Javon Cooley stands in front of his former apartment complex, a year after it burned down during the Palisades Fire. Photo and illustration by Melissa HoustonJan. 21, 2025.Two weeks since thousands of lives in Los Angeles had been turned upside down.Former Pepperdine professor Rachel Collins was lost driving around the Palisades. She and her husband, Troy, couldn't figure out … [Read more...] about A Home Reduced to Rubble
Franklin Fire
Opinion: As Time Passes, Don’t Forget PCH Crashes
Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer. The California Highway 1, best known as Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), runs directly in front of Pepperdine's campus. For many commuter students, faculty and staff, it is the most effective way of getting to school every day. I … [Read more...] about Opinion: As Time Passes, Don’t Forget PCH Crashes
Juniors Reflect on Fires from Afar
The Franklin Fire burns on a hillside near Malibu campus Dec. 10. Junior Matthew Miller said he received photos from friends on campus while he was thousands of miles away studying abroad in Switzerland. Photos courtesy of Matthew Miller For many incoming juniors, the December Franklin Fire and January Palisades Fire created a sense of terror from thousands of miles away. … [Read more...] about Juniors Reflect on Fires from Afar
How The Meaning of Home Evolves in College
The word “home” can carry many different, deeply personal meanings. It may be four walls and a roof, a location, a feeling or even a person. But for many, the meaning of home evolves with the transition to college. As summer comes to a close, Pepperdine students are saying goodbye to their hometowns and hello to their chosen homes. These homes become places where memories are … [Read more...] about How The Meaning of Home Evolves in College
Coping with Kids: The Aftermath of the Franklin and Palisades Fires
There is not a "How to..." book on helping kids cope with the trauma of the Franklin and Palisades fires. To overcome uncertainty, there are bits and pieces of advice that parents and local child experts can piece together as a community to overcome the challenges from the recent emergencies. Clinical Child Psychologist Genevieve Skale said some benefits come from a large … [Read more...] about Coping with Kids: The Aftermath of the Franklin and Palisades Fires





