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Pepperdine School of Law was unranked from the top law schools by the U.S. News & World Report for 2019 due to a reporting error. The U.S. News & World Report releases an annual law school ranking consisting of several measurements, including the median LSAT score. Pepperdine School of Law reported an average score of 162 (when it was actually 160) and corrected their error immediately after taking notice, Dean Paul Caron said in a phone interview. “All law schools got an advanced look at the rankings last Tuesday,” Caron said. “We were checking to make sure everything was correct and when we saw this mistake, we immediately contacted the U.S. News and informed them of it. We assumed because they sent it to us a week ahead of time, we could correct any mistakes if there were any. They have a corporate policy that they don’t correct mistakes.” The initial ranking had Pepperdine moving up from No. 71 to No. 59. Law school ranking experts said Pepperdine School of Law would have still moved up the rankings to 62 or 64, had U.S. News recorded the rankings with the correct LSAT median, Caron wrote in a statement on his blog, TaxProf Blog. Currently, there is a hole where Pepperdine was originally ranked on the U.S. News & World Report for 2019 list. Students said the law school would be most negatively affected when it came to incoming applicants. Elizabeth Evashwick, a thirdyear law student, said she used the rankings as a way to choose a university. “People in undergrad use the ranking as a guide to select their law schools,” Evashwick said. “I know I used U.S. News rankings as a way to pick what schools I was going to apply to.” Second-year student, Tim Forero, also spoke of using the rankings as a guideline. He said the mistake could affect the university when it comes to applicants, possibly for the next two years. “Overall, this could have a couple years of effect because I know a big strategy for the school to improve their ranking was to recruit the most qualified students that they could,” Forero said. “When I was going through applying to a law school, one of the first things you look at

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Photo courtesy of Pepperdine University

Student creates art for feminism ju dith-da ly bri s t e r-k n a be n e w s a s s is ta n t Mason Elise Folse, a senior Integrated Marketing Communication major, used an assignment for her Art Installations class to make a bold statement about gender inequality. The project consisted of nothing more than Post-it notes and the voices of hundreds of women. Inspired by an argument with a friend regarding the gender wage gap, Folse said she felt the need to educate the Pepperdine community on the type of things that are said to 21st-century women. The exhibit is featured on the first floor of the CAC between the mens and women’s bathrooms. “I had always wanted to say something, but I didn’t feel like I had a basis to go off of, and this was my starting point,” Folse said. “A lot of disrespectful things are being said to and about women and not all of them are from a place of malevolence, but just ignorance.” Folse collected statements for weeks from groups of friends, co-workers, friends of friends, guys and girls alike, and family members to hear what each of them had heard being said to or about the women in their lives. The project itself is made of over 1,200 Post-it notes, on each of which is a phase or derogatory term that has been

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Photo by Kaelin Mendez Artist statement | Senior Mason Folse’s art made of Post-its with misogynistic quotes is displayed in the CAC. She documented women’s experiences and arranged quotes on the wall to spell out, “Grab her by the pussy,” a notorious remark by President Donald J. Trump. said to one of the one hundred plus women who contributed to the project, Folse said. The post-it notes were arranged by color to spell out the

phrase “Grab her by the pussy,” a statement made in 2005 by President Donald Trump in a leaked Hollywood Access video. Several of the quotes on the

wall were said by celebrities, such as author Norman Mailer, who infamously declared that

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Pepp to revise Good Samaritan Policy chan n a s t e i n me t z N e ws a s s is ta n t ma ry c at e l o n g a ssista n t n e w s e dito r The Pepperdine administration is continuing to work with student leaders to revise the Good Samaritan policy. Dean of Students Mark Davis

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was clear that conversations regarding the revisions of the policy are independent of any particular recent incidents. The policy has been widely debated among students since last fall, after an off-campus party involving members of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. “We review the student pol-

SGA passed Senior Sen. Jeremiah Anthony’s resolution for SGA to fund a $700 registration fee to join the Eduroam Network to access content from Eduroam school in six continents.

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icies and code of conduct every year. The first major revision [to the Good Samaritan policy] was two or three years ago,” Davis said. “Another major revision is coming because these are big issues we are dealing with. Other schools’ policies are more explicit in their language, and we are looking to those as examples.”

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Pepperdine administration, including Davis, and the Student Government Association (SGA) are considering student voices, various past incidents and other universities’ systems to better clarify and revise the policy.

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SGA election campaigns concluded Wednesday, March 21 at 8 p.m.

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THE DPS REPORTS

When it rains, Los Angeles is floored

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

1. 03/12/18 12:23 a.m. Crimes - Alcohol Related/ Non-Criminal - Possession of Alcohol on Campus Location: George Page residential Complex

duncan hilby a s s i s ta n t n e ws e d it or I have friends from across the United States who enjoy the rain. They make a cup of their favorite coffee or tea, put on a cozy sweater and blanket and then sit on a covered porch and enjoy the atmosphere. They’ve created a wonderful memory of the rain that will last them a lifetime. Being from Los Angeles, this is not my experience at all. It’s hard to imagine anything but a mixture of awe, wonder and horror as I realize that it has rained. This is because rain hasn’t been seen very frequently in Los Angeles in recent years. According to CBS News, Gov. Jerry Brown officially ended one of the worst droughts in the history of the state on April 7, 2017. The horror comes from realizing that I have to drive in Los Angeles while its raining. While droughts are horrible for the economy and environment of California, the one overlooked benefit of not being stuck in the rain is not being stuck in Los Angeles traffic while its raining. Drivers are supposed to drive incrementally slower when it rains but some still insist on speeding down the road and cutting other drivers off. A 2015 article by Bianca Barragan in curbed Los Angeles stated car crashes in Los Angeles jump from hovering around 10 per hour when its dry to 15 at the 3 o’clock afternoon hour when it rains. Other drivers drive so slow that it seems as if they’ve completely forgot every single thing they learned about driving, all water comes down and drops straight onto their windshield. Why is there no in between? Does everyone in Los Angeles have to forget how to drive during the handful of days out of the year that it rains? Rain should not faze anyone from the great city of Los Angeles. Drivers face down some of the worst traffic known to the world daily. When it comes down to it, teamwork is a huge part of driving. Can we all just work together to overcome the menace we call Los Angeles drivers in the rain?

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2. 03/15/18 10:59 a.m. Crimes - Vandalism Location: Firestone Fieldhouse Lot

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3. 03/16/18 11:39 a.m. Crimes - Larceny/Theft Petty Theft Location: Hall 4 - Ann Peppers House

4. 03/18/18 2:24 p.m. Crimes - Trespassing Location: Seaver Drive

5. 03/18/18 6:05 p.m. Crimes - Drug Related - Possession of Marijuana Location: Dorm Sigma

Alumni field (South)

UPCOMING EVENTS THIS SEMESTER What: Pacific sounds music a n d a rts fe s tival WheN: 3/ 24 / 18

What: pepper dine hosts ncaa elite 8 Whe N : 3/24/18

Wh at: Oc seaver al u mni wine tasting & r ec ep t i on wh e n: 3/27/18

W hat: P ep p erdi ne t hEat re: medea W he N: 4 / 4 / 1 8 - 4 / 7 / 1 8

W hat: s ervi c e l earni ng ex hi b i t i on W he N: 4 / 7 / 1 8 - 4 / 1 4 / 1 8

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What: A ra bic Chapel When: N O O N Wher e: PLC 10 4

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What: baseball vs u c s b Whe n : 3 p.m. Whe re : eddy d. fi el d stadium

What: h awa i’ i club luau When: 5 p.m . Wher e: in tra mur al field

Wh at: pr epar ing for your time abr oad Wh e n: 6 p.m. Wh e re : Stauffer Chapel

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POLICY: Pepp to amend Good Samaritan F R OM A 1

wwDavis said the goal is to finalize all revisions by the upcoming summer so that the new Good Samaritan policy will be complete in time for New Student Orientation (NSO) in the fall. How the Policy Works Now “The Good Samaritan policy was created to encourage students to take immediate action in any crisis or medical emergency,” according to the Pepperdine Good Samaritan Policy website. The website states that “no University disciplinary sanctions will be issued to either the reporting student(s) or to the student(s) in need of assistance related to the violations [to the Code of Conduct] that occurred at or near the time of the incident.” These violations are outlined to include “crisis situations involving alcohol, drugs, physical violence and/or sexual misconduct.” Further information can be found on the online Good Samaritan policy FAQ page. In most cases when a violation of the Code of Conduct occurs, the process is fairly simple. All incident reports involving Good Samaritan go to Sharon Beard, associate dean of Student Affairs. A meeting is then set up between the student in question and Beard where they can discuss the incident and talk

about moving forward. “The most common case for the Good Samaritan is when a student sees that his or her friend or roommate is vomiting and they call for an RA,” Beard said. “In most of these cases, the students are not aware they are receiving immunity under Good Samaritan.” Beard said that in a majority of cases, the student receives immunity under Good Samaritan without any complications. There have been 29 cases in the past three years that students received full immunity under the Good Samaritan policy, Beard said. “No one talks about it when the policy applies, but others seem to come forward when it doesn’t apply,” Beard said. In the infrequent circumstances where the details of the incident make it unclear whether the Good Samaritan policy applies, Beard said the issue is taken to a hearing in front of the Student Disciplinary Committee, where the student is able to make their case for immunity. “It is cases that are not so black and white, which cause us to relook at the policy and see where there can be revisions,” Beard said. Student Voices Current SGA president Austin Welch said he is scheduling weekly meetings with Beard, Davis and a small group of other SGA members to rework the

policy. Welch sent out an email to the student body Monday afternoon requesting feedback and opinions regarding the Good Samaritan policy. Students can take a survey enabling them to express their experiences, feelings and knowledge regarding the policy in a private, anonymous setting. In addition, Greek life representatives are submitting their perspectives and ideas in the revision process. Welch said fraternity and sorority leadership have reached out to him and administrators, voicing their particular concerns with the policy. “Greek life on campus has had collective meetings and collaborations on suggestions that they have made,” Welch said. Davis said they are exploring other options on how to include other student groups to make the new policy “as inclusive and applicable as possible.” Welch has taken steps in hearing the voices within several student groups. “I have been reaching out to other organizations on campus and asking what their experience with using the Good Samaritan policy is, whether in their organization or personally,” Welch said. Regarding the Good Samaritan’s Role Although no aspects of the new policy are finalized, the administration is attempting to determine

clearer language regarding specific scenarios and issues. Davis and Beard said a big consideration in an unclear Good Samaritan policy situation is whether or not the Good Samaritan student was also a major perpetrator of the student’s harm. “The university looks at if the person requesting Good Samaritan also put the student in a harmful position,” Davis said. “It’s important to know if they were a major contributing factor.” Beard noted that, in a crisis situation involving alcohol for example, there is a big difference between merely providing access to alcohol and forcefully pressuring someone to drink alcohol. Administration is taking distinctions such as this into careful consideration in the revision process, so the policy can be altered to include clearer language. Regarding Student Organizations Administrators and students will discuss how or if the policy will apply to student organizations in the future. Davis said the Good Samaritan policy’s immunity currently only can be applied to individual students and does not claim to cover student organization penalties. Language establishing what number of students constitutes an official organization event would be important in this discus-

Graphic by Rachel Ettlinger sion. Beard said she played a part in creating the policy that states an organization may be held collectively responsible for violating the Code of Conduct when four or more members were present at the event in question. Beard emphasized that the policy states “may be” because there are other factors considered. “It’s open-ended because it’s about the spirit behind what is happening,” Beard said. “When four or more members of the same organization happen to live in the same house, they could be running the risk of hosting organization events. But, we never just look at the numbers.” Regarding the Follow-Up The follow-up after requesting the Good Samaritan is the third area Davis said they were possibly clarifying. Davis and Beard said, currently, repeatedly lying to administration

about code violations affects the application of Good Samaritan immunity. “Honesty is a big factor. We look at the student(s)’ honesty with the 911 call, with the paramedics, cooperating with Public Safety,” Davis said. “Also continuing to be transparent and tell the truth when talking to the administration after the incident.” Beard emphasized the goal is not to “get the student on a technicality,” but continuous dishonesty prevents administration from understanding the scope of the issue and ensuring the safety of all students involved. “Student safety is the utmost importance for the university,” Beard said. “We want to take away any barrier or hesitation for students seeking medical attention for other students in need.” C HANNA.STEINM ETZ@PEPPER DINE.EDU M ARY.L ONG@PEPPER DINE.EDU

ART: Feminist art displayed in CAC FROM A1 “A little bit of rape is good for a man’s soul.” Folse called for the powerful figures acknowledge their statements. “These are powerful people and they need to take responsibility for the words that they’re putting out into the world,” Folse said.“It’s not an exaggeration, the kinds of things that people are saying and how big of an issue it is.” The original assignment was to develop an installation that would create an interesting, meaningful, worthwhile experience for the viewer, said Art Professor Ty Pownall, who teaches the class. “[Mason] took that in a really interesting direction not just in the repetition of the materials, with the Post-it notes, but also in the repetition of sexual harassment, which she and other women in her life have experienced,” Pownall said. “It’s a powerful piece. I think it is provocative, rightfully so. I think that it is a subject that is not discussed in the way that it should be or could be, and yet it’s something that is a huge part of life as a woman.” Folse said one can promote feminism and social justice simply by being vocal about things that are important to them, and sharing them often. Pownall agreed with Folse’s philosophy. “I am with Mason in that I don’t think just not talking about it is going to help anything,” Pownall said. “There is a culture at Pepperdine to try to not make anyone uncomfortable.” Professor of Art Gretchen Batcheller was also moved by Folse’s piece, even having never met Folse. “That is art as activism,” Batcheller said. “It has a pretty powerful voice and has this ability to move someone. It touches on this type of art making where your audience becomes participant in

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Photos by Kaelin Mendez A Sticky Subject | Folse’s artwork is made up of sticky notes pointing out the derision women face daily. the art piece, so its not just her putting up her ideas and voice, but she’s inviting the audience to first of all feel something and second of all to participate with it.” Batcheller is refreshed to see a student be brave and take risks with their artwork. “Our students also struggle with what is right and appropriate at a Christian institution, and they often will censor themselves before there’s an opportunity for someone else to censor them,” Batcheller said. “I love it when our students exercise their voices, even when its raw. I’m incredibly proud to see a student that was so bold with their voice.” J U D I T H . B RI S T E R- KN A B E @P E P P E RD I N E . E D U

VANESSA PELLEGRINI Pepperdine Alumni Class of 1999

818 402 7800 vanessap@pacunionla.com

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M A R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 | N E W S | P E P P E R DIN E G RA P H I C ME D I A

Vera Davis: the ‘Southern Belle’ of Pepperdine Rac hel Et t l ing e r new s edi tor Vera Davis used to bake cookies and leave them on her windowsill facing the auditorium of Pepperdine University’s old South Los Angeles campus. When students would peek their head in the window and see the fresh plate, they would come knocking on Davis’ door. “We had students in our home all the time. They would come up on my porch and they would see if I had cookies by the window,” Davis recalled with a smile. “They would knock on the door and say, ‘Got any cookies?!’ And they would come in and get cookies.” Davis has a long history with Pepperdine. Her three daughters are PepSherrygraduates Yang | Staff perdine and her husband Jennings, who passed away in November 2015, was the former dean of students on the old South LA campus. He later taught graduate students on the Irvine campus. “I was [part of the] faculty wives,” Davis said. “I was a member of the Vermont Avenue Church, which was right across the street [from the South LA campus], so we were very involved there. I partook in anything that was going on at school.” But for Davis, Pepperdine became more than an institution. It was the reason she and her husband moved in 1963 from Tennessee to California — where they stayed for more than 60 years. She raised her first two daughters just across the street from campus before moving to Harbor City after Pepperdine’s transition to Malibu, and she said the Pepperdine community has brought her countless friendships that continue to this day. At 92 years old, Davis continues to have a force of power and wisdom to her, but also an “outgoing, talkative and fun” personality, said Ken Waters, professor of communication and Pepperdine College graduate (‘72). “It was very, very interesting to watch their relationship,” Waters said of Davis and her husband. “When he spoke, people listened because he was very wise, but when she spoke, people listened too because she was very wise — and he (Jennings) listened.” Davis said she now spends most of her time in her Oak Park home, where she has lived since 1992 and receives hospice care after being diagnosed with a heart condition. She spends her time reading, something she and Jennings used to do together often, and talking with her daughters, Carol, the oldest, and Shirley, the youngest, who both live in Southern California, as well her middle child, Liz, who lives in Vermont and calls often. “We have three daughters, and they’re wonderful and very attentive to me,” Davis said. Davis also has four grandchildren. Shirley was born 10 years after her older sister Liz and came as a surprise to her parents. “We

always said the good Lord gave us an extra child,” Davis laughed. Davis and Jennings, both Tennessee natives, met at Lipscomb University, where they graduated in 1950. Known then as Vera Howard, she was crowned the homecoming queen by her soon-tobe husband, the captain of the basketball team. “That was very exciting,” she said. After Jennings went on to earn his master’s from Ohio State University, he came back to marry Davis in 1951. “We were together 70 years,” Davis said. “We dated four years at Lipscomb when we were in college, and then we got married, and we were together 70 years.” Waters was a student when Jennings was dean, Photographer and he has stayed in touch with the couple ever since. Within the past five years, he said he and his wife, Julie (also a Pepperdine graduate, ‘80), had grown closer as Davis and Jennings began attending his church, Conejo Valley Church of Christ. Davis used to get discounts at California Pizza Kitchen, so the Waters and Davises would go out to eat with fellow church goers, including Vice Chancellor Sara Young Jackson (‘74) and her husband, Sam (‘72). “It was really fun to be with and around them,” Jackson said. “They had such great stories to tell. We would just sit and talk for hours in the California Pizza Kitchen.” The topics would range from the people they’d seen recently from the old campus to the players Jennings used to coach on the Men’s Basketball team in college (a handful had gone on to be presidents of other Church of Christ colleges and universities), to golf, something Jennings and Waters loved, but were both not-sogreat at, Waters said. “That was just a very sweet time,” Waters said. “They were sharp as a tack. Never missed a beat.” Jackson’s father, Norvel Young, was Pepperdine’s third and final-serving president on the old LA campus. She said she knew Jennings and Davis, who she described as a “Southern Belle,” from when she was a little girl. “Her husband was such a father figure to the students and she was a mother figure,” Jackson said. “They in a lot of ways were such surrogate parents to hundreds of students on campus.” The last time she was on Pepperdine University’s campus in Malibu, Davis said she attended the portrait rededication last fall for Larry Kimmons, a 15-year-old Black boy shot and killed on the old South Los Angeles Campus in 1969. Davis and her family lived right across the street from where Kimmons died. In an interview with Currents Magazine, Pepperdine College alumna Catherine Meeks (‘70) described Davis, Jennings and two other administrators, Anne King (head resident of the women’s dorm) and Lucille Todd

(dean of women) as being a source of support for the Black students on campus during the tumultuous time following Kimmons’ death. Meeks and Davis continue to stay in touch today, and Meeks recently sent Davis flowers to her home for her birthday and for Valentine’s Day. “Those four people were such a mainstay for me and many other students in general, but Black students in particular because they were four White people who were the most loving and accepting and courageous people that I had ever met in my life,” Meeks said. “They are the reason I am able to be as loving and generous toward White people as I am today.” Davis recalled her first interaction with Meeks, who knocked on their door one night and introduced herself with the intent of starting a friendship that could create a dialogue about uniting the integrating students on-campus. “We’ve been close friends ever since,” Davis said. Both Davis and Jennings played a valiant role as Pepperdine integrated White and Black students onto the same campus, Davis said, and they had a heart for the civil rights movement that was thriving across the country. Following Jennings’ death in 2015, the Davis family requested that donations be made to the Black Alumni Council scholarship fund in honor of Jennings’ passion for racial justice and his love for Pepperdine students, the announcement reads. With misty eyes, Davis said that although it has been two years since her husband’s death, she still finds it hard to cope with his absence. “We had wonderful years together,” Davis said. “As I say, it’s been really hard. I’ve really, really missed him. I haven’t really adjusted to it yet.” Davis was close with Jackson’s mother, Helen Young, who passed away Nov. 30 on the one-year anniversary of Jennings’ death, and she said Helen and Norvel were the ones to bring the Davis’ to Pepperdine in the first place, forever cementing their legacies into the university’s history. “She was one of our best friends in the world,” Davis said. The two women were much alike, Jackson said, in the way they devoted their lives to their husbands and their families, and how dearly they held onto the Pepperdine community. “[Davis] absolutely admired Jennings and lived for him. It was beautiful, absolutely beautiful,” Jackson said. “My mom was the same way about her Norvel, and it’s so sweet. Vera is just precious.” Waters described Davis as being extremely outgoing and very much a people person, but her dedication to her husband was like no other. “There’s that cliche things about the Christian wife, and when you say it, it sounds like this Namby Pamby does what she’s told to do, doesn’t have a

thought of her own, and that’s just absolutely not Vera,” Waters said. Although most of Davis’ life has revolved around her husband, since his death that has been forced to change. But she said she can still sense his presence. “Sometimes I think, now why did he have to die first?” Davis said. “But you know, sometimes when I go to bed, and I have picture of him right by my head, and I’ll look at him and be talking to him and I think he says, ‘OK, turnover and go to sleep.’ Because he used to say that sometimes when I’d be talking on, and he’d say, ‘OK, now it’s time to quit talking, let’s go to sleep.’” RA CH E L . E T T L I N G E R@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Belle of the Ball | Vera Davis poses as homecoming queen and for her college graduation. Her husband, Jennings, also poses for his college graduation. They both earned bachelor’s degrees from Lipscomb University in 1950.

Photos courtesy of Vera Davis

M A R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 | N E W S | P E P P E R DIN E G RA P H I C ME D I A

Photos by Cassandra Stephenson Purchasing Guns | General Manager Martin Remmen poses in Shooter’s Paradise of Oxnard, Inc. He shared his experiences educating customers on purchasing a gun and owning a firearm in the state of California. California has the most firearm related laws of any state in the U.S.

What it takes to buy a gun in California C as sandr a St ephen son E xecu ti ve Edi to r

In the wake of the Parkland shooting, gun laws in the United States are coming under serious debate. But restrictions vary widely by state, with some requiring only an instant background check to purchase a weapon. Others, such as California, have some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. California has 108 firearm-related laws on the books, the most of any state. Purchasing a gun in California requires a multi-step process, which even California residents looking to buy guns may not be familiar with, according to Martin Remmen, general manager and chief financial officer of Shooter’s Paradise of Oxnard, Inc. Remmen has worked at the Shooter’s Paradise gun range and store for about a decade. He said customers come in, almost daily, with no idea about what they have to do to purchase a gun. “Most, they’re firsttime buyers,” Remmen said. “When they come in they don’t really know what’s expected of them, unless they possibly called on the phone and asked the same question prior to [coming in].” Selecting a Weapon It is illegal to purchase or gift assault rifles — including the ArmaLite 15, the weapon used in the Parkland shooting — in California. This includes assault rifles with “bullet buttons,” which require shooters to use a special tool to change magazines, according to legislation that went into effect Jan. 1, 2017.

In California, an assault weapon is generally classified as “a semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following: a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, a thumbhole stock, a folding or telescoping stock, a grenade launcher or flare launcher, a flash suppressor [and] a forward pistol grip,” according to Senate Bill 23. Assault weapons also have a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds. More specifications for assault rifles, pistols and shotguns are available on the Department of Justice’s website. However, the official Assault Weapons Identification Guide on the DOJ website is marked as “currently under revision.” Those who own assault weapons can keep them, but must either register the weapons with the DOJ by June 30, or modify their weapons so they no longer meet assault weapon characteristics. Once registered, owners must carry their registration with them and cannot give the weapon to anyone else — it is theirs, and only theirs, for life. Those looking to purchase handguns not deemed assault weapons in California must choose their gun from the DOJ’s official roster of handguns certified for sale in the state, according to the DOJ’s 2016 California Firearms Laws Summary. The pre-approved list includes 791 handgun models that have passed firing, safety and drop

tests. There are some exemptions, including private party and intrafamilial transfers and pawn or consignment returns.

Who is eligible? Gun buyers in California must be a California resident with a valid driver’s license or identification card issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles and pass a background check to take home a weapon. Remmen said he and his team run into an issue with a customer failing to pass about once every two to three months. “It’s nowhere near a high percentage,” Remmen said. “It’s usually because people come in and they’re not familiar with what prohibits them, so they come in and they’re unknowing and [they] start the process.” Once their ineligibility is discovered, the process stops. “That’s what the whole background check is for,” Remmen said. Any person convicted of a felony, violent use of a firearm and/or publicly brandishing a weapon or firearm is prohibited from possessing a firearm for life in California, according to state law. Sex offenders with mental disorders and anyone ruled incompetent to stand trial cannot buy a gun. People convicted of one of a lengthy list of misdemeanors, including gun-related crimes, assault and threatening an officer, cannot buy a gun for 10 years. Those who have been taken into custody for fear of hurting themselves or others and admitted to a mental health facility cannot own a

firearm for five years. Other miscellaneous prohibitions can be found listed in the DOJ’s California Firearms Laws Summary. In his experience, those who do not pass the background check might have temporary holds, Remmen said. These holds, which might include unpaid fees, tickets, or other issues with a California Driver’s License or Identification Card, can usually be sorted out with the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Those with denied applications receive a letter from the DOJ Bureau of Firearms within two weeks explaining the denial and the appeal process, according to the DOJ’s website. Those who are unsure of their eligibility can request a Personal Firearms Eligibility Check online for a $20 fee, which takes up to 60 days to process.

A Multi-Step Process If a person is eligible and has selected an approved gun to purchase, their next step is to visit a licensed California firearms dealer that possesses a valid Certificate of Eligibility. A person must be 18 to purchase a long gun and 21 to purchase a handgun. Handgun purchases also require proof of residence. From here, it will take a minimum of 10 days before they can leave the store with their weapon. All gun purchases require purchasers to possess a Firearm Safety Certificate. To get one, a customer must pass a 30-question written test administered by DOJ Certified Instructors (usually at a firearms dealer) and pass with a score of

75 percent or higher. The test requires a $25 fee. Usually, customers pass, Remmen said. “If you know the material, you’ve done some pre-study … you might breeze right through it in say — I’d say the average [is] about half an hour.” The DOJ offers a 50page study guide for the test on its website. The test covers gun safety, firearm operation, gun laws and gun ownership, among other things. Remmen said he and his team tell those who fail on their first try to come back the next day and try again after studying. Once they obtain a Firearm Safety Certificate, they complete the required Dealer Record of Sale paperwork with the firearms dealer. Remmen says this is done electronically and is digitally timestamped. Once the DROS is in, the buyer has to wait 10 days — to the minute — before they can come back to the store to pick up the weapon. During this time, the DOJ processes their background check, and the purchaser must perform a safe handling demonstration with the firearm being purchased with a DOJ Certified Instructor (usually at the firearms dealership). Once the 10 day waiting period has passed, the buyer can pick up their weapon from the dealership — after they prove they have an approved firearm safety device or a DOJ-approved lock box or gun safe for their new weapon. Remmen said most manufacturers supply a compliant lock with weapon purchases. Placing the weapon — which must be unloaded — in

the trunk of a vehicle also constitutes as a “locked box” for transportation purposes, Remmen said. “Basically, your police departments and the Department of Justice don’t want you to be able to … leave with a gun in your car that’s functional,” he said. Effectiveness These steps and stipulations are aimed at increasing safety, but effectiveness is another issue. A CNBC review of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Boston University State Firearm Law Database found a correlation between higher number of gun laws in each state and reduced firearm-related deaths, but stipulated that this does not equate to causation. California’s firearm death rate is among the lowest in the nation, according to CDC data from 2016. But its 3,184 recorded firearm-related deaths were second only to Texas that year. Remain said he finds the gun laws in California to be too restrictive, but that he also sees their merits. “Many of them are with good purpose, and work efficiently,” Remmen said. “We don’t want people not in their right mind, we don’t want people that have past criminal records or are proven to be harmful to others and/or themselves to get these kinds of weapons. We have laws in place that prohibit that. And in my opinion, it works very well.” Logan Hall contributed to this report. C ASSANDR A.STEPHENSON@PEPPER DINE.

LAW: Ranking error causes conversation FR OM A 1 is the ranking. It’s going to hurt us in being able to attract the most competitive students we can.” Other students were not troubled by the mistake. A firstyear student, Taylor Porter, said the unranking was not a major concern. “I don’t care too much about it,” Porter said. “It’s only for a year, so it doesn’t impact us that much, and it doesn’t affect the

quality of education we’re receiving.” Other students said the error could be a concern for out-ofstate job prospects. For students not looking in the Southern California market, the unranking could have an effect, Forero said. “Pepperdine has a good reputation and good alumni network here in Southern California,” Forero said. “But, I’m from New Jersey. If I want to go back home and work, and the employer’s not familiar with the school, they could look up how credible

the school is and see something like that. It has the potential to be a negative impact.” Caron said he is working with the university to create materials to provide to prospective employers and applicants. “We’re hard at work developing material explaining all of this to give to anyone who asks,” Caron said. “Those materials show where Pepperdine is actually ranked this year, even though they are not in the official version. It’s an extra hurdle in which we have to explain the

actual facts, because the actual facts are very good.” Of those materials, Caron said he would include University of Tennessee Professor Bradley Areheart’s law school ratings of university averages from the past 10 years. Pepperdine is ranked 57. The incident has stirred conversation among several professors and deans. The dean at Brooklyn Law School, Nick Allard, wrote on TaxProfBlog that he is certain this will end up helping Pepperdine because of

the attention. “I believe it is likely that circumstances will in the end call more attention than otherwise would have been paid to Pepperdine’s high standing and that it would have moved up in the rankings if it had been ranked this year,” Allard wrote. “Further, Pepperdine’s reputation should be justifiably enhanced due to its initiative in attempting to correct an inadvertent error that was to its own advantage.” C HANNA.STEINM ETZ@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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PERSPECTIVES STAFF LIST

Peau Porotesano | Art Editor

After the Feb. 14 Parkland shooting left 17 students dead earlier this year, the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are refusing to let their friends become just another statistic. Emma Gonzalez, David Hogg, Cameron Kasky and many others are leading movements for gun control, taking on politicians like Sen. Marco Rubio, the NRA’s spokeswoman Dana Loesch and even President Donald Trump himself. While there is still much controversy and disagreement over what the best solution to America’s epidemic of mass shootings and gun violence is, it is clear that something needs to be done, and it is America’s high school students who are making it happen. These students should be applauded for their efforts, and the Pepperdine community should join in the movement. High school and college-aged students are part of the generation that grew up hearing about the Columbine, Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook shootings. They are the generation who have had to practice lockdown

STAFF EDITORIAL march for gun re for m

drills and go to school each day with the knowledge that it could happen to them next. For many of them, like the Parkland students, it already has happened. Student activists organized a nationwide school walkout on March 14, the one-month anniversary of the shooting, to raise awareness about the effects gun violence has on students and to call on lawmakers to take action and implement gun control. Students across the nation walked out of class for 17 minutes in honor of the 17 victims from the tragedy in Parkland. “The first major coordinated action of the student-led movement for gun control marshaled the same elements that had defined it ever since the Parkland shooting: eloquent young voices, equipped with symbolism and social media savvy, riding a resolve as yet untouched by cynicism,” wrote Vivian Yee and Alan Blinder in their article “National school walkout: thousands protest against gun violence across the U.S.,” published March 14 by The New York Times. Pepperdine students

who missed the opportunity to participate in the March 14 walkout can still join in upcoming events. This Saturday, millions of Americans will march in cities across the nation for gun control in the March For Our Lives, organized by the survivors of the shooting. Los Angeles alone is expecting 500 million people to march the streets of downtown. Another walkout is planned for April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting. Many universities have expressed support for the students participating in these movements, and Pepperdine should join them. Pepperdine should follow the example of colleges including Brown, Bucknell, Northeastern and many others who have released statements regarding the walkouts, assuring prospective students that disciplinary actions associated with peaceful protests will not affect their admission decisions, according to Jamie Ducharme’s article “Colleges assure prospective students that protesting for gun control will not affect their admission,” published Feb. 24

by TIME. The students who survived this horrific tragedy have started a movement. There is great power in numbers, and these students are letting the government know that they outnumber them and their voices should be heard. Their movement has already had some national impact. Dick’s Sporting Goods and Walmart both changed their policies in the Parkland aftermath, raising the minimum age to buy a gun in their stores to 21 regardless of local laws, and discontinuing the sales of assault-style rifles in their stores, according to Julie Creswell and Michael Corkery’s article “Walmart and Dick’s raise minimum age for gun buyers to 21” published Feb. 28 by The New York Times. A recently passed Florida law raises the minimum age of buying rifles to 21, bans bump stocks, introduces a three-day waiting period on all gun purchases, makes it easier for police to confiscate weapons and ammunition and allows school staff to carry guns. This minor success promptly

led to a lawsuit from the National Rifle Association, on the basis that the new law violated constitutional rights, according to an article published March 10 by the BBC. But it appears most people are on board with the kind of measures Florida has taken. Support for gun control spiked 20 points following the massacre in Parkland. According to the latest Quinnipiac poll, 66 percent of people in the United States now want stricter gun control. The members of this movement are making a real impact, and they have a chance to push legislation that is not only more popular in the United States, but will also keep children safe and make schools places of education and not fear. Pepperdine students can add their support to this movement by participating in March For Our Lives this Saturday or the national walkout on April 20. They can also follow the Parkland students’ example by contacting their local senators and representatives to voice their thoughts on gun control.

THE 'BU YORKER

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3. Peau Porotesano | Art Editor

“Pepperdine Graphic Media (PGM) is an editorially independent student news organization that focuses on Pepperdine University and the surrounding communities. PGM consists of the digital and print Graphic, a variety of special publications, GNews, Currents Magazine, social media platforms and an Advertising Department. These platforms serve the community with news, opinion, contemporary information and a public forum for discussion. PGM strengthens students for purpose, service and leadership by developing their skills in writing, editing and publication production, by providing a vehicle to integrate and implement their liberal arts education, and by developing students’ critical thinking through independent editorial judgment. PGM participates in Pepperdine’s Christian mission and affirmations, especially the pursuit of truth, excellence and freedom in a context of public service. Although PGM reports about Pepperdine University and coordinates with curricula in journalism and other disciplines, it is a student (not a University) news organization. Views expressed are diverse and, of course, do not correspond to all views of any University board, administration, faculty, staff, student or other constituency.”

MA R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 | PE RS PE C TIVE S | P E P P E R DI N E G RA P H I C ME D I A

Support adoptees at Pepp M a r i ta Z e r b e Guest Contributor At Pepperdine, it’s nearly impossible to walk around campus without encountering some sort of cultural or activity club advertising for members. There seems to be a place for everyone of every background. However, I feel the absence of one community in particular. This select group of people is one I have been a part of almost since birth: adoptees. We are by no means a large group, nor a loud one, and yet we are present. Although there is no way to tell how many adoptees there are here at Pepperdine, the lack of a concrete community on campus ensures that our stories will remain silent and untold. Personally, my adoption story is one of acceptance and love, but also one of self-discovery and the question of identity. I was born in Tijuana, Mexico, and spent two months in foster care before flying to my new home in New York. For my family, secrecy was never an option. I grew up with pictures of my birthmother in my room, and celebrating “Mexico Day” on my adoption anniversary each year with Mexican food, music and crafts. There was a constant sense of pride and openness about where I came from. However, even in this supportive environment, I had complicated emotions about my adoption. I often experienced guilt, confusion and the fear of rejection as a child. It wasn’t until high school that I felt comfortable enough to discuss my adoption with curious people, and not until my first year at Pepperdine that I reached out to my birth mother and reconnected with my Latina heritage through the

wonderful students in the Latino Student Association. My story, like all adoptee stories, is ongoing. Last January I met my birth mother for the first time, and as a member of the LSA Executive Board I’ve made it a point to talk about being a Latina adoptee whenever I can. However, my adoption experience itself is largely an isolating one, and without a space on campus for adoptees to come together, those with stories like mine are robbed of their voices. Holt International, a Christian organization that helps struggling families and provides adoption services, often interviews adoptees for Holt International Magazine. Emily Thornton had an experience in college that sounds all too familiar to many adoptees: “My freshman year, I had an opportunity to participate in a multicultural group on campus. And there was just a certain level of discomfort because most people were raised in their home countries, or their families were still very deeply rooted in the culture … I think as a freshman, I would have felt a lot more comfortable if there had been people that looked like me, but that had the same type of experience as me.” This is a sentiment that I personally resonate with, for as supportive and fantastic the students of LSA are, the innate understanding of the adoptee experience is something only other adoptees have. Through both our good and bad experiences, we can connect to each other in a way others simply cannot. An anonymous attendee of Holt International Summer Camp for Adoptees shared her feelings on community: “For the girls at camp, when they

i s a ac r a n d e l S ta f f W ri t e r The increasing availability of DNA sequencing technology and ancestry databases makes it easy for people to learn more about themselves and their families’ pasts. People should take advantage of these technological advances as much as they are able in order to keep the memory of their ancestors alive. It is easy to dismiss the lives of distant relatives as irrelevant to one’s daily routines. The idea of honoring one’s ancestors seems antiquated to many people today, and is often caricatured as somehow primitive or superstitious, or even potentially hostile and tribalistic. Yet a connection to one’s forebears can deepen and expand one’s conception of self. It allows people to see that they are not only isolated individuals existing for the short span of a single human life; rather, they are the latest individuals in a long line stretching back to the very origin of the human species itself. To know even a fraction of this story can be deeply revelatory.

Say yes to Songfest

G a b r i e l l e M at h y s P e r s p e c t i v e s A s s i s ta n t

Madeline Duvall | Staff Artist shared their stories, it was not surprising because they each had a very similar story — a story of adoption. There was no need to explain, or fear being judged, because it was something we shared.” Each adoptee story is individual, but it doesn’t have to be isolating. Pepperdine must recognize these unique connections adoptees have with each

other and should contribute to the well-being of their students by creating a space for these conversations. Particularly during college, which is a time of self-discovery, identity formation and growth, it is more important than ever for adoptees to stand together and support each other. M AR ITA.ZER BE@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Research family ancestry Stories of our ancestors’ lives and ambitions can inspire, teach and also warn us. They remind us of our deep and often unseen connections to one another, to the places we inhabit and to the unfamiliar past. These services are becoming more fashionable and more profitable: Ancestry.com, for example, reached $850 million in sales in 2017, according to Miguel Helft’s “Ancestry.com DNA Database Tops 3M,” published by Forbes on Jan. 10, 2017. The high cost of some services may be prohibitive to some. 23andMe. com’s standard Ancestry Package stands at $79, while a basic membership package with Ancestry.com costs $19.99 per month. It may also be alarming to see something as personal as one’s family history be commercialized, with its prices subject to market fluctuation like any ordinary product. But it may also be the most practical means of beginning one’s research, for those whose schedules prevent them from searching out information on their own. The alternative, of course, is independent research. My great-grandmother Kathryn Sims took on the immense task of recording the histories of her immediate relatives as far back as she was able. Before the resources of the internet were widely

Peau Porotesano | Art Editor available, she scoured local libraries, church records, newspaper archives, court documents and others to piece together the stories of her near and distant family. She left behind a wealth of information, which is treasured by our family to this day. For some, even basic information about distant family is scarce or entirely null. Historical traumas, like slavery in the Americas, have erased access to entire lineages and whole populations often find them-

selves at a disadvantage when researching their pasts. Though historians such as Henry Louis Gates Jr., and projects like Discoverfreedmen. org have made great advances to combat these challenges, they remain prominent for many African-American researchers with ancestors who were enslaved. For all these setbacks, it is likely that there are more easily accessible avenues for studying family history today than at any time in the past. Even if prospects seem

dismal at first, people should glean what they can from these available resources. They may find more information than they ever expected to. We are each the latest member of a vast lineage which eventually connects us all, whether we acknowledge it or not. Searching back into one’s family history can bring profound meaning to one’s life and instill a deeper conception of self, family and one’s relationships with others. ISAAC.R ANDEL @PEPPER DINE.EDU

Songfest might be over this year, but some students are already looking ahead to next year. Students should participate in Songfest; even if they aren’t willing it commit to late night practices, they can engage in the Pepperdine tradition by being a part of the audition. Songfest is an amazing tradition that needs to be be preserved and enjoyed for years to come. A lot of time and energy goes into each Songfest performance, and that effort is like glue that bonds the cast together. Songfest builds lasting relationships with students whom a person might not have interacted with otherwise. “The community, relationships and experiences lead to lifelong memories, and that wasn’t something I wanted to miss out on,” said Jonah Kraal in Caroline Laganas’ article “All aboard Songfest 2017,” published March 15, 2017 by the Pepperdine Graphic. When each cast comes together to create a Songfest show, they put together songs, choreography, memorized lines, sets and costumes in the span of three weeks. Each group can step back and appreciate the amazing outcome of their efforts after they step out on the Smothers stage and perform for enthusiastic crowds. Performing arts like Songfest “can help to build a strong sense of confidence that will carry over into your everyday life,” according to Kathy Tyner’s article “Six lessons learned in acting classes that can benefit your entire life,” published Sept. 24, 2012 by KD Conservatory, College of Film and Dramatic Arts. Whether or not a student is on the stage, events like Songfest are affirmed to be beneficial. “[There are] excellent examples of research that absolutely proves how the performing arts have an undeniably positive influence on young people,” reports Mallory Elver in her study “Products of the Performing Arts: Effects of the Performing Arts on Children’s Personal Development and How to Use Research to Initiate Policy Change,” published in 2015 by Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Theater performances have been proven to cause audience members and actors to be more empathetic and to experience emotions they would not normally feel. Songfest is an experience that everyone should share. This Pepperdine tradition might take time, but it is incredibly worth the effort. Keep Songfest alive and join the fun next year! GABBY.M ATHYS@PEPPER DINE.EDU

P E P P E R DIN E GR A P H IC M E DIA | N E W S | M ARCH 22, 20 1 8

Daughter of American hero stays grounded Kr ist in Var tan Staf f W r i ter Kelly Sullenberger was 14 years old when her mom called her out of leadership class. But the reason was not for a planned “dentist appointment, or whatever reason your parents pick you up from school early,” Sullenberger said. “She picked me up, I got into the car and the first thing she said was, ‘I want you to know that he’s OK, but …’ and then she explained everything that happened,” Sullenberger said. U.S. Airways Flight 1549 happened. The day was January 15, 2009. And “he” was Chesley Sullenberger III, the pilot who landed the “wounded Airbus A320” atop the Hudson River, according to The New York Times, with 155 passengers and zero fatalities. The world knows him as a United States hero. Kelly calls him father. “It was definitely scary, of course that’s something I always tell people, it’s a very heroic situation and we had such a happy ending, but in addition to all the other lives on board, he was also on board,” Sullenberger said. “It wasn’t necessarily this moment of celebration for us right away.” Because the press did not know his name at first, temporary anonymity allowed Kelly and her family time to hear his voice and process the event. Once “Sully’s,” as Chesley Sullenberger’s friends and family

call him and the namesake of Clint Eastwood’s movie adaptation of the Flight 1549 and its aftermath, name was known, what it meant to be a Sullenberger took on a new meaning. “People would stop my dad in the store, or when we were out in public at the gas station-Everywhere,” Sullenberger said. “It’s a new adjustment to get used to: just kind of realizing, this is my normal life, and now all these people are involved in it in different ways.” Despite this unexpected fame, Sullenberger said her young age during the aftermath of “Miracle on the Hudson” allowed her “a lot more grace.” “When you’re 14, you’re so malleable already and you don’t know who you are, as much as you think you do,” Sullenberger said. “But there’s so much that changes in your life when you’re 14 so I had room for that change. I definitely didn’t have as hard of a time as I would have if I was older and had everything figured out, and had who I was established and have this thing, throw a curveball so to say.” Sullenberger said her close relationship with her dad also affected how she handled the changes in her life. “I’ve always had a strong relationship with him. I tried to internalize [the situation] and handle it with grace and cared more about that and not making it about myself or stressful because I cared about him

and wanted it to be more about our family getting through everything with the additional aftermath,” Sullenberger said. Sullenberger continued to handle her life with as much normalcy as possible. She insisted on attending cheer practice after Flight 1549. She also made sure to fly back in time for her eighth grade “Promotion Party” after a trip to Buckingham Palace the following June. “I was so upset because I thought I was going to miss my eighth grade promotion party,” Sullenberger recalls from that day. “And my mom was like, ‘You don’t realize how big of an opportunity this is.’” After shaking hands with Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Harry, Sullenberger did make it back for the party. “It was very surreal,” Sullenberger said. “My family didn’t necessarily feel like it was our place, or didn’t necessarily deserve it, but we just never imagined we’d be doing these kinds of things. We still think about it to these days and are still very grateful for those opportunities.” Those “opportunities” have also included watching their father be Grand Marshall in the 2010 Rose Parade in Pasadena, or attending the 2009 Inauguration of President of Barack Obama (and meeting Barack and Michelle Obama at the Inaugural ball). “I’m proud of my dad,”

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Kelly Sullenberger said. “And I’m proud of what he did and who he is as my dad, as so many girls are proud of their dads.” Like many girls and their dads, Sullenberger and “Sully” are close. “Sully” shared his passion of flying with his daughter, flying small planes while she sat in the pilot seat, she said. Sullenberger’s father no longer flies commercially but has written two books. In addition, he works for a speaker’s bureau and travels all over the country to speak on leadership in the workplace and patient safety, Sullenberger said. “My dad still flies small planes and I love being able to sit up in the cockpit with him as his first officer,” Sullenberger said. “He is so passionate about it, so he always explains everything to me,” “Ever since I was really little, he would fly us around in small planes and a few times commercially, he got to be our pilot. It’s always been something we’ve gotten to share together.” The Sullenbergers’ (“Sully,” Kelly, her mother and older sister) favorite moments with one another are the ones spent at home. Not being “big foodies,” the Sullenberger family opts for “snackie nights” that include cheese, meat and crackers, cereal or Baja Fresh while playing board games. “Ticket to Ride,” Yahtzee or Uno are recurring ones, but it depends on who’s picking,” Sullenberger said.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Sullenberger Hudson Hero| Kelly Sullenberger pictured with her father “Sully.” Kelly currently works at the Pepperdine School of Law. “Especially as my sister and I get older, and as we’re not as close to our parents distance-wise, just being all together is something we definitely value more now,” Sullenberger said. No longer living at home, Sullenberger works at the Pepperdine School of Law as the Admissions and Communications Coordinator. She started three weeks ago after working at Seaver College’s “OneStop” office since Fall 2017. Simultaneously, she is in graduate school at the California State University, Northridge pursuing a Masters in Education Administration with a specialization in Higher Education. It has been almost nine years since Flight 1549, and Sullenberger sees her family almost once a

month. When asked what Kelly personally thinks it means to be a Sullenberger, she said: “Being a Sullenberger means is living your life with integrity and taking initiative,” Sullenberger said. “I always joke that those were two of the first words that my parents taught me when I was in preschool. My dad would always stay afterwards when he would pick me up from preschool, he would make a point, that if the preschool toy room was a mess he would stay and help me pick it up. Just doing the right thing, no matter who is watching and what you get out of it. Just having really strong values of what is right and wrong have definitely been instilled in me.” K r istin.Var tan@pepper dine.edu

MAr ch 22, 2018

The Graphic

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LIFE & ARTS

Jasper Johns Challenges Visual Perspective

Photos by Tanisha Shankar More Than Meets the Eye | Jasper Johns’ exhibit, “Something Resembling Truth,” is on display at the Broad until May 3. The exhibit highlights Johns’ work in Neo Dada and pop art, and consists of eight rooms where viewers can peruse artwork that provokes ideas concerning reality and truth. Tanisha Shankar Staf f Writ e r The Broad’s newest exhibit, “Jasper Johns: ‘Something Resembling Truth’” comprehensively surveys the works of American painter and sculptor Jasper Johns through his six-decade career. The exhibition guides the viewer through eight rooms, allowing them to trace Johns’ evolution as an artist from his beginning in Neo Dada and pop-art themed works, to his later abstract expressionist works. Johns’ career follows “an intense investigation of the visual world and the human response to it,” according to the biographical information at the exhibit. The first work audiences see before entering is “Painting with Two Balls,” a piece that seems to “defy all the rules of a classic painting on canvas” according to exhibition-viewer Brittany Ott. “The balls lodged in the middle of the painting break open the canvas so it’s almost as if the painting is less of a representation of something else, but a view of the wall behind it and the

world around it,” Ott said. This painting’s deviation from the canvas into the real world is symbolic of Johns’ goal as an artist. A quote by Johns himself on the wall next to this first painting summarizes the theme of his retrospective: “One hopes for something resembling truth, some sense of life, even of grace, to flicker, at least, in the work.” The first room contains what is considered to be Johns’ most famous work: “Flag.” In this work, a rustic-looking American flag entirely spans a 42 x 60 inch canvas. In using such a familiar symbol, Johns hopes to “make the familiar unfamiliar, inviting viewers to look more closely at what he calls ‘things the mind already knows.’” According to the information at the exhibition, one uncited critic summarized the ambivalence of this painting, asking, “Is this a flag or a painting?” This sort of commentary fulfills Johns’ goal for viewers to break their fixed habits of perception. The rest of the works in this room incorporate the American flag motif in other ways,

including a smaller flag on an orange background in “Flag on Orange Field,” and the three-dimensional piece of stacked flags in “Three Flags.” The next rooms progress to Johns’ works in sculpture. At this point in his career, Johns was interested in paintings and sculptures as literal objects, rather than as “window like illusions or vehicles for self-expression,” according to the information at the exhibit. Works displayed include sculptures of flashlights lodged into stones, and a work of dripping paintbrushes arranged in a bouquet-like formation in a coffee can. The simplicity of the objects that Johns utilizes for his sculpture is distinct to his work. “These are the type of sculptures I want in my house ... [they] remind me of how special things that seem mundane can be,” says Ott. “There’s nothing really elusive about these everyday objects, but it makes me appreciate the nature of simple things, which I think is beautiful.” The next rooms display what is considered to be some of Johns’ most visu-

ally-perplexing pieces. Johns’ painting “False Start,” features the names of the colors painted and stenciled onto brush strokes that are different than the colors described. Several other paintings in the same room present the same type of visual, intended to challenge the viewer’s perception of systems of meaning. Overall, the exhibition provides audiences with a new perspective on visual perception. “I liked the exhibit because it made me think more about simple and ubiquitous visuals that I don’t really question that often, like flags or the names of colors,” said gallery-viewer Samuel Jensirwanich. “It challenged me to think more about the ways that I see the world, and why I see things the way I do.” Tickets to “Jasper Johns: ‘Something Resembling Truth’” cost $25 and include general access to the museum, and are free on the the first Thursday of every month until May 3. Tickets can be purchased online or at the museum. TANISHA.SHANK AR @PEPPER DINE.EDU

Ordinary to Extraordinary | Johns is known to take ordinary objects like paintbrushes and coffee tins (left) and turn them into art. He is also known for playing with colors, like in his piece “False Start,” (right), in which he writes the names of colors on top of colors that purposefully don’t correspond.

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Weekly Culture Collection: Weekly Culture Collection is a column that gives the best things to eat, see and do near Pepperdine, Malibu and the surrounding Los Angeles area. It’s like The New Yorker’s Goings on About Town section but not as high-brow, and there is no dandy with an eyeglass. It also has nothing to do with New York.

E l l a Go n z a l e z S ta ff W r ite r WHAT TO EAT

WHAT TO SEE

WHAT TO HEAR

Latin Food Fest

Santa Monica Airport Artwalk

Bach in the Subways

March 23 - 24, 11a.m. - 3p.m. — Santa Monica

March 24, Noon - 5 p.m.

March 24, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. — Various locations

The Latin Food Fest will attract seasoned and amateur foodies alike for its sixth annual food festival, the largest Hispanic culinary festival in the United States. The festival will commence with the “Mexico City Mercado” on Friday, described as a “multi-sensory street food meets night market experience” on the festival’s website. The Mercado will include tapas, live music, tastings and more, but the festival will reach its acme at the “Gran Tasting Los Angeles” on Saturday with cooking demonstrations from chefs like Marcela Valladolid, Enrique Olvera and Tati Polo, and a performance from the Latin band Sonsoles, among other culinary and entertainment-related attractions. The Latin Food Fest supports the Westside Food Bank, tickets ranging from $25 to $149.

The 12th annual Santa Monica Airport Artwalk transforms airport hangars into artist studios brimming with artwork and a place where art aficionados and casual connoisseurs are united in their love for the visually and financially appealing (the event is free of charge). The Artwalk not only entails the gazing and admiring of the pieces displayed but also engagement with artistic practice through art and theater workshops, demonstrations, live music and more. The event would not be complete however without food to complement the admiration of the artwork. Various food trucks like Dogtown Dogs and The Big Cheese, among others, will also be there.

Los Angeles is notorious for its subpar (a rather generous word) public transportation system. Despite this, taking a train, metro or a subway can be an exciting experience and even more so when the experience has a soundtrack. Created by cellist Dale Henderson in New York City, “Bach in the Subways” takes place every year on the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach. Free pop-up performances of the German composer’s music will celebrate his 333rd birthday in a way that 333 candles on a cake and a cheesy and embarassing birthday song at a chain restauraunt never could; never mind the fact that these traditions are likely anachronistic for Bach’s time. His music, performed by various groups and individuals like the LA Recorder Orchestra, will complement commutes in places like Union Station and other locations that may be found on the map online.

Let the Latin Food Fest, Santa Monica Airport Artwalk and Bach in the Subways occupy your weekend and satisfy all your hankerings for what to eat, see and hear for the week. There can be no promises that the soundtrack added to the events of the weekend will produce anything comparable to any cinematic masterpiece, but here’s to trying — and to celebrating Bach’s 333rd birthday while we’re at it. ELLA.GONZALEZ@PEPPERDINE.EDU

New Years around the world MA R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 | L IFE A N D A RTS | P E P P E RD I N E G RA P H I C ME D I A

M ar ia Val ent e L if e & Ar ts Edi tor

The New Year is not always celebrated in January around the world. In several countries, the New Year is sometimes celebrated in February and even March. This year, Chinese New Year was Feb. 16, the Indian New Year Holi festival was March 14, and the Persian New Year was March 20. Each celebration has unique symbols and traditions associated with it. In China, each new year brings a new animal as its mascot. For instance,

2018 is the year of the dog. In India, people celebrate the holiday with a festival of color, throwing around colored powder at each other in the streets. In the Persian culture, it is traditional on new years to set up a spread of symbolic food on the dining table. All of these traditions are celebrated by members of the Pepperine community on campus and at home. Here are how some Pepperdine students celebrated these new year traditions.

M A R IA .VA LE N T E @ P E P P E R DIN E . E DU

Photo by Cici Liu

Photo Courtesy of Lavin Lahiji

Cici Liu | Staff Photographer

Sherry Yang | Staff Photographer

Photo by Cici Liu

Happy New Year | The Chinese Student Association (left) prepare for Chinese New Year in February. Pepperdine held its own festival of color at Alumni Park on March 14 (right and top left). Junior Lavin Lahiji and her family prepare a table fit for the Persian New Year on March 20 (top right).

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You can pick 3 friends to live with during Housing Selection for apartment-style living. Email: housing@pepperdine.edu Phone: 310.506.4914

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Photos courtesy of Madeleine Sherak We Can Be Heros | Madeleine Sherak (left) is a Pepperdine University Teacher Field Supervisor who released “Superheroes Club” in October 2017. Sherak was inspired by her granddaughter Lily and wrote the book to promote inclusion and empathy among young children to combat bullying.

New children’s book promotes inclusion c a r o l i n e e d wa r d s a s s i s ta n t l i f e & a r t s e d i t o r

Anyone can be a superhero, according to Pepperdine University Field Supervisor Madeleine Sherak. Sherak teaches children the importance of empathy in her book, “Superheroes Club.” Sherak is a Pepperdine University student-teacher education field supervisor who oversees and offers guidance to students teaching kindergarten through 12th grade as part of their majors. She tackles themes of empathy and acceptance in her children’s book. The book debuted October 2017 for children 4 to 8 years old and tells the story of Lily, a young girl who forms a Superheroes Club to help other kids in school and in their communities. “Superheroes Club” is an evolving series,

with the second and third novel already written. Sherak said she is planning to pitch the show for a television series. The books and television show will continue to focus on themes of inclusion, empathy and uniqueness to teach children about important life lessons and values. “We’re all different; we’re all unique,” Sherak said. “There’s a specialness in our differences. I wanted to be able to celebrate that and seek out what those special characteristics are. We can include everybody, and it makes us all better.” Sherak said “Superheroes Club” was a two-year long process before being officially published. The book only took her 20 minutes to write, but was edited down from more than 3,000 words to just around 1,000. Sherak is a long-time educator and said that she wants to have a positive influence on children’s

lives. “There’s this innate innocence about kids where they don’t see differences,” Sherak said. “I just wanted to write a book that would embrace that, encourage it and celebrate it.” “Superheroes Club” evolved from a story about Sherak’s granddaughter, Lily, who is also the book’s protagonist. When Lily was in preschool, she was enrolled in a class where half of the kids were developing and fully-functioning and half were special needs. Lily befriended a girl who didn’t speak, but according to Sherak, she didn’t mind or notice. “Lily spoke enough for the both of them,” Sherak said. “She’s found a way to make friends with this little girl and communicate with her and play together. She didn’t see the differences in this little girl. On the contrary, she embraced her.”

Ask Camy

“Superheroes Club” focuses on empathy and how children can identify and learn it from their role models and, specifically, their parents. “I’ve always believed that children live what they learn,” Sherak said. “Part of it is what kinds of role models they see around them, and that starts in the home. You want to be a parent who has children who are empathetic, and you have to exhibit those kinds of behaviors.” Sherak said bullying is hard to define, and it needs to be a conservative effort involving state lawmakers, individual school districts and policies. “[Bullying] weighs on the rights of people to have free speech but to also protect everyone else,” Sherak said. “We need to have those conversations and define all the things that need to be addressed to combat it.” The book has a broad theme

that can apply to any age, Sherak said. “The central message is that a superhero is not what they look like but what they do,” actress and spokeswoman Jamie Lee Curtis wrote in a review. “A message of caring and sharing, much-needed in this time of division and hatred.” “Superheroes Club” is based on Lily, but Sherak said she also drew from stories from her 10 grandchildren, their friends and the types of issues they face daily. Sherak said that by the third novel, there will be a character based on all of her grandchildren. “As Lily says, ‘Everybody can be a superhero,’” Sherak said. “It’s really about finding your own potential each one of possesses to help other people. But it always starts with yourself.” C AR OL INE.EDWAR DS@PEPPER DINE.EDU

RAISE

C AR OL INE.EDWAR DS@PEPPER DINE.EDU

YOUR

Finish the year on a high note C ameryn Zorb S taf f Write r For many of you, this is the last year that you have at Pepperdine, and time is running out. For others, such as myself, you’re going abroad next year, and you won’t be able to experience the Malibu campus for at least one semester. How can we make the most of the limited time we have left? I think that one of the most important aspects of the college experience is the people you encounter. We won’t see many of our friends for years to come, so make them a priority. Call or text them and ask to get together for coffee just to talk. There’s going to be a time when you won’t have that opportunity, and you don’t want to live with regrets. Maybe you’ve grown to be close with some of your professors. Take some time to reflect on your time with them because you never know if they have the capacity to give you the best advice or career opportunities. Don’t forget to make time for the people who matter to you. My second tip is to finish strong academically. I know it’s easy to give in to senioritis and want to slack off in your final weeks, but I think that it says so much about your character and your work ethic if you do finish with good grades. It will show people, especially possible future employers, that you follow through on your obligations. Some strategies you can adopt to finish strong is to communicate your goals with your professors

and complete all of your work on time and to the best of your ability. Finally, experience your surroundings. Malibu is a beautiful town and the envy of many people. So many friends and family who come to visit are awed by the beauty of our campus. Embrace the environment and go into the city to experience some of the attractions you’ll miss being so close to. The Getty Villa is just 15 minutes up PCH, and the Santa Monica Pier is just a little farther. Plan a day with your friends to visit all of the places that you know you’ll miss. Look online and do your research, investigate local newspapers or some articles posted by locals on the Graphic to find something worth your time. You want my advice? Make the most of your final moments here at Pepperdine, but look forward to your future and the brilliant moments to come.

An online nomination form, as well as detailed information about the award, can be found at:

pepperdine.edu/provost/awards Please take a few moments to consider that one very special teacher from your Pepperdine days and submit your nomination.

Theresa de los Santos 2017 Recipient, Howard A. White Award for Teaching Excellence Assistant Professor of Communication Seaver College

Ask Cameryn advice instagram: @camyzorb

twitter: @camyzorb email:

cameryn.zorb@pepperdine.edu

Nomination deadline is

March 31, 2018

MAR C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 | L IFE A N D A RTS | P E P P E R DI N E G RA P H I C ME D I A

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

Photos Courtesy of Kira Brown Honoring the Silver Screen| Six groups competed for the Songfest Sweepstakes Award, but Eta Theta Tau came out on top with their production of “The Princess Bride.” The Pepperdine community came together for Songfest at Smothers Theatre on Wednesday Mar. 14 through to Saturday Mar. 17.

Eta Theta Tau wins Songfest Sweepstakes SO FIA TELCH Li f e & Ar ts ASSISTAN T

Eta Theta Tau won this year’s Songfest Sweepstakes Award, the recognition awarded to the group with the best overall music, choreography, sets and costumes, theme and enthusiasm. Songfest ran from Wednesday, March 14 to Saturday, March 17 at Smothers Theatre with this year’s theme, “Lights, Camera, Songfest,” dedicated to celebrating films from the past 100 years. The groups competed for the Sweepstakes Award, which was awarded to the best overall group — as it is every year — by a panel of judges composed of entertainment professionals and Pepperdine staff. “We had such an amazing leadership team this year and it was really great to see their work pay off,” said junior Shyann Ford from Eta Theta Tau. “We all became best friends so [winning] was just the icing on the cake.” This tribute to the silver screen marked Songfest’s 46th anniversary, and it included performances from six groups: Sigma Phi Epsilon Alpha Phi with “Shrek,” Gamma Ghkkkkket Sigma and Friends with “The Wizard of Oz,” Eta Theta Tau with “The Princess Bride,” Alpha Beta Delta and Company

with “Dirty Dancing,” and a non-competing alumni/staff/faculty group with “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” “It’s just incredible how everybody comes together — the musicians, the whole band, the tech, the staff, the crew,” alumna Nina Sprenger, member of the alumni/faculty/staff group, said. “It is exhausting from the outskirts, but most great things in life require hard work.” Each group chose a movie and created a performance including an original script, original costumes and set-design based on their theme choice. Groups rehearsed for two full weeks for two hours a night from 10 p.m. to midnight. “I really enjoyed how the theme was movies this year,” said senior Lauren Young, member of Alpha Beta Delta and Company. “I thought it was cool that everyone could watch and see their favorite movies [being portrayed] on the stage. I love ‘Dirty Dancing,’ so it was really fun to learn some of the dances they do in the movie. Especially ‘Time of My Life.’” The rules of the competition required that each musical was 12 minutes in length, with a maximum of two-anda-half minutes of dialogue, and that 75

percent of each performance included the entire group’s cast. Each group had $500 to budget their expenses, and a random draw determined the order of the performances, the hosts said. Songfest started in 1973, the same year Pepperdine’s Malibu campus opened, and has been running ever since. Before performances were held at Smothers, students performed at the Waves Cafe and Firestone Fieldhouse. Although there were fewer competing groups than in past years, students said they were happy to see the return of the alumni/staff/faculty group this year. “It’s super cool to see the teachers and professors you see on campus on the stage,” senior Miles Ellis, one of the five hosts, said. “I thought they were absolutely unreal.” Ellis hosted this year’s Songfest alongside junior Cari Callen and seniors Jared Evangelista, Lucas Hutchinson and Andrea Wigginton. Songfest alumni also attended the event and fondly recalled their own experiences. “I love the show,” Jenny Parmelee, five-time Songfest alumna and wife of Songfest Director and Seaver alumnus Sam Parmelee, said. “I come to multiple performances of Songfest every year.” Freshmen Taylor Carty and Araceli

Chang, members of Eta Theta Tau, said they – like Ford – were ecstatic to win. “It’s worth it to get involved [in Songfest],” Carty said. “It’s a lot of hours, but it’s really fun and you meet a lot of cool people.” Ford also said she would encourage students from all walks of Pepperdine to get involved in Songfest. “It was incredible to be so welcomed and so loved immediately,” Ford said. “It’s just the most enthusiastic, excited, energetic people you’ll ever meet on campus – they all get in one room and we just have such a good time and you can tell there’s nowhere else we would rather be.” Young agreed and said that although her team didn’t win, the Songfest experience is hardly about winning. “Overall, we were just really thankful for the experience,” Young said. “We had a ton of fun doing [so] I think that’s what it’s all about.” To get involved in Songfest 2019, keep an eye on the Pepperdine Songfest website and stay tuned for host auditions in the Fall. You can also contact songfest@pepperdine.edu.

SOFIA.TELCH@PEPPERDINE.EDU

Singing to the Beat | Some of the films portrayed on stage included “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (top left), “The Princess Bride” (bottom left), and “Shrek” (bottom right). A troupe of hosts also interrupted each performrance with their own entertaining musical numbers (top right).

P E P P E R DINE GR A P HIC M E DIA | S PORTS | MA RCH 22, 20 1 8

Photos by Arthur Puu

“

Leading Wave | Freshman standout guard Colbey Ross brings up the ball near halfcourt in Pepperdine’s 81-72 loss to Pacific on Feb. 3. Ross averaged 14.0 points and 5.6 assists during the 2017-18 season, leading to WCC accolades on the All-Freshman team and All-WCC honorable mention honors.

Freshman Ross Honored with Pair of WCC Accolades ar t hur puu spor ts edi tor

Freshman guard Colbey Ross leads with a subtle swagger. Ross leads by example, letting his play do the talking as Men’s Basketball’s starting point guard. From the opening tip to late-game situations, one thing is certain: Ross is always locked in his zone. “I have confidence in myself because I know how much work I’ve put in to the game, especially in the offseason,” Ross said. The Colorado native averaged 14 points and 5.6 assists per game in his freshman season, garnering WCC All-Freshman team and All-WCC honorable mention honors prior to the West Coast Conference Tournament. “[The honors] mean a lot,” Ross said. “Being a freshman and being able to do that at Pepperdine, has been really exciting because my coaches and teammates have trust in me.” Although the 201718 season didn’t go as planned, the freshman lead guard had many milestones and memorable moments throughout the past six months, including breaking the freshman record for total assists previously held by

The honors mean a lot. Being a freshman and being able to do that at Pepperdine has been really exciting because my coaches and teammates have trust in me. Colbey Ross, freshman guard

recent alumnus Jeremy Major. “The season was a great learning experience,” Ross said. “We didn’t get as many wins as we wanted to, but what we went through in the games we played and how close they were and everything that happened with injuries and people having to step up and everything, I thought for myself it was good to learn to deal with

Graphic by Arthur Puu

adversity and to keep pushing forward even though things might be going bad.” Known for making big plays late in games throughout the season, including a layup to send the game against BYU to overtime Feb. 15, Ross said he isn’t afraid of crunch time. “When a big shot is needed, I know that I’m confident enough in myself to hit that shot and I have the focus to where I know other people are counting on me and I could come through for them.” With an affinity for taking over games late, it’s no surprise his favorite basketball player is Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who is known for making clutch plays. “He’s always been my favorite,” Ross said. “I’ve always watched his highlights and his game film.” Ross also joked about potentially using Lillard’s signature “Dame Time” celebration. “I need to start,” Ross laughed. While watching basketball has taught Ross new moves to use on the court, the game of basketball has given him many life lessons he has applied both on and off the court. “It’s taught me to work hard, that if you want something, you have to go out there and get it,” Ross said. “Take advice, don’t get too big-headed. There’s a saying [that says], ‘Have people look out for you and to use the resources and tools people have given you.’” The product of Eaglecrest High School in Centennial, Colorado also talked about how important having confidence is upon other parts of his life outside of the basketball court. “You have to have confidence in yourself because having confidence goes a long way, whether

Calling Card | Ross calls out a play to his offense against UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 20. Ross posted a career-high 25 points during the contest. it be a job interview or on a test,” Ross said. Off the court, Ross is a Netflix fanatic, citing “How to Get Away with Murder” and “Breaking Bad” as his go-to shows. He also enjoys hanging out with his fellow freshman teammates — Trae Berhow, Jade’ Smith, Michael Wexler and Eric Maillard — with whom he shares close relationships. “I hang out with those dudes a lot,” Ross said. “We’re all freshman, but through the whole season I’ve been really cool with them, whether that’s working out with them or going to get food with them, I can always count on them to have my back and for them to

look out for me. I’m just thankful I’ve gotten to know them as much as I have this year.” Although the off-season is in full swing for the Waves, Ross is already putting in work with sights on improving different aspects of his game for next season. “Right now, I’m working out a lot, trying to lift more weights and do more yoga to build flexibility,” Ross said. “I need to work on my three-point shooting and extending my range, but also just working on quickness and being more athletic on the court to help for next season.” With news of Lorenzo Romar making his return

to Malibu to take the helm of the Men’s Basketball program, Ross said he is excited to play under his new coach. He also welcomed the challenge of playing under a coach that has led successful players to the NBA. “I’m very excited,” Ross said. “I just know what he’s done and the players he’s coached, so I just know that if I got the chance, I would want to be one of those big-time players that play for him. That’s one of the coolest things I look forward to this upcoming season.” As Ross continues to grow as a player, the future of Pepperdine Men’s Basketball is bright. AR THUR .PUU@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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

Waves rally against New Mexico, drop series to Gonzaga

Baseball went 2-2 last week and started West Coast Conference play joa nna C ab al q uitno A s s istant s por ts e dit or The Waves are in full swing in their 2018 campaign. After rallying from a seven-run deficit against New Mexico to win 11-7 on Tuesday, March 13, Pepperdine traveled to Gonzaga, but dropped two out of the three games in Spokane between March 16 to 18. After the weekend series against Gonzaga, the Waves have an overall season record of 9-11 with a conference record of 1-2. In the game against New Mexico, the Lobos took an early lead with two runs on two hits in the first inning before picking up another in the third to go up 3-0. New Mexico continued their strong offensive display with four runs in the fifth for 7-0 lead, but the Waves managed to hold them from there. The Waves started their attack in the bottom of the sixth with three runs off two hits. Redshirt junior infielder Chase Lambert singled to left field and advanced to second when New Mexico walked sophomore infielder Quincy McAfee. Redshirt junior outfielder Jordan Qsar, who totaled seven RBI’s throughout the game, finished off the inning with with a threerun home run to right center, closing the seven run gap between the two teams to only four. The Waves managed to pick up another run in the seventh with a triple by Lambert bringing in freshman outfielder Mike Malinchak, who reached first on a walk. “I always have a similar approach when I go up to the plate,” Qsar said. “I came up after guys that got on base, worked the count and put some pressure on the pitcher. Early in the count, I definitely look for something hard in the middle of the plate. I’m just glad I got pitches to hit and didn’t miss them.” The Waves continued to capitalize off of walks

Photos by Joanna Cabalquinto Coming Back Home | Junior outfielder Matthew Kanfer is greeted by the team as makes he his way back to the dugout after hitting a solo homerun in the bottom of the eighth. Kanfer’s homerun was the the spark that started Pepperdine’s seven-run rally. bringing in seven runs in the bottom of the eighth on only four hits. Junior outfielder Matthew Kanfer started the rally with a solo homerun to left field. Junior outfielder Cory Wills got on with a walk and advanced to second as Malinchak walked onto first behind him. Both runners moved into scoring position when New Mexico walked yet another Wave, sophomore infielder Aharon Modlin, loading the bases for redshirt senior catcher Dempsey Grover who came in to pinch hit for freshman infielder Dante Faicchio. Grover doubled down the left field line bringing in both Malinchak and Wills and leaving Modlin on third. McAfee got on with another walk. Qsar delivered with a grand slam to end the game with a score of 11-7. “I think the team showed a ton of character

and a ton of fight being down seven to nothing to a good team,” Assistant Coach Cooper Fouts said. “I think it took awhile for our bats to get started because our swings were a little too big. We tried to do too much early. We had better at bats late. We were were taking some walks and put better swings together. It was just one of those days where we needed to settle in a little bit and have a better approach at times.” Three days after their impressive comeback, the Waves played in their West Coast Conference opener against Gonzaga. Unfortunately, the Waves couldn’t carry their momentum and dropped the game in a tough 1-0 loss. The game was a pitcher’s duel. Sophomore pitcher Wil Jensen started on the mound for the Waves and gave up no runs with five strikeouts during the five innings

Big Hitter | Jordan Qsar high-fives Michael Mahoney after hitting one of two home runs against New Mexico on March 13. Qsar notched seven RBIs.

he pitched. The Waves had a couple of good hits, but couldn’t score. Freshman pitcher Jeremy Farraye gave up one unearned run in the bottom of the eighth after a runner reached on an error. Despite their strong defense, the Waves fell short on offense. In the second game, the Waves flipped their fortunes and woke up their bats, winning 11-8. The Waves scored early in the game picking up two runs during the top of the first. However, Gonzaga answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning picking up two more runs in the bottom of the third for a score of 3-2. The Waves quickly regained their lead with two runs of their own in the fourth for a score of 4-3. Gonzaga got another run in the fourth before the Waves cracked their offense open with six

runs in the fifth for a 10-4 lead. The Bulldogs fought back and garnered three more runs by the seventh closing in on the Waves’ lead at 10-7. Despite Gonzaga’s efforts, the Waves refused to allow them to catch up taking another run in the eighth, 11-7. Gonzaga couldn’t deliver during the last at bats. They managed to get another run but it wasn’t enough to close the gap. The game ended in a win for the Waves with a final score of 11-8. Qsar finished with 4 RBIs while Kanfer and Malinchak followed behind him with two RBIs each. Unfortunately the Waves dropped their last game of the series against Gonzaga in a 7-0 loss. Both teams were held at zero until the seventh when Gonzaga scored five runs in bottom of the inning against junior pitcher Jonathan Pendergast. Gonzaga then

picked up two more runs in the eighth off of redshirt sophomore pitcher Benjamin Slattery. The Waves only totaled five hits throughout the game and left six runners on. Regardless of their record, the Waves come ready to fight. They use their losses as a way to propel themselves towards the next game by using it as a learning experience. “I love our team and the spirit and character we have,” Assistant Coach Cooper Fouts said. “We do a good job of competing and battling. I think the biggest thing with our guys is that they truly love being around each other.” Up next, the Waves travel to Los Angeles to take on Loyola Marymount, with the threegame series beginning Friday, March 23 at 7 p.m. JOANNA.C ABAL QUINTO@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Sticking Together | Cory Wills got around to third base with three consecutive walks by New Mexico and was hit in by pinch hitter Dempsey Grover.

mar ch 22, 2018

The Graphic

pep p e rd in e - g ra p h ic.co m

SPORTS

SWEEPSTAKES

Photo by Arthur Puu Block Party | From left to right, David Wieczorek, Max Chamberlain and Colby Harriman rise up together for a block in Thursday’s game against No. 14 University of Concorida-Irvine. Led by Chamberlain’s seven blocks, Pepperdine put the clamps down on defense and swept the Eagles in three sets.

Men’s Volleyball closes the weekend with three-game win streak ar t hur puu s por ts edi tor No. 7 Pepperdine Men’s Volleyball took care of business with three games in four days, defeating No. 14 Concordia-Irvine 3-0 on Thursday, March 15, No. 13 Grand Canyon 3-0 on Saturday, March 17 and closed the weekend off with a huge 3-1 upset over No. 3 Hawaii on Sunday, March 18. Pepperdine took eight consecutive set victories, sweeping the first two games and taking the first two sets against the Warriors on Sunday. With the three-game win streak, the Waves are now 13-6 and 7-3 at home. “We just have to keep playing our game, but most importantly, defend home court,” redshirt freshman setter Robert Mullahey said. “With the end of the regular season coming up, we just have to be ready to face the challenges and take things point by point.” In the first game against Concordia-Irvine on Thursday, March 15, the Waves’ offense was rolling, sweeping the Eagles in straight sets. Redshirt junior outside hitter David Wieczorek led the Waves with 12 kills and a career-high six service aces and ju-

nior middle blocker Max Chamberlain had seven blocks. “We just had to get out in front early and keep that momentum rolling,” Wieczorek said. “We executed on the opportunities we got and it helped us to get the upper hand.” The Waves’ offense began the match on fire, jumping out to an 8-2 lead off a kill by Wieczorek. The Eagles cut the lead to three, 10-7, but the Pepperdine’s offense continued to roll, extending the lead to double digits, 21-11 before taking set one, 25-15. Pepperdine’s defense came out in the second with huge plays, including a monster block by Wexter and senior outside hitter Alex Harthaller to go up 6-2. The Waves took a 7-2 run to stretch the lead 14-6 before capping the set with a 5-1 run off a block by Wieczorek and Chamberlain to take set two, 25-16 to go up 2-0. The Waves took first blood, jumping out to a 7-3 lead off a kill by senior outside hitter Colby Harriman in the third set. The Eagles stormed back to even the score at 10 and battled the Waves late before Pepperdine took a late 6-2 run before clinching the sweep with a 25-23 set victory. Mullahey orchestrated the offense with 30

assists and Harthaller added nine kills and five blocks. Set-by-set Scoring (vs. No. 14 Concordia-Irvine): Set 1: 25-15 (PEPP 1-0) Set 2: 25-16 (PEPP 2-0) Set 3: 25-23 (PEPP 3-0)

In the second match against GCU, the Waves offense continued to stay hot behind Wieczorek, Harthaller and Harriman, who all posted double-figure kills in a 3-0 sweep. Wieczorek had 15 kills on the evening to lead the Waves while Harriman and Harthaller had 13 and 12 respectively. Pepperdine came out white-hot, putting together a 16-9 lead in the first set. Grand Canyon cut the lead down to four, 20-16, but the Waves finished the set on a 5-2 run to secure set one, 25-18. The Waves and Antelopes fought in a close battle for much of the second set, but Wieczorek caught fire late to lead a 9-3 run that gave Pepperdine a 25-19 set two victory to go up 2-0. In the third set, Grand Canyon and Pepperdine traded the lead early, 1010, but Wieczorek again got hot to give the Waves a 20-14 lead. A balanced effort on both sides of the ball clinched the sweep for the Waves with a 25-20 set victory.

Mullahey again orchestrated the offense with 33 assists on the night and Wexter added four blocks.

Set-by-set Scoring (vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon): Set 1: 25-18 (PEPP 1-0) Set 2: 25-19 (PEPP 2-0) Set 3: 25-20 (PEPP 3-0) Pepperdine faced their toughest challenge of the weekend against No. 3 Hawaii on Sunday night, but defended home court in a 3-1 upset win. Wieczorek’s season-high 22 kills and Harthaller’s first career double-double (14 kills and 11 digs) fueled the Waves to the victory. “Our team did everything very well,” Harthaller said. “Whether it be contesting the opposition at the net to setting each other up for the right play, it was a total team effort.” The Waves got the upper hand early, jumping out to a 10-8 lead in the first set, before taking a huge 7-2 run to go up 20-13. Hawaii rallied to force extras, but Harriman and Wieczorek came up with clutch kills to give Pepperdine set one, 27-25. Wieczorek stayed hot on offense, keying a 4-0 personal run to give Pepperdine a 16-11 lead in the second. Harriman and Chamberlain put

together a string of kills late to lead the Waves to a 25-19 set two victory to go up 2-0. Both teams fought in a close one to begin the third set, but Hawaii took a slim 20-17 lead down the stretch. The Waves kept the score close, but the Warriors was able to hold off the home team, 25-22 to cut it to 2-1. The Warriors took an early 7-4 lead in the fourth, but Chamberlain came alive to key an 11-3 run to give Pepperdine a double digit lead. The Warriors trimmed the lead to four, but Wieczorek came up big in the clutch to give Pepperdine a 25-20 victory to win the match. Mullahey had 49 assists and five digs and freshman libero Spencer Wickens had 8 digs off the bench. “This was a tough test for us,” Mullahey said. “However, we stuck to the game plan of being aggressive and keep attacking, played great defense and communicated well and those little things led to the win.” Set-by-set Scoring (vs. No. 3 Hawaii): Set 1: 27-25 (PEPP 1-0) Set 2: 25-19 (PEPP 2-0) Set 3: 25-22 (PEPP 2-1) Set 4: 25-20 (PEPP 3-1) Quotables: On season-high 22 kills: “Credit to Rob [Mullahey]

for actively looking for me and giving great opportunities to help my team put points on the board,” Wieczorek said. “Mullahey sets us all up for success, but our offense has looked really great with him setting.” On first career double-double: “I’m surprised it took so long,” Harthaller said. “Whether it be kills, digs, blocks or assists, I’ll do anything the team needs me to do for us to get the win.” On the three games in four days: “This was definitely one of our tougher tests of the season, but it’s all about taking care of ourselves and preparing for the next match,” Mullahey said. “Although we battled some fatigue, coach really helped us stay focus on fighting and staying hungry, especially with us at home.” On the upcoming weeklong break: “Couldn’t have come any sooner,” Harriman said. “However, we still have work to do against USC [BYU and Stanford] in the coming weeks, so we just have to get ourselves ready to finish the season off strong. Up next, Pepperdine will have the week off before facing USC in the final road game of the regular season on Thursday, March 29 at 7 p.m.

AR THUR .PUU@PEPPER DINE.EDU