While fire may be a natural cycle of the Santa Monica Mountains, short-term plant life recovery is not. “If you’re interested in Mediterranean ecosystems, you’re interested in fire,” said Marti Witter, a fire ecologist with the National Park Service. The Santa Monica Mountains are part of California’s natural chaparral environment. Shrubs with large leaves dominate the … [Read more...] about Woolsey Scars Show Ecological Recovery, Even as Fire Frequency Rises
Special Publications
Pepperdine’s New Reality — Trauma Revisited
Stages of recovery from trauma as described by Judith Herman. Photo courtesy of Centers for Innovation in Health, Mental Health and Social Services. The one-year anniversary of the Borderline Shooting and Woolsey Fire will have an impact on not just victims but also students and others present during the traumatic events, once again reminding them of events they may have … [Read more...] about Pepperdine’s New Reality — Trauma Revisited
Coming Back from Abroad
Photos by Hadley BiggsWhen the Borderline Shooting and Woolsey Fire happened, I was studying abroad in Florence, Italy. I was in Morocco for my travel break, a time of fun and relaxation. But when the shooting and fire happened, our vacation fell apart.When the news of the shooting broke, it was 2 a.m. in California and 10 a.m. in Morocco. I remember being unsure and scared … [Read more...] about Coming Back from Abroad
A Senior’s Side of the Story
Photo courtesy of Michael Kruel | Students sheltering in place in Payson Library look out the window at Pepperdine's Malibu campus on November 10, 2018, the morning after the Woolsey Fire surrounded the university. As I write this, I am sitting in the back corner of the library near the fireplace in one of the chairs where I slept during the shelter-in-place last year. Looking … [Read more...] about A Senior’s Side of the Story
First Responders Honored For One-Year Anniversary of Malibu Tragedies at W. Soccer Game
Photos by Ali Levens | Mike Rivera and Alex Abdalla smile at the crowd after being honored at halftime of the soccer game Saturday. “Come on, Pepp, remember who we’re playing for — let’s go!” Those were the words sophomore Trinity Watson said in the 20th minute of the women’s soccer game versus Pacific University on Oct. 26. During halftime, the Pepperdine soccer team … [Read more...] about First Responders Honored For One-Year Anniversary of Malibu Tragedies at W. Soccer Game