The Point student newspaper of point loma nazarene university
monday, november 10, 2014
Features, page 3
volume 43 | issue 8
A&E, page 5
Sports, page 6
LOMAPALOOZA BRINGS A CROWD
Opinion, page 8
Students, faculty discuss slavery and the Bible at ‘12 years a Slave’ showing BY BRITTANY NAYLOR STAFF WRITER
PHOTOS BY JONATHAN PICKETT Lomapalooza kicked off Saturday from 2-6 p.m. with about 200 students in front of Golden Gym. Nieve (top right), a rapper, performed a set along with Proxima Perada (bottom right), a band from San Luis Obispo. Student art was displayed, like the ax in a ice block (bottom left) by senior Joe Sloan, and other pieces (middle right). Ember Arts, Sustain PLNU and band merchandise tables surrounded the event.
African journalists visit PLNU, only school stop in the nation BY KATIE CALLAHAN STAFF WRITER
Journalists from 12 different African countries visited PLNU Friday after being denied at University of South Florida (USF), St. Petersburg, making PLNU their only university stop. “This is the only university they’re visiting in the entire nation,” said Dean Nelson, professor of journalism at PLNU. South Florida refused the group’s visit after Han Reichgelt, regional vice president of academic affairs, said faculty, staff and students were concerned about Ebola. “We canceled out of upmost caution due to fears of transmission of Ebola virus, which has proved fatal for more than 50 percent of the people who have been infected,” said the letter Reichgelt sent to the USF St. Pe-
tersburg Journalism and Media Studies Department, which was printed in the student newspaper, The Crow’s Nest. Originally, 14 journalists were making the trip, but because of the fear surrounding Ebola in the U.S., two journalists – from Sierra Leone and Liberia – decided to defer their visit. Even after the group told the university this, they were still denied. While the group visited The Poynter Institute instead of USF, Olive Burrows, a reporter from Capital FM in Kenya, said it was “regrettable” they were left out of the program because Sierra Leone and Liberia have such rich histories and the journalists could provide an update on Ebola in their countries. “They would have given us a wealth of information about how the whole thing was handled and what their thoughts are and what lessons
they’ve learned and all that. It would have been amazing to have them on the trip,” Burrows said. The representatives from the state department would not be quoted. The Edward Murrow program has sent journalists to the U.S. since 2006 in collaboration with the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. Nelson, journalism professors Stephen Goforth and Danielle Cervantes spoke on everything from healthy skepticism, to topic specialization and transparency. Students attended the event. The journalists came from Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Nigeria, Republic of South Sudan, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. They also expressed their greatest challenges, some of the most severe SEE JOURNALISTS, PAGE 2
More on Loma Beat!
After watching “12 Years a Slave” on Tuesday, students, faculty and staff discussed the implications of the film personally, as Christians and as a campus community. The School of Theology and Christian Ministry hosted the event. Sixty students attended the event. Heather Ross, associate professor of philosophy, put together the event and played the role of emcee for the panelists. The goal of the night’s event was for students to realize their role as Christian is a world of modern slavery. “Being Christian is not just a passive warm feeling in our hearts,” said Ross. “It entails something, like a striving and working for justice and especially with those, that have been marginalized...And what it means in the United States, who are those that are most marginalized, who are those that are the greatest, most obvious victims. We don’t have to look very far to see that so much of that marginalization has its roots in our recent past of American slavery.” On the panel were six professors: Michael Lodahl, theology professor, Jamie Gates, sociology professor, Kelli McCoy, associate professor of history, Karl Martin, literature professor, Linda Beail, political science professor and Jeffery Carr, associate vice president for student development and chief diversity officer. Because of the many themes contained within the film, Ross said it was important for her when deciding upon the panelist members to find people who could speak into those themes. “Part of the beauty of film is that if it functions well as a work of art, it’s going to have implications across all of the disciplines,” said Ross.
After the panel discussion, students were invited to respond. Topics ranged from explaining biblical passages that condone slavery to personal testimonies. One such testimony came from Taylor Rivers, a senior international studies major, whose ancestors include slaves. Rivers spoke of the importance of talking about race and racial issues openly at PLNU, and of trying to find her identity through her ancestors. “This is not my story, but the story of the people that I come from, and through that it’s hard to see this film but to know the strength of the people that I come from. Often it’s hard when we hear about the poverty and the inequality and sometimes it’s hard to feel proud or not to even know who I am,” said Rivers. “But knowing that I come from this interesting part – not African, not American, whatever that is – and not really knowing who that is. Acknowledging the unknown is important.” Though the panel offered a medium for people to talk about race, the Bible and gender, some students felt the panel left some things out. “I felt like there were holes in the panel where different important issues on race should have been brought up that weren’t,” said Julia Cheree Giacopuzzi, a senior biochemistry major. “Something I hear most about race is reverse racism and I personally believe that reverse racism contributes more to racism than a lot of things in California… I feel like those issues not being talked about leaves me feeling unsettled coming out of it.” Alex Morrison, a junior applied health science major, is half Armenian. Staff and faculty members said SEE ‘12 YEARS,’ PAGE 2
PHOTO BY BRITTANY NAYLOR Karl Martin (center), professor of literature and LJML department chair, talked about the film’s aesthetics in relationship to its subject, “When we are caught up in the beauty [of the scenery], we are reminded of the ugliness of reality.”
the point | monday, november 10, 2014
2 | NEWS
Broadcast journalists cover election night Seniors Katie Seals and Greta Wall and juniors Samantha Watkins and Marissa Hornaday reported on the elections in Golden Hall at the Civic Center as the votes came in Nov. 4. Associated Press called the race Friday night to Rep. Scott Peters, who leads with 4,771 votes ahead of DeMaio, 51.3 percent to 48.7 percent. As of Saturday, 74,000 votes still needed to be counted.
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF COASTLINE NEWS San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer poses for the attempted selfie with (from left to right) senior Greta Wall, juniors Samantha Watkins and Marissa Hornaday and senior Katie Seals. Watkins (right) interviews Faulconer. BY SAMANTHA WATKINS STAFF WRITER
On election night, senior broadcast journalism majors Greta Wall and Katie Seals, junior broadcast journalism major Marissa Hornaday, senior media communications major Angel Zamora and I arrived at Golden Hall with equipment ready to film. The first step was to claim a spot and set up our equipment. We didn’t have a fancy stage like the television stations or even a table like Carlsbad High School. A little square on the ground became our home base and we took off.
“
There was no room to wait or the politician would get moved on to the next network.”
We broke up into teams, Greta and Katie went to Republican Carl Demaio’s and incumbent Scott Peter’s election at hotels, while Marissa, Angel and I stayed in Golden Hall where the rest of the politicians remained. On our smart phones, we looked up politicians to get background information and a current photo that helped us track them down. Thank goodness for smart phones because, without them, we would have had to
BY KATIE SEALS
write everything down beforehand. In the midst of election night, I spotted Lorena Gonzales, assemblywoman for the 80th district, speaking with Fox News and I went right there by the sidelines to wait. That was the game of the night: find the politician who was being interviewed for a major network, wait by the sidelines until they finished and then pounce. There was no room to wait or the politician would get moved on to the next network. It was extremely helpful to have Angel with us as he worked the camera for Marissa and I as we tracked politicians and brainstormed questions. We always had the microphone and camera next to us, so when we got a hold of a politician, we were prepared. They were always short on time. The highlight of my night was interviewing San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer as I was able to ask him his opinion on candidates who were running for city council like Chris Kate. Greta and I had interviewed Faulconer last year when he won the mayoral election. With that, all of us broadcasters took a photo with him. It was not a selfie as we hoped, but just as good. Check out the twitter @CoastlinePLNU to see more photos from the election night.
STAFF WRITER
To survive San Diego election night as a reporter you need to be well rested, well fed, well dressed and, above all else, aggressive. Our team of four broadcast journalists - Greta Wall, Marissa Hornaday, Sam Watkins and myself, with the help of our trusty cameraman Angel Zamora - walked into the Civic Center’s Golden Hall in Downtown San Diego around 7 p.m. with two cameras, three microphones, four XLR cables and five batteries in hand. The convention was set up like a flee market where you walk a large crowded room lined by booths of different vendors who wave you down and shout their amazingly low prices while shoving egg rolls on toothpicks in your face. Instead of vendors and booths, TV news stations set up stages staffed with production teams and hungry reporters grabbing and hunting down congressmen and women to bring onto their sets for interviews. Our Point TV team set our strategic plan in motion. Our smallest but fiercest team members, Marissa Hornaday and Samantha Watkins, would run the Golden Hall floor, Angel tailing them with a camera and snatch up an interview with any member of Con-
gress or San Diego City Council member that came through the front doors. Greta Wall and I set out in search of the campaign parties for candidates of the 52nd district race: Democratic incumbent Scott Peters and Republican candidate Carl DeMaio. As the polls came to a close, Golden Hall began to fill up with supporters, public relation’s advisors and angry activists wielding “Impeach Obama” signs. We knew that DeMaio was hiding out at the U.S. Grant Hotel and Peters at the Gaslamp Westin but had no idea what time either of them would be making an appearance. At 9:15, Greta and I took to the streets, fast walking in high-heeled boots with Greta lugging the tripod and our Panasonic HD camera dangling from my right arm. First, we hit Peters’ headquarters at the Westin. We hustled into a tiny room crammed with supporters and reporters at the exact moment Peters was introduced on stage. We hurriedly set up the camera and tripod and filmed his speech. After, we were ready to move on to the U.S. Grant where DeMaio was set to give a speech at 10 p.m. but suddenly realized we forgot a very important item: a microphone! We ran back to Golden Hall and grabbed a hand-held microphone then quickly requested a
FROM ‘12 YEARS,’ PAGE 1
FROM JOURNALISTS, PAGE 1
during the discussion that Caucasians dominate education and the financial sector, but Morrison questioned how much of that is due to “different racial groups [trying] to almost control and hold on to their heritage.” “You look at all these different racial groups and you see that they all have their own culture,” said Morrison. “There’s something about them that makes them unique and brings them together; whereas, you have these very different white cultures that at one point came from somewhere. But now it’s all roped in as ‘normal.’ So what does that mean? What is white culture and have white people, has the white majority, sold out? Have they sold their culture for this dominance in education and this dominance in the financial sector?” Ross hoped students left changed after seeing the film. “I want them to go out of here with their hearts transformed and their passions enlivened so that this issue will be something that they not only recognize, they understand some of the history about it and be able to articulate it, but they’re going to want to do something about it,” said Ross.
being corruption in the government and amongst journalists, uninformed population and the possibility of imprisonment due to mistakes or writing certain stories. “Like for a lot of Africans, we imagine America to be this land of
PHOTOS BY BRITTANY NAYLOR Broad fields of study were represented in the panel discussion of the film. Heather Ross (top, far left) chose each panelist by what they taught and how everyone could speak about a different aspect of the film, ranging from gender issues to modern slavery to personal experience. Students (bottom) watch “12 Years a Slave,” which follows the story of Samuel Northup from his time as a free citizen in the North to being captured, transported to the South and enslaved. He battles the cruelty of plantation owners and keeping his dignity despite his circumstances.
Lyft from the car service app and told our driver to step on it. Minutes later, we went running into the hotel and were reassured by a KBPS reporter that we hadn’t missed anything. After about an hour and a half of standing around and jabbering with fellow TV news professionals, DeMaio finally came on stage to rally his troops. We waited, watching the vote count, until midnight but the race was still too close to call. By the end of the night we were beat and could feel the adrenaline and caffeine fading from our bodies.
See more reflections at lomabeat.com
milk and honey and this perfect country, so it’s been good to see some of the imperfections of your system, and that it’s just like any other country in the world,” said Burrows. “If we work at it, we can get up to the same pace. So it’s been a good experience.”
PHOTO BY KATIE CALLAHAN African journalists from 12 different countries visited PLNU Friday to discuss journalism with professor Dean Nelson and students. PLNU is the only university they visited during their time in the U.S.
monday, november 10, 2014 | the point
FEATURES | 3
features San Diego food finds: Date Night BY LUCAS CONCEPCION STAFF WRITER
Under $20 Cozy Comfort Food 3823 30th St.
Nestled deep within University Heights is this trendy, hipster-esque establishment that serves up meals that are both beautiful and savory. With a catch-all menu that includes grilled fish, big burgers, designer macaroni and cheese and plenty of vegetarian options, Urban Solace is sure to satisfy nearly any customer.
A Trendy American Establishment PrepKitchen
1660 India St.
This restaurant focuses on the next big thing and frequently alters their menu to find what dishes customers consistently call for. My personal favorites are the Cutting Board, which is a selection of meats and cheeses and the slow-roasted duck breast.
A Middle Eastern Experience Kous Kous
The running of the bulls: Study abroad edition BY OLIVIA STAFFORD
If you’re planning on taking someone out on a date, everything about it should be interesting and memorable, especially where you go to eat. Starbucks and Adal’s are fine for a study date or burrito run, but if you really want to impress that special someone, here are a few places that will help set the mood for the rest of your night out.
Urban Solace
THINK ON THAT
“The function of belief is to create a space where love can live.” - Scott Evans, Chapel Nov. 3
3940 4th Ave.
What is more intimate or relaxing than lounging about on plush couches and chairs whilst eating Middle Eastern food? Add some mood lighting and the aroma of sweet and spicy food that clings to the furniture in the good way. That’s what you get at Kous Kous. Do not be afraid to try something new here; I hear the lamb sliders and stuffed vegetables are particularly good.
CONTRIBUTOR
As an American, I didn’t see the glory and honor in slowly torturing six bulls to death. The Spanish culture glorifies it. It’s everywhere. It was some sort of Spanish bucket list I had in my head that talked me into going. Seeing a bullfight was right up there with flamenco dancing and eating tapas. It was clearly my first week. Besides fear, there was no reason not to go. The ticket was free. My roommate and I, anxious and apprehensive, decided to ask Eva, our host mom to give us a briefing of the whole ordeal. We were told to stay, to prevent being disrespectful and enjoy to the best of our ability, focusing on the art and skill. As far as we were concerned, a torero enters the ring, trots around and teases the bull and then stabs it, blood squirting every which way like a victim in a Quentin Tarantino film. In reality: less blood, more action. In fact, it was a grand production. The crowd was elegantly dressed and the orchestra played dramatically. I had the mindset that I was watching an artistic spectacle, not a bloodbath. Each round consisted of three parts, beginning with a trumpet sound. Each round the bull got more and more aggravated. Each round more girls from my study abroad program left the ring in tears. After the first trumpet, the first bull was released simultaneously with a group of men, one on a large, blind-
PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIVIA STAFFORD Olivia Stafford witnessed bull fights while studying abroad in Spain.
folded, armored horse. The bull, angered and confused, lapped around the ring, chasing the men. When he got close to pinning one up to the wall, they would hurdle clean over it. The bull ended up slamming into the wall, the horns colliding with barriers made a booming echo throughout the ring. Ultimately, the man on the horse speared the bull, grinding up his neck muscles. Trumpets. The second obstacle the bull had to endure was three men in the ring with a barbed stick in each hand, eager to imbed them into the bull’s shoulders. A river of blood was beginning to cake on to the dark pelt of the bull
from his first stab wound. His head would snap back and forth, scheming about which intruder he would lunge at. Trumpets. The bull was weakening, but was too prideful to show it yet. The blood loss was making him sluggish but, in spurts, he would viciously charge at the colorful capes that were teasing him. He would grunt and his frustration was visible in dirt clouds behind him, from how often he was kicking up his hind legs. My heart pounded with frustration, how did an arena of cheering people encourage an animal to be tormented to this extent? They were truly cheering for this defense-
less creature to be drained of its blood and slaughtered. I couldn’t figure out why the torero got all the credit, it seemed like all he did was enter the ring with a red cape and a sword and make the final stab. The men yelling “olé!” in the crowd guided my eyes to each movement of the cape. He was prompting the bull to follow him. It was about more than killing the bull; it was about the skillful series of passes before the final stab. The bull was audibly enraged and vulnerable, his blood visible on his own coat as well as the torero’s. The torero made about five passes before plunging the spear between the shoulder blades, right to the heart. The stadium erupted in applause, but I just sat there. I still couldn’t see the accomplishment. I saw the bull slow its pace, and when it could no longer stand, lower its front two knees to the floor. The bull was quickly overwhelmed and surrendered, collapsing on his side. I cringed watching the final routine. A man slipped into the ring with the shortest sword I’ve ever seen and made a swift, final stab, establishing the bull was no longer suffering. The deceased mound was then tied to a handful of mules and dragged around the entire ring, cueing another burst of applause, and apparently this was to honor his body. All I could think about was Aslan, shaved and tied, lying dead on the Stone Table. And then I watched it five more times.
CREATED SPACE: “PRESENT YOUR TRUE IDENTITY”
Intimate Italian Dining Buon Appetito
1609 India St.
One of Little Italy’s representative restaurants, this eatery boasts authentic Italian food: pastas, seafood and traditional pastries and dishes. The small size of the restaurant means you will be closer to both your meal and your date.
Swanky Sushi Ebisu Sushi Bar
3765 6th Ave.
Among the large number of sushi restaurants in San Diego, Ebisu lies on the more expensive end of the spectrum, but for good reason! They have one of the largest and most exciting selections of sushi including jalapeno hamachi sashimi and The Charger Roll.
Cliffside Dining Brockton Villa Restaurant 1235 Coast Blvd. La Jolla is one of the most beautiful and expensive neighborhoods in San Diego, but Brockton Villa captures all of the beauty at half the expenses! This primarily seafood restaurant overlooks La Jolla Cove, providing a stunning view of the ocean with tasty seafood options.
MOUNTAIN BIKING WITH GREAT ESCAPES PHOTOS BY JONATHAN PICKETT Created Space beckoned students to discard their fake selves Tuesday. Seniors Alex Vargas and Jessica Hong expressed themselves by painting.
PHOTOS BY JONATHAN SOCH Caleb Danielson (top), a freshman, rides as part of the Great Escapes trip Saturday. The group (bottom) includes senior guides Ryan Robinson and Trevor Shaw; juniors Melissa MacRunnel, Lucy Richy, Paige Baldwin; and freshman Nicole Daigneault. The bottom row is junior Leanne Gauley and Danielson.
the point | monday, november 10, 2014
4 | FEATURES
Seven steps to becoming Homecoming royalty BY EMILY HILL ASB EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Step 1 -
In the past just staff, faculty and RAs have been asked for nominations, but this year this was expanded to include club presidents, Student Senate, and the ASB Board of Directors.
Step 2 -
Nominees that wish to be considered for final court turn in a questionnaire which is then made anonymous.
Step 3 -
Anonymous questionnaires are run through the Selection Committee, a group consisting of students and faculty members, who decide which people they think should move on to the next round.
Step 4 -
The surveys are made un-anonymous and those chosen few are placed on a ballot. The student body then votes on which students they would like to see representing their class on the Homecoming Court.
Step 5 -
Any run-off elections are held.
Step 6 -
The final court is solidified.
Step 7 -
The student body votes again on Homecoming King and Queen. At coronation on Nov. 21 everyone finds out who won! (It’s seven steps because it’s a holy process. Kidding. Kind of.)
Corrections from Issue 8 of The Point, Nov. 3
ICONS COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
STUDY ABROAD PHOTO OF THE WEEK
The Point misidentified two science professors in the photos for the article “Biology professors speak fondly of new science building.” Dianne Anderson and Dawne Page’s names should have been switched.The caption of the front page photo also read “League champions” where it should have read “conference champions,” and referred to a jump on page 11. The front page photo was taken by Danny Barndts, not Kendall Boshart.
“For anyone considering study abroad, I highly recommend it. I can count the number of bad days I’ve had on one hand. This past semester really has been an extraordinary experience.”
- Jacob Teter PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB TETER Jacob Teter, a junior media communications major, is studying abroad in South Korea.
monday, november 10, 2014 | the point
a&e Salomon Theatre presents ‘The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged’
A&E | 5
PLAN YOUR WEEK
11/12 : Jamming Out | House of Blues | 6 p.m. | No price listed 11/12 - 11/15: Cinderella | Point Loma Opera Theater | 7:30 p.m. | $10 11/13: Movie in the Greek: Divergent | The Greek | 8 p.m. | Free 11/15: Marlon Wayans | American Comedy Company | 7:30/9:30 p.m. | $28
Student on the Radar
BY JAKE HENRY STAFF WRITER
Nicholas Kjeldgaard gave the idiom “break a leg” new meaning. Two weeks before opening night of “The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged,” Kjeldgaard broke his leg, forcing him to drop out of the play. “We’d been working on the play for over a month. It was terrible. I felt like I just let everyone down,” said Kjeldgaard, a sophomore broadcast journalism major. Kjeldgaard broke his leg while skateboarding outside of the Caf. Luckily, Luciano Gallegos, a senior and theatre major at PLNU, auditioned for the play and replaced Kjeldgaard. The three cast members - Russell Clements, Billy Holland and now Gallegos - rushed to perfect their lines. “He had to learn his lines really quickly,” said Holland, a junior theatre major. Despite Kjeldgaard’s broken leg, Clements, a junior theatre major at PLNU, had other concerns prior to the show. “Being in a three person play is quite the pressure,” said Clements. “We have to be on our game and work off each other with infectious energy and dedication.” Clements was not the only person with doubts. “It’s hard for someone to learn their lines in a week and a half and still be a student,” said Paul Bassett, the show’s director. Kjeldgaard mentioned that this was one of Bassett’s favorite plays. Despite the concerns, the show kicked off Nov. 6-9 with help from professor Jeannie Galioto, the costume designer, PLNU alumnus Brian Redfern, the set designer and SDSU alumnus Luke Olsen, the lighting designer. Senior Kayla Morale, a liberal studies major, and freshman Leah Sharer, a theatre major, were the stage managers for the show. The play opened up with slices from Shakespeare’s famous play, “Romeo and Juliet.” The play sold over
BrITT DOEHRING Graduated: 2014
PHOTO BY MELANIE VOIGT Pointless performs in the Acapocalypse with six other schools, including the UCSD Tritones, Clairemont College, two SDSU groups and CSU Northridge.
Degree: Bachelor’s degree in music Album: Right Where You Are About her album: “The songs are about my life, Jesus and my walk [with Jesus],” Doehring said. 30 tickets each night. During the evening, the cast quoted 37 Shakespeare plays in two hours, but still had room for improvisation. “I promised these people that I wouldn’t make Shakespeare lifeless and boring,” Holland said during the play. According to freshman Clayton Battes, Holland kept his promise. “It was very interesting and comedic. I thought it was going to be a lot more serious,” said Battes. After intermission, the cast had one hour left to perform their last Shakespearean play “Hamlet.” So the cast members decided to interact with the audience. The audience was then broken up in three sections representing different traits of Ophelia, one of the main figures in “Hamlet.” The first section represented Ophelia’s oppression; the second, Ophelia’s sexual desire to be with Hamlet and the third, Ophelia’s relevance in the 21st century. As the cast performed each section responded on cue. “It was overall a great play,” said Battes. The cast will continue their three man show on Nov. 22, during homecoming week, in Solomon Theatre at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office before the show.
Her campaign to raise money to record in a studio: Raising $15,000 in 60 days by Nov. 16 through Indiegogo She is at $2,000 now. Her debut album: ‘Emerge’ was released in 2008 Live performances: I do live performance multiple times a week. My next one is this Saturday night from 6-9 p.m. in Bonsall, California at Fresco Wine Bar and Grill. Most influential artists: Steven Curtis Chapman and Eva Cassidy
advantage of
ALL WE
OFFER
Secret talent: “I can fake cry in 30 seconds,” she said. The title song of her album:
"Hey you're not perfect and I don't care. I want you in your pain and with your scars and I'll love you anyways," Doehring said. More information: Igg.me/at/BrittCD Information collected by Jordan Ligons
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SALOMON THEATRE’S FACEBOOK PAGE The “Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged” cast referenced 37 Shakespeare plays in the span of two hours.
Take
More clinics and experiential courses. cwsl.edu/clinics
the point | monday, november 10, 2014
6 | SPORTS
sports
11/10: M. Basketball vs. UC Santa Barbara 11/15: Volleyball vs. Azusa Pacific 11/14: W. Basketball vs. Cal Poly Pomona 11/15:M. Basketball vs. Saint Martin’s 11/14: M. Basketball vs. Western Oregon 11/14 TBD: W. Soccer vs. NCAA Championship
UPCOMING EVENTS
A.J. Ussery drafted to fifth round of NBA D-League BY KENDALL BOSHART STAFF WRITER
PLNU has alumni nationwide, boasting graduates who have gone on to do everything from professional soccer to create successful companies. One alumnus of the basketball program, A.J. Ussery (’14), a psychology major from PLNU, plans to add himself to that list of notable alumni. Ussery is currently in Westchester, New York where he is competing with other recruits from across the nation for a spot on the Westchester Knicks NBA Development League (D-League) team. After players go through initial placement in the D-League draft, the Westchester Knicks hold a training camp for all recruits. Here the players live together and play basketball for two weeks where they tryout to make the D-league team. They train at two different professional facilities, one of which is Madison Square Garden, home to the New York Knicks. Ussery spent his summer going to multiple basketball camps, attending the Sacramento Pro Developmental League (SPDL), where he met contacts that put him in touch with the Westchester Knicks. From there, he
PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION A.J. Ussery graduated from PLNU last year and is currently competing against other recruits for a spot on the Westchester Knicks NBA D-League.
got a call that he had been drafted and got on a plane from San Diego the next day to fly to Westchester. “It was kind of a crazy process, but also really cool,” said Ussery. Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Jordan Courneya, found out the news through social media and was quick to encourage Ussery in his pursuits. “One of the guys on the team found out and then told us,” said Courneya.
“We all sent [Ussery] congratulatory texts and wished him the best.” Courneya believes Ussery was able to hone his skills, like guarding, during his time at PLNU and that playing here prepared him to be successful in the D-League. “He had hundreds of practices here,” said Courneya. “And every day we worked on a variety of team concepts and individual skills, not count-
Athletes earn higher GPA than rest of student body BY LOUIS SCHULER STAFF WRITER
Student-athletes lead the way academically at PLNU, according to a 2013-2014 report from the athletic department. The report showed the GPA of the student body at large was a 3.26, while the approximately 230 studentathletes earned a 3.3 average. The teams with the highest grade point averages were the women’s tennis team with a 3.57 and the women’s soccer team with a 3.52. The top GPAs for the men’s teams were soccer and tennis, which tied at 3.26. Part of this can be attributed to the fact that the athletics department has to comply to stricter rules. With the university officially completing its transition to Division II this year, the rules became far more rigid in comparison to the former NAIA division requirements, said John Wright, the faculty athletic representative. “The NCAA has required us to integrate these structures more carefully,” said Wright, the liaison between the student-athletes and faculty. “We have to track students’ attendance more. If they can’t add or drop classeslike they could with the NAIA-and they do, they could become ineligible and the team would have to forfeit [drop] their classes.” Head Coach, Tim Hall, going on his seventh year of coaching the wom-
en’s soccer team, said the academic success of the squad is in large part due to the recruiting of well-rounded players, which creates an environment where obtaining good grades is encouraged. “I truly try to recruit young ladies who have proven in their high school transcripts that they are serious about their academics,” said Hall via email. “I am also very verbal about how important it is for them to manage their lives and do as well as possible in the classroom as I am recruiting them before they come, and after they are here.” Hall said success for the athletes in comparison to students is a reflection of their ability to manage their time
“
They love their sport and in order to stay in that sport, they realize they have to work.”
- Tim Hall
well and the pride they have as a team when they succeed in school. Ethan Hamilton, PLNU’s athletic director of five years said the studentathlete GPA reflects the mission statement coaches must adhere to when recruiting players. “Our coaches are recruiting the right type of people,” said Hamilton.
“So at the end of the day, the things I am evaluating are probably threepronged. I want really competitive athletic programs that are successful. That’s why we are doing what we do. But also, at the same time, I don’t want to be bringing in anybody into this institution who will sacrifice the academic [success] for the on-field success.” Student-athletes are also responsible for community involvement beyond PLNU. “One of the things we’ve been doing a little bit is monitoring and tracking how many hours we’ve been putting in just engaging in the community at large,” said Hamilton. “Last year we were close to 4,000 total hours from our student-athletes. Whether that was going to Rady Children’s Hospital, feeding the homeless at the O.B. ministry down here or doing cancer walks, just different things that all of our teams were doing collectively.” Some coaches have been taking it upon themselves to make sure their athletes are staying proactive academically as well. Hall believes this is a result of athletes carrying the competitive mentalities they have on the field into their schoolwork. “[As an athlete] you have to understand the commitment you’re making,” said Hall. “They love their sport SEE GPA, PAGE 7
ing competitive drills and fitness.” Courneya said these practices, combined with Ussery’s positive response to coaching and selfless playing style, are what set him apart on the court. “From day one, he was very coachable, [and showed] versatility on offense and defense,” said Courneya. “He is able to guard any position on the floor and he enjoys passing and assisting rather than scoring, which is
rare in a player these days.” Ussery knows that he has ability offensively and defensively, and said PLNU’s athletic environment was very helpful for him. “Playing at PLNU helped me with my fundamentals, [which] a lot of players don’t have,” said Ussery. “I believe I’m really versatile, and I feel like I pick up stuff quickly, and I work hard.” Ussery’s abilities on offense and defense were crucial to the men’s team during his time at PLNU. During his senior year, he started 24 of 26 matches and helped the team to victory as NCCAA Champions in 2014 by leading the team in blocks. Danny Barnts, assistant athletic director for communications, said it was this defensive ability that characterized Ussery’s playing style. “A.J. was a standout player defensively for Point Loma,” said Barnts. “He had the ability to guard the other team’s 2-5 spots and regularly made an impact on the game with his size and agility.” Barnts manages the social media and marketing aspect of all sports on campus and believes that A.J. is a good example for other recruits looking at PLNU who wish to continue their career beyond college ball. SEE DRAFTED, PAGE 7
OPINION:
There’s a naked homeless man sleeping in my bed: The cons of co-ed living BY JESSICA LUCAS STAFF WRITER
I must admit that the title of this piece is misleading and irrelevant to the content. It is little more than an homage to that time a naked homeless man slept in a girl in Klassen’s bed. Now that that’s out of the way, we can discuss the true horror of the modern university: co-educational dorms. “But why,” you ask, with adorable naivete. “What could possibly be wrong with some good oldfashioned gender-mixin’? We don’t have cooties and this is the 21st century and, gosh darnit, I can do what I want and live with whomever I choose! It’s not as if we’re sharing a bunk bed or a bathroom. You can’t tell me what to do! What’s your problem anyway?” The problem with the introduction of the co-ed dorm buildings is not that it will slowly diminish the barriers between genders, or that it will lead to an influx of sexual immorality, or even that it will distract students from their academic obligations. The problem with co-ed
dorm buildings is that the creation of co-ed dorms led to the destruction of Powder Puff cheer and I’m still pissed about it. As soon as Hendricks and Young became co-ed, the men who were once eager to dance like maniacs in neon tank tops in front of the entire student body were now too busy trying to woo the girl in Second North to cheerlead like an idiot. Camaraderie amongst males decreased, the desire to impress the ladies increased and the fun was punted out of the homecoming game forever. Let’s not forget bros before hoes. Let’s not forget the time when men could stand together and build a pyramid, only to fall down and sometimes break their nose. Let’s not forget what it felt like to shimmy and sway to Party in the USA, noddin’ your head like yeah, movin’ your hips like yeah. Let’s return to the time when everyone was free to make a complete fool of their self without fear of judgment from the opposite gender. And if that means separate us again, so be it.
monday, november 10, 2014 | the point
SPORTS | 7
New NCAA membership comes with new rules, compliance BY KENDALL BOSHART STAFF WRITER
After two years of probation, PLNU athletes are now fully realized NCAA Division II (DII) members. Everything from the NCAA logos on polos, to the new plaques on the wall in the gym can be seen as part of the transition as PLNU continues in its first year as a DII member. However, it is important to remember that the athletic department has been planning this transition for years. They have made significant moves in terms of hiring and educating coaches and athletes during the previous years. One of the most important aspects of the recent two-year examination process-termed probation-involves keeping university athletics within compliance. Compliance is the official NCAA DII term regarding the conditions, rules and regulations that the athletes and coaches of any DII university agree to obey. A university must prove its ability to operate under these guidelines for a two-year probation period before officially being accepted as an NCAA DII member. Athletic director Ethan Hamilton explained that compliance is the way
the NCAA maintains equality for all DII teams. “The intent of everything they [NCAA] put in compliance is to create a level playing field and protect stu-
athletes and programs equal throughout the country.” While also being a system that keeps coaches and athletes on even terms within and without the univer-
PHOTO COURTESY OF PLNU SPORTS INFORMATION/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Jackie Armstrong (left) is the new associate athletic director for compliance at PLNU. The position was added when PLNU went NCAA.
dent athletes,” said Hamilton. Baseball player Michael Randel finds that compliance, though it involves daily work, is a necessary aspect of being an NCAA athlete. “NCAA compliance is involved in my life everyday [because] we have to sign a CARA [Countable Athletically Related Activities] log every week,” said Randel. “But it helps to keep all
sity, it is also a way for the university to keep up a dialogue with the NCAA. “The NCAA is made up of 350 DII universities,” said Hamilton. “Universities and conferences are actually the ones proposing the [compliance] rules and voting on them. NCAA merely enforces those rules.” For Hamilton, handling compliance is what separates NAIA and
NCAA. “One of the biggest differences between NCAA and NAIA is a compliance officer,” said Hamilton. NCAA requires that all universities within DII membership have a compliance officer. When PLNU applied for membership, the university created the compliance officer’s position. The compliance officer handles all compliance between the university and its athletic department. This individual is also responsible for bringing any issues to the attention of the NCAA. Hamilton explained that Jackie Armstrong, the compliance officer at PLNU, has one of the toughest jobs on campus because of sheer workload. “In the beginning we were doing weekly one hour education sessions with the coaches,” said Hamilton. “She put together over 30 PowerPoint presentations during that year and had weekly two hour meetings with me.” Armstrong’s official title with the school is associate athletic director for compliance. She oversees everything from violations of compliance to questions about specific activities over the summer. In every case, Armstrong is working to keep athletes out in on the
fields, courts and tracks. “My job is to make sure athletes stay eligible,” said Armstrong. “I work with records and financial aid to educate people on procedures, implement those procedures, monitor procedures and communicate with NCAA if there is a violation.” While gaining NCAA DII membership was an involved process, both Armstrong and Hamilton find that the campus atmosphere at PLNU has helped to facilitate the transition from NAIA to NCAA. “The NCAA has more rules than NAIA,” said Armstrong. “But PLNU was already doing things well and it didn’t really change a lot here for us.” Hamilton also felt that the move to NCAA DII was natural, though he attributes the ease in the transition to the Christian aspect of PNLU. “I have felt that it’s a good fit with the type of institution of we are,” said Hamilton. “Being a Christian university and having that as a huge aspect of everything we do means we should be doing things in an ethical manner and following rules. We’re doing things right, we were doing things right even before we made this transition.”
SEA LION SCORES Men’s Soccer:
Women’s Volleyball:
Women’s Soccer:
Women’s Basketball:
Men’s Basketball:
Cross Country:
Women’s Golf:
11/4: Loss 1-4 vs. Cal State San Marcos
11/5: Win 3-2 vs. Hawaii Pacific
11/4: Loss 0-1 vs. Cal State San Marcos
11/7: Loss 52-55 vs. San Diego State (Exhibition)
11/7: Loss 45-74 vs. San Diego State (Exhibition)
11/8: Loss 1-2 vs. Cal Baptist
11/7: Win 3-0 vs. Chaminade
11/8: Tie 0-0 vs. Cal Baptist
11/7: 8th place, PacWest Championships
11/3-11/4: 1st place, Cal State San Marcos Invitational
11/8: Win 3-1 vs. Hawaii Hilo
FROM DRAFTED, PAGE 6
“To see that players have the opportunity for basketball after school is always great,” said Barnts. “A.J. is even more impressive because he was able to come to PLNU with raw talent, and through effort and hard work, develop his game to the point where he earned the right to be drafted in the development league.” The 6’10” player will find out the
Nov. 13 whether he made the official D-League team for the Westchester Knicks. For now, he is just focusing on his basketball career. “I’ve always wanted to play basketball,” said Ussery. “My plans are just to continue to get better and better, and from that point on hopefully get called up to the NBA.”
FROM GPA, PAGE 6
and in order to stay in that sport, they realize they have to work.” mcKensey Wise, senior volleyball player and ASB president, says her coach, Jonathan Scott, makes sure they are diligent in their studies. “Our coach mandates that we sit in the front two rows of every class,” said Wise. “We aren’t allowed to miss
any classes unless it’s for our matches. Then when we’re on our road trips, we have study hours that are built into our travel itineraries. As freshmen, we had to spend eight hours in the library every week and record those with our coaches, and then this year, our coach just implemented...study hall from 7-10 [on Sunday nights].” With the fall semester almost
complete, Tim Hall said the team will continue to match strong athletics with academics. “I am going to continue to do it all the same as we move forward,” said Hall. “I am very proud of the girls and their integrity in the classroom, on the field and off the field. Great group of ladies.”
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the point | monday, november 10, 2014
8 | OPINION
opinion
Katie Callahan // Editor-In-Chief Brittany Naylor // News Editor Samantha Watkins // Features Editor Louis Schuler // Sports Editor Jordan Ligons // A&E Editor
Arthur Shingler // Opinion Editor Abbey Stewart // Copy Editor Grace Bailey // Design Editor Michelle Ito // Assistant Design Editor Jake Henry // Web Editor
Political science professors say midterm elections offer ‘few surprises’ BY LINDSEY LUPO AND LINDA BEAIL POLITICAL SCIENC E PROFESSORS
The 2014 elections proved to be a big success for Republicans, most notably winning control of the U.S. Senate, but they also proved fairly typical of midterm elections. Low turnout and the loss of seats for the president’s party are normal. Only 37 percent of voters showed up at the polls, far below the 58 percent of the presidential election in 2012 – but about four in 10 voters usually come out in the years without a race for the White House. This lower participation hurt Democrats more than Republicans at the polls as the younger, less affluent, more diverse voters who would be more likely to vote for Democrats, were less represented. But so did the map of where Senate seats were up for re-election. Nearly all of the competitive Senate races happened in “red” states won by Mitt Romney two years ago, giving Republicans a good chance to mobilize those same voters to choose their Senate candidates this time around. In addition, President Obama’s low approval ratings (hovering around 40 percent) and voters’ lack of confidence in the economy were strong clues that we would see a backlash against the party currently in the White House: On average, the president’s party loses 26 seats in a midterm election, and in this election, Democrats are projected to lose about 20 seats. Thus, while Republicans will have their largest majority in the House of Representatives since before World War II, the net number of seats is not unusual. The gains in the Senate are more impressive with seven seats so far and votes still being counted in Alaska and a run-off in Louisiana in December, both of which look favorable for
Republicans. That would give them a 54 seat majority and a net gain of nine seats. Republicans also did well in governor’s races around the country, and now have unified control (state legislatures and governors) in 23 states. Finally, a few more women will be headed to Washington than ever be-
the fact that much of this money came from outside spenders not specifically tied to the candidates or parties receiving the money. Indeed, we saw this charged-up-election landscape play out here in San Diego, as our own Congressional race in the 52nd District – pitting incumbent Congressman Scott Peters against former City
CARL DEMAIO
SCOTT PETERS PHOTO BY KATIE CALLAHAN
PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR / CHULA VISTA WILDLIFE RESERVE RESTORATON COMPLETION
fore – at least 101 – and Joni Ernst, the new Republican Senator from Iowa, becomes the first female combat veteran in Congress. In addition, two recent Supreme Court rulings - Citizens United v. FEC in 2010 and McCutcheon v. FEC in 2014 - helped to make this the most expensive midterm election in U.S. history, as they, respectively, loosened restrictions on contributions and lifted limits on campaign spending. In the end, almost $4 billion was spent in this election by candidates, parties, interest groups, organizations, fundraising committees and individuals. Perhaps what is most notable about the sharp increase in spending is not the sheer number, but rather
Councilman Carl DeMaio – became one of the most expensive and closely watched campaigns in the country. As one of the only toss-up races in the country, this election attracted an unusual amount of national attention – and outside money. Moving forward, political observers should pay attention to how the changed dynamics of campaign spending, in terms of unfettered spending from outside groups, impact local races. Another notable race in San Diego occurred between Republican Chris Cate and Democrat Carol Kim, two relative newcomers vying for the newly redrawn District 6 City Council seat. Cate’s win means that the Demo-
cratic majority on the council shrinks from 6-3 to 5-4, eliminating their veto-proof majority that has challenged our Republican mayor since he took office earlier this year. It was a power the Council had used to override Mayor Faulconer’s veto of an increase in the minimum wage in San Diego (though the override was later repealed, placing the issue in the hands of voters in the June 2016 election). Though still lacking a majority, the mayor is much more likely to see his policy agenda, including managed competition for provision of city services and pension reform, pushed through. In the end, there were few surprises in this midterm election. However, there was one thing we could have predicted with great certainty months ago: lack of youth participation. Millennials (18-29 years) largely stayed home for this election, making up just 13 percent of the total votes cast in this election (compare this to the 2012 presidential election, when nearly 20 percent of voters were under 30). Yet another factor in this election was more surprising: Latino turnout and vote choice. While Latinos were a strong base of support for President Obama in 2012, fewer showed up to vote this year and for those who did, Republican candidates were able to pull away some of their votes. With immigration reform as one of this group’s top issue priorities, it will be interesting to see if either party is able to govern in ways that appeal to Latinos, as they are the key demographic that will dominate political analyses in the 2016 presidential election. Lindsey Lupo is the director of the Institute of Politics and Public Service. Linda Beail is the director of the Margaret Stevenson Center for Women’s Studies.
My walk with you BY CASEY CROMWELL CONTRIBUTOR
A particular kind of magic blankets Point Loma Nazarene University when my digital watch blinks “7:00 p.m.” Dusk settles over the sky, painting the campus in grays and blues. First, it conquers the pine trees, hiding birds’ twig crowns and treetops’ wooden hands, bony without their blooms. Then it hits the sidewalk, masking shoe scuffs and stained paper coffee cups peeking out from the bushes. Eventually, everything sinks into the approaching black. All I can see is blurred perfection. Tonight, my over shirt taps the back of my knees as I walk. I don’t mind it, the reminder that it is a time of transition – hot enough for girls to flash tanned thighs, but cool enough for goosebumps to invade those same spans of flesh. My steps are relaxed and even, running shoes embracing their new occupation. Last year, as a naïve, go-getting freshman, I sucked miles of running from my body. And
as my body screamed in protest, my mind screamed at God, asking why He’d abandoned me to this pain. Now, my legs wait until 7 o’clock to purr awake, stretching and cracking their arches like my poodle at home. During the summer, my mom and I trudge around the block every night at dusk, corralling our adventurous puppy with a few loving yanks of the leash. Now, as I lace up my black and pink Nikes each night, I am alone. Yet, as I walk, I have company. Tonight, first it was Colby playing tennis, his shadow leaping in the glare of the arena lights. My hand has never itched for a racket, but the slap of my sneakers mimicked the steady beat of rubber against wood. A few steps later, a crowd of soccer players joined my pilgrimage, whooping and hollering as the ball ricocheted off one ankle to another. They pushed and bumped and charged each other, but their real competition was the quickly setting sun. Now, as I sit and write, bathing in the glow of the abandoned Greek, it is the college freshman calling home.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY
“I loved debate in high school.” Her words skip down the wooden steps, white paint chipped from the friction of thousands of steps, and climb into my lap. “But now I’m not so sure.” I nearly chuckle: She has no idea how right she is. The campus only captures my full attention for half an hour each night, but every minute nails another philosophical question onto my conscious mind. How, compared to freshman year’s trials and challenges, can life now be so good? How am I – a selfish, vain, untrusting sinner – worthy of such peace and joy? How much longer will – can, even – all of this last? A second. An hour. Forever. The red stripes walking across black waves hoard their answers, as do the contemporary worship songs filling my ears, but I feel like I find one anyway. The girl’s conversation – bouncing
The Point
The opinions in this section may not reflect those of The Point Weekly or of Point Loma Nazarene University. Letters to the editor and columns are subject to editing for length, taste, grammar and clarity. Letters to the editor must include the author’s name, major, class standing and phone number and be limited to 500 words. Please submit your opinions to ashingler000@pointloma.edu.
from debate team to new friends to tomorrow’s plans to gorge on chocolate chip pancakes with her roommate –finally starts to trail off. Sighing, she stares into the darkness above my head. Softly, “I know. I love you too.” I might say the same thing, I think, closing my eyes as I swallow the echoes of students’ cheers down the hill, the tickle of the sea’s breath on my bare legs and the vague ache of carved wood digging into my back. But students singing, “Let it go!” suddenly gather only a few feet away, so I don’t. Instead, I throw a final glance at the palm trees down the hill, wind nailing their leaves at attention by their sides. Instead, I close my journal, cap my pen and leave to finish my walk. Instead, I bob my head to the rhythm of the music, “You are Amazing God” echoing in my headphones. Casey Cromwell is a sophomore writing major and women’s studies minor.
#LomaChatter Have something to say? Submit your random thoughts, funny comments, or opinions!
Text your #LomaChatter to 619-478-7065! Sustain PLNU: take showers together Gumby the fire inside of me, Gumby the flame upon my heart So I took the road less traveled.... And it hurt man!!! That moment at the Fall Ball when everyone is singing all the words to a Taylor Swift song and you just mouth along pretending like you know them too. Hey this class looks interestin...... Aaaand it’s full. When I would misspell words as a kid I would insist that “I did it on purpose” in order to save myself from humiliation. I’m really glad I got that off my chest. If girls “look so tired” when they don’t wear make-up shouldn’t boys look tired all the time? If you go to the gym and come out still looking pretty did you really workout? #workhardsweathard Stop submitting paragraphs to Lomachatter. You’re not a geisha. This is not your memoir. What if the reason the Bible tells us to raise our hands in worship because Jesus is getting ready for an epic moment of crowd surfing? If you agree with Michelle Ahlberg’s opinion piece about birth control on campus, give a whoop whoop! (*whoop whoop!*) That moment when you stop to talk with the hispanic cleaning lady and as you leave say “au revoir.” facepalm Keeping that one pair of pants that requires a week of running before fitting in them again. Kind of want to hide something in the floors of the new science building so that 20 years from now I can come back and dig it up. #buriedtreasure No need to get a single study room when I can get the whole bottom floor just for myself #studytime #onlyatloma Finding quarters is like finding gold. #laundry
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