Volume 64 | Issue 7 | January 27, 2017
Mt. Rubidoux sees renovations to beautify its trails – Weather conditions prompted city officials to close part of the trails for renovations.
N E W S , pg. 3
Men's basketball all-time career scoring record snapped by Smith – Michael Smith sets a new record and goes down in Lancer history.
S P O R T S , pg. 9
“
This major will also allow me the opportunity to live out God’s mission and serve others in my future profession.I eventually want to turn my future job into a mission-based profession.” Student uses past experiences to inspire others.
L I F E S T Y L E , p g. 57
Jacob Gonzalez | Athletics
Left to right: Kent Dacus, vice president of Enrollment and Student Services, Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, university president, Jeff Hurd, commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference, and Dr. Micah Parker, director of Athletics, present the Western Athletic Conference banner to the press. The move comes after a five-year NCAA Division II and PacWest Conference run. California Baptist University is set to officially make the move to Division I in June 2018.
Athletics moves to NCAA Division I, joins Western Athletic Conference new conference. “We have staff who are experienced in Division I,” Parker said. “We are excited about the future of our Events Center and the opportunities for the community.” Parker said the move will expose CBU to more prospective student-athletes. Additionally, Hurd said the move adds another presence
in Southern California to represent the WAC. Parker said the future of CBU athletics and the CBU community looks bright. “We do not have to add sports with this move,” Parker said. “We are looking to add and improve on our facilities.” CBU is currently a member of the DII PacWest Conference and will transition in 2018.
Aviation student killed in heroic, selfless act
University remembers Wanda Price
BY JEFF KISSEL
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR California Baptist University athletics announced Jan. 13 the acceptance of the invitation to join the Western Athletic Conference as part of a move to NCAA Division I. Dr. Ronald Ellis, president of CBU, Dr. Micah Parker, director of Athletics, Kent Dacus,
vice president for Enrollment and Student Services, and Jeff Hurd, commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference, held a joint news conference regarding the move. “This is a ‘wow’ day for me,” Ellis said. “When you look at the history of an institution, we can consider these milestones that are accomplished. We are at this moment right now where we
need to take the next step.” Ellis reported that the WAC acceptance will pave the way into CBU becoming a NCAA Division I university in June 2018. Hurd said the WAC has been in existence for about 55 years. He noted the WAC brand is filled with superior programs. “As we continue to grow, we continue to improve as a
Editors Note: What follows is a first-hand account of the death of SSgt. Enrico Rojo, which occurred Dec. 19. The account was sent to the editors via email by Mary Jane Medina, the sister of Michelle Medina, Rojo’s fiancee. It is with great honor that The Banner is able to share the story of the heroic actions of Rojo. Original email has been edited for length and clarity. To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to you to share my story about a brave individual that passed away Dec. 19, 2016 at 2 a.m., trying to save the lives of others. I am sharing my story about my (future) brother-in-law, Enrico Antonio Rojo, 29-year-old senior aviation unmanned systems major, staff sergeant, E-6 rank in the U.S. Marine Corps, a veteran. About 1 a.m. he and his fiancée, Michelle Medina, 34-yearold senior aviation inflight services major, were on their way to Los Angeles International Airport. I was in the back seat
Courtesy of Mary Jane Medina
Enrico Rojo, senior unmanned aircraft systems major, died after being hit by an oncoming vehicle while trying to save others at the scene of an accident. with my dad, who came along to help drop them off at the airport and drive their car back home to Palm Springs. Around the Loma Linda area, we witnessed a car rolling
over five to six times on highway 10 right before our eyes — front and center. Enrico told Michelle, who was driving, to pull over. “There’s people still in that
conference,” Hurd said. “We carry out that brand not just in the conference, but also throughout the rest of the country as well.” Talks of the move to the WAC began in the summer of 2016, which led to a campus visit in early September. Parker said the CBU athletics staff should have an easy transition into the
car and they need our help,” Enrico said. He quickly jumped out of the car, tried to stop oncoming traffic with hand gestures so he could rush to where the car had turned over. A semi-trunk stopped and was parked on the first (slower) lane (starting from the right side of the freeway). Another car stopped in the second lane and another car stopped in the third lane — every car stopped and put their hazards lights on. I saw Enrico bend down to a crawling position and heard him yell, “Hello? Is everyone all right?” I was shocked and in disbelief over what I just saw. It felt like a real-life scene from a movie clip. I was shaking as I called 911. While I was on the phone, I heard a loud thud and my sister was screaming, asking where Rico was because we were not able to see him at the crash site near the overturned car. I looked around and could see a body that lay on the free-
way cement about a quarter mile in a distance — far, very far. A car had hit him and he flew far, with such great distance. We ran to Enrico and the 911 dispatcher asked if anyone knew CPR. I told her I did, and she instructed me to start CPR. I felt for his radial pulse; no pulse was felt. I felt for his carotid pulse; no pulse was felt. My hands were cold and I was frustrated that I was not able to feel a pulse, but I thought, “Maybe it is just weak and faint and I cannot feel it because my hands are so cold.” I quickly put the 911 dispatcher on speaker, laid my phone down on the cold freeway cement next to me and started chest compressions. After 30 compressions I instructed my sister, Michelle, to breathe two breaths as I helped position his head. I was able to do about 90 chest compressions before an officer or sheriff arrived to take over, but it was evident to me
SEE ENRICO | PAGE 2
BY HANNAH TAMIMI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
“It’s no fun hugging yourself,” Wanda Price said in an interview with The Banner nearly 28 years ago. To California Baptist University, Price was a jack-of-all-trades and a master of them all. Price, who died Dec. 7, 2016, at age 87, leaves behind a legacy at CBU that will forever be plated atop the café in the Eugene and Billie Yeager Center. Wanda’s Place, a legacy that is more than just a coffee shop, serves as a reminder of how much Price cared for the students of CBU. After beginning her career at CBU in 1965, Price began her journey of 47 years of service to the campus and the community within it. Beginning as the nursery director, Price followed
SEE PRICE | PAGE 3