 percent from 3-point range and 89 percent from the free throw line.

“With this win, we’re gaining more confidence,” Andriuolo said. “This will give us a lot of momentum.”

Andriuolo shot 6-9 from the field, hitting both of her 3-point attempts, en route to her career-high. In addition to the strong performances by Pflug and Robinson-Bacote, junior guard Deezha Battle added 12 points and a team-high 8 assists, and junior guard Barbara Sitanggan contributed 9 points and a team-high 8 rebounds.

“Tonight we were able to be efficient offensively and multiple people were able to see the ball in different positions on the floor,” Milton-Jones said.

Milton-Jones’ team was able to take the “sweet taste of victory” into Saturday’s matchup with BYU, a team who had

beaten the Waves by 25 points a month earlier in Provo, Utah.

Robinson-Bacote scored 17 points to lead four Waves in double figures, and Pepperdine used a huge 18-4 run in the second quarter to complete the upset of the Cougars.

Now, Pepperdine has pulled itself into a three-way tie for third place in the WCC, sitting at 7-4 in conference play along with Pacific and Saint Mary’s.

BYU is second in the WCC with a 9-2 record, while San Diego is in the cellar at 1-10.

“We just have to keep going and use this momentum to go forward,” Pflug said.

The Waves will go on the road to take on WCC opponents San Francisco and Santa Clara Feb. 7 and Feb. 9, respectively, before they return home for a non-conference game against Cal State Los Angeles Feb. 12.

KA RL .W I N T E R@P E P P E RD I N E . E D U

Home Sweep Home | (Above) Sophomore Monique Andriuolo focuses on a free throw. (Below) Sophomore Rose Pflug takes the ball up the court.

Photos courtesy of Jeff Golden/Pepperdine Athletics

Wieczorek and Wexter catch fire to secure fourth ranked win of the season aust in hall staf f w r i ter Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball continued to build on early season success Wednesday with a victory in four sets versus California State University, Northridge. The Waves entered the game with a record of 5-2 on the season while the Matadors were at 5-4.

Every set was competitive and the Waves stuck to their consistent formula of getting the ball to senior outside hitters Michael Wexter and David Wieczorek.

In the first of a threegame homestand before a four-game road trip, the Waves battled a Northridge team with many experienced underclassmen, who they had not seen this season.

The team will now have a six-game rest before hosting the No. 7 team in the country, the BYU Cougars.

The first set was a consistent back-and-forth between the Matadors and the Waves. Each team had their fair share of very quick rallies and emphatic kills. There were eight ties and six lead changes in the first half of the set. No team led by more than two points before the Matadors had back-to-back kills, bringing their score to 14 while the Waves had 10.

Head Coach David Hunt said he did not want to let the first set

get away from his team and he elected to call timeout. The Waves regrouped and went on a 13-to-8-point run — finished off by Wieczorek who hammered home a kill, assisted by Wexter.

The set concluded with redshirt senior Kevin Vaz and Wexter combining for a block on Matador redshirt freshman Daniel Wetter.

The second set was the highlight of the game and will live on in the Pepperdine record books. As Pepperdine led 3-1, Wieczorek lined up a serve that split the Matador defense and was his 100th career ace.

His teammates erupted on the sidelines and Wieczorek celebrated with them briefly before returning to the serving line.

Wexter responded by going on a run of his own, smashing a kill, registering a block and earning another kill off a set up from redshirt sophomore Robert Mullahey.

Wexter said he does not think of himself as a rhythm player and takes things one play at a time.

“Every play is different,” Wexter said. “I try not to focus on rhythm or heat. You see in basketball that there’s this heat fallacy where they just want the ball if they’re hot. I try not to focus on that. Things come easier when the team we’re playing has to stop Dave [Wieczorek]

‘cause he’s such a good player.”

Only a few minutes later, Wieczorek hit another career landmark.

Mullahey set up Wieczorek for his 1,000th career kill.

After the game, Wieczorek talked about what it felt like to accomplish both feats.

“It was a dream come true,” Wieczorek said.

“Just being here at Pepperdine achieving that milestone like so many other greats have in the past was awesome. So I was happy but I just had to focus and keep going.”

The Matadors responded late in the set going on a 9-4 run and taking the lead at 23-22.

Their offense was too much for the Waves and senior Dimitar Kalchev had the set-winning kill as they won 27-25.

Losing the second set was the wakeup call that the Waves needed for the rest of the game. Multiple players contributed as they went up 10-5, extending that to 15-8 before Wexter and Wieczorek combined for the last five points winning 25-18.

As battle-tested players in their final years of eligibility, Wexter and Wieczorek said the energy the team brings is important to their success.

“When it comes to those emotions everyone on the team will feed off of each other,” Wexter said. “I love playing with Dave [Wieczorek],

and I always have. He gets fired-up about stuff and I like that. It definitely helps to have guys that get as fired-up like he does.”

“We definitely feed off of each other,” Wieczorek said. “As a squad, we focus on each other’s successes. That’s a huge thing for us.”

The fourth and final set was back to being extremely competitive before Michael Wexter fittingly had the last two kills as the Waves won 25-22.

Wexter and Wieczorek each had higher kill numbers than their season average per game, registering 21 and 16, respectively, compared to their averages of 13 and 15, respectively. Mullahey also dominated the stat sheet with 44 assists compared to his average of 35. Senior Kaleb Denmark also had double digit kills with 13.

Hunt said he wants his team’s mindset to be after the victory.

“We’re sort of just in the mix of things and trying to get better every day,” Hunt said. “Hopefully the mentality is to keep getting better every day in practice. We learn a little bit in our matches but every day in practice is where the improvement happens.”

The No. 5 ranked Pepperdine Waves host the Standford Cardinal Feb. 8.

A U S T I N . H A L L @ PEPPER DINE.EDU

Photos by Milan Loiacono Flying High | (Above) Redshirt senior David Wieczorek prepares to deliver a spike.

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SPORTS

Photos courtesy of Jeff Golden/Pepperdine Athletics Swing into Spring | (Top left) Senior Roy Cootes tees off as his competitors look on. (Top right) Sophomore RJ Manke holds his club high in his follow-through. (Bottom) Junior Clay Feagler keeps an eye on his drive.

Men’s Golf prepares for the spring season

Photos by Milan Loiacono

Ky le M c C a be a ss i s tant spor ts e dit or

Pepperdine Men’s Golf enters the 2019 spring season optimistic. With two freshmen and five returners, the Waves look to tap into all that shared experience.

Senior Roy Cootes, juniors Clay Feagler and Joshua McCarthy and sophomores RJ Manke and Austin Murphy form Pepperdine’s core of returners.

In the 2018 fall season, the returners performed well. In October, Manke won the University of California, Berkeley’s Alister Mackenzie Invitational and Feagler won Baylor University’s Royal Oaks Intercollegiate. The team won the Alister Mackenzie Invitational and the the University of Hawaii’s Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational.

All this fall success has the Waves ranked No. 15 in the nation.

“Honestly, I think this is the best fall start we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Feagler said.

“We’ve been ranked as high as four in the country, which is probably the lowest it’s been for our team in a while.”

Manke said he thinks Pepperdine’s fast start might

have something to do with the large number of returners.

“We added two freshmen, so it’s not a big freshman class or anything,” Manke said.

“There’s not a ton of adjustment. So being able to go back to similar courses where we’ve played in years past, and to be able to grow in past experiences will of course help us to succeed.”

Cootes said he believes the returners presence on the course benefits the freshmen.

“Over the last three years, especially this year, three to four out of the five of our starters are returners,” Cootes said. “I think that helps a lot, especially when a freshman comes in the lineup, they could either look for us to play well out there or take advice from us if they haven’t been in a tournament.”

The Waves have plenty of experience to draw from on and off the course. Because of this, the returners share some of the leadership responsibilities among them.

“This year it’s been pretty big, as far as everyone on the team coming to me, whether it’s school advice or it’s golf advice,” Cootes said. “Freshmen especially … they’ve

asked me the most questions out of anyone. Whether that’s golf and how we do things as a team, or whether it’s how to manage your time as a student athlete.”

Manke said he focuses on getting the team to do the little things like coming to practice on time, but he also does more than keep people in line.

“I emphasize having fun on the golf course,” Manke said. “Whenever I have a good round, I’m having fun out there. If it’s a miserable day, odds are I’m not going to play well.”

Feagler prefers to lead by example.

“Roy [Cootes]’s our captain,” Feagler said. “He’s a senior on the team. I just play my role and try to do good for our team, and if there’s something I need to say, I’ll say it.”

Cootes said he thinks Feagler may find himself in a pivotal role on the course this season, along with McCarthy.

“They’ve always been there, especially since they came in as freshman, they’ve performed unbelievably,” Cootes said. “I think [McCarthy] is going to have a really big breakout spring, which we need to end up making the push to

win nationals.” team against the InternationThe Waves want to reach al team. and win the NCAA National Redshirting due to injury, Championship, especially af- Theegala will not play this ter barely missing qualifying season. Even without him, the for the tournament last year.

Waves feel confident about “We were in second place, their spring tournaments, inand to let it all slip on the back cluding the upcoming Presnine of regionals didn’t really tige at PGA West. settle right with us,” Feagler “We’ve been going to that said. “I think we’ve got a dif- for 10 years now, maybe,” Coferent team this year, we’ve otes said. “It’s always been a got two really good freshmen good one … We finished secPhotos Courtesy of Pepperdine who can play and really con- ond there last year.Athletics Two out of tribute.” the three years I’ve played, we Feagler said Cootes, playing finished second, so hopefully his last season at Pepperdine, this year we can finally win it. will give it his all.

It’s always a good field, and we “Personal goals would be always show up ready to play to win a tournament in the — we just haven’t gotten over spring, one of the seven that the edge of winning.” we have, and then try to win Pepperdine does know the NCAA individual national something about winning at championship as well,” Cootes the Prestige. Feagler won the said. tournament last year.

Feagler said he wants to fol“Last year was definitely low in the footsteps of his in- a turning point in my college jured teammate, senior Sahith career,” Feagler said. “I knew Theegala.

I could win a college level, “My one goal is definitely to and it kind of gave me confimake the Arnold Palmer Cup dence last year that I could do team,” Feagler said. “It would it again … Prestige is one of be a really prestigious honor those heartwarming tournato make that team and repre- ments for me.” sent the USA.” Theegala made the Arnold Palmer Cup team last year and K YL E.J.M C C ABE@PEPPER DINE.EDU played for the United States