MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine University is expressing gratitude for what they see as a sign of hope after a 20-foot wooden cross, erected as a memorial, miraculously survived the recent Franklin Fire that ravaged thousands of acres in Los Angeles County. The fire, which began on December 9th, threatened the university and surrounding areas, but the cross remained untouched.
The cross, perched on a hill overlooking the campus, was installed in memory of Alaina Housley, a first-year Seaver College student who tragically lost her life along with 11 others in the 2018 mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill. The university, which emphasizes “loving justice and treating every person with respect and compassion,” established the memorial as a symbol of remembrance and healing.
As the Franklin Fire raged, Pepperdine staff and students faced a period of intense uncertainty. However, not only did the cross escape the flames unscathed, but the university itself was spared from significant damage.
Pepperdine President Jim Gash issued a statement praising the school’s resilience and response during the crisis. “I have been incredibly proud of—but wholly unsurprised by—the character that has been revealed in our community during this time of turbulence,” Gash stated.
He further emphasized the university’s strong foundation, saying, “Pepperdine has stood strong—this time, as in times past—because our foundation is strong. Because we, as a community, possess a character made to withstand times of turbulence. Because we are built on the rock.”
The survival of the cross has become a powerful symbol of hope and resilience for the Pepperdine community in the wake of the devastating wildfire.