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LOYOLAN
VOL.71 * N0. 21 LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY March
23, 1994
Special Games Successful Despite Rain
By Lynn Segas
News Editor
* day of dreary weather and
persistent rain failed to dampen
the spirits of the participants of the
17th Annual Special Games Big
Day, which took place last Saturday
in Alumni Gym and Gersten Pavil¬
ion.
Over 300 athletes, 31 student
team leaders, 300 student coaches,
and 250 other volunteers all partici¬
pated in this year’s Games, which
was themed ‘These Are Days,” af¬
ter the 1 0,000 Maniacs song of the
same name. The events were origi¬
nally scheduled for the Sunken
Gardens, but due to the inclement
weather the ceremonies had to be
moved indoors. The staff had pre¬
pared for such a problem, so volun¬
teers quickly transferred the equip¬
ment, decorations, and individual
games into Gersten Pavilion and
Alumni Gym.
Big Day began with a parade
from Alumni Gym to Gersten, with
the participants being led by athlete
Matthew Paulson carrying the Olym¬
pic torch and joined by honors stu¬
dents from local junior high schools,
characters from Disney, the LMU
Pep Band, and supporting volun¬
teers.
Following the annual blessing of
the torch, Fr. Rolfs delivered the
invocation and several speakers ad¬
dressed the crowd, including Vi To,
Student Director of Special Games,
and Fr. Thomas O’Malley, S.J.,
President of the University.
The national Anthem was sung
by Kama Whelton, Promotion Co¬
ordinator, and was followed by an
athlete’s rendition of “Proud to Be
an American.”
Participation in events then be¬
gan, with athletes testing their de¬
termination and skills at booths of¬
fering everything from basketball
shooting to miniature golf to hockey.
In addition* other booths offered
non-athletic entertainment such as
face-painting, and the “Mellow Yel¬
low Booth,” which offered athletes
the opportunity to test their ability at
building structures out of large'in-
terlocking blocks.
Lunch for the athletes was pro¬
vided by Subway; in addition, Na
Koleaset up a Hawaiian lunch booth
in the lobby of Gersten.
The afternoon brought more ac¬
tivities and games, followed by the
Medal Ceremony at 2:30. All ath¬
letes received medals, as participa¬
tion in events was stressed over
competition. Following the Medal
Ceremony, the athletes and
coaches sang a variety of Special
Games songs together before pa¬
rading out to the Alumni Gym park¬
ing lot, where the athletes departed
for the day.
Athletes for the Games came from
a variety of organizations in and
around Los Angeles for the physi¬
cally and developmental^ chal¬
lenged. Athletes met withcoaches
on two Saturdays before Big Day for
practices.
Director Vi To commented on this
year’s Big Day: ‘This year’s suc¬
cess has been a result of asking
Ignatius the Lion jokes with one of the athletes during Big Day festivities as he compares his beard to that
of the athlete. Over 700 people participated in this year 's Big Day.
new questions and trying new things.
The Planning Committee and our
Moderator Bernice Russell have
dedicated their energies to making
this year the best ever.
“I want to let each of them know
how proud I am of the effort and
heart they have put into Special
Games.”
Athlete Matthew Paulson said,
‘This is my third year. I like how I can
participate in different games. It’s a
good experience.
“My first year here, I was ner- -
vous,” continued Paulson, who is
from the Foundation for The Junior
Blind. “But now it’s 1994, and this
morning I got to light the torch!”
Coach Amy Esslinger comented,
“I love Special Games because it’s
very fulfilling to work one on one
with amindividual, to get to know
that person, to be a part of that
person’s life. Just to know I touched
one person’s life makes me the
happiest person in the world.”
* Andy Sison, Assistant Director of
Admissions end Ignatians Advisor,
said, “I think the coaches might get
even more out of it than the ath¬
letes. And that’s a great thing, be¬
cause it shows you why we’re here
at Loyola Marymount.”
Loyola Marymount Jesuits Show Catholic Brotherhood
Photo courtesy of Bill Farrington
Fr. Thomas P. O'Malley, S.J., President of LMU, Fr. Chris Onyenobi, graudate student at LMU, and Fr.
Tom Rausch, S.J., Rector of the Jesuit Community at LMU, pose in native Nigerian attire.
By Lynn Segas
News Editor
Я
he brotherhood exhibited by
members of the Catholic priest¬
hood is unlike that of any other
group, as is demonstrated by the
current situation of Father Chris
Onyenobi, a visiting priest from Ni¬
geria.
Fr. Thomas P. O’Malley, S.J.,
President of LMU, and Fr. Thomas
Rausch, S.J., the Rector of the Je¬
suit Community at LMU, pose with
their Nigerian counterpart Fr. Chris,
a student at Loyola Marymount who
is working towards receiving his
undergraduate business degree.
Brother Farrington, Minister of
the Loyola Marymount Jesuit Com¬
munity, said, “Fr. Onyenobi is a
diocesan priest from Nigeria. How¬
ever, his country is currently being
ravaged by civil war, and the church
has no one who has been trained in
business to run the diocese.”
He continued, “He already has
his degrees in philosophy and the¬
ology from the seminary, but there
is nowhere overthere to train people
in business. Therefore, the bishop
sent Fr. Onyenobi over here to work
towards a business degree so that
when he returns to Nigeria he will be
better equipped to help run the dio¬
cese.”
Farrington continued, “He is cur¬
rently living in the Jesuit community
because his paperwork came in so
late that the diocese out here was
not able to place him in a parish.”
Over 60 Jesuits, both teachers
and retired members of the commu¬
nity, currently reside in Xavier Hall.
The Los Angeles Diocese only has
room for two non-national priests to
be placed. He has volunteered to
help out in several parishes around
the community and is also helping
with campus liturgy whenever he is
able.”
Campus Life —
Special Section
12-13
LMU Celebrates
Special Games
* — Arts & Entertainment
*•— Sports—
Strategies fox Success Explored in
New Book
Interview with Blind Melon
Lacrosse Team Remains
Undefeated
