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THE PEPPERDINE GRAPHIC Volume LVI
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Issue 5
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January 19, 2024
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pepperdine-graphic.com
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follow us @peppgraphic
GOODBYE,RHO
Rachel Flynn News Assistant Editor Rho officially closed, and the construction of The Mountain at Mullin Park is beginning. The Office of Public Relations began emailing students in December warning that their cars would be towed if not moved by noon Jan. 16. The closure of Rho removed 386 parking spots, but the University added 155 temporary spaces, according to a Dec. 15 email from the Office of Public Relations. Students said they are frustrated over the inconveniences that will result from the major parking lot being closed. “It’s gonna be rough out here,” first-year Kaylee Snyder said. Snyder currently parks at Drescher, but she said she’s concerned upperclassmen will take all of the spots leading up the hill, leaving her to park in the Drescher parking garage. The Drescher garage is the furthest point on campus, near the faculty housing. This location is a rigorous trek for first-years coming from their dorms on main campus to access their vehicles. “The freshmen already have to park at the top of the hill [Drescher],” Snyder said. “So, I don’t really know what’s going to happen.” Humanities Professor Nicholas
THE WAVES REPORT
Cumming is forecasting students getting creative with their parking and the limited amount of spaces on main campus. “I don’t think anything is going to work until it’s [Rho] finished,” Cumming said. Nicolle Taylor, vice president and chief business officer, sent an email to campus faculty and staff Nov. 14, offering incentives to whomever is willing to take advantage of the Calabasas Park and Ride, Drescher parking or on-campus shuttles. The incentive includes $40 worth of meal points a week, Lisa Stone, executive director of the Business Services Administration, said. Cumming is one of the many faculty members who chose to give up his parking space on main campus to make room for students. The number of faculty members who have chosen to give up their parking spots for students is 120, Stone said. Cumming has concerns over the closure of Rho from the perspective of both a professor and a parent. As a professor, he is naturally concerned about his students making it to class on time, he said. On the first day of class, he spoke with his students in Elkins Auditorium about the Rho closure, which will likely increase commute time. Cumming said he has a 15-minute attendance
MON: 4-5 FT
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policy, which allows students a 15-minute grace period before affecting their grades. He is also aware that campus shuttles, even in the first week of school, are filling up quickly and arriving late. “Those minutes will get eaten up quickly,” Cumming said. Juniors, Alexander Paloglou and Owen Mirka, said their professors have yet to mention the closure of Rho and how it may impact classes. Snyder also said none of her professors have mentioned the closure of Rho. “So, you’ll probably have to let them know like, ‘Oh, I might be late since there’s no parking anymore,’” Minke said. From a parent’s perspective, Cumming is concerned about the safety of his children as well as fellow faculty member’s children who often play in the Drescher neighborhood. Cumming has seen students speeding around the area, and with increased traffic going in and out of the Drescher garage, this is a concern, Cumming said. Pepperdine is working to alleviate the pressure students are feeling to get to class on time. Increased direct shuttle service will run from Drescher to main campus during peak hours, and additional shuttles will be available to transport students, Stone said. The updated shuttle schedule can be found on the Pepperdine
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app and online. As Pepperdine prepares for Rho to close, students should keep in mind the new parking structure lives in Phase I of construction. The construction of the Mountain parking lot remains a top priority, Stone said. Construction will never be convenient, and there will always be growing pains, Stone said. Rho is Pepperdine’s most recent growing pain. The Mountain’s lot will add 831 additional parking spaces after its completion, Stone said. “Sharing the burden of the project — it’s community felt,” Stone said. The completion of the Mountain will result in 4,545 parking spots across campus, according to an email sent to campus faculty and staff Nov. 15. “Sometime fall semester, it [the Mountain parking lot] will open,” Stone said. The rest of the construction of The Mountain at Mullin Park is expected to be finished during the fall semester of 2026, according to Pepperdine’s website.
rachel.flynn@pepperdine.edu
FRI: 4-5 FT
WAVECAST.COM
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January 19, 2024 | NEWS | Pepperdine Graphic Media
Upcoming events...
Good News: From eager interviewer to managing editor Jan. 21
Victoria La Ferla Managing Editor
Young Concert Artists Violinist Lun Li, cellist Jonathan Swensen, pianist Albert Cano Smit, tenor Daniel McGrew and bass-baritone Joseph Parrish will perform in Raitt Recital Hall at 2 p.m.
Conquering my shyness when I first moved to Pepperdine demanded stepping beyond my comfort zone and learning to embrace vulnerability. I joined this newspaper with intentions: to chat with interesting people, tell their stories and create meaningful connections. Starting off in the News section, I learned the ropes of storytelling, trying my best to capture the heart and soul of the people I interviewed while truly listening to each word they said to me. However, there was always a part of me that wanted to share what I thought and felt about my chosen topics. That’s when I switched over to the Perspectives section, where I dove even deeper into understanding and questioning my own beliefs and experiences. There’s something magical about exploring unique angles and sharing stories that hit close to home. It’s where I found my voice, weaving together pieces that not only resonated but felt like personal conversations through the Advice and Sip ‘n’ Savor columns that I incorporated into the section. Now, I stand as the managing editor of the Graphic, and the metamorphosis within me is evident.
Jan. 25 Women’s Basketball vs. Portland Cheer on the Women’s Basketball team as they play against Portland State at 6 p.m., in the Firestone Fieldhouse.
Feb. 8 Leo Kottke Performance Two-time GRAMMY-nominee Leo Kottke is a jazz and blues singer. Watch him perform at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center For the Arts at 8 p.m.
Feb. 16 Baseball vs. Cal Baptist Come support the baseball team as they face off against California Baptist University at Eddy D. Field Stadium at 1:30 p.m.
Mary Elisabeth | Photo Editor Managing Editor Victoria La Ferla smiles in her office in the PGM newsroom Jan 15. As managing editor, La Ferla uses her office for meetings, editing and conducting interviews.
One late afternoon, I attended a meditation class. I reflected on my aspirations and committed to giving my all if I was granted the opportunity to lead the Graphic. Moments after my meditation ended, I checked my phone, and it was overflowing with text messages congratulating me on my new position. Exactly what I had hoped for had become a reality. The moment was etched indelibly in my memory. Yes, I had worries at first — the responsibilities seemed daunting — but my realization of the profound impact I could have on our community eclipsed any uncertainties. And here I am, in my senior year, taking on the role of
managing editor. This responsibility transcends a mere occupation; it is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to an entity larger than myself. Each person who walks through PGM’s doors should feel welcomed, comfortable and inspired by those around them. The Graphic is now a piece of my life — a journey of self-discovery, leadership and understanding the power of the written word. The progress thus far has been rewarding, and I am optimistic that the peak of this adventure is yet to be revealed.
victoria.laferla@pepperdine.edu
“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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January 19, 2024 | NEWS | Pepperdine Graphic Media
Malibu continues to fight for PCH safety Abby Wilt Executive Editor After the deaths of four Pepperdine seniors on PCH in October, Deslyn Williams, Niamh Rolston, Asha Weir and Peyton Stewart, Malibu community members are continuing to fight for safety on Pacific Coast Highway, prompting the City of Malibu to address the issue as quickly as possible. Since 2010, 58 people have lost their lives on PCH due to reckless driving, according to Fix PCH, a website by a group of community members working to address and communicate the dangers of PCH to the community. “Change on PCH is so important,” said Bridget Thompson, roommate of Niamh, Asha and Peyton, at the Jan. 8 City Council meeting. “But not change in the matter of months or years. Change now.” The City Council already declared Malibu was in a local state of emergency at the Nov. 13 City Council meeting, stating safety on PCH should be their main priority. “Our communities have seen too much tragedy,” Councilmember Bruce Silverstein said. “Enough is enough. We have to take action now.” PCH Safety Taskforce The City developed the PCH Safety Taskforce immediately after the accident to brainstorm ways to make the road safer. The taskforce includes law enforcement officers, traffic engineers, members of Caltrans and local and state officials. They met for the first time Nov. 14, according to the City Council website. L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath attended the meeting and said she is working on permanent enhanced traffic safety enforcement, according to the meeting. “Sometimes, thresholds for action require devastating things to happen,” Horvath said. “We can’t allow for that
If the loss of so many lives isn’t enough, then what is? We cannot wait for it to be your daughters, your sisters and your best friends. Bridget Thompson Senior
Mary Elisabeth | Photo Editor
58 “ghost tires” act as a memorial for the 58 people who have been killed on Pacific Coast Highway since 2010. Set up on the 23600 block of Pacific Coast Highway, the four tires at the front of the memorial were placed to honor Niamh, Petyon, Deslyn and Asha.
anymore. Our communities have seen too much tragedy.” Ben Allen, a senator from California, and State Assembly member Jacqui Irwin also attended and said they will be co-authoring a bill to allow the City to install speed cameras on PCH. “We all deserve a safer way to live every day here in Malibu,” Horvath said. PCH Signal Synchronization Project The City is also working through a “Strategic Priority Project List,” according to the City Council website. On that list, there is a PCH signal synchronization project — which would install communication signals on PCH to report back to the Caltrans Traffic Management Center so Caltrans could operate the signals on PCH remotely. Caltrans controls PCH, but the City of Malibu is committed to working closely with Caltrans to make the road safer, according to a City of Malibu press release. Streetwork for this project started between Topanga Canyon and Big Rock Drive on Dec. 4, according to the press release. City of Malibu Plans for Safety On Jan. 8, Mayor Steve Uhring and Silverstein drafted a plan to address PCH safety to the City Council. The plan Uhring and Silverstein presented is designed to “implement traffic calming measures,” according to the City Council Agenda Report. “We cannot fail again,” Uhring said. “This is our chance to make it right, and we
are going to do that.” Within Uhring and Silverstein’s plan, they want the City to impose a curfew with only some exceptions, place electronic warning signs on PCH to slow down and bring in more “decoy” law enforcement vehicles. In addition, they want to add temporary stop lights, pedestrian crosswalks and speed bumps, look into using self-driving cars to slow down traffic and eliminate parking on the road in certain areas of PCH. Additionally, they would like to lower the speed limit to 35 or 40 mph for open stretches of PCH and 25 mph for stretches of PCH with homes or businesses. Barry Stewart, Peyton’s father, wrote a letter to the City Council on Dec. 26, also advocating for these changes. “I believe these measures balance the legitimate need of law-abiding drivers to proceed efficiently with the need to minimize traffic injuries and deaths,” Stewart wrote. Stewart also came up with his own list of safety changes after talking with a number of traffic safety experts, L.A. County Sheriff’s Department members and Malibu residents, Stewart wrote. On his list, Stewart included using speed cameras to slow down traffic, raising the fines for speeding and lowering the speed limit to 35 mph. “A 4 mile drive at 35 mph takes only 90 seconds longer than a 4 mile drive at 45 mph,” Stewart wrote. The City Council listened to public comment and heard the issue at the Jan. 8 meeting. They said they plan to address the report at their next meeting Jan. 22. Several community mem-
bers spoke in public comment, including Pepperdine students. “Our shared connection with PCH has been marred by unimaginable tragedy, tragedies that have shaken the very foundations of our tight-knit community,” Student Government Association President Michael Sugimoto said to the Council. Sugimoto spoke on behalf of all Pepperdine students but also as someone who was deeply affected by the tragedies, he said. “We will consistently pursue these changes until concrete advancements are realized, securing the safety and welfare of our community on Pacific Coast Highway,” Sugimoto said.
Thompson also spoke at the meeting, saying she is there to speak for her best friends who died because she knew, if this happened to her, they would be at City Council advocating for her. “If the loss of so many lives isn’t enough, then what is?” Thompson said. “We cannot wait. We cannot wait for it to be your daughters, your sisters and your best friends.”
abby.wilt@pepperdine.edu
Photo Courtesy of Bridget Thompson (Left to R) Deslyn Williams, Niamh Rolston, Asha Weir and Peyton Stewart smile and pose with friends. Deslyn, Peyton, Asha and Niamh were killed in a crash on PCH on Oct. 7.
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January 19, 2024 | NEWS | Pepperdine Graphic Media
Pepperdine students stay on time by hitchhiking Kate Elise Norris Guest Contributor The act of traveling to class by getting free rides from passing cars is rapidly gaining traction on the Pepperdine campus. Students said hitchhiking allows them to meet new people, gets them to class on time and is faster and more convenient than taking the shuttle. “It’s just an easy way to get from place to place when the shuttles are not coming or you don’t want to walk up the hill,” sophomore Maggie Fern said. While students said they enjoy soliciting rides from strangers to get around campus, campus officials recommended taking the shuttle. The Trend of Hitchhiking Philosophy Professor Oleksii Vedernikov defined hitchhiking as, “An act of soliciting and getting rides from random drivers passing by the road without prior arrangement,” in a 2016 Open Geospatial Data journal article. Students solicit rides on campus by waving down a car or sticking out their thumbs. Sometimes, friends pick them up, and other times, total strangers offer them a ride.
by sticking out her thumb. “I think that’s the best way to get a ride because it’s funny and grabs their attention,” Winn said. Junior Griffee Mapps said he prefers to pick up friends but has recently begun picking up strangers. “I saw someone in need of a ride and felt like being a good person and picking them up,” Mapps said. Mapps said he often sees students sticking their thumbs out at bus stops when they don’t want to wait for the shuttle. Winn said hitchhiking enhances the tight-knit Pepperdine community. Stranger Danger
Photo courtesy of Kate Elise Norris Sophomore Allisen Winn stands on the side of Huntsinger Circle with her thumb out, attempting to get a ride in September. She said she is an avid participant in hitchhiking on campus.
hitchhiking on campus. As the Department of Public Safety, their main concern is keeping those on campus safe, Steinbrenner wrote. “DPS is not aware of any incidents of students hitchhiking on campus and does not recommend anyone hitchhike due to safety concerns,” Steinbrenner wrote.
While it is easy to get caught up in the fun of hitchhiking, students must also be cautious when soliciting rides from strangers, Torrado said. Pepperdine places guard gates at entrances and utilizes Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers to keep campus safe.
Daniela Torrado Junior “One time, I actually ended up with an Uber driver. They were about to go deliver a cake to a person.”
Griffee Mapps Junior
Allisen Winn Sophmore “I was driving in Rho, and this guy stopped us asking for a ride to his car parked in Drescher. It turned out he was childhood best friends with one of our friends.”
Junior Daniela Torrado said she used to wait until she saw a friend, but now, the shuttle is so packed that she stops random people for rides. “I think a lot of people are scared to do it,” Torrado said. “But I’m not, and I encourage it.” Torrado has been getting rides from strangers for the past month and said it works perfectly fine. Torrado stops cars by waving them down when they drive by her. Sophomore Allisen Winn said she prefers to signal cars
point. Hitchhiking can also be helpful when the shuttles are running behind schedule. “Unforeseen events like construction, jaywalking, car doors unexpectedly opening and more can delay the departure schedule,” Nya Neal wrote in a 2022 Pepp Post article. Neal found that the shuttles were usually on time; although, her article was written before construction began on The Mountain.
“It’s a good way to meet friends and people you probably wouldn’t meet otherwise, and it’s a funny conversation starter asking, “Why are you hitchhiking on campus?”
“On campus, it is even more safe because the officers know who is coming in and out,” Torrado said. “If you’re not a Pepperdine student or faculty member on campus, then they check you before you go in.” Winn said she takes extra precautions when picking up hitchhikers. “Unless they look like they don’t go to Pepperdine, I’ll pick them up,” Winn said. Winn said she avoids giving or getting rides from people who look older because they may not be students. Winn thinks it is safer and more comfortable to ride with fellow students. Public Safety Chief Britta Steinbrenner provided a written statement warning against
Hitchhikers are more than twice as likely to be the victims of crimes than perpetrators of major crimes, according to a 1974 U.S. Department of Justice study on crimes and accidents relating to hitchhiking in California. The study is one of few to ever be done on hitchhiking. The U.S. Department of Justice found that hitchhikers were likely to be victims 71.7% of the time and perpetrators 28.3% of the time. However, hitchhiking statistics on Pepperdine’s campus could be vastly different due to its location and privacy. Campus Shuttles Hitchhiking
Versus
Campus Operations Director Britta Steinbrenner povided a written statement relating to the times that shuttles run on campus. “We consistently have three shuttles on route until 5:15 p.m., each day. On weekends, we offer on-campus services from 12 p.m., to 8 p.m.,” McGuire wrote. Students said hitchhiking is faster than taking shuttles and allows for a closer drop-off
Maggie Fern Sophmore “My friend and I got picked up by a guy who was here to visit his friends. We convinced him to apply to Pepperdine, and he told us he was going to let us know if he ends up coming here.”
The mass amounts of construction that affect shuttle departures are just one reason students are avoiding the bus. “You don’t have to wait in the heat outside,” Torrado said. “You have literally a seat for yourself, and they drop you right next to the actual place, so it’s very convenient.” There are also certain times when the shuttles do not run, such as weekend mornings. This forces students to walk up hills and stairs in what are sometimes uncomfortable climates. A Way to Make New Friend All of the students interviewed agreed that they have had positive experiences while hitchhiking. Students said hitchhiking allows them to meet new people and participate in meaningful conversations with strangers. The interaction can allow students to make new friends or
get a good story to tell. Fern said she has gotten rides from all sorts of people. “I was trying to get up to the law school, and Connie Horton, vice president for student affairs, picked me up and drove me up there,” Fern said. “She was really positive and nice. I wouldn’t usually talk to her, but I got a chance to because she drove me to the law school.” Fern has also had the opportunity to catch up with old friends while hitchhiking. “I like that I don’t know who’s going to pick me up, and I can talk to new people,” Fern said. “You never know who you’re going to meet.” Mapps said he enjoys the positivity that hitchhiking brings to campus. “It kind of lightens up the overly academic and rough schedules that we have and makes it fun to meet new people,” Mapps said. Winn agreed and said she still says hello to people who have given her rides around campus. “It’s the easiest way to make friends,” Winn said. Yay or Nay Students recommended hitchhiking to their fellow classmates for a multitude of reasons — the overwhelming one being that it is fun. Torrado recommended both getting rides from strangers and giving rides to strangers on campus. “It’s nice to do an act of service for another person,” Torrado said. She will often offer rides to students she sees walking on campus or sitting at the bus stop, she said. Fern’s memorable experiences relating to hitchhiking fuel her to continue soliciting rides from strangers. “Try it out,” Fern said. “You’ll meet great people, it’s fun, it gets you there quickly and it’s overall just a good experience.”
kate.norris@pepperdine.edu
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January 19, 2024 | NEWS | Pepperdine Graphic Media
Jumpstart bridges achievement gap in elementary schools Millie Auchard Staff Photographer In 2021, Kelsey Carlton, junior and Jumpstart team leader, was in a Jumpstart classroom reading the class a book about a chameleon. Out of nowhere, a student came up to her, gave her a hug and said he loved her, Carlton said. “It was just something I will always hold on to forever,” Carlton said. “You may not think you’re making an impact in these children’s lives, but that little action that he did just proves that you really are making a difference.” Jumpstart is a national organization aimed at decreasing the achievement gap in the U.S., according to the Pepperdine Jumpstart website. The achievement gap is the difference between the academic performance of low-income or minority students and their wealthier or white counterparts, according to EducationWeek. Pepperdine introduced Jumpstart as an opportunity for student employment in 2002, wrote Tess Marmé, campus champion for Jumpstart and associate director of student employment, in a Nov. 17 email to the Graphic. In
the early 2000s, students often asked about opportunities to work with children. At the time, Jumpstart was a new organization looking for student workers, Marmé wrote. Associate Deans of Student Affairs Brad Dudley and Kindelee Pfremmer De Long worked on a grant to bring Jumpstart to Pepperdine. “The Jumpstart program is working toward the day when every child in America will enter kindergarten prepared to succeed,” Marmé wrote. Teams of six to eight Pepperdine students go to schools across Los Angeles twice a week to provide “early literacy intervention and socio-emotional learning skills” to preschool students, Marmé wrote. Pepperdine’s Jumpstart program is partnered with 12 classrooms and about 240 students, Marmé wrote. Jumpstart teams work with preschoolers for an entire school year. Jumpstart’s slogan is “children first,” Carlton said. Jumpstart teaches children from low-income neighborhoods who start kindergarten 60% behind their affluent peers, Marmé wrote. “When children start behind, they are likely to stay behind,” Marmé wrote. “A child
not reading at grade level by the end of third grade is three times more likely to drop out of high school.” Jumpstart conducts pre- and post-assessments of the children in order to track the developments they make, Marmé wrote. Last year, 91% of Jumpstart students improved in language and literacy, according to the Jumpstart website. An additional 73% of Jumpstart children showed average, above average, superior or very superior test scores in an assessment at the end of the year, according to the same website. Her most prominent memories from childhood come from different “pockets of positivity” in her life, Carlton said. She tries to give this to the preschoolers she teaches through smiles, high fives, hugs, paying attention to them or general positivity. “If you can bring a smile or laughter to one of these children, I think that’s making a difference,” Carlton said. Working with the students is a good challenge, said Cora Lau, junior and Jumpstart team leader. Adaptability is key to teaching the students — Lau realized having students teach a lesson helps maintain their engagement.
Photo courtesy of Kelsey Carlton Kelsey Carlton and a Jumpstart student show their art projects to the camera at Vanalden Elementary School on Feb. 11, 2022. Jumpstart serves children from underserved communities, according to the Pepperdine Jumpstart website.
“I like that it’s never the type of job where you can completely nail it,” Lau said. “You never know what the kids are going to say and what they’re going to do.” The time commitment with Jumpstart can be stressful during busy periods of the school year, Lau said. However, Jumpstart helps her keep a healthy distance from her academics. “When you’re with your team or the other people in Jumpstart, it’s a really good community of people, so it [school] doesn’t feel super heavy,” Lau said. “You really just get to meet all different kinds of people,” Carlton said. “And it is a work study program, so it’s most
likely people that you can relate to in the sense of maybe financials or maybe just the same kind of growing up.” Overall, Carlton said she loves working with children. She plans to continue to be a part of Jumpstart her senior year. “You could be having the worst day of your life, and as soon as you step into a classroom, it takes one kid just to look at you and say, ‘Hi, Jumpstart,’ and that just brightens up your whole day,” Carlton said.
melissa.auchard@pepperdine.edu
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Januar y 19, 2024
The Graphic
pepperdin e - graphic .com
PERSPECTIVES THE PGM STAFF Executive Editor Abby Wilt
Managing Editor Victoria La Ferla
DEI Team
Editor: Joe Heinemann
News Team
News Editor: Nina Fife Senior Reporter: Ava Heinert News Assistant Editor: Rachel Flynn News Assistants: Viviana Diaz Shalom Montgomery News Staff Writers: Ellya Asatryan Irene Tao
Staff Editorial: Allow students more time to move out Graphic Staff Editor’s Note: PGM staff members decide on the topic of a Staff Ed together. The staff as a whole provides opinions and content included in this Staff Ed to provide thoughts about and shed light on solutions for happenings at Pepperdine.
T
he end of an academic year is an exciting time for all. As a chapter closes, a new one opens. For some, excitement creeps in as they are about to embark on a summertime adventure, whether that’s in the form of a summer study abroad program, a vacation or a trip back home. However, preparing for the summer of a lifetime often comes with the stress and panic of finals week and moving out. Students are expected to leave 24 hours after their last final exam or by 9 a.m., Friday the week of finals. For every hour a student is late for check-out, they are charged $50, according to the Pepperdine Community website. The last possible final exam ends Thursday at 4 p.m. Students who have their last final then don’t get 24 hours to pack up and clean their dorm, let alone do it according to Pepperdine’s standards. Failure to appropriately clean a room results in a fine of $100. If the kitchen area is deemed “unacceptable,” the fine is $200, according to the Pepperdine Community website. If it’s deemed “extreme,” the fine is $300, according to
the Pepperdine Community website. But there is no clear definition of what constitutes “unacceptable” and “extreme.” For students who are running out of time to move out due to final exams, they may not be able to move out properly, and there is potential to be fined. For some students, leaving campus isn’t as simple as throwing your luggage in the trunk of your car and driving home. Many students have to look into flights, find somewhere to store their larger belongings and arrange a ride to the airport, all while trying to prepare for finals. Such is the case of out-of-state and international students as they prepare to move out.
For students who are running out of time to move out due to final exams, they may not be able to move out properly, and there is potential to be fined. Graphic Staff
Not to mention, graduating seniors have to prepare for and take finals, say their last goodbyes to friends and faculty, attend graduation celebrations
and wrap up any loose ends, all while having to meet the tight deadline of moving out. First-year students get a whole week to properly move in during New Student Orientation, and while that much time isn’t needed to move out, extending the deadline slightly would help significantly. Instead of having students move out 24 hours after their last final, all students should be given the same deadline and have the deadline be pushed to 5 p.m., Friday rather than 9 a.m. This can give more time for students to properly move out and alleviate stress. This eliminates the requirement for students to move out while other students are still on campus. Additionally, expectations should be made clear about what would result in a fine, what is considered “extreme” and what is considered “unacceptable,” as it would help students be made more aware of what is needed of them as they leave. The university can also provide students with storage unit options and a way to make them accessible for students who live out of state or internationally, like providing transportation to and from the storage units. What students need at the end of a busy and tiresome semester is grace from the university in the form of making the move-out process as easy as possible.
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Life & Arts Editor: Madison Luc Senior Reporter: Beth Gonzales Life & Arts Assistant Editor: Kylie Kowalski Life & Arts Assistants: Ivan Vicente Manriquez Amanda Monahan Samantha Wareing Life & Arts Staff Writers: Emma Ibarra Sophia Luo
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Perspectives Editor: Fiona Creadon Perspectives Assistant Editor: Laury Li Perspectives Assistants: Caitlin Murray Ana Villarreal Perspectives Staff Writers: Chloe Anna Austria Alyssa Johnson Faith Oh Adri Sahakian Comic Writer: Luke Franklin
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Sports Editor: Tony Gleason Sports Assistant Editor: Justin Rodriguez Sports Assistant: Joe Heinemann Staff Writers: Alex Clarke Megan Harkey
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Digital Editor: Gabrielle Salgado
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Pixel Editor: Yamillah Hurtado Social Media Producer: Christina Buravtsova Assistant Multimedia Producer: Milena D’Andrea Video Social Producer: Emma Schnaible NewsWaves Pixel Assistant: Rachel Flynn
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Copy Chief: Aubrey Hirsch L&A Copy Editor: Lila Rendel Perspectives Copy Editor: Paige Johnston
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Photo Editor: Mary Elisabeth Assistant Photo Editor: Perse Klopp Staff Photographers: Millie Auchard Riley Haywood Harley McVicker Olivia Schneider Liam Zieg Guest Contributor: Sharon Stevens
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Creative Director: Skyler Hawkins Assistant Lead Designer: Will Fallmer Design Assistants: Kiara Bromberg Marley Penagos Heera Sattani
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Art Editor: Jackie Lopez Assistant Art Editor: Sarah Rietz Staff Artists: Tim Gay Ella Katz Caroline Maloof Adri Sahakian Cara Tang Adriana Zepeda
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Podcast Producer: Joe Allgood Podcast Assistant: Nancy He
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Abroad Correspondent: Hunter Dunn
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January 19, 2024 | PERSPECTIVES | Pepperdine Graphic Media
Rant: New logo disappoints Will Fallmer Assistant Lead Designer Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
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any students were surprised by the “hard launch” of a refreshed Pepperdine logo unveiled by the university’s Instagram account Jan. 8. Similar to many of the students who commented below Pepperdine’s Jan. 8 Instagram post, I am also disappointed in the university’s sudden and suprising rebrand. Upon first glance, the new logo instantly exudes a modern and minimalist aesthetic. Reminiscent of the Pepperdine University official seal, the new brandmark features Phillips Theme Tower against the Santa Monica Mountains and above the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, the emphasis on simplicity has resulted in a visual representation that fails to evoke a distinct collegiate or distinguished feel. Furthermore, as a fan of Pep-
Sarah Rietz | Assistant Art Editor perdine’s now old logo, I was also disappointed to see the official font replaced. The new typeface, consisting of a blocky and apparently condensed serif font, lacks the unique elegance and traditional appeal of its predecessor. The use of the specific secondary sans serif font to embody the “University” within the new logo is another questionable design decision. While the previous logo incorporated a similar secondary typography, the new fonts clash in a manner that is unexpected due to their disappointedly generic nature. While I understand the need for change to remain marketable and relevant in our quickly evolving world, Pepperdine’s surprise rebrand has failed to leave a positive impression on me. Although I see the potential for the brandmark to eventually resonate with me and my fellow disappointed peers, I do not believe it effectively conveys the prestige or mission of academic excellence that Pepperdine University claims it reinforces. will.fallmer@pepperdine.edu
Rave: Look on the bright side of new logo Skyler Hawkins Creative Director Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
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epperdine updated its logo. Let’s look at it through a designer lens. A logo, especially one of this caliber, holds power. It is one of the first things you see and, because of that, requires significant thought and preparation in its design. Pepperdine’s logo acts as a symbol. It’s a glimpse into all things Pepperdine. It’s jam-packed with the morals and qualities that the university stands for. When considering its design, thought definitely went into how to make the logo stand out. Because this is a symbol that represents a university, there’s much more that’s being considered other than the aesthetics. For example, the designers have to think about user-friendliness. Is the design clear and easy to comprehend?
Jackie Lopez | Art Editor
Most importantly, in this case, who’s the audience you’re trying to attract with the design? Let’s dive into the aesthetic changes to the logo. It’s much more illustrative, more modern, more trendy. It’s a perfect logo to attract its main audience: prospective students who are most likely in their teens or early 20s. This is a group that’s very attracted to trends and keeping up with them. This logo update is almost a business strategy — a way to attract new students in a creative manner. The Adobe Illustrator-esque style is a popular design choice because of its simplicity and modernity. Pepperdine’s choice to use this style for the graphic of the famous Pepperdine cross and its scenery is a smart, trendy update.
skyler.hawkins@pepperdine.edu
Turn hobbies into games, if it helps Alyssa Johnson Perspectives Staff Writer Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
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n online reader spaces such as BookTube, BookTok and countless blogs, the Goodreads goal is ubiquitous. Readers set goals for each month and add up the number of books read each year, often reaching a grand total of 50 to 100. This method of assigning deadlines to hobbies is not exclusive to reading. Writers often use websites and contests such as NaNoWriMo that guide them through word count goals. There is a tendency, in ourselves and in our education system, to turn recreational activities into competitive games. Even athletic programs in school are typically focused on nurturing competition with about 60% of high school athletes reporting unhealthy levels of stress, according to a 2023 study by Ganti and colleagues. This practice is not inherently bad. It does not work for everyone and certainly needs improvement in school settings, but it can be helpful in several aspects. The advantages of setting deadlines are particularly present for people transitioning into adulthood. When you begin learning to juggle school, multiple jobs and a social life, it can be easy to allow passions and hobbies to fall by the wayside.
Personally, I have loved to read since early childhood, but it is a relatively time-consuming hobby and is easy to ignore in my spare time. It is easier to do something that requires less concentration such as scrolling on my phone or even completing a low-effort assignment. By keeping a low-stakes list of books I would like to get to by the end of the month, I can begin to make plans for allocating time toward reading. I do not feel guilty when that goal is not met, but I feel proud of myself when I do manage to read everything I planned to. However, there are also downsides to this approach to hobbies, particularly in an educational setting. For example, creating deadlines for students to read “for fun” may cause stress, which could cause them to dread picking up a book. A 2023 study by Martin-Chang and colleagues suggests that early experiences with reading in school can impact lifelong reading habits. This information is crucial for developing strategies that encourage students to read. A helpful approach may involve allowing kids in a classroom to read from a personal book for a certain amount of time per day without requiring them to meet a goal or complete quizzes. This would allow them to comprehend and enjoy the story for themselves rather than for a grade. The approach of creating games around hobbies reveals an obsession with productivity. When even passive
Jackie Lopez | Art Editor activities such as watching Netflix become tasks to procrastinate, the association between free time and relaxation can be lost. Sometimes we need discipline and dedication to make time for the things we love, and it is good to be intentional about how you spend your time. However, even for me, creating self-imposed deadlines may create pressure, which can make the hobby feel like another daily task. Ultimately, the extent to which deadlines, goals and games are helpful can depend on the individual. If strict requirements and competition make it more difficult to face the task or lead to procrastination, creating to-do lists for the movies you want to watch may not be the best idea.
If you benefit from structure and are positively motivated by deadlines, creating a Goodreads goal or hobby checklist might allow you to finally make time for the activities you have less time for. In difficult phases of life, it is especially important to set aside time away from work. While work is important, our passions are what make us who we are. Personally, I become more energized about life and more appreciative of others when I am consistently engaging with things that make me happy. It is crucial to create time for our hobbies and, therefore, necessary to find the methods that work best for us. alyssa.johnson@pepperdine.edu
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January 19, 2024 | PERSPECTIVES | Pepperdine Graphic Media
Fiona Creadon Perspectives Editor Use time wisely to combat graduation dread Transparency Item: This is an advice column that rotates writers and is based on new topics each week. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer. Hey Waves,
Adri Sahakian | Perspectives Staff Writer
Kids’ cartoons can relieve stress, anxiety for adults Adri Sahakian Perspectives Staff Writer
Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
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hen entering the world of adulthood, there’s an unspoken shift in tone. Life begins to feel more serious as people navigate through pursuing higher education, getting a career, starting a family, etc. There isn’t as much time to take a trip down memory lane or delve into activities that are seen as “childish.” A couple of weeks ago, I rewatched “Total Drama World Tour,” one of my all-time favorite cartoon shows. Part of me felt guilty for wasting my time on a kids’ cartoon instead of spending it doing something possibly useful for my future. However, the other half of me was in pure bliss. It was a great way to take a temporary break from the exhaustion of keeping up with projects and deadlines. There shouldn’t be any shame in taking a bit of time to indulge in a feel-good cartoon. In fact, there’s a whole world of psychological benefits connected to it. Watching Kids’ Cartoons Releases Endorphins Endorphins are “feel-good”
chemicals the body produces. They’re released from the brain and sent throughout the nervous system to help relieve pain and reduce stress. Cartoons are a fun form of television, full of interesting characters and silly storytelling. One can’t help but get lost in the wackiness and burst out laughing at a funny moment in the show. Along with the short-term benefits of instant amusement, there are also long-term ones. “As far as watching cartoons go, it’s been previously proven that laughing and dopamine lower blood pressure and release endorphins,” said Jack Cahalane, chief of mood and anxiety services at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, in a 2017 interview with HuffPost News.
step away from the reality of their emotions, according to Scout. Children’s Cartoons Are a Source of Nostalgia
Nostalgia is “a sentimental longing or wistful attraction to the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations,” according to Google. The Fountain of youth: The impact of nostalgia on youthfulness and implications for health study found, when experiencing nostalgia, the mind mentally transports to an earlier era of one’s life, allowing a person to re-experience the positivity, youthfulness and simplicity of the past. The experience of watching cartoons — and the cartoons themselves — are stored in the mind as happy memories, which are then Kids’ Cartoons Can Act as taken into adulthood with positive Coping Mechanism associations, according to AlignThoughts. During periods of anxiety or Watching the cartoon, one redepression, watching a light-heart- calls the memories associated with ed kids’ cartoon is a great way to it, allowing the viewer to re-excope with the negative feelings, perience those positive emotions according to Medium. and uplift their mood. These cartoons include themes Turning to kids’ cartoons as a of teamwork and friendship and source of stress relief should be show how good always overcomes normalized. People can improve evil. These themes restore optitheir health and mental well-being mism and reduce levels of sadness while watching a fun, light-heartin the viewer, according to Vice. ed show for leisure. The positive environment of the show can also act as a form of escapism for the viewer, transporting them into its simple world. Focusing on the show, the viewer can adri.sahakian@pepperdine.edu
It’s hard to believe that graduation is only a few months away. It is even crazier to think that we are closer to graduation than the start of the fall semester. I imagine I’m not the only senior who feels a mix of emotions as the days continue to fly by. I’m excited to be done with school, yet I’m scared to enter the real world. I feel sad about the reality that none of my friends or I will continue to live in Malibu after graduation. I am intimidated by the job market and all the political strife that is looming at the end of this year. Most importantly, I want to make the most of the time I have left. I have always considered myself as the type of person to cherish time, but now that the days are numbered, my normal level of gratitude does not feel like enough. So, here are some practical tips I have compiled: Take pictures of everything. Take pictures of friends, meals, your dorm or apartment room, sunsets from campus, all the wildlife that roam around Pepperdine. Do new things with friends. Try the local restaurant that always looked good but you never managed to go to. Find a new beach spot. Go on all the Malibu hikes. Prioritize all the experiences that have been put off over the course of your time at Pepperdine. A good way to cope with transitions or emotional turmoil is to journal about it. This is a way to purge emotions, work out the nuances within them and have a way to look back on a period of time. Finally, say “yes” to everything. Say “yes” to driving to Ralphs at 11 p.m., to get a slice of $5 cake. Say “yes” to starting a new show with your roommates. Say “yes” to going to the beach to watch sunrises with friends. Say “yes” to trying new workout classes at Pepperdine. Take every opportunity that is presented in the final months before graduation. That is the only way to truly make the most of a final semester. With care,
Send your questions to PGM via email: peppgraphicmedia@gmail.com
January 19, 2024 | PERSPECTIVES | Pepperdine Graphic Media
Combat
friendship recession Faith Oh Perspectives Staff Writer Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
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s time marches faster and faster toward my final years in undergrad, I cannot help but ponder my current friendships and wonder what will happen after graduation. My concerns about friendship are not unfounded. Daniel Cox, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, coined the term “friendship recession.” It refers to the increase in the number of adults who lack a certain number of close friends. Florence Ann Romano, a personal growth strategist, also appeared on Fox 13 Seattle and believes the friendship recession may have stemmed from the COVID-19 pandemic. People no longer knew how to socialize and found staying at home to be easier than going out and talking to others. As a huge introvert and pretty reserved person, I admit it can often
be tempting to choose alone time instead of going out with friends. However, I did not fully register the impact the pandemic had on friendships until I reflected on my own relationships. When the government mandated quarantine in 2020, I was at a close friend’s house, laughing and making Dalgona coffee. I did not see her again until two years later, and things were much different by then. I regretted not talking much with her in the years between, but I also think a shift occurred during the pandemic as well — a shift in which I became somewhat complacent. Friendships are important for various aspects of our lives, including our mental and physical health. They are probably part of some of our best memories and have also been there for comfort and support.
My concerns about friendship are not unfounded. Faith Oh Perspectives Staff Writer
The benefits of friendships are precisely why people should put in more effort to cultivate friendships. A necessary step to making friends is for a person to admit that they want to make one, which can be difficult since not having enough friends can cause a sense of shame,
according to Big Think. Considering what environments provide the most opportunity for someone to make friends can be a good first step to forming new frienships. Personally, I socialize most naturally when there is a shared goal. For instance, I have easily befriended many different people at once through volunteering. “Research suggests it takes 34 hours of time together for an acquaintance to elevate to a friend. It’s a concept called ‘mere exposure,’” according to Women’s Health. It is OK to also simply be acquaintances or general friends with someone — not everyone will be your best friend. The effort itself will open opportunities for further connection and benefit your own well-being too. People who have friends are less likely to suffer from depression and
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Ade Zepeda | Staff Artist less likely to die from heart problems and some chronic diseases, according to the American Psychological Association. The article also found that “weak” ties such as interactions with acquaintances and strangers can also boost one’s mental health. The friendship recession is not merely a general social phenomenon but a poignant reality that may pervade any individual’s life. Putting in the effort to maintain contact with close friends and also remain open to meeting others is an act of kindness and care to both yourself and others.
faith.oh@pepperdine.edu
Alarm clocks unnecessarily quicken pace of life Caitlin Murray Perspectives Assistant Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
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s I was walking into the Pepperdine Payson Library a few weeks ago, I heard the default Apple alarm tone, “Radar,” suddenly, loudly,
go off. My body froze. I stopped in my tracks. Stress came over me. The feeling that I was late clouded my mind. My uncontrollable response to the alarm made me realize the effect its sound has on me. I am a servant to my alarm clock. When it calls, I answer. I am not saying that setting a schedule is a bad thing. Alarms are important for people hoping to maintain an efficient and balanced life. However, quickness to respond to alarms suggests most modern Americans have excessively strict schedules. Fast responses to alarms contribute to the overall fast pace of life in the modern age, especially for college students. Students have little margin in our lives to dilly-dally; instead, we stick to our schedules, according to the American Institute of Stress. “People don’t have quiet time in between the things they are doing,” first-year Alejandro Roca said. “The need to constantly be busy is taking over quiet time and slow-paced living.” The sounds of alarms evoke a fight-or-flight response, which increases anxiety. This is especially true when alarms wake us up, according to Sleepstation, a sleep improvement company. Sleep inertia, a transitional state between sleeping and waking, increases when waking from loud noises,
according to Sleepstation. Increased sleep inertia is responsible for symptoms such as indecisiveness, grumpiness, confusion and muscle weakness. Altering the sounds of alarms can reduce the effects of sleep inertia. Other sound choices include white noise, melodic music or upbeat music. Alternative non-audible alarms such as light-based or vibrating alarms are other viable options. However, the best solution is waking up naturally. Unfortunately, this is an unreasonable expectation for most people, but certain techniques such as setting a bedtime routine and going to sleep at the same time every night makes it easier to wake up without an alarm. That being said, why is waking up naturally such an unreasonable idea? Have the demands of modern living robbed us of one of the most basic human functions? For the majority of human history, before the Industrial Revolution, humans practiced biphasic sleep, sleeping in two distinct periods in one day. For example, the ancient Egyptians would sleep for four to six hours and then wake up for a period of rest or leisure before returning to sleep for another four to six hours, according to Dawn Health. A biphasic sleep schedule also increases exposure to natural light because the first phase of sleep generally begins shortly after dusk, according to Dawn Health. Natural light regulates the body’s internal clock, allowing people to naturally wake up. However, the increase in factories and the need for a consistent workforce during the Industrial Revolution led to the adoption of a monophasic sleep schedule, according to Dawn Health. The monophasic sleep schedule, which involves sleeping in one consistent chunk, is the same schedule that we follow today, according to the University of Arizona School of Medicine. Corporate America follows a workday schedule that promotes this habit. I am not suggesting reverting to a biphasic sleep
Jackie Lopez | Art Editor schedule or ditching work to sleep in. However, getting eight or more hours of sleep, sleeping when it’s dark outside and trying alternative alarm clock sounds may limit the panic we feel each morning. Mindfulness over our sleeping patterns and responses to audible stimuli are important keys in achieving work-life balance, according to Sleepstation. Alarm clocks are useful tools that fill a need in today’s fast-paced life. Nevertheless, people must limit the stress alarms bring to their lives.
caitlin.murray@pepperdine.edu
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Janurar y 19, 2024
The Graphic
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LIFE & ARTS
Students choose Malibu for family, friends and their future Madison Luc Life & Arts Editor Living in a castle, dining on delicious pasta dishes or marveling at the beauty of Patagonia are all reasons why students dream of studying abroad — 80% of undergraduate students study abroad, according to Pepperdine’s website. However, some students elect to stay on the Malibu campus instead of traveling overseas because of their academic plans and desire to stay close to home, friends and family. Sophmore Psychology major Heavenlyn Turner said the primary reason she chose to stay in Malibu was to stay near family and her friends on campus. Two ways she connects with the community are working at Jumpstart and serving in Word Up.
Jackie Lopez | Art Editor
Photo courtesy of Heavenlyn Turner Heavenlyn Turner posing at Cafe on 27 in December. She said she spent the time catching up and celebrating a couple of friends’ birthdays.
Turner is the head of logistics and marketing for Word Up, a student-led ministry that gathers on campus to sing a mixture of gospel, traditional and contemporary worship music. “I love it there,” Turner said. “There’s a lot that we’re doing on campus, and the community itself is something I don’t think I would ever want to leave.” Additionally, Turner appreciates living in Malibu due to the ability to take classes specifically for her major and minor instead of only GE courses, she said. While Pepperdine may offer some major courses abroad, the options vary for each program and year. Students can check course offerings on the International Programs website. Part of what Turner said she cherishes most about the academic sphere is her classmates and professors.
“I love the psych community here and also the art community here,” Turner said. Attending the Malibu campus provides opportunities to make relationships with the larger Pepperdine community, Turner said. As an Orientation Leader for New Student Orientation (NSO), she had the chance to meet new students and their families. “It’s a great opportunity to socialize again,” Turner said. “Plus, there’s other opportunities like NSO — that’s a really fulfilling opportunity. Getting to greet the new families — give back to the school a little bit.” Turner said she is content with her decision to stay in Malibu instead of going abroad. “Everything that I truly wanted to do — that I had a passion for — it was here in Malibu,” Turner said. Junior Psychology major Anna Huene said her main motivation to stay on the Malibu campus was her academic plan, which requires taking specific courses only offered in Malibu, and she also wanted to participate in research. “I needed to have certain experiences in psychology such as research or internships,” Huene said. “And, if I went abroad, I wouldn’t have as much immediate access to that, and it’d be a lot harder.” Huene plans to pursue a doctorate in psychology, which
takes another five to seven years after finishing an undergraduate degree to complete, she said. Her desire to finish graduate studies quickly and start her career early motivated her decision to graduate in three years instead of the typical four years.
Photo courtesy of Anna Huene Anna Huene with her puppy Astra, taken at her home in October. Huene adopted Astra as soon as she could leave the litter, and she is now 7 months old, Huene said.
Besides studying and going to classes, Huene has spent time with her family and friends — the furry ones too. She has a cat named Autumn and a puppy named Astra. “I’m really close with my mom,” Huene said. “And I’ve known my cat since fourth grade, and she misses me while I’m gone.”
In Malibu, Huene has continued to grow her relationships with other friends who chose not to study abroad. “I’ve spent time hanging out with the people I knew that stayed in Malibu, having meaningful conversations with them as well,” Huene said. While studying abroad may be the best decision for other students, Huene recognizes her goals and path may look different than those of others, she said. “Sometimes I hear about the adventures of the people I know who went abroad, and it’s like, ‘Oh my goodness, it’s so cool and amazing for you,’” Huene said. “But, at the same time, I know that knowing me and knowing my personality and my end goal desires for Pepperdine and my education here, I do believe that I made the right choice.” Junior Nathan Thomas said being on a pre-med track influenced his decision to stay in Malibu. “They [Pepperdine IP] don’t offer a lot of pre-med courses abroad,” Thomas said. “And that was something that was a really big deal for me, especially because I want to graduate a little bit earlier.” While in Malibu, Thomas said he serves as a Resident Advisor (RA) for Seaside Residence Hall. In this position, he has both enjoyed and created a sense of community. “One of the bigger bene-
fits is getting to know my RA team,” Thomas said. “That’s been a really big deal for me — being in community with my RA team and just the HRL [Housing and Residence Life] team and my residents has been one of the biggest benefits and something that I’m most grateful for.” Thomas enjoys being part of the larger study body at Pepperdine as opposed to smaller abroad groups, he said. “I think I can easily feel disconnected,” Thomas said. “And so it’s a personal benefit that I’m here [in Malibu] because I feel more connected to my campus and to my school.” In addition to his courses as a Philosophy major, Thomas said he also leads club meetings and service projects for the Pepperdine Philosophy Club as club president. Turner and Thomas chose not to study abroad during the academic year but said they would consider a summer program. However, summer programs can present a financial burden to some students. While tuition is the same in Malibu and abroad, summer tuition and housing are additional charges for students who do not plan to take summer school, according to the International Programs website. For students debating on whether or not to go abroad, Thomas said he advises them to take their own personal factors into account. “Don’t let any one person’s story define your decision or make a decision for you,” Thomas said. “Just take in as many factors as you can — consult with others, loved ones, people that you think are wise — and make a decision off of them.”
Photo courtesy of Nathan Thomas Nathan Thomas holds his dog while at home during Christmas break. His dog’s name is Yogi.
madison.luc@pepperdine.edu
January 19, 2024 | LIFE & ARTS | Pepperdine Graphic Media
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Bows, ribbons add a personal touch to everyday items Amanda Monahan Life & Arts Assistant A ponytail might just be some tied-up hair. A water bottle might just be an ordinary item. But tying a bow on them adds a special personal touch, students said. As seen on Instagram, TikTok and especially Pinterest, bows and ribbons have emerged as a way to add a pop of color or a personal sense of style to any item. First-year Nicole Milliman said she finds that bows add a feminine touch to objects that are otherwise plain. “I have started tying bows around less conventional things like the doorknob of my dorm and on the strap of my school bag,” Milliman said. However, Milliman said she found herself to be ahead of the trend. “I started putting bows in my hair almost two years ago because one of my favorite singers, Gracie Abrams, did it,” Milliman said. “I loved how
girly and fun they were and how they could transform an outfit.” Even before she started accessorizing with bows two years ago, Milliman said she found a feeling of childhood nostalgia accompanying her connection with them.
Although they’re really just simple ribbons, they give girls a way to make their items or hair more girly. Aoife Klopcic Junior “As we grow up, there is an unspoken understanding that we are too old to tie bows in our hair and accessorize every
little thing,” Milliman said. “But this trend has entirely changed that.” First-year Mia Banuelos finds the trend speaks to the prominence of femininity. “I think bows are super cute and add more of a feminine touch,” Banuelos said. Junior Aoife Klopcic said that ribbons and bows can even help decipher your personal items from others’. “Other people may have this thing or that, but you can tell which one is mine because of the bow or ribbon I have on it,” Klopcic said. In the past year, there may have been more conversations surrounding topics of girlhood and femininity, according to an article from Mashable. Whether it is trading bracelets at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour or discussing feminine relationships after the “Barbie” movie, the topic of girlhood is on the rise. Klopcic finds the emergence of bows correlates with the escalation of conversations for women regarding topics of girlhood. She said she noticed the
Ella Katz | Staff Artist bow content increased across social media about a month after these conversations — surrounding what girlhood truly means — surfaced. “With the important discussions of feminine empowerment recently, it makes sense that the bow trend has risen in popularity,” Klopcic said. “Although they’re really just simple ribbons, they give girls a way to make their items or hair more girly.” However, as with many feminine trends, the public has a mixed reaction — some find the trend over the top.
The bow trend has “gone too far,” according to The New York Times. The article highlighted voices that called the trend a “parody,” “inside joke” and “hyper feminine.” Regardless of mixed feelings, bows are ultimately a way to express femininity, and girls should be able to feel secure in having a way to display that, Klopcic said.
amanda.monahan@pepperdine.edu
Students strive toward a successful spring semester Emma Ibarra Life & Arts Staff Writer Entering 2024, many look forward to the exciting possibilities the new year brings. Whether students make specific resolutions for the semester or aim to improve their general outlook on the world, the new year tends to spark motivation for the latter half of the school year. Several students shared their goals, big and small, for the spring semester. Junior Amiel Silbol said, in 2024, he is looking forward to spending more time with friends and prioritizing his physical and mental health, all while finishing his Physics major as a part of his 3/2 degree. “Knowing where I am at right now as a student and where I plan to be in the future keeps me motivated,” Silbol said. Similarly, sophomore Tatyana Sevajian said she hopes to maintain good learning practices to keep high grades this year. In addition, Sevajian said she will work on her organizational skills in order to stay on top of her school schedule. “This semester, I really want to master the art of time management,” Sevajian said. The beginning of the new year also marks the start of many seniors’ final semester as undergraduate students. Some seniors are setting goals for this year with their upcoming graduation and future careers in mind. Senior Madi Ortega plans to graduate in the spring and said she is ready for what the future brings. “As a senior, I look forward to the transitions 2024 has in store for me,” Ortega said. “I’m excited to see what
lies ahead after graduation.” While many may set distinct academic objectives for the end of the year, such as graduating or obtaining work, students also seek to maintain broader goals for their overall personal development. Some students shared the types of traits they hope to manifest daily in 2024. “I hope to embody confidence, patience and looking at the bright side of things in every situation,” Sevajian said. Silbol said he hopes to be more diligent and honest, and he wants to persevere through any difficulties he may encounter later this year. Others said, this year, they will be practicing mindfulness and prioritizing mental health. “This semester, I would like to think deeply, allow myself grace and maintain gratitude for the last moments of undergrad,” Ortega said. While ambitious goals set at the beginning of the year may start strong, they can quickly dwindle as the year continues and responsibilities stack up. Inspiration serves as a key component to success, and students shared how they plan to maintain motivation throughout the semester. To foster his ambitions for the year, Silbol said he will need to hold himself accountable in every area of his life. “Whether it be an upper-division major course or a project in my painting class, I will have to hold myself to the highest standard that I know I should,” Silbol said. On the other hand, some students find motivation from their loved ones in the new year. Ortega said every day she seeks inspiration from her mom to do her best. As her mom encourages her to take this semester day by day with intentionality,
Jackie Lopez | Art Editor openness and selflessness, Ortega feels ready to take on the new year with no fears. As for Silbol, he said he feels driven toward achieving success in the future with his family in mind. “My parents have sacrificed so much for me to be at Pepperdine, and it keeps me motivated to succeed for them,” Silbol said. “They have shown me what true hard work is, and I strive to follow in their footsteps.” Other students are looking within for personal betterment. Sevajian said her determination keeps her striving toward self-improvement. “[It’s] the satisfaction I get once I put my mind to something and work hard to achieve whatever it is that keeps me going,” Sevajian said. “That feeling of accomplishment motivates me. The start of the year marks the beginning of the end of Silbol’s journey at Pepperdine, he said. He is applying to master’s programs this semester and is
excited to hear back soon. “I look forward to finishing my degree in the spring and whatever God has planned in the future for me,” Silbol said. With the possibility of new friendships, interesting classes and engaging experiences, students eagerly anticipate everything that accompanies the spring semester. “I look forward to making new connections and learning more about myself in the process,” Sevajian said.
emma.ibarra@pepperdine.edu
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January 19, 2024 | LIFE & ARTS | Pepperdine Graphic Media
Students reflect on winter break Kylie Kowalski Life & Arts Assistant Editor As the spring semester began at Pepperdine, many students returned from their homes in preparation for classes to begin. Most come from other cities and states, but some students return from other countries and continents. Returning to school from home can be a tough transition for many students after more than three weeks without class. Students reminisce about home-cooked meals, walkable cities and family holiday festivities, and they said these are the qualities of home they miss the most. Local Commute Many students love the place they grew up, especially Abby Wachter, junior and San Diego native. “I go home often,” Wachter said. “I feel like I can’t stay away from my hometown for more than a couple weeks.” Wachter loves her hometown for its laid-back culture, tasty food and walkability. She’s from Encinitas, which
she said has a small-town feel. “My favorite thing is that you can pretty much walk anywhere, and anywhere you walk, if you’re in Encinitas, is just right next to the beach,” Wachter said. “You can walk from the top of the city to the bottom of the city in a day.” Wachter views her home as an oasis from Pepperdine, she said. In Malibu, Wachter said she finds herself getting caught up in schoolwork and becoming stressed, so leaving for winter break was just one of the many times she’d driven the short commute home during the semester. “I feel like it’s a perfect balance because it’s not like I come home every day after class, but if I want to come home for a weekend, it’s not a struggle,” Wachter said. Within the States For some students, like Hannah Allen, junior and Florida native, returning home for the holidays involves cross-country travel. While she cannot travel home as often as many California-based students, Allen makes sure to visit when she can. She said she loves Florida
Adri Sahakian | Staff Artist and could see herself moving back there one day. “I’m a proud Floridian, and I’m proud I’m from there,” Allen said. Allen said her favorite tradition at home is going to Celebration, Florida, a community created and previously owned by Disney, according to Florida Back Roads Travel. Around the holidays, the town has fake snow, horse carriages, ice skating and other Christmas festivities. “Even though it’s far, I make sure to go home for the long breaks,” Allen said. “It is always worth it to me.” Allen said she loves traveling back to Florida to see her friends and family but enjoys Malibu equally as much because of her friends and the Pepperdine community.
International Home The people make the place feel like home for Rin Takahashi, a senior and international student from Tokyo, Japan. “Home” is not just about the location but her family and friends too. Unlike last winter break, Takahashi said, this year, she was fortunate enough to return to Tokyo. While she loves her home, she is not able to return as often as many students because of the planning it takes to coordinate a 12-hour flight back. When she is at home, Takahashi said she enjoys many of her favorite meals, including Teishoku, a traditional Japanese dish. Takahashi favors a more urban environment, and Tokyo
gives her that, she said. She is able to walk around the city or take public transportation when needed. After Takahashi graduates this spring, she said she plans to return to Japan for work before starting grad school in Europe. “I grew up in Singapore and Tokyo, two places that are very urbanized,” Takahashi said. “It made me realize how much I miss those environments.” While she adores her time in beautiful, sunny Malibu, Takahashi said she is excited to return to the place she calls home.
kylie.kowalski@pepperdine.edu
London students love ‘Ted Lasso’ Samantha Wareing Life & Arts Assistant A show that struck the hearts of many around the world, leaving fans and viewers begging for a fourth season, “Ted Lasso” on Apple TV+ added a fun element to the abroad experience of Pepperdine London students. With touching characters, a compelling soundtrack and witty messages, “Ted Lasso” is a moving comedy about an American man who transforms a London football club — soccer in America — as the head coaching manager. Junior Lyndsee Moran said she watched all three seasons before studying abroad in London. “Watching the show made me even more excited than I already was to visit and study in London,” Moran said. The show is about a make-believe football team, which the writers of the show created for Richmond, a London town. Moran said she visited Richmond and saw Ted’s house, the pub and the park where many scenes took place. Since the creators of the show are both American and British, Moran said the show is culturally accurate. Brett Goldstein, a British actor and comedian who plays Roy Kent, captures the London culture in his role, she said. “They did a great job capturing the cultural accuracy by making each of the characters so different,” Moran said. Senior Bryan Hulit said, while he studied abroad in London and his peers
were fans of “Ted Lasso,” he has not yet seen the show. Richmond is a couple of bus stops away from South Kensington, the location of the Pepperdine London campus, Hulit said. Hulit experienced London during a time of upheaval when the country lost Queen Elizabeth II and a new prime minister came into office, he said. He felt a great sense of London’s identity and togetherness within the city’s community. Hulit said he would love to watch a show that could capture the lush, patriotic culture he experienced. Junior Charlie Spare saw the first season of “Ted Lasso” before studying abroad in London, watched the second season during his time abroad and is currently watching the third season, Spare said. During his time abroad, Spare said his friends loved Ted. His friends took him to Richmond, where he saw the pub, the park and Ted’s house. At a Ted Lasso-themed gift shop near the pub, Spare bought a snow globe to commemorate his visit to the sites of the show. “It was a cool surprise to find out a cafe in the show [Sam’s restaurant] was a five-minute walk from the Pepperdine campus too,” Spare said. The heart of the show centers around Ted coaching the British sport, football. The show captures this essential element of London’s culture remarkably well, Spare said. He attended multiple soccer matches with his friends abroad, including a Chelsea F.C. game and mul-
Photo courtesy of Charlie Spare
Junior Charlie Spare (right) visited a London football match with Junior Leo Krumian (left) while he was abroad in February. Spare said it was a fun experience to watch “Ted Lasso” while experiencing life in London. Photo courtesy of Charlie Spare
tiple Brighton & Hove Albion games. “The show was able to capture the London culture well through the depiction of the fans,” Spare said. Spare said the pride of the football fans and the use of profanity during the games was accurate to the show’s portrayal. Spare said he felt the way Ted did exploring London for the first time as an American amidst a community with such a rich culture. It took a while to adjust to the use of pounds for currency and the wider roads, but over his two semesters abroad, he adapted. Spare noticed the tea that Rebecca drinks every morning in the show is
true to London culture. Just like Ted, Spare said the tea that people in London drink was not his favorite. The little things like these that the show portrays well added some enjoyment to the London abroad experience, students said. “Before going abroad, I always wanted to visit London, but watching the show made me want to visit even more. Then, seeing those places in reality made me love my experience in London even more,” Moran said.
samantha.wareing@pepperdine.edu
January 19, 2024 | LIFE & ARTS | Pepperdine Graphic Media
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Students use retail therapy as both casual and addictive outlet Amanda Monahan Life & Arts Assistant
how hard it was,” Rendel said. “And so, once I tried to stop doing that, that’s when I realized it really was an addiction.”
In a world with two-day shipping and malls in every city, shopping is more accessible than ever. However, students have expressed hardship with controlling shopping habits during emotional stages. Although retail therapy has always been around in some form, research has found COVID-19 increased online shopping, and with it, retail therapy, according to Charlie Athill, a professor at the University of the Arts London.
Recovering From Shopping Addictions
Experts Define Retail Therapy Retail therapy refers to “the act of buying special things for oneself in order to feel better when unhappy,” according to the Cambridge Dictionary. For some, the practice is seemingly harmless. However, for others, retail therapy can evolve into a serious addiction, Pepperdine Counselor Sparkle Greenhaw said. “It’s that line you cross between ‘I just need something to relax me’ versus ‘I’m experiencing something, and I need to escape,’” said Debra Perez, private practice therapist and adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Education and Psychology. As with other addictions, shopping addictions link regularly practiced behaviors with potentially dangerous outcomes. These addictions can hurt one’s bank account, but they can also harm an addict mentally. “Retail therapy” is a rather innocuous term that serves no diagnostic purpose, Greenhaw said. The practice might appear differently for various people but tends to look like overspending and buying unnecessary things. With two-day shipping and shopping malls in every city, students said they have placed a heavy reliance on the immediacy of today’s shopping experiences. First-year Audrey Riesbeck said she finds the experience of in-person shopping much more enjoyable than online. She likes seeing how things look and feel, and physically taking them home the same day is a major plus. “It’s easier for me to spend money in person than it is online, but I know that’s the exact opposite for a lot of people,” Riesbeck said. For many, retail therapy is a harmless term with few negative connotations, Greenhaw said. First-year Lael Soqui said she finds a prominence of retail therapy in her life through thrift shopping.
Photo courtesy of Audrey Riesbeck First-year Audrey Riesbeck tries on shoes at a store in Beverly Hills on Sept. 10. Riesbeck said she loved spending the day in Beverly Hills, despite not buying anything.
“I usually like to make a day out of it and get food after,” Soqui said. “It’s more of a fullday thing.” Soqui finds the practice to be a therapeutic activity that serves a higher purpose than just buying items on a computer, she said. “I like to express myself through clothes, so I think having nice clothes makes me feel good about myself,” Soqui said. When shopping at thrift stores, Soqui said she can still express herself and engage in shopping at a significantly lower cost. Shopping Addictions Versus Other Addictions Although, for some, retail therapy is just a shopping trip or online purchase here and there, others have admitted it can develop into an addiction. “It becomes more of a problem when people are hiding it, continuing to do it despite negative experiences, when it’s affecting relationships — those kinds of things,” Greenhaw said. People with shopping addictions often act in secrecy — they feel more secure engaging in such behavior when no one is around, Perez said. “It [the accessibility of online shopping] has made it so much easier to do this in private where no one knows,” Perez said. Similar to other types of addiction — such as ones relating to substances — Greenhaw said feelings of regret and “short-term highs” oftentimes accompany shopping addictions. These high periods give addicts a temporary sense of
relief from the issue they’re trying to escape. It may be hard to judge where to draw the line between addiction and “just shopping,” Perez said. This is where the frequency of the behavior matters. “Where we start to see it being a problem is when it’s ‘I can’t deal with what I’m experiencing on a consistent basis, and so I shop,’” Perez said. Despite holding many similarities to other addictions, Perez points to a key difference for shoppers. Looking at a spectrum of addictions, shopping would probably be toward the less dangerous end, she said. “Big picture: shopping isn’t going to kill brain cells, and it’s not going to be detrimental to your physical or mental health,” Perez said. However, this doesn’t mean it’s not damaging. Often, once the shopping is over and the joy is gone, the negative feelings one was avoiding come back, Perez said. These feelings can spiral into a mix of the previous thoughts combined with a new sense of guilt, making them even worse than before. The Dangers of Online Shopping When COVID-19 emerged and forcibly shut down the entire world, shopping malls and retail outlets across the globe closed, wrote Athill. Online shopping saw a sharp increase in popularity, Athill wrote in his 2021 article, “Material Pleasures: The Solace of Lockdown Retail Therapy.” Life & Arts Copy Editor Lila Rendel said the pandem-
ic “planted the seed” for the future relationship she would have with online shopping. Looking back on the era now, Rendel said it makes perfect sense; she was just becoming a teenager at the time, just beginning to independently buy her own things, and she had no car — so online shopping was the perfect solution. Two-day shipping allows items to be in one’s hands incredibly fast, and all it takes is the click of a button to purchase something. For some, this is immensely useful. But for Rendel, she said this easy access became her biggest enemy. Rendel said she dealt with a shopping addiction during the pandemic after going through a breakup. A mix of heightened emotions and the convenience of shopping increased her spending habits. “Its [online shopping’s] accessibility was part of the problem for me — like it was almost too accessible,” Rendel said. The most important part for Rendel was realizing that she really did have an addiction and that it was a problem, she said. “It was more of a gradual thing, not just one big moment,” Rendel said. “I definitely struggled with coming to terms with the fact that it wasn’t healthy.” The realization came when the paychecks did not, Rendel said. As a high school student with a steady income from working at her local pizza parlor, Rendel said she became accustomed to having the means to support her addictive habits. “Once I stopped working and started trying to save the money that I had, I realized
As shopping addictions are becoming more common, especially among younger generations, options for recovery are vital to those looking to work past these practices. The mindset one chooses to have is a major part of recovering from an addiction of this type, Greenhaw said. She said practicing mindfulness, getting outside and paying more attention to one’s mind and body as opposed to things that are external are all positive practices to implement. Additionally, Greenhaw said increasing the time between wanting to buy something and purchasing it is an incredibly beneficial practice. “Giving it 24 hours could help someone have more time to think about it or change their mind,” Greenhaw said. Once one integrates these healthy practices, they might find the next step to be a “look, don’t buy” mentality, Greenhaw said. By doing this, one still has the opportunity to dream and be in the shopping universe without the negative ramifications. Although it was hard to separate herself from the addiction, Rendel said, looking back on it now, she sees how unhealthy it was. Shopping is still a part of her life now, but not in the same unhealthy way it was before.
It’s that line you cross between ‘I just need something to relax me’ versus ‘I’m experiencing something, and I need to escape.’ Debra Perez Adjunct professor at GSEP For Pepperdine students, Greenhaw said she reccomends checking out the Counseling Center website to find online resources, become more selfaware and read about different kinds of healthy habits.
amanda.monahan@pepperdine.edu
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Mary Elisabeth | Photo Editor Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Ryan Barnett goes for a kill in a match against Lincoln Memorial on Jan. 14, at Firestone Fieldhouse.
No. 11 men’s volleyball starts 2024 season Tony Gleason Sports Editor No. 11 Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball has begun the 2024 season on a four-game win streak. The Waves most recently defeated Long Island University on Jan. 13, and Lincoln Memorial on Jan. 14, both at Firestone Fieldhouse. After Pepperdine took the first set, LIU seemed to have adjust as they won the second-
set 25-22 to tie the match 1-1. Pepperdine responded to this with a 25-14 win in the third set and a 25-16 win in the fourth set to clinch the victory. Graduate outside/opposite hitter Cole Ketrynski led the charge on offense, with redshirt sophomore outside hitter Ryan Barnett and graduate middle blocker Martin de Chavarria following with 14, 10 and 7 kills, respectively. In the first and second sets
against Lincoln Memorial, the Waves and Railsplitters went point for point to start off before Pepperdine pulled away and won both. In the third set, the Waves jumped out in front and won the set 25-19, securing the sweep and fourth consecutive victory. Once again, it was Ketrynski and Barnett leading the offense, with 12 and 11 kills. Two more difference makers in the match were freshman outside
hitter Ilay Haver with four kills and de Chavarria with nine blocks. The Waves’ next games will be against McKendree University on Jan. 19, and Jan. 20, both at Firestone. Read more about Men’s Volleyball on B7.
anthony.gleason@pepperdine.edu
January 19, 2024 | SPORTS | Pepperdine Graphic Media
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Rotating team rosters affects comradery, effectiveness in sports Kaiya Treash Guest Contributer In collegiate sports, there is a constantly rotating roster of players. Every year, new firstyears join the team and experienced seniors leave. College athletes who experience this rotation said, although there is pressure to improve their athletic ability and fill the shoes of those who preceded them, having a positive outlook is ultimately what makes the change possible. “It’s not about replacing someone. It’s about growing into a leader yourself,” said Andersen Fuller, Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball senior middle blocker. “We talk a lot about trying to be comfortable when uncomfortable.” Pepperdine athletes said building a new team each year can be anxiety-inducing, but adaptability is necessary to the team’s growth. Adjusting to New Players Student athletes find themselves constantly playing in new environments alongside different players. The number of students leaving per year can differ drastically. Last year, the Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball team graduated two seniors and gained seven new players. This year, the team is preparing to lose five seniors. While professional teams do not experience the same rotation as college teams, they still have to adjust to new players. The Los Angeles Lakers had eight of their players either traded to another team or signed with teams offering higher salaries through free
agency in 2023, according to CBS Sports. Only four new recruits joined to make up for these losses. “Sometimes, it takes coaches years to convince players that a rotation should be changed, and sometimes, it even takes a new coach to implement that change,” Sports Writer Jared Dubin wrote in a Feb. 2021 ABC article. “Players are creatures of habit, after all, and that extends to the way they flow in and out of the game.” Pepperdine athletes said having team spirit helps them learn how to best navigate these changing conditions. “There is no semblance of class ranking or trying to be superior to each other,” said Ethan Watson, Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball redshirt freshman and middle blocker. “Even though you’re competing with each other for spots, it never feels that way. It just feels like you are all trying to work toward a common goal.” Student athletes said they bridge the gap between upper and lowerclassmen through team activities and bonding. This summer, the Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball Team traveled throughout Europe, which helped new recruits get to know the other players before the start of the school year. Watson said Bryce Dvorak, former player on the Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball team, helped him improve by going over video footage of games and giving him pointers during practice. “There’s definitely moments where you get a text and he [Dvorak] will say, ‘Hey, I’m going to come in at 5:30 in the morning tomorrow; we’re gonna get some reps,’ and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Man, I would really love to sleep in,’”
Photo courtesy of Asia Ford Andersen Fuller, Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball senior middle blocker, scores during practice in spring 2023. Fuller said the team is special and something he is honored to be part of.
said Watson. “But, at the same time, if he’s doing it, why can’t I?” Taylor Rath, Pepperdine Women’s Soccer Team redshirt sophomore goalkeeper, said she wanted to earn the respect of the older players when she first joined the team. “I wanted to take this team to a place they hadn’t been yet,” Rath said. “I wanted to be the difference. Staying consistent is key for me.” Coaches and athletes said recruiting first-year and transfer athletes with similar values and a desire to uphold Pepperdine University’s mission of strengthening lives for purpose, service and leadership is crucial to creating this team consistency. “There is a foundation that never changes. The thing we value most is developing Waves of character,” said Max Rooke, associate coach of the Pepperdine Women’s Soccer Team. “You treat people differently. You make decisions differently. You take winning and losing differently.” Coaches Handle Team Changes Coaches said they feel anxiety when older, more experienced players leave, but ultimately know they can maintain their team’s high national ranking by instilling determination and strength in new players. “Every year, you are going to graduate some amount of players,” said Jonathan Winder, head coach of the Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball Team. “We are always trying to balance it but work hard to make sure that we are putting ourselves in a good position to get the players that we need to be successful.” Winder was a former player on the Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball Team. He said he is motivated to ensure the current Pepperdine team continues to better itself, in part, because he helped the Pepperdine team win the national championship in 2005 and was the 2007 American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Year, according to Pepperdine Athletics. “Coming back and trying to move our program back to the level it was at when I was here is really important for me,“ Winder said. “I got to play here when we won the national championship and had lots of success, and so I’m now trying to figure out how to do that as a coach.” Rooke played two world championships for the Great Britain National Soccer Team
Photo courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics Jonathan Winder (left), current head coach and former player of the Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball Team, celebrates winning the 2005 National Championship for Pepperdine on May. 7, 2005. Winder said playing for Pepperdine in college has shaped the way he coaches the team today.
and won the United Soccer Coaches West Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2016 and 2017 before coaching at Pepperdine, according to Pepperdine Athletics. He said these experiences have allowed him to understand how to better coach his team. “Some of the best players don’t know how they’re doing it. They just naturally have this gift — this talent,” Rooke said. “They can’t tell you exactly how they did it, but as a coach, you have to be able to verbally communicate and share your vision to other people, and that’s a different skill.” Rooke also said that one of the most important parts of adapting to changing rosters is accepting that each team is going to be different. Because of this, he renames the team each season so players feel like they are on a new team altogether instead of missing old teammates. This year, Pepperdine Women’s Soccer is in its 31st season. “Each year, each team, for that amount of time, is trying to create a magnificent story,” Rooke said. “An extraordinary story for our program, for themselves and for what we’re trying to do.” Humans’ Ability to Adapt is Important Both athletes and coaches said that openness to change is one of the most important ways for a team to be successful. Pepperdine Athletics Counselor Jhanelle Peters said the key to being able to adapt to new environments is understanding that one has something valuable to contribute. “You need to remind yourself that the environment is
new — your skill is not,” Peters said. Being a professional athlete requires “coping skills,” or, strategies that one can implement to manage negative emotions, no matter the circumstances, wrote Adam Formal, a clinical and licensed psychologist who specializes in athletes, in an Oct. 2021 article for Joola. “Adapting both within a game and between games can often determine who wins and who loses a match,” Formal wrote. “With the recognition of this tension between consistency and adaptation, a player can gain insight into what drives improvement over time.” In every group, there is a constant rotation happening. Cooperation and willingness to take on new challenges is ultimately what makes someone successful in any field, Bob Helbig, media partnerships director at Energage, wrote in an Oct. 2022 Washington Post Article. “When done right, flexibility and adaptability in the workplace produce positive outcomes for the employees and employer,” Helbig wrote. Psychological experts, coaches and players at Pepperdine said learning how to adapt, although possibly anxiety-inducing, is a skill that is necessary to the growth of any person or team. “They prove to each other that they are willing to work hard enough and are disciplined enough,” Winder said. “That’s what really builds the trust with the players. It’s always about developing a good process.”
kaiya.treash@pepperdine.edu
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January 19, 2023 | SPORTS | Pepperdine Graphic Media
Hot shots: Dodgers offseason spending is fault of wealthy owners Justin Rodriguez
Sports Assistant Editor Transparency Item: This is the opinion and perspective of the writer. With the recent offseason acquisitions of right-handed pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and right-handed pitcher Yamamoto Yoshinobu, to the already dodger blue utility Mookie Betts and first-baseman Freddie Freeman, fans and teams around the league see the Dodgers “buying” a superteam. However, what the rest of the league fails to understand is every MLB team can do what the Dodgers are doing this offseason — your team owners choose not to. Offseason Acquisitions Before getting into MLB owners and their faults, let’s look at what the owner of the Dodgers, Mark Walter, allowed the President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, to do, according to Dodger Blue. During the 2022-2023 offseason, the Dodgers basically punted the offseason as the big fish, Ohtani, was a free agent the following year. That offseason, the biggest acquisition made was right-handed pitcher Noah Syndergaard on
a one-year contract worth $13 million, according to Dodger Nation on X. Friedman’s plan was to go all in this offseason, as the team indicated they would be aggressive, making multiple splash acquisitions, according to Dodger Blue. It’s safe to say that Friedman did just that, first starting with the record-shattering blockbuster signing of Ohtani to a 10-year contract worth $700 million Dec. 11, according to the MLB. They only waited four days for their next splash, acquiring right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot from the Tampa Bay Rays — the Dodgers would immediately extend Glasnow to a four-year contract worth $136.5 million, according to ESPN. The big fish was off the table, but another one was making splashes in Japan — Yamamoto. This offseason was the first time MLB teams could sign his likeness, and to the shock of no one but to the anger of many, Yamamoto landed with the Dodgers on a 12-year contract worth $325 million, according to the MLB. The Dodgers could still make some more moves, but up until this point, the team has spent a whopping $1.21
billion this offseason, according to CBS Sports. How can the Dodgers pay for this? The short answer is simple: Walter cares enough and trusts his front office enough to spend money on a championship-caliber roster year in and year out in order to compete at the highest levels for their players on the field and fans alike. It also helps that the Dodgers averaged 47,371 fans per game in 2023, selling out 19 games and finishing with around 3.8 million fans attending throughout the year, according to Dodger Blue. The real question every sports fan and professional athlete in the MLB should be asking is this: “Why doesn’t my team ownership care as much as the Dodgers ownership does?” You’d think with the spending so far this offseason that Walter is the richest owner in the MLB, but he doesn’t even make the Top 5 of 2023. Out of the 18 richest MLB owners, only six of the owners can say their team made the playoffs, according to Yahoo Sports. In the Top 10 alone, the San Francisco Giants (No. 1), St. Louis Cardinals (No. 3), New York Yankees (No. 5), Los Angeles Angels (t-No. 8), Bos-
Caroline Maloof | Staff Artist ton Red Sox (t-No. 8) and the Detroit Tigers (No. 10) missed out on the 2023 playoffs. Rounding out the rest of the list, the Chicago Cubs (tNo. 11), Oakland Athletics (tNo. 13), Washington Nationals (No. 15), Chicago White Sox (No. 16), Pittsburgh Pirates (tNo. 18) and the Seattle Mariners (t-No. 18) also missed out on the 2023 playoffs. Out of all these teams in the Top 18 of 2023, the largest contract given out so far into the 2024 offseason was from the Bay, as the Giants inked a $113 million deal to Korean superstar Jung Hoo Lee, according to CBS Sports. In total, the Giants have spent only $121.5 million despite the team being worth $3.7 billion, according to Forbes. The Yankees are ranked No. 1 on Forbes Most Valuable Team List, valued at around $7.1 billion dollars; however, the team has spent
nothing during the ongoing offseason, according to Sports Illustrated. What the Dodgers are doing isn’t bad for the game, and if anything, the Dodgers have exemplified great business decisions with the legal use of contractual deferments with Ohtani, Betts and Freeman. If anything, the 12 MLB owners who have the money to spend but don’t are what’s bad for baseball. Fans have already recently seen what bad owners can do to a franchise — just look at the passionate fans reverse-boycotting at the Coliseum in Oakland, pleading with their owner to “sell the team,” according to the Athletic. Now, think back to that question and ask yourself, “Why doesn’t my team owner care?”
justin.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu
No. 11 Men’s Volleyball defends to complete sweep Tony Gleason Sports Editor No. 11 Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball swept the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters 3-0 Jan. 14, at Firestone Fieldhouse. The Waves are now 4-0 to start the 2024 season. After a victory against LIU the previous night, Pepperdine beat Lincoln Memorial to win two consecutive matches. Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Ryan Barnett led the charge on offense, followed by graduate outside/opposite hitter Cole Ketrynski, graduate middle blocker Marti de Chavarria and freshman outside hitter Ilay Haver with 12, 11, 4 and 4 kills, respectively. “What the Lincoln Memorial coach told me — we played them also last year around this time — is just how much tougher the team is this year,” Head Coach Jonathan Winder said. “The team’s a lot more resilient and competitive.” Both teams started the match keeping it close as they went point for point. That was until, with an 8-7 score, Pep-
perdine went on a 10-4 run to take an 18-11 lead. This run was fueled by kills from Ketrynski, de Chavarria and Barnett, three errors by LMU and a service ace by graduate outside hitter Alex Mrkalji. With a score of 24-14, de Chavarria went up for a block that landed on LMU’s side of the court to win the first set for Pepperdine. “He’s [de Chavarria] had a good match every game he’s played,” Winder said. “He’s blocking everything and killing a bunch of balls.” Much like the first set, both teams started battling point for point, until Pepperdine went on an 8-2 run to pull away and win the set 25-16. Winder said Pepperdine took control of the first two sets by stepping up their serving and defense. “We did a good job defensively, and we served pretty aggressively,” Winder said. “We missed some serves, but they were out of system or not in rhythm the whole night. The guys did a great job of blocking and then digging around it.” Unlike the previous two sets, the Waves jumped out in
front at the start of the third set, taking a 5-1 lead. After this start, the Waves didn’t look back as they continued their tough serving and defense throughout the set. “We started hot,” Barnett said. “We wanted to get out on the third set on a good note. To serve well, serve on the court and keep doing our defense’s job.” Despite the Railsplitters keeping up with the Waves toward the end of the set, Barnett got a kill to win the set and secure the sweep for Pepperdine. The Waves’ next two matches will be against McKendree University on Jan. 19, and Jan. 20, both at Firestone. “The guys are buzzing to get back in the gym, gear up, watch a bunch of film and get set to go for that game,” Ketrynski said.
Liam Zieg | Staff Photographer
anthony.gleason@pepperdine.edu
Graduate middle blocker Martin De Chavarria gets introduced before the match against Lincoln Memorial on Jan. 14, at Firestone Fieldhouse. The Waves have started the 2024 season 4-0.