Lets talk about JuicyCampus.com

I was one of about half a dozen students that attended the SGA meeting last night to discuss a resolution to ban access to the Web site from Pepperdine's campus. I was glad to see that the senators spent some time debating the topic before just voting to pass the resolution.

I am very disappointed that SGA had a knee-jerk reaction to try and censor the students they represent instead of use the thousands of student dollars and other resources at their disposal to actually attempt to solve this problem.

The bottom line here is that I do not want any group of students or administrators deciding for me or anyone else what Web site I should not be allowed to view. I did not vote for any member of SGA so they could attempt to govern students actions.

Asking the administration for censorship is dangerous and short sighted. The ban will not solve any problems. These are not posts being written by me as an editor at the Graphic, these posts are being written by you guys, your roommates, Greek brothers and sisters and people with too much time on their hands.

No one supports or agrees with whats happening on the Web site. SGA has formed a subcommittee that will hopefully have an actual dialogue with students about these issues instead of trying to govern student actions.

Graphic Fire Special Issue

While the wild fires were burning a group of editors from the Graphic produced this special section. To read more coverage and to see the photos in color check out on the Online Graphic.

'Canyon Fire' Brushes Pepperdine Photos

New Malibu 'Canyon Fire' Photos

New Malibu photos from 'Canyon Fire'

Malibu Times coverage of fire ends on a sweet note

Winds and anxieties seemed to have died down by the evening.

"There is ash still raining in the immediate vicinity, but the wind is not as strong as had been," said JB Bre, a member of Pepperdine's IT department who assisted the emergency response program.

Students received flashlights for cyclical blackouts and rested in the assurance that classes are cancelled tomorrow.

Read More >>>

Malibu Fire News

For fire updates, photos and video checkout this Web site.

Malibu 'Canyon Fire' video

Malibu fire

Video By: Star staff
10/21/07: A brushfire burning in the hills above Malibu has destroyed several homes and businesses in area.

Video by Anthony Plascencia, Chris Segal and John Scheibe

Students return to dorms, Monday classes cancelled

BY SHANNON KELLY
Editor In Chief

The Malibu fire is still zero percent contained and has burned more than 2000 acres, but students and staff have been told to return to their on-campus residences by Pepperdine’s emergency response team, according to the Emergency Operations Committee’s (EOC) associate vice president Rick Gibson.

Three homes and two commercial buildings have been confirmed destroyed and at least nine other residences have been damaged.

The structural loses include Malibu Presbyterian Church and Pepperdine faculty member, Connie James' house, which is close to the church. Flames also destroyed Malibu's famous Passion castle.

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Photos from Malibu 'Canyon Fire'

More pictures from Pepperdine's campus

Photos courtesy Sabrina Jones

Pictures from Campus

Photos Courtesy Thor Anderson

Pictures from Las Virgenes

Here is a picture of the brush from Las Virgenes.

More Pepperdine photos

Here is a photo from Sabrina Jones of students at the mailboxes in the TCC.

Taking a break from the 'Canyon Fire'

John McEwen and some off his suitemates used the 45 minutes opportunity to grab books to grab a television and a Playstation and Halo. Situated outside the bookstore students are getting a much need diversion.

Fire on Pepperdine campus

BY CHRIS SEGAL
Director of Strategic Planning

“No structures have burned down, the fire went up to the TAC but did not touch it,” said University President Andrew K. Benton to students in the Cafe. “Everyone is being served food at once and everyone is being allowed 45 minutes to go back to their dorms to get some belongings and books.”

Classes are expected to be held tomorrow and there will be a prayer service at 11 a.m, said Benton.

Fire officials predict the fire may burn until Tuesday.

A fire started in the hills around Malibu just a few miles from Pepperdine’s Malibu campus early this morning. Around 7 a.m. students on campus were evacuated to the Tyler Campus Center and the Cafe.

Three cars are engulfed in flames in the Chapel parking lot, said students.

There is spot fire burning next to the TAC. Students have been evacuated from residential halls and asked to move to the Gym and the TCC, said Assistant Public Relations Director Wileen Wong in a statement.

“They have been telling us a good amount, but honestly I’ve been getting more from people getting text messages,” said sophomore John McEwen from the Café.

Malibu Presbyterian is fully engulfed in fire, according to fire officials.

The fire on campus will burn itself out, said Benton in an address to the students in the Cafe. Students have been given masks and are being told to remain in the Cafe and TCC.

Students in the Cafe are being served free food but no food has been sent to the Gym at this point.

Malibu residents reported that the palm trees in Ralphs shopping center are on fire.

Every table in the Cafe is full of students and more than 200 people are walking around, said Graphic News Editor Jane Lee.

A second emergency notifications through the Universities new system is being sent to students, faculty and staff advising “relocate to the Tyler Campus Center.”

Some students are walking into the Cafe crying and others got in their cars and left campus when the Resident Advisors came through the dorms, Lee said.

The fire is burning brush and structures a few miles north of Pepperdine, according to fire officials. There are high wind advisories with gusts of wind up to 80 mph. Malibu Canyon and Topanga Canyon roads are closed as well as Pacific Coast Higway from Kanan Dume Road to Topanga Canyon Road.

Heavy smoke can be seen from the Cafe and Public Safety officers are posted at various locations around the TCC. Students do not have access to televisions or the radio to listen to or watch the fire.

Malibu residents can evacuate to Zuma beach.

Updated at 10:11 a.m.

Fire update, named "Cayon Fire"

A fire started in the hills about Malibu just a few miles from Pepperdine’s Malibu campus early this morning. Around 7 a.m. students on campus were evacuated to the Tyler Campus Center and the Cafe.

Three cars are engulfed in flames in the Chapel parking lot, said students.

There is spot fire burning next to the TAC. Students have been evacuated from residential halls and asked to move to the Gym and the TCC, said Assistant Public Relations Director Wileen Wong in a statement.

“They have been telling us a good amount, but honestly I’ve been getting more from people getting text messages,” said sophomore John McEwen from the Café.

Read More >>>

More Pepperdine fire photos

Student photos from the Cafe

Photos courtesy of Thor Anderson