Pepperdine Graphic 2-13-2020

THE PEPPERDINE GRAPHIC VOLUME XLIX

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ISSUE 14 |

February 13, 2020

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Food Fight: Vendors compete for

Photos by Milan Loiacono | Photo Editor

Pepp dining contract

All iso n Lee C ur r ents as si stan t e dit or As Sodexo’s contract expires this year, Pepperdine Dining Services has narrowed down the candidates to three finalists: Bon Appetit, Chartwells and Sodexo.

Pepperdine Dining Services hosted two taste testings Monday, Bon Appetit and Chartwells, and will host Sodexo on Friday. The University will make their decision by the end of the month.

“In the end, what we’re really looking for is a partner whose an industry expert who can come alongside us, who gets Pepperdine,”

Vice President and Chief Business Officer Nicolle Taylor said. “We’re asking them to be able to listen to us and to partner with us because these contracts will likely be 10 years long.”

Taylor and her team worked with food consultants to select the three finalists from the seven companies who sent in proposals.

Taylor sent out an email Jan. 29, to the Pepp community with a Google Form for those interested to attend the taste testings.

“We got 400 responses from people who wanted to potentially participate in the tasting,” Taylor said. “So it was like,

‘Wow,’ far and above what we possibly could have anticipated, which is really great.”

Taylor said they struggled to make it a fair process with the limited number of people who could attend the tasting. They chose a way to get the most people to participate while the dining services committee would serve as a consistent voice in all three taste testings.

“To get the most people to go to a tasting, we separated the tastings,” Taylor said. “So if you’re chosen as a participant, you won’t go to all three tastings, but you’ll be able

sneak peek: dif performs s ee DIF, B1

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Diversity and inclusion committee amplifies students’ voices through community initiatives Emily shaw New s Ass i s tan t The Student Government Association (SGA) gives Pepperdine students who are passionate about diversity and inclusion a louder voice through the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

The committee, led by SGA Director of Diversity and Inclusion Christian Abad, came together at its first meeting of the semester Wednesday, Jan. 29, to discuss ways to foster a more inclusive environment for everyone at Pepperdine.

“Knowing that there’s a committee trying to figure out the problems or trying to figure out solutions to make Pepperdine a more inclusive space, it makes you feel a lot like, ‘Oh, the students or administrations — or there are people who care,’” Abad said.

Abad said there are about nine people on the committee, including international students, members of Latino Students Association (LSA), SGA Vice President of Administration Natalia Escobedo, Sophomore Class President Jerry Calderon and others.

Calderon said he chaired the committee 2018—2019 school year during its first year of existence in SGA. The committee allows stu-

What ’s AHE A D

dents an easier way to bring up issues of diversity and inclusion. “[The committee] gives people the platform, an easy kind of highway to travel and get their ideas out in the open and really work hand in hand with the institution itself to make critical change,” Calderon said.

He said he thinks it is important to have a Diversity and Inclusion Committee because diversity and inclusion has not always been a priority at universities.

“Because of recent advocacy around the world, we’re now seeing that [diversity and inclusion] is something that needs to be at the forefront of universities,” Calderon said. “This is something that needs to be talked about.”

While chair of the committee, Calderon focused on passing a resolution to put a new mural in the Waves Cafe that celebrated indigenous people, unlike the previous mural that was taken down in response to on-campus protests in 2016.

“Together, my committee and I thought it was a great idea to have a new mural put in the Caf [to] celebrate indigenous people, especially because Pepperdine is on indigenous land; it’s on the Chumash land,” Calderon said. “[The resolu-

tion] was passed unanimously.”

Abad said there are a couple of issues he wants the committee to focus on such as accessibility and mental health.

“We definitely want to implement more with President Gash or administration, definitely for people with disabilities,” Abad said. “I think just being able to work with either Student Accessibility or Counseling Center and tell them, like, ‘How do we advertise you more to the students?’”

Another major initiative Abad said he hopes to start is a Certificate of Intergroup Dialogue program, which teaches how to approach and have difficult discussions about divisive topics like race, gun control or police brutality and also help teach others on how to navigate those conversations. “[The certificate program] was one way for me to understand the student perspective and to actually create dialogue and create discussion, not conflict,” Abad said.

Abad said he received his Certificate in Intergroup Dialogue last year with the help of David Humphrey, who was the associate dean of Student Affairs for Diversity and Inclusion in 2019 and implemented the program. He said the program helped him personally, and he

News Pe r s pe ct iv e s like, ‘Well, you A4- The Pepperdine A3- “They’re community should be guys have this money — what are you using it for?’”

the 10 students we A5- Of talked to about the

2020 election, only one said they would be voting for President Trump.

thethe waves waves report report

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L if e & A r t s B1-

Dance in Flight will take the stage this week — check out The Graphic’s preview for more.

warm and inviting — rather than insensitive — to the students returning Zakian’s final from China.

B2- Michael exhibit at the Weisman highlights Rodin’s work Consider Kobe’s entire as a celebration of legacy. women.

Fri:Fri: 3-5 2ftft

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Ali Levens | News Designer hopes to offer it to students again in the future.

Sophomores Melissa Mejia and Isabella Mendoza are members of both LSA and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and they are working on forming a Latina sorority at Pepperdine.

Mejia said she and Mendoza wanted to join the committee to help create a more embracing and multicultural campus.

“We just felt like there was some lack of diversity here, mainly for Hispanic students,” Mejia said. “We want to definitely see more change on that, so that’s why we joined it.”

Mendoza said she thinks diversity is an essential part of the col-

SP ORTS Track looks B3- Women’s forward to their final

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this we e k o n the g rap h T he g r ap hi c’s Ne ws P o d c ast

indoor meet Saturday, while both Men’s and Women’s track start outdoor season Feb. 22.

Basketball, in the B6- Men’s heat of the WCC race,

torched Santa Clara and lost a heartbreaker at Pacific.

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lege experience because it provides a unique opportunity to meet and get to know people with different backgrounds and perspectives. “[College is] also a time when you form your opinions, and I think being able to see through other people’s perspectives is important, and I think diversity leads to that,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza said she wishes Pepperdine was more inviting toward minority students because of all the resources it offers.

“I think Pepperdine could be so amazing to so many people’s professional and academic journeys,”

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Food Fight As Pepperdine’s contract with Sodexo expires, two new candidates have been added to the mix. Allison Lee reports.

Available anywhere you listen to podcasts.

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You can have value without being special

E mi ly S H aw Ne ws a s s i s ta n t I’m not special. Every time I finally give myself a chance to not be busy, I realize this fact about myself, and it frees me from the anchors I have tied to my sense of identity and self-worth. Keeping busy with various activities and interests does not provide a sufficient definition of who I am.

Being a freshman, I remember going through the college application process vividly. I remember sitting at college application workshops and panels listening to people telling me ways I can “stand out” and “be interesting,” but also not “overdo it” and seem fake.

I remember always being told: “Tell us who you are.”

I would respond with how the extracurriculars and subjects I put a lot of time into in high school and the different aspects of my identity — such as my ethnicity, race, gender, environment — have shaped my experiences and worldview. And while I do agree that all those things inform who I am, my identity is not dependent on those things. What is more important is why I choose to think a certain way or spend time on a certain interest.

What is your why? By letting yourself be still, your focus shifts from defining who you are to your growth as an individual. The instinct to pair what you do with your self-worth begins to drift away. You will never be the protagonist in a story, nor the center of any universe, and you start to feel like you don’t need to be.

When you start to see that you are not special, in a real and not self-deprecating way, that’s when you start to see and want to get to know the light in others.

You see people not in how they can serve you, or how they’re a part of your story, but for what they’re worth in their own story — one that we all have in this vast universe that can make us feel so small.

EMI LY.C.S HAW@PEPPERDINE . E DU

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

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This week In SGA

2/2/20 3:01 p.m.

Crime: Skateboarding on Campus Location: Adamson Plaza

5 2/5/20 3:30 p.m.

Crime: Hit and Run, Non-Injury Accident Location: Malibu Campus

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2/7/20 4:45 p.m.

Crime: Larceny/Theft Grand Theft of Property Location: Graziadio Executive Center 2/9/20 10:40 p.m.

Crime: Alcohol-Related Possession of Alcohol on Campus (Minor) Location: Seaver Drive

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Passed a resolution to add an air pump for tires in Rho.

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Passed a resolution to make a green space near Crocker and redo the volleyball courts outside of Miller.

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2/10/20 3:29 p.m.

Crime: Traffic Enforcement Reckless Driving Location: John Tyler Drive

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Proposed a memorandum to advocate for Bon Appetit on behalf of students

UPCOMING EVENTS THIS SEMESTER What: Me n ’s basketball vs. What: pIT go n zaga Whe n : 2/21 WheN: 2/ 15 whe re : Elkins Auditor ium wher e: fire s tone fieldhouse

Wh at: We shall overc ome Wh e N: 3/8 wh e re : Smother s theat re

W hat: ori g i ns and hi s t ory of mas s i nc arc erat i on W he N: 3 / 1 6 w he r e : C l as s room D

W hat: S ong f es t W he N: 3 / 1 8 w he r e : s mot hers t heat re

c onvo c re dit and other e ve n ts this we e k FRI 14

MON 17

TUES 18

WEDS 19

What: c e le bration chapel When: 10 a .m .

Wher e: A m ph itheater

What: spanish chapel When: 10:10 a.m.

Where: stauffer chapel

wh at: Ger man Chap el Wh e n: 10 a.m.

Wh e re : Stauffer C hap el

W hat: wednes day c hap el W he n: 1 0 a. m.

W he r e : f i res t one f i el dhou s e

What: A ra bic chapel When: 1 p.m .

Wher e: PLC 10 4

What: Dear resume... hello?

When: Noon Where: PLC 155

wh at: Italian chap el Wh e n: 3 p.m.

Wh e re : Stauffer C hap el

W hat: C hi nes e c hap el W he n: 1 1 : 05 a. m.

W he r e : C C B 3 4 0

What: Da n ce in flight When: 8 p.m .

Wher e: S mo th er s theatr e

Looking// PLUG IN: for more?

THURS 20

W hat: J ewi s h c u lt u re c l u b C onvo W he n: 6: 1 5 p. m.

W he r e : T C C 1 1 2 W hat: c ommu ni t y c hap el W he n: 7 P. M. w he r e : El k i ns au di t ori u m

wh at: Fr ench chap el Wh e n: 4 p.m.

Wh e re : Stauffer C hap el

subscribe to the The Graphic //l PLUG IN: p(S cianxpeppgraphic e l n e w s e t t e r and s c rol l to the bottom of the page)

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SGA plans to launch new website Ky le M c C ab e a s s is tant new s edit or Pepperdine’s Student Government Association (SGA) discussed the launch of its new website last Wednesday as part of an effort to address criticisms of their transparency during its fall 2019 impeachment proceedings.

“I think that a lot of students, especially in my class, have been talking about how they don’t like how we’re not transparent,” Junior Class President Karli Mueller said in the meeting. “They’re like, ‘Well, you guys have this money — what are you using it for?’ Especially after everything that happened in the impeachment, they’re just kind of upset that they don’t know what’s happening.”

The weekly Senate meeting in the boardroom on the first floor of the Thornton Administrative Center featured one proposed resolution and several other open forum topics, but talk about transparency dominated the hour-long meeting.

SGA discussed several ways to combat its alleged reputation, including their upcoming website.

“I’ve been working on an SGA website that is near completion where resolutions, meeting minutes, etc. will all be available to the student body in one cohesive spot,” Vice President of Administration Natalia Escobedo said during the Wednesday meeting. “It’s all pretty set to go, so that can be expected in the next few weeks.”

Senior Class Senator

Daniel Iturri suggested that the Executive Board send summaries of SGA’s accomplishments and spending to the students at the end of each semester. Freshman Class Senator Dahn Hugh supported the idea, saying that it would show the students how SGA affects their lives.

“We don’t want to be a secret cult that nobody knows what we do; we just meet every Wednesday morning in an office room,” Hugh said.

“It would be a good idea to let people know what we’re doing [and] how we’re doing it, especially if they’re the ones funding us.”

SGA receives funding from the Campus Life Fee, a $126 charge that every student pays each semester. President Meredith McCune said in the meeting that other campus groups that receive funding from the Campus Life Fee, like the Student Programing Board, openly spend their money on events the groups plan throughout the year.

Since SGA spends money on more than just events, McCune mentioned that class senates may send newsletters to communicate with their peers about fund allocations, a method SGA used during her freshman year.

“Typically, each class senate is supposed to send a monthly newsletter updating your class on what your senate has been doing,” McCune said. “You’re not required to, but that is typically expected of your senate.”

Freshman Class Senator Jacob Zanca suggested that SGA use its social media to keep students informed

about the resolutions the Senate considers.

“As far as keeping people informed about past resolutions goes, that’s something where we can really leverage our social media presence,” Zanca said. “Something as simple as a screenshot of the text of the resolution. That kind of thing is just a really easy way that students can have a direct line to what SGA is doing tangibly.”

Interim SGA Adviser Doug Hurley said SGA is transparent, but it takes effort from the students to find out what SGA does.

“You can make the effort to go to a town hall,” Hurley said. “You can come, you can be part, you can see. I’d love the idea of a website — I do think it is incumbent upon SGA to make sure our great spending on awesome things is known.”

Hurley also addressed the recent SGA impeachment as a part of the students’ transparency concerns.

“I don’t want to define transparency as Meredith making a comment to the Graphic about a student [who] underwent a very difficult process [impeachment],” Hurley said. “That was hard for our colleague.

And he’s a student. And I don’t want to just throw his name in the Graphic and define that as transparency.”

Besides discussing transparency, the Senate passed Resolution #3-S20, which provided funding for abroad sophomores to receive class T-shirts, at the Wednesday meeting.

The Sophomore Class Senate requested $500 from the General Fund to purchase 20 tees for each

Julie Lee | News writer

Talk It Out | President Meredith McCune (left) speaks at the January 15 Senate Meeting while VP of Administration Natalia Escobedo (right) listens.

SGA is working to increase transparency through a new website abroad program, although the total cost of the tees would be $1,500.

Several members voiced concerns about the low number of tees each abroad program would receive, but Executive Vice President Jessie Arnold proposed that abroad students should fill out a Google Form if they want a tee and SGA would print however many were needed.

“I think that this is a fine thing to fund right now,” McCune said. “And if you do end up needing more funding … we definitely have room in our budget to fund more if you want to end up send more shirts to a program.”

With McCune’s endorsement, the week’s only reso-

lution passed.

During the meeting’s open forum, Arnold brought up a conversation she had with a professor who had asked why Pepperdine no longer stocks newsstands with print editions of The New York Times.

“I asked the E-Board, because I wasn’t sure what happened, and there was a resolution passed that stopped us getting The New York Times in paper for sustainability reasons,” Arnold said.

General Judicial Council Chair Ikechukwu Egwuonwu responded that Pepperdine students still get an online subscription to the Times for free.

“It might be a good idea

for us to make that a bit more clear to people,” Zanca said.

“I’m sure this was public information, but I had no idea, and nobody I know has ever been like ‘Hey! I’m reading The New York Times on my Pepperdine account.’”

Zanca recommended that SGA use the currently vacant New York Times newsstands to advertise the online access.

“We’ve [provided print editions] in years past,” Hurley said. “For example, outside of the HAWC, there’s one of those metal New York Times things, and nobody picks them up, guys. Your generation does not pick up a newspaper.”

K YL E.J.M C C ABE@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Students prepare for presidential election Ver n ie C ovar r ub ias Ne w s As si stant As the 2020 elections loom ahead, Pepperdine students ponder the decision of which candidate to vote for.

The California Presidential Primary election will be March 3, and the national general election is Nov. 3. The voting rate for U.S. college students more than doubled for the 2018 midterm elections at 40%, compared to 19% in 2014, according to the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement (NSLVE).

Of 10 student interviews, all said they had plans to vote in the general election.

“Right now, I’m going back and forth between a few Democratic candidates,” senior Keanna Byrnes said. “But for the most part, I’m down to a few.”

Byrnes said her final decision will be between Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Sanders was the runner up to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary

and is well known for his “Medicare for all” plan, according to The New York Times. Warren was elected to the Senate in 2012, and her policy plans include creating a wealth tax, canceling student loan debt and breaking up large technology corporations.

“I am kind of between candidates right now, but I am mostly leaning toward Warren,” senior Isabella Lott said.

Senior Cameron Meek said she will not vote for Sanders because she believes he will not win the popular vote. “[Sanders] tried to do it back [in 2016], and there’s just no way,” Meek said. “If anyone’s going to go against Trump, I feel like it has got to be better.”

Meek said she intends to vote for Joe Biden, who she believes will win the popular vote.

Biden is a former Delaware senator and the 47th vice president of the U.S. under the Obama administration.

Biden passed the Affordable Care Act during his time as vice president.

Senior Natalie Bishop agreed with Meek’s sentiment to vote for the candidate with the popular vote.

“I don’t think I’ll be going for Bernie,” Bishop said. “He has had his shot, and a lot of young people are voting for him because his propaganda is like, ‘I’m a socialist,’ and that’s just not really realistic.”

Marissa Moore said she will most likely vote for a Democratic candidate in the general election.

“I really don’t want [Trump] to win again,” Moore said. “But I also don’t want to give my vote to somebody who I don’t align with.”

Junior Will Blum said he plans to be an entrepreneur in the future and intends to vote for Donald Trump.

“I agree with his views on the economy, which I think is the most important thing,” Blum said. “I agree with being as capitalist as possible.”

Natalie Rulon | Creative Director Senior Aubrey Stanchak said she will be voting for the candidate whose policies she most agrees with.

“It’d be good to say [early poll results will influence my decision], but I think you have your opinions and kind of stick with them once you’ve made your decision,” Stanchak said.

“Personally, I’d rather have someone who I feel like I believe in than

someone who I know is gonna win the majority.”

International Student and junior Ata Ayna said the voting system in the U.S. is more complex than in his home country of Turkey.

“I think there’s too much going on here compared to my country,” Ayna said. “But it’s a good representation of democracy.”

Ayna said he values equality in a political

candidate.

“I just want whoever’s going to win to keep me in the States, first of all, but at the same time to treat us equally, and if they can keep the Constitution the same, it would be ideal,” Ayna said.

Of nine interviews, three students said they find difficulty in discussing politics with their peers during the beginning of the elec-

tion season.

“My friends don’t like to talk about it — because everyone’s just stressed and annoyed — which I get,” Meek said.

“That seems to be the general consensus. But I think for me, I just stay up to date with news through Twitter and Bloomberg.”

V ER NETTA.C OVAR R UBIAS @PEPPER DINE.EDU

SGA: New committee seeks inclusion F R OM A 1 Mendoza said. “I just wish that it was a place that felt more welcoming toward those minorities just so that they could get those same opportunities.”

Mendoza said a diverse and inclusive environment is not only important to students in minority groups but also to Pepperdine as a whole.

Calderon said he hopes that the committee will have

a major impact on campus and bring positive change to Pepperdine, especially because it brings together the power of students and administration.

“Our clubs could only do so much, and right now

they’re doing everything that they can, but at some point, it needs to hit the administration level,” Calderon said.

“And that’s where I think the beauty of this committee lies and the impact that it could have.”

Calderon said if students have an interest in the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, they can always reach out.

“If there’s something that you’re passionate about and really want to pioneer at the

university in being culturally aware, inclusive [...] serve on the committee or offer your ideas to the committee, so we can make Pepperdine a better place,” Calderon said.

EM ILY.C.SHAW @PEPPER DINE.EDU ali levens | page designer

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PERSPECTIVES

STAFF LIST

STAFF EDITORIAL

Elizabeth Brummer | Artist

Welcome returning Shanghai students With the suspension of the Pepperdine Shanghai program following the December 2019 outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus continue in Malibu as well as abroad. Nonetheless, in the midst of this epidemic, the Pepperdine community should be warm and inviting — rather than insensitive — to the students returning from China.

The virus’ initial outbreak in China prompted Pepperdine to fly all 38 students home, with their classes resuming in Malibu on Feb. 17. Students who expected to spend their semester abroad are now relocating back to Malibu after spending two weeks with their families at their permanent residences.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global health emergency in January.

According to the WHO, a public health emergency of international concern is only declared during “an extraordinary event” that poses a “public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease.” The death toll has only continued to increase, with 1,018 deaths in China as of Feb. 11.

This disruption in the semester is not a foreign concept to all students, as some of the members of the Shanghai program — notably sophomore students — also experienced the Borderline Shooting and Woolsey Fire in November 2018.

With their abroad experience cut short, these students may additionally feel out of place with offensive memes and insensitive questions thrown their way.

Since students have already been through a voluntary quarantine

and screened by the university, it is important to be mindful of what these students have been through.

In response to bringing abroad students back to Malibu, Pepperdine should create events that can ease the transition from abroad.

These events could align with those already in place for spring admits and students returning from fall semesters spent overseas.

It can be difficult transitioning from abroad back to Pepperdine’s Malibu campus — especially when the move is unexpected. Joking about trauma, through memes or otherwise, can be particularly triggering. Instead of making jokes about the virus or being insensitive to returning students, it is important to be aware that what happened in Wuhan could easily happen in Los Angeles.

Rather than giving in to the urge to jab at whether a student

might be contagious, students should instead maintain a welcoming spirit and invite the Shanghai students to share their experiences. Having a conversation about what is going on globally will only help to spread awareness on campus and create a smoother transition for abroad students.

Additionally, through sharing our fears and concerns over illness and catastrophe, the community as a whole can acknowledge the ways in which individuals feel discomfort, can take responsibility and then work to take control.

Pepperdine fosters prolific and energized students who seek to not only better themselves as individuals but also to make the world a better place to live; this begins with our campus. Just as all are welcome at Pepperdine, all should be welcomed to return home. Let us receive them with open arms.

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Show Urgency in Diversity Issues

Look at race sociologically

alexis scanlon staff writer

anitiz muonagolu P e r s p e c t i v e s A s s i s ta n t

Pepperdine is infamous for its rocky relationship with diversity and inclusion, such as the LGBTQ+ Freedom Wall scandal and racial microaggressions. Students have protested and outcried for progress, but is Pepperdine actively trying to change or just pacifying the masses of the students? Pepperdine and students need to evaluate whether their programs are producing tangible results or if they are just another form of self-gratification for the administrators.

Addressing the real issues should be the university’s priority, and despite years of trying to create different ways to promote diversity, the Pepperdine community still doesn’t seem to understand diversity issues; the efforts are half-baked.

One of the ways seems to be the Seeking Education Equity and Diversity (SEED) program. In an interview with the Graphic, Pepperdine professor Bert Ballard and Associate Dean and professor of Religion Kindy DeLong said SEED was a response to the protest of the Columbus statue and Native American painting since the students demanded a mandatory teacher diversity course.

SEED is also voluntary, and the faculty and staff who do participate meet once a month. In its four-year span, it has had 98 faculty members participate out of the total 266 faculty members on campus, DeLong wrote in an email.

However, is SEED effective in reforming the faculty relations with students? As aforementioned, Pepperdine adopted SEED due to students demanding mandatory training on diversity issues, but

SEED remains optional. DeLong said the SEED program works best when “people want to be part of that conversation.”

Wanting to be a part of the conversation is helpful when promoting progress, but shouldn’t all faculty at Pepperdine be open to new perspectives and finding the truth?

Another way Pepperdine has tried to encourage inclusion is through Diversity Dinners. Diversity Dinners are planned meals at the President’s house for students to talk about issues on campus and solutions for said concerns. Payton Silket, BSA co-president, described the events as an opportunity for “great dialogue.” He continued via email, writing that the dinners were the first step to diversity and inclusion advancements. “[But] there’s only so many fancy luxurious dinners,” said Latin Student Association (LSA) Freshman Liaison Harold Aguayo. “They have the potential [to solve issues], but we haven’t done anything,” he said.

“We talk a lot about, like, the Board of Regents, and we talk about all this stuff, and we don’t know who

they are, the mystique of them.

What’s the mystery behind them?

What’s the mystery behind those that are making the laws.”

The Diversity Dinners that President Jim Gash holds are a great way to bring conversation and spur discourse, but without action and a sense of urgency from administration to solve issues, these dinners are just empty promises that show a facade of progress.

Last, are administration and faculty hesitant to speak out?

Naya Edwards, a first-year student present at the Diversity Dinners, theorizes, “Even the ones that were aware of the issue won’t say anything because, I mean, if there [are] people paying them and feeding their families, then I can understand the hesitance to speak out against the administration.”

No one wants to bite the hand that feeds them, but if the faculty are too afraid of how the administration might react, that means both the students and professors suffer and Pepperdine stays static in resolving inclusivity and diversity problems.

Naya proposes another theory:

“The faculty is not diverse itself, so a lot of people don’t tend to speak about issues that don’t affect them.”

The majority of Pepperdine faculty is white, so that means many issues these diverse communities face go over their heads and aren’t noticed.

Fortunately, there is hope.

“There is a silver lining” wrote Diversity Council student representative Natalia Escobedo. “If you are experiencing an issue around diversity and inclusion, there are so many resources to express that and attain help whether that be through SGA, ICA or sharing your experiences with your trusted faculty mentors.”

Pepperdine must remove the sense of mystique brought about by the administration-including the Board of Regents,-re-evaluate its institutions like SEED and make it mandatory and acknowledge the issues that have persisted for years.

Pepperdine must publicize to the entire university that change is soon and inevitable.

AJ.M UONAGOL U@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Pay attention, your hero may be a rapist

J u d i t h-Daly Br iste r - K nab e S ta f f w r i t er

In 2003 in Vail, Colorado, shortly after Kobe Bryant’s marriage to Vanessa Bryant and the birth of his first daughter, a 19-year-old girl accused Bryant of holding her down by her neck and whispering, “You aren’t going to tell anyone” into her ear as he raped her. DNA evidence concluded that she had Bryant’s sperm inside of her and lacerations on her genitals that were “inconsistent with consensual sex.” The media treated her like an unstable whore and Bryant like a victim.

Now, a decade and a half later, nothing has changed.

Bryant managed to maintain his career, status and marriage. To avoid testifying, his alleged victim sued in civil court, resulting in a settlement that kept Bryant’s record clean. He issued his accuser an apology that read like a half-confession: “I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.” The statement went on, “Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure.”

But how do we reconcile the loss of a prolific basketball player, which no one would deny he was, with the fact that he was also an accused predator — a talented one, but one nonetheless? It is OK to mourn him,

Madeline Duvall| ArT Editor even to love him, but it is important to mourn him for who he really was, not who we want him to be.

Bryant was a philanthropist, and he was also an accused rapist. Bryant was one of the best basketball players to date, and he was also an accused rapist. By all accounts, Bryant was an excellent father to four daughters, and he was also an accused rapist. Bryant was a talented filmmaker, and he was also an accused rapist. Even his later attempts at feminism are marred by the fact that he was, in fact, accused of rape.

Humans are complicated, and everyone who has ever been accused of rape is human.

Over the past last decade, many allegedly ‘great men’ fell from grace because of violence against women. It seems that Bryant’s rape accusation came just a few years before society decided that women were worth believing and that no amount of talent would grant the right to abuse.

There is no death worthy of celebration, but I doubt America would grieve the loss of Bill Cosby or Harvey

Weinstein in the same capacity as they do Bryant, despite the fact that each of those men were also profoundly talented and offered much to their respective fields.

There is, of course, a difference between Cosby, Weinstein and Bryant. Cosby and Weinstein’s crimes were declared in a court of law, while a cloud of uncertainty hangs over Bryant’s reputation because there is only one accuser who, luckily for him, refused to testify in court. According to the law, Bryant is innocent.

No one is perfect, and Bryant certainly did good for his community and his fans, but we would be remiss to fall into hero-worship of a man who may have raped a teenager.

JUDITH.BR ISTER -K NABE@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Race is a complex social construct. The biological concept of race is deeply rooted in genetics. Sociology is a more effective approach to explore the idea of race without boundaries.

The classroom is the perfect place for Pepperdine students to begin to integrate the complexities of genetics and how people perceive race.

Race is separate from ethnicity in that it is not tied to location or culture. Race are factors that others use to perceive people as biologically one or the other.

The phrase “socially constructed” does not mean that something is fake but something that society has created.

Michael Omi and Howard Winant’s racial formation theory, is “the sociohistorical process by which racial identities are created, lived out, transformed and destroyed.”

Race as something to be perceived disintegrates borders and looks at a spectrum of race perception.

Society has historically tied racism to biology with unfounded science. Those in places of power within the United States have long decided what defines race so that power over minorities is maintained.

The cynical one-drop rule is a powerful example of history that biologically shaped a legal definition of race. The goal of the law was to define any percentage of non-white genetic make up as a minority. A person with a racially white appearance — but a more racially diverse genetic make up — would have been deemed a minority to oppress.

The use of pseudoscience to support racism has been deeply rooted in the U.S. for centuries. This is an active tool of oppression that is still utilized today.

A 2018 paper published in the journal Evolution, Medicine and Public Health shows how the health differences between white and Black people are more likely to stem from environmental factors rather than a line of racial genetic history.

Environmental racism plays a large role in health trends seemingly tied to race that have been unjustly argued as genetic disparities. A 2016 study in Environmental National tied long-term exposure to pollutants to highly segregated areas, creating health effects for communities of color.

These health issues are not the result of some ineptitude in Black people’s DNA but the product of racism manifested as structural oppression.

Without examining social factors and constructions, it is easy to come to conclusions that are seemingly biology supports. Without the ideology of sociology, humans can only be seen for their genetics or their skin tone.

In Pepperdine classrooms, students are equipped to view the world with educated eyes. How can classes better prepare students to be members of society who do not see the world of race and diversity as genetically defined lines?

By connecting biology and sociology in the classroom, the supposed science notions that contribute to racism’s persistence are debunked. Students can learn through different ideas that remove race from its definitional box and explore it as a construct.

L EX I.SC ANL ON@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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Administrator Opens Up Home for House Church lindsey sullivan ass i s tant news e dit or Every week, Gary Hanson and his wife Tracey have the Pepperdine community join them for a gathering of fellowship, instrumental worship and Biblical teaching — all from the comfort of their own home.

Gary Hanson serves as Pepperdine’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He and Tracey live in faculty housing on Tiner Court.

We just wanted to start humbly in a home and try to create that sense of community. danny dewalt, vice president Vice President and Chief of Staff Danny DeWalt, who was involved with the founding of House Church, said in its beginnings there was a sense that students were craving faith community, support and encouragement.

“We just wanted to start humbly in a home and try to create that sense of community,” DeWalt said. “Which is why we serve dinner so students can come and sit

around a table. There is something special about a meal together, and that builds community.”

The service features a time for guests to share a meal, followed by communion, a time of worship and a message from a church member. There is also a dedicated prayer team available for those who are seeking additional help or encouragement.

“I think the draw to House Church is that it is a place where all who attend feel welcome and accepted,” Tracey Hanson wrote in an email. “We are thrilled and excited to see students and those from the Pepperdine community responding so positively to House Church.

We are in awe of God’s amazing presence each week.

I like to say, ‘God is up to something good!’”

The service is designed to be a more intimate version of the University Church of Christ (UCC) Sunday evening service that began in summer 2018 and took place in the chapel. UCC continues to host a traditional Sunday morning service weekly in Elkins Auditorium.

What makes House Church so unique, DeWalt said, is that it is designed to be a space where people of all backgrounds, churches and denominations can be united together around Jesus.

“The primary formative truth that the Churches of Christ are founded on is unity,” DeWalt said. “In fact, that’s how they named the church ‘The Church of Christ,’ because they just wanted it to be the one church, and so this [service]

lindsey sullivan | assistant news editor House of Worship | VP and Chief of Staff Danny DeWalt shares a message to the Pepp community about God’s mercy Saturday, Feb. 8. Dewalt hosts a weekly gathering of fellowship in his home. is very much in the spirit of the Church of Christ — that we are all welcome to this table.”

DeWalt shared a message about God’s mercy Feb. 8 as part of a semester-long series explaining different qualities of God’s nature.

“We found that as we were starting this service, we wanted to set a foundation in the most solid thing we could, the most solid truths we could, and that’s God’s unchanging and divine nature,” DeWalt said. “There is so much out there about God that is just not true. To talk about the scriptures and the truth of the nature of God that is unchanging, that whatever is happening in the world, whatever is going

FOOD: Dining services taste tests finalists FROM A1 able to give feedback on one of the vendors.”

Taylor said they formed a committee with representatives from different backgrounds who can speak to the finance, technology or design aspects of choosing a vendor. Additionally, they let the candidates decide how they wanted to approach their taste testing.

Participants were asked to fill out a sheet after the taste test and will also have access to a link on their website for further comments if needed.

Sophomore Daniel Lopez was one of the few students who attended the Chartwells taste testing Monday afternoon.

“I had the power of representing the students,” Lopez said. “Especially being here today, seeing so many faculty and staff here, it makes me feel like maybe the decision isn’t in our hands, but at the end of the day, it’s a privilege that you have.”

Lopez participated in the Teaching Kitchen, where a head chef taught a group how to make a grain bowl with hummus, quinoa, baby kale, sweet potatoes and avocado.

“I’ve never had that kind of experience,” Lopez said. “I think not only the being-ableto-eat aspect of it, but the learning aspect of what it means to adjust your diet according to what you want and what you do is really cool.”

Admissions counselor and events coor-

dinator Becca Blair said she could not wrap her head around how the Teaching Kitchen would be of no cost to members of the Pepp community. She also tried the variety of food Chartwells prepared at their stations.

“I’m eating the Korean style tofu sweet potato wedges, which are very flavorful,” Blair said. “I’ve never tasted Caf food with this much umph.”

After the finalists’ presentations, a winner will be chosen and asked to do a community-wide food tasting for all to participate.

“I think that the committee and everyone who I talked to who’s been involved in this discussion really understands that food service is a part of how we build this community,” Taylor said. “And it’s not just about putting some food on a plate, you know — it’s about connecting people.”

Taylor said they are hoping to make a selection in February and finish contract negotiations with that vendor to begin the transition period in April. The contract would be effective starting Aug. 1.

A L L I S O N . M. L E E @P E P P E RD I N E . E D U

on in someone’s life, is that those opinions about those things do not define who God is.”

Junior Cassidy Aberson, who began attending House Church at the beginning of the semester, said she enjoys the service’s kind and welcoming atmosphere.

“I’ve never been to a Church of Christ [service] before, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect,” Aberson said. “I’m used to a big church — very charismatic and almost Pentecostal — so it’s different, but also I still feel the presence of God at House Church.”

Sophomore Sammy Alvarado began attending House Church in August 2019 and said she loves the

diverse walks of life represented at the church and that there are opportunities for meeting new people, building relationships and receiving mentorship.

“I also really appreciate that we all share a meal together,” Alvarado said. “It’s a great opportunity to talk with people, and it’s different from any other churches that I’ve gone to, and I really love the way they do communion while we’re sitting at the table — I think that’s how communion was meant to be taken.”

DeWalt said House Church is meant to be a place where people from any denomination or background can feel like a part of the family.

“We are just open arms here,” DeWalt said. “I think that’s our deepest heart — is that every student at Pepperdine would know that we are doing this and that we’re here and that we really want them to be a part of it.”

Tracey Hanson said as long as people want to attend House Church, she and Gary Hanson will continue to open up their home.

“We hope [House Church] is a place where people feel accepted, ministered to and spiritually refreshed,” Tracey Hanson said.

L INDSEY.SUL L IVAN@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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LIFE & ARTS DANCE IN FLIGHT sparks feeling into motion

Photos by Milan Loiacono | Photo editor Feeling in Motion | Senior Jordyn Berry leads mesmerizing choreography during one of the 15 numbers that constitute this year’s performance.

N ICOLE WITT STAFF WRITE R SAVANNAH WELCH LI F E A N D ARTS E D ITOR Dance in Flight (DIF) takes the stage Thursday night to kick off their weekend-long string of performances.

“I think that dance builds a really strong community of friends because you all obviously share a passion for the art that it creates,” freshman DIF dancer Caroline Macleod said. “It’s for people who prefer to tell art by using their body, as opposed to a canvas.”

DIF, Pepperdine’s dance company, has worked on the performance since September 2019.

Every year, DIF performances originate from a central theme. Macleod said this year’s theme, “What Do You Feel?” explores different emotions and human experiences.

“It’s definitely a lot more of a modern artwork compared to some of the past themes — like the ‘70s,’ for example — which is a lot more straightforward,” Macleod said.

Senior Bella Alabi said this year’s theme is meant to provoke thought within audiences. Several of the pieces have personal connections with the choreographers.

“This year, the theme was a question, and it’s typically something conceptual,” Alabi said. “I think their goal was to have people reflect within themselves

and have them be responsive instead of just watching.”

Alabi has performed in DIF for all three years she has been at the Malibu campus, not counting her sophomore year abroad in Florence.

“My favorite part [of dance] is getting to let go of everything else and just move how I want my body to move and express what I want to express without anyone telling me what to do or how to feel in that moment,” she said.

Before dancers begin rehearsals, it is up to choreographers to take a conceptualized idea and turn it into a palpable routine, senior DIF choreographer Hailey Flame said.

“I’ve kind of always had the same process for thinking for it because I’ve been choreographing for a long, long time,” Flame said. “I normally just find a song that I really like ... or I feel some sort of connection to it, or it just kind of inspires me to start moving. I’ll just kind of start dancing, and then eventually, something will kind of happen over and

over again that it just stays in my body, and then it kind of sets, and then I move on.”

While Flame creates ideas for a piece, she said she relies on the feedback from her dancers to hone and craft the dance.

“I also really like talking to my dancers and being like, ‘Hey, do you guys like this? Does this feel OK? Do you have any suggestions?’ Because I never want my dancers in my pieces to not feel good doing the movement,” Flame said.

Each DIF performance communicates a wide spectrum of energy and tones. No two pieces are alike, showcasing the depth and array of ideas from the choreographers.

“I think that this year, the theme is definitely more abstract,” Macleod said.

“It’s very different from anything DIF has ever put out as a performance.”

There are four DIF performances beginning Thursday night and continuing through Saturday. Tickets cost $20 for general admission and $10 for Pepperdine students.

NIC OL E.W ITT@PEPPER DINE.EDU SAVANNAH.W EL C H@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Marking Movement | (left) Assistant Student Director Natalie Chan (center front) leads a number from this year’s Dance in Flight (DIF) performance, themed by the question “What Do You Feel?” (right) Dancers display impressive flexibility during the opening number to the 2020 Dance in Flight performance. (below) Silhouetted DIF performers prepare for the next piece, 1 of 15 that make up the show.

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Zakian’s final exhibit is a poignant look at the female form Senior Spotlight: Callie Colvin L au r en C hi v er s L I FE & A R T S A SSI STA N T Callie Colvin is just about everywhere on campus, saying hello to every person who passes. A History major hailing from Fort Worth, Texas, Colvin spoke to the Graphic about how her internship at the Department of Justice sparked her passion for advocacy and policy-making.

What has been your favorite part of Pepperdine?

Photos by Savannah Welch | life and arts editor Women as Art | The “Rodin and Women: Muses, Sirens, Lovers” exhibit opened to the public on Jan. 18. The exhibit features over 40 of Rodin’s works. s avannah w el c h l if e & ar ts edi tor Since its installment in early January, French sculptor Auguste Rodin’s collection has drawn students, faculty and community members to the Weisman Museum.

“We’re really, really lucky to have something so renowned here,” said junior Art major Emily Knight, a student employee at the Weisman. “[These pieces], they’re insanely sought after in other museums.”

The exhibition, titled “Rodin and Women: Muses, Sirens, Lovers,” contains 40 bronze sculptures that focus on emotion through the female form. The collection of Rodin’s work, which

depicts women as artistic inspiration, was the last Pepperdine exhibition that former Museum Director Michael Zakian, who died last month, curated.

Managing Director of the Center for the Arts Rebecca Carson said before his death in January, Zakian worked for two years with the Cantor Foundation to acquire Rodin’s pieces for Pepperdine’s own showcase.

“There are a lot of people at the Center for the Arts that really went above and beyond to make sure this would happen — that the exhibition would still go on,” Carson said. “[We] really wanted to make Michael proud in terms of how this was put together and be some-

thing that we all could feel good about.”

Carson said Zakian selected the layout and arrangement of the Rodin pieces.

While unable to see the exhibit in its finished form, Zakian did see Rodin’s work the day it arrived at the Weisman.

“So actually his last day in the museum was the Thursday before Christmas, and it was the day that the crates arrived with the Rodin,” Carson said. “So he saw that the work was here. We didn’t have a chance to [arrange the pieces] yet. It’s life. You just don’t know.”

The Rodin exhibit, an exploration of the biblical and mythological expressions of women, also features several sculptures that Rodin’s assistants

— and lovers — completed. While women in the art world have not always had a voice, Rodin highlights the power and expression of femininity.

Freshman Foster Graf talked about the The relevance of Rodin’s beautiful work today.

“The beautiful thing thing about art is the lens about art through which you interpret it is constantly is the lens able to change,” Graf through said. “Whatever struggles may have been which you faced by a particular interpret it. group in the 1800s ... may not match exactly what’s happening now. Foster Graf, I think that any group Freshman will always have struggles — struggles that will remain open to they’re going through, the public until March and it’s cool to high- 29. light them and bring awareness, whatever it might be.”

Rodin’s works at the Weisman Museum S AVA N N A H .W E L C H@PEPPER DINE.EDU

Callie Colvin: Ultimately, it’s the people here and the atmosphere. I notice at Pepperdine you get to kind of grow with each other; it’s an amazing atmosphere to be able to come to college in a place where you get to grow [with each other] and go alongside their journeys with them. There’s a lot courtesy of sony pictures of love on this campus, and it’s nice to be around.

Which professors or classes at Pepperdine were especially noteworthy to you?

CC: I took American History through Baseball with Professor Loretta Hunnicutt. We analyzed the social history of the U.S. by looking at baseball and how the changes made to baseball reflected the changes of the entire United States. It’s funny because I’m not a baseball fan, but I feel like now I am, a little bit.

What has been your abroad experience through Pepperdine?

CC: I did D.C. in the fall of 2018 and then Heidelberg in the spring of 2019. Then I was home for two weeks and went to Jordan with the Middle East study program in May. [Studying in Jordan] was the most life-changing month. I felt actually immersed in the Arab culture. We were learning Arabic, and we learned the Muslim faith and their practices. Honestly, I feel like the rhetoric surrounding the Middle East has always been this one-sided thing, but actually going there and being there, I thought, “My eyes are so open and everything I’ve been taught is a lie.” I’ve never felt Jesus’ love more than when I was there with these people that are not Christian. It was the coolest thing.

What are activities or extracurriculars you are involved with on campus?

CC: I’m in Pi Phi — it’s been an amazing way to meet upperclassmen and girls that I look up to a lot. The funnest thing I’ve done is KWVS, the radio show — Me and Lexi Scanlon [Perspectives Staff Writer for the Graphic] — on Mondays at 10 p.m., we talk for an hour about the most recent “Saturday Night Live” episode, and we analyze and talk about it — talk about life. I’m an RA this year; it takes up a lot of time and energy. I feel like I’ve matured a lot in that role; I have a heart for just being able to help freshmen through college.

What are your plans for life post-grad?

Sculpture and Literature | (Left) Rodin’s “Three Faunesses” pays tribute to classic Roman mythology, depicting three women performing a form of pagan dance. (Right) Rodin’s pieces focus on the complex associations of women through literary motifs.

WHAT OUR READERS ARE LISTENING TO: WE ASKED STUDENTS ON CAMPUS WHAT’S AT THE TOP OF THEIR PLAYLIST THIS WEEK

“alaska” maggie rogers

photos by milan loiacono | photo editor “yo le llego”

“God in Jeans” RYAN BEATTY

j balvin, bad bunny

CC: I always wanted to be a lawyer, but I also kind of always wanted to be a teacher because both my parents are teachers, so it’s sort of always defined me — being a teacher’s kid. But teaching is the coolest position you can have, and seeing the way my parents have changed lives inspired me so much. I think I could do education policy because it combines my heart for teachers, and a lot of stuff I was working on at the DOJ had to do with schools. So I ended up applying to graduate schools for public policy. On the other hand, I applied for Teach For America; it’s a two-year program, and at the end, you most likely get your teacher certification. All I know is I would love to end up in D.C. one day and I really want to make a difference. I want to fight for people, and I think that D.C. has so many jobs where I can do that.

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“Post malone” sam feldt, rani

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SPORTS

Waves Track passes the baton to a new season ali l ev ens staf f w r i ter Following a record-breaking men’s cross country season and freshman runners entering the women’s scene, the Waves Track team prepares to improve for the outdoor season.

Head Coach Sylvia Mosqueda gave the runners workouts to do in the winter off-season to establish a solid start for the first meets of the season.

“Over the break, we were doing workouts and mileage at home,” sophomore Jackson Felkins said. “Since we’ve come back to school, we’ve been training hard [by] doing three workouts a week.”

The women’s-only indoor season stretches from the end of January to mid-February. They join the men in the seven outdoor meets from the end of February to the beginning of May. The women have competed in two of their three indoor meets: the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational, hosted by the University of New Mexico, and Jacksons Nike Boise Invitational in Boise, Idaho.

At the first meet Jan. 24–25, freshman Skyler Danley finished eighth in the 3,000-meter run with a personal-best 10:46.27. On the sprinters’ end, junior Caila Tongco ran an 8.97 in the 60-meter hurdles but failed to qualify for finals. In the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries, Tongco raced against Keni Harrison, the world-record holder, in the 100-meter hurdles.

“I think it was a really … surreal experience,” Tongco said. “That’s even an added layer to the whole compe-

tition aspect, and I think it really helped me gain more experience under my belt.”

In addition to new Cross Country and Track Head Coach Mosqueda, Yannick Allain joined the team in the fall of 2019 as the sprints and hurdles coach.

“It’s definitely been a stage of adapting to having an actually present and caring coach who just wants to get better, but to do so in a way that everyone’s on the same page,” Tongco said.

“He doesn’t put too much pressure on us either. He has dedicated a lot to our team.”

Their second meet Feb. 7–8 yielded improved results. Danley set a new school record in the indoor 5,000-meter run with an 18:29.70, finishing sixth overall. Tongco missed qualifying for the 60-meter dash final by two-hundredths of a second, clocking in at 7.88.

“I like track the best because I can just focus on … going into a race, knowing exactly what times to hit,” Danley said.

Sophomore Tiffany Ebgo led the team in the 200-meter dash (1:02.86, ranking 27) and the 400-meter dash (27.34, ranking 40).

The Waves had two topfive finishers in the 1-mile run, with junior Abbey Meck placing fourth (5:22.71) and senior Cori Persinger following in 5:23.12. Persinger was one place away from a top10 spot in the 800-meter run (2:25.86).

Once the women’s team completes their final indoor race, the Boise State Challenge on Feb. 15, both women’s and men’s teams transition to the outdoor season, which exclusively contains meets held in Southern Cal-

Courtesy of Lindsay Sanger Baby Got Track | The Men’s Track team gets after it with core workouts in the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center weight room. In the fall, the team finished thirteenth in the NCAA West Region. ifornia.

“What I want to do for Pepperdine is to take these kids to a different level … and to be competitive,” Mosqueda said. “A lot of what happens in the winter time is crucial on these little breaks.”

The Men’s Cross Country team finished 13th in the NCAA West Regional meet, which was the best in Pepperdine’s history, with Felkins leading the team for the second year in that race. Felkins also holds the track school record in the 10,000-meter run. Sophomores Sports Editor Karl Winter and News Assistant Kyle McCabe guided the team in the regular-season meets.

The women’s team finished 34th, with Danley finishing first on the team at this meet and for four of the five regular-season races.

Pepperdine will compete in seven regular-season track

meets since there is no West Coast Conference meet.

Most of the women’s team competes in middle-distances races, such as the 800 or 1,500, although there are a few outliers who sprint (60-meter, 100-meter and hurdles) and who lengthen their runs (5,000-meter). On the men’s side, long distance is the most common, such as the 3,000-meter or the 5,000-meter races.

The Waves’ debut outdoor meet is at the University of California, Santa Barbara, on Saturday, Feb. 22.

“I want them to open up strong with a solid time,” Mosqueda said. “I’m the type of coach that makes these huge goals. I make them seem unrealistic, but they are realistic. A lot of people don’t know how good they really are, and it is my job to instill confidence in them.”

A L I . L E V E N S @PEPPER DINE.EDU

courtesy of pepperdine athletics Sorry, Gotta Run | Junior sprinters pose during the team’s media day.

LAFC launches its third season and establishes position as the ‘Heart of LA’ V er nie C ovar rubias new s ass i s tan t The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) kicked off its third season with a sold-out friendly match against Uruguayan powerhouse Club Atlético Peñarol on Jan. 25.

Within the 10th minute, team captain Carlos Vela scored the first goal, erupting the stands at the Banc of California Stadium into a display of waving banners, smoke bombs and supporter chants.

Founded in 2018, LAFC is the second-newest team to join Major League Soccer (MLS). The team shares its home city with the Los Angeles Galaxy and has garnered 22,042 attendees on average at its home games over the course of its first two seasons, according to an LAFC press release.

LAFC won its first game of the year against Peñarol 2–0.

“This is the best sporting event I’ve ever been to in the city of Los Angeles, and I’ve lived here for a long time,” actor Keegan-Michael Key said in an LAFC interview.

“This is unbelievable. It’s what football should be.”

Key is not alone in his sentiment, as other fans have taken note of the new MLS team’s rapid growth in support.

“Despite only playing 42 games

at their home stadium, LAFC’s fans are the most engaged of any LA fan base when it comes to in-stadium antics,” Pepperdine Sports Law professor Alicia Jessop wrote in a tweet.

The team’s independent supporters union, the 3235, recently won the Independent Supporters Council’s “Tifo of the Year” award for its Freddie Mercury tifo. A tifo is a large banner which fans hold up at sporting events to form a display. The supporters hoisted a large-scale poster of Mercury accompanied by the song “We Will Rock You” on LAFC’s official Pride Night on May 24, 2019.

LAFC sold out all home MLS games, including three playoff matches played at Banc of California Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 22,000.

The stadium opened shortly before the first season began April 18, 2018. The venue is the first openair stadium in Los Angeles since the opening of the Dodger Stadium in 1962.

“This is the best stadium I have ever been in,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said in an LAFC interview. “I saw the face of my city and I felt the heart of this town.”

In its inaugural season, LAFC qualified for the 2018 MLS Cup playoffs after earning the third-

place spot in the Western Conference, according to official MLS standings. LAFC’s second season exceeded expectations after breaking 13 MLS records.

FIFA identified team captain Carlos Vela as one of the most talented young players in the world after leading Mexico’s National Team to a 3–0 victory against Brazil during the 2005 U-17 World Cup. Vela went on to play for notable European clubs including Arsenal, Celta de Vigo and Real Sociedad before beginning his MLS career.

Vela has been an instrumental player for LAFC after breaking the MLS single season scoring record with 34 goals during the 2019 season.

The CONCACAF Champions League highlights the top 16 clubs in Central America, North America and the Caribbean. The teams compete for the opportunity to face off with the champions of the world’s other five soccer confederations, including the home of some of the best European clubs, the UEFA Champions League.

LAFC earned a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League after winning the supporters shield during their historic 2019 season.

“Together with our community,

Vernie Covarrubias | news assistant Kickin’ It | LAFC fans wave flags to celebrate the first goal of the season against Club Atlético Peñarol on Jan. 25. we continue to make soccer history in the heart of Los Angeles,” LAFC Owner and President Tom Penn said.

The club has a 26-person ownership group including notable figures Will Ferrell, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Mia Hamm Garciaparra and Mark Shapiro.

LAFC will begin its Champions League play Feb. 18 in León, Mexico. The next opportunity to watch an LAFC home game is Feb. 27 against León.

V ER NE.C OVAR R UBAS@PEPPER DINE.EDU

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PE P P E R DIN E GR A P H IC M E DIA | S PORTS | F E B RU A RY 1 3 , 20 20

Seniors ready for their final semester as a Wave Tay l o r Gat her A s s istant spor ts ed itor Aust in hal l staf f w r i ter Regardless of the sport, an athlete’s final year of eligibility is difficult to endure. For transfers, fifth-years and the conventional senior, all are equipped to conclude their fourth season wearing the blue and orange.

As the athletes across these six sports have limited games remaining in second homes like Firestone Fieldhouse, Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center, Eddy D. Field Stadium and others, they have unfinished business this season and aren’t ready to look back quite yet.

Momoka Kobori Leading Women’s Golf as Lone Senior

courtesy of roger horne| pepperdine athletics Easy Does It | Momoka Kobori chips a ball onto the green.

Momoka Kobori is one of the most decorated athletes at Pepperdine. She was a West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year in 2016 and an All-Conference selection in her previous two years.

To start her senior season, she has individual finishes of first place, a tie for third place as well as eighth place through Women’s Golf’s first four tournaments. With Kobori’s strong outings, she has carried the team to two near-victories, finishing second in both the Dick McGuire Invitational and the Golfweek Conference Challenge.

Kobori said there were areas in her game that she felt she needed to improve and focused on that in the offseason.

“There were some things that I needed to change before the fall,” Kobori said.

“I made some minor swing changes just to get a little bit more distance and accuracy.

Other than that, this offseason was really good for me because I learned to keep the rest of my game steady and improve on the little things.”

Kobori is the only senior on this team and said she feels she has taken a leadership role this season.

“Last year, we had three seniors. Now that they’re gone, part of my role is to try and be there to support the younger players however I can. They’ve done a pretty good job on their own. It hasn’t been too difficult for me in that sense.”

After three remaining tournaments, the Waves will look to a postseason that consists of the conference championship, NCAA regionals and potentially nationals. Last season, the team won the WCC and made it to regionals but finished fifteenth, nine spots shy of the top-six teams that advance to

nationals.

Kobori said she is ready for the team to take their next step and qualify to play with the best in the country.

“We believe we can make it to nationals,” Kobori said.

“We made it my freshman year, and while you never know what can happen, this team is right up there with talent.”

The team had another top finish on Tuesday, finishing in 12th place at the Regional Challenge with Kobori placing 16th individually. Next up is the Bruin-Wave Invitational co-hosted by UCLA and Pepperdine on Feb. 24.

Kameron Edwards Making the Most of Fifth Year of Eligibility Graduate forward Kameron Edwards not only overcame numerous injuries but managed to make All-WCC honorable mention in the 2018–2019 season in the process.

From the only freshman his first year on the team to the only senior his fifth year, Kameron Edwards said he felt taking on a leadership role was only natural going into the season.

“There’s always a lot of guys you see on teams who [try] to discipline or yell at their teammates and stuff like that,” Kameron Edwards said. “I just try to focus on being somebody who is always going to uplift people and always tell people words of encouragement. Then when I see them making mistakes … just find ways to help them with that.”

Kameron Edwards’ younger brother, sophomore Kessler Edwards, inspires Kameron to persevere through adversity.

“Playing with him [Kessler] has really shaped my Pepperdine experience overall,” Kameron Edwards said.

“Knowing you have your little brother on the team, it kind of makes you want to hold yourself more accountable. Even in terms of injuries, I’ve had a lot of injuries in my career, but having him here just makes you want to be on the court more because this is kind of our last year together.”

Kameron Edwards has high hopes for his last season, from winning the WCC Tournament and playing in the NCAA Tournament to being First-Team All-Conference.

“Something our coaches have been preaching a lot to us recently [is] that every possession matters [and] every day at practice matters,” Kameron Edwards said. “Just taking it all seriously because it translates to the game for us.”

Kameron Edwards said he works hard both on and

off the court, leading his teammates by example and continuing to play basketball even after he graduates.

“I like to think of myself as a pretty hard worker, somebody who’s in the gym a lot, just always trying to get better,” Kameron Edwards said.

“So I think a lot of guys see that, and I just try to always do the right thing on the court” Kameron Edwards said he cherishes his final moments as a Waves student-athlete.

“I guess my biggest takeaway would be to cherish every moment you have,” Kameron Edwards said. “My five years at Pepperdine have gone by really, really fast, and my freshman year, everybody was telling me that it would, but I had no idea it was going to go by that fast. Just enjoy what you can because you’re not going to be able to play basketball forever or be in college forever.”

Barbara Sitanggan Embraces the Mental Aspect

File photo File photo

The Clamps | Barbara Sitanggan locks up the opposing guard.

With three head coach changes in a four-season span, senior Barbara Sitanggan learned to adjust to change quickly while maintaining her style of play on the court.

In the 2018–2019 season, Sitanggan received an AllWCC honorable mention, scoring a Pepperdine free throws made record of 167 as well as earning the WCC Sportsmanship Award.

As a senior, Sitanggan said she leads her teammates through tough love and sees her role on and off the court as “mom.”

“Being the point guard, there’re a bunch of responsibilities,” Sitanggan said. “You have to know all the plays — not just your position, but the other players’ positions so you know when to get them the ball. ... I guess my [basketball] IQ is something I’m trying to shed light on for all the younger ones as a leader.”

Sitanggan attributes her successes to former personal trainer Steve Yano, who coached her since she was six years old.

“I definitely take him wherever I am,” Sitanggan said. “He used to say a quote: ‘Let it fly.’ That was just, shoot the ball when you’re open and just keep shooting even if you’re missing — it’ll come to you. He was a big part of my life.”

As a starter her freshman year, Sitanggan said she learned to persevere early on both in her play and characFile photo ter and believes her mental toughness will stay with her Mask On | Kameron outside of college.

“My whole four years Edwards cheers on his here has been just a roller Courtesy Athletics teammatesofatPepperdine home. coaster,” Sitanggan said. “I’m

just getting through everything by not being a quitter.

There’ve been so many times that I was tired of it, I didn’t want to wake up for 6 a.m. workouts, I didn’t want to do this or that — but just getting through it and mental toughness was a whole thing.”

See Women’s Basketball take on University of Portland on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at home.

Diego at the Angels College Classic in Phoenix, Arizona.

Cori Persinger Runs Fast

Challenge in Boise, Idaho.

Adrian Oetzbach Headlining Men’s Tennis Turnaround

As one of the three new head coaches at Pepperdine last year, Head Coach Adam Schaechterle and Pepperdine Men’s Tennis had a rebuilding year, going 11–13 and losing to Loyola Marymount in the conference quarterfinal.

Aharon Modlin Ready to The team lost only two Make Deep Conference seniors and brought on Run three talented freshman, and Schaechterle’s sophomore Pepperdine Baseball had coaching campaign is off to an underwhelming 2019 outa scoring 5–0 start with two ing, finishing below a .500 resweeps. cord and seventh in the West One of the standouts is courtesy of Lindsay senior Adrian Oetzbach, a Coast Conference. While the Sanger transfer from the University team had a breadth of talent, many of the players have refGiddy-up | Cori Pers- of Oklahoma who played his erenced problems with culfirst season for the Waves ture and not getting big hits inger toes the line to last year at the No. 1 singles in big moments as reasons start in Pomona. and doubles position. for the sub-par season.

This season, Oetzbach is One of the leaders on the When Pepperdine accept- 4–2 and 3–0 in doubles play. team is Aharon Modlin, an ed Cori Persinger, she had In their fourth match versus infielder who has established no intentions of running on UC Santa Barbara, the Waves himself as a regular at third the Track and Cross Coun- were deadlocked at 3–3 with base. As one of the only three try team, let alone landing the Gauchos in singles play, senior position players, he herself the No. 12 spot on the leaving victory in the hands will have his work cut out for Waves’ all-time list in her fi- of Oetzbach. him with a younger, develop- nal season.

Oetzbach said he thrives ing team around him.

Persinger joined both in those situations.

With 134 games under his Track and Cross Country “I’m always aware of when belt before the 2020 season, teams four years ago, finish- I’m the last match and it’s Modlin’s role has changed ing out her Cross Country three-all,” Oetzbach said. with some of the younger season with a personal best “You start to see your other players. of 22:15.0 at the Capital Cross teammates on the other side, “As a senior, it’s my re- Challenge this past fall. She and you realize the situation. sponsibility to make sure the made WCC All-American I embrace that and try to younger guys understand first team as well as WCC have fun with it. I don’t think the culture of the program Commissioner’s Honor Roll about losing or the conseand our team goal for the up- and Pepperdine Scholar-Ath- quences because that’s when coming season,” Modlin said. lete. you play uptight. I just stick “Since we have such limited “It’s been amazing,” Pers- to my games and wins have time together, the faster the inger said. “I was right in followed.” younger guys can learn the thinking that this would be Oetzbach said Schaechright way to play, the better a good community for me terle’s approach has been our team will be on opening because it totally is. I know instrumental in turning the day.” life-long friends on program CourtesyI’ve of made Pepperdine Athletics andaround.

Calvin Wood Modlin’s freshman season, the team. It’s also been really “In my recruiting, Adam he came onto the scene with cool to see myself still getting [Schaechterle] and also Tassi a .296 batting average with a faster and responding well to [Shmid] were so helpful and .371 on-base percentage, both the training and achieve the reached out to me a lot. As a second on the team. Sopho- time goals I set for myself.” coach, he’s been super promore year, those numbers In her first running sea- fessional and has moved the took a dip, hitting .214. As son, Persinger was one of program forward. They’re a junior, he was able to get nine freshman girls to be a going to keep recruiting the back to his freshman form, part of the team. Now as one best players, and it’s just a hitting .283 with 45 hits on of the five remaining seniors matter of time before we’re a on the Track team, Persing- legitimate top-10 team.” er said she sees her senior Oetzbach also previewed teammates as not only fellow some of the young players leaders but lifelong friends. set to make an impact as the “It feels really good to Waves approach the bulk of have made it the whole way their schedule. with those girls,” Persinger said. “They are the ones I feel like I will be friends with forever. I’m very lucky to have had the opportunity to be able to run for all four years and have these girls do it with me.”

Persinger said she hopes to bring a sense of leadership to younger runners in her final season.

“It’s been cool to progress courtesy of ricky davis | through the program and pepperdine athletics have that senior leadership Crank That | Aharon and be there for younger girls courtesy of catt ott| Modlin goes through on the team in a way I kind of wanted to have for me my his swing in a home pepperdine athletics freshman year but couldn’t,” game versus Gonzaga.

Served Up | Adrian Persinger said. the season.

As Persinger embarks on Oetzbach sends the Modlin said he has devel- her final season, her goals ball to opposing player oped his swing on the physi- include qualifying for the during a home match. cal and mental side.

Mt. SAC Relays and running “It’s been a combination of a 2:22 time in the 800-meter.

“One of our freshmen, both,” Modlin said. “I’ve made While her last season, Pietro Fellin from Italy, has some mechanical changes to Persinger said she has high a developed mind for his simplify my swing. On the hopes for her future as a run- age,” Oetzbach said. “He has mental side, I think it comes ner. a good game, big talent and down to focusing on the task “I definitely see myself could be a crucial part for us. at hand and understanding running for the rest of my Also Robert Shelton, one of that failure happens. Each at- life,” Persinger said. “I’ll the few Americans on our bat is a learning experience, probably take a break for a team, has a big game, but he and I’ve learned through little bit and maybe get some needs to focus on the small three seasons that the faster sleep but it’s something that things to be a very good colyou can make adjustments, I enjoy and is a life skill. I feel lege player.” the chances of success dra- like there’re a lot of life things Men’s Tennis will travel to matically increases.” tied in with running, and I Cal Poly to take on the MusModlin and the team will think it’s very valuable.” tangs on Friday. take the field for the first time Persinger and the Waves TAYL OR .GATHER @PEPPER DINE.EDU this season Friday, Feb. 14 will compete indoor Friday AUSTIN.HAL L @PEPPER DINE.EDU versus the University of San and Saturday at Boise State

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Waved home: Remembering Coach John Altobelli aust in ha ll s taf f w r i t e r It was his final free weekend before his 28th season as the head coach of Orange Coast College.

John Altobelli, 56, gave half his life to the Pirates, but Sunday, Jan. 26 — just two days before the team’s home opener versus Southwestern College — he wanted to be with his family.

Altobelli — or “Alto” as his friends, fellow coaches and players called him — was supporting his 13-year-old daughter, Alyssa, when taking the helicopter flight. She was a teammate on Gianna Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy youth basketball team, which Kobe Bryant created in 2016. Bryant and Altobelli became friends, and Bryant even went to OCC to speak to Altobelli’s team after practice in 2018.

The father-daughter duos, Altobelli’s wife Keri and four others were on board Bryant’s Sikorsky S-76B before it plummeted into a Calabasas hillside, killing everybody on impact.

Altobelli’s legacy will live on through his family and all of the lives he touched in baseball, including his successor, former Pepperdine catcher Nate Johnson.

Altobelli was born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 8, 1963. His father, Jim, was a professional baseball player and journeyman through major and minor league ranks.

As a child, his family moved to Newport Beach, California, and he attended Newport Harbor High School, lettering four years in baseball. After graduation, he enrolled at Golden West College, just 13 miles away from Newport Harbor High. He spent two years as an outfielder before transferring to the University of Houston, where he would finish his college career.

In two seasons, he led the team in nearly every statistical hitting category before trying his luck in the professional ranks. Before the Miami Marlins were the major league team known today, they were a full-season Single-A organization in the 12-team Florida State League. He stopped after 15 games with the Marlins and decided that his future would be in coaching.

He cut his teeth in the coaching ranks at two of his alma maters: first Newport Harbor High for one season in 1985 after leaving the Marlins, then as an assistant at Houston the next year.

Vince Brown has coached high school baseball in Orange County for 35 years, starting his career at Tustin High in 1985. During his first season, he remembers the day that he met Alto.

“John was the [junior varsity] coach at Newport Harbor,” Brown said. “I mainly remember so much because I noticed that his dad was sitting in the stands as a proud dad watching his son coach. I was able to talk to his dad for a while.”

Altobelli graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education in 1987 from Houston and a master’s in Education from Azusa Pacific in 1988. He became an assistant at UC Irvine for four years before they cut baseball due to budgetary reasons.

Jobless, Altobelli searched for two months, and with summer baseball activities commencing for all college ranks, he took a head coaching job at a small community college in Costa Mesa called Orange Coast in 1992. He was 29 years old.

Community college athletics is a completely different entity than the Division I programs at Pepperdine. For community and junior college athletes, predominantly in the sports of football and baseball, there are “bounce-backs.”

They are players who received Division I interest in high school but could not attend because of grades or off-the-field matters.

Bounce-backs are also players who enrolled as athletes at a D1 school and left after one or two seasons, depending on playing time, team fit or disciplinary actions. These bounce-backs would then search

photos courtesy of OCC ATHLETICS Fallen Star | Late Head Coach John Altobelli poses for his 2020 Orange Coast of Richard Photos by Courtesy AliCollege Levens team | Asst.

SportsDavis Editor headshot.

Brown said. “So I’d see John come by to watch Cal State Fullerton just like like his dad used to come watch him at at Newport Harbor High coaching a [junior varsity] game.

CourtesyCourtesy of Steven Guersch | OCC Athletics of Pepperdine Athletics He would show up whenever he Davis ProudSheridan dad-type stuff.”

Paying Respects | Interim Head Coach Nate Johnson embraces his wife Jonai during a cere- could.and After years of building his promony held for John Altobelli on Jan. 28. Johnson succeeded Altobelli as head coach. gram and making deep playoff runs, for a place to play ideally one, son’s former coach was leaving people there, from all the way back Altobelli won his first community sometimes two seasons to show- for a job at Westmont, and he told to his first year of coaching to the college state championship in 2009. case talent and be re-recruited by Johnson that if he wanted his posi- guys from this season.”

It was the first of four, as Johnson Division I or NAIA Schools. tion at OCC, he should reach out to The day before the crash, the was able to coach with Alto for his They would search for places Altobelli. team had their last inter-squad next three championships. Johnson like Orange Coast College.

Johnson did, and helped the scrimmage before their first game was transparent about how he will Altobelli scoured Southern Cal- team that summer as a volunteer Tuesday. Johnson said before ev- never forget those moments with ifornia looking for these types of for their camp with OCC’s incom- ery scrimmage or game, he would his mentor. players who would have to do their ing freshmen. When the summer get to the field at the crack of “The feeling of winning a chamtime in what some call baseball was over, Altobelli offered him a dawn, even though team activities pionship is unparalleled,” Johnpurgatory before getting a bigger job. Johnson remembers how the wouldn’t start for hours. son said. “But the time that I had opportunity. While this meant that process went.

“He would get there early around with him in our office, on Saturday his team would look complete“He took a chance on a 23-year- six in the morning on Saturdays,” mornings or just before practices, ly different year-to-year, he made old graduate with no coaching Johnson said. “He was a guy that those are the times I’m going to reit a point to give players a second experience,” Johnson said. “Seven he didn’t sleep very much because member because we’d just sit there chance. years later, I’m still here.” he was always excited to get to the and talk. It wasn’t always about “John found a niche,” Brown In 2020, he was ready for anoth- field. We didn’t start team activities baseball. He was such a genuine said. “Kids saw that he had the er season as a full-time assistant, until 10, so he was there for a long person, and it’s those moments that perfect program for them to come coaching the outfielders. time doing a lot of nothing. He’d I’ll miss more than all the wins and back and play for. And then the The day of the crash, Johnson re- air-blow the stands or pick up trash the practices.” kids were getting offers from great membered how the events unfold- around the field, just small odd jobs In 27 seasons, Altobelli won 705 schools. I really saw John build his ed from he and the team’s perspec- that he found time for.” games. He is survived by his son J.J. program from the ground up.” tive just 60 miles down the 405.

Altobelli’s unselfishness wasn’t and his oldest daughter Alexis. The One of these bounce-backs is “The team was texting me, ask- limited to the OCC baseball field. Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim Joey Fregosi. He is from the talent- ing, ‘Alto wasn’t on that helicopter Altobelli’s son J.J. spent time at honored the Altobelli family at Aned and always-contending Murrie- was he?’” Johnson said. “I called Cal State Fullerton as an assistant gel Stadium on Monday, Feb. 10. ta Valley High School in Murrieta, the first guy who texted me, who’s coach. Brown, whose oldest son Nate Johnson took over as head California. Like many others, he one of our team leaders. I said that Dillon is a senior pitcher for Fuller- coach for Altobelli and recorded his had Division I interest his senior he was on it, along with his wife ton, remembered three seasons ago first career win Feb. 4 versus Paloyear before going to OCC because and his daughter and all three when he saw Altobelli come by just mar. of his grades. of them are dead. ‘Let’s just go to to watch his son.

“I wanted to continue playing the field.’ That’s the only place we “When my son was a freshman baseball and knew the [junior col- could think about going. By the af- at Cal State Fullerton, J.J. was the lege] route was the best for me,” ternoon, there were probably 300 first base coach and infield coach,” AUSTIN.HAL L @PEPPER DINE.EDU Fregosi said. “I didn’t talk to Alto until later that summer. The first time I met the guy, he was very straight up, honest and just meant well. He always wanted you to feel welcome — regardless of your relationship, he wanted you to feel like a son.”

Fregosi spent two years at OCC playing shortstop and second base.

His sophomore campaign was his best, hitting .269 with 18 RBIs and a home run. New Mexico State and Appalachian State, the D1s that showed the most interest in him while he was in high school, re-recruited Fregosi out of OCC. Again, grades were his downfall as he didn’t qualify for any academic scholarship and could not attend the schools. He accepted a scholarship to the Cumberland Phoenix in courtesy Athletics graphicPhotos by austin hallof| OCC StafF writer Lebanon, Tennessee, of the NAIA division.

For Altobelli, it wasn’t just about finding talented players, but surrounding them with coaches who would help them succeed. In 2014, one of Altobelli’s assistants asked if one of his former Little League players could help out during a summer baseball camp hosted by Orange Coast.

Altobelli said yes, and that former Little League player was Nate Johnson, a 23-year-old college graduate who had exhausted his eligibility as a catcher for Pepperdine University. As a fifth-year senior for the Waves, Johnson was coming off Tommy John surgery and started his final year batting an immaculate .325 with six doubles and seven runs batted in before suffering another injury that would end his career.

“Before the injury, I finally fig- Longevity and Love | (top) Altobelli’s life highlights — from birth to his biggest coaching ured it out,” Johnson laughed. “It accomplishments. (bottom) Altobelli coaches from his team dugout during the 2019 season. only took me five years.”

The 2020 season would have been his 28th at the helm.

Before the 2014 season, John-

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WCC seeding race is on for Men’s Basketball paxt o n r it c hey staf f w r i ter Pepperdine Men’s Basketball never trailed Thursday against Santa Clara, defeating the Broncos 91–77 in a complete performance from start to finish.

Waves guard Colbey Ross finished with 23 points and 9 assists. Forward Skylar Chavez and Kameron Edwards both had 16 points, and Edwards chipped in nine rebounds. Sophomore center Victor Ohia Obioha had eight points and also grabbed nine rebounds, despite only being on the floor 20 minutes.

“Something we’ve really been working for is to play close to 40 minutes of basketball the right way,” Head Coach Lorenzo Romar said.

“This is one of the best performances in that regard we’ve had all year.”

Santa Clara came out sloppy in the early going. In three straight possessions shortly before the first media timeout, the Broncos committed back-to-back turnovers followed by two missed free throws. All three times, Pepperdine converted a basket at the other end, building a 12–4 lead.

The Broncos tried to claw back, but Pepperdine was always ready with a response.

When Broncos guard Jalen Williams hit a three-pointer, Ross answered with a three on Pepperdine’s next possession. When the Broncos used an excellent series of passes to allow guard Tajh Eaddy to convert an open three, Kessler Edwards hit two three-pointers to give Pepperdine a 23–11 advantage.

When the Broncos went on

a 13–4 run to cut the Waves’ lead to three points, Pepperdine went on an identical 13–4 run to push the lead back to double digits.

Santa Clara committed its ninth turnover on its final possession of the first half, and Pepperdine went into halftime with a 45–34 lead.

The Waves shot a staggering 57% from the field in the first half, while Santa Clara only shot 37%.

Ross set the tone with 16 points and seven assists in the first half alone.

“When the shot’s open, I’m going to take it, and when I need to find someone, I’m going to find them,” Ross said. “My coaches give me the freedom, and they let me play my game.”

It was more of the same in the second half. Pepperdine spread the ball around and continued to create high-percentage looks. Santa Clara had several individually brilliant plays but couldn’t string enough of them together to truly challenge Pepperdine.

The Waves led by at least 10 for the final 10:35 of the game.

One play with eight minutes to go summed up the frustration for the Broncos.

With Pepperdine leading by 16, Broncos freshman guard Giordan Williams threw down a ferocious dunk over a Pepperdine defender, but his celebration earned him a technical foul — giving two free throws, the ball and the momentum back to Pepperdine.

The Waves also seized control of the game at the free throw line, converting 22 of 25. Through Feb. 7, Pepperdine continues to lead the country in free throw

percentage at 80.6%. By contrast, Santa Clara made only 13 of 22 free throws during Thursday’s game for a 59% success rate.

With the outcome of the game in little doubt late, the Waves focused on some personal achievements. Chavez, known as a three-point specialist, brought the Waves bench to its feet by dunking the ball in the last minute of play.

“They’ve been getting on me because in practice, I’ve been able to throw down some dunks, but [I] haven’t gotten one in a game,” Chavez said. “So I was hoping, because my legs were feeling good, so I just needed one opportunity to throw one down.”

Romar was also able to empty his bench late and allow little-used reserves Jay Yoon and Everett Perrot to enter the game. Yoon, a sophomore walk-on guard, pulled down his first career rebound with 17 seconds left.

Chavez said that getting them in the game meant a lot to the whole team.

“It’s just so awesome to see,” Chavez said. “You have a bunch of guys who come to all our practices, they work so hard, they’re in the weight room. So then seeing them be rewarded by playing in the game, in front of the crowd … it’s just so awesome to see.”

Unfortunately, the Waves were unable to continue their momentum in Saturday’s game, losing to Pacific 79–78 in the final seconds of a back-and-forth battle in Stockton.

A Ross three-pointer gave Pepperdine a 78–76 lead, but

photos by paxton ritchey | staff writer Wave Check | (top) Redshirt junior Keith Smith dribbles the ball in the first Richard Photos by Courtesy Ali Levens of | Asst.

SportsDavis Editor half of Thursday’s game at Firestone Fieldhouse. (bottom) Junior guard Skylar Chavez (#33) excites the Waves bench with a late-game dunk.

Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics

photos byand ali levens | staffDavis writer Sheridan

Pacific’s Jahlil Tripp converted a layup with the foul with 11 seconds to play. With the game tied, Tripp calmly knocked down the free throw, and Ross’ long threepoint attempt at the buzzer rimmed out. Ross still led all scorers with 28 points, while Tripp had 24 for the Tigers.

Pepperdine and Pacific had entered Saturday’s contest tied for fourth place in the West Coast Conference standings, so the loss knocked the Waves down to

fifth with a 6–5 WCC mark (13–12 overall). Ross said that the loss definitely stung.

“We gave them two games,” Ross said, referencing Pacific’s narrow 59–56 win in Malibu on Jan. 2. “It’s very disappointing. We’re a way better team than what we showed.”

The Waves have five games left to solidify their spot in the standings. Their two opponents next week are on opposite ends of the spectrum: San Diego, who

sits near the bottom of the conference with a 2–9 record, and Gonzaga, undefeated in WCC play and ranked second in the nation. After losing the tiebreaker with Pacific, the Waves cannot afford to drop another game to a beatable opponent.

“We need to play really well against San Diego, for starters,” Romar said. “And then we’ll go from there.”

PAX TON.R ITC HEY@PEPPER DINE.EDU