Pepperdine Graphic Print Edition 4.4.25

G FROM THE FLAMES:

THE PEPPERDINE GRAPHIC

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

In December 2024, the Franklin Fire ignited in Malibu, burning 4,000 acres and dozens of structures. Students and faculty sheltered in place on campus while flames burned the nearby hillsides. Then, less than a month later, the Palisades Fire exploded, burning more than 23,000 acres in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu. Today, PCH remains closed, homes remain in ruins and the local businesses that are open continue to struggle. Yet, as new growth begins to sprout on the nearby hillsides, there are small signs of recovery as communities begin the long road to recovery.

Dean Lee Kats shares journey from farm to shore

As graduation approaches, Graphic seniors offer advice to lower-level students. The Class of 2025 wishes current and future Waves the best of luck in their college journey.

Lee Kats has been an integral part of the Pepperdine community for over 30 years. Beyond his administrative titles, Kats is a lover of animals, research and travel with a passion for advocating for faculty and student involvement in research.

As the Class of 2025 prepares to graduate, departing athletes reflect on their unforgettable journeys as Pepperdine Waves, sharing memories of growth, community and lasting bonds.

Photo by Mary Elisabeth | Photo Editor Design by Betsy Burrow | Creative Director

. . .

April 9

“Passage” Opening Night

Support the Pepperdine Arts with their spring performance of “Passage,” a fictional and dystopian piece that explores ideas such as nationalism, colonialism and power dynamics

April 11

Seaver College Research and Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Seaver students will present their research across various fields at the symposium. The event is scheduled for Friday, April 11 at 1 p.m., in Waves Cafe.

April 19

Baseball vs. CSU Bakersfield

Come cheer on the Baseball Team Saturday, April 19 at 1 p.m., as they take on California State University, Bakersfield.

April 27

Late Night Breakfast

Take a break from finals studying and enjoy free breakfast in Waves Cafe, starting at 7 p.m.

Good News: ‘Slow down, you’re doing fine’

Gabrielle Salgado Managing Editor

Senior year is a time filled with joy, excitement and anticipation.

Senior year also comes with an extreme amount of pressure. Seniors are all too familiar with questions about next steps and what they’re doing after graduation. I have fallen victim to these questions.

When I start to feel overwhelmed about my future and what it holds, I remind myself of the Billy Joel song “Vienna.”

“Slow down, you’re doing fine,” Joel sings. “You can’t be everything you wanna be before your time.”

There’s a societal standard to have everything figured out — where you are going to live, work and spend your time for the next five to 10 years. But as Joel sings, do not get too far ahead of yourself. It’s OK to dream big, but it’s also OK if life steers you in a different direction than originally planned.

This semester, I felt pressure to have my postgrad plans set in stone. But, I remind myself that everything will fall in place as God intends it to.

session with my friends over dinner in the Caf, a late-night milkshake run or a solo beach day with a book and snacks, I remind myself that those small moments are the ones that become the most memorable, so why rush past them?

I have created some of the most beautiful friendships throughout my four years here. I would not have found these friendships if I had not taken a moment to slow down and allow life to happen.

Every once in a while, I take a pause from the hustle and bustle, look out at the ocean from the CCB. I slow down, take in the moment and suddenly everything feels fine.

unsure of what college would be like. I was scared I would not be able to withstand the four years.

Now a month out from graduation, I can say that 18-year-old me would be so proud of everything I have accomplished and overcame. Everything, however, came when it was meant to.

So, as Joel tells us, “Slow down you crazy child, you’re so ambitious for a juvenile.” U p c o m i n g

Finding small moments to slow down and enjoy the time I have left at my dream school has kept me at peace.

Whether it’s a debrief

When I moved to Pepperdine in 2021, graduation felt so far away. As a first-generation student, I felt lost and

Caught you fizzin’!

“Pepperdine Graphic Media (PGM) is an editorially independent student news organization that focuses on Pepperdine University and the surrounding communities. PGM consists of the digital and print Graphic, a variety of special publications, GNews, Currents Magazine, social media platforms and an Advertising Department. These platforms serve the community with news, opinion, contemporary information and a public forum for discussion. PGM strengthens students for purpose, service and leadership by developing their skills in writing, editing and publication production, by providing a vehicle to integrate and implement their liberal arts education, and by developing students’ critical thinking through independent editorial judgment. PGM participates in Pepperdine’s Christian mission and affirmations, especially the pursuit of truth, excellence and freedom in a context of public service. Although PGM reports about Pepperdine University and coordinates with curricula in journalism and other disciplines, it is a student (not a University) news organization. Views expressed are diverse and, of course, do not correspond to all views of any University board, administration, faculty, staff, student or other constituency.”

As graduation approaches, let the green sprouts on the hillsides that watched us flourish remind us that growth is possible, even in the most difficult times. Just as it is taking time for life to return to our beautiful mountains, it will take time to become the best version of ourselves.

gabrielle.salgado@pepperdine.edu

Email: peppgraphicmedia@gmail.com

peppgraphicadvertising@gmail.com

Phone: (310) 506-4311

Address: Student Publications

Managing Editor Gabrielle Salgado poses in front of Pepperdine’s campus with her graduation regalia March 23. As graduation approaches, it is important to remember to slow down.

Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Salgado

Pepp sues Netflix over ‘Running Point’

Justin Rodriguez Sports Editor

Pepperdine University has filed a lawsuit against Netflix and Warner Brothers Entertainment for trademark infringement, alleging the companies used its name, image and likeness without permission in their new series “Running Point.”

The show, released Feb. 27, follows the Los Angeles Waves, a fictional professional basketball team. Pepperdine claims the name “Waves,” the blue and orange color scheme, and the number 37—representing Pepperdine’s founding year of 1937—are too similar to its branding, leading to consumer confusion and reputational harm, according to the complaint.

“They’ve [Pepperdine] raised a few legal arguments in their complaint. They have nine counts,” Kristin Kosinki, an adjunct law professor at Caruso Law School, said. “The main counts would be trademark infringement, and they allege that the use of the name ‘Waves’ and certain other colors and the number 37 are confusingly similar to Pepperdine’s protected rights.”

Pepperdine filed its complaint Jan. 30 in the U.S.

District Court for the Central District of California. The university contacted Netflix and Warner Bros. multiple times before filing but did not receive a response, according to the complaint.

Besides the name, logo, colors and number 37, another key issue is how the show could cause consumer confusion.

The complaint argues that themes in the show, such as explicit content, substance use, nudity and profanity, conflict with the university’s Christian values, according to the complaint.

“The other main claim is Trademark Dilution by tarnishment,” Kosinski said. “Meaning that use of a mark can tarnish the mark owner’s reputation.”

Pepperdine requested a temporary restraining order against Netflix and Warner Bros., but the court denied it.

“Those standards are very hard to prove,” Kosinski said. “[Specifically], the trademark infringement and dilution, and so it’s kind of not surprising that it was denied on this kind of emergency type motion.”

Kosinski said Pepperdine must prove the mark was famous at the time of the complaint and that the university has used it for several years.

She believes this part will be

A student attempts a half-court shot during Blue and Orange Madness on Oct. 4 at

The similarities between the Pepperdine logo and court were some of the many problems the university has against the Netflix and Warner Brothers Entertainment show, “Running Point.”

somewhat manageable for Pepperdine to prove.

“They do have a nationwide reputation, so it’s possible that they will be able to meet this kind of high hurdle in a dilution claim in terms of fame,” Kosinski said.

Kosinski noted that these cases typically get settled before trial, but there is a possibility that restrictions could be imposed on the use of the mark.

“There could be a

requirement that, if they are permitted to continue to use the name ‘Waves,’ the color’s blue and orange and the number 37, that perhaps they would need to clarify that they are in no way related to the university,” Kosinski said. The future of this case remains uncertain. The outcomes of the case are not in any emergency motion, Kosinski said, and she believes there are still many issues that need to be fleshed out and addressed

before a decision is final.

“Those [issues] will be addressed as the court and the parties have more time to do that,” Kosinski said.

However, no matter the outcome, she believes it will not stop university’s from protecting their brand.

“In trademark law, your rights can be lost if you do not enforce them,” Kosinski said.

justin.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

Recent earthquakes shake Malibu area

Kaiya Treash Guest Contributor

Malibu is an “earthquake hotbed” following the 3.9 magnitude earthquake that hit March 12, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Since 2024, Southern California has experienced 15 earthquakes with a magnitude of over 4.0. This is the highest total seen in the last 65 years, according to a study released on CBS News, conducted by seismologist, Lucy Jones, who works for The Seismological Laboratory of Caltech.

Susan Dueñas, Malibu director of Public Safety, said Malibu is at risk because of how some of the city’s buildings are structured.

“The one vulnerability that we have are older buildings that are either unreinforced masonry or soft-story structures,” Dueñas said. “That opening where there are garages weakens the whole thing.”

Malibu has approximately 37 soft-story buildings, according to the Los Angeles Times. Dueñas suggested requiring building retrofits, which essentially reinforce the supports holding up the building.

Additionally, Malibu is at a greater risk of being affected by earthquakes because it is part of a regional fault system, forming the tectonic boundary between the California Continental Borderland on the south and the Western Transverse Ranges on the north, according to the Bulletin of Seismological Society of America, Volume 95. The fault system extends approximately 200

km from Los Angeles to the Channel Islands.

Sarah Breck, a junior at Pepperdine, said she feels less prepared to handle earthquakes because she is from Arizona and did not learn about earthquake safety growing up.

“I was never really taught what to do,” Breck said. “I don’t really think most people in general would know. I’m from Arizona. There are no earthquakes.”

ShakeAlert is a tool managed by the U.S. Geological Survey that can detect when Earthquakes are coming and notify people before they arrive, even if only by a few seconds. According to the ShakeAlert website, the alert can “save lives and reduce injuries” because it warns people that an earthquake is coming so that they can get to a safe place.

Dueñas said the ShakeAlert tool is particularly useful in medical situations, like surgery, where a doctor may only have a few moments to stop operating on a patient before an earthquake hits. The alert comes through like any other type of emergency phone alert and will appear as a banner on the user’s lock screen.

Junior Annalia Garrett said she had not heard of ShakeAlert and wished more people talked about it.

“I would love it if Apple notified me about using those kinds of things because that was my first time hearing about it just now,” said Garrett. “That would be very helpful.”

Every year, the Malibu Department of Public Safety hosts an annual Great

The sun sets over Pepperdine’s Malibu campus after recent tremors. One of these was a 3.9 magnitude earthquake, which hit Malibu on March 12.

Shakeout Earthquake Drill to help residents prepare for what to do in an Earthquake. Dueñas said her department may consider including a segment about what ShakeAlert is, to hopefully cause instant action, rather than confusion when people see the alert pop up on their screen.

“I think the idea is that you should take protective measures,” Dueñas said. “But I think it is still so new. People are like, you know, what do I do?”

Dueñas recommended Malibu residents have supplies that could last them up to three weeks in case of a bad earthquake where the electricity, water, or gas could go out.

“People have gone through it,” Dueñas said. “The pandemic taught people stuff too. We suddenly had no toilet paper. It’s silly but it’s the whole disruption of the system, the supply chain, or infrastructure. Being mentally and physically prepared for that because if you’re dependent on power for a medical device, you have to have a plan.”

kaiya.treash@pepperdine.edu

Photo by Perse Klopp | Former Assistant Photo Editor

Firestone Fieldhouse.

Photo courtesy of Kaiya Treash

SGA positions aim to balance power

Amanda Monahan Life & Arts Editor

Each year, the Student Government Association (SGA) aims to be a unified voice for the student body, discussing issues students are facing in an effort to solve them and bring them to administrative attention, according to the SGA website. Without each individual member within the governing body, this would be impossible, Student Body President Myers Mentzer said.

SGA is comprised of three groups: the executive board, senate and directors. Though each group and individual member holds different responsibilities, it is this separation of duties and powers that make it so productive, Mentzer said.

“That kind of shows like, different roles and how power is equally split, because that’s again, one of the most important things in government — to have split power,” Mentzer said.

SGA’s executive board contains the student body president, executive vice president, vice president of administration and vice president of finance. Mentzer said the vice president of finance takes care of all finance-related tasks and the vice president of administration keeps track of meeting minutes, documents, reports, filing and all emails students receive from SGA.

Mentzer said the key difference between the student body president and the executive vice president is external vs. internal. The executive vice president helps manage the people within the senate, making sure they are getting

their jobs done and are informed on how to go about them.

Mentzer described her current role as “everything that’s external,” with her main job being to bridge the gap between administration and the senate. When administration asks her to represent the student body’s voice, opinions and needs, Mentzer said she relies heavily on the information she receives from the senate, who gets that from each of their classes.

“Many times I’ll get called on from our senior administrators that will just call me and ask for my opinion on things like ‘What’s the pulse on our students? How are they feeling? What are they thinking? What are they saying?’” Mentzer said.

One such member of SGA who plays an integral role in sharing this information is Freshman Class President Owen Braniff. As the president of his class, the class of 2028, Braniff said he helps communicate the needs of his class to the executive board, who can then share that with the administration.

However, Braniff’s role goes beyond communication. He said he plans for class town halls, tabling, events and reads into bills and potential amendments that are being proposed. He emphasized the importance of the student body attending their class town hall meetings, as they give students a space to meet with their representatives.

“It’s a well-known fact that people don’t like to read their emails,” Braniff said. “So the reason why town halls are so important to attend is because it’s the best time to get face time with your representatives.”

SGA also holds three director positions, which are appointed staff chosen by the executive board each year: the director of the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) council, the director of social media and marketing and the director of the general judicial council.

Mentzer said a key difference in powers between the senate and directors is that directors cannot vote on anything SGA does — voting is only done by the senate. The executive board also does not vote, and the only power they hold in such issues is the power to veto anything that they feel is not in the students’ best interest.

Mentzer said things are always

changing across Pepeprdine’s campus, which SGA must learn to respond to at any given time. She emphasized the importance of students knowing who to talk to when change or issues come up.

“A big part of SGA is knowing who the decision makers are,” Mentzer said. “You can talk about something to a bunch of people, but if you’re not talking to the person that’s making the decision on it, it doesn’t matter.”

amanda.monahan@pepperdine.edu

Pepp reflects on COVID-19 aftermath

Haylie Ross Sports Assistant

Five years ago, the world changed forever.

As the fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 shutdown rounds the corner, Pepperdine professors and students are reflecting on the shutdown’s lingering impact on the lives of college students.

First-year Sophie Rogers said she was 14 at the height of the shutdown and those abnormal years of development had lasting effects.

“We missed a lot of super important social cues and developments that will linger with us for the rest of our lives,” Rogers said.

The Lingering Impact

Professor of Psychology Steve Rouse said this generation of college students was already displaying increases in mental illness pre-pandemic and the shutdown made it even more prevalent.

“This hit a group of students who were especially vulnerable in a vulnerable stage of life,” Rouse said.

Before the start of the pandemic, about 36% of college students were experiencing mental illness, according to Best Colleges. That percentage has now jumped to 60% of college students who report a variety of mental illnesses, including anxiety, depression and general feelings of loneliness, according to the American Psychiatry Association.

Through qualitative and quantitative analysis, researchers found that isola-

tion was one of the largest contributing factors to the mental health crisis among college students, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Professor of Psychology Michael Folkerts has studied the inner workings of the brain and said humans don’t adapt well to quarantine.

“The brain and body were not built for isolation,” Folkerts said. “We are social creatures and in isolation, a lot of bad things can happen.”

In a time where we needed to lean on each other most, Rouse said society was unable to do so, and that alone disrupts human nature.

“It’s part of human nature to be around people,” Rouse said. “That is put into all of us.”

Moving On Together

High school graduation, prom, the first day of high school — Rouse said it will take a lot of time to mourn these right-of-passages that current college students missed out on, but it’s the first step of the process of moving on.

“Many people lost the experience to have really critical comments in their life that define important turning points in adolescence and early adulthood,” Rouse said.

Rogers said she never got a “real” first day of high school and she had to miss out on that significant milestone, as well as nearly the entirety of her first year of high school.

“You can’t just miss those two years like that,” Rogers said. “It felt like the most developmental years to miss.”

Rouse said the process won’t be easy, but it is necessary to grow into a community together and share individual experiences and losses.

“One of the things that will be hard to ever bounce back from is the recognition of important experiences that were lost,” Rouse said.

Folkerts said there is good news for this upcoming season.

“These gaps can be closed by entering into a post-pandemic world where we can socialize and develop,” Folkerts said.

Rouse said the most important skill we can utilize in this time is empathy and learning how to walk in this time of healing together in a time where we can

socialize freely.

“It brings a need for a lot of grace and a lot of patience with each other and patience with ourselves,” Rouse said.

At the end of the day, humans are made to be resilient.

“Humans are amazingly resilient,” Rouse said. “We have the ability to bounce back from even really, really horrible situations.”

The Student Government Association (SGA) stands together in front of the Thornton Administration Center for a group photo at the start of the 2024-25 academic year. SGA is made up of an executive board, senate and group of directors.

Photo courtesy of Myers Mentzer

First-year Psychology major Sophie Rogers logs into her online class from her dorm room March 15. Rogers said when Pepperdine has had remote classes recently, she still feels like she’s back into the days of the COVID-19 shutdown.

Photo by Haylie Ross | Sports Assistant

Pepp students face beauty, fear of Malibu

Emma Martinez Senior Reporter

The natural beauty of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains surrounds students as they walk around campus.

The Pacific Coast Highway, which has caused the Pepperdine community tremendous grief, and the burn scar of the Franklin Fire surrounds students as they walk around campus.

This beautiful and dangerous location has been the source of fear for students recently, Kennedy Garate, junior and member of Alpha Phi said.

“There has been a tragedy every single year we have been here,” Garate said. “My friends and I have prepared ourselves for one unfortunate thing to happen every single year.”

While numerous challenges have accompanied life in this Malibu location over the past few years, multiple students said the Pepperdine administration does what it can to make their students feel safe and supported.

Connie Horton, vice president of student affairs and member of the Emergency Operations Committee, said she sees how fires, surrounding mudslides and PCH, especially after the Oct. 2023 crash that killed four students, are a source of anxiety for students. With this in mind, Horton said the Pepperdine faculty and administration will continue to make students feel safe in the ways they can control. Parents and students acknowledge this, but sometimes feel as if the anxieties that come with the geography of Pepperdine are unavoidable.

Students React to Fires

Life on campus after the Franklin and Palisades fires has been an adjustment, multiple

students said.

Junior Will Koning is now living in a George Page apartment with people he did not previously know. The flames of the Palisades Fire destroyed Koning’s apartment, he said.

“Living with people that you don’t know is just kind of strange,” Koning said. “It was a weird transition.”

This transition took place while Koning was still trying to process the Palisades Fire, he said.

“I started processing everything that happened during school,” Koning said. “That was hard to deal with.”

Pepperdine administration did almost everything they could to support students affected by the fire, Koning said.

The Student Care Team constantly communicated with Koning, offering him a place to live in whatever dorm he preferred, he said.

“I felt very supported with everything that Pepperdine could support me with, which was great,” Koning said.

Koning said there was one more thing he would have appreciated after he lost his apartment — time.

“I wish I had a little bit more time [before classes started],” Koning said.

Junior Sofia Llorca said giving students more time to process and respond to the Palisades Fire is something she would have also appreciated.

“It was frustrating when Pepperdine forced everyone to come back to in-person classes,” Llorca said. “That was a sensitive topic because a lot of our friends lost their homes in the fire and had to be relocated.”

Llorca, who is originally from the Philippines, said wildfires are foreign to her.

“When the fire was going on, I thought the world was ending,” Llorca said.

The kind of fear she felt during the Franklin Fire is

something Llorca never wants to experience again, she said.

“I am always on and off about it [transferring],” Llorca said.

Students who grew up in locations where wildfires are common might view the situation differently, first-year Lia Cooper, from central Oregon, said.

“I feel like if I was coming from somewhere where I’d never been around fires, I would definitely feel way differently than I did,” Cooper said.

Cooper said she is not a stranger to smoke and flames, but as a 2025 spring transfer student, the Palisades Fire made for a unique move-in day.

“I was moving in and saw a huge plume of smoke right above campus,” Cooper said.

Cooper said she is glad the smoke did not scare her away because she is enjoying her time in Malibu, and continues to trust the Pepperdine administration will keep the student body safe.

PCH Anxiety is Real for Students and Parents

Llorca, a member of Alpha Phi, said the crash on Oct. 17, 2023 that killed four beloved young women: Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams was the start of a series of traumatic events during her time at Pepperdine.

The back-to-back fires in late 2024 and early 2025 were a continuation of the series of recent tragedies, Llorca said.

“It’s pessimistic, but we expect these things [tragedies],” Llorca said.

Llorca said she still cannot drive PCH without thinking about that night.

“Every time I pass through that place I get anxious, even now,” Llora said.

As Julie Herning, mom of incoming first-year student Lola Herning, prepares to send her daughter to Pepperdine, she said she had a conversation

with her daughter about the dangers of PCH.

“I told her to be super careful and vigilant,” Herning said.

Herning said this advice is not enough to give her peace as a mother.

“What happened to those girls was clearly not their fault,” Herning said.

Students Put Their Trust in Pepperdine

Pepperdine’s location has been a great source of tragedy and anxiety for the student body, but Garate said the Pepperdine administration has done everything in their control to make students feel safe.

“I trust Pepperdine,” Garate said. “I think it’s just unfortunate that we live in this area.”

Horton said the administration makes decisions for the student body’s safety in emergency situations with confidence.

This applies to the shelter in place protocol during the Franklin Fire, Horton said.

“There is a strong belief and a repeated checking with the L.A. Fire Department that this [Pepperdine] is the place,” Horton said. “This is the safest place.”

Horton said she understands the fears that students and parents have, but Pepperdine would never put their students in an unsafe position.

“Our plan really, as hard as it is for some people to wrap their minds around, it really is the best plan,” Horton said. “It’s been tested and tested and checked and checked and tested and tested.”

During the Franklin Fire, Pepperdine provided on-site doctors, oxygen, therapists, breathing treatments and expert communication with other emergency agencies, Horton said.

“I mean when it comes to the level of care I don’t know if there’s another university that does more,” Horton said.

The Strength of the Pepperdine Community

Pepperdine instills principles in the student body with the RISE program to combat the stress of everyday college life and the anxieties that come with PCH, fires and mudslides, Horton said.

“Our students are amazingly resilient and we want to keep emphasizing that,” Horton said.

One dimension of RISE Horton said is important as a Pepperdine student is to prepare for challenges.

“There will be challenges,” Horton said.

But it is beneficial to remain rational, Horton said.

These values are something she has seen in practice since the program started in 2019, Horton said.

“One of my most memorable moments of my career was when I was waiting to go on to the platform of the graduation, and their [the four girls] roommates were waiting and they were waiting and waved at me, and when we had that hug,” Horton said. “We know what they had been through, and here they are graduating.”

Horton said this moment embodies the resilience of the Pepperdine community.

Garate credits some of the resilience of the student body to the professors.

“All of my professors have checked in with me,” Garate said.

Care like this allows for students to continue their education at Pepperdine despite the challenges that come with environmental issues that come with living in Malibu, Koning said.

“I’m not leaving,” Koning said. “I love Pepperdine.”

Photo by Victoria La Ferla | Former Graphic Managing Editor

The busy traffic March 10, 2024 was a common sight before the Palisades Fire destruction closed down sections of the highway. The scenic PCH is a source of great anxiety for students and parents, multiple people said.

Photo courtesy of Lia Cooper Smoke fills the sky as Lia Cooper moves into her dorm Jan. 9. Cooper transferred to Pepperdine this semester in the midst of the Palisades Fire.

Pepperdine parents reflect on fears of the Franklin Fire

Viviana Diaz Guest Contributor

For many Pepperdine parents, seeing the Franklin Fire ignite near the Pepperdine campus Dec. 9 from their television and cell phones took them by surprise.

For out-of-state and international parents, the fear of knowing their children were on campus that night while, they were so far away, made it one of the most frightening experiences.

Arizona parent Gina Salazar-Hook said her first-year daughter called her when the fire broke out, looking to her mother for guidance.

“She’s calling me and saying, ‘there’s a fire on campus, what do I do?’” Salazar-Hook said. “I said,’do what they’re telling you to do, because I have no idea.’”

Washington parent Heather Anderson said receiving a call from her daughter was alarming for both her and her husband, Eric Anderson.

“She called and we don’t get phone calls at midnight, and it was my phone, and so I answered the phone, and she’s like, ‘Don’t worry, don’t panic,’” Heather Anderson said.

Salazar-Hook said when she heard the news from her daughter she rushed to find all the information she could.

“I immediately got out of bed, turned on all of the live feeds that I could ABC, KCAL, CBS, watched those online, and kept kind of switching back and forth,” she said.

Mexico City parent Victorina Nucci said when her senior daughter, Francesca Nucci, first contacted her, she was not entirely worried due to her faith in the Pepperdine staff.

“I thought it was something not important cause I trust a lot the Pepperdine so I thought

they will fix it or they will help all the students to be safe,” Victorina Nucci said.

Francesca said she was on crutches at the time which caused her and her mom a significant amount of uncertainty as to how she would get down to her designated shelter-inplace location, Payson Library.

“Pepperdine itself did not have the resources to take me down to the library where I’m supposed to be safe,” Francesca Nucci said. “That part was weird to me.”

Once she got service, Francesca said she sent her mother articles to let her know what was happening as she was living through it.

Sheltering-in-Place

Pepperdine encouraged residential students and staff to shelter-in-place on main campus locations such as the library or cafeteria. Many evacuated but some stayed behind following the protocols.

For some parents, Pepperdine’s shelter-in-place protocols were something they were unaware of or did not understand.

The Andersons said being from Vancouver, Wash., has made them accustomed to evacuating during a wildfire so they questioned Pepperdine’s decision of sheltering-in-place.

“We were like, ‘why aren’t the students leaving? Why aren’t they given an access route to leave?’” Heather Anderson said.

Despite knowing the risks of telling their daughter to drive through the fire, Eric Anderson said they were skeptical of Pepperdine’s protocols and thought of all possible options so he could keep his daughter safe.

“I had asked her at one point…I was like, ‘Hollyn, seriously, if you had to race to

your car, run, how long would it take you to get there?’” Eric Anderson said.

Salazar-Hook said many parents are unaware of the protocols and should be better informed when emergencies happen.

“I feel like if parents had known that sheltering in place was typical, that sheltering in place had been done for numerous years, and the reasons that they do the sheltering place as well,” Salazar-Hook said. “I think that would have eased a lot of nerves.”

For Victorina Nucci, she felt the university did the best it could given the situation.

“I think they try to do the right thing and I’m not mad at all,” Victorina Nucci said.

However, Victorina Nucci said since her daughter faced hardship being on crutches, she advises Pepperdine to accommodate students who are handicapped during emergencies, such as the recent wildfires.

Communication

For several parents, the limited communication from the school was a major issue during the fire because they had to rely on news outlets and communication with their children.

Eric Anderson said they were only able to communicate with their daughter through iMessage once she shelteredin-place in the library but still lacked consistent communication.

“We couldn’t call her and as a mom, all I want to do is hear her voice,” Heather Anderson said.

Eric Anderson said they did not feel informed by the university and wished they had been given more information.

“Our biggest concern at the time was we needed up to the second information, and

Infographic by Viviana Diaz

we were really struggling with, ‘where do we get that,’’’ Eric Anderson said.

In an email, Brooke O’Donnell, executive director of International Admission and Student Services, said she was in communication with parents during the fire.

“I can tell you that I was on WhatsApp with countless parents throughout the fires,” O’Donnell wrote. “I worked at two U.S. universities prior to Pepperdine, and that is one thing that is unique about Pepperdine that other schools would not do.”

O’Donell shared the importance of Pepperdine staff supporting families during emergencies.

“Of course our parents were concerned, wherever they live,” she wrote. “But Pepperdine staff go out of their way to help not only students, but also their families.”

Christine Galvin, director of parent and family engagement for Pepperdine’s Parent Program said she shared emergency messages from the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) to parents through email and the parent’s program social media.

“In my role, I look at those updates and decide, is that something that parents need to know? Do they have to be part of this conversation?” Galvin said.

Galvin said when she shared the emergency messages, she made sure to add a calmer tone to calm the tension for parents.

“It’s the same information, but I usually open and close with it, making it a little bit more personal, that it’s coming from us,” she said.

Galvin said she received positive feedback from many parents thanking her for the

program’s communication.

Appreciating Pepperdine

For several parents, the communication from the school was a substantial issue due to the limited information being shared. However, many recognize that the fire was an unexpected situation and the university did its best to keep their children safe.

Salazar-Hook said despite her fear during the fire, she had faith in the university to keep her daughter safe.

“I think it comes back to fate. We trust Pepperdine fully,” Salazar-Hook said. “We have given them our students, and we trust them to have their best safety and intentions in mind.”

Regardless of him and his wife’s difficult experience witnessing the fire unfold, Eric Anderson said he is grateful to the Pepperdine staff.

“I’m very very very thankful with President Gash,” Eric Anderson said. “I’m sure there were so many people working quickly in the midnight hours just trying to control chaos. And I can’t even imagine how difficult that was.”

Photo by Rachel Flynn | Senior Reporter

The Franklin Fire moves over Malibu Canyon toward Pepperdine’s Malibu Campus on Dec. 9. Parents of students said they checking multiple news stations to stay alert on the fire.

Photospread: Regrowth after the flames

Infographic by Betsy Burrow | Creative Director

Photos by Mary Elisabeth | Photo Editor

Pepp students reflect on fire response

Justin Rodriguez Sports Editor

When the Franklin and Palisades wildfires swept through Malibu, Pepperdine University was caught in the crossfire, and students found themselves sheltering in place as flames closed in.

Now, months later, some students are grappling with the question: Do they feel safer, or has the experience heightened their concerns?

While some said they found reassurance in the university’s preparedness, others said they felt the situation’s intensity firsthand and wrestled with uncertainty. The divide between first-year students and seniors is particularly evident as some are experiencing the dangers of fire season for the first time, while others have lived through multiple emergencies.

“Students likely have different experiences with it,” Maura Page, director of Residence Life, said. “Some probably see all of the planning and preparations and the actions that we took — and that inspire safety — and for some, it was just so close that the amount of preparation we do and the outcome of being safe still doesn’t override that feeling in the moment.”

A Senior Perspective: Familiarity and Fatigue

Senior Albert Covaci described his experience returning to campus after winter break as surreal. His return was met with an unusual sight.

“Once we got on PCH, there were these guards, like people in straight military trucks, people in military uniform blocking off [our way] to campus,”

Covaci said. “So we had to take the long way around.”

Covaci said he was on campus when the Franklin Fire started, but he was not initially concerned about it.

“As a guy, and as a young guy at that, you feel invincible in a way,” Covaci said. “It wasn’t until I left, going outside while having all my stuff and looking at how close the fire actually is, I started getting the sense of urgency, like, ‘Oh man, we got to leave.’”

Despite the school sheltering in place, he opted to evacuate from the school entirely. He took his brother and suitemate to Westlake and stayed there until they received word it was safe to return to campus.

Covaci said he had evacuated mainly because of the intensity of the media coverage of the fire, which had increased his fears of personal safety.

“I did feel a lot safer leaving campus because you know how the media sometimes gets you,” Covaci said. “I was getting these Snapchats, looking at stories of how close the fire was getting to campus. Seeing that and then seeing the news, like people I knew were on there, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, thank goodness I left.’”

However, despite his initial concerns, Covaci acknowledged that Pepperdine’s communication was strong — at least in the early stages.

But, after experiencing multiple fires at Pepperdine, he admitted to a sense of desensitization.

“There were multiple fires, and I feel like after, the third, fourth one, it’s just like again?” Covaci said. “It got annoying.”

Still, he believes the university is well-prepared for future incidents. He said the university might be slightly

on edge with the intensity of recent fires, but they are wellequipped to keep the student body safe.

“Because anything could really happen on any given day,” Covaci said. “I feel like they have what it takes. They’ve always had it, but they’re more on edge.”

When looking back at his decision to evacuate, he said if the situation were to arise again, he would opt to put his faith and trust in Pepperdine’s shelter-in-place protocols.

A First-Year Perspective: Navigating the Unknown

First-year Emma Huddleston had a different experience as a newcomer to Pepperdine.

“I was a little unsure about it at first. I was confused initially, definitely a little scared, a little frightened, but I think that Pepperdine did a very good job keeping the student body informed,” Huddleston said.

Huddleston recalled feeling both anxious and reassured during the protocol. She said that despite the situation — being surrounded by fire — she felt as though she was getting all the necessary updates, helping ease her worries and ushering in safety.

While some students were panicked, scared and crying, she said she found confidence in the university’s emergency preparedness.

“The situation was handled very, very beautifully and very well. Everybody seemed very put together and the RAs knew exactly what to do,” Huddleston said. “Everybody, just the whole Pepperdine faculty made me, my suitemates and my friends feel very, very safe within the library.”

Her parents had opposing reactions to the shelter-inplace protocols.

Her mom disliked the idea of sheltering in place, but her dad was previously familiar with the school’s fire protocols. She said her dad loved the idea that students could shelter themselves in the safest part of the school, Payson Library.

However, despite Huddleston’s praise for what she called the school’s strong early and digital communication,

she said in-person instructions could have been clearer.

“My only critique about the whole thing is I wish there was a little more communication in-person,” Huddleston said. “Because I felt like it was a lot of like yelling to like, ‘OK, you go there, you go there’ and we didn’t know why. It would have been better if there was a little more truth and communication on the in-person part.”

But, similarly to Cocavi, she expressed trust in the school’s ability to handle future emergencies. She said she believes the protocols the schools set forth kept the students safe and will continue to in future emergencies.

Huddleston said that although the fires and protocols were not what she had in mind for her first year in college, she does not feel less safe being here.

“I still think the campus did a very amazing job at keeping everybody safe, and overall, communication was great, and I applaud them for how they handled the situation,” Huddleston said. “I definitely am nervous about future fires, but I also know that Pepperdine can handle it, and so that kind of makes me feel secure.”

The University Areas of Strength and Improvement

Page said in her experience following the fires, student responses varied depending on their individual experiences with the fire.

“I think it’s mixed,” Page said. “I think a number of students, and probably all students, experience the fire as it is, a scary experience.”

She highlighted that while some students trusted the university’s preparedness, others were overwhelmed by the fire’s proximity and challenges the fire would present. Some of these challenges involved communication, and Page said the university continues to address communication challenges, particularly during power and Wi-Fi outages.

“Most people are not used to seeking out an in-person communication, especially during an emergency,” Page said. “So we’re looking at that and how we can make improvements for

students during those experiences.”

Page said Residence Life has a number of protocols they follow during these instances. They are developed with the mindset of ensuring students are well-informed and supported during a time of crisis.

“One of them is going door to door during an emergency, so the student leaders literally knock on every single door in all of housing,” Page said.

RAs check every single bed, bathroom and living space ensuring that students are aware of what’s happening, they know where to go, they know to grab some essential items and to take them with them, Page said.

Page was present during the Woolsey Fire in 2018, and through her experience, she said the students who remained on campus often felt more secure than those who evacuated.

On top of this, during the Woolsey Fire, she said students who lived off-campus evacuated to Pepperdine, emphasizing the trust and safety the campus provides its students, as well as the robust care and support the university offers.

“When you live off campus, you don’t have provisions during an incident like this, there’s nobody saying, ‘Come spend the night in this building,’ or ‘We’ll have food for you,’” Page said. “We’ll provide all the meals for you during this time, or there’s support resources available.”

Some students, like Huddleston, felt safe and supported during the shelter-in-place, while others, like Covaci, found themselves questioning whether to stay or leave. Despite varying perspectives, both students agreed that preparation is key, and Page said Pepperdine remains committed to refining its emergency response. While improvements in communication and response strategies continue, one thing is certain: some Pepperdine students feel safe and comfortable in the school’s ability to keep them protected.

Photo by Gabrielle Salgado | Managing Editor

Students shelter inside Payson Library on Dec. 10 following the start of the Franklin Fire. Flames reached as close as possible to the library’s windows, but the library’s fire-resistant material prevented further damage.

Photo courtesy of Emma Huddleston

First-year Emma Huddleston huddled in a corner in the Payson Library during the shelter-in-place protocol Dec. 10. Despite the circumstances, Huddleston said she remained calm and trusted in the university safety protocols

Pepp’s shelter plan is ‘the gold standard’

Rachel Flynn Senior Reporter

Pepperdine’s shelter-inplace protocol received some criticism from the community following the ignition of the Franklin Fire on Dec. 9 when students sheltered in Payson Library or Tyler Campus Center while the rest of Malibu was under an evacuation warning.

The L.A. County Fire Department recognizes Pepperdine as a shelter-in-place campus in the case of a wildfire. This procedure allows for students to stay on campus after relocating to a safe location until authorities say it’s safe to return to residential housing, according to Pepperdine’s Emergency Information website.

Around 6,000 people evacuated Malibu, according to ABC7. However, Pepperdine’s shelter-in-place protocol serves as inspiration for other nearby colleges, including Westmont College in Santa Barbara.

“I’d just want to really laud Pepperdine too, I know these events are really scary and Pepperdine is on the forefront of being able to handle these things,” said Jason Tavarez, Westmont College’s executive director of Institutional Resilience. “They do a lot of risk mitigation when it comes to wildfires.”

Westmont College Adopts a Shelter-in-Place Protocol

Westmont College in Santa Barbara became a shelter-inplace facility in 2005-2006, Tavarez said. Westmont became interested in considering a shelter-in-place protocol when the Australian wildfire plan gained popularity and the University took a closer look at where its campus is nestled in the hills of Montecito.

This initiated a conversa-

tion between Westmont and the county office of emergency management as well as the local fire department that then moved them closer to becoming a shelter-in-place facility, Tavarez said.

Once they created a shelterin-place plan and decided on a location — the gym — they incorporated tools, such as an exhaust fan to circulate air out of the building when smoke is present, as well as storage areas for emergency supplies to have on hand, Tavarez said

Westmont keeps enough supplies in the form of food, water and electrical toilets to sustain their campus in case of an emergency for three days, which is a recommendation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Tavarez said.

The most devastating fire Westmont has experienced to date was the 2008 Tea Fire. The fire burned nearly 14 campus buildings and activated the college’s shelter-in-place protocol, Tavarez said.

The fire ignited during a cookout that quickly got out of hand in the tea gardens which then rapidly spread down into Westmont’s campus, Tavarez said.

“There was literally no time for us to get students off campus even if we wanted to,” Tavarez said. “It went from up there to our campus in less than a half an hour.”

The students were sheltered in place for one evening and despite the structural loss, Tavarez said it was a success.

“As much as a fire can be a success, that was a success for us,” Tavarez said. “Because nobody got hurt, nobody was left in the path of danger.”

Tavarez said Pepperdine has served as inspiration for Westmont’s shelter-in-place protocol, especially since Westmont is also a Christian college.

“Pepperdine is really considered in many ways the gold standard for fire safety and keeping students safe,” Tavarez said.

Pepperdine’s Shelter-inPlace Policy

The open space Pepperdine’s campus inhabits in the Santa Monica Mountains is the only one of its kind, Drew Smith, the assistant fire chief for the L.A. County Fire Department, said. This space is essentially what keeps its residents safe during wildfires. If the Franklin Fire did not happen, the 80 to 100 mile per hour winds during the Palisades fires would not have forced a full evacuation of the campus.

“For you to get overrun by a fire on this campus, if you follow the rules, you do what we train to do, that has a very remote chance of that happening,” Smith said.

During the fires, the Lost

Place Communication

Hills Sheriff’s station and Pepperdine were in constant communication, Smith said. However, there was confusion at times within their department on whether or not Pepperdine was supposed to evacuate when the evacuation order was put in place.

“But we right-sided the ship really quick on ‘no they’re a shelter in place,’” Smith said.

Smith said he meets with University officials annually to go over the fire systems put in place to see how they can be improved to better serve the community.

“We went around for two hours today, looking at best practices,” Smith said March 19.

Pepperdine’s After Action Plan

Jonathan Weber, director of Emergency Services, said he meets with the fire chief during their annual meeting and Weber said Smith continues to instruct the University to shelterin-place.

One of Weber’s jobs entails writing up an after-action plan following an emergency event such as a wildfire that impacts the campus, he said. In this plan, he details what went well and what could be improved upon. Following the Franklin and the Palisades fires, that list was 100 items long, Weber said.

“Now these are not major changes to the plan, they are all minor tweaks,” Weber said.

The plans focus on improving communications with students and with parents. The University is in contact with cell carriers to look at how signals can be improved by closing coverage gaps and getting emergency power connected permanently, Weber said.

The University is also looking to add additional radios for the Housing and Residential Life staff that would be powered through the generators.

Westmont’s Shelter-in-

Westmont equips every resident director (RD) with a backup radio in case of power outages in an emergency, Tavarez said. The college also trains RDs on how to use different radio channels so they can switch back and forth.

All of the residential assistants at Westmont are trained during a wildfire drill. During the drill, they are assigned togo bags and instructed to go to the gym and unlock the supply cabinets the college has on hand.

“They start putting up the signs, they start taping up the doors to make sure smoke doesn’t come in and they get used to where everything is in there,” Tavarez said.

The college has also created a partnership with local cell carriers who have leased space on Westmont’s taller campus buildings for cell towers to improve service.

Shelter-in-Place for Malibu

The Malibu City Council discussed the potential of implementing shelter-in-place

protocols for the city at recent council meetings, but Smith said this is not a possibility for the city. The city’s landscaping provides a barrier since it’s condensed.

“But we wouldn’t make any other places a shelter in place, otherwise we would have identified them,” Smith said.

During the Broad Fire in November, the flames burned into the neighborhood below, taking out three to four structures, Smith said. Even with the park, there still wasn’t enough space to contain the fire.

Smith said 5,000 people could stand safely on Alumni Park during a wildfire because of the space and the fire protection.

“That is the ultimate win,” Smith said.

rachel.flynn@pepperdine.edu

Photos by Liam Zieg | Currents Co-Photo Editor

The L.A. City Fire Department assesses the damage following the Franklin Fire in December. The department worked tirelessly to extinguish the fires while students were sheltered in place.

The L.A. Fire Department watches as the fire department’s helicopter pull water from Pepperdine’s Alumni Park. During the Franklin Fire, the fire department had access to the water reservoir on campus to help extinguish the fire.

The L.A. City Fire Department evaluates damage following the Franklin Fire in December. Drew Smith, the assistant fire chief for the L.A. County Fire Department, said they work closely with Pepperdine University.

Flourishing after fire: Sprouts return to Malibu hillsides

Gabrielle Salgado Managing Editor

Nearly three months after the Franklin Fire and Palisades Fire scorched Pepperdine’s and Malibu’s hillsides, plants are sprouting on the once charred land.

Depending on the type of vegetation, revival can take anywhere from months to decades, Restoration Ecologist Joey Algiers said. However, perfect conditions are needed to see complete regrowth.

“It’s a rugged, natural area.” Algiers said. “It’s beautiful, people love it, but we do need to be careful and stop ignitions and make sure the communities here are built in a fire-resistant way so they can persist and not have to deal with these catastrophes in the future.”

Woolsey Fire

In November 2018, the Woolsey Fire ripped through Malibu and burned nearly 97,000 acres, according to CalFire.

Paramount Ranch, located in the Santa Monica Mountains and the filming location for Westworld, faced the Woolsey Fire head-on, Algiers said. Nearly seven years later, the landscape is flourishing in many areas.

Depending on the weather, chaparral can take 5 to 10 years to recover, Algiers said.

While the shrub community, including chaparral, is thriving at Paramount Ranch, the tree and riparian community is not recovering as fast, Algiers said.

“The tree community can take much longer, 50 to 100 years,” Algiers said. “Some of the trees that we lost could be 100 to 200 years old.”

Trees that burned in the Woolsey Fire remain on the

property and now serve a new purpose — creating homes for wildlife, Algiers said.

Although recovery varies across the Santa Monica Mountains, Algiers said it takes time for vegetation to regrow.

“I do think there are some locations that are going to take decades and decades to return back to what they were, but at the same time, there are other locations that are doing what they should be doing,” Algiers said.

Ideal Conditions

In order for native plants to recover, conditions must be ideal. Two of the most important factors are fire frequency and rainfall, Algiers said.

Native plants are adapted to infrequent fires, however, the Santa Monica Mountains are experiencing frequent fires, Algiers said.

“The period of time between fires is becoming shorter,” Algiers said. “When that happens, it’s not giving the vegetation community enough time to recover.”

Native plants are used to a fire regime, Algiers said. Burning every 30 to 150 years gives the vegetation enough time to recover.

Frequent fires can severely damage a plant population, according to California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Fire Recovery Guide.

“Should another fire sweep through a site too soon, before populations have rebuilt their natural fire ‘insurance policies,’ these rare plants may not recover and population could be diminished or even extirpated,” CNPS wrote in their Fire Recovery Guide.

The right amount of rain is also needed to promote growth, Algiers said. Too little rain does

not encourage germination. Too much rain can cause landslides and soil erosion.

“In general, our mountains like a light, long, sort of deep soaking rain, and then they light to dry up, and then they like another deep, long, soaking rain,” Algiers said.

A good amount of rainfall can result in denser foliage and a wildflower bloom.

“Fire Followers”

With just the right conditions, burned mountains can experience a bloom in wildflowers, something Algiers called “fire followers.”

“They’re beautiful, pastel-colored, crayon box-looking plants that just blanket the hillsides,” Algiers said.

Fire followers include lupines, poppies and goldfields, Algiers said. Fire followers can make an appearance after the first good rain of the season.

According to CNPS, another common fire follower is the Brewer’s Calandrinia.

The Brewer’s Calandrinia can lie dormant for over 80 years and germinate after fire-created ideal conditions, according to CNPS Fire Recovery Guide. Once chaparral returns to the landscape, the Brewer’s Calandrinia goes back to its dormant state.

Fire followers can be seen as early as a few months after a fire and up to two years after a fire, Algiers said.

“It’s not uncommon to have incredible blooms, especially after a fire because maybe you got good rains in December and maybe some early rains in November,” Algiers said.

Invasive Species

After a fire, plants that can withstand fires tend to move

in. These plants tend to be an invasive species as some invasive species thrive after fire. Invasiveness can pose a threat to the recovery process, according to CNPS.

“Flammable invasive trees, shrubs and grasses lengthen the fire season and increase the chances of ignition, especially in grassy areas and along roadsides,” CNPS wrote in their Fire Recovery Guide.

Common invasive species include mustard and thistles, Algiers said. These plants live for about a year, spread their seeds, then die.

“You can burn those once every couple years or few years, and they’ll do fine,” Algiers said. “But our natives need a lot more time between fires.”

Following the Woolsey Fire, Algiers said there has been an uptick in invasive species at Paramount Ranch.

Researchers found an 8% increase in invasive species in burned areas, Algiers said. These plants are spreading through the mountainsides.

“We have native recovery, but we have an increase in invasive species which are adding further stress to these ecosystems,” Algiers said.

Clearing Land

Algiers said the National Park Service (NPS) does not clear land or conduct prescribed burns in the Santa Monica Mountains.

One reason is the terrain.

“If you’re moving through chaparral, you’re probably army crawling,” Algiers said. “It’s difficult to get through.”

The natural fire regime is also why NPS does not conduct prescribed burning, Algiers said. Since chaparral can start appearing as soon as five years after a fire, burning or

clearing out the brush could slow down the process.

Clearing the brush could also encourage the growth of invasive species.

“If we were to clear things out, we’re not giving the vegetation enough time to recover, but also that’s going to be encouraging invasive species to come through,” Algiers said.

Seed Farming

NPS is using a technique called seed farming to promote the growth and restoration of native plants, Algiers said.

Seed farming is the process of growing native plants in an agricultural setting, Algiers said.

NPS is planting approximately 150 plants a year through the seed farming technique, Algiers said.

“We’re doing it to maximize the amount of seed that we can amplify and collect,” Algiers said.

The seeds NPS is planting replace flammable invasive species like mustard with native herbs, Algiers said. One shortcoming of this process is capacity and labor.

However, the more seeds there are, the more land that can be covered, Algiers said.

“If we have hundreds and hundreds of pounds, maybe even thousands of pounds of seeds, we can work with the weather, and we can cover much larger areas,” Algiers said.

Algiers said restoration is important not only for the ecosystem but for people as well.

“Restoration is the solution to human health,” Algiers said.

gabrielle.salgado@pepperdine.edu

Plants return to Malibu’s mountainsides after the Woolsey, Franklin and Palisades fires. Wildflowers like poppies, lupines and goldfields are common after fire.

Photos by Mary Elisabeth & Gabrielle Salgado | Photo Editor & Managing Editor

Churches supporting the community

Mackenzie

Guest Contributor

With the recent Franklin and Palisades fires that deeply impacted the Malibu community, Malibu churches found ways to support those affected.

Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church, Malibu Pacific Church and Waves Church all found their community impacted after the fires. It was clear: the community needed a system of support.

“The church is supposed to be a system of support and that’s part of the beauty of church benevolence,” Taylor Walling, lead minister of Waves Church, said.

All three churches committed to different plans of action to help support their communities, and Malibu as a whole, in the aftermath of the fires.

Waves Church

Waves Church took three main steps in helping their community process the fires.

As a large portion of their community includes Pepperdine students, there were fewer people directly displaced by the fires, Walling said.

The Waves Church community found fewer people displaced, prompting them to focus on providing emotional and relational support as their first step, Walling said.

“From a church standpoint, community standpoint, it’s been communal support and encouragement and love,” Walling said.

One way they showed this communal love was through recorded versions of their sermons for people who couldn’t attend in person because of the fire, Walling said.

The Waves Church community shared two sermons during the fires. Church leaders presented these sermons in hopes of guiding the church community through the hardship caused by the fires.

The second way is through catering from local restaurants which are not seeing their usual business because of the fires, Walling said.

“More than previously we have really looked at: how can we give local support?” Walling said. “Even if that means we’re

spending a little bit more on food.”

They have catered from restaurants like D’Amore’s, Spruzzo’s, Miguel’s Tacos and Howdy’s for their community dinners, Walling said.

Waves Church also actively supported the Pepperdine Strong Fund by partnering with Pepperdine’s Student Government Association to welcome the bikers from Abilene Christian University (ACU), Walling said.

The bikers were a part of the Gamma Sigma Phi ACU fraternity and biked from ACU to Pepperdine University to help raise money in part for the Pepperdine Strong Fund, according to previous Graphic reporting.

“We were dessert sponsors at that event as a way to highlight and celebrate the fundraising they had done,” Walling said.

However, what Walling said he finds most impressive is not the ways the church has stepped up, but the individual members of the community who have helped donate to those in need.

“I never want to diminish or take for granted the individual acts of compassion and generosity that in my mind are just as important, even if they’re not as large scale, as institutional or congregational acts of generosity,” Walling said.

Malibu Pacific Church

Malibu Pacific Church’s inability to remain open during the recent fires prompted their threefold plan in helping the Malibu community recover, Amy Pendergraft, pastor of

church’s goal for

discipleship at Malibu Pacific Church, said.

“With Malibu Canyon [Road] being closed for so long, we weren’t able to be a location of relief for people,” Pendergraft said. “So what we did was we partnered with the Boys and Girls Club.”

Through this partnership, Malibu Pacific Church helped sort through and distribute donations to those who lost property during the fires, Pendergraft said.

The church also donated around $3,000 to each family within their church community who lost their homes, Pendergraft said.

“We have tried to continually reach out to them to see if they’re doing OK,” Pendergraft said.

Similar to Waves Church, Malibu Pacific Church is also trying to support local, struggling restaurants during this time.

They are helping these businesses through the creation of the go local movement, which encourages people to eat local in exchange for gift card and merchandise prizes, Pendergraft said.

They created a blackout bingo card on their Instagram page and are encouraging those who are able to, to fill out the card completely as a way to support those struggling businesses, Pendergraft said.

“We know that these restau-

rants are barely hanging on by a thread and they may not be able to stay in business,” Pendergraft said. “And for all of us, we want those restaurants to still be here.”

Our Lady of Malibu

Our Lady of Malibu (OLM) is taking a slightly different approach to helping their community.

Pope Francis declared 2025 as a holy year of hope, however with the fires in the Malibu community, OLM was unable to transition into this new year with the rest of the universal church, Monsignor of OLM Charles Chaffman said.

OLM will be sponsoring a local holy year of hope starting around the Easter season to support the community during these unprecedented circumstances, Chaffman said.

“We’re gonna have a whole year of hope in which we are going to minister, hopefully, to all of Pacific Palisades, Calabasas and Malibu,” Chaffman said.

They plan to host events such as a children’s Easter egg hunt and “The Plaza del Soul Market Place,” where the community can gather to enjoy

vendors and fellowship, Chaffman said.

OLM also plans on hosting a theater of hope in Malibu resident Betty O’Meara’s honor, Chaffman said.

O’Meara formerly owned a Malibu movie theater that was shut down in 2017, according to a Malibu Times article. She recently died in the Palisades Fire.

All these churches said they are grateful for the opportunity to serve their community.

“It’s a unique opportunity to help our community know that there is a God who sees them and knows them,” Pendergraft said.

Photo by Mackenzie Krause | Guest Contributor

Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church presents their “Hill of Hope.” The

this landmark is to offer a source of hope as people try to heal after the recent fires.

Krause

Malibu Pacific Church stands tall alongside Malibu Canyon Road. The church community hopes to offer all of Malibu support in this post-fire period.

Photo courtesy of Waves Church

Photo by Mackenzie Krause | Guest Contributor

Local businesses struggle after fires

Guest Contributor

With the Franklin Fire, Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire and the various other fires that tore throughout the greater Los Angeles area, local Malibu businesses have been struggling to get customers through the door.

Local businesses, such as Malibu Village Books and Vitamin Barn, have seen a decrease in customers since the fires that swept across Southern California, their respective managers and owners said. These businesses, especially Malibu Village Books, are calling for the Malibu community to support local businesses in the aftermath of the fire devastation.

“Our business does really rely on that day-to-day foot traffic to make ends meet,” Emma Carroll, Malibu Village Books supervisor, said. “Currently we’re making less than one-fifth of the revenue that we would normally make.”

These local businesses, such as Malibu Village Books, shared how these fires impacted their stores, as well as ways the community and city council can help these businesses bounce back.

Impacted Businesses

Malibu Village Books lost the entire holiday shopping season due to the Franklin Fire. This season makes up around one-third of the profit for the entire year, Carroll said.

“Losing that holiday shopping buzz hit us really hard,” Carroll said.

The store was only reopened for three days after the Franklin fire before the Palisades fire hit. This fire caused the store to shut down for an additional two weeks, Carroll said.

Even with the closures the

Photo by Mackenzie Krause | Guest Contributor

then buys gift cards to these local restaurants using the profits from the merchandise and hands them out as prizes for those playing their blackout bingo game.

They also gave out some of this merchandise as prizes for the bingo game.

Community members can support Malibu Village Books in several other ways since they are not a part of the restaurant bingo.

Malibu Village Books welcomes people to stop in or ship books from their store, Carroll said.

Carroll said she encourages the use of the store’s special ordering system, where they can get any book they do not have in stock ordered for customers.

Bookshop.org is a platform similar to Amazon but helps support indie bookstores, like Malibu Village Books, Carroll said.

store endured, they still had to pay for the entire month’s rent, Carroll said.

The store has reopened for seven days a week. However, the lasting Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) road closure and restricted access is hurting business, Carroll said.

“Our main visibility comes from PCH and having that closed it really hurts us,” Carroll said.

The landlords have not given the store an adequate deferment on rent, causing the business to continue to suffer, Carroll said.

“We’re really struggling to just pay our bills and pay our rent and we’re just struggling to be here given the current situation,” Carroll said.

Vitamin Barn owner Gene Arnold kept his store open during the Woolsey Fire and was the first store to reopen

after the fires earlier this year, however, he said he believes many local businesses will shut down after these recent fires.

“Don’t be surprised if a lot of these places leave and don’t blame ‘em cause the landlords are disattached,” Arnold said.

Many businesses went in for small business loans, but will eventually have to pay them back, Malibu Councilmember Haylynn Conrad said.

City Council Initiatives

Malibu City Council passed an initiative to purchase lunches for Malibu staff members for around a one to three month period, Conrad said.

“It was something to help stimulate businesses locally to get them through this dark period,” Conrad said.

However, Conrad said she doesn’t think this will help significantly long-term.

“It won’t help somebody survive forever,” Conrad said. “If they don’t have traction and traffic coming in and out there’s only so much we can do.”

Assistant City Manager Joseph Toney shared a new Los Angeles County initiative during the March 10 city council meeting, which should benefit small business owners in Malibu.

L.A. County voted for an eviction moratorium which provides temporary eviction protection for workers and small business owners who demonstrate financial hardship due to the fires, Toney said.

The protection period provided by this moratorium ends July 31.

Ways to Help

With a lack of tourism due to road closures, Conrad said she encourages people to try their best to shop locally.

However, Conrad said she recognizes the difficulty of this task given the small Malibu community.

“You have to realize Malibu is a small town,” Conrad said. “People also can’t afford to eat out every single meal.”

However, there are certain incentives for those who support these businesses.

The GoLocalMalibu (@golocalmalibu) Instagram page encourages people to eat locally and offers prizes for those who do, Conrad said.

Malibu Pacific Church started the Instagram page as a way to encourage support for local restaurants, according to their Instagram page.

The page posted a bingo card of local restaurants, including Vitamin Barn, and encouraged players to take part in playing blackout bingo.

The page sells local restaurant merchandise. The church

Libro.fm also supports indie bookstores, but instead of offering physical copies, provides digital audiobooks, Carroll said.

Malibu Village Books is starting a GoFundMe page to help support their store as well, Carroll said.

Those wishing to help can also follow their Instagram account and remain an active part of the Malibu community.

“We [Malibu Village Books] definitely want to stay,” Carroll said. “So please, help us.”

mackenzie.krause@pepperdine.edu

The Vitamin Barn & Juice Bar located in Malibu Colony Plaza on March 17. Vitamin Barn owner Gene Arnold expressed concern over local businesses shutting down as a result of the recent fires.

Mackenzie Krause

Photo courtesy

Infographic by Mackenzie Krause

Staff Editorial: Graphic seniors offer advice

many other universities, students have direct access to their professors through office hours.

Editor’s Note: PGM staff members decide on the topic of a staff ed together. The staff as a whole provides opinions and content included in this staff ed to provide thoughts about and shed light on solutions for happenings at Pepperdine.

College is an exciting time, but it can also be scary. From moving to a new place to making new friends, college comes with lots of new experiences and challenges.

The Graphic seniors are here to offer some of our advice — whether you are just starting your college journey or if you need a little pick-me-up as you’re rounding out your time as a Wave.

Pepperdine has a lot to offer, and it is important to take advantage of all of the incredible resources and opportunities we have available on campus to help you grow and develop as you transition into this next phase of life.

Student life on campus is an important part of Pepperdine culture. Joining clubs and organizations are a great opportunity to meet people with similar interests or identities. Pepperdine has over 155 clubs, and 22 of those are identity-based clubs.

These clubs are great resources for finding support, especially for marginalized groups and identities on campus.

Pepperdine’s small class sizes are one of the main advantages of attending Pepperdine. Unlike

As you transition into the college environment, the classes may become more challenging and rigorous than high school.

Office hour visits also allow you to form closer bonds with your professors, learn more about your courses and explore your interests in those classes and endeavors beyond college.

In addition to the extracurricular and academic resources on campus, there are also practical tips and amenities that will help enrich your time at Pepperdine.

If you don’t have a car on campus or don’t want to use your own gas, the Shopping Shuttle runs from various stops on campus three times a week Monday-Saturday. It is an awesome resource to pick up groceries and prescriptions or take a walk around the Country Mart.

For those who decide to study abroad for either a semester, a full academic year, or a summer, keep aware that while you are not in control of the quality of your group, you are in control of your health. Do not prioritize experiences and travel over staying healthy.

A lot of people will go on impressive weekend trips to places that are very far away while abroad, but do not feel like those are experiences you have to have. Figure out how you want to travel, and do follow your heart rather than trying to live by what is written on someone else’s planner.

For some of us, going abroad was the best decision we have

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made while studying at Pepperdine, but it is not necessary for everyone. Malibu and L.A. have plenty to offer students who spend all four years here.

Sometimes Pepperdine’s location provides safety and beauty, but unfortunately, it also means campus is located in a fire prone area.

We hope no one has to experience any more of them before it comes time for seniors to offer advice again, but that’s unrealistic.

We also recommend being ready with a go-bag when the weather is dry and windy.

If eventually you find yourself living off-campus, know that campus is a safe shelter-inplace option if the canyons or PCH are closed or blocked with traffic.

Campus can feel like a hard place to be sometimes. The class of 2025 is no stranger to tragedies and facing them as a community, but we also know there is no one way to grieve. Just know that everyone here, from the staff to the faculty, want to help and are also experiencing tragedies and hardships side-by-side with the students.

Always remember, no matter what your experiences are: Healing is always more important than grades.

We may be turning our tassels and closing this chapter of our lives in less than a month, but we are still rooting for you. Wishing you the best of luck,

Graphic Seniors (‘25)

Graphic Staff

Art by Sarah Rietz | Art Editor

Letter to the editor: Pepperdine needs a climate action plan

Walden Hicks SGA Senior Class President

Editor’s Note: Opinions expressed in letters to the editor are those of the author, and publication of these letters in the Graphic in no way represents an endorsement of any opinions expressed. This space is provided to allow public response and commentary on articles and issues which are covered by the Graphic and important to its readership.

Since taking office, President Jim Gash has never explicitly mentioned climate change or the university’s connection to and responsibility for mitigating this crisis through any official university communication. Pepperdine’s central administration does not emphasize climate mitigation or adaptation as a central aspect of the university’s mission statement. Pepperdine’s decision to not acknowledge climate change makes us a less academically rigorous institution and an ecological stain.

Pepperdine must identify the climate-related problems affecting students and commit to addressing those problems. In recent years, our univer-

sity community has experienced three major wildfires: the Woolsey, Franklin and Palisades Fires.

Strong student support for climate action already exists, but our university is ignoring this call for change.

On March 12, Pepperdine’s Student Government Association passed a resolution calling on the Office of the President to publicly acknowledge climate change and craft a Climate Action Plan to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Resolution #08-S25 lays out strategies to reach key net zero goals at Pepperdine, including changing our university’s Sustainability Policy Statement, establishing a Sustainability Task Force, and undergoing a climate audit through a faith-based organization. According to an SGA survey of over 10% of the student body, 76% of students believed climate change was a major problem affecting them or others. When over ¾ of our student body agree on a problem, our university must take that problem seriously.

Pepperdine’s senior administration must publicly acknowledge our university’s role in addressing climate change. President Gash should establish a Sustainability Task Force dedicated to

crafting a report on how Pepperdine can reach net zero emissions.

Pepperdine’s Affirmation Statement affirms, “That truth, having nothing to fear from investigation, must be pursued relentlessly in every discipline.” Pepperdine must begin to live up to this affirmation. If we have nothing to fear from investigation, we must begin to investigate our university’s contribution to climate change. We can no longer hide behind lackluster public statements that sidestep the real problem: climate change. We can no longer pretend that our university and our greater Los Angeles community can continue to thrive through increasingly intense wildfires. Students recognize the problem; the university must do the same. Pepperdine needs a Climate Action Plan.

How can I send a letter to the editor?

Letters to the Editor must bear the writer’s name, signature, class standing, major or professional standing, address and phone number (except in some circumstances determined appropriate by the Graphic). Letters must be fewer than 300 words and will be edited for syntax, grammar and brevity. Letters can be mailed to student publications or emailed to peppgraphicmedia@gmail. com

While we do not publish letters from groups endorsing political candidates, PGM will carry letters discussing candidates and cam pain issues. Columns are opinions of only the columnist.

walden.hicks@pepperdine.edu

Opinion: Shakespeare stands test of time

Cassandra Barron Perspectives Staff Writer

Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.

William Shakespeare’s influence and powerful works have traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and majorly impacted literature and culture in the United States for centuries.

A few months ago I saw “Romeo and Juliet” on Broadway and Shakespeare’s call for peace in 16th century England felt especially applicable and pertinent amidst a Donald Trump presidency in 21st century America. I felt transported yet present while experiencing the play, reflecting on the power of literature that allows words to stay alive across centuries and continents.

I was first introduced to Shakespeare during my junior year at Pepperdine. I had read and watched many adaptations and renditions of his plays and knew all of the tropes and narratives that have stemmed from Shakespeare’s ouevre — enemies to lovers, forbidden romances and the tragic hero. Up until last spring, I thought Shakespeare was just another old playwright I could write off. Why should we read plays in Early Modern English authored in the 16th and 17th centuries?

I believe Shakespeare is more relevant than ever

in our current socio-political context, and has the power to transform the lives of people across various communities.

In the late 20th century, scholars began to spark debate about whether or not we should read and teach Shakespeare. The conversation grounds itself in whether or not the acclaim, prestige and status attributed to Shakespeare’s work and those who read his works are deserved. This question still pervades the discourse surrounding Shakespeare pedagogy and his position in American culture.

Jonathan Burton, a notable Shakespeare scholar, wrote a pivotal essay titled, “Segregated Shakespeare” in which he explored various Shakespeare classroom pedagogies across Los Angeles. He aimed to discover the ways in which school segregations resulting from systemic racism and oppression impacted the quality of Shakespeare education students were obtaining.

Most schools with a majority population of students of lower socioeconomic status did not have the same creative or engaging pedagogies on Shakespeare that the private, predominately white schools had. However, there were a few schools with less economic resources that tailored various plays to the communities and identities of the students.

These classrooms were the most successful in making Shakespeare accessible and relevant to a wider range of students from various backgrounds. This example demonstrates how Shakespeare can continue to stay relevant for a wide range of audiences.

Whether or not there is an all male cast on stage or a glitzy Queer coded retelling of a Shakespeare play, the heart and core of the story persists. Shakespeare’s power lies in the hands of readers whom he touches, and it is our job to keep him alive in a world in which we feel the most disconnected from our humanity.

Art by Sarah Rietz | Art Editor

Opinion: Humility is aligned with self-respect

Alyssa Johnson Perspectives Editor

Growing up in Catholic schools, humility was a valued trait that was encouraged on all fronts. Humility in service, faith and manners were praised as the markers of somebody who “lives each day as Jesus did,” and in my fairly secular household, one of the first moral lessons I remember was about the meaning of the word “humble.”

I have my qualms with other elements of a typical Catholic education, but this is one area I do continue to appreciate as an adult. I took this notion of a humble attitude very seriously, and I think it has served me and others well so far.

Humility is not a purely religious or spiritual concept, and I believe it is also valued in many areas of society. However, I think myself and almost everyone else has an imperfect understanding of humility, which shows itself in many commonplace behaviors.

For example, a self-deprecating sense of humor is not always the most popular, but it is pervasive to the point it is instantly understood. It is acceptable to put oneself down as part of a joke, and poking fun at oneself is sometimes viewed as healthy.

Growing up, I was told that I needed to learn to laugh at myself so as not to appear too serious or stuckup. I do not entirely disagree with that premise, and I do make an effort to take myself a little less seriously.

Yet, I question the popularity of self-deprecating humor every now and then.

Sometimes, whether it is online or in person, it seems that this form of humor betrays a need for validation rather than a kind of modesty or humility.

Sometimes, when people joke about their supposed flaws, it seems more like an insincere attempt to gain praise or keep from seeming arrogant, rather than as a genuine joke. False modesty is not an admirable quality, but it does seem to be very common.

I am guilty of practicing false modesty myself. Sometimes I am genuinely trying to be funny when I say something self-deprecating, but most of the time it feels more automatic than authentic, and I find myself wondering what I thought the point was.

While these jokes are, by and large, pretty inoffensive, I do wonder if it would still be so common in a healthier community. I am particularly concerned about the amount of uninhibited self-deprecation online, almost all of which is directed at strangers.

I have flaws that are easy for me to make fun of, but there is a difference between humorous self-awareness and arbitrary cruelty. I started becoming more intentional about the jokes I made when, picturing them turned against another person, made me realize how mean-spirited and small-minded they were. There is also something to be said for modeling good behavior in front of others, particularly loved ones. If I say something negative about myself, I could unintentionally imply something negative about a friend or family member.

When somebody insults themself, it could be said

that they are also insulting everybody who loves and cares about them.

Recently I was watching an episode of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” starring Rachel Bloom as a big-shot lawyer who impulsively moves to West Covina in pursuit of a high school boyfriend. Toward the end of the episode, in a conversation with coworker Paula, played by Donna Lynne Champlin, she repeatedly and frantically refers to herself as “crazy.”

Then Paula puts her hand up and says, “Don’t you talk about my friend like that ever again.”

There is also something to be said for modeling good behavior in front of others, particularly loved ones.

Alyssa Johnson Perspectives Editor

It is not the case that this protagonist has no flaws, or even that she is not, to an extent, “crazy.” However, as obvious as this may sound, this moment struck me as a reminder that compassion is not reserved for entirely well-adjusted people, but is most beneficial for people struggling with their flaws. Practicing compassion for oneself may also be an exercise in practicing it for others. It is too easy for cruelty and resentment toward

Hey Waves,

Popular discourse and media have exhausted and overused the “division more than unity” and polarization narrative pertaining to differing political values and beliefs in the United States. Due to this extreme political divide and the partisan political structure, I have found that many people feel uncomfortable sharing their political values.

the self to turn outward, and while false modesty comes from complicated places, I wouldn’t call it compassionate.

I learned about the word “humble” from the book “Charlotte’s Web” when I was a very young child. In that story, the word refers to Wilbur’s lack of pride, his sensibility and his generous heart.

Wilbur is a lowly spring pig who irritates the other farm animals with his naivety, but he remains determined to live in spite of everybody’s opinion that he is small and insignificant. He does not resign himself to thinking he is lowly, but he also does not try to change himself, instead asserting all the best qualities the others have ignored.

Humility requires a measure of self-acceptance, as well as, within reason, acceptance and openness toward others. It is not an easy thing to remember, and few of us are great examples of it, but I think it is hugely important for people who want to do right by others.

Everyone has a civic duty to stay informed and aware about current events and issues in their prospective society. To be unaware and ignorant indicates one’s privileged position in our current socio-political context.

In some ways, holding no strong political beliefs may be worse than having harmful political views. Because of current division, individuals may feel apprehensive about sharing their politics and opinions, or may choose to not engage.

A key facet of my personal ethic is to always use my voice to advocate for others, myself and communities that I believe need the most support.

Advocacy looks different for everyone. Whether you are the spokesperson of a protest or frequently discuss politics with your friends, it is vital that individuals shar their ideas with others.

Your beliefs and values are a reflection of who you are. If you want to live authentically, share those parts of yourself with others, and maybe in the process you will initiate change in someone else.

With care,

Send your questions to PGM via email: peppgraphicmedia@gmail.com

Art by Sarah Rietz | Art Editor

Cassandra Barron Perspectives Staff Writer

Dean Lee Kats shares journey from farm to shore

large impact on the Pepperdine community over the course of 30 years.

A man of many titles, Lee Kats has done it all — a professor of Biology, the Frank R. Seaver chair of Natural Science and the most recent addition, Dean of Seaver College.

In his over 30 years of being part of the Pepperdine community, Kats has left a lasting mark on students, faculty and staff across the university.

After his appointment as Dean of Seaver College on March 5, Kats said he felt a sense of disbelief that he could hold such an important role at such an amazing university.

“It was that mix of almost disbelief, that this farm kid from Indiana would be offered to be the dean at, in my opinion, one of the best faith-based liberal arts colleges in the country — frankly, there aren’t many better,” Kats said.

Katy Carr, associate provost in the Office of Research Grants and Foundation Relations, said she met Kats in 2006 when she came to Pepperdine as a receptionist in the Seaver Dean’s Office. In her nearly 20 years of working closely with him, Carr said Kats has been an incredibly important figure and mentor in both her professional and personal life.

“I don’t think I’m unique as someone who would describe him that way,” Carr said. “I think that he is a very generous person in that way, that I think probably comes from his faith, that he really cares about the people in his life and he’s very generous with guidance and his time and attention and helping.”

By carrying with him his midwest origins and passion for science, Kats has made a

Midwestern Roots

Kats spent his childhood years on a farm in northern Indiana, he said. His parents built the farm from the ground up.

Kats said his parents were part of a Protestant denomination. Kats and his siblings spent their childhood taking a bus every day to the Christian Reformed grade school and high school in suburban Chicago.

“I used to say I’d get up and get on the bus in the dark, and often in the winter, I’d get home from school in the dark because it was a long bus ride to this private, faith-based school in Illinois,” Kats said.

Kats said his parents told him he had no choice but to go to a Christian Reformed college. He applied to Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich. as a first-generation student.

“My parents didn’t know anything about college, and so as I tell young people today, I only applied to one college because I didn’t know you were supposed to apply to more than one college,” Kats said.

Kats spent his last two years at Calvin conducting research, and realized he should start applying to graduate programs to become a professor.

After graduating from Calvin, Kats went straight to a PhD program at the University of Kentucky.

Becoming a Professor

At just 25 years old, Kats said he took on his first job as a professor at Greenville College in Illinois. After two years

at Greenville, he landed at a slightly larger faith-based university in Malibu — Pepperdine.

“Pepperdine already had a long track record, particularly in the sciences, of getting students at Seaver College involved in the science research, and that was so attractive to me because that’s what I had experienced when I was a student,” Kats said.

Shortly after arriving in Malibu, Kats said he realized it was the perfect place for him — a place the farm kid from Indiana with a passion for science would have never dreamed of.

“There’s the Santa Monica Mountains and I was a farm kid from Indiana; I hadn’t been spending any time in the mountains, I hadn’t spent any time on the West Coast and there was this adventure to it,” Kats said.

Studying God’s Creation

Growing up in a faith-based family and school, Kats said there was a common emphasis on creation in his life — yet, it had never necessarily been a scientific emphasis.

Always seeing nature as God’s handiwork, Kats’ arrival at Calvin College was a pivotal moment in how he saw himself fit into this creation.

“I began seeing nature as something not only of God’s creation, but even more exciting, because I contribute new knowledge to God’s creation,” Kats said. “To me, that’s the ultimate privilege as a scientist, to discover something new about God’s creation.”

Expanding Roles

Kats began serving on

faculty committees, and noticed Pepperdine was struggling to marry the ideas of teaching and researching for faculty. He said former Dean David Baird said he liked his philosophy about research and teaching, and appointed him as the first ever assistant dean for research at Seaver College. Kats later became the associate dean for research and eventually the vice provost for research.

Dana Dudley, an associate dean in the Seaver Dean’s office, was brought into the Seaver Dean’s office around the same time as Kats in the early 2000s. She said she has always admired Kats’ emphasis on the importance of research for both faculty and students, regardless of which administrative role he was in.

“I think he’s left a mark on Seaver College by the number of programs he has created that allow faculty to do research through internal grants and allow faculty to partner with students in research,” Dudley said.

From there, former provost Darryl Tippens appointed Kats as vice provost for research. In this role, Kats said he remembers taking on several things such as information technology and accreditation processes — it was at this point that he dropped the “for research” from his title, and became the vice provost, which he served as for the last 10 years.

Looking back on the more than 30 years he has been at Pepperdine, Kats said his favorite memories have been traveling abroad with students. He said he has taken over 10 groups of students to Costa Rica and over five groups to Argentina, all doing field courses to travel and see animals across

the world.

“It’s not fun if I do it by myself or with just scientists — it’s fun and memorable because I get to do it with students,” Kats said.

Kats’ Newest Role

Kats served as the interim dean of Seaver College from fall 2023 until March 5, when President Jim Gash announced Kats’ appointment as dean of Seaver College. Throughout these various titles, Kats still teaches occasionally and has an active research laboratory.

Carr encourages students not to be intimidated by Kats’ new title of Dean, as she said he is one of the kindest, most down-to-earth people she knows.

“He’s such a fun person to know,” Carr said. “He’s such a funny person and has such a love for getting to know people and the community of Pepperdine and especially our students.”

Since his appointment into his new role, Kats said he has done a lot of reflection on his upbringing and where that has taken him today. Rewinding back to when he was just a farm kid in Indiana, Kats said he could have never imagined becoming the dean of a college.

“So I’m grateful, I’m thankful, I’m humbled; I carry with me that Midwest, Calvinist work ethic and it will continue as dean and I’ll try my very best and I’m gonna work hard at it and I think I have a vision for the college,” Kats said. “I’m honored to be able to serve in this role.”

Photo courtesy of Lee Kats

Dean Lee Kats (right) performs field work with a group of students in Malibu. Kats said though he loves science and research, it is the students who make the job fun.

Amanda Monahan Life & Arts Editor

Seniors reflect on four years at Pepperdine

Jade Gonzalez Life & Arts Staff Writer

They say college goes by in a blink of an eye and after four years, there are achievements gained, stories to share and memories to hold onto forever. As the class of 2025 prepares for graduation in May, seniors are preparing to tackle the next phase of their lives while taking time to reflect back on their time at Pepperdine.

Charlotte Purintun, a Sports Medicine major from Wisconsin, arrived at Pepperdine with an open mind and a go with the flow mentality. Throughout the past four years, she quickly became well-acquainted with the ins and outs of Pepperdine life.

“I’ve really matured a lot,” Purintun said. “I feel I know how everything works here now, and I’m looking more toward the future.”

Christopher Hance, a senior Finance major from California, described his first year as transformative and filled with various activities.

“I came in as one person, and by the end of my first year, I already felt myself grow,” Hance said.

Adrian Ponce, a senior Business Administration major from Florida, described his first year as a whirlwind, moving away from home and adjusting to life at Pepperdine. It was during his time abroad that his perspective shifted, Ponce said.

“I would describe my Pepperdine experience as two parts: pre-Argentina and post-Argentina,” Ponce said.

Ponce’s semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina created life-long friendships where he and his group were able to travel across the country and strengthen their day-to-day bonds in and outside the classroom, he said. His time in Argentina marked a turning point in his spiritual growth, where he embraced a deeper connection to his faith.

“BA was a semester for fully myself,” Ponce said. “I was lucky enough to have a tight-knit group that always wanted to spend time together; that allowed me to find my community and reflect on the things that I added to my life from those experiences.”

Nathaniel Evans, a senior Business major from Nevada, said his journey at Pepperdine has been one of exploration and personal growth. He said his first year was about discovering untapped potential and exploring new opportunities. It wasn’t until he went abroad for a semester in Barcelona and a semester in Heidelberg that he said he felt he found his stride.

Hance said he traveled extensively while studying abroad in Switzerland, visiting nearly 30 countries while he was away from Malibu.

“I said if I was going to go abroad, I really wanted to maximize my time there, and traveling with so many of my fraternity brothers, it made it much more special and [we grew] closer together,” Hance said.

In her time at Pepperdine, Purintun said she has seen herself grow in various ways, whether it be communication skills, organizational growth or finding

First-years confront wildfires, disruptions

Senior Nathaniel Evans (top) and first-year Jerry Li (bottom) stand in front of their first-year dorms, Eaton and Miller. While Evans said his time abroad was his favorite at Pepperdine, Li said he valued being able to explore the Malibu area this year.

a routine that benefits her study habits and mental health. As she prepares to leave Pepperdine, she said she advises first-years to take a deep breath and remember to have fun.

“Don’t take things too seriously — you’ll end up where you want to be,” Purintun said.

Ponce emphasized the idea of being yourself in college, regardless of the change that might come one’s way.

“Don’t change, just be you in all your ways,” Ponce said.

For his fellow graduating seniors, Hance said he hopes they always remember the idea that Pepperdine shaped them into the people who will walk out into the world in just a month.

“Don’t forget the people, the professors and the places that have shaped you,” Hance said. “College is transformative, and as we all go in different directions, keep those connections alive.”

For his senior classmates, Evans stresses the importance of maintaining the connections made during college.

“Don’t forget about the people and relationships you’ve built here — they’re valuable,” Evans said.

Alexa McGlathery Life & Arts Staff Writer

The first semester for a college student serves as a crucial period of adjustment for incoming first-years.

As they navigated the transition into college life, first-year students were simultaneously introduced to the unique rhythm and beauty of Malibu living — an experience that shaped their early days on campus in profound ways. Six events proved to be particularly significant for Pepperdine students and combined the scariest times with the best memories.

“This year was crazy, but super fun,” first-year Jerry Li said.

During the first few weeks of the fall semester at Pepperdine, an intense heat wave posed significant challenges for students, especially first-years adjusting to dorm life without air conditioning, first-year Matvey Golovatch said. As an international student from Canada, Golovatch had to learn to survive the extreme heat during that time was particularly difficult.

No sooner had the heat wave subsided than students found themselves fixated on their phones, as a startling video began circulating rapidly across social media. This event, in which a man with a BB gun drove onto campus, happened on only the third day of the school year.

Pepperdine responded to the

situation immediately and students said they still felt safe on campus.

“I was never super concerned because [the whole situation] got shut down immediately,” Golovatch said.

The weapon was ultimately identified as a BB gun — a type of air-powered firearm designed to shoot small metal or plastic pellets, often used for recreational target practice or training purposes, according to Airsoft Station.

At the start of finals week for the fall semester, the Franklin Fire ignited in Malibu and made its way to campus Dec. 9.

“The Franklin Fire was like a movie,” Li said. “[My roommates and I] saw the skies turning red, so we climbed onto the roof of our dorm to see what was happening and then left campus immediately.”

Li, an international student from Hong Kong, shared that he had never encountered anything like the Franklin Fire before.

The Palisades Fire, which broke out Jan. 7, presented unique challenges as it followed closely on the heels of the Franklin Fire.

For out-of-state students, the uncertainty created a sense of confusion and hesitation — many said they were unsure whether to return to campus.

“I had no idea what to do because I was in Hong Kong and I had no idea whether to fly back or not,” Li said.

With the fires came the return of Zoom classes. On Jan. 9, President Jim Gash informed the Pepperdine community via email that the first week of classes of the spring semester would take place online.

Many first-year students said they found it challenging to stay engaged in these classes.

“There was a big inconsistency between professors and divisions,” Li said. “Some professors wanted to hold class and some wanted shorter classes, which was confusing.”

The ongoing closure of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) posed significant challenges for students living in Malibu, as it extended travel times to Los Angeles and other surrounding areas.

Despite these inconveniences, the closure of PCH brought unexpected benefits to the Pepperdine community.

“I now spend more time at the beaches and at the Malibu Country Mart,” Li said.

Through it all, Pepperdine’s newest class faced this year, moments of joy, growth and discovery have continued to emerge, proving that even in the most challenging circumstances, light can still break through.

Photos by Mary Elisabeth | Photo Editor

Jellycats spark cuddly craze on campus

Alexa McGlathery Life & Arts Staff Writer

Adorable and irresistibly cuddly, Jellycat stuffed animals have become a beloved craze among Pepperdine students.

Jellycats are not an average teddy bear. The plush toys come in various shapes, sizes and objects.

“I have a tiny Jellycat coffee mug that is so cute,” first-year Gabi Garmon said. “I want to get a giant bunny Jellycat someday.”

While classic teddy bears and bunny stuffed animals are always an option, Jellycat is best known for its uniquely creative plush toys.

Their collection includes whimsical designs like a table tennis paddle, a peanut, a stick bug and even a ginger root plant.

“I’ve been collecting Jellycats since I was 2,” junior Mason Turner said.

Where Jellycats Are Sold

Jellycat plush toys are available both online and in physical stores, according to the Jellycat website.

A wide selection can be found on the Jellycat website, Amazon and The Paper Store, among other online retailers.

Jellycat collectors often prefer to add to their collection

by finding the stuffed animals in person rather than online, Turner said.

“It’s part of the experience to look at the whole stack of Jellycats sitting out in the store,” Turner said.

Some stores in Malibu are following the craze, as they stock the trendy stuffed animals in their inventories.

The Malibu Colony Company, located in the Malibu Country Mart, is one of them. The store has a whole wall dedicated to displaying the Jellycats they have for sale.

“I like to get them from Malibu Colony because they have a good collection,” junior Thalia Gurule said.

Ranch At The Pier, a store located on the Malibu Pier

across from Malibu Farm, also sells Jellycats.

“I like to get Jellycats at the pier shop because they have so many in all different sizes,” Garmon said. “I think they have the best collection out of any store in Malibu.”

It’s a Lifestyle

Buying a Jellycat is more than just owning a cute and cuddly stuffed animal –– it is a lifestyle for students to bond with one another, Gurule said.

“[My friend and I] literally instantly connected when we started talking about [Jellycats],” Gurule said.

Gurule has been a passionate collector since she was in eighth grade and has amassed

a collection of over 20 Jellycats. She said she carefully curates her collection, following a strict theme when selecting new additions.

“My side of the bedroom is kind of, like, white and, like, pops of pink,” Gurule said.

“So a lot of my Jellycats follow the light pink or the tan or the white color.”

Gurule said she gets most of her Jellycats as gifts from family and friends.

Gurule’s roommate, junior Elizabeth Stansberry, is also a Jellycat collector. She said she collects green Jellycats to fit with the pink and green color scheme Gurule and her have in their dorm room.

“I have a ton of dinosaur ones, and the dinosaurs are so cute and they’re all green,” Stansberry said.

Both Gurule and Stansberry said they display their Jellycats on their beds, where they follow a categorized arrangement.

According to Stansberry, receiving a Jellycat as a gift is one of life’s greatest delights.

“I just know that whoever gave me the Jellycat really knows me and really knows exactly what my ideal gift is,” Stansberry said.

A Collector’s Dream

While Jellycats make charming and thoughtful gifts, they

have also become coveted collectibles among enthusiasts.

Both Gurule and Stansberry consider themselves dedicated collectors and said they fully intend to continue expanding their ever-growing collections.

“My family is very supportive of my collection and my boyfriend will even get me new Jellycats to grow my collection,” Gurule said.

The Jellycat Fish & Chips Experience in London is a dream destination for avid collectors seeking to enhance their collections with rare and elusive pieces, Gurule said.

The exclusive storefront offers some of the most sought-after Jellycats, many of which are unavailable elsewhere. Gurule expressed her desire to visit the location and experience it firsthand.

Whether given as heartfelt gifts, discovered in local shops or tracked down as rare collectibles, Jellycats bring joy, creativity and a sense of shared enthusiasm to those who love them.

For collectors like Gurule and Stansberry, the Jellycat craze isn’t just a passing trend — it is a soft, squishy and enduring part of college life.

alexa.mcglathery@pepperdine.edu

Sweet treats taste sweeter with friends

Bohuen Tong Life & Arts Staff Writer

Sweet treat runs have become a way for dessert lovers to add a little sweetness into their day. But for many, the concept of grabbing a sweet treat has become a way of creating moments for connection with loved ones, students said.

Junior Bre Patterson said half the fun of getting a sweet treat with her friends is the excitement of picking out where to go and discovering new favorites with friends.

“First, I love the sweet treat part, obviously,” Patterson said. “And then we’re all just so happy whenever we get our treat and we get to chat and listen to music in the car.”

Grabbing dessert is a way to add extra joy to the day and bring friends together over a shared love for sweets, Patterson said.

Junior Grace Sardar said getting a sweet treat with others makes the experience ten times better.

“I almost always need something sweet after anything savory,” Sardar said. “But when you get it with a friend, you can indulge and share the joy with someone else.”

Students said some of their favorite dessert places in the Malibu area include Malibu Yogurt and Ice Cream, better known as “Buyo” among students, Crumbl Cookies, BJ’s for pizookies or the grocery store for a storebought treat.

More Than Dessert

While sweet treats might appear as just getting dessert, students said they hold significant meaning. These treats represent friendship and demonstrate how shared moments are capable of creating joy and lasting memories.

Patterson said a sweet treat has the ability to cheer her up and make her day sweeter.

“Sometimes we won’t be in the best mood and say, ‘Let’s go get a pizookie,’” Patterson said. “It turns your whole day around and you’re not thinking about the annoying stuff that happened.”

Whether it’s celebrating the end of a stressful week or simply chatting over a delicious bite, these moments create a sense of togetherness to be cherished, students said.

Malibu Sweet Treat Staple

Malibu Yogurt and Ice Cream, or “Buyo,” has become a beloved spot among the Malibu community, especially with Pepperdine students.

The shop has become a go-to destination; whether it’s a post-dinner dessert, study break or a way to celebrate special moments, Buyo has become a familiar place for connection and tradition.

Julian Gómez, owner of Malibu Yogurt and Ice Cream, said customers describe the shop as a staple in the Malibu community. Every day he is there, he said he sees firsthand the sense of

connection happening when people come for dessert.

“Malibu is such a tight community — all the locals are so warm,” Gómez said. “You see the same faces and start to recognize them and then you start talking and it builds up from there.”

Gómez said he loves when people choose his shop to spend time with their friends and family.

Beyond special occasions, Gómez said the shop has become a cherished tradition for many. He recalled when a group came to the shop to celebrate a birthday.

“It’s like a tradition to come after dinner,” Gómez said. “People have their dinner, then come here and talk more, even when it’s cold.”

A Taste of Comfort

In the whirlwind of college life, small rituals like getting a sweet treat can be grounding moments that provide comfort and connection.

For many students, getting a sweet treat also feels like a reward and something special to look forward to with their friends.

“It’s also a way to reward yourself,” Patterson said. “Especially at the end of a hard school week — it’s definitely a form for us to destress after all our responsibilities.”

bohuen.tong@pepperdine.edu

Photo courtesy of Thalia Gurule

Thalia Gurule’s Jellycat collection sits on her bed. She said she has a vast assortment of Jellycats and wants to collect more.

Photo courtesy of Bre Patterson

Desserts from Pressed Juicery, Crumbl Cookies and Erewhon make easily shareable desserts. Junior Bre Patterson said sweet treats taste better when shared.

GoLocalMalibu bingo rallies for Malibu

Karla Suzuki Life & Arts Assistant

Malibu Pacific Church is encouraging Malibu residents to participate in GoLocalMalibu, an initiative they introduced in January to help local businesses find normalcy after the L.A. Country fires.

The idea behind the initiative is to help out struggling businesses and give residents a chance to show support for the community. Residents play blackout bingo with the partnered businesses to win merchandise and prizes said Joel Dunn, online pastor at Malibu Pacific Church.

“This is what we do in Malibu — we rally for one another,” Dunn said.

The Beginning

The project, spearheaded by Dunn, is the church’s own effort to help out local businesses who were affected by the fires.

“We have a couple of business owners who attend the church,” Dunn said. “They said business was down.”

The project then became something bigger.

“We just started rallying around the different little restaurants and decided we can create a movement, a grassroots movement that helps the local businesses,” Dunn said.

The staff at Malibu Pacific Church said they aim to show their unwavering support to the Malibu community.

“We don’t do life alone, you know?” Dunn said. “That’s what I want the local businesses to know and the local owners to know, that we love them and that they are the lifeblood of this community.”

The success of the implementation of the GoLocalMalibu movement stems from the support it has received from many, Dunn said.

Illustrator Annie Ludes was in charge of the logo.

“She literally hand drew all of the different business

signs,” Dunn said. “We have even a new logo that’s coming out with 10 new restaurants.”

The church’s lead pastor, Andy VomSteeg, who is part of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, and Chris Wizner, president of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, were also key players in the planning of the GoLocalMalibu initiative.

How to Participate

Residents need a bingo card to participate, and they can be acquired physically from participating restaurants or online through the GoLocalMalibu Instagram page.

Participants will have to take a photo dining at or buying from the businesses and tag the Instagram page, Dunn said.

“We will then message people who are playing the game and send them some merchandise,” Dunn said. “All of a sudden, a hat will come in the mail and you got a $25 gift card to that restaurant.”

An even bigger prize will be handed to those who black out the entire bingo card, Dunn said.

“You black out the entire bingo card by going to all the different restaurants,” Dunn said. “We have a couple people really working towards that, and we will have some really large prizes as well.”

Dunn said the prizes and gift cards are a way for the church to show appreciation for those who support their movement and the local community.

Senior Sofia Hernandez said she loves supporting local businesses, and has felt even more inclined to do so following the fires and mudslides in Malibu.

“I play to support the businesses,” Hernandez said. “But I also play because it has turned out to be a great way of getting to know Malibu better.”

Pepperdine students, as a pillar of the Malibu community, are a key target audience for GoLocalMalibu, Dunn said.

“I’m just grateful that Pepperdine students are

ingrained in the community,” Dunn said. “Number one, to serve, and to support and to really be champions of this community.”

The restaurants who have supported the GoLocalMalibu movement are in contact with the organizers daily, as they try to set the initiative into motion across Malibu, Dunn said.

Bui Sushi, one of Malibu’s local sushi restaurants located in Malibu Colony Plaza, is set to begin its participation with GoLocal Malibu in the coming weeks, said Mauricio Gonzalez, general manager at Bui Sushi.

“They gave us the the idea and the concept that they wanted to do and we thought it was pretty nice of them,” Gonzalez said. “They just purchased the gift cards, and then they were going to spread them out to the locals.”

However, actively participating businesses like Scott’s Malibu Market said they have already seen an increase of customers since the initiative’s implementation.

“They’ve helped send a lot of people here,” said Scott Richter, owner of Scott’s Malibu Market. “Then now, they’ve become repeat customers, so

it’s a great initiative.”

The work that GoLocalMalibu is doing will help the community in the long run, Richter said.

“Helping people find ways to support local is really important,” Richter said. “Otherwise, local businesses won’t really be around.”

What’s Next

The road to recovery after devastation, such as what Malibu has seen post-fires, can range from mere days to several years. GoLocalMalibu is the start of the recovery journey for a slowly recuperating Malibu.

“This isn’t just a one month, two month, boost in the arm kind of a deal,” Dunn said. “It’s really a long term thing.”

GoLocalMalibu has plans of expanding further as recovery efforts continue, Dunn said.

“We’re already talking with city council members how we can turn GoLocal into possibly a city passport of visiting,” Dunn said.

As the success of the movement grows, so does its influence within the community and the goals they will accomplish.

“We are also trying to work

out the tourism inside of Malibu,” Dunn said. “We’re trying to figure out how we can make it a multi-day city instead of just a one day city.”

Within the plans to expand, Dunn said GoLocalMalibu is actively pursuing the idea of hosting bigger scale events that will attract even more people to Malibu.

“We’re actually working on a possible music festival that’s going to be coming up,” Dunn said. “Three nights of music with a list stars doing acoustic sets and regular sets.”

The event will invite local vendors, shops and boutiques to participate in hopes of driving up the foot traffic in Malibu.

“We celebrate all things Malibu,” Dunn said.

karla.suzuki@pepperdine.edu

Photos by Karla Suzuki | Life & Arts Assistant

Bui Sushi is open for customers from the GoLocalMalibu movement March 31. Mauricio Gonzalez, general manager at Bui Sushi, said GoLocalMalibu purchased gift cards from their store to be distributed to Bingo participants.

Scott’s Malibu is open for business March 31. The GoLocalMalibu organizers went out

Scott Richter, owner of Scott’s Malibu Market.

Pepp shocks at WCC Championships

Nick Charkhedian Assistant Sports Editor

Pepperdine Men’s Basketball’s season ended on a high note during their underdog run in the WCC Basketball Championship. The Waves made it as far as the semifinal, their first time back in the semifinal since 2021.

The Waves’ regular season ended March 1, with a loss to Washington State University, 90-83. The team lost their final five games of the season and won just two games in the season’s last 10 games, ending Head Coach Ed Schilling’s first season in charge with a regular season record of 10-21.

The team had six days before March 7, when they would travel to Las Vegas for the WCC Basketball Championship to face the University of Portland in the second round.

Pepperdine entered the tournament as the ninth seed out of 11, mathematically underdogs as early as their first matchup. The Waves’ postseason looked completely different than the end of their regular season.

“This postseason run was external validation of the progress that I’ve been seeing,” Director of Athletics Tanner Gardner said.

Game One

The Waves faced off against Portland twice in the regular season, losing each of those matchups by 20 points. Pepperdine’s second loss to Portland was in the second-to-last game of the season.

The Waves entered the first matchup as the ninth seed against eighth seed Portland in a win-or-go-home scenario.

Pepperdine fell behind the

Pilots in the first half but kept themselves within striking distance. The Waves ended the first half down 38-29.

The Waves came out completely different in the second half and scored 57 points to the Pilots’ 35, winning the game by double digits, 86-73.

Pepperdine’s win was highlighted by junior guard Moe Odum’s 31 points and 11 rebounds. Odum’s 31 points mark a career high for the junior, according to Pepperdine Athletics.

Despite Odum’s career-high scoring performance, Schilling chose to talk about Odum’s defense being the spark behind the Waves’ win.

“Moe really got us going with his defense, actually, in the first game against Portland,” Schilling said. “He picked up his pressure — that kind of not only got him going but got our whole team going, defensively and offensively, because the one kind of fed right into the next.”

Game Two

In the tournament’s third round, Pepperdine faced the fifth seed Oregon State University. Like their regular season matchups against Portland, the Waves faced off with the Beavers twice and lost both.

In their first matchup, an away game for the Waves at the end of January, they lost to the Beavers by 20 points. In the second part of the conference matchup, a little under a month later in February, the Waves came close but lost by six points, 78-84.

The Waves fought a close one with the Beavers in the first half, entering the break trailing by just two, 3840. Odum and Todorovic’s performances helped push the Waves to a double-digit lead in

the second half.

Oregon State went on an 8-0 run to try and take the game back, but Pepperdine kept them at a distance and won the game 77-73.

Odum followed up his career-high scoring performance with 17 points and 10 assists, his second double-double in a row. Todorovic set his own career-high with 34 points, according to Pepperdine Athletics.

“When your stars are shining, your team always plays,” Schilling said. “That’s when you’re at your best. [Odum and Todorovic] were both hitting all cylinders both games.”

Game Three

The team’s regular season ending of a five game losing streak to a three game winning streak as underdogs was a complete turnaround. But

Todorovic does not think anything changed during that time.

When your stars are shining, your team always plays. That’s when you’re at your best.

Ed Schilling

Men’s Basketball Head Coach

“I think just all of the things that we practice just came in together, and obviously, we just needed some time for everything to come into place,” Todorovic said.

The Waves opened conference play this season against Santa Clara University, a game Pepperdine lost by 11 points.

Pepperdine had the chance to take a game back and advance to the tournament’s quarterfinals by upsetting the fourth seed Broncos.

In the game’s first half, the Waves would fall behind by double digits, but Pepperdine caught up to the Broncos when the two teams tied at 34. The Broncos went on a 6-2 run to close out the half and take a lead into the locker room.

The second half saw the close battle continue until the Waves jumped ahead after an 8-0 run. Pepperdine held on to the lead and beat Santa Clara 78-76, landing a spot in the semifinals.

Todorovic scored 19 points along with Odum’s 19 points and 13 assists, his third double-double in a row. Odum’s double-double against Santa Clara made him the first

NCAA Division I player to record three conference tournament games with a box score of at least 15 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, according to Pepperdine Athletics.

After their third upset in a row, the Waves were on a national pedestal, a feat Gardner didn’t underplay.

“You can’t understate how important it was,” Gardner said. “We effectively were the darling of college athletics for college basketball for 24 hours.”

Game Four

Pepperdine’s semifinal matchup was their most difficult game so far, facing off against the first seed Saint Mary’s College, the No. 21 team in the nation.

Pepperdine was able to stay close in the game’s first half, ending the half 39-29, but Saint Mary’s was too much for the Waves in the second half. Pepperdine lost to Saint Mary’s 74-59, ending Pepperdine’s postseason run and bringing a close to Men’s Basketball’s season.

Odum led the team in scoring again with 19 points, the first game of the tournament where the junior failed to register a double-double.

Despite the semifinal exit, Pepperdine’s postseason was highlighted by three victories, all over teams where Pepperdine was considered the underdog. Gardner views this momentum as useful for the following season.

“I think when you can get momentum at the end of the year, it springboards you into the next year,” Gardner said.

Photos courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics

The Waves celebrate following their win against Santa Clara University on March 9, at Orleans Arena. Junior guard Moe Odum (left) and senior forward Stefan Todorovic (not pictured) each scored 19 points in the Waves’ two-point victory.

Odum shoots the ball against the University of Portland on March 7, at Orleans Arena. Odum’s career-high 31 points helped the Waves overcome a double-digit deficit and move to the third round.

Intramural basketball unlocks season

Christine Park Sports Staff Writer

Intramural basketball season has arrived as numerous teams have been competing throughout the semester, locked in with games within their league.

The sport is divided into three divisions: A league, B league and C league. A league is considered the top division with higher skill level of competition.

Within the A league, there is one freshmen team who goes by “Big Baller Brand,” or BBB, inspired by LaVar Ball’s company brand. Four students — point guard Rein Rigor, power forward Chandler Young, small forward Phil Dundie and Isaiah Dean, student coach and freshman redshirt guard for Pepperdine Men’s Basketball — each express what the league means to them.

“I feel like I run close to all these guys on my team,” Dundie said. “We do things outside of intramural now. It’s not just a basketball thing, but I have friends off the court and everything.”

Where It All Started: A Place of Passion

Each team originated from the same passion: love for playing basketball. Each athlete in all respective teams competes by balling out through their handles, skill and determination.

Rigor plays point guard for the BBB team. He started playing basketball when he was 4 years old, and it became a big passion of his. He grew up watching it and playing it all the way to high school, he said.

“I just wanted to keep playing,” Rigor said. “The best part is being able to continue doing what I love most but also being able to play with all my friends and have a good time while staying active.”

Similarly, Young has been playing basketball for about 11 to 12 years. He said through intramural, he stays active with

by Colton Rubsamen

Assistant Photo Editor

a level of competitiveness that gives him a sense of enjoyment. That enjoyment is the same enjoyment he felt when he played in high school, Young said.

He elaborated on the difference in competitiveness in playing in the league versus in high school.

“Personally, the atmosphere in high school played more into the game then,” Young said. “And now, it’s kind of a neutral site. There’s not really much of a crowd. Now, it’s just purely basketball.”

Beyond just the passion for the sport, the team’s chemistry is just as important to make the game play out the way they want it to despite the mix of different players’ skills and styles.

Dundie is another player on the team. Doubling as a referee and a player, he joined BBB as the environment offered him the best things possible: playing basketball, being on a team with friends and being in a competitive atmosphere.

“Our team chemistry is pretty good for the most part,” Dundie said. “We bounce off of each other. When there’s a positive play, we continue with positive plays. But at times, when we get down, we’re really down. So it’s really important to try and stay in the middle.”

Furthermore, each team has a coach. In BBB, the coaching

responsibilities lie with Dean, a member of the Men’s Basketball team.

“So, I just wanted to be, even though I wasn’t going to be a player for intramural, part of the team somewhat and help out,” Dean said. “I became a coach and just to be a good, positive influence among my friends and players.”

Dean’s experience as an athlete translates to his coaching, he said. To him, when you are a player, you want to hear positive reinforcement from your coach. Therefore, he makes sure to consistently say positive messages while being critical and offering transparent feedback, he said.

Within the Game: Skills, Pressure, Strategies

Each division’s season starts off with a pool play, where all the teams play against each other every week to build their team’s record. The better the record, the better they are seeded in the playoffs. And then, off to the finals.

Specifically, the BBB team has an overall record of 3-2. There has proven to be some challenges as each team deals with adjusting to new competition.

“There’s a bit of challenges playing intramural basketball, not just the shorter

games and adjusting different play styles,” Rigor said. “Obviously, a bunch of men that are more grown and just [have] different backgrounds of basketball.”

Each game is divided into two 20-minute halves of continuous running time. With less time than a regular competitive game, it could prove to be difficult at times to execute their game plan to clutch a win.

Yet, to the players, beyond just team effort, each focuses on their individual skills.

Rigor compares his playing tendencies to Darius Garland, NBA player and Cleveland Cavaliers guard. As a point guard, Darius is a quick, shifty guard with a tight handle and a nice pull-up mid-range, Rigor said. He expresses the personal skills he tries to work on each game.

“I’ll say specifically, maximizing that chemistry and just being able to read the floor as best as possible,” Rigor said.

For Dundie, he understands he is not the biggest, fastest nor strongest on the team. Therefore, he really tries to focus in on defense and rebounding, he said.

As the coach, Dean’s strategy for the team lies in a good defense.

“When the competition gets tight, I try to mainly focus on playing good defense,” Dean said. “I look out for who’s putting in [the] most effort.”

Although games can become heated with fierce competition, to the players, intramural basketball is a place of lighthearted fun where they want to win.

“I like being in the environment of casual basketball; it’s pretty fun,” Dean said. “It’s intramural basketball; you just want to go out there and want everyone to play and have a good time. You could shoot whatever shot you want and have fun with it.”

What It Means to Them

Despite their busy schedules, players come together once a week — playing basketball has quickly become

Phil Dundie calls a foul, doubling as a ref and player for intramural basketball at Firestone Fieldhouse on March 23. As a player on Big Baller Brand, he said being part of the team has become a positive experience of fun and friendship for him.

an important part of their college experience.

“Since we play every Monday, it’s a nice thing to take my mind off of school and how busy I am, to do something that I used to enjoy doing on a daily basis,” Young said.

It’s a place that allows them to step away from their personal or academic responsibilities and puts them in a social setting where they can express their passion for the game, Young said.

“It’s just given me something to look forward to,” Dundie said. “During the week, with school work, things can get stressful. I can be anxious about tests, and [now] I have something like an outlet, a de-stressor, where I can hang out with my friends, play basketball and everything.”

The season is underway as they continue to play through the first games of the season, hoping to kickstart playoffs on a high note and make it to finals. The next game for BBB is April 7, the beginning of playoffs.

“I want everyone to have fun,” Dean said. “But there’s a tournament at the end I want to win. I want to beat every team and win the tournament, the whole thing.”

Photos

|

Beijing Bears (left) and JPen Den Hoopers (right) jump for the tip-off to start the game at Firestone Fieldhouse on March 23. Both teams are in the B league and their games take place on Sunday nights.

Beijing Bears (orange) and JPen Den Hoopers (blue) jump for the tip-off to start the game at Firestone Fieldhouse on March 23. Both teams are in the B league and their games take place on Sunday nights.

Freshman

Athletes have fun outside the gym

Haylie Ross Sports Assistant

When the game ends, the adventures begin — athletes recharge with passions beyond their sport.

When they’re not breaking records, Pepperdine athletes strive to maintain a personal life filled with hobbies, interests and friendships.

Freshman sprinter Tatiana Potter said it’s important for athletes to find an identity and community that differs from their athletic abilities.

“It’s so important for athletes to have a life outside of the gym,” Potter said. “We can base a lot of our self-worth on athletics, and having a life outside of it allows you to have a different outlet for self-worth.”

The Importance of Fun

Emi Erickson, junior beach volleyball blocker, said it’s important to find a balance between personal life and sports work ethic.

“It’s obviously important to come to practice and work hard every day, but being able to leave knowing that there’s so much more to life than just the sport you play is also important,” Erickson said.

When sophomore distance runner Rowan Nilsen is not running, he said he enjoys trying new activities that spark joy.

“It’s fun to have other activities and interests,” Nilsen said. “It’s good to change it up for sure.”

The process of athletes recovering from injury involves feeling a loss of identity when they are inhibited from playing their sport, according to

previous Graphic reporting. Potter said if an athlete gets injured or can’t play their sport, they need to have other outlets of identity rather than putting their soul focus on their athletic career.

“It’s good to be a well-rounded person and apply your hard work, not only to your athletics but in other places too,” Potter said.

Hobbies and Activities

Erickson grew up in Hawaii and said she was raised to spend time outside and enjoys hiking with her friends.

“In the fall, when we’re not in season, I’ll go on hikes through Malibu or just spend time outside,” Erickson said.

Nilsen also enjoys spending time with his friends in nature and catching waves in the community.

“It’s surfing over everything,” Nilsen said. “I love just being out there with my friends and just sitting out in the water.”

The beach is a pulling factor for many Pepperdine students, but athletes use it as a relaxing sanctuary.

“I love just tanning and relaxing with my friends on the

beach,” Erickson said. “It’s one of the main reasons I chose Pepperdine.”

Some of Potter’s interests include reading, creating artwork and doing anything and everything with her friends.

Potter said she believes athletes need time to relax and reset their minds amidst their busy schedules, and she does that by sitting down with a good book.

“Because I have so much going on with sports, I have to make time for myself,” Potter said.

Erickson and Potter are both in sororities and involved in

different social groups around campus. They said their relationships outside of their sports are key to maintaining a balanced lifestyle.

“I try to get involved with things that are outside of my sport to meet new people and get out of the little athlete bubble,” Erickson said.

Team Chemistry

Although relationships outside of athletics are important, Erickson said the athletes that bond on and off the court create strong team chemistry.

“It’s important to spend time outside the sport with your teammates because it helps a lot with your team culture,” Erikson said.

Nilsen said his teammates have become his best friends, and they spend time together, usually on the beach.

Potter lives with her fellow teammates and said that their random dinner runs and late-night study sessions have helped them work together on the track.

“Those are literally my best friends, and we do so much together every week,” Potter said.

haylie.ross@pepperdine.edu

Photo courtesy of Emi Erickson

Emi Erickson, junior beach volleyball blocker, poses for a picture at the end of her hike in Malibu on Aug. 23. Erickson said she enjoys hiking during her off-season and being in nature, believing nature is the best relaxant.

Photo courtesy of Tatiana Potter

Potter (far left) poses with her track and field best friends at the Stotsenberg Track on Sept. 10. Potter said she lives with her teammates, and they enjoy baking together in their free time.

Photo courtesy of Rowan Nilsen

Sophomore distance runner Rowan Nilsen skateboards in his hometown of Boulder, Colo., on March 8. Nilsen said he has always enjoyed skateboarding but spends equal time on a surfboard since moving to Malibu.

L osing track of time with Hay Day

Tony Gleason Associate Editor & Social Media Manager

This past semester, 12 members of Women’s Track and Cross Country have found themselves devoted to the mobile farming simulation game ‘Hay Day.’ Since they started, multiple athletes said the team has had a stronger bond.

One free app has changed the dynamics of the Women’s Track and Cross Country teams.

This past semester, 12 members of Women’s Track and Cross Country have found themselves devoted to the mobile farming simulation game ‘Hay Day.’ Multiple athletes said they named their neighborhood ‘The Luckiest Girls’ because they are lucky to be able to play Hay Day together and have noticed a stronger team bond because of it.

“We really love this game, and we do put our heart and soul into it,” senior Caroline Graham said. “I wouldn’t say that it’s a distraction, but it’s definitely a good way outside of running to work together and have fun on a day-to-day basis.”

The 12 runners on ‘The Luckiest Girls’ neighborhood are: Graham, freshmen Riley Burgess, Sarina Patel and Kennedy Duralde, sophomores Lacey Reedy, Hannah Bruner, Lizzy Crawford and Graphic Senior Reporter Emma Martinez and juniors Hannah Renager and Ashley Eagan.

Creating the Farm

In Hay Day, the player inherits a farm from their uncle and then has the duty of running the farm, multiple athletes said. This is accomplished by growing different crops, taking care of animals, crafting items and selling products, among other goals.

The Hay Day craze originally started with Graham, as she said she would often play it on roadtrips, but starting in January, her teammates started to play as well.

“We started playing Hay Day when everything with the Palisades Fire began happening in the middle of January just because we were all really stressed out,” Reedy said. “And Hay Day was a really great way to just relax.”

Eventually, Graham said enough members of the team reached level 18 so they could start a neighborhood together — thus, creating ‘The Luckiest Girls’ neighborhood. Once a week, these neighborhoods will compete against each other in what’s called a ‘Derby.’

The goal of a Derby, multiple athletes said, is to complete the most tasks and earn the most points compared to the other neighborhoods you’re competing with. As neighborhoods compete in Derby’s, if they perform well enough, they can earn their way into more competitive Derby Leagues. Women’s Track and Cross Country are in the highest league — the Champions League.

“It’s almost like we have another sport on the team,” Eagan said. “We’re all encouraging each other to farm and work on our Derby tasks and stuff like that, and it has genuinely created a sport-like mindset [and] atmosphere.”

In order to incentivize each other to put their all into the game, Graham said Martinez bought a shirt with each of the farmers’ faces on it that said the words ‘Luckiest Girls’ at the top of it. Each week, each farmer votes through a Google form who they think has contributed the most to their farm.

Whoever earns the most votes is named ‘Farmer of the Week’ and gets to keep the shirt until next week.

“It’s based on a lot of factors,” Reedy said. “Have you

been actively participating in the Derby? Have you been encouraging other people to participate? Have you been helping your other fellow farmers and attitude — even though you’ve had classes and exams, you’ve still been making time to farm.”

Uniting Over Hay Day

The biggest positive the members of ‘The Luckiest Girls’ neighborhood said they’ve noticed from Hay Day is there is a stronger camaraderie with the team than from the previous semester. Their Hay Day farms have created a way for the team to come together outside of their sport and help form friendships that didn’t exist previously.

One area specifically Reedy said Hay Day has helped the chemistry of the team is with helping freshmen feel more comfortable.

“It’s very easy for the freshmen on the team to get a little bit quiet because they’re nervous around the upperclassmen,” Reedy said. “But we’ve

really had our freshmen step up and become more outspoken and joke around with us more because we have the common ground of Hay Day and joking about our farm.”

For Track and Cross Country, Graham said they both require a lot of self-discipline because they can feel lonely and individual.

It is here where multiple athletes said Hay Day has contributed to the team because despite the difficulties that come with their sport, they know their teammates have their back and want them to succeed.

“Sometimes it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning and be excited to go to practice because it can feel really redundant and like you’re just going through the motions,” Graham said. “So having a strong team culture is really important because it gives you something to look forward to every day.”

Another positive from Hay Day is Graham said when her and her teammates have a moment to themselves: rather than checking social media,

they find themselves checking Hay Day instead, which is beneficial.

Additionally, Eagan said she’s noticed her team focusing more on the little things in their sport since they’ve started playing Hay Day — such as rolling their muscles out, recovery and better sleep.

“There’s always something more you could be doing in Hay Day,” Eagan said. “And there likely is someone doing more than you, and I feel like I’ve noticed my team [is] kind of more active in the athletic training center — it has made us more focused on those little things.”

anthony.gleason@pepperdine.edu

Photo courtesey of Emma Martinez

A photo of The Luckiest Girls farm. The team started playing Hay Day during the Palisades Fire to help relax.

Photo courtesey of Emma Martinez

Sophomore Lacey Reedy wears her ‘Luckiest Girls’ shirt in her Seaside Dorm on Feb. 22. The shirt is given out to who the team votes ‘Farmer of the Week.’

Photo courtesey of Emma Martinez

Members of Women’s Track and Cross Country who play Hay Day hold a sign at the Gaucho Relays event in Santa Barbara on March 1. Members of the team said Hay Day has created a stronger team chemistry.

Athletes reflect on what it meant to be a Wave

Justin Rodrigez Sports Editor Megan Harkey Sports Staff Writter

Four years and 1,460 days.

It seems like a long time, yet it passed in the blink of an eye, and for those in the Class of 2025 who donned the “Waves” across their chest, their time is shortly coming to an end.

From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, these athletes gave Pepperdine everything they had. As the Class of 2025 approaches graduation, departing athletes speak on their time as athletes and what it meant to represent the Waves.

“I became a man here,” Brendan Read, senior Men’s Volleyball libero, said.

Growing Alongside the Pepperdine Community

The Pepperdine community is a small group, but the student-athletes can forever pride themselves on being a part of an even smaller community within it.

Read and Lexie Martin, senior Women’s Swim and Dive diver and captain, both found the Pepperdine community to be the highlight of their experience.

“I came in as a kid, and I think I became a man here,” Read said. “Not to say that I’m a full grown, fully mature adult, but I think because of my time here, I’m so much more wellequipped to go out into the real world and to work hard.”

Some of Read’s favorite memories are with the seniors, or “old guys,” as the men’s team calls them, sitting around the table and telling stories of their past experiences – things he did with the old guys when he was freshman.

As Martin looked back at her four-year tenure, she said the team growth is what she will always be most proud of.

“We’ve set a really strong culture on the Swim and Dive team, and it’s only grown to become more united and full of love since my freshman year,” Martin said.

Outside the pool, she’ll miss the little moments — studying together, hanging at the beach or grabbing a bite to eat — but staying connected as an alumni will be important to her, she said.

Senior Men’s Tennis player Linus Carlsson Halldin came to Pepperdine from Sweden not knowing what the American culture would bring for him. Today, Halldin is a leader in the Pepperdine

community as he is the president of the Waves Leadership Council for student-athletes.

“I’ve thought about making an impact on the people around me,” Halldin said. “I’ve more reflected maybe on being a good teammate and being a good captain.”

Like every Wave, Chilingworth said she is holding onto something more meaningful after her time at Pepperdine.

“Just building relationships with my friends and my coaches,” Chillingworth said. “I think those are the memories that will hold with me forever, more than the wins and the losses in volleyball.”

Building the Pepperdine Culture: Passing the Torch

Pepperdine culture is just different, all sources said.

Relationships do not just build friendships; they also create a culture where teams fight for the teammate next to them. To the younger players coming in, Read said to fully lean into the Pepperdine experience and let it impact you as a man.

Not just on the courts but also in the water, Pepperdine’s strong culture led to strong team performances, winning both their previous and current conference, the MPSF.

“Seeing how we’ve been able to set goals each year and actually attain them has been really cool,” Martin said.

What made Pepperdine Swim unique, Martin said, was the camaraderie. When playing for a high school team, it felt like she was competing against her own teammates, but at Pepperdine, she was competing with her teammates.

In her final year as a Wave, Martin and Swim and Dive were crowned champions of the MPSF Championships Feb. 22, according to Pepperdine Athletics.

As a team captain, Martin’s best piece of advice to the freshmen starting their college journeys is simple: you’re only going to get out of the experience as much as you put into it.

“If you put in your heart, your soul, your mind, like you are gonna get out of it what you want to and what’s gonna serve the team and you,” Martin said.

Chillingworth helped her team win the 2023 WCC Championship and would individually earn the 2023 WCC Player of the Year award and was named as an AVCA All-American honorable mention, according to Pepperdine Athletics.

“It’s a huge honor,” Chillingworth said. “I wouldn’t have

gotten it without my teammates and my coaches because it’s not just me getting the award.”

Waves’ Final Thanks

Read, Chillingworth and Halldin all thanked their head coaches, Jonathan Winder, Scott Wong and Adam Schaechterle, for their personal growth and development within the courts and water.

But beyond just athletics, they thanked them for developing them as people.

To Read, Winder showcased what it means to be a dedicated family man and valued community member, he said.

“A lot of the lessons he teaches us apply to volleyball, but a lot of what he tells us is applicable to life,” Read said.

Halldin said if it was not for Schaechterle, he would not be where he is today.

“It’s just been pretty cool to be surrounded by someone who’s so driven, someone who wants you to do so well in all aspects of life, someone who sets the culture,” Halldin said.

And for Chillingworth, her extended relationship with Wong when she was a 14-yearold recruit paved the way for her successful Pepperdine career, she said.

“I think something that stood out to me about him the most was that he cared about us as people before players,” Chillingworth said.

Martin thanked more than just her head coach Ellie Monobe, she thanked the entire Pepperdine community for all the love they poured into her experience.

“I’m excited to see where it [the program] goes in the future, and I feel more proud than I could have ever imagined leaving,” Martin said. “I can’t wait to tell people, ‘I was an athlete at Pepperdine.’”

Now, as time passes and the end of their Pepperdine journeys is approaching, all sources confidently said they were grateful, happy and proud to have been a Pepperdine Wave.

“Looking back, now [that] the sun is setting on my career here, I just get to look back on all the cool things that we’ve done and been a part of, and it puts it into perspective,” Read said. “I would not have done it any differently; I’ve loved my time here. I will never get to put on a jersey and compete at the level that I’ve been playing at for the last four years, [but] I’ve been grateful to be a part of it.”