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THE PEPPERDINE GRAPHIC Volume LII
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Issue 5
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January 20, 2023
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pepperdine-graphic.com
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Letter to the Editor
Summer program takes a pause for summer 2023 Tanya Yarian Life & Arts Editor With the start of the spring semester, some students have departed for their study abroad location or plan to depart this summer — but with one fewer program running. Pepperdine is not offering the summer Jordan Program for 2023 due to the circumstances of COVID-19 and the volume of COVID cases in summer 2022, Ron Cox, interim dean of International Programs, said. Cox said Pepperdine has not canceled the Jordan program permanently and hopes to operate it again in summer 2024 — a decision he made with Don DeGraaf, senior director of Educational Programs for Council for Christian Colleges and Universities GlobalEd. Pepperdine partners with this organization to run the program in Amman, Jordan. “We had a really difficult time this year, and we needed to slow down and make sure that we were better prepared
for a post-pandemic operation of the program on both sides,” Cox said. “And so, we’re in that process of figuring that out.” With 80% of students studying abroad through Pepperdine University’s IP, students have the opportunity for new experiences and adventures, according to Pepperdine’s IP website. The University offers seven semester and year-long programs, six campus-based summer programs, five summer faculty-led programs and two internship programs. Cox said he and the IP office worked closely with CCCU GlobalEd and the Middle East Studies Program to best serve students’ needs. DeGraaf said the number of students who tested positive for COVID overwhelmed the COVID protocols they had in place to serve students. Although one protocol was for DeGraaf to fly to Jordan in case of any emergency, he tested positive for COVID while he was in the U.S. and could not travel to Jordan. Cox said Pepperdine sent
Former chaplain Shaya Aguilar shares Letter to the Editor
Photos courtesy of Serena Woon Students in the Pepperdine University Jordan summer 2022 program ride on camels in Wadi Rum, a desert and historical site. The program included several excursions to expose students to the culture and history of Jordan.
two staff members to Jordan to help combat the COVID cases — former Dean of IP Beth Laux and Lausanne Associate Director Mark Barneche. DeGraaf said a number of health concerns within the program also contributed to the decision to not operate the program this summer. “It was like the perfect storm that came together that made things more difficult,” DeGraaf said. Junior Serena Woon was one
Pepperdine debate team reimagines debate
See DEBATE | B3
THE WAVES REPORT
See JORDAN | A3
Maxwell Lewis shoots his shot in his sophomore season
Milena D’Andrea Staff Writer The Pepperdine Waves Debate team is reimagining what debate can be by focusing on diversity, teaching and learning. Student leaders from the team shared the benefits of debate and explained how students can get involved in the club.
of the first students in Jordan summer 2022 who tested positive for COVID. She said she decided to attend the Jordan program because she wanted to visit the country while she was still young in her faith journey. Woon said she could not have traveled on her own due to her lack of knowledge of Jordan’s cultural and language differences.
Jerry Jiang Sports Editor
Colton Rubsamen | Staff Photographer Pepperdine Men’s Basketball sophomore forward Maxwell Lewis rises up for a jumper versus Rice University on Nov. 7, at Firestone Fieldhouse. Lewis eclipsed his then-career high of 29 points, when he scored 30 points versus Pacific on Jan. 7.
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In light of Christina Littlefield’s letter that was made public to the Pepperdine community in September, the Graphic article released on the Hub 2.0 on Oct. 2, and Olivia Robinson’s article released after her resignation from the Hub for Spiritual Life on Oct. 12, I am compelled to speak on behalf of my own experiences as a former assistant chaplain in the Hub for Spiritual Life. I have not spoken up prior to my resignation from the University on Jan. 3, 2023. However, since I resigned from the Hub for Spiritual Life on Aug. 1 and transitioned into a role in Student Affairs, there has been a lot of speculation concerning the changes in leadership that occurred over the summer, less than one year after the Hub for Spiritual Life was established.
Pepperdine Men’s Basketball spent a week in Costa Rica over the summer of 2022 supporting local youth organizations. The team also played the Costa Rica National Team in a summer league scrimage game. During the game, sophomore forward Maxwell Lewis
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See LETTER | A9 saw a lane open in transition. Two dribbles later, the Las Vegas native was flexing over his defender while the bench was doing the “on his head” celebration — indicating a poster had occurred. Lewis’ dunk went viral — amassing a little over 700 likes — and took the attention of scouts. “I think that just set the tone for the whole year really,” Lewis said. “I just caught the ball on the wing, and I saw a defender, and it was an instinct. I didn’t even think about it; it just happened.”
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See MAXWELL | B9
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