By Michael Travis
Editor in Chief
You might recognize freshman Andy Burke from driving by the guard booths at the entrances to campus, or from a ride he gave you in the middle of the night.
If you haven’t guessed, he’s a student officer for Public Safety. But he is also much more than that.
Burke is a biology major from Everett, Wash., which is about 20 miles north of Seattle, and hopes to break into a start-up biotechnology company that focuses on genetic research after going to graduate school at University of Washington.
He is also taking part in an unusual philanthropy put together by the resident and student advisors of Fifield and Rho residence halls.
Called Lockdown for Leukemia, the program raises money for childhood leukemia research. Burke will be one of two students who will stay in bed for five days without being allowed to leave.
This will let them experience first-hand what it is like for those who are afflicted by the disease.
The two participants will begin their extended rest today at 5 p.m. and will remain bedridden until Tuesday at noon.
And it won’t be a vacation, either. According to Burke, television and movie watching will be limited.
“My original plan was to watch TV and movies,” he said. “I can’t leave apparently, and they are limiting my TV and computer use, so I’m going to do a lot of reading and napping, I guess,” he said.
Pledges were collected based on how long the bedridden students would last. Burke said he didn’t plan on leaving and didn’t mind all that much.
“(My RA and SA) got permission from the dean and some of my professors, I don’t know how they did it but they are letting me miss class,” Burke said.
Aside from his philanthropic activities, Burke is a new member of the Pepperdine rugby team — a club sport .
He also plans on staying for a full year in the Florence International Program next year.
What’s the best thing about working for Public Safety?
You can park anywhere you want, when you’re in a Public Safety car. Escorting people around campus is all right. You get to pick up all the girls.
Get any phone numbers yet?
Not yet. I’m working on it.
What’s the rugby team like?
It’s a lot of fun. I thought it was going to be a lot like football, but it is much more physical than that. It’s mental and physical — you have to think and act fast.
How often do you scrum?
I don’t scrum. That’s not my thing. It’s just not fun, it’s just a lot more painful than positions on the field.
Who would win in a fight between Superman and Spider-Man?
Clearly Superman. He’s got the flying thing, he’s got the strength, he’s got the little laser-vision eye stuff. It wouldn’t even be a competition.
Who would win in a fight between a mad scientist and a mad geneticist?
Obviously the mad geneticist. We can modify genes and all sorts of other stuff. Geneticists definitely are better all around.
What’s your favorite food?
Teriyaki chicken.
What do you think about cloning?
I don’t see anything particularly wrong with it, I just don’t know why you’d want a copy of yourself anywhere. Why would you want an extra you? They say you’re not going to be the exact same anyway, you might look the same but you wouldn’t act the same. Besides, it would be too much competition.
What is your favorite thing about Pepperdine?
I like the location, and the classes are great. The climate is much better than Washington. Right now its about 35 (degrees) there and raining.
Do you have a favorite TV show?
My favorite would probably be one of the shows on the History Channel. (The show) “Modern Marvels” is pretty good. Finding out about the latest inventions and developments in technology is pretty interesting.
Anything interesting happen to you since you’ve been here?
I got my nose broken in the first rugby game I ever played. This guy’s elbow hit me by accident on an end line. It was pretty crazy, and it was bleeding all over the place.
Got any hobbies?
I like to download movies from the Internet, using Direct Connect.
Have you seen any stars yet?
Yeah, I went to the Latin Grammy Awards, and I sat next to Ali Landry. Shakira was there, along with a bunch of other Latin stars. Daisy Fuentes took my chair during the show.
Did you say anything to her?
I was thinking about it, but she had her whole entourage with her, and I figured, “nah.”
January 30, 2003
