SPRING 2013 The Birds &the Bees EDM Scene That’s on Campus All the Rave SEX p. 9 p. 25 p. 22 BenOne Holcomb pushesTough the limits Mudderof human survivalism SPRING 2013 TABLE OF TABLE Contents FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE Let’s Talk About Sex 9 The History of EDM 25 The Breakfast Club 28 Comm students stimulate Formerly underground music Looks can deceive. Five Pep discourse on campus. genre goes mainstream. students defy stereotypes. DOWNLOAD THE INTERACTIVE, TABLET|MOBILE VERSION OF THIS ISSUE FOR EXCLUSIVE BEHIND THE SCENES PHOTOS & VIDEOS @ CURRENTS.PEPPERDINE-GRAPHIC.COM. CURRENTS SPRING 2013 |Page 5 FEATURE Southern and City 44 Uncover a new wardrobe where romantic southern belle meets urban chic. EDITORS “Truth, having nothing to fear from investigation, should be pursued relentlessly in every discipline.” These words, excerpted from Pepperdine’s mission statement, have been the driving force of my journalism education since I landed in Malibu in 2009. As I reflect on my final weeks as a student here, I realize that we all hold our own reality in the palms of our hands. After all, reality is constructed in the definitions we accept. In my pursuit of truth, I met a beauty queen who serves God over the material world, an artist who zips himself in a body bag to experience rebirth and an agnostic who finds comfort in chatting with the local homeless. Pepperdine, it has been an honor to tell your stories for the past four years. I hope this magazine mirrors the community it serves, a community that consistently challenges me to expect the unexpected. EDITOR Special thanks to: my parents for unconditionally supporting my creative pursuits. Courtenay Stallings, for believing in me since I first stumbled upon the newsroom as a freshman. Elizabeth Smith, for your mentorship, advising, FEATURE friendship and fashion advice. Danielle, Ashley, Becca, Lauren and everyone who gave Currents their magical touch. Tying the Knot 12 American Psycho 22 ‘Blue-collared Grit’ 37 J Students who got engaged Ben Holcomb pushes the Artist Chuck Arnoldi’s jour- during college years weigh in limits of human endurance. ney from Ohio burbs to So- on married life. There will be blood. Cal avant-garde. The story goes like this: Orpheus and Eurydice were young and in love, but only a few days after their marriage Eurydice was bitten by a serpent and died. In an act of grief, Orpheus journeyed to the underworld to beg Hades Enlightened Art 16 Restaurant Reviews 40 to return Eurydice to the world of the living. So Hades offered Orpheus a deal. If he could walk all the way back Theatre prof moonlights as Serving up locally grown to the surface of the earth with Eurydice behind him and the LA ballet’s lighting food in an urban jungle. never look back, she could leave the underworld and designer. be with him once more. On his way up Orpheus was overcome with anxiety and could not stop himself from looking back; at the very moment he laid eyes on her, Eurydice was lost forever. As you flip through the pages of this magazine, I hope CO-EDITOR Vintage Venues 20 Debt Before Designer 48 you are pleasantly surprised by something. I hope you have your expectations shattered. I hope you find yourself A guide to the best live Recessionistas turn to frugal Editorial raising your eyebrows in disbelief, and I hope you learn music in LA’s historic hubs. Assistants Danielle fashion finds. something new. Mostly I hope that unlike Orpheus, you will DiMeglio (left) look to the future and to the unexpected, instead of what hasR passed. and Ashley Rhame This year I had the incredible opportunity to work with a myriad of talented (right) play dress up on the set of individuals through Pepperdine Graphic Media. At the beginning of the semester, Southern and City. Jessica and I had many conversations about what this magazine would encompass and how it would come together. As the publication progressed, I realized our goal was to embody our experiences, learning to expect the JOIN PGM ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, & INSTAGRAM FOR THE LATEST unexpected. I’ve learned from everyone at PGM, and I know it is because of F NEWS|PICTURES|VIDEOS OR VISIT US @ CURRENTS.PEPPERDINE-GRAPHIC.COM. them that Currents has gone from being a few loose ideas to a reality far greater than I could have hoped. Page 6 | CURRENTS SPRING 2013 Currents Jessica Abu-Ghattas Rebecca Herron Lauren Herr Chelsea Gest Alex Rangel Danielle DiMeglio Ashley Rhame Ruth Book Elizabeth Smith Courtenay Stallings JESSICA ABU-GHATTAS DANIELLE ACCOVELLI LAUREN BALDWIN DANIELLE DIMEGLIO ALLEGRA HOBBS BEN HOLCOMB BRITT KIDD RACHEL MILLER GRACE STEARNS CHELSEA GEST REBECCA HERRON JEN KIM MEAGAN MCCARTY KELLY O’CONNOR BRANDON SCHEIRMAN SELIN UZAL LAUREN HERR REBECCA HERRON COURTNEY NGUYEN SYDNEY PAPENHAUSEN SELIN UZAL ALEX RANGEL The Talk SexWORDS BY JESSICA ABU-GHATTAS PHOTOS BY CHELSEA GEST ity is higher than many would predict ter, reads, “One of [Pepperdine’s] values is quired to decide whether to consent.” but not as high as national averages.” the recognition that every person is created Further, confusion about what con- Approximately 48 percent of Pepper- in the image of God, is of infinite value, and stitutes sexual assault may contribute OF PEPPERDINE dine students identify at least one sexual therefore, should be treated with dignity and to fewer reports. “Remember that be- partner in the previous year (including respect. Sexual assault, in all forms, violates ing ‘under the influence’ is no excuse STUDENTS REPORT oral, vaginal and anal intercourse), ac- the sanctity of the human body and spirit and for sexual assault. Legally, you are still cording to the 2011 data, compared to will not be tolerated within our community.” responsible for your actions. A partner 71 percent of college students nationally. However, the Counseling Center rec- is unable to consent to your sexual ad- AT LEAST ONE “I think that does say we can- ognizes that students may be discouraged vances if she is intoxicated,” accord- not have our ‘heads in the sand,’ think- from reporting a friend’s, or their own, sex- ing to the Counseling Center’s website. SEXUAL PARTNER IN ing no one is sexually active,” Horton ual assault for fear of facing consequences said. “On the other hand, it would be a for an alcohol violation. To encourage vic- Resources myth to think, ‘everybody is doing it.’” tims to report their assaults, Pepperdine The Student Health Center promotes THE PREVIOUS YEAR The difference between Pepperdine offers immunity for both victims and Good the sexual health services offered on 48% and the national average points to reli- Samaritans who report sexual assault. campus by having an annual STI test- (ORAL, VAGINAL AND ANAL) COMPARED TO 71% OF gious affiliation, but Horton notes that de- “Under California law, sex is considered ing day for the first 50 students as well gree of religiosity only nominally influences nonconsensual, and therefore rape ... if a as convocations. Senior Michael Are- decision-making when it comes to sex. person is incapable of giving consent be- valo serves on the Student Health Advi- COLLEGE STUDENTS NATIONALLY “Most every- sory Board, which body says they helps advocate are Christian, but for students by that doesn’t seem raising awareness to really change of the Student their sexual activ- Health Center ity,” Horton said. and its capabili- “As I mentioned, ties and lobbying OF STUDENTS WHO FEEL people vary for health poli- in what they cies on campus. JUDGED IF THEY TALK mean by identify- “Our outreach ing as Christian, consists of tabling from mostly a in the Caf, digital ABOUT SEX OPENLY ON demographic signage and con- variable to a very vocation slides PEPPERDINE’S CAMPUS personal, ‘this to promote STI is the worldview awareness,” Are- through which I valo said. “The try to live my life.’” one thing we can- 51% For those who not promote is say their Chris- condoms. A cou- Let’s Talk About Sex munication & Conflict class. After a class uality, 59 percent claim to abide by it. tian faith is not ple of years back “And don’t have sex, because you will discussion in which sex was voted the “Many students that we spoke with, important or only the administra- get chlamydia. And die.” These words from most difficult subject to discuss openly on publicly and privately, expressed that somewhat tion got upset iconic high school film, “Mean Girls,” ironi- campus, graduate students Lauren Ander- sexuality at Pepperdine was not talked important, 70 with the Health cally seem to summarize the sexual climate son, Matthew Drummond and Liz Stewart about enough in open forums,” Drummond percent had at Center for pro- at Pepperdine. Unlike most universities, and undergraduates Kelly O’Connor and said. “Everybody has strong opinions on least one sexual viding condoms where for many students sex and alcohol Craig Taylor decided to conduct surveys the issue of Christianity and sexuality. partner in the and since then are a part of daily routine, students who gauging the opinions of the student body. We respect all views and want to make last year, accord- they had to stop.” attend Pepperdine elect — as adults — to “Our group decided to pursue this sure that all perspectives are heard, es- ing to the 2011 Birth control and adhere to Pepperdine’s sometimes unclear topic to continue the discussion and help pecially those that might be typically un- NCHA. For those sexually trans- policies. Pepperdine’s Community Policy on bridge the gap between spirituality and derrepresented on a Christian campus.” who say their mitted infection sexuality dictates that as a student, sexual sexual health,” Drummond said.