Pepperdine Graphic 8-17-2020 Edition

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THE PEPPERDINE GRAPHIC VOLUME L

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ISSUE 1 | August 17, 2020

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‘Out of Our Pattern Entirely’:

emily shaw | senior reporter Drive and Dine | A patron orders and picks up his food from inside his car at Broad Street Oyster Company’s recently opened drive-thru window. Malibu businesses adapted to county guidelines requiring contactless food service and limiting indoor seating.

Malibu Adapts to LA County COVID-19 Guidelines Emily Shaw S eni or R eporte r

Blanket and loungewear store Barefoot Dreams, among a few other new local businesses, didn’t exactly get the grand opening it planned for, delaying its launch in the midst of a pandemic. Effective March 19, the Los Angeles County Health Office issued an order requiring the closure of non-essential retail businesses. A couple of months later, LA County Public Health officials announced the re-opening of a limited number of businesses and resources, including clothing stores, with appropriate precautions arranged. Natalia Kosser, assistant manager of Barefoot Dreams, said the store had been set to open before the start of the pandemic but had to close down for a few months due to the spread of COVID-19. “We weren’t sure how we were going to go about opening in April

and May when we were on lockdown,” Kosser said. “We weren’t sure what that would look like, but once we got into the store, we adjusted.” On March 14, the City of Malibu declared a state of emergency, prompting local businesses, organizations and city resources to either close down completely or adjust to provide contactless service. “Our local retailers have been devastated, same as in other cities across America and even the world,” Mayor of Malibu Mikke Pierson said. “Our local restaurants [are in] a really, really difficult situation, particularly when we were going through a phase of opening and closing businesses quickly due to the coronavirus.” The City of Malibu relies on the LA County Health Department and its guidelines, which include mask wearing, social distancing, COVID-19 testing and protocols for businesses.

Pierson said it has been challenging to keep up with the uncertain changing state of the spread of the pandemic, even with his weekly calls with Barbara Ferrer, the LA County Health Director. He has also begun discussions about issuing a mask ordinance specific to Malibu and believes the conversation is overdue. “Talking with other cities nearby that have them, it’s just a stronger deterrent,” Pierson said. “You don’t write that many tickets; it’s more just trying to go to the next level and having people please wear masks because it’s the one thing that most of us know makes a huge difference in slowing down the spread of the virus.” As both the mayor and a business coach, Pierson said he sees and understands the challenges that small businesses are confronted with during this time. One way he has tried to support businesses is by working with a group called

Change Reaction to provide 0% loans and other help to local businesses. Barefoot Dreams

For recently opened Barefoot Dreams, using and practicing the various established safeguards in the store — including wearing masks, offering multiple hand sanitizer stations, steaming tried-on garments, allowing up to 50% store capacity, social distancing and remaining open for fewer hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — has become the new normal. Kosser said some people come into the store and shop because it is one of the few things they can go out and do. “Our product is really appropriate for what we’re dealing with right now as far as being home all the time,” Kosser said. “We’re kind of not doing so terribly because this is what people are needing right

now.” Regarding the future, Kosser said the store is taking it as it comes. “It’s kind of hard to plan too far ahead right now, so it really is a day-to-day thing, but so far we’ve been able to stay open and operate with people just being cautious, wearing masks, distancing,” Kosser said. “We’re gonna stay open as long as we’re allowed.” Food Services On March 16, the LA County Public Health Officer issued an order requiring the closure of bars and restaurants, except for food service pick-up and delivery. As California transitioned to Stage 2 of reopening the state in early May, LA County officials announced that in-person dining in restaurants could resume with appropriate safeguards and protocols in place.

SE E M A L I B U, A4

Looking back — A year in review with Gash As hl ey mo w r eader new s edi tor On Aug. 1, 2019, President Jim Gash’s official first day of office, he and Chief of Staff Danny DeWalt began digging in Rho parking lot — the first symbolic dig of the future student recreation and event center, “The Mountain.” On Aug. 6, 2020, one year later, I asked Gash what he had learned throughout his first atypical year of presidency. Gash responded by showing me the empty Malibu campus through his laptop webcam and said, “Campus is really, really lonely without students.” Since March 2019, when the Presidential search committee finalized its decision and named Gash as Pepperdine’s eighth president, he has hit the ground running

with big dreams and bold plans for the University. Though much of the past year was unpredictable and unprecedented, he continues to look forward and execute many of his original plans with hopes to help create a better Pepperdine. Faith, Fundraising and Footprints Gash created three pillars of emphasis during his initial speech as President-elect: faith, fundraising and footprints. “That goal of making faith a centerpiece is something that hasn’t wavered and won’t waver,” Gash said. Faith, Gash said, is a foundational part of his life. It is the reason he is at Pepperdine and continues to be involved in higher education at “an institution that helps

News

What ’s AHE A D

A3- Pepp students share their experiences testing positive for COVID-19.

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grow and instill faith in students,” he said. Over the past year, Gash spoke at various convocation and celebration chapel events, hosted prayer events, chose Hillsong to perform at his inauguration and said he continues to put prayer at the forefront. He and DeWalt continue to kneel for prayer every morning, facing the Pacific Ocean between the cross on the Phillip Theme Tower, the cross on the chapel and the cross on the hill overlooking classes — and each President’s Briefing opens in prayer. Fundraising, while second on his list but not in his priorities, Gash said, is about acquiring the resources needed. “We need the opportunity to build the kind of institution we want, and that really starts with students,” Gash

said about creating more scholarships. In his first 100 days of presidency, Gash toured the country, connecting with alumni and donors, asking them to continue investing in Pepperdine and its mission through giving. His fundraising campaign met almost all of its goals, falling just short of a second gift of $10 million by a single donor. Although the campaign ended early in March at seven-anda-half months when classes transitioned to online, the administration reached its goal of raising the most money in the history of Pepperdine during a single year. “That’s part of the job of a president and advancement team — to tell the story of who we are and what’s important to us to inspire people who are fellow travelers to say, ‘You know what? I

L if e & A r t s

Pe r s pe ct iv e s Staff Editorial: Racism cannot be fought with performative activism. Students question

B1- Students and faculty prepare for a full semester of remote learning.

administration’s B2- Fresh Faces: Read students A3- First-year A7- Pepp the stories of three decision to increase attend a six-week long online orientation in lieu of an in-person NSO experience.

the thewaves wavesreport report

tuition despite classes being online.

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first-year students

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ali levins | photo editor want to make that possible,’” he said. Increasing the University’s footprint is more than just getting Pepperdine feet in every state and on every continent. During his first year, the administration finalized the purchase of the new Swiss chateau in Vevay, Pepperdine became the first school to

SP ORTS

least 10 studentB7- At athletes will return to Pepp for their fifth and sixth years of NCAA eligibility.

SE E GA SH, A5

l is te n to ‘fac e to fac e ’ T he g r ap hi c’s Ne w P o d c ast

B8- The Waves Swim and

Dive team welcomes a new head coach from UC Santa Barbara.

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partner formally with International Justice Mission, and plans to expand International Programs into the “developing world” are continuing, Gash said. “It’s great to study in places of power, and we have study abroad opportunities

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Part 2 of the ‘Uproot’ segment discusses topics like mass incarceration and defunding the police with guests George Preston IV and Brykell Killingsworth. Listen anywhere you listen to podcasts.

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