The Maroon April 26, 2024 Issue

University senate endorses new AI policy

By Jordan Higgins jrhiggin@my.loyno.edu

The university senate voted to endorse a new artificial intelligence policy at Loyola. The policy outlines guidelines for students and faculty to follow in regards to the use of AI in coursework. AI has become an increasingly important conversation in academic settings, where it is becoming common for students to access content and information on any subject they may need.

What does the policy cover?

Loyola’s new policy specifically focuses on generative AI, which has the ability to provide its users with original content like essays, emails, and articles. The new guidelines, which were voted upon on April 14, allows students to practice the use of AI to promote idea generation and assistance in research.

Are there exceptions?

Yes, if a student attempts to submit work that was generated by AI as their own, it may result in the student’s violation of the academic honor code.

How will they keep the policy up-to-date?

The new AI policy is subject to change and will be open for review every two years in order to stay up to date with new technological advancements and ethical standards.

What's the significance of this decision?

Before the establishment of this new policy, no other like it had existed campus-wide for students and faculty to follow.

How are faculty responding?

Some faculty at Loyola are welcoming to the new policy, and believe that these new frameworks can be useful in ensuring that students are properly fostering their education.

Classics professor Simon Whedbee believes that it is time well spent reflecting on how students can use AI effectively without compromising reaching the learning objectives of their courses.

“I’m glad to see that we’re working to educate our community on how these tools can be used well and what would constitute inappropriate use,” Whedbee said.

Whedbee feels that it is imperative that students use AI as a tool to grow, rather than as a means to complete work.

“The danger of AI in education is that it undermines the growth mindset,” Whedbee said. “If we lose sight of the fact that our schoolwork is supposed to foster our developing of skills that will be widely applicable elsewhere in life, then overuse of AI will leave us with good grades but without the ability to work without, around, or beyond AI capabilities.”

Other professors are open to the new technology, going so far as to implement the use of AI for research and planning purposes in their classroom.

100 Years of

3.14159265359… etc. 3. “ e Tortoise and the _____”

7. Columbia University pro-Palestine protesters are currently protesting staying in ____

___ Taco Loco on Carrolton Street

Phosphorus on the periodic table

Koi ____

Organs of a plant

Who they are looking for in Pretty Little Liars

Northeast by north, abbr.

An incompletely opened ower

e Ocean Biodiversity Information System, abbr.

Plastic tube at the end of a shoelace

Light purple ower

Plant with a woody or thorny stem

Dysfunction

Low-lying coastal land

System schools use for announcements

Nickname for donkey

“It __ what it __”

Hawaiian dish involving taro

You know you’re cooked when this letter is on your test

Puzzle Answers on the Loyola Maroon App!

41. Dance move that involves putting your face in your elbow crack

Initials to famous children’s horror book writer

You get these when holding toads

California, abbr.

University of Louisiana (Lafayette), abbr.

How many Earths we have left

___ Elton John

Old timey word for bed

Right now, abbr.

ere are seven of these in the world

Electric bills measurement

Key tool in Dora’s backpack

ey lost the American civil war

Camera setting

Large ightless bird

65. By caring for the environment, we can all live __ ________

69. Name of a green owl that threatens to murder you if you don’t do your spanish lesson

70. Consumer Electronic Association, abbr.

71. Call this company when you get a at tire

Chair of the environmental program at Loyola

Kenyan Shilling 75. Huge trees in New Orleans often have

Spanish ____

DOWN

and Maroon Libs

1. Initials to the blonde princess in Mario Kart

2. “ ere’s no _ in team!”

3. “ e _____” by J.R.R. Tolkien

4. Earthworm’s ringlike segments

5. Reader’s Digest, abbr.

6. e fth letter of the alphabet

8. Too many vodka crans at Bruno’s will end you up in the __

9. Rubbing your knuckles on a person’s head

10. Greenhouse coordinator at Loyola

12. Most the celebrities live in this city 14. You need to ____ a banana 15. Squirrels stash this for winter 17. Each ___ of cake were di erent sizes

North Dakota, abbr.

22. __. Ignatius of Loyola

24. “It’s just a ___ bit annoying.”

25. Paintings, sculptures, murals, etc.

26. Animal Crossing: New ___

28. Civil Engineering, abbr.

29. e objectively coolest member in a band

30. Name of a video game princess and a ower

32. Play Mario Kart on this portable device

Weeping ____ ____ in the swamp

Keep your plants in this

It’s below Down 19

Pre x for before

Small round berry

43. Farm animals live in these

44. Popular meme format with an ant carrying a

45. “Would you still love me if I was a ____!!!

46. Kendrick of Pitch Perfect

50. Dwayne Johnson’s nickname

51. Student org that is hosting earth week, abbr.

53. e spider lady Dr. Aimee

56. Computer Science, abbr.

59. Only the jocks would like this class

Go outside and soak up the ___

62. Full House, abbr.

63. “Flee the scene! e __ __ are here!”

65. Type of birth control

66. Your response to the annoying frat guy calling you Ramona Flowers when he asks if you want to go to the darty

67. “__ __ __” by My Chemical Romance

68. Aren’t as sweet as sweet potato

69. “__ it clap?”

72. Angola, abbr.

It’s that time of year when you __________ to connect with nature. Your friends __________ snacks and blankets for a picnic at Audubon Park. While __________ into your sandwich, a __________ ies onto your __________. “Yeeouchh!” Your __________ starts __________ and becomes all red. No worries cause the __________ view of the __________ makes you forget about the pain. After getting up you don’t feel so good and suddenly turn into a __________. You are now one with nature and can’t do nals since you’re a bug!!!

Crosswords

by: Max Schweikarth & Kira Phillips

Students call out construction workers for catcalling

By Maria DiFelice mldifeli@my.loyno.edu

Psychology junior Zoe Marceaux thought her day was going to be good as she walked to her class. This was not the case. As she walked to Monroe Hall, she said the construction workers at the site of the new chapel catcalled her, making her feel “uneasy.”

As she walked by the chapel construction, one of the workers said, “Goddamn.”

Marceaux said this was not a onetime offense, and she became fed up with the workers’ remarks.

She said she turned to the workers and said, “Well, s---, if you're gonna say something so distasteful, you may as well be quiet about it.”

Even after her response, Marceaux said the construction workers did not quiet down; instead, it got worse.

They continued to degrade her with words saying things like, “Oh I didn’t know she could speak,” which she said made her feel even worse.

Marceaux is not the only one who has had this problem on campus. There have been other instances where women have said they have also been catcalled by construction workers on campus –though none of them have reported it to the police or the construction company.

Loyola Police lieutenant Patrick Mar-

tin said LUPD is here for students and if no one comes to them with a problem then they don’t know it is happening.

Carol Markowitz, chief operating officer, said that there are three different contractors working on or adjacent to Loyola.

Markowitz said she was unaware of the incidents happening on campus but reassures students that she knows now and has contacted the companies, reminding them of Loyola’s no-tolerance policy for sexual harassment.

“All members of the Loyola commu-

nity, guests, and visitors have the right to be free of discrimination,” she said. “Members of the Loyola community –including our third-party contractors and vendors – are expected to conduct themselves in a way that does not violate the rights of others.”

Newly appointed VP of enrollment aims to cultivate lasting relationships

By Matthew Richards mlricha2@my.loyno.edu

Loyola has appointed Anthony E. Jones as the new Vice President of Enrollment Management after a lengthy and nationwide search for candidates.

“The search process was extremely thorough and confidential,” Assistant Provost Liz Rainey said. “As a member of the president’s cabinet, the VP of enrollment management directly reports to the president and is a critical contributor to the overall leadership of Loyola.”

Rainey also said she looks forward to collaborating with the new vice president in order to attract and enroll students who are successful at Loyola.

“Among many key partnerships, the VP of enrollment management works closely with colleagues in academics and student affairs to support recruitment, retention, and student success,” she said.

Faculty have also voiced their support for Jones, sharing that they feel the best applicant was selected for the job.

“Our primary role at Loyola is instructional, and our work is facilitated when the university successfully recruits and

retains a strong and diverse student body,” M. Isabel Medina, chair of the university faculty senate, said. “Mr. Jones stood out even in a strong pool of candidates, and the faculty look forward to assisting Mr. Jones to facilitate his success at Loyola.”

Jones joins Loyola from his previous institution, Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he held the same role.

This appointment represents a bit of a homecoming for Jones, whose family originally hails from Thibodeaux, Louisiana, and those ties serve as one of his primary reasons for pursuing the opportunity in the first place.

“I suffered the unexpected trauma of losing my mother to cancer last October here in Louisiana, and that unfortunate loss jarred me into rethinking my priorities and the trajectory of my career,” Jones said. “My attention turned towards my local loved ones and the state I admire so much, and I could only conclude that perhaps it was time I returned home.”

As he began to search, Jones looked for a place that he felt aligned best with the goals and principles that have guided him through his almost 30-year career in academics: to provide educational paths to help students pursue their greatest accomplishments.

“Loyola, with its Ignatius inspired vision of finding God in all things and commitment to preparing students from diverse backgrounds to pursue truth, wisdom, and justice, aligned perfectly with that belief,” he said.

Jones believes that he can help to bring a better understanding to Loyola about some of the unique ways they can appeal to students and increase enrollment.

“The practice of enrollment management is a science,” he said. “It consists of both a body of independent facts and a

process of discovery about how to sufficiently link them in order to arrive at some form of understanding that best benefits the institution.”

In terms of his goals for the university, Jones outlined the tools and strategies he plans to use to help the university reach any enrollment and retention goals they might have.

“They should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound,” he said. “A successful enrollment, one that sustains and grows itself year after year, must reflect the advocacy of many groups who all play a part and together are accountable for that success.”

them for the betterment of Loyola, the students we educate, and their interests, while I serve this great institution.”

While a big part of his job is focused around recruitment, Jones also sees retention as a vital part of his efforts.

“I have come to realize that it is only when you understand the groundrules that you can build the right relationships critical to making sustainable progress.”

— Anthony E. Jones Vice President of Enrollment

Through Loyola’s unique history and position in New Orleans, Jones recognizes that this position is one that is crucial to the university and its future.

“I recognize and respect that Loyola New Orleans has over 120 years of tradition, driven by deep and meaningful cultural nuances,” he said. “And I have come to realize that it is only when you understand the ground-rules that you can build the right relationships critical to making sustainable progress.

Jones is thrilled to be able to bring back the lessons he has learned over his career back home to south Louisiana.

“As a native Louisianaian, I know first hand that you don't reach out to places and people here, they reach out to you,” he said. “I chuckle to think how many times I arrived home after a day of visiting friends where I grew up along Bayou Lafourche absolutely stuffed. It's important to me that those who I engage with sense that sincerity to collaborate with

Sophie Sandberg, a New York City street artist and founder of Catcalls NYC, an activist group that uses colorful chalk to share people’s stories word for word on the sidewalks of New York City, said she started this initiative to give a voice to young people to fight back the social norm.

The social norm is to tell girls that it is their fault and they provoked the harassment, which is not the case, Sandberg said. The reason she started Catcalls NYC is to make it clear that it is not the victim's fault.

Sanberg said catcalling can cause anxiety and low self esteem in young women.

“The goal of the chalk is to hold people accountable, to hold harassers accountable,” she said.

In a 2021 study done by Ipsos, they said that 80% of women have experienced some type of sexual harassment in public settings, and 76% of people have witnessed sexual harassment in public.

Marceaux said it saddens her to see Loyola, a campus she sees as a safe space, turn into a place where she has to worry about which entrance she is going to take to get to class.

“For someone that's in the workforce and that works for the school. It's just disappointing and just makes me feel so upset,” she said.

Chapel to open in the fall

By Francisco Esteves fmesteve@my.loyno.edu

“It has always been my belief that retention begins at the first point of recruitment,” he said. “Fit matters.

Once a student is enrolled, the goal is to produce a satisfied graduate who is well positioned for lucrative employment or graduate school with the least amount of student loan debt and is willing to be a life-long supporter of their alma mater.”

Jones said he is eager to become a part of helping to grow the diverse community that Loyola has nurtured through its values.

“Loyola has enjoyed a long standing both stateside and in the international community,” he said. “That has afforded it a clear brand that speaks of the commitment we have to deliver, not only one of the best educations in the Western hemisphere, but a warmth that authentically reflects the Christian ideals that undergird our Jesuit and Catholic traditions.”

Despite his administrative role, Jones said he will strive to connect directly with the student body during his time here.

“Whether I’m walking through a popular student hang-out at lunch time, attending an athletic event, or joining my wife to host students in our home for dinner, being present, and accessible to students, even with small gestures, is extremely important to me,” Jones said.

As the end of the spring 2024 semester approaches, the new chapel is preparing to open its doors. Scheduled to finish construction in May, the new chapel represents the culmination of planning and efforts by the university.

Carol Markowitz, chief operating officer, said that while construction is on track for completion in May, the arrival of the furniture has been delayed until July.

Despite this setback, the finishing touches are being applied to the chapel’s infrastructure, and it remains slated to be completely ready by the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

Rev. John Cunningham, vice president of Student Life and Ministry, expressed Loyola’s desire for a more intimate and contemporary space compared to the existing church and chapel.

With plans for talks, mini-concerts, and various activities, the new chapel aims to provide students with a space for reflection of all faiths, he said.

Additionally, they plan on holding an opening celebration in early 2025 to mark the inauguration of the new addition to the campus.

“We wanted to make a space where students could come together and decompress from the stress of life,” Cunningham said.

With its doors set to open in the coming months, the campus community will have the opportunity to see the finished building by the end of the summer.

A piece of construction equipment sits in front of the chapel construction. Students have experienced catcalling from construction workers. Maleigh Crespo/The Maroon

Anthony E. Jones has been appointed as the new Vice President of Enrollment for Loyola. Courtesy of Anthony E. Jones.

'Found Heaven': A perfect collection of stories about toxic love

By Kloe Witt kgwitt@my.loyno.edu

The best birthday present I received this year was the blessing of hearing Conan Grey’s latest album “Found Heaven”. Being a long time Conan fan, ever since he first started making youtube videos back in my late middle school years, I was worried about what this new Conan sound would be like.

I shouldn’t have been worried, though, as ‘Found Heaven’ has become a staple in my music collection.

From heartbreaking ballads to upbeat songs of wanting to be rich, Conan continues to release consistent hits that leave me crying but still hitting repeat.

Found Heaven

The title track of this album is the PERFECT opener for this album. The start of a gospel type of song fading into the more 80’s electro pop was a great way for past Conan fans to be introduced to this new style.

Besides the music, the lyrics to this song are beautiful. This song explains how love can be so scary yet so comforting. This song feels like Conan is taking your hand and reassuring you that, although falling in love can be one of the scariest things we do, it’s also the most heavenly feeling we get to experience. He also explains how once you accept the feeling, you don’t want to lose it and will keep fighting to gain it back once it leaves you. It’s the perfect explanation for the complex emotions we experience.

9/10

Never Ending Song

Fans of Conan heard this song almost a year before the full album dropped. It was the first taste of his new era that fans got to experience and it’s received mixed reviews since.

Although I’m not the biggest fan, I do still love this song. It’s great to bop your head to. I catch myself singing the chorus all of the time because I do find it so catchy.

As for the story, this song tells the story of falling in love with someone who you see everywhere in the media and not being able to get them out of your head. Conan leaves the interpretation of

whether this is a failed relationship or a “situationship” up for listeners to decide. I think it shows this wanting for the feelings you share with this person and interactions you two have to last forever because once it’s over, you know you’ll just be sad it couldn’t be longer.

7/10

Fainted Love

I love this song.

This song is so beautiful to me. It tells the story of being in a romantic and sexual relationship with someone who doesn’t want a commitment. It explains the hard feeling of accepting that as much as you want, you’ll never be a person they love and want to commit to. This song expresses that hurt but acceptance in receiving a fainted love.

10/10

Lonely Dancers

I like this song. I think production is okay. It does fit the electronic 80’s pop vibe very well but it’s nothing that stood out from others on the album.

I do, however, really like the story. It focuses on the aftermath of a break up. In the song, Conan is asking someone to dance with him, an implication of having a one night stand, just to hide the hurt both of them are feeling over the break up. He says if they’re together for a night, they won’t have to cry and can find a sliver of that love again within each other.

7/10

Alley Rose

This is one of my favorite songs ever. The production of this song is by far the best on the album. The loud and softer tones throughout the song show how Conan’s emotions are going wild. He’s scared, shown through the loud, and it ends with a softer tone that shows how sad he is about the story.

This song is a perfect following to Lonely Dancers. It is the end of a short lived relationship that gave you the first experience of undaunted love. It’s Conan begging this love to stay because unlike his previous experiences, this short relationship taught him that love is not fighting and it doesn’t have to hurt.

The bridge to this song is truly what sets it apart. This is where Conan truly explains his need for this relationship to continue. My favorite line is “But I swore hands were made for fighting/ I swore eyes were made to cry/ But you’re the first person that I’ve seen/ who’s proven that might be a lie.” This description of how this person has impacted him means so much to me. And for it to be followed by a soft, quiet, and broken question of what happened to their love is something powerful.

10/10 (would score higher if could)

The Final Fight

This song is about getting the closure needed after a toxic relationship. Conan expresses a need for one last fight with the person who hurt him so badly. And after getting away, he’s finally back to get that closure. It’s a nice song that falls well in line with other themes from the album.

The production on this song is nice. It’s a little slower than others, which I think is good because it lets listeners really hear Conan’s voice.

8/10

Although it was different from his albums in the past, I do love Conan’s Found Heaven. I think the new sound is one that could work very well for him if he expands on it. Now, though, I would like to see what he could do outside of pop.

Overall, this album is a hit for me. Read the full review at loyolamaroon. com

'King of Pride': Ana Huang climbs beyond expectations

By Sophie Bornefeld slbornef@my.loyno.edu

If you read and loved “King of Wrath,” you’ll love “King of Pride” that much more. Ana Huang writes male main characters incredibly well alongside an alluring love story, and Kai Young and Isabella Valencia are just another example of that.

I’ve read the “opposites attract” trope before, and I wasn’t the biggest fan; there was nothing I hated but nothing I loved. The chemistry between the characters would feel lost, and I felt like the storyline was lacking. But in true Huang fashion, she’s proved me wrong. Unlike past authors I’ve read, Huang blended the bold, impulsive female main character and the reserved, sophisticated male main character seamlessly.

“King of Pride,” the second in Huang’s “Kings of Sin” series, follows Kai Young and Isabella Valencia’s push-and-pull relationship from being acquaintances to falling in love. Kai has a crucial, looming

CEO vote in the future and can’t afford a distraction — or else he risks losing his family’s media empire to someone else. Simultaneously, Isabella’s dealing with her older, overbearing brother who demands she finish the manuscript she’s been working on for years. If she doesn't before her upcoming family visit, she’ll have to move home. Between the two, they confide in one another and push each other to their greatest potential as individuals and as partners.

Despite being opposites, Kai and Isabella gravitate towards one another. With his controlled and proper behavior, Isabella is his opposite, becoming his greatest temptation. Kai’s life pulls him in numerous different directions, each one demanding something from him, and Isabella’s is at a standstill, yet the two are drawn to the stability and fearlessness that the other provides. This allows the two to connect during open, vulnerable moments that transform into a close relationship with stolen touches and

secret glances. Although I wish there was more angst in the beginning half of the book, Huang delivers an incredibly sweet and spicy slow burn romance.

Despite romance books having some predictability, “King of Pride” had a few turns I was not expecting that kept me wanting more (aside from the beautiful love story). Kai’s CEO vote did not pan out the way I expected, even if it ultimately ended in his favor. The turn was a bit surprising and showed a new side to Kai, a side with impulsiveness and anger that readers had not received a glimpse of, which I happily accepted.

Isabella’s story was a bit more predictable but not in an unimaginative way. While Isabella’s story unfolded in the direction I was anticipating, it also provided the vulnerable, intimate moments one can expect from any of Huang’s bestsellers. With both Kai and Isabella’s separate stories, Huang blends the two tastefully, never having their personal affairs taken away from the story

they were building together, only adding to it.

One of the most refreshing things about Huang’s writing is the representation of her characters and how her series fuse together, giving readers easter eggs of past romances she’s written. A majority of Huang’s characters from her past two series have POC characters, which are both appreciated and notable. She creates beautiful love stories for the characters, while also intertwining cultural backgrounds with the general outline you can expect from a contemporary romance book. “King of Wrath”’s narrative carries into “King of Pride,” offering fans an even deeper glimpse at the love stories Huang creates.

While Huang is praised for her ability to blend wonderfully written spice into her books, I felt as if “King of Pride” was one of her firsts to focus more on the building of a relationship and the domesticity of everyday life. This created the slow burn I crave in romance books

and made it my favorite of the “Kings of Sin” series so far and one of my favorite Huang books overall.

Huang’s spin on the seven deadly sins is both imaginative and admirable. Barring my future read-through of her first series, “If I Love,” “Kings of Sin” is my favorite of Huang’s romance series for the tension and slow burn as she’s become known for.

Her newest release, “King of Sloth,” is out on April 30 (I’ve, of course, already pre-ordered a signed bookplate version). And if you are into sports romance, her upcoming series, starting with “The Striker,” will be out in September 2024.

Huang has become my auto-buy author, and her writing promises and delivers beautifully crafted romance each and every time. If you like billionaire romances, opposites attract tropes, with diverse main characters, “King of Pride” is the romance book for you.

Courtesy of Republic Records

Do you feel safe on campus?

Fact: Did you know that LUPD can escort you if you feel unsafe or unwell?

To learn more, scan here!

Students switch from vape to cigarette habits

By Sophia Maxim svmaxim@my.loyno.edu

Some Loyola students are switching from vaping to smoking cigarettes. The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control banned six major vape brands in March 2024. Design junior Daniel Garces speculates this may have influenced a shift in student habits.

“Compared to my other semesters here, I have seen way less vapes on students,” Garces said. “Seeing a cigarette used to be rare, but now it’s just a common sight.”

After the vape brand bans, local smoke shops increased their prices, Garces said. Now, The Boot store and other smoke shops only carry “bootleg” vapes, according to Garces. The price increase and lower quality of vape stock now deter students from buying vapes, he said.

“One complaint I’ve repeatedly heard is that The Boot has raised the price of vapes, taking full advantage of the scarcity and ban,” he said. “Prices used to be around $15. Now, it’s around $30, plus tax.”

Popular and commercial music junior Maddie Polley believes the ban has had minimal success in combating nicotine addictions. Instead, Polley said the ban has pushed some Loyola students to start smoking cigarettes.

“I think that people should be able to put whatever chemicals they want in their body,” Polley said. “But I do understand why they were banned because I feel like the vaping culture has gotten really big, especially with younger people under 21. I understand the ban, but I still think banning substances is kind of stupid.”

See VAPE, page 10

Tennessee lawmakers pass bill to allow armed teachers

Tennessee House Republicans have passed a bill that would legalize the concealed carry of handguns for teachers on school campuses who are approved by the school principal and law enforcement.

Teachers seeking approval will also have to complete the necessary requirements to obtain a permit for carrying a handgun, which includes a background check, a mental health clearance, and 40 hours of basic school policing training.

Parents, students, and other teachers will not be entitled to disclosure of which teachers are approved.

Despite four House Republicans and all Democrats opposing the bill, the vote was 68-28.

On Tuesday, the bill was sent to Tennessee’s Republican Governor Bill Lee for signing.

This follows a year after the Covenant School shooting in Nashville, which took place in March 2023 and resulted in the death of three students and three staff members.

The proposal presents a different response to The Covenant School shooting than Lee suggested last year. Republican legislators quickly cast aside his previous push to keep guns away from people deemed a danger to themselves or others.

Similar legislation has been approved for private schools in Tennessee, and on Monday, Lee signed legislation approving this for preschools.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Meta limits recommendations for political content

By Jacob L’Hommedieu jllhomme@my.loyno.edu

If you are an avid user of Instagram or Facebook, you may have noticed a substantial decrease in a specific type of content in your social media feeds these past few weeks.

A new policy has been put in place across all Meta social media websites that adds a setting to reduce the amount of political content users may see, according to Meta Platforms.

The policy change was announced on Feb. 9 and uses artificial intelligence software to help determine what is and is not political content, with Meta citing political issues “potentially related to things like laws, elections, or social topics,” according to a release on Instagram and Threads.

The new policy does not stop users from seeing political content from profiles or groups they already follow. While the setting is on, however, they will not see content in recommended feeds that fall within Meta’s definition of what is considered political.

tial dangers.

“I think that it’s going to hinder some Gen Z voters from getting information,” Harris said. “Less and less people are going to see what’s going on in the world.”

Harris pointed out that many people nowadays are using social media for news. According to a 2021 poll by Gallup, 45% of people in the age range of 15 to 24 years old use social media as their primary news source. In the same poll, 17% of those aged 40 and up do the same. Harris is worried that, with this setting, people will end up in large echo chambers of political thought.

“They're never going to see the other side, they're never going to see right in the middle,” Harris said. “They're just going to see what they want to see.”

“I think that it’s going to hinder some Gen Z voters from getting information,” Harris said. “Less and less people are going to see what’s going on in the world.”

— Mitch Landrieu Mayor of New Orleans

While the setting is optional, there are those who hold concerns for people who are unaware of the change.

To political science sophomore Maritsa Harris, the new setting brings poten-

The concern for potential echo chambers is not limited to students, either. Roger White, chair of the political science department, feels that by only reaffirming your worldview, you are feeding into what you already know and agree with.

Quoting his own political science professor, Lyle Downing, White said, “[Other ideas] may be evil, and they may be crazy, or they may just sound that way, because you haven’t thought about it yet.”

See META, page 10

Student lights a cigarette at an off-campus music event on April 20, 2024. Sophia Maxim/The Maroon

Photo Illustration by Sophia Renzi/The Maroon

Students give feedback on potential furniture for the new residence hall

By Anna Therapondos atherapo@my.loyno.edu

If you’ve walked through the Danna Center in the past few weeks, you might’ve seen furniture displayed in the One Loyola Room. This furniture is being considered for the dorm rooms in the new residence hall which will stand where Mercy Hall used to reside.

The displayed furniture included a bed, a desk and chair, a bookshelf, as well as a dresser. Students were able to provide feedback on the furniture by scan-

ning a QR code, and the Department of Residential Life has been looking through the responses to start making decisions. According to director Chris Rice, feedback has been particularly helpful in making decisions about the dresser and desk types.

Some students have a nuanced view on the furniture.

Jazz studies junior Willa Rudnick, who lived in both Biever and Francis Halls, expressed that she really likes the new furniture.

“I think it looks very nice and com-

fortable,” she said.

However, she said it feels as if the existing residence halls are being neglected.

“I think I would prefer it if it was in the current dorm rooms because the furniture there is sometimes broken and worn down.”

Regardless, the department will soon start the bid process based on the feedback received and will eventually select a company that will supply the furniture.

Secret society continues to move in the dark

By Mabel Regalado-Hernandez maregala@my.loyno.edu

The secret society of 1540 has remained a mystery to Loyola’s campus.

The society, which was founded by Jesuits, aims to keep their operations and members unknown to the public.

In the past, student leaders have been invited under sworn secrecy to join the group. However, many have tried to pinpoint who are involved and why they are kept a secret. In 2009, alumnus and student journalist Eduardo Gonzalez investigated the organization and discovered that some student government leaders were asked to resign due to their involvement in 1540.

Although the secret society isn’t allowed at the university due to its lack of charter review, there have been reports of acts of kindness by the society.

Some of the society’s recorded actions have included sending letters of gratitude and support to members of Loyola’s community and financially assisting students in need.

In 2009, the society bought a plane ticket for a student who could not afford one, so the student could see their fami-

ly, according to then student government president Sarah Cooper.

On Feb. 23, 2024, a Sodexo employee received a gift basket from the organization.

“I haven’t heard much of their activity other than their flyers,” professor Joshua Hinchie S.J. said.

Hinchie said he found a flyer that had been slipped under the door of the Catholic Studies lounge on Dec. 7, 2023, but did not know who it came from.

The flier read, “secreta societas Loiolae sumus,” which translates from Latin to English to “We are the secret society of Loyola.”

“We are who you think we are; we are who you think we are not,” the flier read.

The past or current members of 1540 may not ever be uncovered, but the community continues to speculate about their activity.

Despite the group not being a properly registered organization, which is mandatory for the rest of the chartered student organizations, the university does not recognize 1540.

Still, the Loyola community is left wondering… who’s behind 1540, and what’s next on their agenda?

Loyola symphony to perform

The Loyola Symphony Orchestra to Present “SOUL” on Saturday April 27, 2024 at 7:30 pm, with director Dr. Jean Montés. Featuring works by Wagner, Ravel, Chausson, Bartett, and Still. With winners of the 2024 Loyola College of

Music and Media Concerto/Aria Composition Competition, Jacob Huffy on baritone, Melissa Moore on violin, and composer Eli Bartett. Free admission, at Loyola University at Louis J. Roussel Hall.

Students share their highs and lows with health resources

By Pharrell Every pjevery@my.loyno.edu

Throughout this year, students have faced a variety of obstacles with Student Health Services and the University Counseling Center.

Many often talk about the wait time to be seen by a student health professional, with it taking up their entire day, or the long wait time after scheduling appointments with the counseling center.

According to Amie Cardinal, registered nurse and clinical operations supervisor, for Student Health Services, students do not schedule an appointment in advance; instead, they conduct walk-in appointments.

“The wait time depends on how many students walk in. This will vary depending on the day. We do see longer wait times during our busier season, which is in the fall/winter months. Many days, there is no wait at all,” Cardinal said.

Despite the issues that students face with the wait times, Student Health Services provide a multitude of resources for students through the people that staff the center.

Cardinal said during business hours, students have a patient access representative who registers students at the front desk, a medical assistant, a provider – either a doctor or nurse practitioner – and herself, the RN supervisor.

Should a student need more immediate assistance than their next appointment provides, they can consult with the RN for a plan of care and be referred to the Loyola University Police Department for assistance with Emergency Services.

Student Health Services can also aid students with mental disabilities and mental health issues. They can refer students both to the counseling center on campus or to other specialists within the Ochsner Health System should it be necessary.

Students from all across campus have run into frustration dealing with student health services, whether it was because of the time it takes to be seen, or a lack of transparency surrounding costs.

History student Oliver Ball shares a similar sentiment regarding Student Health Services; while he believes that the environment and outreach are great, the services provided are lacking.

“In terms of what they do, they never have done too much for me. I also think it’s overpriced,” Ball said.

He went in recently for a fractured wrist and was given contradictory information between Student Health Services and Ochsner Health. Student health told him that he did not fracture it while Ochsner Health did.

Student health told him that he could wear a brace and take over-the-counter medication while the hospital told him that he should use prescribed medication.

Ball was left to go with what student health told him to do, and he said he felt that it delayed his recovery time by three weeks.

He said he wishes that Student Health Services would be more upfront with students about the cost in relation to the services that could be provided.

On the other hand, psychology freshman Joshua Fletcher wishes that there could be an improvement on the quality

of service.

Fletcher said, “I do wish it had more resources to provide a better service for students, especially because we are paying with insurance.”

While they have not experienced any complications with getting medications, or with people in either center, they said that the timing is the main issue with the services.

“The Student Health Center, I do feel it takes a very weird amount of time to get something checked out, and it gets pretty annoying because a lot of times it's just a minor thing you want to get checked out, but it doesn’t feel like it’s worth it because of the time investment,” Fletcher said.

Public health freshman Lucy Rhoades said that her overall experience with Student Health Services has been “confusing.”

During her first week of classes, she was showing symptoms of COVID-19 and during that period, Rhoades said student health left her in the dark concerning what to do after that point.

While she praises the environment, she believes that Student Health Services could be more transparent and open with students about their health plans.

“I think because it's located on a campus, and we’re adults – but we're also kids – they could do more to adjust to the demographic they’re serving,” Rhoades said.

Similar to Student Health Services, the University Counseling Center is another student health resource available on campus.

The counseling center has trained

staff available to students at any given time, and despite the typical two-week waiting period for booking an appointment, if more immediate help is needed students can call the crisis helpline.

Director of Counseling and Student Health Dymphna Davis-Clay said, “Crisis and triage appointments are available daily at the UCC. Psychological emergencies will be seen on the same day. In the event of a mental health crisis, call the UCC at (504) 865-3835 or stop by the Danna Center 208.”

Should students need to seek help after business hours, they can call the same number and press 1 after the prompt to for contact with the counselor-on-call.

The counseling center can also provide students with medication and refills given that they are working with the center. If not, students can reach out to Student Health Services for prescription refills.

Davis-Clay said, “If a student is seeing one of our staff psychiatrists, they can call us to coordinate getting a refill of their medication. For students that are not working with the UCC, Student Health Services can support students in getting emergency refills for certain prescriptions.”

If a student needs support with this process, they are encouraged to call and schedule an appointment with a case manager.

Fletcher believes that scheduling and resources within the university counseling are consistent.

Fletcher said that students get less frequent visits with the UCC.

Typically, students are seen every two weeks or once a month for counseling.

Students who need more support can receive counseling every week.

They feel that despite the consistency, it still has the capacity to leave students open to struggle because of the lengthy time in between appointments.

Fletcher said, “I feel like it’s consistent, and if someone needs mental health counseling, they can definitely get it, but I do feel like it leaves people open to struggling because it does take a certain amount of time before getting their next appointment.”

They believe if the budget could be increased and more counselors could be available for students, then the experiences that students have would be improved overall.

Finance freshman Makayla Horton recounted having a generally positive experience with the counseling center. However, she shares the same frustration that Fletcher, and many students on campus, have regarding the lack of appointment availability.

“I know many people [on campus] see it as a resource and I think if people were able to go more it could just be more helpful,” Horton said.

She also feels that the counseling center is underused and that more students should take advantage of the center as a resource.

Horton said, “They really helped me through my adjustment period here just having someone to talk to from an outside perspective. I think it’s one of the best resources we have on campus, honestly.”

(L-R): Daisy Trigueros, Gabi Salinas, Nora Humfeld, and Willa Rudnick try out furniture in the One Loyola Room on April 10, 2024. Residential Life is deciding on furniture for the new residence hall. Sophia Maxim/The Maroon

Blue Carrier leaves a permanent mark through art

By Rodrigo Delgado Jr. rdelgado@my.loyno.edu

Known as “Blue Byrd,” fine arts junior Blue Carrier has always had a knack for creating art and is currently taking the world of tattooing by storm.

Since they were young, Carrier has been drawing the things they love. Their love for art evolved over the years and as their passion for art grew, so did their skills.

Carrier’s creativity and passion for art led to them dabbling in different mediums of art.

“Art’s my whole life. I don’t know what I’d do without it,” they said. Whether it was photography, making music, or painting, they approached new things with nothing but zeal.

When starting off, Carrier said, “I did one stick and poke on myself, and it hurt! I hated it, and it hurt, and I could never finish it because it hurt.

Although they’re covering up all their stick and poke tattoos, they said they wouldn’t be where they are now if it wasn’t for that “weird, experimental phase.”

Carrier said at one point, they were renting out a private studio with their friend, Kai, a fellow tattoo artist who shares the same passion for tattooing as them.

“I started sharing a creative space

Messages of Vulnerability

with Kai,” Carrier said. “We did that, and I was like, ‘I need to step it up a little bit.’

Blue spoke about the stigma that selftaught artists face from not only other artists but themselves too.

“I felt like I was stuck at a point with tattooing and to get out of that creative funk, moving into a shop space surrounded by other artists has inspired me to take it more seriously and improve,” Carrier said.

Currently based in the New Orleans Uptown area, Carrier has been tattooing for about a year and a half now.

Starting off as a self-taught tattoo artist with a stick and poke kit to working at the local shop, Fun Tattoos.

Carrier said they love the work they’ve been doing and so do their clients.

“Putting art on somebody’s body permanently is such a blessing as an artist. It’s very affirming,” they said. “It makes you think, ‘Oh people want my work forever,’ like that’s insane.”

Carrier values a sense of creativity for the youth, and they want to help the next generation accomplish that.

“I do want to get my masters, and I want to be a professor. That’s my main goal,” Carrier said. “I’d love to teach upper level art classes. I just had such a good experience as a kid working under these people who were super educated in art, and I would love to be that for other inspiring young artists.”

I JBy Violet Bucaro vabucaro@my.loyno.edu

Music industry seniors Jade Robbins, Noa Jamir, Riley Miniex, and Joseph Belcher have evolved into artists who trust, collaborate, and look up to each other.

Closing their college tenure, the musicians have learned how to be their true inner selves. Together they have created intimate music to inspire and ignite that in others too.

They each performed their end-ofcollege career capstone performance at Siberia Bar, New Orleans.

Robbins and Jamir performed Jamir’s song, “Want to Love" as a duet. “It’s just a song about how sometimes, love is a practice, both to others and to yourself,” Jamir said.

Seniors have intimate final performance

Jamir appreciates and honors Robbins as a musician, which inspired the blending of their art in Jamir’s capstone project.

“I love Jade so much as a human, but her artistry is so genuine and natural, it comes so naturally from her soul and I hear that whenever she sings,” Jamir said. Jamir said she chose Robbins to sing with her because she was one of the first people who heard the song, and she could tell she resonated with it.

“Her reaction to it was so heartwarming and validating to me. Ever since then, I have wanted to sing with her on that song,” Jamir said.

For Robbins, the journey with "Want to Love" began two years prior when she first heard Jamir perform it during a forum class. The emotional impact of the song stuck with her, leading to a profound connection that culminated in their duet performance.

“Ever since [forum] she’s been sending me updates about the recording of it and then when she asked me to sing at her capstone I was so over the moon and overjoyed because it means so much to me,” Robbins said. Robbins said Jamir is one of her favorite people to work with.

Robbins connects with the song. For her, the song symbolizes and illustrates, “companionship within loneliness,” she said, “I think two people singing it really strengthens that message.”

Bleacher has had an appreciation for “Want to Love” for years.

“It was a really cool moment to see two of my really good friends performing such a personal song together.

It is nice to see people show appreciation for people they love,” he said.

The intention of the capstone was to create an intimate, honest performance, where others felt able to introspect and be still, Jamir said.

She said there is “power in delicacy and softness,” Jamir said. “ It requires stillness and a little bit of introspection.”

She had a vision of intimacy since she felt they all have similar music that asks for the audience to lean in and listen with open ears.

“I think we really captured the vision,” Jamir said. “In each of our sets there were moments where you could hear a pin drop and it felt really powerful,” Jamir said.

Miniex said she wanted to share love in her music. A friend asked her to write a song for their significant other, so she did. Despite the challenge of sharing personal emotions, she said it was a rewarding experience to channel the emotions of another person.

“I wrote it on her behalf and it was nice to be vulnerable with someone else’s vulnerability,” Miniex said.

She knew she’d be singing alongside Robbins, Jamir, and Bleher, so she wanted to bring songs to her set that complemented their raw styles. She sang songs about heartbreak and love. As she had familiarity with their music, she expected the tone of the capstone to be emotionally charged, so she embraced that emotion in her own performance.

Belcher said the overall theme of the night was the ebbs and flows of the heart.

“There were definitely overtones of heartbreak throughout the set, but also about the great things that come in the aftermath,” he said.

Miniex was so impressed by Belcher’s stage presence, for it was his first solo performance, and she said he was very vulnerable and present. “All three of them were, and that is something I am working on, so it was nice to see them execute that

naturally,” she said.

Robbins hoped to show honest emotion through her set.

“I wanted to create something vulnerable, beautiful, and feminine,” she said.

Belcher also hoped to invoke introspection and vulnerability within others through his performance.

“I want the audience to feel what I feel through the lens of their own experience, but if they can’t relate to it just to hear a perspective they may not have thought about before,” he said.

His capstone was a symbol of the resilience he’s experienced, he said.

“My capstone in one word is catharsis. It’s been a crazy semester and my capstone really chronicled my triumph through it. I hoped to spread a message of personal strength and perseverance–the message of creating a home within oneself,” he said.

Miniex said she did not go in with any expectations of what the audience would feel, “I think it is respective to every person what they get out of it,” she said.

“I hope I left the audience with a sense of peace, whether that be rhythmically or sonically,” she said.

They each described that through their experiences at Loyola, they have changed as musicians and people.

Miniex said she’s learned that music is more than talent, it is about communicating an idea to the audience. She is more cognizant of all the vast elements that fall into artistry, she said.

“I came into the program thinking it was enough to have talent and make pretty sounds, and I am leaving just understanding the importance of building your artistry,” she said.

Robbins' voice professor taught her to put an imaginary, yellow spacesuit of protective energy before each performance. It has helped her in many ways, she said.

Bletcher gained the ability to let all parts of his life shine through his music.

“I feel like a sponge now. I feel like I had shutters on for a while through my battles with mental health but my experience at Loyola has allowed me to remove those and take in all the beautiful things around me,” Bletcher said.

Jamir has gained confidence in herself, and in working collaboratively with others. This was shown in her duet with Robbins, for they captured their intimacy as music partners, Jamir said. She was able to be present in the moment, which was different from the beginning of her music journey at Loyola, she said.

“When I am on stage I am not thinking about anything, I am just totally there. Jamir said.

Considering Jamir has a specific sound, different from others, she sometimes worries her soft voice will be drowned out. But she has learned how she can use her voice in powerful ways.

“I am not a powerhouse vocalist, but having the ability to silence a room is a superpower,” Jamir said.

After four years of Robbins watching her peers grow and evolve, it was powerful to see them all express themselves fully at the capstone, she said.

“I felt like we were doing something meaningful. I think it can be really easy to get discouraged from doing art and music right now in the world financially but when you are actually doing it you forget all about that,” Robbins said.

In their collaborative effort at Siberia Bar, Robbins, Jamir, and Belcher not only showcased their musical talents but also illuminated the transformative power of authenticity, collaboration, and self-expression.

As they embark on new chapters beyond college, their shared journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring musicians and creatives alike, reminding us of the enduring significance of staying true to oneself and embracing the journey of artistic evolution.

Blue Carrier tattoos a client on April 22, 2024. Carrier works at Fun Tattoos on Lowerline Street. Rodrigo Delgado Jr./The Maroon

· Juris Doctor – full time, part time, and evening programs

· Master of Arts in Environmental Law

· Master of Arts in Health Law & Administration

AI: Faculty and students weigh in on AI new policy

Continued from page 1

Frankie J. Weinberg, associate professor of management, said that he has on occasion demonstrated or instructed students to use AI as a part of their research processes for projects and assignments.

Weinberg was the first professor in the College of Business to institute a student use of AI policy in his class. This same policy was then distributed by the College of Business Dean’s Office to other professors, as a suggestion on how they should regulate AI usage in their own classrooms.

Weinberg is a fan of the new policy but anticipates that AI and its capabilities may progress faster than the new policy can keep up.

“Anyone can see how rapidly AI has progressed over a much shorter period

of time than that in a way that allows novice users to create projects well beyond the scope of what we could have imagined two years ago,” Weinberg said.

“Therefore, I believe that the policy itself should be considered dynamic and have the flexibility to flux with the ebbs and flows of technological change more readily than that.”

Many Loyola students are accepting of the new policy and believe that it can be used as a tool to aid students who may be running low on ideas.

Graphic design sophomore Cadence Kempf said that she has used AI in some of her classes to create slogans, come up with titles, and generate ideas for essays.

Kempf sees the benefits of the policy and its ability to help students at times when they need a little extra assistance on their work.

“I’m all for the new policy, only because this is a resource to help students,” Kempf said. “Especially when you are burned out or have a lack of creative drive. Sometimes I just don’t have the energy. And I need help. I don’t see a problem with that.”

Other students feel that artificial intelligence in the academic setting can produce more trouble than it can solve.

English freshman Kaitlyn Gress believes that the use of policies and AI detectors can oftentimes flag students for the use of AI in situations where it is unwarranted.

“I don’t like how the use of AI has changed academic policies. Even though I don’t use AI to complete my assignments, I’ve still had an experience where something I turned in was detected by AI,” Gress said. “It was a very frus-

trating experience, and I ended up doing more work because of it, so I’m not too fond of AI.”

Guidance and clarity is an end goal shared by both faculty and students when it comes to the new policy.

Sarah Allison, director of composition and member of the university senate executive committee, said this basic agreement requires transparency about what work is getting done and whose work is being assessed.

“I have only one life on this earth and would hate to use it giving Cs to the collective wisdom of the internet applied to nineteenth-century novels,” Allison said.

According to Vice Provost and policy author Erin Dupuis, the policy can officially be approved once it has been looked over by one or two more members of the university senate.

VAPE: Students compare health risks – vapes

Continued from page 6

Although Polley said she understands the reasoning behind the ban, she believes the goal of tackling nicotine use with young adults will be unsuccessful.

“I feel like the ban on vapes maybe is changing some peoples’ minds, maybe, but overall, I don’t really think that it's doing much to be honest,” she said. “When people are addicted to something, they’re going to find a way to get it no matter what.”

Garces said the increased cigarette use reflects a cultural phenomenon fueled online.

“It’s also been a trend on social media to pick up cigarettes, so I think the ban allowed that transition to happen smoothly,” he said. “It’s easy to tell on a night out who’s smoking cigs to fit an aesthetic, especially if they’re posing with it for pictures.”

According to Garces, some student attitudes are changing in favor of ciga-

rettes and against vapes.

“I’ve heard people say they prefer cigarettes because it’s cheaper and looks cooler than hitting a colored stick with flavored air,” he said.

Student perceptions around vapes and cigarettes vary. Some believe vapes pose more unknown health risks. However, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated in 2023 that vapes are less harmful than regular cigarettes. Vape aerosol contains fewer toxic chemicals than the mix of 7,000 chemicals in smoke from regular cigarettes, the CDC said.

“I don’t think vaping is better, to be honest. I think it’s worse,” Polley expressed.

According to Polley, cigarette habits have had less noticeable effect on her health than vapes because of the amount she was vaping before.

“Vaping really affected my voice, and it really affected my respiratory system in general,” she said. “I was coughing a lot

more. Once I stopped vaping, I was able to take a deep breath.”

Polley believes her cigarette habit is less disruptive and less frequent than their former vaping habit.

“My own personal philosophy is that with a vape, it’s accessible at any time,” she said. “So you’d be vaping in a car, or inside, or in bed, but with a cigarette you have to go outside, and it’s more like a treat. You have to work for it more because it’s like, you know, acoustic nicotine. It’s more poetic.”

From high school to college, Polley estimated she spent $4,000 on vapes. She said the habit was more expensive and compulsive than smoking.

“Praying to St. Anthony to find my vape – that’s how I knew I was in the trenches,” she said.

Garces believes there is an increase in both Loyola and Tulane students smoking more.

He said he’s seen students smoking cigarettes in between classes, at bars and

vs. cigarettes

parties, and in the park.

“You can walk into any college bar in the area that has a smoke patio, and it’s wild to see how many people have a cigarette pack with them and how many people are hitting cigarettes as well,” Garces said.

Polley said smoking cigarettes is a social activity and a conversation-starter when going out.

“How many people do you meet who ask, ‘Oh, can I bum a cigarette? Oh, do you have a lighter?’” she said.

Now, taking smoke breaks with friends is an enjoyable part of her week.

“Switching to cigarettes now, I feel like it’s more of a treat,” she said. “It’s more ritualistic than hitting a vape.”

Despite her preference, Polley said she hopes to quit smoking and warns against it.

“As a smoker myself, I don’t recommend picking up smoking,” Polley said. “It is an addiction. It is something that I wish that I didn’t have in my life.

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META: Censorship and gathering information through social media

Continued from page 6

White used Jacob Chansley, known as the “QAnon Shaman,” as an example of the dangers of echo chambers. QAnon is an alt-right conspiracy group based on the idea of a government insider leaking information to promote the idea of a “deep state.” According to White, Chansley first slid into the pipeline when looking for health foods. From there, he fell down the rabbit hole until he landed

“into this world of his own.”

Thankfully for Harris and White, the feature is optional and can be turned off within the settings of Meta’s apps. However, for other users, they may be completely unaware of the new change.

According to Harris, she found out via TikTok.

“TikTok gives Gen Z a voice to say whatever, whether we like it or not,” Harris said. “If TikTok were to get banned, and we moved to Instagram, that’s just a

way for Meta to control what Gen Z and what other users see on the app.”

Harris refers to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which was signed into law by Biden on April 24 as a part of a bill that provides emergency funding to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, according to the Congressional website.

The law bans the hosting of “foreign adversary controlled applications” within the U.S., with exception to this being if

a “qualified divestiture” is made — selling TikTok.

When it comes to Meta, though, Harris is advocating for people to switch this feature off.

“I don’t want to ever censor someone on what their opinion is, whether I agree with it or not,” Harris said. “It’s not my job to dictate whether it’s good or bad.”

White goes one step further and recommends others to actively look for multiple sources for news. For instance,

he will look at different news sites in order to see how they will cover the same event.

“I can balance out my prejudices here, and somewhere in between or underneath these prejudices is the truth, right?” White said. “I won't get it entirely but at least I'll do my best to get the most sober reflection of reality that I can.”

Greer Jines/The Maroon

Final Scores

Men's Golf @SSAC Championship 6th of 9

Tennis

@SSAC Championships

Track & Field @SSAC Outdoor Championships

Women (3rd of 12) Men (6th of 11)

Upcoming Games

Baseball vs William Carey

@Turchik Stadium

April 26 @1 PM and 3:00 PM

Track & Field

Loyola Xavier Dillard Last Chance

Meet

May 3-4

Baseball @SSAC Championships in Jackson, Tenn.

May 1-3

Julian Baldwin excels in the classroom and on the court

By Avanni Joseph pajoseph@my.loyno.edu

The life of a student athlete isn’t fit for most, but many of them manage to juggle both academics and sports, making it look like it was a walk in the park.

One of those student athletes is Julian Baldwin, a senior and center on Loyola’s men’s basketball team.

Baldwin started his college student-athlete career at East Central University before transferring to Loyola.

“I saw the history Loyola made two years ago, and I wanted to be a part of it and do it again. I’ve always wanted to get a [championship] ring, so coming here seemed like the best course of action,” Baldwin said.

Through the struggle of traveling each week, midterms, finals, and championships, the computer science senior still managed to stay focused academically and on the court.

“I mean, it obviously wasn’t easy, but it needed to be done,” he said. “I love the sport too much to fail. If I don't take my classes seriously, I’m off the team. I can’t let that happen.”

Even though Baldwin has one more year left as a graduate student, he has already began to think about his future plans.

“I want to pursue a professional career whether it be overseas playing basketball or by putting my degree to use,” Baldwin said.

In his time as an athlete at Loyola, Baldwin achieved his goal and secured his first championship ring while maintaining a spot on the Wolf Pack’s all-academic team.

Women's tennis gears up for end of season

By Alana Thompson anthomps@my.loyno.edu

The women’s tennis team has begun the final stretch of their season ranking No. 10 for the first time in school history and a four-match winning streak.

In their last matches of the season, the players said that they have been putting in the work needed to get back to the championship that they lost last year.

Head coach Matthew Llewellyn said that it is the entire team’s goal to get back to that position.

“In the parking lot in Montgomery, we talked about getting back to that site, that championship match, and winning the title,” Llewelyn said.

“We've been working toward this goal

for nearly a calendar year.”

Biology pre-med senior Isabella “Isa” Leaño said that losing the championship put a “chip on their shoulders” and made the players “want it more.” At this point in the season, the third-year player noticed the team’s energy during matches and said it gave them an edge over other teams.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s the whole team, which is 15 girls, or if it’s just the starting lineup of six girls,” Leaño said.

“We’re just as loud. Obviously, it gets in your opponent’s head seeing how much energy is being brought on the court, whether you’re the one playing or you’re the one on the sidelines.”

The Wolf Pack won their last four matches against Louisiana Christian,

Tennessee Southern, Georgia Point, and William Carey. Players said that winning consecutive matches has given the team momentum.

Mass communication senior Selma Fereres said they believe that they can make it back to the championship.

“It definitely allows us to stay optimistic and allows us to build confidence about the future and the national tournament coming up,” Fereres said.

Llewellyn said that the depth of the roster and the contributions of players have been “incredibly valuable” to the team at this point. He also said that he believes that they advanced team play and the team’s pursuit of a championship.

“Honestly, our reserves have been

unbelievable this season,” Llewellyn said. “Selma Fereres, Ana Castillo, Elly Carpenter, Isa Leaño, Avrora Volkova, Reilly Briggs, Luciana Marziano. They show up and work hard to help us prepare for every practice. Without them, we wouldn't be a top 10 team.”

As the team has continued to finish the rest of their schedule, they said that they feel equipped to win it all.

“Our next three matches are all against competitive teams. I think it’s a strong schedule, but it’s nothing that we can’t overcome,” Leaño said. “With those future wins under our belt, then we’ll be ready to face whoever we’re matched up with at those tournaments.”

Emily Sheperis speaks on her future plans after Loyola

By Samantha Guillotte slguillote@my.loyno.edu

If you have been to a Loyola volleyball game, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard the name Emily Sheperis ring out through the Den. But she’s more than a middle hitter from a small town in Florida.

The business management senior said during her sophomore year, Hurricane Ida hit New Orleans. Sheperis expressed how proud she was of the indoor volleyball team and the school for how they came together to rebuild.

“It was one of the proudest moments I’ve been a part of,” Sheperis said.

Sheperis also said she was proud to be a part of the NAIA community.

There are a lot of negative prejudices surrounding that, but it didn’t change the

fact that she was a student-athlete in college, handling it all.

According to Sheperis, she was able to get the “best of both worlds.”

Sheperis will be graduating from Loyola this spring.

Her post-graduation plan? To take off to England to pursue a master’s degree in human resources and continue to play volleyball overseas.

“People who have invisible disabilities, like mental illness or depression or anxiety or even special needs, they need a buddy. And I want to provide that service for them."

“It’s kind of like a study abroad year. I’m super excited but a little nervous. I’m stepping outside my comfort zone,” Sheperis said.

Whether she continues to play volleyball after that, Sheperis is unsure, but that hasn't stopped her from dreaming big.

Sheperis plans to come back to the states and start her own business, providing a service for people with special needs in airports.

-Emily Sheperis Junior tennis player

“People who have invisible disabilities, like mental illness or depression or anxiety or even special needs, they need a buddy. And I want to provide that service for them,” she said. She also expressed one of her biggest

takeaways from college was finding out how much she had to give.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself. Growth is so big and to look back on myself compared to freshman year and see how much I’ve changed is so good,” said Sheperis.

Athletically, Sheperis is proud that she got to finish, according to her. A lot of athletes lose the love and give up but she’s proud that she was able to fight and hold onto her love for the sport according to her interview.

As she looks back on her academic and athletic career, Sheperis has one big piece of advice.

“Take it all in because you won’t get these years back ever. Have fun and make memorable moments while you’re in college.”

Micaela Ponce and Ariana Salgueiro high-five after match. Courtesy of Selma Fereres.

Tennis team embraces senior Lucy Carpenter after practice. Courtesy of Selma Fereres.

Sheperis smiles on the court. Courtesy of Wolf Pack Athletics.

Sheperis attacks on the court. Courtesy of Wolf Pack Athletics.

Live-action remakes: They're

Tanesha Taylor Design junior tctaylor@my.loyno.edu

As a college student, I'm starting to see many of my all-time favorite shows and movies from my childhood being remade. I feel like we, as a society, know that remakes are typically not that good. I am not the first to oppose a remake or live-action version of something I hold close to my heart, but to be very honest, sometimes they are not that bad.

The shows and movies have only committed one crime: they are tacked onto a beloved franchise. We've been a little too harsh to dismiss some of these live-action remakes. As someone who watches a lot of television and has seen some bad television, I can say there is so much worse out there then these remakes.

For instance, Netflix's "Fate: The Winx Saga” was a live-action remake of the popular animated series "Winx Club”. The first time I watched this series, I took every chance to express how awful it was, repeatedly saying things like “In the original, they didn’t…” or “That's not how they were in the original…”. I realized I

spent my entire time watching the series compared to the animated series. So, I sat down and rewatched it, pushing the original to the back of my mind. And end result: It's not bad. It's your typical fantasy teen drama.

There is nothing wrong with it.

It's the same with the live-action remakes of "Monster High". They are good at being a Nickelodeon children's film, and that’s all they have to be. I also have come to realize that sometimes with these remakes I am not the target audience. A lot of themes that these companies are doing are to introduce a new generation to something old in a way they will like. As a child I liked the animation and the style many of the stuff was in, but now kids don't care or appreciate that so things are being adapted to that.

Each of these films was made well and executed amazingly, and I enjoyed watching them. I just had to forget they were remakes.

I believe that is the only problem. They are structured just like any other film in their genre. They just get hate from the fans of the franchise they are placed under.

Everyone should stop judging remakes based on the original and look at them as a stand-alone series because I truly think they aren't that bad.

People should be kinder to student workers

In my three years at Loyola, I’ve had my fair share of campus jobs – from stocking drinks in The Market, making sandwiches at Subway, creating social media content for academic departments, monitoring the desks in the dorms, shelving books at Tulane, to now being a resident assistant in Biever Hall.

One thing to note about campus jobs is the people you’re serving. They’re not strangers in a restaurant you can’t afford to eat at or at a movie theater counter asking for extra butter on their popcorn – they’re your peers. And not the occasional familiar face, you see the same faces at work, in class, in passing, everywhere.

For someone like me who chose Loyola for its small student population, it's pretty endearing some days, but on others, I wish I could disappear into obscurity. Instead, I got a job at Tulane.

And for those fortunate enough to have the means to travel further off campus for work, I’m jealous.

I may not be an expert at campus jobs, (and I sincerely apologize if I’ve ever butchered your Subway sandwich), but in my time working all these odd jobs and always getting compared to Trish from “Austin & Ally,” I’ve encountered, in some fashion, every situation and scandal that could possibly occur at Loyola.

But one thing that never fails to stump me is the overall lack of consideration and respect from students.

At a single period of time, I am usually working two to three jobs just to afford to live – in addition to taking 18-21 credit hours as a double major with a minor.

Most days, I leave my dorm in Biever at 8 a.m. to go to my first job before clocking out to eat lunch as I walk to my first class of the day, then to my second, before heading off to my second job. And if I make it back to my dorm before midnight, I spend the remainder of my day doing homework and preparing to do it all again the next day.

As a first-generation college student, every obstacle I face in academia is one that I have to overcome on my own with little support from my parents, who have worked tirelessly their whole lives just to give me opportunities that they never had.

There isn’t a single day at Loyola that I take for granted because every discussion post and shift at a shitty job is one more conquered hurdle closer to my college degree, which will be the most honest and rewarding ‘thank you’ to my parents who’ve given their all for me to be where I am.

But my story isn’t unique. This story is one that many student workers at Loyola know and understand all too well, especially given that, as of fall 2023, 37% of full-time enrolled students are first-generation.

So if you’ve ever been rude to a bookstore employee, yelled at a resident assistant (namely during Mardi Gras), lingered in The Market a little too close to closing, or been disrespectful or inconsiderate to student workers in any capacity, now’s the time to check yourself.

Do better, Loyola. Be kinder. Be compassionate and be considerate of the lives your peers are leading because, in the end, we’re all just trying to reach our goals and be better people.

Maleigh Crespo

Sophia Maxim /The Maroon

Ruth Brown /The Maroon

HOWLS & GROWLS

HOWL to new dorm furniture

GROWL to sti ing free speech

HOWL to Earth week

GROWL to unexpected snakes

HOWL to academic integrity

GROWL to catcalling

HOWL to Chappell Roan

GROWL to vaping

e line between utilizing resources and ethical misconduct becomes blurred.

As students, educators, and scholars, we must de ne our relationship with AI tools, particularly in academic settings. It's time to address AI integration into our academic lives

It’s not going away, so we should use the resource just like any other. is one happens to be easily accessible and fast. But the ease of access to AI does not justify a “write this for me” mentality, which ultimately undermines the principles of academic integrity. It means that you are using a readily available resource to help you in the writing process.

e temptation to lean heavily on AI

and establish clear guidelines for its ethical use.

It’s all about how we use these tools. While AI can assist in spell-checking and generating content, it's crucial to recognize the distinction between leveraging AI as a supplementary aid

in writing papers is undeniable. Still, we must use these tools as aids to enhance our understanding and expression of complex concepts rather than substitutes for engagement with the material. AI o ers valuable assistance across di erent subjects – from algebra to literature – but it should not replace critical thinking and creativity.

We need to address the underlying issues

and relying solely on its output.

at’s why we need to use AI like a friend.

Ask what it thinks about what you read. Ask it what it thinks about your idea.

BOARD

driving the reliance on AI. ere is a need for more con dence in our abilities. e fear of academic inadequacy can lead us to overlook the importance of personal engagement with the subject matter.

However, AI is not the answer. But it is a tool that should be wielded responsibly and ethically.

Lizzy Hadley /The

Write a letter to the editor letter@loyno.edu

Quote

of the week

"I’m all for the new policy. Only because this is a resource and tool to help students."

- Cadence Kempf, graphic design sophmore on Loyola's AI policy

POLICY

Maroon