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LOYOLAN
Staff cartoonists react
to the Charlie Hebdo
attacks.
Page 8
Check out what puts
LMU's improv team "Laser
Squad Bravo" a cut above.
Page 7
EST. 1921
VOLUME 92 I ISSUE 40
Campus
warned
to avoid
SAE
DPS continues investigation
into alleged student rape at
Sigma Alpha Epsilon house.
Julia Sacco
News Editor
@_JuliaSacco_
Information about the investigation of
the alleged rape of an LMU student that took
place on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, revealed to
the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
and LMU’s Department of Public Safety (DPS)
that the indecent occurred at a Halloween
party organized and hosted by Sigma Alpha
Epsilon (SAE).
The incident took place at the 8700 block
of Yorktown Avenue where the fraternity,
not officially recognized by LMU, has an
unsanctioned house and frequently holds off-
campus parties.
Upon obtaining the information about the
circumstances of the alleged rape on Nov. 1
and its link to Sigma Alpha Epsilon, DPS sent
out a second alert and safety bulletin on Dec.
5, warning students not to attend any off-
campus parties or participate in any events
associated with the Greek organization.
The LMU Alert also stated that, “Very
See DPS Alert | Page 2
Monday Funday Block Party
kicks off Spring semester
Leslie Irwin | Loyolan
On Monday Jan. 12, residents of Rains Hall, McCarthy Hall, O'Malley Hall and the Leavey Apartments gathered on O’Malley
Lawn for the Monday Funday Block Party, hosted by the resident advisers. Attendees began their spring semester with
a photo booth, flash tattoos, snowcones, volleyball, cotton candy and more. The first 125 residents to show up also
received a free meal from the Belly Bombz food truck.
New bust remembers
former LMU president
Emelia Shelton | Loyolan
This new bust of Robert B. Lawton, SJ. in front of Lawton Plaza honors and remembers
the 14th president of LMU who was appointed in 1999. During his presidency, Lawton
oversaw the growth of the campus and the drafting of LMU's 20 year Master Plan.
Die-in honors deaths
of Brown and Gamer
Students took part in a “die-in” at
die annual Christmas tree lighting
to remember Brown and Gamer.
Zaneta Pereira
Editor in Chief
@zanyzaneta
In a somber and poignant demonstration last
semester, approximately 30 students gathered
in front of the Christmas tree at ASLMU’s
annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 5. As
the lights on the tree turned on, they raised
their hands, fell to the ground and lay there for
four and a half minutes to signify the four and
a half hours that Michael Brown’s body was left
on the ground.
This “die-in” was oneof many thattookplace
across the nation in response to the deaths of
Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner
in Staten Island, New York.
Senior sociology major Maya Combs
participated because she saw it as a brilliant
way of “waking up the campus and reminding
the community of the tragedy the Brown family
continues to face this holiday season. It was
bold and it was necessary.”
According to Sofia Hernandez, a sophomore
theology and Spanish double major who also
participated in the die-in, the idea for the
protest developed during the Umoja (unity)
vigil that was held on campus on Dec. 4.
Following the vigil some of those present
discussed the recent die-in staged at Columbia
University's Christmas Tree Lighting.
According to Hernandez, “Faculty present in
those conversations chuckled and brushed off
the idea and it was then that we realized that if
the die -in was going to happen, we would have
to work on our own.”
According to Hernandez, not only were
students advised against planning the die -in
but “some of us were completely scared and
rattled out of participating. ... Administration,
faculty, alumni, donors and students were
upset by it, asking us to not disrupt an event
that focuses on making sure our students are
coddled in their protective bubbles with free
hot cocoa and fake snow.”
However, Senior Vice President of Student
Affairs Lane Bove said that no one in her office
was officially informed about the die-in. She
noted that the office didhear rumors that it was
being planned and their concern was solely one
of safety. According to Bove , “ 99 percent of the
issues with protests have to do with safety - the
safety of those who are protesting and those
who are watching and may engage positively or
negatively with the protest.”
Specifically, Bove explained, “The issue with
the die -in had nothing to do with content but
with logistics because it took place during the
Christmas Tree Lighting on the terrace, which
is a small area, and we expected around 1,500
people, including small children.”
Senior film and television production and
theatre arts double major Samuel Lock, who
identified himself as a “white ally,” supported
the die-in by filming it and publishing it on his
YouTube channel, S team Bun ny Pr od . He cited
the possibility of negativity against protestors as
the reason the die -in was not publicized. “The
last thing we need is someone at this school to
get hurt, injured or expelled for their beliefs. It’s
See Die-in | Page 2
