Pepperdine Graphic 9-27-18

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Volume xLVIIi, Issue 5 september 27, 2018

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G NE GRAPH I D R IC E P

freshmen elect their SGA representatives For more, see a3

calif. names surfing the state sport

For more, see a4

ip dean to step Down kay iu w o ng as si stant new s e dit or

Charles Hall will be stepping down from his role as dean of International Programs after the 2018-2019 school year.

Hall will take a one-year sabbatical leave and return the following year as an associate professor of Sociology for Seaver College.

Hall has served as dean of International Programs since 2005. Over the past 14 years, Hall oversaw the creation of the Shanghai and Lausanne programs, and he led International Programs to being ranked No. 1 in the nation for the past three years by the Institute of International Education.

He most recently launched the Global Fellows Program to provide students with experiences and courses that will shape them into more global-

ly minded individuals. To be a Global Fellow, students must complete an academic year in one of Pepperdine’s overseas programs and complete one semester in the Washington D.C. program where they will intern with an organization that has an international scope.

Prior to serving as Pepperdine’s dean of International

Programs, Hall was a full-time sociology professor at Cal Lutheran University. Hall said he is ecstatic to be back in the classroom.

“I turned 60 years old last week, and whenever you hit those milestones in life, you ask yourself what do you want to do for the next 10 years, and I think when I really asked myself ‘what do I miss?’ I miss the classroom,” Hall said.

Hall said he is devoting his sabbatical leave during the 2019–2020 academic year to getting back into the field of sociology.

Although he does not know which sociology classes he will teach, Hall said he looks forward to the daily routine of interacting with students.

“When you’re in the IP dean role, you do not have much connection with students,” Hall said. “You do stuff that affects students, but you don’t

have the day-to-day, wonderful encounters in the classroom when you help mentor, help educate and sit in dialogue with students.”

Hall said his favorite memories from serving as dean include starting the Lausanne program in 2007 and starting the Shanghai program in 2008.

“I really enjoyed looking at the possibilities of opening Pepperdine to China because I knew it was a culture that we needed to understand,” Hall said.

Senior Brianna Beiler, who serves as the Global Fellow Intern for the office of International Programs, said she considers Hall one of the most influential mentors she has had during her time at Pepperdine.

“He is the epitome of civility, encouragement and strength to me,” Beiler said. “His

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Law school reveals renovations For more, see a5

pepp tennis hosts oracle/ita masters For more, see b6

SANTA MONICA COLLEGE is coming TO TOWN al ly ar mstrong staf f write r Santa Monica College recently received approval to start construction on their 27,500 square foot satellite campus in Malibu. At the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Sept. 21, elected officials such as Malibu Mayor Rick Mullen, LA County District 3 Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and Santa Monica Board of Trustees Chair Barry Snell spoke publicly about the project and dug shovels into the site to signify the start of construction.

The project has been in development since the early 2000s and the Board of Trustees has now signed a contract to move forward with construction according to Shari Davis, co-director of the Public Policy Institute at SMC. The project, located in the Malibu Civic Center, will be finished by the end of 2021 and open to students in 2022.

“SMC, along with our partners, the County of Los Angeles and the City of Malibu, consider sustainability one of our highest priorities,” Davis wrote in an email. “The SMC Malibu campus and Sheriff’s substation project reflects this emphasis in the design of the building, which is expected to be LEED certified, as well as in SMC’s investment in Malibu’s clean water infrastructure and the attention to landscaping and lighting that are environmentally friendly.”

Features of the building such as drought-tolerant landscaping and a green roof will help preserve water and energy. The building’s LEED certification implies that it will meet certain environmental preservation standards and goals, such as lowering CO2 omissions. Davis said this new campus is the best solution to serving the immediate

th is we e k i n SGA the waves report

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Courtesy of Santa Monica College Studying Away | Renderings of Santa Monica College’s satellite Malibu campus show its modern design amidst the Malibu landscape. The project will finish late 2021 and the campus will open for classes in 2022. needs of the Malibu community in a “beautiful building that meets sustainability goals.”

Malibu is in the same school district as Santa Monica schools. Santa Monica College has previously offered limited classes to local residents at the Malibu Senior Center and Webster Elementary school, Davis said. The location for the campus at the Malibu Civic Center was chosen by the City of Malibu and Malibu Public Facilities Authority to replace a series of abandoned buildings.

The college needed a variety of approvals to move forward with construc-

A“State of SGA” town hall was discussed as an opportunity for students to meet their class representatives and express student concerns.

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tion, Davis said. In 2016, the matter passed from the Board of Trustees to the Planning Commission and finally to City Council.

“This was no small undertaking,” Santa Monica College Superintendent Kathryn E. Jeffrey said. “[Malibu is] the most inspiring educational setting in the state.”

Jeffrey emphasized the campus’ focus on clean water and public safety, as there will be a waste water filtering facility and Sheriff’s substation on campus.

Sheriff Jim McDonnell said this ad-

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SGA discussed the possibility of adding bylaws to the SGA constitution that clarify certain processes and procedures.

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dition will get rid of the 22-mile round trip drive for police from the nearest Agoura Hills Station to Malibu. It is also the first time since the 1990s that Malibu will have an active local station.

With the project plans set into motion, Santa Monica College is now preparing to welcome students and other members of the Malibu community to this site in the coming years. Scheduling for the six classrooms is not decided, but Davis said courses will be offered for a variety of students, including an Emeritus program and dual enrollment.

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SGA plans on hosting a forum with university administration to explain what the new Good Samaritan Policy entails.

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P E P P E R DIN E GR A P H IC M E DIA | N E W S | SE P T E MB E R 27 , 20 1 8

Touching My Tongue To My Nose

kaelin mendez photo editor During ice-breakers, when people ask if anyone has a special skill or ability, I always forget that I can touch my tongue to my nose.

It’s something I wish I remembered more often.

Too often I say things that I wish I could take back. Sometimes, I don’t think before I talk. I’m rash in my words. It’s too easy to be ignorant and not conscientious about how the words I speak impact the people hearing them. I forget the power of my tongue.

I was in geometry class when I realized I could touch my tongue to my nose. I was sitting in class, bored most likely, when I got the urge to do so. I knew my aunt could do it, so I wanted to see if I had the same weird ability as well. As I came to find out, I did. My teacher stopped her lesson to tell me to put my tongue back into my mouth.

Most of the time, however, I don’t have someone there to tell me to pull my tongue back into my mouth, to stop me from uttering something that comes out the wrong way or is unintentionally rude. I need to remember, when I feel my tongue coming out of my mouth, to stop myself. At those times when thought is needed but words are not, I have to remember instead to touch my tongue up to my nose.

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

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09/18/18 12:05 p.m.

Crimes: Possession of a Weapon on Campus Location: George Page Apartments

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Drescher (North)

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09/19/18 12:31 p.m.

Crimes: Fire/Hazards - Gas Leak, Outside Location: Ann Peppers House 09/20/18 12:35 p.m.

Crimes: Alcohol Related/ Non-Criminal - Possession of Alcohol on Campus Location: Facilities Services 09/20/18 5:58 p.m.

Crimes: Alcohol Related/ Non-Criminal - Possession of Alcohol on Campus Location: Drescher Apartments

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09/22/18 11:20 a.m.

Crimes: Traffic Related Hit and Run, Non-Injury Accident Location: John Tyler Drive

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Alumni field (South)

UPCOMING EVENTS THIS SEMESTER What: N o n pro fit & gover nme n t c a re e r fair when: 10 / 23 Wher e: fire s ide r oom

Wh at: lectur e - heidi har dt: “gender mainstr eaming in inter national or ganiz iations” Wh e N: 10/24 Wh e re : payson libr ary, sur fboar d r oom

What: How the gr eat b ooks can enr ich your sp i ri t u al life (and how you c an s t i l l be a par t of gr eat b ooks ! ) Whe N : 10/24 Whe re : elkins audi t ori u m

W hat: women’s vol l ey b al l vs. s anta c l ara W he N: 1 0/ 2 5 W he r e : f i res t one f i el dhou s e

W hat: p ep p erdi ne c hamb er c hoi r W he N: 1 0/ 2 6 W he r e : wei s man mu s eu m

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

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What: celebration chapel When: 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Where: amphitheater What: chinese warriors of peking When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: smothers theatre What: fa llin g When: 7:30 p.m.

Wher e: Lin dh u r st Theatre

TUES.

Wh at: spanish chapeL Wh e n: 10:10 a.M. Wh e re : stauffer chapel

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Wh at: ger man chap el Wh e n: 10 a.m.

Wh e re : stauffer c hap el Wh at: ar abic cha p el Wh e n: 2:30 p.m.

Wh e re : plc 104 Wh at: Italian chap el Wh e n: 3 p.m.

Wh e re : stauffer c hap el

WEDS. 3

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

W he r e : f i res t one f i el dhou s e W hat: C hi nes e c hap el W he n: noon W he r e : c c b 3 4 0

THURS. 4

W hat: J es u s i n t he b arri o: f ol l owi ng a s avi or f rom t he marg i n of s oc i et y ?

W he n: 6 p. m.

W he r e : F i res i de room W hat: women’s vol l ey b al l vs. pac i f i c W he n: 7 p. m.

W he r e : f i res t one f i el dhou s e

KAELIN.MENDEZ@PEPPERDINE.EDU

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SE P T E M B E R 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 | N E W S | P E P P E R DINE G RA P H I C ME D I A

Introducing the freshmen SGA representatives ro wa n t o k e s ta ff w r ite r

DEAN: Hall returns to teaching F RO M A1

Courtesy of Eli Sumpter

Eli Sumpter, president

Theater major Eli Sumpter said he experienced constant bullying and depression throughout middle school. Although it was a painful time, he said it helped shape him into the person he is today.

“After enduring bullying in middle school, I modeled myself after the people who helped me out of depression and decided that I would be someone who support kids who felt like outsiders,” Sumpter wrote.

For Sumpter, the first step toward accomplishing this was getting involved in his high school. Immediately, Sumpter said he realized that he was a natural leader.

“I am passionate about leadership, but I realized that I was also good at it,” Sumpter said.

Sumpter said he was drawn to the position of president after being president of his soph-

omore class in high school.

Also, during NSO, one of Sumpter’s suitemates proposed that he run for class president.

“I thought how awesome it would be to lead a class full of kids who are so genuine,” Sumpter said.

Sumpter said he ran on a platform of promoting equity and wellbeing for all. As a first-generation student, Sumpter said he hopes to help generate more resources on campus for students like him.

After listening to the concerns of his peers, Sumpter said he would like to install a spice cabinet in the HAWC and Waves Cafe and plan activities that would better utilize Pepperdine’s facilities. Some of these activities included nighttime pool mixers twice a month.

Courtesy of Natalia Escobedo

Natalia Escobedo, senator

With her experience in high school as an acting teacher and director, Natalia Escobedo said she knew she was always meant to hold a leadership position. Even though she was not involved in the student government of her high school, Escobedo is interested in politics. As a Theater major, Escobedo views theater as an outlet for political activism, but after experiencing a life-changing event, she decided to actively participate.

“I knew I needed to increase my political participation, I just needed a reminder of how importance this was,” Escobedo said.

That life-changing moment was meeting Former Justice Anthony Kennedy at the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, an annual four day meeting of federal judges to discuss improving the courts. A select group of high schoolers compete in a video and

essay contest to present at the conference. Escobedo said after she discussed her video on the 13th Amendment and what it means to students, she had a conversation with Kennedy about the ever-increasing need for youth involvement in civics.

“I knew the next step would be running for office,” Escobedo said.

Upon her arrival at Pepperdine, Escobedo said she was startled by the lack of Latinx representation on campus. At that moment, Escobedo said she knew that she needed to be the voice of the smaller populations on campus and that she could achieve that through running for Senate.

Her slogan, “equity beyond equality,” encapsulates this message as equality seeks uniformity, while equity seeks harmony between those who are different, Escobedo said.

stable, constant presence is hard to come by, and it makes me thankful that I got to work with him and learn from him during my time here at Pepperdine.”

Michael Feltner, dean of Seaver College, said Hall has greatly improved the quality of IP’s education programs.

“There’s a reason why International Programs is viewed as one of the most positive experiences for students,” Feltner said. “A large part of that has to with programs Charles has added and enriched. I think it’s through the people he’s hired, and it’s ultimately a result of his leadership.”

Feltner said he especially values Hall’s ability to lead in moments of crisis.

“He has poured himself into each of those situations and helped really bring a sense of wisdom, a sense of calmness in terms of managing toward an effective solution,” Feltner said.

Feltner said Hall served as International Programs’ second dean. The first dean of International Programs was Williams Phillips, who is currently an emeritus professor of physics for the university.

Pepperdine will begin a national search for Hall’s successor this fall.

K AYIU.W ONG@PEPPER DINE.EDU

SMC: Work begins on Malibu campus F RO M A1

Courtesy of Chase Johnson

Chase Johnson, senator After having such positive results from his time on his high school’s SGA, Chase Johnson said he knew student government would be an important part of his freshman year at Pepperdine.

Johnson said his high school’s SGA was responsible for teaching him about effective communication and planning creative and successful events. Johnson saw the transformative role that he and his fellow students had on his high school’s SGA and now hopes to replicate those positive results at Pepperdine.

“The position of president has a nice ring to it,” Johnson said. “[But] the responsible decision would be to run for Sen-

ate to ensure that I would get an opportunity to serve my peers.”

Johnson said being on the Senate will prepare him for a servant leadership position later on.

“I want to use the position to empower my peers to have the best experience possible at Pepperdine,” Johnson said.

To accomplish this, Johnson said he proposes to add a beach shuttle and extend library hours on weekends.

“I look forward to growing in the Pepperdine community and hope to continue to serve in the years to come,” Johnson said.

Courtesy of Jerry Calderon

Jerry Calderon, senator Psychology pre-med major Jerry Calderon said he grew up with an “introverted, closed mindset.” After moving schools right before high school, Calderon was not interested in making friends.

While serving Thanksgiving meals at a community outreach, Calderon said his perception of life changed after meeting a young homeless girl.

“There is no point in living a life that only serves yourself when you could be serving the community and helping others,” Calderon said.

From that moment on, Calderon said he began seeking out leadership positions that benefited minorities.

Calderon said he ran for Sen-

ate because he believes it is a position that is close to the people. Calderon said his proposals revolve around listening to the concerns of students.

For example, Calderon proposed increasing the number of water dispensaries on campus and in residence halls and install paper towel dispensaries in the residence hall bathrooms.

“I see myself as a platform for any freshman concerns and I hope to be an active spokesperson in meetings and on campus,” Calderon said.

R OWAN.TOK E@PEPPER DINE.EDU

“[Students] will have access to SMC even before they graduate high school,” Malibu Mayor Rick Mullen said.

Students will interact with the latest technology and have space for extracurriculars like yoga and art. Science classes will also get the opportunity to explore the ecologically diverse surroundings in nearby Legacy Park and along the Malibu coastline.

Some individuals have voiced concerns over the campus being placed in such close proximity to the Malibu Farmers Market and Pepperdine University.

“I feel like it’s a positive thing, but I’m thinking location-wise, they call it Santa Monica College, so maybe [put it] somewhere a little bit further from this campus [Pepperdine] because this is our space,” freshman Fiona Bustamente said. “[I think they should] make it a little more spread out because this is a huge campus already in itself and it might compromise our university in a way.”

Nonetheless, the idea of an added community college in Malibu providing accessible higher education is well-received.

“I think it would be beneficial,” sophomore Max Bowman said. “Outside of Pepperdine, there’s really no other institutions in the area, so for children to be able to get education and people to serve them in jobs is beneficial.”

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P E P P E R DIN E GR A P H IC M E DIA | N E W S | SE P T E MB E R 27 , 20 1 8

Surf’s Up: Surfing named CA’s state sport c hanna st einmetz s o c ial m edi a m anage r

Barefooted and surfboard in hand, California residents show state pride by riding the waves.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1782 on Aug. 20, officially declaring surfing as California’s state sport. The bill advocates for surfing culture to take a national and global leadership role in promoting sustainability, while also acknowledging surfing as iconic to California’s culture.

Malibu District Representative and surfer Jeremy Wolf, who works for the bill’s co-author, Senator Henry Stern, said bringing attention to surfing as the state sport will hopefully increase environmental awareness.

“When you’re surfing, you’re intimately in the ocean,” Wolf said. “You’re intimately in the environment. When you’re out there and you see plastic, trash and cigarette butts, it’s very disturbing, and it disrupts the surf environment.”

Three-time national surf champion and Pepperdine senior Cayla Moore agreed that surfing coincides with environmental and ocean protection.

“I think from a political standpoint, there is more push for environmental change due to the fact there is the backing of our state sport behind it,” Moore said. “Being

that surfing represents our state sport, we need to protect the oceans and our beautiful coastline, or it would contradict.”

Pepperdine surfing instructor and lifeguard Joe Rickabaugh said he was skeptical if the bill would make any significant change on how people treat the beaches.

“I’ve been working as a lifeguard for three years, and I have seen how people treat the beaches,” Rickabaugh said. “Even at pristine beaches in Malibu, people will throw trash and plastic on the beach and not think twice about it. It’s sad, but it’s true.”

Alongside promoting ocean preservation, the bill acknowledged surfing as “an iconic California sport” and mentioned Malibu as the home to a number of world-famous surf breaks. Both the bill and Wolf accredited Hawaiians with creating surfing and bringing it to California, but Wolf said the sport became world famous through Hollywood.

“The surf culture is super famous, and California personifies that,” Wolf said. “When people think of surfing, they think of California and specifically Malibu. It shows the world that California takes surfing very serious as both a past time and identity.”

City of Malibu Councilman Skylar Peak also mentioned surfing’s influence in Malibu’s culture.

Photo Courtesy of Jeremy Wolf Hang Ten | A surfer rides the waves recently in Malibu. Gov. Jerry Brown declared surfing as the state’s official sport last month. The bill also advocates for surfing culture to promote sustainability.

“Surfing and Malibu have gone hand in hand in popular culture since the 1950s,” Peak wrote in an email statement. “While movies like ‘Gidget’ made surfing more popular than ever, the wave at Surfrider Beach, referred to by surfers as ‘First Point,’ ‘Da Bu,’ or simply ‘Malibu,’ is one of the best surfing waves on the California coastline. We are lucky to have this asset in our community.”

Wolf said his office is using the momentum and excitement around surfing to get funding for programs that bring inner-city kids out to surf.

Pepperdine Law hosts annual Diversity Week JUDIT H- DALY BRISTER-KNABE NEW S ASSISTAN T Pepperdine Law School advocated and supported their heterogeneous student body last week with their annual Diversity Week. This consists of three consecutive days with an event on each day meant to honor a wide array of cultures: Global Village Day, Open Conversation and an interfaith diversity panel.

The week began Tuesday Sept. 18 with Global Village Day, a celebration of the diversity represented at the Law School through food, music and fashion, according to the Pepperdine Law Surf Report. Attendees of the event hosted and browsed tables representing cultures from Texas to India.

“It’s such a fun event to see all these students show up from China, from New Mexico, from all places just celebrating their background, their past and their heritage through food and clothing,” Brenna Stanberry, executive assistant to the associate dean for administration, said.

Global Village Day gave regions, states and countries a platform to shine. Represented locations included South Africa, China, Texas, the American South, and California, Dean of Students and Professor of Law Naomi Goodno, said.

“Our hope is that even if you’re born and bred in California, you bring something diverse to the table,” Goodno said. “We can celebrate all the different types of diversity, whether it’s where you’re from originally, what your background is [or] where you want to travel.”

Global Village Day on Sept. 18 was an opportunity for different cultures to educate one another, Kathleen Horton, administrator and event coordinator in the Career Development Office, said.

“It was cool to go around and see all the different cultures and people dressed in garb from all these [diverse] cultures,” Horton said. “It was pretty enlightening. I learned a lot.”

The second day of Diversity Week, held on Wednesday Sept. 19, was Open Conversation, a space for organic discourse on pressing issues of our day, according to Surf Report. “[Open Conversation] is basically a room for students to come, and it’s moderated by various faculty members,” Goodno said. “They talk about a current event. The topic this year was about the Nike ad.”

There was also discussion of the Black Lives Matter movement and the controversy surrounding the refusal of many NFL players to kneel during the National Anthem in protest of police brutality, Goodno said.

To close Diversity Week, students attended an Interfaith Diversity Council Panel Sept. 20.

This year, Professors Gregory Ogden of administrative law, Ahmed Taha of civil procedure, Victoria Schwartz of intellectual property law and Sukhsimranjit Singh of dispute resolution served as panelists, according to Surf Report.

Sara Barton, university chaplain, moderated the panel. It was a platform for students and faculty to inquire into and learn about other faith systems.

“Faculty panel members from all different faiths, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism, [spoke] about their personal faith backgrounds and how their respective faiths inform their engagement at Pepperdine,” according to Surf Report.

Diversity week is a popular event and is expected to continue for many years, Goodno said.

J U D I T H . B RI S T E R- KN A B E @P E P P E RD I N E . E D U

As the unofficial “chief of surf,” Wolf organizes surf programs such as Senator Stern’s Surf Summit. The event brings kids from inner-city communities to Malibu, and instructors teach them how to surf.

“Surfing is primarily a white upper-class sport and we want to change that,” Wolf said. “We have done the Surf Summit for the past two years, and it’s been a great success. We feel that by bringing these kids to the ocean and giving them an opportunity to surf, it creates another generation of environmentalists who care about

the ocean.”

Getting on a board at first can be nerve wracking, especially for those who have not grown up with the ocean in their backyard. Indiana-native and Pepperdine junior Megan Buckley was introduced to surfing this semester when she enrolled in the university’s surfing course with Rickabaugh.

Buckley said at the start, surfing was intimidating.

“They warn you about all the things that can go wrong, riptides and boards getting out of your control, and it made me a bit nervous,” Buckley said.

“But now that I am a few

weeks in, it’s a lot of fun and exciting to get into the water.”

Moore, who has been riding the waves since she was two, encouraged all those who have not yet experienced surfing to push worries aside and give the sport a chance.

“Never let fear stop you from trying something new,” Moore said. “It may be scary at first but the feeling you get being on a wave is worth it all. From my experience, I have always been happy when trying out something new and pushing myself out of my comfort zone.”

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COME AS YOU ART

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HALLOWEEN PARTY weisman museum monday, oct. 29 | 7–9 PM

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P E P P E R DIN E GR A P H IC M E DIA | N E W S | SE P T E MB E R 27 , 20 1 8

Law school finishes renovations Makena Huey Staf f W r i ter

The recent renovation of Pepperdine School of Law’s auditorium and atrium is bringing the student community closer together than ever before.

The School of Law recently unveiled its completed renovation project.

The intentionality behind every change made to the atrium and auditorium ultimately contributes to the creation of an environment that will not only encourage academic growth but also the growth of lifelong relationships, said Austin Oakes, executive director of Planning Operations and Construction.

“It has made law students and our community more close, more interactive with each other, and I think it brought us all back together and made us stronger,” said Ava Jahanvash, a third-year law student and president of the Student Bar Association.

Determining a design This $11 million enterprise, which began on May 22, 2017 and lasted for 16 months, is part of the Pepperdine Campus Life Project — an initiative to invest in the 21st century student over the next few years.

Prior to the construction, School of Law students had the opportunity to participate in a survey in which they expressed the need for a cohesive

space functional for both studying and socializing, Oakes said.

In addition to upgrading the infrastructure of the Lon V. Smith Atrium, the main entrance and hall also underwent cosmetic upgrades that will promote student interaction, Oakes said. The addition of the Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation Grand Staircase connects the first and second floors, contributing to the project’s overall goal of creating a cohesive space for students that is conducive to both personal and professional growth.

The Henry J. and Gloria Caruso Auditorium now includes new furniture, advanced audio-visual systems, numerous Wi-Fi access points, video equipment to record lectures, and power and USB outlets for each student, all of which improves the quality of teaching and learning, Oakes said.

“Every campus is very unique, so when we respond with a design, we need to keep in mind the school’s mission and goals,” said Martha Baal, the principal studio leader in national higher education design at Harley Ellis Devereaux. “We really enjoyed working with Pepperdine because … they emphasize the mentor relationship between students and faculty, and that really resonated with us as architects.”

Since Pepperdine’s goal was to create a sense of community and promote

student success, it was important that the design was as flexible as possible, Ball said. As a result, none of the furnishings are fixed to the floor, so the multi-purpose space can be easily transformed for different occasions. Additionally, the implementation of new movable partitions makes it possible to divide some classrooms into three smaller sections. This mobility enables students to be more focused during lectures, Marisa Martin, a first-year law student, said.

making decisions about what they are going to spend time doing and obviously your life situation circumstance is a big factor that plays into that,” Adams said.

ularity of internships for Pepperdine students and for college students everywhere is clear, it is not always the most practical option for students who depend on earning money to pay for their university lifestyles, said junior Amanda Fricker.

Fricker said acquiring an internship is difficult because she depends on her extra time in the summer to work and make the money she needs for the school year.

“A lot of the internships I found are unpaid, so having the internship will take away a lot of hours that I could be getting, which just makes it hard financially,” Fricker said.

More than 70 percent of students need to work in college to lighten the burden of debt, according to a Oct. 2015 article by CNBC on a Georgetown University study. Some Pepperdine students are facing the same problem of choosing between funds and experiences essential to their future.

“A lot of people I know did jobs over internships because they needed the money, so it really depends on the student’s situation,” Lauren Hankins, a 2018 alumna, said.

Creating a community Students believe that this is so much more than just a renovation. Having an updated, open space where students can comfortably socialize together has truly enhanced the campus’ sense of community, Jahanvash and Martin said.

“Pepperdine is a home for me, my family and this team, and for us as graduates and staff that care about this space,” Oakes said. “There is nothing more fun than giving back to this community.”

The most frequently-heard feedback from students is that the building feels alive again and feels like home, Oakes said. Students are now spending much more time on campus, allowing students the opportunity to foster lifelong relationships that serve them both personally and professionally.

Sam Finnegan | Staff Photographer Fresh Look | Pepperdine School of Law underwent renovations last year beginning in May. The school was renovated to provide a cohesive study space for students and foster community within the graduate program.

“It’s been beneficial for getting people to mingle more and not feel like the atrium is just a passthrough. It’s actually a place we want to go and plan to go,” Martin said.

The most significant impact of the renovation has been the improvement of student organizations, Jahanvash said. Before the renovation, there was not a suitable space dedicated specifically to community events.

Since the school year started, however, clubs and organizations are thriving, Jahanvash and Martin said. There are now meetings, luncheons, forums, panel discussions and other events in the atrium almost every day, and the number of guest speakers presenting on campus has increased since the renovation.

Law students agree that what makes Pepperdine unique is that it cares

about its students as individuals and is constantly striving to improve their environment and experience.

“I really appreciate that the school cared, that we had donors who were willing to give and that we had people to support students,” Jahanvash said.

Pepperdine students can find that either aid with their internship skills, or that they can incorporate into their daily lives to save time.

“Maybe you are a notetaker in class ... maybe you are an RA so you get your room and board covered,” Adams said. “So you are working, you’re earning but you are doing something you would be doing anyway.”

In order to allow every Pepperdine student to have equal internship opportunities, the Career Center and the Dean’s Office offer scholarships that make these invaluable experiences possible

and practical for students in all different situations.

“Because we provide internship scholarships for students that cover mileage and travel for students who are interning and have longer commutes, we don’t hear very often that students aren’t interning because of the financial implication,” Adams said.

M AK ENA.HUEY@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Pepp seeks to help unpaid interns J ill ian Jo hnso n Staf f W r i ter Pepperdine students balance unpaid internships with necessity of an income The key to landing the job of your dreams now comes at more of a cost than just a college degree.

Financially strapped college students not only have to pay the price of tuition, but future employers also expect them to endure the costs of unpaid internships for their resumes.

College students who participated in multiple internships during their undergraduate education have a much higher chance at securing a job within six months of graduation, according to The Center of Career Development and Talent Acquisition.

While internships are crucial to the college experience and on the to-do lists of many Pepperdine students, about one-third of the internships that are offered to Pepperdine students are unpaid, according to the Pepperdine Career Center’s website.

Despite this, Amy Adams, executive director of the Career Center, said both Pepperdine students and the Career Center are making adjustments and increasing their involvement to make access to these unpaid, but necessary, internships more practical.

“Students are always

Prevalence of student internships at Pepperdine

A large majority of Pepperdine students are involved in two-to-three internships throughout their undergraduate experience in an attempt to keep up with the tough competition of today’s job market, Adams said.

“Between 75 to 80 percent of students will do one or more internships while they are at Pepperdine, so it is a big part of Pepperdine’s culture,” Adams said.

In addition to the necessity of these opportunities to create impressive resumes, Adams said the university advocates for student internships because of the invaluable real-world experiences that they teach.

“Internships really open the door into the world or work and life outside of Pepperdine,” Adams said. “It gives you the chance for different career options and pathways, to build your professional connections in that context and learn the business.”

Financial struggle of unpaid internships

Although the prevalence and increasing pop-

How Pepperdine students are overcoming the struggle

There are some students at Pepperdine that have found a way around having to sacrifice earn-

ing the funds they need to avoid college debt in exchange for resume-building experiences. These students choose to juggle both.

Sophomore Madison Nichols said she worked part-time at a retail store while also participating in an unpaid internship for the fashion company Michael Kors because she still needed to make money for school while interning.

Balancing both a job and an internship taught Nichols job skills that will stick with her in the future, Nichols said.

“Being able to find a balance teaches you a lot more about yourself and how you can go about the rest of your life because you have to prioritize things,” Nichols said. “That’s how I was able to work with different departments because they got to know my skill set and realized that I wasn’t just interested and knowledgeable about one aspect.”

Adams said the students who are most successful in their careers after graduation are typically those who committed to both jobs and internships.

How the Career Center is helping

Since working a parttime job while having an internship can be overwhelming for busy college students, Adams said there are many jobs

JIL L IAN.JOHNSON@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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PERSPECTIVES STAFF LIST

Caitlin Roark | Art Editor

STAFF EDITORIAL Open Letter to new Dean of International Programs

When new students arrive at Pepperdine, it seems that they are instantly bombarded with questions of where they want to go abroad.

The pressure to study overseas seems to be evident from the fact that Pepperdine is ranked as the No. 1 university in the nation for the highest percentage of study abroad participation three years in a row, according to the International Programs website.

Because two-thirds of Pepperdine students participate in a study abroad program, the International Programs Office highly impacts the Pepperdine experience. As Charles Hall has announced that he will be stepping down from his role as the Dean of International Programs (IP), PGM pens this letter to prospective deans to understand that this role has a significant impact on the student body.

For the past 14 years, Hall has served the dean of the International Programs Office. In those years, he oversaw the creation of the Lausanne and Shanghai programs. He most recently started the Global Fellows Program to prepare students to be international agents.

As the university begins its search for a new administrative dean, we invite the applicants and administration to consider the following:

1. Be understanding of all cultures.

PGM recognizes and commends the IP Office’s efforts toward promoting cultural competency, and we encourage them to continue stressing the importance of this ability.

When we look at the diversity across our International Programs, we see drastically different cultures an IP Dean has to be ready to engage with. Since the IP Dean frequently travels to each of the programs, that person will be coming into contact with cultures and people who could have different values or beliefs from those in the United States.

Cultural competency is a skill that all should strive to achieve, but it is especially important for the dean to possess this trait so that students can have a model of what it means to be culturally aware and respectful.

In knowing the cultures of each location, the IP office can accurately

promote their cultural experiences to students.

2. Be more transparent.

We understand things happen, but when a director leaves or a program accepts more students than it can accommodate, students deserve to know why. Being far from home and distant from the rest of the Pepperdine community, students can easily feel left in the dark when they are uninformed on certain instances regarding their own program.

We understand that there are things the office cannot reveal as they work behind the scenes to solve issues, but explaining major problems to students as they occur is important. When the office is not transparent, it leads to students being confused and upset once news about certain mishaps within their program is broken to them.

3. Talk about the good, the bad and the ugly.

International Programs highly promotes that studying abroad will result in “life-changing experiences” for students

to buy into. Although there are many benefits of going abroad, International Programs should lean toward promoting this experience with authenticity. In other words, don’t just promote how amazing being abroad is, but also be honest that there are hardships that will inevitably come.

The way IP presents their programs can be often picture perfect and idealistic. The truth is that not everyone considers their abroad experience to be fully positive.

Addressing negative aspects of being abroad can help prospective students make more informed decisions about whether an international program is truly for them.

4. Don’t pressure students to apply so early.

We understand that the IP Office is proactive in setting up their programs in advance, but it is a bit overwhelming to have to choose where you want to spend a year away when students have just arrived in Malibu.

Freshmen are still transitioning and adjusting to college life during the month that International Programs applications are

THE 'BU YORKER

first due.

We understand that an early priority deadline in the fall allows freshmen to know in advance what classes they need to register for the spring semester. However, if the office pushes the application deadline to a later time, students will be able to make more informed decisions about the right course of action for them.

Students are thankful for the diverse opportunities the International Programs Office offers us and for the people who serve to make students’ abroad experiences as great as they are.

PGM offer these suggestions for the new dean because there are always opportunities for the office to grow and improve.

The IP Office needs someone who will take on these challenges and serve as a role model for the students working in the office and those participating in the programs. This is an important role, and we trust that the university will find someone who reflects cultural competency in his/her behavior, is transparent with the students, promotes authentic experiences and relieves the pressures of going abroad.

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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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It’s OK not to go Greek ch r i s ti a n s a n ch ez s ta f f wri te r

Tips for beginning abroad

hadley biggs abroad correspondent

From sorority dessert mixers to fraternity dodgeball events, Greek life Recruitment events fill up much of the programming in the month of September at Seaver College. During this season, many students find a meaningful community that will last until graduation and even possibly afterwards.

About one-third of the undergraduate population at Pepperdine is affiliated in Greek life. These students form a portion of the millions of students involved in Greek life as reported by USA Today.

While some could not imagine their college experience without being active in some form of Greek life, the other two-thirds of students are able to find meaningful experiences outside of the cacophony of Greek letters. Joining a fraternity or sorority may be the right choice for some students, but the majority of students who elect to remain unaffiliated throughout their academic career can rest assured that many benefits lie outside of Greek life.

Unaffiliated students can end up having a considerably larger billfold by the time they graduate. According to the Pepperdine’s Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council, being an active member in a sorority or fraternity for four academic years could end up

Ally Armstrong | Staff Artist costing $5,900 and $4,900, respectively. If the price to be an active member of a fraternity or sorority is too high for those considering, there are a plethora of ways to build community and have fun in more cost-effective ways.

Everything costs either time or money, and Greek life involvement requires a decent amount of both. From weekly chapters to frequent events, a fair number of nights and weekends are reserved exclusively to Greek life.

For new members going through a fraternity’s pledge process, sleep deprivation is nothing out of the ordinary, as a recent Aug. 7, 2018 article

from CNN outlines. First-year students free of these commitments can use this formative period in their academic career to invest in academics or find great community elsewhere.

The absence of these important commitments can allow for students to broaden their experience. Rather than spend every Sunday night at chapter, unaffiliated students can expand their circles with greater degrees of freedom in their schedules.

While students involved in Greek life certainly have other commitments, those outside have more chances to invest in clubs, student activity groups, or professional development

opportunities. Aside from these organized opportunities, non-affiliated students simply have more free nights to spend time with friends from their residence halls or classes.

Ultimately, choosing whether or not to join a sorority or fraternity is up to the individual. Throughout this month, it is important to remember that one’s value comes from their Creator — not from an affiliation with a group of people — and staying independent may just be the better route for some students.

C HR ISTIAN.SANC HEZ@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Embrace the idea of failure gabr i e l l e m at h ys per sp ec t ives ed it or

When people try to learn new skills, it isn’t normal for them to master it on the first try. That idea of needing to be perfect at something can drive people away from practicing. They would rather not fail at a task than use that failure to learn how to do the job correctly.

“The path to success is not always direct, and … winning does not always mean what you think it does,” wrote Steven Petrow in “Don’t be afraid to fail,” published Aug. 31, 2015 by The Washington Post.

Students learn more from failure than success. When people succeed at something, they only find one correct way to complete the task they set out to accomplish. However, when their efforts fail to produce the desired outcome, people have to consider alternative methods. Why did it fail in the first place?

How can a person correct his or her mistake in the future? What

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Caitlin Roark | Art Editor is another way to do this? These questions require critical thinking that can lead to success in more than just the initial task.

Thomas Edison, the American inventor that created the light bulb, repeatedly failed in inventing machines to do what he designed them to do. In one of his famous quotes, Edison said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” His life is an example of someone that used his failures to create amazing things.

Students need to have a foundation to

build off of in order to better themselves.

Take writing, for example: when some people write essays, they take an hour to just add a few sentences. Whether the cause is procrastination or not being able to think of the right words, students need to write as much as they can on the page in order to establish a basis for their topic.

The most important part of writing is getting the words on the paper, no matter how bad they are at first.

“You can fix failure.

You can’t fix the things you never tried,” wrote Jill Griffin in “Want to Do Something Great?

Don’t be Afraid of Failure,” published Nov. 20, 2017 by Forbes.

Learning to just write everything out on the paper and get it all down allows people to create a foundation that they can improve on later.

If people are too afraid of failure to try new things, they won’t be able to improve themselves. “If we are afraid to do something for fear of making a mistake, we will not do anything at all. That is the worst mistake of all,” stated John Wooden in Craig Impelman’s “Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Failure,” published June 7, 2017

by Success.

Students shouldn’t hold back from things that seem too hard.

Even if they are difficult at first, they can become doable through failure and practice. Giving up on these endeavors is giving up on something that could potentially change a person’s life or set that person apart. Failure is just part of the process that makes a person stronger and allows for greater success in the future.

GABBY.M ATHYS@PEPPER DINE.EDU

After going through my first week of abroad, I have a few tips on how to get through it.

I have been in Florence for two weeks now as a part of Pepperdine’s International Programs.

From the moment I arrived I was whisked away to the Piazzale Michelangelo to appreciate the views of the city of Florence. I expected my first week to be very relaxing, but I was wrong.

Every moment was filled to the brim with exploration, learning and most importantly, eating.

Though it was fun, it was also very exhausting.

We were out from 8 a.m. in the morning to 10 p.m. at night, while battling jet lag.

The first two weeks had challenges like dealing with a language barrier and realizing I was not a short plane ride from home. It was a very odd feeling knowing I no longer had the convenience of my life back in the United States.

This is a common theme among Pepperdine students studying abroad.

Here is my advice to help anyone prepare for the first few weeks studying abroad.

Talk to new people.

As tempting as it may be, don’t stick with the familiar. I took the opportunity to talk to others in my program who I didn’t know before the program started. It was comforting to know that they were in the same boat I was in.

Learn to say yes. I said yes to lots of things throughout the week. Because of that, I was able to grow closer to new people in the Florence program that I did not get to know on the Malibu campus, and I potentially ate the best gelato of my life at Perchè No. Get involved in the culture. Because of my desire to get involved in the culture, I have made Italian friends and found their favorite places to eat, study and drink coffee.

Leave the dorm for at least 15 minutes a day.

Our program director, Elizabeth Whatley, has told us this many times.

She claims that leaving the dorm for 15 minutes will keep us from getting cabin fever. Leaving the dorm allows one to get a breath of fresh air and know the city.

To all of those currently studying abroad or planning to study abroad, the best way to have a smooth transition to being abroad is to not be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and do something you normally would not do.

I know I can look forward to a fantastic year with the best food and with the best people in the world.

HADL EY.BIGGS@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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LIFE & ARTS

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Photo courtesy of Lilia Kerski Loving With No Bounds | Senior Lilia Kerski and her fiance pose for their engagement photos in Denver. Kerski and her fiance started dating during her junior year of high school and have had a long distance relationship throughout college. They are one of many couples ready to tie the knot.

Lifting the veil on Pepperdine couples anastass ia kostin li f e and ar t s assista n t Of all the commitments a college student can make, marriage may not be the first that comes to mind. But three Pepperdine students, junior Heavin Hunter, senior Erica Schenk and senior Lilia Kerski are redefining the Pepperdine dating landscape and saying ‘I do.’

Heavin Hunter said she plans to graduate this April and have her wedding with her fiance Josh the following July. Though her primarily long-distance relationship has worked out for her, Hunter said she acknowledges the relationship status difference between her and her peers.

“I’m not phased by it,” Hunter said.

“I am living life to the fullest because I don’t have desires to do anything I couldn’t do with a boyfriend or a husband. It fits my personality type. I’ve never been one to meet the status quo.

I’ve always been an outlier, it doesn’t affect me now to be that way. I find strength in being who I am even if that’s not like everyone else.”

Unlike Hunter who plans to get married post-graduation, marriage was already a part of Schenk’s life before she started at Pepperdine.

Schenk moved to New York City to pursue her modeling career when she was 15 years old. While in New York she met her now-husband, and the two were married when she turned 18 years old. Despite the young age, her marriage has been full of opportunities to strengthen the bond between her and her partner, Schenk wrote in an email.

“We have an 11-year age difference, so he is a very stable partner,” Schenk wrote. “There’s no getting around it: I am different. But, I was going to be different married or not. No, I don’t go

on first dates and gossip about boys on campus. No, I can’t just jet set on a moments notice without asking my significant other. But I don’t feel, under any circumstance, it has inhibited my college experience. I feel emotionally supported, protected and adept for success because I have a person behind me that only wants me to grow and be happy.”

Hunter said she she tries to see her long-distance fiancée once a month.

“We started off as friends for a good two to three months because we met on Tumblr in October of 2016, and it was super platonic at first,” Hunter said. “He decided mid-February he had to meet me. These are his exact words: ‘I’m feeling you, and I know you feeling me too,’ and I was like ‘How did you know?’ and ‘What does that mean?

You’re in Illinois, and I’m in California.’”

Couples who marry at the traditional college age are bucking national trends. The age at which men and women marry is at an all-time high, which is 27 years old for women, and 29 for men, according to Knot Yet, a National Marriage Project. The biggest reason for the rise in age is that women today are at a higher socioeconomic status, according to the study. An elevated position in society allows them to meet life goals previously hindered by the archaic belief that a woman should stay in the domestic sphere, according to the study.

On a more cultural aspect, young adults today view marriage as an event marking the end to a period of growth — something they do after they have “life figured out.” For them, marriage is a “capstone,” not a “cornerstone,” according to Andrew Cherlin, author of “The Marriage-Go-Round: The State of Marriage and Family in America Today.”

Photo courtesy of Erica Schneck

In California specifically, the median age for marriage is 27.3 years old for women and 29.5 years old for men, according to recent studies collected by Marriage.com. However, the average age of marriage has catapulted. Numbers in 1960 were at 20.8 years old for women and 22.8 years for men.

Waiting longer to get married does not necessarily reduce the risk of divorce, research shows. The likelihood of a marriage lasting at least 15 years is generally lower among adults who get married in their early 20s (20 percent chance of divorce) than among those who wed later. However, the odds of divorce within five years of marriage is not too much different for couples that wait to wed in their late 30s (14 percent to 19 percent), according to a study done by Institute for Family Studies.

One of the issues younger couples face more than couples who wait to get married are financial constraints, said Marina Edelman, a marriage and family therapist in Westlake Village. This is supported by data found by the Knot Yet Project, as women’s earnings go up with their age of marriage, in part because delayed marriage allows women to pursue education, training and job experience before settling down and starting a family.

Good jobs for less-educated Americans are also becoming increasingly harder to find. Postponing marriage allows people to pursue the middle-class or upper-class lifestyle they want, without a relationship getting in the way.

For some students, marriage is the foundation for everything else, and can be a source of conflict. Kerski, who began dating her fiance junior year of high school, takes the idea of marriage very seriously.

“My pessimistic look at the future

is that divorce rates are still skyrocketing,” Kerski said. “The institution of marriage is the bedrock of society - how generations are socialized. Communities where there are a lot of strife and marital issues, you can tell those communities are fractured.”

Hunter said she realized there is a balance between taking everyone’s advice and knowing what is best for one’s own circumstances.

“A challenging part about being a young engaged couple is people who have had their life experiences try to apply those experiences to your relationship or question your readiness,” Hunter said. “You want to be obedient and heed to wise counsel but at the same time you need to step back and realize you don’t need to take anyone’s advice. If anything, I need to be praying about it and seeing where God wants to take me, instead of relying solely on others’ words of advice. It’s about keeping our space sacred.”

Despite her husband working as a chef with crazy hours and her status as a full-time student, Shenk said she is able to make time for her partner and other important people in her life.

“We usually spend our mornings together and try to schedule date nights,” Schenk wrote. “Because he works so much, it allows me to pursue whatever I’d like. I have time for friends, activities, school, work and my relationship.”

For others, like Kerski, the hardest but most rewarding part about her relationship with her fiance is the long distance aspect.

s ee co uples b2

Photo courtesy of Heavin Hunter

Wedding Bells | Senior Erica Schneck and her Tony Ferrante (left) are married, while junior Heavin Hunter (right) met her fiance on Tumblr in 2016.

Both women said their relationships haven’t interfered with their college experiences, but recognized they have different college experiences because of it.

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Photo courtesy of Lilia Kerski Hugs and Kisses | Kerski and her fiance plan to get married after she graduates from Pepperdine in May. Kerksi said she believes it is possible to be in a long-distance relationship while being actively present in her community, where she student teaches and attends classes at Pepperdine.

“

VEIL: Pepperdine couples discuss marriage FR OM B 1 “I definitely think some amount of distance is important,” Kerski said. “Even just a month apart is important because it helps you grow as an individual and make sure your identity is not rooted in the other person. It has helped me realize my identity is rooted in Christ and get my values straight. It’s important to not lose yourself in your relationship but instead work together to build each other up.”

Kerski juggles being a student teacher 20 hours a week and an undergraduate, but said she still makes sure to actively engage with the com-

munity instead of devoting all her spare time to her relationship.

“Embrace the community where you’re at to make sure you’re being intentional about the people that are immediately before you,” Kerski said. “It’s important for me to also love my roommates and classmates, and pay mind to the fact that I’m here and that there is a purpose for me being here. I’m diligently following that.”

Schenk had some advice for students thinking about getting engaged or married while still in college.

“If you know, you know,” Schenk wrote. “Go forth and experience life with the per-

son you love. But, don’t close yourself off to friends outside of your relationship. You can always use more people in your life that love you.”

When asked if she would do her college experience differently, Schenk wrote she would do it all over again.

“I wouldn’t trade my last 3 years for anything, because it’s my story,” Schenk wrote. “It’s uniquely me.”

Hunter had some words of advice to young serious couples as well, but said she realizes that everyone’s relationships are completely different.

“Not everyone’s relationship is going to look like Josh’s and I,” Hunter said. “One, trust God. Without trust in Him our

situation could have looked very hopeless. But that trust gave us so many promises, and we knew that even if marriage wasn’t part of our journey that we were in each other’s lives for a reason. Don’t expect your relationship to look like anyone else’s. You’ll struggle with different things and have strengths in different areas. Tailor the relationship to them.”

Go forth and experience life with the person you love ... You can always use more people in your life that love you.

Erica schenk, pepperdine senior

NASTASSIA.KOSTIN@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Photos courtesy of Maria Behnen Project Runway | Designer and Pepperdine parent Maria Behnen reveals her latest collection during Omaha fashion week. This year, fashion week has influenced looks on campus, according to senior Natalie Behnen, who grew up in the world of fashion.

Pepperdine community discusses campus fashion anna m ilton staf f w rite r Every September, the streets of New York turn into a runway of widely different forms of fashion. This year was no exception.

Designers such as Zimmermann, Balmain and Alice and Olivia showcased a variety of trends and statements. However, fashion isn’t just for the streets of New York. Students at Pepperdine also seem to think that people take pride in their style around campus, according to sophomore Julia Strouk.

“Most people at Pepperdine, and especially girls, care a lot about how they look and have a very good sense of style,” Strouk said.

For some, the fashion at Pepperdine is unlike what you may see in New York, junior Mehgan Buckley said.

“It’s such a different type of fashion than what you see at Pepperdine and in Los Angeles,” Buckley said.

Senior Natalie Behnen wrote about the influence fashion has had on her life. Her mother, Maria Behnen, has been in the world of fashion her whole life. Na-

talie’s mother worked as a designer in cities across the United States and most recently worked for LAMB by Gwen Stefani, Nanette Lepore and Joy Gryson.

Natalie wrote she was particularly impressed with this year’s NYFW. “Essentially, I think this year’s NYFW was inspiring, not only in fashion, but in the way it responded to the world,” Natalie wrote in an email.

This year’s runway shows went beyond the clothes, Natalie said.

“With the political climate and feminist climate growing and changing, fashion needed to reflect that, and it most definitely did,” Natalie wrote. “Not only in style, but this year’s sense of inclusion, acceptance and pride influenced the models as well.”

When it comes to fashion on campus Pepperdine students have a unique sense of style. “I think Pepperdine students pride themselves on individual style, and I see a lot of that on campus,” Natalie wrote. Natalie also expressed her own attitude toward the way she dresses, explaining she dresses to feel good and confident. She wrote she also feels that Pepperdine students use the

campus as their own runway.

“I think a lot of Pepperdine students are interested in fashion and feel comfortable expressing individual styles,” Natalie wrote.

Fashion and creativity have been a big part of life for students like Natalie. Fashion has been more than clothes since it’s a way that connects her to her mother.

“My mom has influenced my style tremendously,” Natalie wrote.

“The most important thing she taught me was that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So look different, look unique and look you.”

New York Fashion Week proved to be a major success this year, according to Natalie. Fashion took on new forms by promoting a message of inclusivity and uniqueness. For students at Pepperdine, fashion will continue to be influenced by the many different types of people on campus.

“I see fashion at Pepperdine different from person to person, senior Meghan Payton said. “You’ll see everything from T-shirt and leggings to designer dresses. I think Pepperdine is extremely diverse when it comes to fashion.”

A N N A . MI LT O N @P EPPER DINE.EDU

Photos courtesy of Maria Behnen

Fashion Forward | Designer and Pepperdine parent Maria Behnen (left) poses with a model at the end of her show.

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Photos Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures Photos courtesy of MildPictures Orange Photo Courtesy of Fox Searchlight In the Living Room | Mild Orange bandmates Tom Kelk (front left), Josh Reid (back left) Josh Mehrtens (center) and Jack Ferguson (right) pose for their debut album, “Foreplay.” The band formed one year ago in 2017 at the University of Otago in Dundein, New Zealand.

New Zealand band performs ‘melting melodies’ C ar o line edwards li f e and ar ts e dit or New Zealand indie band Mild Orange’s debut album “Foreplay” invites listeners to “melt with us” through their “melting melodies.” The band formed in 2017 at The University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, and released “Foreplay” in April 2018. The band consists of childhood friends, frontman Josh Mehrtens and lead guitarist Josh Reid, with bassist Tom Kelk and drummer Jack Ferguson.

“I call it melting melodies,” Mehrtens said when describing the band’s sound. “It’s going off the color, so it’s an energy and a vibrance derived by a lust for smooth sounds.”

The “energy and vibrancy” Mehrtens described are evident in the band’s debut album. The album name came from the sexual act, according to Mehrtens.

“Because it’s our debut [album] it’s, ‘We’re making love, but we’re just getting started,’” Mehrtens said. “It’s music made with love, and it does feel a bit sexy at times.”

“Foreplay” was the result of the band spending an entire week in a windowless recording studio in November 2017 after recording their first track “Stranger” in September.

Mehrtens recorded and pro-

duced the album, which took six months to mix until it was complete.

“It probably came out a bit shoddy, but no one has called me out yet, so I’m quite happy,” Mehrtens said.

Before creating an album, Mehrtens said he came up with the band’s name after one of his brother’s songs. His brother is musician Sam Mehrtens, who goes by the alias Sam Waves.

He said the name had a “nice vibe” and the band agreed.

“To us, it’s an energy and vibrancy, and it’s just what we want to achieve; it’s basically in the name,” Mehrtens said.

“The color orange has a lot of good connotations with it. As we were researching the name, what orange means, it was enthusiasm and optimism. With the mild part, it just felt right to us.”

Mehrtens said the mild vibe of the melodies come from New Zealand’s environment.

“It’s quite laid back here, and it’s also quite cold, especially in Dunedin,” Mehrtens said. “That forced us to be inside because it’s quite cold. New Zealand is a really nice environment, so when we do go outside, that inspires us. [The song] ‘Down by the River’ was inspired by being outside and in nature.”

The band consists of New Zealand natives, but Mehrtens said they are all from all over the country. Mehrtens and Reid

were childhood friends before his family moved, and the two were unknowingly reunited at college when they accidentally lived in the same apartment.

“One of the guys sort of knew Josh [Reid] and asked him to come and live with us last minute,” Mehrtens said. “We all moved into this house and we got to talking ... We were just jamming, and we started writing music together. He told his mom about it and she’s like, ‘Oh wait, hold on,’ and sent us back a photo of me and him when we were two in kindergarten. We had no idea that we knew each other. It’s just really weird.”

The band formed at the University of Otago, but Mehrtens said none of the band members study music. Mehrtens is in his third year and finds it inspiring to be a student.

“I like being at university while being a musician,” Mehrtens said. “I feel like it’s a good stimulation and not just music all the time. Being at the library, it will inspire me in a way that impacts the music.

Through university, you get to meet lots of cool people, and it’s a cool music scene here.”

Mehrtens said he finds it difficult to balance music and school, which is what inspired him to write the song “Losing Time,” his favorite song on the album.

“I wrote it at a time when I

really just needed that song, and that song comes back to me a lot,” Mehrtens said. “It’s all about finding balance between work and play. A lot of the time I struggle to find that balance with university and doing the whole music thing. Sometimes the whole music thing can turn into work instead of being play.

It serves as a reminder for me to be conscious of balance.”

Despite struggling to balance being a student and a musician, the band has done well for itself since “Foreplay” was released in April 2018.

Their song “Some Feeling” has over 3 million views on Alona Chemerys’ music channel on YouTube, and they have over 50,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Mehrtens said he credits YouTube for spreading Mild Orange’s music. “‘Some Feeling’ has more streams [on YouTube] than the whole album on Spotify,” Mehrtens said. “I like YouTube as a platform for music to be on because it’s for people to form ideas and give feedback talk about the song directly in the comment section, whereas on Spotify and things you can’t do that. I think it’s cool for people to be engaging with the music and with each other.”

Fred Petch runs the music channel Multiplicity on YouTube and is one of the channels sharing Mild Orange’s songs.

Petch said he heard of Mild Or-

ange through Alona Chemerys’ channel in May and decided to upload three of their songs on his channel.

“I basically go through lots of different channels and pick some songs that look good [to upload],” Petch said. “’Some Feeling’ was the first one I heard and then I found the album and loved the whole thing. Some music you know if you’re gonna like it. They’re one of those artists that you know straight away if you like it, within 20 to 30 seconds.

[Mild Orange] is very well constructed and catchy, but not sickening catchy like most of the pop music out there. Josh [Mehrtens] just has such a lovely voice that you don’t get sick of it.”

Mehrtens said the band is still small but offered advice to Pepperdine students in bands.

“I just say keep on grooving,” Mehrtens said. “Do your thing.

Keep following your passion and naturally things will develop. I feel like I’m not in the position to give people advice, but just keep on grooving, honestly, and you’ll find your rhythm through doing that.”

Editor’s note: The reporter for this article, Caroline Edwards, knows Fred Petch personally.

CAROLINE.EDWARDS@PEPPERDINE.EDU

Magical Mystery Tour | Mild Orange creates an intimate experience for audiences during their live shows throughout New Zealand. Josh Mehrtens, front man of the band, said the live shows are powerful and at times pensive, but that the band offers a rollercoaster of a live experience for concert-goers.

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PEPP E R DINE GR A P HIC M E DIA | L IFE A N D A RTS | S E P T E MB E R 27 , 20 1 8

Photos courtesy of IMDB

Teenage Angst | “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” stars Forrest Goodluck (left), Sasha Lane (center) and Chloe Grace Moretz (right). The film looks at the relationship between religion and the LGBTQ+ community and takes place at a LGBTQ+ conversaion camp.

‘The Miseducation of Cameron Post’ sparks conversation haidy n harvey life and arts assistant “The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” directed by Desiree Akhavan, is an intelligent and introspective film that investigates the relationship between youth, religion and the LGBTQ+ community.

“Miseducation,” starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Sasha Lane and Forrest Goodluck, made its debut at Sundance Film Festival in January. After playing the festival circuit, it moved to theaters where it plays today.

“Miseducation” follows the lives of teenagers sent to an LGBTQ+ conversion therapy camp in the early ‘90s. After Cameron (played by Moretz) is discovered kissing her girlfriend in the backseat of a car, she is sent to God’s Promise, where she is ushered through therapy and mandatory worship in an effort to cure her SSA, or “same-sex-attraction.”

Upon Cameron’s arrival, she meets other teens who were sent to God’s Promise to be cured. Together, they wrestle with their potential damnation, while also struggling through the trials of their ordinary teenage lives.

Cameron and her friends are young and full of life. They love and rely on each other like family. Howev-

er, “Miseducation” isn’t just a film about teenage bliss and being young.

Cameron and the other “disciples” of God’s Promise share an identity that their families believe will condemn them to hell. They are anxiety-ridden and fear the possibility of eternal punishment. “Miseducation” immerses itself in both the angst and joys of youth, teetering on the line of being a heart-wrenching drama and a coming-of-age flick.

The script is insightful and intelligent, telling the story that isn’t an immediately obvious one. Cameron doesn’t enter God’s Promise kicking and screaming. Instead, she spends a good portion of the film questioning her own heart.

Cameron is unsure if she’s in the wrong but keeps an open mind to conversion therapy. She wrestles with her own salvation and the nature of her attraction to other girls. She turns to the “disciples” around her for help. Some fully believe they can pray their affliction away. Others see it all as a hoax.

By taking the less obvious route, the script opens a refreshing dialogue.

LGBTQ+ and religion are not two-sided conversations. It is multifaceted just like the characters and stories in the film. Each character embodies a

different perspective. Akhavan does a great job of ensuring various experiences are represented on screen.

Very rarely are audiences able to watch a character wrestle their spiritual obstacles the way that “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” allows. The film does this in an intimate and beautiful manner. However, the big breakthrough never comes.

“Miseducation” leaves the audience anticipating Cameron’s moment of self-realization, but Cameron seems rather unchanged by the experience.

She enters God’s Promise hesitantly, makes some friends, misses home, wonders who’s right and then the movie ends prematurely. Cameron’s story is interesting but the character herself is overall underwhelming.

The characters are underdeveloped and the end dampens the impact of the rest of the film, but still “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” is an important film. Akhavan underwhelms in some areas, but she is impressive in her ability to encapsulate the nuances of such a complex and important issue.

“Miseducation of Cameron Post” can be seen in a theater near you.

HAIDYN.HARVEY@PEPPERDINE.EDU

Review: author revolutionizes American churches ashely c havez s taf f w r i t e r People seem to be dedicating the least amount of their time and efforts to the thing that is most worthy in this world: a relationship with God and prioritizing what He originally designed the church to be, according to Francis Chan’s “Letters to the Church.”

This is the basis of Francis Chan’s newest book “Letters to the Church.” However, it is more than a new book, it is a jarring call for action. The reader is asked to be a part of revolutionizing what the contemporary American church is becoming. The book is a wake-up call for the modern Christian.

“I wanted the presentation of God’s truth to be powerful, and I wanted us to take it seriously,” Chan wrote in his book.

Chan started his own church, Cornerstone, in Simi Valley in 1994. However, he felt the need to step away and start a new type of ministry. Chan, his wife and children spent some time traveling throughout Asia and meeting with Christian churches that were being persecuted for their beliefs.

Chan began to wonder why there are people in other countries willing to die because they admitted their love for God. Here in America, it is ev-

ident what concerns Chan the most: Many people are only willing to give God 90 minutes a week in exchange for an entertaining church service.

Chan continues to vocalize in his book what is recognized in many institutions today. He does not outwardly shame anyone, but asks for a revival of the church in a way that makes one feel conflicted but also inspired.

It is common in America for there to be a high importance placed upon having the best worship service, entertainment for the kids and massive numbers of churchgoers. Chan explains that somewhere along the way, people lost what God intended for the church to be: a place to praise Him, mentor one another, and go out and do something with the love and knowledge of God’s word.

Chan’s comparison of what the church was in Biblical times, compared to now, helps in aiding his argument of what needs to change.

A shift in focus of putting attention on the individual to back on God is what Chan emphasized the most.

Often times, things that once meant a lot to a person turn into a repetitive routine.

Chan makes a point of explaining that this is happening in churches today. He then explains what church should

be: a comfortable home, not a place one feels obligated to go to. It is the shift in focus from oneself to God that Chan continually circles back to “I hope you haven’t just grown calloused to it,” Chan wrote in his book. “This should break our hearts over time.”

Throughout the book, Chan presents the ways in which he has dealt with this dilemma.

After returning from Asia, Chan began to work on developing small house churches across San Francisco. These house churches were places for people to gather in intimacy and work on being excited just to read God’s word.

He aimed to abandon the fanfare of the modern church and make it a place that God would be proud of. From the beginning of the book embracing God’s original plan for the church is Chan’s goal and a theme that he successfully carries throughout.

Chan explained that people like to be the center of their worlds. As a society America is aiming to make people’s excitement and happiness the next big thing, rather than focusing on God as the center of the church. Chan explains in the initial chapters of the book that the focus must be placed on God, and emphasizes throughout what a necessity this is.

“Maybe we are afraid to

Ashley Chavez | Staff Writer ask what will bring Him the most pleasure,” Chan wrote. “Ignorance feels better than disobedience.”

This isn’t to say churches should abandon every extracurricular they have, because according to Chan, community is vitally important too.

However, churches should be conscious of the intent behind what they are doing, which is a theme Chan carries from one chapter to the next.

Chan does a good job of balancing the ways in which the church isn’t here to push people away, but to embrace them.

He approaches ministering by

loving people in the most authentic way possible in a way that brings the glory and the focus back to God. This is evident in not only the examples he gives in the book, but in the way he talks to the reader.

The book is written in such a way that the reader feels not only convicted of their mistakes, but hopeful in their moving forward. “ We have become too easily satisfied,” Chan wrote in his book. “We are content if a person leaves pleased.

God wants them awed.”

ASHLEY.CHAVEZ@PEPPERDINE.EDU

S E P T E M B E R 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 | S PORTS | P E P P E R DIN E G RA P H I C ME D I A

Water Polo falls to Santa Barbara in overtime er ic a m artinez staf f w rite r

The Pepperdine Men’s Water Polo team fell short at their home opener Thursday with a score of 16-14 after the second overtime period against UC Santa Barbara.

Freshman Curtis Jarvis scored a season-high of five goals and senior Chris Dilworth, freshman Sean Ferrari and junior George Mooney, had two goals each.

Following suit freshman Balazs Kosa, redshirt senior Sam Paur, and junior Mate Toth had a goal apiece.

“I think offensively when you generate 14 goals that’s a really good output, I mean, that’s going to win most games,” Head Coach Terry Schroeder said. “Our six-on-five was really strong, our center play was strong, we did a really good job with getting the ball in the center, so we did a lot of really good things on offense.”

The Waves challenged the Gauchos with goals in the first four minutes from Toth, Kosa, Paur and Jarvis. They went into the second quarter with a short 7-6 lead. Pepperdine came out setting off the second quarter with a drilling goal from Dilworth, and Jarvis completed a hat-trick before halftime, securing yet another short 7-6 lead.

“It was a really good game, a lot of high intensity,” Ferrari said.

“I think this game especially we did a good job of coming out early and bringing the intensity.”

In the second half, the Gauchos continuously slammed Pepperdine’s defense with shots and scored seven goals, including a goal with 1:19 left to tie the game 13-13 to force overtime.

“It was rough, but I think we are moving in the right direction,” Paur said. “There were some things that we all could have done a little bit better and executed just a little bit better but

overall I think we are moving in the right direction.”

In the first overtime period, Dilworth scored the only goal for the Waves but the Gauchos came out aggressively, putting two goals on the board going into the second overtime period with a 15-14 lead. In the final period, the Gauchos scored a goal at 1:21 to secure the win.

“Defensively we had seven or eight field blocks which was great, but we gave up 16 goals on the other side, which was too many goals to give up,” Schroeder said. “So that’s the area of focus we really need to work on going into Sunday and next week.”

This loss brings the Waves to a 6-4 record.

“It was a good game, it was really hard. They were pretty good and gave a lot of effort,” Kosa said.

Despite a hard loss in a very physical matchup, the Waves are staying positive.

“We didn’t have an outcome that we wanted, but I personally had a lot of fun the whole game and I know that the whole team feels the same way,” Jarvis said.

“I think there is definitely a lot of things we could’ve done different, a lot of building moments we can learn from. Overall this game showed that we can beat anybody.”

“It was an awesome first home game, great energy, it definitely motivated me to play harder,” Ferarri said. “Scoring a goal and looking up to the fans and everybody going crazy was an awesome environment.”

Up next, the Waves will be back at home in Malibu Sept. 30 when they take on UC Berkeley at 1 p.m.

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Making A Splash |(Above) Sophomore goalie Kyle Mckenney attempts a diving save against a UCSB attacker; (below) freshman attacker BalazsDavis Kosa Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics and Sheridan takes aim. The Waves fell 16-14 in an intense match against the Gauchos on Thursday and will take on the California Golden Bears at home next week.

E RI CA . MA RT I N E Z @P E P P E RD I N E . E D U

Photos by Milan Loiacono Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics Calvin Wood Photos byand Milan Loiacono

Club and Intramural Sports welcome all sam finnegan jac o b r esen diz staf f w r i te rs Pepperdine University is known for its high-caliber Division I athletic teams, but students may not know about the alternative options to participating in athletic teams on campus: the intramural and club teams.

The intramural and club sports programs at Pepperdine offer the opportunity for students to get involved with sports at both the recreational or competitive levels.

“The main difference between intramural and club sports is that intramural sports compete against students within the school [and] staff,” senior Campus Recreation Student Manager Julian Baker said.

“Club sports play against other teams from other schools.

Our rugby team plays against UCLA, Cal Lutheran, and teams like that.”

Two intramural sports are offered each semester. The fall intramurals are flag football and volleyball, while the spring are basketball and soccer. Intramural volleyball has coed teams with a beginner and advanced league. Soccer and flag football are both seven-on-seven with soccer requiring two women on the field at all times.

For these teams, there are no practices, just games with a plethora of opportunities for any athlete, to participate no matter their level of experience.

“There are multiple leagues for people of all levels of skill to come play and have fun,” Baker said. “Whether you are a beginner in a sport and not sure how

to play or just want to have fun and some really good competition with your friends and the people you know ... there is a place for you in any intramural sport.”

Because of their friendly nature, intramurals also serve to strengthen friendships and

forge new ones as well.

“Intramurals definitely helped build community for me within my houses,” senior Hudson Casiple said.

Club sports compete throughout the entire school year in their respective seasons. The fall sports include

Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics

tennis, men’s rugby, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, surfing, golf and ultimate frisbee.

The spring sports are men’s and women’s lacrosse. Club sports are considered to be more competitive and commitment-based compared to intramural teams since there

are practices and traveling for away games or matches.

“Club sports are typically for people that have played in high school or have had prior experience playing the sport,” Ashley Whitaker, graduate student intern for Campus Recreation, said. “It is not that they have had to have played that sport, but to be on that level of club, there will most likely be cuts during tryouts.”

Since club teams receive jerseys, equipment, travel and sometimes a coach, there are dues. These dues vary depending on the sport and the travel that each sport requires.

[Club tennis] has definitely allowed me to meet a lot of awesome people that I would not have met otherwise been introduced to,” sophomore, co-captain of the club tennis team, Laney Baum said.

This year, club and intramural teams have access to new facilities. The Marie Canyon Field, a recreational field located across from Mail Services, will host games and practices for many of the club and intramural teams in addition to being used by Division I athletes.

While club and intramural sports require lots of time commitment, there is some flexibility for students.

“We are happy to work with students and we want students to be involved in multiple things on campus,” Whitaker said. “But we will always heavily stress that school always comes first,” said Whitaker.

Make sure to sign up for club or intramural sports on Pepperdine’s Campus Recreation website!

SAM .F INNEGAN@PEPPER DINE.EDU JAC OB.R ESENDIZ@PEPPER DINE.EDU

//The Graphic

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SPORTS

Photos courtesy of Richard Davis Causing a Racquet | (Top left) Junior Adrijana Lekaj meets the ball at the net; (top right) junior Adrian Oetzbach exerts himself for a difficult shot; (bottom) sophomore Evgeniya Levashova prepares for a swing. The three Waves competed in the Oracle/ITA Masters Tournament this past weekend.

Men’s and Women’s Tennis hosts prestigious tournament

kar l winter ky le mccabe staf f write rs

Sophomore Evgeniya Levashova reached Sunday’s women’s final at the Oracle/ITA Masters Tournament to mark the conclusion of a successful weekend for three Waves tennis players. The tournament included men’s and women’s singles and a new mixed doubles component.

Pepperdine partnered with Oracle, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and Malibu Racquet Club to host the annual tournament for the fourth consecutive year. The tournament is one of the premier events in the fall season of collegiate tennis.

“To be a part of this is a great thing for our tennis programs and for our school,” Athletic Director Dr. Steve Potts said.

This year’s tournament invited at least one man and one woman from each NCAA Division I conference, and Pepperdine was represented by Levashova, junior Adrijana Lekaj, and junior Adrian Oetzbach.

The women’s field alone included seven players ranked in the Oracle/ITA Preseason National Singles Rankings (top 25 players in the country), which made Levashova’s run to the final all the more remarkable.

Levashova, a Moscow native, eventually fell 6-4, 6-3 in the singles final at Malibu Racquet Club against Estela Perez-Somarriba of the University of

Miami (FL), the third-ranked player in the country. Levashova led 2-0 in the first set but Perez-Somarriba went on to break her serve three times in the set and twice in the second set. “[Levashova] had a chance today,” Women’s Tennis Head Coach Per Nilsson said. “I don’t think she played the best match, and you have to against [Perez-Somarriba]; that girl doesn’t give you anything.”

Levashova breezed through the first three singles rounds, defeating Miruna Vasilescu of the University of Akron, Lisa Marie Rioux of Oklahoma State University and 17th-ranked Michaela Bayerlova of Washington State University in straight sets on Thursday and Friday.

In the quarterfinal match against Bayerlova, Levashova capitalized on all five of her break point opportunities and saved four of the five break points she faced. She then took on 18th-ranked Kate Fahey of the University of Michigan in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon and broke Fahey three times in the deciding set to win 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.

“The whole tournament was tough: mixed doubles, singles, two matches per day,” Levashova said. “I’m happy that I survived it. I’m happy that I gave my best tennis.”

Levashova played mixed doubles alongside fellow Wave Oetzbach, and the pair won two matches to advance to the quarterfinals, where Fahey and Stefan Milicevic of the University of Minnesota bested them 6-3.

Oetzbach, a German transfer from

the University of Oklahoma, lost to good matches. This was the first tourhigher-seeded Johannes Schretter of nament in the fall and it can get only Baylor University 6-2, 6-4 in the first better from here.” round of the men’s singles draw.

Between the three athletes, the Waves “I felt my rhythm and actually had played a total of 17 matches in the four big chances to win the second set, but days of the tournament. some things didn’t work out that I have “It’s tough mentally and physically, to work on,” Oetzbach said. but that’s what tennis does,” Levashova He went on to win two matches in said. the consolation draw on Friday and SatIt was the first collegiate action of urday before falling in the consolation the fall season for the trio, but four semifinals. It was Oetzbach’s first com- men’s players had played the previous petition in a Pepperdine uniform. weekend at the Silverado Invitational in “Adrian [Oetzbach] is already playing Napa. at a high, nationally-ranked level,” Men’s The men’s team plays next at the ITA Photos Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics Tennis Head Coach Adam Schaechterle Men’s All-American Championships in said. “He’s been in the program just a Tulsa, Oklahoma, with qualifiers begincouple months, but he’s become a lead- ning Oct. 1. First-year coach Schaecher quickly.” terle said that his team’s main goal is Pepperdine’s third representative at “establishing a new culture” as they the Masters, Lekaj, also played mixed compete in the fall and look ahead to doubles and singles. Lekaj won 6-3, 7-5 the spring. in the first round of singles against FatiThe women’s team is looking forward ma Bizhukova of Wichita State Univer- to what Coach Nilsson calls “the biggest sity before running into seventh-ranked tournament of the fall,” which opens Fernanda Contreras of Vanderbilt Uni- with qualifiers next weekend (beginversity. Contreras took the match 6-3, ning Sept. 29) at Pepperdine and contin6-1, winning 63 percent of total points, ues the following week at Riviera Tennis and went on to advance to the semifi- Club in Pacific Palisades. The Waves are nals. the defending West Coast Conference Lekaj, who hails from Croatia, played women’s tennis champions and hope to with Nicolas Moreno de Alboran of the defend their conference title and comUniversity of California Santa Barbara pete for the national team title in the in mixed doubles, and the two won their spring. first three matches together. Moreno de “We want as many matches as we Alboran forfeited the semifinal dou- can [get], and you want to play as good bles match because his greuling singles of competition as you can so you can see semifinal ran too late. the things that really stand out,” Nils“It was a really good experience,” Le- son said.

K AR L .W INTER @PEPPER DINE.EDU kaj said. “I learned a lot and had some K YL E.M C C ABE@PEPPER DINE.EDU