Pepperdine Graphic 02.03.2023

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Pepperdine community members commemorate Black History Month

Events for Black History Month

Throughout February, people across the United States will celebrate Black History Month and remember and honor African American history and accomplishments.

At Pepperdine, various events will take place as students and faculty consider what Black History Month means and how they can support their peers. Black Student Association, Caruso School of Law and more are hosting events throughout the month to celebrate Black history and educate members of the Pepperdine community.

“I refuse to limit my celebrations of people from the African Diaspora to February,” said J. Goosby Smith, vice president for Community Belonging and chief diversity officer. “So, to me, February is just a reminder to think throughout the year about the contributions that people from the African diaspora have made.”

On Feb. 1, Caruso hosted Sanford Williams, deputy managing director at the Federal Communications Commission, as part of the Dean’s Speaker Series, said Chalak Richards, dean of Students, Diversity and Belonging at Caruso. Williams spoke on the intersection of diversity, accessibility and the digital age.

On Feb. 20, Caruso will host a panel of Black judges, who are alumni of the law school, Richards said. Caruso will also show “Unspoken,” a documentary about the relationship between Christianity and Africa, on Feb. 28, in SR-1. Finally, while not an official part of Black History Month, Caruso will host its third Belonging Awards on Feb. 24, to celebrate “diversity and belonging at all levels.”

“What we want is for people, whether they identify as Black or not, or wherever across the African Diaspora they may come from, we recognize that we all have more to learn,” Richards said. “We have more to learn about each other; we have more to learn about ourselves and our identities and experiences.”

RJ Wicks, junior and social chair for BSA, said one event BSA has solidified is the trivia night at Seaside Residence Hall on Feb. 15, in a collaboration with Housing and Residence Life.

Sophomore Nicole Fashaw, BSA social chair, said BSA is working with the Student Programming Board to host a talent show. This is in addition to the collaboration with HRL.

“I’m hoping that we can have some conversations that are hard to have,” said Naya Edwards, senior and BSA president. “And I’m hoping that we can have a good time in between those conversations. And I’m hoping to get more people who are

non-Black students, or faculty [and] staff involved so that they could continue to support us even after February.”

How Pepperdine Can Support Black Students

The best way for students to support Black peers on campus, Wicks said, is educating themselves and being aware of the different issues that affect Black students.

“There are a lot of times [where] issues that happen within the Black community can be just looked over, which for many African Americans can be frustrating,” Wicks said. “Especially when we see our culture being so popularized by pop culture. I mean, our music, our dance moves, our vernacular, how we speak, how we dress, so many aspects of Black culture.”

Richards said not to limit support to only February.

See A5

Samantha Torre News Editor

Aubrey Hirsch | Copy Editor

Good News: Pianos offer music for the soul

Aubrey Hirsch

Editor

I didn’t understand how much I relied on music until I moved away from home and couldn’t play my parents’ keyboard anymore.

When I arrived in Malibu for the first time in August 2021, I realized I cope with stress by making music. I made it maybe two weeks without playing any instruments before I noticed an unfamiliar, restricting anxiety in my chest and pent-up energy in my fingers. It felt like years since I had touched a piano, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could handle the deprivation.

Sure, there is a decent piano in the Caf and an even nicer one in the Light House, but playing in public requires some level of a performance mindset. All I wanted was to play freely and mindlessly with no concern for what people would think of me.

After passing several weeks without plucking out a single melody, I was beginning to despair. Then, one day, I stumbled into the Lovernich common room, which I had never been in before. The room stood in its own building less than 50 steps away from my C-block Lovernich apartment, and inside of it, sitting comfortably against the wall, was an old, somewhat neglected piano.

The piano was out of tune — and I’m no Beethoven to begin with, so the sound was shaky at best — but as I played, I felt the tension in my

You Had One

chest begin to melt in the presence of the music.

I return whenever I can now.

Sometimes I play pieces I learned in high school. Sometimes I let my fingers play whatever they want. My hands gravitate towards the key of A minor when I’m sad, B major when I’m happy and D when I’m anxious. Whatever I am feeling, my fingers know, and they share it with the 88 keys that have become very familiar to me.

Every semester, I think I won’t have time to spare for my off-key, mahogany friend in the common room. But every semester, I remember I just can’t live without it. Music feeds the soul, after all.

This spring, I’m taking an introductory guitar class. Not only does that mean I get to study one of my other favorite instruments, but it also means I have 24/7 access to all 12 of Pepperdine’s music practice rooms, each one equipped with its very own piano.

Everyone needs something that forces them to slow down and reminds them of the beautiful things in life. For me, that thing is music. I find comfort in the knowledge there are over 20 instruments around campus, ready and waiting to give a voice to my melodies that, though imperfect, help me to breathe just a little bit deeper.

Feb. 9-11

Dance in Flight

Dance in Flight showcases the creativity of students in the annual performance in Smothers Theatre at 8 p.m.

Feb. 10

Chamber Orchestra Concert

Listen to the Pepperdine Chamber Orchestra play Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky and Bach in Raitt Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 23 and 25

Opera

PRESIDENT’S BRIEFING recap |

02.01

aubrey.hirsch@pepperdine.edu

1

President Gash discussed Pepperdine’s challenges, successes and strategic plans for future success.

2 President Gash spoke about Dialogue Dinners, a program where faculty commit to four preceding events and possible reading, before sitting down for dinner and discussion on a complex topic the community is facing.

3 President Gash mentioned the wins of Men’s Tennis, Men’s Golf and Men’s Volleyball.

4 President Gash acknowledged February is Black History Month.

| 02.01

1 2 3

Doug Hurley gave a presentation about the app, Timely Care.

Seaver 200 will now be under the Dean’s Office.

There are almost 200 student responses regarding Bon Appetit food.

The piano in the Lovernich common room patiently waits for someone to start playing. Aubrey leaves her sheet music on the stand so that others can have the joy of playing it too.

Copy

Students wrestle with LGBTQ+ identity and Christianity

Max Pohlenz Sports Assistant

First-year Ryan Pope grew up going to church every Sunday in Dallas. He attended a traditional Churches of Christ congregation, solely a cappella, no band. He said he considered himself a practicing Christian who worshiped God regularly, and he attended a Christian middle school.

Every night, he said he’d pray to God he’d wake up straight.

“I’d pray that I wouldn’t feel this way in the morning,” Pope said. “And nothing changed.”

Throughout middle school and leading into high school, Pope said he found it hard to reconcile his identity and his religion.

Religion Professor Chris Doran said even those outside the LGBTQ+ community may struggle with fundamentalist interpretations of Bible verses that describe homosexuality and related activity as sinful. Doran said he feels that, on the contrary, sitting and listening to those who stand out from the mainstream is in line with the Biblical witness, which often displays characters who stand out of the mainstream being comforted and attended to.

Despite this, mutual animosity between Christians and members of the LGBTQ+ community can often enflame this struggle, Doran said.

Pepperdine’s History With LGBTQ+ Recognition

Pepperdine has an extensive history of struggle with this issue, as administrators, faculty, staff and fellow students wrestle with how to accept LGBTQ+ peers while also holding to a traditional Christian view, according to previous Graphic reporting. Pepperdine’s Student Code of Conduct maintains an official stance that marriage is between a man and a woman.

Recent Graphic articles have explored this stance, the conversation between Queerness and Christianity and how Pepperdine’s treatment of LGBTQ+ students compares with other institutions. The Graphic has also covered the decade of struggle for LGBTQ+ students to establish an official Gender and Sexuality Alliance.

Alumni Jason Sim (‘17) and David Hylton (‘16) established Pepperdine Crossroads Gender and Sexuality Alliance in 2016, according to previous Graphic reporting. Homophobic backlash against Crossroads occurred, culminating in an anonymous student leaving anti-gay messages on the Freedom Wall in 2019.

To achieve further insight on the relationship between LGBTQ+ individuals and Christianity at Pepperdine, the Graphic requested interviews with Daniel Rodriguez, divisional dean of the Religion and Philosophy Division; Cameron Gilliam, director of Student Ministries in the Hub for Spiritual Life, who oversees Seaver 200 — Gilliam said this mandatory religious education program for first-years and sophomores will be handed over to the Seaver

Dean’s Office — and Parker King, associate director for Discipleship at the Hub. All three declined interviews.

Psychology Professor Steven Rouse, who said he identifies as a bisexual man and a practicing Christian, said he understands the perspective of fundamentalist Christians, having grown up in a conservative congregation within the Churches of Christ.

“When you have a group of people that are actively flying in the face of how you think the way the world is organized, that can be kind of threatening,” Rouse said. “Because that shakes a person’s sense of certainty. It shakes a person’s sense that there is an order to their own faith.”

Opposing Biblical Interpretations

Sophomore Ariana Henry, a former member of the Graphic staff, said she identifies as a straight woman and a practicing Christian. She grew up in a Lutheran community and said she believes homosexuality is a sin.

“Yes, I’m going to accept them for who they are,” Henry said. “But they also can’t force things on me and to believe what they believe just because the way that times have changed today.”

Although Henry said she was hesitant to be open about her perspective on such a sensitive issue, she felt compelled to do so as a part of her faith. While she believes certain verses proclaim homosexuality a sin — such as Leviticus 18:22 — she also said she does not know enough to offer a definite conclusion on the debate surrounding the intent of such verses.

an argument against LGBTQ+ identities.

Smith said he absolutely believes the LGBTQ+ community and the Bible can be reconciled and coexist.

How believers interpret the Bible today, is a core issue he said he believes impacts many of the other struggles the Churches of Christ deal with today, including those relating to the LGBTQ+ community.

“Below the surface issues is a deeper understanding of how we should approach the Bible and think about the Bible,” Rouse said.

On one hand, there are many who believe the Bible is the unerring word of God and should be taken literally, including the hammer scriptures, Rouse said.

Alternatively, Rouse said there are Christian traditions with a more historical perspective, believing the Bible is a way of understanding the mind and will of God, but those who wrote it were situated in their own times and cultures.

Doran said he thinks many are too quick to assign a particular meaning to the scriptures — such as the hammer scriptures — that conservative Christians traditionally interpret as going against the LGBTQ+ community.

“I don’t think that’s a very nuanced approach,” Doran said. “It doesn’t speak to a lot of difficult passages in the scriptures that can be interpreted in a million different ways but have to be interpreted within some broader context of love, and justice, and fairness and hospitality.”

Smith said he also finds nuance examining the historical background of the authors when looking at these hammer scriptures.

“In Leviticus, when it’s talking about ‘a man shall not sleep with another boy,’ it’s not specifically saying, ‘gay is bad,’” Smith said.

Senior PJ Smith identifies as a straight man. Smith is vice president of communications for Alpha Omega, an on-campus Christian student ministry for the International Churches of Christ. Being in this role for Alpha Omega, Smith said he has experience having conversations surrounding this topic.

Smith said verses such as Leviticus 18:22, along with the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and certain scriptures in the New Testament and the letters that surround sexual immorality are characterized as the “hammer scriptures” — scriptures that certain Christians use as

The verse, Smith said, references how the Jewish people encountered nations where older men and young boys had sexual relationships.

“That alone doesn’t necessarily exclude the potential for homosexuality to be viewed as a sin,” Smith said. “But that’s not the main focus of what the scriptures are talking about, and there’s room to argue with that.”

Rouse said he experienced the conflict between these two interpretations internally during his own spiritual and personal struggles.

“For me, I was able to approach that deeper underlying issue by having honest conversations with people from other Christian traditions and other

worldviews,” Rouse said. “Where I really tried to understand, ‘How are you approaching your world?’ and, ‘How are you trying to see the world?’”

Wrestling With Oneself and God

Despite his Christian upbringing, Pope said he feels a divide between himself and Christianity due to his sexuality.

“You feel like you can’t fully be yourself, even though you probably can,” Pope said. “There’s just some sort of invisible barrier that stops this.”

Around 49% of lesbian and gay people reject religious ideas and communities, according to the APA handbook of Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality. That is significantly higher than a rate of 12% found in the general population.

Senior Danica Christy, a lesbian woman and co-president of Crossroads, said during the time she came into her sexuality, she struggled with her relationship with God and her Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod community.

“When someone tells you that you’re sinful, that you’re going to hell for something that you can’t control, the automatic response is, ‘Well f— you,’” Christy said. “‘Screw you. You don’t matter to me.’”

Christy said how her own congregation treated the conversation about the LGBTQ+ community and religion greatly impacted her own personal struggles and conversations with God, leading her to distance herself from Christianity.

“If being gay is wrong, why would [God] make one of [his] followers gay,” Christy said. “If it’s not, then why would you allow so many of your other followers to believe otherwise and say such awful things?”

Christy said these conversations with God, along with others, constituted much of her spiritual wrestling in middle school and high school. Now, after wrestling for so long, Christy feels she’d rather take a break and be happy than wrestle any further.

During middle school and high school, Pope said he felt his sexuality prevented him from fitting in and being a good Christian. Pope said he considers himself agnostic. During his time at Pepperdine, Pope also said he hopes to explore and continue to form his own beliefs, despite still feeling a divide between himself and Christianity.

First-year Ryan Pope, who identifies as a bisexual man, poses at Miller Town Square. Pope said his exploration of his sexuality has caused questions and struggles within his own faith.

Photo courtesy of William Koning

Below the surface issues is a deeper understanding of how we should approach the Bible and think about the Bible.

Steven Rouse Psychology Professor

The Breakfast Craft Club aims to help students with their mental health

Alicia Dofelmier

News Assistant

Pepperdine’s Counseling Center and Resilience-Informed Skills Education are collaborating on a space where students can craft and be creative, called the Breakfast Craft Club, RISE program specialist Sergio Gallardo Palma said. The program was known as Crafternoons in the fall semester.

During Breakfast Craft, people work on crafts and get to meet new people, said Connie Horton, vice president for Student Affairs. In addition, there is an on-site counselor if students want to talk to a professional about anything in their lives.

“The idea was for students to be able to come and just re-center and express themselves in a space where they can be with others,” Gallardo Palma said. “Creating art helps your cognitive and social skills and helps you process things internally.”

Jason Wong, associate director and training director for the Counseling Center, came up with the idea for Breakfast Craft during the pandemic, he said.

“Over the pandemic, I started doing some crafting with friends, which helped lessen the sense of isolation that many of us struggled with,” Wong said. “I thought that creating such a space at colleges could help students have a space to relax around others without feeling the pressure to engage in conversation, allowing everyone to move at their own pace in crafting art, as well as building relationships.”

While RISE and the Counseling Center originally held the event in the afternoons, it now takes place in the mornings because of Wong’s availability. Wong said RISE and the Counseling Center hope the event will draw more students because the event is no longer on a Friday afternoon when some students head home.

Breakfast Craft will include coloring, origami and snacks, according to their info post on Instagram.

In addition to being a space where students can come together and focus on art, Breakfast Craft serves a purpose of helping with students’ mental health, Wong said.

College can be a very lonely time,

and students can face challenges making friends, Wong said. Breakfast Craft is an opportunity for students to interact with each other and form community through talking and crafting.

Gallardo Palma said Breakfast Craft is important because students need to have a space where they can take a break and be in community with others.

“It’s a wonderful space to create for students because it’s good to decompress and re-center yourself,” Gallardo Palma said.

Breakfast Craft also focuses on how having the space to be creative can help with resilience, Horton said.

“I think the Breakfast Craft is great for Pepperdine because it allows students to learn resilience-based skills in a community setting,” first-year Anna Huene said. “While the skills that RISE teaches are very helpful just by [themselves], teaching them in a group setting facilitates conversations and community between Pepperdine students who are all participating in similar craft activities.”

Part of resilience is when someone

understands being upset at a situation is normal, while also realizing they have a say in how to handle that situation, Horton said. Breakfast Craft is a settling activity, which is an activity good for both mental health and resilience, Horton said.

A settling craft calms the mind and helps someone have a different mindset in a non-ideal situation, Horton said.

Wong said his favorite part of Breakfast Craft is creating art with the people around him.

“It is such a satisfying experience to work with my hands and to celebrate other people doing the same,” Wong said. “It is so much fun helping and encouraging each other in their artistic and life journeys.”

This semester, Breakfast Craft will take place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. every other Thursday in Tyler Campus Center 250, Wong said.

alicia.dofelmier@pepperdine.edu

A student colors a page at the Breakfast Craft Club on Jan. 26 in Tyler Campus Center 250. In addition to coloring, the Counseling Center and Resilience-Informed Skills Education also offered origami.

Participants of Breakfast Craft smile during the Jan. 26 event in Tyler Campus Center 250. Participants worked on different crafts to help with their mental health.

Lydia duPerier | Staff Photographer

Lydia duPerier | Staff Photographer

I think the Breakfast Craft is great for Pepperdine because it allows students to learn resilience-based skills in a community setting.

Anna Huene

First-year

From A1: Community honors Black History Month

“[I want to be sure] that whoever is partnering with us is partnering because they want to be involved and they want to help educate, and that doesn’t appear to be performative because it is Black History Month, but we’re Black all the rest of the months of the year,” Edwards said.

For any nationally recognized month, Richards said, there is concern that care will stop after that month.

Fashaw said one way for faculty to support Black students is calling them by name. For Pepperdine as a whole, Fashaw said she would like to see a community-wide event for Black History Month.

“Making it a point to make sure that they feel like they do belong there,” Fashaw said.

“There are Black people in all the fields that we study, and now there’s Black people who were excellent in a lot of the things that we talked about,” Edwards said.

From the University, Edwards said she would like to see more support, such as educational resources and promotion on Instagram all year.

To commemorate Black History Month, the Seaver College will hold a presentation in Payson Library’s Surfboard Room on Feb. 21, with host Ronald McCurdy, University of Southern California music professor, called “Disrupting Racism Through The Lens of the Arts,” according to Pepperdine’s Celebrating Black History Month website.

It is also important to recognize not all people need the same thing, Smith said.

Smith said to get to know people for their idiosyncrasies, personalities, commonalities, distinctions and gifts.

“There’s no monolithic Black student,” Smith said. “There are Black students that are biracial, that are from

different countries, that are from different socioeconomic statuses.”

Theme of Resistance

This year, the theme of Black History Month is resistance, according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

For Caruso, Richards said the school wants to show resistance can be in the form of joy, celebration, education and spirituality.

“We also believe that coming together and defying the idea that in order to be excellent, we have to be separate, which is why we want to highlight our judges,” Richards said.

Wicks said when he hears the term resistance, he thinks of persistence.

“The people in my culture have pretty much showcased through slavery, through Jim Crow, through the police brutality and so many other things that we just keep seeing thrown at us, this is something that doesn’t tear us down and

From A3: Students wrestle with identity and faith

“That’s one of the big reasons I came to Pepperdine,” Pope said. “I felt shunned from religion for the longest time as I was trying to figure myself out. But now I know that it’s not just black and white and that there’s gray areas.”

Doran said he believes in the value of exploring and talking about difficult issues.

“Uncertainty and wrestling with God is what a lot of biblical figures and characters do,” Doran said. “So, if that’s good enough for the last four or five

thousand years of Jewish and Christian history, then it’s probably pretty normal for me to not have great answers all the time.”

More specifically, Doran said he thinks this can be directly applied to internal struggles between Christianity and LGBTQ+ ideas, both for those who are in the LGBTQ+ community and those who are not.

“I’m far less likely to say that there’s certain answers to those things and that there’s some ways of living that I don’t

that we continue to fight and just continue to excel in everything that we do in the U.S.,” Wicks said.

Meaning of Black History Month

For Wicks, Black History Month is not just a month of education but also a month of celebrating the accomplishments of Black individuals, from dancers to artists to inventors and beyond.

“Taking the time to celebrate all the things that we have accomplished and appreciate the things that not only people that we hear of like MLK, Malcolm X, [did],” Wicks said. “But also taking

fully understand because I’m cisgender, I’m white, I’m heterosexual,” Doran said. “So, if someone else is struggling with understanding their identity, sexual identity, gender identity or any of those other identities that are within that context, I want to listen to them and understand why they’re struggling with that.

the time to think about the people in my own family, who are just people you don’t really necessarily think about when you think of Black history.”

Wicks said it’s important to commemorate Black history — throughout the year — because history is often taught from a westernized point of view.

“It’s important because it’s something that can be so easily glazed over,” Wicks said. “And if we don’t have any time to really acknowledge it, it can just be erased from our history, and that’s something that, of course, we don’t want.”

sam.torre@pepperdine.edu

where a person is on their spiritual journey, it in no way impacts their identity, and she believes both religion and sexuality can coexist within a person.

Rouse said he has found peace with this struggle, which spanned a significant portion of his life and resulted in him reconciling his sexuality and religion.

“It was a long period of a lot of conflict and a lot of self-hatred,” Rouse said.

He said he eventually could find a resolution where his faith and identity coexisted.

“Once I got to the point where I really could really honestly start having conversations where I would be wanting to find out in sincerity how they understand the world, and God and their place in the context above,” Rouse said. “Then I started to see that there were very profound and sincere ways of approaching an understanding that were very different from the way I was raised.”

Approaching an Understanding

Christy said having a place where she feels heard and can listen to others has been a crucial part of her experiences with Crossroads, both as a member and a leader.

“A lot of people are at a point where they’ve accepted their sexuality, but they’re still in that wrestling period,” Christy said. “And sometimes they just need to hear ‘it’s OK if you still believe in God,’ and sometimes they need to hear ‘it’s OK if you don’t.’”

Christy said she believes no matter

While conversations surrounding the relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and religion were hard to have, Doran said he thought they were essential to understanding the issue and better knowing God.

“It’s kind of the human dilemma,” Doran said. “We want to know exactly what God is thinking and doing, and we can’t because we’re not God, and we’re finite, and God is infinite.”

Brandon Rubsamen | Assistant Photo Editor Lecturer Sanford Williams, deputy managing director at the Federal Communications Commission, speaks at the Dean’s Speaker Series at the Caruso School of Law on Feb. 1. Williams spoke on the intersection between diversity, accessibility and the digital age.

Max Pohlenz | Sports Assistant Outside the Tyler Campus Center on Oct. 5, first-year Ryan Pope reflects on coming into his sexuality. Pope said he’s exploring beliefs while at Pepperdine.

And sometimes they just need to hear ‘it’s OK if you still believe in God,’ and sometimes they need to hear ‘it’s OK if you don’t.’

Danica Christy Senior and Co-President of Crossroads

Pepp offers students a space for solace

Samantha Torre News Editor

In response to the body camera footage of Tyre Nichols’ arrest, Seaver College is holding time for supportive measures for students, giving them a space to process and grieve.

Nichols was a Black man whom police beat at a traffic stop in Memphis, Tenn. Nichols died three days later, according to The New York Times.

Connie Horton, vice president for Student Affairs, said there was a Zoom with the Counseling Center on Jan. 28, a prayer service with the Hub for Spiritual Life and University Chaplain Sara Barton on Jan. 30, and a space for students to process their emotions in the ICA Lounge on Jan. 30. There will also be an invitation to connect with the Black Student Support Group on Feb. 2.

“Tyre Nichols’ arrest, death, and the horrific violence he experienced weighs heavily upon us as a community of peace-loving people committed to affirming the dignity of all God’s children,” Dean of Seaver College Michael Feltner wrote in a Jan. 30 email statement to the Graphic. “As each member of our community continues to process and reflect upon this tragedy, they do so in a community that loves and supports them.”

Horton said part of what Student Affairs is doing is reminding students of

resources they already have — like free counseling and identity-based support groups such as Black Student Support Group and AAPI Support Group.

“It is my hope and prayer that all members of the community will take advantage of the resources provided to care for theirself and their neighbor in this time of challenge,” Feltner wrote.

Creation Process

The decision to host additional sessions can come in a variety of ways. Horton may feel support is necessary, or her staff and students may express concerns.

“Part of it is my own instinct that this is a moment, and it seems that there’s particular national attention distress, and I anticipate that our students and our colleagues are also feeling that,” Horton said.

To begin the process, Horton said she starts formulating a letter to the community and then “plugs in” the opportunities for seeking support.

As University Chaplain, Barton’s role is to provide support for community members, Barton wrote in a Jan. 30 email to the Graphic.

“Sometimes you just need someone to talk to, and at times like these, I pray to be a good listener,” Barton wrote.

For Students

Horton said the programs are an

assortment of options, and students should choose what will fulfill their needs; if a student is unsure, they can bring a friend to sessions.

Horton said the goal of supportive measures is not high attendance but to let students know the option is there. If necessary, the University can offer more support later, she said.

ICA is willing to connect with students on any given day and offer support and a space for students to promote social justice, wrote Terra Hall, associate dean of Student Affairs for Diversity and Belonging, in a Feb. 1 email to the Graphic.

“The ICA staff acknowledges that we may not have all of the answers, but that we are here to listen to all,” Hall wrote. “While students may have their own response to these recent tragedies, through our programming, we want

them to experience care, support, and advocacy.”

Horton said she thinks the supportive measures indicate the University sees and cares for its students, that students are more than “brains on a stick,” who have feelings and need support when a tragedy occurs.

“I hope it teaches people, students, for the future you know, in life,” Horton said. “When there’s moments like this, sometimes it’s good to pause for a moment. Take care of yourself. Move forward.”

sam.torre@pepperdine.edu

Samantha Torre | News Editor

Students and faculty sit in the prayer service at Stauffer Chapel on Jan. 30. In addition to the prayer service, the Counseling Center hosted a Zoom, and Intercultural Affairs held a drop-in space for students to process their emotions.

PERSPECTIVES

THE PGM STAFF

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Bring Black history out of the past and into today

Graphic Staff

Banning AP African American Studies, beating unarmed Black men and increasing the broadening incarceration gap — there is no question why the United States needs Black History Month.

Educating or recounting the history of Black individuals in the United States is not enough — it’s actually better to showcase the changes made to go against the systemic racism and marginalization that affects Black people.

Black History Month is a reminder for the country that the United States has a long way to go in achieving equity for Black individuals.

This month also serves as a reminder to continue actions that uplift marginalized voices and actively listen to what they say. Together, we all can face the ugly truth of how white supremacy exploited Black people into contributing to the success of the United States — and refused to give Black people the credit for years.

With that in mind, the first and simplest thing to do during Black History Month is to take the time to read and learn more about the Black influence on culture in the United States. However, this doesn’t mean waiting for an opportunity to educate yourself — it can be as simple as asking a question on why cer-

tain biases exist toward Black individuals and researching its origin.

Yet, having information means nothing if it is not put to use. One step further is using that knowledge to change the world around you, especially if that world harms Black people.

To make a longstanding and meaningful change, one has to identify harmful patterns, construct a plan to change negative patterns and implement a better strategy.

with the official announcement of Jay Goosby Smith and April Akinloye.

Even at the Graphic, we have made steps like implementing a DEI editor, creating a diversity tracker to evaluate our newsroom’s use of sources and continuing to train reporters to be fair and accurate on every issue. Still, we have much to learn about being allies and advocates for Black individuals.

Learning is lifelong — nobody is perfect, and improvements can always be made. The Graphic will continue to listen to Black voices, educate ourselves and implement inclusion efforts.

Individuals can also implement this pattern of growth on a personal level. This could be questioning if your language or actions are based on Black vernacular and mannerism and then changing the way you use those actions in your everyday life.

We all can benefit from learning about Black History Month and become resistant toward the normalcy of racism that affects the Black community.

The Pepperdine administration even added more Black voices in leadership roles. Following the Black Lives Matter protest in 2020, Pepperdine hired the vice president of DEI

News Staff Writer: Lauren Dionyssiou

Life & Arts Team

Life & Arts Editor: Tanya Yarian

Life & Arts Assistant Editor: Lauren Goldblum

Life & Arts Assistant Editor: Milena D’Andrea

Life & Arts Assistant: Jackie Lopez

Life & Arts Assistant: Hope Lockwood

Life & Arts Staff Writer: Emma Ibarra

Life & Arts Staff Writer: Ashley York

Perspectives Team

Perspectives Editor: Emily Chase

Perspectives Assistant

Editor: Victoria La Ferla

Perspectives Assistant: Madison Luc

Perspectives Staff Writer: Abby Meng

Perspectives Staff Writer: Chris Andrews

Sports Team

Sports Editor: Jerry Jiang

Sports Assistant Editor: Joseph Heinemann

Sports Assistant: Tony Gleason

Sports Assistant: Max Pohlenz

Sports Assistant: Jaan Jafri

Sports Staff Writer: Alex Clarke

Sports Staff Writer: Nick Shea

Staff Photographer: Emma Ibarra

Staff Photographer: Lydia duPerier

Design Team

Creative Director: Haley Hoidal

Life & Arts Designer: Will Fallmer

Design Assistant: Lisette Isiordia

Design Assistant: Skyler Hawkins

Design Assistant: Betsy Burrow

Art Team

Art Editor: Vivian Hsia

Staff Artist: HeeJoo Roh

Staff Artist: Autumn Hardwick

Staff Artist: Stella Engel

Podcast Team

Podcast Producer: Joe Allgood

Podcast Team: Alex Clarke

Podcast Team: Nick Shea

Podcast Team: Alex Payne

Abroad Team

Abroad Correspondent: Mary Elisabeth

Abroad Correspondent: Audrey Geib

Abroad Correspondent: Fiona Creadon

Abroad Correspondent: Graeson Claunch

Abroad Correspondent: Hunter Dunn

TikTok Team Producer: Alex Payne

Black History Month is a reminder for the country that the United States has a long way to go in achieving equity for Black individuals.

Graphic Staff

Vivian Hsia | Art Editor

Growing up in multiple faiths transformed my spirituality

Victoria La Ferla Perspectives Assistant Editor

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

Iwas raised by a Roman Catholic mother and a Conservative Jewish father, both immigrants to the United States. As a first-generation American in these religions, I formed my perspective of the world and religion by their influence. Growing up Conservative Jewish and Roman Catholic and discovering Buddhism all helped me form my spirituality and faith for the better.

I distinctly remember attending weekly Hebrew school on Wednesdays, going to church choir practice on Friday afternoons, then to Shabbat service Saturdays, followed by Kiddush, then singing at a Catholic church Sunday.

This may seem like a lot, but as a child, it was just what my siblings and I did. I have never met anyone who consistently stayed with both religions throughout their childhood. Usually one parent or their family will influence the other parent’s denomination to take a back seat and have their child be raised primarily in one religion, or define themselves more strongly with one.

Many might be confused with how I was able to define this in my own mind or even have the capacity to understand being a part of two religions during childhood, when connecting to one religion can already be a great feat.

I was baptized as a newborn, Bat Mitzvahed and confirmed in both religions. In the year before my Bat Mitzvah, where I practiced weekly and planned festivities, my rabbi explained to me the importance of defining what I believe. Having known me as a child and my religious backgrounds, he could see I was starting to notice the contradictions between the religions. He helped me form connections between them and realize they aren’t so different in reality — they are more similar than some people choose to believe.

At this moment I realized to perform in my Bat Mitzvah service and truly understand the meaning of becoming a woman, I would need to put more time into my Jewish faith, and my family did the same. Hebrew school and Bat Mitzvah practice started to take up a lot of my free time, and I no longer participated in the church choir. I soon found myself only attending church for special holidays or when I visited my mother’s side of the family in Italy once a year.

When people asked me which religion I “actually am,” I still considered myself both Catholic and Jewish. A couple of years after being confirmed in Judaism and attending church occasionally, my faith started to be transformed.

When I was about 16 years old, I adventured to Bhutan and India with National Geographic on a student expedition for photography and cultural learning. I traveled on my own to India and Bhutan and met up with the other students and instructors three days later. On my first day in Bhutan, I visited a monastery and throughout the trip visited several more. I was taken aback by how beautiful, colorful and intricate the designs of the temples were.

One day, we met with an experienced monk who had devoted his life to meditation, prayer and serving his community. We sipped warm herbal tea and discussed the meaning of happiness in one’s life.

This monk whose only possessions were the robe and sandals he was wearing told us of how joyful and content his life truly was, despite material things or objects. Buddhist teaching views life and death as a continuum, believing that consciousness –– the spirit

Victoria La Ferla Perspectives Assisstant Editor

–– continues after death and may be reborn. The monk told us death can be an opportunity for liberation from the cycle of life, death and rebirth.

This completely changed the way I viewed the afterlife. I read these stories in the Bible and in the Torah that said I would “be saved,” or guaranteed safe passage, into the afterlife or heaven. Buddhism was teaching me what I do in this life matters more

in the here and now. I learned not to worry about what may come next and not stress on every mistake and how it will affect my future.

The main principles of this belief system are karma, rebirth and impermanence. Buddhists believe life is full of suffering, but that suffering can be overcome by attaining enlightenment.

In Buddhism, there are four noble truths, “the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering,” according to PBS. More simply put, suffering exists — it has a cause, it has an end and it has a cause to bring about its end.

Through Christianity, I was taught the story of Jesus dying for our sins, a teaching that connects a lot of people to their faith. For me, the stories about Jesus and the stories in the Old Testament are just stories. I liked reading them and I think they teach us important lessons that I still value, but I don’t fully embody them in my life. These lessons don’t speak to me in a way that Buddhism or my newfound spirituality does.

I have found a way to take what moves me in each religion and define my own understanding of faith. Essentially, I believe there is a power within us and around us, constantly moving and evolving — not necessarily a religious figure. It is up to us to find inner peace, balance and harmony to live a life that connects us to the earth and each other.

Bhutan is most known for their Gross National Happiness that places people, not material wealth, at the center of its developmental values. Bhutan is currently No.1 in the world happiness index in Asia and No.8 in the world, according to OneWorld Education. During my time in Bhutan, I spoke with many Bhutanese people and they all consistently shared how they are happy and continue to feel happy.

“There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way,” they said on this trip.

Many had different meanings for how it related to their lives, but I take it to mean there is no path to happiness, happiness is the path.

Everything you need and want can be discovered within and around us, and what is meant to enter your life is for a purpose that individually serves you.

Vivian Hsia | Art Editor

I have found a way to take what moves me in each religion and define my own understanding of faith. Essentially, I believe there is a power within us and around us, constantly moving and evolving –– not necessarily a religious figure. It is up to us to find inner peace, balance and harmony to live a life that connects us to the earth and each other.

Dress for success

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

Dressing nicely for an interview is a widely accepted piece of advice. However, in day-today life, the importance of dress is less emphasized, especially for college students.

Dress — for example, the shape and color of clothing and hair— changes how individuals are perceived. Colors impact moods, feelings and behaviors, according to Color Psychology.

“Color is a powerful communication tool and can be used to signal action, influence mood, and even influence physiological reactions,” Kendra Cherry wrote in a Verywell Mind article.

I have experimented with different hair colors and styles. I’ve traveled the rainbow from my natural straight, dark brown hair to rose gold, blonde, purple, silver and pink. I love to change the style from long to short and incorporate curls, braids and hair accessories.

I’ve found the color of my hair changes the way I act in social situations and in the way I see myself. In

addition, I’ve noticed people have different first impressions of me depending on my hair color. When I sport an unnatural hair color such as pink, I’ve been told my personality is bubbly and cheerful. In contrast, I come across as studious and responsible with my brown hair.

I also enjoy having a variety of colors and styles in my wardrobe. Some days I might choose a hot pink blazer with high heels, while other days I prefer to wear a neutral T-shirt with jeans and tennis shoes.

Dressing how I want gives me joy and confidence. My mood and the occasion control my fashion choices.

Depending on how I feel when I get out of bed, I am drawn to certain colors. When I know I have a full day of classes, I’ll choose something cute and comfortable. When I go out with friends on the weekend, I might want to choose a more elaborate but less

Death to malls means a death to youthful memories

factors contributing to what appears to be the slow and eventual death of malls, with COVID-19 being the most prominent.

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

With online shopping becoming more convenient and relevant in recent years, a significant amount of people no longer want to go shopping in a mall. From 2012-21, online sales increased by 11.1%, and offline sales saw a respective 11.1% drop according to Zippia. Shopping online within the comfort of your own home has become too enticing.

However, it hasn’t always been like this. There are a variety of different

There are countless activities to do at the mall. Individuals can spend the whole afternoon trying on new outfits from different clothing stores, perhaps even swiping their credit card one too many times. Even for those unwilling to spend money, they could choose to window-shop and still enjoy all the different consumer goods on display.

No one expected the disastrous effects COVID had on malls, yet alone the outbreak of a worldwide pandemic. As previously mentioned, with online shopping becoming more popular, malls already started to struggle with the convenience of online shopping versus in-store shopping. It is most evident COVID was the final blow to

comfortable ensemble.

One’s dress can play a large role in how society perceives an individual and how they see themselves. Yet, the ability to choose one’s dress is a privilege. Limited monetary resources can limit an individual’s options for self-expression through dress.

At the same time, having so many options for dress is hardly sustainable. The fashion industry is responsible for exploiting factory workers in developing countries, sweatshops and high carbon dioxide emissions, according to Columbia Climate School.

The U.S. alone disposes of almost 11.3 million tons of textile waste a year, or 2,150 pieces of clothing per second, according to Bloomberg.

These practices are detrimental to people and the environment. While experimenting with different types of dress can exhibit creativity and allow for personal expression, the conse-

knock malls off their feet.

This may sound extreme, but within a few years, it might be time to say goodbye to malls — they may soon become memories of the past. It’s almost unbelievable to even think of not having an air conditioned facility to find refuge in from the violent, unmerciful sun during the intense California summers.

It must be the collective responsibility of society to ensure malls don’t merely become relics of the past.

AMC, The LEGO Store and Urban Outfitters are only a few of the myriad of shops within malls. Metaphorically speaking, a mall is simply an all-star lineup of your favorite retail stores and more. Would our society accept this future reality?

It’d be hard to say — although it’s easier to simply type the name of the store you want to shop at into your computer and make a purchase with a few clicks, it seems robotic. There is no human interaction. There are no memorable experiences with friends.

What will be there to do during summer break when you’ve done everything and can only resort to going to the mall? Where will you go to do last minute Christmas shopping? What about that one individual who always shines your shoes and somehow convinces you to buy their product? OK — maybe that last one was something that wouldn’t be necessarily missed.

If you were able to somehow resonate with any of the aforementioned experiences, how could you be at peace with the disappearance of shopping malls?

You can’t. There’s always something enigmatically significant about nostalgic experiences. Whether it’s watching that cartoon show every Saturday morning with a bowl of cereal or trying

quences of doing so should not be ignored.

To consider the social and environmental effects of my choices, I reduce my consumption by limiting new purchases. If I do not think I will wear an item at least 30 times, I think twice about purchasing it. In addition, I explore options such as purchasing clothing at second-hand stores or organizing clothing swaps with friends.

I am certainly not perfect, and achieving sustainability is not an all-ornothing. Rather, it is a lifestyle practice of considering every choice through a socially and environmentally conscientious lens.

No matter one’s socioeconomic status, anyone can choose wisely with the resources they possess. This practice may look different for different people, just like one’s choice of dress varies from person to person.

Though I use dress as a fun way to present myself to the world, I know my appearance should not dictate my identity. Instead, my identity is rooted in Jesus Christ, and I aim to use how I dress to reflect this identity.

The next time you get ready for the day, examine your choices. How you choose to dress may reveal more than you thought, and may even prompt you to change elements of what you’re wearing. Understanding how your identity is reflected in your everyday dress can set you up for success.

to tell yourself that you’ll take a break from building another bag out of a LEGO set only to complete the entire build, memories seem to bring joy. It’s even evident within fashionable apparel and the shoe market.

“It seems that most core trends repeat every 20 to 30 years (a concept often called the ‘20-Year Rule’). This 20-year timeline could be that designers consciously or subconsciously take inspiration from the styles their parents wore,” according to Current Boutique, a Luxury & Designer Consignment Shop.

The wonder of nostalgic experiences seems to remain a significant fragment of memory throughout generations. No matter who one is, if they grew up going to the mall, forming memories as a young adolescent or even as a parent with their children, there should be this compelling emotion that is against the idea of malls eventually ceasing to exist once and for all.

Next time, before pulling out a laptop to make a purchase, consider driving to the closest nearby mall. You may not find the thing you want to buy, but the mall will compensate for that shortcoming by providing a place, an atmosphere perhaps, that welcomes you to loiter for countless hours and enjoy the embodiment of consumerism. Possibly more significant, you are able to enjoy the warm, joyous recollections of youth in your mind.

Vivian Hsia | Art Editor

Madison Luc Perspectives Assistant

Christopher Andrews Staff Writer

Vivian Hsia | Art Editor

Food stamps give college students a chance to thrive

Joseph Heinemann Assistant Sports Editor

eligibility doesn’t equal necessity

Hope Lockwood Life & Arts Assistant

The classic stereotype of the broke college student has been a story told for generations, according to the National Education Association. Because of the images of lean meals, stretching money and getting all the free food you can get, this narrative has become romanticized in modern U.S. culture to the point where it's a regular TV trope, according to TV Tropes.

People who've gone through this situation will often tell you it's a normal part of life, depicting this tough struggle as a part of growing up, instead of treating it like the problem it is, according to United Way Greater Toronto. Rather than attempting to fix this issue, society labels it as a regular aspect of college life.

Food stamps give us a chance to break this cycle. Our college community tends to trend higher regarding familial income, but that doesn't mean every student will be flush with cash. No matter their family's financial background, students can find themselves in tricky food situations during college.

Let's face it — regardless of someone's income, college is expensive and it can be easy to stress out over finances. Most students said they worry about spending too much money and are still learning how and when to spend their hard-earned money.

It's not uncommon for students to choose lower-quality groceries because it'll save an extra 35 cents. It is a commonly excepted aspect of college, regardless of income.

We, as a society, have accepted these financial worries as just a part of college, according to the National Education Association. While we've accepted this trope, it doesn't have to be this way, thanks to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT).

EBT gives people in those situations the ability to eat well if they are put through tough times. It allows students to use the money they may have otherwise spent on groceries to pay off bills,

add to their savings or just give them more spending money.

While students should stay within the guidelines and qualification requirements of the state, it seems wrong to gatekeep an abundant resource when it could benefit all. The U.S. spent $90 billion on aid in 2020, according to Politico, and it is ridiculous to assume governmental aid is scarce.

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

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), more commonly known as food stamps, is a government-funded program. It is designed to make food more accessible for people who are low-income, according to their website

Safety nets like SNAP aim to provide more flexibility for and alleviate the stress of people facing food insecurity and support those who live under the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL). For a single person in California, the FPL is anything below $2,148 a month.

Heinemann

So, if you qualify, take full advantage of the security nets and aid the government gives out. Just because your situation is unique doesn't mean you don't deserve to utilize the benefits our government gives us.

Encouraging students to take advantage of available public aid allows them to eat healthy and consistent meals and use their money for other purposes, like educational expenses or recreational activities.

While on-campus resources like RISE, the Office of Community Belonging, ICA and others offer help through lessons on resilience and fighting for inclusion, sometimes students need financial help. With a combination of all of these resources, students have the best chance to not only succeed at Pepperdine but enjoy their experience here as well.

All these benefits will raise the physical health of the Pepperdine community and students' mental health, leading to a more productive and happy future.

Let's face it — most students at Pepperdine do not match those descriptions. The median family income of a Pepperdine student was $128,700, with 56% of students coming from families in the top 20 percent of national incomes, according to a 2017 New York Times study. In the state of California, our median family income is among the highest in the country.

That same survey also said 1.5% of our students come from families belonging to the top .1% of the wealth in the United States, which is one of the highest-documented populations in the nation.

During COVID-19, the U.S. government relaxed the requirements for Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), making any person who has lived in the U.S. for 5+ years have an income below the FPL eligible regardless of dependent status.

Many TikToks about food stamps are advertising tips and tricks on getting free money for food. But food stamps are not a tip, trick or free money. They are a government resource designed to help those in tough financial situations facing food insecurity survive.

While researching SNAP and CalFresh after seeing a TikTok about it, I realized I am eligible because I am employed and make below the FPL. However, as a student from an upper-middle-class family, I am acutely aware I am not who these safety

nets are for. I have never had to worry about where my next meal comes from or choosing between groceries or my electric bill.

Just because I or other students are working part-time minimum wage jobs does not mean we are starving, living in poverty or financially struggling. Simply, it just means college students are not completely well-off — it doesn't mean we need government-funded money that could be allocated somewhere else.

I am aware that because Pepperdine is in Malibu and most of our student body comes from financially secure families does not mean members of our community are not struggling. I'm not against low-income students or students facing food insecurity using resources like EBT or the food cabinets on campus. In fact, I encourage you to make use of the relaxed eligibility.

However, with relaxed requirements and increased advertising of the programs, I am worried those who may need these resources to survive may not be able to get them because the system is becoming overwhelmed with middle- and upper-class students taking advantage of the system because TikTok told them to.

I caution my fellow middle-class peers to be aware of how signing up for these assistance programs may impact those who depend on them.

The stereotype of the starving college student exists even at high-income schools, and it's not going away anytime soon. But, for the majority of students at Pepperdine, the problem has never been if they can or cannot afford groceries. The problem has been the accessibility to kitchens, inconsistent quality of food and cafeteria hours, dietary restrictions and expensive local restaurants.

Just because you're eligible and a college student doesn't mean you're a starving college student and that you deserve SNAP.

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

Autumn Hardwick | Staff Artist

If you qualify, take full advantage of the security nets and aid the government gives out.

Joseph

Assistant Sports Editor

Autumn Hardwick | Staff Artist

Social commentary is socially impactful

Emily Chase Perspectives Editor

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

In the year 1895 in Paris, something drastically changed in the way people told stories — the art of film began. It became a pictorial viewing experience filled with music, actors and visual plotlines that weren’t stuck on a page any longer. In 1926, 31 years later, films added sound into the mix, according to The Picture Show Man. Audiences heard words spoken aloud that had once been tied down to a script.

Today, filmmakers have been able to utilize their platform to create storylines centered around a particular group of people, social issue or movement, which are extremely effective in spreading awareness.

Recent films brought light to social issues — “The Menu” (2022) poses a commentary about the rich, “Greenbook” (2018) talks about the racism and danger non-whites faced in America in the ‘60s and “The Joker” (2019) reflects the negative effects of bullying and disregard for mental health in America — to an extreme.

“Two main issues come to mind that are reflected both in the world

of ‘The Joker’ and present day society: the social-political structure of the country and the disregard for mental health,” Aidan Park wrote in The Academy Chronicle. “[The film] provides more context for the idea that there is no middle class in our society, only leaving space for the lower class and the upper class in today’s social structure.”

“The Joker” was arguably one of the top films of its year and, across all audiences, a beloved villain from the times of the D.C. Comics. Director Todd Philips was able to create a memorable film while also highlighting the societal issues the Joker faced that reflect people’s struggles today with mental health and neglect.

The aforementioned films are

prime examples of effective commentary in film — they start conversation, build a fanbase and create a story for people to get attached to so they understand the messages on a deeper level that will hopefully create a change in real life.

Social commentary in films isn’t a new phenomenon. “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) was based on the novel by Harper Lee and socially criticized the unfair treatment of Black people in society at the time. “The Grapes of Wrath” (1940) illustrated the struggles of poor farmers during The Great Depression.

Social commentary in films proves itself to be effective not in physical results, but because of the effect it has on its audiences. Stories

with a message emotionally touch people and mentally stick with them. This notion was proven in the study Crying at the Movies: A Physiological and Emotional Connection by Paul Glover. I believe this should continue.

Now, every movie doesn’t have to force in a social commentary — “Dumb and Dumber” (1994), “Madagascar” (2005) and “Halloween” (1978) are some examples of movies that were made to simply just be watched and enjoyed.

Next time you go to a theater and sit down to be transported into a world unlike your own, keep an eye out for the subtle nods to society and the correspondence the film may have to some issues that we have in our own world.

More often than not, when films have social commentary, it is effective, meaningful and can have lasting impacts on its viewers.

BIG WAVES COMIC

BIG WAVES COMIC

Vivian Hsia | Art Editor

Art by Vivian Hsia | Art Editor

Written by Luke Franklin | Guest Contributer

Created by Emily Chase | Perspectives Editor

LIFE & ARTS

Students reveal roommate quirks

Emma Ibarra Staff Writer

The winter break provided students a pause from the food in their mini fridge and communal bathrooms. Students, such as senior Aubrey Henrie, said they were relieved to have a three-week rest before the spring semester to reconnect with family members and hometown friends over the holidays. Senior Katie Donovan, said spending time away from their roommates left them feeling sentimental.

Residing with roommates may facilitate the occasional suitemate squabble over dish duty and who’s going to clean the shower drain, but it can also kickstart friendships and connections that last a lifetime. In her living situation, Henrie said her roommates have come to appreciate the little things about each other that make them unique.

“I hold a lot of respect for my roomies, and they’re some of the best people I know,”

Henrie said. “It’s crazy to think about how we’ve all ended up together in our apartment, but I’m forever grateful that our journeys at Pepperdine have led us here.”

Henrie resides on campus in the George Page apartments with her three other roommates — seniors Autumn Bryant, Olivia Bretzius and Donovan. Despite living in the same first-year housing, Donovan said the four girls didn’t become close until later on in their collegiate careers.

“Winter break was so weird because we were all home in different states across the U.S., and they’re literally my best friends,” Donovan said. “It’s crazy to see how our relationships have changed so much since we met the first year.”

The entire suite said they call different cities across the country home. Henrie lives in Nevada, Bryant is from Colorado, Bretzius from North Carolina and Donovan is from Wisconsin. Despite coming from all over the U.S., Henrie said the four students have

connected in a way that has transformed their time at Pepperdine.

“We all have really similar humor and interests, yet we’re all still unique and bring a different presence to the apartment, whether that energy is uplifting, fun, calm, funny or a mix of all,” Henrie said.

Bryant said despite their suite’s loving demeanor, her roommates maintain their sense of humor and often poke fun at one another.

“We love to make each other laugh, no matter what method that is,” Bryant said. “We play small pranks on each other all the time, whether in the apartment, outside the apartment, over text — just anything we can do to get a little giggle, you know.”

Donovan said her roommates lovingly tease her when they mimic her Wisconsin slang and remind her of her beloved mid-Western roots.

“Since I’m from Wisconsin, I say things a little bit weird like ‘bag,’ ‘tag,’ ‘rag,’ instead of ‘beg,’ ‘teg,’ ‘reg,’ but sometimes

my roommates will pick up on the weird pronunciations and make it into a bit,” Donovan said.

Apart from amusing dialect mimicry, Bryant said she appreciates her roommates and all their favorite shared activities, such as their weekly Taylor Swift dance parties and game nights. Bryant said one of the more “eccentric” activities the roommates engage in is ranking players from the show “Survivor” during a weekly Thursday night viewing.

bonding experience.

“Sometimes all it takes is something as simple as a hiccup to show some love.”

“When you hiccup with Aubrey in the room and it’s like a hiccup fit, she’ll put her hand in front of you and say really quickly, ‘Hiccup in my hand, hiccup in my hand, hiccup in my hand,’ and that’s how she cures her hiccups,” Donovan said. “Surprisingly, it works. It’s really sweet and it’s something none of my roommates and I have heard of before her.”

Henrie said she and her roommates’ busy schedules make it difficult to spend time together, but it’s small acts of love like catching each other’s hiccups and dancing around the apartment to Taylor Swift that mean the most. Donovan said living with others can have its issues, but it can also have many joys. In the girls’ apartment, they said it’s the little things that ultimately bring them together.

Autumn Bryant Senior

“We’ll sit down and watch the episode, root for our favorites, then at the end of the episode, we’ll debate on who we like the most and move them around on the tier chart,” Bryant said. “It’s just a really fun

Top left: George Page residents — left to right — Autumn Bryant, Katie Donovan, Aubrey Henrie and Olivia Bretzius pose for a selfie at Alumni Park on Valentine’s Day. The four met their first year and Donovan said they stayed friends ever since.

We love to make each other laugh, no matter what method that is.

Photos courtesy of Katie Donovan

Design by Skyler Hawkins Design Assistant

A purr-fect sequel: New ‘Puss in Boots’ movie receives rave reviews

Jackie Lopez Life & Arts Assistant Editor

Our favorite fearless feline hero has rung victorious in the box office with the release of “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.”

With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95% and a box office gross of over $300 million, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” has received overwhelmingly positive attention since its release Dec. 22. Students share their opinions on the film and describe what made the sequel such a success.

“I had no expectations about the movie, I did not know what I was walking into,” junior Phillip Young said. “But I was really genuinely surprised by how good it was. And I’ve seen it since then and it held up. It was just as good on the rewatch as it was the first time.”

In 2001, the “Shrek” franchise launched and thus began DreamWorks’ most successful movie franchise, according to Collider. The “Shrek” franchise interweaved icons from multiple fables and stories, with Puss in Boots — voiced by Antonio Banderas — being one of its prominent charac-

ters. The feline hero quickly became a fan-favorite, and thus brought the opportunity for a spin-off film series, with the first film releasing in 2011.

“It’s part of the ‘Shrek’ franchise, but I feel like it’s its own thing now,” said Harvey Guillien, voice actor for the character Perrito, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “I just want everyone to see where we’re at now and walk away with their hearts filled with a really cool message.”

The sequel follows the story of Puss in Boots, who is now down to his ninth and last life. Desperate to keep on living his carefree life of danger and adventure, he seeks out “the last wish” that can grant him more lives. On his journey, Puss reunites with old characters and meets new ones.

“Puss in Boots being on his last life, it feels like a fairy tale,” Director Joel Crawford said in an interview with BTL News. “But then, it’s really about realizing you get one go at this, you get one life, and thinking we could put this absurdity with the reality and make this a special message, which is about appreciating life.”

On Puss’ new adventure, the creators touched on heavier themes including death,

redemption and emotional vulnerability. An especially memorable scene shows Puss having a panic attack — experiencing shortness of breath, tunnel vision and a loud heartbeat.

As someone who has experienced them before, sophomore Nicolette Garcia said she appreciated the scene.

“It showed that even this character that you see as this great hero who’s invincible and a fighter, even he is vulnerable and that he can have times when he feels weak,” Garcia said. “And that should even inspire us.”

Unafraid to dive into heavier topics, Crawford said the balance between grim storytelling and heart allowed for an elevated narrative that all age groups could appreciate, according to an interview with Discussing Film.

“It’s about death and about

Hear the howls: ‘Teen Wolf: The Movie’ pulls many twists and turns

Yarian Life & Arts Editor

Transparency item: A review provides an informed and opinionated critique. These informed critiques are published to make a recommendation to readers. This review is the opinion of the writer.

Scott McCall’s pack returns to Beacon Hills for another adventure as they use their supernatural powers to fight off an old enemy. “Teen Wolf: The Movie” portrays the length these characters go to for their friends — even 15 years later.

“Teen Wolf: The Movie” released Jan. 26, on Paramount Plus. “Teen Wolf” first premiered June 5, 2011 where a werewolf bit Scott McCall, played by Tyler Posey, in the woods. Six seasons later, “Teen Wolf’s” finale premiered Sept. 27, 2017. The “Teen Wolf” franchise first announced the movie Sept. 24, 2021, according to their Instagram.

The movie opens with Hikari and Liam working in a restaurant, and a

man in a black jacket with his face covered walks in demanding the jar where an evil trickster spirit, the Nogitsune, is being held. It is not until later on in the movie when the audience discovers this man is a mischievous character from previous seasons.

While the man releases the Nogitsune, Scott is in L.A. where he is using his abilities as a true alpha werewolf running an animal shelter — a full circle moment from when he worked at Deaton’s animal clinic.

Scott, Argent and Lydia are having visions that connect to Allison Argent — played by Crystal Reed. Allison was Scott’s first love who was killed at the end of season three by the Nogitsune. The characters come back together in the city that started it all — Beacon Hills. Scott, Argent and Lydia believe they need to perform a ritual to put her spirit to peace, however, the evil spirit tricks them into bringing Allison back to life.

Allison’s death in season three was one of the most shocking and emotional events of the series. In several of the

Jackie Lopez | Life & Arts Assistant Editor

loneliness and about finding your place in the world that puts it in a package that kids will understand,” Young said. “But also it’s a really well made movie, so that adults can go and get enjoyment out of it.”

The success of the film demands for a deeper look into the implications for the animation industry as a whole. In Hollywood, there is a lack of respect for animation as cinema, as shown during the 2022 Oscar award ceremony in which several comments belittled the artform, according to the Central Recorder.

“There’s this stigma with animation that it’s for kids, and of course it’s appropriate for kids, but it’s not just for them,” Crawford said in the Discussing Film interview. “Like you’re saying, there’s stuff that goes over kid’s heads that the parents are laughing at.”

Filmmaker Guillermo del

trailers leading up to the movie, viewers saw Allison back in Beacon Hills but fans were not sure what to make of this.

It was surprising to see Allison return to her role as a werewolf hunter’s daughter. However, she may not be the same Allison fans remember. Despite Allison not remembering her memories and being tricked by the Nogitsune, Scott helped Allison remember and “Scallison” was back by the end of the movie.

While it felt just like old times with the same pack fighting for their lives and the protection of their home, there were a few characters who did not come back for the movie — Dylan O’Brien, who played Stiles Stilinski; Daniel Sharman, who played Isaac Lahey; and Cody Christian, who played Theo Raeken.

It was sad to not see some fan-favorites on the screen and joining the pack in this new fight.

O’Brien said he felt his character was left in a good place at the end of the show and he wanted to leave it there, according to his interview with Variety.

The tense music, facial expressions, howls and screams all contributed to the suspense of the story, just like the old seasons. The camera placement and special effects also contribute to the supernatural aspect of the show and surprise viewers by what may come next. The fangs, claws and glowing eyes entice viewers and the jumps, roars and howls remind fans of characters’ powers.

The familiar setting and story plot

Toro spoke on the issue during his acceptance speech at the 2023 Golden Globes ceremony and addressed the misinformation surrounding the definition of animation.

“Animation is cinema,” del Toro said in his speech at the Golden Globes. “Animation is not a genre for kids, it’s a medium.”

With “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” DreamWorks challenges the boundaries of this stigma and acts as a prime example of how animation is a versatile medium and universal language to tell stories for audiences of all ages.

jackie.lopez@pepperdine.edu

made me feel I was back watching an old episode but with characters who were not teens anymore. One thing that felt different was the emphasis on friendship. While the movie portrays the theme of loyalty and resistance, characters were solving the conflict but were separate from one another.

Relationships and acting are expected to be different in revivals of a show, with the movie released years later, the chemistry between the characters has changed.

Since there is a larger time-jump from how the show ended to their lives now, some viewers who have not watched the “Teen Wolf” series, may not understand the plot or how each character plays a role in Scott’s life.

There were a few wholesome and happy moments that helped create a good balance between the drama and the adventure.

In the end of the movie, the pack’s selfless acts continue as they use their powers to fight the evil trickster spirit. Viewers will see how the fight plays out and how through all the twists and turns, their roars will be heard.

Audiences will have to tune in to watch the movie, only streaming on Paramount Plus, to witness the return of the pack.

Tanya

Pilobolus Dance Troupe dazzles students with performance at Smothers Theatre

Emma Ibarra Staff Writer

Through unconventional interpretive dance, the self-titled rebels at Pilobolus dance company seek to reinvent movement in performance, according to their company website.

Pilobolus’ mission is to create, preserve and perform meaningful dance pieces that showcase the creative potential of all those involved, according to their website. After 50 years of testing the limits of human physicality, Pilobolus returned to Pepperdine for its fifteenth performance at Smothers Theatre on Jan. 26, said Rebecca Carson, the managing director for the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts.

“The company is a fantastic modern dance company that was formed by four non-dancers from Connecticut,” Carson said. “They just used musicality and physicality in a really interesting way that makes you think about all that you can do with the physical body.”

Pilobolus, founded in the early 1970s, is celebrating 50 years of interpretive performances. The company is traveling across the U.S. in spring 2023 as a part of their “Big Five-Oh!” tour.

The company staged a mix of revival pieces from past Pilobolus troupes, in addition to modern dances from more recent years, according to the Center for the Arts site.

Pilobolus’ Artistic Director Matt Kent stepped on stage before the show to thank the audience for their attendance and support for the company.

Kent explained the show’s repertoire would be pulling from past and present performances in celebration of their 50 years as a company. Revival dances included “MegaWatt” (2004), a solo piece from “Empty Suitor” (1980) and the final group number, “Untitled” (1975), while current performances included “The Ballad” (2022) and “Behind the Shadows” (2021).

After audience voices fell hush and the lights dimmed, six troupe performers appeared, lying on their backs and began the first number titled “MegaWatt.” The dancers bounded across the stage, soon leaping, flipping, gliding and trying every twist in between.

Pilobolus’ imaginative storytelling exerted the dancers’ physicality as they flipped, kicked and tumbled all over the stage. The company’s impressive talent was further supported with polished costuming, minimal staging and

a blend of experimental melodies and spoken word.

Pilobolus was popular among students and visitors alike, as attendees reeled in their positive reactions with the show’s directors afterward outside the theater.

Juniors Noelle Alderton, Rachel Anderson and Jadyn Gaertner attended the “Big Five-Oh” performance together at Pepperdine. Alderton expressed her admiration for the company’s refined technique and demanding choreography.

“It was such a surprise,” Alderton said. “I didn’t know I was going until 20 minutes before, and then I showed up and was amazed.”

Gaertner said she was impressed despite attending last minute and would recommend the show to others.

Similarly, Alderton said she thought the performance was nothing like she had expected and expressed her shock at the dancer’s physical capabilities.

“They are so strong, and I just didn’t understand how they could physically do those moves,” Alderton said. “I felt transported to a different world, and I was very impressed by the abilities of the dancers.”

After an invigorating show in Malibu, the skillful troupe will travel to over 20 different cities. Fifty years after its creation, Pilobolus plans to continue growing and changing while reaching new audiences and exploring new visual and physical planes, according to their site.

Photo courtesy of Brigid Pierce

Pilobolus dancers Hannah Klinkman, Paul Liu, Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Zack Weiss and Marlon Feliz perform “The Ballad” at The American Dance Festival in 2022. The dance company performed at Pepperdine in January.

Milena D’Andrea Staff Writer

Pepperdine Theatre Department’s newest play, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” by Sarah Ruhl explores the effects of technology on modern relationships through an absurd yet charming comedy, said senior Juliet Johnson, assistant director and choreographer.

Pepperdine students performed “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” directed by Nic Few, in Lindhurst Theater from Jan. 24-28. The play included a small cast of eight, with students Analise Avila, Cat Masterson, Chloe Higgins, Coby Rogers, Luca Nicoletti and Quinn Conrad playing the six main characters. Conrad missed the earlier performances due to illness and Cole Wagner played his role of Dwight in the Tuesday to Thursday shows.

“This show is a heartfelt look into the deep loneliness people can feel in a society that is so attached to social media and smartphones in general,” said first-year Nicoletti, who played The Other Woman. “This show will help people feel more connected, less alone and maybe allow them to laugh a little bit at its absurdity.”

The cast prepared for the show throughout winter break,

said senior Avila, who played Hermia. In these rehearsals, members enjoyed improving together and learning more about the personalities of their individual characters, Avila said.

“For me, Hermia can be a little raunchy, which is fun to play,” Avila said. “I do love being so prickly and I like playing a difficult character.”

The play has a whimsical and somewhat absurd tone, said junior Higgins, who played Jean. Although the show has a small cast, each character has a large and unique personality, Nicoletti said.

“My favorite part about performing my character is getting to be perceived as cool and intimidating, while also building who she truly is on the inside,” Nicoletti said. “I don’t want to play a one-note character. Instead, I want to flesh her out as a full human being.”

The play opens with a man named Gordon dying in a cafe and a girl named Jean grabbing his cell phone that won’t stop ringing. From there, Jean begins to answer his phone calls and follows them through the dead man’s life, piecing together his broken relationships, said senior Rodgers, who played Gordon.

“It’s a really uplifting, beautiful, hilarious play,” Johnson said. “The story of the play is

so compelling, and it teaches us how to connect with each other in moments of grief and how to love each other even when we really would rather not love each other.”

As the play moves forward, Jean gets more and more entangled in Gordon’s life. She learns startling secrets about Gordon’s organ trafficking business from his wife, Hermia, and also meets Gordon’s eccentric mother, Mrs. Gottlieb, played by senior Masterson.

“Nic, the director, and I are both really interested in exploring how to play really big and bold, funny people realistically and truthfully,” Johnson said. “Particularly with the character Mrs. Gottlieb, she’s a huge hilarious character, but it’s because of how deeply she feels and how obsessed with herself she is.”

Despite the absurdity of the story, deeper messages avail about the power of love, Higgins said. This is especially demonstrated through Jean’s emerging romantic relationship with Dwight, Gordon’s brother. As well, Jean’s temporary visit to Gordon in the afterlife causes her character to fully realize the love she has in her own life.

“I love the line when Jean says to Dwight that they are going to choose to love each other better,” Higgins said. “The

framing of an afterlife where you spend eternity with the person you most love encourages me to be honest and tell people I love them and want to spend time with them.”

talk-back. “We are able to understand each other’s characters because we love each other.”

Each performance is unique and allows audiences a place to disassociate and be enrobed in a story, Avila said.

“It’s like watching a movie, and it’s so nice to just focus on a story for an hour or two,” Avila said. “You get to forget about everything else going on outside the theater and are involved in other people’s journeys.”

Ruhl wrote the play in 2012, but the messages remain very applicable to today’s society, Johnson said. She said it explores love, loss and modern loneliness with a constant undertone of humor.

After the Wednesday night show, the cast participated in an audience talk-back, where cast members came onstage after the show to respond to questions from the audience members. An audience member asked how the cast shaped the play to make it their own.

“How close we have gotten as a cast really shaped this,” Higgins said at the audience

“It’s incredible how applicable the show feels to this current moment with the way that we use technology and the way that we interact on our phones,” Johnson said. “But the show itself is so full of joy and light, and it’s all about finding laughter in sorrow.”

Photo courtesy of Ron Hall Jean and Dwight, played by Chloe Higgins and Cole Wagner, embrace amid whimsically floating lanterns Jan. 24, in Lindhurst Theatre. Audience members are encouraged to recognize the love they have in their lives through Jean and Dwight’s romance, Higgins said.

‘Dead Man’s Cell Phone’ explores technology

This show is a heartfelt look into the deep loneliness people can feel in a society that is so attached to social media in general.

Luca Nicoletti

First-year

Pepperdine alum Jesse Aston pursues radical responsibility

Max Pohlenz Sports Assistant

Jesse Aston is many things: A former runner for Pepperdine Track, an elementary school teacher, a student at Caruso School of Law and a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.

He is also a husband and the father of two children.

“We all need people. No one’s a self-made man,” Aston said. “So, we all need others in our lives. And I guess my encouragement would be — don’t fight against that. Don’t try to act like you can do it on your own.”

Aston said he is pursuing a law degree at the Caruso School of Law. Once he completes his degree, he said he will serve as a judge advocate general (JAG) in the Marine Corps, which entails legal duties such as representing people during a military court martial and providing commanders with legal advice to support military operations and decisions. In addition, Aston said he has two children and a wife, Jordan Lee, who graduated from Caruso School of Law (‘19) and is a practicing attorney.

In December 2013 and January 2014, Aston performed in front of audiences as a part of Pepperdine Improv Troupe and ran for the finish line as a member of Pepperdine Cross Country, according to previous Graphic reporting. Aston graduated in the spring of 2014.

“To the me who had just graduated from Pepperdine,” Aston said. “I would charge that younger self to be patient.”

After completing his undergraduate degree, Aston said he went on to teach elementary school for five years. However, as his 28th birthday approached, Aston said it forced him to reflect on what he wanted to do.

“I had recalled from when I was younger that the age restriction for commissioning as a Marine officer was 28,” Aston said, “I either needed to do it or I needed to shut up about wanting to do it.”

Aston said he consulted Lee, his wife, about his potential enlistment and career change.

“She was super supportive, which was awesome because I hadn’t really expressed that interest to her before,” Aston said. “She had been really interested in being a foreign war correspondent. So, it was right up her alley in terms of some-

thing she would be supportive of.”

After further correspondence with a recruiter, Aston said he discovered a path combining both law and service through being a judge advocate general.

“That’s when I realized that the two interests that I’d had for quite a long time could coincide,” Aston said.

Aston said he completed Marine training during the summer.

“[The] hardest part for me, personally, was just being away from my wife and my children,” Aston said.

Although Aston said he would encounter challenges and pressures during training, he said that this only served to help refine and perfect his understanding of leadership and responsibility.

“And my biggest takeaway — and this isn’t specific to the Marines, but it’s certainly something that we cherish — which is the idea of extreme responsibility,” Aston said.

Aston said his conception of responsibility involves how a leader reacts to both success and failure. Aston said he was taught a good leader does not bathe in praise but rather accredits success to their sub-

ordinates and takes the blame and responsibility for failures.

“Life’s hard. It’s harder if you’re stupid,” Aston said. “Life is hard enough on its own, and we tend to make it harder by pursuing things that aren’t really sustaining of life. And so, I think my biggest encouragement would be: seek out responsibility because re-

sponsibility is what makes life meaningful.”

Hot Shots: It’s time to hold refs accountable

Jerry Jiang Sports Editor

Transparency Item: The views expressed in this article are the opinions of the writers.

Imagine this. You clock into your normal nine-to-five job and your coworker makes a huge mistake that puts your team behind weeks. The whole team is concerned about losing their jobs because of the mistake, but all your coworker gets is a slap on the wrist.

This is similar to what most referees are experiencing in the sports world — they are not being held accountable, according to The Towerlight. As the referees are deciding the outcome of more and more games — and not the actual players — it’s time to do something about it.

For basketball fans, this is, unfortunately, the norm. The NCAA and NBA have some of the worst referees in all of sports, and game after game, it seems like we can’t do anything to change the outcome.

Sacramento Kings fans have been crying for the past decade that the 2002 Western Conference Finals were rigged — favoring the big market, star-studded Los Angeles Lakers. In a vital game six, the Lakers shot a whopping 40 free throws, 27 of which came in the fourth quarter, while the Kings shot a mere 25

free throws, nine in the fourth quarter.

Things became even more suspicious when disgraced former NBA ref Tim Donaghy was suspended for gambling on the games he was reffing. Donaghy ran the scheme with his childhood friends for 11 years, according to ESPN. Current NBA ref Scott Foster has a similar reputation, as he had connections to Donaghy, according to Sports Illustrated.

NBA YouTuber FreeDawkins compiled a 10-minute video of what he thought were the worst calls from NBA

referees so far in the 2022-23 season.

The referees are supposed to be the justice system for sports — having no emotional attachments, unbiased and fair. But how is that possible if time and time again, it seems like they’re favoring a certain team or player?

The NBA created the “Last Two Minute” report in 2015 as a way to review calls that were missed during crunch time. The L2Ms are part of the NBA’s ongoing effort to build a greater awareness and understanding of the rules and processes that govern the game, according to the official website of NBA refs.

But let’s be realistic. They’re useless. The report is saying ‘Oops, we messed up. It’s not like it was important or anything. We’ll do better next time.’ Except, they never do.

Yes, referees are human and mistakes happen. Judging a sport, especially one as fast-paced as basketball, is one of the toughest jobs out there, but to have almost zero accountability and to have a critical impact on a game and even some players’ legacy is something different.

On Jan. 7, the EuroLeague — a European professional basketball league — suspended four referees after they missed a crucial out-of-bounds call that changed the course of the game, according to Sports Manor.

This was an interesting tactic — as

those referees actually felt the consequences of their actions — something many referees don’t feel.

Another possible solution to hold refs accountable is to hold post-game conferences like the ones held for the players.

Referees can explain to the media what they saw from their perspective. Additionally, like the players, they are asked tough questions. They’ll also be on the record for these conferences, so people can have the ability to refer to these quotes should they find any inconsistencies.

Regardless, referees have been super inconsistent as of late, and the product of the game has been affected for too long. It’s time to make changes before more games are altered by the referees and not the players.

Aston poses with his family at his Officer Candidate School graduation in the summer of 2022. His wife, Jordan Lee, and his youngest son, Psalms, stood beside him.

Photo courtesy of Jesse Aston

As the referees are deciding the outcome of more and more games — and not the actual players — it’s time to do something about it.

Jerry Jiang Sports Editor

Men’s golf looks to build on success

Nicholas Shea Staff Writer

The Pepperdine Men’s Golf team won the 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship — their first national title since 1977. Head Coach Michael Beard is hoping to build on that success in the upcoming season, starting Jan. 30, at the Southwestern Invitational.

Men’s Golf welcomed in three new transfers and a freshman this fall, making up four of the seven roster spots. The newcomers to this team are graduate students Luke Gifford, Sam Choi, Roberto Nieves and freshman Brady Siravo.

“We’ve got to work with the new guys quite a bit and help them get equipped to the courses, along with what we are focused on as a program,” Beard said.

Beard was the 2020 National Coach of the Year and the head coach of the 2021 Pepperdine NCAA champions.

He was head coach for 8 of the top 10 players in career scoring average at Pepperdine and has coached the team to five WCC titles during his time at the University.

Men’s Golf began the fall season with an underwhelming performance at the Fighting Illini Invitational.

“We got off to a slow start, finishing 13th at Olympia fields,” Beard said. “The season progressed; we began to click and come together as a team.”

Senior William Mouw led the Waves at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational, going seven under par, putting him in 2nd place for the tournament — one shot behind TCU’s Gustav Frimodt.

Associate Head Coach Chris Zam-

bri was a tremendous help to the team throughout the fall season, Mouw said.

“He’s helped us work on our numbers, getting those tightened up, allowing for better yardage control, knowing where to miss,” Mouw said. “Running tests and looking at those stats with Chris has been important to me, and it’s been fun.”

As the head coach at USC for 14 years, Zambri took the Trojans to the finals 12 times. He played six years on the Nationwide tour, and he appeared in four PGA tour events throughout his career, according to Pepperdine Athletics.

Transfer Spotlight

The three transfer students that joined Pepperdine Men’s Golf are Gifford, Choi and Nieves.

Gifford graduated from the University of South Florida in 2022. He won the 2017 Dixie Amateur and the 2017 AJGA Open and participated in the 2020 and 2022 U.S. Amateur Championships.

Gifford had a stroke average of 72.9 over the course of 10 rounds, including a 76-68-69 at Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational, putting him two under par on day two — Gifford’s best individual round in the fall.

Choi played golf at University of New Mexico for four years. In his final season at UNM, he had seven top-five finishes in his 13 appearances. In Choi’s 39 rounds played, 26 of them were par or better. Golfstat ranked him 29th NCAA golfer after the 2020-21 season — Choi averaged 70.83 strokes per round.

His best round took place at GC of

Georgia with a total stroke count of 209 (68-70-71) — this put him at seven under for the tournament.

Nieves, University of Delaware alumnus (‘22), holds the three lowest stroke averages in Delaware history and had victorious outings at the 2020 Loyola intercollegiate and the 2021 Wildcat Fall Invitational.

In Nieves’s first season at Pepperdine, he averaged a stroke score of 76.0 over six rounds.

“I really enjoy the transfers that came over to Pepperdine. We all have the same common goal,” Mouw said. “We play for championships here at Pepperdine.”

Freshman Contribution

Siravo graduated from Jesuit High School in 2022. As a freshman, he made it to the CIF state championship and finished off his high school career with the U.S Junior Amateur tournament.

Siravo played in the Ben Hogan Collegiate invitational and rose to the occasion, averaging 71.33 strokes over the three-day event.

Looking Ahead

“Our mindset going into the season is to take things one practice at a time, one tournament at a time,” Mouw said. “I’m looking forward to see what we are capable of this spring semester.”

The Waves kick off the season Jan. 30, at the Southwestern Invitational — Golf Channel will broadcast the event.

Following the opening tournament at Westlake Village, Calif., Men’s Golf has six more tournaments before the WCC Championship — Amer Ari Invitational, The Prestige, Southern Highlands Collegiate, NIT, Valspar Collegiate and Western Intercollegiate.

“These guys have a great bond,” Beard said. “Everyone’s looking forward to gaining experience and creating memories at different tournaments throughout the year.”

nicholas.shea@pepperdine.edu

Photo courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics

Betsy Burrow | Design Assistant

Senior William Mouw follows through on the first tee at the East Lake Cup in Atlanta on Oct. 24. At the tournament, Mouw tied for 15th place.

Men’s Tennis begins the 2022-23 season

Joseph Heinemann Sports Assistant Editor

The spring season is approaching again, which means the Men’s Tennis squad is gearing up for another run. After a season of ups and downs, the tennis team is looking to build on last year’s progress, and senior Eric Hadigian said he is confident in his fellow teammates.

At the beginning of this season, the team was ranked No. 20 in the nation, similar to last year when the team was ranked No. 26 in the ITA computer ratings.

“I think we have an extremely talented team and a very deep team strengthwise,” Hadigian said. “We have a lot of players that are very high-level.”

The 2022 Season

Hadigian said the Waves made a name for themselves during the 2022 season by beating multiple high-ranked teams.

“There were some really incredible moments,” Hadigian said. “The weekend where we beat UCLA and USC. It was Alumni Weekend, and that was a very special time.”

Despite all the bright moments, Associate Head Coach Tassilo Schmid said injuries were the biggest challenge for the Men’s Tennis season.

“We had a couple of injuries which

I felt like were unfortunate,” Schmid said. “But that’s just how sports are.”

The 2023 Season

The coaches said they have worked to make sure their returners are ready to lead the charge while at the same time bringing in a bunch of new talent. Freshman Max Wuelfing said there were changes in emotion when moving up to the collegiate level.

“In college tennis, it’s a different level of rigidity. You get to be as loud as you want, and you can get as rowdy as you want,” Wuelfing said. “So, I think that’s the thing I’m most excited for.”

On top of bringing in new recruits, the coaches have worked to keep the team’s schedule competitive and inspiring, Schmid said.

“I think, this year, our schedule is super strong, and we have tried to sketch on top teams in the country,” Schmid said. “Our trip to Texas, where we play Texas and TCU — they’re two top 10 teams. That’s going to be a very challenging trip for our guys but, at the same time, exactly what we need and what I’m looking for because you want to play the best teams in the country.”

The Waves are scheduled to open the month of February with a series of matches against No. 14 Arizona, Arizona State, No. 6 Texas and No. 3 TCU. This will act as an opportunity for Pepperdine to climb up the ranking board, Schmid said.

Eric Haddigian Senior

The main goals of the team this year are growth and development. Hadigian said with these tools, Pepperdine looks to build on their skill so the squad can excel above other teams in the nation.

“I want to grow every day here as a

person and as a player and keep developing my game in a way that will prepare me for pro tennis as a team,” Hadigian said. “We really want to be known as a team just like fearless competitors, where we have extremely strong character. We fight for each other. We’re a very connected group.”

Schmid echoed this sentiment and said he and Head Coach Adam Schaechterle pressed their focus on preparing the players for the future.

“Of course, we want to play for national titles and beat the power five schools,” Schmid said. “But, for Adam and I, I think the most important thing is character building and development so the guys are ready for the pro tour after their Pepperdine career is over.”

Pepperdine can be a real highlight of these players’ careers, and Schmid said he felt like everyone on the team should take in every moment.

“Sooner or later, you’re going to be a senior,” Schmid said. “I think for us, it was always like enjoy the process, enjoy the development, and don’t feel like if you have a bad loss, things are going in the wrong direction. Just be here now. Be in the moment, and really enjoy those four years as a college athlete.”

The Waves’ next match-up is Feb. 3, at Arizona.

joe.heinemann@pepperdine.edu

I want to grow every day here as a person and keep developing my game in a way that will prepare me for pro tennis as a team. We really want to be known as a team just like fearless competitors, where we have extremely strong character. We fight for each other.

Denver Patterson | Staff Photographer

Graduate student Tim Zeitvogel celebrates during the ITA Fall Championships on Nov. 2-3, in San Diego. Zeitvogel and graduate student Daniel DeJonge reached the round of 16 before losing to Alan Magadan and Sebastian Rodriguez of The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Rugby team drives students together

been with the program for a handful of years have done a great job of keeping that [brotherhood] culture alive with rugby at Pepperdine,” Baker said.

While Pepperdine students may be familiar with the University’s athletic teams that compete in the West Coast Conference, one team that might fly under the radar is the Men’s Rugby team.

Also known as The Pepperdine Rugby Football Club, the team is the longest-standing club team at Pepperdine and was established in 1955, said Julian Baker, coordinator of Recreational Sports at Pepperdine.

The rugby team also competes in the Gold Coast Conference Intercollegiate Rugby, a Division III league, where they are able to travel and compete with other schools within the league.

Pepperdine offers different types of campus recreation and intramural sports students have the opportunity to be a part of. Sports recreation at Pepperdine is two-fold, Baker said.

First, there are the intramural sports, which are student recreation leagues. These teams are more casual and give Pepperdine students and faculty the opportunity to compete with each other strictly within the Pepperdine community.

The second branch of campus sports are the competitive club teams. At Pepperdine, these teams include sports such as rugby and surfing. In contrast to the student rec leagues that are limited to Pepperdine-affiliated individuals only, these club teams travel and compete against other universities.

Sports have a unique way of bringing people together, and Baker said the rugby team at Pepperdine does just that.

“The seniors on the team who have

For high school athletes who do not want to compete at the Division I level Pepperdine offers but still love sports and the team culture that playing sports provides, club sports could be the perfect option, Baker said.

Baker said club sports promote the idea of balance between all areas of life.

“You’re not a Division I soccer player, but you’re a club player, and you can have other passions with jobs and other interests,” Baker said. “We also know academics are very important to students, so we understand that and make sure our athletes know that we have that understanding and give them the opportunity to excel in all areas, never sacrificing one over the other.”

Aaron Barnhouse, Pepperdine alumnus (‘22) and coach of the rugby team, was part of the rugby team throughout his four years at Pepperdine.

Barnhouse said joining the rugby team his first year helped him find his footing as a new student on campus.

“You form some really close bonds, especially since you are putting your body on the line for the guys next to you without hesitation,” Barnhouse said.

Not only do the friendships exist between the men on the team, but they also extend beyond graduation, Barnhouse said.

“There is a very big connection group with rugby, especially with Pepperdine alumni,” Barnhouse said. “I am in contact with guys who played X, XV years ago, and I know people who got jobs because they played rugby at Pepperdine and made those lasting connections.”

Gideon Lee, captain and president of the rugby team also joined the rugby team in 2019, during his first year at Pepperdine.

Although he had never played the sport in his life, Lee said his friend encouraged him to attend a rugby practice.

After the first day, Lee said he was hooked.

“I just kept going back, partially because once I learned how to play the sport, it ended up being the most fun sport I have ever played,” Lee said. “But what made me really want to keep coming back was just the guys — it really is just a great group of people.”

Lee said due to the pandemic and loss of time on campus, the rugby team

was half the size it needed to be and has been in a rebuilding period for the past few years.

“We have our first game this Saturday, and after a year of rebuilding, we finally have enough people to play, which is very exciting,” Lee said.

Pepperdine Men’s Rugby kicks off their first game of the season with a home opener against University of Las Vegas on Feb. 4, at 1 p.m., on Alumni Park.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Bough

ABOVE: Pepperdine Men’s Rugby poses for their 2022-23 season photo at the Alumni Fields at Pepperdine University. The rugby team competes in a NCAA Division III league, according to Gold Coast Conference Intercollegiate Rugby.

Shelby Little Staff Writer

TOP: Senior Gideon Lee dodges the Azusa Pacific defense during a friendly match against Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif., on Oct. 15. Lee is a captain and the president of the Pepperdine Rugby Team.