To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Ashley Ekstrum, and I am a concerned student. Let me tell you why:
I am an avid attender at Surf Chapel. I have been for two years now. And I can tell you that (although surf chapel can stand alone as one of the best convos in Pepperdine's convocation history), the smell of hot coffee at 7am on the beach makes the world of difference. I will list the reasons to continue providing hot beverages for the weary students of this mid week congregation:
1. Hot beverages make money. Providing free coffee inspires students to get up early on their day off, which makes them more productive, thus raising their grades, thus giving Pepperdine a better overall grade average, which makes it a more revered and competitive college. This will encourage more students to apply to and attend Pepperdine, thus the university will grow, which will provide the university with a higher income.
2. Hot beverages are good for the environment. When free hot beverages are provided at Surf Chapel, students are encouraged to come to the beach to get free coffee, thus they see how beautiful the ocean is. When they see how beautiful the ocean is, they are inspired to protect it. When enough students are inspired to protect it, you are raising a generation that will reverse global warming and bring back more natural resources.
3. Hot beverages save lives. When students ingest hot coffee so early in the morning it reminds them that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. When students eat breakfast, it physiologically provides their body with the energy it needs to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Without maintaining a healthy lifestyle, people die.
I will now list the reasons to stop providing hot beverages for Surf Chapel:
As you can see, there are none.
The only argument I have heard to discontinue providing hot beverages to encourage students to wake up early on a day they do not have class in order to learn about God and pursue fellowship in a small group environment is that the weather is getting "warmer." May I remind you that Surf Chapel is at 7am. On a typical, warm Malibu day between 75 and 85 degrees, the low is approximately 55 to 65 degrees, and the temperature low of the day has consistently proven to be in the morning.
I do hope you can find it in your heart to provide Pepperdine a higher income, protect the environment, and save lives.
Sincerely,
Ashley Ekstrum
