Spring 2015 Week 2 by The Santa Clara

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Double Dipping?

Global Village

Not if you like math

Festival of culture

OPINION, PAGE 6 Since 1922

SCENE, PAGE 4

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Martin Sheen Pushes for Social Justice

MAX WESTERMAN — THE SANTA CLARA

Celebrated actor Martin Sheen (left) is most well known for his role as President Josiah Bartlett in the American television series “The West Wing,” which ran from 1999 to 2006. He also had roles in “The Departed” and “Apocalypse Now.” Passionate about a wide variety of social justice causes, he is a proponent of the protection of marine wildlife, international peace movements, anti-war movements and homelessness advocacy.

Well-known actor speaks on passion for environment, advocacy Sophie Mattson

The Santa Clara Most people know Martin Sheen as America’s “acting” president since he played President Josiah Bartlet on the television series

“The West Wing.” Sheen’s acting career took a backseat, however, to his involvement in social justice movements during his on-campus talk this Tuesday. A legendary actor, Sheen is most known for his roles in “Apocalypse Now,” “The Departed” and “Catch Me if You Can,” and has won multiple Emmys and a Golden Globe Award. On the other hand, Sheen has also been arrested over 70 times for acts of civil disobedience. He spoke on campus as part of the Dean’s Leadership Forum. “While acting is what I do for a living, activism is what I do to stay alive,” Sheen said.

He is an advocate for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which protects marine wildlife around the world; School of the Americas Watch, a nonviolent movement aimed at changing oppressive American foreign policy; and Office of the Americas, aimed at furthering international peace, among other organizations. “We are all responsible for the world, either consciously or unconsciously,” Sheen said. “We are all beneficiaries of the countless heroic strangers who go and assure us that the world is a safe place.” Jonathan Fung, a Communication Depart-

ment film lecturer, said Sheen is able to inject parts of his life into the characters he plays, shaping them to parallel his own experiences. “He definitely has that presidential stature, and he has been an activist and advocate for certain causes,” Fung said. “Playing that role is fitting for him, in a political position having that kind of influence.” Sister Helen Prejean, an anti-death penalty advocate and featured speaker in the forum, joined Sheen onstage for a conversation with See AWARD, Page 3

Police Chase Rogue Bicyclist Through Campus Nearly 10 SCPD cruisers pursue man on bicycle Sophie Mattson

The Santa Clara A caravan of police cars tore onto campus on Sunday night, chasing a

bicyclist who failed to pull over for the Santa Clara Police Department. The suspect, described as a white male, entered campus from Alviso Street and fled from police between Swig Hall and Benson Memorial Center while riding his bike. He escaped from police during the pursuit, which occurred between 10:55 and 11:05 p.m. “It was bizarre because people don’t normally run from the police like that when they are on a bike,”

said Phil Beltran, director of Cam-

“People don’t normally run from police like that.” pus Safety Services. “(SCPD) was going to stop and talk with him, and he

evaded them and got onto campus.” According to a campus-wide alert, there was no crime or weapon involved in the incident, and subsequently no danger to the campus community. Lieutenant Kurt Clarke, a spokesperson for SCPD, could not confirm why the police initially attempted to pull the suspect over. While fleeing, the man left a backpack and jacket in a trash can near the Mission Church.

Women’s Water Polo Struggling Loses two in SoCal road trip SPORTS, PAGE 7

“He dumped his stuff in a garbage can, (including) a backpack that contained a number of things, but nothing in there indicated evidence of a crime,” said Beltran. Four campus safety officers responded to the incident, as well as between five to 10 SCPD police units, according Beltran. Contact Sophie Mattson at smattson@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852. WHAT’S INSIDE

News.................................. 1 – 3 Scene................................ 4 – 5 Opinion....................................6 Sports............................... 7 – 8

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The Santa Clara

CAMPUS SAFETY

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Iranian President Dimisses Government Pressure Congress Given Authority to Reject Nuclear Deal

Alcohol Related Medical Emergency Apr. 11: A male campus resident was reported intoxicated at the off-campus rugby house and was brought back to campus. He was evaluated by SCU EMS and was allowed to remain in his room, monitored by a friend. Several alcoholic beverages were found during a room search, and were confiscated and disposed of. SCFD was contacted and responded an hour later when his condition did not improve. He was determined to be well enough to remain in his room. Apr. 11: CSS and SCU EMS responded to check the welfare of a female student who was not responding when contacted via her cellphone. She was found intoxicated in her room. She was allowed to remain in her room, monitored by a friend. Apr. 11: A male student was found intoxicated and had apparently lost consciousness while in a Benson Memorial Center men’s restroom after closing hours. SCU EMS was contacted and responded. He was escorted back to his campus residence room.

Medical Emergency Apr. 11: A campus resident’s parent requested CSS’s assistance in checking the welfare of her son, who was possibly under the influence. CSS, SCPD and SCFD responded to the resident’s room. He was found pacing about the room with fully dilated pupils and shaking hands. He was transported to O’Connor Hospital by paramedics. A room search was conducted and marijuana, paraphernalia, three torch lights, a cannabis-infused chocolate bar and fake identification were found. All items found were confiscated and disposed of, except the fake identification. Notifications were made. Apr. 13: A student staff member sustained injuries to his arm and leg when a filing cabinet fell on him. CSS responded. He was transported to Alliance Occupational Medicine for treatment. A work order was filed to have the cabinet secured. Apr. 14: A female student reported she was hit by a moving vehicle while walking off-campus at the intersection of Washington and Poplar Streets. She sustained injuries to her hand and leg. The vehicle driver stopped for a moment, then fled the area. SCPD and SCFD were contacted and responded. She refused transportation to a hospital by paramedics.

On Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani dismissed pressure from the U.S. Congress over a preliminary deal on the Islamic Republic’s contested nuclear program, saying that Tehran is dealing with world powers — not American lawmakers. In a speech to tens of thousands of Iranians in the northern city of Rasht, Rouhani said his nation is pursuing a “dignified” agreement with the six-member group, which includes the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. Rouhani’s remarks were an apparent reaction to developments Tuesday in Washington, where President Barack Obama bowed to pressure from Republicans and Democrats and agreed to sign compromise legislation empowering Congress to reject a final nuclear deal

with Iran. The legislation is now expected to sail through both houses of Congress, but it is unclear how it will affect the ongoing nuclear talks with Iran. Tehran and world powers reached a framework agreement on the deal earlier this month. The deal, which is to be finalized by June 30, is meant to curb Iran’s nuclear program in return for lifting the crippling economic sanctions imposed on Iran. “Our partner is not the U.S. Congress or the Senate, our partner is a group called ‘5+1,’” Rouhani said, referring to the six world powers — the five permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany. Rouhani reiterated his stance expressed last week that Tehran will not sign on to any final deal unless all economic sanctions are completely lifted.

Food Waste Workshop

Students Learn to Recycle Food

Suspicious Person Apr. 14: A transient reportedly gained entry into a Daly Science Center break room, stole staff members’ lunches from the refrigerator and left. The staff member who reported the incident was informed to contact CSS if he returned or was seen.

Traffic Accident Apr. 12: A non-affiliate male was observed mildly intoxicated and walking his bicycle through campus in the middle of the night. SCPD was contacted and responded. A taxi was called to take him home. Apr. 13: A vehicle with a non-affiliate driver struck two parked vehicles on Market Street outside of Swig Hall, causing damage to both vehicles. CSS, SCPD and SCFD responded to the scene. The owners of both damaged vehicles were contacted. Paramedics transported the non-affiliate driver to a hospital. From Campus Safety reports. Email news@thesantaclara.org.

Check out the Campus Safety Report online: facebook.com/scucss @SCUCampusSafety

KEVIN BOEHNLEIN FOR THE SANTA CLARA

Students learned techniques for cutting down food waste at a workshop in the Forge Garden, such as buying in bulk and using compost bins.

“If there is no end to sanctions, there will be no deal,” Rouhani said. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran will hold the U.S. administration, not the U.S. Congress, responsible for formulating a future nuclear deal. “As a point of principle, we hold the government of the United States responsible for implementing its international obligations,” Zarif said during an official visit to Lisbon, Portugal, on Wednesday. “We will hold the U.S. government, the U.S. president accountable.” Also Wednesday, U.N. nuclear inspectors arrived in Iran to investigate suspicions that Tehran worked on nuclear weapons, a charge the Islamic Republic denies. From AP Reports.

Students flocked to the Forge Garden to learn how to recycle food waste during an interactive workshop last week. Following a lecture on global food security held in February, the food waste workshop gave students an opportunity to apply what they learned at the lecture and make a personal contribution by implementing strategies to reduce their own food waste. “Reducing home food waste is not the only way to help the environment, but it’s a way students can have more control and a way we can offer empowerment,” said Clare Gordon, administrative assistant for the Food and Agribusiness Institute. Students taking a garbology course taught by Stephanie Hughes, an adjunct lecturer in the Environmental Studies and Sciences Department, learned how to cut down food waste using proper storage, meal planning, shopping techniques like buying in bulk and setting up compost bins built into kitchen islands. Blair Libby, who lives in the CITRUS House, an eco-friendly house for Santa Clara students, and CITRUS House landlord Lauren McCutcheon led the workshops. Techniques such as these are both cost-effective and beneficial to the environment. Rose Madden, garden manager at the Forge, also showed students how to compost food scraps to keep food out of landfills and avoid the production of greenhouse gasses. Students also were given a tutorial on how to keeping a worm bin and start a container garden at home with the compost from one’s worm bin. “While some of the discussion topics may not be relevant for students living in the dorms presently, most of the tips and techniques can be used by anyone,” Gordon said. “Even if you don’t have a kitchen or a garden right now, these tips can be shared with family and friends, or filed away for future use.” This workshop not only addressed food recycling, but also touched upon how to generate less food waste. At the companion panel discussion on April 7, Wendi Shafir from the Environmental Protection Agency said that over 40 percent of food in the United States gets thrown out. While personal habits are just one source of food waste, it’s still an area in which individuals can make a difference, Shafir said. Contact Nanki Bhullar at nbhullar@scu.edu.

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Since 1922 ••• Volume 94, Issue 19 ••• EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Vishakha Joshi MANAGING EDITOR Mallory Miller

Collin Baker Krista Clawson John Flynn Claire McLaughlin Summer Meza Nick Redfield Andrew Slap Nicolas Sonnenburg COPY DESK Alexandra Hoffman Aya Mohamed N’dea Moore-Petinak Maura Turcotte

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News: Sophie Mattson Opinion: Thomas Curran-Levett Scene: Eddie Solis Jr. Sports: Tyler Scott Photo: Malu Veltze Slot: Emilie White Design: Lena Eyen

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OUR POLICIES The Santa Clara is the official student newspaper of Santa Clara University. The Santa Clara is written, edited and produced by students once weekly, except during holidays, examination periods and academic recesses. The Santa Clara welcomes letters to the editor from readers. Letters can be delivered to the Benson Memorial Center, room 13; mailed to SCU Box 3190 or emailed to: letters@thesantaclara.org. Our letters policy: ◗ Submissions must include major and year of graduation and/or job title, relation to the university and a phone number for verification. ◗ Letters should not exceed 250 words. Those exceeding the word limit may be considered as publication as an article or in

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The Santa Clara

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Anti-Death Penalty Advocate Gives Talk

Sister Helen Prejean discusses prisoner activism Nicolas Sonnenburg The Santa Clara

Leading capital punishment opponent Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J., spoke to the university community about her story of service. The bespectacled nun with a hearty Louisiana accent spoke to a crowded Mayer Theatre on Monday night, opening the two-day Dean’s Leadership Forum, an annual event hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences. After being born into an affluent Baton Rouge family and attending private school, a religious life introduced her to the most disadvantaged and rejected among us, primarily those on death row. After joining the Congregation of St. Joseph in 1957, Prejean began working in the St. Thomas Development, a housing project filled mostly with African Americans. There she saw firsthand the realities of poverty. This helped her shift from being what she described as a “spiritual

nun,” one who focused primarily on cultivating piety, to being a nun who called for social justice. “I began to be taught by African American people,” she explained. “I had never questioned that black people had to go to separate water fountains … Never questioned that young black kids had to receive Holy Communion separate from the white kids.” Realizing her privilege as a white member of society, she threw herself into the world of social justice. This led to her social work with prisoners. Prejean’s prisoners’ rights activism began when she served as a spiritual advisor to Patrick Sonnier, a convicted murderer. After he wrote a letter to the Congregation of St. Joseph asking for spiritual guidance, Prejean volunteered to pen a response. “Sure, I can write a letter to someone on death row. I was an English major,” she joked. “I wrote him a letter, he wrote back. I wrote, he wrote.” Before long, she visited the inmate and thus began a two-year bond that ended with Prejean watching Sonnier die at his execution. Moved by her experience, she dedicated her life to fighting the death penalty. Over the course of the two years, she struggled with a host of emo-

DANIELLE VELASCO — THE SANTA CLARA

Sister Helen Prejean spoke as part of the Dean’s Leadership Forum on Monday evening. After giving a prisoner spiritual guidance and subsequently witnessing his execution, Prejean felt galvanized to begin speaking out in protest of the use of capital punishment.

tions. After learning of the horrific crimes committed by her spiritual partner, she questioned her mission. After much soul searching and dialogue with the father of one of the victims, she realized the importance of her work. “We talk about the sanctity of life, but is the life of the innocent the only life worth protecting?” she said.

Paul Crowley, S.J., asked her questions from the audience. “I didn’t quite expect to be so taken by Sister Prejean,” Crowley said in an email. “It was her authenticity that bowled me over. She speaks with an authority deriving from her experience that commands our attention.” She stressed the importance of immediate action in addressing the

use of the death penalty. “Because we live in a democracy, all of our names are on that gurney when someone is executed,” Prejean said. “The call is to us, to get involved … to take a stand for justice, to end the death penalty.” Contact Nicolas Sonnenburg at nsonnenburg@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.

Award-Winning Actor Speaks About Activism Continued from Page 1

Michael Whalen, associate professor of communication, about social justice and activism. To embody a role, an actor has to expose his or her own brokenness, fears, angers, resentments and insecurities, which enables the him or her to relate to others, Sheen said. “The wonderful blessing of being an actor

for me was that it led me to the most broken part of myself,” Sheen said. “Through that brokenness, we begin to feel compassion for one another.” Marie Brancati, director of e x t e r n a l relations for the Dean’s Office of the College of Arts and Sciences, said that Sheen’s talk made it clear that his faith is his life and drives him to help others have a better life. Sheen was raised Catholic but fell out of

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touch with his faith for 20 years after gaining fame. He reconnected with the Catholic Church in 1981 and then became involved with the peace movement. “When I came back to the faith, I had a sense of center,” Sheen said. “I was nourished as a whole and became aware that I was loved. If you know you are loved, you understand the greatest and most important mystery in human life.”

Collin Baker

The Santa Clara

Members of the campus community signed a card during the third annual Sprinksgiving event thanking individuals and companies who donated to Santa Clara this past year.

Contact Sophie Mattson at smattson@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.

Kits Created to Help the Homeless Alumnus runs Kare Kits project for Santa Clara County population

ALYSSA LEE FOR THE SANTA CLARA

To Sheen, being passionate about helping others gives a person’s life a purpose. “My fondest wish for every single one of us is that we will find something in our lives worth fighting for,” Sheen said. “When we do, we will have found a way to unite the will of the spirit with the work of the flesh.”

A former Santa Clara student has launched a project to distribute at least 150 backpacks full of necessities and supplies to the homeless population in Santa Clara County. Alumnus Jillian Gerrity launched the Kare Kits project earlier this year to raise awareness of homelessness in Santa Clara County. Among other items, the kits will have toiletries, water, trail mix and a laminated card with contact information for support services. By seeking out the lowest prices and buying in bulk, it costs Gerrity $20 to produce each kit. Gerrity began Kare Kits after taking a leadership course in January, but says the project is a result of her long-standing desire to help the needy. “I’ve been very passionate about philanthropy and helping other communities for most of my life, so when I thought of a project that I might want to start, I jumped at the opportunity,” she said. “I read some articles about the need for certain things in this area and it developed from there.” Gerrity and her small team of volunteers are promoting Kare Kits through a number of outlets. Although the bulk of the project’s budget has come from direct donations, the team is also organizing fundraisers. Sophomore Elleni Hailu is working with Santa Clara musical groups to put together a benefit concert for the cause.

Hailu said that Kare Kits give her a chance to help solve an issue that is frequently overlooked in the area. “We don’t realize it (is a significant problem) being at Santa Clara, at this beautiful place, since everyone is just going to school, not looking at what’s happening around us,” Hailu said. “This is my little way of improving the lives of the homeless population in the economy we live in.” Despite the fact that the Santa Clara area has the fifth-largest homeless population in the nation, Gerrity’s program is the first of its kind in the county. She said that Santa Clara’s homeless are often overlooked because of regional factors. “I think a lot of focus sometimes gets put on San Francisco because the presence of homelessness is in your face,” Gerrity said. “Here, we have a lot of encampments, so not a lot of people see how big of an issue it is in this area.” Philip Boo Riley, associate professor of religion, said that while Gerrity’s assessment is partially correct, politicians in San Jose and Santa Clara have made a substantial effort to put homelessness in the spotlight. “Santa Clara is not urban, it’s suburban, and here, a lot of homeless people gravitate to spaces that are not in the public eye,” said Riley. “But it’s actually a very public and very visible issue.” Riley praises the project as a good start, but asserts that the overarching solution to the problem of homelessness requires advocacy and solidarity. “People need these things, so it’s effective in that sense,” Riley said. “When we’re talking about Santa Clara, the most effective thing we can do is to arrange for students to have contact with homeless people.” Gerrity hopes the Kare Kits project may be adopted by local organizations. Contact Collin Baker at cnbaker@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.

SCENE

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Global Village Shows The Places You Will Go

KEVIN BOEHNLEIN FOR THE SANTA CLARA

MALU VELTZE — THE SANTA CLARA

Summer Meza

The Santa Clara Santa Clara was treated to a whirlwind festival of food, music, dancing and art on Sunday, as Global Village fused together elements from the Multicultural Center’s diverse clubs. This year’s theme was “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” “This is the one event that all MCC clubs come together on this scale,” said Chelsea Andon, the Multicultural Center’s Social and Cultural Programs Coordinator. “We’re all together in one place hanging out and supporting each other. Everyone gets to explore each other’s cultures.” The festivities, which took place on the corner of Market Street and the Alameda, marked the 29th year of Global Village. This year’s event had a farmers’ market feel to it.

Students roamed the Bend enjoying a number of food trucks from the greater San Jose area and perusing tables that sold artwork, plants and various foods from MCC cultural clubs. The Japanese Student Association sold yakisoba noodles and Intandesh sold samosas. “Every year, you know there’s going to be amazing food,” said junior Celia Schaefer. “It’s all so tasty and it’s super interesting to talk with the people who made it.” The cultural clubs of the MCC also treated students to snippets of their culture show performances.

ERIC BONILLA — THE SANTA CLARA

Martial artists (left) take the stage with some intense kicks. Members of Igwebuike (above) perform a dance routine, giving students a preview of their culture show. Santa Clara Broncos (below) share a laugh at this year’s Global Village. The annual event put on by the Multicultural Center brings together its diverse clubs to share food, art and talent from various cultures around the world.

Contact Summer Meza at sameza@ scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.

Nominate an Outstanding Professor

See full article online at thesantaclara.org

for THE LOUIS AND DORINA BRUTOCAO AWARD FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE The University warmly invites all Santa Clara students and alumni to nominate the professor who challenged and inspired you most during your undergraduate years at SCU. Please don’t let your outstanding professor's passion for teaching go unrecognized – submit your nomination today!

★

CHER ★ DETERMINATION

Congratulations to the 2014 Brutocao Award Winner: Patti Simone, Psychology

APRIL 17 FRIDAY, 8:00 PM

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Santa Clara University Recital Hall Corners of Lafayette and Franklin Streets Tickets: $20 General; $15 Students Tickets online at www.svgmc.org Show us your “Cher Determination”! Come dressed like the diva herself. Prizes awarded at Saturday’s show.

The deadline is April 27, 2015. You may submit your nomination by visiting http://www.scu.edu/provost/facultydevelopment/awards/teachingnomination.cfm

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Scene / 5

The Santa Clara

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OPINION Thursday, April 16, 2015

Matthew Russell

Santa Clara’s Bloated Core Curriculum

absolutely love Santa Clara. I love the campus, the school’s mission, the professors, the classes, the environment and the people. However, there’s one thing about this place that I absolutely hate, and that’s the core curriculum. Not counting Pathways, which almost everyone can fulfill with requirements from their major, the core curriculum consists of 20 classes. Depending on how you fulfill it, Santa Clara’s bloated general education requirement can run anywhere from 80 to 100 credits. This is a lot, especially compared to the 96 credits required for a math major. Since most students are able to fulfill anywhere from a third to a half of these classes with requirements from their major, the weight of this burden is very rarely felt. However, like most burdens, the majority of it is unfairly borne by the minority. Before I continue, let me expand upon what I meant above when I called the core curriculum “bloated.” Bloated is when I enroll in the second course of my mandatory freshman Critical Thinking and Writing class and receive the exact same syllabus with the expectation to complete the exact same assignments that I did in the fall. Bloated is when I look at the guide to the core curriculum and find that to graduate, I need to take a group of three classes with the eerily similar-sounding labels — “Diversity: U.S. Perspectives,” “Civic Engagement” and “Experiential Learning for Social Justice.” Bloated is when I have to take an “Arts” class, despite the fact that the Cultures and Ideas course I took last quarter required me to co-write an opera. Let’s be honest and call the core curriculum what it is: marketing that the university can point to whenever the topic of the university’s mission and Jesuit ideals comes up. Now don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love the Jesuit idea of a multifaceted, wholly-educated person, but an endless parade of frighteningly similar classes is not my idea of a Jesuit education, and nor should it be anyone else’s. These duplicate courses do not make me a well-rounded person of conscience, competence and compassion. All they do is make me more cynical, sarcastic and incendiary, because they prevent me from delving deeply into the subjects I care about. As a consequence of my degree plan — a double major in applied math and physics — only three of the 20 classes mandated by the core curriculum do “double duty” as a degree requirement. Note that this problem is even worse for engineering physics students, a major in Arts and Sciences that I doubt most people even know about. They only have two double duty classes, despite having arguably the toughest major in the entire college. To everyone who is not a math or science major and unable to relate, ask yourself this: How would you feel if you were forced to take 18 highly technical math and science

classes in addition to your current major? Before you ask, engineering majors don’t have this problem because the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology accreditation effectively allows them to double and triple-dip their core requirements, meaning one class can fulfill multiple requirements. Business also doesn’t have this problem because many of their core requirements are replaced with unique, business-specific classes. Why? Why am I forced to spend the hours of 7:20 to 9:05 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday doing something I already did two quarters ago? Why is anyone? Those four hours are another four hours to do homework, another four hours in which to take a class that interests me or just time to decompress from the rigors of back-to-back science and math classes. You may be thinking at this point that these are just the complaints of someone who wants to be able to ignore everything that cannot be modeled as an equation. This could not be further from the truth. When not at college, I am a history buff and an avid reader who is more than happy to discuss the writings of Camus, Ellis, Goodwin or any popular science fiction or fantasy author, or for that matter, any author at all with anyone who wants to. So no, these are not the rantings of a simple science nerd who wants to be able to retreat into his castle of calculus or his personal stronghold of physics and never have to write another term paper or read another word. These are simply the frustrations of someone who finds his intellectual passions being stymied by a stifling blanket of sameness and unable to do anything about it. The bottom line is that something needs to change. This constrained environment is one of the main reasons why, for the most part, the physics and math departments aren’t given much of a chance to stand on their own feet. This is less evident in the case of the math department, which boosts its numbers with computer science majors, but the physics department only has about seven to eight graduates each year. Regardless, because of their smaller numbers, both departments operate primarily in a service capacity to the engineering program. If the goal of Santa Clara really is to create intellectual and socially conscious leaders in engineering, business and science, then why are they effectively gutting the intellectual growth of every science or math major who comes through their doors? Matthew Russell is a freshman mathematics and physics double major.

Articles in the Opinion section represent the views of the individual authors only and not the views of The Santa Clara or Santa Clara University.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION — MAX WESTERMAN

When planning which courses to complete for Santa Clara’s core curriculum requirements, communication majors have a much easier undertaking than their mathematics-oriented counterparts, who are not afforded the luxury of “double-dipping” certain classes.

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STANDINGS Baseball Team San Diego San Francisco Pepperdine Loyola Marymount Gonzaga Brigham Young Saint Mary’s Pacific Santa Clara Portland

7 / Sports

The Santa Clara

Thursday, April 16, 2015

WCC Overall 12-3 21-13 11-4 18-19 10-5 20-17 9-6 21-15 8-7 18-17 8-7 17-19 6-9 19-16 5-10 7-27 4-11 15-19 2-13 7-31

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Softball Team Brigham Young San Diego Loyola Marymount Santa Clara Saint Mary’s Pacific

WCC Overall 6-0 29-8 4-1 25-17 3-2 21-23 2-3 12-26 1-4 16-26 0-6 10-32

Men’s Tennis Team WCC Overall San Diego (No. 18) 8-0 19-4 Portland (No. 64) 5-2 12-5 Pepperdine (No. 40) 5-2 13-8 Pacific 5-2 8-14 San Francisco (No. 58) 4-3 11-7 Brigham Young 3-5 9-16 Loyola Marymount 2-5 12-9 Gonzaga 1-5 9-8 Santa Clara 1-6 6-12 Saint Mary’s 1-6 4-15

Women’s Tennis Team Pepperdine (No. 16) Saint Mary’s (No. 41) Portland (No. 55) San Francisco Brigham Young (No. 60) Santa Clara Gonzaga Pacific San Diego Loyola Marymount

WCC Overall 7-0 13-4 5-1 11-7 6-2 14-5 6-2 11-7 4-4 9-11 3-4 4-9 2-4 11-6 2-5 8-10 1-6 2-12 0-7 3-18

UPCOMING GAMES Baseball Santa Clara @ Texas Christian Santa Clara @ Texas Christian Santa Clara @ Texas Christian Cal Poly (SLO) @ Santa Clara

Fri. 4/17 4:30 p.m. Sat. 4/18 2:00 p.m. Sun. 4/19 11:00 a.m. Tue. 4/21 6:00 p.m.

Softball Santa Clara @ San Diego Santa Clara @ San Diego Santa Clara @ San Diego

Sat. 4/18 12:00 p.m. Sat. 4/18 2:00 p.m. Sun. 4/19 12:00 p.m.

Men’s Tennis Gonzaga @ Santa Clara Portland @ Santa Clara

Sat. 4/18 12:00 p.m. Sun. 4/19 12:00 p.m.

Women’s Tennis Santa Clara @ Gonzaga Santa Clara @ Portland

Sat. 4/18 11:00 a.m. Sun. 4/19 11:00 a.m.

BRONCO BRIEFS Softball Last weekend, the softball team took two of three in their series against the Saint Mary’s College Gaels in Moraga, Calif. On Saturday, the Broncos split their games. They took out St. Mary’s 3-0 in the first one, but fell 8-2 in the second of the double-header. In their first game, Breezy Bernard went 1-3 with two RBIs and pitcher Ciara Gonzales had a one-hit shutout. On Sunday, Santa Clara lost their lead in the seventh inning, allowing four runs from the Gaels. But in extra innings, Casandra Padilla hit a double to left and eventually moved to third when the heroics came. Jenna Krummen hit a sacrifice fly to bring Padilla in for the winning run, making the score 5-4. The Broncos play the University of San Diego in a three-game series starting Saturday.

TSC ARCHIVE — MALU VELTZE

The women’s water polo team fell to two southern California teams over the weekend. Both California Baptist University and San Diego State University are in the Golden Coast Conference, along with Santa Clara, and they both dealt the Broncos a loss. The team fell to 13-12 overall and 1-3 in conference.

Women’s team drops two games to conference foes Nick Redfield

The Santa Clara Now past midway point in the season, the Santa Clara women’s water polo team has been struggling as of late, losing four of their last five games heading into the weekend. “We have been in a rut the past couple of weeks,” said Head Coach Keith Wilbur. “The games this weekend showed that we still need to work our way out of it.” The team traveled to southern California this past weekend to continue their Golden Coast Conference play versus California Baptist University and San Diego State University. “Conference games are very important,” said goalkeeper Francesca Puccinelli. “We wanted to really focus on playing our game and force Cal Baptist and SDSU to adjust to our style of play.” The road trip began in Riverside on Friday versus Baptist in an important game that had seeding implications for both sides. With the conference schedule winding to a close, both teams vyed for fifth place in the GCC standings. Santa Clara came out slow versus the Lancers and found itself losing 3-1 at the end of the first period. Regardless, the Broncos continued

to fight offensively and attempted several shots in the first half. Lancer goalie Meghan Rowland racked up five saves by halftime alone, leaving the score at 6-2 at the break. Following the intermission, the momentum shifted slightly as Santa Clara’s aggressive defense was able to slow down the Cal Baptist attack. “We were able to shut down Cal Baptist’s 2-meter players,” Puccinelli said. “They had some strong outside shooters.” As a result, the Broncos received four ejections in the quarter, a sign of the frustration that ensued after the first half. Santa Clara entered the fourth quarter trailing 7-2, but the deficit only widened. Baptist racked up five more goals in the final period, not allowing any attempt at a comeback and sealing the Bronco loss at 12-4. “Offensively, we need to be more aggressive and confident in our shots,” Wilbur said. “We discussed this as a team after our game against Cal Baptist, and we showed significant improvement offensively in our game against San Diego State.” The next day, Santa Clara traveled down to San Diego State to face the undisputed No. 1 team in the GCC. The Aztecs showed their dominance early, jumping to a 4-1 advantage at the end of the first quarter, then extending it to an 8-3 lead at halftime. “Defense has always been a key for us and it was not great in either game,” Wilbur said. “The effort was there, but our awareness and communication need to

get better.” After three halves marred by low offensive efficiency, the Bronco attack finally clicked, scoring six goals in the second half. “Our outside shooters were able to find the back of the net, and our 2-meter players took a lot of strong, quick shots,” Puccinelli said. “We were also able to draw lots of kick-outs out of both 2-meters and from drives.” Santa Clara still lost the game, 15-9. After the two losses, the Broncos find themselves in sixth place in the GCC with a 13-12 overall record (1-3 in conference). Moving forward, the team still has a couple of big conference games that could boost them in the standings to earn a higher seed in the GCC tournament. “Our main focus will be on our defense and making sure we are able to recognize different situations quickly,” Wilbur said. “(We need to) have good communication between the players and commit to our system of play.” The team’s next game will be at home tomorrow versus Loyola Marymount University. The Lions are ranked No. 17 in the GCC. Senior Day will also be hosted this Saturday when the team faces Azusa Pacific University, in tandem with a breast cancer fundraiser to honor a teammate whose mother was recently diagnosed with the disease. Tomorrow’s game is set to start at the Sullivan Aquatic Center at 3:30 p.m. Contact Nick Redfield at nredfield@scu. edu or call (408) 554-4852.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Jenna Krummen Softball Krummen hit a sac fly in extra innings to secure the series against Saint Mary’s College.

James threw an incredible game, with Ciara Gonzales coming in to close.

How did it feel to take the lead in the eighth inning?

Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

It was an amazing feeling. Our team worked really hard to get ahead early in the game, and McCall

I always hang my bag next to Ashley Haney’s, and we proceed with our “special” high-five.

SPORTS Thursday, April 16, 2015

Andrew Slap

Golden State: Title or Bust

he Golden State Warriors are, hands down, the best team in the NBA. In the Western Conference, which some have called the most competitive conference in history, the Warriors have stood out from the rest. They have the best offense in the game and hold their opponents to just 42.7 percent shooting from the field. They have the next MVP in Stephen Curry and there’s no doubt Steve Kerr will win Coach of the Year. Klay Thompson has emerged as one of most explosive players in the NBA, and Draymond Green’s energy and intensity fuels the entire team. No matter what happens in the playoffs, the Warriors should celebrate the regular season. Any team that flirts with 70 wins will always be remembered. The playoffs are a different animal, but if the regular season is any indicator, the Warriors have to be heavy favorites to win a title. Anything short would be a disappointment. The Warriors may have some bumps along the way, as the real challenge will come from the San Antonio Spurs. Golden State has struggled against San Antonio this season, dropping two out of three. And you can never count out Tim Duncan and Coach Gregg Popovich, who have won five titles together. But Golden State is gunning for a changing of the guards in the West. Everyone raves about the ball movement of San Antonio, yet Steve Kerr and the Warriors have shown that ball movement isn’t just for a bunch of old guys shuffling around the court. In fact, Golden State leads the league in assists. They’ve been beating the Spurs at their own game. It certainly would be tough, but Golden State should take care of the Spurs in six or seven games. From there, they’ll likely meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals. Last year, the Spurs showed that team basketball can beat out individual greatness. And while the Cavaliers certainly have a few impressive players, Golden State has the best team. The Cavs often rely on handing the ball to one of their stars and hoping they can score at will. Golden State whips the ball around the court, always looking for the best shot possible. And while LeBron James is unquestionably regarded as the best player in the game, Stephen Curry has just as big an impact on the floor. Even when Curry isn’t shooting the ball, he’s a headache for opposing defenses, who can’t afford to leave him open for even a split second. Golden State hasn’t lost more than two games in a row this entire season. It’s hard to imagine any team winning four out of seven against them. The Warriors have had a special season, and there’s no reason to believe it won’t culminate in a title. Andrew Slap is a sophomore communication major.

Team Takes Win On Senior Day Women’s tennis splits weekend home matches

Claire McLoughlin The Santa Clara

The women’s tennis program honored graduate student Elaine Chesoni as their only senior during Saturday’s Senior Day and hoped to walk away from the matches with a win for her. The competitions started off well for the Broncos in their game against University of the Pacific, with the pair of juniors Chelby Cooke and Delphine Rouvillois achieving victory in their doubles match and the freshman duo of Zeina El Tawil and Riley Morgan following the upperclassmen’s lead with another doubles victory of their own. The women’s team arrived at the Degheri Tennis Center bright and early on Saturday looking for a win against the Tigers. The matches were the last the Broncos would play at home this season. After the doubles wins, the Broncos stayed ahead for a while longer until things started to go south. The Tigers took three singles matches from Santa Clara in a row and looked to take a fourth, but Daniella Silva began the comeback with a decisive 6-2, 6-0 victory. Cooke continued the Broncos’ success with a hard-fought singles win inspired by the resilience of her injured doubles partner. Her partner, Rouvillois, was unable to continue playing after their doubles matches. “Being able to pull that win out for (Rouvillois) after she had to stop playing felt great,” Cooke said. “She is such a strong competitor and I know she wanted to finish that match for us more than anything. I felt like that win was for her.” El Tawil found herself closing out the day’s matches once again, but this time found her groove and came away with a clear victory, 6-3, 7-6, and finalized the Broncos’ overall win 4-3. Chesoni credited the loss to St. Mary’s as a big factor in the win over the Tigers, and singled out El Tawil as one of the team’s biggest fighters. “Everyone was fired up, and bounced back very strong,” said Chesoni. “A lot of the credit goes to our No. 5, (El Tawil). She had a tough match on Friday and

ERIC BONILLA — THE SANTA CLARA

Sophomore Nabila Farah returns a ball during one of her matches last weekend. The Broncos fell to Saint Mary’s College 4-3 on Friday but bounced back on Senior Day to defeat the University of the Pacific 4-3 in their last home matches of the season.

was the last one on as usual, but she bounced back Saturday and clenched the match for us.” As their schedule begins to wind down and West Coast Conference Championships draw near, the Broncos’ have not lost sight of their initial endeavor. “Our main goal is to put ourselves in the best position possible for the conference tournament,” Chesoni said. Women’s tennis hosted two teams on Friday and Saturday at the Degheri Tennis Center to mark the end of their home matches. The Broncos squared off against the Gaels of Saint Mary’s College on the previous day. The contests began in the afternoon and stayed close throughout

the evening, with the Gaels and Broncos trading victories and losses. Unfortunately, St. Mary’s came out on top with a score of 4-3. Santa Clara made waves in the doubles category, walking away with two wins out of the three matches played, thanks to the pairs of Cooke and Rouvillois and sophomores Nabila Farah and Daniella Silva. The veteran group of Cooke and Rouvillois would go on to win their singles matches, but the rest of the squad fell to the skill and strength of the Gaels. The final and deciding match of the day went down to the wire, but ultimately Kareena Manji of St. Mary’s emerged victorious against El Tawil.

“When it got close and the pressure was really high, we weren’t able to pull (a win) out,” said Cooke. “When it came down to it, their player was able to stay calm and play steady, and that made the difference in the third set of that deciding match.” In order to secure a strong seeding for the West Coast Conference Championships in San Diego, the Broncos will need to continue their winning streak when they travel to Gonzaga University on April 18 and the University of Portland on April 19. The WCC Championships begin on April 22 in San Diego. Contact Claire McLoughlin at camcloughlin@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.

Must See: Men’s Tennis

SCU vs. Portland 12:00 p.m. Sunday, April 19 at Degheri Tennis Center For a complete schedule of games, see page 7.