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ROAR Network premieres new show “Talk It Out.”
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ON NI I P
It’s time to slow down and enjoy uncertainty.
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V o LU M E
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Mane gives LMU an all-access Lion’s pass to Josh Peck Den is
back in business
After two weeks, the studentrun coffee shop has reopened and is moving forward. Carly Barnhill
Asst. News Editor @carlyabarn
Talia Baugnon | Loyolan
Mane Entertainment hosted a night with childhood icon and actor Josh Peck on Tuesday, Oct. 28 in St. Robert’s Auditorium. The event was a question and answer session, and Peck answered the audience’s questions about funny moments in his acting career, Vine, “Drake and Josh” and “Red Dawn.” He was also in tune with the LMU community and its students, referencing many aspects of campus life. For more on the event, read Mo Haley’s story at laloyolan.com
Annual Fright Night kicks off Halloween Creare invites the LMU community to enjoy their Halloween service event. Amanda Lopez Asst. News Editor @amandalo
Creare service organization’s annual Fright Night, an event that invites children from surrounding schools to visit LMU for Halloween festivities, will be held today in Sunken Garden from 3-6 p.m. Fright Night, which has taken place for at LMU over 20 years, is Creare’s annual philanthropy event. The event has been hosted by Campus Ministry in the past, but was taken over by Creare four years ago. Since then, Creare has hosted Fright Night, and last year it partnered with the Resident Housing Association (RHA) in the planning and organizing of the event. This year, over 300 elementary school students from nearby schools and centers like Urban Compass, Dolores Mission, Good Shepherd Shelter and 186th Street School will attend. Tonight’s Fright Night
will be different from those of past years, as there will be more schools, students and volunteers than ever before. McCall Richards, a senior dance major who is the Special Projects Chair for Creare, shared what LMU and the visiting children should expect from Fright Night. “The goal of Fright Night is to get the LMU student community together and encompass the Jesuit value of men and women with and for others. Fright Night invites children to our campus to enjoy a fun and safe Halloween,” she said. “These kids live and go to school in neighborhoods that are unsafe for them to have a traditional trick-or-treat Halloween. The LMU student community leads activities that promote creativity, learning and just plain old fun.” The kids will be able to participate in a variety of activities, including bobbing for apples, arts and crafts, a ring toss, coloring, potato sack races, mask making and a haunted mansion in the Center for Service and Action. Service organizations, Greek life, athletics and Campus Ministry will all have activity stations that promote creativity, learning See Fright Night | Page 3
The Lion’s Den reopened yesterday at 7:30 a.m. after being closed for two weeks. The Den was closed indefinitely two weeks ago pending the investigation of alcohol consumption on the job by student staff members. Students were notified of the closure with a sign on the door, and Director of Campus Recreation Trey Duval confirmed that the closure was due to the investigation. Duval explained that Campus Recreation would conduct interviews with all 53 student staff members during the closure in order to collect more information about the situation. Throughout the time that the Den was closed, Campus Recreation met with each student staff member individually, according to Duval. The interview process lasted until the end of last week; following this, authorities made a final decision about moving forward with the Den. Duval declined to comment on the employmen status of the student employees due to confidentiality reasons, but mentioned that a number of staff members were held accountable. Students were informed of the reopening of the Den through an update on the Lion’s Den Facebook page on Tuesday See Lion’s Den | Page 3
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DPS responds to recent car burglaries in U-Hall garage Three burglaries in the P2 U-Hall garage were reported to DPS. Julia Sacco News Editor
@_JuliaSacco_
There have been multiple automobile burglaries in the University Hall parking garages recently, prompting the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to investigate the situation and warn students of the potential hazards of leaving valuable items in cars and in plain sight. According to a news bulletin posted by DPS, three forced entry burglaries were reported on campus on Oct. 20. The bulletin stated, “the Department of Public Safety has received three reports of burglaries inside University Hall Parking Garage, level P2. These vehicle burglaries occurred
sometime in the morning hours of Oct. 20, 2014.” The DPS bulletin also urged students to keep valuable items with them, to always lock the doors of their vehicles and to inform DPS of any suspicious activity. DPS Chief Hampton Cantrell commented that the string of burglaries was most likely a one-time occurrence and not by a student. “The windows of the three automobiles were smashed, and we suspect that an intruder or intruders came onto campus to [commit the burglaries]. We don’t think [it was a student],” Cantrell said. “They were looking for items in the vehicles, and we know that in one car a MacBook Pro was in plain sight, and they took advantage of that.” Assistant Chief of DPS Patricia Coffelt added that there was no other unusual increase in car burglaries, so it is suspected that it was a one-
time theft by an intruder on campus. “I haven’t seen any significant increase of somebody on campus roaming around [and] burglarizing. There is no pattern of that at this point other than the three reported,” Coffelt said. DPS is urging students and faculty on campus to hide valuable items and keep them out of sight from potential intruders. “Follow the campaign that the Los Angeles Police Department has: ‘hide it, lock it, keep it,’” Cantrell said. In response to these recent burglaries, according to Chief Cantrell, DPS has increased its patrolling of the University Hall parking lots to protect the property of students and staff. However, it is still necessary to take preventative measures such as those put forth by DPS and LAPD in order to avoid future burglaries and keep the property of students and faculty safe.
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BURNING QUESTIONS
This issue, News This issue,Julia Managing Editor Sacco Editor Dan Raffety sits down with junior sits downscience with Head political major Coach Max Good, Giovanna Cano, head of the whocoach is petitioning LMU’s men’s basketball to start offering an team to talk about the Arabic course at upcoming season. LMU.
1
What was your experience like on your Alternative Break trip to Jordan?
The AB trip was very life-changing. I think about it every single day. I think about going back to Jordan and working with refugees and everything because that was the focus of the trip. Now I am thinking about maybe possibly working with refugees and have been looking at places that help refugees in my hometown. So I’ve been trying to get more involved in it, as much as possible.
2
What made you want to start an Arabic program here at LMU?
So for AB we need to come up with post-action and the whole group was throwing around ideas, like trying to get maybe [a] Middle Eastern Studies minor or department. One of the other big ones was trying to get a refugee simulation camp to get students involved and get what it’s like to be a refugee.
3
How do you think the program will benefit the campus?
We offer a lot of great languages here. We offer a lot of languages that are spoken in different countries. So I think it would be a very good addition to the language department.
4
Was your experience in Jordan what prompted you to start this petition?
It was. Even before […] I came to LMU, I wanted to learn a different language, and I thought Arabic would be cool. When we came back from Jordan, we kind of saw how important it is as a language because it’s used in businesses, international security and a lot of trade and stuff. It’s a useful language.
Why do you think LMU students should learn Arabic?
5
People here love to learn, so I thought a lot of people might be interested in learning a new language.
6
Do you plan to go back to Jordan?
I would love to go back to Jordan. I want to possibly work there in the future sometime.
What is one thing you want to do before you graduate LMU?
To hell with candy.
Take Arabic at LMU [laugh].
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Creare and RHA ‘a stronger Lion’s Den team’ host Fright Night Lion’s Den from Page 1
Fright Night from Page 1
and community building for the students at Fright Night. There will also be student volunteers at the event from various organizations on campus. Volunteers have a range of opportunities; they may lead a group of students to different activities at the event, serve food provided by Sodexo to the kids or help with the set up and decoration of the haunted house. Richards has planned Fright Night every year since she was a freshman. She shared that Creare and RHA have been planning this event since August and hope that the event will be bigger and better than ever. “Being that this is my last time hosting Fright Night, I want to go out with a bang! We have more people coming than ever before. Six schools are coming. We have over 40 activity booths. Iggy will be there. And who doesn’t enjoy a haunted mansion?” she said. “My favorite part of it all is seeing everything come together the day of. The fact that [the] LMU student community can coordinate and come together to make this amazing event each year never ceases to amaze me. And the kids love it. I know we’ve done a good job when I see their smiling, excited faces
as they enter.” Leslie Ortega, a sophomore liberal studies major in Creare who will be in charge of the event once Richards graduates, expressed how she is looking forward to Fright Night. “I’m most looking forward to seeing the LMU community come together to provide a safe Halloween for the kids. I just can’t wait to see the kids having a great time,” she said. Richards further explained why she thinks celebrating Fright Night is important for both the LMU community and the visiting students. “I think Fright Night is important because it is a chance for the LMU student community to come together and work for a good cause. Some of these kids don’t get a lot of the same opportunities that other schools’ students do, and they deal with many things that children shouldn’t have to deal with. Fright Night is a nice way for them to escape from that and just have some fun,” she said. Richards is excited that Fright Night is finally here, as Creare and RHA have been organizing and preparing for countless hours. All are excited to don Halloween costumes and provide a fun night for the children who attend.
afternoon. The post also mentioned that in upcoming weeks, the Den will have “special offers and giveaways” for customers. Duval mentioned that this idea is a gesture of appreciation to the LMU community for dealing with the closure of the Den for the past two weeks. Assistant Director of Campus Recreation, Carolyn Espinoza,
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stated that while her comments were limited due to confidentiality, she is “excited for the future of the Lion’s Den.” “This process wasn’t easy for anyone, but I’m hopeful that we can be a stronger Lion’s Den team going forward,” said Espinoza. “Our focus now is on the future and doing our best to serve the LMU community.” Duval confirmed that the Den
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is still a student-run coffee shop, and that nothing about the Den will change as far as its operation or its service to LMU. “We are very appreciative to the LMU community for bearing with us as we went through this process,” said Duval. “We hope that everyone comes back [...] , and we will continue to do our best to provide quality service and a great facility to the campus.”
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On Campus Muevelo 11/14 in Roski’s! On Friday, November 14th in Roski’s, Latino Student Union will be hosting Muevelo, a semi formal dance, filled with a variety of Latin music and hip hop! All proceeds will go to LMU’s Upward Bound program. Pre sale tickets start at $10! SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15th ó 7:00pm-9:00pm ó 8331 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles 90036. Redemption Song: an interfaith benefit concert for the art of recovery. Proceeds go to Beit T’Shuvah and Homeboy Industries. More info at LAartRising.com
LION SPORTS
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Board Editorial Zaneta Pereira Editor in Chief
Chelsea Chenelle
Digital Managing Editor
Allie Heck
Print Managing Editor
Board Editorials represent the voice of the Loyolan. They are written in collaboration by the Executive Editorial Board.
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opinion
Recent reports on Pope’s evolution comment highlight media distortion LION
SPORTS
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ope Francis has done it again. Or has he? The countless Facebook articles almost had us fooled, but just as we were about to draft a board editorial about how cool the Pope is for coming out in support of evolution, we did some more research and found out something much more interesting: the media has, yet again, blown things out of proportion. While it may be the case that Evangelicals, and other Christian denominations, deny the theory of evolution and the Big Bang, Catholics have been on board with science for the better part of the 20th century. Addressing the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope Francis stated that evolution and the Big Bang theory do not go against church doctrine, and that God is not a “magician with a magic wand,” contrary to popular belief. His comments sent the media into a fervor, as seems to happen almost every time he speaks publicly. An MSNBC piece stated, “Pope Francis made a significant rhetorical break with Catholic tradition Monday by declaring that the theories of evolution and the Big Bang are real.” Yet few articles addressed the fact that in a 1950 papal encyclical, Pope Pius XII stated that evolution and Catholicism were not opposed to each other. Also ignored were Pope John Paul II’s comments that evolution was more than a theory, and that the human body had evolved. Are we shocked? No. All too often the Catholic Church gets a bad rap, and while some of that reputation is deserved, it is not the hatemongering, anti-science institution that so many people have made it out to be. In fact, as reported in the TIME article “Sorry, But Media Coverage of Pope Francis is Papal Bull,” the Big Bang Theory was created by Georges Lemaître, a Belgian cosmologist – and a Catholic priest. But this issue brings up a trend that surpasses
just how we talk about the Church. The lack of journalistic integrity in how this story was covered is shocking. As news organizations focus more on the click and less on the content, it is no surprise that so many headlines referencing Pope Francis pin him as a rogue, loose canon pope. This is the second time in this month alone that misleading coverage of papal addresses got us excited, only to let us down. This is “Pope Francis loves LGBT Community” part two. On a college campus like LMU, much of the news we’re exposed to is viral. The stories we see based on trending topics are what our friends retweet or share on their Timelines. The inept reporting even reputable sources have displayed when covering Pope Francis should serve as a warning not to accept viral stories without doing a little more research. With this evolution issue, a simple Google search was all it took to turn up more accurate representations of the Catholic Church’s historical position on evolution. In a world where we have all become news sources due to the information we endorse and disseminate through social media, everyone has a responsibility to ensure that what we spread is accurate. At the Loyolan, accuracy is the cornerstone we return to time and again. When we review all content we publish – every headline, every caption and every tweet – complete accuracy is what we aim for. Yes, we sometimes make mistakes. But when we do, we make sure to run corrections to ensure that the accurate information is made public. So before you share that story you saw on your friend’s page, take a moment to evaluate the information you’re attaching to your name. Your validation may not be formal, but given the power of social media, it is significant. Don’t fall into the papal praise trap – make sure the stories you share are accurate.
21 thoughts on turning 21 in Vegas Hella Opinions Sam Borsos Staff Writer
@sborsos13
T
here comes a time in every person’s life when they pass over the threshold from girl to woman or boy to man. I consider this moment your 21st birthday. This weekend, I conquered my rite of passage in Las Vegas, the most stereotypical place possible. But, why try to deny the awesomeness of it? Although I didn’t steal Mike Tyson’s pet tiger or wake up on a rooftop, I still had a great time. Here are 21 thoughts that go through your mind on your 21st birthday. 1. I’m turning 21 at midnight. Can’t wait to have my first sip of alcohol! 2. Wait, I’m turning 21 at midnight. This is slightly terrifying. 3. People trust me to legally drink? I’m not emotionally prepared. 4. What should my first drink be? I have no idea what to order. I need something that says “I’m sophisticated, but I probably won’t remember ordering this later.” 5. I’ll probably go with a Scotch. What even is Scotch? Oh god, I have no idea what I’m doing. 6. Ten minutes until my birthday. If I can wait 21 years, I can wait 10 minutes. 7. This club is super crowded. I literally can’t move. The perks of being legal, I guess. 8. Five, four, three, two… 21! Best day ever. 9. I don’t even know what I ordered. It’s basically a house version of a Long Island Iced Tea. It’s probably better that I don’t know exactly what’s in it – gotta keep the mystery alive. 10. This is awesome. 11. This is better than the time I went
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Celebrating your 21st birthday in Vegas is a stereotype but for all the best reasons. to get a Kit Kat from the vending machine and two Kit Kats accidentally came out. So much better. 12. Time to dance. Luckily, I know all the words to this song. Don’t know what song it is, but it’s great. 13. If I had a slice of pizza in my hand this night would go from good to amazing. 14. Plot twist: I actually didn’t know any of the words to the song, as pointed out by the laughter around me. Whatever. It’s my birthday, I can belt out the wrong lyrics at the top of my lungs if I want to. 15. A bunch of giant confetti just came down from the ceiling, and it was magical. 16. Update: I may have accidentally
swallowed a big piece of confetti. I’m not sure. 17. Time for another drink or two. Or seven. Just kidding. Not really. 18. Time to go home. But first, pizza. 19. This is the best pizza of my life. Everything tastes better when you’re 21. 20. Oh my god, what’s going on? 21. Goodnight.
This is the opinion of Sam Borsos, a junior communication studies major from Palo Alto, California. Email comments to dfeldman@theloyolan.com.
The Los Angeles Loyolan, a student-run campus organization, publishes a twice weekly newspaper for the greater LMU community. The first copy is free of charge. Additional copies are $1 each. Paid, mailed subscriptions can be purchased through the Business department. The Loyolan accepts unsolicited letters from students, faculty, staff and alumni, and press releases from on-campus and off-campus organizations, but cannot guarantee publication. The Loyolan reserves the right to edit or reject all submissions, including advertisements, articles or other contributions it deems objectionable. The Loyolan does not print consecutive articles by the same author that repeat/refute the initial arguments. Opinions and ideas expressed in the Loyolan are those of individual authors, artists and student editors and are not those of Loyola Marymount University, its Board of Trustees, its student body or of newspaper advertisers. Board Editorials are unsigned and reflect the opinions of the Executive Editorial Board. Guest editorials are by invitation of the Executive Editorial Board and reflect the views of the author. All advertisements are subject to the current rates and policies in the most recent Advertising Rates and Information materials.
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opinion
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Universal, misogyny and Halloween, oh my! Audrey Liviakis Staff Writer
@LoyolanOpinion
B
y day, Universal Studios is home to little giggling tykes with goggles and toddlers that love fluffy unicorns. But by night, at Halloween time, the atmosphere takes a dramatic turn for the worse – I’m talking about babes in cages wearing naughty school girl costumes, flipping their skirts up to expose g-strings while grinding and sliding against their props. These ladies set the tone for the evening at the entrance of the park, but it doesn’t stop there. It’s Halloween Horror Nights, and the only things that seem to stalk you around the park are exotic dancers in fishnets. “From Dusk Till Dawn” is a maze that resembles an area plucked right out of San Francisco’s Tenderloin district – an area known for hypodermic needles lying all over the ground and prostitutes standing at every corner. At Universal it’s set up as a strip club with female vampires as the entertainment. A stylized busty brunette babe in a red bra is painted on a sign that advertises “The Twister” bar. The words “Topless” and “chicas, chicas, chicas” are illuminated in neon lights. Men and women file inside to see an exotic dancer in a black thong with a snake woven around
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A scantily clad female dancer dressed as a clown performs at Universal Studio’ s Halloween Horror Nights in 2012. her neck, grinding seductively to dramatic Latin ballads. Outside, huge projector screens display thirsty men watching women dance on tables. The projector screens appear again in the line for the “Alien v. Predator” maze. The cage dancers become larger than life on screen, this time with no thematic tie to the maze they’re in front of. It doesn’t matter what direction you’re facing; you’ll probably
have a booty either directly in your face or projected in the distance on a massive screen. The only safe place to rest your eyes is the sky, and that tends to strain the neck after a 50-minute wait. Big surprise – people did not choose that option. They were really getting into it. A female park-goer was focusing intently on trying to time her photo at the exact moment the grinding blonde flipped up her
skirt so that she could get the “perfect ass shot.” Another girl was taking a picture of her boyfriend with a dancer who was pouting her lips and pushing out her cleavage. When the female dancers took a break, two pudgy males in charge of crowd control took their places in the cages. Yes, they started grinding too. But as a joke, and only for a couple of minutes, while fully clothed in oversized
yellow T-shirts and pants. Then they started asking the crowd questions about the history of Universal Studios’ movies. They had a voice. The female dancers did not. We live in L.A. – a raging party vibe sells. But as I was standing there, I found myself feeling profoundly sad. Partly for the 13 year-old girls who were witness to this glorified misogyny, but mostly for the women in those cages. I am on board with the third wave feminism anti-slut shaming thing. Celebrating female sexual expression is empowering. I feel like I could rock stilettos and a sequin corset while feeling 100 percent competent and intelligent. But this felt like blatant sexism to me, perpetuated by exploitative and unnecessary choices by the park, as well as the park-goers who played along. But I found a part of myself even blaming the women themselves. Their participation was a choice, and they certainly weren’t shy about making the most of the attention. I frown upon celebrating sex work because it encourages valuing women solely for their bodies. I think all women should take offense to that, because it’s certainly not all we have to offer. I hate to see steps backward like this in 2014. This is the opinion of Audrey Liviakis, a senior communication studies major from Kentfield, California. Tweet comments to @LoyolanOpinon, or email dfeldman@ theloyolan.com.
Social justice is not to be ignored Sean Baba Contributor
@LoyolanOpinion
W
hile the Cardinals hosted the Giants in the National League Champion Series more than two weeks ago, a congregated protest inched toward St. Louis University, one of LMU’s sibling Jesuit universities. As most of the town focused on the Cardinals, they were unaware of this motley assembly of outsiders and students rallying in the heart of the SLU campus. The crowd populated the central Clock Tower Plaza, voicing messages of justice for Mike Brown, an unarmed teenager killed by police officers in Ferguson, Missouri. As enjoyable as baseball is, it is more important for us to engage with the social justice issues happening in Missouri and to be in solidarity with a Jesuit university that shares our values for the service of faith and the promotion of justice. In the same spirit that Belles and Magis service organizations boldly reflected on domestic violence and homelessness this month, SLU students confront the issues of police brutality and racial profiling before they step into their classrooms. The response of the SLU administration has been remarkably calm despite the turbulent streets in their neighborhood. In a message to the community, SLU President Fred Pestello wrote, “They
MCT Campus
A police officer warns a group of about 50 protesters conducting a sit-in protest in St. Louis on Oct. 12. arrived at our doorstep … It was our decision to not escalate the situation with any confrontation, especially since the protest was non-violent… To that end, our response has been non-confrontational and consistent with our mission.” (Unlike at SLU, such a situation would be unimaginable at LMU, equivalent to our Public Safety officers allowing hundreds of people to occupy Sunken Gar-
den or Alumni Mall. ) Facing the criticism of maintaining safety on campus, President Pestello’s decision is certainly courageous, if not motivated by openness and dialogue. It’s cringeworthy to remember that exactly three years ago videos surfaced on national news showing Public Safety officers at UC Davis pepper-spraying their own students, who were peace-
fully protesting the “1 percent” in the botched Occupy Movement. The contrast between SLU and UC Davis highlights the flexibility of our Jesuit education and tradition, and the need for our community to join the discourse. Los Angeles itself is not immune to the volatile issues of police brutality and racial profiling; 22 years is not long enough to forget Rodney King.
Just this past week, Los Angeles and five other major cities saw unexpected protests, more or less ignited by the events occurring in Ferguson, Missouri. About 15 miles from LMU, a few hundred people marched outside the LAPD headquarters, with faces of murdered loved ones accompanying the assembly on signs and banners. Though local news gives me the impression that these protests are real and happening in our city, LMU is oddly estranged by the Bluff, the blasé and the glamour that veil Los Angeles’ racism and historically abusive police force. It’s slightly worrisome that local protests have gone largely unnoticed, and for St. Louis, the sting of missing the World Series seems to eclipse the state’s local turmoil. However, it is most disturbing for our entire nation that racial profiling and police brutality continue to populate the mainstream media in such dramatic and uncouth ways. These don’t belong in the future I envision after I graduate. Surely, these issues are complex, and solutions will continue to stall. However, whatever opinion you hold, you cannot ignore a black teenager’s death at the hands of a law enforcement official, or its repercussions. Our generation of college students need not join the protest, but we should at least join the conversation.
This is the opinion of Sean Baba, a junior English and music double major from Gardena, California. Tweet comments to @LoyolanOpinon, or email dfeldman@ theloyolan.com.
opinion
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Forget the destination embrace the ride What the Heck Allie Heck
Print Managing Editor @allieheck1
L
ife is one big waiting game. That is one thing that I can say for sure, dusting off my hands and walking away, a bit bruised and a lot stronger, from 21 years of existence, most of it spent on metaphorical standby. We wait to grow up. We wait to go to college. We patiently wait to find our soulmate, who similarly waited for us. So why is it, then, that we have an unsettling urge to skip the stalling and rush into a career right out of college? Lately, when people ask me what I plan on doing after college, I’ve been answering whatever I’m considering at that moment. From going to law school to trying my hand at research, my answers vary, but the responses generally stay the same. The smart people, or maybe the sensitive people, tend to tread lightly, offering a simple “oh that’s nice” or “very cool.” But by and large, the older people who ask me that question tend to do one thing and one thing only: offer me some unwarranted advice. The advice ranges from explaining to me how saturated every job market is to just emphasizing how perfectly screwed I am. Let me tell
Georgia Henderson | Loyolan
you, if I had a job in awkwardly and politely responding to totally inappropriate advice given by close to complete strangers, I wouldn’t be in such trouble after all. But alas, here I am, up shit creek without a paddle and having to facilitate conversations far too regularly that end in me getting frustrated
Cartoons at Convo
A regular column featuring sketches of LMU students at Convo done by the Loyolan’s cartoon staff.
Kristen Pileri | Loyolan
Junior communication studies major Madelyn Morey takes a break to listen to the Bash Dogs perform on Alumni Mall during Convo.
and stressed at the prospect of not knowing what I want to do for the rest of my life. For me, coming to college was the next logical step in my life; it was expected of me. But coming to college – a wonderful opportunity that I do not take for granted – was still bittersweet. Mostly because the thought of living a linear, predestined life scares me more than anything. On the one hand, I love learning and love new experiences, but on the other hand, I can’t help but feel as though I’m buying into a lifestyle that I neither support nor desire – one that places emphasis on a very, very narrow definition of success. Nonetheless, I found myself at LMU, and my previous conceptions and speculations have been both confirmed and torn apart. I definitely have a newfound respect for higher education; I think that it is incredibly important in expanding your academic and emotional horizons. But I still have an incredible fear of following the
beaten path; thus, I disagree with the notion that this time in my life must be filled with prestigious internships amidst a ceaseless search for my dream career. Now, I’m not saying that we should all kick back, smoke a doobie and call it a day. That’s all fine and well, but me not knowing what I want to do with my life is not to be confused with me being apathetic or lazy. I am a highly motivated person, and I intend to stay that way. No matter where I go or what I do, I will be working; I just don’t think we college students need to be stressing about finding a long-term gig at this moment. I’m determined to wait patiently to find a career that fits my lifestyle, and I refuse to believe that it has to be the other way around. In a letter on the meaning of life to a friend from a young Hunter S. Thompson, one of the most influential authors of the 20th century, emphasized one of life’s most unavoidable choices: to float or to swim towards a decided goal – the former requiring faith and pa-
tience, the latter offering comfort, but far too often, unfulfillment upon attainment. “No one has to do something he doesn’t want to do for the rest of his life,” wrote Thompson. “But then again, if that’s what you wind up doing, by all means convince yourself that you had to do it. You’ll have lots of company.” So there it is. I’ve decided that I don’t need to know what I want to do with the rest of my life. I don’t even need to know what I want to do after college at this point, which is good because, in all honesty, I’m not even sure what I’m doing for Halloween. All I need to know is what I’m doing next and why. It’s paramount to have purpose and direction, but deciding on a destination when I’m just enjoying the ride seems downright foolish.
This is the opinion of Allie Heck, a junior environmental science major from Dallas, Texas. Tweet commaents to @LoyolanOpinion, or email dfeldman@theloyolan.com.
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Musician BANKS steps into the spotlight Nicolleptic Musings Nicolle Periola Life+Arts Intern
I
@LoyolanArts
n an industry full of college dropouts, Los Angeles based singer-songwriter BANKS has proven that an unsuccessful academic career in the music world is merely a stereotype. After receiving a degree in psychology from the University of Southern California, 26 year-old Jillian Banks pursued the career of her dreams – to be a successful musician. It has been about a year since BANKS released her first single, “Before I Ever Met You,” on SoundCloud. The singer, whose seductively moody voice layered over dark R&B electronics has garnered a great deal of attention in the industry, cites Fiona Apple and Lawryn Hill as her biggest influences. Prior to releasing any sort of music into the Internet’s abyss, BANKS spent years working on music in her San Fernando Valley childhood bedroom. After a friend gave her a toy keyboard to help deal with her parents’ divorce, BANKS began composing sounds that she would pair with emotionally charged original lyrics. Writing helped her deal with her feelings of frustration and loneliness, and she began to develop her own identity through her songs while taking comfort in them. Following 10 years of keeping her talent out of view from the public eye, her best friend Lily Collins sent the rough, unedit-
ed versions of her songs to Katy Perry’s DJ, Trevor Skeet. Skeet saw potential in BANKS’ expressively poignant R&B sound and became her manager. Soon enough, her career skyrocketed. Since her early days of releasing singles and EPs on SoundCloud, BANKS has performed as an opening act for the Weeknd’s fall 2013 tour, made an appearance in Indio for both weekends of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, released her debut full-length 18-track album, “Goddess,” won third place on BBC Radio 1’s “Sound of 2014” poll (Sam Smith won first) and completed her first-ever solo tour in the U.S. An L.A. native, BANKS has stayed close to her Southern California roots. She recently performed two sold-out shows at The Wiltern, one of which I had the pleasure of attending. It was my second time seeing the rising musician in the past year, and it was apparent how much BANKS’ fanbase has grown. At Coachella earlier this year, maneuvering to the front of the stage for her set was simply too easy. This time around, the tier of the venue closest to the stage was jam-packed with people more than eager to be within an arm’s reach of her. It wasn’t just the crowd that had changed, either. BANKS’ mysterious, fog-enhanced entrance to the stage exuded both confidence and sexiness. This came in stark contrast to her performance in Indio, where she seemed more timid and less sure of herself. The combination of BANKS’
via Harvest Records
L.A. native and up-and-coming musician BANKS released her first single, “Before I Ever Met You.” She recently performed at Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival and had two sold-out shows at The Wiltern. sultry voice, deep bass R&B production, carefully positioned spotlights and sensual dance moves, I admit, had me in awe. She opened with “Alibi,” a powerful ballad about a harmful relationship, immediately followed by some of her strongest singles, “Goddess” and “Brain.” Later, she established her versatility with a piano rendition of “Fall Over,” trailed by a slowed down version of “Warm Water.”
Both flaunted her soulfully commanding voice – not as evident on her studio record, due to layering and effects. Although the hype around BANKS has grown quickly, she remains grounded. “This is the venue where I saw Fiona Apple back in high school,” she reflected with tears in her eyes. “I still can’t believe this is happening.” While still fairly new to the music scene, BANKS has some
room for improvement – which will surely come with more experience. Keep an eye out for BANKS in the future; her rising success doesn’t seem to be losing momentum any time soon.
This is the opinion of Nicolle Periola, a junior humanities major from San Diego, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email ibabadjanian@theloyolan.com.
Director of ‘Mix-Up’ documentary talks cinema
via Alibi Productions
Françoise Romand, director of “Mix-Up ou Meli-melo,” visited LMU to discuss her documentary about two girls who were switched at birth.
SFTV screened the documentary “Mix-Up ou Meli-melo” for students. Lucy Pausz Contributor
@LoyolanArts
“We all belong to each other.” These are the final words in French director Françoise Romand’s documentary, “Mix-Up ou Meli-melo.” Romand visited LMU’s School of Film and Television on Monday, Oct. 27, as part of the annual Monday Night Series, where she screened the film
and sat down with Dean Stephen Ujlaki for a Q&A session with the audience. “Mix-Up ou Meli-melo,” released in 1986, tells the true story of two mothers, Margaret Wheeler and Blanche Rylatt, whose daughters, Val Wheeler and Peggy Rylatt, were switched at birth 50 years prior. Margaret always knew that the girls had been “mixed-up,” as she had given birth to a healthy baby and later received a premature one. Blanche refused to accept that Peggy wasn’t her child, and ignored Margaret’s attempts to find answers for many years, despite the fact that neither resembled their respective “mothers.” Once the girls were adults, however, the women finally told their daughters the truth. This is not your typical documentary, as there are no voiceovers or interviews. The camera does not move; rather, every individual walks into the frame. Both the Wheelers and the Rylatts are utilized as actors throughout the film, providing some comedic relief at critical times. And, despite the story taking place in England, a large part of the film is either in French or accompanied by French subtitles. Romand was very adamant that this story be told in a cinematic way to effectively convey what each family had to face. “There has to be a meaning in every frame,” Romand explained to the audience.
And there is definitely something unique about each shot. The first time Peggy’s little brother realizes that she’s not his sister, he’s only a boy hiding under a kitchen table. To reenact this exact moment, Romand had the brother, now an adult, climb under a similar table and describe the experience again. Romand doesn’t just tell the story; she manages to convey every possible emotion in only 60 minutes. The audience laughed when Peggy said she had all of
her kids at home “to be safe,” and cried when Val described how wonderful it felt to be in a place where she belonged. Freshman screenwriting major Megan Russell was glad to be part of the audience and share in the families’ story. “[Romand] was very successful in visually portraying [their] internal conflicts,” she said. Like the Wheelers and the Rylatts, “Mix-Up ou Meli-melo” and Romand’s artistic influence “belong to each other” as well.
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ROAR Network debuts latest show ‘Talk It Out’ Students of ROAR Network “Talk It Out” in their newest show with topics chosen by viewers. Karis Addo-Quaye Contributor
@LoyolanArts
While ROAR Network has always provided coverage of news and sports events, along with its comedy sketches, the most recent addition to the network has an entirely different vibe from its predecessors. “Talk It Out,” ROAR Network’s newest show, is something like a mix of “The View,” “The Talk” and “The Real.” The topics, however, are tailored specially for the LMU community. Three topics are “served” per episode, one of which is determined by viewers. A topic is selected by drawing from the “Chatter Box,” which holds slips of paper with suggestions sent in via ROAR Network’s Facebook page or from the comment section of the show’s YouTube channel. The topics range from pop culture issues, like risqué Halloween costumes and double standards of body image, to more LMU-specific subjects like the end of Convo. Junior communication studies major Drew Dorsey serves as the creator, director and producer of the show, as well as the current director of news content for all of ROAR Network under faculty supervisor Ashanti Blaize. Blaize highlighted the new program’s “use of social media to solicit topic ideas from LMU students. It really allows LMU students to feel as if they are a part of the show – like the sixth co-host – and hopefully that translates into an increase in ‘Talk It Out’s’ audience and the show’s engagement with students across LMU’s campus.” Between acquiring the filming permits, gathering the proper equipment and crew members for each shoot, co-editing with the show’s editor and running rehearsals, Dorsey could easily become stressed despite her easy-going disposition, but the project requires a lot of collaboration. Dorsey says, “I never like to take full credit because there is no way I could do this alone. It takes a team and lots of sugar to pull this show off.” Dorsey’s background includes writing scripts for Clevver Media, which helps her get the job done. With help from ROAR
via ROAR Network
The stars of Roar Network’s new talk show, “Talk it Out” includes (from left to right) freshman communication studies major Veronica Posadas, freshman communication studies major Hannah Kulik, freshman theatre arts major Nick Pugliese, freshman communication studies major Hira Srinivasan, and freshman theatre arts major Stacey Japhta. Network’s director of photography – sophomore film and television production major Nick Serabyn and the “Talk It Out” team, Dorsey’s hard work has paid off. The show has already gained traction with just over 680 views for the pilot episode, which premiered on Oct. 22. The brunch-style setting, filmed right on the third floor patio of Foley, gives off a laid-back, conversational and fun atmosphere. The idea is to present topics concerning college students and allow for discussion amongst actual college students, all while incorporating a brunch theme by using phrases like “first thing up on the menu for appetizers” and “be sure to make your reservation to tune in next time.” The stars of the show are freshman theatre arts majors Stacey Japhta and Nick Pugliese and freshman communication studies majors Hira Srinivasan, Hannah Kulik and Veronica Posadas. There is “really great chemistry” among
the hosts, who “instantly bonded,” according to host Srinivasan. Srinivasan’s passion for broadcasting and her experience as a host in high school led her to audition this past September, alongside her four co-hosts. Although she did not expect to land such a prominent position during her first year working with ROAR, Srinivasan considers “involvement with ROAR to be a good way to get into the field, make contacts and gain experience and exposure, especially when working with such a great team.” She added, “We all bonded over our mutual love of Beyoncé, selfies and food.” Set-up occurs an hour before filming and includes sound tests, camera adjustments and angling. Hosts are informed about the two pre-selected and timed topics beforehand, but to keep the conversation natural and reactions authentic, they are not allowed to discuss the topics until filming actually begins.
Despite just starting out, the “Talk It Out” team has not faced too many major roadblocks since production began. “We’ve noted many things that we can all collectively improve on, and we will continue to grow with each episode,” said Dorsey. “Personally, I know there is a grocery list of things I can improve on [as a first-time full-on producer and director]. There will never come a time when I say, ‘OK we’re good enough now; we can relax.’ No way – there is always room to jump higher.” “Talk It Out” offers viewers “a glimpse into what happens when you put a group of five opinionated personalities together to discuss topics that come across everyone’s mind – taboo or not. It’s raw, it’s fun and it gives students a voice,” said Dorsey. The show is planning to air a new episode every other week on ROAR Network’s YouTube channel.
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A new guilty pleasure drama with ‘The Royals’ Bianca Andrea Contributor
@LoyolanArts
“S
ex, drugs, rock and roll … and a whole lot of it,” Tom Austen, who plays the bodyguard-turned-love-interest to the princess, explained to me last week at a preview for “The Royals,” E!’s first hour-long scripted drama series. The event took place on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at The Palihouse Holloway in West Hollywood, a boutique hotel known for its English-inspired décor. As platters of hors d’oeurves, macaroons, tea and bubbly champagne circulated the room, I was able to mingle with the cast and producers of what will definitely be your new guilty pleasure. Shot entirely in England, “The Royals” gives you an inside look into a modern-day, fictional British royal family, brought to you by “One Tree Hill” creator and producer Mark Schwahn. It’s sexy, fast-paced and extreme – or, as Alexandra Park, who plays Princess Eleanor, said, “‘Gossip Girl’ on crack.” Elizabeth Hurley (most recently noted for her role as Diana Payne in “Gossip Girl”) plays Queen Helena in the series. And, as if running England weren’t enough, her biggest concerns are the well-being and image of her children, wild child Princess El-
via E!
Stars of “The Royals,” a fictional show about a British royal family, include (from left to right) Alexandra Park, Sophie Colquhoun, Meritt Patterson, Tom Austen, and William Moseley. The show is shot entirely in England and is set to premiere in March 2015 on E! eanor and Prince Liam (William Moseley, of “The Chronicles of Narnia” fame). When Prince Liam gets involved with an American commoner, Ophelia (Merritt Patterson), all hell breaks loose as he is still involved with his ex-girlfriend, Gemma (Sophie Colquhoun). But wait, isn’t that
Gemma leaving Princess Eleanor’s room? But isn’t Princess Eleanor seeing her bodyguard, Jasper? As you will soon see, scandal and secrets seem to run rampant behind those royal, gilded gates. “The Royals” doesn’t mirror or claim to imitate the actual royal family in any way; instead, it
will focus on a heightened lavish lifestyle and the public scrutiny that comes with fame, fortune and power. From decadent balls to royal secrets and forbidden affairs, this series will prove, in Schwahn’s words, that “Some are destined for greatness, while others are destined for drama. And then there are those who are
destined for both.” “The Royals” is set to premiere on E! in March 2015.
This is the opinion of Bianca Andrea, a senior English major from San Luis Obispo, California. Tweet comments to @LALoyolan or email ibabadjanian@theloyolan.com.
Graphic: Shelby Albrecht and Xian Wong | Loyolan
sports
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Selection committee rankings fall flat Sully Speaks from Page 16
close defeats. The increase in the rankings shows that the CFP selection committee is paying attention to the college football season. Though the CFP selection committee did plenty of positive things, they also made some big mistakes. First off, Ole Miss should not currently be in the playoff picture. They just lost to Louisiana State University (LSU) in a game where they could only score seven points. Now, I am not saying that the loss to LSU
is an embarrassment. In fact, it is quite the opposite, as LSU is vastly underranked at No. 19, considering that they have only lost to two top-three teams. However, they do not belong in the fourth spot. As a fan of USC growing up, it pains me to say that University of Oregon deserves to be in the playoff picture. They have one loss against the University of Arizona, which at the time seemed ridiculous, but makes more sense now that the Wildcats have performed so well and have moved up to No. 12 in CFP rankings.
Flickr Creative Commons
The Notre Dame football team has been great on the field, but the rankings do not reflect how good, as the Fighting Irish currently sit at No. 10.
Throughout the rest of the year, Oregon has dominated all of its opponents, which I believe earns them the No. 4 spot. Another problem with the list is No. 10 Notre Dame; this is a complete joke. At worst, the Fighting Irish should be No. 6 but an argument could be made for a No. 4 spot. Some people even argue that Notre Dame should have won the game against Florida State and were just screwed over by a bad call (the call was, however, correct). As an independent conference team, Notre Dame designs its schedule. This year’s schedule was meant to challenge the team, and so far it has exceeded expectations. Notre Dame should definitely be higher than it currently stands. An often-overlooked mistake that the CFP made was the fact that an undefeated team, Marshall University, was left off of the Top 25. The Thundering Herd has not played the best of teams; their schedule consists of games against Ohio University, Akron University and Florida Atlantic, and the big matchup of the year against Southern Mississippi University on Nov. 8. However, it’s not Marshall’s decision who they do or do not play. All they can do is play the teams that are put in front of them. An 8-0 record is no laughing matter, and warrants a spot among the top 25 teams in the country. Finally, the last major mistake is almost unforgivable, yet seems to happen every year. A team that has yet to lose a game has been
left out of the rankings. Loyola Marymount was snubbed from the CFP rankings, even after not losing a match in over 40 years. This mistake is a major one by the CFP selection committee and almost makes me question the legitimacy of the rankings as a whole. All kidding aside, the positives of the CFP rankings are outweighed by the negatives. Notre Dame and LSU are vastly underranked, Ole Miss is slightly overhyped and an undefeated team is not even in the rankings. Though there are sure to
be some kinks to work out in the first year of the CFP, it is costing some teams greatly. If Ole Miss makes the top four and ends up becoming a playoff team, a much worthier team will be missing out. The CFP has about a month before they finalize the rankings. They have a lot of work to do if they want to get this right. This is the opinion of Jack Sullivan, a senior screenwriting major from Las Vegas, Nevada. Tweet comments to @LoyolanSports, or email jsullivan@theloyolan.com.
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LION SPORTS
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Soccer nears season’s end Volleyball woes from WCC foes M. Soccer from Page 16
team.” The final five games of the Lions’ season are against conference opponents, and three of these games will be played away from Sullivan Field. The team understands that this is the most important stretch of their season so far and that all of these games are equally important. “Every game is a must-win game,” senior defender and team captain Craig Nitti said. “We are treating every single game as an NCAA game where you have to win.” The Lions are looking to earn their second championship in a row, a difficult task for any team. To achieve this, the men’s soccer team must reach or surpass the level of play that they achieved last season, something the team is confident that they can do. “We’re very confident. We were here before last year, we know what we have to do, and we believe we can do it again. We have all the same pieces as last year,” said Nitti. The only thing that seems to be standing in the way of the Lions and another championship run is themselves. In particular, this team’s challenges are more about mentality than execution on the field, as the Lions have gotten a lot of slow starts this year. “A lot of games we start out slow, give the ball away and make mistakes,” Porreco said. “If we start out strong, we won’t have to play catchup all game.” “There’re two things we need:
Volleyball from Page 16
Caroline Burt | Loyolan
Redshirt senior defender and team captain Craig Nitti has been a constant leader throughout the Lions’ less-than-impressive season. Nitti will likely be a key player in the Lions’ final five WCC games of the season. commitment and concentration for the full 90 minutes. If we have that, we will definitely get the business done,” added Erush. “It’s all mental.” The Lions have their work cut
out for them, and Nitti made his expectations for the team very clear: “Anything less than a championship will be a disappointment.”
“It’s really hard, said Dewitt about standing on the side. “It’s nice to be kind of like a support for the girls in a different way, but at the same time, its really hard. ... So having something like this happen just really sucks.” And she was certainly missed by her teammates. They experienced two 3-0 losses in DeWitt’s absence; these were the first two sweeps that they suffered this season. “Yeah, not our best week,” said Head Coach Tom Black. “[Against] BYU, game two was rough. Games one and three were just a couple plays away [from a win]. So that was kind of the message after that. And USD, that was just our worst game of the year. Low energy, just a lot of adversity we didn’t handle too well.” The past week or so was a difficult transition for the team; players tackled new positions which required some shuffling to figure out who could fill in the holes. “We’re in constant flux the past ten days,” Black said. “So a lot of it was like, what’s the line up, where do we go now, where does this person play? I was asking a lot of them; they had to be really adaptable.”
Although this past week was testing, Black saw his players step up, and he was confident that the struggles would build character. “We’re going to be better for it; we’re going to be tougher for it.” He believes the team’s past week of practice has helped a lot to bring these moving parts together and get the team back to a cohesive unit for tonight’s game against Gonzaga. In preparing for the game, the team’s main thoughts are geared toward starting strong, regardless of who’s playing where and what’s happening on the other side of the net. “Starting strong with whoever we have on the court, I think we’re ready to fight,” said junior middle blocker and opposite Rachelle Suaava. “We have a game plan, so we just need to execute our game plan. Just doing our jobs individually and then playing as a team.” The game will begin at 7 p.m., and the team hopes to see the stands of Gersten filled with LMU fans. “Come out [and] please support!” said DeWitt. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a home game. We need people there; we need the energy in the gym. The more people we get, the better.”
Athlete SPOTLIGHT Antonio porreco Sport: Soccer
Class: Freshman
Major: Health and Human Sciences
Hometown: Beaverton, Oregon
Q: What got you into soccer? A: Honestly, my dad got me into soccer for sure. He got me playing when I was 5, but I really loved it once I started watching Ronaldhino. Q: What is your favorite soccer player? A: Ronaldhino is my favorite player by far. He made everything so fun to watch. Entertaining the crowd is a big deal, obviously getting the job done too, but he made the sport fun. Q: What’s something most people don’t know about you? A: I’m half Italian and half Korean. Most people think I’m of Latino descent. Q: Most overrated soccer player? A: James Rodriguez. I mean he’s good, but he’s a little too hyped. He’s a really good player, honestly, but I don’t think he’s at the level people think he’s at. Q: Do you think football and soccer should switch names? A: I’m just so used to soccer. Thinking about it, yeah, probably. Maybe soccer shouldn’t be the name of football, it should be called something else. Q: Least favorite celebrity? A: Tom Brady, because he’s “Mr. Perfect.” It’s not jealousy, he’s just annoying. All I hear is “Tom Brady this” and “Tom Brady that.” Q: How good are you at FIFA, and what is your favorite team? A: I’m really good at FIFA. I’ll play with any team that has a player I like. I’ll play with a crappy team just to use Ronaldhino. Or Tati, someone old. Q: What are you going to be for Halloween? A: We’re not going out for Halloween because we have a game that night and a game two days after. Staying in. I haven’t dressed up in so long. Q: How many years until people take MLS seriously? A: It’s starting to get more serious, but still, they’re behind. It doesn’t really compare. Maybe 10, 15 years. U.S. players now are getting better. Our U-20 team is pretty good. One of for the U.S. Q: Do you only flop on the field, or do you feel you tend to flop in everyday life as well? A: I don’t flop, I stay on my feet! Information Compiled by Andrew Rezk, Asst. Sports Editor; Graphic: Danielle King | Loyolan
sports LIONBITES WOMEN’S TENNIS The women’s tennis team participated in the Matador Invitational on Oct. 28th at Cal. State Northridge. Senior Lisa Piller swept the back draw of her flight, defeating players from UCSD and the University of Montana to finish off the losers bracket. Senior Logan Finnell went 2-2 in the tournament, posting victories against UCI and UCSD. The Lions next play this weekend, in the Roberta Alison Fall Classic in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. WOMEN’S SOCCER Women’s soccer traveled to Portland to face another WCC rival on Oct. 26. The first half was a tough defensive affair, and neither team managed to score a goal. Portland opened the second half of play with a goal in the 55th minute, which would prove to be the only one of the game. The Lions fell to the Pilots by a score of 1-0. LMU is now 9-6-2 overall, but just 2-4-1 in conference play. The Lions’ next game is on Nov. 2 at Pepperdine.
For daily LION BITES, like Loyolan Sports on Facebook and visit laloyolan.com/sports.
SCORES UPDATE VOLLEYBALL
LION
3-0 L
W. SOCCER
2-0 L
M. POLO
at San Diego
SPORTS
M. SOCCER
vs. St. Mary’s
1-0 L
at Portland
9-7 L
vs. UC San Diego
Follow us on Twitter @loyolansports for up-to-date scores.
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LOS ANGELES LOYOLAN | October 30, 2014 | laloyolan.com
First CFP rankings released Sully Speaks Jack Sullivan Sports Editor @jacksull2
C
ollege football is in the midst of a transformative year. The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) is gone, and the national champion will now be decided by the winner of a four-team playoff series called the College Football Playoff (CFP). In a single elimination tournament, this setup is designed to give the four best teams in the country the chance to win the title. The four teams will be decided by the CFP selection committee, which is comprised of people from all walks of life, including former diplomats such as Condoleezza Rice and current athletic directors such as Pat Haden from the University of Southern California. The CFP selection committee released their first rankings of the year this past Tuesday. The release immediately drew criticism. It seemed that no one was happy with the list, except for fans of the four schools who would make the tournament if it was held today: Mississippi State, Florida State, Auburn University and Ole Miss. As soon as this preliminary ranking was released, college football fans began to doubt the validity of the CFP and the selection process. First, let’s look at what the selection committee did right. The top two teams are exactly where they should be. Though Florida State, the defending national champion, is undefeated and came into the season ranked as the No. 1 team, its performance, compared to that of
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Mississippi State football fans have a lot to celebrate this year. The Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 1 in both the AP Top 25 poll and the College Football Playoff rankings.
Mississippi State, warrants a second place ranking. Mississippi State has had a far tougher schedule and has also remained undefeated. The Mississippi State Bulldogs have also been much more dominant than the Florida State Seminoles despite playing in the South East Conference (SEC). The Bulldogs have won all games by at least 13 points, whereas Florida State has won by less than a touchdown in three of its games, including a controversial win against Notre Dame last week. Mississippi State has clearly shown that they deserve to be top dog in the rankings. The CFP selection committee also did a great job ranking both Texas Christian University (TCU) and Kansas State University higher than the Associated Press Top 25 poll did. In the AP poll,
TCU and Kansas State are ranked 10th and 11th, respectively. However, the CFP selection committee ranked the two teams at seventh and ninth, respectively. These two programs definitely deserve the bump in ranking, as both are currently one-loss teams who were defeated by some of the top teams in the country. TCU’s only loss came in a conference game on the road against Baylor University, who ranks 13th in the CFP poll. The game was a shootout, and the Horned Frogs eventually fell 6158. Kansas State’s loss was also a close match against one of the current playoff teams, Auburn. The Wildcats fell to Auburn 20-14. Other than those losses, both of these programs have been solid and should not be penalized for these
LMU preps for home stretch Lions look to avenge loss to Zags The men’s soccer team only has five WCC matches left before the end of their season. Andrew Rezk
Asst. Sports Editor @LoyolanSports
After an exhausting week of competition that saw the Lions play three games in six days, the men’s soccer team had an opportunity to get a muchneeded few days off. The grueling week was a learning experience for the Lions as they enter the last leg of their season. “I think it was a demanding schedule. Obviously three games in six days is tough,” said Assistant Coach Michael Erush. “But we got out of it with a reasonable record.” “We were prepared for it. We recovered well for each game,” said freshman midfielder Antonio Porreco. Despite a difficult schedule and various injuries to key seniors, the Lions have managed to go 5-1-1 in their past seven contests. However, they have played just two conference games: a 4-0 win against Pacific and a 2-0 loss to St. Mary’s. “We started playing a winning brand of soccer,” Coach Erush said. “We were organized on defense and scored some goals. We had a bump in the road, but we’re putting it behind us.” “We focused on finding direct balls to forwards, and playing off of them,” added Porreco. “We were really cohesive as a See M. Soccer | Page 15
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Volleyball will try to redeem its 3-1 loss to Gonzaga University earlier this season tonight. Kassia Stephenson Asst. Sports Editor @ksteph17
After a three-game losing streak, women’s volleyball hopes to end their slump tonight at Gersten Pavilion, where they will battle Gonzaga University for the second time this season. The Lions played Gonzaga on their opponent’s territory in the first match and were defeated in a close 3-1 set that resulted in their second loss of the season. The team, now 5-5 in conference play, is eager to play them again, this time on home turf. “I am so looking forward for revenge,” said senior outside hitter Caitlin DeWitt. “I just can’t wait to get them on our home court and show them what’s up. Because we’re a tough team, and they barely got away from us when we played them. So revenge would just be super, super nice.” DeWitt, who injured her ankle in a match against Santa Clara University last week, will luckily be healed in time for the match tonight. She was forced to stay on the sideline for the past two matches against Brigham Young University and the University of San Diego. See Volleyball | Page 15
Josh Kuroda | Loyolan
Senior outside hitter Caitlin DeWitt suffered an ankle injury in the team’s match against Santa Clara University when she became tangled with another player under the net. Despite DeWitt’s absence, the team is very confident in their ability to defeat the Bulldogs.