Summer 2011
Higher Calling
For more than 30 years from 1921–55, Simon Rodia, an Italian immigrant, accumulated, assembled and constructed the Watts Towers — 17 sculptures, including three massive towers reaching to the sky, that evoke both playful randomness and meticulous order. English Professor Paul Harris has visited, studied, and written and taught about the towers for more than 20 years. To him, the Watts Towers, a National Historic Landmark, are a testament to one man’s workmanship, engineering talent, artistic vision and near-mystical sense of spirituality. Harris was interviewed by Editor Joseph Wakelee-Lynch.
A Conversation With Chick Russell ’75, ’78
Chick Russell '75, '78 is a show producer for Universal Studios. He was interviewed by Aaron Smith.
A Conversation With Chris Ayzoukian ’99, EMBA ’07
Chris Ayzoukian’s head and heart are in perfect harmony. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music theory and composition in 1999 and later returned to LMU and the Del Rey bluffs to a get a degree in the Executive M.B.A. program in 2007. Ayzoukian now is director of recorded media with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He was interviewed by Janis Rizzuto.
A Conversation with Alexandra Natapoff
Alexandra Natapoff is a professor of law at Loyola Law School. She is a nationally recognized expert on snitching in the criminal justice system and has written articles and given testimony before the U.S. Congress on confidential informant practices. Natapoff is the author of “Snitching: Criminal Informants and the Erosion of American Justice” (NYU Press, 2009). She was interviewed by Editor Joseph Wakelee-Lynch.
A Towering Achievement
For two years, California historian Kevin Starr researched LMU’s history to write the definitive chronicle of the university’s first 100 years. The result is a story that begins with the arrival of Catholic higher education in Los Angeles, and proceeds through a period of world wars, economic depression, massive societal change and a merger of two Catholic institutions, culminating with growth in the 21st century. The following is an excerpt drawn from the preface of Starr’s “Loyola Marymount University, 1911–2011: A Centennial History.” The book is available through the LMU bookstore See more about the centennial year here.
When Two Become One
Today’s LMU, one might say, was born in 1965 in explorations of affiliation, not unity.
Higher Calling
For more than 30 years from 1921–55, Simon Rodia, an Italian immigrant, accumulated, assembled and constructed the Watts Towers — 17 sculptures, including three massive towers reaching to the sky, that evoke both playful randomness and meticulous order. English Professor Paul Harris has visited, studied, and written and taught about the towers for more than 20 years. To him, the Watts Towers, a National Historic Landmark, are a testament to one man’s workmanship, engineering talent, artistic vision and near-mystical sense of spirituality. Harris was interviewed by Editor Joseph Wakelee-Lynch.
Knowing What’s Write
For the past four years, the byline of José Martinez appeared in almost every issue of the Los Angeles Loyolan. Martinez’s range was broad: a critique of a campus policy, a defense of the university’s mission, and even humor, which is a very serious assignment. Martinez, who graduated in May, grew as a writer before our eyes. We asked him to tell us what he learned. —The Editor
The Beach View
At LMU, geography is gift: beach, ocean and mountains are all nearby. From the Del Rey bluffs, the views of them are spectacular. But the greatest view may be the view of the possibilities, some of which extend our geography.
Las Vegas
After graduation in 2006, I moved back to Las Vegas, my hometown, and earned my law degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. What I find amazing since graduation is that my LMU experiences continue to impact my life.
Tradition Rules
Aleksandar Trifunovic ’02 and Jelena Stankovic ’05, ’07, were married Aug. 2, 2009, in Belgrade, the capital of their native Serbia.
The St. John’s Bible
Before the printing press was perfected, copies of the Bible were produced in a long, laborious process by monks.
The Fruit of Old Vines
Talk to Christopher Silva for a few minutes and you may start thinking that age is your friend. He’s convinced.
Big Day
Big Day, the third of the three days of LMU’s Special Games, is one when the present moment is all that matters. Months of preparation — by service orgs, Greek groups, the Student Veterans Group and others — morph into...
