Pepperdine Graphic 2.2.12

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PEPPERDINE GRAPHIC MEDIA

Volume XLIII, Issue 13 | February 2, 2012 | pepperdine-graphic.com

» See the full story and more photos in L&A B1

Grant cuts proposed

Not all interns cash in

»LIFE & ARTS

By WHITNEY IRICK NEWS ASSISTANT

Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to cut $110 million from the Cal Grant budget would affect financial aid for approximately 430 students at Seaver College and more than 26,000 students in California in both public and private universities. The proposed changes would apply to both incoming and returning students and would be implemented as soon as the 2012-2013 school year.

These changes are part of Brown’s plan to close the state’s growing deficit. If approved, $131.2 million would be saved by reducing the Cal Grant maximum award of $9,708 to $5,472.

If Cal Grants are reduced, Pepperdine would attempt to compensate for the lack of government funding by giving additional institutional grants, loans or a combination of both. However, there is no guarantee that students will not carry any financial burden.

“There are things that students can do to stave off these cuts,” said Michael Truschke, dean of admission and enrollment management at Seaver College. Administrators are advocating on behalf of the Cal Grant program, but Truschke said that to create the strongest voice students must speak out.

On March 7, administrators and students will be attending the “Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities Student Day in the Capitol.” Those not able to attend can still take action through email, letters and phone calls to their local legislator.

A final decision on whether the cuts will be implemented will be made sometime this summer. However, this is problematic for incoming students because the financial aid deadline is March 2. Newcomers will have to decide which college they will be attending before they know how much financial aid they will be receiving.

“I am encouraging and hopeful that especially students that are receiving a Cal Grant will be active in this effort to really advocate for this program,” Truschke said. A petition will soon be available for students to sign in the financial aid office. Over the next few weeks, a Facebook page and website will be available to access regarding the Cal Grant cuts.

Brown released a statement defending his decision by saying, “The stark truth is that without new tax revenues, we will have no other choice but to make deeper and more damaging cuts to schools, universities, public safety and our courts.”

In addition to the 44 percent reduction, Gov. Brown is seeking to raise the minimum GPA requirements for all applicants making it harder to obtain a Cal Grant. To receive a Cal Grant “A” award, used for tuition at public and private colleges, a student would be required to have a minimum GPA of 3.25. To receive a Cal Grant “B” award, used to aid first-year students with living expenses, a student would be required to have a minimum GPA of 2.75.

Cal Grants are awarded based on a student’s academic performance in combination with financial need. Unlike student loans, grants do not have to be paid back. 

By MARIELLA RUDI NEWS ASSISTANT

HARRISON YAGER / SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Taking Flight: Student dancers of Dance in Flight bring the art of movement to the Smothers stage tonight, tomorrow and Saturday.

»See L&A, B1

This time last year, senior Finance major Adam Lott was commuting to and from his 9-to-5 job in Los Angeles traffic two days out of the week. Like out of a scene from “The Odd Couple,” Lott would return home to greet his roommates, make himself dinner and then reflect on the day’s work for which he wasn’t getting paid. A Finance major, he would then start homework.

This is a scene many juniors and seniors find familiar when completing what is now resume-essential and, for some, a graduation requirement: the internship. Most go unpaid, but that hasn’t stopped around 75 percent of Pepperdine students from completing one while still enrolled, according to the Career Center’s Director Amy Adams. Dubbed the unofficial “King of Internships,” Lott is on his sixth one, finally getting paid.

“The number of internships is not important,” Lott said. “It’s necessary to have one or two [internships], but sometimes to get those, it takes others. And that’s assuming you end up liking that direction you end up choosing.”

At Pepperdine and colleges nationwide, students are turning a blind eye to the price of unpaid internships in hopes of growing their resumes. A one-credit

»See INTERNSHIPS, A7

Malibu moves to be more bike friendly

whitney.irick@pepperdine.edu

More information on how to get involved in advocating against the changes is available from the Seaver Financial Aid Office at (310) 506-4301 or at www.aiccu.edu

By ZACK JENKINS & HEATHER MANES STAFF WRITERS

Settled between arching mountains and a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean, Malibu’s stretch of Pacific Coast Highway provides bicycle enthusiasts an unbeatably beautiful route to enjoy on a weekend bike ride. Yet, besides its beauty, the highway is also famous for its fatalities — more than a dozen of which have been cyclists attempting to navigate through infrastructure unsuitable for bicycles.

After a few years of discussions between cyclists and city officials, the Malibu City Council voted Monday night on Jan. 23 to pursue the “Bicycle Friendly Community” designation from the League of American Bicyclists. To be designated “bike friendly,” Malibu must address important issues outlined by the League in the application process, such as making streets more accessible and convenient for cyclists, educating the public on bike safety and traffic laws and

»See BIKE, A5

RACHEL MILLER / PHOTO ASSISTANT

INDEX DPS Reports..A2 Calendar........A2 Editorial..........A8 Horoscopes....B7 Sports............B10

Students speaking out Pepp students are finally shaking their apathy and speaking out on important issues. Have we gone far enough?

»PERSPECTIVES, A8

Roll on, you Waves!

This new hand sign is creating a tidal wave among Pepperdine sportgoers.

The Waves of Malibu Fri. 1 ft @15s

Sat. 1.5 ft @14s

Sun. 2 ft @13s

Mon. 1.5 ft @13s

» SPORTS, B8 magicseaweed.com

» Sh

NEWS

A2 Graphic

February 2, 2012

Stories ‘reel’ in crowds NATHAN STRINGER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Specificity stokes interest while GEs stifle

REBECCA HERRON/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The art of film: Junior David Chang accepts his award for “Grand Prize Selection” at the third annual REELSTORIES Film Festival on Jan. 27.

DPS REPORTS Weekly update from the Department of Public Safety 1/23/12 11:47 a.m.

Incident – Heat and Smoke Alarms Location: Ahmanson Music Building Summary: A student reported observing smoke in the hallways. Public Safety officers and the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded. An investigation revealed theater staff were using a haze machine in the theater for a production rehearsal. Theater staff agreed to notify DPS prior to future uses of the haze machine.

1/24/12 1:30 a.m.

Incident – Alcohol Related Location: Drescher Student Housing Apartments Summary: Public Safety officers responded to investigate a report of an alcohol violation in a dorm room.

1/24/12 5:09 a.m.

Incidents – Welfare Check Location: Hall 1 – Audene Merrill Conner Summary: A concerned parent reported that they were unable to reach their daughter for an extended period of time and requested a welfare check. Public Safety officers contacted the student without incident. The student called their parents to let them know they were OK. 1/25/12 10:10 a.m.

Administrative– Information Only Location: Seaver Academic Complex Summary: A university professor reported possible needing Public Safety assistance with a student being disruptive during class.

1/25/12 4:14 p.m.

Crimes – Vandalism Location: Center for Communication and Business Summary: A student reported observing papers left on a lobby table with inappropriate writing on them.

1/26/12 11:33 a.m.

Traffic Related – Non-Injury Accident Location: John Tyler Drive Summary: A university Crest Member collided with a student on a motorcycle while attempting to make a U-turn. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy responded and filed a traffic accident report. Minor damages were reported.

1/28/12 10:06 p.m.

Crimes – Assault Location: Malibu Campus Summary: There was a report of possible domestic violence between two students.

Around the ’BU

News of the WORLD Search of cruise ship called off

Italian divers called off the underwater portion of their search inside the Costa Concordia, the cruise ship that wrecked Jan. 13.

Fifteen people are still missing and emergency crews will continue to search above the water line. Captain Francesco Schettino remains under house arrest while authorities investigate his involvement.

Cold snap kills 60 in Europe

Due to an extreme drop in temperatures, dozens have died in Eastern Europe. Forecasters predict that the harsh conditions will continue into Friday. More than 600 people have sought treatment for frostbite and hypothermia. The conditions have forced thousands to seek refuge in nearby shelters.

UN debates Syria resolution

The United Nations Security Council is meeting to decide if they should call an end to violence and for President Bashar al-Assad to step down. Russia is expected to veto the resolution on the grounds that the plan could lead to civil war. The UN estimates that more than 5,400 people have been killed since last March. The violence seems to be intensifying. Russian UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said it is both possible and necessary that the council comes to a consensus.

Amazon warns of loss

Despite an increase in revenues, online retailer Amazon has announced lower profits and warns of financial loss this year. The company projects that it may struggle to make a profit as it continues to invest.

Reports compiled from BBC

Judge declares mistrial

A hung jury was declared Tuesday in the trial of Sina Khankhanian, the man charged with killing young Malibu teenager Emily Shane in 2010. The jury was unable to agree on whether Khankhanian committed seconddegree murder or involuntary manslaughter when his car struck and killed the eighthgrader on Pacific Coast Highway. Because the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision, the judge was forced to declare a mistrial.

Torie Osborn solicits donations

State Assembly candidate Osborn recently won the West Hollywood/Beverly Hills Democratic Club endorsement over opponent Betsy Butler. While Osborn was giving her acceptance speech, West Hollywood mayor John Duran interrupted her. Duran has endorsed Butler. Osborn is asking for $3 donations via YouTube.

Boxer opens hair salon

Audley Harrison, a British boxer, and his wife recently opened Salon Nuuvo at the Summit at Calabasas shopping center. Harrison plans to handle the marketing and business side of the salon while his wife and her team of trained stylists handle the customer service.

Malibu pot boat busted

Three men were arrested Saturday after the federal government seized 1,200 to 1,500 pounds of marijuana from a boat beached at Malibu’s Smugglers Cove.

Professors teach their pet subjects well. I took spiritual writing with John Struloeff, who happens to be writing a book on Leo Tolstoy. He went on a tangent about him halfway through class one day, and 30 minutes later, we were all so wrapped up in Tolstoy’s life that we had forgotten to take our break. That’s learning, and that’s why we’re here.

At other schools if your professor is working to get published, he or she is not also teaching you. The teaching assistant is. Not so at Pepperdine, and that’s one of the things that makes us such a great school. The more professors love what they’re teaching, the more students will love learning it.

Love of learning cannot be manufactured, however. The concept behind general education makes sense. Everyone should have a basic understanding of certain events and concepts before graduating, but requiring so many courses encourages box-checking instead of intellectual investigation.

Choosing a major is specializing, and writing a thesis is even more so, but students’ intellectual curiosity shouldn’t have to lie dormant through two years of GEs to get there.

Everyone’s required to complete a non-Western history course, but everyone gets to choose how they fulfill that requirement. How great is that! If the same principle were extended to other GEs, and not just Religion 301, students would necessarily be more interested in their studies. They’d be studying subjects of their choosing.

This principle is evident on a small scale. Usually, what a student remembers most from a class is what he had to personally research and write about. My roommate is a Theater major who has a weird hang-up about color. When he was assigned a research paper, he checked out some books from Payson on the psychology of color and went to work analyzing costume designs of certain characters. If that sounds nerdy of him and boring to you, good. He researched that. You don’t have to. But I bet if he had the opportunity to explain it to you, you’d be a whole lot more interested in it.

So it is with courses. The most talked about offerings in the catalog are the most specific. Yes, there is a class here on Harry Potter and one on the politics of Middleearth. I took a course called “Baseball as American History.” As I learned more about baseball, I learned more about America. For example, by studying something specific, the growth of Little League baseball in the 1950s, I finally had evidence to support a broader trend, the suburbanization of America, that I had until then only been told about.

If you’re still not convinced specificity is ultimately helpful or relevant, consider a fictional example — Sherlock Holmes.

Now, my understanding of this character rests entirely on Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of him but, from what I’ve gathered, Holmes is a master of induction.

Yes, induction. The movies may commend his “deductions,” but Holmes is, in fact, focusing on the minutest of details and understanding the larger picture of events. For example, he’s able to discern Watson’s fiancee had been married before by a tan line on her ring finger. That’s a relevant detail.

The point of all this specificity is not to become a Technical Tony, correcting people willy-nilly on every little detail.

The point is to actually care enough about one thing to learn it well. It’s easy to make big claims or learn lots of empty facts, but depth always has more lasting power than breadth. That’s why bunkers are better than trenches and why I’m about to work on my thesis to the exclusion of my other homework.

Reports compiled from Malibu Patch



nathan.stringer@pepperdine.edu

CALENDAR Dance in Flight 8 p.m.

Smothers

2

3

A Night of Gospel 6 p.m.

Elkins

Men’s Basketball vs.

Gonzaga 7 p.m.

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Steve Monsma Discusses New Book Noon to 1 p.m Payson Library

CFA Presents: Tommy Emmanuel 8 p.m.

Smothers

7

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NEWS

February 2, 2012

Graphic

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Veritas Forum returns to seek truth

By IAN MCDONALD ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

Students, faculty and guests commited to seeking truth spent the evening in “Radical Conversations” at the Pepperdine Veritas Forum in Elkins Auditorium Jan 29 and 30.

The forum, sponsored by Studentled Ministries, featured speakers Randy Harris, Professor at Abilene Christian University, (ACU) on Sunday, and Dr. Richard Mouw, President of Fuller Theological Seminary, on Monday.

This year’s theme, “Radical Conversations: Engaging a Multi-Faith World,” sought to investigate the place of Christianity in an increasingly pluralistic world. Harris spoke on Christians finding conviction in their “stories” and sought to address the critiques of Christianity leveled by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. A graduate of Harding and Syracuse University, Harris is the Spiritual Director in the De-

partment of Bible, Missions and Ministry at ACU, and specializes in theology and philosophy.

Mouw based his talk on his book “Uncommon Decency: Christian Civility in an Uncivil World” and spoke on having inter-faith dialogue while still maintaining religious conviction. He shared his experiences participating in discussion forums and conferences with Mormons, Jews and Muslims, in particular.

“This should alert us to our complacency,” Veritas Forum committee chairperson Jack Murphy said. “Especially at a Christian university we can just get settled, and we start thinking we don’t have to ask these questions. In order to grow, we have to embrace this questioning and seek things out.”

The nights began with In-N-Out and Chick-fil-A for students before the speeches. Presentations were followed by a question and answer session where students could ask or text in their ques-

tions for the speakers and reflect on the subject of the night.

“As impressed as I was with our speakers, I was even more impressed with our thoughtful students who brought such great deep, intellectual questions that were reflective of their theological struggles,” said Jennifer Christy, associate chaplain for Student-led Ministries.

The forum will continue through a series of club convo discussion groups hosted by faculty and staff to further address the issues raised.

“Our hope for the discussion groups is that they would be a place where we can come together as a community and struggle through questions of faith and doubt,” Christy said.

According to the Veritas mission statement, “Veritas Forums are university events that engage students and faculty in discussions about life’s hardest questions and the relevance of Jesus Christ to all of life. We seek to inspire the shapers of tomorrow’s culture to

connect their hardest questions with the person and story of Jesus Christ.” Typical Veritas Forum events feature keynote speakers or debates, as well as workshops and discussion groups.

The Veritas Forum first came to Pepperdine in 2003, bringing speakers Francis Collins, former Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute and Ian Hutchinson, Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology to talk about the intersections of Faith and Science in a series titled “Science: Christian and Natural.” After an absence for several years, the Veritas Forum returned in 2009 featuring author Os Guinness and Senior Pastor of Grace Community Church Cliffe Knechtle speaking on “The Journey: a Thinking Person’s Quest for Meaning.” Mary Poplin, Professor of Education at Claremont Graduate University, spoke at the 2010 forum about lessons from the life of Mother Theresa with the theme “Do

you Have Eyes to See?” While no forum was held in 2011, this year’s event marked the third consecutive academic year with a Veritas event, and Murphy expects the events to continue in the future.

“I want this initiative to have solid footing on Pepperdine’s campus so that students can come each year and fearlessly bring their tough questions and doubts,” Murphy said.

Veritas Forum began at Harvard University in 1992 in an attempt to explore the relevancy of Jesus relating back to the founding of the University. The title was drawn from the Harvard motto “Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae” which in Latin means “Truth for Christ and the Church.” Since then, more than 300 forums have taken place at 122 different schools in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands.

Philosophical Inquiry: From left, senior Henok Elias asks Richard Mouw a question on the second night; students are amused during the presentation; speaker Randy Harris presents during night one.

Parmelee dishes on relationship advice Hannah Parmelee hosts weekly Relationship IQ chats by the fireplace in the Waves Cafe to assist students with any questions or concerns.

By MELODY CHENG STAFF WRITER

“He loves me, he loves me not” does not seem to be the only problem anymore. From DTR (define the relationship) talks to having different love languages, relationships can often be one of the most important yet complicated things to deal with. Fortunately, Hannah Parmelee, the director of the Relationships IQ program, is available every week to assist students with any issues in their personal relationships.

Every Monday from 2 Parmelee Relationship IQ p.m. to 3 p.m., RelationDirector ships @ 2 is a time for students to talk about any questions, large or small, they might have about the interactions between students, parents, faculty, loved-ones and God. Issues facing romantic relationships can range from the very start of liking someone to what to do when dealing with a break-up.

“It goes all over,” Parmelee said. “Sometimes it’s, ‘I really like this person. I don’t know how to start something with them.’ Sometimes for dating relationships it’s for people that are dating that are having some conflicts or one of them is not sure if they want to be in the relationship.

Sometimes people have just broken up so they are trying to figure out O.K. what do I do now.”

Parmelee points out that not all relationships problems are romantic, though. It can also be an issue in a relationship with suitemates or other students.

“You can come just as in individual, or students come as a group. It can be friends or roommates or a whole suite [who want to] come [talk] together,” Parmelee said.

Parmelee is also open to talk about the dif-

ficulties undergrads have with “We talk about their parents as the importance their relationof how we love ships develop God and how during college years. we love each “We talk a other.” lot about tran—Hannah Parmelee sitioning that Relationship IQ Director relationship with your parents and your becoming an adult and setting up good patterns that are different from high school patterns when you go back home,” she said.

Lastly, a student’s relationship with God is one that Parmelee makes sure to embed in all the relationship advice that she gives.

“I talk a lot about your relationship with God and how your relationship with each other, how well you interact with people or how you treat each other really shapes a lot of your view about God in your relationship with God,” Parmelee said. “And your family of origin shapes a lot of how you see God and who God is. We talk about the importance of how we love God and how we love each other.”

For students who prefer a more private setting, Parmelee is available at her office in Drescher (with a comfortable, overstuffed couch).

She also leads club convos (“How to Date the Best” and “The Dating Dialogue”) for students who would like to learn more about how to communicate successfully and create a healthy roadmap for relationships.

Besides these weekly talks, Relationship Week is coming up, when there will be a booth

by The Rock for Valentine’s Day grams and healthy dating advice.



ian.mcdonald@pepperdine.edu

PHOTO COURTESY OF RON HALL

CATCH THE WAVES! PREGAME TAILGATE AT 6 PM IN THE WAVE ZONE FACE PAINTING |SIGN-MAKING | FREE FOOD FREE T-SHIRTS FOR THE FIRST 500 STUDENTS

MEN’S BASKETBALL SATURDAY, FEB. 4 - 7 P.M.

And be sure to catch these other great events:

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. BYU // Thursday, Feb. 2 - 7 p.m.

#8 MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 

yayin.cheng@pepperdine.edu

vs. UCSB // Friday, Feb. 3 - 7 p.m.

NEWS

A4 Graphic

February 2, 2012

Bike: steps promote rider safety in Malibu “I know four people that have died this year,” said Paul Phillips, an Inglewood resident who frequently rides his nificantly with the local law enforce- bike with friends on PCH. “None in ment to promote safety on the road.

Malibu, but two were on the canyon “I believe that bicycle transportation roads — Las Flores and Las Virgenes. is important and vital for our city and The driver swerved to avoid hitting anour entire area,” Mayor Laura Rosen- other car ... and hit him instead.” thal wrote in an email.

Cyclists, Phillips The initiative marks said, love riding in a significant stepping Malibu because there “I believe that stone in promoting biare few stop signs, “and bicycle transcycle riding in Malibu, it’s beautiful of course.” yet despite its intenHe has similarly run portation is tions to increase bicycle into the same problems important and safety, its impact will be that have killed other vital for our city considerably limited. cyclists: getting forced and our entire PCH, the main (and into traffic by unanoften the only) way to nounced construction, area.” get from place to place poorly parked cars and —Laura Rosenthal in Malibu, does not fall cars looking for beach Mayor of Malibu under the control of parking swerving into the city, but under the the shoulder without California Department signaling. of Transportation (Caltrans), meaning “People do some crazy things for that the city of Malibu alone cannot parking in Malibu,” Phillips said. change or alter any part of it.

Another cyclist and current memRosenthal, who did not support ber of the United States Navy Triathlon the initiative, wrote that the city was Team, Dan Frost said simply, “Malibu recently awarded a grant of $900,000 isn’t for inexperienced riders. Not beto study safety on PCH with Caltrans. cause the terrain is difficult but because The grant will allow the city to gauge of the safety hazards.” what problems should be focused on for Frost recommends riders to go north the future. up to Point Mugu or through the can“I believe that we must first decide yon where bike lanes and driver-rider what will work for PCH and Malibu awareness makes things safer. “You’ll and then begin to develop programs usually see biking groups 10 to 15 to work within those parameters,” she strong charging the hills around Malibu said, though the city has not yet out- Lake [in Westlake],” he said. lined a specific action plan.

Currently, two other Southern CaliOver the last decade PCH has had its fornia cities, Long Beach and Huntingfair share of cyclist injuries and fatalities, ton Beach, have been able to achieve which are usually caused by the lack of bronze-level “Bicycle Friendly” desigbike lanes. Utility or construction work nation from the League of American often forces cyclists into traffic and poor- Bicycles despite the fact that PCH ly parked cars. Accidents such as one in runs through major areas of each city.

2005, when two cyclists were forced into Yet these cities have many other routes the traffic lane near John Tyler Drive by other than PCH for cyclists to navigate, concrete construction barriers and were which is one luxury Malibu doesn’t killed by the impact of a catering truck, have. are examples of avoidable tragedies that “Malibu is 27 miles of scenic beauthe bicycling community hopes this pro- ty,” Frost said. “You can only loop into gram will address. a couple neighborhoods for a few miles, From A1

HEATHER MANES / SENIOR STAFF WRITER

but in order to get an actual workout you have to get back on the highway.”

Nevertheless, the program to become a “Bicycle Friendly Community” set forth by the League of American Bicyclists includes a plan much broader than just highway safety. The plan is structured around the League’s “5 Es:” Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, and Evaluation.

The blueprint available on the League’s website details each “E;” only one (Engineering) evaluates the quality of the infrastructure.

Though the League’s blueprint cites physical environments as one of the most determining factors in getting people on bikes, the other aspects of the program play an important role in changing the mentality of the community and its government.

The League insists that educat-

ing motorists, cyclists and even young kids about bicycle safety provides an important foundation for members of the community to understand the positive impact of bicycling. Encouraging participation in events and programs such as Bike to Work Day and National Bike Month, or even participating in an advocacy group, helps to build a culture where bicycling is encouraged and is therefore more successful, as the League’s blueprint explains.

In addition, working with law enforcement to keep citizens safe and creating a decades-long plan to improve the city programs and infrastructure are important elements for Malibu to address in the coming years. According to the League’s rankings, California currently ranks twentieth out of the 50 states as the most bike friendly state (Washington, Maine and Wisconsin are

39

the top three).

Nevertheless, Malibu is adding its name to more than 30 cities across the state to pursue the bicycle friendly designation.

“Being a cyclist is about the community and the fitness,” said Malibu resident and former Olympic cyclist Lydia Graham. “There are a ton of riders in Malibu who are living healthy lifestyles, which is great, but PCH just isn’t up to par for [bike] training.”

Cyclists and city council members agree that, in order to be affective, this initiative will need to balance with the $900,000 Caltrans grant to improve conditions throughout all of Malibu, PCH and neighborhood streets.



zachary.jenkins@pepperdine.edu 

heather.manes@pepperdine.edu

Invites You to Celebrate the

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annual dinner

SaTuRday, FeBRuaRy 18, 2012

Featuring

THe RigHT HonouRaBle

BeveRley MclaCHlin Chief Justice of Canada

Beverly W ilshire Beverly HIlls A Four seAsons hotel

Beverly Hills, California 6:30 pm

law.peppeRdine.edu/annualdinneR

w h o

s c fi e a

s s e e ,

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By ASHLEY THURMOND

geles to pursue her artistic dreams.

Filmmaker Hilary Helstein’s film was featured in Elkins Auditorium. The film Payson Library’s display of artwork cre- had previously been screened for the auated by Holocaust survivors and a screen- diences such as the United Nations, and ing of documentary film “As Seen through it made its way to a Pepperdine audience These Eyes” illuminated survivors’ use of ranging from students to professionals this week. Narrated by Maya Angelou, the art in the face of tragedy.

The Glazer Institute of Jewish Stud- screening of Helstein’s film left the audiies and Payson Library collaborated in ence noting the power of art to maintain the memory of an attempt to provoke “This exhibit shows the mankind. further intellectual dispower of art to keep the Holocaust cussion among students survivors Berregarding the Holohuman spirit alive in nie and Juliana caust yesterday in an art horrible times.”

“Judy” Simon exhibit at 6 p.m. and made an appear—Ken LaZebnik film screening at 7 p.m.

Director of Library Advancement and ance at Payson to “This entire exhibiPublic Affairs view the exhibit tion shows the power of and screen the art to transcend tragedy,” said Director of Library Advancement film. Last month, the couple came to camand Public Affairs Ken LaZebnik. “To me, pus to share their stories.

“It was wonderful for them to come this exhibit shows the power of art to keep back to Pepperdine to show support for the human spirit alive in horrible times.”

An hour before the screening, attendees the art exhibit,” freshman Jessica Arana mingled and admired the artwork. Sketch- said. “Seeing them again gave me a more es by survivor Alfred Kantor depicted ev- personal connection to them and their eryday life in the concentration camps and stories. I was able to apply their stories to German propaganda. Along Payson’s walls the art and gain a new appreciation for the lay biographies of each talented artist that art’s true purpose.”

In a question-and-answer session folfound their own unique way to portray life at the time of the Holocaust. The life of lowing the film, Helstein elaborated on Dina Gottliebova-Babbitt, a young aspir- the significance of the role of art as testiing artist who found herself in a concen- mony and memoir.

“The film took me over 10 years to tration camp, was chronicled in a graphic novel. Upon liberation, she continued to complete,” Helstein said. “For me, it’s not study and practice art, moving to Los An- about religion, but about why this hapNEWS ASSISTANT

pened and how these people survived.”

The film emerged after Helstein conducted more than 100 interviews with Holocaust survivors, the ones who have lived these experiences detailed in the artworks. She was immediately inspired by the stories of these survivors, the artists in particular.

Through the use of photography, art and film, both the Glazer Institute and the University have been working to help students connect with other cultures.

“Glazer Institute teaches courses, but also impacts students outside the classroom,” Glazer Institute Professor Rebecca Golbert said. “This collaboration allows academic learning to happen while we expose students to this artwork in public meeting spaces, to promote public discussion.”

Golbert added: “How do we grapple with conflict as a Christian university as we study moral and ethical dimensions and interfaith relations?” She said the exhibit of art will help students and their communities begin and continue these conversations.

The touring exhibit of Holocaust art, “Art Survives,” is located on the second floor of Payson Library and will continue to be on display throughout the month of February.

“The artwork shows the beauty of their community through this nightmare,” LaZebnik said. “This is the portrayal of feelings in the concentration camps, through art.” ashley.thurmond@pepperdine.edu

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RACHEL MILLER / PHOTO ASSISTANT

Somber Reflection: Holocaust survivor Bernie Simon views artwork from fellow survivors in the Payson Library display.

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Convocation attendance system overhauled After trying out a ticketing system to decrease convocation chaos last semester, the convocation office is implementing different policies this semester with hopes of solving the problem for good.

By DAVID LASEZKAY STAFF WRITER

Here’s the plan: The ticket system was scrapped, the student workforce has doubled and there will only be one open convocation event per night.

This semester, convocation has been simplified in hopes of improving efficiency and order. The convocation office has decided to sponsor only one event per night, open to all students, as opposed to the old system of two or

three per night. Club convocation policies remain unchanged.

Convocation student worker Safeena Padder defended the change for safety reasons. “There would be way too many people trying to get into a certain room, they’d be crowding the doors,” she said.

Padder also added that the new limit of one convocation per night would encourage students to get their credits early. “That way people are more on track about getting their convos in on time, and it’s not as crazy at the end of the semester with people running from one convo to the other.”

Diana Shing, the administrative coordinator for convocation and studentled worship, said this semester is the pilot for the new system of convocation.

“It’s an effort to make our office more effective,” she said. “Even if we approve

one [event] per evening, students have changes. The system of ensuring a seat multiple things they can do to get their for early arrivers came into effect in the 14.” middle of the fall semester, but accordA limitation of hosting one con- ing to Shing, it caused more chaos than vocation event per night is that the order since the ticket policy was not office will not be able to schedule as clear to all students.

Wednesday mornmany student-proposed ing Chapel will also events. The strengths of “Even if we apundergo slight changthe new system include prove one [event] a bolstered staff and the es with the intention removal of the ticket systo keep order in the per evening, stutem. spacious Firestone dents have multiple The student convoFieldhouse.

New things they can do cation crew present at banners will remind to get their 14.” the events has doubled students to avoid us—Diana Shing since last semester. Now ing cell phones and Administrative that there are 12 workers laptops as well as talkCoordinator for ing during the events. present at each convocaConvocation “The biggest changes tion, the division hopes to Wednesday convos line management and crowd control will run more effectively. are more of conduct; we are trying to The ticket method has also seen be friendly but firm,” Padder said.

Housing quest approaches Housing placement is coming up, with senior selection Feb. 8 and junior selection Feb. 14. The new housing selection process is full of twists and turns. Follow this housing adventure flow chart to find your own path for selection.

Start here

Yes

You pick your housing for next year Feb. 8.

Yes

I ess n d d goo to fin k n e Tha ’t hav te. don a da

No You pick your housing for next year Feb. 14.

No Sorry, you are not eligible to take place in the housing placement nights. Your adventure is complete.

Wait.

Pick your room!

Your adventure is complete.

No

Did you hear your number called?

s Ye Proceed to the map room with the rest of your roommates, regardless of their numbers.

What if I missed it?

Come in to the housing office until May 1 to change your room.

Discounts also expire on this day.

Enter the Caf at 8:30 p.m. on your placement night and draw a number.

I’m listening.

At the end of this spring semester, will you have at least 60 units or lived on campus for four semesters?

At the end of this spring semester, will you have at least 90 units or lived on campus for six semesters?

If you can not attend your placement night, another student may use a proxy card on your behalf.

I’m busy!

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Holocaust survivor artwork adorns Payson

Wh cha at if I nge min my d?

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NEWS

February 2, 2012

Your number will be called three times. If you miss it, come up later to the map room bouncer.

Shing’s plan for the semester is to run the convocation division with efficiency that hasn’t been seen in the past.

“I think the more that they [students] know we are strict about these certain policies and strict about our deadlines and things like that, we can be more efficient for what we do.”



david.lasezkay@pepperdine.edu

A6 Graphic

NEWS

February 2, 2012

Zuma Jay to leave politics

Environment remains key focus

By GENEVIEVE SMITH STAFF WRITER

GENEVIE

VE SMIT

H / STAFF

PHOTOGR

APHER

Surf’s Up: Zuma Jay mans his surf shop, which he has continued to run while sitting on Malibu City Council.

Malibu City Council member Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner is a quirky mix of traditionalist, environmentalist and empiricist who has made waves in local politics over recent years. Inspired by what future generations will inherit from his own, he has directed his efforts into enhancing and preserving the scenic beauty of Malibu’s 26 miles of coastline.

“I got tired of picked up trash in the canyon and on the beach and I looked to a larger resource to help me with cleaning up the beaches and canyon, and that was environmentalism,” he said. “So because of my environmental activism, banning plastic bags, cigarettes, foam packaging, all these things, I got a football rolling.”

Jay carried his environmental vision into his time on City Council, though change did not come automatically.

“There were obstacles to change. People usually are complacent when it comes to change that might alter their patterns,” he said.

Jay appealed to local businesses and realtors to gain support for clean water projects that would attract more positive interest to the territory.

But Jay is leaving his post in politics behind. After dedicating a hefty amount of time to serving the community he loves, this activist is handing the torch over to the next qual-

ified citizen.

Jay is leaving his position after only one term for a variety of reasons. He warns the next council members of the immense time commitment required to do their best with the job, which he held in conjunction to running Zuma Jay’s Surf Shop and being concessionaire for Malibu Pier.

Jay also revealed his frustration with the inefficiently short term granted to Malibu mayor. A 10-month term, he explained, is only long enough to inherit the tasks of the previous mayor. The council member said that this system, regrettably, makes Malibu’s political infrastructure vulnerable to instability as much as it fuels complacency in political action.

Having served a term as mayor himself in 2010, Zuma Jay hopes the younger generation will engage in local politics and be active voters to secure the stability of shared land.

While in office, the native surfer took action to clean up Malibu’s ocean water and worked toward improving the sea’s Department of Public Health rating to grade A waters. The city is currently deliberating the building of a wastewater treatment plant in Malibu.

With a business-savvy mindset, Jay noted the benefits of clean waters on real estate and tourism, although his prime motivator is the likes of his grandchildren.

He fears the “short-term

“I got tired of picking up trash in the canyon and on the beach, and I looked to a larger resource to help me. ... That was environmentalism.”

—Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner City Councilman

Band-Aids” which are currently holding together local political decisions lack a long term direction. Yet the highly vocal Malibu community is what Jay says will preserve this town.

“There are 20,000 people with three newspapers circulating.

The Malibu community is saturated with information,” he said.

The activist and SIMA environmentalist does, however, fear that Pepperdine students are neither being educated on nor involved enough in the Malibu community. While expressing a distaste for what he considers the detached stance the university takes in regard to its neighbors, Jay said he hopes that students will reach out on their own accord.

“What I’m handing to my daughter, what I’m handing to your generation, may not be something that is in perfect condition but I think it’s valuable for people your age to see that we are aware of these situations that we have created and we are working towards resolving some of these situations so that you, in your future and in your foresight, have the thought: ‘[The generations ahead of me] are doing some-

thing; it’s up to my generation to continue on, or improve on [their work]. Heck, the old farts did it. Maybe we should join them.’

“I hope to at least get people going in the right direction, with passion,” Jay said.

Students are undeniably immersed in the university surroundings, yet students should take action toward investing in the community, according to Jay. Malibu residents can vote in the upcoming Malibu City Council Elections, for which the closing registration date is March 26. Anybody can make a call to the Malibu City Hall at (310) 456-2489 and be one voice for any of the projects to which Jay has drawn attention.



genevieve.smith@pepperdine.edu

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NEWS

February 2, 2012

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A7

Nathaniel Jones named associate provost

By ANDREW KASSELMANN NEWS ASSISTANT

Dr. Nathaniel Jones III entered his position as Pepperdine’s new associate provost for Academic Administration on Monday.

According to Provost Darryl Tippens, there was a pressing need to fully implement the University’s new Strategic Plan as well as meet the demands of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), the regional accrediting agency.

The University needed “someone who had both a strong academic background and specific experience in higher education administration, including accreditation, assessment and strategic planning,” Tippens said.

Moving forward with his new job, Jones “will get acquainted with the budgets and the budget managers,” Tippens said. “He will advise us on the best ways to achieve our educational goals in the most efficient way possible.”

After the loss of Dr. Timothy Chester to the University of Georgia last fall, the University has been shorthanded in the Provost’s Office.

“Dr. Jones has just the credentials and experience we were seeking,” Tippens said.

According to Jones, he will be work-

ing with the provost, vice provost and the academic deans in strategic resource allocation and planning, as well as helping to translate the University’s new broad strategic plan into specific strategic plans.

The large initiatives of the broad strategic plan are to enhance and advance learning, knowledge and scholarship, develop resources to do the same, build community, respect diversity, promote global understanding and honor God and heritage. With his position’s emphasis on financial issues, enhancing financial stability at the University will also be an important goal, Jones said.

Because Jones is new to the University, he has no current plans for specific strategies connected to the broader strategic plan.

“It would be unwise of me, at this juncture, to come in with a preconceived notion of what I’m going to change, as if I already have a written prescription,” Jones said.

Jones will instead spend the first three to six months in an analytical information-gathering phase to achieve a solid understanding of how the university operates. He will look especially into the way resources and budgets are allocated. After looking to see how everything works, he will focus primarily on areas that stand to gain a new level

of efficiency.

“I will be looking for opportunities to enhance efficiency and improve the effectiveness of both administrative and academic work,” Jones said.

As things move from informationgathering to a phase focused on improvement and the attaining of the University’s strategic plan, Jones will also be involved in the careful monitoring and organizational assessment of the effectiveness of the efforts.

In his prior jobs, Jones had significant experience in helping organizations attain greater levels of efficiency.

“I have both public and private education experience, and I am a detailoriented problem solver committed to helping the university to function better,” Jones said.

Just before coming to Pepperdine, Jones was employed as the assistant dean and chief financial and administrative officer for the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences for the University of California Riverside (UCR).

According to Jones, the college had an operating budget in excess of $82 million and had course enrollments of approximately 10,000 students per year.

“As the assistant dean, I was responsible for providing leadership and overseeing financial affairs, budgeting, IT, human resources, research contracts

RACHEL MILLER / PHOTO ASSISTANT

Moving Forward: Associate Provost Dr. Nathaniel Jones sits in his new office on his first week at Pepperdine.

and grants, as well as providing strategic analysis and administrative oversight of particular academic programs,” Jones said.

Before going to UCR, Jones served as the chief financial and administrative officer for the Tucker Foundation at Dartmouth College and as the assistant dean of resources & enrollment management for the College of Education at Northern Arizona University. He has worked in consulting positions as well.

Jones said he wanted to come to Pepperdine because he was looking for

a rewarding and challenging professional position that affords him the opportunity to use his talents and skills in support of an institution with a mission and values he believes in.

“Pepperdine is a great university, and I look forward to helping improve its quality as well as improve its financial health and strength,” he said.



andrew.kasselmann@pepperdine.edu

Former DPS officer passes, legacy lives

By ASHLEY THURMOND

learn from their mistakes.

“He had a tremendous heart for the students,” Susan said.

Since his retirement from Former DPS officer Henry “Hank” Gamboa was a proud Pepperdine in 2010, his presence member of the Pepperdine fam- has been missed.

“Hank was a beloved member ily. At 77, Gamboa passed away of the DPS Family,” DPS Deputy Thursday, Jan. 19, at University Director Dawn Emrich said.

Medical Center in Lubbock, TexIt was well known that Gamas. As a DPS officer serving until his retirement in 2010, Gamboa boa was an avid Pepperdine athgrew to love the Pepperdine com- letics fan. His family recalled the munity and gave much of himself abundance of T-shirts he collected from Athletic and University to its advancement.

Gamboa was the “face of events. Gamboa and his family Pepperdine.” As a booth offi- traveled with the volleyball team cer, Gamboa was the one who for multiple seasons. He also greeted the thousands of vehicles loved to watch and cheer on the entering campus each day with baseball team to victory.

Gamboa dishis friendly wave and played courage in his unique, warming efforts to help others. smile.

His son and wife reGamboa’s wife called his enthusiasm of 30 years rememas he went through bers that she “fell in volunteer firefighter love with his smile.” training at the age of She recalled how he 65. His love for prowould have bowls of Gamboa tecting was what he candy awaiting young Former DPS Officer lived out every day as children who came a DPS officer and “strong man of through the gates onto campus.

Gamboa took great pride in God.” Gamboa’s final memorial is to his position as one of the first people with the opportunity to be held at the Pepperdine Uniprovide a welcoming first impres- versity Chapel on Saturday, Feb. sion of Pepperdine to those who 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is pulled up to the main gate each open to all. Students, staff and day. He loved to tell his wife how faculty are welcome to join Gammuch he loved his job. “He’d say boa’s loved ones in a tribute to I’m in Malibu, looking at the his life, his accomplishments and scenery every day, wearing shorts, his legacy here at Pepperdine and waving pretty girls through the beyond. gate, and I’m getting paid for it,” his wife, Susan Gamboa, said.

Hank was known to be quite compassionate and lenient with students when it came to parking, always offering a parking ashley.thurmond@pepperdine.edu warning and allowing them to NEWS ASSISTANT

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY EMILY BRANCH / ART EDITOR

Internships: do summers pay off, or are students forced to pay?

From A1

internship costs $1,266 per semester at Seaver. The Dean’s Office offers a summer internship scholarship to cover the cost of two units of intern-credit.

“As with all classes, you pay a flat tuition rate for any number of units from 12 to 18, so as long as you take that internship as part of your normal course load, it should not cost extra,” Adams wrote in an email. “Employers now expect graduates to have at least two to three relevant work or internship experiences on their resume before they get their first job.”

Among ethical and monetary disputes, workers now question the role of “real world” experience in unpaid internship programs, and Lott has seen both sides of the struggle.

“I’ve had it where I was unofficially being taken advantage of because they knew I wanted the experience,” Lott said. “So in that sense, it was unjust. But in the end both parties are better off. I’d rather have it on my resume than not.”

Lott also encountered companies that fostered an appropriate business setting, one where he developed finance skills while still unsalaried. To subsidize his transportation expenses, Lott used the Randall Internship Program through Pepperdine.

The program is open to all students taking at least one internship unit for graded credit in the fall or spring, and it currently offers up to $500 in compensation for gas.

Senior Media Production major Harrison Muecke waited until his second semester of senior year to begin his first internship — one that is paid. Declaring his major after sophomore year forced Muecke to play catch-up with classes, furthering his role as a full-time student. Muecke secured an internship at a production company for

$10 an hour through his fraternity chap- lie in whether the company must follow ter’s connections. While outsiders may peg the Fair Labor Standards Act. Although this as nepotism, Muecke sees it as just encouraged, nonprofit internships do not “making life a lot easier.” have to meet Department of Labor guideLott and Muecke have not considered lines. For-profit private sector must meet International Program’s, (IP) summer in- legal criteria in a “test” for hiring unpaid ternships abroad because of the cost. Four interns. programs, Buenos Aires, Shanghai, LausAccording to the 2011 Student Survey anne and London, provide a four-unit in- by the National Association of Colleges ternship course with additional language and Employers, paid interns “were more and history course units oflikely to get a job offer, fered. The average cost for a have a job in hand by the summer internship abroad time they graduated, and “I’ve had it where through IP is $6,505. receive a higher starting I was unofficially According to IP Dean salary offer than their being taken advanof Admissions and Students peers who undertook an tage of because Affairs Jeff Hamilton, most unpaid internship or no they knew I wanted internships abroad go uninternship at all.” the experience.” paid due to paid-work visas.

The explanation beIf money forces students hind the inequality lies —Adam Lott Senior to forgo the opportunity, in the more “real” exHamilton suggests students perience the interns rereassess their options. ceived. Professionalism “IP encourages students and money were the key to meet with a Financial Assistance rep- factors. resentative to review their grant/scholarWhile the economy remains stagship/loan package,” Hamilton wrote in an nant, more unpaid internships pop up. In email. “Many students are surprised to dis- March, the Los Angeles Times introduced cover that their financial assistance pack- the nation’s 13.7 million unemployed as age in the summer is often very similar to the new interns of the labor market, an what it is during the school year which unfamiliar sight at odds with the young, helps offset or even completely cover the post-grad ideal. Most recently, a pair of tuition and IP fees. Again, though, each unpaid interns from the film “Black Swan” student should weigh for themselves the opened a class-action lawsuit against the benefit and value of an experience in rela- film’s producer, Fox Searchlight Pictures. tion to their own unique financial situa- One of the interns was 42. The two former tion.” interns are seeking back pay for their sixThe deadline for the IP scholarship ap- month work and are filing an injunction plication is tomorrow, Feb. 3. that would prevent the company from hirThe first step in landing an intern- ing future unpaid interns. ship, according to both Lott and the Career Center, is starting at a nonprofit or government organization. Here, students gain footing in a less structured, formalized setting. At the core, the differences mariella.rudi-lopez@pepperdine.edu 

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PERSPECTIVES February 2, 2012

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STEPHANIE NELSON STAFF WRITER

Immigration tales trigger new respect

Enrique was only 16 years old when he left the front porch of his house in Honduras to embark on a journey that would lead him thousands of miles away from home in search of his mother. She, like many women in her position, had made the difficult decision of leaving him behind in hopes that the United States would provide an opportunity to support her family back home. After 12 years of estrangement, Enrique decided he would set out to find her, following a dangerous route of traveling atop freight trains. He is only one of thousands of youths who risk their lives to be with their families once again.

In the dim-lit room of Elkins, I sat listening to Sonia Nazario tell stories just like Enrique’s. As an experienced reporter and journalist, Nazario decided she would not only write about his story, but also live it. Nazario immersed herself with the migrants, traveling the same journey that Enrique had done only months before.

In steady detail, she talked about the daunting and treacherous experiences she encountered along the way, crossing the Mexican and U.S. borders. As she spoke, pictures flashed upon the screen of kids as young as 7, their hair wildly flattening across their eyes as they learned to grip the bars at the top of a train car. As I listened to her words and let the images seep into my mind, I thought to myself, “How is it that so many do not know about this?”

The issue of illegal immigration has been tossed back and forth between politicians in debate for years. And while the debate continues to arise repeatedly, many fail to recognize stories like Enrique’s that continue to creep silently behind our conscious awareness. As Nazario described it, the disappearance of these migrants from their home countries a “Modern Day Exodus.” Citizens from Central America and Mexico have been fleeing their country due to the scarce jobs and resources necessary to live.

Nazario recounted that oftentimes mothers are left to raise their children alone, with little money for food and clothing. Faced with the dire circumstances of survival, mothers may make the difficult sacrifice of leaving their children behind in order to come to the United States to seek better opportunities. The fastest and most dangerous way to make the journey is to ride the freight trains through the central regions of Mexico, often leading to mutilation or death. The trip also carries a high rate of theft and violence from local gangs and corrupt police forces. Migrants fight against overwhelming exhaustion as they cling to the tops of the train beds for days at a time, dehydrated and starving in severe 100-degree heat. At times, survival seems nearly impossible.

During her lecture, Nazario suggested ways she believes the United States can positively make a difference. First, we can implement more incentives and better opportunities within migrants’ home countries. Microloans that help to start small businesses, free trade across borders and better education facilities are simple ideas that, if enacted properly, can make a huge difference. Although they are not immediate answers to the struggles that these countries currently face, they do open the door to possible change in places such as Honduras or Mexico.

Nazario’s lecture opened my eyes to a greater story that I had been missing. One from the perspective of a young migrant who sacrificed everything to come to the United States. It is public awareness about such issues that aid in the understanding of immigration and the effects it has on people on both sides of the border. I urge students to learn more about this issue through resources like Nazario’s work and be inspired to make a change for lasting positive progress. 

stephanie.nelson@pepperdine.edu

EMILY BRANCH / ART EDITOR

STAFF EDITORIAL

Campus activism: Students must wake this sleeping giant We have suddenly awoken from a deep slumber of apathy in the first few weeks of this spring semester. If you’ve been on Facebook (read: are alive and avoiding the fact that this new semester is well underway) this week or last, you are probably well aware of Reach OUT’s petition. It seems redundant at this point to explain that students are calling for the administration to overturn its decision to deny endorsement to an LGBT student group.

You’ve likely either signed the petition or questioned the campaign. Regardless of your beliefs, you’ll likely be following the campaign and the viral media coverage it has generated. The Internet has been alive with debate, and campus voices on both sides of the issue have been loud and clear.

Similarly, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) has also sparked a strong debate and action among many students at Pepperdine, who’ve signed petitions, used social media to educate others and called their representatives in Congress along with many others throughout the nation, resulting in the suspension of the legislation.

Recent manifestation of these passions on campus are noteworthy because it is so rare to see Pepperdine students up in arms on both sides of any seriously contentious issue. The average Pepperdine student is known for a general awareness of many injustices around the globe, but not for involvement in bold and controversial campaigns. While protests and

constant debates are a regular part of student life at campuses like Berkeley and UCLA, Pepperdine students prefer to stick to less contentious issues.

We go to documentary showings and make a few donations here and there, but this kind of involvement is often for humanitarian causes. We’re just not comfortable “being the change” when it involves anything remotely controversial.

Something about the culture of campus seems to make students shy away from anything that might start conflict. Taking a stand can be intimidating, and it’s often easier to sit back and avoid conflict. Still, once we educate ourselves and surround ourselves with supporters, engaging with the other side can be exciting. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing even a small victory for a cause in which we believe.

“Truth, having nothing to fear from investigation, should be pursued relentlessly in every discipline.” Let’s take the spirit from our academic code to our causes. We need to start either defending existing policies or questioning them (whether they’re on our own campus or on a broader, national or international level).

Let’s revive the excitement that ignites any time we host a free speech wall. The statements of passion emblazoned on the wall should not stay dormant throughout the rest of the year.

Imagine all the good that fervor could accomplish if it was translated into on

and off-campus activism. We should continue speaking out on both sides of Reach OUT’s campaign, but more importantly, we should start posting real calls to action on the freedom wall (yes, you too can post anything.

The worst that can happen is that it gets taken down.) Keep tabs on other pressing governmental decisions like SOPA. Even if the recent debates don’t particularly interest you, take a cue from that passion and start challenging the campus to care.

As college students, we should be willing to make strong statements on either side of an issue. College is meant to be an environment where students, regardless of their interests or majors, can develop strong opinions for which they are willing to take a stand. We have the opportunity to amplify our voices even louder because of Pepperdine’s status as a top university, to attract major media attention as many organizations have done in the past. Let’s take advantage of that status and make the broader community notice a more engaged Pepperdine.

Let’s carry that passion into the primary season, general election and our future. No, really, do it. Don’t just put down this paper and return to your complacent and comfortable bubble. Think about what makes you angry, start challenging the status quo and build a coalition. Don’t just say you want a revolution — make one happen.

FACE OFF

“Do you think Pepperdine Students take an active enough interest in current events both on campus and globally? ” CHRIS MOLINA Freshman NO: “I think that the majority of Pepperdine students are very well informed and educated.

There is certainly a diversity of opinions here, and I don’t think they are polarized strongly toward the extremes on either side of the political spectrum. However on the whole, there isn’t an obvious expression of these opinions.

They’re largely kept private within social circles. There are, of course, a few very vocal, extreme opinions, the average Pepperdine student is somewhere in the middle, which doesn’t often spark activism or passionate expression. If you were to sit down in a group you would get a lot of different opinions.”

MICHELLE DUBOIS Sophomore YES: “I think that the way Pepperdine Students become involved and aware is through service. When it comes to global events, there is more of a focus on compassion and social justice. Because of this, the way in which Pepperdine students take action is less centered around political activism or protest, and more focused on compassion and service. There is obviously a mix of both, for example International Justice Mission’s presence on campus, but on the whole I think our school is more serviceoriented.”

Executive Editor Sonya Singh Managing Editor Jessica Abu-Ghattas Creative Director Alexa Stoczko News Editor Aubrey Hoeppner Associate News Editor Ian McDonald News Assistants Whitney Irick Andrew Kasselmann Mariella Rudi Ashley Thurmond Sports Editor Narine Adamova Assistant Sports Editor Alysha Tsuji Sports Assistants Mariana Lizarzaburu DeAnJilo Platt-Friday Andy de Burgh Sidley Perspectives Editor Madison Leonard Assistant Perspectives Editor Grace Stearns Life & Arts Editor Edgar Hernandez Assistant Life & Arts Editor Benjamin Kryder Life & Arts Assistants Caneel Anthony Sarah Racker Section Designers Amy Cummins Mallory Cummins Nikki Torriente Garrison Wright Photo Editor Meagan McCarty Photo Assistant Rachel Miller Art Editor Emily Branch Assistant Art Editor James Chung Copy Editors Breanne DeMore Sienna Jackson Lindsay Jakows Kristina McClendon Brooklin Nash Online Managing Editor Al Lai Online Content Editor Kayla Ferguson Online Photo Editor Rebecca Herron PGM President Scott Lawrence Director of Student Journalism Elizabeth Smith Assistant Director of Journalism Courtenay Stallings

Mission Statement: The Graphic is an editorially independent weekly student newspaper for the greater Pepperdine community. It serves the community with news, opinion, contemporary information and a public forum for discussion.

The Graphic 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.

The Graphic participates in Pepperdine’s Christian mission and affirmations, especially the pursuit of truth, excellence and freedom in a context of public service.

Although the Graphic reports about Pepperdine University and coordinates with curricula in journalism and other disciplines, it is a student and not a University publication. 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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February 2, 2012

PERSPECTIVES

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A9

Humility yields exceptionalism The blind leading the blind

Filthy roommates hinder life in all its fullness GRACE STEARNS

ASSISTANT PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

The harsh reality of first world problems weighs heavily over the hills of Malibu. No longer able to avoid the piles of homework accumulating around campus, students skulk sheepishly back toward the library, swimsuits concealed under bulky blue and orange sweatshirts.

Payson triumphs, swarming with frantic students, at last disillusioned as to what their semester social calendar will look like. Lesser students have stolen all of my usual spots and thus I crouch, hunched in the unlit corner by the emergency exit, contemplating those issues so urgent to Pepperdine students: Dear Grace, My roommate is disgusting. She never leaves our dorm, sits huddled on her bed rotting in an ever-growing pile of dishes, food and dead skin cells.

How do I bring up the issue of hygiene?

Would it be advisable to switch rooms?

-Neat Freak Take solace, Neat Freak, in the reality that many have suffered as you suffer.

Recall the naive optimism that permeated freshman halls during NSO: bags upon bags of shiny new college student things unloaded onto your navy blue mattress, soon shoved to the floor while parents strategized as to how beds might be efficiently lofted, inevitably resulting in an unstable and unhinged bed frame piled with gaudy Target throw pillows, wobbly beams just waiting for the right moment to collapse. Only after the painstaking process of lofting the rickety bunk do you notice the discrepancy between the lower ledge of your bed and the height of your Pepperdine-issued dresser; a 15th trip to Bed Bath and Beyond is now in order as the bed risers you already purchased were of course two inches too short.

Remember the urgency of finding a place for every little thing you didn’t know you would never use as you settled into suite life, blindly optimistic that your suitemates would be normal, functioning human beings. Raise your hand if you thought the eight of you were going to be best friends. Keep your hand up if you can still remember all of their last names.

It might seem hard to reconcile those initial high hopes with the way things actually turned out. Carefully coordinated desk lamps and picture frames quickly pile up into what can only be described as a horrific episode of Hoarders, roommates speak only to lodge passive aggressive complaints against one other and suitemates disappear for days at a time. “Ground rules” laid out during your suite meeting seem part of a different lifetime. Stacks of filthy dishes obscure your view of the bathroom mirror as you resign to the reality of living as an undomesticated wolf.

I wish there were an easy and effective way to solve these problems. Alas, unhygienic lunatics pervade universities everywhere. I myself struggled to stifle a scream of disgust last Thursday after discovering my roommate’s magpie hoard of shiny, food coated wrappers shoved deep into the cushions of our living room couch.

Disgusting roommates will remain in a pile of filth, unfazed until people like us cave to their indifference and clean up after them in an effort to preserve our own sanity. The nasty roommate is unbothered by mess and perfectly fine with cleanliness; for them it’s a win-win.

The solution is this: if you can’t beat them, join them. One need only turn to nature for evidence that laziness can prove vastly more effective than ceaseless toil. Tigers, for example, hunt every day, diligently stalking their prey. Humans press 10 buttons and pizza appears outside the front door. Which species is nearing extinction? Something to think about next time you find yourself fighting the urge to vacuum the remains of last November’s pretzels off of your roommate’s throw rug. 

grace.stearns@pepperdine.edu

BROOKLIN NASH COPY EDITOR

The world has been both blessed and plagued by nationalism for the better part of 300 years. This modern manifestation of collective ethos is not merely political or cultural in nature. It transcends these ideas, instead standing as an emblematic border of shared sentiments. The swelling of pride and patriotic feeling is felt all around the world, and the United States does not stand as an exception.

Ever since America established itself as a world power in the mid-20th century, it has struggled to maintain our sense of greatness without stepping again into the dangerous void of manifest destiny.

The country now stands on a precipice, looking back at the path it has taken and carefully avoiding the view of the rocky trail in front of it. As we stand here, we cling to one surviving sentiment: the idea that Americans hold a special quality that makes this country what it is. In more blunt

terms, this is American exceptionalism. Republicans and Democrats, businessmen and farmers, students and retirees; almost everyone holds expectations for this nation. It is the view that America has been great and, if it isn’t now, will be great again.

Despite our less-than-perfect track record in everything from economics to foreign policy, it is an often-repeated outlook. I see this time and again in politics, from the newly revealed moon colonization plan by presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich, to the “shining city on a hill” politics from the Reagan administration.

This sort of patriotic jargon only increases when there’s a nomination or an election on the line. With the presidential election just around the corner, we are seeing it pouring out of the mouths of GOP candidates during debates and likewise from President Barack Obama in his most recent State of the Union last week. Obama ended this speech by comparing America to the U.S. Navy SEAL Team that took out Osama bin Laden last year. While it may not be a perfect metaphor, it nevertheless seems to be a fair ideological exercise to compare our view of what America

ought to be with the teamwork of SEAL Team 6. According to Obama (or, more accurately, according to Obama’s speech writers), our nation is great because “we built it together,” we “worked as a team,” and because we “get each other’s backs.” But here’s where we need a reality check.

If we were to really take a hard look in the mirror, what we would see is our commander in chief comparing the convoluted and cheap politics of modern-day America with the wellgreased mechanics of one of the military’s most elite tactical teams. With this view, the comparison becomes almost laughable.

A poll conducted by Time Magazine just a few months ago indicated that more than 70 percent of Americans believed that our position in the world has been on the decline in the past few years and more than 80 percent believed that we are not headed in the right direction. This majority of our population knows that despite what political figureheads may say, the state of our union is dire.

With our economy in disarray, our diplomacy in shambles, our domestic policies in confusion and our social programs in great need of reforma-

tion, it is hard to envisage ourselves as a shining city on a hill.

I am not yet resigned to the conclusion that America does not have the capacity to be great. Instead, I am convinced that we need to be honest with ourselves in order to make the necessary changes. Nearly a century ago, G.K. Chesterton asked whether someone could hate the world enough to change it, and yet love it enough to think it worth changing.

I believe the answer to that question, in terms of the United States, must be a resounding yes. We must carefully monitor our pessimism to instill a sense of urgency, yet embrace our optimism to open and widen the many avenues for improvement. We, as Americans, must hate the state of our union enough to make the effort to change it, and yet love America enough to know that it is worth the effort. That would make American truly exceptional.



brook.nash@pepperdine.edu

‘Gimme generation’ keeps asking for more MADISON LEONARD PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

Previous generations have been labeled for the difficulties they faced or the accomplishments they owned. But now, ours is being titled by some as the “gimme” generation based on the severely misled sense of entitlement that has infiltrated our era. And now, society is watching as millions are making the sluggish transition from being snobby children to unconstrained adults.

Last week, Fox News interviewed an economics professor from Valencia College in Orlando, Fla., Jack Chambless, who had recently conducted an experiment in his undergraduate classes asking his students to spend 10 minutes writing an essay about their perceptions of the American dream and exactly how they expected the government to be a part of their future achievements. A slim 10 percent of the students claimed that they wanted freedom from overzealous governmental regulation. But the disturbing consensus manifested itself when the remainder of the students said that they wanted and expected free healthcare, paid tuition, money for down payments on houses, to be given jobs and for the very wealthy in society to be taxed even more to allow for better living conditions for everyone else.

Chambless believes that the fault for this generational fallacy of expected entitlement goes beyond the crummy high school history teacher who neglected John Locke and his claims to life, liberty and property. Instead, he places blame in the parents’ hands. He expressed that parents should have been the ones to teach where our toys and products came from, and the peaceful selfinterested pursuit of profit that created the means to provide such goods.

I decided to call Chambless myself to understand more about his distress concerning our generation of entitled historophobes.

“You’ve been taught that if you lose every soccer game, you still deserve a trophy. You deserve a passing grade. I don’t know if it was Barney, or the parents, but something happened. It went from my generation where everything was earned, to parents of the 60s convincing children that they are so special that they deserve everything.”

And if these unofficial classroom surveys don’t provide enough evidence of the nationwide selfswelling, look at the main complaints of those involved in the recent Occupy Wall street and offshoot movements. Signs sprawled across city halls express expectations of full student loans; rallying cries from makeshift podiums demand lowered or nonexistent down payments on homes.

How starkly this contrasts to my parents (and

EMILY BRANCH/ ART EDITOR

most of yours, I presume) who saved for and paid the 20 percent down payment — the 1989 average according to USA Today — on the purchase of their home, because no buyer nor rational lending institution two or three decades ago expected a person to buy a big house with little or no money down. The current greed-driven housing meltdown, fueled by funny money mortgages and fanned by speculation of quick profits, has created a whole generation with different thoughts.

The same goes for student loans, another expectation on the “gimme” Christmas list. When our parents were going to college (go ahead, visualize them, in their high rise jeans and feathery mullets), no one felt entitled to government aid.

You were lucky to get some kind of scholarship, or you worked your way through school. But now, astronomical borrowing is the norm and skyrocketing debt for college graduates is the sad reality.

This is shaping up into quite a recipe for success. Combine nearly one in six Americans currently clinging to government assistance, according to CNN, some steaming hot historical ignorance and a dash of President Barack Obama’s appeal to the youth calling for government handouts and a redistribution of wealth and ding! One order of Gimme Gimme pie, coming right up.

Many economists and academics speculate that

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor must bear the writerʼs name, signature, class standing, major, address and phone number. Letters must be fewer than 300 words and will be edited for syntax, grammar and brevity. Letters can be mailed to student publications or emailed to graphic@pepperdine.edu.

this sense of entitlement and dip in the traditional American work ethic, coupled with unbridled growth in government size and spending, will lead our generation to being the first in history that is poorer than the previous one. Retired baby boomers, high debt, high taxes , increasing regulation and Federal bloat and overused welfare will leave us susceptible to falling behind the rest of the world and crumbling to the ground like Rome.

But there is something undeniably American in the desire to be at the top. Whether it’s that soccer trophy, or being a global powerhouse, we as a country long to be exceptional. Chambless advises that this younger generation snaps out of this trance and take a quick look around.

“Look at what people in India, China and Eastern Europe are doing. They’ve had poverty their entire lives and now they’re pursuing education, jobs and personal responsibility. They are hungry and we are spoiled. And that’s your competition.”

It’s time that we look at what the rest of the world is doing, elect politicians that encourage individualism and responsibility, and recharge some of our innate American grit.



madison.leonard@pepperdine.edu

CONTACT US Graphic Pepperdine University 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy. Malibu, CA 90263 310-506-4311 graphic@pepperdine.edu graphicadvertising@pepperdine.edu

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st o L &d un o F

February 2, 2012

MARIESA SHORT / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Payson archivists uncover past

By AUBREY HOEPPNER NEWS EDITOR

The Payson Library archivists have been uncovering previously hidden treasures from the library’s special collections. The archives project, titled “Preserving the Past, Preparing for the Future,” aims to free these pieces of history from ambiguous labels on cardboard storage boxes and document them as part of the University’s contribution to historical scholarship.

“We don’t want these things to stay in storage,” said head of Special Collections and University Archives Melissa Nykanen. We want to get them out so people can use them.”

The project, made possible through a $110,143 grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, focuses on primary sources dealing with the history of Pepperdine, the Churches of Christ and the Malibu area. Though they are only four months into the project, the volumes they have worked through tell the stories of generations of the Pepperdine family.

University materials include committee meeting records and presidential papers, but they do not stop there. Some of their unexpected findings have included a letter from then-President Bill Clinton to President Andrew K. Benton congratulating him on his appointment as university president and an Olympic torch from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, for which Pepperdine hosted the water polo tournament.

A set of blueprints and historical documents of early Malibu offer a glimpse into the city’s isolationist struggle. The Rindge family, who owned much of Malibu in the late 19th and early 20th century, consistently worked to preserve it from being developed like the surrounding area. “They found a clause in the law that said if [the city] had their own railroad, the county couldn’t build another one.

So they built their own railroad to transport their farm goods, thus preventing it from having one built through it,” said freshman Catie Golitzen, Special Collections student assistant.

Golitzen also found that the Rindges at-

tempted to prevent the building of the highway that would become PCH on familyowned land in Malibu. They were defeated by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that approved the highway due to the state’s eminent domain rights over the territory.

Archivists have also found personal items to add to the George Pepperdine collection and created an online compilation of documents and photos in the collection. As part of the project, they uncovered a handmade scrapbook recounting George Pepperdine’s trip around the world with his mother. The project also includes forgotten facts about the University founder, like that his first wife died in Hawaii from parrot fever.

Other findings fill in pieces of Church of Christ history. The papers of John Moody McCaleb, a missionary to Japan from 1892 to 1941, reveal much about the missionary group’s struggles and progress. The five-person party included three single women, a feat of relative independence for the time, noted Katie Richardson, archivist for Special Collec-

Top left: Documents from McCaleb, including sermons in Japanese Top right: One of the torches from the 1984 Olympics Middle: A map of the Malibu coastline from 1915 Bottom: George Pepperdine’s scrapbook from his world travels

tions and University Archives.

Some of the finest pieces have been a documented part of the library’s collection for some time, though students may not have had much interaction with them. Among the volumes of Special Collections are a French-Latin parallel translation of the “Aeneid” and a 1560 first edition Geneva Bible, the version brought to America by the Pilgrims.

Archivists are also creating finding aids and documents to guide researchers through the collections’ primary sources to increase accessibility.



aubrey.hoeppner@pepperdine.edu

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February 2, 2012

Dance

in

Flight

HARRISON YAGER / SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

By SARAH RACKER

LIFE & ARTS ASSISTANT

Pepperdine’s annual performances of Dance in Flight (DIF) begin this week, opening with tonight’s performance at 8 p.m.

This year’s DIF carries the theme of “Technology vs. Nature.” The show begins very mechanically, emphasizing humanity’s reliance

on technology and social media, and transitioning into the spiritual world of human feelings and relationships.

Dance in Flight originated at Pepperdine in 1993, with the goal of uniting a community of dancers and representing all types of dance. Since no dance major is offered at Pepperdine, DIF exists as a creative outlet for

students wishing to pursue their passion for dance.

“We’re really a student-run dance organization that exists as an outlet for students to dance,” said Bill Szobody, the director of DIF. DIF brings students of all backgrounds together, from religion to sociology to art majors.

This year, out of the 51 dancers,

24 of them are completely new to DIF. “We had a really strong freshman class this year and it was great to get to know all of them,” senior Katy Malone said.

Malone has been doing DIF since her freshman year.

There are 16 numbers in the show, and each

»See DIF, B5

LIFE & ARTS

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February 2, 2012

JOSH DOWNS STAFF WRITER

My life on the Z-list: Roll in the nude

In the beginning there was food, animals and nudity. Life was perfect. But after the original A-listers ate the dang juicy fruit, “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). This, to me, is the most tragic single verse in the Bible (the crucifixion was devastating, but occurred over a multi-verse span). Before this event, humankind was not cursed with the daily task of assembling weather/class/life-appropriate garb. They were able to focus on other things like naming the animals, each other and other things. I would be willing to submit that the curse of clothing was even slightly more harmful to the broad scheme of humanity than the whole “pain during childbirth” ordeal. I mean, have you seen Crocs?

This is obviously all filtered through my heavy-handed homeschool bias. As a child, I was allowed to roam free, naked, and happy, occasionally donning a robe, a slip or a onesie depending on the company. In high school, I clung to my thick cargo sweats, button up tees, and XXL leather jacket combos like they were the only logical ensemble –– all the comfort of bed wrapped in a breathable bad-ass cow skin (yes, just like Adam). To me, colorcoordination meant finding matching socks or making sure everything I wore on Tuesdays was the same shade of rich dark brown. While other children were spending their money on ripped jeans and “layers,” I fattened my adolescent self on “Magic School Bus” reruns and Cup Noodles. I was perfectly content on wearing the four-yearold puke-green sweater along with those navy pinstripe dress pants with the hole in the butt –– just add my sheepskin slippers, and voila! The love child of Hugh Hefner and Ronald McDonald just walked into third period biology.

But I am now an adult, matured and educated, who firmly believes that all justifications for the existence of clothing in general are moot points (outside of warmth and occasional disgust prevention). Personal expression? I am truly devastated to hear that your ability to verbally, physically, artistically and textually express yourself has suddenly vanished, leaving your wardrobe as the only conceivable method of advertising your “personal expression.”

This story that your clothes are telling me is profoundly heartbreaking, and I can tell by your scarf, non-prescription glasses, TOMS and argyle socks that it only gets worse.

I’m not saying that Pepperdine should abandon its religious and historical association with clothing and become some hippie nudist convent like Westmont. But isn’t it sad to think that your farm twin (we all have undiscovered identical copies of ourselves that live on farms in either Montana or Kentucky –– this is a fact) may have the exact same story to share with the world as you, but because of socio-economic differences, he or she cannot afford your mullet skirt (the weird new mini skirt in the front, ball gown in the back)? Kendra, your farm twin, is now forced to convey that story through use of barn art and burlap kites, while wearing yak-nipple pendants and baggy jeggings (nothing against Montana). While we claim to treasure her story equally, Kendra winds up unheard and happily married with 17 children, knitting bikinis for homeless women. In conclusion, clothing instantly denotes status; status is the root of hatred; and hatred kills. Therefore, clothing kills.

Personally, I am happiest while playing the piano in the buff, with a Diet Coke and my teddy bear sitting nearby. No judgment, no presuppositions, just me, expressing myself how I know best. If you know me, you know that when forced to clothe myself, I stick to graphic tees and flannels that cost less than $10. My story changes every day, and I can’t afford to have my clothes keep up with it. Instead of designer labels, clothing should be saying, “Isn’t it sad that I can’t say this out loud?” I’d wear one. Does it come in puke green?



joshua.downs@pepperdine.edu

EMILY BRANCH / ART EDITOR

Changes spark concerns

By KAYLA FERGUSON ONLINE CONTENT EDITOR

“Don’t be evil.” That’s Google’s motto. It seems so simple, yet recent changes to Google’s privacy policy have caused some to question how trustworthy Google — and all of its related sites — actually are.

Beginning March 1, Google is planning to condense all of their individual privacy policies that govern sites like YouTube, Picasa, Google Latitude, Google Earth and Blogger to name only a few, into one simpler policy, essentially making the cross-platform data tracking (that already exists) more apparent.

And Google has made sure to promote this change as a benefit to the user.

“In short, we’ll treat you as a single user across all our products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience,” wrote Alma Whitten, director of privacy, product and engineering at Google, in the initial post introducing the policy changes, according to searchenginewatch. com.

But what does that actually mean?

Essentially, the information a user gives one site –– videos viewed, advertisements clicked on, people contacted, etc. –– will be shared with all other Google platforms so that information won’t need to be re-entered or recalculated when a user switches from one site to another. Technically speaking, it is a very literal form of transparency.

In an email sent out by Google this weekend, the changes were spelled out in relatively user-friendly terms and it appears that Google’s

ultimate goal is to tailor the “Google experience” to each individual user.

“If you’re signed into Google, we can do things like suggest search queries or tailor your search results based on the interests you’ve expressed in Google+, Gmail, and YouTube. We’ll better understand which version of Pink or Jaguar you’re searching for and get you those results faster,” the email said.

That seems convenient, but there is more.

“When you post or create a document online, you often want others to see and contribute. By remembering the contact information of the people you want to share with, we make it easy for you to share in any Google product or service with minimal clicks and errors.”

This too, in “user lingo,” seems helpful. After all, the less we have to remember beyond daily todo lists and work or school obligations, the better.

Right? Maybe not.

What does the word “often” mean? Do we really want our peers to be “often” able to see everything we are doing? Is it possible to tell Google not to remember what we’ve shared or with whom the information has been shared? If Google “remembers” all of this information once, is it safe to assume it’s never going to forget it?

These questions, among others, are ones concerned Google users have asked out of fear that their privacy will be all but non-existent when the new privacy policy takes effect, and there are numerous privacy watchdogs and legislators that express the same concern.

Eight members of the House of Representatives, including Joe Barton (R-Texas), Edward

Markey (D-Mass.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), wrote a letter condemning the proposal and all have sponsored privacy bills, according to searchenginewatch.com.

What was Google’s response?

“We believe that consumers should have the ability to opt-out of data collection when they are not comfortable with a company’s terms of service and that the ability to exercise that choice should be simple and straightforward,” Google’s post, which introduced the policy outlines, stated.

Google spokespersons have also stressed the idea that Google is not collecting any more information than it already did, it is simply just sharing it across Google platforms.

“If you are logged in, you can still edit or turn off your Search history, switch Gmail chat to ‘off the record,’ control the way Google tailors ads to your interests, use Incognito mode on Chrome, or use any of the other privacy tools we offer,” the post continued.

Google argues that information has been shared across different platforms for some time now and that this new privacy policy simply allowing information to be shared more widely should not be a surprise nor a concern.

Whether Google is pushing the boundaries of it’s “Don’t be evil” motto is somewhat irrelevant, and this entire debate boils down to one simple thing. Users need to take individual responsibility for what they do on and share with the Internet.



kayla.ferguson@pepperdine.edu

Enjoy Spring Break with helpful hints

By PAIGE WESLASKI STAFF WRITER

Spring break is the ideal time for relaxation and rejuvenation. It allows college students to step back from their normal routines and embark on new adventures. It’s a time to close your schoolbooks, clear your mind and take a well-deserved hiatus.

Spring break is rapidly approaching, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still time to plan your ideal adventure. Whether you hope to catch some rays, take a ski trip, enhance your resume or lounge around campus, your ideas can easily become a reality. The break, which lasts from Monday, Feb. 27 through Friday, March 2, gives students an adequate amount of time to do something worthwhile.

Visiting a tropical destination with friends is a popular idea for spring break, and the Caribbean attracts thousands of college students every year.

If you wish to jump on the bandwagon, there are plenty of options. StudentCity is a company that offers affordable, safe packages to numerous cities.

The packages include airfare, hotel rooms and VIP passes to various activities. The company even promises to pick you and your friends up from the airport to transport you to your hotel –– now that’s service! FunJet Vacations, an online travel agency, also offers vacations at a steal price. Since our break is right around the corner, try finding the “Last Minute Deals” tab to score on a cheap trip.

Although a tropical beach may be appealing to students at other schools, students here experience it daily. Therefore, some Pepperdine students would rather venture to a far different climate. Ski and snowboard vacations are intensely growing in popularity, especially since companies are now offering student packages. A company known as CollegeXBreaks has recently set up a Canadian ski and snowboard trip exclusively for college students. The trip, which lasts from Feb. 26 through March 1, is offered at $399 a person. Students stay at the award-winning Tremblant Ski Resort in Quebec, and the package includes daily lift tickets and wristbands for nighttime activities. But act fast; the trip is quickly filling up to capacity.

Planning an extravagant getaway may sound too expensive or exhausting, and plenty of Pepperdine students will choose to stay right here in Malibu. However, this doesn’t mean they can’t still have an action-packed week of their own.

“So You Think You Can Dance,” a hit television show about talented amateur dancers, is having auditions in Los Angeles for its upcoming ninth season. The auditions, which will be Friday, March 2, are taking place at the Orpheum Theater. Last year’s winner took home $250,000 and countless prizes. Who knows, auditioning may transform you into America’s next superstar.

Staying in Malibu for the break is also the perfect chance to gain some work experience.

Contacting a nearby business that sparks your interest to shadow an employee can be incredibly beneficial. Since campus is only minutes from Los Angeles, the opportunities to shadow someone prestigious are immense. By shadowing someone at a company, a student can learn if the job is what you expected. Better to try something new now than guess later, right?

Whether you go far or stay close, you can certainly make this a memorable spring break. We all deserve a well-earned break from classes, and it’s in our best interest to make the most of this free time given to us. 

paige.weslaski@pepperdine.edu

Alternate Ideas for Spring Break Look at Living Social getaways for last-minute deals on trips.

Fulfill your internship requirement in a week as an intern for the TED conference in Long Beach. (email: kathryn.linehan@pepperdine.edu) Watch TLC all week and create a reaction blog.

EMILY BRANCH / ART EDITOR

Spring break: It’s not too late to plan your Spring Break with options like doing a job shadow (Top), going on a cruise (Middle), or going skiing (Bottom).

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Culinary Corner: Indulge in the taste of home

By EDGAR HERNANDEZ LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

After having gained confidence in my last cooking venture, I decided to step it up a notch and cook something more difficult and tasty than meatloaf. I called my madre and asked her how to make enchiladas. After a quick run through of what ingredients to use and an explanation of how to prepare the dish with modifications, so as to avoid weight gain, I set out to the local grocery store to find what I needed.

On the way there I began to get a bit nervous since I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to find all the ingredients that I needed. Furthermore, when it comes to shopping for food I tend to buy the same brands I have always seen my family buy (shout out to the Communication Division, I’m sure I learned something about this in one of my classes there, not sure which one, not sure when).

As I waddled up and down every aisle I came across the unexpected — an entire aisle full of products labeled in Spanish that I was familiar with. The only things that were problematic were the tortillas and the cheese. Good tortillas are hard to come across in local grocery stores, unless the grocery store has an obvious Hispanic influence. All throughout Southern California, these grocery stores are pretty common. Instead of getting good tortillas I had to go with the generic label that looks like a tortilla but has the resistance of a slice of bread.

As for the cheese, queso fresco is commonly used in a lot of Mexican dishes. Seeing how the local grocery store didn’t have this kind of cheese — an employer that spoke Spanish laughed at me when I asked if they had said cheese, humiliated I walked over to the fancy cheese section and pretended to know what I was doing — I settled for feta cheese.

I could have ventured into Los Angeles and easily found these products, but that would have taken a lot of time. Time that I didn’t have since my friend was waiting for me in her car outside my apartment.

I drove back up to Drescher and picked up a friend. I then set out to start preparing our meal while she perused gossip blogs, as I insisted that she let me prepare the food. The sound of veg-

etables being cut on a cutting board was mixed with the latest news of Heidi Klum’s impending divorce, the sad news of Etta James’ death and something about the Kardashians.

The process of preparing enchiladas is quite simple. First, all the toppings have to be prepared. I started by slicing some lettuce and putting it aside in a small container to rinse.

(Remember to wash all your vegetables.) Then I cut some avocado into thin slices. You don’t need to wash the avocado. I added a little bit of flavor to the sour cream by adding salt, pepper, a little bit of milk and mixing it all together until it was aqueous.

For the inside of the enchiladas I chopped some onion and mixed it with the feta cheese.

I’ve often seen enchiladas made with chicken; however, I decided to stick with how I’ve seen them made at home. If you want yours with chicken you just have to cook some, shred it and put it in the tortilla.

A few times I’ve seen people put enchiladas into the oven. When I first saw this I was shocked. “What kind of bastardization of my culture’s food is this?!” You see, I’m used to seeing enchiladas made differently due to the way most of my family made them.

First you need some jalapeño sauce. If you’re not up for the hot stuff — I understand that a lot of my readers have delicate stomachs that are not used to spicy foods — you can use tomato sauce.

They’re in the same aisle of the grocery store right next to each other.

Put this to boil on a pan with some consome and water, and then turn it off. Make sure you stir the pan so that everything is mixed.

After it boils, put out another clean pan with some cooking oil (I used cooking spray because I didn’t have oil and the results were disastrous at first). After it heats up a bit, make sure the flame is to medium or lower. We wouldn’t want burn marks all over your forearms now.

Take a tortilla and dip it into the pan with the sauce. Make sure that the entire tortilla is covered in the sauce. Then put the tortilla in the pan with cooking oil. You let it sit there for a bit, then flip it. Once it looks like the tortilla has absorbed the sauce, take it out and place it on a plate.

This was difficult for me. The first four at-

EDGAR HERNANDEZ / LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Trying to cook: Enchiladas can be decorated with many different toppings. In this case, I decided to go with some lettuce, avocado, sour cream and shredded cheese.

tempts had to be thrown away much in the same fashion that the SAC needs to be taken out, without remorse and with hope that the next thing to come along is better.

Once the tortilla is on the plate, you can add the feta cheese with onion (or chicken if you prefer) in the middle and roll it. You repeat the same process until you have as many enchiladas as you want. Finish it off by putting all the things you worked on first on top.

My friend and I are still alive, so give the recipe a try!

Ingredients: For the sauce; 1 can of Jalapeño sauce (or tomato sauce) 1 spoonful of consome (bouillon) Toppings As much cheese as you’d like. I suggest either fresco or feta.

1 onion 1 head of lettuce 1 avocado Sour cream Salt and pepper *Adjust amounts and ingredients to your taste.



edgar.hernandez@pepperdine.edu

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LIFE & ARTS

B4 Graphic

February 2, 2012

BriTT Kidd

:

stAff Writer

Giving Valentine’s Day a twist

You’ve probably noticed the excessive amounts of red and pink decorations, bright red roses, overflowing quantities of heart-shaped candy, large stuffed animals and sappy greeting cards. Yep, all of these cheesy clues lead to one conclusion: It’s Valentine’s season, and the big day is but two weeks away.

For some people, these overly commercialized and sugarcoated tokens of “love” may seem obnoxious and silly. Or, perhaps for all my single ladies (and boys too), Valentine’s Day is just a nauseating reminder that they are single and alone on the most lovey-dovey day of the year.

Whatever your Valentine’s woes may be, put them aside for just a moment. When you take away the ridiculous decorations and strip Valentine’s Day down to its true meaning, isn’t it really just about demonstrating love? Of course, retailers have cashed out on this holiday by making it seem as if the only way to demonstrate love is through costly displays of public affection. However, no matter how skewed and commercialized the true meaning of this holiday has become, love is still supposed to be the core value.

This year, whether you have a Valentine or not, get into the holiday’s spirit a little early. Valentine’s Day doesn’t necessarily have to be about romantic love, it can be a special time of year to remind friends and family that you love them and care about them. With these two simple tips, you can celebrate the holiday’s true message, sans the lacy hearts and emo greeting cards.

Tip No. 1 — Give a compliment, or two. Giving compliments to others is one of the simplest and easiest ways to help give a little boost to someone’s day. I know that whenever I’m having a rough or stressful day and someone gives me a compliment, it definitely lifts my mood. Giving compliments can be as simple as telling someone you admire something they are wearing or acknowledging them for their success.

In fact, if you are feeling extra complimentary, compliment a stranger. Simple and random compliments are unexpected and can brighten someone’s mood. And who knows, you might even make a friend or acquaintance by simply acknowledging something you admire about someone.

One of the easiest ways to break through an awkward barrier with a stranger is by giving a compliment.

With that being said, get into the Valentine’s spirit by telling your friends, family, acquaintances and even strangers something that you admire about them. It definitely won’t go unnoticed.

Tip No. 2 — Give a little thanks. Having a close group of friends and having a loving family are very important, but often their company can be taken for granted.

Close friends and family will always be there and sometimes their presence in our lives just seems expected and their loyalty isn’t given much acknowledgment.

I’m not saying you need to write your loved ones elaborate sonnets or surprise them with flowers, but just telling them that you love them and care about them is all it really takes. It is so easy to forgot to recognize our loved ones for all their continuous loyalty and support. Giving a little thanks and gratitude every now and then is a nice gesture to show your appreciation.

Whether you have a Valentine or not this holiday season, Valentine’s Day is more than just the red and pink flowers. It is really about love and taking the time to appreciate our loved ones.

So before you completely write off the sugarcoated holiday, think about its true meaning and relate it to your own life.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be Single’s Awareness Day or “obnoxious display of public affection” day. It can be a day to reflect upon your personal blessings and give thanks for all those who you love and who love you in return.

g

brittany.kidd@pepperdine.edu

A locally grown review COUrteSY Of iFC

By edGar HernandeZ Life & Arts editor

The intro song “Feel it all Around” by band Washed Out isn’t the only catchy aspect of this 20-minute sketch comedy show. Four episodes into its second season, “Portlandia” is back with even more confidence and memorable one-liners.

The single-camera sketch show that began airing this time last year is showing that although it is working within a narrow field of satirizing hipsters, it still has quite a few tricks up its sleeve.

The television show stars Fred Armisen of “Saturday Night Live” and Carrie Brownstein, formerly of the band Sleater-Kinney and now of the band Wild Flag. Produced by the IFC and Lorne Michaels, the show is an extension of the videos that Armisen and Brownstein would post on YouTube under the name Thunder Ant starting back in 2005.

The show uses a sketch-show premise to satirize some of the rising trends in “hipster” Portland and throughout the United States Although the show shuffles through quite a few characters, a sense of continuity exists with the recurring characters being portrayed in different situations. The main story arc centers on Armisen and Brownstein, as Fred and Carrie, who move to Portland in the

first episode of season one when Armisen returns from a trip to Portland and tells Brownstein “the dream of the ’90s is alive in Portland.”

Vegan diets, alternative weddings, cell phone companies, music festivals: very few things escape Armisen’s and Brownstein’s comedic touch.

Although Armisen and Brownstein make fun of stereotypes, they do so in a way that doesn’t come off as completely cynical. Rather, there is a lightheartedness about the show that allows the viewers to sympathize with the different characters or at least think, “I know someone like that!”

Despite occasional moments of relatability, there are rarely any “normal” characters. For comedic value, most of the characters are extreme representations and are usually obsessed with one thing. This includes feminist bookstore owners (“Every time you point I see a penis”), a couple determined to pickle anything they can (“We can pickle anything”), and even the participants of the allergy parade (“For some people a Thai food restaurant is a death trap”).

Three episodes into the new season, Fred and Carrie have already tracked down a bartender, guest star Andy Samberg, who moves to Southern California, and have been unhealthily obsessed with “Battlestar Galactica.”

Admittedly, not every sketch works.

Some jokes lack enough substance to fully develop into

sketches, while other jokes are stretched too thin in too much time. Nonetheless, in this season it seems like Armisen and Brownstein have a better sense of what works and what doesn’t.

During the first season, repetition was a constant tool used to create jokes. Although the technique worked with sketches like “put a bird on it” and this season’s “we can pickle that,” it didn’t work as well with some of the other sketches.

Armisen has a great ability to do improv comedy as well as create kooky characters. Brownstein, who comes from a musical background, doesn’t fall far behind either. In addition to being able to produce funny characters and sketches both provide funny and insightful social commentary into their work.

Boasting a large number of guest stars including Adam Samberg, Joanna Newsom and Kristen Wiig, and a larger season, 10 episodes instead of six, this season of “Portlandia” shows that it’s still as amusing as ever. g

edgar.hernandez@pepperdine.edu

overview Channel FC

starring Fred Armisen Carrie Brownstein

number of seasons 2

number of episodes 13

running Time 22 minutes

COUrteSY Of iFC

Dub‘step’ backwards in time

By CaneeL anTHOny Life & Arts AssistAnt

& edGar HernandeZ Life & Arts editor

Womp womp womp, wobble wobble wobble, womp womp. Sound familiar? These seemingly meaningless words have taken a whole generation by the throat bringing to mind only one thing — Dubstep.

This quickly propagating musical phenomenon is making its mark on youth across the globe and has become the new “it” genre of music, touted by ravers and hipsters alike. This trans-figurative sound is also breaking into mainstream pop culture with artists like Britney Spears and Rihanna.

Although many perceive the genre as relatively new, true aficionados of dubstep know that the bass-led movement was born in South London in the late 90s.

The love child of instrumental dub and twostep garage style electronic music (thus, dubstep) began in the Big Apple Records in Croydon when musicians explored with electronic dance music (EDM) with the hopes of making it darker and more instrumental.

A handful of artists, including Skream, Benga, and Artwork from Magnetic Man (a popular dubstep collaboration), were at the forefront of this movement. Artwork wrote a piece for the Guardian in 2010 in which he described Big Apple Records as “a bit like a bass university,” where the artists would meet to set up the blueprints for what would become known as dubstep.

Nowadays the Internet has a hand in all aspects of the music industry, and dubstep is no exception. In fact, without this widespread access, Artwork believes that the genre would not be what it is today. It has “helped spread dubstep across the world almost instantly. At the same time, dubstep is constantly changing, incorporating different sounds and styles all the time.”

But what exactly is dubstep? It’s not merely a musical style revolving around a heavy bass drop, but is built upon experimentations in musical styles and classical harmonies. Artists such as Fly-

ing Lotus and Excision play around with the classical concept of four-part harmonies, and others incorporate sounds from different styles ranging from heavy metal to classical and jazz.

This is why referring to a song as “dubstep” can even lead to arguments between fans.

“I think the fact dubstep artists embrace other genres is a big part of why it’s so difficult to define the music,” Artwork explained in his article. “The borders are becoming increasingly blurred between dubstep, grime, drum’n’bass, techno, house, funky ... everything. However, there is one element that links all of these genres together and that is ...

BASS.” Thanks to its versatility and ever-expanding popularity, even more mainstream artists are beginning to follow the bassline. Pop Princess Britney Spears tried her hand at dubstep in her song “Hold it Against Me,” which debuted at No. one on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 2011. Hip-hop group Cypress Hill is currently collaborating with Rusko, and heavy metal band Korn produced a track with popular disc jockey Skrillex.

In fact, the lead singer of Korn, Jonathan Davis, was quoted by Billboard as saying “We were dubstep before there was dubstep. Tempos at 140 with half-time drums, huge bassed-out riffs. We were all about the bass.”

As it is a relatively young movement, it will be interesting to see how dubstep grows and develops, and its impact on other music genres. Already, it has branched out to the classical music world, led

by NERO’s collaboration with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra on their “Dubstep Symphony.”

This dynamic sub-genre of EDM is not just all about Skrillex or Flux Pavilion, but a movement that has evolved from the London underground music scene to headlining massive raves. There is indeed a method to the madness, with the heavy bass, the instrumental dub and the two-step style of garage.

When listening to dubstep, regardless of the style, it’s going to be filthy.

g

g

caneel.anthony@pepperdine.edu

edgar.hernandez@pepperdine.edu

The graphic’s Dubstep Playlist “Sweet Shop”

Doctor P “Mad”

Magnetic Man “First of the Year (Equinox)”

skrillex

“I Can’t Stop”

Flux Paviliion

“Pro Nails (Rusko Remix)”

Kid sister “Night”

Benga & Coki “Innocence”

nero

“Midnight Request Line”

skream

scan the code below to go straight to the playlist.

2

LIFE & ARTS

February 2, 2012

Graphic

B5

Benjamin Kryder Assistant Life & Arts Editor

Smokers banished to the shadows

Harrison Yager / Staff PHOTOgrapher

Top: Juniors Kelsey Alexander and Taylor Kalupa, freshman Lauren Eggertsen, senior Kristina Fertala band together to give life to “Skinny Love.”

Center Left: Senior Emily Aven performs a solo piece in this year’s Dance in Flight show.

Center Right: Freshmen Lenaa Escandon and Tyler Burk perform the duet “A Little Longing Goes Away.”

Bottom: From left, junior Carolyn Oler, freshman Missy Marion, freshman Chalice Fischette, seniors Katy Malone and Danielle DeMaria and junior Kelsey Alexander dance “It’s All About Me.”

DIF: Students dance the dichotomy of technology, nature and humanity From B1

of the 51 dancers are allowed to be in a maximum of five so as to not overcommit themselves. Auditions were in September, and since then the students have taken master classes with dance instructors from Los Angeles and rehearsed every weekend since October.

“It sounds like a lot more preparation time than it is really,” Szobody said. “When you factor in things like Thanksgiving and Christmas break, we’ve really only had about nine rehearsals or so.”

Preparations for this year’s DIF began the day after last year’s show wrapped. Szobody said he was driving and listening to NPR when he was inspired for this year’s theme.

“It was talking about the inevitability of humans becoming machines, and I thought that was a really interesting idea, so I talked to Alex about it,” Szobody said.

Alex Nicandros graduated from

Pepperdine in 2010 and is the Assistant Director of the show. This is Nicandros’s second year as assistant director, and she also participated in DIF for the entirety of her career at Pepperdine.

“The program has expanded so much recently that it just became too much for one person to handle,” Szobody said. “Alex was so actively present that it only made sense for her to stay on and help.”

In addition to all the dancers and directors assisting the show, auditions were held in September for the 14 choreographer positions to choreograph the 16 numbers.

As well as being a dancer and DIF veteran, Malone also choreographed a lyrical number about Facebook, keeping with the theme of the first half, which is very industrial and mechanical in focus.

This year, for the second time, the show will follow a single soundtrack, meaning that instead of stopping inbetween each number, one will flow

right into the next.

“It makes it feel less like a recital and more like a performance,” Malone said. “It’s also really nice because in rehearsal it means that we get to spend more time together.”

Nicandros agrees: “It’s more of a family now and feels much more like a collaborative effort.”

This year’s show will incorporate videography and a larger set piece to accommodate the technological theme.

“It’ll hopefully be very visually stimulating, even more than other years,” Szobody said.

As everything was finally coming together this past week for tech week, the excitement was building for the opening performance.

“It’s really exciting watching it all come together and finally seeing the vision come alive,” said junior Kelsey Alexander, student director of the production. “The story’s finally being told and we get to share it with others.”

When the set is finally built and all the technical aspects are taken care of, it’s a thrill for the students to get the experience of working with a real, professionally done production.

“It really is a learning experience for the students working with the crew and seeing how everything’s put together,” Szobody said. “It’s a great learning tool and very creatively fulfilling.”

In the end, although it is technically a club with the ICC, DIF is a dance company run by students that allows students to express themselves through all types of dance.

“Dance in Flight is really a performance with all different styles and different backgrounds of dance,” Alexander said. “It brings together so many different types of people to share dance.”

Dance in Flight shows at Smothers Theatre, Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with an additional showing Saturday at 2 p.m. g

sarah.racker@pepperdine.edu

Mark Twain once said, “As an example to others, and not that I care for moderation myself, it has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep, and never to refrain from smoking when awake.”

Unfortunately, not all share Mr. Clemens’ awesome proclivities toward ingesting carcinogens, particularly the Pepperdine student body. In fact, it seems to me that in the minds of Pepperdine students, there are few things more condemnable than smoking cigarettes. But as a frequent cigarette quitter myself, I think it is time that someone goes to bat for the marginalized, persecuted Pepperdine smoker.

It’s a Tuesday afternoon and you’re on your way to Payson to bang out a few hours of O-Chem or whatnot. As you walk down the staircase, you discover a hoard of smokers, a ragamuffin cluster of low-life fire-breathers. You cough, though from pure psychology. Now walking by them and disgusted by their life choices, you throw up a pair of invisible blinders or perhaps you simply look down to your Sperrys. You have no duty to these people. They have subjected themselves to sweet poison, and their irrational vice has rendered them subhuman, and so you treat them with justice.

You’ve stripped them of their identities.

Perhaps at a time they had families and dreams, names and passions … but now, they are simply smokers.

Later, passing by the CAC, your stomach turns at the first whiff of a robust, Turkish gold. You whisper to a friend, mumbling about a family member and secondhand smoke. Maybe this time, you feel particularly enflamed, you turn and say: “Don’t you know smoking takes 10 minutes off your life?”

In the Platonic spirit, you have lifted this obtuse vagabond from the bonds of ignorance. Certainly, your comments will contribute to genuine change and selfbetterment.

Now I understand the flourishing moral intuitions that people are beginning to express in regard to health and purity of body.

In no way do I endorse smoking, or even attempt to justify the smoker rationale; it simply cannot be done. However, there tends to be a fine line between reasonable tolerance of personal life decisions and the Hester Prynn-esque shame culture that has been established. Sure, it seems defensible that Pepperdine has distinct smoking areas, and restricts others to ensure maximum purity of air. However, these areas are getting increasingly obscure creating the perception of a nicotine-driven Smeagol looming in the shadows.

Certainly, marginalizing the clandestine smoker to the ghettoes of Pepperdine is enough, right? Wrong. To ensure deterrence, there seems to be a normative expectation to gratuitously shame the smoker — be it in look or in word — I assure you the public scorn accrued from dropping your Marlboro Light moments before you step into Celebration Chapel is as equally disillusioning as Hawthorne’s scaffold.

Is the smoker not human too? Is this one life choice so abhorrent that you turn your nose and scoff? Maybe. But I’m inclined to think that someone who assents to this kind of treatment might not like how wide the scope of this justification extends. The argument seems to run: 1) Smoking is annoying. 2) Smoking is bad. 3) If something is annoying and bad, then you should not do it. 4) Therefore, you should not smoke.

If this is our line of reasoning, it looks like the Waves Cafe, Pepperdine College Republicans and Pinterest are going to have to go also. I find all these things inexorably obnoxious and utterly devoid of good.

Listen, I get the aversion to smoke, you find it irresponsible and you’re sick of me forcing it in your face. Now you know how I feel about Convoca — but I digress. Let me qualify: I am not suggesting that anyone go pick up a pack of cigarettes. In fact, if you never have, don’t. But it does seem that there was once a pleasant coexistence amongst smokers and non-smokers (i.e.

Applebee’s in the ’90s), but now an air of smoke-free entitlement has impinged upon the liberty and welfare of freethinking individuals across the Pepperdine campus.

Give me respiratory complications, or give me death (whichever comes first)! g

benjamin.kryder@pepperdine.edu

LIFE & ARTS

B6 Graphic

February 2, 2012

Rogue Wave

By BEN HOLCOMB STAFF WRITER

Find love the right way Dear Peeping Tom, A cursory knowledge of statistics would lead us to believe that your name may not in fact be Tom, but I’ve never met one that I liked and I’m all for labeling when convenient, so I’m going to call you Tom. What are you doing, bud? You can’t just keep sticking your flip phone into shower vents. It’s not socially acceptable.

Now I could start by attacking your lack of technological knowledge in light of this scandal with relative ease. Sure, it would seem illogical to think that someone living in the year 2012, who has come to terms with such sub-human behavior, wouldn’t know of the sordid things just a Google search away on the internet (and legal nonetheless). I could also chastise you for committing said crimes with a flip phone, an ancient relic with fewer megapixels than a 20th century Cubist painter.

But none of this is prudent to my point, and thus I won’t delve into that.

Tommy, girls don’t like it when you secretly film them showering. Lament it all you want, but that’s the God honest truth.

Now my fear is that as long as you’re on the loose, girls around this campus will fall into bad hygiene habits, and believe me nobody wants that. This isn’t Victorian England; it’s not hip to shower twice a year. But that’s the path you’re indirectly leading us down T-Dog. You see, when you indulge yourself in this selfish act of filmmaking, you’re actually hurting everybody around you.

Voyeurism, apart from being hard to spell, is pretty illegal. And by pretty I mean totally. You can’t take your cell phone to jail, so when you do get caught, and you will, believe me, this whole enterprise you’re fostering will come crashing to the ground like a bad game of Jenga…one you play by yourself (It says 2-4 players on the side of the box for a reason). It’s unsustainable and unproductive. Imagine if you took all the time you’ve squandered on hiding in bushes or climbing trees to catch the faint, foggy glimpse of a female practicing healthy sanitation habits and reallocated it towards getting good grades.

By golly, you’d be valedictorian!

We all want love Tommy Boy, I get that. But have you noticed no love story in the history of love stories has ever started out with the girl saying “Well…I was showering and then I looked up at the window and there was the love of my life staring back at me with a crappy Nokia flip phone”? The girls at this school can be intimidating to talk to, and I’d be lying if I said the dating scene here wasn’t volatile.

But there are still plenty of ways to meet ladies around here that will not send you to the slammer. Here’s a list of examples: 1. Anything.

It’s that simple Thom. Play hard to get by being a jerk, tell her you love her before you’ve exchanged names, heck, throw a pie in her face. They’re literally all better options than what you’re doing now. You can do it man, I’m sure the right girl is around this campus just waiting to be swept off her feet by Prince Charming (I would however try to steer clear of mentioning this particular time in your life…). I accidentally ridiculed a girl for eating a brownie sundae at the HAWC last semester, and now she’s my girlfriend, so believe me when I tell you, there really is hope for everyone. And, if all else fails, you could just email me and I’ll write up a dating profile for you in my next column (I do that, you know…). The best part about it? DPS won’t knock down your door with a battering ram at 3 a.m. for doing it.

I’m here to help T-man. I want you to become a productive member of society. But you’re gonna have to pump the breaks. Turn yourself in, bud. That’s the only way this can end with some hope for redemption. Love can be a tough thing to deal with. Trust me, I’ve been there (for everybody else reading this, I’ve obviously never been there). I hope something good comes from this. I’ll be praying for help to find its way to your doorstep. But until then, use your Nokia strictly for playing snake. Thanks Tom. 

william.holcomb@pepperdine.edu

COURTESY OF ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS

Courting: Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close) courts Helen Dawes (Mia Wasikowska) as she tries to fulfill her dream of finding a wife and buying a shop.

‘Albert Nobbs’ fails to address bigger topic “Albert Nobbs”

By JOHN HAYS STAFF WRITER

Any time a movie chooses to deal with subjects of this contentious nature (i.e. homosexuality, cross dressing, trans-gender, etc.) they are setting themselves up for even stronger criticism than films are already put through anyway. Most people, I would venture to say, find this fact a good thing, as these films explore very personal and sensitive issues in many people’s lives. These subjects should be handled delicately, but in the case of “Albert Nobbs,” it seems the issue may have been handled a bit too delicately.

“Albert Nobbs” explores the life of the title character’s struggle

Overview Release Date Jan. 27

Starring Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Johnson

Director

Rodrigo Garcia

Runtime

1 hr. 53 min.

with living as the opposite gender.

Albert Nobbs, played by Glenn Close, is a woman who has transformed herself into a man working as a waiter in 19th century Ireland.

Nobbs internally grapples with whether she should end this charade of an existence or take a wife of her own to continue her life of secrecy.

While the film’s plot sounds like an interesting and compelling piece, “Albert Nobbs” fails to make any real statement about the character or how the character even views her own sexuality.

The film is saturated with scene after scene that fails to tell any kind of linear story. There are too many plot lines and key characters, which make it impossible to know the main focus. Every scene is so unintentionally awkward that it makes the film very confusing for the viewer. Most of the scenes end with an aura of suspense or heaviness that seems out of place, leaving viewers wondering whether they missed an important piece of dialogue that brought the scene together.

The film fails to explore the complexities of Nobbs’ character so much that viewers are left wondering how she truly feels or what she wants.

Nobbs leaves unanswered questions

Rated: R

Relativity Media

such as, “Why did she choose to be a man in the first place?” or “What is her true sexual preference?” One can argue that she made the choice to become a man out of her necessity for employment. This may be true, but it is obvious in the film that Nobbs could be working at her same place of employment as a woman just as easily because of the mere fact that she is surrounded by women working the same job. Nobbs claims she chose to be a man out of this necessity yet, at the same time, is insistent on marrying one of her female co-workers.

This creates major ambiguity as to whether Nobbs literally sees herself as a man or if she views herself as a woman just playing the part of a man.

In a desperate attempt to convey exposition, Nobbs is left awkwardly talking to herself out loud. Maybe the thought was to steer away from more of a voice over, but in this case a voice over would have sufficed beautifully and would have been much more believable to watch.

The ending of the film leaves the viewer unfulfilled. It seems like the intent was to make a touching moment out of something that leaves the audience with a sense of incompletion.

The acting as a whole was believable but was not enough to redeem itself from the shoddy plot structure of the film. Close’s performance definitely deserved its recent Academy Award nomination, but not for the reasons most would think. Close was not great because of the believability of her portrayal of a man, but rather her complete transformation into an almost emotionless, uncomfortable individual, completely removed from reality. While the technicality of the directing on Rodrigo Garcia’s part was solid, there was nothing standout or innovative about it. The same could be said for the cinematography — it was good, but not unique.

The film is way too uncomfortable, confusing and lifeless to be enjoyable. On the other hand, many people enjoy the more abstract stories that are geared toward focusing on a certain way of life and not necessarily a clear story line. For those that do enjoy the more abstract stories, I say go for it, but I do have this warning: Purchase tickets with caution.



john.hays@pepperdine.edu

‘The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy’ Nada Surf

By HANNA HOUGLUM STAFF WRITER

The New York trio Nada Surf released their seventh alternative rock album “The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy,” on Jan. 24, their first compilation of original songs since 2008’s “Lucky.”

Formed in 1992 by guitarist/ vocalist Matthew Caws, drummer/ back-up vocalist Ira Elliot and bassist/back-up vocalist Daniel Lorca, Nada Surf almost immediately got their name on the charts after the release of their debut album “High/Low.” Their newest 10-track LP no doubt lives up to Nada Surf ’s upbeat and melodic style. The opening track, “Clear Eye Clouded Mind,” starts the album off with a jolt of percussion and high-hat hits paired with repetitive guitar riffs and Caws’ unique vocals. The song’s verses are buoyant, always enveloping the subsequent verse.

This song vocalizes the name of the album over and over, almost as if the band wanted to be sure that no listener would be able to forget the LP’s moniker.

Track two, “Waiting for Something” leads in making audiences

anticipate a Foo Fighters “Best of You” kind of song, with the opening guitar strumming. But when the vocals drop the mood changes into a much more happy-go-lucky sort of song. With light and feathery vocals mixed in with poppy alt-beats, this is one of the songs on the album that fully encapsulates the Nada Surf style.

Many of the songs on this album touch on the cynical and wandering youth of this generation, which lyrically steers away from previous Nada Surf releases.

The third track, “When I Was Young,” slows down the pace of the album while Caws contemplates with his listeners, singing: “When I was young, I didn’t know if I was better off asleep or up/ Now I’ve grown up, I wonder what was that world I was dreaming of.”

Nada Surf reassures the audience that it is never too late for teenage dreams on the track “Teenage Dreams.”

This album could make the audience question if maybe the trio has the desire to be young again or maybe if they have fleeting regrets of things they did not do as teenagers, especially based

Barsuk Records, City Slang on the track: “Let the Fighting Do the Fighting,” where Caws wistfully sings “You’re gonna wish that you were young again/ You’re gonna wish that it was fun/ You’re gonna wanna have someone again.” Listeners could also question if maybe the band desires to be back in their early days of fame and the wish that they would have run with their stardom rather than priding themselves on being the alt-punk underdogs.

“The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy” is neither a prize album for Nada Surf to gloat about, nor a disappointment for lifelong fans. The album colors within the lines of what Nada Surf has done in the past and does not venture off into new territory as some fans may expect after sticking together for two decades. The sometimesdepressing lyrics match with the sometimes low-key beats on the album but the gloomy lyrics distract from the upbeat sounds.

The Nada Surf indie style remains the same in this new release, but it is safe to say that even after this album their hit song “Popular” will still remain their claim to fame. 

hanna.houglum@pepperdine.edu

COURTESY OF NADA SURF

Key Facts Band Members Matthew Caws Daniel Lorca Ira Elliot

Genres

Alternative rock Indie rock

Label

Barsuk Records City Slang

Website

www.nadasurf.com

On Tour?

Yes

ACROSS

1 Nati 5 Funn 6 No. 7 Yard 8 Nati 10 Sexy 12 Civic 13 Kick 16 Supe 17 A4 19 Own 21 One 22 Carr 26 Thre 27 Half 30 Zeb 33 Dust 34 Catc 35 Opti 37 Dete 39 Cam 43 Pay44 Airs 45 Defe

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LIFE & ARTS

February 2, 2012

Graphic

B7

Tossing the pig skin Super Bowl

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40 41 42

1 Videogame, aggressive play 2 Goliaths’ city 3 Animal Planet’s alternative 4 Five to 15 yards 9 Six points 11 Beetle 14 Younger brother 15 Pro Bowl state 18 Female Weezy 20 Passes ball 23 Hikes the ball 24 National anthem Kelly 25 Offensive two points 26 Helmet interference 28 Great taste, less filling 29 Why many watch 31 Host city 32 Goliaths 36 Marks end zone 38 QB, bunch 40 High fructose empire 41 Gets high like planes 42 Yellow rag

43

44

See the pepperdine-graphic.com/life-arts for solutions to this week’s puzzle.

ACROSS

ACROSS

1 Nationalists�?? city 5 Funny diet beer 6 No. 2 cola 1 Nationalists’ city 7 Yards to first down 8 Nationalists 5 Funny diet beer 10 Sexy web hosting 12 Civic 6 No. 2 cola 13 Kicked 7 past endto zone Yards first down 16 Super Bowl no.

8 Nationalists 17 A4 19 Owns M&Ms 10 Sexy web hosting 21 One point 22 Carries12 ballCivic forward 26 Three points 27 Halftime ur-Gaga 30 Zebra stickler 33 Dusty orange chips 34 Catches ball 35 Optima 37 Determines kick-off 39 Camry 43 Pay-per-view halftime 44 Airs this game, �??The Office�?

45 Defensive two points

Calendar Thursday, Feb. 2

Dance in Flight 8 p.m.

(Performance – Smothers)

Friday, Feb. 3

Dance in Flight 8 p.m.

(Performance – Smothers)

46 Owns Chevy, Cadillac

13 Kicked past end zone DOWN 16 Super Bowl no.

1 Videogame, aggressive play 17 A4 2 Goliaths�?? city 3 Animal 19 Owns Planet�??s M&Ms alternative 4 Five to 15 yards 21 One point 9 Six points 11 Beetle 22 Carries ball forward 14 Younger brother 26 Three points 15 Pro Bowl state 18 Female Weezy 27 Halftime ur-Gaga 20 Passes ball 30 Zebrathe stickler 23 Hikes ball 24 National anthem Kelly 25 Offensive two points 26 Helmet interference 28 Great taste, less filling 29 Why many watch 31 Host city 32 Goliaths 36 Marks end zone 38 QB, bunch 40 High fructose empire 41 Gets high like planes 42 Yellow rag

AQUARIUS: Quarrels aren’t just for lovers.

PISCES: Leave Libra a love note this week.

ARIES: You have nothing to worry about …

TAURUS: CVS Pharmacy is no place to hang out on a Friday night.

GEMINI: Leo’s selling his Hawaiian shirts this week.

CANCER: Start packing heat, especially around Aquarius.

LEO: Fashion is not a laughing matter.

VIRGO: You’ll soon discover the thin line between a cough and a sneeze.

45

46

33 Dusty orange chips 34 Catches ball 35 Optima 37 Determines kick-off 39 Camry 43 Pay-per-view halftime 44 Airs this game, “The Office” 45 Defensive two points 46 Owns Chevy, Cadillac

LIBRA: Don’t believe anything you read.

SCORPIO: Whatever it is, get over it.

SAGITTARIUS: Let Virgo be the lead singer in your new death metal band.

CAPRICORN: Think about the children!

>>

g n i k par job of the week

Bad

It looks like even Pepperdine’s finest (DPS) are subject to the occasional lousy parking job. Who’s going to ticket them?

DPS? Next time you’re walking down the road and see an awful parking job, take a photo and send it to us at graphic@pepperdine.edu.

Nick Offerman’s American Ham 8:30 p.m. (Comedy – Largo at the Coronet)

Saturday, Feb. 4

Dance in Flight 4 p.m. & 8 p.m.

(Performance – Smothers) Felix Da Housecat 10 p.m.

(Concert – Avalon, Hollywood)

Sunday, Feb. 5

Seth MacFarlane 8 p.m.

(Performance – Catalina Bar & Grill, Hollywood)

Monday, Feb. 6

Natasha Leggero & Patton Oswalt 8:30 p.m. (Comedy – Largo at the Coronet, Los Angeles)

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Lana Del Rey 6 p.m.

(Concert – Amoeba Music, Hollywood) Tommy Emmaunel 8 p.m.

(Concert – Smothers)

MEDIA >>

SOCIAL

2

highlight OF THE

WEEK

EDGAR HERNANDEZ / LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Following the latest trend in YouTube, Pepperdine students released “Sh-- Pepperdine Students Say.” The video touches on popular and common things heard throughout campus that highlight the college campus culture students have developed like the woes of dealing with Convocation, the constant need to define relationships and the common notion of feeling blessed.

B8

SPORTS

Graphic

February 2, 2012

New hand gesture inspires school spirit

By JONATHAN EDMUNDSON STAFF WRITER

Has any one else noticed the new hand gestures that students are using at games? Finally, it seems we have a Pepperdine WAVES hand gesture.

While sitting watching a Pepperdine basketball game, I noticed someone holding up the O.K. sign at our boys on the court while chanting, “Ayo Waves!”

At first, I was a little confused by people sporting this hand gesture.

Maybe we just have the most polite fans in the NCAA reassuring our players that it doesn’t matter who loses because everyone is a winner — naturally, we were losing.

It wasn’t until I was courtside looking up at the crowd that I saw the difference between the two symbols.

These hands were facing toward the game and fingers were straight up.

They were creating a W for WAVES. But isn’t this just like a cheap rip off an already existing sign? I started to think about other universities’ hand

gestures, and noticed that all universities steal their hand gestures from pop culture gestures.

The USC Trojans taunt their enemies with their stolen peace signs.

The University of Texas at Austin Longhorns sport the “Hook ‘em Horns,” which looks suspiciously like the “Sign of the Horns” — more commonly know as the rock on sign at metal concerts.

Texas A&M Redveilles “Gig ‘em” is the same thing as a thumbs up.

ASU Sun Devils have their “pitchfork,” which looks suggestively like the “Shocker” — oddly appropriate for the school’s reputation.

If other schools are good enough to get their own hand gesture, we too need to officially coin the O.K. symbol before another university steals it from under us. Finally, we are achieving the same level of pride as other universities, but its up to us to keep this trend rolling.

Trust me, most of Pepperdine has a problem in the school spirit department.

The worst offender of not knowing the new Pepperdine sign is the epitome of school pride, Willie the Wave. He’s still using the shaka, or hang loose sign. Willie must be stuck in his glory days of his cameo role in “The Endless Summer,” and working out those glamour muscles — his six-pack-for days.

Let’s get us a little more up with

the times and stop using the shaka — something no one at Pepperdine would be caught dead doing in front of other schools — and start using the WAVE hand gesture.

Since the dubbing in 1937, of the Pepperdine title as the Waves, we have grown to accept the W as the symbol of our school. The mascots may change but Waves has stayed.

All this hype about the Wave Zone debut and our recent boost in attendance at games shows that I am not the first to appreciate this renaissance

of school spirit. Finally, our generation gets to add something to Pepperdine’s school pride by creating our own sign.

I’m envious of everyone staying here next year. Now that I’m graduating this semester, I’m kind of sad that it took this long to get students — including myself — to have more school spirit, because I never realized how much fun having school spirit could actually be.

So, don’t let me down guys.

“Ayo Waves!” 

jonathan.edmundson@pepperdine.edu

Appropriate Situations for Signal: 1. Sporting events.

2. Saying “Hi” to friends at Joslyn Plaza.

3. Convo.

4. Response when your girl/ boyfriend says, “I love you” too early.

Inappropriate Situations for Signal: 1. Church.

2. Anywhere near East L.A. and/ or any gentleman suspected of gang affiliation.

3. Nixon exiting the aircraft on his visit to Brazil — in Brazil this symbol is the same as the middle finger in America.

Step-by-step guide to create your very own WAVES hand signal: 1. Touch the tip of your thumb to the tip of your index finger to form a circle.

2. Raise your remaining three fingers (middle, ring and pinky straight up.

3. Face your conjoined circle of your thumb and index fingers towards your friend/ enemy/ frenemy.

4. Raise your hand.

5. Recite “Ayo Waves!”

6. Bask in the glory and sense of accomplishment.

JAMES CHUNG / ASSISTANT ART EDITOR EDITOR

Taylor: competing young talent are proximity to the ocean, change it quickly.” the small campus and friendly “That is something we decommunity. His major is still cided before Josh started pracundecided, however, he said ticing with the team. It defi“I have known Josh for a that studying psychology will nitely was a challenge because few years now and every day he be a right choice for him. Af- his new position requires him does something that impresses ter graduation, Taylor hopes to to receive serves,” Head Coach me,” Assistant coach David make volleyball his first prior- Marv Dunphy said.

Hunt said “Josh is a great guy ity.

As a Wave, Taylor enjoys to have on the team. He is a “As for a freshman we are playing with older and more competitor. He wants to be asking him a big load,” Dun- experienced players, since he one of the best. “ phy said, “he is taking this load believes that “it is a way to His parents very well. learn something new.” Taylor made the deciEven though mentioned his father to be his “We are detersion for Tayhe is a great role model and the one who inmined to go far. lor to pursue player, Joshua spires him the most. a competitive is not perfect.

“I have never seen him givI really hope to volleyball long Th ere are defing anything less then his best, win the National before he realinitely many and he is definitely the one who Championship.” ized that for things that encourages me to become a himself. we still need better person,” Taylor said.

—Joshua Taylor Freshman, “My mom to work on.”

Hunt also sees the intanMen’s Volleyball forced me “We are gible characteristics that Taylor to play, even determined has learned from his father. though I was to go far,” “Josh is a pleasure to be not really interested in the Taylor said about team’s plans around on and off the court,” sport,” Taylor confessed, “She for the season. “We have very Hunt said, “He is a classy guy really liked the game and was good potential with many great with a good head on his shoulconvincing me that it can open players on out team. Personally, ders. He is very respectful and many opportunities for me in I really hope that we win the considerate, his parents raised future.”

National Championship.” him well.”

Taylor was playing on his Even though Taylor spent The major goal that Taylor high school team since he was the summer playing opposite has set for himself is to win 14, when volleyball started to on the Junior National Team, National Championship as a play a major role in his life. his position in the Waves team Wave. Nevertheless, to fulfill “It is a really big team sport is outside hitter. his ultimate goal to play in and that is what I like about “Joshua is playing a new Europe professionally and repit,” Taylor said. “There is no position in the toughest con- resent USA in the Olympics, way you can play volleyball on ference in the country and he all he has to do is keep moving your own, it is simply impos- has handled that challenge ex- forward. sible. While in basketball you tremely well,” Hunt said. “He can have a guy who scores most soaks up everything you tell points in a game, in volleyball, him. He has the unique abilwithout your teammates, there ity to change something and narine.adamova@pepperdine.edu is no one passing for you.”

Taylor said the biggest reason he chose Pepperdine was Marv Dunphy. The legendary coach, who is known for his ability to select premiere players, made a great impression on Taylor and his family. Furthermore, Taylor has also impressed Waves coaching staff.

“Since my first conversation with Joshua, it was clear that he has a concise goal in mind.

He knows what he wants,” assistant coach Hunt said. “It is no surprise to me that he has started off the year strong. He would expect nothing less.”

“I think Josh sets the bar pretty high for himself. That is why he chose Pepperdine, to play for Marv and to go on and play for the National Team,” he added.

NIKI BABIAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER For Taylor, great advantages Bright future: Freshman Joshua Taylor is ready to lead the Waves to of being a Pepperdine student the National Championship.

From B10

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Chicago | Los Angeles | Irvine, CA | Westwood, CA | Washington, DC | Online-Blended

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SPORTS

February 2, 2012

Graphic

Willie tells all, history told

CALL ‘EM AS WE SEE ‘EM Thoughts, reflections and predictions from our staff on the world of sports.

The FA Cup Fourth round was marked by the clash of two soccer titans from the US National team: Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. The match was not the most impressive in the English Premier League, but definitely a star moment for Donovan. He proved once again that he can be the best on the field during the game and also the best in America.

Celebrating his birthday on Saturday, Feb. 11, with the Junior Waves Club, Willie the Wave has come a long way since the founding of Pepperdine in 1937.

1) Willie hasn’t always been a Wave…

Pepperdine first featured Roland the Wave in the Graphic in 1945. Since then, the mascot has transformed into everything from a live pelican to a “large jug of water” to — most recently — King Neptune.

It was not until 2006 that the official Willie the Wave students recognize was instilled.

2) The only thing changing now is his wardrobe…

Willie is in the process of building his wardrobe, and currently owns a Christmas outfit, a basketball uniform, a baseball uniform, and his normal Hawaiian shirt and orange shorts. In addition, he also has various sizes of “feet” and pants.

3) Willie’s got swag…

“When I think of Willie the Wave, I think of a surfer dude who’s laid back,” Director of Marketing Katharine Williams said. “He’s pretty ripped so he has to have a little bit of that swagger. It also helps if he’s a good dancer. He’s been breaking it down this year, and it’s been awesome.”

4) Students agree and love him for it…

“The first time I saw Willie was in an old NSO video,” freshman Molly Peterson said. “My mom thought he looked weird, but I thought he was so unique. He’s got so much swag.”

5) Willie has participated in a commercial shoot…

In November, Willie traveled to Las Vegas for a

Zappos commercial promotion featuring all of the WCC mascots. He will be making another trip over spring break to cheer on the men’s basketball team in the WCC Tournament.

6) How to become a “friend of Willie the Wave”…

Director of Marketing Katharine Williams holds one-on-one auditions for the positions. Usually Willie has about three friends each year. “When I was talking to people during the auditions, I was really glad to see people excited about growing the program,” Williams said. “We are trying to expand Willie’s wardrobe, and get him more interactive with the students, cheerleaders and fans.”

7) What’s the catch?

All “friends of Willie the Wave” are sworn to secrecy, according to Williams. Auditions are typically held in the fall, however, Williams mentioned that she is “more than happy” to start interviewing people now for next year. She can be contacted at: katharine.williams@pepperdine.edu. 

NARINE ADAMOVA

ALYSHA TSUJI

SPORTS ASSISTANT

The Pepperdine men’s basketball team broke their eight game losing streak Saturday, Jan. 28, with a decisive victory over West Coast Conference foe Santa Clara.

The Waves defeated the Broncos 74-62 at Firestone Fieldhouse led by freshman guard Jordan Baker. He led the team with 15 points and was followed by senior forward Taylor Darby, who contributed 14 points.

The final score of this match-up does not truly reflect how much Pepperdine dominated this game. Pepperdine led by as much as 19 points during this basketball game and took control early and often.

Pepperdine shot an impressive 6 of 8 from three-point land and earned a commanding 35-24 rebounding edge over the Broncos’ men’s basketball team. Pepperdine started off strong led by Baker who came out aggressive and decisive. He earned a four-point play and led the Waves with their first seven points of the game.

The first half was close on the scoreboard but Pepperdine did not squander the lead. The first half did however end with a rather close score of 34-32.

The second half saw senior forward Taylor Darby step up and score 12 of his 14 points in the second half. Darby showed his veteran leadership and composure in the second half helping to weather any Santa Clara efforts to subtract the lead the Waves created. Both teams came out on fire in the second half but eventually the Waves’ defense began to crunch down and forced what would end up being a

season-high of 18 forced turnovers on the Santa Clara Broncos. Although Santa Clara shot a decent 47 percent from the field, the Waves held the Broncos to very few second chance opportunities thanks to their strong rebounding, dominating the second chance-scoring department 22-4.

“A high-energy game carried over from their late game effort against University of San Diego,” Head Coach Marty Wilson said.

The high-energy effort from the Waves resulted in an abundance of highlight reel plays. Including some nice finishes at the rim from several players and a rare but electrifying dunk by Jordan Baker late in the second half that got the entire Pepperdine men’s basketball team off the bench.

It also cemented what would be the Waves’ second conference victory of the season and 8th victory overall.

“It was a very good collective team effort. We played with a lot of hunger and aggressiveness and that helped us to keep pushing throughout the match-up,” sophomore forward Hector Harold said.

Harold helped with this team effort when he sank a jumper during the Waves’ 9-1 second half run that helped them to extend the lead to a comfortable margin over the Santa Clara Broncos. The Broncos would go on to lose their 9th straight game and their 8th straight conference loss, falling to 8-13 on the season and 0-8 with in the West Coast Conference.

The Waves showed what they are capable of winning while providing some optimism for next season. And even gave some hope for making some noise in this years West Coast Conference tournament starting on Feb. 29th. The Waves have

SPORTS ASSISTANT

& ALBERT OWUSU STAFF WRITER

It almost seems like deja vu, but the New York Giants and the New England Patriots are at it again. This Sunday they will face each other for the title of Super Bowl champions. The last time these two teams met in 2008, the Giants clinched the win, 17-14.

The hardest part about the Super Bowl is not just getting there, but getting there with your team intact. Each of the teams has star players suffering from major injuries.

On New York‘s side, Hakeem Nicks and Ahmad Bradshaw are recovering from injuries. However, according to the Washington Post Nicks and Bradshaw are likely to play in the Super Bowl.

The Patriots, on the other hand, aren’t as fortunate. Although Wes Welker is likely healthy enough to play despite the knee issues according to reports, the big question coming out of New England

is whether breakout tight end Rob Grownkowski will be able to play this Sunday. If he does suit up, the question will he be if he is effective enough, just two weeks removed from spraining his ankle in the American Football Conference Championship.

Despite the uncertainty of Grownkowski’s status, the New England Patriots are still favored by three and a half over the New York Giants to win the Super Bowl. This time around, as opposed to 2008, the New England Patriots are expected to take care of business and defeat the New York Giants this Sunday.

Brady Johnson, a member of Pepperdine’s Rugby team, expressed his opinion of the game: “Tom Brady’s legacy as an elite quarterback will be at stake in this game,” Johnson said. “If he wins, he will be remembered as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. If he loses, he will be branded as an overrated quarterback.”

The Patriots have a huge question looming over Brady’s big target Grownkowski. However, the Patriots will still have the best decision maker on the field and the last couple of Super

ASK A WAVE

If you could play anywhere professionally, where would it be?

MEAGAN MCCARTY/ PHOTO EDITOR

Scoring high: Junior Joshua Lowery attempts to outscore Santa Clara in the Waves commanding victory Saturday.

some tough match-ups coming up with a game at Loyola Marymount today then a prime time match-up against Gonzaga this Saturday at Firestone Fieldhouse. 

deanjilo.platt-friday@pepperdine.edu

Superbowl stars battle again

By DEANJILO PLATT- FRIDAY

An Los Angeles Times article recently reported Peyton Manning may not take another snap in an NFL game. Although at this point its really just speculation this news would officially mark the end of a remarkable career in Indy.

Although his dominance resulted in surprisingly only one Super Bowl championship, Peyton Manning is the epitome of how an NFL quarterback should handle himself and he has without a doubt made a lasting impact on the National Football League and made the Indianapolis Colts a relevant team again.

DEANJILO PLATT-FRIDAY

alysha.tsuji@pepperdine.edu

Waves break losing skid, beat SC

By DEANJILO PLATT- FRIDAY

Michael Jordan and Vince Carter stand immortalized as a couple of the NBA’s best dunkers, but now Blake Griffin — with only one full season of experience — has broken onto the scene. A Chris Paul dish to Griffin led to an epic dunk that went viral on Monday night. Pictures and videos plastered the Internet the day after, humiliating Boston Celtic Kendrick Perkins. One tip to potential future victims: when Griffin goes up, get out of the way.

E ATHLETICS COURTESY OF PEPPERDIN

By ALYSHA TSUJI

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

B9

Bowls have shown that having that type of player on the field is one of the keys to winning the Super Bowl. This is why the New England Patriots will win this Sunday. It’s hard to imagine that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will not win in this rematch opportunity.

Ultimately, one thing that can be agreed on is that the Super Bowl champs will be from the team who is able to best limit their turnovers. In fact the last two winners of the Super Bowl have succeeded in having fewer turnovers then their opposition. As bad as the Patriots defense has been said to be, they were still number three in the NFL in forcing turnovers. Keep that in mind this Sunday.

No matter what happens, this Sunday’s game is certainly going to be a historic battle that no one will want to miss.



deanjilo.platt-friday@pepperdine.edu 

albert.owusu@pepperdine.edu

“Arizona Diamondbacks.”

“Chicago Sky.”

“Masters. Augusta, Ga.”

STEVE CASEY FRESHMAN BASEBALL

SKYE BARNETT SENIOR BASKETBALL

CASTON ROBERTS FRESHMAN GOLF

“British Open. St. Andrews, Brit.”

“L.A. Sparks/ L.A. Lakers”

NEIL EVANS

FRESHMAN GOLF

BRIA RICHARDSON FRESHMAN BASKETBALL

ADVERTISEMENT

“U.S. National Team”

LYNN WILLIAMS FRESHMAN SOCCER

B10

SPORTS

February 2, 2012

»pepperdine-graphic.com/sports

DBS Report

Striving to compete with the best

By Narine Adamova SPORTS EDITOR

For many athletes it is a dream to become a member of a prestigious team and to play major tournaments. For the 6-foot-8 freshman Joshua Taylor, who has been a part of the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team, those dreams have become a reality.

After he graduated from Punahou school, where he was a vital part of the men’s volleyball team, he moved from his native Hawaii to California, recruited by Pepperdine Athletics.

As a part of the U.S. Men’s Junior National Team since 2010, he competed on internationally recognized arenas in Argentina, Italy and Spain. He competed in Brazil for the FIVB Men’s Junior World Championship. In addition, Taylor was one of the team players of Boys’ Youth National Team, which finished tenth at the FIVB Boys’ Youth World Championship in 2009.

»See TAYLOR, B8

NIKI BABIAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Young leader: Freshman Joshua Taylor is looking forward to future challenges with the Waves. He said he is confident of his athletic future under control of Marv Dunphy.

»Men’s Volleyball

BRIE IRVINE / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Waves go strong: Junior Finn Tearney and Senior Alex Llompart are resisting the attack of their opponents from Vanderbilt in the Waves victory on Saturday.

Tennis starts strong

By NARINE ADAMOVA SPORTS EDITOR

MARIESA SHORT / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Standing strong: Senior Maurice Torres nails a spike against UCLA. The team lost with a final score of 6-3 in a five set match last night.

The men’s tennis team continued its early success by winning Vanderbilt on Saturday, Jan 28. The Waves, (No. 12) defeated Commodores, ranked No. 36, in doubles as well as in singles matches.

“We had worked very hard in the last year to be able to host the qualifying for the national indoors in Virginia,” junior Mousheg Hovhannisyan said.

In doubles, junior Finn Tearney and senior Alex Llompart crashed Charlie Jones and Jeff Offerdahl (8-3) in an action packed match.

Hugh Clarke and Mousheg Hovhannisyan battled game-for-game against Anton Kovrigin and Gonzales Austin, but eventually lost after several intense attacks from their opponents. Junior Sebastian Fanselow and senior Jenson Turner defeated Alex DiValerio and Joe Dorn, out scoring Commodores on three points.

In singles, No. 35 Finn Tearney defeated No. 87 Charlie Jones, after several brilliant sets (6-2, 2-6, 10-7).

Especially successful was the performance of junior Mousheg Hovhannisyan whose victory over Joe Dorn helped the Waves catch up on the missed points.

“As for all the great matches that will come for us, I feel very confident about our team,” Hovhannisyan said. “We have been through a lot in the past season with the post-season ban not being able to play the NCAA championship, so we are very hungry to play this year. With four seniors, we want to make their last year a memorable year.”

“We have Ohio State and Kentucky to play against this coming weekend at their homes indoors,” he added. “It will be a great opportunity to get into the top-five in the nation, and also a great preparation for the national indoors a few weeks from now. It feels amazing to be back on the court playing with my teammate and doing what we love.”

The team is excited to continue the season as it travels to the Midwest to face the No. 3 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on Friday, Feb. 3. 

SCOREBOARD Menʼs Volleyball vs.

UC San Diego UCLA

Date

Jan. 27 Feb. 1

Score

W, 3-2 L, 3-2

Menʼs Basketball vs.

San Diego Santa Clara

Date

Jan. 26 Jan. 28

Score

L, 65-56 W, 74-62

Record: 6-2 6-3

7-13 8-13

Womenʼs Basketball vs.

San Diego

Date

Jan. 28

Score

L, 70-39

Record: 10-10

ANDY BURGH SIDLEY

SPORTS ASSISTANT

Super Mario or Stupid Mario?

Since his arrival to Manchester City from Inter Milan on August 12, 2010, Mario Balotelli has been nothing short of A-grade entertainment. The last year and a half for Balotelli has been action packed and filled with a great deal of controversy. He started off his City career in fine form, netting the winning goal in a 1-0 win against FC Timisoara. Only a few days after joining City, he crashed his car. When the police stopped him, they asked him why he was carrying 5,000 pounds in cash (approximately $8,000) to which Balotelli replied, “Because I am rich.”

A few months into his Manchester City career, Balotelli won the Golden Boy Award (an award for the top under-21 footballer in Europe). Upon receiving the prize, he comically claimed that Lionel Messi (one of the previous winners) was only slightly better than him.

Balotelli also claimed to have not heard of Jack Wilshere, England and Arsenal protege, a player he only barely beat to the award.

Other Balotelli “incidents” include him throwing darts at a youth team player as part of a prank, and confronting the bully of a young Manchester City fan who wasn’t in school because he was afraid of being bullied.

In Manchester City’s clash with Dynamo Kiev in March 2011, Balotelli required assistance to put on a training bib. According to several reports, Balotelli has also turned the garden of his Manchester home into a racetrack for quad bikes. In an act of pure comedy, Balotelli was caught playing with his iPad while sat on the substitute’s bench for Italy during a game against the Faroe Islands.

Just a short while ago in December 2011, Balotelli was spotted in a London curry house using rolling pins in a play sword fight with his friends. Reports also indicate that Balotelli went to a pub in Chorlton (near Manchester) and bought a round of drinks for everyone there.

Despite his off-field activities making the most headlines, no one can deny Balotelli’s great skills on the field. His pace, dribbling ability and powerful shot make him one of football’s most promising young stars. His two goals against Manchester United in a 6-1 win were extremely well taken, and he was voted Man of the Match in the 1-0 win against Stoke City in the FA Cup final.

Balotelli has also done something not many footballers do dedicate vast amounts of time and money to charity. On June 6, 2011, Mario arrived in Curtatone (Italy) where he visited a non-profit organization that his funding supports. Balotelli also recently contributed to the completion of a children’s school in Sudan.

These are only a couple of the many ways Balotelli gives back to the community. If given a chance to put a smile on the face of someone in need, Balotelli will not hesitate. Super Mario was certainly a nickname given for the right reasons.

narine.adamova@pepperdine.edu



andrew.deburghsidley@pepperdine.edu

NEXT UP ...

Thursday, Feb. 2 Menʼs Basketball at LMU at 7:30 p.m.

Womenʼs Basketball vs. BYU at 7 p.m.

Record:

DE

at 7 p.m.

Menʼs Tennis at Kentucky at 9 a.m.

at Ohio State at 7 p.m.

Menʼs Volleyball

Menʼs Basketball vs. Gonzaga at 7 p.m.

Womenʼs Tennis at USC at 1:30 p.m.

Baseball vs. Alumni Game at noon.

Sunday, Feb. 5

Friday, Feb. 3 Menʼs Tennis

Saturday, Feb. 4

vs. UC Santa Barbara

Monday, Feb. 6

Womenʼs Basketball at LMU at 7 p.m.