Currents Magazine Spring 2015

SPRING 2014 

STUDENT 

VETERAN 

on life post-war 

p.51 

CAMPUS 

LOVE 

LIFE p.54 

FEATURING 

CORY 

BATZA 

inside her world of aerial dance 

p.33

STAFF LIST 

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Danielle DiMeglio 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Alexander Hayes 

PHOTO EDITOR 

Monique Batac 

DANIELLE DIMEGLIO 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR 

Jill Amos 

ASSISTANT EDITORS 

Danielle Accovelli 

Jacklyn Maza 

Janelle Merritt 

Ashley Rhame 

PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Sarah Attar 

David Hutchinson 

Shawn Jones 

Safeena Padder 

Marisa Padilla 

Brandon Scheirman 

Addysen Walchek 

SPECIAL THANKS 

Carina DiMeglio 

Rafael Padilla 

VM 326 

PRESIDENT OF PGM 

Andrew Kasselmann 

ADVISERS 

Elizabeth Smith 

Courtenay Stallings 

STAFF WRITERS 

Ricardo Avila 

Joan Daly 

Kara Danner 

Janelle Merritt 

Chirag Patel 

Mariella Rudi 

Gabrielle Tolentino 

Jenna Welsh 

As a little girl, I would write short stories on rainy days 

and profess my dreams of becoming a best-selling novelist 

to my parents. Though my aspirations have changed 

since then, my love for writing has never waned. Sharing 

someone’s story and causing readers to feel inspired or 

moved in some way are both powerful and beautiful. 

In this edition of Currents, my team and I hope you 

will feel this same effect as we illustrate people’s stories 

through writing, photography and design. Not only did 

we hope to share untold stories of fascinating students 

and professors right here on campus, but also to evoke 

the springtime theme of revival. As editor, I hoped to reinvent 

the magazine from past editions and pursue an entirely 

new direction, beginning with our last winter edition 

and continuing through this spring edition — one that exhibits 

fresh, clean design, innovative, thought-provoking 

photography and hidden stories of some of the amazing 

people who walk among us on campus daily, often unnoticed 

by the casual observer. 

Along my journey, I never expected to meet such incredible 

life-long friends, exceed what I thought was possible, 

and turn a creative vision into something tangible. 

Working with Currents has been one of the most challenging 

experiences in my collegiate career, but it’s been 

a challenge I will always cherish. 

I am deeply grateful for the hard work and dedication 

of my staff, who have spent countless hours helping bring 

this magazine to life and injecting excitement into the 

newsroom. It’s been an incredible feeling knowing I could 

depend on my team for anything and have their support 

through all our elaborate ideas. But I would especially like 

to thank Monique and Xander for bringing such strong, 

creative spirit to the magazine and keeping me sane 

through countless all-nighters. 

We could not have accomplished all of our goals without 

the constant support of our advisers, Elizabeth Smith 

and Courtenay Stallings. Thank you for having faith in us 

and pushing us to push ourselves. 

The passion and drive behind our team truly have been 

the heart of the magazine, and I hope that you readers can 

feel this pulse on every page.

ALEXANDER HAYES 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

I was about five when I realized one day I’d die and 

quite honestly, I was okay with it — death didn’t scare 

me. It was the idea of being forgotten that plagued me 

for so long. “How will anyone ever know I was here?” 

I always thought. Everyone has defined fear based on 

their own experiences. For me, fear meant the possibility 

that my legacy could fade away after all is said and 

done with my time on earth. 

It was this fear that brought me to Pepperdine 

Graphic Media and my position as Creative Director 

for Currents Magazine. But it was only through this invaluable 

experience that my fear has dissipated and I 

learned how important it is to tell stories. 

Story telling is more than beginning, middle and 

end. It’s about creating meaning and worth in people’s 

experiences by sharing their story everywhere. It’s 

about learning from their mistakes. It’s about finishing 

the missions they started. It’s about learning how to 

love from their losses. 

Telling the many unique, diverse and beautiful stories 

through Currents Magazine has taught me it’s not 

always about my story — it’s about something much 

more significant. It’s about our story. 

MONIQUE BATAC 

PHOTO EDITOR 

One lesson I continually learn is that the urge for creativity 

never leaves you. Growing up I really liked painting, 

but as I grew older, my interests in color and light transferred 

into photography. At the time, I thought it would 

be a fun, easy hobby. But through trial and error, I soon 

learned that photography was not as simple as point and 

click. It is capturing a moment of time. It was a way for me 

to accept that time does move quickly, but I could capture 

those memories through photos. Photography has 

allowed me to continue painting, but this time, with light. 

I hope the photos in this magazine not only help illustrate 

the unique stories of the people we featured, but also 

inspire you to capture the moments in your own stories. 

I’m very thankful for the opportunity to work with Currents 

during my time at Pepperdine. It is an experience 

that I will never forget because of the way it has pushed 

me out of my creative comfort zone. I was able to take 

risks with some of the photos in this issue, and I could 

not have done it without the support of Danielle, Xander 

and the whole Currents team. I especially want to thank 

my wonderful photo assistant, Jill, for her hard work, long 

hours and Photoshop expertise which helped bring all of 

the ideas to life. I hope this issue inspires you to continue 

the pursuit of the things you love and to capture those 

moments in time, because time really does move fast. 

ONTENTS 

Who’s Behind the Wheel 

Beach Bag Tasty 

The New College App 

Surfin’ PCH 

MUSIC FEATURE: 

Soft Spoken, Loud Ambition 

Dangling Dreamer 

Botanist Brings Trails Alive 

TOP 10: 

Summer Spots 

Inside Women’s Sand Volleyball 

8 

14 

17 

22 

28 

33 

39 

42 

48

51 

54 

59 

62 

70 

72 

HOW TO: 

Blending Two Worlds 

REAL TALK: 

Relationships on Campus 

Beating the Clock 

[sixwordstory] 

Confront Post-grad Anxieties 

Let’s Get Crafty

TED ANAYA 

Shuttle drivers talk life off the clock 

WRITTEN BY: 

RICARDOAVILA 

PHOTOGRAPHED BY: 

MARISAPADILLA 

To get to work, Transit Services Manager 

Ted Anaya travels 70 miles from Rancho 

Cucamonga. He uses trains, buses and 

shuttles to get to Pepperdine and provide a 

useful service to the community. After taking 

the Metrolink from Rancho Cucamonga 

to North Hollywood, he drives a vanpool, 

stopping to pick up a group of Pepperdine 

employees at Balboa Station in LA before 

driving the final 22 miles of his journey to 

reach the “Harvard of the West.” When his 

workday is over, he travels another 70 miles 

back home. 

Anaya is a rock music junkie whose 

favorite artist is Jimi Hendrix. Anaya enjoys 

playing acoustic and electric guitar, and 

even does so with one of the other shuttle 

drivers, Robin Russell. 

“She had a collection of lyrics she 

wanted to try out so she brought them to 

me, and I learned them. We played during 

the summertime; during her lunch we just 

started playing, and she started singing,” he 

said. 

Anaya has been in the transportation 

industry for 20 years, boasting a career 

that includes being a DMV examiner, a bus 

operator and being certified through the 

United States Department of Transportation 

Substance Abuse Management and Program 

Compliance. Now, Anaya is in charge 

of Pepperdine’s transportation needs, 

sometimes finding time to drive the shuttles 

himself. 

Anaya, who has worked at Pepperdine 

for five years, retired early April. He said the 

most memorable moment he’s experienced 

while driving the shuttles is the annual My 

Tie event. “That’s when you see the group 

of freshmen and sophomores dressed 

up looking their best. And there’s a huge 

crowd, and it’s all new faces, and they’re just 

wide-eyed,” he said. Anaya said he loves 

doing his job: “It’s amazing. Whether I’m 

driving the bus or helping out, I just really 

like working with the university as a whole.” 

PET PEEVE: 

“The deer. I know everybody loves the deer, but 

they’re always just out on the streets eating the 

flowers, causing a hazard out there all the time. 

They’re cute but they destroy the place.” 

CURRENTS 8 CURRENTS 9

ROBIN RUSSELL 

Robin Russell drove a school bus for 36 

years and has been a part of the Pepperdine 

community for the past four. She enjoys 

going to the movies, watching sports and 

being with her cat who “has personality.” 

When driving the shuttle, you can occasionally 

find her tuning into the local jazz station 

as well as listening to classic rock. 

“I like to listen to all kinds of music except 

rap. I can’t get into rap,” she said. Russell 

enjoys singing and once performed a duet 

with her boss, Ted Anaya. “He played the 

guitar and accompanied me on one of the 

songs,” she said. However, she refrains from 

singing in the shuttles because “people are 

doing their thing.” 

Russell said her most memorable 

moment driving the shuttle is watching 

students attempt to parallel park. “Some 

of them do get up on the curb. That’s my 

entertainment. It kind of cracks me up,” she 

said. 

Russell said the part she enjoys the most 

about driving the shuttle is driving the students 

around, who are “the most polite and 

nicest people I have ever driven.” Russell 

said she has never said, “You’re welcome” 

so many times. “I should record it; I say that 

so many times every day.” 

When Russell waits for students to get 

on her shuttle, there is something that irks 

her: People who run stop signs get under 

her skin. Russell said she hopes everyone 

would look both ways and that she would 

like to find a way to diminish that problem. 

“I take it personally. I don’t ever want to see 

anyone get hit, especially pedestrians.” 

WARREN 

TANIGUCHI 

Warren Taniguchi was born in Bridgeton, 

N.J., and studied business administration 

at Cal State Long Beach. He was the export 

analyst at American Honda Motor from 

1981 to 1986, the import/export manager 

at Mori Corporation from 1987 to 2000 and 

the factory supervisor at Shachihata Inc. 

from 2000-2009. Taniguchi, who used to 

play golf when he was in high school, is 

now a Pepperdine shuttle driver. 

Some students might recognize Taniguchi 

as the shuttle driver who gives out candy 

on Valentine’s Day. “I did it twice now. I 

enjoy doing that,” he said. 

Taniguchi said a highlight of driving the 

shuttle is talking to the students, seeing 

the same people all the time and getting to 

know them. 

When asked if there is one thing people 

should know about him, Taniguchi replied, 

“I like to eat peanuts. It’s something I do 

every day. The shell peanuts. I like that.” His 

upbeat response turned when Taniguchi 

said that speeding cars really get on his 

nerves. “We’re always on the road. Cars going 

too fast are not paying attention: driving, 

texting, talking on cell phones or talking in 

general. It’s hazardous,” he said. 

Taniguchi, who has been a shuttle driver 

at Pepperdine for a year after previously 

working as a contractor, mentioned that 

even though all of the shuttle drivers have 

different backgrounds there is “good camaraderie 

among them. A lot of drivers have 

been here a long time. They enjoy working 

here; I’m just glad to be a part of it.” 

PET PEEVE: 

“Injustices to people when things aren’t fair. I 

like to stand up for people being treated unfairly.” 

PET PEEVE: 

“Driving. Congestion. I drive 40 miles a day 

one way so I see a lot of traffic accidents.” 

CURRENTS 10 

CURRENTS 11

WHICH 

SHUTTLE 

DRIVER 

ARE YOU? 

1. What kind of music listener are you? 

A: Rock junkie B: Anything but rap C: What’s music? 

2. What is your favorite radio station 

A: Avant-garde college rock B: “You’re welcome.” C: NPR 

3. What is your favorite movie? 

A: “The Motorcycle Diaries” B: “Gladiator” C: “Fast & Furious” 

4. What is your favorite animal? 

A: Coyotes B: Cats C: Dogs 

5. What is your favorite TV show? 

A: “Zoey 101” B: Magic School Bus C: Doctor Who 

6. What is your favorite Pepperdine event? 

A: My Tie B: Spring Concert C: NSO 

7. How do you spend your free time? 

A: Jamming out B: Going to the movies C: Golfing 

8. What is your musical talent? 

A: Guitar B: Singing C: Not musically inclined 

9. What is your favorite thing on this earth? 

A: DMV examinations B: Kind words C: Giving away presents 

10.What word would people use to describe you? 

A: Diligent B: Free-spirited C: Cheerful 

KEY: Most A’s — Ted, Most B’s — Robin, Most C’s — Warren 


WRITTEN BY: 

JANELLE MERRITT 


LADIES DAY 

Enjoy yogurt parfaits in Mason jars 

while tanning on the beach! 

BEACH 

BAG 

TASTY 

MONIQUEBATAC & JILLAMOS 

MINI PARFAIT 

THAT’S A WRAP 

ingredients: 

1 pack of whole-wheat tortillas 

1 bag of firm red or green grapes 

1/2 lb. of turkey (check out the 

selection from the Ralphs deli 

and they will give you fresh 

slices) 

1 ripe avocado 

1 ripe roma tomato 

1 bag of mixed greens (works 

double as filling and side salad) 

1 pre-sliced red onion (found by 

prepared veggies in produce 

section) 

directions: 

Don’t forget to grab utensils from the deli section! Start 

making your wrap by cutting the avocado and spreading 

it across the tortilla sort of like a protein mayonnaise. Then, 

layer turkey, mixed greens, tomato and red onion. Finally, 

cut the grapes and add generously to wrap for a juicy surprise. 

It’s simple and delicious! 

You can also bring a bag of crispy snap peas, veggie chips 

or pretzels for a little extra crunch with your wrap. 

GUYS DAY 

Make a fresh glass of lemonade to quench your thirst after 

catching some waves or playing sports on the sand! 

ingredients: 

directions: 

First, add lemon juice to water bottle and shake. Then add sugar 

and one to two slices of fresh lemon. Taste and adjust sugar or water 

content. Mix in blueberries and/or mint leaves for a twist. Enjoy! 

ingredients: 

1 Chobani Greek 

Yogurt 

1 bag/tub granola 

(purchase from the 

HAWC or a tub of honey 

almond granola at 

the Malibu Farmers’ 

Market) 

1 cup berries (strawberries, 

raspberries, 

blackberries and/or 

blueberries) 

1 Mason jar (can find a 

set at Ralphs) 

directions: 

Once you accumulate all of 

the ingredients, start making 

your parfait by scooping 

the yogurt into your Mason 

jar. Next, sprinkle a thick 

layer of your granola on top 

of the yogurt and finish the 

process by adding another 

layer of berries. Continue 

this for as many layers as 

you desire. Add a mint leaf 

at the top for garnish! 

lemonade 

1 lemon (sliced) 

1/4 cup of lemon juice 

(available by fruit juices 

in Ralphs) 

1 water bottle filled half 

way with cold water 

2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons of 

white sugar 

wrap 

1 package of tortillas 

shredded chicken 

directions: 

wrap 

Begin fixing your wrap by 

spreading the barbecue 

sauce and ranch on the tortilla. 

Then, add the shredded 

chicken, lettuce, tomato, and 

onion. Voilà you’ve made a 

barbecue wrap! 

sweet potato fries 

Preheat and set oven to 400 

degrees. Cut sweet potatoes 

into thin slices and transfer 

onto a baking sheet. Drizzle 

olive oil over the sweet potatoes 

and let bake for 25-30 

minutes! 

CURRENTS 14 CURRENTS 15 

lettuce 

1 tomato 

1 onion 

3 Tbsps of barbecue 

sauce 

1 1/2 Tbsps of Ranch 

dressing 

sweet potato fries 

3 large sweet potatoes 

1/3 cup olive oil 

1 Tbsp. salt 

1 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning

DATE DAY 

Buy sparkling pink lemonade from Ralphs or Trader Joes and be sure 

to pack cups. Be sure to prep at home with this speciality basket. 

ingredients: 

2 cups of fresh berries 

(such as strawberries or 

blueberries) 

1 cup heavy whipping 

cream 

directions: 

1-2 tablespoons of 

white sugar or powdered 

sugar 

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla 

extract 

In a mixing bowl, beat 1 cup of heavy cream 

with a whisk or handheld beater until soft 

peaks form. Sprinkle in 1 to 2 tablespoons of 

white sugar over cream and gently mix. Do 

not overbeat. Wash berries and place them 

in a plastic container. Use personal sized tupperware, 

one for him and one for her. First, 

layer whipped cream then berries and finish 

off with more whipped cream. Finally, sprinkle 

with a pinch of sugar for extra sweetness. 

CURRENTS 16 

ITALIAN PANINI 

ingredients: 

1 loaf of Italian bread 

(or bread of your 

choice) 

2 oz. thinly sliced 

prosciutto or Genoa 

salami 

1 pack of fresh Mozzarella 

(slice thickly) 

1 bag of arugula 

1/4 cup pesto (located 

by tomato sauce) or 

olive oil with freshly 

chopped parsley 

1-to-2 tablespoons of 

butter 

directions: 

Begin by cutting the 

loaf in half. Spread 

pesto on one side of 

the loaf. Add prosciutto 

(or salami), sliced 

Mozzarella and arugula. 

Place 1 tablespoon 

of butter in pan 

and let melt. Then 

add panini to hot pan 

and press down with 

a spatula. Flip and 

press down again to 

get the panini effect! 

Wrap in wax paper 

and use toothpicks to 

create a sophisticated 

look with minimal 

effort. 

BERRIES & CREAM 

THE 

NEW 

COLLEGE 

APP 

WRITTEN BY: 

GABRIELLETOLENTINO 


ADDYSENWALCHEK 

What do college students 

love more than good grades and 

sleep? Food, shopping and saving 

money. Living next to Los Angeles 

provides an incredible array 

of restaurants and shops for us to 

explore, but on a college budget, 

who can afford it? The answer, in 

fact, is simple — there’s an app 

for that! 

Senior Onur Sahin was just 

a freshman when he conjured 

up the idea for College Bounty, 

an app that could offer college 

students discounts at local businesses 

in exchange for sharing 

posts or reviews about the businesses 

via social media. Sahin 

began drawing sketches and even 

launching an early prototype as 

a website before bringing up the 

idea to current senior Du 

CURRENTS 17

jon Smith. After meeting Smith 

though their fraternity, Sigma 

Phi Epsilon, Sahin knew Smith 

would make an important asset 

to the team as College Bounty’s 

CEO — responsible for pitching 

to investors and making sure 

tasks are managed. 

“He’s the first choice that I 

had for a business partner,” Sahin 

said. Sahin knew that Dujon’s 

maturity would help push 

the project forward and cause 

people to take the app seriously. 

Since then, the two have become 

a strong pair. Sahin works 

as the creative innovator and 

Smith makes sure the ideas are 

executed. 

After working tirelessly to 

conceptualize every aspect of the 

app down to marketing, College 

Bounty has made rapid progress. 

The app is now serving Pepperdine, 

UCLA, USC and LMU 

students, tracking all businesses 

in the L.A. area that have joined 

the app and offering student discounts. 

Sahin and Smith eventually 

hope to expand the app 

to a national level, but for now, 

they are testing the app’s success 

locally. 

Once the app is downloaded, 

students enter their student I.D. 

and create a profile to access all 

of the latest discount offers. Using 

the maps feature, College 

Bounty can track users’ locations 

to locate nearby eateries and 

shops. The app facilitates sharing 

via social media, allowing users 

to read friends’ reviews and recommendations 

of local hot spots 

to try. The completion of “Challenges,” 

which entail either snapping 

a picture, checking in, posting 

reviews, or sharing via social 

media, can build points for each 

user. The accumulation of points 

at certain locations creates even 

greater discounts. 

But Sahin and Smith don’t 

manage the app alone. They’ve 

acquired a team by their side to 

take charge of their quickly blossoming 

company — a team made 

up entirely of Pepperdine Waves. 

Senior Thomas Johnson joined 

College Bounty as the COO to 

manage interns, oversee day-today 

operations, seek new recruits 

and develop strategic management 

initiatives. 

In charge of the company’s 

business plan and finances is junior 

and CFO Chris Page. Senior 

Maxime Van der Berg works 

as the CMO for the company, 

focusing on market strategy and 

ensuring their brand is consistent 

throughout all marketing channels. 

Rounding out the team is 

freshman Brady Paterson who 

joined the team as CTO, securing 

everything concerning the 

technology of the app, compiling 

everyone’s ideas, and bringing 

them to life. 

“It’s hard to be a student and 

do this,” Sahin admits after recounting 

the all-nighters he’s 

pulled to keep on top of the app 

and school work. Amidst the rigor 

of classwork and extracurriculars, 

these six students still find 

the drive and passion to carry out 

plans for College Bounty. Each 

member is committed and driven 

to expand what the app can offer 

students. 

From idea to fruition, College 

Bounty’s momentum has grown 

exponentially. This has been evident 

in the exposure and praise 

they have received upon sharing 

the app’s concept. In November 

of 2013, Smith and Sahin entered 

College Bounty in the Fast 

Pitch Competition at the SEER 

Symposium held at Pepperdine’s 

Drescher Graduate Campus and 

won first place over dozens of 

other pitches with their 90-second 

proposal. Their reward? A 

$3,000 check toward College 

Bounty, reinvigorating College 

Bounty’s purpose and spiking 

their potential. 

Since then, the accolades have 

kept on coming — Groupon’s 

own Vice President of Market 

Research, Eric Rasmussen, 

praised the app’s concept, while 

conversing with Dujon, who 

linked up with him through a 

fraternity connection. “He loved 

it. He thought it was a great idea. 

We just have to execute it correctly,” 

Smith said. 

Even Pepperdine alumni are 

reaching out to these young entrepreneurs. 

We’ve been able to 

get connected with Pepperdine 

alumni who have helped mentor 

us and get us headed in the 

right direction,” Paterson said. 

Dr. Zarik Boghossian of Pepperdine’s 

Business Division, a 

Pepperdine alum and an entrepreneur 

himself, also commends 

College Bounty’s premise and 

potential. He shared his experience 

as Onur’s mentor, and called 

College Bounty “a very legitimate 

concept … [that] serves [a] 

purpose and adds value and as we 

say, solves a problem … [College 

Bounty] could become a very 

popular app amongst students.” 

Local businesses have teamed 

up with the app as well. FedEx 

and Wokcano are just two that 

have recently partnered with 

College Bounty, along with several 

other popular businesses and 

restaurants that college students 

often frequent. Pepperdine students 

have everything to gain 

from College Bounty. Not only 

is the app geared toward getting 

us discounts, but the team behind 

the app is recruiting members of 

the Pepperdine community to 

join in this blooming business 

MEET THE TEAM 

BRADY PATERSON 

DUJON SMITH 

THOMAS JOHNSON 

MAXIME VAN DER BERG 

CHRIS PAGE 

ONUR SAHIN 


venture. As of now, College 

Bounty is kept afloat, not just by 

the six Waves holding chief positions, 

but by 21 other interns 

from the Malibu campus. 

College Bounty actively 

sought Pepperdine students 

through Career Space and other 

groups and platforms to include 

them in this new, rapidly growing 

app. The hope was to include 

students as a part of the process. 

“We want to give Pepperdine 

students the opportunity to gain 

experience and empower them,” 

Smith said. The force behind 

the app knows the demographic 

and how to appeal to college 

students. 

“College Bounty is a product 

for college students made by college 

students,” said Saul Lopez, 

an intern and Regional Operations 

Strategist in charge of the 

Loyola Marymount division of 

College Bounty. 

President Andrew K. Benton 

said “some of the school’s major 

donors have been entrepreneurs.” 

When asked about his thoughts 

on Waves’ entrepreneurial aspirations, 

he replied that entrepreneurialism 

“follows in the tradition 

and footsteps of George 

Pepperdine.” Benton went on to 

extol the importance of “taking 

risks and enjoying the rewards,” 

which is exactly what the College 

Bounty team has done and 

will continue to do. 

College Bounty is available 

in the App Store now for download. 

COO Thomas Johnson 

hopes to turn College Bounty 

into a “dorm-hold” name. “We 

have analyzed our competition 

and other apps, and have come 

up with a way to combine all 

the things college students find 

popular and place it into the app. 

[Our] goal for College Bounty is 

for [it] to be the Facebook, Twitter 

and Groupon of the college 

world,” Johnson said. 

We can see this app expanding 

very quickly to the rest of 

California and hopefully down 

the line to colleges around the 

world. We would love to see [it] 

used by college students all over 

the country for everyday purchases 

from food to clothes and 

everything in between,” Page 

said. 

The company continues to 

build its foundation and hopes 

to continue its momentum toward 

its aspirations. “In the last 

three months, we have accomplished 

unimaginable goals. 

Every day the company moves 

one step closer in the right direction, 

so nothing can hold us 

back.” Johnson said. It definitely 

has the potential to keep on expanding 

and truly work as the 

middle-man between business 

and college students. We are 

building a mutually beneficial 

relationship between the two,” 

Van der Berg said. 

CURRENTS 20

Surfin’ 

pch 

‘60s 

FASHION 

WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY: 

JILLAMOS 


While cruising down Pacific Coast Highway on 

a typical, sunny, SoCal day, one can often spot 

figures riding atop big waves in the distance. Surf 

culture has revolutionized the coastline lifestyle 

— as people started to shred waves in the 1960s, 

in came a new surf vernacular, beachy tunes like 

“Surfin’ U.S.A.” and a complete transformation in 

swimwear. 

Up until the 1960s, men’s and women’s swimsuits 

were no less material than mini-skirts and everyday 

rompers. Modesty was key, and women 

made sure to cover up with one-pieces. Though 

risque bikinis had been introduced into the fashion 

world, it would’ve been quite the bold statement 

for beach goers to sport such a provocative 

piece. But with the influx of Beach Boys radio hits 

and rising beach culture, the traditional modest 

style began to evolve. Women became comfortable 

showing a little more skin and aimed to be 

the ultimate beach bunnies. Movies like “Beach 

Party” emphasized teenage freedom, summer 

love and a lack of rules at the beach. Following 

the example of Gidget, the original female surfer 

who started in Malibu, young women became 

more daring and flirtatious, using surf-jargon and 

flaunting their beauty in “itsy bitsy teeny weeny 

yellow polka dot bikini(s),” as it goes in the hit single 

by Brian Hyland. Skin was in, a complete transition 

from the more conservative 1950s. 

Men’s swim trunks were bright-colored with 

radical designs and higher waist lines than men’s 

suits of today. Stripes and bold prints were just as 

vibrant as the colorful surfboards of the era. When 

the swell was favorable, gangs of surfers would 

throw on wetsuits, strap their boards to the tops of 

their Cadillacs and head for the coastline. 

Fifty four years later, beachgoers have reverted 

back to the groovy, yet reinvented, looks of the 

late 1960s. Heavy-winged eyeliner, voluminous 

hair and plenty of polka dots. High-waisted bikinis 

and shorts are staples in the fashion of 2014 and 

are directly inspired by the iconic look of 1960. 

Everything has been recycled and reinvented — 

vintage looks are fresh again. As beachwear is 

adapted to fit lifestyles of today and incorporate 

looks from other time periods, beachgoers are 

creating their own styles by using different trends 

from each era as inspiration. In the future, when 

2014 beach fashion is considered “vintage,” 

there is no doubt that that we can credit the fresh 

ideas and boldness of ‘60s beach bums. What a 

great nod to Malibu and it’s influence over fashion 

today! 


PCH 

Playlist 

Windows down, speakers 

up — get ready for a day 

in the sun while blasting 

these tunes down PCH 

Wouldn’t it be Nice 

BEACH BOYS 

Who Are You 

IVAN & ALOYSHA 

Chocolate 

1975 

Girls Like You 

NAKED & FAMOUS 

Pyro 

KINGS OF LEON 

Rill Rill 

SLEIGH BELLS 

Golden Thread 

PASSENGER 

Go Do 

JÓNSI 

White Walls 

MACKLEMORE 

CURRENTS 26

MUSIC FEATURE 

When did you start playing 

and what made you pick up 

music? 

Soft Spoken, 

Loud Ambition 

I started playing bass when I was 8 or 

9. My dad plays about four-to-five different 

instruments along with my mother, 

who plays guitar and leads worship for 

a community group. This is something 

I am quite thankful for, as I grew up in a 

house supported by live music. My dad 

taught me the foundations of guitar 

and since then, I have learned through 

experimentation and observation. I 

haven’t had any formal lessons, a circumstance 

I believe has both pros and 

cons. 

WRITTEN BY: 

DANIELLEDIMEGLIO 


DAVIDHUTCHINSON 

Don’t let his shy exterior fool you. 

With a guitar in hand, sophomore 

John Anderson breaks away from 

his timid nature and brings forth the 

musician within him. He unveils his 

hidden talent and instantly grabs the 

attention of eager listeners, moving 

them with his soothing voice and instrumental 

expertise. Who would’ve 

thought that the man sitting behind 

you in class had such a powerful 

stage presence and creative spirit? 

Anderson composes his own lyrics 

and melodies, pulling inspiration 

from his faith and events of everyday 

life. 

In one of his most recent songs titled 

“Wings,” he sings about how we 

are always yearning for something 

more, causing us to overlook the 

beauty and value of what we already 

have. Anderson collaborated with 

fellow sophomores Connor Wheeler 

and David Hutchinson to create a 

music video for “Wings,” while studying 

abroad in Heidelberg, Germany. 

The music video is filmed against the 

backdrop of the famous Heidelberg 

Castle and shows Anderson singing 

in the open air while playing his guitar. 

The song is relatable and uplifting, 

much like his other compositions 

that have gained hundreds of views 

on Youtube. If you haven’t seen Anderson 

perform at Coffeehouses or 

other events on campus, you can 

check out his YouTube channel and 

fall for his music yourself! 

jlandersonmusic 

What sparked your interest 

in music? 

It filled in the gaps for me. Growing 

up, I was not much of a talker. I kept 

to myself quite a bit. I loved the idea of 

hearing guitar in a song and then replicating 

such a sound on my own. Soon, 

this got repetitive. The desire to create 

manifested itself, and I began writing 

my own songs. 

How would you describe 

your music? 

This is a difficult question. The first 

thought that comes to mind is that I see 

my music as a gift. It is God’s gift to me. 

He has given me a method by which 

to communicate. My music is a sort of 

personal language. It means so much 

to me, and my hope is that it can mean 

as much or more to others. In the general 

or technical sense, I would say my 

music is a mix of singer/songwriter, folk, 

and rock. 


Where do you gain inspiration? 

Usually, the songs I enjoy most have 

directly resulted from prayer. It continually 

reminds me that everything I have 

is a gift. All in all, most of my inspiration 

comes from God. He helps me both organize 

thoughts concerning day-to-day 

life, as well as process dynamic experiences. 

Any sort of change is usually 

cause for me to write or at least attempt 

to. 

Has being abroad inspired you 

as a musician? If so, how? 

Absolutely. Being away from such familiarity 

for such a long time is a big change. 

Change is a major thing that inspires 

me. I think that noticing changes and 

attempting to understand them helps 

me adapt to them more easily. Writing 

songs is one of the most effective ways 

for me to process change. 

What are some of your most 

memorable moments of 

performing? 

My most memorable moments of performing 

are made up of my shows at 

Witzend in Venice Beach. I’ve played 

there three times and each time has 

been better than the last. The last show I 

did was in August, about a week before 

I boarded the plane for Heidelberg. This 

is probably my favorite memory. Instead 

of performing solo, I had the privilege 

of playing with two fellow students and 

fantastic musicians, Adam Ingleheart 

and Alexa Shafer. Imagine creating 

something and at first, you think you 

have achieved completion. But then 

kindred artists use their gifts to intensify 

and expand what you have done. I think 

most people feel the same way when 

they are doing what they love. 

Do you have any musical 

aspirations for after college? If 

so, what are they? 

I want to be scheduling performances at 

venues more and more often. I also hope 

to record a new album. Recording is one 

thing that is tough to do while in school 

and living in a dorm room. It would be a 

dream to somehow end up in a studio 

with ample time. It’s tough having so 

many ideas for songs and lacking the 

means to put them down. 

How often do you practice? 

How often do you perform in 

front of other people? 

I try to practice as often as I can. The 

word “practice” does not really suit my 

attitude though. It is more of a privilege 

than a practice. Anytime I can get away 

and play or write, I find great happiness. 

One way I do this, being in Europe, is 

busking on the streets. I can share with 

the public, while still in an informal state 

of mind and maybe even make some 

change while I’m at it. Alongside the 

three performances at Witzend, I perform 

at Coffeehouses and events here 

and there on the Malibu campus. Over 

last summer, I had the opportunity to 

open for some friends at a place in Santa 

Ana. This summer will hopefully involve 

a wedding and a handful of restaurants 

or small venues. I’m praying to turn it into 

a summer job. 

How do you balance music 

with school? 

The balance is difficult, but not too difficult. 

Sometimes sleep must be sacrificed, 

but hey, that’s college in general. 

I had to practice with balance during 

high school between sports and music, 

so that has helped a ton. 

Do you ever feel nervous 

playing music in front of 

others? If so, how do you deal 

with the nerves? 

I almost always feel nervous. If I have a 

gig at night, I usually can’t eat lunch or 

dinner because my stomach is knotted 

with excitement. I think being nervous 

just shows that I really care about doing 

my best. It usually takes me an opening 

song to calm down and warm my hands 

up. Prayer helps me a great deal. Also, I 

just try not to think about it. 

What story are you trying to tell 

through your music? 

I’ve never thought on it before. In a general 

manner, I want people to know me. 

I’ve always tried to make each song very 

personal. I feel as if I am letting a stranger 

into my mind and heart each time I 

share. I think my story is also one of understanding. 

I want to tell of humanity’s 

flaws and shortcomings to hopefully 

lead toward love. I’m not saying I have 

the answers. I often use myself as an example 

of such flaws. But maybe others 

can sympathize with me and they will 

have answers. 


DANGLING 

DREAMER 

CHIRAGPATEL 

WRITTEN BY: 


MONIQUEBATAC 

FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PRESENTS 

A Conference with N. T. WRIGHT 

FORMER BISHOP OF DURHAM 

Interpreting Paul 

for the Future of the World 

MAY 1–3, 2014 

FIRST CHURCH OF THE 

NAZARENE OF PASADENA 

for details and registration: 

FULLER.EDU/NTWRIGHT 

Colored silk 

hangs from high 

above the stage, 

dangling as the assembled 

crowd peers up at 

the young woman flitting 

effortlessly between the 

strands, at once in comfort 

and again mocking the fall. 

They hold as her lifeline, 

the colored silks, inverted 

tethers that she is able to 

traverse as graceful as any 

dancer upon trained toes. 

And suddenly she tumbles, 

falling down in a swirl of hues 

and gasps ... 

FULLER’S SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY PRESENTS PAYTON LECTURES 2014 

DR. MIROSLAV VOLF | APRIL 30 & MAY 1 | FULLER.EDU/PAYTONLECTURES 

CURRENTS 33

CURRENTS 34 

Time passes, and it’s another sunny day 

in February, typical weather for a typical 

Southern California winter. I am meeting 

Cory Batza at a Malibu Starbucks, and at first 

glance, she seems every bit the dancer I was 

told about: tall and slender, yet surprisingly 

tucked away behind a computer screen. I was 

told she is an aerial dancer, a style I’ve only 

heard of from the theatrical performances of 

Cirque du Soleil. 

We commence with the small talk, and I 

ask her about her journey to Pepperdine. Batza 

is from Valencia, Calif., where she grew 

up being very active. She practiced Kuk Sool 

Wan, a form of Korean martial arts, for 12 

years. She practiced ice skating for a number 

of years as well and started dancing at the age 

of 10. 

“My parents have always supported me 

in anything that I’ve been interested in. They 

know that I am very driven and that I’m only 

going to do things that I’m passionate about. 

If I’m involved in it, I’m going to give it everything, 

and they’ve never said no to something 

that I’ve wanted to do. Thank goodness they 

gave me good judgment, too!” Batza says with 

a laugh. 

She admits that her initial entry into the 

world of dance came with a slow start, but she 

began to fall more and more in love with the 

craft the more she became exposed to it. She 

practiced ballet, joined her high school dance 

team (although she felt the competition and 

sport involved wasn’t exactly her thing) and 

became a part of numerous arts programs, 

including the California State School of the 

Arts and the San Francisco Conservatory of 

Dance, while finding mentors at a dance studio 

in West Hollywood known as Edge Performing 

Arts. 

She speaks at length about the different 

styles of dance that she has been fortunate 

enough to be exposed to and practice. Her 

training is extensive to say the least, and there 

is a yearning of times long passed in her voice 

as she fondly reminisces about her teachers 

and her experiences. 

Batza talks about one of her mentors introducing 

her to aerial dance for the first time, 

and how she didn’t hesitate at the opportunity 

to try something new, something bold, something 

daring with the same gusto she seems 

to approach in all of her life endeavors. 

“I jumped right on into it,” Batza says. “I 

was never scared and that’s a huge part of aerial. 

You’re in the air, and you’re wrapping this 

thing around your body and letting go and 

hoping you did it right and that you’re not 

going to fall. I think the fear of falling and 

hurting yourself is what stops people from 

progressing. But for me, that’s the fun and exhilarating 

part of dancing.” 

We speak at length about her progression 

as an aerial dancer, and how she joined the 

professional dance company based out of the 

Westlake studio, Talent Lab, where she practices 

the unique style. Batza mentions how her 

passion for dance led her to consider pursuing 

it as a career, and she talks about a crossroads 

she inevitably meets, one in which the road 

chosen led her briefly away from dancing and 

into the world of a college student, a world 

full of new and unique challenges for the 

young woman accustomed to embracing her 

creative side. 

The fear of falling 

and hurting 

yourself is what 

stops people 

from progressing. 

But for me, that's 

the fun and 

exhilarating 

part of dancing. 

“It took me a long time to realize that 

dance wasn’t going to be a passion that would 

be a profession. I saw so many of my friends 

struggling to make it their life, and that can 

be very tolling on you as a person, physically 

and emotionally,” says Batza, who doesn’t 

seem like she is quitting on her dream, but 

rather realizing the cost of pursuing it. She is 

very close with her family, and was unsure if 

the constant traveling associated with the life 

of a dancer was right for her at the time. She 

CURRENTS 35

wanted a career in artistic dance as part of 

a traveling company, shying away from the 

Hollywood industry gigs available in nearby 

Los Angeles, and realized that it would be a 

struggle to try to force a passion for money 

when she could still do it on the side and be 

happy. 

Batza transferred to Pepperdine in the fall 

of 2011 with the hope of pursuing a bachelor’s 

degree in Business Administration and 

still being close enough to continue dancing 

with Talent Lab. She talks about her struggle 

to fit in as a transfer student, wanting to become 

a part of the community and trying to 

find her place within the university. 

“Pepperdine has a very intense community. 

You are either all in or you’re not,” she 

says, as she describes her initial disconnect 

as a transfer student without a niche. “It was 

hard. I was in sophomore and junior level 

classes with people who already knew each 

other and didn’t know who I was. I really 

wanted to get involved so I ended up doing 

Greek Recruitment, which was totally out of 

my comfort level!” 

Batza joined Delta Gamma, and although 

she felt hesitant and unsure about it at first, 

she describes her involvement as a huge part 

of her Pepperdine experience that has allowed 

her to branch out. Batza would also 

go on to become a part of the Pepperdine 

Ambassadors Council as well. 

“I heard it was a way to be a student leader 

on campus and give back to Pepperdine, and 

those were two things I wanted,” says Batza, 

who describes her experience with PAC as 

one that has allowed her to connect with students 

and faculty on campus and help represent 

the university at the highest level possible. 

“PAC is definitely way up there among 

things that I have thoroughly enjoyed being 

a part of at Pepperdine. It is definitely part 

of the more professional side of who I am.” 

She attributes her time with PAC as allowing 

her to better network and grow socially, 

while becoming a part of the community 

that initially seemed foreign to her. 

As our conversation veers further into her 

academic and social endeavors at the university, 

I was surprised to learn that Batza, currently 

a senior, will be attending law school 

here at Pepperdine, a far cry from her original 

dream to pursue professional dance. Batza 

embraces her decision whole heartedly, 

and she says it shows how her time in college 

has shaped her for her future. 

We talk about her future as a dancer as 

well, and Batza shows surprising maturity 

in understanding the role her passion has 

played in shaping who she is today. 

“A huge part of who I am has been me as 

a dancer ... I’m never going to stop dancing. 

I don’t see myself ever giving it up. I have 

decided to go to law school and pursue that, 

but dancing will always be my passion. It will 

always be what I love the most,” Batza says. 

“I am so thankful for the ability to dance, and 

have choices in life that have allowed me to 

say ‘hey, this isn’t going to be everything.’ I’m 

very thankful to also have school and have 

that other avenue.” 

As we wrap up the interview and say our 

goodbyes, I can’t help but admire Batza in a 

way I’ve never really admired someone before. 

She is gifted and talented with both her 

left and right brain — a 3.97 GPA and an 

incredible dancer to boot, with a clear understanding 

of who she is and what she is 

passionate about. It’s a rare mind set for a 

recent college graduate to have, and although 

she may have her doubts about her future, 

it seems as if the sky is the limit for Cory 

Batza. 

{0} 

... The crowd holds its breathe in a collective 

moment of shock, as the dancer 

falls amongst the tangled silks. But just as 

effortlessly as she swayed and moved a 

moment ago, she catches herself gracefully 

to the roar of all in attendance. 

CURRENTS 36 

CURRENTS 37

BOTANIST 

BRINGS 

TRAILS TO LIFE 

WRITTEN BY: 

DANIELLEACCOVELLI 


SHAWNJONES 

With its breathtaking 

views, spectacular floral life 

and undisturbed natural 

habitats, Malibu is the ideal 

hiking destination. It becomes 

easy to gain a true 

appreciation for the beautiful 

Santa Monica Mountains. 

For Dr. Stephen Davis 

and his biology students, 

hiking these local trails 

also provides them with 

invaluable field experience 

to study diverse species, 

plants and other wildlife in 

their original habitats. 

CURRENTS39

"We are fortunate that we are in a natural landscape 

with so many varieties of plants, so we walk places and 

go hiking while learning things about the plants as we go 

along" says Biology professor Stephen Davis. 

A true lover of nature, Davis grew up on an apple ranch 

in Graton, Calif., a small town in West Sonoma County, 

and developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors at a 

young age. When Davis became a professor at Pepperdine, 

he was surprised by how little students knew about 

the landscapes surrounding Pepperdine and decided to 

incorporate the ecology of Malibu into his biology class 

curriculum. Along the way, Davis took students on many 

local hikes and has developed some favorite spots he goes 

back to year after year. 

A short distance from Pepperdine is Solstice Canyon 

National Park — a two-mile hike that promises spectacular 

views of a hidden waterfall at the trails end. According 

to Davis, the canyon has survived devastating fires twice, 

in 1982 and 2007, which allowed new plants to grow 

around the ancient rock formations, making it an ideal 

spot for a destination hike. 

Not only does Solstice Canyon provide spectacular 

views of wildlife, but it is also a great location for Davis' 

students to look at a diverse range of vegetation types. 

Some of the plants were used by ancient Native Americans 

for medicinal purposes and are even still used today. 

On March 7, one of Davis' classes participated in a new 

program called Plant Ecology of Solstice Canyon with 

home-schooled students. In this program, Pepperdine 

students had the opportunity to share their knowledge 

of these plants by taking the home-schooled students out 

into Solstice Canyon for an interactive lesson. 

"My students are now going to share their knowledge, 

understanding and enthusiasm not only with homeschooled 

students, but with their parents as well" comments 

Davis, "so it's a really rich overall experience." 

A little more removed from the Pepperdine and Malibu 

area is Sycamore Canyon, the sight of the devastating 

Springs Fire in April 2013. Sycamore Canyon has proven 

to be an ideal spot for Davis' students to measure and GPS 

track different species of trees and observe their recovery 

after last year's fire. This experience has also given his students 

the opportunity to learn hands-on about the plants, 

while keeping up with the most important environmental 

issues such as forest decline and climate change. 

"It's real science with real issues that can scale to global 

questions," Davis said. 

Some of Davis' other favorite hiking destinations are 

Castro Crest at the end of Corral Canyon, which offers an 

awe-inspiring 360-degree panoramic view of the Malibu 

area and Point Dume, which houses a variety of rare marine-adapted 

plants. 

Davis also enjoys taking his students to the more remote 

hiking destination along Mishe Mokwa Trail. There 

are views of huge boulder formations and tiny creeks filled 

with rare and unusual native plant species such as adenostoma 

sparsifolium. Also known as redshank chaparral, this 

rare tree-like plant with reddish-brown bark and white 

flowers only blooms in July and August. 

Although all of these hiking sites provide breathtaking 

views of the landscape and plant species, they have all 

burned down at some point as well. Ironically, these fires 

actually allow for magnificent floral displays that greatly 

enhance the beauty of the trails. The fire acts as a cleanser, 

allowing brand-new growth. 

"These plants are adapted to fire, rejuvenated by fire 

and can recover from fire and return to their natural form 

after fire," Davis says. "They are really quite spectacular." 

Every spring, these resilient plants rise out of the barren 

soil giving the hiking sites new life and exhibiting the 

remarkable biodiversity of Malibu. Whether a biology 

student or simply just taking a hike, these sights are sure 

to make any Pepperdine student stop and appreciate the 

beauty of the natural world in our own backyard. 

CURRENTS40 

CURRENTS41

TOP 10 

SUMMER 

SPOTS 

WRITTEN BY: 

JOANDALY 


SARAHATTAR 

MONIQUEBATAC 

ALEXANDERHAYES 

MARISAPADILLA 

BRANDONSCHEIRMAN 

1 

Horseback riding 

You don’t need to travel to the Midwest to feel 

like a real cowboy or cowgirl. Malibu has its own 

equestrian trails and training sessions throughout 

the summer. In between the country music on 

the beach and line dancing at Borderline (yes, a 

Pepperdine favorite), you might as well fully assimilate 

yourself into the country lifestyle. Malibu 

Riders has one trail in Malibu, the Zuma Canyon 

trail, and two in Agoura Hills. Splurge a little — 

it’s $50 per person, and you can start to learn the 

ropes of horseback riding etiquette, while enjoying 

the beautiful trail scenery and the company of 

friends. You couldn’t pick a more stunning place 

to ride. 

INFO 

http://www.maliburiders.com 

CURRENTS 43

2 

ZIPLINING 

There are two kinds of Pepperdine students. Those 

who are adventurous, and those who achieve the adventure 

solely through a semester of hiking to class. In other 

words, those who walk and those who shuttle. Whether 

the thrill of adventure runs through your veins or you’re 

just trying to step out of your comfort zone, ziplining is 

a must do trip this summer. Navitat Canopy Adventures, 

located northeast of Los Angeles, is worth the two-hour 

drive for an escape outdoors. You can choose from various 

zipline tour packages, all of which include exploring the 

beautiful tree habitats that California has to offer. Zipline 

tours and packages run upward of $100, but for the adventurous 

soul, the price is well worth it. How often will 

you get the opportunity to zip 300 feet above the forest 

floor? Besides, Navitat and its ziplining adventures prove 

that there’s so much more nature to explore than just the 

beaches — although we’re not complaining about those. 

Who knows, maybe the trees in the forest are good for 

hammocking too. 

INFO 

www.navitat.com/wrightwood-ca/ 

4 

Movies @ The 

Hollywood Cemetery 

The famous Hollywood Cemetery may not seem like 

the typical venue for a Saturday night under the stars, 

but anything goes in Hollywood, right? All summer 

long, Fairbanks Lawn, located in the Hollywood Forever 

Cemetery, hosts a variety of classic movies on a giant 

projector for the public from May 19 to the end of the 

August. Not only is it a fun and affordable adventure to 

have with your friends, but it could also be a unique date 

night idea for that special someone. Before the movie 

plays, DJs spin some music to keep the scene vibin’. The 

entrance donation is $10 and parking is $5. Be sure to get 

there early to find a spot on the grass, lay out your blankets 

and bring out the picnic basket. Whether you’re out 

with friends or a date, movies at the Hollywood Cemetery 

are an experience you can’t pass up! 

INFO 

www.cinespia.org/how-to/ 

3 

CURRENTS44 

Stand-Up 

Paddleboarding 

We’ve all driven on PCH and glanced out at the 

ocean, only to see people standing up on paddleboards, 

rowing their paddles and serenely drifting on the glistening 

water. And in that moment, we wished that were us. 

Stand-up paddleboarding is a growing trend in Malibu 

and other beach communities. Renting board and paddle 

equipment is easy at beach shacks like Malibu Surf Shack 

or Zuma Jay’s. People drive from all over Los Angeles to 

experience the Malibu waters and stunning views, so why 

not take advantage of it while we’re here? To be a true 

local, you gotta explore the Pacific. What a perfect way to 

check this off your bucket list. 

INFO 

www.malibusurfshack.com/rentals 

BEVERLY HILLS 

Weezer put it perfectly when they crooned, “Beverly Hills, that’s where 

I wanna be!” Because if Malibu weren’t already good enough for us, Beverly 

Hills is just a short drive away for a taste of celebrity life and upscale 

living. Get your friends together, dress in your Sunday best and spend the 

day exploring the city! Grab breakfast burritos and sit on the steps of the 

Rodeo collection in the heart of the city. You’ll be eating breakfast right 

across from the lavish Beverly Wilshire Hotel with a prime view of the famous 

Rodeo Drive. Spend the day (window) shopping-till-you-drop and 

cool off on a hot summer’s day with a sweet treat from The Ice Cream Lab 

off Santa Monica Boulevard. Choose from all the delicious flavors made 

right in front of you with liquid nitrogen. Can you say posh? 

INFO 

http://www.beverlyhills.org 

5 

6 

Bay Cities 

If there ever were a life-changing sandwich, 

Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery 

makes it. You may be wondering how 

something so simple can actually be so 

transformative for your tastebuds. After 

all, it’s just a sandwich right? Wrong. This 

hole-in-the-wall Italian deli offers fresh 

Italian ingredients and perfectly crispy 

bread to create the ultimate satiating bite. 

The local favorite is the “Godmother” 

sandwich, which is appropriately referred 

to as the godmother of all sandwiches. In 

between warm Italian bread, the sandwich 

consists of Genoa salami, Mortadella cappacola, 

ham, prosciutto, and provolone 

cheese. Add in “The Works” with mayo, 

mustard, onions, pickles, lettuce, tomato, 

pickled hot or mild peppers and homemade 

Italian dressing. All of the flavors 

in one perfect sandwich is enough to keep 

you coming back all summer! 

INFO 

www.baycitiesitaliandeli.com 

CURRENTS45

Hike to Hollywood sign 

Get up close and personal with one of the 

world's most recognized landmarks. It's more than 

just a sign. It's what makes Los Angeles home to 

the entertainment industry. The city of Hollywood 

may be filled with celebrity impersonators, high 

congestion and crowds of people, but hiking up to 

the sign offers an entirely different experience. View 

the city of angels from a more tranquil setting as 

you hike along the Hollyridge Trail and take in the 

beautiful skyline. It's the perfect summer activity 

with friends, and it's completely free –– music to 

the ears of college students everywhere. 

7 

8 

Venice 

beach 

Mix up your summer routine with a short 

drive down to one of the most eclectic beach 

cities in Southern California. Rent a pair of 

rollerblades or tandem bicycles for as little 

as $5 per hour and ride along the beach path 

with ice cream in hand. After you’ve worked 

up an appetite in the sun, walk down to 

Washington Boulevard for a delicious bite 

(C&O’s Italian restaurant gives you garlic 

knots for days!) and boutique shopping. But 

for the best Venice experience, visit on the 

first Friday of every month for a night filled 

with food trucks, art galleries and live music. 

Washington Boulevard street is closed off to 

vehicles until 2 a.m. and open for the public 

to enjoy a warm summer night dancing in 

the streets! 

10 

CURRENTS46 

9 

LACMA 

Concerts 

Art galleries, free outdoor concerts and picnics on the 

grass? Nothing screams summer more than live performances 

at the LACMA — or any other museum for that 

matter. Some of the best museums in LA participate in 

free concerts during the summer months on Sundays 

with performances ranging anywhere from jazz, contemporary 

hip-hop, classical and Latin music. Spend the day 

walking through art galleries, taking photos by the infamous 

lamp post exhibit “Urban Lights,” exploring the 

La Brea Tar Pits and indulging in some of the tastiest 

food trucks parked right outside. Take your food onto the 

grass and enjoy the sounds of live bands in the heart of 

the city with the LACMA as your backdrop. 

Griffith 

Observatory 

When you think of Los Angeles, stargazing isn’t exactly the first thing that comes 

to mind. Sitting on top of the Hollywood hills, the Griffith Observatory is an escape 

from the chaos of urban life and offers panoramic views of the city. You haven’t experienced 

the beauty of Los Angeles until you’ve visited the Observatory at night! 

Giant telescopes align the site, allowing you to see vivid constellations and stars. Take 

a look inside to see the planetarium and astronomy displays. Admission and parking 

are free, and tickets for special events and shows can be found online. Viewing the 

stars and city at 1,134 feet above sea level is an unforgettable experience well worth 

the drive! 

INFO 

www.griffithobs.org 

INFO 

www.lacma.org/programs/music/sundays-live

NSIDE 

WOMEN’S SAND VOLLEYBALL 

WITH 

EMILY COOK 

WRITTEN BY: 

CHIRAGPATEL 


MARISAPADILLA 

Sand volleyball can still be considered a sport 

in its infancy here at Pepperdine, but the university’s 

team has shown that it’s a sport that’s here 

to stay. The outcome for the 2011-2012 season 

— the first for the team — was an AVCA National 

Championship win. Their second season 

saw them finish as the AVCA National Championship 

runner-up. The Waves entered their 

current season as the AVCA No—1 ranked 

team in the nation, and they look toward securing 

nothing short of another championship win 

come May. 

Senior Emily Cook grew up playing volleyball 

most of her life, and her skills allowed 

her to play an important role for Pepperdine’s 

indoor volleyball team. An unfortunate injury 

derailed her ability to play, and her future on 

the hardwood court of Firestone Fieldhouse 

seemed uncertain. So she decided to head to 

the beach. 

How were you first 

introduced to volleyball? 

I’m from Murrieta Valley and started playing 

when I was 9 years old. My parents got me 

into it because I was tall and didn’t really like 

any other outdoor sports. I started playing for 

club and started playing beach when I was 

12. I did both and never really had an offseason 

because I would always go from club to 

beach. Then high school came around. I had 

high school tryouts and made it to varsity my 

freshman year. I played all four years there, 

and switched to an Orange County club team 

that was a little better and still continued to 

play beach since I was 12 till now. 

What made you decide to pursue collegiate 

volleyball here at Pepperdine? 

I got to Pepperdine through indoor volleyball. I got 

recruited ... by [then Head Coach] Nina Matthies. 

She didn’t really approach me ... she told me that 

if I wanted to come here, I had to make the effort. 

It was between [Pepperdine] and ASU, and I was 

like, “Why would I want to go to the desert when I 

can come here?” So I called [Nina] and said “I’m in, 

let’s do this.” 


How were your first few 

seasons as an athlete here? 

I started my freshman year. It went really 

well. I made All Freshman Team. Sophomore 

year I hurt my back. I worked all 

summer to play again and of course the 

first game, we were in Dayton and [the 

score] was 6-7. A girl came up on the net 

and I landed on her foot. It was a pretty 

bad sprain. I didn’t think it was that bad, 

I thought I could come back and play. I 

tried. I came back a couple weeks later 

and couldn’t land on the hard surface 

anymore. It hurt so bad. 

What was the rehab like 

for the injury? 

Blending 

Two 

Worlds 

Student veterans talk life after Afghanistan 

My trainer said we were going to take a 

break. Over the summer I started playing 

beach and it just didn’t feel right. I 

had my first MRI and it didn’t show anything 

and I said, “I need to go in again. 

Something’s not right.” So my second 

MRI, the doctor did find something.... I 

had surgery and was on crutches for six 

weeks, which was awful. It was my right 

ankle so I couldn’t drive anywhere and 

I live off campus! I did so much rehab 

... crutches for six weeks and a boot for 

four weeks after that ... then range of motion 

exercises, walking, light biking and 

jogging ... then finally once winter break 

came I was able to play full on. My rehab 

was three times a week, an hour and a 

half each time, with trainer Kevin Wright. 

I wanted to get better. I was going fullmode. 

I took it slow, but wanted to get 

the process going. 

What was the plan, 

volleyball-wise, after surgery? 

How has the sand volleyball 

team been gearing up 

for this season? 

Pretty well. Intense. We have been conditioning 

since January, conditioning 

and lifting. Three days a week, 6:30 in 

the morning till 10. We won our first year 

in the national championship and last 

season, due to academic ineligibility, we 

had to forfeit our first team. We found out 

the week before that one of our players 

couldn’t come...We only played four of 

our teams out of five. We lost to Long 

Beach in the last game. We want to 

come back from that this year. 

Why do you feel this year’s 

team has been ranked No. 1? 

What are your goals after 

Pepperdine? 

I’m applying to grad school, and I still 

have another year to play sand. I’m applying 

to Pepperdine and other schools 

for film, and hopefully will play a little 

more for sand after grad school. 

WRITTEN BY: 

MARIELLARUDI 


SHAWNJONES 

I talked to Nina and said, “I’m getting 

surgery. I won’t be able to play 

[indoor] the whole season. How do 

you feel about me playing beach?” 

She thought it would work perfectly. 

I came back [to indoor] after my injury 

in early November but I couldn’t. It 

was too hard. If I didn’t have surgery, I 

wouldn’t be able to play full out on indoor 

or beach. I decided to have surgery 

to be able to go all in for beach. I 

made the decision to be able to give 

all my time and effort to just sand. 

I feel like we are ranked No. 1 this year because 

we do have a really strong team. 

We have a lot of players coming back, 

and we have a strong core group of girls. 

We know we have a target on our back 

because we are ranked No. 1. Since it 

is a growing sport, there are a lot more 

teams this year. USC, Long Beach, they 

have been training the same amount of 

time we have, and I think they are going 

to be our biggest competition ... this 

year everyone is going to be really good, 

ranks one through five. 

The current sand volleyball season 

ends with the AVCA National Championships 

in Alabama from May 1 

through 5. The team has been playing 

some spectacular volleyball thus 

far in the season, holding onto their 

No.—1 spot as they continue to push 

toward the playoffs. Cook has been 

able to move past her injury and has 

been an integral part of the team in 

their push for another championship 

title. 

CURRENTS 50 

CURRENTS 51

Joel Denning, 24, chose to meet at Heroes 

Garden, the summit of Pepperdine’s 

Malibu campus. When the 9/11 tribute 

site doesn’t function as a background 

for Instagram and sorority formal photo 

shoots, it serves as a quiet respite from the 

buzz of down below. Heroes Garden commands 

reflection and solicitude from its 

guests. It’s an almost monastic experience. 

Which is why Denning, a five-year Marine 

Corps veteran and Seaver sophomore, 

came here to talk about his transition into 

collegiate life as an incoming freshman. 

His aviator sunglasses loyally reflect the 

ocean view, the waving flag and the Magritte 

clouds. 

Sunglasses still on, Denning recounted 

his aviation unit’s mortar attacks, angel 

flights, airborne assault, aerial refueling, 

planes catching on fire, and an engine exploding 

on the aircraft. 

After surviving seven months in Afghanistan, 

Denning was admitted to Pepperdine 

for fall 2012. Now, he had to survive 

New Student Orientation. 

“I wore a collared shirt the first day, was 

going to all the events and transfer things. 

And people didn’t sit near me,” Denning 

said. Admittedly not the typical first year 

student, he sensed that his new classmates 

sensed that he was different. 

One NSO leader sat down with Denning, 

who was eating alone, and Denning 

informed him that he was a veteran. 

“Oh, a veteran, like you transferred to a 

lot of schools?” Not quite. 

The transition was rough at first. And 

for many student veterans going to college 

for the first time or going back after 

serving in war, college has become the new 

front. Some experience a disconnect from 

their classmates or from the world itself. 

“It’s a transition and its one that’s hard 

to describe,” said veteran and junior Jessica 

Egan. Which is why Egan, who served as 

a Marine in Afghanistan for 11 months, 

wanted to form an organization, support 

group, networking aid, whatever it could 

be, to bridge what she called an experience 

and generation gap between student veterans 

and everyone else. 

Thanks in part to Denning’s suggestion 

that his erstwhile crew chief and plane 

captain “check out” Pepperdine, Egan at 

25 enrolled as a psychology major, on a 

pre-med track, in spring 2013. That same 

semester she founded the Student Veterans 

Organization. 

That semester was a “big culture shock 

for lack of a better term. Marine mentality 

tends to be very distinct. And I think I 

came here very wound tight. You’re coming 

from a place where being on time and 

structure is everything,” Egan said. “I just 

wanted to have a group for that transition, 

but also to make people aware.” 

Like Denning, she described her days 

introducing herself as a Marine to mixed 

reactions. She sometimes even felt like a 

spectacle. 

“This is obviously a generalization, but 

people who I encountered didn’t really 

know a lot about the military and they 

didn’t know a whole lot about the war, 

which is most of America. It’s been going 

on for so long it’s that classic case of, ‘well, 

it’s always been there,’” Egan said. 

The SVA is geared toward supporting 

student veterans, but the young student 

organization also hopes to work the volunteer 

piece, get more information and 

resources to and from its members, and to 

identify itself as a presence to students less 

informed about the veteran population. 

There are 17 members. 

Denning, Egan and 138 students are 

able to go to Pepperdine because of the 

Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the 

Post-9/11 GI Bill. 

“I was not going to go into debt for college,” 

Denning said. “It was never an option 

until the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which was 

such a blessing to so many veterans. It’s 

kind of a logistical nightmare to explain, 

but in other words, I go here for free.” 

The Post-9/11 GI Bill was passed in 

2009 and that same year, Pepperdine adopted 

it, according to Lesbiz Tovar, an 

adviser for student veterans and their 

families at Pepperdine. The new GI bill 

is unique from ones in the past because it 

now transfers benefits to a spouse or child, 

or dependents. Tovar said the majority of 

Yellow Ribbon recipients at Seaver are dependents. 

Pepperdine was one of the first private 

schools in California to offer the Yellow 

Ribbon program, which expanded the 

scope of universities to veterans and their 

families. Whatever the GI Bill gives depending 

on service and eligibility, Pepperdine 

awards half the difference between 

the annual cap set by the Department of 

Veteran Affairs (VA) and the cost of tuition 

and fees. All colleges and universities 

are different, but under the program, 

Pepperdine offers an unlimited number of 

students an unlimited maximum school 

contribution amount to all schools and degree 

levels. 

At the beginning of the 2009 academic 

year, 36 students came to Pepperdine under 

the Yellow Ribbon program. In spring 

2013, that number has grown to 140 students. 

“I think it’s important to realize that 

there are veterans who are going back 

to school or going to school for the first 

time,” Egan said. “Now with the wars 

winding down, you’re going to see more of 

that. And I think veterans are a pretty sizable 

percentage of the population and a lot 

of them are young kids who did enlistment 

and that’s kind of all they’ve known since 

high school.” 

Focusing on that transition and a solid 

support system for veterans, Egan said, is 

the goal. 

Two years after the awkwardness that 

was NSO, Dennings, an accounting major, 

has meshed well with his new peers. Aside 

from some jeering from his fellow Marines, 

Dennings joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon 

fraternity, is Inter-Fraternity Council 

president and vice-president of the Rugby 

team. 

His do-or-die mentality has adjusted to 

a new life, busied with work, school and 

marriage. 

“After the marine corps, I like safe, I 

like not getting shot at. Unless you’re an 

accountant in Kabul, you’ll probably be 

OK,” Denning said behind his sunglasses. 


REAL TALK 

Relationships 

CURRENTS 54 

on Campus 

WRITTEN BY: 

KARADANNER 


SAFEENAPADDER 

CURRENTS 55

On my first day of class at Pepperdine, my 

professor joked that no one at Pepperdine 

ever dates. Six months later, I overheard 

several upperclassmen talking about getting a “ring 

by spring.” Utterly confused, I thought to myself, “I 

thought no one dated? Come spring of senior year, 

am I going to be single one day and married the 

next? Where’s the in-between?” It’s two years later 

and I still don’t have the answer, so I asked two single 

Pepperdine students, two engaged students and 

two married students what they thought. 

JUSTIN & TAYLER BECK 

[NEWLYWEDS] 

When did you start dating and how 

did you meet? 

Mrs.: We started dating December 2011 and got married 

July 27th, 2013. 

Mr.: We met in high school. She was a freshman when 

I was a junior and she started dating one of my friends. 

They broke up, but it had nothing to do with me. Then 

we started dating a few months later. 

What expectations do you have and what 

do you look for in a potential relationship? 

Mrs.: Faith is a big one. Someone who has the same 

values as you and is a believer so the two of you can 

work on that together. 

Mr.: Somebody who is forgiving, willing to support you 

and someone who you are attracted to. 

What is the presence of relationships like 

at Pepperdine? 

Mrs.: What I’ve gotten from everyone is that there’s no 

presence of relationships and no dating life. That’s the 

biggest complaint I hear in my small groups is that it’s 

either nothing or it’s really serious. There’s no in-between 

dating. I never hear any of my friends say “Oh, 

I’m going on a date.” 

Do Pepperdine students have different 

relationship expectations? 

Mrs.: I think for a Christian couple, it’s expected that 

they’re going to stay pure. 

Mr.: It depends on whom you talk to. I think we have 

a wide variety of perspectives because not everyone 

goes to Pepperdine for the religious aspects. 

Have your relationship views changed 

since coming to Pepperdine? 

Mrs.: I think they just reaffirm them more than they 

change them. Pepperdine kind of keeps you accountable. 

When I went to California Polytechnic State University 

at San Luis Obispo, it was crazy, everyone was 

doing whatever he or she wanted with anyone. 

Mr.: I don’t think mine really have. One of the reasons I 

chose Pepperdine is because it aligns with my views. 

I grew up in the Church of Christ, so Pepperdine just 

reinforced my relationship views. 

EDWIN HERRERA DURAN 

[SINGLE] 



At Pepperdine there are only two types of relationships. 

Either people meet, start dating, and spend every minute 

with each other and eventually get engaged or the 

couple only hooks up and they aren’t necessarily exclusive 

with each other. 



My views have changed a little. There was a time freshman 

year I wanted a relationship bad because I wanted 

to spend all my time with one special person. Then 

I realized I’m young, in college, and can’t be tied down 

by another person. 



Pepperdine students have totally different expectations 

of a relationship than most college students. Over 

time, being exposed to such polar opposite styles of 

relationships, forces one to choose a side, so people 

either become that couple that does everything together 

and posts annoying love photos or the person 

that just hooks up and doesn’t want anything serious. 



Currently I would say I have no expectations in a relationship 

because I am not seeking a relationship. 

I like someone who spends time with me, but not all 

their time. Someone who is spontaneous and makes 

me try new things but also has some sort of stability. 

Someone who can confront me and not be passive 

aggressive. 

JAZMINE OROZCO 

[SINGLE] 


do you look for in a potential 

relationship? 

I have to be friends with the person for quite some 

time just to get a gauge of what they are like in different 

types of situations when they’re not trying to 

impress me. Every girl says they want someone who 

can make them laugh and who’s their best friend, but 

at the end of the day I think that trust and loyalty are 

underrated and not emphasized enough. 



Absolutely. I transferred to Pepperdine as a junior, 

and the relationship culture at my other university is 

entirely different than what I thought it to be here. I 

was in a relationship the entire time there, so coming 

here I wanted to focus on myself and my goals. I 

don’t have room in my life for any sort of committed 

relationship. I don’t know if that reflects on how busy 

everyone at Pepperdine is or just me personally. 



There are very few relationships at Pepperdine that 

are private. Everyone knows who’s in a relationship, 

who’s single and how their relationship or lack thereof 

is going. Everyone is very involved in things that I 

feel should be kept between two individuals. 



It depends on what community you are most heavily 

involved in. Some people feel pressured to join 

a couples Bible study or to move things faster than 

they’re ready to so that people know they’re dating. 

It really just depends who they surround themselves 

with, but I think its pretty typically with people our 

age in general there are always these kinds of pressures 

on relationships. 


CHRISTINA HARPER & DANIEL MATTOX 

[ENGAGED] 

When did you start dating and how 

did you meet? 

Christina: We started dating last March, but we’ve 

known each other all four years of Pepperdine, since 

freshman year. We laugh about it now because we’ve 

done everything together. We went abroad to Buenos 

Aires together, we were NSO leaders together, but we 

were always in different groups. So until we talked 

one-on-one, there wasn’t anything there. 

What expectations do you have, and what 


Christina: My biggest expectation was that I just wanted 

to meet someone and find someone who loved 

God and who was a loving person, not only to me, but 

also to others. But, God was first. 

Daniel: I had the same expectation, that’s why I think 

it worked out so well. I think that when you love God, 

then you’re going to love other people and have very 

similar goals. 

What is the presence of relationships 

like at Pepperdine? 

Daniel: I’ve noticed this year, there’s a lot more people 

dating. For the most part there’s a lot of pressure on 

it. If you date someone then people are really nervous 

about it. I came from a high school where no one made 

a big deal about it, but if you date here, it’s a huge deal. 

Christina: I think it’s hard too because it’s such a small 

school and everyone knows everyone’s business. 

Before we were even dating people were saying, “Oh 

Christina and Daniel are dating.” And I was like, “what, 

no we’re not!” In my mind, I was thinking he hasn’t 

asked me to be his girlfriend. Pepperdine’s such a 

small school compared to a public school where people 

date and break up and it’s fine and you move on. 



Christina: Absolutely. Here, it’s really high pressure. 

Even a couple months in people ask, “Are you in love? 

Is he the one? Are you guys going to get married?” At 

other schools, it’s different. My friends at public, secular 

schools say the hookup comes first and then you 

decide if you want to date and it’s not serious and you 

can date for three years and it still may not be serious. 

Daniel: People here date for marriage. They don’t date 

just to get to know people or get to know themselves 

and what they like. 



Christina: I don’t think they’ve really changed. I’ve been 

surprised because I think that you can date someone 

and if it doesn’t work out, you break up and it’s fine. But 

at Pepperdine, that doesn’t happen. Everything is on a 

huge scale and everything is a big deal. But my views 

of dating someone who I can see myself with haven’t 

changed. 

Daniel: I come from a background that says you can 

date someone and not marry them, which is totally 

opposite of Pepperdine. I think people should date for 

marriage, but not make a big deal if it doesn’t work out 

because it’s still a learning experience and you both 

grow from it. The pressure shouldn’t be there. Dating 

isn’t as big of a deal as people make it out to be. 

BEATING 

THE 

CLOCK 

DANIELLEDIMEGLIO 

It was a warm day in Worcester, 

Mass. — warm enough 

for a picnic and some good 

old-fashioned flag football. Nineyear-old 

John Cormier watched 

as his father sprinted left, then 

faked right, clutching the ball 

to his chest and moved swiftly 

toward yet another touchdown. 

In his genes, John shares his 

father’s height, athleticism and a 

rare (and deadly) disorder. 

WRITTEN BY: 


MONIQUEBATAC 

CURRENTS 58 

CURRENTS 59

Another spin to the right on another 

play, his father couldn’t help but laugh 

as he chased down the opposition and 

lunged forward to pull off the flag. He 

landed on his chest, yet again, a valiant 

competitor worthy of another point 

just for his effort. Only this time, John’s 

father had trouble getting up. Time 

seemed to stop. His father ached of severe 

pain in his stomach and was too 

weak to continue. 

Panicked, family members rushed 

him to the hospital. Everyone would 

soon learn that he was experiencing an 

abdominal aortic rupture, one he didn’t 

know he had. But by the time doctors 

made the diagnosis, it was too late. 

Unbeknownst to John, that rare disorder 

would claim the life of his father 

that day and change John’s life forever. 

Doctors regretfully informed his family 

that John’s father had passed away 

from Marfan Syndrome, a connective 

tissue disorder that can lead to severe 

damage in the cardiovascular system. 

Marfan is passed down genetically. After 

a series of tests, John would learn 

within weeks of his father’s death that 

he, too, had the same disorder. 

From that point forward, John lived 

his life thinking he would die at the age 

of 37, the same age his father fell victim 

to 

{0} 

the condition. 

Tick, tick. John Cormier made it past 

37, and counting, but it hasn’t been 

easy. Now 43 years old and an academic 

adviser at Pepperdine University for 

the past two years, he leads me into the 

conference room of OneStop for our 

scheduled interview. He’s a tall man in 

a nice suit, instantly warm and genuine. 

We take our seats at the table and he 

immediately hands me a grocery bag. 

Perplexed, I asked what was inside. 

“Home-made pesto sauce with gnocchi 

pasta to take back to the dorm. Cooking 

is my hobby and I often cook for fellow 

employees,” he said. The way the pasta 

looked and smelled, I was more than 

happy to accept the kind gesture. 

John grew up 30 minutes outside 

of Boston in Worcester, a rural, steel 

mill town. “The film ‘American Hustle’ 

filmed there because the buildings and 

surroundings still haven’t changed,” he 

said laughingly as he reminisced over 

his childhood town. 

As employees at the University of 

Massachusetts, John’s father worked 

as a medical librarian for the Memorial 

Hospital in Worcester and his mother 

worked at the university as a secretary 

for a psychiatrist. He grew up in a blue 

collar, Catholic home with his younger 

brother and sister. 

John tells me he was an active kid. 

He’d often play in the woods and ride 

his bicycle around town. His favorite 

pastime was riding bicycles. On weekends, 

he would fix up muscle cars and 

soup up the engines. There wasn’t 

much nightlife in his rural town so he 

passed the time doing repairs and stay- 

ing outdoors. 

“After my dad died, I didn’t really 

think about my condition until high 

school. I was only aware of it because 

other people treated me differently. I 

was the kid whose dad had died. It emphasized 

the mortality issue even more 

because I thought I was only going to 

live as long as my dad did.” 

Without any published research 

readily available, medical organizations 

or proper technology at the time, John 

suspected his timeline to be that of his 

father’s. Doctors never told him otherwise. 

The lack of information available 

led to several rounds of testing. “I was 

poked and prodded by specialists who 

were trying to understand my condition. 

I was kind of treated like a lab animal.” 

Through all the testing, which was 

both mentally and physically exhausting, 

John remained stoic. He had faith 

in his doctors. He tells me that acting 

angry or defying his doctors would only 

harm himself. He did exactly as they 

told him, without any defiance or hesitation. 

He still does. Tough for a young adolescent 

at the time, but he knew there 

wasn’t a choice. 

When John graduated high school 

and enrolled at UMass, he was ready to 

start a new phase in his life. “It wasn’t 

until I went to college and started studying 

philosophy that I wasn’t afraid of living 

anymore.” 

His college years completely altered 

his views on life as he studied different 

philosophies of mortality. He studied 

psychology in depth and began 

self-conscious reflection of his own 

existence. Though his studies were 

transformative in many ways, nothing 

changed the fact that death felt so near. 

“There wasn’t a physical reality that I 

was going to live through anything until 

I actually lived through it.” 

Tick, tick. There it was again. The 

ever so soft ticking sound of what 

seemed to be a clock in the conference 

room. But there was no clock. I ignore it. 

He continues on. 

He pours me a cup of coffee and 

is rather calm as he continues to talk 

about the severity of his condition. He 

never once sheds a tear or becomes 

overwhelmed with emotion. For someone 

who has felt the presence of death 

his whole life, he remains technical 

in his descriptions — informative, yet 

somewhat distant in his detailed recollections. 

He tells me about the high-risk surgeries 

he’s had over the years and the 

aortic valve replacement surgery he 

had in college. “There was going to 

be a 70 percent chance of paralysis. I 

knew the potential risks, but I had to go 

through with it, and thankfully, I did not 

fall victim to that 70 percent.” 

Since then, he’s had two more major 

open-heart surgeries, one to replace the 

descending aortic valve and another to 

fix unexpected failures from his previous 

surgeries. "That’s the thing about 

Marfan," he says, "just because you 

go through with the surgeries doesn’t 

mean everything will miraculously be 

resolved." He has a 21-inch scar on his 

back to prove it. 

“When you’re under [anesthesia] for 

14 hours, you don’t come out the same 

person. Mentally, I used to be very analytical 

and I’m not anymore. I also try 

to go on walks as much as possible and 

remain very active. I don’t know what I’d 

do without walking.” 

The months in recovery were extremely 

trying, but John found ways to 

help his ailments subside. 

“After my dad died, I spent a lot of 

time alone and I would buy a lot of comedy 

records. Coming out of surgeries, 

Jimmey Kimmel’s humor and Rufus 

Wainwright’s music helped me through 

to recovery and distracted me from the 

pain.” 

As John reflects on the songs and 

comedy skits that helped him stay 

strong, he tells me he never thought 

that a future reality was possible or that 

he would still be alive today. He never 

spent time preparing for the future, 

such as thinking about raising a family 

or planning retirement. Instead, he 

chose to enjoy life and embrace each 

moment while he still could, so much so 

that he created a bucket list with a trip 

to Australia at the very top. 

“I’ve always wanted to see a Cassowary 

bird. To be something that big and 

complex and the fact that humans are 

entering their environment and they’re 

becoming extinct, I just had to see the 

thing. I had my passport in hand and 

just booked a flight to Australia.” 

For those students who visit John in 

OneStop, you can see pictures from his 

trip hanging in his office. 

“It was one of the best trips of my life. 

There are so many other things I hope 

to check off my list one day.” 

We continue to talk about different 

places in the world that he would love 

to visit like Aruba or Barcelona, and I finally 

ask him what brought him to the 

West Coast from Worcester. 

He tells me how he traveled back 

and forth between California and Massachusetts 

for about 14 years. He has 

family here, but he especially enjoys 

the warmer weather. “Coming out here 

was just for me. I wanted a place to live 

where I could go for a walk year round 

and not deal with the hampering of New 

England cold weather. I’m on blood 

thinners, which would make the cold 

more difficult to deal with over there.” 

Once he moved to Southern California, 

he applied for a position at 

OneStop, which he found online and 

was later asked to become an academic 

adviser. “I was looking for a job where I 

wouldn’t have to commute very far and 

I would be around like-minded people 

who share the same sense of ethics and 

Christian values.” 

“I really care about the students who 

come in here and that’s what I take 

pride in. If people need me to come in 

early or stay late, I will do so.” 

As I stare down at his prepared dish 

and my soon-to-be dinner, I know he 

means it. 

Tick. Tick. “Do you hear that sound?” 

he asks. The room goes silent, except 

I can faintly hear the soft ticking noise 

once again. I nod yes. 

“If I’m in a quiet room with other people, 

they can hear the ticking. It’s the 

cusps opening and closing from the 

carbon aortic valve in my heart. I live 

with that sound in my head every moment 

of my life ... It took me about a year 

to block out the sound.” 

I listen closely again in awe. I had 

never met anyone who had gone 

through so much and remained so 

mentally strong. Every audible beat of 

his heart reminds John not only of his 

condition, but also of his strength and 

all he has overcome. 

CURRENTS 60 

CURRENTS 61

Let the awakening be the renewal. 

[sixwordstory] 


MONIQUEBATAC 

Everyone responds to 

change in a unique way. 

Some struggle with the 

darkness that tries to 

consume them, while 

others embrace the 

awakening. In the end, 

all we are left with are 

learned experiences, a 

fresh start and a feeling 

of hope. 

CURRENTS 63

HOW TO 

CONFRONT 

POST-GRAD 

ANXIETIES 

WRITTEN BY: 

JENNAWELSH 

What's your major? We've all been asked 

this question at least once (OK, probably a 

hundred times) throughout college. Then the 

dreaded following question: What are you 

going to do with that? It's a question that 

tends to send a shiver of fear down your spine 

... or maybe that's just me. For some, the idea 

of graduating is exciting — the world is your 

canvas on which to paint your unique future. 

But let's be real. For most of us, it's just plain 

scary. Top fears include securing a job, paying 

off student debt, finding a place to live, 

coping with living completely independently 

and leaving the predictability of college and 

classes. For Pepperdine in particular, the 712 

seniors who currently comprise this academic 

year's graduating class are charged with the 

impending task of confronting these fears 

head-on. Yet their post-graduation anxieties 

are fears they may have been confronting 

since their first year of college. Although the 

emotional whirlwind accompanying these seniors' 

upcoming graduation is likely bringing 

such anxieties to the forefront, confronting 

them actually doesn't have to be too scary. 

Below are some of the common anxieties 

echoed by Pepperdine students along with 

some tips on how to handle them. 

"Oh crap, where am I gonna go 

from here?" 

- Freshman Michelle Sastraatmadja 

Freshman Michelle Sastraatmadja expressed 

a broad fear with her first thought on 

post-graduation. So if you're like Michelle 

and still have no clue what you want to 

do when you graduate, just breathe and 

remember the world is vast. You have 

time to explore different internships 

and opportunities — this will help build 

your resume while also exploring what 

you're genuinely passionate about. 

"The thought of actually 

managing my own money and 

finances really freaks me out." 

- Freshman Rachel Hews 

Calling yourself a "broke college student" 

is a common joke throughout college, 

but once you graduate, that laughter 

quickly escalates to tears. Managing 

your money and other responsibilities, 

however, isn't as scary as it seems. The 

biggest tip for alleviating the stress of 

money management is to start now. 

Excel has some very straightforward 

templates specifically for college students 

to use when creating their first 

budget. By learning such budgeting 

skills now, you'll be in the habit of creating 

a manageable budget, and by the 

time you graduate you'll be in the habit 

of balancing your finances. See: http:// 

office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/ 

college-student-budget-TC102264317. 

aspx 

"I watch my friends internships 

turn into their dream jobs, but I'm 

worried that my internship won't 

do the same." 

- Michelle Sastraatmadja 

Sometimes it can be hard to look at 

people who seem like they have it all together, 

while you feel utterly lost and a 

complete mess. Just remember, even if 

your internship doesn't turn into your 

dream job, it's the experience that matters. 

It's something on your resume that 

wasn't there before. Experience is experience, 

which always adds value to you 

as a future employee. Also, enjoy each 

step of your life, breathe, and realize 

what you're doing right now isn't necessarily 

what you'll be doing a year or 

even a month from now. 

"I'm most nervous about 

starting all over again." 

- Freshman Max States. 

The idea of starting over is a really 

scary one. But just think back to when 

you were in high school coming to Pepperdine. 

Even if you knew some people 

here, the whole idea of finding classes, 

making friends and fitting in were all 

things that probably ran through your 

mind. With each new step in life, there 

are new challenges and lessons to be 

learned. But you made it this far, so you 

are clearly adapting to your life as you 

grow. Again, breathe — probably the 

easiest and most useful tool for getting 

through anything — and allow yourself 

to learn and fully experience everything. 

"The struggle to be actually 

successful and respected in my 

job is what's really 

nerve-wracking." 

- Junior Kevin Daniel 

Competition and success are two 

things that drive our society (I know, I 

know, I'm playing the let's blame society 

card). This can either be helpful or 

utterly terrifying. Just keep in mind the 

reason why you're going after the job 

you are, and focus on setting short-term 

goals to help you achieve your longterm 

dream of success. Think about 

what you struggle with the most. Do 

you have trouble staying motivated with 

your schoolwork? Start out by setting a 

weekly goal of how many pages you're 

going to study for your political science 

quiz or how much work you're going to 

tackle on that English paper each day 

until the deadline. Take small steps at 

first, and soon these goals will just become 

part of your second-nature. 

Be cautious though and try not to 

think too far ahead. Take time to enjoy 

life. Go to the beach, dip your toes 

in the warm sand, take a deep breath of 

fresh air and find a reason to smile — 

because life is scary, but it can also be 

a blessing. It all depends on your perspective. 


LET’S 

GET 

CRAFTY 

WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY: 

ALEXANDERHAYES 


CRAFT 

Hot glue the twigs tightly 

side-by-side to your jar or 

tin can. Try painting the 

jar or can for extra color to 

show through. 

Secure the twigs with twine 

or any other fabric you may 

find lying around. This step 

is optional as the glue will 

fully secure the twigs, but 

you may want to add your 

own touch. 

WHAT YOU 

NEED 

• used jar or tin can 

• bundle of twigs 

• hot glue or twine 

• flowers 

Accent with the flowers to 

your liking. Mix it up by adding 

unique flowers, plants 

or foliage you find. Keep an 

open eye — beauty is all 

around you. 

CURRENTS 74 

CURRENTS 75

Currents Magazine Spring 2015

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