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Pepperdine commemorates 17th anniversary of Sept. 11 Attacks, see a3.
Kaelin Mendez | Photo Editor
Never Forget | 2,977 flags line Alumni Park to commemorate the lives lost in the Sept. 11 attacks. This year marks the eleventh consecutive year that Pepperdine has put up the Waves of Flags display. There are 2,887 American flags for each American life lost and 90 different international flags.
Pepp Offers Greater Support for First-Gen College Students For more info, see A6.
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C h a n n a s t e i n me t z s o c ia l me dia ma n age r Over 6,000 fish were found floating dead in the Malibu Lagoon on Aug. 23. California State Parks and The Bay Foundation are in the process of assessing the exact cause for the mass die-off. California State Parks Angeles District Superintendent Craig Sap said approximately 95 to 98 percent of these fish were striped mullet, and the cause of their death could range from a variety of reasons. "It could be one thing or it could be a combination of several things," Sap said. "Everything from the reproductive nature of the striped mullet to the water quality is being assessed. These are all just speculations at this point."
One of the main proposals is the recent high water temperatures after a hot summer season. Water temperatures at Malibu Lagoon were measured by an environmental scientist, Sap said in an interview with The Malibu Times. The results showed temperatures at 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius or approximately). The ocean temperatures are typically 18 to 23 degrees Celsius, Pepperdine Biology Professor and fish physiology specialist Karen Martin said. Martin explained the dangers of abnormal water temperatures to the striped mullet population. "This is an extreme temperature stress for them," Martin said. "It’s like being in a fever. If you were to have a fever for a long period of time, it would be really bad for you."
Pacific Palisades resident Anne Cronin said this was her first time out at the lagoon area since the incident, but she was concerned with the ocean temperature. "I was in the ocean, and I was just shocked," Cronin said. "It's warmer than my pool at home. It makes you wonder. It makes you wonder why and if that has something to do with the fish." Officials collected salinity and dissolved oxygen levels in the lagoon during the day, and results showed normal levels for this time of year, according to a statement by California State Parks officials. Sap said it is possible for dissolved oxygen levels to drop during the night, so the scientists involved are still looking into this theory.
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Stand up,
Step forward o m ar m ur phy onli ne pr odu c e r Pepperdine students helped the Volunteer Center celebrate the 30th anniversary of both the office and Step Forward Day with old and new service projects Saturday, Sept. 8. Step Forward Day is an annual event where Pepperdine students volunteer with organizations in Malibu, Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Step Forward Day was the first event out of the Volunteer Center when the office started. "Sarah Jackson was the first director and there were a few students who helped create it and they wanted to do a big event," said Peter Thompson, current director of the Pepperdine Volunteer Center.
the waves report
"They actually went dorm by dorm and woke people up and brought them out." A new on-campus service project was added to this year's Step Forward Day. Pepperdine's Volunteer Center partnered with Feed My Starving Children to offer a new service opportunity with global impact. Feed My Starving Children is a Christian non-profit organization that works to provide meals for malnourished children and struggling families all over the world. It is the first year that Pepperdine has partnered with this organization and the service project offered more opportunities for students to step forward. Elisabeth Harding, the student Special Events Director in charge of
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Step Forward Day, helped organize the new initiative. "It's very new and something we've never done before," Harding said. "We’re really excited about trying it out and the potential to partner with them for the future." On the day of the event, student groups like Black Student Association, Men's and Women's Basketball, Sigma Phi Epsilon, individual volunteers and more gathered in the Fieldhouse to work with FMSC. The leader split student groups into small teams with specific duties that contributed to the overall process. Student tasks ranged from running and labelling food bags to scooping food and sealing packets. The event
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accommodated all interested volunteers and no one was left without a job to do. After the training and explanation of roles, the service project commenced. Students ran back and forth as teams started packaging food, stacking boxes and loading pallets. After the two and a half hours of volunteering, many students said they were satisfied with the work they put in. "It was a fun atmosphere with everyone working together," senior Karsten Kimbel said. "It was cool to see the direct result of what we’re doing and seeing the boxes we pack taped up and shipped out instead of going to some warehouse."
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Photos by Kaelin Mendez Service Saturday | Students
work on various volunteer projects across Southern California during Step Forward Day. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Pepperdine tradition.
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Making Sandcastles Out of Bricks
milan loiacono a s s i s ta n t p h o t o edit or Languages are strange; they are a form of communication that utilizes grammar and vocabulary to build images of an idea, which the receiver then has to interpret. This process is all the more difficult for non-native speakers, which should warrant them a larger measure of patience and understanding than they are currently given, particularly in America. Essentially, every conversation is a game of Pictionary in which the words have to be built instead of drawn. Imagine for a minute that in this version of the game one team has to use sand, the other bricks. Those using sand represent native speakers of a language. With ease, a teammate can carelessly scoop handfuls together in a rough semblance of the idea they are trying to convey, and their audience will understand. Linguistically, this comes across as slurred words, improper grammar and slang. Non-native speakers are trying to build the same picture, but with bricks. They need to pick up each piece individually, make sure it’s the right piece and remember the correct way to put them together. It’s a much more methodical, slow, labor-intensive process for what is often a rougher end product. Let me explain it in another way. When I am speaking in English, I don’t even think when I say “Hey, you guys wanna eat?” Trying to say the same thing in Italian, I recall each word separately then mentally review the conjugations by subject and tense. “I’m talking to multiple people, a mix of genders, so I should use the masculine plural ‘ragazzi’. Ok, ‘volere’ means ‘to want.’ Which tense am I using? ‘Y’all’ would equal … voi. What is the voi tense of volere? Volete, right. Ok, then to eat is ‘mangiare,’ but I don’t need to conjugate this one.” This all runs through my head at lightning speed, before finally; “Ciao ragazzi! Volete mangiare?” I can’t just think about the meaning of the question. I have to think of the words, the grammar and, in this case, the spelling. Fumbling through another language is sometimes funny, usually frustrating and always tiring. So next time someone is struggling through the linguistically ridiculous language we call English, have the patience and understanding to wait as they slowly build their picture.
P E P P E R DIN E GR A P H IC M E DIA | N E W S | SE P TE MB E R 1 3 , 20 1 8
THE DPS REPORTS Check out pepperdine.edu/publicsafety for the DPS Reports every week
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08/27/18 1:20 p.m. Crimes: Larceny/Theft Grand Theft of Property Location: HAWC
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08/28/18 4:06 p.m. Crimes: Traffic Related - Traffic Enforcement Reckless Driving Location: Seaver Drive
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09/02/18 1:21 a.m. Crimes: Vandalism Location: James W. Fifield House 09/05/18 7:23 p.m. Crimes: Alcohol Related/ Non-Criminal - Possesion of Alcohol on Campus Location: Lovernich Residential Commons
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09/07/18 2:25 a.m. Crimes: Alcohol Related/ Non-Criminal - Individual(s) Drinking or Intoxicated on Campus Location: Seaver Drive Booth
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UPCOMING EVENTS THIS SEMESTER What: To m á s a nd the Libra ry La dy when: 9 / 30 Wher e: s mo th er s theatr e
Wh at: Seaver College Health & Sciences Car eer Fair Wh e N: 10/2 Wh e re : Fir eside r oom
What: women’s soc c er vs. santa clar a Whe N : 10/7 Whe re : tar i fr ahm roku s field
W hat: L ec t u re - Mi c hael Howel l s : “ Does F orei g n P ol i cy Ever Work ? L es s ons f rom t he Mi ddl e Eas t ” W he N: 1 0/ 1 0 W he r e : s u rf b oard room pays on l i b rary
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c onvo c re dit and other e ve n ts this we e k FRI. 14
What: celebration chapel When: 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Where: amphitheater
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Wh at: spanish chapeL Wh e n: 10:10 a.M. Wh e re : stauffer chapel
Wh at: ger man chap el Wh e n: 10 a.m. Wh e re : stauffer c hap el
Wh at: “The High Holidays: A Time to R eflect with Cantor Kenny Ellis” Wh e n: noon Wh e re : sur fboar d r oom Payson libr ary
Wh at: Constitution Day the R ole of R eligi on i n Sustaining Our R e p u b l i c Wh e n: noon Wh e re : wilbur n a u di t ori u m - Dr escher
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W hat: Men’s Wat er P ol o vs. U C S anta B arb ara W he n: 6 p. M. W he r e : ral ei g h ru nnel s memori al p ool
W hat: C hi nes e c hap el W he n: noon W he r e : c c b 3 4 0
Wh at: Italian chap el Wh e n: 3 p.m. Wh e re : stauffer c hap el
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STEP: PVC celebrates 30th anniversary of volunteer tradition F RO M A1
Milan Loiacono | Assistant Photo Editor Standing in Remembrance | Director of Student Activities Brittany Skinner ends the memorial service in prayer. Other speakers at the ceremony included President Benton and Director of Public Safety Dawn Emrich.
Pepp Honors Sept. 11 with Memorial Service Kay iu W o n g As si stant New s E d itor The Pepperdine community gathered Tuesday to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The university held a memorial service at Heroes Garden to honor the 2,977 lives lost on on Sept. 11, including Graziadio alumnus Thomas E. Burnett Jr., who died aboard United Airlines Flight 93 that day. Burnett and the other passengers on Flight 93 were the first Americans to fight back against international terrorim on Sept. 11, according to the university’s page on Heroes Garden. The passengers led a counterattack against hijackers to prevent the aircraft from flying into another national target in Washington D.C. Their actions resulted in Flight 93 crashing into a filed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Heroes Garden is dedicated to Burnett’s heroic actions. Burnett’s elder daughter Halley Burnett is a Class of 2018 Seaver College alumna while his younger daughter, Anna Clare Burnett, is a current junior at Seaver College. Anna Clare published a tribute to her father in the Graphic two years ago. President Andrew K. Benton delivered a devotional message at the ceremony and said he had in his pocket the transcript of the final conversation between Burnett and his wife Deena Burnett Bailey. “I was going to read parts of that today but I couldn’t get through it,” Benton said. “But the final line in his sign-off from his wife, now widow, is ‘don’t worry, we’re going to do something.’” Benton said Burnett’s last line serves as a reminder of
OM AR .M UR PHY@PEPPER DINE.EDU
Milan Loiacono | Assistant Photo Editor Commemorating the Fallen | Attendees at Pepperdine’s annual Sept. 11 memorial service embrace after the ceremony. The service was held at Heroes Garden on Tuesday. the “boldness, leadership [and] confidence” that communities need in the face of injustice and that the university aspires students to have. “I hope that the students that we are educating here and have in the past and will in the future will never be bowed or afraid and will always respond ‘don’t worry, we’ll do something,’” Benton said. Junior Andrew Wagner attended the service and said he enjoyed the way the ceremony honored victims “without being too solemn.” “Being up here means to me representing friends who have served in the army,” Wagner said. During the ceremony, Direc-
tor of Public Safety Dawn Emrich delivered an invocation; Pete Peterson, the dean of the School of Public Policy, read Micah 4:1-4; Seaver College alumnus Daniel Perez read Matthew 5:1-10; and SGA President Austin Welch and Executive Vice President Mariela Toledo presented the traditional placing of the memorial wreath. “I thank God for Pepperdine because like no other institution west of Manhattan, we commemorate this day better than anyone else,” Peterson said. The service ended with a closing prayer from Director of Student Activities Brittany Skinner. Payson Library is commemo-
rating the Sept. 11 attacks with a display of poems that reflect on the American experience. The poems are on display for two weeks on the first floor of the library. Pepperdine also honors Sept. 11 victims with a display of 2,977 flags at Alumni Park: 2,887 American flags for each American life lost and 90 different international flags to represent the home countries of those from abroad who died in the Sept. 11 attacks. This year marks the 11th consecutive year of the Waves of Flags display, Public Relations Manager Alex Forero said. The installation will be up until Sept. 24. K AYIU.W ONG@PEPPER DINE.EDU
FISH: Treatment continues F R OM A 1 There were claims against the controversial Malibu Lagoon restoration in 2012 and 2013. The restoration involved a realignment of the lagoon’s channels to circulate towards the ocean. According to the state park’s statement, the circulation and dissolved oxygen levels of the lagoon post-restoration have significantly improved, providing a higher quality fish and wildlife habitat. Sap said the number of overall fish can confirm this. “6,000 fish is an extraordinary amount, and it is suggested an equal number of fish are still flourishing in that en-
Freshman Paulina Gandara’s first Step Forward Day introduced her to FMSC. As a runner she ran back and forth between tables helping restock and supply packaging efforts. “I never knew Feed My Starving Children existed, but the effect they’re going to have on a lot of people and a lot of lives is exciting,” Gandara said. “I met a lot of new people and the overall experience was fun.” As 30 years of steps forward signals a lasting tradition, the PVC made sure the focus was on service and not celebration, Harding said. “It means we’ve taken 30 steps,” Harding said. “For 30 years we’ve been going out to serve the community.” The office emphasized that Step Forward Day serves as the launching point for continuous service instead of just one day. “That’s the whole point of the day, is that it’s not about a day,” Thompson said. “We want you to serve and keep serving.”
vironment,” Sap said. “If you have too many species in an environment, there is going to be mother nature equalizing everything.” Martin also agreed that the restoration project was successful and the habitat is in an improved condition. Sap said tests for the probable cause are precise, and results will take two to three weeks to come back. California State Parks began manually removing the dead fish Aug. 27 and a private contractor removed thousands more the days succeeding. A majority of the fish have been cleaned up Sap said, but there are some still resurfacing this week. C H A N N A .S T E I N ME T Z @P E P P E RD I N E . E D U
Photo Courtesy of California State Parks, 2018 Lagoon Loss | More than 6,000 fish died recently in the Malibu Lagoon. Agencies found the fish Aug. 23 and are working to determine the cause of their death.
Photos by Kaelin Mendez
Assembly Line | Volunteers at Step Forward Day on Saturday make food bags for a non-profit organization.
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PERSPECTIVES STAFF LIST
Caitlin Roark | Art Editor
STAFF EDITORIAL End the cap on donated meal points
Pepperdine students either have meal points, or they need them. The coveted points have long been a controversial topic on Pepperdine’s campus, and some students remain dissatisfied with the school’s policies. Valuable meal points end up going to waste, as students often mistakenly purchase meal plans that are too large for their dietary needs. The non-profit Swipe Out Hunger allows students to donate unused meal points to both Pepperdine students and families in L.A who are facing food insecurity. However, Sodexo caps donations at a 40-point limit. Pepperdine should take initiative to ensure all leftover meal points go to students who need help financing a meal plan. That way money won’t go to waste, and students won’t go hungry. Pepperdine offers nine different meal plan options, which allow anywhere from seven to 21 meals per week. One meal point equates to $1, and they can be used at various spots on campus, including Starbucks, Jamba Juice, the HAWC, and of course, The Waves Cafe.
The meal plans are designed to simplify student life. All food purchased with meal points are tax-free, a special offer that does not extend to credit cards or cash. However, some take issue with the meal plan policies. Students purchase their meal plans according to their eating habits. But many are surprised when they end the semester with a large amount of points leftover. The points don’t rollover so any left over is money wasted. Currently, meal plans can only be decreased before the Add/Drop Deadline is over. Meaning once a student signs up for a meal plan, he or she only has a short period to reduce the amount of points they have. After that period is over, they can only add more. This policy may become a problem for someone like Seaver sophomore Rae Williams, who signed up for the largest meal plan available as a freshman and said she regretted it as the year came to an end. “I had so many points left by the end of the year. At one point I was giving my card to the Starbucks cashier to pay
for everyone’s drinks and buying out the HAWC to hand out free food in the library during finals, but even with that I still had over a thousand points left. I tried to donate the rest of my points, but since there’s a $40 cap, I had tons leftover still,” said Williams. Swipe Out Hunger, is an organization active across many college campuses. The organization allows students to donate unused meal points. The donated meal points are then turned into vouchers or checks and used to help both the Los Angeles community and fellow students. “At the end of the spring semester, Pepperdine students (and faculty!) can donate their unused meal swipes to our organization,” explains Swipe Out Hunger on their website. “We then repurpose what would have gone to waste into food items for the food-scarce families of Los Angeles as well as meal cards for our peers.” Donating extra meal points through Swipe Out Hunger is a great way to serve the surrounding community. In college, it can be difficult to donate money or time, but
a 40-point cap severely restricts the amount of good Swipe Out Hunger and the student body can do. “The limit [on points students can donate] set by Sodexo is $40 per student,” said Pepperdine’s co-president of Swipe Out Hunger, Armando Martinez. This policy, while still beneficial to those dealing with a shortage of food, is not enough. Students with an excess of meal points still end up wasting a large amount of money that could have gone to help someone else. Associate Dean of Student Affairs Stacy Rothberg said there are many people passionate about this issue working hard to find a solution. “Dining Services has provided 150 $12 meal cards toward addressing food insecurity. These Dining Services Guest Meal Cards are given to the Student Care Team to distribute as needed,” Rothberg wrote in an email. Vice President for Student Affairs Connie Horton recommended students reach out to Financial Aid if their financial situation unex-
pectedly changes. “Beyond that [Financial Aid], the Student Care Team can sometimes help in very special, time-sensitive situations,” Horton wrote in an email. “They aren’t a long-term version of financial aid, but if there is an emergency or particular immediate need (e.g., having no groceries, meal points or money until Friday) the Student Care Team can use the Student Emergency Fund to purchase a Ralphs gift card or add some meal points to a student’s card.” While Pepperdine is working hard to assist students unsure of how they’ll get their next meal, there is more to be done. Thousands of wasted meal points could be avoided by implementing a program where all left over points are pooled and donated to Pepperdine students who struggle with affording a meal plan. Wasted meal points equals wasted money which equals wasted food. Wasted food is a tragedy, especially when there are students in need on campus who could directly benefit from leftover meal point vouchers.
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Letters to the Editor must bear the writer’s name, signature, class standing, major, address and phone number (except in some circumstances determined appropriate by the Graphic Editorial Board). Letters must be fewer than 300 words and will be edited for syntax, grammar and brevity. Letters can be mailed to student publications or emailed to peppgraphicmedia@gmail.com
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SGA passed a resolution to fund a portion of Late Night Breakfast put on by Student Affairs scheduled for Sunday, April 23 from 9:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Waves Cafe.
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M anag i ng Ed i to r m a r i a va l e n te So c i al M ed i a M anag er c h a n n a ste i n m e tz 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 sava n n a h w e l c h c o py c hi ef rya n h a r d i n g New s Ed i to r Madeleine Carr new s s eni o r r ep o r ter s m a ry c ate l o n g nicola wenz Ass i stant New s Ed i to r k a i yu w o n g New s As si s tant Da ly B r i ste r S p o r ts Ed i to r g r ac e w o o d P er s p ec ti v es Ed i to r ga b r i e l l e m ath ys As si s tant P er s p ec ti v es Ed i to r caroline archer L i fe & Ar ts Ed i to r C a r o l i n e e d wa r d s l i fe & ar ts seni o r r ep o r ter ella gonzalez as si s tant L i fe & ar ts ed i to r H a i dyn H a rv e y L i fe & Ar ts As si s tant A n a sta ssi a Ko sti n P ho to Ed i to r Kaelin mendez as si s tant p ho to ed i to r s Sa m a n th a Fi n n e ga n m i l a n l o i ac o n o Ar t Ed i to r c a i tl i n r oa r k C o py ed i to r s k i l e y d i ste l r ath pi pe r w r i g h t Adv er ti s i ng m anag er b e n h u ya r d D i r ec to r o f P ep p er d i ne G r ap hi c M ed i a E l i z a b e th Sm i th As si s tant D i r ec to r O f P ep p er d i ne G r ap hi c M ed i a Co u r te n ay Sta l l i n g s
MISSION STATEMENT “Pepperdine Graphic Media (PGM) is an editorially independent student news organization that focuses on Pepperdine University and the surrounding communities. PGM consists of the digital and print Graphic, a variety of special publications, GNews, Currents Magazine, social media platforms and an Advertising Department. These platforms serve the community with news, opinion, contemporary information and a public forum for discussion. PGM strengthens students for purpose, service and leadership by developing their skills in writing, editing and publication production, by providing a vehicle to integrate and implement their liberal arts education, and by developing students’ critical thinking through independent editorial judgment. PGM participates in Pepperdine’s Christian mission and affirmations, especially the pursuit of truth, excellence and freedom in a context of public service. Although PGM reports about Pepperdine University and coordinates with curricula in journalism and other disciplines, it is a student (not a University) news organization. Views expressed are diverse and, of course, do not correspond to all views of any University board, administration, faculty, staff, student or other constituency.”
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S EPT E M B E R 1 3 , 2 0 1 8 | PE RS PE C TIVE S | P E P P E RD I N E G RA P H I C ME D I A
Understand asexuality This column serves as the voice of Crossroads and is written by Grace Ramsey, a member of the Crossroads e-board. I was 13 when everyone I knew suddenly became obsessed with crushes and first kisses and who was “hottest.” I didn’t get what all the fuss was about. Three years later, nothing changed. I had no interest in anyone that way. My pastor gave my youth group “the talk” about resisting temptation and so on. I honestly had no idea what that kind of temptation was like because I had never felt it. This disparity between my peers and me had me gradually becoming more and more distressed. I was depressed, anxious, angry at myself and God that I did not have sexual feelings. The hypersexualized world around me told me I was flawed. Every romance movie I have ever seen contains physical displays of passion. The Bible says man and woman shall become one flesh. And sexual jokes, images, references and more litter every medium one can find. Everyone I talked to said I would meet the right guy some day, and then I would understand. Eventually, I turned to the internet to find out what was wrong with me. That was when I discovered a website for an organization called the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN). The first thing I read when the site loaded was
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Caitlin Roark | Art Editor “an asexual person is a person who does not experience sexual attraction.” Learning about asexuality changed my life. It assured me there were other people like me. I did not have something horribly wrong with me. I was still worthy of love. A lot of people assume when I tell them I’m asexual that it means that I don’t or can’t want a romantic relationship. Society seems to have become so in love with sex that people think love is sex. I think most assume one can have sex without love; everyone knows about one night stands and such. Even though this fact is well accepted, whenever I bring up that love can be the same way, people act like I’m trying to square the circle. A lot of people view sex as
the culmination or prize of romantic love, especially in the Christian sphere. Conclusion: love without sex is cheap, the same way that sex without love is cheap. I don’t feel like it’s right for me to be considered a radical when I say romantic love can be deep and valuable without sex. Yet time and time again my community and I are bashed, erased and so much more for not wanting physical intimacy. When someone said to me, “So you’re basically just a plant, right? Like, I don’t know, sex is part of being human,” I don’t think they understood just how much it hurt. I am not mentally ill, I am not hormonally deficient, and I am not “basically a plant.” I am a person who wants to love and be loved in return.
It’s pretty simple. So think about asexuality. Understand that there are people out there who don’t feel sexually attracted to anyone, and then imagine what it must be like to live a day in their shoes. More resources on asexuality can be found on The Trevor Project’s website. The Trevor Project is an organization dedicated to preventing suicide in LGBTQ+ youth. This cause is so important when one is a part of a community in which it is so easy to feel alone. So read, listen and, if the situation ever arises, be a voice of support for an identity struggling to be heard. It would mean the world to me and others who identify as asexual. GR AC E.R AM SEY@PEPPER DINE.EDU
Leave the phone behind today C ar o l i n e ar c h e r P e rsp ec t ives a ssista n t ed it o r Students strive to diligently manage their relationships. As a result, they have become increasingly reliant on smartphones. These devices are double-edged swords, forming links between otherwise distant friends while at the same time distancing the user from the present moment. At their worst, phones can serve as barriers that damage both authenticity and connection. Every so often, students should take a break from their phones in order to become more aware of the world around and within them. It is obvious that people devote a lot of time and energy to their phones, and statistics testify to society’s borderline addiction. For instance, the average person will spend one-sixth of his or her life looking at a phone screen, according to Catherine Price’s article “9 Ways to Finally Stop Spending So Much Time on Your Phone,” published Feb. 8 by
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TIME. College students are especially tied to their devices, having to frequently check for emails and stay up to date on both social and academic plans. With all of these demands on their attention, it is increasingly difficult for students to actually step away from their phones. However, it is also increasingly necessary for them to do so. Smartphones have tangible negative effects on their users. They are linked to a higher propensity for social anxiety and even depression, according to Sandee LaMotte’s article “Smartphone Addiction Could be Changing Your Brain,” published Dec. 1, 2017 by CNN. These repercussions are especially apparent in students’ lives, which are already filled with pressures that jeopardize their mental health. However, in spite of these dismal trends, college students are capable of relinquishing the hold that their phones have on them. Pepperdine students need to physically separate themselves from their phones for a little bit of each day in order to detox. This requires students to do more than placing their devices into their back pockets. Out of sight does not equal out of mind, and “just by virtue of being there, smartphones
Caitlin Roark | Art Editor occupy a large space in [people’s thoughts],” according to Roy Germano’s article “My Life Without a Smartphone,” published Nov. 19, 2017 by The Los Angeles Times. In order to have a true breath of fresh air, students should go as far as to leave their phones in their dorm. This physical distance is what will, in Germano’s words, leave students “with no choice but to be present.” An additional way that students can find
freedom from phones is by creating rules for themselves. For instance, students can choose to put their phones away for the entirety of their classes, which, according to Anya Kamenetz’s article “Laptops and Phones in the Classroom: Yea, Nay, or a Third Way?” creates mental space for them to focus on the lesson. Students could also commit to putting their phones away at meal time. This enables them to be more present
as they eat and converse with friends. When students physically separate themselves from their devices, they can approach life with more clarity. By letting go of their phones for periods of time, students will force their phones to let go of them. Going unplugged is a gateway to rejuvenation.
C AR OL INE.AR C HER @PEPPER DINE.EDU
Recently, avocado toast made headlines as Australian property developer Tim Gurner made news suggesting that millennials’ expenditures on overpriced food products, such as the aforementioned brunch item, was a reason for the generation’s lack of savings. This apparent lack of savings made millennials unable to make large purchases, like a deposit on a house. Immediately met with backlash, he asserted his main point was that millennials are investing in their lifestyles rather than in their futures. Gurner was right in saying that strong financial habits are important to begin earlier in life. These habits acquired now can give graduates a secure foundation as they enter the workforce. Learning about money while still in college can help students prepare for post-graduate life. A recent survey by the micro-investing app Acorns showed that 71 percent of millennials feel uneducated about financial matters. Students should seize the opportunity they have to advance in financial literacy while the stakes are still low. One way to advance in financial literacy is by learning how to earn money. Getting a job during college can provide a variety of benefits for full-time students, according to US News and World Reports. Appreciating the effort that goes into each dollar made can have lasting impacts on other financial choices. One such choice is deciding what to do with that paycheck. It is incredibly quick and easy to spend money, yet far from effortless to earn it. That being said, a paycheck should not be spent in a single night. Learning how to budget is key. Budgeting entails knowing what money to spend on needs and luxuries, knowing the difference between the two, and knowing how much to save. The most straightforward way to learn about money is to do research. Beginning the journey into learning about personal finance is intimidating, but it is crucial to overcome any barriers that might have negative consequences in the future. With Pepperdine’s new Center for Financial Literacy, students are gaining more access to resources in this area. Ultimately, the only way to have a strong financial base is to start building one. Even if it means forgoing that avocado toast, smart money decisions every day can add up to a secure financial future. C HR ISTIAN.SANC HEZ@PEPPER DINE.EDU
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Pepp offers first-gen program Kay iu W o ng A s s i stant New s Edit or
According to the university, 19 percent of Pepperdine’s undergraduate population are first-generation college students In an effort to provide more support for first-generation college students at Pepperdine, a group of students are launching a first-generation club, and the Student Success Center is starting a program to provide greater university resources for first-generation students. Nineteen percent of undergraduate students at Pepperdine are first-generation college students, or students “whose parent(s) [or] legal guardian(s) have not completed a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university,” according to the university’s website The First Gen Club is the first student organization devoted to mentoring and advocating for first-generation college students, while the Student Success Center’s First Wave Program is a new university initiative to provide larger faculty support for first-generation students. “Nationally, there is definitely a big consensus at this point that first-generation students have amazing strengths and that universities should really be cultivating those strengths by providing access to needs that these students have,” Psychology Professor Nataria Joseph, who proposed the First Wave program, said. First Wave Program Joseph presented her idea for a first-generation support program in March after the Student Success Center asked faculty to participate in a faculty collaboration grant called Inclusion Matters, Marissa Davis, director of the center, wrote in an email. In May, the Student Success Center chose Joseph’s proposal as one of two faculty collaboration projects that the center will help implement this year, Davis wrote in an email statement. “The First Wave program is the university’s
attempt to build a sense of community among first-generation student on different levels — academic, social and spiritual sides — so students can feel connected here on campus and know that there is a physical community here of support,” Davis said in an interview. Joseph said the program is meant to increase the level of connectedness that first-generation students feel toward their peers and toward the university. “No first-gen student experience is the same as another first-gen student experience, but there are practical, logistical things that first-gen students go through that could feel like you are approaching completely new territory in a way,” Joseph said. To build a stronger first-generation community on campus, Joseph is putting together a directory of faculty who identify as first-generation for students to connect with for advice or mentorship. Joseph said the directory will be posted to the First Wave program website. Joseph and Davis, who were both first-generation college students themselves, said they are excited to see the First Wave program become a way that the university can further reach out to first-generation students. “One thing that really sticks from my own experience is dealing with financial aid,” Joseph said. “It’s already a complex, difficult thing for everyone to do the FAFSA and all of that stuff, but I think particularly for first-generation students, that could be a even more complex process if their parents have not done the FAFSA before or are not familiar with it.” The First Wave program will also consist of events that the Student Success Center will host to connect first-generation students with other first-generation students and faculty. During New Student Orientation this year, the Student Success Center hosted a reception for first-year, first-generation students to meet other first-generations students
Kayiu Wong | Assistant News Editor New Club on Campus | Edith Estrada & Isabel Cornavaca from the First Gen Club table on campus at the Interclub Council’s annual club fair – CultureFest. The First Gen Club launched this fall. and faculty members on campus. Davis said over 100 people attended. During Waves Weekend, the program will be hosting a free panel event where a group of first-generation faculty, alumni and current students will speak about their experiences and answer questions. “The idea is just to have structured conversation and provide some insights for students and families about common themes among first-generation students,” Davis said. Joseph said Nov. 8 marks the second annual First-Generation College Celebration, a day where universities nationwide celebrate the success of first-generation students and staff. The Student Success Center will be giving away “First Wave” buttons for first-generation students to wear in solidarity that day. Davis said first-generation students who are looking for mentorship or assistance can always stop by the Student Success Center to find resources or talk to someone. First Gen Club Just like the First Wave program, the First Gen Club is also centered around building community for first-generation
college students. The First Gen Club, however, is a student-run initiative, sophomore Karina Valenzuela, who serves as president of the club, said. Valenzuela said she and eight other first-generation students created the organization after learning last year that Pepperdine did not have resources available exclusively for first-generation students. Valenzuela did extensive research into the challenges first-generation students faced at Pepperdine for an article she wrote for her Intro to News Writing class last spring. During her reporting, Valenzuela said many first-generation students she talked to expressed a desire to have a space where they could discuss their experiences with other first-generation students on campus. The initiative to create a club as a safe space for first-generation students came up during a group interview Valenzuela conducted with first-generation students on campus. “It was then that we really talked deeply about starting this club and submitting a club request,” Valenzuela said. “We just saw this as if ‘we don’t take initiative, who’s going to do it.’” Valenzuela noted that
she had no intentions of creating the First Gen club while she was reporting on the topic of first-generation students, but the research she found about other college programs for first-generation students inspired her to establish the club after submitting her article. “I found out that Pepperdine was one of the few universities that didn’t have a program for first generation college students,” Valenzuela said. “When you look at Biola or Chapman, which are also small religious universities, they even provide scholarships for first generation college students to attend.” Valenzuela said the First Gen club is meant to be a community where first-generation students can help other first-generation students. The club is planning on creating a mentorship program where upperclassmen will be paired with freshmen or sophomores who share the same major or in the same department, Valenzuela said. “As freshmen, you’re already trying to deal with all the stress of moving away and transitioning from high school, on top of being the first one in your family who is at college,” Valenzuela said. “Having support in the sense of
having someone to look up to is important because I feel like as first generation students, our story is so unique.” The club is also planning on hosting a brunch and a spring retreat for first-generation students to connect and build a stronger community. Junior Isabel Cornavaca, a founding member and vice president of external affairs for the club, said her own experience of struggling at Pepperdine as a first-generation college student inspired her decision to help create the First Gen Club. Cornavaca said she sees the organization as a safe place first-generation students can turn to in times of stress and confusion. “There are always students who are silently drowning and we want to make sure we’re the net that can catch them and say ‘hey you’re not drowning just yet because we’re still here,’” Cornavaca said. The First Gen club is having their first meeting Thursday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. in the Sandbar.
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iDebate Rwanda takes on Pepp debate team Em ilie Sc hu tt Staf f W r i te r The iDebate Rwanda team, including 17-year-old Kellia Kaneze, 16-year-old Jean Din Kariuki and their three coaches, hosted a debate featuring Pepperdine students over the topic of Convicted Civility. Pepperdine is the first stop on The iDebate Rwanda 2018 USA tour. iDebate Rwanda is an organization that stands to change the lives of young Rwandans and East Africans by teaching them to think critically and to solve problems creatively through learning debate, according to the iDebate Rwanda website. The organization hosts several events including an annual week-long intensive debate camp called “Dreamers Academy” and an annual debate in which teams from different schools compete. Pepperdine and the iDebate Rwanda team developed a close relationship during the start
of iDebate Rwanda USA tour in 2014. “I think this relationship is a good thing because it shows that Pepperdine really cares about our history,” Mekha Rousseau, iDebate Rwanda volunteer coach, said. “They really think that there is that kind of connection that if we come here every year and talk to their students and show their students what we go through ... they really believe that our mission as iDebate and what we do as iDebate can really impact the way they lead, which I think is an amazing thing.” Director of Debate and Professor of Communication Abi Smith said Divisional Dean of Communication Sarah Stone Watt started the relationship with iDebate Rwanda four years ago. Smith continues the relationship. “It wasn’t my doing, but I am really happy to carry the torch and continue to build that relationship,” Smith said.
Throughout the week, iDebate Rwanda toured campus and visited classes. The team spoke in Professor Sarah Ballard’s Communication and Conflict class as well as in many of the Communication classes on campus. On Friday, Sept. 7, iDebate Rwanda collaborated with the Pepperdine debate team and the Pepperdine School of Public Policy on a lunch discussion about east African perspectives on the state of U.S. politics. Pepperdine opened the campus to the iDebate Rwanda team for four years now, this year being the first for Rousseau. “Pepperdine is the best,” Rousseau said. “We haven’t been anywhere else yet but I think I am loving it here.” For the debate on Friday night, there were two teams that consisted of one Pepperdine student and one iDebate Rwanda student. The teams argued for different sides on the
topic of convicted civility. During the debate, audience members asked questions live on Twitter, which ranged from specific questions, such as when convicted civility should be used, to larger questions about the role the U.S. courts play when it comes to convicted civility. Even though this debate was meant to spark heated conversation, participants said the main reason for this event was to get people to start thinking about their own opinions and how they fit into the world. “Whatever we are discussing, I hope that they form their own opinion on it,” freshman Luke Sides said. “That’s really the goal – to get them thinking about what we are talking about, this topic being convicted civility. We want them to think about their opinions and not only on convicted civility but on other things as well.” Students like Colette Faulkner, sophomore and Pepper-
dine debate team president, urged others to attend events similar to this one for the sake of learning rather than credit. “I feel like, in college, once we are done with classes for the day, we just want to shut our brains off, “ Faulkner said. “But I think it is really important to not do that and to be interested in attending these kinds of events and not just attending them out of getting convo credit but attending them because we are genuinely interested in having discussions and thinking.” Smith said she thinks debate should play a larger part in students’ lives. There are many ways to be involved in debate besides just competing on the debate team and she encourages students to talk with people who have views different from their own.
EM IL IE.SC HUTT@PEPPER DINE.EDU
s eptember 13, 2018
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S E M O C M O D G N KI Well Collective impacts Pepperdine with debut album release
Photos by Lawrence Liu Photos by Alexxis Causley Spreading God’s Love | The Well Collective played their debut album, “The Kingdom: A Modern Liturgy” on Sept. 6 at the Amphitheater. Hundreds of students, alumni and friends gathered to celebrate the release of the album and spread God’s love and worship through the music. maria Paulina arango s ta f f w r i t e r Pepperdine students gathered Thursday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. to celebrate The Well Collective’s debut album “The Kingdom: A Modern Liturgy.” The Collective is composed of Anneleise Graf, Wilson Howard, Alexa Shafer, Jacob Williams, Christy Klot and Taylor Begert. This group of musicians, including Pepperdine graduates, want to spread God’s love and encourage a worship culture through their music. The event took place at Pepperdine’s Amphitheater, which could barely accommodate the hundreds of students, faculty and alumni who came to support the six worship artists. The Well Collective’s “The Kingdom” started as a dream 18 months ago, according to the drummer, Alexa Shafer. The album was finally released on Spotify Thursday night. Dusty Breeding, campus youth minister, has seen the band grow and proudly introduced the band at the event. “The record launch has been years in the making, in that a group of musicians were raised
up together through the mentorship of our worship director, Taylor Begert, who has now gone on to accomplish incredible things,” Breeding wrote. “The record release is a tangible representation of the spiritual impact they’ve made through leading worship all across Los Angeles. It’s amazing to think that this collective of musicians was born out of The Well. I hope they always consider The Well to be their home.” Taylor Begert, founder of the band, guitarist and vocalist, referred to the album as a compilation of songs for moments of “orientation, disorientation and reorientation.” Begert further explained by stating: Orientation for when we feel blessed and think “God is awesome;” disorientation for when we are going through challenging experiences and don’t understand God’s plans; and reorientation for when we realize that God knew better all along and He’s just leading the way to salvation. The track “Beautiful Dance” is an example of reorientation as Wilson Howard, bass player and vocalist, talked to the crowd about how amazing God’s unconditional love is
when presenting the song to the audience. The song is about hope, love and forgiveness. The Collective’s passionate and energetic performance inspired the crowd to sing and dance along while raising their hands to praise the Lord. Faces of joy could be seen as the audience followed the loving and hopeful lyrics on the screen. Senior Gabrielle Storey explained how the Well Collective’s debut album helps her connect with God. “Last Thursday night was an evening that filled me with so much joy,” Storey wrote. “To see so many people who have so many different backgrounds and views coming together to praise the Lord is a scene that fills my heart with hope... Putting lyrics and notes together into songs that allows me to connect and praise the Lord in a way that words cannot always do.” The Well provided a space for the fans, students, friends and family who came to support the band. Pepperdine alumnus Tanner Wildason has attended The Well since his student days. “I was so pleased and moved to see such a large crowd com-
ing out to support some of our alumni doing what they do best: bringing people together to worship,” Wildason wrote. “It warmed my heart to see the classes beneath my own not only continuing to attend The Well but growing into to something bigger and better than it has ever been before. Waves don’t die.” The Well Collective is impacting congregations around the city of Los Angeles with their Church partnerships and is a representation of a generation of hope. Thursday’s event was a confirmation of this, according to
senior Avery Chidiach, a team member of the Well. “The Well has been such an integral part of my spiritual growth here at Pepperdine,” Chidiach said. “Being able to be a part of The Well Collective Album release on Thursday night reminded me of the amazing community that we have here ... God truly showed Himself that night not only through the music but through the incredible fellowship that gathered in the amphitheater.”
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Hallelujah | Both Pepperdine alumni and student musicians make up the worship band The Well Collective. The group began working on their album 18 months ago. The project has been a dream in the making for years and the fruits of their labor were realized in the Amphitheater on Thursday night.
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Photos Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures Photo courtesy of Marie Ravel Photo Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures TGIF| Locals and tourists alike gather in Venice to get a taste of Los Angeles’s finest food trucks. First Fridays happens every first Friday of the month on Abbot Kinney Boulevard and offers a vast array of food options, including Southern Soul, French, Vietnamese, Italian, Japanese, Greek and Mexi-
First Fridays brings new food to the table anastassia kostin life and ar ts assista n t When exams, homework, adult responsibilities and extracurriculars get too much for students, food with some close friends is the solution. Luckily at First Fridays, the options for what foods to choose are endless. Venice streets are lined with 20 to 30 trucks every first Friday of the month starting at 5 p.m. with food options including Thai, Southern Soul, French, Vietnamese, Italian, Latin, Japanese, Mexican, Greek, American and many more. The streets filled with vibrant nightlife Friday, Sept. 7, as people from all over Los Angeles flocked to get a taste of the unique and numerous fusion dishes, specialty foods and desserts. This year marked the 10year anniversary of the event. First Fridays began with the intention of supporting the local food truck businesses and to create a walkable community event to bring people of all ages together to bond over food. For those wanting to maximize their experience, there is always a map and a full list posted beforehand of food trucks attending. This year, local favorites include Belly Bombz for fries and wings and lobster sliders at Rollin’ Lobster. Senior Elijah Zoarski said he enjoys First Fridays as a way to start the weekend. Zoarski also commented on changes
he would like to see at future First Fridays. “My two favorite trucks are The Queso Truck and the one with boba [Cafe Vietnam],” Zoarski said. “If I had to change something I would try to make it more organized, possibly by ordering off an app or something along those lines. There’s people everywhere, and that’s the way it is, but sometimes it’s just too hectic.” Senior Paige Elvins attended First Fridays twice since freshman year and said she plans to continue coming back with friends. “I love the ambiance,” Elvins said. “There are so many people and it’s just really fun. I think my favorite food truck was the Mess Hall Canteen. Their veggie tater tots were out of this world!” Owners of the food trucks enjoy attending First Fridays almost as much as Pepperdine students. Marie Ravel founded Parisian restaurants, including the Black Flour Crepes food truck, and worked in the restaurant business for 15 years. “We have been working for six months with Black Flour,” Ravel said. “We do organic savory buckwheat crepes called ‘galettes’ in France and sweet traditional crepes. They are unique because buckwheat savory crepes are not known in America. Americans think of crepes with Nutella and strawberries, but they don’t understand that buckwheat crepes for French people are what cheeseburgers are to Americans.”
Ravel encouraged people to step out of their comfort zone when it comes to food. “You can always eat burgers and tacos at every corner of every street of LA, but for real French crepes, there’s only one truck in town,” said Ravel. For students who are new to First Fridays, Elvins offered advice. “Get there early so you can find parking and wear comfortable shoes,” Elvins said. Zoarski emphasizes planning ahead. “I would say try to go earlier or later because the trucks are usually there from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. so you can get in and out quickly,” Zoarski said. “Once you are there during busy hours you are going to have to wait at least 20 minutes for the trucks.” Parking is tough, so First Fridays has partnered with Lyft to provide rides to the event. The code ABBOTKINNEY provides riders with up to $10 off one ride if it is their first ride with Lyft. While there are food trucks lined up on Ocean Boulevard in Santa Monica on weekends or at Smorgasburg every Sunday in Downtown Los Angeles from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., First Fridays is special because of its once-a-month occurrence. Ravel reflected on what keeps her and her food truck coming back to First Fridays. “The crowd is always different,” Ravel said. “It’s certainly not a routine job, and we get to see the real face of Los Angeles.” NASTASSIA.KOSTIN@PEPPERDINE.EDU
Photo courtesy of Paige Elvins
Photo courtesy of Amy May
Photo courtesy of Marie Ravel
Meals on Wheels | Food trucks line up and offer their best creations, including greasy hamburgers, queso, puddings and lobster sliders. First Fridays began 10 years ago to build community and support the food truck business and is now a favorite event amongst Pepperdine students and locals alike.
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Photos Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures Photo by Maggie Davis The Twilight Zone | Twilight on the Pier brings ‘Latin Waves’ to the Santa Monica Pier on Sept. 5 as part of the theme of ‘Local Meets Global.’ Bands Sister Mantos and Quitapenas kicked off the free event with Latin music as attendees ate cultural dishes such as Peruvian tacos and mofongo.
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Twilight on the Pier heats up Santa Monica mag gie davis Staf f W r i te r
A slight ocean breeze filled the air on Santa Monica Pier as concert-goers swayed to a coastal-sounding electric guitar. A saxophonist leaned into a microphone and began to play, sparking cheers from the audience. “This is a sing-along,” said Oscar Santos, lead singer of Sister Mantos. “There are only four words: Planeta De El Amor.” Through this, the band Sister Mantos along with Quitapenas, kicked off the first night of Twilight on the Pier on Sept. 5. The rest of the night included artists such as Orquesta Akokán and Jarina De Marco, as well as cultural dishes such as Peruvian tacos and Puerto Rican mofongo, and artworks inspired by Latin culture. Each year, Twilight on the Pier has different themes.
This year, the festival occurs 6:30 p.m to 9:30 p.m. every Wednesday until Oct. 7 on the Santa Monica Pier. Twilight on the Pier is an annual event that is in its 34th year and, according to its website, welcomes eight million visitors a year. It transpires over the course of six weeks and includes dancing, games, interactive activities, live music and food trucks. This year both focuses on celebrating different cultures and provides an insight into the diversity of these cultures as well. The theme of Sept. 5 was Latin Waves. In the following weeks, the themes are Australia Rocks The Pier, Island Vibes, Eclectic Indie, Afro-Beat and R&B and South Asian Sounds. The focus on diversity hopes to give audiences insight to what different cultures of music has to offer and its impacts on local art-
ists, according to the website. “I feel extremely passionate about this theme because I think it is important to understand and be able to celebrate different cultures,” Pepperdine junior Angie Wurm said of the event. “Twilight at the Pier was a great event to allow people from all backgrounds and demographics [to] be able to come together and celebrate with one another.” While Twilight on the Pier has occurred in June in past years, this year the event begins in September and ends in October. This change allows for more Pepperdine students to experience this decades-old festival. This year, the bands are spread across three stages rather than one main stage after many city officials raised concerns over the previous year’s larger crowd. Twilight on the Pier has decided to incorporate an
‘art walk’ with muralists and various other artists lining the pier. In doing this, the festival’s website claims that it hopes to create a more immersive experience that extends beyond music. In an Instagram post, Santa Monica Pier Corporation Executive Director Negin Singh praised the changes made to the festival. “When I was hired in January, the series was very nearly canceled, due to mounting public safety and crowd control issues that became unsustainable for the city in recent years,” Singh wrote in her post. “Our team, many of whom are new, worked tirelessly ... it was such a good start, and it’s only going to get better. I am proud of what we accomplished, and can’t wait to see where this all goes.”
I feel extremely passionate about this theme because I think it is important to understand and be able to celebrate different cultures,
Angie Wurm, Junior
MAGGIE.DAVIS@PEPPERDINE.EDU
Photo courtesy of Visit Films Film Frenzy | Experimental film “The Bomb” screens at Malibu City Hall on Sept. 5 with a dicussion by filmmaker and investigative journalist Eric Schlosser. As part of the dicussion for the Malibu Library Speaker Series, Schlosser dicussed his findings and concerns about nuclear weaponry after the film.
Experimental film warns of nuclear destruction haidy n harvey l i f e and ar ts assista n t e dit or According to Eric Schlosser, nuclear war is still a global threat and everyone should be worried. On Wednesday, Sept. 5 the fiery red glow of the atomic bomb filled a small theater in Malibu City Hall. It was the work of Schlosser, an investigative journalist and filmmaker, who screened his experimental film “The Bomb” at City Hall as a part of the Malibu Library Speaker Series. The film, co-directed by Kevin Ford, Smriti Keshari and Schlosser, preceded an hour-long talk by Schlosser, who discussed his findings, concerns and passions about nuclear weaponry. His research can be found in his 2013 book “Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety.” “The nuclear threat right now is the biggest threat that we face,” Schlosser told the audience. Schlosser, who previously produced “Fast Food Nation” and “There Will Be Blood,” spent the past decade research-
ing the nuclear arms race. In his research, he discovered that maintaining nuclear weaponry is harder than some might like to believe. “We’re much better at creating them than we are at controlling them,” Schlosser said. “The Bomb” premiered at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival where it unfolded 360 degrees across screens surrounding the theater. At the premiere, the score was performed live by The Acid as audiences’ eyes fixated on the projected destruction. In 2017, the film screened in Oslo at the Nobel Peace Prize Awards Ceremony to commemorate The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, winning the Nobel Peace Prize. The film opens with footage of space, with Earth as a mere dot on the screen. Quickly, it cuts to an unnamed army. They march in mesmerizing unison. Thousands of moving bodies become one. The film jumps to different armies across the globe. The Acid’s ethereal music plays, emphasizing the pure force of the soldiers. The film goes on to show explosion after explosion, followed by mush-
room clouds and waves of sheer energy destroying everything in their path. The film is told in a non-linear order, contrasting humankind’s excited rush to build the atom bomb with the tragic consequences that followed. “We need to have a kind of humility about what sort of machines we invent,” Schlosser said. “Nuclear weapons are the most lethal machines ever invented.” Halfway through the film, mid-century American advertisements play, reassuring Americans that they’ll be safe in a nuclear attack if they keep a tidy home. The naive advertisements are followed by footage of a demolished Japan in the aftermath of two catastrophic atom bombs. “My biggest worry is the total lack of awareness and public debate and public discussion of this issue,” Schlosser said. “Because when the public is not involved in this issue, it means decisions of profound importance are being made in secret by a handful of policymakers. And these decisions will have existential importance to the rest of us.” Schlosser spent the past decade in-
terviewing nuclear weapons designers, government officials and soldiers. Over the years he collected numerous stories of close calls and near misses, accidents during routine procedures that nearly set off atomic bombs and demolished nearby cities. “Almost every single one of them that I spoke to was amazed, absolutely amazed, that the Cold War ended without cities being destroyed by nuclear weapons,” Schlosser said. In August, the state of California joined multiple American cities in endorsing a new U.N Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. “I’m now ten years into this subject, and I tell you honestly, I’m not depressed,” Schlosser said. “I don’t think we’re all doomed, I don’t think that a nuclear war is coming next week ... But I’m deeply, deeply concerned. And I think all of you should be, too. This is a man-made problem, and therefore it can be solved.”
HAIDYN.HARVEY@PEPPERDINE.EDU
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Photo by Gabrielle Norte
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Culture Shock| Pepperdine students attend the Inter-Club Council’s annual club fair, CultureFest on Wednesday, Sept. 6, in Mullin Town Square. At the event, students talked to club representatives from a diverse range of subjects from fraternaties to Model United Nations.
Students get to know clubs at CultureFest jam es mo ore Staf f W r i te r
Hungry students congregated in Mullin Town Square on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. for complimentary fajitas and cookies as part of the Inter-Club Council’s annual club fair, CultureFest. The fair is a chance for students to learn about Pepperdine’s clubs and cultural opportunities. After eating, students toured an array of tents decorated with flags, information flyers and giveaways. Club representatives from every walk of student life at Pepperdine ran the tents, from acting troupes to fraternities. According to Latino Student Association member junior José Alcazar, cultural organizations were especially popular this year. “We’ve been signing up a lot of new members,” Alcazar said. “This freshman class is actually a lot more diverse than previous freshman classes have been.”
Junior Adrian Manzo, another member of L.S.A., said that for him, CultureFest is an opportunity for inclusivity. “We’re open to everyone,” Manzo said. “People come up and they’re like ‘But I’m White, can I join?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, absolutely. That’s what we’re all about.’” Pepperdine Improv Troupe president, senior Evatt Salinger said he also values inclusivity, but not for those without the “funny bone.” A question that Salinger and his troupe repeatedly asked students was “Have you ever made someone laugh?” If the respondent said, “No,” the troupers burst into laughter and said, “Now you have,” and sent the student on their way with a doughnut and a PIT sticker. Perfecting the pitch is essential for attracting new members, according to Alpha Phi Alpha members senior Christian Morrison and junior Clinton Branch. A newer fraternity on campus, this was APA’s second year at the Fest. “We’re much
better adjusted this year,” Morrison said. “Last year we didn’t even know how to set up. We feel like people know us a lot better this year. We also know how to talk to them.” Some tents pitched community service. 10 Days, part of The Wells Project that raises awareness of the global water crisis, distributed stickers and lick-on tattoos to interested students. “Participants pledge to drink nothing but water for 10 days,” said junior Charlotte Wallace, a member of the organization. “Money that we would spend on Starbucks or soda or SunLife goes to Living Water International, a Christian non-profit. They train natives in these areas to build wells rather than people from the West, which is great because it’s much more sustainable.” Pepperdine Model U.N.’s pitch centered around cultural immersion through travel. Senior Morgan Bedford, a member of Model U.N., said her tent was particularly at-
tracting students who did Model U.N. in high school. Bedford, who didn’t participate in a Model U.N. club until college, said her club provides more than just competitions. “We’re trying to develop global citizens in public speaking and in writing,” Bedford said. One way they intend to do this is by traveling to global conferences in both China and New York later this year. The consensus from many club members and students was that the fair was a success. Students who were enticed to the fair by the food ended up getting to know Pepperdine and its clubs a bit better. “I was surprised by the amount of clubs,” said junior Tatum Rask, who was visiting the fair. “There’s such a wide range of clubs. It’s fun as a junior to see my friends getting involved on campus and learning what they are passionate about.” JAMES.MOORE@PEPPERDINE.EDU
There’s such a wide range of clubs. It’s fun as a junior to see my friends getting involved on campus and learning what they are passionate about.” Tatum rask, jUNIOR
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Men’s Golf hopes to continue last year’s winning streak kyle mccabe S Ta f f W r i t e r
Men’s Golf is starting the year strong after winning the West Coast Conference championship last season. This year, they have even larger goals in mind. The conference championship was the first for Men’s Golf since 2015, and it was not the team’s only accomplishment. Junior Josh McCarthy qualified for the NCAA Championship, junior Clay Feagler individually won the Prestige at PGA West and the WCC Championships, and senior Sahith Theegala became an All-American. The team won the Waves Challenge in addition to the WCC Championships. Head Coach Michael Beard said the team had four main goals: to win at least one tournament in the fall, to finish in the top four at every tournament, to repeat as WCC champions, and make it to the NCAA National Championship. “We want to win the national championship, but we have to get to match play first,” Beard said. To qualify for match play, the team has to place in the top five at their NCAA Regional tournament. The Waves placed eighth as a team at the Norman Regional last year, three points short of advancing to match play. This year, closing that gap is the team’s top priority. Accomplishing the team’s goals could prove more difficult this season with the absence of Theegala, who will redshirt this season due to a wrist injury and mild scoliosis. “[Theegala redshirting] was not something he planned on, or that we had planned on,” Beard said. Theegala played with his in-
jured wrist before, but the pain now demands his attention. “I think red-shirting really gives me an opportunity to not only better myself for the future, but also help some of the other guys out in trying to achieve their goals. These guys are like family and if there’s anything I can share with them or help them out with, I’ll do that,” Theegala wrote in an email. Without the All-American, the Waves look to their underclassmen to step up. Beard said the sophomores’ improvement and skills of the freshmen should be enough to counterbalance the loss of Theegala. “I actually think we’ll be just as good if not better,” Beard said. “It’s hard to tell. You know, on paper, it looks like we’ll be better. We’re actually deeper this year than we were last year.” Feagler knows that in the absence of Theegala, he will have a chance to step up and lead the team. “My role will be to just give advice and motivation to my teammates,” Feagler said. “My individual goals are to play in every event and play well and see where that lands me on the leaderboard. Our team goal is to have a consistent year, win conference again and give it a run at nationals.” Beard said the deep team wants to win more this year than they have in the past few years. “If we could get a win or two in the fall, that would be reaching our first goal, and then reevaluate for the spring,” Beard said. The Men’s Golf team starts their season at the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate Tournament in Albuquerque, NM, Sept. 28-29.
Hitting the Links | (Above, left) Head Coach Michael Beard looks on and junior Clay Feagler (right) reflects after taking a swing. (Below) Beard coaches sophomore Austin Murphy between strokes. The Men’s Golf team kicks their season off with the goal of winning another WCC Championship in 2019.
Photos courtesy of Jeff Golden
KY L E . MCCA B E @P E P P E RD I N E . E D U
Photos courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics Roll On, You Waves | (Left) Willie the Wave hypes up the crowd during the 2017-18 season; the Riptide cheers at a Women’s Volleyball game in Firestone
Riptide gears up for another year of pep aust in hal l staf f w r i ter For the 2018-2019 school year, the Pepperdine Riptide Rally Crew aims to have its most significant impact to date. Riptide is a student-led rally group focused on elevating the spirit of home games through organized cheering. They are led by Hilary Koenig who joined the Pepperdine Athletics staff in June of 2017. She works as the marketing and events manager for the Athletic Department and has made strides in establishing Riptide as a highlight of every home game. Here’s an indepth look at Riptide and some of the events that they have planned this year. Koenig explained that Riptide is more than just a student section. All members are accounted for in this hands-on organization and they take every game seriously. “It is our student-led cheering section at all Pepperdine home games. It’s fully student-run with all of our 19
leaders on staff. So when you’re at a game you’ll see anywhere from two to five rally crew leaders,” Koenig said. “They’re gonna be there to bring the energy, bring the hype, dance to the music and lead the full student section that we call Riptide.” One of those leaders is sophomore Aaron Barnhouse who enters his second year on staff and can’t wait for what Riptide has in store for this year. “I think this year is going to be very exciting because the teams themselves are making a large push to make a connection with Rally Crew and the crowds,” Barnhouse said. What Barnhouse is most excited for is Riptide’s new addition to Women’s Volleyball home games that has already been put to use during the home opener. “I’m also excited for the new ‘Splash Zone’ for Women’s Volleyball that has us right behind the baseline for games,” Barnhouse said. For the “regulars” at the sports games, it is difficult to
miss the level of pep and passion that Riptide brings. Sophomore Skiddy Payson saw firsthand at many home games last year. “Rally Crew really seemed to give energy to Pepperdine Athletics last year, especially at volleyball games,” Payson said. “Seeing all the rally crew members at every game I went to brightened my day and made it way more fun to watch.” A big eye-catcher at any home game is the orange jumpsuits that all student leaders wear. It’s a tradition that has been around since before Koenig arrived. “[The jumpsuits} were actually from before I started. The creators of Riptide wanted the participants to almost be ‘in character,’” Koenig added. “If you talk to any of the leaders, they love their jumpsuits. That is their uniform for the day and it’s game day for them too. It fits with the hats, wigs, ties, glasses and every sort of goofy thing you can put on.” Koenig mentioned that this
is a very important year for Riptide and unlike some of the years prior. “One of the biggest changes is with our marquee sport: basketball. The team is gonna be part of the next big event Blue and Orange Madness, a big event where we introduce our Men’s and Women’s Basketball team,” Koenig said. “We also have Won by One perform, the Homecoming Court and our Step Team. This is Athletics’ opportunity during Waves Weekend to celebrate Pepperdine.” Koenig loves to work closely with the students behind the scenes. As the student leaders go out and do something that they love every day, she said, it reminds her what her favorite aspect of Riptide is. “Whenever they bring their ideas and their eyes light up, it’s awesome how they get to follow through with it and really enjoy it,” Koenig said. “I love empowering them to do that.” Sophomore Riptide veteran Daniel Chier appreciates Rally
Crew for the sense of excitement it brings to Pepperdine’s campus. “Our undergraduate school is 3,300 strong, and yet I do believe with my truly amazing crew, we rival the school spirit of our rivals, who have [more than] 10,000 students,” Chier wrote in an email. The biggest takeaway from Riptide is that it’s more than just a student section or a pep crew. It’s a group of students who care about the other students showing spirit and they’re not afraid to show it. “If it’s your first game, Rally Crew will be there to give you a hug and welcome you to the family, and if it’s your 100th game they’ll welcome you back,” Koenig said. “We’re just excited to build this community within athletics and in the campus community as well.” Look for those bright orange jumpsuits at any home game this season as Riptide aims to extend its family every week. AUSTIN.HAL L @PEPPER DINE.EDU
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SPORTS
Photos courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics
Photos by Kaelin Mendez Just For Kicks | Redshirt senior forward Hailey Harbison winds up to boot the ball downfield from St. John’s senior midfielder Claudia Cagnina in Malibu on Sunday. After enduring three consecutive losses against USC, Indiana, and UCLA, the Waves bounced back to best the Red Storm in a 1-0 shutout.
Waves Soccer ends losing streak vs. St. John’s jac o b r esendiz staf f write r
Pepperdine Women’s Soccer bounced back from three consecutive losses to grind out a 1-0 victory against St. John’s University on Sept. 9. Junior Hailey Stenberg’s first half goal made the difference for the Waves in a game that saw 23 total shots and 10 shots on goal. The victory comes amidst a three game skid that saw Pepperdine outscored 10-1 against USC, Indiana and UCLA. “The season definitely didn’t get
started how we wanted it to,” Stenberg said. “But we’ve said, ‘let’s just take it one game at a time’ and we [approached] this as the [new] start to our season.” The Waves started hot early, dominating possession and outshooting the Red Storm 11-1 in the first half. They found a breakthrough in the 29th minute when senior midfielder Katy Byrne floated a cross in to Stenberg who punched the ball past the goalkeeper on her second touch. “We deserved to win today with the goal we got,” Head Coach Tim Ward
said. “We hit the bar two or three times, but what I like about it is that it wasn’t easy, it never is.” Although the Waves managed success early and often in the first half, the second half was a different story as the Red Storm nearly outshot the Waves and put two shots on frame that redshirt freshman goalkeeper Zoe Clevely saved. The style of the Waves attack shifted dramatically from between the two halves from a fast, free flowing pace to a slow, grit and grind attack that changed possession in the Red Storm’s
favor. “We’ve played three different systems this year, trying to find the magic formula,” Coach Ward said. “But I think we’ve finally settled in to a way of playing, that as the weeks go along, we’re gonna get better and better.” The Waves will look to continue to build off of Sunday’s solid performance, continuing their season, Friday, September 14, against San Diego State.
JAC OB.R ESENDIZ@PEPPER DINE.EDU
Coleman and Marco set to make splash in sophomore season Er ic a m ar tinez staf f w rit e r
Before Men’s Water Polo sophomores Coleman Carpenter and John Claude Marco were best friends, they were club rivals. Carpenter played at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, California where he set his school’s record for the most goals scored in a single season. Marco went to Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton, California, where he was named to the All-CIF Central Coast Section first team. “We started as opponents, so we knew each other through that, but that’s just how it is in water polo. It’s a small world,” Carpenter said. Carpenter is starting his second year playing center and redshirt freshman Marco is returning as a goalie. Acquainted through water polo club matches early on in both of their high school careers, they competed against each other before joining forces at the Olympic Development Program, a training program that focuses on both the technical and tactical components of water polo at a highly competitive level. The friendship between the two blossomed as they entered the Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool side-by-side, but extends beyond just being teammates. Carpenter and Marco began as freshmen roommates in Fifield,
and the chemistry that these two now have is a result of spending a lot of time with one another. “JC was my first roommate ever, so there is a special bond there aside from being a teammate,” Carpenter said. “Every night we would say goodnight to each other no matter what the situation was.” “Coleman has been there through thick and thin,” Marco said. “Freshman year was a rollercoaster of emotions. I definitely went through a lot of downfalls. There were days when I was just sad lying in bed and Coleman would ask me if I wanted to go to the cafeteria. It was the sweetest thing ever ... I love him so much more every day.” The Pepperdine Men’s Water Polo team kicks off this year with a No. 8 national ranking for the preseason. With nine new recruits added to the roster, impact players Carpenter and Marco will set good examples, having the knowledge of how the team works with a year of experience under their belt. “It’s a culture that’s on our team that is definitely different than any other team at this school or honestly any team I’ve ever been a part of,” Carpenter said. “We have these pillars that our team is based on: excellence, respect, discipline, commitment, grit and family. After being here for a year, you can really see the
family aspect of our team, and the biggest thing for me is to pass that culture to the freshmen.” Carpenter was picked to the GCC All-Freshman team last year, played 21 games and scored nine goals. Marco, who redshirted his first season, is prepared to step up and help lead the team. As returning sophomores, both Marco and Carpenter are expected to be standout players. “Both of them as players are extremely hard workers. Coleman as a center really takes part in the control of the offense, and JC as a goalie really has a key position for the team,” Associate Head Coach Merrill Moses said. Their brotherly bond out of the pool leads to a strong sense of support for each other’s accomplishments in the pool. “When Coleman is playing and he does something well, it gets me super hyped up for him,” Marco said. “It’s like watching a family member score.” The pairs bond sets the tone for an inclusive and winning atmosphere for the team as a whole. “We all love each other like brothers because we do everything for the culture,” Carpenter said. Keep an eye out for Pepperdine’s Men’s Water Polo team as they play home on Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. against University of California, Santa Barbara.
E R IC A .MA R TINE Z@P E P P E R DINE.EDU
Photos Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics
Super Stache Bros | Sophomore Carpenter (above) will play center for the Waves, while redshirt freshman Marco (below) will play goalie.
Photos courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics