Maroon Sept. 9, 2022 Issue

Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 101 • Issue 02

M THE MAROON SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

LORA Self-Service implemented

By Gabriella Killett

Design by Patrick Hamilton

As the university moved to a new enterprise system, glitches left students in the lurch

By Maria DiFelice mldifeli@my.loyno.edu

Olivia Delahoussaye thought they were going to have a relaxing summer with the thought of school out of their mind. Delahoussaye, an English senior at Loyola, said that this was not the case.

Instead of a nice summer without any worries about school, they received an email in mid-June from the university’s financial aid department saying that they owed $27,000 for the Fall 2022 semester. When getting that email, Delahoussaye said that they weren’t worried and just thought that their financial aid hadn’t been applied yet. They waited a couple of weeks hoping to receive an email from financial aid saying that all of their aid was applied. Delahoussaye said they never got that email, and that is when panic set in for them.

They decided to make a phone call to financial aid. During the call, Delahoussaye said that the lady was condescending and did not help them fix the problem that was happening.

There was no way of getting an answer through email and the phone call was discouraging, Delahoussaye was stuck and said they didn’t know what to do.

“If you send them an email they will never get back to you because the way that they set up the system it’s so hard to get information,” Delahoussaye said.

Delahoussaye is not the only student having financial difficulties amid the switch from the old Loyola Online Records System to the new one, LORA Self-Service, which was implemented through Project LUCI. Tuition for the Fall 2022 semester was due on Monday Aug. 15, which was the first day of freshman movein, according to Loyola’s website. Students were said to be having these issues well after Aug. 15, having financial holds on their account during upperclassmen move-in, which according to Loyola’s website was Aug. 18-20.

A Loyola student, who asked to be anonymous for fear of backlash, said that a couple days before school started she went to LORA Self-Service to pay her tuition and saw that none of her scholarships were added to her billing. She called the financial aid office on Monday Aug. 15, she said.

“I was in panic mode because at my previous university, I didn’t have to call financial aid or anything like (that). All my scholarships were automatically put in,” she said.

She said that because of the lack of information given to her about the amount she owed, she needed to take out a last minute loan in order to pay her Fall 2022 semester balance.

Ashley Damon, a sophomore double major in advertising and psychology, said that when she first got her student balance, her scholarships and financial aid were not put in as well.

Like Delahoussaye, Damon was not worried at first glance and just thought her aid and scholarships were looked over. After a few weeks, she emailed financial aid. After that email was sent, her balance wasn’t fixed, and it took them two more weeks to fix the issues of her aid not being properly put in the system, she said.

Loraine Chotin, who serves as an executive assistant to the provost, said that they were aware of students having these issues, but not aware that any students had to take out unexpected loans. She also said that there have been no added late fees to any students who had issues during movein week.

The old system, LORA, was created in 1979 and needed updates.

See SYSTEM, page 3

gekillet@my.loyno.edu @gekillett

Loyola University New Orleans undertook a costly, tedious, and labor-intensive project last year as it began to implement a new enterprise resource planning system and ultimately got rid of the university’s 40-year-old online records system, LORA. The new-LORA, also known as LORA Self-Service or Project LUCI, is now familiar to students, as they registered for classes using this system at the end of last semester. The program itself is called Colleague, developed by the software company, Ellucian.

Now, administrators of the program have goals for its expansion, and students and administrators alike are looking forward to ironing out the bumps which managers of the system are expecting to come with its initial implementation.

Uriel Quesada, vice provost for institutional research, accreditation and academic engagement, argued that the implementation of the new LORA had students in mind above all else.

The university started the program’s implementation in the fall 2021 semester, and had a plan to implement the most significant parts of the system within 18 months. Quesada called Project LUCI an “ongoing” one.

“I think that it makes Loyola a better place for everyone,” he said. “I think that it is something critical.”

Nate Straight, the university’s director of institutional data analytics and reporting, added that there will be advancements coming to the program, including the possibility for students to hypothetically switch their major and plan their course load according to the potential switch.

He explained that this feature will replace uAchieve and be more advanced through investigating ‘what if’ options for students’ desires.

And for faculty and staff, the program will be more manageable as well, according to Straight.

See NEW LORA, page 10

Dorm gets new name page 3

New Orleans denied flood funding

Mens basketball gets new head coach

page 5

page 8

THE MAROON

2

AIB

CRIME MAP

OR

NE

AV E

LE

LA LOYO

E TULAN

ST. CHARLES AVE

PO

ON

AV E

Simple Battery Broadway St.

VE NA SO FER

FRERET ST

NA

JEF

E AV LE VIL SH NA

WAY ST BROAD

S. CARROLLTON AVE

CL

September 9, 2022

Harassment Loyola Main Campus

LE

AK

AV E

1:40 a.m.

Sept. 7

7:58 a.m.

BON AUDURK PA

E

Sept. 5

E ST

IN MAGAZ STAFF

Assistant Editors: Maria DiFelice, Veronica Offner, Ella Cheramie, Matthew Richards Digital Team: Bella Kelley, Alexis Parrino, Sophie Bornefeld, Abigail Schmidt, Addison Laird, Maria DiFelice Staff Writers and Photographers: Jonathan Whitehead, Jenna DeLucia, Ashley Bobb Collins, Austyn Malynn, Destiny Sanders Adviser: Michael Giusti

CONTACT US

Main Office (504) 865-3535 Business Office/Advertising (504) 865-3536 Adviser’s Office (504) 865-3295 Correspondence maroon@loyno.edu Letters to the editor letter@loyno.edu Advertising ads@loyno.edu Website www.loyolamaroon.com Twitter @loyola_maroon Facebook The Maroon Instagram @loyola_maroon Our office is in the Communications/Music Complex, Room 328.

Send mail to: The Maroon, Loyola University, Campus Box 64, 6363 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118 The Maroon is published every Friday. Unless otherwise noted, all content is copyrighted by The Maroon. All rights reserved. First copy free to students, faculty and staff. Every additional copy is $1.00. The Maroon is printed on 30 percent postconsumer recycled content.

Y O U

A R E

I N V I T E D

T O

Cider Club

J O I N

M O N T H L Y

I T ' S L I K E B U T W I T H

A W I N E C I D E R &

C L U B M E A D

*FOUR FILLS, FLIGHTS, OR MIX OF PER MONTH

$ 4 5 P E R M O N T H

*20% OFF ALWAYS *TAP 13 ACCESS *QUARTERLY LAGNIAPPE

T O

S I G N U P O R F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N E M A I L : J O N @ B R O A D S T R E E T C I D E R . C O M M U S T B E 2 1 +

NEWS

SEPTEMBER 9,2022 THE MAROON

3

Residence hall renamed, honors school's first Black graduate

By Destiny Sanders desander@my.loyno.edu

Loyola University New Orleans announced June 21 that it would rename Carrollton Hall to honor the university’s first Black graduate, Norman C. Francis.

The former Carrollton Hall has been renamed to Blanche and Norman C. Francis Family Hall to honor both Francis, now 91 years old, and his late wife Blanche Francis. This project was led by the Historic Naming Committee that was assembled by university advancement last year, said Kedrick Perry, vice president for equity and inclusion at Loyola.

“By renaming this building for the Francis family, we hope to show that everyone is welcome and valued here,” Perry said.

Residents of the Francis Family Hall will also notice new aesthetic changes to the building, according to Jay Davis, associate director for residential life. These design changes came directly from the Francis family, Davis said, through the donation of family portraits and other artwork.

“The re-establishment of the formally named Carrollton Hall as The Francis Family Hall represents the acknowledgement of Loyola’s past in its path forward,” Davis said.

Perry said he hopes that the renaming of the residence hall will inspire current and future students.

“I also hope our students will recognize the value of representation and the sense of true belonging that comes with representation,” Perry said.

Perry added that it is important that Loyola’s heroes represent the diversity of the students and the campus community. As Loyola’s first Black graduate, Francis paved the way for future students of color at the university, Perry said.

Norman C. Francis graduated from Loyola School of Law in 1955, according to a press release published in June 2022 by the university.

“Francis believes that education is the true path to diversity, equity and inclusion,” said added The Rev. Justin Daffron, S.J., interim university president.

Francis also served as the president

Francis Family Hall, formerly known as Carrollton Hall is pictured near the university's residential quad. The dorm was renamed to honor the Loyola's first Black graduate, Norman C. Francis. Photo by Ashley Bobb Collins/ The Maroon

of Xavier University of Louisiana from 1968-2015, according to the press release.

Francis was the first Black and first non-clergy member president of the school, and he was the second Black person to ever serve as president of a Catholic university in the United States, the press release said.

Not only has Francis done amazing things for Loyola and Xavier, he has also

worked to create real change for students across the country, according to Perry.

Francis has been an advocate for affirmative action, worked to expand Pell grants, and been a vocal advocate for many pieces of legislation that have helped create opportunities for millions of students across the country, Perry said.

“Francis drew on his Jesuit values

throughout his life, as a leader in education, a community leader, and a father and grandfather,” Perry said.

Francis received Loyola’s Integritas Vitae Award in 1986, Adjutor Hominum Award in 1991, A.P. Tureaud Achievement Award from the Black Law Students Association in 2012, and the university's St. Ives Award, the highest honor given by the Loyola Law Alumni Association, in 2015, according to the

Loyola's faculty wages are behind the national average

By Jackie Galli jegalli@my.loyno.edu @jackie_galli

The graph shows difference in faculty salary at Loyola compared to the national average. Ava Acharya/ the Maroon

The average wage for all full-time faculty and staff at Loyola is 25% lower than the national average in higher education, according to the 2020 to 2021 compensation survey by the American Association of University Professors.

The association’s results for the survey found the average salary at Loyola for all full-time faculty and staff to be $77,500. Full-time professors and associate professors make about 25% less than the national average. Over the past several years, Loyola paused faculty retirement contributions and salary raises in order to recover from financial hardships.

Now that the university is no longer losing money, the university embarked on a compensation study in December of 2021 to try and achieve their goal of more competitive and equitable wages for Loyola’s employees, according to Loyola's Associate Director of Public Affairs, Patricia Murret.

The study’s results proved huge gaps in pay between Loyola and other institutions, Murret said, with Loyola’s wages coming in at the low end of the market.

The first step towards solving the is-

sue will be a one-time payment for all staff earning below the 25th percentile for their position, said Interim University President, the Rev. Justin Daffron, S.J. during a speech to the university this summer.

Daffron said he hopes to make a more permanent fix to salaries in the upcoming year. Murret said that as of right now, the university is going to be focusing funds towards bonuses for the higher-paid employees whose wages were also behind. The specific details of the Loyola study, along with what exactly the bonuses looked like, will be kept confidential by the university, Murret said.

As of the Fall 2022 convocation in early August, Loyola welcomed 31 new faculty members according to. Tanujah Singh, senior vice president of academic affairs. Student enrollment is growing too, she said, even as it shrinks across the country. The continued growth in enrollment comes as Loyola is just now addressing a lack of growth in wages.

While Murret said the university understood the compensation study might identify gaps that were too large to fix at once, she added that the recently regained financial stability at Loyola has led to the first steps toward the university reaching its goal of competitive and fair wages.

press release.

Perry added that the week of Oct. 13, there will be on-campus events to celebrate the renaming of the Blanche and Norman C. Francis Family Hall as well as the legacy of the Francis Family at Loyola.

Continued from page 1

NEW LORA: Student financial issues Chotin said Switching from an old system to a new system is never easy, but they are working hard to fix all the problems.

She acknowledges the new system is flawed and reassures students that all issues that were brought to their attention are fixed now. She also said that the Financial Aid Department works as quickly as possible to resolve all issues, and they will continue to do so.

“We are working to manage this as quickly and efficiently as possible with little disruption to students,” Chotin said.

Chotin added that they plan to incorporate these solutions into the office’s practices moving forward.

PUZZLES

4 Across 1 Jesmyn Ward's "Men We Reaped," for one 7 Kraków native 11 Soccer star Hamm 14 Grand Marnier flavor 15 Verb in a risotto recipe 16 "American Street" author __ Zoboi 17 Form a queue 18 Buckwheat noodle 19 Zoomer's parent, maybe 20 "Mudbound" director Rees 21 *What an eager newlywed requests from a wedding photographer?

24 Actress Taylor-Joy 25 Genuine 26 Chapati flour 28 *Poem dedicated to a computer chip?

33 "Vice" Oscar nominee 34 Complete collections 35 "Well, gosh!"

36 Petty gripes 37 All-out brawl 39 Tzatziki herb 40 Simple top 41 Ramírez who plays Che on "And Just Like That ... " 42 Uses a microfiber cloth 43 *Band gear only used in the warmest months?

46 Blues guitarist Baker 47 Info on a political rival 48 Jittery 50 *Reason for roadwork?

54 Psychic ability 57 Zendaya's "Euphoria" role 58 Not fooled by 59 Lithuania neighbor 61 Snack __ 62 Bring up 63 Hits the books and rings a bell 64 One rising at dawn 65 Condition underdiagnosed in girls: Abbr.

66 Show the door, and a phonetic hint for the answers to the starred clues Down 1 Shaping aid 2 Pelee Island's lake 3 Pride of lions 4 Single 5 Rainforest lizards

6 Get back (to) 7 Quiet "Over here" 8 Short "And yet ... " 9 Set free 10 Pencil toppers 11 Person with a spiritual calling?

12 "Wow, no doubt" 13 Runs on TV 22 Chem class 23 Bale contents 24 Places for taking notes?

26 "Farewell" 27 Art gallery on the Thames 29 Imam's faith 30 Born 31 Faucet brand 32 Long fish 33 Farm insects 37 Stranded

38 Time piece 39 Obligation 41 Chain with a Beauty Insider rewards program 42 Break down chemically 44 Can. elected officials 45 Disposable sock 49 Where to get counter offers?

50 Spheres 51 Tropical party 52 Park City's state 53 Noble title 54 Cruet filler: Abbr.

55 Liu who plays the superhero Shang-Chi 56 Kind of tense 60 Hair __

September 9, 2022 THE MAROON

For weekly puzzle answers, download The Loyola Maroon Mobile App Apple Store

Farm-Fresh Brain Food

6101 MAGAZINE STREET 504.301.0510 MAXWELLNEWORLEANS.COM

DELIVERY AVAILABLE!

Google Play

September 9, 2022 THE MAROON

WORLDVIEW

5

Austyn Maylynn / The Maroon

Caught in the Eye State blocks New Orleans' flood funds over abortion stance

By Patrick Hamilton pthamilt@my.loyno.edu @patthamilton

Louisiana’s Attorney General and Loyola alumnus Jeff Landry has pressured the State Bond Commission to withhold $39 million dollars in infrastructure funding for the second month in a row.

The State Bond Commission - of which Landry is a member - is tasked with approving financing for projects across the State. This withholding is a response to the city leader’s declaration last July that they would not be enforcing Louisiana’s abortion ban.

The $39 million dollars was allocated for a number of infrastructure projects around the city, including the Sewerage and Water Board’s Power Plant Planning

and Construction project. Currently, the Sewerage and Water board is using outdated equipment to power the city's drinking water, sewage and drainage turbines.

The project would help create a more dependable system that would not be as easily overwhelmed by future hurricanes and other natural disasters.

Last May, during President Biden's trip to New Orleans, Sewerage and Water Board Executive Director Ghassan Korban warned that “the whole system could fail” if they did not update the infrastructure immediately.

Last June, Louisiana signed into law one of the nation’s strictest abortion bans, making no exceptions for rape or incest. The ban took effect after the Supreme Court overturned the court case Roe V Wade, a landmark ruling that pro-

tected abortion as a constitutional right.

New Orleans City Council members passed a resolution condemning the legislation. The resolution reiterates the council’s support for abortion access and requests that city funds not be used to enforce the states abortion ban.

Landry had pressured the State Bond Commission to withhold funding from New Orleans when they convened for their monthly meeting in July and again later in August. The commission is set to vote on the $39 million dollar project again when they meet on September 15th.

In a public statement issued last month, Landry justified his position claiming “the officials in New Orleans took an oath of office to support and enforce the laws of our state, yet they have decided that some laws are not worthy

of enforcement.”

Mayor LaToya Cantrell said that she was not surprised by Landry’s “hostility towards reproductive freedom.” Cantrell said she found it troubling “that the Attorney General would place critical infrastructure and state assets in harm’s way just to score political points for his run for governor.”

Fraser Wright, a junior majoring in music industries has expressed his concern with the delays as he spends his first semester off campus. Wright said that “delaying updates to the city’s already embarrassing excuse for sewage and water infrastructure, while every other corner of nearby neighborhood intersections are literally sinking into the ground, is alone worth ample concern to commuting students’ health and safety.” Wright also said that “justifying

these delays through the enforcement of unethical views on women’s rights only magnifies the pathetic nature of Landry’s actions.”

Landry has refused to back off from his position, telling the bond commission that “any other funding that will directly benefit the City of New Orleans should also be paused until such time as the council, mayor, chief of police, sheriff, and district attorney have met with and affirmed that they will comply with and enforce the laws of this state and cooperate with any state officials who may be called upon to enforce them.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Cantrell and other city leaders have responded that they will not reconsider their opposition to the state’s abortion ban.

Students remember hardship upon Hurricane Ida anniversary

By Jonathan Whitehead jmwhiteh@my.loyno.edu

The one year anniversary of Hurricane Ida just passed, and an alarming percentage of Louisiana residents are still dealing with the hardships that came from this storm, even with the $2.6 billion of Army Corps of Engineers Funding that was provided to the state.

Today, the New Orleans community anticipates the possible dangers that will come with the upcoming hurricane season, which typically falls between August and October. This past August,

however, there were no named tropical storms in the Atlantic for the third time since 1950, according to The-Times Picayune. This rarity has left New Orleanians anxious for what strong storms may be brewing under the radar in the coming months.

Olivia Cerminaro, marketing student and Jefferson Parish resident, shared that she and her family stayed for the hurricane. She said that, “usually the storms aren’t as bad as they say they are going to be. Being from New Orleans, we were used to the stronger hurricanes.”

But half of her home was destroyed

in the storm by an oak tree that was in her front yard , and the damage is still not fixed today. Cerminaro described the status of her home as, “not livable and is currently taped off with a tarp,” however, her family continues to reside in their home coinciding with the hurricane damage. With the destruction of her home still in place, she said that she is very concerned about this hurricane season. She added, “my family will be evacuating for the storms to come.”

Yvonne Kalpakis, Loyola criminology student shared her Ida story as well, saying that she and her roommates decided

not to evacuate their Uptown home before the storm.

“None of us are New Orleans-natives, and we have only experienced weaker hurricanes during our time at Loyola, so we did not think there was a need to evacuate the city.”

Luckily, there was minimal damage to her home during the storm. “We were stranded with limited food supplies and had no way to ventilate away the treacherous New Orleans August heat,” Kalpakis added. “We struggled for days to look for flights, buses, or AmTracks to get us out of New Orleans, but there was no

hope that public transportation would be entering or leaving the ghost town.”

Mayor of Lafitte Tim Kerner Jr., shared in an interview with WDSU that Ida was recorded as the strongest storm to have hit Lafitte and destroyed up to 55% of its homes. “A year later and we are the only devastated community that has been left out of any federal hurricane protection,” said Kerner Jr..

After this first-hand experience, she believes she is more aware of the severity that New Orleans hurricanes hold, and that she now has an evacuation plan set with her friends and family if needed.

LIFE & TIMES

SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 THE MAROON

6

Film • Arts • Food • Music • Leisure • Nightlife

Illustration by Sophia Maxim

COLUMN: Battle of the Universities Who Has Better Vegetarian Options?

VERONICA OFFNER Assistant Life & Times Editor The Maroon veoffner@my.loyno.edu @veronica_e_o

With about 10% of Americans identifying as vegetarian, eating only plants is an increasingly common way of life. I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 11 years old, and with the return of reciprocal dining between Tulane and Loyola, I checked out the availability of options for students like me.

Both Loyola and Tulane use the same distributor, Sodexo, so I assumed the options would be relatively the same.

Ultimately, I found both positives and negatives in dining at both universities.

I first went to the Orleans Room, located in the Danna Center, to see their vegetarian selections. The OR offered a nice selection of options. Out of the 27 dishes offered, there were nine that were either vegetarian or vegan. In addition to a marked “plant-based” section, there were solid options offered at every station. Although the majority of the vegetarian options were sides and (roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, rice), main dish/protein options were available. The Orleans Room also offered an extensive salad bar. The bar includes lots of fresh vegetables, but what I was most surprised by was the vegetarian and vegan protein available. Towards the end of the line, I found tofu, beans, and chickpeas.

The next day, I visited The Commons on Tulane’s campus. Out of their 35 of-

ferings, 19 were vegetarian or vegan. The options offered at Tulane were side dishes as opposed to the options at Loyola, so it was harder to build a substantial plate of food. But The Commons had a salad bar, as well as an avocado toast station, which consisted of bread, avocado spread, and various vegetable toppings.

There were pros and cons to each dining location. For example, although “reciprocal dining” may lead students to believe that Loyola meal swipes can be used at Tulane, the reality is that the Tulane dining system only accepts Loyola Wolf Bucks. The cost of a meal at Tulane is $17, which is a steep price to pay, considering the price of meals that charge Wolf Bucks at Loyola, like Subway or sushi from the market.

Despite the steep cost, this price

might be worth it to some vegetarian or vegan students. The higher availability of vegetarian and vegan meals at Tulane is a potential appeal that may make the price of entry worth it. But, the price is not the only deterrent to Tulane’s dining.

Walking to Tulane for a meal can oftentimes be inconvenient, especially when The Commons has a tendency to get crowded around meal times.

The Orleans Room has the major con of not only lacking a large quantity of vegetarian and vegan meals but also lacking variety in general. Often, during meal times, the vegan and vegetarian options remain the same, day after day.

But this is a problem that can be assisted by the convenience of the food court, located near the Orleans Room, in the Danna Center. Convenience in general

is the main appeal of the Orleans Room for Loyola students. The Orleans Room takes meal swipes, which is a part of the meal plans that many first and second-year students are required to have.

Along with that, it is located in the heart of campus, making it easily accessible for students living on campus and students who commute and are looking for a place to eat while they’re on campus for class.

Overall, both dining options have their drawbacks and their advantages, and the decision to eat at either Tulane or Loyola is completely dependent on what each student individually values.

New Orleans first regional professional theater resides at Loyola

By Macie Batson mmbatson@my.loyno.edu @maciembats

Crescent City Stage is the first professional regional theater to open in New Orleans, and their debut is happening right on Loyola’s campus at Marquette Theater.

The new theater company and Loyola’s theater department are partnering together to put on Crescent City Stage’s first show, “Pantomime”, a twoman production, starring Michael A. Newcomer, executive director of Crescent City Stage, and Michael C. Forest, an award winning New Orleans actor, showing Sept. 8 through Sept. 25.

Through Loyola’s partnership with Crescent City Stage, the university’s theatre students will have new educational opportunities to network with theater professionals and explore the professional world of their field.

“In theater, partnerships are a key piece to our ecosystem, and I’m very proud that our department can help companies around New Orleans,” said Salvatore Mannino, Loyola’s artistic director and extraordinary professor of theatre arts.

Despite the major setbacks and slowed-down conversations about hosting the show due to the pandemic, Newcomer and Mannino have worked

closely together for more than two years to bring their collaboration and ideas to fruition.

“CCS has a home to present its first season, and we all plan for that to continue. They have been great to collaborate with, and we’re excited about the future of the relationship,” Mannino said.

The itinerant group selected Marquette Theater in its hunt for options to partner with a more “traditional” theater venue that had the capability to sell a sizable number of tickets, according to Newcomer.

Although no current students are participating in Crescent City Stage's debut performance, Mannino has hopes for students to participate in future productions and have the opportunity to take master classes with the new company.

Founded on the principle that "without the artist, there is no art," the Crescent City Stage has since worked to build a diverse and accepting community in which each participant reflects unique perspectives, according to the organization's website.

“Crescent City Stage was born out of the desire to create an organization that has a focus on diversity and sustaining wages for arts workers, and aims to create a new business structure that gives hope for the future of theatre arts workers right here in New Orleans,” Newcom-

er said.

The organization is looking forward to expanding, and via cross-collaboration and engagement with Loyola, theater students will have the chance to work post-graduation with the group, whose primary goal is to provide sustainable pay for those who work in the arts, according to Newcomer.

The upcoming show “Pantomime” focuses on issues concerning racial identity, post-colonialism and politics, which Newcomer and Forest both agree is still highly relevant to modern society.

“I'm very honored to be a part of the first production of Crescent City Stage, and (to be) able to tell such a timeless story that is still culturally relevant even today,” Forest said.

“Pantomime” was written more than four decades ago by Derek Walcott, a Nobel-prize-winning West Indian poet.

The play explores the relationship between a White hotel owner and a Black servant. It shows their attempts to entertain hotel guests through a satirical take on the Robinson Crusoe story.

“It’s couched in a humorous, funny, absurd way, which mirrors the society in which we’re currently living, where we’re having this racial reckoning,” Newcomer said.

Although the topic matter is challenging in that it discusses the nation's prej-

Executive Director Michael A. Newcomer and Director of "Pantomime" Dr. John "Ray" Proctor practices for the company's first production Aug. 30, 2022. The theater company began their residency at Marquette Theater in the fall. Sofia Luciano/The Maroon

udices, Newcomer said he hopes that this show will inspire the community to engage in "healthy, useful, and healing discussions" about the racial injustice that exists in the U.S. “Even though this play was written some 50 years ago, it is now more than

ever a prominent way for theater to do what theater does best, which is raise a mirror up to the society and community in which it’s engaging,” Newcomer said.

Tickets for “Pantomime” are on sale now through Crescent City Stage’s website.

OPINION

September 9, 2022 THE MAROON

7

The scoop on Greek Life Lauren Gill Business Senior, President of Loyola's Alpha Kappa Psi Sigma Phi Chapter

Sofia Maxim/The Maroon

Clothing can affect your mood Maleigh Crespo English Sophomore, Equity and Inclusion Officer for The Maroon

Whether you take the time to style an outfit before bed, throw on whatever’s clean in your laundry hamper, or grab what jumps out at you in your wardrobe, we all have a unique way of dressing ourselves.

Personally, I like to plan my outfits ahead of time based on the next day’s activities. Meeting with my editor on Tuesday? I’ll be wearing a floral dress with sandals. Spaghetti in the Orleans Room on Thursday? You won’t catch me wearing white. One class on Friday? You’ll see me in my pajamas.

No matter how you choose to clothe yourself to tackle the day, the things we put on our bodies have an inherent affect on us – from pattern, material, cut, and color.

Color psychology is a major factor in how our clothing affects us, how we feel, and how we make those around us feel. It’s the reason we wear black to funerals and why the color yellow often

emotes positive feelings. Our clothing conducted in 2012 revealed that 57% of communicates for us in the same way women said that they would wear a bagour body language does — nonverbally. gy top when depressed versus a mere According to a study by the London Im- 2% who would opt for an oversized tee age Institute, 90% of people's immediate when feeling happy. reactions to others are influenced by the But I like to think we should wear our psychological effects of color alone. clothes rather than let our clothes wear Beyond color, more often than not, us. Clothing should be used as an outlet our clothing can be emotional entities. to express ourselves outwardly because Whether it’s the t-shirt you won at a it can impact how we feel about ourbasketball game when you were seven, selves inwardly. a band tee that’s signed by your favorite If you’re a Loyola student and you’ve artist, or the dress you wore when you ever visited The Market or the campus got your first big job, the feelings asso- Subway, I’ve probably rang you up or ciated with articles of clothing can turn made you a sandwich or two, and I’ve an okay day into a great day. I mean, probably done it with a smile on my face. imagine how you feel But here’s what you when someone comdon’t know: I absolutepliments you, and you “We should wear our ly dread going to work. get to gush about your clothes rather than let When I get out of class sentimental apparel. and have to change Who doesn’t love that our clothes wear us.” into my work uniform, feeling? it’s the worst part of my However, the clothday. In fact, the act of ing effect isn’t always positive because getting ready for work feels worse than many of us have a complicated rela- the job itself because I am forced to strip tionship with clothing. This could stem myself of my individuality. And that may from issues with our bodies, the lack of not be a big deal for some, but for me, it’s size inclusivity and affordability, and the not easy. overall lack of representation in fashion.

I usually start by putting on the colConsequently, in the same way our lared, “Loyola Dining” embellished shirt, clothing affects us, the way we feel about exchanging my patterned hair accessoourselves, or in general, can affect how ries for a plain black hair clip and a hairwe choose to dress ourselves. A study net, taking out my bold earrings, care-

fully placing my name tag on the front of my polyester shirt, and lacing up my all-black, non-slip Walmart tennis shoes.

This simple change in outfit shifts my entire mood for the day. While I still try to maintain an upbeat demeanor, it’s hard when it feels like your body is entrapped in a cage of black fabric.

But I am so often reminded that the barricades of my body are only temporary. In a few short years, the job I held in college will be a thing of the past, but for some, this isn’t just a short-term college job. It’s their livelihood.

So I don’t take my freedom to express myself for granted, and I no longer care about the opinions people may have about my appearance. I dress myself and my body in a way that makes me feel comfortable and confident. It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing a baggy tee that hides your frame or a crop top that allows your belly to be free, as long as what you are wearing makes you feel like the most authentic version of yourself. So, the next time you have to get dressed and can’t decide what to wear, choose something that’s going to make you feel good, both inside and out, because it is a privilege that can truly make a difference.

Greek life is a combination of many fraternities and sororities, and it is an aspect of the college experience that a student can participate in. Fraternities are for men and sororities are for women and there are some groups that accept both men and women. Many students are either discouraged or misinformed about Greek life when they first come to a university or college. There have been many historical instances that have put Greek life in a negative light and have changed many people's perspectives on different fraternities and sororities. But there are many great groups out there that are shadowed by these perceptions.

It is up to the student to choose which one they feel that they most connect to.

Many people always ask the question “Is Greek life worth it?” My answer would definitely be yes. If you are a college student who has some time and money to contribute to a fraternity or sorority and are looking for a group of people that you can connect with, I would say do it. It is a fun experience and I can back that up with my experience so far.

I first joined a group in my freshman year. I was a lost freshman looking for things to join, and I found something that I was interested in, and now, I am a senior, and it is still a big part of my life, and I continue to enjoy my time in it.

I have been able to travel the country for different events that my organization holds, and I have been able to network and connect with people all over the country from different chapters at different universities. Joining Greek life exposes you to a large community of people you are able to connect with. There are many different councils of Greek life such as the National Panhellenic Council, Independent Greek Council, and so much more. A college student has so many options depending on what university they go to.

I am part of an organization in the IGC, and it is a professional business fraternity. Now, this name almost always causes disinterest because there is the word "business" involved. But business is a part of almost everything one would try to pursue in life. Business fraternities also help out a lot with professionalism, resumes, and cover letters. They also help with networking, and this is something that almost everyone in life can use as a skill to succeed in their future endeavors.

Greek life is not what the reputation precedes them to be. Some fraternities and sororities are really great and focus on a number of things that you may be interested in such as service and professionalism. You just have to do your research and join the best one for you. You will be exposed to a great environment and will be able to meet and connect with many different people.

SPORTS

8

SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 THE MAROON

E-sports brings new opportunities for students

By Gabrielle Korein

SEPT. 9 AT 6 P.M.

gfkorein@my.loyno.edu

With the launch of its new e-sports team, the Loyola Wolf Pack challenges the societal standard that video games cannot be taken seriously.

After hosting its first event Aug. 26 and 27, the team is ready to compete for the university and has high hopes for the upcoming season, according to the team's coach, Lumen Vera.

“With our program specifically my goal is to build a community around it first and then build the competition on that,” Vera said. “Being able to have students come here, thrive in here, and meet each other, grow and make this a hub that makes everyone feel comfortable and feel safe while at the same time providing experiences and providing connections and networking opportunities to professionals within the industry.”

As an e-sports competitor himself, Vera said he hopes the team will help students realize the potential the industry has to offer.

According to Vera, e-sports offers a variety of avenues into the professional sphere. E-sports is not solely an industry for content creators but also for musicians, artists, lawyers, healthcare professionals, and so on, Vera said, adding that the booming industry provides boundless opportunities for students looking for careers.

“The e-sports industry is basically a major hub for essentially almost every single department, every single type of career to come in because you need everyone to help run the ecosystem,” Vera said. “The major misconception is that it is just video gaming, we just sit and play games and that’s all we do. There is more

Volleyball at Middle Georgia State University

SEPT. 10 AT 11 A.M. Volleyball at BrewtonParker University

SEPT. 13 AT 7 P.M. Volleyball at Mobile University

SEPT. 15 AT 6:30 P.M. Esports vs. Super Smash Bros. -Week 2 Students play video games together at the Gaming Gauntlet, an all night video gaming event hosted by Loyola's e-sports team on August 26 and 27. Loyola's e-sports team provides students the opportunity to get acquainted with the industry.

to it.”

E-sports is indeed a lucrative industry for emerging professionals with the top earning professional e-sports team, TSM, were valued at $540 million in 2022, a 32% increase from 2020 according to Forbes.

E-sports event coordinator and public relations senior Sara Candia joined

the team as a gateway into the advantageous industry.

“I’m not a big video gamer, but I do want to be part of the industry, so having an e-sports program on our campus provides opportunities,” Candia said.

Candia was shocked over Loyola’s decision to fund an e-sports team as video gaming is often neglected and under-

mined by popular culture, she said Although e-sports is gaining popularity as an industry, misconceptions and criticism about video games and gamers are still rampant in society. However, as more public institutions such as universities begin to take e-sports seriously, space opens up for these misconceptions to fall to the wayside.

Reyes ready for another championship season

By Matthew Richards mlricha2@my.loyno.edu

The Loyola men’s basketball team hired its new head coach, Donald Reyes, this fall, making him the first Black head coach to lead the team in program history.

Reyes, a New Orleans native, who spent seven years at Tulane University, is a friend of the team’s former head coach, Stacy Hollowell and comes to the university a season after the team won its first National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship in 77 years.

“It means everything to me. I’m extremely grateful and blessed. Opportunities like this don’t come very often, but for it to happen here at home means that much more to me, while also showcasing the diversity of the institution and the way it views itself in the world,” Reyes said, adding “I feel like Loyola is a reflection of who I am as a person.”

Reyes was hired from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where he was the program’s director of basketball operations. Reyes previously worked at Bethune Cookman College, Arkansas State University, and Tulane University.

The basketball team, who first met Reyes on a Zoom call, is also excited for him to lead the team.

“I liked him,” said senior guard Josh Tolbert of Reyes on the court. “When we got back to New Orleans and started workouts and practice, I got to know him better and began to like him even more as a coach and a person.”

Senior forward Jalen Galloway sec-

WHAT'S UP NEXT

onded what Tolbert had to say.

“He’s a player’s coach –very experienced at the highest level, unselfish, and a great communicator.”

After a national championship season with three first-team All-Southern States Athletic Conference players in the starting lineup, Reyes said he has high expectations for this upcoming year.

“On the court, our goals remain the same. We want to win the SSAC again and compete for another national title,” Reyes said.

This season’s roster has 10 returning student-athletes from last year’s championship team and 10 new transfers, according to Reyes. Reyes plans to implement coaching and playing tactics he learned from his own mentors at Tulane and LSU. “I think Coach Reyes will be a game changer for us,” said sophomore guard Leonard Jackson III. “He’s always high energy, helps us bond, and really fits with what we’re trying to accomplish.”

But Reyes is also equally focused on life off the court as well as on it. He said he values education and is eager to see his players graduate. “I see basketball as a platform that can bring people together, so I want to use it to have a bigger impact on making sure our student-athletes are developed off the floor as well as on it,” he said. “We have a few guys on track to graduate this year, so I want to ensure we do everything possible to make sure that happens.”

Galloway said that he wants to keep the momentum of last season alive this year.

“A lot of teams struggle with that, and

SEPT. 16 AT 6 P.M. Volleyball vs. Life University

WHAT YOU MISSED Cross country starts season The cross country team kicked off the season at the UNO opener last Friday, with several personal record breakers

Volleyball goes 1-1 Women's volleyball finished the Southern States Athletic Conference with a 1-1 record Saturday, Sept. 3.

New running club meets French exchange student Yaniss Mardaoui started a new running club that met for the first time last week Daniel Reyes stands near his office last week. Reyes is the first Black head coach of the men's basketball team. Anna Hummel/The Maroon

since we’re coming off one of the best seasons in NAIA history, it’ll be a challenge to sustain that level of play, but I think we can do it,” he said.

Reyes and the Wolf Pack will start

their season on Nov. 3, when they face local rival Dillard University at Dillard.

Their home opener is Nov. 12 versus Southern University of New Orleans.

Volleyball coach hits 100 wins Volleyball coach Jesse Zabal had her 100th career win last Friday, Sept. 2.

September 9, 2022

THE MAROON

9

10

September 9, 2022

THE MAROON

Monkeypox concern spreads across New Orleans

By Domonique Tolliver djtolliv@my.loyno.edu @domtollivernews

Monkeypox cases are growing in the country, causing concerns for students as another virus amid the COVID-19 pandemic threatens their college experience. While the virus is rapidly spreading through males who have sexual encounters with other men, people outside of that community are at risk of catching the virus from close physical contact with others.

Members of the Loyola community are protecting themselves with vaccinations and by taking precautions in their daily lives.

Journalism junior Angel Martinez was eager to find a vaccine for the monkeypox virus as he is a part of the queer community.

Martinez received his vaccine after looking for a week and a half before finding a vaccine clinic on West Bank.

He said that the media’s perception that the virus was only affecting the gay community made him want to receive it even more.

“We're just here enjoying life, being out, and I think it is a major concern, especially at Loyola where we have a big LGBTQ population on campus,” Martinez said. “So even though it doesn't sound right, the media is putting out there that gay people are the only ones that are going to get it, and we have no idea if that's actually true or not.”

Melissa LeBrun, a family nurse practitioner and assistant professor in the university’s School of Nursing, said that monkeypox is a part of the Variola virus family which causes smallpox. The main way monkeypox spreads is through close contact like skin to skin contact of the nose, mouth, throat and genitalia, she said.

“College-age students are at risk from close intimate contact, but it can come from objects as well,” said LeBrun.

Director of the New Orleans Health Department Dr. ​Jennifer Avegno also said that monkeypox is spread through skin-to-skin contact with active lesions, though respiratory and sexual transmission are still possible.

The main distinguishing factor of monkeypox is a rash typically near the

genitals or the anus, but LeBrun said that the rash could be in other areas like the hands, chest, face, mouth or feet.

“The rash goes into several stages, and it usually scabs before it heals. A lot of times the rash can look like pimples or blisters, and it may be painful as well.

Other symptoms to watch out for are exhaustion, headache, fever and chills, which are very similar to COVID symptoms,” LeBrun said.

In an email sent on Aug. 23, the university gave students monkeypox prevention tips such as avoiding skinto-skin contact with people that have a rash, avoiding sharing drinks and food, washing hands frequently and avoiding touching the linens of someone who has monkeypox. This includes clothes, bedding and towels.

Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes currently have 117 monkeypox cases, and 34% of the total cases in the state are among 18 to 29-year-olds.

“We have been working very closely with the state to support vaccination efforts, and as vaccine supply has expanded, we have developed numerous

events,” Avegno said.

Martinez said the media’s coverage of the ongoing monkeypox virus is similar to the coverage of HIV in the 1980s, which created a stigma that only gay men could contract the virus.

“Back in the day, no one knew if it was right or not that only gay people could have HIV. When it comes to monkeypox, we are still at that stage where we have no structured information about if it only affects men who have sex with men or if it's affecting everyone,” Martinez said.

However, monkeypox can spread to anyone, including children.

“Anyone who has been in close personal contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, (or) gender identity,” LeBrun said.

Martinez added that it's important to remind students that monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection, and that misinformation can create a stigma that negatively impacts the LGBTQ+ community.

“It's not just about sexual intimacy.

Sex is one way of having close contact

with someone, but close contact can also be touching someone or touching the same thing someone who's infected has touched,” he said.

As for how monkeypox will affect the college community in New Orleans, Avegno said currently the city doesn't know. ​“College activities where large numbers of individuals come into close contact can raise the likelihood of cases on campus, though we do not anticipate the transmission will be as widespread as (COVID-19),” Avegno said.

To protect themselves, individuals can limit the number and duration of sexual partners and avoid anonymous sex as much as possible, Avegno said. If an individual is immunocompromised or at a high risk of severe disease, she said that they should consider avoiding large gatherings of any kind. LeBrun said the Student Health Center is offering monkeypox testing, and students should speak to their health care provider to learn more about access to monkeypox vaccines.

ucia Illustration by Jenna DeL

Continued from page 3

NEW LORA: Loyola implements new system, looks toward new features For example, when professors make exceptions for certain students to be placed into certain classes, they no longer need to make a phone call to another department or ask IT to do it. They will soon be capable of managing that on their own.

Quesada said that the Project LUCI efforts reflect the “spirit” of Loyola in working together to make it happen.

“Exceptional people have been involved in this project, doing a lot,” he said.

Why did they switch systems?

Quesada said that the main reason the university implemented a new planning system was to “adapt to the times.”

He added that the old LORA “was not enough to meet current needs and to serve staff, faculty and students the way that they should be served.”

The new system also better allows for members of the Loyola community to gain access to information, as well as input more of their own information, Quesada said.

For example, students can now manually input their names as well as pronouns in the system, addressing the grievances many transgender students shared in the past with the old LORA, according to Quesada.

With Colleague, everyone also has an easier way to update contact information, which he said is important in case of an emergency.

Straight helped to spearhead this project as well, and said that the implementation of it was essential.

Before the new enterprise resourcing planning system, the university’s database kept things separate, Straight said.

In the past, systems for human resources, financial aid and course registration, for example, were separate and “living in wildly different places,” according to

Straight.

Now, everything is on the same system, Straight said, and the final switchover to this framework happened this summer.

Additionally, Colleague is in the cloud, meaning that it doesn’t need local servers to function. The old LORA needed local servers in order to run and would often glitch and kick users out of the interface due to connection issues.

“I can literally do anything at all with the system here on my phone wherever I am,” Straight said, calling it a major benefit of the new LORA. He added that though there is an initial learning curve with the system, there was little to no documentation in the past on how to operate the old LORA. With Colleague, there are tools that will teach faculty, staff and students how to work the system, he said.

Straight said that the old LORA was kept up and managed by the university’s IT department. While the department has had a separate software development wing for years, Straight argued that fixing the university’s systems through continual coding and streamlining of software is not the goal of the IT department, as they are needing to instead upkeep technology on campus.

And the fixes the IT department has done for years will now be completed by the vendor of the new LORA, the company, Ellucian, Straight said.

He seconded Quesada to say that implementing the new system is a part of keeping up with the times. He added that having an old enterprise system wasn’t attractive to students, especially prospective ones.

“We wouldn’t offer the same programs we offered in 1979, in the same way the systems that you interact (with) will need to keep pace with the changing

times and reflect what today’s students actually do,” Straight said.

But Straight added that he doesn’t want or need the new LORA to be flashy or spectacular. He said that he and his team hope that the system becomes “something that fades into the background” as students use it.

“Really, the hope is that it feels as natural as using any app on your phone or computer,” he said.

How did the implementation happen?

Quesada said that the project has had multiple different teams from the beginning of its implementation which analyze the project. 150 to 200 staff and faculty have been working on Project LUCI in about a dozen different work teams with about 15 people each, Straight said.

One of the critical deadlines those managing the project had in place was to allow Fall 2022 students to register using the new system, according to Straight.

And though the goal was accomplished, it was difficult to do, Quesada said. In order to make it happen, the system needed a lot of work, he said. Each individual course needed to be submitted, and everything had to be tested, according to Quesada. Additionally, he said that all of the implementation struggles needed to be invisible for students as the users in order for them to have the “best possible experience.”

Straight claimed that most of the bumps he and his teams suspect are to come from needing to implement information that was built up in the old system that the university had had since 1979.

“There’s always ongoing configuration and maintenance,” he said. “We’ve relied on processes that we’ve had in place for some cases 40 years. We’re expecting bumps.”

Straight said that the university has spent millions of dollars on the implementation of the new LORA, though Quesada specified that the funding doesn’t come out of an operational budget but rather out of a special one for projects such as this.

The university’s financial leadership wasn’t immediately available to answer questions regarding the exact cost of the project.

How are members of the community adjusting?

Ivan Plokhikh, music industry studies junior, said that he had a problem with the new LORA because of its perceived effect on the waitlisting system for classes.

He was waitlisted for a class that he wanted to take at the beginning of the semester and said he was emailed to tell him he got in, but that the system was automatically dropping him from the program since he already had a class scheduled at that time.

Quesada said that Colleague allows for students to go on to the waitlist in the same way as before in the old LORA. But if there is an issue with scheduling, a student is passed over and the seat goes to the next person. He did not answer whether or not this is a recently added feature due to the newly implemented system.

Plokhikh argued that he would have gladly dropped the class he was initially enrolled in to get into the class he wanted to take. He added that the system’s possible effects on waitlisting wasn’t his only grievance. He said that he preferred the way the schedule was presented on the old LORA. “Now, it feels a lot less organized,” he said.

Lily Broussard, a history sophomore, said they were frustrated with the new

LORA because of the delay in their scholarships being put into the new system. A trip to the financial aid office helped them aid the issue, but Broussard said that they remained frustrated with the program, calling it “difficult to navigate.”

“The old system, I could just click on exactly what I wanted,” they said. “But the new system, it’s like you have to go through three or four different menus just to be where you want to be.”

Broussard commented on registration with the new system and said that it is definitely preferable to the old LORA, though they argued that implementing registration at the end of last semester was awkward timing.

“I feel like with anything new there’s always going to be a curve, but I feel like they could have done it at a better time,” Broussard said.

Broussard added that, despite their initial issues with the system, they are especially grateful that as a transgender person they are now able to input indentifying information about themselves in the new system, which wasn’t as accessible in the old LORA. “I appreciate that now they are adding that in because it gives students the opportunity to be a lot more comfortable on campus and not constantly correcting people,” they said.

Straight said that his team kept students in mind the entire way throughout this project and hopes that members of the community will reach out to them to hear what the team could be doing better.

“We want to hear about the things that are impacting your ability to do something,” he said.

11

EDITORIAL

September 9, 2022 THE MAROON

HOWLS & GROWLS HOWL to caffeine GROWL to the new Danna Center layout HOWL to birthdays GROWL to hot weather HOWL to string cheese GROWL to fake fire alarms HOWL to smash bros GROWL to fight or flight response HOWL to fight or flight response Abigail Schmidt/The Maroon

Change is good and new But growing pains could records system shows it... have been mitigated Change is inevitable. Nothing can and will exist in its current state indefinitely.

Just like how the sun sets on every day, an end must eventually come. When change does happen, there are bound to be growing pains as we move from one method of action to the next. That is just a reality of life, and the new LORA Self-Service system helps prove that.

Late last year, Loyola implemented the new LORA system that allowed students to update their classes, schedules, and other personal information more easily. Built off of the cloud-based software Colleague developed by Ellucian, the new system allows students to access their info on any device at any time.

Not only that, but students are freely able to update their schedules until the cutoff date. On the old system, the ability to create and update your schedule was only available during certain windows of certain days. Of course, there have been hiccups along the way, and it would be disingenuous not to recognize that fact.

However, it is also important to recognize how far we’ve come.

The old LORA system was first launched in 1979 and much like other technologies from the 1970s like the floppy disk, it didn’t exactly age well. The antique code was a mess, making everything overcomplicated, and it ran much slower than what you would reasonably expect from a system tasked with managing a university.

The new LORA, on the other hand, has much cleaner code reflecting a 21st century university and operates at a much faster pace. Also, the method for adding and dropping classes has been simplified to a substantial degree. Now, editing your course list is just a button click away. That is just one way that the new LORA system is helping to give students more control of their schedules and making the overall process less stressful.

Along with the new improvements to the way we are able to schedule classes, we are able to edit our user profiles to match our preferred names, genders, and pronouns. The old system made it difficult to change these things in order to reflect who we are, while the new system allows all students’ identities to be movable time, which we applaud. The new records system has already proven its key draw of user-friendliness to be true in this regard.

Not every sunset is perfect, though, and the new system is far from it. Between false charges being doled out and past financial aid information being lost, a lot has happened to stain the new system’s ledger. But the system's flaws don't justify students and parents taking their frustrations out on company employees.

For a company like Ellucian, with their Colleague system being utilized by more than 650 organizations both nationally and internationally, they would need multiple departments to manage different specialized tasks in order to keep itself running efficiently. Because of that, it’s highly doubtful that the people in the customer service department have anything to do with dealing with whatever is going on on the coding and software development side of things.

They are people, too, and they deserve to be given that basic level of respect.

If there is one thing to take away from all of this, it is that change must always occur. It can be painful or it can be relatively easy. The fact of the matter is that it will happen, no matter what. The new LORA may have issues, but it still provides our community a means of better managing our school life. Let the sun set and take advantage of it.

Despite all that can be said for necessary change, it doesn’t mean that all of the pains that have resulted from this sudden growth of LORA Self-Service was necessary, as well. It wouldn’t be fair to lump all of the blame on Loyola, seeing how they had an obligation to replace 40-year-old software. However, valid complaints need to be aired, so we are able to recognize what went wrong and how issues like the ones listed below are mitigated and avoided in the future.

For starters, we turn back to parents and students calling about their frustrations with the new system. Yes, yelling at someone who probably has very little control over the system as a whole is a bad thing. But what caused them to reach this point? The most common answer someone would probably give is having charges on their financial accounts that don’t make any sense. The most prolific of these false charges appear to be students living off campus being charged for a room they do not live in.

The unfortunate part about this situation is that there may be no one, technically, at fault. The new system may have just bugged out due to how fast it was implemented both at the end of last year and the beginning of this one. Which leaves another question: could Loyola have spent more time building us up to the system’s implementation?

Part of the complaints that have been tossed Loyola’s way regarding the new records system come from the school’s staff itself. According to some, there was barely anything in the way of training for the new system, and the one provided on Canvas was a lackluster excuse for it. Yes, the new system is substantially simpler than the previous one. That does not mean there is going to be no whiplash from the changeover. The average person does not have the technological know-how to be able to switch from one

software to another without being left confused by what is different.

But, at least, the new system is in place and it seems to be working now.

Sure, there were a couple hiccups at the beginning and maybe giving both the developers and staff more time to deal with issues would have been better. We can’t win them all, you know? It’s not like Loyola had 40 years to fix it? Oh, wait.

They did.

What took them so long? Perhaps, it has been some internal struggle going on since 1979, that caused a slowdown of development to happen. Maybe it was a lack of funding to actually acquire a new software, and it was simply cheaper to keep using the same one. Datatel, the original company that developed Colleague, only became Ellucian in 2012 after merging with a different company.

Maybe business was impossible with them until after the merger?

Whatever the case, it is right to recognize how good it is that change has finally happened. It is also right to recognize how much unnecessary strife was caused by how slipshod the change was.

Instead of being the sleek new thing that the new LORA is designed to look like, the past couple of weeks have felt more akin to Loyola trying to duct tape a rusty bumper back onto an equally rusty car.

Thank you, Loyola, but please, do better next time.

EDITORIAL BOARD Gabriella Killett

Editor-in-Chief

Jackie Galli

Managing Editor for Print

Domonique Tolliver Managing Editor for Digital Devin Cruice

Maroon Minute Executive Producer

Patrick Hamilton

Design Chief

Garbielle Korein

Photo Editor

Ava Acharya

News Editor

Sofia Santiago

Life & Times Editor

Arianna D'Antonio Abigail Schmidt

Worldview Editor Sports Editor

Jacob L'Hommedieu

Opinion and Editorial Editor

Heather Rabassa Anna Hummel Macie Batson

Copy Editor Senior Photographer Senior Staff Writer

EDITORIAL POLICY The editorial on this page represents the majority opinions of The Maroon’s editorial board and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Loyola University.

Letters and columns reflect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of The Maroon’s editorial board.

The Maroon does not represent the opinion of administration, staff and/or faculty members of Loyola.

Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and style. Please limit submissions to 400 words. Submissions are due no later than 4 p.m. the Sunday before publication.

Please send all submissions — The Maroon, 6363 St. Charles Ave., Box 64, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Email us your letters — letter@ loyno.edu.

Submissions may also be made online at www.loyolamaroon.com.

September 9, 2022

THE MAROON

12